The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. XI.

BUt Cabades sent another Army into the Roman Armenia, consisting of Persarmenians, and Sunites (who border upon the Alans) and three thou∣sand Sabirian Hunnes, a very warlike Nation. The Generall was Mermeroes, a Persian, who encamped in Persarmenia, three dayes journey from Theodosio∣polis, preparing for the invasion. Dorotheus was then Generall of Armenia, a wise man, and who had seen many warrs; but Sittas, Generall of the Forces in Constantinople commanded the Armenian Army in cheif. These hearing of Forces levyed in P••rsarmenia, sent two Lanciers to discover the enemies power. To whose Army they came, and having observed all, and returning, met in a village some of the enemies Hunnes, who took one of them named Dagaris, the other got away and brought newes to the Generalls. Who instantly armed their Forces, and suddainely set upon the enemies campe; who frighted with the suddaineness, ran away without striking stroak. The Romans killed many and rifled their Camp, and then rode back again••. But not long after Merme∣roes with his Army entred the Roman territory, and finding the enemy neer the City of Sattala, he encamped in a village called Octabe, seven miles from Sattala. Sittas behind a hill (whereof are many about that City, though sci∣tuate in a plaine) with 1000. men lay close, directing Dorotheus with the rest to keep within their trenches, seing they were not able to stand the enemy being 30000. strong, and themselves not half the number. But the next day the Barbarians came to their trenches, and were compassing them, when suddain∣ly seing Sittas coming down from the hill, and not being able to judge the number, because of the dust, then great in the Summer time, they thought them more then they were, and so left compassing, and made hast to draw together into lesse ground; which Sittas to prevent, divided his men into two Troupes, and charged them coming from the trenches. Which the Romans therein per∣ceaving, took courage, and sallyed all upon the gallop, and charged the ene∣my also; and having them thus in the midst of their Troupes, they routed them. But the enemy exceeding them in numbers, made head; and the fight was fierce, and at handy stroakes, and some short chases upon one another, be∣ing all Horsemen. Then Florentius a Thracian, Captain of a Troupe of Horse, rusht into the midst of the enemy, and took away the Generalls ensigne, and throwing it down to the ground, gallopt back, but was over-taken and cut in pieces in the place, and so was the greatest canse of the Romans victory. For the Barbarians losing sight of the chiefe Ensigne, fell into feare and disorder, and retired within their Camp, having lost many in the fight. The next day they march't home, and none followed them; The Romans thinking it much, first to beat so many of them in their own Country; and now when they invaded them, to send them home vanquisht by a lesse number, and with nothing done.

The Romans then also took in some townes of the Persians in Persarmenia, and two Forts called Bolus and Pharangium, where the King hath a revenue out of gold mines. A little before also they had subdued the Tzanians, who lived formerly within the Roman land, a free people: Concerning all which thus it was. In the way out of Armenia into Persarmenia to the right hand is Mount Taurus, reaching to Iberia, and the nations before named. To the left hand the way is steep with ragged Mountaines over head, covered with perpetuall clouds and snow, whence the Phasis springing runns into Lasica. Here anciently have dwelt these Tzanians subject to none, formerly called Sa∣ni, using to robb the neighbouring Romans, and living hardly and upon what they could steale, their own Country bringing forth nothing good to feed on. The Emperour therefore gave them a pension in gold, not to robb those parts. For which they tooke their Country Oath, and broke it, coming still unlookt for, and mischieving the Armenians, and other Romans beyond them, even to the sea. They made short inroads, going quickly home; and if they met a Roman Army, were beaten, but impossible to be taken, by reason of their strong Country. But Sittas before this warre overcoming them in fight, and using many allurements both by words and deeds, gained them absolutely, that they became Civill men; and were enrolled in Roman bands, and marcht with their Armies, and turned Christians also. Beyond these Tzanians Coun∣try, a deep rockie vally runns, as farr as Mount Cau••asus; wherein are popu∣lous villages, and vines, and other fruits in abundance. For three dayes journy, it is tributary to the Romans; but further begin the marches of Persar∣menia, where is that mine of gold, by Cabades committed to the charge of one Simeones: Who seing the King in the heat of a warre, cosened him of the re∣venue thus. He yeilded himself, and the Fort of Pharangium to the Romans, who demanded not the gold of the Mine, being contented, if the Persian lost the benefit; and the Persians could not force away the Romans; the Country was so fast and strong. About the same time also Narses and Aratius, who had some blowes with Sittas and Belisarius, (as I said before) revolted to the Romans, with their Mother, whom Narses, the Emperours peculiar Treasurer entertained, (being also a Persarmenian) and gave them great gifts. Which Isaac their yonger brother hearing, got secret conference with the Romans, and delivered them the Fort of Bolus, standing not farr from Theodosiopolis, by causing them to hide Souldiers neer, whom he in the night time closely let into the Fort by a Posterne; and thus he came to Constantinople too.

Notes

• Anno Domi∣ni. 529. Justiniani 3.