Niketas Choniates

Nicetas Choniates (medium Greek Νικήτας Χωνιάτης; * 1155 in Chonai, † 1217 in Nikaia ) was a Byzantine statesman and historian.

Nicetas came at a young age with his older brother Michael to Constantinople Opel, where he received extensive training. Later, he joined the civil service and was in the capital, Secretary, these items were, however, after the assassination of Emperor Alexios II Komnenos in 1183, and retired into private life. In 1185 he re-entered the civil service and was among other things responsible for keeping the participants of the 3rd Crusade in check.

In the following years he got further and further into the hierarchy of the Byzantine state to (judges, stewards of Finance ), until he finally held the highest civilian posts: he was Großlogothet. The fourth crusade was also Nicetas a personal disaster. He lost his property and could only save his life and that of his family. He eventually moved over to the Empire of Nikaia. There he turned disillusioned about the catastrophe of 1204, the writing, before he died in Nikaia 1215-1217.

The main work of Nicetas Choniates is the Chronike diegesis, which in 21 books, the history of the Empire from 1118 to 1206 has as its object. In addition, Nicetas dedicated a work to the monuments of Constantinople, which were destroyed during the sack of 1204 ( De Signis ). Nicetas historical work has been revised several times and is well written chronologically. The exact sources of Nicetas are not known. But he was partly eyewitness of the events and reported largely neutral indoor and foreign policy, but also about court intrigues. A source is probably the work of John Kinnamos represents (or its possible submission ). The objectivity of Nicetas suffers when he comes to speak of the Latins, but this is quite understandable in view of his personal fate. Similarly bad he judged the Armenians because of their partial cooperation with the Alamanen, ie Crusaders.

The chronicles of Nicetas has been written in a high level and strongly marked by speeches on the ancient model, which is reflected by the numerous quotations. It is the principal source for the Byzantine history of the 12th century and a major for the conquest of 1204 dar.

The conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in the description of Choniates found a literary processing and partially citation in the novel Baudolino the Italian writer Umberto Eco.

Translations

• The crown of the Komnenos. The reign of the Emperor Manuel Comnenus and Joannes (1118-1180) from the historical work of Nicetas Choniates ( Byzantine historian, Vol 7). Translated by Franz Grabler, Graz 1958.

• Adventurers on the imperial throne. The reign of the Emperor Alexios II and Andronikos Angelos Isaac (1180-1195) from the historical work of Nicetas Choniates ( Byzantine historian, Vol 8). Translated by Franz Grabler, Graz 1958.

• The Crusaders conquer Constantinople Opel. The reign of the Emperor Alexios Angelos, Isaac Angelos us Alexius Ducas, the fate of the city after ingestion as well as the "Book of the statues " (1195-1206) from the historical work of Nicetas Choniates ( Byzantine historian, Vol 9). Translated by Franz Grabler, Graz 1958.

• O city of Byzantium, Annals of Nicetas Choniates. Translated into English by Harry J. Magoulias, Wayne State University Press, Detroit 1984.