Theodoric in Paris. A contest announced by the Institut on the domination of the Goths in Italy

Abstract

In July 1808, the members of the Institut national decided to award the best dissertation on Theoderic’s political action and on the distinctions his rule introduced between Goths and Latins. According to their opinion, it was evident that resemblance existed between Theoderic and Napoleon. This paper, analyzing the six dissertations written on the topic, confirms how much their proposal was followed and erudition was interwoven with political suggestions. After insisting on the opposite perspectives of comparing Theoderic and Napoleon followed by the German Sartorius and the French Naudet, whose dissertations were both awarded, the author brings new analysis to the study of the manuscript of Francesco Maria Colle, who, insisting on the political autonomy of the Kingdom of Italy, introduces an an analogy between Theodoric and the viceroy Eugene of Beauharnais.