Po redaktohet Justiniana Prima (paragraf)

==History==
[[File:Justiniana_Prima,_aeroimage.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Aeroimage in 1937. Photo archive of the Military Geographical  Institute of Serbia<ref>[http://www.vgi.mod.gov.rs/  The Military Geographical  Institute of Serbia]</ref>]]

The city was founded by Emperor [[Justinian I]] in 535. It existed until 615 and was designed as the seat of the [[Archbishopric of Justiniana Prima]]. The ''arch-priest of the Illyrians'' ('Ιλλυριών άρχιερεύς) seated in Justinian Prima had jurisdiction over [[Dacia Ripensis]], [[Dacia Mediterranea]], northern [[Moesia Superior]], [[Dardania (Roman province)|Dardania]], [[Macedonia Salutaris]], [[Praevalitana]] and the territory of [[Bassianae]] in [[Pannonia Secunda]]. {{sfn|Ivanišević|2014|p=223}} The establishment of the Archbishopric is mentioned in Justinian's own Novel XI from 535, when he promotes the [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] to an Archbishop, independent from the [[Archbishop of Thessalonica]]. The establishment is seen as part of the feud between Justinian and the Archbishop of [[Eastern Illyricum]], who was a papal vicar.<ref>p. 100, excerpts from his ''novella''</ref> 
The city was to become capital of Illyricum, but Thessaloniki was preferred and Justinian Prima received jurisdiction over the territories of the [[Diocese of Dacia]]. Still, the new foundation was not without importance and Justinian made sure that this city, which was one of his favourite projects, received all the necessary support. In 545 Justinian issued another law underlining the episcopal rights and status of Justiniana Prima, which is also confirmed by letters that were exchanged between Justinian and [[Pope Gregory I]] at the end of the 6th century.

The city planning combined classical and Christian elements: [[thermae]], a levantine agorai, and streets with colonnades. Typical Eastern Mediterranean features went along with numerous churches. [[Procopius]], in his ''[[De aedificiis|The Buildings]]'', describes the city as follows:

{{bquote|He therefore built a wall of small compass about this place in the form of a square, placing a tower at each corner, and caused it to be called, as it actually is, Tetrapyrgia. And close by this place he built a very notable city which he named Justiniana Prima, thus paying a debt of gratitude to the home that fostered him. In that place also he constructed an aqueduct and so caused the city to be abundantly supplied with ever-running water. And many other enterprises were carried out by the founder of this city - works of great size and worthy of especial note. For to enumerate the churches is not easy, and it is impossible to tell in words of the lodgings for magistrates, the great [[stoa]]s, the fine marketplaces, the fountains, the streets, the baths, the shops. In brief, the city is both great and populous and blessed in every way.}}

The town was abandoned at around 615. Invading [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] coming from north of the Danube may be one factor, missing political interest in the town after the time of Justinian may be another. Among many other imported finds the presence of 2 pieces of a specific type of fibulae<ref>Мано-Зиси 1955: 168–170; 1957: 313</ref> and handmade pottery have been understood as an indication of the presence of Slavs already before the Avar incursion.<ref>Janković</ref>