Chronographia (Michael Psellus)

BASIL II (976—1025)

experienced in siege warfare, in all types of ambushes, and in the struggles of pitched battles; Phokas was even more vigorous and noble in hand-to-hand action than Skleros. For any man who received a blow from him 323* immediately lost his life; and if he shouted from a distance, he threw an entire phalanx into confusion. This man, therefore, 5 having divided the forces under him and arranged them into companies, turned the opposing phalanx to flight not once but many times, even against the great multitude of the enemy. Indeed, he was as much smaller in numbers than his opponents as he appeared superior and more noble in skill and stratagems: Military maneuvers or tricks used to outwit an enemy.. 10

VIII. Eventually, the leaders of the opposing ranks grew bold toward one another and chose to engage in single combat: A duel between two champions to decide the outcome of a battle. by mutual agreement. And so, riding together into a space between the armies, they saw one another and were immediately engaged in combat. 15 First, the usurper Skleros, not restraining his momentum but immediately overstepping the rules of the contest, reached Phokas and struck him as hard as he could on the head, putting all the strength of his hand into the force of the charge. The one who had been struck, losing control of 20

p. 8 his horse’s bridle for a moment due to the unexpected nature of the blow, soon gathered his wits again; | striking his attacker back in the same spot, he ended Skleros’s warlike momentum and prepared him for flight.

IX. This appeared to be a more complete and public judgment for both men. Skleros, being at a total loss and 25 no longer able to resist Phokas, yet ashamed to run to the Emperor, made a plan that was neither very wise nor very safe. For leaving the Roman borders: The Byzantines referred to themselves as Romans (Rhomaioi) and their land as the Roman Empire. he marched with all his forces into the land of the Assyrians: An archaizing term Psellos uses to refer to the Arab/Abbasid territories to the East.. Presenting himself to King 30 Chosroes Psellos uses the ancient Persian name "Chosroes" to refer to the Buyid ruler Adud al-Dawla, who governed the Abbasid Caliphate at the time., he stirred up suspicion; for the King, fearing the great number of men and perhaps suspecting this sudden incursion, made them prisoners and held them in a secure fortress.