Byzantium

• Political theory in Byzantium

  Was Greek and Roman, later accommodated Christian beliefs
• Concept of Byzantium was not widely accepted contemporarily
• Most viewed themselves as Romans
• Some writers called the city Byzantion, most know it as the City of Constantine
• The first historian of the Christian Church was Eusebius of Caesarea
• Constantine’s conversion to a minority religion was made more acceptable by appealing to Hellenistic theories of kingship
• Isaiah could be said to have foretold the downfall of the persecutors of the Christians and the establishment of a Christian Roman Empire
• Constantinople was the first Christian city in the world, symbolic and a long-standing religious centre
• Constantine’s funeral in 337 represented the trifecta of beliefs. After all the secular and pagan funerary rites were performed, the church took over
• While he was deified by the pagans, he was sanctified by the Christians, making him the 13th apostle
• Pagan theorist Themistius said that monarchy should be a copy of the kingship of Zeus
• King possess a range of virtues
• Eusebius neatly accommodated the pagan theories to the new phenomenon of a Christian Roman Empire with a Christian monarch
• The Christian emperor was guided by the Logos of God
• Constantine was meant to have a special relationship with God, almost like friends or a viceroy
• All aspects of Byzantine society agreed that Monarchy was the best form of government
• Eusebius was the founder of Byzantine political theory
• Numerous abstract treatises on kingship or 'Mirrors for Princes' were addressed to their rulers by Byzantine writers over the centuries
• One of the earliest treatises was composed for Justinian by deacon Agapetus, including 72 precepts from Christian and pre-Christian sources
• De Administrando Imperio was compiled by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, a manual on kingcraft addressed to his son and heir Romanus II
• The treatise shows how Byzantine political theory was translated into practice, especially in matters of foreign policy and diplomacy
• Emperors could never marry a foreigner, barbarian, or gentile (except the Franks as Constantine was from there)
• Nations were meant to be intimidated by the divinity of the successors of Constantine


  Especially with the use of sacred vestments and diadems
• Emperors could never marry a foreigner, barbarian or gentile (except the Franks as Constantine was from there)
• Invention of the concept of a hierarchical world order of rulers presided over by the paterfamilias
• Designation of Charlemagne as a 'spiritual brother' of Emperor Michael I in 812


  Due to the paterfamilias' ability to bestow imperium upon someone
• Role of Emperor


  • Importance of the Title
  • Emperor chosen and appointed by God
• Manuel described as 'heir to the crown of Constantine the Great and in his spirit holding sway over all of his rightful possessions'
• Manuel liked the idea of renovatio
• Title of Constantine and Justinian as 'emperor of the Romans, faithful in Christ, born in the purple'
• Constantinople did have an imperial palace
• Coronation of Charlemagne in 800 challenged Byzantine imperial beliefs as it meant that there was no universal imperium Romanum across the east and west
• Byzantine emperors brought back their full title of Emperor of the Romans in 812


  Recognised Charlemagne as 'emperor' in an abstract sense
• All believed that the Emperor was chosen and appointed by God and thus carried out his will
• All the ceremonial activities were aimed to glorify the emperor and to implement the desired political and religious views
• The palace of the emperor was under divine protection
• Subjects were expected to bow at the feet of the emperor upon his appearance
• The Comneni were the only imperial governors to have a familial share of power
• John Tzetzes described how Manuel's opponents described the family
• Nicetas Choniates divided the Comnenian court into different categories