Nikephoros was an early ninth- century scholar credited with writing two historical texts: the Istoria Syntomos (also known as the Breviarium, or Short H istory) and the Chronographikon Syntomon. He was Patriarch from 806– 815. Nikephoros also wrote letters and several treatises in defense of icon veneration.

Nikephoros was born in Constantinople in 757 or 758. His father Theodore was an asekretis, or imperial secretary, who was exiled in the 760s for his refusal to support iconoclasm. Theodore was recalled to the palace, but later exiled a second time. Nikephoros began his career as an imperial secretary, serving under the secretary Tarasios, who later became patriarch (784– 806). After the death of Tarasios, Nikephoros was elected patriarch and moved through the ecclesiastical ranks within a week. In 814, Nikephoros objected to Emperor Leo V's (813– 820) efforts to remove icons from public places. As a result, Nikephoros was deposed and retired to a monastery before dying in 828. He is regarded as a saint of the Orthodox Church.

Istoria Syntomos

The Istoria Syntomos is a brief account of Roman history from the accession of Phokas in 602 until the marriage of Leo VI to Irene in 769. This history appears to have been conceived as a continuation of that of Theophylact Simocatta. It is compiled in two parts: the first part spans the years 602 to 641, while the second resumes not immediately after, but rather in 668. The account then continues through 769.

Nikephoros provides a brief overview of military affairs (largely wars against the Persians and Arabs) as well as the imperial politics and religious policies of Constantinople. The policies of the iconoclast emperors are described unfavorably, although Nikephoros is less polemical in his treatment of them than is Theophanes. Nikephoros's coverage of the emperors is quite uneven. Emperor Phokas (602– 610) receives only one paragraph that mostly recounts the narrative of Heraclius's (610– 641) rebellion.