LEGITIMATE VIOLENCE IN ILLEGITIMATE TIMES: DIO’S THEORIES OF LEGITIMACY
Abstract
Comparing legitimacy in the three different contexts of literaryleisteia, Late Republican civil war actors, and contemporary Severanemperors reveals Dio to be consistent when discussing legitimateviolence. In all three, Dio presents establishing legitimacy as aprimary factor in attaining power. As the required skills to achievepower differed from those for ruling, the resulting ruler could bedisastrous. Through employing the ‘noble bandit’ topos, Dioquestions the emperors’ suitability, comparing them to bandits.Overall, Dio interprets Late Republican history differently from hissources for Republican history. In his view, future statesmen cannotrely upon the mos maiorum.References
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