Date of Award:
5-2026
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Arts (MA)
Department:
History
Committee Chair(s)
Mark Damen
Committee
Mark Damen
Committee
Mustafa Banister
Committee
Frances Titchener
Abstract
When the Western Roman Empire officially “fell” in 476 CE, the remaining eastern half, commonly called the Byzantine Empire, inherited and built upon a longstanding tradition of allowing children to occupy the imperial throne, one that goes back as far as the fourth century. This tolerance for minority rule peaked during the so-called Middle Byzantine Period (c. 641-1204 AD) when six children were elevated to the position of emperor. This thesis analyzes the reasons why the Byzantine state allowed such incompetent rulers to sit at the pinnacle of power by examining the elements of society that supported them and what can be learned from researching this unique situation. Factors which played an important role include the complicity of powerful generals and even a child’s own habits, as well as protective mothers and eunuchs who exploited an adoring mob and a sympathetic church. Combined, they paint a picture of an empire that was uniquely capable of withstanding the sorts of difficulties that arise naturally during any regency, yet another testament to what is surely the most prevalent characteristic of the Byzantine world, its ability to persist despite the turmoil that roiled the post-classical West for over a millennium.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Tarrant, Tennessee Jackson, "Pedarchy: Child Emperors and the Contest for Imperial Authority in the Middle Byzantine Period" (2026). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present. 786.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/786
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