Theodosius II: Rethinking the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity

Description

Theodosius II (AD 408-450) was the longest reigning Roman emperor. Ever since Edward Gibbon, he has been dismissed as mediocre and ineffectual. Yet Theodosius ruled an empire which retained its integrity while the West was broken up by barbarian invasions. This book explores Theodosius' challenges and successes. Ten essays by leading scholars of late antiquity provide important new insights into the court at Constantinople, the literary and cultural vitality of the reign, and the presentation of imperial piety and power. Much attention has been directed towards the changes promoted by Constantine at the beginning of the fourth century; much less to their crystallisation under Theodosius II. This volume explores the working out of new conceptions of the Roman Empire - its history, its rulers and its God. A substantial introduction offers a new framework for thinking afresh about the long transition from the classical world to Byzantium. Cover Theodosius II Series Title Copyright Contents Contributors Preface Frequently cited texts Chronological table Abbreviations Part I Introduction Chapter 1 Rethinking Theodosius Arcana imperii Past and present Pius princeps Part II Arcana Imperii Chapter 2 Men without women: Public power: Pulcheria Augusta Secret power: the imperial consistory Agenda for government Honours, status, patronage Codification and innovation Chapter 3 Theodosius and his generals Chapter 4 Theodosius II and the politics of the first Council of Ephesus Chapter 5 Olympiodorus of Thebes and eastern triumphalism Closing off the dynasty Systemic failure Ending the Historiae The historian and his history Part III Past and present Chapter 6 Mapping the world under Theodosius II Chapter 7 ‘The insanity of heretics must be restrained’ Chapter 8 Writing in Greek Polemicising Lives John Chrysostom Collective biography Manipulating knowledge: florilegia, dialogue, encyclopaedism (Re)casting text Stylistic levels Paraphrase and cento Patria Theodosius and the world of Theodosius Part IV Pius princeps Chapter 9 Stooping to conquer Chapter 10 The imperial subject Chapter 11 Theodosius II and his legacy in anti-Chalcedonian communal memory Bibliography Index