JORDANIS (Jordanes, Jornandes). - Historian of Gothic origin, active around the middle of the sixth century.
He wrote in Vulgar Latin, in 551, two chronicles: a Roman history, De summa temporum vel origine actibusque gentis Romanorum, of little value, which is for the most part an extract from Florus; and a history of the Goths, De origine actibusque Getarum, of considerable importance for the history of the Gothic people in Italy. J. expresses his attachment to the last scion of the old royal line of the Amali and supports the peaceful incorporation of the Goths into the Roman Empire.
According to Th. Mommsen, J. was a monk who wrote in Moesia or Thrace; G. Grimm, S. Cassel, and G. Wattenbach, on the other hand, identify him with the Catholic bishop J. of Crotone, in southern Italy, who is said to have written his work at Constantinople or Chalcedon, in the circle of Pope Vigilio, to whom he dedicated his history.