CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2013
| Author | Maric, Ivan |
|---|---|
| Title | Legitimizing Usurpation: Romanos I Lekapenos and Nikolaos I Mystikos |
| Summary | The thesis investigates efforts which the usurper-emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920-944) undertook in order to legitimize his position and promote himself and his eldest son Christopher before the heir of the established 'Macedonian' dynasty Constantine Porphyrogennetos. Focus was on the usage of coins and seals for the propagandistic purposes, and the role of the patriarch Nikolaos I Mystikos (p. 901-907, 912/3-925) in supporting the new emperor. Special attention is given to the gold coin representing Romanos being crowned by Christ which projected his divine legitimacy, and to the contemporary letters that Nikolaos Mystikos sent to Symeon of Bulgaria (r. 893-927) where the patriarch confirms the divine ordination of Romanos I Lekapenos. Apart from Symeon, the letters were probably also addressing the higher strata of the Byzantine capital, mainly the high-ranking officials and dignitaries at the court – audience similar to the one the gold coins were addressing to. Finally, the possibility that Mystikos was the mastermind behind the coin's iconography is examined as well. |
| Supervisor | Gaul, Niels |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2013/maric_ivan.pdf |
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