The Different Perspectives Between Zosimus and Jordanes (Sixth Century C.E) about the Barbarians in the Governments 0f Theodosius I (347-395), Arcadius (377-408) and Honorius (384-423)

• Grant number: 24/18262-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 10, 2025
• End date: July 09, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Ancient and Medieval History
• Principal Investigator: Margarida Maria de Carvalho
• Grantee: Jéssica da Costa Minati Moraes
• Supervisor: Carlos Augusto Ribeiro Machado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais (FCHS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Franca. Franca , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of St Andrews, Scotland
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/01938-7 - The Barbarian in the governments of Theodosius I (347 - 395), Arcadius (377 - 408) and Honorius (384 - 423): the different perspectives between Zosimus and Jordanes (6th century CE), BP.MS

Abstract

This research is in the context of Late Antiquity, specifically between the 5th and 6th centuries CE. The focus of this investigation falls on two authors from this period of Late Antiquity: Zosimus (460-518/520), an advocatus fisci active in the imperial fiscal administration, and Jordanes (6th century), a historian who worked as a notarius. The works of Zosimus and Jordanes report facts about the governments of Theodosius I (347-395), Arcadius (377-408) and Honorius (384-423), as well as the political aspects of their respective governance, and his relations with the barbarians . The central hypothesis of this research consists of observing how Zosimus and Jordanes, criticize or praise the emperors of their present time, Zeno I, Anastasius I, Justin I and Justinian, in relation to their treatment of the barbarians, projecting his considerations on the emperors already mentioned: Theodosius I and his sons, Arcadius and Honorius. Our objective, to achieve this hypothesis, is to use chapters from the Books IV, V and VI of the work New History by Zosimus and Romana and Getica by Jordanes. We intend to identify convergences and divergences in the perspectives of the two authors in relation to the emperors and their actions against or in favour of the barbarians, interpreting their works considering their individual characteristics that may have influenced their narratives.