Procopius, byzantine historian whose works are an indispensable source for his period and contain much geographical information. Combining wit, insight, gossip, mudslinging, invective and polemic, procopius, one of the scribes under the legendary byzantine general belisarius wrote a biting account of the failings and imperfections of the most powerful men and women of his time, starting with. The secret history sometimes referred to as the anecdotes, though this is a transliteration and not a translation of the greek name anekdota was completed in 559, a date determinable by the writers mention of justinian. The secret history sometimes referred to as the anecdotes, though this is a transliteration and not a translation of the greek name anekdota was completed in 559, a date. He wrote a number of important official histories of justinians reign including history of the war and buildings. He also left a secret history anecdota which was a massive attack on the character of justinian and his wife theodora. The ancient scholars most famous work however is the secret history, which tells a more intimate and revealing history of emperor justinian and his wife, empress theodora, as well as belisarius, and his wife antonina. Procopius project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read.
Other works by procopius are the anecdota or secret historyvehement attacks on justinian, theodora, and others. The text was written in the 32nd year of justinian, which various. Apr 14, 2012 but after i was brought to write my history of these events by the thought that it will assuredly be clear to those who hereafter shall hold sovereign power that, in the first place, punishment will in all probability overtake them likewise for their misdeeds, just as befell these persons. Perceptions of procopius in recent scholarship research. The secret history of the court of justinian, procopius. The secret history of procopius with translators introduction and glossary. The secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the histories and the buildings by the same author. The byzantine emperor justinian ruled from 527565 ad, and governed an empire stretching from the black sea to the nile what was once the eastern roman empire. The world remembers justinian as a powerful ruler, a very able man, a great builder, conqueror, teacher and lawgiver. The secret historyintroduction wikisource, the free online.
Justinian, the great lawgiver, appears as a hateful tyrant, wedded to an exprostitute, theodora. Harvard university press, 1935, vol vi of the seven volume loeb translation, which includes the buildings and the wars in parallel greek and english texts. It is a vehement invective against these sovereigns, with attacks on belisarius and his wife. From its descriptions of empress theodoras sexual escapades to the description of justinians transformation into a devil, it reads more like a. The first reading, titled buildings, is taken from these. Full text of procopius, with an english translation by h. Page 3 you see, it was not possible, during the life of certain persons, to write the truth of what they did, as a historian should. Whilst alive, his books were in favour of justinian, but this book, written for posthumous publication and not discovered until centuries later, is not only really critical of. He took part in the wars of the emperor justinian i, and was the major historian of the 6th century ad, writing the wars of justinian, the buildings of justinian and the celebrated secret history.
The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius free ebook. History of the wars, books i and ii by procopius free ebook. History of the wars, the buildings of justinian, and the secret. Procopius simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Rhonda caton history 362 the main argument of procopius the secret history procopius is considered to be a historian, who lived in the 6th century. The secret history was printed for the first time separately with a latin. Etermining when procopius of caesarea wrote his various works, the two installments of the. This site transcribes the english translation of procopius work by henry b ronson dewing as printed in vol. The secret history of the court of justinian athens. Procopius the secret history of the court of justinian by. The validity of argument was for me undercut by its hyperbole, its rather like reading the im a bit puzzled by the allegation that the same procopius of caesarea wrote this as wrote history of the wars because the tone is so different. From his works we are able to visit back into the byzantine empire, when emperor justinian reigned. Secret history, translated by richard atwater, chicago.
At the same time, however, procopius wrote a far more revealing and critical history called the secret history. At times gossipy, this account offers a very different view of justinian. He is commonly held to be the last major historian of the ancient world. Privately printed for the athenian society, 1896 gutenberg text. In writing the history of justinians reign, modern scholars have no. The secret history of the court of justinian 558 ce by procopius of caesarea preface procopius, the most important of the byzantine historians, was born at caesarea in palestine towards the beginning of the sixth century of the christian era. He wrote a number of official histories, including the buildings and on the wars. The secret history portrays the great lawgiver justinian as a rampant king of corruption and tyranny, the empress theodora as a sorceress and whore, and the brilliant general belisarius as the pliable dupe of his scheming wife antonina. Name chapter section 1 date primary source from secret history by procopius in 533 the byzantine army led by general belisarius wrested north africa from the vandals. His opinions in that book are extreme and depict the both of them as wanton murderers, liars, and thieves without any regard for friends. Wars 8 books, buildings 6 books, and secret history. The reign of justinian from secret history 558 procopius.
The secret history should be considered gold standard of insider exposes and it happened to be written nearly 1500 years ago. The secret history penguin classics by procopius and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Procopius secret history and historical consciousness. Parts are so vitriolic, not to say pornographic, that for some time. This fascinating document of imperialism is brutal in its honesty, often portraying its subjects in an unflattering light. Having dutifully written the official war history of justinians reign, procopius turned round and revealed in the secret history the other faces of the leading men and women of byzantium in the sixth century. Byzantine court historian procopius, who accompanied the general, wrote the histories in support of his campaigns.
The secret history by procopius of caesarea translated by richard atwater chicago. In his secret history, procopius not only casts aside panegyrics, but delves. In his histories, published during his lifetime, he praised justinian. Foulabook download the secret history of procopius pdf. Covici, 1927 new york covici friede 1927 richard atwater, the translator of this text, is better known as coauthor, with his wife florence atwater, of the childrens classic, mr. Procopius of caesarea was a prominent late antique byzantine greek scholar from palaestina. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. But, in 550, procopius also wrote secret history,which he intended to be published after his death. Dec 18, 2007 but as the author writes, this is really a code to the wars.
How much of the characterization of justinian and theodora in procopius the secret history is due to his personal bias. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The secret historypart 1 wikisource, the free online library. Vol 3 of the haurywirth version contains the secret history. If i had, their hordes of spies would have found out about it, and they would have put me to a most horrible death, i could not even trust my nearest relatives. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books of the wars fought by. Rethinking the date brian croke etermining when procopius of caesarea wrote his various works, the two installments of the wars books 1 to 7, book 8, the buildings, and the secret history, has long been problematic. Procopius is considered to be a historian, who lived in the 6th century. To the secret history by procopius in recording everything that the roman people has experienced in successive wars up to the time of writing i have followed this plan that of arranging all the events described as far as possible in accordance with the actual times and places. The secret historyintroduction wikisource, the free. Procopius secret history its greek title is, while it is called historia arcana in latin has posed several questions to the scholars almost since it was found. From its descriptions of empress theodoras sexual escapades to the description of justinians transformation into a devil, it reads more like a lurid tabloid than a historical monograph. The text was written in the 32nd year of justinian, which various scholars translate as between 524 and 550 dewing. The loeb classical library edition of procopius is in seven volumes.
How much of the characterization of justinian and theodora. Incidentally, it was only rediscovered in 1623 as it was unearthed from some vatican archive, so that all historians had up to then was procopius wars and his hagiographical. Tamas meszaros notes on procopius secret history i. Procopius secret history and historical consciousness history. How much of the characterization of justinian and theodora in. But this is only because history is written by the winners, and justinian was a winner. Jul 16, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Yet all the while the dutiful scribe was working on a very different and dangerous history to be published only once its author was safely in his grave. The credibility of procopius the secret history hello. According to procopius secret history, written shortly after the death of the empress in the middle of the 6 th century a. A trusted member of the byzantine establishment, procopius was the empires official chronicler, and his history of the wars of justinian proclaimed the strength and wisdom of the emperors reign. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books on the wars prosecuted by justinian, a panegyric on the emperors public works projects throughout the empire, and a book known as the secret history that claims to report the scandals that procopius could not include in his officially sanctioned history for fear of angering the emperor, his. Procopius should also learn in this of his cruelties, his deceptions, and all his genial deviltries. This site transcribes the english translation of procopius work by henry bronson dewing as printed in vol. During his reign justinian ordered the creation of a great legal code, controlled. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius. Pdf notes on procopius secret history tamas meszaros. Procopius of cesareas secret history of the sixth century reign of byzantine emperor justinian is problematic for the modern historian. As you read this excerpt from secret history, think about the portrait that procopius paints of the byzantine emperor. The secret historypart 1 wikisource, the free online. From the accessi on of his uncle j ustin i in 518, as argued by the proponents of the 5501 date, or from h is own elevati on as.
The secret history is one of procopiuss many works that helped him become of one of the most renowned scholars of all time. The purpose of writing a secret history by procopius. This text flays justinian and theodora as corrupt, immoral, and just plain evil. The most important and respected source for this period is. Procopius, who also wrote a mainstream military history and a toadying description of the monuments which justinian built, had to keep his most acute writing for posthumous publication. Procopius was a bureaucrat who served of the emperor justinian. Apr 14, 2012 the secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the histories and the buildings by the same author. Download the secret history of procopius pdf by richard atwaterprocopius of caesarea, who accompanied the roman general belisarius in the wars of the emperor justinian, became the principal historian of the 6th century. The secret history is, according to procopius own introduction, the key to his monumental wars, which provide a classicising account of justinians reign up to ad 553. However, he had privately written down other impressions of justinian and his wife theodora. Sep 27, 2005 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
The secret history purports to be a supplement to the wars, containing explanations and additions that the author could not insert into the latter work for fear of justinian and theodora. Procopiuss now famous anecdota also known as secret history greek. Secret history internet history sourcebooks fordham university. Written sometime during the sixth century but not actually published until 1653, the secret history is one of the most valuable resources that provide information about the reign of emperor justinian. Procopius of caesarea was a lawyer by training, and his three works. Procopius, the anecdota or secret history loeb classical. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. I recently read the secret history, in which procopius claims to reveal the ways justinian and theodora destroyed the byzantium empire. Her father was said to be a bear trainer in the byzantine capital, constantinople, whilst her mother was said to have been an actress and a. The story of the three wars against the persians, the vandals and the goths had almost been completed when the author, in seeming disgust, decided to regale a safely removed future age with the backstage gossip that had been current while justinian and theodora had been. The private and public life of the emperors, their deceit and destruction and its consequences are depicted. By richard atwater, 1927, full text etext at sacred. The secret history is a dirt dishing account of the reign of justinian. History of the wars, the buildings of justinian, and the secret history, he is our.