Sir Steven Runciman: The Literary Historian of the Crusades and Byzantium
Sir Steven Runciman was more than a chronicler of the past; he was a master stylist who reshaped how the Western world perceives the medieval East. While he spent his career documenting the complexities of the Byzantine Empire—the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire—and the subsequent Crusades, Runciman famously viewed himself not as a traditional historian, but as a writer of literature.
His work is characterized by a sweeping narrative elegance that bridged the gap between academic research and popular history, leaving an indelible mark on print, film, and television.
Key Facts
- Most Famous Work: The three-volume A History of the Crusades (1951–1954).
- Academic Background: Educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.
- Linguistic Ability: Proficient in Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Syriac, Armenian, Georgian, and Russian.
- Core Thesis: Viewed the Crusades as an act of intolerance and a "barbarian invasion" of the superior Byzantine civilization.
- Honours: Knighted in 1958 and appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1984.
Early Life and Intellectual Foundations
Born James Cochran Stevenson Runciman in Northumberland, England, in 1903, Runciman was raised in a politically prominent family. His parents, Walter and Hilda Runciman, were Liberal Party members and the first married couple to serve simultaneously in Parliament. His grandfather was a shipping magnate, providing a background of privilege and intellectual curiosity.
Runciman's appetite for language was evident early; he began reading Greek by age seven or eight. At Eton College, he was a King's Scholar and a close friend of George Orwell, with both studying French under the novelist Aldous Huxley.
In 1921, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as a history scholar. He studied under J. B. Bury, a relationship that began when Runciman's ability to read Russian impressed the reclusive professor. His early research into the Byzantine Empire eventually earned him a fellowship at Trinity in 1927.
A Life of Independent Scholarship and Travel
Following a significant inheritance from his grandfather, Runciman resigned his fellowship in 1938 to pursue a life as an independent scholar. This financial freedom allowed him to travel extensively and hold various diplomatic and academic posts.
- 1940: Press attaché at the British Legation in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- 1941: Press attaché at the British Embassy in Cairo.
- 1942–1945: Professor of Byzantine Art and History at Istanbul University, Turkey.
- 1945–1947: Representative of the British Council in Athens, Greece.
It was during his tenure in Istanbul that he conducted the pivotal research for his magnum opus, A History of the Crusades.
The Legacy of 'A History of the Crusades'
Runciman's three-volume series on the Crusades became the most widely known single-author survey of the subject in English. He challenged the early 20th-century view that the Crusades were an idealistic attempt by Christendom to push back Islam. Instead, Runciman portrayed the Crusaders as barbarians who destroyed the sophisticated culture of the Byzantines.
He summarized the entire era as "nothing more than a long act of intolerance in the name of God, which is a sin against the Holy Ghost." While modern historians like Christopher Tyerman suggest the work is now outdated and flawed, they acknowledge that Runciman's prose—described as both a "rapier and a paintbrush"—set the standard for popular attitudes toward the Crusades for decades.
Beyond the Crusades
While primarily focused on the Mediterranean world between Sicily and Syria, Runciman occasionally ventured into other subjects. A notable exception is The White Rajahs (1960), which chronicles the history of Sarawak on the coast of Borneo, ruled by the Brooke family starting in 1841.
Personal Life and Eccentricities
Runciman was known as an English eccentric and an æsthete (someone with a deep appreciation for art and beauty). He was a raconteur with a fascination for the occult, once claiming to have told tarot cards for King Fuad of Egypt. A youthful prank with George Orwell involving a wax image of a schoolmate became a local legend after the boy unexpectedly died of leukaemia shortly after the ritual.
In his private life, Runciman was homosexual, a fact he kept discreet due to religious beliefs that viewed it as an offense against God. He later expressed to friends that he felt his sexuality had potentially hindered his professional career, leading him to feel his life had been a failure in that regard.
Summary of Career and Works
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Byzantine Empire and the Crusades |
| Key Publication | A History of the Crusades (1951–1954) |
| Academic Affiliation | Trinity College, Cambridge; Istanbul University |
| Major Honours | Knighted (1958), Order of the Companions of Honour (1984), FBA (1957) |
| Notable Other Work | The White Rajahs (1960) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Runciman view the Crusades differently from previous historians?
Unlike earlier historians who saw the Crusades as an idealistic religious effort, Runciman viewed them as a barbarian invasion of the superior Byzantine civilization and a long act of intolerance.
Was Sir Steven Runciman considered a traditional historian?
No; Runciman himself stated that he considered himself "not a historian, but a writer of literature," emphasizing the narrative and stylistic quality of his work over strict academic historiography.
What was Runciman's connection to George Orwell?
They were exact contemporaries and close friends while attending Eton College, where they both studied French under Aldous Huxley.
Which languages was Runciman able to use for his research?
He was a polyglot capable of using sources in Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Syriac, Armenian, Georgian, and Russian.
How is Runciman's work viewed by modern scholars?
While praised for its beauty and scope, modern scholars like Christopher Tyerman consider his work outdated and flawed, though it remains a primary standard of comparison for the field.