The universal history known as the Chronicle of Michael the Great (also known as Michael the Syrian), covering the creation until 1195 AD, is the largest medieval chronicle known. Cited by historians in a variety of contexts, it is considered one of the most important primary sources on the history of the Middle East, especially the period spanning from the emergence of Islam until the Crusades. As a further mark of its importance, some of the Chronicle’s sources are lost and Michael’s text is the only surviving witness of their contents. This remarkable 10-volume set, edited by George A. Kiraz, makes available to scholarship all the primary texts and translations of the Chronicle. This set contains the French translation of the Syriac text.

For the Syriac text, Arabic Garshuni texts, and the Armenian version, Click here.