History of the Wars, Volume IV: Books 6.16-7.35. (Gothic War)
Procopius, born at Caesarea in Palestine late in the 5th century,
became a lawyer. In AD 527 he was made legal adviser and secretary
of Belisarius, commander against the Persians, and went with
Belisarius again in 533 against the Vandals and in 535 against the
Ostrogoths. Sometime after 540 he returned to Constantinople. He
may have been that Procopius who was prefect of Constantinople in
562, but the date of his death (after 558) is unknown.
Procopius' "History of the Wars" in 8 books recounts
the Persian Wars of emperors Justinus and Justinian down to 550 (2
books); the Vandalic War and after-events in Africa 532- 546 (2
books); the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths in Sicily and Italy
536- 552 (3 books); and a sketch of events to 554 (1 book). The
whole consists largely of military history, with much information
about peoples and places as well, and about special events. He was
a diligent, careful, judicious narrator of facts and developments
and shows good powers of description. He is just to the
empire's enemies and boldly criticises emperor Justinian. Other
works by Procopius are the "Anecdota" or "Secret
History"- vehement attacks on Justinian, Theodora, and others;
and "The Buildings of Justinian" (down to AD 558)
including roads and bridges as well as churches, forts, hospitals,
and so on in various parts of the empire. The Loe Classical Library
edition of Procopius is in seven volumes.
