Chronicon OF GEORGE THE MONK LIVES OF THE NEW EMPERORS.

 he summons to the palace Nikephoros the renowned patriarch and with him the leading bishops and priests in the presence of the senate, and says, Know

 a man-slaying fruit of a seed bitterly kept and sprouted in our generation, I know not whence this terrible condemnation was allotted to the Romans. w

 and the fool will speak foolish things. For being exceedingly ignorant and nonsensical, he did not know at all those Cherubim wrought of gold, which t

 we have recorded as being preserved. 21 And sight is a witness, a truthful teacher. Both the length of time and the building of the venerable churches

 This apostolic preaching they continue to uphold and never in another jurisdiction, where there are Christians, is that wicked and lawless and God-ha

 {THE REIGN OF MICHAEL THE STAMMERER.}

 Therefore, having plundered it moderately, but not as he had hoped, but as divine providence allowed on account of our sins, he accomplished nothing m

 {THE REIGN OF THEOPHILOS.}

 of impiety and insolence, and of tyranny and madness, the deluded and vain-minded one. Since therefore he was possessed by the same deceit and derange

 this? But the emperor, as if rebuked, forcefully dragged him from the sanctuary, and having inflicted no small number of blows upon him, exiled him,

 as was fitting, he received him, immediately making him magister and domestic of the scholae, and receiving his children from holy baptism. 14. Elated

 most lawless ones, or Pharaoh the Egyptian, or Nebuchadnezzar the Assyrian? Or should we bring all these together and name you one and the same, since

 he wished to take, but he received two pounds for him, the general having also been ordered to test him, and if he was brave, to make him a guardsman.

 Then, having impiously committed many shameful, terrible, and absurd acts, they were driven from there as apostates. But having fled to the imperial c

 having secretly brought out Theophobos through Boukoleon, they saved him near Narsou, in what is now called 'of Theophobias', and they placed this the

 and overturned every day. And so finally, through imperial commission and cooperation, the fathers in exile and bitter prisons were recalled and resto

 Theophilitzes said, My lord, 817 I have a young man, most experienced and most brave with horses, just as your majesty desires, by the name of Basil.

 church, having a warden named Nicholas. And on that night a divine voice called the warden, saying Arise, bring the emperor into the oratory. And ha

 to Bardas, Do not strike the logothete. But they slaughtered him and cut him limb from limb in the Scythian manner, showing the rawness and savagery

 having constructed it very beautifully with flowing water. And when this was completed, there was someone in the city named Peter, a man of letters an

 plotting against him. But he heard these things as nonsense. But Basil, hurrying to convince the emperor, befriends Symbatios, a patrician and logothe

 standing on a high rock, cried out loudly to the emperor, A fine journey you have made, O emperor, having slain your own kinsman and your paternal bl

 Peganes to cense him with an earthenware censer with sulfur. And they blind Symbatios in one eye, and they also cut off his right hand, and they set h

 the emperor. And John the Chaldos immediately with his sword striking the emperor cut off his hands. And Iakobitzes the apelates, the Persian, woundin

 and having been eaten by worms, he died. 3. And the emperor, having come forth on the day of Christ's nativity during the procession to the great chur

 before the fleet arrived, with the emperor lamenting and mourning greatly. 12. And when Niketas Xylinites, the epi tes trapezes, was accused of being

 he made Leo fashion and wear in his boot, saying to him that Often when your father is looking for a small knife for some need, why do you not give i

 of the drome and having gone up to the ambo of the church, having read the charges against the patriarch Photius, they brought him down from the thro

 to make war against Hagion. And when an engagement occurred, those with Constantine were defeated and slaughtered, with him barely escaping. 9. And th

 He having died, Symeon sought pretexts to break the peace for seeking other captives as well, he advanced against the Romans. And the emperor Leo app

 he having given his word to Basileios, he confided everything to him. But Samonas, entering in to the emperor, said to him that, my lord, I wish to te

 Of Nicholas the Patriarch, the monks were pardoned from death, Karamalos to the Pikridiou monastery, and Eustathios to the Stoudiou monastery. And the

 He was persuading, he fled to Siricha to the precious cross, pretending that he had come on account of faith in the cross. So Constantine, the son of

 Andronikos, learning this, despairing, along with his relatives and his children and his men, went away and seized the fortress of Kabala, having come

 Samonas said, Against whom is the affliction? The metropolitan said to him, Against you and if you get past the 13th of June, from then on you wil

 he dressed it and made an illumination for the animals. For this reason the hand of God was lifted from him, as one who attached the honor of God to i

 of the detachments fell, and so many that the place was flooded with blood pouring down like a river. And Gregoras the son of the Doux was also killed

 879 of Domenikos the Hetaeriarch. Zoe deposes Patriarch Nicholas along with those with him in anger, telling him to look after and care for the affair

 others in the engagement of the war, 882 both Constantine Lips and John Grapson and a sufficient number of other commanders. 17. And at some point Rom

 These things came to pass. 23 But the emperor took Nicholas the patriarch and Stephen the magister to be with him in the palace, drawing the authority

 the basileopator, having made signed golden bulls as if from the person of the emperor Constantine, containing the overthrow of such a plot, and that

 they came forth in a procession. 2. In the month of June, of the 8th indiction, on a Sunday, the union of the church took place under Romanos, with al

 and many others. Therefore, having barely been saved, he entered into the dromon. And Alexios Mouseles the droungarios also came fleeing, armed, with

 is deprived. They tonsured Bardas Boilas as a monk, since the emperor pitied him as he was a friend. 15. When the patrician nicknamed Moroleon, who wa

 of silver-shielded and silver-speared men, and of those adorned with every color of arms, all of them fenced in with 900 iron, who, having taken Symeo

 Stephen the metropolitan of Amaseia being a eunuch. 903 26. In the month of October, the mystikos John, the paradynasteuon, was accused of aspiring to

 and with Maria the daughter of Christopher and with the whole senate to the church of the most holy Theotokos of the Spring, and they blessed both Pet

 son of the emperor Romanos, whom they were about to ordain patriarch of Constantinople. 38. On the twenty-fifth of the same month an unbearable winter

 he having already reached old age and his sons being still infants. and his remains were placed in the aforementioned monastery of his father. 43. And

 Consequently, the rest of the dromons and the triremes, having sallied forth, worked a complete rout, and they sank many ships with their crews, and w

 a military force being besieged and coming into the greatest necessity, its inhabitants sent an embassy to the emperor Romanos to have the siege lifte

 a monk. 1 Constantine, his son-in-law, was therefore left as sole emperor who, having immediately honored Bardas, the son of Phokas, with the dignity

to Bardas, "Do not strike the logothete." But they slaughtered him and cut him limb from limb in the Scythian manner, showing the rawness and savagery of wild beasts. 13. When Theodora learned this from the *papias*, she came out and was naturally indignant at Michael, and at the rest who had committed the murder. And though the emperor tried every way to appease his mother, she remained inconsolable, neither letting go of her anger nor being comforted by anyone, but like a 823 wave of the sea being admonished, she was consoled and persuaded. Therefore the emperor, changing his demeanor and action just as he had his soul and mind, hastened to grieve her in as many ways as he had previously pretended to court her. And indeed he expelled his sisters, Thekla, Anastasia, and Anna, from the palace, taking them down to the Carianus quarter, but Pulcheria, as she was beloved by her mother, he sent to the monastery of Gastria. Then after a short time, having united them all in the monastery of Gastria, he tonsured them, clothing them in the monastic habit. 14. Acclaimed by the senate, he reigned as sole emperor, and he appointed Bardas *magistros* and domestic of the schools. Since his mother was not reconciled on account of the things by which he grieved her and the unjust slaughter of Theoktistos, an implacable enmity existed between them. And he, having brought her down from the palace, sends her also to the monastery of Gastria. She, her mind disturbed by despondency and deprived of her senses by shock, contrived things unworthy of herself, plotting a plan against Bardas, having as an accomplice, along with many others, the emperor's *protostrator*, so that they might assassinate Bardas as he was returning from his suburb of Cosmidion. Their plot, being revealed before the deed, was brought out against those who had planned the evil; for having been discovered and arrested, they were beheaded in the Sphendone. And 824 Michael appointed Basil as *protostrator* in place of the deceased, and likewise Bardas his uncle as *kouropalates*. 15. At that time, a blood-red dust fell from the sky, coming down upon the roof-tiles in abundance; and many found stones in the roads or gardens as red as blood. And Michael appointed Antigonos, the son of Bardas, as domestic of the schools. And having given a wife to his other son, for whom he was also reproached, he appointed him *monostrategos* of the western themes. But when he died shortly after, on the Sunday of Renewal Michael appointed Bardas his uncle as Caesar; who, proceeding in a chariot, gave a consular procession in the Mese. 16. And Amer went forth and came down as far as Sinope, plundering all the Roman territories; and he returned without being caught by the Roman army. And Michael, campaigning with Bardas the Caesar, made a move against Michael, the ruler of Bulgaria, by both land and sea, having learned that the nation of the Bulgars was wasting away with famine. But the Bulgars, learning this, submitted as to the sound of thunder and, before any contests and battle, despaired of victory, and they requested to become Christians and to be subject to the emperor and the Romans. And Michael, having baptized their ruler and received him, gave him his own name, and bringing his magnates to the city, he baptized them, from which time there was a profound peace. 825 17. But as for Amer, who had gone out against Roman territory, Petronas, the *strategelates* of the east, and Nasar of the Bucellarii, having ambushed his return route, met him at the Lalakaon, and when an engagement took place they routed Amer, and as he took to flight one of the *komites* pursued him, and taking up his head, brought it to Petronas the *strategelates*. And the generals entered with triumphal processions and celebrated these things in the Hippodrome. And from that time on there was a great peace in the east on account of the slaughter of Amer. 18. And the labors and deeds of valor against the enemies belonged to others; but the emperor's affection was poured out upon Basil, and that he alone was his courtier. 19. And Michael built a stable for his horses, having decorated it with marbles and waters

Βάρδᾳ "μὴ τύπτε τὸν λογοθέτην." οἱ δὲ σφάζουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ μεληδὸν κατα κόπτουσιν εἰς τὸ Σκύθη, θηρῶν ὠμότητα καὶ ἀγριότητα ἐνδει ξάμενοι. 13. Τοῦτο μαθοῦσα παρὰ τοῦ παπίου Θεοδώρα, ἐξελ θοῦσα κατὰ τοῦ Μιχαὴλ ὡς εἰκὸς ἠγανάκτησε, καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν οἳ τὸν φόνον κατειργάσαντο. καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως παντὶ τρόπῳ μη χανωμένου τὴν μητέρα ἐξιλεώσασθαι αὐτὴ ἀπαρηγόρητος ἔμεινε, μήτε τὴν ὀργὴν ἀφιεμένη μήτε παραμυθουμένη τισίν, ἀλλ' ὡς 823 κλύδων θαλάσσιος νουθετουμένη παρηγορεῖτο καὶ κατεπείθετο. ὅθεν μεταβαλὼν ὁ βασιλεύς, ὥσπερ τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὴν γνώμην, οὕτω δὴ καὶ τὸ σχῆμα καὶ τὴν ἐνέργειαν, τοσούτοις τρόποις λυ πεῖν αὐτὴν κατεπείγετο ὅσοις πρὸ τοῦ θεραπεύειν ἐσχηματίζετο. καὶ δὴ τὰς μὲν ἀδελφὰς αὐτοῦ, Θέκλαν Ἀναστασίαν καὶ Ἄνναν, ἐξωθεῖ τοῦ παλατίου, καταγαγὼν εἰς τὰ Καριανοῦ, Πουλχερίαν δὲ ὡς ἠγαπημένην τῇ μητρὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐν τῇ μονῇ τῶν Γαστρίων. εἶθ' οὗτος μετ' ὀλίγον ἑνώσας πάσας ἐν τῇ μονῇ τῶν Γαστρίων ἀπέκειρεν, περιβαλὼν αὐτὰς τὸ μοναδικὸν σχῆμα. 14. Ὑπὸ δὲ τῆς συγκλήτου εὐφημισθεὶς μόνος αὐτοκρα τορεῖ, καὶ προβάλλεται Βάρδαν μάγιστρον καὶ δομέστικον τῶν σχολῶν. μὴ διαλλαττομένης δὲ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ δι' ἃ ἐλύπει αὐτὴν καὶ τὴν ἄδικον σφαγὴν Θεοκτίστου, ἔχθρα ὑπῆρχεν ἀνα μεταξὺ αὐτῶν ἄσπονδος. ὁ δὲ καὶ ταύτην τοῦ παλατίου κατα γαγὼν εἰς τὸ μοναστήριον τὰ Γαστρία καὶ αὐτὴν ἀποστέλλει. ἥ τις ἀθυμίᾳ μετεωρισθεῖσα τὸν νοῦν, καὶ ὑπὸ ἐκπλήξεως ἀφαι ρεθεῖσα καὶ τὸ φρονεῖν, ἀνάξια ἑαυτῆς κατασκευάζει, βουλὴν κατὰ Βάρδα βουλευομένη, σὺν πολλοῖς καὶ ἄλλοις σχοῦσα κοινωνὸν καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως τὸν πρωτοστράτορα, ὅπως ὑποστρέφοντα Βάρδαν ἀπὸ τοῦ προαστείου αὐτοῦ τοῦ Κοσμιδίου ἀναιρήσωσιν αὐτόν. ὧν ἡ μελέτη πρὸ τοῦ ἔργου φανερωθεῖσα κατ' ἐκείνων τῶν μελε τησάντων τὸ κακὸν ἐξενήνοχε· φωραθέντες γὰρ καὶ κατασχεθέν τες ἐν τῇ σφενδόνῃ τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀπετμήθησαν. καὶ προβάλλεται 824 Μιχαὴλ τὸν Βασίλειον ἀντὶ τοῦ τελευτήσαντος πρωτοστράτορα, ὁμοίως καὶ Βάρδαν τὸν θεῖον αὐτοῦ κουροπαλάτην. 15. Ἔπεσε τότε κόνις ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατενεχθεῖσα ἐπὶ τοὺς κεράμους αἱματώδης πλήρης· καὶ πολλοὶ εὕρισκον λίθους ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς ἢ κήποις ἐρυθροὺς ὡς αἷμα. προβάλλεται δὲ Μιχαὴλ Ἀντίγονον τὸν υἱὸν Βάρδα δομέστικον τῶν σχολῶν. τὸν δὲ ἕτε ρον υἱὸν αὐτοῦ δοὺς γυναῖκα, εἰς ἣν καὶ ἐλοιδορεῖτο, προβάλλε ται μονοστράτηγον τῶν δυτικῶν. συντόμως δὲ αὐτοῦ τελευτή σαντος, τῇ δὲ τοῦ διακαινησίμου προβάλλεται Μιχαὴλ Βάρδαν τὸν θεῖον αὐτοῦ Καίσαρα· ὃς ἐπὶ ἅρματος πορευθεὶς ἔδωκεν ὑπα τείαν τῇ μέσῃ. 16. Ἐξῆλθε δὲ ὁ Ἄμερ, καὶ κατῆλθε μέχρι Σινώπης, ληϊσάμενος πάντα τὰ τῶν Ῥωμαίων· καὶ ὑπέστρεψε μὴ καταλη φθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Ῥωμαϊκοῦ στρατοῦ. ἐκστρατεύσας δὲ Μιχαὴλ ἅμα Βάρδᾳ Καίσαρι κίνησιν ποιεῖ κατὰ Μιχαὴλ ἄρχοντος Βουλ γαρίας διά τε γῆς καὶ θαλάσσης, μαθὼν τὸ τῶν Βουλγάρων ἔθνος λιμῷ τήκεσθαι. οἱ δὲ Βούλγαροι τοῦτο μαθόντες ὡς ἦχον βρον τῆς ὑπεκλίθησαν καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἀγώνων καὶ τῆς μάχης περὶ τῆς νίκης ἀπέγνωσαν, καὶ Χριστιανοὶ γενέσθαι καὶ ὑποτάττεσθαι τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ Ῥωμαίοις ᾐτήσαντο. ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ τὸν μὲν ἄρχοντα αὐτῶν βαπτίσας καὶ δεξάμενος ἐπέθηκεν αὐτὸν τὸ αὐτοῦ ὄνομα, τοὺς δὲ μεγιστᾶνας αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ πόλει ἀγαγὼν ἐβάπτισεν αὐτούς, ἔκτοτε γενομένης εἰρήνης βαθείας. 825 17. Τὸν δὲ Ἄμερ ἐξελθόντα κατὰ Ῥωμανίας στρατηλάτης ὢν τῆς ἀνατολῆς Πετρωνᾶς καὶ Νάσαρ τῶν βουκελλαρίων, λοχή σαντες τὴν τῆς ὑποστροφῆς αὐτοῦ συναντῶσιν αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν Λα λακάωνα, καὶ συμβολῆς γενομένης τρέπουσιν Ἄμερ, καὶ φυγῇ χρησάμενον καταδιώκει αὐτόν τις τῶν κομήτων, καὶ τούτου τὴν κεφαλὴν ἄρας ἤγαγε Πετρωνᾷ τῷ στρατηλάτῃ. εἰσελθόντες δὲ οἱ στρατηγοὶ μετὰ ἐπινικίων ἐθριάμβευσαν ταῦτα ἐν τῷ ἱππικῷ. καὶ ἔκτοτε ἐγένετο εἰρήνη μεγάλη ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ διὰ τὴν τοῦ Ἄμερ σφαγήν. 18. Καὶ ἄλλων μὲν οἱ πόνοι καὶ τὰ κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἀνδραγαθήματα· ἡ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀγάπη πρὸς τὸν Βασίλειον ἐξέχυτο, καὶ τοῦτον μόνον εἶναι τὸν θεραπευτὴν αὐτοῦ. 19. Ἔκτισε δὲ Μιχαὴλ στάβλον τοῖς ἵπποις αὐτοῦ, κοσμή σας μαρμάροις καὶ ὑδάτων