Historiae p.4 from the east, this man also rebels against him and, having prevailed, seizes the imperial power, giving an evil reward to the one who h

 Completely senseless of what is good, who, having set a goal among themselves to destroy komnenos and thus also destroy the porphyrogennetos, the brot

 He had claimed the inheritance, at the same time also securing his own safety, so that he might not suffer any of the terrible things such as the many

 Another born in the purple who had departed this life, had a greater right to rule? it is clear, therefore, that the famed alexios among emperors, hav

 After he had exercised tyrannical power for many years and had overthrown almost all the east, he was appointed ambassador, having tried to join toget

 Dull and slow to punish. there are many other proofs of the man's virtue, and not least his renunciation of the empire how, the narrative as it proce

 Had been demonstrated, doukas led him with every honor, calling him lord and emperor and deeming him worthy of precedence whenever he came to him and

 Of europe, since the descendants of hagar, having risen in sedition against one another, divided the greatest dominion into many parts, one ruling one

 While encouraging his people, when his horse slipped, he was thrown to the ground with it and, breaking his neck, was killed. and when this happened,

 Fitting, they were attacking the towns of armeniakon to plunder them, he took up his forces and proceeded against the turks and, encountering them sca

 To leave her unconsoled in the greatness of her suffering, adding suffering to suffering, adding your long absence to his death.” thus the emperor. an

 Being present and arranging the matters of war well. for wishing to draw the emperor forward and get him within his nets, he sent out skirmishers, who

 Alyates, a cappadocian man and an associate of the emperor, commanded the right wing, bryennius himself the left, and the emperor held the center of t

 To make a disposition of the whole. thus it seemed also to the emperor michael and he agreed with the purpose of his uncle but those who wished to re

 He seizes. but having learned this, those around the emperor and the caesar were considering whom they might set up as an opponent to him. it seemed b

 The truth shone forth like a torch hidden under soot. but those who nourished the divine fear in their hearts and were in labor with a spirit of salva

 Entered thickets and were saved, but of the rest some fell, and others were taken captive. and so the phalanx of diogenes was thus dissolved and scatt

 Having handled the matters of his elevation with skill, he was both cast down himself and brought down the affairs of the romans with him how the one

 Therefore, having encamped, they were considering how they might drive away the attacking turks who were sacking the towns. 2.4 but so much for them.

 One different from the others, theodotos by name, said that what was happening was not a good omen for when the night comes on, they will flee at on

 He hastened to the queen of cities in order to take up the gold and ransom his brother. therefore, having collected this in a few days, he went away t

 He began to speak: 2.10 to me, men, to make no attempt at all against the enemy, but instead to betray ourselves into slavery and obvious danger, see

 They were trying to help isaacius and the glorious alexius, he himself by name called upon the glorious alexius and implored him to help but he, imme

 Was deliberating, but seeing time was still being wasted, he was enraged for he wished to be rid of the fear from that man and thus to revel fearless

 But he, choosing to face extreme danger for his father's own safety, turned back and thrust himself into the midst of the enemy and having struck down

 The children's cots lay there. and when they saw the cot of the one who had escaped was empty, immediately each one, just as he was, beat the pedagogu

 By many, and be destroyed, they selected a narrow plain, putting forward the river flowing down from sophon as a rampart. but artouch, having crossed

 But when he was checking their assaults, he no longer waited for their incursions, but advancing on the forts held by the enemy, he set ambushes and s

 To receive and, having dined with him, he finally arrests him and, having made him a prisoner, sends him to the stratopedarches, having taken hostages

 A crowd is brought out and he is seen by all as if he were blind this act completely silenced the uproar. the commander of the army, then, having rec

 As he was passing through the narrow straits and going down beside the sea towards heracleia, maurex met him, a man not of noble birth, but otherwise

 He pretended to be friendly to the patriarch and behaved in a friendly manner towards him, but he was cultivating the magistrates. therefore the doux,

 3.τ book 3 3.1 the preceding account makes clear, therefore, all that happened in the east after the deposition of the emperor diogenes, and how many

 Were arranged and the nation of the franks, having mastered italy and sicily, were plotting terrible things against the romans, michael planned for th

 A guard had been entrusted, was going about in odrysae towards the city formerly called orestias, but now adrianople, who, having stopped at a certain

 He died with good hopes, leaving behind his most beloved child, but again the evil men seemed to be winning and the marriage was not taking place, as

 Impulse, but something that happened persuaded him on the following day, even unwillingly, to yield to their will. 3.9 for having encamped at trajanop

 Having offered thanksgiving sacrifices, he returned home and was deliberating about what to do next, and he called all the generals and commanders to

 Bryennius, seeing that the time of the siege was being wasted in vain, so that the army might not suffer further hardship, wanted to lift the siege, b

 They tried to hinder his march with their arrows. but those around him, being brave, although few, nevertheless sallied out against the turks and chec

 He was pleased for since it was already a late hour, it seemed that some uproar and disturbance would happen in the city, if some were to be captured

 I remained with the one in power until the end and, while all were turning to your rule, i myself have kept faith with him even until now, having sent

 He hastened for the scepters of the kingdom, as much as possible, to win the goodwill of the citizens, especially when he learned about the affairs of

 A man being both good in appearance and very skilled in conversation. when the ambassadors had approached and made the customary address for ambassado

 He exercised and trained the soldiers through him. and whenever they were already able to ride safely and seemed to be adequately and skilfully traine

 For on the evening before this, letters had been sent to him from the emperor ordering him not to fight, but to await the arrival of the allies recent

 To wander, at a loss how, while they were fleeing, he both showed the horse and the broadswords and clearly proclaimed the death of bryennios, and the

 Now, the pursuers were not a great multitude, so their retreat was easy. but when many ran together and his horse was worn out and useless for running

 Therefore, having taken him, he himself departed as if for constantinople but the scarlet-dyed sandals, which that man used to wear when playing the

 Sleeping in his tent, without any delay he ordered everyone to arm themselves and immediately all were under arms. and when the sun was towards the we

 Recognizing basilakes, he strikes him with his sword upon the helmet but with the sword having been broken near his hand and having fallen, komnenos

 Counsel conquers many hands, which at that time received confirmation through his own deeds. for one man and one mind in a short time brought down th

 He ordered the protovestiarios this was the eunuch john, who had long served him before his reign he was ambitious, if anyone ever was, and possesse

 That campaign, being most experienced, and already seeing the imminent danger before his eyes, advised him to turn back. but he, receiving his words a

 Servants with another one of his servants, he went where they said kontostephanos would be and seeing him calling out from afar, covering his head, he

dull and slow to punish. There are many other proofs of the man's virtue, and not least his renunciation of the empire; how, the narrative as it proceeds will make clear. 1.4 Now completing his third year in the reign, the brother and emperor, having crossed the strait of the Propontis, was staying in the suburbs around the townlet of Honoratus, going out continuously for the hunt and exercising his body. But the exercise did not help him at all; for he was seized by the disease of pleurisy and after enduring it for a third day, when he perceived that he was not well, he boarded the imperial dromon and was carried to the palace. Therefore, he was immediately concerned about who would reign after him, and his brother was preferred above allfor he knew him to be good and capable in the management of public affairs, and he was summoned immediately, and the emperor began to address him with words of exhortation: "As for me," he said, "O dearest brother, the end of my life, having now arrived, forces me toward the exit, but you must take charge of public affairs and receive the rudders of the empire; for I think this will be profitable not only for our blood relatives, but for all those under the Romans. Therefore, having been bound with the diadem, while I myself am still breathing, take charge of affairs; for many, as you know, cast covetous eyes on the empire of the Romans." Having heard these words, he was indignant and reluctant to hasten to the management of public affairs, and ready to suffer anything rather than take charge of public affairs, but while he was of this mind, his wife, perceiving what was being said, took the refusal hard, and sitting down beside her husband, she used such words to him: "Why," she said, "my lord, do you draw a sword against yourself and your dearest ones, neither pitying their untimely fate nor caring for us? Do you not know that if some other man seizes the rule of the Romans, he will hasten to destroy our entire family, thinking that in this way the affairs of his rule will be securely established? Why then have we so frustrated ourselves, casting both ourselves and our dearest ones into plain sight of danger and pushing away what is desirable to all, the empire of the Romans? What is this harmful philosophy and ill-timed moderation? But if you will listen to me at all, hasten as quickly as possible to be persuaded by the counsels of the emperor and your brother, and take charge of affairs." 1.5 Having said these things and more—for she was formidable in both speaking and acting—when she did not persuade him, she turned to supplication and offered her petitions with tears and groans; but when she saw that he was unyielding and hardened to everything, despairing of persuading him, she fell silent, suffering much within herself and being angry at him. Thus, then, did he renounce the empire. But the emperor, seeing the disease worsening, since he had given up on his brother, looked to Constantine Doukas, a man who boasted many advantages. He therefore summoned him immediately and, having discussed public matters with him and entrusting his relatives to him, he crowns him with the imperial diadem, after first exchanging the purple for the angelic habit himself. So he was led away to the monastery of Stoudios. But Doukas, having seized the rudders of the empire, immediately hastened to abolish greed and to introduce moderation and justice, and indeed this was accomplished by him; for seeing that most people were turned to injustice, he turned to administering justice. Not showing partiality in judgment, according to the prophet, nor indeed turning to the right or to the left, but proceeding on the royal road, to the unjust he appeared grave and terrible, cutting off the impulses of injustice, but to the wronged, both beloved and most gracious, and indeed he did not prove ungrateful to the one who had made him emperor; for after taking on the monastic life and habit and being brought to the monastery of Stoudios, the effects of his disease abated, and he who was expected to die became healthy

κολάζειν ἀμβλὺς καὶ δυσκίνητος. Τεκμήρια δὲ τῆς τ' ἀνδρὸς ἀρετῆς καὶ ἄλλα μὲν πλεῖστα, οὐχ ἧττον δὲ καὶ τὸ τὴν βασιλείαν ἀποσκευάσασθαι· ὅπως δέ, προϊὼν ὁ λόγος δηλώσειε. 1.4 Τρίτον ἔτος ἀνύων ἤδη κατὰ τὴν βασιλείαν ὁ ἀδελφός τε καὶ βασιλεὺς τὸν τῆς Προποντίδος διαπεράσας πορθμὸν ἐν τοῖς περὶ τὸ Ὁνωράτου πολίχνιον προαστείοις ηὐλίζετο, ἐπὶ θήραν τε συνεχῶς ἐξιὼν καὶ τὸ σῶμα γυμνάζων. Ἀλλὰ κατ' οὐδὲν αὐτῷ συνετέλει τὸ γυμνάσιον· νόσῳ γὰρ συνεσχέθη πλευρίτιδι καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν ἐγκαρτερήσας, ἐπειδὴ ᾔσθετο ἑαυτοῦ μὴ καλῶς ἔχοντος, εἰς τὸν βασιλικὸν εἰσελθὼν δρόμωνα ἐκομίσθη πρὸς τὰ ἀνάκτορα. Φροντὶς οὖν εἶχεν αὐτὸν εὐθὺς τοῦ μετ' αὐτὸν βασιλεύσοντος καὶ πάντων ὁ ἀδελφὸς προτετίμητοᾔδει γὰρ τοῦτον χρηστὸν ὄντα καὶ ἱκανὸν περὶ τὴν τῶν κοινῶν πραγμάτων ἀντίληψιν, εὐθύς τε μετεκέκλητο καὶ λόγων πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἤρχετο παρακλητικῶν· "Ἐμὲ μέν, λέγων, ὦ φίλτατε ἀδελφέ, τὸ πέρας ἤδη τοῦ βίου καταλαβὸν βιάζεται πρὸς τὴν ἔξοδον, σὲ δὲ χρὴ τῶν κοινῶν ἀντιλαβέσθαι πραγμάτων καὶ τοὺς τῆς βασιλείας οἴακας ἀναδέξασθαι· τοῦτο γὰρ λυσιτελήσειν οἶμαι οὐ τοῖς καθ' αἷμα μόνον ἡμῖν προσήκουσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίους ἅπασι. Ταινιωθεὶς οὖν τῷ διαδήματι, ἕως αὐτὸς ἐμπνέων εἰμί, τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντιλαβοῦ· πολλοὶ γάρ, ὡς οἶσθα, τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ῥωμαίων ἐποφθαλμίζουσι". Τούτων ἀκούσας τῶν λόγων, ἐκεῖνος δραμεῖν πρὸς τὴν τῶν κοινῶν ἀντίληψιν ἀνασχάλλων ἦν καὶ ἀναδυόμενος καὶ πάντα παθεῖν ἕτοιμος μᾶλλον ἢ τῶν κοινῶν ἀντιλήψεσθαι, ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν οὕτως εἶχε προθέσεως, ἡ δ' αὖ ὁμευνέτις αἰσθομένη τῶν λεγομένων βαρέως ἔφερε τὴν παραίτησιν καὶ παρὰ τῷ ἀνδρὶ παρακαθίσασα τοιούτοις ἐχρῆτο παρ' αὐτὸν λόγοις· "Ἵνα τί, λέγουσα, κύριέ μου, ξίφος ἕλκεις πρὸς ἑαυτὸν καὶ τὰ φίλτατα, μήτε τὸ τούτων οἰκτείρων ἄωρον μήτε ἡμῶν κηδόμενος; Οὐκ οἶσθα ὡς εἴ τις ἐπιλάβηται ἄλλος τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς, ἐκ ποδῶν ποιῆσαι σπεύσειεν ἅπαν τὸ γένος ἡμῶν, οἰόμενος οὕτως ἐπ' ἀσφαλοῦς ἡδράσθαι αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς ἀρχῆς; Ἵνα τί γοῦν οὕτω μεματαιώμεθα ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τὰ φίλτατα εἰς προῦπτον ἐπιρρίπτοντες κίνδυνον καὶ τὸ πᾶσιν ἱμερτὸν ἀπωθούμεθα τὴν βασιλείαν Ῥωμαίων; Τίς ἡ ἐπιβλαβὴς αὕτη φιλοσοφία καὶ ἄκαιρος μετριοφροσύνη; Ἀλλ' εἴ τι ἐμοὶ πείθῃ, σπεῦσον ὡς τάχιστα ταῖς συμβουλαῖς πεισθῆναι τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἀδελφοῦ καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐπιλαβοῦ". 1.5 Ταῦτα καὶ πλείω τούτων εἰποῦσαἦν γὰρ δεινή τις καὶ λέγειν καὶ πράττειν, ἐπειδὴ μὴ ἔπειθε, πρὸς ἱκεσίαν ἐτράπετο καὶ τὰς διὰ δακρύων καὶ στεναγμῶν ἐντεύξεις προσέφερεν· ὡς δ' ἄτεγκτον ἑώρα καὶ πρὸς πᾶν σκληρυνόμενον, ἀπογνοῦσα τοῦ πείθειν ἐσίγα, πολλὰ καθ' ἑαυτὴν ἀλγοῦσα καὶ τούτου καταστυγνάζουσα. Οὕτω μὲν οὖν ἐκεῖνος τὴν βασιλείαν ἀπεσκεύαστο. Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς τὴν νόσον ὁρῶν ἐπιτείνουσαν, ἐπείπερ ἀπέγνωστο αὐτῷ τὰ κατὰ τὸν ἀδελφόν, πρὸς τὸν ∆ούκα Κωνσταντῖνον ἀπεῖδεν, ἄνδρα πολλοῖς κομῶντα πλεονεκτήμασιν. Εὐθὺς οὖν ἐκάλει καὶ διαλεχθεὶς αὐτῷ περὶ τῶν κοινῶν καὶ τοὺς συγγενεῖς αὐτῷ παραθέμενος τῷ βασιλικῷ ταινιώματι στεφανοῖ, αὐτὸς πρότερον τῆς ἁλουργίδος τὸ ἀγγελικὸν ἀνταλλαξάμενος σχῆμα. Ὁ μὲν οὖν πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Στουδίου μονὴν ὑπήγετο. Ὁ δέ γε ∆ούκας τῶν τῆς βασιλείας οἰάκων δραξάμενος, εὐθὺς ἔσπευσε πλεονεξίαν μὲν ἀνελεῖν, μετριότητα δὲ καὶ δικαιοσύνην εἰσενεγκεῖν, καὶ μέντοι καὶ κατωρθώθη τοῦτο αὐτῷ· ὁρῶν γὰρ τοὺς πλείστους περὶ τὸ ἀδικεῖν τετραμμένους ἐπὶ τὸ δικάζειν ἐτράπετο. Μὴ λαμβάνων δ' ἐν κρίσει πρόσωπον κατὰ τὸν προφήτην, μήτε μὴν ἐκκλίνων εἰς δεξιὰ ἢ εἰς ἀριστερά, ἀλλ' ὁδῷ βασιλικῇ πορευόμενος, τοῖς μὲν ἀδικοῦσι ἐμβριθής τις ἐφαίνετο καὶ δεινός, τὰ τῆς ἀδικίας ἐκκόπτων ὁρμή ματα, τοῖς δ' αὖ ἀδικουμένοις προσφιλής τε καὶ χαριέστατος, καὶ μέντοι οὐδὲ πρὸς τὸν βασιλεύσαντα τοῦτον ἀχάριστος ἀναπέφηνεν· ἐπεὶ γὰρ μετὰ τοῦ μονήρους βίου καὶ σχήματος τὴν περιβολὴν καὶ πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Στουδίου μονὴν ἐπαγωγὴν τὰ τῆς νόσου ἐρράϊσε καὶ ὑγιὴς ὁ πρὶν θανεῖν προσδοκήσιμος