Did a 6th-century historian secretly document a demon-possessed emperor to save his own life?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Procopius of Caesarea was the primary chronicler of Emperor Justinian I, yet he left behind a scandalous manuscript that remained hidden for centuries. While his official histories praised the regime, his Secret History painted a grotesque portrait of demonic rulers and palace intrigue, possibly as a desperate insurance policy against political ruin.

Procopius, a lawyer and legal adviser to the general Belisarius, served as the principal historian of the 6th-century Byzantine Empire. His career spanned the major military campaigns of Emperor Justinian I, including the reconquest of North Africa and Italy. Throughout his life, he produced three distinct types of work: the expansive History of the Wars, the laudatory On Buildings, and the incendiary Secret History, which was only discovered in the Vatican Library in 1623.

The Secret History stands in stark contrast to his public-facing writings. While On Buildings presents Justinian as a pious, idealised Christian leader, the Secret History depicts him as a venal, incompetent tyrant—even claiming he was a demon in human form whose head would occasionally vanish from his shoulders. Procopius similarly attacked Empress Theodora, describing her as a vulgar, power-hungry figure. These accounts were so dangerous that Procopius admitted he could not publish them while the subjects were alive, fearing the reach of their spies and informers.

Historians remain divided on how to interpret these contradictions. Some scholars, such as Henning Börm, suggest the Secret History was an exaggerated insurance policy; if a conspiracy succeeded in overthrowing Justinian, Procopius could present the manuscript to the new regime to prove his opposition to the fallen emperor. Others, like Averil Cameron, argue that his works form a unified, if complex, discourse. Regardless of his true intent, Procopius’s reliance on classical models like Thucydides and his unique access to the imperial inner circle have made his writings the essential, if controversial, foundation for our understanding of the Justinianic age.

Beyond his historical impact, Procopius has left a lasting mark on literature. His vivid, often bizarre descriptions—ranging from extreme weather events in 535–536 to the scandalous antics of the imperial court—have inspired authors from Robert Graves to Herman Melville. By blending the traditions of the Second Sophistic with the harsh realities of 6th-century power, Procopius remains a pivotal, if enigmatic, figure in the history of Western historiography.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• A sixth-century church reader preserved the history of an entire empire through his chronicles.
• The Historia Augusta's six authors were probably one ancient hoaxer
• Was Theodosius II a weak puppet or a sophisticated architect of the Roman state?
• How a Roman usurper lost his throne through a single battlefield conversation
• Was the most powerful church leader of the ninth century a master of deceit?
• How a song about a washerwoman became a global anthem of liberation and soul
• From six local awards to a global powerhouse: the evolution of the Emmy
• Why do authors pretend to be someone else, and does it matter?
• A banned Urdu collection forced a new pen name
• Puja is the ancient Hindu art of hosting the divine as an honored guest.
• The Soviet Union's most influential newspaper was once a tool for political survival
• Is Punch and Judy a violent relic or a subversive icon of British culture?

More in Writers · More in Ideas & Philosophy · Latest · A–Z · All topics