Definition: Procopius was a Byzantine official and historian best known for his unofficial secret history of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.
Procopius lived from c. A.D. 500 to some time after 562. He served as secretary to Justinian's military talent Belisarius and accompanied him on campaigns. He lived in Constantinople from 542 and became prefect in 562.
Procopius wrote an 8-volume history of Justinian's wars during the years 527-53, which is referred to as History of the Wars. He also wrote a Secret History (or Anecdota) about the same time period in which he attacks Justinian's policy and spreads gossip about the imperial pair and Belisarius and his wife, Antonina.
Source: Concise Companion to Classical Literature, edited by M.C. Howatson and Ian Chilvers. Oxford University Press: 1993.
