Lionel Michael Whitby (born February 1952) is a British ancient historian of Late Antiquity. He specialises in late Roman and early Byzantine history and historiography. He is currently pro-vice-chancellor and head of the College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham.

Early life

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Whitby was born in February 1952,[1] to Joan and Gordon Whitby, a physician and biochemist.[2] He read Literae Humaniores at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford.[3] He then spent three years working as a civil servant in the Scottish Office. He returned to Oxford to conduct postgraduate study in Byzantine history.[4] He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1981 with a doctoral thesis titled "The Historiae of Theophylact Simocatta".[5]

Academic career

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Whitby held a junior research fellowship at Merton College, Oxford.[6] In 1987, he joined the Ancient History department at the University of St Andrews. He became head of department in 1993 and received a personal chair in 1995 as Professor of Ancient History.[4]

He was Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick,[7] having joined the Department of Classics and Ancient History in 1996.[8] He also served as pro-vice-chancellor 'Teaching, Learning and Quality' from 2003,[9] and then 'Academic Planning and Resources'.[3]

On 1 September 2010, he became pro-vice-chancellor and head of College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham.[3]

Honours

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In 2007, Whitby was awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) honorary degree by the University of Warwick.[10] He received one of the 2009 Distinguished Book Awards from the Society for Military History for The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare.[11]

Works

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  • The Emperor Maurice and his Historian: Theophylact Simocatta on Persian and Balkan Warfare (1988).
  • Chronicon Paschale 284–628 AD (1989), with Mary Whitby.
  • The Cambridge Ancient History XIV; AD 425–600 (2000), co-editor.
  • Rome at War AD 293–696 (2002).
  • The Cambridge History of Ancient Warfare (2005), co-editor.
  • Christian Persecution, Martyrdom and Orthodoxy (2006).
  • Sparta. New York: Routledge (2002).

References

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  1. ^ "Lionel Michael WHITBY". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Inspiring physicians: Lionel Gordon Whitby". RCP Museum. Royal College of Physicians. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Birmingham appoints Whitby to lead College of Arts and Law". My Science. 7 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Professor Michael Whitby". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  5. ^ Whitby, L. M. (1981). "The Historiae of Theophylact Simocatta". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  6. ^ "PROFESSOR MICHAEL WHITBY, PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR". University of Warwick. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. ^ Philip Sabin; Hans van Wees; Michael Whitby, eds. (2007). The Cambridge history of Greek and Roman warfare. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521857796.
  8. ^ "Professor Michael Whitby". University of Warwick. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  9. ^ "General Meeting - Closing Remarks". University of Warwick. 19 December 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Higher Doctorates for Warwick People". University of Warwick. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Distinguished Book Awards". Society for Military History. Retrieved 28 July 2013.