(Ἰωάννης Κίνναμος), also called CI'NAMUS (Κίναμος), and SI'NNAMUS (Σίνναμος), one of the most distinguished Byzantine historians, and the best European historian of his time, lived in the twelfth century of the Christian aera. He was one of the "Grammatici" or " Notarii" of the emperor Manuel Comnenus, who reigned from A. D. 1143 till 1180. The functions of the imperial notaries, the first of whom was the proto-notarius, were nearly those of private secretaries appointed for both private and state affairs, and they had a considerable influence upon the administration of the empire. Cinnamus was attached to the person of Manuel at a youthful age, and probably as early as the year of his accession, and he accompanied that great emperor in his numerous wars in Asia as well as in Europe.
[W.P]A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology
Smith, William
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890