Pouvoir et lettres de 284 à 410 apr. J.-C.

Abstract

The theme of “Power and Letters” can hardly be dissociated from its counterpoint “Letters and Power”. In a state where there was no institutionalised censorship, but where the power of the emperor increased markedly after the crisis of the 3rd century, we will begin by looking at the main means that the sovereigns and their entourage had at their disposal to control literary production. This will be followed by an overview of courtly production, in particular panegyric literature, its codification and the significant changes it underwent throughout the period under consideration. Finally, we will look at the political function of literature, particularly in its parenetic dimension. Without excluding the eastern part of the empire and Greek literature, the focus will be on the western and Latin-speaking world.

Keywords

• Rhetoric
• Late Antiquity
• Politics
• Latin Literature
• Panegyric