John Skylitzes, commonly LatinizedasIoannes[a] Scylitzes (Greek: Ἰωάννης Σκυλίτζης, romanized: Iōánnēs Skylítzēs,[b] Byzantine Greek: [i.oˈa.nis sc̠iˈlit.t͡sis]; Latin: Ioannes Scyllitzes,[c] Latin: [jɔˈan.ne̝s sk̟ilˈlit̪.d͡ze̝s]; early 1040s – after 1101[1]), was a Byzantine historian of the late 11th century.
Very little is known about his life. The title of his work records him as a kouropalatēs and a former droungarios of the Vigla, whereby he is usually identified with a certain John Thrakesios.[2]
His major work is the Synopsis of Histories (Greek: Σύνοψις Ἱστοριῶν [ˈsy̜.nop.sis is.to.riˈon]), which covers the reigns of the Byzantine emperors from the death of Nikephoros I in 811 to the deposition of Michael VI in 1057; it continues the chronicleofTheophanes the Confessor. There is a continuation of this work, known as Scylitzes Continuatus, covering 1057 to 1079; some historians hypothesize that it was also written by Skylitzes.[2]
The most famous manuscript of the Synopsis was produced in Sicily in the 12th century known as the Madrid Skylitzes (Latin: Skyllitzes Matritensis, [sk̟ilˈlit̪.d͡ze̝s ma.t̪riˈt̪ɛn.sis]), and is now at the Biblioteca Nacional de EspañainMadrid. It features 574 miniatures, while some 100 have been lost, and is the only surviving Byzantine illuminated chronicle in Greek, providing an invaluable primary source for the visualization of contemporary Byzantium.[2]