The War And Reform Era: Study Of The Byzantine Empire In The History Of Theophylact

Theophylact Simocatta, who wrote in the early seventh century during the reign of Heraclius(610-641), was the last in the succession of secular classicizing historians of late antiquity, writers who undertook to provide a narrative devoted mainly to the military, diplomatic, and political history in the Roman empire, in self-conscious imitation of classical historians such as Herodotus, Thucydides, Diodorus Siculus, or Arrian. He was the continuator of the histories of Procopius, Agathias, and Menander Protector, who had recorded most of Byzantine history from the accession of Justin I in 518 to the death of Tiberius in 582. Hist own history of the reign of the emperor Maurice(582-602) was not continued until the late eighth or early ninth century, when the Patriarch N icephorus produced a brief account of the seventh and eighth centuries that was designed to follow on from Theophylact?s narrative. The period covered by Theophylact?s History in the twenty-year reign of Maurice, within which two major topics dominate the historical narrative: warfare in the Balkans against the Slavs and Avars and in the eastern frontier against the Persians; Maurice took the administrative and military reforms when he faced domestic trouble and foreign invasion situations. Apart from the above two major topics, Theophylact provides much information on affairs in the capital, particularly during the first and last years of Maurice?s reign. Most of this information is connected with palace celebrations and ceremonies, which is the other contemporary works lacking. Therefore, this work has a high historical value, is an important document which records the 6th-7th early Byzantine transition history.This paper aims to examine major historical events during the reign of Maurice emperor, which as reflect in the History text. I intend to absorb the scholars studies, according to the historical literature research methods, in combination with other historical literature, analysis and evaluation of the information in History, mainly focus on warfare, internal affairs management, administration and military reforms, military strategy and tactics. I hope to depict the broad contours of the Maurice period, and on the basis to seek to explore the tra nsformation of the efforts made by Maurice.Through examination History, I find two important era features during the reign of Maurice, which is warfare and reform. In the ear ly Byzantine period, warfare was often the case, this period of war was not primarily external expansion and military conquest of the Roman empire, but continued invasions from the Persians and northern barbarians. Although the war caused huge losses and trauma, but the crisis forced the generation of monarchs to strongly promote inter nal reform of the Byzantine empire, and therefore the war against the empire?s political, military transformation and social change had a very important impact. In the Mespotamia and Armenia, the continued rivalry and competition made the Byzantine and Per sian empire weakened to varying degrees, and made the Arabs gradually rising, which became an important powerful force, impacted the world historical process. In the Balkans, since the mid-6t h century the Slavs began to invasion and settle in the Balkans with an irresistible trend, or whether they became new residents in the Balkans, began a unified powered system of national integration in the Byzantine empire, and ultimately merged into ?Byzantines?; or as independent of Byzantine and other national force, they maintained autonomy and independence, and ultimately the formation of an independent state. In this paper, on the basis of History text, I hope to describe and analysis the background, process and historical influences about the Persian war and the Balkans wars, and gradually come out of change and transformation era features. How can make the country survive and develop in the external military pressure is the main purpose of Maurice?s reforms. Maurice?s reforms mainly in the following three aspects, namely the establishment of Exarchate, redefining the depth defense strategy and build the core military structure——tagma. Maurice hoped to improve combat effectiveness and ease the shortage of human and financial resource through reform measures. The military reform ideological and measures affected hundred of years about military building. The Exarchate reform has an important value, it laid the important foundation to the Theme reform, which implemented in the reign of Heraclius, and ensured stability and prosperity of the medium-term Byzantine empire.In conclusion, Theophylact?s History has an extremely important historical value, which fully reflects the history of the reign of Maurice. Maurice?s reign marks an important step forward in the transformation of the worn-out late Roman Empire into the new and vigorous organization of the medieval Byzantine Empire. Despite Maurice?s rule was not too long, his reforms laid the foundation for future survival and development of the Byzantine empire. Therefore studies the History text and the era features reflected in History has very important significance.