believers and the Monophysites. Orthodox believers, who honored the conclusions of the Council of Chalcedon, said Jesus had two natures in one person. Monophysites said Jesus had one nature, his divinity having swallowed up his humanity like a “drop of wine in the ocean.” Justinian believed the dispute was a misunderstanding and wanted to reconcile the parties. But more than theology was at stake. The Monophysites, centered in Egypt, controlled the grain exporting regions of the empire. And then