John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811-1057: Translation and Notes

Description

John Skylitzes' extraordinary Middle Byzantine chronicle covers the reigns of the Byzantine emperors from the death of Nicephorus I in 811 to the deposition of Michael VI in 1057, and provides the only surviving continuous narrative of the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. A high official living in the late eleventh century, Skylitzes used a number of existing Greek histories (some of them no longer extant) to create a digest of the previous three centuries. It is without question the major historical source for the period, cited constantly in modern scholarship, and has never before been available in English. This edition features introductions by Jean-Claude Cheynet and Bernard Flusin, along with extensive notes. It will be an essential and exciting addition to the libraries of all historians of the Byzantine age. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents The English translator’s Preface Introduction: John Skylitzes, the author and his family Re-writing history: John Skylitzes’ Synopsis historion The Prologue (prooimion) The sources The historical narrative The text and its history On the translation A SYNOPSIS OF HISTORIES BEGINNING WITH THE DEATH OF THE EMPEROR NIKEPHOROS, THE EX-MINISTER OF FINANCE AND EXTENDING TO THE REIGN OF ISAAC KOMNENOS, COMPOSED BY JOHN SKYLITZES, THE KOUROPALATES WHO SERVED AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE WATCH Foreword Chapter 1 Michael I Rangabe, the Kouropalates [811–813] Chapter 2 Leo V the Armenian [813–820] Chapter 3 Michael II the Stammerer [820–829] Chapter 4 Theophilos [829–842] Chapter 5 Michael III, the son of Theophilos [842–867], and his mother Theodora [842–862] Chapter 6 Basil I Kephalas, the Macedonian [867–886] Chapter 7 Leo VI the Philosopher (the Wise) [886–912] Chapter 8 Alexander [912–913] Chapter 9 Constantine VII, Porphyrogennetos [913–959] Chapter 10 Romanos I Lekapenos [919–944] Chapter 11 Constantine VII [944–959] Chapter 12 Romanos II the Younger [959–963] Chapter 13 Basil II Bulgaroktonos and Constantine VIII [976–1025] Chapter 14 Nikephoros II Phokas [963–969] Chapter 15 John I Tzimiskes [969–976] Chapter 16 Basil II and Constantine VIII bis [976–1025] Chapter 17 Constantine VIII [1025–1028] Chapter 18 Romanos III Argyros [1028–1034] Chapter 19 Michael IV the Paphlagonian [1034–1041] Chapter 20 Michael V Kalaphates [1041–1042] Chapter 21 Constantine IX Monomachos [1042–1055] Chapter 22 Theodora [1055–1056] Chapter 23 Michael VI the Elder/Stratiotikos [1056–1057] Glossary Bibliography Abbreviations Primary and secondary sources Index