Byzantine Empire in AD 565 at a glance
In AD 565 the empire covered about 2.91 million km². That is 49.9% more than at AD 476. It took in all or part of 32 modern countries, with the biggest shares of San Marino (100%), Vatican City (100%) and North Macedonia (100%). The Eastern half made up about 1,941,191 km² and the Western half about 969,176 km².
Justinian ruled from Constantinople and sent his generals to win back Italy and North Africa. He also had Roman law collected and built the church of Hagia Sophia.
Justinian I dies after reconquering Italy, North Africa, coastal Dalmatia and south-east Spain. Ruler at the time: Justinian I.
- 2.91 million km²area of the empire
- +49.9%since AD 476
- 32modern countries inside
- 30provinces held
The eastern empire covered about 1,941,191 km² and the reconquered lands in the west about 969,176 km².
The East plus Justinian's reconquests (the `west` part). Reconquered Spain and Mauretania are clipped to the coastal areas actually held. This outline is built by joining the provinces held at the date, using AWMC province outlines from AD 200, so the frontier shapes are the AD 200 ones. Dates, not borders, are the evidence here. Borders are approximate and debated.
What changed since AD 476
The area grew by about 969,176 km² (49.9%), from 1,941,191 km² to 2,910,368 km². Provinces added: Africa Proconsularis, Hispania Baetica, Corsica, Dalmatia and Pannonia Superior, Gallia Cisalpina (northern Italy), Hispania Tarraconensis, Italia (peninsula), Mauretania (Caesariensis and Tingitana), Numidia, Sardinia and Sicilia.
Modern countries newly inside: Algeria, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Italy, Malta, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia and Vatican City.
Which modern countries were inside the empire in AD 565?
32 modern countries were at least partly inside the empire. The share is the part of today's country that fell inside the outline above. The largest shares were San Marino, Vatican City, North Macedonia, Lebanon, Kosovo and Israel.
| Country | Share inside | Area inside (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| San Marino | 100% | 60.3 |
| Vatican City | 100% | under 1 |
| Roman North Macedonia | 100% | 25,385 |
| Roman Lebanon | 100% | 9,980 |
| Roman Kosovo | 100% | 10,860 |
| Roman Israel | 99% | 21,929 |
| Roman Palestine | 99% | 6,010 |
| Roman Bulgaria | 99% | 111,365 |
| Roman Cyprus | 97% | 9,027 |
| Roman Greece | 96% | 126,576 |
| Roman Italy | 95% | 284,955 |
| Roman Albania | 94% | 26,759 |
| Roman Tunisia | 89% | 138,728 |
| Roman Syria | 82% | 151,804 |
| Roman Turkey | 79% | 615,885 |
| Roman Montenegro | 77% | 10,600 |
| Roman Malta | 57% | 187 |
| Roman Serbia | 57% | 44,138 |
| Roman Egypt | 46% | 460,892 |
| Roman Slovenia | 44% | 8,847 |
| Roman Bosnia and Herzegovina | 43% | 22,207 |
| Roman Jordan | 36% | 32,350 |
| Roman Croatia | 34% | 18,806 |
| Roman Libya | 25% | 399,610 |
| Roman Switzerland | 17% | 7,141 |
| Roman Spain | 13% | 65,819 |
| Roman Algeria | 9.3% | 215,201 |
| Roman Romania | 6.6% | 15,688 |
| Roman Iraq | 5.3% | 23,130 |
| Roman France | 1.6% | 8,757 |
| Roman Saudi Arabia | 0.9% | 17,569 |
| Roman Austria | 0.6% | 541 |
Shares are measured against the part of each country inside a box around the Mediterranean world, so overseas territories do not count. A country counts as inside only above 1% of its area or 500 km².
Provinces held in AD 565
- Achaea
- Aegyptus
- Africa Proconsularis
- Arabia Petraea
- Asia, Bithynia et Pontus and Thracia
- Hispania Baetica
- Cilicia
- Corsica
- Crete
- Cyprus
- Cyrenaica
- Dalmatia and Pannonia Superior
- Epirus
- Galatia, Cappadocia and Pontus
- Gallia Cisalpina (northern Italy)
- Hispania Tarraconensis
- Italia (peninsula)
- Judaea (Syria Palaestina)
- Lycia et Pamphylia
- Macedonia
- Mauretania (Caesariensis and Tingitana)
- Mesopotamia
- Moesia Inferior
- Moesia Superior
- Numidia
- Osrhoene
- Sardinia
- Sicilia
- Syria
- Syria Phoenice
Province outlines are the AD 200 ones. Where the source map joins several provinces, the province page says so.