The Reflection of Ancient Greek Biography in Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus’ Vita Basilii

Abstract

The Vita Basilii, compiled by Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913–959) in honour of his grandfather Basil I (867–886), appears as the first laudatory biography in Byzantine literature glorifying the emperor’s life and deeds (βασιλικὸς λόγος). Previous research demonstrates that, in compiling the work, Porphyrogenitus used two types of ancient Greek biography, Isocrates’ encomium Euagoras and Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, as models. The research in this paper is based on the analysis and comparison of the structure and content of Plutarch’s Alexander, depicting the life and works of Alexander the Great, Isocrates’ Euagoras, dedicated to the Cypriot ruler of Salamis, and Porphyrogenitus’ account of Basil's life according to topoi specific to a basilikos logos (prologue, homeland, origin, birth, physical appearance, upbringing, character traits, achievements in war and peace, fortune, comparison to the previous reign, epilogue and concluding prayer). The aim is to determine in what way Plutarch’s and Isocrates’ models of biography influenced the Vita Bas., i.e., to what extent Porphyrogenitus imitated ancient templates and in which segments of the work he brings his own innovations.

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