The History of Leo the Deacon: Byzantine Military Expansion in the Tenth Century (Dumbarton Oaks Studies)

This Is The First English Translation Of The History Of Leo The Deacon (born Circa 950), A Lively But Little-known Author Intimately Familiar With The Palace Politics Of Constantinople. Leo's Firsthand Experience Of The Campaigns And Courts Of Two Byzantine Emperors Provides Vivid Descriptions Of Sieges, Pitched Battles, And Ambushes. His Account Of The Conspiracy Against Nikephoros Ii Phokas, Murdered As He Slept On The Floor In Front Of His Icons, Is One Of The Most Dramatic In Byzantine Narrative Histories. Alice-mary Talbot And Denis Sullivan, With The Assistance Of George T. Dennis And Stamatina Mcgrath, Include An Extensive Introduction And Detailed Notes To Guide The Reader Through The Complex Chronology, Geography, And Text Of The History. Also Included Are Five Maps, Two Genealogical Tables, And Four Indexes.-- The Byzantine Empire In The Tenth Century: Outline Of Military And Political Events -- The Byzantine Military In The Tenth Century -- Biography Of Leo The Deacon -- D. Leo As A Historian -- E. Manuscript Tradition Of The History -- F. Editions -- G. Translations -- Note To The Reader -- The History Of Leo The Deacon -- Book I -- Book Ii -- Book Iii -- Book Iv -- Book V -- Book Vi -- Book Vii -- Book Viii -- Book Ix -- Book X -- Genealogies Partial Genealogy Of The Macedonian Dynasty -- Genealogy Of The Phokas Family. Introduction, Translation, And Annotations By Alice-mary Talbot And Denis F. Sullivan ; With The Assistance Of George T. Dennis And Stamatina Mcgrath. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-242) And Indexes. History Translated Into English From The Original Greek; Critical Matter In English. "This is the first English translation of the History of Leo the Deacon (born circa 950), an obscure but lively author intimately familiar with the palace politics of Constantinople. The History, composed at the very end of the tenth century, focuses on the reigns of two Byzantine emperors, Nikephoros II Phokas (963-969) and John I Tzimiskes (969-976). Styling his narrative in the tradition of the classicizing historians, Leo recounts how both men ursurped the throne during the minority of the two sons of Constantine VII and used their military prowess to embark on successful campaigns against the Arabs in the south and east, and against the Rus in Bulgaria