Page 276 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Envoys and Political Communication,411–533

of the narrative. Urbicus, presumably quaestor atTheoderic’s courtin
494, and Laconius, possibly consiliarius to Gundobad, are both mentioned
only after Epiphanius’ orations to their masters, when they are charged
with the execution of the agreements Epiphanius has negotiated. Like
the references to the oath sworn by Anthemius and the pact agreed to by
Euric after their interviews with Epiphanius, the role of these officials is
strictly limited to narrative confirmations of the success of Epiphanius’
negotiations. 132 Leo, perhaps consiliarius of Euric in Toulouse, appears
twice, framing Epiphanius’ speech to Euric, which he attends. Though
it is possible that Leo was in charge of overseeing the protocol of the
audience, the text does not say this. His presence at the historical meet-
ing could be attributed to his position, attested by both Ennodius and
Sidonius Apollinaris, as a senior adviser of Euric. 133 His role in the text,
however, is as an appreciative audience, able to give well-informed praise
to Epiphanius’ eloquence, for when he is first introduced, Leo is described
not only as the ‘moderator and judge’ of Euric’s counsels, but also as a
figure ‘to whom already more than one prize for declamation had come
deservedly on accountof his eloquence’; thatLeo was ‘gripped by such
great awe at his oratory’ underscores the force of Epiphanius’ rhetoric. 134
The functions of these characters in praising Epiphanius indirectly attest
the importance of two aspects of the procedure of embassies: oratori-
cal delivery, and positive confirmation of an agreement in the envoy’s
presence.
Besides their functions at a narrative level, these three palatine officials
may also serve literary ends at the level of the reception of the text.
Laconius was a friend and correspondentof Ennodius; Urbicus, otherwise
unattested, may have been one of Ennodius’ associates at Theoderic’s
court. Leo enjoyed a reputation in Gaul as an arbiter of literary taste. 135
It was customary for the authors of late antique letter collections to
include revised or new letters to specific friends for their delight; thus the
published collections of letters, as well as the original epistles, contributed
to the cultivation of amicitia. 136 Similar aims may have influenced the
naming and praise of selectpalatine officials in Vita Epiphani.
132
Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 135 (Urbicus), 168–71 (Laconius); cf. 72 (Anthemius’ sacramentum), 91
(Euric’s pactio).
133
Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 85;Sid.Ap., Epp. iv, 22.3; viii, 3.4.
134
Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 85: consiliorum principis et moderator et arbiter Leo nomine,quem per elo-
quentiae meritum non una iam declamationum palma susceperat; 89: tanto adlocutionis ipsius tenebatur
miraculo.
135
Laconius: Ennodius, Opera 38, 86, 252 = Epp. ii, 5; iii, 16; v, 24. Urbicus: the dramatic date
of Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 135,is 494; Ennodius’ extant letters commence in 501 (Sundwall,
Abhandlungen, 3–4, 72); earlier correspondence between Ennodius and Urbicus is possible. Leo:
PLRE ii, 662; Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 85.
136
Sid. Ap., Ep. ix, 14.1; Cass., Variae, Praef ., 9; Gillett, ‘Purposes’, 49–50.
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