Continuatio scylitzae

 To do or to suffer. whence also, with the festival of the archangels approaching, the patriarch departs to the <monastery established by him> outside

 For it was the 24th day of the month, on which the feast of the holy protomartyr thekla is celebrated by christianshe filled the soldiery with much ha

 To be possessed by a terrible barrenness, he said, manuel and maria, who by the grace of god have already become my children, are enough for me. for

 Having thwarted an impious plot. for it was their plan for him to be given over to the deep with his whole family, since he was about to sail across t

 In the west, during the third indiction, when the cities around the ister were governed by the *magistros* basil apokapes and the 114 *magistros* nike

 They came here and were deemed worthy of senatorial and brilliant offices. it was then the sixth year of the reign of doukas, the 3rd indiction, in th

 He had done everything for the empress, who was considered most temperate towards her husband and most exact in raising her children and most capable

 Again proved all things. for not the whole pay, but a partial and moderate amount given to them made the soldiers listless for having received what w

 By the empress, who had proceeded royally with her own children into the greatest and most famous shrine of the wisdom of god. 123 but since the empre

 To attack and utterly overthrow and destroy the roman power. but the emperor, leading an army not such as was fitting for the emperor of the romans, b

 So then, having gathered his forces, he pursued from behind through difficult paths. and approaching sebasteia, he left the military baggage and all t

 Of berroia, having joined with both the arabs and the turks and having gathered a strong force, was considering coming to grips with the emperor and f

 They were taken alive. and the emperor, having returned to the camp after the repulse of the enemy, decided to garrison the acropolis of hierapolis. a

 Having appointed senators and distributed the annual gifts, and not even waiting for the days of pascha, he sailed away to the house of the heria 134

 The war was joined. and on the next day, sitting in public, he handed over the captured enemies to the final sentence, sparing absolutely no one, not

 To accomplish something manly which would have no place to happen in the presence of the emperor, with him personally supervising what was happening

 , since the romans, having been scattered, were pursuing, making a sudden turn they reversed the victory for this reason many were captured, and more

 Of orthodoxy, having distributed on the day before it the annual donative to both the army and the senate, not all of it in gold, but having made up t

 Hurrying to reach iberia, when he also became a spectator of the bodies of those who had fallen with the curopalates manuel comnenus. and from there,

 Bryennios having ordered those around him to hold the reins, basilakios alone was in pursuit, through ignorance of what had been done. but when he app

 The arrival of ambassadors, and some of those closest to the emperor persuade him to cast off the peace, as it was false in its effect and deceptive r

 With many he lay on the ground dishonorably and in great pain, overwhelmed by countless waves of sorrows. on the next day, when the capture of the emp

 Having left him by night, he fled to constantinople, having learned beforehand of the plots being stitched together there. for john the caesar and his

 Of his having been dug out pitilessly and inhumanly. and having been brought on a lowly beast of burden as far as the propontis like a rotting corpse,

 Unbearable and tearful wailing. but while these things were happening thus, divinely sent wrath had seized the east. for since the peace agreements wi

 Being cast down. and when this domestic misfortune was also reported to the emperor and the frank’s arrival astonished everyone, a great despondency a

 Being defeated unsparingly, they do not perceive the divine nemesis. but the romans of old, not acting in this way, achieved those fearful and celebra

 And now he looked toward rebellion. for, not bearing the insatiability of nikephoros and what things he contrived against everyone, with the emperor p

 Hurrying to extinguish this great flame that had flared up. and he sent out with him a noteworthy army, composed of macedonians and romans and franks.

 They wished to remain still of the same mind, but they were considering how to defend themselves against their enemies in every way. and sending strab

 In the meantime perenus was appointed doux of italy, and nicephorus karantenos strategos of brindisi. perenus, therefore, being unable to cross over t

 Tasted, but being deceived and misled by the consul of the philosophers, corrupted the whole world, so to speak. for a severe famine occurred, which p

 Having met him, if indeed he had handled matters skillfully, he would have easily defeated him at the beginning of the revolt. and having arrived at t

 While he was staying, while the proedros alexios komnenos was in command with the soldiers in the capital, having previously given pledges with sure o

 Battle and the army retreats and all strife is driven away, and they began to enslave the romans to themselves.

 He received the man dishonorably and not as one sent from an emperor, but as from some subordinate general and yet the body of an envoy is considered

 They being of marriageable age. and he chose one of the two, either eudokia, the wife of doukas and later of diogenes, or maria of alania, the wife of

 When it was done, he was brought on a wagon, a pitiful burden and an unfortunate lodging. 184 and while the armies were occupied in the campaign again

 And he was considered burdensome to the more prominent members of the senate, who were stung by the things he pointed out to everyone. but since, as t

having met him, if indeed he had handled matters skillfully, he would have easily defeated him at the beginning of the revolt. And having arrived at Traianoupolis, he met there his brother John and the Franks and Macedonians from Adrianople and the rest of the army that supported him; there he also donned the imperial insignia. And having secured everyone with dreadful oaths and treaties, thus he received the acclamation with much acclamation and a large bodyguard, and as an emperor he began to take charge of affairs and he entered Adrianople with much honor and reverence, since the citizens gave him an extraordinary reception because they were well-disposed and deferential towards him. But the proedros Constantine Theodorokanos, having marched out against some of Bryennios' men, is captured and led captive to him, a man renowned and clearly known for the distinction of his family and the splendor of his life. But he was overlooked as one of the dishonored and ignoble; however, he did not suffer corporal punishment, although he was expected to suffer this on account of previous enmities and mortal combats; 174 but having been exiled to one of the Macedonian cities, not long after he paid his debt to fate. The fact that Bryennios donned the imperial insignia in Traianoupolis and accepted the acclamation and proclamation, the more prudent and sensible people considered not a good omen. For this Traianoupolis was not built in the name of the emperor Trajan—for it was built anew by him—but in the name of a certain magnate, a Goth, called Trajanus, noble at that time both in hand and in spirit, whom Caesar Trajan deprived of his eyes for some offense. And while passing through on his way to Persia, here he first saw this man, and becoming greatly pained at the sight, remembering his stratagems and his bravery, he ordered a city to be founded in that very place in unforgettable memory of the man. For these reasons, then, the sensible people considered the event not a good omen. Nevertheless, then, Bryennios, being ignorant of the outcome—for man is blind to the future—held fast to his affairs. And Rhaidestos also sided with him through the cooperation of his relative Batatzina. And the people of Rhaidestos, having also marched out against Panion, forced them also to proclaim Bryennios. And having honored his own brother as kouropalates and all the others according to their own rank and worth, he thought to appear formidable to the capital by sending his own brother. For having handed over to him a not inconsiderable army, he was hopeful that, since the citizens held the emperor and the logothete in no small anger and hatred, they would both pay attention to him and receive him within by agreement, and thus he himself would advance fearlessly with imperial preparations. But he greatly missed the mark. For even if he ravaged Herakleia and killed many of those in it after the proedros Alexios Komnenos, 175 who was lying in wait in Selymbria, had just withdrawn, nevertheless the inhabitants of the capital were by no means terrified at the advance of Bryennios' army; for having arrived, they skirmished at the wall of Blachernae, and having been repulsed, they crossed the bridge of St. Panteleemon and destroyed everything there with fire, and having accomplished nothing worthy of mention, they returned from there. But he himself, taking two regiments, advanced to Athyra, and sent the rest of the army into winter quarters. And while the emperor was in such distress, he with difficulty recalled Rousselios, who was still held in prison and in chains and who had attempted to desert to Botaneiates. So, having brought him out of prison and deemed him worthy of all honor and release, and having used many enticing and charming words to him, he incited him to battle against Bryennios and persuaded him to speak from the walls to the Franks with Bryennios. But when he did not persuade them, Rousselios marched against the brother of Bryennios at Athyra

συναντήσας αὐτῷ εἴ γε δεξιῶς ἐχρήσατο τοῖς πράγμασιν, εὐκόλως ἂν αὐτὸν ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς ἀποστασίας κατηγωνίσατο. Καταλαβὼν δὲ εἰς Τραϊανούπολιν ἐκεῖσε τῷ τε ἀδελφῷ συνήντησεν Ἰωάννῃ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ Ἀδριανουπόλεως Φράγκοις τε καὶ Μακεδόσι καὶ τῷ λοιπῷ τὰ αὐτοῦ φρονοῦντι στρατεύματι· ἔνθα καὶ τὰ βασιλικὰ παράσημα περιβάλλεται. Κατασφαλισάμενός τε πάντας ὅρκοις καὶ συνθήκαις φρικταῖς οὕτω τὴν εὐφημίαν ἀπειλήφει μετ' εὐφημίας καὶ δορυφορίας πολλῆς, καὶ οἷα βασιλεὺς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀπάρχεται καὶ τῆς Ἀδριανουπόλεως ἐπιβαίνει σὺν πολλῇ τιμῇ καὶ σεβάσματι, ἐξαισίαν ὑπάντησιν ποιησαμένων αὐτῷ τῶν πολιτῶν διὰ τὸ οἰκείως ἔχειν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ θεραπευτικῶς. Ἀντεπεξελθὼν δέ τισιν ὁ πρόεδρος Κωνσταντῖνος ὁ Θεοδωροκάνος τῶν τοῦ Βρυεννίου ἁλίσκεται καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν αἰχμάλωτος ἄγεται, ἀνὴρ ἔνδοξος καὶ γένους ἐπισημότητι καὶ βίου λαμπρότητι καταφανὴς γινωσκόμενος. Παρωράθη δὲ ὡς εἷς τῶν ἀτίμων καὶ ἀγεννῶν· οὐ μὴν δὲ σωματικὴν τιμωρίαν ὑπέστη, καίτοι γε ἐπίδοξος ἦν ταύτην παθεῖν διὰ προηγησαμένας ἔχθρας καὶ μάχας κεφαλικάς· 174 φυγαδευθεὶς δὲ πρός τινα τῶν μακεδονικῶν πόλεων, μετ' οὐ πολὺ τῷ χρεὼν ἐλειτούργησε. Τὸ δὲ τὰ βασιλικὰ παράσημα ἐν Τραϊανουπόλει περιβαλέσθαι τὸν Βρυέννιον καὶ τὴν εὐφημίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνάρρησιν δέξασθαι οὐκ ἀγαθὸν οἰωνὸν οἱ συνετώτεροι καὶ ἐχέφρονες ἐλογίζοντο. Ἡ γὰρ Τραϊανούπολις αὕτη οὐκ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ βασιλέως Τραϊανοῦ ᾠκοδομήθη ὑπ' ἐκείνου μὲν γὰρ ἐκ καινῆς ᾠκοδόμηται ἐπ' ὀνόματι δὲ τῶν μεγιστάνων τινὸς Γότθου, Τραϊανοῦ καλουμένου, γενναίου τὸ τηνικαῦτα κατά τε χεῖρα καὶ κατὰ ψυχήν, ὃν διά τι πταῖσμα τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐστέρησεν ὁ καῖσαρ Τραϊανός. Ἐπὶ Πέρσας δὲ διιὼν ἐνταῦθα τοῦτον ἐθεάσατο πρῶτον, καὶ περιώδυνος ἐπὶ τῇ θέᾳ γενόμενος , τῶν στρατηγημάτων καὶ τῆς ἀνδρείας ἀναμνησθείς, ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ τόπῳ πόλιν ἐκέλευσε πολίσαι εἰς μνήμην ἄληστον τοῦ ἀνδρός. ∆ιὰ ταῦτα γοῦν οὐκ ἀγαθὸν οἰωνὸν τὸ γεγονὸς οἱ ἐχέφρονες ἐλογίζοντο. Ὅμως γοῦν τὸ ἀποτέλεσμα ὁ Βρυέννιος ἀγνοῶν -τυφλὸν γὰρ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἄνθρωπος-τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντείχετο. Ἐφρόνησε δὲ τὰ αὐτὰ καὶ ἡ Ῥαιδεστὸς συνεργίᾳ τῆς συγγενοῦς αὐτοῦ Βατατζίνης. Οἱ δὲ Ῥαιδεστηνοὶ καὶ κατὰ τοῦ Πανίου ἐξωρμηκότες ἐβιάσαντο καὶ αὐτοὺς ἀναγορεῦσαι τὸν Βρυέννιον. Τιμήσας δὲ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφὸν κουροπαλάτην καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ἅπαντας ἀναλόγως καὶ ἀξίως τῆς ἰδίας καταστάσεως, φοβερὸς πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα δι' ἀποστολῆς τοῦ ἰδίου ἀδελφοῦ φανῆναι ἐνόμισε. Παραδοὺς γὰρ αὐτῷ στρατὸν οὐκ ὀλίγον ἐν ἐλπίσιν ἦν ὡς, ἐπείπερ οἱ πολῖται τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τὸν λογοθέτην δι' ὀργῆς καὶ μίσους οὐκ ἀγεννῶς ἔχουσι, προσέξουσί τε αὐτῷ καὶ προσδέξονται σὺν ὁμολογίαις ἐντός, καὶ οὕτως ἀδεῶς ἐπιφοιτήσει καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ βασιλικῇ. Ἀλλὰ πολὺ διήμαρτε τοῦ σκοποῦ. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ τὴν Ἡράκλειαν ἐδῄωσε καὶ πολλοὺς ἀνεῖλε τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ ὑποχωρήσαντος 175 ἔναγχος τοῦ προέδρου Ἀλεξίου τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ, ὃς ἐν Σηλυβρίᾳ ἐφήδρευεν, ἀλλ' ὅμως οἱ τὴν βασιλίδα οἰκοῦντες οὐδαμῶς πρὸς τὴν ἐπιφοίτησιν τῆς τοῦ Βρυεννίου στρατιᾶς κατεπλάγησαν· παραγενόμενοι γὰρ ἠκροβολίσαντο κατὰ τὸ τεῖχος τῶν Βλαχερνῶν , καὶ ἀποκρουσθέντες ἐπεραιώθησαν τὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Παντελεήμονος γέφυραν καὶ τὰ ἐκεῖσε πάντα πυρὶ κατελυμήναντο, καὶ οὐδὲν ἄξιον λόγου πεπραχότες ὑπέστρεψαν ἐκεῖθεν. Αὐτὸς δὲ δύο τάγματα λαβὼν τῷ Ἀθύρᾳ ἐπιφοιτᾷ, τὴν δὲ λοιπὴν στρατιὰν εἰς παραχειμασίαν ἀπέστειλεν. Ἐν τοσούτῳ δὲ κακῶν γενόμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς μόλις εἰς μνήμην ἧκε τοῦ Ῥουσελίου, φυλακῇ καὶ δεσμοῖς καὶ ἔτι συνεχομένου καὶ τῷ Βοτανειάτῃ αὐτομολῆσαι ἐπιχειρήσαντος. Ἐξαγαγὼν οὖν αὐτὸν τῆς φυλακῆς καὶ πάσης ἀξιώσας τιμῆς καὶ ἀνέσεως, καὶ πολλοῖς ἐπαγωγοῖς καὶ θελκτηρίοις πρὸς αὐτὸν χρησάμενος ῥήμασιν, εἰς τὴν κατὰ τοῦ Βρυεννίου παράταξιν διηρέθισε καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τειχῶν τοῖς σὺν τῷ Βρυεννίῳ Φράγκοις διαλεχθῆναι παρέπεισεν. Ὡς δ' οὐκ ἔπεισεν, ὁ Ῥουσέλιος ἐπιστρατεύει τῷ ἀδελφῷ τοῦ Βρυεννίου ἐν τῷ Ἀθύρᾳ