Why Justinian II, the Byzantine Emperor, Had a Golden Nose

(Image credit: Marvel fan number 1/Wikimedia Commons)

Justinian II was only 16 years old when he became emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 685. He was ruthless, merciless, and brutal to his subjects. But what he's most famous for is his prosthetic golden nose. And the story behind it is the greatest revenge story in history.

When Justinian was deposed, his enemies cut off his nose because they believed that it would prevent him from showing his face again and returning to power. However, Justinian did exactly the opposite of what his enemies expected.

For over ten years, Justinian gathered allies among the Slavic tribes and he amassed an army large enough to take back his throne. So, in 705, he sailed back to Constantinople. With a golden prosthetic nose, he reclaimed the throne and beheaded his enemies.