MICHAEL PSELLOS

On the rebellion of Skleros.

V. For these reasons Psellos is referring to the resentment felt by the old military aristocracy toward the eunuch Basil the Parakoimomenos, who was running the government., the nephews of the former emperors stirred up fierce wars against him. First among them was Skleros, a man capable of planning and highly skilled in execution,
5 possessed of great wealth—sufficient for a tyrant: In a Byzantine context, this refers to a "usurper" or someone attempting to seize the throne by force, rather than a cruel ruler.—and holding the strength of high office. He had been successful in great wars and had the entire military body inclined toward his will. This man, therefore, having many people joined to him in his rebellion, was the first to dare to wage war against the Emperor Basil.
10 He marched against him with his entire force of cavalry and infantry, proceeding with confidence as if the imperial crown were already within his grasp. At first, those surrounding the Emperor had abandoned all hope of salvation, knowing that the entirety of the armed forces had flowed to Skleros. But then,
15 gathering themselves together and deciding to risk everything on a single throw, they thought they had found a way out of their impasse. They chose a certain Bardas This is Bardas Phokas the Younger, a member of the powerful Phokas military family., a most noble and courageous man, the nephew of the late Emperor Nikephoros Phokas. Judging him to be a worthy opponent for the rebel Skleros, they took what forces remained
20 and handed them over to him. Having appointed him commander-in-chief of the entire army, they sent him out to stand against Skleros.

VI. However, because they feared this man | no less than Skleros— p. 7 since he belonged to the imperial family and was likely to entertain grand ambitions for himself—they stripped him of
25 his civilian clothing and whatever else pertains to a potential usurper, and enrolled him in the ranks of the Church clergy. Then, they bound him with terrifying oaths never to be caught in rebellion or to violate what he had sworn. Only after securing him in this way did they send him out with all the
30 military forces.

VII. This man was, as the story goes, very much like his uncle the Emperor Referring to the warrior-emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, famous for his military discipline and austerity. in his mindset; he was always sober and vigilant, capable of seeing and understanding everything in advance. He was not ignorant of any military stratagems, but was [skilled] in all...