ABSTRACT
The Emperor Alexius, who was author's father, had been of great service to the Roman Empire even before he reached the throne, for he started campaigning as early as during the reign of Romanus Diogenes. Although many were entrusted with the war against him, men of high reputation for bravery and of great knowledge of war and fighting, yet he openly baffled even their long experience. Accordingly he summoned up all his shrewdness and experience he had gained as general and soldier, and that too, by the way, he had not had much time to gather. The Emperor Nicephorus who had obtained the throne, sent him away again to the West, against Nicephorus Bryennius, who was upsetting the whole of the West by putting the crown on his own head, and proclaiming himself Emperor of the Romans. With all these natural advantages and unconquerable army under his command, the man started on his campaign, and seized the city of Thessalians.
