A Byzantine Cuckoo in the Frankish Nest?
Tom Brown
The Exarchate of Ravenna has usually been seen as peripheral to Carolingian Italy because its ’alien’ character, stemming from position a province the eastern empire up 751. This chapter first argues that, while area retained many distinctive ‘Roman’ institutions that were quite distinct those old Lombard kingdom, it is unhelpful regard these ‘Byzantine’, and enduring links with Constantinople limited. goes on argue came play an increasing role in political ecclesiastical life Italy, for number reasons, including archbishops’ conflicts papacy attractiveness Ravenna’s heritage rulers keen enhance their claims imperial authority. Also, by late ninth century various factors led settlement several powerful families Frankish descent.
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