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
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 on, what speech will express and narrate the continuous and unceasing succession of conspicuous and magnificent dignities and honors, and the surpassing and overflowing abundance of gifts and benefactions, so that that Pactolus and Chrysorrhoas, which are recorded to carry gold in their streams as they flow past 274 the land of the Lydians, seem a trifle. Not even all the streams of the Nile could be measured against the height of the abundance of his gifts. And the wonder was altogether most wonderful, from where this wealth and abundance was drawn for the palace. For if streams of golden currents had just newly sprung forth from his hidden depths, they would not have had the strength to suffice for such distribution and purpose in a few days. But now, since nature has not given such things, it appears that the super-luminous effusion of the thrice-radiant Trinity, beyond nature and in a manner suitable to His purpose, provides for him the supply of such great wealth-producing bestowals and of infinite honors and receptions for infinite multitudes. For the humble gift was a packet of fifteen pounds, gifts of immovable properties worth a hundred pounds, and to some, twice and thrice that much, distributions and provisions of all sorts of offices. And to say something in summary, every kind of benefaction was granted to those who came first. For the prize of the imperial benefactions was shown not only in most brilliant dignities, but also in offices and lands and gold coins and in the warding off of insults and in everything desired and advantageous. For no one among all asked who did not immediately receive his request. and especially sacred churches and divine precincts and all monasteries and places of propitiation; for 275 the happiness was common among all, and the continuance of the benefaction was common. At which things perplexity and extraordinary astonishment seized everyone, as to how—while Michael, who had reigned before, was always lamenting poverty and terrible lack, and saying that it was impossible for him to extend his hand for even a small benefaction, perhaps because of the misfortune of the kingdom—from what sources this man, entrusted with the scepters of the Romans after him, displayed such indescribable benefactions and gifts and wealth-producing grants, and honors beyond the sand and the choir of heavenly luminaries. And the honors of the other days, because of their multitude and indefiniteness, are passed over in silence; but the events on Palm Sunday astounded everyone in some way. For the entire senate, numbering more than ten thousand men, were deemed worthy, man by man and head by head, of great honors, leaping over four and five ranks, so that not even the protovestiarios himself was able to receive the honored men from the emperor and to proclaim their dignities, but was frequently met by the honored men and had to return to the presentation area and again turn back in the opposite direction, or even, while standing in the same place as they overtook one another, he had to hasten... the proclamations of those being honored, and to have such great toil that it even cut off his voice. Shall I say something more amusing? The idle and poor of the reigning city, who wander about and lurk in the covered parts of the main roads, which 276 are called porticoes, and hold the position of parasites or flatterers or, to speak more truly, of beggars, being accustomed to visit the houses of those being honored and to proclaim with magnificent thanksgiving the favor of the emperors and the illustrious and most fortunate nature of the honor, they themselves also have become rich from being poor and well-off from being destitute, by the continuity and the great number of those being honored, bringing in from these men a handsome quantity of gold each day. For the gift is paid by all those who are prospering as if from a collection, which custom of Christ
ἁπάντων καταστεφθείς, αὐτῶν ἐπιβαίνει τῶν ἀνακτόρων καὶ τὸ ἄκρατον κράτος τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ἐξόχοις τερατουργήμασιν ἐπενδύεται.
Τὸ δ' ἀπὸ τοῦδε τίς λόγος ἐκφράσει καὶ διηγήσεται τὸ ἐν ἀξιώμασι καὶ τιμαῖς περιβλέπτοις καὶ μεγαλοπρεπέσι διηνεκὲς καὶ ἀνένδοτον,
καὶ τὸ ἐν δώροις καὶ χαρίσμασιν ὑπερφέρον καὶ ὑπερεκχυνόμενον, ὡς λῆρον εἶναι τὸν Πακτωλὸν ἐκεῖνον καὶ Χρυσορρόαν, οἳ τὴν
τῶν Λυδῶν παραρρέον 274 τες γῆν χρυσὸν τοῖς ῥεύμασι παρασύρειν ἱστόρηνται. οὐδὲ Νειλῷα ῥεύματα πάντα πρὸς τὸ ἄκρον τῆς τῶν
δωρημάτων αὐτοῦ περιουσίας παρεμετροῦντο. καὶ τὸ θαῦμα τοῖς ὅλοις ὑπερθαύμαστον ἦν, ὅθεν τὰ τοῦ πλούτου καὶ τῆς ἀφθονίας ταύτης
τοῖς ἀνακτόροις ἐπήντλητο. εἰ γὰρ κρουνοὶ χρυσῶν ῥείθρων ἄρτι νέον ἐξ ὑποβρυχίων τούτου μερῶν ἐπηγάσθησαν, οὐκ ἂν εἰς τοιαύτην
μετάδοσιν καὶ προαίρεσιν ἐν ὀλίγαις ἡμέραις ἀρκέσαι ηὐτόνησαν. νῦν δὲ τῆς φύσεως μὴ δεδωκυίας τοιαῦτα, φαίνεται τὴν ὑπέρφωτον
χύσιν τῆς τριλαμποῦς τριάδος ὑπὲρ φύσιν κατάλληλον τῇ προαιρέσει τὴν χορηγίαν αὐτῷ προμηθεύεσθαι τῶν τηλικούτων πλουτοποιῶν
ἐπιδόσεων καὶ τῶν ἀπείρων πρὸς ἄπειρα πλήθη φιλοτιμημάτων καὶ δεξιώσεων. τὸ γὰρ εὐτελὲς δῶρον πεντεκαίδεκα λιτρῶν ὑπῆρχεν
ἀπόδεσμος, ἀκινήτων κτήσεων ἑκατοντάλιτροι δωρεαί, πρὸς οὓς δὲ καὶ δὶς τοσούτων καὶ τρίς, ὀφφικίων παντοίων ἐπαντλήσεις καὶ
παροχαί. καὶ ἵνα τι συνελὼν εἴπω, πᾶν εἶδος χαρισμάτων τοῖς προλαβοῦσιν ἐπεψηφίζετο. οὐ γὰρ ἐν περιλάμπροις ἀξιώμασι μόνον
τῶν βασιλικῶν εὐεργετημάτων τὸ γέρας ἐδείκνυτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ὀφφικίοις καὶ ἀγροῖς καὶ χρυσίοις καὶ ἀποσκορακίσει ἐπηρειῶν καὶ
παντὶ τῷ ποθουμένῳ τε καὶ συμφέροντι. οὐδεὶς γὰρ ᾔτησε τῶν ἁπάντων ὃς οὐ παραυτίκα τῆς αἰτήσεως ἔτυχε. καὶ μᾶλλον ἱεροὶ ναοὶ
καὶ θεῖα τεμένη καὶ φροντιστήρια πάντα καὶ ἱλαστήρια· κοινὸν 275 γὰρ ἦν τὸ τῆς εὐδαιμονίας ἐν ἅπασι, καὶ κοινὴ τῆς εὐεργεσίας
ἡ ἐπιμένεια. ἐφ' οἷς καὶ ἀπορία πάντας κατεῖχε καὶ θάμβος ἐξαίσιον, πῶς τοῦ προβεβασιλευκότος Μιχαὴλ πενίαν θρηνοῦντος ἀεὶ
καὶ ἀπορίαν δεινήν, καὶ ἀδύνατον αὐτῷ τὴν χεῖρα καθεστάναι πρὸς εὐεργεσίαν μικρὰν ἐπιλέγοντος διὰ τὸ τῆς βασιλείας τάχα δυστύχημα,
ἐκ ποίων πηγῶν οὗτος ὁ μετ' ἐκεῖνον τὰ Ῥωμαίων σκῆπτρα ἐγχειρισθεὶς τοσαύτας ἀνεκδιηγήτους εὐεργεσίας καὶ δόσεις καὶ πλουτοποιὰ
χαρίσματα ἐνεδείξατο, καὶ τιμὰς ὑπὲρ ψάμμον καὶ χορὸν οὐρανίων φωστήρων. καὶ τῶν μὲν ἄλλων ἡμερῶν τὰς τιμὰς διὰ τὸ πλῆθος
καὶ τὸ ἀόριστον σιγῇ παραδέδοται· τὰ δ' ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν βαΐων κυριακῇ πάντας ἀμωσγέπως ἐξέπληξαν. πᾶσα γὰρ ἡ σύγκλητος, ὑπὲρ μυριάδας
ἀνδρῶν παραμετρουμένη, κατ' ἄνδρα καὶ κεφαλὴν μεγάλων ἠξιοῦντο τιμῶν, τετραρίθμους καὶ πενταρίθμους βαθμοὺς ὑπερβαινουσῶν,
ὡς μηδὲ αὐτὸν τὸν πρωτοβεστιάριον ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως δύνασθαι παραλαμβάνειν τοὺς τιμωμένους καὶ τὰς ἀξίας ἐπιφωνεῖν, ἀλλὰ συναντᾶσθαι
παρὰ τῶν τιμῶν συχνῶς καὶ ὑποστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὴν προβολὴν καὶ αὖθις ἀνθυποστρέφειν, ἢ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἱστάμενον ἄλλ' ἐπ' ἄλλοις
καταλαμβάνοντας ἐπισπεύδειν αὐτ.. τὰς τιμωμένων ἐκφωνήσεις, καὶ μόχθον σχεῖν τηλικοῦτον ὅσος αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν περιέκοψεν.
εἴπω τι ἀστειότερον; οἱ ἀργοὶ καὶ πένητες τῆς βασιλευούσης, οἱ ταῖς ἐπισκεπέσι τῶν λεωφόρων, αἵπερ 276 ἔμβολοι λέγονται, περινοστοῦντες
καὶ ἐμφωλεύοντες, καὶ παρασίτων τάξιν ἢ κολάκων ἢ τόγε ἀληθέστερον εἰπεῖν προσαιτῶν ἐπέχοντες, συνήθως ἔχοντες ταῖς οἰκίαις
τῶν τιμωμένων ἐπιφοιτᾶν καὶ προφημίζειν ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ μεγαλουργῷ τὴν βασιλέων χάριν καὶ τὸ τῆς τιμήσεως ἐπιφανὲς καὶ περίολβον,
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐκ πενήτων γεγόνασι πλούσιοι καὶ εὔποροι ἐξ ἀπόρων τῇ συνεχείᾳ καὶ τῷ πολυαρίθμῳ τῶν τιμωμένων, ἁδρὰν καθ' ἑκάστην
χρυσίου ποσότητα παρὰ τούτων εἰσκομιζόμενοι. τίνεται γὰρ ἡ δόσις παρὰ πάντων τῶν εὐδαιμονούντων ὡς ἐξ ἐράνου, ἣν καὶ συνήθειαν
τοῦ Χριστοῦ
