Law, Power, and Imperial Ideology in the Iconoclast Era: c.680-850 (Oxford Studies in Byzantium)

This work examines the legal texts and the role of law in Byzantium during the Iconoclast era, c.680–850. Law had been central to the Roman conception of themselves and their empire. Yet what happened to Roman law and the position it occupied in the ideological landscape during the turbulent years 680–850, normally studied through the prism of iconoclasm, is seldom explored and little understood. The numerous legal texts of the period, long ignored or misused by scholars, shed new light on this murky but crucial era, when, from the rump of the Roman Empire, emerged the Byzantine world. Both Roman law and canon law are used to chart the various responses to the trails of the times, especially the rise of Islam, from Justinian II’s Christocentric monarchy to the Old Testament-inspired Isaurian dynasty. Furthermore, a refocusing within Roman law towards crime, delict, and marriage is discerned, as is a deliberate campaign under the Isaurians to improve and apply the law through the creation of concise, utilitarian texts, and the payment and exhortation of those in the legal order. Indeed, the Isaurian dynasty had an indelible impact on Roman law, so much so that their successors perforce had to respond, and eventually attempt to excise them from the record. These legal reforms were just one part (if a central one) in a reformulation of ideology and state structures that underpinned the transformation from the late antique Roman Empire to medieval Byzantium. Law Was Central To The Ancient Roman's Conception Of Themselves And Their Empire. Yet What Happened To Roman Law And The Position It Occupied Ideologically During The Turbulent Years Of The Iconoclast Era, C.680-850, Is Seldom Explored And Little Understood. The Numerous Legal Texts Of This Period, Long Ignored Or Misused By Scholars, Shed New Light On This Murky But Crucial Era, When The Byzantine World Emerged From The Roman Empire. Law, Power, And Imperial Ideology In The Iconoclast Era Uses Roman Law And Canon Law To Chart The Various Responses To These Changing Times, Especially The Rise Of Islam, From Justinian Ii's Christocentric Monarchy To The Old Testament-inspired Isaurian Dynasty. The Isaurian Emperors Sought To Impose Their Control And Morally Purge The Empire Through The Just Application Of Law, Sponsoring The Creation Of A Series Of Concise, Utilitarian Texts That Punished Crime, Upheld Marriage, And Protected Property. This Volume Explores How Such Legal Reforms Were Part Of A Reformulation Of Ideology And State Structures That Underpinned The Transformation From The Late Antique Roman Empire To Medieval Byzantium.-- Introduction: Roman Law And Imperial Ideology From Justinian To Heraclius -- The Council In Trullo -- The Ecloga -- The Appendices To The Ecloga -- The Associated Codes Of The Ecloga I: The Nomos Mosaikos And The Nomos Rhodian Nautikos -- The Associated Codes Of The Ecloga Ii: The Nomos Georgikos -- Three Reactions: Irene, Leo V, And The Macedonians -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Tables Of Manuscripts. M.t.g. Humphreys. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 287-308) And Index. "Law was central to the ancient Roman's conception of themselves and their empire. Yet what happened to Roman law and the position it occupied ideologically during the turbulent years of the Iconoclast era, c.680-850, is seldom explored and little understood. The numerous legal texts of this period, long ignored or misused by scholars, shed new light on this murky but crucial era, when the Byzantine world emerged from the Roman Empire. Law, Power, and Imperial Ideology in the Iconoclast Era uses Roman law and canon law to chart the various responses to these changing times, especially the rise of Islam, from Justinian II's Christocentric monarchy to the Old Testament-inspired Isaurian dynasty. The Isaurian emperors sought to impose their control and morally purge the empire through the just application of law, sponsoring the creation of a series of concise, utilitarian texts that punished crime, upheld marriage, and protected property. This volume explores how such legal reforms were part of a reformulation of ideology and state structures that underpinned the transformation from the late antique Roman Empire to medieval Byzantium."-- Publisher's website Law, Power, and Imperial Ideology in the Iconoclast Era explores Roman law and canon law to chart the various responses to the turbulent years of the Iconoclast era, c.680-850, which saw the rise of Islam and the emergence of medieval Byzantium from the wreckage of ancient Rome. This volume explores Roman law and canon law to chart the various responses to the turbulent years of the Iconoclast era, c.680-850, which saw the rise of Islam and the emergence of medieval Byzantium from the wreckage of ancient Rome