Emperors and Tyrants in the Fourth Century. Outlining a New Portrait of the Ruler and of His Role through Images and Words

Short after the end of 312 a new word – tyrannus - was introduced in Roman political vocabulary. Making its first appearance in public monuments already in 313, this word was ‘invented’ , or rather resematicised, by the emperor or by his circle to label the emperor’s rival Maxentius. It was later employed for many others ‘bad’ emperors in late antiquity. In parallel with the appearance of this concept, we find for the first time an explicit, monumental celebration of the victory over the internal enemy, in Rome and later in Constantinople. The positive value of a victory over fellow citizens was never fully recognized, but Constantine’s innovation had a strong impact on imperial politics, ceremonials and on the definition of emperor’s role.