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...

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."

Primary Accounts of African Civilization: The Meroe, Kush, and Axum is a collection of accounts about African civilizations written by some of the oldest and most prominent historians of antiquity, including Herodotus, also known as the Father of History, who lived in the 5th century B.C. (c.484 BC c.425 BC) and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a well-constructed and vivid narrative. The collect...

"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 ...

"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...

It will be evident that no more important or mightier deeds are to be found in history than those which have been enacted in these wars,—provided one wishes to base his judgment on the truth. For in them more remarkable feats have been performed than in any other wars with which we are acquainted; unless, indeed, any reader of this narrative should give the place of honour to antiquity, and consider contemporary achievements unworthy to be counted remarkable. There are those, for example, ...

In 533 he accompanied Belisarius on his expedition to Africa. On the way, he was intrusted with an important mission to Sicily. He appears to have returned to Byzantium with Belisarius in 535. He is heard of again, in 536, as charged with another mission in the neighbourhood of Rome, which shows that, at the end of 535, he had accompanied Belisarius, who had been despatched to Italy and Sicily to conquer the territory in the occupation of the Goths. This expedition terminated successfully ...

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...

Primary Accounts of the Ancient Civilizations of North Africa is a collection of accounts about African civilizations written by some of the oldest and most prominent historians of antiquity, including Herodotus, also known as the Father of History, who lived in the 5th century B.C. (c.484 BC c.425 BC) and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a well-constructed and vivid narrative. The collection al...

Procopius's "The Secret History," also known as "The Anecdota," serves as a controversial and critical chronicle of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Emperor Justinian I and his consort, Theodora. Unlike his more formal historical works, this text employs a distinctively candid and satirical tone, blending rhetorical skill with unflinching realism. Procopius reveals the hidden machinations of the imperial court, exposing corruption, moral decay, and the stark contrast between the pu...

Such, then, was the final outcome of the Persian War for the Emperor Justinian; and I shall now proceed to set forth all that he did against the Vandals and the Moors. But first shall be told whence came the host of the Vandals when they descended upon the land of the Romans. After Theodosius, the Roman Emperor, had departed from the world, having proved himself one of the most just of men and an able warrior, his kingdom was taken over by his two sons, Arcadius, the elder, receiving the E...

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...