Diplomacy at the End of the World: Theoderic’s Letters to the Warni and Hesti

Summary Theoderic’s diplomacy with distant peoples has often been considered as a kind of ‘Realpolitik’ chiefly aimed at military or strategical purposes, but the symbolic importance two embassies from Warni and Hesti should be taken into consideration more carefully. The king to convince his subjects neighbours that he was rightful heir Roman emperors by following subtle policy imitatio Imperii . He also used achieve this goal took advantage remote Northern Europe in order imitate both Augustus contemporary emperors, who prided themselves upon receiving envoys far-away lands.