Byzantine Chronicles and the Sixth Century

Byzantine chronicles have traditionally been regarded as a somewhat inferior form of Byzantine history writing, especially in comparison with 'classicizing' historians. The aim of these papers is both to rescue the reputation of the Byzantine chroniclers, especially Malalas and Theophanes, and to provide examples of how such chroniclers can be exploited not only to reveal aspects of the past itself, but also of how the Byzantines interpreted their own past, including on occasions rewriting that past to suit contemporary needs. By considering more general aspects of the place of history-writing in Byzantine culture, the papers also explain why history remained such an important aspect of Byzantine culture.