Theophylact Simocatta (Medieval Greek: Θεοφύλακτος Σιμοκάτ(τ)ης Theophýlaktos Simokát(t)ēs; Latin: Theophylactus Simocatta; c. 589 – after 641) was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of late antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius (c.
Born~Died 580 ~ 630Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:44 PM
Theophylact Simocatta (Medieval Greek: Θεοφύλακτος Σιμοκάτ(τ)ης Theophýlaktos Simokát(t)ēs; Latin: Theophylactus Simocatta;1 c. 589 – after 641) was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of late antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius (c. 630) about the late Emperor Maurice (582–602).2
Biography
Unlike contemporary chroniclers like Agathias and Menander, Theophylact did not include a preface with personal information in his History. As such, little is known about his life, besides what he occasionally remarks in passing throughout his writings. He was likely born towards the end of the 580s. He mentions that he was born in Egypt, and that his relative Peter was the prefect of Egypt in 602, from which it can be inferred that he was from a high-ranking Egyptian family. He may have studied at the University of Alexandria, then headed by the philosopher Stephen, whom Theophylact seems to allude to in the introductory Dialogue of his History. At around the age of twenty, shortly after the overthrow of Phocas by Heraclius in 610, Theophylact moved to Constantinople, where he pursued a highly successful legal and administrative career, eventually attaining the ranks of ex-praefectus and magister scrinii. He is mentioned in a 641 inscription from Aphrodisias in Caria, indicating that he was still alive at the time.3
Simocatta is best known as the author of History, a work split into eight books, about the reign of the emperor Maurice (582–602), for which period he is the best and oldest authority. Though his work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius and his self-consciously classicizing style is pompous, he is an important source of information concerning the seventh-century Slavs, the Avars and the Persians, and the emperor's tragic end.5 He mentions the war of Heraclius against the Persians (610–628), but not that against the Arabs (beginning 629), so it is likely that he was writing around 630. Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania.
Edward Gibbon wrote of Theophylact "His want of judgement renders him diffuse in trifles and concise in the most interesting facts".6 This notwithstanding, Simocatta's general trustworthiness is admitted. The history contains an introduction in the form of a dialogue between History and Philosophy. It alludes to PatriarchSergius I of Constantinople as the man who encouraged the composition of the History, and possibly commissioned Theophylact to complete it.7
Nicolaus Copernicus translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin prose and had his translation, dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode, published in Kraków in 1509 by Johann Haller. It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account.8
Simocatta was also the author of Physical Problems, a work on natural history,9 and of a collection of 85 essays in epistolary form.10
Zanetto, Ioseph [Giuseppe] (1985). "Theophylacti Simocatae epistulae" [The Letters of Theophylactus Simocata]. Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana (in Greek and Latin). Leipzig: BSB B.G. Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft. ISSN0233-1160.
Zanetto, Giuseppe (2013). "Romanzo greco ed epistolografia: il caso di Teofilatto Simocatta". Lettere, mimesi, retorica: studi sull'epistolografia letteraria greca di età imperiale e tardoantica. Lecce–Brescia: Pensa Multimedia. pp. 469–491. ISBN 978-88-6760-097-7.
Theophylact Simocatta (Medieval Greek: Θεοφύλακτος Σιμοκάτ(τ)ης Theophýlaktos Simokát(t)ēs; Latin: Theophylactus Simocatta;1 c. 589 – after 641) was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of late antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius (c. 630) about the late Emperor Maurice (582–602).2
Biography
Unlike contemporary chroniclers like Agathias and Menander, Theophylact did not include a preface with personal information in his History. As such, little is known about his life, besides what he occasionally remarks in passing throughout his writings. He was likely born towards the end of the 580s. He mentions that he was born in Egypt, and that his relative Peter was the prefect of Egypt in 602, from which it can be inferred that he was from a high-ranking Egyptian family. He may have studied at the University of Alexandria, then headed by the philosopher Stephen, whom Theophylact seems to allude to in the introductory Dialogue of his History. At around the age of twenty, shortly after the overthrow of Phocas by Heraclius in 610, Theophylact moved to Constantinople, where he pursued a highly successful legal and administrative career, eventually attaining the ranks of ex-praefectus and magister scrinii. He is mentioned in a 641 inscription from Aphrodisias in , indicating that he was still alive at the time.
Simocatta is best known as the author of History, a work split into eight books, about the reign of the emperor Maurice (582–602), for which period he is the best and oldest authority. Though his work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius and his self-consciously classicizing style is pompous, he is an important source of information concerning the seventh-century Slavs, the Avars and the Persians, and the emperor's tragic end.5 He mentions the war of Heraclius against the Persians (610–628), but not that against the Arabs (beginning 629), so it is likely that he was writing around 630. Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania.
Edward Gibbon wrote of Theophylact "His want of judgement renders him diffuse in trifles and concise in the most interesting facts".6 This notwithstanding, Simocatta's general trustworthiness is admitted. The history contains an introduction in the form of a dialogue between History and Philosophy. It alludes to PatriarchSergius I of Constantinople as the man who encouraged the composition of the History, and possibly commissioned Theophylact to complete it.7
Nicolaus Copernicus translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin prose and had his translation, dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode, published in Kraków in 1509 by Johann Haller. It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account.8
Simocatta was also the author of Physical Problems, a work on natural history,9 and of a collection of 85 essays in epistolary form.10
Zanetto, Ioseph [Giuseppe] (1985). "Theophylacti Simocatae epistulae" [The Letters of Theophylactus Simocata]. Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana (in Greek and Latin). Leipzig: BSB B.G. Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft. ISSN0233-1160.
Zanetto, Giuseppe (2013). "Romanzo greco ed epistolografia: il caso di Teofilatto Simocatta". Lettere, mimesi, retorica: studi sull'epistolografia letteraria greca di età imperiale e tardoantica. Lecce–Brescia: Pensa Multimedia. pp. 469–491. ISBN 978-88-6760-097-7.