WhiletheRomanempirewasattackedbytheTurksintheEast，east，andtheNormansintheWest，theagedsuccessorofMichaelsurrenderedthesceptretothehandsofAlexius，anillustriouscaptain，andthefounderoftheComneniandynasty。
TheprincessAnne，hisdaughterandhistorian，observes，inheraffectedstyle，thatevenHerculeswasunequaltoadoublecombat；and，onthisprinciple，sheapprovesahastypeacewiththeTurks，whichallowedherfathertoundertakeinpersonthereliefofDurazzo。Onhisaccession，Alexiusfoundthecampwithoutsoldiers，andthetreasurywithoutmoney；yetsuchwerethevigorandactivityofhismeasures，thatinsixmonthsheassembledanarmyofseventythousandmen，^69andperformedamarchoffivehundredmiles。HistroopswereleviedinEuropeandAsia，fromPeloponnesustotheBlackSea；hismajestywasdisplayedinthesilverarmsandrichtrappingsofthecompaniesofHorse—guards；andtheemperorwasattendedbyatrainofnoblesandprinces，someofwhom，inrapidsuccession，hadbeenclothedwiththepurple，andwereindulgedbythelenityofthetimesinalifeofaffluenceanddignity。Theiryouthfulardormightanimatethemultitude；buttheirloveofpleasureandcontemptofsubordinationwerepregnantwithdisorderandmischief；andtheirimportunateclamorsforspeedyanddecisiveactiondisconcertedtheprudenceofAlexius，whomighthavesurroundedandstarvedthebesiegingarmy。TheenumerationofprovincesrecallsasadcomparisonofthepastandpresentlimitsoftheRomanworld:therawleviesweredrawntogetherinhasteandterror；andthegarrisonsofAnatolia，orAsiaMinor，hadbeenpurchasedbytheevacuationofthecitieswhichwereimmediatelyoccupiedbytheTurks。ThestrengthoftheGreekarmyconsistedintheVarangians，theScandinavianguards，whosenumberswererecentlyaugmentedbyacolonyofexilesandvolunteersfromtheBritishIslandofThule。UndertheyokeoftheNormanconqueror，theDanesandEnglishwereoppressedandunited；abandofadventurousyouthsresolvedtodesertalandofslavery；theseawasopentotheirescape；and，intheirlongpilgrimage，theyvisitedeverycoastthataffordedanyhopeoflibertyandrevenge。TheywereentertainedintheserviceoftheGreekemperor；andtheirfirststationwasinanewcityontheAsiaticshore:butAlexiussoonrecalledthemtothedefenceofhispersonandpalace；andbequeathedtohissuccessorstheinheritanceoftheirfaithandvalor。^70ThenameofaNormaninvaderrevivedthememoryoftheirwrongs:theymarchedwithalacrityagainstthenationalfoe，andpantedtoregaininEpirustheglorywhichtheyhadlostinthebattleofHastings。TheVarangiansweresupportedbysomecompaniesofFranksorLatins；
andtherebels，whohadfledtoConstantinoplefromthetyrannyofGuiscard，wereeagertosignalizetheirzealandgratifytheirrevenge。Inthisemergency，theemperorhadnotdisdainedtheimpureaidofthePauliciansorManichaeansofThraceandBulgaria；andthesehereticsunitedwiththepatienceofmartyrdomthespiritanddisciplineofactivevalor。^71ThetreatywiththesultanhadprocuredasupplyofsomethousandTurks；andthearrowsoftheScythianhorsewereopposedtothelancesoftheNormancavalry。Onthereportanddistantprospectoftheseformidablenumbers，Robertassembledacouncilofhisprincipalofficers。\"Youbehold，\"saidhe，\"yourdanger:itisurgentandinevitable。Thehillsarecoveredwitharmsandstandards；andtheemperoroftheGreeksisaccustomedtowarsandtriumphs。Obedienceandunionareouronlysafety；andIamreadytoyieldthecommandtoamoreworthyleader。\"Thevoteandacclamationevenofhissecretenemies，assuredhim，inthatperilousmoment，oftheiresteemandconfidence；andthedukethuscontinued:\"Letustrustintherewardsofvictory，anddeprivecowardiceofthemeansofescape。Letusburnourvesselsandourbaggage，andgivebattleonthisspot，asifitweretheplaceofournativityandourburial。\"Theresolutionwasunanimouslyapproved；and，withoutconfininghimselftohislines，Guiscardawaitedinbattle—arraythenearerapproachoftheenemy。Hisrearwascoveredbyasmallriver；hisrightwingextendedtothesea；hislefttothehills:norwasheconscious，perhaps，thatonthesamegroundCaesarandPompeyhadformerlydisputedtheempireoftheworld。^72
[Footnote69:MuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。ix。p。136，137
observes，thatsomeauthorsPetrusDiacon。Chron。Casinen。l。
iii。c。49composetheGreekarmyof170，000men，butthatthehundredmaybestruckoff，andthatMalaterrareckonsonly70，000；aslightinattention。ThepassagetowhichhealludesisintheChronicleofLupusProtospata，Script。Ital。tom。v。p。
45。Malaterral。iv。c。27speaksinhigh，butindefinitetermsoftheemperor，cumcopiisinnumerabilbus:liketheApulianpoet，l。iv。p。272:—
Morelocustarummontesetpiannateguntur。]
[Footnote70:SeeWilliamofMalmsbury，deGestisAnglorum，l。
ii。p。92。AlexiusfidemAnglorumsuspicienspraecipuisfamiliaritatibussuiseosapplicabat，amoremeorumfiliotranscribens。OdericusVitalisHist。Eccles。l。iv。p。508，l。
vii。p。641relatestheiremigrationfromEngland，andtheirserviceinGreece。]
[Footnote71:SeetheApulian，l。i。p。256。ThecharacterandthestoryoftheseManichaeanshasbeenthesubjectofthelivthchapter。]
[Footnote72:SeethesimpleandmasterlynarrativeofCaesarhimself，Comment。deBell。Civil。iii。41—75。ItisapitythatQuintusIciliusM。Guicharddidnotlivetoanalyzetheseoperations，ashehasdonethecampaignsofAfricaandSpain。]
Againsttheadviceofhiswisestcaptains，Alexiusresolvedtorisktheeventofageneralaction，andexhortedthegarrisonofDurazzotoassisttheirowndeliverancebyawell—timedsallyfromthetown。HemarchedintwocolumnstosurprisetheNormansbeforedaybreakontwodifferentsides:hislightcavalrywasscatteredovertheplain；thearchersformedthesecondline；andtheVarangiansclaimedthehonorsofthevanguard。Inthefirstonset，thebattle—axesofthestrangersmadeadeepandbloodyimpressiononthearmyofGuiscard，whichwasnowreducedtofifteenthousandmen。TheLombardsandCalabriansignominiouslyturnedtheirbacks；theyfledtowardstheriverandthesea；butthebridgehadbeenbrokendowntocheckthesallyofthegarrison，andthecoastwaslinedwiththeVenetiangalleys，whoplayedtheirenginesamongthedisorderlythrong。Onthevergeofruin，theyweresavedbythespiritandconductoftheirchiefs。Gaita，thewifeofRobert，ispaintedbytheGreeksasawarlikeAmazon，asecondPallas；lessskilfulinarts，butnotlessterribleinarms，thantheAtheniangoddess:^73thoughwoundedbyanarrow，shestoodherground，andstrove，byherexhortationandexample，torallytheflyingtroops。^74HerfemalevoicewassecondedbythemorepowerfulvoiceandarmoftheNormanduke，ascalminactionashewasmagnanimousincouncil:\"Whither，\"hecriedaloud，\"whitherdoyefly?Yourenemyisimplacable；anddeathislessgrievousthanservitude。\"
Themomentwasdecisive:astheVarangiansadvancedbeforetheline，theydiscoveredthenakednessoftheirflanks:themainbattleoftheduke，ofeighthundredknights，stoodfirmandentire；theycouchedtheirlances，andtheGreeksdeplorethefuriousandirresistibleshockoftheFrenchcavalry。^75Alexiuswasnotdeficientinthedutiesofasoldierorageneral；buthenosoonerbeheldtheslaughteroftheVarangians，andtheflightoftheTurks，thanhedespisedhissubjects，anddespairedofhisfortune。TheprincessAnne，whodropsatearonthismelancholyevent，isreducedtopraisethestrengthandswiftnessofherfather\'shorse，andhisvigorousstrugglewhenhewasalmostoverthrownbythestrokeofalance，whichhadshiveredtheImperialhelmet。HisdesperatevalorbrokethroughasquadronofFrankswhoopposedhisflight；andafterwanderingtwodaysandasmanynightsinthemountains，hefoundsomerepose，ofbody，thoughnotofmind，inthewallsofLychnidus。ThevictoriousRobertreproachedthetardyandfeeblepursuitwhichhadsufferedtheescapeofsoillustriousaprize:butheconsoledhisdisappointmentbythetrophiesandstandardsofthefield，thewealthandluxuryoftheByzantinecamp，andthegloryofdefeatinganarmyfivetimesmorenumerousthanhisown。A
multitudeofItalianshadbeenthevictimsoftheirownfears；
butonlythirtyofhisknightswereslaininthismemorableday。
IntheRomanhost，thelossofGreeks，Turks，andEnglish，amountedtofiveorsixthousand:^76theplainofDurazzowasstainedwithnobleandroyalblood；andtheendoftheimpostorMichaelwasmorehonorablethanhislife。
[Footnote73:ItisveryproperlytranslatedbythePresidentCousin，Hist。deConstantinople，tom。iv。p。131，in12mo。，quicombattoitcommeunePallas，quoiqu\'ellenefutpasaussisavantequecelled\'Athenes。TheGreciangoddesswascomposedoftwodiscordantcharacters，ofNeith，theworkwomanofSaisinEgypt，andofavirginAmazonoftheTritonianlakeinLibya，Banier，Mythologie，tom。iv。p。1—31，in12mo。]
[Footnote74:AnnaComnenal。iv。p。116admires，withsomedegreeofterror，hermasculinevirtues。TheyweremorefamiliartotheLatinsandthoughtheApulianl。iv。p。273mentionsherpresenceandherwound，herepresentsherasfarlessintrepid。
UxorinhocbelloRobertifortesagittaQuadamlaesafuit:quovulnereterritanullam。
Dumsperabatopem，sepoenesubegerathosti。
Thelastisanunluckywordforafemaleprisoner。]
[Footnote75:Anna，l。v。p。133；andelsewhere，p。140。ThepedantryoftheprincessinthechoiceofclassicappellationsencouragedDucangetoapplytohiscountrymenthecharactersoftheancientGauls。]
[Footnote76:LupusProtospatatom。iii。p。45says6000:
WilliamtheApulianmorethan5000，l。iv。p。273。Theirmodestyissingularandlaudable:theymightwithsolittletroublehaveslaintwoorthreemyriadsofschismaticsandinfidels!]
ItismorethanprobablethatGuiscardwasnotafflictedbythelossofacostlypageant，whichhadmeritedonlythecontemptandderisionoftheGreeks。Aftertheirdefeat，theystillperseveredinthedefenceofDurazzo；andaVenetiancommandersuppliedtheplaceofGeorgePalaeologus，whohadbeenimprudentlycalledawayfromhisstation。Thetentsofthebesiegerswereconvertedintobarracks，tosustaintheinclemencyofthewinter；andinanswertothedefianceofthegarrison，Robertinsinuated，thathispatiencewasatleastequaltotheirobstinacy。^77PerhapshealreadytrustedtohissecretcorrespondencewithaVenetiannoble，whosoldthecityforarichandhonorablemarriage。Atthedeadofnight，severalrope—laddersweredroppedfromthewalls；thelightCalabriansascendedinsilence；andtheGreekswereawakenedbythenameandtrumpetsoftheconqueror。Yettheydefendedthestreetsthreedaysagainstanenemyalreadymasteroftherampart；andnearsevenmonthselapsedbetweenthefirstinvestmentandthefinalsurrenderoftheplace。FromDurazzo，theNormandukeadvancedintotheheartofEpirusorAlbania；traversedthefirstmountainsofThessaly；surprisedthreehundredEnglishinthecityofCastoria；approachedThessalonica；andmadeConstantinopletremble。Amorepressingdutysuspendedtheprosecutionofhisambitiousdesigns。Byshipwreck，pestilence，andthesword，hisarmywasreducedtoathirdoftheoriginalnumbers；andinsteadofbeingrecruitedfromItaly，hewasinformed，byplaintiveepistles，ofthemischiefsanddangerswhichhadbeenproducedbyhisabsence:therevoltofthecitiesandbaronsofApulia；thedistressofthepope；andtheapproachorinvasionofHenrykingofGermany。Highlypresumingthathispersonwassufficientforthepublicsafety，herepassedtheseainasinglebrigantine，andlefttheremainsofthearmyunderthecommandofhissonandtheNormancounts，exhortingBohemondtorespectthefreedomofhispeers，andthecountstoobeytheauthorityoftheirleader。ThesonofGuiscardtrodinthefootstepsofhisfather；andthetwodestroyersarecompared，bytheGreeks，tothecaterpillarandthelocust，thelastofwhomdevourswhateverhasescapedtheteethoftheformer。^78Afterwinningtwobattlesagainsttheemperor，hedescendedintotheplainofThessaly，andbesiegedLarissa，thefabulousrealmofAchilles，^79whichcontainedthetreasureandmagazinesoftheByzantinecamp。YetajustpraisemustnotberefusedtothefortitudeandprudenceofAlexius，whobravelystruggledwiththecalamitiesofthetimes。Inthepovertyofthestate，hepresumedtoborrowthesuperfluousornamentsofthechurches:thedesertionoftheManichaeanswassuppliedbysometribesofMoldavia:areenforcementofseventhousandTurksreplacedandrevengedthelossoftheirbrethren；andtheGreeksoldierswereexercisedtoride，todrawthebow，andtothedailypracticeofambuscadesandevolutions。Alexiushadbeentaughtbyexperience，thattheformidablecavalryoftheFranksonfootwasunfitforaction，andalmostincapableofmotion；^80hisarchersweredirectedtoaimtheirarrowsatthehorseratherthantheman；andavarietyofspikesandsnareswerescatteredoverthegroundonwhichhemightexpectanattack。IntheneighborhoodofLarissatheeventsofwarwereprotractedandbalanced。ThecourageofBohemondwasalwaysconspicuous，andoftensuccessful；
buthiscampwaspillagedbyastratagemoftheGreeks；thecitywasimpregnable；andthevenalordiscontentedcountsdesertedhisstandard，betrayedtheirtrusts，andenlistedintheserviceoftheemperor。AlexiusreturnedtoConstantinoplewiththeadvantage，ratherthanthehonor，ofvictory。Afterevacuatingtheconquestswhichhecouldnolongerdefend，thesonofGuiscardembarkedforItaly，andwasembracedbyafatherwhoesteemedhismerit，andsympathizedinhismisfortune。
[Footnote77:TheRomanshadchangedtheinauspiciousnameofEpi—damnustoDyrrachium，Plin。iii。26；andthevulgarcorruptionofDuraciumseeMalaterraboresomeaffinitytohardness。OneofRobert\'snameswasDurand，adurando:poorwit!
Alberic。Monach。inChron。apudMuratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。
ix。p。137。]
[Footnote78:Anna，l。i。p。35。Bythesesimiles，sodifferentfromthoseofHomershewishestoinspirecontemptaswellashorrorforthelittlenoxiousanimal，aconqueror。Mostunfortunately，thecommonsense，orcommonnonsense，ofmankind，resistsherlaudabledesign。]
[Footnote79:ProdiithacauctorTrojanaecladisAchilles。ThesuppositionoftheApulianl。v。p。275maybeexcusedbythemoreclassicpoetryofVirgil，Aeneid。ii。197，LarissaeusAchilles，butitisnotjustifiedbythegeographyofHomer。]
[Footnote80:Theitemswhichencumberedtheknightsonfoot，havebeenignorantlytranslatedspurs，AnnaComnena，Alexias，l。
v。p。140。Ducangehasexplainedthetruesensebyaridiculousandinconvenientfashion，whichlastedfromthexithtothexvthcentury。Thesepeaks，intheformofascorpion，weresometimestwofeetandfastenedtothekneewithasilverchain。]
ChapterLVI:TheSaracens，TheFranksAndTheNormans。
PartIV。
OftheLatinprinces，thealliesofAlexiusandenemiesofRobert，themostpromptandpowerfulwasHenrytheThirdorFourth，kingofGermanyandItaly，andfutureemperoroftheWest。TheepistleoftheGreekmonarch^81tohisbrotherisfilledwiththewarmestprofessionsoffriendship，andthemostlivelydesireofstrengtheningtheiralliancebyeverypublicandprivatetie。HecongratulatesHenryonhissuccessinajustandpiouswar；andcomplainsthattheprosperityofhisownempireisdisturbedbytheaudaciousenterprisesoftheNormanRobert。Thelistsofhispresentsexpressesthemannersoftheage—aradiatedcrownofgold，acrosssetwithpearlstohangonthebreast，acaseofrelics，withthenamesandtitlesofthesaints，avaseofcrystal，avaseofsardonyx，somebalm，mostprobablyofMecca，andonehundredpiecesofpurple。Totheseheaddedamoresolidpresent，ofonehundredandforty—fourthousandByzantinesofgold，withafurtherassuranceoftwohundredandsixteenthousand，sosoonasHenryshouldhaveenteredinarmstheApulianterritories，andconfirmedbyanoaththeleagueagainstthecommonenemy。TheGerman，^82whowasalreadyinLombardyattheheadofanarmyandafaction，acceptedtheseliberaloffers，andmarchedtowardsthesouth:hisspeedwascheckedbythesoundofthebattleofDurazzo；buttheinfluenceofhisarms，orname，inthehastyreturnofRobert，wasafullequivalentfortheGrecianbribe。HenrywasthesevereadversaryoftheNormans，thealliesandvassalsofGregorytheSeventh，hisimplacablefoe。Thelongquarrelofthethroneandmitrehadbeenrecentlykindledbythezealandambitionofthathaughtypriest:^83thekingandthepopehaddegradedeachother；andeachhadseatedarivalonthetemporalorspiritualthroneofhisantagonist。AfterthedefeatanddeathofhisSwabianrebel，HenrydescendedintoItaly，toassumetheImperialcrown，andtodrivefromtheVaticanthetyrantofthechurch。^84ButtheRomanpeopleadheredtothecauseofGregory:theirresolutionwasfortifiedbysuppliesofmenandmoneyfromApulia；andthecitywasthriceineffectuallybesiegedbythekingofGermany。Inthefourthyearhecorrupted，asitissaid，withByzantinegold，thenoblesofRome，whoseestatesandcastleshadbeenruinedbythewar。Thegates，thebridges，andfiftyhostages，weredeliveredintohishands:theanti—pope，ClementtheThird，wasconsecratedintheLateran:thegratefulpontiffcrownedhisprotectorintheVatican；andtheemperorHenryfixedhisresidenceintheCapitol，asthelawfulsuccessorofAugustusandCharlemagne。TheruinsoftheSeptizoniumwerestilldefendedbythenephewofGregory:thepopehimselfwasinvestedinthecastleofSt。Angelo；andhislasthopewasinthecourageandfidelityofhisNormanvassal。Theirfriendshiphadbeeninterruptedbysomereciprocalinjuriesandcomplaints；
but，onthispressingoccasion，Guiscardwasurgedbytheobligationofhisoath，byhisinterest，morepotentthanoaths，bytheloveoffame，andhisenmitytothetwoemperors。
Unfurlingtheholybanner，heresolvedtoflytothereliefoftheprinceoftheapostles:themostnumerousofhisarmies，sixthousandhorse，andthirtythousandfoot，wasinstantlyassembled；andhismarchfromSalernotoRomewasanimatedbythepublicapplauseandthepromiseofthedivinefavor。Henry，invincibleinsixty—sixbattles，trembledathisapproach；
recollectedsomeindispensableaffairsthatrequiredhispresenceinLombardy；exhortedtheRomanstopersevereintheirallegiance；andhastilyretreatedthreedaysbeforetheentranceoftheNormans。Inlessthanthreeyears，thesonofTancredofHautevilleenjoyedthegloryofdeliveringthepope，andofcompellingthetwoemperors，oftheEastandWest，toflybeforehisvictoriousarms。^85ButthetriumphofRobertwascloudedbythecalamitiesofRome。BytheaidofthefriendsofGregory，thewallshadbeenperforatedorscaled；buttheImperialfactionwasstillpowerfulandactive；onthethirdday，thepeopleroseinafurioustumult；andahastywordoftheconqueror，inhisdefenceorrevenge，wasthesignaloffireandpillage。^86TheSaracensofSicily，thesubjectsofRoger，andauxiliariesofhisbrother，embracedthisfairoccasionofriflingandprofaningtheholycityoftheChristians:manythousandsofthecitizens，inthesight，andbytheallies，oftheirspiritualfatherwereexposedtoviolation，captivity，ordeath；andaspaciousquarterofthecity，fromtheLaterantotheColiseum，wasconsumedbytheflames，anddevotedtoperpetualsolitude。^87Fromacity，wherehewasnowhated，andmightbenolongerfeared，GregoryretiredtoendhisdaysinthepalaceofSalerno。TheartfulpontiffmightflatterthevanityofGuiscardwiththehopeofaRomanorImperialcrown；butthisdangerousmeasure，whichwouldhaveinflamedtheambitionoftheNorman，mustforeverhavealienatedthemostfaithfulprincesofGermany。