Justinians Triumph und Belisars Erniedrigung. Überlegungen zum Verhältnis zwischen Kaiser und Militär im späten Römischen Reich

Abstract

Procopius’ famous description in his Histories intentionally covers up the fact that the victorious general of the victory celebration over the Vandals in 534 was not Belisarius, but Justinian, who moreover publicly humiliated him. This was possible because he knew the people stood behind him. These events show moreover that the emperors of the Eastern Empire, unlike their counterparts in the Western half, succeeded in keeping the threat of powerful officers under control.