The Antes as a nation in the writings of Procopius of Caesarea

the Ants are an ancient East Slavic ethnic community that lived presumably existing in the IV-VII centuries. They were closely connected with the Slavs and were their ethnic neighbors and comrades. The Antes are mentioned in a number of historical sources, including the works of Byzantine historians. Their history and culture are not fully explored, but they are considered an important part of the early ethnogenesis of the Eastern Slavs. This article analyzes the chronicle of the life of the Antes people in the writings of Procopius of Caesarea, a Byzantine historian of the 6th century. The study is aimed at identifying the factual basis in his partly artistic texts-chronicles, which, nevertheless, allows for a deeper understanding of the historical context of the life of this people. The author analyzes the political, military, social and cultural aspects of the interaction of the Antes with the Byzantine Empire, based on the facts presented in the works of Procopius of Caesarea, as well as the role of these chronicles in shaping the image of the Antes in historical science. The history of the Antes was often intertwined with the history of other Slavic tribes, such as the Polabian Slavs, Dregovichs and others. Although the Antes no longer exist as a distinct ethnic community, their history remains significant for understanding the early history of the Slavs and shaping the ethnic map of eastern Europe.

Прокопий Кесарийский, анты, византийская историография, великое переселение народов, славянская история, культурное взаимодействие