Cassiodorus’ Variae in the 9th Century

Cristini, Marco (2022) Cassiodorus’ Variae in the 9th Century. In: Between Ostrogothic and Carolingian Italy. Survivals, revivals, ruptures. Reti Medievali E-Book (43). Firenze University Press, Firenze, pp. 109-125. ISBN 978-88-5518-664-3

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Abstract

The fate of Cassiodorus’ Variae during the Early Middle Ages is largely unknown, since the manuscript tradition begins with the eleventh century, and long quotations taken from them are attested only from that period. However, words or expressions reminiscent of the Variae occur more than once in Charlemagne’s letters to Byzantium, in the works of Paschasius, and in the Donation of Constantine. The author of the epistles sent by Charlemagne to the East Roman em- peror was aware of the ideological context of Variae I, 1, and the same is true for the Donation of Constantine. At the same time, Paschasius used Cassiodorus as a source of elegant words and expressions, thereby treating him like a classical author. It is impossible to ascertain whether Carolingian writers had access to all books of the Variae, or only to a substantial selection of letters (similar for instance to the manuscript containing the Epistolae Austrasicae), but there is a high degree of likelihood that they knew quite a few epistles of Cassiodorus, and were able to appreciate the political messages conveyed by them.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Early Middle Ages, 9th Century, Charlemagne, Paschasius Radbertus, Cassiodorus’ Variae, Donation of Constantine
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History
Depositing User:	dr Vincenzo De Luise
Date Deposited:	17 Apr 2024 11:03
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2024 11:03
URI:	http://www.rmoa.unina.it/id/eprint/4907

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