Justinian

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In Canto VI of Paradise, Justinian defines himself as "Caesar" and delivers a long speech, isolated between the end of the preceding canto and the opening of the following one. The authorized notes specify that the entire canto is occupied by a single great speech, introduced abruptly and with singular emphasis, dedicated to the providential meaning of the Empire as mediator of divine justice in history. The notes also recall that the vocabulary used by Justinian is rare and elevated, and that the great history of the eagle narrated by him closes with the reference to Charlemagne. Justinian thus appears in heaven as part of Dante's journey, pronouncing his own name and declaring his imperial identity.