The Lost History of Peter the Patrician

An Account of Rome's Imperial Past from the Age of Justinian

Thomas Banchich, Thomas M. Banchich

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9780415516631
• eBook ISBN: 9781317501435
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Histoire
• Subtopic: Histoire antique

The Lost History of Peter the Patrician is an annotated translation from the Greek of the fragments of Peter's History, including additional fragments which are now more often considered the work of the Roman historian Cassius Dio's so-called Anonymous Continuer. Banchich's annotation helps clarify the relationship of Peter's work to that of Cassius Dio. Focusing on the historical and historiographical rather than philological, he provides a strong framework for the understanding of this increasingly important source for the third and fourth centuries A.D.

With an introduction on Peter himself - a distinguished administrator and diplomat at the court of Justinian – assessing his literary output, the relationship of the fragments of Peter's History to the fragments of the Anonymous Continuer, and the contentious issue of the place of this evidence within the framework of late antique historiography, The Lost History of Peter the Patrician will be an invaluable resource for those interested in the history of the Roman world in general and of the third and fourth centuries A.D. in particular.

PETER’S HISTORY

TESTIMONY

T 1

John Lydus De Magistratibus II.25–26 (Wünsch, pp. 80.19–82.10 = T 1 Müller FHG IV, p. 183): And to those longing not to be ignorant of the succession of magistri up to our day, Peter, the consummately great intellect and trusty teacher of general history suffices for instruction through the things which he composed about what is referred to as the magisterium.

The power of the office advanced, then, to a higher degree. For not only is the magister entrusted to be in charge of the embassies of the nations arriving under him, both the public post and weighty multitude of those formerly frumentarii but now magistriani, but also the production of and authority over weapons and, furthermore, over matters of state. Standing out is Peter, the grand, second to none in virtues in any respect. For he preserves and guards the court and does not spurn Roman majesty, which, nearly having been destroyed by his predecessors’ stupidity, in as much as he is wise and ever devoting himself to the books, he restores. And knowing the laws, if anybody does, in which he was reared from childhood, defending those in need, he showed himself both a magistrate most great and exuding due pride of his authority and a juryman keen and knowing absolutely how to judge the just, fortune in no way prostrating him. For he is mild and gentle, but not manipulable nor inclining toward requests outside the laws, and at once trusty and discerning in advance the desires of those approaching him, conceding not a moment to amusements, devoting the night to the books, the day to matters of business, and not thoughtlessly whistling away the day in chats between the court and his home, wrapping himself in intellectual inquiries and in narrations of more ancient matters with those who occupy themselves about these things. And not a moment for him is free of lessons, so the expounders of intellectual things fear their conversation with him. For he surrounds them with data and convolutions, in due measure rebuking them gently that “they are only said to be, but are not the sort of men rumor reports them to be.” And for me in particular, the time together with him stirs up vertigos not insignificant. For I delight in him, because he is simultaneously noble and liberal and free from conceit and snootiness, both urbane and with a common touch. But he launches at me, as has indeed been said, anxieties not insignificant, offering for inquiry none of what I seem to know about, but introducing things totally unknown, with the result that in my head I recite the strongest prayers of all that he not, precisely as is his custom, launch at me any inaccessible speculation.

T 2

Procopius Gothic War I.3.30 (Huary and Wirth II, p. 19.16–21 = T 2 Müller FHG IV, p. 183): Now the sovereign, having become ecstatic about these things, immediately sent to Italy Peter, by kinship Illyrian, originating from Thessalonica, being, on the one hand, one of the orators in Byzantium, both intelligent and mild besides and sufficiently fitted by nature for persuasion.

T 3

Procopius Gothic War II.22.23–24 (Haury and Wirth III, pp. 250.21–251.6): And these ambassadors Belisarius did not release to the enemy first until they, too, gave up Athanasius and Peter and their personnel, whom, indeed, having reached Byzantium, the sovereign deemed worthy of the greatest rewards, having, on the one hand, appointed Athanasius praetorian prefect in Italy, to Peter, on the other hand, having granted the office of the so-called magister.

T 4

Procopius Anecdota 24.22–23 (Haury and Wirth III, p. 150.13–20 = T 3 Müller FHG IV, p. 183): And Peter, too, the whole time he was holding the office of the so-called magister, always every day kept wearing them [the Scutarii] down with unheard-of thefts. For while he was mild and, to the least degree, cognizant of how to give offense, he was of all men a consummate thief and absolutely full of shameful sordidness. Of this Peter I have also made mention in my prior accounts as having caused the murder of Amalasuntha, the daughter of Theodoric.

T 5

Procopius Anecdota 16.5 (Haury and Wirth III, pp. 100.25–101.2): And for this [arranging the murder of Amalasuntha] he came to the rank of magister and to the greatest degree of power and, most of all, of everyone’s hatred.

T 6

Suda s.v. Πέτρος = Π 1406 (Adler IV, p. 117.20–23 = T 4 Müller FHG IV, p. 183): Peter, the orator, the magister and historian, an ambassador, when sent to Chosroes, was very weighty and invincible in the practice of oratory, in the mollification of barbaric spirits both obstinate and inflated. He wrote a History and About State Protocol.

Cf. Suda s.v. Eμβριθές = Ε 958 (Adler II, p. 255.7–9): Also: “Peter, the orator, the magister and historian, an ambassador, when sent to Chosroes, was very weighty and invincible in the practice of oratory for the mollification of barbaric spirits.”

Chosroes = Chosroes 1 Anoushirvan, PLRE IIIA, pp. 303–6. For its estimation of Peter’s oratorical virtuosity, the Suda copies Menander 6.2.25–26 (Blockley, Men., p. 88) = ES 11, p. 20.9–11. Eudocia Augusta Violarium (Flach, p. 353), reproduce Suda Π1406. On the Violarium, see Krumbacher, I, pp. 578–79.

T 7

Men. 6.1.17–19 (Blockley, Men., p. 54 = T 5 Müller FHG IV, p. 183 = F 11 Müller FHG IV, p. 206 = ELRG 3, p. 171.29–31): And Peter, the ambassador of the Romans, being in sufficient possession of the rest of culture and of the culture of the laws, spoke as follows …

T 8

Men. 6.1.489–92 (Blockley, Men., p. 80 = T 6 Müller FHG IV, p. 183 = F 11 Müller FHG IV, p. 215 = ELRG 3, p. 185.2–5): [Chosroes to Peter] Then, therefore, I, ambassador of Romans, should not be faulted by anybody, just as would make sense if I had been nurtured in that wisdom by which you have learned to excel in declamations, I myself not having learned to be persuasive.

T 9

Men. 9.1.59–62 (Blockley, Men., p. 100 = T 7 Müller FHG IV, p. 183 = F 15 Müller FHG IV, p. 221 = ELRG 5, p. 190.11–15): For Peter, the ambassador before us, who, having lately been at hand, secured the terms of the peace, was able, by experience in words and by awesomeness of persuasiveness, to fend off both the things concerning the Saracens who are currently making accusations and other matters which were disputed.

The speaker is John (Ioannes 81, PLRE IIIA, pp. 672–74), Justin’s (Iustinus 5, PLRE IIIA, pp. 754–56) ambassador, to Chosroes.

T 10

Men. 6.2.1–6 (Blockley, Men., pp. 86–8 = T 8 Müller FHG IV, p. 183 = F 12 Müller FHG IV, p. 217 = ES 11, p. 19.15–20): Menander the historian says about Peter the ambassador and Chosroes: “Well then, these words issued from both, and no other thoughts were spoken about Suania. Truly, I have not employed some expressions in place of others rather than, where there is too low a level of the words, as far as was possible for me, rephrase them in better Attic.”

T 11

Cassiodorus Variae X.19.4 (Mommsen p. 310.11–12) = T 9 Müller FHG IV, p. 183, a letter probably of 535 from the Gothic king Theodahad (Theodahadus, PLRE II, pp. 1067–68) to Justinian (Fl. Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus 7, PLRE II, 645–48): … so that the most eloquent man Peter, legate of Your Serenity, both foremost in learning and distinguished by a reputation of uprightness, may, without some accusation, receive proposals and not, against your will, sustain unsuitable delays.

T 12

Ibid. X.20.3 (Mommsen p. 310.29–30), a letter of 535 from Theodahad (Theodahadus, PLRE II, pp. 1067–68) to Theodora (1, PLRE IIIB, pp. 1240–41): It also has been added to my joy that Your Serenity has selected such a man as it is proper that such great glory send and fit that Your Obedience retain.

T 13

Ibid. X.22.1 (Mommsen p. 311.29–30) = T 10 Müller FHG IV, p. 183, a letter probably of 535 from the Gothic king Theodahad (Theodahadus, PLRE II, pp. 1067–68) to Justinian (Fl. Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus 7, PLRE II, 645–48): You remember, wisest of princes, both through our legates and through the most eloquent man Peter, whom your piety recently assigned to us.…

T 14

Ibid. X.23.1 (Mommsen p. 312.21–22) a letter probably of 535 from King Theodahad (Theodahadus, PLRE II, pp. 1067–68) to Theodora (1, PLRE IIIB, pp. 1240–41): Receiving of your legates Peter, a man most eloquent and, what is more estimable than dignities themselves, closely adhering to your indulgences, … We learn through him that what it is established to have happened in this state is agreeable to you.

T 15

Ibid. X.24.1 (Mommsen p. 313.5) = T 11 Müller FHG IV, p. 183: a letter probably of 535 from Queen Gudeliva (PLRE II, p. 520) to Theodora (1, PLRE IIIB, pp. 1240–41): “When Peter, a man most wise, arrived …”

T 16

Stephanus of Byzantium Ethnica A163/61.5–8 (Billerbeck, Gaertner et al., Vol. I, p. 116.2–5 = T 12 Müller FHG IV, p. 183): Aconae: … For thus [is named] a certain island belonging to the wholly praiseworthy patrician and consummately wise magister Peter and situated exactly opposite the blessed city and Chalcedon.

Meineke, Stephani Byzantini Ethnicorum Quae Supersunt, Vol. I, p. 61.6–9 with apparatus, thought Stephanus’ epitomator had added the sentence.

T 17

Corippus In Laudem Iustini Augusti Minoris I.25–6 (Cameron, p. 37 = T 13 Müller FHG IV, p. 184): Successor and renewed glory of the good Peter, here present is, a magister with his father’s gravity.

Theodorus is Theodorus 34, PLRE III, pp. 1255–56.

T 18

ELGR p. 390.5: From the History of Peter, Patricius and Magister.

T 19

ELRG p. 2.20: Peter, Patricius and Magister.

T 20

ELRG p. 3.3: From the History of Peter, Patricius and Magister.

T 21

Scorialensis (= Haenelianus) R II 13: The Peter who was one of the magistri, in the ninth book of his Treatise on the Ceremony of the Palace, says …

The gloss was copied in 1574 from a manuscript no longer extant. See Laniado, “Un fragment peu connu de Pierre le Patrice,” pp. 405–12, esp. pp. 405–8, on the passage and its importance for the study of the scholia to the Basilica.

T 22

Leidenensis Vossianus Gr. F 19 = Scholium 6, Scholia Basilicorum VIII.2.1, (Scheltema, Basilicorum Libri LX, Series B 1, p. 96): The same magister Peter, in the ninth book of his Treatise on the Ceremony of the Palace, says …

FRAGMENTS AND COMMENTARY

F 1 (40 B.C.)

Dio XLVIII.24.5–6 (II, p. 265.12–19): He happened to have joined forces with Cassius and Brutus, and, having been sent to Orodes before the battle in order to receive some assistance, was delayed a long time by him while he [Orodes] was carefully observing what was going on and, on the one hand, hesitating to make a pact with him but, on the other hand, fearing to refuse. And subsequently, when the news of the defeat arrived and the victors were appearing to spare none of those who had warred against them, he remained among the barbarians, having preferred li...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction: Peter, Patricius and Magister
• Peter’s History
• Bibliography
• Indexes