Procopius of Caesarea, Peter the Patrician, and the Outbreak of the Gothic War

Abstract This article seeks to answer several questions about Procopius’ account of the causes for the Gothic war. The fundamental question is who was responsible for Amalasuintha’s death. Another issue under scrutiny relates to Procopius’ sources. The figure of Peter the Patrician sketched by Procopius is another point of interest. In the light of a comparative analysis of the sources, the accusation of Peter the Patrician and Theodora of complicity in the murder of Amalasuintha does not appear to have a firm basis. However, it is very likely that Procopius may indeed have had access to specific information about the secret negotiations—either directly from senator Alexander; or, more likely, via Marcellus. Contrary to what is generally assumed, it was probably not Peter the Patrician who provided Procopius with the most interesting details relating to the dramatic events in Italy in 534-536. The figure of Peter the Patrician fulfils an important literary function, serving primarily to explain the ‘real’ causes of the Gothic War.