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1

The Jewish Theme in Theophanes the Confessor’s Testimony on the Prophet Muḥammad

100%

Cecota B.

Studia Ceranea

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2022

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vol. 13

255-269

EN

Theophanes’ account regarding the rise of Islam and the history of the Prophet Muḥammad appears to be the most detailed and precise one that can be found in Byzantine historiography. The Confessor’s aim was to reproduce as many details about Muḥammad’s life as possible. Since his focus was not on religious ideas, but on key events surrounding the rise of the new religion, his account is not predominantly concerned with discussing Islam’s ideology. However, this does not allow us to regard it as in any way objective. Some of the views it contains were included with the clear goal of discrediting Islam as a religion that rivalled Christianity. This, for example, can be said of Theophanes’ remarks about the relationship between Muḥammad and the Jews. In this article, I focus on this aspect of Theophanes’ account, discussing it in the context of the long-running (the last several decades) scholarly debates regarding Jewish-Muslim relations.

2

The Portrayal of Abbasid Rulers in Chronography of Theophanes the Confessor

100%

Cecota B.

Studia Ceranea

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2022

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vol. 12

339-350

EN

This text supplements another, a paper presented a decade ago on the portrayal of Umayyad rulers in Chronography of Theophanes the Confessor (B. Cecota, Islam, the Arabs and Umayyad Rulers according to Theophanes the Confessor’s Chronography, “Studia Ceranea” 2, 2012, p. 97–111). I am limiting myself here to discussing only those source remarks which directly concern one of the Abbasid Caliphs, or alternatively, to narratives structured in such a manner that they implied certain traits of a ruler. General remarks concerning the portrayal of the entire dynasty have been included, both in the main text and in the footnotes, only where this was necessary for the understanding of the context in which the Caliphs’ descriptions appear.

3

Asparuh and His People on the Lower Danube through the Eyes of Theophanes, or a Story that Was Not Meant to Happen

72%

Marinow K.

Studia Ceranea

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2018

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vol. 8

167-191

EN

The Bulgarians’ settlement in the Lower Danube area constituted one of the most significant events in the history of the Balkan Peninsula in the Middle Ages. The Danube Bulgaria’s rise and its territorial expansion changed the political situation in this area. The Bulgarians became Byzantium’s chief opponents in the struggle for establishing ascendancy over the Balkan Peninsula. The analysis of Theophanes’ Chronography, which remains, in addition to the account by Patriarch Nicephorus, the main source of information about these events supports the conclusion that this Byzantine author took a very negative view of the effects of the arrival of these nomads in the former Byzantine territories. Although this account has been analysed in detail by a number of scholars, these authors have paid no attention to the key role of the tale of Khan Kubrat and the disobedience of his five sons who failed to remain faithful to his last wish. The significance of the personal experiences of Theophanes, who witnessed the Bulgarian expansion during the era of Khan Krum, is also omitted from today’s discussion of these issues. These experiences contributed to the way in which he viewed the migration of the ancestors of the distinguished Bulgarian ruler. The chronicler may thus be considered to have offered a very clear view of what the readers should think of the Bulgarians’ arrival in the Balkan territories.

4

Powstanie Abbasydów i jego następstwa w ujęciu Teofanesa Wyznawcy. Część I

72%

Cecota B.

Balcanica Posnaniensia Acta et studia

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2022

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vol. 29

55-69

EN

This article attempts to interpret the messages of Theophanes the Confessor about the seizure of power in the Muslim caliphate by the Abbasid dynasty. The Byzantine studies debate of the last decades about Chronography was dominated by the dispute over the so-called eastern sources of information contained in the Byzantine chronicle. There were numerous suggestions, most notably about Teophilus of Edessa and alleged Arab sources. In view of this very important discussion, however, the issue of the work that Theophanes the Confessor himself (or the team of people who worked with him and George Syncellus in the context of the selection of materials) put into the creation of this chronicle disappears. What elements of the narrative did he want to emphasize, how did he conduct the narrative, what he wanted to suggest to his readers. According to the author of this text, a good example of the selection work performed by Theophanes are those elements of the narrative that concern the rise and takeover of power by the Abbasids. In the first part of this article, I dealt with the circumstances of the Abbasid seizure of power, which was highlighted by the Byzantine chronicler. Theophanes was certainly not an "supporter" of the Umayyads, as seen especially in the description of Marwan's reign, but he is negative about how the Abbasids seized power - considering their legitimacy questionable, presenting them as the people who led to the robberies and murders by the lower classes . I dealt with these issues, as well as some elements related to possible religious interpretations, in the first part of the work, presented here. In the second, I will present elements of Theophanes' narrative, which seem to suggest that with the seizure of power by the Abbasids he saw a certain collapse of the Muslim state.

PL

Artykuł jest próbą interpretacji informacji wybranych przez Teofanesa Wyznawcy na temat przejęcia władzy w muzułmańskim kalifacie przez dynastię Abbasydów. W bizantyńskiej debacie naukowej ostatnich dziesięcioleci na temat Chronografii dominował spór o tzw. wschodnie źródła, w szczególności dotyczący Teofila z Edessy i rzekomych źródeł arabskich. W świetle tej bardzo ważnej dyskusji znika jednak kwestia pracy, jaką sam Teofanes Wyznawca (lub zespół współpracujących z nim osób i Jerzy Synkelos, w kontekście doboru materiałów) włożył w tworzenie tej kroniki. Jakie elementy narracji chciał podkreślić, jak ją prowadził, co chciał zasugerować swoim czytelnikom. Zdaniem autora tego tekstu, dobrym przykładem pracy selekcyjnej dokonanej przez Teofanesa są te elementy narracji, które dotyczą powstania i przejęcia władzy przez Abbasydów. Teofanes z pewnością nie był „zwolennikiem” Umajjadów, co widać zwłaszcza w opisie panowania Marwana, ale negatywnie odnosi się do tego, jak Abbasydzi przejęli władzę – kwestionuje ich legitymizację, przedstawiając jako ludzi, którzy pozwolili na rabunki i morderstwa dokonywane przez niższe klasy. Tymi zagadnieniami, a także pewnymi elementami związanymi z możliwymi interpretacjami religijnymi zająłem się w pierwszej, prezentowanej tutaj, części pracy. W drugiej przedstawię elementy narracji Teofanesa, które zdają się sugerować, iż wraz z przejęciem władzy przez Abbasydów widział on pewien zmierzch muzułmańskiego państwa w ogóle.

5

Powstanie Abbasydów i jego następstwa w ujęciu Teofanesa Wyznawcy. Część II

72%

Cecota B. A.

Balcanica Posnaniensia Acta et studia

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2023

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vol. 30

7-21

EN

In the first part of my article, I described how Theophanes the Confessor refused to legitimize the Abbasids, recognizing the legitimacy of Umayyad rule (according to the chronicler, the Umayyad power came directly from the Prophet Muhammad, which is obviously not entirely true). The chronograph emphasized that the Abbasids used the lower classes to seize power, which allowed them to lead to a state of anarchy. At the same time, he noticed how bad a ruler Marwan the Second was. From this difficult situation, as can be understood, there was no good way out, because both sides of the dispute were tainted with sins that led to injustice or unrighteousness. This was confirmed by supernatural phenomena mentioned by historian in the context of the change of power in the Muslim state. In the second part of my paper, I described how Theophanes tried to suggest that the Abbasid rule had led to religious and class divisions in the country. As a chronicler described the manifestations of anarchy that led to the persecution of Christians in Muslim countries. According to my interpretation, the description of the civil war in the caliphate after the death of Harun ar-Rashid in the work of Theophanes the Confessor is almost a harbinger of the end of the Muslim empire.

PL

W pierwszej części mojego artykułu opisałem, jak Teofanes Wyznawca właściwie odmówił prawa do legitymizacji dynastii abbasydzkiej, uznając prawowierność rządów Umajjadów (według kronikarza władza tych ostatnich pochodziła bezpośrednio od Proroka Muhammada, co oczywiście nie jest do końca prawdą). Chronograf podkreślał, że Abbasydzi wykorzystywali niższe warstwy społeczne do przejęcia władzy, co doprowadziło do stanu anarchii. Jednocześnie zauważył, jak złym władcą był Marwan II. Jak można zrozumieć, z tej trudnej sytuacji nie było dobrego wyjścia, ponieważ obie strony sporu zostały obciążone grzechami prowadzącymi do niesprawiedliwości i nieprawowierności. Potwierdzały to niejako zjawiska nadprzyrodzone, o których historyk wspomniał w kontekście zmiany władzy w państwie muzułmańskim. W drugiej części mojego artykułu opisałem, jak Teofanes próbował zasugerować, że rządy Abbasydów doprowadziły do podziałów religijnych i klasowych. Wspomniałem jak kronikarz opisywał przejawy anarchii, która doprowadziła m.in. do prześladowań chrześcijan. Według mojej interpretacji, opis wojny domowej w kalifacie po śmierci Haruna ar-Raszida jest niemal zwiastunem końca imperium muzułmańskiego.

6

Could a Caliph Be Virtuous? Selected Aspects of the Image of Muslim Rulers in the "Chronography" of Theophanes the Confessor

58%

Cecota B.

Vox Patrum

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2022

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vol. 84

79-92

PL

Chronografia Teofanesa Wyznawcy to jedno z niewielu bizantyńskich dzieł historiograficznych, w którym tak wiele miejsca poświęcono światu islamskiemu i pierwszym władcom kalifatu. Oczywiście większość wzmianek na temat muzułmanów dotyczy raczej zagadnień militarnych – licznych najazdów na ziemie bizantyńskie, jakie miały miejsce praktycznie od początku powstania islamu. Istotny był też sposób w jaki Teofanes traktował sam islam – jako herezję. Trudno więc spodziewać się, aby opisy dotyczące kalifów można było uznać za pozytywne. W większości z nich znajdziemy raczej „dowody” na chciwość, głupotę czy skłonność do przemocy, jakie charakteryzować miały kalifów. Niemniej jednak w kontekście odpowiedzi na zadane w tytule pytanie – czy kalif mógł być cnotliwy – warto przyjrzeć się bliżej wizerunkowi dwóch władców w Chronografii – Mu‘awiji oraz ‘Abd al-Malika. Niniejszy tekst poświęcony został pierwszemu z wymienionych kalifów.

EN

The Chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor is one of the few Byzantine historiographical works in which so much space is devoted to the Islamic world and the first ruling caliphate. Of course, most references to Muslims concern mostly military issues – numerous Muslim invasions on Byzantine lands that were happening almost since the beginning of Islam. Also important was the way Theophanes treated Islam itself as a religion – as heresy. Therefore, it is hard to expect that the descriptions of the caliphs can be considered positive. In most of them, we find rather “evidence” of the greed, stupidity, or propensity to violence, which were to characterize the caliphs. Nevertheless, in the context of the answer to the question posed in the title – whether the caliph could be virtuous – it is worth taking a closer look at the image of the two rulers in the Chronography – Mu‘awiya and ‘Abd al-Malik. This text is dedicated to the first of these rulers.

7

Pan Kubrat i jego pięciu synów. Teofanesa wizja przybycia Bułgarów na Półwysep Bałkański

58%

Marinow K.

Balcanica Posnaniensia Acta et studia

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2016

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vol. 23

15-34

EN

The Bulgarians’ settlement in the Lower Danube area constituted one of the most significant events in the history of the Balkan Peninsula in the Middle Ages. The Danube Bulgaria’s rise and its territorial expansion changed the political situation in this area. The Bulgarians became Byzantium’s chief opponents in the struggle for establishing ascendancy over the Balkan Peninsula. The analysis of Theophanes’ Chronography, which remains, in addition to the account by Patriarch Nikephoros, the main source of information about these events supports the conclusion that this Byzantine author took a very negative view of the effects of the arrival of these nomads in the former Byzantine territories. Although this account has been analysed in detail by a number of scholars, these authors have paid no attention to the key role of the tale of Khan Kubrat and the disobedience of his five sons who failed to remain faithful to his last wish. The significance of the personal experiences of Theophanes, who witnessed the Bulgarian expansion during the era of Khan Krum, is also omitted from today’s discussion of these issues. These experiences contributed to the way in which he viewed the migration of the ancestors of the distinguished Bulgarian ruler. The chronicler may thus be considered to have offered a very clear view of what the readers should think of the Bulgarians’ arrival in the Balkan territories.

8

Gnesioi filoi: George Syncellus and Theophanes the Confessor – Addenda

44%

Kompa A.

Studia Ceranea

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2022

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vol. 12

599-632

EN

The paper provides the addenda to A. Kompa, Gnesioi filoi: the search for George Syncellus’ and Theophanes the Confessor’s own words, and the authorship of their oeuvre, Studia Ceranea 5, 2015, p. 155–230. All the expressions crucial to the stylistic and stylometric argument on the authorship of the Chronography of Theophanes have been updated after 7 years and verified in the expanded TLG database. The updated results are presented below. The conclusions confirm the previous opinions on the individual, singular authorship of the chronicle of Theophanes with differences in style from the first part of the universal history, written by George Syncellus. At the same time, both works should be treated as a single project, and the prooimion to Theophanes’ part as a sound base faor the reconstruction of the writing process. The clauses ὡς προέφην, καθὼς καὶ προέφην, ὡς προέφημεν, and καθὼς προέφημεν are specific to the Chronography of Theophanes in their frequency and diversity, but they seem to be known and used by the circles from which Theophanes acquired his literary skills.

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The Jewish Theme in Theophanes the Confessor’s Testimony on the Prophet Muḥammad

The Portrayal of Abbasid Rulers in Chronography of Theophanes the Confessor

Asparuh and His People on the Lower Danube through the Eyes of Theophanes, or a Story that Was Not Meant to Happen

Powstanie Abbasydów i jego następstwa w ujęciu Teofanesa Wyznawcy. Część I

Powstanie Abbasydów i jego następstwa w ujęciu Teofanesa Wyznawcy. Część II

Could a Caliph Be Virtuous? Selected Aspects of the Image of Muslim Rulers in the "Chronography" of Theophanes the Confessor

Pan Kubrat i jego pięciu synów. Teofanesa wizja przybycia Bułgarów na Półwysep Bałkański

Gnesioi filoi: George Syncellus and Theophanes the Confessor – Addenda