Byzantine Chronicles and the Sixth Century

Description

Byzantine chronicles have traditionally been regarded as a somewhat inferior form of Byzantine history writing, especially in comparison with 'classicizing' historians. The aim of these papers is both to rescue the reputation of the Byzantine chroniclers, especially Malalas and Theophanes, and to provide examples of how such chroniclers can be exploited not only to reveal aspects of the past itself, but also of how the Byzantines interpreted their own past, including on occasions rewriting that past to suit contemporary needs. By considering more general aspects of the place of history-writing in Byzantine culture, the papers also explain why history remained such an important aspect of Byzantine culture. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Abbreviations Bibliography Acknowledgements A. Historiography, Chronicles and the Sixth Century I Byzantine chronicles II Byzantium in the sixth century and the beginning of Byzantine history writing III The classical tradition in Byzantine historiography IV Text and context in Byzantine historiography V Towards a new history of Byzantine literature: the case of historiography VI Chronicles versus classicizing history: Justinian's West and East B. Malalas, Theophanes and the Sixth Century VII Malalas and his contemporaries VIII Malalas and Justinian's codification IX Malalas, The Secret History and Justinian's propaganda X John Lydus on some procedural changes XI Diplomacy in the sixth century: the evidence of John Malalas XII 'The events of every year, arranged without confusion': Justinian and others in the chronicle of Theophanes Confessor XIII Writing the reign of Justinian: Malalas versus Theophanes C. Malalas, Theophanes and Their Byzantine Past XIV Malalas' view of the classical past XV The image of Constantine in Malalas and Theophanes XVI From propaganda to history to literature: the Byzantine stories of Theodosius' apple and Marcian's eagles D. Reinterpreting the Fifth and Sixth Centuries XVII Narrating Justinian: from Malalas to Manasses XVIII Interpreting the late fifth and early sixth centuries from Byzantine chronicle trivia XIX Justinian's newage and the Second Coming Index