Theodahad: A Platonic King at the Collapse of Ostrogothic Italy

354 Pages·2014·1.265 MB·English

by  Massimiliano Vitiello

THEODAHAD: A PLATONIC KING AT THE
COLLAPSE OF OSTROGOTHIC ITALY
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Theodahad: A Platonic
King at the Collapse
of Ostrogothic Italy
MASSIMILIANO VITIELLO
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
Toronto Buffalo London
© University of Toronto Press 2014
Toronto Buffalo London
www.utppublishing.com
Printed in the U.S.A.
ISBN 978-1-4426-4783-1
Printed on acid-free, 100% post-consum er recycled paper with vegetable-
based inks.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Vitiello, Massimiliano, author
Theodahad : a platonic king at the collapse of Ostrogothic
Italy / Massimiliano Vitiello.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4426-4783-1 (bound)
1. Theodahad, King of the Ostrogoths, 480?–536. 2. Ostrogoths –
Italy – History. 3. Ostrogoths – Kings and rulers – Biography. 4. Italy –
History – 476–774. 5. Italy – Kings and rulers – Biography. I. Title.
DG508.5.V58 2014 945'.01 C2014-901986-6
Title page illustration: Theodahad’s monogram within wreath. Printed by
permission of Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
University of Toronto Press gratefully acknowledges the fi nancial assistance
of the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto in the publication of
this book.
U niversity of Toronto Press acknowledges the fi nancial assistance to its publishing
program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, an
agency of the Government of Ontario.
University of Toronto Press acknowledges the fi nancial support of the
Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for its publishing
activities.
To Joanna, my wonderful wife
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Contents
Preface xi
List of Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 3
1 Towards a Biography of Theodahad 3
2 Theodahad between Procopius of Caesarea and Cassiodorus 7
Chapter One: Theodahad the Man 14
1 Theodahad’s Childhood and Early Education 15
2 Theodahad, the Education of the Gothic Youth and the Amal Family 21
3 Philosophy in the Education of Theodahad 24
4 Theodahad’s Platonism and His Disinterest in War 27
5 Theodahad, Landowner of Etruria 31
6 An Anxious, Fearful, and Hesitant King 37
Chapter Two: Theodahad the Noble 41
1 The Infl uence of Teachers from the Roman Schools on the
Gothic Court 43
2 Theodahad and the Women of the Amal Family 45
3 Theoderic and Theodahad: Between the Roman and Gothic Worlds 48
a. Theoderic and Roman Culture 48
b. Theoderic and Royalty 50
4 Theodahad as Successor of Theoderic? 52
5 Theodahad and Theoderic: An Animosity Badly Hidden or Deliberately
Flaunted? 56
vviiiiii Theodahad: A PlatoCniocn Kteinntgs of Ostrogothic Italy
Chapter Three: Theodahad the Co-Regent 59
1 Athalaric’s Death and Theodahad’s Call to the Throne 59
2 The Co-Regency 63
3 The Path to Legitimation 65
4 A “Gothic philosopher” Is Introduced to the Kingdom 69
5 The Building of Consent 73
6 The Philosopher-King and the Representation of His Co-Regent 77
7 Theodahad, Boethius’s Friends, and the Anician Family 80
a. A Family Drama 80
b. Two “Friends” of Boethius: Maximianus and Patricius 83
c. Maximus: A Marriage to Save the Kingdom? 88
Chapter Four: Theodahad the King 94
1 Ingratitude, Conspiracy, or Diplomatic Incident? 94
2 Theodahad, Justinian, and Theodora 104
3 Theodahad and Rome 111
4 Theodahad’s Diplomatic Policy: The Embassies 119
5 Pope Agapetus’s Embassy to Constantinople 128
6 Theodahad’s “Adventus” and Sojourn in Rome 132
7 Theodahad and Religion 139
8 Theodahad between the Two Italies: The Body Politic
Dismembered 144
9 Theodahad in War: Diplomatic Operations and
Attempted Alliances 148
a . The Desertion of His Son-in-Law 149
b. Military Operations Conducted at a Distance 150
c. Unsuccessful Attempts to Form Alliances 151
d. Despair and the End of Hope 152
Chapter Five: Theodahad, the End 156
1 Theodahad’s Fall and Witiges’s Coup 157
2 Legalize the Succession or Repair the Damages? Witiges
and Justinian 163
3 The End of Rome’s Liberty 169
Epilogue 174
Appendices: 179
Appendix 1: Cassiodorus’s Travels beween Ravenna and Rome 180
Appendix 2: “A Roman of note among the Goths” 185