The subject of this book is the administrative structure of the western half of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, and that of the 'barbarian' kingdoms which came to be established in the territory of the Empire during the course of that century. My purpose is to examine the extent to which 'barbarian' government was influenced by its Roman predecessor. The period chosen commences with the 'definitive' splitting of the Empire on the death of Emperor Theodosius I in 395, and its end lies in the sixth century, at approximately the time of the death of Emperor Justinian and the subsequent abandonment of serious attempts to re-conquer the west from the 'barbarians' who had occupied it in the intervening period.
Author(s): Paul S. Barnwell
Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co
Year: 1992
Language: English
Pages: VIII+248
Preface vii
Introduction 1
Part I. The Emperor and the Imperial Court
1. The Sources 7
2. The Emperor 11
3. The Imperial Court 20
4. Conclusion 48
Part II. Provincial Administration
5. The 'Roman' System of Provincial Administration 53
6. The Kingdom of the Visigoths, c. 418-568 71
7. The Kingdom of the Burgundians 82
8. The Franks and Gaul in the Sixth Century 90
9. The Vandals and Africa 114
10. Conclusion 125
Part III. Italy under Odoacer and the Ostrogoths
11. The Sources 131
12. 'Barbarian' Kings in Italy, 476-552 134
13. The Royal Court 140
14. Senators and Provincial Governors 155
15. The 'Uariae' of Cassiodorus 166
Conclusion 170
Maps 176
Abbreviations 179
Notes 182
Bibliography 225
Primary sources 225
Secondary works 231
Index 246
