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History of the Wars: Books I & II - The Persian War
Procopius is known to posterity as the historian of the eventful reign of Justinian (527-565 A.D.), and the chronicler of the great deeds of the general Belisarius. He was born late in the fifth century in the city of Caesarea in Palestine. As to his education and early years we are not informed, but we know that he studied to fit himself for the legal profession. He came as a young man to Constantinople, and seems to have made his mark immediately. For as early as the year 527 he was appointed legal adviser and private secretary to Belisarius, then a very young man who had been serving on the staff of the general Justinian, and had only recently been advanced to the office of general. Shortly after this Justinian was called by his uncle Justinus to share the throne of the Roman Empire, and four months later Justinus died, leaving Justinian sole emperor of the Romans. Thus the stage was set for the scenes which are presented in the pages of Procopius. His own activity continued till well nigh the end of Justinian's life, and he seems to have outlived his hero, Belisarius.
During the eventful years of Belisarius' campaigning in Africa, in Italy, and in the East, Procopius was moving about with him and was an eye-witness of the events he describes in his writings. In 527 we find him in Mesopotamia; in 533 he accompanied Belisarius to Africa; and in 536 he journeyed with him to Italy. He was therefore quite correct in the assertion which he makes rather modestly in the introduction of his history, that he was better qualified than anyone else to write the history of that period. Besides his intimacy with Belisarius it should be added that his position gave him the further advantage of a certain standing at the imperial court in Constantinople, and brought him the acquaintance of many of the leading men of his day. Thus we have the testimony of one intimately associated with the administration, and this, together with the importance of the events through which he lived, makes his record exceedingly interesting as well as historically important. One must admit that his position was not one to encourage impartiality in his presentation of facts, and that the imperial favour was not won by plain speaking; nevertheless we have before us a man who could not obliterate himself enough to play the abject flatterer always, and he gives us the reverse, too, of his brilliant picture, as we shall see presently...
During the eventful years of Belisarius' campaigning in Africa, in Italy, and in the East, Procopius was moving about with him and was an eye-witness of the events he describes in his writings. In 527 we find him in Mesopotamia; in 533 he accompanied Belisarius to Africa; and in 536 he journeyed with him to Italy. He was therefore quite correct in the assertion which he makes rather modestly in the introduction of his history, that he was better qualified than anyone else to write the history of that period. Besides his intimacy with Belisarius it should be added that his position gave him the further advantage of a certain standing at the imperial court in Constantinople, and brought him the acquaintance of many of the leading men of his day. Thus we have the testimony of one intimately associated with the administration, and this, together with the importance of the events through which he lived, makes his record exceedingly interesting as well as historically important. One must admit that his position was not one to encourage impartiality in his presentation of facts, and that the imperial favour was not won by plain speaking; nevertheless we have before us a man who could not obliterate himself enough to play the abject flatterer always, and he gives us the reverse, too, of his brilliant picture, as we shall see presently...
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 550
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About the author
Procopius
201 books83 followersProcopius of Caesarea was born in the latter years of the fifth century at Caesarea in Palestine. He originated from the land-owning provincial upper class and, like Zosimus, became a civil servant. As early as A.D. 527, before the emperor Justin's death, Procopius became counsellor, assessor, and secretary to Belisarius, whose fortunes and campaigns he followed for the next twelve or fifteen years. Small wonder he became very knowledgeable of military affairs through this service. He has long been respected as a historian of the emperor Justinian’s wars, and is reckoned the greatest of the later Greek historians. Procopius was finally raised to the dignity of an illustrius, and died not earlier than A.D. 562.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 23, 2026
The three volumes of Procopius’ The History of the Wars are commonly published as a single volume, but I thought I would test the waters with the first of this series, which breaks them down into separate accounts.
A quick word on terminology, Procopius was born in AD500 into the Eastern Roman Empire. This was after the collapse of the Western Empire, for which 476AD is often given as the final date. The Eastern Empire was Greek-speaking and is often referred to by modern historians as the Byzantine Empire, but its inhabitants termed themselves “Romans.” The term is used throughout the book and is the one I use below.
Procopius was in the retinue of the Roman general Belisarius, and accompanied him on his campaigns. This book describes the course of a series of wars between the Romans and Sassanid Persia, from the 520s through to the 540s. Although both sides have victories and defeats, the account suggests the Sassanids generally had the better of things.
It’s a lively account, although it takes a little while to get going. For about the first 20% Procopius gives us some background as well as various fanciful stories and legends. He’s better at describing what he lived through and what he saw himself. Belisarius is first sent to the Empire’s eastern frontier to respond to a Persian invasion, and wins a striking victory at the Battle of Dara in 530. Before the battle the Sassanid general arrogantly sends a message to Belisarius ordering him to prepare a bath, as he proposes to take a bath in the city of Dara after the battle. Pride comes before a fall;
“For on that day the Persians had been defeated in battle by the Romans, a thing which had not happened for a long time.”
The book describes all of the subsequent conflicts, although for much of the period Belisarius was away campaigning in the west. At one point the Persians gain a major victory by capturing and sacking the city of Antioch, one of the richest in the Roman Empire. Procopius was appalled at the news:
“But I become dizzy as I write of such a great calamity and transmit it to future times, and I am unable to understand why indeed it should be the will of God to exalt on high the fortunes of a man or of a place, and then to cast them down and destroy them for no cause which appears to us. For it is wrong to say that with Him all things are not always done with reason, though he then endured to see Antioch brought down to the ground at the hands of a most unholy man,…"
The book also describes a number of other aspects of the Empire, such as the factions of Blue and Green, based on chariot racing competitions, which at one stage were at the centre of a major revolt in Byzantium. There was also the appearance of a comet in 539, and a scary description of a major pandemic of bubonic plague, beginning in 542 and introduced in the book as follows:
“During these times there was a pestilence, by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated.”
The above extracts might illustrate how this translation is quite an easy read. There is a lot more I would like to cover, but as usual I have gone on too long. On to the next volume!
A quick word on terminology, Procopius was born in AD500 into the Eastern Roman Empire. This was after the collapse of the Western Empire, for which 476AD is often given as the final date. The Eastern Empire was Greek-speaking and is often referred to by modern historians as the Byzantine Empire, but its inhabitants termed themselves “Romans.” The term is used throughout the book and is the one I use below.
Procopius was in the retinue of the Roman general Belisarius, and accompanied him on his campaigns. This book describes the course of a series of wars between the Romans and Sassanid Persia, from the 520s through to the 540s. Although both sides have victories and defeats, the account suggests the Sassanids generally had the better of things.
It’s a lively account, although it takes a little while to get going. For about the first 20% Procopius gives us some background as well as various fanciful stories and legends. He’s better at describing what he lived through and what he saw himself. Belisarius is first sent to the Empire’s eastern frontier to respond to a Persian invasion, and wins a striking victory at the Battle of Dara in 530. Before the battle the Sassanid general arrogantly sends a message to Belisarius ordering him to prepare a bath, as he proposes to take a bath in the city of Dara after the battle. Pride comes before a fall;
“For on that day the Persians had been defeated in battle by the Romans, a thing which had not happened for a long time.”
The book describes all of the subsequent conflicts, although for much of the period Belisarius was away campaigning in the west. At one point the Persians gain a major victory by capturing and sacking the city of Antioch, one of the richest in the Roman Empire. Procopius was appalled at the news:
“But I become dizzy as I write of such a great calamity and transmit it to future times, and I am unable to understand why indeed it should be the will of God to exalt on high the fortunes of a man or of a place, and then to cast them down and destroy them for no cause which appears to us. For it is wrong to say that with Him all things are not always done with reason, though he then endured to see Antioch brought down to the ground at the hands of a most unholy man,…"
The book also describes a number of other aspects of the Empire, such as the factions of Blue and Green, based on chariot racing competitions, which at one stage were at the centre of a major revolt in Byzantium. There was also the appearance of a comet in 539, and a scary description of a major pandemic of bubonic plague, beginning in 542 and introduced in the book as follows:
“During these times there was a pestilence, by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated.”
The above extracts might illustrate how this translation is quite an easy read. There is a lot more I would like to cover, but as usual I have gone on too long. On to the next volume!
January 1, 2025
این نویسندههای مسیحی اواخر دوران باستان خیلی باحالن
کاملا ایدئولوژیک فکر و تحلیل میکنن.
مثلا از نظر پروکوپیوس خسرو انوشیروان خیلی آدم بد و خونخوار و بیادب و وحشیای بوده.
چرا؟
چون که با روم که پیروان دین راستین عیسی مسیح بودند جنگیده و پیمان صلحی باهاشون بسته که رسما روم رو بازندهی نبرد میکنه. کلا نظرش اینه که چرا صبر نکرده تا امپراتور روم ایران رو شخم بزنه. مگه نمیدونه ما پیروان دین حق خیلی خفنیم و جهان کلش واس ماس؟
کاملا ایدئولوژیک فکر و تحلیل میکنن.
مثلا از نظر پروکوپیوس خسرو انوشیروان خیلی آدم بد و خونخوار و بیادب و وحشیای بوده.
چرا؟
چون که با روم که پیروان دین راستین عیسی مسیح بودند جنگیده و پیمان صلحی باهاشون بسته که رسما روم رو بازندهی نبرد میکنه. کلا نظرش اینه که چرا صبر نکرده تا امپراتور روم ایران رو شخم بزنه. مگه نمیدونه ما پیروان دین حق خیلی خفنیم و جهان کلش واس ماس؟
April 7, 2013
I purchased the first five volumes of Procopius's History of the Wars after reading a review somewhere, basically buying the volumes sight unseen, a stab in the dark. Well, how right was that decision!
I have only read the first volume, Books 1-2, which covers the Persian Wars and I had a great time. The book was so easy to read, full of interesting facts and stories of peoples and places long gone and lost to history.
What is so amazing about this book was that it was written sometime in the 540’s AD and translated in the early 1900’s. I was a bit worried that the narrative would be difficult to read and boring, how wrong could I be!
The story fairly raced along and I never got bored with the book. I can’t wait to read the next few volumes which cover Belisarius in his campaigns and wars against the Vandals in 533 and again in 535 against the Ostrogoths.
This is a great book, highly recommended to those who enjoy accounts of the ancients and those times and places from times long past.
I have only read the first volume, Books 1-2, which covers the Persian Wars and I had a great time. The book was so easy to read, full of interesting facts and stories of peoples and places long gone and lost to history.
What is so amazing about this book was that it was written sometime in the 540’s AD and translated in the early 1900’s. I was a bit worried that the narrative would be difficult to read and boring, how wrong could I be!
The story fairly raced along and I never got bored with the book. I can’t wait to read the next few volumes which cover Belisarius in his campaigns and wars against the Vandals in 533 and again in 535 against the Ostrogoths.
This is a great book, highly recommended to those who enjoy accounts of the ancients and those times and places from times long past.
February 11, 2013
Note: I am giving all the "History of the Wars" books five stars because I loved them all, because I love Byzantine history, and because they were the main sources for my undergrad thesis. I spent literally days reading through the pages of these books.
If you are interested in the wonder that was Byzantium: you must read these -- all of them (even 'buildings')
If you just like history, you may enjoy them, as Procopius was one of the world's great historians. He told a good tale of war, politics, geography, mystery and gossip. You will learn about the great plague pre-dating the Black Death, the wars of the mighty general Belisarius, the nature of Emperor Justinian and his relations, and much more!
After you've read these, read his "The Secret History," which may or may not have truly been written by Procopius, and which may or may not divulge his true feelings, particularly concerning the Emperor and Empress. Scandalous gossip from late Antiquity/the early medieval period!
If you are interested in the wonder that was Byzantium: you must read these -- all of them (even 'buildings')
If you just like history, you may enjoy them, as Procopius was one of the world's great historians. He told a good tale of war, politics, geography, mystery and gossip. You will learn about the great plague pre-dating the Black Death, the wars of the mighty general Belisarius, the nature of Emperor Justinian and his relations, and much more!
After you've read these, read his "The Secret History," which may or may not have truly been written by Procopius, and which may or may not divulge his true feelings, particularly concerning the Emperor and Empress. Scandalous gossip from late Antiquity/the early medieval period!
February 1, 2015
This is a great look at the Roman / Persia conflicts in the 500s. This volume is a fascinating peek at the Middle East shortly before the rise of Islam. The translation is easy to follow, I couldn't put it down.
August 22, 2014
Very engaging and fun to read, now onwards to the vandal and gothic campaigns.
August 28, 2018
This volume contains the first two books of Procopius of Caesarea’s Wars (Ὑπὲρ τῶν πολέμων λόγοι) and, as with all Loeb editions, is a parallel text containing both the ancient Greek and English versions. These two books focus on the early Byzantine wars with the Persians (hence, sometimes being known as De Bello Persico) and conflicts with other groups, such as the Hepthalites and the Lazi. These books also contain Procopius’ famous accounts of the Nika Riots and the Justinianiac Plague.
The English translation, despite being somewhat outdated (1914), still holds up well for a genre like this, much of which is dry, technical details concerning geography and troop movements. Although it is not a critical edition, it is an excellent start for scholars interested in the reign of Justinian. Casual readers of military history may also find this work intriguing because it gives a general sense of how wars were conducted in the 6th century in terms of battles, but also the influence of logistics and diplomacy.
The English translation, despite being somewhat outdated (1914), still holds up well for a genre like this, much of which is dry, technical details concerning geography and troop movements. Although it is not a critical edition, it is an excellent start for scholars interested in the reign of Justinian. Casual readers of military history may also find this work intriguing because it gives a general sense of how wars were conducted in the 6th century in terms of battles, but also the influence of logistics and diplomacy.
March 27, 2025
Very dark history, but a great read for studying the plague and how it catastrophically destroyed civilizations.
December 8, 2024
EDIT: This particular translation of "History of the Wars" has an amazing index/pronunciation guide at the end of it and it is very useful as a cross reference!
-
Hahaha so years ago I got Procopius and Corippus confused, and while writing a research paper about the Egyptio-Berber god Gurzil, I read this book up and down, not remembering that the Gurzil references I was thinking of were actually in Corripus' text! What a night that was.
All the same, I became more familiar with the East Roman Empires African campaign from this text, and there were many tidbits I enjoyed!
Now if only I can find a copy of that letter Belisarius' Hunnic mercenaries sent to the Alans living among the Vandals. (Which is why I have returned to Procopius once again!) I remember it being pretty majestic!
-
Hahaha so years ago I got Procopius and Corippus confused, and while writing a research paper about the Egyptio-Berber god Gurzil, I read this book up and down, not remembering that the Gurzil references I was thinking of were actually in Corripus' text! What a night that was.
All the same, I became more familiar with the East Roman Empires African campaign from this text, and there were many tidbits I enjoyed!
Now if only I can find a copy of that letter Belisarius' Hunnic mercenaries sent to the Alans living among the Vandals. (Which is why I have returned to Procopius once again!) I remember it being pretty majestic!
March 23, 2014
If you're interested in Byzantine history, at some point, you have to read Procopius. He's the main primary source on the 6th Century, and since he was close to the center of power in the empire, he has a lot of insight to offer.
While Procopius' account of Justinians reign and Belisarius' campaigns are informative and entertaining, the translation in this edition leaves something to be desired. This is a free Kindle edition, and the original was published in the 19th Century. The language of the translation is really old fashioned and belabored. You still get the great account, but you sometimes have to untangle Byzantine sentences that would have been streamlined (but still convey the same thing) by a better translator/editor.
While Procopius' account of Justinians reign and Belisarius' campaigns are informative and entertaining, the translation in this edition leaves something to be desired. This is a free Kindle edition, and the original was published in the 19th Century. The language of the translation is really old fashioned and belabored. You still get the great account, but you sometimes have to untangle Byzantine sentences that would have been streamlined (but still convey the same thing) by a better translator/editor.
August 11, 2011
It is books like this that make the discovery of the large Gobekli Tepi city-complex not that remarkable to me. In that region between the Roman (Byzantine) and Pesian empires rich and large cities, city-states and even nations rose and fell rapidly during the constant warring between the two empires. Procopius makes a lively telling of this Christian Age of the Roman Empire ("Romans" called John, George, etc.) and the restless, ambitious, violent Persians that sensed the weakening state of this aged imperial civilization.
December 16, 2013
Interesting history. I read the public domain Kindle version. Procopius is more a politician than a tactician, so this is a high-level view of events; no sense of the fighting skills and techniques used in the era
February 22, 2021
کتاب متن روانی دارد، اما پر از اشکال است. اولین اشکال کتاب آن است که پر از دیدگاه شخصی است، از آن جهت که نویسنده رمی است، رمی ها همیشه ادمانی نیک سیرت و ایرانی ها پست بودند(نه همیشه در کتاب ولی غالب این است) و اشکال بزرگ بعدی نبود نقشه در کتاب
February 10, 2022
Buenísimo
Recomendado para los amantes de la Historia Militar, de la mano del gran Procopio, este primer tomo aborda el conflicto entreclos Bizantinos y los Persas alrededor del año 549 DC
Recomendado para los amantes de la Historia Militar, de la mano del gran Procopio, este primer tomo aborda el conflicto entreclos Bizantinos y los Persas alrededor del año 549 DC
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews