Empire of virtue? normative language and the legitimation of power in Roman North Africa

Penders, S.M.H.J. (2021)

Doctoral Thesis

This study examines the use of normative language in Roman North Africa from the first to the fourth centuries AD. From emperors down to provincial magistrates, powerful individuals throughout the Roman Empire employed the language of honour and virtue to legitimate their influential position over others. This thesis delves deeper into the intertwining layers of power and legitimacy, as well as their linguistic expression in the epigraphic culture of Africa Proconsularis and Mauretania Caesariensis. References to imperial virtue in North African epigraphy are traced over four centuries and contrasted with the virtues prevalent in imperial media. The normative language employed to honour imperial officials, local magistrates and African benefactors is examined and contextualised. Finally, the findings from the civilian sphere are compared to military dedications from the African provinces. The thesis concludes by pointing to a number of overarching themes at play throughout the varied material, calling attention to the active role of provincial dedicators in expressing and influencing normative beliefs on legitimate power.

• Imperial ideology
• Roman Empire
• Roman administration
• Africa Proconsularis
• Mauretania Caesariensis
• Legitimation
• Provincial elites
• Civic communities

• All authors: Penders, S.M.H.J.
• Supervisor: Ligt, L. de
• Co-supervisor: Naerebout, F.G.
• Committee: Hekster, O.J.; Zangenberg, J.K.; Claes, L.M.G.F.E.; Icks, M.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden University Institute for History, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2021-10-07