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

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 him. 9.12 But if the general should encounter a `foulkon`—that is, the guard for the enemies scattered for plunder—which has a large number, let him divide his army in two and send forward those who are to join battle with the `foulkon`. And when these have clashed, let the general also, following closely behind with his battle line, immediately rush swiftly and bravely against them with shouting and war cries along with a charge; and having routed them with God's help, he will pursue and completely defeat them. 9.13 If, then, the general is successful with God's cooperation and routs the enemies who have rushed out for plunder, and if he inflicts a great and noteworthy slaughter, it is likely that the enemy will return to their own country in shame. But if they intend to linger still in our country, let the general take his own army and get far away from the enemy, in suitable places, of course, and let him rest his exhausted army for three days; only those who are to remain on watch, as we have already set forth, are to be sent out each day. 9.14 When the general perceives that they are setting out to return, let him immediately, with great speed, send a capable commander and mass the infantry force in the difficult passes of the roads. And let the general himself hurry, not resting himself at all by night or by day, but with great speed get ahead of them, and having well prepared his entire force of infantry and cavalry, let him arrange the battle against them, as we have set forth in detail above. And by doing so, with the grace and power of Christ and the intercessions of His all-pure Mother, he will prevail in the battle against the enemy. And so much for this. 10.t Concerning the separation of the raiding party and the army following behind 10.1 What we ourselves have observed, we will in no way hesitate to set forth. The army of the enemy [moves] in different ways; both the cavalry and the infantry marched out together from their own land and cities, and having marched together for two days, and sometimes more, they separated from one another; and the cavalry, wishing to overrun and plunder our lands, went ahead by a distance of some days, being separated from their infantry force, because they were hurrying to catch the inhabitants of the villages unawares, staying in their homes. But the main body, following behind with the infantry and their baggage train, when it had passed through the difficult and narrow places, having surveyed a suitable place for their guard and safety, pitched their tents and encamped in it, waiting there for the cavalry who had rushed out on the raid, so that they might get the returning raiders safely through the difficult passes. 10.2 The general, therefore, being informed of their departure, let him send out the border watches and do everything according to the arrangement above. And if it is easy for the general to catch the scattered raiders who have rushed out for plunder and to rout them, let him hasten to accomplish this in deed; but if, on account of some errors and the contrary circumstances that occur, he should meet with an obstacle, let him be prepared for the war against the main army, and let him carefully survey the place in which they pitched their tents, lest there is a river or a stream providing them safety. And he must also prepare himself according to the position of the place, and with great haste gather to himself the infantry force, if possible. 10.3 When the general is expecting their departure and transfer to another camp, if by chance he learns this through deserters, it is necessary to send out cavalry by night, having as leaders experienced and worthy men, and to prepare two ambushes on either side of the road by which the passage of the enemy will take place. And from those who were sent out, having selected one hundred men

ἱππέων ὄπισθεν ἔχειν βλέποντα καὶ ἀποσκοποῦντα τὴν τοῦ ἀμηρᾶ παράταξιν καὶ τὰ περὶ αὐτῆς, ὡς ἂν ὁδοιπορείῃ, καταμηνύειν αὐτῷ. 9.12 Εἰ δὲ καὶ φοῦλκον, τὸ εἰς φυλακὴν τῶν διασκορπιζομένων πρὸς λείαν πολεμίων ὑπάρχον, συναντήσει ὁ στρατηγὸς πλῆθος ἔχον, διχῆ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ διέλῃ καὶ ἔμπροσθεν μὲν ἀποστείλῃ τοὺς ὀφείλοντας μετὰ τοῦ φούλκου συνάψαι πόλεμον, τούτων δὲ συρραγέντων, εὐθὺς καὶ ὁ στρατηγὸς μετὰ τῆς παρατάξεως αὐτοῦ πλησίον ἐπακολουθῶν ὀξέως καὶ εὐτόλμως μετὰ κραυγῆς καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ σὺν ἐλασίᾳ κατ' αὐτῶν ὁρμησάτω· καὶ τούτους Θεοῦ βοηθείᾳ τροπωσάμενος καταδιώξει καὶ τελείως καταγωνίσεται. 9.13 Εἰ οὖν Θεοῦ συνεργίᾳ εὐοδωθῇ ὁ στρατηγὸς καὶ τοὺς εἰς λείαν ἐκδραμόντας πολεμίους κατατροπώσεται, εἰ μὲν μεγάλην καὶ ἀξιόλογον δουλείαν ἐργάσεται, εἰκός ἐστι τοὺς ἐχθροὺς πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν ὑποστρέψαι μετ' αἰσχύνης. Εἰ δὲ ἔτι ἐν τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ χρονίσαι μελετῶσι, τὸν ἴδιον λαὸν ὁ στρατηγὸς ἀναλαβόμενος μήκοθεν γενέσθω τῶν πολεμίων, ἐν ἐπιτηδείοις δηλονότι χωρίοις, καὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ κατάκοπον ὄντα ἐπὶ ἡμέρας τρεῖς διαναπαυσάτω· μόνους τοὺς παραμένειν ὀφείλοντας, ὡς ἤδη ἐξεθέμεθα, ἀποστέλλεσθαι ἑκάστῃ ἡμέρᾳ. 9.14 Πρὸς ὑποστροφὴν δὲ ὁρμῶντας τούτους ὁ στρατηγὸς ἐπιγνούς, παραυτίκα τάχει πολλῷ ἄρχοντα τῶν χρησίμων ἀποστείλας, τὸ πεζικὸν στράτευμα εἰς τὰς δυσχωρίας τῶν ὁδῶν ἐπισωρευσάτω. Καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ στρατηγὸς σπευσάτω, μὴ ἐν νυκτὶ μὴ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἑαυτὸν ποσῶς ἂν ἀναπαῦσαι, ἀλλὰ σὺν τάχει πολλῷ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν γενέσθω, καὶ καλῶς παρασκευάσας ἅπαν τὸ τῶν πεζῶν καὶ ἱππέων αὐτοῦ στράτευμα τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν πόλεμον διάθοιτο, καθὼς ἀνωτέρω ἐπιλεπτῶς ἐξεθέμεθα. Καὶ οὕτως ποιοῦντος χάριτι Χριστοῦ καὶ δυνάμει καὶ πρεσβείαις τῆς παναχράντου αὐτοῦ μητρὸς τῆς κατὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μάχης κρατήσει. Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν οὕτως. 10.τ Περὶ τοῦ διαχωρισμοῦ τοῦ κούρσου καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ ὄπισθεν ἐπακολουθοῦντοσ 10.1 Ἃ δὲ ἡμεῖς ἐθεασάμεθα, ἐκθέσθαι οὐδαμῶς κατοκνήσομεν. Τὸ τῶν πολεμίων φοσσᾶτον διαφόρως· οἵ τε ἱππεῖς σὺν τῶν πεζῶν ὁμοῦ τῆς χώρας καὶ τῶν πόλεων αὐτῶν συνεξήρχοντο, καὶ ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἡμέραις ὁμοῦ συμπεριπατήσαντες, ἐσθ' ὅτε καὶ πλείοσιν, ἀπ' ἀλλήλων διεχωρίζοντο· καὶ οἱ μὲν ἱππεῖς, οἱ τὰς ἡμετέρας χώρας κατατρέχειν καὶ λεηλατεῖν βουλόμενοι, προὐλάμβανον ἡμερῶν τινων διάστημα, τοῦ πεζικοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῶν ἀφεστηκότες, διὰ τὸ σπεύδειν αὐτοὺς ἀμηνυτὶ τοὺς οἰκήτορας τῶν χωρίων καταλαβεῖν οἴκοι μένοντας, τὸ δὲ τοῦλδον μετὰ τῶν πεζῶν καὶ τῆς τούτων ἀποσκευῆς ὄπισθεν ἑπόμενον, ἡνίκα τὰς δυσχωρίας καὶ τὰ στενὰ διῆλθεν, ἐπιτήδειον διασκοπῆσαν τόπον πρὸς φυλακὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀσφάλειαν, τὰς σκηνὰς πηξάμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ ηὐλίζοντο, τοὺς εἰς κοῦρσον ἐκδραμόντας ἱππεῖς ἐκεῖσε προσεκδεχόμενοι, ἵνα τοὺς ὑποστρέφοντας καλῶς τὰς δυσχωρίας διαβιβάσωσιν. 10.2 Ὁ οὖν στρατηγὸς τὴν ἐξέλευσιν αὐτῶν καταμηνυόμενος, τὰς παρανομὰς ἀποστελλέτω καὶ πάντα ποιείτω κατὰ τὴν ἀνωτέρω διάταξιν. Καὶ εἰ μὲν εὐχερές ἐστι τῷ στρατηγῷ τοὺς εἰς τὴν λείαν ἐκδραμόντας διεσκεδασμένους καταλαβεῖν καὶ τούτους κατατροπώσασθαι, ἔργῳ τοῦτο σπευσάτω πληρῶσαι· εἰ δὲ διά τινα σφάλματα καὶ τὰς συμβαινούσας ἐναντιώσεις ἐμπόδιον προσυπαντήσει αὐτῷ, εἰς τὸν κατὰ τοῦ φοσσάτου πόλεμον παρασκευασθήτω, καὶ τὸν τόπον ἐν ᾧ τὰς σκηνὰς ἐπήξαντο ἀκριβῶς διασκοπησάτω, μή ποτε ποταμός ἐστιν ἀσφάλειαν αὐτοῖς προξενῶν ἢ ῥύαξ. Καὶ πρὸς τὴν θέσιν τοῦ τόπου δεῖ καὶ αὐτὸν παρασκευασθῆναι, καὶ σπουδῇ πολλῇ πρὸς ἑαυτὸν τὸ πεζικὸν στράτευμα, εἰ δυνατόν, ἐπισυναγαγεῖν. 10.3 Προσδοκῶντος δὲ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τὴν τούτων ἀποκίνησιν καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ ἀπλήκτῳ μετάβασιν, εἰ τυχὸν δι' αὐτομόλων τοῦτο πυνθανομένου, δέον ἱππεῖς ἀποστεῖλαι νυκτός, ἀρχηγοὺς ἔχοντας τῶν ἐμπείρων ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἀξιολόγων, καὶ δύο ἐγκρύμματα παρασκευάσαι ἔνθεν κἀκεῖθεν τῆς ὁδοῦ, δι' ἧς γενήσεται ἡ τῶν πολεμίων διέλευσις. Ἐξ αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν ἀποσταλέντων ἑκατὸν ἄνδρας ἐπιλεξάμενος