[gothic-l] Administration of Ostrogothic Italy

[faltin2001]

I was wondering if anybody can explain how the administration of
Ostrogothic Italy functioned and especially how it was affected by
the defeat of the Goths in 539AD. The Ostrogothic state in Italy was
in the past often presented as a purely Gothic/Germanic affair, with
Romans being reduced to the role of passive subjects. In reality,
Romans played a significant role in the administration and running of
state affairs.

According to the agreement between Theoderich and the East Roman
Emperor all Roman constitutional principles and imperial laws had to
be respected and obeyed by the Gothic king. Thus, Theoderic was
king 'rex' in relation to his Gothic people, but was installed for
a "praeregnatio" in Italy by the Emperor and thus subordinate to the
emperor. As part of this agreement, which was in part also observed
by Theoderic's successors, all higher civil administration posts had
to be staffed with Romans not Goths. Gothic involvement was to be
confined to military matters. Thus, administrators like Cassiodorus'
had far reaching influence on internal and perhaps external policy.

I was wondering how these arrangements have faciciltated the defeat
of the Goths in 539 and the surrender of Vitigis to the Roman army. I
suppose that this symbiosis of Gothic military and Roman civil
administration might have been falling appart or at least become very
strained from the time of the arrival of Belisar's army in Italy. Is
there any evidence, that Romans left or were forced to leave public
office after 539AD?


cheers
Dirk







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