| Title: | Child emperors in Rome or the domestification of an exception |
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| Authors: | ID Maver, Aleš (Author) |
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| Files: |  RAZ_Maver_Ales_2025.pdf (1,09 MB)
MD5: 1518DC21FC4A8D4CFAA758BD42BD86DC
 https://doi.org/10.3986/9789612681180_01
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Scientific work |
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| Typology: | 1.16 - Independent Scientific Component Part or a Chapter in a Monograph |
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| Organization: | FF - Faculty of Arts
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| Abstract: | Child or underage rulers were not uncommon in ancient times, and can be found in almost all ancient cultures. The decisive step in “domesticating the exception” was taken by Valentinian I, the founder of a short-lived Roman dynasty. In AD 367, he immediately appointed his eight-year-old son Gratian as Augustus, the “higher” ruler (albeit in his own, western half of the empire). Valentinian’s seed fell on fertile ground. It was adopted by other rulers and associates of his and Theodosius’ dynasty, who rushed to appoint young descendants as Augusti. Valentinian’s younger son, Gratian’s half-brother and Valens’ nephew Valentinian II, can be considered the prototype of the late antique child emperor. His reign combined all the negative features of this model of government. The trend established by Gratian and Valentinian II continued for some time in both halves of the empire. Despite the fact that the appearance of child emperors in the fifth century seemed much more common than a century earlier, late antique writers remained reserved about it. |
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| Keywords: | monarchs, Rome, child monarchs, dynastic legitimacy, succession, 4th cent. |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 11.12.2025 |
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| Place of publishing: | Ljubljana |
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| Publisher: | Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | Str. 11-23 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-98721  |
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| UDC: | 929.731(37) |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 249929219 |
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| DOI: | 10.3986/9789612681180_01 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 25.09.2026 |
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| Views: | 15 |
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| Downloads: | 1 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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