Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

138 4 The diplomatic solutions
conclude a peace for fifty years, another source refers to a ‘hundred-yearspeace’.
104 Regardless of the exact time limit, the peace that was concluded
between Bahrām V and Theodosius II in 422 and renewed in 441 105 introduced
a long peaceful period between both empires; this lasted until the
beginning of the sixth century, when Kavādh I began to reform the Sasanian
monarchy and reopened war against Byzantium.
20: The peace treaty of 562 between Justinian and
Xusrō I Anōˇsarvān
The peace negotiations that led to the conclusion of this foedus and the
actual treaty mark the highpoint of the diplomatic relations between the two
rivalling powers. The narrative of Menander the Guardsman (Menander
Protector) is a very comprehensive and reliable source. 106 Unfortunately,
the work of this Byzantine historian, who continued the history of Agathias
and covered the period between 558 and 582, has survived only in fragments.
The author, trained in rhetoric and law, belonged to the entourage of the
emperor Maurice (582–602) and thus was well informed of Byzantium’s
diplomatic relations during this period. He had access to the reports of the
Roman ambassadors of the year 562, parts of which he quotes directly. 107
Menander’s detailed report reflects the content and language of foreign
diplomatic relations in this period. He names all the elements necessary for
a successful conclusion of a foedus, namely the special status of the envoys,
the choice of the venue for the diplomatic negotiations, the ceremonial
protocol, the options for communication and the way both rulers addressed
each other. 108
Menander Protector, frg. 6.1 (FHG iv, frg. 11)
In the East and in Armenia a very successful peace seemed to exist, and in Lazika
there was an armistice between the Romans and Persians. 109 As the peace had not
been fully concluded, but both the Roman emperor and the Persian king had
decided to strictly avoid warfare, Justinian sent the magister militum praesentalis
Peter, so that he could discuss a comprehensive peace treaty with Xusrō (I). After
he had arrived in the border region of Dārā and had explained to the king of
104 Soz. ix.4.1.
105 For the content of the foedus of 441 see also Blockley 1992: 61.
106 For text and translation as well as a detailed commentary see Blockley 1985a.
107 Men. Prot., frg. 12.
108 For a detailed analysis of all aspects of this peace treaty see Rubin 1960: 366–73 and Schmidt 2002:
93–136.
109 Before warfare between the powers had more or less ceased and in 557 the armistice was extended
to include Lazika, which was still contested.