The Chronicle of Ioannis Skylitzis,
also known as "John Skylitzes' Chronicle" or "Madrid Skylitzes Chronicle" or "Madrid Chronicle"
mid-12th mid-13th century,
Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid.
The only surviving illuminated chronicle is version of John Skylitzes' Chronicle held in Madrid (Bibl. Nac. vitr. 26-2). The Madrid Skylitzes contains 574 miniatures; probably 100 fewer than in its original form. The pictures, which adhere closely to the narrative text, are rendered in a variety of styles concurrently practised in twelfth-century Norman Sicily.
The manuscript is a unique source for our visualization of imperial ceremonial (triumphal processions, receptions, embassies), costume, weaponry and even technology We are also offered rare illustrations of other peoples: Byzantium's enemies, allies, mercenaries such as the Varangians, Rus, Bulgarians and Arabs.
Skylitzis Military Images (23 Images)
Skylitzis Daily Life Images (9 Images)
Who was Ioannis (John) Skylitzis
In the preface to his Synopsis Historion, John Skylitzes reveals that he held the elevated rank of kouropalates, and was formerly the megas droungarios tes viglas, a senior judicial position.
He lived and wrote towards the end of the eleventh century, probably in the early years of the reign of Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118).
His work, which covers the period AD 811-1057, was conceived as a continuation to the chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, which was in turn a continuation of the chronicle of George the Monk. Skylitzes praised both George and Theophanes, but condemned the subsequent histories by Psellos and 'the didaskalos Sikeliotes' as overly brief and inaccurate. (He is clearly referring to Psellos' Epitome, not his Chronographia; Sikeliotes' work has not survived.) The Synopsis Historion remains the best, indeed only substantial, complement and corrective to Psellos.
A continuation to Skylitzes' chronicle has survived, covering the years 1057 to 1079. Aptly called Skylitzes Continuatus, it is likely also to be the work of John Skylitzes. Minor differences in style might best be explained by the writer's increased maturity and the different purpose in writing: it is a reworking of the history of Michael Attaleiates, with a clear aristocratic bias. It has recently been suggested, by Catherine Holmes, that we can also detect a similar aristocratic bias in the Synopsis Historion. For example, several noble families are shown to have played a prominent role in Basil II's campaigns of the tenth and early eleventh centuries, whose successors might be encouraged to fight as bravely for Alexios I.
Skylitzis Military Images (23 Images)
Skylitzis Daily Life Images (9 Images)
Who was Ioannis (John) Skylitzis
By Indunna
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