The Portrayal of Leo of Chalcedon in the Alexiad: Its Accuracy and Motivation, lecture by Péter Bara (Research Centre for the Humanities, Budapest), MoByz Virtual Lecture via Zoom, October 27, 2020, 1:00–2:00 pm CEST
The Wittgenstein Project Team announces a virtual lecture and discussion with Dr. Péter Bara (Research Centre for the Humanities, Budapest), the last of the MoByz Lecture-Series.
The virtual meeting hosted via Zoom will provide the unique opportunity to discuss with Dr. Bara his current work on “The Portrayal of Leo of Chalcedon in the Alexiad: Its Accuracy and Motivation”. Leo, the metropolitan of Chalcedon, was one of the loudest opponents of Alexios I Komnenos’ heavy-handed church policy during the 1080s. In the contemporary sources, Leo comes across as a competent theologian, canonist, and outspoken defender of ecclesiastical autonomy. His level of education is not an issue–indeed the emperor paid him the compliment of saying that he was λόγῳ σεμνυνόμενος–and his political loyalty is not in doubt, at least until early 1086. Moreover, he does not appear as a classic holy man, not even in the dream narrative of Thomas the deacon that represents him rather as a champion of ecclesiastical authority. However, Leo’s portrayal in the Alexiad is somewhat different. It is only in Anna Komnene’s mid-twelfth-century historical work that he appears as having a deficient education, politically subversive tendencies, and reputation for supernatural charisma. The talk surveys Anna’s representation of Leo of Chalcedon in Book 5 of the Alexiad and the agenda behind her portrayal.
After a 20-minute lecture by Dr. Bara, there will be time for discussion, moderated by Prof. Dr. Claudia Rapp.
Péter Bara is a junior research fellow at the Research Centre for the Humanities (Budapest). He recently defended his dissertation on Leo, the late-eleventh-century metropolitan bishop of Chalcedon. His current research focuses on the Medieval and Renaissance reception of classical and Byzantine Greek paideia in Italy and in the Transalpine region.
Advance registration required.