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

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 reproached him as if he had let the sword fall from his hand through carelessness, but he immediately showed the hilt and was absolved of the blame; and a certain Macedonian man, Peter by name, Tornikios by surname, riding into the midst of the enemy, struck down many of them; but the phalanx followed, ignorant of what was being done; for since the battle had been joined in darkness, it was not possible for everyone to see what was happening. And Komnenos again advanced against the still-forming enemy, striking and felling those who came to grips with him, and again returning to his own men; whom a certain Frank from his own phalanx, seeing him just coming out from the midst of the enemy and thinking him to be one of the enemy, charged out and struck him with his spear and would have almost brought him down, if he had not been a most steady horseman. Turning, therefore, he rushed at him with his sword; but the other, immediately recognizing him, was a pitiable suppliant, affirming that he had rushed against him out of ignorance rather than malice. So that noble man forgave his offense. 4.25 While the enemy were still partially forming, he hastened, as much as possible, to break up the rest of their formation and sent to his own phalanx, ordering them not to delay, but to follow him more quickly. Such were the deeds done in the night with a few men; but when the sun rose, those around Basilakes were trying to rally their own men and, as much as possible, were encouraging them; meanwhile, some of those from his phalanx who had been left behind from the rest of the phalanx while plundering came running up from behind; seeing them, some from the phalanx of Alexios, the Domestic of the Schools, turned and charged against them, and before coming to grips easily put them to flight, and taking many of them prisoner, returned. 4.26 But Basilakes' brother Manuel, having gone up on a certain hill, was encouraging the still-forming part of the phalanx, shouting distinctly that the victory and the day belonged to Basilakes; seeing this, Basil Kourtikes, a Macedonian man of Bryennios' household, spurred his horse and went up towards the hill; and when that man drew his sword against him, this one strikes him on the helmet with his mace and immediately knocks him from his horse and brings him as a captive to the Domestic of the Schools, the noble Alexios. When this happened, the phalanx of Komnenos also appeared and caused the force still gathered around Basilakes to flee, and he fled, hastening to reach the city, while Komnenos pursued. Fittingly, therefore, one might apply here the Homeric verse, which he spoke concerning Achilles and Hector: in front fled a brave man, but a much greater one pursued him, for he was noble both in hand and in spirit, and being born of noble stock, he was raised to great glory by his deeds of valor. 4.27 When this man was shut up in the city, Alexios Komnenos, having encamped outside and wishing to save the man, sent an embassy to him, so that upon receiving pledges that he would suffer nothing unpleasant, he would hand over to him both himself and the city. The ambassador was a good and decent man, shining with ascetic achievements; he was the abbot of the monks in the monastery of Xenophon on Athos, the most excellent Symeon; who, though he urged Basilakes much, did not persuade him. So when the soldiers with Basilakes began to go over to Komnenos and the citizens handed the city over to him, that man still remained holding the acropolis, until those around him, having been compelled, seized him and handed him over to Komnenos. Therefore, having entered the city, he became master of his great wealth. Therefore, having sent messengers to the emperor to report the capture of Basilakes, he himself remained in the city for some days, and having set things in order there, he returned with splendid trophies. 4.28 Therefore the things done by him also showed how one must not trust very much in fortune, especially in times of success, and indeed I think that the saying in Euripides is well said, that "one wise

γνωρίσας τὸν Βασιλάκην παίει τοῦτον τῇ σπάθῃ κατὰ τοῦ κράνους· τῆς δὲ σπάθης κατεαγείσης ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ τῆς χειρὸς καὶ πεσούσης, ὁ Κομνηνὸς αὐτὸν κατωνείδιζεν ὡς ὀλιγωρίᾳ τὸ ξίφος τῆς χειρὸς ἀφέντα, ὁ δὲ τὴν κώπην εὐθὺς ὑπεδείκνυε καὶ τῆς μέμψεως ἀπελύετο· καί τις ἀνὴρ Μακεδών, Πέτρος τοὔνομα Τορνίκιος τὸ ἐπώνυμον, εἰσελάσας μέσον τῶν πολεμίων κατέβαλε τούτων συχνούς· ἡ δὲ φάλαγξ εἵπετο, ἀγνοοῦσα τὰ δρώμενα· ἐν σκότει γὰρ συστάσης τῆς μάχης, οὐχ οἷόν τε ἦν ὁρᾶν τὰ γινόμενα ἅπαντας. Ὁ δὲ Κομνηνὸς καὶ αὖθις ἐπὶ τὸ συνιστάμενον ἔτι τῶν πολεμίων ἐχώρει παίων καὶ καταβάλλων τοὺς εἰς χεῖρας ἰόντας καὶ αὖθις ὑποστρέφων πρὸς τοὺς ἰδίους· ὅν τις θεασάμενος τῶν ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας ἐκείνου φάλαγγος Φράγγων ἄρτι μέσον ἐξιόντα τῶν πολεμίων καὶ νομίσας εἶναι τῶν πολεμίων τινά, ἐξελάσας βάλλει τῷ δόρατι καὶ μικροῦ ἂν αὐτὸν κατέβαλεν, εἰ μὴ ἑδραιότατος ἦν ἱππότης. Ἐπιστραφεὶς οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν μετὰ τοῦ ξίφους ἐξώρμησεν· ὁ δ' εὐθὺς ἐπιγνοὺς ἐκεῖνον ἱκέτης ἦν ἐλεεινός, διαβεβαιούμενος ὡς ἀγνοίᾳ μᾶλλον ἢ κακουργίᾳ κατ' αὐτοῦ ἐξώρμησε. Τούτου οὖν ἀφῆκεν ὁ γενναῖος ἐκεῖνος τὸ ἔγκλημα. 4.25 Ἔτι δὲ τῶν πολεμίων συνισταμένων ἐν μέρει, ἔσπευδεν, ὡς οἷόν τε, καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν παραλῦσαι τῆς τάξεως καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν ἀπέστελλε φάλαγγα κελεύων μὴ μέλλειν, ἀλλ' ἕπεσθαί οἱ ταχινώτερον. Τὰ μὲν ἐν νυκτὶ ξὺν ὀλίγοις πραχθέντα ἔργα τοιάδε ἦν· ἦμος δὲ ἡέλιος ἀνώρουσε καὶ οἱ περὶ τὸν Βασιλάκην συνιστᾶν ἐπειρῶντο τοὺς ἰδίους καί, ὡς οἷόν τε, ἐπερρώννυον· ἐν τούτοις δέ, τῶν ἐκ τῆς ἐκείνου φάλαγγός τινες ἐν τῷ σκυλεύειν ἀπολειφθέντες τῆς λοιπῆς φάλαγγος ἧκον κατόπιν θέοντες· οὓς θεασάμενοί τινες τῶν ἐκ τῆς τοῦ δομεστίκου τῶν Σχολῶν φάλαγγος Ἀλεξίου, ἐπιστραφέντες καὶ κατ' αὐτῶν ἐξορμήσαντες, πρὸ τοῦ εἰς χεῖρας ἰέναι ῥᾳδίως ἐτρέψαντο καὶ πολλοὺς τούτων ζωγρήσαντες ἐπανῆλθον. 4.26 Ὁ δὲ τοῦ Βασιλάκη ἀδελφὸς Μανουὴλ ἐπὶ λόφου τινὸς ἀνελθὼν ἐπερρώννυε τὸ ἔτι τῆς φάλαγγος συνιστάμενον, διαρρήδην βοῶν Βασιλάκη εἶναι τὴν νίκην καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν· ὃ θεασάμενος, Βασίλειος ὁ Κουρτίκης, ἀνὴρ Μακεδὼν τῶν τοῦ Βρυεννίου οἰκείων, τὸν ἵππον ἐλάσας ἄνεισι πρὸς τὸν λόφον· κἀκείνου τὴν σπάθην ἑλκύσαντος κατ' αὐτοῦ, οὗτος ἐκεῖνον τῇ ῥάβδῳ παίει κατὰ τῆς κόρυθος καὶ εὐθὺς καταβάλλει τοῦ ἵππου καὶ δεσμώτην ἐπάγει πρὸς τὸν δομέστικον τῶν Σχολῶν τὸν γενναῖον Ἀλέξιον. Οὗ γενομένου, καὶ ἡ φάλαγξ ἐπιφανεῖσα τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ τὸ ἔτι περὶ τὸν Βασιλάκην συνιστάμενον φυγεῖν παρεσκεύασε, καὶ ὁ μὲν ἔφευγε τὴν πόλιν σπεύδων καταλαβεῖν, ὁ Κομνηνὸς δὲ ἐδίωκεν. Εἰκότως οὖν ἄν τις κἀνταῦθα τὸ ἔπος ἁρμόσειε τὸ Ὁμηρικόν, ὃ περὶ Ἀχιλλέως ἐκεῖνος καὶ Ἕκτορος ἔφησε, τό· πρόσθε μὲν ἐσθλὸς ἔφευγε, δίωκε δέ μιν μέγ' ἀμείνων, καὶ γὰρ ἦν ἐκεῖνος γενναῖος κατὰ χεῖρά τε καὶ κατὰ ψυχήν, καὶ γὰρ ἐξ εὐγενῶν φὺς εἰς μέγα κλέος ἤρθη ταῖς ἀνδραγαθίαις. 4.27 Συγκλεισθέντα δὲ τοῦτον τῇ πόλει, ὁ Κομνηνὸς Ἀλέξιος ἔξω στρατοπεδεύσας καὶ διασῴζειν τὸν ἄνδρα ἐθέλων ἐπρέσβευε πρὸς αὐτόν, ὥστε τὰ πιστὰ λαβόντα τοῦ μηδέν τι ἀνιαρὸν πείσεσθαι, ἐγχειρίζειν αὐτῷ καὶ ἑαυτὸν καὶ τὴν πόλιν. Ὁ δὲ πρεσβεύων ἦν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθός τε καὶ κόσμιος, ἀσκητικοῖς διαλάμπων κατορθώμασιν· ἦν δὲ ὁ καθηγούμενος τῶν ἐν τῇ Ἄθω τοῦ Ξενοφῶντος μονῇ μοναχῶν Συμεὼν ὁ πανάριστος· ὃς πολλὰ παρακαλέσας τὸν Βασιλάκην οὐκ ἔπεισεν. Ἀρ ξαμένων οὖν ἤδη τῷ Κομνηνῷ προσχωρεῖν τῶν ξὺν τῷ Βασιλάκῃ στρατιωτῶν καὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τὴν πόλιν ἐγχειρισάντων αὐτῷ, ἐκεῖνος ἔμενεν ἔτι κρατῶν τὴν ἀκρόπολιν, ἕως οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν βιασθέντα συλλαβόντες τῷ Κομνηνῷ ἐνεχείρισαν. Εἰσελθὼν οὖν ἐν τῇ πόλει πολλῶν χρημάτων ἐκείνου γέγονε κύριος. Ἀγγέλους οὖν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα πέμψας τὴν τοῦ Βασιλάκη μηνύσοντας ἅλωσιν, αὐτὸς ἔμενεν ἐν τῇ πόλει ἡμέρας τινὰς καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ καταστήσας ἐπάνεισι μετὰ λαμπρῶν τροπαίων. 4.28 Ἔδειξεν οὖν καὶ τὰ παρ' ἐκείνου πραχθέντα ὡς χρὴ μὴ πάνυ τι πιστεύειν τῇ τύχῃ καὶ μάλιστα ἐν ταῖς εὐπραγίαις καὶ μὴν καὶ τὸ παρ' Εὐριπίδῃ καλῶς εἰρῆσθαι δοκῶ ὡς "ἓν σοφὸν