Theophylact Simocatta

Theophylact Simocatta (Greek: "Theophylaktos Simokates", also "Simokattes") was an early 7th century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Antiquity.

He wrote a history of the reign of emperor Maurice in eight books. His work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius and his style is pompous, but he is an important source of information concerning the 7th century Slavs and Persians. He mentions the war of Heraclius against the Persians (602-628), but not against the Arabs (beginning 634), so that it is likely that he was writing around 630. He used the history of John of Epiphania.

Nicolaus Copernicus translated poems of Theophylact, and had them published in 1509 by Johann Haller. This is considered Copernicus' only publication at his own initiative, as his important works on astronomy were only published after he was urged to do so.

Literature

*Michael and Mary Whitby (trans.), "The History of Theophylact Simocatta: An English Translation with Introduction", Oxford University Press, (1986), ISBN 0-19-822799-X

External links

* [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/30_20_0530-0630-_Theophylactus_Simocatta.html Greek Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes]