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

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 neither envoys nor letters to you; therefore, as I kept my faith with him unblemished, so too will I keep it unshaken toward you." Upon these words, when the emperor had praised him, Alexios departed. When Botaneiates learned, then, that those sent ahead had taken control of the palace, he departed to cross over to the palace. And when he arrived at the shore opposite the city, where a stone heifer stood on a column, the imperial dromon received him, and immediately he was ferried across to the palace with acclamations and applause. 3.24 But the Emperor Michael immediately had his hair cut and put on the monastic habit, with his uncle, the Caesar, present with him, who, knowing the fickleness of the conqueror and the audacity of those around him, and since he saw his authority was subject to his servants, feared for his nephew lest he suffer something more terrible, and advised him to be consecrated to God. Therefore, the one at that time directing the patriarchal throne—and it was Kosmas the great and renowned—knowing the purity of the man, enrolled him among the clergy and a little later ordained him metropolitan of Ephesus. 3.25 But Botaneiates, having taken control of the scepters of the empire, although he had approached the threshold of old age, or rather had even entered within it, and having been joined in two marriages previously, nevertheless took the Empress Maria again, for as soon as Botaneiates took control of the empire, the Empress Maria went to the monastery situated near the Sidera, which is called Petrion, and made her dwelling there. But since, by the will of the Caesar, as the account will more clearly show later, Botaneiates, having been persuaded, chose to marry her, the Caesar summoned her and brought her into the palace and then, when the preparations for the betrothal were made and the emperor and empress were already standing as bride and groom before the gates of the sanctuary, since the one about to perform the betrothal, having come to himself and fearing deposition because both the emperor {and} Doukas, her husband, and the wife Botaneiates had from his second marriage were still alive, gathering himself and realizing to what an evil pass he was being brought, blessing at once an adultery and a third marriage, he for a time delayed his procession from the bema, having seen this and guessing the thought troubling the priest, he was in agony lest the patriarch, having been informed of this, would dissolve the betrothal being performed and would turn again to Eudokia; and not wanting to speak his mind because of the bystanders, he stared at his stepson Michael Doukas, wishing to indicate the secret matter through his gaze. But this young man, seeing the priest's delay and the Caesar's glance toward him, quickly understood what was needed and immediately, having prepared another priest to perform the betrothal, for the time being kept him hidden, and approaching the altar himself, he called over the priest who was refusing the betrothal. And he asked what the reason might be for which he was being summoned, and the other, taking hold of his vestments, quietly removed him from there, and brought in the other one, who performed the sacred rite; from then on the Caesar had free access to the empress. 3.26 Upon these events, the logothete, despairing of his attendants and the emperor, set out to flee to Bryennios, and having arrived in Selymbria and conferred with Ourselios, who had been sent there with the regiments by both him and the emperor Michael, he wanted to depart with him to Bryennios. But the latter seized him and led him as a prisoner to Botaneiates, and having been confined to the island called Oxeia, after a short time he was inhumanly and mercilessly tortured and died. Such an end did the affairs of the reign of Michael Doukas have. 4.T Book 4 4.1 Thus, then, Nikephoros Botaneiates, having taken hold of the

κρατοῦντι ἕως τέλους διέμεινα καί, πάντων πρὸς τὴν σὴν βασιλείαν ἀποκλινάντων, αὐτὸς μέχρι καὶ ἐς δεῦρο τὴν πρὸς ἐκεῖνον πίστιν τετήρηκα, μήτε πρέσβεις πρὸς σὲ πεπομφώς, μήτε γράμματα· ὡς γοῦν τὴν πρὸς ἐκεῖνον πίστιν ἄδολον διετήρησα, οὕτω καὶ τὴν πρὸς σὲ τηρήσω ἀκράδαντον". Ἐπὶ τούτοις τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτὸν ἐπαινέσαντος, ὁ Ἀλέξιος ἀπηλλάττετο. Μαθὼν οὖν ὁ Βοτανειάτης ὡς οἱ προπεμφθέντες τῶν βασιλείων γεγόνασιν ἐγκρατεῖς, ἀπῄει διαπεράσων πρὸς τὰ βασίλεια. Γενομένου δ' αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν κατ' ἀντιπέραν τῆς πόλεως ἠϊόνα, ἔνθα καὶ δάμαλις λιθίνη ἐπὶ κίονος ἵστατο, ὁ δρόμων ὁ βασίλειος ὑπεδέχετο καὶ εὐθὺς μετ' εὐφημιῶν καὶ κρότων διεπεραιοῦτο πρὸς τὰ βασίλεια. 3.24 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Μιχαὴλ παραυτίκα τήν τε κόμην ἐκείρατο καὶ τὸ μοναδικὸν περιεβάλλετο σχῆμα, συνόντος αὐτῷ καὶ τοῦ θείου καὶ καίσαρος, ὃς τό τε κοῦφον τοῦ κρατήσαντος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ τὸ αὔθαδες τῶν περὶ αὐτόν, ἐπεὶ καὶ δουλοκρατουμένην ἑώρα τούτου τὴν ἐξουσίαν, δείσας περὶ τοῦ ἀνεψιοῦ μή τι πάθῃ δεινότερον συνεβούλευε τούτῳ τῷ Θεῷ καθιερωθῆναι. Ὁ τοίνυν τηνικαῦτα τὸν τῆς πατριαρχίας θρόνον ἰθύνωνἦν δὲ Κοσμᾶς ὁ μέγας καὶ περιβόητοςτὴν καθαρότητα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς γινώσκων τῷ κλήρῳ αὐτὸν συγκατέλεξε καὶ μετ' ὀλίγον μητροπολίτην Ἐφέσου κεχειροτόνηκεν. 3.25 Ὁ Βοτανειάτης δὲ τῶν τῆς βασιλείας σκήπτρων γενόμενος ἐγκρατής, καίτοι τοῖς οὐδοῖς προσεγγίσας τοῦ γήραος, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ τούτων ἔνδον γενόμενος καὶ δυσὶ γάμοις προσομιλήσας πρότερον, ὅμως αὖθις τὴν βασιλίδα Μαρίαν ἠγάγετο, καὶ γὰρ ἅμα τῷ τὸν Βοτανειάτην ἐγκρατῆ τῆς βασιλείας γενέσθαι εἰς τὸ ἀγχοῦ τῆς Σιδηρᾶς διακείμενον μοναστήριον, ὃ Πέτριον ὀνομάζεται, ἡ βασιλὶς Μαρία ἀπελθοῦσα ἐκεῖσε τὴν οἴκησιν ἐποιήσατο. Ἐπεὶ δὲ τῷ θελήματι τοῦ καίσαρος, ὡς ὁ λόγος σαφέστερον ἐν ὑστέρῳ δηλώσει, καταπειθὴς γεγονὼς ὁ Βοτανειάτης ἀγαγέσθαι ταύτην προείλετο, μετακαλεσάμενος αὐτὴν ὁ καῖσαρ εἰς τὰ βασίλεια εἰσάγει κἄπειτα τῶν πρὸς τὴν μνηστείαν ἑτοιμασθέντων καὶ πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ τεμένους τοῦ τε βασιλέως καὶ τῆς βασιλίδος νυμφίων ἤδη ἱσταμένων, ἐπεὶ ὁ μέλλων τὴν μνηστείαν τελέσαι ἑαυτοῦ γεγονὼς καὶ πτοηθεὶς τὴν καθαίρεσιν διὰ τὸ τόν τε βασιλέα {καὶ} ∆ούκα καὶ σύνευνον αὐτῆς καὶ ἣν εἶχεν ὁ Βοτανειάτης ἐκ δευτέρου συνοικεσίου ὁμευνέτιν ἔτι τῷ βίῳ περιεῖναι, συναγαγὼν ἑαυτὸν καὶ γνοὺς ὅπη κακοῦ φέρεται μοιχείαν ἅμα καὶ τριγαμίαν εὐλογῶν, ἀνεβάλλετο τέως τὴν ἐκ τοῦ βήματος πρόοδον, τοῦτο θεασάμενος καὶ στοχασάμενος τοῦ ὀχλοῦντος τὸν ἱερέα λογισμοῦ ἐν ἀγωνίᾳ ἦν μὴ τὴν τελουμένην μνηστείαν λύσει ὁ πατριάρχης ἐνωτισθεὶς περὶ τούτου καὶ αὖθις πρὸς τὴν Εὐδοκίαν ἀπονεύσει· φράσαι δὲ τὸ βουλητὸν διὰ τοὺς περιεστῶτας μὴ θέλων, πρὸς τὸν ἔκγονον αὐτοῦ Μιχαὴλ τὸν ∆ούκα ἐνατενίσας διὰ τοῦ βλέμματος τὸ ἀπόρρητον ἐπισημήνασθαι ἤθελεν. Ὁ δὲ νεανίας οὗτος τὴν ἀναβολὴν τοῦ ἱερέως ὁρῶν καὶ τὸ εἰς ἑαυτὸν βλέμμα τοῦ καίσαρος γοργῶς συνῆκε τὸ δέον καὶ εὐθὺς ἕτερον ἱερέα ἑτοιμάσας τὸν τὴν μνηστείαν τελέσοντα τέως εἶχεν ἀφανῆ, αὐτὸς δὲ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ πλησιάσας προσκαλεῖται τὸν παραιτούμενον τὴν μνηστείαν ἱερέα. Ὁ δὲ ἐπυνθάνετο τί ἂν εἴη δι' ὃ προσκαλοῖτο καὶ ὃς τῶν ἀμφίων αὐτοῦ ἁψάμενος μεθίστησι τοῦτον ἐκεῖθεν ἠρέμα, ἀντεισάγει δὲ τὸν ἕτερον, ὃς καὶ τὴν ἱερολογίαν ἐτέλεσεν· ἐντεῦθεν ὁ καῖσαρ τὴν πρὸς βασιλίδα παρρησίαν ἔσχηκεν. 3.26 Ἐπὶ τούτοις ὁ λογοθέτης τῶν παρακειμένων καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπογνοὺς ἐξώρμησε φεύγειν πρὸς τὸν Βρυέννιον καὶ τῇ Σηλυμβρίᾳ γενόμενος καὶ τῷ Οὐρσελίῳ προσομιλήσας μετὰ τῶν τάξεων ἐκεῖσε πρὸς αὐτοῦ τε καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως Μιχαὴλ πεμφθέντι ἐβούλετο ξὺν αὐτῷ ἀπαίρειν πρὸς τὸν Βρυέννιον. Ὁ δὲ συλλαβὼν τοῦτον δεσμώτην πρὸς τὸν Βοτανειάτην ἀπήγαγε καὶ τῇ Ὀξείᾳ καλουμένῃ νήσῳ περιορισθεὶς μετὰ μικρὸν ἀπανθρώπως τε καὶ ἀνηλεῶς ἐτασθεὶς ἀπεβίω. Τοιοῦτον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος τὰ κατὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ ∆ούκα Μιχαήλ. 4.τ Βιβλίον δʹ 4.1 Οὕτω μὲν οὖν ὁ Βοτανειάτης Νικηφόρος ἐπειλημμένος τῶν τῆς