Sailing to Byzantium: Sixth-Century popes under threat in Constantinople

Sailing to Byzantium was a hazardous but not unusual task for sixth century bishops of Rome. Three popes traveled to Constantinople in the space of twenty years: John I and Agapitus on behalf of the Ostrogothic kings, Vigilius of emperor Justinian. John I was sent to the East in order to convince Justin to end the persecution of the Arians, Agapitus had to discuss both the ongoing Gothic War and the accession to the Constantinople see of Anthimus, whereas Vigilius was summoned in order to deal with the Three-Chapter Controversy, not to mention Silverius, who was exiled by the emperor in Lycia ostensibly because of his anti-monophysite attitude. Papal travels to the East between 525 and 545 indicate that political issues were at least as important as theological ones. They also show that the symbolic relevance of the popes depended upon the balance of power between Ravenna and Constantinople, since both the Gothic sovereigns and the emperors needed the support of papal authority in order to substantiate their claims over Italy. Justinian’s conquest of Rome was a setback for the pontiffs: previously persuasion and religious concessions were as important as threats to secure their cooperation, but thereafter sheer coercion sufficed.