Justinian: Intrigue at the Emperor’s Court

About this board game

Justinian: Intrigue at the Emperor’s Court is a board game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 45 minutes. Players compete to win the favor of Emperor Justinian by strengthening their position among the influential people at his court.

To advance their aims, players bribe influential persons at Justinian’s court. These bribes are represented by four different colors, creating the central framework for scoring and competition. Players seek to increase the clout of their court followers and turn that influence into victory points.

At the end of each game turn, one color is scored. When a player’s court followers have increased their clout at court in the relevant color, that player can receive victory points. However, the scoring system includes an important restriction: only three of the four colors are scored in Justinian.

• For 2–4 players
• Approximately 45 minutes per game
• Bribe influential persons at the emperor’s court
• Build clout for court followers
• Score victory points through four colored bribes, with only three colors scored

This creates a focused contest around court influence, as players work to strengthen their followers while pursuing the colors that can produce points. The end-of-turn scoring gives each color a defined moment of importance, while the exclusion of one color keeps the full set from scoring.

Released in 2006, Justinian presents a compact game of courtly competition built around bribes, influence, and victory-point scoring. Its clear color system and changing scoring focus place the emperor’s favor at the center of every game.