Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West, 411-533

Description

Warfare and dislocation are obvious features of the break-up of the late Roman West, but this crucial period of change was characterized also by communication and diplomacy. The great events of the late antique West were determined by the quieter labours of countless envoys, who travelled between emperors, kings, generals, high officials, bishops, provincial councils, and cities. This book examines the role of envoys in the period from the establishment of the first 'barbarian kingdoms' in the West, to the eve of Justinian's wars of re-conquest. It shows how ongoing practices of Roman imperial administration shaped new patterns of political interaction in the novel context of the earliest medieval states. Close analysis of sources with special interest in embassies offers insight into a variety of genres: chronicles, panegyrics, hagiographies, letters and epitaph. This study makes a significant contribution to the developing field of ancient and medieval communications.

Andrew Gillett is Research Fellow in the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Sydney.

From the hardback review: 'Envoys and Political Communication is a valuable study both of the important role that embassies played in the Late Antique world and of the literary sources from which our evidence for those embassies derives. The stated aim of the book was to make 'a significant contribution to the developing field of ancient and medieval communication'. This Gillett has certainly achieved.' English Historical Review From the hardback review: '... Gillet has produced an extremely learned and engaging study that deserves a very warm welcome from everyone interested in the transformation of the Roman world and the emergence of the early Middle Ages. It is lucid, fully documented, and it lays a very strong basis for any further research in the field.' Scripta Classica Israelica