The History of the Romans by Nikephoros Gregoras is a detailed classicizing history in thirty- seven books. It begins in the year 1204, when Constantinople was captured in the Fourth Crusade, and ends in 1358 or 1359. The first seven books cover 1204– 1320, drawing from Akropolites and Pachymeres. Thereafter the text becomes a detailed continuation of Pachymeres's history. It includes an exhaustive account of the hesychast controversy and the synod of 1351, in which Gregoras opposed the hesychast theology of Gregory Palamas. Books 30– 35 deal primarily with Gregoras's theological stance. Unlike most works of Byzantine historiography, Gregoras included extensive discussions of astronomy and geography. The History of the Romans was left unfinished at the author's death.

The dates of composition of Gregoras's history are a matter of speculation. Van Dieten has suggested it was written between the 1330s and 1350s, contemporaneously with many of the later events described in the narrative.

Gregoras's own works are the chief source for his biography. The following account, ultimately derived from Gregoras's self- description, reflects how he would have liked to be remembered. He was born in the 1290's to a family about whom little is known. Following the death of his parents before his tenth birthday, he was brought up by his uncle, Bishop John of Heraclea Pontica, who provided him with an education in theology and philosophy. He continued his studies in Constantinople under Patriarch John XIII Glykys. Subsequently, Gregoras enjoyed the patronage of Theodore Metochites, advisor to the Emperor Andronikos II. Under Metochites, Gregoras studied many subjects, including philosophy and astronomy; in return, Gregoras tutored Metochites's children. At the age of twenty- seven, Gregoras had his first audience with Emperor Andronikos II (1282–1328). At Andronikos's request, he participated in a scholarly convention investigating the date of Easter in 1324, and in 1326 journeyed to Serbia with an official embassy to King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. During this time, Gregoras continued his academic studies and published profusely on a wide variety of theological and scientific subjects. He also had a successful school and by age thirty was considered one of the leading intellectuals of his day.