Zoe and Theodora part 51
121. Such was the shameful withdrawal from the Great City of the man who had once contested its throne. Still more shameful was his repulse before the castles which he attacked in succession. The...
Zoe and Theodora part 50
119. That event marked the change in their fortunes. After being buoyed up by their hopes for a brief interval, and (it must be admitted) by the serious condition of our own affairs, their...
Zoe and Theodora part 49
117. After completing his arrangements and taking a fair number of prisoners, Tornicius retired to his own entrenchments in good order. For his part, the emperor decided against any fresh attempt at surprise. Instead,...
Zoe and Theodora part 48
The enemy then worked round to their rear and wiped them out to a man, some by the sword, others with their spears. Actually the majority were jostled by their own comrades, slipped off...
Zoe and Theodora part 47
112. The emperor, after he had recovered his self-composure, thought it would be disgraceful if he did not get together some soldiers to oppose them: they would have to be prevented from making attacks...
Zoe and Theodora part 46
110. As no favourable reply was forthcoming from the persons to whom these remarks had been addressed — actually they poured forth a torrent of abuse, with all manner of disgraceful epithets, both on...
Zoe and Theodora part 45
At break of day they were all in position before the walls, not in a confused mob, nor massed together in one great body, but disposed in a soldier-like way and giving every sign...
Zoe and Theodora part 44
These men had been quartered in the depths of Iberia, where they were engaged in repelling a barbarian invasion. There was no hope of succour for Constantine from abroad; safety for him depended on...
Zoe and Theodora part 43
For his part, once he was garbed in an emperor’s apparel, he lorded it over his supporters in a dictatorial and truly imperial fashion, as if he had already won success in his rebellion....
Zoe and Theodora part 42
102. It happened that at that particular time there was a Macedonian colony living in the neighbourhood of the city. Prominent among them were people who had originally pitted in Adrianopolis. They were crafty...