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

"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"--Provided by publisher. Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 The English translator’s Preface 9 Introduction: John Skylitzes, the author and his family 11 Re-writing history: John Skylitzes’ Synopsis historion 14 The Prologue (prooimion) 15 The sources 20 The historical narrative 25 The text and its history 32 On the translation 35 John Skylitzes, Synopsis, Foreword 36 Chapter 1 Michael I Rangabe, the Kouropalates [811–813] 39 Chapter 2 Leo V the Armenian [813–820] 50 Chapter 3 Michael II the Stammerer [820–829] 62 Chapter 4 Theophilos [829–842] 86 Chapter 5 Michael III, the son of Theophilos [842–867], and his mother Theodora [842–862] 117 Chapter 6 Basil I Kephalas, the Macedonian [867–886] 151 Chapter 7 Leo VI the Philosopher (the Wise) [886–912] 200 Chapter 8 Alexander [912–913] 223 Chapter 9 Constantine VII, Porphyrogennetos [913–959] 226 Chapter 10 Romanos I Lekapenos [919–944] 241 Chapter 11 Constantine VII [944–959] 260 Chapter 12 Romanos II the Younger [959–963] 274 Chapter 13 Basil II Bulgaroktonos and Constantine VIII [976–1025] 280 Chapter 14 Nikephoros II Phokas [963–969] 285 Chapter 15 John I Tzimiskes [969–976] 306 Chapter 16 Basil II and Constantine VIII bis [976–1025] 333 Chapter 17 Constantine VIII [1025–1028] 384 Chapter 18 Romanos III Argyros [1028–1034] 389 Chapter 19 Michael IV the Paphlagonian [1034–1041] 405 Chapter 20 Michael V Kalaphates [1041–1042] 426 Chapter 21 Constantine IX Monomachos [1042–1055] 432 Chapter 22 Theodora [1055–1056] 482 Chapter 23 Michael VI the Elder/Stratiotikos [1056–1057] 484 Glossary 501 Bibliography 510 Abbreviations 510 Primary and secondary sources 514 Index 519 Introduction: John Skylitzes, the author, and his family / Jean-Claude Cheynet Re-writing history : John Skylitzes's Synopsis historion / Bernard Flusin Prooimion Michael I, Rangabe, the Kouropalates (811-813) Leo V, the Armenian (813-820) Michael II, the Stammerer (820-829) Theophilos (829-842) Michael III, the son of Theophilos (the Drunkard) (842-867), and his mother Theodora (842-862) Basil I Kephalas, the Macedonian (867-886) Leo VI, the Philosopher (the Wise) (886-912) Alexander (912-913) Constantine VII, Porphyrogennetos (913-959) bis Romanos I, Lekapenos (919-944) Constantine VII (944-959) Romanos II, the Younger (959-963) Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025) Nikephoros II, Phokas (963-969) John I, Tzimiskes (969-976) Basil II and Constantine VIII, bis (976-1025) Constantine VIII (1025-1028) Romanos III, Argyros (1028-1034) Michael IV, the Paphlagonian (1034-1041) Michael V, the Caulker / Kalaphates (1041-1042) Constantine IX, Monomachos (1042-1055) Theodora (1055-1056) Michael VI, the Elder / Stratiotikos (1056-1057) Glossary. 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 and is cited constantly in modern scholarship. 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. This book was the first complete English translation of John Skylitzes' extraordinary Middle Byzantine chronicle, covering two centuries of Byzantine history, from the death of Nicephorus I in 811 to the deposition of Michael VI in 1057. This edition features introductions by Jean-Claude Cheynet and Bernard Flusin, along with extensive notes.