Power and Subversion in Byzantium: Papers from the Forty-third Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, University of Birmingham, March 2010

318 Pages·2016·3.738 MB·English

by  Dimiter Angelov, Michael Saxby (eds.)

Power and Subversion
in Byzantium
Papers from the Forty-third Spring Symposium
of Byzantine Studies, Birmingham, March 2010
Edited by
Dimiter Angelov and Michael Saxby

Power and SubverSion

in byzantium
Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies
Publications
17
Power and
SuBverSion in
Byzantium
Papers from the Forty-third Spring Symposium of
Byzantine Studies, university of Birmingham,
march 2010
edited by
dimiter angelov and michael Saxby
First published 2013 by Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 by Routledge
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies (43rd : 2010 : Birmingham, england)
Power and subversion in Byzantium : papers from the 43rd Spring Symposium of
Byzantine Studies, Birmingham, march 2010 / edited by dimiter angelov and
michael Saxby.
pages cm. — (Publications of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies)
includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–1–4724–1228–7 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978–1–4724–1668–1 (ebook)
— ISBN 978–1–4724–1669–8 (epub) 1. Byzantine Empire – Politics and government –
Congresses. 2. Byzantine empire – intellectual life – Congresses. 3. Byzantine literature
– History and criticism – Congresses. 4. Subversive activities – Byzantine empire –
Congresses. 5. dissenters – Byzantine empire – Congresses.
i. angelov, dimiter, 1972– editor of compilation. ii. Saxby, michael, 1942– editor of
compilation. iii. title.
DF552.S68 2010
949.5’02–dc23 2013010548
ISBN 9781472412287 (hbk)
ISBN 9781315601809 (ebk)
SoCiety For tHe Promotion oF Byzantine StudieS – PuBLiCation 17
Contents
List of Illustrations   vii
Contributors   xi
Abbreviations   xv
1. Dimiter G. Angelov Power and subversion in Byzantium:
approaches and frameworks   1
Part I: The Politics of Subversion
2. Vasiliki Penna and Usurpers and rebels in Byzantium:
Cécile Morrisson image and message through coins   21
3. Anthony Kaldellis How to usurp the throne in Byzantium:
The role of public opinion in sedition
and rebellion   43
4. Demetrios Kyritses The imperial council and the tradition
of consultative decision-making in
Byzantium (eleventh to fourteenth
centuries)   57
5. Kostis Smyrlis Financial crisis and the limits of taxation
under Andronikos II Palaiologos
(1282–1321)   71
6. Michael Angold The political arts at the late Palaiologan
court (1402–1453)   83
Part II: Art and Subversion
7. Liz James ‘The world turned upside down’:
Art and subversion in Byzantium   105
From Power and Subversion in Byzantium, ed. Dimiter Angelov and Michael Saxby. Copyright ©
2013 by the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies. Published by Ashgate Publishing
Ltd, Wey Court East, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT, Great Britain.
v
vi PoWER AnD SUBVERSIon In ByzAnTIUM
8. Antony Eastmond ‘It began with a picture’: Imperial art,
texts and subversion between East and
West in the twelfth century   121
Part III: Philosophy
9. Börje Bydén ‘no prince of perfection’: Byzantine
anti-Aristotelianism from the patristic
period to Pletho   147
10. Maria Mavroudi Pletho as subversive and his reception
in the Islamic world   177
Part IV: Literature and Subversion
11. Paul Magdalino Generic subversion? The political
ideology of urban myth and
apocalyptic prophecy   207
12. Dimitris Krallis Harmless satire, stinging critique:
notes and suggestions for reading
the Timarion   221
13. Margaret Mullett How to criticize the laudandus   247
14. Athanasios Angelou Subversion and duplicity in the
Histories of John Kantakouzenos   263
15. Margaret Alexiou Afterword – Literary subversion
in Byzantium: A partial and
personal perspective   281
Index   289
List of Illustrations
2.1 Solidus, Basiliscus and his son Marcus (475–6). Dumbarton
Oaks Collection, 1948.17.1265.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   23
2.2 Solidus, Leo II and his father Zeno (474). Dumbarton Oaks
Collection, 1948.17.1239.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   24
2.3 Solidus, Phokas (602–10). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1958.116.D201. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine Collection,
Washington, DC   25
2.4 Follis, Herakleios’ revolt (608–10) . KIKPE Collection,
Athens   26
2.5 Solidus, Herakleios, beginning of the reign (610–41).
Dumbarton Oaks Collection, 1948.17.1980.D2012. ©
Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   27
2.6 Solidus, Herakleios (610–41). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1948.17.2005.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine
Collection, Washington, DC   27
2.7 Solidus, Leontios (695–8). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1956.23.36.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine
Collection, Washington, DC   29
2.8 Solidus, Artavasdos (741/2–742/3). American Numismatic
Society, 1949.12.1.300   29
2.9 Solidus, Michael II and Theophilos (821–9). Dumbarton
Oaks Collection, 1948.17.2599.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   31
2.10 Solidus, Leo V (813). American Numismatic Society,
1968.131.254.300   31
From Power and Subversion in Byzantium, ed. Dimiter Angelov and Michael Saxby. Copyright
© 2013 by the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies. Published by Ashgate
Publishing Ltd, Wey Court East, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT, Great Britain.
vii
viii POWER AND SUBVERSION IN ByZANTIUM
2.11 Solidus, Constantine VII (945). Dumbarton Oaks
Collection, 1948.17.3075.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   32
2.12 Solidus, Romanos I (921) ). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1948.17.3061.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine
Collection, Washington, DC   32
2.13 Solidus, Nikephoros II Phokas (963–9). Dumbarton Oaks
Collection, 1948.17.3128.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   33
2.14 Solidus, Isaac I Komnenos (1057–9). Athens Numismatic
Musuem, 1907/8 KB 401   33
2.15 Solidus, Isaac II Angelos (1185–95). Dumbarton Oaks
Collection, 1948.17.3530.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks,
Byzantine Collection, Washington, DC   34
2.16 Centenionalis, Magnentius (350–53). KIKPE Collection,
Athens   37
2.17 Follis, Vetranio (350). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1948.17.666.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine
Collection, Washington, DC   37
2.18 Solidus, Procopius (365–6). Dumbarton Oaks Collection,
1948.17.813.D2012. © Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine
Collection, Washington, DC   37
2.19 Solidus, Mezezius (668). Ex Gemini, Auction II (11.1.2006),
lot 531   39
7.1 The Veroli Casket (Victoria and Albert Museum, London)   107
7.2 The Veroli Casket (back)   108
7.3 The Ascension of Neophytos, 1183, the Enkleistra of
Neophytos, Paphos, Cyprus (photo: Liz James)   115
7.4 Gold solidus of Empress Eirene (The Barber Institute of
Fine Arts, University of Birmingham)   117