What little information exists concerning the author of the Synopsis historion is all found either in the manuscripts of that work itself or in a few archival documents.  He was known by two names: Skylitzes and Thrakesios. h ere is no doubt that these refer to the same person because the twelfth-century historian John Zonaras, narrating the abdication of Isaac Komnenos (ad 1059) in his Epitome historion, makes reference to a passage in which John Thrakesios describes the awesome vision which persuaded that emperor to step down. His near contemporary George Kedrenos also makes reference to the earlier synopsist in his own Synopsis (in which he slavishly follows Skylitzes’ account), calling him the protovestiarios John Thrakesios. This name is clearly a reference to the place from which he (or his parents) came: the Thrakesion theme in western Asia Minor.

John Skylitzes is mentioned in certain legal documents dated 1090 and 1092 as droungarios of the watch (tes biglas), a title which at that time designated the principal magistrate of the main judicial tribunal of Constantinople. In 1091 Skylitzes petitioned Alexios Komnenos for elucidation of the novel (new law) concerning betrothals, to which he received a reply from the emperor in the following year. In addition to his appointment as grand droungarios, John also held the post of eparch of Constantinople with the title of proedros. Werner Seibt thinks this was too lowly a title for such a senior officer at that time.