History
I dedicate, so that by its judgment and magnanimous discernment the good things may be arranged, 6 and if nothing else, at least the zeal of my servit
Having bodyguards, as if passing through a friendly land, they pursued him rashly but this one, as soon as he entered the reigning city, boldly prepa
Costly and precious fabrics, and other adornment flashing with gold and silver was continuously suspended overhead, and the whole of the marketplace,
Of vengeance, while others were seizing the palace and kindling a civil war. others, having surrounded the houses of those related by family to the em
And of the communal disposition regarding the empire, and both are wonderfully proclaimed sovereigns. and for a time governing the empire by themselve
From the resurrection of our lord, having arrayed both forces (for he himself also 21 went up with the imperial ship) and having ordered the war-cry t
Afterwards, the arrival of the apostate was announced, a certain dreadful and terrifying one, with a force of cavalry and infantry not lacking for a r
Some fleeing to the temples and the shrines and calling upon the alliance of those above, others with lamentations approaching the houses of their rel
With all the armies of the east having returned, and the force available to the emperor having now become strong, the preparations for war were being
To drive a worthy army against the barbarians. and when it had assembled and drawn up against the enemy, 32 continuous battles took place daily, with
Lying somewhere nearby, and strikes him on the neck, and cuts off his hand along with it, saying, i myself am not afraid to become the murderer of a
(this man was a eunuch enrolled among the monks, but was captivated by glory and for this reason attached to things unbecoming) to join him in the war
Having taken courage, they entrusted their own salvation and safe passage to him. so botaneiates was marching with them but the scythians, seeing a c
To march on foot and fight for days, and not even have rest at night, no one of all men has ever heard of, unless it was miraculously worked in the ca
He adorned with words that were brilliant from every side, as one who unhesitatingly gave up his soul for the roman empire. 46 from that time, therefo
He was a wonder to the byzantines and the other romans, before whose sight he had come, passing through. for he is greatest in size, having feet like
Has removed him from the midst, as he was trying to alter what had been well decreed for the pious distribution. and as he was dying he wished to appo
Forced those who had taken part in the crippled plot to quickly seize their arms and be the first to face the danger, and not be captured one by one a
They were honoring komnenos, showing themselves at once accusers and advocates and defenders of the man for the one whom they said had taken an oath
Of the escort, the crown is brought on a platform by the hand of the patriarch. and he proceeds from there crowned, having provided a reputation for t
He checked arguments that did not seem right to him, at one time introducing a fatherly disposition and exhortation, at another a rebuking and threate
The man was stronger than threats, more powerful than any argument or persuasion, and by a great margin superior to any grasp. if therefore you wish t
After a halt was made, the emperor went out in the morning, and while crossing the river flowing nearby, swollen by the rainstorm, he lost many of his
For truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven, and there shall be no one at all in our days who will be trou
Of good fortune, or rather of the providence of an ineffable will, they boarded a ruler's boat, with all possible speed. and as the rowing was leading
Leading to the knowledge of these things. and since the emperor was approachable and modest and less inclined to corporal punishment and seeming to be
The romans to be disheartened and to consider the enemies terrifying and not even to endure their shouting, while they were arrogant and haughty and a
The enemies pushed forward to the gates with much clamor and shouting, and having aggressively destroyed both these and parts of the wall, they took t
He greeted. the nation, being very large, and invading to provide for its needs, oppressed europe in many parts. the emperor, 85 not bearing the murmu
To be left completely desolate of men. but as many as went over to the emperor of the romans (and indeed some did go over), receiving public land from
Prevailed among mortals. for there were some unseasonable men, who brought up two earthquakes similar to the greatest one, some exaggerating this one,
They were both in low spirits and angry because of the lack, and they were not strong enough to join the roman soldiers in mesopotamia, not wanting to
Those around the emperors, having gathered these men, handed them over to the governor in antioch who, being unable to do anything noble, since they
Not knowing him, but receiving reports from those who did, they were his admirers by hearsay and for this reason it was the prayer of all that the ma
This man is proclaimed before dawn, going up to the capitol at night in arms with the empress’s help, and escaping the notice of the empress’s sons. a
Having divided this in two, he made them encamp in upper asia, placing one part to the north, the other around the south. but the emperor, having made
Telouch invades among the armenians, having previously cut off a not inconsiderable military phalanx with its colonel, and having sent it to melitene
To resist everything for the romans, having surrounded them from many sides, and having terrified them with great daring and missile weapons and shie
Having shut up the camp, and strategically taking their standards, so that some of the saracens, dismounting from their horses, and beheading many of
To hand over to the emperor under terms of surrender, since indeed all their youth were about to suffer, if the pursuit went forward. for they themsel
Driving with their reins, they charge to the edge of the encampment, and kill two of their foot soldiers with lances. the emperor, seeing them before
He hurled himself down the cliff. but i, having remained upright, sent up glory to god for the deliverance from the danger, and instilled wonder in th
Of zeal and preparation, and having pursued them, they killed many, and took others alive. then indeed the exarch of the latins, taking his seat, deli
As the phalanxes of the army were drawn up, with the emperor leading the way, many of the enemy came forward, but one of the so-called lycaonian regim
He asked me what was my opinion on these matters. and he, having first made a show of it, that i could say nothing outside of what the multitude thoug
Some steep and precipitous roads, we found the emperor encamped there in a deep place, having ingloriously renewed his first plan for the harm of the
Of the horses which is what also happened to us. and the emperor's reputation made them very fearful. for these reasons, these things hindered the mo
On the pretext that they should not cause them, being scattered, to be dispersed, and waiting until they should be gathered in camp, they failed to ac
And again another came, announcing that the turks had seized by the sword the polity in chonai and the very temple of the archstrategos, famous for it
Being let down, was attached to his hands and he sent this back to the empress, who, contrary to custom, had remained around the very palaces of the
A fortress, built together by his command, he remained there and spent some days. then having crossed over himself, and in the province of charsianon,
The ruler of the persians (their language knows to call him sultan) having in the past year subjugated the roman city called mantzikert, and installed
Into the camp. but the armenian infantry, having attacked the wall outside the acropolis, and having made many assaults, take it by storm, as the 152
A priest of the gospel signified. concerning which some supposed in their hearts that the things to be spoken about it would be the prelude to the imp
With their eyes for who could have turned to sleep, when the danger was all but showing its drawn sword? but indeed, not even on the next day did the
They say that the sultan, because he did not have a considerable force and was waiting for those marching behind him, was playing for time under the p
Were trampling. and the matter was exceedingly painful and surpassing all lamentation and wailing. for what is more pitiable than for an entire royal
Having made truces and peace treaties, and then having also arranged a marriage alliance for their own children, they parted from each other there, af
Her plan was the renunciation and expulsion of her husband. wherefore also her first son, whom she had borne from her union with doukas, they proclaim
They set out of whom some died by javelins, but he himself, having been captured, had his eyes put out, most painfully losing his sight with theatric
To make, unless still more fear urging them on, the soldiers rushed to flight. and when this was neglected, the affairs of diogenes fell into danger.
Having renounced all things, the weak and enfeebled one, and in need of soothing therapy and comfort, the one who had given up on everything, being we
Seeking an addition in troubles, so that he might please, he says, his maker, completing the course of his ascetic discipline more laboriously. but he
Sidetes from administering public affairs, having contrived pretexts against him through intermediaries, and he also pushes aside the emperor's uncle,
With promises and gifts, but in humility and with the advice that perhaps he might not be dealt with harshly and severely. but rousselios, trusting in
He proposed to rousselios to choose peace but whether, 188 hating the tyranny of michael, as one who had received much condemnation from him, since,
Leaving behind. and being left with a few men along with the caesar, on horses worn out by the constant pursuit, he saw the host of the turks, countle
When even for intelligent men there was astonishment and amazement for concerning the foolish and those not discerning such things, there is no accou
Their defeat providing relief to all the roman villages, lands, and cities from such deeds being done. and again i have marveled, with what confidence
He was marching through the country fear 199 lessly, and having seized the theme of the armeniacs, he restored it again to its former fortresses, and
Being established, he did not even refrain from making a profit, even from false accusations, nor from plotting against the abundance and making the p
Being stolen, it crudely bewitched those in power, until along with the profit from it they lost all their substance and their safety. so while these
Many of its own ruins, so that having acknowledged thanks for his salvation to the emperor and offered unsurpassed thanks (which it was absolutely nec
Of troops having set out from adrianople had come to the emperor, hastening to speak to and hear from him the answer to what they sought for they wer
And indeed, not long after, they achieved their objective. for the lord, immeasurable in mercy, having accepted their request, raises up a man better
He shows to the good, and fills the whole world with unspeakable graces. therefore this new lord and emperor begins the works of the world. and first
Of luxuriously constructed houses in old rome. from these, therefore, as the account has it and the tracing of the lineage brings us around, the phoka
And this celtiberia is situated in the western parts of rome, towards the western ocean, which is now called hispania. for with rome lying above italy
To the military commands, we will add something to the narrative. when he was about to cross over with a heavy fleet to crete and set sail from there,
They had previously supposed would happen. moved by these works of piety, god made manifest the hidden plot of the saracens, which was about to utterl
Adana and all the neighboring regions, which cannot be mentioned in a brief account. but those things were told to me as being impenetrable to most au
Striking him continually with the blows of spears and of the other weapons of war. but he, charging against them with the roar of a lion, and forcing
Botaneiates was known as a protagonist and champion and a fighter for the emperor 235 for when the emperor at that time led the roman forces, astonis
With the intensity of the hymn of praise. from these, then, his best and greatest qualities and interviews, and from what after him his most beautiful
He abstained from the worst actions, and was not one to show respect for the man's rank, his strength from his deeds, and his extreme nobility, and in
Of the plot. for the other thracian and macedonian cities, with a few exceptions, still kept themselves out of the affair, and awaited written promise
To other cities and suspecting no tumult. so, 246 entering the imperial city with haste, before reaching my own house, i went to the palace, and comin
And weak what had been done by men. but in rhaidestos, before bryennios reached adrianople, since the party of vatatzes prevailed (for some were divid
Having encamped, they received assurance. for an intense longing for botaneiates possessed everyone, and they awaited his royal arrival as the arrival
Soldiers, and having been led astray from there for the purpose of spying on and capturing supposedly certain macedonians lodging in the farthest fiel
By all and it provoked shameless voices. and bryennius also sent many such messages but no one paid attention to them, although he was established ne
The leaders from such a defilement paid the penalty 260 not long after, not being able to designate this divine court as a way and entrance of salvati
And with him no small quantity of woven goods and silver vessels. and in this manner he arranged for the patzinaks to withdraw from the siege. but rem
They submit to come under the yoke, and they go about on horseback, filling the rank of bodyguards. and these wonders were worked as far as nicaea its
Met him. not even the small town in rufinianae, though it was very strong and very difficult to fight, and situated as the mouth of the great city, ga
They set up magistracies which were to organize both the guard of the palace and the good order of the marketplace, 271 nor did they leave the fleet w
Crowned by all, he ascends to the palace itself and is clothed in the unmixed power of the kingdom through extraordinary wonders. and from this point
They say jokingly. but as the benefaction proceeded to an innumerable multitude, these men too grew weary of running about everywhere in the city and
To associate with worldly men more savagely, and to set aside the ordinances of the fathers and the apostolic canons, and to bring countless disaster
I refuse, and often, in what i have written about them, i have included the memory of their deeds but that which in the time of botaneiates was well-
As he possessed it, and clung to the greatest courage and magnificence, was it not necessary for him to receive manifold rewards from the hand of the
For those skilled in the movements of the heavenly bodies and mathematicians say that the moon signifies the rebels, and that its suffering foretells
Having secured it with strategic measures 290, and having more firmly guaranteed to them that the place of battle would become a place of life or a gr
And you were unsparing towards the slaughters of the christians. or did you not know, being a mortal man, that you would be required to give an accoun
But being present at the armed conflicts and battle lines he was not frightened nor did he plan an escape, which another man standing in the midst of
Having risen against him and not bearing to hold second place. and he, disturbed by the report and the novelty of the affair, sent letters to the empe
They persevered, the scythians, seizing upon this desertion as a godsend, approached adrianople, and falling upon the dwellings outside the wall, with
Having prepared this man himself, with the most holy patriarch kosmas, an old and advanced man who had driven virtue to its height and risen above the
The situation there, and having considered crossing roman forces over to asia, having honored many of the soldiers with generous gifts and wages far e
The emperor, seeing the malice of those who had erred against them, absolved them of the charges through an abundance of mercy. and having subdued the
To break, wherever it may happen to place its repulsions and counter-attractions and to resist those who pull it. and the example from the air is of s
Having most fervently resolved that this should be observed, and being ambitious for this good to be poured out upon all and to spread. and he openly
A helper, and to the imperial servants and to the emperors themselves introducing a grace that is just and lawful, and freeing them from such a care,
Appearing also to the councilors and senators who attended church with him, he did not even give himself to the royal throne but stood upright until t
They may preserve for generations the unforgettable and immortal memory of the excellence of this great king and of his incomparable deeds, and may dr
And this Celtiberia is situated in the western parts of Rome, towards the western ocean, which is now called Hispania. For with Rome lying above Italy, the parts toward the rising sun are called Upper Gaul, but the parts toward the setting sun as far as the Alpine mountains are called Lower, where Nemitzia is now known, naming its own ruler king. And the transverse parts of the Alps towards the south as far as the western ocean were called Iberia and Celtiberia, the rivers flowing into there having bestowed this name upon the country. For from there, the strait of the Herculean pillars receives the one wishing to sail along the adjacent coast toward the lower Gauls, but for the one wishing to sail to the east, as the shore extends further inland, it guides and urges him toward the parts of the Britannic isles. And for the one wishing to sail away to the Isles of the Blessed, the voyage stretches out boundless; for they are distant from the land by a measure of a thousand miles. And the islands are two, not far distant from each other, continually abounding in all sorts of various goods, and nurturing soft and fragrant grass throughout the whole year. For being removed from worldly filth, and not at all partaking of the mixture of the air, which arises from the ill-smelling exhalations of the earth, they have made life there most healthy and painless for men 222 and beasts, and they provide a most pleasant, peaceful, and altogether charming pastime and well-being. Therefore, those inhabiting Iberia, being most courageous men and fighting strongly, constantly made war against the Romans, and displayed works of endurance and valor against them; and with great difficulty the Romans conquered them with the greatest and irresistible courage and inexpressible assaults, so that after a time treaties were made with them and a mixed union through intermarriage and migrations with one another. Wherefore also the great among emperors and all-famed Constantine, cutting off no small portion from there, from the western Iberians, resettled them in the east in the parts of Assyria, and from that time the land that received them took on the name of Iberia. For formerly Assyrians also inhabited this land, then Medes, and after a considerable time the Armenians; and one would not find Iberians mentioned here in ancient histories in earlier times, except from when Constantine settled them there. Therefore, if those of the family of Phokas shared their lineage from these, as having once been compatriots and natives from the kinship and cohabitation in Rome, there is no difference between nobles and brave men who have come together for the fulfillment of one seemliness. 223 And the things concerning the family of the Phokades, at least as many as come down to our recent generations, are famous and renowned; and both the narratives from above and the emperor lord Nikephoros Phokas bear witness to these things, who, finding the Roman state reduced to dire straits and perplexity by the campaign of the Saracens and Arabs, even before his reign recovered and revived it, having out-generaled the enemy who were plundering the east as far as Nicaea with many toils and military struggles, and having shut them up in Cilicia; then also recovering the great island of Crete for the Roman empire, a matter difficult to handle and hard to accomplish, and being pious toward God and most discerning in deliberation and a most courageous general, he brought things to a most desirable and blessed conclusion, some through God and divine power, and others through the best counsels and military valor. But so that those who encounter these writings may know what the encomium of piety here means to us in
καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ Κελτιβηρία πρὸς τὰ δυσμικὰ μέρη τῆς Ῥώμης διάκεινται, πρὸς τὸν ἑσπέριον ὠκεανόν, ἥτις νῦν Ἱσπανία κατωνομάζεται.
τῆς Ῥώμης γὰρ ὑπὲρ τὴν Ἰταλίαν κειμένης τὰ μὲν πρὸς ἥλιον ἀνίσχοντα μέρη ἄνω Γαλλίαι διονομάζονται, τὰ δὲ πρὸς ἥλιον δύνοντα
μέχρις Ἄλπεων ὀρῶν κάτω, ὅπου νῦν ἡ Νεμιτζία γνωρίζεται, τὸν ἴδιον ἄρχοντα ῥῆγα κατονομάζουσα. τὰ δὲ πρὸς ἐγκάρσια μέρη τῶν
Ἄλπεων ὡς πρὸς νότον ἄχρι τοῦ ἑσπερίον ὠκεανοῦ Ἰβηρία καὶ Κελτιβηρία ἐλέγοντο, τῶν εἰσρεόντων ἐκεῖσε ποταμῶν τῇ χώρᾳ χαρισαμένων
τουτὶ τὸ ὄνομα. ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ τὸν μὲν βουλόμενον τὴν μὲν παρακειμένην ἀκτὴν παραπλεῖσαι πρὸς τὰς κάτω Γαλλίας ὁ τῶν Ἡρακλείων
στηλῶν πορθμὸς ἐκδέχεται, τὸν δὲ πρὸς ἀνατολάς, ἐνδοτέρω δηλονότι τῆς χώρας ἐπεκτεινομένου τοῦ αἰγιαλοῦ, πρὸς τὰ μέρη τῶν
Βρεττανικῶν νήσων καθοδηγεῖ καὶ προτρέπεται. τῷ δὲ βουλομένῳ πρὸς τὰς τῶν Μακάρων νήσους ἀπᾶραι ὁ ἀπόπλους ἀχανὴς παρατείνεται·
ἀπέχουσι γὰρ τῆς γῆς μέτρον μιλίων χιλίων. δύο δὲ αἱ νῆσοι εἰσίν, οὐ πολὺ ἀλλήλων ἀπέχουσαι, παντοίων ἀγαθῶν καὶ ποικίλων
διηνεκῶς βρίθουσαι, καὶ πόαν μαλακὴν καὶ εὐώδη δι' ὅλου τοῦ ἔτους τρέφουσαι. ἀπῳκισμέναι γὰρ οὖσαι τῆς κοσμικῆς ἰλύος, καὶ
τῆς τοῦ ἀέρος ἐπιμιξίας, ἥτις ἐκ τῶν δυσόδμων τῆς γῆς αὐχμῶν ἐπιγίνεται, οὐδ' ὅλως μεταλαμβάνουσαι, ὑγιεινότατον καὶ ἄλυπον
τοῖς ἐκεῖσε ἀνθρώ 222 ποις καὶ κτήνεσι τὸν βίον πεποίηνται, καὶ διατριβὴν ἡδίστην καὶ ἀπράγμονα καὶ χαρίεσσαν πάντῃ καὶ εὐζωίαν
παρέχουσιν. οἱ οὖν τὴν Ἰβηρικὴν οἰκοῦντες, ἄνδρες ἀνδρειότατοί τε ὄντες καὶ ἰσχυρῶς παλαμώμενοι, διὰ παντὸς τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις
ἀντεπολέμουν, καὶ καρτερίας ἔργα καὶ ἀρετῆς κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπεδείκνυντο· καὶ δυσχερῶς αὐτῶν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι μεγίστῳ καὶ ἀνυποίστῳ θάρσει
καὶ ἀνεκδιηγήτοις ὁρμαῖς ἐκυρίευσαν, ὡς διὰ χρόνου σπονδὰς ἐπιτελεσθῆναι τούτοις καὶ ἀναμὶξ σύνθεσιν ἐξ ἐπιγαμβρείας καὶ μετοικιῶν
πρὸς ἀλλήλους. διὸ καὶ ὁ μέγας ἐν βασιλεῦσι καὶ παναοίδιμος Κωνσταντῖνος μοῖραν οὐκ ἐλαχίστην ἐκεῖθεν, ἐκ τῶν ἑσπερίων Ἰβήρων,
ἀποτεμόμενος εἰς τὴν ἑώαν μετῴκισεν ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἀσσυρίας μέρεσι, καὶ ἔκτοτε τὴν κλῆσιν τῆς Ἰβηρίας ἡ δεξαμένη τούτους χώρα
προσέλαβε. πρότερον γὰρ Ἀσσύριοι καὶ ταύτην ᾤκουν τὴν χώραν, ἔπειτα Μῆδοι, μετὰ δὲ χρόνους ἱκανοὺς οἱ Ἀρμένιοι· καὶ οὐκ ἂν
εὕροι τις ἐπὶ τῶν ἄνω χρόνων Ἴβηρας μνημονευομένους ἐνταῦθα ἐν παλαιαῖς ἱστορίαις, εἰ μὴ ἐξ οὗπερ Κωνσταντῖνος τούτους αὐτόθι
κατῴκισεν. ἐκ τούτων οὖν εἴπερ οἱ ἐκ τοῦ γένους τοῦ Φωκᾶ μετάληξιν εἶχον γένους, ὡς ὁμοχώρων γενομένων ποτὲ καὶ αὐτοχθόνων
ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ συμφυΐας καὶ συναυλίας, οὐδεμία διαφορὰ εὐγενῶν ἀπ' ἀλλήλων καὶ ἀνδρείων συνεληλυθότων εἰς μιᾶς συμπλήρωσιν
κοσμιότητος. 223 Καὶ τὰ μὲν τοῦ γένους τῶν Φωκάδων, ὅσα γε ἥκει κατὰ τὰς προσεχεῖς ἡμῶν γενεάς, περίφημά τε καὶ περιβόητα·
καὶ μαρτυρεῖ τούτοις τά τε τῶν ἄνωθεν διηγήματα καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς κῦρις Νικηφόρος ὁ Φωκᾶς, ὃς τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα κατειληφὼς
ἐν στενῷ κομιδῇ καὶ ἀπόρῳ περιιστάμενα τῇ τῶν Σαρακηνῶν καὶ Ἀράβων ἐπιστρατείᾳ καὶ πρὸ τῆς βασιλείας ἀνεκτήσατό τε καὶ ἀνεζώωσε,
πολλοῖς πόνοις καὶ ἀγῶσι πολεμικοῖς καταστρατηγήσας τῶν ἐναντίων ἄχρι Νικαίας ληιζομένων τὴν ἑώαν, καὶ εἰς τὴν τῶν Κιλίκων
κατακλείσας αὐτούς· εἶτα καὶ τὴν μεγίστην νῆσον τῆς Κρήτης ἀνασώσας τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῇ, πρᾶγμα δυσμεταχείριστόν τε καὶ δυσκατόρθωτον,
εὐσεβὴς δὲ ὢν τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ βουλεύσασθαι διαγνωστικώτατος καὶ στρατηγὸς ἀνδρειότατος, καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐκ θεοῦ καὶ θείας
δυνάμεως, τὰ δὲ συμβουλίαις ἀρίσταις καὶ στρατιωτικαῖς γενναιότησιν, εἰς τέλος εὐκταιότατον καὶ μακάριον συνεπέρανεν. Ἵνα
δὲ γνοῖεν οἱ ἐντυγχάνοντες τοῖσδε τοῖς γράμμασι, τί βούλεται ἡμῖν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας ἐγκώμιον ἐν
