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Document Details :

Title: Anordnungen zu jüdischen Zwangstaufen unter Kaiser Herakleios (610-641) als Folgen staatlicher Resilienzstrategien
Author(s): HÄCHLER, Nikolas
Journal: Byzantion
Volume: 91    Date: 2021   
Pages: 155-195
DOI: 10.2143/BYZ.91.0.3289881

Abstract :
This article investigates the forced baptisms of Jews in the Byzantine Empire commanded by Heraclius after 630. It shows that the emperor may well have ordered such measures; their concrete implementation in all parts of Byzantium, however, remains questionable. At the same time, this paper emphasizes that these actions were primarily taken by the emperor and his surroundings against the background of eschatological hopes and apocalyptic fears. They are to be interpreted as consequences of imperial strategies of resilience to secure Heraclius’ dominion and to stabilize the Byzantine state in times of existential challenges within the framework of new imperial religious policies.

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