La figura dell’ambasciatore nelle relazioni tra le gentes e l’impero d’Oriente nel VI secolo

This paper investigates the relations between four sixth-century peoples (namely the Ostrogoths, the Burgundians, the Franks, and the Avars) and Constantinople by focusing on the role played by envoys. Theoderic, Sigismund and the Merovinagian kings used their envoys to show that they were part of the Post-Roman world and could be considered as reliable partners of the Empire. On the other hand, the Avars were unaware of, and uninterested in sixth-century political traditions, thereby causing outrage at Constantinople. Their arrival in Europe was the first sign that the ‘invisible Roman Empire’ which still binded together all territories once ruled by Rome was doomed to collapse.