History
And what i have accurately ascertained from those who saw it, these things i will also commit to writing. 2. just now in the month of november, of the
He commanded that the triremes and the other transport ships should all be brought to anchor in a good harbor, and that they should control the sea, a
War. therefore, having gone around and seen that it was by nature difficult to enter and hard to approach for on the one side it had the sea as a saf
They would be frustrated. and having gone out of the camp, and having overrun a part of the country, when he learned from those who had been taken ali
It was easy to attack by assault, being raised to the greatest possible height, and girded with two trenches dug to a corresponding depth), and the de
Having divided his phalanx into three parts by night, he went against the scythians, and falling upon them suddenly, in a brief moment of time he wrou
Meet them, when i give the signal with the trumpets. such was the exhortation that the general delivered and the army shouted 22 and applauded, and w
6. but nikephoros phokas, the colleague of the aforementioned leo (for it is necessary, having summarized the account, to proceed with the history in
The general, having seen this, spurred his horse, quickened his pace, rode in and restrained the soldiers' onslaught, persuading them not to kill the
Having drawn up an irresistible battle-line, went through the land of the hagarenes. to them, having heard of the attack of nikephoros, it did not see
Was dignified by his rank), was hostilely disposed towards nicephorus. 11. he decided, therefore, to attempt a revolution at once but not having at h
, to proclaim him supreme commander, and to entrust the forces of asia to him, so that he might defend and check the assault of the foreigners. for th
He said, if you are persuaded to take up the rule of the east, i shall quickly declare you emperor, and restore you to the imperial thrones. speak wel
For he was gently nursing his little body), then, recovering again, he said, “speak, most brave one, what need is there to consider this?” but he said
I have assumed the imperial office, but compelled by the necessity of you, the army, and you yourselves bear witness for me that i was both shunning s
Before the report of his proclamation could fly abroad, to seize in advance the straits and passages of the sea. for thus he thought that matters woul
Numbering over three thousand, attacked the house of joseph and his collaborators along with the people. and having subjected these to plunder and pil
Especially the monks), they did not allow the man to persist in what he had decided, but urged him both to embrace marriage and not to shun meat-eatin
Makes it flood in a single hour) emboldened by these things, the barbarians mocked the emperor and insolently hurled insults at him, and making sorti
Having fallen upon it, accomplishing nothing noble or vigorous. and he considered the matter an outright disgrace and insult, and an indelible reproac
Having come to the region around tarsus, there he encamped and having pitched a palisade round about, he ordered the crops and the meadows, luxuriant
Having recovered the standards, which, crafted from gold and stones, the tarsians had captured in various battles while routing the roman force, and h
Of the spectacle, turned to flight and ran back to their own houses. and from the pushing and disorderly rush, no little slaughter occurred, with very
To blow favorably upon them, but blowing against them strongly and fiercely, it has sunk their affairs. but the account will now clearly reveal these
To those acting against the divine ordinance, if somehow at least in this way people, being afraid, would abstain from evil deeds, and would cling to
He had taken a fortress, and having crossed mount lebanon transversely, he turned his attention to tripoli, which he saw was fortified and exceptional
Being obliged to drive them away, and to guard the flocks from harm, they, in addition to not driving them away, themselves cut them down and tear the
Having come, and having been befriended by the ruler of the tauroi, and having corrupted him with gifts and bewitched him with persuasive words (for t
Reconciliation and friendship might be secured. the mysians gladly received the embassy, and putting daughters of the royal blood 80 on wagons (for it
They might do. but as they were already considering rushing to their defense, and to stoutly resist the enemy in close combat, as dawn was brightly br
Boasting to all about his brave deeds in wars. 6. having approached the emperor with these words and, 85 as was likely, having bewitched him (for he s
Having lowered from above, one by one they first pulled up all the conspirators, and then john himself. having come up, therefore, beyond all human su
The vengeance for these things, and to those who were slipping he seemed relentless and burdensome, and oppressive to those wishing to lead an indiffe
At the end of the month of december, during the thirteenth indiction of the six thousand four hundred and seventy-eighth year, a throng of select men,
Having captured him, confines him to amaseia. having therefore from this secured sufficient safety for himself and for his affairs, and having purged
To make amends for what nikephoros had improperly introduced. for nikephoros, whether wishing to correct divine matters that were being disturbed by s
And having found him not very accurately versed in secular education, but most diligently trained in divine and our own, he anoints him patriarch of a
The bosporus, but to pass by moesia, which belongs to the romans, and has from of old been a part of macedonia. for it is said that the moesians, bein
To make replies. for we trust in christ, the immortal god, that if you do not depart from this land, you will be driven from it by us even against you
A disgrace by the raids of the scythians to send out bilingual men dressed in scythian attire into the homesteads and customs of the enemy, so that t
The romans on the one hand shouted for joy, and were strengthened for valor but the scythians, growing cowardly at the new and strange nature of the
2. the emperor, when he learned of such a revolt, was disturbed, as was likely, and having brought up bishop stephen from abydos with wingless speed,
He saw that murders along with the ensuing conspirators were proceeding harshly and inhumanely, he decided to no longer delay or be slothful, so that
Considering into what fortunes the unholy and blood-guilty john has enclosed my family, having mercilessly slain the emperor and my uncle, who was his
Eye, and to learn that these things were red, just as they had been from of old. phocas, considering this prodigy a second evil omen, and seeing also
Immediately, lest it be some ill-omened thing, and destruction befall the pursuing mysians but learning they were fleeing at full speed, he both purs
The russian minds were lifted up in audacity and boldness. therefore, the emperor, not enduring their overweening arrogance and their blatant insolenc
Being given out, and going under the earth by the inscrutable wisdom of the creator and again from the 130 celtic mountains gushing up, and winding t
Should set a phalanx against us, things will not end well for us, but in dreadful perplexity and helplessness. therefore, having strengthened your spi
Is called drista) lingering with his whole force. but in this way kalokyres escaped, and night coming on stopped the romans from battle. and just on t
And they killed up to one hundred and fifty vigorous men. but the emperor, learning of such an event, quickly mounted his horse and urged his follower
But the rest of the multitude he bound in fetters and shut up in prisons. he himself, having gathered the entire host of the tauro-scythians, numberin
1. and just as day was dawning, the emperor fortified the camp with a strong palisade in this manner. a certain low hill of dorystolon rises at a dist
He was courting them with gifts and toasts, encouraging them to proceed vigorously to the wars. 3. while these matters were in suspense, and the battl
He flees to a divine and great sanctuary, seen as a pitiful supplicant instead of a haughty and boastful tyrant. whom the men of the drungarius dragge
Having drowned. for it is said that, being possessed by greek 150 orgies, they perform sacrifices and libations for the dead in the greek manner, havi
On the next day (it was the sixth day of the week, and the twenty-fourth day of the month of july), when the sun was setting, the tauro-scythians, hav
Was being concluded. 10. but the romans, following the divine man who went before, 155 engage with the enemy, and a fierce battle having commenced, th
With purity. at any rate, having conferred a few things about a truce with the emperor, seated beside the rowing-bench of the skiff, he departed. but
Was crossed over. this is the greatest of the rivers cutting through asia, 161 and one of those that flow from eden, as we have learned from the divin
The emperor, as one who abused the power of his leadership for certain powerful men, and did not direct the affairs of the church as was established b
Having assembled forces, and having meticulously armed them, departing from the reigning city, he advanced through palestine, a prosperous land, flowi
The mainland is enclosed by strongholds, stretching upon a certain steep hill on the other side it is surrounded by the sea, putting forth a well-hav
Before until fire-bearing ships were secretly sent out from byzantium by those in power. which bardas parsakoutenos the magistros was leading, and ha
I would have been destroyed, if some divine providence had not led me out of that very danger, which caused me to ride out with speed, before the ravi
Furthermore, the star rising in the west at the setting of the morning star, which, making its risings in the evening, kept no fixed position at one c
Of the city, but already becoming feeble, and suffering from a deep and intractable panting. and having just come to the royal hearth, he was shown to
should set a phalanx against us, things will not end well for us, but in dreadful perplexity and helplessness. Therefore, having strengthened your spirits, and considering that you are Romans, who have always overthrown every opponent with your weapons, follow with all speed, demonstrating your own valor in your deeds. 4. Having said these things, and armed in splendid full armor, mounting a proud and stately horse, and shouldering a very long spear, he began the march, having the phalanx of the so-called Immortals, moderately armored, going before him; fifteen thousand of the most valiant hoplites followed him, and thirteen thousand cavalry. The rest of the soldiery with the auxiliaries, carrying the city-takers and all sorts of engines, followed behind on foot, along with the proedros Basil, to whom the emperor entrusted their care. When he had passed through the dangerous and precipitous places, contrary to 133 all expectation, halting the forced march, upon a certain strong hill having a river flowing by on the other side which promised an abundance of water, he gave both the cavalry and the army rest. But just as the steady day began to dawn, he arose, and having arranged the army into deep phalanxes, he proceeded toward Preslav, frequently ordering the trumpets to sound the battle-cry, the cymbals to clang, and the drums to beat. From this an indescribable shout arose, as the mountains there echoed with the drums, the weapons clashed, the horses neighed, and the men shouted to one another and encouraged each other for the battle, as was to be expected. But the Tauro-Scythians, when they saw the skilled charge of the army against them, were seized with helplessness and fear, astounded by the unexpectedness of the event. But even so, hastily snatching their weapons and shouldering their shields (these are strong, and made reaching to the feet for safety), forming a sturdy shield-wall against them, they went out against the Romans on the plain before the city suitable for cavalry, roaring like wild beasts and letting out a strange and alien howl. But the Romans, engaging with them, fought vigorously and performed deeds worthy of wars, the battle having become evenly matched for both sides. At this point the emperor ordered the Immortals to charge with force against the left wing of the Scythians. And they, putting forward 134 their javelins and vigorously spurring their horses with their goads, charged against them. But the Scythians, being foot-soldiers—for it is not their custom to fight from horseback, since they are not even trained for this—did not withstand the spearmanship of the Romans, but turning to flight, were shut up within the enclosure of the city; whom the Romans, following after, mercilessly slew. For they say that in this attack eight thousand five hundred of the Scythians were slain. 5. Those who were left, when they were shut up in the city, fought vigorously with missiles from the battlements above. At that time it is said also that the Patrician Kalokyres, residing in Preslav, who had previously roused the Russian host against the Mysians, as has already been related by me, perceiving the arrival of the emperor (for it was not possible to be unaware, since the imperial standards sent out an unspeakable gleam from the brightness of their gold), secretly went out from the city in the dead of night and came to Svendosthlav, somewhere near Dorystolon (which now
ἀντιτάξοιντο φάλαγγα, οὐκ εἰς καλὸν ἡμῖν τελευτήσει τὰ πράγματα , ἀλλ' ἐς ἀπορίαν καὶ ἀμηχανίαν δεινήν. ἐπιῤῥώσαντες οὖν τοὺς
θυμοὺς, καὶ λογισάμενοι, ὅτι Ῥωμαῖοί ἐστε, οἱ τὸ ἀντίξουν ἅπαν τὸ πρόσθεν ὅπλοις καταστρεφόμενοι, ἕπεσθε τὴν ταχίστην, τὴν
σφῶν ἀρετὴν ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων ἐπιδεικνύμενοι. δʹ. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν, καὶ ἀριπρεπεῖ παντευχίᾳ καθοπλισθεὶς, ἐφ' ἵππου τε γαύρου καὶ σοβαροῦ
ἐπιβὰς, καὶ δόρυ ἐπωμισάμενος μήκιστον, ἀπήρχετο τῆς ὁδοῦ, προπορευομένην ἔχων τὴν τῶν λεγομένων ἀθανάτων φάλαγγα, τεθωρακισμένην
ἐπιεικῶς· εἵποντο δὲ αὐτῷ ὁπλῖται μὲν τῶν ἀλκιμωτάτων πρὸς τοῖς μυρίοις πεντακισχίλιοι, ἱππεῖς δὲ μύριοι καὶ τρισχίλιοι. τὸ
δὲ λοιπὸν στρατιωτικὸν μετὰ τοῦ θητικοῦ, φέρον τὰς ἑλεπόλεις καὶ τὰς παντοδαπὰς μηχανὰς, βάδην ἐξόπισθεν εἵπετο, ἅμα τῷ προέδρῳ
Βασιλείῳ, ᾧ τὴν τούτων ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπέτρεψε πρόνοιαν. ἐπεὶ δὲ τοὺς ἐπισφαλεῖς καὶ κρημνώδεις τόπους διώδευε παρὰ 133 πᾶσαν
ὑπόνοιαν, τὸ σύντονον ἐπισχὼν τῆς πορείας, ἐπί τινος ἐχυροῦ γηλόφου ἐκ τοῦ θατέρου μέρους παραῤῥέοντα ἔχοντος ποταμὸν, ὑδάτων
πληθώραν ἐπαγγελλόμενον, τήν τε ἵππον καὶ τὸν στρατὸν διανέπαυσεν. ἄρτι δὲ σταθηρᾶς ἡμέρας ἀπαυγαζούσης, διαναστὰς, καὶ ἐς
βαθείας φάλαγγας διατάξας τὸ στράτευμα, τὴν ἐπὶ Πραισθλάβας ᾔει, θαμινὰ τὰς σάλπιγγας τὸ ἐνυάλιον ἐγκελευσάμενος ἐπηχεῖν,
ἀλαλάζειν τε τὰ κύμβαλα, καὶ τὰ τύμπανα παταγεῖν. ἐντεῦθεν βοή τις ἄῤῥητος ἀνεδίδοτο, συνεπηχούντων τοῖς τυμπάνοις τῶν ἐκεῖσε
ὀρέων, καὶ ἀντικτυπούντων τῶν ὅπλων, καὶ τῶν ἵππων χρεμετιζόντων, τῶν τε ἀνδρῶν ἀλλήλοις ἐκβοώντων καὶ πρὸς τὴν μάχην ἐπιῤῥωννύντων,
ὡς τὸ εἰκός. Ταυροσκύθας δὲ, τὴν τοῦ στρατοπέδου μετ' ἐμπειρίας ὡς αὐτοὺς ἀθρήσαντας ἐπεξέλασιν, ἀμηχανία καὶ δέος ᾕρει, τῷ
ἀπροσδοκήτῳ καταπλαγέντας τοῦ πράγματος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς σπουδῇ τὰ ὅπλα ἁρπάσαντες, καὶ τοὺς θυρεοὺς ἐπωμισάμενοι (ἐρυμνοὶ δὲ
οὗτοι, καὶ ἐς τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ποδήρεις ἐξειργασμένοι πεποίηνται), ἐς καρτερὸν ἀντικαταστάντες συνασπισμὸν, ἐπὶ τὸ πρὸ τοῦ ἄστεος
ἱππήλατον πεδίον Ῥωμαίοις ἀντεπῄεσαν, δίκην θηρίων βρυχώμενοι, καὶ καινὴν καὶ ἀλλόκοτον προϊέμενοι ὠρυγήν. Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ, συμβαλόντες
αὐτοῖς, ἐῤῥωμένως ἐμάχοντο, καὶ ἄξια πολέμων ἔργα εἰργάζοντο, τῆς μάχης ἰσοπαλοῦς ἀμφοτέροις γεγενημένης. ἐνταῦθα τοῖς ἀθανάτοις
ὁ βασιλεὺς κατὰ τὸ εὐώνυμον τῶν Σκυθῶν κέρας μετὰ ῥύμης εἰσβάλλειν ἐγκελεύεται. οἱ δὲ, προβαλόν 134 τες τοὺς ἄκοντας, καὶ
σφοδρῶς τοῖς μύωψι τοὺς ἵππους κεντρίσαντες, κατὰ τούτων ἤλαυνον. Σκύθαι δὲ, ἅτε πεζέταιροι χρηματίζοντες· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀφ' ἵππων
εἰθισμένον ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἀγωνίζεσθαι, ὅτι μηδὲ πρὸς τοῦτο γυμνάζονται· οὐχ ὑπήνεγκαν τὸν τῶν Ῥωμαίων δορατισμὸν, ἀλλ' ἐκκλίναντες
εἰς φυγὴν, ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ ἄστεος περίβολον συνεκλείοντο· οὓς ἐπισπόμενοι Ῥωμαῖοι ἀνηλεῶς ἔκτεινον. φασὶ γὰρ παρὰ ταύτην τὴν προσβολὴν
ὀκτακισχιλίους πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις ἀναιρεθῆναι Σκυθῶν. εʹ. Οἱ δὲ περιλειφθέντες, ἐπεὶ πρὸς τὸ ἄστυ συνεκλείσθησαν, ἐκ τῶν
ἐπάλξεων ἄνωθεν ἐῤῥωμένως ἠκροβολίζοντο. τηνικαῦτα λέγεται καὶ τὸν Πατρίκιον Καλοκύρην, τῇ Πραισθλάβᾳ ἐπιχωριάζοντα, ὅσπερ
τὴν Ῥωσικὴν πανοπλίαν κατὰ τῶν Μυσῶν τὸ πρόσθεν, ᾗπέρ μοι ἤδη ἐῤῥήθη, κεκίνηκεν, αἰσθόμενον τὴν τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος ἄφιξιν (οὐδὲ
γὰρ ἐνῆν λανθάνειν, τῶν βασιλικῶν παρασήμων τῇ στιλπνότητι τοῦ χρυσοῦ ἄῤῥητον ἐκπεμπόντων μαρμαρυγήν), λαθραίως ὑπὸ νύκτα
βαθεῖαν ὑπεξελθεῖν τε τοῦ ἄστεος καὶ ὡς τὸν Σφενδοσθλάβον ἀφικέσθαι, αὐτοῦ που παρὰ τὸ ∆ορύστολον (ὃ τὰ νῦν
