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{{About|the historian and author of the ''Secret History''|other persons with the given name|Procopius (given name)|the spider genus|Procopius (spider)}}
{{short description|6th-century Byzantine scholar and historian}}
{{short description|6th-century Byzantine scholar and historian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}{{About|the historian and author of the ''Secret History''|other persons with the given name|Procopius (given name)|the spider genus|Procopius (spider)}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Procopius
| name = Procopius
| birth_date = {{circa|lk=no|500 CE}}
| birth_date = {{circa|lk=no|AD 500}}
| birth_place = [[Caesarea Maritima]], [[Palaestina Prima]], [[Eastern Roman Empire]]
| birth_place = [[Caesarea Maritima]], [[Palaestina Prima]], [[Eastern Roman Empire]]
| death_date = {{circa|lk=no|565 CE}}
| death_date = {{circa|lk=no|AD 565}}
| death_place =
| death_place =
| occupation = Legal adviser
| occupation = Legal adviser, political commentator
| subject = Secular history
| subject = Secular history
| notableworks = {{plainlist|
| notableworks = {{plainlist|
*''History of the Wars''
* ''History of the Wars''
*''Buildings''
* ''Buildings''
*''Secret History''}}
* ''Secret History''}}
}}
}}


'''Procopius of Caesarea''' ({{lang-grc-gre|Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς}} ''Prokópios ho Kaisareús''; {{lang-la|Procopius Caesariensis}}; {{c.|500}} – 565) was a prominent [[Late antiquity|late antique]] [[Greeks|Greek]] scholar and historian from [[Caesarea Maritima]].{{efn|"Like many Byzantine scholars, Procopius affected a remarkable traditional form of writing".<ref>"Procopius", John Moorhead, ''Encyclopedia of Historians and Historical Writing: M–Z'', Vol. II, Kelly Boyd, (Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1999), 962.</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Morcillo|first1=Jesús Muñoz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u0sFEAAAQBAJ|title=Genealogy of Popular Science: From Ancient Ecphrasis to Virtual Reality|last2=Trotha|first2=Caroline Y. Robertson-von|date=2020-11-30|publisher=transcript Verlag|isbn=978-3-8394-4835-9|pages=332|language=en}}</ref> Accompanying the Roman general [[Belisarius]] in [[Justinian I|Emperor Justinian]]'s wars, Procopius became the principal Roman historian of the 6th century, writing the ''History of the Wars'', the ''Buildings'', and the ''Secret History''.
'''Procopius of Caesarea''' ({{lang-grc-gre|Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς}} ''Prokópios ho Kaisareús''; {{lang-la|Procopius Caesariensis}}; {{c.|500}}–565) was a prominent [[Late antiquity|late antique]] [[Byzantine Greeks|Greek]] scholar and historian from [[Caesarea Maritima]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Morcillo|first1=Jesús Muñoz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u0sFEAAAQBAJ|title=Genealogy of Popular Science: From Ancient Ecphrasis to Virtual Reality|last2=Robertson-von Trotha|first2=Caroline Y. |date=2020-11-30|publisher=Transcript|isbn=978-3-8394-4835-9|pages=332|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |editor-last1=Hornblower |editor-first1=Simon |editor-last2=Spawforth |editor-first2=Antony |editor-last3=Eidinow |editor-first3=Esther |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bVWcAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1214 |title=The Oxford Classical Dictionary |date=2012 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-954556-8 |pages=1214–1215 |language=en |quote=Procopius: Greek historian, born in *Caesarea (2) in Palestine c. AD 500.}}</ref> Accompanying the Roman general [[Belisarius]] in [[Justinian I|Emperor Justinian]]'s wars, Procopius became the principal Roman historian of the 6th century, writing the ''History of the Wars'', the ''Buildings'', and the ''Secret History''.


==Life==
==Early life==
Apart from his own writings, the main source for Procopius's life was an entry in the ''[[Suda]]'',<ref name="Suda On Line">[[Suda]] pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on [http://www.stoa.org/sol/ Suda On Line].</ref> a Byzantine Greek encyclopaedia written sometime after 975 which discusses his early life. He was a native of [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] in the [[Roman province|province]] of ''[[Palaestina Prima]]''.<ref>Procopius, ''Wars of Justinian'' I.1.1; [[Suda]] pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on [http://www.stoa.org/sol/ Suda On Line].</ref> He would have received a conventional upper class education in the [[Greek literature|Greek classics]] and [[rhetoric]],<ref>Cameron, Averil: ''Procopius and the Sixth Century'', London: Duckworth, 1985, p.7.</ref> perhaps at the famous school at Gaza.<ref>Evans, James A. S.: ''Procopius''. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1972, p. 31.</ref> He may have attended law school, possibly at [[Law School of Berytus|Berytus]] (present-day [[Beirut]]) or [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]),<ref>Cameron, ''Procopius and the Sixth Century'', p. 6.</ref>{{efn|For an alternative reading of Procopius as a trained engineer, see Howard-Johnson.<ref>Howard-Johnson, James: 'The Education and Expertise of Procopius'; in ''Antiquité Tardive'' 10 (2002), 19–30.</ref>}} and became a lawyer (''rhetor'').<ref name="Suda On Line"/> He evidently knew [[Latin]], as was natural for a man with legal training.{{efn|Procopius uses and translates a number of Latin words in his ''Wars''. Börm suggests a possible acquaintance with Vergil and Sallust.<ref>Börm, Henning (2007) ''Prokop und die Perser'', p.46. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart. {{ISBN|978-3-515-09052-0}}</ref>}} In 527, the first year of the reign of the emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian{{nbsp}}I]], he became the legal adviser (''{{lang|la|adsessor}}'') for [[Belisarius]], a general whom Justinian made his chief military commander in a great attempt to restore control over the lost western provinces of the empire.{{efn|Procopius speaks of becoming Belisarius's advisor (''symboulos'') in that year.<ref>Procopius, ''Wars'', 1.12.24.</ref>}}
Apart from his own writings, the main source for Procopius's life is an entry in the ''[[Suda]]'',<ref name="Suda On Line">[[Suda]] pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on [http://www.stoa.org/sol/ Suda On Line].</ref> a Byzantine Greek encyclopaedia written sometime after 975 which discusses his early life. He was a native of [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] in the [[Roman province|province]] of ''[[Palaestina Prima]]''.<ref>Procopius, ''Wars of Justinian'' I.1.1; [[Suda]] pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on [http://www.stoa.org/sol/ Suda On Line].</ref> He would have received a conventional upper class education in the [[Greek literature|Greek classics]] and [[rhetoric]],<ref>Cameron, Averil: ''Procopius and the Sixth Century'', London: Duckworth, 1985, p.7.</ref> perhaps at the famous [[Rhetorical School of Gaza|school at Gaza]].<ref>Evans, James A. S.: ''Procopius''. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1972, p. 31.</ref> He may have attended law school, possibly at [[Law School of Berytus|Berytus]] (present-day [[Beirut]]) or [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]),<ref>Cameron, ''Procopius and the Sixth Century'', p. 6.</ref>{{efn|For an alternative reading of Procopius as a trained engineer, see Howard-Johnson.<ref>Howard-Johnson, James: 'The Education and Expertise of Procopius'; in ''Antiquité Tardive'' 10 (2002), 19–30.</ref>}} and became a lawyer (''rhetor'').<ref name="Suda On Line"/> He evidently knew [[Latin]], as was natural for a man with legal training.{{efn|Procopius uses and translates a number of Latin words in his ''Wars''. Börm suggests a possible acquaintance with Vergil and Sallust.<ref>Börm, Henning (2007) ''Prokop und die Perser'', p.46. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart. {{ISBN|978-3-515-09052-0}}</ref>}}


==Career==
Procopius was with Belisarius on the eastern front until the latter was defeated at the [[Battle of Callinicum]] in 531<ref>''Wars'', I.18.1-56</ref> and recalled to Constantinople.<ref>''Wars'', I.21.2</ref> Procopius witnessed the [[Nika riots]] of January, 532, which Belisarius and his fellow general [[Mundus (general)|Mundus]] repressed with a massacre in the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|Hippodrome]].<ref>''Wars'', I.24.1-58</ref> In 533, he accompanied Belisarius on his victorious expedition against the [[Vandal Kingdom|Vandal kingdom]] in [[North Africa]], took part in the capture of [[Carthage]], and remained in Africa with Belisarius's successor [[Solomon (magister militum)|Solomon the Eunuch]] when Belisarius returned east to the capital. Procopius recorded a few of the [[extreme weather events of 535–536]], although these were presented as a backdrop to Byzantine military activities, such as [[Stotzas|a mutiny in and around Carthage]].<ref>[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16765/16765-h/16765-h.htm 1].</ref>{{efn|Before modern times, European and Mediterranean historians, as far as weather is concerned, typically recorded only the extreme or major weather events for a year or a multi-year period, preferring to focus on the human activities of policy makers and warriors instead.}} He rejoined Belisarius for his campaign against the [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|Ostrogothic kingdom]] in Italy and experienced the [[Siege of Rome (537–538)|Gothic siege of Rome]] that lasted a year and nine days, ending in mid-March 538. He witnessed Belisarius's entry into the Gothic capital, [[Ravenna]], in 540. Both the ''Wars''<ref>''Wars'', VIII.</ref> and the ''Secret History'' suggest that his relationship with Belisarius cooled thereafter. When Belisarius was sent back to Italy in 544 to cope with [[Gothic War (535–554)|a renewal of the war with the Goths]], now led by the able king [[Totila]], Procopius appears to have no longer been on Belisarius's staff.
In 527, the first year of the reign of the emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian{{nbsp}}I]], he became the legal adviser (''{{lang|la|adsessor}}'') for [[Belisarius]], a general whom Justinian made his chief military commander in a great attempt to restore control over the lost western provinces of the empire.{{efn|Procopius speaks of becoming Belisarius's advisor (''symboulos'') in that year.<ref>Procopius, ''Wars'', 1.12.24.</ref>}}


Procopius was with Belisarius on the eastern front until the latter was defeated at the [[Battle of Callinicum]] in 531<ref>''Wars'', I.18.1-56.</ref> and recalled to Constantinople.<ref>''Wars'', I.21.2.</ref> Procopius witnessed the [[Nika riots]] of January, 532, which Belisarius and his fellow general [[Mundus (general)|Mundus]] repressed with a massacre in the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|Hippodrome]] there.<ref>''Wars'', I.24.1-58.</ref> In 533, he accompanied Belisarius on his victorious expedition against the [[Vandal Kingdom|Vandal kingdom]] in [[North Africa]], took part in the capture of [[Carthage]], and remained in Africa with Belisarius's successor [[Solomon (magister militum)|Solomon the Eunuch]] when Belisarius returned east to the capital. Procopius recorded a few of the [[extreme weather events of 535–536]], although these were presented as a backdrop to Byzantine military activities, such as [[Stotzas|a mutiny in and around Carthage]].<ref>[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16765/16765-h/16765-h.htm 1].</ref>{{efn|Before modern times, European and Mediterranean historians, as far as weather is concerned, typically recorded only the extreme or major weather events for a year or a multi-year period, preferring to focus on the human activities of policy makers and warriors instead.}} He rejoined Belisarius for his campaign against the [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|Ostrogothic kingdom]] in Italy and experienced the [[Siege of Rome (537–538)|Gothic siege of Rome]] that lasted a year and nine days, ending in mid-March 538. He witnessed Belisarius's entry into the Gothic capital, [[Ravenna]], in 540. Both the ''Wars''<ref>''Wars'', VIII.</ref> and the ''Secret History'' suggest that his relationship with Belisarius cooled thereafter. When Belisarius was sent back to Italy in 544 to cope with [[Gothic War (535–554)|a renewal of the war with the Goths]], now led by the able king [[Totila]], Procopius appears to have no longer been on Belisarius's staff.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
As ''[[magister militum]]'', Belisarius was an "illustrious man" ({{lang-la|vir illustris}}; {{lang-grc-gre|ἰλλούστριος}}, ''illoústrios''); being his ''{{lang|la|adsessor}}'', Procopius must therefore have had at least the rank of a "visible man" (''vir spectabilis''). He thus belonged to the mid-ranking group of the senatorial order (''{{lang|la|ordo senatorius}}''). However, the ''Suda'', which is usually well informed in such matters, also describes Procopius himself as one of the ''{{lang|la|illustres}}''. Should this information be correct, Procopius would have had a seat in [[Byzantine Senate|Constantinople's senate]], which was restricted to the ''{{lang|la|illustres}}'' under Justinian. He also wrote that under Justinian's reign in 560, a major Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built [[Temple Mount#Byzantine period|on the site of the Temple Mount]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.templemount.org/visittemp.html|title=Visiting the Temple Mount|first=Lambert|last=Dolphin|publisher=Temple Mount.org|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>


As ''[[magister militum]]'', Belisarius was an "illustrious man" ({{lang-la|vir illustris}}; {{lang-grc-gre|ἰλλούστριος}}, ''illoústrios''); being his ''{{lang|la|adsessor}}'', Procopius must therefore have had at least the rank of a "visible man" (''vir spectabilis''). He thus belonged to the mid-ranking group of the senatorial order (''{{lang|la|ordo senatorius}}''). However, the ''Suda'', which is usually well-informed in such matters, also describes Procopius himself as one of the ''{{lang|la|illustres}}''. Should this information be correct, Procopius would have had a seat in [[Byzantine Senate|Constantinople's senate]], which was restricted to the ''{{lang|la|illustres}}'' under Justinian. He also wrote that under Justinian's reign in 560, a major Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built [[Temple Mount#Byzantine period|on the site of the Temple Mount]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.templemount.org/visittemp.html|title=Visiting the Temple Mount|first=Lambert|last=Dolphin|publisher=Temple Mount|date=16 July 2021|access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2023|reason=The source says "Byzantine historian Procopius wrote that the church was built in 560 AD and burned down by the Persians in 614.". But Procopius was dead in 614.}}
It is not certain when Procopius died. Many historians{{mdash}}including [[James Howard-Johnson|Howard-Johnson]], [[Averil Cameron|Cameron]], and Geoffrey Greatrex{{mdash}}date his death to 554, but there was an urban prefect of Constantinople (''{{lang|la|praefectus urbi Constantinopolitanae}}'') called Procopius in 562. In that year, Belisarius was implicated in a conspiracy and was brought before this urban prefect.


==Death==
In fact, some scholars have argued that Procopius died at least a few years after 565 as he unequivocally states in the beginning of his ''Secret History'' that he planned to publish it after the death of Justinian for fear he would be tortured and killed by the emperor (or even by general Belisarius) if the emperor (or the general) learned about what Procopius wrote (his scathing criticism of the emperor, of his wife, of Belisarius, of the general's wife, Antonia: calling the former "demons in human form" and the latter incompetent and treacherous) in this later history. However, most scholars believe that the ''Secret History'' was written in 550 and remained unpublished during Procopius' lifetime.
It is not certain when Procopius died. Many historians{{mdash}}including [[James Howard-Johnson|Howard-Johnson]], [[Averil Cameron|Cameron]], and Geoffrey Greatrex{{mdash}}date his death to 554, but there was an urban prefect of Constantinople (''{{lang|la|praefectus urbi Constantinopolitanae}}'') who was called Procopius in 562. In that year, Belisarius was implicated in a conspiracy and was brought before this urban prefect.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In fact, some scholars{{Who|date=September 2023}} have argued that Procopius died at least a few years after 565 as he unequivocally states in the beginning of his ''Secret History'' that he planned to publish it after the death of Justinian for fear he would be tortured and killed by the emperor (or even by general Belisarius) if the emperor (or the general) learned about what Procopius wrote (his scathing criticism of the emperor, of his wife, of Belisarius, of the general's wife, Antonia: calling the former "demons in human form" and the latter incompetent and treacherous) in this later history. However, most scholars believe that the ''Secret History'' was written in 550 and remained unpublished during Procopius' lifetime.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}


==Writings==
==Writings==
[[File:Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Emperor Justinian]]
[[File:Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Emperor Justinian]]


The writings of Procopius are the primary source of information for the rule of the emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian{{nbsp}}I]]. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books on the wars prosecuted by Justinian, a [[panegyric]] on the emperor's 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 general's wife and had to wait until all of them were dead to avoid retaliation.
The writings of Procopius are the primary source of information for the rule of the emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian{{nbsp}}I]]. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books on the wars prosecuted by Justinian, a [[panegyric]] on the emperor's 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 general's wife. Consequently publication was delayed until all of them were dead to avoid retaliation.

{{anchor|History of the Wars|The Wars of Justinian|The Wars|Procopius's Wars|Procopius' Wars|De Bellis}}
{{anchor|History of the Wars|The Wars of Justinian|The Wars|Procopius's Wars|Procopius' Wars|De Bellis}}


===''History of the Wars''===
===''History of the Wars''===
Procopius's ''Wars'' or ''History of the Wars'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Ὑπὲρ τῶν Πολέμων Λόγοι}}, ''Hypèr tōn Polémon Lógoi'', "Words on the Wars"; {{lang-la|De Bellis}}, "On the Wars") is his most important work, although less well known than the ''Secret History''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg4029.tlg001.perseus-grc1:1.1
Procopius's ''Wars'' or ''History of the Wars'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Ὑπὲρ τῶν Πολέμων Λόγοι}}, ''Hypèr tōn Polémon Lógoi'', "Words on the Wars"; {{lang-la|De Bellis}}, "On the Wars") is his most important work, although less well known than the ''Secret History''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg4029.tlg001.perseus-grc1:1.1
|title=Procopius, de Bellis. H.B. (Henry Bronson) Dewing, Ed. [First section:] Procop. Pers. 1.1 |last=Procopius |date=1914 |website=data.perseus.org |publisher=Perseus Digital Library |access-date=24 December 2022 |quote=[Opening line in Greek] Προκόπιος Καισαρεὺς τοὺς πολέμους ξυνέγραψεν οὓς Ἰουστινιανὸς ὁ Ῥωμαίων βασιλεὺς πρὸς βαρβάρους διήνεγκε τούς τε ἑῴους καὶ ἑσπερίους,... Translation: Procopius from Caesarea wrote the history of the wars of Roman Emperor Justinianus against the barbarians of the East and of the West..}}. Greek text edition by Henry Bronson Dewing, 1914.</ref> The first seven books seem to have been largely completed by 545 and may have been published as a unit. They were, however, updated to mid-century before publication, with the latest mentioned event occurring in early 551. The eighth and final book brings the history to 553.
|title=Procopius, de Bellis. H.B. (Henry Bronson) Dewing, Ed. [First section:] Procop. Pers. 1.1 |last=Procopius |date=1914 |website=Perseus Digital Library |access-date=18 October 2023 |quote=[Opening line in Greek] Προκόπιος Καισαρεὺς τοὺς πολέμους ξυνέγραψεν οὓς Ἰουστινιανὸς ὁ Ῥωμαίων βασιλεὺς πρὸς βαρβάρους διήνεγκε τούς τε ἑῴους καὶ ἑσπερίους,... Translation: Procopius from Caesarea wrote the history of the wars of Roman Emperor Justinianus against the barbarians of the East and of the West..}}. Greek text edition by Henry Bronson Dewing, 1914.</ref> The first seven books seem to have been largely completed by 545 and may have been published as a set. They were, however, updated to mid-century before publication, with the latest mentioned event occurring in early 551. The eighth and final book brought the history to 553.


{{anchor|Persian War|De Bello Persico}}
{{anchor|Persian War|De Bello Persico}}
The first two books{{mdash}}often known as ''The Persian War'' ({{lang-la|De Bello Persico}}){{mdash}}deal with the conflict between the Romans and [[Sassanid Persia]] in [[Mesopotamia]], [[Syria (region) |Syria]], [[Armenia (region) |Armenia]], [[Lazica]], and [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)| Iberia]] (present-day [[Georgia (country) |Georgia]]).{{efn| Börm provides a detailed analysis.<ref>Börm, Henning. ''[https://www.academia.edu/1012245/Prokop_und_die_Perser_Untersuchungen_zu_den_romisch-sasanidischen_Kontakten_in_der_ausgehenden_Spatantike_OrOcc_16_._Stuttgart_Franz_Steiner_Verlag_2007 Prokop und die Perser]''. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2007.</ref>}} It details the campaigns of the Sassanid shah [[Kavadh I| Kavadh{{nbsp}}I]], the 532 [[Nika riots| 'Nika' revolt]], the war by Kavadh's successor [[Khosrau I| Khosrau{{nbsp}}I]] in 540, his destruction of [[Antioch on the Orontes |Antioch]] and deportation of its inhabitants to Mesopotamia, and the [[Plague of Justinian |great plague]] that devastated the empire from 542. The ''Persian War'' also covers the early career of Procopius's patron [[Belisarius]] in some detail.
The first two books{{mdash}}often known as ''The Persian War'' ({{lang-la|De Bello Persico}}){{mdash}}deal with the conflict between the Romans and [[Sassanid Persia]] in [[Mesopotamia]], [[Syria (region)|Syria]], [[Armenia (region)|Armenia]], [[Lazica]], and [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]] (present-day [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]).<ref>Börm, Henning. ''[https://www.academia.edu/1012245/Prokop_und_die_Perser_Untersuchungen_zu_den_romisch-sasanidischen_Kontakten_in_der_ausgehenden_Spatantike_OrOcc_16_._Stuttgart_Franz_Steiner_Verlag_2007 Prokop und die Perser]''. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2007.</ref> It details the campaigns of the Sassanid shah [[Kavadh I|Kavadh{{nbsp}}I]], the 532 [[Nika riots|'Nika' revolt]], the war by Kavadh's successor [[Khosrau I|Khosrau{{nbsp}}I]] in 540, his destruction of [[Antioch on the Orontes|Antioch]] and deportation of its inhabitants to Mesopotamia, and the [[Plague of Justinian|great plague]] that devastated the empire from 542. The ''Persian War'' also covers the early career of Procopius's patron [[Belisarius]] in some detail.


{{anchor|Vandal War|Vandalic War|De Bello Vandalico}}
{{anchor|Vandal War|Vandalic War|De Bello Vandalico}}
Line 46: Line 49:


{{anchor|Gothic War|De Bello Gothico}}
{{anchor|Gothic War|De Bello Gothico}}
The final four books{{mdash}}known as ''The Gothic War'' ({{lang-la |De Bello Gothico}}){{mdash}}cover the [[Gothic War (535–554)|Italian campaigns]] by Belisarius and others against [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|the Ostrogoths]]. Procopius includes accounts of the [[Siege of Naples (536) |1st]] and [[Siege of Naples (542–43) |2nd sieges of Naples]] and the [[Siege of Rome (537–538) |1st]], [[Sack of Rome (546) |2nd]], and [[Siege of Rome (549–550) |3rd sieges of Rome]]. He also includes an account of the rise of the [[Franks]] (see ''[[Arborychoi]]''). The last book describes the [[Eunuch (court official) |eunuch]] [[Narses]]'s successful conclusion of the Italian campaign and includes some coverage of campaigns along the empire's eastern borders as well.
The final four books{{mdash}}known as ''The Gothic War'' ({{lang-la |De Bello Gothico}}){{mdash}}cover the [[Gothic War (535–554)|Italian campaigns]] by Belisarius and others against [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|the Ostrogoths]]. Procopius includes accounts of the [[Siege of Naples (536)|1st]] and [[Siege of Naples (542–43)|2nd sieges of Naples]] and the [[Siege of Rome (537–538)|1st]], [[Sack of Rome (546)|2nd]], and [[Siege of Rome (549–550)|3rd sieges of Rome]]. He also includes an account of the rise of the [[Franks]] (see ''[[Arborychoi]]''). The last book describes the [[Eunuch (court official)|eunuch]] [[Narses]]'s successful conclusion of the Italian campaign and includes some coverage of campaigns along the empire's eastern borders as well.


The ''Wars'' proved influential on later Byzantine historiography.<ref>
The ''Wars'' proved influential on later Byzantine historiography.<ref>
Cresci, Lia Raffaella. "Procopio al confine tra due tradizioni storiografiche". ''Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica'' 129.1 (2001) 61–77.
Cresci, Lia Raffaella. "Procopio al confine tra due tradizioni storiografiche". ''Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica'' 129.1 (2001) 61–77.
</ref>
</ref>
In the 570s [[Agathias of Myrina| Agathias]] wrote ''Histories'', a continuation of Procopius's work in a similar style.
In the 570s [[Agathias of Myrina|Agathias]] wrote ''Histories'', a continuation of Procopius's work in a similar style.

{{anchor|Secret History|Historia Arcana|Anecdota| Anecdotes}}
{{anchor|Secret History|Historia Arcana|Anecdota| Anecdotes}}


===''Secret History''===
===''Secret History''===
[[File:Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna 013.jpg|thumb|Belisarius may be this bearded figure on the right of Emperor [[Justinian I]] in the mosaic in the [[Basilica of San Vitale|Church of San Vitale]], [[Ravenna]], which celebrates the reconquest of Italy by the [[Byzantine army|Roman army]] under the skillful leadership of Belisarius.]]
[[File:Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna 013.jpg|thumb|Belisarius may be this bearded figure on the right of Emperor [[Justinian I]] in the mosaic in the [[Basilica of San Vitale|Church of San Vitale]], [[Ravenna]], which celebrates the reconquest of Italy by the [[Byzantine army|Roman army]] under the skillful leadership of Belisarius.]]
Procopius's now famous ''Anecdota'', also known as ''Secret History'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Ἀπόκρυφη Ἱστορία}}, ''Apókryphe Historía''; {{lang-la|Historia Arcana}}), was discovered centuries later at the [[Vatican Library]] in Rome<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/03/110103fa_fact_mendelsohn|title = God's Librarians|first=Daniel|last=Mendelsohn|magazine = [[The New Yorker]]|date = 26 December 2010}}</ref> and published in [[Lyon]] by [[Niccolò Alamanni]] in 1623. Its existence was already known from the ''[[Suda]]'', which referred to it as Procopius's "unpublished works" containing "comedy" and "invective" of Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and Antonina. The ''Secret History'' covers roughly the same years as the first seven books of ''The History of the Wars'' and appears to have been written after they were published. Current consensus generally dates it to 550, or less commonly 558.
Procopius's now famous ''Anecdota'', also known as ''Secret History'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Ἀπόκρυφη Ἱστορία}}, ''Apókryphe Historía''; {{lang-la|Historia Arcana}}), was discovered centuries later at the [[Vatican Library]] in Rome<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/03/110103fa_fact_mendelsohn|title = God's Librarians|first = Daniel|last = Mendelsohn|magazine = [[The New Yorker]]|date = 26 December 2010}}</ref> and published in [[Lyon]] by [[Niccolò Alamanni]] in 1623. Its existence was already known from the ''[[Suda]]'', which referred to it as Procopius's "unpublished works" containing "comedy" and "invective" of Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and Antonina. The ''Secret History'' covers roughly the same years as the first seven books of ''The History of the Wars'' and appears to have been written after they were published. Current consensus generally dates it to 550, or less commonly 558.


In the eyes of many scholars, the ''Secret History'' reveals an author who had become deeply disillusioned with Emperor Justinian, his wife [[Theodora (wife of Justinian I)|Theodora]], the general [[Belisarius]], and his wife [[Antonina (wife of Belisarius)|Antonina]]. The work claims to expose the secret springs of their public actions, as well as the private lives of the emperor and his entourage. Justinian is portrayed as cruel, venal, prodigal, and incompetent. In one passage, it is even claimed that he was possessed by demonic spirits or was himself a demon:
In the eyes of many scholars, the ''Secret History'' reveals an author who had become deeply disillusioned with Emperor Justinian, his wife [[Theodora (wife of Justinian I)|Theodora]], the general [[Belisarius]], and his wife [[Antonina (wife of Belisarius)|Antonina]]. The work claims to expose the secret springs of their public actions, as well as the private lives of the emperor and his entourage. Justinian is portrayed as cruel, venal, prodigal, and incompetent. In one passage, it is even claimed that he was possessed by demonic spirits or was himself a demon:


{{quote|And some of those who have been with Justinian at the palace late at night, men who were pure of spirit, have thought they saw a strange demoniac form taking his place. One man said that the Emperor suddenly rose from his throne and walked about, and indeed he was never wont to remain sitting for long, and immediately Justinian's head vanished, while the rest of his body seemed to ebb and flow; whereat the beholder stood aghast and fearful, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. But presently he perceived the vanished head filling out and joining the body again as strangely as it had left it.<ref>Procopius, ''[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html Secret History]'' 12.20–22, trans. Atwater.</ref>}}
{{Blockquote|And some of those who have been with Justinian at the palace late at night, men who were pure of spirit, have thought they saw a strange demoniac form taking his place. One man said that the Emperor suddenly rose from his throne and walked about, and indeed he was never wont to remain sitting for long, and immediately Justinian's head vanished, while the rest of his body seemed to ebb and flow; whereat the beholder stood aghast and fearful, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. But presently he perceived the vanished head filling out and joining the body again as strangely as it had left it.<ref>Procopius, ''[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html Secret History]'' 12.20–22, trans. Atwater.</ref>}}


Similarly, the Theodora of the ''Secret History'' is a garish portrait of vulgarity and insatiable lust juxtaposed with cold-blooded self-interest, shrewishness, and envious and fearful mean-spiritedness. Among the more titillating (and dubious) revelations in the ''Secret History'' is Procopius's account of Theodora's thespian accomplishments:
Similarly, the Theodora of the ''Secret History'' is a garish portrait of vulgarity and insatiable lust juxtaposed with cold-blooded self-interest, shrewishness, and envious and fearful mean-spiritedness. Among the more titillating (and dubious) revelations in the ''Secret History'' is Procopius's account of Theodora's thespian accomplishments:
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On the other hand, it has been argued that Procopius prepared the ''Secret History'' as an exaggerated document out of fear that a conspiracy might overthrow Justinian's regime, which{{mdash}}as a kind of court historian{{mdash}}might be reckoned to include him. The unpublished manuscript would then have been a kind of insurance, which could be offered to the new ruler as a way to avoid execution or exile after the coup. If this hypothesis were correct, the ''Secret History'' would not be proof that Procopius hated Justinian or Theodora.<ref>Cf. Börm (2015).</ref>
On the other hand, it has been argued that Procopius prepared the ''Secret History'' as an exaggerated document out of fear that a conspiracy might overthrow Justinian's regime, which{{mdash}}as a kind of court historian{{mdash}}might be reckoned to include him. The unpublished manuscript would then have been a kind of insurance, which could be offered to the new ruler as a way to avoid execution or exile after the coup. If this hypothesis were correct, the ''Secret History'' would not be proof that Procopius hated Justinian or Theodora.<ref>Cf. Börm (2015).</ref>

{{anchor|The Buildings|The Buildings of Justinian|Buildings}}
{{anchor|The Buildings|The Buildings of Justinian|Buildings}}


===''The Buildings''===
===''The Buildings''===
[[File:Sangarius Bridge. Drawing 01.jpg|thumb|273x273px|Triumphal arch at the entrance to the [[Sangarius Bridge]]]]
[[File:Sangarius Bridge. Drawing 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Triumphal arch at the entrance to the [[Sangarius Bridge]]]]


''The Buildings'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Περὶ Κτισμάτων}}, ''Perì Ktismáton''; {{lang-la|De Aedificiis}}, "On Buildings") is a [[panegyric]] on Justinian's public works projects throughout the empire.<ref name="Downey">Downey, Glanville: "The Composition of Procopius, De Aedificiis", in ''Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association'' 78: pp.&nbsp;171&ndash;183; [https://www.jstor.org/pss/283492 abstract] from JSTOR</ref> The first book may date to before the collapse of the first dome of [[Hagia Sophia]] in 557, but some scholars think that it is possible that the work postdates the building of the [[Sangarius Bridge|bridge over the Sangarius]] in the late 550s.<ref>Whitby, Michael: "Procopian Polemics: a review of A. Kaldellis ''Procopius of Caesarea. Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity''", in ''The Classical Review'' 55 (2006), pp.&nbsp;648&ndash;</ref> Historians consider ''Buildings'' to be an incomplete work due to evidence of the surviving version being a draft with two possible redactions.<ref name="Downey" /><ref>Cameron, Averil. Procopius and the Sixth Century. London: Routledge, 1985.</ref>
''The Buildings'' ({{lang-grc-gre|Περὶ Κτισμάτων}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|Perì Ktismáton}}; {{lang-la|De Aedificiis}}, "On Buildings") is a [[panegyric]] on Justinian's public works projects throughout the empire.<ref name="Downey">Downey, Glanville: "The Composition of Procopius, De Aedificiis", in ''Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association'' 78: pp.&nbsp;171–183; [https://www.jstor.org/pss/283492 abstract] from JSTOR.</ref> The first book may date to before the collapse of the first dome of [[Hagia Sophia]] in 557, but some scholars think that it is possible that the work postdates the building of the [[Sangarius Bridge|bridge over the Sangarius]] in the late 550s.<ref>Whitby, Michael: "Procopian Polemics: a review of A. Kaldellis ''Procopius of Caesarea. Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity''", in ''The Classical Review'' 55 (2006), pp.&nbsp;648ff.</ref> Historians consider ''Buildings'' to be an incomplete work due to evidence of the surviving version being a draft with two possible redactions.<ref name="Downey" /><ref>Cameron, Averil. ''Procopius and the Sixth Century''. London: Routledge, 1985.</ref>


''Buildings'' was likely written at Justinian's behest, and it is doubtful that its sentiments expressed are sincere. It tells us nothing further about Belisarius, and it takes a sharply different attitude towards Justinian. He is presented as an idealised [[Orthodox Christianity|Christian]] emperor who built churches for the glory of God and defenses for the safety of his subjects. He is depicted showing particular concern for the water supply, building new [[Roman aqueduct|aqueducts]] and restoring those that had fallen into disuse. Theodora, who was dead when this panegyric was written, is mentioned only briefly, but Procopius's praise of her beauty is fulsome.
''Buildings'' was likely written at Justinian's behest, and it is doubtful that its sentiments expressed are sincere. It tells us nothing further about Belisarius, and it takes a sharply different attitude towards Justinian. He is presented as an idealised [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian]] emperor who built churches for the glory of God and defenses for the safety of his subjects. He is depicted showing particular concern for the water supply, building new [[Roman aqueduct|aqueducts]] and restoring those that had fallen into disuse. Theodora, who was dead when this panegyric was written, is mentioned only briefly, but Procopius's praise of her beauty is fulsome.


Due to the panegyrical nature of Procopius's ''Buildings'', historians have discovered several discrepancies between claims made by Procopius and accounts in other primary sources. A prime example is Procopius's starting the reign of Justinian in 518, which was actually the start of the reign of his uncle and predecessor {{nowrap|[[Justin I]].}} By treating the uncle's reign as part of his nephew's, Procopius was able to credit Justinian with buildings erected or begun under Justin's administration. Such works include renovation of the walls of [[Edessa]] after its 525 flood and consecration of several churches in the region. Similarly, Procopius falsely credits Justinian for the extensive refortification of the cities of [[Constanța|Tomis]] and [[Histria (Sinoe)|Histria]] in [[Scythia Minor (Roman province)|Scythia Minor]]. This had actually been carried out under {{nowrap|[[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]],}} who reigned before Justin.<ref>Croke, Brian and James Crow: "Procopius and Dara", in ''The Journal of Roman Studies'' 73 (1983), 143–159.</ref>
Due to the panegyrical nature of Procopius's ''Buildings'', historians have discovered several discrepancies between claims made by Procopius and accounts in other primary sources. A prime example is Procopius's starting the reign of Justinian in 518, which was actually the start of the reign of his uncle and predecessor {{nowrap|[[Justin I]].}} By treating the uncle's reign as part of his nephew's, Procopius was able to credit Justinian with buildings erected or begun under Justin's administration. Such works include renovation of the walls of [[Edessa]] after its 525 flood and consecration of several churches in the region. Similarly, Procopius falsely credits Justinian for the extensive refortification of the cities of [[Constanța|Tomis]] and [[Histria (Sinoe)|Histria]] in [[Scythia Minor (Roman province)|Scythia Minor]]. This had actually been carried out under {{nowrap|[[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]],}} who reigned before Justin.<ref>Croke, Brian and James Crow: "Procopius and Dara", in ''The Journal of Roman Studies'' 73 (1983), 143–159.</ref>


==Style==
==Style==
Procopius belongs to the school of [[late antiquity|late antique]] historians who continued the traditions of the [[Second Sophistic]]. They wrote in [[Attic dialect|Attic Greek]]. Their models were [[Herodotus]], [[Polybius]] and in particular [[Thucydides]]. Their subject matter was secular history. They avoided vocabulary unknown to Attic Greek and inserted an explanation when they had to use contemporary words. Thus Procopius includes glosses of monks ("the most temperate of Christians") and churches (as equivalent to a "temple" or "shrine"), since monasticism was unknown to the ancient Athenians and their ''ekklesía'' had been [[Ecclesia (ancient Athens)|a popular assembly]].<ref>''Wars'', 2.9.14 and 1.7.22.</ref>
Procopius belongs to the school of [[late antiquity|late antique]] historians who continued the traditions of the [[Second Sophistic]]. They wrote in [[Attic dialect|Attic Greek]]. Their models were [[Herodotus]], [[Polybius]] and in particular [[Thucydides]]. Their subject matter was secular history. They avoided vocabulary unknown to Attic Greek and inserted an explanation when they had to use contemporary words. Thus Procopius includes glosses of monks ("the most temperate of Christians") and churches (as equivalent to a "temple" or "shrine"), since monasticism was unknown to the ancient Athenians and their ''ekklesía'' had been [[Ecclesia (ancient Athens)|a popular assembly]].<ref>''Wars'', 2.9.14 and 1.7.22.</ref>


The secular historians eschewed the history of the Christian church. Ecclesiastical history was left to a separate genre after [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]]. However, [[Averil Cameron|Cameron]] has argued convincingly that Procopius's works reflect the tensions between the classical and Christian models of history in 6th-century Constantinople. This is supported by [[Mary Whitby|Whitby]]'s analysis of Procopius's depiction of the capital and [[Hagia Sophia|its cathedral]] in comparison to contemporary pagan panegyrics.<ref>''Buildings'', Book I.</ref> Procopius can be seen as depicting Justinian as essentially God's [[vicegerent]], making the case for buildings being a primarily religious panegyric.<ref>Whitby, Mary: "Procopius' ''Buildings'' Book I: A Panegyrical Perspective", in ''Antiquité Tardive'' 8 (2000), 45–57.</ref> Procopius indicates that he planned to write an ecclesiastical history himself<ref>''Secret History'', 26.18.</ref> and, if he had, he would probably have followed the rules of that genre. As far as known, however, such an ecclesiastical history was never written.
The secular historians eschewed the history of the Christian church. Ecclesiastical history was left to a separate genre after [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]]. However, [[Averil Cameron|Cameron]] has argued convincingly that Procopius's works reflect the tensions between the classical and Christian models of history in 6th-century Constantinople. This is supported by [[Mary Whitby|Whitby]]'s analysis of Procopius's depiction of the capital and [[Hagia Sophia|its cathedral]] in comparison to contemporary pagan panegyrics.<ref>''Buildings'', Book I.</ref> Procopius can be seen as depicting Justinian as essentially God's [[vicegerent]], making the case for buildings being a primarily religious panegyric.<ref>Whitby, Mary: "Procopius' ''Buildings'' Book I: A Panegyrical Perspective", in ''Antiquité Tardive'' 8 (2000), 45–57.</ref> Procopius indicates that he planned to write an ecclesiastical history himself<ref>''Secret History'', 26.18.</ref> and, if he had, he would probably have followed the rules of that genre. As far as known, however, such an ecclesiastical history was never written.
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A number of [[historical novel]]s based on Procopius's works (along with other sources) have been written. ''[[Count Belisarius]]'' was written by poet and novelist [[Robert Graves]] in 1938. Procopius himself appears as a minor character in [[Felix Dahn]]'s ''[[A Struggle for Rome]]'' and in [[L. Sprague de Camp]]'s alternate history novel ''[[Lest Darkness Fall]]''. The novel's main character, archaeologist Martin Padway, derives most of his knowledge of historical events from the ''Secret History''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lest Darkness Fall|last=de Camp|first=L. Sprague|date=1949|publisher=Ballantine Books|page=111}}</ref>
A number of [[historical novel]]s based on Procopius's works (along with other sources) have been written. ''[[Count Belisarius]]'' was written by poet and novelist [[Robert Graves]] in 1938. Procopius himself appears as a minor character in [[Felix Dahn]]'s ''[[A Struggle for Rome]]'' and in [[L. Sprague de Camp]]'s alternate history novel ''[[Lest Darkness Fall]]''. The novel's main character, archaeologist Martin Padway, derives most of his knowledge of historical events from the ''Secret History''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lest Darkness Fall|last=de Camp|first=L. Sprague|date=1949|publisher=Ballantine Books|page=111}}</ref>


The narrator in [[Herman Melville]]'s novel ''[[Moby-Dick]]'' cites Procopius's description of a captured sea monster as evidence of the narrative's feasibility.<ref>{{Cite book|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.62077|title=Moby-Dick, or, the Whale |last=Melville|first=Herman|date=1851|publisher=Harper & Brothers |location=London |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/126294 }}</ref>
The narrator in [[Herman Melville]]'s novel ''[[Moby-Dick]]'' cites Procopius's description of a [[Porphyrios (whale)|captured sea monster]] as evidence of the narrative's feasibility.<ref>{{Cite book|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.62077|title=Moby-Dick, or, the Whale |last=Melville|first=Herman|date=1851|volume=c.1 |publisher=Harper & Brothers |location=London |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/126294 }}</ref>


==List of selected works==
==List of selected works==
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Procopii_Caesariensis_Opera_Omnia/66ECMwEACAAJ?hl=en |title=Procopii Caesariensis opera omnia |publisher=[[Teubner]] |others=revised by G. Wirth |year=1962–64 |editor-last=J. Haury |location=Leipzig |language=el |quote=4 volumes |orig-year=1905}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=66ECMwEACAAJ |title=Procopii Caesariensis opera omnia |publisher=[[Teubner]] |others=Revised by G. Wirth |year=1962–1964 |editor-last=J. Haury |location=Leipzig |language=el |quote=4 volumes |orig-year=1905}}
* {{Cite book |title=Procopius |publisher=Harvard University Press and London, Hutchinson |year=1914–40 |editor-last=H. B. Dewing |series=Loeb Classical Library |location=Cambridge, Mass. |quote=7 volumes, Greek text and English translation}}
* {{Cite book |title=Procopius |publisher=Harvard University Press and Hutchinson |year=1914–1940 |editor-first=H. B. |editor-last=Dewing |series=Loeb Classical Library |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts and London}} Seven volumes, Greek text and English translation.
** {{Cite book |title=Buildings of Justinian |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=1940 |location=Cambridge, MA |language=en |editor-last=Downey |editor-first=G. |editor-link=Glanville Downey |editor-last2=Dewing |editor-first2=Henry B. |editor-link2=Henry B Dewing |series=[[Loeb Classical Library]]}}
** {{Cite book |title=Buildings of Justinian |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=1940 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |language=en |editor-last=Downey |editor-first=G. |editor-link=Glanville Downey |editor-last2=Dewing |editor-first2=Henry B. |series=[[Loeb Classical Library]]}}
* {{Cite book |title=Procopius {{!}} The Secret History |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0140455281 |editor-last=[[G. A. Williamson]] |series=Loeb Classical Library |location=Harmondsworth |translator-last=Peter Sarris |quote=A readable and accessible English translation of the ''Anecdota'' |orig-year=1966}}
* {{Cite book |title=Procopius: The Secret History |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0140455281 |translator-last1=Williamson |translator-first1=G. A. |translator-link1=G. A. Williamson |series=Penguin Classics |location=Harmondsworth |others=Revised by Peter Sarris |orig-year=1966}} English translation of the ''Anecdota''.
* {{Cite book |title=Prokopios {{!}} The Secret History |publisher=Hackett Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-1603841801 |location=Indianapolis |translator-last=Anthony Kaldellis |quote=This edition includes related texts, an introductory essay, notes, maps, a timeline, a guide to the main sources from the period and a guide to scholarship in English. The translator uses blunt and precise English prose in order to adhere to the style of the original text.}}
* {{Cite book |title=Prokopios: The Secret History |publisher=Hackett |year=2010 |isbn=978-1603841801 |location=Indianapolis |translator-last=Anthony Kaldellis}}


==See also==
==See also==
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Adshead, Katherine: ''Procopius' Poliorcetica: continuities and discontinuities'', in: G. Clarke et al. (eds.): ''Reading the past in late antiquity'', Australian National UP, Rushcutters Bay 1990, pp.&nbsp;93–119
* Adshead, Katherine: ''Procopius' Poliorcetica: continuities and discontinuities'', in: G. Clarke et al. (eds.): ''Reading the past in late antiquity'', Australian National UP, Rushcutters Bay 1990, pp.&nbsp;93–119
*Alonso-Núñez, J. M.: ''[http://brepols.metapress.com/content/h005k0l43p535213 Jordanes and Procopius on Northern Europe]'', in: ''Nottingham Medieval Studies'' 31 (1987), 1–16.
* Alonso-Núñez, J. M.: ''[http://brepols.metapress.com/content/h005k0l43p535213 Jordanes and Procopius on Northern Europe]'', in: ''Nottingham Medieval Studies'' 31 (1987), 1–16.
*Amitay, Ory: ''[https://www.academia.edu/1179971/Procopius_of_Caesarea_and_the_Girgashite_Diaspora Procopius of Caesarea and the Girgashite Diaspora]'', in: ''Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha'' 20 (2011), 257–276.
* Amitay, Ory: ''[https://www.academia.edu/1179971/Procopius_of_Caesarea_and_the_Girgashite_Diaspora Procopius of Caesarea and the Girgashite Diaspora]'', in: ''Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha'' 20 (2011), 257–276.
*Anagnostakis, Ilias: ''[https://www.academia.edu/5413582/Ilias_Anagnostakis_Procopius_s_dream_before_the_campaign_against_Libya_a_reading_of_Wars_3.12.1-5_in_C._Angelidi_and_G._Calofonos_eds_Dreaming_in_Byzantium_and_Beyond_Ashgate_Publishing_2014_79-94 Procopius's dream before the campaign against Libya: a reading of Wars 3.12.1-5]'', in: C. Angelidi and G. Calofonos (eds.), ''[http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409400554 Dreaming in Byzantium and Beyond]'', Farnham: Ashgate Publishing 2014, 79–94.
* Anagnostakis, Ilias: ''[https://www.academia.edu/5413582/Ilias_Anagnostakis_Procopius_s_dream_before_the_campaign_against_Libya_a_reading_of_Wars_3.12.1-5_in_C._Angelidi_and_G._Calofonos_eds_Dreaming_in_Byzantium_and_Beyond_Ashgate_Publishing_2014_79-94 Procopius's dream before the campaign against Libya: a reading of Wars 3.12.1-5]'', in: C. Angelidi and G. Calofonos (eds.), ''[http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409400554 Dreaming in Byzantium and Beyond]'', Farnham: Ashgate Publishing 2014, 79–94.
*Bachrach, Bernard S.: ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015217/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7553520 Procopius, Agathias and the Frankish Military]'', in: ''Speculum'' 45 (1970), 435–441.
* Bachrach, Bernard S.: ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015217/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7553520 Procopius, Agathias and the Frankish Military]'', in: ''Speculum'' 45 (1970), 435–441.
*Bachrach, Bernard S.: ''Procopius and the chronology of Clovis's reign'', in: ''Viator'' 1 (1970), 21–32.
* Bachrach, Bernard S.: ''Procopius and the chronology of Clovis's reign'', in: ''Viator'' 1 (1970), 21–32.
*Baldwin, Barry: ''An Aphorism in Procopius'', in: ''Rheinisches Museum für Philologie'' 125 (1982), 309–311.
* Baldwin, Barry: ''An Aphorism in Procopius'', in: ''Rheinisches Museum für Philologie'' 125 (1982), 309–311.
*Baldwin, Barry: ''Sexual Rhetoric in Procopius'', in: ''Mnemosyne'' 40 (1987), pp.&nbsp;150–152
* Baldwin, Barry: ''Sexual Rhetoric in Procopius'', in: ''Mnemosyne'' 40 (1987), pp.&nbsp;150–152
*Belke, Klaus: ''[https://www.academia.edu/1402492/Prokops_De_aedificiis_Buch_V_zu_Kleinasien._Antiquité_Tardive_8_2000_115_125 Prokops De aedificiis, Buch V, zu Kleinasien]'', in: ''Antiquité Tardive'' 8 (2000), 115–125.
* Belke, Klaus: ''[https://www.academia.edu/1402492/Prokops_De_aedificiis_Buch_V_zu_Kleinasien._Antiquité_Tardive_8_2000_115_125 Prokops De aedificiis, Buch V, zu Kleinasien]'', in: ''Antiquité Tardive'' 8 (2000), 115–125.
*Börm, Henning: ''[https://www.academia.edu/1012245/Prokop_und_die_Perser_Untersuchungen_zu_den_romisch-sasanidischen_Kontakten_in_der_ausgehenden_Spatantike_OrOcc_16_._Stuttgart_Franz_Steiner_Verlag_2007 Prokop und die Perser]''. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2007. ([http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2008/2008-05-23.html Review in English by G. Greatrex] and [http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/byzs.2009.101.issue-2/byzs.2008.025b/byzs.2008.025b.xml?format=INT Review in English by A. Kaldellis])
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*Kaldellis, Anthony: ''[https://www.academia.edu/14480453/_Identifying_Dissident_Circles_in_Sixth-Century_Byzantium_The_Friendship_of_Prokopios_and_Ioannes_Lydos_Florilegium_21_2004_1-17 Identifying Dissident Circles in Sixth-Century Byzantium: The Friendship of Prokopios and Ioannes Lydos]'', ''Florilegium'', Vol. 21 (2004), 1–17.
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*Kaldellis, Anthony: ''Procopius of Caesarea: Tyranny, History and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.
* Kaldellis, Anthony: ''Procopius of Caesarea: Tyranny, History and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.
*Kaldellis, Anthony: ''[https://www.academia.edu/14481622/_Prokopios_Persian_War_A_Thematic_and_Literary_Analysis_in_R._Macrides_ed._History_as_Literature_in_Byzantium_Aldershot_Ashgate_2010_253-273 Prokopios’ Persian War: A Thematic and Literary Analysis]'', in: R. Macrides, ed., ''History as Literature in Byzantium'', Aldershot: Ashgate, 2010, 253–273.
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*Kaldellis, Anthony: ''[https://www.academia.edu/21739559/_Prokopios_Vandal_War_Thematic_Trajectories_and_Hidden_Transcripts_in_S._T._Stevens_and_J._Conant_eds._North_Africa_under_Byzantium_and_Early_Islam_Washington_D.C_Dumbarton_Oaks_2016_13-21 Prokopios’ Vandal War: Thematic Trajectories and Hidden Transcripts]'', in: S. T. Stevens & J. Conant, eds., ''North Africa under Byzantium and Early Islam'', Washington, D.C: Dumbarton Oaks, 2016, 13–21.
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*Kaldellis, Anthony: ''[https://www.academia.edu/14481490/_The_Date_and_Structure_of_Prokopios_Secret_History_and_his_Projected_Work_on_Church_History_Greek_Roman_and_Byzantine_Studies_49_2009_585-616 The Date and Structure of Prokopios’ Secret History and his Projected Work on Church History]'', in: ''Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies'', Vol. 49 (2009), 585–616.
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*Kovács, Tamás: [https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/bitstream/handle/11222.digilib/141757/1_GraecoLatinaBrunensia_24-2019-2_10.pdf "Procopius's Sibyl - the fall of Vitigis and the Ostrogoths"], ''Graeco-Latina Brunensia'' 24.2 (2019), 113–124.
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*Kruse, Marion: ''[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9067489&fileId=S0009838813000335 The Speech of the Armenians in Procopius: Justinian's Foreign Policy and the Transition between Books 1 and 2 of the Wars]'', in: [[The Classical Quarterly]] 63 (2013), 866–881.
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* Lillington-Martin, Christopher, 2007–2017:
* Lillington-Martin, Christopher, 2007–2017:
** 2007, "Archaeological and Ancient Literary Evidence for a Battle near Dara Gap, Turkey, AD 530: Topography, Texts and Trenches" in BAR –S1717, 2007 The Late Roman Army in the Near East from Diocletian to the Arab Conquest Proceedings of a colloquium held at Potenza, Acerenza and Matera, Italy edited by Ariel S. Lewin and Pietrina Pellegrini, pp.&nbsp;299–311;
** 2007, "Archaeological and Ancient Literary Evidence for a Battle near Dara Gap, Turkey, AD 530: Topography, Texts and Trenches" in BAR –S1717, 2007 The Late Roman Army in the Near East from Diocletian to the Arab Conquest Proceedings of a colloquium held at Potenza, Acerenza and Matera, Italy edited by Ariel S. Lewin and Pietrina Pellegrini, pp.&nbsp;299–311;
** 2009, "Procopius, Belisarius and the Goths" in Journal of the Oxford University History Society,(2009) Odd Alliances edited by Heather Ellis and Graciela Iglesias Rogers. {{ISSN|1742-917X}}, pages 1– 17, https://sites.google.com/site/jouhsinfo/issue7specialissueforinternetexplorer;
** 2009, "Procopius, Belisarius and the Goths" in Journal of the Oxford University History Society,(2009) Odd Alliances edited by Heather Ellis and Graciela Iglesias Rogers. {{ISSN|1742-917X}}, pages 1– 17, https://sites.google.com/site/jouhsinfo/issue7specialissueforinternetexplorer {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630215538/https://sites.google.com/site/jouhsinfo/issue7specialissueforinternetexplorer |date=2022-06-30 }};
** 2011, "Secret Histories", http://classicsconfidential.co.uk/2011/11/19/secret-histories/;
** 2011, "Secret Histories", http://classicsconfidential.co.uk/2011/11/19/secret-histories/;
** 2012, "Hard and Soft Power on the Eastern Frontier: a Roman Fortlet between Dara and Nisibis, Mesopotamia, Turkey: Prokopios’ Mindouos?" in The Byzantinist, edited by Douglas Whalin, Issue 2 (2012), pp.&nbsp;4–5, http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/obsnews2012final.pdf;
** 2012, "Hard and Soft Power on the Eastern Frontier: a Roman Fortlet between Dara and Nisibis, Mesopotamia, Turkey: Prokopios’ Mindouos?" in The Byzantinist, edited by Douglas Whalin, Issue 2 (2012), pp.&nbsp;4–5, http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/obsnews2012final.pdf;
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** 2017, ''Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations'' (editor), Routledge (July 2017), [http://www.routledge.com/9781472466044 www.routledge.com/9781472466044];
** 2017, ''Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations'' (editor), Routledge (July 2017), [http://www.routledge.com/9781472466044 www.routledge.com/9781472466044];
** 2017, "Introduction" and chapter 10, “Procopius, ''πάρεδρος / quaestor, Codex Justinianus'', I.27 and Belisarius’ strategy in the Mediterranean” in ''Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations'' above.
** 2017, "Introduction" and chapter 10, “Procopius, ''πάρεδρος / quaestor, Codex Justinianus'', I.27 and Belisarius’ strategy in the Mediterranean” in ''Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations'' above.
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*Rubin, Berthold: ''Prokopios'', in ''[[Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft]]'' 23/1 (1957), 273–599. Earlier published (with index) as ''Prokopios von Kaisareia'', Stuttgart: Druckenmüller, 1954.
* Rubin, Berthold: ''Prokopios'', in ''[[Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft]]'' 23/1 (1957), 273–599. Earlier published (with index) as ''Prokopios von Kaisareia'', Stuttgart: Druckenmüller, 1954.
*Stewart, Michael, ''[http://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/parekbolai/article/view/4253 Contests of Andreia in Procopius’ Gothic Wars]'', ''Παρεκβολαι'' 4 (2014), pp.&nbsp;21–54.
* Stewart, Michael, ''[http://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/parekbolai/article/view/4253 Contests of Andreia in Procopius’ Gothic Wars]'', ''Παρεκβολαι'' 4 (2014), pp.&nbsp;21–54.
*Stewart, Michael, ''[http://openjournals.arts.uwa.edu.au/index.php/cerae/article/view/44/45 The Andreios Eunuch-Commander Narses: Sign of a Decoupling of martial Virtues and Hegemonic Masculinity in the early Byzantine Empire?]'', Cerae 2 (2015), pp.&nbsp;1–25.
* Stewart, Michael, ''[http://openjournals.arts.uwa.edu.au/index.php/cerae/article/view/44/45 The Andreios Eunuch-Commander Narses: Sign of a Decoupling of martial Virtues and Hegemonic Masculinity in the early Byzantine Empire?]'', Cerae 2 (2015), pp.&nbsp;1–25.
*Stewart, Michael, Masculinity, Identity, and Power Politics in the Age of Justinian: A Study of Procopius, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2020:https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789462988231/masculinity-identity-and-power-politics-in-the-age-of-justinian
* Stewart, Michael, Masculinity, Identity, and Power Politics in the Age of Justinian: A Study of Procopius, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2020:https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789462988231/masculinity-identity-and-power-politics-in-the-age-of-justinian
*Treadgold, Warren: ''The Early Byzantine Historians'', Basingstoke: Macmillan 2007, 176–226.
* Treadgold, Warren: ''The Early Byzantine Historians'', Basingstoke: Macmillan 2007, 176–226.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022452/http://blogs.artinfo.com/secrethistoryofart/2011/11/16/vatican-mysteries-whats-so-secret-about-procopius-secret-history-2/ The Secret History of Art by Noah Charney on the Vatican Library and Procopius]. An article by art historian [[Noah Charney]] about the Vatican Library and its famous manuscript, ''Historia Arcana'' by Procopius.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022452/http://blogs.artinfo.com/secrethistoryofart/2011/11/16/vatican-mysteries-whats-so-secret-about-procopius-secret-history-2/ The Secret History of Art by Noah Charney on the Vatican Library and Procopius]. An article by art historian [[Noah Charney]] about the Vatican Library and its famous manuscript, ''Historia Arcana'' by Procopius.
*Whately, Conor, ''Battles and Generals: Combat, Culture, and Didacticism in Procopius' Wars''. Leiden, 2016.
* Whately, Conor, ''Battles and Generals: Combat, Culture, and Didacticism in Procopius' Wars''. Leiden, 2016.
*Whitby, L. M. "Procopius and the Development of Roman Defences in Upper Mesopotamia", in P. Freeman and D. Kennedy (ed.), ''[[The Defence of the Roman and Byzantine East]]'', Oxford, 1986, 717–35.
* Whitby, L. M. "Procopius and the Development of Roman Defences in Upper Mesopotamia", in P. Freeman and D. Kennedy (ed.), ''[[The Defence of the Roman and Byzantine East]]'', Oxford, 1986, 717–35.


==External links==
==External links==
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=== Texts of Procopius ===
=== Texts of Procopius ===
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/procopius}}
* {{Gutenberg author |id=4712}}
* {{Internet Archive author}}
* {{Librivox author |id=14427}}
* [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/30_20_0490-0575-_Procopius_Caesariensis.html Complete Works], Greek text (Migne [[Patrologia Graeca]]) with analytical indexes
* [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/30_20_0490-0575-_Procopius_Caesariensis.html Complete Works], Greek text (Migne [[Patrologia Graeca]]) with analytical indexes
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html The Secret History], English translation (Atwater, 1927) at the Internet Medieval Sourcebook
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html The Secret History], English translation (Atwater, 1927) at the Internet Medieval Sourcebook
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* [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Procopius/Buildings/home.html The Buildings], English translation (Dewing, 1935) at LacusCurtius
* [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Procopius/Buildings/home.html The Buildings], English translation (Dewing, 1935) at LacusCurtius
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517032948/http://soltdm.com/sources/mss/proc/proc_0.htm The Buildings, Book IV] Greek text with commentaries, index nominum, etc. at Sorin Olteanu's LTDM Project
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517032948/http://soltdm.com/sources/mss/proc/proc_0.htm The Buildings, Book IV] Greek text with commentaries, index nominum, etc. at Sorin Olteanu's LTDM Project
* {{Gutenberg author |id=4712}}
* {{Internet Archive author}}
* {{Librivox author |id=14427}}
* H. B. Dewing's Loeb edition of the works of Procopius: [https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Dewing%2C+H.+B.+%28Henry+Bronson%29%2C+1882-+%28Translator%29%22&sort=titleSorter vols. I–VI at the Internet Archive] (''History of the Wars'', ''Secret History'')
* H. B. Dewing's Loeb edition of the works of Procopius: [https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Dewing%2C+H.+B.+%28Henry+Bronson%29%2C+1882-+%28Translator%29%22&sort=titleSorter vols. I–VI at the Internet Archive] (''History of the Wars'', ''Secret History'')
* [[Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society]] (1888): ''[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028534224 Of the buildings of Justinian]'' by Procopius, (ca 560 A.D)
* [[Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society]] (1888): ''[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028534224 Of the buildings of Justinian]'' by Procopius, (ca 560 A.D)
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[[Category:Sources on Germanic paganism|De bello Gothico]]
[[Category:Sources on Germanic paganism|De bello Gothico]]
[[Category:Vandalic War]]
[[Category:Vandalic War]]
[[Category:People from Caesarea Maritima]]
[[Category:People of the Roman–Sasanian Wars]]
[[Category:People of the Roman–Sasanian Wars]]

Revision as of 11:29, 23 May 2024

Procopius
Bornc. AD 500
Caesarea Maritima, Palaestina Prima, Eastern Roman Empire
Diedc. AD 565
OccupationLegal adviser, political commentator
SubjectSecular history
Notable works
  • History of the Wars
  • Buildings
  • Secret History

Procopius of Caesarea (Greek: Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς Prokópios ho Kaisareús; Latin: Procopius Caesariensis; c. 500–565) was a prominent late antique Greek scholar and historian from Caesarea Maritima.[1][2] Accompanying the Roman general Belisarius in Emperor Justinian's wars, Procopius became the principal Roman historian of the 6th century, writing the History of the Wars, the Buildings, and the Secret History.

Early life

Apart from his own writings, the main source for Procopius's life is an entry in the Suda,[3] a Byzantine Greek encyclopaedia written sometime after 975 which discusses his early life. He was a native of Caesarea in the province of Palaestina Prima.[4] He would have received a conventional upper class education in the Greek classics and rhetoric,[5] perhaps at the famous school at Gaza.[6] He may have attended law school, possibly at Berytus (present-day Beirut) or Constantinople (now Istanbul),[7][a] and became a lawyer (rhetor).[3] He evidently knew Latin, as was natural for a man with legal training.[b]

Career

In 527, the first year of the reign of the emperor Justinian I, he became the legal adviser (adsessor) for Belisarius, a general whom Justinian made his chief military commander in a great attempt to restore control over the lost western provinces of the empire.[c]

Procopius was with Belisarius on the eastern front until the latter was defeated at the Battle of Callinicum in 531[11] and recalled to Constantinople.[12] Procopius witnessed the Nika riots of January, 532, which Belisarius and his fellow general Mundus repressed with a massacre in the Hippodrome there.[13] In 533, he accompanied Belisarius on his victorious expedition against the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, took part in the capture of Carthage, and remained in Africa with Belisarius's successor Solomon the Eunuch when Belisarius returned east to the capital. Procopius recorded a few of the extreme weather events of 535–536, although these were presented as a backdrop to Byzantine military activities, such as a mutiny in and around Carthage.[14][d] He rejoined Belisarius for his campaign against the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy and experienced the Gothic siege of Rome that lasted a year and nine days, ending in mid-March 538. He witnessed Belisarius's entry into the Gothic capital, Ravenna, in 540. Both the Wars[15] and the Secret History suggest that his relationship with Belisarius cooled thereafter. When Belisarius was sent back to Italy in 544 to cope with a renewal of the war with the Goths, now led by the able king Totila, Procopius appears to have no longer been on Belisarius's staff.[citation needed]

As magister militum, Belisarius was an "illustrious man" (Latin: vir illustris; Greek: ἰλλούστριος, illoústrios); being his adsessor, Procopius must therefore have had at least the rank of a "visible man" (vir spectabilis). He thus belonged to the mid-ranking group of the senatorial order (ordo senatorius). However, the Suda, which is usually well-informed in such matters, also describes Procopius himself as one of the illustres. Should this information be correct, Procopius would have had a seat in Constantinople's senate, which was restricted to the illustres under Justinian. He also wrote that under Justinian's reign in 560, a major Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built on the site of the Temple Mount.[16][unreliable source?]

Death

It is not certain when Procopius died. Many historians—including Howard-Johnson, Cameron, and Geoffrey Greatrex—date his death to 554, but there was an urban prefect of Constantinople (praefectus urbi Constantinopolitanae) who was called Procopius in 562. In that year, Belisarius was implicated in a conspiracy and was brought before this urban prefect.[citation needed]

In fact, some scholars[who?] have argued that Procopius died at least a few years after 565 as he unequivocally states in the beginning of his Secret History that he planned to publish it after the death of Justinian for fear he would be tortured and killed by the emperor (or even by general Belisarius) if the emperor (or the general) learned about what Procopius wrote (his scathing criticism of the emperor, of his wife, of Belisarius, of the general's wife, Antonia: calling the former "demons in human form" and the latter incompetent and treacherous) in this later history. However, most scholars believe that the Secret History was written in 550 and remained unpublished during Procopius' lifetime.[citation needed]

Writings

Emperor Justinian

The writings of Procopius are the primary source of information for the rule of the emperor Justinian I. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books on the wars prosecuted by Justinian, a panegyric on the emperor's 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 general's wife. Consequently publication was delayed until all of them were dead to avoid retaliation.

History of the Wars

Procopius's Wars or History of the Wars (Greek: Ὑπὲρ τῶν Πολέμων Λόγοι, Hypèr tōn Polémon Lógoi, "Words on the Wars"; Latin: De Bellis, "On the Wars") is his most important work, although less well known than the Secret History.[17] The first seven books seem to have been largely completed by 545 and may have been published as a set. They were, however, updated to mid-century before publication, with the latest mentioned event occurring in early 551. The eighth and final book brought the history to 553.

The first two books—often known as The Persian War (Latin: De Bello Persico)—deal with the conflict between the Romans and Sassanid Persia in Mesopotamia, Syria, Armenia, Lazica, and Iberia (present-day Georgia).[18] It details the campaigns of the Sassanid shah Kavadh I, the 532 'Nika' revolt, the war by Kavadh's successor Khosrau I in 540, his destruction of Antioch and deportation of its inhabitants to Mesopotamia, and the great plague that devastated the empire from 542. The Persian War also covers the early career of Procopius's patron Belisarius in some detail.

The Wars’ next two books—known as The Vandal War or Vandalic War (Latin: De Bello Vandalico)—cover Belisarius's successful campaign against the Vandal kingdom that had occupied Rome's provinces in northwest Africa for the last century.

The final four books—known as The Gothic War (Latin: De Bello Gothico)—cover the Italian campaigns by Belisarius and others against the Ostrogoths. Procopius includes accounts of the 1st and 2nd sieges of Naples and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sieges of Rome. He also includes an account of the rise of the Franks (see Arborychoi). The last book describes the eunuch Narses's successful conclusion of the Italian campaign and includes some coverage of campaigns along the empire's eastern borders as well.

The Wars proved influential on later Byzantine historiography.[19] In the 570s Agathias wrote Histories, a continuation of Procopius's work in a similar style.

Secret History

Belisarius may be this bearded figure on the right of Emperor Justinian I in the mosaic in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, which celebrates the reconquest of Italy by the Roman army under the skillful leadership of Belisarius.

Procopius's now famous Anecdota, also known as Secret History (Greek: Ἀπόκρυφη Ἱστορία, Apókryphe Historía; Latin: Historia Arcana), was discovered centuries later at the Vatican Library in Rome[20] and published in Lyon by Niccolò Alamanni in 1623. Its existence was already known from the Suda, which referred to it as Procopius's "unpublished works" containing "comedy" and "invective" of Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and Antonina. The Secret History covers roughly the same years as the first seven books of The History of the Wars and appears to have been written after they were published. Current consensus generally dates it to 550, or less commonly 558.

In the eyes of many scholars, the Secret History reveals an author who had become deeply disillusioned with Emperor Justinian, his wife Theodora, the general Belisarius, and his wife Antonina. The work claims to expose the secret springs of their public actions, as well as the private lives of the emperor and his entourage. Justinian is portrayed as cruel, venal, prodigal, and incompetent. In one passage, it is even claimed that he was possessed by demonic spirits or was himself a demon:

And some of those who have been with Justinian at the palace late at night, men who were pure of spirit, have thought they saw a strange demoniac form taking his place. One man said that the Emperor suddenly rose from his throne and walked about, and indeed he was never wont to remain sitting for long, and immediately Justinian's head vanished, while the rest of his body seemed to ebb and flow; whereat the beholder stood aghast and fearful, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. But presently he perceived the vanished head filling out and joining the body again as strangely as it had left it.[21]

Similarly, the Theodora of the Secret History is a garish portrait of vulgarity and insatiable lust juxtaposed with cold-blooded self-interest, shrewishness, and envious and fearful mean-spiritedness. Among the more titillating (and dubious) revelations in the Secret History is Procopius's account of Theodora's thespian accomplishments:

Often, even in the theatre, in the sight of all the people, she removed her costume and stood nude in their midst, except for a girdle about the groin: not that she was abashed at revealing that, too, to the audience, but because there was a law against appearing altogether naked on the stage, without at least this much of a fig-leaf. Covered thus with a ribbon, she would sink down to the stage floor and recline on her back. Slaves to whom the duty was entrusted would then scatter grains of barley from above into the calyx of this passion flower, whence geese, trained for the purpose, would next pick the grains one by one with their bills and eat.[22]

Furthermore, Secret History portrays Belisarius as a weak man completely emasculated by his wife, Antonina, who is portrayed in very similar terms to Theodora. They are both said to be former actresses and close friends. Procopius claimed Antonina worked as an agent for Theodora against Belisarius, and had an ongoing affair with Belisarius' godson, Theodosius.

On the other hand, it has been argued that Procopius prepared the Secret History as an exaggerated document out of fear that a conspiracy might overthrow Justinian's regime, which—as a kind of court historian—might be reckoned to include him. The unpublished manuscript would then have been a kind of insurance, which could be offered to the new ruler as a way to avoid execution or exile after the coup. If this hypothesis were correct, the Secret History would not be proof that Procopius hated Justinian or Theodora.[23]

The Buildings

Triumphal arch at the entrance to the Sangarius Bridge

The Buildings (Greek: Περὶ Κτισμάτων, Perì Ktismáton; Latin: De Aedificiis, "On Buildings") is a panegyric on Justinian's public works projects throughout the empire.[24] The first book may date to before the collapse of the first dome of Hagia Sophia in 557, but some scholars think that it is possible that the work postdates the building of the bridge over the Sangarius in the late 550s.[25] Historians consider Buildings to be an incomplete work due to evidence of the surviving version being a draft with two possible redactions.[24][26]

Buildings was likely written at Justinian's behest, and it is doubtful that its sentiments expressed are sincere. It tells us nothing further about Belisarius, and it takes a sharply different attitude towards Justinian. He is presented as an idealised Christian emperor who built churches for the glory of God and defenses for the safety of his subjects. He is depicted showing particular concern for the water supply, building new aqueducts and restoring those that had fallen into disuse. Theodora, who was dead when this panegyric was written, is mentioned only briefly, but Procopius's praise of her beauty is fulsome.

Due to the panegyrical nature of Procopius's Buildings, historians have discovered several discrepancies between claims made by Procopius and accounts in other primary sources. A prime example is Procopius's starting the reign of Justinian in 518, which was actually the start of the reign of his uncle and predecessor Justin I. By treating the uncle's reign as part of his nephew's, Procopius was able to credit Justinian with buildings erected or begun under Justin's administration. Such works include renovation of the walls of Edessa after its 525 flood and consecration of several churches in the region. Similarly, Procopius falsely credits Justinian for the extensive refortification of the cities of Tomis and Histria in Scythia Minor. This had actually been carried out under Anastasius I, who reigned before Justin.[27]

Style

Procopius belongs to the school of late antique historians who continued the traditions of the Second Sophistic. They wrote in Attic Greek. Their models were Herodotus, Polybius and in particular Thucydides. Their subject matter was secular history. They avoided vocabulary unknown to Attic Greek and inserted an explanation when they had to use contemporary words. Thus Procopius includes glosses of monks ("the most temperate of Christians") and churches (as equivalent to a "temple" or "shrine"), since monasticism was unknown to the ancient Athenians and their ekklesía had been a popular assembly.[28]

The secular historians eschewed the history of the Christian church. Ecclesiastical history was left to a separate genre after Eusebius. However, Cameron has argued convincingly that Procopius's works reflect the tensions between the classical and Christian models of history in 6th-century Constantinople. This is supported by Whitby's analysis of Procopius's depiction of the capital and its cathedral in comparison to contemporary pagan panegyrics.[29] Procopius can be seen as depicting Justinian as essentially God's vicegerent, making the case for buildings being a primarily religious panegyric.[30] Procopius indicates that he planned to write an ecclesiastical history himself[31] and, if he had, he would probably have followed the rules of that genre. As far as known, however, such an ecclesiastical history was never written.

Some historians have criticized Propocius's description of some barbarians, for example, he dehumanized the unfamiliar Moors as "not even properly human". This was however, inline with Byzantine ethnographic practice in late antiquity.[32]

Legacy

A number of historical novels based on Procopius's works (along with other sources) have been written. Count Belisarius was written by poet and novelist Robert Graves in 1938. Procopius himself appears as a minor character in Felix Dahn's A Struggle for Rome and in L. Sprague de Camp's alternate history novel Lest Darkness Fall. The novel's main character, archaeologist Martin Padway, derives most of his knowledge of historical events from the Secret History.[33]

The narrator in Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick cites Procopius's description of a captured sea monster as evidence of the narrative's feasibility.[34]

List of selected works

  • J. Haury, ed. (1962–1964) [1905]. Procopii Caesariensis opera omnia (in Greek). Revised by G. Wirth. Leipzig: Teubner. 4 volumes
  • Dewing, H. B., ed. (1914–1940). Procopius. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press and Hutchinson. Seven volumes, Greek text and English translation.
  • Procopius: The Secret History. Penguin Classics. Translated by Williamson, G. A. Revised by Peter Sarris. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. 2007 [1966]. ISBN 978-0140455281.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) English translation of the Anecdota.
  • Prokopios: The Secret History. Translated by Anthony Kaldellis. Indianapolis: Hackett. 2010. ISBN 978-1603841801.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ For an alternative reading of Procopius as a trained engineer, see Howard-Johnson.[8]
  2. ^ Procopius uses and translates a number of Latin words in his Wars. Börm suggests a possible acquaintance with Vergil and Sallust.[9]
  3. ^ Procopius speaks of becoming Belisarius's advisor (symboulos) in that year.[10]
  4. ^ Before modern times, European and Mediterranean historians, as far as weather is concerned, typically recorded only the extreme or major weather events for a year or a multi-year period, preferring to focus on the human activities of policy makers and warriors instead.

References

  1. ^ Morcillo, Jesús Muñoz; Robertson-von Trotha, Caroline Y. (30 November 2020). Genealogy of Popular Science: From Ancient Ecphrasis to Virtual Reality. Transcript. p. 332. ISBN 978-3-8394-4835-9.
  2. ^ Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther, eds. (2012). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press. pp. 1214–1215. ISBN 978-0-19-954556-8. Procopius: Greek historian, born in *Caesarea (2) in Palestine c. AD 500.
  3. ^ a b Suda pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on Suda On Line.
  4. ^ Procopius, Wars of Justinian I.1.1; Suda pi.2479. See under 'Procopius' on Suda On Line.
  5. ^ Cameron, Averil: Procopius and the Sixth Century, London: Duckworth, 1985, p.7.
  6. ^ Evans, James A. S.: Procopius. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1972, p. 31.
  7. ^ Cameron, Procopius and the Sixth Century, p. 6.
  8. ^ Howard-Johnson, James: 'The Education and Expertise of Procopius'; in Antiquité Tardive 10 (2002), 19–30.
  9. ^ Börm, Henning (2007) Prokop und die Perser, p.46. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-515-09052-0
  10. ^ Procopius, Wars, 1.12.24.
  11. ^ Wars, I.18.1-56.
  12. ^ Wars, I.21.2.
  13. ^ Wars, I.24.1-58.
  14. ^ 1.
  15. ^ Wars, VIII.
  16. ^ Dolphin, Lambert (16 July 2021). "Visiting the Temple Mount". Temple Mount. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  17. ^ Procopius (1914). "Procopius, de Bellis. H.B. (Henry Bronson) Dewing, Ed. [First section:] Procop. Pers. 1.1". Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 18 October 2023. [Opening line in Greek] Προκόπιος Καισαρεὺς τοὺς πολέμους ξυνέγραψεν οὓς Ἰουστινιανὸς ὁ Ῥωμαίων βασιλεὺς πρὸς βαρβάρους διήνεγκε τούς τε ἑῴους καὶ ἑσπερίους,... Translation: Procopius from Caesarea wrote the history of the wars of Roman Emperor Justinianus against the barbarians of the East and of the West... Greek text edition by Henry Bronson Dewing, 1914.
  18. ^ Börm, Henning. Prokop und die Perser. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2007.
  19. ^ Cresci, Lia Raffaella. "Procopio al confine tra due tradizioni storiografiche". Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica 129.1 (2001) 61–77.
  20. ^ Mendelsohn, Daniel (26 December 2010). "God's Librarians". The New Yorker.
  21. ^ Procopius, Secret History 12.20–22, trans. Atwater.
  22. ^ Procopius Secret History 9.20–21, trans. Atwater.
  23. ^ Cf. Börm (2015).
  24. ^ a b Downey, Glanville: "The Composition of Procopius, De Aedificiis", in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 78: pp. 171–183; abstract from JSTOR.
  25. ^ Whitby, Michael: "Procopian Polemics: a review of A. Kaldellis Procopius of Caesarea. Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity", in The Classical Review 55 (2006), pp. 648ff.
  26. ^ Cameron, Averil. Procopius and the Sixth Century. London: Routledge, 1985.
  27. ^ Croke, Brian and James Crow: "Procopius and Dara", in The Journal of Roman Studies 73 (1983), 143–159.
  28. ^ Wars, 2.9.14 and 1.7.22.
  29. ^ Buildings, Book I.
  30. ^ Whitby, Mary: "Procopius' Buildings Book I: A Panegyrical Perspective", in Antiquité Tardive 8 (2000), 45–57.
  31. ^ Secret History, 26.18.
  32. ^ Kaldellis, Anthony (2013). Ethnography after antiquity : foreign lands and peoples in Byzantine literature. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-8122-0840-5. OCLC 859162344.
  33. ^ de Camp, L. Sprague (1949). Lest Darkness Fall. Ballantine Books. p. 111.
  34. ^ Melville, Herman (1851). Moby-Dick, or, the Whale. Vol. c.1. London: Harper & Brothers. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.62077.

Further reading

Texts of Procopius

Secondary material