Dynasty and collegiality : representations of imperial legitimacy, AD 284-337
This thesis investigates representations of dynastic legitimacy and imperial power in the later Roman Empire (AD 284-337). It explores the continuity and change in expressions of dynastic legitimacy by, for and about the emperors of this period, which were presented in coinage, panegyrics, and other literary and material evidence. I argue that familial relationships were used throughout this period to make legitimation claims or to counter claims made by rivals, rejecting the notion of clear breaks between the third century, the Tetrarchy and the reign of Constantine. The Tetrarchyâs creation of familial links through adoption and marriage led to a web of inter-familial relationships that they and later emperors used in promoting their own claims to imperial legitimacy. At the same time, the presentation of these imperial colleges as harmonious co-rulership relied heavily on the adaptation of pre-existing strategies, which in turn would be adapted by the emperors of the early fourth century. This thesis proceeds roughly chronologically, focusing on the regimes of individual emperors and their collaborators when possible. Chapter 1 examines the creation of the Tetrarchy as an extended âfamilyâ and the
FitzGerald, Taylor Grace
legitimacy ; imperial legitimacy ; late antiquity ; Roman Empire ; Constantine ; numismatics ; Diocletian ; Tetrarchy ; dynastic legitimacy ; dynasty ; panegyric ; Lactantius ; coins ; Maxentius ; Licinius ; collegiality ; imperial college ; co-rulership ; family ; usurpation ; late antique ; later Roman Empire ; Roman coinage ; Maximinus Daza ; Maximian ; Panegyrici Latini
Dynasty and collegiality : representations of imperial legitimacy, AD 284-337. This thesis investigates representations of dynastic legitimacy and imperial power in the later Roman Empire (AD 284-337). It explores the continuity and change in expressions of dynastic legitimacy by, for and about the emperors of this period, which were presented in coinage, panegyrics, and other literary and material evidence. I argue that familial relationships were used throughout this period to make legitimation claims or to counter claims made by rivals, rejecting the notion of clear breaks between the third century, the Tetrarchy and the reign of Constantine. The Tetrarchyâs creation of familial links through adoption and marriage led to a web of inter-familial relationships that they and later emperors used in promoting their own claims to imperial legitimacy. At the same time, the presentation of these imperial colleges as harmonious co-rulership relied heavily on the adaptation of pre-existing strategies, which in turn would be adapted by the emperors of the early fourth century. This thesis proceeds roughly chronologically, focusing on the regimes of individual emperors and their collaborators when possible. Chapter 1 examines the creation of the Tetrarchy as an extended âfamilyâ and the
dynasty representation imperial legitimacy investigate representation dynastic legitimacy imperial_power later_roman_empire explores continuity_change expression dynastic legitimacy emperor period present coinage panegyric literary material_evidence argue familial relationship use throughout_period make legitimation claim counter claim_make rival reject notion clear break reign constantine creation familial link adoption marriage lead web inter familial relationship later emperor use promote claim imperial legitimacy time presentation imperial college harmonious rulership rely_heavily adaptation pre_existing strategy turn would adapt emperor proceeds roughly chronologically focus regime individual emperor collaborator possible examines_creation extend family