Theophanes Continuatus

   Often unreliable 10th-century chronicle (q.v.) written by an anonymous author who was commissioned by Constantine VII (q.v.). It covers the years 813-961, continuing the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor (q.v.), hence its name. The work is a hodgepodge of material that sometimes draws on a common source used by Genesios (q.v.) and occasionally repeats the chronicle of Symeon Logothetes (q.v.). An added section, devoted to Basil I (q.v.), was written by Constantine VII around 950 and is referred to as the Vita Basilii. In this obvious panegyric, Constantine VII attempts to whitewash his grandfather. It has been suggested that Theodore Daphnopates (q.v.) wrote the chronicle's final section.