And after GAINAS (GAIUS?) the rebel had perished, the HUNS crossed the river ESTROS (ISTER), and having captured and laid waste the cities in TARKI (TURKEY), hail fell upon them and killed the greater number of them, and the remainder fled.
And after these things ARCADIUS died and he left as king his son THEODOSIUS, a little boy eight years old. Now HONORIUS had no sons, and as he was alone with them and they were afraid lest some men might act treacherously in respect of him. Therefore when he was dying ARCADIUS made a Will, and made YAZDAGARD, king of the PERSIANS, guardian of his son. When YAZDAGARD received the Will, he gladly took care of THEODOSIUS, and he sent an instructor from his own house for him. And he wrote to the nobles, saying, that if they dealt treacherously with the boy they would have with him a war which would never cease. For this reason Christianity increased among the PERSIANS, and MARUTHA, bishop of MAIPERKAT, acted as intermediary between them. And THEODOSIUS and his sister PULCHERIA were brought up by their uncle HONORIUS.
THEODOSIUS THE LESS, his son, [reigned] forty-two years. At the beginning of his reign 'ALAREKOS (ALARICUS), an African, rebelled, and he collected an army and came to ITALY, and committed many evil deeds, and STILICO, the Eparch, was killed. And HONORIUS the king died in RHOMI. And CONSTANTIUS, the father of VALENTINIANUS, reigned and was killed. And 'IWANNIS, one of the scribes, seized the kingdom. And he sent to THEODOSIUS [asking] him to confirm him in it. And the king having bound the ambassadors in fetters, sent the Strategos ADHARBURIUS against the tyrant. The tyrant, however, defeated him, and he seized the Strategos and bound him in fetters. And again THEODOSIUS sent 'AKAPPORA, the son of ADHARBURIUS, with an army, and by the prayers of the God-fearing king an angel in the form of a shepherd appeared and enabled them to cross the lake of water on foot. And they found the gates of the city open, and they went in and they brought out the Strategos and they killed 'IWANNIS. Then THEODOSIUS made VALENTINIANUS, [70] the son of his aunt, CAESAR, and sent him to RHOMI with his mother, and subsequently he sent him the royal crown. And VALENTINIANUS (III?) reigned thirty-two years.
And THEODOSIUS fasted and prayed continually, and on the fourth and sixth days of the week he kept the evening fast. And when the bishop of HEBHRON died, the king took his tunic, filthy though it was, and put it on so that he might be blessed thereby. At this time YAZDAGARD, king of the PERSIANS, died, and his son WARHARAN succeeded him for twenty-two years. And he broke the peace, and the PERSIANS took up arms against the RHOMAYE, and the RHOMAYE defeated and carried the PERSIANS away captive. And after these things there was peace, although the persecution of the Christians never ceased durmg the whole time of WARHARAN.
And after the peace the PERSIANS made bold and went up against RAS'AIN, and they returned therefrom in shame. And they went up a second time and attacked it with great violence, but they were defeated, and the RHOMAYE carried away seven thousand captives from the country of 'ARZAN. These captives Bishop ACACIUS of 'AMID bought and set free, having sold the gold and silver chalices and patens of the churches.
At this time the BURGANZIS people, who lived by the craft of the carpenter, and dwelt in peace—the HUNS having carried them away as captives—believed and were baptized. And straightway three thousand of them destroyed ten thousand HUNS! and they were confirmed in the Faith. And THEODOSIUS sent for VALENTINIANUS, his aunt's son, and brought him to CONSTANTINOPLE, and he gave him his daughter EUDOXIA to wife, and VALENTINIANUS took her and went to RHOMI. And at this time the strife between the kingdoms of the RHOMAYE and the PERSIANS concerning the persecution of the Christians in PERSIA increased. And the king of the PERSIANS ill-treated many merchants, and seized their merchandise, and he cheated the workers in gold who were Christians, and who were employed by him, and would not pay them their full wages. Because of these things the RHOMAYE descended upon ARMENIA and took the people captives. And they laid waste the country and killed the seven generals of the PERSIAN Army; and the remainder of them were drowned in the EUPHRATES, especially the ARABS, whom they had brought to help them. And after these things there was peace and the persecution died down.
But the Barbarians went forth and took captives many of the people of TARKI (TURKEY) and ILLYRICUM. And [71] a comet appeared, a portent in the heavens, and many people said that the end [of the king] was nigh by reason of the portents which were increasing [in number]. And one day, when King THEODOSIUS was riding his horse as usual through the royal city, and was going out into the open country to enjoy a ride. the horse stumbled and fell, and the vertebrae of the king's neck was crushed in, and they put him on a portable bed. And when he saw that his end was near, he called PULCHERIA, his sister, and informed her that MARCIANUS must reign after him. And he also called MARCIANUS and commanded him to administer public affairs and to rule in the fear of God. And after two days he died.
After THEODOSIUS THE LESS, MARCIANUS [reigned] seven years. This Emperor took to wife PULCHERIA, the sister of king THEODOSIUS, who had devoted herself during the whole period of her brother's life to the ascetic practices and to the life of contemplation of those who dwelt in monasteries (1). But she held MARCIANUS in contempt, even though she lived with him openly after the death of THEODOSIUS. And because under the false and lying pretence that she would never consent to have union with a man and defile her chastity, certain bishops, who were respectors of persons (i.e. hypocrites), and who were inclined to believe in the doctrine of the Two Persons [of CHRIST], persuaded her to consent. And they laid an ordinance on all the people that on one Sabbath in the year they should abstain from [eating] flesh on her behalf, and should eat the foods which the monks and the nuns usually ate. Then was PULCHERIA persuaded, and she denied her covenant, and stripped off her nun's garb. And within two years she assembled the Council in CHALCEDON, she the woman who together with the confession of the Two Natures had also laid the ordinance of the abstinence [from meat on] the Sabbath before the Lord's Fast (i.e. Lent) on those who accepted it. When the orthodox EGYPTIANS who were in EGYPT saw that the [doctrine] of the Two Natures [of CHRIST] had been laid upon them together with the abstinence from meat on that Sabbath, they abstained not only from flesh, but also from all the things which are derived from the flesh of beasts, [72] namely milk, cheese, oil and eggs, and they held [that Sabbath] to be like the other fast days.
And in the sixth year of MARCIANUS, VALENTINIANUS of RHOMI was killed. And from this moment [the city], even like the church, was rent in twain. For it was the law that when he of CONSTANTINOPLE died, the king stood by the consent (or, accord) of the king who was in RHOMI. And similarly when he of RHOMI died, RHOMI stood by the consent of the king who was in CONSTANTINOPLE. And because MARCIANUS stood without the consent of VALENTINIANUS of RHOMI in the choice of PULCHERIA who committed fornication with him, in like manner the RHOMAYE without the consent of MARCIANUS set up a king for themselves, Therefore the writers who were in the East have exercised care only in respect of the kings of CONSTANTINOPLE, and have written down [their names] one after the other only, and they call them 'Kings of the RHOMAYE'. And because MARCIANUS and PULCHERIA reigned in their old age they died without seed.
After MARCIANUS, LEO [reigned] eighteen years. This Emperor was a TARK (TURK) by race, but was a tribune by rank; and he was chosen by the Council and reigned. That year FIRUZ reigned over the PERSIANS after WARHARAN, the son of YAZDAGARD. And he made war with the RHOMAYE and persecuted the Christians. And LEO gave his daughter ARIADNE to ZAYNON (ZENO), and magnified him in the kingdom, and made him Strategos of all the East. And he made BASILISCUS Strategos of TARKI (TURKEY). And he built CALONICUS, and it was called LEONTOPOLIS.
At that time there was a great fire in CONSTANTINOPLE, and the fire raged from sea to sea. The king fled to the passage of MAR MAMA, and lived there for six months. And he built the great harbour of NEON AMBOLON (The New Gate). And he made a law that no man should work on the First Day of the Week, and that no man should play on any instrument of music, but that every man should occupy himself in [his] church, And LEO proclaimed LEONTINUS, his daughter's son, that is to say, the son of ZAYNON, CAESAR, when he was still a child six years old; and he reigned one year during the life of [73] the king. Then king LEO fell ill through a disease of the bowels and died.
After LEO, LEONTINUS. During the one year which he reigned his father ZAYNON himself used to pay homage to him. His mother treated him as if a child and led him into error, saying, 'When thy father is bowing down before thee take the crown which is on thy head place it on his head'. Having done this ZAYNON seized the kingdom, and he made his son LEONTINUS to exercise the chief authority as Consul. After a few days the boy died, and many suspected that his father and his mother had put him to death.
After LEONTINUS, his father ZAYNON [reigned] fifteen years. And when WAIRINA, the wife of LEO THE GREAT, advised (or, persuaded) ZAYNON concerning a certain matter, and he would not accept [her advice], she cast him aside and set up her brother BASILISCUS as king. Then BASILISCUS, who was dwelling in HERAKLEIA, rebelled against ZAYNON, and he was proclaimed king, and he made his son MARCUS CAESAR. Then ZAYNON being afraid of WAIRINA, and fearing lest his murder might be contrived secretly; fled to ISAURIA because he came from that country, and his wife 'ARGANIA, that is 'IRADNI, fled to him secretly. And BASILISCUS and his son MARK reigned two years, and they acted wickedly. For at the beginning he professed to be orthodox, and he made Saint TIMOTHY and the bones of Saint DIOSCURUS to be brought back to ALEXANDRIA. And he wrote an Encyclical Letter, and cursed the COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON. But at a later period he changed [his policy], and proclaimed it [good].
Now whilst BASILISCUS was laying bare the instability of his mind, ZAYNON was consolidating his power, and he collected an army and came to attack him. Then BASILISCUS sent 'ARMATIS, the captain of his host, to join battle with him. And ZAYNON sent a message to 'ARMATIS secretly, and took an oath to him that he would make his son CAESAR, and 'ARMATIS himself Strategos. Thus 'ARMATIS acted treacherously towards his lord, and joined himself to ZAYNON, and they went to CONSTANTINOPLE. Then BASILISCUS [74] took his wife and his sons and fled to the church. And ZAYNON sent and had the purple apparel of royalty stripped off from him and from his wife and his sons, and he gave them the promise that they should not be murdered. And he sent them to LAMIS, a camp of CAPPADOCIA, to be imprisoned in one of the towers, and being closed in their faces they died miserably. And ZAYNON having established himself in the kingdom fulfilled his oath and made the son of 'ARMATIS CAESAR, and commanded an equestrian display to be carried out; and the two sat together. And ZAYNON promoted 'ARMATIS to the rank of Strategos. Then ZAYNON pondered in his mind and said, 'Now that 'ARMATIS hath waxed strong it is not going too far (i.e. the idea is not too far-fetched) to think that just as he betrayed BASILISCUS, he may also dig a pit for me. Therefore,' he said, 'I have performed that which I swore [to do for him], and now 'ARMATIS, who transgressed (i.e. broke) the oath [of fidelity] which [he swore] to BASILICUS shall die.' And having slain 'ARMATIS, he shaved his son (i.e. gave him the tonsure) and made him a reader, and afterwards he commanded and he became Metropolitan of HELLESPONTUS that is CYZICUS. And this because he was worthy to wear the royal purple!
And in the ninth year of ZAYNON, BALASH reigned over the PERSIANS four years. And in his eleventh year, after BALASH, KAWAD, the son of FiRUZ, reigned eleven years. And in the days of ZAYNON the SAMARITANS rebelled and set up a certain YUSTOS (JUSTUS) as their king. And he slew many of the Christians, and he went to CAESAREA and burnt the church of PROCOPIUS. And the RHOMAYE of PALESTINE gathered together, and they made war on the SAMARITANS and defeated [them], and they sent the head of their king to ZAYNON. And he made the synagogue of the SAMARITANS into a great church [in honour of] Our Lady (MARINA) (MARIA). And they also burnt the synagogue of the JEWS in ANTIOCH, and many of the JEWS therewith; and they also burnt the bones of their dead which were in the graves. And after these things he fell sick of a disease of the bowels and died.
After ZAYNON SILENTIARI, ANASTASIUS [reigned] twenty-seven years. This Emperor was one of the SILENTIARII, and as soon as he became king he destroyed the children who were studying letters, because he was made a mock of by them. [75] And in his eighth year KAWAD's brother, ZAMASP, rebelled against him and reigned two years. And KAWAD fled and collected an army and came against his brother, and he defeated him and killed him. And he reigned afterwards thirty years.
At this time NICOPOLIS was overthrown, and all the inhabitants thereof, with the exception of the bishop and two of his companions, were buried in the ruins. And a comet appeared for many days, and the locusts came and destroyed [everything], and there was a great famine in BETH NAHRIN (MESOPOTAMIA); and an immense mass of fire also appeared in the northern quarter [of the heavens], and it fumed brilliantly the whole night (Aurora Borealis?).
And after a short time the HUNS went forth from the north-west into the territory of the PERSIANS for the following reason. Now, in the days of ZAYNON the HUNS sent a message to FIRUZ, the king of the PERSIANS, and they told him that the subsidy which he was giving them was insufficient for them, and that the RHOMAYE were giving them double as much. Therefore the PERSIANS must either give as much as the RHOMAYE, or they [the HUNS] would make ready for war. Then FIRUZ lied to them and promised to give [a larger subsidy], and on this condition the HUN envoys withdrew. And FIRUZ having strengthened his army, slew the HUNS who had been left behind to receive the subsidy, and he gave chase to those who had departed. Then a certain merchant, a GREEK from APAMEA, who was with the HUNS, encouraged them and advised them to offer up incense in the place wherein the oath had been made, and [told them] that God would sweep away the PERSIANS who had lied. And when the HUNS had done this they met the PERSIANS in war, and they slew FIRUZ and laid waste PERSIA, and returned to their own country. Because of this when KAWAD reigned, he held bitter enmity against the RHOMAYE.
And the PERSIANS collected their armies and went forth against the countries of the RHOMAYE, and they captured THEODOSIOPOLIS of ARMENIA, which is 'ARZAN-RUM, but he treated the inhabitants thereof in a merciful fashion; then the governor who was in CONSTANTINOPLE took the city. And in the month of TESHRIN (OCTOBER?) he delivered a fierce attack on 'AMID. And when the winter supervened the PERSIANS suffered sorely, for their garments were reduced to rags (?), and their bows lost their spring through the moisture of the air. And the heads of their battering-rams did not breach the wall, because those who were inside the city bound chains round the wooden portions ('arbane) of the platform, [76] and so made them to receive the force of the heads of the battering rams. And they also lowered planks of wood into the ditch and covered them over with earth during the night, so that the PERSIANS might not see. And when about five hundred PERSIANS with their armaments came near, they set planks of wood (ladders?) against the wall so that they might ascend by them. And they covered the 'bridges' with the hides of oxen, and they made a mighty battering ram, and a staging path on which it might be pushed up. Then those who were inside the city poured a filthy liquid which was mixed with resin on the 'mule' (i.e. battering ram) and they made trenches in it (the ground?), and they set fire secretly under the planks of wood which were under the battering ram. And when about six hours [had passed] the PERSIANS were checked and could not pass up over those trenches; and the fire blazed up from below. And the battering ram collapsed, and the PERSIANS were overwhelmed and burnt to death. And the king was put to shame, especially by the foul insults which those who were inside the city cast upon him. And he asked the citizens to give him a little money and [promised] to go away; now if they had only given to him courteous speech he would have gone. They, however, returned answer very contemptuously, saying, 'It is for us to demand from thee the price of the vegetables and forage which thou hast eaten'. When he perceived their arrogance he persisted and, according to what he himself said, that night CHRIST appeared to him in a dream and said unto him, 'After three days I Will hand over the city to thee, because the inhabitants thereof have behaved pridefully'.
Now, in the west by the TRIPOGRIN (THREE TOWERS?), there was a watch tower of the monks of the Monastery of JOHN OF THE 'URTAYE, and opposite to this tower, outside, was encamped a certain warden of the marches, KANREK (KANDEK, CANDAULES?) the Lame, a cunning man. And it happened that one night there was a fog and a violent rainstorm, and a certain man had made a feast for the monks, and he had made them to drink wine and they were drowned in sleep. Then a certain robber chief, a seditious man, and a thief, whose name was KUTRANA, used to go out continually [from the city] and steal from and plunder the possessions of the PERSIANS. And as he went out that night according to custom KANREK saw him and followed him, and he also drew nigh to the wall, to the opening through which KUTRANA (KUTRANGA) used to go in and come out And the monks did not cry out (i.e. challenge him) and he knew that they were asleep. And the PERSIANS brought ladders and ascended and slew the monks. And when the governor perceived [what had happened] he came with [77] lights, but the PERSIANS easily transfixed the bearers of the lights with their arrows. And when the dawn came the king and his troops set ladders upright [against the walls] and went up.
One day the citizens locked the PERSIANS up in that tower, and they began to destroy the tower from the base thereof so that the PERSIANS might be overwhelmed in the ruins. Then the PERSIANS obtained possession of another tower, and then of another tower, and several others. And they went into the city, and they opened the gates; and killed eighty thousand people therein. Only the church of the Forty Martyrs [escaped]. This was full of people, and the governor of the ARMENIANS seized it, and persuaded the king, and saved it. Then the king sent the gold, and the silver, and the copper by the river DEKLATH (TIGRIS) to his own country, and of the people who remained they killed one in every ten, because very many of the PERSIANS had been killed. And they dressed LEONTIUS and KURA, the judges, in filthy garments, and they threw the entrails of pigs round their necks, and they mounted them on sows, and men made a proclamation saying, '[Here are] the governors who have not governed well, and who have permitted the king to be disgraced; thus are they disgraced'.
When ANASTASIUS the king heard these things he suffered not a little. He sent five generals against NISIBIS, and they were not able to capture it. And he commanded a city to be built by the side of the mountain as a place of refuge for the Army, and it was built where DARYAWASH (DARIUS) was killed, and for that reason was called 'DARA'. And it was finished in three years with marvellous buildings and it was named 'ANASTASIOPOLIS'. ANASTASIUS also made a statue on a pillar, because the statue of THEODOSIUS fell down during the earthquake when NEO-CAESAREA was overwhelmed, besides the Church of St. GREGORY, the worker of wonders. And the COLOSSUS of RODOS (RHODES) also fell down. And the king sent gold for men to uncover (i.e. dig out) the dead bodies of those who were suffocated that they might be buried.
And VITALIANUS the tyrant rebelled. and the king bound him in fetters and shut him up in prison. And in the twenty-second year of ANASTASIUS, ARMENIA rebelled against the RHOMAYE, and he sent troops against the ARMENIANS and destroyed some of them, and he reduced ARMENIA again to the subjugation of the RHOMAYE. And in the year eight hundred and thirty-one (= A.D. 520) he died in peace.
Return to Chronography's Table of Contents
Return to Historical Sources Menu
Return to History Workshop Menu