ABSTRACT
One of the most striking differences between late Roman society and that of earlier centuries is the increasing prominence of bishops within their communities. In part this was a result of the extra-ecclesiastical powers that Constantine bestowed on them (e.g., 12.5). It was also a reflection of their continuity – the fact that they usually held office in the same community until their death, unlike senior imperial officials who could expect to serve in a province for perhaps two to three years before moving on elsewhere. That stabilising role became even more important as the infrastructure of government began to crumble in the west during the fifth century. Finally, there is the fact that bishops were increasingly drawn from the local elites who had been used to providing community leaders for centuries.
