The Origins of Roman Christian Diplomacy

Constantius II and John Chrysostom as Innovators

Walter Stevenson

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781138219465
• eBook ISBN: 9781315414997
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

This book illuminates the origins of Roman Christian diplomacy through two case studies: Constantius II's imperial strategy in the Red Sea; and John Chrysostom's ecclesiastical strategy in Gothia and Sasanian Persia.

Both men have enjoyed a strong narrative tradition: Constantius as a persecuting, theological fanatic, and Chrysostom as a stubborn, naïve reformer. Yet this tradition has often masked their remarkable innovations. As part of his strategy for conquest, Constantius was forced to focus on Alexandria, demonstrating a carefully orchestrated campaign along the principal eastern trade route. Meanwhile, whilst John Chrysostom' s preaching and social reform have garnered extensive discussion, his late sermons and letters composed in exile reveal an ambitious program to establish church structures outside imperial state control.

The book demonstrates that these two pioneers innovated a diplomacy that utilised Christianity as a tool for forging alliances with external peoples; a procedure that would later become central to Byzantine statecraft. It will appeal to all those interested in Early Christianity and late antique/medieval history.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Approaching Roman Christian diplomacy in context
• 2 Mission to Himyar and Aksum in context
• 3 Constantius’s bishop management program
• 4 Constantius’s bureaucracy abroad
• 5 John Chrysostom’s mission to Gothia
• 6 Marouta of Maiferqat and the mission to Persia
• 7 John’s attention to evolving collective religious identities
• 8 First steps toward a new Christian diplomacy
• 9 Byzantine trajectories
• Index