A Short Medieval Reader by Barbara H. Rosenwein;

Author:Barbara H. Rosenwein;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Middle Ages – Sources, Europe – History – 476–1492 – Sources
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

the augusta [empress] zoe deliberates whom to promote to the throne

10. In the description of the events that follow I will speak with greater authority and more personal knowledge. The affairs of state urgently demanded vigorous and skillful direction. The country needed a man’s supervision – a man at once strong-handed and very experienced in government, one who not only understood the present situation, but also any mistakes that had been made in the past, with their probable results. We wanted a man who would make provision for the future and prepare long beforehand against all possible attacks or likely invasions from abroad.90 But the love of power, or the lack of power, the apparent freedom and the absence of supervision and the desire for ever greater power – these were the things that made the emperor’s apartment into a gynaeconitis.

11. Even so, most people had no settled convictions. One rumor after another was bruited abroad, either favorable or otherwise to Zoe (for there were some who thought that Theodora should rightly be empress, on the ground that she had championed the cause of the people; moreover, they said, she had never married; others, again, believed the elder sister was more suited to rule because she had previous experience of power, and power exercised a peculiar fascination on her). While these rumors were spreading, first one way, then another among the people, Zoe anticipated their decision and seized all power for herself a second time.91 The next move was to search for and decide on the man of the most illustrious descent and of the most distinguished fortune, whether he held a seat in the senate or served in the army....

14. Fate, indeed, decreed that the new master of the Empire should be Constantine, the son of Theodosius.92 He was the last scion of the ancient family of the Monomachi in the male line. A long account of him will be given by me later, when I launch out into the description of his reign – a long account, because he was emperor for more years than any of Basil’s successors, and because there was more to relate. Constantine was more active than his predecessors, although it must be admitted that he was not uniformly more successful. Indeed, in some ways he was greatly inferior. There is no reason why I should not be candid about this and tell the true story. Immediately after his accession I entered his service, served throughout his reign, was promoted to the Senate, entrusted with the most honorable duties. Thus there was nothing that I did not know, no overt act, no secret diplomacy. Naturally, therefore, I shall devote more space to him than to the other emperors.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.