The Selected Letters of Cassiodorus: A Sixth-Century SourcebookOne of the great Christian scholars of antiquity and a high-ranking public official under Theoderic, King of the Ostrogoths, Cassiodorus compiled edicts, diplomatic letters, and legal documents while in office. The collection of his writings, the Variae, remains among the most important sources for the sixth century, the period during which late antiquity transitioned to the early middle ages. Translated and selected by scholar M. Shane Bjornlie, The Selected Letters gathers the most interesting evidence from the Veriae for understanding the political culture, legal structure, intellectual and religious worldviews, and social evolution during the twilight of the late-Roman state. Bjornlie’s invaluable introduction discusses Cassiodorus’s work in civil, legal, and financial administration, revealing his interactions with emperors, kings, bishops, military commanders, private citizens, and even criminals. Section notes introduce each letter to contextualize its themes and connection with other letters, opening a window to Cassiodorus’s world. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Maps vii | 23 |
Letters Describing Fiscal | 85 |
Letters | 101 |
Letters concerning | 130 |
Letters Describing Attention | 149 |
Letters concerning People | 174 |
Letters to Bishops and Letters Touching | 187 |
Letters concerning | 207 |
Letters Describing | 224 |
Letters Pertaining | 241 |
Letters That Provide Literary | 264 |
Glossary | 287 |
| 303 | |
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Common terms and phrases
able accomplished administration adorned aforementioned Alamanni Alaric II Amal Amalafrida Amalasuntha ancient antiquity appointment arranged assistance Athalaric authority become behalf believe bestow blessing Boethius Bruttium burden Cassiodorus church citizens command concerning count court crime decree deeds defend delight deserving desire devotion divine eastern edict emperor empire everything father favor fitting Gaul generosity Gepids God’s Gothic Gothic War Goths granted Gundobad hasten honor human illustris imperium indiction Italy judge justice kind King Athalaric King Theoderic known labor landowners learned lest letter orders matters military nature nonetheless Odoacer offer Ostrogothic Pannonia patrician payment peace petition praetorian prefect Praetorian Prefect Senator praise present dictate preserved Princeps province punishment Raetia Ravenna reason received region republic restored rightly Roman Rome royal ruler saio senatorial sent sixth century solidi Spectabilis taxes Theodahad Theoderic’s things tion town counsellors urban prefect Valentinian III Variae Visigothic waters Witigis