El retrato amianeo del emperador Joviano

Abstract

The present work studies the portrayal that Amianus Marcellinus does of emperor Jovian in his «Res Gestae», paying attention in the first place to the physical traits with which the historian initiates his description. Once the physical traits have been exposed, the emperor’s character is revealed by means of several formulations that clearly mark, in the first place, certain similarities with regard to Constans portrait, such as, for example, his profession of the Christian faith or the scrupulous study of the appointment of top-ranking functionaries. However, and in second term, Amianus accompanies this series of assertions with clearly contrasting elements in the portrayal of Constans, such as, for example, the emperor’s undisguised habit of jestin in public, or his poor cultural knowledge, and which manifest the historian’s intention of presenting Jovian in an inferior level with regard to Constans. However, the critical appraisal that Amianus Marcellinus depicts of Jovian’s person and government is marked by the disgraceful contract subscribed by the emperor with Persia.