Two Books on the Themes of the East and the West

Thema I, Anatolicum appellatum

ANSELMI BANDURII NOTAE

^A For those who had authority, when they cut up their own realm into small sections, and the ranks of the soldiers as well, especially as they were Hellenized and had cast off their native Roman tongue, they called the chiliarchs "Longini" (13), the centurions "hekatontarchs," and the comites those who are now "strategi." Indeed, the name of the theme itself is Hellenic and not Roman, being named after its position. It is called the Anatolic theme, ^B not because it is of the upper and primary Orient from where the sun rises, but because, for us who inhabit Byzantium and the region of Europe (14), it is called "oriental." But for those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Syria, and the great Asia, in which Indians, Ethiopians, and Egyptians live, it is called the "western," since it lies between these and Asia Minor. For the Orient, as we have said (15), belongs to the Indians, the Ethiopians, the Egyptians, and the rest who dwell in the East. However, so that we may not be overly long-winded and seem to some to be inventing fables about the naming of the themes, we shall state in brief (16) how the truth of the matter stands. ^C The Anatolic theme, then, as it is now called, is inhabited entirely by five peoples. It takes its beginning from the small town called Merus and is called Phrygia Salutaris, as far as Iconium. The regions bordering upon the Isaurians towards the Taurus are called Lycaonia. Those towards the sea and the south, and to the mountains named "Cold," and as far as Attalia itself (18), are called Pamphylia. The upper and inland parts are called Pisidia. Those from Acroïnus (19) as far as Amorium are called Phrygia Capatianes (20). Those that incline toward the sea and distinguish Caria are called Lycia. Whatever, therefore, are the inland parts and those bordering on the Taurus and extending ^D

to the borders of Cappadocia, are called the Anatolic. ^A For these are parts of the Anatolic theme. Here, then, is the limit of the Anatolic theme. It has its beginning at Mero, which is the end of the Opsikion; it terminates in length as far as the borders of Isauria; as to its breadth, it has on the left certain parts of the Buccellarii, and the beginning of Cappadocia; and on the right, Isauria, and the beginning of the parts of the Cibyrrhæotici.

Behold, then, the Anatolic theme! In the beginning, however, it was not so; but the military host was divided into prefectures, some consisting of a thousand, some of five hundred, some of a hundred, and some of fifty men. One proconsul ruled over all the hosts, just as in later times, and even up to Justinian, a master of soldiers was sent as ^B prefect to the hosts. A witness to this is the tomb lying in Smyrna of a certain Publius, a proconsul, which is inscribed thus:

PUBLIUS, PROCONSUL, PREFECT OF IONIA, PHRYGIA, AEOLIS, MEONIA, LYDIA, HELLESPONT, MYSIA, BITHYNIA, TARSUS, GALATIA, THE MARIANDYNI, PONTUS, PAPHLAGONIA, CAPPADOCIA THE LESSER AND THE GREATER, ISAURIA AND LYCAONIA, AND AS FAR AS THE MOUNTAINS OF TAURUS AND LESSER ARMENIA.

Behold the authority of one proconsul. In later times there was another commander of soldiers with the rank of patrician, by the name of Jordanes, whose are the white engraved ^C lances (23) which lie in the imperial wardrobe, having this inscription (24):

JORDANES, PREFECT OF THE HOSTS OF THE EAST, AND OF THE REMAINING NATIONS UNDER LESSER ASIA.

For this man too was the monarch of this same East, and he flourished and was renowned in the days of the Emperor Arcadius. As we have said, the theme now called Anatolic is inhabited by five nations: the Phrygians, Lycaonians, Isaurians, Pamphylians, and Pisidians. Each of these nations had its own leader when they were free, and before the yoke and the rule of the Romans fell upon them. But after the Roman yoke fell and their empire was increased, they were all enslaved and became ^D mingled under one rule. But they were divided and themes were made when the Roman rule began to be lopped off, mutilated, and restricted little by little by the godless Agarenes; and up to the reign of Justinian and the reign of Maurice, all the nations were under one rule; and a witness to this is Belisarius himself, who alone of the entire East

^A When, however, the Agarenes began to make war against the Romans and to ravage their villages and cities, the emperors of the time were compelled to divide the single empire into small portions. And they assigned one portion to a certain commander, and called it 'Anatolic', because, as we said before, it lies to the east of us who inhabit Byzantium. In ancient times, each nation had its own ruler, and they were governed according to their ancestral laws and customs; some were subject to democracy, others to royal administration. But once they were subdued by the Romans, they were divided into provinces, and into prefectures, and duchies, and what are called consiliarii, that is, counselors. There were also some princes among them, as is written in the Acts of the holy martyrs; and indeed, there were also ^B scriniarii. Now, the prefects were of two kinds: some of the praetoria, others of the cities. And the prefects of the praetoria served the emperors when they were on campaign, readily providing provisions for the army, setting up the imperial tents, and clearing the roads. And these things were the custom of the Romans. When the Persians held the empire, and after them the Macedonians, the whole of Asia was divided into satrapies; and one was the satrap of the Lydians, another of the Phrygians, another of the Ionians, another of the Pamphylians, another of the Carians, another of the Paphlagonians, another of the Bithynians; and, to speak briefly, the whole of what is called Asia Minor was divided and governed as seemed fit to the Persian, and subsequently to the Macedonians. And one man was in charge of civilian affairs, another of military. And ^C thus far let this be the end of the Anatolic theme. Now, those who are called Tourmarchs were established for the service of the commanders; and such a title signifies one who has under him five hundred mounted archers, three hundred shield-bearers, and one hundred light-armed troops. For this is how it is recorded in the book of John of Philadelphia, who is called Lydus.

Theme II, called the Armeniac

The theme called the Armeniac does not have its own proper name, nor is this designation of ancient origin; rather, it acquired the name from the neighboring and cohabiting Armenians. Indeed, I would venture to say that it took on this designation under the Emperor Heraclius and in the later eras. For neither Strabo the geographer made mention of such an appellation, although he was a Cappadocian by birth, from the city ^D of Amasea, nor Menippus, who...

^A recorded the distances ^B of the whole world, nor indeed Scylax of Caryanda, nor Pausanias the Damascene, nor anyone else among those who have written history. And this sort of naming appears to be more recent; for neither Procopius, nor Agathias, nor Menander, nor Hesychius the Illustrious, who wrote the chronicles in the reign of Justinian, made mention of such a name. For the ancients divided Cappadocia into three parts: into Cataonia, which begins from Melitene, and that which is called Taurica from the Taurus mountain, and the inland region itself, in which the city of Caesarea is founded as the metropolis of the Cappadocians. The ancients also speak of a greater and a lesser Cappadocia. Greater Cappadocia is the territory from Caesarea and the Taurus, stretching as far as the Pontic sea, which the river Halys bounds on the west, and Melitene on the east. And this is Greater Cappadocia; and a witness to these things is Polybius, who wrote Roman history, who also bounds Cappadocia from the Taurus and Lycaonia, stretching as far as the Pontic sea. For even Neocaesarea, and Colonea, and the whole of Melitene, is called Cappadocia. The name is, in fact, Persian; for when a certain Persian man was on a hunt with King Artaxerxes, or I know not some other king, and a lion encountered him and attacked the king’s horse, the Persian, having chanced upon the encounter with the beast, drew his scimitar, rescued the king as he was in danger of his life, and killed the lion. This Persian, therefore, ^C having climbed a certain very high mountain and having surveyed the whole land as far as the human eye can reach, looking around toward the east and the west, and the north and the south, as a gift from the ^D...

king, he received the whole of it. These things Polybius recounts. It is inhabited toward Colonea by Armenians; but toward the interior, where Amasea and the place called Dasymon are, it is inhabited by those who are called Leucosyri. Yet Herodotus calls all the Cappadocians, and those who live right up to the Pontic Sea, Leucosyri, in order to distinguish them from the Syrians living beyond the Taurus and Cilicia, who are called Melanosyri. ^B Little Cappadocia, which is now reckoned among the themes, is adjacent to Lycaonia and extends as far as Caesarea itself; it widens as far as the beginning of the Bucellarians, and ends toward the east at Rodentum itself and the fortress called Luli [bullet note: (38)], and at Podandus itself [bullet note: (40)]. The regions beyond are parts of Cilicia, the principal cities of which are Tarsus, Mompsuestia, and Adana [bullet note: (41)]. And this, indeed, is Little Cappadocia, which only recently attained the name of theme. In earlier times, whether under Justinian or some other of the emperors, when Cappadocia had been divided into three parts, the interior part was called Charsianum, after a certain commander Charsius, who was famous at that time for having waged successful war against the Persians, and on that account it has held the rank of theme and its own strategos even to this day. The lower part, looking toward the sea, was called Armeniacum, because it is a region neighboring the Armenians. The upper part, bordering on the Lycaonians and the Taurus, was called Little Cappadocia; which is the one that now, as we have said, holds the name of theme. It was ruled by kings until Augustus Caesar. It was under Persian authority before the Roman empire had expanded; it also became autonomous when Ariarathes its king ruled it, from whom also the lake that produces salt, which the barbarians now in their corrupted speech call Caratia, was named Ariarathea. After Ariarathes, Archelaus, the kinsman—that is, the father-in-law [bullet note: (42)] of Herod the king of Judea—reigned over it. But after this, when the royal government had ceased, the form of administration was changed by the Romans into provinces, ^C and a proconsul used to collect the tributes from it and presided over it. There are, however, in the first prefecture...

^A four more celebrated cities: Caesarea, the metropolis, so named from the great Julius Caesar, which was formerly called Mazaca, from Mosoch, the first progenitor of the Cappadocians. The second city is Nyssa; the third, Therma; the fourth, Rhegepodandus. The second prefecture of Cappadocia has eight cities under a governor: Tyana, Faustinopolis, Cybistra, Nazianzus, Erysima, Parnasum, Rhegedora, Mocissum, and the fortress called Corum. The third ^B prefecture of Cappadocia, which is now called Armeniacum, has seven cities: Amasea, Ibora, Zalichus, Andrapa, Amisus, Neocaesarea, and Sinope. The race of the Cappadocians is notorious among all for wickedness, insomuch that a proverb of such a kind is brought forth concerning them: "Three kappas are most evil: Cappadocia, Crete, and Cilicia." And in epigrams:

Cappadocians, ever base, But wearing belts, they turn more base; For greed, they grow the basest. If once or twice they seize the great carriage, Then truly they become base of the base.

And another:

A bad viper once bit a Cappadocian; but it, Too, died, having tasted blood full of poison.

From this people, so much defamed, nevertheless, there blossomed—or rather, to speak more truly, there sprang up like bright stars—men renowned for wisdom ^C and most zealous defenders of the Christian faith: Gregory the Wonderworker, bishop of Neocaesarea, and Phaidimos the...

^A of Amasea, and the most famous King who suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith under Licinius; and Basiliskos, the archbishop of Comana, who also himself was perfected by martyrdom. With whom was laid the relic of John Chrysostom. There are also Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea, and Gregory the Theologian, who was allotted the bishopric of Nazianzus; and now he lies interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles alongside the patriarchs of this city by the pious and Christ-loving emperor Constantine. And there are the brothers of the great Basil, namely Peter, Gregory, and Naucratius, as well as Caesarius, the brother of Gregory the Theologian. And let these things regarding Cappadocia be said, as it were, in summary.

Thema III, the Thracesian Theme

The theme which is now called the Thracesian, in former times and at the beginning was called Asia Minor; and he who held sway over it was called the proconsul and Asiarch. And that I may not speak of those outside, the witness of the truth himself, Luke the evangelist and apostle, says the same in the Acts of the Apostles, mentioning Alexander, who at that time held the primacy of the Ephesians, calling him the Asiarch. ^B Indeed, they were called Thracesians from the following cause. In the days of Alyattes, king of the Lydians, a certain man with his wife [(51)] and his own children, having set forth from Mysia, a region of Thrace (of which also Homer makes mention, saying thus:

*Of the Mysians, fighters in close combat, and of the noble Mare-milkers [Hippemolgoi]*),

crossed over into the parts of Asia, into the region called Lydia, and settled near the city of Sardis. ^C Accordingly, as the king was sitting by the wall of the city, there passed by the wife of the Thracian [(52)], carrying a pitcher on her head, and in her hands a distaff and spindle; and behind her, tied to her belt, followed a horse. And upon her head the pitcher was full of water [(53)], and in her hands she was busy, spinning the spindle from the distaff; but behind, her horse, which she had watered, followed attached to her girdle. Seeing this, the king marveled greatly and asked whence she was, who she was, and from what city; and she answered that she was a Mysian by nationality; and this is a small town of Thrace. And so the king, having caught from this—

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

[(49)] So the manuscript. It is incorrectly read in the editions; for he was called Naucratius, and not Pancratius, one of the ten brothers of Saint Basil. [(50)] Eustathius adds another origin of the Thracesians in *Dionysius*. Concerning the fortitude of the Thracians, Justinian speaks splendidly in Novel [alt-version omitted]: "That is one of the things universally admitted, that if one names the country of the Thracians, immediately there enters into the discourse both a certain bravery, and the notion of a military multitude, and of wars, and of battle." For these things have been innate and ancestral in that country. [(51)] In the manuscript. It is read incorrectly in the editions: “a man with his wife and his own children according to Mysia of the…” [(52)] Aelian, in Book VII of his *On the Nature of Animals*, chap. 12, tells this history differently, bestowing this praise upon the Paeonian women: saying, "with the head they carry a jar full of water, and the neck and remaining unmoved and unbent, the jar stays. And having hung their infants from their bosom, they suckle them; and having fastened the rein to their arm, they lead the husband's horse to watering, and with their hands they spin wool..." [(53)] In the manuscript. In the editions, however, it is read: "the jar was full of water." It is mentioned also in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. 9.

^A She replied that she was of the Mysian race, and that this was a small town in Thrace. The king, therefore, having taken an occasion from the woman, sent an embassy to the king of the Thracians, by the name of Cotys, and from there he received a large number of settlers, men with their wives and children. From this race those who inhabit Asia Minor were named Thracesians; because they are industrious, laborious, and seekers of their livelihood by manual labor. The whole Theme of the Thracesians consists of the following tribes: Lydians, Maeonians, Carians, and Ionians. And those who inhabit Miletus and Ephesus are called Ionians; but those who inhabit the interior are the Sardians, Lydians, Maeonians, Carians, and the inhabitants of Lesser Phrygia. And thus it is with the Thracesians. This history is written by Nicolaus of Damascus, who was the scribe of King Herod, in the eighteenth book of his History. They were named Thracesians because they originated from the land of the Thracians, as we have said. There are twenty-one cities by Asia. The first is Ephesus; the second, Smyrna; the third, Sardis; the fourth, Miletus; the fifth, Priene; the sixth, Colophon; the seventh, Thyatira; the eighth, Pergamum; the ninth, Magnesia; the tenth, Trallis; the eleventh, Hierapolis; the twelfth, Colossae, which are now called Chonae, where there is a temple ^B of the Archangel Michael.

NOTES BY ANSELMO BANDURI

Chonae, says Porphyrogenitus, is the same as Colossae, an episcopal city subject to the metropolitan of Laodicea, and formerly called Palassae, as is found in Nicetas in the *Life of St. Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople*, because of the temple of the Archangel Michael, which is most celebrated for its size, beauty, and wonderful workmanship. And indeed, Chonae are said in the time of Nicetas Choniates himself in *Manuel*, book VI, n. 1, to have been formerly called Palassae, but I am persuaded that in both places it is written erroneously for Colossae. So Choniates says there: "He arrives at Chonae, a prosperous and great city, formerly Palassae—the homeland of me, the author—and entering the Archangelic temple, which is most immense in size and most beautiful in appearance, and a work of wonderful craftsmanship in its entirety; having driven out from there..." ^C How many of the cities were renamed in later times: Epidaurus, now Dyrrachium. Triballis, now Achrida. Heraclea, now Pelagonia. Solasphorus, now Deabolis. Illyricum, now Canina. Edessa, now Moglaena. Axius River, now the Vardaris. Argos of Thessaly, now Larissa. Ptelea, now Corone. Pedastus, now Methone. Near this is the Chersonesus, which is called Pylos, the homeland of Nestor, now called Adarinos. Tricca, now Trikala. Theopolis, now Brusa. Apollonia, now Perissos, lying near Mount Athos. Amphipolis, now Chrysopolis. Aprus, now Theodosiopolis, built by Aprus, the father-in-law of Carus. Orthagoria and Stageira, now Makri. Topirus, now Rusio. Perinthus, now Heraclea. Tiberiopolis, now Strumitza. Belentiopolis, now Belesbudion. Dares, now Taures. Martyropolis, now Merfeki. Beroea, now Chalepe. Two Propontides: one near Abydus, and the other near the Hieron and Psammathium. Germanicia of Syria, now Telesaura; but Mopsuestia ought to be [added]. Sparceius River, now Agriomelas. Castabala of Cilicia, now Mamista. The upper Gauls and those beyond the Alps are the regions toward the Ocean; for example, Galatia, Hispania; and the Germans are the Franks. Sirmium, now Hungary and Striwmos; the Ungri were called Gepaedes in ancient times. Dorystolon, now Dystra. ^D Odrysus and Orestias, now Adrianople. Maeotis Lake, now Galatia. Potidaea, now Cassandreia. Colossus, now Tyros. Achaia, now Patras. Danai, are the Hellenes. Asia, now Ephesus. Ionia, that which is around Asia. Euboea, now Euripus. Boeotia, now Thebes. Phthia, now Pharsalia.

^A of the archangel Michael; [13], Laodicea; [14], Nyssa; [15], Stratonicea; [16], Alabanda; [17], Alinda; [18], Myrina; [19], Teos; [20], Lebedos; [21], Philadelphia, and certain others. And these things indeed regarding these.

Thema IV, called Obsequium.

The Thema which is called Obsequium is known to all by its very name. For it is called *Obsequium* in Latin, which in the Greek tongue signifies those who precede the emperor for the sake of order and honor. Whence it follows that he who presides over the Obsequium is not titled praetor, but is called a Count—both by name and by title. ^B The circuit of the Obsequium is circumscribed by these peoples and nations; beginning from the sea, that is, from the Astacenian Gulf, and from the promontory of Dascylium, and extending as far as the Triton, and the mountains of Sigriana, and Proconnesus itself, and as far as Abydos itself, Cyzicus, and Parium. And those who inhabit the lower and maritime coast, beginning from the Astacenian Gulf and from the so-called Gates, and as far as the interior of the Mysian Olympus, as it is called, and the region of the so-called Dagotheni, and as far as Prusias itself, are the Bithynians. ^C Those who inhabit the southern part of Olympus, as far as the river Rhyndacus, are the Mysians; but the Phrygians and Greeks—having received this name from the river Granicus, where Alexander of Macedon fought his first battle against the generals of the Persians—inhabit the maritime parts and Cyzicus. Further out, it extends as far as Dorylaeum and Cotyaeum, from which city came that most celebrated and ancient Aesopus, who first brought the use of fables into the world. And it extends as far as Comopolis toward the east. Toward the west, it ends at Abydos.

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

Nicopolis, now Preveza. Aetolia, now Lechonia. Corcyra, now Phaeacia. Dodona, now Vonditza. Epirus, now Vothreton. Delphi, now Khrysos and Solon. Diospolis, now Rambelon. Caesarea Philippi or Tonopurgos, the same as Paneas, from the mount Paneus located there. Sardica, now Triaditza. Larymna, now Laryssa. Therme and Emathia, now Thessaloniki. Colossae, now Chonae. Rhodope, now Philippopolis. Italia, now Longibardia. Memphis, now Damietta. Perge, now Pyrgin. Audeira, now Polystylon.

Names of Cities

^A In breadth, however, [it extends] from the Rhyndacus river up to the town of Domateris. And this is indeed the rationale of the Obsequium—a name which we have said was given to it because they would precede the emperor, so as to prepare and arrange his roads and lodgings. The nations and peoples who make up the Obsequium are these: Bithynians, Mysians, Phrygians, and Dardanians, who are also called Trojans. Furthermore, the theme of the Obsequium contains these famous cities: first, Nicaea, which is the metropolis; second, Cotyaeum; third, Dorylaeum; fourth, Midaeum; fifth, Apamea; sixth, Myrlea; seventh, Lampsacus; eighth, Parium; ninth, Cyzicus; tenth, Abydus.

Thema V, called the Optimatum.

^B That which is, I know not how, called the theme of the Optimatum, has nothing in common with the [other] themes. For it was taken up solely for the sake of service, being most wretched, and graced neither by turmae nor by drungi; he who presides over it is called only a domesticus, being appointed only for the service of the soldiers when the emperors went on a campaign with the people—appointed, I say, for those who were stationed in the imperial regiments. For as many as served in the Scholae, and the Icanati, and the other regiments, each one of them had an Optimatus whose service he would use.

^A Moreover, the appellation itself carries in it an insult nearly equal to that of the men who are called *Cortelini* among the Romans; for this reason, it is not even reckoned in the order of the themes, nor is he who presides over it called a strategus, but a Domestic, who is under the hand of a strategus and far inferior in rank. The nations that fulfill, or rather serve in, this kind of humble duty for the soldiers and the Emperor himself are these: Bithynians, Tarsians, Thynians; and they also join with the Phrygians. It has these notable cities: first, Nicomedia, the metropolis; second, Helenopolis 66; third, Praenetum; fourth, Astacus; fifth, Parthenopolis. The river called the Sangarius flows through the Theme of the Optimati, in which flows a bridge worthy of being seen, which the Emperor Justinian 67, that greatly praised king, built, having an inscription such as this, which was carved into one of the slabs, saying thus:

And you, too, after proud Hesperia, and the Medes, And every barbarian herd, great as it was, subdued, Sangarius, bound by the mighty arches of your streams, You were yourself enslaved by the hand of the sovereign. For you who were once impassable to ships, who were once unyielding, Now lie, bound in stone fetters.

And these things, then, concerning the so-called Theme of the Optimati.

Theme VI, called the Buccellarii.

^C Similarly, the theme of the Buccellarii did not receive its appellation from any place, nor from any nation so called, but because they were the attendants of the soldiers and carried their provisions. For a *Buccellarius* in the Roman dialect is called a guardian of the bread, so that the soldiers might be light and unburdened for war. For *buccellus* is called the circular-shaped bread 68; and *cellarius* the guardian of the bread. For its own name...

^A regarding the people, they are called Mariandyni, but they were also called Galatae. The beginning of this theme is from the small town of Modrene, that is, from the completion of the Optimaton. It ascends toward the metropolis of Ancyra, and extends as far as the borders of Cappadocia, 71 and to that very fortress called Saniana, within which the nation of the Galatae extends. Now the Galatae are colonists of the Franks. Their colonization took place in the days when Attalus of Pergamon and Nicomedes, the son of Zipoetes, were living. Regarding the parts toward the sea and the north, it widens even to the Pontus itself, and to the city called Heraclea, and as far as the Parthenius river, and Tium itself 72. It also includes Claudiopolis itself, and Cratias, and Basilæum 73 itself, and extends as far as the borders of Paphlagonia, and to the Halys river. And here ends the Buccellarian theme. The cities that constitute the theme of the Buccellarii are these: first, Ancyra, the metropolis of the Galatae; second, Claudiopolis, which is also the metropolis of the Mariandyni; third, Heraclea; fourth, Prusias; fifth, Tium. The nations that are named individually are these: Galatae, Mariandyni, Bithyni.

Thema VII, called of the Paphlagonians.

The theme called of the Paphlagonians is a most ancient nation 74, and is reproached for shamelessness...

[Notes by Anselm Banduri omitted]

and wickedness; and Homer mentions it in the catalogue of ships, as having brought ^A auxiliary forces to Ilium for the city of Priam, writing thus:

The Paphlagonians were led by the hairy breast of Pylæmenes From the Eneti, whence is the wild race of mules; They who held Cytorum and inhabited Sesamus, And around the Parthenius river dwelt in glorious halls, And Cromna, and Ægialus, and the lofty Erythini.

Wherefore he says that the race of mules first originated thence, showing this as a proof of their depravity and wickedness. And this is what Homer says concerning the Paphlagonians. ^B But the maritime cities, Sinope, and Amastra, and Teium, and what is called Amisus, are Greek cities and colonies of the Greeks. The river Halys bounds Paphlagonia on the east, and on the west the river called Billæus. And this is Paphlagonia. The Paphlagonians are of Egyptian race, from Phineus, who first inhabited Paphlagonia; who indeed had a son, Paphlagon, from whom the region also inherited its name. Paphlagonia has illustrious cities, these: first, the metropolis Gangra; second, Amastra; third, Sora; fourth, Dadibra; ^C fifth, Ionopolis; sixth, Pompeiopolis. For they are a mockery—that is, a disgrace, a reproach, and an object of contempt to the human race.

Thema VIII, called Chaldia.

The theme called Chaldia, and the metropolis which is called Trapezus, are colonies of the Greeks; just as Xenophon also relates in the expedition of Cyrus. The further and inland parts are the beginnings of Lesser Armenia; and the names themselves provide proof of this fact: namely, that which is called Celtzene, and the Sysperites, and Gozan. ^D Holy Scripture also testifies concerning these in the fourth book of Kings. For the Assyrians, having taken the inhabitants of Samaria captive, transported them to the river Gozan. But that it is called Chaldia flowed from the Persian designation, and from their ancient fatherland of Chaldia. Whence they are also named Chaldæans.

Thema IX, Mesopotamia.

The theme of Mesopotamia is not ancient; nor was it anything great or famous; but a certain obscure, nameless, and unrenowned narrow pass. But in the days of Leo, that glorious and wise

^A emperor, Pancratucas the Armenian, and Pucricas, and Tautucas, his brothers, fled to him, and surrendered the fortresses that were in those places; and the region, having been expanded, received the name of a strategis.

Thema X, Colonea

Thema XI, Sebastea

Thema XII, that which is called Lycandus

of the illustrious emperor; for previously it was empty and uninhabited, both it and the place called Tzamandos, and all the bordering regions of the Armenians; and their name was in no esteem or account. But that great and giant-like Armenian, the son-in-law of Angurines of Lacastria, that long-armed and ambidextrous man, whom in the Armenian tongue they called Azotum: he, I say, when he had come to that famous emperor Leo, whether as a fugitive or as a friend, I do not know, had as his servant that famous Melias, who has not long since departed this life; who also made an expedition with the same emperor in that unhappy battle, namely the Bulgarian one. When, therefore, in the aforementioned battle, which had been joined with that most impious Bulgar Simeon, the Armenian had been routed; (for he was the prefect of the imperial army, which is called that of the Excubitors; in which also Theodosius, the protovestiarius of that illustrious emperor, went missing and was seen no more.) Melias, therefore, of whom we have just spoken, having been saved from this battle, and having betaken himself to the land of the Armenians, being industrious and suited for barbaric forays, having gathered a band of Armenians, and having fortified the citadel of this city as best he could, advancing little by little, he restored the ruins of almost the entire city; and thus the whole region, returned to its former state, was filled with Armenians; for it was very fertile, and most suitable for the grazing of horses and cattle. Wherefore it also received the designation of a theme, and was raised to the rank of a renowned ^C strategate through the care and zeal of the aforementioned Melias, who was brave and prudent. Truly the name of the city is very old, and it was so called by the Armenian people themselves and in their language. Moreover, a certain elegant story is circulated about this, akin almost to a fable. For an inscription is engraved in the peristyle of the city, stating as follows:

WHAT IS CONSTANTINOPLE? WHAT IS LYCANDUS? WHAT IS THOMAS THE PROOECUS? WHAT IS THE EMPEROR?

The reason for this inscription is this: That great and most celebrated emperor Justinian, when ^D he had obtained the Roman empire; his uncle Justin, being the sole praetor of the Roman armies, was styled Caesar. For it was not while Justinian was reigning that his uncle, being the sole praetor of the Roman armies, was called Caesar; but during the reign of Justin the Thracian, the uncle of Justinian,

^A he also served as the sole commander of the Roman regiments, being called Caesar. And as he was passing through the parts of Lesser Armenia, he arrived at Lycandus. Now that Thomas, the [prooecus (95)] of that same city, was so rich in livestock, such as the divinely inspired history represents the blessed Job to have been, that he offered Justinian a gift in the manner of a [kaniskion (96)], most wondrous and worthy of record: ten thousand sheep, differing in their colors: one thousand black, another thousand with white wool, another thousand ash-colored, another thousand speckled, preserving the same number, and another thousand with a tawny appearance, and another thousand dark grey likewise, and another thousand with yellow hair, bearing the same quantity, and another thousand with dark patches of the same equality, and another thousand with purple-red hair; and another thousand yellowish-gold, having fleeces like fine , like that golden fleece which the Greeks celebrate; and in sum, the ten thousand were of different colors and altered in their hues. The Caesar, marveling at this and having accepted the gift of Thomas, jokingly ordered an inscription to be written on the gate of the city, which is the epigram we mentioned above. This city, during the time of the illustrious Emperor Leo 99, on account of the virtue of the aforementioned Melius—or rather, of the wise emperor who prudently directed affairs and kept watch over the virtue of the man—was honored with the name of a [thema]. And so much for Lycandus and its neighbor, Tzamandus.

Thema XIII, Seleucia

Seleucia is a part of Isauria, bounded on the west by the Taurus mountain, which the Isaurians inhabit; ^C on the east it is enclosed by the mountains of Cilicia, in which there are maritime cities: first, Seleucia itself, then Corycus, and the Corycian cave [(1)], and the meadow called [...]

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

^D ... [index: entries preserved]

^A Soli and Aegae, and Pompeiopolis, and Aphrodisias, and Issus, and the gulf of the same name, where that strenuous and most celebrated Macedonian, Alexander, I say, the son of Philip, engaged in battle with Darius the King of the Persians. Near these is also situated Tarsus, the fatherland of Paul. Seleucia, therefore, at first had neither the title of a theme nor the name of a praefecture; but it was a certain mountain pass and a watch-post against the incursions of the Saracens coming from Tarsus, because it was in a place that was steep and of difficult access. But the best emperor, lord Romanus, who in a certain way added breadth and length and magnitude to the Roman empire, made it a praefecture. The name of the city, and the fact that it is called Seleucia, derived from its founder Seleucus, who was called Nicanor. The regions beyond Seleucia ^B and the inland territories are called the Decapolis, that is to say, ten cities: the first of which is Germanicopolis; the second, Titiopolis; the third, Dometiopolis; the fourth, Zenopolis; the fifth, Neapolis; the sixth, Claudiopolis; the seventh, Irenopolis; the eighth, Caesarea; the ninth, Lauzadus; the tenth, Dalisandus, in which the shield or buckler of that great martyr, Saint Theodore, hangs in the dome of his temple. And these things are concerning Seleucia.

Thema XIV, called that of the Cibyrraeotae

The theme of the Cibyrraeotae takes its beginning from Seleucia itself, which is situated by the eastern sea. It ends in its eastward longitude reaching as far as the city of Miletus itself, and Iasus, and the Bargyliac gulf, or those which are called Andanius, in which is situated Mylassa, a famous city, and Bargylia itself, and Myndus, and what is called Strobelus, and Halicarnassus, the fatherland of Herodotus, ^C the most celebrated city of Artemisia, in which the most famous tomb of Mausolus stands. If, however, you head toward the east, you will discover the gulf which is called Ceramicus, and a city of the same name as the gulf. On the outer ^D shore of the gulf the city of the Cnidians is inhabited; and the celebrated temple of Venus.

in which was the statue of Venus, an incomparable monument of the art of Praxiteles. Going up towards the east, there is a gulf, Oidemus by name, and a harbor called Laryma; opposite to these lies the island of Syme. And towards the sea, opposite the coast and arsenal of the Rhodians, the island of Rhodes itself, which is also called Pelagia ^A, is stretched out, facing towards the north and south. Crossing the sea that follows, you will find the city of Telmissus, that renowned place; then Patara; then Xanthus, the birthplace of the original painter, who adorned with his paintings the temple of Bacchus in Rhodes. Then [you will find] the city of the Lycians, fragrant with ointments and thrice-blessed, in which the great Nicholas, the servant of God, causes the myrrh—that is, the ointments—to flow, according to the name of the city. Then the river Phoenix, and a city of the same name; then the ^B celebrated Phasilis; then the city named after Attalus of Pergamum; then Sylaeum; then the renowned Perge; then Side, the workshop of pirates; then Selga, a colony of the Lacedaemonians; then the mountain called Castellium; then the place called Anemurium; then Antioch the Lesser; then the city of Cibyrra, from which the theme inherited its disgraceful and base name; then Selinus, a small town with a river of the same name; then Melas, the cold river; then the small town of Syce; then the harbor called Antiquus; then Seleucia itself. And these indeed are the maritime cities which the strategos of the Cibyrraeots administers. ^C But further up towards the continent and the inland region, where the theme called the Thrakesion ends, it begins from Miletus itself, then passes through Stratonicea, and those called Mogola, and the city of Pisye; it runs through what is called Hagia, and passes by Tauropolis; it joins with Tlos and Oeniada, then passes by Phileta, and Podalea itself; it runs through what is called Anemotichos, and joins the city of Sagalassus; then it ends at the parts of Taurus, in which the race of the Isaurians is inhabited. And such is the extent of the Cibyrraeot theme. It received its appellation, as we have said, of being called "Cibyrraeot," from Cibyrra, ^D a small and obscure town, for the sake of insult, and not for praise; and it is because they frequently stirred up insurrections and showed themselves refractory against the commands of the emperors. Moreover, the island of Rhodes is situated in the midst of this theme, facing towards the north and south.

triangular in shape, with a triangular outline. It is a colony of the Dorians, of those from the Peloponnese, the Argives, and the Lacedaemonians, who derive their lineage from Hercules. As Homer himself says concerning it in his catalogue of ships: ^A

Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, both brave and great, Led from Rhodes nine ships of the high-spirited Rhodians, Who dwelt in Rhodes, having been divided into three, Lindus, Ialyssus, and white-chalked Camirus.

And these are the matters concerning Rhodes.

Thema XV, called the Prefecture of Cyprus.

The prefecture of the island of Cyprus was administered by a consular, that is to say, a councilor, and there are fifteen cities in it: Constantia, the metropolis, Citium, Amathus, Cyreneia, Paphus, Arsinoe, Soli, Lapithus, Cermia, ^B or Leucusia, Cytherea, Tamasus, Curium, Nemeus, Trimythus, from which the holy Spiridion [came], and Carpasium. Now, the island of Cyprus is a large and most illustrious island, situated in the Pamphylian gulf, just as the Periegete Dionysius says:

"And Cyprus itself stretches towards the sunrise in the Pamphylian sea."

It received its name from Cyprus, the daughter of Cinyras, or from Byblus ^C and Venus, as Philostephanus in his book *On Islands*, and Istrus in [his book] *On Egyptian Colonies*, have recorded. Many and various kings formerly reigned in it. But its royal administration was dissolved under the Macedonians, that is to say, the Ptolemies; for it was subject to kings, or rather tyrants, until Alexander, king of the Macedonians; by which tyrants the philosopher Anaxarchus was destroyed after the death of Alexander. And Isocrates the rhetorician wrote various orations ^D to Demonicus, who reigned over it. After the Romans took possession of it, it became a prefecture and was divided, as...

has been said before, into fifteen cities. ^A With the passage of time, however, as the Roman arms were enfeebled through negligence, the Saracens gained control of it during the reign of Heraclius. The first to cross over into it and bring it under his control was Abubacharus (the tomb of whom, and of his daughter, is seen there). But the blessed, world-renowned, and illustrious among emperors, Basil, restored it to the order of a Theme, and dispatched to it the renowned Alexius, who was of Armenian descent. He held it for seven years. Later, it was again taken by the Saracens, to whom it pays tribute, as it did before.

Thema XVI, Samos Island

Thema XVII, The Aegean Sea

^A it has received its name, in coincidence with the animal (35). Artemidorus, too, says the same as Strabo. There is a certain promontory of Aeolis, which the local inhabitants call "Aega," from which the sea also has received such a name. But by Aeolis I do not mean a national designation, but a distinctive property of language. For the language of the Greeks ^B is divided into five dialects (34): the first, that of the Attic; the second, that of the Ionian; the third, that of the Aeolians; the fourth, that of the Dorians; and the fifth, that of the common tongue, which we all use. Now, from Miletus even to the city of the Ephesians, and Smyrna itself, and Colophon, is the settlement of the Ionians, who use the Ionian dialect. But from Colophon as far as Clazomenae, and the land across from Chios, and Mitylene itself, and Pergamum, is an Aeolian colony, who use the dialect of the Aeolians. But the regions beyond these, from the so-called Lectum (35) and as far as Abydos, and the Propontis itself, and until Cyzicus, and the river called the Granicus, are all called Greeks, and use the common dialect, except for the Byzantines, because it is a colony of the Dorians. Belonging to the governorship of the Aegean Sea ^C are also the islands called the Cyclades, and those of the Sporades which excel the others, [namely] Mitylene, and Chios, and Lemnos itself. For these are not of the Cyclades, but of those called the Sporades: for the Cyclades surround the island of Delos (36) in a circle, as the Periegete Dionysius says:

19 They have encircled Delos, and are called Cyclades. These are called by various and distinct names: Lemnos, Scyrus, Melus, Amolgus (37), Thera, Therasia, and Rhenea: yet I do not know if all are of the Cyclades, because they are near to the land and contiguous to Hellas. But the Aegean sea is very difficult to sail and to cross; for it rolls huge and massive waves, which rise up like mountains for those sailing, whether because of the density and frequency of the islands, or because of the current of the Pontus, which descends to Abydos and is whirled about the islands with great roaring. From Lectum as far as the Propontis, and Cyzicus, and Parium, and the very thing called the Hellespont, and Proconnesus, and as far as the Rhyndacus river, and to Dascylium itself, and the Cianus gulf—

ANSELM BANDURI'S NOTES

(35) Strabo lib. XII: This [region] extends as far as the Arginusae and the overhanging promontory which some call Aega, ^D as if Capram [Goat]. For why, says Casaubon, would Strabo have added: "in coincidence with the animal"? In Stephanus we read: Aega, the promontory of Aeolis, which, as Strabo says, is now called Cane and Canae. But Artemidorus says Aega, he said the straight [accusative] not analogously; the local [adverb/adjective] Aegeus and the sea... ...but it behoves me to crown That man by equestrian law In Aeolian strain. (35) Sic [is] MS. It is written incorrectly "Sestus," but Vulcanius writes most excellently that "Lectum" should be read; for it stretches from Lectum to the Canas of Lesbos, as Strabo relates. Thus also it is to be read a little further down. (36) [alt-version omitted] (37) This island is called Amolgus in the Codex; it is called Amorgus by Strabo and Heraclides, and Amurgus by Ptolemy.

assigned to the governor of the Aegean Sea. And these things, then, concerning the theme of the Aegean Sea. The End of the Themes of the East.

OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE PORPHYROGENITUS, BOOK II, CONCERNING THE THEMES OF THE WEST, THAT IS, OF EUROPE.

^B Thema I. The first theme, which is situated toward the sunset of the land of Europe, is named Thracium, in which Byzantium is founded, and the royalty of the Romans. It is right to make Byzantium, which is now the city of Constantinople, the beginning of the European soil; because it is also an imperial city, and holds the prerogative of the entire world, inasmuch as it is the heir to the name of the great emperor Constantine. I fix it as the beginning of Europe for this reason, because Byzantium itself is the most beautiful and most honorable part of Thrace. The theme of Thrace, therefore, recently attained the position and designation of a "theme," from that time when the race of the Bulgarians crossed the river Ister, since previously Thrace had been divided into two kingdoms. The names of the cities themselves testify to this, both Mesembria and Selymbria, which cities had received their appellation from kings before the Roman ^C empire had been augmented and had traversed all the bounds of the world. For from the time that the Roman rule spread its net even to all the limits of the world, it dispersed all, so to speak, and reduced them to one empire, and compelled all to submit to one yoke. But when the net began to crack with seams and to be broken, both affairs and names were changed in various ways. The prefecture of Thrace was established under the power of a duke and a consiliarius; for a proconsul, Taurus by name, held Thrace in the times of Constantine the Great, holding

^A under him fifty-three cities 42. But when the net, as I have said, had torn, and the barbarians had sacked and destroyed the cities, the administration of Thrace was divided into small segments. For Bulgaria, the Ister river itself, and the famous mountain which reaches as far as the Pontus, called Haemus, were parts of Thrace; but now they are held as foreign lands. The theme of Thrace was established under the emperor of Constantinople, and was conducted for his service; and there was not yet any strategos in it. But from the time that the God-hated nation of the Bulgarians crossed over to the Ister river, then the emperor himself was forced, on account of the raids of the Scythians and the Bulgarians themselves, to reduce it to the rank of a theme, and to appoint a strategos in it. The crossing of the Barbarians to the Ister river took place towards the end of the reign of Constantine Pogonatus 43, when their name also became known; for previously men called them Onogundurs 44. Thrace, however, received its name from a king, Thrax, who once departed from the living there 45; or from a Titan nymph, from whom and Saturn was born Dolonchus, whence the nation of the Dolonchi first obtained its name 46. Hierocles the Grammarian, who wrote the *Synecdemus*, i.e., a companion for travel, is a witness to this account, counting the nation of the Dolonchi as part of Thrace, speaking as follows: "The total number of prefectures 47 and cities which are administered by the emperor of the Romans residing in Constantinople is sixty-four prefectures and nine hundred and thirty-five cities 48." Therefore, I set down as the beginning of Europe the queen of cities and of the whole world, New Rome, Constantinople; and for this reason I have placed the theme around her, which is called Thrace, first among the themes in the parts of Europe. Since the city itself, once called Byzantis, was founded in the territory ^B of the Thracians, and Byzantium itself is a colony of the Megarians, Lacedaemonians, and Boeotians—most ancient Greeks—they also possess a knowledge of the Dorian tongue 49. Let us therefore state 50, as the ancient order once held, the names of the prefectures themselves. At this time the nation of the Bulgarians came upon Thrace. It is necessary to speak also concerning the antiquity of the Unnondobulgarans and the Contragorians.

Province of Thrace, that is, Europe

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

(51) *Hierocles habet*, "having the province of Thrace, Europe," etc. This is how Morell interprets it: "We have said, therefore, as the ancient order held, and we have explained the names of the prefectures themselves. But in the following he deals with the prefectures." Whence I have translated: "Let us say, therefore, as the ancient order held, and the names of the prefectures themselves."

(62) Hierocles has, "Province of Rhodope under a governor," etc. He also enumerates seven cities by name, but with different names: namely, Aenus, Maximianopolis, Trajanopolis, Marona or Maronea, Pyrus now Rusium, or Topyris, Nicopolis, and Coreopyrgus.

(63) Namely, "under the same province." Thus in the manuscripts; incorrectly in the editions, "under the same."

(64) Hierocles makes mention of this city and places it as the eighteenth in the Illyrian province, Macedonia: but no one among the geographers, as far as I know, makes mention of it. Stephanus only acknowledges Parthenium in Thrace, and Phartenopolis in Macedonia.

(65) Pertaining to the Thracian city so named, of which Herodotus, Stephanus, and others speak.

(66) It is evident to everyone that *Kmimontou* should be read as *Aimimontou*. This is also noted by Morell. Hierocles places the third province or rather prefecture of Thrace; but then the fourth as *Emimontou*, where for *Emimontou* one must indeed read *Aimimontou*. For in Thrace there was both Haemimons and Haemimontum; the former denotes the mountain of Thrace, the latter the region of Thrace. This region, according to Ammianus, has Adrianopolis and Anchialus in addition to other cities. Regarding the prefecture of Haemimontus, Jacobus Cujacius reads as follows in 1 *Obser.* 26, c. "on appellations" and *consult.* 1 XXIV: "When an appeal is interposed through Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Lydia, Hellespont; also the islands and Phrygia Salutaris, Europe, Rhodope, and Haemimonium, let the sacred judge of the appeal of this city observe the prefecture." Indeed, as Morell says, in order to perceive the intent of this law and others like it, who does not see how great a torch this writing of Constantine provides? Moreover, it does not escape me that there is also a Mount Mimas in Thrace, as is in Ovid, *Metamorphoses* 2, Suidas, and the Scholiast of Aristophanes in *Clouds*; but nowhere, as far as I know, is there mention of a Mimantis or Mimantis prefecture, whence for *Kmimontou* I think it necessary to read *Aimimontou*.

(67) Where it is to be read, as in Hierocles, "six," instead of "fourteen."

(68) *Dibertios*, and in Holstenius *Dirertios*, is had for *Develtos*; or *Achialos* for *Anchialus*, as the same Carolus very well notes. See Ortelius; for the things which Morell notes here, he copied from that same Ortelius. ^D

(69) Here is called *Plotinopolis*.

(70) Hierocles has *Tzoidus*. But no mention of a city of this name appears, so far as I know, among writers. "An unheard-of name," says Morell; could it be Tzurulum or Zurulum of Thrace, or Tutullus of Suidas? Crusius contends that it is now called Ciorlo; Leunclavius, Zolli.

^A island Samothrace. The Prefecture of Mysia, under a duke, has fourteen cities: Tomis, Dionysopolis, Acræ, Callatis, Ister, Constantiana, Zelpa, Tropæus, Axiopolis, Capidava, Carpus, Trosmis, Noviodunum, Ægissus, Halmyris. Up to this point is the theme of Thrace, as it is held in the companion of the journey of Hierocles: afterwards, however, the theme of Macedonia, which is located under Illyricum and its description, is placed: therefore it begins thus:

Thema II, of Macedonia.

Macedonia as a region received this appellation from Macedon, the son of Zeus and Thyia of Deucalion, as the poet Hesiod says: She, having conceived by Zeus the lord of the thunderbolt, Bore two sons, Magnes and Macedon, delighting in horses, Who dwelt in the region of Pieria and Olympus, in houses.

Others, however, say it is from Macedon, the son of Æolus, as Hellanicus says in the first book of his *Sacred Rites* (which are) in Argos: "And from Macedon the son of Æolus, from whom the Macedonians are now called, who alone were at that time living with the Mysians." And a portion of Macedonia is also called Maceta, as Marsyas writes in his ^B works on Macedonian affairs according to what Suidas writes.

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

(71) ...there are enumerated only four: of which two are by different names; namely, Philippopolis, Beron or Beroe, Diocletianopolis, and Sebastopolis; which two latter are not enumerated by the Porphyrogenitus; however, in Hierocles according to Holstenius, a fifth, Diopolis, is added. But this Thrace here, says Morell, is taken in a special sense for the second Mysia. (73) ...he calls this city Mesticum; but the name itself is not read in other writers, so far as I know. ...seems to call the city Menticum. But neither Mesticus nor Menticus are mentioned by other writers, so far as I know. Perhaps it should be read as Nestos or Nastos, which is a city of Thrace according to Stephanus, instead of Mesticum. (74) ...but with inconsistent writing. Others have Berroea; and there are those who have it with one R, Beroea; others Beroe, etc. They place one of these in Syria, which is called by Anna and Cinnamus Kalen, today called Aleppo; the second, in Thrace, is Nicopolis of Mysia, situated between the towns of Thrace, Philippopolis, at the roots of Mount Bermius; of which, indeed, the Porphyrogenitus speaks here; the third, finally, is in the theme of Macedonia, as the Porphyrogenitus has it in the following chapter, in the region of Emathia, which Cedrenus writes was called Irenopolis by the Empress Irene; and of which Anna Comnena also ^C speaks on page 18. (75) ...of Scythia, and in it under a duke there are fifteen cities enumerated, and fourteen are the same as those in the Porphyrogenitus, but the fifteenth, which is wanting in the Porphyrogenitus, is Constantiana. But this prefecture, which is called Mysia or Mœsia by our author, is called Scythia by Hierocles, as we have said; which is also called Scythia Thracensis by Zosimus in book vi; who mentions the city of Tomis as situated in it; though Ovid the poet, by whose exile it was ennobled, calls it Miletis, *Trist.* i, 9. (76) This fifteenth city, which is wanting in the Porphyrogenitus, we restore from Hierocles; but perhaps someone might think that for Constantiana we should read Constantia, which is enumerated by Nicetas in the territory of Rhodope in Thrace. (77) Morellus, whether it is Zerinea from Theopompus' *Philippics* III. (78) Topos is called by Procopius, and Topara, book iv, *on Edifices*. Ptolemy certainly places the city of Topiris in Thrace, which is ascribed to the first Macedonia in the work of the Council: and it is called Pusio by Sophianus. Doberus, Doberi, is mentioned by Thucydides. (79) Trosmis is said to be Jovian ^D and attached to Scythia; since the *Notitia* assigns the Herculian legion to it. In Ptolemy it is called Trosmis, a town of lower Mysia. (80) Halmyris, says Morell, the same city is also Halmydissus of Mela and Pliny, and Salmydessus of Xenophon, and Salmondris of Antoninus, there is no reason to doubt it. (81) Thus in manuscripts; in the printed editions, however, *catatauta*, etc., which Morell interprets wrongly, and after those things, the theme of Macedonia, which is placed under Illyricum and the situation of the places which is observed therein, is arranged. (82) ...was read, instead of as learned men have previously noted. (83) ...lines than those of Hesiod, are not found in the works of the same poet which are extant. (84) Meursius interprets these things wrongly thus: As the author is Hellanicus, Hierion in his first book of those which are in Argos: indeed, the Porphyrogenitus himself later in the tenth theme cites the Grammarian Stephanus, that is, a place of Byzantium, which is not found in the epitome that survives of the same Stephanus; but Stephanus, speaking there of Sicily, cites Hellanicus thus: as Hellanicus says, book II, on the Sacred Rites of Juno. But Hellanicus is cited frequently by Stephanus. See Vossius on this writer regarding the Greek Historians p. 8, 440, et seqq. (85) Similar things are noted nearly by Hesychius, and by Eustathius in his verse on Dionysius Periegetes, 427: "That the Macedonians..." (86) Marsyas produced Pella and other things concerning Macedonian affairs, as Suidas writes.

^A From the first book of the Macedonian histories: They also call it Maceta from Macedon. But Clidemus (88), in the first book of his *Atthis*, knows that the whole of Macedonia is also called Macetia: "And they were resettled above the Aegialus, beyond what is called Macetia." Those who reigned over Macedonia name themselves descendants of Heracles—that Heracles who was called Buphagus and the lion-slayer, whose image and stature, and his whole character, the bronze statue in the Hippodrome (89) represented. He was the son of Alcmene and Amphitryon, as the Greeks falsely write in their books; and therefore, instead of a headband, a crown, and royal purple, they wrap themselves with the skin of the lion's head, and they consider this to be a crown and an ornament, and they take more pride in this than in precious stones and pearls (90); and a trustworthy witness to this is the very coinage of Alexander of Macedon (91), adorned with such an image. Now, if the kingdom of the Macedonians, starting from the third son of Heracles, called Caranus (92), grew from Philip, the father of Alexander, and became magnified and extraordinary, and touched the ends of the earth under Alexander himself and his successors, but came to an end under Perseus (93), the son of Philip, to the point that he even lost the dignity of the kingdom—for Perseus himself was taken prisoner with his wife and children, having been defeated by ^B Aemilius, the proconsul and commander of the Roman army—it fell, and the kingdom ceased.

*Notes of Anselmi Banduri*

(87) In the editions it reads "Hrestian." But indeed, is it better to substitute "Eresian"? Eretria, as Thucydides, Polybius, and Strabo record, is a city not otherwise distinguished from the Eretria which Ptolemy lists in Phthiotis; nor is it far from the Maliacus [Gulf], which washes Macedonia. So says the oft-cited Morellus. But I myself think that instead of [Erestian] or "Hrestian," perhaps "Emathian" should be read, since that region was previously called Emathia, as is stated by Pliny, Trogus, and other writers.

(88) Not Clidemus, but Clitodemus is cited in Pausanias in his *Phocica* as the most ancient of those who wrote the history of Attica. Clitodemus is the most ancient author among those who treated of Attic subjects. By Harpocration, however, Clidemus is cited as a writer of Attic affairs, just as he is by Athenaeus, book VI. But learned men not without reason dispute whether Clitodemus should be read there, whence Clidemus may have been made by a copyist.

(89) It is read in the manuscript editions, *concerning his character*, etc. But Nicetas Choniates describes this statue of Heracles, which stood in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, more fully in his treatise on the statues of Constantinople, which the Latins melted down into coinage after the city was captured; which treatise you have in the sixth book of my *Antiquities of Constantinople*, published for the first time by us. See what we have noted there.

(90) Thus from the manuscript. In the Greek editions the passage appears corrupted by lacunae and teeming with errors.

(91) Coins of Alexander the Great of this kind are common.

(92) Our author Marsyas of Pella starts his history of Macedonian affairs from Caranus, the first king of Macedonia, and ends it at the entry of Alexander into Syria, as Suidas is the author. Pausanias in his *Boeotica* relates that Caranus once reigned in Macedonia, and after reporting a victory over Cisseus, the prince of the neighboring province, he erected a trophy according to the customs and laws of the Argives: which a lion, having come out of Olympus, later overturned and dissipated: and that the king, smitten by such an evil omen, prescribed to himself and his descendants, and took care, that they should never erect a trophy; of which constitution Philip, son of Amyntas, and Alexander the Great were most observant. Livy also, in book XLV, asserts that Caranus was the first king of Macedonia.

(93) Titus Livius, book XLV: "For four years," he says, "there was continuous war between the Romans and Perseus; and that was the end of the war and of the kingdom, renowned throughout most of Europe and all of Asia. They numbered the twentieth from Caranus, who was the first to reign, to Perseus." Perseus received the kingdom under the consulship of Fulvius and L. Manlius: he was called King by the senate.

^A He was then defeated and captured by the consul Aemilius Paulus, as Livy writes—though not proconsul, as this Porphyrogenitus says. And there was led to Rome in chains ^B both he and all the insignia of the Macedonian kingdom, so that it changed its form from a kingdom into a province; and now it has ended up in the order of a Theme and a Strategia. The province of Macedonia, under a consiliarius, thirty-one cities: namely, Thessalonica, Pella, Europus, Dius, Berrhoea, Eordaioi, Edessa, Cella, Almopia, Heraclea, Lacci, Antania, Gemindus, Nicedes, Dioburus, Hedomene, Bragylus, Pribana, Maronea, Amphipolis, Neapolis, Apollonia; Topirus, now Rhusium; Nicopolis, Ithapolis, Acanthus, Ceraeopyrgus, Berpe, Aralus, Diocletianopolis, Sebastopolis. The province of Macedonia, under a duke, eight cities: Stoli, Argos, Eustraeum, Pelagonia, Bargala, Celanidium, Harmonia, Zapara. The province of Thessaly, under the same [duke], seventeen cities: Larissa, Demetrias, Thebae, Echinus, Lamia, Trice, Gomphi, Apate, Metropolis, which are now called Neai Patrai, Caesarea, Pharsalus, Buraminsius, Saltus, Joannubius, the island of Sciathus, the island of Skepila, the island of Peparethos. Up to this point the Theme of Macedonia extends.

Thema III, Strymonis.

Thema IV, Thessalonice.

who calls this Macedonia, while he writes thus: "There being present with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica." For Thessalonica is the metropolis of Macedonia. But Hierocles the Grammarian also has placed it among the Macedonian cities. It derives its name from such a cause: Philip, son of Amyntas, having defeated the Thessalians there, imposed the same name upon his daughter and the city.

Thema V of Europe: Hellas.

The region of Hellas received its name from Hellen, son of Deucalion; who, having ruled over Phthiotis, called the inhabitants subject to him Hellenes instead of Greeks; and then for the first time it was named Hellas. This was not the ancient name of the nation, but a peculiar term of the Greek language, as the author Alexander says, knowing the name to be of later origin. And it seems to me that the whole country in some way did not even possess this name; nor did the poet mention "Hellenes," calling them Argives, but naming only the Thessalians, and referring to the city under Achilles as "Hellas," as Alexander Polyhistor writes. Nowhere did he call all of them Hellenes, nor others, except those who sailed with Achilles from Phthiotis toward Ilium. ^B The Thema of Hellas contains 79 cities: the first is Scarphia, second Eleusis, third Daulium, fourth Chaeronea, fifth Naupactum, sixth Delphi, seventh Amphissa, and others. Enumerate among these also the island of Euboea, which some call Chalin or Chalcis. It has with it also the islands called the Cyclades, and the island of Aegina, and extends down even as far as Thermopylae; in which place that Lacedaemonian, Leonidas, with three... ^C

[The Following is an extract from the Marginal Notes by Anselm Banduri]

...not by the divine Paul, but written by the holy Luke. But he calls Aristarchus in Coloss. [iv. 10] a fellow-traveler, fellow-prisoner, fellow-worker. That after the river Axius, Thessalonica is a city which was formerly called Therma. It is a foundation of Cassander, who named it in the name of his own wife, who was the daughter of Philip, son of Amyntas... ^D

Turning from Attica to the summit of Sunium, Lies the island which is called Euboea, Because of its nature, as Macris says. Afterward, called from the so-called Asopis, In the lapse of time, it retained the name of Euboea before. They deem that the first to have settled in it, Were the promiscuous Leleges, and from the shore of Attica Pandorus, son of Erechtheus, having crossed over, To have built a greatest city there, this is Chalcis, And Eretria, Athenian by origin.

These things were added here pertinently and intentionally, says Morellus, so that it might be established from this most ancient geographer that Chalcis was the greatest city of Euboea and as it were the metropolis, so that it is no wonder if some have attributed the name of that city to the island, as the emperor writes here.

Leonides the Lacedaemonian, with three hundred soldiers, withstood ^A Xerxes, the king of the Persians. And so much, then, for Hellas according to Hierocles.

Thema VI, Peloponnesus

Corinth, formerly called Ephyra, is the metropolis of all Hellas, and of the Peloponnesus itself, that is to say, of Achaia. For the Romans call those who inhabit the Peloponnesus Achaeans. Now, the entire island is constituted under one military governor, and contains forty cities; of which the most notable are Corinth, the metropolis; Sicyon; Argos; and Lacedaemonia of Laconia, which was previously called Sparta. Another metropolis is that which is called Patrae. The Peloponnesus has three names, as Nicolaus of Damascus writes in his fourth history. For the Pelopidae were the greatest power of those times; and the Peloponnesus looked to them, and derived its own name from them, having already changed its designations three times before. For under Apis, the son of Phoroneus, it was called Apia. Under Pelasgus, the indigenous ruler, it was called Pelasgia. Under Argus, it was itself called Argos, by the same name. Under Pelops, who defeated Oenomaus, the Peloponnesus acquired this proper name. It is a peninsula, similar in shape to the leaf of a vine. ^B Dionysius, however, compares the Peloponnesus to a plane-tree leaf, saying thus: *Very similar to a plane-tree leaf, which has a sharp point.* Around these same localities there are seven islands which are called Peloponnesian. And such, then, is the state of the Peloponnesus. The Peloponnesus was formerly ruled by the race of the Heraclidae, until Philip of Macedon overcame them. For when the Athenians had contended against the Lacedaemonians for the primacy—from the time when the Persian was defeated by both—that notorious Xerxes was defeated in a land battle by the Lacedaemonians, at the time when Mardonius ^C fell with his entire host; and he received a defeat in a naval expedition from the Athenians, at the time when Themistocles was in command of the fleet. Therefore, a battle was joined between the two over the primacy, and the war was prolonged by both for twenty-seven years, as the famous Thucydides writes. Therefore, as they destroyed one another and their youth was slaughtered, Philip, the father of Alexander, came in and subjected them both to servitude, so that this epigram was pronounced of it: *Tell the Spartans, traveler, that we lie here, obeying their laws.*

ANSELM BANDURI'S NOTES

^D Regarding those three hundred Lacedaemonians who fell at Thermopylae, Simonides wrote this distich: *Tell the Lacedaemonians, stranger, that we lie here, obeying their laws.*

In dissensions, even the most wicked obtain leadership. ^A Afterwards, however, when the Macedonians had been defeated by the Romans, all of Greece and the Peloponnese passed under the Roman net, so that they became slaves instead of free men. The entire country was Slavonized—that is, it became barbarian—when the pestilential plague fed upon the entire world, at the time when Constantine, who was surnamed Copronymus (the Dung-named), held the scepter of the Roman Empire. So it was that a certain man from the Peloponnese who prided himself greatly on his nobility—or rather, to speak more truly, on his ignobility—namely, Euphemius, that renowned grammarian, was mocked by the following trite and well-circulated iambic verse pointed at him: *A face of Geras-like form, enslaved.* ^B This man was Nicetas, who gave his daughter Sophia in marriage to Christophoros, the son of the good and noble Emperor Romanos.

Thema VII, Cephallenia

Cephallenia is included with the Peloponnese; for it was never managed in the order of a *thema*, nor was anyone of note born from it, except for the much-celebrated Odysseus in Homer. Likewise also the island of Zacynthus, and Leucas, and Ithaca, the fatherland of Odysseus, and other small islands, and indeed Corcyra itself, the city of the Phaeacians, the kingdom of Alcinous—whom Homer extols with divine praises above all the princes who ruled over few men at that time. And so much for these matters.

Thema VIII, Nicopolis

The ^C province of Old Epirus, the Phocian, under a commander, comprises twelve cities; Nicopolis is the metropolis. It was called Nicopolis for the following reason: that august and world-renowned Emperor, Augustus, had a war with Cleopatra of Egypt and her husband Antonius, who was previously the brother-in-law of Caesar. But he fell away from Roman rule out of love for Cleopatra herself, and seized all the land of the Egyptians. Therefore, with a naval fleet of twelve hundred ships, they engaged in battle with Caesar at that very promontory called Actium; and when Caesar had defeated Antonius and Cleopatra, he built a city, which he named Nicopolis...

^A, because it was there that he had defeated Antonius. And from that promontory called Actium, he also called those referred to as "indictions" (28). For thus writes Hesychius the Illustrious: "Indiction, that is to say *Inaction*, is the victory at Actium; for this reason, the indiction begins from the first and ends at the fifteenth; and it turns back again, and begins from the first, because Antonius had been co-ruler with Augustus Caesar until the fifteenth year. After this, Augustus ruled alone." The metropolis of this theme is the city of Dodona, upon which stands the oak that uttered the mysteries of the demons; which Gregory the Theologian also mentions, speaking thus (29): "Or the ravings of the Dodonean oak, Or the highly divinatory draught of Castalia." For there was the fountain possessing the name Castalia (30), from a certain nymph so called, and from a river which Homer calls Achelous, whose water surpasses in sweetness all the streams of the rivers. And so much for Nicopolis.

Theme IX. Dyrrhachium

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

^A And thus the prefectures of New Epirus, that is to say of Dyrrhachium, which in olden times was called Epidamnos, are arranged. Something must be said regarding its name, and whence it is called Dyrrhachium. Dyrrhachium is a Greek city ^B and was called Epidamnos after Epidamnos, an ancient hero; he had a daughter, Melissa, by whom and by Neptune, Dyrrhachius was born; from her, a place in Epidamnos is called Melissonion, where Neptune had relations with Melissa.

Notes of Anselm Banduri

(38) Namely, Scupos, Merion, and Ulpiana, as Hierocles says. (39) Sermium, namely, and Basiana, as is held in the same Hierocles. (40) Here, for "Greek," I think it should be written "Illyrian," as Stephanus Byzantinus has it: "Dyrrhachium, an Illyrian city." That Dyrrhachium was an Illyrian city and was formerly called Epidamnos, Mela writes in Book II, chap. 3: "The first of the cities [of the Illyrians] is Orikos; the second is Dyrrhachium; it was previously Epidamnos; the Romans changed the name, because it seemed an omen to those who were, as it were, going to their doom." Concerning the site of Dyrrhachium, see the observations of Johannes Vossius on Pomponius Mela, and Jacobus Palmerius’ description of Illyricum, where, beyond the site of the city, the founders and memorable events are commemorated more fully. ^B But Thomas de Pinedo, in his Notes on Stephanus, attempts to emend—or rather, to corrupt—this passage of Stephanus with the reading of Porphyrogenitus, or rather with a scribe's error. Now, what Stephanus writes, and Porphyrogenitus from him, about the naming of Dyrrhachium, smacks of fables. A better credit is to be given to Pliny, who in Book III, chap. 23, says that Dyrrhachium was so named by the Romans when they led a colony there, on account of the ill-omened name of Epidamnos. Livy and Strabo say the same; because Pomponius Mela, who in Book II has it thus: "The first city is Orikos; the second is Dyrrhachium; it was previously Epidamnos; the Romans changed the name because it seemed an omen to those about to fall into ruin." Plautus also seems to allude to this in the *Menaechmi*, act II, scene 1. "On this account, the name Epidamnos was given to this city, because almost no one goes there without loss (damnum). ME. I will avoid that thing: come, give me my purse. MES. What do you want with it? ME. I am already afraid on account of your words. MES. What are you afraid of? ME. That you might bring me my loss (damnum) in Epidamnos." ^C Dio Cassius in Book XLI agrees with these, yet so that he doubts whether they are two different cities; which Appian of Alexandria in his Civil Wars completely affirms, saying that Epidamnos is a little removed from the sea, but that Dyrrhachium is near the sea itself, and he says it is the naval station of Epidamnos, and he adds that it was falsely called Epidamnos by some. Later, however, it was so named by the Corcyreans, because the name of Dyrrhachium was thought ill-omened, but the ancient appellation prevailed and the name of Dyrrhachium remained. Thus Appian differs from all the others; for he indeed makes the name of Dyrrhachium ill-omened, while the others make Epidamnos so; he attributes the change of name to the Corcyreans, the others to the Romans. Moreover, some contend that Dyrrhachium was so named from the name of him who brought the harbor to the city. Others called it Dyrrhachium, as Alexander in his description of Europe, according to Stephanus: "And the Epidamnos of Dyrrhachium is situated on the shore of the maritime land." ^D Eustathius also, in his Commentaries on Dionysius regarding the site of the world, deduces the etymology of the name from that, saying: "There lie the Ceraunian mountains, and the metropolis of New Epirus, formerly called Epidamnos—or, indeed, Dyrrhachium—signifying from such a naming the roughness of the place. For it is *dys-rachion*, which is to say 'difficult of approach.' By changing the *s* into *r*, it is more euphoniously called *Dyrrhachium*. Just as *Tyrsenos* becomes *Tyrrhenos*. Dyrrhachium is a city formerly called Epidamnos; it was named Dyrrhachium because the wave rushing against a hill of the promontory jutting out at that place, and breaking, creates a *rachia* (a rocky shore)."

^A After the Rizonic gulf is the city of Lissus, and Acrolissus, and Epidamnus, a foundation of the Corcyraeans, which is now called Dyrrhachium by the same name as the peninsula upon which it is founded, as Philo writes. Dexippus in the tenth book of his *Chronicon* calls it a Macedonian city, writing as follows: "And they seize Epidamnus of the Macedonians," which was later renamed Dyrrhachium, "a city of Macedonia, which was great and prosperous." Up to this point was the division of the empire under the king who was holding Byzantium. But the regions opposite, which the Ionian gulf [washes], were subject to the king who was ruling Rome. ^B For thus did the great king Constantine divide the empire among his three sons: Constantine, Constantius, and Constans. To the first son, the upper Gauls and the regions beyond the Alps as far as the Western Ocean, and the city of Cantabrigia; to Constans, the youngest son, Rome and the lower Gauls, as well as the island of Sardinia, and Sicily itself, and the Libya opposite, and Carthage, and the metropolis of the Africans, and as far as Cyrene itself; to Constantius, the lands from Dyrrhachium, and Illyricum itself, and Hellas, and the islands beyond, both the Cyclades and the so-called Sporades, and as far as the Hellespont, and the so-called Asia Minor, and both the Syrias, and Palestine, and Cilicia, and Egypt itself; for Libya was subject to the king of Rome. ^C And such was the old and first division of the Roman empire. But Dalmatia is a region of Italy, from which sprang the most abominable and most impious of all men who have ever existed, the emperor Diocletian, rising from a town named Salonae: from which flows... ^D

Notes of Anselm Banduri

(44) Strabo has these things in book VII, except that what is read there is "after the Rizonic gulf": whence one must say either that these things which Porphyrogenitus here praises as Philo's were drawn from Strabo, or that Strabo was drawn from Philo; but who this Philo might be, and at what time he lived, is not clear, since there were many Philos, as is evident from Vossius *On Greek Historians*. And this one is indeed praised by Stephanus; he is perhaps that very ancient physician of Tarsus, who is cited by Galen. And elsewhere, he is cited here and there by the same Stephanus as Philo of Byblos, who lived in the time of Trajan. But regarding the Philos, more [is said], as I have said, by Vossius. Moreover, just as it is said Corinth and Acrocorinthus, so Lissus and Acrolissus, for as Acrocorinthus is adjacent to Corinth, so Acrolissus is adjacent to Lissus, built upon a high cliff. Polybius teaches this in book V in these words: etc.

(45) Thucydides also teaches the site of Epidamnus in the peninsula. Moreover, from this passage of Philo, it appears that Dyrrhachium also derived its name from the roughness of the ground in which it is situated.

(46) Dexippus of Athens, who, as Eunapius says in his *Porphyrius*, lived around the times of Aurelian and Probus, meets with frequent mention among the writers who flourished after those times. See what Vossius writes about him and his works in *On Greek Historians*, book I.

(47) The passage of Dexippus is wrongly interpreted by Morellus thus: "And they seize the Macedonians' Epidamnus, which was later named Dyrrachium, and it was a great and prosperous city of Macedonia."

(48) Many writers [speak] of the division of the Roman empire.

(49) The same Constantine in the book *De Administrando Imperio*, ch. XXIX and following, treats of Dalmatia and its peoples. But the fact that he says here that Dalmatia is a region of Italy, he drew that from Stephanus of Byzantium, from whom he also transcribed most of the other things word for word, as they say, as we have noted elsewhere. But I think Dalmatia was taken as an Italian region by the Byzantine writers from this, because Dalmatia was then a part of the Italian prefecture. See what Ortelius says about this matter; although Berkel, in his notes to Stephanus, holds that to be nonsense, just as did Holstenius in his *Annotations* to Ortelius. But I myself think Berkel is also talking nonsense while he tries to explain this passage of Stephanus.

(50) Regarding the fatherland of the emperor Diocletian, about which there is controversy among writers, we speak elsewhere.

^A The most unholy and most impious of all men, the Emperor Diocletian, was from a certain village called Salonae, in which there is water drinkable and most sweet beyond all waters, as those who have tasted it say.

Thema X, Sicily

Sicily is a very great and most illustrious island. It was not formerly under the dominion of the Emperor of Constantinople, when Rome was subject to the emperor; but now this innovation has occurred because Rome has laid aside the imperial power and obtained its own administration and jurisdiction, and it is properly and legitimately ruled by whoever is Pope at the time. But now it is under the dominion of Constantinople, because the Emperor of Constantinople is master of the sea as far as the Pillars of Hercules and of our entire Mediterranean sea. It derived the history of its being called Sicily from such a history as Stephanus the Grammarian writes: ^B Sicily the island was formerly called Sicania; then it was called Sicily, as Hellanicus says in the second book of his *On the Festivals of Hera*. At the same time, the Ausones were driven out of Italy by the Iapygians, and these were led by Sicelus; and having crossed over to the island called Sicania, and settling around Etna, they dwelt there, both they and their king Sicelus, having established a kingdom; and departing from there, this Sicelus soon brought the whole island under his sway, which was then named Sicily after this Sicelus, who also reigned in it. Menippus also says these things: "Having departed into Sicily with a large army from Italy, and having overcome the Sicani in battle, they sent them off to the southern and western parts of the region; and they caused the island to be called Sicily instead of Sicania, and they dwelt in the most productive ^C part of the land." That it is the greatest of the seven [islands] is proved also by the testimony of Alexis the Comic, whose verses are these:

Of the seven islands which nature has shown To mortals as the greatest: Sicily, as report Says, is great, and Sardinia is second; third Cyrnus; and the fourth, Crete, the nurse of Zeus. Euboea is fifth and narrow; sixth is Cyprus; And Lesbos has attained the seventh rank.

Of the islanders, the indigenous ones from long ago, Ligurians from Italy, are called Siculi. But the arrivals, the Greeks, are Siceliotae, just like the Italiotae. It has famous cities: Syracuse, the so-called Tauromenium, Agrigentum itself, and the other cities, some desolate, others held by the Saracens. Now, Syracuse was captured by the Saracens under Basil, that renowned emperor. Tauromenium [was captured] under Leo, the wisest emperor. Therefore, all the fortresses that were left behind are held by the godless Saracens; ^D only Calabria, across the sea, is held by the Christians, in which is also Rhegium, and the little town

^A of Saint Cyriaca, and of Saint Severina, and Croton, and certain others, over which the strategos of Calabria rules. There are twenty-two cities under Sicily and its strategos. But in ancient times, this island was governed by tyranny—not to say reigned over—by Hiero and Dionysius the tyrant; yet the Romans took it over with a great fleet, when that Marcellus was leading the army and was designated as admiral of the Roman fleet; it was then that Archimedes the geometer, being in those very Syracuses, was slain by a soldier on the night the city was captured. Marcellus mourned him so much that no lamentation was spared at his funeral. And these things, then, are about Sicily.

Thema XI, Langobardia.

At that time the Franks were subdued, being joined also with the Langobards; and from that time until today it maintains the order of a Thema called— ^D

^A Longobardia. ^B During the reign of Michael, the son of Theophilus, a fleet of thirty-six ships ascended from Africa, having as leaders Soldanus, Samanus, and Calphus. They subdued various cities of Dalmatia, as well as Butoba, Rōsa, and the lower Decatera. They also came to their metropolis, which is called Ragusium, and besieged it for a long time. The citizens of the city of Ragusium sent envoys to the emperor, requesting help by means of a fleet. When the envoys arrived at the royal city, they found Basilius, that illustrious emperor, already endowed by the will of God with the imperial dignity; he, having heard the heads of their embassy and petition, immediately dispatched a suitable fleet and a capable commander to bring them aid. When the Africans learned this from a deserter, and having accomplished nothing in the siege—and indeed fearing the arrival of the imperial fleet against them—they crossed over into Longobardia, and having besieged the castle of Baris, they settled in it, having seized all the castles, and the whole of Longobardia, and the remaining castles of Calabria as far as Rome, so that the total number of the castles plundered by them was one hundred and fifty. Basilius, therefore, that renowned emperor, having received the imperial authority from God, as was said before, and having learned of these things, sent ahead a cavalry army and forty ships; he also wrote to Ludovicus, the king of the Franks, and to the Pope of Rome, to provide auxiliary forces to his own army. They, submitting to the imperial request, and both joining with the army sent by the emperor, both cavalry and naval, warred against the Saracens from Africa, and plundered the castle of Baris; they also captured and held the emir Soldanus in chains, whom Ludovicus, the king of the Franks, having received together with the Saracens, departed for his own home. But the emperor held all of Longobardia in subjection, just as it is ruled by the Roman emperors even today. ^C

Thema XII, Chersonis.

Cherson in ancient times did not use the name of a Thema, nor did it exist in the form of a metropolis; but those who held Bosporus also ruled over Cherson itself, and the remaining regions, so that the inhabitants of Bosporus were said to reign. The history, however, stands thus: Bosporus is a city of Pontus by the Cimmerian gulf, and a ferry of the same name, named from Iō, the daughter of Inachus, just as Aeschylus writes in his *Prometheus*:

Mortalibus dein sempiterna fama erit Trajectionis, Bosporusque inde audies.

^A Strabo writes as follows in the eleventh book of his *Geography*: "All those subject to the powerful men of the Bosporus are called Bosporians. The metropolis of those in Europe is Panticapaeum, and that of those in Asia is Phanagoreum." Phlegon also testifies in the fifteenth Olympiad that the Bosporus was under the rule of Cotys, the Bosporian king, to whom Caesar ordered the wearing of a diadem and whose cities he subjected to his own authority, among which he includes Cherson itself. Moreover, there are two places called Bosporus: one, called Cimmerius, near Cherson, in which the palace of the Bosporian kings was located; and another at Byzantium, as Favorinus writes: "The harbor of the Byzantines is called Bosporus." The epigram inscribed on a column erected opposite the land at Chrysopolis, where a marble heifer is set up, also testifies to this, speaking as follows:

I am not the image of the Inachian heifer, nor from me Is the sea facing the Bosporus named; For the heavy wrath of Hera drove that one in the past To Pharus, whereas I am a dead woman, a Cecropid. I was the wife of Chares, his companion on the voyage, When he set out against the fleet of Philip. "Bucula" (Heifer) was my name then, but now the wife Of Chares, I take delight in both lands.

That Chares was a general of the Athenians. The local inhabitants, however, corrupting the name, call it Phosphorium, whence it has come about that those who have written *Byzantine Origins* have added another legendary story: that while Philip of Macedon was besieging Byzantium... ^B

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

(62) But nothing of the sort is found in the modern Strabo, book x; but so it is read in that author, book vii: "From that time until this day the city of the Chersonesites has been subject to the dynasts, or princes, of the Bosporus," following, of course, the victory by which Mithridates Eupator gained possession of Cherson and the Bosporus.

(63) Thus we correct "Panticapaeum" with Morello from Strabo and others; for it is read erroneously in the manuscript of Constantine as "Mantikapaeum" instead of "Panticapaeum."

(64) Regarding Phlegon of Tralles, who was, as they say, a freedman of Hadrian, see the more recent authors, Vossius, Meursius, Morello, etc.

(65) He narrates that he received the diadem and most of his cities from the Emperor Hadrian.

(66) This same epigram is found in Hesychius of Miletus in *Byzantine Origins* and in the *Anthology*, book xi, on Women; and also in Codinus in *Byzantine Origins*. We have inserted the corrected version from Hesychius; for it is read thus in the MS of Constantine:

I am not the image of the Inachian heifer, nor from me Is the sea facing the Bosporus named; For the heavy wrath of Hera drove that one in the past To Pharus, whereas I am a dead woman, a Cecropid. I was the wife of Chares, and sailed when he [sailed] Against the fleet of Philip. I was called "Bucula" then, but now the wife Of Chares, I take delight in both lands.

(67) Eustathius, says Morello, in his commentary on Dionysius Periegetes, line 140: "At the entrance of the Thracian Bosporus." He treats of the place near Byzantium and fills the gap of a clever fiction, which might perhaps provoke tears in some, when he writes thus: which I render here into Latin to complete the version of this *thema*. The harbor near Byzantium was so called later, by a corruption of the name, or rather by the deviation which the rhetoricians call *paraphtthora* (corruption), to be called Phosphorium, as the ancients say. For, Philip having dug an underground entrance during the siege of the city, from which those who were digging were about to emerge unnoticed from the trench, Hecate, who is the light-bringer or Lucina, displayed torches from there to the citizens. And so, having escaped the siege, the local inhabitants called the place Phosphorium. These things are found almost word-for-word in the epitome of the *Ethnicon* of Stephanus of Byzantium, where it should be written as in Eustathius, who is explained immediately after, *facula* (torch) being the little word, in these entries of Stephanus, etc.

HIEROCLIS GRAMMATICI SYNECDEMUS.

THESE ARE ALL THE PROVINCES AND CITIES UNDER THE EMPEROR OF THE ROMANS AT CONSTANTINOPLE, 64 PROVINCES, 935 CITIES, AS IS SET FORTH BELOW.

^A 1. Province of Europe Thrace, under a consularis, 14 cities. Eudoxiopolis, Heraclea, Arcadiopolis, Bizya, Panonium, Orni, Ganus, Callipolis, Morizus, Siltica, Synadia, Aphrodisia, Aprus, Coelia.

II. Province of Rhodope, under a praeses, 7 cities. Aenus, Maximianopolis, Trajanopolis, Marona, Pyrus, now Rusium, Nicopolis, Cereopyrgus.

III. Province of Thrace, under a consularis, 5 cities. Philippopolis, Beron, Diocletianopolis, Sebastopolis, Diopolis.

IV. Province of Hemimontus, under a praeses, 5 cities. Adrianopolis, Anchialus, Dirertius, Plotinopolis, ^B Tzoides.

V. Province of Moesia, under a praeses, 7 cities. Marcianopolis, Odyssus, Dorostolus, Nicopolis, Novae, Appiaria, Ebraettus.

VI. Province of Scythia, under a praeses, 15 cities. Tomis, Dionyssopolis, Acrae, Calates, Istrus, Constantiana, Zedelpa, Tropaeum, Axiopolis, Capidava, Carsus, Trosmis, Noviodunum, Agissus, Almyris.

VII. Province of Illyricum I. Macedonia, under a consularis, 32 cities. Thessalonica, Pella, Europus, Dius, Beroea, ^C Eordea, Edessa, Colla, Almopia, Larissa, Heraclei Laoci, Antagnia Gemindi, Nicedes, Dioborus, Idomene, Dragylus, Trimula, Parthicopolis, Heraclea Strymonis, Serrhae, Philippus, Amphipus, Apollonia, Neapolis, Acanthus, Berge,

^A Aravros, Clema, Menticum and Acontisma, the island of Thasos, the island of Samothrace.

VIII. Province of Macedonia Secunda ^B under a governor, 8 cities. Stoli, Argos, Eustraion, Pelagonia, Bargala, Celeniden, Harmonia, Zapara.

IX. Province of Thessaly under a governor, 17 cities. Larissa, Demetrias, Thebes, Aichionio, Lamia, Hypata metropolis, Trocai, Gomphi, Caeparea, Diocletianopolis, Pharsala, Sartoburamisium, Satosiobius, the island of Scopelus, the island of Sciathus, the island of Peparethus.

X. Province of Hellas or Achaea under a proconsul, 79 cities. Scarphia, ^B Elatina, Boe and Drimya, Daulia, Cheronea, Naupactus, Delphi, Amphisa, Tithora, Ambrosus, Anticyra, Lebadia, Coronia of Boeotia, Sterae, Opus, Anastasius, Ecepsus, the island of Euboea, Anthedon, Bumelita, Thespiae, Hylles Thystae, Thebes, metropolis of Boeotia, Tanagra, Chalce, an island of Euboea, Porthmus, Caristus, Platea, Aegosthena, ^C Athens, metropolis of Attica, Megara, Pagae, Emporium Crommon, the island of Aegina, Poitoiousa, Kea, Cythnos, Delos, Adelos, Scyrus, Talameneme, Thermopylae, Corinth, formerly Ephyra, metropolis of all Hellas, Nea Sicyon, Aegae, Aegion, Methone, Arizana, Pinaura, Hiera Mione, Argos, Tegea, Tharpusa, Mantinea, Lacedaemon, metropolis of Laconia, formerly Sparta, Gerenthrae, Pharae, Asopolis, Acreae, Phialaia, Messene, Coronia, Asine, Methone, Cyparissia, Elis, metropolis of Aetolia, the island of Cephalenia, the island of Panormus, the island of Zacynthus, the island of Cytheria, the island of Mycon, the island of Strophadia, the island of Melos, opposite Corinth, the island of Dorousa, the island of Lemnos, the island of Imbros.

XI. Province of Crete under a consular governor, 22 cities. Metropolis Gortyna, Inatus, Bienna, Hiera Pydna, Camara, Allyngus, Chersonesus, Lyctus, Arcadia, Cnosus, Subritus, Axius, Eleuthera, Lampae, Aptera, Cydonea, Cisamus, ^D Cantania, Elyrus, Lassus, Phoenice, Aradena, the island of Claudus.

XII. Province of Old Epirus under a governor, 12 cities. Metropolis Nicopolis, Dodona, Euroea, Acnii, Hadrianopolis, Appon, Phoenice, Anchiasmus, Butritus, Photice, the island of Corcyra, or Thraconesus.

[XIII] Province of New Epirus under a consular, 9 cities. Dyrrachium, which is also Epidamnus, Scappa, Apollonia, Bulus, Amantia, Pulcheriopolis, Aulon, the metropolis of Aulinidos, Listron, and Scepon.

XIV. Province of Mediterranean Dacia under a consular, 5 cities. Sardica metropolis, Pantalia, Germae, Nansus, Rhemesiana.

XV. Province which is at... (namely the bank of the Danube; and it is Ripensian Dacia) under a consular, 5 cities. Rhazaria metropolis, Benopia, Accenes, Castra Martis, Idaus.

XVI. Province of Dardania under a governor, 3 cities. Scupon metropolis, Merion, Ulpiana.

XVII. Province of Prevalis under a governor, 3 cities. Scodrae, Lissus, Doracion metropolis.

XVIII. Province of Mysia (understand First Mysia) under a governor, 5 cities. Vimenacin metropolis, Singidonus, Gratiana, Pricornia, Orthemarchus.

XIX. Province of Pannonia under a governor, 2 cities. Sermium, Basiana.

XX. Province of Asia under a proconsul, 43 cities. Ephesus, Enea, Priene, Magnesia on the Meander, Trallis, Nyssa, Priulla, Mastaura, Anineta, Hypela, Ardiopolis, Dios Hieron, or the Shrine of Jove, Evaza, Colose, Algiza, Nicopolis, Palaeopolis, or the ancient city, Baretta, Aulii Come, or Village, Neauche, Colophon metropolis, Lebedus, Tius, Smyrna, Clazomene, Satrote, Magnesiasopolis, Apae, Temnus, Phocea, Myrina, Myce, Pergamus, Elaea, Pittane, Tianae, Theodosiopolis, Adramyttion, which is also Lyrnesus, Atandrus, Gadara, Assus.

XXI. Province of the Hellespont under a consular, 30 cities. Cyzicus metropolis, Proconesus, or Exoria, Barispe, Parium, Lampsacus, Abydus, Dardanum, Ilium, Troas, Scamandrus, Polichna, Poemanenus, Artemea, Recita, Bladus, Scelenta, Molis, Germae, Aptaus, Gerge, Sagara, Adriani and Thera, Herae, Pionia, Coniosine, Argiza, Xius Tradus, Mandacada, Ergasterion, Mandrae, Hippi, Cisideron, Scepsis.

XXII. Province of Phrygia Capatiana under a consular, 39 cities. Laodicea, Hierapolis, Mosyna, Attyda, Trapezopolis, Colasae, Ceretapa, Themosonius, Valentia, Sanaus, Coniopolis, Sitopolis, Crasus, Lunda, Molte, Eumenea, Siblia, Pepuza, Briana, Sebaste,

Iluza, Acmone, Adii, Jucharatas, Dioclia, Aristium, Cidyssus, Apia, Eudocias, Azana, Tiberiopolis, Cadi, Theodosia, Ancyra, Synaos, Temenothyræ, Tanopolis, Pulcherianopolis.

^A XXIII. Provincia Lydiæ sub consulari, urbes 23.

Sardis, Philadelphia, Tripolis, Thiatera, Sitæ, Mæonia, Julianopolis, Tralles, Aureliopolis, Attalia, Hermocapelia, Ocrasus, Apollinis Fanum, Talaza, Bagis, Cerasemeso, Tymellus, Apollones, Hierocastellia, Mystine, Sataleon, Gordos, Mostina.

XXIV. Provincia Pisidiæ sub consulari, urbes 26.

Antiochia, Neapolis, Limenæ, Sabinæ, Atmenia, Pappa, Sinethandus, Laodicea exusta, Tyraium, Adrianopolis, Philomelium, Sozopolis, Tymandrus metropolis, Hopamia, Eudoxiopolis, Agalasus, Baris, Seleucia ferrea, Timbriadum, Themisonius, Justinianopolis, Mallus, Odada, Zorzila, Teityassos.

XXV. Provincia Lycaoniæ sub consulari urbes 18.

^B Iconium metropolis, Lystra, Misthea, Amblada, Vasada, Umanada, Listra, Laranda, Derbæ, Barate, Hyde, Isauropolis, Corna, Sabatra, Pterna, Carna, Glavama, Rignum.

XXVI. Provincia Phrygiæ Salutaris sub consulari urbes 23.

Eucarpia, Hierapolis, Ostrus, Scectorium, Bruxus, Cleros Horines, Cleros Polemicos, Debalacia, Lysias, Synada, Prymnesus, Hipsos, Polygotus, Docinium metropolis, Merus, Nacolia, Doryllium, Medaium, Demu Libaon, seu Plebis Libaonum, Demu, seu Plebis Auraclia, Demu, seu Populi Alamassi, Demu, seu Populi Propniasa.

XXVII. Provincia Pamphylia (intellige secundæ) sub consulari urbes 47. ^C

Perge, Syllæum, Magydus, Attalia, Demu Uliambos, Tresena, Demu Canaura, Zobia, Thermesus et Eudocia, Demu Mendeneo, Demu Socla, Sinda, Berbe, Sindaunda, Myodia Chori, Homyliadica, Olbasa, Palæopolis, Lysenara, Comana, Colbasa, Cremna, Panemotichos, seu Panemi murus, Ariasus, Maximianopolis, Ctema, seu possessio Maximianopoleos, Regesalamara, Limobrama, Codrula, Demusia, Demu Sabaon, seu Plebis Sabaonum, Pastolerisus, Selpe, Trimnopolis, Sodi, Serna, Lybre, Cassa, Cotana, Orymena, Coracesium, Syedra, Caralia, Holybrasus. ^D

XXVIII. Provincia Lyciæ sub consulari urbes 34.

Pnasydes, Avapus, Gaga, Acalissus, Elebesus,

Sidyma, Limyra, Arycanda, Podalia, Choma, Rencylias, Myra metropolis, Arnea, Cyaneæ, Aperla, Phellus, Antiphellus, Candyba, Eudocias, ^B Patara, Xanthus, Combe, Misa, Pinara, Didoma, Tlos, Telmisus, Caunus, Araxa, Bubon, Henoanda, Balura, Comistaraos.

XXIX. Province of the Islands, under a governor, 20 cities. Rhodus, Cos, Samus, Chius, Mitylene, Methymne, Petelus, Tenedus, Proselene, Andros, Tenus, Naxus, Parus, Syphnus, Melus, Ios, Thera, Amurgus, Astypalæa.

XXX. Province of Caria, under a consular, 36 cities. Melitus, Heracleas, Ogmi, Amyndus, Halicarnassus, Cnidus, Ceramus, Mylasa, Stratonicia, Amizon, Alinda, Alapanda, Orthosias, Arpasa, Neapolis, Hylarema, Antiochia, metropolis Aphrodisias, Heraclea, Tabas, Apollonias, Sebastopolis, Jasus, Erezus, Marcianopolis, Anastasiopolis, Chora, Patrimonia, Cibyra, Coctemalica.

XXXI. Province of Pontica [first] (namely Bithynia), under a consular, 16 cities. Chalcedon, Nicomedia, Prinetus, Eleupolis, Nicæa, Basilinopolis, Cius, Apamea, Prusa, Cæsarea, Apollonias, Dascylion, Neocæsarea, Adriani, Regetalaios, Regodorie.

XXXII. ^C Province of Honoriados, under a governor, 6 cities. Claudiopolis, Prusias, Heraclea, Tius, Cratia, Adrianopolis.

XXXIII. Province of Paphlagonia, under a corrector, 6 cities. Pagra, Pompeiopolis, Sora, Amastrium, Junopolis, Dadybra.

XXXIV. Province of Galatia [first], under a consular, 7 cities. Ancyra metropolis, Tabia, Aspona, Cinna, Reganagalia, Regemnezus, Heliopolis.

XXXV. Province of Galatia Salutaris, under a governor, 9 cities. Pisinus, Maurecium, Petinesus, Æorium, Claneus, Regenoenade, Eudoxias, Myracium, Germia.

XXXVI. Province of Cappadocia [first], under a consular, 4 cities. Cæsarea, Nyssa, Therma, Regepodandus.

XXXVII. ^D Province of Cappadocia [second], under a consular, 8 cities. Tyana, Faustinopolis, Cybistra, Nazianzus, Sasima, Parnasus, Regedoara, Regecucusus.

^A XXXVIII. Province of Helenopolis, under a consular, 7 cities. Amasia, Ibyra, Zela, Saltum, Zalichen, Andrapa, Amisus, Sinope.

XXXIX. Province of Pontus Polemoniacus, 5 cities, under a president. Neocaesarea, Comana, Tolemonium, Cerasus, Trapezus.

XL. Province of Armenia I, under a consular [president], 5 cities. Sebastea, Nicopolis, Colonia, Satala, Sebastopolis.

XLI. Province of Armenia II, under a president, 6 cities. Melitene, Arca, Arabysus, Cucusus, Comana, Ararasthia.

^B XLII. Province of Cilicia I, under a consular, 8 cities. Tarsus metropolis, Pompeiopolis, Sebaste, Corycus, Adena, Agusia, Malchus, Zephyrium.

XLIII. Province of Cilicia II, under a president, 9 cities. Anazarbus metropolis, Mopsuestia, Aegeae, Epiphania, Alexandria, Rhosus, Irenopolis, Flavia, Castaballa.

XLIV. Province of the island of Cyprus, under a consular, 15 cities. Constantia metropolis, Tamassus, Citium, Amathusia, Coren, Paphus, Arsenoe, Soli, Lapithus, Cirbaea, Cythri, Carpasin, Cyrenia, Trimithunton, Leucusia.

^C XLV. Province of Isauria, under a president, 23 cities. Seleucia metropolis, Celesdere, Anemurium, Titiopolis, Lamus, Antiochia, Juliosebaste, Cestri, Selinus, Jotape, Diocaesarea, Olbe, Claudiopolis, Hierapolis, Dalisandus, Germanicopolis, Irenopolis, Philadelphia, Moledarasus, Zeede, Neapolis, Lauzadae.

XLVI. Province of Syria I, under a consular, 7 cities. Antiochia by Daphne, Seleucia, Laodicia, Gabala, Paltus, Beroea, Chalcis.

^D XLVII. Province of Syria II, under a president, 8 cities. Apamea, Epiphania, Arethusa, Larissa, Mariame, Balanea, Rephanae, Seleucobelus.

XLVIII. Province of Euphratensis, under a president, 12 cities. Hierapolis, Cyrus, Samosata, Doliche, Zeugma, Germanicia, Perrhe, Nicopolis, Scenarchaea, Salgenoratixenum, Syrima, Europus.

^A XLIX. Province of Osroene, under a president, 9 cities. Edessa, Constantia, Theodosiopolis, Carrha, Batnae, Nova Valentia, Leontopolis, which is also Callinice, Birtha.

L. Province of Mesopotamia, under a president, one city. Amida.

LI. Province of Phoenicia, under a consular, one city [14 cities]. Tyre.

The rest from the Farnesian codex.

Ptolemais, Sidon, Berytus, Byblos, Bostrys, Tripolis, Orcae, Orthosias.

In the same Barberini manuscript, by the hand of the same [scribe], there is held a Supplement to the Notitia of the Oriental Empire of Hierocles the Grammarian, from a most ancient manuscript of the Farnesian library.

Tyre, Ptolemais, Sidon, Berytus, Byblos, Bostrys, Tripolis, Orcae, Orthosias, Aradus, Antaradus, Constantina, Pogonas, Paneas.

LII. Province of Phoenicia Libani, under a president, 6 cities. Emissa, Laodicea, Damascus, Heliopolis, Abilla, Palmyra. ^C

LIII. Province of Palestine, under a consular, 22 cities. Caesarea metropolis, Dora, Antipatris, Diospolis, Azotus maritima, Azotus mediterranea, Eleutheropolis, Elia, which is also Jerusalem, Neapolis, Libias, Augusta Sebaste, Anthedon, Diocletianopolis, Sycamazon, Onus, Sozusa, Joppe, Gaza, Ramphia, Ascalon, Ariza, Bityle.

LIV. Province of Palestine II, under a president, 11 cities. Scythopolis, Sella, Gadara, Abila, Capitolias, Hippus, Tiberias, Elenopolis, Diocessa, Maximianopolis, Gabae.

LV. Province of Palestine III, under a president, 10 cities. ^D Petra, Augustopolis, Arindila, Charagmuba, Areopolis, Zoara, Mampsis, Vitarus, Elusa, Salton.

LV. Province of Arabia, under a consular, 17 cities. Bostra, Nilacome, Adra, Dia, Exacomia Vicus, Medava, Gerasa, Majudus, Philadelphia, Nova Civitas Neapolis, Hierapolis, Philippopolis, Phaena, Constantia, Dionysias, Canotha, Adrassus.

LVI. Province of Egypt, under an augustalis, 23 cities. Alexandria, Hermopolis, Menelaites, Meletes, Vutos, Cabassa, Saes, Naucratis, Andron, Nicii, Zois, Phravynes, Pachnemoes, Diospolis, Sebenytus, Onuphis, Tava, Cleopatra, Cyno, Busires, Oases, Elearchia, Paralios.

^A LVIII. Augusta Prima Province (Augustamnica), under a corrector, 13 cities: Rhinocorura, Ostranice, Cassium, Pentaschanon, Aphnaion, Gerrhas, Scenna, Pelusium, Sethraites, Hephaestus, Panithysos, Pannis, Thmuis.

LIX. Augusta Secunda Province (Augustamnica II), under a praeses, 7 cities: Leonto, Athrides, Heliu, Bubastus, Pharzithus, Arabia, Clysma castrum.

LX. Arcadia Province, under a praeses, 9 cities: Cyno, Oxyrynchus, Heracleus, Hercules, Arsenoites, Theodosiopolis, Nicopolis, Aphrodito, Pemphis, Littus.

LXI. Hither Thebaid Province, under a praeses, 10 cities: Hermui, Theodosiopolis, Antino, Acuasa, Lycorum, Hypsile, Apollon Parvus, Antei, Panius, Oases Magna.

LXII. Upper Thebaid Province, under a dux, 11 cities: Ptolemais, Diospolis, Tentrya, Maximianopolis, Coptus, Phioe, Diocletianopolis, Eresbythus, Lattorum, Apollonias, Ombri.

LXIII. Upper Libya Province, under a praeses, 6 cities: Sozusa, Cyrene, Ptolemais, Teuchera, Adriane, Veronice. ^B

LXIV. Lower Libya Province, under a praeses, 6 cities: Parætonium, Zogrozagules, Pidonia, Antiphro, Darnes, Amoniace. ^C

There are 7 Western provinces under Rome: Italy, the province of Noricum, the province of the Galeni (that is, the Gauls), the province of the Spains, the province of the Brisgami (that is, the Britons), the province of the Pannonias, the province of Africa, the province of Sicily, the province of Sardinia, the province of Corsica.

CONSTANTINE THE EMPEROR PORPHYROGENITUS DE ADMINISTRANDO IMPERIO BOOK (Ans. BANDURI, Imperium Orientale, vol. I)

OF CONSTANTINE, BY THE GRACE OF CHRIST THE ETERNAL KING, EMPEROR OF THE ROMANS, TO HIS OWN SON ROMANUS, THE GOD-CROWNED AND PORPHYROGENITUS EMPEROR.

PROOEMIUM

in addition to its circuit and measurement, and concerning those things which at various times have occurred between the Romans and various nations: and then concerning those matters which have been innovated among us, or indeed throughout the entire Roman Empire at certain times. These things, having been considered by me according to the laws of wisdom, I have decided to make known to you, my beloved son, so that you may thoroughly understand the distinction between each of them, and may know by what method these are to be handled, or reconciled, or defeated, and repelled. For they will dread you as a high-souled man, and will flee from you as from fire; their lips shall be bridled, and they shall be pierced by your words as if by javelins. You will appear ^A terrible to them, and from your presence trembling will seize them, and the Almighty will protect you. He who created you will grant you understanding, will direct your steps, and will establish you upon an unshakable foundation. Your throne shall be as the sun before Him, His eyes shall be beholding you, and no adverse things shall befall you, since He Himself chose you and separated you from your mother's womb, and handed over to you His empire, as to one excelling others, and placed you as a watchtower upon a hill, and as a golden statue on high, and as a city on a mountain He exalted you; so that nations may bring gifts to you, and the inhabitants of the earth may worship you. But You, O Lord my God, whose kingdom is incorruptible and eternal, may You be guiding him who through You was born of me, and may the watch of Your countenance be upon him, and Your ear be inclined to his prayers, may Your hand protect him, and may he reign for the sake of truth, and may Your right hand lead him, and may his ways be directed in Your sight so that he may keep Your justifications, before his face shall enemies fall, and his enemies shall lick the dust. May the stock of his lineage be overshadowed by the leaves of fruitful offspring, and may the shadow of its fruit cover the royal mountains; for by You kings reign, praising You unto the ages.

CHAPTER ONE

Hearken therefore, my son, to what I think you should not be ignorant of, and become understanding, so that you may attain the art of government. For I say that it is useful for all subjects to have knowledge, but especially for you, who ought to look out for the salvation of all, and to steer and govern the ship of the world. ^C But if I use a clear, worn, and, as is fitting, fluid, pedestrian, and simple style of speech to declare the things I have proposed, do not marvel, my son. For I have not sought the exhibition of fine writing, nor of bombastic and sublime Attic diction, ^D but rather…

and to increase that which is divided, and to make it lofty; but rather, I hastened to teach you through a common and familiar narrative, things which I think you ought not to be ignorant of, and which can easily procure for you understanding and prudence from long experience. For I consider that it is always very advantageous for the Emperor of the Romans to desire to have peace with the nation of the Patzinakites, and to make friendly treaties and covenants with them, and to send ^A from here to them each year an Apocrisiarius with gifts befitting the nation, and in return to receive hostages, that is, ὄψιδας, and an Apocrisiarius; who, in this God-protected city, shall meet with the one administering these affairs, and they shall enjoy imperial benefits and honors worthy of all ^B those of the Emperor; because such nation of the Patzinakites is near to the part of Cherson, and if they are not kindly disposed toward us, they are able to sally forth against Cherson, and to raid, and to plunder both Cherson itself and the so-called Climata.

CAPUT II. Concerning the Patzinakites and the Russes.

^C That the Patzinakites are neighbors and conterminous to the Russes, and often, when they are not at peace with one another, they plunder Russia, and harm and ravage it significantly. That the Russes also are anxious to have peace with the Patzinakites. For they buy from them oxen, and horses, and sheep, and from these they live more easily and more luxuriously, since none of the aforementioned animals are raised in Russia. But neither can the Russes go at all to foreign wars, unless they are at peace with the Patzinakites, because when those depart beyond their borders, they themselves, making an incursion, can lay waste and ravage their lands; wherefore the Russes always ^D strive more, both so as not to be harmed by them, and because of the strength that is...

such a nation, to seek their alliance and have them as helpers, so that they might both be rid of their enmity and enjoy their aid. ^A For the Rus cannot reach this imperial city of the Romans, neither for the sake of war nor for trade, unless they are at peace with the Patzinakites, since when the Rus arrive with their ships at the rocky obstacles of the river and are unable to proceed further unless they carry their small boats out of the river on their shoulders and transport them, at that time the men of this nation of the Patzinakites attack them, and easily, as they are unable to withstand two labors at once, they put them to flight and slaughter them.

CHAPTER III.

Of the Patzinakites and Turks.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Patzinakites, the Rus, and the Turks.

CHAPTER V.

Of the Patzinakites and the Bulgarians.

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

^A Indeed, in the region which we have said above is named after the rivers. But the place which the Turks occupied at first is called by the river flowing between them, Etel and Cuzu, in which the Patzinakites now dwell; by whom indeed the Turks were driven out and, fleeing, took up seats where they now live. In this place, however, some ancient monuments remain; among which is the bridge of the Emperor Trajan [at the beginnings of Turkey], and Belegrada, which is distant three days' journey from that same bridge, where the tower of the holy and great Emperor Constantine stands; and again, at the course of the river, stands Sirmium, which is two days' journey from Belegrada: from there [is] the great Moravia, unbaptized, which the Turks devastated, and whose prince was once Splendoplocus. And these, indeed, are the monuments and names along the Ister river. But the things further on, which are all inhabited by the Turks, now have names from the rivers flowing through them. The first of them is Timeses; the second, Tutes; the third, Moreses; the fourth, Crisus; the fifth, Titza. But the borders of the Turks towards the east are the Bulgari; where the Ister river, which is also called the Danube, separates them: towards the north, the Patzinakites; towards the west, the Franci; towards the south, the Chrobati. These eight tribes of the Turks are not subject to their own princes, but each one, according to the rivers by which they are distinguished, have established by mutual agreement between themselves that if any part ^B should happen to be infested by war, they will all commonly and with every zeal and care bring aid. Moreover, they have a first leader of the army from the lineage of Arpade, with whom two others, the gylas and the carchan, who act in the place of judges, hold authority. And each tribe has a peculiar prince; but gylas and carchan are not proper names, but dignities. It must be known indeed that Arpade, the great prince of Turkey, begat four sons, of whom the first [was] Tarcatzus; the second, Jelech; the third, Jutotzas; the fourth, Zaltas. Again, Arpade’s firstborn Tarcatzus had a son, Tebele; the second, Jelech, begat a son, Ezelech; the third, Jutotzas, received a son, Phalitzin, who now holds the principality; the fourth, Zaltas, had a son, Taxis. And all the sons of Arpade are indeed dead, with only their grandsons Phale and Tase surviving, along with their cousin Taxi; and Tebeles, dying, left a son Termatzus, who recently, in favor... ^C ... ^D

CHAPTER VI.

Concerning the Patzinakites and the Chersonites.

That another nation of such Patzinakites ^A lies adjacent to the part of Cherson, who also transact business with the Chersonites and perform services for them as well as for the emperor, in Russia, Chazaria, Zichia, and in all the regions situated thereabout, is evident; for, taking from the Chersonites the prearranged stipend for such service, according to what is fitting for their labor and effort—such as blattia, prandea, charemia, sementa, pepper, genuine leopard skins, and other goods sought by them, as each Chersonite ^B may agree—they carry on their commerce. For they are free and, as it were, their own masters...

the fourth, Zaltas. Know that the first son of Arpad, Tarcas, begot a son, Tebel. The second son, Ielech, begot a son, Ezelech. The third son, Ioutotzus, begot a son, Phalitzis, the present ruler. The fourth son, Zaltas, begot a son, Taxis. Know that all the sons of Arpad have died. But his grandsons, both Phales and Tasis, and their cousin Taxis, are alive. Know that Tebel has died, and his son is Termatzous, who recently came as a friend [to Constantinople] with Bultzous, the third ruler and ^A *carcha* of Turkey. Know that Bultzous the *carcha* is the son of Kale the *carcha*; and that Kale is a proper name, while *carcha* is a dignity, just as *gylas* is, which is greater than *carcha*.

CAPUT XLI. Concerning the Region of Moravia.

Know that the ruler of Moravia, Sphendoplocus, was brave and fearsome to the nations neighboring him. This same Sphendoplocus had three sons, and at his death, he divided his country into three parts and left one portion to each ^B of his three sons, making the eldest the great ruler and leaving the other two to be under the authority of the first son. He exhorted them not to fall into discord and against one another, showing them such an example: bringing three rods and tying them together, he gave them to the first son to break; when he could not, he gave them in turn to the second, and likewise to the third; and then, dividing the three rods, he gave them to the three separately; and they, having received and been ordered to break them, immediately broke them. And by such a demonstration he exhorted them, saying that if they remained united in concord ^C and love, indivisible, they would be invincible and unconquerable by their enemies; but if strife and contentiousness arose among them, and they separated into three principalities, not being subject to the first brother, they would both be destroyed by one another, and would be utterly exterminated by the enemies neighboring them. But after the death of this same Sphendoplocus, having spent one year in peace, strife and sedition fell upon them, and having waged civil war against each other, the Turks came and utterly exterminated them, and seized their country, in which they dwell even now; and those of the people who were left behind were scattered, taking refuge among the neighboring nations, both among the Bulgarians, and the Turks, and the Croats, and among the other nations.

CAPUT XLII. Geography from Thessalonica as far as the Danube River, and the fortress of Belegrada, and Turkey and Patzinakia, as far as ^D the Khazar fortress of Sarcel, of Roma...

sint Patzinacitæ, operam sine mercede nullam præbent.

CAPUT VII.

De Cæsarianis missis a Chersone in Patzinaciam.

Cum itaque talis ministerii causa Cæsarianus quispiam in Chersonem venerit, statim in Patzinaciam mittat, ac obsides, itinerisque duces petat oportet: qui cum venerint, obsides in castro Chersonis sub custodia relinquere, ipse vero cum itineris ducibus in Patzinaciam se conferre debet, ut jussa exsequatur. Patzinacitæ autem, utpote insatiabiles, eorumque, quæ rara apud ipsos percupidi, numera ab illis bene ^B multa exposcere non erubescunt; obsides quidem tum suo, tum uxorum nomine; itineris vero duces, pro suscepto sui equorumque labore. Postea cum Cæsarianus in ipsorum regionem ingressus est, imperatoris munera expetunt. Deinde cum homines ipsorum accipiunt, pro uxoribus et parentibus exigunt. Denique qui redeuntem in Chersonem comitantur, pro labore tum a se tum ab equis suscepto mercedem sibi postulant.

[For they are free and, so to speak, autonomous, these Patzinakites, and never perform any service without pay.] ^A

ΚΕΦΑΛ. Ζ'.

Περὶ τῶν ἀποστελλομένων βασιλικῶν ἀπὸ Χερσῶνος ἐν Πατζινακίᾳ.

Ὅτι ἡνίκα περάσῃ βασιλικὸς εἰς Χερσῶνα ἕνεκα τῆς τοιαύτης διακονίας, ὀφείλει εὐθὺς ἀποστέλλειν εἰς Πατζινακίαν, καὶ ἐπιζητεῖν ὄψιδας παρ' αὐτῶν καὶ διασώστας, καὶ ἐρχομένων αὐτῶν, τοὺς μὲν ὄψιδας εἰς τὸ κάστρον Χερσῶνος κρατουμένους καταλιμπάνειν· αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῶν διασωστῶν πρὸς Πατζινακίαν ἀπέρχεσθαι, καὶ τὰ ἐντεταλμένα ἐπιτελεῖν. Οἱ δὲ τοιοῦτοι Πατζινακῖται ἄπληστοι ὄντες, καὶ τῶν παρ' αὐτοῖς σπανίων ἐξεῖς ἐπιθυμηταὶ, ἀναίδην ἐπιζητοῦσι ξενάλια ἱκανά. Οἱ μὲν ὄψιδες, ἄλλα μὲν λόγῳ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἄλλα λόγῳ τῶν αὐτῶν γυναικῶν. Οἱ δὲ ἀποσῶσται τὰ μὲν ὑπὲρ τοῦ κόπου αὐτῶν, τὰ δὲ ὑπὲρ τοῦ κόπου τῶν ἀλόγων αὐτῶν. Εἶτα εἰσερχομένου τοῦ βασιλικοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν, ζητοῦσι πρότερον τὰ τοῦ βασιλέως δῶρα· καὶ πάλιν ὅτε χωρήσουσι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους αὐτῶν, ζητοῦσι τὰ τῶν γυναικῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν γονέων αὐτῶν. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅσοι ἐν τῷ ἀποσώζειν αὐτὸν ὑποστρέφοντα πρὸς Χερσῶνα κατέλθωσι μετ' αὐτοῦ, ζητοῦσι παρ' αὐτοῦ προγευθῆναι, διὰ τὸν κόπον αὐτῶν τε καὶ τῶν ἀλόγων αὐτῶν.

CAPUT VIII.

De Cæsarianis ab urbe a Deo custodita missis in Patzinaciam cum chelandiis per Danubium, Danaprim et Danastrim flumina.

Bulgariam versus in partibus Danapri, et Danastri, reliquorumque illic fluviorum Patzinacitæ quoque sedes habent: ac Cæsarianus hinc cum chelandiis missus, non necesse habet Chersonem adire, sed potest illic nullo negotio, celeriterque Patzinacitas invenire: quos conveniens Cæsarianus dum ipse in chelandiis manet servans et custodiens res imperatoris, ipsis per famulum adventum ^C

ΚΕΦΑΛ. Η'.

Περὶ τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς θεοφυλάκτου πόλεως ἀποστελλομένων βασιλικῶν μετὰ χελανδίων, διά τε τοῦ Δανουδίου, καὶ Δάναπρι, καὶ Δάναστρι ποταμοῦ ἐν Πατζινακίᾳ.

Ὅτι καὶ εἰς τὸ μέρος τῆς Βουλγαρίας καθέζεται λαὸς τῶν Πατζινακιτῶν ἐπὶ τὸ μέρος τοῦ Δάναπρι καὶ τοῦ Δάναστρι, καὶ τῶν ἑτέρων τῶν ἐκεῖσε ὄντων ποταμῶν. Καὶ βασιλικοῦ ἀποστελλομένου ἐντεῦθεν μετὰ χελανδίων δύναται καὶ χωρὶς τοῦ εἰς Χερσῶνα ἀπελθεῖν, ἐνταῦθα συντόμως καὶ ταχέως εὑρίσκειν τοὺς αὐτοὺς Πατζινακίτας· οὓς καὶ εὑρὼν μηνύει διὰ ἀνθρώπου αὐτοῦ ὁ βασιλικὸς ἐντὸς τῶν χε- ^D

For up until the time of Emperor Theophilus, no governor was sent from here, but the person who administered all things was the one known as the Proteuon (the First-Man), along with the so-called fathers of the city. When Emperor Theophilus deliberated about who he should send as governor, he decided to send the aforementioned Spatharocandidatus Petronas, as he was experienced in that area and not ignorant of its affairs. He honored him ^A by appointing him governor and sent him off to Cherson, ordering the Proteuon of the time and everyone else to submit to him. From that time to this, it has prevailed that governors appointed from here are sent to Cherson. But this, then, is how the founding of the fortress of Sarcel came about. From the river Danube up to the aforementioned fortress of Sarcel, the journey is sixty days. In the middle of this land there are many rivers, the two greatest of which are the Danastris and the Danapris. There are also other rivers, such as the one called Syngul, and the Hybul, the Almatai, the Cuphis, and the Bogu, and many others. In the ^B higher reaches of the river Danapris dwell the Russes, from which river they sail down and make their arrival to the Romans. The Patzinacia keeps control over the entire land of Russia and Bosporus, and as far as Cherson, and as far as the Sarat, the Burat, and the thirty regions. The distance along the sea coast from the river Danube up to the river Danapris is one hundred and twenty miles. From the river Danapris to Cherson the distance is three hundred miles, and in between there are marshes and harbors, in which the Chersonites produce salt. ^C From Cherson to the cities of the climata of Bosporus is a distance of three hundred miles, and from Bosporus is the mouth of the marsh of Maeotis, which everyone calls a sea on account of its size; and many great rivers flow into it. To the north it has the river Danapris, from which the Russes set off for inner Bulgaria, Chazaria, and Syria. And that very Maeotian gulf...

remains in the *chelandia*, and with him he takes the imperial [officials] and guards the goods in the *chelandia*. They descend to him, and when they have descended, the imperial [official] gives men of his choosing as hostages to them, and he himself likewise receives other hostages from such Patzinaks, and keeps them in the *chelandia*; and then he makes an agreement with them. And when the Patzinaks have made their oaths to the imperial [official] according to their *zakana* ^A (93), he gives them the imperial gifts, and takes on as many friends from among them as he wishes, and returns. But it is necessary to make an agreement with them so that wherever the Emperor may request them, they shall perform service, whether against the Russians, or against the Bulgarians, or even against the Turks. For they are capable of warring against all these, and often having come against them, they have now become fearsome. And this is clear also from this. For when the Clerk Gabriel was once sent to the Turks by imperial command, and said to them, "The Emperor gives you notice to depart and drive the Patzinaks from their territory, and that you should sit [there]; for you used to sit there before, ^B so as to be near my empire, and when I wish I send [for you], and I find you quickly," all the princes of the Turks cried out with one voice: "We do not set ourselves against the Patzinaks; for we are not able to make war against them, because both their country is great, and their people are numerous, and they are evil children (94), and you should not speak this word to us in the future; for we do not care for it." Because the Patzinaks also cross over from beyond the Dnieper river after spring, and always spend the summer there (95).

CAPUT IX. Concerning the Russians coming from Russia to Constantinople in monoxyla (96).

That the *monoxyla* coming down from outer Russia to Constantinople ^C are from Nemogarda (97), in which Sviatoslav (98), the son of Ingor, the prince of Russia, resided. There are also [others]—

ANSELMI BANDURII NOTES

(93) *Zakana* (an Illyrian word written corruptly, as often happens among the later Greeks, for names of foreign origin; *Zakon* indeed in the singular number, or as our people write *Sakon* or *Sacon*, signifies law, both written and unwritten, that is, law and custom; and in the plural *Zakona* or *Sakona*, laws and customs. The same word is used also in chap. 38 of the same book: "Whom they have also made prince, according to the custom and *zakhanon* (*zakana*) of the Khazars, having lifted him up on a shield," where in the editions it is read incorrectly as *ethnos* instead of *ethos*. Correct it, Ducange, *Gloss. med. Græc.* s.v. *Ζάκανον*.)

(94) I have translated it, and they are very pugnacious; Meursius [translated it] literally, and they are bad boys. But the same Meursius wrongly in his notes to this passage of the Porphyrogenitus cites the verse of Epimenides, which is found in St. Paul, as follows: "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts (evil children), slow bellies." For there, it is not written *kaka paidia* (evil children), but *kaka theria* (evil beasts).

(95) *Kalokairizein* signifies to spend the summer; for *kalokairion*, according to the same author in chap. 29 of *De Adm. Imp.*, is summer: "And such a fortress has high mountains in its circle, so that only in summer can it see the sun because of its being at the zenith, but in winter not at all." See Meursius, *Gloss. med. Græc.* as well as Ducange.

(96) *Monoxyla* are smaller boats made from a single log. Vegetius, book III, chap. 7, calls *scaphas* (skiffs) excavated from single logs. Hence they are called by the Latins *Trabariæ*, which are hollowed out from single trees, as is in Isidore, book XIX, *Orig.*, chap. 1. These were proper to the Scythians, Bulgarians, Russians, and the other peoples to the North, by which they used to cross the Ister (Danube) and greater rivers. Claudian in *4 Consul. Honorii*: "The Goths once dared to swim the Danube, They broke the forest into boats, when a thousand Full alders, with huge wedges, rushed down the river."

In these times also the peoples of those regions use boats which they call in their native tongue *Golise*, even as our people [do]. Frequent mention of such *monoxyla* occurs among Byzantine writers, and also in the *Tactics* of the Emperors Leo and Constantine. See Ducange, *Gloss. med. Lat.* under *Linter*, and *med. Græc.* s.v. *Μονόξυλα*.

(97) Probably here [he means] Nemogarda, which is also called Novogorod.

(98) Thus the Greek writers pronounce [the name] Wenceslaus.

^A He was a patricius and a great hetairiarches, commanding that he should himself go to Cricoricus, the prince of Taron, with gifts, and that he should order Sinutes to depart to Adranaser, the curopalates of Iberia, for some other business, having given him the fitting gifts for both. When the aforementioned protospatharios had arrived at Taron, and had delivered to Cricoricus the gifts and letters sent by the emperor, he took the illegitimate son of the Taronite, named Asotius, and led him away to the imperial city. The emperor, having honored him with the rank of protospatharios and bestowed many benefits upon him, sent him back to his father through the same protospatharios. ^B And when the same Constantine had also received Apoganes, the brother of Cricoricus, the prince of Taron, he brought him together with the two sons of Arcaica to the blessed emperor, who, after honoring him with the rank of protospatharios and treating him in other respects kindly, sent him back home to his brother through the same Constantine. Afterwards, that same Constantine, having spent much time in Chaldia, was ordered to go to Taron and to bring back the prince of Taron, Cricoricus, to the city of Constantinople, which he also did. Cricoricus, having entered the God-guarded city and having been made a magister and praetor of Taron, received to inhabit the house called Barbari, which is now of Basilius the chamberlain. And an annual stipend of ten pounds of gold was decreed for him, and as many of miliarisia, so that in total there were twenty pounds. And after having stayed in the city for some time, he was safely conducted back to his own land by the same protospatharios, Constantine. Later, Apoganes also came again to the blessed emperor, and was promoted by him to the rank of patriciatus, and it was permitted to him to take as wife the daughter of the said Constantine, and on that occasion he sought a residence, and the Barbari house was also assigned to him. ^C And after these things, the aforementioned Constantine, having spent considerable time in Chaldia, was permitted by command to enter into Taron and to take up the prince of Taron for the sake of such business, and for Adranaser, the curopalates of Iberia, for some other affairs, having given to him also for both parties the appropriate gifts. ^D

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

from the fortress of Miliniska, and from Telioutza and Tchernigov, and from Vusegrad. All these descend by the Dnieper river, and are gathered together at the fortress of Cioaba, which is also called Sambatas. Their tributary Slavs, the so-called Krithetainoi and the Lezanenoi, and the remaining Slavinians, cut their *monoxyla*—that is, hollowed boats—in their mountains during the winter time, and having fitted them out, when the weather opens and the ice—as the ice breaks—is melted, they bring them into the nearby lakes. And since these flow into the Dnieper river, they enter the same river from those places and go down to Kiova, and they drag them for the rigging, and sell them to the Rhos. ^B The Rhos buy those small boats alone, and breaking up their own old *monoxyla*, they take from them the planks [(6)] and rowlocks [(7)] and other equipment, and fit them out. And in the month of June, setting off down the Dnieper river, they descend to Vitetzebe, which is a tributary fortress of the Rhos. And having gathered there for two or three days, until all the *monoxyla* have been collected, they then set off and descend by the aforementioned Dnieper river. And first they come to the first rapid, which is named Essupe, which in the language of the Rhos and the Slavs signifies "Do not sleep." So narrow is the aforementioned place that it does not exceed the width of a *tzycanisterion*; but in the middle there are steep and very high rocks, which from a distance present the appearance of islands. Therefore, the water striking against these and swelling, and then driven headlong with a great noise, strikes fear. For this reason the Rhos do not dare to pass through there, but having debarked not far off, ^C

THE NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI.

[The note regarding *Splendostlabus* omitted as it pertains to the list of names.]

(1) Tchernigov is a famous city on the borders of Russia and Lithuania; it is called *Czernichow* by the local inhabitants.

(2) [He refers to the city] which some call *Kiaba* or *Kiabou*; which others call *Kiobia*, that is to say *Kiowia*, once the capital of Russia, situated on the Borysthenes, whose size is described and praised in many ways by Ditmar, lib. 7 *extremo*, Adam of Bremen, cap. 66, Matthias of Miechow, lib. 11, cap. 18, Alex. Gaguino, and others. Furthermore, one should read *eis to castron*, as in the manuscript.

(3) Ducange interprets *pactiotai* as "tributaries." Porphyrogenitus says below: "and the remaining Slavs, who are tributaries of the Rhos."

[The long note regarding the seasonal closing and opening of the seas, citing Theodoret of Cyrus, St. Jerome, Hesiod, Proclus, Theophrastus, and Apuleius, as well as Vegetius *De re militari* regarding Roman navigation, is here presented as a continuous scholarly discourse.]

(5) Thus the manuscript. The printed editions, however, have "*eis ton Kioba*." A little above, the same Constantine calls this very city *Kioaba*, as we have noted.

(6) *Pellas* are here referred to as naval instruments. "They seem to mean *pelae*," says Ducange, "by which the waves are cast out from the ships; we even now call them *pelas*."

(7) *Scalmus*, the timber to which the oar is fastened. Our countrymen, in our native tongue, even now call that timber *Scaram*.

but promised that, beyond the gifts customarily sent in garments and copper up to the value of ten pounds, providing for three or four years. But afterwards he showed that he could not pay even this tribute; he demanded a stipend, or dowry, just as it had been under the most blessed emperor Leo, or else he wished for this also to be abolished; for which reason, so that it might not be a stumbling block to Cacicius, and the curopalates, and the rest, the most blessed emperor Romanus, whom I mentioned, also abolished this. And for that reason, as a consolation, he afterwards created his son Aso- ^A dius, when he had come to the city, a patrician, and after he had been held in great honor for some time, he sent him back to his own land. But when the magister Cricoricis had died, Tornicius, the son of Apoganem, showed a great desire to see the city and the emperor: wherefore the emperor sent the protospatharios Crinites and an interpreter thither, who, when they had brought him to the city, honored him with the dignity of a patrician. He pretended, however, that he had a right to the house of Barbarus, and understanding that his uncle, upon receiving the suburban estate in Celtzene, had handed this over, he denied that he had been able to exchange his paternal inheritance, and wanted either to receive the house or the suburban estate: unless both were ceded to the emperor, lest his cousins obtain them. And so the emperor received the suburban estate, since the old Taronite was already dead; nor did he give the house in its place, as no golden bull had been drawn up regarding these matters, as was stated above. Afterwards, however, Pancratius, the greatest of the sons of that magister Cricoricis, came to the royal city, and was raised by the emperor to the rank of patriciates, and was created praetor of Taron: and when he also desired to take a wife from the imperial blood, he ^B was given the sister of Theophylactus the magister; and after the marriage was consummated he made a will, in which he instituted that if children were born from this marriage, they should have his entire region as a paternal inheritance; and for that reason he petitioned the emperor that the suburban estate of Gregoræ be given to him, so that his patricia wife might dwell there, and when she had passed away, it should return to his majesty. And the emperor also assented to this petition, and embraced him with great munificence, and sent him back to his land with his wife. But the sons of the magister Cricoricis, both Pancratius the patrician himself, as well as 118 Asotius the patrician, were causing trouble, and were bringing no small violence to bear upon their cousin Tornicius the patrician: who, not bearing the matter, wrote to the emperor to send a faithful ^C man who would receive his land, and lead him himself, his wife, and his son to him. And the emperor sent the protospatharios Crinites and an interpreter; who, as he had requested, should receive him, and lead him into the city guarded by God. But when Crinites had arrived there, he found him already dead, but that he had provided by his will before his death that his entire land should be subject to the emperor of the Romans.

^D [Greek text follows:] ^A ...the most blessed king Leo gave to my father; but after the death of my father, because I was still an infant and an orphan, my uncle seized the authority over this house, always promising me that when I should reach the age of maturity he would restore the paternal house; and now, as I have learned, my uncle has given such a house to your imperial majesty, and has received as a compensation for it the suburban estate of Gregoras in Celtzene. But from such imperial favors towards the prince of Taron, envy budded and blossomed against him, from both Cacicius, the prince of Vaspurakan, and Adranasir the curopalates of Iberia, and Asoticus the prince of princes; who wrote to the emperor murmuring, asking for what reason the Taronite alone enjoys the imperial salary, while all of them receive nothing. "For who," they said, "performs greater service than we do, or benefits the Romans more than we?" Therefore, it is necessary that we also be granted a salary just as he is, or that he too should not receive such a gift. The blessed Romanus wrote back to them, that the salary for the Taronite was not established by him, so that the cutting off of it might now lie with him, but by the blessed emperor [Leo]; and that it was not just that the provisions of those who had reigned before should be overturned by those who came after. He wrote, however, to the same Taronite, signaling to him the pain and scandal of the aforementioned men. But he brought forward that he could not provide gold or silver; he promised, however, to give garments and copper goods valued up to ten pounds outside of those gifts sent according to custom; which he also gave for up to three or four years. But after this he brought forward that he could not provide such a pact; but he demanded that the salary be received either as a dowry, just as it was under the most blessed emperor Leo, or that it be cut off; whence, so that there would be no scandal for Cacicius, and the curopalates, and the rest, the aforementioned most blessed emperor Romanus cut it off. Consoling him, however, as it were, he afterwards honored his son, Asotius, who had arrived in the city, with the rank of patricians, and having shown him sufficient hospitality, he sent him back to his own affairs. And when the magister Cricoricis had left this life, Tornicius, the son of Apoganem, represented his heartfelt desire to enter and see the emperor; for which the emperor sent out the protospatharios Crinites and an interpreter, who brought the aforementioned Tornicius into the city, and the emperor promoted the same Tornicius to the dignity of patricians. He also proposed legal arguments concerning the house of Barbarus; and having heard that his uncle, upon receiving the suburban estate in Celtzene, had surrendered the authority over this, he said that his uncle could not make an exchange regarding his paternal inheritance.

^A Mὴ κοιμάσαι; of which its cataract is as narrow as the width of the *Tzykanisterion*. In the middle of it are high, rooted rocks that appear like islands. The water flows towards them, swells up, and then plunges down to the lower part, creating a great sound and dread. For this reason, the Rus do not dare to pass through the middle of them, but mooring nearby, they put the men out on dry land while leaving the rest of the goods in the monoxyla. In this way, they feel along with their bare feet so as not to strike against some stone. They do this—some at the prow, some at the middle, and others even at the stern—by poling with rods, and with all such caution they pass through this first cataract, by way of the corner and the river bank.

^B When they have passed through this cataract, they again take up the rest of the men from the land and sail on, and they come down to the second cataract, which is called in Rus *Oulborsi* and in Slavonic *Ostrobouniprach*, which is interpreted as "The Islet of the Cataract." That one is like the first, difficult and hard to traverse. And again, having put the people off, they convey the monoxyla across just as before. Likewise, they pass through the third cataract, called *Gelandri*, which is translated into Slavonic as "The Sound of the Cataract." Then, the fourth cataract, the great one, which is called in Rus *Aeiphaz* and in Slavonic *Neaset*, because pelicans nest in the rocks of the cataract. At this cataract, therefore, they all moor their *orthoplora* monoxyla upon the land, and the men chosen to guard the sentinel post go out with them, and they depart, and these men keep watch at the lookout vigilantly on account of the Patzinakits.

^C The others, having taken up the goods which they have in the monoxyla, convey their *psycharia* (the slaves) along with the chains by land for six miles until they have passed the cataract. Then, some dragging and others carrying their monoxyla on their shoulders, they convey them to the other side of the cataract; and thus, casting them into the river and having put their *petzimenta* aboard, they board themselves and sail on again. Departing, they go to the fifth cataract, which is called in Rus *Baroupharos* and in Slavonic *Boulneprach*, because it creates a great lake. Again, having conveyed their monoxyla across at the corners of the river, just as in the first and second cataracts, they arrive at the sixth, named by the Rus *Leanti* and by the Slavs *Beroutze*, which is as if to say "The Source of the Waters." At this cataract also, having passed it in like manner, ^D they sail on to the seventh, which in the tongue of the Rus is called *Struboun*, which is interpreted as "The Little Cataract."

CONSTANTINI PORPHYROGENITI

CHAPTER XLIV.

Regarding the land of Apachunes, and the fortress of Mantziciert, and of Percri, and of Chliat, and of Chalial, and of Arzes, and of Tibe, and of Chert, and of Salamas, and of Tzermatzu.

Before Asotius, the prince of princes, the father of Symbatius, the prince of princes—whom the Emir of Persia, Aposalas, punished with death—and who had two sons, namely Asotius, who after him was prince of princes, and Apasacius, who was later honored with the dignity of magister: these three fortresses, Percri, Chaliat, and Arzes, were under the dominion of Persia. ^A The prince of princes resided in Great Armenia, in the city of Cars, and he held the three cities I have mentioned: Percri, Chaliat, Arzes, as well as Tibe, Chert, and Salamas. Apelcart held Mantziciert, and he was subject to the prince of princes, Symbatius [his] father; and the same Asotius, the prince of princes, gave to Apelbart the cities of Chliat, Arzes, and Percri; for the aforementioned Asotius, the prince of princes, the father of Symbatius, also the prince of princes, possessed all the lands of the East. But when Apelbart had departed from life, his son Abelchamit succeeded him, and to him [succeeded] his firstborn son, Aposebatas. ^B But when Symbatius, the prince of princes, was killed by Aposata, the Emir of Persia, he held Mantziciert alone as supreme lord and of his own right, along with the remaining cities and lands; and he himself and his two brothers, Apolesphuet and Aposelme, were subject to the Emperor of the Romans, because their cities and lands were frequently infested by war and ravaged by the Domestic of the Schools, and they also paid tributes on account of these. Now, from the aforementioned Asotius, the prince of princes, the father of Symbatius—but the grandfather of the second Asotius, the prince of princes, and of Apasacius the magister—up to the second Asotius, the prince of princes, these three cities were under the power of the prince of princes, and he used to receive tributes from them. In like manner, Mantziciert, with the land of Apachunes, and Charca, and Core, were under the power of the same prince of princes, up to that time ^C when, on account of being variously warred against and plundered, the fortresses [were…].

ANSELMI BANDURII NOTÆ. (62) Mantziciert is called a city in Baaspracan; and Matzicier in another place in the same author, but by Cedrenus, Maurikierge. (63) As it is in the manuscript, and so it should be read, as the following suggests. In the printed editions one reads, *and of Percri, and of Chaliat, and of Chaliat*, etc. Percri [is] a town very near Babylon according to Cedrenus. Chliat, however, [is] a town near Armenia [according to] Curopalates, and [to] Cedrenus, Chleat. (64) It is written *Arzerum* [for] Curopalates; and today it is called Artzerum, and by the Turks *Ram*, as Leunclavius writes. It is situated between the borders of Armenia and Cappadocia. (65) The town of Tibe seems to be near Great Armenia in Cedrenus and Curopalates. (66) Thus it is in the manuscript. In the printed editions [it is] incorrectly read: *and the dominion of Persia they attained*; where Meursius says it should be read: *according to the dominion of Persia*, etc. (67) A city of Persarmenia. Carse [for] Cedrenus and Curopalates. Now *Cars*, as Leunclavius thinks. (68) As it is also below in the manuscript. In the printed editions, it is read *Apelkart*. [Here] it also seemed good to add a genealogical table of the Emirs of Mantziciert, by which this chapter of Constantine might be illustrated. (69) Achmet [is] an adoptive son.

1. Apelbart I 2. Abelchamit 3. Aposebatas 4. Abderachim 5. Apolesphuet 6. Aposelme 7. Apebart II Apelmuze

^A And the Chersonites, along with the Patzinakites, cross over at the passage called *Krariou* to combat the Rus.

After passing through this place, they reach the island called St. Gregory, ^B upon which island they perform their sacrifices because there stands there an immense oak tree; and they sacrifice live poultry. And they also fix arrows all around, and others [offer] loaves of bread and meat, and whatever each has, as their custom prevails. They also cast lots regarding the poultry, whether to eat them, or to slaughter them, or to leave them alive. From this island the Rus are no longer afraid of the Patzinakites until they reach the river *Selinan*. ^C Then, setting out from there, they sail for four days until they reach the lake which is at the mouth of the river, in which is also the island of St. Etherius. Having reached this island, they allow themselves to rest there for two or three days, and they again prepare their monoxyla for whatever needs are lacking, both the rigging and the masts, and the steering-oars which they carry with them. Since the mouth of this river is the aforementioned lake, as has been said, and it stretches as far as the sea, and the island of St. Etherius lies toward the sea, ^D they depart from those parts toward the Danapris [Dnieper] river, and having been brought safely there, they rest again. When the weather becomes favorable, they weigh anchor and set out for the river called *Aspros*, and having rested there in like manner, they set out again and arrive at the *Selinan*, which is called the *Paracladion* of the Danube river. And until they have crossed the *Selinan* river, the Patzinakites run alongside them. And if the sea frequently drives the monoxyla onto the land, they all disembark so that they may draw up in battle array together against the Patzinakites; but after the *Selinan*...

^A and to be destroyed, and their lands [to be taken] by the domestic of the Schools; yielding to the King of the Romans and providing everything [due] for their fortresses and their villages. From the aforementioned Asotios, Prince of Princes—the father of Symbatios and grandfather of the second Asotios—and of the magister Apasakios (70), until the lifetime of the second Asotios, Prince of Princes, such three fortresses existed under the authority of the Prince of Princes, and the Prince of Princes received everything from them. But also the fortress of Mantziciert, together with the region of Apachunes, and of Charka (71), and of Kore, existed under the authority and dominion of the same Prince of Princes, until Aposebatas the amera of Mantziciert, along with his two brothers, ^B Apolesphuet and Aposelmes, submitted to the Emperor, giving also everything [due] for their fortresses and their villages; since the Prince of Princes happens to be a servant of the King of the Romans (72), as being promoted by him, and receiving such a dignity; clearly the fortresses, cities, and villages of which he is master also belong to the King of the Romans. That Symbatios, the Prince of Princes of Greater Armenia, having been captured by Aposatas the amera of Persia (73) and beheaded by him, Aposebatas, who was residing in the fortress of Mantziciert, seized the fortress of Chliat, and the fortress of Perkri, and the city of Arzes. That the second brother of Aposebatas, Apolesphuet, and his nephew and adopted son Achmet, seized the fortress of Chliat, and the fortress of Arzes, and the fortress of Altze; and they too submitted to the King of the Romans, and were under his authority, and they provided everything just as their brother Aposebatas (74) did, for their fortresses and their villages. That the third brother of Aposebatas and Apolesphuet, Aposelmes, held the fortress of Tzermatzu along with its villages, and he also submitted to the King of the Romans, and was giving everything just as his brother Aposebatas, and his second brother Apolesphuet, did. That upon the death of Aposebatas, Abderachim, the son of Aposebatas, ^D held Mantziciert along with its villages and all its territory; upon the death of Abderachim, Apolesphuet, the second brother of Aposebatas and uncle of Abderachim, held the fortress of Mantziciert and all the aforementioned lands; and upon his death, the third brother, namely of Aposebatas and Apolesphuet, Aposelmes, held Mantziciert and all the aforementioned lands. That Aposebatas had a son

fearing no one, but having gone through the land of Bulgaria, they arrive at the mouth of the Danube. From the Danube they reach Conopa, and from Conopa they go to Constantia to the river Varna, and from Varna they arrive at the river Ditzina, all of which are lands of Bulgaria; and from Ditzina they reach the regions of Mesembria ^A, and thus their painful, fearful, difficult, and arduous voyage is completed.

Now the winter and harsh mode of life of these same Russians is as follows: When the month of November arrives, their princes immediately go out with all the Russians ^B from Kiev, and they depart for the *polydia* (which is called *Gyra*), that is, to the Slavinias of the Verdiani, and the Drugubiti, and the Kriviti, and the Severians, and the rest of the Slavs, who are tributaries of the Russians. There, being supported throughout the whole winter, again in the month of April, when the ice of the Dnieper river melts, they descend to Kiev. And thus they take up their monoxyla, as has been said before, and are equipped, and they descend to Romania, since the Uzi ^C are able to make war upon the Patzinakites.

CHAPTER X.

On Chazaria, how one ought to make war upon it, and by whom.

That the Uzi are able to make war upon the Chazars, as they are neighbors to them. Likewise also the ruler of Alania; for the nine districts of Chazaria lie adjacent to Alania, and the Alan, if he so wishes, can plunder these and cause great damage and need from this to the Chazars; for from these nine districts the entire life and abundance of Chazaria is sustained.

CHAPTER XI.

On the castle of Cherson, and the castle of Bosporos.

That the ruler of Alania, not being at peace with the Chazars, but rather preferring the friendship of the emperor of the Romans; if the Chazars do not wish to maintain the friendship and peace with the emperor, he can greatly harm them, lying in wait upon the roads and attacking them ^D unexpectedly as they pass through towards Sarcel, and the districts, and Cherson. And if this ruler applies himself to hindering them, Cherson and the districts will enjoy a great and profound peace; for, fearing the incursion of the Alans, and having been granted no opportunity, they do not invade Cherson and the districts with an army.

^A He sent the patrician and strategist of the Armeniac theme, Dalassenos, along with the strategist of Koloneia, the strategist of Mesopotamia, and the strategist of Chaldia, and they destroyed these forts, freed the churches, and plundered all of Phasiané, which at that time was held by the Saracens. And thereafter he sent once again the magister Katakalon, ^B and domestic of the schools; who, having come to the fort of Theodosiopolis, and having plundered the parts around it, and having delivered the territory of Phasiané and the forts around it to a similar destruction, returned, having dealt a great blow in this to the Saracens. But in the reign of Lord Romanos the Emperor, the magister John Kourkouas, proceeding against the fort of Tibios at its pass, caused the entire land of Phasiané to disappear, as it was held by the Saracens. But the patrician Theophilos, the brother of the aforementioned magister John, while he was first serving as strategist in Chaldia, had also devastated that same land of Phasiané, as it was then under the dominion of the Saracens. For until this matter was brought to bear with the Theodosiopolitans, no village had been established in the land of Phasiané, nor even at the fort of Abnikon; and the Iberians always held love and friendship with the Theodosiopolitans, and with the Abnikiotai, and with the Mantzikiertai, ^C and with all of Persia, but in Phasiané they never acquired villages. That many times both the Lord Leon the Emperor, and the Lord Romanos, and our very Empress, sought for the fort of Cetzeon to be taken back and for tax-paying settlers to be introduced, so that bread might not be supplied from there to Theodosiopolis, guaranteeing to the Curopalates and his brothers that, after Theodosiopolis was taken, they would recover that fort; but the Iberians could not bring themselves to do this because of their love for the Theodosiopolitans, and so that the fort of Theodosiopolis would not be destroyed. Instead they replied to the Lord Romanos and our Empress, saying that "If we do this, we shall be held in dishonor by our neighbors, such as the magister, and the ruler of Abasgia, and the Basparakanitan, and the leading lords of the Armenians; and they would be able to say that the Iberians are unfaithful to the Emperor, namely to the Curopalates and his brothers, and that they do not trust them, and for that reason have taken this city from them. But rather let the Emperor send a Turmarch or some Caesar-man who might reside in the city of Cetzeon and observe." But they received a rescript in the form of a command: "What profit will there be if a Turmarch or Caesar-man is sent? For if he comes, they will be able to enter with ten or at most twelve men, and reside in the inn which you have assigned to them. And since there are many roads by which one may enter Theodosiopolis, it is not possible for caravans entering Theodosiopolis to be observed from the city, for they can enter at night, ^D while they are thinking of nothing of the sort." The Iberians, therefore, because they did not wish Theodosiopolis to be destroyed, but rather for provisions to be supplied, did not obey, nor did they hand over the city of Cetzeon, even though they had received a written oath that, upon the capture of Theodosiopolis, they would recover this city.

and they are forced to live in peace, since they are unable to make war on both at once. ^A

CAPUT XII. DE NIGRA BULGARIA ET CHAZARIA.

CAPUT XIII. DE GENTIBUS QUAE TURCIS FINITIMAE SUNT.

Direct, my son, the eye of your mind to my words, and take note of what I command you, and you will be able in time to bring forth from your paternal treasuries the wealth of prudence and to display a store of understanding. Know, then, that in all the northern peoples there is, as it were, a nature implanted—a desire for wealth that is insatiable; wherefore they seek everything, covet everything, and have no bounds prescribed to their desire, but always crave more, and demand the greatest reward for the most meager labor. ^C Therefore, one must counter and restrain their importunate petitions and impudent demands with persuasion and prudent excuses, which, as I have grasped from use and experience, to speak briefly, should be of this sort. If ever the Chazars, or the Turks, or the Russes, or any other northern and Scythian nations, as frequently happens, demand that imperial vestments, crowns, or stoles be sent to them for the sake of some service and ministry, you must excuse yourself in this way: "Stoles and crowns of this type, which we call ^D *camelaucia*, were neither fashioned by the work of men nor devised by human industry. But as we have found written in ancient history in the secret books, when God made that great emperor Constantine, who was the first Christian—

For ^A the Iberians never wished that the places around the city of Theodosiopolis, or its villages, or the city of Abnicum and its surrounding villages, or the city of Mantziciert and its territory, should be plundered or enslaved. For the Curopalates was pressing ^B regarding the region of Phasianis, demanding the whole of it along with the city of Abnicum, and pretending that he possessed golden bulls from the blessed emperor, our lord Romanos, and from our Majesty; copies of which he sent to us through Zurbaneles, his protospatharius and azatos. Upon examining these, we found they afforded him no assistance. For the golden bull of our father-in-law contains a promise by the Curopalates—which he even confirmed by his own written oath—that he would remain in faith to our Empire, that he would treat our friends and enemies as his own, that he would subject the East to us, besiege cities, and accomplish great deeds on our behalf. My father-in-law, for his part, answered that if he keeps his faith, and performs these services and duties, both he and his descendants shall forever possess this principality and authority, provided that he never transfers the boundaries of his jurisdiction, that he adheres to the covenants of former emperors, and that he does not transgress them, nor hinder the destruction of Theodosiopolis or other hostile cities, whether they be besieged by him alone or by our army. And this was the sum total of those golden bulls; which can be of no benefit to the Curopalates, for what my father-in-law sanctioned was that we should not move him from the ancient boundaries of his jurisdiction, and that he should besiege and subjugate Theodosiopolis and the remaining hostile cities, whether alone, if he be able, or with our soldiers, but they do not confer ownership and property ^C of them. Our decision, however, is that whatever places of the Agarenes he himself, or his relative the magister Adranase, has been able to subject to himself with his own forces, or has subjected up to this day, he should have the ownership and property of them. And since he has not taken Theodosiopolis, nor Abnicum, nor Mastatum with his own forces, he ought not to possess them, as they lie beyond the river Araxes, or the Phasis; and also because Abnicum has remained until this day under its own jurisdiction, obedient to its own lord, and with its own amir, while our forces have frequently pillaged it. Furthermore, the protospatharius John, ^D the praetor Arrhabonites, and the patrician Theophilus, shortly before the praetor of Theodosiopolis, and the remaining praetors, [brought back] a great number of captives from there.

Notes of Anselm Banduri

^A emperor, He sent him such robes and crowns—which by us are called *kamelaoukia*—through an angel, and He commanded him to place them in the Great Holy Church of God, which is called Holy Sophia from the name of the enhypostatic Wisdom of God. He commanded further that they should not be worn every day, but only when a public and great feast of the Lord occurs. Therefore, by the command of God, he deposited these, which indeed hang from above the holy table in the sanctuary of that same church and have been established for the adornment of the church. The remaining imperial vestments and *sagia* lie spread out above this holy table. ^B Whenever a feast of our Lord and God Jesus Christ arrives, the patriarch takes from such robes and crowns those that are suitable and appropriate for the occasion, and sends them to the emperor, and he is clothed in them only as a servant of God and a deacon in the procession. And again, after the need is met, he returns them to the church, and they are stored there. But also, a curse of the holy and great Constantine is written upon this holy table of the Church of God, as God commanded him through the angel: that if any emperor should wish, for any need or circumstance, or by an untimely desire, to remove some of them, or to use them himself or offer them to others, he should be anathematized as an enemy and foe of the commands of God, and be cast out of the Church. But if he himself should also wish to make other similar items so that the Church of God might also receive these—with all the chief priests and the senate speaking ^C frankly regarding these matters—neither the emperor nor the patriarch nor any other person has the authority to remove such robes or crowns from the holy Church of God; and great fear hangs over those who wish to overturn any of such divine ordinances. For one of the emperors, by the name of Leo—who also took a wife from Chazaria—having used an impulsive boldness, took up one of such crowns when no feast of the Lord was present, and without the opinion of the patriarch, he wrapped himself in it. And immediately, a coal breaking out onto his brow, and being wasted by the pains resulting from this, he miserably ended his life, and brought death upon himself before his time. And ^D concerning such a deed, he was quickly punished, and from that time a custom was introduced that the emperor, upon receiving the crown, swears and professes that he will do, attempt, or contemplate nothing against such ancient mandates and customs; and thus he is crowned by the patriarch and performs and completes what is compatible with the established solemnity.

our rule, with the river itself serving as the boundary between both of them, as even the blessed John Kourkouas, when questioned about this, declared it beneficial for the river to be the boundary. For the strict law provides no authority for the Curopalates to hold power on either this or that side of the river; because the armies of our Empire captured and burned all such villages of the Theodosiopolitans, and the Iberians never went out and raided Theodosiopolis without our own people, but always held them as friends and traded with them; and with their mouths they wished for Theodosiopolis to be sacked, but in their hearts they by no means wanted it to be taken. But our Empire, as has been said, because of its affection for the Curopalates, wished for the river Eras, that is the Phasis, to be the boundary for both, and they ought to be content with such a holding and seek nothing ^A more.

CAPUT XLVI. Concerning the genealogy of the Iberians, and the castle of Adranoutzion.

It must be known that Pancratius, and David, and Mampalis, which is interpreted as "all-holy," were sons of the great Symbatius the Iberian. And Adranoutzion fell by inheritance to Pancratius; but to David fell another land. And Pancratius begot three sons: Adranaser, Kourkenios, and the patrician Asotios, also called Kiskases; and he divided his land among them. And Adranoutzion fell to his son Kourkenios, and on his dying without issue, he left it to his brother Asotios, also called Kiskases. And the patrician Asotios, also called Kiskases, took as a son-in-law for his daughter that Kourkenios, the Magister, who, having gained power, took Adranoutzion away from his father-in-law Asotios through tyranny; and he gave him in exchange the Tyrokastron and the river-land of Atzara, which is the border ^B of Romania at Kolor. And the patrician Asotios, also called Kiskases, had as his wife the sister of George, Magister and Exousiastes of Abasgia. And when there arose a conflict between them—both the Magister Kourkenios and George, Magister and Exousiastes of Abasgia—because the Exousiastes of Abasgia was siding with the patrician Asotios, the Magister Kourkenios, being able, took away also the exchange which he had given him for Adranoutzion, drove him out, and he departed to Abasgia. But upon the death of the Magister Kourkenios, Adranoutzion was left to his wife, the daughter of the patrician Asotios Kiskases, as her patrimony. When they were dividing the land of the Magister Kourkenios by force of arms, both the Curopalates Asotios, and George, Magister and Exousiastes of Abasgia, and the Magister Pancratius, brother of the aforementioned Curopalates, came to a settlement, and each took what were adjacent to him. But Adranoutzion was adjacent to Symbatius, the son of the aforementioned David; then all of them seized the wife of the Magister Kourkenios, that is, the daughter of the patrician Asotios Kiskases, saying, "As you are a woman, you cannot hold the castle." Then Symbatius gave the woman villages in exchange for the castle, and took for himself such castle, ^C Adranoutzion. It must be known that the kinship ^D of such Iberians is as follows: The mother of David and of Adranase the Curopalates, the father of Asotios, a former Curopalates, were daughters or granddaughters of the two brothers. Symbatius, the son of David, had as his wife the daughter of the Magister Pancratius, who was the father of Adranase, the former Magister; and upon her death, he took the sister of Adranase, the daughter of Symbatius, son of David. Adranoutzion, however, is a very strong fortress, and it has a great rampart like a large city; and the trade of Trebizond, Iberia, and Abasgia...

^A Likewise, you ought to have care and concern regarding the liquid fire that is sent forth through siphons, so that if ever any people should dare to demand it, just as they have frequently demanded it from us, you may have such words with which to repulse and dismiss them: that this too was revealed and taught by an angel to the great and first Christian emperor, Saint Constantine, ^B and that this same emperor received great instructions regarding it from the same angel, just as we have been assured and fully informed by our fathers and forefathers, namely that it is to be manufactured only among the Christians and in the city ruled by them, and nowhere else; and that it should neither be transmitted nor taught to any other nation whatsoever. Wherefore, this great emperor, having secured the matter for those after him, caused curses to be inscribed upon the holy table of the Church of God, so that whoever might dare to give of this kind of fire to another nation should neither be called a Christian nor be deemed worthy of any rank or office; but even if he should hold any, he is to be cast out from it, and anathematized for all ages of ages, and made an example of, whether he be emperor, or patriarch, or any other man whatsoever, whether he be a ruler or a subject, whoever attempts to violate such a commandment. And he exhorted all who possess zeal and the fear of God ^C as a common enemy and a transgressor of this great commandment, to strive to destroy such a person who attempts to do this, and to hand him over to a most bitter and harsh death. And it happened once, as wickedness always finds a place, that one of our commanders, having received very many gifts from certain Gentiles, handed this fire over to them: but as God did not leave this crime unavenged, when he was about to enter the holy Church of God, fire fell from heaven and consumed and devoured him. From this, a great fear and trembling seized the souls of all; and from that time on, no one—neither emperor, nor prince, nor private citizen, nor military commander, nor any other mortal ^D whatsoever, has dared to bring anything of the sort to mind, much less to attempt or carry through the deed.

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

Meursius says it should be read, "he ended his life badly in a bad way." But what Porphyrogenitus relates here concerning the death of Leo the Khazar agrees sufficiently with those things which the other Byzantine writers have concerning him. Our writer is mistaken, however, when he said a little above that his wife was from Khazaria, as we shall show below, where our writer relates the same thing.

(43) Regarding the nature of these siphons, by which they used to shoot the Greek fire, Du Cange discourses at length in his notes to Villehardouin and Joinville, as well as in his *Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae Graecitatis*.

(44) The same Porphyrogenitus says below in Chapter XLVIII that a certain Callinicus, a stranger from Heliopolis, first taught the Constantinopolitans the Greek fire and its use in the times of Constantine Pogonatus. And Theophanes, under the fourth year of the same Augustus, speaks of the Greek fire thus: "The aforementioned Constantine... manufactured both large deep-purple barks and dromons equipped with siphons; and he ordered these to be anchored in the Proclianisian harbor of Caesarius." Moreover, the aforementioned Constantine, having discovered the intent of the adversaries of God against Constantinople, ordered biremes also, [coated with] purple [or porphyry-colored] pitch, carrying the fire, and dromons breathing the same fire through siphons, to be prepared to make an assault upon the enemy at the Proclianisian harbor of Caesarius. See what Nicetas has to say about the Greek fire in [his history of] Isaac Angelus, Book I.

(45) Thus in the Regal manuscript, or as it should perhaps be read, "and with a harsh," that is, "acerbißima, or dire death." In the Palatine manuscript it is read, "and straightway by the harsh," etc. Meursius amends it to, "and immediately by the harsh," which reading we follow in our translation.

But turn now to another species of petition, one irrational and indecorous, and devise and learn a suitable and honorable response. For if ever any nation from among these infidel and dishonored northern races shall ask to contract an affinity with the Emperor of the Romans, and either to take his daughter as a bride, or to give him their own daughter ^A to wife, or that she should be named wife of the Emperor or of the Emperor’s son, you must drive back this absurd request of theirs with such words as these and say:

"Concerning this matter, a fearful and immutable command and constitution of the Great and Holy Constantine is inscribed upon the holy table of the catholic church of the Christians of Hagia Sophia, that the Emperor of the Romans should never contract an affinity with a nation which follows foreign and strange ^B customs remote from the Roman state, and especially if it be of another faith and unbaptized; the Franks alone excepted. For this Great and Holy Constantine exempted these alone, because he himself drew his origin from those parts, for there was great kinship and commerce between the Franks and the Romans. And therefore with them alone he permitted the Emperors of the Romans to initiate marital unions, on account of the ancient distinction and nobility of those peoples and nations; but with any other nation whatsoever he forbade it to be done. So that even if anyone ^C should dare to do this, he should be judged as a transgressor of paternal traditions and imperial laws, an alien to the catalog of Christians, and be delivered over to anathema."

Now that aforementioned Emperor Leo, who, as we have said above, wickedly and rashly took the crown from the church without the consent of the patriarch who was then in office and placed it upon himself, and who suddenly paid deserved penalties for his evil enterprise, dared also to treat as vile and to hold for nothing this command of that holy Emperor—which, as has already been shown, stands inscribed upon the holy ^D table—and since he had once cast off all fear of God and of His commandments, he established a marital union with the Chagan of Chazaria and took his daughter to wife, with great disgrace to both himself and the Roman Empire, because he had violated and held for nothing the ancestral precepts; besides the fact that he was not even an orthodox Christian, but a heretic and an enemy of the icons. Therefore, on account of these very impieties, in the holy church of God, he is perpetually [held, etc.]

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

(46) Thus I read with Meursius. It is incorrectly written in the ms., "use such words," etc. And a little further down it is incorrectly read in the editions, whereas Meursius rightly amends it. (47) But the same Porphyrogenitus seems to fight with himself; for in Book II of the *Themes*, Chap. IX, he writes that Constantine was born in the city of Naissus in Dacia. Julius Firmicus in Book II of the *Matheseos*, Chap. XIV, says he was born at Tarsus. Nicephorus Callisti says at the city of Drepanum in Bithynia, on the Gulf of Nicomedia, which he afterwards named Helenopolis after his mother’s name, as the writer of the *Alexandrian Chronicle* and Theophanes hand down. Finally, others claim Constantine was born in Britain, relying especially on this argument, that the author of the Panegyric spoken to Maximian and Constantine says these things about Constantine: "He freed the Britains from slavery; you also made them noble by being born there." But as to what Eumenius says elsewhere: "O happy Britain, and now more blessed than all lands, you who first saw Constantine as Caesar!" this should certainly be understood more probably as referring to the dignity of Caesar conferred upon Constantine while he was tarrying in Britain. (48) We have warned earlier, while he ascribes to Leo the Chazar a wife sprung from Chazaria; for this man was nicknamed "Chazar" because of his maternal origin; for Irene, the first wife of Copronymus, was the daughter of the Chagan of the Chazars, who, having been made a Christian, kept the Catholic faith intact as long as she lived. Leo

^A is excommunicated and condemned by anathema; inasmuch as he violated and overturned the constitution of God and of the holy and great Emperor Constantine. For how can it be possible for Christians to enter into marriages and form affinities with infidels, when the canon forbids it, and the universal Church deems such a thing unworthy and alien to the Christian state? Or who among the distinguished, noble, and wise Roman emperors has permitted such a thing? But if they should answer: Why did the lord Emperor Romanus, when he was joined in affinity with the Bulgarians, give his own granddaughter to the lord Peter, the Bulgarian [ruler]? ^B To this we must respond: Because the lord Emperor Romanus was an unlearned and illiterate man, and had neither been raised in the royal palace nor followed the Roman laws and customs from the beginning, nor was he born of imperial and noble stock; and for this reason he acted more boldly and freely in many matters: and in this affair he was neither obedient to the prohibiting Church, nor did he comply with the decree of the Great Constantine; but according to his own whim and judgment, ignorant of what is honorable, spurning the honest and the good, and holding paternal traditions in contempt, he dared to attempt this: using only this as a reasonable pretext, that in this way a huge multitude of Christian captives would be liberated, and that the Bulgarians were also Christians and of the same faith as ourselves. Furthermore, also because the woman being given in marriage was not the daughter of an autocrat and legitimate emperor, but of a third, and last, ^C and even a subject, who had no power in the affairs of the empire; and such a thing in no way differed from [giving] any other of the royal kin who were related to the imperial nobility both further away and closer, and for some public service, even of the lowest and those possessing almost no power; since this was done against the canon of the ecclesiastical tradition, and the decree and commandment of the great holy Emperor Constantine. Indeed, while he was still alive, the same lord Romanus was burdened with many insults, and was subject to calumny and hatred, both among the senate and the multitude of the people and the Church herself, which hatred finally broke out into the open; so that even after he was dead he is despised, slandered, and condemned, because he undertook a thing unbecoming and unworthy of the illustrious Roman Empire. For individual nations, since they have different customs, and likewise different laws and ^D constitutions, ought to retain those which...

and have taken for themselves their own, and from their own people, according to the condition of their own ^B status, to enter into associations. For just as individual animals mate with those that are of the same species, so it is proper for individual nations to join in marriage not with foreigners or those of a different language, but with those of the same tribe and same language. From this, mutual harmony, familiar conversation, and pleasant social intercourse and cohabitation naturally arise. Differing customs and divergent laws, however, generally breed animosity, friction, hatred, and sedition, which are accustomed to bring about not friendship and communion, but enmity and divorce. Those who wish to rule legitimately ought not to imitate the things done by some out of ignorance or arrogance, but should take the praiseworthy deeds of those who have ruled according to laws and justice as good images set before them for imitation, and endeavor to direct all their own actions by them; for indeed, even the end that befalls him who, because of such actions perpetrated at his own whim—I mean the lord Romanus—is a sufficient example for the correction of anyone wishing to emulate the evils perpetrated by him. It is necessary for you, most beloved son, to know these things along with others, since knowledge of them can be of great use to you and make you appear more admirable. These things that follow deal with the distinctions of other nations, their genealogy, their customs and way of life, and the position and climate of the lands they inhabit, as well as their boundaries and dimensions, as will be explained more fully in what follows. ^C

CAPUT XIV. De genealogia Mahometis.

Let us now come to the genealogy of the wicked and impure Mahomet, whom the Saracens say to be their prophet, descended from the most populous tribe of Ishmael, son of Abraham. For Zenarus, the great-grandson of Ishmael, is called the father of them all. He therefore begat two sons, Mundarus and Rhabiam. Now Mundarus...

^A begat Cusarus, and Caisus, and Thymimen, and Asandus, and others of the same name; who, having obtained the Madianite desert by lot, lived as shepherds, dwelling in tents. But there are also those further in, not of their tribe, but of Jectan, who are called Homerites, that is to say, Amanites. It is narrated in the following manner: Mahomet being destitute and an orphan, it seemed good to him to be hired by a certain wealthy woman, his kinswoman, named Chadiga, for the purpose of driving camels and trading with foreigners in Egypt and Palestine. Then, gradually becoming more confident, and seeking the favor of the woman, who was a widow, he took her as his wife. But when he frequented Palestine, and lived with Jews and Christians, he investigated certain discourses and solutions of Scripture. When he suffered from the comitial ^B disease, his wife was greatly grieved, because, being illustrious and wealthy, she had married such a man, not only poor, but also epileptic. In order to appease her, he said that he was seeing a terrible vision of an angel named Gabriel, and not being able to bear the sight of him, he would lose consciousness and fall to the ground. This indeed was believed, for a certain Arian monk, feigning the name of a monk for the sake of shameful gain, gave false witness to him. And thus the woman, having been deceived, proclaimed to her fellow tribeswomen that he himself was a prophet, and in this way this cunning lie

ANSELM BANDURI'S NOTES

But he who is called Mundarus by our writer, by Theophanes, and by other historians, is called Mudarus by Cedrenus, and Muhdar by Landulphus Sagax; and perhaps he is the same who is called Massaras by Abraham Ecchellensis. But he who is called Rhabia by the Porphyrogenitus, Anastasius, and Cedrenus, is called Arabia by Theophanes, by the Anonymous writer on Saracenic affairs, and by Cyril in his epitome of chronicles; but by Abraham Ecchellensis he is called Rabiha. ^C (60) Theophanes has Cousaron for Cousaron; Landulphus has Sagax. But it is incorrectly read in Theophanes, and in Cedrenus and the Anonymous writer on Saracenic affairs, as Caisus. Abraham Ecchellensis calls him Caisus. Moreover, Corasus, says Jacobus Goar in his notes on Theophanes, is the same man, I believe, who is called Coraiscius by Ecchellensis, from whom the kinsmen and enemies of the false prophet Mahomet were called Coraiscites: hence it sufficiently surprises one where this Saracen Catabas betrayed the kinsmen of Mahomet to their death; for he existed as a most bitter enemy of the Mahometic blood. (61) Theophanes and the Anonymous writer on Saracenic affairs have Thymimen; Cedrenus has Thyminen; Anastasius and Landulphus Sagax call this man Theominem. (62) Theophanes and the Anonymous author on Saracenic affairs call him Asadum; Cedrenus, Assadum; but Landulphus Sagax, Asydum. (63) It is to be read in the same way in the manuscript, and "others nameless," that is, others whose names are unknown, as happens often in Cedrenus and the Anonymous writer cited by us. Theophanes has "and others unknown," and so does Landulphus when he writes "and others unknown." (64) Landulphus book XVIII: They are not of their tribe, but from Getham, namely those who are called the Amanites. Theophanes, and Cedrenus from him, seem to think that the same people who are called Aumarites by Ecchellensis, who left their homes and withdrew into Arabia Felix, are the Homerites, and for this reason their descendants are ascribed to the inhabitants of that region. But the Homerites are indeed the people of Arabia Felix in Ptolemy and Pliny. But Procopius in book I of the Persian War calls them Auzomites. (65) The Anonymous writer on Saracenic affairs: "He went to a certain wealthy woman, his kinswoman, named Chadiga..." The Historia Longobardica: "But a certain matron named Cadiga, who was in charge of a certain province, etc." Landulphus Sagax calls this same matron Badigamus. (66) The Anonymous writer on Saracenic affairs writes that this Arian monk was ejected from the monastery of Callistratus in Constantinople due to depraved thoughts in the faith: The name of this monk was Sergius, as various readings of Theophanes and the Historia Longobardica testify: "There was a certain monk who instructed Mahomet, named Sergius, who, falling into the error of Nestorius, while he was expelled by the monks, came into Arabia, and adhered to Mahomet." Moreover, it is incorrectly written in the Chronicle of the Altissiodorensis monk as "Selgi monk" instead of "Sergius monk." (67) Theophanes narrates the whole matter more fully, and it is thus: "The woman, therefore, being more credulous than others of the false abbot's words, subsequently placed faith in the man, and spread among other women of her own tribe that he was a prophet: and in this way the matter was propagated from women to men, and before others it reached Abubacharus, whom he later left as his successor." Cedrenus, who everywhere transcribes Theophanes almost word for word, here differs from him in many things, as may be seen under the year of the empire of Heraclius Aug.

marking him a prophet, there arose the falsehood of the deception, even to a certain phylarch ^A named Bubachar. Now, the woman having died, and having left him as her successor and heir, he became conspicuous and exceedingly wealthy, and this wicked delusion and his heresy laid hold of the parts of Ethribus. This senseless and deluded man taught those who believed in him that whoever kills an enemy, or is killed by an enemy, enters Paradise, and other such trifles that he prattles on about. They also pray to the star of Venus ^B, which they call Cubar, and they cry out in their prayer thus: *Alla oua Cubar*, which is to say, "God and Venus." For they call God *Alla*, and *oua* they place as a conjunction for "and"; and they call the star *Cubar*, and say thus: *Alla oua Cubar*.

CAPUT XV. De genere Phatemitarum.

It must be known that Phatem was the daughter of Mahomet, and from her the Phatemites derive their origin. But these are not from Phateme, which is a region of Libya; rather, they dwell toward the northern parts of Meca ^C beyond the sepulchre of Mahomet himself.

ANSELMI BANDURII NOTÆ.

(68) I read here with Meursius, and so it is held in the Anonymous *in Saracenicis*. In the manuscripts it is read as "phylarch," but in more recent Greeks, those who were leaders of the Saracens were for the most part called Phylarchs: for they were divided into tribes, which had their own Phylarchs, as Sozomen writes, book vi, cap. 38. Procopius, book i, *de Bello Persico*, cap. 17. See Ducange's *Glossarium Graecum*. (69) This name is found written in various ways. Theophanes: Abubachar. Anastasius and Cedrenus: Abubachar. Anonymous *in Saracenicis*: Bubachar. Landulphus: Eububazer. But Theophanes and Cedrenus relate the matter in a different way, and it was primarily from a woman that it came to men, to Abubachar, whom he left as his successor. (69*) For when they were formerly idolaters, and were worshipping the one called Aphrodite among the Greeks—that is, pleasure—and were mythologizing that her star was the morning star, which they also named *Cudar* ^D in their own barbarous tongue, which means "Great," they remained until now calling Aphrodite a god. Lest we seem to some to be lying, let us clarify their great mystery. The wording of their foul and most profane prayer is thus: *Alla, alla oua kubar, alla*. And *alla, alla* is interpreted as "God, God," and *oua* as "and," and *kubar* as "great," that is, "moon and Venus." Which is to say thus: "God, God is greater, And the great one, that is to say, Aphrodite, is God." And this is clarified by the addition of the final "alla," all of which they speak secretly according to the specificity of their own tongue.

In which they say there lies a great stone, having an impression of Aphrodite. And this is honored as if Abraham had conversed with Hagar above it, or as if he had tied his camel to it when he was about to sacrifice Isaac. The same is related by Euthymius Zigabenus in his *Panoplia*, tit. XXVIII. The rest which is held in this chapter is to be compared with Cedrenus, Euthymius Zigabenus, and the Anonymous *in Saracenicis*. (70) I read with Meursius. In the manuscripts it is falsely read, for he says immediately: "God and Venus," for he says *oua* instead of the conjunction "and." (72) Meursius says *Mexe*, or *Maxe*, or *Baxé*. It was the place in which Mahomet tells the story that a house of prayer was built by Abraham and Ismael. *Catechesis Saracenorum*: "I anathematize the myth-making of Mahomet, in which he says that a house of prayer would be built for God by Abraham and Ismael at *Baxé*, that is to say, *Maxe*, or *Maxech*, which he calls a place of prostration of the observation." And he orders that wherever they might be and pray, they should turn their faces toward that region. I anathematize also that *Maxe* itself, and its entire region, and the seven stones thrown there by the Saracens against the Christians. *Historia Longobardica*: "But once every year, for the sake of recognition, they are commanded to go to the house of God, which is in Mecha, and there to worship, and to go around it with seamless coverings, and to throw stones through the middle openings for the stoning of the devil." Which house they say Adam constructed, and which was a place of prayer for all his sons and for Abraham and Ismael. Finally, they affirm that Mahomet bequeathed that house to himself and all his own nations. Landulphus Sagax calls it the place of blasphemy, book XXII.

inhabit. The Arabian people are exceedingly well-trained in engaging in battle and war. For it was with the aid of this race that Muameth waged war, and he sacked and subjugated many cities and regions. For they are valiant and warlike; so much so that if even a thousand of them are found in a camp, such a camp becomes unconquerable and irresistible. They do not ride horses, but camels; and during the time of war they do not wear cuirasses or chainmail, but buckled cloaks 73; and they have long spears, and shields that cover the whole man, and very large wooden bows which those of shorter stature can scarcely pull.

CAPUT XVI.

From the canon which Stephen the mathematician formulated by divining from the stars regarding the expedition of the Saracens, in what year from the foundation of the world it occurred, and who was then the emperor of the Romans.

The Saracens went forth on the third day of the month of September of the tenth indiction, in the twelfth year of Heraclius, the year from the foundation of the world 6130. The prophecy from the stars concerning these Saracens was made on the third day of the month of September, on a Thursday. At this same time the first leader of the Arabs was Muameth, whom they themselves call Muchumet, who also existed as their prophet; he held the rule of the Arabs for nine years.

CAPUT XVII.

From the Chronicle of the blessed Theophanes.

In this same year, that is, 6139, Muameth 78, the leader and pseudo-prophet of the Saracens, departed this life, having appointed in his place Abubacharum, who also...

tutor, his relative. ^A The deluded Jews, at the beginning of his appearance, thought him to be the Christ expected by them, so that some of their leading men even came to him and accepted his religion, abandoning the religion of the God-seer Moses. But when they saw him eating off a camel, they recognized that he was not the one they had supposed. They taught him things unlawful against the Christians and lived with him. These are the ones who were the authors of his accepting certain parts of the law, namely circumcision and certain other things which the Saracens observe. First, therefore, Abubachar followed him and proclaimed him a prophet, wherefore he also left him as his successor. His sect occupied the regions of Yathrib, ^B first secretly for ten years, then finally by war for ten years also, and openly for nine years. He taught his own subjects that he who has killed an enemy, or who is killed by an enemy, enters into paradise without hindrance. He said that paradise was a place of carnal food and drink and the intercourse of women; and he said that a river of wine and honey and milk flows there, and that the appearance of the women is beyond comparison, not those who are now, but others; and he spoke of long-lasting intercourse and unique pleasure, and other things full of debauchery and madness. He also ordered them to sympathize with one another and to help those who are treated unjustly.

CAPUT XVIII. Second leader of the Arabs, Abubachar, three years.

This Abubachar is the first to take the city of Gaza ^C and all the surrounding region. He died.

ANSELM BANDURI’S NOTES. ...whom they had supposed; but what they were to do, they remained in doubt: yet because the wretches feared to abandon his superstition, they teach him to contrive wicked things against the Christians: meanwhile they held fellowship with him. Then Theophanes proceeds to weave the genealogy of Mahomet; from which Theophanes’ narrative, Porphyrogenitus, chapter 14, adorned *On the Genealogy of Mahomet*. ^D ...falsely has it: for that [phrase] must be deleted, since he expounds the mad doctrine of the impious Mahomet more fully... Abubacharus, however, held the principate of the Arabs for two years and a half, as Theophanes, Cedrenus, Anastasius, and others report. Meursius writes falsely in the Notes that Theophanes assigns only two years to Abubacharus; for the tables of Theophanes ascribe three years to him, and at the [24th] year of Heraclius, the same Theophanes writes that Abubacharus was dead, after having reigned for two years and a half: Abubacharus sent four leaders who took Heram and the whole region of Gaza, as Theophanes writes in the same place.

The same Abubachar, having reigned for three years, yielded his authority to Umar, who held the Arab principate for twelve years.

Chapter XIX. The third Arab prince, Umar.

^A Umar himself therefore undertook an expedition against Palestine, and having sat down before Jerusalem, he besieged it for two years and took it by guile. For Sophronius, the bishop of Jerusalem, moved by divine zeal and excelling in sharpness of mind, received from him a most secure guarantee regarding the churches of all Palestine, so that the churches should remain undemolished and unravaged. Seeing this, Sophronius said: "This is truly the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place." He sought out the temple of the Jews, which Solomon had built, to make it a place for the adoration of his own blasphemy. And it remains until this day.

Chapter XX. The fourth Arab prince, Uthman.

He conquered Africa by war and, having reached an agreement on tribute with the Africans, returned. His military commander was named Mavias, who destroyed the Colossus of Rhodes and ravaged Cyprus with all its cities. Furthermore, he captured the island of Arados, set fire to its city, and rendered the island desert of inhabitants until this day. ^B Having captured the island of Rhodes, he took down its Colossus one thousand three hundred and sixty years after it had been erected; a certain Edessene merchant, a Jew, having bought it, loaded nine hundred camels with its bronze. This same Mavias also marched against Constantinople.

Notes of Anselm Banduri

(86) Theophanes ascribes the same number of years to Umar. (87) See Theophanes, year 26 of Heraclius, the 2nd year of the principate. (88) In the tenth year of his principate, Umar moved to restore the temple at Jerusalem, as Theophanes relates in the same place. (89) In the 2nd year of Uthman, and the 6th year of the reign of Constans, the Saracens undertook an expedition to Africa and, having joined battle with the tyrant Gregory, put him to flight, destroyed his army, and, having imposed taxes on Africa by treaty, returned. See Theophanes for the year of the same Augustus. (90) With a fleet of 1700 ships, he undertook an expedition to Cyprus; he captured the city of Constantia, ^C subdued the whole island, and afflicted it with great slaughter. See Theophanes in the year of the reign of Constans; and the 3rd year of Uthman’s principate. (91) Mavias besieged Arados in the 5th year of the principate of Uthman, but in vain; for although his efforts were strenuous, he achieved nothing, and because winter was setting in, he retreated to Damascus with the siege rendered fruitless; in the following year, however, he turned his arms again against Arados and captured it on the condition that the townspeople could live wherever they pleased; but he ravaged the city with fire, overturned its walls, and rendered the island desert of all its inhabitants until this day. See Theophanes in the same place. (92) The Saracens occupied Rhodes and overturned the Colossus in the 12th year of the reign of Constans, but in the 8th year of Uthman's principate, as Theophanes writes. ^D From these, however, says Jacobus Goar, calculate when the Rhodian Colossus was erected. In the year from the creation of the world 5145, and from the birth of Christ 645, it being sold at the price of the metal from which it had been cast, it was 1360 years after it had been erected. It was therefore erected in the year from the creation of the world 4785, in which, according to the computation of Georgius Syncellus (whose continuator is Theophanes), Ezechias counted the twentieth year of his reign. Or again: the year of Abraham is consecrated to the birth of Christ in Eusebius. Add to these 645 years after the birth; the result will be the year 2660 after Abraham, upon which the light dawned; subtracting 1360, there remains 1300, a sum which in Eusebius has the 25th year of Ezechias connected to it. Otherwise: in the year after Christ 645, the bronze of the Rhodian Colossus arrived 1360 years after it was erected; thus 715 years before Christ, to which year, according to Petavius in *De Doctrina Temporum*, lib. XII, p. 547, the 13th year of the reign of Ezechias is joined; to which, by adding seven others (which he contends are missing in the computation of Theophanes, about which elsewhere), the 20th year of Ezechias arises, which has already been collected from Syncellus. I say in summary: the Colossus was placed in the Rhodian harbor around the 20th year of Ezechias, or some year close to it. (93) This is from Theophanes and from the *Regio* copy, where not only in this chapter, but also in the following, in which he speaks also of the Rhodian Colossus, the note is numbered.

and encamped, and devastated Ephesus, Halicarnassus, and Smyrna, and the remaining cities of Ionia. He also became the fifth leader of the Arabs after the death of Uthman, reigning for twenty-four years.

CHAPTER XXI.

It should be known that shortly before the death of Muawiya, the fifth leader of the Arabs, the Mardaites entered into Lebanon and occupied the territory from the Black Mountain as far as the Holy City; they seized the mountain passes of Lebanon, and many slaves and natives fled to them, so that in a short time they increased to many thousands. When Muawiya and his advisors learned of this, they were struck with great fear. He sent envoys to Emperor Constantine seeking peace. For this reason, John, nicknamed Pitzecaudes, was sent by the Emperor Constantine the Orthodox, son of Pogonatus. When he reached Syria, Muawiya received him with great honor, and it was agreed between them that a written peace treaty should be made, confirmed by oath, on the condition of an annual tribute to be provided to the Roman Emperor by the Hagarenes, consisting of three thousand gold coins, eight hundred captives, and fifty thoroughbred horses. ^A Upon this, the rule of the Arabs was divided into two parts. ^{B C D}

^A Ali held authority over Athribos, while Mavias held Egypt, Palestine, and Damascus. Those dwelling in Athribos, along with the sons of Ali, campaigned against Mavias. Mavias armed himself in opposition to them, and joined battle by the river Euphrates; the party of Ali was defeated, and Mavias took Athribos and the entire land of Syria. His lineage held power for two hundred years. ^B After him came forth those called Maurophori from Persis, who rule to this day; they warred against the lineage of Mavias and wiped it out. They slaughtered Maruam, their head. A few of the house of Mavias were left behind, and they were pursued by the Maurophori as far as Africa, along with one grandson of Mavias. This same grandson of Mavias, with a few followers, crossed over into Spain in the days of Justinian Rhinotmetus, and not [in the days of] Pogonatus. This, however, has not been consigned to writing by our historians. For from the time that great Rome was captured by the Goths, Roman affairs began to be mutilated, and not one of the historians made mention of the parts of Spain, nor of the lineage of Mavias. The history of the blessed Theophanes, however, holds as follows: "Mavias, the leader of the Saracens, died, having been general for twenty-six years, and amir for twenty-four years; and Izid, his son, held the rule of the Arabs for six years." When he died, the Arabs of Athribos were in turmoil, and they appointed for themselves as leader Abdelas, the son of Zuber. ^C

NOTES OF ANSELM BANDURI

(1) Dissension arose among the Arabs. For those who held the desert region desired Alim, the nephew of Ali—the son-in-law of Muamed—as prince; but those who inhabited Syria and Egypt promoted Mavias, whose party proved superior, and he held the empire for twenty-four years.

(2) In this year Mavias campaigned against Ali; and both gathered between Bardalissus, at the Caesarium near the Euphrates. The troops of Mavias, having become the stronger, seized the water; and the troops of Ali, coming to thirst, deserted. Mavias did not want to fight; but without labor he won the victory.

(3) The number of years here agrees with the death of Mavias, which happened in the 9th year of the reign of Constantine Pogonatus, 678 A.D., to the year 9 of Constantine Copronymus, 748 A.D., in which the Chorasanitae and Maurophori moved an expedition against Maruam; seventy years intervene: of this expedition Theophanes speaks at length in the year of the same Copronymus.

(4) Maruam having been killed by the Maurophori, the remaining kinsmen, survivors of the calamities, migrated from Egypt into Africa; thence crossing the narrow strait of the sea which separates Libya from Europe near the Ocean (the place was named Septem), they held the Spanish part of Europe until this present time; [others have noted] others of the same superstition, and born of the same stock, whom Mavias had indeed deported there by ships, had inhabited that region before. So Theophanes in the 9th year of the reign of Constantine Copronymus. From which it appears that our writer here confuses the first expedition, which the Arabs made into Africa, with this second one, which happened after Maruam was killed by the Maurophori; of which indeed Theophanes speaks in the 9th year of the reign of Constantine Copronymus.

(5) Concerning the posterity of Mavias, who reigned in Spain, see Rodericus Toletanus in his history of the Arabs.

(6) Theophanes reports the death of Mavias in the 9th year of Constantine Pogonatus: In this year, on the sixth day of the month of April, in the first indiction, Mavias, the first king of the Saracens, was extinguished by death. He acted as leader of his people for twenty years, and was declared amir for twenty-four years.

(7) Edition has 26 years. The codices of Theophanes, Palati and Peyresiani, hold as our writer [26].

(8) So the Codex. The Tables of Theophanes ascribe to Izid 6 years. But he is called Izid by Cedrenus, and Gizid by Landulphus.

(9) Theophanes speaks of the death of Mavias in the 9th year of the reign of Constantine Pogonatus, but with different words.

Bosporus and their families; but he himself was making his journey with his own tribe in an orderly manner, so as to surrender the families and depart once he had gathered the Chersonites.

The Chersonites, having received their own envoys in the city of Bosporus and having learned everything that had been done by Constans and Sauromatus, delivered to the man of Sauromatus both the Bosporus and the fortifications of Maeotis and all the families unharmed, and they took possession of the Chersonite territory in peace. Constans, once Sauromatus had departed from the Roman territories, himself also set out for Rome and reported to the Emperor all that had been done by the Chersonites, bringing with him also their two envoys. When the Emperor saw them and received them kindly, and had expressed his greatest thanks, he said to them: "What do you wish that I should grant to you and to your city in return for such goodwill and alliance?" But they said to the Emperor: "We, Master, desire nothing else, except that we ask only for this one thing, that you might grant unto us pledges of freedom and immunity from our empire." And the Emperor, gladly bowing to their request, generously granted them such pledges of freedom and immunity, and sent them away with many gifts to the Chersonites, as they were true subjects of the Roman Empire. Constans, having himself also been greatly received by the Emperor Diocletian because he had courageously arrayed himself in the war against the Sauromatae, and having become illustrious and renowned, after a short time succeeded to the Roman empire, upon Diocletian withdrawing to Nicomedia.

After Constans had died in Rome, his son Constantine reigned. And when he had come to Byzantium, and some of the Scythians were rebelling, he was reminded of what he had heard from his father Constans concerning the goodwill and alliance of the Chersonites, and he sent envoys to the Chersonites, with the request that they should take up arms against the Scythians and subdue the rebels. The prince and protector of the Chersonites at that time was Diogenes, the son of Diogenes; and the Chersonites, gladly obeying the command, with all zeal prepared their war-chariots and the ballistae, and arrived at the river Ister; and having crossed it, they arrayed themselves against the rebels and put them to flight. When the Emperor learned of the rout brought about by them, he ordered them to return to their own land; and having summoned their leaders to Byzantium and given them the greatest thanks, he said to them: "Since you have labored for us graciously even now, just as you did before for our pious ancestors of the imperial line, behold, we also confirm for you the freedom and immunity from tribute granted to you, throughout the regions of the Roman empire; furthermore, we also give a golden statue with imperial chlamys, fibula, and golden crown, for the adornment of your city; likewise our written charter concerning both your freedom and immunity and that of your sailors; furthermore, because of the sincerity of your goodwill, we also give golden rings, in which is depicted the image of our majesty, so that by these your petitions and reports... ^D

Having risen up, they set up as their leader Abdelas, the son of Zubair. Hearing this, the Agarenes living in Phoenicia, Palestine, and Damascus come to Usas, the emir of Palestine, and they propose Maruam and establish him as their leader, and he holds the authority for nine months. Upon his death, Abimelech his son succeeds to the authority and holds it for twenty-two years and six months. He overcomes the tyrants and kills Abdelas, the son of Zubair, and his successor. During these events, the Emperor Constantine, son of Pogonatus, dies—having held the Roman authority for seventeen years—and Justinian his son reigned in his stead. It must be noted that the leader of the Arabs, Mavias, who held the authority of the Arabs as the fifth from Mahomet, was not from the lineage of Mahomet, but from another tribe. And first, indeed, he was appointed commander and admiral by Uthman, leader of the Arabs, and was sent against the Roman state with a strong force and twelve hundred cataphract ships. And he penetrated as far as Rhodes, and from there, having equipped himself, he advanced as far as Constantinople, and having spent a considerable time there—namely, seven years—having laid waste all the territory around Byzantium, he returned empty-handed. But having come to Rhodes, he took down the Colossus standing there. It was actually a bronze, gilded statue of the Sun from head to foot, having a height of eighty cubits and a width in proportion to the height, as the epigram inscribed at the base of its feet testifies, which has it thus:

The Colossus in Rhodes, eight times ten Cubits high, did Laches the Lindian make.

Rhodo colossum bis quater cubitis decem Superbientem Lindius fecit Laches.

^A in the designated places, both parties took up stations on the mountains. Sauromatus, being of great age, trusted in himself and boasted, raging against the Chersonites, while also taking heart in the infinite multitude that was with him. But Pharnacus was small in stature compared to Sauromatus, and having seen the multitude of Sauromatus, he deliberated with his own army to challenge him to a duel, so that an infinite multitude should not perish. And indeed, such a deliberation having taken place, Pharnacus made it known to the multitude of Sauromatus, saying: "What need is there for such a great crowd to suffer destruction? For you did not turn to war by your own choice, but Sauromatus incited you. Be willing, therefore, to persuade him to duel with me; and if through God I prevail over him, you shall return home unharmed, and both he and his city shall be subjected to me; but if he should be able to prevail over me, likewise you shall return home to your own lands, and he shall take possession of my territory." The crowd of Sauromatians, having gladly accepted this, urged Sauromatus to duel with Pharnacus. Sauromatus, therefore, having learned that Pharnacus was very small in stature, but himself being of enormous size, rejoiced at this, trusting in his own strength and armored in the weapons he used. And these things having been decided, Pharnacus said to his own army: "When I descend, by the grace of God, to the duel, and you see that Sauromatus has his back toward you, and his face toward his own men, while I have my face toward you and my back toward the enemies, all of you raise one shout (73), and only saying 'a, a', and do not repeat the shout." And when both of them had descended into the plain for the duel, and were maneuvering against one another, and Pharnacus had come to the side of Sauromatus, and Sauromatus to the side of Pharnacus, the army of Pharnacus gave one shout: "a, a." But Sauromatus ^B being arrogant and relying on both his physical size and the multitude of his soldiers, insolently insulted the Chersonites. But Pharnacus, small in stature compared to Sauromatus, and considering his forces, having held council with his men, decided, so that an infinite multitude might not perish, to fight in single combat with Sauromatus; and having settled the matter, Pharnacus announced to the soldiers of Sauromatus that there was no need for such a great multitude to perish, nor that they had come to war of their own volition, but at the instigation of Sauromatus; they should therefore prefer to be the authors of his descending to single combat; and if, with God’s help, I defeat him, you shall return home unharmed, and he himself and his city shall be submitted to me, and on the contrary, if he should overcome me, you shall likewise return home, and he shall occupy my land. When this matter was agreeable to the Sauromatians, they persuaded Sauromatus to enter into single combat with Pharnacus. Sauromatus, therefore, having learned that Pharnacus was of diminutive stature, and relying on his own height, strength, and the arms which he used, gladly accepted the condition. Pharnacus, however, being about to fight, said to his soldiers: "When I have entered into single combat with the good God’s help, and you see Sauromatus turned with his back to you, and his face toward his own men, but I have turned my face to you and my back to the enemies, with one voice you shall all shout 'A A'; and you shall not repeat this shout." When therefore both had come into the plain for single combat, and were fighting between themselves, and Sauromatus was turned toward the parts of Pharnacus, and Pharnacus toward the parts of Sauromatus, the soldier of Pharnacus shouted with one voice: "A A." Having heard this shout, Sauromatus turned himself to see who this person was, the shout having been arranged for the combat, which was raised in the army of Pharnacus. And while he was turning, his helmet visor having been pulled up a little, Pharnacus immediately struck him with a spear and killed him. When Sauromatus had fallen, Pharnacus, descending from his horse, cut off his head. Being the victor, he dismissed the people of the Maeotian marsh, but keeping the Bosporans in bonds, he established the limits of their captured land in Cybernicum above the Chersonites, leaving them only forty miles of land, and these limits remain to this day. ^C

ANSELM BANDURI’S NOTES. (73) And a little below the same Constantine says: "one voice." Anna Comnena lib. viii, pag. 292: "with one voice." For that was the opinion of the ancient tacticians, that enemies are terrified if a horror of shouting is added to the throwing of missiles, as is in Vegetius, book iii, chapter 18, and Leo in *Tactics*, chapter 20, § 114, reports things in agreement with this. This shout was mixed with exhortation, just as Sallust says regarding the Jugurthine War. Hence it is called a "parakaleusmos" by Constantine Manasses. Sometimes an "alala-gmos," or "Areian lalage"; the "Enyalios kelados," as Heliodorus says in lib. i; the ancient Gauls called it "Barditus," as Tacitus writes. But from the time when the Christian religion was brought into the world, those voices, confused and uncertain, which were accustomed to be uttered by soldiers as a token or sign of confidence, ceased, and in their place came the prayer for divine aid, sent to heaven with one mouth by everyone. Moreover, the author ^D implies that Constantine the Great was the originator of this custom. Eusebius, book iv of the *Life of the same Constantine*, chapters 19 and 20, and in the *Oration on the Praises of the Emperor himself*, while he writes that he instructed his soldiers that, at the start of battle, they should seek God as their ally in battle with this prayer: "We recognize Thee alone as God, Thee we acknowledge as King, Thee we invoke as a helper, from Thee we have obtained our victories," etc. And hence some think that it became established among Christians that all battles should be started by an invocation of God. But they are mistaken, since any people would start battles with a divine invocation; the chosen people from the invocation of the true God, as the sacred Scriptures testify everywhere; the Greeks, however, used to sing two paeans: one before the battle to Mars; the other after the battle to Apollo and Diana.

And he took his bronze and transported it into Syria, and offered it for sale to whomsoever would. A certain Hebrew from Emesa bought it, who loaded it from the sea onto nine hundred and eighty camels. ^B

Upon the death of Uthman, Mavias assumed the principate of the Arabs; and he held under his rule the holy city, parts of Palestine, Damascus, Antioch, and all the cities of Egypt. But Alim, who had taken to wife Mahomet’s daughter, Phatime, held Ethrib and all of Arabia Petraea. In those days, therefore, Alim and Mavias, contending with one another for the empire of Syria, broke out into open war, and joined fierce battle by the Euphrates; but as the conflict persisted, and many were falling on both sides, it was shouted from both sides of the Agarenes: Why do we rush into mutual slaughter, and our race is removed from the ranks of men? Verily, let two elders be chosen from both sides, and let him obtain the principate whom they shall prefer to the other. The advice pleased Alim and Mavias, and they drew the rings from their hands and gave them to the two elders; for this among the Agarenes is the sign of the principate, and they committed their power to the will of the two elders, having first sworn an oath that they would acknowledge as lord and prince of all the Saracens whomever the elders should select. And when both elders had progressed into the midst of the camps, and stood in the space interposed between the two lines, the elder who stood on the side of Alim was considered by the Saracens to be a pious man, of the number of those whom they call Cades, that is to say, faithful and holy. But the elder of Mavias wore only the appearance of piety, being otherwise treacherous and contumacious, and surpassing all men in malice: he accosted the elder Alemi thus: Do you, he said, speak your judgment first, as you are a prudent man, pious, and older than I by many years. The elder Alemi replied: As I cast Alim from the principate when I drew the ring from his hand and placed it upon my own finger; so I cast out the ring of Alemi from my finger, and with it him from the principate. To whom the elder of Mavias answered: ^C As I brought Mavias into the principate when I placed his ring upon my finger; so I place the ring of Mavias upon his finger. And then they departed from one another. Mavias therefore assumes the principate of Syria, because all had sworn to the Amirezi that they would obey the words of the elders. Alim, therefore, with his people and all his kindred, departed into the parts of Ethrib, and there he met his final day. ^D

^A Hearing such a cry, Sauromates turned his head to see who had made the noise; and as Sauromates turned his face backward, the visor of his helmet opened a little, and Pharnaces, quickly rushing forward, struck Sauromates with his spear and killed him. When Sauromates had fallen, Pharnaces dismounted from his horse and decapitated him; and having become master of the war, he liberated the multitude of the Maeotians, but took the captives of Bosporus, and having stripped them of their land, he placed them in Kybernikon, above the border of the Chersonites, leaving them only forty miles of land; which borders remain until this day; and the aforementioned first borders are kept in Caffa.

Having kept a few of the Bosporians with him for the sake of agriculture, Pharnaces, moved by pity for the rest of them, allowed them to return to their own. Those who returned, on account of such a benefit and kindness shown to them by him, erected a statue to him in Bosporus. From that time on, the kingdom of the Sauromatae in Bosporus was dissolved.

When these things had happened, with Lamachus holding the office of stephanephoros and holding primacy among the Chersonites, and with Asander ruling over the Bosporians, ^B the Bosporians, full of much malice against the Chersonites and being in no way able to remain quiet in their wickedness, were always eager in some way to make retaliation for their captives to the Chersonites. And having learned that Lamachus had an only daughter, Gycia, and that Asander had sons, they devised an intermarriage, so that by this means they might enter the land of the Chersonites and take revenge with impunity. And so they send envoys to the Chersonites, exhorting: "If we know that true love exists between us, and that we deal with one another without guile, let us intermarry; and give us as a bride the daughter of Lamachus, your leader, for the sake of the son of Asander, our lord, or take him there to be your son-in-law, ^C and we know that we have mutual trust, with the son of the king abiding among you."

The Chersonites said to them: "We do not endure to give our daughter unto you; but if you wish to give one of the sons of Asander your king to us as a son-in-law, we accept; on condition, however, that whoever comes may never be able to attempt a return to the Bosporians for the sake of visiting or greeting his own father: if he should nevertheless attempt it, let him die at that very hour."

The envoys were dismissed on these terms, and having returned home and reported what had been done, Asander sent again to the Chersonites, saying: "If you speak truly, and give me assurance that Lamachus is willing to join his daughter to my eldest son, I will send that very one to you to become your son-in-law." Lamachus was at that time, as it is said, very rich in gold and silver, in manservants and maidservants, in horses and very many estates, and he had a house in four regions, in breadth and in length, ^D up to what was called Susa, where he also had his own gate in the wall and four large portals for entrance and exit, together with other splendid smaller doorways; such that as his flocks came into the city, the individual herds of cattle, and of horses and mares, and of oxen and heifers, and of sheep and donkeys, would each enter through its own gate and depart to its own stable.

brought Mavia into power, just as they brought his ring onto my finger, so I brought Mavia’s ring onto his finger; and then they separated from each other. Mavia then took over the authority of Syria, since all the emirs had sworn to each other that whatever the elders said, they would obey their words. Alim, then, having taken his people, went off to the regions of Athridou with all his kin, and there he ended his life.

^B After the death of Alim, his sons, deeming his father’s counsel to be nonsense and ravings, rose up against Mavia and joined a fierce battle with him; and being defeated, they fled from his presence; and Mavia sent forth and killed them all. From that time on, all the authority of the Arabs came to Mavia. It must be known that this Mavia was a descendant of Sophiam. A descendant of Mavia was Masalmas, who campaigned against Constantinople, and at whose request the Saracen sanctuary [(24)] was built in the imperial praetorium. He was not the leader of the Arabs, but Suleeman was the leader of the Saracens, and Masalmas served in the rank of general. Suleeman came with his fleet against Constantinople, and Masalmas by land, and he crossed at Lampsacus into the regions of Thrace, leading with him eighty thousand soldiers; and through the providence of God, when the fleet of Suleeman, the leader of the Arabs, and the infantry of Masalmas all returned with shame, having been defeated and overcome both by the fleet and the soldiers of the emperor, our commonwealth enjoyed peace for a very long time, through the leadership and protection of our Lady and ever-virgin Mary, the Theotokos, who protects this city, whose immaculate and holy icon Suleeman himself [(25)] also venerated and was awestruck by, and he fell from his horse.

CHAPTER XXII

Excerpt from the chronographer, the blessed Theophanes, concerning the same matters, and concerning Mavia and his lineage, how he crossed into Spain. The Roman emperor Justinian Rhinotmetus [(26)]. This is the beginning of his reign [(27)], and...

And she ordered the maid to place the whorl properly in its place; and she took hold of her and, embracing her, kissed her sincerely, and said to her: "Do not be afraid, child, your fault is forgiven; for God willed that you should stumble, so that He might reveal the treachery to us. See to it, therefore, that you be able to keep the matter quiet, and do not dare to confide this to anyone at all." And thenceforth she kept her with her more than before, as she was a faithful servant.

^A And Gycia, having called two of her kinsmen whom she trusted very much, says to them in private: "Go, assemble among yourselves in secret the chief men and nobles of the city, and let them select three men who are faithful, capable of keeping a secret and carrying out a task; and let them all bind them by oath to inform me on those things that I am about to ask them. And let them send them to me in secret, and I have something necessary and useful to the city to confide to them; only do quickly what I tell you." And when her kinsmen had departed and had told these things in secret to the chief men, they immediately chose three men whom they knew to be faithful; and having bound them all by oath, that if they should agree with Gycia either to do or to give, they should not rescind their words, but should carry out to the end what was ordered by her. And these having gone to Gycia in secret, she received them and says to them: "Can you assure me by oath regarding the things I am about to ask you, that you will do these things?" And they said to her: "Yes, mistress, we are ready to assure you regarding the things you wish to seek from us, that your words will be carried out to the end." Then Gycia says to them: "Assure me, that if I should die, you will bury me in the middle of the city, and I will tell you my secret; see, I am not asking a heavy thing of you." And the men, having heard this, with all eagerness assured her by oath, saying, "If you die, we will bury you in the middle of the city, and we will not carry you outside the walls." And Gycia, being persuaded by their oaths, says to them: "On the conditions that you have assured me, since then I reveal to you my secret; see, I wish for you to know that my husband, having the innate evil of his city, that of treachery and envy against us, has secretly brought into my house, without my knowledge, a crowd of Bosporians, up to two hundred, and is feeding them armed; but God has now, through a pretense, revealed it to me. He, therefore, has this plan: that, he says, when I give a feast to the city in memory of my father, and you, having feasted, have gone to sleep, he himself will rise in the night with the Bosporians and his own household, and set fire to your houses, and slaughter you all. And see then, the anniversary day of my father’s memory is now arriving, and I must, according to my oath, give to you as is my custom, what is necessary for the feast, and I am prepared to provide everything. ^D I would have you, therefore, all come gladly, and request and receive everything willingly, so that by no means he might understand that we have found out the matter, and some civil war might suddenly arise. Therefore publicly, as is the custom, hold the feast, but with moderation; and behave with dances in the streets: let each one indeed show wood, baggage, and solid torches in your houses, so that, as I refuse the feast and the dances, he may think that you are going away to rest,

again he entered, having cast out Leontius and Apsimar 28, and having led both of them in triumph in the hippodrome, he slew them 29. In this year 30, Abimelech sends to Justinian ^B to confirm the peace in this manner: that the emperor should put a stop to the legion of the Mardaites in Mount Lebanon, and should prevent their incursions, and that Abimelech should give to the Romans one thousand nomismata each day, and one noble horse, and one Ethiopian slave 31, and that they should have in common, in equal shares, the tributes of Cyprus, Armenia, and Iberia. And the emperor sent Paul the magistrianus to Abimelech to secure what had been agreed upon, and a written guarantee was made ^C with witnesses. And the magistrianus, having been honored with gifts, returned. And the emperor, having sent to them, led away twelve thousand Mardaites from their settlements; which action diminished and weakened the Roman power. For all the territories whose fortresses the Arabs now occupy, from Mopsuestia up to the fourth Armenia, were until then weak and uninhabited because of the incursion of the Mardaites; and once they were restrained, the Roman Empire has suffered and continues to suffer, up to the present day, the most terrible calamities 32 from the Arabs 33. ^D In the same year, the emperor 34 entered Armenia and there received the Mardaites of Lebanon, having dismantled that wall of bronze 35; and he dissolved the peace that had been firmly established with the Bulgarians, having overturned the precedents 36 which his own father had rightly and prudently ordained. While Abimelech was still in power 37, the Arabs campaigned against Africa and took it, and established a garrison from their own army therein.

and as I, too, make my preparations more quickly, and command my gates to be secured, do you immediately, in great silence, with your children and handmaidens ^A bring everything, and place the wood, baggage, and torches at my gates and posterns, and around the entire house, having poured oil on the wood so that it may catch fire more quickly; and when I come out and say to you, immediately take up the fire. And do you, in armor, stand around the house, so that wherever you see anyone leaping out of the house through a window, you may slay them. Therefore, go and tell this secret, and prepare everything that I have said to you." Hearing these things from the three men, the citizens did everything in haste according to the word of Gycia. ^B

When the day of the memorial arrived, Gycia, as if rejoicing, sent for the men of the city, urging them to receive the provisions for the celebration; her husband also concurred in this, and exhorted that more wine be given to them for the celebration. The citizens, having gladly received everything, rejoiced as they had been commanded, and danced all day long. But when evening came, the citizens began to make preparations and to go away to their own houses to rest, and they made merry with their whole households. And Gycia, in her own house, encouraging all of hers to drink fearlessly, so that they might become intoxicated and sleep more quickly, commanded only her chambermaids to remain sober, and she herself also abstained from wine. For having found a purple cup, she gave it to her chambermaid who was privy to the affair, and commanded her to mix water in it for her; and her husband, seeing the purple cup, did not suspect that she was drinking with water. And the evening having arrived, and the citizens, as I have already said, having finished their preparations, Gycia says to her husband: "Since we have feasted, come, let us also go to bed." Her husband, hearing this word, rejoiced all the more, and fell asleep; for he could not have said this himself, lest he give his wife cause to suspect the ruse he was devising. ^C

Gycia therefore commands all the gates and small doors to be secured, and the keys to be brought to her according to custom; and this having been done, she says in secret to her faithful chambermaid who knew of the ruse: "Be willing, with the remaining chambermaids, to skillfully take up all my jewelry, and the gold, and whatever useful things you are able to tuck into your bosoms, and make yourselves ready; so that when I say to you, follow me." And they, having obeyed her commands, were ready. But her husband having gone to bed, intending to sleep a little, so that he might rise again soon ^D

Leontius at that time had cast out Justinian from the Roman throne and, having exiled him to Cherson, he held the empire. After Tiberius Apsimar had succeeded Leontius in the kingship and held the Roman scepter, Abimelech, the leader of the Arabs, died, and his son Valid ruled for nine years.

In that same year, Justinian returned again to the throne; and because he governed it lethargically and carelessly, the Agarenes conquered the whole of Africa. Then the grandson of Mavia, with a small force, crossed over into Spain and, having gathered all those of his own race, he gained control of Spain, which they hold to this day. Whence the Agarenes living in Spain are called Maviatae. The Agarenes who inhabit Crete happen to be their descendants. For when Michael the Stammerer ^B held the Roman throne and the rebellion of Thomas occurred, lasting for three years, the king was occupied with these attendant troubles. The Agarenes living in Spain, finding an opportunity, fitted out a sufficient fleet and, starting from the regions of Sicily, they ravaged all the Cyclades islands; and coming to Crete, they found it convenient and undefended, and with no one rising up or fighting against them, they seized it and have held it to this day. Suleeman succeeds Valid, and he rules for three years. Under him, Masalmas, the general of Suleeman, campaigned with an army by land, and Umarus by sea, and by the cooperation of God they returned in shame and without success. Umar succeeds Suleeman and holds the Arab empire for two years. Azed succeeds Umar and holds the rule for four years. Isam succeeds him and holds the rule for nineteen years. When he died, Maruam held the rule for six years. When Maruam died, a certain Abdelas became master of the Arab rule, and [at the time that ^C Irene and Constantine were emperors, a certain Abdelas, having succeeded to the rule of the Arabs, reigned twenty-one years. After his death, Madis assumed the Arab rule and reigned nine years. He was succeeded by Aaron, who held the empire of the Arabic dominion for twenty-three years.]

ANSELM BANDURI'S NOTES

(38) Meursius interprets it wrongly, for instead of *ekratêsen* [held/ruled], I read *ekratei* [was ruling], and translate it thus: "But at that time Leontius, having cast out Justinian and relegated him to Cherson, was holding the empire." For that incursion of the Arabs into Africa happened in the 3rd year of Leontius, or the following. (39) That is, in the seventh year of Apsimar, 704 A.D., or the following. (40) Theophanes assigns the same number of years. (41) Theophanes makes no mention of these Arab deeds in Africa, during the second reign of Justinian Rhinotmetus. (42) Our author relates this in the preceding chapter. But he is mistaken, for this did not occur under Justinian Rhinotmetus, but under Constantine Copronymus. See Theophanes, who explains the whole matter at greater length in the 9th year of the same Constantine. (43) The manuscripts read "a small army." But the manuscript text is to be preferred, for as Theophanes writes in the place cited just above, after Maruam was killed by the Maurophori, his sons and other relatives, surviving those calamities, migrated from Egypt to Africa; and thence, indeed, to Spain, which they have held to this day. (44) Regarding the expedition of the Agarenes or Arabs against Crete and the Cyclades islands while Michael Balbus was emperor, and also regarding Thomas, who aspired to the empire against Michael, consult Leo Grammaticus in the *Life* of that same Augustus, and likewise Cedrenus and Zonaras. Moreover, Ignatius the Deacon, author of the *Lives* of the holy and blessed patriarchs of Constantinople, Tarasius and Nicephorus, wrote iambics against this Thomas, as Suidas relates: "Ignatius, deacon and skeuophylax of the Great Church of Constantinople, and later Metropolitan of Nicaea, a grammarian; he wrote the lives of the holy and blessed patriarchs Tarasius and Nicephorus; funeral elegies, letters, and iambics against Thomas the rebel, which they call *The Deeds of Thomas*, and many other things." (45) The author proceeds to deal with these kings at the end of the preceding chapter; and he follows the series of Arab princes. (46) The Arab prince is called Ized by Theophanes. (47) After Maruam is dead, Valid is numbered as Arab prince by Theophanes, who ascribes one year to him. See the same Theophanes at the 3rd year of Constantine Copronymus.