Judith Herrin, "Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe" (Princeton UP, 2020)
New Books in Western European Studies
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The Revival of Ravenna in the Eighteenth Century
In the eighth century, bishops often have to take over because there's no civilian power or military ruler who is competent to govern. Charles went several times before he became charlemagne and must have looked at that mosaic of justinian in the church of san vitale. And i think he thought to himself, that's how you be an emperor. You got to wear the crown and hold this great dish of gold that you're presenting to the church,. The port is no longer functioning as a very importanta centre for people coming and going across the mediterranean. But it does survive with all its images and with its sense of having been a very important imperial capital. They want to go back
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