Justinian did not quite know whether to flee or stay and fight. In fact, abandoning the throne seemed like the safest course of action -- but his wife, the Empress Theodora, was not interested in safe courses of action. To her, flight was an undignified response to rebellion. She stated boldly that it is more becoming to die in one's royal robes than to be an emperor in exile. Justinian's wife inspired them to make a bold defense, and Justinian set about an appropriate course of action.
The rebels, meanwhile, had led Hypatius to the seat where Justinian was used to watch the races at the Hippodrome. Hypatius took it and in effect showed that he was willing to be made the new Emperor. His followers gathered together in the Hippodrome. There the Blues and the Greens showed their support for Hypatius. Justinian now saw his chance. He had always supported the Blues in the past, and now he thought to win them once more. He sent a slave into the Hippodrome to remind the Blues that the Emperor was their friend. As a token of his friendship, he supplied them a purse full of gold. The Blues remembered their loyalty to the Emperor and departed the Hippodrome.
At the same time Belisarius readied his soldiers to invade the Hippodrome. When the Blues exited, Belisarius and his troops entered and slaughtered the rebels, whose number is said to have been more than 30,000.
Order was restored, and the remainder of Justinian's reign was relatively peaceful.
In conclusion, the Nika revolt grew out of both discontentment and savagery among the chariot racing factions. Many sides had complaints against Justinian -- whether with his claim to the throne, his tax rate, the war, or with the men he appointed to govern them. When one of the riots that typically followed the races turned political, involving a member of both the Blues and the Greens, the factions united, and other discontents joined the protest. Justinian, with the help of his general Belisarius and the inspiration of his wife the Empress Theodora, was able to quell the rebellion and restore order to Constantinople.
Bibliography
Bury, J.B. History of the Later Roman Empire. UChicago.edu. Web. 24 Apr 2012.
"Justinian and the Nike riots." CLIO. Web. 24 Apr 2012.
Procopius. History of the Wars, I, xxiv. [trans H.B. Dewing]. NY: Macmillan, 1914.
Procopius, History of the Wars, I, xxiv, trans H.B. Dewing (NY: Macmillan, 1914), 219.
J.B. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire. UChicago.edu. Web. 24 Apr 2012.
Ibid.
"Justinian and the Nike riots." CLIO. Web. 24 Apr 2012.
Ibid.
