What Was the Nika Riot?

The Nika Riot (also known as the Nika Revolt or the Nika Uprising) was a pivotal event that took place in the city of Constantinople in 532 CE, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Justinian I. The Riots began due to the growing political and social tensions in the capital between the two principal circus factions – the Blues and the Greens. However, Justinian’s mishandling and downplaying of the problem led to a full-blown rebellion. For five days, Constantinople was plunged into chaos, while the great fire ravaged the city. Only after the intervention of empress Theodora, Justinian decided to act, sending the army to the Hippodrome. The result was a massacre unprecedented in Roman history. While the civilian casualties were enormous, Justinian exploited the Nika Riots to eliminate his rivals, solidify his rule and crush the power of circus factions once and for all. 

The Nika Riot began at the Hippodrome in Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire). After the botched execution of two circus faction members, arrested for murder, both the Blues and the Greens appealed to Emperor Justinian for mercy. Justinian commuted the sentence to imprisonment but did not pardon the accused. The emperor had more pressing matters, negotiating peace terms with Rome’s nemesis – Sassanian Persia. He was also preparing for the grand event – the chariot races at the Hippodrome. The next day – 13th January 532 CE – the people gathered at the Hippodrome and appealed to the emperor once again, without success. 

An Infamous Chant Ignited the Revolt

Justinian’s refusal to agree to the circus faction’s demands led to a moment unprecedented in the history of the Roman Empire. The two factions – the Blues and the Greens – who constantly clashed with each other made an alliance, and the people started to chant in unison “Nika” (“victory” or “conquer” in Greek). The chant, so often heard in the Hippodrome in support of the charioteers, was now directed against the emperor. Faced with an angry mob, Justinian and his retinue withdrew from the kathisma (the imperial box) behind the walls of the Great Palace. The emperor’s flight encouraged the mob, who soon took to the streets of Constantinople. 

The Nika Riot Devastated the Imperial Capital

The angry mob first attacked the praetorium – where the prison was located – freeing the prisoners and burning the building to the ground. The next day, on 14th January, Justinian returned to the Hippodrome in a last-ditch attempt to make peace with the rioters. The emperor even accepted the new demands and sacked the unpopular high officials – the prefect John the Cappadocian and the quaestor Tribonian. But, apparently, this was not enough, as the Nika Riot continued. Besieged in the Great Palace, Emperor Justinian was powerless to stop the revolt as the mob ran amok, causing widespread destruction. The great fire devastated the capital, razing to the ground some of its most majestic buildings, including the Senate House and the church of Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Theodosius.

Despite being the emperor, Justinian faced strong opposition from the nobility, including the Senate of Constantinople. His uncle Justin, was not the first choice of an emperor for the aristocratic elite, who preferred a non-military choice. Both Justin and his heir Justinian were men of low origin who achieved high ranks in the military. It did not help that Justinian changed the law to marry low-born actress Theodora, who soon became one of the most powerful people in the Empire, second only to her husband. Furthermore, to fund his military campaign, Justinian’s targeted the wealthy with his new tax policy.

Thus, once the Nika Riots erupted, the members of the aristocracy exploited the chaos to depose the upstart emperor and his wife. Their choice was Hypatius, the nephew of the former emperor Anastasius. Hypatius was reluctant to take the diadem but finally accepted the honor. Unsurprisingly, once Nika Riots ended, he paid for that with his head.

Empress Theodora Saved Justinian’s Throne

Unable to stop the Nika Riot, which had by now become a fully-fledged rebellion, Justinian planned to flee the capital. According to historian Procopius, at that moment, Empress Theodora saved the situation, chastising her husband, and uttering memorable words, that “Royal purple makes a fine burial shroud.” However, the “escape plan” could also be the emperor’s attempt to distance himself from the incoming carnage. By now, the Thrace garrison had reached Constantinople and waited for the command to strike. 

The Nika Riot Ended in a Massacre

Theodora’s speech encouraged the emperor, who decided to stay in the capital. On 18th January, Justinian put the general Belisarius and Mundus in command of the troops and dispatched them to the Hippodrome to deal with the rioters. The grand chariot racing track, where the Nika Riot began, was also where the rebellion was brought to its violent end. After the soldiers sealed all the exits, trapping the mob, an indiscriminate slaughter ensued. By the end of the day, some 30,000 people lay dead. Justinian then dealt with the ringleaders, including his challenger Hypatius, who was put to the sword. 

After the failure of the Nika Riot, the power of circus factions was crushed for good. The Greens and Blues retained only the ceremonial function. His position secure, Justinian now directed his attention to the rebuilding of the capital, and to realization of his dream – the Reconquest of the Roman West.