Portraits of Generalship and Authority in the Age of Justinian

Warfare was a defining feature of the reign of the Roman Emperor Justinian (r. 527–565). His extensive military campaigns spanned multiple fronts, including conflicts in the East against the Persians and in the West against the Vandals in North Africa, as well as the Ostrogoths and Franks in Italy and the Visigoths in Spain.

Across the Mediterranean during this period, influential generals and military leaders both Roman and non-Roman played increasingly prominent roles in both military affairs and civil governance. This volume is the first to bring together a comprehensive study of sixth-century Roman and non-Roman generals. While contemporary analyses often drew upon traditional Graeco-Roman ideals of leadership, this era also witnessed notable innovations in military and political authority.

To explore these transformations, each chapter focuses on either Roman or non-Roman generals, adopting a broad geographical perspective to compare major military figures in the late antique Roman world. Through this comparative approach, the volume highlights significant social and political developments in the late antique Mediterranean world. It will appeal to scholars and readers interested in the military, political, and social history of Late Antiquity, as well as those working in the fields of History, Gender Studies, War Studies, Political Science, and Ancient History.