Gerald D. and Norma Feldman Annual Lecture

January 10, 2023

On November 10, 2022, the Institute of European Studies in partnership with the Department of History, the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, and the Department of Gender and Women's Studies, had the pleasure to host the Gerald D. and Norma Feldman Annual Lecture. This event featured Prof. SusannaElm who spoke onMasculinity and Imperial Representation in the Later Roman Empire: Theodosius the Great and (the Beginnings of) Christian Sovereignty in Europe, which derives from her current project, The Emperors' Eunuch: Civil War, Queer Masculinities, and Imperial Representation in the Early Theodosian Age. Before handing over the word to Professor Elm, the director of the Institute of European Studies, Professor Jeroen Dewulf addressed past and present support with special emphasis on Gerald Feldman’s work that have helped in building the institute and allow for it to grow further.

In a truly captivating and enlightening lecture, Elm traced the history of late Roman emperors and their respective roles in establishing the sovereignty of Christianity in the Roman empire, commencing with the example of Magnus Maximus and Saint Martin. She then clarified that while Constantine the Great legalized Christianity, it was in fact Theodosius who legitimized Christian rulership through divine authority. Through a complex constellation of different factors such as civil war and the relevance of victorious warfare, she then explained how the term “virtue” – an essential trait of character for Roman emperors – is derived from the Latin “vir” which describes an elite male; this “vir-ness” of the utmost priority in Roman leadership. 

Since Theodosius, however, was not virtuous in the conventional sense of warfare victory, additionally considering the complicated implications of civil war between fellow Romans, his “vir-ness” had to be established through different means. His leadership was instead marked by a notion of philanthropy that in turn was based on Christian ideology and the unique divine position of the emperor. Elm argues that this notion and its related rhetoric allow for or possibly even allow a queer reading of Theodosius’ emperorship, connecting it to androgynous imagery of the emperor and his sons Arcadius and Honorius as well as the accounts of Christian orator Pacatus. Special appreciation must be attributed to Elm’s bold, humorous, and sophisticated way of presenting this novel queer interpretation of early Christianity in the Roman empire.

After the lecture, Elm answered questions from the audience, providing further insight into her work and clarifying inquiries about the intricate web of her scholarship by elaborating on different aspects of her talk as well as providing astute examples. The event closed with a reception at which participants had the opportunity to discuss related academic topics and enjoy lively conversation over food and drinks. 

2022 Feldman Lecture