Law and Legal Documents in the Sermons of Peter Chrysologus

Because Peter Chrysologus preached at the capital of Ravenna during the reign of Valentinian III, his large corpus of extant sermons provides an intriguing look at ideas and attitudes widely known at the center of the empire. This study will examine just one group of images common in these sermons: the language of law and documentation. The bishop demonstrates a surprisingly accurate knowledge of Roman law, and uses this knowledge to make his sermons understandable and relevant to his congregation. Chrysologus’ imagery can be read as a commentary and critique on imperial legal culture at the time of promulgation of the Theodosian Code.