The Emperor in Action

The texts so far examined represent three categories of document—edicts, letters, and private rescripts—documents issued in the emperor’s name, which were signed by him and then posted or dispatched. But some imperial pronouncements require imperial activity of a different sort and a handful of texts from the codes show the emperor in action, making pronouncements in the most direct possible form, by oral delivery.1 The emperor, therefore, has a more immediate control over the words he says. The necessity for some minimum facility at public speaking was part of the imperial office. This directness does not mean, however, that what is said has not been prepared with the advice of others, either beforehand or during these occasions.

Action (physics) · Ancient history · Database · Emperor · Political science · sort · Classical Antiquity Studies · Computer Science · Historical and Linguistic Studies · History · Law