Scholars and history buffs alike will find Procopius' "The Secret History" an invaluable historical work from a man who is referred to as the last major historian of the ancient world. "The Secret History" mentioned in the "Suda," a tenth century Byzantine encyclopedia, had been lost to history until it was rediscovered in the 17th century in the Vatican library. This fascinating document of imperialism is brutal in its honesty, often portraying its subjects in an unflattering light. He would become a legal adviser for Belisarius, Justinian's chief military commander and accompany him to the war front, an experience he would document in his "Wars of Justinian." The ancient scholar's most famous work however is "The Secret History," which tells a more intimate and revealing history of Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora, as well as Belisarius, and his wife Antonina. Procopius was an incredibly learned man, having received a classical education, possibly from the famed School of Gaza.
Current consensus generally dates it to 550 or 558, or maybe even as late as 562. Procopius, from Palaestina Prima, or modern day Israel, is an important first hand source for the history of the 6th century, especially concerning the Emperor Justinian. The Secret History covers roughly the same years as the first seven books of the History of Justinian's Wars and appears to have been written after they were published.
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