Das literarische Porträt Kaiser Manuels I. Komnenos in den Kaiserreden des 12. Jh.

What is it about?

In this study I explore the literary portrait of the emperor Manuel Komnenos in nine imperial speeches from the 12th century (by Eustathius of Thessalonica, Michael Rhetor, Gregory Antiochos, John Diogenes). I examine how each rhetor treats the portrait of the emperor (essentially, the physical description), which common literary motifs exist, with which ones do the authors and rhetors differ and how can these texts/speeches be interpreted in terms of the expectations of the readers/listeners. The position and function of the motifs used are described in detail: for example, the colour of the body, the face, the eyes, the hands, the voice, the comparison of the emperor with the sun, his ability to heal with just his glance. One can observe the dynamic of these literary topoi, which is not unrelated to the historical and political conditions of the era and the creative skills of each rhetor.

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