According to Wikipedia: "Procopius of Caesarea (Latin: Procopius Caesarensis, c. AD 500 c. AD 565) was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History. He is commonly held to be the last major historian of the ancient world."

Books I and II of Procopius' History of the Wars recount Justinian's eastern campaigns against Sasanian Persia, from the reign of Anastasius through the uneasy "Eternal Peace" of 532. Combining military narrative, ethnographic observation, diplomatic analysis, and set-piece speeches in the classical historiographical manner, Procopius writes under the shadow of Thucydides and Herodotus while preserving the immediacy of an eyewitness close to command. His prose is lucid, severe, and often i...

"Of the Buildings of Justinian" is a significant work by Procopius, a prominent historian of the Byzantine Empire. In this text, Procopius meticulously details the architectural achievements of Emperor Justinian I, highlighting the grandeur and innovation of structures such as the Hagia Sophia and various fortifications. His descriptions not only celebrate the aesthetic qualities of these buildings but also reflect the political and cultural ambitions of Justinian's reign. Procopius's insi...

"History of the Wars, Books I and II: The Persian War" by Procopius is a significant historical text that provides a detailed account of the conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and the Persian Empire. Procopius, a prominent historian of the 6th century, offers insights into military strategies, political dynamics, and the cultural context of the time. His narrative is not only a military chronicle but also a reflection of the societal values and challenges faced by the Byzantine Empire ...

Procopius is known to posterity as the historian of the eventful reign of Justinian (527-565 A.D.), and the chronicler of the great deeds of the general Belisarius. He was born late in the fifth century in the city of Caesarea in Palestine. As to his education and early years we are not informed, but we know that he studied to fit himself for the legal profession. He came as a young man to Constantinople, and seems to have made his mark immediately. For as early as the year 527 he was appo...

History of three wars from the reign of Justinian, Byzantine emperor -- The Persian War, The Vandalic War, and The Gothic War. According to Wikipedia: "Procopius of Caesarea (Latin: Procopius Caesarensis, c. AD 500 c. AD 565) was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret Hist...

A trusted member of the Byzantine establishment, Procopius was the Empire's official chronicler, and his History of the Wars of Justinian proclaimed the strength and wisdom of the Emperor's reign. Yet all the while the dutiful scribe was working on a very different - and dangerous - history to be published only once its author was safely in his grave. The Secret History portrays the 'great lawgiver' Justinian as a rampant king of corruption and tyranny, the Empress Theodora as a sorceress ...

New Large Print Edition, comfortable and easily readable format."The Secret History" by Procopius, as translated by Richard Atwater, immerses readers in the Byzantine Empire's clandestine intrigues, unveiling the political landscape during the 6th century under the rule of Emperor Justinian I (527-565 AD). Against the backdrop of ambitious military endeavors, grand construction projects, and theological controversies, Procopius, an advisor to General Belisarius, pr...

"History of the Wars, Books III and IV: The Vandalic War" by Procopius is a significant historical text that chronicles the conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa. Procopius, a prominent historian of the 6th century, provides a detailed account of the military campaigns led by General Belisarius against the Vandals. His narrative not only highlights the strategic maneuvers and battles but also offers insights into the political and social dynamics of ...

The Secret History, or Anecdota, is Procopius' startling counter-narrative to his official histories of Justinian's reign. Written in a vehement, often satirical prose, it abandons imperial decorum for denunciation, portraying Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius, and Antonina as morally corrupt agents of tyranny and ruin. As a Byzantine work of invective, it belongs to the classical tradition of hidden testimony and political scandal, yet its intensity also makes it a crucial document of sixth...

Such, then, were the fortunes of the Romans in Libya. I shall now proceed to the Gothic War, first telling all that befell the Goths and Italians before this war. During the reign of Zeno Byzantium the power in the West was held by Augustus, whom the Romans used to call by the diminutive name Augustulus because he took over the empire while still a lad, his father Orestes, a man of the greatest discretion, administering it as regent for him. Now it happened that the Romans a short time bef...

Procopius, from Palaestina Prima, or modern-day Israel, is an important firsthand source for the history of the 6th century, especially concerning the Emperor Justinian. Procopius was an incredibly learned man, having received a classical education, possibly from the famed School of Gaza. He would become a legal adviser for Belisarius, Justinian's chief military commander and accompany him to the war front, an experience he would document in his "Wars of Justinian". The ancient scholar's m...