Internet History Sourcebooks: Medieval Sourcebook (original) (raw)

Internet Medieval Sourcebook

Selected Sources: Byzantium

Contents

• General
• Foundations
• Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565)
  • [Justinian and Theodora](#Justinian and Theodora)
  • Government
  • [Society and Economy](#Society and Economy)
  • [Church Policy](#Church Policy)
  • Wars
  • Buildings
  • Laws
• [After Justinian](#After Justinian)
• Iconoclasm
• [Byzantine Imperial Centuries (843-1204)](#Byzantine Imperial Centuries)
  • [Macedonian Dynasty](#Macedonian Dynasty)
  • [Eleventh Century Conflicts](#Eleventh Century Conflicts)
  • [The Komnenoi](#The Komnenoi)
• [The Final Centuries](#The Final Centuries)
  • [The Crusades and Latin Empire (1204-61)](#The Crusades)
  • [The Nicean Period](#The Nicean Period)
  • [The Palaiologoi](#The Palaiologoi)
  • The Peloponnese and Mistra
  • Trebizond
  • The Fall of Constantinople and Aftermath
  • [After Byzantium](#After Byzantium)
• [Byzantine Religion](#Byzantine Religion)
  • [General Religion](#General Religion)
  • [Ecclesiastical Organization](#Ecclesiastical Organization)
  • Theology
  • Spirituality
  • Liturgy
  • Sanctity
  • Monasticism
  • [Heresy and Dissent](#Heresy and Dissent)
• [The Byzantine Commonwealth](#The Byzantine Commonwealth)
  • Syria
  • Armenia
  • Bulgaria
  • Serbia/Montenegro
  • Vikings
  • [Inner Asia](#Inner Asia)
• [The Byzantine Commonwealth: Russia](#The Byzantine Commonwealth: Russia)
• Accounts of Byzantium by Others

General

• WEB Byzantium: The Byzantine Studies Page [Part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project]
• WEB Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies UK: Resources and Links
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks: Online Collections [At Dumbarton Oaks]
  Dumbarton Oaks, in Washington D.C. is the major center for Byzantine Studie in the US. It's online collections include Byzantine Seals, Byzantine Coins, Byzantine textiles and Manuscripts in the Byzantine Collection, with others added regularly.
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks Electronic Texts [All books still accessible via the Internet Archive]
  Although removed from the DO's own website this collection of PDFs of very useful books is still available via the link above.
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database [At Dumbarton Oaks]
  The online version of the Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database, originally released in 1998 as a set of floppy disks, has two sections. The introduction contains general information about the project and bio-bibliographical introductions to each of the saints of the eighth to tenth centuries included in the project. The database itself is divided into three sections: a list of saints, a list of authors, and a search of citations. The Greek texts that the database has been permitted to reproduce either in their entirety or in sections may be accessed through the saint list (entire texts) or search citations (partial texts).
• WEB Modern Language Translations of Byzantine Sources Database maintained by Princeton University Library.
• WEB CSHB: 19th Century Editions of Major Byzantine Historians Full texts in Greek. [At Documenta Catholica]
• WEB Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams [Ghent]
• WEB Byzantium 1200 Byzantium 1200 is a project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of the Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul. It has current photographs and digital reconstruction. [Internet Archive version here]
• Paul of Aigina: The Epitome, excerpts. [a medical text]
• A Byzantine Mathematics Textbook, 888: [Page image, now at Internet Archive]
  With Euclidean theorems.
• The Suda: Entries on Grammarians, Rhetoricians ands Sophists, [Was At Leeds, now Internet Archive]
  The Suda was a Byzantine "encyclopedia".
• WEB The SUDA Online [Internet Archive version here]
  The Suda (or Stronghold) was a massive 10th century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, covering the whole of Greek and Roman antiquity and also including Biblical and Christian material. This is a project to make it available online.
• WEB ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World
• WEB Prosopography of the Byzantine World 1025-1180 [King's College London]
• 2ND The Lost Books of Photios' Bibliotheca [At History for Atheists] [Internet Archive version here]
  The Patriarch Photios of Constantinope (c.810-c893) compiled a list including contents of all his books, or rather 280 of them (294 works). All those books were available in ninth-century Constantinople. 185 of them were "Christian", 109 "Paganor Jewish". Of that total only 107 books survive now. This is a list of what survived and what did not.
• 2ND THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM From the Seventh through the Fifteenth Century and in alternate format here (2002), Angeliki E. Laiou Editor-in-Chief [Was at Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
  The is a five-volume work, all parts are available online, and it constitutes a major resource.
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Greek Christian Poetry. [At St. Pachomius Library]
  A collection of translations, including poems by: Clement of Alexandria, Gregory Nazianzen, Amphilochius of Iconium, Synesius of Cyrene, Paul Silentiarius, George Pisidia, John Damascene, Simeon Metaphrastes, John Maurpous of Euchaita, Theodore Prodromus, John Tzetzes, Manuel Philes, and Maximus Margunius.
• Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
  Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
• Byzantine Homosexuality texts are available at the People With a History [Part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project]
• Claudia Rapp and Johannes Prieser-Kapeller, eds.. Mobility and Migration in Byzantium; A Sourcebook [At Vr-elibrary.de] PDF [Internet Archive version here]
  Five hundred pages of translations into English on sources about migration in Byzantium. Includes both internal migration, and sections on Jews, Slavs, Armenians, Varangians (Norse), Catalans, Turks, and in relation to the Crusades. Gender-related migration is also covered.

Foundations

• Sozomen (d. c. 450 CE): Constantine founds Constantinople, 324, from Ecclesiastical History 2.3
• Notitia Dignitatum (Register of Dignitaries)
  A list of all the officials in the Roman Empire, East and West, c.400
• Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae [At Livius] [Internet Archive version here]
  A fifth-century regionary, i.e., a list of monuments and civil servants in the regions of a city (Constantinople).

Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565)

• Justinian and Theodora
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): On Justinian, from Secret History. The full text of the Secret History is also available.
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): The Secret History trans, H.B Dewing. Full text. [Wikisource]
• Government
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): On the Racing Factions, from On the Wars .
  • Procopius: Procopius: On the Nika Revolt, from The Wars.
  • Theophanes: On the Racing Factions, from ths Chronicle. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: St. Theophanes
• Society and Economy
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): The Roman Silk Industry, c. 550, from On the Wars
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): The Plague, 542, History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii:
• Church Policy
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
    Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian. [Internet Archive version here]
• Wars
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): History of the the Wars, trans. H.B Dewing. Full text. [Wikisource]
    • Book I (The Persian War pt.1)
    • Book II (The Persian War pt.2)
    • Book III (The Vandalic War pt.1)
    • Book IV (The Vandalic War pt.2)
    • Book V (The Gothic War pt.1)
    • Book VI (The Gothic War pt.2)
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): The Reconquest of Africa, 534, from On the Wars IV:9.
    A description of Belisarius' triumph, with Gelimer, King of the Vandal's in tow.
  • Agathias (c530-582/594CE): On the Sassanians, from Histories, trans. Averil Cameron. DOP 23 (1969) PDF [Farsib] [Internet Archive version here]
  • John Malalas (c.491-578): Byzantine Warfare in the Sixth Century [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
    The first account deals with a rebellion by a Thracian named Vitalian, in 515-16. Using a large army of Huns and Bulgars, Vitalian was able to capture two Byzantine military commanders, known as magistri militum, and was moving his forces upon Constantinople. The section below reveals some information about the early use of Greek fire.
  • Byzantine conquest of Italy in the sixth-century, according to the Chronicle of Marcellinus (534-564) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Maps of Late Antique and Early Medieval Ravenna, by Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis [At Indiana] [Internet Archive bersion here]
• Buildings
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): On Justinan, from Buildings Book 1, Loeb edition [At Lacus Curtius]
    A very different point of view from the same author's Secret History.
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): Buildings, full text, Loeb edition [At Lacus Curtius]. Text in Greek and French [At Remacle]
  • Procopius (c. 500 – 565): Description of Hagia Sophia from De Aedificiis. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: Byzantine Architecture
  • Paul the Silentiary: Description of Hagia Sophia fromDescriptio S. Sophiae
• Laws
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis [selections]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535, very extensive selections, in English.
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books 1-IV, [in Latin][At The Latin Library]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D. 1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst. [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Roman Law Texts [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
    A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
  • Codex Justinianus: Violation of the Thracian Land Law, c. 530 [XI.52.i.]
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 137: Regulating Church Ritual.
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE]
    Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
  • Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novella 146: On Jews

After Justinian

• Earthquakes, Plagues, Famines c. 500-750 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
• Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Joshua the Stylite, composed in Syriac in 507 AD, full text, trans. William Wright 1882 [At Internet Archive]
• Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, trans. 2000 [At Intenet Archive]
• Theophylact Simocatta (7th century): A Byzantine campaign in the Balkans (594) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
• John of Biclaro (died .c 621): The Chronicle of John of Biclaro, translation and commentary by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
  Covers the years 565-592, primarily Byzantine/Eastern Roman history and Visigothic history in Spain and parts of southern Gaul.
• Antiochus Strategos: The Sack of Jerusalem, 614.
• Theophanes the Confessor (758/60-817/818): The Campaigns of Emperor Herakleios (620-6), according to the Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
• John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): On the Factions in Egypt.
  An account of the Persian conquest. Also an example of Byzantine Antisemitism, and a version of the Blood libel.
• Sophronius Patriarch of Jerusalem. Two Poems on the Holy City (Anacreontica XIX and XX) - ca. 600 A.D. [Was At Christus Rex, now Internet Archive]
• John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu (Pp. 1-14, Contents of the CXXII Chapters) and Introduction [At Tertullian] [Internet Archive version here]
• John, Bishop of Nikiu (fl 680-690 CE): The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu full text [Internet Archive]
• Elliott Horowitz: "The Vengeance of the Jews Was Stronger Than Their Avarice": Modern Historians and the Persian Conquest of Jerusalem in 614, Jewish Social Studies Volume 4, Number 2
• Huneberc of Heidenheim: The Hodoeporican of St. Willibald, 8th Century.
  Describes a pilgrimmage to Jerusalem in this period.
• The Mozarabic Chronicle (754CE): full translation and analysis by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
  A contemporary Latin-language source on the Muslim invasion and conquest of Spain during the early eighth century.
• The Byzantine-Arabic Chronicle (8th century): full translation and analysis by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, full text [At Aymennjawad.org] [Internet Archive version here]
  An early Latin language text that partly describes the rise of Islam and some of the early Muslim conquests. The original text is included in a collection of writings called Corpus Scriptorum Muzarabicorum ("Corpus of Mozarabic Writings") compiled by Juan Gil..

Iconoclasm

• John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730, extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: John Damascene, Saint, Catholic Encyclopedia: Catholic Encyclopedia: conoclasm, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Veneration of Images.
• John of Damascus: Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images
• Iconoclasm I 726-787 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
• Iconoclasm II 813-843 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
• Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, full text.
• Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787
• Life of Ignatios the Patriarch, attributed to Nicetas David Paphlago [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
• Charlemagne: Letter to Nikephoros I (811) [At Historian's Sketchpad] [Internet Archive version here]
• Leo III and Constantine V: [ A Manual of Roman Law: The "Ecloga"](basis/Edwin Hanson Freshfield - A Manual of Roman Law%5F The Ecloga1926.pdf), trans E. Freshfied, 1926, fulls text [PDF]
• A letter from Charlemagne to Emperor Nicephorus I. 811, beginning of the year: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
• A letter from Charlemagne to Emperor Michael I. 813, beginning of the year: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]

Byzantine Imperial Centuries (843-1204)

• Macedonian Dynasty
  • The Farmer's Law, 7-8th Century.
  • John Kaminiates (10th century): The Siege of Thessaloniki by Muslim Forces (904) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893): Ekphasis of the Image of the Virgin in Hagia Sophia (Homily 17: Of the Same Most-Blessed Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Homily Delivered from the Ambo of the Great Church, on Holy Saturday, in the Presence of the Christ-Loving Emperors, when the Form of the Theotokos had been Depicted and Uncovered). Translated by Cyril Mango. [At Orthodox Study Group] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893) The Library of Photius (Bibliotheca) (Myrobiblion), trans John Henry Freese [At Internet Archive]
  • Photius I of Constantinople (c 810/820-893): Bibliotheca [At Tertuliian] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Leo the Deacon (borm c. 950): The Siege of Tarsos by the Emperor Nicephorus Phocas (965) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Chronicle of 811 About the Emperor Nikephoros and how he leaves his bones in Bulgaria, from Ed. I. Dujcev, Travaux et Mémoires 1 (1965), 205-54 at 210-16. [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Symeon Logothete: Chronicle, excerpts on the Reign of Constantine VII, trans, Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Theophanes Continuatus: Chronicle, excerpts on the Reign of Romanos I Lekapenos, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Constantine VII Porphygenitus: De Ceremonies Aulae Byzantinae: A Diplomatic Stylesheet: Protocols and Forms of Address for Foreign Potentates, (De Ceremoniis, bk 2, cc. 46-48), trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Leo the Deacon (born c. 950); Histories, excerpts, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
    • Nikephoros Phokas captures Crete and celebrates a triumph, 960-1
    • The death of Romanos II, 963
    • John Tzimiskes murders the emperor Nikephoros Phokas, December 969
  • John Skylitzes: Synopsis Historion, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
  • Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
  • Military Religious service documents of the mid-tenth century, 1127-1129 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
  • Constantine the Rhodian:The Seven Wonders of Constantinople: The Senate House and the Bronze Statue of Athena in the Forum of Constantine, mid 10th century[Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • A Byzantine Satirical Song of the late tenth century [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • John Skylitzes: Synopsis Historion, trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina) + Chaps 30-35 and Chap 36 , trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
    With an account of the Battle of Kleidion, 29 July 1014.
  • Epitaph on Tomb of Basil II (d 1025). trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Heron of Byzantium: Siegecraft: Two Tenth-Century Instructional Manuals PDF Format [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
• Eleventh Century Conflicts
  • Theodoros Skoutariotes: The Emperors of the 11th Century, from the Synopsis Chronika.
  • Michael Psellus (1018-after 1078): Chronographia, full text.
    The history of the Roman Empire 976-1078 by one of the liveliest writers of the middle ages.
    [Image of Michael Psellos as monk, educating the emperor Michael VII Doukas](images/1100-1300, Psellos, Michael Doukas, Pantokratoros234f254r.jpg)(ca. 1050-ca. 1090; emperor: 1071-1078); from ms. Athos, Παντοκράτορος 234 (late 12th c.), f. 254r; the original size of the figures is less than 3 cm
  • Michael Psellus (1018-after 1078): Encomium of His Mother, trans Jeffrey Walker, full text. [PDF doc] [At Documenta Catholica] [Internet Archive version here] .
  • Patriarch Michael Keroularios (c 1000 - 21 January 1059): Letter to Peter, Patriarch of Antioch (concerning Schism of 1054), Sometime in June or July 1054. Trans by Tia Kolbaba.
  • Patriarch Peter of Antioch: Letter to Michael, Patriarch of Constantinople (concerning Schism of 1054). Sometime in July or August 1054, trans by Tia Kolbaba.
  • Kekaumenos (11th century): Consilia et Narrationes, Greek text, English translation and commentary by Charlotte Roueché [At Ancient Wisdoms] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Kekaumenos (11th century): Logos Nouthetetikos, or Oration of Admonition to an Emperor §§77-88 of the Strategikon trans. by W.L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
• The Komnenoi
  • Anna Comnena (1083-after 1148): The Alexiad. [Full text]
    The account of her father, the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, by Princess Anna Comnena is perhaps the most important historical work by a woman writer written before the modern period.
  • Anna Comnena (1083-after 1148): The Alexiad, Books 10 and 11 (on the Crusades).
    See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: Anna Comnena for somewhat dismissive comments.
  • The Annales Lupi Protospatharii of Bari: The Career of Robert Guiscard (1056-1085) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
  • The Great Fair at Thessalonica, mid 12th Cent.
  • John Cinnamus and Nicertas Choniates: John II's Hungarian Campaigns, 1127-1129 [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Nicholas Mesarites (c 1163/4- after 1216): Ekphrasis on the Church of the Holy Apostles, and Mausoleum of Constantine and the Tombs of the Emperor [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]

The Final Centuries * The Crusades and Latin Empire * See Internet Medieval Sourcebook: Crusades * Geoffrey de Villehardouin (c.1160-c.1212): Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople. full text * Robert of Clari (13th century): The Conquest of Constantinople (1204), full text [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here] * Ibn al-Athir (d. 1233): On the Latin Conquest of Constantinople in 1204, trans Mohammed Ballan [At Ballandalus] [Internet Archive version here] * The Nicean Period * The Palaiologoi
* Patriarch Anthony: Defending the Position of the Emperor, 1395.
* Hesychasm: Selected Readings
* Ibn Battuta (1307-1377 CE): Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354 Full test
* Ibn Battuta (1304-1368/69): The Byzantine Empire and Constantinople, from Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354
* George Akropolites: (c.1217-1282): Warfare in 13th century Byzantium [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
* John Cantacuzenus (c.1292-1383): The War of Galata (1348) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
* Sources on Tamerlane (1336-1405), including the Battle of Angora (1402) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here] * The Peloponnese and Mistra * Trebizond * The Fall of Constantinople and Aftermath
* Bartolomeo de Giano: On the Cruelty of the Turks 1438 trans William North. PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
A letter from a Franciscan living in Constantinople in 1438 conveying his impressions of growing Turkish power and a call for aid from the West.
* Letter of Sheik Aq Šems ed-Dîn to Mehmet II (1452), trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
* Thomas the Eparch and Joshua Diplovatatzes (?) (15th century): Account of the Taking of Constantinople, trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
* Nicolo Barbaro (15th century): The Siege of Constantinople (1453) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
* George Sphrantzes (1401-c.1478): The Siege of Constantinople (1453) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
* Kritovoulos (c.1410-c.1470): The Siege of Constantinople (1453) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
* Michael Kritovoulos of Imbros (d. 1470): On the Fall of Constantinople (1453), trans Mohammed Ballan [At Ballandalus] [Internet Archive version here]
* News Arrives in Crete of the Fall of Constantinople, from British Museum Add. 34060 (15th century): trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
* Letter of a Member of the Household of Archbishop Isidore of Kiev to Cardinal Dominico Capranica (1453):, trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here].
* Letter of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini to Lord Cardinal Firmanus (1453), trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
* Letter of the Knights of St. John on Rhodes which was sent to Jerusalem to the Margrave of Brandenburg (1453), trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
* Anonymous Russian: Against Isidore and the Latins (1461-1462), trans. W.L. North from the Italian translation by A. Danti. In A. Pertusi, La Caduta di Costantinopoli. II. L’Eco nel Mondo. Milano: A. Mondadori 2003, p. 253.(1461-1462): trans. William L. North [At Carlton] [Internet Archive version here]
An attacks Cardinal Isidore of Kiev, formerly an orthodox bishop, who visited Russia in 1440 and 1443 as apostolic legate to persuade the Russian church to enter into union with Rome. * After Byzantium * Sultan Mehmed II: Letter to the Greek Archons of Morea, 1454 [Academia.edu] * James M. Ludlow: The Tribute of Children, 1493 On the origins of the Janissaries.

Byzantine Religion

• WEB St. Pachomius Library: Global Index, for listing of Orthodox documents online.
• General Religion
  • Gregory of Nyssa (335-395): Homilies in Ecclesiates, Homily 4: On the Evils of Slavery [At Roger Pearse] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century): Christian Topography, full text [At Tertullian] [Internet Archive version here]
• Ecclesiastical Organization
  • Theodore Balsamon: On the Powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople, end 12th Century.
• Theology
  • Ephrem the Syrian (early 4th cent--373): Writings Extant only in Greek. [Was At Anastasis, now Internet Archive]
    Including
    * Fifty Five Beatitudes
    * Three Short Discourses
    * Sermon on the Fathers who have completed their course
    * Sermon in Heptasyllabics
  • John Chrysostom (c.347-407)
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Easter Sermon. See also St. John of Antioch: the Golden Mouth [At Internet Archive, from OP.ORG]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies Against the Jews also here [At Tertullian]
    See additional Notes on these Sermons
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Treatise on the Priesthood, full text [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Letters to Olympias [At CCELl]
    * Letter I
    * Letter II
    * Letter III
    * Letter IV
    * Letter VII
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Letter to certain Presbyters of Antioch [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Correspondence with the Bishop of Rome [At CCEL]
    * Letter I to Innocent, Bishop of Rome
    * Letter II to Innocent, Bishop of Rome
    * From Innocent, Bishop of Rome to St. John
    * From Innocent to the People of Constantinople
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies on Saint Ignatius and Saint Babylas [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Concerning the Power of Demons - Three Homilies [At CCEL]
    * Homily 1
    * Homily 2
    * Homily 3
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): On Eutropius the Eunuch, Patrician and Consul - Homily 1 and Homily 2 [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Concerning Lowliness (Humility) of Mind [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homily on the Paralytic Let Down Through the Roof [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): A Treatise to Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Himself [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Against Marcionists and Manichaeans [At CCEL]
    * John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies on the Statues [At CCEL]
  • Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visgothic and Byzantine
  • Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (2nd half 5th century): Letters [At St. Pachomius] [Internet archive version here]
    SeeCatholic Encyclopedia: Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
    Justinian's "dialogue" with a "Nestorian." [Internet Archive version here]
  • Mar Narsai (5th-6th Cent.): An Exposition of The Mysteries. [At U. Oregon] [Internet Archive version here]
  • John of Damascus
    * John of Damascus: Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images , full text
    * John of Damascus: Three Sermons on the Dormition (koimhsis) of the Virgin, full text,
  • Peter Moghila of Kiev: Orthodox Confession of the Faith, 17th century, [Was At UMD, now Internet Archive]
    Perhaps the most Western "Orthodox" confession ever written
• Spirituality
  • John Moschos: An Angel Story from the Spiritual Meadow .
  • Theodore of Studium
    * Theodore of Studium (d.826): Twenty-Seventh Discourse.
    * Theodore of Studium (d.826): Sixty First Discourse.
    * Theodore of Studium (d.826): Selected Poems, with the Letter to Casia.
  • Hesychasm: Selected Readings
  • Gregory Palamas
    * Gregory Palamas: On the Dormition of the Virgin Mary .
    * Gregory Palamas: On Unceasing Prayer, from the Life of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Salonica, Wonderworker (this is taken from the comments of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, editor of the Philokalia). [At Saint Gregory Palamas Greek Orthodox Monastery]
  • St. Arsenios of Cappodocia: Blessing Psalter, 20th cent.
• Sanctity
  • Palladius: The Lausiac History [extended excerpts]
    Includes lives of a number of saintly women.
  • Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke [full text].
    One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379)
  • The Life of Daniel the Stylite [Full text], the fifth-century saint who spent 33 years on a pillar in Constantinople. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: Stylites.
  • Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa Ben Nasser, [full text of Metaphrastic Life: selections from _Vita Prima_].
    An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure.
  • The Life of Theodore of Sykeon, Full text.
    This Life of seventh-century saint is a major source for Byzantine rural and social history, as well as about the cult of saints.
  • Leontius of Neapolis (7th Century): The Life of John the Almsgiver [Full text].
  • Life of Irene, Abbess of the Convent of Chrysobalanton, trans. Jan Olof Rosenqvist
  • Lennart Rydén: The Life of St Andrew the Fool: Vol. 1: Introduction, Testimonies and Nachleben. Indices [Internet Archive backup here] and The Life of St Andrew the Fool Vol. 2: Text, Translation and Notes. Appendices [Internet Archive backup here] full text [At Uppsala]
  • Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
  • The Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, full text in Greek [Unicode]
  • The Life of Lazaros of Mt. Galesion: An Eleventh-Century Pillar Saint [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now at Internet Acrhive] A good part of the published translation. In PDF Format
  • Gregory of Constantinople: Life of St. Romylos, A 14th Century Hesychast saint. [full permission pending]
  • Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation - to access chapter files individually see here [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive] Complete texts of translations of female saints lives.
    The texts are all in PDF form.
    * Front Matter, General Introduction, Acknowledgments, List of Abbreviations
    * A. Nuns Disguised as Monks
    * 1. Life of St. Mary/Marinos / translated by Nicholas Constas
    * 2. Life of St. Matrona of Perge / Jeffrey Featherstone and Cyril Mango /
    * B. Female Solitaries
    * 3. Life of St. Mary of Egypt / Maria Kouli
    * 4. Life of St. Theoktiste of Lesbos / Angela C. Hero /
    * C. Cenobitic Nuns
    * 5. Life of St. Elisabeth the Wonderworker / Valerie Karras
    * 6. Life of St. Athanasia of Aegina / Lee Francis Sherry
    * 7. Life of St. Theodora of Thessalonike / Alice-Mary Talbot
    * D. Pious Housewives
    * 8. Life of St. Mary the Younger / Angeliki E. Laiou
    * 9. Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos / Paul Halsall
    * E. A Saintly Empress
    * 10. Life of St. Theodora of Arta / Alice-Mary Talbot /
    * Indexes /
    Index of People and Places; General Index Index of Notable Greek Words
• Monasticism
  • Theodore of Studium (d.826): Reform Rules. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: Studion
  • Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
    A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments. Edited by John Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero with the assistance of Giles Constable. To access chapter files individually see here
    * Preface, Giles Constable
    * Early Monastic Rules
    * Chapter One: Traditional Private Religious Foundations / 61k
    * Introduction
    * Seventh Century
    * 1. Apa Abraham: Testament of Apa Abraham, Bishop of Hermonthis, for the Monastery of St. Phoibammon near Thebes, Egypt (trans. Leslie S. B. MacCoull)
    * Eighth Century
    * 2. Pantelleria: Typikon of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Pantelleria (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
    * Ninth Century
    * 3. Theodore Studites: Testament of Theodore the Studite for the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * 4. Stoudios: Rule of the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * Tenth Century
    * 5. Euthymios: Testament of Euthymios for the Monasteries of Psamathia and Ta Agathou (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)
    * 6. Rila: Testament of John of Rila (trans. Ilija Iliev)
    * 7. Latros: Testament of Paul the Younger for the Monastery of the Mother of God tou Stylou on Mount Latros (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
    * Eleventh Century
    * 8. John Xenos: Testament of John Xenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Antiphonetria of Myriokephala on Crete (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
    * 9. Galesios: Testament of Lazarus of Mount Galesios (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter) /
    * 10. Eleousa: Rule of Manuel, Bishop of Stroumitza, for the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
    * Chapter Two: Athonite Monasteries
    * Introduction
    * Tenth Century
    * 11. Ath. Rule: Rule of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
    * 12. Tzimiskes: Typikon of Emperor John Tzimiskes (trans. George Dennis)
    * 13. Ath. Typikon: Typikon of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
    * 14. Ath. Testament: Testament of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis)
    * 15. Constantine IX: Typikon of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * Chapter Three: The Protectorate
    * Introduction
    * Tenth Century
    * 16. Mount Tmolos: Typikon of Nikephoros Erotikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God and the Old Age Home called Ta Derma on Mount Tmolos (trans. John Thomas) / 31k
    * 17. Nikon Metanoeite: Testament of Nikon the Metanoeite for the Church and Monastery of the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Kyriake in Lakedaimon (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
    * Eleventh Century
    * 18. Nea Gephyra: Testament of Nikodemos for the Monastery of Nea Gephyra near Lakedaimon (trans. Stephen Reinert)
    * 19. Attaleiates: Rule of Michael Attaleiates for his Almshouse in Rhaidestos and for the Monastery of Christ Panoiktirmon in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 20. Black Mountain: Regulations of Nikon of the Black Mountain (trans. Robert Allison) /
    * 21. Roidion: Typikon of Nikon of the Black Mountain for the Monastery and Hospice of the Mother of God Tou Roidiou (trans. Robert Allison)
    * Chapter Four: Early Reform Monasteries of the Eleventh Century
    * Introduction
    * 22. Evergetis: Typikon of Timothy for the Monastery of the Mother of God Evergetis (trans. Robert Jordan) /
    * 23. Pakourianos: Typikon of Gregory Pakourianos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Backovo (trans. Robert Jordan) /
    * 24. Christodoulos: Rule, Testament and Codicil of Christodoulos for the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter)
    * Chapter Five: Imperial and Royal Monasteries of the Twelfth Century
    * Introduction
    * 25. Fragala: Testaments of Gregory for the Monastery of St. Philip of Fragala in Sicily (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter and Timothy Miller)
    * 26. Luke of Messina: Typikon of Luke for the Monastery of Christ Savior (San Salvatore) in Messina (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * 27. Kecharitomene: Typikon of Empress Irene Doukaina Komnene for the Convent of the Mother of God Kecharitomene in Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan)
    * 28. Pantokrator: Typikon of Emperor John II Komnenos for the Monastery of Christ Pantokrator at Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan)
    * 29. Kosmosoteira: Typikon of the Sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Kosmosoteira near Bera (trans. Nancy Patterson Sevcenko)
    * Chapter Six: Early Reform Monasteries of the Twelfth Century
    * Introduction
    * 30. Phoberos: Rule of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Phoberos (trans. Robert Jordan)
    * 31. Areia: Memorandum and Typikon of Leo, Bishop of Nauplia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God in Areia (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 32. Mamas: Typikon of Athanasios Philanthropenos for the Monastery of St. Mamas in Constantinople (trans. Anastasius Bandy) /
    * 33. Heliou Bomon: Typikon of Nikephoros Mystikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God ton Heliou Bomon or Elegmon (trans. Anastasius Bandy) /
    * Chapter Seven: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Thirteenth Century
    * Introduction
    * 34. Machairas: Rule of Neilos, Bishop of Tamasia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God of Machairas in Cyprus (trans. Anastasius Bandy)
    * 35. Skoteine: Testament of Maximos for the Monastery of the Mother of God at Skoteine near Philadelphia (trans. George Dennis)
    * 36. Blemmydes: Typikon of Nikephoros Blemmydes for the Monastery of the Lord Christ-Who-Is at Ematha near Ephesos (trans. Joseph Munitiz) /
    * 37. Auxentios: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of the Archangel Michael on Mount Auxentios near Chalcedon (trans. George Dennis)
    * 38. Kellibara I: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios of the Palaiologoi-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis)
    * 39. Lips: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Lips in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 40. Anargyroi: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Sts. Kosmas and Damian in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * Chapter Eight: Later Private Religious Foundations / 61k
    * Introduction
    * Twelfth Century
    * 41. Docheiariou: Rule of Neophytos for the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel of Docheiariou on Mount Athos (trans. Robert Allison)
    * 42. Sabas: Founder's Typikon of the Sabas Monastery near Jerusalem (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori)
    * 43. Kasoulon: Rule of Nicholas for the Monastery of St. Nicholas of Kasoulon near Otranto (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * 44. Karyes: Typikon of Sabbas the Serbian for the Kellion of St. Sabbas at Karyes on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)
    * Thirteenth Century
    * 45. Neophytos: Testamentary Rule of Neophytos for the Hermitage of the Holy Cross near Ktima in Cyprus (trans. Catia Galatariotou)
    * Fourteenth Century
    * 46. Akropolites: Testament of Constantine Akropolites for the Monastery of the Resurrection (Anastasis) in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 47. Philanthropos: Typikon of Irene Choumnaina Palaiologina for the Convent of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 48. Prodromos: Testament of Neilos for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos (trans. Stephen Reinert)
    * 49. Geromeri: Testament of Neilos Erichiotes for the Monastery of the Mother of God Hodegetria in Geromeri (trans. George Dennis)
    * 50. Gerasimos: Testament of Gerasimos for the Small Monastery of St. Euthymios in Jerusalem (trans. George Dennis)
    * 51. Koutloumosi: Testaments of Chariton for the Monastery of Christ Savior of Koutloumousi on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)
    * 52. Choumnos: Rule and Testament of Makarios Choumnos for the Nea Mone of the Mother of God in Thessalonike (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 53. Meteora: Canonical Rule of Athanasios the Meteorite for the Monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) (trans. George Dennis)
    * Fifteenth Century
    * 54. Neilos Damilas: Testament and Typikon of Neilos Damilas for the Convent of the Mother of God Pantanassa at Baionaia on Crete (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * Chapter Nine: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries
    * Introduction
    * Fourteenth Century
    * 55. Athanasios I: Rule of Patriarch Athanasios I (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * 56. Kellibara II: Typikon of Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis)
    * 57. Bebeia Elpis: Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 58. Menoikeion: Typikon of Joachim, Metropolitan of Zichna, for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Mount Menoikeion near Serres (trans. Timothy Miller)
    * Fifteenth Century
    * 59. Manuel II: Typikon of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos for the Monasteries of Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis)
    * 60. Charsianeites: Testament of Patriarch Matthew I for the Monastery of Charsianeites Dedicated to the Mother of God Nea Peribleptos (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot)
    * 61. Eleousa Inv.: Inventory of the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa in Stroumitza (trans. Anastasius Bandy, with Nancy Sevcenko)
    * Appendix A: Concordance with Previous Lists
    * Appendix B: The Regulation of Diet in the Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents
    * Appendix C: Topical Interrelationships of the Families of the Typika of the Byzantine Monastic Reform Movement
• Liturgy
  • The Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom as used in Orthodox Churches.
  • The Liturgy of the Assyrian Rite.
    See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: Assyrian Rite
  • The Akathistos Hymn.
  • The Lenten Triodion. Full English text of Byzantine Lenten services.
  • The Ecloga on Sexual Crimes, 8th Cent.
  • The Contract of Marriage, in the Ecloga of Leo III, 726.
  • Two Versions of the Rite of Adelphopoiia.
• Heresy and Dissent
  • Anna Comnena: The Bogomils, c. 1110

The Byzantine Commonwealth

• Syria
  • WEB Syriaca.org
  • WEB Syri.ac
    An annotated bibliography of Syriac resources online.
  • Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Joshua the Stylite, composed in Syriac in 507 AD, full text, trans. William Wright 1882 [At Internet Archive]
  • Bar Hebraeus: Chronography, trans from Syriac by E. A. Wallis Budge (London, 1932 ) full text [At Internet Archive]
  • Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite: The Chronicle of Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, trans. 2000 [At Intenet Archive]
  • Ch'ing-Tsing: Nestorian Tablet: Eulogizing the Propagation of the Illustrious Religion in China, with a Preface, composed by a priest of the Syriac Church, 781 A.D.
  • William Rubruck: The Journey of Friar William of Rubruck (1253-1255) [At University of Washington] [Internet Archive version here] Information on Nestorian/Assyrian Christians in central Asia.
• Armenia
  • WEB Armenian/Georgian Historical Resources Site [Internet Archive version here which will also link to any of the texts below]. Various full text translations by Robert Bedrosian.
    * P'awstos Buzandac'i'. History of the Armenians, 5th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus]
    * Ghazar P'arbec'i'. History of the Armenians, 5th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, At [At Atallus]
    * Sebeos: History, 7th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian,[At Atallus] [this is the first of a series of files].
    * John Mamikonean: History of Taron, 10th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus] [this is the first of a series of files].
    * Aristakes Lastivertc'i': History, 11th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus]
    * The Georgian Chronicle, 12-13th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian,[At Atallus]
    * Kirakos Gandzakets'i': History of the Armenians, 13th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus].
    * T'ovma Metsobets'i': History of Tamerlane and His Successors , full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Atallus].
  • The Geography of Ananias Of Širak, (7th Century), trans by Robert H. Hewsen [Internet Archive]
  • Claudia Rapp and Johannes Prieser-Kapeller, eds.. Mobility and Migration in Byzantium; A Sourcebook [At Vr-elibrary.de] PDF [Internet Archive version here]
    Five hundred pages of translations into English on sources about migration in Byzantium. Includes both internal migration, and sections on Jews, Slavs, Armenians, Varangians (Norse), Catalans, Turks, and in relation to the Crusades. Gender-related migration is also covered.
• Bulgaria
  • Chronicle of 811 About the Emperor Nikephoros and how he leaves his bones in Bulgaria, from Ed. I. Dujcev, Travaux et Mémoires 1 (1965), 205-54 at 210-16. [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
  • Pope Nicholas I: Responses to the Questions of the Bulgars A.D. 866 (Letter 99), trans. W. North, full text.
• Serbia/Montenegro
  • Slavonic Life of Constantine (Vita Constantini) (late 9th Century) [At UFL] [Internet Archive version here]
    Earliest text written in Old Church Slavoni, was composed some time between Constantine's death in 862 and December 885.
  • 2ND: T. Živković: On The Baptism of the Serbs and Croats in thge Time of Basil I (867–886) [Internet Archive version here]
  • Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina) + Chaps 30-35 and Chap 36 , trans. Paul Stephenson [Was At Paul Stephenson, now Internet Archive]
    "Also known as the Bar Genealogy, was originally composed in Slavonic in the late twelfth century, but has been preserved only in a sixteenth-century Latin translation. It was probably the work of Grgur (Gregory), bishop of Bar from 1172 to c. 1196, who championed the rights of the bishopric of Bar to preside over all the lands south of the river Cetina. A Major source for the Balkan history of the period."
  • Old Serbian Tales: Marko and the Turks, c. 1450 A Serbian poem about the fight with the Turks.
• Vikings
  • Snorri Sturlson: Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway. [OMACL Text], [Contains inter alia, _King Harold's Saga_]
  • A Hispano-Muslim Embassy to the Vikings in 845: An Account of al-Ghazal’s Journey to the North, 845, trans Mohammed Ballan [At Ballandalus] [Internet Archive version here]
• Inner Asia
  • Description of the Tartars [Mongols], 13th century.

The Byzantine Commonwealth: Russia

• WEB Primary Sources for Medieval Rus' [Was At University of Washington, now Internet Archive]
• Ibn al-Athīr: Accounts of the Rūs (10th to 13th centuries) [At De Re Militari] [Internet Archive version here]
• Medieval Russia's epics, chronicles, and tales, ed Serge A. Zenkovsky (1963) [At Internet Archive]
• The Chronicle of Nestor.
• The Chronicle of Novgorod 1016–1471, excerpts.
• The Chronicle of Novgorod 1016–1471, full text, trans Robert Michel and Nevill Forbes [At Internet Archive]
• Privileges Granted to German Merchants at Novgorod, 1229
• The Russian Primary Chronicle Laurentian Text. Translated and edited by Samuel Hazard Cross and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetor, full text PDF [At MFH] [Internet Archive version here]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Ruskaia Pravda. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
  An early Law code
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Founding of the City of Kiev. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Nestor: The Martyrdom of Boris and Gleb, d. 1015. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianisation of Russia, 988. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Varangians (Normans). [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Prince Oleg's Campaign Against Constantinople. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Daniel (1106-1107): The Pilgrimage of the Russian Abbot Daniel in the Holy Land, 1106-1107 A.D., annotated by Sir C. W.Wilson (London, 1895) [At Holy Fire [Internet Archive version here]
• Metropolitan Hilarion: Sermon on Law and Grace. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Testament of Vladimir Monomakh. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• The Lay of Igor's Raid. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Life, Acts, and Miracles of Sergius of Radonezh, (c.1314-1392). [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Filofei: Moscow as the Third Rome. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Prince Andrew Kurbskii: First Epistle Written to the Tsar and Grand Prince of Moscow in Consequence of His Fierce Persecution . [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• The Domostroi: How to Educate Children and Bring Them Up In the Fear of God, excerpts, mid-16th century [Was At Durham, now at Internet Archive]
• Peter Moghila of Kiev (1596-1646): Orthodox Confession of the Faith. Perhaps the most Western "Orthodox" confession ever written. [Internet Acrhive]
• Letter from Ivan the Terrible to Elizabeth I. [At Internet Archive]
• THE LIFE OF SAINT PETER, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW [Internet Archive]
• The Code of Law of 1649 (Ulozhenie), excerpts. [Was At Univ.Durham, now at Internet Archive]

Accounts of Byzantium by Others

• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
• An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
• Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
  Includes an account of Constantinople.
• Chinese Accounts of Rome, Byzantium and the Middle East, c. 91 B.C.E. - 1643 C.E.
• Chu Yuan-Chang: Manifesto of Accession as First Ming Emperor, 1372 C.E. Sent to the Byzantine Emperor.
• ‘Abd Allāh b. al-Sabbāḥ (14th Century): Travels in Constantinople from Nisbah al-Akhbār wa Taẓkirat al-Akhyār. An Andalusi Mudéjar in 14th-c. Constantinople: The Travels of Ibn al-Sabbah, trans Mohammed Ballan [At Ballandalus] [Internet Archive version here]
• Benjamin of Tudela (1160-1173): The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela Critical Text, Translation and Commentary by Marcus Nathan Adler.
• Felix Fabri (1480 & 1483-84): The Book of the Wanderings of Felix Fabri (Circa 1480-1483 A.D.) trans. Aubrey Stewart. 2 vols. London: Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society, 1896 [At Internet Archive was at Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
• Pietro Casola (1494): Canon Pietro Casola's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Year 1494. trans. Mary Margaret Newett. Manchester: The University Press, 1907. [At Internet Archive was at Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]

NOTES: copyrighted means the text is not available for free distribution. Links to files at other site are indicated by [At some indication of the site name or location]. No indication means that the text file is local. WEB indicates a link to one of small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially valuable overview.

The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at the Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.

© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 5 January 2025 [CV]