Ancient Military Operations

Procopius, born in Caesarea in Palestine in the late 5th century, became a lawyer. In 527 AD, he was appointed legal adviser and secretary to Belisarius, commander against the Persians, and followed him in 533 against the Vandals and in 535 against the Ostrogoths. Sometime after 540, he returned to Constantinople. He may be the same Procopius who served as prefect of Constantinople in 562, but the date of his death (after 558) is unknown.

His "History of the Wars," in 8 books, recounts the Persian Wars of the emperors Justin and Justinian up to 550 (2 books), the Vandalic War and its aftermath in Africa 532–546 (2 books), the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths in Sicily and Italy 536–552 (3 books) and a description of events up to 554 (1 book). The work is mainly a military history, with much information about peoples and places, and special events.

Procopius was a diligent and careful narrator of events and developments, with good descriptive skills. He is fair to the empire's enemies and severely criticizes Emperor Justinian. Other works by Procopius include the "Anecdota" or "Secret History"—fierce attacks on Justinian, Theodora, and others, and the "Buildings of Justinian" (up to 558 AD), which includes roads, bridges, churches, forts, hospitals, and more in various parts of the empire.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Procopius is in seven volumes.