Three Chronicles: Theophanes Continuatus, Symeon Logothete, and Pseudo-Symeon 944-963

What is it about?

Portions of three chronicles in Greek, written in the tenth century, include historical narratives for the years 944-963, a significant period marked by the rise of Constantine VII as Byzantine emperor and his appointment of members of the Phokas family as primary military commanders. The chronicles share much of the same information and may all be based on a now lost source, as Professor Markopoulos has suggested. I provide in this introductory chapter, excerpted from my book The Rise and Fall of Nikephoros Phokas, a very brief introduction to each chronicle. The first is that of Theophanes Continuatus. In December 944 Constantine VII who is highly praised throughout the text made his first administrative appointments, that of Bardas Phokas to serve as supreme military commander and his three sons as generals (strategoi). The text provides a laudatory passage on one son particularly, Nikephoros Phokas and his restoration of the army and vigorous participation in battle, particularly against Sayf al-Dawla, the Hamdanid emir of Aleppo, and eventually his conquest of Candax in Crete. Nikephoros was to become emperor in 963. The second text is the revised version of the Chronicle of Symeon the Logothete, the revision being an extension from the original ending in 948 to 963. The revision also includes interpolations into the earlier material regarding the appearance of the first members of the Phokas family beginning in 870 and in the extension also describes Nikephoros' capture of Aleppo in 962, detailed material not found in the other two chronicles or elsewhere. The third text is anonymous and referred to as that of Pseudo-Symeon. It is briefer but generally provides the same details on the military exploits of the Phokas family. The author does note Nikephoros' capture of Aleppo, but provides no details other than the seizure of much booty.

Featured Image

Photo by Thierry Meier on Unsplash

Photo by Thierry Meier on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The texts provide a rich description from a positively biased perspective of many facets of the emperor Constantine VII. They are also significant for important information on the Phokas family and their role in the defense of Byzantium from their Arab enemy.