Essays on Institutions, Politics, and Political Events in the Later Roman Empire

The period from the late fourth to the sixth century C.E. saw the collapse of the Roman empire in the West, and the emergence of the Eastern or “Byzantine” empire, with a distinctive culture that preserved many Roman traditions.

This book is a collection of ten articles that appeared between 2001 and 2015 in a variety of academic publications. The time span covered is 379 to 565 C.E., from the accession of emperor Theodosius I to the death of emperor Justinian I. In the Introduction, the author writes:

“The chapters that constitute this book might be judged as outmoded by the deep-rooted criteria for Late Antiquity because they are preoccupied with institutions, politics and political events.” (p. 3)

These chapters include:

• Reinventing Constantinople: Theodosius I’s imprint on the imperial city

• Dynasty and aristocracy in the fifth century

• Dynasty and ethnicity: emperor Leo I and the eclipse of Aspar

• Leo I and the palace guard

• The imperial reigns of Leo II

• Ariadne Augusta: shaping the identity of the early Byzantine empress

• Justinian under Justin: reconfiguring a reign

• Justinian, Theodora and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus

• Justinian the ‘sleepless emperor’

• Justinian’s Constantinople

There are only six illustrations, all dynastic family trees for the rulers and their relatives. A city map of Constantinople during this era might have been helpful, but readers with a serious interest in this obscure period are likely to have other references to the urban geography.

Roman Emperors in Context is a collection of specialized and technical academic studies that will have limited appeal to an audience interested mainly in military history. As a collector of coins from this era, I found several of the articles to be quite informative and useful. For an academic publication the price is reasonable.

Brian Croke is an Honorary Associate in Ancient History at the University of Sydney. He has written several books and over 100 articles on various aspects of Roman and Byzantine history.

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Our Reviewer: Mike Markowitz is an historian and wargame designer. He writes a monthly column for CoinWeek.Com and is a member of the ADBC (Association of Dedicated Byzantine Collectors). His previous reviews include, The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire, , The Emperor in the Byzantine World, The Politics of Roman Memory: From the Fall of the Western Empire to the Age of Justinian, Theodosius and the Limits of Empire, Byzantium Triumphant: The Military History of the Byzantines, 959–1025, Rome Resurgent: War and Empire in the Age of Justinian, Bohemond of Taranto, The Last Viking: The True Story of King Harald Hardrada, Ancient Rome: Infographics, Byzantium and the Crusades, A Short History of the Byzantine Empire, Theoderic the Great, The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, Battle for the Island Kingdom, Vandal Heaven, The Eternal Decline and Fall of Rome, Herod the Great: Jewish King in a Roman World, Caesar Rules: The Emperor in the Changing Roman World, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen, Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint, Persians: The Age of the Great Kings, Polis: A New History of the Ancient Greek City-State, and At the Gates of Rome: The Battle for a Dying Empire.

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Note: Roman Emperors in Context is also available in hardcover & e-editions.

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