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along with the grand domestic and Manuel Asan, the brother of the grand domestic's wife, who was in command of the imperial guard, and leading another fifty picked men from the notables, at first routed those opposite them. Then, as the war flowed violently forward and many 1.467 poured around them, they were not able to maintain their formation, but, having been broken up, each one withdrew as he could, with only the two, the emperor and the grand domestic, left behind in the same place; and they too, having been separated for a little while, again came together very quickly, so that the grand domestic even said to the emperor: "It is a time for courage and daring, O emperor; therefore, use your hand, and show forth deeds worthy of yourself." And he replied that there was no benefit in his own bravery and daring, since all the others had been turned to flight. Nevertheless, both the emperor and as many as came to hands with the Mysians, although the rout had indeed occurred, did not offer their backs to be struck, fleeing without turning back; but defending and preserving themselves, they came as far as Roussokastron; and there, having become one with the rest of the army, they defended themselves together eagerly against both Scythians and Mysians until the third hour of the day; but since the barbarians were able to accomplish nothing more, for they did not even have the strength to force their way into Roussokastron itself, they dispersed and returned to their own camp. And of the Romans there fell in the battle and were taken prisoner: from the cavalry, thirty-seven, of whom six were of the imperial guard; and of the infantry, sixty-five; and of these, the greater part or almost all were captured or killed by the Scythians. And of the Mysians there also died a few more than the Romans. However, the victory clearly went to the Mysians because the Romans did not hold their ground, but, having been routed 1.468, came to Roussokastron in disorder. And around noon of the same day, Alexander, the king of the Mysians, having sent Ivan, one of the notables with him, as an ambassador to the emperor, requested that the treaties made on the previous day remain unbroken, and for the sake of greater friendship and security for the treaty, that he betroth his daughter to his son. The emperor, however, replied that for the concluded treaties to be fulfilled was also in accordance with his own will, since previously the peace had been made not by necessity, but because he believed it to be advantageous; but that he did not wish for the marriage alliance. "For it would seem to everyone that I am doing such things through necessity or fear, as one who has indeed been conquered by you. And yet, being routed happened only to us, overwhelmed by superior numbers. But in the loss of our own men we have differed in no way from each other. For you lost more. Nevertheless, for this very reason, that we seem to have been defeated, I do not wish to make the marriage alliance now, but only peace and a treaty. But when I have returned to my own land, you may send an embassy concerning the marriage, and after considering what might seem advantageous, I will act at my leisure." Ivan, therefore, returned to his own king, bringing the replies of the Roman emperor; and after a short while he returned again, bringing also as co-ambassador Synadenos, the uncle of King Alexander, who again made the same embassy. And they said many persuasive things about the marriage alliance, by which they thought to persuade the emperor; but the emperor again used the same 1.469 arguments as before; and he said that he chose peace, and wished to make a treaty about it; but the marriage alliance he would not make now, but later, if it seemed good to him. "If, therefore, such things are also in accordance with your will, let us discuss the terms. But if you are considering something else, depart and prepare yourselves as seems best." And when they saw that the emperor unswervingly held to his initial reasoning, they said that their king considered the marriage alliance to be of the greatest importance; and that he had ordered them to show all diligence concerning it; but if the emperor would not yield nor be persuaded, then indeed to postpone the discussions about it to the future, as was opportune

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δ' ἅμα τῷ μεγάλῳ δομεστίκῳ καὶ Ἀσάνῃ τῷ Μανουὴλ τῷ τῆς μεγάλου δομεστίκου γυναικὸς ἀδελφῷ, ὃς τῆς βασιλικῆς τάξεως ἦρχε, καὶ ἑτέρους ἄγων πεντήκοντα ἐκ τῶν ἐπιφανῶν λογάδας, πρῶτα μὲν ἐτρέψαντο τοὺς κατ' αὐτούς. ἔπειτα σφοδροῦ προσεῤῥυηκότος τοῦ πολέμου καὶ πολλῶν 1.467 περιχυθέντων, οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν τηρῆσαι τὸν συνασπισμὸν, ἀλλὰ διαλυθέντες ὡς ἠδύναντο ἕκαστος, ἀνεχώρουν, τῶν δύο μόνων ὑπολελειμμένων βασιλέως καὶ μεγάλου δομεστίκου ἐν ταὐτῷ· κἀκεῖνοι δὲ διαιρεθέντες ἐπ' ὀλίγου, πάλιν τάχιστα εἰς ἓν συνῆλθον, ὡς καὶ τὸν μέγαν δομέστικον εἰπεῖν πρὸς βασιλέα· «καιρὸς εὐψυχίας καὶ τόλμης, ὦ βασιλεῦ· χρῶ τοίνυν τῇ χειρὶ, καὶ ἄξια ἔργα ἐπιδείκνυσο σαυτοῦ.» τὸν δ' ἀποκρίνασθαι, μηδὲν ὄφελος εἶναι τῆς ἀνδρίας καὶ τῆς τόλμης τῆς αὐτοῦ, τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων τετραμμένων εἰς φυγήν. ὅμως βασιλεύς τε καὶ ὅσοι εἰς χεῖρας ἦλθον τοῖς Μυσοῖς, καίτοι καὶ γενομένης τῆς τροπῆς, οὐ νῶτα βάλλεσθαι παρέσχον φεύγοντες ἀμεταστρεπτί· ἀλλ' ἀμυνόμενοι καὶ περισώζοντες ἑαυτοὺς, ἦλθον ἄχρι Ῥωσοκάστρου· ἐκεῖ δὲ τῇ λοιπῇ στρατιᾷ γενόμενοι εἰς ἓν, ἠμύνοντο ὁμοῦ προθύμως πρός τε Σκύθας καὶ Μυσοὺς ἄχρι τρίτης τῆς ἡμέρας ὥρας· μηδὲν δὲ πλέον οἱ βάρβαροι δυνάμενοι ἀνύσαι, οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτὸς Ῥωσοκάστρου ἴσχυσαν βιάσασθαι ἐλθεῖν, διαλυθέντες, εἰς στρατόπεδον τὸ οἰκεῖον ἐπανῆλθον. ἔπεσον δὲ παρὰ τὴν μάχην καὶ ἐζωγρήθησαν Ῥωμαίων ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν ἱππέων ἑπτὰ καὶ τριάκοντα· ὧν ἦσαν ἓξ τῆς τάξεως τῆς βασιλικῆς· πεζοὶ δὲ πέντε πρὸς τοῖς ἑξήκοντα· καὶ τούτων οἱ πλείους ἢ σύμπαντες σχεδὸν ὑπὸ τῶν Σκυθῶν ἑάλωσαν ἢ ἀπέθανον. ἀπέθανον δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν Μυσῶν ὀλίγῳ πλείους τῶν Ῥωμαίων. πλὴν ἡ νίκη φανερῶς προσεγένετο τοῖς Μυσοῖς διὰ τὸ μὴ τοὺς Ῥωμαίους ἀντισχεῖν, ἀλλὰ τραπέν 1.468 τας ἀτάκτως εἰς Ῥωσόκαστρον ἐλθεῖν. περὶ δὲ μεσημβρίαν τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ τῶν Μυσῶν βασιλεὺς τῶν παρ' αὐτῷ ἐπιφανῶν τὸν Ἰβάνην πέμψας πρὸς βασιλέα πρεσβευτὴν, ἠξίου τὰς γεγενημένας τῇ προτεραίᾳ συνθήκας ἀλύτους μένειν, καὶ πλείονος ἕνεκα φιλίας καὶ ἀσφαλείας τῆς πρὸς τὰς σπονδὰς τὴν θυγατέρα τὴν αὐτοῦ τῷ υἱῷ ἐκείνου κατεγγυῆσαι. βασιλεὺς δὲ τὸ μὲν τελεσθῆναι τὰς γεγενημένας σπονδὰς, καὶ αὐτῷ εἶναι ἀπεκρίνατο κατὰ γνώμην, ἐπεὶ καὶ πρότερον οὐ πρὸς ἀνάγκην, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ λυσιτελεῖν νομίζειν τὴν εἰρήνην γεγενῆσθαι· τὴν δὲ συγγένειαν μὴ βούλεσθαι· δόξαι γὰρ ἂν πᾶσι δι' ἀνάγκην ἢ φόβον τοιαῦτα πράττειν οἷα δὴ νενικημένον ὑπὸ σοῦ· καίτοι τὸ μὲν τραπῆναι συμβέβηκεν ἡμῖν μόνοις ὑπὸ πλειόνων βιασθεῖσιν. ἀποστερήσει δὲ τῶν οἰκείων οὐδὲν διενηνόχαμεν ἀλλήλων. πλείους γὰρ ἀπεβάλετε ὑμεῖς· ὅμως αὐτοῦ γε ἕνεκα τοῦ ἡσσῆσθαι δοκεῖν ἡμᾶς οὐ βούλομαι τὴν συγγένειαν ποιήσασθαι νυνὶ, ἀλλ' εἰρήνην μόνον καὶ σπονδάς· ἀναστρέψαντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν, πρεσβείαν περὶ τῆς ἐπιγαμίας ποιεῖσθαι καὶ σκεψαμένῳ ὅ,τι ἂν λυσιτελεῖν δοκοίη καθ' ἡσυχίαν πράττειν. Ἰβάνης μὲν οὖν ἐπανῆλθεν ὡς βασιλέα τὸν οἰκεῖον, τὰς ἀποκρίσεις τοῦ Ῥωμαίων βασιλέως ἄγων· καὶ μετὰ μικρὸν ἐπανῆλθε πάλιν ἄγων καὶ συμπρεσβευτὴν τὸν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως θεῖον Συναδηνὸν, τὰ ἴσα πρεσβεύοντα καὶ αὖθις. περί τε τοῦ κήδους πολλὰ διαλεγόμενοι ἐπαγωγὰ, ἐξ ὧν ᾤοντο τὸν βασιλέα πεῖσαι· ὁ βασιλεὺς δὲ τοῖς προτέροις καὶ αὖθις ἐχρῆ 1.469 το λόγοις· καὶ τὴν μὲν εἰρήνην ἔφασκεν αἱρεῖσθαι, καὶ θέσθαι βούλεσθαι περὶ αὐτῆς σπονδάς· τὴν συγγένειαν δὲ οὐ νυνὶ ποιήσειν, ἀλλ' ἐς ὕστερον ἢν αὐτῷ δοκῇ. ἂν μὲν οὖν καὶ αὐτοῖς τὰ τοιαῦτα κατὰ γνώμην ᾖ, διαλέγεσθαι περὶ τῶν συνθηκῶν· ἂν δ' ἕτερά τινα διανοῶνται, ἀπελθόντας παρασκευάζεσθαι καθ' ὅ,τι ἂν δοκῇ. οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ ἑώρων βασιλέα ἀμεταστρεπτὶ τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐχόμενον λογισμῶν, τὴν μὲν συγγένειαν τὸν αὐτῶν ἔφασαν βασιλέα περὶ πλείστου ποιεῖσθαι· καὶ αὐτοῖς προστεταχέναι περὶ ἐκείνης πᾶσαν ἐπιδείξασθαι σπουδήν· ἂν δὲ μὴ προσχωροίη μηδὲ πείθοιτο ὁ βασιλεὺς, τότ' ἤδη τοὺς μὲν περὶ ἐκείνης λόγους εἰς τὸ μέλλον ὑπερθέσθαι ὡς καιρῷ