Sebeos

Sebeos (Armenian: Սեբեոս; fl. 661), also known as Sebeos of Bagratunis, was a 7th-century Armenian historian, writer and chronicler. He is the main and primary source of the 7th century Roman–Persian Wars. Sebeos is well-known for his work on Armenian history, with his most notable work being the History of Heraclius.

Bishop

Sebeos
Bornc. 7th century
Armenia
Diedc. After 661
Other namesSebeos of Bagratunis
Lord Sebeos
OccupationHistorian
Notable work
History of Heraclius

Belonging to the Bagratuni dynasty, Sebeos was a relatively well-known Christian bishop in the country. He was among the eighteen bishops, who attended the Fourth Council in Dvin, Armenia's medieval capital city. At some point, he started writing on Armenian history and soon compiled the History of Heraclius, which is also known as the History of Sebeos. The work contains events till 661, and thus, it is believed that Sebeos died after 661.

His writings are valuable as one of the few intact surviving sources that chronicle sixth century Armenia and its surrounding territories. The history of Sebeos contains detailed descriptions from the period of Sasanian supremacy in Armenia up to the Muslim conquest in 661. He is also one of the earliest non-Muslim historians to write about Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphate.

Life

Little is known about the author's life. In 645, Sebeos attended the Ecclesiastical Council of Dvin, and was among their signatories.[1] His name is found on the eighth number in the list of eighteen bishops.[1]

Writings

The History of Heraclius is the most well-known work of Sebeos. The work chronicles events from the end of the fifth century to 661.[2] The first section begins with the mythical foundation of Armenia with the legend of Hyke and Bel, moving to contemporary history with the ascent of Vardan II Mamikonian in 570.[3] From there, he relates the struggles and alliances between Persia and Byzantium. The second section narrates the ascent of a new political and military force, the Ishmaelites (Arabs) in year 622 CE.[4]

This section describes how Muhammad first established a community comprising Ishmaelites and Jews based on their common descent from Abraham; the Arabs via Ishmael, and the Jews via Isaac.[5] From there, the Ishmaelites made dramatic territorial gains, including their victory over the Sasanian Empire, and the narrative goes in to the division of the Ishmaelite armies and the beginnings of the First Fitna. He also reports events about the First Fitna, as Muawiya I becomes caliph.[3] Sebeos viewed the Rashidun Caliphate as far much stronger than the Sasanian Empire.[5] He also says that

Sebeos writes about Muhammad:[6]

At that time a certain man from along those same sons of Ismael, whose name was Mahmed [i.e., Mụhammad], a merchant, as if by God's command appeared to them as a preacher [and] the path of truth. He taught them to recognize the God of Abraham, especially because he was learnt and informed in the history of Moses. Now because the command was from on high, at a single order they all came together in unity of religion. Abandoning their vain cults, they turned to the living God who had appeared to their father Abraham. So, Mahmet legislated for them: not to eat carrion, not to drink wine, not to speak falsely, and not to engage in fornication. He said: 'With an oath God promised this land to Abraham and his seed after him for ever. And he brought about as he promised during that time while he loved Israel. But now you are the sons of Abraham and God is accomplishing his promise to Abraham and his seed for you. Love sincerely only the God of Abraham, and go and seize the land which God gave to your father Abraham. No one will be able to resist you in battle, because God is with you.

Legacy

Sebeos' work on Armenian history is honored in the country. He was the primary source of the fall of the Byzantine and Sasanian Empire and the Muslim conquests.[3] The first Armenian writer to mention Sebeos is the 8th century priest Lewond.[3] Author James Howard Johnston describes Sebeos as a 'non-biased' historian and places him along with other popular Armenian historians.[7] His writings are valuable as one of the few intact surviving sources that chronicle sixth century Armenia and its surrounding territories.[6] Sebeos' history was published for the first time in 1851 in Istanbul.[8]

Apart from Armenian history, Sebeos has also been an important historian in Islamic history as he contributed much of his work to the early Muslim conquests. His writings for the First Fitna, the civil war between Ali and Muawiya, serves as an important primary source.[3] He is the first Christian writer to note that there were four parties in the First Fitna.[9] Though Sebeos praised the Arabs in many of his work, he also criticized them for their conquest of Armenia.[10] He is also among the first non-Muslim authors to write about Muhammad. He is mentioned in Robert G. Hoyland's Seeing Islam as Others Saw It.[11] Hoyland considers Sebeos as a trustworthy chronicler.[9] Sebeos is also among the first non-Muslim writers to write about the Rashidun Caliphs. He described caliph Omar as a 'mighty potentate coordinating the advance of the sons of Ishmael from the depths of desert'.[12]

References
  1. Thomson 1999, p. 34.
  2. Ararat, p. 16.
  3. Thomson 1999, p. 35.
  4. Shoemaker 2021.
  5. Thomson 1999, p. 51.
  6. Hacikyan 2002, p. 82.
  7. Thomson 1999, p. 64.
  8. Hacikyan 2002, p. 81.
  9. Hoyland 2014, p. 129.
  10. Hoyland 2014, p. 130.
  11. Hoyland 2014, p. 128.
  12. Hawa 2017, p. 51.

Bibliography
  • Thomson, R. W. (1999). The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 9780853235644.
  • Hacikyan, Agop (2002). The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 9780814330234.
  • Hoyland, Robert G (2014). Seeing Islam as Others Saw It: A Survey and Evaluation of Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam. eBooks2go. ISBN 9781618131317.
  • Shoemaker, Stephen J (2021). A prophet has appeared : the rise of Islam through Christian and Jewish eyes : a sourcebook. Oakland, California. ISBN 0520971272.
  • Ararat. Ararat, Volume 27. Armenian General Benevolent Union. p. 16.
  • Hawa, Salam (2017). The Erasure of Arab Political Identity: Colonialism and Violence. Taylor & Francis. p. 51.
  • T. Greenwood, "Sasanian Echoes and Apocalyptic Expectations: A Re-Evaluation of the Armenian History attributed to Sebeos", Le Muséon 115, Fasc. 1—2 (2002) 323—397.
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