2-640-699 - © CM Dixon/Heritage Images

Byzantine Floor Mosaic in the Great Palace, Istanbul, 565 - 578 AD, (20th century). The Great Palace of Constantinople, was a large Imperial Byzantine palace complex which served as the main royal residence of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine emperors from 330 to 1081 and was the centre of imperial administration for over 800 years. Justinian I was a Byzantine (East Roman) emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the empire's greatness.