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 man being both good in appearance and very skilled in conversation. When the ambassadors had approached and made the customary address for ambassadors, and the ruler himself had greeted them in return and was treating them gently, he asked them to inform him for what reason they had made their arrival to him; when they said that they had been sent by the ruler for the sake of peace and treaties and a common cause, he asked again on what terms they sought the agreements, and they recounted everything from the emperor, with Straboromanos leading the speech; for he also held the authority of the embassy, being a kinsman of the emperor; while the other had been sent for the purpose of persuading, because of his relationship by marriage to the one who was emperor. 4.3 The terms of the embassy were as follows. "I," says the ruler, "having known your father long ago, a man skilled in generalship and who raised many trophies against the Scythians, and having indeed campaigned with him and previously had him as a companion in my retinue, know you no less to be a worthy son of such a father. For these reasons, since God has raised me to the imperial height, I wish to become a loving father to you. Therefore, may you become to me a dutiful son in place of an ungrateful son, overlooking the weakness that comes from old age, and for now receive the second honor after the emperorship, I mean that of Caesar, and after not long you will also be named our successor to the empire of the Romans." When the ambassadors had relayed these things, he, without any delay—for he was as quick-witted as anyone—immediately answered that he was willing for the agreements and to embrace peace and to end the civil war and to accept the honor from the emperor, but that he wished not only for himself to obtain the benefits of peace, but also those who had shared with him in the enterprise, both generals and soldiers and officials, whose interest to betray he considered equal to impiety; for it would be of the utmost selfishness or rather inhumanity, for one seeking his own advantage to betray that of others; therefore he would not otherwise accept the adoption and the honor, unless he first secured their interests. He wishes, therefore, first for the emperor to confirm the promises made by him to them, and thus to go out of the city with the patriarch and to be at the church of the commander of the heavenly powers, Michael, which is established in the place near Thrace called Damokrania, and there for the matters of the adoption by the Caesars to take place and for him to be crowned with the diadem as is customary. And when the ambassadors asked why he did not wish for the ceremony to take place for him when he was in the queen of cities, he said that he feared no one except God, but that he distrusted most of those around the emperor. 4.4 On these terms the ambassadors, having taken their leave, departed; but it happened that they nearly came into danger, having encountered the scouts; nevertheless, they were saved by the intelligence of the commander of the scouts. Therefore, when these men had departed and had reported the terms of the agreements to the emperor, it seemed best not to waste time, but to send out the Domestic of the Schools with the armies; for the agreements were despaired of, since Bryennios seemed to be demanding impossible things. Therefore Komnenos set out, having with him both the allied Turks and the so-called Chomatenoi, who had come with the emperor Botaneiates, and a certain portion of the Franks who had come from Italy, and bringing with him the phalanx of the so-called Immortals. But it is necessary to say who these Immortals are. The emperor Michael, or to speak the truth, the eunuch Nikephoros the logothete, seeing that the entire eastern army had already been lost, having become subject to the Turks, took care to establish, as was possible, a newly-levied army and gathering some of those who were scattered from Asia and serving for pay, he clothed them in breastplates and gave them shields and helmets to bear and spears. And setting over them one of the generals who was both naturally gifted and skillful in their training—and this was Constantine the Cappadocian, a man close in lineage to the emperor Michael and a companion and foster-brother to him,

ἀνὴρ ὢν ἀγαθός τε τὸ εἶδος καὶ ὁμιλῆσαι δεινότατος. Ἐγγισάντων δὲ τῶν πρέσβεων καὶ τὴν συνήθη πρεσβεῦσι ποιησαμένων προσηγορίαν καὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἀντιπροσαγορεύσαντος καὶ αὐτοῖς ἠπίως προσφερομένου, ἐπήρετο ἀναδιδάσκειν αὐτοὺς δι' ἣν αἰτίαν τὴν παρ' αὐτὸν ἐποιήσαντο ἄφιξιν· χάριν εἰρήνης τε καὶ σπονδῶν φαμένων καὶ κοινοπραγίας πεμφθῆναι παρὰ τοῦ κρατοῦντος, αὖθις ἐπήρετο ἐπὶ τίσι τὰς ξυμβάσεις αἰτοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ πάντα διεξῄεσαν τὰ παρὰ βασιλέως, τοῦ Στραβορωμανοῦ τῶν λόγων κατάρχοντος· οὗτος γὰρ καὶ τὸ τῆς πρεσβείας εἶχε κῦρος ἅτε οἰκεῖος ὢν βασιλεῖ· ὁ δὲ ἕτερος χάριν τοῦ πείθειν ἀπέσταλτο διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν βασιλειῶντα ἐκ τοῦ κήδους οἰκειότητα. 4.3 Τὰ δὲ τῆς πρεσβείας ἦσαν τοιάδε. "Ἐγώ, φησὶν ὁ κρατῶν, πάλαι τὸν σὸν πατέρα γινώσκων, ἄνδρα δεινὸν μὲν στρατηγῆσαι καὶ πολλὰ κατὰ Σκυθῶν ἀναστήσαντα τρόπαια καὶ μέντοι καὶ ξυστρατεύσας αὐτῷ καὶ ταῖς ἑταιρείαις πρότερον σύντροφον σχών, οὐχ ἧττον καὶ σὲ ἐπίσταμαι ἄξιον ὄντα παῖδα τοιούτου πατρός. ∆ιὰ ταῦτα, ἐπεί με Θεὸς εἰς τὸ βασίλειον ὕψος ἀνήγαγε, βούλομαί σοι γενέσθαι ἀντὶ πατρὸς φιλοστόργου. Γένοιο οὖν σὺ κἀμοὶ υἱὸς εὐγνώμων ἀνθ' υἱοῦ ἀγνώμονος, ὑπερείδων τὴν ἐκ τοῦ γήρως ἀσθένειαν, καὶ νῦν μὲν τὴν μετὰ βασιλείαν δευτέραν τιμὴν λάμβανε, φημὶ δὴ τὴν τοῦ καίσαρος, μετ' οὐ πολὺ δὲ καὶ διάδοχος ἡμῖν χρηματίσεις τῆς βασιλείας Ῥωμαίων". Ταῦτα διεξελθόντων τῶν πρέσβεων, μηδὲν μελλήσας ἐκεῖνοςκαὶ γὰρ ἦν εἴπερ τις ἄλλος ἀγχίνουςεὐθὺς ἀπεκρίνατο τὰς συμβάσεις ἐθέλειν καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην ἀσπάζεσθαι καὶ τὸν πόλεμον καταλῦσαι ἐμφύλιον καὶ τὴν παρὰ βασιλέως τιμὴν δέχεσθαι, βούλεσθαι δὲ μὴ αὐτὸν μόνον τυχεῖν τῶν τῆς εἰρήνης καλῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ξυμμετασχόντας αὐτῷ τοῦ ἔργου, στρατηγούς τε καὶ στρατιώτας καὶ ἄρχοντας, ὧν τὸ ξυμφέρον προδοῦναι ἴσον αὐτῷ τοῦ ἀσεβῆσαι νενόμισται· φιλαυτίας γὰρ εἴη ἐσχάτης ἢ μᾶλλον εἰπεῖν ἀπανθρωπίας, ζητοῦντα τὸ ἑαυτοῦ συμφέρον τὸ τῶν ἄλλων προδοῦναι· οὐκ ἄλλως οὖν τὴν υἱοθεσίαν λαμβάνειν καὶ τὴν τιμήν, εἰ μὴ πρότερον τὰ ἐκείνων ἐξασφαλίσαιτο. Βούλεται οὖν πρότερον τὸν βασιλέα βεβαιῶσαι τὰ παρ' αὐτοῦ σφίσιν ἐκείνοις ἐπαγγελθέντα καὶ οὕτω τῆς πόλεως ἐξελθεῖν σὺν τῷ πατριάρχῃ καὶ περὶ τὸν ναὸν γενέσθαι τοῦ ταξιάρχου τῶν ἄνω δυνάμεων Μιχαήλ, ὃς ἵδρυται ἐν τῷ περὶ τὴν Θρᾴκην χωρίῳ ∆αμοκρανίας κἀκεῖσε τὰ τῆς υἱοθεσίας ἐπὶ τοῖς καίσαρσι γίνεσθαι καὶ τῷ στεφάνῳ ταινιωθῆναι συνήθως. Τῶν δὲ πρέσβεων ἐρομένων διὰ τί οὐ βούλεται τὰ τῆς τελετῆς αὐτοῦ γενέσθαι γενομένῳ κατὰ τὴν βασιλίδα τῶν πόλεων, φοβεῖσθαι μὲν ἔφησεν οὐδένα πλὴν τὸν Θεόν, ἀπιστεῖν δὲ τῶν περὶ τὸν βασιλέα τοῖς πλείστοις. 4.4 Ἐπὶ τούτοις οἱ πρέσβεις ἀπαλλαγέντες ἀπῄεσαν· ξυνέβη δὲ μικροῦ δεῖν αὐτοῖς κινδυνεῦσαι τοῖς σκοποῖς ἐντυχοῦσιν· ὅμως μέντοι ἐσώθησαν συνέσει τοῦ τῶν σκοπῶν κατάρχοντος. Τούτων οὖν ἀπελθόντων καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀπαγγειλάντων τὰ τῶν ξυμβάσεων, ἐδόκει μὴ τρίβεσθαι τὸν καιρόν, ἀλλ' ἐκπέμπειν μετὰ τῶν στρατευμάτων τὸν δομέστικον τῶν Σχολῶν· ἀπεγνώσθη γὰρ τὰς ξυμβάσεις ὡς τοῦ Βρυεννίου δοκοῦντος ἀπαιτεῖν ἀδύνατα. Ἐξῄει οὖν ὁ Κομνηνός, σχὼν μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ τούς τε ξυμμάχους Τούρκους καὶ τοὺς Χωματηνοὺς λεγομένους, οἳ μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐληλύθεισαν τοῦ Βοτανειάτου, καὶ Φράγγων τῶν ἐξ Ἰταλίας ἐλθόντων ἀπομοιράν τινα καὶ τῆς τῶν Ἀθανάτων καλουμένων φάλαγγος ἐπαγόμενος. Τίνες δὲ οἱ Ἀθάνατοι οὗτοι εἰπεῖν ἀναγκαῖον. Ὁ βασιλεὺς Μιχαὴλ ἢ τἀληθὲς εἰπεῖν ὁ ἐκτομίας Νικηφόρος ὁ λογοθέτης ἰδὼν τὸ τῆς ἑῴας στράτευμα ἅπαν ἤδη ἐκλελοιπὸς ὡς ὑποχείριον τῶν Τούρκων γενόμενον, ἐφρόντιζεν, ὡς οἷόν τε, στράτευμα καταστῆσαι νεόλεκτον καὶ δή τινας τῶν ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας διασπαρέντων καὶ ἐπὶ μισθῷ δουλευόντων συλλέγων θώρακάς τε ἐνέδυε καὶ θυρεοὺς ἐδίδου καὶ κράνη φέρειν καὶ δόρατα. Ἐπιστήσας δὲ αὐτοῖς ἕνα τῶν στρατηγῶν εὐφυῶς ὁμοῦ καὶ ἐπιδεξίως πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνων ἄσκησιν ἔχονταἦν δὲ οὗτος ὁ Καππάδοξ Κωνσταντῖνος, ἀνὴρ πρὸς γένος ἐγγίζων τῷ βασιλεῖ Μιχαὴλ καὶ συνήθης τούτῳ καὶ σύντροφος,