Between Inaccuracy and Idealization: The concordia fratrum in Claudian's Poems

Claudian projected the ideal of concordia fratrum over the brotheremperors Honorius and Arcadius through different strategies, such as omissions and the demonization of external enemies (Gildo and Alaric) or antagonists who were in the Eastern Court (Rufinus and Eutropius). By exploiting the mythical repertoire, the poet foregrounded, on the one hand, how far the East was from Roman ideals and values, due to misleading figures like Eutropius, and on the other, the role of Stilicho, who was concealing an ambition to broaden his power. Claudian embraced Stilicho’s aim completely, considering him the only one who could maintain the concordia fratrum which Theodosius had entrusted him. However, the poet did not always conceal the cracks behind this façade of harmonious co-regency of the power holders, and left some space for inaccuracies and historical comparisons which reveal his thought under the cover of his politically committed poetry.