historiae

Historiae is a Latin word that originally referred to a collection of historical accounts or narratives, often compiled by ancient historians. The term gained prominence in the late Roman Empire, particularly through the works of authors such as Ammianus Marcellinus, who used it to describe his own historical writings. In his *Res Gestae* (or *Historiae*), Ammianus aimed to document the events of the late Roman Empire, covering the reigns of emperors from the late 4th century onward.

The concept of *Historiae* also influenced later historical writing traditions, particularly in the medieval period. Some medieval chroniclers, such as those associated with the *Historiae* of the 9th-century Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon, used the term to denote their own historical compilations. However, it was not until the Renaissance that the term began to be associated more broadly with systematic historical inquiry, particularly through the works of humanists like Francesco Guicciardini, who used it in a broader sense to describe the study of history itself.

In modern scholarship, *Historiae* is sometimes used as a title for historical works or as a reference to the broader tradition of Roman historical writing. It reflects the Roman emphasis on continuity and the preservation of historical memory, a tradition that endured through the Middle Ages and into the modern era. The term remains a useful descriptor for works that emphasize historical narrative, analysis, and the study of past events.