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John I AntiochByzantine historian of the 7th century
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- John of Antioch: A Byzantine Chronicler
- Literary Influences
- The Chronicle
- Fragmentary Survival
- Scholarly Debate
- Contributions to Ecclesiastical History
John of Antioch: A Byzantine Chronicler
Early Life and BackgroundJohn of Antioch was a seventh-century Byzantine historian and monk who lived during the reign of Emperor Heraclius (610-641). He wrote a historical chronicle that spanned from the creation of Adam to the death of Emperor Phocas in 610.
Literary Influences
John's chronicle drew heavily upon the works of earlier historians, including Sextus Julius Africanus, Eusebius, Ammianus Marcellinus, Priscus, and John Malalas. The similarities between John's work and that of John Malalas, also from Antioch, led to confusion among medieval compilers.
The Chronicle
Historical CoverageJohn's chronicle covered the period from the fifth century to the early seventh century. It contained valuable information about key events, including the coup in Rome in 455 and the subsequent Vandal invasion. It also provided the first written account of the appearance of the Bulgars in the Balkans.
Fragmentary Survival
The chronicle has survived only in fragments, preserved in two collections:
Codex Parisinus:Assembled by the 17th-century French historian Claudius Salmasius
Byzantine Encyclopedia of History:A partially preserved Byzantine encyclopedia from the tenth century, commissioned by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus
Scholarly Debate
The differences in the surviving fragments have led some scholars to suggest that there may have been two different historians named John of Antioch. However, both collections of fragments have been published by Karl Müller.
Contributions to Ecclesiastical History
Persecutions of Early ChristianityJohn's chronicle also contained information about the persecutions faced by early Christians. He described the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as the sufferings endured by Christians under Roman emperors such as Nero and Diocletian.
