Thomas Gärtner addressesJohannis , the great epic about the military commander by the late antique poet Corippus. This work is dedicated to the achievements of Johannis Troglita, the general who succeeded in reconquering North Africa under Emperor Justinian I in 548 AD. The present study pursues twofold aims; firstly, it throws light on Corippus’ use of historical sources – esp cially of Procopius. No less significant is the systematic historical location of Corippus’ work in the literary tradition of Latin poetry.