Page 122 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Envoys and Political Communication,411–533

Avitus’ position is insufficiently consolidated to give too much attention
to the break from the past. Here and elsewhere, Sidonius is nervous about
perceptions of Avitus’ legitimacy.
Established in the opening lines as the central issue, the Vandal theme
is latent until the penultimate scene of the poem. The account of Avitus’
duties as magister utriusque militiae under Petronius Maximus and his trip
to the Goths in Toulouse is interrupted by the only explicit reference
to the Vandal attack on Rome. 51 It is placed here in the narrative to
show the alleged significance of this event in relations between Avitus
and Theoderic II. News of the attack and Petronius Maximus’ death
dictates the Goths’ response to Avitus’ overtures for peace. Knowing
that the imperial throne is vacant, Theoderic agrees to peace on con-
dition that Avitus becomes emperor. Only Avitus’ elevation will ensure
that the empire has the support of the Goths, specifically against the
Vandals. This is emphasised by the somewhat clumsy contrast between
52
the Gothic sack of Rome in 410 and recentevents. Jupiter’s final speech
reiterates this theme: the imperial acclamations of Gaul bring fear to the
Vandals. 53
These themes reflect Avitus’ approach to the Senate. As emperor,
Avitus can offer the alliance and support of the Goths, with whose aid the
West has the opportunity to defeat the Vandals. No other consideration
of legitimacy should count, and no other candidate for the throne can
offer this military strength.
The plotof the Panegyric is a carefully crafted vehicle for these themes of
renewal and deliverance. Like the speeches and the mythological frame-
work, the plot is a literary contrivance; it ought not be confused with
historical developments, however much the contrivance draws upon real-
ity. The dramatic sequence does not reflect true historical development.
Sidonius’ style permits him to manipulate historical events freely. The
mythological frame removes the narrative from reality, and this abstrac-
tion also affects the account of Avitus’ gesta. Events happen sequentially
but timelessly. Temporal indicators introducing each episode obscure the
54
passage of time between actual events. The years between 439 and 451
pass without notice, and Avitus, addressing the Goths in 455, refers to his
office as praetorian prefect in 439 as if itrecently preceded his current
military appointment. 55 The epic tone of the poem enables Sidonius to
shape characters and events into a historical fiction. Details are provided

51
Sid. Ap., Carm. vii, 441–51.
52 53
Condition: Sid. Ap., Carm. vii, 499–509; sack of 410: 504–6. Sid. Ap., Carm. vii, 585–91.
54
Sid. Ap., Carm. vii, 230: interea; 243: vix; 316 and 319: iam . . . subito; 357: iam;cf. 295: haec post
gesta.
55
Sid. Ap., Carm. vii, 464–7.
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