What was Justinian's plan?

Answer 1

Justinian I wanted to 'restore' the Roman Empire by reconquering the lands lost by the western part of the Roman Empire as a result of the Germanic invasions.

Justinian's army defeated the Vandals in Africa (Vandalic War, 533-534) retaking the area of the Vandalic kingdom (northern Tunisia and eastern Algeria). The Moors of southern Tunisia and western Libya rebelled and were defeated later, in 548. Justinian wanted to restore Africa as it had been under the Romans. The religion of the Vandals, Arian Christianity, was persecuted. Many Vandals fled Africa and some went west, to Algeria, and integrated with the local Berbers. The remaining Vandals were shipped to the east and enlisted in the imperial army. The Vandal ethnic group disappeared.

Justinian managed to retake the Spanish areas along the southern coast.

Justinian I attacked the Ostrogoths in Italy, starting the Gothic War (535-54) which he won. However, this was a highly costly victory. Nineteen years of fierce fighting left some areas of northern Italy devastated and depopulated. The war depleted the resources of the empire. This and the impoverishment of Italy made it impossible for the Byzantines to oppose the invasion of northern Italy by the Lombards fifteen year later (569-72). The Lombards also took over areas of central and southern Italy. The remaining Byzantine possessions in Italy were in part of central Italy and in Apulia, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.

Justinian I also wanted to protected and consolidate the official church of the empire (the orthodox Church). He persecuted dissident Christian sects and paganism. He secured the rights of the church and the clergy and protected and expanded the monastic orders. He granted the monks the right to inherit property from private individuals and to receive annual gifts for the state and banned the confiscation of monastic property. He gave the canons of the church legal force and issued laws regarding the administration of church property, the elections, rights and obligations of the clergy, the conduct of service and episcopal jurisdiction. Justinian I was one of the most important emperors in the history of the Orthodox Church. He was described as a 'nursing father' of the church. He put it on a more solid footing, and redefined its structure.

Answer 2

To reunite the Roman Empire to its former glory