The Role and Status of the Catholic Church in the Church-State Relationship Within the Roman Empire from A.D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Role and Status of the Catholic Church in the Church-State Relationship Within the Roman Empire from A.D Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2009 The Role and Status of the Catholic Church in the Church-State Relationship Within the Roman Empire from A.D. 306 to 814 Jean Carlos Zukowski Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Catholic Studies Commons, and the History of Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Zukowski, Jean Carlos, "The Role and Status of the Catholic Church in the Church-State Relationship Within the Roman Empire from A.D. 306 to 814" (2009). Dissertations. 174. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/174 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE ROLE AND STATUS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE ROMAN EMPIRE FROM A.D. 306 TO 814 A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Jean Carlos Zukowski July 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................. viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 Background of the Problem ........................ 1 Statement of the Problem .......................... 4 Purpose .................................... 6 Justification for the Research ........................ 6 Scope/Delimitations ............................. 7 Methodology ................................. 9 II. ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ON CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS AT THE TIME OF CONSTANTINE ........................ 12 Introduction .................................. 12 The Christian Church and the State before Constantine ............................... 13 Church and State in the NT ...................... 15 Overview of the Development of Church and State Understanding ........................... 20 Summary ................................. 28 Roman Religious Policy .......................... 29 Summary ................................... 39 Constantine and the Christian Church ................... 40 The Edict of Milan (A.D. 313) .................... 42 The Donatist Crisis ........................... 47 The Council of Nicaea ......................... 56 Constantine, the Bishops, and the Church .............. 66 Constantine‘s Choice ....................... 66 Constantine and the Bishops ................... 70 Constantine and the Aristocracy ................ 72 Constantine and the Church ................... 73 Summary ................................. 84 Conclusion .................................. 85 iii III. ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ON CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS FROM CONSTANTINE‘S SONS TO JUSTINIAN ................. 88 Introduction .................................. 88 Religious Policies from Constantine‘s Sons to Justinian ................................. 90 Religious Policies Related to Church Affairs ............ 91 Religious Legislation Related to Catholic Church Affairs ........................ 94 Religious Legislation regarding Heretics and Schismatics .......................... 100 Religious Policies regarding Non-Christians ............ 102 Religious Legislation against Pagans .............. 103 Religious Legislation against Jews ............... 106 Summary ................................. 108 Bishops‘ Responses to Imperial Intervention in Church Affairs ............................. 109 The Development of the Ecclesiastical Supremacy of the Bishop of Rome ...................... 114 Summary ................................. 130 The Church in the West and the Barbarian Invasions .......... 131 The Political Situation in Italy after the Barbarian Invasions .............................. 133 Summary ................................. 143 Justinian‘s Policies on Church-State Relationships ........... 143 Theological Controversies Inherited by Justinian—Chalcedon and the Acacian Schism ............................... 146 Justinian‘s Ecclesiastical Policies .................. 151 Justinian and the Bishops of Rome on Church-State Relationships ................. 152 Justinian and Popes Felix IV, Boniface II (530-532), John II (533-535), and Agapetus ......................... 153 Justinian and Popes Silverius, Vigilius, and Pelagius I ...................... 157 The Political Implications of the Gothic War for Church-State Relationships in Italy .......... 166 The Corpus Juris Civilis ..................... 169 Justinian‘s policies regarding pagans, Jews, Samaritans, and Heretics ............ 178 Summary ................................. 182 Conclusion .................................. 1840 iv IV. ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ON CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS DURING CLOVIS‘S REIGN (A.D. 481-511) ................ 190 Introduction .................................. 190 Gaul before Clovis .............................. 192 Demographic Background ....................... 192 Political Background .......................... 196 Religious Background ......................... 200 Theological Trends ........................ 201 Christian Writers and Military Affairs ............. 202 The Catholic Diocesan System ................. 204 Historical Background ......................... 208 Summary ................................. 209 Clovis‘s Kingdom .............................. 211 Introduction ............................... 211 Beginning of Reign (481 or 482) ................... 212 War against Syagrius (486) ...................... 213 Clovis‘s Marriage (492-493) ..................... 215 War against the Alamanni (496 or 506) and Clovis‘s Baptism (496 or 508) ................. 216 War against the Visigoths ....................... 226 Clovis and the Council of Orléans .................. 229 The Salic Law .............................. 231 Summary ................................. 234 Frankish Expansion and the Church-State Relationship during Clovis‘s Reign ................. 235 Introduction ............................... 235 Frankish Expansion .......................... 236 Expansion, not Migration .................... 236 Assimilation of Local Institutions and Rulers ......... 237 Geographical Position ...................... 238 Religious Factors ......................... 238 The Council of Orléans ........................ 242 Summary ................................. 245 The Impact of Clovis‘s Conversion Described by Historians and Theologians ...................... 246 Introduction ............................... 246 Clovis, the Champion of Catholicism ................ 247 Movement toward Independence ................... 249 Historical Criticism........................... 250 Conclusion .................................. 251 v V. ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ON CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS FROM POPE GREGORY THE GREAT TO CHARLEMAGNE .......... 254 Introduction .................................. 254 The Merovingian Kingdom and Its Decline after Clovis .................................. 256 Carolingian Dynasty ............................. 262 Charles Martel ............................. 263 Pepin the Short ............................. 266 Charlemagne .............................. 267 Religious Reform ......................... 269 The Temporal Authority of the Papacy up to Charlemagne ......................... 273 Church-State Relationships ................... 288 Summary and Conclusion.......................... 298 VI. ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF THE MODELS OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIPS DURING THE RULERSHIPS OF CONSTANTINE, CLOVIS, JUSTINIAN, AND CHARLEMAGNE .................... 302 Introduction .................................. 302 Similarities and Differences ........................ 303 Emperors and Catholicism ...................... 303 Emperor‘s Appointment ........................ 305 Theology and Religious Tolerance .................. 307 Relationship with Bishops ....................... 308 Legislation ................................ 311 Historical Development ........................... 313 Constantine ............................... 313 From Constantine‘s Sons to Justinian ................ 315 Church-State under Barbarian Government ............. 317 Justinian ................................. 319 Charlemagne .............................. 327 Summary and Conclusion.......................... 328 VII. CONCLUSION .................................. 332 vi Appendix A. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF BISHOPS OF ROME, ROMAN EMPERORS, AND FRANKISH KINGS FROM A.D. 280-816 .................................... 343 B. THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS—MAPS ............................... 357 C. THE FRANKS FROM CLOVIS TO CHARLEMAGNE— MAPS ......................................... 362 D. ITALY AND ROME—MAPS .......................... 367 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................... 370 Primary Sources .................................. 378 Secondary Sources ................................. 379 vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACO Acta Conciliorum Oecumenicorum, Series I, ed. E. Schwartz
Recommended publications
  • The Arian Controversy, Its Ramifications and Lessons for the Ghanaian Church
    International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714 www.ijhssi.org Volume 2 Issue 11ǁ November. 2013ǁ PP.48-54 The Arian Controversy, its Ramifications and Lessons for the Ghanaian Church IDDRISSU ADAM SHAIBU Department of Religion & Human Values, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast-Ghana ABSTRACT: The thrust of this paper is to explore the Arian controversy, the ramifications of decisions taken by the various councils on the body of Jesus Christ and the possible lessons that the Ghanaian Church can learn from these ramifications. This was done by reviewing literature on the Arian controversy. It came out that Arianism was condemned at the council of Nicaea. However, this did not end the controversy due to the inclusion of a word that was deemed unbiblical and the interferences of some Roman Emperors.The paper concludes that it is advisable that the church ought to have the capacity to deal with her internal problems without the support of a third party, especially those without any theological insight to issues of the Church. It seldom leads to cribbing, leads to negativity, breeds tension and sometimes fighting/civil war which then lead to destruction of lives and properties. I. THE GREACO-ROMAN WORLD Although, Christianity emerged in the Roman world, it matured in the world of Greek philosophy and ideas. The Greek world was one that paid much respect to philosophical sophistication. The Early Church was thus permeated and penetrated by this philosophical sophistication (Hellenism) (Weaver, 1987). The religion in its earliest form can be said to be a hellenistic movement that attracted hellenised people from different ethnic groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Journeys to Byzantium? Roman Senators Between Rome and Constantinople
    Journeys to Byzantium? Roman Senators Between Rome and Constantinople Master’s Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Michael Anthony Carrozzo, B.A Graduate Program in History The Ohio State University 2010 Thesis Committee: Kristina Sessa, Advisor Timothy Gregory Anthony Kaldellis Copyright by Michael Anthony Carrozzo 2010 Abstract For over a thousand years, the members of the Roman senatorial aristocracy played a pivotal role in the political and social life of the Roman state. Despite being eclipsed by the power of the emperors in the first century BC, the men who made up this order continued to act as the keepers of Roman civilization for the next four hundred years, maintaining their traditions even beyond the disappearance of an emperor in the West. Despite their longevity, the members of the senatorial aristocracy faced an existential crisis following the Ostrogothic conquest of the Italian peninsula, when the forces of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I invaded their homeland to contest its ownership. Considering the role they played in the later Roman Empire, the disappearance of the Roman senatorial aristocracy following this conflict is a seminal event in the history of Italy and Western Europe, as well as Late Antiquity. Two explanations have been offered to explain the subsequent disappearance of the Roman senatorial aristocracy. The first involves a series of migrations, beginning before the Gothic War, from Italy to Constantinople, in which members of this body abandoned their homes and settled in the eastern capital.
    [Show full text]
  • Paul's 'Works of the Law' in the Perspective Of
    Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament · 2. Reihe Herausgeber / Editor Jörg Frey (Zürich) Mitherausgeber/Associate Editors Markus Bockmuehl (Oxford) ∙ James A. Kelhoffer (Uppsala) Tobias Nicklas (Regensburg) ∙ J. Ross Wagner (Durham, NC) 468 Matthew J. Thomas Paul’s ‘Works of the Law’ in the Perspective of Second Century Reception Mohr Siebeck Matthew J. Thomas, born 1985; BA, Pepperdine University; MCS, Regent College; D.Phil, University of Oxford; currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, and Instructor in Theology for Regent College. orcid.org/0000-0002-0498-7848 ISBN 978-3-16-156275-4 / eISBN 978-3-16-156281-5 DOI 10.1628 / 978-3-16-156281-5 ISSN 0340-9570 / eISSN 2568-7484 (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testa- ment, 2. Reihe) The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliographie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. © 2018 Mohr Siebeck Tübingen, Germany. www.mohrsiebeck.com This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher’s written permission. This applies particularly to repro- ductions, translations and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Laupp & Göbel in Gomaringen on non-aging paper and bound by Buchbinderei Nädele in Nehren. Printed in Germany. For Nabeel Qureshi (1983–2017) Preface This book is a lightly revised version of my doctoral dissertation at the Universi- ty of Oxford, and my family and I are indebted to many individuals for their encouragement to pursue the project and helping to bring it to completion.
    [Show full text]
  • Palladas and the Age of Constantine Author(S): KEVIN W
    Palladas and the Age of Constantine Author(s): KEVIN W. WILKINSON Source: The Journal of Roman Studies , 2009, Vol. 99 (2009), pp. 36-60 Published by: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies constantinethegreatcoins.com Palladas and the Age of Constantine* KEVIN W. WILKINSON The poet and grammarian Palladas of Alexandria, author of more than 150 epigrams in the Greek Anthology, has remained a somewhat elusive figure. Though no epigrammatist is better represented in our two major sources for the Anthology, scarcely a trace of his exist- ence survives outside of his corpus of poems. His identity was so shadowy in the Byzantine period that he did not even warrant a mention in the Suda. By the tenth century, therefore, and presumably long before that time, 'Palladas' was merely the name of a man who had written some decent epigrams. Several clues remain, however, that allow us to locate him in a particular historical context. The history of scholarship on this problem is long and complex, but two rough timelines for his life have been proposed. The traditional estimate of his dates was c. A.D. 360-450. This was revised in the middle of the twentieth century to c. A.D. 319-400. It is my contention that the first of these is about a century too late and the second approximately sixty years too late. Such challenges to long-held opinion do not always enjoy a happy fate. Nevertheless, there are those cases in which the weight of scholarly tradition rests on surprisingly shaky foundations and in which a careful review of the evidence can result in significant improvements.1 The following argument proceeds in six stages: summary of the foundations for the traditional dates (1) and the current consensus (11); discussion of two external clues (in); challenge to the prevailing views (iv); construction of a new timeline (v); conclusions (vi).
    [Show full text]
  • 3. Fragments of the Apostolic Fathers by Tim Warner © Copyright
    The Evolution of God 3. Fragments of the Apostolic Fathers By Tim Warner © Copyright www.4windsfellowships.net he earliest Christian writers whose works have survived, those known to have direct connections to the Apostles, were one disciple of Paul (Clement of Rome) T and two disciples of John (Polycarp1 of Smyrna and Ignatius2 of Antioch). These authors had been personally instructed by the Apostles and were leaders within the Christian assemblies established by the Apostles. The writings of these men were addressed to fellow believers or assemblies, being pastoral in nature rather than apologetic. They did not attempt to refute heresy or extensively define doctrines, since commonality of doctrine was assumed between writer and his audience. Their surviving works did not attempt to interact with pagans or portray Christianity in ways the pagans could easily digest. They were intended to be read and digested by Christians. These most ancient specimens reflect the common Christian belief in the personal preexistence of the Son of God as the “Word” (Logos) of John’s prologue, His emptying Himself to become fully human, His exaltation to the right hand of God, and His future role as King. Earliest Christian Writers with direct Connections to the Apostles: Clement of Rome: In his epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome referred to Jesus Christ as the speaker in Psalm 118:18, calling Him the “Word.” Clement writes: “For thus saith the holy Word: ‘The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death.’”3 That the one speaking in Psalm 118 is the Son of God is shown just four verses later: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT the Apostolic Tradition in the Ecclesiastical Histories Of
    ABSTRACT The Apostolic Tradition in the Ecclesiastical Histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret Scott A. Rushing, Ph.D. Mentor: Daniel H. Williams, Ph.D. This dissertation analyzes the transposition of the apostolic tradition in the fifth-century ecclesiastical histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret. In the early patristic era, the apostolic tradition was defined as the transmission of the apostles’ teachings through the forms of Scripture, the rule of faith, and episcopal succession. Early Christians, e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen, believed that these channels preserved the original apostolic doctrines, and that the Church had faithfully handed them to successive generations. The Greek historians located the quintessence of the apostolic tradition through these traditional channels. However, the content of the tradition became transposed as a result of three historical movements during the fourth century: (1) Constantine inaugurated an era of Christian emperors, (2) the Council of Nicaea promulgated a creed in 325 A.D., and (3) monasticism emerged as a counter-cultural movement. Due to the confluence of these sweeping historical developments, the historians assumed the Nicene creed, the monastics, and Christian emperors into their taxonomy of the apostolic tradition. For reasons that crystallize long after Nicaea, the historians concluded that pro-Nicene theology epitomized the apostolic message. They accepted the introduction of new vocabulary, e.g. homoousios, as the standard of orthodoxy. In addition, the historians commended the pro- Nicene monastics and emperors as orthodox exemplars responsible for defending the apostolic tradition against the attacks of heretical enemies. The second chapter of this dissertation surveys the development of the apostolic tradition.
    [Show full text]
  • Sidonius' World
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-42921-4 — Reading Sidonius' Epistles M. P. Hanaghan Excerpt More Information 1 CHAPTER 1 Sidonius’ World As a young man in the 440s and 450s Sidonius enjoyed all the traditional markers of the Roman elite: a noble birth, a classical education, a good marriage, privilege, and wealth. 1 By his death in the mid to late 480s the great secular Gallo- Roman aristocrat of his age was a bishop. 2 Barbarians likely lodged in his villa. 3 h ey certainly occupied his see, Clermont. His wife’s father had been murdered shortly after becoming emperor. 4 h e last Roman emperor in the West was dead, and the next generation inspired Sidonius with little coni dence that his belletrism would continue in the family, or even the Gallo- Roman aristocracy. Documenting accurately this fascinating period was not Sidonius’ aim – he checked himself from writing history. 5 If he was, as McLynn claims “Fifth Century Gaul’s … great historian manqué ,” this miss is of his own making. 6 Events during the 1 h e exact date of Sidonius’ marriage to Papianilla, the daughter of Fl. Eparchius Avitus is unclear. Loyen ( 1970a : x) suggested that Sidonius was twenty, Stevens ( 1933 : 19) proposes a slightly later date. For two later assessments of Sidonius’ life see Gregory of Tours 2.22 and Gennadius of Marseilles 92, neither of which may be relied upon with any certainity; Gregory manipulates Sidonius as a source when it suits him and on occasion misreads his meaning, for an example of which see Moorhead ( 2007 : 331), and for detailed analysis Furbetta ( 2015c ).
    [Show full text]
  • Paganism and Idolatry in Near Eastern Christianity
    Durham E-Theses 'The Gods of the Nations are Idols' (Ps. 96:5): Paganism and Idolatry in Near Eastern Christianity NICHOLS, SEBASTIAN,TOBY How to cite: NICHOLS, SEBASTIAN,TOBY (2014) 'The Gods of the Nations are Idols' (Ps. 96:5): Paganism and Idolatry in Near Eastern Christianity, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10616/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Sebastian Toby Nichols ‘The Gods of the Nations are Idols’ (Ps. 96:5): Paganism and Idolatry in Near Eastern Christianity This thesis will explore the presentation in Christian literature of gentile religious life in the Roman Near East in the first few centuries AD. It will do so by performing a close study of three sources – the Syriac Oration of Meliton the Philosopher, the Syriac translation of the Apology of Aristides, and the Greek Address to the Greeks of Tatian.
    [Show full text]
  • [J'u(Y I I, 1872
    200 NATURE [J'u(y I I, 1872 ployed. A number of tables give some interesting details rigidity of the earth, are so many concurrent evidences that our relative to the n:imber of miners, the machinery in use, planet, if not actually solid to the centre, has a crust far thicker from which may be gathered some idea of than can be accounted for by the theory of a liquid globe, covered and its value, This dis­ of the several gold fields in only with a crust resulting from superficial cooling." the extent and importance time seems to have had the effect of of Ballarat appears at cussion of the subject at that the colony. Of these fields, that to the front the defenders of the latter theo~y, which, of miners bringing the head of the list, showing a total number in the pJpular mind at least, has a mythological rather than a employed of 13,892, the approximate value of mining plant scientific foundation. It was, therefore, we_ll th,t Sir William being 516,825!.; 134½ square miles of_auriferous ground Thomson should repeat his argument,. are actually worked upon, and 189 aunferous reefs have Mr. Fisher has in this connectioo, in NATURE for January 25, been proved. In this district also occur the deepest referred to the distribution of fluid ignited matter within the shafts, two of which reach the depths of 866 ft. and 900 ft. earth, and to the relation pf volcanoes to great lines of elevation, respectively. The price of Ballarat gold varies from which would seem to show that the local distribution of such 3/.
    [Show full text]
  • The Edictum Theoderici: a Study of a Roman Legal Document from Ostrogothic Italy
    The Edictum Theoderici: A Study of a Roman Legal Document from Ostrogothic Italy By Sean D.W. Lafferty A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of History University of Toronto © Copyright by Sean D.W. Lafferty 2010 The Edictum Theoderici: A Study of a Roman Legal Document from Ostrogothic Italy Sean D.W. Lafferty Doctor of Philosophy Department of History University of Toronto 2010 Abstract This is a study of a Roman legal document of unknown date and debated origin conventionally known as the Edictum Theoderici (ET). Comprised of 154 edicta, or provisions, in addition to a prologue and epilogue, the ET is a significant but largely overlooked document for understanding the institutions of Roman law, legal administration and society in the West from the fourth to early sixth century. The purpose is to situate the text within its proper historical and legal context, to understand better the processes involved in the creation of new law in the post-Roman world, as well as to appreciate how the various social, political and cultural changes associated with the end of the classical world and the beginning of the Middle Ages manifested themselves in the domain of Roman law. It is argued here that the ET was produced by a group of unknown Roman jurisprudents working under the instructions of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic the Great (493-526), and was intended as a guide for settling disputes between the Roman and Ostrogothic inhabitants of Italy. A study of its contents in relation to earlier Roman law and legal custom preserved in imperial decrees and juristic commentaries offers a revealing glimpse into how, and to what extent, Roman law survived and evolved in Italy following the decline and eventual collapse of imperial authority in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Jordanes and the Invention of Roman-Gothic History Dissertation
    Empire of Hope and Tragedy: Jordanes and the Invention of Roman-Gothic History Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Brian Swain Graduate Program in History The Ohio State University 2014 Dissertation Committee: Timothy Gregory, Co-advisor Anthony Kaldellis Kristina Sessa, Co-advisor Copyright by Brian Swain 2014 Abstract This dissertation explores the intersection of political and ethnic conflict during the emperor Justinian’s wars of reconquest through the figure and texts of Jordanes, the earliest barbarian voice to survive antiquity. Jordanes was ethnically Gothic - and yet he also claimed a Roman identity. Writing from Constantinople in 551, he penned two Latin histories on the Gothic and Roman pasts respectively. Crucially, Jordanes wrote while Goths and Romans clashed in the imperial war to reclaim the Italian homeland that had been under Gothic rule since 493. That a Roman Goth wrote about Goths while Rome was at war with Goths is significant and has no analogue in the ancient record. I argue that it was precisely this conflict which prompted Jordanes’ historical inquiry. Jordanes, though, has long been considered a mere copyist, and seldom treated as an historian with ideas of his own. And the few scholars who have treated Jordanes as an original author have dampened the significance of his Gothicness by arguing that barbarian ethnicities were evanescent and subsumed by the gravity of a Roman political identity. They hold that Jordanes was simply a Roman who can tell us only about Roman things, and supported the Roman emperor in his war against the Goths.
    [Show full text]
  • Guido M. Berndt the Armament of Lombard Warriors in Italy. Some Historical and Archaeological Approaches
    The Armament of Lombard Warriors in Italy 299 Guido M. Berndt The Armament of Lombard Warriors in Italy. Some Historical and Archaeological Approaches Early medieval Europe has often been branded as they have entered upon the sacred soil of Italy, a violent dark age, in which fierce warlords, war- speaks of mere savage delight in bloodshed and riors and warrior-kings played a dominant role in the rudest forms of sensual indulgence; they are the political structuring of societies. Indeed, one the anarchists of the Völkerwanderung, whose de- quite familiar picture is of the early Middle Ages as light is only in destruction, and who seem inca- a period in which armed conflicts and military life pable of culture”.5 This statement was but one in were so much a part of political and cultural devel- a long-lasting debate concerning one particular opment, as well as daily life, that a broad account question that haunted (mainly) Italian historians of the period is to large extent a description of how and antiquarians especially in the nineteenth cen- men went to war.1 Even in phases of peace, the tury – although it had its roots in the fifteenth conduct of warrior-elites set many of the societal century – regarding the role that the Lombards standards. Those who held power in society typi- played in the history of the Italian nation.6 Simply cally carried weapons and had a strong inclination put, the question was whether the Lombards could to settle disputes by violence, creating a martial at- have contributed anything positive to the history mosphere to everyday life in their realms.
    [Show full text]