Sharing the Imperial Limelight: The Age of the Magister Militum

This chapter argues that magistri militum, the most senior officers in the Roman army, should not be considered ‘powers behind the throne’ in the late fourth to late fifth century. Instead, their power was openly articulated in panegyrics, ceremonies, marriages, and monuments as representing more of a power-sharing relationship both with child emperors and with adult emperors whom they sought to control. This arrangement, it is argued, could only have come about with the consensus of the entire court community, whose members supported generals and often benefited from their political patronage. This delicate equilibrium came to an end in the 470s, as the western empire fragmented, and eastern generals sought to rule as emperors themselves rather than in partnership with another.