ABSTRACT
Regarding the purpose of his compilation, Constantine speaks of the need to restore order to imperial ceremonies, long fallen into confusion. Thereby is the power of the ruler once again to be revealed in its harmony to the subjects of the empire. Political interest clearly stood in the foreground: the significance of the emperor must be represented in magisterial wise; and the imperial court as well as the population of the empire must follow the proper order so that they might thus both honour the emperor and display the glory of the empire to other nations.2
