On the origin of "History is written by the victors" - a recent quote or an ancient concept?
Some would attribute this quote or related versions of it to Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), Winston Churchill (1874-1965), or even William Francis Butler (1838-1910) when he wrote a biography of Charles George Gordon. Yet apparently, none of them might be the earliest to use the said quotation. Take for example the Christian historian Eusebius in writing Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica), a text believed to have been published in the 4th century:
"Other writers of history record the victories of war and trophies won from enemies, the skill of generals, and the manly bravery of soldiers, defiled with blood and with innumerable slaughters for the sake of children and country and other possessions." (translated from Latin)
Yet the early history of Christianity did not show great victory, but intense persecution, as Eusebius himself had written despite the state recognition of the religion during his time.
"But our narrative of the government of God will record in ineffaceable letters the most peaceful wars waged in behalf of the peace of the soul, and will tell of men doing brave deeds for truth rather than country, and for piety rather than dearest friends. It will hand down to imperishable remembrance the discipline and the much-tried fortitude of the athletes of religion, the trophies won from demons, the victories over invisible enemies, and the crowns placed upon all their heads."
Before Eusebius, the 2nd century theologian Tertullian noted in his Apology (Apologeticus):
"The oftener (more often) we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed. Many of your writers exhort to the courageous bearing of pain and death, as Cicero in the Tusculans, as Seneca in his Chances, as Diogenes, Pyrrhus, Callinicus; and yet their words do not find so many disciples as Christians do, teachers not by words, but by their deeds. That very obstinacy you rail against is the preceptress."
Among those quoted by Tertullian was Cicero, who wrote in his Tusculanae Disputationes:
"My own history is by no means free from such calamities; and I imagine that when they recollect that by my counsel and perils they were preserved in life and liberty, they are led by that consideration to bewail my misfortunes more deeply and affectionately."
To recall, Cicero was condemned by the Second Roman Triumvirate composed of Octavian (Augustus), Lepidus, and Antony. And indeed, there were certain "losers" of their era yet the stories were recorded, like Julius Caesar (assassinated), Ferdinand Magellan (killed in battle), or Jose Rizal (sentenced to death).
Perhaps a more fitting quote then would be this: "History is written by the writers" (?)
#FilipinoHistorian #History #Kasaysayan
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