Political struggle between centre and periphery was a defining feature of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, as the concept of rulership, derived from Late Roman models, typically recognised only one central source of power: the legitimate king. Although the conflict between central rulers and peripheral usurpers unfolded on multiple levels (factions, economic interests, administrative control, etc.), symbolism played a crucial role. This paper aims to analyse the contest for central legitimacy and the struggle over its power symbols through the examples of the proclamation rituals of two usurpers, GundovaldGundovald, Merovingian usurper and PaulusPaulus, Visigothic usurper.