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

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, immediately turning back and chasing away those who had attacked, rescued him from the danger, teaching both him and those who admired him that it is not greatness of body nor strength of power nor roughness and weight of voice that show the best soldier, but nobility of soul and endurance in the face of terrible things. But he saved this man; but a certain Alan of those serving the noble Isaacius for pay, Arabates by name, seeing the very great charge of the barbarians and how they advanced with a violent rush, and that the brothers were facing the danger alone with a few men, fearing that some irreparable harm might befall one of them, urged his companion, whose name was Chaskares, serving under Comnenus Alexius, to join him and both dismount from their horses and shoot arrows at the enemy; "For it is shameful," he said, "if, with Alans present here, noble and excellent men are running risks; for thus the whole race of the Alans will have a reproach." So he spoke, but the other rejected the plan as not so much sensible as rash; for they themselves would be in danger by acting thus, and the others would gain no help from it, since the place was level and flat; "but if you will listen to me," he says, "since we are now somewhere near the narrow passes, when we get there, let us dismount from our horses and hasten to fight nobly, and thus we shall both honor our race and help our masters." 2.13 These things Chaskares said; but Arabates, after insulting him in a barbaric fashion, immediately got off his horse and, striking it with the whip so that it would follow those departing, he himself fought on in the plain; but the Turks, astonished at the strange sight, were at a loss as to what was being done; for he had a short arrow in his hand. He shoots the first one who came at him in the chest with the shaft and immediately throws him from his horse. But someone, loosing an arrow, strikes his right hand; but he, pulling the arrow from there, defended himself against the barbarian with this very thing, just as Brasidas did of old. The barbarians, therefore, fearing his nobility, stood a short distance from him; and he, taking the opportunity, went up to a small building and from there shot at them with arrows, and the narrow places of the region already held the rest. The barbarians, therefore, leaving him, advanced on them with a most violent rush; but Comnenus Alexius, turning back with a few of those around him, was the first to strike one of them down, and Chaskares, who the story first mentioned, wounded another in the back. Seized, therefore, by great fear, they left them and withdrew; and they, having gone a little way, dismounted from their horses and pitched camp in a strong position; and when night came on, the Alan who had previously dismounted from his horse rejoined them, and all were saved together, with no one either captured or killed; and all who were saved acclaimed the fair Alexius as savior and guardian. Therefore, on the fourth day from this, arriving at the capital, they reported all that had happened to those in the city, and how the golden youth Alexius had become the savior of all, and whenever he went about, all ran together, leaping as if at his successes. 2.14 These things were done in this way. But Urselius, taking the opportunity, went about the villages and cities between Galatia and Lycaonia, and some he ravaged, others he won over to himself by persuasion, and from them he exacted money, and he was now great and his impetus was irresistible. And with winter having just ended, the caesar entered the palace from Asia and, sitting in council with the emperor, he both spoke fittingly and managed common affairs, and whenever he judged, he delivered the verdicts, making up for what was lacking in the emperor's inexperience, but this did not please the logothete; for this reason, indeed, he devised every method and set every rope in motion in order to get rid of him more quickly. But since his wish was not easy for him, with his friends

Ἰσαάκιον καὶ τὸν κλεινὸν Ἀλέξιον βοηθεῖν ἐπεχείρουν, αὐτὸς ἐξ ὀνόματος τὸν κλεινὸν ἐκάλει Ἀλέξιον καὶ βοηθεῖν παρεκάλει· ὁ δ' εὐθέως ὑποστρέψας καὶ τοὺς ἐπιτυχόντας διώξας τοῦ κινδύνου τοῦτον ἐρρύσατο, διδάξας αὐτόν τε καὶ τοὺς τοῦτον θαυμάζοντας ὡς ἄρα οὐ μέγεθος σώματος οὐδὲ ῥώμη δυνάμεως οὐδὲ φωνῆς τραχύτης καὶ βάρος τὸν ἄριστον στρατιώτην δεικνύουσιν, ἀλλὰ ψυχῆς γενναιότης καὶ ἡ πρὸς τὰ δεινὰ καρτερία. Ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν τοῦτον διέσωσεν· Ἀλανὸς δέ τις τῶν ἐπὶ μισθῷ συνόντων τῷ γενναίῳ Ἰσαακίῳ, Ἀραβάτης τὸ ὄνομα, τὴν ὁρμὴν ὅτι πλείστην θεασάμενος τῶν βαρβάρων καὶ ὡς μετὰ σφοδρᾶς τῆς ῥύμης ἐπῄεσαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι μόνοι διακινδυνεύουσι σὺν ὀλίγοις, δείσας μή τι τῶν ἀνηκέστων τούτων συμβαίη τινί, τὸν ἑταῖρον ᾧ Χασκάρης ὄνομα ὑπὸ τῷ Κομνηνῷ Ἀλεξίῳ ταττόμενον παρεκάλει ξὺν αὐτῷ γενέσθαι καὶ ἄμφω τῶν ἵππων ἀποβῆναι καὶ τοξεύειν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους· "Αἰσχρὸν γάρ, ἔφησεν, εἰ Ἀλανῶν ἐνταῦθα παρόντων παρακινδυνεύουσιν ἄνδρες εὐγενεῖς τε καὶ ἄριστοι· ὄνειδος γὰρ ἂν οὕτω ἅπαν ἕξει τὸ γένος τῶν Ἀλανῶν". Οὕτω μὲν οὖν ἐκεῖνος ἔφη, ὁ δὲ τὴν βουλὴν ἀπεπέμπετο ὡς οὐ συνετὴν μᾶλλον ἢ τολμηράν· αὐτούς τε γὰρ κινδυνεῦσαι οὕτω δράσαντας κἀκείνους μηδέν τι ἐκ τούτου προσεφευρεῖν τοῦ ὀνήσασθαι, ἅτε ὁμαλοῦ ὄντος τοῦ τόπου καὶ πεδινοῦ· "ἀλλ' εἴ τί μοι πείθῃ, φησίν, ἐπεὶ ἐγγύς που τῶν στενωπῶν ἤδη γεγόναμεν, ἐπειδὰν ἐκεῖσε φθάσωμεν, ἀποβησώμεθα τῶν ἵππων καὶ γενναίως ἀγωνίσασθαι σπεύσωμεν καὶ οὕτω τό τε γένος τιμήσομεν καὶ τοὺς δεσπότας ὀνήσομεν". 2.13 Ταῦτα ὁ Χασκάρης ἔλεγεν· ὁ δὲ Ἀραβάτης βαρβαρικῶς εἰς αὐτὸν ἐξυβρίσας εὐθὺς τοῦ ἵππου ἀπέβη καὶ τῇ μάστιγι τοῦτον πλήξας ὥστε ἕπεσθαι τοῖς ἀπιοῦσιν, αὐτὸς ἤμυνεν ἐν τῇ πεδιάδι· οἱ δὲ Τοῦρκοι τῷ παραδόξῳ τῆς θέας καταπλαγέντες ἠπόρουν ὅ τι καὶ εἴη τὸ δρώμενον· βραχὺ γὰρ βέλος εἶχεν ἐν τῇ χειρί. Τὸν γοῦν πρώτως ἐπιόντα βάλλει κατὰ τῶν στέρνων τῷ ὀϊστῷ καὶ εὐθὺς τοῦτον καταβάλλει τοῦ ἵππου. Ἀφεὶς δέ τις βέλος βάλλει τούτου τὴν δεξιάν· ὁ δ' ἐκεῖθεν τὸ βέλος ἑλκύσας αὐτῷ τούτῳ τὸν βάρβαρον, καθάπερ ὁ Βρασίδας πάλαι, ἠμύνατο. Οἱ γοῦν βάρβαροι δείσαντες αὐτοῦ τὸ γενναῖον βραχύ τι τούτου διέστησαν· ὁ δ' ἀδείας λαβόμενος ἐπί τι δωμάτιον ἀνέβαινε κἀκεῖθεν αὐτοὺς τοῖς τοξεύμασιν ἔβαλλε καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς εἶχον ἤδη τὰ στενωπὰ τῶν χωρίων. Καταλιπόντες οὖν ἐκεῖνον οἱ βάρβαροι μετὰ σφοδροτάτης ῥύμης ἐκείνοις ἐπῄεσαν· ὁ δὲ Κομνηνὸς Ἀλέξιος ὑποστρέψας ξὺν ὀλίγοις τῶν ἀμφ' αὐτὸν πρῶτος ἕνα τούτων κατέβαλε καὶ ὁ Χασκάρης, οὗ πρῶτον ὁ λόγος ἐμνήσθη, κατὰ τῶν μεταφρένων ἔτρωσεν ἕτερον. Φόβῳ οὖν μεγάλῳ συσχεθέντες, ἀφέντες αὐτοὺς ἀνεχώρουν· οἱ δὲ ὀλίγον βαδίσαντες, ἀποβάντες τῶν ἵππων ἐν ὀχυρῷ χωρίῳ ἐσκήνουν· νυκτὸς δ' ἐπιγενομένης καὶ ὁ πρὶν ἀποβὰς τοῦ ἵππου Ἀλανὸς πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατελάμβανε καὶ πάντες ὁμοῦ διεσώθησαν, μήθ' ἁλόντος μήτε θανόντος τινός· οἱ δὲ σωθέντες ἅπαντες σωτῆρα καὶ κηδεμόνα τὸν καλὸν ἐπευφήμουν Ἀλέξιον. Ἐκ τῆσδε οὖν τεταρταῖοι τὴν βασιλίδα καταλαβόντες, τὰ συμβάντα πάντα τοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει ἀπήγγειλαν καὶ ὡς πάντων σωτὴρ γένοιτο ὁ χρυσοῦς νεανίας Ἀλέξιος, καὶ ἐπειδὰν περιῄει, συνέθεον ἅπαντες σκιρτῶντες ὥσπερ ἐπὶ τοῖς τούτου πλεονεκτήμασι. 2.14 Ταῦτα μὲν τοῦτον ἐπράχθη τὸν τρόπον. Ὁ δὲ Οὐρσέλιος ἀδείας λαβόμενος περιῄει τὰς μεταξὺ Γαλατίας καὶ Λυκαονίας κώμας καὶ πόλεις, καὶ τὰς μὲν ἐπόρθει, τὰς δὲ πειθοῖ ἑαυτῷ παρίστα, ἐκ δὲ τῶν χρήματα εἰσεπράττετο, καὶ πολὺς ἦν ἤδη καὶ τὴν ὁρμὴν ἀκατάσχετος. Ἄρτι δὲ τοῦ χειμῶνος λήξαντος, καὶ ὁ καῖσαρ ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας εἰσῄει πρὸς τὰ βασίλεια καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ συνεδρεύων ὡμίλει τε πρεπόντως καὶ τὰ κοινὰ συνδιῴκει, καὶ ἐπειδὰν δικάσειε, τὰς ψήφους ἐκεῖνος ἀπέφηνε τῆς βασιλέως ἀπειρίας τὸ ἐνδέον ἀναπληρῶν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἤρεσκε τοῦτο τῷ λογοθέτῃ· ταύτῃ τοι καὶ πάντα τρόπον ἐπενοεῖτο καὶ πάντα κάλων ἐκίνει ὅπως τοῦτον θᾶττον ἀποσκευάσηται. Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἦν εὐχερὲς αὐτῷ τὸ βούλημα, μετὰ τῶν φίλων