Unorthodoxly Orthodox: Aspar and Imperial Politics in the Fifth Century CE

Abstract

Roman Imperial politics experienced a drastic change under Constantine, in which Christianity became the state religion. Other changes came, including the emperor's direct involvement in church affairs. This set a precedent for the empire's future in which Christianity and imperial politics would be intertwined. By the fifth century CE, Christianity was experiencing internal strife resulting from the various groups and individuals within Christianity fighting as the orthodox faith was still being established. This resulted in a shifting of views as to who was seen as heretical and how much the emperor could tolerate them. Despite this, some of these 'heretical' individuals are seen holding quite elevated positions within the imperial court. This is suggestive of imperial politics finding benefit in using these religious outsiders in orthodox conflicts. Ultimately, this thesis will attempt to determine whether there was a scope for collaboration with outsiders in Roman imperial politics that allowed them to act as safe interveners in disputes.

This thesis focuses on Flavius Ardaburius Aspar, a Homoean general who gained exceptional influence in the fifth century and held power until his murder in 471 CE at the order of emperor Leo. He was magister militum from 431 to 471 and consul in 434. His prominence was aided by his father's military success and his familial connection to other powerful generals such as Plinta. His longevity in court can also be attributed to the various public and ecclesiastical services he provided to the state. While Aspar eventually fell out of favour with the imperial court, most notably with Leo, his prominence is exemplified by the supposed offer of the throne by the Senate made around the time of Marcian's death and the accession of Leo. Moreover, he is often referred to as a 'kingmaker' as he plays a large role in installing both Marcian and Leo to the throne. His role in their respective ascensions allowed the general to keep a close proximity to the emperor, which allowed him to influence imperial politics.

While Aspar was able to achieve great heights in his political career, his prominence is often downplayed in both primary and secondary sources because of his unorthodox religious affiliation. This thesis seeks to demonstrate that his Homoeanism had little effect on his political career, and what we see in the primary sources is often steeped in later biases of Homoeanism.