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having set up opposing forces. And after them my father Alexios was appointed commander-in-chief, sent against Roussel by the then reigning emperor Michael Doukas. 2.1.2 And when the emperor Nikephoros saw him to be skillful in matters of war, and having also heard how in the East, being with his brother Isaac, he had engaged in various struggles beyond his years, proving himself a champion, and how he had routed Roussel, he loved him exceedingly and no less than Isaac. And embracing both brothers in his heart, he looked upon them cheerfully, at times even deeming them worthy of the same table. 2.1.3 This inflamed the envy against them, and especially that of the two aforesaid barbarians of Slavic origin, I mean Boril and Germanos. For seeing the emperor's benevolence towards them and that, though constantly struck by the arrows of envy, they remained unwounded, they were wasting away. For the emperor, seeing Alexios, though he did not yet have the first down on his cheek, successful in all things, appointed him commander-in-chief of the West, having honored him with the dignity of proedros. Now, how many trophies he set up in the West and how many rebels he subdued and led captive to the emperor, has been sufficiently told before. But these things did not please the servants, but rather kindled their envy, inflaming it. And they whispered many things, plotting deeply against them, and saying many things secretly to the emperor, some openly, others through third parties, using certain schemes they strove in every way to get them out of the way. 2.1.4 The Komnenoi, therefore, being beset by difficulties, thought it necessary to win over those around the women's quarters and through them to attract more of the empress's goodwill. For the men were charming and able to soften a heart of stone and with all kinds of arguments. Isaac had already accomplished this, having long ago been taken by her into the family by marriage to her own cousin, being most noble in words and deeds and very much like my father. But since his own affairs had proceeded well, he was very concerned for his brother, and just as Alexios had then assisted him in the matter of the marriage, so Isaac was eager that his brother, in turn, should not be far from the empress. Now, Orestes and Pylades, being friends, are said to have had such a great affection for each other, that in time of battle each neglected his own enemies, but defended against those attacking the other, and one would intercept the volley of arrows coming at the other by offering his own chest. Such a thing could also be seen in these two. For both brothers wished to intercept dangers and glorious deeds and honors, and simply, each considered the other's good his own and vice versa, such was the affection they had for each other. 2.1.5 Thus the affairs of Isaac were so ordered by divine providence. Not much time passed, and those around the women's quarters, following Isaac's suggestions, persuaded the empress to adopt Alexios. She was persuaded by them, and since both happened to be at the palace on a certain appointed day, the empress adopted Alexios according to the ancient custom followed in such matters. Thus, from that time on, the great Domestic of the western armies recovered from his great anxiety. And from then on, both of them frequently visited the palace and performed the customary prostration to the emperors and after waiting a little, they would go in to the empress; these things further inflamed the envy against them. 2.1.6 The Komnenoi, being assured of this by many things, and fearing lest they both be caught in their snares and have no one to help them, sought a way, by which with God's help they might secure safety for themselves. Therefore, having turned over many thoughts together with their mother and having considered many things many times one

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ἀντικειμένων στήσαντας. Καὶ μετ' αὐτοὺς οὑμὸς πατὴρ Ἀλέξιος στρατηγὸς αὐτοκράτωρ προὐβέβλητο κατὰ τοῦ Οὐρσελίου παρὰ τοῦ τότε βασιλεύοντος Μιχαὴλ τοῦ ∆ούκα ἀποσταλείς. 2.1.2 Ὡς δὲ καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Νικηφόρος περιδέξιον τοῦτον περὶ τὰ πολεμικὰ ἐθεάσατο, ἀκηκοὼς δὲ καὶ ὅπως περὶ τὴν ἕω συνὼν τἀδελφῷ Ἰσαακίῳ ὑπὲρ τὸν αὐτοῦ χρόνον ἐν διαφόροις ἀγῶσιν ἐμπέπτωκεν ἀριστεὺς ἀναφανεὶς καὶ ὅπως τὸν Οὐρσέλιον κατετροπώσατο, διαφε ρόντως ἠγάπα καὶ τοῦ Ἰσαακίου οὐκ ἔλαττον. Καὶ ἐνστερ νιζόμενος ἄμφω τἀδελφὼ ἱλαρὸν ἐνητένιζεν, ἔστιν οὗ καὶ τῆς αὐτῆς τραπέζης ἀξιῶν. 2.1.3 Ἀνέφλεγε τοῦτο τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν φθόνον καὶ μᾶλλον τῶν εἰρημένων δύο βαρ βάρων Σθλαβογενῶν, τοῦ τε Βορίλου φημὶ καὶ τοῦ Γερμανοῦ. Ὁρῶντες γὰρ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἐς αὐτοὺς εὐμένειαν καὶ ὅτι καθ' ὥραν ταῖς τοῦ φθόνου τοξείαις βαλλόμενοι ἄτρωτοι διαμένουσιν, ἐξετήκοντο. Τὸν γὰρ Ἀλέξιον, κἂν οὔπω τὸν ἴουλον ἐπανθοῦντα εἶχεν, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐδοκιμοῦντα ὁρῶν ὁ βασιλεὺς στρατηγὸν αὐτοκράτορα τῆς ἑσπέρας ἀναδείκνυσι τῷ τῶν προέδρων τετιμηκὼς ἀξιώ ματι. Ὅσα μὲν οὖν καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἑσπέραν οὗτος ἀνέστησε τρόπαια καὶ ὁπόσους ἀποστάτας καταγωνισάμενος ζωγρίας ἦγε τῷ βασιλεῖ, ἀρκούντως προλέλεκται. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τοῖς δούλοις οὐκ ἤρεσκεν, ἐξέκαε δὲ μᾶλλον αὐτῶν ἀναφλέγοντα τὸν φθόνον. Οἳ καὶ πολλὰ μὲν ὑπετονθόρυζον βυσσοδο μοῦντες κατ' αὐτῶν, πολλὰ δὲ καὶ κρύφια λέγοντες τῷ βασιλεῖ, τινὰ δὲ καὶ εἰς τοὐμφανές, ἄλλα δὲ δι' ἑτέρων, μεθοδείαις τισὶ χρώμενοι ἐκποδὼν τούτους γενέσθαι παν τοίως ἐσπούδαζον. 2.1.4 Ἀπορίᾳ γοῦν συνεχόμενοι οἱ Κομνηνοὶ δέον ἐλογίσαντο τοὺς περὶ τὴν γυναικωνῖτιν ὑποποιήσασθαι καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν τῆς βασιλίδος ἐπὶ πλέον εὐμένειαν ἐπισπάσασθαι. Ἐπαγωγοὶ γὰρ οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ λιθίνην καταμαλάξαι ψυχὴν δυνάμενοι καὶ παντοίοις ἐπι χειρήμασι. Τοῦτο ἤδη κατώρθου ὁ Ἰσαάκιος πάλαι πρὸς αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξαδέλφῃ εἰς κῆδος προσληφθείς, ὁ γενναιότατος ὢν ἐν λόγοις καὶ πράξεσι καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα τὠ μῷ πατρὶ ἐμφερής. Ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ τὰ περὶ αὐτὸν καλῶς προκε χώρηκε, πολλὰ φροντίζων ἦν περὶ τἀδελφοῦ, καὶ ὅσον ἐκεῖνος τούτῳ εἰς τὴν τοῦ κήδους τότε συνῄρετο ὑπόθεσιν, τοσοῦτον οὗτος ἐσπουδάκει μηδ' αὐτὸν τῆς βασιλίδος πορρωτέρω καθεστάναι. Ὀρέστην μὲν οὖν καὶ Πυλάδην φίλους ὄντας τοσοῦτον τὸν πρὸς ἀλλήλους πόθον ἔχειν φασίν, ὡς ἐν καιρῷ μάχης ἀμελεῖν μὲν ἑκάτερον τῶν καθ' ἑαυτοῦ πολεμίων, ἀμύνειν δὲ τοὺς ἐπιφερομένους θατέρῳ καὶ προαρπάζειν ἅτερον τὰς πρὸς θάτερον ἐρχομένας τῶν ὀϊστῶν βολὰς τὰ στέρνα ὑπέχοντα. Τοιοῦτον καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἦν συνορᾶν. Ἄμφω γὰρ τἀδελφὼ καὶ τοὺς κιν δύνους προαρπάζειν ἐβούλοντο καὶ τὰς ἀριστείας τε καὶ τιμὰς καὶ ἁπλῶς τἀγαθὸν θατέρου ἴδιον ἅτερος ἐλογίζετο καὶ αὖ τοὐναντίον, τοσοῦτον τὸν πόθον πρὸς ἀλλήλους εἶχον. 2.1.5 Τὰ μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὸν Ἰσαάκιον οὕτως ἐκ θείας ᾠκονόμητο προνοίας· οὐ πολὺ τὸ ἐν μέσῳ, καὶ οἱ περὶ τὴν γυναικωνῖτιν ταῖς τοῦ Ἰσαακίου ὑποθημοσύναις παρα πείθουσι τὴν βασιλίδα υἱοθετήσασθαι τὸν Ἀλέξιον. Πεί θεται τούτοις, κἀπειδὴ περὶ τὰ βασίλεια κατά τινα κυρίαν ἡμέραν καὶ ἄμφω γεγόνατον, ἡ βασιλὶς υἱοθετεῖ τὸν Ἀλέ ξιον κατὰ τὸν παρακολουθήσαντα περὶ τῶν τοιούτων πάλαι τύπον. Ἀνέσφηλε γοῦν τοῦ λοιποῦ τῆς πολλῆς φροντίδος ὁ μέγας τῶν ἑσπερίων στρατευμάτων δομέστικος. Κἄκτοτε θαμὰ τοῖς βασιλείοις ἄμφω φοιτῶντες καὶ τὴν τοῖς βασι λεῦσι προσήκουσαν ἀποπληροῦντες προσκύνησιν καὶ μικρὸν ἐγκαρτεροῦντες τῇ βασιλίδι προσήρχοντο· ταῦτα ἐπὶ πλέον τὸν κατ' αὐτῶν φθόνον ἐξέκαε. 2.1.6 Τοῦτο δὲ διὰ πολλῶν οἱ Κομνηνοὶ βεβαιούμενοι, δείσαντες, ἵνα μὴ ἀμφότεροι ταῖς πάγαις αὐτῶν ἁλόντες οὐδὲ τὸν ἐπαρήγοντα ἔχωσι, τρόπον ἐζήτουν, δι' οὗ τὸ ἀσφαλὲς Θεοῦ συλλαμβανομένου ἑαυτοῖς περιποιήσαιντο. Πολλοὺς οὖν λογισμοὺς σύναμα τῇ μητρὶ ἀνελίξαντες καὶ πολλὰ πολλάκις διασκεψάμενοι μίαν