Hydatius : a late Roman chronicler in post-Roman Spain : an historiographical study and new critical edition of the chronicle
Late Roman chronicles are little studied and greatly misunderstood. The purpose of this dissertation is to treat a Late Roman chronicler, Hydatius, as a living, breathing person and to use the chronicle as a means of revealing this individual: his beliefs, his interests, his fears, his attitudes, his view of the Empire, and his abilities as an historian. Hydatius was a bishop in Gallaecia, writing in 468-9 amidst the Suevic depredations of Spain. As a result he is a unique source in that he is the earliest extant historian who wrote in a post- Roman (i.e. Mediaeval) world. His chronicle is the only detailed source for Spanish history in the fifth century and the only detailed source written about the fifth-century barbarian invasions and settlements. Though extremely isolated he had remarkable contacts with the outside world and his chronicle is a unique source for much non- Spanish information. It is also one of the most personal of all the Late Antique chronicles and therefore an excellent gateway for an examination of the Late Roman world as seen through the eyes of a contemporary. For these reasons, Hydatius' vivid and often emotive account of the sufferings of Gallaecia at the hands of the Sueves and
Burgess, Richard W.
History ; Galicia (Spain ; Region) ; Rome ; Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D ; Republic, 265-30 B.C ; Spain ; Roman period, 218 B.C.-414 A.D
Hydatius : a late Roman chronicler in post-Roman Spain : an historiographical study and new critical edition of the chronicle. Late Roman chronicles are little studied and greatly misunderstood. The purpose of this dissertation is to treat a Late Roman chronicler, Hydatius, as a living, breathing person and to use the chronicle as a means of revealing this individual: his beliefs, his interests, his fears, his attitudes, his view of the Empire, and his abilities as an historian. Hydatius was a bishop in Gallaecia, writing in 468-9 amidst the Suevic depredations of Spain. As a result he is a unique source in that he is the earliest extant historian who wrote in a post- Roman (i.e. Mediaeval) world. His chronicle is the only detailed source for Spanish history in the fifth century and the only detailed source written about the fifth-century barbarian invasions and settlements. Though extremely isolated he had remarkable contacts with the outside world and his chronicle is a unique source for much non- Spanish information. It is also one of the most personal of all the Late Antique chronicles and therefore an excellent gateway for an examination of the Late Roman world as seen through the eyes of a contemporary. For these reasons, Hydatius' vivid and often emotive account of the sufferings of Gallaecia at the hands of the Sueves and
late_roman chronicler post_roman spain historiographical study new critical_edition chronicle late_roman chronicle little_studied greatly misunderstood purpose treat late_roman chronicler living person use chronicle mean reveal individual belief interest fear attitude view empire historian bishop write depredation spain unique source early extant historian write post roman mediaeval world chronicle detail source spanish history detail source write fifth_century barbarian invasion settlement though extremely isolate remarkable contact outside_world chronicle unique source much non spanish information also personal late_antique chronicle therefore excellent gateway examination late_roman world see eye contemporary reason often emotive account suffering hand