Procopius of caesarea, who accompanied the roman general belisarius in the wars of the emperor justinian, became the principal historian of the 6th century. Like most notables of the roman empire in byzantine times, the historian procopius was not a latin. The secret history was written by procopius, and emperor. The anecdota or secret history procopius harvard university. Other works by procopius are the history of the wars in 8 books here. Apr 14, 2012 the secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the histories and the buildings by the same author. Procopiuss eloquent work on contemporary buildings is another that wouldve been a good pick. This text flays justinian and theodora as corrupt, immoral, and just plain. The secret history of the court of justinian language. The secret history penguin classics peter sarris, procopius. It is an essential landmark in the history of individual legal rights. Jun 30, 2007 i have the opportunity to tour istanbul this fall, so i read procopius secret history as a start toward getting grounded in the history of the area.
He wrote a number of official histories, including on the wars in eight books. 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. Secret history, translated by richard atwater, new york. The secret history of procopius, free ebook global grey.
Procopius project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Wars 8 books, buildings 6 books, and secret history. A wikipedia article about this author is available procopius. Oct 01, 2014 procopius of caesarea was a prominent byzantine scholar from palestine.
The secret historyintroduction wikisource, the free. The secret history covers roughly the same years as the first seven books of the history of the wars and appears to have been. The secret history claims to provide explanations and additions that the author could not insert into his work on the wars for fear of retribution from justinian and theodora. Procopius, the leading official historian of his time, lived dur. Procopius is just to the empires enemies and boldly criticises emperor justinian. Other works by procopius are the anecdota or secret historyvehement attacks on justinian, theodora, and others. Procopius s most popular book is the secret history. 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. Procopius history of the wars, books 1 to 6 by procopius. Procopius is what would happen if suetonius offered analysis and not just gossip. Includes indexes accessrestricteditem true addeddate. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. Procopius was the appointed historian to record what was happening in the empire, but mostly to focus on theodora and justinian. 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.
The writings of procopius are the primary source of information for the rule of the roman emperor justinian. He was the author of an account of the persian, vandal, and gothic wars called the history of the wars, and of buildings of justinian. We are all aware of the malign propensities of modernday tyrants and dictators no continent seems immune. While he was writing and publishing the histories and buildings the historian was also putting together the secret history, at no great danger to himself. As it was a venomous pamphlet of dubious merit, the secret history is hardly a reliable historical source. Read procopius history of the wars, books 1 to 6 by procopius available from rakuten kobo. Procopiuss most popular book is the secret history. Justinian and chosroes become, in effect, interchangeable as models of oriental despotism. Dec 18, 2007 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. Vol 3 of the haurywirth version contains the secret history. Procopius has 87 books on goodreads with 7627 ratings. The text was written in the 32nd year of justinian, which various.
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. This text flays justinian and theodora as corrupt, immoral, and just plain evil. Jun 01, 2007 the secret history ebook written by procopius. Foulabook download the secret history of procopius pdf. It deals with the cruelty and evil of justinian and theodora i gave it a low rating because i really didnt enjoy reading it. The secret historyintroduction wikisource, the free online library. Procopius of caesarea was a prominent byzantine scholar from palestine. 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. The secret history of the court of justinian athens.
History of the wars by the byzantine historian procopius late fifth century to after 558 ce consists largely of sixth century ce military history, with much information about peoples, places, and special events. This site transcribes the english translation of procopius work by henry b ronson dewing as printed in vol. The secret history reveals an author who had become deeply disillusioned with the emperor justinian and his wife, empress theodora, as well as belisarius, his former commander and patron, and antonina, belisarius wife. Procopius, byzantine historian whose works are an indispensable source for his period and contain much geographical information. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius. 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.
Procopius history of the wars, books 1 to 6 ebook by. The present translation by richard attwater is the only one to stand as a work of literature in its. 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. Harvard university press, 1935, vol vi of the seven volume loeb translation, which includes the buildings and the wars in parallel greek.
Having dutifully written the official war history of justinian. The secret history by procopius goodreads share book. Of the major persons in his book, only belisarius emerges as a sympathetic figure, honest and. That is, i could see the merit, but not why it meant so much. 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 secret history penguin classics by procopius and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
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. Scholars and history buffs alike will find procopius the secret history an invaluable historical work from a man who has been referred to as the last major historian of the ancient world. The main characters described by procopius are the emperor justinian, the emperess theodora, the general belisarius, and his wife antonia. Central avenue phoenix, az 85004 602 5345208 602 5340831. His avowed purpose in writing this book, which he appropriately called. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books of the wars fought by justinian i, a panegyric on justinians public works throughout the empire, and a book known as the secret history that claims to report the scandals that procopius could not include in his published history. Procopius, the anecdota or secret history loeb classical. History of three wars from the reign of justinian, byzantine emperor the persian war, the vandalic war, and the gothi. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Procopius was the greatest historian of the later roman empire.
The private and public life of the emperors, their deceit and destruction and its consequences are depicted. The secret history was written by procopius, but not published in the west until about a millennium after it was written. Secret history internet history sourcebooks fordham university. It was proving to be more gruesome than game of thrones we already had a man flayed and his skin turned into a bag which was hung of a tree with chaff inside.
The loeb classical library edition of procopius is in seven volumes. Accompanying the general belisarius in the wars of the emperor justinian i, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the wars of justinian, the buildings of justinian and the celebrated secret history. Powerful description complements careful narration. Author of secret history, procopius, history of the wars, history of the wars, books i and ii, the secret history of the court of justinian, procopius, history of the wars, books. A trusted member of the byzantine establishment, procopius was the empires official chronicler, and his history of the wars of justinian. The secret history is most notorious for its depiction of scandalized sex and justinian is demonic powers. Williamson 18951982 was a classical exhibitioner at worcester college, oxford, graduating with a first class honours degree. The secret history, written by the sixthcentury byzantine historian procopius, is one of the most extraordinary and scandalous documents to have survived from the early byzantine period. Yet, more searing is the misgovernment and bad policies of justinian and theodora. The project gutenberg ebook of procopius history of the wars. Otherwise, for modern interpretations on procopius, the most important books are probably averil camerons procopius and the sixth century, and the more uptodate anthony kaldelliss procopius of caesarea. He wrote a number of official histories, including on the wars in eight books, published 552, with an addition in 554, and on the buildings in six books, published 561.
Procopiuss pen is particularly sharp in portraying theodoras lewdness. It is a vehement invective against these sovereigns, with attacks on belisarius and his wife. The book reveals secrets and gives voice to that ages common men. Aug 24, 2019 author of secret history, procopius, history of the wars, history of the wars, books i and ii, the secret history of the court of justinian, procopius, history of the wars, books iii and iv, secret history. The secret history was discovered in the vatican library and published by niccolo alamanni in 1623 at lyons. The secret history of procopius tells the tale of three roman wars, one against the persians, one against the vandals, and one against the goths. The secret history by procopius is a story of the roman empire. Ad 565 was a prominent byzantine scholar from palestine.
In secret history, the byzantine historian procopius late fifth century to after 558 ce. But this seeming imperial paragon of virtue was, to procopius, no such thing. History of three wars from the reign of justinian, byzantine emperor the persian war, the vandalic war, and the gothic war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. 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. Church considers justinian a saint, so youll either love or hate this book. 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. 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 wife, belisarius, and the generals wife and had to wait until all of them were dead to avoid retaliation. Justinian, the great lawgiver, appears as a hateful tyrant, wedded to an exprostitute, theodora. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius free ebook. The project gutenberg ebook of procopius history of the. The secret history of procopius index sacred texts.
He was senior classics master at norwich school from 1922 to 1960. 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. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Ive found myself in this situation never quite as dire as my utter turnabout with the secret history quite a few times now, usually with books i just didnt get. A unique insight into the reign of the imperial couple justinian and theodora is presented. Procopius s eloquent work on contemporary buildings is another that wouldve been a good pick. In secret history, the byzantine historian procopius late fifth century to after 558 ce attacks the sixth century ce emperor justinian and empress theodora and alleges their ruinous effect on the roman empire. Since both before and afterward, procopius wrote approvingly of the emperor, it was suggested in the past that he was not the author of the work, but it is now generally accepted that procopius wrote it. The secret history is a fine work, but more valuable is procopiuss history of the wars the gothic wars, which wouldve made a better addition to the penguin collection at least an abridgement. Another ruse employed in the history of the wars is to take charges levelled at justinian in the secret history and project them onto the persian shah chosroes khusro. The secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the histories and the buildings by the same author. The secret history is a dirt dishing account of the reign of justinian. 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 justinian. Oct 04, 2007 buy the secret history penguin classics new ed.
The secret history is a fine work, but more valuable is procopius s history of the wars the gothic wars, which wouldve made a better addition to the penguin collection at least an abridgement. The secret historyintroduction wikisource, the free online. 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. Jul 16, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The secret history of procopius with translators introduction and glossary.
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