The concept of basileia in Pietro Patrizio's historical thought

Abstract

The paper focuses on the work of Peter the Patrician. He was magister officiorum at Justinian’s court and authored an History (from Caesar’s death to the 4th century) and a treatise on the administration of the state. Peter looks favourably at the process of an increasing centralization of the power, paying special attention to the relationships between the emperor and the senate. According to him, the senate should perform two main functions: legitimizing the new emperor at the time of the investiture and supporting his position against rebellious tendencies, in particular against usurpations. The role of the senate is thus authoritative, nevertheless it is subordinate to the emperor and the inner circle of his closest men (i.e., the consistorium), to whom all decisions are entrusted. This view tallies with the directives expressed in the Novel 62 de senatoribus; in contrast with many contemporary intellectuals, Peter seems to strongly endorse the authoritarianism of Justinian’s regime.