Nikephoros I of Constantinople

Nicephorus I (* probably 757/58, † 828 ) was a Byzantine historian and Patriarch of Constantinople Opel.

Life

Nikephoros was the son of an imperial secretary named Theodoros. He later held the same post ( attested 787). Sometime after 787, probably 797, he retired (perhaps forced ) into private life, and was subsequently also charity work. In the year 806 he was elected as a layman to patriarch and consecrated a bishop within a few days; it is quite likely that Nikephoros was a compromise candidate. During the so-called moichianischen dispute that. By the second marriage of Emperor Constantine VI had been triggered, he supported Emperor Nicephorus I and rehabilitated in the intricate Oikonomos Josephus. In contrast, in vain protested Theodore the Studite, but the so-called Studite were condemned by a synod. When Theodore was 811/12 pardoned by the new emperor Michael I and rose to his counselor, Theodoros stand in opposition to Nikephoros. As a proponent of veneration of images, Nicephorus came towards 814 Emperor Leo V, as this one iconoclastic policy operation ( see Byzantine Iconoclasm ). However, the Emperor continued his dismissal by by a synod and Nikephoros finally resigned in March 815. He died in 828 as an exile in a monastery.

A relatively detailed, but sometimes incomplete and embellished with topical elements report to his life, written by Ignatius offers the Diakonos Vita.

Works

Nikephoros wrote several works, including polemical writings against the opponents of the worship of images ( iconoclasts ). Also wrote Nikephoros polemics against Jews and Manichaeans as well as letters and homilies ( except for some fragments of letters ) are all lost. Some works are also attributed to him wrongly. But obtaining is primarily a historical chronicle.

The chronicle of Nicephorus is usually called Historia syntomos ( " potted history " ) or Latinized called Breviarium. Time of 602 is described in a few words ( this year also break the histories of Theophylaktos Simokates from ) to 769 AD, although some gaps in the representation occur. So the time is 641-663 and 733-741 not described. This is probably due to lack of sources; possible but is also a leaf loss. A comparison with the ( total detailed ) Chronicle of Theophanes, who was going strictly annalistisch unlike Nicephorus, has shown that both have often resorted to the same templates. Both Nicephorus and Theophanes have most likely used the chronicle of Traianos Patrikios, but moved quite Theophanes sources zoom, to the Nikephoros had no access. These counts also probably a Greek translation of the chronicle of Theophilus of Edessa, so that Theophanes could fill existing gaps better than Nikephoros. However, it is often unclear which sources has used Nicephorus; but can be safely identified as John of Antioch ( for c. 1 Chronicles ). For the first part of the Chronicle, a chronicle of the city of Constantinople Opel seems to have been the main source for the second part probably mainly Traianos and another city chronicle.

Only rarely has Nicephorus in his History information other than Theophanes; Nicephorus seems to have reproduced his sources often scarce, but sometimes more accurate than Theophanes, so that his or her representation can also serve to control or supplement the chronicle of Theophanes. Literary history is the work of Nicephorus, which was either written it the 8th century in the 80s or 90s, but made ​​little demanding. It is delivered in two editors (V [ Vatican manuscript ] and L [London manuscript ] ).

Editions and translations

• Cyril Mango ( ed.): Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople. Short History. Washington 1990 ( issue of historical work with English translation, introduction and a brief comment ).