Some cultures have history as distinct field of interest, some don't.
Among those that do not we may list the ancient Egyptians, where apparently
the lone Egyptian historian, Manetho, wrote for Greeks, and Indian culture,
where the history of the subcontinent has to be gleaned largely from Greek,
Persian, and Chinese sources. Among those cultures that do value history,
a number stand out: the Jewish tradition in particular has affected all
later Jewish, Christian and Muslim civilization and world views. In terms
of continuity the two longest such historiographical traditions seem to
have been that of the Chinese and the Greeks. The Greek tradition, beginning
with Herodotos, Thukydides continued throughout Antiquity. Less well known
is that it continued in Byzantium, the subject here, and is one of the
reasons for interest in and ability to research, Byzantine history despite
the loss much material available to historians of other medieval societies.
For much of Byzantine history a series of historical accounts, often
covering about fifty years each, continued, one after another, each giving
a detailed account of the history of the empire from the perspective of
the governmental and ecclesiastical elites. There was an element of self-consciousness
about this tradition, even though, unlike in China, it was not a government
project - thus Michael Psellos acknowledges Leo the Deacon, and Anna Komnena
picks up the torch from Psellos. As noted by Harry Turtledove in his translation
of Theophanes Chronographia, these historical accounts self-consciously
looked back to Thukydides and were written in a classicizing and sometimes
clumsy Greek. Alongside such historical works were also a series
of more popularly written chronicles, often arranged year by year
and written in a less formal style. These chronicles often begin with creation
and lifted content for most of their text from earlier chroniclers, or
sometimes historians. The historiographic and chronographic traditions
are parallel, with distinct audiences. Occasionally, as with Theophanes,
the historiographical tradition faltered or has been lost and the chronographers
are our main sources.
As can be seen below virtually the entire corpus has been edited and
in many cases re-edited. Translations of all but a few texts are now available
in English, French, German or Italian.
Here are four tables, arranged by lifetime of author, of the historiographical
and chronographical traditions of Byzantine culture.
CAVEAT: These tables, especially the last two, are not complete,
nor definitive. Suggestions, etc. are welcome.
Table I: Byzantine
Historians
Note: for reference to "FE" see "Farrar and Evans" in the short
bibliography that follows.
Historian
Work
Period Covered
Eusebios of Caesarea
260-340
4C
Ekklesiastike historia / Ecclesiastical History
ed I.A. Heikel, (Leipzig: 1902)
ed. and English translation, Kirsopp Lake and J.E.I Oulton, Loeb Classical
Library, 2 Vols, (London and New York: 19 )
English trans. An ecclesiastical history to the twentieth year of
the reign of Constantine : being the 324th of the Christian era, trans.
by C.F. Cruse. 4th ed., carefully rev., to which is prefixed The life
of Eusebius by Valesius, trans by S. E. Parker, (London : S. Bagster,
1847)
English trans. as The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine,
by G.A. Williamson, (New York: Penguin, 1965)
ed. and French trans. Histoire ecclesiastique / Eusebe de Cesaree
; texte grec, traduction et notes, by Gustave Bardy. rev. ed. (Paris
: Cerf, 1984-) Series title: Sources chretiennes ; no 55
church history to 324
Eunapios of Sardis (346-414)
5C
[fragments] in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum
Greacorum IV, pp. 7-56; also cf. Excerpt de legationibus, ed.
C. de Boor, (1903), 591-92
ed. R.C.Blockley, The fragmentary classicising historians of the
later Roman Empire : Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus, and Malchus,
(Liverpool, Great Britain : F. Cairns, c1981-1983), 2 Vols..
ed. and English trans., W.C. Wright, Philostratus and Eunapius: The
Lives of the Sophists, Loeb Classical Library (London: 1922)
270-404
Olympidoros of Thebes
5C
[fragments] in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum
Greacorum IV, pp. 57-68
ed. R.C.Blockley, The fragmentary classicising historians of the
later Roman Empire : Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus, and Malchus,
(Liverpool, Great Britain : F. Cairns, c1981-1983), 2 Vols..
and for excerpts see C.D. Gordon, The Age of Attila: Fifth Century
Byzantium and the Barbarians, (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
1960) [Passages from Priskos, Malchos, Olympidoros and John of Antioch
shaped into one narrative]
407-27
Zosimos
5C
Historia Nea /New History
ed. L. Mendelssohn, (Leipzig: 1887)
critical ed. and French trans., Francois Paschoud, Histoire
nouvelle [par] Zosime. Texte etabli et traduit, (Paris, Les Belles
Lettres, 1971-1989), 3 vols.
English trans as The History of Count Zosimus, Sometime Advocate
and Chancellor of the Roman Empire, trans from Original Greek, (London:
Printed for J. Davis, 1814)
English trans. J. J. Buchanan and H. T. Davies (San Antonio TX: 1967).
Superseded by
English translation by Ronald D. Ridley,, Byzantina Australiensa
2, (Canberra: Australian Association for Byzantine Studies,1982)
German trans. Neue Geschichte / Zosimos ; ubersetzt und eingeleitet von Otto Veh ; durchgesehen und erlautert by Stefan Rebenich, (Stuttgart
: A. Hiersemann, 1990), Bibliothek der griechischen Literatur Bd. 31.
FE 3838
Augustus-410, full from Diocletian
Sokrates Scholastikos
c.379-440
5C
Ekklesiastike historia /Ecclesiastical History
ed. Migne PG 67:28-842
The ecclesiastical history of Socrates, surnamed Scholasticus, or
the Advocate : comprising a history of the church in seven books, from
the accession of Constantine, A.D. 305, to the 38th year of Theodosius...,
(London : Henry G. Bohn, 1853) reprinted several times
306-439
Sozomenos
c.400-450
5C
Ekklesiastike historia / Ecclesiastical History
ed. Migne PG 67:843-1630
ed. and French tr. Histoire ecclesiastique, Greek text of the
edition by J. Bidez ; introduction by Bernard Grillet and Guy Sabbah ;
translation by Andre-Jean Festugiere ; annotation by Guy Sabbah, (Paris
: Editions du Cerf, 1983-) Sources chretiennes ; no 306-
A history of the church in nine books, from A.D. 324 to A.D. 440,
tran. Edward Walford, (London : Bagster, 1846)
324-440
Theodoret of Cyprus
d.c. 547
6C
Ekklesiastike historia / Ecclesiastical History
ed. L. Parmentier, (Leipzig: 1911)
English trans. by B. Jackson as "The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues
and Letters of Theodoret", in Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, 2nd
series, III, (New York: 1893)
English trans as A History of The Church, in Five Books from AD 322
to the Death of Theodore of Mopsuestia, AD 427, a new translation from
the Original Greek Ecclesiastical Historians 5, (London: S. Bagster and
Sons, 1843)
FE 3607-08
325-428
Priskos
5C
[fragments] in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum
Greacorum IV, pp. 69-100
ed. R.C.Blockley, The fragmentary classicising historians of the
later Roman Empire : Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus, and Malchus,
(Liverpool, Great Britain : F. Cairns, c1981-1983), 2 Vols..
and for excerpts see C.D. Gordon, The Age of Attila: Fifth Century
Byzantium and the Barbarians, (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
1960) [Passages from Priskos, Malchos, Olympidoros and John of Antioch
shaped into one narrative]
433-468
Prokopios
d.565
6C
works include
The Wars [written 551, addition to 553]
The Buildings [written 554]
The Secret History [written ?]
edition, Opera Omnia 3 vols., ed. J. Haury, (Leipzig: 1905-13;
rev. G. Wirth, 4 vols. Leipzig: Teubner series, 1962-64)
English translation, Works 7 vols., ed. and trans. H.B. Dewing,
(New York and London: Loeb Classical Library, 1914-35)
English translation, History of the Wars, Secret History and Building,
trans., ed. and abridged Averil Cameron, Great Histories Series, (New York:
1967)
English translation, The Secret History, trans. G.A. Williamson,
(Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1966, 1981)
The Secret History, trans. R. Atwater, (New York: 1927; repr.
With intro by A.E.R. Boark, Ann Arbor, Mi.: 1961)
Justinian's reign to 552
Agathias of Myrina
c.532-c580
6C
Historiarum Libri Quinque
[intended to follow Prokopios]
ed. R. Keysdell, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 2A (Berlin: De
Gruyter, 1967)
partial English trans, Averil Cameron, "Agathias on the Sassanians",
Dumbarton Oaks Papers 23-24 (1969-70), 67-183
trans as The Histories, Joseph D. Frendo, Corpus Fontium Historiae
Byzantinae 2A (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1975)
552-559
Evagrius
c. 536- c.595
6C
Ecclesiastical History
ed J. Bidez and L. Parmentier, (London: 1898, reprinted Amsterdam: 1964)
French trans: A-J. Festugière, in Byzantion 45:2 (1975)
English trans: A history of the church in six books, from A.D.431
to A.D.594. A new translation from the Greek: with an account of the author
and his writings, trans. Edward Wlaford, (London, S. Bagster and sons,
1846, reissued London: H.G. Bohn, 1854)
431-594
John of Epiphaneia
6-7C
[a cousin of Evagrios]
[fragments] in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum
Greacorum IV, pp. 272-76
572-
Theophanes of Byzantium
[fragments]
in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum Greacorum IV, pp. 270-71
and in Photios, Bibliotheca, ed. R. Henry, Vol 2, (Paris: 1959),
pp. 76-79
Menander Protector [the Guardsman]
6C
Historia [survives in fragments]
[intended to follow Agathias of Myrina]
ed. and English trans. The History of Menander the Guardsman,
trans. R.C. Blockley, (Liverpool: Francis Cairns, 1985)
557/8-582
Theophylakt of Simokatta
b.c. 580s - d. p. 641?
7C
History
[intended to follow Menander]
ed. C. de Boor, corr. P. Wirth, (Stuttgart: 1972)
English trans. as The History of Theophylact of Simocatta: An English
Translation with Introduction and Notes, trans. Michael Whitby and
Mary Whitby, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986)
German trans. Geschichte / Theophylaktos Simokates ; ubersetzt und
erlautert, by Peter Schreiner, (Stuttgart : A. Hiersemann, 1985), Bibliothek
der griechischen Literatur Bd. 20
Rumanian trans. Teofilact simocata istorie bizantina : domnia imparatului
mauricius (582-602), by H. Mihaescu, (Bucharest:: Editura Academiei
Republicii Socialiste, 1985), Scriptores Byzantini ; v. 9.
582-602 [reign of Maurice]
Nikephoros, Pat CP 806-815
9C
Historia Syntomos
[intended to follow Theophylakt]
ed. C. de Boor, (Leipzig: 1880)
ed. and English trans, as Short history / Nikephoros, Patriarch of
Constantinople ; text, translation, and commentary, Corpus fontium
historiae Byzantinae ; v. 13. by Cyril Mango, (Washington, D.C :
Dumbarton Oaks, 1990)
602-769
Joseph Genesios
fl. 912-959
10C
Basileiai / Regum Libri Quattuor [written 945-59]
["Official" account of Michael III and Basil I]
ed. C. Lachmon, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1828)
ed. A. Lesmüller-Werner, and H. Thurn, Corpus Fontium Historiae
Byzantinae, Vol. XIV, Series Berolinensis, (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1973)
German trans. Byzanz am Vorabend neuer Grosse : Uberwindung des Bilderstreites
und der innenpolitischen Schwache (813-886) : die vier Bucherder Kaisergeschichte
des Ioseph Genesios ; ubersetzt, eingeleitet und erklart, by Anni Lesmuller-Werner,
(Vienna: Fassbaender, 1989), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol. 18.
2nd iconclast period and to 886
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos, Emperor
905-959.
10C
Historike diegesis tou viou kai ton praxeon Vasileiou
tou aoidimou Vasileos. Book 5.
German trans as. Vom Bauernhof auf den Kaiserthron : Leben des Kaisers
Basileios I., des Begrunders der Makedonischen Dynastie / beschrieben von
seinem Enkel, dem Kaiser Konstantinos VII. Porphyrogennetos ; ubersetzt,
eingeleitet und erklart, by Leopold Breyer. (Graz: Styria, c1981) Byzantinische
Geschichtsschreiber ; Bd. 14.
John Kaminatos
10C
Eis ten alosin tes Thessalonikes / De Expugnatione Thessalonicae
ed., Gertrude Böhlig, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Vol.
IV, Series Berolinensis, (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1973)
ed. and German tr. as Einnahme Thessalonikes durch die Araber im
Jahre 904: ubers., eingeleitet und erklart, by Gertrud Böhlig.
1. (Graz : Verlag Styria, 1975)
Arab sack of 904
Anon
Vita Euthymii patriarchae CP
ed and trans . Patricia Karlin-Hayter, Bibliotheque de Byzantion 3, (Brussels: Éditions de Byzantion, 1970) [Despite its title,
this is an historical account of the reign of Leo VI]
Leo the Deacon
10C
Historia
[modeled on Agathias]
ed., C. B. Hase, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1828)
German trans, Nikephoros Phokas "Der bleiche Tod der Sarazenen" und
Johannes Tzimiskes : die Zeit von 959 bis 976 in der Darstellung des Leon
Diakonos, by Franz Loretto, (Graz : Styria, c1961), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber
Vol 10
English trans. by Alice Mary Talbot, in typescript
959-976
Michael Psellos
1018-c.1080s
Chronographia [only 1 12C ms survived]
[intended to follow Leo the Deacon]
ed. Konstantinos N. Sathas, Bibliotheca greaca medii aevi, vol
4, (Paris: 1874)
The history of Psellus, edited with critical notes and indices
by Constantine Sathas. 1st AMS ed. (New York : AMS Press, 1979), Reprint
of the 1899 ed. of Chronographia, published by Methuen, London
ed. J.B. Bury, (London: 1899)
ed and French trans E. Renauld, 2 vols, (Paris: 1926-18)
English trans. as Fourteen Byzantine Rulers, trans. E.R.A. Sewter,
rev. ed., (New York: Penguin, 1966)
ed. and Italian trans. Imperatori di Bisanzio : (cronografia):
introduzione di Dario Del Corno ; testo critico a cura di Salvatore Impellizzeri
; commento di Ugo Criscuolo; traduzione di Silvia Ronchey. 1a ed., (Milan:
Fondazione L.Valla : A. Mondadori, 1984)
Historia syntomos, recensuit, Anglice vertit et commentario
instruxit W.J. Aerts. Editio princeps, Corpus fontium historiae Byzantinae
; Series Berolinensis, Vol 30., (Berlin; W. de Gruyter, 1990), edition
with English translation
976-1078
Michael Attaliates
11C
Historia
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae 34, (Bonn:
1853)
Partial French trans, chaps 1-32, by Henri Gregoire, Byzantion 28 (1958),. 325-362
Partial English trans. {Bonn pp 93-151), by George T. Dennis, typescript
in Dumbarton Oaks Library
1034-1079
Anna Komnena
1083-c.1150
The Alexiad [only 2 mss survived]
[intended to follow Michael Psellos]
ed. and French trans., B. Lieb, 3 vols., (Paris: 1937-45: rep. 1967)
English trans. E.A. Dawes, (London: 1928)
English trans. E.R.A. Sewter, (New York: Penguin, 1969)
Partial Italian trans. La precrociata di Roberto il Guiscardo; pagine
dall'Alessiade,, by Salvatore Impellizzeri. (Bari: Dedalo, 1965)
see also:
Anonyme Metaphrase zu Anna Komnene, Alexias XI-XIII : ein Beitrag
zur Erschliessung der byzantinischen Umgangssprache, by Herbert Hunger,
(Vienna: Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenchaften, 1981)
Wiener byzantinistische Studien ; Bd. 15.
1069-1118
Nicephoras Bryennios
11-12C
[husband of Anna Komnena]
Materials for a History,
ed. as Comentarii, Augustus Meinecke, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae
Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1836)
ed. as Histoire with French trans. by Paul Gautier, Corpus Fontium
Historiae Byzantinae, Vol. IX, (Brussels: 1975
French trans. by Henri Gregoire, Byzantion 23 (1953), 469-530,
and Byzantion 25-27 (1955-57), 881-925
1057-1080
John Kinnamos
b. after 1143 - d. after 1185, wrote c.1180-1182.
Epitome [Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus] [1 13C
ms survives.]
[intended to follow Anna Komnena]
ed. as Historia, Augustus Meinecke, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae
Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1836)
English trans. Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus, Charles. M.
Brand, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1976)
1118-1176
Eustathios of Thessalonica, dc. 1194
12C
The Capture of Thessalonica
ed as La espugnazione di Tessalonica, by S. Kyriakades, with
an Italian translation by V. Rotolo, (Palermo: 1961)
English trans by John Melville-Jones, Byzantina Australiensia 8, (Canberra:
Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, 1988)
German translation Die Normannen in Thessalonike; die Eroberung von
Thessalonike durch die Normannen, 1185 n. Chr., in der Augenzeugenschilderung
des Bischofs Eustathios. Ubers., eingeleitet und erklart, by Herbert
Hunger, (Graz, Verlag Styria, 1955) Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol
3
1185
Niketas Choniates
b. c. 1155-1215/16
Annals,
ed. as Historia, Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae
Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1835)
ed. Jan-Louis Van Dieten, (Nicetae Choniatae), Corpus Fontium Historiae
Byzantinae, Series Berolinensis, Vols. XI/1 and XI/2, (Berlin: De Gruyter,
1975).
English translation, O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniates,
trans. Harry J. Magoulias, (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1984)
German trans. as
-----Die Krone der Komnenen : die Regierungszeit der Kaiser Joannes
und Manuel Komnenos (1118-1180) / aus dem Geschichtswerk des Niketas Choniates.
Ubers., eingeleitet und erklart, by Franz Grabler. (Graz : Styria,
1958) Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 7.
-----Abenteurer auf dem Kaiserthron : die Regierungszeit der Kaiser
Alexios II., Andronikos und Isaak Angelos (1180-1195) aus dem Geschichtswerk
des Niketas Choniates / ubers., eingeleitet und erklart, by Franz Grabler.
(Graz : Verlag Styria, 1958) Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 8
-----Die Kreuzfahrer erobern Konstantinopel; die Regierungszeit der
Kaiser Alexios Angelos, Isaak Angelos und Alexios Dukas, die Schicksale
der Stadt nach der Einnahme sowie das "Buch von den Bildsaulen" (1195-1206)
aus.., , by Franz Grabler. (Graz : Verlag Styria, 1958) Byzantinische
Geschichtsschreiber Vol 9
1118-1207
George Akropolites
1217-1282
Chonike Sungraphe
critical ed. as Opera, by A. Heisenberg, (Leipzig: 1903)
German trans. Die Chronik / Georgios Akropolites ; ubersetzt und
erlautert, von Wilhelm Blum, (Stuttgart : A. Hiersemann, 1989), Bibliothek
der griechischen Literatur ; Bd. 28.
English trans by R.M. Magdalino in typescript [where?]
1203-1261
George Pachymeres
1242- c. 1310
14C
De Michaele et Andronico Paleologus
[continues Akropolites]
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn:
1835)
ed. as Relationes historicas, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae,
Series Berolinensis, Vol. XXII, ed. Albert Failler with French translation
by Vitalien Laurent, (Paris: Less Belles Lettres, 1984)
1255-1308
Nikephoras Gregoras
1295-1359
14C
Romaike Historia [in 37 books]
ed. as Historia Byzantina, Ludwig Schopen and Immanuel Bekker,
Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, 3 vols. (Bonn: Weber, 1829-30)
German trans. Rhomaische Geschichte = Historia Rhomaike [von] Nikephoros
Gregoras. Ubers. und erlautert, by Jan Louis van Dieten, (Stuttgart,
A. Hiersemann, 1973-<1994 >), Bibliothek der griechischen Literatur.
Abteilung Byzantinistik Bd. 15, 24, 39.
English trans of Plague description in Bartsocas, C.S., "Two 14th Century
Greek Descriptions of the `Black Death'", Journal of the History of
Medicine 21:4 (1966), pp. 395ff.
1204-1359
John Kantakuzenos
1292-1383
14C
Historiarum
ed. Ludwig Schopen, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, 3.vols.
(Bonn: Weber, 1828-32)
ed. Opera / Johannis Cantacuzeni ; nunc primum editae curantibus,
Edmond Voordeckers and Franz Tinnefeld. (Turnhout : Brepols ; Leuven :
University Press, 1987-): Corpus Christianorum. Series Graeca ; 16
English partial trans. by R. Trone History I: 1-19 (Ph.D Dissertation,
Catholic University of America, 1979) [==Bonn I, 1-98]
English partial trans. by Timothy S. Miller as The History of John
Cantacuzenus, Book IV, Text, Translation and Commentary (Ph.D Dissertation,
Catholic University of America, 1975; Ann Arbor, Mi.: University Microfilms,
75-19,517) [==Bonn III, 8-107]
English trans of Plague description in Bartsocas, C.S., "Two 14th Century
Greek Descriptions of the `Black Death'", Journal of the History of Medicine
21:4 (1966), pp. 395ff
German trans. Geschichte, Johannes Kantakuzenos ubersetzt und erlautert,
by Georgios Fatouros und Tilman Krischer., (Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1982-<1986
>), Bibliothek der griechischen Literatur ; Bd. 17, etc.
1320-1357
Symeon, Abp. of Thessalonike
15C.
Politico-historical works of Symeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica,
(1416/17 to 1429), critical Greek text with introd. and commentary
/ by David Balfour, (Vienna:: Verl. d. Osterr. Akad. d. Wiss., 1979), Wiener
byzantinistische Studien ; Bd. 13.
Leontios Makhairos
15C
Recital Concerning the Sweet Land of Cyprus
ed. and trans. R. M. Dawkins, 2 vols. (Oxford: 1932)
esp. 1359-1432
John Kanonas
15C
Chronikon
ed. with Sphrantzes by Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae
Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1838), pp. 457-78
German trans. Europa im XV. Jahrhundert von Byzantinern gesehen,
(Graz: Styria 1954) Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 2.
Contents: - Die Nordlandreise des Laskaris Kananos (alles eingeleitet
und erklart von Franz Gabler)
Murad II's 1422 attack on Constantinople
John Anagostes
15C
ed. with Sphrantzes by Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium
Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1838), pp. 457-78
Capture of Thessalonica 1430
Laonikos Chalkokondyles
15C
Historiarum demonstrationes [written in 1480s]
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn:
1843)
ed. E. Darkó, 2 vols., (Budapest: 1922-27)
German trans. in Europa im XV. Jahrhundert von Byzantinern gesehen,
(Graz: Styria 1954) Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 2.
Contents: Aus dem Geschichtswerk des Laonikos Chaikokondyles -- Die
Nordlandreise des Laskaris Kananos -- Zwei Briefe des Manuel Chrysoloras,
je ubers. (alles eingeleitet und erklart von Franz Gabler)
Adam to Ottom beginnings in 1299, then 1298-1463
in detail
Doukas
15C
Historia Turco-Byzantina [written in vernacular]
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn:
1834)
critical ed. Vasile Grecu, (Bucharest: 1958)
English trans. as Decline and Fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman Turks,
by Harry J. Magoulias, (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1975)
1341-1462
George Sphrantzes,
b. 1401
15C
Chronicon Maius [attrib to Sphrantzes]
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn:
1838)
Partial German trans as, Die letzten Tage von Konstantinopel : der
auf den Fall Konstantinopels 1453 bezugliche Teil des dem Georgios Sphrantzes
zugeschriebenen "Chronicon Maius", ubers., eingeleitet und erklart,
by Endre von Ivanka, (Graz : Verlag Styria, 1954, repr. 1965), Byzantinische
Geschichtsschreiber Vol 1. [Translation of part of the Melissenos version
of the Chronikon.]
Chronicon Minus
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptorium Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn:
1838)
critical ed. J. B. Papadopoulos, (Leipzig: Teubner, 1935)
ed. and Italian trans. Cronaca, ed. Giorgio Sfranze ; a cura
di Riccardo Maisano. Corpus fontium historiae Byzantinae. Series Italica.,
Vol 29 (Roma : Accademia nazionale dei Lincei, 1990)
English trans. as The Fall of the Byzantine Empire, by Marios
Philippides, (Amherst MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1980) [This
edition includes a short except on the fall of Constantinople by Michael
Melissenos. ]
1413-1477
Michael Kritovoulos (Critoboulus)
15C
Vios tou Moameth II / De rebus gestibus Mahumetis II
ed. C. Müller in Fragmentum historicum greacorum, (Paris:
1883), V:52-164
critical ed. V. Grecu, (Bucharet: 1963)
ed. Critobuli Imbriotae historiaem by Diether Roderich Reinsch,
Corpus fontium historiae Byzantinae ; v. 22. (Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 1983)
English trans as History of Mehmed the Conqueror, trans. Charles
T. Rigg, (Princeton: Princeton UP, 1954)
German trans. Mehmet II. Erobert Konstantinopel : die ersten Regierungsjahre
des Sultans Mehmet Fatih, des Eroberers von Konstantinopel 1453 : das Geschichtswerk
des Kritobulos von Imbros; ubersetzt, eingeleitet und erklart, by Diether
Roderich, (Graz : Styria, c1986), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber ; Bd.
17.
1451-1467
Sylvester Syropoulos
15C
Les "Memoires" du Grand Ecclesiarche de l'Eglise de
Constantinople Sylvestre Syropoulos sur le concile de Florence (1438-39),
ed. & trans. V. Laurent, Concilium Florentium: Documenta et Scriptores,
Series B, 9, (Rome: 1971)
1438-39
Anon
16C
Ekthesis chronike synometera syntethesia en haploteti
lexeon
ed. Konstantinos N. Sathas, Bibliotheca greaca medii aevi, vol
7, (Paris: 1894)
Text and English trans. as Emperors, Patriarchs and Sultans of Constantinople,
by Marios Philippides, (Brookline MA: Hellenic College Press, 1990)
1391-1543
Anon
17C
Chronikon peri ton Tourkon soultanon.
English trans. Byzantium, Europe, and the early Ottoman sultans,
1373-1513 : an anonymous Greek chronicle of the seventeenth century (Codex
Barberinus Graecus 111), translated and annotated by Marios Philippides,
(New Rochelle, N.Y. : A.D. Caratzas, c1990), Late Byzantine & Ottoman
studies 4.
1373-1513
TABLE II: Byzantine
Chroniclers
Author
Work
Period Covered
Eusebius of Caesarea
written late 3C
Chronicle
[First full scale Christian chronicle]
Adam - late 3rc century.
John Malalas [aka John the Rhetor, or
John of Antioch?]
b.c. 490- d.c. 570
Chronographia
ed, L. Dindorf, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1831)
ed. John Thurn, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Vol. ?, Series
Berolinensis, (Berlin: De Gruyter, ?) announced
English trans. The Chronicle of John Malalas, trans. Elizabeth
Jeffreys, Michael Jeffreys, Roger Scott, et al, Byzantine Australiensia
4, (Melbourne: Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, 1986)
English trans from Church Slavonic version, Chronicle of John Malalas:
Books 8-18, trans., M. Spinka in collaboration with Glanville Downey,
(ChicagoL University of Chicago Press, 1940)
and for excerpts see C.D. Gordon, The Age of Attila: Fifth Century
Byzantium and the Barbarians, (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
1960) [Passages from Priskos, Malchos, Olympidoros and John of Antioch
shaped into one narrative]
Adam - 563
Anon
7C
Chronicon Paschale
[intended to extend Malalas]
ed. L. Dindorf, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1832)
Partial English trans. Chronicon Paschale 284-628 AD / translated
with notes and introduction by Michael Whitby and Mary Whitby, (Liverpool
: Liverpool University Press, c 1989), Translated texts for historians
7.
Adam - 628
John of Nikiou
7C
Chronicle
[orginally written in Greek, survives in a mutilated Ethiopic translation
of an Arab translation]
English trans. by R.H. Charles, The Chronicle of John, Bishop of
Nikiou, Text and Translation Society, (London and Oxford: Williams
and Norgate, 1916)
Adam - Arab Conquest of Egypt
George the Synkellos
d.810/811
edition?
Theophanes the Confessor
c752-c818
9C
Chronographia
[intended to continue George the Synkellos]
ed. C. de Boor, 2 vols., Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Leipzig:
1883-85; repr. Hildesheim: 1963)
English trans., The Chronicle of Theophanes : An English Translation
of anni mundi 6095-6305 (A.D. 602-813), trans Harry Turtledove, (Philadelphia
: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982).
German trans of 717-813 AD as Bilderstreit und Arabersturm in Byzanz
: das 8. Jahrhundert (717-813) aus der Weltchronik des Theophanes / ubers.,
eingeleitet und erklart, by Leopold Breyer, (Graz: Verlag Styria, 1964,
c1957.), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 6.
English trans R. Scott and Cyril Mango, in typescript? - Signalled in
Albu, "Annotated Guide".
English trans of "Conversation Between Justinian and the Green Party
in the Hippodorme" in J.B. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire from
the Death of Theodosius I, to the Death of Justinian (AD 395 to AD 565),
(London: Macmillan, 1923), II, 71-74
Also trans in Alan Cameron, Circus Factions: Blues and Greens at
Rome and Byzantium, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976), 318-333
284-813, essential for 602-813
(Pseudo-) Symeon magister
date?
Annales
ed. I. Bekker, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Berlin:
1838)
Theophanes Continuatus
10C
Chronographia
[Book 5 written by Constantine VII Porphygenitos]
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Berlin:
1838)
813-963
Nikephoros, Pat CP 806-815
9C
Chronographia
ed.?
Adam - 829
George Monachos
9C
Chronicle [written 842-67]
ed. C. de Boor, (Leipzig: 1905)
Adam to 842
Symeon the Logothete
10C
Chronicle survives in several versions known as:
The Chronicle of Theodosios Melitenos [ed. T. Tafel, (Munich: 1859)]; George
Monachos Continuatos; and the Chronicle of Leo Grammatikos, [ed., Immanuel
Bekker, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, (Bonn: 1842); also
Migne PG: 108:1037-1164]
English trans from Old Church Slavic text, Walter K. Hanak, The Chronicle
of Symeon Logothetes, publication planned [Signalled by Albu, "Annotated
Sources"]
Adam to 948 [some versions go to 11C]
John Skylitzes
fl. 1081
11C
Synopsis Historiarum
ed. Hans Thurn, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Vol. V, Series
Berolinensis, (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1978)
German trans. as Byzanz, wieder ein Weltreich : das Zeitalter der
makedonischen Dynastie / nach dem Geschichtswerk des Johannes Skylitzes;
ubersetzt, eingeleitet und erklart, by Hans Thurn. (Graz: Verlag Styria,
c1983-), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 15.
811 -1057
Skylitzes Continuatos
Ioannis Scylizes Continuatus
ed. E.T. Tsolakes, (Thessalonica: 1968)
1057-1079
George Kedrenos
11C
Historiarum Compendium
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae 35-36, 2
vols, (Berlin: 1838-39)
-1057
John Zonaras
12C
Epitome historiarum
ed. M. Pindar and M. Büttner-Wobst, 3 vols, Corpus Scriptores Historiae
Byzantinae, (Berlin: 1841-97)
ed. L. Dindorf, 6 vols., (Leipzig, 1868-75)
Partial English trans, by Michael DiMaio, Jr. Zonaras' Account of the
Neo-Flavian Emperors: A Commentary, (Ph.D diss., University of
Missouri-Columbia, 1977; Diss Abs Accession No: AAG7814112) [DiMaio
has more in typescript]
Partial German trans. Militars und Hoflinge im Ringen um das Kaisertum
: Byzantinische Geschichte 969 bis 1118 Nach der Chronik des Johannes Zonaras
; ubersetzt, eingeleitet und erklart, by Erich Trapp. (Graz : Verlag
Styria, c1986), Byzantinische Geschichtsschreiber Vol 16.
Adam - 1118
Constantine Manassas
12C
Chronicle
ed. as Breviarum historiae metricum, ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus
Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Berlin: 1837)
Adam - 1081
Michael Glykas
12C
Annals
ed. Immanuel Bekker, Corpus Scriptores Historiae Byzantinae, (Berlin:
1836)
Adam - 1118
Joel
13C
Chronicle
edition?
Adam - 1204
Theodore Skutariotes
13C
Chronicle
[often known as Synopis Sathas]
ed. Konstantinos N. Sathas, Bibliotheca greaca medii aevi, vol
7, (Paris: 1894), 1-556
Adam - 1261
Anon
13C
Chronicle of Morea [exists in various languages]
Greek version, ed., J.Schmitt, as The Chronicle of the Morea,
(London: 1904)
English trans. H.E. Lurier, Crusaders as Conquerors: The Chronicle
of Morea, (New York: Columbia UP, 1964)
First Crusade, then 1202-1292
Michael Panaretos
15C
Chronicle
critical ed. O. Lampsides, (Athens: 1958)
3-15 C in Trebizond
Anon
Short Chronicles
ed. as Brachea Chronika, by S.P. Lampros & K, Amantos (Athens:
Akademia Athenon Mnemeia tes Ellenikes Istorias, A, 1932-1933) No. 27 (also
in 1834 Bonn edition of Ducas, op. cit., ed. I Bekker, pp. 515-5270
ed. Peter Schreiner, as, Die byzantinischen Kleinchronikon, I
Introduction and Text, II Historical Commentary, Corpus Fontium
Historiae Byzantinae XII:1 & 2, (Vienna: 1975, 1977)
Anon
14C
Charanis, Peter, "An Important Short Chronicle of the Fourteenth
Century", Byzantion 13 (1938), pp. 335-362
Anon
14-15C
Dennis, G.T., trans., "The Short Chronicle of Lesbos 1355-1428", Lesbiaca 5 (1966), pp. 123-144
1355-1428
Anon
15C
Loernertz, R-J, ed. and trans., "La Chronique breve mereote
de 1423", Melanges Eugene Tisserunt II, Studi e Testi 232,
(Vatican: 1964), pp. 399-439, text 403-409
[A collation of Brachea Chronika Nos. 19 & 27 with a previously
unpublished text.]
1423
Ephraim Ainios
date?
Ephraem Aenii Historia chronica, ed. Odysseus Lampsides,
Corpus fontium historiae Byzantinae ; Series Atheniensis, V. 27, (Athens:
Academiae Atheniensis, 1990)
Anonymous
date?
Cronaca dei Tocco di Cefalonia; prolegomeni, testo critico
e traduzione, by Giuseppe Schiro, Corpus fontium historiae Byzantinae
; v. 10. (Rome: Accademia nazionale dei Lincei, 1975)
Anonymous
date?
Chronikon peri ktiseos Monembasias.
Ed. and Ital. trans. Cronaca di Monemvasia ; introduzione, testo
critico e note, by Ivan Duicev, (Palermo : Istituto siciliano di studi
bizantini e neoellenici, 1976)
TABLE III:
The Greek Tradition
Historian
Work [Usual English Form]
Subject
Homer
8C?
The Illiad
[Not exactly a history but the an important contributor to the later
Greek historiographical tradition]
Mythical Trojan war
Hekataeos of Miletos
c 500 BCE
Periegesis or Guide [fragments survive]
Histories or Geneaologies
guide to a map of the world
Herodotos
c.490-c.425 BCE
The Histories [in 9 books]
ed. W.W. How and J. Wells, (Oxford: 1912)
ed. and English translation, A.D. Godley, Loeb Classical Library, 4
Vols, (London and New York: 19 )
English translation
Mid-6th Cent - 478 BCE, with many historical
digressions [e.g. Book 2 on history of Egypt]
Thukydides
c.460-c.399 BCE
History of the Peloponnesian War [in 8 books]
ed., (Oxford: 19)
ed. and English translation, 4 Vols., C.F. Smith, Loeb Classical Library,
(London and New York: 19 )
English translation
479-411 BCE
Wars of Greek City States
Theopompos and Kratippos
4C BCE
continued Thukydides [now lost]
Xenophon
c428-c.352 BCE
Anabasis or The Persian Expedition
ed. and English translation, C.L. Brownson, Loeb Classical Library,
(London and New York: 19 )
English trans, Rex Warner, (New York: Penguin, 1949, new ed. 1972)
The Hellenica
[continues Thukydides]
ed. and English translation, C.L. Brownson, Loeb Classical Library,
(London and New York: 19 )
English trans. as A History of My Times, by , (New York: Penguin,
19 )
401-399 BCE
Greek mercenaries for Persia
411-362 BCE
Ephoros of Cyme
b.c. 405
Universal History [in 30 books, all now lost, but
used in books 11-16 of Diodoros Sikulos]]
1100-341 BCE
history of cities of Greece and Asia Minor
Aristotle
384-322 BCE
The Athenian Constitution [part of a collected study
of the constitutions of 158 Greek cities by A's students. Only this survives,
recovered from an Egyptian papyrus in 1890]
ed. and English translation, H. Rackham, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English trans.
Hieronymous of Cardia
3rd Cent BCE
History [Lost, but used by Diodoros Sikulos, Arrian,
and Plutarch]
323-272 (poss 263) BCE
After death of Alexander
Manetho of Heiropolis
3rc Cent BCE
History of Egypt [survives in fragments]
ed. and English translation, W.G. Wadell, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
Egyptian origins to 323 BCE
Polybios
c.200-c.118 BCE
Universal History [in 40 books, 5 survive complete
plus substantial parts of others.]
ed. and English translation, W.R. Paton, Loeb Classical Library, 6 Vols,
(London and New York: 19 )
Partial English trans, Ian Scott-Kilvert, (New York: Penguin, 1979)
220-146 BCE, but esp after 200
Rise of Roman Empire
Appian
c. 160 CE
Roman History [24 books, 9 survive]
ed. and English translation, Horace White, Loeb Classical Library, 4
Vols, (London and New York: 19 )
German trans. Romische Geschichte / Appian von Alexandria ; ubersetzt
von Otto Veh ; durchgesehen, eingeleitet und erlautert von Kai Brodersen,
(Stuttgart : A. Hiersemann, 1987-1989), Bibliothek der griechischen Literatur
Bd. 23, 27.
earliest times to Vespasian, most valuable for
146-70BCE
Diodoros Sikulos
1st Cent BCE
Biblitheke historia or World History [written
bet 60 and 30 BCE] [Survives in part - a complet copy perished during capture
of CP in 1453]
ed.
ed. and English translation, C.H. Oldfather, C.L. Sherman, C.B. Welles,
Russel M. Geer, F.R. Walton, Loeb Classical Library, 12 Vols, (London and
New York: 19 )
German trans. Griechische Weltgeschichte : Buch I-X / Diodoros ;
ubersetzt von Gerhard Wirth (Buch I-III) und Otto Veh (Buch IV-X);
eingeleitet und kommentiert von Thomas Nothers, 2 vols. (Stuttgart : A.
Hiersemann, 1992-1993). Bibliothek der griechischen Literatur Bd. 34-35.
earliest times to 54BCE
Dionysios of Halikarnassos
1st Cent BCE
Romaike Archiologia or Roman Antiquities [Books 1-9, and parts of 11 and 12 survive. It went up to where Polybios
began]
ed. and English translation, trans Spelman, rev. E. Cary, Loeb Classical
Library, 7 Vols, (London and New York: 19 )
Mythical times to 264 BCE , although only survives
to 441 BCE
Josephus Flavius
37-d.p.93 CE
The Jewish War [originally in Aramaic]
Antiquities of the Jews
ed. of Works with English translation, S. St.-J. Thackery, Ralph
Marcus, Allen Wikgren, and L.H. Feldman, Loeb Classical Library, 9 Vols,
(London and New York: 19 )
English trans. The Jewish War, by G.A. Williamson, rev.ed., (New
York: Penguin, 1970)
c.170BCE-66CE
Adam to 66 CE
Plutarch
46-120 CE
Parallel Lives [23 pairs of lives, and 4 single
lives]
ed.
ed. and English translation, B. Perrin, Loeb Classical Library, 11 Vols,
(London and New York: 19 )
English trans, John Dryden, in multiple editions.
Figures from Greek and Roman history
Arrian
b. 85/80 CE
Anabasis or Campaigns of Alexander the Great [in 7 books with a 8th descriving India]
ed. and English translation, P. Brunt and E. Iliffe Robson, Loeb Classical
Library, 2 Vols, (London and New York: 19 ) [based on a bad text - see
comments in Penguin edition.]
English trans, Aubrey de Sélincourt, rev. J.R. Hamilton, (New
York: Penguin, 1971)
Events After Alexander [in 10 books, only first 2 years survive.]
ed. and English translation, E. Cary, Loeb Classical Library, 9 Vols,
(London and New York: 1914-1927)
Partial English trans [books 50-56, 32BC-14CE], Ian Scott-Kilvert, (New
York: Penguin, 1987)
727BCE-3rd Cent CE
Portions 64BCE-46CE survive
Foundation of Rome to 3rd century CE
Herodion of Syria
fl. c. 230CE
History of the Empire From the Time of Marcus [in
8 books]
ed. and English translation, C.R. Whittaker, Loeb Classical Library,
2 Vols, (London and New York: 1914-1927)
180-238 CE
Death of Marcus Aurelius to accession of Gordian III
TABLE IV: The
Latin Tradition
Historian
Work
Subject
Fabius Pictor
2nd Cent BCE
[wrote in Greek, survives in fragments]
Foundation to 2nd Cent BCE
Cato
wrote btw 168 and 149 BCE
Origines [fragments]
Cassius Hemina
Annals
Calpurnius Piso
Annals
Sallust
86-c.35 BCE
The Jurgathine War
Conspiracy of Catiline
ed. and English translation, J.C. Rolfe, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English trans. (New York: Penguin, 19)
63 BCE
Cicero
Opera
Livy
59-BC-17CE
History of Rome [142 books, of which 35 survive]
ed. and English translation, B.O> Foster, F.G. Moore, Evan T. Sage,
A.C. Schelsinger and R.M. Geer, Loeb Classical Library, 14 Vols, (London
and New York: 19 )
English translation - various long sections in Penguin volumes trans,
Aubrey de Sélincourt
Foundation of Rome to 9BCE
Julius Caesar
c.100-44BCE
Gallic Wars or The Conquest of Gaul [8 books,
only first 7 by Caesar, 8th by Aulus Hirtius]
ed. and English translation, H.J. Edwards, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English trans. S. A. Hanford, rev. Jame Gardner, (New York: Penguin,
1982)
The Civil War
ed. and English translation, A.G. Peskett, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English trans. (New York: Penguin, 19 )
58-52 BCE
Quintus Curtius Rufus
1st Cent CE
History of Alexander the Great [in ten books, first
2 are lost]
English trans, (Baltimore: Penguin, 19 )
334-323 BCE
Tacitus
c 55-c.117 CE
Annals
English trans. Michael Grant, (Baltimore: Penguin, 1956)
The Histories
ed. Histories and Annals with English translation, C.H.
Moore and J. Jackson, Loeb Classical Library, 4 Vols, (London and New York:
19 )
The Germania
ed. and English translation, M. Hutton, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English translation
14-68 CE
68-96 CE
Suetonius
c.69-c.140 CE
Lives, or The Twelve Caesars
ed. and English translation, J.C. Rolfe, Loeb Classical Library, (London
and New York: 19 )
English trans. Robert Graves, (Baltimore: Penguin, 1957)
100BCE-96 CE
Julius Caesar to Domitian
Eutropius
4C.
Breviarum ab urbe condita.
English trans: The breviarum ab urbe condita of Eutropius : the right
honourable secretary of state for general petitions : dedicated to Lord
Valens, Gothicus Maximus & perpetual emperor, translated with an
introduction and commentary by H.W. Bird., (Liverpool : Liverpool University
Press, 1993)
Ammianus Marcellinus
b.c 330 CE
Greek, but writes in Latin
Res Gestae
[intended as a continuation of Tacitus -only books 14-31 survive in
a single 9th centuty copy]
English trans. as The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus, During
the Reigns of Emperor's Constantius, Julian, Jovianus, Valentinianm and
Valens, trans C.D. Young, Bohn's Classical Library, (London H.G. Bohn:
1862, repr. 1887, 1894)
ed. and English translation, J.C. Rolfe, Loeb Classical Library, 3 Vols,
(London and New York: 1935-39)
Partial English trans, Walter Hamilton, (New York: Penguin, 1986)
353-378 CE
Anon
4C
Augustan History
English trans. The lives of the Roman emperors from Domitian where
Suetonius ends, to Constantine the Great : containing those of Nerva and
Trajan from dion Cassius: a translation of the six writers of the Augustean
history,... John Bernard, (London : Printed for Charles Harper, 1698)
Partial English trans. as Lives of the Later Caesars, by Anthony
Birley, (Baltimore: Penguin, 1976) [also includes lives of Nerva and Trajan,
96-117CE]
117-260 CE
Marcellinus, comes, fl. 500-534.
6C
Latin and English. The Chronicle of Marcellinus : a
translation and commentary : (with a reproduction of Mommsen's edition
of the text), Brian Croke, (Sydney: Australian Association for Byzantine
Studies, 1995), Byzantina Australiensia 7.
Useful Bibliographical Resources
Albu, Emily, "An Annotated Bibliography of Byzantine Sources in English
Translation", Byzantine Stuides/Etudes Byzantines 9:1 (1982), 68-87
Bak, Janos M., Medieval Narrative Sources: A chronological guide,
(New York: Garland, 1987).
Farrar, Clarissa P. and Austin P. Evans, Bibliography of English
Translations from Medieval Sources, (New York: Columbia University
Press, 1946)
Ferguson, Mary Ann Heyward, Bibliography of English Translations
from Medieval Sources, 1943-1967, (New York: Columbia University Press,
1967).
