The roles of Imperial women in the Later Roman Empire (AD 306-455)
This thesis examines the roles of imperial women in the later Roman Empire, with a central focus on the period from Constantine I to Valentinian III (306-455 AD). In this period the emperorâs role evolved from a military leader presiding over an itinerant court to a court-based figure, often a child, who was reliant on ceremonial presentation to display imperial prestige. In my analysis, I explore how the roles of imperial women developed alongside this evolution of the emperorâs own position. I also trace their roles in relation to other important developments of the period: the introduction of Christianity as the imperially favoured religion, the permanent division of Empire, and the series of military crises which affected the West in particular. Following an introduction that considers why relatively little is written on the women of the late antique court, the thesis is divided into two parts. In the first (Historical Overview and Models), Chapter 1 reviews the roles of imperial women in the period from Augustus to the establishment of the Tetrarchy, looking at nomenclature, coins and inscriptions, patronage activities, movements, literary portrayals, and cases where they were removed from their position.
Washington, Belinda Charlotte
Imperial women ; dynasty ; Valentinianic ; Theodosian ; panegyric ; positive and negative literary portrayals ; loss of imperial protection ; Augusta ; patronage
The roles of Imperial women in the Later Roman Empire (AD 306-455). This thesis examines the roles of imperial women in the later Roman Empire, with a central focus on the period from Constantine I to Valentinian III (306-455 AD). In this period the emperorâs role evolved from a military leader presiding over an itinerant court to a court-based figure, often a child, who was reliant on ceremonial presentation to display imperial prestige. In my analysis, I explore how the roles of imperial women developed alongside this evolution of the emperorâs own position. I also trace their roles in relation to other important developments of the period: the introduction of Christianity as the imperially favoured religion, the permanent division of Empire, and the series of military crises which affected the West in particular. Following an introduction that considers why relatively little is written on the women of the late antique court, the thesis is divided into two parts. In the first (Historical Overview and Models), Chapter 1 reviews the roles of imperial women in the period from Augustus to the establishment of the Tetrarchy, looking at nomenclature, coins and inscriptions, patronage activities, movements, literary portrayals, and cases where they were removed from their position.
role imperial woman later_roman_empire examines_role imperial woman later_roman_empire central_focus period constantine iii period emperor role evolve military leader preside itinerant court court based figure often child reliant ceremonial presentation display imperial prestige analysis explore_role imperial woman develop alongside evolution emperor position also trace role relation important development period introduction christianity favour religion permanent division empire series military crisis affect west particular following_introduction considers relatively_little write woman late_antique court divide_two_part first historical_overview models review role imperial woman period augustus establishment look nomenclature coin inscription patronage activity movement literary portrayal case remove position