BOOK VII
War with the Scyths (1087-90)
[168]
I AT the approach of spring Tzelgu (the supreme commander of the Scythian army) crossed
the passes above the Danube with a mixed army of about eighty thousand, composed of
Sauromatians, Scythians, and a number from the Dacian army (over whom the man called
Solomon was leader), and plundered the towns round about Chariopolis. And after entering
Chariopolis itself and carrying off much booty, he settled down in a place called
Scotinum. On receipt of this news Nicolas Mavrocatacalon and Bebetziotes (who got this
name from his country) occupied Pamphylum. with the forces under their command. When they
saw the villagers from the districts around hurrying in to the towns and fortresses in
their extreme fear, they moved from the place called Pamphylurn and occupied the small
town of Cule with their whole army. Behind them came the Scythians and directly they
discovered the track of the Roman army (this is the word used by soldiers) they followed
almost in their footsteps one might say. At dawn of day Tzelgu drew up his own forces and
contemplated battle with Mavrocatacalon. But the latter climbed up with a few chosen
comrades to the pass overlooking the plain to spy out the barbarian forces; and seeing the
multitude of the Scythians, he deferred the battle, although madly impatient for it, as he
realized that the Roman army was numerically far inferior to the Scythian horde. He
returned to the camp and discussed with all the officers of the army and with Joharmaces
himself the advisability of attacking the Scythians. As they all urged him to do so and
his own inclination lay in that direction, he divided the troops into three portions, bade
them sound the attack and engaged the barbarians. In the combat many Scythians fell
wounded, and no fewer were killed; and Tzelgu himself who had fought valiantly and thrown
the ranks into confusion, received a mortal wound and gave up [169] the ghost. Still more
f ell as they fled into the stream running between Scotinum. and Cule and were trampled
under foot by each other and drowned. Having gained this brilliant victory over the
Scythians the Emperor's officers returned to the capital. Here the Emperor bestowed on
them appropriate gifts and honours and afterwards they left with the newly appointed
Domestic of the West, Adrian Comnenus, own brother to the Emperor
II In this manner, then, the Scythians were driven out from the districts round
Macedonia and Philippopolis, but they returned and encamped beside the Ister and settled
along its banks and plundered our territory as freely as if it were their own. When the
Emperor heard this, he could not endure the idea of their settling within the Roman
frontiers, and at the same time he was afraid of their crossing the passes again and
perpetrating worse mischief than before. Consequently he made his preparations, fitted out
the army well and marched to Adrianople and thence to Lardea. which lies in the plain
between Diabolis and Goloë. Here he appointed George Euphorbenus general and dispatched
him by sea to Dristra. Then the Emperor stayed in those parts for forty days and summoned
troops from all sides. When he had collected a large army, he deliberated whether he
should traverse the defiles and commence warfare with the Scythians, " for,"
said he, " we ought not to allow them immunity at all," and there was justice in
this remark in the case of these barbarians. For the incursions of the Scythians did not
begin in one of the four seasons and cease in the following, for instance, starting in
summer and finishing in autumn, or even in winter (or late autumn) ; nor was this evil
limited to the cycle of one year, but for several years past they had been troubling the
Empire, although in the plethora of subjects I have only mentioned them occasionally.
Neither could they be split up by double-dealing, although the Emperor had often tried to
seduce them in various ways; but not one deserted to him even in secret, so unswerving was
their loyalty up to that time.. Now Nicephorus Bryennius and Gregorius Mavrocatacalon whom
the Emperor had ransomed for forty thousand pieces of money when taken by the Scythians,
did not at all approve of waging war along the Ister with the Scythians ; but George
Palaeologus and Nicolas Mavrocatacalon and all the young, vigorous men pressed the Emperor
hard and urged him to cross the passes of the Hoemus and start war with the Scythians on
the Danube. Of this same opinion [170] were also Nicephorus and Leo, the two sons of the
Emperor Diogenes, who were born to him in the purple room after his elevation to the
throne and were consequently styled " Porphyrogeniti." This purple room was a
certain building in the palace shaped as a complete square from its base to the spring of
the roof, which ended in a pyramid; it looked out upon the sea and the harbour where the
stone oxen and lions stand. The floor of this room was paved with marbles and the walls
were panelled with it but not with ordinary sorts nor even with the more expensive sorts
which are fairly easy to procure, but with the marble which the earlier Emperors had
carried away from Rome. And this marble is, roughly speaking, purple all over except for
spots like white sand sprinkled over it. It is from this marble, I imagine, that our
ancestors called the room " purple."
Now, as I was saying, when the trumpet with its loud summons directed all to the road
of the Haemus Mountains, as if to march against the Scythians, Bryennius, who had tried
his utmost to dissuade the Emperor from this attempt and had not succeeded, remarked
sententiously, " If you cross the Haemus, Emperor, you will certainly find out whose
horses are the swiftest." When somebody asked what he meant by those words, he
replied, " When you all flee." For although this man had had his eyes dug out
for rebellion, yet he was recognized as by far the cleverest strategist, and most skilful
and ingenious in the arrangement of troops. How this Bryennius was deprived of his sight
for desertion, or rather rebellion, against the Emperor Botaniates, and how, when captured
by Alexius Comnenus, at that time the great Domestic of the Eastern and Western armies, he
was handed over to Borilus with his eyes uninjured-I must refer those who wish to know
further details to the history of the great Caesar. For this Caesar became the son-in-law
of Alexius when the latter was already Emperor, and he was the descendant of that
Bryennius. But at this point my soul is convulsed and filled with sorrow, for he was wise
in counsel and a very distinguished orator. For everything, strength, swiftness, physical
beauty, in fact all good qualities of mind and body combined to adorn this man. For in him
nature begot and God fashioned a man most eminent in allways, and just such a hero as
Homer depicted Achilles among the Achaeans, one could say my Caesar was, shining forth
amongst all those beneath the sun. And this Caesar, who was an expert in military matters,
had not neglected letters, but had read every book and [171] applied himself to every
branch of learning, and drawn therefrom all the wisdom of our own and of other times. And
later he devoted himself to history, and at the suggestion of my mistress mother, I mean
the Empress Irene, he composed a work well worthy of attention and worth reading, for he
arranged a narrative of my father's deeds before he took up the reins of government. In
this history he gives an accurate account of the facts concerning Bryennius; and there too
he narrates his grandfather's many vicissitudes, and his father-in-law's brilliant
exploits, and assuredly he never falsified anything for he was related to them both, to
the latter by marriage and to the former by blood. I have already mentioned his book in
the earlier chapters of this history.
Now the Scythians saw that George Euphorbenus was on his way against them coming up the
Ister with a large army and a fleet. (This river flows down from the western mountains,
and after a series of cataracts empties itself into the Pontus Euxinus [*=Black Sea]
through five mouths; broad and with a strong current it flows through a vast plain, and is
navigable for even the largest and most heavily laden vessels can be carried on its
waters. It has not only one name, for in its upper reaches and near its source it is
called the 'Danube,' whilst in the lower and at its mouths, the 'Ister.'
To resume, when a portion of the Scythians saw George Euphorbenus coming up this river,
and were told that the Emperor too was already marching towards them overland, with a very
considerable army, they recognized that it would be impossible for them to fight against
both and so looked about for a way of escape from this imminent danger. Accordingly they
sent a hundred-and-fifty Scythians as ambassadors to discuss terms of peace, and also to
insinuate a few threats and perhaps to promise that if the Emperor acceded to their
requests, they would furnish him with thirty thousand horsemen, whenever he required them.
But the Emperor, awake to the Scythians' treachery, knew that this embassy was merely to
circumvent the immediate danger, and that, at the next opportunity, they would kindle the
latent sparks of their malice into a mighty conflagration ; therefore, he refused to
receive the ambassadors. In the course of the discussion a certain Nicolas, one of the
Emperor's secretaries, came up to him and whispered in his ear, " You may expect an
eclipse of the sun to take place today, "and on the Emperor's [172] expressing a
doubt, he swore with an oath that he was not lying. Then the Emperor, with his habitual
quick-wittedness, turned to the Scythians and said, "I appoint God as judge; and if a
sign appears in the heavens this day, you will know for a surety that I have good reason
for suspecting, and therefore not receiving, your embassy because your leaders are not
sincere in their overtures for peace. If, however, no sign appears, I shall stand
convicted of having been wrong in my surmise."Before two hours had passed, the light
of the sun failed, and the whole of its disc was darkened by the moon's passing over it.
At that sight the Scythians were terrified, and the Emperor handed them over to Leo
Nicerites (he was a eunuch, brought up among the soldiers from babyhood, and much
respected) and ordered him to take a sufficient guard and conduct them to the Queen of
Cities. And Leo started very willingly on the road to Constantinople. But the barbarians
who were throughout intent on regaining their liberty, slew the guards who were keeping a
very careless watch over them when they reached little Nicaea, and returned by devious
paths to those who had sent them. Nicerites with three others escaped with difficulty and
rejoined the Emperor at Goloë.
III After hearing Leo's tale, the Emperor was afraid that the ambassadors would stir up
the whole Scythian army and attack him suddenly ; but he did not require a dream to urge
him to battle, as Atreus' son, Agamemnon, did, for he was seething with lust of combat, so
he led his legions through the vale of Sidera, and encamped near the Bitzina, a river
running down from the adjacent mountains. Here a good many of his soldiers were killed,
for in foraging they had strayed too far from the camp and many were captured besides. At
dawn the Emperor quickly made for Pliscoba and from there he ascended a mountain peak
called Simeon, and also locally 'the Scythians' Parliament House.' Here a similar accident
occurred to soldiers who whilst foraging were at a distance from their camp. On the
following day he marched along a river flowing at about a distance of twenty-four stades
from Dristra and there he piled the baggage and erected his palisades. Here the Scythians
made a massed attack upon the Imperial tent and killed not only a number of the
light-armed troops but also captured some of the Manichaeans who had fought most
courageously. Hence a great din and confusion arose in the army and even the imperial tent
was overturned by some horse-soldiers [173] careering about wildly, and this fact was
looked upon as a bad omen by the Emperor's ill-wishers.
However, the Emperor drove off the barbarians with a detachment of the army to some
distance from his tent, so that they should not cause confusion again, then he mounted his
horse and quelled the tumult, immediately broke up the camp and marched with all his
troops in good order to Distra (this is the best-known of the towns near the Danube) in
order to besiege it with engines. Accordingly he set to work, invested the town on all
sides, and after breaking down one side of the walls, he entered with his entire army. But
the two citadels of this town were still held by the kinsmen of a man called Tatus who had
left the town shortly before to try and win over the Comans to come to the help of the
Scythians. On the point of leaving and when bidding farewell to his friends this Tatus
said, " I know for certain that the Emperor will come and besiege this town.
Therefore directly you see him advancing into this plain, make haste to be the first to
seize the hill which overlooks it, for it is the most advantageous position, and erect
your palisades there, so that the Emperor may not be able to carry on the siege at his
leisure, but be obliged to turn his attention to what is happening in his rear through
fear of the injury you may do. And throughout the day and night keep on sending relays of
troops against him." But the Emperor, hitting upon the right plan, abandoned the
siege of the citadels (for it was an arduous and lengthy task), left the town and
entrenched himself near a stream, not far from the Ister, and deliberated whether it would
be wise to attack the Scythians. Paheologus and Gregorius Mavrocatacalon were for
deferring war with the Patzinaks and advised taking an army and capturing the large town
Pristhlava. "For," said they, " if the Scythians see us marching in good
order fully accoutred, they will certainly not dare to attack us. And should perchance a
few horsemen without chariots risk an engagement, you may be sure they will be worsted,
and then in future we shall have the large town of Pristhlava as our well-fortified
stronghold."This important town, which is situated on the Ister, did not always bear
this barbaric name, but a Greek one, for it both was, and was called, a great city,
namely, Megalopolis. But from the time that Mocrus, King of the Bulgarians, and his
descendants, and finally Samuel, the last of the Bulgarian dynasty (as Zedekiah of the
Jewish) overran the West, the town acquired a double name, retaining [174] 'great' from
the Greek language and adding a Slavic word, and was universally spoken of as "Great
Pristhlava." " If we have this town as a place of refuge," said
Mavrocatacalon's adherents, " and harass the Scythians by daily skirmishes, we shall
be punishing them the whole time and not allowing them to come out of their own camp at
all either to forage or to fetch any other necessaries." During the bandying of
arguments the two young sons of Diogenes, Nicephorus and Leo, who were inexperienced in
the difficulties of warfare, slipped off their horses and took off their bridles, gave
them a slap and drove them into a field of millet with the remark, " Do not be
afraid, Emperor, we will cut them to pieces with our swords." The Emperor who was
very adventurous and liked to be the first to start a battle, did not take into
consideration the arguments of those who protested against fighting, but put George
Cutzomites in charge of the Imperial tent and all the baggage and dispatched him to
Betrinum; then he enjoined the army not to light a lamp or fire that evening, but to keep
the horses ready and watch till sunrise. He himself left his tent at daybreak, divided his
forces and set them in order of battle, and then reviewed the army. He chose the centre of
the line as his post, where he was surrounded by his relations and connections, such as
his brother Adrian who was at that time commanding the Latins, and other valiant
gentlemen. The left wing was held by Nicephorus Caesar Melissenus, his sister's husband,
and the leaders on the right wing were Castamonites and Taticius, whilst the Sauromatians,
Uzas and Caratzas, commanded the allies. Then he chose six men as his own bodyguard and
ordered them to attend to him and pay not the slightest attention to anyone else, these
six were the two sons of Romanus Diogenes, Nicolas Mavrocatacalon who had had a long and
varied military career, Johannaces, Nabites, the prefect of the Varangians, and lastly a
certain Gules, a family retainer. But the Scythians too had arranged a plan of battle, for
the science of warfare and of ordering troops is inbred in them; they set ambuscades and
connected their ranks in close-ordered array, and built towers, as it were, of their
covered wagons, and advanced against the Emperor in squadrons, and hurled missiles from
afar. The Emperor adapted his army to meet these squadrons, and forbade the hoplites to
move forward or to break the covering formed by their shields, until the Scythians had
come quite close. Then when they judged the intervening space between the [175] two armies
to be no more than a bridle's length, they were to advance against the foe in a body.
Whilst the Emperor was making these preparations the Scythians appeared in the distance
travelling with their covered wagons, wives and children. When the battle commenced, it
raged from morning till evening and the slaughter on either side was tremendous. And Leo,
Diogenes' son, riding too recklessly against the Scythians, and allowing himself to be
drawn closer than was wise to the wagons, received a mortal wound and fell. And Adrian the
Emperor's brother, who had been entrusted with command over the Latins, seeing that the
Scythians' onset was proving irresistible, gave his horse his head and charged right up to
the wagons and after fighting magnificently returned with only seven comrades, all the
rest had been either slain or captured by the Scythians. The result of the battle was
still hanging in the balance, and both armies were fighting with great spirit, when some
Scythian chieftains were seen in the distance coming with thirty-six thousand men; the
Romans who could not possibly stand against so many, then turned their backs to the enemy.
The Emperor had advanced in front of his own army and stood sword in hand; with the other
he held up as a standard the Pallium of the Mother of the Divine Word and was supported by
only twenty brave-hearted companions, Nicephorus, Diogenes' son, was there together with
Michael Ducas the Protostrator, and brother of the Empress, and the servants of his
family. Then three Scythian foot-soldiers leapt at him, two snatched at his reins on
either side, the third at his right leg. Immediately he cut one man's hand off, against
the other he lifted his sword and with threatening voice made him fall back, whilst he
struck at the helmet of the man holding his leg. But he only gave a rather light blow with
his sword nor did he use his whole strength in making it for he was afraid that one of two
things might happen if, as is often the case, a severe blow from his sword missed
altogether, namely, that he would hit his own leg, or the horse on which he was riding,
and in that case he would easily be taken by the enemy. So he quickly gave him a second
blow but made the motions of his hand very cautiously, for in all his actions, words and
motions reason was ever his guide, and he was never carried away by anger nor led astray
by passion. The Scythian's helmet had fallen off at the first blow so the sword descended
on his bare head, and without a sound he fell straight to the ground. Seeing the
uncontrolled flight of the troops (for [176] the lines had long since been broken up, as
all fled promiscuously), the Protostrator said, "To what purpose, Emperor, are you
trying to hold out here any longer? To what purpose are you risking your life and entirely
neglecting your own safety?" to which the Emperor replied that he would rather they
should die fighting bravely than seek safety in ignoble flight. The Protostrator retorted,
"If you were one of the common herd, your remark would be praiseworthy, but as your
death involves world-wide disaster, why not choose the better part? for if you save
yourself, you can live to fight another day and conquer."
The Emperor seeing himself in instant danger, as the Scythians were attacking him
persistently, abandoned all hope, and said, " Yes, it is time now for us to take
thought for our safety with the help of God, but we must not pursue the same road as our
fugitives for in that case the Scytbians who are pursuing our men might fall in with us on
their return, but," and he pointed to the Scythians standing in the van of their
army, " we must ride down upon those men there as if we had been born to-day, and
were doomed to die today, and then if by God's aid we get to the rear of the Scythians'
lines, we shall find a different road." After saying this and encouraging the others,
he was the first to dash like a firebrand upon the Scythians and struck at the first who
encountered him, and the latter straightway rolled from his saddle. As the closed ranks of
the Scythians were thus split up, he and his companions reached the country behind the
Scythians. At any rate the Emperor managed to do this, but the Protostrator had the
misfortune to fall on the ground for his horse slipped; but one of his attendants
immediately gave him his own horse. When he caught up the Emperor he never moved more than
a foot's breadth away from him again, for he was so intensely devoted to him. In the
confusion resulting from one party fleeing and the other pursuing, a second lot of
Scythians overtook the Emperor; he immediately turned round and hit down his assailant and
killed not only him but several others as well, as those who were present assert. Another
Scythian who had crept up from- the back was on the point of hitting Nicephorus Diogenes,
when the Emperor caught sight of him and called out: "Look behind you, Nicephorus !
" So the latter turned round sharply and struck the Scythian in the face; and I have
often heard the Emperor say that he had never seen anything so swift and skilful. He used
also to say, " If I had not been carrying a standard that [177] day, I should have
killed more Scythians than there are hairs on my head," and this was not bragging,
for who ever pushed modesty to such an extreme as he did? But sometimes conversation and
the nature of events forced him to speak out about his doings within the circle of his
family and intimates, though it was only as the result of much urging on our part; but no
one in the world ever heard the Emperor boast of his prowess in public.- As a strong wind
was blowing, and the Patzinaks were attacking him he could no longer hold the standard
upright. Then a Scythian wielding a long spear in both hands struck him in the buttocks,
and though he did not break the skin, he inflicted exquisite pain which lasted for many
years. Overcome by these difficulties he furled the standard and hid it in a germander
bush so that nobody should see it; and then he rode through the night and came safely to
Goloë (and from this the townsmen used to say, "From Dristra to Goloe is a fine feat
even for an unwounded man, Comnenus "). During the day he went on to Beroë and
stayed there as he wished to ransom the captives.
IV During the flight of the defeated troops that day Palaeologus was knocked off his
horse and lost it; while standing helpless and well aware of his dangerous situation he
gazed about in case he could see his horse anywhere, when suddenly he saw Leo, the Bishop
of Chalcedon, of whom we have written above. This man was dressed in priestly garb and was
offering him his horse; Palaeologus mounted it and continued his flight; but he never saw
the holy man again. This priest had really a very frank and open nature, and the right
character for a priest of superior rank, but he was somewhat simpleminded and occasionally
displayed more zeal than knowledge, and he had no accurate acquaintance with the sacred
canons. For these reasons disaster befell him, as has been already related, and he lost
his bishopric; Paleologus, however, always adhered to him because of his preeminent
goodness. So whether it was by reason of his fervent belief in this man that Palxologus
was granted this heavenly vision, or whether some other mysterious design of Providence
was manifested in this priest, I am unable to say. With the Patzinaks pursuing him,
Palaeologus ran into marshy, thickly-shaded place and there fell in with about hundred and
fifty Roman soldiers. As the Scythians enircled them and they saw their case was desperate
for they could not fight against so many, they waited upon Palaeologus' [178] decision for
they knew his bravery and indomitable disposition of old. He advised them to rush headlong
at the Scythians, taking absolutely no thought for their own safety, and thus, I fancy,
purchasing it. "But first," he said, " we must confirm this plan by oath,
and then if we are all of one opinion no one must f ail to take part in the onset against
the Scythians, but each must regard the general safety and danger as his own."
Thereupon Palaeologus made a wild dash at the foe, and struck the first man he met, who
straightway fell to the ground dazed. But the rest were half-hearted in their attack, and
some of them were killed and others returned to the covered glade as if to their nest, and
saved their lives by hiding in it. Whilst Palaeologus was making for a certain height he
was again pursued by the Patzinaks and his horse was wounded and fell; he himself,
however, escaped to the neighbouring mountain. Then he sought for the road to safety,
which under the circumstances it was not easy for him to find, and so he wandered about
for eleven days, when he fell in with a soldier's widow, who gave him shelter for several
days, and then her sons, who had escaped with their lives from the battle, pointed out to
him the road to safety. This is the story of Palaeologus' adventures.
Now the chieftains of the Scythians were minded to put the prisoners they held to
death, but the majority of the people absolutely refused to allow this, as they wished to
sell them for a price. And as this proposal gained the day, the Emperor was acquainted of
it by letters from Melissenus who, although he was a prisoner, had done a great deal to
persuade the Scythians to adopt this course. The Emperor, who was still in Beroë, at once
sent to the capital for the requisite amount of money, and then redeemed the captives.
V At that time Tatus returned to the Ister with the Comans he had won over; directly
they saw the amount of booty, and of captives, they said to the Scythian chieftains,
" We have left our homes and travelled a long way to come to your assistance on the
understanding that we should share your dangers and your victories. Therefore as we have
done our best it would not be right to send us back empty-handed. For it was not by our
choice that we arrived too late for the battle, nor can we in any way be blamed for that,
for it was the fault of the Emperor who hurried on the battle. Therefore you must either
divide all this booty equally with us, or instead of allies you will find us your
enemies." The Scythians refused to do this. As the Comans would not [179] accept
their refusal, a violent struggle took place between them and the Scythians were
thoroughly beaten, and only escaped with difficulty to the town called Ozolimne. And there
they stayed for some time, hemmed in by the Comans and not daring to cross the lake. This
lake which we now call "Ozolimne "is the largest in diameter and circumference
of all the lakes ever mentioned by geographers and yields to none for size. It lies beyond
the Hundred Hills and is fed by very large and beautiful rivers; on its southern half it
can carry a number of large merchant-vessels which proves how deep the lake must be in
that part. It is called "Ozolimne " not because it emits any bad or offensive
effluvia, but because a Hunnish, army once lodged near it (this name " Huns "
(Ounni) was converted into "Ouzi " in the local patois) and made their camp on
its banks, and thus the lake was called Ouzolimne, with the vowel " u " added).
Now in the ancient historians, no mention is made of a Hunnish army ever having come
there, but during the Emperor Alexius' reign the whole nation congregated there from all
quarters and gave the place its name. These probable facts about the lake are now
mentioned by me for the first time in order to prove that owing to the Emperor's many
expeditions in many directions many places obtained their names either directly from him
or from his enemies who collected there; and we note that much the same thing happened in
the time of Alexander, King of Macedon. For both the Alexandria in Egypt, and the other in
India were named after him, and we further know that Lysimachia was named after
Lysimachus, one of his soldiers. Therefore it does not surprise me if the Emperor Alexius,
emulating Alexander's zeal, occasionally fitted new names to places either from the tribes
who assembled there or whom he had summoned, or gave names of his own choosing to places
as the result of his own exploits. Let these remarks about Ozolinme be thrown out once for
all in the true spirit of history. Now when their provisions ran short, the Comans
returned to their homes to get a new supply, and then move against the Scythians once
more.
VI In the meantime the Emperor recuperated at Beroë and fitted out the captives he had
redeemed and all his hoplites with arms. At that time, too, the Count of Flanders on his
way back from Jerusalem visited the Emperor there, and took the customary Latin oath and
also promised to send to his succour five hundred horsemen directly he reached [180] home.
Consequently the Emperor showed him great honour and then dismissed him to his own
country. After wards the Emperor left Beroë with the troops he had amassed and entered
Adrianople. The Scythians next came down the narrow valleys between Goloë and Diabolis
and pitched their camp near the place called Marcella. Now the Emperor heard of the doings
of the Comans and, as they were expected to return, he was alarmed because he foresaw
danger from their coming. So he sent Synesius armed with Golden Bulls to the Scythians to
treat with them and say that if they could be induced to make a treaty and give hostages,
though he would not allow them to enter further into his territory, yet he would arrange
for them to stay in the place they had taken and provide them liberally with all
necessaries. For Alexius meditated using the Scythians against the Comans if the latter
crossed the Ister again and tried to advance farther. But if the Scythians could not be
persuaded, Synesius was to leave them and return. This Synesius accordingly went to the
Scythians and after making an appropriate speech persuaded them to enter into a treaty
with the Emperor; and he stayed there some time and courted their favour, thus removing
every possible cause of offence. The Comans returned, fully prepared for war with the
Scythians, but not finding them and learning that they had come over the passes, occupied
Marcella and after arranging terms of peace with the Emperor, demanded permission to cross
the passes and attack the Scythians. However, the Emperor refused, as he had already
concluded peace with the Scythians, saying, " We have no need of auxiliaries at
present ; take a satisfactory present and go home! " He treated the ambassadors
courteously, gave them satisfactory presents and sent them home in peace. This emboldened
the Scythians who promptly broke the treaty, reverted to their former cruelty and laid
waste the neighbouring lands and cities. For as a rule all barbarians are unstable, and
the observance of treaties is not natural to them. Becoming aware of this Synesius
returned to the Emperor and himself informed him of the Scythians' ingratitude and
violation of the treaty. They seized Philippopolis and this placed the Emperor in a
difficulty as against their large numbers his forces were far too small to allow of his
opening battle with them. But accustomed as he was to find a way out of difficulties and
never in any crisis to feel at all despondent, he decided that he must endeavour to reduce
their numbers by [181] skirmishes and ambuscades. And so guessing at the places or towns
which they were likely to enter in the morning, he anticipated their arrival the evening
before; or if in the evening he heard that they would take possession of a certain place,
he occupied that same place in the early morning. And as much as possible, he wore them
down from a distance by skirmishes and ambuscades to prevent their gaining possession of
the forts. Well, both parties, the Scythians and the Emperor, reached Cypsella. And now,
as a mercenary force which he expected had not yet arrived, the Emperor felt very helpless
for he knew how quickly the Scythians moved and saw that they were already hastening
towards the Queen of Cities. As he had insufficient forces for meeting their immense host,
and considering that ' what was not worse, was better,' as the saying is, he again
resorted to negotiations for peace. Consequently he sent ambassadors to confer with them
about peace, and the Scythians at once fell in with the Emperor's wishes. Before the truce
was made, a man named Neantzes deserted to the Romans. Then Migidemus was sent to f etch
in recruits from the adjacent regions; in a battle which occurred later at a place . . .
this man's son whilst making a fierce dash against the Patzinaks was snared and captured
by a Scythian woman and dragged into the circle of their wagons with an iron sickle. His
head which they cut off the Emperor bought at his father's request. Overcome by this
unforeseen disaster, the father beat his breast for three days and nights with a
sling-stone and then died. The interval of peace with the Scythians did not last long, but
like 'dogs they returned to their vomit' ; they then removed from Cypsella and occupied
Taurocomus, where they wintered and ravaged the neighbouring village-towns.
VII On the return of spring they came down from there to Chariopohs. The Emperor who
was stationed at Bulgarophygum, wished to no longer delay but set apart a considerable
section of the army, all picked men and amongst them too the young soldiers, called "
Archontopouli," all with their beards scarcely grown, but irresistible in attack, and
ordered them to fall upon the Scythians, who were standing on the tops of their wagons,
from the rear.
This band of " Archontopouli " was first formed by Alexius. As the Roman
Empire possessed no army owing to the carelessness of the preceding Emperors, he collected
from all sides the sons of soldiers who had fallen in the field, and trained [182] them in
the use of arms and for war and called them "Archontopouli," as though they were
the sons of "Archontes" ; in order that by their name they should be reminded of
their parents' nobility and bravery, and therefore aim at impetuous valour and prove
themselves very brave when circumstances demanded daring and strength. Such then was the
band of "Archontopouli," and roughly speaking they numbered about two thousand;
it was much the same as the 'Sacred Band' of the Spartans in former days. In obedience to
orders, then, these newly-recruited "Archontopouli " marched to the attack. But
some of the Scythians lying in ambush in a hollow below the hill, watched their advance;
and when they saw them falling upon the wagons, they rushed out upon them with
irresistible impetuosity. And during the close engagement which followed about three
hundred of the "Archontopouli " fell fighting desperately. For some time the
Emperor grieved deeply for them, shedding bitter tears and calling each by name as if they
were absent. After this victory over their opponents the Patzinaks passed through
Chariopolis and turned to Apros, devastating as they went. The Emperor then had recourse
again to his former plan of action, and forestalled their entry into Apros ; for, as I
have remarked more than once, he had not sufficient troops to risk a battle with his
enemies. Thereupon, as he knew they set out on foraging expeditions at daybreak, he sent
for Taticius (he has often been mentioned in this history) and bade him take the most
courageous of the youths and picked men from his own bodyguard and all the Latins and keep
watch during the night for the Scythians' expedition at dawn, so that when he supposed
that the foraging party was at a good distance from their camp, he could ride down upon
them at full speed. Taticius carried out these orders, killed about four hundred and took
a large number captive. And what followed? The horsemen sent by the Count of Flanders,
about five hundred picked men, arrived and brought as a present to the Emperor one hundred
and fifty selected horses: moreover they sold him all the horses they did not require for
their own use. The Emperor welcomed them very graciously and returned hearty thanks. Next
he received a message from the East saying that Apelchasem, the governor of Nima (whom the
Persians usually call a 'satrap,' and the Turks, who now imitate the Persians, an
'ameer'), was all but starting on an expedition against Nicomedia, so he sent those
horsemen to protect that district.
[183]
VIII At this same time Tzachas who was assured of the Emperor's manifold troubles in
the West and of his continuous warfare with the Patzinaks, thought that, as the
opportunity offered, he ought to acquire a fleet. And chancing upon a certain Smyrniote,
he entrusted the building of pirate vessels to him for he was experienced in this work.
After he had built many of these at Smyrna, as well as forty covered trawlers he embarked
experienced men on them, sailed for Clazomenae and took the town immediately. Thence he
sailed to Phoma and took that too at first assault. From that town he sent letters to the
Curator Alopus, the administrator of Mitylene, threatening him with dire punishment unless
he left the town very quickly; he told him also that he wished him well and had for that
reason warned him of the terrible future that awaited him if he did not depart. Alopus was
thoroughly scared by Tzachas' threats, so embarked on a vessel by night and made for the
capital. On hearing of his flight, Tzachas did not delay but sailed straightway to
Mitylene and took it without any difficulty. The Emperor was informed about Tzachas, and
immediately dispatched a large force by boat to fortify Methymna which is situated on the
northern promontory of this island and had not gone over to Tzachas. However Tzachas
thought Methymna was beneath consideration, but sailed direct to Chios and took that also
at first assault. On receipt of this news the Emperor sent an adequate fleet with plenty
of soldiers against him under the leadership of Nicetas Castamonites. So he departed,
engaged in battle with Tzachas and was quickly worsted, and Tzachas also carried off a
number of his ships. When the Emperor was informed of what had happened to Castamonites he
equipped a second fleet and appointed as 'Duke' of it, Constantine Dalassenus, a great
fighter and related to him on his mother's side.
Directly he reached the shores of Chios he started the siege of the citadel, fighting
with great energy as he was eager to take the town before Tzachas could arrive from
Smyrna. So he hammered at the walls with a number of siege-engines and catapults and
destroyed the connecting walls between two towers. When the Turks inside perceived this
and also recognized that the Roman forces were hard to resist, they used the Roman tongue
and implored the lord of all to have mercy. But the soldiers of Dalassenus and Opus could
hardly be controlled in their eagerness to enter the city, although their leaders
restrained them because they were afraid that [184] if their men entered the town they
would seize all the booty and money that Tzachas had stored there. So they said, "You
have heard the Turks clearly proclaiming their allegiance to the Emperor, and you know
they have surrendered to us, it would not be right therefore for you to go in and
slaughter them mercilessly." When day was almost over and night was at hand the Turks
built up another wall in place of the one destroyed, and on its outer side they suspended
from it mattresses, hides and any handy garment, so that the impact of the missiles
directed against it would be deadened by them and thus slightly diminished.
And Tzachas prepared the fleet he had with him, enlisted about 8,000 Turks and then set
off on the road to Chios, while his fleet accompanied him along the coast. When he heard
this, Dalassenus ordered the admirals to embark sufficient soldiers and Opus the general,
and to put to sea and, if they fell in anywhere with their adversary's fleet, they were to
engage them in battle. Tzachas soon left the land and embarked and directed his course
straight to Chios, and about midnight Opus met him. (Now Tzachas had got a very long chain
and linked all his vessels together so that neither those which wanted to turn back could
get away nor those who wished to sail ahead break from their attachment.) When Opus saw
this new arrangement of Tzachas' fleet, he was horror struck and did not even dare to
approach it, but turned his helm about and made for Chios. But Tzachas pursued him
systematically and did not slacken in rowing. When they approached Chios, Opus managed to
anchor his ships first in the harbour of Chios (Dalassenus had before this gained control
of it), while Tzachas sailed past this port I have mentioned and stationed his ships close
under the wall of the citadel. It was the fourth day of the week. The next day he turned
all his men ashore, numbered them and made a list of them. Meanwhile Dalassenus had
discovered a small town near the harbour, so levelled the first palisaded camp he had made
and went down there and made a new trench of adequate width and settled his whole army in
it. On the following day both armies arrayed themselves and went forth to battle. But the
Roman army stood motionless, as Dalassenus had commanded them not to break the ranks. Then
Tzachas egged on the larger part of his barbarian army to attack the Romans and bade a
very few horsemen follo-A them up. At this the Latins took their long spears and rode out
against them. But the barbarians did not aim their [185] javelins at the Franks but at the
horses and some they struck with their spears; thus they killed a great many, routed the
others and drove them into their camp lines, but they in a mad rush ran out from them
towards the ships. When the Romans saw the Franks in headlong flight, they were terrified
and retreated a little and drew themselves up close to the wall of the little town. Thus
the way was left open for the barbarians to go down to the coast and capture some of our
ships. Seeing this the sailors loosed the cables, pushed off quickly from the shore, cast
anchor, and waited to see what would happen. Dalassenus then ordered them to sail along
the coasts to the western part of the island and when they reached Bolissus, to await his
coming there ; now Bolissus is a small town standing on the headland of the island. But
some Scythians found their way to Tzachas and acquainted him with Dalassenus' plan. Then
he in the first place sent out fifty spies to let him know at once when Dalassenus' fleet
was getting ready to put to sea, and in the second he sent to Dalassenus under pretence of
wishing to discuss terms of peace with him-but really, I believe, because having regard to
Dalassenus' brave and adventurous spirit, he despaired of victory. The latter promised
Tzachas to come to the edge of his camp on the morrow, when they could exchange views and
hear whatever either had to say. The barbarians agreed to this, and so in the morning the
two leaders met. Tzachas opened the conversation, addressing the other by name, and said,
" I must tell you that I am the young man who many years ago overran Asia and though
fighting bravely was trapped through my want of experience and captured by the famous
Cabalicas Alexander. By him I was carried captive and handed over to the Emperor
Nicephorus Botaniates, who at once bestowed on me the rank of 'Protonobilissimus ' and
rich gifts, and I in return became his vassal. But ever since Alexius Comnenus assumed the
reins of government, all my privileges have been annulled. And I have come here now in
order to explain to you the reasons of my hostility. Let the Emperor be told of them and,
if he wishes the enmity which has arisen to be brought to an end, then let him restore to
me in full all the privileges due to me of which I have been deprived. And if you think
favourably of a marriage between our children, let a form of betrothal be drawn up in
writing as is customary among you and also among us barbarians. Then if all these
conditions I have mentioned have been fulfilled, I will restore to the Emperor [186]
through you all the islands which I have overrun and taken from the Roman power and, after
completing a truce with him, I will return to my own country." Dalassenus looked upon
all this as empty talk as he knew well the crafty nature of the Turks, and therefore put
off indefinitely the fulfilment of his demands, at the same time he told him plainly the
opinion he entertained of him saying, "You will never hand over the islands to me, as
you say, nor can I without consulting the Emperor agree to your demands upon him and upon
myself. But since the Grand Duke, John, the Emperor's brother-in-law, accompanied by the
whole fleet and numerous land forces, is on the point of arrival, let him hear your terms,
and then, if he acts as mediator, I can assure you that your truce with the Emperor will
be arranged."
This Duke John had been dispatched to Epidamnus with a strong army by the Emperor,
partly to guard Dyrrachium, and partly to carry on war with the Dalmatians. For the chief
called Bodinus was a great warrior and full of rascality and would not remain within his
own frontiers but made daily incursions on the nearest large Dalmatian villages and
annexed them to his own property. Duke John had spent eleven years at Dyrrachium and
rescued many forts from the hands of Bolcanus and had also sent many Dalmatians captive to
the Emperor, and at last he had engaged in a violent contest with Bodinus and captured
him. Now the Emperor had found out from many things that this Duke John was exceedingly
brave, skilled in warfare and never disposed to disregard even the slightest of his
orders, and as he required a man of this kind to act against Tzachas, be sent for him from
Dyrrachium, and dispatched him with a quantity of naval and land forces against Tzachas,
after appointing him ' Great Duke' of the fleet. How many battles he waged with him and
how many dangers he incurred before he proved himself victor, this history will tell later
on. As Dalassenus was expecting him, he shewed Tzachas in his conference with him that he
wished to postpone everything till the Duke's arrival. But Tzachas seemed to reply in the
Homeric words, "It is already night ; it is well to obey the voice of night,"
and he promised to send a large supply of provisions at daybreak. However it was all
trickery and deceit, and Dalassenus was right in his supposition. For towards morning
Tzachas went secretly to the shore of Chios, and, as there was a favourable wind,he sailed
for Smyrnain order to collect more troops and then return to Chios. But Dalassenus proved
[187] himself a match for Tzachas' devices. For he embarked with his troops in the ships
that were at hand, and went to Bolissus ; there he refitted the ships, prepared more
siege-engines, gave his soldiers a rest and collected some more and then returned to the
place whence he had started. Then he dashed into a fierce conflict with the barbarians,
pulled down the walls and subjugated the town, whilst Tzachas was still dwelling in
Smyrna. Afterwards as the sea was calm, he sailed with the whole fleet straight to
Mitylene.
IX After thus disposing of the war with Tzachas, the Emperor heard that the Scythians
were again aiming at Rusium and had pitched their camp near Polybotum, so he left
Constantinople, just as he was, and took possession of Rusium. There accompanied him too
the deserter Neantzes who was secretly hatching a horrible design against him, and in his
escort were also Cantzus and Catranes, lovers of war and ardently devoted to the Emperor.
Seeing a large detachment of the Scythians in the distance, he joined battle with them.
Many of the Romans fell in the battle, and others were taken alive and put to death by the
Scythians, while a goodly number reached Rusiurn in safety. But this was only a battle
with the Scythian foragers. The Emperor was heartened by the arrival of the so-caued
Maniacatx Latins and determined to fight in close combat on the day followiDg with the
Scythians. Since there happened to be only a short distance between the two armies, he did
not venture to sound the war-trumpet as he wished to spring the battle upon the enemy.
Therefore he sent for Constantine, who was in charge of the royal falcons, and ordered him
to take a kettledrum in the evening and walk about in the army beating it all through the
night, and tell the soldiers that they were to get ready, as with the dawn the Emperor
intended without giving any signal to engage the Scythians in battle. The Scythians moved
from Polybotum to a place called Hades which they occupied, and pitched their camp in it.
Thus from the evening before the Emperor was making his preparations, and when day broke
he distributed the troops and drawing them up in phalanxes proceeded against the enemy.
But before the armies met and whilst each company was being drawn up into position,
Neantzes ascended a hill close by in order to spy out the Scythian army, as he said, and
bring the Emperor word of their disposition, but he did exactly the opposite. For in their
own language he advised the Scythians to place their wagons in rows, and not to be at all
afraid of the Emperor [188] as he was another man as the result of his former defeat and
disposed to flee because of his scarcity of troops and allies. After saying this he
descended the hill to the Emperor. But a semi-barbarian who knew the Scythian language
understood what Neantzes had said to the Scythians and came and reported it all to the
Emperor. Neantzes was notified of this and demanded the proof ; whereupon the
semi-barbarian boldly stepped forward and gave the proof. On the spot Neantzes drew his
sword and cut off the man's head in the presence of the Emperor and the troops on either
side. I imagine that Neantzes while wishing to exculpate himself from the suspicion of
treachery, only brought more suspicion upon himself by slaying the informer. For why did
he not wait for the investigation? However it seems as if in his desire to still in
anticipation the tongue which would disclose his treachery, he ventured upon a most
reckless deed, which was worthy of his barbaric soul, but just as suspicious as it was
daring. The Emperor did not immediately proceed against the barbarian nor punish him as he
deserved but he restrained himself for the moment, though boiling with rage and
indignation, so as not to scare away his prey in advance and spread dismay among his men.
But he cherished and dissembled his anger against Neantzes, as from this happening as well
as from other signs he had already divined the man's treachery. The issue of the battle
stood on a razor's edge, and for this reason the Emperor restrained his boiling wrath for
a while, for he was perplexed how to act for the best in the immediate present. Shortly
Neantzes approached the Emperor and dismounting from his horse, asked him for another, and
the Emperor at once gave him one of the picked horses with a royal saddle-cloth. Neantzes
mounted it and when the armies began to move to the encounter made a pretence of riding
against the Scythians but turned the point of his spear backwards against our men, and
went over to his countrymen and gave them much information about the Emperor's army. They
followed his suggestion and engaged in a fierce battle with the Emperor whose army was
utterly routed. On seeing the lines all broken and the men scattered in flight the Emperor
was perturbed but decided not to endanger himself senselessly, and therefore turned his
horse's head and rode to a stream flowing close to Rusium. Here he drew rein and with a
few chiefs continued the fight as far as possible against his pursuers, making sorties
against them and killing many and occasionally getting wounded himself. [189] When George,
called Pyrrhus, reached the river from another direction in his flight, the Emperor
upbraided him and called him to his side. Noticing the headlong recklessness of the
Scythians, and how their numbers increased hourly, for other parties kept coming to their
assistance, he left George there with the rest and bade them keep up a faint resistance to
them until he himself returned. Then he quickly wheeled round his horse, crossed the river
and rode into Rusium; there he collected the fugitive soldiers he found, and all the
natives of military age and even the peasants themselves, with their carts, and ordered
them to come out with all haste and take their stand along the river-bank. This was done
more quickly than one can tell and after arranging them in files he crossed the river
again and rode back to George, and this in spite of suffering so from quartan fever that
his teeth were chattering with cold. The whole Scythian army had now been gathered
together, but when they saw the twofold army and the Emperor's great exertions, and
remembered his love of danger and his unwavering spirit in victory or defeat, they felt
they could not sustain his attack and consequently remained quiet and did not hazard an
engagement with him. The Emperor, partly because he was distressed by his chill and partly
because the scattered soldiery had not yet all returned, also stood still, only passing
along the lines sometimes, riding at a slow pace and shewing them a bold front. Thus it
came about that both arrnies remained stationary till the evening, and then when night
fell, both returned to their own camps without having struck a blow. For they were afraid
and not bold enough to fight. Gradually the men who had fled here, there and everywhere in
the first battle re-assembled at Rusium, and the majority of them had not taken the
slightest part in the battle. Further, Monastras, Uzas and Synesius who were brave
followers of Ares, also arrived at Rusium, disabled too, after having traversed the
district then called Asprum.
X But the Emperor, who was ill with a chill, as I have said, was obliged to retire to
bed for a few days to recover. But even so he could not rest for thinking about what he
ought to do on the morrow. As he was meditating on these things, Tatranes came to him. He
was a Scythian who had frequently deserted to the Emperor and then gone back to his own
people, each time he had been forgiven by the Emperor and in consequence of this
forbearance he now bore a deep affection towards him and for the rest of his life he
planned and [190] worked for the Emperor with all his heart and soul. He came and said,
"O Emperor, I have a presentiment that to-morrow the Scythians will surround the town
and then commence a battle with us. You should therefore anticipate them and draw up your
lines outside the walls at daybreak." The Emperor thanked him, took his advice and
arranged to carry out this plan at sunrise. After giving this advice Tatranes went away
and spoke as follows to the Scythian leaders, "Do not be puffed up with pride,
because you have recently defeated the Emperor, and when you begin a battle with us do not
raise your hopes too high because our numbers are small. For the Emperor's might is
invincible and a large mercenary army is expected at any minute. If you will not accept
peace with him, the vultures will eat your corpses." This is what Tatranes; said to
the Scythians. Now the Emperor was planning the capture of the numerous horses of the
Scythians which were grazing in the plain, for the Scythians continued ravaging our
territory both by day and by night, so he surnmoned Monastras, and Uzas and enjoined them
to take some picked horsemen skirt round the rear of the Scythians and at dawn enter &
plain and carry off all the horses and other cattle together with their herdsmen, and he
exhorted them to be without fear. "For," said he, "as we shall be fighting
the enemy in front, you will easily execute your task." And he was not disappointed,
for his words soon became facts. As he was expecting the Scythians to attack he did not
sleep at all nor even doze a little, but the whole night long he kept calling for
soldiers, especially those who were proficient archers, and told them a great deal about
the Scythians, thus stirring them up to battle, as it were, and giving them useful hints
for the battle which he expected on the morrow, for instance, how to stretch the bow and
direct their darts, also when to hold their horses back and when to let them go, and when
to dismount even if necessary. This was his work in the night ; after which he slept for a
short time. As day dawned, all the Scythians crossed the river and seemed eager to begin a
battle, and thus the Emperor's conjecture was proved correct (he was wonderful in
foreseeing what would happen, for from his almost daily battles he had gained wide
experience); he at once mounted his horse, ordered the attack to be sounded, drew up his
lines and himself took his stand before them. When he noticed that the Scythians were
coming to the attack more recklessly than of late, he ordered the skilled archers to [191]
dismount and proceed on foot and to keep their bows bent continuously, the rest of the
troops followed them and the Emperor held the centre of the army. The archers made a bold
attack on the Scythians who, when the battle was well under way, became frightened either
by the thick clouds of darts or by the sight of the close ranks of our army and the
Emperor's spirited fighting ; and they turned back, anxious to cross the river in their
flight to their wagons. But the Romans pursued them at full speed, some hit them in the
back with their spears, while others hurled javelins. Many indeed were slain before they
reached the edge of the river, still more, fleeing with all speed, fell into the torrent
and were carried away and drowned. The ones who fought most bravely of all that day were
the Emperor's household retainers, for they were all in the prime of life. As for the
Emperor he was clearly the champion of the day, and being proclaimed victor be returned to
his camp.
XI After taking three days' rest there he moved on to Tzouroulus. He contemplated
remaining there for some time, and therefore had an entrenched camp made on the eastern
side of the town large enough for the troops he had with him and stored the imperial tent
and all the baggage inside it. Then the Scythians in their turn advanced on Tzouroulus,
but oD hearing that the Emperor had already taken possession of the town, they crossed the
river running through the plain somewhere near this town (the local name of which is
Xerogypsos) and fixed their palisades between the river and the town. So they were outside
and encircled this town, and the Emperor was cut off inside as if besieged. When night
descended, 'all the gods; and warriors with horsehair plumes slept,' as Homer's muse says,
'but balmy sleep did not visit' Alexius; the whole night long he lay awake, revolving
schemes for overcoming the Scythians' daring by craft. Seeing that Tzouroulus was a
fortified town situated on a fairly steep hill and that the entire barbarian army was
bivouacking down below in the plain, and that his forces were insufficient to allow of his
attempting a pitched battle against their overwhelming numbers, he devised a most
ingenious plan. He requisitioned the inhabitants' wagons and lifted off the bodies from
the wheels and axle-trees, and then suspended the latter, for he had them hung out in
order from the battlements on the outside of the walls and tied by ropes to the parapets.
He no sooner thought of this than it was done. And within an hour there was a circle of
[192] wheels with their axle-trees hanging up, a regular row of circles touching each
other and fastened to one another by their axles. In the morning he armed himself and got
the army ready and led out his soldiers from the gates and placed them in full view of the
enemy. Now it happened that our troops were placed just on that side of the wall where the
wheels were hanging, and the opposing army was straight opposite them. Then Alexius stood
in the middle of the army and explained to the soldiers that, when the trumpet sounded the
attack, they were to dismount and march forward slowly against the foe and by using mostly
their arrows and javelins to provoke the Scythians to the attack; and as soon as they saw
them drawn on and urging on their horses to the attack, they were to turn hastily and in
fleeing wheel off a little to the right and left and thus open to the enemy a clear path
for coming close up to the walls. And he had given orders to the men on the walls that
when they saw the ranks dividing, they were to cut the ropes with their swords and let the
wheels with the axles fall headlong down from above. All this was carried out according to
the Emperor's orders. The Scythian horsemen raised their barbaric shout and hurled
themselves in a body upon our lines who were marching slowly towards them, the Emperor
alone being on horseback. Then our men according to Alexius' plan drew back step by step
and, pretending to retreat, unexpectedly split into two parts as if opening a very wide
entrance for the enemy into the town. Directly the Scythians had entered this mouth, as it
were, of the two parts of our army, the wheels came whirring down. Each wheel rebounded at
least a cubit's length from the wall, and through their rims springing back from the wall
they seemed to be ejected from catapults and came hurtling down into the midst of the
Scythian cavalry with tremendous impetus. Partly owing to their descent in unison caused
by their natural weight, and partly because they gained further momentum from the sloping
nature of the ground, they fell upon the barbarians with terrific force and crushed them
on every side, mowing down, as it were, the legs of the horses. And no matter whether the
wheels hit the fore- or the hind-legs of the horses, in either case they forced the horses
to sink down on the side they had received the blow and consequently to throw their
riders. So the Scythians fell one after another in great numbers, and our men charged them
from both sides ; the battle pressed terribly on the Scythians from all sides, some were
killed by the flying arrows, others [193] wounded by spears, and most of the rest were
forced into the river by the violent impact of the wheels and there drowned. The next day
when Alexius saw the Scythian survivors preparing for battle again, and noticed that his
own men were full of courage, he bade them get ready. He himself donned his armour and,
after arranging the order of battle, descended to the slope. There he drew up his lines
face to face with the Scythians and halted in order to join battle if possible. He himself
held the centre of the line. A fierce engagement ensued and much to their surprise the
Romans carried off the victory and then pursued the fleeing Scythians hotly. When the
Emperor saw that they were pursuing them for a long distance, he was afraid that they
might suddenly fall into an ambush and then, not. only would the flight of the Scythians
be arrested, but those who were fleeing would unite with the ambush and inflict a severe
blow on the Roman army. The Emperor therefore kept riding up to his men and urging them to
draw rein and breathe their horses. In this way the two armies parted that day, the
Scythians fled and the brilliant victor returned joyfully to his camp. After this decisive
defeat the Scythians pitched their tents between Bulgarophygum and little Nicaea. As
winter had already overtaken them the Emperor decided that he ought to return to the
capital in order to give himself and the larger part of his army some rest after their
heavy labours. So he divided his forces and selected the bravest of the troops to remain
on guard against the enemy. Over these he placed as commanders Joannaces and Nicolas
Mavrocatacalon, of whom I have often spoken in this story; he ordered them to post an
adequate number of soldiers as garrison in each town, and to requisition foot-soldiers
from all the country together with wagons and the oxen which drew them. For with the
return of spring he hoped to renew the war with the Scythians on a larger scale and
therefore he made suitable provision and preparations beforehand. When he had carefully
arranged everything, he travelled home to Byzantium.
