Marcellinus abandoned his Balkan homeland in the wake of Bulgar raids around AD 500. Having settled in the imperial capital, Constantinople, he later wrote a chronicle covering the period AD 379-534. This is the first extensive study of Marcellinus, a courtier of the emperor Justinian, and his chronicle. It explains how the chronicle reflects Marcellinus' career, contemporary context and personal views; what writing a chronicle meant; how the chronicle was written; and how it was later used in Ireland and Anglo-Saxon England.

Brian Croke is the Executive Director of the Catholic Education Commission, Sydney.