Justinian II Defied Mutilation Tradition

Byzantine emperor Justinian II, nicknamed "the Slit-Nosed," was overthrown in 695 and had his nose cut off to prevent him from seeking the throne again. Byzantine tradition barred mutilated people from imperial rule, and his enemies exiled him to Cherson in Crimea. Justinian replaced his missing nose with a solid-gold prosthesis and returned in 705 with 15,000 Bulgar and Slav horsemen. He entered Constantinople through an unused water conduit and retook the throne, breaking the tradition meant to exclude him.

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