How Knowledge and Language Skills Can Save a Man from his Political Misfortunes: Anastasius Bibliothecarius as the Cultural Broker Par Excellence?
Journal: Medieval Worlds
Year: 2024

This contribution is dedicated to the well-documented and peculiar case of Anastasius, librarian of the Roman Church. It will show how Anastasius, despite great erudition and thorough plans, did not succeed with his plans as a (ecclesiastical) politician and diplomat on several occasions – but still remained a powerful figure in Rome and beyond due to his unique language skills and cultural knowledge. It will address if and in what way Anastasius can be seen as a cultural broker.