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

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 a high watchtower, should hasten to observe the enemy's battle line with his own eyes. 14.9 And having observed this, since the multitude of their people has also been scattered for plunder, let him estimate, with those who are with him, the size of the enemy's battle line and the strength of his own people; and if his own army is larger than the enemy's, let him rush against them, as we have already described above. And if God should grant him aid and he should be able to wound and pursue their battle line, he will accomplish a great and memorable deed. 14.10 But if there is a multitude of people in the enemy's battle line, it is necessary for the general to hasten to get in front, in those places where the enemy made their raids, getting behind them; and coming upon them scattered and exhausted by the raid, both they and their horses, he will easily overcome them, tracking them down throughout the whole day in the countryside; and he will reduce them to the status of slaves and will deal with them as he wishes, and he will free the farmers from captivity and whatever of theirs they happened to have taken. 14.11 But if he should encounter the reserve force (foulkon) following as a guard for the raiders, let him be prepared for war against the reserve force, as we set forth before, and with God's cooperation he will prevail in the battle against them. 14.12 But if those sent to shadow the enemy on the same night have met with adverse encounters, because they had not yet caught up to them and reached the places where they could see the army camp (fossaton) and hear their voices, and their raiding party (kourson) had already gone out, as we said, and, because they had to get an accurate grasp of the truth about this, it happened that from such an encounter the sure report of the matter being dispatched to the general and the message being sent to the general were delayed and took time, if the general is informed about this toward the ninth hour of the night and beyond and sees the shortage of time, since the enemy's raiding party made its move while it was still daylight on the previous day and was going to be somewhere far away throughout the whole night, and it is not possible to catch them scattered, it is necessary for him to prepare for war against the army camp. 14.13 And if they should wish to spend two days in the place where they are encamped, let him be prepared for battle against them, as we set forth above how the war against the army camp should be conducted. But they would not spend two days in that place, because they are in a hurry to be united sooner with their cavalry forces that have gone out for plunder; and the general, coming upon them as they are marching, should eagerly rush into war against them, as we have said before also concerning the army camp on the march when the raiding party is separated. And with the general doing all things carefully according to the prior instruction, having the help of God and of his holy and all-pure mother and Theotokos, he will perform a great and noteworthy service. 15.t Concerning security 15.1 It is necessary, therefore, for you, general, to have all security and protection so as not to suffer a surprise and have the enemy unexpectedly make an assault against you. And you will have protection and security, if every day those are sent out by you who ought to shadow the enemy's army camp, in the place where they are encamped; for they make it a matter of haste and employ every contrivance to encounter you unexpectedly in order to defeat you, to the harm and destruction of the Christ-named people and the dishonor of the most mighty Romans, but to the exaltation and boasting of the arrogant sons of Hagar and deniers of Christ our God. For it happens to be seized

ἀποσταλέντων, ἐν ᾧ τόπῳ ἡ παράταξίς ἐστι τῶν πολεμίων ἡ τὸν ἀρχηγὸν αὐτῶν ἔχουσα, ὀλίγους τινὰς μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ λαβὼν ὁ στρατηγὸς καὶ εἰς ὑψηλὴν σκοπιὰν ἀνερχόμενος σπευσάτω οἰκείοις ὀφθαλμοῖς τὴν τῶν πολεμίων παράταξιν θεάσασθαι. 14.9 Ταύτην δὲ θεασά μενος, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῶν διεσκορπίσθη πρὸς λείαν, στοχαζέσθω μετὰ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς παρατάξεως τῶν πολεμίων καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἰδίου λαοῦ ἰσχύν· καὶ ἐὰν πλεῖόν ἐστι τὸ ἑαυτοῦ στράτευμα τῶν πολεμίων, ὁρμησάτω κατ' αὐτῶν, ὡς ἤδη ἀνωτέρω διετυπώσαμεν. Καὶ εἰ παράσχῃ αὐτῷ Θεὸς βοήθειαν καὶ δυνηθῇ τὴν παράταξιν αὐτῶν τραυματίσαι καὶ καταδιῶξαι, μέγα ἔργον καὶ μνήμης ἄξιον ἐπιτελέσει. 14.10 Εἰ δὲ πλῆθός ἐστι τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν τῇ τῶν ἐχθρῶν παρατάξει, δέον ἐστὶ σπουδάσαι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἔμπροσθεν γενέσθαι, ἐν οἷς χωρίοις οἱ πολέμιοι τὰς ἐκδρομὰς ἐποιήσαντο, ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν αὐτῶν γενόμενον· καὶ τούτων διεσκεδασμένων ἐπιτυγχάνων καὶ τῇ ἐλασίᾳ ἐκλελυμένων καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἵππων αὐτῶν, εὐχερῶς τούτους καταγωνίσεται δι' ὅλης τῆς ἡμέρας ἀναψηλαφῶν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς χωρίοις· κἀκείνους μὲν λόγῳ ἀνδραπόδων καταστήσει καὶ ὡς βούλεται τοῖς κατ' αὐτῶν χρήσεται, τοὺς δὲ γεωργοὺς ἐλευθερώσει τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας καὶ εἴ τι ἂν ἔτυχον τῶν αὐτῶν λαβεῖν. 14.11 Εἰ δέ γε καὶ φούλκῳ συναντήσει τῷ εἰς φυλακὴν ἐπακολουθοῦντι τῶν ἐξελαυνόντων, παρασκευασθήτω πρὸς τὸν κατὰ τοῦ φούλκου πόλεμον, καθὼς ἔμπροσθεν ἐξεθέμεθα, καὶ Θεοῦ συνεργίᾳ τῆς κατ' αὐτῶν μάχης κρατήσει. 14.12 Εἰ δὲ τοῖς ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ νυκτὶ παραμεῖναι σταλεῖσι τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐναντία ἀπηντήκασι συναντήματα, διὰ τὸ μήπω προκαταλαβεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς τοὺς τόπους γενέσθαι ἐν οἷς τὸ φοσσᾶτον βλέπειν ἠδύναντο καὶ τὰς φωνὰς αὐτῶν ἐνωτίζεσθαι, καὶ τὸ κοῦρσον αὐτῶν προεξῆλθεν, ὡς ἔφημεν, καί, διὰ τὸ τὴν περὶ τούτου ἀκριβῆ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς τῆς ἀληθείας κατάληψιν, ἐκ τοῦ τοιούτου συναντήματος βραδῦναι καὶ χρονίσαι συνέβη τὴν πρὸς τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀποστελλομένην βεβαίαν ἀπαγγελίαν τοῦ πράγματος καὶ τὸ πρὸς τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀποστελλόμενον μανδᾶτον, εἰ μὲν πρὸς ὥραν ἐννάτην τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ ἐπέκεινα καταμηνυθῇ ὁ στρατηγὸς περὶ τούτου καὶ ὁρᾷ τὸ στενὸν τοῦ καιροῦ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ κοῦρσον τῶν πολεμίων τῇ διελθούσῃ ἔτι τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπικρατούσης τὴν κίνησιν ἐποιήσατο καὶ δι' ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς πόρρω που γενέσθαι ἔμελλε, καὶ οὐ δυνατὸν τούτους διεσκεδασμένους καταλαβεῖν, χρὴ αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν κατὰ τοῦ φοσσάτου εὐτρεπισθῆναι πόλεμον. 14.13 Καὶ εἰ μὲν δισημερεῦσαι βουληθῶσιν ἐν ᾧ αὐλίζονται τόπῳ, παρασκευασθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν κατ' αὐτῶν μάχην, καθὼς ἀνωτέρω τὸν κατὰ τοῦ φοσσάτου πόλεμον γενέσθαι ἐξεθέμεθα. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν δισημερεύσωσιν ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ χώρῳ, διὰ τὸ κατεπείγεσθαι ταῖς ἱππικαῖς αὐτῶν δυνάμεσι ταῖς εἰς λείαν ἐκδραμούσαις τάχιον ἑνωθῆναι· καὶ ὁδοιπορούντων αὐτῶν ἐπιτυγχάνων ὁ στρατηγός, προθύμως εἰς τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν ὁρμησάτω πόλεμον, καθὼς καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδοιπορίᾳ φοσσάτου διακεχωρισμένου τοῦ κούρσου προειρήκαμεν. Καὶ πάντα ἐπιμελῶς ποιοῦντος τοῦ στρατηγοῦ κατὰ τὴν προτέραν διάταξιν, τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἔχων βοήθειαν καὶ τῆς ἁγίας καὶ παναχράντου μητρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ Θεοτόκου, μεγάλην καὶ ἀξιόλογον δουλείαν ἐπιτελέσει. 15.τ Περὶ ἀσφαλείασ 15.1 ∆εῖ οὖν σε, στρατηγέ, πᾶσαν ἀσφάλειαν καὶ φυλακὴν ἔχειν τοῦ μὴ αἰφνιδιασμὸν ὑποστῆναι καὶ ἀδοκήτως τοὺς πολεμίους κατὰ σοῦ τὴν ἔφοδον ἐργάσασθαι. Ἕξεις δὲ τὴν φυλακὴν καὶ ἀσφάλειαν, εἴγε καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ἀποστέλλονται παρὰ σοῦ οἱ ὀφείλοντες παραμένειν τῷ τῶν πολεμίων φοσσάτῳ, ἐν ᾧ τόπῳ αὐλίζονται· ἐκείνων γὰρ διὰ σπουδῆς τιθεμένων καὶ πᾶσαν μηχανὴν καταβαλλομένων ἀδοκήτως σοι ἐντυχεῖν τοῦ καταγωνίσασθαι, εἰς βλάβην μὲν καὶ ἀπώλειαν τοῦ χριστωνύμου λαοῦ καὶ ἀδοξίαν τῶν κραταιοτάτων Ῥωμαίων, εἰς ἔπαρσιν δὲ καὶ γαυρίαμα τῶν ἀλαζόνων τῆς Ἄγαρ υἱῶν καὶ ἀρνητῶν Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. Συμβαίνει γὰρ κατασχεθῆναι