The Description of the Times by Mor Michael the Great (1126-1199): A Study on its Historical and its Historiographical Context

This is the first in-depth study of the largest medieval Christian

chronicle, written by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Michael (1126-1199).

The codex unicus from 1598, along with remarks made by scribes

and by the author himself, is used to reconstruct the original layout of

the chronicle. The study compares the chronicle with works that share

its form and sources to reveal Michael’s intentions, particularly the

(lost) chronicles by Jacob of Edessa (633-708), Patriarch Dionysius of

Tel-Mahre (772-834) and the chronicle by Maphrian Bar ‘Ebroyo

(1226-1286).
Michael studied the history of the world throughout

his entire adult life. There is hardly any other medieval Christian

chronicler in the West or East who reflected on his method to such an

extent. The result was an intricate historical argument as part of the

historico-theological disputes of his time. Michael documented a history

in which the Suryoye had a place rooted in the secular empires of

the Ancient Near East, in their Patriarchal succession and in the

heavenly kingdom of the Anointed One.