Philip Atkins

Research Topic

My thesis is a political history of the late-fourth-century Roman empire, with a focus on the reign of Theodosius I (r. 379–395). I consider in particular the enterprise of regime building, the operation (not so plain sailing) of the later empire's co-emperorship system, and the exercise of (or the attempted exercise of) control over the provinces by the imperial centre. All this involves studying—what are to me, at least—some rather fascinating sources, namely laws, letters, and speeches. Overall, I hope to further illuminate the workings of executive power in the later Roman empire.

Supervisor: Dr Neil McLynn

Background

I did my undergraduate degree in History at Newcastle University and did my master's degree here at Oxford in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies.

Papers Presented

• 'Theodosius I at Thessalonica, 379–380', Oxford Late Roman Seminar, 24 October 2019
• 'Priscian of Caesarea and the 'Two' Emperors', 21st Oxford University Byzantine Society International Graduate Conference (Contested Heritage: Adaptation, Restoration and Innovation in the Late Antique and Byzantine World), 22 February 2019