Although Rome ceased to be a regular imperial residence by the fourth century, it retained great prestige as the seat of the senate and the papacy. Numerous churches were built, including martyr-shrines, transformed houses of earlier private patrons (tituli), and major imperial foundations. Despite sacking by Visigoths and Vandals and Germanic rule after 476, its wealth, population and artistic production remained high until the mid-sixth century, when the Gothic War (535-54), the eclipse of the Senate and the Lombard invasion (568) led to precipitate decline. The city was capital of a Byzantine duchy c. 536-727 but the papacy exercised increasing control over the city from the pontificate of Gregory I (590-604). Although habitation was largely confined to the river banks beneath the Palatine, it remained culturally important because of the many Greek monasteries manned by eastern refugees and chur ches which continued to be built to serve as charitable complexes (diaconiae), or to cater for a growing number of relics and pilgrims.
Following conflicts with Byzantium over iconoclasm, taxation and the empire's inability to resist Lombard encroachments, the popes strove from c. 727 to set up an autonomous papal state. A close alliance was built up with the Franks, culminating in the imperial coronation of Charlemagne in St Peter's (Christmas Day 800). Although relations were often uneasy and Byzantine cultural and social influence remained strong, Rome's enhanced political and jurisdictional role led to increased wealth and building activity. This was reaffirmed (and the endemic problem of local noble violence was partly reduced) by the imperial coronation of the Saxon king, Otto I, in 962.
T. S.Brown
Ravenna
Roman Ravenna, with its port of Classe, was an important naval base. The security and good communications afforded by its surrounding marshes and canals encouraged the emperor Honorius to transfer the imperial capital there in 402 and the size of the city increased dramatically, during its 'first golden age' (lasting until the fall of the western empire in 476 and reflected in richly decorated buildings such as the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Baptistry of the Orthodox).
Ravenna continued to flourish as the capital of the Italian kingdom under King Odoacer (47693) and his Ostrogothic successors (493-540), whose commissions include the Arian baptistry, the Gothic cathedral, Theoderic's palace and its chapel (later renamed S. Apollinare Nuovo) and the same king's mausoleum. The city's status was matched by the power of its bishops, whose foundations include the octagonal S. Vitale and the basilica of S. Apollinare in Classe (only completed after the Byzantine conquest (540) when such decoration as the court mosaic of the emperor Justinian and his empress Thedora was added).
The city's affluence and artistic production declined after Justinian's death (565) because of the Lombard invasions, weakening links with the east and the silting up of its harbour. However it remained politically important as the residence of the exarch (first mentioned 584). This imperial garrison became a powerful force as it put down local roots, and led a number of revolts from the early seventh century. The patronage of external rulers and pious locals helped the archbishops to become de facto rulers of the Romagna and Marches after Ravenna's capture by the Lombards in 751 and subsequent incorporation in the papal state. For three or more centuries the city remained an important local capital, despite its commercial and cultural decline.
T. S.Brown
World History
