Editing Justin II (section)

==Early life==
Justin's early years are largely obscure. A thirteenth-century chronicle suggests 511 as Justin's birth date, but its reliability is not known with certainty. Historian Ernst Stein assumes he was born by 520 at the latest, as his contemporary [[Corippus]] compliments his "excellent" age at his accession in 565. At some point, he married Sophia, possibly in the 540s.{{sfn|Lin|2021|p=123}}

During Justinian's reign, he served in the position of ''[[Kouropalates|curopalates]]'' at the court. He is first attested in the contemporary sources from 552 and 553 as being part of the embassy to [[Pope Vigilius]] during the [[Three-Chapter Controversy]].{{sfn|Lin|2021|pp=123–124}} 

In 559, he was sent by Justinian to escort the [[Kutrigurs|Kutrigur]] raiders retreating across the [[Danube]]. In 562 and 563, he was in charge of dissipating the urban riots caused by the [[Chariot racing#Byzantine racing factions|circus factions]] in [[Constantinople]].{{sfn|Lin|2021|p=128}} 

Over time, he built a network of supporters in the court. In the early 560s, his wife Sophia and his supporters were said to have pleaded with Justinian to name him [[Caesar (title)|''caesar'']], albeit unsuccessfully.{{sfn|Lin|2021|p=129}} Historian Sihong Lin writes that early on, Justin was seen as an "energetic, even well-liked individual."{{sfn|Lin|2021|p=142}}