Avar Embassy to Constantinople in 565

Relevance. The study of Avar embassy to Constantinople in 565 is essential for understanding the mechanisms of Late Antiquity diplomacy, particularly the policy of subsidies toward nomadic peoples. This event marked a pivotal moment in the transition from the relatively tolerant foreign policy of Justinian I (527–565) to the more assertive approach of Justin II (565–578), which significantly influenced the subsequent development of Avar-Roman relations and the balance of power along Danube frontier of the Empire. The topic remains relevant due to the lack of dedicated scholarly works focused specifically on this embassy, despite its importance for the history of Avar expansion in Europe. Аim of the research is to reconstruct the course, content, and consequences of Avar embassy to Emperor Justin II in November – December 565, as well as to determine its place within the broader context of Avar-Byzantine diplomacy in the second half of 6th and early 7th centuries. Methods. The study is based on a critical analysis of contemporary narrative sources, primarily fragments from the «History» of Menander the Guardsman and «Ecclesiastical History» by John of Ephesus. Additional evidence is drawn from the works of Corippus, Paul the Deacon, Theophanes the Confessor, and preamble to Novel No. 148 of Justin II. The methodology includes source criticism, comparative analysis of testimonies from different authors, and historical reconstruction of events, taking into account the diplomatic protocol and political context of the era. Results. It has been established that the embassy arrived in Constantinople shortly after the death of Justinian I (14 November 565), most likely in late November or early December. The Avar envoys demanded the continuation of subsidies and territorial concessions, referring to the treaty of 557–558 and issuing veiled threats to the emperor. Justin II firmly refused the subsidies and gifts, accusing the Avars of breaching prior obligations and signaling a new policy of rejecting systematic payments to barbarians. The envoys were dismissed without the customary gifts, marking a definitive rupture in diplomatic relations for the immediate years ahead. Conclusions. Embassy of 565 illustrates the inherent instability of diplomacy between the Avars and the Roman Empire, rooted in the duplicitous nature of nomadic policy. Justin’s refusal was justified in light of the Avars’ earlier violations of the treaty and Empire’s financial difficulties. This event shaped the subsequent aggressive stance of Avars toward Empire and served as one of the factors leading to the war between the two sides in 568–570. The findings of the study underscore the need for further examination of individual diplomatic missions as indicators of broader shifts in Constantinople’s foreign policy during the mid-to-late 6th century.