Anna Comnena’s Contemporaries

Abstract

In the middle of the twelfth century, after an interval of comparative quiescence, Byzantine historiography regained its vigor. Before Nicephorus Bryennius died leaving his history unfinished, in 1138, Byzantine writers had produced only two histories over more than fifty years: the world chronicles by John Scylitzes and George Cedrenus, who say nothing about the reigns of the two emperors under whom they wrote. By contrast, during the fifty years beginning with 1138, seven histories appeared, including those of Bryennius and Anna Comnena. Three of these were world chronicles, but six dealt partly or entirely with contemporary events. Moreover, to judge from the number of our surviving manuscripts, the three world chronicles were among the most popular of the whole Byzantine period. All seven histories were substantial works, and one of them was the longest to be written in middle Byzantine times. Thus Byzantine historians and readers of history seem to have been relatively abundant during this prosperous, momentous, and ultimately disastrous period.