Theodahad: a Platonic king at the collapse of Ostrogothic Italy

Abstract

Preface Introduction: * i. Towards a biography of Theodahad* ii. Theodahad between Procopius of Caesarea and Cassiodorus Chapter One: Theodahad the man * i. Theodahad's childhood and early education* ii. Theodahad, the education of the Gothic youth and Amal family* iii. Philosophy in the education of Theodahad* iv. Theodahad's Platonism and his disinterest in war* v. Theodahad, landowner of Etruria* vi. An anxious, fearful and hesitant king Chapter Two: Theodahad the noble * i. The influence of teachers from the Roman schools on the Gothic court* ii. Theodahad and the women of the Amal family* iii. Theoderic and Theodahad: between the Roman and Gothic worlds* a. Theoderic and Roman culture* b. Theoderic and royalty* iv. Theodahad as successor of Theoderic?* v. Theodahad and Theoderic: an animosity badly hidden or deliberately flaunted? Chapter Three: Theodahad the co-regent * i. Athalarich's death and Theodahad's call to the throne* ii. The co-regency* iii. The path to legitimation* iv. A 'Gothic philosopher' is introduced to the kingdom* v. The building of consent* vi. The philosopher-king and the representation of his co-regent* vii. Theodahad, Boethius' friends, and the Anician family* a. A family drama* b. Two 'friends' of Boethius: Maximianus and Patricius* c. Maximus: a marriage to save the kingdom? Chapter Four: Theodahad the king * i. Ingratidude, conspiracy, or diplomatic incident?* ii. Theodahad, Justinian, and Theodora* iii. Theodahad and Rome* iv. Theodahad's diplomatic policy: the embassies* v. Pope Agapetus' embassy to Constantinople* vi. Theodahad's 'adventus' and sojourn in Rome* vii. Theodahad and religion* viii. Theodahad between the two Italies: the body politic dismembered* ix. Theodahad in war: diplomatic operations and attempted alliances* a. The desertion of his son-in-law* b. Military operations conducted at a distance* c. Unsuccessful attempts to form alliances* d. The end of hope and despair Chapter Five: Theodahad, the end * i. Theodahad's fall and Witiges' coup* ii. Legalize the succession or repair the damages? Witiges and Justinian* iii. The end of Rome's Liberty Epilogue Appendices: * Appendix I: Cassiodorus' travels beween Ravenna and Rome* Appendix II: 'A Roman of note among the Goths'* Appendix III: The embassies of Variae X 19-24 and XI 13: the 'status quaestionis' Bibliography