History of Byzantium
According to Suidas and Eudocia, he wrote a history extending from the reign of
Constantine to that of Anastasius; but the work in seven books, of which Photius has given
an account (Bibl. cod. 78), and to which he gives the title
Βυζανταϊκά, comprehended only the period from the final
sickness of the Eastern emperor Leo I. (
A. D. 473 or 474), to the
death of Nepos, emperor of the West (
A. D. 480). It has been
supposed that this was an extract from the work mentioned by Suidas, or a mutilated copy:
that it was incomplete is attested by Photitis himself, who says that the commencement of
the first of the seven books showed that the author had already written some previous
portions, and that the close of the seventh book showed his intention of carrying it
further, if his life was spared. Some eminent critics, among whom is Valesius (
Not. in Excerpt. de Legat.), have thought that the history of Malchus
began with Leo's sickness, and that he was the continuator of Priscus, whose history is
supposed to have left off at that point. Niebuhr (
De Historicis,
&c., prefixed to the Bonn edition of the
Excerpta) supposed that
this coincidence arose from Photius having met with a portion only of the work of Malchus,
which had been inserted in some historical
Catena after the
work of Priscus; or that the history of the antecedent period had been given by Malchus in
another work. As, however, Suidas and Eudocia speak of the history in its whole extent, as
one work, we are rather disposed to think it was published in successive parts, as the
author was able to finish it (a supposition which best coincides with the notice in Photius
of the continuation being contingent on the longer duration of the author's life); and that
Photius had met with only one part. Photius praises the style of Malchus as a perfect model
of historical composition; pure, free from redundancy and consisting of well-selected words
and phrases.
He notices also his eminence as a rhetorician, and says that he
was favourable to Christianity; a statement which has been thought, but we do not see why,
inconsistent with the praises he has bestowed on the heathen philosopher and diviner,
Panmprepius [
ILLUS].
Other Works
The works of Malchus are lost, except the portions contained in the
Excerpta of Constantine [
CONSTANTINUS VII.], and
some extracts in Suidas, which are collected and subjoined to the Bonn edition of the
Excerpta.