Roman Campaigns and Negotiations in the East, 542–545

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2084-140X.11.29

Keywords:

Procopius, Justinian, Roman campaigns, eastern frontier, 5th century

Abstract

This article seeks to support the earlier dating of campaigns on the Roman eastern frontier in the 540s. It addresses points made in a recent contribution by Michael Whitby, who argued that the traditional chronology, which places a Roman invasion of Persarmenia in 543 and a Persian siege of Edessa in 544, should be retained. The article seeks to demonstrate that the grounds he offers are inadequate and concludes therefore that the earlier dating, according to which the Romans invaded Persarmenia in autumn 542 and the Persians besieged Edessa in 543, is to be preferred.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agathiae Myrinaei Historiarum libri quinque, ed. R. Keydell, Berolini 1967 [= Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Series Berolinensis, 2].
Google Scholar

Agathias, The Histories, trans. J.D. Frendo, Berlin–New York 1975 [= Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Series Berolinensis, 2A].
Google Scholar

The Chronicle of Joshua the Stylite, ed. et trans. W. Wright, Cambridge 1882.
Google Scholar

The Chronicle of Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, trans. et comm. F.R. Trombley, J.W. Watt, Liverpool 2000 [= Translated Texts for Historians, 32].
Google Scholar

Flavii Cresconii Corippi Iohannidos, ed. J. Diggle, F.R.D. Goodyear, Cambridge 1970.
Google Scholar

Procopius, Bella, vol. I, ed. J. Haury, rev. G. Wirth, Leipzig 1964.
Google Scholar

Procopius of Caesarea, The Persian Wars, trans. G. Greatrex, Cambridge 2022 [forthcoming].
Google Scholar

Prokopiusz z Cezarei, Historia Wojen, vol. I, trans. D. Brodka, Kraków 2013.
Google Scholar

Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, [in:] Incerti Auctoris Chronicon Pseudo-Dionysianum vulgo dictum, vol. I, ed. J.B. Chabot, Louvain 1927 [= Corpus scriptorum christianorum orientalium. Scriptores Syri, 43], p. 235–316.
Google Scholar

Börm H., Prokop und die Perser. Untersuchungen zu den römisch-sasanidischen Kontakten in der ausgehenden Spätantike, Stuttgart 2007 [= Oriens et Occidens, 16].
Google Scholar

Greatrex G., Procopius’ Persian Wars. A Historical Commentary, Cambridge 2022 [forthcoming].
Google Scholar

Greatrex G., Recent Work on Procopius and the Composition of Wars VIII, “Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies” 27, 2003, p. 45–67 https://doi.org/10.1179/byz.2003.27.1.45
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/byz.2003.27.1.45

Greatrex G., Rome and Persia at War, 502–532, Leeds 1998.
Google Scholar

Greatrex G., Lieu S.N.C., The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars, A.D. 363–630, London 2002.
Google Scholar

Kislinger E., Stathakopoulos D., Pest und Perserkriege bei Prokop. Chronologische Überlegungen zum Geschehen, 540–545, “Byzantion” 69, 1999, p. 76–98.
Google Scholar

Meier M., The ‘Justinianic Plague’: the Economic Consequences of the Pandemic in the Eastern Roman Empire and its Cultural and Religious Effects, “Early Medieval Europe” 24, 2016, p. 267–292 https://doi.org/10.1111/emed.12152
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/emed.12152

Mitford T.B., East of Asia Minor. Rome’s Hidden Frontier, vol. I–II, Oxford 2018.
Google Scholar

Nechaeva E., Embassies – Negotiations – Gifts. Systems of East Roman Diplomacy in Late Antiquity, Stuttgart 2014.
Google Scholar

Pfeilschifter R., Theisz J., A Commentary on Procopius’ Anecdota, Berlin 2022 [forthcoming].
Google Scholar

Pottier B., L’empereur Justinien survivant à la peste bubonique, “Travaux et mémoires” 16, 2010, p. 685–691.
Google Scholar

Ramsay A.M., The Speed of the Roman Imperial Post, “Journal of Roman Studies” 15, 1925, p. 60–74 https://doi.org/10.2307/295601
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/295601

Sarris P., Climate and Disease, [in:] A Companion to the Global Early Middle Ages, ed. M. Hermans, Leeds 2020, p. 511–537 https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvz0h9cf.24
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvz0h9cf.24

Scott R., Diplomacy in the Sixth Century: the Evidence of John Malalas, [in:] Byzantine Diplomacy, ed. J. Shepard, S. Franklin, Aldershot 1992, p. 159–165.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351219464-11

Segal J.B., Edessa, “The Blessed City”, Oxford 1970.
Google Scholar

The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. III, ed. J.R. Martindale, Cambridge 1992.
Google Scholar

Tuplin C., The Seasonal Migration of Achaemenid Kings: a Report on Old and New Evidence, [in:] Studies in Persian History. Essays in Memory of David M. Lewis, ed. M. Brosius, A.T. Kuhrt, Leiden 1998, p. 63–114.
Google Scholar

Whitby M., The Emperor Maurice and his Historian, Oxford 1988.
Google Scholar

Whitby M., Procopius’ Missing Year, “Byzantion” 91, 2021, p. 413–421.
Google Scholar

Downloads

Published

2021-12-30

How to Cite

Greatrex, G. (2021). Roman Campaigns and Negotiations in the East, 542–545. Studia Ceranea, 11, 569–578. https://doi.org/10.18778/2084-140X.11.29

Issue

Section

Articles