Synopsis historiarum
they might have commentaries, carrying this book with them as a traveling companion and consulting it, for reading is known to produce remembrance, an
leaving his post, he went away fleeing without cause. And the rest of the army, seeing this, was astonished and slackened its courageous tone. And the
and from the senate he went to the church of the Forerunner in Stoudios, and from there, escorted by guards, he took possession of the palace. And whe
those who bring you the horse, both the one who first lifts you up as you are about to mount, and the second who holds the bridle will take the empire
he decided to prove the woman false. Therefore, he reported none of what he had learned to the emperor, but called the woman's words empty talk and no
quickly mounted on a riding horse by his own men, he secured his safety by flight, and many more were captured than had fallen. This deed humbled the
he brought forth the manifest dogma, and of those in authority and those of the church, some willingly, and others unwillingly submitted to the comman
he was eager to preach a worship of doubt, and this with unveiled face and shamelessly, and what is more, he compelled them to choose it with threats
to the emperor. There was an addition of trust, Hexaboulios, a prudent man and an associate of the emperor, but not unknown to Michael either. This ma
He trembled with fear and his soul was in turmoil. Therefore he remained sleepless throughout the whole night. Leo5.10 Having therefore devised a plan
to cut off, but also to cut off with it the horn of the cross and someone cut off his head when he was already exhausted by the blows and had collaps
gathering deficiency and mingling with each other. by which indeed having been raised to the imperial rule, he both acted augustly and adorned himself
The renowned patriarch Nicephorus sends a letter to the one governing, wishing to urge him to accept the veneration of the holy icons and for a restor
and being attached to the accursed Mohammed, he is shown to be the leader of a certain military phalanx and is sent out against the Christians, promis
having seized every island and territory, they were overrunning them fearlessly. Therefore Thomas, fearing that his soldiers, terrified by the attack
Thomas, having won this man over, appointed him general of a certain land army of about ten thousand. And having prepared the fleet by sea and having
of Blachernae, and having given the battle signal, he was actively bringing up the siege engines and trying to shake the walls. But while these things
an alliance. But Michael, whether in truth pitying the multitude of his own race, or whether sparing of his money (for he happened to be the most pars
fleeing, he seized a fortress. Mich2.13 But the emperor, following these closely, first decided to besiege Thomas. Therefore he brought a siege agains
the matters of the apostasy were completely extinguished and gone, but the onslaught of evils was not going to stop at this point, but the two contine
So the emperor sent a certain Damianus, a count of the imperial stable and a protospatharios, with a great force and preparation to the aid of the str
being held, falling upon them immediately with a shout and finding them all overcome by drunkenness, they destroyed them completely, so that not even
when this barbarous-tongued and very gold-loving dragon shall begin to rule Babylon. And his corpse was buried in the great Heroon of Justinian, near
cursorily, nor in one kind, but over the kinds of food and drink and things suitable for warmth and clothing and simply all things set out in the mark
the hatred of all towards him), but he only forbade the visit of his daughters to Theoktiste. Things very similar to these happened also to the empres
having seen this, he was struck dumb and for a long time stood speechless. And so with difficulty coming to himself, he grasps the emperor’s feet with
And not wishing to be outdone by him, he attended him with other gifts, by which he himself was not won over, but which he cast off as dust from his f
departed, but some of the more fervent, many individually, and some in groups, like the monks from the monastery of the Abramites, appearing before hi
to forget our love and labours for him, but to prefer his hatred and excessive madness. But of these things later. But the foul tyrant, knowing that t
a hundred pounds. And the sticheron for Palm Sunday, Go forth, O nations, go forth also, O peoples, they say is the offspring of his soul. Theoph.12
being with him. And as the one sought was revealed and recognized not only from his appearance, but also from the distinctive marks of his soul and bo
Theophobos outwitted the Saracens by ordering his soldiers to make noise and shout, using lyres and strings and the sound of trumpets, as if other rei
wishing to abandon the people in flight, Come now, he said, O emperor, follow me as I go before you and widen the way for you. But as Manuel went
he commanded to declare the succession to the kingdom. But this woman, moved either by divine inspiration or by demonic energy, said, O emperor, your
The Persians, however, were the cause of what was dared. Then the emperor accepts his choice and summons him to the palace, restoring his former good
turning their backs they left the king. However, neither the commanders of the regiments, nor the Persians endured to do this, but standing around the
by youths and young men, the most beautiful of the buildings were being set on fire, and in no long time the most distinguished of the eastern cities
3.1 When Theophilos ended his life, his son Michael received the scepters of the empire together with his mother Theodora, having as guardians and gov
whether intimidated by arguments, or otherwise pleased, as we have said, the empress becomes wholly devoted to the task. And immediately she ordered a
And, as was likely, with Theophilos being distressed at this, John encouraged him to put aside his despondency and be filled with courage, if only he
wishing to remove, and to free the pious from the despondency that had seized them and not to become a stumbling block to the church, shrinking from t
holy and this is your promise and your written confessions, that not only have you conceded, but you even bring and call us to contests? But the patr
they rose up against the ruler and were eager to kill him. But he, with the few men around him, turned them to flight, with the sign of the cross lead
brother. For he, having a burning desire for the empire, occupied himself with nothing else but those things which contributed to his ambition. But so
able to see and conjecture), she did not think it necessary to oppose, avoiding murders and the shedding of blood, but she decided to make the wealth
This Bardas was a schemer, and Petronas, and three sisters, Sophia, Maria, and Irene, of whom Sophia was married to Constantine Babutzikos, who held t
locally so-called. So he placed ambushes on all sides and challenged Amer to an engagement. Therefore, Amer, surrounded on all sides like a beast and
Mamun, the ruler of the Ishmaelites at that time, was devoted to other Greek studies, and was especially attached to geometry. And when once a convers
that the Amerimnes was indeed smitten with love for him, and that the man cried out loudly, marveling exceedingly at his wisdom. Immediately, therefor
having departed this life, after steering the throne of Constantinople for only four years, Ignatios, the grandson of the emperor Nikephoros, and son
Kyrizos succeeding, and him in turn Mokilos, and him again the hill of St. Auxentios, made the raid clear to the watchmen appointed for this purpose i
they would impart mustard to the communicants, thus mocking the immaculate mysteries. It happened once that this abominable troupe met the blessed pat
being with his daughter, he was irrefutably believed to share his opinions. But Symbatios was secretly deceived by the emperor and carried out the mur
Bas1.t BASIL THE MACEDONIAN, KEPHALAS Bas1.1 Michael having been slain, as we said, Basil assumed the power of the monarchy. Who this man was and from
having preserved many of the Bulgars, they brought them over to the orthodox faith, while the nation had not yet been brought over to godliness, and i
exceedingly great, and the mother towards the child, and again the eagle being driven away with a stone, and the mother's return to the workers. And w
noble and courageous in soul and quick and apt for every command. Bas1.5 And Basil was in this state, but his mother longed to learn how things went f
that God would accomplish the things revealed, he promised, and would declare her mistress of all, if possible, of that land. And so, having greeted t
understanding, immediately taking him away from Theophilitzes, he enrolled him among his own stratores, and he loved him exceptionally and by small pr
daughter of Inger, who was famous among all for his wisdom and nobility, whose family was descended from the Martinakioi. When this happened and the e
situated as a strong and hard-to-capture place in Asia) he enters, and Peganes seized Cotyaeum. But after a short time, having been defeated in battle
choosing the most incorruptible men, he appointed them, and men who were witnessed to keep their own hands clean from every kind of gain, then in this
he was leading, seeming to excel in bravery and intelligence, and fiercely overrunning and plundering the lands of the Romans. Against this man and th
with all voices of victory and acclamations magnifying him as far as the temple of the hypostatic Wisdom of God. For having arrived there and given hy
seeing him and recognizing him, turned around What evil, he says, wretched man, have I done to you, Poulades, that you pursue me so madly, desirin
But when they had been driven inside the walls, having plundered and reduced to ashes the areas outside the city, and having besieged and taken the to
are saved to Tarsus. And having buried his own men and gathered the enemy into one place, and having made a great mound for a monument and for those w
fearing both the swift capture, and the aid about to arrive from the emperor, they lift the siege, and crossing over to Italy, which is now called Lan
The Sultan, having ingeniously captured the king, approaches the leaders of the citizens (for indeed he had become familiar with them and was continua
having taken it for himself, he transferred it to Carthage. But the emperor in its place built another, surrounded on all sides by the sea, and having
having. The leader of the Roman fleet, Niketas the patrician, Oryphas, also sets out against these, and using a favourable and auspicious wind, in a f
plundering what they came upon, suddenly the admiral of the Romans appeared near them and giving the signal, he attacks the enemy unexpectedly in the
was issued. Having been condemned, therefore, he had one of his eyes cut out, and one of his hands was taken away, and for the rest of his life he gre
takes possession of the fleet, and fled as a suppliant to the great church. But the refuge availed him nothing for a complete escape. For having been
ruins. This they call of Hormisdas, but it was built anew in the form of the great church by Justinian the Great, as the inscription on the cornice of
sufficient, from which the imperial banquet of both himself and of those invited by him each year was always to have an abundant and just provision. A
on the grounds that from this the public contributions would be able to increase, pretending to accept the suggestion, he ordered them to be selected
the son, having foreseen it, without evil intent drawing the dagger he was carrying, gives it to his father. When this happened, the accusations of Sa
sending the magister Andrew the stratelates, together with the magister John and former logothete of the drome, the Hagiopolites, he ordered them to g
to convict the patriarch concerning this? And he, when he heard this speech, immediately seized the patriarch’s feet, saying, I adjure you, master, b
both Krenites himself and Kourtikios the Armenian are slain, along with many others of those captured from the emperor's hetaireia, after Symeon had c
having been saved by the Bulgarophygos. Leo6.15 And when the emperor went to the so-called fields of Damianos with Zoe, the daughter of Zaoutzes, and
a fleet of the Agarenes besieged and took Tauromenium in Sicily, and there was a great slaughter of the Romans. And the island of Lemnos was also capt
he returned. And the emperor, approving of Symeon's work, honored him as patrician and protoasekretis. And the admiral Himerios, learning of the Sarac
the emperor by Constantine Lips to the monastery newly built by him near the Holy Apostles, in order to perform the dedication ceremonies and to have
letting themselves down and having procured horses, they fled. And when soldiers were sent to capture them, now turning back and fighting, now throwin
the monastery of Speirai. The emperor therefore, having gone out to Damatrys and having breakfasted at the monastery of Samonas, and having seen Const
was parted from the emperor. However, the emperor did not die immediately, but continued being nursed and suffering from gangrene until the eleventh o
They said this signified the shedding of blood in the capital city. Alexand.4 The emperor, having given himself over to deceivers and sorcerers and in
having ministered this and on account of this later becoming the first of the priests of the great church. Artabasdos was the father of Andrew, who sh
Philotheos the eparch cut down others with him in the sphendone of the Hippodrome. But Niketas the asekretis and Constantine Lips, though searched for
Then also Asotios, a famous man, being the son of the archon of archons. It was said that this man, taking an iron rod at the ends with both hands, wo
The patrikios Romanos Lekapenos, being at that time droungarios of the fleet, was sent out, having been ordered to sail along the coasts with the enti
and he promised to prevent, as far as possible, the attack of the parakoimomenos Constantine and his relatives. Thus the things spoken and agreed upon
what had been done. But suspecting, he says, the attack of Phokas, and fearing for the emperor, lest he suffer some harm, he wished to go up into the
always warring against her and plotting, and now having revealed his hidden wickedness, he neither wants to be domesticus, nor does he judge him one o
an orphan-keeper, those most intimate to him. But when a procession was taking place in the tribunal, the emperors suddenly returned to the palace, a
having escaped, were saved. But of the rest of the multitude, some, fleeing the hands of the enemy, were drowned, others became the prey of the sword,
of the emperor was tonsured a monk, having suffered nothing else unpleasant. Roman1.10 And Symeon, the leader of the Bulgarians, having seized Adriano
And having given hostages to one another, and the Bulgarians having carefully searched the pier, lest any deceit or ambush might be hidden, then they
of the column of the arch at Xerolophos and facing west, Symeon will die immediately. For such a column was linked by fate to him. But he, persuaded b
of the famous Melitene, and by a siege he distressed those within and forced them to look to agreements. Therefore, Apochaps, the descendant of Amer,
he also sought for charges to be brought against him, for which he might be expelled from the church. But when the emperor was at a loss about this an
A certain daughter of the emperor, Helen by name, drawing her lineage from an Armenian family, daughter of Adrianus the patrikios. When she died a sho
they say, nineteen centenaria, having burned the registers in the porphyry omphalion near the Chalke. He also gave the rents of the city from the high
but having been proclaimed emperor, he was not content with the proclamation, nor was he glad to have the second place, but having removed the tutor a
his brother. But since they were not equally pleased in all things, but in some ways also disagreed, a beginning of clashes grew from this cause, and
of manual arts, and he brought these also to a great improvement. And he was pious and zealous in matters relating to God, never appearing empty and f
the liturgy, and having gone out just as he was dressed, and having taken in his hands the semantron of the church, with this he defended himself agai
he continued for a certain time. and would that this were so for all time. For he seemed to be respectable and moderate. But when he had now reached a
provoking him. Const7 ιτερυμ.12 And just as time, being ambitious, produced patriarchs of one mind at the same time, it fell to John, the son of Alber
to deliberate with him about the deposition of Polyeuktos. Having arrived there, whether from a physical ailment, or again having been poisoned by his
having anchored in the calmest harbors and having secured everything safely, he vigorously began the siege of the cities on the island, and for a whol
of revolt. Roman2.8 And in these days the pestilential affliction, which is called *krabra*, that had for a long time been attacking, ravaging, and de
after breakfast he goes away to the house of Joseph, and having knocked on the door, he ordered the doorkeeper to announce who he was. And when he had
Joseph, who was in charge of everything, was in agony and at a loss as to what to do, because he was not popular with the citizens on account of his i
a son born to him, while riding in the field and playing with his own cousin Pleuses, was struck unintentionally with a spear and died. Whether he did
they arrived there, he himself, personally embarking each of the soldiers onto the ships, prepared them to cross and thus allowed the locals to inhabi
when they had lauded his kindnesses, and had also delivered the gifts which they brought to him, Fatlum, being pleased at all that he heard, remitted
they crossed over to Sicily. But while sailing away toward Panormus, having fallen into a most severe storm, and with their ships smashed by the waves
by siege and by famine, they sent an embassy to Leo, calling upon the emperor and begging to be allowed to depart unharmed and to surrender their city
he had done in Cilicia, ordering the army to be dispersed into winter quarters and to await his arrival in the coming year. But it was said that, thou
reveling in the debaucheries with which the disorderly, being addicted to them, treated the citizens badly, and these had cooperated with him not a li
being also slippery, and being trampled by one another, they were dying. And they all would have perished, being trampled by one another, if the emper
God provided great abundance to men. But these things were said for His praise. But Nikephoros rejoiced rather than helped when he saw his subjects af
through a certain window they point him out to those running to their aid. And so they were overpowered, and the opportunity was given to Tzimiskes an
of all Christians, oh, except for the woman, in other respects Nikephoros. But these things have been so composed.
the cities of the Agarenes, since Nicephorus had not had the opportunity to arrange their affairs well and to secure them, were looking towards revolt
and having placed in command of them, whom he named general, the magistros Bardas Skleros, whose sister Maria the emperor had taken as his lawful wife
having learned from the captives, that the rest, being in their prime, were awaiting the battle in formation, he turns most swiftly toward them. But t
and, that this was commanded by the emperor, but to attribute the deed to themselves, as if forsooth having acted philanthropically and granted them t
with his brother Constantine he had his sister Sophia) and advising him to go over to the emperor and to win his sympathy by deserting. Having receive
having fortified the road leading to the city, scattered throughout the plain, fleeing and being caught, they were killed, so that all the level groun
he proceeded on the march to Dorostolon, which is also called Dristra. JOHN1.11 Sviatoslav, learning of the capture of Preslav, fell into a panic, as
he reached Dorostolon, and having arrived there he pitched a strong camp. He did not, however, begin a siege, fearing that, if the river happened to b
wheat and millet and other kinds of provisions that sustain life, were brought up the river in dugout canoes to Dorostolon. But while sailing up, seei
they fought, having a man encouraging them and anointing them for the contests, one of the most distinguished men among the Scythians, Ikmor by name,
to bring. Having made use of these, and having driven off both their thirst and the sun's burning heat, and having recovered themselves, they charged
he was seen by the entire Roman army on a white horse, fighting in the vanguard and routing and throwing into confusion the phalanxes of the enemy, be
the palace. But Sviatoslav, returning home, while passing through the land of the Pechenegs, fell into ambushes already prepared and awaiting him, and
demonstrating extraordinary daring. For he did not hesitate to charge alone against a whole phalanx, and after slaying very many, he would return to h
advancing, although it mattered little or not at all to the parakoimomenos, who said to be content with what had been given, and not to meddle beyond
able to soften a hard and intractable mind, an ambassador is sent to Sclerus, if somehow he might be able to persuade him to lay down his arms. But th
they defended themselves. Then Bardas, having made outflanking movements and inspiring fear that he would now enclose the enemy within, and having als
He quickly went to meet him, and arriving at a certain place called Rhageas, he encamped, seeking a suitable time for battle. But while the imperial a
And when Bardas had gladly accepted the proposal and given pledges, Manuel, taking the Nicaeans and the army around him with all that they had, enters
From there, therefore, Phokas, just as he was, quickly went up to Iberia, and approaching David, the ruler of the Iberians, he asked for an army as re
Lydian youths, Christophoros Epeiktes and Bardas Moungos (for the former had died before this), having seized Armakourion and Plateia Petra and some o
decided to make into Bulgaria, not even considering Bardas Phokas, who was still domestic of the schools, and the other eastern dynasts worthy of ment
of the Saracens was always resentful towards them and plotted inwardly, and sought an opportunity and a device to overthrow those holding power and to
land, having found Bardas Phokas being acclaimed as emperor, and he himself was likewise acclaimed by his companions. Bas+Const8.16 Having found matte
having made the dispositions he thought fit, he returned to the capital city. Bas+Const8.18 But Phokas, having seized Abydos, was carefully besieging
he makes a treaty, having been honored as curopalates. However, he was not deemed worthy to see the emperor with his own eyes. For on the way, having
to ransom him. But he himself, surrounded by the Bulgarians and having fought nobly and heroically, fell. When the killing of the doux was announced t
of Romanos, who later became emperor, thus winning over the nation. And the emperor also made an invasion into Bulgaria through Philippopolis, having
he brought to a state of calm. Bas+Const8.30 But the emperor in the following year, the fifteenth indiction, marched out against Vidin, and after pers
governing Cephalonia with the purpose of settling matters for the Romans. Melês, drawing up his forces against them, brilliantly puts them to flight,
he puts them to flight with force, and having taken much booty and many captives, he brings them to the emperor who was besieging the fort in the pass
of Thessalonica, he sends out with a force into the land of the Moglena. When they had plundered all that land and were besieging the city, the empero
he sends out an army against the forts in Triaditza, having Xiphias as exarch. And he, after destroying everything in the open country, took by siege
And they capture two hundred fully-armed soldiers and the horses and the baggage of John and his nephew whom he also immediately deprives of his eyes
from this lake an untold multitude of useful fish is caught, being the metropolis of all Bulgaria, in which both the palaces of the kings of Bulgaria
To Eustathios Daphnomeles, that the deposition of Ivatses is a matter of concern to the emperor. And so, having found an opportune moment, and having
I will fight for my own life and until death I will defend myself against my attackers along with those who are with me. And if we should die, which i
he triumphed, crowned with a golden crown that had a crest on top, with Maria the wife of Vladislav and the daughters of Samuel leading the way. And t
having revolted, was immediately scattered. When the death of Phokas was made known to the emperor, Theophylaktos, the son of Damianos Dalassenos, was
wolves, bears (ἄρκους, λύκους α), and other such things. But (ἀλλὰ] καὶ α) this matter was of such a kind. The emperor made Alexios, a monk and abbot
and seeing his own soldiers becoming soft and turning their backs in a disorderly way and fleeing, and on the one hand reproaching them, and on the ot
to make him son-in-law to one of his daughters and proclaim him emperor. And so a certain one of the most trusted eunuchs, the one called Ergodotes, w
exiled Nikephoros Xiphias, who voluntarily put on the monastic habit in the monastery of Stoudios. Roman3.2 At this time God sent a moderate rain and
occupied with wars, and later persisting in the campaigns against Samuel, he did not have the opportunity to secure the affairs in the East well and a
the encampment. But the Arabs lying in ambush and guarding the plains in between, watching for an opportunity and attacking suddenly, seized him, and
he designates over Lower Media. Roman3.7 And departing from Syria, he appoints Symeon, the servant of his father-in-law Constantine, as domestic of th
with transportations. He also brilliantly adorned the capitals of the great church and of the most holy Theotokos of Blachernae with silver and gold.
he made. In this year on the twentieth of the month of February a star also passed from north to south with sound and a crash. And it was visible unti
to recover his own fortress, who, having secretly conspired with the neighboring Persians, both stole the fortress by night and killed six thousand Ro
to the palace and having gone up he finds the emperor Romanos dead, and when the golden triclinium had been adorned, Zoe, having seated herself on the
being tortured. Mich4.3 Now when Ergodotos had arrived before Dalassenos, the latter was unwilling to trust the oaths and depart with him to Byzantium
had become a spark against Dalassenos for John and was being kindled into a torch. And immediately he is brought to the palace, and on the third of th
In the third indiction, in the month of May, Africans and Sicilians, having raided the Cyclades and the coasts of the Thracesian theme, were finally d
and minding his own business. This man was called Leo, and he was trained in all education, both secular and our own, and having been appointed over B
And the emperor removes this man from the way, and having sent men and searched his treasuries, he found thirty-three centenaria of gold. From which h
up to twenty, and other shameful sources for the sake of profit, which it is a shame even to mention. They say that he himself was the cause (of Mania
of the force lurking on the island, having gathered every man able to bear arms and not a few Carthaginian allies, they went and surrounded the city o
taxing the locals, and with no one paying any heed at all to what was happening. Mich4.22 But the emperor, learning in Thessalonica of the loss of the
the tent and as much gold as there was and silver and fabrics, which Manuel Ibatzes, being a retainer of the emperor, having been ordered to take away
the Bulgarians might rather join him, as one having a claim to the royal blood) and having taken him as a partner, as it seemed, of the empire, he giv
she had often recounted. However, she did not remain of the same mind, but looking to the weight of the empire and discerning that she would never be
to me, you will receive great honors and goods, and you will live a life free from pain and pure. When the eparch, therefore, read the report within t
first to the senate, then also from a certain high place to the crowd, to them she gave thanks, as was fitting, and prayers for their good-will toward
had chosen beforehand But since he too, as we have said, was done away with by poison, the aforementioned Monomachos, who was also the namesake of th
clambering up, they were saved at night, on foot and naked, and for those who saw them a pitiable and wretched sight worthy of lamentation. And Michae
Beneventum and Neapolis, and provided a moderate state of affairs and calm to the situation. This Maniakes, having his dwelling places in the Anatolik
On the twentieth of the month of February, of the eleventh indiction, the patriarch Alexios ended his life, and Michael Keroularios is raised to his t
skirmishing to draw them into battle. But he, having taken the triremes and gone against the Scythians, did not test their resolve by skirmishing, but
guarding the coastal places of his dominion and awaiting the end, having received the returning men and bravely endured, he did the things that have b
having succeeded to the rule, he maintained peace towards the Romans and a military alliance, however he held on to his paternal dominion, and he was
to take this. But when they were inside the roads in the midst of the vineyards and reached as far as the city, then indeed Aplesphares, giving the si
he would take it because the emperor was not well supplied with forces. And having pitched a camp opposite the Blachernae, very near the monastery of
they were in want of necessities, both the rebels themselves and the pack-animals and the horses, being unable to withstand the cold and the famine an
of the most noble and most prudent Saracens, and those renowned for their valor. These men, therefore, having set out, departed for the war. And they
Koutloumous was deeply grieved by what was happening (for all the people with him, returning as if from a rout, were on foot and unarmed), but neverth
killing and not even sparing the age of childhood. But the ruler of the country, Aaron the vestes, the son of Vladislav and brother of Prousianos, kno
to fight through with them against the barbarians. So the generals, having received the letters, remained quiet, as they were ordered, and awaited the
arrayed for battle. And the opposing force, seeing this, itself also unwillingly drew up in battle array opposite them, with Kekaumenos holding the ri
against which not even one Scythian tribe by itself is able to stand. And it is divided into thirteen clans, which are all called by the common name,
and selling them to the Romans. Unable to bear these clandestine attacks of Kegenes, Tyrach sent an embassy to the emperor, reporting that it was fitt
peoples, to arm themselves from them. After many speeches, therefore, the opinion of the Romans prevailed and Kegenes, having slaughtered all the cap
having caught Seltè encamped at Lovitzos, he was not strong enough to capture him (for he managed to escape beforehand), but seizing his entire camp,
stripped bare, they were pelted from all sides with stones and arrows, with no one being strong enough to help them. And all the others fell there, bu
to slay all those within, and to plunder the city and to run back to the Pechenegs, it being necessary to examine what was said and find the truth, bu
their fall at the hands of Kegenes. Of course, the Pechenegs, having become aware of the Romans' approach (for already Tyrach and the leaders with him
whether to make war on them or not. But while the nobles were deliberating in the tent of the Hetaeriarch about what should be done, Samuel the patric
and parts. But Bryennios, taking over the forces entrusted to him and arriving in Adrianople, took care for the guarding of the places. Michael the pa
he had taken the city, except for the acropolis. After this, the sultan came in pursuit with his forces into Iberia which Koutloumousis learned and f
until the present, gradually retreating backwards, he reached a state of complete weakness for in his artless pursuit of liberality he had driven pro
of the city of Tetrapolis (Tetrapydʹ x), who happened to be the abbot of the monastery of the holy great-martyr Mokios, completely without a taste of
having sent men, they lead him out of the church and exile him in Pergamum. And they did this very same thing to the more prominent of those who had b
he demanded his pay, he dismissed him. Thus ignored, Bryennios too departed, turning over terrible things in his mind and seeking an opportunity for r
The generals who had been sent away, as was said before, by the emperor, decided to make a second attempt, and so approaching the protosynkellos Leo S
he wishes. But he, released from his fetters and having become master to do what he wanted, immediately put out the eyes of Bryennios and sent him as
be sent to the emperor. Fearing all these things, he restrained himself, until he might procure safety for himself. And now, being about to undertake
having shown favor abundantly with honors and gifts and distributions of money to both the leaders and the soldiers who had appeared esteemed, and hav
being then the commander of the west and the most distinguished of all the Macedonians, as being most outstanding in family, wisdom, and experience t
the place of Rheae. The embassy declared that Comnenus should be proclaimed emperor by adoption, and that the honors from Comnenus should be confirmed
they were saying that one of two things must of necessity follow for either, by acclaiming him as emperor, they would be perjurers, or, as having ins
he reached Dorostolon, and having arrived there he pitched a strong camp. He did not, however, begin a siege, fearing that, if the river happened to be unguarded, the Rus' might be able to escape with their ships, but having encamped he awaited the Roman fleet. Meanwhile, Svendoslav secured the Bulgarian captives whom he held, numbering about twenty thousand, with iron fetters and other bonds, fearing a revolt, and he prepared to receive the siege. And when the fleet had now arrived, the emperor attempted an assault on the walls, and he often routed the Scythians when they sallied forth. And on one of the days, when the Romans had dispersed for their meal late in the afternoon, the barbarians, divided into two parts, horsemen and foot soldiers, from two postern gates of the city, both the one to the east, which Petros the Stratopedarches had been ordered to guard with Thracians and Macedonians, and the one to the west, where Bardas Skleros with the eastern forces had been entrusted with the guard, came out drawn up for battle, appearing on horseback for the first time then. For they had fought the previous battles on foot. The Romans received them stoutly and fought with spirit. And for a long time the contest was evenly balanced. Finally, by their own valor the Romans routed the barbarians and shut them up against the wall, with many falling in this contest, and especially horsemen, while none of the Romans was wounded, but only three horses fell. Thus crushed and driven within the wall, the barbarians, when night fell, spent the night sleepless and lamented those who had fallen in the battle with wild and horrid wailings, so that it seemed to those who heard them to be the roaring and howling of beasts, and not the laments and moans of men. And as day was just breaking, they recalled to Dorostolon all those who had been scattered in various forts for guard duty, and being summoned they came quickly. And the emperor, having gathered his entire force, came to the plain before the city and provoked the barbarians to battle. But since they did not come out, he returned to the camp and kept quiet, and envoys came to him from Constantia and the other forts situated beyond the Ister, asking for an amnesty for their misdeeds and surrendering themselves along with their fortifications. Having received them kindly, he sent men to take possession of the forts and a sufficient force for their defense. And when evening had already fallen, the Rus', having thrown open all the gates of the city, being many more than before, fell upon the Romans unexpectedly as they were passing the night; and while in the first encounter they seemed to have the upper hand, after a short time the Romans prevailed. For when it happened that Sphangelos fell while fighting heroically, they were thrown into confusion by the loss of the fallen one and their attacks were weakened. Nevertheless, they remained unyielding throughout the whole night and the following day until midday. Then, when the emperor sent a force to block the entrance to the city for the barbarians, the Rus', realizing this, immediately turned to flight, and finding the entrances to the city walled up, they fled through the plain and were caught and killed. And Svendoslav, when night fell, encircled the wall of the city with a deep trench, so that the Romans might not easily be able to approach the city wall with an assault. And thus having secured the city, he determined it was necessary to await the siege most courageously. But since the greater part of the army was in a bad state from their wounds, and famine was already taking hold as their necessities had been used up, and the Romans did not even allow them to bring in supplies from outside, Svendoslav, watching for a deep and moonless night, during which a torrential rain came down from the sky and a terrible hail burst forth and most dreadful thunders and lightnings, embarking on monoxyla with two thousand men, went out to forage for provisions. And having gathered from wherever each one could easily procure
τὸ ∆ορόστολον ἥψατο, ἐκεῖσε τε γενόμενος στρατοπεδείαν ἐπήξατο ὀχυράν. οὐ μέντοι γε καὶ πολιορκίας ἥψατο, δεδιώς, μή πως ἀφυλάκτου
τοῦ ποταμοῦ τυγχάνοντος ἀποδρᾶσαι μετὰ τῶν νηῶν δυνηθεῖεν οἱ Ῥῶς, αὐλισάμενος δὲ προσέμενε τὸν Ῥωμαϊκὸν στόλον. ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ
δὲ ὁ Σφενδοσθλάβος οὓς κατεῖχε ζωγρίας Βουλγάρους, ἀμφὶ τὰς εἴκοσι χιλιάδας ἀριθμουμένους, σιδηροπέδαις καὶ ἄλλοις δεσμοῖς
ἠσφαλίσατο, ἐπανάστασιν φοβηθεὶς καὶ πρὸς ὑποδοχὴν ηὐτρεπίζετο τῆς πολιορκίας. ἤδη δὲ καὶ τοῦ στόλου καταλαβόντος ἐπεχείρει
τῇ τειχομαχίᾳ ὁ βασιλεύς, καὶ πολλάκις ἐπεκδραμόντας τοὺς Σκύθας ἐτρέψατο. μιᾷ δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν σκεδασθεῖσι τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις εἰς
ἄριστον περὶ δείλην ὀψίαν οἱ βάρβαροι, εἰς δύο διαιρεθέντες μέρη, ἱππεῖς καὶ πεζοὶ ἐκ πυλίδων δύο τῆς πόλεως, τῆς τε κατὰ
ἀνατολάς, ἣν φρουρεῖν ἐτέτακτο Πέτρος ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης μετὰ Θρᾳκῶν καὶ Μακεδόνων, καὶ τῆς πρὸς δύσιν, ὅπου Βάρδας ὁ Σκληρὸς
μετὰ τῶν ἑῴων δυνάμεων τὴν φυλακὴν ἐπετέτραπτο, ἐξῆλθον παραταξάμενοι, τότε πρῶτον φανέντες ἔφιπποι. τὰς γὰρ προηγησαμένας
μάχας πεζοὶ διηγωνίσαντο. οὓς εὐρώστως οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι δεξάμενοι ἐκθύμως ἐμάχοντο. καὶ μέχρι πολλοῦ ἰσοτάλαντος ἦν ὁ ἀγών. τέλος
δὲ τῇ σφετέρᾳ ἀρετῇ Ῥωμαῖοι τρέπουσι τοὺς βαρβάρους καὶ πρὸς τεῖχος συγκλείουσι, πολλῶν κἀν τῷ ἀγῶνι τῷδε πεσόντων, καὶ μᾶλλον
ἱππέων, μηδενὸς δὲ τῶν Ῥωμαίων τραυματισθέντος, ἀλλ' ἢ μόνων ἵππων πεσόντων τριῶν. οὕτω δὲ θραυσθέντες οἱ βάρβαροι καὶ εἴσω
τείχους συνελαθέντες νυκτὸς ἐπιγενομένης διενυκτέρευον ἄγρυπνοι καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῇ μάχῃ πεσόντας ἀπωλοφύροντο ἀγρίοις καὶ φρικώδεσιν
ὀδυρμοῖς, ὡς δοκεῖν τοὺς ἀκούοντας θηρίων εἶναι βρυχηθμοὺς καὶ ὠρυγάς, ἀλλ' οὐ θρήνους ἀνθρώπων καὶ οἰμωγάς. ἡμέρας δὲ ἄρτι
διαγελώσης πάντας τοὺς ἔν τισι φρουρίοις ἐς φυλακὴν ἐσκεδασμένους ἀνεκαλοῦντο ἐς τὸ ∆ορόστολον, καὶ ταχέως ἧκον μετακληθέντες.
καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς δὲ ἀνειληφὼς ὅλην τὴν δύναμιν ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ πρὸ τῆς πόλεως πεδίον καὶ πρὸς πόλεμον ἠρέθιζε τοὺς βαρβάρους. ἐπεὶ
δὲ μὴ ἐξῄεσαν, εἰς τὴν στρατοπεδείαν ὑποστρέψας ἡσυχίαν ἦγε καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ πρέσβεις ἐκ Κωνσταντείας καὶ τῶν ἄλλων φρουρίων
τῶν πέραν ἱδρυμένων τοῦ Ἴστρου, ἀμνηστίαν κακῶν αἰτούμενοι καὶ ἑαυτοὺς ἐγχειρίζοντες σὺν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασιν. οὓς προσηνῶς δεξάμενος
ἀπέστειλε τοὺς παραληψομένους τὰ φρούρια καὶ στρατιὰν ἀποχρῶσαν εἰς τὴν αὐτῶν φυλακήν. ἤδη δὲ ἑσπέρας καταλαβούσης τὰς πάσας
πύλας τῆς πόλεως ἀναπετάσαντες οἱ Ῥῶς, πολλῷ τῶν προτέρων πλείονες ὄντες, ἐπιπίπτουσι τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ἀνελπίστως διὰ τὴν νύκτα
διάγουσι· καὶ κατὰ μὲν τὴν πρώτην συμβολὴν ἔδοξαν προτερῆσαι, μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ ὑπερέσχον Ῥωμαῖοι. ὡς γὰρ συνέβη πεσεῖν τὸν Σφάγγελον
ἡρωϊκῶς ἀγωνιζόμενον, συνεχύθησαν τῇ τοῦ πεσόντος στερήσει καὶ τὰς ὁρμὰς ἐχαυνώθησαν. ὅμως ἀνένδοτοι παρ' ὅλην τὴν νύκτα διέμειναν
καὶ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέραν μέχρι σταθηρᾶς μεσημβρίας. τότε δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως δύναμιν πεπομφότος ἐφ' ᾧ τοῖς βαρβάροις ἀποκλεῖσαι
τὴν εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἴσοδον, γνόντες οἱ Ῥῶς αὐτίκα ἔκλιναν εἰς φυγήν, καὶ τὰς πρὸς τὴν πόλιν εἰσόδους ἐπιτε τειχισμένας εὑρόντες
ἔφευγον διὰ τοῦ πεδίου καὶ καταλαμβανόμενοι ἀνῃροῦντο. ὁ δὲ Σφενδοσθλάβος νυκτὸς ἐπιγενομένης διώρυγι βαθείᾳ τὸ τῆς πόλεως
ἐστεφάνωσε τεῖχος, ἵνα μὴ εὐχερῶς ἔχοιεν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι μεθ' ὁρμῆς τῷ τῆς πόλεως τείχει πελάζειν. καὶ οὕτω τὴν πόλιν ἀσφαλισάμενος
ἔγνω δεῖν εὐψυχότατα τὴν πολιορκίαν προσδέχεσθαι. ἐπεὶ δὲ τὸ πλέον τῆς στρατιᾶς διέκειντο κακῶς ἀπὸ τῶν τραυμάτων, συνεπελάμβανε
δὲ καὶ λιμὸς ἤδη τῶν ἀναγκαίων δαπανηθέντων αὐτοῖς, καὶ μηδ' ἔξωθεν τὰ πρὸς χρείαν συνεχωροῦντο αὐτοῖς εἰσκομίζεσθαι παρὰ
τῶν Ῥωμαίων, νύκτα βαθεῖαν καὶ ἀσέληνον ἐπιτηρήσας ὁ Σφενδοσθλάβος, καθ' ἣν ὑετός τε ῥαγδαῖος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ κατηνέχθη καὶ χάλαζα
φοβερὰ ἐπερράγη καὶ βρονταὶ καὶ ἀστραπαὶ φρικωδέστατοι, μονοξύλοις ἐμβὰς μετὰ δισχιλίων ἀνδρῶν ἔξεισιν εἰς ἐπισιτισμόν. συλλεξάμενοι
δὲ ὅθεν εὐπόρησεν ἕκαστος
