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diff --git a/16764.txt b/16764.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4267667 --- /dev/null +++ b/16764.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9850 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, History of the Wars, Books I and II (of 8), +by Procopius, Translated by H. B. Dewing + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: History of the Wars, Books I and II (of 8) + The Persian War + + +Author: Procopius + +Translator: H. B. Dewing + + +Release Date: September 27, 2005 [eBook #16764] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS I AND +II (OF 8)*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, jayam, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +PROCOPIUS + +With an English Translation by H. B. Dewing + +In Seven Volumes + +I + +HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS I AND II + +London +William Heinemann Ltd +Cambridge, Massachusetts +Harvard University Press + +MCMLXXI + +First Printed 1914 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + HISTORY OF THE WARS-- + PAGE + INTRODUCTION vii + + BIBLIOGRAPHY xv + + BOOK I.--THE PERSIAN WAR 1 + + BOOK II.--THE PERSIAN WAR (_continued_) 259 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +Procopius is known to posterity as the historian of the eventful reign +of Justinian (527-565 A.D.), and the chronicler of the great deeds of +the general Belisarius. He was born late in the fifth century in the +city of Caesarea in Palestine. As to his education and early years we +are not informed, but we know that he studied to fit himself for the +legal profession. He came as a young man to Constantinople, and seems to +have made his mark immediately. For as early as the year 527 he was +appointed legal adviser and private secretary[1] to Belisarius, then a +very young man who had been serving on the staff of the general +Justinian, and had only recently been advanced to the office of general. +Shortly after this Justinian was called by his uncle Justinus to share +the throne of the Roman Empire, and four months later Justinus died, +leaving Justinian sole emperor of the Romans. Thus the stage was set for +the scenes which are presented in the pages of Procopius. His own +activity continued till well nigh the end of Justinian's life, and he +seems to have outlived his hero, Belisarius. + +During the eventful years of Belisarius' campaigning in Africa, in +Italy, and in the East, Procopius was moving about with him and was an +eye-witness of the events he describes in his writings. In 527 we find +him in Mesopotamia; in 533 he accompanied Belisarius to Africa; and in +536 he journeyed with him to Italy. He was therefore quite correct in +the assertion which he makes rather modestly in the introduction of his +history, that he was better qualified than anyone else to write the +history of that period. Besides his intimacy with Belisarius it should +be added that his position gave him the further advantage of a certain +standing at the imperial court in Constantinople, and brought him the +acquaintance of many of the leading men of his day. Thus we have the +testimony of one intimately associated with the administration, and +this, together with the importance of the events through which he lived, +makes his record exceedingly interesting as well as historically +important. One must admit that his position was not one to encourage +impartiality in his presentation of facts, and that the imperial favour +was not won by plain speaking; nevertheless we have before us a man who +could not obliterate himself enough to play the abject flatterer always, +and he gives us the reverse, too, of his brilliant picture, as we shall +see presently. + +Procopius' three works give us a fairly complete account of the reign of +Justinian up till near the year 560 A.D., and he has done us the favour +of setting forth three different points of view which vary so widely +that posterity has sometimes found it difficult to reconcile them. His +greatest work, as well as his earliest, is the _History of the Wars_, in +eight books. The material is not arranged strictly according to +chronological sequence, but so that the progress of events may be traced +separately in each one of three wars. Thus the first two books are given +over to the Persian wars, the next two contain the account of the war +waged against the Vandals in Africa, the three following describe the +struggle against the Goths in Italy. These seven books were published +together first, and the eighth book was added later as a supplement to +bring the history up to about the date of 554, being a general account +of events in different parts of the empire. It is necessary to bear in +mind that the wars described separately by Procopius overlapped one +another in time, and that while the Romans were striving to hold back +the Persian aggressor they were also maintaining armies in Africa and in +Italy. In fact the Byzantine empire was making a supreme effort to +re-establish the old boundaries, and to reclaim the territories lost to +the barbarian nations. The emperor Justinian was fired by the ambition +to make the Roman Empire once more a world power, and he drained every +resource in his eagerness to make possible the fulfilment of this dream. +It was a splendid effort, but it was doomed to failure; the fallen +edifice could not be permanently restored. + +The history is more general than the title would imply, and all the +important events of the time are touched upon. So while we read much of +the campaigns against the nations who were crowding back the boundaries +of the old empire, we also hear of civic affairs such as the great Nika +insurrection in Byzantium in 532; similarly a careful account is given +of the pestilence of 540, and the care shewn in describing the nature of +the disease shews plainly that the author must have had some +acquaintance with the medical science of the time. + +After the seventh book of the _History of the Wars_ Procopius wrote the +_Anecdota_, or _Secret History_. Here he freed himself from all the +restraints of respect or fear, and set down without scruple everything +which he had been led to suppress or gloss over in the _History_ through +motives of policy. He attacks unmercifully the emperor and empress and +even Belisarius and his wife Antonina, and displays to us one of the +blackest pictures ever set down in writing. It is a record of wanton +crime and shameless debauchery, of intrigue and scandal both in public +and in private life. It is plain that the thing is overdone, and the +very extravagance of the calumny makes it impossible to be believed; +again and again we meet statements which, if not absolutely impossible, +are at least highly improbable. Many of the events of the _History_ are +presented in an entirely new light; we seem to hear one speaking out of +the bitterness of his heart. It should be said, at the same time, that +there are very few contradictions in statements of fact. The author has +plainly singled out the empress Theodora as the principal victim of his +venomous darts, and he gives an account of her early years which is both +shocking and disgusting, but which, happily, we are not forced to regard +as true. It goes without saying that such a work as this could not have +been published during the lifetime of the author, and it appears that it +was not given to the world until after the death of Justinian in 565. + +Serious doubts have been entertained in times past as to the +authenticity of the _Anecdota_, for at first sight it seems impossible +that the man who wrote in the calm tone of the _History_ and who +indulged in the fulsome praise of the panegyric _On the Buildings_ could +have also written the bitter libels of the _Anecdota_. It has come to be +seen, however, that this feeling is not supported by any unanswerable +arguments, and it is now believed to be highly probable at least, that +the _Anecdota_ is the work of Procopius. Its bitterness may be extreme +and its calumnies exaggerated beyond all reason, but it must be regarded +as prompted by a reaction against the hollow life of the Byzantine +court. + +The third work is entitled _On the Buildings_, and is plainly an attempt +to gain favour with the emperor. We can only guess as to what the +immediate occasion was for its composition. It is plain, however, that +the publication of the _History_ could not have aroused the enthusiasm +of Justinian; there was no attempt in it to praise the emperor, and one +might even read an unfavourable judgment between the lines. And it is +not at all unlikely that he was moved to envy by the praises bestowed +upon his general, Belisarius. At any rate the work _On the Buildings_ is +written in the empty style of the fawning flatterer. It is divided into +six short books and contains an account of all the public buildings of +Justinian's reign in every district of the empire. The subject was well +chosen and the material ample, and Procopius lost no opportunity of +lauding his sovereign to the skies. It is an excellent example of the +florid panegyric style which was, unfortunately, in great favour with +the literary world of his own as well as later Byzantine times. But in +spite of its faults, this work is a record of the greatest importance +for the study of the period, since it is a storehouse of information +concerning the internal administration of the empire. + +The style of Procopius is in general clear and straightforward, and +shews the mind of one who endeavours to speak the truth in simple +language wherever he is not under constraint to avoid it. At the same +time he is not ignorant of the arts of rhetoric, and especially in the +speeches he is fond of introducing sounding phrases and sententious +statements. He was a great admirer of the classical writers of prose, +and their influence is everywhere apparent in his writing; in particular +he is much indebted to the historians Herodotus and Thucydides, and he +borrows from them many expressions and turns of phrase. But the Greek +which he writes is not the pure Attic, and we find many evidences of the +influence of the contemporary spoken language. + +Procopius writes at times as a Christian, and at times as one imbued +with the ideas of the ancient religion of Greece. Doubtless his study of +the classical writers led him into this, perhaps unconsciously. At any +rate it seems not to have been with him a matter in which even +consistency was demanded. It was politic to espouse the religion of the +state, but still he often allows himself to speak as if he were a +contemporary of Thucydides. + +The text followed is that of Haury, issued in the Teubner series, +1905-1913. + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHY + +The _editio princeps_ of Procopius was published by David Hoeschel, +Augsburg, 1607; the _Secret History_ was not included, and only +summaries of the six books of the work _On the Buildings_ were given. +The edition is not important except as being the first. + +The _Secret History_ was printed for the first time separately with a +Latin translation by Alemannus, Lyon, 1623. + +The first complete edition was that of Maltretus, Paris, 1661-63, +reprinted in Venice, 1729; the edition included a Latin translation of +all the works, which was taken over into the edition of Procopius in the +_Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae_ by Dindorf, Bonn, 1833-38. + +Two editions of recent years are to be mentioned: Domenico Comparetti, +_La Guerra Gotica di Procopio di Cesarea_; testo Greco emendato sui +manoscritti con traduxione Italiana, Rome, 1895-98; 3 vols. Jacobus +Haury, _Procopii Caesariensis Opera Omnia_, Leipzig, 1905-13; 3 vols. +(Bibl. Teub.). + +Among a number of works on Procopius or on special subjects connected +with his writings the following may be mentioned: + +Felix Dahn: _Procopius von Caesarea_, Berlin, 1865. + +Julius Jung: _Geographisch-Historisches bei Procopius von Caesarea_, +Wiener Studien 5 (1883) 85-115. + +W. Gundlach: _Quaestiones Procopianae_, Progr. Hanau, 1861, also +Dissert. Marburg, 1861. + +J. Haury: _Procopiana_, Progr. Augsburg, 1891. + +B. Pancenko: _Ueber die Geheimgeschichte des Prokop_, Viz. Vrem. 2 +(1895). + +J. Haury: _Zur Beurteilung des Geschichtschreibers Procopius von +Caesarea_, Munich, 1896-97. + + 1971. The Teubner edition in 4 volumes by J. Haury (1905-1913) has been +re-edited by G. Wirth. + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] + +[Greek: xymboulos], _Proc. Bell._ I. xii. 24. He is elsewhere referred +to as [Greek: paredros] or [Greek: hypographeus]. + + + + + +PROCOPIUS OF CAESAREA + +HISTORY OF THE WARS: BOOK I + +THE PERSIAN WAR + + + +PROCOPIUS OF CAESAREA + + + +HISTORY OF THE WARS: + +BOOK I + + + + +THE PERSIAN WAR + + +I + +Procopius of Caesarea has written the history of the wars which +Justinian, Emperor of the Romans, waged against the barbarians of the +East and of the West, relating separately the events of each one, to the +end that the long course of time may not overwhelm deeds of singular +importance through lack of a record, and thus abandon them to oblivion +and utterly obliterate them. The memory of these events he deemed would +be a great thing and most helpful to men of the present time, and to +future generations as well, in case time should ever again place men +under a similar stress. For men who purpose to enter upon a war or are +preparing themselves for any kind of struggle may derive some benefit +from a narrative of a similar situation in history, inasmuch as this +discloses the final result attained by men of an earlier day in a +struggle of the same sort, and foreshadows, at least for those who are +most prudent in planning, what outcome present events will probably +have. Furthermore he had assurance that he was especially competent to +write the history of these events, if for no other reason, because it +fell to his lot, when appointed adviser to the general Belisarius, to be +an eye-witness of practically all the events to be described. It was his +conviction that while cleverness is appropriate to rhetoric, and +inventiveness to poetry, truth alone is appropriate to history. In +accordance with this principle he has not concealed the failures of even +his most intimate acquaintances, but has written down with complete +accuracy everything which befell those concerned, whether it happened to +be done well or ill by them. + +It will be evident that no more important or mightier deeds are to be +found in history than those which have been enacted in these +wars,--provided one wishes to base his judgment on the truth. For in +them more remarkable feats have been performed than in any other wars +with which we are acquainted; unless, indeed, any reader of this +narrative should give the place of honour to antiquity, and consider +contemporary achievements unworthy to be counted remarkable. There are +those, for example, who call the soldiers of the present day "bowmen," +while to those of the most ancient times they wish to attribute such +lofty terms as "hand-to-hand fighters," "shield-men," and other names of +that sort; and they think that the valour of those times has by no means +survived to the present,--an opinion which is at once careless and +wholly remote from actual experience of these matters. For the thought +has never occurred to them that, as regards the Homeric bowmen who had +the misfortune to be ridiculed by this term[1] derived from their art, +they were neither carried by horse nor protected by spear or shield[2]. +In fact there was no protection at all for their bodies; they entered +battle on foot, and were compelled to conceal themselves, either +singling out the shield of some comrade[3], or seeking safety behind a +tombstone on a mound[4], from which position they could neither save +themselves in case of rout, nor fall upon a flying foe. Least of all +could they participate in a decisive struggle in the open, but they +always seemed to be stealing something which belonged to the men who +were engaged in the struggle. And apart from this they were so +indifferent in their practice of archery that they drew the bowstring +only to the breast[5], so that the missile sent forth was naturally +impotent and harmless to those whom it hit[6]. Such, it is evident, was +the archery of the past. But the bowmen of the present time go into +battle wearing corselets and fitted out with greaves which extend up to +the knee. From the right side hang their arrows, from the other the +sword. And there are some who have a spear also attached to them and, at +the shoulders, a sort of small shield without a grip, such as to cover +the region of the face and neck. They are expert horsemen, and are able +without difficulty to direct their bows to either side while riding at +full speed, and to shoot an opponent whether in pursuit or in flight. +They draw the bowstring along by the forehead about opposite the right +ear, thereby charging the arrow with such an impetus as to kill whoever +stands in the way, shield and corselet alike having no power to check +its force. Still there are those who take into consideration none of +these things, who reverence and worship the ancient times, and give no +credit to modern improvements. But no such consideration will prevent +the conclusion that most great and notable deeds have been performed in +these wars. And the history of them will begin at some distance back, +telling of the fortunes in war of the Romans and the Medes, their +reverses and their successes. + + +II + +[408 A.D.] When the Roman Emperor Arcadius was at the point of death in +Byzantium, having a malechild, Theodosius, who was still unweaned, he +felt grave fears not only for him but for the government as well, not +knowing how he should provide wisely for both. For he perceived that, if +he provided a partner in government for Theodosius, he would in fact be +destroying his own son by bringing forward against him a foe clothed in +the regal power; while if he set him alone over the empire, many would +try to mount the throne, taking advantage, as they might be expected to +do, of the helplessness of the child. These men would rise against the +government, and, after destroying Theodosius, would make themselves +tyrants without difficulty, since the boy had no kinsman in Byzantium to +be his guardian. For Arcadius had no hope that the boy's uncle, +Honorius, would succour him, inasmuch as the situation in Italy was +already troublesome. And he was equally disturbed by the attitude of the +Medes, fearing lest these barbarians should trample down the youthful +emperor and do the Romans irreparable harm. When Arcadius was confronted +with this difficult situation, though he had not shewn himself sagacious +in other matters, he devised a plan which was destined to preserve +without trouble both his child and his throne, either as a result of +conversation with certain of the learned men, such as are usually found +in numbers among the advisers of a sovereign, or from some divine +inspiration which came to him. For in drawing up the writings of his +will, he designated the child as his successor to the throne, but +appointed as guardian over him Isdigerdes, the Persian King, enjoining +upon him earnestly in his will to preserve the empire for Theodosius by +all his power and foresight. So Arcadius died, having thus arranged his +private affairs as well as those of the empire. But Isdigerdes, the +Persian King, when he saw this writing which was duly delivered to him, +being even before a sovereign whose nobility of character had won for +him the greatest renown, did then display a virtue at once amazing and +remarkable. For, loyally observing the behests of Arcadius, he adopted +and continued without interruption a policy of profound peace with the +Romans, and thus preserved the empire for Theodosius. Indeed, he +straightway dispatched a letter to the Roman senate, not declining the +office of guardian of the Emperor Theodosius, and threatening war +against any who should attempt to enter into a conspiracy against him. + +[441 A.D.] When Theodosius had grown to manhood and was in the prime of +life, and Isdigerdes had been taken from the world by disease, +Vararanes, the Persian King, invaded the Roman domains with a mighty +army; however he did no damage, but returned to his home without +accomplishing anything. This came about in the following way. Anatolius, +General of the East, had, as it happened, been sent by the Emperor +Theodosius as ambassador to the Persians, alone and unaccompanied; as he +approached the Median army, solitary as he was, he leapt down from his +horse, and advanced on foot toward Vararanes. And when Vararanes saw +him, he enquired from those who were near who this man could be who was +coming forward. And they replied that he was the general of the Romans. +Thereupon the king was so dumbfounded by this excessive degree of +respect that he himself wheeled his horse about and rode away, and the +whole Persian host followed him. When he had reached his own territory, +he received the envoy with great cordiality, and granted the treaty of +peace on the terms which Anatolius desired of him; one condition, +however, he added, that neither party should construct any new +fortification in his own territory in the neighbourhood of the boundary +line between the two countries. When this treaty had been executed, both +sovereigns then continued to administer the affairs of their respective +countries as seemed best to them. + + +III + +At a later time the Persian King Perozes became involved in a war +concerning boundaries with the nation of the Ephthalitae Huns, who are +called White Huns, gathered an imposing army, and marched against them. +The Ephthalitae are of the stock of the Huns in fact as well as in name; +however they do not mingle with any of the Huns known to us, for they +occupy a land neither adjoining nor even very near to them; but their +territory lies immediately to the north of Persia; indeed their city, +called Gorgo, is located over against the Persian frontier, and is +consequently the centre of frequent contests concerning boundary lines +between the two peoples. For they are not nomads like the other Hunnic +peoples, but for a long period have been established in a goodly land. +As a result of this they have never made any incursion into the Roman +territory except in company with the Median army. They are the only ones +among the Huns who have white bodies and countenances which are not +ugly. It is also true that their manner of living is unlike that of +their kinsmen, nor do they live a savage life as they do; but they are +ruled by one king, and since they possess a lawful constitution, they +observe right and justice in their dealings both with one another and +with their neighbours, in no degree less than the Romans and the +Persians. Moreover, the wealthy citizens are in the habit of attaching +to themselves friends to the number of twenty or more, as the case may +be, and these become permanently their banquet-companions, and have a +share in all their property, enjoying some kind of a common right in +this matter. Then, when the man who has gathered such a company together +comes to die, it is the custom that all these men be borne alive into +the tomb with him. + +Perozes, marching against these Ephthalitae, was accompanied by an +ambassador, Eusebius by name, who, as it happened, had been sent to his +court by the Emperor Zeno. Now the Ephthalitae made it appear to their +enemy that they had turned to flight because they were wholly terrified +by their attack, and they retired with all speed to a place which was +shut in on every side by precipitous mountains, and abundantly screened +by a close forest of wide-spreading trees. Now as one advanced between +the mountains to a great distance, a broad way appeared in the valley, +extending apparently to an indefinite distance, but at the end it had no +outlet at all, but terminated in the very midst of the circle of +mountains. So Perozes, with no thought at all of treachery, and +forgetting that he was marching in a hostile country, continued the +pursuit without the least caution. A small body of the Huns were in +flight before him, while the greater part of their force, by concealing +themselves in the rough country, got in the rear of the hostile army; +but as yet they desired not to be seen by them, in order that they might +advance well into the trap and get as far as possible in among the +mountains, and thus be no longer able to turn back. When the Medes began +to realize all this (for they now began to have a glimmering of their +peril), though they refrained from speaking of the situation themselves +through fear of Perozes, yet they earnestly entreated Eusebius to urge +upon the king, who was completely ignorant of his own plight, that he +should take counsel rather than make an untimely display of daring, and +consider well whether there was any way of safety open to them. So he +went before Perozes, but by no means revealed the calamity which was +upon them; instead he began with a fable, telling how a lion once +happened upon a goat bound down and bleating on a mound of no very great +height, and how the lion, bent upon making a feast of the goat, rushed +forward with intent to seize him, but fell into a trench exceedingly +deep, in which was a circular path, narrow and endless (for it had no +outlet anywhere), which indeed the owners of the goat had constructed +for this very purpose, and they had placed the goat above it to be a +bait for the lion. When Perozes heard this, a fear came over him lest +perchance the Medes had brought harm upon themselves by their pursuit of +the enemy. He therefore advanced no further, but, remaining where he +was, began to consider the situation. By this time the Huns were +following him without any concealment, and were guarding the entrance of +the place in order that their enemy might no longer be able to withdraw +to the rear. Then at last the Persians saw clearly in what straits they +were, and they felt that the situation was desperate; for they had no +hope that they would ever escape from the peril. Then the king of the +Ephthalitae sent some of his followers to Perozes; he upbraided him at +length for his senseless foolhardiness, by which he had wantonly +destroyed both himself and the Persian people, but he announced that +even so the Huns would grant them deliverance, if Perozes should consent +to prostrate himself before him as having proved himself master, and, +taking the oaths traditional among the Persians, should give pledges +that they would never again take the field against the nation of the +Ephthalitae. When Perozes heard this, he held a consultation with the +Magi who were present and enquired of them whether he must comply with +the terms dictated by the enemy. The Magi replied that, as to the oath, +he should settle the matter according to his own pleasure; as for the +rest, however, he should circumvent his enemy by craft. And they +reminded him that it was the custom among the Persians to prostrate +themselves before the rising sun each day; he should, therefore, watch +the time closely and meet the leader of the Ephthalitae at dawn, and +then, turning toward the rising sun, make his obeisance. In this way, +they explained, he would be able in the future to escape the ignominy of +the deed. Perozes accordingly gave the pledges concerning the peace, and +prostrated himself before his foe exactly as the Magi had suggested, and +so, with the whole Median army intact, gladly retired homeward. + + +IV + +Not long after this, disregarding the oath he had sworn, he was eager to +avenge himself upon the Huns for the insult done him. He therefore +straightway gathered together from the whole land all the Persians and +their allies, and led them against the Ephthalitae; of all his sons he +left behind him only one, Cabades by name, who, as it happened, was just +past the age of boyhood; all the others, about thirty in number, he took +with him. The Ephthalitae, upon learning of his invasion, were aggrieved +at the deception they had suffered at the hands of their enemy, and +bitterly reproached their king as having abandoned them to the Medes. +He, with a laugh, enquired of them what in the world of theirs he had +abandoned, whether their land or their arms or any other part of their +possessions. They thereupon retorted that he had abandoned nothing, +except, forsooth, the one opportunity on which, as it turned out, +everything else depended. Now the Ephthalitae with all zeal demanded +that they should go out to meet the invaders, but the king sought to +restrain them at any rate for the moment. For he insisted that as yet +they had received no definite information as to the invasion, for the +Persians were still within their own boundaries. So, remaining where he +was, he busied himself as follows. In the plain where the Persians were +to make their irruption into the land of the Ephthalitae he marked off a +tract of very great extent and made a deep trench of sufficient width; +but in the centre he left a small portion of ground intact, enough to +serve as a way for ten horses. Over the trench he placed reeds, and upon +the reeds he scattered earth, thereby concealing the true surface. He +then directed the forces of the Huns that, when the time came to retire +inside the trench, they should draw themselves together into a narrow +column and pass rather slowly across this neck of land, taking care that +they should not fall into the ditch[7]. And he hung from the top of the +royal banner the salt over which Perozes had once sworn the oath which +he had disregarded in taking the field against the Huns. Now as long as +he heard that the enemy were in their own territory, he remained at +rest; but when he learned from his scouts that they had reached the city +of Gorgo which lies on the extreme Persian frontier, and that departing +thence they were now advancing against his army, remaining himself with +the greater part of his troops inside the trench, he sent forward a +small detachment with instructions to allow themselves to be seen at a +distance by the enemy in the plain, and, when once they had been seen, +to flee at full speed to the rear, keeping in mind his command +concerning the trench as soon as they drew near to it. They did as +directed, and, as they approached the trench, they drew themselves into +a narrow column, and all passed over and joined the rest of the army. +But the Persians, having no means of perceiving the stratagem, gave +chase at full speed across a very level plain, possessed as they were by +a spirit of fury against the enemy, and fell into the trench, every man +of them, not alone the first but also those who followed in the rear. +For since they entered into the pursuit with great fury, as I have said, +they failed to notice the catastrophe which had befallen their leaders, +but fell in on top of them with their horses and lances, so that, as was +natural, they both destroyed them, and were themselves no less involved +in ruin. Among them were Perozes and all his sons. And just as he was +about to fall into this pit, they say that he realized the danger, and +seized and threw from him the pearl which hung from his right ear,--a +gem of wonderful whiteness and greatly prized on account of its +extraordinary size--in order, no doubt, that no one might wear it after +him; for it was a thing exceedingly beautiful to look upon, such as no +king before him had possessed. This story, however, seems to me +untrustworthy, because a man who found himself in such peril would have +thought of nothing else; but I suppose that his ear was crushed in this +disaster, and the pearl disappeared somewhere or other. This pearl the +Roman Emperor then made every effort to buy from the Ephthalitae, but +was utterly unsuccessful. For the barbarians were not able to find it +although they sought it with great labour. However, they say that the +Ephthalitae found it later and sold it to Cabades. + +The story of this pearl, as told by the Persians, is worth recounting, +for perhaps to some it may not seem altogether incredible. For they say +that it was lodged in its oyster in the sea which washes the Persian +coast, and that the oyster was swimming not far from the shore; both its +valves were standing open and the pearl lay between them, a wonderful +sight and notable, for no pearl in all history could be compared with it +at all, either in size or in beauty. A shark, then, of enormous size and +dreadful fierceness, fell in love with this sight and followed close +upon it, leaving it neither day nor night; even when he was compelled to +take thought for food, he would only look about for something eatable +where he was, and when he found some bit, he would snatch it up and eat +it hurriedly; then overtaking the oyster immediately, he would sate +himself again with the sight he loved. At length a fisherman, they say, +noticed what was passing, but in terror of the monster he recoiled from +the danger; however, he reported the whole matter to the king, Perozes. +Now when Perozes heard his account, they say that a great longing for +the pearl came over him, and he urged on this fisherman with many +flatteries and hopes of reward. Unable to resist the importunities of +the monarch, he is said to have addressed Perozes as follows: "My +master, precious to a man is money, more precious still is his life, but +most prized of all are his children; and being naturally constrained by +his love for them a man might perhaps dare anything. Now I intend to +make trial of the monster, and hope to make thee master of the pearl. +And if I succeed in this struggle, it is plain that henceforth I shall +be ranked among those who are counted blessed. For it is not unlikely +that thou, as King of Kings, wilt reward me with all good things; and +for me it will be sufficient, even if it so fall out that I gain no +reward, to have shewn myself a benefactor of my master. But if it must +needs be that I become the prey of this monster, thy task indeed it will +be, O King, to requite my children for their father's death. Thus even +after my death I shall still be a wage-earner among those closest to me, +and thou wilt win greater fame for thy goodness,--for in helping my +children thou wilt confer a boon upon me, who shall have no power to +thank thee for the benefit--because generosity is seen to be without +alloy only when it is displayed towards the dead." With these words he +departed. And when he came to the place where the oyster was accustomed +to swim and the shark to follow, he seated himself there upon a rock, +watching for an opportunity of catching the pearl alone without its +admirer. As soon as it came about that the shark had happened upon +something which would serve him for food, and was delaying over it, the +fisherman left upon the beach those who were following him for this +service, and made straight for the oyster with all his might; already he +had seized it and was hastening with all speed to get out of the water, +when the shark noticed him and rushed to the rescue. The fisherman saw +him coming, and, when he was about to be overtaken not far from the +beach, he hurled his booty with all his force upon the land, and was +himself soon afterwards seized and destroyed. But the men who had been +left upon the beach picked up the pearl, and, conveying it to the king, +reported all that had happened. Such, then, is the story which the +Persians relate, just as I have set it down, concerning this pearl. But +I shall return to the previous narrative. + +[484 A.D.] Thus Perozes was destroyed and the whole Persian army with +him. For the few who by chance did not fall into the ditch found +themselves at the mercy of the enemy. As a result of this experience a +law was established among the Persians that, while marching in hostile +territory, they should never engage in any pursuit, even if it should +happen that the enemy had been driven back by force. Thereupon those who +had not marched with Perozes and had remained in their own land chose as +their king Cabades, the youngest son of Perozes, who was then the only +one surviving. At that time, then, the Persians became subject and +tributary to the Ephthalitae, until Cabades had established his power +most securely and no longer deemed it necessary to pay the annual +tribute to them. And the time these barbarians ruled over the Persians +was two years. + + +V + +But as time went on Cabades became more high-handed in the +administration of the government, and introduced innovations into the +constitution, among which was a law which he promulgated providing that +Persians should have communal intercourse with their women, a measure +which by no means pleased the common people. [486 A.D.] Accordingly they +rose against him, removed him from the throne, and kept him in prison in +chains. They then chose Blases, the brother of Perozes, to be their +king, since, as has been said, no male offspring of Perozes was left, +and it is not lawful among the Persians for any man by birth a common +citizen to be set upon the throne, except in case the royal family be +totally extinct. Blases, upon receiving the royal power, gathered +together the nobles of the Persians and held a conference concerning +Cabades; for it was not the wish of the majority to put the man to +death. After the expression of many opinions on both sides there came +forward a certain man of repute among the Persians, whose name was +Gousanastades, and whose office that of "chanaranges" (which would be +the Persian term for general); his official province lay on the very +frontier of the Persian territory in a district which adjoins the land +of the Ephthalitae. Holding up his knife, the kind with which the +Persians were accustomed to trim their nails, of about the length of a +man's finger, but not one-third as wide as a finger, he said: "You see +this knife, how extremely small it is; nevertheless it is able at the +present time to accomplish a deed, which, be assured, my dear Persians, +a little later two myriads of mail-clad men could not bring to pass." +This he said hinting that, if they did not put Cabades to death, he +would straightway make trouble for the Persians. But they were +altogether unwilling to put to death a man of the royal blood, and +decided to confine him in a castle which it is their habit to call the +"Prison of Oblivion." For if anyone is cast into it, the law permits no +mention of him to be made thereafter, but death is the penalty for the +man who speaks his name; for this reason it has received this title +among the Persians. On one occasion, however, the History of the +Armenians relates that the operation of the law regarding the Prison of +Oblivion was suspended by the Persians in the following way. + +There was once a truceless war, lasting two and thirty years, between +the Persians and the Armenians, when Pacurius was king of the Persians, +and of the Armenians, Arsaces, of the line of the Arsacidae. And by the +long continuance of this war it came about that both sides suffered +beyond measure, and especially the Armenians. But each nation was +possessed by such great distrust of the other that neither of them could +make overtures of peace to their opponents. In the meantime it happened +that the Persians became engaged in a war with certain other barbarians +who lived not far from the Armenians. Accordingly the Armenians, in +their eagerness to make a display to the Persians of their goodwill and +desire for peace, decided to invade the land of these barbarians, first +revealing their plan to the Persians. Then they fell upon them +unexpectedly and killed almost the whole population, old and young +alike. Thereupon Pacurius, who was overjoyed at the deed, sent certain +of his trusted friends to Arsaces, and giving him pledges of security, +invited him to his presence. And when Arsaces came to him he shewed him +every kindness, and treated him as a brother on an equal footing with +himself. Then he bound him by the most solemn oaths, and he himself +swore likewise, that in very truth the Persians and Armenians should +thenceforth be friends and allies to each other; thereafter he +straightway dismissed Arsaces to return to his own country. + +Not long after this certain persons slandered Arsaces, saying that he +was purposing to undertake some seditious enterprise. Pacurius was +persuaded by these men and again summoned him, intimating that he was +anxious to confer with him on general matters. And he, without any +hesitation at all, came to the king, taking with him several of the most +warlike among the Armenians, and among them Bassicius, who was at once +his general and counsellor; for he was both brave and sagacious to a +remarkable degree. Straightway, then, Pacurius heaped reproach and abuse +upon both Arsaces and Bassicius, because, disregarding the sworn +compact, they had so speedily turned their thoughts toward secession. +They, however, denied the charge, and swore most insistently that no +such thing had been considered by them. At first, therefore, Pacurius +kept them under guard in disgrace, but after a time he enquired of the +Magi what should be done with them. Now the Magi deemed it by no means +just to condemn men who denied their guilt and had not been explicitly +found guilty, but they suggested to him an artifice by which Arsaces +himself might be compelled to become openly his own accuser. They bade +him cover the floor of the royal tent with earth, one half from the land +of Persia, and the other half from Armenia. This the king did as +directed. Then the Magi, after putting the whole tent under a spell by +means of some magic rites, bade the king take his walk there in company +with Arsaces, reproaching him meanwhile with having violated the sworn +agreement. They said, further, that they too must be present at the +conversation, for in this way there would be witnesses of all that was +said. Accordingly Pacurius straightway summoned Arsaces, and began to +walk to and fro with him in the tent in the presence of the Magi; he +enquired of the man why he had disregarded his sworn promises, and was +setting about to harass the Persians and Armenians once more with +grievous troubles. Now as long as the conversation took place on the +ground which was covered with the earth from the land of Persia, Arsaces +continued to make denial, and, pledging himself with the most fearful +oaths, insisted that he was a faithful subject of Pacurius. But when, in +the midst of his speaking, he came to the centre of the tent where they +stepped upon Armenian earth, then, compelled by some unknown power, he +suddenly changed the tone of his words to one of defiance, and from then +on ceased not to threaten Pacurius and the Persians, announcing that he +would have vengeance upon them for this insolence as soon as he should +become his own master. These words of youthful folly he continued to +utter as they walked all the way, until turning back, he came again to +the earth from the Persian land. Thereupon, as if chanting a +recantation, he was once more a suppliant, offering pitiable +explanations to Pacurius. But when he came again to the Armenian earth, +he returned to his threats. In this way he changed many times to one +side and the other, and concealed none of his secrets. Then at length +the Magi passed judgment against him as having violated the treaty and +the oaths. Pacurius flayed Bassicius, and, making a bag of his skin, +filled it with chaff and suspended it from a lofty tree. As for Arsaces, +since Pacurius could by no means bring himself to kill a man of the +royal blood, he confined him in the Prison of Oblivion. + +After a time, when the Persians were marching against a barbarian +nation, they were accompanied by an Armenian who had been especially +intimate with Arsaces and had followed him when he went into the Persian +land. This man proved himself a capable warrior in this campaign, as +Pacurius observed, and was the chief cause of the Persian victory. For +this reason Pacurius begged him to make any request he wished, assuring +him that he would be refused nothing by him. The Armenian asked for +nothing else than that he might for one day pay homage to Arsaces in the +way he might desire. Now it annoyed the king exceedingly, that he should +be compelled to set aside a law so ancient; however, in order to be +wholly true to his word, he permitted that the request be granted. When +the man found himself by the king's order in the Prison of Oblivion, he +greeted Arsaces, and both men, embracing each other, joined their voices +in a sweet lament, and, bewailing the hard fate that was upon them, were +able only with difficulty to release each other from the embrace. Then, +when they had sated themselves with weeping and ceased from tears, the +Armenian bathed Arsaces, and completely adorned his person, neglecting +nothing, and, putting on him the royal robe, caused him to recline on a +bed of rushes. Then Arsaces entertained those present with a royal +banquet just as was formerly his custom. During this feast many speeches +were made over the cups which greatly pleased Arsaces, and many +incidents occurred which delighted his heart. The drinking was prolonged +until nightfall, all feeling the keenest delight in their mutual +intercourse; at length they parted from each other with great +reluctance, and separated thoroughly imbued with happiness. Then they +tell how Arsaces said that after spending the sweetest day of his life, +and enjoying the company of the man he had missed most of all, he would +no longer willingly endure the miseries of life; and with these words, +they say, he dispatched himself with a knife which, as it happened, he +had purposely stolen at the banquet, and thus departed from among men. +Such then is the story concerning this Arsaces, related in the Armenian +History just as I have told it, and it was on that occasion that the law +regarding the Prison of Oblivion was set aside. But I must return to the +point from which I have strayed. + + +VI + +While Cabades was in the prison he was cared for by his wife, who went +in to him constantly and carried him supplies of food. Now the keeper of +the prison began to make advances to her, for she was exceedingly +beautiful to look upon. And when Cabades learned this from his wife, he +bade her give herself over to the man to treat as he wished. In this way +the keeper of the prison came to be familiar with the woman, and he +conceived for her an extraordinary love, and as a result permitted her +to go in to her husband just as she wished, and to depart from there +again without interference from anyone. Now there was a Persian notable, +Seoses by name, a devoted friend of Cabades, who was constantly in the +neighbourhood of this prison, watching his opportunity, in the hope that +he might in some way be able to effect his deliverance. And he sent word +to Cabades through his wife that he was keeping horses and men in +readiness not far from the prison, and he indicated to him a certain +spot. Then one day as night drew near Cabades persuaded his wife to give +him her own garment, and, dressing herself in his clothes, to sit +instead of him in the prison where he usually sat. In this way, +therefore, Cabades made his escape from the prison. For although the +guards who were on duty saw him, they supposed that it was the woman, +and therefore decided not to hinder or otherwise annoy him. At daybreak +they saw in the cell the woman in her husband's clothes, and were so +completely deceived as to think that Cabades was there, and this belief +prevailed during several days, until Cabades had advanced well on his +way. As to the fate which befell the woman after the stratagem had come +to light, and the manner in which they punished her, I am unable to +speak with accuracy. For the Persian accounts do not agree with each +other, and for this reason I omit the narration of them. + +Cabades, in company with Seoses, completely escaped detection, and +reached the Ephthalitae Huns; there the king gave him his daughter in +marriage, and then, since Cabades was now his son-in-law, he put under +his command a very formidable army for a campaign against the Persians. +This army the Persians were quite unwilling to encounter, and they made +haste to flee in every direction. And when Cabades reached the territory +where Gousanastades exercised his authority, he stated to some of his +friends that he would appoint as chanaranges the first man of the +Persians who should on that day come into his presence and offer his +services. But even as he said this, he repented his speech, for there +came to his mind a law of the Persians which ordains that offices among +the Persians shall not be conferred upon others than those to whom each +particular honour belongs by right of birth. For he feared lest someone +should come to him first who was not a kinsman of the present +chanaranges, and that he would be compelled to set aside the law in +order to keep his word. Even as he was considering this matter, chance +brought it about that, without dishonouring the law, he could still keep +his word. For the first man who came to him happened to be +Adergoudounbades, a young man who was a relative of Gousanastades and an +especially capable warrior. He addressed Cabades as "Lord," and was the +first to do obeisance to him as king, and besought him to use him as a +slave for any service whatever. [488 A.D.] So Cabades made his way into +the royal palace without any trouble, and, taking Blases destitute of +defenders, he put out his eyes, using the method of blinding commonly +employed by the Persians against malefactors, that is, either by heating +olive oil and pouring it, while boiling fiercely, into the wide-open +eyes, or by heating in the fire an iron needle, and with this pricking +the eyeballs. Thereafter Blases was kept in confinement, having ruled +over the Persians two years. Gousanastades was put to death and +Adergoudounbades was established in his place in the office of +chanaranges, while Seoses was immediately proclaimed "adrastadaran +salanes,"--a title designating the one set in authority over all +magistrates and over the whole army. Seoses was the first and only man +who held this office in Persia; for it was conferred on no one before or +after that time. And the kingdom was strengthened by Cabades and guarded +securely; for in shrewdness and activity he was surpassed by none. + + +VII. + +A little later Cabades was owing the king of the Ephthalitae a sum of +money which he was not able to pay him, and he therefore requested the +Roman emperor Anastasius to lend him this money. Whereupon Anastasius +conferred with some of his friends and enquired of them whether this +should be done; and they would not permit him to make the loan. For, as +they pointed out, it was inexpedient to make more secure by means of +their money the friendship between their enemies and the Ephthalitae; +indeed it was better for the Romans to disturb their relations as much +as possible. It was for this reason, and for no just cause, that Cabades +decided to make an expedition against the Romans. [502 A.D.] First he +invaded the land of the Armenians, moving with such rapidity as to +anticipate the news of his coming, and, after plundering the greater +part of it in a rapid campaign, he unexpectedly arrived at the city of +Amida, which is situated in Mesopotamia, and, although the season was +winter, he invested the town. Now the citizens of Amida had no soldiers +at hand, seeing that it was a time of peace and prosperity, and in other +respects were utterly unprepared; nevertheless they were quite unwilling +to yield to the enemy, and shewed an unexpected fortitude in holding out +against dangers and hardships. + +Now there was among the Syrians a certain just man, Jacobus by name, who +had trained himself with exactitude in matters pertaining to religion. +This man had confined himself many years before in a place called +Endielon, a day's journey from Amida, in order that he might with more +security devote himself to pious contemplation. The men of this place, +assisting his purpose, had surrounded him with a kind of fencing, in +which the stakes were not continuous, but set at intervals, so that +those who approached could see and hold converse with him. And they had +constructed for him a small roof over his head, sufficient to keep off +the rain and snow. There this man had been sitting for a long time, +never yielding either to heat or cold, and sustaining his life with +certain seeds, which he was accustomed to eat, not indeed every day, but +only at long intervals. Now some of the Ephthalitae who were overrunning +the country thereabout saw this Jacobus and with great eagerness drew +their bows with intent to shoot at him. But the hands of every one of +them became motionless and utterly unable to manage the bow. When this +was noised about through the army and came to the ears of Cabades, he +desired to see the thing with his own eyes; and when he saw it, both he +and the Persians who were with him were seized with great astonishment, +and he entreated Jacobus to forgive the barbarians their crime. And he +forgave them with a word, and the men were released from their distress. +Cabades then bade the man ask for whatever he wished, supposing that he +would ask for a great sum of money, and he also added with youthful +recklessness that he would be refused nothing by him. But he requested +Cabades to grant to him all the men who during that war should come to +him as fugitives. This request Cabades granted, and gave him a written +pledge of his personal safety. And great numbers of men, as might be +expected, came flocking to him from all sides and found safety there; +for the deed became widely known. Thus, then, did these things take +place. + +Cabades, in besieging Amida, brought against every part of the defences +the engines known as rams; but the townspeople constantly broke off the +heads of the rams by means of timbers thrown across them[8]. However, +Cabades did not slacken his efforts until he realized that the wall +could not be successfully assailed in this way. For, though he battered +the wall many times, he was quite unable to break down any portion of +the defence, or even to shake it; so secure had been the work of the +builders who had constructed it long before. Failing in this, Cabades +raised an artificial hill to threaten the city, considerably overtopping +the wall; but the besieged, starting from the inside of their defences, +made a tunnel extending under the hill, and from there stealthily +carried out the earth, until they hollowed out a great part of the +inside of the hill. However, the outside kept the form which it had at +first assumed, and afforded no opportunity to anyone of discovering what +was being done. Accordingly many Persians mounted it, thinking it safe, +and stationed themselves on the summit with the purpose of shooting down +upon the heads of those inside the fortifications. But with the great +mass of men crowding upon it with a rush, the hill suddenly fell in and +killed almost all of them. Cabades, then, finding no remedy for the +situation, decided to raise the siege, and he issued orders to the army +to retreat on the morrow. Then indeed the besieged, as though they had +no thought of their danger, began laughingly from the fortifications to +jeer at the barbarians. Besides this some courtesans shamelessly drew up +their clothing and displayed to Cabades, who was standing close by, +those parts of a woman's body which it is not proper that men should see +uncovered. This was plainly seen by the Magi, and they thereupon came +before the king and tried to prevent the retreat, declaring as their +interpretation of what had happened that the citizens of Amida would +shortly disclose to Cabades all their secret and hidden things. So the +Persian army remained there. + +Not many days later one of the Persians saw close by one of the towers +the mouth of an old underground passage, which was insecurely concealed +with some few small stones. In the night he came there alone, and, +making trial of the entrance, got inside the circuit-wall; then at +daybreak he reported the whole matter to Cabades. The king himself on +the following night came to the spot with a few men, bringing ladders +which he had made ready. And he was favoured by a piece of good fortune; +for the defence of the very tower which happened to be nearest to the +passage had fallen by lot to those of the Christians who are most +careful in their observances, whom they call monks. These men, as chance +would have it, were keeping some annual religious festival to God on +that day. When night came on they all felt great weariness[9] on account +of the festival, and, having sated themselves with food and drink beyond +their wont, they fell into a sweet and gentle sleep, and were +consequently quite unaware of what was going on. So the Persians made +their way through the passage inside the fortifications, a few at a +time, and, mounting the tower, they found the monks still sleeping and +slew them to a man. When Cabades learned this, he brought his ladders up +to the wall close by this tower. It was already day. And those of the +townsmen who were keeping guard on the adjoining tower became aware of +the disaster, and ran thither with all speed to give assistance. Then +for a long time both sides struggled to crowd back the other, and +already the townsmen were gaining the advantage, killing many of those +who had mounted the wall, and throwing back the men on the ladders, and +they came very near to averting the danger. But Cabades drew his sword +and, terrifying the Persians constantly with it, rushed in person to the +ladders and would not let them draw back, and death was the punishment +for those who dared turn to leave. As a result of this the Persians by +their numbers gained the upper hand and overcame their antagonists in +the fight. So the city was captured by storm on the eightieth day after +the beginning of the siege. [Jan. 11, 503 A.D.] There followed a great +massacre of the townspeople, until one of the citizens--an old man and a +priest--approached Cabades as he was riding into the city, and said that +it was not a kingly act to slaughter captives. Then Cabades, still moved +with passion, replied: "But why did you decide to fight against me?" And +the old man answered quickly: "Because God willed to give Amida into thy +hand not so much because of our decision as of thy valour." Cabades was +pleased by this speech, and permitted no further slaughter, but he bade +the Persians plunder the property and make slaves of the survivors, and +he directed them to choose out for himself all the notables among them. + +A short time after this he departed, leaving there to garrison the place +a thousand men under command of Glones, a Persian, and some few +unfortunates among the citizens of Amida who were destined to minister +as servants to the daily wants of the Persians; he himself with all the +remainder of the army and the captives marched away homeward. These +captives were treated by Cabades with a generosity befitting a king; for +after a short time he released all of them to return to their homes, but +he pretended that they had escaped from him by stealth[10]; and the +Roman Emperor, Anastasius, also shewed them honour worthy of their +bravery, for he remitted to the city all the annual taxes for the space +of seven years, and presented all of them as a body and each one of them +separately with many good things, so that they came fully to forget the +misfortunes which had befallen them. But this happened in later years. + + +VIII + +At that time the Emperor Anastasius, upon learning that Amida was being +besieged, dispatched with all speed an army of sufficient strength. But +in this army there were general officers in command of every +symmory[11], while the supreme command was divided between the following +four generals: Areobindus, at that time General of the East, the +son-in-law of Olyvrius, who had been Emperor in the West not long +before; Celer, commander of the palace troops (this officer the Romans +are accustomed to call "magister"); besides these still, there were the +commanders of troops in Byzantium, Patricias, the Phrygian, and +Hypatius, the nephew of the emperor; these four, then, were the +generals. With them also was associated Justinus, who at a later time +became emperor upon the death of Anastasius, and Patriciolus with his +son Vitalianus, who raised an armed insurrection against the Emperor +Anastasius not long afterwards and made himself tyrant; also +Pharesmanes, a native of Colchis, and a man of exceptional ability as a +warrior, and the Goths Godidisklus and Bessas, who were among those +Goths who had not followed Theoderic when he went from Thrace into +Italy, both of them men of the noblest birth and experienced in matters +pertaining to warfare; many others, too, who were men of high station, +joined this army. For such an army, they say, was never assembled by the +Romans against the Persians either before or after that time. However, +all these men did not assemble in one body, nor did they form a single +army as they marched, but each commander by himself led his own division +separately against the enemy. And as manager of the finances of the army +Apion, an Aegyptian, was sent, a man of eminence among the patricians +and extremely energetic; and the emperor in a written statement declared +him partner in the royal power, in order that he might have authority to +administer the finances as he wished. + +Now this army was mustered with considerable delay, and advanced with +little speed. As a result of this they did not find the barbarians in +the Roman territory; for the Persians had made their attack suddenly, +and had immediately withdrawn with all their booty to their own land. +Now no one of the generals desired for the present to undertake the +siege of the garrison left in Amida, for they learned that they had +carried in a large supply of provisions; but they made haste to invade +the land of the enemy. However they did not advance together against the +barbarians but they encamped apart from one another as they proceeded. +When Cabades learned this (for he happened to be close by), he came with +all speed to the Roman frontier and confronted them. But the Romans had +not yet learned that Cabades was moving against them with his whole +force, and they supposed that some small Persian army was there. +Accordingly the forces of Areobindus established their camp in a place +called Arzamon, at a distance of two days' journey from the city of +Constantina, and those of Patricius and Hypatius in a place called +Siphrios, which is distant not less than three hundred and fifty stades +from the city of Amida. As for Celer, he had not yet arrived. + +Areobindus, when he ascertained that Cabades was coming upon them with +his whole army, abandoned his camp, and, in company with all his men, +turned to flight and retired on the run to Constantina. And the enemy, +coming up not long afterwards, captured the camp without a man in it and +all the money it contained. From there they advanced swiftly against the +other Roman army. Now the troops of Patricius and Hypatius had happened +upon eight hundred Ephthalitae who were marching in advance of the +Persian army, and they had killed practically all of them. Then, since +they had learned nothing of Cabades and the Persian army, supposing that +they had won the victory, they began to conduct themselves with less +caution. At any rate they had stacked their arms and were preparing +themselves a lunch; for already the appropriate time of day was drawing +near. Now a small stream flowed in this place and in it the Romans began +to wash the pieces of meat which they were about to eat; some, too, +distressed by the heat, were bathing themselves in the stream; and in +consequence the brook flowed on with a muddy current. But while Cabades, +learning what had befallen the Ephthalitae, was advancing against the +enemy with all speed, he noticed that the water of the brook was +disturbed, and divining what was going on, he came to the conclusion +that his opponents were unprepared, and gave orders to charge upon them +immediately at full speed. [Aug., 503 A.D.] Straightway, then, they fell +upon them feasting and unarmed. And the Romans did not withstand their +onset, nor did they once think of resistance, but they began to flee as +each one could; and some of them were captured and slain, while others +climbed the hill which rises there and threw themselves down the cliff +in panic and much confusion. And they say that not a man escaped from +there; but Patricius and Hypatius had succeeded in getting away at the +beginning of the onset. After this Cabades retired homeward with his +whole army, since hostile Huns had made an invasion into his land, and +with this people he waged a long war in the northerly portion of his +realm. In the meantime the other Roman army also came, but they did +nothing worth recounting, because, it seems, no one was made +commander-in-chief of the expedition; but all the generals were of equal +rank, and consequently they were always opposing one another's opinions +and were utterly unable to unite. However Celer, with his contingent, +crossed the Nymphius River and made some sort of an invasion into +Arzanene. This river is one very close to Martyropolis, about three +hundred stades from Amida. So Celer's troops plundered the country +thereabout and returned not long after, and the whole invasion was +completed in a short time. + + +IX + +After this Areobindus went to Byzantium at the summons of the emperor, +while the other generals reached Amida, and, in spite of the winter +season, invested it. And although they made many attempts they were +unable to carry the fortress by storm, but they were on the point of +accomplishing their object by starvation; for all the provisions of the +besieged were exhausted. The generals, however, had ascertained nothing +of the straits in which the enemy were; but since they saw that their +own troops were distressed by the labour of the siege and the wintry +weather, and at the same time suspected that a Persian army would be +coming upon them before long, they were eager to quit the place on any +terms whatever. The Persians, on their part, not knowing what would +become of them in such terrible straits, continued to conceal +scrupulously their lack of the necessities of life, and made it appear +that they had an abundance of all provisions, wishing to return to their +homes with the reputation of honour. So a proposal was discussed between +them, according to which the Persians were to deliver over the city to +the Romans upon receipt of one thousand pounds of gold. Both parties +then gladly executed the terms of the agreement, and the son of Glones, +upon receiving the money, delivered over Amida to the Romans. For Glones +himself had already died in the following manner. + +When the Romans had not yet encamped before the city of Amida but were +not far from its vicinity, a certain countryman, who was accustomed to +enter the city secretly with fowls and loaves and many other delicacies, +which he sold to this Glones at a great price, came before the general +Patricius and promised to deliver into his hands Glones and two hundred +Persians, if he should receive from him assurance of some requital. And +the general promised that he should have everything he desired, and thus +dismissed the fellow. He then tore his garments in a dreadful manner, +and, assuming the aspect of one who had been weeping, entered the city. +And coming before Glones, and tearing his hair he said: "O Master, I +happened to be bringing in for you all the good things from my village, +when some Roman soldiers chanced upon me (for, as you know, they are +constantly wandering about the country here in small bands and doing +violence to the miserable country-folk), and they inflicted upon me +blows not to be endured, and, taking away everything, they +departed,--the robbers, whose ancient custom it is to fear the Persians +and to beat the farmers. But do you, O Master, take thought to defend +yourself and us and the Persians. For if you go hunting into the +outskirts of the city, you will find rare game. For the accursed rascals +go about by fours or fives to do their robbery." Thus he spoke. And +Glones was persuaded, and enquired of the fellow about how many Persians +he thought would be sufficient for him to carry out the enterprise. He +said that about fifty would do, for they would never meet more than five +of them going together; however, in order to forestall any unexpected +circumstance, it would do no harm to take with him even one hundred men; +and if he should double this number it would be still better from every +point of view; for no harm could come to a man from the larger number. +Glones accordingly picked out two hundred horsemen and bade the fellow +lead the way for them. But he insisted that it was better for him to be +sent first to spy out the ground, and, if he should bring back word that +he had seen Romans still going about in the same districts, that then +the Persians should make their sally at the fitting moment. Accordingly, +since he seemed to Glones to speak well, he was sent forward by his own +order. Then he came before the general Patricius and explained +everything; and the general sent with him two of his own body-guard and +a thousand soldiers. These he concealed about a village called +Thilasamon, forty stades distant from Amida, among valleys and woody +places, and instructed them to remain there in this ambush; he himself +then proceeded to the city on the run, and telling Glones that the prey +was ready, he led him and the two hundred horsemen upon the ambush of +the enemy. And when they passed the spot where the Romans were lying in +wait, without being observed by Glones or any of the Persians, he roused +the Romans from their ambuscade and pointed out to them the enemy. And +when the Persians saw the men coming against them, they were astounded +at the suddenness of the thing, and were in much distress what to do. +For neither could they retire to the rear, since their opponents were +behind them, nor were they able to flee anywhere else in a hostile land. +But as well as they could under the circumstances, they arrayed +themselves for battle and tried to drive back their assailants; but +being at a great disadvantage in numbers they were vanquished, and all +of them together with Glones were destroyed. Now when the son of Glones +learned of this, being deeply grieved and at the same time furious with +anger because he had not been able to defend his father, he fired the +sanctuary of Symeon, a holy man, where Glones had his lodging. It must +be said, however, that with the exception of this one building, neither +Glones nor Cabades, nor indeed any other of the Persians, saw fit either +to tear down or to destroy in any other way any building in Amida at any +rate, or outside this city. But I shall return to the previous +narrative. + +[504 A.D.] Thus the Romans by giving the money recovered Amida two years +after it had been captured by the enemy. And when they got into the +city, their own negligence and the hardships under which the Persians +had maintained themselves were discovered. For upon reckoning the amount +of grain left there and the number of barbarians who had gone out, they +found that rations for about seven days were left in the city, although +Glones and his son had been for a long time doling out provisions to the +Persians more sparingly than they were needed. For to the Romans who had +remained with them in the city, as I have stated above, they had decided +to dispense nothing at all from the time when their enemy began the +siege; and so these men at first resorted to unaccustomed foods and laid +hold on every forbidden thing, and at the last they even tasted each +other's blood. So the generals realized that they had been deceived by +the barbarians, and they reproached the soldiers for their lack of +self-control, because they had shewn themselves wanting in obedience to +them, when it was possible to capture as prisoners of war such a +multitude of Persians and the son of Glones and the city itself, while +they had in consequence attached to themselves signal disgrace by +carrying Roman money to the enemy, and had taken Amida from the Persians +by purchasing it with silver. [506 A.D.] After this the Persians, since +their war with the Huns kept dragging on, entered into a treaty with the +Romans, which was arranged by them for seven years, and was made by the +Roman Celer and the Persian Aspebedes; both armies then retired homeward +and remained at peace. Thus, then, as has been told, began the war of +the Romans and the Persians, and to this end did it come. But I shall +now turn to the narration of the events touching the Caspian Gates. + + +X + +The Taurus mountain range of Cilicia passes first Cappadocia and Armenia +and the land of the so-called Persarmenians, then also Albania and +Iberia and all the other countries in this region, both independent and +subject to Persia. For it extends to a great distance, and as one +proceeds along this range, it always spreads out to an extraordinary +breadth and rises to an imposing height. And as one passes beyond the +boundary of Iberia there is a sort of path in a very narrow passage, +extending for a distance of fifty stades. This path terminates in a +place cut off by cliffs and, as it seems, absolutely impossible to pass +through. For from there no way out appears, except indeed a small gate +set there by nature, just as if it had been made by the hand of man, +which has been called from of old the Caspian Gates. From there on there +are plains suitable for riding and extremely well watered, and extensive +tracts used as pasture land for horses, and level besides. Here almost +all the nations of the Huns are settled, extending as far as the Maeotic +lake. Now if these Huns go through the gate which I have just mentioned +into the land of the Persians and the Romans, they come with their +horses fresh and without making any detour or encountering any +precipitous places, except in those fifty stades over which, as has been +said, they pass to the boundary of Iberia. If, however, they go by any +other passes, they reach their destination with great difficulty, and +can no longer use the same horses. For the detours which they are forced +to make are many and steep besides. When this was observed by Alexander, +the son of Philip, he constructed gates in the aforesaid place and +established a fortress there. And this was held by many men in turn as +time went on, and finally by Ambazouces, a Hun by birth, but a friend of +the Romans and the Emperor Anastasius. Now when this Ambazouces had +reached an advanced age and was near to death, he sent to Anastasius +asking that money be given him, on condition that he hand over the +fortress and the Caspian Gates to the Romans. But the Emperor Anastasius +was incapable of doing anything without careful investigation, nor was +it his custom to act thus: reasoning, therefore, that it was impossible +for him to support soldiers in a place which was destitute of all good +things, and which had nowhere in the neighbourhood a nation subject to +the Romans, he expressed deep gratitude to the man for his good-will +toward him, but by no means accepted this proposition. So Ambazouces +died of disease not long afterwards, and Cabades overpowered his sons +and took possession of the Gates. + +The Emperor Anastasius, after concluding the treaty with Cabades, built +a city in a place called Daras, exceedingly strong and of real +importance, bearing the name of the emperor himself. Now this place is +distant from the city of Nisibis one hundred stades lacking two, and +from the boundary line which divides the Romans from the Persians about +twenty-eight. And the Persians, though eager to prevent the building, +were quite unable to do so, being constrained by the war with the Huns +in which they were engaged. But as soon as Cabades brought this to an +end, he sent to the Romans and accused them of having built a city hard +by the Persian frontier, though this had been forbidden in the agreement +previously made between the Medes and the Romans[12]. At that time, +therefore, the Emperor Anastasius desired, partly by threats, and partly +by emphasizing his friendship with him and by bribing him with no mean +sum of money, to deceive him and to remove the accusation. And another +city also was built by this emperor, similar to the first, in Armenia, +hard by the boundaries of Persarmenia; now in this place there had been +a village from of old, but it had taken on the dignity of a city by the +favour of the Emperor Theodosius even to the name, for it had come to be +named after him[13]. But Anastasius surrounded it with a very +substantial wall, and thus gave offence to the Persians no less than by +the other city; for both of them are strongholds menacing their country. + + +XI + +[Aug. 1, 518 A.D.] And when a little later Anastasius died, Justinus +received the empire, forcing aside all the kinsmen of Anastasius, +although they were numerous and also very distinguished. Then indeed a +sort of anxiety came over Cabades, lest the Persians should make some +attempt to overthrow his house as soon as he should end his life; for it +was certain that he would not pass on the kingdom to any one of his sons +without opposition. For while the law called to the throne the eldest of +his children Caoses by reason of his age, he was by no means pleasing to +Cabades; and the father's judgment did violence to the law of nature and +of custom as well. And Zames, who was second in age, having had one of +his eyes struck out, was prevented by the law. For it is not lawful for +a one-eyed man or one having any other deformity to become king over the +Persians. But Chosroes, who was born to him by the sister of Aspebedes, +the father loved exceedingly; seeing, however, that all the Persians, +practically speaking, felt an extravagant admiration for the manliness +of Zames (for he was a capable warrior), and worshipped his other +virtues, he feared lest they should rise against Chosroes and do +irreparable harm to the family and to the kingdom. Therefore it seemed +best to him to arrange with the Romans to put an end both to the war and +the causes of war, on condition that Chosroes be made an adopted son of +the Emperor Justinus; for only in this way could he preserve stability +in the government. Accordingly he sent envoys to treat of this matter +and a letter to the Emperor Justinus in Byzantium. And the letter was +written in this wise: "Unjust indeed has been the treatment which we +have received at the hands of the Romans, as even you yourself know, but +I have seen fit to abandon entirely all the charges against you, being +assured of this, that the most truly victorious of all men would be +those who, with justice on their side, are still willingly overcome and +vanquished by their friends. However I ask of you a certain favour in +return for this, which would bind together in kinship and in the +good-will which would naturally spring from this relation not only +ourselves but also all our subjects, and which would be calculated to +bring us to a satiety of the blessings of peace. My proposal, then, is +this, that you should make my son Chosroes, who will be my successor to +the throne, your adopted son." + +When this message was brought to the Emperor Justinus, he himself was +overjoyed and Justinian also, the nephew of the emperor, who indeed was +expected to receive from him the empire. And they were making all haste +to perform the act of setting down in Writing the adoption, as the law +of the Romans prescribes--and would have done so, had they not been +prevented by Proclus, who was at that time a counsellor to the emperor, +holding the office of quaestor, as it is called, a just man and one whom +it was manifestly impossible to bribe; for this reason he neither +readily proposed any law, nor was he willing to disturb in any way the +settled order of things; and he at that time also opposed the +proposition, speaking as follows: "To venture on novel projects is not +my custom, and indeed I dread them more than any others; for where there +is innovation security is by no means preserved. And it seems to me +that, even if one should be especially bold in this matter, he would +feel reluctance to do the thing and would tremble at the storm which +would arise from it; for I believe that nothing else is before our +consideration at the present time than the question how we may hand over +the Roman empire to the Persians on a seemly pretext. For they make no +concealment nor do they employ any blinds, but explicitly acknowledging +their purpose they claim without more ado to rob us of our empire, +seeking to veil the manifestness of their deceit under a shew of +simplicity, and hide a shameless intent behind a pretended unconcern. +And yet both of you ought to repel this attempt of the barbarians with +all your power; thou, O Emperor, in order that thou mayst not be the +last Emperor of the Romans, and thou, O General, that thou mayst not +prove a stumbling block to thyself as regards coming to the throne. For +other crafty devices which are commonly concealed by a pretentious shew +of words might perhaps need an interpreter for the many, but this +embassy openly and straight from the very first words means to make this +Chosroes, whoever he is, the adopted heir of the Roman Emperor. For I +would have you reason thus in this matter: by nature the possessions of +fathers are due to their sons and while the laws among all men are +always in conflict with each other by reason of their varying nature, in +this matter both among the Romans and among all barbarians they are in +agreement and harmony with each other, in that they declare sons to be +masters of their fathers' inheritance. Take this first resolve if you +choose: if you do you must agree to all its consequences." + +Thus spoke Proclus; and the emperor and his nephew gave ear to his words +and deliberated upon what should be done. In the meantime Cabades sent +another letter also to the Emperor Justinus, asking him to send men of +repute in order to establish peace with him, and to indicate by letter +the manner in which it would be his desire to accomplish the adoption of +his son. And then, indeed, still more than before Proclus decried the +attempt of the Persians, and insisted that their concern was to make +over to themselves as securely as possible the Roman power. And he +proposed as his opinion that the peace should be concluded with them +with all possible speed, and that the noblest men should be sent by the +emperor for this purpose; and that these men must answer plainly to +Cabades, when he enquired in what manner the adoption of Chosroes should +be accomplished, that it must be of the sort befitting a barbarian, and +his meaning was that the barbarians adopt sons, not by a document, but +by arms and armour[14]. Accordingly the Emperor Justinus dismissed the +envoys, promising that men who were the noblest of the Romans would +follow them not long afterwards, and that they would arrange a +settlement regarding the peace and regarding Chosroes in the best +possible way. He also answered Cabades by letter to the same effect. +Accordingly there were sent from the Romans Hypatius, the nephew of +Anastasius, the late emperor, a patrician who also held the office of +General of the East, and Rufinus, the son of Silvanus, a man of note +among the patricians and known to Cabades through their fathers; from +the Persians came one of great power and high authority, Seoses by name, +whose title was adrastadaran salanes, and Mebodes, who held the office +of magister. These men came together at a certain spot which is on the +boundary line between the land of the Romans and the Persians: there +they met and negotiated as to how they should do away with their +differences and settle effectually the question of the peace. Chosroes +also came to the Tigris River, which is distant from the city of Nisibis +about two days journey, in order that, when the details of the peace +should seem to both parties to be as well arranged as possible, he might +betake himself in person to Byzantium. Now many words were spoken on +both sides touching the differences between them, and in particular +Seoses made mention of the land of Colchis, which is now called Lazica, +saying that it had been subject to the Persians from of old and that the +Romans had taken it from them by violence and held it on no just +grounds. When the Romans heard this, they were indignant to think that +even Lazica should be disputed by the Persians. And when they in turn +stated that the adoption of Chosroes must take place just as is proper +for a barbarian, it seemed to the Persians unbearable. The two parties +therefore separated and departed homeward, and Chosroes with nothing +accomplished was off to his father, deeply injured at what had taken +place and vowing vengeance on the Romans for their insult to him. + +After this Mebodes began to slander Seoses to Cabades, saying that he +had proposed the discussion of Lazica purposely, although he had not +been instructed to do so by his master, thereby frustrating the peace, +and also that he had had words previously with Hypatius, who was by no +means well-disposed toward his own sovereign and was trying to prevent +the conclusion of peace and the adoption of Chosroes; and many other +accusations also were brought forward by the enemies of Seoses, and he +was summoned to trial. Now the whole Persian council gathered to sit in +judgment moved more by envy than by respect for the law. For they were +thoroughly hostile to his office, which was unfamiliar to them, and also +were embittered by the natural temper of the man. For while Seoses was a +man quite impossible to bribe, and a most exact respecter of justice, he +was afflicted with a degree of arrogance not to be compared with that of +any other. This quality, indeed, seems to be inbred in the Persian +officials, but in Seoses even they thought that the malady had developed +to an altogether extraordinary degree. So his accusers said all those +things which have been indicated above, and added to this that the man +was by no means willing to live in the established fashion or to uphold +the institutions of the Persians. For he both reverenced strange +divinities, and lately, when his wife had died, he had buried her, +though it was forbidden by the laws of the Persians ever to hide in the +earth the bodies of the dead. The judges therefore condemned the man to +death, while Cabades, though seeming to be deeply moved with sympathy as +a friend of Seoses, was by no means willing to rescue him. He did not, +on the other hand, make it known that he was angry with him, but, as he +said, he was not willing to undo the laws of the Persians, although he +owed the man the price of his life, since Seoses was chiefly responsible +both for the fact that he was alive and also that he was king. Thus, +then, Seoses was condemned and was removed from among men. And the +office which began with him ended also with him. For no other man has +been made adrastadaran salanes. Rufinus also slandered Hypatius to the +emperor. As a result of this the emperor reduced him from his office, +and tortured most cruelly certain of his associates only to find out +that this slander was absolutely unsound; beyond this, however, he did +Hypatius no harm. + + +XII + +Immediately after this, Cabades, though eager to make some kind of an +invasion into the land of the Romans, was utterly unable to do so on +account of the following obstacle which happened to arise. The Iberians, +who live in Asia, are settled in the immediate neighbourhood of the +Caspian Gates, which lie to the north of them. Adjoining them on the +left towards the west is Lazica, and on the right towards the east are +the Persian peoples. This nation is Christian and they guard the rites +of this faith more closely than any other men known to us, but they have +been subjects of the Persian king, as it happens, from ancient times. +And just then Cabades was desirous of forcing them to adopt the rites of +his own religion. And he enjoined upon their king, Gourgenes, to do all +things as the Persians are accustomed to do them, and in particular not +under any circumstances to hide their dead in the earth, but to throw +them all to the birds and dogs. For this reason, then, Gourgenes wished +to go over to the Emperor Justinus, and he asked that he might receive +pledges that the Romans would never abandon the Iberians to the +Persians. And the emperor gave him these pledges with great eagerness, +and he sent Probus, the nephew of the late emperor Anastasius, a man of +patrician rank, with a great sum of money to Bosporus, that he might win +over with money an army of Huns and send them as allies to the Iberians. +This Bosporus is a city by the sea, on the left as one sails into the +so-called Euxine Sea, twenty days journey distant from the city of +Cherson, which is the limit of the Roman territory. Between these cities +everything is held by the Huns. Now in ancient times the people of +Bosporus were autonomous, but lately they had decided to become subject +to the Emperor Justinus. Probus, however, departed from there without +accomplishing his mission, and the emperor sent Peter as general with +some Huns to Lazica to fight with all their strength for Gourgenes. +Meanwhile Cabades sent a very considerable army against Gourgenes and +the Iberians, and as general a Persian bearing the title of "varizes," +Boes by name. Then it was seen that Gourgenes was too weak to withstand +the attack of the Persians, for the help from the Romans was +insufficient, and with all the notables of the Iberians he fled to +Lazica, taking with him his wife and children and also his brothers, of +whom Peranius was the eldest. And when they had reached the boundaries +of Lazica, they remained there, and, sheltering themselves by the +roughness of the country, they took their stand against the enemy. And +the Persians followed after them but did nothing deserving even of +mention since the circumstance of the rough country was against them. + +Thereafter the Iberians presented themselves at Byzantium and Petrus +came to the emperor at his summons; and from then on the emperor +demanded that he should assist the Lazi to guard their country, even +against their will, and he sent an army and Eirenaeus in command of it. +Now there are two fortresses in Lazica[15] which one comes upon +immediately upon entering their country from the boundaries of Iberia, +and the defence of them had been from of old in charge of the natives, +although they experienced great hardship in this matter; for neither +corn nor wine nor any other good thing is produced there. Nor indeed can +anything be carried in from elsewhere on account of the narrowness of +the paths, unless it be carried by men. However, the Lazi were able to +live on a certain kind of millet which grows there, since they were +accustomed to it. These garrisons the emperor removed from the place and +commanded that Roman soldiers should be stationed there to guard the +fortresses. And at first the Lazi with difficulty brought in provisions +for these soldiers, but later they gave up the service and the Romans +abandoned these forts, whereupon the Persians with no trouble took +possession of them. This then happened in Lazica. + +And the Romans, under the leadership of Sittas and Belisarius, made an +inroad into Persarmenia, a territory subject to the Persians, where they +plundered a large tract of country and then withdrew with a great +multitude of Armenian captives. These two men were both youths and +wearing their first beards[16], body-guards of the general Justinian, +who later shared the empire with his uncle Justinus. But when a second +inroad had been made by the Romans into Armenia, Narses and Aratius +unexpectedly confronted them and engaged them in battle. These men not +long after this came to the Romans as deserters, and made the expedition +to Italy with Belisarius; but on the present occasion they joined battle +with the forces of Sittas and Belisarius and gained the advantage over +them. An invasion was also made near the city of Nisibis by another +Roman army under command of Libelarius of Thrace. This army retired +abruptly in flight although no one came out against thorn. And because +of this the emperor reduced Libelarius from his office and appointed +Belisarius commander of the troops in Daras. It was at that time that +Procopius, who wrote this history, was chosen as his adviser. [527 A.D.] + + +XIII + +[Apr. 1, 527] Not long after this Justinus, who had declared his nephew +Justinian emperor with him, died, and thus the empire came to Justinian +alone. [Aug. 1, 527] This Justinian commanded Belisarius to build a +fortress in a place called Mindouos, which is over against the very +boundary of Persia, on the left as one goes to Nisibis. He accordingly +with great haste began to carry out the decision of the emperor, and the +fort was already rising to a considerable height by reason of the great +number of artisans. But the Persians forbade them to build any further, +threatening that, not with words alone but also with deeds, they would +at no distant time obstruct the work. When the emperor heard this, +inasmuch as Belisarius was not able to beat off the Persians from the +place with the army he had, he ordered another army to go thither, and +also Coutzes and Bouzes, who at that time commanded the soldiers in +Libanus[17]. These two were brothers from Thrace, both young and +inclined to be rash in engaging with the enemy. So both armies were +gathered together and came in full force to the scene of the building +operations, the Persians in order to hinder the work with all their +power, and the Romans to defend the labourers. And a fierce battle took +place in which the Romans were defeated, and there was a great slaughter +of them, while some also were made captive by the enemy. Among these was +Coutzes himself. All these captives the Persians led away to their own +country, and, putting them in chains, confined them permanently in a +cave; as for the fort, since no one defended it any longer, they razed +what had been built to the ground. + +After this the Emperor Justinian appointed Belisarius General of the +East and bade him make an expedition against the Persians. And he +collected a very formidable army and came to Daras. Hermogenes also came +to him from the emperor to assist in setting the army in order, holding +the office of magister; this man was formerly counsellor to Vitalianus +at the time when he was at war with the Emperor Anastasius. The emperor +also sent Rufinus as ambassador, commanding him to remain in Hierapolis +on the Euphrates River until he himself should give the word. For +already much was being said on both sides concerning peace. Suddenly, +however, someone reported to Belisarius and Hermogenes that the Persians +were expected to invade the land of the Romans, being eager to capture +the city of Daras. And when they heard this, they prepared for the +battle as follows. [July, 530] Not far from the gate which lies opposite +the city of Nisibis, about a stone's throw away, they dug a deep trench +with many passages across it. Now this trench was not dug in a straight +line, but in the following manner. In the middle there was a rather +short portion straight, and at either end of this there were dug two +cross trenches at right angles to the first; and starting from the +extremities of the two cross trenches, they continued two straight +trenches in the original direction to a very great distance. Not long +afterwards the Persians came with a great army, and all of them made +camp in a place called Ammodios, at a distance of twenty stades from the +city of Daras. Among the leaders of this army were Pityaxes and the +one-eyed Baresmanas. But one general held command over them all, a +Persian, whose title was "mirranes" (for thus the Persians designate +this office), Perozes by name. This Perozes immediately sent to +Belisarius bidding him make ready the bath: for he wished to bathe there +on the following day. Accordingly the Romans made the most vigorous +preparations for the encounter, with the expectation that they would +fight on the succeeding day. + +At sunrise, seeing the enemy advancing against them, they arrayed +themselves as follows[18]. The extremity of the left straight trench +which joined the cross trench, as far as the hill which rises here, was +held by Bouzes with a large force of horsemen and by Pharas the Erulian +with three hundred of his nation. On the right of these, outside the +trench, at the angle formed by the cross trench and the straight section +which extended from that point, were Sunicas and Aigan, Massagetae by +birth, with six hundred horsemen, in order that, if those under Bouzes +and Pharas should be driven back, they might, by moving quickly on the +flank, and getting in the rear of the enemy, be able easily to support +the Romans at that point. On the other wing also they were arrayed in +the same manner; for the extremity of the straight trench was held by a +large force of horsemen, who were commanded by John, son of Nicetas, and +by Cyril and Marcellus; with them also were Germanus and Dorotheus; +while at the angle on the right six hundred horsemen took their stand, +commanded by Simmas and Ascan, Massagetae, in order that, as has been +said, in case the forces of John should by any chance be driven back, +they might move out from there and attack the rear of the Persians. Thus +all along the trench stood the detachments of cavalry and the infantry. +And behind these in the middle stood the forces of Belisarius and +Hermogenes. Thus the Romans arrayed themselves, amounting to +five-and-twenty thousand; but the Persian army consisted of forty +thousand horse and foot, and they all stood close together facing the +front, so as to make the front of the phalanx as deep as possible. Then +for a long time neither side began battle with the other, but the +Persians seemed to be wondering at the good order of the Romans, and +appeared at a loss what to do under the circumstances. + +In the late afternoon a certain detachment of the horsemen who held the +right wing, separating themselves from the rest of the army, came +against the forces of Bouzes and Pharas. And the Romans retired a short +distance to the rear. The Persians, however, did not pursue them, but +remained there, fearing, I suppose, some move to surround them on the +part of the enemy. Then the Romans who had turned to flight suddenly +rushed upon them. And the Persians did not withstand their onset and +rode back to the phalanx, and again the forces of Bouzes and Pharas +stationed themselves in their own position. In this skirmish seven of +the Persians fell, and the Romans gained possession of their bodies; +thereafter both armies remained quietly in position. But one Persian, a +young man, riding up very close to the Roman army, began to challenge +all of them, calling for whoever wished to do battle with him. And no +one of the whole army dared face the danger, except a certain Andreas, +one of the personal attendants of Bouzes, not a soldier nor one who had +ever practised at all the business of war, but a trainer of youths in +charge of a certain wrestling school in Byzantium. Through this it came +about that he was following the army, for he cared for the person of +Bouzes in the bath; his birthplace was Byzantium. This man alone had the +courage, without being ordered by Bouzes or anyone else, to go out of +his own accord to meet the man in single combat. And he caught the +barbarian while still considering how he should deliver his attack, and +hit him with his spear on the right breast. And the Persian did not bear +the blow delivered by a man of such exceptional strength, and fell from +his horse to the earth. Then Andreas with a small knife slew him like a +sacrificial animal as he lay on his back, and a mighty shout was raised +both from the city wall and from the Roman army. But the Persians were +deeply vexed at the outcome and sent forth another horseman for the same +purpose, a manly fellow and well favoured as to bodily size, but not a +youth, for some of the hair on his head already shewed grey. This +horseman came up along the hostile army, and, brandishing vehemently the +whip with which he was accustomed to strike his horse, he summoned to +battle whoever among the Romans was willing. And when no one went out +against him, Andreas, without attracting the notice of anyone, once more +came forth, although he had been forbidden to do so by Hermogenes. So +both rushed madly upon each other with their spears, and the weapons, +driven against their corselets, were turned aside with mighty force, and +the horses, striking together their heads, fell themselves and threw off +their riders. And both the two men, falling very close to each other, +made great haste to rise to their feet, but the Persian was not able to +do this easily because his size was against him, while Andreas, +anticipating him (for his practice in the wrestling school gave him this +advantage), smote him as he was rising on his knee, and as he fell again +to the ground dispatched him. Then a roar went up from the wall and from +the Roman army as great, if not greater, than before; and the Persians +broke their phalanx and withdrew to Ammodios, while the Romans, raising +the paean, went inside the fortifications; for already it was growing +dark. Thus both armies passed that night. + + +XIV + +On the following day ten thousand soldiers arrived who had been summoned +by the Persians from the city of Nisibis, and Belisarius and Hermogenes +wrote to the mirranes as follows: "The first blessing is peace, as is +agreed by all men who have even a small share of reason. It follows that +if any one should be a destroyer of it, he would be most responsible not +only to those near him but also to his whole nation for the troubles +which come. The best general, therefore, is that one who is able to +bring about peace from war. But you, when affairs were well settled +between the Romans and the Persians, have seen fit to bring upon us a +war without cause, although the counsels of each king are looking toward +peace, and although our envoys are already present in the neighbourhood, +who will at no distant time settle all the points of dispute in talking +over the situation together, unless some irreparable harm coming from +your invasion proves sufficient to frustrate for us this hope. But lead +away as soon as possible your army to the land of the Persians, and do +not stand in the way of the greatest blessings, lest at some time you be +held responsible by the Persians, as is probable, for the disasters +which will come to pass." When the mirranes saw this letter brought to +him, he replied as follows: "I should have been persuaded by what you +write, and should have done what you demand, were the letter not, as it +happens, from Romans, for whom the making of promises is easy, but the +fulfilment of the promises in deed most difficult and beyond hope, +especially if you sanction the agreement by any oaths. We, therefore, +despairing in view of your deception, have been compelled to come before +you in arms, and as for you, my dear Romans, consider that from now on +you will be obliged to do nothing else than make war against the +Persians. For here we shall be compelled either to die or grow old until +you accord to us justice in deed." Such was the reply which the mirranes +wrote back. And again Belisarius and his generals wrote as follows: "O +excellent mirranes, it is not fitting in all things to depend upon +boasting, nor to lay upon one's neighbours reproaches which are +justified on no grounds whatever. For we said with truth that Rufinus +had come to act as an envoy and was not far away, and you yourself will +know this at no remote time. But since you are eager for deeds of war, +we shall array ourselves against you with the help of God, who will, we +know, support us in the danger, being moved by the peaceful inclination +of the Romans, but rebuking the boastfulness of the Persians and your +decision to resist us when we invite you to peace. And we shall array +ourselves against you, having prepared for the conflict by fastening the +letters written by each of us on the top of our banners." Such was the +message of this letter. And the mirranes again answered as follows: +"Neither are we entering upon the war without our gods, and with their +help we shall come before you, and I expect that on the morrow they will +bring the Persians into Daras. But let the bath and lunch be in +readiness for me within the fortifications." When Belisarius and his +generals read this, they prepared themselves for the conflict. + +On the succeeding day the mirranes called together all the Persians at +about sunrise and spoke as follows: "I am not ignorant that it is not +because of words of their leaders, but because of their individual +bravery and their shame before each other that the Persians are +accustomed to be courageous in the presence of dangers. But seeing you +considering why in the world it is that, although the Romans have not +been accustomed heretofore to go into battle without confusion and +disorder, they recently awaited the advancing Persians with a kind of +order which is by no means characteristic of them, for this reason I +have decided to speak some words of exhortation to you, so that it may +not come about that you be deceived by reason of holding an opinion +which is not true. For I would not have you think that the Romans have +suddenly become better warriors, or that they have acquired any more +valour or experience, but that they have become more cowardly than they +were previously; at any rate they fear the Persians so much that they +have not even dared to form their phalanx without a trench. And not even +with this did they begin any fighting, but when we did not join battle +with them at all, joyfully and considering that matters had gone better +for them than they had hoped, they withdrew to the wall. For this reason +too it happened that they were not thrown into confusion, for they had +not yet come into the dangers of battle. But if the fighting comes to +close quarters, fear will seize upon them, and this, together with their +inexperience, will throw them, in all probability, into their customary +disorder. Such, therefore, is the case with regard to the enemy; but do +you, O men of Persia, call to mind the judgment of the King of Kings. +For if you do not play the part of brave men in the present engagement, +in a manner worthy of the valour of the Persians, an inglorious +punishment will fall upon you." With this exhortation the mirranes began +to lead his army against the enemy. Likewise Belisarius and Hermogenes +gathered all the Romans before the fortifications, and encouraged them +with the following words: "You know assuredly that the Persians are not +altogether invincible, nor too strong to be killed, having taken their +measure in the previous battle; and that, although superior to them in +bravery and in strength of body, you were defeated only by reason of +being rather heedless of your officers, no one can deny. This thing you +now have the opportunity to set right with no trouble. For while the +adversities of fortune are by no means such as to be set right by an +effort, reason may easily become for a man a physician for the ills +caused by himself. If therefore you are willing to give heed to the +orders given, you will straightway win for yourselves the superiority in +battle. For the Persians come against us basing their confidence on +nothing else than our disorder. But this time also they will be +disappointed in this hope, and will depart just as in the previous +encounter. And as for the great numbers of the enemy, by which more than +anything else they inspire fear, it is right for you to despise them. +For their whole infantry is nothing more than a crowd of pitiable +peasants who come into battle for no other purpose than to dig through +walls and to despoil the slain and in general to serve the soldiers. For +this reason they have no weapons at all with which they might trouble +their opponents, and they only hold before themselves those enormous +shields in order that they may not possibly be hit by the enemy. +Therefore if you shew yourselves brave men in this struggle, you will +not only conquer the Persians for the present, but you will also punish +them for their folly, so that they will never again make an expedition +into the Roman territory." + +When Belisarius and Hermogenes had finished this exhortation, since they +saw the Persians advancing against them, they hastily drew up the +soldiers in the same manner as before. And the barbarians, coming up +before them, took their stand facing the Romans. But the mirranes did +not array all the Persians against the enemy, but only one half of them, +while he allowed the others to remain behind. These were to take the +places of the men who were fighting and to fall upon their opponents +with their vigour intact, so that all might fight in constant rotation. +But the detachment of the so-called Immortals alone he ordered to remain +at rest until he himself should give the signal. And he took his own +station at the middle of the front, putting Pityaxes in command on the +right wing, and Baresmanas on the left. In this manner, then, both +armies were drawn up. Then Pharas came before Belisarius and Hermogenes, +and said: "It does not seem to me that I shall do the enemy any great +harm if I remain here with the Eruli; but if we conceal ourselves on +this slope, and then, when the Persians have begun the fight, if we +climb up by this hill and suddenly come upon their rear, shooting from +behind them, we shall in all probability do them the greatest harm." +Thus he spoke, and, since it pleased Belisarius and his staff, he +carried out this plan. + +But up to midday neither side began battle. As soon, however, as the +noon hour was passed, the barbarians began the fight, having postponed +the engagement to this time of the day for the reason that they are +accustomed to partake of food only towards late afternoon, while the +Romans have their meal before noon; and for this reason they thought +that the Romans would never hold out so well, if they assailed them +while hungry. At first, then, both sides discharged arrows against each +other, and the missiles by their great number made, as it were, a vast +cloud; and many men were falling on both sides, but the missiles of the +barbarians flew much more thickly. For fresh men were always fighting in +turn, affording to their enemy not the slightest opportunity to observe +what was being done; but even so the Romans did not have the worst of +it. For a steady wind blew from their side against the barbarians, and +checked to a considerable degree the force of their arrows. Then, after +both sides had exhausted all their missiles, they began to use their +spears against each other, and the battle had come still more to close +quarters. On the Roman side the left wing was suffering especially. For +the Cadiseni, who with Pityaxes were fighting at this point, rushing up +suddenly in great numbers, routed their enemy, and crowding hard upon +the fugitives, were killing many of them. When this was observed by the +men under Sunicas and Aigan, they charged against them at full speed. +But first the three hundred Eruli under Pharas from the high ground got +in the rear of the enemy and made a wonderful display of valorous deeds +against all of them and especially the Cadiseni. And the Persians, +seeing the forces of Sunicas too already coming up against them from the +flank, turned to a hasty flight. And the rout became complete, for the +Romans here joined forces with each other, and there was a great +slaughter of the barbarians. On the Persian right wing not fewer than +three thousand perished in this action, while the rest escaped with +difficulty to the phalanx and were saved. And the Romans did not +continue their pursuit, but both sides took their stand facing each +other in line. Such was the course of these events. + +But the mirranes stealthily sent to the left a large body of troops and +with them all the so-called Immortals. And when these were noticed by +Belisarius and Hermogenes, they ordered the six hundred men under +Sunicas and Aigan to go to the angle on the right, where the troops of +Simmas and Ascan were stationed, and behind them they placed many of +Belisarius men. So the Persians who held the left wing under the +leadership of Baresmanas, together with the Immortals, charged on the +run upon the Romans opposite them, who failed to withstand the attack +and beat a hasty retreat. Thereupon the Romans in the angle, and all who +were behind them, advanced with great ardour against the pursuers. But +inasmuch as they came upon the barbarians from the side, they cut their +army into two parts, and the greater portion of them they had on their +right, while some also who were left behind were placed on their left. +Among these happened to be the standard bearer of Baresmanas, whom +Sunicas charged and struck with his spear. And already the Persians who +were leading the pursuit perceived in what straits they were, and, +wheeling about, they stopped the pursuit and went against their +assailants, and thus became exposed to the enemy on both sides. For +those in flight before them understood what was happening and turned +back again. The Persians, on their part, with the detachment of the +Immortals, seeing the standard inclined and lowered to the earth, rushed +all together against the Romans at that point with Baresmanas. There the +Romans held their ground. And first Sunicas killed Baresmanas and threw +him from his horse to the ground. As a result of this the barbarians +were seized with great fear and thought no longer of resistance, but +fled in utter confusion. And the Romans, having made a circle as it were +around them, killed about five thousand. Thus both armies were all set +in motion, the Persians in retreat, and the Romans in pursuit. In this +part of the conflict all the foot-soldiers who were in the Persian army +threw down their shields and were caught and wantonly killed by their +enemy. However, the pursuit was not continued by the Romans over a great +distance. For Belisarius and Hermogenes refused absolutely to let them +go farther, fearing lest the Persians through some necessity should turn +about and rout them while pursuing recklessly, and it seemed to them +sufficient to preserve the victory unmarred. For on that day the +Persians had been defeated in battle by the Romans, a thing which had +not happened for a long time. Thus the two armies separated from each +other. And the Persians were no longer willing to fight a pitched battle +with the Romans. However, some sudden attacks were made on both sides, +in which the Romans were not at a disadvantage. Such, then, was the +fortune of the armies in Mesopotamia. + + +XV + +And Cabades sent another army into the part of Armenia which is subject +to the Romans. This army was composed of Persarmenians and Sunitae, +whose land adjoins that of the Alani. There were also Huns with them, of +the stock called Sabiri, to the number of three thousand, a most warlike +race. And Mermeroes, a Persian, had been made general of the whole +force. When this army was three days' march from Theodosiopolis, they +established their camp and, remaining in the land of the Persarmenians, +made their preparations for the invasion. Now the general of Armenia +was, as it happened, Dorotheus, a man of discretion and experienced in +many wars. And Sittas held the office of general in Byzantium, and had +authority over the whole army in Armenia. These two, then, upon learning +that an army was being assembled in Persarmenia, straightway sent two +body-guards with instructions to spy out the whole force of the enemy +and report to them. And both of these men got into the barbarian camp, +and after noting everything accurately, they departed. And they were +travelling toward some place in that region, when they happened +unexpectedly upon hostile Huns. By them one of the two, Dagaris by name, +was made captive and bound, while the other succeeded in escaping and +reported everything to the generals. They then armed their whole force +and made an unexpected assault upon the camp of their enemy; and the +barbarians, panic-stricken by the unexpected attack, never thought of +resistance, but fled as best each one could. Thereupon the Romans, after +killing a large number and plundering the camp, immediately marched +back. + +Not long after this Mermeroes, having collected the whole army, invaded +the Roman territory, and they came upon their enemy near the city of +Satala. There they established themselves in camp and remained at rest +in a place called Octava, which is fifty-six stades distant from the +city. Sittas therefore led out a thousand men and concealed them behind +one of the many hills which surround the plain in which the city of +Satala lies. Dorotheus with the rest of the army he ordered to stay +inside the fortifications, because they thought that they were by no +means able to withstand the enemy on level ground, since their number +was not fewer than thirty thousand, while their own forces scarcely +amounted to half that number. On the following day the barbarians came +up close to the fortifications and busily set about closing in the town. +But suddenly, seeing the forces of Sittas who by now were coming down +upon them from the high ground, and having no means of estimating their +number, since owing to the summer season a great cloud of dust hung over +them, they thought they were much more numerous than they were, and, +hurriedly abandoning their plan of closing in the town, they hastened to +mass their force into a small space. But the Romans anticipated the +movement and, separating their own force into two detachments, they set +upon them as they were retiring from the fortifications; and when this +was seen by the whole Roman army, they took courage, and with a great +rush they poured out from the fortifications and advanced against their +opponents. They thus put the Persians between their own troops, and +turned them to flight. However, since the barbarians were greatly +superior to their enemy in numbers, as has been said, they still offered +resistance, and the battle had become a fierce fight at close quarters. +And both sides kept making advances upon their opponents and retiring +quickly, for they were all cavalry. Thereupon Florentius, a Thracian, +commanding a detachment of horse, charged into the enemy's centre, and +seizing the general's standard, forced it to the ground, and started to +ride back. And though he himself was overtaken and fell there, hacked to +pieces, he proved to be the chief cause of the victory for the Romans. +For when the barbarians no longer saw the standard, they were thrown +into great confusion and terror, and retreating, got inside their camp, +and remained quiet, having lost many men in the battle; and on the +following day they all returned homeward with no one following them up, +for it seemed to the Romans a great and very noteworthy thing that such +a great multitude of barbarians in their own country had suffered those +things which have just been narrated above, and that, after making an +invasion into hostile territory, they should retire thus without +accomplishing anything and defeated by a smaller force. + +At that time the Romans also acquired certain Persian strongholds in +Persarmenia, both the fortress of Bolum and the fortress called +Pharangium, which is the place where the Persians mine gold, which they +take to the king. It happened also that a short time before this they +had reduced to subjection the Tzanic nation, who had been settled from +of old in Roman territory as an autonomous people; and as to these +things, the manner in which they were accomplished will be related here +and now. + +As one goes from the land of Armenia into Persarmenia the Taurus lies on +the right, extending into Iberia and the peoples there, as has been said +a little before this[19], while on the left the road which continues to +descend for a great distance is overhung by exceedingly precipitous +mountains, concealed forever by clouds and snow, from which the Phasis +River issues and flows into the land of Colchis. In this place from the +beginning lived barbarians, the Tzanic nation, subject to no one, called +Sani in early times; they made plundering expeditions among the Romans +who lived round about, maintaining a most difficult existence, and +always living upon what they stole; for their land produced for them +nothing good to eat. Wherefore also the Roman emperor sent them each +year a fixed amount of gold, with the condition that they should never +plunder the country thereabout. And the barbarians had sworn to observe +this agreement with the oaths peculiar to their nation, and then, +disregarding what they had sworn, they had been accustomed for a long +time to make unexpected attacks and to injure not only the Armenians, +but also the Romans who lived next to them as far as the sea; then, +after completing their inroad in a short space of time, they would +immediately betake themselves again to their homes. And whenever it _so_ +happened that they chanced upon a Roman army, they were always defeated +in the battle, but they proved to be absolutely beyond capture owing to +the strength of their fastnesses. In this way Sittas had defeated them +in battle before this war; and then by many manifestations of kindness +in word and in deed he had been able to win them over completely. For +they changed their manner of life to one of a more civilized sort, and +enrolled themselves among the Roman troops, and from that time they have +gone forth against the enemy with the rest of the Roman army. They also +abandoned their own religion for a more righteous faith, and all of them +became Christians. Such then was the history of the Tzani. + +Beyond the borders of this people there is a canon whose walls are both +high and exceedingly steep, extending as far as the Caucasus mountains. +In it are populous towns, and grapes and other fruits grow plentifully. +And this canon for about the space of a three days' journey is tributary +to the Romans, but from there begins the territory of Persarmenia; and +here is the gold-mine which, with the permission of Cabades, was worked +by one of the natives, Symeon by name. When this Symeon saw that both +nations were actively engaged in the war, he decided to deprive Cabades +of the revenue. Therefore he gave over both himself and Pharangium to +the Romans, but refused to deliver over to either one the gold of the +mine. And as for the Romans, they did nothing, thinking it sufficient +for them that the enemy had lost the income from there, and the Persians +were not able against the will of the Romans to force the inhabitants of +the place to terms, because they were baffled by the difficult country. + +At about the same time Narses and Aratius who at the beginning of this +war, as I have stated above,[20] had an encounter with Sittas and +Belisarius in the land of the Persarmenians, came together with their +mother as deserters to the Romans; and the emperor's steward, Narses, +received them (for he too happened to be a Persarmenian by birth), and +he presented them with a large sum of money. When this came to the +knowledge of Isaac, their youngest brother, he secretly opened +negotiations with the Romans, and delivered over to them the fortress of +Bolum, which lies very near the limits of Theodosiopolis. For he +directed that soldiers should be concealed somewhere in the vicinity, +and he received them into the fort by night, opening stealthily one +small gate for them. Thus he too came to Byzantium. + + +XVI + +Thus matters stood with the Romans. But the Persians, though defeated by +Belisarius in the battle at Daras, refused even so to retire from there, +until Rufinus, coming into the presence of Cabades, spoke as follows: "O +King, I have been sent by thy brother, who reproaches thee with a just +reproach, because the Persians for no righteous cause have come in arms +into his land. But it would be more seemly for a king who is not only +mighty, but also wise as thou art, to secure a peaceful conclusion of +war, rather than, when affairs have been satisfactorily settled, to +inflict upon himself and his people unnecessary confusion. Wherefore +also I myself have come here with good hopes, in order that from now on +both peoples may enjoy the blessings which come from peace." So spoke +Rufinus. And Cabades replied as follows: "O son of Silvanus, by no means +try to reverse the causes, understanding as you do best of all men that +you Romans have been the chief cause of the whole confusion. For we have +taken the Caspian Gates to the advantage of both Persians and Romans, +after forcing out the barbarians there, since Anastasius, the Emperor of +the Romans, as you yourself doubtless know, when the opportunity was +offered him to buy them with money, was not willing to do so, in order +that he might not be compelled to squander great sums of money in behalf +of both nations by keeping an army there perpetually. And since that +time we have stationed that great army there, and have supported it up +to the present time, thereby giving you the privilege of inhabiting the +land unplundered as far as concerns the barbarians on that side, and of +holding your own possessions with complete freedom from trouble. But as +if this were not sufficient for you, you have also made a great city, +Daras, as a stronghold against the Persians, although this was +explicitly forbidden in the treaty which Anatolius arranged with the +Persians; and as a result of this it is necessary for the Persian state +to be afflicted with the difficulties and the expense of two armies, the +one in order that the Massagetae may not be able fearlessly to plunder +the land of both of us, and the other in order that we may check your +inroads. When lately we made a protest regarding these matters and +demanded that one of two things should be done by you, either that the +army sent to the Caspian Gates should be sent by both of us, or that the +city of Daras should be dismantled, you refused to understand what was +said, but saw fit to strengthen your plot against the Persians by a +greater injury, if we remember correctly the building of the fort in +Mindouos[21]. And even now the Romans may choose peace, or they may +elect war, by either doing justice to us or going against our rights. +For never will the Persians lay down their arms, until the Romans either +help them in guarding the gates, as is just and right, or dismantle the +city of Daras." With these words Cabades dismissed the ambassador, +dropping the hint that he was willing to take money from the Romans and +have done with the causes of the war. This was reported to the emperor +by Rufinus when he came to Byzantium. [531 A.D.] Hermogenes also came +thither not long afterwards, and the winter came to a close; thus ended +the fourth year of the reign of the Emperor Justinian. + + +XVII + +At the opening of spring a Persian army under the leadership of +Azarethes invaded the Roman territory. They were fifteen thousand +strong, all horsemen. With them was Alamoundaras, son of Saccice, with a +very large body of Saracens. But this invasion was not made by the +Persians in the customary manner; for they did not invade Mesopotamia, +as formerly, but the country called Commagene of old, but now +Euphratesia, a point from which, as far as we know, the Persians never +before conducted a campaign against the Romans. But why the land was +called Mesopotamia and why the Persians refrained from making their +attack at this point is what I now propose to relate. + +There is a mountain in Armenia which is not especially precipitous, +two-and-forty stades removed from Theodosiopolis and lying toward the +north from it. From this mountain issue two springs, forming immediately +two rivers, the one on the right called the Euphrates, and the other the +Tigris. One of these, the Tigris, descends, with no deviations and with +no tributaries except small ones emptying into it, straight toward the +city of Amida. And continuing into the country which lies to the north +of this city it enters the land of Assyria. But the Euphrates at its +beginning flows for a short distance, and is then immediately lost to +sight as it goes on; it does not, however, become subterranean, but a +very strange thing happens. For the water is covered by a bog of great +depth, extending about fifty stades in length and twenty in breadth; and +reeds grow in this mud in great abundance. But the earth there is of +such a hard sort that it seems to those who chance upon it to be nothing +else than solid ground, so that both pedestrians and horsemen travel +over it without any fear. Nay more, even wagons pass over the place in +great numbers every day, but they are wholly insufficient to shake the +bog or to find a weak spot in it at any point. The natives burn the +reeds every year, to prevent the roads being stopped up by them, and +once, when an exceedingly violent wind struck the place, it came about +that the fire reached the extremities of the roots, and the water +appeared at a small opening; but in a short time the ground closed +again, and gave the spot the same appearance which it had had before. +From there the river proceeds into the land called Celesene, where was +the sanctuary of Artemis among the Taurians, from which they say +Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, fled with Orestes and Pylades, bearing +the statue of Artemis. For the other temple which has existed even to my +day in the city of Comana is not the one "Among the Taurians." But I +shall explain how this temple came into being. + +When Orestes had departed in haste from the Taurians with his sister, it +so happened that he contracted some disease. And when he made inquiry +about the disease they say that the oracle responded that his trouble +would not abate until he built a temple to Artemis in a spot such as the +one among the Taurians, and there cut off his hair and named the city +after it. So then Orestes, going about the country there, came to +Pontus, and saw a mountain which rose steep and towering, while below +along the extremities of the mountain flowed the river Iris. Orestes, +therefore, supposing at that time that this was the place indicated to +him by the oracle, built there a great city and the temple of Artemis, +and, shearing off his hair, named after it the city which even up to the +present time has been called Comana. The story goes on that after +Orestes had done these things, the disease continued to be as violent as +before, if not even more so. Then the man perceived that he was not +satisfying the oracle by doing these things, and he again went about +looking everywhere and found a certain spot in Cappadocia very closely +resembling the one among the Taurians. I myself have often seen this +place and admired it exceedingly, and have imagined that I was in the +land of the Taurians. For this mountain resembles the other remarkably, +since the Taurus is here also and the river Sarus is similar to the +Euphrates there. So Orestes built in that place an imposing city and two +temples, the one to Artemis and the other to his sister Iphigenia, which +the Christians have made sanctuaries for themselves, without changing +their structure at all. This is called even now Golden Comana, being +named from the hair of Orestes, which they say he cut off there and thus +escaped from his affliction. But some say that this disease from which +he escaped was nothing else than that of madness which seized him after +he had killed his own mother. But I shall return to the previous +narrative. + +From Tauric Armenia and the land of Celesene the River Euphrates, +flowing to the right of the Tigris, flows around an extensive territory, +and since many rivers join it and among them the Arsinus, whose copious +stream flows down from the land of the so-called Persarmenians, it +becomes naturally a great river, and flows into the land of the people +anciently called White Syrians but now known as the Lesser Armenians, +whose first city, Melitene, is one of great importance. From there it +flows past Samosata and Hierapolis and all the towns in that region as +far as the land of Assyria, where the two rivers unite with each other +into one stream which bears the name of the Tigris. The land which lies +outside the River Euphrates, beginning with Samosata, was called in +ancient times Commagene, but now it is named after the river[22]. But +the land inside the river, that namely which is between it and the +Tigris, is appropriately named Mesopotamia; however, a portion of it is +called not only by this name, but also by certain others. For the land +as far as the city of Amida has come to be called Armenia by some, while +Edessa together with the country around it is called Osroene, after +Osroes, a man who was king in that place in former times, when the men +of this country were in alliance with the Persians. After the time, +therefore, when the Persians had taken from the Romans the city of +Nisibis and certain other places in Mesopotamia, whenever they were +about to make an expedition against the Romans, they disregarded the +land outside the River Euphrates, which was for the most part unwatered +and deserted by men, and gathered themselves here with no trouble, since +they were in a land which was their own and which lay very close to the +inhabited land of their enemy, and from here they always made their +invasions. + +When the mirranes[23], defeated in battle[24] and with the greater part +of his men lost, came back to the Persian land with the remainder of his +army, he received bitter punishment at the hands of King Cabades. For he +took away from him a decoration which he was accustomed to bind upon the +hair of his head, an ornament wrought of gold and pearls. Now this is a +great dignity among the Persians, second only to the kingly honour. For +there it is unlawful to wear a gold ring or girdle or brooch or anything +else whatsoever, except a man be counted worthy to do so by the king. + +Thereafter Cabades began to consider in what manner he himself should +make an expedition against the Romans. For after the mirranes had failed +in the manner I have told, he felt confidence in no one else. While he +was completely at a loss as to what he should do, Alamoundaras, the king +of the Saracens, came before him and said: "Not everything, O Master, +should be entrusted to fortune, nor should one believe that all wars +ought to be successful. For this is not likely and besides it is not in +keeping with the course of human events, but this idea is most +unfortunate for those who are possessed by it. For when men who expect +that all the good things will come to them fail at any time, if it so +happen, they are distressed more than is seemly by the very hope which +wrongly led them on. Therefore, since men have not always confidence in +fortune, they do not enter into the danger of war in a straightforward +way, even if they boast that they surpass the enemy in every respect, +but by deception and divers devices they exert themselves to circumvent +their opponents. For those who assume the risk of an even struggle have +no assurance of victory. Now, therefore, O King of Kings, neither be +thus distressed by the misfortune which has befallen Mirranes, nor +desire again to make trial of fortune. For in Mesopotamia and the land +of Osroene, as it is called, since it is very close to thy boundaries, +the cities are very strong above all others, and now they contain a +multitude of soldiers such as never before, so that if we go there the +contest will not prove a safe one; but in the land which lies outside +the River Euphrates, and in Syria which adjoins it, there is neither a +fortified city nor an army of any importance. For this I have often +heard from the Saracens sent as spies to these parts. There too, they +say, is the city of Antioch, in wealth and size and population the first +of all the cities of the Eastern Roman Empire; and this city is +unguarded and destitute of soldiers. For the people of this city care +for nothing else than fetes and luxurious living, and their constant +rivalries with each other in the theatres. Accordingly, if we go against +them unexpectedly, it is not at all unlikely that we shall capture the +city by a sudden attack, and that we shall return to the land of the +Persians without having met any hostile army, and before the troops in +Mesopotamia have learned what has happened. As for lack of water or of +any kind of provisions, let no such thought occur to thee; for I myself +shall lead the army wherever it shall seem best." + +When Cabades heard this he could neither oppose nor distrust the plan. +For Alamoundaras was most discreet and well experienced in matters of +warfare, thoroughly faithful to the Persians, and unusually +energetic,--a man who for a space of fifty years forced the Roman state +to bend the knee. For beginning from the boundaries of Aegypt and as far +as Mesopotamia he plundered the whole country, pillaging one place after +another, burning the buildings in his track and making captives of the +population by the tens of thousands on each raid, most of whom he killed +without consideration, while he gave up the others for great sums of +money. And he was confronted by no one at all. For he never made his +inroad without looking about, but so suddenly did he move and so very +opportunely for himself, that, as a rule, he was already off with all +the plunder when the generals and the soldiers were beginning to learn +what had happened and to gather themselves against him. If, indeed, by +any chance, they were able to catch him, this barbarian would fall upon +his pursuers while still unprepared and not in battle array, and would +rout and destroy them with no trouble; and on one occasion he made +prisoners of all the soldiers who were pursuing him together with their +officers. These officers were Timostratus, the brother of Rufinus, and +John, the son of Lucas, whom he gave up indeed later, thereby gaining +for himself no mean or trivial wealth. And, in a word, this man proved +himself the most difficult and dangerous enemy of all to the Romans. The +reason was this, that Alamoundaras, holding the position of king, ruled +alone over all the Saracens in Persia, and he was always able to make +his inroad with the whole army wherever he wished in the Roman domain; +and neither any commander of Roman troops, whom they call "duces," nor +any leader of the Saracens allied with the Romans, who are called +"phylarchs," was strong enough with his men to array himself against +Alamoundaras; for the troops stationed in the different districts were +not a match in battle for the enemy. [531 A.D.] For this reason the +Emperor Justinian put in command of as many clans as possible Arethas, +the son of Gabalas, who ruled over the Saracens of Arabia, and bestowed +upon him the dignity of king, a thing which among the Romans had never +before been done. However Alamoundaras continued to injure the Romans +just as much as before, if not more, since Arethas was either extremely +unfortunate in every inroad and every conflict, or else he turned +traitor as quickly as he could. For as yet we know nothing certain about +him. In this way it came about that Alamoundaras, with no one to stand +against him, plundered the whole East for an exceedingly long time, for +he lived to a very advanced age. + + +XVIII + +This man's suggestion at that time therefore pleased Cabades, and he +chose out fifteen thousand men, putting in command of them Azarethes, a +Persian, who was an exceptionally able warrior, and he bade Alamoundaras +lead the expedition. So they crossed the River Euphrates in Assyria, +and, after passing over some uninhabited country, they suddenly and +unexpectedly threw their forces into the land of the so-called +Commagenae. This was the first invasion made by the Persians from this +point into Roman soil, as far as we know from tradition or by any other +means, and it paralyzed all the Romans with fear by its unexpectedness. +And when this news came to the knowledge of Belisarius, at first he was +at a loss, but afterwards he decided to go to the rescue with all speed. +So he established a sufficient garrison in each city in order that +Cabades with another hostile army might not come there and find the +towns of Mesopotamia utterly unguarded, and himself with the rest of the +army went to meet the invasion; and crossing the River Euphrates they +moved forward in great haste. Now the Roman army amounted to about +twenty thousand foot and horse, and among them not less than two +thousand were Isaurians. The commanders of cavalry were all the same +ones who had previously fought the battle at Daras with Mirranes and the +Persians, while the infantry were commanded by one of the body-guards of +the Emperor Justinian, Peter by name. The Isaurians, however, were under +the command of Longinus and Stephanacius. Arethas also came there to +join them with the Saracen army. When they reached the city of Chalcis, +they encamped and remained there, since they learned that the enemy were +in a place called Gabboulon, one hundred and ten stades away from +Chalcis. When this became known to Alamoundaras and Azarethes, they were +terrified at the danger, and no longer continued their advance, but +decided to retire homeward instantly. Accordingly they began to march +back, with the River Euphrates on the left, while the Roman army was +following in the rear. And in the spot where the Persians bivouacked +each night the Romans always tarried on the following night. For +Belisarius purposely refused to allow the army to make any longer march +because he did not wish to come to an engagement with the enemy, but he +considered that it was sufficient for them that the Persians and +Alamoundaras, after invading the land of the Romans, should retire from +it in such a fashion, betaking themselves to their own land without +accomplishing anything. And because of this all secretly mocked him, +both officers and soldiers, but not a man reproached him to his face. + +Finally the Persians made their bivouac on the bank of the Euphrates +just opposite the city of Callinicus. From there they were about to +march through a country absolutely uninhabited by man, and thus to quit +the land of the Romans; for they purposed no longer to proceed as +before, keeping to the bank of the river. The Romans had passed the +night in the city of Sura, and, removing from there, they came upon the +enemy just in the act of preparing for the departure. [Ap. 19, 531] Now +the feast of Easter was near and would take place on the following day; +this feast is reverenced by the Christians above all others, and on the +day before it they are accustomed to refrain from food and drink not +only throughout the day, but for a large part of the night also they +continue the fast. Then, therefore, Belisarius, seeing that all his men +were passionately eager to go against the enemy, wished to persuade them +to give up this idea (for this course had been counselled by Hermogenes +also, who had come recently on an embassy from the emperor); he +accordingly called together all who were present and spoke as follows: +"O Romans, whither are you rushing? and what has happened to you that +you are purposing to choose for yourselves a danger which is not +necessary? Men believe that there is only one victory which is +unalloyed, namely to suffer no harm at the hands of the enemy, and this +very thing has been given us in the present instance by fortune and by +the fear of us that overpowers our foes. Therefore it is better to enjoy +the benefit of our present blessings than to seek them when they have +passed. For the Persians, led on by many hopes, undertook an expedition +against the Romans, and now, with everything lost, they have beaten a +hasty retreat. So that if we compel them against their will to abandon +their purpose of withdrawing and to come to battle with us, we shall win +no advantage whatsoever if we are victorious,--for why should one rout a +fugitive?--while if we are unfortunate, as may happen, we shall both be +deprived of the victory which we now have, not robbed of it by the +enemy, but flinging it away ourselves, and also we shall abandon the +land of the emperor to lie open hereafter to the attacks of the enemy +without defenders. Moreover this also is worth your consideration, that +God is always accustomed to succour men in dangers which are necessary, +not in those which they choose for themselves. And apart from this it +will come about that those who have nowhere to turn will play the part +of brave men even against their will, while the obstacles which are to +be met by us in entering the engagement are many; for a large number of +you have come on foot and all of us are fasting. I refrain from +mentioning that some even now have not arrived." So spoke Belisarius. + +But the army began to insult him, not in silence nor with any +concealment, but they came shouting into his presence, and called him +weak and a destroyer of their zeal; and even some of the officers joined +with the soldiers in this offence, thus displaying the extent of their +daring. And Belisarius, in astonishment at their shamelessness, changed +his exhortation and now seemed to be urging them on against the enemy +and drawing them up for battle, saying that he had not known before +their eagerness to fight, but that now he was of good courage and would +go against the enemy with a better hope. He then formed the phalanx with +a single front, disposing his men as follows: on the left wing by the +river he stationed all the infantry, while on the right where the ground +rose sharply he placed Arethas and all his Saracens; he himself with the +cavalry took his position in the centre. Thus the Romans arrayed +themselves. And when Azarethes saw the enemy gathering in battle line, +he exhorted his men with the following words: "Persians as you are, no +one would deny that you would not give up your valour in exchange for +life, if a choice of the two should be offered. But I say that not even +if you should wish, is it within your power to make the choice between +the two. For as for men who have the opportunity to escape from danger +and live in dishonour it is not at all unnatural that they should, if +they wish, choose what is most pleasant instead of what is best; but for +men who are bound to die, either gloriously at the hands of the enemy or +shamefully led to punishment by your Master, it is extreme folly not to +choose what is better instead of what is most shameful. Now, therefore, +when things stand thus, I consider that it befits you all to bear in +mind not only the enemy but also your own Lord and so enter this +battle." + +After Azarethes also had uttered these words of exhortation, he +stationed the phalanx opposite his opponents, assigning the Persians the +right wing and the Saracens the left. Straightway both sides began the +fight, and the battle was exceedingly fierce. For the arrows, shot from +either side in very great numbers, caused great loss of life in both +armies, while some placed themselves in the interval between the armies +and made a display of valorous deeds against each other, and especially +among the Persians they were falling by the arrows in great numbers. For +while their missiles were incomparably more frequent, since the Persians +are almost all bowmen and they learn to make their shots much more +rapidly than any other men, still the bows which sent the arrows were +weak and not very tightly strung, so that their missiles, hitting a +corselet, perhaps, or helmet or shield of a Roman warrior, were broken +off and had no power to hurt the man who was hit. The Roman bowmen are +always slower indeed, but inasmuch as their bows are extremely stiff and +very tightly strung, and one might add that they are handled by stronger +men, they easily slay much greater numbers of those they hit than do the +Persians, for no armour proves an obstacle to the force of their arrows. +Now already two-thirds of the day had passed, and the battle was still +even. Then by mutual agreement all the best of the Persian army advanced +to attack the Roman right wing, where Arethas and the Saracens had been +stationed. But they broke their formation and moved apart, so that they +got the reputation of having betrayed the Romans to the Persians. For +without awaiting the oncoming enemy they all straightway beat a hasty +retreat. So the Persians in this way broke through the enemy's line and +immediately got in the rear of the Roman cavalry. Thus the Romans, who +were already exhausted both by the march and the labour of the +battle,--and besides this they were all fasting so far on in the +day,--now that they were assailed by the enemy on both sides, held out +no longer, but the most of them in full flight made their way to the +islands in the river which were close by, while some also remained there +and performed deeds both amazing and remarkable against the enemy. Among +these was Ascan who, after killing many of the notables among the +Persians, was gradually hacked to pieces and finally fell, leaving to +the enemy abundant reason to remember him. And with him eight hundred +others perished after shewing themselves brave men in this struggle, and +almost all the Isaurians fell with their leaders, without even daring to +lift their weapons against the enemy. For they were thoroughly +inexperienced in this business, since they had recently left off farming +and entered into the perils of warfare, which before that time were +unknown to them. And yet just before these very men had been most +furious of all for battle because of their ignorance of warfare, and +were then reproaching Belisarius with cowardice. They were not in fact +all Isaurians but the majority of them were Lycaones. + +Belisarius with some few men remained there, and as long as he saw Ascan +and his men holding out, he also in company with those who were with him +held back the enemy; but when some of Ascan's troops had fallen, and the +others had turned to flee wherever they could, then at length he too +fled with his men and came to the phalanx of infantry, who with Peter +were still fighting, although not many in number now, since the most of +them too had fled. There he himself gave up his horse and commanded all +his men to do the same thing and on foot with the others to fight off +the oncoming enemy. And those of the Persians who were following the +fugitives, after pursuing for only a short distance, straightway +returned and rushed upon the infantry and Belisarius with all the +others. Then the Romans turned their backs to the river so that no +movement to surround them might be executed by the enemy, and as best +they could under the circumstances were defending themselves against +their assailants. And again the battle became fierce, although the two +sides were not evenly matched in strength; for foot-soldiers, and a very +few of them, were fighting against the whole Persian cavalry. +Nevertheless the enemy were not able either to rout them or in any other +way to overpower them. For standing shoulder to shoulder they kept +themselves constantly massed in a small space, and they formed with +their shields a rigid, unyielding barricade, so that they shot at the +Persians more conveniently than they were shot at by them. Many a time +after giving up, the Persians would advance against them determined to +break up and destroy their line, but they always retired again from the +assault unsuccessful. For their horses, annoyed by the clashing of the +shields, reared up and made confusion for themselves and their riders. +Thus both sides continued the struggle until it had become late in the +day. And when night had already come on, the Persians withdrew to their +camp, and Belisarius accompanied by some few men found a freight-boat +and crossed over to the island in the river, while the other Romans +reached the same place by swimming. On the following day many +freight-boats were brought to the Romans from the city of Callinicus and +they were conveyed thither in them, and the Persians, after despoiling +the dead, all departed homeward. However they did not find their own +dead less numerous than the enemy's. + +When Azarethes reached Persia with his army, although he had prospered +in the battle, he found Cabades exceedingly ungrateful, for the +following reason. It is a custom among the Persians that, when they are +about to march against any of their foes, the king sits on the royal +throne, and many baskets are set there before him; and the general also +is present who is expected to lead the army against the enemy; then the +army passes along before the king, one man at a time, and each of them +throws one weapon into the baskets; after this they are sealed with the +king's seal and preserved; and when this army returns to Persia, each +one of the soldiers takes one weapon out of the baskets. A count is then +made by those whose office it is to do so of all the weapons which have +not been taken by the men, and they report to the king the number of the +soldiers who have not returned, and in this way it becomes evident how +many have perished in the war. Thus the law has stood from of old among +the Persians. Now when Azarethes came into the presence of the king, +Cabades enquired of him whether he came back with any Roman fortress won +over to their side, for he had marched forth with Alamoundaras against +the Romans, with the purpose of subduing Antioch. And Azarethes said +that he had captured no fortress, but that he had conquered the Romans +and Belisarius in battle. So Cabades bade the army of Azarethes pass by, +and from the baskets each man took out a weapon just as was customary. +But since many weapons were left, Cabades rebuked Azarethes for the +victory and thereafter ranked him among the most unworthy. So the +victory had this conclusion for Azarethes. + + +XIX + +At that time the idea occurred to the Emperor Justinian to ally with +himself the Aethiopians and the Homeritae, in order to injure the +Persians. I shall now first explain what part of the earth these nations +occupy, and then I shall point out in what manner the emperor hoped that +they would be of help to the Romans. The boundaries of Palestine extend +toward the east to the sea which is called the Red Sea. Now this sea, +beginning at India, comes to an end at this point in the Roman domain. +And there is a city called Aelas on its shore, where the sea comes to an +end, as I have said, and becomes a very narrow gulf. And as one sails +into the sea from there, the Egyptian mountains lie on the right, +extending toward the south; on the other side a country deserted by men +extends northward to an indefinite distance; and the land on both sides +is visible as one sails in as far as the island called Iotabe, not less +than one thousand stades distant from the city of Aelas. On this island +Hebrews had lived from of old in autonomy, but in the reign of this +Justinian they have become subject to the Romans. From there on there +comes a great open sea. And those who sail into this part of it no +longer see the land on the right, but they always anchor along the left +coast when night comes on. For it is impossible to navigate in the +darkness on this sea, since it is everywhere full of shoals. But there +are harbours there and great numbers of them, not made by the hand of +man, but by the natural contour of the land, and for this reason it is +not difficult for mariners to find anchorage wherever they happen to be. + +This coast[25] immediately beyond the boundaries of Palestine is held by +Saracens, who have been settled from of old in the Palm Groves. These +groves are in the interior, extending over a great tract of land, and +there absolutely nothing else grows except palm trees. The Emperor +Justinian had received these palm groves as a present from Abochorabus, +the ruler of the Saracens there, and he was appointed by the emperor +captain over the Saracens in Palestine. And he guarded the land from +plunder constantly, for both to the barbarians over whom he ruled and no +less to the enemy, Abochorabus always seemed a man to be feared and an +exceptionally energetic fellow. Formally, therefore, the emperor holds +the Palm Groves, but for him really to possess himself of any of the +country there is utterly impossible. For a land completely destitute of +human habitation and extremely dry lies between, extending to the +distance of a ten days' journey; moreover the Palm Groves themselves are +by no means worth anything, and Abochorabus only gave the form of a +gift, and the emperor accepted it with full knowledge of the fact. So +much then for the Palm Groves. Adjoining this people there are other +Saracens in possession of the coast, who are called Maddeni and who are +subjects of the Homeritae. These Homeritae dwell in the land on the +farther side of them on the shore of the sea. And beyond them many other +nations are said to be settled as far as the man-eating Saracens. Beyond +these are the nations of India. But regarding these matters let each one +speak as he may wish. + +About opposite the Homeritae on the opposite mainland dwell the +Aethiopians who are called Auxomitae, because their king resides in the +city of Auxomis. And the expanse of sea which lies between is crossed in +a voyage of five days and nights, when a moderately favouring wind +blows. For here they are accustomed to navigate by night also, since +there are no shoals at all in these parts; this portion of the sea has +been called the Red Sea by some. For the sea which one traverses beyond +this point as far as the shore and the city of Aelas has received the +name of the Arabian Gulf, inasmuch as the country which extends from +here to the limits of the city of Gaza used to be called in olden times +Arabia, since the king of the Arabs had his palace in early times in the +city of Petrae. Now the harbour of the Homeritae from which they are +accustomed to put to sea for the voyage to Aethiopia is called Bulicas; +and at the end of the sail across the sea they always put in at the +harbour of the Adulitae. But the city of Adulis is removed from the +harbour a distance of twenty stades (for it lacks only so much of being +on the sea), while from the city of Auxomis it is a journey of twelve +days. + +All the boats which are found in India and on this sea are not made in +the same manner as are other ships. For neither are they smeared with +pitch, nor with any other substance, nor indeed are the planks fastened +together by iron nails going through and through, but they are bound +together with a kind of cording. The reason is not as most persons +suppose, that there are certain rocks there which draw the iron to +themselves (for witness the fact that when the Roman vessels sail from +Aelas into this sea, although they are fitted with much iron, no such +thing has ever happened to them), but rather because the Indians and the +Aethiopians possess neither iron nor any other thing suitable for such +purposes. Furthermore, they are not even able to buy any of these things +from the Romans since this is explicitly forbidden to all by law; for +death is the punishment for one who is caught. Such then is the +description of the so-called Red Sea[26] and of the land which lies on +either side of it. + +From the city of Auxomis to the Aegyptian boundaries of the Roman +domain, where the city called Elephantine is situated, is a journey of +thirty days for an unencumbered traveller. Within that space many +nations are settled, and among them the Blemyes and the Nobatae, who are +very large nations. But the Blemyes dwell in the central portion of the +country, while the Nobatae possess the territory about the River Nile. +Formerly this was not the limit of the Roman empire, but it lay beyond +there as far as one would advance in a seven days' journey; but the +Roman Emperor Diocletian came there, and observed that the tribute from +these places was of the smallest possible account, since the land is at +that point extremely narrow (for rocks rise to an exceedingly great +height at no great distance from the Nile and spread over the rest of +the country), while a very large body of soldiers had been stationed +there from of old, the maintenance of which was an excessive burden upon +the public; and at the same time the Nobatae who formerly dwelt about +the city of Oasis used to plunder the whole region; so he persuaded +these barbarians to move from their own habitations, and to settle along +the River Nile, promising to bestow upon them great cities and land both +extensive and incomparably better than that which they had previously +occupied. For in this way he thought that they would no longer harass +the country about Oasis at least, and that they would possess themselves +of the land given them, as being their own, and would probably beat off +the Blemyes and the other barbarians. And since this pleased the +Nobatae, they made the migration immediately, just as Diocletian +directed them, and took possession of all the Roman cities and the land +on both sides of the river beyond the city of Elephantine. Then it was +that this emperor decreed that to them and to the Blemyes a fixed sum of +gold should be given every year with the stipulation that they should no +longer plunder the land of the Romans. And they receive this gold even +up to my time, but none the less they overrun the country there. Thus it +seems that with all barbarians there is no means of compelling them to +keep faith with the Romans except through the fear of soldiers to hold +them in check. And yet this emperor went so far as to select a certain +island in the River Nile close to the city of Elephantine and there +construct a very strong fortress in which he established certain temples +and altars for the Romans and these barbarians in common, and he settled +priests of both nations in this fortress, thinking that the friendship +between them would be secure by reason of their sharing the things +sacred to them. And for this reason he named the place Philae. Now both +these nations, the Blemyes and the Nobatae, believe in all the gods in +which the Greeks believe, and they also reverence Isis and Osiris, and +not least of all Priapus. But the Blemyes are accustomed also to +sacrifice human beings to the sun. These sanctuaries in Philae were kept +by these barbarians even up to my time, but the Emperor Justinian +decided to tear them down. Accordingly Narses, a Persarmenian by birth, +whom I have mentioned before as having deserted to the Romans[27], being +commander of the troops there, tore down the sanctuaries at the +emperor's order, and put the priests under guard and sent the statues to +Byzantium. But I shall return to the previous narrative. + + +XX + +At about the time of this war Hellestheaeus, the king of the +Aethiopians, who was a Christian and a most devoted adherent of this +faith, discovered that a number of the Homeritae on the opposite +mainland were oppressing the Christians there outrageously; many of +these rascals were Jews, and many of them held in reverence the old +faith which men of the present day call Hellenic. He therefore collected +a fleet of ships and an army and came against them, and he conquered +them in battle and slew both the king and many of the Homeritae. He then +set up in his stead a Christian king, a Homerite by birth, by name +Esimiphaeus, and, after ordaining that he should pay a tribute to the +Aethiopians every year, he returned to his home. In this Aethiopian army +many slaves and all who were readily disposed to crime were quite +unwilling to follow the king back, but were left behind and remained +there because of their desire for the land of the Homeritae; for it is +an extremely goodly land. + +These fellows at a time not long after this, in company with certain +others, rose against the king Esimiphaeus and put him in confinement in +one of the fortresses there, and established another king over the +Homeritae, Abramus by name. Now this Abramus was a Christian, but a +slave of a Roman citizen who was engaged in the business of shipping in +the city of Adulis in Aethiopia. When Hellestheaeus learned this, he was +eager to punish Abramus together with those who had revolted with him +for their injustice to Esimiphaeus, and he sent against them an army of +three thousand men with one of his relatives as commander. This army, +once there, was no longer willing to return home, but they wished to +remain where they were in a goodly land, and so without the knowledge of +their commander they opened negotiations with Abramus; then when they +came to an engagement with their opponents, just as the fighting began, +they killed their commander and joined the ranks of the enemy, and so +remained there. But Hellestheaeus was greatly moved with anger and sent +still another army against them; this force engaged with Abramus and his +men, and, after suffering a severe defeat in the battle, straightway +returned home. Thereafter the king of the Aethiopians became afraid, and +sent no further expeditions against Abramus. After the death of +Hellestheaeus, Abramus agreed to pay tribute to the king of the +Aethiopians who succeeded him, and in this way he strengthened his rule. +But this happened at a later time. + +At that time, when Hellestheaeus was reigning over the Aethiopians, and +Esimiphaeus over the Homeritae, the Emperor Justinian sent an +ambassador, Julianus, demanding that both nations on account of their +community of religion should make common cause with the Romans in the +war against the Persians; for he purposed that the Aethiopians, by +purchasing silk from India and selling it among the Romans, might +themselves gain much money, while causing the Romans to profit in only +one way, namely, that they be no longer compelled to pay over their +money to their enemy. (This is the silk of which they are accustomed to +make the garments which of old the Greeks called Medic, but which at the +present time they name "seric"[28]). As for the Homeritae, it was +desired that they should establish Caisus, the fugitive, as captain over +the Maddeni, and with a great army of their own people and of the +Maddene Saracens make an invasion into the land of the Persians. This +Caisus was by birth of the captain's rank and an exceptionally able +warrior, but he had killed one of the relatives of Esimiphaeus and was a +fugitive in a land which is utterly destitute of human habitation. So +each king, promising to put this demand into effect, dismissed the +ambassador, but neither one of them did the things agreed upon by them. +For it was impossible for the Aethiopians to buy silk from the Indians, +for the Persian merchants always locate themselves at the very harbours +where the Indian ships first put in, (since they inhabit the adjoining +country), and are accustomed to buy the whole cargoes; and it seemed to +the Homeritae a difficult thing to cross a country which was a desert +and which extended so far that a long time was required for the journey +across it, and then to go against a people much more warlike than +themselves. Later on Abramus too, when at length he had established his +power most securely, promised the Emperor Justinian many times to invade +the land of Persia, but only once began the journey and then straightway +turned back. Such then were the relations which the Romans had with the +Aethiopians and the Homeritae. + + +XXI + +Hermogenes, as soon as the battle on the Euphrates had taken place, came +before Cabades to negotiate with him, but he accomplished nothing +regarding the peace on account of which he had come, since he found him +still swelling with rage against the Romans; for this reason he returned +unsuccessful. And Belisarius came to Byzantium at the summons of the +emperor, having been removed from the office which he held, in order +that he might march against the Vandals; but Sittas, as had been decreed +by the Emperor Justinian, went to the East in order to guard that +portion of the empire. And the Persians once more invaded Mesopotamia +with a great army under command of Chanaranges and Aspebedes and +Mermeroes. Since no one dared to engage with them, they made camp and +began the siege of Martyropolis, where Bouzes and Bessas had been +stationed in command of the garrison. This city lies in the land called +Sophanene, two hundred and forty stades distant from the city of Amida +toward the north; it is just on the River Nymphius which divides the +land of the Romans and the Persians. So the Persians began to assail the +fortifications, and, while the besieged at first withstood them +manfully, it did not seem likely that they would hold out long. For the +circuit-wall was quite easily assailable in most parts, and could be +captured very easily by a Persian siege, and besides they did not have a +sufficient supply of provisions, nor indeed had they engines of war nor +anything else that was of any value for defending themselves. Meanwhile +Sittas and the Roman army came to a place called Attachas, one hundred +stades distant from Martyropolis, but they did not dare to advance +further, but established their camp and remained there. Hermogenes also +was with them, coming again as ambassador from Byzantium. At this point +the following event took place. + +It has been customary from ancient times both among the Romans and the +Persians to maintain spies at public expense; these men are accustomed +to go secretly among the enemy, in order that they may investigate +accurately what is going on, and may then return and report to the +rulers. Many of these men, as is natural, exert themselves to act in a +spirit of loyalty to their nation, while some also betray their secrets +to the enemy. At that time a certain spy who had been sent from the +Persians to the Romans came into the presence of the Emperor Justinian +and revealed many things which were taking place among the barbarians, +and, in particular, that the nation of the Massagetae, in order to +injure the Romans, were on the very point of going out into the land of +Persia, and that from there they were prepared to march into the +territory of the Romans, and unite with the Persian army. When the +emperor heard this, having already a proof of the man's truthfulness to +him, he presented him with a handsome sum of money and persuaded him to +go to the Persian army which was besieging the Martyropolitans, and +announce to the barbarians there that these Massagetae had been won over +with money by the Roman emperor, and were about to come against them +that very moment. The spy carried out these instructions, and coming to +the army of the barbarians he announced to Chanaranges and the others +that an army of Huns hostile to them would at no distant time come to +the Romans. And when they heard this, they were seized with terror, and +were at a loss how to deal with the situation. + +At this juncture it came about that Cabades became seriously ill, and he +called to him one of the Persians who were in closest intimacy with him, +Mebodes by name, and conversed with him concerning Chosroes and the +kingdom, and said he feared the Persians would make a serious attempt to +disregard some of the things which had been decided upon by him. But +Mebodes asked him to leave the declaration of his purpose in writing, +and bade him be confident that the Persians would never dare to +disregard it. So Cabades set it down plainly that Chosroes should become +king over the Persians. The document was written by Mebodes himself, and +Cabades immediately passed from among men. [Sept. 13, 531] And when +everything had been performed as prescribed by law in the burial of the +king, then Caoses, confident by reason of the law, tried to lay claim to +the office, but Mebodes stood in his way, asserting that no one ought to +assume the royal power by his own initiative but by vote of the Persian +notables. So Caoses committed the decision in the matter to the +magistrates, supposing that there would be no opposition to him from +there. But when all the Persian notables had been gathered together for +this purpose and were in session, Mebodes read the document and stated +the purpose of Cabades regarding Chosroes, and all, calling to mind the +virtue of Cabades, straightway declared Chosroes King of the Persians. + +Thus then Chosroes secured the power. But at Martyropolis, Sittas and +Hermogenes were in fear concerning the city, since they were utterly +unable to defend it in its peril, and they sent certain men to the +enemy, who came before the generals and spoke as follows: "It has +escaped your own notice that you are becoming wrongfully an obstacle to +the king of the Persians and to the blessings of peace and to each +state. For ambassadors sent from the emperor are even now present in +order that they may go to the king of the Persians and there settle the +differences and establish a treaty with him; but do you as quickly as +possible remove from the land of the Romans and permit the ambassadors +to act in the manner which will be of advantage to both peoples. For we +are ready also to give as hostages men of repute concerning these very +things, to prove that they will be actually accomplished at no distant +date." Such were the words of the ambassadors of the Romans. It happened +also that a messenger came to them from the palace, who brought them +word that Cabades had died and that Chosroes, son of Cabades, had become +king over the Persians, and that in this way the situation had become +unsettled. And as a result of this the generals heard the words of the +Romans gladly, since they feared also the attack of the Huns. The Romans +therefore straightway gave as hostages Martinus and one of the +body-guards of Sittas, Senecius by name; so the Persians broke up the +siege and made their departure promptly. And the Huns not long afterward +invaded the land of the Romans, but since they did not find the Persian +army there, they made their raid a short one, and then all departed +homeward. + + +XXII + +Straightway Rufinus and Alexander and Thomas came to act as ambassadors +with Hermogenes, and they all came before the Persian king at the River +Tigris. And when Chosroes saw them, he released the hostages. Then the +ambassadors coaxed Chosroes, and spoke many beguiling words most +unbecoming to Roman ambassadors. By this treatment Chosroes became +tractable, and agreed to establish a peace with them that should be +without end for the price of one hundred and ten "centenaria," on +condition that the commander of troops in Mesopotamia should be no +longer at Daras, but should spend all his time in Constantina, as was +customary in former times; but the fortresses in Lazica he refused to +give back, although he himself demanded that he should receive back from +the Romans both Pharangium and the fortress of Bolum. (Now the +"centenarium" weighs one hundred pounds, for which reason it is so +called; for the Romans call one hundred "centum"). He demanded that this +gold be given him, in order that the Romans might not be compelled +either to tear down the city of Daras or to share the garrison at the +Caspian Gates with the Persians[29]. However the ambassadors, while +approving the rest, said that they were not able to concede the +fortresses, unless they should first make enquiry of the emperor +concerning them. It was decided, accordingly, that Rufinus should be +sent concerning them to Byzantium, and that the others should wait until +he should return. And it was arranged with Rufinus that seventy days' +time be allowed until he should arrive. When Rufinus reached Byzantium +and reported to the emperor what Chosroes' decision was concerning the +peace, the emperor commanded that the peace be concluded by them on +these terms. + +In the meantime, however, a report which was not true reached Persia +saying that the Emperor Justinian had become enraged and put Rufinus to +death. Chosroes indeed was much perturbed by this, and, already filled +with anger, he advanced against the Romans with his whole army. But +Rufinus met him on the way as he was returning not far from the city of +Nisibis. Therefore they proceeded to this city themselves, and, since +they were about to establish the peace, the ambassadors began to convey +the money thither. But the Emperor Justinian was already repenting that +he had given up the strong holds of Lazica, and he wrote a letter to the +ambassadors expressly commanding them by no means to hand them over to +the Persians. For this reason Chosroes no longer saw fit to make the +treaty; and then it came to the mind of Rufinus that he had counselled +more speedily than safely in bringing the money into the land of Persia. +Straightway, therefore, he threw himself on the earth, and lying prone +he entreated Chosroes to send the money back with them and not march +immediately against the Romans, but to put off the war to some other +time. And Chosroes bade him rise from the ground, promising that he +would grant all these things. So the ambassadors with the money came to +Daras and the Persian army marched back. + +Then indeed the fellow-ambassadors of Rufinus began to regard him with +extreme suspicion themselves, and they also denounced him to the +emperor, basing their judgment on the fact that Chosroes had been +persuaded to concede him everything which he asked of him. However, the +emperor showed him no disfavour on account of this. At a time not long +after this Rufinus himself and Hermogenes were again sent to the court +of Chosroes, and they immediately came to agreement with each other +concerning the treaty, subject to the condition that both sides should +give back all the places which each nation had wrested from the other in +that war, and that there should no longer be any military post in Daras; +as for the Iberians, it was agreed that the decision rested with them +whether they should remain there in Byzantium or return to their own +fatherland. And there were many who remained, and many also who returned +to their ancestral homes. [532 A.D.] Thus, then, they concluded the +so-called "endless peace," when the Emperor Justinian was already in the +sixth year of his reign. And the Romans gave the Persians Pharangium and +the fortress of Bolum together with the money, and the Persians gave the +Romans the strongholds of Lazica. The Persians also returned Dagaris to +the Romans, and received in return for him another man of no mean +station. This Dagaris in later times often conquered the Huns in battle +when they had invaded the land of the Romans, and drove them out; for he +was an exceptionally able warrior. Thus both sides in the manner +described made secure the treaty between them. + + +XXIII + +Straightway it came about that plots were formed against both rulers by +their subjects; and I shall now explain how this happened. Chosroes, the +son of Cabades, was a man of an unruly turn of mind and strangely fond +of innovations. For this reason he himself was always full of excitement +and alarms, and he was an unfailing cause of similar feelings in all +others. All, therefore, who were men of action among the Persians, in +vexation at his administration, were purposing to establish over +themselves another king from the house of Cabades. And since they longed +earnestly for the rule of Zames, which was made impossible by the law by +reason of the disfigurement of his eye, as has been stated, they found +upon consideration that the best course for them was to establish in +power his child Cabades, who bore the same name as his grandfather, +while Zames, as guardian of the child, should administer the affairs of +the Persians as he wished. So they went to Zames and disclosed their +plan, and, urging him on with great enthusiasm, they endeavoured to +persuade him to undertake the thing. And since the plan pleased him, +they were purposing to assail Chosroes at the fitting moment. But the +plan was discovered and came to the knowledge of the king, and thus +their proceedings were stopped. For Chosroes slew Zames himself and all +his own brothers and those of Zames together with all their male +offspring, and also all the Persian notables who had either begun or +taken part in any way in the plot against him. Among these was +Aspebedes, the brother of Chosroes' mother. + +Cabades, however, the son of Zames, he was quite unable to kill; for he +was still being reared under the chanaranges, Adergoudounbades. But he +sent a message to the chanaranges, bidding him himself kill the boy he +had reared; for he neither thought it well to shew mistrust, nor yet had +he power to compel him. The chanaranges, therefore, upon hearing the +commands of Chosroes, was exceedingly grieved and, lamenting the +misfortune, he communicated to his wife and Cabades' nurse all that the +king had commanded. Then the woman, bursting into tears and seizing the +knees of her husband, entreated him by no means to kill Cabades. They +therefore consulted together, and planned to bring up the child in the +most secure concealment, and to send word in haste to Chosroes that +Cabades had been put out of the world for him. And they sent word to the +king to this effect, and concealed Cabades in such a way that the affair +did not come to the notice of any one, except Varrames, their own child, +and one of the servants who seemed to them to be in every way most +trustworthy. But when, as time went on, Cabades came of age, the +chanaranges began to fear lest what had been done should be brought to +light; he therefore gave Cabades money and bade him depart and save +himself by flight wherever he could. At that time, then, Chosroes and +all the others were in ignorance of the fact that the chanaranges had +carried this thing through. + +At a later time Chosroes was making an invasion into the land of Colchis +with a great army, as will be told in the following narrative[30]. And +he was followed by the son of this same chanaranges, Varrames, who took +with him a number of his servants, and among them the one who shared +with him the knowledge of what had happened to Cabades; while there +Varrames told the king everything regarding Cabades, and he brought +forward the servant agreeing with him in every particular. When Chosroes +learned this he was forthwith exceedingly angry, and he counted it a +dreadful thing that he had suffered such things at the hand of a man who +was his slave; and since he had no other means of getting the man under +his hand he devised the following plan. When he was about to return +homeward from the land of Colchis, he wrote to this chanaranges that he +had decided to invade the land of the Romans with his whole army, not, +however, by a single inroad into the country, but making two divisions +of the Persian army, in order that the attack might be made upon the +enemy on both sides of the River Euphrates. Now one division of the army +he himself, as was natural, would lead into the hostile land, while to +no one else of his subjects would he grant the privilege of holding +equal honour with the king in this matter, except to the chanaranges +himself on account of his valour. It was necessary, therefore, that the +chanaranges should come speedily to meet him as he returned, in order +that he might confer with him and give him all the directions which +would be of advantage to the army, and that he should bid his attendants +travel behind him on the road. When the chanaranges received this +message, he was overjoyed at the honour shown him by the king, and in +complete ignorance of his own evil plight, he immediately carried out +the instructions. But in the course of this journey, since he was quite +unable to sustain the toil of it (for he was a very old man), he relaxed +his hold on the reins and fell off his horse, breaking the bone in his +leg. It was therefore necessary for him to remain there quietly and be +cared for, and the king came to that place and saw him. And Chosroes +said to him that with his leg in such a plight it was not possible that +he make the expedition with them, but that he must go to one of the +fortresses in that region and receive treatment there from the +physicians. Thus then Chosroes sent the man away on the road to death, +and behind him followed the very men who were to destroy him in the +fortress,--a man who was in fact as well as in name an invincible +general among the Persians, who had marched against twelve nations of +barbarians and subjected them all to King Cabades. After +Adergoudounbades had been removed from the world, Varrames, his son, +received the office of chanaranges. Not long after this either Cabades +himself, the son of Zames, or someone else who was assuming the name of +Cabades came to Byzantium; certainly he resembled very closely in +appearance Cabades, the king. And the Emperor Justinian, though in doubt +concerning him, received him with great friendliness and honoured him as +the grandson of Cabades. So then fared the Persians who rose against +Chosroes. + +Later on Chosroes destroyed also Mebodes for the following reason. While +the king was arranging a certain important matter, he directed +Zaberganes who was present to call Mebodes. Now it happened that +Zaberganes was on hostile terms with Mebodes. When he came to him, he +found him marshalling the soldiers under his command, and he said that +the king summoned him to come as quickly as possible. And Mebodes +promised that he would follow directly as soon as he should have +arranged the matter in hand; but Zaberganes, moved by his hostility to +him, reported to Chosroes that Mebodes did not wish to come at present, +claiming to have some business or other. Chosroes, therefore, moved with +anger, sent one of his attendants commanding Mebodes to go to the +tripod. Now as to what this is I shall explain forthwith. An iron tripod +stands always before the palace; and whenever anyone of the Persians +learns that the king is angry with him, it is not right for such a man +to flee for refuge to a sanctuary nor to go elsewhere, but he must seat +himself by this tripod and await the verdict of the king, while no one +at all dares protect him. There Mebodes sat in pitiable plight for many +days, until he was seized and put to death at the command of Chosroes. +Such was the final outcome of his good deeds to Chosroes. + + +XXIV + + +[Jan. 1, 532] At this same time an insurrection broke out unexpectedly +in Byzantium among the populace, and, contrary to expectation, it proved +to be a very serious affair, and ended in great harm to the people and +to the senate, as the following account will shew. In every city the +population has been divided for a long time past into the Blue and the +Green factions; but within comparatively recent times it has come about +that, for the sake of these names and the seats which the rival factions +occupy in watching the games, they spend their money and abandon their +bodies to the most cruel tortures, and even do not think it unworthy to +die a most shameful death. And they fight against their opponents +knowing not for what end they imperil themselves, but knowing well that, +even if they overcome their enemy in the fight, the conclusion of the +matter for them will be to be carried off straightway to the prison, and +finally, after suffering extreme torture, to be destroyed. So there +grows up in them against their fellow men a hostility which has no +cause, and at no time does it cease or disappear, for it gives place +neither to the ties of marriage nor of relationship nor of friendship, +and the case is the same even though those who differ with respect to +these colours be brothers or any other kin. They care neither for things +divine nor human in comparison with conquering in these struggles; and +it matters not whether a sacrilege is committed by anyone at all against +God, or whether the laws and the constitution are violated by friend or +by foe; nay even when they are perhaps ill supplied with the necessities +of life, and when their fatherland is in the most pressing need and +suffering unjustly, they pay no heed if only it is likely to go well +with their "faction"; for so they name the bands of partisans. And even +women join with them in this unholy strife, and they not only follow the +men, but even resist them if opportunity offers, although they neither +go to the public exhibitions at all, nor are they impelled by any other +cause; so that I, for my part, am unable to call this anything except a +disease of the soul. This, then, is pretty well how matters stand among +the people of each and every city. + +But at this time the officers of the city administration in Byzantium +were leading away to death some of the rioters. But the members of the +two factions, conspiring together and declaring a truce with each other, +seized the prisoners and then straightway entered the prison and +released all those who were in confinement there, whether they had been +condemned on a charge of stirring up sedition, or for any other unlawful +act. And all the attendants in the service of the city government were +killed indiscriminately; meanwhile, all of the citizens who were +sane-minded were fleeing to the opposite mainland, and fire was applied +to the city as if it had fallen under the hand of an enemy. The +sanctuary of Sophia and the baths of Zeuxippus, and the portion of the +imperial residence from the propylaea as far as the so-called House of +Ares were destroyed by fire, and besides these both the great colonnades +which extended as far as the market place which bears the name of +Constantine, in addition to many houses of wealthy men and a vast amount +of treasure. During this time the emperor and his consort with a few +members of the senate shut themselves up in the palace and remained +quietly there. Now the watch-word which the populace passed around to +one another was Nika[31], and the insurrection has been called by this +name up to the present time. + +The praetorian prefect at that time was John the Cappadocian, and +Tribunianus, a Pamphylian by birth, was counsellor to the emperor; this +person the Romans call "quaestor." One of these two men, John, was +entirely without the advantages of a liberal education; for he learned +nothing while attending the elementary school except his letters, and +these, too, poorly enough; but by his natural ability he became the most +powerful man of whom we know. For he was most capable in deciding upon +what was needful and in finding a solution for difficulties. But he +became the basest of all men and employed his natural power to further +his low designs; neither consideration for God nor any shame before man +entered into his mind, but to destroy the lives of many men for the sake +of gain and to wreck whole cities was his constant concern. So within a +short time indeed he had acquired vast sums of money, and he flung +himself completely into the sordid life of a drunken scoundrel; for up +to the time of lunch each day he would plunder the property of his +subjects, and for the rest of the day occupy himself with drinking and +with wanton deeds of lust. And he was utterly unable to control himself, +for he ate food until he vomited, and he was always ready to steal money +and more ready to bring it out and spend it. Such a man then was John. +Tribunianus, on the other hand, both possessed natural ability and in +educational attainments was inferior to none of his contemporaries; but +he was extraordinarily fond of the pursuit of money and always ready to +sell justice for gain; therefore every day, as a rule, he was repealing +some laws and proposing others, selling off to those who requested it +either favour according to their need. + +Now as long as the people were waging this war with each other in behalf +of the names of the colours, no attention was paid to the offences of +these men against the constitution; but when the factions came to a +mutual understanding, as has been said, and so began the sedition, then +openly throughout the whole city they began to abuse the two and went +about seeking them to kill. Accordingly the emperor, wishing to win the +people to his side, instantly dismissed both these men from office. And +Phocas, a patrician, he appointed praetorian prefect, a man of the +greatest discretion and fitted by nature to be a guardian of justice; +Basilides he commanded to fill the office of quaestor, a man known among +the patricians for his agreeable qualities and a notable besides. +However, the insurrection continued no less violently under them. Now on +the fifth day of the insurrection in the late afternoon the Emperor +Justinian gave orders to Hypatius and Pompeius, nephews of the late +emperor, Anastasius, to go home as quickly as possible, either because +he suspected that some plot was being matured by them against his own +person, or, it may be, because destiny brought them to this. But they +feared that the people would force them to the throne (as in fact fell +out), and they said that they would be doing wrong if they should +abandon their sovereign when he found himself in such danger. When the +Emperor Justinian heard this, he inclined still more to his suspicion, +and he bade them quit the palace instantly. Thus, then, these two men +betook themselves to their homes, and, as long as it was night, they +remained there quietly. + +But on the following day at sunrise it became known to the people that +both men had quit the palace where they had been staying. So the whole +population ran to them, and they declared Hypatius emperor and prepared +to lead him to the market-place to assume the power. But the wife of +Hypatius, Mary, a discreet woman, who had the greatest reputation for +prudence, laid hold of her husband and would not let go, but cried out +with loud lamentation and with entreaties to all her kinsmen that the +people were leading him on the road to death. But since the throng +overpowered her, she unwillingly released her husband, and he by no will +of his own came to the Forum of Constantine, where they summoned him to +the throne; then since they had neither diadem nor anything else with +which it is customary for a king to be clothed, they placed a golden +necklace upon his head and proclaimed him Emperor of the Romans. By this +time the members of the senate were assembling,--as many of them as had +not been left in the emperor's residence,--and many expressed the +opinion that they should go to the palace to fight. But Origenes, a man +of the senate, came forward and spoke as follows: "Fellow Romans, it is +impossible that the situation which is upon us be solved in any way +except by war. Now war and royal power are agreed to be the greatest of +all things in the world. But when action involves great issues, it +refuses to be brought to a successful conclusion by the brief crisis of +a moment, but this is accomplished only by wisdom of thought and energy +of action, which men display for a length of time. Therefore if we +should go out against the enemy, our cause will hang in the balance, and +we shall be taking a risk which will decide everything in a brief space +of time; and, as regards the consequences of such action, we shall +either fall down and worship Fortune or reproach her altogether. For +those things whose issue is most quickly decided, fall, as a rule, under +the sway of fortune. But if we handle the present situation more +deliberately, not even if we wish shall we be able to take Justinian in +the palace, but he will very speedily be thankful if he is allowed to +flee; for authority which is ignored always loses its power, since its +strength ebbs away with each day. Moreover we have other palaces, both +Placillianae and the palace named from Helen, which this emperor should +make his headquarters and from there he should carry on the war and +attend to the ordering of all other matters in the best possible way." +So spoke Origenes. But the rest, as a crowd is accustomed to do, +insisted more excitedly and thought that the present moment was +opportune, and not least of all Hypatius (for it was fated that evil +should befall him) bade them lead the way to the hippodrome. But some +say that he came there purposely, being well-disposed toward the +emperor. + +Now the emperor and his court were deliberating as to whether it would +be better for them if they remained or if they took to flight in the +ships. And many opinions were expressed favouring either course. And the +Empress Theodora also spoke to the following effect: "As to the belief +that a woman ought not to be daring among men or to assert herself +boldly among those who are holding back from fear, I consider that the +present crisis most certainly does not permit us to discuss whether the +matter should be regarded in this or in some other way. For in the case +of those whose interests have come into the greatest danger nothing else +seems best except to settle the issue immediately before them in the +best possible way. My opinion then is that the present time, above all +others, is inopportune for flight, even though it bring safety. For +while it is impossible for a man who has seen the light not also to die, +for one who has been an emperor it is unendurable to be a fugitive. May +I never be separated from this purple, and may I not live that day on +which those who meet me shall not address me as mistress. If, now, it is +your wish to save yourself, O Emperor, there is no difficulty. For we +have much money, and there is the sea, here the boats. However consider +whether it will not come about after you have been saved that you would +gladly exchange that safety for death. For as for myself, I approve a +certain ancient saying that royalty is a good burial-shroud." When the +queen had spoken thus, all were filled with boldness, and, turning their +thoughts towards resistance, they began to consider how they might be +able to defend themselves if any hostile force should come against them. +Now the soldiers as a body, including those who were stationed about the +emperor's court, were neither well disposed to the emperor nor willing +openly to take an active part in fighting, but were waiting for what the +future would bring forth. All the hopes of the emperor were centred upon +Belisarius and Mundus, of whom the former, Belisarius, had recently +returned from the Persian war bringing with him a following which was +both powerful and imposing, and in particular he had a great number of +spearmen and guards who had received their training in battles and the +perils of warfare. Mundus had been appointed general of the Illyrians, +and by mere chance had happened to come under summons to Byzantium on +some necessary errand, bringing with him Erulian barbarians. + +When Hypatius reached the hippodrome, he went up immediately to where +the emperor is accustomed to take his place and seated himself on the +royal throne from which the emperor was always accustomed to view the +equestrian and athletic contests. And from the palace Mundus went out +through the gate which, from the circling descent, has been given the +name of the Snail. Belisarius meanwhile began at first to go straight up +toward Hypatius himself and the royal throne, and when he came to the +adjoining structure where there has been a guard of soldiers from of +old, he cried out to the soldiers commanding them to open the door for +him as quickly as possible, in order that he might go against the +tyrant. But since the soldiers had decided to support neither side, +until one of them should be manifestly victorious, they pretended not to +hear at all and thus put him off. So Belisarius returned to the emperor +and declared that the day was lost for them, for the soldiers who +guarded the palace were rebelling against him. The emperor therefore +commanded him to go to the so-called Bronze Gate and the propylaea +there. So Belisarius, with difficulty and not without danger and great +exertion, made his way over ground covered by ruins and half-burned +buildings, and ascended to the stadium. And when he had reached the Blue +Colonnade which is on the right of the emperor's throne, he purposed to +go against Hypatius himself first; but since there was a small door +there which had been closed and was guarded by the soldiers of Hypatius +who were inside, he feared lest while he was struggling in the narrow +space the populace should fall upon him, and after destroying both +himself and all his followers, should proceed with less trouble and +difficulty against the emperor. Concluding, therefore, that he must go +against the populace who had taken their stand in the hippodrome--a vast +multitude crowding each other in great disorder--he drew his sword from +its sheath and, commanding the others to do likewise, with a shout he +advanced upon them at a run. But the populace, who were standing in a +mass and not in order, at the sight of armoured soldiers who had a great +reputation for bravery and experience in war, and seeing that they +struck out with their swords unsparingly, beat a hasty retreat. Then a +great outcry arose, as was natural, and Mundus, who was standing not far +away, was eager to join in the fight,--for he was a daring and energetic +fellow--but he was at a loss as to what he should do under the +circumstances; when, however, he observed that Belisarius was in the +struggle, he straightway made a sally into the hippodrome through the +entrance which they call the Gate of Death. Then indeed from both sides +the partisans of Hypatius were assailed with might and main and +destroyed. When the rout had become complete and there had already been +great slaughter of the populace, Boraedes and Justus, nephews of the +Emperor Justinian, without anyone daring to lift a hand against them, +dragged Hypatius down from the throne, and, leading him in, handed him +over together with Pompeius to the emperor. And there perished among the +populace on that day more than thirty thousand. But the emperor +commanded the two prisoners to be kept in severe confinement. Then, +while Pompeius was weeping and uttering pitiable words (for the man was +wholly inexperienced in such misfortunes), Hypatius reproached him at +length and said that those who were about to die unjustly should not +lament. For in the beginning they had been forced by the people against +their will, and afterwards they had come to the hippodrome with no +thought of harming the emperor. And the soldiers killed both of them on +the following day and threw their bodies into the sea. The emperor +confiscated all their property for the public treasury, and also that of +all the other members of the senate who had sided with them. Later, +however, he restored to the children of Hypatius and Pompeius and to all +others the titles which they had formerly held, and as much of their +property as he had not happened to bestow upon his friends. This was the +end of the insurrection in Byzantium. + + +XXV + +Tribunianus and John were thus deprived of office, but at a later time +they were both restored to the same positions. And Tribunianus lived on +in office many years and died of disease, suffering no further harm from +anyone. For he was a smooth fellow and agreeable in every way and well +able by the excellence of his education to throw into the shade his +affliction of avarice. But John was oppressive and severe alike with all +men, inflicting blows upon those whom he met and plundering without +respect absolutely all their money; consequently in the tenth year of +his office he rightly and justly atoned for his lawless conduct in the +following manner. + +The Empress Theodora hated him above all others. And while he gave +offence to the woman by the wrongs he committed, he was not of a mind to +win her by flattery or by kindness in any way, but he openly set himself +in opposition to her and kept slandering her to the emperor, neither +blushing before her high station nor feeling shame because of the +extraordinary love which the emperor felt for her. When the queen +perceived what was being done, she purposed to slay the man, but in no +way could she do this, since the Emperor Justinian set great store by +him. And when John learned of the purpose of the queen regarding him, he +was greatly terrified. And whenever he went into his chamber to sleep, +he expected every night that some one of the barbarians would fall upon +him to slay him; and he kept peeping out of the room and looking about +the entrances and remained sleepless, although he had attached to +himself many thousands of spearmen and guards, a thing which had been +granted to no prefect before that time. But at daybreak, forgetting all +his fears of things divine and human, he would become again a plague to +all the Romans both in public and in private. And he conversed commonly +with sorcerers, and constantly listened to profane oracles which +portended for him the imperial office, so that he was plainly walking on +air and lifted up by his hopes of the royal power. But in his rascality +and the lawlessness of his conduct there was no moderation or abatement. +And there was in him absolutely no regard for God, and even when he went +to a sanctuary to pray and to pass the night, he did not do at all as +the Christians are wont to do, but he clothed himself in a coarse +garment appropriate to a priest of the old faith which they are now +accustomed to call Hellenic, and throughout that whole night mumbled out +some unholy words which he had practised, praying that the mind of the +emperor might be still more under his control, and that he himself might +be free from harm at the hands of all men. + +At this time Belisarius, after subjugating Italy, came to Byzantium at +the summons of the emperor with his wife Antonina, in order to march +against the Persians[32]. And while in the eyes of all others he was an +honoured and distinguished person, as was natural, John alone was +hostile to him and worked actively against him, for no other reason than +that he drew the hatred of all to himself, while Belisarius enjoyed an +unequalled popularity. And it was on him that the hope of the Romans +centred as he marched once more against the Persians, leaving his wife +in Byzantium. Now Antonina, the wife of Belisarius, (for she was the +most capable person in the world to contrive the impossible,) purposing +to do a favour to the empress, devised the following plan. John had a +daughter, Euphemia, who had a great reputation for discretion, but a +very young woman and for this reason very susceptible; this girl was +exceedingly loved by her father, for she was his only child. By treating +this young woman kindly for several days Antonina succeeded most +completely in winning her friendship, and she did not refuse to share +her secrets with her. And on one occasion when she was present alone +with her in her room she pretended to lament the fate which was upon +her, saying that although Belisarius had made the Roman empire broader +by a goodly measure than it had been before, and though he had brought +two captive kings and so great an amount of wealth to Byzantium, he +found Justinian ungrateful; and in other respects she slandered the +government as not just. Now Euphemia was overjoyed by these words, for +she too was hostile to the present administration by reason of her fear +of the empress, and she said: "And yet, dearest friend, it is you and +Belisarius who are to blame for this, seeing that, though you have +opportunity, you are not willing to use your power." And Antonina +replied quickly: "It is because we are not able, my daughter, to +undertake revolutions in camp, unless some of those here at home join +with us in the task. Now if your father were willing, we should most +easily organize this project and accomplish whatever God wills." When +Euphemia heard this, she promised eagerly that the suggestion would be +carried out, and departing from there she immediately brought the matter +before her father. And he was pleased by the message (for he inferred +that this undertaking offered him a way to the fulfilment of his +prophecies and to the royal power), and straightway without any +hesitation he assented, and bade his child arrange that on the following +day he himself should come to confer with Antonina and give pledges. +When Antonina learned the mind of John, she wished to lead him as far as +possible astray from the understanding of the truth, so she said that +for the present it was inadvisable that he should meet her, for fear +lest some suspicion should arise strong enough to prevent proceedings; +but she was intending straightway to depart for the East to join +Belisarius. When, therefore, she had quit Byzantium and had reached the +suburb (the one called Rufinianae which was the private possession of +Belisarius), there John should come as if to salute her and to escort +her forth on the journey, and they should confer regarding matters of +state and give and receive their pledges. In saying this she seemed to +John to speak well, and a certain day was appointed to carry out the +plan. And the empress, hearing the whole account from Antonina, +expressed approval of what she had planned, and by her exhortations +raised her enthusiasm to a much higher pitch still. + +When the appointed day was at hand, Antonina bade the empress farewell +and departed from the city, and she went to Rufinianae, as if to begin +on the following day her journey to the East; hither too came John at +night in order to carry out the plan which had been agreed upon. +Meanwhile the empress denounced to her husband the things which were +being done by John to secure the tyranny, and she sent Narses, the +eunuch, and Marcellus, the commander of the palace guards to Rufinianae +with numerous soldiers, in order that they might investigate what was +going on, and, if they found John setting about a revolution, that they +might kill the man forthwith and return. So these departed for this +task. But they say that the emperor got information of what was being +done and sent one of John's friends to him forbidding him on any +condition to meet Antonina secretly. But John (since it was fated that +he should fare ill), disregarding the emperor's warning, about midnight +met Antonina, close by a certain wall behind which she had stationed +Narses and Marcellus with their men that they might hear what was said. +There, while John with unguarded tongue was assenting to the plans for +the attack and binding himself with the most dread oaths, Narses and +Marcellus suddenly set upon him. But in the natural confusion which +resulted the body-guards of John (for they stood close by) came +immediately to his side. And one of them smote Marcellus with his sword, +not knowing who he was, and thus John was enabled to escape with them, +and reached the city with all speed. And if he had had the courage to go +straightway before the emperor, I believe that he would have suffered no +harm at his hand; but as it was, he fled for refuge to the sanctuary, +and gave the empress opportunity to work her will against him at her +pleasure. + +[May, 541] Thus, then, from being prefect he became a private citizen, +and rising from that sanctuary he was conveyed to another, which is +situated in the suburb of the city of Cyzicus called by the Cyzicenes +Artace. There he donned the garb of a priest, much against his will, not +a bishop's gown however, but that of a presbyter, as they are called. +But he was quite unwilling to perform the office of a priest lest at +some time it should be a hindrance to his entering again into office; +for he was by no means ready to relinquish his hopes. All his property +was immediately confiscated to the public treasury, but a large +proportion of this the emperor remitted to him, for he was still +inclined to spare him. There it was possible for John to live, +disregarding all dangers and enjoying great wealth, both that which he +himself had concealed and that which by the decision of the emperor +remained with him, and to indulge in luxury at his pleasure, and, if he +had reasoned wisely, to consider his present lot a happy one. For this +reason all the Romans were exceedingly vexed with the man, because, +forsooth, after proving himself the basest of all demons, contrary to +his deserts he was leading a life happier than before. But God, I think, +did not suffer John's retribution to end thus, but prepared for him a +greater punishment. And it fell out thus. + +There was in Cyzicus a certain bishop named Eusebius, a man harsh to all +who came in his way, and no less so than John; this man the Cyzicenes +denounced to the emperor and summoned to justice. And since they +accomplished nothing inasmuch as Eusebius circumvented them by his great +power, certain youths agreed together and killed him in the market-place +of Cyzicus. Now it happened that John had become especially hostile to +Eusebius, and hence the suspicion of the plot fell upon him. Accordingly +men were sent from the senate to investigate this act of pollution. And +these men first confined John in a prison, and then this man who had +been such a powerful prefect, and had been inscribed among the +patricians and had mounted the seat of the consuls, than which nothing +seems greater, at least in the Roman state, they made to stand naked +like any robber or footpad, and thrashing him with many blows upon his +back, compelled him to tell his past life. And while John had not been +clearly convicted as guilty of the murder of Eusebius, it seemed that +God's justice was exacting from him the penalties of the world. +Thereafter they stripped him of all his goods and put him naked on board +a ship, being wrapped in a single cloak, and that a very rough one +purchased for some few obols; and wherever the ship anchored, those who +had him in charge commanded him to ask from those he met bread or obols. +Thus begging everywhere along the way he was conveyed to the city of +Antinous in Aegypt. And this is now the third year during which they +have been guarding him there in confinement. As for John himself, +although he has fallen into such troubles, he has not relinquished his +hope of royal power, but he made up his mind to denounce certain +Alexandrians as owing money to the public treasury. Thus then John the +Cappadocian ten years afterward was overtaken by this punishment for his +political career. + + +XXVI + +At that time the Emperor again designated Belisarius General of the +East, and, sending him to Libya, gained over the country, as will be +told later on in my narrative. When this information came to Chosroes +and the Persians, they were mightily vexed, and they already repented +having made peace with the Romans, because they perceived that their +power was extending greatly. And Chosroes sent envoys to Byzantium, and +said that he rejoiced with the Emperor Justinian, and he asked with a +laugh to receive his share of the spoils from Libya, on the ground that +the emperor would never have been able to conquer in the war with the +Vandals if the Persians had not been at peace with him. So then +Justinian made a present of money to Chosroes, and not long afterwards +dismissed the envoys. + +In the city of Daras the following event took place. There was a certain +John there serving in a detachment of infantry; this man, in conspiracy +with some few of the soldiers, but not all, took possession of the city, +essaying to make himself tyrant. Then he established himself in a palace +as if in a citadel, and was strengthening his tyranny every day. And if +it had not happened that the Persians were continuing to keep peace with +the Romans, irreparable harm would have come from this affair to the +Romans. But as it was, this was prevented by the agreement which had +already been reached, as I have said. On the fourth day of the tyranny +some soldiers conspired together, and by the advice of Mamas, the priest +of the city, and Anastasius, one of the notable citizens, they went up +to the palace at high noon, each man hiding a small sword under his +garment. And first at the door of the courtyard they found some few of +the body-guards, whom they slew immediately. Then they entered the men's +apartment and laid hold upon the tyrant; but some say that the soldiers +were not the first to do this, but that while they were still hesitating +in the courtyard and trembling at the danger, a certain sausage-vendor +who was with them rushed in with his cleaver and meeting John smote him +unexpectedly. But the blow which had been dealt him was not a fatal one, +this account goes on to say, and he fled with a great outcry and +suddenly fell among these very soldiers. Thus they laid hands upon the +man and immediately set fire to the palace and burned it, in order that +there might be left no hope from there for those making revolutions; and +John they led away to the prison and bound. And one of them, fearing +lest the soldiers, upon learning that the tyrant survived, might again +make trouble for the city, killed John, and in this way stopped the +confusion. Such, then, was the progress of events touching this tyranny. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + +Cf. _Iliad_ xi. 385 [Greek: toxota, lobeter, kerai aglae, parthenopipa], +the only place where [Greek: toxotes] occurs in Homer. + +[2] + +Cf. _Iliad_ v. 192. + +[3] + +Cf. _Iliad_ viii. 267; xi. 371. + +[4] + +Cf. _Iliad_ iv. 113. + +[5] + +Cf. _Iliad_ iv. 123. + +[6] + +Cf. _Iliad_ xi. 390. + +[7] + +The trench crossed the plain in an approximately straight line. The army +of the Ephthalitae were drawn up behind it, facing the advancing +Persians, while a few of them went out beyond the trench to draw the +attack of the Persians. + +[8] + +Cf. Thuc. ii. 76, 4. + +[9] + +Cf. Book VII. xxvi. 4. + +[10] + +Cf. Thuc. i. 128. + +[11] + +A division of no fixed number. + +[12] + +Cf. Book I. ii. 15. + +[13] + +Modern Erzeroum. + +[14] + +_i.e._ "by force." + +[15] + +Cf. Book VIII. xiii. 15. + +[16] + +Cf. _Iliad_ xxiv. 348; _Odyssey_ x. 279. + +[17] + +Lebanon. + +[18] + +Roman formation. + +_a--a, trench._ + +1. Bouzes and Pharas. + +2. Sunicas and Aigan. + +3. John, Cyril, Marcellus, Germanus, and Dorotheus. + +4. Simmas and Ascan. + +5. Belisarius and Hermogenes. + +[Illustration: Roman formation.] + + 1. 3. + (h)======= |----| =========== + hill 2.--| 5. |--4. + a__________| |__________a + ================= + +[19] + +Cf. Book I. x. 2. + +[20] + +Cf. Book I. xii. 21. + +[21] + +Cf. Book I. xiii. 2. + +[22] + +"Euphratesia"; cf. section 2. + +[23] + +Title meaning a patrician. See Index. + +[24] + +Ch. xiv. 28-54. + +[25] + +The coast described here is that of Arabia. + +[26] + +Rather the "Arabian Gulf." + +[27] + +Cf. ch. xv. 31. + +[28] + +In Latin _serica_, as coming from the Chinese (Seres). + +[29] + +Cf. chap. xvi. 7. + +[30] + +Cf. Book II. xvii. + +[31] + +_i.e._ "Conquer." + +[32] + +Book VI. xxx. 30. + + + + +HISTORY OF THE WARS: BOOK II + + + + + +THE PERSIAN WAR (_Continued_) + + +HISTORY OF THE WARS: BOOK II + +THE PERSIAN WAR (_Continued_) + + +I + +Not long after this Chosroes, upon learning that Belisarius had begun to +win Italy also for the Emperor Justinian, was no longer able to restrain +his thoughts but he wished to discover pretexts, in order that he might +break the treaty on some grounds which would seem plausible. And he +conferred with Alamoundaras concerning this matter and commanded him to +provide causes for war. So Alamoundaras brought against Arethas, the +charge that he, Arethas, was doing him violence in a matter of boundary +lines, and he entered into conflict with him in time of peace, and began +to overrun the land of the Romans on this pretext. And he declared that, +as for him, he was not breaking the treaty between the Persians and +Romans, for neither one of them had included him in it. And this was +true. For no mention of Saracens was ever made in treaties, on the +ground that they were included under the names of Persians and Romans. +Now this country which at that time was claimed by both tribes of +Saracens[1] is called Strata, and extends to the south of the city of +Palmyra; nowhere does it produce a single tree or any of the useful +growth of corn-lands, for it is burned exceedingly dry by the sun, but +from of old it has been devoted to the pasturage of some few flocks. Now +Arethas maintained that the place belonged to the Romans, proving his +assertion by the name which has long been applied to it by all (for +Strata signifies "a paved road" in the Latin tongue), and he also +adduced the testimonies of men of the oldest times. Alamoundaras, +however, was by no means inclined to quarrel concerning the name, but he +claimed that tribute had been given him from of old for the pasturage +there by the owners of the flocks. The Emperor Justinian therefore +entrusted the settlement of the disputed points to Strategius; a +patrician and administrator of the royal treasures, and besides a man of +wisdom and of good ancestry, and with him Summus, who had commanded the +troops in Palestine. This Summus was the brother of Julian, who not long +before had served as envoy to the Aethiopians and Homeritae. And the one +of them, Summus, insisted that the Romans ought not to surrender the +country, but Strategius begged of the emperor that he should not do the +Persians the favour of providing them with pretexts for the war which +they already desired, for the sake of a small bit of land and one of +absolutely no account, but altogether unproductive and unsuitable for +crops. The Emperor Justinian, therefore, took the matter under +consideration, and a long time was spent in the settlement of the +question. + +But Chosroes, the King of the Persians, claimed that the treaty had been +broken by Justinian, who had lately displayed great opposition to his +house, in that he had attempted in time of peace to attach Alamoundaras +to himself. For, as he said, Summus, who had recently gone to the +Saracen ostensibly to arrange matters, had hoodwinked him by promises of +large sums of money on condition that he should join the Romans, and he +brought forward a letter which, he alleged, the Emperor Justinian had +written to Alamoundaras concerning these things. He also declared that +he had sent a letter to some of the Huns, in which he urged them to +invade the land of the Persians and to do extensive damage to the +country thereabout. This letter he asserted to have been put into his +hands by the Huns themselves who had come before him. So then Chosroes, +with these charges against the Romans, was purposing to break off the +treaty. But as to whether he was speaking the truth in these matters, I +am not able to say. + + +II + +At this point Vittigis, the leader of the Goths, already worsted in the +war, sent two envoys to him to persuade him to march against the Romans; +but the men whom he sent were not Goths, in order that the real +character of the embassy might not be at once obvious and so make +negotiations useless, but Ligurian priests who were attracted to this +enterprise by rich gifts of money. One of these men, who seemed to be +the more worthy, undertook the embassy assuming the pretended name of +bishop which did not belong to him at all, while the other followed as +his attendant. And when in the course of the journey they came to the +land of Thrace, they attached to themselves a man from there to be an +interpreter of the Syriac and the Greek tongues, and without being +detected by any of the Romans, they reached the land of Persia. For +inasmuch as they were at peace, they were not keeping a strict guard +over that region. And coming before Chosroes they spoke as follows: "It +is true, O King, that all other envoys undertake their task for the sake +of advantages to themselves as a rule, but we have been sent by +Vittigis, the king of the Goths and the Italians, in order to speak in +behalf of thy kingdom; and consider that he is now present before thee +speaking these words. If anyone should say, O King, putting all in a +word, that thou hast given up thy kingdom and all men everywhere to +Justinian, he would be speaking correctly. For since he is by nature a +meddler and a lover of those things which in no way belong to him, and +is not able to abide by the settled order of things, he has conceived +the desire of seizing upon the whole earth, and has become eager to +acquire for himself each and every state. Accordingly (since he was +neither able alone to assail the Persians, nor with the Persians +opposing him to proceed against the others), he decided to deceive thee +with the pretence of peace, and by forcing the others to subjection to +acquire mighty forces against thy state. Therefore, after having already +destroyed the kingdom of the Vandals and subjugated the Moors, while the +Goths because of their friendship stood aside for him, he has come +against us bringing vast sums of money and many men. Now it is evident +that, if he is able also to crush the Goths utterly, he will with us and +those already enslaved march against the Persians, neither considering +the name of friendship nor blushing before any of his sworn promises. +While, therefore, some hope of safety is still left thee, do not do us +any further wrong nor suffer it thyself, but see in our misfortunes what +will a little later befall the Persians; and consider that the Romans +could never be well-disposed to thy kingdom, and that when they become +more powerful, they will not hesitate at all to display their enmity +toward the Persians. Use, therefore, this good chance while the time +fits, lest thou seek for it after it has ceased. For when once the time +of opportunity has passed, it is not its nature to return again. And it +is better by anticipating to be in security, than by delaying beyond the +opportune time to suffer the most miserable fate possible at the hands +of the enemy." + +When Chosroes heard this, it seemed to him that Vittigis advised well, +and he was still more eager to break off the treaty. For, moved as he +was by envy toward the Emperor Justinian, he neglected completely to +consider that the words were spoken to him by men who were bitter +enemies of Justinian. But because he wished the thing he willingly +consented to be persuaded. And he did the very same thing a little later +in the case of the addresses of the Armenians and of the Lazi, which +will be spoken of directly. And yet they were bringing as charges +against Justinian the very things which would naturally be encomiums for +a worthy monarch, namely that he was exerting himself to make his realm +larger and much more splendid. For these accusations one might make also +against Cyrus, the King of the Persians, and Alexander, the Macedonian. +But justice is never accustomed to dwell together with envy. For these +reasons, then, Chosroes was purposing to break off the treaty. + + +III + +At this same time another event also occurred; it was as follows. That +Symeon who had given Pharangium into the hands of the Romans persuaded +the Emperor Justinian, while the war was still at its height, to present +him with certain villages of Armenia. And becoming master of these +places, he was plotted against and murdered by those who had formerly +possessed them. After this crime had been committed, the perpetrators of +the murder fled into the land of Persia. They were two brothers, sons of +Perozes. And when the Emperor heard this, he gave over the villages to +Amazaspes, the nephew of Symeon, and appointed him ruler over the +Armenians. This Amazaspes, as time went on, was denounced to the Emperor +Justinian by one of his friends, Acacius by name, on the ground that he +was abusing the Armenians and wished to give over to the Persians +Theodosiopolis and certain other fortresses. After telling this, +Acacius, by the emperor's will, slew Amazaspes treacherously, and +himself secured the command over the Armenians by the gift of the +emperor. And being base by nature, he gained the opportunity of +displaying his inward character, and he proved to be the most cruel of +all men toward his subjects. For he plundered their property without +excuse and ordained that they should pay an unheard-of tax of four +centenaria[2]. But the Armenians, unable to bear him any longer, +conspired together and slew Acacius and fled for refuge to Pharangium. + +Therefore the emperor sent Sittas against them from Byzantium. For +Sittas had been delaying there since the time when the treaty was made +with the Persians. So he came to Armenia, but at first he entered upon +the war reluctantly and exerted himself to calm the people and to +restore the population to their former habitations, promising to +persuade the emperor to remit to them the payment of the new tax. But +since the emperor kept assailing him with frequent reproaches for his +hesitation, led on by the slanders of Adolius, the son of Acacius, +Sittas at last made his preparations for the conflict. First of all he +attempted by means of promises of many good things to win over some of +the Armenians by persuasion and to attach them to his cause, in order +that the task of overpowering the others might be attended with less +difficulty and toil. And the tribe called the Aspetiani, great in power +and in numbers, was willing to join him. And they went to Sittas and +begged him to give them pledges in writing that, if they abandoned their +kinsmen in the battle and came to the Roman army, they should remain +entirely free from harm, retaining their own possessions. Now Sittas was +delighted and wrote to them in tablets, giving them pledges just as they +desired of him; he then sealed the writing and sent it to them. Then, +confident that by their help he would be victorious in the war without +fighting, he went with his whole army to a place called Oenochalakon, +where the Armenians had their camp. But by some chance those who carried +the tablets went by another road and did not succeed at all in meeting +the Aspetiani. Moreover a portion of the Roman army happened upon some +few of them, and not knowing the agreement which had been made, treated +them as enemies. And Sittas himself caught some of their women and +children in a cave and slew them, either because he did not understand +what had happened or because he was angry with the Aspetiani for not +joining him as had been agreed. + +But they, being now possessed with anger, arrayed themselves for battle +with all the rest. But since both armies were on exceedingly difficult +ground where precipices abounded, they did not fight in one place, but +scattered about among the ridges and ravines. So it happened that some +few of the Armenians and Sittas with not many of his followers came +close upon each other, with only a ravine lying between them. Both +parties were horsemen. Then Sittas with a few men following him crossed +the ravine and advanced against the enemy; the Armenians, after +withdrawing to the rear, stopped, and Sittas pursued no further but +remained where he was. Suddenly someone from the Roman army, an Erulian +by birth, who had been pursuing the enemy, returning impetuously from +them came up to Sittas and his men. Now as it happened Sittas had +planted his spear in the ground; and the Erulian's horse fell upon this +with a great rush and shattered it. And the general was exceedingly +annoyed by this, and one of the Armenians, seeing him, recognized him +and declared to all the others that it was Sittas. For it happened that +he had no helmet on his head. Thus it did not escape the enemy that he +had come there with only a few men. Sittas, then, upon hearing the +Armenian say this, since his spear, as has been said, lay broken in two +on the ground, drew his sword and attempted immediately to recross the +ravine. But the enemy advanced upon him with great eagerness, and a +soldier overtaking him in the ravine struck him a glancing blow with his +sword on the top of his head; and he took off the whole scalp, but the +steel did not injure the bone at all. And Sittas continued to press +forward still more than before, but Artabanes, son of John of the +Arsacidae, fell upon him from behind and with a thrust of his spear +killed him. Thus Sittas was removed from the world after no notable +fashion, in a manner unworthy of his valour and his continual +achievements against the enemy, a man who was extremely handsome in +appearance and a capable warrior, and a general second to none of his +contemporaries. But some say that Sittas did not die at the hand of +Artabanes, but that Solomon, a very insignificant man among the +Armenians, destroyed him. + +After the death of Sittas the emperor commanded Bouzes to go against the +Armenians; and he, upon drawing near, sent to them promising to effect a +reconciliation between the emperor and all the Armenians, and asking +that some of their notables should come to confer with him on these +matters. Now the Armenians as a whole were unable to trust Bouzes nor +were they willing to receive his proposals. But there was a certain man +of the Arsacidae who was especially friendly with him, John by name, the +father of Artabanes, and this man, trusting in Bouzes as his friend came +to him with his son-in-law, Bassaces, and a few others; but when these +men had reached the spot where they were to meet Bouzes on the following +day, and had made their bivouac there, they perceived that they had come +into a place surrounded by the Roman army. Bassaces, the son-in-law, +therefore earnestly entreated John to fly. And since he was not able to +persuade him, he left him there alone, and in company with all the +others eluded the Romans, and went back again by the same road. And +Bouzes found John alone and slew him; and since after this the Armenians +had no hope of ever reaching an agreement with the Romans, and since +they were unable to prevail over the emperor in war, they came before +the Persian king led by Bassaces, an energetic man. And the leading men +among them came at that time into the presence of Chosroes and spoke as +follows: "Many of us, O Master, are Arsacidae, descendants of that +Arsaces who was not unrelated to the Parthian kings when the Persian +realm lay under the hand of the Parthians, and who proved himself an +illustrious king, inferior to none of his time. Now we have come to +thee, and all of us have become slaves and fugitives, not, however, of +our own will, but under most hard constraint, as it might seem by reason +of the Roman power, but in truth, O King, by reason of thy +decision,--if, indeed, he who gives the strength to those who wish to do +injustice should himself justly bear also the blame of their misdeeds. +Now we shall begin our account from a little distance back in order that +you may be able to follow the whole course of events. Arsaces, the last +king of our ancestors, abdicated his throne willingly in favour of +Theodosius, the Roman Emperor, on condition that all who should belong +to his family through all time should live unhampered in every respect, +and in particular should in no case be subject to taxation. And we have +preserved the agreement, until you, the Persians, made this much-vaunted +treaty, which, as we think, one would not err in calling a sort of +common destruction. For from that time, disregarding friend and foe, he +who is in name thy friend, O King, but in fact thy enemy, has turned +everything in the world upside down and wrought complete confusion. And +this thou thyself shalt know at no distant time, as soon as he is able +to subdue completely the people of the West. For what thing which was +before forbidden has he not done? or what thing which was well +established has he not disturbed? Did he not ordain for us the payment +of a tax which did not exist before, and has he not enslaved our +neighbours, the Tzani, who were autonomous, and has he not set over the +king of the wretched Lazi a Roman magistrate?--an act neither in keeping +with the natural order of things nor very easy to explain in words. Has +he not sent generals to the men of Bosporus, the subjects of the Huns, +and attached to himself the city which in no way belongs to him, and has +he not made a defensive alliance with the Aethiopian kingdoms, of which +the Romans had never even heard? More than this he has made the +Homeritae his possession and the Red Sea, and he is adding the Palm +Groves to the Roman dominion. We omit to speak of the fate of the +Libyans and of the Italians. The whole earth is not large enough for the +man; it is too small a thing for him to conquer all the world together. +But he is even looking about the heavens and is searching the retreats +beyond the ocean, wishing to gain for himself some other world. Why, +therefore, O King, dost thou still delay? Why dost thou respect that +most accursed peace, in order forsooth that he may make thee the last +morsel of all? If it is thy wish to learn what kind of a man Justinian +would shew himself toward those who yield to him, the example is to be +sought near at hand from ourselves and from the wretched Lazi; and if +thou wishest to see how he is accustomed to treat those who are unknown +to him and who have done him not the least wrong, consider the Vandals +and the Goths and the Moors. But the chief thing has not yet been +spoken. Has he not made efforts in time of peace to win over by +deception thy slave, Alamoundaras, O most mighty King, and to detach him +from thy kingdom, and has he not striven recently to attach to himself +the Huns who are utterly unknown to him, in order to make trouble for +thee? And yet an act more strange than this has not been performed in +all time. For since he perceived, as I think, that the overthrow of the +western world would speedily be accomplished, he has already taken in +hand to assail you of the East, since the Persian power alone has been +left for him to grapple with. The peace, therefore, as far as concerns +him, has already been broken for thee, and he himself has set an end to +the endless peace. For they break the peace, not who may be first in +arms, but they who may be caught plotting against their neighbours in +time of peace. For the crime has been committed by him who attempts it, +even though success be lacking. Now as for the course which the war will +follow, this is surely clear to everyone. For it is not those who +furnish causes for war, but those who defend themselves against those +who furnish them, who are accustomed always to conquer their enemies. +Nay more, the contest will not be evenly matched for us even in point of +strength. For, as it happens, the majority of the Roman soldiers are at +the end of the world, and as for the two generals who were the best they +had, we come here having slain the one, Sittas, and Belisarius will +never again be seen by Justinian. For disregarding his master, he has +remained in the West, holding the power of Italy himself. So that when +thou goest against the enemy, no one at all will confront thee, and thou +wilt have us leading the army with good will, as is natural, and with a +thorough knowledge of the country." When Chosroes heard this he was +pleased, and calling together all who were of noble blood among the +Persians, he disclosed to all of them what Vittigis had written and what +the Armenians had said, and laid before them the question as to what +should be done. Then many opinions were expressed inclining to either +side, but finally it was decided that they must open hostilities against +the Romans at the beginning of spring. [539 A.D.] For it was the late +autumn season, in the thirteenth year of the reign of the Emperor +Justinian. The Romans, however, did not suspect this, nor did they think +that the Persians would ever break the so-called endless peace, although +they heard that Chosroes blamed their emperor for his successes in the +West, and that he preferred against him the charges which I have lately +mentioned. + + +IV + +[539 A.D.] At that time also the comet appeared, at first about as long +as a tall man, but later much larger. And the end of it was toward the +west and its beginning toward the east, and it followed behind the sun +itself. For the sun was in Capricorn and it was in Sagittarius. And some +called it "the swordfish" because it was of goodly length and very sharp +at the point, and others called it "the bearded star"; it was seen for +more than forty days. Now those who were wise in these matters disagreed +utterly with each other, and one announced that one thing, another that +another thing was indicated by this star; but I only write what took +place and I leave to each one to judge by the outcome as he wishes. +Straightway a mighty Hunnic army crossing the Danube River fell as a +scourge upon all Europe, a thing which had happened many times before, +but which had never brought such a multitude of woes nor such dreadful +ones to the people of that land. For from the Ionian Gulf these +barbarians plundered everything in order as far as the suburbs of +Byzantium. And they captured thirty-two fortresses in Illyricum, and +they carried by storm the city of Cassandria (which the ancients called +Potidaea, as far as we know), never having fought against walls before. +And taking with them the money and leading away one hundred and twenty +thousand captives, they all retired homeward without encountering any +opposition. In later times too they often came there and brought upon +the Romans irreparable calamity. This same people also assailed the wall +of the Chersonesus, where they overpowered those who were defending +themselves from the wall, and approaching through the surf of the sea, +scaled the fortifications on the so-called Black Gulf; thus they got +within the long wall, and falling unexpectedly upon the Romans in the +Chersonesus they slew many of them and made prisoners of almost all the +survivors. Some few of them also crossed the strait between Sestus and +Abydus, and after plundering the Asiatic country, they returned again to +the Chersonesus, and with the rest of the army and all the booty betook +themselves to their homes. In another invasion they plundered Illyricum +and Thessaly and attempted to storm the wall at Thermopylae; and since +the guards on the walls defended them most valiantly, they sought out +the ways around and unexpectedly found the path which leads up the +mountain which rises there[3]. In this way they destroyed almost all the +Greeks except the Peloponnesians, and then withdrew. And the Persians +not long afterwards broke off the treaty and wrought such harm to the +Romans of the East as I shall set forth immediately. + +Belisarius, after humbling Vittigis, the king of the Goths and Italians, +brought him alive to Byzantium. And I shall now proceed to tell how the +army of the Persians invaded the land of the Romans. When the Emperor +Justinian perceived that Chosroes was eager for war, he wished to offer +him some counsel and to dissuade him from the undertaking. Now it +happened that a certain man had come to Byzantium from the city of +Daras, Anastasius by name, well known for his sagacity; he it was who +had broken the tyranny which had been established recently in Daras. +Justinian therefore wrote a letter and sent it by this Anastasius to +Chosroes; and the message of the letter was as follows: "It is the part +of men of discretion and those by whom divine things are treated with +due respect, when causes of war arise, and in particular against men who +are in the truest sense friends, to exert all their power to put an end +to them; but it belongs to foolish men and those who most lightly bring +on themselves the enmity of Heaven to devise occasions for war and +insurrection which have no real existence. Now to destroy peace and +enter upon war is not a difficult matter, since the nature of things is +such as to make the basest activities easy for the most dishonourable +men. But when they have brought about war according to their intention, +to return again to peace is for men, I think, not easy. And yet thou +chargest me with writing letters which were not written with any dark +purpose, and thou hast now made haste to interpret these with arbitrary +judgment, not in the sense in which we conceived them when we wrote +them, but in a way which will be of advantage to thee in thy eagerness +to carry out thy plans not without some pretext. But for us it is +possible to point out that thy Alamoundaras recently overran our land +and performed outrageous deeds in time of peace, to wit, the capture of +towns, the seizure of property, the massacre and enslavement of such a +multitude of men, concerning which it will be thy duty not to blame us, +but to defend thyself. For the crimes of those who have done wrong are +made manifest to their neighbours by their acts, not by their thoughts. +But even with these things as they are, we have still decided to hold to +peace, but we hear that thou in thy eagerness to make war upon the +Romans art fabricating accusations which do not belong to us at all. +Natural enough, this; for while those who are eager to preserve the +present order of things repel even those charges against their friends +which are most pressing, those who are not satisfied with established +friendships exert themselves to provide even pretexts which do not +exist. But this would not seem to be becoming even to ordinary men, much +less to kings. But leaving aside these things do thou consider the +number of those who will be destroyed on both sides in the course of the +war, and consider well who will justly bear the blame for those things +which will come to pass, and ponder upon the oaths which thou didst take +when thou didst carry away the money, and consider that if, after that, +thou wrongly dishonour them by some tricks or sophistries, thou wouldst +not be able to pervert them; for Heaven is too mighty to be deceived by +any man." When Chosroes saw this message, he neither made any immediate +answer nor did he dismiss Anastasius, but he compelled him to remain +there. + + +V + +[540 A.D.] When the winter was already reaching its close, and the +thirteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Justinian was ending, +Chosroes, son of Cabades, invaded the land of the Romans at the opening +of spring with a mighty army, and openly broke the so-called endless +peace. But he did not enter by the country between the rivers, but +advanced with the Euphrates on his right. On the other side of the river +stands the last Roman stronghold which is called Circesium, an +exceedingly strong place, since the River Aborras, a large stream, has +its mouth at this point and mingles with the Euphrates, and this +fortress lies exactly in the angle which is made by the junction of the +two rivers. And a long second wall outside the fortress cuts off the +land between the two rivers, and completes the form of a triangle around +Circesium. Chosroes, therefore, not wishing to make trial of so strong a +fortress and not having in mind to cross the River Euphrates, but rather +to go against the Syrians and Cilicians, without any hesitation led his +army forward, and after advancing for what, to an unencumbered +traveller, is about a three-days' journey along the bank of the +Euphrates, he came upon the city of Zenobia; this place Zenobia had +built in former times, and, as was natural, she gave her name to the +city. Now Zenobia was the wife of Odonathus, the ruler of the Saracens +of that region, who had been on terms of peace with the Romans from of +old. This Odonathus rescued for the Romans the Eastern Empire when it +had come under the power of the Medes; but this took place in former +times. Chosroes then came near to Zenobia, but upon learning that the +place was not important and observing that the land was untenanted and +destitute of all good things, he feared lest any time spent by him there +would be wasted on an affair of no consequence and would be a hindrance +to great undertakings, and he attempted to force the place to surrender. +But meeting with no success, he hastened his march forward. + +After again accomplishing a journey of equal extent, he reached the city +of Sura, which is on the River Euphrates, and stopped very close to it. +There it happened that the horse on which Chosroes was riding neighed +and stamped the ground with his foot. And the Magi considered the +meaning of this incident and announced that the place would be captured. +Chosroes then made camp and led his army against the fortifications to +assail the wall. Now it happened that a certain Arsaces, an Armenian by +birth, was commander of the soldiers in the town; and he made the +soldiers mount the parapets, and fighting from there most valiantly slew +many of the enemy, but was himself struck by an arrow and died. And +then, since it was late in the day, the Persians retired to their camp +in order to assail the wall again on the following day; but the Romans +were in despair since their leader was dead, and were purposing to make +themselves suppliants of Chosroes. On the following day, therefore, they +sent the bishop of the city to plead for them and to beg that the town +be spared; so he took with him some of his attendants, who carried fowls +and wine and clean loaves, and came before Chosroes; there he threw +himself on the ground, and with tears supplicated him to spare a +pitiable population and a city altogether without honour in the eyes of +the Romans, and one which in past times had never been of any account to +the Persians, and which never would be such thereafter; and he promised +that the men of Sura would give him ransom worthy of themselves and the +city which they inhabited. But Chosroes was angry with the townsmen +because, being the first he had met of all the Romans, they had not +willingly received him into their city, but even daring to raise their +arms against him had slain a large number of Persian notables. However +he did not disclose his anger, but carefully concealed it behind a +smooth countenance, in order that by carrying out the punishment of the +inhabitants of Sura he might make himself in the eyes of the Romans a +fearful person and one not to be resisted. For by acting in this way he +calculated that those who would from time to time come in his way would +yield to him without trouble. Accordingly with great friendliness he +caused the bishop to rise, and receiving the gifts, gave the impression, +in a way, that he would immediately confer with the notables of the +Persians concerning the ransom of the townsmen, and would settle their +request favourably. Thus he dismissed the bishop and his following +without any suspicion of the plot, and he sent with him certain of the +men of note among the Persians, who were to be ostensibly an escort. +These men he secretly commanded to go with him as far as the wall, +encouraging him and cheering him with fair hopes, so that he and all +those with him should be seen by those inside rejoicing and fearing +nothing. But when the guards had set the gate open and were about to +receive them into the city, they were to throw a stone or block of wood +between the threshold and the gate and not allow them to shut it, but +should themselves for a time stand in the way of those who wished to +close it; for not long afterwards the army would follow them. + +After giving these directions to the men Chosroes made ready the army, +and commanded them to advance upon the city on the run whenever he +should give the signal. So when they came close to the fortifications, +the Persians bade farewell to the bishop and remained outside, and the +townsmen, seeing that the man was exceedingly happy and that he was +being escorted in great honour by the enemy, forgetting all their +difficulties opened the gate wide, and received the priest and his +following with clapping of hands and much shouting. And when all got +inside, the guards began to push the gate in order to close it, but the +Persians flung down a stone, which they had provided, between it and the +threshold. And the guards pushed and struggled still more, but were +quite unable to get the gate back to the threshold. On the other hand +they dared not open it again, since they perceived that it was held by +the enemy. But some say that it was not a stone but a block of wood +which the Persians threw into the gateway. When the townsmen had as yet +scarcely realized the plot, Chosroes was at hand with his whole army, +and the barbarians forced back and flung open the gate, which was soon +carried by storm. Straightway, then, Chosroes, filled with wrath, +plundered the houses and put to death great numbers of the population; +all the remainder he reduced to slavery, and setting fire to the whole +city razed it to the ground. Then he dismissed Anastasius, bidding him +announce to the Emperor Justinian where in the world he had left +Chosroes, son of Cabades. + +Afterwards either through motives of humanity or of avarice, or as +granting a favour to a woman whom he had taken as a captive from the +city, Euphemia by name, Chosroes decided to shew some kindness to the +inhabitants of Sura; for he had conceived for this woman an +extraordinary love (for she was exceedingly beautiful to look upon), and +had made her his wedded wife. He sent, accordingly, to Sergiopolis, a +city subject to the Romans, named from Sergius, a famous saint, distant +from the captured city one hundred and twenty-six stades and lying to +the south of it in the so-called Barbarian Plain, and bade Candidus, the +bishop of the city, purchase the captives, twelve thousand in number, +for two centenaria. But the bishop, alleging that he had no money, +refused absolutely to undertake the matter. Chosroes therefore requested +him to set down in a document the agreement that he would give the money +at a later time, and thus to purchase for a small sum such a multitude +of slaves. Candidus did as directed, promising to give the money within +a year, and swore the most dire oaths, specifying that he should receive +the following punishment if he should not give the money at the time +agreed upon, that he should pay double the amount and should himself be +no longer a priest, as one who had neglected his sworn promise. And +after setting down these things in writing, Candidus received all the +inhabitants of Sura. And some few among them survived, but the majority, +unable to support the misery which had fallen to their lot, succumbed +soon afterwards. After the settlement of this affair Chosroes led his +army forward. + + +VI + +It had happened a little before this that the emperor had divided into +two parts the military command of the East, leaving the portion as far +as the River Euphrates under the control of Belisarius who formerly held +the command of the whole, while the portion from there as far as the +Persian boundary he entrusted to Bouzes, commanding him to take charge +of the whole territory of the East until Belisarius should return from +Italy. Bouzes therefore at first remained at Hierapolis, keeping his +whole army with him; but when he learned what had befallen Sura, he +called together the first men of the Hierapolitans and spoke as follows: +"Whenever men are confronted with a struggle against an assailant with +whom they are evenly matched in strength, it is not at all unreasonable +that they should engage in open conflict with the enemy; but for those +who are by comparison much inferior to their opponents it will be more +advantageous to circumvent their enemy by some kind of tricks than to +array themselves openly against them and thus enter into foreseen +danger. How great, now, the army of Chosroes is you are assuredly +informed. And if, with this army, he wishes to capture us by siege, and +if we carry on the fight from the wall, it is probable that, while our +supplies will fail us, the Persians will secure all they need from our +land, where there will be no one to oppose them. And if the siege is +prolonged in this way, I believe too that the fortification wall will +not withstand the assaults of the enemy, for in many places it is most +susceptible to attack, and thus irreparable harm will come to the +Romans. But if with a portion of the army we guard the wall of the city, +while the rest of us occupy the heights about the city, we shall make +attacks from there at times upon the camp of our antagonists, and at +times upon those who are sent out for the sake of provisions, and thus +compel Chosroes to abandon the siege immediately and to make his retreat +within a short time; for he will not be at all able to direct his attack +without fear against the fortifications, nor to provide any of the +necessities for so great an army." So spoke Bouzes; and in his words he +seemed to set forth the advantageous course of action, but of what was +necessary he did nothing. For he chose out all that portion of the Roman +army which was of marked excellence and was off. And where in the world +he was neither any of the Romans in Hierapolis, nor the hostile army was +able to learn. Such, then, was the course of these events. + +But the Emperor Justinian, upon learning of the inroad of the Persians, +immediately sent his nephew Germanus with three hundred followers in +great disorder, promising that after no great time a numerous army would +follow. And Germanus, upon reaching Antioch, went around the whole +circuit of the wall; and the greater part of it he found secure, for +along that portion of it which lies on the level ground the River +Orontes flows, making it everywhere difficult of access, and the portion +which is on higher ground rises upon steep hills and is quite +inaccessible to the enemy; but when he attained the highest point, which +the men of that place are accustomed to call Orocasias, he noticed that +the wall at that point was very easy to assail. For there happens to be +in that place a rock, which spreads out to a very considerable width, +and rises to a height only a little less than the fortifications. He +therefore commanded that they should either cut off the rock by making a +deep ditch along the wall, lest anyone should essay to mount from there +upon the fortifications, or that they should build upon it a great tower +and connect its structure with the wall of the city. But to the +architects of public buildings it seemed that neither one of these +things should be done. For, as they said, the work would not be +completed in a short time with the attack of the enemy so imminent, +while if they began this work and did not carry it to completion, they +would do nothing else than shew to the enemy at what point in the wall +they should make their attack. Germanus, though disappointed in this +plan, had some hope at first because he expected an army from Byzantium. +But when, after considerable time had passed, no army arrived from the +emperor nor was expected to arrive, he began to fear lest Chosroes, +learning that the emperor's nephew was there, would consider it more +important than any other thing to capture Antioch and himself, and for +this reason would neglect everything else and come against the city with +his whole army. The natives of Antioch also had these things in mind, +and they held a council concerning them, at which it seemed most +advisable to offer money to Chosroes and thus escape the present danger. + +Accordingly they sent Megas, the bishop of Beroea, a man of discretion +who at that time happened to be tarrying among them, to beg for mercy +from Chosroes; and departing from there he came upon the Median army not +far from Hierapolis. And coming into the presence of Chosroes, he +entreated him earnestly to have pity upon men who had committed no +offence against him and who were not able to hold out against the +Persian army. For it was becoming to a king least of all men to trample +upon and do violence to those who retreated before him and were quite +unwilling to array themselves against him; for not one of the things +which he was then doing was a kingly or honourable act, because, without +affording any time for consideration to the Roman emperor, so that he +might either make the peace secure as might seem well to both +sovereigns, or make his preparations for war in accordance with a mutual +agreement, as was to be expected, he had thus recklessly advanced in +arms against the Romans, while their emperor did not as yet know what +had come upon them. When Chosroes heard this, he was utterly unable by +reason of his stupidity to order his mind with reason and discretion, +but still more than before he was lifted up in spirit. He therefore +threatened to destroy all the Syrians and Cilicians, and bidding Megas +follow him, he led his army to Hierapolis. When he had come there and +established his camp, since he saw that the fortifications were strong +and learned that the city was well garrisoned with soldiers, he demanded +money from the Hierapolitans, sending to them Paulus as interpreter. +This Paulus had been reared in Roman territory and had gone to an +elementary school in Antioch, and besides he was said to be by birth of +Roman extraction. But in spite of everything the inhabitants were +exceedingly fearful for the fortifications, which embraced a large tract +of land as far as the hill which rises there, and besides they wished to +preserve their land unplundered; accordingly they agreed to give two +thousand pounds of silver. Then indeed Megas entreated Chosroes in +behalf of all the inhabitants of the East, and would not cease his +entreaty, until Chosroes promised him that he would accept ten +centenaria of gold and depart from the whole Roman empire. + + +VII + +Thus, then, on that day Megas departed thence and went on the way to +Antioch, while Chosroes after receiving the ransom was moving toward +Beroea. This city lies between Antioch and Hierapolis, at a distance +from both of two-days' journey for an unencumbered traveller. Now while +Megas, who travelled with a small company, advanced very quickly, the +Persian army was accomplishing only one half of the distance which he +travelled each day. And so on the fourth day he reached Antioch, while +the Persians came to the suburb of Beroea. And Chosroes immediately sent +Paulus and demanded money of the Beroeans, not only as much as he had +received from the Hierapolitans, but double the amount, since he saw +that their wall in many places was very vulnerable. As for the Beroeans, +since they could by no means place confidence in their fortifications, +they gladly agreed to give all, but after giving two thousand pounds of +silver, they said that they were not able to give the remainder. And +since Chosroes pressed them on this account, on the following night all +of them fled for refuge into the fortress which is on the acropolis +together with the soldiers who had been stationed there to guard the +place. And on the following day men were sent to the city by Chosroes in +order to receive the money; but on coming near the fortifications they +found all the gates closed, and being unable to discover any man, they +reported the situation to the king. And he commanded them to set ladders +against the wall and to make trial of mounting it, and they did as +directed. Then since no one opposed them, they got inside the +fortifications and opened the gates at their leisure, and received into +the city the whole army and Chosroes himself. By this time the king was +furious with anger and he fired nearly the whole city. He then mounted +the acropolis and decided to storm the fortress. There indeed the Roman +soldiers while valiantly defending themselves slew some of the enemy; +but Chosroes was greatly favoured by fortune by reason of the folly of +the besieged, who had not sought refuge in this fortress by themselves, +but along with all their horses and other animals, and by this +inconsiderate act they were placed at a great disadvantage and began to +be in danger. For since there was only one spring there and the horses +and mules and other animals drank from it when they should not have done +so, it came about that the water was exhausted. Such, then, was the +situation of the Beroeans. + +Megas, upon reaching Antioch and announcing the terms arranged by him +with Chosroes, failed utterly to persuade them to carry out this +agreement. For it happened that the Emperor Justinian had sent John, the +son of Rufinus, and Julian, his private[4] secretary, as ambassadors to +Chosroes. The person holding this office is styled "a secretis" by the +Romans; for secrets they are accustomed to call "secreta." These men had +reached Antioch and were remaining there. Now Julian, one of the +ambassadors, explicitly forbade everybody to give money to the enemy, or +to purchase the cities of the emperor, and besides he denounced to +Germanus the chief priest Ephraemius, as being eager to deliver over the +city to Chosroes. For this reason Megas returned unsuccessful. But +Ephraemius, the bishop of Antioch, fearing the attack of the Persians, +went into Cilicia. There too came Germanus not long afterwards, taking +with him some few men but leaving the most of them in Antioch. + +Megas then came in haste to Beroea, and in vexation at what had taken +place, he charged Chosroes with having treated the Beroeans +outrageously; for while, as it seemed, he had sent him to Antioch to +arrange the treaty, he had both plundered the property of the citizens, +though they had committed no wrong at all, and had compelled them to +shut themselves up in that fortress, and had then set fire to the city +and razed it to the ground in defiance of right. To this Chosroes +replied as follows: "Verily, my friend, you yourself are responsible for +these things, in having compelled us to delay here; for as it is, you +have arrived, not at the appointed time, but far behind it. And as for +the strange conduct of your fellow-citizens, my most excellent sir, why +should one make speeches of great length? For after agreeing to give us +a fixed amount of silver for their own safety, they even now do not +think it necessary to fulfil the agreement, but placing such complete +confidence in the strength of their position, they are disregarding us +absolutely, while we are compelled to undertake the siege of a fortress, +as you surely see. But for my part, I have hope that with the help of +the gods I shall have vengeance upon them shortly, and execute upon the +guilty the punishment for the Persians whom I have lost wrongfully +before this wall." So spoke Chosroes, and Megas replied as follows: "If +one should consider that as king thou art making these charges against +men who are in pitiable and most dishonoured plight, he would be +compelled without a word of protest to agree with what thou hast said; +for authority which is unlimited is bound by its very nature to carry +with it also supremacy in argument; but if one be permitted to shake off +all else and to espouse the truth of the matter, thou wouldst have, O +King, nothing with which justly to reproach us; but mayst thou hear all +mildly. First, as for me, since the time when I was sent to declare to +the men of Antioch the message which thou didst send them, seven days +have passed (and what could be done more quickly than this?) and now +coming into thy presence I find these things accomplished by thee +against my fatherland; but these men, having already lost all that is +most valuable, thereafter have only one struggle to engage in--that for +life--and have come, I think, so to be masters of the situation that +they can no longer be compelled to pay thee any of the money. For to pay +a thing which one does not possess could not be made possible for a man +by any device. From of old indeed have the names of things been well and +suitably distinguished by men; and among these distinctions is this, +that want of power is separated from want of consideration. For when the +latter by reason of intemperance of mind proceeds to resistance, it is +accustomed to be detested, as is natural, but when the former, because +of the impossibility of performing a service, is driven to the same +point, it deserves to be pitied. Permit, therefore, O King, that, while +we receive as our portion all the direst misfortunes, we may take with +us this consolation at least, that we should not seem to have been +ourselves responsible for the things which have befallen us. And as for +money, consider that what thou hast taken into thy possession is +sufficient for thee, not weighing this by thy position, but with regard +to the power of the Beroeans. But beyond this do not force us in any +way, lest perchance thou shouldst seem unable to accomplish the thing to +which thou hast set thy hand; for excess is always punished by meeting +obstacles that cannot be overcome, and the best course is not to essay +the impossible. Let this, then, be my defence for the moment in behalf +of these men. But if I should be able to have converse with the +sufferers, I should have something else also to say which has now +escaped me." So spoke Megas, and Chosroes permitted him to go into the +acropolis. And when he had gone there and learned all that had happened +concerning the spring, weeping he came again before Chosroes, and lying +prone on the ground insisted that no money at all was left to the +Beroeans, and entreated him to grant him only the lives of the men. +Moved by the tearful entreaties of the man Chosroes fulfilled his +request, and binding himself by an oath, gave pledges to all on the +acropolis. Then the Beroeans, after coming into such great danger, left +the acropolis free from harm, and departing went each his own way. Among +the soldiers some few followed them, but the majority came as willing +deserters to Chosroes, putting forth as their grievance that the +government owed them their pay for a long time; and with him they later +went into the land of Persia. + + +VIII + +[June 540 A.D.] Then Chosroes (since Megas said that he had by no means +persuaded the inhabitants of Antioch to bring him the money) went with +his whole army against them. Some of the population of Antioch thereupon +departed from there with their money and fled as each one could. And all +the rest likewise were purposing to do the same thing, and would have +done so had not the commanders of the troops in Lebanon, Theoctistus and +Molatzes, who arrived in the meantime with six thousand men, fortified +them with hope and thus prevented their departure. Not long after this +the Persian army also came. There they all pitched their tents and made +camp fronting on the River Orontes and not very far from the stream. +Chosroes then sent Paulus up beside the fortifications and demanded +money from the men of Antioch, saying that for ten centenaria[5] of gold +he would depart from there, and it was obvious that he would accept even +less than this for his withdrawal. And on that day their ambassadors +went before Chosroes, and after speaking at length concerning the +breaking of the peace and hearing much from him, they retired. But on +the morrow the populace of Antioch (for they are not seriously disposed, +but are always engaged in jesting and disorderly performance) heaped +insults upon Chosroes from the battlements and taunted him with unseemly +laughter; and when Paulus came near the fortifications and exhorted them +to purchase freedom for themselves and the city for a small sum of +money, they very nearly killed him with shots from their bows, and would +have done so if he had not seen their purpose in time and guarded +against it. On account of this Chosroes, boiling with anger, decided to +storm the wall. + +On the following day, accordingly, he led up all the Persians against +the wall and commanded a portion of the army to make assaults at +different points along the river, and he himself with the most of the +men and best troops directed an attack against the height. For at this +place, as has been stated by me above, the wall of fortification was +most vulnerable. Thereupon the Romans, since the structure on which they +were to stand when fighting was very narrow, devised the following +remedy. Binding together long timbers they suspended them between the +towers, and in this way they made these spaces much broader, in order +that still more men might be able to ward off the assailants from there. +So the Persians, pressing on most vigorously from all sides, were +sending their arrows thickly everywhere, and especially along the crest +of the hill. Meanwhile the Romans were fighting them back with all their +strength, not soldiers alone, but also many of the most courageous +youths of the populace. But it appeared that those who were attacking +the wall there were engaged in a battle on even terms with their enemy. +For the rock which was broad and high and, as it were, drawn up against +the fortifications caused the conflict to be just as if on level ground. +And if anyone of the Roman army had had the courage to get outside the +fortifications with three hundred men and to anticipate the enemy in +seizing this rock and to ward off the assailants from there, never, I +believe, would the city have come into any danger from the enemy. For +the barbarians had no point from which they could have conducted their +assault, for they would be exposed to missiles from above both from the +rock and from the wall; but as it was (for it was fated that Antioch be +destroyed by this army of the Medes), this idea occurred to no one. So +then while the Persians were fighting beyond their power, since Chosroes +was present with them and urging them on with a mighty cry, giving their +opponents not a moment in which to look about or guard against the +missiles discharged from their bows, and while the Romans, in great +numbers and with much shouting, were defending themselves still more +vigorously, the ropes with which the beams had been bound together, +failing to support the weight, suddenly broke asunder and the timbers +together with all those who had taken their stand on them fell to the +ground with a mighty crash. When this was heard by other Romans also, +who were fighting from the adjoining towers, being utterly unable to +comprehend what had happened, but supposing that the wall at this point +had been destroyed, they beat a hasty retreat. Now many young men of the +populace who in former times had been accustomed to engage in factional +strife with each other in the hippodromes descended into the city from +the fortification wall, but they refused to flee and remained where they +were, while the soldiers with Theoctistus and Molatzes straightway +leaped upon the horses which happened to be ready there and rode away to +the gates, telling the others a tale to the effect that Bouzes had come +with an army and they wished to receive them quickly into the city, and +with them to ward off the enemy. Thereupon many of the men of Antioch +and all the women with their children made a great rush toward the +gates; but since they were crowded by the horses, being in very narrow +quarters, they began to fall down. The soldiers, however, sparing +absolutely no one of those before them, all kept riding over the fallen +still more fiercely than before, and a great many were killed there, +especially about the gates themselves. + +But the Persians, with no one opposing them, set ladders against the +wall and mounted with no difficulty. And quickly reaching the +battlements, for a time they were by no means willing to descend, but +they seemed like men looking about them and at a loss what to do, +because, as it seems to me, they supposed that the rough ground was +beset with some ambuscades of the enemy. For the land inside the +fortifications which one traverses immediately upon descending from the +height is an uninhabited tract extending for a great distance and there +are found there rocks which rise to a very great height, and steep +places. But some say that it was by the will of Chosroes that the +Persians hesitated. For when he observed the difficulty of the ground +and saw the soldiers fleeing, he feared lest by reason of some necessity +they should turn back from their retreat and make trouble for the +Persians, and thus become an obstacle, as might well happen, in the way +of his capturing a city which was both ancient and of great importance +and the first of all the cities which the Romans had throughout the East +both in wealth and in size and in population and in beauty and in +prosperity of every kind. Hence it was that, considering everything else +of less account, he wished to allow the Roman soldiers freely to avail +themselves of the chance for flight. For this reason too the Persians +also made signs to the fugitives with their hands, urging them to flee +as quickly as possible. So the soldiers of the Romans together with +their commanders took a hasty departure, all of them, through the gate +which leads to Daphne, the suburb of Antioch; for from this gate alone +the Persians kept away while the others were seized; and of the populace +some few escaped with the soldiers. Then when the Persians saw that all +the Roman soldiers had gone on, they descended from the height and got +into the middle of the city. There, however, many of the young men of +Antioch engaged in battle with them, and at first they seemed to have +the upper hand in the conflict. Some of them were in heavy armour, but +the majority were unarmed and using only stones as missiles. And pushing +back the enemy they raised the paean, and with shouts proclaimed the +Emperor Justinian triumphant, as if they had won the victory. + +At this point Chosroes, seated on the tower which is on the height, +summoned the ambassadors, wishing to say something. And one of his +officers, Zaberganes, thinking that he wished to have words with the +ambassadors concerning a settlement, came quickly before the king and +spoke as follows: "Thou dost not seem to me, O Master, to think in the +same way as do the Romans concerning the safety of these men. For they +both before fighting offer insults to thy kingdom, and when they are +defeated dare the impossible and do the Persians irreparable harm, as if +fearing lest some reason for shewing them humanity should be left in +thee; but thou art wishing to pity those who do not ask to be saved, and +hast shewn zeal to spare those who by no means wish it. Meanwhile these +men have set an ambush in a captured city and are destroying the victors +by means of snares, although all the soldiers have long since fled from +them." When Chosroes heard this, he sent a large number of the best +troops against them, and these not long afterwards returned and +announced that nothing untoward had come to pass. For already the +Persians had forced back the citizens by their numbers and turned them +to flight, and a great slaughter took place there. For the Persians did +not spare persons of any age and were slaying all whom they met, old and +young alike. At that time they say that two women of those who were +illustrious in Antioch got outside the fortifications, but perceiving +that they would fall into the hands of the enemy (for they were already +plainly seen going about everywhere), went running to the River Orontes, +and, fearing lest the Persians should do them some insult, they covered +their faces with their veils and threw themselves into the river's +current and were carried out of sight. Thus the inhabitants of Antioch +were visited with every form of misfortune. + + +IX + +Then Chosroes spoke to the ambassadors as follows: "Not far from the +truth, I think, is the ancient saying that God does not give blessings +unmixed, but He mingles them with troubles and then bestows them upon +men. And for this reason we do not even have laughter without tears, but +there is always attached to our successes some misfortune, and to our +pleasures pain, not permitting anyone to enjoy in its purity such good +fortune as is granted. For this city, which is of altogether preeminent +importance in fact as well as in name in the land of the Romans I have +indeed succeeded in capturing with the least exertion, since God has +provided the victory all at once for us, as you doubtless see. But when +I behold the massacre of such a multitude of men, and the victory thus +drenched with blood, there arises in me no sense of the delight that +should follow my achievement. And for this the wretched men of Antioch +are to blame, for when the Persians were storming the wall they did not +prove able to keep them back, and then when they had already triumphed +and had captured the city at the first cry these men with unreasoned +daring sought to die fighting against them in close combat. So while all +the notables of the Persians were harassing me unceasingly with their +demand that I should drag the city as with a net and destroy all the +captives, I was commanding the fugitives to press on still more in their +flight, in order that they might save themselves as quickly as possible. +For to trample upon captives is not holy." Such high-sounding and airy +words did Chosroes speak to the ambassadors, but nevertheless it did not +escape them why he gave time to the Romans in their flight. + +For he was the cleverest of all men at saying that which was not, and in +concealing the truth, and in attributing the blame for the wrongs which +he committed to those who suffered the wrong; besides he was ready to +agree to everything and to pledge the agreement with an oath, and much +more ready to forget completely the things lately agreed to and sworn to +by him, and for the sake of money to debase his soul without reluctance +to every act of pollution--a past master at feigning piety in his +countenance, and absolving himself in words from the responsibility of +the act. This man well displayed his own peculiar character on a certain +occasion at Sura; for after he had hoodwinked the inhabitants of the +city by a trick and had destroyed them in the manner which I have +described, although they had previously done him no wrong at all, he +saw, while the city was being captured, a comely woman and one not of +lowly station being dragged by her left hand with great violence by one +of the barbarians; and the child, which she had only lately weaned, she +was unwilling to let go, but was dragging it with her other hand, +fallen, as it was, to the ground since it was not able to keep pace with +that violent running. And they say that he uttered a pretended groan, +and making it appear to all who were present at that time including +Anastasius the ambassador that he was all in tears, he prayed God to +exact vengeance from the man who was guilty of the troubles which had +come to pass. Now Justinian, the Emperor of the Romans, was the one whom +he wished to have understood, though he knew well that he himself was +most responsible for everything. Endowed with such a singular nature +Chosroes both became King of the Persians (for ill fortune had deprived +Zames of his eye, he who in point of years had first right to the +kingdom, at any rate after Caoses, whom Cabades for no good reason +hated), and with no difficulty he conquered those who revolted against +him, and all the harm which he purposed to do the Romans he accomplished +easily. For every time when Fortune wishes to make a man great, she does +at the fitting times those things which she has decided upon, with no +one standing against the force of her will; and she neither regards the +man's station, nor purposes to prevent the occurrence of things which +ought not to be, nor does she give heed that many will blaspheme against +her because of these things, mocking scornfully at that which has been +done by her contrary to the deserts of the man who receives her favour; +nor does she take into consideration anything else at all, if only she +accomplish the thing which has been decided upon by her. But as for +these matters, let them be as God wishes. + +Chosroes commanded the army to capture and enslave the survivors of the +population of Antioch, and to plunder all the property, while he himself +with the ambassadors descended from the height to the sanctuary which +they call a church. There Chosroes found stores of gold and silver so +great in amount that, though he took no other part of the booty except +these stores, he departed possessed of enormous wealth. And he took down +from there many wonderful marbles and ordered them to be deposited +outside the fortifications, in order that they might convey these too to +the land of Persia. When he had finished these things, he gave orders to +the Persians to burn the whole city. And the ambassadors begged him to +withhold his hand only from the church, for which he had carried away +ransom in abundance. This he granted to the ambassadors, but gave orders +to burn everything else; then, leaving there a few men who were to fire +the city, he himself with all the rest retired to the camp where they +had previously set up their tents. + + +X + +A short time before this calamity God displayed a sign to the +inhabitants of that city, by which He indicated the things which were to +be. For the standards of the soldiers who had been stationed there for a +long time had been standing previously toward the west, but of their own +accord they turned and stood toward the east, and then returned again to +their former position untouched by anyone. This the soldiers shewed to +many who were near at hand and among them the manager of finances in the +camp, while the standards were still trembling. This man, Tatianus by +name, was an especially discreet person, a native of Mopsuestia. But +even so those who saw this sign did not recognize that the mastery of +the place would pass from the western to the eastern king, in order, +evidently, that escape might be utterly impossible for those who were +bound to suffer those things which came to pass. + +But I become dizzy as I write of such a great calamity and transmit it +to future times, and I am unable to understand why indeed it should be +the will of God to exalt on high the fortunes of a man or of a place, +and then to cast them down and destroy them for no cause which appears +to us. For it is wrong to say that with Him all things are not always +done with reason, though he then endured to see Antioch brought down to +the ground at the hands of a most unholy man, a city whose beauty and +grandeur in every respect could not even so be utterly concealed. + +So, then, after the city had been destroyed, the church was left +solitary, thanks to the activity and foresight of the Persians to whom +this work was assigned. And there were also left about the so-called +Cerataeum many houses, not because of the foresight of any man, but, +since they were situated at the extremity of the city, and not connected +with any other building, the fire failed entirely to reach them. The +barbarians burned also the parts outside the fortifications, except the +sanctuary which is dedicated to St. Julianus and the houses which stand +about this sanctuary. For it happened that the ambassadors had taken up +their lodgings there. As for the fortifications, the Persians left them +wholly untouched. + +A little later the ambassadors again came to Chosroes and spoke as +follows: "If our words were not addressed to thee in thy presence, O +King, we should never believe that Chosroes, the son of Cabades, had +come into the land of the Romans in arms, dishonouring the oaths which +have recently been sworn by thee--for such pledges are regarded as the +last and most firm security of all things among men to guarantee mutual +trust and truthfulness--and breaking the treaty, though hope in treaties +is the only thing left to those who are living in insecurity because of +the evil deeds of war. For one might say of such a state of affairs that +it is nothing else than the transformation of the habits of men into +those of beasts. For in a time when no treaties at all are made, there +will remain certainly war without end, and war which has no end is +always calculated to estrange from their proper nature those who engage +in it. With what intent, moreover, didst thou write to thy brother not +long ago that he himself was responsible for the breaking of the treaty? +Was it not obviously with the admission that the breaking of treaties is +an exceedingly great evil? If therefore he has done no wrong, thou art +not acting justly now in coming against us; but if it happen that thy +brother has done any such thing, yet let thy complaint have its +fulfilment thus far, and go no farther, that thou mayst shew thyself +superior. For he who submits to be worsted in evil things would in +better things justly be victorious. And yet we know well that the +Emperor Justinian has never gone contrary to the treaty, and we entreat +thee not to do the Romans such harm, from which there will be no +advantage to the Persians, and thou wilt gain only this, that thou wilt +have wrongfully wrought deeds of irreparable harm upon those who have +recently made peace with thee." So spoke the ambassadors. + +And Chosroes, upon hearing this, insisted that the treaty had been +broken by the Emperor Justinian; and he enumerated the causes of war +which the Emperor afforded, some of them of real importance and others +idle and fabricated without any reason; most of all he wished to shew +that the letters written by him to Alamoundaras and the Huns were the +chief cause of the war, just as I have stated above[6]. But as for any +Roman who had invaded the land of Persia, or who had made a display of +warlike deeds, he was unable either to mention or to point out such a +one. The ambassadors, however, referred the charges in part not to +Justinian but to certain of those who had served him, while in the case +of others they took exception to what he had said on the ground that the +things had not taken place as stated. Finally Chosroes made the demand +that the Romans give him a large sum of money, but he warned them not to +hope to establish peace for all time by giving money at that moment +only. For friendship, he said, which is made by men on terms of money is +generally spent as fast as the money is used up. It was necessary, +therefore, that the Romans should pay some definite annual sum to the +Persians. "For thus," he said, "the Persians will keep the peace secure +for them, guarding the Caspian Gates themselves and no longer feeling +resentment at them on account of the city of Daras, in return for which +the Persians themselves will be in their pay forever." "So," said the +ambassadors, "the Persians desire to have the Romans subject and +tributary to themselves." "No," said Chosroes, "but the Romans will have +the Persians as their own soldiers for the future, dispensing to them a +fixed payment for their service; for you give an annual payment of gold +to some of the Huns and to the Saracens, not as tributary subjects to +them, but in order that they may guard your land unplundered for all +time." After Chosroes and the ambassadors had spoken thus at length with +each other, they at last came to terms, agreeing that Chosroes should +forthwith take from the Romans fifty centenaria[7], and that, receiving +a tribute of five more centenaria annually for all time, he should do +them no further harm, but taking with him hostages from the ambassadors +to pledge the keeping of the agreement, should make his departure with +the whole army to his native land, and that there ambassadors sent from +the Emperor Justinian should arrange on a firm basis for the future the +compact regarding the peace. + + +XI + +Then Chosroes went to Seleucia, a city on the sea, one hundred and +thirty stades distant from Antioch; and there he neither met nor harmed +a single Roman, and he bathed himself alone in the sea-water, and after +sacrificing to the sun and such other divinities as he wished, and +calling upon the gods many times, he went back. And when he came to the +camp, he said that he had a desire to see the city of Apamea which was +in the vicinity for no other reason than that of his interest in the +place. And the ambassadors unwillingly granted this also, but only on +condition that after seeing the city and taking away with him from there +one thousand pounds of silver, he should, without inflicting any further +injury, march back. But it was evident to the ambassadors and to all the +others that Chosroes was setting out for Apamea with this sole purpose, +that he might lay hold upon some pretext of no importance and plunder +both the city and the land thereabout. Accordingly he first went up to +Daphne, the suburb of Antioch, where he expressed great wonder at the +grove and at the fountains of water; for both of these are very well +worth seeing. And after sacrificing to the nymphs he departed, doing no +further damage than burning the sanctuary of the archangel Michael +together with certain other buildings, for the following reason. A +Persian gentleman of high repute in the army of the Persians and well +known to Chosroes, the king, while riding on horseback came in company +with some others to a precipitous place near the so-called Tretum, where +is a temple of the archangel Michael, the work of Evaris. This man, +seeing one of the young men of Antioch on foot and alone concealing +himself there, separated from the others and pursued him. Now the young +man was a butcher, Aeimachus by name. When he was about to be overtaken, +he turned about unexpectedly and threw a stone at his pursuer which hit +him on the forehead and penetrated to the membrane by the ear. And the +rider fell immediately to the ground, whereupon the youth drew out his +sword and slew him. Then at his leisure he stripped him of his weapons +and all his gold and whatever else he had on his person, and leaping +upon his horse rode on. And whether by the favour of fortune or by his +knowledge of the country, he succeeded completely in eluding the +Persians and making good his escape. When Chosroes learned this, he was +deeply grieved at what had happened, and commanded some of his followers +to burn the sanctuary of the archangel Michael which I have mentioned +above. And they, thinking that the sanctuary at Daphne was the one in +question, burned it with the buildings about it, and they supposed that +the commands of Chosroes had been executed. Such, then, was the course +of these events. + +But Chosroes with his whole army proceeded on the way to Apamea. Now +there is a piece of wood one cubit in length in Apamea, a portion of the +cross on which the Christ in Jerusalem once endured the punishment not +unwillingly, as is generally agreed, and which in ancient times had been +conveyed there secretly by a man of Syria. And the men of olden times, +believing that it would be a great protection both for themselves and +for the city, made for it a sort of wooden chest and deposited it there; +and they adorned this chest with much gold and with precious stones and +they entrusted it to three priests who were to guard it in all security; +and they bring it forth every year and the whole population worship it +during one day. Now at that time the people of Apamea, upon learning +that the army of the Medes was coming against them, began to be in great +fear. And when they heard that Chosroes was absolutely untruthful, they +came to Thomas, the chief priest of the city, and begged him to shew +them the wood of the cross, in order that after worshipping it for the +last time they might die. And he did as they requested. Then indeed it +befell that a sight surpassing both description and belief was there +seen. For while the priest was carrying the wood and shewing it, above +him followed a flame of fire, and the portion of the roof over him was +illuminated with a great and unaccustomed light. And while the priest +was moving through every part of the temple, the flame continued to +advance with him, keeping constantly the place above him in the roof. So +the people of Apamea, under the spell of joy at the miracle, were +wondering and rejoicing and weeping, and already all felt confidence +concerning their safety. And Thomas, after going about the whole temple, +laid the wood of the cross in the chest and covered it, and suddenly the +light had ceased. Then upon learning that the army of the enemy had come +close to the city, he went in great haste to Chosroes. And when the king +enquired of the priest whether it was the will of the citizens of Apamea +to marshal themselves on the wall against the army of the Medes, the +priest replied that no such thing had entered the minds of the men. +"Therefore," said Chosroes, "receive me into the city accompanied by a +few men with all the gates opened wide." And the priest said "Yes, for I +have come here to invite thee to do this very thing." So the whole army +pitched their tents and made camp before the fortifications. + +Then Chosroes chose out two hundred of the best of the Persians and +entered the city. But when he had got inside the gates, he forgot +willingly enough what had been agreed upon between himself and the +ambassadors, and he commanded the bishop to give not only one thousand +pounds of silver nor even ten times that amount, but whatsoever +treasures were stored there, being all of gold and silver and of +marvellous great size. And I believe that he would not have shrunk from +enslaving and plundering the whole city, unless some divine providence +had manifestly prevented him; to such a degree did avarice overpower him +and the desire of fame turn his mind. For he thought the enslavement of +the cities a great glory for himself, considering it absolutely nothing +that disregarding treaties and compacts he was performing such deeds +against the Romans. This attitude of Chosroes will be revealed by what +he undertook to do concerning the city of Daras during his withdrawal at +this same time, when he treated his agreements with absolute disregard, +and also by what he did to the citizens of Callinicus a little later in +time of peace, as will be told by me in the following narrative[8]. But +God, as has been said, preserved Apamea. Now when Chosroes had seized +all the treasures, and Thomas saw that he was already intoxicated with +the abundance of the wealth, then bringing out the wood of the cross +with the chest, he opened the chest and displaying the wood said: "O +most mighty King, these alone are left me out of all the treasures. Now +as for this chest (since it is adorned with gold and precious stones), +we do not begrudge thy taking it and keeping it with all the rest, but +this wood here, it is our salvation and precious to us, this, I beg and +entreat thee, give to me." So spoke the priest. And Chosroes yielded and +fulfilled the request. + +Afterwards, being filled with a desire for popular applause, he +commanded that the populace should go up into the hippodrome and that +the charioteers should hold their accustomed contests. And he himself +went up there also, eager to be a spectator of the performances. And +since he had heard long before that the Emperor Justinian was +extraordinarily fond of the Venetus[9] colour, which is blue, wishing to +go against him there also, he was desirous of bringing about victory for +the green. So the charioteers, starting from the barriers, began the +contest, and by some chance he who was clad in the blue happened to pass +his rival and take the lead. And he was followed in the same tracks by +the wearer of the green colour. And Chosroes, thinking that this had +been done purposely, was angry, and he cried out with a threat that the +Caesar had wrongfully surpassed the others, and he commanded that the +horses which were running in front should be held up, in order that from +then on they might contend in the rear; and when this had been done just +as he commanded, then Chosroes and the green faction were accounted +victorious. At that time one of the citizens of Apamea came before +Chosroes and accused a Persian of entering his house and violating his +maiden daughter. Upon hearing this, Chosroes, boiling with anger, +commanded that the man should be brought. And when he came before him, +he directed that he should be impaled in the camp. And when the people +learned this, they raised a mighty shout as loud as they could, +demanding that the man be saved from the king's anger. And Chosroes +promised that he would release the man to them, but he secretly impaled +him not long afterwards. So after these things had been thus +accomplished, he departed and marched back with the whole army. + + +XII + +And when he came to the city of Chalcis, eighty-four stades distant from +the city of Beroea, he again seemed to forget the things which had been +agreed upon, and encamping not far from the fortifications he sent +Paulus to threaten the inhabitants of Chalcis, saying that he would take +the city by siege, unless they should purchase their safety by giving +ransom, and should give up to the Persians all the soldiers who were +there together with their leader. And the citizens of Chalcis were +seized with great fear of both sovereigns, and they swore that, as for +soldiers, there were absolutely none of them in the city, although they +had hidden Adonachus, the commander of the soldiers, and others as well +in some houses, in order that they might not be seen by the enemy; and +with difficulty they collected two centenaria[10] of gold, for the city +they inhabited was not very prosperous, and they gave them to Chosroes +as the price of their lives and thus saved both the city and themselves. + +From there on Chosroes did not wish to continue the return journey by +the road he had come, but to cross the River Euphrates and gather by +plunder as much money as possible from Mesopotamia. He therefore +constructed a bridge at the place called Obbane, which is forty stades +distant from the fortress in Barbalissum; then he himself went across +and gave orders to the whole army to cross as quickly as possible, +adding that he would break up the bridge on the third day, and he +appointed also the time of the day. And when the appointed day was come, +it happened that some of the army were left who had not yet crossed, but +without the least consideration for them he sent the men to break up the +bridge. And those who were left behind returned to their native land as +each one could. + +Then a sort of ambition came over Chosroes to capture the city of +Edessa. For he was led on to this by a saying of the Christians, and it +kept irritating his mind, because they maintained that it could not be +taken, for the following reason. There was a certain Augarus in early +times, toparch of Edessa (for thus the kings of the different nations +were called then). Now this Augarus was the most clever of all men of +his time, and as a result of this was an especial friend of the Emperor +Augustus. For, desiring to make a treaty with the Romans, he came to +Rome; and when he conversed with Augustus, he so astonished him by the +abundance of his wisdom that Augustus wished never more to give up his +company; for he was an ardent lover of his conversation, and whenever he +met him, he was quite unwilling to depart from him. A long time, +therefore, was consumed by him in this visit. And one day when he was +desirous of returning to his native land and was utterly unable to +persuade Augustus to let him go, he devised the following plan. He first +went out to hunt in the country about Rome; for it happened that he had +taken considerable interest in the practice of this sport. And going +about over a large tract of country, he captured alive many of the +animals of that region, and he gathered up and took with him from each +part of the country some earth from the land; thus he returned to Rome +bringing both the earth and the animals. Then Augustus went up into the +hippodrome and seated himself as was his wont, and Augarus came before +him and displayed the earth and the animals, telling over from what +district each portion of earth was and what animals they were. Then he +gave orders to put the earth in different parts of the hippodrome, and +to gather all the animals into one place and then to release them. So +the attendants did as he directed. And the animals, separating from each +other, went each to that portion of earth which was from the district in +which it itself had been taken. And Augustus looked upon the performance +carefully for a very long time, and he was wondering that nature +untaught makes animals miss their native land. Then Augarus, suddenly +laying hold upon his knees, said: "But as for me, O Master, what +thoughts dost thou think I have, who possess a wife and children and a +kingdom, small indeed, but in the land of my fathers?" And the emperor, +overcome and compelled by the truth of his saying, granted not at all +willingly that he should go away, and bade him ask besides whatever he +wished. And when Augarus had secured this, he begged of Augustus to +build him a hippodrome in the city of Edessa. And he granted also this. +Thus then Augarus departed from Rome and came to Edessa. And the +citizens enquired of him whether he had come bringing any good thing for +them from the Emperor Augustus. And he answering said he had brought to +the inhabitants of Edessa pain without loss and pleasure without gain, +hinting at the fortune of the hippodrome. + +At a later time when Augarus was well advanced in years, he was seized +with an exceedingly violent attack of gout. And being distressed by the +pains and his inability to move in consequence of them, he carried the +matter to the physicians, and from the whole land he gathered all who +were skilled in these matters. But later he abandoned these men (for +they did not succeed in discovering any cure for the trouble), and +finding himself helpless, he bewailed the fate which was upon him. But +about that time Jesus, the Son of God, was in the body and moving among +the men of Palestine, shewing manifestly by the fact that he never +sinned at all, and also by his performing even things impossible, that +he was the Son of God in very truth; for he called the dead and raised +them up as if from sleep, and opened the eyes of men who had been born +blind, and cleansed those whose whole bodies were covered with leprosy, +and released those whose feet were maimed, and he cured all the other +diseases which are called by the physicians incurable. When these things +were reported to Augarus by those who travelled from Palestine to +Edessa, he took courage and wrote a letter to Jesus, begging him to +depart from Judaea and the senseless people there, and to spend his life +with him from that time forward. When the Christ saw this message, he +wrote in reply to Augarus, saying distinctly that he would not come, but +promising him health in the letter. And they say that he added this also +that never would the city be liable to capture by the barbarians. This +final portion of the letter was entirely unknown to those who wrote the +history of that time; for they did not even make mention of it anywhere; +but the men of Edessa say that they found it with the letter, so that +they have even caused the letter to be inscribed in this form on the +gates of the city instead of any other defence. The city did in fact +come under the Medes a short time afterwards, not by capture however, +but in the following manner. A short time after Augarus received the +letter of the Christ, he became free from suffering, and after living on +in health for a long time, he came to his end. But that one of his sons +who succeeded to the kingdom shewed himself the most unholy of all men, +and besides committing many other wrongs against his subjects, he +voluntarily went over to the Persians, fearing the vengeance which was +to come from the Romans. But long after this the citizens of Edessa +destroyed the barbarian guards who were dwelling with them, and gave the +city into the hands of the Romans. * * *[11] he is eager to attach it to +his cause, judging by what has happened in my time, which I shall +present in the appropriate place. And the thought once occurred to me +that, if the Christ did not write this thing just as I have told it, +still, since men have come to believe in it, He wishes to guard the city +uncaptured for this reason, that He may never give them any pretext for +error. As for these things, then, let them be as God wills, and so let +them be told. + +For this reason it seemed to Chosroes at that time a matter of moment to +capture Edessa. And when he came to Batne, a small stronghold of no +importance, one day's journey distant from Edessa, he bivouacked there +for that night, but at early dawn he was on the march to Edessa with his +whole army. But it fell out that they lost their way and wandered about, +and on the following night bivouacked in the same place; and they say +that this happened to them a second time also. When with difficulty +Chosroes reached the neighbourhood of Edessa, they say that suppuration +set in in his face and his jaw became swollen. For this reason he was +quite unwilling to make an attempt on the city, but he sent Paulus and +demanded money from the citizens. And they said that they had absolutely +no fear concerning the city, but in order that he might not damage the +country they agreed to give two centenaria of gold. And Chosroes took +the money and kept the agreement. + + +XIII + +At that time also the Emperor Justinian wrote a letter to Chosroes, +promising to carry out the agreement which had been made by him and the +ambassadors regarding the peace[12]. When this message was received by +Chosroes, he released the hostages and made preparations for his +departure, and he wished to sell off all the captives from Antioch. And +when the citizens of Edessa learned of this, they displayed an +unheard-of zeal. For there was not a person who did not bring ransom for +the captives and deposit it in the sanctuary according to the measure of +his possessions. And there were some who even exceeded their +proportionate amount in so doing. For the harlots took off all the +adornment which they wore on their persons, and threw it down there, and +any farmer who was in want of plate or of money, but who had an ass or a +sheep, brought this to the sanctuary with great zeal. So there was +collected an exceedingly great amount of gold and silver and money in +other forms, but not a bit of it was given for ransom. For Bouzes +happened to be present there, and he took in hand to prevent the +transaction, expecting that this would bring him some great gain. +Therefore Chosroes moved forward, taking with him all the captives. And +the citizens of Carrhae met him holding out to him great sums of money; +but he said that it did not belong to him because the most of them are +not Christians but are of the old faith. + +But when, likewise, the citizens of Constantina offered money, he +accepted it, although he asserted that the city belonged to him from his +fathers. [503 A.D.] For at the time when Cabades took Amida, he wished +also to capture Edessa and Constantina. But when he came near to Edessa +he enquired of the Magi whether it would be possible for him to capture +the city, pointing out the place to them with his right hand. But they +said that the city would not be captured by him by any device, judging +by the fact that in stretching out his right hand to it he was not +giving thereby the sign of capture or of any other grievous thing, but +of salvation. And when Cabades heard this, he was convinced and led his +army on to Constantina. And upon arriving there, he issued orders to the +whole army to encamp for a siege. Now the priest of Constantina was at +that time Baradotus, a just man and especially beloved of God, and his +prayers for this reason were always effectual for whatever he wished; +and even seeing his face one would have straightway surmised that this +man was most completely acceptable to God. This Baradotus came then to +Cabades bearing wine and dried figs and honey and unblemished loaves, +and entreated him not to make an attempt on a city which was not of any +importance and which was very much neglected by the Romans, having +neither a garrison of soldiers nor any other defence, but only the +inhabitants, who were pitiable folk. Thus spoke the priest; and Cabades +promised that he would grant him the city freely, and he presented him +with all the food-supplies which had been prepared by him for the army +in anticipation of the siege, an exceedingly great quantity; and thus he +departed from the land of the Romans. For this reason it was that +Chosroes claimed that the city belonged to him from his fathers. + +And when he reached Daras, he began a siege; but within the city the +Romans and Martinus, their general (for it happened that he was there), +made their preparations for resistance. Now the city is surrounded by +two walls, the inner one of which is of great size and a truly wonderful +thing to look upon (for each tower reaches to a height of a hundred +feet, and the rest of the wall to sixty), while the outer wall is much +smaller, but in other respects strong and one to be reckoned with +seriously. And the space between has a breadth of not less than fifty +feet; in that place the citizens of Daras are accustomed to put their +cattle and other animals when an enemy assails them. At first then +Chosroes made an assault on the fortifications toward the west, and +forcing back his opponents by overwhelming numbers of missiles, he set +fire to the gates of the small wall. However no one of the barbarians +dared to get inside. Next he decided to make a tunnel secretly at the +eastern side of the city. For at this point alone can the earth be dug, +since the other parts of the fortifications were set upon rock by the +builders. So the Persians began to dig, beginning from their trench. And +since this was very deep, they were neither observed by the enemy nor +did they afford them any means of discovering what was being done. So +they had already gone under the foundations of the outer wall, and were +about to reach the space between the two walls and soon after to pass +also the great wall and take the city by force; but since it was not +fated to be captured by the Persians, someone from the camp of Chosroes +came alone about midday close to the fortifications, whether a man or +something else greater than man, and he made it appear to those who saw +him that he was collecting the weapons which the Romans had a little +before discharged from the wall against the barbarians who were +assailing them. And while doing this and holding his shield before him, +he seemed to be bantering those who were on the parapet and taunting +them with laughter. Then he told them of everything and commanded them +all to be on the watch and to take all possible care for their safety. +After revealing these things he was off, while the Romans with much +shouting and confusion were ordering men to dig the ground between the +two walls. The Persians, on the other hand, not knowing what was being +done, were pushing on the work no less than before. So while the +Persians were making a straight way underground to the wall of the city, +the Romans by the advice of Theodoras, a man learned in the science +called mechanics, were constructing their trench in a cross-wise +direction and making it of sufficient depth, so that when the Persians +had reached the middle point between the two circuit-walls they suddenly +broke into the trench of the Romans. And the first of them the Romans +killed, while those in the rear by fleeing at top speed into the camp +saved themselves. For the Romans decided by no means to pursue them in +the dark. So Chosroes, failing in this attempt and having no hope that +he would take the city by any device thereafter, opened negotiations +with the besieged, and carrying away a thousand pounds of silver he +retired into the land of Persia. When this came to the knowledge of the +Emperor Justinian, he was no longer willing to carry the agreement into +effect, charging Chosroes with having attempted to capture the city of +Daras during a truce. Such were the fortunes of the Romans during the +first invasion of Chosroes; and the summer drew to its close. + + +XIV + +Now Chosroes built a city in Assyria in a place one day's journey +distant from the city of Ctesiphon, and he named it the Antioch of +Chosroes and settled there all the captives from Antioch, constructing +for them a bath and a hippodrome and providing that they should have +free enjoyment of their other luxuries besides. For he brought with him +charioteers and musicians both from Antioch and from the other Roman +cities. Besides this he always provisioned these citizens of Antioch at +public expense more carefully than in the fashion of captives, and he +required that they be called king's subjects, so as to be subordinate to +no one of the magistrates, but to the king alone. And if any one else +too who was a Roman in slavery ran away and succeeded in escaping to the +Antioch of Chosroes, and if he was called a kinsman by any one of those +who lived there, it was no longer possible for the owner of this captive +to take him away, not even if he who had enslaved the man happened to be +a person of especial note among the Persians. + +Thus, then, the portent which had come to the citizens of Antioch in the +reign of Anastasius reached this final fulfilment for them. For at that +time a violent wind suddenly fell upon the suburb of Daphne, and some of +the cypresses which were there of extraordinary height were overturned +from the extremities of their roots and fell to the earth--trees which +the law forbade absolutely to be cut down. [526 A.D.] Accordingly, a +little later, when Justinus was ruling over the Romans, the place was +visited by an exceedingly violent earthquake, which shook down the whole +city and straightway brought to the ground the most and the finest of +the buildings, and it is said that at that time three hundred thousand +of the population of Antioch perished. And finally in this capture the +whole city, as has been said, was destroyed. Such, then, was the +calamity which befell the men of Antioch. + +And Belisarius came to Byzantium from Italy, summoned by the emperor; +and after he had spent the winter in Byzantium, the emperor sent him as +general against Chosroes and the Persians at the opening of spring, +together with the officers who had come with him from Italy, one of +whom, Valerianus, he commanded to lead the troops in Armenia. [541 A.D.] +For Martinus had been sent immediately to the East, and for this reason +Chosroes found him at Daras, as has been stated above. And among the +Goths, Vittigis remained in Byzantium, but all the rest marched with +Belisarius against Chosroes. At that time one of the envoys of Vittigis, +he who was assuming the name of bishop, died in the land of Persia, and +the other one remained there. And the man who followed them as +interpreter withdrew to the land of the Romans, and John, who was +commanding the troops in Mesopotamia, arrested him near the boundaries +of Constantina, and bringing him into the city confined him in a prison; +there the man in answer to his enquiries related everything which had +been done. Such, then, was the course of these events. And Belisarius +and his followers went in haste, since he was eager to anticipate +Chosroes' making any second invasion into the land of the Romans. + + +XV + +But in the meantime Chosroes was leading his army against Colchis, where +the Lazi were calling him in for the following reason. The Lazi at first +dwelt in the land of Colchis as subjects of the Romans, but not to the +extent of paying them tribute or obeying their commands in any respect, +except that, whenever their king died, the Roman emperor would send +emblems of the office to him who was about to succeed to the throne. And +he, together with his subjects, guarded strictly the boundaries of the +land in order that hostile Huns might not proceed from the Caucasus +mountains, which adjoin their territory, through Lazica and invade the +land of the Romans. And they kept guard without receiving money or +troops from the Romans and without ever joining the Roman armies, but +they were always engaged in commerce by sea with the Romans who live on +the Black Sea. For they themselves have neither salt nor grain nor any +other good thing, but by furnishing skins and hides and slaves they +secured the supplies which they needed. But when the events came to pass +in which Gourgenes, the king of the Iberians, was concerned, as has been +told in the preceding narrative[13], Roman soldiers began to be +quartered among the Lazi; and these barbarians were annoyed by the +soldiers, and most of all by Peter, the general, a man who was prone to +treat insolently those who came into contact with him. This Peter was a +native of Arzanene, which is beyond the River Nymphius, a district +subject to the Persians from of old, but while still a child he had been +captured and enslaved by the Emperor Justinus at the time when Justinus, +after the taking of Amida, was invading the land of the Persians with +Celer's army.[14] And since his owner showed him great kindness, he +attended the school of a grammatist. And at first he became secretary to +Justinus, but when, after the death of Anastasius, Justinus took over +the Roman empire, Peter was made a general, and he degenerated into a +slave of avarice, if anyone ever did, and shewed himself very fatuous in +his treatment of all. + +And later the Emperor Justinian sent different officers to Lazica, and +among them John, whom they called Tzibus, a man of obscure and ignoble +descent, but who had climbed to the office of general by virtue of no +other thing than that he was the most accomplished villain in the world +and most successful in discovering unlawful sources of revenue. This man +unsettled and threw into confusion all the relations of the Romans and +the Lazi. He also persuaded the Emperor Justinian to build a city on the +sea in Lazica, Petra by name; and there he sat as in a citadel and +plundered the property of the Lazi. For the salt, and all other cargoes +which were considered necessary for the Lazi, it was no longer possible +for the merchants to bring into the land of Colchis, nor could they +purchase them elsewhere by sending for them, but he set up in Petra the +so-called "monopoly" and himself became a retail dealer and overseer of +all the handling of these things, buying everything and selling it to +the Colchians, not at the customary rates, but as dearly as possible. At +the same time, even apart from this, the barbarians were annoyed by the +Roman army quartered upon them, a thing which had not been customary +previously. Accordingly, since they were no longer able to endure these +things, they decided to attach themselves to the Persians and Chosroes, +and immediately they sent to them envoys who were to arrange this +without the knowledge of the Romans. These men had been instructed that +they should take pledges from Chosroes that he would never give up the +Lazi against their will to the Romans, and that with this understanding +they should bring him with the Persian army into the land. + +Accordingly the envoys went to the Persians, and coming secretly before +Chosroes they said: "If any people in all time have revolted from their +own friends in any manner whatsoever and attached themselves wrongfully +to men utterly unknown to them, and after that by the kindness of +fortune have been brought back once more with greatest rejoicing to +those who were formerly their own, consider, O Most mighty King, that +such as these are the Lazi. For the Colchians in ancient times, as +allies of the Persians, rendered them many good services and were +themselves treated in like manner; and of these things there are many +records in books, some of which we have, while others are preserved in +thy palace up to the present time. But at a later time it came about +that our ancestors, whether neglected by you or for some other reason +(for we are unable to ascertain anything certain about this matter), +became allies of the Romans. And now we and the king of Lazica give to +the Persians both ourselves and our land to treat in any way you may +desire. And we beg of you to think thus concerning us: if, on the one +hand, we have suffered nothing outrageous at the hands of the Romans, +but have been prompted by foolish motives in coming to you, reject this +prayer of ours straightway, considering that with you likewise the +Colchians will never be trustworthy (for when a friendship has been +dissolved, a second friendship formed with others becomes, owing to its +character, a matter of reproach); but if we have been in name friends of +the Romans, but in fact their loyal slaves, and have suffered impious +treatment at the hands of those who have tyrannized over us, receive us, +your former allies, and acquire as slaves those whom you used to treat +as friends, and shew your hatred of a cruel tyranny which has risen thus +on our borders, by acting worthily of that justice which it has always +been the tradition of the Persians to defend. For the man who himself +does no wrong is not just, unless he is also accustomed to rescue those +who are wronged by others when he has it in his power. But it is worth +while to tell a few of the things which the accursed Romans have dared +to do against us. In the first place they have left our king only the +form of royal power, while they themselves have appropriated the actual +authority, and he sits a king in the position of a servant, fearing the +general who issues the orders; and they have put upon us a multitude of +soldiery, not in order to guard the land against those who harass us +(for not one of our neighbours except, indeed, the Romans has disturbed +us), but in order that they may confine us as in a prison and make +themselves masters of our possessions. And purposing to make more speedy +the robbery of what we have, behold, O King, what sort of a design they +have formed; the supplies which are in excess among them they compel the +Lazi to buy against their will, while those things which are most useful +to them among the products of Lazica these fellows demand to buy, as +they put it, from us, the price being determined in both cases by the +judgment of the stronger party. And thus they are robbing us of all our +gold as well as of the necessities of life, using the fair name of +trade, but in fact oppressing us as thoroughly as they possibly can. And +there has been set over us as ruler a huckster who has made our +destitution a kind of business by virtue of the authority of his office. +The cause of our revolt, therefore, being of this sort, has justice on +its side; but the advantage which you yourselves will gain if you +receive the request of the Lazi we shall forthwith tell. To the realm of +Persia you will add a most ancient kingdom, and as a result of this you +will have the power of your sway extended, and it will come about that +you will have a part in the sea of the Romans through our land, and +after thou hast built ships in this sea, O King, it will be possible for +thee with no trouble to set foot in the palace in Byzantium. For there +is no obstacle between. And one might add that the plundering of the +land of the Romans every year by the barbarians along the boundary will +be under your control. For surely you also are acquainted with the fact +that up till now the land of the Lazi has been a bulwark against the +Caucasus mountains. So with justice leading the way, and advantage added +thereto, we consider that not to receive our words with favour would be +wholly contrary to good judgment." So spoke the envoys. + +And Chosroes, delighted by their words, promised to protect the Lazi, +and enquired of the envoys whether it was possible for him to enter the +land of Colchis with a large army. For he said that previously he had +heard many persons report that the land was exceedingly hard to traverse +even for an unimpeded traveller, being extremely rugged and covered very +extensively by thick forests of wide-spreading trees. But the envoys +stoutly maintained to him that the way through the country would be easy +for the whole Persian army, if they cut the trees and threw them into +the places which were made difficult by precipices. And they promised +that they themselves would be guides of the route, and would take the +lead in this work for the Persians. Encouraged by this suggestion, +Chosroes gathered a great army and made his preparations for the inroad, +not disclosing the plan to the Persians except those alone to whom he +was accustomed to communicate his secrets, and commanding the envoys to +tell no one what was being done; and he pretended that he was setting +out into Iberia, in order to settle matters there; for a Hunnic tribe, +he kept saying in explanation, had assailed the Persian domain at that +point. + + +XVI + +At this time Belisarius had arrived in Mesopotamia and was gathering his +army from every quarter, and he also kept sending men into the land of +Persia to act as spies. And wishing himself to encounter the enemy +there, if they should again make an incursion into the land of the +Romans, he was organizing on the spot and equipping the soldiers, who +were for the most part without either arms or armour, and in terror of +the name of the Persians. Now the spies returned and declared that for +the present there would be no invasion of the enemy; for Chosroes was +occupied elsewhere with a war against the Huns. And Belisarius, upon +learning this, wished to invade the land of the enemy immediately with +his whole army. Arethas also came to him with a large force of Saracens, +and besides the emperor wrote a letter instructing him to invade the +enemy's country with all speed. He therefore called together all the +officers in Daras and spoke as follows: "I know that all of you, my +fellow officers, are experienced in many wars, and I have brought you +together at the present time, not in order to stir up your minds against +the enemy by addressing to you any reminder or exhortation (for I think +that you need no speech that prompts to daring), but in order that we +may deliberate together among ourselves, and choose rather the course +which may seem fairest and best for the cause of the emperor. For war is +wont to succeed by reason of careful planning more than by anything +else. Now it is necessary that those who gather for deliberation should +make their minds entirely free from modesty and from fear. For fear, by +paralyzing those who have fallen into it, does not allow the reason to +choose the nobler part, and modesty obscures what has been seen to be +the better course and leads investigation the opposite way. If, +therefore, it seems to you that any purpose has been formed either by +our mighty emperor or by me concerning the present situation, let no +thought of this enter your minds. For, as for him, he is altogether +ignorant of what is being done, and is therefore unable to adapt his +moves to opportune moments; there is therefore no fear but that in going +contrary to him we shall do that which will be of advantage to his +cause. And as for me, since I am human, and have come here from the West +after a long interval, it is impossible that some of the necessary +things should not escape me. So it behoves you, without any too modest +regard for my opinion, to say outright whatever is going to be of +advantage for ourselves and for the emperor. Now in the beginning, +fellow officers, we came here in order to prevent the enemy from making +any invasion into our land, but at the present time, since things have +gone better for us than we had hoped, it is possible for us to make his +land the subject of our deliberation. And now that you have been +gathered together for this purpose, it is fair, I think, that you should +tell without any concealment what seems to each one best and most +advantageous." Thus spoke Belisarius. + +And Peter and Bouzes urged him to lead the army without any hesitation +against the enemy's country. And their opinion was followed immediately +by the whole council. Rhecithancus, however, and Theoctistus, the +commanders of the troops in Lebanon, said that, while they too had the +same wish as the others concerning the invasion, they feared that if +they abandoned the country of Phoenicia and Syria, Alamoundaras would +plunder it at his leisure, and that the emperor would be angry with them +because they had not guarded and kept unplundered the territory under +their command, and for this reason they were quite unwilling to join the +rest of the army in the invasion. But Belisarius said that the opinion +of these two men was not in the least degree true; for it was the season +of the vernal equinox, and at this season the Saracens always dedicated +about two months to their god, and during this time never undertook any +inroad into the land of others. Agreeing, therefore, to release both of +them with their followers within sixty days, he commanded them also to +follow with the rest of the army. So Belisarius was making his +preparation for the invasion with great zeal. + + +XVII + +But Chosroes and the Median army, after crossing Iberia, reached the +territory of Lazica under the leadership of the envoys; there with no +one to withstand them they began to cut down the trees which grow +thickly over that very mountainous region, rising to a great height, and +spreading out their branches remarkably, so that they made the country +absolutely impassable for the army; and these they threw into the rough +places, and thus rendered the road altogether easy. And when they +arrived in the centre of Colchis (the place where the tales of the poets +say that the adventure of Medea and Jason took place), Goubazes, the +king of the Lazi, came and did obeisance to Chosroes, the son of +Cabades, as Lord, putting himself together with his palace and all +Lazica into his hand. + +Now there is a coast city named Petra in Colchis, on the sea which is +called the Euxine, which in former times had been a place of no +importance, but which the Emperor Justinian had rendered strong and +otherwise conspicuous by means of the circuit-wall and other buildings +which he erected. When Chosroes ascertained that the Roman army was in +that place with John, he sent an army and a general, Aniabedes, against +them in order to capture the place at the first onset. But John, upon +learning of their approach, gave orders that no one should go outside +the fortifications nor allow himself to be seen from the parapet by the +enemy, and he armed the whole army and stationed them in the vicinity of +the gates, commanding them to keep silence and not allow the least sound +of any kind to escape from them. So the Persians came close to the +fortifications, and since nothing of the enemy was either seen or heard +by them they thought that the Romans had abandoned the city and left it +destitute of men. For this reason they closed in still more around the +fortifications, so as to set up ladders immediately, since no one was +defending the wall. And neither seeing nor hearing anything of the +enemy, they sent to Chosroes and explained the situation. And he sent +the greater part of the army, commanding them to make an attempt upon +the fortifications from all sides, and he directed one of the officers +to make use of the engine known as a ram around the gate, while he +himself, seated on the hill which lies very close to the city, became a +spectator of the operations. And straightway the Romans opened the gates +all of a sudden, and unexpectedly fell upon and slew great numbers of +the enemy, and especially those stationed about the ram; the rest with +difficulty made their escape together with the general and were saved. +And Chosroes, filled with rage, impaled Aniabedes, since he had been +outgeneralled by John, a tradesman and an altogether unwarlike man. But +some say that not Aniabedes, but the officer commanding the men who were +working the ram was impaled. And he himself broke camp with the whole +army, and coming close to the fortifications of Petra, made camp and +began a siege. On the following day he went completely around the +fortifications, and since he suspected that they could not support a +very strong attack, he decided to storm the wall. And bringing up the +whole army there, he opened the action, commanding all to shoot with +their bows against the parapet. The Romans, meanwhile, in defending +themselves, made use of their engines of war and all their bows. At +first, then, the Persians did the Romans little harm, although they were +shooting their arrows thick and fast, while at the same time they +suffered severely at the hands of the Romans, since they were being shot +at from an elevation. But later on (since it was fated that Petra be +captured by Chosroes), John by some chance was shot in the neck and +died, and as a result of this the other Romans ceased to care for +anything. Then indeed the barbarians withdrew to their camp; for it was +already growing dark; but on the following day they planned to assail +the fortifications by an excavation, as follows. + +The city of Petra is on one side inaccessible on account of the sea, and +on the other on account of the sheer cliffs which rise there on every +hand; indeed it is from this circumstance that the city has received the +name it bears. And it has only one approach on the level ground, and +that not very broad; for exceedingly high cliffs overhang it on either +side. At that point those who formerly built the city provided that that +portion of the wall should not be open to attack by making long walls +which ran along beside either cliff and guarded the approach for a great +distance. And they built two towers, one in each of these walls, not +following the customary plan, but as follows. They refused to allow the +space in the middle of the structure to be empty, but constructed the +entire towers from the ground up to a great height of very large stones +which fitted together, in order that they might never be shaken down by +a ram or any other engine. Such, then, are the fortifications of Petra. +But the Persians secretly made a tunnel into the earth and got under one +of the two towers, and from there carried out many of the stones and in +their place put wood, which a little later they burned. And the flame, +rising little by little, weakened the stones, and all of a sudden shook +the whole tower violently and straightway brought it down to the ground. +And the Romans who were on the tower perceived what was being done in +sufficient time so that they did not fall with it to the ground, but +they fled and got inside the city wall. And now it was possible for the +enemy to storm the wall from the level, and thus with no trouble to take +the city by force. The Romans, therefore, in terror, opened negotiations +with the barbarians, and receiving from Chosroes pledges concerning +their lives and their property, they surrendered to him both themselves +and the city. [541 A.D.] Thus Chosroes captured Petra. And finding the +treasures of John, which were extremely rich, he took them himself, but +besides this neither he himself nor anyone else of the Persians touched +anything, and the Romans, retaining their own possessions, mingled with +the Median army. + + +XVIII + +Meantime Belisarius and the Roman army, having learned nothing of what +was being done there, were going in excellent order from the city of +Daras toward Nisibis. And when they had reached the middle of their +journey, Belisarius led the army to the right where there were abundant +springs of water and level ground sufficient for all to camp upon. And +there he gave orders to make a camp at about forty-two stades from the +city of Nisibis. But all the others marvelled greatly that he did not +wish to camp close to the fortifications, and some were quite unwilling +to follow him. Belisarius therefore addressed those of the officers who +were about him thus: "It was not my wish to disclose to all what I am +thinking. For talk carried about through a camp cannot keep secrets, for +it advances little by little until it is carried out even to the enemy. +But seeing that the majority of you are allowing yourselves to act in a +most disorderly manner, and that each one wishes to be himself supreme +commander in the war, I shall now say among you things about which one +ought to keep silence, mentioning, however, this first, that when many +in an army follow independent judgments it is impossible that anything +needful be done. Now I think that Chosroes, in going against other +barbarians, has by no means left his own land without sufficient +protection, and in particular this city which is of the first rank and +is set as a defence to his whole land. In this city I know well that he +has stationed soldiers in such number and of such valour as to be +sufficient to stand in the way of our assaults. And the proof of this +you have near at hand. For he put in command of these men the general +Nabedes, who, after Chosroes himself at least, seems to be first among +the Persians in glory and in every other sort of honour. This man, I +believe, will both make trial of our strength and will permit of our +passing by on no other condition than that he be defeated by us in +battle. If, therefore, the conflict should be close by the city, the +struggle will not be even for us and the Persians. For they, coming out +from their stronghold against us, in case of success, should it so +happen, will feel unlimited confidence in assailing us, and in case of +defeat they will easily escape from our attack. For we shall only be +able to pursue them a short distance, and from this no harm will come to +the city, which you surely see cannot be captured by storming the wall +when soldiers are defending it. But if the enemy engage with us here and +we conquer them, I have great hopes, fellow officers, of capturing the +city. For while our antagonists are fleeing a long way, we shall either +mingle with them and rush inside the gates with them, as is probable, or +we shall anticipate them and compel them to turn and escape to some +other place, and thus render Nisibis without its defenders easy of +capture for us." + +When Belisarius had said this, all the others except Peter were +convinced, and they made camp and remained with him. He, however, +associating with himself John, who commanded the troops in Mesopotamia +and had no small part of the army, came up to a position not far removed +from the fortifications, about ten stades away, and remained quietly +there. But Belisarius marshalled the men who were with him as if for +combat, and sent word to Peter and his men also to hold themselves in +array for battle, until he himself should give the signal; and he said +that he knew well that the barbarians would attack them about midday, +remembering, as they surely would, that while they themselves are +accustomed to partake of food in the late afternoon, the Romans do so +about midday. So Belisarius gave this warning; but Peter and his men +disregarded his commands, and about midday, being distressed by the sun +(for the place is exceedingly dry and hot), they stacked their arms, and +with never a thought of the enemy began to go about in disorderly +fashion and eat gourds which grew there. And when this was observed by +Nabedes, he led the Persian army running at full speed against them. And +the Romans, since they did not fail to observe that the Persians were +coming out of the fortifications (for they were seen clearly because +moving over a level plain), sent to Belisarius urging him to support +them, and they themselves snatched up their arms, and in disorder and +confusion confronted their foe. But Belisarius and his men, even before +the messenger had reached them, discovered by the dust the attack of the +Persians, and went to the rescue on the run. And when the Persians came +up, the Romans did not withstand their onset, but were routed without +any difficulty, and the Persians, following close upon them, killed +fifty men, and seized and kept the standard of Peter. And they would +have slain them all in this pursuit, for the Romans had no thought of +resistance, if Belisarius and the army with him had not come upon them +and prevented it. For as the Goths, first of all, came upon them with +long spears in close array, the Persians did not await their attack but +beat a hasty retreat. And the Romans together with the Goths followed +them up and slew a hundred and fifty men. For the pursuit was only of +short duration, and the others quickly got inside the fortifications. +Then indeed all the Romans withdrew to the camp of Belisarius, and the +Persians on the following day set up on a tower instead of a trophy the +standard of Peter, and hanging sausages from it they taunted the enemy +with laughter; however, they no longer dared to come out against them, +but they guarded the city securely. + + +XIX + +And Belisarius, seeing that Nisibis was exceedingly strong, and having +no hope regarding its capture, was eager to go forward, in order that he +might do the enemy some damage by a sudden inroad. Accordingly he broke +camp and moved forward with the whole army. And after accomplishing a +day's journey, they came upon a fortress which the Persians call +Sisauranon. There were in that place besides the numerous population +eight hundred horsemen, the best of the Persians, who were keeping guard +under command of a man of note, Bleschames by name. And the Romans made +camp close by the fortress and began a siege, but, upon making an +assault upon the fortifications, they were beaten back, losing many men +in the fight. For the wall happened to be extremely strong, and the +barbarians defended it against their assailants with the greatest +vigour. Belisarius therefore called together all the officers and spoke +as follows: "Experience in many wars, fellow officers, has made it +possible for us in difficult situations to foresee what will come to +pass, and has made us capable of avoiding disaster by choosing the +better course. You understand, therefore, how great a mistake it is for +an army to proceed into a hostile land, when many strongholds and many +fighting men in them have been left in the rear. Now exactly this has +happened to us in the present case. For if we continue our advance, some +of the enemy from this place as well as from the city of Nisibis will +follow us secretly and will, in all probability, handle us roughly in +places which are for them conveniently adapted for an ambuscade or some +other sort of attack. And if, by any chance, a second army confronts us +and opens battle, it will be necessary for us to array ourselves against +both, and we should thus suffer irreparable harm at their hands. And in +saying this I do not mention the fact that if we fail in the engagement, +should it so happen, we shall after that have absolutely no way of +return left to the land of the Romans. Let us not therefore by reason of +most ill-considered haste seem to have been our own despoilers, nor by +our eagerness for strife do harm to the cause of the Romans. For stupid +daring leads to destruction, but discreet hesitation is well adapted +always to save those who adopt such a course. Let us therefore establish +ourselves here and endeavour to capture this fortress, and let Arethas +with his forces be sent into the country of Assyria. For the Saracens +are by nature unable to storm a wall, but the cleverest of all men at +plundering. And some of the soldiers who are good fighters will join +them in the invasion, so that, if no opposition presents itself to them, +they may overwhelm those who fall in their way, and if any hostile force +encounters them, they may be saved easily by retiring to us. And after +we have captured the fortress, if God wills, then with the whole army +let us cross the River Tigris, without having to fear mischief from +anyone in our rear, and knowing well how matters stand with the +Assyrians." + +These words of Belisarius seemed to all well spoken, and he straightway +put the plan into execution. Accordingly he commanded Arethas with his +troops to advance into Assyria, and with them he sent twelve hundred +soldiers, the most of whom were from among his own guard, putting two +guardsmen in command of them, Trajan and John who was called the +Glutton, both capable warriors. These men he directed to obey Arethas in +everything they did, and he commanded Arethas to pillage all that lay +before him and then return to the camp and report how matters stood with +the Assyrians with regard to military strength. So Arethas and his men +crossed the River Tigris and entered Assyria. There they found a goodly +land and one which had been free from plunder for a long time, and +undefended besides; and moving rapidly they pillaged many of the places +there and secured a great amount of rich plunder. And at that time +Belisarius captured some of the Persians and learned from them that +those who were inside the fortress were altogether out of provisions. +For they do not observe the custom which is followed in the cities of +Daras and Nisibis, where they put away the annual food-supply in public +store-houses, and now that a hostile army had fallen upon them +unexpectedly they had not anticipated the event by carrying in any of +the necessities of life. And since a great number of persons had taken +refuge suddenly in the fortress, they were naturally hard pressed by the +want of provisions. When Belisarius learned this, he sent George, a man +of the greatest discretion with whom he shared his secrets, to test the +men of the place, in the hope that he might be able to arrange some +terms of surrender and thus take the place. And George succeeded, after +addressing to them many words of exhortation and of kindly invitation, +in persuading them to take pledges for their safety and to deliver +themselves and the fortress to the Romans. Thus Belisarius captured +Sisauranon, and the inhabitants, all of whom were Christians and of +Roman origin, he released unscathed, but the Persians he sent with +Bleschames to Byzantium, and razed the fortification wall of the +fortress to the ground. And the emperor not long afterwards sent these +Persians and Bleschames to Italy to fight against the Goths. Such, then, +was the course of events which had to do with the fortress of +Sisauranon. + +But Arethas, fearing lest he should be despoiled of his booty by the +Romans, was now unwilling to return to the camp. So he sent some of his +followers ostensibly for the purpose of reconnoitring, but secretly +commanding them to return as quickly as possible and announce to the +army that a large hostile force was at the crossing of the river. For +this reason, then, he advised Trajan and John to return by another route +to the land of the Romans. So they did not come again to Belisarius, but +keeping the River Euphrates on the right they finally arrived at the +Theodosiopolis which is near the River Aborrhas. But Belisarius and the +Roman army, hearing nothing concerning this force, were disturbed, and +they were filled with fear and an intolerable and exaggerated suspicion. +And since much time had been consumed by them in this siege, it came +about that many of the soldiers were taken there with a troublesome +fever; for the portion of Mesopotamia which is subject to the Persians +is extremely dry and hot. And the Romans were not accustomed to this and +especially those who came from Thrace; and since they were living their +daily life in a place where the heat was excessive and in stuffy huts in +the summer season, they became so ill that the third part of the army +were lying half-dead. The whole army, therefore, was eager to depart +from there and return as quickly as possible to their own land, and most +of all the commanders of the troops in Lebanon, Rhecithancus and +Theoctistus, who saw that the time which was the sacred season of the +Saracens had in fact already passed. They came, indeed, frequently to +Belisarius and entreated him to release them immediately, protesting +that they had given over to Alamoundaras the country of Lebanon and +Syria, and were sitting there for no good reason. + +Belisarius therefore called together all the officers and opened a +discussion. Then John, the son of Nicetas, rose first and spoke as +follows: "Most excellent Belisarius, I consider that in all time there +has never been a general such as you are either in fortune or in valour. +And this reputation has come to prevail not alone among the Romans, but +also among all barbarians. This fair name, however, you will preserve +most securely, if you should be able to take us back alive to the land +of the Romans; for now indeed the hopes which we may have are not +bright. For I would have you look thus at the situation of this army. +The Saracens and the most efficient soldiers of the army crossed the +River Tigris, and one day, I know not how long since, they found +themselves in such a plight that they have not even succeeded in sending +a messenger to us, and Rhecithancus and Theoctistus will depart, as you +see surely, believing that the army of Alamoundaras is almost at this +very moment in the midst of Phoenicia, pillaging the whole country +there. And among those who are left the sick are so numerous that those +who will care for them and convey them to the land of the Romans are +fewer in number than they are by a great deal. Under these +circumstances, if it should fall out that any hostile force should come +upon us, either while remaining here or while going back, not a man +would be able to carry back word to the Romans in Daras of the calamity +which had befallen us. For as for going forward, I consider it +impossible even to be spoken of. While, therefore, some hope is still +left, it will be of advantage both to make plans for the return and to +put the plans into action. For when men have come into danger and +especially such danger as this, it is downright folly for them to devote +their thoughts not to safety, but to opposition to the enemy." So spoke +John, and all the others expressed approval, and becoming disorderly, +they demanded that the retreat be made with all speed. Accordingly +Belisarius laid the sick in the carts and let them lead the way, while +he led the army behind them. And as soon as they got into the land of +the Romans, he learned everything which had been done by Arethas, but he +did not succeed in inflicting any punishment upon him, for he never came +into his sight again. So ended the invasion of the Romans. + +And after Chosroes had taken Petra, it was announced to him that +Belisarius had invaded the Persian territory, and the engagement near +the city of Nisibis was reported, as also the capture of the fortress of +Sisauranon, and all that the army of Arethas had done after crossing the +River Tigris. Straightway, then, he established a garrison in Petra, and +with the rest of the army and those of the Romans who had been captured +he marched away into the land of Persia. Such, then, were the events +which took place in the second invasion of Chosroes. And Belisarius went +to Byzantium at the summons of the emperor, and passed the winter there. + + +XX + +[542 A.D.] At the opening of spring Chosroes, the son of Cabades, for +the third time began an invasion into the land of the Romans with a +mighty army, keeping the River Euphrates on the right. And Candidus, the +priest of Sergiopolis, upon learning that the Median army had come near +there, began to be afraid both for himself and for the city, since he +had by no means carried out at the appointed time the agreement which he +had made[15]; accordingly he went into the camp of the enemy and +entreated Chosroes not to be angry with him because of this. For as for +money, he had never had any, and for this reason he had not even wished +in the first place to deliver the inhabitants of Sura, and though he had +supplicated the Emperor Justinian many times on their behalf, he had +failed to receive any help from him. But Chosroes put him under guard, +and, torturing him most cruelly, claimed the right to exact from him +double the amount of money, just as had been agreed. And Candidus +entreated him to send men to Sergiopolis to take all the treasures of +the sanctuary there. And when Chosroes followed this suggestion, +Candidus sent some of his followers with them. So the inhabitants of +Sergiopolis, receiving into the city the men sent by Chosroes, gave them +many of the treasures, declaring that nothing else was left them. But +Chosroes said that these were by no means sufficient for him, and +demanded that he should receive others still more than these. +Accordingly he sent men, ostensibly to search out with all diligence the +wealth of the city, but in reality to take possession of the city. But +since it was fated that Sergiopolis should not be taken by the Persians, +one of the Saracens, who, though a Christian, was serving under +Alamoundaras, Ambrus by name, came by night along the wall of the city, +and reporting to them the whole plan, bade them by no means receive the +Persians into the city. Thus those who were sent by Chosroes returned to +him unsuccessful, and he, boiling with anger, began to make plans to +capture the city. He accordingly sent an army of six thousand, +commanding them to begin a siege and to make assaults upon the +fortifications. And this army came there and commenced active +operations, and the citizens of Sergiopolis at first defended themselves +vigorously, but later they gave up, and in terror at the danger, they +were purposing to give over the city to the enemy. For, as it happened, +they had not more than two hundred soldiers. But Ambrus, again coming +along by the fortifications at night, said that within two days the +Persians would raise the siege since their water supply had failed them +absolutely. For this reason they did not by any means open negotiations +with the enemy, and the barbarians, suffering with thirst, removed from +there and came to Chosroes. However, Chosroes never released Candidus. +For it was necessary, I suppose, that since he had disregarded his sworn +agreement, he should be a priest no longer. Such, then, was the course +of these events. + +But when Chosroes arrived at the land of the Commagenae which they call +Euphratesia, he had no desire to turn to plundering or to the capture of +any stronghold, since he had previously taken everything before him as +far as Syria, partly by capture and partly by exacting money, as has +been set forth in the preceding narrative. And his purpose was to lead +the army straight for Palestine, in order that he might plunder all +their treasures and especially those in Jerusalem. For he had it from +hearsay that this was an especially goodly land and peopled by wealthy +inhabitants. And all the Romans, both officers and soldiers, were far +from entertaining any thought of confronting the enemy or of standing in +the way of their passage, but manning their strongholds as each one +could, they thought it sufficient to preserve them and save themselves. + +The Emperor Justinian, upon learning of the inroad of the Persians, +again sent Belisarius against them. And he came with great speed to +Euphratesia since he had no army with him, riding on the government +post-horses, which they are accustomed to call "veredi," while Justus, +the nephew of the emperor, together with Bouzes and certain others, was +in Hierapolis where he had fled for refuge. And when these men heard +that Belisarius was coming and was not far away, they wrote a letter to +him which ran as follows: "Once more Chosroes, as you yourself doubtless +know, has taken the field against the Romans, bringing a much greater +army than formerly; and where he is purposing to go is not yet evident, +except indeed that we hear he is very near, and that he has injured no +place, but is always moving ahead. But come to us as quickly as +possible, if indeed you are able to escape detection by the army of the +enemy, in order that you yourself may be safe for the emperor, and that +you may join us in guarding Hierapolis." Such was the message of the +letter. But Belisarius, not approving the advice given, came to the +place called Europum, which is on the River Euphrates. From there he +sent about in all directions and began to gather his army, and there he +established his camp; and the officers in Hierapolis he answered with +the following words: "If, now, Chosroes is proceeding against any other +peoples, and not against subjects of the Romans, this plan of yours is +well considered and insures the greatest possible degree of safety; for +it is great folly for those who have the opportunity of remaining quiet +and being rid of trouble to enter into any unnecessary danger; but if, +immediately after departing from here, this barbarian is going to fall +upon some other territory of the Emperor Justinian, and that an +exceptionally good one, but without any guard of soldiers, be assured +that to perish valorously is better in every way than to be saved +without a fight. For this would justly be called not salvation but +treason. But come as quickly as possible to Europum, where, after +collecting the whole army, I hope to deal with the enemy as God +permits." And when the officers saw this message, they took courage, and +leaving there Justus with some few men in order to guard Hierapolis, all +the others with the rest of the army came to Europum. + + +XXI + +But Chosroes, upon learning that Belisarius with the whole Roman army +had encamped at Europum, decided not to continue his advance, but sent +one of the royal secretaries, Abandanes by name, a man who enjoyed a +great reputation for discretion, to Belisarius, in order to find out by +inspection what sort of a general he might be, but ostensibly to make a +protest because the Emperor Justinian had not sent the ambassadors to +the Persians at all in order that they might settle the arrangements for +the peace as had been agreed. When Belisarius learned this, he did as +follows. He himself picked out six thousand men of goodly stature and +especially fine physique, and set out to hunt at a considerable distance +from the camp. Then he commanded Diogenes, the guardsman, and Adolius, +the son of Acacius, to cross the river with a thousand horsemen and to +move about the bank there, always making it appear to the enemy that if +they wished to cross the Euphrates and proceed to their own land, they +would never permit them to do so. This Adolius was an Armenian by birth, +and he always served the emperor while in the palace as privy counsellor +(those who enjoy this honour are called by the Romans "silentiarii"), +but at that time he was commander of some Armenians. And these men did +as directed. + +Now when Belisarius had ascertained that the envoy was close at hand, he +set up a tent of some heavy cloth, of the sort which is commonly called +a "pavilion," and seated himself there as one might in a desolate place, +seeking thus to indicate that he had come without any equipment. And he +arranged the soldiers as follows. On either side of the tent were +Thracians and Illyrians, with Goths beyond them, and next to these +Eruli, and finally Vandals and Moors. And their line extended for a +great distance over the plain. For they did not remain standing always +in the same place, but stood apart from one another and kept walking +about, looking carelessly and without the least interest upon the envoy +of Chosroes. And not one of them had a cloak or any other outer garment +to cover the shoulders, but they were sauntering about clad in linen +tunics and trousers, and outside these their girdles. And each one had +his horse-whip, but for weapons one had a sword, another an axe, another +an uncovered bow. And all gave the impression that they were eager to be +off on the hunt with never a thought of anything else. So Abandanes came +into the presence of Belisarius and said that the king Chosroes was +indignant because the agreement previously made had not been kept, in +that the envoys had not been sent to him by Caesar (for thus the +Persians call the emperor of the Romans), and as a result of this +Chosroes had been compelled to come into the land of the Romans in arms. +But Belisarius was not terrified by the thought that such a multitude of +barbarians were encamped close by, nor did he experience any confusion +because of the words of the man, but with a laughing, care-free +countenance he made answer, saying: "This course which Chosroes has +followed on the present occasion is not in keeping with the way men +usually act. For other men, in case a dispute should arise between +themselves and any of their neighbours, first carry on negotiations with +them, and whenever they do not receive reasonable satisfaction, then +finally go against them in war. But he first comes into the midst of the +Romans, and then begins to offer suggestions concerning peace." With +such words as these he dismissed the ambassador. + +And when Abandanes came to Chosroes, he advised him to take his +departure with all possible speed. For he said he had met a general who +in manliness and sagacity surpassed all other men, and soldiers such as +he at least had never seen, whose orderly conduct had roused in him the +greatest admiration. And he added that the contest was not on an even +footing as regards risk for him and for Belisarius, for there was this +difference, that if he conquered, he himself would conquer the slave of +Caesar, but if he by any chance were defeated, he would bring great +disgrace upon his kingdom and upon the race of the Persians; and again +the Romans, if conquered, could easily save themselves in strongholds +and in their own land, while if the Persians should meet with any +reverse, not even a messenger would escape to the land of the Persians. +Chosroes was convinced by this admonition and wished to turn back to his +own country, but he found himself in a very perplexing situation. For he +supposed that the crossing of the river was being guarded by the enemy, +and he was unable to march back by the same road, which was entirely +destitute of human habitation, since the supplies which they had at the +first when they invaded the land of the Romans had already entirely +failed them. At last after long consideration it seemed to him most +advantageous to risk a battle and get to the opposite side, and to make +the journey through a land abounding in all good things. Now Belisarius +knew well that not even a hundred thousand men would ever be sufficient +to check the crossing of Chosroes. For the river at many places along +there can be crossed in boats very easily, and even apart from this the +Persian army was too strong to be excluded from the crossing by an enemy +numerically insignificant. But he had at first commanded the troops of +Diogenes and Adolius, together with the thousand horsemen, to move about +the bank at that point in order to confuse the barbarian by a feeling of +helplessness. But after frightening this same barbarian, as I have said, +Belisarius feared lest there should be some obstacle in the way of his +departing from the land of the Romans. For it seemed to him a most +significant achievement to have driven away from there the army of +Chosroes, without risking any battle against so many myriads of +barbarians with soldiers who were very few in number and who were in +abject terror of the Median army. For this reason he commanded Diogenes +and Adolius to remain quiet. + +Chosroes, accordingly, constructed a bridge with great celerity and +crossed the River Euphrates suddenly with his whole army. For the +Persians are able to cross all rivers without the slightest difficulty +because when they are on the march they have in readiness hook-shaped +irons with which they fasten together long timbers, and with the help of +these they improvise a bridge on the spur of the moment wherever they +may desire. And as soon as he had reached the land on the opposite side, +he sent to Belisarius and said that he, for his part, had bestowed a +favour upon the Romans in the withdrawal of the Median army, and that he +was expecting the envoys from them, who ought to present themselves to +him at no distant time. Then Belisarius also with the whole Roman army +crossed the River Euphrates and immediately sent to Chosroes. And when +the messengers came into his presence, they commended him highly for his +withdrawal and promised that envoys would come to him promptly from the +emperor, who would arrange with him that the terms which had previously +been agreed upon concerning the peace should be put into effect. And +they asked of him that he treat the Romans as his friends in his journey +through their land. This too he agreed to carry out, if they should give +him some one of their notable men as a hostage to make this compact +binding, in order that they might carry out their agreement. So the +envoys returned to Belisarius and reported the words of Chosroes, and he +came to Edessa and chose John, the son of Basilius, the most illustrious +of all the inhabitants of Edessa in birth and in wealth, and straightway +sent him, much against his will, as a hostage to Chosroes. And the +Romans were loud in their praises of Belisarius and he seemed to have +achieved greater glory in their eyes by this affair than when he brought +Gelimer or Vittigis captive to Byzantium. For in reality it was an +achievement of great importance and one deserving great praise, that, at +a time when all the Romans were panic-stricken with fear and were hiding +themselves in their defences, and Chosroes with a mighty army had come +into the midst of the Roman domain, a general with only a few men, +coming in hot haste from Byzantium just at that moment, should have set +his camp over against that of the Persian king, and that Chosroes +unexpectedly, either through fear of fortune or of the valour of the man +or even because deceived by some tricks, should no longer continue his +advance, but should in reality take to flight, though pretending to be +seeking peace. + +But in the meantime Chosroes, disregarding the agreement, took the city +of Callinicus which was entirely without defenders. For the Romans, +seeing that the wall of this city was altogether unsound and easy of +capture, were tearing down portions of it in turn and restoring them +with new construction. Now just at that time they had torn down one +section of it and had not yet built in this interval; when, therefore, +they learned that the enemy were close at hand, they carried out the +most precious of their treasures, and the wealthy inhabitants withdrew +to other strongholds, while the rest without soldiers remained where +they were. And it happened that great numbers of farmers had gathered +there. These Chosroes enslaved and razed everything to the ground. A +little later, upon receiving the hostage, John, he retired to his own +country. And the Armenians who had submitted to Chosroes received +pledges from the Romans and came with Bassaces to Byzantium. Such was +the fortune of the Romans in the third invasion of Chosroes. And +Belisarius came to Byzantium at the summons of the emperor, in order to +be sent again to Italy, since the situation there was already full of +difficulties for the Romans. + + +XXII + +[542 A.D.] During these times there was a pestilence, by which the whole +human race came near to being annihilated. Now in the case of all other +scourges sent from Heaven some explanation of a cause might be given by +daring men, such as the many theories propounded by those who are clever +in these matters; for they love to conjure up causes which are +absolutely incomprehensible to man, and to fabricate outlandish theories +of natural philosophy, knowing well that they are saying nothing sound, +but considering it sufficient for them, if they completely deceive by +their argument some of those whom they meet and persuade them to their +view. But for this calamity it is quite impossible either to express in +words or to conceive in thought any explanation, except indeed to refer +it to God. For it did not come in a part of the world nor upon certain +men, nor did it confine itself to any season of the year, so that from +such circumstances it might be possible to find subtle explanations of a +cause, but it embraced the entire world, and blighted the lives of all +men, though differing from one another in the most marked degree, +respecting neither sex nor age. For much as men differ with regard to +places in which they live, or in the law of their daily life, or in +natural bent, or in active pursuits, or in whatever else man differs +from man, in the case of this disease alone the difference availed +naught. And it attacked some in the summer season, others in the winter, +and still others at the other times of the year. Now let each one +express his own judgment concerning the matter, both sophist and +astrologer, but as for me, I shall proceed to tell where this disease +originated and the manner in which it destroyed men. + +It started from the Aegyptians who dwell in Pelusium. Then it divided +and moved in one direction towards Alexandria and the rest of Aegypt, +and in the other direction it came to Palestine on the borders of +Aegypt; and from there it spread over the whole world, always moving +forward and travelling at times favourable to it. For it seemed to move +by fixed arrangement, and to tarry for a specified time in each country, +casting its blight slightingly upon none, but spreading in either +direction right out to the ends of the world, as if fearing lest some +corner of the earth might escape it. For it left neither island nor cave +nor mountain ridge which had human inhabitants; and if it had passed by +any land, either not affecting the men there or touching them in +indifferent fashion, still at a later time it came back; then those who +dwelt round about this land, whom formerly it had afflicted most sorely, +it did not touch at all, but it did not remove from the place in +question until it had given up its just and proper tale of dead, so as +to correspond exactly to the number destroyed at the earlier time among +those who dwelt round about. And this disease always took its start from +the coast, and from there went up to the interior. And in the second +year it reached Byzantium in the middle of spring, where it happened +that I was staying at that time. And it came as follows. Apparitions of +supernatural beings in human guise of every description were seen by +many persons, and those who encountered them thought that they were +struck by the man they had met in this or that part of the body, as it +happened, and immediately upon seeing this apparition they were seized +also by the disease. Now at first those who met these creatures tried to +turn them aside by uttering the holiest of names and exorcising them in +other ways as well as each one could, but they accomplished absolutely +nothing, for even in the sanctuaries where the most of them fled for +refuge they were dying constantly. But later on they were unwilling even +to give heed to their friends when they called to them, and they shut +themselves up in their rooms and pretended that they did not hear, +although their doors were being beaten down, fearing, obviously, that he +who was calling was one of those demons. But in the case of some the +pestilence did not come on in this way, but they saw a vision in a dream +and seemed to suffer the very same thing at the hands of the creature +who stood over them, or else to hear a voice foretelling to them that +they were written down in the number of those who were to die. But with +the majority it came about that they were seized by the disease without +becoming aware of what was coming either through a waking vision or a +dream. And they were taken in the following manner. They had a sudden +fever, some when just roused from sleep, others while walking about, and +others while otherwise engaged, without any regard to what they were +doing. And the body shewed no change from its previous colour, nor was +it hot as might be expected when attacked by a fever, nor indeed did any +inflammation set in, but the fever was of such a languid sort from its +commencement and up till evening that neither to the sick themselves nor +to a physician who touched them would it afford any suspicion of danger. +It was natural, therefore, that not one of those who had contracted the +disease expected to die from it. But on the same day in some cases, in +others on the following day, and in the rest not many days later, a +bubonic swelling developed; and this took place not only in the +particular part of the body which is called "boubon,"[16] that is, below +the abdomen, but also inside the armpit, and in some cases also beside +the ears, and at different points on the thighs. + +Up to this point, then, everything went in about the same way with all +who had taken the disease. But from then on very marked differences +developed; and I am unable to say whether the cause of this diversity of +symptoms was to be found in the difference in bodies, or in the fact +that it followed the wish of Him who brought the disease into the world. +For there ensued with some a deep coma, with others a violent delirium, +and in either case they suffered the characteristic symptoms of the +disease. For those who were under the spell of the coma forgot all those +who were familiar to them and seemed to be sleeping constantly. And if +anyone cared for them, they would eat without waking, but some also were +neglected, and these would die directly through lack of sustenance. But +those who were seized with delirium suffered from insomnia and were +victims of a distorted imagination; for they suspected that men were +coming upon them to destroy them, and they would become excited and rush +off in flight, crying out at the top of their voices. And those who were +attending them were in a state of constant exhaustion and had a most +difficult time of it throughout. For this reason everybody pitied them +no less than the sufferers, not because they were threatened by the +pestilence in going near it (for neither physicians nor other persons +were found to contract this malady through contact with the sick or with +the dead, for many who were constantly engaged either in burying or in +attending those in no way connected with them held out in the +performance of this service beyond all expectation, while with many +others the disease came on without warning and they died straightway); +but they pitied them because of the great hardships which they were +undergoing. For when the patients fell from their beds and lay rolling +upon the floor, they, kept patting them back in place, and when they +were struggling to rush headlong out of their houses, they would force +them back by shoving and pulling against them. And when water chanced to +be near, they wished to fall into it, not so much because of a desire +for drink (for the most of them rushed into the sea), but the cause was +to be found chiefly in the diseased state of their minds. They had also +great difficulty in the matter of eating, for they could not easily take +food. And many perished through lack of any man to care for them, for +they were either overcome by hunger, or threw themselves down from a +height. And in those cases where neither coma nor delirium came on, the +bubonic swelling became mortified and the sufferer, no longer able to +endure the pain, died. And one would suppose that in all cases the same +thing would have been true, but since they were not at all in their +senses, some were quite unable to feel the pain; for owing to the +troubled condition of their minds they lost all sense of feeling. + +Now some of the physicians who were at a loss because the symptoms were +not understood, supposing that the disease centred in the bubonic +swellings, decided to investigate the bodies of the dead. And upon +opening some of the swellings, they found a strange sort of carbuncle +that had grown inside them. + +Death came in some cases immediately, in others after many days; and +with some the body broke out with black pustules about as large as a +lentil and these did not survive even one day, but all succumbed +immediately. With many also a vomiting of blood ensued without visible +cause and straightway brought death. Moreover I am able to declare this, +that the most illustrious physicians predicted that many would die, who +unexpectedly escaped entirely from suffering shortly afterwards, and +that they declared that many would be saved, who were destined to be +carried off almost immediately. So it was that in this disease there was +no cause which came within the province of human reasoning; for in all +cases the issue tended to be something unaccountable. For example, while +some were helped by bathing, others were harmed in no less degree. And +of those who received no care many died, but others, contrary to reason, +were saved. And again, methods of treatment shewed different results +with different patients. Indeed the whole matter may be stated thus, +that no device was discovered by man to save himself, so that either by +taking precautions he should not suffer, or that when the malady had +assailed him he should get the better of it; but suffering came without +warning and recovery was due to no external cause. + +And in the case of women who were pregnant death could be certainly +foreseen if they were taken with the disease. For some died through +miscarriage, but others perished immediately at the time of birth with +the infants they bore. However, they say that three women in confinement +survived though their children perished, and that one woman died at the +very time of child-birth but that the child was born and survived. + +Now in those cases where the swelling rose to an unusual size and a +discharge of pus had set in, it came about that they escaped from the +disease and survived, for clearly the acute condition of the carbuncle +had found relief in this direction, and this proved to be in general an +indication of returning health; but in cases where the swelling +preserved its former appearance there ensued those troubles which I have +just mentioned. And with some of them it came about that the thigh was +withered, in which case, though the swelling was there, it did not +develop the least suppuration. With others who survived the tongue did +not remain unaffected, and they lived on either lisping or speaking +incoherently and with difficulty. + + +XXIII + +Now the disease in Byzantium ran a course of four months, and its +greatest virulence lasted about three. And at first the deaths were a +little more than the normal, then the mortality rose still higher, and +afterwards the tale of dead reached five thousand each day, and again it +even came to ten thousand and still more than that. Now in the beginning +each man attended to the burial of the dead of his own house, and these +they threw even into the tombs of others, either escaping detection or +using violence; but afterwards confusion and disorder everywhere became +complete. For slaves remained destitute of masters, and men who in +former times were very prosperous were deprived of the service of their +domestics who were either sick or dead, and many houses became +completely destitute of human inhabitants. For this reason it came about +that some of the notable men of the city because of the universal +destitution remained unburied for many days. + +And it fell to the lot of the emperor, as was natural, to make provision +for the trouble. He therefore detailed soldiers from the palace and +distributed money, commanding Theodorus to take charge of this work; +this man held the position of announcer of imperial messages, always +announcing to the emperor the petitions of his clients, and declaring to +them in turn whatever his wish was. In the Latin tongue the Romans +designate this office by the term "referendarius." So those who had not +as yet fallen into complete destitution in their domestic affairs +attended individually to the burial of those connected with them. But +Theodorus, by giving out the emperor's money and by making further +expenditures from his own purse, kept burying the bodies which were not +cared for. And when it came about that all the tombs which had existed +previously were filled with the dead, then they dug up all the places +about the city one after the other, laid the dead there, each one as he +could, and departed; but later on those who were making these trenches, +no longer able to keep up with the number of the dying, mounted the +towers of the fortifications in Sycae[17], and tearing off the roofs +threw the bodies in there in complete disorder; and they piled them up +just as each one happened to fall, and filled practically all the towers +with corpses, and then covered them again with their roofs. As a result +of this an evil stench pervaded the city and distressed the inhabitants +still more, and especially whenever the wind blew fresh from that +quarter. + +At that time all the customary rites of burial were overlooked. For the +dead were not carried out escorted by a procession in the customary +manner, nor were the usual chants sung over them, but it was sufficient +if one carried on his shoulders the body of one of the dead to the parts +of the city which bordered on the sea and flung him down; and there the +corpses would be thrown upon skiffs in a heap, to be conveyed wherever +it might chance. At that time, too, those of the population who had +formerly been members of the factions laid aside their mutual enmity and +in common they attended to the burial rites of the dead, and they +carried with their own hands the bodies of those who were no connections +of theirs and buried them. Nay, more, those who in times past used to +take delight in devoting themselves to pursuits both shameful and base, +shook off the unrighteousness of their daily lives and practised the +duties of religion with diligence, not so much because they had learned +wisdom at last nor because they had become all of a sudden lovers of +virtue, as it were--for when qualities have become fixed in men by +nature or by the training of a long period of time, it is impossible for +them to lay them aside thus lightly, except, indeed, some divine +influence for good has breathed upon them--but then all, so to speak, +being thoroughly terrified by the things which were happening, and +supposing that they would die immediately, did, as was natural, learn +respectability for a season by sheer necessity. Therefore as soon as +they were rid of the disease and were saved, and already supposed that +they were in security, since the curse had moved on to other peoples, +then they turned sharply about and reverted once more to their baseness +of heart, and now, more than before, they make a display of the +inconsistency of their conduct, altogether surpassing themselves in +villainy and in lawlessness of every sort. For one could insist +emphatically without falsehood that this disease, whether by chance or +by some providence, chose out with exactitude the worst men and let them +go free. But these things were displayed to the world in later times. + +During that time it seemed no easy thing to see any man in the streets +of Byzantium, but all who had the good fortune to be in health were +sitting in their houses, either attending the sick or mourning the dead. +And if one did succeed in meeting a man going out, he was carrying one +of the dead. And work of every description ceased, and all the trades +were abandoned by the artisans, and all other work as well, such as each +had in hand. Indeed in a city which was simply abounding in all good +things starvation almost absolute was running riot. Certainly it seemed +a difficult and very notable thing to have a sufficiency of bread or of +anything else; so that with some of the sick it appeared that the end of +life came about sooner than it should have come by reason of the lack of +the necessities of life. And, to put all in a word, it was not possible +to see a single man in Byzantium clad in the chlamys[18], and especially +when the emperor became ill (for he too had a swelling of the groin), +but in a city which held dominion over the whole Roman empire every man +was wearing clothes befitting private station and remaining quietly at +home. Such was the course of the pestilence in the Roman empire at large +as well as in Byzantium. And it fell also upon the land of the Persians +and visited all the other barbarians besides. + + +XXIV + +[545 A.D.] Now it happened that Chosroes had come from Assyria to a +place toward the north called Adarbiganon, from which he was planning to +make an invasion into the Roman domain through Persarmenia. In that +place is the great sanctuary of fire, which the Persians reverence above +all other gods. There the fire is guarded unquenched by the Magi, and +they perform carefully a great number of sacred rites, and in particular +they consult an oracle on those matters which are of the greatest +importance. This is the fire which the Romans worshipped under the name +of Hestia[19] in ancient times. There someone who had been sent from +Byzantium to Chosroes announced that Constantianus and Sergius would +come before him directly as envoys to arrange the treaty. Now these two +men were both trained speakers and exceedingly clever; Constantianus was +an Illyrian by birth, and Sergius was from the city of Edessa in +Mesopotamia. And Chosroes remained quiet expecting these men. But in the +course of the journey thither Constantianus became ill and much time was +consumed; in the meantime it came about that the pestilence fell upon +the Persians. For this reason Nabedes, who at that time held the office +of general in Persarmenia, sent the priest of the Christians in Dubios +by direction of the king to Valerianus, the general in Armenia, in order +to reproach the envoys for their tardiness and to urge the Romans with +all zeal toward peace. And he came with his brother to Armenia, and, +meeting Valerianus, declared that he himself, as a Christian, was +favourably disposed toward the Romans, and that the king Chosroes always +followed his advice in every matter; so that if the ambassadors would +come with him to the land of Persia, there would be nothing to prevent +them from arranging the peace as they wished. Thus then spoke the +priest; but the brother of the priest met Valerianus secretly and said +that Chosroes was in great straits: for his son had risen against him in +an attempt to set up a tyranny, and he himself together with the whole +Persian army had been taken with the plague; and this was the reason why +he wished just now to settle the agreement with the Romans. When +Valerianus heard this, he straightway dismissed the bishop, promising +that the envoys would come to Chosroes at no distant time, but he +himself reported the words which he had heard to the Emperor Justinian. +This led the emperor immediately to send word to him and to Martinus and +the other commanders to invade the enemy's territory as quickly as +possible. For he knew well that no one of the enemy would stand in their +way. And he commanded them to gather all in one place and so make their +invasion into Persarmenia. When the commanders received these letters, +all of them together with their followers began to gather into the land +of Armenia. + +And already Chosroes had abandoned Adarbiganon a little before through +fear of the plague and was off with his whole army into Assyria, where +the pestilence had not as yet become epidemic. Valerianus accordingly +encamped close by Theodosiopolis with the troops under him; and with him +was arrayed Narses, who had with him Armenians and some of the Eruli. +And Martinus, the General of the East, together with Ildiger and +Theoctistus, reached the fortress of Citharizon, and fixing his camp +there, remained on the spot. This fortress is separated from +Theodosiopolis by a journey of four days. There too Peter came not long +afterwards together with Adolius and some other commanders. Now the +troops in this region were commanded by Isaac, the brother of Narses. +And Philemouth and Beros with the Eruli who were under them came into +the territory of Chorzianene, not far from the camp of Martinus. And +Justus, the emperor's nephew, and Peranius and John, the son of Nicetas, +together with Domentiolus and John, who was called the Glutton, made +camp near the place called Phison, which is close by the boundaries of +Martyropolis. Thus then were encamped the Roman commanders with their +troops; and the whole army amounted to thirty thousand men. Now all +these troops were neither gathered into one place, nor indeed was there +any general meeting for conference. But the generals sent to each other +some of their followers and began to make enquiries concerning the +invasion. Suddenly, however, Peter, without communicating with anyone, +and without any careful consideration, invaded the hostile land with his +troops. And when on the following day this was found out by Philemouth +and Beros, the leaders of the Eruli, they straightway followed. And when +this in turn came to the knowledge of Martinus and Valerianus and their +men, they quickly joined in the invasion. And all of them a little later +united with each other in the enemy's territory, with the exception of +Justus and his men, who, as I have said, had encamped far away from the +rest of the army, and learned later of their invasion; then, indeed, +they also invaded the territory of the enemy as quickly as possible at +the point where they were, but failed altogether to unite with the other +commanders. As for the others, they proceeded in a body straight for +Doubios, neither plundering nor damaging in any other way the land of +the Persians. + + +XXV + +Now Doubios is a land excellent in every respect, and especially blessed +with a healthy climate and abundance of good water; and from +Theodosiopolis it is removed a journey of eight days. In that region +there are plains suitable for riding, and many very populous villages +are situated in very close proximity to one another, and numerous +merchants conduct their business in them. For from India and the +neighbouring regions of Iberia and from practically all the nations of +Persia and some of those under Roman sway they bring in merchandise and +carry on their dealings with each other there. And the priest of the +Christians is called "Catholicos" in the Greek tongue, because he +presides alone over the whole region. Now at a distance of about one +hundred and twenty stades from Doubios on the right as one travels from +the land of the Romans, there is a mountain difficult of ascent and +moreover precipitous, and a village crowded into very narrow space by +the rough country about, Anglon by name. Thither Nabedes withdrew with +his whole army as soon as he learned of the inroad of the enemy, and, +confident in his strength of position, he shut himself in. Now the +village lies at the extremity of the mountain, and there is a strong +fortress bearing the same name as this village on the steep mountain +side. So Nabedes with stones and carts blocked up the entrances into the +village and thus made it still more difficult of access. And in front of +it he dug a sort of trench and stationed the army there, having filled +some old cabins with ambuscades of infantrymen Altogether the Persian +army amounted to four thousand men. + +While these things were being done in this way, the Romans reached a +place one day's journey distant from Anglon, and capturing one of the +enemy who was going out as a spy they enquired where in the world +Nabedes was then. And he asserted that the man had retired from Anglon +with the whole Median army. And when Narses heard this, he was +indignant, and he heaped reproaches and abuse upon his fellow-commanders +for their hesitation. And others, too, began to do the very same thing, +casting insults upon one another; and from then on, giving up all +thought of battle and danger, they were eager to plunder the country +thereabout. The troops broke camp, accordingly, and without the guidance +of generals and without observing any definite formation, they moved +forward in complete confusion; for neither had they any countersign +among themselves, as is customary in such perilous situations, nor were +they arranged in their proper divisions. For the soldiers marched +forward, mixed in with the baggage train, as if going to the ready +plunder of great wealth. But when they came near to Anglon, they sent +out spies who returned to them announcing the array of the enemy. And +the generals were thunder-struck by the unexpectedness of it, but they +considered it altogether disgraceful and unmanly to turn back with an +army of such great size, and so they disposed the army in its three +divisions, as well as the circumstances permitted, and advanced straight +toward the enemy. Now Peter held the right wing and Valerianus the left, +while Martinus and his men arrayed themselves in the centre. And when +they came close to their opponents, they halted, preserving their +formation, but not without disorder. The cause for this was to be found +in the difficulty of the ground, which was very badly broken up, and in +the fact that they were entering battle in a formation arranged on the +spur of the moment. And up to this time the barbarians, who had gathered +themselves into a small space, were remaining quiet, considering the +strength of their antagonists, since the order had been given them by +Nabedes not under any circumstances to begin the fighting, but if the +enemy should assail them, to defend themselves with all their might. + +And first Narses with the Eruli and those of the Romans who were under +him, engaged with the enemy, and after a hard hand-to-hand struggle, he +routed the Persians who were before him. And the barbarians in flight +ascended on the run to the fortress, and in so doing they inflicted +terrible injury upon one another in the narrow way. And then Narses +urged his men forward and pressed still harder upon the enemy, and the +rest of the Romans joined in the action. But all of a sudden the men who +were in ambush, as has been said[20], came out from the cabins along the +narrow alleys, and killed some of the Eruli, falling unexpectedly upon +them, and they struck Narses himself a blow on the temple. And his +brother Isaac carried him out from among the fighting men, mortally +wounded. And he died shortly afterwards, having proved himself a brave +man in this engagement. Then, as was to be expected, great confusion +fell upon the Roman army, and Nabedes let out the whole Persian force +upon his opponents. And the Persians, shooting into great masses of the +enemy in the narrow alleys, killed a large number without difficulty, +and particularly of the Eruli who had at the first fallen upon the enemy +with Narses and were fighting for the most part without protection. For +the Eruli have neither helmet nor corselet nor any other protective +armour, except a shield and a thick jacket, which they gird about them +before they enter a struggle. And indeed the Erulian slaves go into +battle without even a shield, and when they prove themselves brave men +in war, then their masters permit them to protect themselves in battle +with shields. Such is the custom of the Eruli. + +And the Romans did not withstand the enemy and all of them fled as fast +as they could, never once thinking of resistance and heedless of shame +or of any other worthy motive. But the Persians, suspecting that they +had not turned thus to a shameless flight, but that they were making use +of some ambuscades against them, pursued them as far as the rough ground +extended and then turned back, not daring to fight a decisive battle on +level ground, a few against many. The Romans, however, and especially +all the generals, supposing that the enemy were continuing the pursuit +without pause, kept fleeing still faster, wasting not a moment; and they +were urging on their horses as they ran with whip and voice, and +throwing their corselets and other accoutrements in haste and confusion +to the ground. For they had not the courage to array themselves against +the Persians if they overtook them, but they placed all hope of safety +in their horses' feet, and, in short, the flight became such that +scarcely any one of their horses survived, but when they stopped +running, they straightway fell down and expired. And this proved a +disaster for the Romans so great as to exceed anything that had ever +befallen them previously. For great numbers of them perished and still +more fell into the hands of the enemy. And their weapons and draught +animals which were taken by the enemy amounted to such an imposing +number that Persia seemed as a result of this affair to have become +richer. And Adolius, while passing through a fortified place during this +retreat--it was situated in Persarmenia--was struck on the head by a +stone thrown by one of the inhabitants of the town, and died there. As +for the forces of Justus and Peranius, they invaded the country about +Taraunon, and after gathering some little plunder, immediately returned. + + +XXVI + +[544 A.D.] And in the following year, Chosroes, the son of Cabades, for +the fourth time invaded the land of the Romans, leading his army towards +Mesopotamia. Now this invasion was made by this Chosroes not against +Justinian, the Emperor of the Romans, nor indeed against any other man, +but only against the God whom the Christians reverence. For when in the +first invasion he retired, after failing to capture Edessa[21], both he +and the Magi, since they had been worsted by the God of the Christians, +fell into a great dejection. Wherefore Chosroes, seeking to allay it, +uttered a threat in the palace that he would make slaves of all the +inhabitants of Edessa and bring them to the land of Persia, and would +turn the city into a pasture for sheep. Accordingly when he had +approached the city of Edessa with his whole army, he sent some of the +Huns who were following him against that portion of the fortifications +of the city which is above the hippodrome, with the purpose of doing no +further injury than seizing the flocks which the shepherds had stationed +there along the wall in great numbers: for they were confident in the +strength of the place, since it was exceedingly steep, and supposed that +the enemy would never dare to come so very close to the wall. So the +barbarians were already laying hold of the sheep, and the shepherds were +trying most valiantly to prevent them. And when a great number of +Persians had come to the assistance of the Huns, the barbarians +succeeded in detaching something of a flock from there, but Roman +soldiers and some of the populace made a sally upon the enemy and the +battle became a hand-to-hand struggle; meanwhile the flock of its own +accord returned again to the shepherds. Now one of the Huns who was +fighting before the others was making more trouble for the Romans than +all the rest. And some rustic made a good shot and hit him on the right +knee with a sling, and he immediately fell headlong from his horse to +the ground, which thing heartened the Romans still more. And the battle +which had begun early in the morning ended at midday, and both sides +withdrew from the engagement thinking that they had the advantage. So +the Romans went inside the fortifications, while the barbarians pitched +their tents and made camp in a body about seven stades from the city. + +Then Chosroes either saw some vision or else the thought occurred to him +that if, after making two attempts, he should not be able to capture +Edessa, he would thereby cover himself with much disgrace. Accordingly +he decided to sell his withdrawal to the citizens of Edessa for a great +sum of money. On the following day, therefore, Paulus the interpreter +came along by the wall and said that some of the Roman notables should +be sent to Chosroes. And they with all speed chose out four of their +illustrious men and sent them. When these men reached the Median camp, +they were met according to the king's order by Zaberganes, who first +terrified them with many threats and then enquired of them which course +was the more desirable for them, whether that leading to peace, or that +leading to war. And when the envoys agreed that they would choose peace +rather than the dangers of war, Zaberganes replied: "Therefore it is +necessary for you to purchase this for a great sum of money." And the +envoys said that they would give as much as they had provided before, +when he came against them after capturing Antioch. And Zaberganes +dismissed them with laughter, telling them to deliberate most carefully +concerning their safety and then to come again to the Persians. And a +little later Chosroes summoned them, and when they came before him, he +recounted how many Roman towns he had previously enslaved and in what +manner he had accomplished it; then he threatened that the inhabitants +of Edessa would receive more direful treatment at the hands of the +Persians, unless they should give them all the wealth which they had +inside the fortifications; for only on this condition, he said, would +the army depart. When the envoys heard this, they agreed that they would +purchase peace from Chosroes, if only he would not prescribe impossible +conditions for them: but the outcome of a conflict, they said, was +plainly seen by no one at all before the struggle. For there was never a +war whose outcome might be taken for granted by those who waged it. +Thereupon Chosroes in anger commanded the envoys to be gone with all +speed. + +On the eighth day of the siege he formed the design of erecting an +artificial hill against the circuit wall of the city; accordingly he cut +down trees in great numbers from the adjacent districts and, without +removing the leaves, laid them together in a square before the wall, at +a point which no missile from the city could reach; then he heaped an +immense amount of earth right upon the trees and above that threw on a +great quantity of stones, not such as are suitable for building, but cut +at random, and only calculated to raise the hill as quickly as possible +to a great height. And he kept laying on long timbers in the midst of +the earth and the stones, and made them serve to bind the structure +together, in order that as it became high it should not be weak. But +Peter, the Roman general (for he happened to be there with Martinus and +Peranius), wishing to check the men who were engaged in this work, sent +some of the Huns who were under his command against them. And they, by +making a sudden attack, killed a great number; and one of the guardsmen, +Argek by name, surpassed all others, for he alone killed twenty-seven. +From that time on, however, the barbarians kept a careful guard, and +there was no further opportunity for anyone to go out against them. But +when the artisans engaged in this work, as they moved forward, came +within range of missiles, then the Romans offered a most vigorous +resistance from the city wall, using both their slings and their bows +against them. Wherefore the barbarians devised the following plan. They +provided screens of goat's hair cloth, of the kind which are called +Cilician, making them of adequate thickness and height, and attached +them to long pieces of wood which they always set before those who were +working on the "agesta"[22] (for thus the Romans used to call in the +Latin tongue the thing which they were making). Behind this neither +ignited arrows nor any other weapon could reach the workmen, but all of +them were thrown back by the screens and stopped there. And then the +Romans, falling into a great fear, sent the envoys to Chosroes in great +trepidation, and with them Stephanus, a physician of marked learning +among those of his time at any rate, who also had once cured Cabades, +the son of Perozes, when ill, and had been made master of great wealth +by him. He, therefore, coming into the presence of Chosroes with the +others, spoke as follows: "It has been agreed by all from of old that +kindness is the mark of a good king. Therefore, most mighty King, while +busying thyself with murders and battles and the enslavement of cities +it will perhaps be possible for thee to win the other names, but thou +wilt never by any means have the reputation of being 'good.' And yet +least of all cities should Edessa suffer any adversity at thy hand. For +there was I born, who, without any foreknowledge of what was coming to +pass, fostered thee from childhood and counselled thy father to appoint +thee his successor in the kingdom, so that to thee I have proved the +chief cause of the kingship of Persia, but to my fatherland of her +present woes. For men, as a general thing, bring down upon their own +heads the most of the misfortunes which are going to befall them. But if +any remembrance of such benefaction comes to thy mind, do us no further +injury, and grant me this requital, by which, O King, thou wilt escape +the reputation of being most cruel." Such were the words of Stephanus. +But Chosroes declared that he would not depart from there until the +Romans should deliver to him Peter and Peranius, seeing that, being his +hereditary slaves, they had dared to array themselves against him. And +if it was not their pleasure to do this, the Romans must choose one of +two alternatives, either to give the Persians five hundred centenaria of +gold, or to receive into the city some of his associates who would +search out all the money, both gold and silver, as much as was there, +and bring it to him, allowing everything else to remain in the +possession of the present owners. Such then were the words which +Chosroes hurled forth, being in hopes of capturing Edessa with no +trouble. And the ambassadors (since all the conditions which he had +announced to them seemed impossible), in despair and great vexation, +proceeded to the city. And when they had come inside the city-wall, they +reported the message from Chosroes, and the whole city was filled with +tumult and lamentation. + +Now the artificial hill was rising to a great height and was being +pushed forward with much haste. And the Romans, being at a loss what to +do, again sent off the envoys to Chosroes. And when they had arrived in +the enemy's camp, and said that they had come to make entreaty +concerning the same things, they did not even gain a hearing of any kind +from the Persians, but they were insulted and driven out from there with +a great tumult, and so returned to the city. At first, then, the Romans +tried to over-top the wall opposite the hill by means of another +structure. But since the Persian work was already rising far above even +this, they stopped their building and persuaded Martinus to make the +arrangements for a settlement in whatever way he wished. He then came up +close to the enemy's camp and began to converse with some of the Persian +commanders. But they, completely deceiving Martinus, said that their +king was desirous of peace, but that he was utterly unable to persuade +the Roman Emperor to have done with his strife with Chosroes and to +establish peace with him at last. And they mentioned as evidence of this +the fact that Belisarius, who in power and dignity was far superior to +Martinus, as even he himself would not deny, had recently persuaded the +king of the Persians, when he was in the midst of Roman territory, to +withdraw from there into Persia, promising that envoys from Byzantium +would come to him at no distant time and establish peace securely, but +that he had done none of the things agreed upon, since he had found +himself unable to overcome the determination of the Emperor Justinian. + + +XXVII + +In the meantime the Romans were busying themselves as follows: They made +a tunnel from the city underneath the enemy's embankment, commanding the +diggers not to leave this work until they should get under the middle of +the hill. By this means they were planning to burn the embankment. But +as the tunnel advanced to about the middle of the hill, a sound of +blows, as it were, came to the ears of those Persians who were standing +above. And perceiving what was being done, they too began from above and +dug on both sides of the middle, so that they might catch the Romans who +were doing the damage there. But the Romans found it out and abandoned +this attempt, throwing earth into the place which had been hollowed out, +and then began to work on the lower part of the embankment at the end +which was next to the wall, and by taking out timbers and stones and +earth they made an open space just like a chamber; then they threw in +there dry trunks of trees of the kind which burn most easily, and +saturated them with oil of cedar and added quantities of sulphur and +bitumen. So, then, they were keeping these things in readiness; and +meanwhile the Persian commanders in frequent meetings with Martinus were +carrying on conversations with him in the same strain as the one I have +mentioned, making it appear that they would receive proposals in regard +to peace. But when at last their hill had been completed, and had been +raised to a great elevation, approaching the circuit-wall of the city +and rising far above it in height, then they sent Martinus away, +definitely refusing to arrange the treaty, and they intended from then +on to devote themselves to active warfare. + +Accordingly the Romans straightway set fire to the tree-trunks which had +been prepared for this purpose. But when the fire had burned only a +certain portion of the embankment, and had not yet been able to +penetrate through the whole mass, the wood was already entirely +exhausted. But they kept throwing fresh wood into the pit, not +slackening their efforts for a moment. And when the fire was already +active throughout the whole embankment, some smoke appeared at night +rising from every part of the hill, and the Romans, who were not yet +willing to let the Persians know what was being done, resorted to the +following device: They filled small pots with coals and fire and threw +these and also ignited arrows in great numbers to all parts of the +embankment. And the Persians who were keeping guard there, began to go +about in great haste and extinguish these, and they supposed that the +smoke arose from them. But since the trouble increased, the barbarians +rushed up to help in great numbers, and the Romans, shooting them from +the wall, killed many. And Chosroes too came there about sunrise, +followed by the greater part of the army, and, upon mounting the hill, +he first perceived what the trouble was. For he disclosed the fact that +the cause of the smoke was underneath, not in the missiles which the +enemy were hurling, and he ordered the whole army to come to the rescue +with all speed. And the Romans, taking courage, began to insult them, +while the barbarians were at work, some throwing on earth, and others +water, where the smoke appeared, hoping thus to get the better of the +trouble; however, they were absolutely unable to accomplish anything. +For where the earth was thrown on, the smoke, as was natural, was +checked at that place, but not long afterwards it rose from another +place, since the fire compelled it to force its way out wherever it +could. And where the water fell most plentifully it only succeeded in +making the bitumen and the sulphur much more active, and caused them to +exert their full force upon the wood near by; and it constantly drove +the fire forward, since the water could not penetrate inside the +embankment in a quantity at all sufficient to extinguish the flame by +its abundance. And in the late afternoon the smoke became so great in +volume that it was visible to the inhabitants of Carrhae and to some +others who dwelt far beyond them. And since a great number of Persians +and of Romans had gone up on top of the embankment, a fight took place +and a hand-to-hand struggle to drive each other off, and the Romans were +victorious. Then even the flames rose and appeared clearly above the +embankment, and the Persians abandoned this undertaking. + +On the sixth day after this, at early dawn, they made an assault +secretly upon a certain part of the circuit-wall with ladders, at the +point which is called the Fort. And since the Romans who were keeping +guard there were sleeping a quiet, peaceful sleep, as the night was +drawing to its close, they silently set the ladders against the wall and +were already ascending. But one of the rustics alone among the Romans +happened to be awake, and he with a shout and a great noise began to +rouse them all. And a hard struggle ensued in which the Persians were +worsted, and they retired to their camp, leaving the ladders where they +were; these the Romans drew up at their leisure. But Chosroes about +midday sent a large part of the army against the so-called Great Gate in +order to storm the wall. And the Romans went out and confronted them, +not only soldiers, but even rustics and some of the populace, and they +conquered the barbarians in battle decisively and turned them to flight. +And while the Persians were still being pursued, Paulus, the +interpreter, came from Chosroes, and going into the midst of the Romans, +he reported that Rhecinarius had come from Byzantium to arrange the +peace; and thus the two armies separated. Now it was already some days +since Rhecinarius had arrived at the camp of the barbarians. But the +Persians had by no means disclosed this fact to the Romans, plainly +awaiting the outcome of the attempts upon the wall which they had +planned, in order that, if they should be able to capture it, they might +seem in no way to be violating the treaty, while if defeated, as +actually happened, they might draw up the treaty at the invitation of +the Romans. And when Rhecinarius had gone inside the gates, the Persians +demanded that those who were to arrange the peace should come to +Chosroes without any delay, but the Romans said that envoys would be +sent three days later; for that just at the moment their general, +Martinus, was unwell. + +And Chosroes, suspecting that the reason was not a sound one, prepared +for battle. And at that time he only threw a great mass of bricks upon +the embankment; but two days later he came against the fortifications of +the city with the whole army to storm the wall. And at every gate he +stationed some of the commanders and a part of the army, encircling the +whole wall in this way, and he brought up ladders and war-engines +against it. And in the rear he placed all the Saracens with some of the +Persians, not in order to assault the wall, but in order that, when the +city was captured, they might gather in the fugitives and catch them as +in a drag-net. Such, then, was the purpose of Chosroes in arranging the +army in this way. And the fighting began early in the morning, and at +first the Persians had the advantage. For they were in great numbers and +fighting against a very small force, since the most of the Romans had +not heard what was going on and were utterly unprepared. But as the +conflict advanced the city became full of confusion and tumult, and the +whole population, even women and little children, were going up on to +the wall. Now those who were of military age together with the soldiers +were repelling the enemy most vigorously, and many of the rustics made a +remarkable shew of valorous deeds against the barbarians. Meanwhile the +women and children, and the aged also, were gathering stones for the +fighters and assisting them in other ways. Some also filled numerous +basins with olive-oil, and after heating them over fire a sufficient +time everywhere along the wall, they sprinkled the oil, while boiling +fiercely, upon the enemy who were assailing the wall, using a sort of +whisk for the purpose, and in this way harassed them still more. The +Persians, therefore, soon gave up and began to throw down their arms, +and coming before the king, said that they were no longer able to hold +out in the struggle. But Chosroes, in a passion of anger, drove them all +on with threats and urged them forward against the enemy. And the +soldiers with much shouting and tumult brought up the towers and the +other engines of war to the wall and set the ladders against it, in +order to capture the city with one grand rush. But since the Romans were +hurling great numbers of missiles and exerting all their strength to +drive them off, the barbarians were turned back by force; and as +Chosroes withdrew, the Romans taunted him, inviting him to come and +storm the wall. Only Azarethes at the so-called Soinian Gate was still +fighting with his men, at the place which they call Tripurgia[23]. And +since the Romans at this point were not a match for them, but were +giving way before their assaults, already the outer wall, which they +call an outwork, had been torn down by the barbarians in many places, +and they were pressing most vigorously upon those who were defending +themselves from the great circuit-wall; but at last Peranius with a +large number of soldiers and some of the citizens went out against them +and defeated them in battle and drove them off. And the assault which +had begun early in the morning ended in the late afternoon, and both +sides remained quiet that night, the Persians fearing for their defences +and for themselves, and the Romans gathering stones and taking them to +the parapets and putting everything else in complete readiness, so as to +fight against the enemy on the morrow when they should attack the wall. +Now on the succeeding day not one of the barbarians came against the +fortifications; but on the day after that a portion of the army, urged +on by Chosroes, made an assault upon the so-called Gate of Barlaus; but +the Romans sallied forth and confronted them, and the Persians were +decisively beaten in the engagement, and after a short time retired to +the camp. And then Paulus, the interpreter of the Persians, came along +by the wall and called for Martinus, in order that he might make the +arrangements for the truce. Thus Martinus came to conference with the +commanders of the Persians, and they concluded an agreement, by which +Chosroes received five centenaria from the inhabitants of Edessa, and +left them, in writing, the promise not to inflict any further injury +upon the Romans; then, after setting fire to all his defences, he +returned homeward with his whole army. + + +XXVIII + +At about this time two generals of the Romans died, Justus, the nephew +of the emperor, and Peranius, the Iberian, of whom the former succumbed +to disease, while Peranius fell from his horse in hunting and suffered a +fatal rupture. The emperor therefore appointed others in their places, +dispatching Marcellus, his own nephew who was just arriving at the age +of manhood, and Constantianus, who a little earlier had been sent as an +envoy with Sergius to Chosroes. Then the Emperor Justinian sent +Constantianus and Sergius a second time to Chosroes to arrange the +truce. And they overtook him in Assyria, at the place where there are +two towns, Seleucia and Ctesiphon, built by the Macedonians who after +Alexander, the son of Philip, ruled over the Persians and the other +nations there. These two towns are separated by the Tigris River only, +for they have nothing else between them. There the envoys met Chosroes, +and they demanded that he should give back to the Romans the country of +Lazica, and establish peace with them on a thoroughly secure basis. But +Chosroes said that it was not easy for them to come to terms with each +other, unless they should first declare an armistice, and then should +continue to go back and forth to each other without so much fear and +settle their differences and make a peace which should be on a secure +basis for the future. And it was necessary, he said, that in return for +this continued armistice the Roman Emperor should give him money and +should also send a certain physician, Tribunus by name, in order to +spend some specified time with him. For it happened that this physician +at a former time had rid him of a severe disease, and as a result of +this he was especially beloved and greatly missed by him. When the +Emperor Justinian heard this, he immediately sent both Tribunus and the +money, amounting to twenty centenaria. [545 A.D.] In this way the treaty +was made between the Romans and the Persians for five years, in the +nineteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Justinian. + +And a little later Arethas and Alamoundaras, the rulers of the Saracens, +waged a war against each other by themselves, unaided either by the +Romans or the Persians. And Alamoundaras captured one of the sons of +Arethas in a sudden raid while he was pasturing horses, and straightway +sacrificed him to Aphrodite; and from this it was known that Arethas was +not betraying the Romans to the Persians. Later they both came together +in battle with their whole armies, and the forces of Arethas were +overwhelmingly victorious, and turning their enemy to flight, they +killed many of them. And Arethas came within a little of capturing alive +two of the sons of Alamoundaras; however, he did not actually succeed. +Such, then, was the course of events among the Saracens. + +But it became clear that Chosroes, the Persian king, had made the truce +with the Romans with treacherous intent, in order that he might find +them remiss on account of the peace and inflict upon them some grave +injury. For in the third year of the truce he devised the following +schemes. There were in Persia two brothers, Phabrizus and Isdigousnas, +both holding most important offices there and at the same time reckoned +to be the basest of all the Persians, and having a great reputation for +their cleverness and evil ways. Accordingly, since Chosroes had formed +the purpose of capturing the city of Daras by a sudden stroke, and to +move all the Colchians out of Lazica and establish in their place +Persian settlers, he selected these two men to assist him in both +undertakings. For it seemed to him that it would be a lucky stroke and a +really important achievement to win for himself the land of Colchis and +to have it in secure possession, reasoning that this would be +advantageous to the Persian empire in many ways. In the first place they +would have Iberia in security forever afterwards, since the Iberians +would not have anyone with whom, if they revolted, they might find +safety; for since the most notable men of these barbarians together with +their king, Gourgenes, had looked towards revolt, as I have stated in +the preceding pages,[24] the Persians from that time on did not permit +them to set up a king over themselves, nor were the Iberians +single-minded subjects of the Persians, but there was much suspicion and +distrust between them. And it was evident that the Iberians were most +thoroughly dissatisfied and that they would attempt a revolution shortly +if they could only seize upon some favourable opportunity. Furthermore, +the Persian empire would be forever free from plunder by the Huns who +lived next to Lazica, and he would send them against the Roman domains +more easily and readily, whenever he should so desire. For he considered +that, as regards the barbarians dwelling in the Caucasus, Lazica was +nothing else than a bulwark against them. But most of all he hoped that +the subjugation of Lazica would afford this advantage to the Persians, +that starting from there they might overrun with no trouble both by land +and by sea the countries along the Euxine Sea, as it is called, and thus +win over the Cappadocians and the Galatians and Bithynians who adjoin +them, and capture Byzantium by a sudden assault with no one opposing +them. For these reasons, then, Chosroes was anxious to gain possession +of Lazica, but in the Lazi he had not the least confidence. For since +the time when the Romans had withdrawn from Lazica, the common people of +the country naturally found the Persian rule burdensome. For the +Persians are beyond all other men singular in their ways, and they are +excessively rigid as regards the routine of daily life. And their laws +are difficult of access for all men, and their requirements quite +unbearable. But in comparison with the Lazi the difference of their +thinking and living shews itself in an altogether exceptional degree, +since the Lazi are Christians of the most thorough-going kind, while all +the Persian views regarding religion are the exact opposite of theirs. +And apart from this, salt is produced nowhere in Lazica, nor indeed does +grain grow there nor the vine nor any other good thing. But from the +Romans along the coast everything is brought in to them by ship, and +even so they do not pay gold to the traders, but hides and slaves and +whatever else happens to be found there in great abundance; and when +they were excluded from this trade, they were, as was to be expected, in +a state of constant vexation. When, therefore, Chosroes perceived this, +he was eager to anticipate with certainty any move on their part to +revolt against him. And upon considering the matter, it seemed to him to +be the most advantageous course to put Goubazes, the king of the Lazi, +out of the way as quickly as possible, and to move the Lazi in a body +out of the country, and then to colonize this land with Persians and +certain other nations. + +When Chosroes had matured these plans, he sent Isdigousnas to Byzantium, +ostensibly to act as an envoy, and he picked out five hundred of the +most valorous of the Persians and sent them with him, directing them to +get inside the city of Daras, and to take their lodgings in many +different houses, and at night to set these all on fire, and, while all +the Romans were occupied with this fire, as was natural, to open the +gates immediately, and receive the rest of the Persian army into the +city. For word had been sent previously to the commander of the city of +Nisibis to conceal a large force of soldiers near by and hold them in +readiness. For in this way Chosroes thought that they would destroy all +the Romans with no trouble, and seizing the city of Daras, would hold it +securely. But someone who knew well what was being arranged, a Roman who +had come to the Persians as a deserter a little earlier, told everything +to George, who was staying there at the time; now this was the same man +whom I mentioned in the preceding pages[25] as having persuaded the +Persians who were besieged in the fortress of Sisauranon to surrender +themselves to the Romans. George therefore met this ambassador at the +boundary line between Roman and Persian soil and said that this thing he +was doing was not after the fashion of an embassy, and that never had so +numerous a body of Persians stopped for the night in a city of the +Romans. For he ought, he said, to have left behind all the rest in the +town of Ammodios, and must himself enter the city of Daras with some few +men. Now Isdigousnas was indignant and appeared to take it ill, because +he had been insulted wrongfully, in spite of the fact that he was +dispatched on an embassy to the Roman emperor. But George, paying no +heed to him in his fury, saved the city for the Romans. For he received +Isdigousnas into the city with only twenty men. + +So having failed in this attempt, the barbarian came to Byzantium as if +on an embassy, bringing with him his wife and two daughters (for this +was his pretext for the crowd which had been gathered about him); but +when he came before the emperor, he was unable to say anything great or +small about any serious matter, although he wasted no less than ten +months in Roman territory. However, he gave the emperor the gifts from +Chosroes, as is customary, and a letter, in which Chosroes requested the +Emperor Justinian to send word whether he was enjoying the best possible +health. Nevertheless the Emperor Justinian received this Isdigousnas +with more friendliness and treated him with greater honour than any of +the other ambassadors of whom we know. So true was this that, whenever +he entertained him, he caused Braducius, who followed him as +interpreter, to recline with him on the couch, a thing which had never +before happened in all time. For no one ever saw an interpreter become a +table-companion of even one of the more humble officials, not to speak +of a king. But he both received and dismissed this man in a style more +splendid than that which befits an ambassador, although he had +undertaken the embassy for no serious business, as I have said. For if +anyone should count up the money expended and the gifts which +Isdigousnas carried with him when he went away, he will find them +amounting to more than ten centenaria of gold. So the plot against the +city of Daras ended in this way for Chosroes. + + +XXIX + +His first move against Lazica was as follows. He sent into the country a +great amount of lumber suitable for the construction of ships, +explaining to no one what his purpose was in so doing, but ostensibly he +was sending it in order to set up engines of war on the fortifications +of Petra. Next he chose out three hundred able warriors of the Persians, +and sent them there under command of Phabrizus, whom I have lately +mentioned, ordering him to make away with Goubazes as secretly as +possible; as for the rest, he himself would take care. Now when this +lumber had been conveyed to Lazica, it happened that it was struck +suddenly by lightning and reduced to ashes. And Phabrizus, upon arriving +in Lazica with the three hundred, began to contrive so that he might +carry out the orders received by him from Chosroes regarding Goubazes. +Now it happened that one of the men of note among the Colchians, +Pharsanses by name, had quarrelled with Goubazes and in consequence had +become exceedingly hostile to him, and now he did not dare at all to go +into the presence of the king. When this was learned by Phabrizus, he +summoned Pharsanses and in a conference with him disclosed the whole +project, and enquired of the man in what way he ought to go about the +execution of the deed. And it seemed best to them after deliberating +together that Phabrizus should go into the city of Petra, and should +summon Goubazes there, in order to announce to him what the king had +decided concerning the interests of the Lazi. But Pharsanses secretly +revealed to Goubazes what was being prepared. He, accordingly, did not +come to Phabrizus at all, but began openly to plan a revolt. Then +Phabrizus commanded the other Persians to attend as carefully as they +could to the guarding of Petra, and to make everything as secure as +possible against a siege, and he himself with the three hundred returned +homeward without having accomplished his purpose. And Goubazes reported +to the Emperor Justinian the condition in which they were, and begged +him to grant forgiveness for what the Lazi had done in the past, and to +come to their defence with all his strength, since they desired to be +rid of the Median rule. For if left by themselves the Colchians would +not be able to repel the power of the Persians. + +[549 A.D.] When the Emperor Justinian heard this, he was overjoyed, and +sent seven thousand men under the leadership of Dagisthaeus and a +thousand Tzani to the assistance of the Lazi. And when this force +reached the land of Colchis, they encamped together with Goubazes and +the Lazi about the fortifications of Petra and commenced a siege. But +since the Persians who were there made a most stalwart defence from the +wall, it came about that much time was spent in the siege; for the +Persians had put away an ample store of victuals in the town. And +Chosroes, being greatly disturbed by these things, dispatched a great +army of horse and foot against the besiegers, putting Mermeroes in +command of them. And when Goubazes learned of this, he considered the +matter together with Dagisthaeus and acted in the manner which I shall +presently set forth. + +The river Boas rises close to the territory of the Tzani among the +Armenians who dwell around Pharangium. And at first its course inclines +to the right for a great distance, and its stream is small and can be +forded by anyone with no trouble as far as the place where the territory +of the Iberians lies on the right, and the end of the Caucasus lies +directly opposite. In that place many nations have their homes, and +among them the Alani and Abasgi, who are Christians and friends of the +Romans from of old; also the Zechi, and after them the Huns who bear the +name Sabeiri. But when this river reaches the point which marks the +termination of the Caucasus and of Iberia as well, there other waters +also are added to it and it becomes much larger and from there flows on +bearing the name of Phasis instead of Boas[26]; and it becomes a +navigable stream as far as the so-called Euxine Sea into which it +empties; and on either side of it lies Lazica. Now on the right of the +stream particularly the whole country for a great distance is populated +by the people of Lazica as far as the boundary of Iberia. For all the +villages of the Lazi are here beyond the river, and towns have been +built there from of old, among which are Archaeopolis, a very strong +place, and Sebastopolis, and the fortress of Pitius, and Scanda and +Sarapanis over against the boundary of Iberia. Moreover there are two +cities of the greatest importance in that region, Rhodopolis and +Mocheresis. But on the left of the river, while the country belongs to +Lazica as far as one day's journey for an unencumbered traveller, the +land is without human habitation. Adjoining this land is the home of the +Romans who are called Pontic. Now it was in the territory of Lazica, in +the part which was altogether uninhabited, that the Emperor Justinian +founded the city of Petra in my own time. This was the place where John, +surnamed Tzibus, established the monopoly, as I have told in the +previous narrative[27], and gave cause to the Lazi to revolt. And as one +leaves the city of Petra going southward, the Roman territory commences +immediately, and there are populous towns there, and one which bears the +name of Rhizaeum, also Athens and certain others as far as Trapezus. Now +when the Lazi brought in Chosroes, they crossed the River Boas and came +to Petra keeping the Phasis on the right, because, as they said, they +would thus provide against being compelled to spend much time and +trouble in ferrying the men across the River Phasis, but in reality they +did not wish to display their own homes to the Persians. And yet Lazica +is everywhere difficult to traverse both to the right and to the left of +the River Phasis. For there are on both sides of the river exceedingly +high and jagged mountains, and as a result the passes are narrow and +very long. (The Romans call the roads through such passes "clisurae" +when they put their own word into a Greek form.[28]) But since at that +time Lazica happened to be unguarded, the Persians had reached Petra +very easily with the Lazi who were their guides. + +But on this occasion Goubazes, upon learning of the advance of the +Persians, directed Dagisthaeus to send some men to guard with all their +strength the pass which is below the River Phasis, and he bade him not +on any account to abandon the siege until they should be able to capture +Petra and the Persians in it. He himself meanwhile with the whole +Colchian army came to the frontier of Lazica, in order to devote all his +strength to guarding the pass there. Now it happened that long before he +had persuaded the Alani and Sabeiri to form an alliance with him, and +they had agreed for three centenaria not merely to assist the Lazi in +guarding the land from plunder, but also to render Iberia so destitute +of men that not even the Persians would be able to come in from there in +the future. And Goubazes had promised that the emperor would give them +this money. So he reported the agreement to the Emperor Justinian and +besought him to send this money for the barbarians and afford the Lazi +some consolation in their great distress. He also stated that the +treasury owed him his salary for ten years, for though he was assigned a +post among the privy counsellors in the palace, he had received no +payment from it since the time when Chosroes came into the land of +Colchis. And the Emperor Justinian intended to fulfil this request, but +some business came up to occupy his attention and he did not send the +money at the proper time. So Goubazes was thus engaged. + +But Dagisthaeus, being a rather young man and by no means competent to +carry on a war against Persia, did not handle the situation properly. +For while he ought to have sent certainly the greater part of the army +to the pass, and perhaps should have assisted in person in this +enterprise, he sent only one hundred men, just as if he were managing a +matter of secondary importance. He himself, moreover, though besieging +Petra with the whole army, accomplished nothing, although the enemy were +few. For while they had been at the beginning not less than fifteen +hundred, they had been shot at by Romans and Lazi in their fighting at +the wall for a long time, and had made a display of valour such as no +others known to us have made, so that many were falling constantly and +they were reduced to an exceedingly small number. So while the Persians, +plunged in despair and at a loss what to do, were remaining quiet, the +Romans made a trench along the wall for a short space, and the +circuit-wall at this point fell immediately. But it happened that inside +this space there was a building which did not stand back at all from the +circuit-wall, and this reached to the whole length of the fallen +portion; thus, taking the place of the wall for the besieged, it +rendered them secure none the less. But this was not sufficient greatly +to disturb the Romans. For knowing well that by doing the same thing +elsewhere they would capture the city with the greatest ease, they +became still more hopeful than before. For this reason Dagisthaeus sent +word to the emperor of what had come to pass, and proposed that prizes +of victory should be in readiness for him, indicating what rewards the +emperor should bestow upon himself and his brother; for he would capture +Petra after no great time. So the Romans and the Tzani made a most +vigorous assault upon the wall, but the Persians unexpectedly withstood +them, although only a very few were left. And since the Romans were +accomplishing nothing by assaulting the wall, they again turned to +digging. And they went so far in this work that the foundations of the +circuit-wall were no longer on solid ground, but stood for the most part +over empty space, and, in the nature of things, would fall almost +immediately. And if Dagisthaeus had been willing immediately to apply +fire to the foundations, I think that the city would have been captured +by them straightway; but, as it was, he was awaiting encouragement from +the emperor, and so, always hesitating and wasting time, he remained +inactive. Such, then, was the course of events in the Roman camp. + + +XXX + +But Mermeroes, after passing the Iberian frontier with the whole Median +army, was moving forward with the River Phasis on his right. For he was +quite unwilling to go through the country of Lazica, lest any obstacle +should confront him there. For he was eager to save the city of Petra +and the Persians in it, even though a portion of the circuit-wall had +fallen down suddenly. For it had been hanging in the air, as I have +said; and volunteers from the Roman army to the number of fifty got +inside the city, and raised the shout proclaiming the Emperor Justinian +triumphant. These men were led by a young man of Armenian birth, John by +name, the son of Thomas whom they used to call by the surname Gouzes. +This Thomas had built many of the strongholds about Lazica at the +direction of the emperor, and he commanded the soldiers there, seeming +to the emperor an intelligent person. Now John, when the Persians joined +battle with his men, was wounded and straightway withdrew to the camp +with his followers, since no one else of the Roman army came to support +him. Meanwhile the Persian Mirranes who commanded the garrison in Petra, +fearing for the city, directed all the Persians to keep guard with the +greatest diligence, and he himself went to Dagisthaeus, and addressed +him with fawning speeches and deceptive words, agreeing readily to +surrender the city not long afterwards. In this way he succeeded in +deceiving him so that the Roman army did not immediately enter the city. + +Now when the army of Mermeroes came to the pass, the Roman garrison, +numbering one hundred men, confronted them there and offered a stalwart +resistance, and they held in check their opponents who were attempting +the entrance. But the Persians by no means withdrew, but those who fell +were constantly replaced by others, and they kept advancing, trying with +all their strength to force their way in. Among the Persians more than a +thousand perished, but at last the Romans were worn out with killing, +and, being forced back by the throng, they withdrew, and running up to +the heights of the mountain there were saved. Dagisthaeus, upon learning +this, straightway abandoned the siege without giving any commands to the +army, and proceeded to the River Phasis; and all the Romans followed +him, leaving their possessions behind in the camp. And when the Persians +observed what was being done, they opened their gates and came forth, +and approached the tents of the enemy in order to capture the camp. But +the Tzani, who had not followed after Dagisthaeus, as it happened, +rushed out to defend the camp, and they routed the enemy without +difficulty and killed many. So the Persians fled inside their +fortifications, and the Tzani, after plundering the Roman camp proceeded +straight for Rhizaeum. And from there they came to Athens and betook +themselves to their homes through the territory of the Trapezuntines. + +And Mermeroes and the Median army came there on the ninth day after the +withdrawal of Dagisthaeus; and in the city they found left of the +Persian garrison three hundred and fifty men wounded and unfit for +fighting, and only one hundred and fifty men unhurt; for all the rest +had perished. Now the survivors had in no case thrown the bodies of the +fallen outside the fortifications, but though stifled by the evil +stench, they held out in a manner beyond belief, in order that they +might not afford the enemy any encouragement for the prosecution of the +siege, by letting them know that most of their number had perished. And +Mermeroes remarked by way of a taunt that the Roman state was worthy of +tears and lamentation, because they had come to such a state of weakness +that they had been unable by any device to capture one hundred and fifty +Persians without a wall. And he was eager to build up the portions of +the circuit-wall which had fallen down; but since at the moment he had +neither lime nor any of the other necessary materials for the building +ready at hand, he devised the following plan. Filling with sand the +linen bags in which the Persians had carried their provisions into the +land of Colchis, he laid them in the place of the stones, and the bags +thus arranged took the place of the wall. And choosing out three +thousand of his able fighting men, he left them there, depositing with +them victuals for no great length of time, and commanding them to attend +to the building of the fortifications; then he himself with all the rest +of the army turned back and marched away. + +But since, if he went from there by the same road, no means of +provisioning his army was available, since he had left everything in +Petra which had been brought in by the army from Iberia, he planned to +go by another route through the mountains, where he learned that the +country was inhabited, in order that by foraging there he might be able +to live off the land. In the course of this journey one of the notables +among the Lazi, Phoubelis by name, laid an ambush for the Persians while +camping for the night, bringing with him Dagisthaeus with two thousand +of the Romans; and these men, making a sudden attack, killed some of the +Persians who were grazing their horses, and after securing the horses as +plunder they shortly withdrew. Thus, then, Mermeroes with the Median +army departed from there. + +But Goubazes, upon learning what had befallen the Romans both at Petra +and at the pass, did not even so become frightened, nor did he give up +the guarding of the pass where he was, considering that their hope +centred in that place. For he understood that, even if the Persians had +been able by forcing back the Romans on the left of the River Phasis to +cross over the pass and get into Petra, they could thereby inflict no +injury upon the land of the Lazi, since they were utterly unable to +cross the Phasis, in particular because no ships were at their disposal. +For in depth this river is not inferior to the deepest rivers, and it +spreads out to a great width. Moreover it has such a strong current that +when it empties into the sea, it goes on as a separate stream for a very +great distance, without mingling at all with the sea-water. Indeed, +those who navigate in those parts are able to draw up drinking water in +the midst of the sea. Moreover, the Lazi have erected fortresses all +along the right bank of the river, in order that, even when the enemy +are ferried across in boats, they may not be able to disembark on the +land. + +The Emperor Justinian at this time sent to the nation of the Sabeiri the +money which had been agreed upon, and he rewarded Goubazes and the Lazi +with additional sums of money. And it happened that long before this +time he had sent another considerable army also to Lazica, which had not +yet arrived there. The commander of this army was Rhecithancus, from +Thrace, a man of discretion and a capable warrior. Such then was the +course of these events. + +Now when Mermeroes got into the mountains, as I have said, he was +anxious to fill Petra with provisions from there. For he did not by any +means think that the victuals which they had brought in with them would +suffice for the garrison there, amounting to three thousand men. But +since the supplies they found along the way barely sufficed for the +provisioning of that army, which numbered no less than thirty thousand, +and since on this account they were able to send nothing at all of +consequence to Petra, upon consideration he found it better for them +that the greater part of the army should depart from the land of +Colchis, and that some few should remain there, who were to convey to +the garrison in Petra the most of the provisions which they might find, +while using the rest to maintain themselves comfortably. He therefore +selected five thousand men and left them there, appointing as commanders +over them Phabrizus and three others. For it seemed to him unnecessary +to leave more men there, since there was no enemy at all. And he himself +with the rest of the army came into Persarmenia and remained quietly in +the country around Doubios. + +Now the five thousand, upon coming nearer to the frontier of Lazica, +encamped in a body beside the Phasis River, and from there they went +about in small bands and plundered the neighbouring country. Now when +Goubazes perceived this, he sent word to Dagisthaeus to hasten there to +his assistance: for it would be possible for them to do the enemy some +great harm. And he did as directed, moving forward with the whole Roman +army with the River Phasis on the left, until he came to the place where +the Lazi where encamped on the opposite bank of the river. Now it +happened that the Phasis could be forded at this point, a fact which +neither the Romans nor the Persians suspected in the least because of +their lack of familiarity with these regions; but the Lazi knew it well, +and they made the crossing suddenly and joined the Roman army. And the +Persians chose out a thousand men of repute among them and sent them +forth, that no one might advance against the camp to harm it. And two of +this force, who had gone out ahead of their fellows to reconnoitre, fell +unexpectedly into the hands of the enemy and informed them of the whole +situation. The Romans, therefore, and the Lazi fell suddenly upon the +thousand men, and not one of them succeeded in escaping, but the most of +them were slain, while some also were captured; and through these the +men of Goubazes and Dagisthaeus succeeded in learning the numbers of the +Median army and the length of the journey to them and the condition in +which they then were. They therefore broke camp and marched against them +with their whole army, calculating so that they would fall upon them +well on in the night; their own force amounted to fourteen thousand men. +Now the Persians, having no thought of an enemy in their minds, were +enjoying a long sleep; for they supposed that the river was impassable, +and that the thousand men, with no one to oppose them, were making a +long march somewhere. But the Romans and Lazi at early dawn unexpectedly +fell upon them, and they found some still buried in slumber and others +just roused from sleep and lying defenceless upon their beds. Not one of +them, therefore, thought of resistance, and the majority were caught and +killed, while some also were captured by the enemy, among whom happened +to be one of the commanders; only a few escaped in the darkness and were +saved. And the Romans and Lazi captured the camp and all the standards, +and they also secured many weapons and a great deal of money as plunder, +besides great numbers of horses and mules. And pursuing them for a very +great distance they came well into Iberia. There they happened upon +certain others of the Persians also and slew a great number. Thus the +Persians departed from Lazica; and the Romans and Lazi found there all +the supplies, including great quantities of flour, which the barbarians +had brought in from Iberia, in order to transport them to Petra, and +they burned them all. And they left a large number of Lazi in the pass, +so that it might no longer be possible for the Persians to carry in +supplies to Petra, and they returned with all the plunder and the +captives. [549 A.D.] And the fourth year of the truce between the Romans +and Persians came to an end, being the twenty-third year of the reign of +the Emperor Justinian. + +And John the Cappadocian one year before this came to Byzantium at the +summons of the emperor. For at that time the Empress Theodora had +reached the term of her life. However, he was quite unable to recover +any of his former dignities, but he continued to hold the priestly +honour against his will; and yet the vision had often come to the man +that he would arrive at royalty. For the divine power is accustomed to +tempt those whose minds are not solidly grounded by nature, by holding +before their vision, on great and lofty hopes, that which is counted +splendid among men. At any rate the marvel-mongers were always +predicting to this John many such imaginary things, and especially that +he was bound to be clothed in the garment of Augustus. Now there was a +certain priest in Byzantium, Augustus by name, who guarded the treasures +of the temple of Sophia. So when John had been shorn and declared worthy +of the priestly dignity by force, inasmuch as he had no garment becoming +a priest, he had been compelled by those who were in charge of this +business to put on the cloak and the tunic of this Augustus who was near +by, and in this, I suppose, his prophecy reached its fulfilment. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + +That is, the Saracens subject to the Romans and those subject to the +Persians. + +[2] + +Cf. Book I. xxii. 4. + +[3] + +The Huns placed a part of their force in the rear of the defenders of +the pass, which lies between the sea and the mountains, sending them +around by the same path, probably, as that used by Xerxes when he +destroyed Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans; see _Herod_. vii. +216-218. + +[4] + +"Secretary of secrets." + +[5] + +Cf. Book I. xxii. 4. + +[6] + +Cf. Book II. i. 13; iii. 47. + +[7] + +Cf. Book I. xxii. 4. + +[8] + +Cf. Book II. xxi. 30-32. + +[9] + +This term was applied to the "Blue Faction" in Byzantium and elsewhere. + +[10] + +Cf. Book I. xxii. 4. + +[11] + +Nine MS. lines are missing at this point. + +[12] + +Cf. Book II. x. 24. + +[13] + +Cf. Book I. xii. 4 ff. + +[14] + +Cf. Book I. viii. 21-22. + +[15] + +Cf. chap. v. 31. + +[16] + +_I.e._ "groin." + +[17] + +Modern Galata. + +[18] + +The official dress. + +[19] + +Vesta. + +[20] + +Cf. section 9 above. + +[21] + +Cf. Book II. xii. 31-34. + +[22] + +Latin _agger_, "mound." + +[23] + +"Three Towers." + +[24] + +Cf. Book I. xii. 5 ff. + +[25] + +Book II. xix. 23. + +[26] + +Procopius seems to have confused two separate and distinct rivers. + +[27] + +Cf. Book II. xv. 11. + +[28] + +Latin _clausura_, "a narrow shut-in road." + + * * * * * + + + + + INDEX + +Abandanes, + secretary of Chosroes, sent to Belisarius, II. xxi. 1 ff.; + his report, II. xxi. 13, 14 + +Abasgi, their location, II. xxix. 15; + friends of the Romans, _ib._ + +Abochorabus, ruler of the Saracens of Arabia, presents the Palm Groves + to Justinian, I. xix. 10 ff. + +Aborrhas River, protects one side of Circesium, II. v. 2; + near Theodosiopolis, II. xix. 29 + +Abramus, becomes king of the Homeritae, I. xx. 3; + his servile origin, I. xx. 4; + defeats two Aethiopian armies, I. xx. 5-7; + pays tribute to the Aethiopians, I. xx. 8; + his idle promises to Justinian to invade Persia, I. xx. 13 + +Abydus, city opposite Sestus on the Hellespont, II. iv. 9 + +Acacius, father of Adolius, II. xxi. 2; + denounces Amazaspes to the emperor, II. iii. 4; + slays him treacherously, II. iii. 5; + his shameless career as governor of Armenia, II. iii. 6, 7; + slain by the Armenians, II. iii. 7 + +Adarbiganon, Chosroes halts there with his army, II. xxiv. 1; + the fire-sanctuary located there, II. xxiv. 2; + abandoned by Chosroes, II. xxiv. 12 + +Adergoudounbades, made "chanaranges" by Chosroes, I. vi. 15, 18; + saves Cabades from the hand of Chosroes, I. xxiii. 7 ff.; + betrayed by his son, I. xxiii. 13; + his death, I. xxiii. 21 + +Adolius, son of Acacius, an Armenian, urges severe treatment of Armenians, + II. iii. 10; + commander of Roman cavalry, II. xxi. 2, 18, 20; + commands a detachment in an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 13; + killed by a stone, II. xxv. 35 + +Adonachus, commander in Chalcis, II. xii. 2 + +Adrastadaran Salanes, an office in Persia of high authority + (_lit._ "Leader of the Warriors"), I. vi 18, xi. 25; + held only by Seoses, I. xi. 38 + +Adulis, in Aethiopia, the city and harbour, distance from Auxomis, + I. xix. 22; + home of a certain + Roman trader, I. xx. 4 + +Aegypt, its topography, I. xix. 3; + John the Cappadocian an exile there, I. xxv. 43; + the pestilence there, II. xxii. 6 + +Aeimachus, a butcher of Antioch, his encounter with a Persian horseman, + II. xi. 8 ff. + +Aelas, on the "Red Sea," I. xix. 3, 19, 24 + +Aethiopians, location of their country, I. xix. 17; + the ships used there, I. xix. 23; + iron not produced there nor imported from elsewhere, I. xix. 24. 25; + sought as allies by Justinian, I. xix. 1, xx. 9 ff., II. iii. 40; + unable to buy silk from the Indians, I. xx. 12 + +Agamemnon, father of Iphigenia, I. xvii. II + +Agesta, _i.e._, "agger," employed by the Persians in besieging Edessa, + II. xxvi. 29 + +Aigan, Massagete chief, in the Roman army at the battle of Daras, + I. xiii. 20, xiv. 39, 44 + +Alamoundaras, son of Saccice, king of the Saracens, marches with + the Persian army, I. xvii. 1; + his character and services to the Persians, I. xvii. 40 ff.; + advises Cabades to invade Roman territory south of the Euphrates River, + I. xvii. 30 ff.; + retires with Azarethes before Belisarius, I. xviii. 9 ff.; + brings charge against Arethas of violating boundary lines, II. i. 3; + war with Arethas, II. xxviii. 12-14; + sacrifices to Aphrodite the son of Arethas, II. xxviii. 13; + sought as an ally by Justinian, II. i. 13, iii. 47; + accused by Justinian of violating the treaty, II. iv. 21; + a menace to Syria and Phoenicia, II. xvi. 17; + also to Lebanon, II. xix. 34 + +Alani, their location, II. xxix. 15; + friends of the Romans, _ib._; + neighbours of the Sunitae, I. xv. 1; + persuaded by Goubazes to ally themselves with him, II. xxix. 29 + +Albani, a people near the Taurus, I. x. 1 + +Alexander, son of Philip, fortified the Caspian Gates, I. x. 9; + Justinian compared with him, II. ii. 15 + +Alexander, ambassador to the Persians, I. xxii. 1 + +Alexandria, visited by the pestilence, II. xxii. 6; + citizens of, accused by John the Cappadocian, I. xxv. 44 + +Amazaspes, nephew of Symeon, made ruler of certain Armenian villages, + II. iii. 3; + denounced to the emperor, II. iii. 4; + treacherously slain, II. iii. 5 + +Ambazouces, a Hun, offers to sell to Anastasius the control of the Caspian + Gates, I. x. 10; + his death, I. x. 12 + +Ambrus, a Saracen Christian, saves Sergiopolis from capture by Chosroes, + II. xx. 10, 14 + +Amida, a city on the border between Armenia and Mesopotamia, I. xvii. 24; + distance from Martyropolis, I. xxi. 6; + distance from the Nymphius River, I. viii. 22; + from Siphrios, I. viii. 10; + from Endielon, I. vii. 5; + from Thilasamon, I. ix. 14; + besieged by Cabades, I. vii. 3, 12 ff.; + bravely defended, I. vii. 4, 12 ff.; + captured by Cabades, I. vii. 29; + besieged by the Romans, I. ix. 1-4; + recovered by the Romans by purchase, I. ix. 20, 23; + captives of, generously treated by Chosroes, I. vii. 34; + citizens relieved of taxes, I. vii. 35 + +Ammodios, a place near Daras, I. xiii. 15, 38; II. xxviii. 35 + +Anastasius, Roman emperor, uncle of Hypatius, I. viii. 2, xi. 24; + of Probus, I. xii. 6; + and of Pompeius, I. xxiv. 19; + refuses to purchase from Ambazouces the control of the Caspian Gates, + I. x. 10, 11, xvi. 4; + insurrection raised against him by Vitalianus, I. viii. 3, xiii. 10; + refuses request of Cabades for a loan, I. vii. 1, 2; + shews favour to citizens of Amida, I. vii. 35; + sends succour to Amida, I. viii. 1; + fortifies Daras, I. x. 13; + placates Cabades, I. x. 17; + fortifies Theodosiopolis, I. x. 18, 19; + his death, I. xi. 1 + +Anastasius of Daras, overthrows tyranny there, I. xxvi. 8, II. iv. 15; + bears a letter from Justinian to Chosroes, II. iv. 15; + detained by Chosroes, II. iv. 26; + dismissed by Chosroes, II. v. 27; + present with Chosroes at the sack of Sura, II. ix. 10 + +Anatolius, General of the East, averts danger to the empire by courtesy + to the Persian king, I. ii. 12-15 + +Andreas, of Byzantium, his exploits in single combat, I. xiii. 30 ff. + +Anglon, village in Persarmenia, II. xxv. 5; + Roman armies routed there, II. xxv. 23 ff. + +Aniabedes, sent by Chosroes to capture Petra, II. xvii. 4; + impaled by Chosroes, II. xvii. 11 + +Antinous, city of, in Aegypt, John the Cappadocian imprisoned there, + I. xxv. 43 + +Antioch, its importance, I. xvii. 36, II. viii. 23, ix. 3, x. 5; + situation, II. vi. 10, viii. 21; + ease with which it might be captured, I. xvii. 38; + character of the inhabitants, I. xvii. 37, II. viii. 6; + distance from Beroea, II. vii. 21; + from Seleucia, II. xi. 1; + visited by an earthquake, II. xiv. 6; + the citizens propose to buy off Chosroes, II. vi. 16; + besieged by Chosroes, II. viii. 1 ff.; + the wall stormed by Chosroes, II. viii. 8 ff.; + captured by Chosroes, II. viii. 20 ff.; + plundered by Chosroes, II. ix. 14 ff.; + burnt, II. ix. 17, 18; + young men of, check the victorious Persians in a street fight, + II. viii. 28, 29, 32, ix. 5; + citizens of, massacred by the Persians, II. viii. 34; + church of, robbed of great treasures by Chosroes, II. ix. 15, 16; + spared in the burning of the city, II. ix. 18, x. 6; + citizens of, receive portent of coming misfortunes, II. x. 1 ff.; xiv. 5; + two women of, their sad fate at the capture of the city, II. viii. 35; + captives of, offered for sale by Chosroes, II. xiii. 2 ff.; + settled by Chosroes in a newly built city under + special laws, II. xiv. 1 ff. + +Antioch of Chosroes, special laws concerning it, II. xiv. 3, 4 + +Antonina, wife of Belisarius, brings about the downfall of John the + Cappadocian, I. xxv. 13 ff.; + departs to the East, I. xxv. 23 + +Apamea, city of Syria, II. xi. 2, 4; + wood of the Cross preserved there, II. xi. 14; + it gives forth a miraculous light in the church, II. xi. 17, 18; + visited by Chosroes, II. xi. 14 ff.; + entered by Chosroes and robbed of all its treasure, II. xi. 24 ff.; + a citizen of, accuses a Persian of having violated his daughter, + II. xi. 36 + +Aphrodite, son of Arethas sacrificed to, II. xxviii. 13 + +Apion, an Aegyptian, manager of finances in the Roman army, I. viii. 5 + +Arabia, its location, I. xix. 20 + +Arabian Gulf, called "Red Sea" by Procopius, I. xix. 2; + its description, I. xix. 2 ff. + +Aratius, in company with Narses defeats Sittas and Belisarius, + I. xii. 21, 22; + deserts to the Romans, I. xii. 22, xv. 31; + sent to Italy, I. xii. 22 + +Arcadius, Roman emperor, when about to die makes provision for the + safety of his heir, I. ii. 1 ff. + +Archaeopolis, a strong city of Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Areobindus, son-in-law of Olyvrius, + Roman general, I. viii. 1; + flees with his army before Cabades, I. viii. 10, 11; + summoned to Byzantium, I. ix. 1 + +Ares, House of, portion of the imperial residence in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 9 + +Arethas, son of Gabalas, made king of the Saracens of Arabia by Justinian + and pitted against Alamoundaras, I. xvii. 47, 48; + with the Roman army, I. xviii. 7; + at the battle on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 26, 35; + quarrels with Alamoundaras, II. i. 3-7; + joins Belisarius in Mesopotamia, II. xvi. 5; + sent by Belisarius to plunder Assyria, II. xix. 11, 15 ff.; + returns another way, II. xix. 26 ff.; + wages war against Alamoundaras, II. xxviii. 12-14; + son of, sacrificed to Aphrodite, II. xxviii. 13 + +Argek, a guardsman, his effective fighting against the Persians at Edessa, + II. xxvi. 26, 27 + +Armenia, considered by some to extend as far as Amida, I. xvii. 24; + Armenians wage war with Persia, I. v. 10 ff.; + History of the Armenians, I. v. 9, 40 + +Arsaces, king of Armenia, progenitor of the Arsacidae, II. iii. 32; + his abdication, II. iii. 35 + +Arsaces, king of Armenia, wages a truceless war with Persia, I. v. 10 ff.; + slandered to Pacurius, I. v. 16; + victim of strategem of Magi, betrays himself to Pacurius, I. v. 19 ff.; + confined in the Prison of Oblivion, I. v. 29 ff.; + kills himself, I. v. 39 + +Arsaces, last king of Armenia, gives his kingdom to Theodosius, II. iii. 35 + +Arsaces, commander in Sura, killed while valiantly defending the city, + II. v. 11 + +Arsacidae, descendants of the Armenian king, Arsaces, II. iii. 32; + their privileges, II. iii. 35 + +Arsinus River, tributary to the Euphrates, I. xvii. 21 + +Artabanes, son of John, of the Arsacidae, slays Sittas, II. iii. 25 + +Artace, suburb of Cyzicus, I. xxv. 31 + +Artemis among the Taurians, sanctuary of, in Celesene, I. xvii. 11; + a sanctuary of, founded by Orestes in Pontus, I. xvii. 15; + another in Cappadocia, I. xvii. 18 + +Arzamon, in Mesopotamia, distance from Constantina, I. viii. 10 + +Arzanene, district of Armenia beyond the River Nymphius, + I. viii. 21, II. xv. 7; + invaded by Celer, I. viii. 21 + +Ascan, a Massagete chief, at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 21, xiv. 44; + his exploits at the battle on the Euphrates and his death, I. xviii. 38 + +Asia, entered from the Hellespont by the Huns, II. iv. 9 + +Aspebedes, uncle of Chosroes, I. xi. 5, xxiii. 6; + negotiates a treaty with Celer, I. ix. 24; + shares command of invading army, I. xxi. 4; + put to death by Chosroes, I. xxiii. 6 + +Aspetiani, their alliance with Sittas frustrated by a misunderstanding, + II. iii. 12-18 + +Assyria, plundered by Arethas, II. xix. 15 ff. + +Athens, a city near Lazica, II. xxix. 22, xxx. 14 + +Attachas, place in Armenia, distance from Martyropolis, I. xxi. 9 + +Augarus, toparch of Edessa, II. xii. 8; + friend of Augustus, II. xii. 8, 9; + his visit to Rome, II. xii. 9 ff.; + with difficulty persuades Augustus to allow him to return, + II. xii. 11 ff.; + receives from Augustus the promise of a hippodrome for Edessa, + II. xii. 18; + his enigmatic reply to the + enquiries of the citizens, II. xii. 19; + stricken with gout, seeks relief from physicians, II. xii. 20, 21; + invites Christ to come to Edessa, II. xii. 24; + cured upon receiving the reply of Christ, II. xii. 28; + son of, an unrighteous ruler, delivers over Edessa to Persia, II. xii. 28 + +Augustus, Roman emperor, his affection for Augarus, II. xii. 8-19 + +Augustus, priest in Byzantium, II. xxx. 53, 54 + +Auxomis, capital city of the Homeritae, I. xix. 17; + distance from Adulis, I. xix. 22; + from Elephantina and the Roman boundary, I. xix. 27 + +Auxomitae, name applied to some of the Aethiopians, I. xix. 17 + +Azarethes, Persian general, invades Roman territory, I. xvii. 1, xviii. 1; + retires before Belisarius, I. xviii. 9 ff.; + exhorts the Persian army, I. xviii. 27 ff.; + arrays them for battle, I. xviii. 30; + dishonoured by Cabades, I. xviii. 51 ff.; + at the siege of Edessa, II. xxvii. 41 + + +Baradotus, priest of Constantina, + his godliness, II. xiii. 13; + persuades Cabades to spare Constantina, II. xiii. 14, 15 + +Barbalissum, fortress on the Euphrates, distance from Obbane, II. xii. 4 + +Barbarian Plain, The, near Sergiopolis, II. v. 29 + +Baresmanas, Persian general, at the battle of Daras, + I. xiii. 16, xiv. 32, 45; + standard bearer of, attacked and killed by Sunicas, I. xiv. 47-50 + +Barlaus, Gate of, in the wall of Edessa, II. xxvii. 44 + +Basilides, appointed quaestor in place of Tribunianus, I. xxiv. 18 + +Basilius, father of John of Edessa, II. xxi. 27 + +Bassaces, son-in-law of John, accompanies him on a mission to Bouzes, + II. iii. 29; + escapes with his companions from an ambush, II. iii. 30; + leads an embassy to the Persian king, II. iii. 31; + comes with Armenians to Byzantium, II. xxi. 34 + +Bassicius, trusted friend of the Armenian king Arsaces, I. v. 17; + flayed by Pacurius, I. v. 28 + +Batne, fortress one day's journey distant from Edessa, II. xii. 31 + +Belisarius, married to Antonina, I. xxv. 11; + in company with Sittas invades Persarmenia, I. xii. 20, 21; + defeated by Narses and Aratius, I. xii. 22; + appointed commander of troops in Daras with Procopius his adviser, + I. xii. 24; + at the command of Justinian undertakes to build a fortress in Mindouos, + I. xiii. 2, 3; + prevented by the Persians, I. xiii. 4 ff.; + made General of the East, I. xiii. 9; + in company with Hermogenes prepares to meet the Persians at Daras, + I. xiii. 12 ff.; + at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 19 ff.; + sends letters to Mirranes, I. xiv. 1 ff., 7; + address to his soldiers, I. xiv. 20 ff.; + arrays the army on the second day of the battle of Daras, I. xiv. 28; + wins a brilliant victory, I. xiv. 47 ff.; + recalls the Romans from the pursuit of the Persians, I. xiv. 53; + hurries to meet the invading army of Azarethes I. xviii. 4; + follows the retiring Persian army, I. xviii. 9 ff.; + ridiculed by his army, I. xviii. 12; + attempts to dissuade the Romans from battle, I. xviii. 16 ff.; + insulted by his army, I. xviii. 24; + arrays them for battle, I. xviii. 25, 26; + fights valiantly after most of the Roman army had been routed, + I. xviii. 41 ff.; + returns to Byzantium in order to go against the Vandals, I. xxi. 2; + his share in quelling the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 40 ff.; + made General of the East and sent to Libya, I. xxvi. 1; + victorious in Italy, II. i. 1; + brings Vittigis to Byzantium, II. iv. 13; + shares the command of the East with Bouzes, II. vi. 1; + summoned from Italy to Byzantium, II. xiv. 8; + sent against Chosroes, II. xiv. 8, 13; + gathers an army in Mesopotamia, II. xvi. 1 ff.; + invades Persia, II. xviii. 1 ff.; + defeats Nabedes at Nisibis, II. xviii. 24, 25; + sends Arethas into Assyria, II. xix. 15; + attacks Sisauranon, II. xix. 4 ff.; + captures it, II. xix. 24; + holds consultation with commanders, II. xix. 35 ff.; + returns to Roman territory, II. xix. 45; + recalled to Byzantium, II. xix. 49; + journeys swiftly to the East to confront Chosroes, II. xx. 20; + gathers an army at Europum, II. xx. 24 ff.; + receives Abandanes, the envoy of Chosroes, I. xxi. 2 ff.; + forces Chosroes to retire, II. xxi. 21; + gives John of Edessa as a hostage, II. xxi. 27; + his great fame, II. xxi. 28, 29; + summoned to Byzantium, II. xxi. 34 + +Beroea, a town of Syria between Hierapolis and Antioch, II. vii. 2; + distance from Chalcis, II. xii. 1; + Chosroes demands money from the inhabitants, II. vii. 5; + the citizens retire to the acropolis, II. vii. 7; + the lower city entered by Chosroes and a large part of it fired, + II. vii. 10, 11; + acropolis valiantly defended against Chosroes, II. vii. 12; + miserable plight of the besieged, II. vii. 13; + citizens capitulate to Chosroes, II. vii. 35 + +Beros, an Erulian leader, encamps near Martinus, II. xxiv. 14; + with Philemouth follows Peter into Persia, II. xxiv. 18 + +Bessas, a Goth, officer in the Roman army, I. viii. 3; + commander in Martyropolis, I. xxi. 5 + +Bithynians, on the Euxine Sea, II. xxviii. 23 + +Black Gulf, II. iv. 8 + +Black Sea, _See_ "Euxine." + +Blases, brother of Perozes, chosen king in place of Cabades, deposed, + I. v. 2; + imprisoned and blinded by Cabades, I. vi. 17 + +Blemyes, a people of upper Aegypt, I. xix. 28; + receive annual payment from the Roman emperor, I. xix. 32, 33; + Diocletian purposes to hold them in check by means of the Nobatae, + I. xix. 30; + their religion, I. xix. 35, 36 + +Bleschames, commander of the Persian soldiers in Sisauranon, II. xix. 3; + sent to Byzantium by Belisarius with Persian captives, II. xix. 24; + sent to Italy by Justinian, II. xix. 25 + +Blue Faction, their struggles with the Green Faction, I. xxiv. 2-6; + favoured by Justinian, II. xi. 32; + in the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 7 ff.; + also called the "Veneti" + +Blue Colonnade, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 49 + +Boas River, considered by Procopius the upper portion of the Phasis, + II. xxix. 14-16 + +Boes, a Persian general, I. xii. 10 + +Bolum, fortress in Persarmenia, near which were the gold mines of the + Persian king, I. xv. 18; + betrayed to the Romans by Isaac, I. xv. 32, 33; + its return demanded by Chosroes, I. xxii. 3; + given up by the Romans, I. xxii. 18 + +Boraedes, nephew of Justinian, assists in making Hypatius prisoner, + I. xxiv. 53 + +Bosporus, a city on the Euxine, I. xii. 7; + citizens of, put themselves under the sway of Justinus, I. xii. 8; + Justinian accused of seizing it, II. iii. 40 + +Bouzes, brother of Coutzes, commander in Lebanon, I. xiii. 5; + sent to support Belisarius at Mindouos, _ib._; + commander in Martyropolis, I. xxi. 5; + at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 19, 25 ff.; + sent against the Armenians, II. iii. 28; + his offers of friendship distrusted by them, II. iii. 28, 29; + slays John treacherously, II. iii. 31; + shares the command of the East with Belisarius, II. vi. 1; + makes suggestions as to the defence of Hierapolis, II. vi. 2 ff.; + abandons the city, II. vi. 7, 8; + prevents the citizens of Edessa from ransoming the captives of Antioch, + II. xiii. 6; + favours invasion of Persia by Belisarius, II. xvi. 16; + takes refuge with Justus in Hierapolis, II. xx. 20; + they invite Belisarius to join them, II. xx. 21 ff.; + but later come to him at Europum, II. xx. 28 + +Braducius, interpreter of Isdigousnas, II. xxviii. 41 + +Bronze Gate, in the emperor's palace in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 47 + +Bulicas, harbour of the Homeritae, I. xix. 21 + +Byzantium, Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 1 ff.; + suburbs ravaged by Huns, II. iv. 4; + visited by the pestilence, II. xxii. 9 ff.; + Chosroes contemplates its capture by way of the Euxine, II. xxviii. 23 + + +Cabades, youngest son of Perozes, I. iv. 2; + chosen king of Persia, I. iv. 34; + introduces innovations into the Persian government displeasing the people, + I. v. 1; + cast into the Prison of Oblivion, I. v. 7; + escapes from it, I. vi. 7, 8, 10; + enters Persia with an army of Ephthalitae, I. vi. 10-17; + appoints Adergoudounbades "chanaranges" I. vi. 15, 18; + deposes Blases, I. vi. 17; + institutes a new office, I. vi. 18, 19; + appeals to Anastasius for a loan, I. vii. 1; + invades Roman territory, I. vii. 3; + grants request of Jacobus, the hermit, I. vii. 9-11; + besieges Amida, I. vii. 12-29; + captures Amida, I. vii. 29; + puts Glones in command of the city, I. vii. 33; + his treatment of the captives of Amida, I. vii. 34; + routs the Roman armies near Amida, I. viii. 8-19; + shews kindness to Baradotus by sparing Constantina, II. xiii. 13; + desirous of capturing Edessa and Constantina, II. xiii. 8; + abandons his purpose of capturing Edessa, II. xiii. 9 ff.; + retires in order to meet an invasion of the Huns, I. viii. 19; + seizes the Caspian Gates, I. x. 12; + protests at the fortification of Daras, I. x. 16; + solicitude as to his successor, I. xi. 2 ff.; + cured by Stephanus of Edessa, II. xxvi. 31; + hates his oldest son Caoses, I. xi. 3, II. ix. 12; + requests Justinus to adopt Chosroes, I. xi. 9, 20 ff.; + unwilling to save Seoses, I. xi. 36, 37; + tries to force the Iberians to adopt the Persian religion, I. xii. 2 ff.; + sends an army against them, I. xii. 10; + sends an army into Roman Armenia, I. xv. 1; + his gold mine at Pharangium, I. xv. 27; + deprived of the revenue therefrom, I. xv. 28, 29; + treats with the ambassador Rufinus at Daras, I. xvi. 1 ff.; + punishes Perozes, I. xvii. 26 ff.; + plans a new campaign against the Romans, I. xvii. 29; + advised by Alamoundaras, I. xvii. 30 ff.; + adopts the suggestion of Alamoundaras, I. xviii. 1; + dishonours Azarethes, I. xviii. 51 ff.; + refuses to negotiate with Hermogenes, I. xxi. 1; + bought pearl from the Ephthalitae, I. iv. 16; + his last illness, I. xxi. 17 ff.; + his ability as a ruler, I. vi. 19 + +Cabades, son of Zames, plot to set him on the Persian throne in place of + Chosroes, I. xxiii. 4; + ordered to be killed by Chosroes, I. xxiii. 7; + escapes by the help of the chanaranges, I. xxiii. 9 ff.; + one claiming this name entertained by Justinian in Byzantium, + I. xxiii. 23, 24 + +Cadiseni, in the Persian army at the battle of Daras, I. xiv. 38, 39 + +Caesar, the title used by the Persians to designate the Roman emperor, + II. xxi. 9, xi. 35 + +Caesarea, the home of Procopius, I. i. 1 + +Caisus, a Homerite, of captain's rank, a fugitive because of murder + committed by him, I. xx. 9, 10 + +Callinicus, city of Mesopotamia, II. xi. 28; + on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 13; + Roman army conveyed thither by boats after the battle on the Euphrates, + I. xviii. 50; + taken by Chosroes, II. xxi. 30 ff. + +Candidus, priest of Sergiopolis, makes agreement with Chosroes, II. v. 31; + punished by Chosroes for failing to keep his agreement, + II. xx. 2 ff., 15, 16 + +Caoses, oldest son of Cabades, I. xi. 3; + hated by his father, II. ix. 12; + claims the throne of Persia upon the death of Cabades, I. xxi. 20; + prevented by Mebodes from becoming king, I. xxi. 22 + +Cappadocia, country of Asia embracing a portion of the Taurus, I. x. 1; + desired by Chosroes, II. xxviii. 23; + visited by Orestes, I. xvii. 16 + +Carrhae, city of Mesopotamia, citizens of, offer money to Chosroes, + II. xiii. 7; + able to see the smoke of the burning "agger" at Edessa, II. xxvii. 15 + +Caspian Gates, their location and strategic importance, I. x. 1 ff.; + fortified by Alexander, I. x. 9; + offered to Anastasius by Ambazouces, I. x. 10; + seized by Cabades, I. x. 12, xvi. 4, 7, xxii. 5; + guarded by the Persians, II. x. 21 + +Cassandria, known in ancient times as Potidaea, captured by the Huns, + II. iv. 5 + +Catholicos, title of the priest of Doubios, II. xxv. 4 + +Caucasus Mountains, I. xv. 26; + inhabited by Huns, II. xv. 3, 29, xxviii. 22; + by Alani, etc., II. xxix. 15; + barbarians in, held in check by Lazica, II. xxviii. 22 + +Celer, Roman general, I. viii. 2; + invades Arzanene, I. viii. 21, II. xv. 7; + with Patricius and Hypatius besieges Amida, I. ix. 1; + negotiates a treaty with Aspebedes, I. ix. 24 + +Celesene, district in Armenia, I. xvii. 11, 21; + sanctuary of Artemis there, I. xvii. 11 + +Cerataeum, a district of Antioch, II. x. 7 + +Chalcis, city in Syria, distance from Gabboulon, I. xviii. 8; + from Beroea, II. xii. 1; + saved from Chosroes by money payment, II. xii. 1, 2 + +Chanaranges (_lit._ "Commander of the Frontier Troops"), Persian + term for "general," I. v. 4, vi. 12, xxiii. 7 + +Chanaranges, Persian general, shares command of invading army, I. xxi. 4; + besieges Martyropolis, I. xxi. 14, 15; + retires, I. xxi. 27 + +Cherson, a city at the limits of Roman territory on the Euxine, I. xii. 7 + +Chersonesus, its wall assailed by the Huns, II. iv. 8 + +Chorzianene, place in Armenia, Eruli encamp there, II. xxiv. 14 + +Chosroes, third son of Cabades, I. xi. 5; + Cabades proposes to Justinus that he adopt Chosroes, I. xi. 6 ff.; + Ch. awaits outcome of negotiations regarding his adoption by Justinus, + I. xi. 27; + retires in anger to Persia, I. xi. 30; + declared by Cabades in his testament successor to the throne of Persia, + I. xxi. 17 ff.; + his election to the kingship, I. xxi. 22; + meets Roman ambassadors on the Tigris, I. xxii. 1 ff.; + failure of their negotiations, I. xxii. 12 ff.; + grants the prayer of Rufinus, I. xxii. 15; + concludes the "endless peace." I. xxii. 16, 17; + his unpopularity among the Persians, I. xxiii. 1-3; + plot to dethrone him, I. xxiii. 3 ff.; + slays Zames and other male relatives, I. xxiii. 6; + orders the chanaranges to slay Cabades, son of Zames, I. xxiii. 7; + hears from Varrames how Cabades had been spared, I. xxiii. 13; + his punishment of Adergoudounbades, I. xxiii. 14 ff.; + destroys Mebodes, I. xxiii. 25 ff.; + vexed at Roman successes in Libya, I. xxvi. 2; + demands his share of the spoils, I. xxvi. 3; + desires to break the treaty with the Romans, II. i. 1; + charges Justinian with having broken the treaty, II. i. 12-14, x. 13, 16; + hears with favour the ambassadors of Vittigis, II. ii. 12; + receives an embassy from the Armenians, II. iii. 32 ff.; + decides to open hostilities against the Romans, II. iii. 55; + admonished by Justinian by letter, II. iv. 17 ff.; + detains Anastasius, II. iv. 26; + dismisses him, II. v. 27; + first invasion of Roman territory, II. v. 1; + marches towards Syria, II. v. 4; + refrains from attacking Zenobia, II. v. 7; + arriving at Sura, besieges the city, II. v. 8 ff.; + captures it by a strategem, II. v. 22 ff.; + marries Euphemia, II. v. 28; + releases captives for ransom, II. v. 29; + hears the plea of Megas, II. vi. 18 ff.; + exacts money from the Hierapolitans, II. vi. 22-24; + promises to depart from the East for ten centenaria of gold, II. vi. 25; + demands money from the Beroeans, II. vii. 5; + enters Beroea and fires a large portion of it, II. vii. 10, 11; + besieges the acropolis, II. vii. 11 ff.; + reproached by Megas, II. vii. 19; + his reply, II. vii. 20 ff.; + allows the Beroeans to capitulate, II. vii. 35; + moves against Antioch, II. viii. 1; + demands money from the citizens of Antioch, II. viii. 4; + hears the ambassadors, II. viii. 5; + insulted by the citizens, II. viii. 6; + storms the city wall, II. viii. 8 ff.; + captures Antioch, II. viii. 20; + reproached by Zaberganes, II. viii. 30 ff.; + addresses the ambassadors, II ix. 1 ff.; + his hesitation in allowing the Persians to enter Antioch, + II. viii. 22-24, ix. 7; + his character II. ix. 8-12; + orders the plunder of Antioch, II. ix. 14; + burns the city, II. ix. 17, 18; + addressed by the ambassadors, II. x. 10 ff.; + demands money from them, II. x. 19 ff.; + agrees upon terms for peace, II. x. 24; + visits Seleucia, II. xi. 1; + visits Daphne, II. xi. 5 ff.; + burns the sanctuary of Michael at Daphne, II. xi. 12, 13; + proceeds to Apamea, II xi. 14; + enters the city and seizes its treasures, II. xi. 24 ff.; + becomes a spectator in the hippodrome, II. xi. 31 ff.; + impales a Persian adulterer, II. xi. 37, 38; + exacts money from the citizens of Chalcis, II. xii. 1, 2; + crosses the Euphrates by a bridge, II. xii. 3 ff.; + eager to capture Edessa because of the belief of the + Christians that it could not be captured, II. xii. 6 ff., 29, 31; + demands and receives money from the citizens, II. xii. 33, 34; + upon receipt of a letter from Justinian prepares for departure, + II. xiii. 1, 2; + protests at the offer of money by the citizens of Carrhae, II. xiii. 7; + accepts money from the citizens of Constantina, II. xiii. 8; + claims Constantina as his possession by inheritance, _ib._, II. xiii. 15; + besieges Daras, II. xi. 28, xiii. 16; + abandons the siege of Daras upon receipt of money, II. xiii. 28; + charged by Justinian with breaking the treaty, II. xiii. 29; + provides a home for the captives of Antioch, II. xiv. 1 ff.; + called in by the Lazi, II. xv. 1, 12 ff.; + prepares to invade Lazica, II. xv. 31-35; + Belisarius sent against him, II. xiv. 8; + invades Lazica, II. xvii. 1 ff.; + commands an attack to be made on Petra, II. xvii. 4; + impales Aniabedes, II. xvii. 11; + besieges Petra, II. xvii. 13 ff.; + captures Petra, II. xvii. 27; + retires from Lazica, II. xix. 48; + third invasion of Roman territory, II. xx. 1 ff.; + besieges Sergiopolis in vain, II. xx. 11 ff.; + punishes Candidus, the priest of Sergiopolis, II. xx. 2 ff., 15, 16; + takes much treasure from Sergiopolis, II. xx. 7; + sends envoy to Belisarius, II. xxi. 1, 23; + retires before Belisarius, II. xxi. 15 ff.; + crosses the Euphrates by a bridge, II. xxi. 21; + takes Callinicus, II. xi. 28, xxi. 30-32; + receives the hostage John, II. xxi. 27; + awaits the Roman envoys at Adarbiganon, II. xxiv. 1 ff.; + his army visited by the pestilence, II. xxiv. 8, 12; + retires from Adarbiganon into Assyria, II. xxiv. 12; + fourth invasion of Roman territory, II. xxvi. 1 ff.; + makes an attempt upon Edessa, II. xxvi. 5 ff.; + comes to terms with the citizens of Edessa, II. xxvii. 46; + arranges a five-year truce with Constantianus and Sergius, + II. xxviii. 7 ff.; + lays plans to capture Daras and secure his possession of Lazica, + II. xxviii. 15 ff.; + attemps to capture Daras by a ruse, II. xxviii. 31 ff.; + plans to build a fleet in the Euxine, II. xxix. 1; + sends Phabrizus into Lazica to destroy Goubazes, II. xxix. 2 ff.; + sends an army to relieve Petra, II. xxix. 13 + +Christ, suffered in Jerusalem, II. xi. 14. + _See_ "Jesus." + +Christians, converted two temples into churches, I. xvii. 18; + boast that Edessa cannot be captured, II. xii. 7; + reverence especially the feast of Easter, I. xviii. 15; + the Lazi and Iberians devout Christians, I. xii. 3, II. xxviii. 26; + among the Homeritae, abused by Jews, I. xx. 1 + +Cilicia, the refuge of Ephraemius, II. vii. 17; + and Germanus, II. vii. 18 + +Cilicians, the objective of Chosroes' invasion, II. v. 4, vi. 21 + +Cilician screens, used at the siege of Edessa, II. xxvi. 29 + +Circesiurn, Roman stronghold on the Euphrates, II. v. 2; + its excellent defences, II. v. 3 + +Citharizon, fortress in Armenia, four days from Theodosiopolis, + II. xxiv. 13 + +Colchis, the old name for Lazica (_q.v._) I. xi. 28, etc. + +Comana, called "Golden Comana," a city of Cappadocia founded by Orestes, + I. xvii. 19 + +Comana, city in Pontus, founded by Orestes, not the one + "Among the Taurians," I. xvii. 12 + +Comet, The, its appearance in the heavens, II. iv. 1, 2; + various explanations of the meaning of the phenomenon, II. iv. 3 + +Commagene, old name for Euphratesia, I. xvii. 2, 23, II. xx. 17; + invaded by the Persians, I. xviii. 2 + +Constantianus, an Illyrian, II. xxiv. 4; + envoy to Chosroes with Sergius, II. xxiv. 3; + appointed general, II. xxviii. 2; + sent as envoy to Chosroes with Sergius a second time, II. xxviii. 3 ff. + +Constantina, city in Mesopotamia, I. xxii. 3; + distance from Arzamon, I. viii. 10; + Cabades desirous of capturing the city, II. xiii. 8; + spared by Cabades owing to the entreaties of Baradotus, II. xiii. 13 ff.; + claimed by Chosroes as an inherited possession, II. xiii. 8, 15; + citizens of, their offer of money accepted by Chosroes, II. xiii. 8 + +Constantine, Forum of, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 9, 24 + +Coutzes, Roman general, brother of Bouzes, sent to support Belisarius at + Mindouos, I. xiii. 5; + captured by the Persians, I. xiii. 8 + +Ctesiphon, town on the Tigris, II. xxviii. 4-5; + distance from the Antioch of Chosroes, II. xiv. 1 + +Cyril, Roman commander at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 21 + +Cyrus, king of the Persians, II. ii. 15 + +Cyzicus, John the Cappadocian exiled thither, I. xxv. 31 + + +Dagaris, a Roman spy, captured by Huns, I. xv. 6; + returned to the Romans, I. xxii. 18; + his later services to the Romans, I. xxii. 19 + +Dagisthaeus, commands an army to succour the Lazi, II. xxix. 10; + with Goubazes besieges Petra, II. xxix. 11 ff.; + sends an insufficient force to guard the pass into Lazica, + II. xxix. 33-34; + his incompetent conduct of the siege of Petra, II. xxix. 34 ff.; + deceived by Mirranes, II. xxx. 7; + abandons Petra, II. xxx. 11; + with Phoubelis attacks Mermeroes, II. xxx. 22; + with Goubazes attacks and almost annihilates the Persians, + II. xxx. 39 ff. + +Daphne, suburb of Antioch, II viii. 25; + visited by Chosroes, II. xi. 5 ff.; + the portent of the uprooted cypresses, II. xiv. 5 + +Daras, a city in Mesopotamia, fortified by Anastasius, I. x. 13; + distance from Nisibis and the Persian boundary, I. x. 14; + from Ammodius, I. xiii. 15; + its formidable defences, II. xiii. 17; + a menace to the Persians, I. xvi. 6; + battle of, I. xiii. 12 ff.; + the Persians demand that its walls be demolished, I. xvi. 7; + its abandonment by the Roman army a condition of the "endless peace," + I. xxii. 16; + the tyranny of John, I. xxvi. 5-12; + besieged by Chosroes, II. xi. 28, xiii. 16 ff.; + citizens of, make a settlement with Chosroes, II. xiii. 28; + Chosroes plans to capture it by a ruse, II. xxviii. 17; + failure of the attempt, II. xxviii. 31 ff. + +Death, Gate of, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 52 + +Diocletian, Roman emperor, readjusts the Roman boundary in Aegypt, + I. xix. 29 ff.; + builds the fortress of Philae, I. xix. 34, 35 + +Diogenes, a guardsman, commander of cavalry, II. xxi. 2, 18, 20 + +Domentiolus commands a detachment of an army to invade Persia, + II. xxiv. 15 + +Dorotheus, a Roman commander at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 21 + +Dorotheus, general of Armenia, attacks invading Persian army, + I. xv. 3 ff.; + makes a sally from Satala upon the Persian army, I. xv. 11 ff. + +Doubios, district in Persarmenia, II. xxv. 1, 2; + its trade with India, II. xxv. 3; + distance from Theodosiopolis, II. xxv. 1; + Mermeroes stops there with his army II. xxx. 33; + priest of, called Catholicos, II. xxv. 4; + sent to urge the Romans to make peace, II. xxiv. 6, 7 + +Easter, its especial observance by the Christians, I. xviii. 15 + +Edessa, the centre of so-called Osroene, I. xvii. 24; + in Mesopotamia, II. xxiv. 4; + Augustus promises to build a hippodrome in the city, II. xii. 18; + the story of its toparch Augarus, II. xii. 8 ff.; + citizens of, convinced that the city could not be captured by barbarians, + II. xii. 7, 26, 30; + the letter of Christ to Augarus inscribed on the city wall, II. xii. 26; + given over to the Persians by the son of Augarus, II. xii. 28; + citizens of, destroy the Persian guards and give back the city to the + Romans, II. xii. 29; + citizens pay Chosroes two centenaria, II. xii. 34; + their zeal to ransom the captives of Antioch frustrated by Bouzes, + II. xiii. 3 ff.; + Cabades desirous of capturing the city, II. xii. 6, 7, 31, xiii. 8; + abandons his purpose upon reaching it, II. xiii. 9 ff.; + attacked by Chosroes, II. xxvi. 5 ff.; + the home of Sergius, II. xxiv. 4 + + +Eirenaeus, Roman general, sent to Lazica, I. xii. 14 + +Elephantina, city in Aegypt, on the Roman boundary, I. xix. 27; + near Philae, I. xix. 34, 35 + +Endielon, place near Amida, I. vii. 5 + +Ephraemius, chief priest of Antioch, accused of treason by + Julian, II. vii. 16; + retires to Cilicia, II. vii. 17 + +Ephthalitae Huns, called White Huns, their manners and customs, + I. iii. 1, 2; + wage war with Perozes, I. iii. 1 ff.; + entrap the Persian army, I. iii. 8 ff.; + in a second war with Perozes completely destroy his army, I. iv. 1 ff.; + force the Persians to pay tribute, I. iv. 35; + receive Cabades after his escape from the Prison of Oblivion, I. vi. 10; + Cabades owes their king money, I. vii. 1, 2; + punished for impiety towards Jacobus, the hermit, I. vii. 8; + eight hundred Eph. killed by the Persians, I. viii. 13 + +Eruli, accustomed to fight without protective armour except a shield, + II. xxv. 27, 28; + in the Roman army, II. xxi. 4; + in the Roman army at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 19, xiv. 33, 39; + under Mundus, I. xxiv. 41; + in the army of Valerianus, II. xxiv. 12; + with the army of Martinus, II. xxiv. 14; + follow Peter into Persia, II. xxiv. 18; + in the battle of Anglon, II. xxv. 20 ff. + +Esimiphaeus, established as king of the Homeritae, I. xx. 1; + deposed by insurgents, I. xx. 3; + makes idle promise to Justinian, I. xx. 9 ff. + +Euphemia, daughter of John the Cappadocian I. xxv. 13 + +Euphemia, captive of Sura, married by Chosroes, II. v. 28 + +Euphratesia, ancient name of Commagene I. xvii. 2, 23, II. xx. 17, 20; + chosen by Azarethes as the starting point for an invasion of Roman + territory, I. xvii. 2 + +Euphrates River, its source in Armenia, I. xvii. 4; + disappears in a strange marsh, I. xvii. 6 ff.; + its course from Celesene as far as the junction with the Tigris, + I. xvii. 21, 22; + receives the waters of the Aborrhas, II. v. 2; + protects one side of Circesium, _ib._; + important battle on its banks, I. xviii. 30 ff. + +Europe, invaded by the Huns, II. iv. 4 ff. + +Europum, on the Euphrates, headquarters of Belisarius while + recruiting his army, II. xx. 24, 27, 28 + +Eusebius, Roman ambassador to the Persian king Perozes, I. iii. 8; + warns Perozes of the stratagem of the Ephthalitae I. iii. 13 + +Eusebius, bishop of Cyzicus, murdered by the citizens, I. xxv. 37, 38 + +Euxine Sea, receives the waters of the Phasis, II. xxix. 18; + Chosroes desires an outlet to it, II. xxviii. 23 + +Evaris, builder of a temple of Michael at Tretum, near Antioch, II. xi. 7 + + +Florentinus, a Thracian, distinguishes himself at the battle of Satala, + I. xv. 15, 16 + + +Gabalas, a Saracen, father of Arethas, I. xvii. 47 + +Galatians, on the Euxine, II. xxviii. 23 + +Gabboulon, distance from Chalcis, I. xviii. 8 + +Gaza, limit of Arabia in olden times, I. xix. 20 + +Gelimer, brought captive to Byzantium by Belisarius, II. xxi. 28 + +George, confidant of Belisarius, persuades the inhabitants of Sisauranon + to capitulate, II. xix. 22, 23; + saves the city of Daras, II. xxviii. 33 f. + +Germanus, nephew of Justinian, II. vi. 9; + commander at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 21; + sent to meet the invasion of Chosroes, II. vi. 9; + establishes himself In Antioch and inspects the fortifications, + II. vi. 10; + retires into Cilicia, II. vii. 18 + +Glones, a Persian, in command of the garrison in Amida, I. vii. 33; + destroyed by a stratagem, I. ix. 5-17; + son of, I. ix. 4, 18 + +Godidisklus, a Goth, an officer in the Roman army, I. viii. 3 + +Gorgo, city of the Ephthalitae, against the Persian frontier, + I. iii. 2, iv. 10 + +Goths, march with Belisarius against Chosroes, + II. xiv. 10, xviii. 24, xxi. 4 + +Goubazes, king of Lazica, privy councillor of Justinian _in absentia_, + II. xxix. 31; + gives himself and his people over to Chosroes, II. xvii. 2 ff.; + plotted against by Phabrizus, II. xxix. 2 ff.; + begs Justinian to succour the Lazi, II. xxix. 9; + with Dagisthaeus besieges Petra, II. xxix. 11 ff.; + defends one pass against the Persians, II. xxix. 28 ff.; + asks Justinian to send money to the Alani and the Sabeiri, II. xxix. 30; + Chosroes plans to put him out of the way, II. xxviii. 30, xxix. 2 ff.; + rewarded with money by Justinian, II. xxx. 28; + with Dagisthaeus attacks and almost annihilates the Persians, + II. xxx. 39 ff. + +Gourgenes, king of Iberia, revolts from the Persians, + I. xii. 4 ff., II. xv. 6, xxviii. 20; + retires before the Persian army into Lazica, I. xii. 11, 12 + +Gousanastades, "chanaranges," counsels the execution of Cabades, I. v. 4; + put to death by Cabades, I. vi. 18 + +Greece, plundered by the Huns, II. iv. 11 + +Greeks, The, I. xix. 35 + +Green Faction, their struggles with the Blue Faction, I. xxiv. 2-6; + in the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 7 ff.; + favoured by Chosroes at Apamea, II. xi. 32 + +Hebrews, of Iotabe, formerly autonomous, become subject to the Romans, + I. xix. 4 + +Helen, palace named from, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 30 + +Hellenic faith, The, I. xx. 1, xxv. 10 + +Hellestheaeus, king of the Aethiopians, his expeditions against the + Homeritae, I. xx. 1 ff.; + his vain promises to Justinian, I. xx. 9 ff. + +Hermogenes, Roman general, sent to assist Belisarius, I. xiii. 10; + in company with Belisarius prepares to meet the Persians at Daras, + I. xiii. 12 ff.; + at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 19 ff.; + forbids Andreas to engage in single combat, I. xiii. 35; + interchange of letters with Perozes, I. xiv. 1 ff.; + address to the troops, I. xiv. 20 ff.; + arrays the army on the second day of the battle of Daras, I. xiv. 28; + at the battle of Daras, I. xiv. 44; + recalls Romans from pursuit of the Persians, I. xiv. 53; + returns to Byzantium, I. xvi. 10; + sent as ambassador by the emperor, I. xviii. 16; + negotiates unsuccessfully with Chosroes, I. xxi. 1; + accompanies the army of Sittas as ambassador, I. xxi. 10, 23; + ambassador to Chosroes with Rufinus, I. xxii. 16 + +Hestia, _i.e._ Vesta, identified with the Persian + fire-divinity, II. xxiv. 2 + +Hierapolis, city on the Euphrates, I. xiii. 11, xvii. 22; + distance from Beroea and Antioch, II. vii. 2; + Bouzes and the Roman army stationed there, II. vi. 2; + suggested plan for its defence, II. vi. 3 ff.; + deserted by Bouzes, II. vi. 7, 8; + saved from Chosroes by payment of money, II. vi. 22-24; + Justus and Bouzes take refuge there, II. xx. 20 + +Homeric bowmen, compared with bowmen of Procopius' time, I. i. 9-11 + +Homeritae, people of Arabia, sought as allies by Justinian, + I. xix. 1, xx. 9 ff.; + location of their country, I. xix. 15; + domestic conflicts and intervention of Hellestheaeus, I. xx. 1 ff. + +Honorius, Emperor of the West, uncle of Theodosius II. unable to assist + him, I. ii. 4 + +Huns, a nomadic people, of ugly countenance, I. iii. 4; + their homes, I. x. 6, xii. 7, II. xv. 3, xxviii. 22; + their war with Cabades, I. viii. 19, ix. 24, x. 15, II. xvi. 3; + Justinian attempts to win their support, II. i. 14, iii. 47, x. 16; + capture a Roman spy I. xv. 6; + attack of, feared by the Persians at Martyropolis, I. xxi. 27; + invade Roman territory, I. xxi. 28; + often defeated by Dagaris, I. xxii. 19; + receiving annual payments from the Romans, II. x. 23; + held back by the Lazi, II. xv. 3; + in the army of Chosroes, II. xxvi. 5; + assist the Romans in the defence of Edessa, II. xxvi. 25, 26; + invade Europe, II. iv. 4 ff.; + cross the Hellespont into Asia, II. iv. 9; + plunder Illyricum and Thessaly and Greece as far as the Isthmus, + II. iv. 10-12 + +Hypatius, nephew of Anastasius, I. viii. 2; + army routed by Cabades, I. viii. 10-18; + his escape, I. viii. 19; + sent as envoy to the Persians, I. xi. 24; + slandered by Rufinus, I. xi. 38; + his punishment, I. xi. 39; + sent from the palace by Justinian, I. xxiv. 19-21; + declared emperor by the populace, and conducted to the hippodrome, + I. xxiv. 22 f.; + his wife Mary, I. xxiv. 23; + takes the emperor's seat in the hippodrome, I. xxiv. 42; + brought before Justinian as a prisoner, I. xxiv. 53; + meets his death bravely, I. xxiv. 55, 56 + +Iberia, Iberians, a Christian people, side with the Romans, + I. xii. 2 ff., II. xv. 6; + come to Byzantium, I. xii. 14; + given choice of remaining in Byzantium or returning to their homes, + I. xxii. 16; + dissatisfied with Persian rule, II. xxviii. 20, 21 + + +Ildiger, in the army of Martinus, II. xxiv. 13 + +Illyricum, invaded by the Huns, II. iv. 5, 10 + +Immortals, a detachment of the Persian army, I. xiv. 31; + at the battle of Daras, I. xiv. 44 ff. + +India, washed by the "Red Sea," I. xix. 3; + boats in, tale to account for their construction without iron, + I. xix. 23, 24; + iron not produced there nor imported from elsewhere, I. xix. 24-26; + silk export, I. xx. 9, 12; + its trade with Doubios, II. xxv. 3 + +Ionian Gulf, II. iv. 4 + +Iotabe, an Island In the "Red Sea," I. xix. 3 + +Iphigenia, the story of her flight from the sanctuary of Artemis, + I. xvii. 11 ff.; + temple dedicated to her by Orestes, I. xvii. 18 + +Iris River, in Pontus, I. xvii. 14 + +Isaac, brother of Narses, betrays Bolum to the Romans and comes as a + deserter to Byzantium, I. xv. 32, 33; + commander in Armenia, II. xxiv. 14; + carries his brother Narses out of the battle of Anglon, II. xxv. 24 + +Isaurians, in the Roman army, I. xviii. 5; + commanded by Longinus and Stephanacius, I. xviii. 7; + at the battle on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 38; + their inexperience in war, I. xviii. 39 + +Isdigerdes, Persian king, guardian of Theodosius I. ii. 7 ff. + +Isdigousnas, high Persian official, II. xxviii. 16; + employed by Chosroes for the furtherance of his plans, II. xxviii. 17; + attempts to capture Daras for Chosroes by a ruse, II. xxviii. 31 ff.; + continues to Byzantium as an envoy, II. xxviii. 38 ff. + +Isis, worshipped by the Blemyes and Nobatae, I. xix. 35 + +Italy, subdued by Belisarius, II. i. 1 + + +Jacobus, a holy man among the Syrians, I. vii. 5 ff. + +Jason, the tale of his adventure with Medea in Colchis, II. xvii. 2 + +Jerusalem, the scene of Christ's suffering, II. xi. 14; + its treasures desired by Chosroes, II. xx. 18 + +Jesus, his life and work in Palestine, II. xii. 22, 23; + invited by Augarus to come to Edessa, II. xii. 24; + his reply, in which he promises health to Augarus, II. xii. 25. + _See also_ "Christ." + +Jews, oppress the Christians among the Homeritae, I. xx. 1. + _See also_ "Hebrews." + +John, father of Artabanes, of the Arsacidae, II. iii. 25; + treacherously slain by Bouzes, II. iii. 29-31 + +John, son of Basilius, a notable of Edessa, given as a hostage to Chosroes, + I. xxi. 27, 33 + +John, an Armenian, son of Thomas Gouzes, in the Roman army, II. xxx. 4 + +John the Cappadocian, praetorian prefect, I. xxiv. 11; + his character and ability, I. xxiv. 12-15, xxv. 8-10; + highly esteemed by Justinian, I. xxv. 5, 25, 33; + dismissed from office, I. xxiv. 17; + restored to office, I. xxv. 1; + hated by Theodora, I. xxv. 4-7; + hostility to Belisarius, I. xxv. 12; + entrapped by Antonina, I. xxv. 13 ff.; + forced to become a priest and exiled to Cyzicus, I. xxv. 31; + looks forward confidently to becoming emperor, I. xxv. 8, 19, 44, + II. xxx. 50; + his easy lot in Cyzicus, I. xxv. 34, 35; + accused of the murder of Eusebius, I. xxv. 39; + his treatment at the trial, I. xxv. 40; + his punishment, I. xxv. 42, 43; + imprisoned in the city of Antinous in Aegypt, I. xxv. 43; + returns to Byzantium, II. xxx. 49, 50; + the grotesque fulfilment of his dreams, II. xxx. 54; + his daughter Euphemia, I. xxv. 13 + +John, son of Lucas, Roman officer, captured by Alamoundaras, + I. xvii. 43, 44 + +John, commander of troops in Mesopotamia, arrests the interpreter of + Vittigis' envoys, II. xiv. 12; + attacked by the Persians before Nisibis, II. xviii. 16 + +John, son of Nicetas, Roman commander at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 21; + urges Belisarius to retire from Mesopotamia, II. xix. 36 ff.; + commands a detachment of an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 15 + +John, son of Rufinus, sent as ambassador to Chosroes, + II. vii. 15, ix. 1, x. 10, 18 ff. + +John Tzibus, governor of Lazica, his origin and character, II. xv. 9; + persuades Justinian to build Petra, II. xv. 10; + monopolises the retail trade, II. xv. 11, xxix. 21; + valiantly defends Petra, II. xvii. 5 ff.; + killed by a missile, II. xvii. 16 + +John, serving in the Roman infantry, his tyranny at Daras, I. xxvi. 5-12; + his death, I. xxvi. 12 + +John the Glutton, a guardsman, sent with Arethas into Assyria, + II. xix. 15 ff.; + commands a detachment in an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 15 + +Julian, sanctuary of, in Antioch, II. x. 8 + +Julian, brother of Summas, envoy to the Aethiopians and Homeritae, + I. xx. 9, II. i. 10; + private secretary of Justinian, sent as ambassador to Chosroes, + II. vii. 15; + forbids giving money to Chosroes and denounces Ephraemius, II. vii. 16 + +Justinian, nephew of Justinus, I. xi. 10; + his great love for his wife Theodora, I. xxv. 4; + favours adoption of Chosroes by his uncle Justinus, I. xi. 10; + as general, I. xi. 16, xii. 21; + becomes emperor upon the death of Justinus, I. xiii. 1; + orders the building of a fort in Mindouos, I. xiii. 2; + appoints Belisarius General of the East, I. xiii. 9; + makes Arethas commander of many tribes, I. xvii. 47; + pits Arethas against Alamoundaras, I. xvii. 47, 48; + orders demolition of Philae, I. xix. 36; + endeavours to secure the alliance of the Aethiopians and Homeritae, + I. xix. 1, xx. 9 ff.; + receives the Palm Groves as a present from Abochorabus, I. xix. 10 ff.; + recalls Belisarius and sends Sittas to the East, I. xxi. 2, 3; + receives information from a Persian spy, I. xxi. 13; + concludes the "endless peace," I. xxii. 16; + receives in Byzantium the Cabades who claimed to be the son of Zames, + I. xxiii. 24; + his conduct during the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 10 ff.; + his affection for John the Cappadocian, I. xxv. 5, 25, 33; + denounced by the Armenian embassy before Chosroes, II. iii. 37 ff.; + refuses to sanction treaty, II. xiii. 29; + summons Belisarius from Italy and sends him against Chosroes, II. xiv. 8; + commands Belisarius to invade Persia, II. xvi. 5; + sends him again against Chosroes, II. xx. 20; + summons Belisarius from the East in order to send him to Italy, + II. xxi. 34; + takes measures for the relief of the victims of the pestilence, + II. xxiii. 5 ff.; + attacked by the pestilence, II. xxiii. 20; + orders Valerianus and Martinus with others to invade Persia, + II. xxiv. 10; + appoints Marcellus and Constantianus generals, II. xxviii. 2; + sanctions the five-year peace, II. xxviii. 11; + receives Isdigousnas with especial honour, II. xxviii. 38 ff.; + sends succour to the Lazi, II. xxix. 10; + neglects to send money requested by Goubazes, II. xxix. 30-32; + finally sends the money for the Sabeiri, and gifts of money to Goubazes, + II. xxx. 28; + sends John Tzibus to Lazica, II. xv. 9; + founds Petra in Lazica, II. xv. 10, xxix. 20; + makes a present of money to Chosroes, I. xxvi. 4; + considers the question of Strata, II. i. 7 ff.; + accused of tampering with Alamoundaras, II. i. 12-14, iii. 47, x. 16; + advises Chosroes not to wage war, II. iv. 17 ff.; + sends Germanus to Syria, II. vi. 9; + sends ambassadors to Chosroes, II. vii. 15; + favours the Green Faction, II. xi. 32; + writes to Chosroes, II. xiii. 1; + the years of his reign noted, I. xvi. 10, xxii. 17, + II. iii. 56, v. 1, xxviii. 11, xxx. 48 + +Justinus, uncle of Justinian, I. xi. 10; + an officer in the Roman army, I. viii. 3; + becomes emperor, I. xi. 1; + declines to adopt Chosroes, I. xi. 6 ff.; + reduces Hypatius from authority, I. xi. 39; + captures Peter of Arzanene during Celer's invasion, II. xv. 7; + supports the Iberians in their revolt from the Persians, I. xii. 5 ff.; + makes Justinian partner in the royal power, I. xii. 21; + appoints Procopius adviser to Belisarius, I. xii. 24; + his death, I. xiii. 1 + +Justus, nephew of Justinian, assists in making Hypatius prisoner, + I. xxiv. 53; + takes refuge with Bouzes in Hierapolis II. xx. 20; + they invite Belisarius to join them, II. xx. 21 ff.; + but later come to him in Europum, II. xx. 28; + commands a detachment of an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 15; + invades Persia apart from the other commanders, II. xxiv. 20; + invades the country about Taraunon with Peranius, II. xxv. 35; + his death, II. xxviii. 1 + + +Lazica, Lazi, later names for Colchis and Colchi (_q.v._), I. xi. 28; + its cities, II. xxix. 18; + an unproductive country, I. xii. 17 II. xxviii. 27; + imported salt and other necessities of life, II. xv. 5, xxviii. 27; + many fortresses there, II. xxx. 27; + difficult to traverse, II. xxix. 24, 25; + bulwark against the barbarians of the Caucasus, II. xxviii. 22; + its importance to Persia, II. xxviii. 18 ff.; + the scene of the story of Jason and Medea, II. xvii. 2; + the Lazi in ancient times allies of the Persians, II. xv. 15; + become allies of the Romans, II. xv. 16; + the people Christian, II. xxviii. 26; + Lazica claimed by the Persians, I. xi. 28; + forts of, abandoned by the Romans and occupied by the Persians, + I. xii. 19; + Chosroes refuses to return them to the Romans, I. xxii. 3; + finally given up by the Persians, I. xxii. 18; + invaded by Chosroes, I. xxiii. 12, II. xv. 1, xvii. 1 ff.; + limited subjection of the Lazi to the Romans, II. xv. 2-4; + placed under a Roman magistrate, II. iii. 39; + become discontented by reason of Roman misrule, II. xv. 6 ff.; + appeal to Chosroes, II. xv. 1, 12 ff.; + demanded from Chosroes by the Roman envoys, II. xxviii. 6; + Chosroes plans to populate it with Persians, II. xxviii. 17; + Lazi hostile to Persian rule, II. xxviii. 25 + +Lebanon, I. xiii. 5, II. viii. 2, xvi. 17, xix. 33 + +Libelarius of Thrace, Roman general, invades Mesopotamia, I. xii. 23; + reduced from office, I. xii. 24 + +Libyans, II. iii. 42 + +Ligurians, envoys of Vittigis to Chosroes, II. ii. 1 + +Longinus, commander of Isaurians, I. xviii. 7 + +Lucas, father of John, I. xvii. 44 + +Lycaones, in the army of Belisarius, I. xviii. 40 + + +Macedonians, founders of Seleucia and Ctesiphon, II. xxviii. 4 + +Maddeni, tribe of Saracens in Arabia, subject to the Homeritae, + I. xix. 14, I. xx. 9 + +Magi, advise Perozes to deceive the Ephthalitae, I. iii. 18 ff.; + entrap Arsaces, I. v. 19 ff.; + advice to Cabades at the siege of Amida, I. vii. 19; + announce to Chosroes that he will capture Sura, II. v. 9; + answer Cabades' enquiry with regard to Edessa, II. xiii. 9, 10; + guardians of the fire-sanctuary, II. xxiv. 2 + +Mamas, priest of Daras, assists in overthrowing the tyranny of John, + I. xxvi. 8 + +Marcellus, nephew of Justinian, appointed general, II. xxviii. 2 + +Marcellus, Roman commander at the battle of Daras I. xiii. 21; + commander of palace guards, sent by Theodora to assassinate John the + Cappadocian, I. xxv. 24 ff.; + wounded in the encounter, I. xxv. 29 + +Martinus, given as a hostage to the Persians, I. xxi. 27; + sent to the East, II. xiv. 9; + defends Daras against Chosroes, II. xiii. 16 ff.; + ordered to invade Persia with Valerianus, II., xxiv. 10; + General of the East, encamps at Citharizon, II. xxiv. 13; + follows Peter in invading Persia, II. xxiv. 19; + commands the centre at the battle of Anglon II. xxv. 17; + with Peter and Peranius defends Edessa against Chosroes, II. xxvi. 25 ff.; + deceived by the Persian commanders, II. xxvi. 44 ff., xxvii. 5, 6; + arranges a settlement with Chosroes, II. xxvii. 45, 46 + +Martyropolis, near the River Nymphius, I. viii. 22; + distance from Amida, I. xxi. 6; + besieged by the Persians, I. xxi. 5 ff.; + fears of Sittas and Hermogenes concerning its safety, I. xxi. 23; + siege abandoned by the Persians, I. xxi. 27; + near Phison, II. xxiv. 15 + +Mary, wife of Hypatius, tries to prevent her husband from going to the + hippodrome, I. xxiv. 23, 24 + +Massagetae, reported to be preparing to join the Persians, I. xxi. 13. + _See also_"Huns" + +Mebodes, a Persian official, sent as envoy to the Romans, I. xi. 25; + slanders Seoses, I. xi. 31; + persuades Cabades to leave a written declaration concerning + Chosroes, I. xxi. 17-19; + opposes the claim of Caoses, I. xxi. 20; + secures the election of Chosroes as king, I. xxi. 22; + his tragic death, I. xxiii. 25 ff. + +Medea, the tale of her adventure with Jason in Colchis, II. xvii. 2 + +Medes, the name used by Procopius as an equivalent for "Persians" + (_q.v._) + +Medic garments, called to Procopius' time "seric," I. xx. 9 + +Megas, bishop of Beroea, sent to Chosroes, II. vi. 17; + begs him to spare the Roman cities, II. vi. 18 ff.; + goes to Antioch, II. vii. 1; + fails to persuade the citizens of Antioch to pay money to Chosroes, + II. vii. 14; + his conference with Chosroes at Beroea, II. vii. 19 ff. + +Melitene, chief city of Armenia Minor, I. xvii. 22 + +Mermeroes, Persian general, invades Roman Armenia, I. xv. 1 ff.; + driven back by Dorotheus and Sittas, I. xv. 8; + invades Roman territory a second time, I. xv. 9; + defeated at Satala, I. xv. 12 ff.; + shares command of an invading army, I. xxi. 4; + lends an army to the relief of Petra, II. xxix. 13, xxx. 1 ff.; + forces the pass into Iberia, II. xxx. 8-10; + reaches Petra, II. xxx. 15; + taunts the Romans, II. xxx. 17; + leaving a garrison in Petra, starts back, II. xxx. 20; + attacked by Phoubelis and Goubazes, II. xxx. 22; + departs from Lazica with the greater part of his army, II. xxx. 32, 33 + +Mesopotamia, bounded by the Tigris and the Euphrates, I. xvii. 23; + its hot climate, II. xix. 31; + Persians accustomed to invade Roman territory from here, I. xvii. 25; + avoided by invading Persian army, I. xvii. 2; + invaded by the Persians, I. xxi. 4 ff. + +Michael, sanctuary of, in Daphne, burned by Chosroes, II. xi. 6, 12, 13; + temple of, at Tretum, II. xi. 7, 13 + +Mindouos, place near the Persian border, Justinian attempts to fortify it, + I. xiii. 2, xvi. 7 + +Mirranes, a Persian term (_lit._ "Mithra-son," denoting properly, not an + office, but a patrician family); _see_ Perozes 2; + also, commander in Petra, deceives Dagisthaeus, II. xxx. 7 + +Mocheresis, important city of Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Molatzes, commander of troops in Lebanon, brings succour to Antioch, + II. viii. 2; + flees precipitately with the soldiers, II. viii. 17-19 + +Monks, distinguished for piety, I. vii. 22, 24 + +Moors, II. ii. 8, iii. 46 + +Mopsuestia, a city of Cilicia, II. x. 2 + +Mundus, general in Illyricum, assists in quelling the Nika insurrection, + I. xxiv. 40 ff. + + +Nabedes, commander of the Persian soldiers in Nisibis, II. xviii. 9; + attacks the Roman troops before the city, II. xviii. 19 ff.; + general in Persarmenia, takes measures to urge the Romans toward + making peace, II. xxiv. 6; + takes up his position in Anglon, II. xxv. 6; + defeats the Roman armies, II. xxv. 20 ff. + +Narses, a Persarmenian, the emperor's steward, receives + Narses and Aratius when they desert to the Romans, I. xv. 31; + a eunuch, I. xxv. 24; + sent by Theodora to assist in the assassination of John the Cappadocian, + _ib._; + overhears his conversation with Antonina, I. xxv. 26 + +Narses, a Persarmenian, in company with Aratius defeats Sittas and + Belisarius, I. xii. 21, 22; + deserts to the Romans, I. xv. 31; + dismantles the sanctuaries in Philae at Justinian's order, I. xix. 37; + encamps with Valerianus near Theodosiopolis, II. xxiv. 12; + leads the attack at Anglon, II. xxv. 20; + dies bravely, II. xxv. 24; + brother of Isaac, II. xxiv. 14 + +Nicetas, father of the general John, I. xiii. 21, II. xix. 36, xxiv. 15 + +Nika insurrection, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 1 ff.; + significance of the name, I. xxiv. 10 + +Nile River, the Nobatae dwell along its banks, I. xix. 28, 29; + the island of Philae in it, I. xix. 34 + +Nisibis, distance from the Tigris, I. xi. 27; + from Daras, I. x. 14; + from Sisauranon, II. xix. 2; + bulwark of the Persian empire, II. xviii. 7; + its capture by the Persians, I. xvii. 25; + its territory invaded by Libelarius, I. xii. 23; + by Belisarius, II. xviii. 1 ff.; + negotiations with Chosroes there, I. xxii. 10 + +Nobatae, a people of upper Aegypt, I. xix. 28; + settled along the Nile by Diocletian, I. xix. 29 ff.; + receive annual payment from the Roman emperor, I. xix. 32, 33; + their religion, I. xix. 35 + +Nymphius River, near Martyropolis, I. viii. 22, xxi. 6; + forms boundary between the Roman and Persian territory, I. xxi. 6; + boundary of Arzanene, I. viii. 21, II. xv. 7 + + +Oasis, city in upper Aegypt, former home of the Nobatae, I. xix. 30 + +Obbane, on the Euphrates, distance from Barbalissum, II. xii. 4 + +Octava, place in Armenia, distance from Satala, I. xv. 9 + +Odonathus, ruler of the Saracens, husband of Zenobia, II. v. 5; + his services to the Romans, II. v. 6 + +Oenochalakon, place in Armenia, II. iii. 15 + +Olyvrius, emperor of the West, father-in-law of Areobindus, I. viii. 1 + +Orestes, the story of his flight from Tauris, I. xvii. 11 ff. + +Origenes, a senator, counsels moderation, I. xxiv. 26 ff. + +Orocasius, highest part of the city of Antioch, II. vi. 10 + +Orontes River, flows along by Antioch, II. vi. 10, viii. 3, 35 + +Osiris, worshipped by the Blemyes and Nobatae, I. xix. 35 + +Osroene, name applied to country about Edessa, I. xvii. 24; + its strongly fortified cities, I. xvii. 34 + +Osroes, ancient king of Edessa, I. xvii. 24 + + +Pacurius, king of Persia at the time of the truceless war with the + Armenians, I. v. 10; + entraps Arsaces, I. v. 16 ff.; + confines Arsaces in the Prison of Oblivion, I. v. 29; + flays Bassicius, I. v. 28; + grants favour to a friend of Arsaces, I. v. 30 ff. + +Palestine, bounded by the "Red Sea," I. xix. 2; + Saracens dwelling in it, I. xix. 10; + the objective of Chosroes' third invasion, II. xx. 18; + visited by the pestilence, II. xxii. 6 + +Palm Groves, held by Saracens of Arabia, I. xix. 8, 9, II. iii. 41; + presented to Justinian, I. xix. 10 ff. + +Palmyra, city of Phoenicia, II. i. 6 + +Parthians, their connection with the first Arsaces, II. iii. 32 + +Patriciolus, an officer in the Roman army, I. viii. 3 + +Patricias, the Phrygian, Roman general, I. viii. 2; + his army routed by Cabades, I. viii. 10-18; + his escape, I. viii. 19; + entraps Glones with two hundred Persians, I. ix. 5-18 + +Paulus, interpreter of Chosroes, II. vi. 22; + a Roman reared in Antioch, II. vi. 23; + presents the Persian demands at Hierapolis, II. vi. 22; + at Beroea, II. vii. 5; + at Antioch, II. viii. 4; + where he exhorts the citizens to abstain from their folly, II. viii. 7; + at Chalcis, II. xii. 1; + at Edessa, II. xii. 33; + a second time at Edessa, II. xxvi. 14, xxvii. 24, 45 + +Pearl, story of the, I. iv. 17-31 + +Peloponnesus, escapes plunder by the Huns, II. iv. 11 + +Pelusium, in Aegypt, the starting point of the pestilence, II. xxii. 6 + +Peranius, son of Gourgenes, king of Iberia, I. xii. 11; + commands a detachment of an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 15; + invades the country about Taraunon with Justus, II. xxv. 35; + with Peter and Martinus defends Edessa against + Chosroes, II. xxvi. 25 ff., xxvii. 42; + Chosroes demands that he and Peter be surrendered to him, II. xxvi. 38; + his death, II. xxviii. 1 + +Perozes, Persian king, wages war against the Ephthalitae, I. iii. 1, 8; + entrapped by the Ephthalitae, I. iii. 10 ff.; + escapes with his army, I. iii. 22; + his second expedition, I. iv. 1 ff.; + destroyed with his army by the Ephthalitae, I. iv. 14 ff.; + his famous pearl, I. iv. 14 + +Perozes, Persian general, I. xiii. 16; + interchange of letters with Belisarius and Hermogenes, I. xiv. 1 ff.; + address to his troops, I. xiv. 13 ff.; + defeated by Belisarius, I. xiv. 28 ff.; + punished by Cabades, I. xvii. 26 ff. + +Perozes, sons of, murder Symeon, II. iii. 3 + +Persarmenia, its trade with India, II. xxv. 3; + devastated by Sittas and Belisarius, I. xii. 20 + +Persarmenians, in the Persian army, I. xv. 1 + +Persians, worship the rising sun, I. iii. 20; + their fire-worship, II. xxiv. 2; + do not bury the dead, I. xi. 35, xii. 4; + their set character, II. xxviii. 25; + their trade in Indian silk, I. xx. 9; + the arrogance of their officials, I. xi. 33; + their custom of counting an army before and after a campaign, + I. xviii. 52 ff.; + their infantry inefficient, I. xiv. 25; + their bowmen quick, but inferior to those of the Romans, I. xviii. 32; + their skill in bridging rivers, II. xxi. 22; + maintain spies at public expense, I. xxi. 11; + suffer a severe defeat at the hands of the Ephthalitae, I. iv. 13, 14; + pay tribute to the Ephthalitae for two years, I. iv. 35; + make peace with Theodosius, I. ii. 15; + unable to prevent the fortification of Daras, I. x. 15; + capture Amida, I. vii. 29; + receive money from the Romans and give back Amida, I. ix. 4; + wage war with the Huns during the seven-years' peace with the Romans, + I. ix. 24; + seize certain forts in Lazica, I. xii. 19; + prevent the fortification of Mindouos, I. xiii. 7, 8; + defeated in battle at Daras, I. xiv. 47 ff.; + defeated in Persarmenia, I. xv. 8; + and in Armenia, I. xv. 16; + refrain from entering Roman territory by Mesopotamia, I. xvii. 25; + victorious in the battle on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 37; + invade Mesopotamia, I. xxi. 4; + besiege Martyropolis in vain, I. xxi. 5 ff.; + make peace with the Romans, I. xxii. 17, 18; + capture Sura, II. v. 25; + and Beroea, II. vii. 12 ff.; + capture and destroy Antioch, II. viii. 20 ff.; + capture Petra, II. xvii. 27; + besiege Edessa in vain, II. xxvi. 5 ff., xxvii. 46; + save Petra from capture by the Romans, II. xxix. 41 ff.; + suffer a severe defeat in Lazica, II. xxx. 39 ff. + +Pestilence, The, devastates the whole world, II. xxii. 1 ff.; + in Byzantium, II. xxii. 9 ff.; + in Persia, II. xxiv. 8, 12 + +Peter, captured as a boy in Arzanene by Justinus, II. xv. 7; + Roman general, sent to Lazica, I. xii. 9; + summoned to Byzantium, I. xii. 14; + bodyguard of Justinian, commander of infantry, I. xviii. 6; + at the battle on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 42; + favours invasion of Persia by Belisarius, II. xvi. 16; + attacked by the Persians before Nisibis, II. xviii. 16 ff.; + commands a detachment in an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 13; + precipitately enters Persia, II. xxiv. 18; + commands the right wing at the battle of Anglon, II. xxv. 17; + with Martinus and Peranius defends Edessa against Chosroes, + II. xxvi. 25 ff.; + Chosroes demands that he and Peranius be surrendered to him, II. xxvi. 38; + his base character and misrule in Lazica, II. xv. 6-8 + +Petra, built by Justinian in Lazica, II. xv. 10, xvii. 3, xxix. 20; + its impregnable defences, II. xvii. 18 ff.; + attacked by the Persians, II. xvii. 4 ff.; + besieged by Chosroes, II. xvii. 13 ff.; + captured by Chosroes, II. xvii. 26; + fortified with a garrison, II. xix. 48; + besieged by the Romans and Lazi, II. xxix. 11 ff.; + the siege abandoned, II. xxx. 11; + valour of the Persian defenders, II. xxix. 35; + monopoly established there by John Tzibus, II. xv. 11, xxix. 21 + +Petrae, ancient capital of the Arabs, I. xix. 20 + +Phabrizus, high Persian official, II. xxviii. 16; + employed by Chosroes for the furtherance of his plans, II. xxviii. 17; + attempts to destroy Goubazes, II. xxix. 2 ff.; + left as commander in Lazica by Mermeroes, II. xxx. 32; + his forces almost annihilated by the Lazi, II. xxx. 42 ff. + +Pharangium, fortress in Persarmenia, occupied by the Romans, I. xv. 18; + gold-mines of the Persians there, I. xv. 27, 29; + given over to the Romans, I. xv. 29, II. iii. 1; + its return demanded by Chosroes, I. xxii. 3; + given up by the Romans, I. xxii. 18; + near the source of the Boas River, II. xxix. 14 + +Pharas, an Erulian chief, at the battle of + Daras, I. xiii. 19, 25 ff., xiv. 32, 33, 39 + +Pharesmanes, of Colchis, an officer + in the Roman army, I. viii. 3 + +Pharsanses, a man of note in Lazica, II. xxix. 4; + his friendship sought by Phabrizus, II. xxix. 5; + saves Goubazes, II. xxix. 7 + +Phasis River, its source in the Taurus, I. xxv. 21; + its course through Lazica, II. xxix. 16; + its size and strong current, II. xxx. 25, 26; + strongly defended by the Lazi, II. xxx. 27; + forded by the Lazi, II. xxx. 37 + +Philae, fortress established by Diocletian on an island in the Nile + near Elephantina, I. xix. 34-36; + its temples dismantled by Justinian, I. xix. 36, 37 + +Philemouth, an Erulian chief, encamps near Martinus, I. xxiv. 14; + with Beros follows Peter into Persia, II. xxiv. 18 + +Phison, place in Armenia near Martyropolis, II. xxiv. 15 + +Phocas, made pretorian prefect in place of John the Cappadocian, + I. xxiv. 18 + +Phoenicia, II. xvi. 17 + +Phoubelis, a notable among the Lazi, with Dagisthaeus attacks Mermeroes, + II. xxx. 22 + +Pitius, a fortress in Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Pityaxes, Persian general at the battle of Daras, I. xiii. 16, xiv. 32, 38 + +Placillianae, palace In Byzantium, I. xxiv. 30 + +Pompeius, nephew of Anastasius, sent from the palace by Justinian, + I. xxiv. 19-21; + brought before Justinian as a prisoner, I. xxiv. 53; + his death, I. xxiv. 56 + +Pontic Romans, their location, II. xxix. 19 + +Pontus, visited by Orestes, I. xvii. 14 + +Potidaea, known in later times as Cassandria, captured by the Huns, + II. iv. 5 + +Priapus, worshipped by the Blemyes and Nobatae, I. xix. 35 + +Prison of Oblivion, in Persia, reason for the name, I. v. 8; + law regarding it suspended once in the case of Arsaces, I. v. 9-29; + Cabades confined therein, I. v. 7 + +Probus, nephew of Anastasius, sent by Justinus to Bosporus to + collect an army of Huns, I. xii. 6, 9 + +Proclus, quaestor, dissuades Justinus from adopting Chosroes, I. xi. 11 ff. + +Procopius of Caesarea, author of the _History of the Wars_, I. i. 1; + eye-witness of the events described, I. i. 3; + chosen adviser to Belisarius, I. i. 3, xii. 24; + in Byzantium at the time of the pestilence, II. xxii. 9; + had seen Cappadocia and Armenia, I. xvii. 17; + his frankness in writing, I. i. 5 + +Pylades, the story of the flight with Orestes from Tauris, I. xvii. 11 ff. + + +Red Sea, its location, extent, harbours, etc. (confused by Procopius with + the Arabian Gulf), I. xix. 2 ff., II. iii. 41 + +Rhecinarius, envoy to Chosroes, II. xxvii. 24, 25 + +Rhecithancus, of Thrace, commander of troops in Lebanon, objects to + invading Persia with Belisarius, II. xvi. 17 ff.; + eager to return to Lebanon, II. xix. 33, 34; + commands an army sent to Lazica, II. xxx. 29 + +Rhizaeum, a city near Lazica, II. xxix. 22, xxx. 14 + +Rhodopolis, important city of Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Romans, used by Procopius to designate the subjects of the empire of + Byzantium, and mentioned constantly throughout; + lack of discipline in Roman armies, I. xiv. 14; + their bowmen more efficient than those of the Persians, I. xviii. 34; + maintain spies at public expense, I. xxi. 11 + +Rufinianae, suburb of Byzantium, I. xxv. 21, 23 + +Rufinus, son of Silvanus, sent as an envoy to the Persians, I. xi. 24; + slanders Hypatius, I. xi. 38; + sent as ambassador to Hierapolis, I. xiii. 11; + treats with Cabades at Daras, I. xvi. 1 ff.; + reports to the emperor I. xvi. 10; + meets Chosroes on the Tigris, I. xxii. 1; + sent, to Byzantium, I. xxii. 7; + false report of his death, I. xxii. 9; + persuades Chosroes to give back the money brought by the ambassadors and + postpone the war, I. xxii. 13, 14; + slandered to the emperor, I. xxii. 15; + sent again as ambassador to Chosroes, I. xxii. 16; + brother of Timostratus, I. xvii. 44; + father of John, the ambassador, II. vii. 15 + + +Sabeiri Huns, their location, II. xxix. 15; + in the Persian army, I. xv. 1; + persuaded by Goubazes to form an alliance with him, II. xxix. 29; + receive promised money from Justinian, II. xxx. 28 + +Saccice, mother of Alamoundaras, I. xvii. 1 + +Samosata, city on the Euphrates, I. xvii. 22; + on the boundary of Euphratesia, I. xvii. 23 + +Saracens, experts at plundering, but not at storming cities, II. xix. 12; + in Persia, all ruled by Alamoundaras, I. xvii. 45; + some in alliance with the Romans, I. xviii. 46; + their king Odonathus, II. v. 5; + of Arabia, ruled by Arethas, I. xvii. 47; + receiving annual payments from the Romans, II. x. 23; + settled in the Palm Groves, I. xix. 7, 8; + and in Palestine, I. xix. 10; + cannibals in Arabia, I. xix. 15; + never mentioned in treaties, II. i. 5; + observe a religious holiday at the vernal equinox, II. xvi. 18; + dispute possession of Strata, II. i. 6; + in the army of Chosroes, II. xxvii. 30; + in the army of Azarethes, I. xvii. 1, xviii. 30; + with the army of Belisarius, I. xviii. 7, 26, 35, 36, II. xvi. 5; + wage war among themselves, II. xxviii. 12-14 + +Sarapanis, a city of Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Sarus River, in Cappadocia, I. xvii. 17 + +Satala, city in Armenia, its location, I. xv. 9, 10; + battle of, I. xv. 12 ff. + +Scanda, a city in Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Sebastopolis, a fortress of Lazica, II. xxix. 18 + +Seleucia, city on the Tigris, founded by the Macedonians, II xxviii. 4 + +Seleucia, distance from Antioch, II. xi. 1; + visited by Chosroes, _ib._ + +Senecius, body-guard of Sittas, given as a hostage to the Persians, + I. xxi. 27 + +Seoses, rescues Cabades from the Prison of Oblivion, I. vi. 4. 10; + receives the office of "adrastadaran salanes," I. vi 18, 19; + sent as envoy to the Romans, I. vi. 25; + slandered by Mebodes and brought to trial, I. xi. 31 ff.; + condemned to death, I. xi 37 + +Sergiopolis, city in Mesopotamia, II. v. 29; + citizens of, give much treasure to Chosroes, II. xx. 7; + saved from capture by Ambrus, II. xx. 10; + besieged In vain by Chosroes, II. xx. 11 ff. + +Sergius, an illustrious saint, II. v. 29 + +Sergius, of Edessa, II. xxiv. 4; + envoy to Chosroes with Constantianus, II. xxiv. 3; + a second time envoy to Chosroes with Const., II. xxviii. 3 ff. + +Sestus, city opposite Abydus on the Hellespont, II. iv. 9 + +Silentiarius, a title given to certain officials in the palace at + Byzantium, "privy councillors," II. xxii. 1, II. xxix. 31 + +Silvanus, father of Rufinus, I. xi. 24, xvi. 4 + +Simmas, Massagete chief, in the Roman army, I. xiii. 21, xiv. 44 + +Siphrios, a fortress, distance from Amida, I. viii. 10 + +Sisauranon, fortress in Mesopotamia, II. xix. 2; + attacked by Belisarius, II. xix. 4; + capitulates to Belisarius, II. xix. 23, 24 + +Sittas, Roman general, in company with Belisarius invades Persarmenia, + I. xii. 20, 21; + defeated by Narses and Aratius, I. xii. 22; + attacks the Persian army invading Armenia, I. xv. 3 ff.; + occupies the hills about Satala, I. xv. 10; + attacks the Persian army unexpectedly, I. xv. 12; + defeats the Tzani in battle and then wins them over by kindness, + I. xv. 24, 25; + proceeds to the East, I. xxi. 3; + awaits the Persian army at Attachas, I. xxi. 9; + opens negotiations with the Persians before Martyropolis, I. xxi. 23 ff.; + sent against the Armenians, II. iii. 8 ff.; + his death, II. iii. 25; + his valour and achievements, II. iii. 26 + +Snail, Gate of the, in the palace in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 43 + +Soinian Gate, in the wall of Edessa, II. xxvii. 41 + +Solomon, an Armenian, according to one report slew Sittas, II. iii. 27 + +Sophanene, district in Armenia, I. xxi. 6 + +Sophia, sanctuary of, destroyed by fire to the Nika insurrection, + I. xxiv. 9; + its treasures guarded by the priest Augustus, II. xxx. 53 + +Stephanacius, commander of Isaurians, I. xviii. 7 + +Stephanus, a physician of note, begs Chosroes to spare Edessa, + II. xxvi. 31 ff. + +Strata, its possession disputed by the Saracens, II. i. 6; + meaning of the name, II. i. 7; + unproductive, II. i. 11 + +Strategius, guardian of the royal treasures, sent as an envoy by Justinian, + II. i. 9; + his advice concerning Strata, II. i. 11 + +Summus, father of Julian, commander in Palestine, sent as an envoy by + Justinian, II. i. 9, 10; + his advice concerning Strata, II. i. 11 + +Sunicas, Massagete chief, in the Roman army, I. xiii. 20, xiv. 39. 40, 44; + charges the standard bearer of Baresmanas, I. xiv. 47; + kills Baresmanas, I. xiv. 60 + +Sunitae, march in the Persian army, I. xv. 1 + +Sura, a city on the Euphrates, I. xviii. 14, II. v. 8; + distance from Sergiopolis, II. v. 29; + besieged by Chosroes, II. v. 10 ff.; + bishop of, begs Chosroes to spare the city, II. v. 13 ff.; + captured by a stratagem and destroyed, II. v. 22 ff.; + a woman of, made captive by a barbarian in sight of Chosroes, + II. ix. 9, 10 + +Sycae, a suburb of Byzantium, modern "Galata," II. xxiii. 9 + +Symeon, Sanctuary of, at Amida, burned, I. ix. 18 + +Symeon, manager of the Persian gold-mine at Pharangium, I. xv. 27; + goes over to the Romans, I. xv. 28, 29; + presented with certain Armenian villages, II. iii. 1; + murdered by the sons of Perozes, II. iii. 2; + uncle of Amazaspes, II. iii. 3 + +Syria, open to invasion by the Persians, I. xvii. 34 ff., + II. xvi. 17, xix. 34; + attacked by Chosroes, II. v. 4, vi. 21 + +Syriac tongue, II. ii. 3 + + +Taraunon, a district In Persarmenia, invaded by Justus and Peranius, + II. xxv. 35 + +Tatianus, of Mopsuestia, quarter-master of the camp in Antioch, + witnesses the portent of the standards, II. x. 2 + +Taurians, The, in Celesene, I. xvii. 11 ff., 21 + +Taurus Mountains, The, their size and extent, I. x. 1, 2, xv. 20, xvii. 17 + +Theoctistus, commander of troops in Lebanon, brings succour to Antioch, + II. viii. 2; + flees precipitately with the soldiers, II. viii. 17-19; + objects to invading Persia with Belisarius, II. xvi. 17 ff.; + eager to return to Lebanon, II. xix. 33, 34; + commands a detachment in an army to invade Persia, II. xxiv. 13 + +Theodoric, leader of the Goths, I. viii. 3 + +Theodora, wife of Justinian, greatly beloved by him, I. xxv. 4; + her hatred of John the Cappadocian, _ib._; + counsels firmness in dealing with the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 33 ff.; + encourages Antonina in her plan to entrap John the Cappadocian, + I. xxv. 22; + succeeds in punishing him, I. xxv. 30; + her death, II. xxx. 49 + +Theodoras, a citizen of Daras, skilled in mechanics, II. xiii. 26 + +Theodorus, an official in the palace in Byzantium, superintends the work of + providing burial for the victims of the pestilence, II. xxiii. 6 ff. + +Theodosiopolis, its location, I. x. 18, xv. 2, II. xxiv. 12; + near the sources of the Euphrates and Tigris, I. xvii. 4; + fortified by Anastasius, I. x. 19; + near Bolum, I. xv. 32; + distance from Doubios, II. xxv. 1; + from Citharizon, II. xxiv. 13 + +Theodosiopolis, city near the Aborrhas River, II. xix. 29 + +Theodosius II., son of Arcadius, as a child is made the ward of the + Persian king Isdigerdes, I. ii. 1 ff.; + sends Anatolius as envoy to the Persians, I. ii. 12; + makes peace with the Persians, I. ii. 15; + Arsaces' abdication of the kingship of Armenia in his favour, II. iii. 35 + +Thermopylae, attacked by the Huns, II. iv. 10 + +Thessaly, plundered by the Huns, II. iv. 10 + +Thilasamon, village near Amida, I. ix. 14 + +Thomas, chief priest of Apamea, displays the wood of the cross, + II. xi. 16 ff.; + goes before Chosroes, II. xi. 20 ff.; + saves the wood of the cross, II. xi. 29, 30 + +Thomas, ambassador to the Persians, meets Chosroes on the Tigris, + I. xxii. 1 + +Thomas Gouzes, commander in Lazica, II. xxx. 5 + +Thrace, Thracians in the army of Belisarius, II. xix. 32, xxi. 4; + home of Coutzes and Bouzes, I. xiii. 5 + +Timostratus, brother of Rufinus, Roman officer, captured by Alamoundaras, + I. xvii. 43, 44 + +Tigris River, its source in Armenia, I. xvii. 4; + its course into Assyria, I. xvii. 5, 6; + distance from Nisibis, I. xi. 27; + its junction with the Euphrates, I. xvii. 22; + flows between Seleucia and Ctesiphon, II. xxviii. 5 + +Trajan, a guardsman, sent with Arethas into Assyria, II. xix. 15 ff.; + they return by another route, II. xix. 28 ff. + +Trapezus, city on the Euxine, II. xxix. 22, xxx. 14 + +Tretum, a place near Antioch where was a temple of Michael, II. xi. 7 + +Tribunianus, a Pamphylian, quaestor, I. xxiv. 11; + his dexterity in manipulating laws, I. xxiv. 16; + dismissed from office, I. xxiv. 17; + restored to office, I. xxv. 1, 2; + his death, I. xxv. 2 + +Tribunus, a physician, beloved by Chosroes, II. xxviii. 8 ff. + +Tripod, before the palace of the Persian king, where all must + sit who fell under the king's displeasure, I. xxiii. 28 + +Tripurgia, a place at Edessa, II. xxvii. 41 + +Tzani, called Sani in early times, I. xv. 21; + the source of the Boas River among them, II. xxix. 14; + conquered by the Romans, I. xv. 19 ff.; + become Christian, I. xv. 25; + reduced to subjection, II. iii. 39; + with the Roman army at Petra, II. xxix. 10, 41; + defend the Roman camp, II. xxx. 13; + return to their homes, II. xxx. 14 + + +Valerianus, appointed general of Armenia, II. xiv. 8; + receives Persian envoys, II. xxiv. 6-8; + reports to Justinian, II. xxiv. 9; + ordered to invade Persia with Martinus, II. xxiv. 10; + encamps near Theodosiopolis, II. xxiv. 12; + follows Peter in invading Persia, II. xxiv. 19; + commands the left wing at the battle of Anglon, II. xxv. 17 + +Vandals, II. ii. 8, iii. 46 + +Vararanes, Persian king, invades Roman territory, I. ii. 11 ff.; + concludes peace with the Romans, I. ii. 15 + +Varizes, title of a Persian general (_lit._ "victorious," properly a + family name), I. xii. 10 + +Varrames, son of Adergoudounbades, shares the secret of the sparing + of Chosroes, I. xxiii. 10; + reveals to Chosroes the true story, I. xxiii. 13; + made chanaranges, I. xxiii. 22 + +Veneti, name of one of the factions, I. xxiv. 2-6; + supported by Justinian, II. xi. 32; + also called the Blue Faction, _ib._ + +Venetian Colonnade, The, in Byzantium, I. xxiv. 49 + +Veredi, the government post horses, II. xx. 20 + +Vesta, _see_ Hestia + +Vitalianus, son of Patriciolus, an officer in the Roman army, I. viii. 3; + becomes tyrant, _ib._ + his hostility to Anastasius, I. xiii. 10; + his adviser Hermogenes, _ib._ + +Vittigis, king of the Goths, sends ambassadors to Chosroes, II. ii. 1; + they address Chosroes, II. ii. 4 ff.; + brought to Byzantium by Belisarius, II. iv. 13, xxi. 28; + remains in Byzantium, II. xiv. 10; + envoys of, one dies, the other remains in Persia, II. xiv. 11; + their interpreter captured, II. xiv. 12 + + +White Syrians, old name for the inhabitants of Armenia Minor, I. xvii. 21 + + +Zaberganes, misrepresents Mebodes to Chosroes, I. xxiii. 25, 26; + reproaches Chosroes, II. viii. 30 ff.; + at the bidding of Chosroes receives the envoys of Edessa, II. xxvi. 16-19 + +Zames, son of Cabades, disqualified from succeeding his father, I. xi. 4; + II. ix. 12; + plot to put him in power in place of Chosroes, I. xxiii. 4, 5; + slain by Chosroes, I. xxiii. 6 + +Zechi, their location, II. xxix. 15 + +Zeno, Roman emperor at the time of the Persian king Arsaces, I. iii. 8 + +Zenobia, city on the Euphrates, II. v. 4; + founded by Zenobia, II. v. 5; + Chosroes refrains from attacking it, II. v. 7 + +Zenobia, wife of Odonathus, founder of the city of Zenobia, II. v. 5 + +Zeuxippus, Baths of, destroyed by fire in the Nika insurrection, I. xxiv. 9 + + + + * * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Index errata: + + "Caisus" should read "Caisus" + + Under Aigan "Massagete" should read "Massagetae" Also under: Ascan + Simmas Sunicus + + Under Auxomis "Elephantina" should be "Elephantine" Also under: + Elephantina Philae + + Under Darras "Ammodius" should be "Ammodios" + + "Florentinus" should be "Florentius" + + Under Julian "Summas" should be "Summus" + + "Orocasius" should read "Orocasias" + + Under Phocus "pretorian" should read "praetorian"] + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS I AND II +(OF 8)*** + + +******* This file should be named 16764.txt or 16764.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/7/6/16764 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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