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

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 emperor, being studded with pearls and gems, he sent to the emperor, informing him of that man's capture. And he, pleased by the news, sends out the most faithful and intimate man he had, whether a Scythian or a Mysian—Borilas was his name—whom, after honoring him as protoproedros, he made ethnarch, to take custody of Bryennius, ordering the Domestic of the Schools, Komnenos, not to enter Constantinople, but to go away and, after settling the affairs around Adrianople, to march against Basilakes. For that one too had already become powerful, with the entire army in Illyricum and in Bulgaria having gone over to him; not only that, but he also had Varangians with him, all those who had been sent down by Emperor Michael with Basilakes to Dyrrachium; and he also seized the metropolis in Thessaly, which they call Thessalonica. Komnenos, therefore, took the command badly; for he thought that honors from the emperor and rewards worthy of his achievement would come to him, as one who had overthrown and subjugated not a tyranny, but rather a very great empire, strengthened by so large and so great an army and by such a renowned general and by the tribute of so much land and of its cities, nevertheless, though taking it badly, he did what was commanded. 4.17 And Borilas, having taken custody of Bryennius and led him away to the place called Philopation, blinds him, depriving the Roman empire and state of a man the like of whom it possessed no other, apart from the one who had prevailed over him. And Komnenos, after remaining outside the city for three days and having seen and taken leave of his own men who came out to him, proceeded towards Adrianople, having received from the emperor also written pardons in red imperial letters and confirmed with golden seals, so that each of the commanders should have both the rank which he held and all the possessions of which he had previously been master. 4.18 And the emperor, after some days, having sent for Bryennius, both pitied his misfortune and made him master of all his own property, and restored him with honors and gifts of other properties. And the commanders were frequently summoned to him, and they all entered the queen of cities, and the emperor gladly received them all, as Alexios Komnenos had already arrived and handed them the documents with the golden seals. Having taken all the others with him, he proceeds against Basilakes to do what was commanded by the emperor; and those men, with their wives and children, arrived at the great city, as has been said above; but Komnenos, passing through Macedonia and Boleron, reaches the Strymon, and having crossed this river and having passed through the narrow passes between Stroumpitza and the so-called Black Mountain, he came to a place situated by a certain river, which the locals call the Bardarios. The Bardarios flows down from the mountains of new Mysia and, passing through Skoupoi, descends between Stroumpitza and Stypion, cutting the mountains in two; and proceeding a short distance from there, it separates the lands of Berroia and Thessalonica from each other, flowing through them, and makes its way to the sea; but some time before, having diverged a little from its own course, it had turned to another, not more than two or three stadia distant from its former channel, so that its former passage became a natural canal. Between the two, therefore, Alexios Komnenos encamped, having ordered everyone, after taking their midday meal, to rest for the remainder of the day, as they were going to keep watch during the night or sleep in their armor. 4.19 For being shrewd and having gained sufficient experience from what he had done before, he divined the enemy's intention, thinking that the other would attack him by night, which indeed also happened. For this reason indeed he also made preparations in advance and sent out scouts in all directions; but he acted thus; but Basilakes, when one of Komnenos' companions deserted to him and said that if he wished to attack him, he himself would betray him

οὖν λαβὼν αὐτὸς μὲν ἀπῄει ὡς πρὸς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν· τὰ δὲ κοκκοβαφῆ πέδιλα, ἃ ἐκεῖνος βασιλειῶν ἐπεδύετο, μαργάροις ὄντα καὶ λίθοις κατάστικτα πρὸς τὸν κρατοῦντα ἐξέπεμπε, μηνύων αὐτῷ τὴν ἐκείνου κατάσχεσιν. Ὁ δ' ἡσθεὶς τῷ ἀκούσματι ὃν εἶχε πιστότατον καὶ οἰκειότατον ἄνδρα, εἴτε Σκύθην, εἴτε Μυσόν Βορίλας ἦν τούτῳ τὸ ὄνομα, ὃν πρωτοπρόεδρον τιμήσας ἐθνάρχην ἐκπέμπει παραληψόμενον τὸν Βρυέννιον, τῷ τῶν Σχολῶν δομεστίκῳ τῷ Κομνηνῷ κελεύων μὴ εἰσιέναι πρὸς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν, ἀλλ' ἀπελθόντα καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἀδριανούπολιν καταστήσαντα κατὰ τοῦ Βασιλάκη στρατεύειν. Ἔφθη γὰρ κἀκεῖνος δυνατὸς γενέσθαι, τοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰλλυρικῷ παντὸς στρατεύματος καὶ τῇ Βουλγαρίᾳ αὐτῷ προσχωρήσαντος· οὐ μὴ δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ Βαράγγους εἶχε μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ, ὅσοι πρὸς τοῦ βασιλέως Μιχαὴλ ξὺν τῷ Βασιλάκῃ πρὸς τὸ ∆υρράχιον κατεπέμφθησαν· κατέσχε δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐν Θεσσαλίᾳ μητρόπολιν, ἣν Θεσσαλονίκην ὀνομάζουσιν. Ὁ μὲν οὖν Κομνηνὸς βαρέως τὸ κελευσθὲν ἔφερεν· ᾤετο γὰρ τιμὰς ἐκ βασιλέως καὶ γέρα αὐτῷ γενέσθαι τοῦ κατορθώματος ἄξια, ὡς οὐ τυραννίδα, μᾶλλον δὲ βασιλείαν μεγίστην καὶ στρατεύματι τοσούτῳ καὶ τηλικούτῳ κρατυνομένην καὶ στρατηγῷ τοιούτῳ περιωνύμῳ καὶ χώρας τοσαύτης δασμοφορίᾳ καὶ πόλεων καταλύσαντι καὶ ὑποτάξαντι, πλὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ βαρέως φέρων ἐποίει τὸ κελευσθέν. 4.17 Τὸν δὲ Βρυέννιον ὁ Βορίλας παραλαβὼν καὶ πρὸς τὸ Φιλοπάτιον λεγόμενον ἀπαγαγὼν ἐκτυφλοῖ, ἄνδρα στερήσας τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῇ καὶ πολιτείᾳ οἷον οὔτινα ἄλλον ἐκέκτητο ἄνευ τοῦ τούτῳ ὑπερισχύσαντος. Ὁ Κομνηνὸς δ' ἐπὶ τρισὶν ἡμέραις μείνας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως καὶ τοὺς ἰδίους πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐξελθόντας ἰδών τε καὶ συνταξάμενος ἐχώρει πρὸς τὴν Ἀδριανούπολιν, λαβὼν ἐκ βασιλέως καὶ συγχωρήσεις ἐγγράφους βασιλικοῖς γράμμασιν ἐρυθρὰς καὶ σφραγῖσι χρυσαῖς βεβαιουμένας, ὥσθ' ἕκαστον τῶν ἀρχόντων ἔχειν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν ἣν εἶχε καὶ τὰς κτήσεις ἁπάσας ὁπόσων δεσπότης ἐφαίνετο πρότερον. 4.18 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς μεθ' ἡμέρας τινὰς μεταστειλάμενος τὸν Βρυέννιον ὤκτειρέ τε τῆς συμφορᾶς καὶ τῶν ἰδίων ἁπάντων κατέστησε κύριον, τιμαῖς τε αὐτὸν καὶ δωρεαῖς ἑτέρων κτήσεων ἀνεκτήσατο. Οἱ δὲ θαμινὰ πρὸς αὐτὸν μετεπέμποντό τε ἄρχοντες καὶ πάντες εἰσῄεσαν εἰς τὴν βασιλίδα τῶν πόλεων καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀσμένως ἅπαντας ὑπεδέχετο, φθάσαντος ἤδη καὶ τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ Ἀλεξίου καὶ τὰς χρυσοσημάντους γραφὰς αὐτοῖς ἐγχειρίσαντος. Τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους ἅπαντας παραλαβὼν κατὰ τοῦ Βασιλάκη χωρεῖ τὰ πρὸς βασιλέως κελευσθέντα ποιεῖν· κἀκεῖνοι μὲν ξὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις ἀφίκοντο πρὸς τὴν μεγαλόπολιν, καθάπερ ἄνωθεν λέλεκται· ὁ Κομνηνὸς δὲ διὰ Μακεδονίας καὶ Βολεροῦ διελθὼν τὸν Στρύμονα καταλαμβάνει καὶ τοῦτον διαπεράσας καὶ τὰ μεταξὺ Στρουμπίτζης καὶ τοῦ λεγομένου Μαύρου ὄρους στενὰ διελθὼν εἰς χωρίον πρός τινα ποταμὸν κείμενον γέγονεν, ὃν ἐγχωρίως καλοῦσι Βαρδάριον. Ὁ δὲ Βαρδάριος καταρρεῖ μὲν ἐκ τῶν τῆς νέας Μυσίας ὀρῶν καὶ διιὼν διὰ Σκούπων κάτεισι μεταξὺ Στρουμπίτζης καὶ Στυπίου, δίχα τέμνων τὰ ὄρη· βραχὺ δὲ ἐκεῖθεν προϊὼν διίστησιν ἀλλήλων τά τε Βερροίας καὶ Θεσσαλονίκης χωρία δι' αὐτῶν ῥέων καὶ πρὸς τὴν θάλασσαν δίεισι· χρόνοις δὲ πρότερον βραχύ τι τῆς ἰδίας ἀπονεύσας πορείας ἑτέρωσε ἐτράπετο οὐ πάνυ τι δυοῖν ἢ τριῶν σταδίων τῆς προτέρας διόδου ἀπέχουσαν, ὥστε ξυμ βῆναι τὴν πρώην ἐκείνου πάροδον διώρυχα εἶναι αὐτοφυῆ. Μεταξὺ οὖν ἀμφοῖν ὁ Κομνηνὸς Ἀλέξιος κατεστρατοπέδευσε, παραγγείλας πάντας ἀριστήσαντας τὸ λοιπὸν τῆς ἡμέρας ἀναπαύεσθαι ὡς τὴν νύκτα μέλλοντας ἀγρυπνεῖν ἢ καθεύδειν ἐν ὅπλοις. 4.19 Καὶ γὰρ ἀγχίνους ὢν καὶ πεῖραν λαβὼν ἱκανὴν ἐξ ὧν ἔδρασε πρότερον, ἐθήρασε τὸν τοῦ πολεμίου σκοπόν, οἰόμενος ἐπιθέσθαι τούτῳ ἐκεῖνον νυκτός, ὃ δὴ καὶ γέγονε. Ταύτῃ τοι καὶ προπαρεσκευάσατο καὶ σκοποὺς πανταχόθεν ἐξέπεμπεν· ἀλλ' οὗτος μὲν οὕτως· ὁ δὲ Βασιλάκης, τῶν ξυνόντων τῷ Κομνηνῷ αὐτομολήσαντός τινος πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ φράσαντος ὡς, εἰ βούλοιτο ἐπιθέσθαι τούτῳ, παραδώσει τοῦτον αὐτὸς