The Latin Concept of Military Operations. Procopius, born in Caesarea, Palestine at the end of the 5th century, became a lawyer. In 527 AD, he was appointed legal advisor and secretary to Belisarius, the general against the Persians, and accompanied him on two campaigns, in 533 against the Vandals and in 535 against the Ostrogoths. After 540 he returned to Constantinople. He may be the Procopius who was mayor of Constantinople in 562, but the date of his death (after 558) is unknown. Procopius's History of the Wars, in 8 volumes, recounts the Persian Wars of the emperors Justinian and Justin up to 550 (2 volumes); the Vandalic War and events in Africa 532–546 (2 volumes); the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths in Sicily and Italy 536–552 (3 volumes); and a description of events up to 554 (1 volume). The whole primarily includes military history, with much information on peoples and places, as well as on specific events. He was a diligent, careful, approved narrator of events and developments and demonstrated good descriptive skills. He is fair to the enemies of the empire and boldly criticizes Emperor Justinian. Other works by Procopius include the Anecdota or Secret History - fierce attacks against Justinian, Theodora, and others; and the Buildings of Justinian (up to 558 AD) including roads and bridges, as well as churches, fortresses, hospitals, and other parts of the empire. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Procopius is in seven volumes.