De velitatione bellica

 combative, not because we single this out from the other stratagems and practices of tactics, but because for the best generals it has become the best

 going out. 1.5 And to send out faithful and most experienced men to watch over them, to see if they are guarding their posts well and vigilantly. 1.6

 to hold and block with shield-bearing hoplites and javelin-men, and behind these, those who throw stones by hand, and with them also archers and sling

 It is less suitable, and perhaps the effort happened to be in vain because the infantry army cannot be assembled so quickly in a few days and be well

 having endured. 7.t Concerning the gathering and movement of an army and concerning allowing merchants to enter and spy 7.1 Upon hearing of the prepar

 high, where the enemy camped, on one or even two sides near their encampment, they will keep watch in that place without difficulty for having dismou

 he will station squads behind the three pairs of scouts, the first squad to watch the third pair of scouts, and the second squad likewise to watch the

 to have [someone] behind the cavalry watching and observing the battle line of the emir and matters concerning it, and, as it marches, to report to hi

 let him set up an ambush, guarding the places situated near the enemy's passage. And the general himself must stand concealed in a suitable place with

 fame for even if the Roman army does not find the winning hand in the war against them, at any rate it will suffer no harm. 10.10 But if they remaine

 despising death for the seizure of the spoils because of the hope of gain and they will easily overcome these by the grace of Christ. But if he does

 will be made successful by cooperation. 11.4 But if it should happen that these are pursued by the enemy, it is necessary to go out to meet them with

 they will by no means dare to sally forth completely, and then only a few for the majority, suspecting war from the general, will not desert the emir

 the day's army and those stationed in the tetradia, as we have said above, to take from the general two of the most experienced and brave men from tho

 of those sent out, in the place where the battle line of the enemy is that has their commander, the general, taking a few men with him and going up to

 among them prisoners of ours or even to become deserters and to learn from them in what place he is encamped. 15.2 So that they do not, taking up thei

 having followed the raiding party negligently and not having searched the ambushes well, has unexpectedly fallen into the hiding place. And so that su

 they hasten unexpectedly to pursue and overcome them, you yourself must also display every precaution so as not to be found unexpectedly by them, but

 they may prepare then, by slackening the reins of their horses, they may with a charge distance themselves a little from their pursuers, so that they

 from long experience, we have written. It is fitting for you to act against the likely impending circumstance for not as the counsels of men, but as

 so that, if enemy multitudes should attack those in the ambush, the night, having fallen and having broken off the battle, you may keep the people und

 the strategos possessed authority over the theme, judging those bringing charges in military matters and administering the affairs arising in the them

 entering into their lands, sometimes they themselves, and sometimes sending some of their people, as was possible they would inflict heavy casualties

 of all other things, whatever are able to defend and help the besieged. For we will omit setting these forth in detail in the present writing on accou

 citizens of the country, and to urge them and to prepare them to save all their belongings in castles and fortified places, and to continuously wound

 by his grace. 23.2 When you have identified the road by which the enemy has set out, four stages, or camps, away, it is fitting for you, the leader of

 profitable according to what seems best to them, and when they perceive you have arrived, they will encamp for the night, having pitched their tents,

 they will break camp, having pitched their tents, and it is not easy for a night battle to be arranged in such a place, the general must again get ahe

combative, not because we single this out from the other stratagems and practices of tactics, but because for the best generals it has become the best collaborator, so that, whenever they were not able to be drawn up against the enemy face to face, by using this method they might keep both themselves and their own country unharmed. prol.5 This Bardas, the Caesar of blessed memory, as far as I know, perfected to the utmost and renewed when it had completely vanished—so that we might not enumerate the ancient generals one by one, but only those known to all and in our time, who, while general in the themes neighboring Tarsus, both in Cappadocia and in the Anatolic, countless times wounded the forces of the Tarseans and other Cilicians and set up the greatest trophies against them; from whom we also, having been trained in this method, have received at least some experience of it. prol.6 In addition to this, also Constantine the patrician, whose surname is Maleinos, having served as general of the Cappadocians for many years and having this as a collaborator, achieved not the least successes. prol.7 Along with these also the lord Nikephoros, the renowned emperor, employed this to the utmost, who indeed, while serving as general and using this, performed very many and admirable deeds, having routed the enemy countless times, so to speak, and having cut down their greatest armies; to write down or to enumerate his heroic deeds, during the time he was general, will be tiresome for the readers on account of both their exceeding number and their being known by many. prol.8 He, having learned by practice that this was useful, set forth in writing, for the common benefit, how one must use this, and he instructed me to write about it as accurately as possible and to hand it down to those who come after; and not only concerning this which is appropriate to the East, but also concerning that which has been established as useful in the West, because he both commanded most often in it and gathered experience, as much as was possible for our nature. But about that it will be spoken of separately and in other works, but now our purpose is to discuss the other. Therefore, keeping his command, using the grace of God as a collaborator, which assists in all good things, I begin the subject somewhat as follows. 1.t Concerning watch-posts and what distance each one ought to be separated from the others 1.1 Those who undertake the administration of the great border themes and have the mountain passes under their sway it is fitting to strive and to contend with every device and purpose and sleepless care to keep the lands of the Romans safe and unharmed from the incursion of the enemy, by appointing watchmen who are strong and suitable and who know the roads perfectly. 1.2 And if there are high and impassable mountains defining the enemy territory, the watch-posts are to be set up in these; and the stations of the watchmen are to be up to 3 or 4 miles apart. And when they see the enemy coming out, they are to go quickly to the other little station and report what they saw, and those in turn to the other little station with great haste; and thus in succession the stations of the cavalrymen, which are set up in the level places, are to be informed and through them the general is to learn of the attack of the nations. 1.3 They are to persevere for fifteen days in guarding the roads, bringing with them also sufficient food for them for the same days; then so others are to go to replace them, being well-registered and equipped by the commanders, and being sent out safe and complete according to the prescribed number, and they should not be allowed by their commanders to sit at home for shameful gain. 1.4 It is possible for the watchmen to look out where it is suitable for the enemy's camps to be made; for there the camps are generally accustomed to be made where there is sufficient water and a level place. Others are to watch where the road makes a narrow pass, and others where there is a river difficult to cross. And with these guarding so securely, the enemy will not be able to make the

μάχιμον, οὐδ' ὅτι ταύτην ἐξαίρομεν τῶν λοιπῶν στρατηγημάτων καὶ ἐπιτηδευμάτων τῆς τακτικῆς, ἀλλ' ὅτι στρατηγῶν τοῖς ἀρίστοις αὕτη συνεργὸς ἀρίστη καθέστηκεν, ἵν', ὅτε μὴ κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῖς πολεμίοις ἀντιτάττεσθαι δύναιντο, ταύτῃ τῇ μεθόδῳ χρώμενοι ἀβλαβεῖς τε ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν συντηροῖεν χώραν. προλ.5 Ταύτην Βάρδας ὁ μακαρίτης καῖσαρ, ὅσα ἐμὲ γινώσκειν, εἰς ἄκρον κατώρθωκε καὶ παντελῶς ἀφανισθεῖσαν ἀνενεώσατοἵνα μὴ τοὺς παλαιοὺς τῶν στρατηγῶν ἀπαριθμῶμεν καθ' ἕκαστον, μόνους δὲ τοὺς πᾶσι γνωρίμους καὶ καθ' ἡμᾶς, ὃς ἐν τοῖς γειτονοῦσι τῇ Ταρσῷ θέμασι, τῇ τε Καππαδοκίᾳ καὶ τῷ Ἀνατολικῷ στρατηγῶν, μυριάκις τὰς τῶν Ταρσέων καὶ λοιπῶν Κιλίκων δυνάμεις ἐτραυμάτισε καὶ μέγιστα κατ' αὐτῶν ἀνεστήσατο τρόπαια· παρ' οὗ καὶ ἡμεῖς ταύτην γυμνασθέντες τὴν μέθοδον, τὴν ταύτης κἂν ποσῶς παρειλήφαμεν πεῖραν. προλ.6 Πρὸς τούτῳ καὶ Κωνσταντῖνος πατρίκιος, ᾧ Μαλεῗνος ἐπίκλησις, χρόνους πλείστους Καππαδοκῶν στρατηγήσας καὶ ταύτην συνεργὸν ἔχων, οὐκ ἐλάχιστα ἀπειργάσατο κατορθώματα. προλ.7 Σὺν τούτοις καὶ ὁ κύρις Νικηφόρος, ὁ ἀοίδιμος βασιλεύς, ταύτην ἄκρως μετῆλθεν, ὃς δήπου στρατηγῶν καὶ ταύτῃ χρώμενος πάμπολλα καὶ ἀξιάγαστα ἔργα πεποίηκε, μυριάκις ὡς εἰπεῖν τοὺς πολεμίους τρεψάμενος καὶ μέγιστα τούτων στρατεύματα κατακόψας· οὗ τὰς ἀριστείας, καθ' ὃν ἐστρατήγει καιρόν, συγγράφειν ἢ ἀπαριθμεῖσθαι ὀχληρὸν ἔσται τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσι διά τε τὸ ὑπερβάλλον πλῆθος καὶ τὸ παρὰ πολλῶν γινώσκεσθαι. προλ.8 Ὃς ταύτην ἔργῳ μεμαθηκὼς εὔχρηστον οὖσαν, ἐγγράφως πρὸς κοινὴν λυσιτέλειαν ὅπως δεῖ χρῆσθαι ταύτῃ ἐξέθετο, κἀμοὶ παρηγγύησε καθ' ὅσον οἷόν τε ἀκριβῶς περὶ αὐτῆς συγγράψαι καὶ παραδοῦναι τοῖς μεθεξῆς· μὴ μόνον δὲ περὶ ταύτης τῆς τῇ ἕῳ προσηκούσης, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῆς τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ ὠφελίμου καθεστηκυίας, διὰ τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ πλεῖστά τε στρατηγῆσαι καὶ πεῖραν, ὅσον οἷόν τε ἦν φύσει τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ, ἀθροῖσαι. Ἀλλὰ περὶ ἐκείνης μὲν ἰδίᾳ καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις εἰρήσεται, νυνὶ δὲ σκοπὸς ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς ἑτέρας διαλαβεῖν. Ὅθεν καὶ τὴν ἐκείνου τηρῶν ἐντολήν, συνεργῷ τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριτι χρώμενος, ἥτις ἐν ἅπασι συνεπιλαμβάνεται τοῖς καλοῖς, ὧδέ πως ἀπάρχομαι τῆς ὑποθέσεως. 1.τ Περὶ βιγλῶν καὶ πόσον διάστημα ὀφείλουσιν ἀπ' ἀλλήλων μία ἑκάστη διίστασθαι 1.1 Τοὺς τῶν μεγάλων ἀκριτικῶν θεμάτων τὴν πρόνοιαν ἀναδεχομένους καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν αὐτῶν ἐπικράτειαν τὰς κλεισούρας ἔχοντας πάσῃ μηχανῇ καὶ προθέσει καὶ ἀγρύπνῳ ἐπιμελείᾳ προσήκει σπουδάζειν καὶ ἀγωνίζεσθαι τὰς τῶν Ῥωμαίων χώρας διαφυλάττειν τῆς τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιδρομῆς ἀσινεῖς καὶ ἀνεπηρεάστους, βιγλάτορας ἐφιστῶντας ῥωμαλέους καὶ ἐπιτηδείους καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς εἰς ἄκρον ἐπισταμένους. 1.2 Καὶ εἰ μὲν ὄρη εἰσὶν ὑψηλὰ καὶ δύσβατα διορίζοντα τὴν πολεμίαν, ἐν τούτοις τὰς βίγλας ἵστασθαι· ἀπέχειν δὲ τὰς στάσεις τῶν βιγλατόρων ἄχρι μιλίων γʹ ἢ δʹ. Καὶ ἡνίκα τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἐξερχομένους θεάσονται, δρομαίως ἀπέρχεσθαι εἰς τὸ ἔτερον στασίδιον καὶ ἀπαγγέλλειν ἃ ἐθεάσαντο, κἀκείνους πάλιν πρὸς τὸ ἕτερον στασίδιον σπουδῇ πολλῇ· καὶ οὕτως καθεξῆς μηνύεσθαι τὰ τῶν καβαλλαρίων στασίδια εἰς τοὺς ἐφομάλους τόπους ἱστάμενα καὶ δι' αὐτῶν ἀναμανθάνειν τὸν στρατηγὸν τὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν ἔφοδον. 1.3 Καρτερεῖν δὲ αὐτοὺς ἡμέρας πεντεκαίδεκα ἐν τῇ τῶν ὁδῶν φυλακῇ, ἐπιφερομένους καὶ τὴν διαρκοῦσαν αὐτοῖς τροφὴν τῶν αὐτῶν ἡμερῶν· εἴθ' οὕτως ἀπέρχεσθαι ἑτέρους εἰς τὴν τούτων ὑπαλλαγήν, καλῶς ἀδνουμιαζομένους καὶ εὐτρεπιζομένους παρὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων, καὶ σῴους καὶ ἀνελλιπεῖς κατὰ τὸν τυπωθέντα ἀριθμὸν ἀποστελλομένους, καὶ μὴ δι' αἰσχρὸν κέρδος οἴκοι καθέζεσθαι παρὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων αὐτῶν ἐαθῶσιν. 1.4 Ἔξεστι δὲ τοὺς βιγλάτορας ἀφορᾶν ἐν οἷς ἄπληκτα τῶν πολεμίων ἁρμόζει γίνεσθαι· ἐκεῖ γὰρ τὰ ἄπληκτα ὡς ἐπίπαν εἴωθε γίνεσθαι ἐν οἷς ὕδωρ ἐστὶ διαρκὲς καὶ τόπος ἐφόμαλος. Ἑτέρους δὲ βλέπειν ἐν οἷς ἡ ὁδὸς ἀποτελεῖ στένωμα, ἄλλους δὲ ὅπου ποταμὸς ὑπάρχει δυσπέρατος. Καὶ τούτων οὕτως ἀσφαλῶς φυλαττόντων οὐ δυνήσονται οἱ πολέμιοι λάθρα ποιήσασθαι τὴν