The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text (Christian Roman Empire)

The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu is an important source for the history of the turbulent 6th and 7th centuries AD. Focusing on Egypt, where he was a Monophysite bishop, John is the only near-contemporary historian to describe in detail the conquest of this formerly Roman province by the Muslims under Amr. John is also one of our best sources for the rebellion of Heraclius against the Emperor Phocas in 610 and his Chronicle includes numerous unique points of Egyptian folklore and local history. He focuses on the religious turmoil in Alexandria and comments on the numerous quarrels and frequent violence that erupted between the Monophysite and Chalcedonian factions. As a Monophysite himself, John offers a rarely seen glimpse into the controversy that was still simmering even 250 years after the Council of Chalcedon. Out of print for nearly a century, this volume represents the only English translation of the work, made from an Ethiopic manuscript. Despite several lacunae and some obvious corruptions noted by the translator, this edition of The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu offers a wealth of insight into a very poorly understood era.