Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Selected Sources: Byzantium
Contents
General
- WEB Byzantium: The Byzantine Studies Page [Part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project]
- WEB Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies UK: Resources and Links
- WEB Dumbarton Oaks: Online Collections [At Dumbarton Oaks]
Dumbarton Oaks, in Washington D.C. is
the major center for Byzantine Studie in the US. It's online collections include Byzantine Seals, Byzantine Coins, Byzantine textiles and Manuscripts in the Byzantine Collection, with others added regularly.
- WEB Dumbarton Oaks Electronic Texts [All books still accessible via the Internet Archive]
Although removed from the DO's own website this collection of PDFs of very useful books is still available via the link above.
- WEB Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database [At Dumbarton Oaks]
The online version of the Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database, originally released in 1998 as a set of floppy disks, has two sections. The introduction contains general information about the project and bio-bibliographical introductions to each of the saints of the eighth to tenth centuries included in the project. The database itself is divided into three sections: a list of saints, a list of authors, and a search of citations. The Greek texts that the database has been permitted to reproduce either in their entirety or in sections may be accessed through the saint list (entire texts) or search citations (partial texts).
- WEB Modern Language Translations of Byzantine Sources Database maintained by Princeton University Library.
- WEB CSHB: 19th Century Editions of Major Byzantine Historians Full texts in Greek. [At Documenta Catholica]
- WEB Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams [Ghent]
- WEB Byzantium 1200
Byzantium 1200 is a project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of the Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul. It has current photographs and digital reconstruction. [Internet Archive version here]
- Paul of Aigina: The Epitome, excerpts. [a
medical text]
- A Byzantine Mathematics Textbook,
888: [Page image, now at Internet Archive]
With Euclidean theorems.
- The Suda: Entries on Grammarians, Rhetoricians ands Sophists, [Was At Leeds, now Internet Archive]
The Suda was a Byzantine "encyclopedia".
- WEB The SUDA Online [Internet Archive version here]
The Suda (or Stronghold) was a massive 10th century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, covering the whole of Greek and Roman antiquity and also including Biblical and Christian material. This is a project to make it available online.
- WEB ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World
- WEB Prosopography of the Byzantine World 1025-1180 [King's College London]
- 2ND The Lost Books of Photios' Bibliotheca [At History for Atheists] [Internet Archive version here]
The Patriarch Photios of Constantinope (c.810-c893) compiled a list including contents of all his books, or rather 280 of them (294 works). All those books were available in ninth-century Constantinople. 185 of them were "Christian", 109 "Paganor Jewish". Of that total only 107 books survive now. This is a list of what survived and what did not.
- 2ND THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM From the Seventh through the Fifteenth Century and in alternate format here (2002),
Angeliki E. Laiou
Editor-in-Chief [Was at Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
The is a five-volume work, all parts are available online, and it constitutes a major resource.
-
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Greek
Christian Poetry. [At St. Pachomius Library]
A collection of translations, including poems by: Clement of Alexandria, Gregory
Nazianzen, Amphilochius of Iconium, Synesius of Cyrene, Paul Silentiarius, George Pisidia,
John Damascene, Simeon Metaphrastes, John Maurpous of Euchaita, Theodore Prodromus, John
Tzetzes, Manuel Philes, and Maximus Margunius.
- Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800
CE
Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
- Byzantine Homosexuality texts are available at the People With a History [Part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project]
- Claudia Rapp and Johannes Prieser-Kapeller, eds.. Mobility and Migration in Byzantium; A Sourcebook [At Vr-elibrary.de] PDF [Internet Archive version here]
Five hundred pages of translations into English on sources about migration in Byzantium. Includes both internal migration, and sections on Jews, Slavs, Armenians, Varangians (Norse), Catalans, Turks, and in relation to the Crusades. Gender-related migration is also covered.
Foundations
Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565)
- Justinian and Theodora
- Government
- Society and Economy
- Church Policy
-
Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with
Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian. [Internet Archive version here]
- Wars
- Procopius (c. 500 – 565): History of the the Wars, trans. H.B Dewing. Full text. [Wikisource]
- Procopius (c. 500 – 565): The Reconquest of Africa, 534, from On
the Wars IV:9.
A description of Belisarius' triumph, with Gelimer, King of the Vandal's in tow.
- Agathias (c530-582/594CE): On the Sassanians, from Histories, trans. Averil Cameron. DOP 23 (1969) PDF [Farsib] [Internet Archive version here]
- John Malalas (c.491-578): Byzantine Warfare in the Sixth Century [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
The first account deals with a rebellion by a Thracian named Vitalian, in 515-16. Using a large army of Huns and Bulgars, Vitalian was able to capture two Byzantine military commanders, known as magistri militum, and was moving his forces upon Constantinople. The section below reveals some information about the early use of Greek fire.
- Byzantine conquest of Italy in the sixth-century, according to the Chronicle of Marcellinus (534-564) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- Maps of Late Antique and Early Medieval Ravenna, by Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis [At Indiana] [Internet Archive bersion here]
- Buildings
- Laws
- Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535,
very extensive selections, in English.
-
Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books
1-IV, [in Latin][At The Latin Library]
- Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D.
1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst. [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
- Corpus Iuris Civilis: Roman
Law Texts [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
- Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on
Marriage
- Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married
to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
- Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves &
Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
- Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas
to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
- Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c.
530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
- Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and
Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
- Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages,
c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
- Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c.
530 [Xl.51.i]
- Codex Justinianus: Violation of the Thracian Land Law,
c. 530 [XI.52.i.]
- Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel
137: Regulating Church Ritual.
- Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel
141, [544 CE]
Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
- Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novella 146: On Jews
After Justinian
- Earthquakes, Plagues, Famines c. 500-750 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Joshua the Stylite, composed in Syriac in 507 AD, full text, trans. William Wright 1882 [At Internet Archive]
- Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, trans. 2000 [At Intenet Archive]
- Theophylact Simocatta (7th century): A Byzantine campaign in the Balkans (594) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- John of Biclaro (died .c 621): The Chronicle of John of Biclaro, translation and commentary
by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
Covers the years 565-592, primarily Byzantine/Eastern Roman history and Visigothic history in Spain and parts of southern Gaul.
- Antiochus Strategos: The Sack of Jerusalem, 614.
- Theophanes the Confessor (758/60-817/818): The Campaigns of Emperor Herakleios (620-6), according to the Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): On the Factions in Egypt.
An account of the Persian conquest. Also an example of Byzantine Antisemitism, and a
version of the Blood libel.
- Sophronius Patriarch of Jerusalem. Two Poems on the Holy City (Anacreontica XIX and XX) - ca. 600 A.D. [Was At Christus Rex, now Internet Archive]
- John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu (Pp. 1-14, Contents of the CXXII Chapters) and Introduction [At Tertullian] [Internet Archive version here]
- John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu full text [Internet Archive]
-
Elliott Horowitz: "The
Vengeance of the Jews Was Stronger Than Their Avarice": Modern Historians and the
Persian Conquest of Jerusalem in 614, Jewish Social Studies Volume 4, Number
2
- Huneberc of Heidenheim: The Hodoeporican of St. Willibald,
8th Century.
Describes a pilgrimmage to Jerusalem in this period.
- The Mozarabic Chronicle (754CE): full translation and analysis by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
A contemporary Latin-language source on the Muslim invasion and conquest of Spain during the early eighth century.
- The Byzantine-Arabic Chronicle (8th century): full translation and analysis by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
An early Latin language text that partly describes the rise of Islam and some of the early Muslim conquests. The original text is included in a collection of writings called Corpus Scriptorum Muzarabicorum ("Corpus of Mozarabic Writings") compiled by Juan Gil..
Iconoclasm
- John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730,
extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom. See also
Catholic Encyclopedia: John
Damascene, Saint,
Catholic
Encyclopedia: Catholic Encyclopedia: conoclasm, and
Catholic
Encyclopedia: Veneration of Images.
- John of Damascus: Apologia Against Those Who
Decry Holy Images
- Iconoclasm I 726-787 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Iconoclasm II 813-843 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, full
text.
- Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787
- Life of Ignatios the Patriarch, attributed to Nicetas David Paphlago [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Charlemagne: Letter to Nikephoros I (811) [At Historian's Sketchpad] [Internet Archive version here]
- Leo III and Constantine V: A Manual of Roman Law: The "Ecloga", trans E. Freshfied, 1926, fulls text [PDF]
- A letter from Charlemagne to Emperor Nicephorus I. 811, beginning of the year: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
- A letter from Charlemagne to Emperor Michael I. 813, beginning of the year: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
Byzantine Imperial Centuries (843-1204)
- Macedonian Dynasty
- The Farmer's Law, 7-8th Century.
- John Kaminiates (10th century): The Siege of Thessaloniki by Muslim Forces (904) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893): Ekphasis of the Image of the Virgin in Hagia Sophia (Homily 17: Of the Same Most-Blessed Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Homily Delivered from the Ambo of the Great Church, on Holy Saturday, in the Presence of the Christ-Loving Emperors, when the Form of the Theotokos had been Depicted and Uncovered). Translated by Cyril Mango. [At Orthodox Study Group] [Internet Archive version here]
- Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893) The Library of Photius (Bibliotheca) (Myrobiblion), trans John Henry Freese [At Internet Archive]
- Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893): Bibliotheca [At Tertuliian] [Internet Archive version here]
- Leo the Deacon (borm c. 950): The Siege of Tarsos by the Emperor Nicephorus Phocas (965) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- Chronicle of 811 About the Emperor Nikephoros and how he leaves his bones in Bulgaria, from Ed. I. Dujcev, Travaux et Mémoires 1 (1965), 205-54 at 210-16. [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
-
Symeon Logothete: Chronicle,
excerpts on the Reign of Constantine VII, trans, Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
-
Theophanes Continuatus: Chronicle,
excerpts on the Reign of Romanos I Lekapenos, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
-
Constantine VII Porphygenitus: De Ceremonies Aulae Byzantinae: A Diplomatic Stylesheet: Protocols and Forms of Address for Foreign Potentates, (De
Ceremoniis, bk 2, cc. 46-48), trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
-
Leo the Deacon (born c. 950); Histories,
excerpts, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- John Skylitzes: Synopsis Historion, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission
to Constantinople, 963. full text
- Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report
on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
- Military Religious service documents of the mid-tenth century, 1127-1129 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th
Century).
- Constantine the Rhodian:
The Seven Wonders of Constantinople: The Senate House and the Bronze Statue of Athena in the Forum of Constantine, mid 10th century[Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- A Byzantine Satirical Song of the late tenth century [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
-
John Skylitzes: Synopsis Historion, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina) + Chaps 30-35 and Chap 36 , trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
With an account of the Battle of Kleidion, 29 July 1014.
- Epitaph on Tomb of Basil II (d 1025).
trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
- Heron of Byzantium: Siegecraft: Two Tenth-Century Instructional Manuals PDF Format [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
- Eleventh Century Conflicts
- Theodoros Skoutariotes: The Emperors of the 11th
Century, from the Synopsis Chronika.
- Michael Psellus (1018-after 1078): Chronographia,
full text.
The history of the Roman Empire 976-1078 by one of the liveliest writers of the middle
ages.
Image of Michael Psellos as monk, educating the emperor Michael VII Doukas(ca. 1050-ca. 1090; emperor: 1071-1078); from ms. Athos, Παντοκράτορος 234 (late 12th c.), f. 254r; the original size of the figures is less than 3 cm
- Michael Psellus (1018-after 1078): Encomium of His Mother,
trans Jeffrey Walker, full text. [PDF doc] [At Documenta Catholica] [Internet Archive version here] .
- Patriarch Michael Keroularios (c 1000 - 21 January 1059): Letter to Peter, Patriarch of Antioch (concerning Schism of 1054), Sometime in June or July 1054. Trans by Tia Kolbaba.
- Patriarch Peter of Antioch: Letter to Michael, Patriarch of Constantinople (concerning Schism of 1054). Sometime in July or August 1054, trans by Tia Kolbaba.
- Kekaumenos (11th century): Consilia et Narrationes, Greek text, English translation and commentary by Charlotte Roueché [At Ancient Wisdoms] [Internet Archive version here]
- Kekaumenos (11th century): Logos Nouthetetikos, or Oration of Admonition to an Emperor §§77-88 of the Strategikon trans. by W.L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
- The Komnenoi
The Final Centuries
- The Crusades and Latin Empire
- The Nicean Period
- The Palaiologoi
- The Peloponnese and Mistra
- Trebizond
- The Fall of Constantinople and Aftermath
- After Byzantium
Byzantine Religion
-
WEB St. Pachomius
Library: Global Index, for listing of Orthodox documents online.
- General Religion
- Ecclesiastical Organization
- Theology
- Spirituality
- Sanctity
- Palladius: The Lausiac History [extended
excerpts]
Includes lives of a number of saintly women.
- Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina,
trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke [full text].
One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's
strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379)
- The Life of Daniel the Stylite [Full text], the
fifth-century saint who spent 33 years on a pillar in Constantinople. See also
Catholic Encyclopedia: Stylites.
- Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa
Ben Nasser, [full text of Metaphrastic Life: selections from Vita Prima].
An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure.
- The Life of Theodore of Sykeon, Full text.
This Life of seventh-century saint is a major source for Byzantine rural and social
history, as well as about the cult of saints.
- Leontius of Neapolis (7th Century): The Life of John
the Almsgiver [Full text].
- Life of Irene, Abbess of the Convent of
Chrysobalanton, trans. Jan Olof Rosenqvist
- Lennart Rydén: The Life of St Andrew the Fool: Vol. 1: Introduction, Testimonies and Nachleben. Indices [Internet Archive backup here] and The Life of St Andrew the Fool Vol. 2: Text, Translation and Notes. Appendices [Internet Archive backup here] full text [At Uppsala]
- Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul
Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
- The Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, full text in
Greek [Unicode]
- The Life of Lazaros of Mt. Galesion: An Eleventh-Century Pillar Saint [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now at Internet Acrhive] A good part of the published translation.
In PDF Format
- Gregory of Constantinople: Life of St. Romylos, A 14th
Century Hesychast saint. [full permission pending]
- Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives
in English Translation - to access chapter files individually see here [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
Complete texts of translations of female saints lives.
The texts are all in PDF form.
-
Front Matter, General Introduction,
Acknowledgments, List of Abbreviations
- A. Nuns Disguised as Monks
-
1. Life of St. Mary/Marinos / translated
by Nicholas Constas
-
2. Life of St. Matrona of Perge / Jeffrey
Featherstone and Cyril Mango /
- B. Female Solitaries
-
3. Life of St. Mary of Egypt / Maria
Kouli
-
4. Life of St. Theoktiste of Lesbos /
Angela C. Hero /
- C. Cenobitic Nuns
-
5. Life of St. Elisabeth the Wonderworker / Valerie Karras
-
6. Life of St. Athanasia of Aegina / Lee
Francis Sherry
-
7. Life of St. Theodora of Thessalonike /
Alice-Mary Talbot
- D. Pious Housewives
-
8. Life of St. Mary the Younger /
Angeliki E. Laiou
-
9. Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos / Paul
Halsall
-
E. A Saintly Empress
- 10. Life of St. Theodora of Arta /
Alice-Mary Talbot /
-
Indexes /
Index of People and Places; General Index Index of Notable Greek Words
- Monasticism
- Theodore of Studium (d.826): Reform Rules. See
also
Catholic Encyclopedia:
Studion
- Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments. Edited by John
Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero with the assistance of Giles Constable. To access chapter files individually see here
- Preface, Giles Constable
-
Early Monastic Rules
-
Chapter One: Traditional Private
Religious Foundations / 61k
- Introduction
- Seventh Century
-
1. Apa Abraham: Testament of Apa
Abraham, Bishop of Hermonthis, for the Monastery of St. Phoibammon near Thebes, Egypt
(trans. Leslie S. B. MacCoull)
- Eighth Century
-
2. Pantelleria: Typikon of John for
the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Pantelleria (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
- Ninth Century
-
3. Theodore Studites: Testament of
Theodore the Studite for the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans.
Timothy Miller)
-
4. Stoudios: Rule of the Monastery
of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller)
- Tenth Century
-
5. Euthymios: Testament of
Euthymios for the Monasteries of Psamathia and Ta Agathou (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)
-
6. Rila: Testament of John of Rila
(trans. Ilija Iliev)
-
7. Latros: Testament of Paul the
Younger for the Monastery of the Mother of God tou Stylou on Mount Latros (trans.
Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
- Eleventh Century
-
8. John Xenos: Testament of John
Xenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Antiphonetria of Myriokephala on Crete
(trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
-
9. Galesios: Testament of Lazarus
of Mount Galesios (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter) /
-
10. Eleousa: Rule of Manuel, Bishop
of Stroumitza, for the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
-
Chapter Two: Athonite
Monasteries
- Introduction
- Tenth Century
-
11. Ath. Rule: Rule of Athanasios
the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
-
12. Tzimiskes: Typikon of Emperor
John Tzimiskes (trans. George Dennis)
-
13. Ath. Typikon: Typikon of
Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
-
14. Ath. Testament: Testament of
Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
-
15. Constantine IX: Typikon of
Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (trans. Timothy Miller)
-
Chapter Three: The Protectorate
- Introduction
- Tenth Century
-
16. Mount Tmolos: Typikon of
Nikephoros Erotikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God and the Old Age Home called Ta
Derma on Mount Tmolos (trans. John Thomas) / 31k
-
17. Nikon Metanoeite: Testament of
Nikon the Metanoeite for the Church and Monastery of the Savior, the Mother of God and St.
Kyriake in Lakedaimon (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
- Eleventh Century
-
18. Nea Gephyra: Testament of
Nikodemos for the Monastery of Nea Gephyra near Lakedaimon (trans. Stephen Reinert)
-
19. Attaleiates: Rule of Michael
Attaleiates for his Almshouse in Rhaidestos and for the Monastery of Christ Panoiktirmon
in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
20. Black Mountain: Regulations of
Nikon of the Black Mountain (trans. Robert Allison) /
-
21. Roidion: Typikon of Nikon of
the Black Mountain for the Monastery and Hospice of the Mother of God Tou Roidiou (trans.
Robert Allison)
-
Chapter Four: Early Reform
Monasteries of the Eleventh Century
- Introduction
-
22. Evergetis: Typikon of Timothy
for the Monastery of the Mother of God Evergetis (trans. Robert Jordan) /
-
23. Pakourianos: Typikon of Gregory
Pakourianos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Backovo (trans.
Robert Jordan) /
-
24. Christodoulos: Rule, Testament
and Codicil of Christodoulos for the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos
(trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)
-
Chapter Five: Imperial and Royal
Monasteries of the Twelfth Century
- Introduction
-
25. Fragala: Testaments of Gregory
for the Monastery of St. Philip of Fragala in Sicily (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter and
Timothy Miller)
-
26. Luke of Messina: Typikon of
Luke for the Monastery of Christ Savior (San Salvatore) in Messina (trans. Timothy Miller)
-
27. Kecharitomene: Typikon of
Empress Irene Doukaina Komnene for the Convent of the Mother of God Kecharitomene in
Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan)
-
28. Pantokrator: Typikon of Emperor
John II Komnenos for the Monastery of Christ Pantokrator at Constantinople (trans. Robert
Jordan)
-
29. Kosmosoteira: Typikon of the
Sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Kosmosoteira near Bera
(trans. Nancy Patterson Sevcenko)
-
Chapter Six: Early Reform
Monasteries of the Twelfth Century
- Introduction
-
30. Phoberos: Rule of John for the
Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Phoberos (trans. Robert Jordan)
-
31. Areia: Memorandum and Typikon
of Leo, Bishop of Nauplia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God in Areia (trans.
Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
32. Mamas: Typikon of Athanasios
Philanthropenos for the Monastery of St. Mamas in Constantinople (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
/
-
33. Heliou Bomon: Typikon of
Nikephoros Mystikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God ton Heliou Bomon or Elegmon
(trans. Anastasius Bandy) /
-
Chapter Seven: Independent and
Self-Governing Monasteries of the Thirteenth Century
- Introduction
-
34. Machairas: Rule of Neilos,
Bishop of Tamasia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God of Machairas in Cyprus (trans.
Anastasius Bandy)
-
35. Skoteine: Testament of Maximos
for the Monastery of the Mother of God at Skoteine near Philadelphia (trans. George
Dennis)
-
36. Blemmydes: Typikon of
Nikephoros Blemmydes for the Monastery of the Lord Christ-Who-Is at Ematha near Ephesos
(trans. Joseph Munitiz) /
-
37. Auxentios: Typikon of Michael
VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of the Archangel Michael on Mount Auxentios near
Chalcedon (trans. George Dennis)
-
38. Kellibara I: Typikon of Michael
VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios of the Palaiologoi-Kellibara in
Constantinople (trans. George Dennis)
-
39. Lips: Typikon of Theodora
Palaiologina for the Convent of Lips in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
40. Anargyroi: Typikon of Theodora
Palaiologina for the Convent of Sts. Kosmas and Damian in Constantinople (trans.
Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
Chapter Eight: Later Private
Religious Foundations / 61k
- Introduction
- Twelfth Century
-
41. Docheiariou: Rule of Neophytos
for the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel of Docheiariou on Mount Athos (trans.
Robert Allison)
-
42. Sabas: Founder's Typikon of the
Sabas Monastery near Jerusalem (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
-
43. Kasoulon: Rule of Nicholas for
the Monastery of St. Nicholas of Kasoulon near Otranto (trans. Timothy Miller)
-
44. Karyes: Typikon of Sabbas the
Serbian for the Kellion of St. Sabbas at Karyes on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)
- Thirteenth Century
-
45. Neophytos: Testamentary Rule of
Neophytos for the Hermitage of the Holy Cross near Ktima in Cyprus (trans. Catia
Galatariotou)
- Fourteenth Century
-
46. Akropolites: Testament of
Constantine Akropolites for the Monastery of the Resurrection (Anastasis) in
Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
47. Philanthropos: Typikon of Irene
Choumnaina Palaiologina for the Convent of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople (trans.
Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
48. Prodromos: Testament of Neilos
for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos (trans. Stephen
Reinert)
-
49. Geromeri: Testament of Neilos
Erichiotes for the Monastery of the Mother of God Hodegetria in Geromeri (trans. George
Dennis)
-
50. Gerasimos: Testament of
Gerasimos for the Small Monastery of St. Euthymios in Jerusalem (trans. George Dennis)
-
51. Koutloumosi: Testaments of
Chariton for the Monastery of Christ Savior of Koutloumousi on Mount Athos (trans. George
Dennis)
-
52. Choumnos: Rule and Testament of
Makarios Choumnos for the Nea Mone of the Mother of God in Thessalonike (trans. Alice-Mary
Talbot)
-
53. Meteora: Canonical Rule of
Athanasios the Meteorite for the Monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) (trans.
George Dennis)
- Fifteenth Century
-
54. Neilos Damilas: Testament and
Typikon of Neilos Damilas for the Convent of the Mother of God Pantanassa at Baionaia on
Crete (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
Chapter Nine: Independent and
Self-Governing Monasteries of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries
- Introduction
- Fourteenth Century
-
55. Athanasios I: Rule of Patriarch
Athanasios I (trans. Timothy Miller)
-
56. Kellibara II: Typikon of
Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios-Kellibara in Constantinople
(trans. George Dennis)
-
57. Bebeia Elpis: Typikon of
Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople
(trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
58. Menoikeion: Typikon of Joachim,
Metropolitan of Zichna, for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Mount Menoikeion
near Serres (trans. Timothy Miller)
- Fifteenth Century
-
59. Manuel II: Typikon of Emperor
Manuel II Palaiologos for the Monasteries of Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)
-
60. Charsianeites: Testament of
Patriarch Matthew I for the Monastery of Charsianeites Dedicated to the Mother of God Nea
Peribleptos (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
-
61. Eleousa Inv.: Inventory of the
Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa in Stroumitza (trans. Anastasius Bandy, with Nancy
Sevcenko)
-
Appendix A: Concordance with
Previous Lists
-
Appendix B: The Regulation of Diet
in the Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents
-
Appendix C: Topical
Interrelationships of the Families of the Typika of the Byzantine Monastic Reform Movement
- Liturgy
- Heresy and Dissent
The Byzantine Commonwealth
- Syria
- Armenia
- WEB Armenian/Georgian Historical Resources Site [Internet Archive version here which will also link to any of the texts below].
Various full text translations by Robert Bedrosian.
- P'awstos Buzandac'i'. History of the Armenians, 5th century, full
text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus]
- Ghazar P'arbec'i'. History of the Armenians,
5th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, At [At Atallus]
- Sebeos: History, 7th century, full text,
trans. Robert Bedrosian,[At Atallus] [this is the first of a series of
files].
- John Mamikonean: History of Taron, 10th
century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus] [this is the first
of a series of files].
- Aristakes Lastivertc'i': History,
11th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus]
- The Georgian Chronicle, 12-13th century,
full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian,[At Atallus]
- Kirakos Gandzakets'i': History of the Armenians,
13th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus].
- T'ovma Metsobets'i': History of Tamerlane and His Successors , full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus].
- The Geography of Ananias Of Širak, (7th Century), trans by Robert H. Hewsen [Internet Archive]
- Claudia Rapp and Johannes Prieser-Kapeller, eds.. Mobility and Migration in Byzantium; A Sourcebook [At Vr-elibrary.de] PDF [Internet Archive version here]
Five hundred pages of translations into English on sources about migration in Byzantium. Includes both internal migration, and sections on Jews, Slavs, Armenians, Varangians (Norse), Catalans, Turks, and in relation to the Crusades. Gender-related migration is also covered.
- Bulgaria
- Serbia/Montenegro
- Slavonic Life of Constantine (Vita Constantini) (late 9th Century) [At UFL] [Internet Archive version here]
Earliest text written in Old Church Slavoni, was composed some time between Constantine's death in 862 and December 885.
- 2ND: T. Živković: On The Baptism of the Serbs and Croats in thge Time of Basil I (867–886) [Internet Archive version here]
-
Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina) + Chaps 30-35 and Chap 36 , trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
"Also known as the Bar Genealogy, was originally composed in Slavonic in the late
twelfth century, but has been preserved only in a sixteenth-century Latin translation. It
was probably the work of Grgur (Gregory), bishop of Bar from 1172 to c. 1196, who
championed the rights of the bishopric of Bar to preside over all the lands south of the
river Cetina. A Major source for the Balkan history of the period."
- Old Serbian Tales: Marko and
the Turks, c. 1450
A Serbian poem about the fight with the Turks.
- Vikings
- Inner Asia
The Byzantine Commonwealth:
Russia
- WEB Primary Sources for Medieval Rus' [Was At University of Washington, now Internet Archive]
- Ibn al-Athīr: Accounts of the Rūs (10th to 13th centuries) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
- Medieval Russia's epics, chronicles, and tales, ed Serge A. Zenkovsky (1963) [At Internet Archive]
- The Chronicle of Nestor.
- The Chronicle of Novgorod 1016–1471, excerpts.
- The Chronicle of Novgorod 1016–1471, full text, trans Robert Michel and Nevill Forbes [At Internet Archive]
- Privileges Granted to German Merchants at
Novgorod, 1229
- The Russian Primary Chronicle Laurentian Text.
Translated and edited by Samuel Hazard Cross and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetor, full text PDF [At MFH] [Internet Archive version here]
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: Ruskaia Pravda. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
An early Law code
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: The Founding of the City of Kiev. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Nestor: The Martyrdom of Boris and Gleb, d. 1015. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianisation of Russia, 988. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: The Varangians (Normans). [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: Prince Oleg's Campaign Against Constantinople. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Daniel (1106-1107): The Pilgrimage of the Russian Abbot Daniel in the Holy Land, 1106-1107 A.D., annotated by
Sir C. W.Wilson (London, 1895) [At Holy Fire [Internet Archive version here]
-
Metropolitan Hilarion: Sermon on Law and Grace. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Russian Primary Chronicle: The Testament of Vladimir Monomakh. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
The Lay of Igor's Raid. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Life, Acts, and Miracles of Sergius of Radonezh,
(c.1314-1392). [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Filofei: Moscow as the Third Rome.
[Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
Prince Andrew Kurbskii: First Epistle Written to the Tsar and Grand Prince of Moscow in Consequence of His Fierce Persecution . [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
-
The Domostroi: How to Educate Children and Bring Them Up In the Fear of God, excerpts, mid-16th century [Was At Durham, now at Internet Archive]
- Peter Moghila of Kiev (1596-1646): Orthodox Confession of the Faith. Perhaps the most Western "Orthodox" confession ever
written. [Internet Acrhive]
- Letter from Ivan the Terrible to Elizabeth I. [At Internet Archive]
- THE LIFE OF SAINT PETER, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW [Internet Archive]
-
The Code of Law of 1649 (Ulozhenie), excerpts. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
Accounts of Byzantium by Others
- Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission
to Constantinople, 963. full text
- Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
- An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th
Century).
- Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
Includes an account of Constantinople.
- Chinese Accounts of
Rome, Byzantium and the Middle East, c. 91 B.C.E. - 1643 C.E.
- Chu Yuan-Chang: Manifesto
of Accession as First Ming Emperor, 1372 C.E. Sent to the Byzantine Emperor.
- ‘Abd Allāh b. al-Sabbāḥ (14th Century): Travels in Constantinople from Nisbah al-Akhbār wa Taẓkirat al-Akhyār. An Andalusi Mudéjar in 14th-c. Constantinople: The Travels of Ibn al-Sabbah, trans Mohammed Ballan [At Ballandalus] [Internet Archive version here]
- Benjamin of Tudela (1160-1173): The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela Critical Text, Translation and Commentary by Marcus Nathan Adler.
- Felix Fabri (1480 & 1483-84): The Book of the Wanderings of Felix Fabri (Circa 1480-1483 A.D.) trans. Aubrey Stewart. 2 vols. London: Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society, 1896 [At Internet Archive was at Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
- Pietro Casola (1494): Canon Pietro Casola's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Year 1494. trans. Mary Margaret Newett. Manchester: The University Press, 1907. [At Internet Archive was at Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
NOTES: copyrighted means the text is not available for free distribution. Links to files at other site are indicated by [At some indication of the site name or
location]. No indication means that the text file is local. WEB indicates a link to one of
small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially
valuable overview.
The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
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© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 4 October 2024 [CV]
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