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

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 received immunity, considered how, having defeated the army around Ourselios, he might become master of the occupied forts; but those sent from the emperor, being of the emperor's household, were forcing him, having taken Ourselios, to return to the capital; but he said, "it would be shameful if, while many are under the tyrant, having become masters of one, the tyrant himself, we should depart leaving the others behind; for it is necessary for one of the remaining men to be established as tyrant and again throw the cities into confusion; but it seems to me to be these things and this man ..., and to make an attempt on the forts as far as is possible". Having said these things, he set to work and first he guarded the roads, so that none of the necessary supplies might be brought into the forts secretly, and he greatly harassed those going out to gather grain and other necessary things, then, moreover, he set ambushes and sent out some men to forage; those in the forts, going out and pursuing the foragers, fell into the ambushes and were captured. This happening often and in various ways threw the Franks into perplexity; for sometimes he made the forays after the fourth or fifth day, and at other times again after one day or even a second. Therefore, being at a loss, those inside, some surrendered both themselves and the forts to the commander, while others left them empty and departed, and thus he became master of them all. And having spent some days in Amaseia and having settled all the cities and having left a profound peace and having shown himself most agreeable to all, he departed from there with the greatest applause and acclamations, bringing with him Ourselios also. 2.25 And passing through Paphlagonia, when he came very near the house of Theodore Dokeianos, a man of noble birth and priding himself on his wealth and related by blood to the commander (for he was the son of that man's father's sister), when Dokeianos learned that he was arriving, he met him from afar and embraced him; but gazing also at Ourselios and seeing the covering placed over his eyes, he was filled with grief and was no longer able to contain himself, but reproached the commander for having deprived such a noble man, and one able to greatly benefit the affairs of the Romans, of his eyes. But he, being otherwise gentle and clever at concealing a matter and not revealing it quickly, thus replied to him gently and calmly: "The reasons, cousin, for which this man has been deprived of his eyes, now is not the time to report; but when we go home and are alone, you will know them all and you will quickly absolve me of the blame". So, having reached the house and dismounted from their horses and shaken off the dust, they were taking their meal, as the host had lavishly prepared the dinner; and after the meal, the commander, taking Dokeianos by the hand, enters the room in which Ourselios had been shut up, and ordered the covering to be removed. And he immediately jumped up and throwing off the covering was seen to be seeing and he embraced Dokeianos; but he was struck with astonishment by the suddenness and became full of joy and embracing the renowned Alexios, he kissed his lips and cheeks and his graceful eyes and cried out loudly that the young man's spirit was worthy of his ancestors, and he praised the act and admired the scene. 2.26 Therefore, having been entertained by him for three days, the commander went out and went down toward the Pontic sea. And having come to Kastamon, he desired to see his grandfather's house. Therefore, having requested everyone to go on, he himself with a few men turned from the road; and having come inside it and seeing it deserted of inhabitants, he was filled with tears and groans, remembering his own parents; and being dragged away from there by force by his followers, he went away, when he was almost ambushed by the Turks, had not those around him quickly pulled him away and rejoined the rest.

πλῆθος ἐξάγεται καὶ ὁρᾶται παρὰ πάντων ὡς δῆθεν τυφλός· τοῦτο τὸ δρᾶμα πάμπαν τὸν θόρυβον κατεσίγασεν. Ὁ μὲν οὖν στρατοπεδάρχης ἀδείας λαβόμενος ἐσκόπει ὅπως καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Οὐρσέλιον στράτευμα καθελὼν τῶν παρακατασχεθέντων φρουρίων γένοιτο ἐγκρατής· οἱ δ' ἐκ βασιλέως πεμφθέντες, τῶν οἰκείων ὄντες τῷ βασιλεῖ, ἠνάγκαζον τοῦτον τὸν Οὐρσέλιον λαβόντα εἰς τὴν βασιλίδα ἐπανελθεῖν· ὁ δὲ "αἰσχρόν", ἔλεγεν, "εἶναι εἰ, πολλῶν τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν τύραννον ὄντων, ἑνὸς ἐγκρατεῖς γεγονότες αὐτοῦ τοῦ τυράννου, τοὺς ἄλλους καταλιπόντες οἰχησόμεθα· ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἕνα τῶν λειπομένων εἰς τύραννον καταστῆναι καὶ αὖθις τὰς πόλεις κυκᾶν· ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ εἶναι ταῦτα καὶ τοῦτον ..., ἀποπειρᾶσαι δὲ καὶ τῶν φρουρίων ὅσον οἷόν τε". Ταῦτ' εἰπὼν ἔργου εἴχετο καὶ πρῶτον μὲν τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐφρούρει, ὡς μηδέν τι τῶν ἀναγκαίων λαθεῖν εἰς τὰ φρούρια εἰσαχθῆναι, καὶ ἐπὶ συλλογὴν σίτου καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀναγκαίων ἐξιόντας μεγάλως ἐσίνετο, ἔπειτα μέντοι ἐνέδρας ἐνίστα καί τινας εἰς προνομὴν ἔστελλεν· οἱ δὲ ἐν τοῖς φρουρίοις ἐξιόντες καὶ τοὺς προνομεύοντας διώκοντες ταῖς ἐνέδραις περιπίπτοντες ἡλίσκοντο. Τοῦτο πολλάκις ποικιλοτρόπως γινόμενον εἰς ἀπορίαν τοὺς Φράγγους ἐνέβαλλεν· ὅτε μὲν γὰρ μετὰ τετάρτην ἢ πέμπτην ἡμέραν ἐποίει τὰς προνομάς, ὅτε δὲ μετὰ μίαν αὖθις ἡμέραν ἢ καὶ δευτέραν. Ἀμηχανοῦντες οὖν οἱ ἔνδον οἱ μὲν σφᾶς τε αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ φρούρια τῷ στρατοπεδάρχῃ παρέδοσαν, οἱ δὲ κενὰ ταῦτα καταλιπόντες ᾤχοντο, καὶ οὕτω πάντων γέγονεν ἐγκρατής. Ἡμέρας δὲ διατρίψας ἐν Ἀμασείᾳ καὶ τὰς πόλεις ἁπάσας καταστήσας καὶ εἰρήνην βαθεῖαν καταλιπὼν καὶ τοῖς πᾶσι δειχθεὶς ἐρασμιώτατος, ἐξῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν μετὰ κροτοῦ καὶ εὐφημιῶν ὅτι πλείστων ἐπαγόμενος μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τὸν Οὐρσέλιον. 2.25 ∆ιιὼν δὲ διὰ Παφλαγονίας ἐπειδὴ ἔγγιστα γέγονε τῆς οἰκίας τοῦ ∆οκειανοῦ Θεοδώρου, ἀνδρὸς τῶν εὖ γεγονότων καὶ πλούτῳ κομώντων καὶ καθ' αἷμα τῷ στρατοπεδάρχῃ προσήκοντοςτῆς γὰρ ἀδελφῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκείνου παῖς ἦν οὗτος, ὡς καταλαμβάνοντα τοῦτον ἐμάνθανεν ὁ ∆οκειανὸς ἀπήντα μακρόθεν καὶ κατησπάζετο· ἀτενίσας δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὸν Οὐρσέλιον καὶ τὸ κάλυμμα θεασάμενος τὸ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐπικείμενον λύπης πεπλήρωτο καὶ οὐκέτι καθεκτὸς ἦν, ἀλλὰ τὸν στρατοπεδάρχην ὠνείδιζεν ὡς ἄνδρα γενναῖον οὕτω καὶ μεγάλα δυνάμενον τὰ Ῥωμαίων ὠφελῆσαι πράγματα τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀποστερήσαντα. Ὁ δὲ ἐπιεικής τε ἄλλως ὢν καὶ δεινὸς συσκιάσαι πρᾶγμα καὶ μὴ ταχέως ἐκφαίνειν, πρᾴως οὕτω καὶ γαληνῶς πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἀντέφησε· "Τὰς μὲν αἰτίας, ἐξάδελφε, δι' ἃς οὗτος τῶν ὀμμάτων ἐστέρηται, οὐ νῦν ἐστι καιρὸς ἀπαγγέλλειν· ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἀπιόντες οἴκαδε κατὰ μόνας γενοίμεθα, εἴσῃ πάσας καί με ταχέως ἀπολύσεις τῆς μέμψεως". Φθάσαντες οὖν τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ τῶν ἵππων ἀποβάντες καὶ τὸν κονιορτὸν ἐκτινάξαντες ἠρίστων, τοῦ ἐστιάτορος τὸ δεῖπνον φιλοτίμως προευτρεπίσαντος· μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἄριστον τῆς χειρὸς λαβόμενος τοῦ ∆οκεια νοῦ ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης εἰς τὸ δωμάτιον εἴσεισιν, ἐν ᾧ ὁ Οὐρσέλιος ἐνεκέκλειστο, καὶ ἐκέλευσεν ἀναπεταννύειν τὸ κάλυμμα. Ὁ δὲ εὐθὺς ἀνεπήδα καὶ τὸ κάλυμμα ἀναπεταννὺς ὡρᾶτο βλέπων καὶ τὸν ∆οκειανὸν κατησπάζετο· ὁ δὲ τῷ αἰφνιδίῳ κατεπέπληκτο καὶ πλήρης χαρμονῆς ἐγεγόνει καὶ τὸν κλεινὸν περιπλακεὶς Ἀλέξιον κατεφίλει χείλη καὶ παρειὰς καὶ τοὺς χαριέντας ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ μέγα ἐβόα ἄξιον εἶναι τῶν προαγόντων τοῦ νέου τὸ φρόνημα καὶ τὸ δρᾶμα ἐπῄνει καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν ἐθαύμαζε. 2.26 Τρισὶν οὖν ἡμέραις ἐπ' αὐτῷ ξενωθεὶς ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης ἐξῄει καὶ κατῄει ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ Πόντου θάλασσαν. Περὶ δὲ τὴν Κασταμόνα γενόμενος ἐπεθύμησε τὴν τοῦ πάππου οἰκίαν ἰδεῖν. Παρακαλεσάμενος οὖν ἀπιέναι πάντας αὐτὸς μετ' ὀλίγων ἀπένευσε τῆς ὁδοῦ· ἐντὸς δὲ ταύτης γενόμενος καὶ ἔρημον ταύτην τῶν οἰκούντων ἰδὼν δακρύων ἐπληροῦτο καὶ στεναγμῶν, ἐν μνήμῃ γενόμενος τῶν αὐτοῦ γεννητόρων· βίᾳ δ' ἐκεῖθεν ἀποσπασθεὶς πρὸς τῶν ἑπομένων ἀπῄει, ὅτε μικροῦ δεῖν ἐνηδρεύθη παρὰ τῶν Τούρκων, εἰ μὴ ταχέως αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν ἀποσπάσαντες συνέμιξαν τοῖς λοιποῖς.