The Variae: The Complete TranslationCassiodorus—famed throughout history as one of the great Christian exegetes of antiquity—spent most of his life as a high-ranking public official under the Ostrogothic King Theoderic and his heirs. He produced the Variae, a unique letter collection that gave witness to the sixth-century Mediterranean, as late antiquity gave way to the early middle ages. The Variae represents thirty years of Cassiodorus’s work in civil, legal, and financial administration, revealing his interactions with emperors and kings, bishops and military commanders, private citizens, and even criminals. Thus, the Variae remains among the most important sources for the history of this pivotal period and is an indispensable resource for understanding political and diplomatic culture, economic and legal structure, intellectual heritage, urban landscapes, religious worldview, and the evolution of social relations at all levels of society during the twilight of the late-Roman state. This is the first full translation of this masterwork into English. |
Contents
Maps | 26 |
31 | 79 |
Book 3 | 119 |
Book 4 | 165 |
Book 5 | 203 |
Book 6 | 245 |
1st Indiction September 1 522August 31 523 | 247 |
7th Indiction 52829 | 269 |
Book 8 | 313 |
13th Indiction 53435 | 333 |
Book 9 | 355 |
Book 10 | 390 |
Book 11 | 424 |
Book 12 | 464 |
1st Indiction 53738 | 474 |
| 501 | |
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Common terms and phrases
able accomplished administration adorned affairs Amal Amalasuntha ancient announces appointment assistance authority become believe bestow Boethius Bruttium burden Cassiodorus cause citizens claim Comes command concerning conscript fathers considered court curiales deeds delight deserved desire devotion distinction divine duty edict elevated entrusted everything favor fitting formula Gaul gift glory God’s blessing Gothic Gothic War Goths grace granted Gundobad hasten honor imperium Italy judge judgment justice Justinian kind King Athalaric King Theodahad King Theoderic known labor landowners laws learned lest Liguria lord grandfather Magister Officiorum magistrate matters merits nature nonetheless Odoacer offer Ostrogothic patrician payment peace permitted Praefectus Praetorio Senator Praefectus Urbis praise present indiction preserved Princeps proven province punishment Quaestor rank Ravenna received regnum reign rejoice republic reputation restored reward rightly Roman royal ruler saio seek Senate of Rome solidi spectabilis taxes Theodahad things tion Variae Vir Illustris Vir Spectabilis Witigis