theoderic and the roman imperial restoration This book provides a new interpretation of the fall of the Roman Empire and the “barbarian” kingdom known conventionally as Ostrogothic Italy. Relying primarily on Italian textual and material evidence, and in particular the works of Cassiodorus and Ennodius, Jonathan J. Arnold argues that contemporary Italo-Romans viewed the Ostrogothic kingdom as the Western Roman Empire and its “bar- barian” king, Theoderic (r. 489/93–526), as its emperor. Investigating conceptions of Romanness, Arnold explains how the Roman past, both immediate and distant, allowed Theoderic and his Goths to ind acceptance in Italy as Romans, with roles essential to the empire’s perceived recovery. Theoderic and the Roman Imperial Restoration demonstrates how Theoderic’s careful attention to imperial traditions, good governance, and reconquest followed by the re-Romanization of lost imperial territories contributed to contemporary sentiments of imperial resurgence and a golden age. There was no need for Justinian to restore the Western Empire: Theoderic had already done so. Jonathan J. Arnold is Assistant Professor of Ancient and Medieval History at the University of Tulsa. His research and publications focus on issues of culture and identity, travel and communication, and the legacy of Rome in the late antique and early medieval West, particu- larly in Gaul and Italy. He has written entries for a number of ency- clopedic works, including the O xford Dictionary of the Middle Ages and the O xford Dictionary of Late Antiquity, and his articles appear in the Journal of Late Antiquity and The Battle of Vouillé , 507 CE: Where France Began. theoderic and the roman imperial restoration Jonathan J. Arnold University of Tulsa 32 Avenue of the Americas, N ew York NY 10013-2473, U SA Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: w ww.cambridge.org/9781107054400 © J onathan J. Arnold 2014 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2 014 Printed in the United States of America A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data Arnold, Jonathan J., 1980– Theoderic and the Roman imperial restoration / Jonathan J. Arnold. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-107-05440-0 (hardback) 1. Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths, 454–526. 2. Ostrogoths – Italy – History. 3. Ostrogoths – Italy – Biography. 4. Goths – Kings and rulers – Biography. 5. Italy – Kings and rulers – Biography. 6. Italy – History – 476–774. 7. Rome – History. 8. Restorations, Political – History – To 1500. 9. Imperialism – History – To 1500. I. Title. DG507. A76 2014 945′.01092–dc23 [B] 2013044146 ISBN 9 78-1-107-05440-0 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. For Claude Henry “Bob” Davies (1919–2013) Cineri gloria sera venit contents Acknowledgments page ix List of Abbreviations x i Introduction 1 part i a n empire turned upside-down 9  Ennodius the Ligurian 11  Cassiodorus the Calabrian 3 7 part ii e mperor theoderic 57  Princeps Romanus 61  The Imperial Image 92 part iii i talo-romans and roman goths 1 17  Men of Mars 121  R ex Genitus, Vir Inlustris 142 part iv i talia felix 175  Italy Revived 179  R ome Rejuvenated 201 vii – Contents – part v r enovatio imperii 2 31  Becoming Post-Roman 235  Gallia Felix 262 Epilogue 2 95 Bibliography 3 03 Index 3 35 viii