Theophylact Simocatta
Encyclopedia
Theophylact Simocatta was an early seventh-century Byzantine
historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity
, writing in the time of Heraclius
(c630) about the late Emperor Maurice
(582-602).
is in eight books. His work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius
and his self-consciously classicizing style is pompous, but he is an important source of information concerning the seventh-century Slavs and Persians. He mentions the war
of Heraclius
against the Persians (610-28), but not that against the Arabs (beginning 634), so it is likely that he was writing around 630. Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania
.
Nicolaus Copernicus
translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin
prose and had his translation, dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode
, published in Kraków
in 1509 by Johann Haller
. It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity is a periodization used by historians to describe the time of transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in both mainland Europe and the Mediterranean world. Precise boundaries for the period are a matter of debate, but noted historian of the period Peter Brown proposed...
, writing in the time of Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
(c630) about the late Emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(582-602).
Life
His history of the reign of emperor MauriceMaurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
is in eight books. His work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
and his self-consciously classicizing style is pompous, but he is an important source of information concerning the seventh-century Slavs and Persians. He mentions the war
Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628
The Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628 was the final and most devastating of the series of wars fought between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire. The previous war had ended in 591 after Emperor Maurice had helped the Sassanian king Khosrau II regain his throne. In 602, Maurice was murdered...
of Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
against the Persians (610-28), but not that against the Arabs (beginning 634), so it is likely that he was writing around 630. Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania
John of Epiphania
John of Epiphania was a late sixth century Byzantine historian.John was born in Epiphania . He was a Christian and served as a legal counselor to the Patriarch of Antioch, Gregory . John was also a cousin of the church historian Evagrius Scholasticus.John obviously received good training...
.
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer and the first person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe....
translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
prose and had his translation, dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode
Lucas Watzenrode
Watzenrode may refer to:*Lucas Watzenrode the Younger , prince-bishop of Ermland, Warmia, uncle of Nicolaus Copernicus*Lucas Watzenrode the Elder , Hanseatic League tradesman in Thorn , Prussia, grandfather of Nicolaus Copernicus...
, published in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
in 1509 by Johann Haller
Johann Haller
Johann Haller or Jan Haller is considered one of the first commercial printers in Poland.-Copernicus:Born in Rothenburg, Haller is perhaps best known for publishing in 1509 a volume of poems by Theophylact Simocatta which had been translated from Byzantine Greek by Nicolaus Copernicus...
. It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account.