The Secret History - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Secret History, penned by the Byzantine scholar Procopius, is no mere historical account but a scandalous exposé camouflaged as a historical chronicle. It purports to unveil the hidden affairs of Emperor Justinian I, his wife Theodora, and the general Belisarius, offering a sharp contrast to Procopius’ publicly commissioned works. This damning testimony, also known as Anekdota (literally, "unpublished things"), has long challenged conventional understandings of the Byzantine Empire's Golden Age, inviting us to question the rosy picture often painted in official narratives.
The earliest extant copies of The Secret History date from the medieval period, much later than its purported composition in the mid-6th century. While definitive dating remains elusive, internal references suggest near completion around 550 AD, coinciding with periods of intense political and social upheaval in Constantinople. That era was marked by the devastating plague of 541-542 AD, revolts like the Nika riots, and the endless wars of Justinian’s reign, all events casting long shadows of discontent that could well have fueled Procopius’ scathing critique.
Over the centuries, reception of The Secret History was mixed, oscillating between outright dismissal as libelous gossip and grudging acceptance as a valuable, albeit biased, counter-narrative. Edward Gibbon, in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, judiciously incorporated some anecdotes, yet others considered them too salacious or unreliable. Intriguingly, figures like Theodora, portrayed as monstrous by Procopius, underwent re-evaluation in later feminist scholarship, her origins as a former actress now seen as a source of her strength rather than shame. Could Procopius' portrayal of these figures have been a manipulation of known truths?
The legacy of The Secret History lies in its enduring power to provoke debate and encourage skepticism toward power. Its unflattering portrayal of Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius provides a necessary counterpoint to formal histories, reminding us that even the most carefully constructed narratives may conceal uncomfortable truths. As a precursor to modern investigative journalism, The Secret History continues to resonate, prompting us to ask: how much of history remains shrouded in the shadows, awaiting rediscovery?