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

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 the Sangarius and arrived at Metabole, when he did not find the caesar and Roussel, he himself also crossed the narrows there and, arriving at the head of the mountain which is called Maroxos, he encamped and from there observed the enemy encamped somewhere near the place called Trisea. Straightaway, therefore, he attacked them and at first used skirmishers from the high ground, then dividing the army into three companies, he attempted to encircle those around Roussel and the caesar. But the enemy were unable to get behind them, since the mountain kept them off; but they attacked the three parts strongly and thus attempted to break the continuity of the Latin phalanx. But the few, being pressed by the many and their horses being struck by arrows from all sides, thought it necessary to advance into close quarters with the enemy in order to strike terror into them with the force of their horses; therefore, encouraging one another and locking their shields together, they charged out uncontrollably; from this it happened that many of the enemy fell, while they themselves, being encircled by the multitude, many were killed, and the majority were captured; and with these were captured both the caesar and Roussel. Therefore Artouch, delighted with the victory, took a ransom for Roussel and gave him back to his own men, but keeping the caesar, he departed towards upper Phrygia. But those around the emperor Michael, having learned what had happened, sent men to ransom the caesar, and the barbarian gave him up, having received a great sum of money. But he, having come near the queen of cities and fearing that he might suffer something more terrible, crossed over to Tragonision, put on the monastic habit, having cut his hair, and thus he went in to the emperor Michael; and he, seeing him, pretended to be terribly distressed. 2.19 And so the affairs concerning the most wonderful caesar had such an end. But Roussel, having been rescued from captivity, went away again towards Pontus and seized some of the fortresses and from there troubled the cities of Pontus, both Amaseia and Neocaesarea; for he was ravaging the lands and forcing them to pay tribute. Learning this, the emperor Michael sent Nicephorus Palaeologus to the ruler of Alania to bring a mercenary army; and he, having departed and taken up an army of about six thousand from there, occupied Pontus and attempted to check the attacks of Roussel. But when the Alans demanded the agreed upon pay, since he did not have it, he was forced to attack Roussel before the Alans returned home, but they insisted, demanding their pay, which, since he was unable to provide it, they all returned, with only a few being left behind; and Roussel, engaging with these, both routed them and killed not a few of them, and the rest were saved in the cities of Pontus. When these things were reported to the emperor Michael, the good youth Alexius was summoned, since divine providence already wished his virtue to be made manifest; and having been summoned, he was appointed stratopedarch and general-in-chief of the war against Roussel. 2.20 He, therefore, gladly accepted what seemed good to the emperor, but his mother, having learned of these things, tried to force him to refuse the command, saying that the affair with Roussel required not the mind and hand of a youth, but of a noble man who both knew many things and had done many things. But while she spoke thus, he, using entreaties and persuading her, went out equipped with her prayers, having received from the emperor neither money for the expense of the war nor a formidable army. And having passed through Pontus in Paphlagonia, he came to the region of Amaseia and finding the survivors of the Alans to be no more than one hundred and fifty, he checked the enemy, often attacking them and as often defeating them.

ὑπὸ πολλῶν, καὶ διαφθαρεῖεν, πεδίον στενὸν ἐξελέξαντο, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Σόφωνος κατιόντα ποταμὸν ἀντὶ χάρακος προβαλλόμενοι. Ὁ δὲ Ἀρτοὺχ περαιωθεὶς τὸν Σαγγάριον καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν Μεταβολὴν φθάσας, ἐπεὶ μὴ εὗρε τὸν καίσαρά τε καὶ τὸν Οὐρσέλιον, διέβαινε καὶ αὐτὸς τὰ ἐκεῖσε στενὰ καὶ πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ τοῦ ὄρους γενόμενος, ὃ Μαροξὸς καλεῖται, ἐστρατοπέδευσε κἀκεῖθεν τοὺς πολεμίους περιεσκόπει ἐγγύς που τοῦ χωρίου ὃ Τρισέα καλεῖται στρατοπεδεύοντας. Αὐτίκα γοῦν προσέβαλλε τούτοις καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἀκροβολισμοῖς διὰ τῶν ὑψηλῶν ἐχρῆτο, ἔπειτα εἰς λόχους τρεῖς τὸ στράτευμα διελὼν κυκλοῦν ἐπειρᾶτο τοὺς περὶ τὸν Οὐρσέλιον καὶ τὸν καίσαρα. Ἀλλὰ κατὰ νώτου μὲν γενέσθαι οὐκ ἠδύναντο οἱ πολέμιοι, ἅτε τοῦ ὄρους τούτους ἀπείργοντος· τοῖς δὲ τρισὶ μέρεσιν ἐπετίθεντο ἰσχυρῶς καὶ οὕτω διασπᾶν τὸ συνεχὲς τῆς τῶν Λατίνων φάλαγγος ἐπεχείρουν. Οἱ δὲ ὀλίγοι ὑπὸ τῶν πολλῶν πιεζόμενοι καὶ τῶν ἵππων αὐτῶν τοῖς βέλεσι βαλλομένων πάντοθεν, δεῖν ᾠήθησαν ὁμόσε χωρῆσαι τοῖς πολεμίοις ὥστε καταπλῆξαι τούτους τῷ σφοδρῷ τῶν ἵππων· παρακαλέσαντες οὖν ἀλλήλους καὶ συνασπίσαντες ἀκρατῶς ἐξήλαυνον· ἐκ τούτου ξυνέβη πολλοὺς μὲν τῶν πολεμίων περιπεσεῖν, αὐτοὺς δὲ κυκλωθέντας ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους, πολλοὺς μὲν ἀναιρεθῆναι, τοὺς πλείονας δὲ ληφθῆναι· ἑάλω δὲ σὺν τούτοις καὶ ὁ καῖσαρ καὶ ὁ Οὐρσέλιος. Ὁ γοῦν Ἀρτοὺχ ἡσθεὶς τῇ νίκῃ τὸν μὲν Οὐρσέλιον λύτρον λαβὼν ἀπέδοτο τοῖς αὐτοῦ, τὸν δὲ καίσαρα ἔχων ἀπῄει ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν ἄνω Φρυγίαν. Οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν βασιλέα Μιχαὴλ πυθόμενοι τὰ ξυμβάντα πέμπουσι τοὺς ἐξωνησομένους τὸν καίσαρα καὶ ἀποδίδωσι τοῦτον ὁ βάρβαρος συχνὰ χρήματα λαβών. Ὁ δὲ πλησίον τῆς βασιλίδος τῶν πόλεων γενόμενος καὶ δείσας μή τι καὶ πάθῃ δεινότερον, διαπεράσας πρὸς τὸ Τραγονήσιον, τὸ μοναδικὸν ἀμφιέννυται σχῆμα τὴν κόμην ἀποκειράμενος καὶ οὕτως εἴσεσι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Μιχαήλ· ὁ δὲ τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὑπεκρίθη δεινοπαθεῖν. 2.19 Καὶ τὰ μὲν κατὰ τὸν θαυμασιώτατον καίσαρα τοιοῦτον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος. Ὁ δὲ Οὐρσέλιος τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ῥυσθεὶς ἀπῄει αὖθις ὡς ἐπὶ τὸν Πόντον καί τινα τῶν φρουρίων κατελάμβανε κἀκεῖθεν ἐλύπει τὰς τοῦ Πόντου πόλεις Ἀμάσειάν τε καὶ τὴν νέαν Καισάρειαν· ἐδῄου γὰρ τὰς χώρας καὶ δασμοφορεῖν κατηνάγκαζεν. Ὃ δὴ μαθὼν ὁ βασιλεὺς Μιχαὴλ τὸν Παλαιολόγον Νικηφόρον πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα Ἀλανίας ἐκπέπομφεν ἄξοντα στράτευμα μισθοφόρον· ὁ δὲ ἀπελθὼν καὶ στρατὸν ἐκεῖθεν ἀναλαβὼν περί που τὰς ἓξ χιλιάδας τὸν Πόντον κατείληφε καὶ τὰς ὁρμὰς τοῦ Οὐρσελίου ἀναστέλλειν ἀπεπειρᾶτο. Τῶν δ' Ἀλανῶν ἀπαιτούντων τὸν συμφωνηθέντα μισθόν, ἐπεὶ μὴ εἶχεν ἐκεῖνος, ἠναγκάσθη τῷ Οὐρσελίῳ προσβαλεῖν πρὸ τοῦ παλινοστῆσαι τοὺς Ἀλανούς, ἀλλ' οὗτοι ἐνέκειντο τοὺς μισθοὺς ἀπαιτοῦντες, οὓς δὴ παρασχεῖν ἐκείνου μὴ ἔχοντος, ὑπέστρεφον ἅπαντες, ὀλίγων δηλαδὴ καταλειφθέντων· οἷς δὴ καὶ συμβαλὼν ὁ Οὐρσέλιος ἐτρέψατό τε τούτους καὶ οὐκ ὀλίγους ἀνεῖλεν αὐτῶν, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ εἰς τὰς τοῦ Πόντου διεσώθησαν πόλεις. Ἀπαγγελθέντων δὲ τούτων τῷ βασιλεῖ Μιχαήλ, ὁ καλὸς νεανίας μετεκαλεῖτο Ἀλέξιος, τῆς θείας προνοίας ἤδη βουλομένης ἐμφανῆ γενέσθαι τὴν αὐτοῦ ἀρετήν· μετακληθεὶς δὲ στρατοπεδάρχης προχειρίζεται καὶ στρατηγὸς αὐτοκράτωρ τοῦ κατὰ Οὐρσελίου πολέμου. 2.20 Ὁ μὲν οὖν ἀσμένως ἐδέχετο τὰ τῷ βασιλεῖ δόξαντα, ἡ δὲ μήτηρ τούτου πυθομένη ταῦτα παραιτεῖσθαι ἠνάγκαζε τὴν ἀρχήν, λέγουσα μὴ νεανικῆς δεῖσθαι φρενὸς καὶ χειρὸς τὰ κατὰ τὸν Οὐρσέλιον, ἀλλ' ἀνδρὸς γενναίου καὶ πολλὰ μὲν εἰδότος, πολλὰ δὲ δράσαντος. Ἀλλ' ἡ μὲν οὕτως, ὁ δὲ παρακλήσεσι χρησάμενος καὶ πείσας αὐτὴν ἐξῄει ταῖς εὐχαῖς αὐτῆς ἐφοδιασθείς, μήτε χρήματα πρὸς τοῦ βασιλέως λαβὼν εἰς τὴν τοῦ πολέμου δαπάνην μήτε στράτευμα ἀξιόμαχον. ∆ιελθὼν δὲ τὸν ἐν Παφλαγονίᾳ Πόντον περὶ τὴν Ἀμάσειαν γέγονε καὶ τοὺς περισωθέντας τῶν Ἀλανῶν εὑρὼν οὐ πλείους ἑκατὸν πρὸς τοῖς πεντήκοντα ὄντας, τοὺς πολεμίους ἀνέστελλε πολλάκις μὲν αὐτοῖς προσβαλών, τοσαυτάκις δ' ἡττήσας.