Reinventing Constantinople: Theodosius I’s imprint on the imperial city
From the tetrarchs to the Theodosians: later Roman history and culture, 284-450 CE, 34, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK ; New York, (2010)Abstract
Brian Croke presents a detailed survey of the impact of Theodosius I on Constantinople, arguing that the city was relatively neglected by the successors of Constantine, only really becoming a true capital and imperial home in the 380s. The chapter moves through ceremonial innovations - for imperial births, birthdays, proclamations, dies imperii, marriages and funerals - and building projects, including the new forum, churches and martyria, as well as the translation of relics to the city. The discussion of Theodosius’ engagement with his imperial predecessors is particularly informative, both in his attempts to link his dynasty, iconographically and architecturally, with Trajan and Hadrian, and in his creation of an imperial mausoleum complex, for which he went ‘to considerable lengths to bring together in a single precinct in the imperial capital every imperial corpse he could find’ (253).