‘Antiquitas decentius innovata’. De urbe Roma sub dicione Gothorum

The Goths paid special attention to the city of Rome during their rule over Italy. Theoderic sponsored renovation works aimed at restoring the public monuments and the walls of the city to their former state, to the point that Rome was rejuvenated under him, according to Ennodius. Cassiodorus' letters show that Theoderic's evergetism was aimed at both repairing the damage caused by years of war and neglect, and being perceived as a “lover of buildings and restorer of cities”. This strategy of political communication was part of his imitation of the Empire, which enabled him to be accepted by the senatorial aristocracy and the Roman people as the rightful ruler of Italy. – Saeculo quinto exeunte et sexto ineunte Gothi Romam munifice ornaverunt. Epistolae a Cassiodoro exaratae curam de Roma tuenda Theoderici eiusque successorum palam indicant, qui plusquam semel aedificia et fabricas civitatis recreaverunt. Eodem tempore curandum erat, ne cives Romani pecunia regia Urbi destinata potirentur et ea alio uterentur. Cassiodori Variae dilucide ostendunt et conatus regum Gothorum ad Urbem tuendam et utilitatem sermonis publici, quo Theodericus quasi ‘amator fabricarum et restaurator civitatum’ exprimi posset. Nam Romani et alii cives Italiae regem tantum, qui alter imperator videbatur esse, benigne accipere poterant, qua de causa Theodericus semper enixus est, ut antiquum caput imperii coleret, quod eius opinione ‘fas est ipsis liberis plus amare’.