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
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, seems to be a matter full of the charge of cowardice and of every foolishness. For I think that not only would Roman men of noble birth never do this, but not even noble and prudent women; for in addition to suffering terrible things, we shall also shut out the pity of mankind from ourselves and fail to obtain the encomiums of the future, which for those who have fought nobly and worthily of their own nobility ..... those who have died are pitied by common men, are praised by the wise, are called blessed by all; but those who betray themselves into slavery or danger are far from all pardon, and are called wretched by all for their misery, but we must consider either to live well or to die well, that indeed is the saying. If therefore you obey me in anything, let those of us who have weapons for close combat take them and stand by the exit, and let those who have bows and arrows go up to the roofs; but let all the serving class and non-combatants and as many as are warriors but lack horses and are mounted on mules, stand behind us. Then let those above send their arrows upon the enemy; and let us ourselves, having thrown open the gates, advance against them with the most violent rush of the horses. And when they, fleeing, are far from the passages, let those who were above come down and mount their horses and go out, and let the rest of the multitude follow with them; let them take to the road, forming up in the order of a phalanx, but let the one aim for all be not to break ranks or be scattered. But when we advance against the enemy, let them proceed at a walk, and when the enemy rush against us, let them stand still; and when the narrow passes are near, when we are all in them, let us dismount from our horses, and I am persuaded that the enemy would not dare to come near us". 2.11 He said these things and all obeyed, and some went up to the roofs and sent forth their arrows, while others threw open the gates and went against the enemy with a violent rush. The enemy, therefore, struck with terror by the suddenness, forgot their courage and turned to flight. Seizing the opportunity, therefore, all those within both went out and took to the road, forming up in the order of a phalanx indeed, but making their march more quickly than was proper, but the barbarians, having gotten far from danger, remembered their courage again and urged one another to turn back and advance against their pursuers, especially since they saw they were no more than twenty. Turning back, therefore, they hastened to encircle them; but they, fleeing headlong and retreating, when they came near their own men, advanced again with a violent rush and the barbarians fled; again these turned back, and so for a long time they made trial of one another. But the Turks, seeing that they were all few, and themselves many times more—for the force formed into the order of a phalanx was short of fifty horsemen—leaving these, advanced against them and, raising a barbarian war-cry, charged and shot at them with arrows. Fearing, therefore, they began to break ranks and were already rushing to flight and would have been utterly destroyed if the two brothers had not quickly run down with a few men and helped with all their might and called back those turned to flight, ordering them to stand if they did not want to be left unaided by them. 2.12 Then, therefore, it also happened that something wonderful occurred; for a certain man, great and strong, was seen among the palace eunuchs and was admired. For whenever they saw him, one would say to another: "Would any of the enemy withstand the courage of such a man? For at the mere sight and roar of him they will all flee." It happened that this man was then present with those being formed into the order of a phalanx, when the Turks rushed against them. When all therefore rushed to flight, since this man was both large and was clothed in a breastplate, he caused his horse to be distressed and he alone of the others was left behind. As the Turks therefore advanced again and those around the
ἤρχετο λόγων· 2.10 "Ἐμοὶ μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, τὸ μηδόλως ἀποπειρᾶσθαι τῶν πολεμίων, ἀλλὰ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς εἰς δουλείαν προδοῦναι καὶ
προῦπτον κίνδυνον πρὸς τὸ δειλίας ἔγκλημα φέρειν καὶ πάσης εὐηθείας δοκεῖ εἶναι μεστόν. Οἶμαι γὰρ μὴ ὅτι γε Ῥωμαίους ἄνδρας
τῶν εὖ γεγονότων τοῦτο δρᾶσαί ποτε, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ γυναῖκας εὐγενεῖς τε καὶ σώφρονας· πρὸς γὰρ τῷ δεινὰ παθεῖν καὶ τὸν ἔλεον τῶν
ἀνθρώπων ἀφ' ἡμῶν ἀποκλείσομεν καὶ τῶν εἰς τὸ μέλλον ἐγκωμίων ἀποτευξόμεθα, ἃ τοῖς γενναίως ἀγωνισαμένοις καὶ ἀξίως τῆς σφῶν
εὐγενείας ..... θανόντες ἐλεοῦνται μὲν παρ' ἰδιωτῶν, ἐπαινοῦνται δὲ παρὰ σοφῶν, μακαρίζονται παρὰ πάντων· οἱ δὲ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς
προδόντες εἰς δουλείαν ἢ κίνδυνον πάσης συγγνώμης πόρρω τυγχάνουσι, ταλανίζονται δὲ παρὰ πάντων τῆς ἀθλιότητος, ἀλλ' ἢ καλῶς
ζῆν ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι δέον σκοπεῖν, τοῦτο δὴ τὸ τοῦ λόγου. Εἴ τι οὖν ἐμοὶ πείθεσθε, ὅσοις μὲν ὅπλα ἀγχέμαχα πρόσεστι λαβόντες
ταῦτα πρὸς τῇ ἐξόδῳ στῶμεν, ὅσοις δὲ τόξα καὶ βέλη ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀρόφους ἀνίτωσαν· τὸ δὲ θητικὸν ἅπαν καὶ ἀπόλεμον καὶ ὅσοι πολεμικοὶ
μέν εἰσιν, ἵππων δ' ἀποροῦσι καὶ ἐφ' ἡμιόνων ὀχοῦνται, στήτωσαν ἡμῶν ὄπισθεν. Εἶτα οἱ μὲν ἄνωθεν τὰ βέλη πεμπέτωσαν ἐπὶ τοὺς
πολεμίους· αὐτοὶ δὲ τὰς πύλας ἀναπετάσαντες χωρῶμεν κατ' αὐτῶν σφοδροτάτῃ ῥύμῃ τῶν ἵππων. Ἐπειδὰν δ' ἐκεῖνοι φεύγοντες πόρρω
τῶν διεξόδων γένωνται, οἵ τε ἄνωθεν ὄντες καταβάντες καὶ ἱππασάμενοι ἐξίτωσαν καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν συνεπέσθωσαν πλῆθος· ἁπτέσθωσαν
δὲ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐν τάξει φάλαγγος καθιστάμενοι, πλὴν ἅπασιν ἔστω σκοπὸς εἷς μὴ διαλῦσαι τὴν τάξιν μηδὲ διασκεδασθῆναι. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὰν
ἡμεῖς κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων χωρῶμεν, οἱ δ' ἀπίτωσαν βάδην, ἐπειδὰν δ' οἱ πολέμιοι καθ' ἡμῶν ἐξορμήσωσιν, ἑστηκέτωσαν· ἐγγὺς δὲ
ὄντων τῶν στενωπῶν, ἐπειδὰν ἐν αὐτοῖς γενώμεθα πάντες, τῶν ἵππων ἀποβησώμεθα, καὶ πείθομαι μὴ ἂν τοὺς πολεμίους κατατολμῆσαι
πλησίον ἡμῶν γενέσθαι". 2.11 Ταῦτ' εἶπε καὶ πάντες ἐπείθοντο, καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀρόφους ἀνῄεσαν καὶ τὰ βέλη προέπεμπον,
οἱ δὲ τὰς πύλας ἀνεπετάννυον καὶ σφοδρᾷ τῇ ῥύμῃ κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἐπῄεσαν. Οἱ οὖν πολέμιοι τῷ αἰφνιδίῳ καταπλαγέντες ἀλκῆς
ἐπελάθοντο καὶ πρὸς φυγὴν ἐτράποντο. Ἀδείας οὖν δραξάμενοι οἱ ἐντὸς ἅπαντες ἐξῄεσάν τε καὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἥπτοντο, εἰς τάξιν μὲν
δὴ φάλαγγος καθιστάμενοι, ταχυτέραν δὲ ἢ ἐχρῆν τὴν πορείαν ποιούμενοι, ἀλλ' οἱ βάρβαροι πόρρω τοῦ κινδύνου γενόμενοι ἀλκῆς
τε αὖθις ἐμέμνηντο καὶ προύπεμπον ἀλλήλους ὑποστρέφειν τε καὶ κατὰ τῶν διωκτῶν χωρεῖν καὶ μάλισθ' ὅτι ἑώρων οὐ πλείους ἢ εἴκοσι
ὄντας. Ὑποστρέφοντες οὖν κυκλοῦν αὐτοὺς ἔσπευδον· οἱ δὲ προτροπάδην φεύγοντές τε καὶ ἀπιόντες, ἐπεὶ ἐγγὺς τῶν ἰδίων ἐγένοντο,
ἐπῄεσαν αὖθις σφοδρᾷ τῇ ῥύμῃ καὶ οἱ βάρβαροι ἔφευγον· αὖθις οὗτοι ὑπέστρεφον, καὶ οὕτω μέχρι πολλοῦ ἀλλήλων ἀπεπειρῶντο. Ἀλλ'
οἱ Τοῦρκοι πάντας ὀλίγους ὁρῶντες, σφᾶς δὲ πολλαπλασίουςἦν γὰρ καὶ τὸ εἰς τὴν φάλαγγος τάξιν καθιστάμενον ἐνδέον ἱππέων πεντήκοντα,
τούτους ἀφέντες κατ' ἐκείνων ἐχώρουν καὶ βαρβαρικὸν ἀλαλάξαντες ἐξήλαυνόν τε καὶ τοξεύμασιν ἔβαλλον. ∆είσαντες οὖν τὴν τάξιν
διαλύειν ἤρξαντο καὶ πρὸς φυγὴν ἐξώρμων ἤδη καὶ πάντως ἀπώλοντο ἂν εἰ μὴ ταχέως ἄμφω τὼ ἀδελφὼ ξὺν ὀλίγοις καταδραμόντες ἐβοήθουν
ὅλῃ χειρὶ καὶ τοὺς πρὸς φυγὴν τραπέντας ἀνεκαλοῦντο, στῆναι κελεύοντες εἰ μὴ βούλοιντο καταλειφθῆναι ὑπ' αὐτῶν ἀβοήθητοι.
2.12 Τότε τοίνυν ξυνέβη καὶ γενέσθαι τι θαυμάσιον· ἀνὴρ γάρ τις μέγας καὶ ἰσχυρὸς τοῖς ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις ἐκτομίαις ὁρώμενος
ἐθαυμάζετο. Ἐπειδὰν γὰρ ὁρῷεν αὐτόν, ἐφώνει ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον ὡς· "Ἆρά τις ὑποσταίη πολεμίων ἀλκὴν τοιοῦδε ἀνδρός; Θέᾳ
γὰρ μόνῃ καὶ βρυχήματι φεύξονται ἅπαντες". Τοῦτον συνέβη τότε παρεῖναι μετὰ τῶν εἰς τὴν φάλαγγος τάξιν καθισταμένων, ὁπηνίκα
κατ' ἐκείνων οἱ Τοῦρκοι ἐξώρμησαν. Εἰς φυγὴν οὖν ἁπάντων ὁρμησάντων, ἐπεὶ οὗτος μέγας τε ἦν καὶ θώρακα περιεβέβλητο, ἀγανακτεῖν
ἐποίει τὸν ἵππον καὶ μόνος τῶν ἄλλων ὄπισθεν περιλέλειπτο. Ὡς γοῦν αὖθις οἱ Τοῦρκοι ἐπῄεσαν καὶ οἱ περὶ τὸν
