Procopius
Principal historian of the 6th century, chronicler of Justinian's wars and scandals.
Procopius of Caesarea (c. 500 – 565) was a prominent Greek scholar and historian from Caesarea in Palestine. Accompanying the Byzantine general Belisarius in Emperor Justinian's wars, Procopius became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the *History of the Wars*, *On Buildings*, and the *Secret History*. Born in Caesarea, he received a conventional upper-class education in Greek classics and rhetoric, possibly at the school in Gaza, and likely studied law in Berytus or Constantinople, becoming a lawyer. He knew Latin, as was typical for someone with legal training. In 527, the first year of Justinian’s reign, Procopius became the legal adviser to Belisarius, the emperor’s chief military commander. He accompanied Belisarius on the eastern front until the general’s defeat at Callinicum in 531, witnessed the Nika riots of 532, and joined the victorious expedition against the Vandal kingdom in North Africa in 533, participating in the capture of Carthage. He later rejoined Belisarius for the campaign against the Ostrogoths in Italy, enduring the Gothic siege of Rome and witnessing the entry into Ravenna in 540. His writings suggest his relationship with Belisarius cooled afterward. As Belisarius’s adviser, Procopius held the rank of *vir spectabilis*, a mid-ranking senatorial order, and the *Suda* claims he was a *vir illustris*, which would have granted him a seat in Constantinople’s senate. His death is uncertain; some historians place it in 554, but an urban prefect named Procopius was active in 562. His works are the primary source for Justinian’s reign, with the *History of the Wars* covering conflicts with Persia, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths, while the *Secret History* reports scandals omitted from his official history.
- born
- c. 500
- died
- uncertain; possibly 554 or later (an urban prefect named Procopius in 562)
- field
- History, law
- nationality
- Byzantine (Greek from Caesarea in Palestine)
- known_for
- Writing the History of the Wars, On Buildings, and the Secret History; principal historian of Justinian's reign
Lore & Background
Procopius was a native of Caesarea in Palestine. He received a conventional upper-class education in the Greek classics and rhetoric, perhaps at the school at Gaza. He may have attended law school, possibly at Berytus or Constantinople, and became a lawyer. He evidently knew Latin. In 527, he became the legal adviser for Belisarius. He was with Belisarius on the eastern front until the Battle of Callinicum in 531, witnessed the Nika riots of January 532, accompanied Belisarius on the expedition against the Vandal kingdom in 533, and later rejoined him for the campaign against the Ostrogoths in Italy. He witnessed Belisarius's entry into Ravenna in 540. His relationship with Belisarius cooled thereafter. He may have accompanied the general to the Persian front in 542, but by 544 he appears no longer on Belisarius's staff. As Belisarius's adsessor, Procopius must have had at least the rank of vir spectabilis. The Suda also describes him as one of the illustres; if correct, he would have had a seat in Constantinople's senate. It is not certain when Procopius died. Many historians date his death to 554, but there was an urban prefect of Constantinople named Procopius in 562.
Reader's Guide
Procopius’s writings are the primary source for the rule of Justinian I. His *History of the Wars* covers the wars with Persia, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. The *Secret History*, discovered in 1623, reveals disillusionment with Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius, and Antonina. *On Buildings* is a panegyric on Justinian's public works.
As a Greek scholar from Caesarea in Palestine, Procopius received a conventional upper-class education in the Greek classics and rhetoric, likely at the school at Gaza, and probably studied law at Berytus or Constantinople, becoming a lawyer. He knew Latin, natural for a man with legal training. In 527, he became legal adviser to the general Belisarius, accompanying him on the eastern front until the defeat at Callinicum in 531, and witnessing the Nika riots of 532. He joined Belisarius’s victorious expedition against the Vandal kingdom in North Africa in 533, taking part in the capture of Carthage, and later experienced the Gothic siege of Rome and Belisarius’s entry into Ravenna in 540. His relationship with Belisarius appears to have cooled thereafter, and he likely no longer served on the general’s staff by 544. Procopius belonged to the mid-ranking senatorial order, and the Suda describes him as one of the *illustres*, which would have granted him a seat in Constantinople’s senate. His *History of the Wars* is his most important work, with the first seven books largely completed by 545 and updated to early 551, while the eighth brought the history to 553. The *Wars* contain various longer excursions that provide background and contextualize military acts, and they proved influential on later Byzantine historiography.
Did You Know?
- Procopius's Secret History was discovered in 1623 in the Vatican Library.
- The Suda, a Byzantine encyclopedia written after 975, is a main source for Procopius's early life.
- Procopius witnessed the Nika riots of 532, which Belisarius and Mundus repressed with a massacre in the Hippodrome.
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