Chapter 5 - The Proconsulship of Theodadius and Caesonia
Chapter 5 - The Proconsulship of Theodadius and Caesonia
“It started as a sect that followed the old Roman gods. A century later these pagans have conquered half of the Italian peninsula. The previous Popes, may their names be blessed by the Virgin Mary, have ignored them. They thought these heretics who call themselves “Romans” were just another flock who strayed too far from the words of the Lord. Studying Latin, adopting their old gods and names does not make anyone a Roman. Only a life lived serving our Lord can confer humble and pious men the right to be considered true Roman followers of Christ.”
Paganorum Novarum – Missives of Pope Benedict IV
On names and dinasties
By 970 one century had passed since the liberation of the Province of Apulia. Multiple generations had lived and died being taught that they were the heirs of Rhea Silvia, the mother of old Rome. One of the lesser known acts of Proconsul Theodadius was the so-called
“De Romanitas”: a set of laws that aimed at cementing the ideas that formed the base of the old Roman society. Among these we remember the law that regulated how the inhabitants of the provinces should be named. Old Roman names were constituted of three parts (the so called “Tria nomina”): a praeonomen, a nomen and a cognomen. The praenomen was a given name chosen by parents. The nomen identified the gens, the family clan while the cognomen identified a particular line within the family.
As the memory of the original roman gentes had been lost, a new system was adopted. Any name as long as it was latinised (if of foreign origin) could be used as praenomen. The name of the oldest living family member (the pater familias) was used as nomen and passed from father to son. To distinguish each individual, the mother’s family name was used as cognomen (in the feminine form). Concerning the gens Adalia, the children of Romulus and Aurelia were used as family names. Thus for example Proconsul Theodadius became: Theodadius Balbus Appia (Theodadius from the Balbus line on the father’s side and from the Appius line on the mother’s side). Sometimes, ruling Proconsuls would confer individuals who had performed great deeds the honour of starting a new family line or adopting an agnomen, a nickname describing what the person would be known for in posterity (see Antonius Quintus Constantia Hellenicus, “Liberator of Greece”).
-Historia Italiae Vol. VI
Theodadius Balbus Appia Instigator (927 AD – 971 AD, 1680 AUC – 1724 AUC)
Theodadius’ proconsulship was a short one. He ruled from 969 to 971 when he was killed at the orders of Herennia Appius Caesonia. According to historical reconstructions, he was accused of several murders before he became Proconsul. He might have had Herennia’s mother killed which hints at the root of the feud between her and the Proconsul. […] After his death, the Proconsulship passed to his daughter Caesonia Balbus Appia. [...]
Caesonia Balbus Appia Dalmata (971 AD – 982 AD, 1724 AUC – 1735 AUC)
Caesonia was the second of fourchildren. The eldest, Petrus died of pneumonia while still an infant. She had a brother, Maxerius Minor and a sister, Laetitia who also died young. She is most notably known for the creation of a short-lived independent Province in Greece, the Eastern doctrine and the defense of the Province of Apulia from northern aggression.
In 974, Eustathios became emperor of the Greeks. Petrus Iacobus Petra, the ruler of Achaia in Greece had converted to the Roman faith and was thus expelled from the empire. Proconsul Caesonia thought that supporting the cause of Petrus could be the chance of legitimizing the Roman cause as a global phenomenon rather than an isolated Italian occurrence. Thus, the armies of the provinces sailed for the first time towards Greece were they defeated the opposition and installed Petrus as Consul of Achaia formal alliance was stipulated between the Provinces of Apulia et Sicilia and the Province of Achaia. Unfortunately his rule was short as it only lasted for two years, although he was able to be restored in power between 995 and 1000 AD. However, the existence of the short-lived Province of Achaia might have played a role in the future events of 1029 AD. […]
The
Eastern Doctrine was a long-term strategy to balance the power of the Northern Kingdom. As the previous attempt to liberate Northern Italy resulted in a severe defeat for the armies of the province it was apparent that there were little other expansion opportunities in the Italian peninsula. Caesonia believed that only the Romanisation of the East would provide the provinces the resources and manpower needed to defeat the Lombards on the field. Thus, in 973 Dalmatia, part of the once great province of Illyricum, was liberated. […]
In 981, the northern kingdom of Lombardy invaded the Provinces in what was a second war of aggression. […] The armies of the Provinces suffered a severe blow in the battle of Fovea. Survivors were able to regroup in Tarentum and Sicily. Caesonia however died in 982, heart-stricken after her armies were defeated. The Proconsulship passed to the young Aurelius Quintus Balba, who was 9 at the time […]. The Lombard Kingdom was however fighting on multiple fronts as an internal revolt against the rule of Queen Gian I opposed him to several vassals. The war dragged for six more years and it was only in 986 that the young Aurelius (under the regency of Varro Lazarinus Valeriana of Sicily) was able to sign a peace treaty with Queen Cecilia.
-De Bello Italico Vol. IX-X
