Center, province and periphery in the age of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos

Více o knize

This comprehensive volume provides fresh insights into a pivotal period of medieval Eastern Roman imperial history during the rule of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (913/945–959). The fifteen chapters are structured around the themes of center, province, and periphery, guiding readers from the grandeur of Constantinople to the empire’s borders. The text delves into life in the imperial city under Constantine VII, cultural revivals in Byzantium and the Carolingian West, and the emperor’s historiographical endeavors, including his historical excerpts and the renowned Book of Ceremonies. The authors investigate provincial aspects, such as the visual messages conveyed through the coinage of Romanos I Lekapenos and Constantine Porphyrogennetos, the circulation of these coins, and the legal culture of the tenth-century empire. They also present a novel analysis of Constantine VII’s military speeches. The periphery is examined through topics like borderland trade with the Muslim world, a new theory regarding the deaths of King Hugh of Italy’s children, and insights into medieval Croatia based on Constantine VII’s De administrando imperio. The final chapter reflects on Constantine VII’s legacy and its reception, spanning from middle Byzantine historiography to Renaissance interpretations and Bavarian King Louis II’s architecture inspired by Constantinople. This volume features contributions from leading scholars and emerging voice