Nika Riots

532 CE

Conflict involving the Blues and Greens at the Hippodrome developed into a wider uprising against unpopular officials and taxation. Rioters proclaimed Hypatius emperor and controlled much of Constantinople.

Justinian considered flight, but the government regained control. Troops led by Belisarius and Mundus entered the Hippodrome and killed thousands of rebels.

Count Belisarius uses the uprising to show the interaction between court politics, urban factions and the military force sustaining Justinian's rule.

Related people for Nika Riots

Antoninafl. 6th century; died after 565 Belisarius505–565 Justinian Ic. 483–565 Procopiusc. 5th century–565 Theodorac. 500–548

Books

5 Best Novels About the Nika Riots

The Gates of Carthage

by William Havelock

The Last of the Romans · 4.6(2,344)

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Count Belisarius

by Robert Graves

First published 1938 · 4.4(624)

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Lord of Emperors

by Guy Gavriel Kay

First published 2000 · Sarantine Mosaic · 4.3(15,964)

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Sailing to Sarantium

by Guy Gavriel Kay

First published 1998 · Sarantine Mosaic · 4.2(18,886)

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Justinian

by Ross Laidlaw

First published 2010 · 2.7(8)

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Non-Fiction

1 Best Non-Fiction Book About the Nika Riots

Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.

Justinian’s Empire

by Nick Holmes

First published 2024 · The Fall of the Roman Empire · 4.3(414)

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