Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus
-
Christoph Michels
Abstract
The purpose of this article is twofold. On the one hand it analyses the context of three triumphal processions and points out which political messages were transmitted during the ritual or by measures taken in close temporal vicinity; on the other hand it asks, at a more general level, for the significance of the charismatic image of the ruler as victor from Antoninus Pius to Commodus. This is an aspect which is often neglected when looking at the reigns of the “humanistic” rulers Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Pius’ British expedition and the subsequent construction of the Antonine wall, rather than arising from economic or strategic considerations, should be taken as a measure of the new princeps to compensate for his lack of military prestige. Marcus happened to share both his triumphs with a co-ruler, first with the actual Parthian victor L. Verus and then with his son Commodus who was only fifteen at the time. While Verus was apparently much more keen on stressing his martial prowess, Marcus was, of course, also aware how much the militaristic aspect of his position mattered when dynastic stability was concerned and used it to present his son as the next emperor. Commodus eventually broke out from the established forms of imperial self-representation and styled himself as Hercules invictus and pacator orbis while showing his virtus in the arena.
Abstract
The purpose of this article is twofold. On the one hand it analyses the context of three triumphal processions and points out which political messages were transmitted during the ritual or by measures taken in close temporal vicinity; on the other hand it asks, at a more general level, for the significance of the charismatic image of the ruler as victor from Antoninus Pius to Commodus. This is an aspect which is often neglected when looking at the reigns of the “humanistic” rulers Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Pius’ British expedition and the subsequent construction of the Antonine wall, rather than arising from economic or strategic considerations, should be taken as a measure of the new princeps to compensate for his lack of military prestige. Marcus happened to share both his triumphs with a co-ruler, first with the actual Parthian victor L. Verus and then with his son Commodus who was only fifteen at the time. While Verus was apparently much more keen on stressing his martial prowess, Marcus was, of course, also aware how much the militaristic aspect of his position mattered when dynastic stability was concerned and used it to present his son as the next emperor. Commodus eventually broke out from the established forms of imperial self-representation and styled himself as Hercules invictus and pacator orbis while showing his virtus in the arena.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt IX
- Abkürzungen XI
- Verzeichnis der Karten XII
- Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
-
Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
- The Late Republican Triumph 29
- Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
- Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
- Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
-
Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
- Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
- Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
- Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
- Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
- Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
- Turning Victory into Defeat 317
-
Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
- Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
- Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
- Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
- Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
-
Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
- Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
- Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
- The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
- The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
- Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt IX
- Abkürzungen XI
- Verzeichnis der Karten XII
- Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
-
Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
- The Late Republican Triumph 29
- Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
- Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
- Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
-
Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
- Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
- Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
- Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
- Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
- Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
- Turning Victory into Defeat 317
-
Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
- Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
- Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
- Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
- Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
-
Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
- Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
- Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
- The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
- The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
- Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
