142 Radtki
The Destruction of the Senatorial Elite
Belisarius invaded Ostrogothic territory in 535 and in the following year fac-
tions of the Roman aristocracy welcomed him into Rome, while others pre-
ferred to demonstrate their support for the Amal regime.133 In 540, Belisarius
dissolved the Amal court at Ravenna and transported Witigis and his wife
Matasuentha to Constantinople.134 Interestingly, even in the time of the Gothic
War the main features of a conflict between members of the north Italian
and the Rome-based families remained in force. Those senatorial inhabitants
of the city of Rome who could still be located during the war appear on the
side of Justinian from very early on, and were supported by some northern
illustres like Flavius Rufius Gennadius Orestes,135 a relative of Faustus Niger,
and Liberius, who, after supporting the Amal regime for generations must have
become disappointed by the direction of Ostrogothic policy.136 Some mem-
bers of this group like Flavius Decius, Flavius Anicius Faustus Albinus Basilius
Iunior, and Flavius Rufius Petronius Nicomachus Cethegus were able to leave
Italy in the early 540s and found a new home at Justinian’s court, where they
sought involvement in plans for the future administration of Italy.137 Others
such as Opilio (whose loyalty to the Ostrogothic regime was evident from his
role in an embassy to Justinian),138 Ambrosius, Arator,139 and Cassiodorus
remained loyal to the Gothic cause. In Cassiodorus’ case, Witigis’ capitulation
seems to have marked the end of his political career after a long period of loy-
alty to the Amals. He may have left Italy with Belisarius.140
The ongoing military conflicts on Italian soil were the main reason for the
disappearance of the Senate as an institution141 and the senatorial elite as
133 Cassiodorus, Variae 10.31, ed. Mommsen; Bjornlie, Politics, p. 143.
134 Procopius, De Bellis Libri 7.1.1–2, ed. Haury/Wirth.
135 PLRE IIIb, p. 956.
136 Schäfer, Der weströmische Senat, pp. 263ff.
137 On this see Bjornlie, Politics, pp. 144ff.
138 Procopius, De Bellis Libri 1.4.23, ed. Haury/Wirth.
139 PLRE II, pp. 126ff.
140 Cassiodorus is mentioned in a letter written by pope Vigilius dated to 550, which described
him as “vir religiosus”. For questions of Cassiodorus’ political involvements and aspira-
tions at the eastern Roman court, see Bjornlie, Politics, pp. 7ff.; Momigliano, Cassiodorus,
p. 219; O’Donnell, Cassiodorus, pp. 105ff., Krautschick, Cassiodor, pp. 11f.; Schäfer,
Der weströmische Senat, pp. 270f.
141 There are scarce references to senatorial meetings after the war: the last detailed tes-
timony comes in 587 and 580 when it sent two embassies to Tiberius II, see Brown,
Gentlemen, pp. 21f.