Self-referentiality in historical texts of the 11th century: The case of Michael Attaleiates

Abstract

This article sets out to conduct a comparative study of the degree of self-referentiality in historical texts of the 10th and 11th centuries. Specifically, it examines the presence, the context and the type of first-person references in the historical work of Michael Attaleiates (11th century) as well as in previous works from the pro-Macedonian literature of the 10th century (notably Genesios, the Vita Basilii and books I-IV of Theophanes Continuatus). The record and comparative study of these references indicate a progressively stronger use of self-referentiality; the latter keeps pace with the evolution of the historiographical genre.