Roman Senatorial Aristocracy during the Gothic War (535—554): Composition, Mobility, Behavioral Strategies

The Gothic war (535—554) was a geopolitical conflict in which the Romans, Goths, Franks and Lombards were involved at various stages. Based on the information of Procopius of Caesarea, the author of the article explores the degree of involvement in the conflict of the senatorial aristocracy of Rome. The paper concludes that despite the statements of the Greek historian, supported by some modern researchers, the senators were not exclusively passive observers of the clash between the emperor and the Goths. On the contrary, to the best of their ability, despite all the hardships, threats and the difficult psychological climate in the besieged city, the aristocrats tried both to adapt to the conditions of numerous sieges of Rome and to help the imperial army in the reconquest of Italy.

Keywords

Late Antiquity, Gothic War, Procopius of Caesarea, Roman Senatorial Aristocracy, Sieges, Social Conflicts, Barbarian Kingdoms

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the grant of the President of the Russian Federation for leading academic schools of the Russian Federation, project no. NSh‑1548.2022.2 Late Byzantium: Political and Sociocultural Challenges and Responses to Them.

Received

01.05.2022

Publication date

31.01.2023

Number of characters

38078

Cite

GOST	Zaitseva E. Roman Senatorial Aristocracy during the Gothic War (535—554): Composition, Mobility, Behavioral Strategies // ISTORIYA – 2023. – V. 14. – Issue 1 (123) [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/S207987840024214-4-1 (circulation date: 19.05.2024). DOI: 10.18254/S207987840024214-4
MLA	Zaitseva, Evgenia "Roman Senatorial Aristocracy during the Gothic War (535—554): Composition, Mobility, Behavioral Strategies." ISTORIYA 14.1 (123) (2023) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840024214-4
APA	Zaitseva E. (2023). Roman Senatorial Aristocracy during the Gothic War (535—554): Composition, Mobility, Behavioral Strategies. ISTORIYA 14(1 (123)) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840024214-4

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