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Justin II
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<p>Justin II was <a href="/facts/List_of_Roman_emperors/jkRpXhkQ">Eastern Roman emperor</a> from 565 until 578. He was the nephew of <a href="/facts/Justinian_I/6wl5Ivh7">Justinian I</a> and the husband of <a href="/facts/Sophia_(empress)/EqfWweby">empress Sophia</a>, the niece of the empress <a href="/facts/Theodora_(wife_of_Justinian_I)/PU95DQYp">Theodora</a>. </p><p>Justin II inherited a greatly enlarged but overextended empire, with far fewer resources at his disposal compared to Justinian I. He ended the payment of tributes and adopted a hardline stance against the empire's neighbors, which resulted in rekindling of war with the <a href="/facts/Sassanid_Empire/JvbRevkA">Sassanid Empire</a>, and in a <a href="/facts/Lombards/C4r74rGL">Lombard</a> invasion which cost the Romans much of their territory in <a href="/facts/Praetorian_prefecture_of_Italy/CWBHyNev">Italy</a>. </p>