The protagonists of the revolt were the demos of the "Greens" and "Venetians" (blue), organisations of fans of popular origin who lived for the chariot races on the platforms of the Constantinople Hippodrome. The "Russos" and the "Whites" were well below the other two municipalities in popularity. Chariot racing was a very popular sport at that time, like football is today.
We would say that the "Venetians" and the "Greens" were quite reminiscent in passion and dedication of today's fan associations, especially the "Gate 7" of Olympiacos and "Gate 13" of Panathinaikos. Historians describe the demos as something between a gang and a political party, as they often tried to influence political decisions.
In 531, a "Venetian" and a "Green" were arrested on charges of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Justinian, an avowed supporter of the Venetians, commuted the death penalty to imprisonment. The 'Greens' and 'Venetians' demand their full exoneration. The emperor, however, ignores them.
On 11 January 532 they rise up, burn buildings, besiege the palace and even damage the Hagia Sophia. The chant "Nika" vibrates the atmosphere. It is the slogan shouted at the Hippodrome to encourage the charioteers.
The crowd of rioters grew larger and larger as the people resented the emperor's economic reforms, heavy taxation and state arbitrariness. They demanded the resignation of John Cappadocius (Minister of Finance at the time) and the famous jurist Trivonianus.
The situation was attempted to be exploited to their advantage by the senators and nobles, who saw their rights being slashed by Justinian's reforms. They gather at the Hippodrome and put Hypatius, nephew of the former emperor Anastasius, on the throne.
Justinian is unable to control the situation. He is new to power and has a lot of worries, with the Persians to the east of the empire. For a moment it crosses his mind to leave Constantinople. The imperial wife, the dynamic and determined Theodora, quickly talks him out of it, and the generals Belisarius and Mundos take action. They trap the rebels in the Hippodrome and literally destroy them. The suppression of the "Stasis of Nika" on 18 January 532 left 30,000 dead.
Justinian was now firmly on his feet and the next day he ordered the execution of the usurper Hypatius and his brother. Their property was confiscated, as well as that of many nobles who were exiled for having supported the rebellion. The imperial term of one of Byzantium's greatest personalities, such as Justinian, began with the worst period of violence and anarchy the basilica had ever known.
Source: sansimera.gr
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