History of Constantinople

Joseph Genesius was a 10th-century Byzantine scholar known for his History of Constantinople. This work is a crucial source for understanding the 9th century in Byzantine history, a period otherwise poorly documented. Genesius composed his history between 945 and 959, likely at the behest of Emperor Constantine VII. He utilized his social standing to gather firsthand accounts from members of the royal court and consulted various manuscripts.1

Genesius's history chronicles events from the reign of Leo the Armenian (813) to the death of Basil I (886). Constantinople itself, founded by Emperor Constantine, became a magnificent capital with impressive secular and religious structures. Early Byzantine architecture in the city, influenced by Roman traditions and artistic ideas from Asia Minor and Syria, evolved to incorporate arches, vaults, and domes, moving towards a more formal and expressive style.12