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
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 the original evils assailed the emperor's simplicity, for so I call his foolishness, but again the things of providence prevailed and the things of envy, like a swarm out of smoke, retreated and were dispersed, and those who were well betrothed, not long after, were also shown to be a most beautiful bride and groom; and we will tell the manner, having returned to the original sequence of the narrative. 3.7 John Bryennios, whom the narrative mentioned a short while ago, seeing his brother still hesitating and shirking and eager to escape as best he could or to proceed to rebellion, thought it necessary to prepare him to take up the task even unwillingly. Therefore, having persuaded all the leading men of the city to share in his plan and having brought all of Adrianople over to his side, he frequently summoned his brother. But since Tarchaneiotes opposed his actions, a man still young, but most intelligent and prudent if any other, he also sent messages to the emperor and the logothete, asking them to help with an army so that he might be able to put down the rebellion which had already broken out. But they, either lacking soldiers or being negligently disposed to the task, sent him no help. Therefore having held out for many days, when he saw that all were of one mind and that he himself had fallen into manifest danger, he yielded a little from his great resistance and, as the mother of the Bryennioi, the kouropalatissa Anna, indicated that she wished to join him to her sons by marriage, he agreed and betrothed his sister Helen, both shining in beauty and surpassing all her peers in modesty, to the son of his brother Nikephoros and thus joined himself to them. 3.8 But the emperor Michael, unaware, I think, of the agreements and oaths between Bryennios and Basilakes, sent out Basilakes as doux of the Illyrians, ordering him, if possible, to seize Bryennios and to send him as a prisoner to Constantinople; and when this was announced to Bryennios, he thought it necessary to wait no longer, but to set out and go home. So he went out, taking with him a certain small force. And since Basilakes also, hurrying towards Dyrrachion, hastened to catch Bryennios there, it happened that they met near Thessalonica, Basilakes having already occupied the city; who, seeing Bryennios leading a small force and much smaller than his own, as if forgetting the oaths and the agreements with his brother, rushed out against him. But as Bryennios nobly withstood his attack and struck down many of his men, he was turned to flight and was shut up inside the city. Therefore sending envoys from there, he asked that the agreements and oaths of his brother be renewed for them, and the other received him very gladly and ratified the agreements. But the one set out for Adrianople, and his brother came to meet him with the greatest possible force; for he had all the regiments of both Macedonians and Thracians with him, along with their captains and commanders and indeed the generals themselves, and all the rulers of the cities were with him, and he received them all graciously, for the man was affable and easy to speak to if any other. So at that time, having encamped, they were preparing to prove their valor, but to John Bryennios it seemed not at all proper to remain quiet nor to postpone the opportunity. Therefore, bringing with him the imperial insignia, he compelled his brother to put them on; but as he was shirking and seeking to consider the matter, he himself persuaded everyone, if possible, to compel the man. Nevertheless, his firmness of mind prevailed; for he declared that on the morrow they should assemble the rulers and generals together with the captains and propose a council and seek in common what was advantageous for all. On that very day he thus quieted his brother and the rulers
ἐτελεύτα ἐπ' ἀγαθαῖς ταῖς ἐλπίσι τὴν φιλτάτην παῖδα καταλιπών, ἀλλ' αὖθις νικᾶν ἐδόκουν οἱ πονηροὶ καὶ ὁ γάμος οὐ παρετίθετο,
τῶν ἀρχῆθεν κακῶν ἐπεισερχομένων τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἁπλότητα, οὕτω γὰρ ἐγὼ καλῶ τὴν ἐκείνου κουφότητα, ἀλλ' ὑπερενίκα πάλιν
τὰ τῆς προνοίας καὶ τὰ τοῦ φθόνου ὡς σμῆνος ἐκ καπνοῦ ὑπεχώρει καὶ διελύετο καὶ οἱ καλῶς μνηστευθέντες μετ' οὐ πολὺ καὶ νυμφίοι
ἀπεδείχθησαν κάλλιστοι· τὸν δὲ τρόπον ἐροῦμεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχῆθεν ἀκολουθίαν ἀναδραμόντες τοῦ λόγου. 3.7 Ὁ Βρυέννιος Ἰωάννης,
οὗ πρὸ βραχέος ὁ λόγος ἐμνήσθη, ὁρῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἔτι μέλλοντα καὶ ἀναδυόμενον καὶ διαδρᾶναι ὡς οἷόν τε σπεύδοντα ἢ εἰς ἀποστασίαν
χωρῆσαι, δεῖν ᾠήθη παρασκευάσαι τοῦτον καὶ ἄκοντα τοῦ ἔργου ἅψασθαι. Τοὺς προὔχοντας τοίνυν πάντας τῆς πόλεως κοινωνῆσαι αὐτῷ
τοῦ σκέμματος πείσας καὶ τὴν Ἀδριανούπολιν ἅπασαν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ποιησάμενος, συχνῶς μετεκαλεῖτο τὸν ἀδελφόν. Ἐπεὶ δ' ἀνθίστατο
ταῖς τούτου πράξεσιν ὁ Ταρχανειώτης, ἀνὴρ νέος μὲν ἔτι, συνετώτατος δ' εἴπερ τις ἄλλος καὶ φρονιμώτατος, καὶ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα
καὶ τὸν λογοθέτην ἐπέστελλε, ζητῶν ἐπικουρῆσαι διὰ στρατεύματος ὡς δυνηθῆναι τὴν ἀνάψασαν ἤδη ἀποστασίαν καθελεῖν. Οὗτοι δὲ
εἴτ' ἀποροῦντες στρατιωτῶν εἴτ' ἀμελῶς πρὸς τὸ ἔργον διατιθέμενοι, οὐδεμίαν αὐτῷ βοήθειαν ἀπεπόμφασιν. Ἐφ' ἱκανὰς ἡμέρας οὖν
ἀντισχών, ὡς ἑώρα ὁμοφρονήσαντας ἅπαντας καὶ ἑαυτὸν εἰς κίνδυνον προῦπτον καταστάντα, μικρὸν ἐνεδίδου τῆς πολλῆς ἐνστάσεως
καί, τῆς Βρυεννίων μητρὸς τῆς κουροπαλατίσσης Ἄννης διὰ κήδους συνάψαι τοῦτον τοῖς παισὶ μηνυσάσης, ξυγκατετίθετο καὶ τὴν
τούτου ἀδελφὴν Ἑλένην κάλλει τε διαλάμπουσαν καὶ κοσμιότητι τῶν ἡλίκων πασῶν ὑπερφέρουσαν κατεγγυᾶται τῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Νικηφόρου
υἱῷ καὶ οὕτω τούτοις συνάπτεται. 3.8 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Μιχαὴλ ἀγνοήσας, οἶμαι, τὰς μεταξὺ τοῦ Βρυεννίου καὶ τοῦ Βασιλάκη συμβιβάσεις
καὶ τὰ ὅρκια δοῦκα τὸν Βασιλάκην τῶν Ἰλλυριῶν ἐξαπέστειλε, παραγγείλας αὐτῷ, εἰ οἷόν τε, κατασχεῖν τὸν Βρυέννιον καὶ δεσμώτην
τοῦτον ἐκπέμπειν πρὸς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν· ἀπαγγελθέντος δὲ τούτου τῷ Βρυεννίῳ, δεῖν ᾠήθη μηκέτι μένειν, ἀλλ' ἐξορμᾶν καὶ
οἴκαδε ἀπιέναι. Ἐξῄει οὖν ὀλίγην τινὰ μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ ἐπιφερόμενος δύναμιν. Ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ ὁ Βασιλάκης πρὸς τὸ ∆υρράχιον ἐπειγόμενος
ἐκεῖ καταλαβεῖν τὸν Βρυέννιον ἔσπευδε, συνέβη τούτους ἀπαντῆσαι περὶ Θεσσαλονίκην, τοῦ Βασιλάκη προκατειληφότος τὸ ἄστυ· ὃς
ἰδὼν τὸν Βρυέννιον βραχεῖαν ἐπιφερόμενον δύναμιν καὶ κατὰ πολὺ τῆς ἐκείνου ἐλάττονα, τῶν ὁρκίων ὥσπερ ἐπιλαθόμενος καὶ τῶν
πρὸς τὸν ἐκείνου αὐτάδελφον συνθηκῶν ἐξώρμησε κατ' αὐτοῦ. Γενναίως δὲ τὴν τούτου ὁρμὴν ὑποστάντος τοῦ Βρυεννίου καὶ πολλοὺς
τῶν αὐτοῦ καταβαλόντος, εἰς φυγὴν τέτραπτο καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἐντὸς συνεκλείετο. Ἐκεῖθεν οὖν πρέσβεις ἐκπέμψας, ᾔτει ἀνανεωθῆναι
σφίσι τὰς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ συνθήκας τε καὶ τὰ ὅρκια, κἀκεῖνος αὐτὸν ὑποδέχεται μάλα ἀσμένως καὶ τὰς ξυμβάσεις ἐκύρου. Ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν
ἥπτετο τῆς πρὸς Ἀδριανούπολιν, ὁ ἀδελφὸς δὲ ἀπήντα μετὰ πλείστης ὅτι δυνάμεως· Μακεδόνων τε γὰρ καὶ Θρᾳκῶν τὰς τάξεις ἁπάσας
εἶχε μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ ἅμα λοχαγοῖς καὶ φαλαγγάρχαις καὶ αὐτοῖς δὴ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες δὲ τῶν πόλεων ξυνῆσαν αὐτῷ ἅπαντες
κἀκεῖνος ἅπαντας χαριέντως ὑπεδέχετο, καὶ γὰρ ἦν προσηνὴς ὁ ἀνὴρ καὶ εὐόμιλος εἴπερ τις ἄλλος. Τότε μὲν οὖν στρατοπεδευσάμενοι
ἀριστεῦσαι παρεσκευάζοντο, ἀλλὰ τῷ Βρυεννίῳ Ἰωάννῃ ἠρεμεῖν οὔτι δέον ἐδόκει οὐδ' ἀναβαλέσθαι τὸν καιρόν. Ἐπιφερόμενος οὖν
μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας παράσημα, ἠνάγκαζε τὸν ἀδελφὸν ταῦτα περιβαλέσθαι· ἐκείνου δὲ ἀναδυομένου καὶ σκέψασθαι περὶ
τούτου ζητοῦντος, αὐτὸς ἀνέπειθε πάντας, εἰ οἷόν τε, τὸν ἄνδρα βιάσασθαι. Ἐνίκα δ' ὅμως ἐκείνου τὸ σταθηρὸν τῆς γνώμης· ἀπεφαίνετο
γὰρ ἐς νέωτα συναθροίζειν ἄρχοντάς τε καὶ στρατηγοὺς ἅμα καὶ λοχαγοὺς καὶ βουλὴν προθεῖναι καὶ ζητῆσαι κοινῇ τὸ πᾶσι συμφέρον.
Κατὰ μὲν αὐτὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην οὕτω κατεύνασε τὴν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ τε καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων
