# Chosroes — The Secret History character guide

> Chosroes in The Secret History by Procopius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** King Chosroes

**First appearance:** 0002-the-secret-history

## Snapshot

Persia's king and Rome's persistent adversary, a ruler whose wars and negotiations shadow the empire's eastern frontier throughout the narrative.

## Who they are

Chosroes looms beyond the Roman border as the enemy every general must reckon with, a monarch whose ambitions keep the eastern armies perpetually engaged. He represents the external pressure that exposes Rome's internal rot, forcing a corrupt regime to defend itself against a capable foe. His presence in the story sharpens the question of whether an empire this decayed from within can survive threats from without.

## In the story

### [II: How Belated Jealousy Affected Belisarius’s Military Judgment, to the Joy of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy)

Facing mutiny in Lazica, he reads a letter from Theodora to calm his troops and retreats unopposed due to Belisarius's absence.

### [III: Showing the Danger of Interfering with a Woman’s Intrigues, Especially When the Woman Is the Friend of an Empress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/iii-showing-the-danger-of-interfering-with-a-woman-s-intrigues-especially-when-the-woman-is-the-friend-of-an-empress)

Invades Roman territory, captures Callinicus.

### [XI: How the Defender of the Faith Ruined His Subjects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xi-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-ruined-his-subjects)

Receives payments from Justinian for peace, but the truce is broken due to Justinian's actions.

### [XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xii-proving-that-justinian-and-theodora-were-actually-fiends-in-human-form)

King of the Persians who refused to release John, claiming the Romans violated the truce.

### [XVIII: How Justinian Killed a Trillion People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xviii-how-justinian-killed-a-trillion-people)

Led Persian invasions that devastated Roman territory, though Procopius notes Justinian provoked the wars.

### [XXIII: How Landowners Were Ruined](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxiii-how-landowners-were-ruined)

Mentioned as burning cities to the foundations, leaving greater ruin than Cabades.

### [XXX: Further Innovations of Justinian and Theodora, and a Conclusion Which Imagines the Death of an Emperor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxx-further-innovations-of-justinian-and-theodora-and-a-conclusion-which-imagines-the-death-of-an-emperor)

Mentioned as the Persian king who maintained a spy system, in contrast to Justinian's neglect.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/chosroes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters