University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--History History 2017 THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUSTINIANIC RELIGIOUS POLICY PRIOR TO THE THREE CHAPTERS CONTROVERSY Joshua McKay Powell University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0827-8106 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.298 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Powell, Joshua McKay, "THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUSTINIANIC RELIGIOUS POLICY PRIOR TO THE THREE CHAPTERS CONTROVERSY" (2017). Theses and Dissertations--History. 48. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/48 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the History at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--History by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Joshua McKay Powell, Student Dr. David Olster, Major Professor Dr. David Hamilton, Director of Graduate Studies THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUSTINIANIC RELIGIOUS POLICY PRIOR TO THE THREE CHAPTERS CONTROVERSY ______________________________ DISSERTATION ______________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Joshua McKay Powell Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. David Olster, Professor of History Lexington, Kentucky 2017 Copyright © Joshua McKay Powell 2017 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUSTINIANIC RELIGIOUS POLICY PRIOR TO THE THREE CHAPTERS CONTROVERSY The emperor Justinian's religious policy has sometimes been characterized as haphazard or incoherent. This dissertation examines religious policy in the Roman Empire from the accession of the emperor Justin to the inception of the Three Chapters controversy in the mid 540's AD. It considers the resolution of the Acacian Schism, Justinian's apparent ambivalence with regard to the Theopaschite formula, the attempt to court the anti-Chalcedonians in Constantinople in the period leading up to the Council of 536, and the relationship between the genesis of the Three Chapters and Second Origenist controversies. Even during these seemingly disparate episodes, this dissertation argues that it is possible to account for the apparent incoherence of this period. To do so, we create an account which includes and appreciates the embeddedness of imperial policy within a social context with two key features. First, we must bear in mind the shifting interests and information available to the individual agents through and over whom the emperor hoped to project influence. Second, we must identify the shifting and hardening symbolic and social boundaries established through the interactions of these same, competing agents. These form the basis for in- and out-group categorization. The individual interests of individual people—whether Justinian, Vitalian, Dioscorus, Leontius, Eusebius, Theodore Askidas, or Pelagius—within complex networks must always be accounted for to give a complete picture. When this social context is accounted for, Justinian's approach appears as that of a rational actor, having incomplete information, with consistent policy goals, working within inconsistent constraints to achieve those goals. Joshua Powell 7/26/2017 THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF JUSTINIANIC RELIGIOUS POLICY PRIOR TO THE THREE CHAPTERS CONTROVERSY By Joshua McKay Powell Dr. David Olster Director of Dissertation Dr. David Hamilton Director of Graduate Studies 7/26/2017 For Linda, my mother. Αἰωνία ἡ µνήµη. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Although this dissertation bears my name, much that is worthwhile in it, and nothing that is lacking, may be credited to the kindness and insight of others. My advisor, David Olster, offered extensive advice and the rare example of a scholar who genuinely cares to see an argument pursued to its conclusion regardless of what that conclusion might be. I offer thanks to my complete committee, including David Bradshaw, Daniel Gargola, and David Hunter. To each I owe a great debt for the knowledge they have imparted and the contributions they have made to this project. Thanks are due to my outside reader, Mark Kightlinger, whose efforts helped to see the project's completion. I would also express my gratitude to family and friends, who have offered aid and support beyond measure. Thanks are due, above all, to my wife, Mary Beth, “for her price is far above rubies.” Priceless too has always been the instruction of my father, Mitch, and the law of my mother, Linda. Finally, of my friend and colleague Rod Stearn I can only say, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................................iii Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 The Context of Imperial Administration.........................................................................1 The Dichotomy between Church and State................................................................4 Der Zickzackkurs des Justinians Kirchenpolitik......................................................14 Theoretical Background................................................................................................19 Embeddedness..........................................................................................................20 Networked Connections...........................................................................................21 Symbolic and Social Boundaries..............................................................................23 An Overview.................................................................................................................26 A Note on Nomenclature...............................................................................................28 Chapter 1: Resolving the Acacian Schism.........................................................................30 The Acacian Schism under Anastasius: An Uncomfortable Conversation...................30 Vitalian as Champion of Orthodoxy.............................................................................37 Scholarly Perspectives on Vitalian's Motives...........................................................38 Vitalian's Motives in the Sources.............................................................................43 The End of Anastasius..............................................................................................46 Delegation and Negotiation under Justin......................................................................47 Reciprocal Demands in the Aftermath..........................................................................66 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................68 Chapter 2: Dioscorus and Justinian’s Indecision...............................................................72 The Theopaschite Controversy as Paradigm of Justinianic Policy Making..................72 The Theopaschite Formula............................................................................................76 Early Scythian Connections.....................................................................................78 The Scythian's Views................................................................................................84 The Theopaschite Formula Rejected.............................................................................99 Two Sudden Changes of Heart....................................................................................111 Chapter 3: The Court’s Anti-Chalcedonians....................................................................121