Niketas or Nicetas Choniates (Greek: Νικήτας Χωνιάτης; c. 1155 – 1217), whose actual surname was Akominatos (Ἀκομινάτος), was a Roman government official and historian – like his brother Michael Akominatos, whom he accompanied to Constantinople from their birthplace Chonae (from which came his nickname, "Choniates" meaning "person from Chonae"). Nicetas wrote a history of the Eastern Roman Empire from 1118 to 1207.
Nicetas Akominatos was born to wealthy parents around 1150 in Phrygia in the city of Chonae (near the modern Honaz in Turkey). Bishop Nicetas of Chonae baptized and named the infant; later he was called "Choniates" after his birthplace. When he was nine, his father dispatched him with his brother Michael to Constantinople to receive an education. Niketas' older brother greatly influenced him during the early stages of his life.
His theological work, Thesaurus Orthodoxae Fidei, although extant in a complete form in manuscripts, has been published only in part. It is one of the chief authorities for the heresies and heretical writers of the 12th century.
Choniates in fiction
Umberto Eco's novel Baudolino[1] is set partly at Constantinople during the Crusader conquest. The imaginary hero, Baudolino, saves Niketas during the sacking of Constantinople, and then proceeds to confide his life story to him.
Niketas is a major character in Alan Gordon's murder mystery A Death in the Venetian Quarter (New York: St. Martin's Minotaru, 2002).
Editions and translations
Imperii Graeci Historia, ed. Hieronymus Wolf, 1557, in Greek with parallel Latin translation. (PDF of 1593 reprint)
Nicetæ Choniatæ Historia, ed. J.P. Migne (Patrologia Graeca vol. 140) reproduces Wolf's text (in more modern type) and translation (in standardized spelling). (PDF)
Nicetae Choniatae Historia, ed. Immanuel Bekker, Bonn (CSHB), 1835, with Wolf's translation at the bottom of the page. (at the Internet Archive)
Nicetae Choniatae Historia, ed. Jan Louis van Dieten, Berlin (CFHB #11), 1975 (ISBN3110045281).
O City of Byzantium: Annals of Niketas Choniates, trans. Harry J. Magoulias, 1984 (ISBN0814317642). (PDF)
References
^Milan: Bompiani, 2000. English translation by William Weaver, New York: Harcourt 2002, ISBN0-15-100690-3
Further reading
Brand, Charles M. (1968). Byzantium Confronts the West, 1180–1204. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. LCCN 67-20872. OCLC 795121713.
Harris, Jonathan, Byzantium and the Crusades, Bloomsbury, 2nd ed., 2014. ISBN978-1-78093-767-0
Harris, Jonathan. 'Distortion, divine providence and genre in Nicetas Choniates' account of the collapse of Byzantium 1180–1204', Journal of Medieval History, vol. 26 (2000) 19–31.
Simpson & Efthymiadis (edd.). Niketas Choniates: A Historian and a Writer, 2009, ISBN978-954-8446-05-1
Vasilikopoulou, Agni (1969). "Ἀνδρόνικος ὁ Κομνηνὸς καὶ Ὀδυσσεύς". Ἐπετηρίς Ἐταιρείας Βυζαντινῶν Σπουδῶν (in Greek). 37: 251–259. A seminal work on Choniates' use of Homer.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Acominatus, Michael". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
May 04, 2023
niketas, choniates, niketas, nicetas, choniates, greek, Νικήτας, Χωνιάτης, 1155, 1217, whose, actual, surname, akominatos, Ἀκομινάτος, roman, government, official, historian, like, brother, michael, akominatos, whom, accompanied, constantinople, from, their, b. Niketas or Nicetas Choniates Greek Nikhtas Xwniaths c 1155 1217 whose actual surname was Akominatos Ἀkominatos was a Roman government official and historian like his brother Michael Akominatos whom he accompanied to Constantinople from their birthplace Chonae from which came his nickname Choniates meaning person from Chonae Nicetas wrote a history of the Eastern Roman Empire from 1118 to 1207 Niketas Choniates from a medieval manuscript Contents 1 Life 2 Choniates in fiction 3 Editions and translations 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife EditNicetas Akominatos was born to wealthy parents around 1150 in Phrygia in the city of Chonae near the modern Honaz in Turkey Bishop Nicetas of Chonae baptized and named the infant later he was called Choniates after his birthplace When he was nine his father dispatched him with his brother Michael to Constantinople to receive an education Niketas older brother greatly influenced him during the early stages of his life He initially secured a post in the civil service and held important appointments under the Angelos emperors among them that of Grand Logothete or Chancellor and was governor of the theme of Philippopolis at a critical period After the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 he fled to Nicaea where he settled at the court of the Nicaean emperor Theodore I Lascaris and devoted himself to literature He died c 1215 16 His theological work Thesaurus Orthodoxae Fidei although extant in a complete form in manuscripts has been published only in part It is one of the chief authorities for the heresies and heretical writers of the 12th century Choniates in fiction EditUmberto Eco s novel Baudolino 1 is set partly at Constantinople during the Crusader conquest The imaginary hero Baudolino saves Niketas during the sacking of Constantinople and then proceeds to confide his life story to him Niketas is a major character in Alan Gordon s murder mystery A Death in the Venetian Quarter New York St Martin s Minotaru 2002 Editions and translations EditImperii Graeci Historia ed Hieronymus Wolf 1557 in Greek with parallel Latin translation PDF of 1593 reprint Nicetae Choniatae Historia ed J P Migne Patrologia Graeca vol 140 reproduces Wolf s text in more modern type and translation in standardized spelling PDF Nicetae Choniatae Historia ed Immanuel Bekker Bonn CSHB 1835 with Wolf s translation at the bottom of the page at the Internet Archive Nicetae Choniatae Historia ed Jan Louis van Dieten Berlin CFHB 11 1975 ISBN 3110045281 O City of Byzantium Annals of Niketas Choniates trans Harry J Magoulias 1984 ISBN 0814317642 PDF References Edit Milan Bompiani 2000 English translation by William Weaver New York Harcourt 2002 ISBN 0 15 100690 3Further reading EditBrand Charles M 1968 Byzantium Confronts the West 1180 1204 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press LCCN 67 20872 OCLC 795121713 Harris Jonathan Byzantium and the Crusades Bloomsbury 2nd ed 2014 ISBN 978 1 78093 767 0 Harris Jonathan Distortion divine providence and genre in Nicetas Choniates account of the collapse of Byzantium 1180 1204 Journal of Medieval History vol 26 2000 19 31 Simpson amp Efthymiadis edd Niketas Choniates A Historian and a Writer 2009 ISBN 978 954 8446 05 1 Vasilikopoulou Agni 1969 Ἀndronikos ὁ Komnhnὸs kaὶ Ὀdysseys Ἐpethris Ἐtaireias Byzantinῶn Spoydῶn in Greek 37 251 259 A seminal work on Choniates use of Homer External links EditExcerpt in English on the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 A longer excerpt on the same This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Acominatus Michael Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Niketas Choniates amp oldid 1152452058, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
