War, Rebellion and Epic in Byzantine North Africa : A Historical Study of Corippus' Iohannis

In around 550 the Latin poet Corippus composed his epic Iohannis to celebrate the forgotten wars of a Byzantine general against the 'Moorish' or 'Berber' peoples of North Africa. This book explores the rich narrative of that poem and the changing political, social and cultural environment within which he worked. It reappraises the dramatic first decades of Byzantine North Africa (533-550) and discusses the ethnography of Moorish Africa, the diplomatic and military history of the imperial administration, and the religious transformations (both Christian and 'pagan') of this period. By considering the Iohannis as a political text, it sheds new light on the continued importance of poetry and literature on the southern fringes of imperial power, and presents a model for reading epic as a historical source. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details. War, Rebellion and Epic in Byzantine North Africa. A Historical Study of Corippus' Iohannis Contents List of Maps Preface A Note on Abbreviations, Translations and Maps 1 ‘I Sing of Things That Are Not Unknown’: Epic and History in Byzantine Africa Corippus: Poet and Poem Epic Background Epic-Panegyric: A New Form? ‘To Grant the Conquered Clemency and Crush the Proud in War’ The Structure of the Present Book Outline of the Poem Preface Book I Book II Book III Book IV Book V Book VI Book VII Book VIII 2 Prelude to a War: Byzantine Africa 533–546 533–534: The Foundation of Byzantine Africa Imperial Ideology and Participation The New Frameworks of Imperial Power Byzantine Military Campaigns in North Africa 534–546 Solomon’s First Campaigns (535–536) The Outbreak of the Stotzas Revolt and Its Aftermath (536–544) 543–546 Renewed Crises in Africa Guntharith’s Rebellion (Winter 545/546) Unpicking the Narrative Conclusions 3 Past and Future in the Iohannis Liberatus’ Digression: Iohannis III.52–IV.246 A Golden Age? (Iohannis III.262–339) Trials and Tribulations Liberatus on Hadrumetum Liberatus on Guntharith Antalas’ View of Events John’s View of Events History in the Future Tense: Corippus’ Prolepses Moorish Triumphs and Prophetic Counterfactuals Conclusions 4 Corippus and the Moorish World The Proud and the Humble: ‘Moors’ in the Iohannis Old Names and New Names: The Epic Tradition New Names: The Puzzle of the Laguatan A Triumphal Catalogue of Tribes The Catalogue as Triumph Conclusions 5 ‘For Every Blade Was Red’: War and Bloodshed in the Iohannis John’s Campaigns: 546–548 The Roman Army on Campaign Numbers and Types of Troops Moorish Armies on Campaign and in the Field Fighting and Battles in the Iohannis The Parts of Corippus’ Battle Accounts Aristeiae: Individual Combat Sequences Battles and the Big Picture Conclusions 6 Christianity and Paganism in the Iohannis Christianity within the Poem Christian North Africa in the Iohannis Corippus and the Three Chapters Controversy Moorish Religion Ammon Gurzil Mastiman and Sinifere Moorish Prophecies Moorish Religion beyond the Iohannis Conclusions Conclusions Bibliography Index