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

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 remained in the place where they had previously camped, in no way departing from there on account of the strength of the place, awaiting the raiding party, and likewise the general brings the war against them, lest, while he is delaying because of the massing of his own infantry force or for some other reason, the raiding party should return and prevent the war. 10.11 And in this way the general must attack them: to scout out through the sent-out lookouts the adjacent lands and those near the enemy's camp, and to hide there chosen horsemen in a suitable place with a most experienced and brave commander, and when they enter among them searching for provisions, let them rush against them. And to form other horsemen into an ambush for the aid and vengeance of those sent ahead; and if the enemy horsemen should wish to pursue these, let them attack them, and they will turn them to flight and pursue them, because the horsemen left to guard the enemy baggage train are always few. 10.12 But if the enemy do not enter the lands—even if this happens to be impossible—let the general appoint the lookouts sent by him from the experienced men and let them scout out in what part of their camp the enemy lead out the camels to pasture. And let him detach either a tourmarch or a useful topoteretes with brave horsemen; and let them look for a ravine, if a suitable one is found in the place, and let them steal along in it, hidden, until they get near, and then they will make the attack openly against the camels. 10.13 And let those who were sent divide the force into two; and let one half take the grazing camels and the asses, and let the others be for their guard and vengeance and aid. And if it happens that a formation is standing outside the enemy's ditch and it attacks those who attacked the camels, or if horsemen come out of the ditch pursuing, those in the rear will overcome them. 10.14 And immediately let the general, not being far off but nearby in the hiding place, come out against them, and as he sees the battle joined, so let him be disposed, either let him attack the enemy fiercely, or, his sent-out force being superior in order and not scattered, he will make the attack against the enemy's camp. And having brought up all his force, both horsemen and infantry, since he well knows the position of the place, he will divide the positions among all the units of both the horsemen and the infantry, and let him wage the war against them, if it is possible, in a circle. 10.15 But if there is a river and a ravine, as we have said above, guarding the enemy instead of a rampart, if it in any way admits a crossing, he will station a force there too. And he will also prepare to pitch their tents, in order to show that he is about to camp there, for their consternation; and so to make war. And if he arranges matters concerning the war well and in an orderly and brave manner, he will be greatly successful. 10.16 But if on the first day he is not able to rout them, as they are resisting strongly and have an infantry force and are being helped by the position of the place, it is necessary both to remain by them and to summon more infantry. And at night he will prepare the light-armed troops and the slingers to shoot at them, and to light very many fires around them, and to exhort the light-armed troops bravely and daringly to fight hand-to-hand and to take the risk, until they enter inside the enemy's camp, and take horses and mules and some goods by night, continually striking and killing the enemy. 10.17 And if at all by God's help such a thing should happen on one side and it is seen and recognized by the other units, they too will rush forward

εὔκλειαν· εἰ γὰρ καὶ μὴ τὴν νικῶσαν εὕρῃ εἰς τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν πόλεμον ὁ τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατός, ἀλλ' οὗν οὐδεμίαν βλάβην ὑποστήσεται. 10.10 Εἰ δέ, ἐν ᾧ τόπῳ πρότερον ηὐλίζοντο, διέμειναν ἐν αὐτῷ, μηδαμῶς τῶν ἐκεῖσε ἀπάραντες διὰ τὴν τοῦ τόπου ὀχυρότητα, τὸ κοῦρσον ἀπεκδεχόμενοι, καὶ ὡσαύτως ὁ στρατηγὸς κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπάξει τὸν πόλεμον, μή ποτε, ἐμβραδύνοντος διὰ τὴν τοῦ πεζικοῦ ἰδίου λαοῦ ἐπισώρευσιν ἢ δι' ἄλλην τινὰ πρόφασιν, ὑποστρέψῃ τὸ κοῦρσον καὶ διακωλύσῃ τὸν πόλεμον. 10.11 Οὕτως δὲ χρὴ τὸν στρατηγὸν κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπελθεῖν· διασκοπῆσαι διὰ τῶν ἀποστελλομένων βιγλατόρων τὰ συμπαρακείμενα χωρία καὶ σύνεγγυς ὄντα τοῦ ἀπλήκτου τῶν πολεμίων, κἀκεῖσε ἀποκρύψαι ἱππεῖς ἐκλεκτοὺς ἐν ἐπιτηδείῳ τόπῳ μετὰ ἄρχοντος ἐμπειροτάτου καὶ ἀνδρείου, καὶ ἐπεὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς εἰσέρχονται τροφὰς διερευνώμενοι, κατ' αὐτῶν ὁρμησάτωσαν. Ἑτέρους δὲ ἱππεῖς εἰς λόχον ἀπαρτίσαι εἰς βοήθειαν καὶ ἐκδίκησιν τῶν ἔμπροσθεν ἀποσταλέντων· καὶ εἴγε τούτους βουληθῶσιν ἐπιδιῶξαι οἱ τῶν πολεμίων ἱππεῖς, ἐπίθωνται κατ' αὐτῶν, καὶ τρέψονται καὶ καταδιώξουσι, διὰ τὸ ἀείποτε ὀλιγοστοὺς εἶναι τοὺς ἱππεῖς τοὺς εἰς φυλακὴν τοῦ τούλδου τῶν πολεμίων καταλιμπανομένους. 10.12 Τῶν δὲ πολεμίων ἐν τοῖς χωρίοις μὴ εἰσερχομένωνεἰ καὶ ἀδύνατον τοῦτο τυγχάνει, διορισάτω ὁ στρατηγὸς τοὺς ἀποστελλομένους παρ' αὐτοῦ τῶν ἐμπείρων ἀνδρῶν βιγλάτορας καὶ διασκοπησάτωσαν ἐν ᾧ μέρει τοῦ ἀπλήκτου αὐτῶν τὰς καμήλους οἱ πολέμιοι εἰς νομὴν ἐξάγουσι. Καὶ διαχωρισάτω εἴτε τουρμάρχην εἴτε τοποτηρητὴν χρήσιμον μεθ' ἱππέων ἀνδρείων· καὶ σκοπησάτωσαν ῥύακα, εἰ εὕρηται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐπιτήδειος, καὶ παρασυρθῶσιν ἐν αὐτῷ κεκρυμμένοι, ἕως οὗ πλησίον γένωνται, καὶ τότε φανερῶς κατὰ τῶν καμήλων τὴν ἐπίθεσιν ποιήσονται. 10.13 Εἰς δύο δὲ τὸν λαὸν οἱ ἀποσταλέντες διαμερισάτωσαν· καὶ οἱ μὲν ἡμίσεις τὰς νομευομένας καμήλους καὶ τὰς ὄνους ἀναλαβέτωσαν, οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι εἰς φυλακὴν καὶ ἐκδίκησιν καὶ βοήθειαν αὐτῶν ἔστωσαν. Καὶ εἰ τύχῃ φοῦλκον ἔξω τοῦ φοσσάτου τῶν πολεμίων ἱστάμενον καὶ ἐπέλθῃ κατὰ τῶν εἰς τὰς καμήλους ἐπιθεμένων ἢ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ φοσσάτου ἐξέλθωσιν ἱππεῖς καταδιώκοντες, οἱ ὄπισθεν ὄντες τούτους καταγωνίσονται. 10.14 Παραυτίκα δὲ καὶ ὁ στρατηγός, οὐ πόρρω ὢν ἀλλὰ πλησίον ἐν τῷ ἐγκρύμματι, κατ' αὐτῶν ἐξελθέτω, καὶ καθὼς ὁρᾷ συναφθέντα τὸν πόλεμον, οὕτω καὶ διατεθήτω, ἢ σφοδρῶς κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἐπέλθῃ ἤ, τῶν ἀποσταλέντων τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐπικρατεστέρων ὄντων ἐν τάξει καὶ μὴ διεσκεδασμένως, τὴν ἐπέλευσιν κατὰ τοῦ ἀπλήκτου τῶν πολεμίων ποιήσεται. Καὶ ἅπαντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἱππεῖς τε καὶ πεζοὺς ἀγαγών, ἐπεὶ τὴν τοῦ τόπου θέσιν ἐξεπίσταται, διαμερίσει τὰ κατατόπια ταῖς τάξεσι πάσαις τῶν τε ἱππέων καὶ πεζῶν, καὶ τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν διάθηται πόλεμον, εἰ οἷόν τε ἐστὶ κύκλῳ. 10.15 Εἰ δὲ ποταμός ἐστι καὶ ῥύαξ, ὡς ἀνωτέρω εἰρήκαμεν, ἀντὶ χάρακος τοὺς πολεμίους φυλάττων, εἰ μὲν ὡς ὁπωσοῦν πόρον δέχεται, κἀκεῖθεν λαὸν ἐπιστήσει. Παρασκευάσει δὲ καὶ σκηνὰς αὐτῶν πῆξαι πρὸς τὸ ἐνδείξασθαι μέλλοντα αὐτὸν ἀπληκεῦσαι ἐκεῖσε εἰς ἐκθρόησιν αὐτῶν· καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖσθαι τὸν πόλεμον. Καὶ εἰ καλῶς καὶ εὐτάκτως καὶ ἀνδρείως διάθηται τὰ περὶ τοῦ πολέμου, μεγάλως εὐοδωθήσεται. 10.16 Εἰ δέ γε τῇ πρώτῃ ἡμέρᾳ οὐ δυνήσεται τούτους κατατροπώσασθαι, ἰσχυρῶς αὐτῶν ἀνθισταμένων καὶ πεζικὴν ἐχόντων δύναμιν καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦ τόπου θέσεως βοηθουμένων, δέον καὶ παραμεῖναι αὐτοὺς καὶ πλεῖον πεζικὸν προσκαλέσασθαι. Καὶ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ τοὺς ψιλοὺς κατ' αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς σφενδονήτας βάλλειν παρασκευάσει, καὶ πυρὰ πλεῖστα ἀνάπτειν γύροθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀνδρείως καὶ εὐτόλμως παραινέσαι τοῖς ψιλοῖς τοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς μάχεσθαι καὶ προκινδυνεύειν, ἕως ἂν εἰσέλθωσιν ἔνδον τοῦ ἀπλήκτου τῶν πολεμίων, καὶ ἵππους καὶ ἡμιόνους καί τινα πράγματα νυκτὸς ἀναλάβωνται, πλήττοντες συνεχῶς καὶ ἀναιροῦντες τοὺς πολεμίους. 10.17 Καὶ εἰ ὅλως Θεοῦ βοηθείᾳ τοιοῦτον πρὸς ἓν μέρος γένηται καὶ θεαθῇ καὶ ἐπιγνωσθῇ ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων τάξεων, ὁρμήσουσι καὶ αὐτοὶ