SOURCE: An introduction to The “Variae” of Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator, translated by S. J. B. Barnish, Liverpool University Press, 1992, pp. ix-xxxv.

In the excerpt below, Barnish offers an overview of the Variae, discussing its style, its reliability as a source of historical information, and various manuscript issues.

… B. the Variae

1. the Compilation

Our most important documents for the history of Gothic rule in Italy are the Variae of Cassiodorus: twelve books, comprising 468 letters, edicts and model letters (formulae), which the author drafted, between 506 and 538, for Theoderic, Athalaric, Amalasuintha, Theodahad, Witigis, and the Senate, and in his own person as Praetorian Prefect of Italy. In the case of those written for monarchs, he was acting as, or for, the Quaestor, chief legal expert and official publicist.¹ He apparently compiled the Variae in 537/8, near the harassed end of his service as Prefect, while war was raging, and Witigis was...