The Secret History. By Procopius FULL Audiobook
The Secret History, written by the Byzantine historian Procopius, is a scathing and controversial work that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the court of Emperor Justinian I. Here's a detailed summary:
1. Background and Purpose:
- Procopius, a historian and advisor to General Belisarius, wrote this work in the 6th century.
- The book is also known as "Anecdota" or "Historia Arcana".
- Purpose: Procopius intended it as a supplement to his earlier work, "The Wars", but he couldn't include certain details due to fear of retribution from Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
2. Content and Tone:
- Vehement Invective: The Secret History is an unfiltered, passionate attack on the rulers of Byzantium.
- Targets:
- Justinian: Procopius criticizes Justinian's policies, decisions, and personal life.
- Theodora: The Empress is portrayed negatively, with accusations of promiscuity and manipulation.
- Belisarius: Despite being a great general, Belisarius faces criticism too.
- Other Officials: Procopius spares no one, exposing corruption and moral failings.
3. Themes and Revelations:
- Betrayal and Deception: The book reveals secrets, scandals, and hidden motives.
- Sexual Intrigue: Procopius delves into the sexual escapades of the court.
- Political Machinations: The power struggles, conspiracies, and backstabbing are laid bare.
- Emperor's True Nature: The Secret History portrays Justinian as ruthless, cunning, and hypocritical.
4. Belisarius and Theodora:
- Belisarius: Despite being a hero, he is portrayed as a pawn manipulated by Justinian and Theodora.
- Theodora: Procopius suggests that she was an actress and prostitute before becoming Empress.
5. Legacy and Controversy:
- Impact: The Secret History didn't gain immediate popularity but influenced later historians.
- Controversy: Scholars debate its authenticity and whether Procopius intended it for publication.
- Historical Value: While biased, it provides unique insights into Byzantine court life.
In summary, The Secret History is a venomous exposé that pulls back the curtain on the Byzantine Empire's rulers, revealing their flaws, intrigues, and hidden agendas. Procopius's unapologetic tone and willingness to defy convention make this work a fascinating historical document ..
More: Byzantine, Emperors, Justinian
Theodora, Corruption, Tyrants
Belisarius, Antonina, Vehement invective
Supplement, Wars, Authoritarian rule
Demonic, Monarchs, Explosive energy
00:00:00 Introduction
00:20:21 Foreword by the Historian
00:23:19 The Secret History. I: How the Great General Belisarius Was Hoodwinked by His Wife, Whose Lover Became a Monk
00:31:08 II: How Belated Jealousy Affected Belisarius’s Military Judgment, to the Joy of the Enemy
00:40:06 III: Showing the Danger of Interfering with a Woman’s Intrigues, Especially When the Woman Is the Friend of an Empress
00:47:13 IV: How Theodora, Revenging Her Dear Antonina, Humiliated the Conqueror of Africa and Italy
00:56:17 V: How Theodora Tricked the General’s Daughter Into a Liaison with the Empress’s Nephew, and Belisarius Became a Public Laughing Stock
01:05:23 VI: Ignorance of the Emperor Justin, and His Stencilled Signature, and How His Nephew Justinian Was the Virtual Ruler
01:11:08 VII: Outrages of the Blues
01:19:50 VIII: Character and Appearance of Justinian
01:27:06 IX: And How Theodora, Most Depraved of All Courtesans, Won His Love
01:37:19 X: How Justinian Created a New Law Permitting Him to Marry a Courtesan on Her Promise to Repent Her Past; and the Truth About the Apparent Quarrels of a Happy Pair
01:44:28 XI: How the Defender of the Faith Ruined His Subjects
01:53:26 XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form
02:01:51 XIII: Deceptive Affability and Piety of a Tyrant
02:08:50 XIV: Justice for Sale
02:14:17 XV: How an Roman Citizens Became Slaves, and a Complaining Patrician Was Ribaldly Mocked by Theodora’s Eunuchs
02:21:27 XVI: What Happened to Those Who Fell Out of Favor with Theodora
02:28:04 XVII: How She Saved Five Hundred Harlots from a Life of Sin, Made Away with Her Own Natural Son, and Other Curious Incidents of Her Passion for Match Making
02:37:32 XVIII: How Justinian Killed a Trillion People
02:46:25 XIX: How He Seized All the Wealth of the Romans and Threw It Away in the Sea and on the Barbarians
02:50:39 XX: Debasing of the Quaestorship
02:56:22 XXI: The Sky Tax, the Selling of All Offices, and How Border Armies Were Forbidden to Punish Invading Barbarians
03:02:34 XXII: Further Corruption in High Places
03:10:43 XXIII: How Landowners Were Ruined
03:16:25 XXIV: Unjust Treatment of the Soldiers, and How Justinian Tricked the “Students” Out of Their Pay by Threatening to Send Them to War
03:23:16 XXV: How He Robbed His Own Officials, Merchants, Sailors, Workmen, and Everybody Else
03:30:27 XXVI: How He Spoiled the Beauty of the Cities and
