Madrid Skylitzes

( Usually called Skylitzes Matritensis, also Codex Graecus Matritensis Ioannis Skylitzes or Madrid Skylitzes ) The Madrid manuscript of Skylitzes is a work of Byzantine book illumination. It contains the story of John Kaiser Skylitzes entitled Synopsis Historion (Greek Σύνοψις Ιστοριών ) and is illustrated with 574 miniatures. It is located in the Spanish National Library in Madrid ( signature Codex Vitr. 26-2 ). The Madrid manuscript of Skylitzes is the only surviving illustrated Greek chronicle of Middle Byzantine period.

The Synopsis Historion, which was written by the Byzantine historian Johannes Skylitzes in the 70s of the 11th century, deals with the history of the Byzantine emperors between the death of the emperor Nicephorus I in the year 811 and the deposition of the Emperor Michael VI. 1057 and follows on from the chronicle of Theophanes.

An illustrated copy of the synopsis was made 1150-1175 in the vicinity of the Norman royal court in Palermo. Template was a manuscript from the imperial scriptorium in Constantinople Opel, one of the two writers of the text was probably an employee of the Norman king firm. The single-column text is interrupted by one to three miniatures that illustrate the passage usually immediately before or after the miniature and more or less have extensive captions. The common occurrence of Byzantine, Western and Arab elements in the miniatures of the handwriting gives a special cultural significance.

Pictures

Thomas the Slav seeks refuge among the Arabs.

Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Saracens; the troops of Thomas defeat the Imperial army.

The murder of Bardas at the feet of Michael's III. in the years 865-866; The army's return and coronation of Emperor Basil I to vice.