The use of horses in The History by Georgios Akropolites: a comparison with Historia Romana by Nikephoros Gregoras

Abstract

The short historiographical text by Georgios Akropolites (1217-1282 CE) covers the period of the Latin conquest of the Byzantine Empire. Due to the important position the author held, and his participation in some of the events narrated, his History is a valuable source. This paper concerns the information Akropolites provides about horses, and compares his work with the part of the historiographical text Historia Romana by Nikephoros Gregoras (c. 1292/1295–1358/1361 CE) that describes the same period. Most of the equestrian references consist of details of the kinds of horses used by various people during wars. Akropolites provides more information about the empire of Nicaea, and delivers further interesting details and descriptions concerning horses.