Early sources Thurisind

the monumenta germaniae historica s critical edition of paul deacon, key source thurisind.

of 4 medieval sources relevant thurisind survive, 1 providing independent evidence of king, accounts of justinian s wars, , detailed account of relations between gepids , lombards , kings de bellis (550s), important work of procopius. considered greatest historian of 6th century, procopius greek writer born in caesarea in palestine in 527. lombard–gepid wars described in procopius work, conflict played important part in byzantine plans invade italy land route.

less relevant other 6th-century source, jordanes romana. of gothic ancestry, jordanes served notarius byzantine master of soldiers before entering ranks of catholic clergy , writing 2 surviving books, romana , getica. latter summary of gothic history, while lesser known romana abridged account of roman history written in 551 or 552. according james o donnell, 2 works share pessimistic view of human life in secular accomplishments insignificant compared religious goals. jordanes not explicitly mention thurisind in romana, speaks of third lombard–gepid war, in thurisind participated, in last passages of work.

paul deacon important italian writer of 8th century. born in 720s or 730s, came noble lombard family friuli. entered clergy early, , became monk of monastery of monte cassino. famous work historia langobardorum, history of lombard nation. written after 787, continuation of previous major historical work, historia romana, based on breviarium of eutropius, 6 books added describing historical events justinian s empire. both of these works mention thurisind , third lombard–gepid war, represent overlap between historia langobardorum , historia romana. both books mention duel between kings sons, event absent in procopius writing , thought have originated through oral tradition. similarly, meeting between thurisind , audoin s son @ former s court derives oral source.