Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. 15 Magnentius (350-353) and Silvanus (355). Yet the Roman Empire in the east survived and fought back after this disaster. K.Rosen, op. Although the first printing of his history occurred in 1474, improved editions were published in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His tone is critical of the luxury of the times, but he was blind to the real decline of Rome and the seriousness of the barbarian threat. WebSteele, 'Ammianus Marcellinus', Classical World 16 (1922), 18-24, 27-8, at 20, and before that the unflattering remark of Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88, ed. Finally, the symbolic role assigned to Julian of representing the power of an Augustus who could not be physically present was one in a longstanding tradition of caesarean responsibilities of which the historian must have been aware16. No current Talk conversations about this book. Various aspects of its composition have been thoroughly studied, and its role in heroizing the ascendant Caesar Julian ahead of his breach with his patron and senior imperial partner Constantius has been duly recognized. "Ammianus Marcellinus - Additional Resources" Literature and the Ancient World, Critical Edition The Strasbourg speech captures Julian at a point of military crisis, to be sure, but also at a point in his relationship with Constantius Augustus in which his success is both expected and suspected. Because the enemy, by contrast, is refreshed and in position, Julian asks that the fighting be put off until the following day. The Germans become more arrogant when they not only recognize a smaller opposing force, but also the standards of a legion of the Magnentian Caesar Decentius, whom they had defeated years before. Less attention has been paid to a curious instance of oratorical rhetoric within the episode. "Ammianus Marcellinus - Influence" Literature and the Ancient World, Critical Edition 3Elsewhere, I have proposed an approach to Ammianus imperial orations that restores them as meaningful, indeed pivotal, episodes within his unfolding narrative of the empire5. In a narrative that is often seen as unambiguously propagandistic, Ammianus is in fact very careful to reveal an imperial figure who has yet to reach the maturity of personal fortuna and self-sufficiency. Following Constantius first presentation of Julian, for example, he is actually interrupted by the soldiery: interpellans contio lenius prohibebat arbitrium summi numinis id esse non mentis humanae uelut praescia uenturi praedicimans (XV, 8, 9)9. J. Szidat, Historischer Kommentar zu Ammianus Marcellinus Buch XX-XXI. 
D. Womersley, 1995), ch. (see index under Ammianus Marcellinus: treatment of letters and speeches), and in G. , p.430-432. was the greatest Roman scholar and an incredibly prolific writer. The Later Roman Empire chronicles a period of twenty-five years during Marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of Constantius, Julian, Jovian, Valentinian I, and Valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events including the Battle of Strasbourg and the Goths Revolt. 30The theoretical terms of divine favour and army support, as well as the protection of an elder Augustus, were set out formally (XV, 8, 8) at Julians caesarian accession with all the pomp and splendor of the fourth-century ceremonial. cit., p.97, for a slightly different division. The Treatment of Narrative in Late Antique Literature: Ammianus Marcellinus (XVI, 10), Rutilius Namatianus and Paulinus of Pella. In you, we sense that valour and counsel are at last serving together. The historians paramount criterion for representing a speech scene would seem to be that of mere legitimacy: Ammianus not only limits fully represented, to imperial figures, but expressly denies them to those he regards to be usurpers or pretenders, . In the fourth century, they spilt westward in great numbers, dislodged by the emergence of the ferocious Huns from the Central Asian steppe. (XVI, 12, 12) is an attempt at persuasion by linking the acceptance of this advice with divine favour: statum nutantium rerum, recto consilio in bonam partem accepto, aliquotiens diuina remedia repararunt. WebThe Late Roman World and Its Historian : Interpreting Ammianus Marcellinus Account: rug.main.ehost First published 1999 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition 5The speech scene under examination here uses the expected standards of ceremonial regularity to bolster Ammianus well-known championship of Julians right to rule, as well as his capacity for the job. 24Ammianus is selective in choosing these sentiments from the uproar of massed soldiers. In this disordered state they were charged by the Ostrogoth horsemen who, according to Ammianus, "descended from the mountain like a thunderbolt." Nothing is known of his education. Consider a teacher-led homestay + excursions when planning future trips. This is the last coherent history written until Procopius in the sixth century, by a well placed Roman and the historian is advised to read this book. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1966, p.149-151; general as well as specific comments and interpretations are to be found in J. Quelques rflexions sur le pouvoir imperial daprs Ammien Marcellin, Modern scholarship has deflated Ammianus outrage somewhat, recognizing not only that Constantius, who had only recently overcome the usurpation of Julians half-brother Gallus, may have had legitimate grounds both for worrying about his Caesars complete lack of military experience and for mistrusting the loyalty of a junior colleague. A negative, or at least an ambivalent, reading may seem plausible in this case, since Julians audience rejects his caution. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality (Cornell Studi at the best online prices at eBay! Publisher. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Libanius makes the charge in Orationes XII, 42-46 and XVIII, 31-36. In these four lines are encapsulated the notions of, : a leader fortunate (an idea lent even more emphasis by, and alliteration than in Ammianus description of the acclamations), brave and experienced, an army in full support of him, and the pious idea that gods favour is necessary for victory, . The. Visibilit, lisibilit, efficacit : les inscriptions monumentales en Grce et Rome, Figure(s) du lgislateur : la parole de lexpert dans la littrature antique, Sublime et sublimation dans l'imaginaire grco-romain, La Vieillesse dans l'Antiquit, entre dchance et sagesse, En hommage a Paul-Hubert Poirier, erudit, maitre et ami, Action politique et criture de l'histoire II, Action politique et criture de l'histoire I, Valeurs, normes et constructions identitaires, Portail de ressources lectroniques en sciences humaines et sociales, Catalogue des 609 revues. It is true that, in keeping with the diminished role of deliberative oratory in the late empire, Ammianus speeches are fewer in number than those of his predecessors, as well as strictly limited to imperial speakers and rigidly stereotypical in their ceremonial settings. With the loss of Syria, Egypt and Africa, Rome was no more the dominant Mediterranean power, and the Roman state 7 There are twelve imperial set speeches in the extant narrative: XIV, 10, 11: Constantius on the battlefield; XV, 8, 5: Constantius elevates Julian to Caesarian rank; XVI, 12, 9: Julian on the field at Strasbourg; XVII, 13, 26: Constantius celebrates his Sarmatian victory; XX, 5, 3: Julian accepts unilateral Augustan elevation; XXI, 5, 2: Julian declares open hostilities against Constantius Augustus; XXI, 13, 10: Constantius declares open hostilities against Julian; XXIII, 5, 16 and XXIV, 3, 4: Julian on the Persian campaign; XXVI, 2, 6: Valentinians Augustan accession; XVII, 6, 12: Valentinian elevates Gratian to Augustan rank. Therefore their voices were likened to those of censors, not soldiers. 38 Cf. They did not allow him to finish the sentence he was speaking. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE - Averil Cameron - Paperback at the best online prices at eBay! The Historiographic Art of Ammianus Marcellinus, Amsterdam, North-Holland, 1992, p.27-37. Such speeches, presented according to a specific protocol before an assembled army either in camp or on the field, were in Ammianus day the sole prerogative of the Augustus. Ammianus undermines the forthright opposition of the army to their leaders request by implying that their motivation was not based solely on their self-confidence, but on both the skill and fortune of their leader and the protective interest of heaven. For a response see J.Matthews, Peter Valvomeres, Re-arrested, in M.Whitby (ed. Am Hof des Kaisers Constantius (regierte WebCheung 4 INTRODUCTION The Res Gestae of Ammianus Marcellinus provides us with substantial detail on the late Roman Empire as it is a key source of information regarding the 4 th and 5 th centuries resulting from the presence of Ammianus, himself, during those events. . Nevertheless, his portrayal of Julian at such a crucial juncture reveals both a deep understanding of the motivation of his character and a subtle approach to the polemic he offers in Julians behalf. His general accuracy is great as checked against the independent history of Faustus of Byzantium. . WebCheung 4 INTRODUCTION The Res Gestae of Ammianus Marcellinus provides us with substantial detail on the late Roman Empire as it is a key source of information regarding the 4 th and 5 th centuries resulting from the presence of Ammianus, himself, during those events. WebAMMIANUS AND THE LATE ROMAN ARMY As depicted in many studies of the later Roman Empire, the military sys-tem perfected by Constantine seems more tightly A negative, or at least an ambivalent, reading may seem plausible in this case, since Julians audience rejects his caution. In this case it is flavoured by an unusual epic tone21. He also includes some period and touching details such as the doffing of helmets by army officers when fighting in the emperor's presence to increase the likelihood of recognition in the promotion sweepstakes. t. klauser [Stuttgart 1941 (1950)] 1:386394. A remark on time of day is a staple first element of Ammianus adlocutio scenes. With few exceptions, the preponderant opinion before forty years ago was that his idiosyncratic writing is a sad instance of late antique deterioration from classical standards. 26By attributing such exultant words to the soldiery, Ammianus transforms their interruption of the emperor and their rejection of his proposal into a veritable gesture of approval. if not of outright anger, which is the way Ammianus explains the gesture at XV, 8, 15. It is recognizable as such by the presence of certain formal elements common to all of Ammianus speech-scenes which are nevertheless, in deference to the formal restriction on adlocutio speech, carefully suspended in descriptive narrative involving many other points of observation. The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus. when proper advice has been taken in good part, divine assistance has often put right a tottering, Julian moves through the customary apostrophe flattering his audience (, , XVI, 12, 9) and presents his proposition to their good judgment in the, (XVI, 12, 11). Ammianus is careful to respect this convention while at the same time strongly intimating Julians ripeness for an Augustan role. Ammianus speech scenes, being careful amalgams of ceremony and direct speech and formally distinct from the surrounding narrative, are thus appropriate literary expressions of fourth-century imperial ideology and experience. His Res gestae in 31 books runs from Nerva to the death of Valens (96378); extant are books 14 (353) to 31, published between 392 and 397. He loathed Christianity, but was liberal-minded enough not to try and destroy it as earlier Emperors had done, merely end its stranglehold on the running of the Empire. Ammianus Marcellinus was a Roman soldier and historian who wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from. Thomas J. Sienkewicz. Introduction. 1 Ammianus narrative on the siege of Amida (XIX, 1-9) takes up more space, but covers a period of 74 days. 24 Constantius again serves as an example. . Download the entire Ammianus Marcellinus study guide as a printable PDF! Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The four reasons he attributes to the army embody tropes of Roman military excellence and especial favour which are more often found within the body of the speech texts. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. Beyond this basic function, however, they serve a twofold process of characterization. Ammianus Epicus: Virgilian Allusion in the. What he reports in the next paragraph reveals another aspect of his careful representation of the speech event: accessit huic alacritati plenus celsarum potestatum assensus (XVI, 12, 14)34. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. They were depending on the favour of a heavenly god, their own self-confidence, and on the tried courage of a general loved by Fortune; and indeed, as the outcome demonstrated, some tutelary genius was present, spurring them to the fight while he was able to help. Even the Caesars extreme subjective dejection (expressed here in the erstwhile scholars quotation of an apt line from Homer) represents a piece of ceremonial protocol, the, thus ironically confirming his fitness for power, rather than diminishing it, Ammianus imputes a similar rationale to Constantius and his court in sending Ursicinus to deal with, By the time the narrative reaches XVI, 12, Julians situation and disposition have changed considerably. WebThe Later Roman Empire chronicles a period of twenty-five years during Marcellinus' own lifetime, covering the reigns of Constantius, Julian, Jovian, Valentinian I, and From the general statement of divine favour, the soldiers move to the notion of a fortunate leader, which in Ammianus usage means much more than simply lucky, as J.C.Rolfe translates31. Then, as the king of the Huns was about to move northward, he and his companion determined to follow him. It is true that, in keeping with the diminished role of deliberative oratory in the late empire, Ammianus speeches are fewer in number than those of his predecessors, as well as strictly limited to imperial speakers and rigidly stereotypical in their ceremonial settings. It will appear once more in close proximity to Julians speech-scenes (XX, 5, 10), and once (in slightly altered form) in association with Constantius (XXV, 2, 3). Julian, on the other hand, suffers a setback in confidence (quae anxie ferebat sollicitus Caesar, XVI, 12, 6), likewise noticing the discrepancy in troops and regretting the recent removal of his general Barbatio, with whom he had quarreled. 21Since Julian is a hero to Ammianus and because the Strasbourg narrative aims in several ways to amplify his stature as such, it is quite surprising that this oration is a persuasive failure probably the most unambiguous failure of all the speeches in the extant text29. AccueilNumrosLAmmianus Marcellinus, the Caesar 1One of the best known passages of Ammianus Marcellinus fourth century history is his account of the battle of Argentoratum (Strasbourg) in 357, where the newly appointed Caesar Julian led his Gallic army to a definitive victory over the Alamanni under king Chnodomar and his allies (XVI, 12). To begin with, I suggest that Ammianus incorporation of, within stereotyped descriptions of the ceremony of, or generals address to a military audience, is itself a mimetically apt representation of communication between ruler and ruled in the fourth-century milieu. Julian tried vainly to turn back time and reinstate paganism as the state religion. Although these articles may currently differ in style from others on the site, they allow us to provide wider coverage of topics sought by our readers, through a diverse range of trusted voices. Bibliography: Rerum gestarum libri, ed. has been attained, but in a sort of role-reversal that is perhaps surprising coming from Ammianus, the partisan of Julian. From Julians first appearance as a candidate for imperial office in Book XV, the historian takes the view, shared by Libanius and Julian himself, that the young scholar, snatched unexpectedly from a private life of study and thrust into a public life of imperial service, was but a pawn in his elder colleagues cynical game of rulership12. WebIntroduction The life of Ammianus Our knowledge of Ammianus is derived almost wholly from his own writings. Frequently imperial orators are described as speaking serenely or placidly, as here, or as otherwise appearing favourable to their audiences, the primary sense of which is innate according to P. De Jonge, could also carry with it a secondary sense of genuine, which is a post-classical accretion. From Julians first appearance as a candidate for imperial office in Book XV, the historian takes the view, shared by Libanius and Julian himself, that the young scholar, snatched unexpectedly from a private life of study and thrust into a public life of imperial service, was but a pawn in his elder colleagues cynical game of rulership, Magnentius (350-353) and Silvanus (355). Constantius again serves as an example. In this case Julian is actually cut short as he articulates his plans to encamp the army for the night and to march out early in the next morning. after 390) was a native Greek speaker who served in the Roman army and in about 390 completed the Res gestae, a Latin history in thirty-one books from Nerva to Valens (the years 96 to 378 CE).The eighteen surviving books cover his own times, from 353 to 378, and fall naturally into n.1 (see index under Ammianus Marcellinus: treatment of letters and speeches), and in G.Sabbah, op. 2023
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