Historiae Byzantinae scriptores tres

Castus, elated by favorable fortune, abandons Comentiolus; he falls into calamity.

XII. The column of Castus, struck by fear, is scattered. The captured Romans are beaten most atrociously. Castus and many with him fall into their power. The Avars pour into Thrace, ravaging as they go. Anfimuthus, the commander of the Thracian infantry, is captured. A consultation of Comentiolus with the leaders, and his exhortation to fight steadfastly.

XIII. The speech of the chiliarch commander of a thousand on not attacking the enemy: due to the scarcity of soldiers and the recently received calamity. An old soldier opposes this advisor most steadfastly and, weeping, asks for a hearing.

XIV. The speech of the old man, by which the opinion of the chiliarch is refuted as timid and cowardly, and it is advised that the Avars be attacked with arms; the examples of the enemy himself and of the ancient Romans are assumed, and a sententious exhortation is added.

XV. The old man persuades them; arms are taken up; they march against the enemy. A shout from a false terror disturbs the whole army. Even the Chagan flees. Many of the Avars are slaughtered. The Chagan attacks the fortress of Apperia.

XVI. Bufa, a most brave soldier, intent on hunting, is captured, and neither by prayers nor by tears does he obtain a ransom from his own men. He teaches the Avars to build a siege machine; with the walls demolished by its impact, they take the town. The Chagan attacks Beroen with an ineffective effort, with the inhabitants resisting strenuously; they finally redeem the siege for not a great sum of money.

XVII. The Chagan is repelled from Diocletianopolis, Philippopolis, and Adrianopolis. The Emperor is cursed by certain commoners because of Castus and Anfimuthus, who were captured by the barbarians. Ioannes Mystaco, sent to Adrianopolis, defeats the enemy through his hypostrategus lieutenant commander. They flee in disorder. The moderation of the commander in victory.

XVIII. Heraclius attacks a Persian fortress most fiercely. The industry of the inhabitants in defending themselves. That one, and also the fortress of the Mazaroi, is occupied. Theodorus is invited by the farmers to the small town of Beiudaes. Attacked most aggressively, it is taken by the singular and exceptional valor of the soldier Saperius.