Aristokratische Werte und bürokratisches Ethos in der spätrömischen Verwaltung: Johannes Lydos und Cassiodor im Vergleich.

Abstract

The administration of the late Roman Empire can be described as a personal bureaucracy (Peter Eich). This article attempts to pin down the social habitus of those working within this bureaucracy. The argument is based on two extensive corpora that have never been analysed together: the work of the prefectural official John Lydus on the magistrates of the Roman state, and the letters that Cas­ siodorus wrote as praetorian prefect and published as part of the Variae after the end of his term. The question is how these authors portray the prefecture, what tasks they ascribe to employees and superiors and what expectations they voice, what assumptions they make, and what standards of judgement they apply. The comparison shows that Lydus and Cassiodorus share many of their convictions. Not only are they convinced that they are serving an institution that outlasts any given ruler and exists independently of him, but they also demand commitment, efficiency, and expertise. They take for granted that one possesses the right to exploit an office as a source of income. At the same time, the analysis makes it clear that the administrative elite was very heterogeneous in both emic and etic terms: the praetorian prefecture is described as a hierarchically structured office with personnel that fell into groups of very different status in constant competion. Even as prefect, Cassiodorus cultivated the habitus of an aristocrat, while Lydus identified fully with his role in the department. However, the comparison also reveals differences that are not due to group membership: While Lydus rejects the advance of Christian ascetic ideals, Cassiodorus portrays himself as a prefect, who can smoothly blend the ethos of the Roman magistrate with Christian morality.