Overview
Background
Dr Michael Edward Stewart completed his PhD at the University of Queensland in 2013. He is the author of The Soldier’s Life: Martial Virtues and Manly Romanitas in the Early Byzantine Empire (2017) and Masculinity, Identity, and Power Politics in the Age of Justinian: A Study of Procopius (Amsterdam University Press, 2020; reprinted by Routledge, 2025). He co-edited, with David Alan Parnell and Conor Whately, The Routledge Handbook on Identity in Byzantium (2022).
His most recent book is Portraits of Generalship and Authority in the Age of Justinian (Routledge, 2026). His forthcoming volume, Marriage, Alliance, and Social Networks in the Age of Theodora and Justinian, is under contract with Routledge. Dr Stewart has been an invited speaker at the Institute of Classical Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, and at the University of Venice.
Over the past decade, he has published numerous book chapters and articles, as well as several pieces for wider audiences on the Late Roman and Byzantine army, the historian Procopius, eunuchs, the Arab conquests, and other aspects of Roman and Byzantine history. His popular work has appeared in publications such as Desperta Ferro, Medieval Warfare Magazine, Medieval World: Culture & Conflict, and Medievalists.net.
Dr Stewart has been interviewed on multiple platforms, including New Books Network and Agnus.net. He has peer-reviewed book manuscripts for Palgrave Macmillan, Brill, Bloomsbury, and Routledge, as well as journal articles for Byzantion, Classica Cracoviensia, Studies in Late Antiquity, Eos, Revista de Historia, Journal of Ancient Civilizations, and the Journal of Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies.
Availability
- Dr Michael Stewart is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Late Antiquity, marriage-alliances, Procopius, masculinity, generalship, medieval Roman literature and identity in Late Antiquity, Byzantium, and the early Middle Ages
Works
Search Professor Michael Stewart’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Journal Article
Review of Georgios Theotokis, Norman Campaigns in the Balkans, 1081-1108
Stewart, Michael (2016). Review of Georgios Theotokis, Norman Campaigns in the Balkans, 1081-1108. Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association, 12, 119-121.
2016
Book
The soldier's life: martial virtues and manly romanitas in the early Byzantine empire
Stewart, Michael Edward (2016). The soldier's life: martial virtues and manly romanitas in the early Byzantine empire. Leeds, United Kingdom: Kismet Press .
2015
Journal Article
Review of 'Theoderic and the Roman Imperial Restoration' by Jonathan Arnold
Stewart, Michael Edward (2015). Review of 'Theoderic and the Roman Imperial Restoration' by Jonathan Arnold. The Medieval History Journal, 18 (1), 169-172. doi: 10.1177/0971945814565732
2015
Journal Article
The first Byzantine Emperor? Leo I, aspar and challenges of power and Romanitas in fifth-century Byzantium
Stewart, Michael Edward (2015). The first Byzantine Emperor? Leo I, aspar and challenges of power and Romanitas in fifth-century Byzantium. Porphyra, XXII, 4-17.
2015
Journal Article
The Andreios Eunuch-Commander Narses: sign of a decoupling of martial virtues and masculinity in the early byzantine Empire?
Stewart, Michael Edward (2015). The Andreios Eunuch-Commander Narses: sign of a decoupling of martial virtues and masculinity in the early byzantine Empire?. Ceræ: an Australasian Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, 2, 1-25.
2015
Journal Article
Review of 'Child Emperor Rule in the Late Roman West, AD 367-455'
Stewart, Michael Edward (2015). Review of 'Child Emperor Rule in the Late Roman West, AD 367-455'. Networks and Neighbours, 3 (1), 63-67.
2015
Journal Article
Review of 'Holy war, martyrdom, and terror: Christianity, violence, and the West' by Philippe Buc
Stewart, Michael (2015). Review of 'Holy war, martyrdom, and terror: Christianity, violence, and the West' by Philippe Buc. Parergon, 32 (2), 274-276. doi: 10.1353/pgn.2015.0166
2015
Journal Article
Letters of Pope Gregory: a study of an unknown tenth century manuscript bound in Tenbury and found in Melbourne containing all or part of forty letters sent by Pope Gregory the Great' by John R. C. Martyn (review)
Stewart, Michael Edward (2015). Letters of Pope Gregory: a study of an unknown tenth century manuscript bound in Tenbury and found in Melbourne containing all or part of forty letters sent by Pope Gregory the Great' by John R. C. Martyn (review). Parergon, 32 (1), 258-260. doi: 10.1353/pgn.2015.0007
2014
Other Outputs
Justinian’s Reconquest: Notions of Return in Procopius’ Gothic Wars
Stewart, Michael (2014). Justinian’s Reconquest: Notions of Return in Procopius’ Gothic Wars. online:
2014
Other Outputs
Goths, Lombards, Romans, and Greeks: Creating Identity in Early Medieval Italy
Stewart, Michael (2014). Goths, Lombards, Romans, and Greeks: Creating Identity in Early Medieval Italy. online:
2014
Other Outputs
Two King of Kings? Procopius’ Presentation of Justinian and Kosrow I
Stewart, Michael (2014). Two King of Kings? Procopius’ Presentation of Justinian and Kosrow I. online:
2014
Journal Article
Some disputes surrounding masculinity as a legitimate category of historical inquiry in the study of late antiquity
Stewart, Michael Edward (2014). Some disputes surrounding masculinity as a legitimate category of historical inquiry in the study of late antiquity. Masculinities: a journal of identity and culture, 1, 77-91.
2014
Other Outputs
From Triumphant to Suffering Jesus: Visual and Literary Depictions of the Crucifixion, 300-1200
Stewart, Michael (2014). From Triumphant to Suffering Jesus: Visual and Literary Depictions of the Crucifixion, 300-1200.
2014
Journal Article
Contests of Andreia in Procopius' Gothic Wars
Stewart, Michael Edward (2014). Contests of Andreia in Procopius' Gothic Wars. Παρεκβολαι, 4, 21-54.
2014
Journal Article
Review 'The Making and Unmaking of a Saint: Hagiography and Memory in the Cult of Gerald of Aurillac' by Mathew Kuefler
Stewart, Michael Edward (2014). Review 'The Making and Unmaking of a Saint: Hagiography and Memory in the Cult of Gerald of Aurillac' by Mathew Kuefler. Parergon, 31 (2), 187-189. doi: 10.1353/pgn.2014.0087
2013
Other Outputs
Totila: Theoderic Reborn or Barbarian Belisarius?
Stewart, Michael (2013). Totila: Theoderic Reborn or Barbarian Belisarius?. online:
2012
Other Outputs
The soldier’s life: martial virtues and hegemonic masculinity in the early Byzantine Empire
Stewart, Michael Edward (2012). The soldier’s life: martial virtues and hegemonic masculinity in the early Byzantine Empire. PhD Thesis, School of History, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics, The University of Queensland.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Michael Stewart is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Michael Stewart's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: