author
Procopius
A sharp-eyed historian of the Byzantine Empire, he left some of the most vivid firsthand accounts of Emperor Justinian’s age. His books move from official war reporting to biting court gossip, giving readers a rare double view of power in the sixth century.
5 Audiobooks
History of the Wars, Books I and II: The Persian War
by Procopius
History of the Wars, Books V and VI: The Gothic War
by Procopius
The Secret History of the Court of Justinian
by Procopius
Of the Buildings of Justinian
by Procopius
About the author
Writing in the 500s CE, Procopius of Caesarea is the most important narrative source for the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. He was trained in rhetoric and law, and he served as an adviser and secretary to the general Belisarius, which gave him direct access to major military campaigns and court politics.
His best-known works are The Wars, On Buildings, and the startling Secret History. Together they show very different sides of the same world: formal history, praise of imperial building projects, and a far more critical portrait of Justinian, Theodora, and the imperial court. That contrast is part of what makes him so fascinating to modern readers.
Even now, historians rely on Procopius for some of the clearest surviving accounts of the Byzantine Empire at war, life in Constantinople, and events such as the Plague of Justinian. His writing is detailed, dramatic, and often surprisingly human, which helps explain why he remains such an enduring guide to late antiquity.