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Agathias: The Histories (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Vol 2a)

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This book contains a translation in English of the Histories of the late 6th century AD writer, Agathias, a lawyer who took it upon himself to extend the histories of Procopius of Caesarea. Agathias seems to have been born around the year AD 530 and died sometime before AD 582. His history begins with purpose and ends abruptly, covering only the years AD 552-559.

Though short, Agathias's Histories are an important primary source for several mid-6th century events. He gives a detailed account of the Frankish invasion of Italy in early 550s which was eventually blunted and defeated by the Roman general Narses. He also provides a history of the war in Lazica between the invading Persians and the Lazi and their Roman allies; the assassination of Gubazes, the king of Lazica by two Roman generals; and the eventual defeat of the Persian forces by the Roman generals Martin and Justin. Finally, Agathias covers the dangerous invasion of Zabergan and his Cotrigur Huns which reached all the way to the walls of Constantinople before being turned aside by a tiny force of Roman veterans headed by the aging hero Belisarius.

Also of note are the long and often entertaining tangents Agathias makes to discuss topics related to his history. Most interesting of these are the long passages devoted to the culture and religious practices of the Persians. Agathias can barely hide his contempt for "barbarian" Persians and their so-called philosopher-king, Chosroes, as he describes a visit by a charlatan named Uranius to Chosroes's court. Another interesting passage discusses the exile of some pagan philosophers from the Christian Roman Empire to Persia where they assumed, erroneously, that they could live in comfort.

Having neither access to the original Greek, nor the erudition necessary to translate it, I can make no comment on the quality of the translation itself. This edition was published in 1975, and aside from a few minor typos, reads very well.