Procopius has written “The Secret History,” which is a text about the Roman emperor Justinian. This document appears meant to be private and not seen by the general public. It contains some of the personal details of the emperor and his wife’s life, which implies that this history was not meant for the general public. Moreover, Procopius has written several more official and scholarly historical texts which differ significantly from “The Secret History,” which also supports the idea that this text was not intended for publication. Procopius was the historian of the Later Roman Empire, which justifies his writing Secret History” as he had both the competence and the knowledge to compose such a text (Mark, 2020). However, this writing was motivated by political affairs as opposed to a scholar’s attempt to depict history, which is why I do not believe in Procopius.
Moreover, “The Secret History” reads as a tabloid as opposed to a historical book due to its depictions of Empress Theodora’s sexual exploits to Justinian’s metamorphosis into a demon. It contrasts sharply with Procopius’ previous “History in Eight Books,” often known as the “Wars,” which covered the Vandal, Persian, and Gothic wars (Mark, 2020). Though contemporary historians are correct to be wary of some of Procopius’ assertions, there was no conflict between the two works for the author; “The Secret History” was as much a historical work as “Wars.” They were, in fact, a part of the same historical project: properly and thoroughly documenting Justinian’s rule (Mark, 2020). To comprehend Procopius’ understanding of history, one must accept the Secret History as a necessary component. However, the nature of this text and the details provided by the author prompt me to question its legitimacy.
Reference
Mark, J. (2020). Procopius on the Plague of Justinian: Text & commentary. Web.