# Procopius — The Secret History character guide

> Procopius in The Secret History by Procopius.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** a Procopius, other Procopius

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

## Snapshot

The historian who chronicled Rome's wars by day and wrote this secret indictment by night, risking death to tell what he could not say aloud.

## Who they are

Procopius is both narrator and fugitive, a man who published flattering histories while privately recording the truth he dared not reveal during the lifetimes of Justinian and Theodora. He fears his account will seem like fiction to future generations, yet writes anyway, trusting that witnesses of his own time will vouch for him. His presence gives the book its double edge: every polished sentence carries the weight of what it cost him to write it, and every revelation is shadowed by the knowledge that discovery would have meant a horrible death.

## Relationships

### [Theodora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/theodora)

_psychological_

Procopius, the author, harbors a deep-seated hatred and obsession with Theodora, portraying her as a demonic figure.

### [Justinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/justinian)

_professional_

Procopius served as Justinian's official historian and secretary, but secretly despised and mocked him in his writings.

## In the story

### [Foreword by the Historian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/foreword-by-the-historian)

The historian and narrator, who explains his decision to write a secret history revealing the truth about the reign.

### [The Secret History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/the-secret-history)

The author and secretary to Belisarius, recording the secret history of the regime.

### [Character and Appearance of Justinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/viii-character-and-appearance-of-justinian)

The author who attempts to portray Justinian's complex character, noting his own difficulty in fully describing it.

### [X: How Justinian Created a New Law Permitting Him to Marry a Courtesan on Her Promise to Repent Her Past; and the Truth About the Apparent Quarrels of a Happy Pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/x-how-justinian-created-a-new-law-permitting-him-to-marry-a-courtesan-on-her-promise-to-repent-her-past-and-the-truth-about-the-apparent-quarrels-of-a-happy-pair)

Narrator and historian, providing critical commentary on the events.

### [XV: How an Roman Citizens Became Slaves, and a Complaining Patrician Was Ribaldly Mocked by Theodora’s Eunuchs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xv-how-an-roman-citizens-became-slaves-and-a-complaining-patrician-was-ribaldly-mocked-by-theodora-s-eunuchs)

The narrator, who refrains from naming the patrician to avoid eternal ridicule.

## Links

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