History of Wars Summary 17 - Justinian's Wars of Expansion 2: Stabilizing the East and Preparing the West

Before Justinian could launch his western campaigns, he needed to stabilize the threats from the east. The Eastern Roman Empire had long been in competition with the Sasanian Empire over Mesopotamia and Armenia. Although wars continued into the early years of his reign, the two powers signed the so-called "Eternal Peace" treaty in 532. Justinian paid a significant sum to Persia, temporarily halting the war on the eastern frontier and allowing him to concentrate his military forces in the west. Around the same time, the Nika riots erupted in Constantinople, throwing the capital into chaos, but the emperor suppressed the rebellion and consolidated his rule. With the internal and eastern situations stabilized, Justinian prepared his expeditionary forces and fleet. The Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, in particular, was experiencing internal divisions, making it a suitable target for attack. Justinian seized this opportunity, entrusting the expedition to Belisarius, and in 533, the first phase of the Vandalic War to reclaim western territories began. This was a crucial preparation for his western ambitions.