It is certainly not the part of a well-established and powerful government without good cause to alter and divide what has for a long time been settled and confirmed, as the strength of an empire does not depend upon a multitude of words, but upon the faithful and just administration of affairs. We have ascertained that this rule has been violated with reference to the two Provinces of Pontus, that is to say, the Hellespont and Polemoniac Pontus; for they were formerly subject to the authority of a single Governor, while at present there are two officials, without public necessity requiring it, or anyone being able to give a good reason for their existence. The proof that there is no good cause for this is that, up to this time, the two Provinces of Pontus have only had a single Count for the collection and expenditure of taxes; and if anyone should undertake to enumerate the different towns situated in both of them, he would hardly find enough for a single province. For instance, the Hellespont has eight: Amasia, Ibora, Euchaita, Zela, Andrapa, Aegeum — whose climate, that is, its agreeable location, has caused it to be included — Sinopa, and Amisus, ancient municipalities, as well as Leontopolis, which formerly was numbered among cities. Polemoniac Pontus contains five towns, namely: New Caesarea, Comana, Trapezus, Cerasus and Polemonium, for Pitius and Sebastopol should rather be included among forts than cities; and these are the towns included in the two Provinces of Pontus. Lazica is situated near them, in which is the City of Petraeon, which by Our favor, is entitled to Our name and is styled Justinianian; and also Archaeopolis and Rhodopolis, both large and ancient fortified towns, are among those which We have received from the Persians; together with Scandis, Sarapanis, Murisius, and Lusiris, and if, in addition to these, any others are included in the country of the Lazi, We are not aware of the fact. Next come the Tzani who, during Our reign, have for the first time been subjected to Roman rule. This nation has several towns which have recently been built, as well as others which are in course of construction. Then come the Suani, the Scymni, the Apsiles, the Abasges, and others, who, with the permission of God, have either been subjected to Our dominion or included among Our allies.

  But as in treating this subject, We have been brought to the consideration of different countries, We now return to the two Provinces of Pontus and the projected union of the same. We hereby establish a single province composed of the two Pontuses, which include thirteen cities, and We grant them their ancient form of government while retaining their modern appellation. For they are called the Hellespont by everyone, which name was given them by the Emperor Constantine, in memory of his most honorable mother Helena who recovered for Us the sacred emblem of Christianity. The ancient name of Polemon, which the greater number of the rulers of Pontus applied to that province, shall hereafter be abolished, first, because it was derived from that of one of the said rulers; second, for the reason that the province itself contains a city called Polemon; and finally, as it is better to designate Christian countries by the names of kings than to call them Polemi, which word conveys the meaning of war or tumult.

  The union of these thirteen cities into a single province will not have the effect of depriving either of the two capitals at present in existence (namely Amasia and New Caesarea) of that title; and the bishop of these cities shall continue to be consecrated at Constantinople by the prelates charged with this duty (as has been the custom up to this time), as We make no innovations so far as the priesthood is concerned; for many institutions of this kind having reference to bishops exist in every province, some of which have been established for centuries, and others We Ourselves have recently authorized. A single magistrate, ordinarily designated Harmostes in Greek, shall exercise jurisdiction under the title of Governor, but the name Governor is of high antiquity, and worthy of the greatness of the Romans, while the term Harmost was applied to a magistrate sent from Laca-demon with jurisdiction over conquered cities.

  Hence the official who undertakes this administration shall be called the Justinianian Governor of the Hellespont, and will assume command of the military forces stationed in that province. He shall also have an adresponsus, to whom all men, no matter to what civil condition they may belong, shall be subjected, without exemption on account of any privilege. He shall hear all cases pecuniary as well as criminal, and shall dispose of such as are insignificant in character, without record or expense; and, so far as those of greater importance are concerned, they shall be decided by him, and the proceedings recorded, but no other costs shall be incurred than those prescribed by Our Constitution. The said magistrate shall receive the emoluments granted to the two preceding ones, which amount to seven hundred and twenty-five aurei; he shall have only one court, and with it he shall be responsible for the levy of taxes, for the reason that he is the only one appointed for government in the province; his assessor shall be paid seventy-two aurei out of the Public Treasury; and the two preceding courts, which have been combined in one, shall be entitled to four hundred and forty-seven and one-third aurei.

  Moreover, the official who is discharging these duties shall not despatch deputies to the cities of his province (for the rules established by Our Imperial mandates shall be observed), but he himself shall visit the said cities, one after another, and he shall not be prevented from doing this by any law or pragmatic sanction previously promulgated, even though a former custom may have authorized something of this kind. He can establish his residence wherever he thinks best, either in one of the capitals, or in some other town, provided the latter is of sufficient importance to justify him in doing so. He must abstain from all corruption and illicit gain, and conduct his administration in such a way as not to involve the inhabitants in unnecessary expense. For neither he himself, nor any of his subordinates, nor any soldiers of his escort, shall accept anything from taxpayers, or exact anything gratuitously, and he must not molest Our subjects, or permit the soldiers who accompany him to do so, for this forms part of the instructions which We have given. He must always be mindful of the oath which he has taken, and that he received the office without paying for it; and that if he is to prove worthy of an increased allowance, he must never venture to accept any gift, unless he expects to be compelled to return it, and be subjected to severe punishment. Nor shall he permit any of his subordinates, under any pretext, to exact anything, or accept it if it is offered. If he does not see that the soldiers under his command are content with the salaries paid them, he will not escape the effects of Our righteous indignation, and will be forced to reserve enough from their pay to indemnify any of Our subjects who have suffered from their impositions.
  (1) We desire these dignitaries of high rank to be invested with great authority, not only through the number of persons composing their retinues (the Court of the Governor of the Hellespont shall consist of a hundred officials), but also because of their personal distinction (for We confer the rank of spectabile upon the Governor of the Hellespont), so that, in case of necessity, We may be enabled to avail Ourselves of magistrates endowed with formidable power, who may be in a position to assist Us. What could the Governors of provinces accomplish under the ancient form of administration, when they had very few attendants, were invested with but little authority, received but small salaries from the Public Treasury, and paid out large sums of money in order to obtain their offices? They were obliged to steal, they constantly granted favors and benefits to their creditors, who had loaned them money to enable them to purchase their offices, and who constantly threatened them. The result of this was that Governors compelled Our subjects to sell their property in order to procure for themselves revenues which were precarious and dishonestly obtained.
  (2) This unworthy condition of affairs impels Us not only to reject the proceeds of the sale of public offices, but also to refuse to sanction the enormous expenses incurred by the payment of salaries to officials; and where any kind of magistracy was formerly conferred by Our predecessors in consideration of the payment of money, We shall provide a remedy for the evil, deliver Our taxpayers from this imposition, and pay out of Our own Treasury salaries to magistrates who have been appointed to office, and by so doing give them freedom. It is true that God has been liberal to Us in this respect, so that We have not only given peace to Africa and to the nations included therein, but He has also enabled Us to relieve from great expense and infamy peoples established, so to speak, in the midst of Our Empire, against whom a new action was instituted rigorously every year; and who, instead of being subjected to the authority of a single ruler, were, at frequent intervals, placed under the administration of new magistrates. We have thought that the privilege of remedying this abuse has been conferred upon Us by God, who has placed the Imperial crown upon Our head, and who, for the common welfare, has invested Us with the purple, through the medium of Our Father, and, in short, has been more generous to Us in every respect than to any of Our predecessors.

  Your Excellency, after having received this constitution, will deliver to the Governor the great emoluments which have been granted him; and he, for his part, impressed with the importance of his office, must endeavor to render himself worthy of the distinction which We have conferred upon him, by being careful to observe the provisions of this law.