I. I count it a toilsome and perilous task, to cross a great ocean in
a crazy vessel; and it is the same thing to describe the buildings of
the Emperor Justinian in a feeble narrative; for this Emperor, one may
say, showed greatness of mind in all that he did, and in his buildings
performed works surpassing description. In Europe especially, wishing
to construct works on a scale worthy of the need which existed for
them, his buildings are difficult, nay, almost impossible to describe,
being worthy of their position in the neighbourhood of the river Danube
and the barbarian tribes beyond it, whose invasions they are intended
to repel; for along its banks dwell the nations of the Huns and the
Goths, and the empire is threatened by the tribes of the Tauri and the
Scythians, the Sclavonians and the rest, whom the ancient historians
call the ‘dwellers in waggons’ or Sauromatæ, and all the other wild
tribes which either inhabit or roam through that region. With all
these tribes, ever eager for war, Justinian was forced to contend, so
that he could neglect no point, but was forced to construct a chain
of innumerable fortresses, establish in them numberless garrisons
of soldiers, and do everything else in his power to hold in check a
foe, with whom neither truce nor intercourse could be held; for these
enemies were accustomed to make war without any pretext or declaration,
and not to terminate it by any treaty, or cease fighting after a time,
but to take up arms without any cause only to lay them down when
compelled by main force. However, let us proceed to what remains of
our description; for when a work is begun, it is better to bring it to
an end in any fashion whatever, rather than to give it up and leave it
unfinished; besides which, we might reasonably be blamed if our Emperor
could construct such works, and we were to shrink from the labour of
describing them. Now that I am about to enumerate the buildings of this
our Emperor in Europe, it is worth while before doing so to make a few
remarks about the country.
From what is called the Adriatic Sea a branch extends straight into the
continent, apart from the rest of the sea, so as to divide the country
and form the Ionian Gulf, having on its right bank the Epirotes and
the other nations in that quarter, and on the left the Calabrians.
Compressed into a long and narrow inlet, it embraces almost the whole
of the continent. Above this sea and running over against it, the
river Danube forms the land of Europe into a peninsula. Here our
Emperor constructed many admirable works; for he fortified the whole of
Europe so securely as to render it inaccessible to the barbarians who
dwell beyond the river Danube.
I ought, however, to begin with the native country of the Emperor,
which must occupy the first place in my narrative, as it does in all
other respects; for it alone may rejoice and pride itself upon the
glory of having bred and furnished the Romans with an Emperor, whose
works are so great that they can neither be described in language nor
set down in writing.
In the country of the European Dardani, who dwell beyond the frontier
of the citizens of Epidamnus, near the fort called Bederiana, is a
place named Tauresium, from whence came the Emperor Justinian, the
Founder of the Universe.[72] This place he hastily fortified in a
quadrangular form, placing a tower at each angle, and gave it from its
shape the name of Tetrapyrgia, or the ‘Four Towers.’ Close to this
place he built a most noble city, which he named Justiniana Prima (this
word in the Latin language means ‘First’), thus repaying his debt to
the country which bred him, though this duty ought to have been shared
by all the Romans, since this place furnished a preserver for them
all alike. Here he constructed an aqueduct and supplied the city with
a perpetual flow of water, and erected many other works, magnificent
and surpassing all description, worthy of the founder of the city;
it is not easy to enumerate the churches, and it is impossible for
language to describe the dwellings of the magistrates, the size of the
porticos, the beauty of the market-places, the fountains, the streets,
the baths, and the shops. In a word, the city is great, populous,
flourishing, and worthy to be the metropolis of the whole country, to
which dignity it has been raised. In addition to this, it is the seat
of the Archbishop of Illyria, all the other cities yielding to it as
being the greatest in size; so that it in turn reflects glory upon the
Emperor; for the city prides itself upon the Emperor which it has bred,
while the Emperor glories in having constructed the city. Let the above
description of it suffice; for to describe it all, in exact detail, is
impossible, because all language must fall short of a city worthy of
such an Emperor.
Besides this, he entirely rebuilt the fort of Bederiana, and rendered
it much stronger than before. There was an ancient city in the country
of the Dardani, named Ulpiana. He demolished the greater part of the
wall of this place, which was very unsafe and altogether useless, and
brought it to its present magnificent appearance, decorated it with
many other beautiful buildings, and gave it the name of Justiniana
Secunda. (Secunda in the Latin language signifies ‘Second.’) He also
built a new city in its neighbourhood, which he named Justinopolis,
after the name of his uncle Justin. He restored the walls of Sardica,
Naïsopolis, Germana and Pantalia, which he found dilapidated by age,
so as to make them secure and impregnable. Between these cities he
built three small towns, Cratiscara, Quimedaba, and Rumisiana. Thus
he restored these cities from their foundations; and, wishing to
render the river Danube a very strong bulwark to them and to the whole
of Europe, he covered the whole course of the river with numerous
forts, as I shall shortly afterwards describe, and established on all
parts of its banks garrisons of soldiers, sufficient to restrain the
barbarians from crossing the river in that quarter. When, however, he
had completed all these works, remembering the insecurity of all human
designs, and reflecting that, should the enemy succeed in passing the
river by any means, they would ravage the unguarded country, carry
off all the inhabitants for slaves, and plunder all their property,
he did not leave them to trust to the forts along the course of the
river alone for their protection, but gave them means of defence of
their own; for he constructed such a number of fortifications in these
regions, that every field either possesses a castle or is near to some
walled place, both here and in New and Old Epirus. Here also he built
the city of Justinianopolis, which formerly was called Adrianopolis.
He restored Nicopolis, Photica and Phœnice; the latter towns, Photica
and Phœnice, being situated upon low ground, suffered from inundations;
wherefore the Emperor Justinian, perceiving that it was impossible
to build walls for them upon a firm foundation, made no alteration
in either of them, but built forts near them, which he placed upon
strong and precipitous ground. In this country there was an ancient
city, abundantly supplied with water, and deriving its name from its
position, for it was formerly named Eurœa. Not far from this city of
Eurœa is a lake, in the midst of which rises an island containing a
hill; the lake reaches round this island so far as only just to allow
access to it. The Emperor transferred the inhabitants of Eurœa to this
place, built a city for them, and strongly fortified it.
II. After our survey of the whole of Epirus we pass over Ætolia and
Acarnania, and come to the Crissæan Gulf, the Isthmus of Corinth,
and the other parts of Greece. Here the Emperor’s foresight was most
especially displayed, and one may marvel at the numerous walled cities
with which he fortified the Roman Empire. Amongst the rest he paid
especial care at the pass of Thermopylæ. In the first place he raised
its walls to a great height, for the mountains in this place were easy
to be taken by an enemy, and were fortified by what was more like a
hedgerow than a wall. He placed double battlements upon all these
walls, and also upon the fort, which had been built there in an equally
careless manner by the ancients, giving it a sufficient height, and
double bulwarks. Besides all this, as the place was entirely without
water, he contrived a reservoir for rain-water, and also carefully
fortified many paths up the mountain which had formerly been left
unguarded.
One may well wonder how the Persian King spent so long a time here,
and only found one path, and that, too, one which was betrayed to
him by Greek traitors, when there are many unfortified roads in the
place along which one could almost drive a waggon; for the sea, which
washes the base of the mountains, has widened the mouths of most of
the paths leading up from thence, and as the ground was full of glens
and impassable ravines, it appeared to the ancients that what was thus
divided by nature could not be continuously enclosed by fortifications,
so that they lazily sacrificed their safety in their reluctance to
embark upon so difficult a work, and trusted to chance, resting all
their hopes of safety against the invasion of the barbarians on their
probable ignorance of the roads; for men who despair of accomplishing
difficult tasks always imagine that what they have found so hard, will
not easily be effected by others; so that it cannot be disputed that
the Emperor Justinian showed greater care and foresight than anyone
else who has ever lived, since he was not prevented, even by the
sea which washes and breaks upon these mountains, from laying firm
foundations on the very beach and watery shore, and making the most
contrary elements serve his purpose, and yield to him, subdued by human
art. However, not even after having connected these mountain thickets
and glens, and having joined the sea to the mountain, and enclosed the
whole of Greece with his fortifications, did our Emperor relax his zeal
on behalf of his subjects, but he also built many forts within this
wall, taking a just view of the chances of human life, which render
no place secure or impregnable; so that if by any mischance it should
happen that these walls should at any time be taken, the garrison might
find a refuge in these forts. Moreover, he established everywhere
granaries and reservoirs of water in secure positions, and placed
nearly 2,000 soldiers to garrison the works, which was never done by
any emperor at any former time; for these walls remained unguarded
formerly, even down to my own time, and if the enemy assaulted them,
some of the peasants in the neighbourhood, adopting a military life on
the spur of the moment, used to act as garrison, and, from their want
of experience, risked the capture of them and of the whole of Greece,
by which parsimony this country was for a long time exposed to the
attack of the barbarians.[73]
Thus did the Emperor Justinian strengthen the fortifications of
Thermopylæ. He also with great care built walls round the cities which
lie in the country beyond it—Saccus, Hypata, Coracii, Unnum, Baleæ and
Leontarium. At Heraclea he did as follows: as one goes from Illyria to
Greece, two mountains stand close to one another for a long distance,
forming a narrow pass between them, of the kind called Clisuræ. In
the midst runs a fountain, which in the summer-time pours a clear
and drinkable stream down from the mountains which stand around, and
forms a tiny rivulet; but in rainy seasons there rises a very deep and
violent torrent, which collects its waters from the ravines among the
cliffs. By this path the barbarians were able to gain an easy passage
to Thermopylæ and the neighbouring parts of Greece. On either side of
the path there were in ancient times two ancient fortresses, one being
the city of Heraclea, which I mentioned before, and the other that of
Myropole, standing at a little distance from it. The Emperor Justinian
restored both these fortresses, which had long been in ruins, and built
a very strong wall across the pass, joining it to the mountains on
either side, so that he closed the passage against the barbarians, and
forced the torrent first to form a lake within this wall, and then to
flow over it and continue its course.
He secured all the cities of Greece which lie within the walls of
Thermopylæ, restoring the fortifications of all of them, for they
had long ago fallen into decay—at Corinth in consequence of violent
earthquakes, and at Athens, Platæa, and the towns in Bœotia having
fallen into decay through age, as no one had taken any care of them;
he, however, left no place assailable or unguarded, for in his watchful
care for his subjects he bethought him that the barbarians, should they
reach the country about Thermopylæ, would despair of success as soon as
they learned that they would gain nothing by forcing the works there,
since all the rest of Greece was fortified, and they would have to
undertake the siege of each individual city; for a deferred hope does
not encourage men to endure labour, nor are they eager for gain which
is far distant, but give up their hopes of future advantage to avoid
present discomfort.
Having effected this, the Emperor Justinian, learning that all the
cities in Peloponnesus were unwalled, and reflecting that much time
would be wasted if he attended to the security of each one, securely
fortified the whole isthmus with a wall, since the existing wall
was mostly in ruins. Upon this wall he built forts and established
garrisons in them, and in this manner rendered the whole country of
Peloponnesus safe from the enemy, even though any misfortune should
befall the fortifications at Thermopylæ.
III. Diocletianopolis in Thessaly was in ancient times a flourishing
city, but latterly was ruined by the incursions of the barbarians,
and had long been without inhabitants. There is a lake near it, which
is called Castoria, in the midst of which is an island surrounded
by water, with only one narrow passage, not wider than fifteen
feet, leading to it through the lake. On this island stands a very
lofty mountain, which overhangs the lake on one side and the island
on the other; wherefore our Emperor decided against the site of
Diocletianopolis, because it was obviously exposed to attack, and
had long before suffered the misfortunes which I had mentioned, but
built a very strong city on the island, to which he naturally gave
his own name. Besides this, he removed the walls of Echinæum, Thebes,
Pharsalus, and all the other cities of Thessaly, amongst which are
Demetrias, Metropolis, Gomphi, and Tricattus, and securely fortified
them, for their walls were decayed by age and could easily be taken by
an enemy.
Now that we have come to Thessaly, let us proceed to Mount Pelion
and the river Peneus. The Peneus flows in a gentle stream past Mount
Pelion, and in its course adorns the city of Larissa, for Phthia no
longer exists, but has perished through age. The river flows with a
quiet stream as far as the sea, and the neighbouring country is rich
in fruits of all kinds, and in sweet waters, which the inhabitants
were never able to enjoy, as they were in continual expectation of an
attack from the barbarians; for there was no strong place anywhere in
these regions to which they could fly for refuge, but the walls of
Larissa and Cæsarea were so ruinous that they were almost open towns.
The Emperor Justinian, by rebuilding the walls of both these cities
very strongly, enabled the country to enjoy true prosperity. Not far
from hence rise precipitous mountains covered with lofty trees. These
mountains were the home of the Centaurs; and in this country the
battle of the Centaurs with the Lapithæ took place, as the ancient
myths declare, which inform us that in old times there dwelt there a
monstrous race combining the forms of two creatures. Antiquity gives
some warrant for this fable by the name of a fort in these mountains,
which down to my own time was named Centauropolis, whose ruinous walls
the Emperor Justinian restored and strengthened, together with those of
Eurymene in the same country, which had fallen into the same condition.
Now, that I may leave no part of Greece undescribed, we must proceed to
the island of Eubœa, which stands close to Athens and Marathon. This
island of Eubœa lies in the sea, in front of Greece, and seems to me as
though it had once formed a part of the mainland, and had afterwards
been separated from it by a strait, for an arm of the sea flows past
the mainland there, in the neighbourhood of the city of Chalcis, ebbing
and flowing in a narrow channel, confined between banks which reduce
it to the size of a rivulet. This strait is called the Euripus. Such
is the island of Eubœa. A single beam laid across the strait forms a
bridge, which the inhabitants lay across at their pleasure, and then
appear to be dwellers on the continent, and walk on foot to the land
beyond the strait; but when they remove it, they cross the strait in
boats, and again become islanders: so that whether they proceed on foot
or on shipboard depends upon the laying down or taking up of a single
piece of wood....
The country within this is named (the Peninsula of) Pallene. In ancient
times the inhabitants built a wall across the isthmus, which joined
the sea at each end, and built there a city, which in former times was
called Potidæa, and now Casandria; however, time so ruined all these
buildings that when, not long ago, the Huns overran these regions, they
captured this cross-wall and city as though in sport, though they never
have conducted a siege since the world began. This event, however, gave
the Emperor Justinian an opportunity of displaying his goodness and
magnanimity: for as he was always wont to repair all the misfortunes
which befell him by his own foresight, he turned the most terrible
disasters into a source of good fortune by the magnificent works by
which he repaired. So here he fortified the city of Pallene, which is
the bulwark of the whole country, and the wall across the isthmus, so
as to render them quite impregnable and able to defy all attacks. These
were his works in Macedonia.
Not far from the city of Thessalonica flows the river Rhechius, which
passes through a fertile and rich country, and empties itself into
the sea at that place. This river flows with a gentle current: its
waters are calm and sweet. The neighbouring country is low-lying,
well-watered, and forms rich pasture; but was sadly exposed to the
inroads of the barbarians, having no fort or place of strength of
any kind for a distance of forty miles; wherefore the Emperor built
a strong fort on the banks of the river Rhechius where it joins the
sea—an entirely new work, to which he gave the name of Artemisium.
IV. It is my duty to mention the other strong places in this part of
Europe. I am quite sure that if I were to recount this list of the
fortresses in this country, to men dwelling in a distant region and
belonging to another nation, without any facts to guarantee the truth
of my story, the number of the works would make it appear altogether
fabulous and incredible; as it is, however, they are to be seen at no
great distance, and great numbers of the inhabitants of that region are
present in our city; wherefore, with the confidence which springs from
truth, I shall not hesitate to give a list of the works of the Emperor
Justinian in the above-mentioned countries, both in restoring ruinous
fortifications and in building new ones. It will be most convenient to
put them all in the form of a list, so that my narrative may not be
confused by the insertion of their names.
These are the new forts built by the Emperor Justinian in New
Epirus:[74]
Sceminites,
Ulpiansus,
Episterba,
Argus,
Aona,
Stephaniacum,
Martis,
Gynæcomytes,
Speretium,
Aven,
Streden,
Deuphracus,
St. Sabinus,
Aliula,
Dyrlachin,
Patana,
Gemenus,
Bacuste,
Alistrus,
Irene,
Epiduta,
Bacusta,
Labellus,
Epileum,
Piscinæ,
Cithinas,
Dolebin,
Hedonia,
Titiana,
Ulibula,
Brebate,
Thesaurus.
These places were restored:
St. Stephen,
Cethreon,
Apis,
Peleum,
Come,
Pacue,
Scidreonpolis,
Antipagræ,
Pupsalus,
Gabræum,
Dionaa,
Clementiana,
Illyrin,
Tithra,
Brebeta,
Bupus,
Endyni,
Dionysus,
Ptochium,
Tyrcanus,
Capaza,
Cilicæ,
Argyas,
Therma,
Amantia,
Paretium.
These are the new forts built in Old Epirus:
Parmus,
Olbus,
Cionin,
Marciana,
Algus,
Cimenus,
Xeropotoes,
Europa,
Chimæra,
Helega,
Homonœa,
Adanum.
These places were rebuilt:
Murciara,
Castina,
Genysius,
Percus,
Marmarata,
Listria,
Petroniana,
Carmina,
St. Sabinus,
Also a reservoir in the fort of Come,
Martius,
Pezium,
Onalus,
Two forts dedicated to St. Donatus, in the territory of
Justinianopolis and Photice,
Symphygium,
Pronathidum,
Hedones,
Castellum,
Bulibas,
Palyrus,
Trana,
Posidon,
Colophonia.
In Macedonia:
Candida,
Colobona,
The Basilica of Amyntas,
Bolbus,
Brigizes,
Opas,
Pleurum,
Caminus,
Therma,
Bogas,
Neapolis,
Calarnus,
Museum,
Acremba,
Adrianium,
Edana,
Melichisa,
Pascas,
Aulon,
Gentianum,
Priniana,
Thesteum,
Cyrrhi,
Gurasson,
Cumarciana,
Limnederium,
Bupoodin,
Babas,
Cyriana,
Pelecum,
Lages,
Cratæa,
Siclæ,
Nymphium,
Metizus,
Argicianum,
Bazinus,
Cassopas,
Parthion,
Fasciæ,
Placidiana,
Hynea,
Limnaæ,
Option,
Charadrus,
Cassopes.
These forts were rebuilt in Thessaly:
Alcon,
Lossonus,
Gerontica,
Perbyla,
Cercinei,
Scidreus,
Phracellan.
The following new forts were built in Dardania:
Laberium,
Castimum,
Rabestum,
Castellium,
Acrenza,
Terias,
Drullus,
Victoriæ.
These were rebuilt:
Cesiana,
Tezule,
Usiana,
Besiana,
Mascas,
Liste,
Celliriana,
Zysbaës,
Genzana,
Petrizen,
Eutychiana,
Mulato,
Priscopera,
Miletes,
Dardapara,
Cesuna,
Veriniana,
Lasbarus,
Castellobretara,
Edetzio,
Dinius,
Cecola,
Emastus,
Castelona,
Belas,
Cattarus,
Cattaricus,
Pentza,
Cattapheterus,
Debanus,
Cubinus,
Getmaza,
Victoriana,
Azeta,
Durbulie,
Suricum,
Cusines,
Tuttiana,
Ballesina,
Bella,
Catrelates,
Casyella,
Mariana,
Capomalva,
Seretus,
Potchium,
Quino,
Berzana,
Bessaiana,
Arsa,
Blezo,
Labutza,
Quinti,
Bermerium,
Catrasema,
Rotun,
Cobenciles,
Marcellina,
Primoniana,
Pamylinus,
Aria.
These in the country of the city of Sardica:
Scupium,
Stenes,
Marcipetra,
Briparum,
Romaniana,
Struas,
Protiana,
Maccunniana,
Scopentziana.
In the country of Cabentza, Balbæ was built, and the following were
repaired:
Byrsia,
Stamazo,
Clesbestita,
Duiana,
Vineus,
Trisciana,
Parnusta,
Tzimes,
Turicla,
Medeca,
Peplabius,
Cunæ,
Bidzo,
Stenocorta,
Danedebæ,
Ardia.
In * * * these were restored:
Bugarma,
Betzas,
Bregedaba,
Borbrega,
Turus.
These were rebuilt:
Salebries,
Arcunes,
Duries,
Buteries,
Barbaries,
Arbatias,
Cuzusura,
Etæries,
Itaberies,
Tugurias,
Bemaste,
Stramentias,
Bottes,
Bitzimaeas,
Badziania,
Banes,
Bimerus,
Tusudeaas,
Scuanes,
Scentudies,
Scares,
Lignius,
Itadeba.
In the country of the city Germanae, Scaplizo was built, and the
following were rebuilt:
Germas,
Candaras,
Rolligeras,
Scinzeries,
Riginocastellum,
Suagogmense.
These in the country of the city of Pauta (Pantalia?):
Tarporum,
Sobastas,
Cherdusceras,
Blepus,
Zespuries.
These in the region of Scassetana:
Alarum,
Magomias,
Luconanta,
Balausum,
Butis.
In the country of the city of * * * these new forts were built:
Calventia,
Pharanores,
Stranbasta,
Aldanes,
Barachthestes,
Sarmates,
Arsena,
Brarcedum,
Eraria,
Bercadium,
Sabinibries,
Timiana,
Candilar,
Gurbicum,
Lautzones,
Duliares,
Arsaza,
Viculea,
Castellium,
Groffes,
Garces,
Pistes,
Dusmanes,
Bratzista,
Holodoris,
Cassia,
Grandetum,
Urbriana,
Nogeto,
Mediana,
Tiuncana,
Castengium.
These were rebuilt:
Hercula,
The fort of Mucianus,
Burdopes,
Calys,
Millareca,
Debrera,
Chesdupara.
These in the country of Remesiana:
Brittura,
Subaras,
Cumudeba,
Deurias,
Lamponiana,
Stronges,
Dalmatas,
Primiana,
Frerraria,
Topera,
Tomes,
Cuas,
Tzerzenuzas,
Stenes,
Aeadaba,
Deutreba,
Pretzuries,
Lutzolo,
Repordenes,
Spelunca,
Scumbro,
Britaro,
Tulcoburgo,
Longiana,
Lupofantana,
Dardapara,
Burdomina,
Grinciapana,
Graccus,
Drasimarca.
In the country of Aquiena there was built the new fort of Timathachion,
and the following were rebuilt:
Peteres,
Sculcoburgo,
Vindimiola,
Braiola,
Arganocilum,
Auriliana,
Gembro,
Clemades,
Turribas,
Gribo,
Chalarus,
Tzutrato,
Mutzipara,
Stendas,
Scaripara,
Odriuzo,
Cipipene,
Trasiana,
Castellonovo,
Florentiana,
Romyliana,
Sceptecasas,
Argentares,
Potes,
Amuloselotes,
Timalciolum,
Meridio,
Meriopontede,
Tredetitilius,
Bræola,
Motrees,
Vicanovo,
Quartiana,
Julioballæ,
Pontzas,
Zanes.
V. Thus did the Emperor Justinian fortify the whole Illyrian continent.
I shall now set forth the manner in which he strengthened the bank of
the river Ister, which men also call the Danube, with fortifications
and garrisons of soldiers. The Roman Emperors in ancient times, wishing
to prevent the barbarians who dwelt beyond the Danube from crossing
it, occupied the whole shore of this river with fortresses, which
they built not only on the right bank, but in some places also on the
further bank of the river. These fortresses were not constructed so
as to be inaccessible to assailants, but just sufficient not to leave
that bank of the river without defenders; for the barbarians in that
region did not understand siege operations. Most of these strong places
consisted only of one tower, and were consequently called towers, and
very few men were stationed in them. This was at that time sufficient
to overawe the barbarian tribes, so that they made no attacks upon the
Romans; but in later times Attila invaded the country with a great
army, razed all these fortresses to the ground without difficulty, and
laid waste the greater part of the Roman territory, without meeting
with any resistance. The Emperor Justinian rebuilt the demolished
forts, not in their original form, but in the most powerful manner
of fortification, and in addition to them built many others. In this
manner he entirely restored the security of the Roman Empire, which had
been altogether lost. I shall now set forth the manner in which all
this was effected.
The river Danube, flowing from the mountains of the Celts, who are now
known as the Gauls, encloses a great tract of country, for the most
part entirely desert, but in some places inhabited by barbarians, who
dwell like savages, without any intercourse with the rest of mankind.
On reaching Dacia, it first begins to divide the barbarians who dwell
on its left bank from the Roman territory on the right bank. For this
reason the Romans call this part of Dacia ‘Ripensis’; for in the Latin
language a bank is called _ripa_. The first city which they built on
this bank was named Singedon, which in process of time the barbarians
captured, razed to the ground, and rendered entirely desolate. Most
of the other fortresses were reduced to the same condition; but the
Emperor Justinian rebuilt it entirely, surrounded it with a strong
wall, and again made it a noble and admirable city. He built a new fort
of great strength, distant eight miles from the city of Singedon,[75]
which from that circumstance is called Octavum. Beyond it there was an
ancient city named Viminacium, which the Emperor entirely rebuilt; for
it had long before been razed to the ground.
VI. Proceeding onward from the city of Viminacium, three fortresses
stand on the bank of the Danube, named Picnus, Cupus, and Novæ,
which formerly derived their name from a single tower built in each
place; now, however, the Emperor Justinian added so many houses and
fortifications to each of these, that they came to be regarded as
considerable cities. On the further bank, opposite Novæ, stood in
ancient times a ruinous tower named Litorata, which the ancients
called Lederata. This place was made by our Emperor into a large and
very strong fort. After Novæ are the forts of Cantabazates, Smornes,
Campses, Tanatas, Vernes, and Ducepratum, and many more on the further
bank, all of which he rebuilt from the foundations. After this comes
Caput-bovis, the work of the Roman Emperor Trajan, and beyond it
an ancient fort named Zanes, all of which he enclosed with strong
fortifications, and rendered them impregnable bulwarks of the empire.
Not far from Zanes is a fort named Pontes, where a stream leaves the
river, encloses a small portion of the bank, and then rejoining its
true channel, unites itself to the main river. It does this not by
nature, but compelled by human art. I will now describe why it was that
the place was named Pontes, and that the Danube was forced to flow
round this place.
The Roman Emperor Trajan, a spirited and energetic man, appears to
have been irritated at the thought that the boundary of his empire was
fixed by the river Danube.[76] He was anxious, therefore, to throw a
bridge across it, in order that he might pass it without its offering
any obstacle when he marched against the barbarians beyond it. How he
built this bridge I shall take no pains to describe, but shall let
that be told by Apollodorus of Damascus, the chief architect of the
entire work. No advantage accrued from it to the Romans, and the bridge
subsequently was destroyed by the stream of the Danube and by age.
Trajan built two forts on either bank of the river, and called that
on the further side Theodora and that on the Dacian bank Pontem, from
the name of the bridge; for the Romans call a bridge _pons_ in Latin.
Since after this the river became impassable for ships at this place,
owing to the ruins and foundations of the bridge, they forced the river
to adopt a new channel and perform a circuit in order to afford them
a passage beyond it. Both these forts fell into ruins through age and
the assaults of the barbarians; but the Emperor Justinian rebuilt the
fort Pontem, on the right bank of the river, with new and powerful
fortifications, and thus secured Illyria. As for that on the opposite
bank, named Theodora, he thought it unnecessary to bestow any care
upon it, since it was exposed to the attacks of the barbarians in that
region; but he built all the new fortifications which stand on the
bank below Pontem at this day, which are named Mareburgus, Susiana,
Armata, Timena, Theodoropolis, Stiliburgus, and Halicaniburgus. There
is a small city near this place, named Ad Aquas, some small part of
whose fortifications, which had become unsafe, were restored by the
Emperor. Beyond it he built Bergonovore, and Laccobergus, and the fort
named Dorticum, which he made into the existing strong fortification.
He altered the solitary tower named Judæus into what may be called,
and really is, a most beautiful fort. He rebuilt Bergus Altus, which
formerly was deserted and altogether uninhabited, and also enclosed
with a wall another place named Gombes. He rebuilt the fortifications
of Crispas, which had become ruinous from age, and built Longiniana and
Ponteserium in an admirable manner. At Bononia and Novum he rebuilt the
bastions which had become ruinous. He rebuilt all the ruinous parts
of the city of Ratiaria; and in many other places he either enlarged
small fortifications or reduced over-large ones to a convenient form,
in order that neither their smallness nor their excessive size might
expose them to the attacks of the enemy; as, for example, he turned
Mocatiana from a single tower into the more complete fort which it
is at this day, whilst at Almus he reduced the space enclosed by the
walls, which formerly was very great, thus enabling it to defy the
attacks of the enemy. In many places he altered a solitary tower, an
object of contempt to an invader, into a strong fort, as at Tricesa
and Putedis. He magnificently restored the ruinous walls of Cebrus. He
built a new fort in Bigrane, and another one near to it, in a place
where formerly stood a single tower named Onos. Not far from this
there remained only the foundations of a city, which in former times
had been named Augusta, but which now, possessing its ancient name,
but having been altogether rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian, is well
peopled. He rebuilt the ruined fortifications of Aëdabe, restored the
city of Variana, which had long been in ruins, and fortified Valeriana,
which before had possessed no defences.
Besides these, he paid attention to and enclosed with strong
fortifications other places not on the bank of the river, but standing
at a distance from it, named Castramartis, Zetnocortum, and Iscum. He
took great pains to enclose with a wall and otherwise fortify an old
fort on the bank of the river, named the Fort of the Huns. Not far from
the Fort of the Huns is a place where a fort stands on each bank of the
Danube, the one in Illyria named Palatiolum, while that on the opposite
bank was named Sicibida. These, which had become ruinous through
age, were restored by the Emperor Justinian, who thereby checked the
inroads of the barbarians in that quarter, and beyond them rebuilt an
ancient fort, now known as Utos. On the extreme frontier of Illyria
he built a fort named Lapidaria, and altered a solitary tower, named
Lucernariaburgum, into a fort worthy of admiration. The above were the
works of the Emperor Justinian in Illyria; he did not, however, merely
strengthen this country with fortifications, but placed in each of them
garrisons of regular soldiers, and thus checked the incursions of the
barbarians.
VII. Hitherto I have described the fortifications of Illyria along the
river Danube. We must now pass into those which the Emperor Justinian
built along its shores in Thrace; for it appears convenient to me
first to describe the whole of this bank, and then to proceed to the
description of his works in the inland country. Let us then first
proceed to the country of the Mysians,[77] whom the poets speak of as
fighting hand to hand; for their country is conterminous with that
of Illyria. After Lucernariaburgum, the Emperor Justinian built the
new fort of Securisca, and beyond it restored the ruinous part of
Cyntodemus. Beyond this he built an entirely new city, which, after
the name of the Empress, he called Theodoropolis. He renewed the
ruinous part of the forts which are named Iatron and Tigas, and added
a tower to that of Maxentius, of which he thought it stood in need.
He built the new fort of Cynton. Beyond this is the fortification of
Transmarisca, opposite to which, on the further side of the river,
the Roman Emperor Constantine once built with great care a fort named
Daphne, thinking it advisable that at this place the river should be
guarded on both sides. This in process of time was entirely destroyed
by the barbarians, but was rebuilt from its foundations by the Emperor
Justinian. Beyond Transmarisca, he took suitable pains to restore the
fortresses of Altinum and that called Candidiana, which long ago had
been destroyed by the same enemies. There are three forts in succession
along the bank of the Danube, named Saltopyrgus, Dorostolus, and
Sycidaba, in each of which the Emperor repaired with great care such
parts as had become ruinous. He bestowed similar pains upon Quesoris,
which lies beyond the bank of the river, and enlarged and greatly
extended Palmatis, which stands in a narrow pass, although it was
not near the bank of the river. Close to this he built a new fort,
named Adina, because the Sclavonian barbarians were wont to conceal
themselves there and lie in ambush, so as to render it impossible for
travellers to proceed through that country. He also built the fort of
Tilicion and the outwork on the left of it.
Thus was the bank of the Danube and its neighbourhood fortified in
Mysia.[78] I shall now proceed to Scythia, where the first fort is
that named after St. Cyrillus, the ruinous parts of which were most
carefully rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. Beyond this was an ancient
fortress named Ulmiton, but as the Sclavonian barbarians had for a long
time infested that region, and made their habitation there, it had
become quite deserted, and nothing remained of it except its name. He
therefore rebuilt it from its foundations, and rendered that part of
the country safe from the attacks of the Sclavonians. Next to this is
the city of Ibida, whose walls had become very ruinous, but which he,
without any delay, rebuilt and rendered very strong. He built a new
fort beyond it named Ægistum, and restored another fort in the furthest
part of Scythia named Almyris, whose walls had for the greater part
fallen into decay, as he did to all the other fortifications in this
part of Europe.
VIII. I have described above the buildings constructed by the Emperor
Justinian among the Dardanians, Epirotes, Macedonians, and the other
tribes of the Illyrians, as well as those in Greece and along the river
Ister.
Let us now proceed to Thrace, taking as the best foundation for our
narrative the neighbourhood of Byzantium, since that city surpasses
all others in Thrace, both in strength and situation, for it overhangs
Europe like a citadel, and guards also the sea which divides it from
Asia. I have described above his works, both churches and other
buildings, within and without the walls of Constantinople; I am now
about to speak of what lies beyond them.
There is a fort in the suburbs of the city, which from its form is
called the ‘round fort.’ The road which leads from it to Rhegium passes
for the most part over uneven ground, and in rainy seasons used to
become swampy and difficult for travellers; now, however, our Emperor
has paved it with large stones, and made it easy to traverse. In
length this road reaches as far as Rhegium; its width is such that two
waggons going in opposite directions can pass without difficulty. The
stones of which it is formed are very hard; one would imagine them to
be millstones. They are of enormous size, so that each of them covers
a large extent of ground, and stands up to a great height. They form
so smooth and level a surface that they do not seem to be joined, or
carefully let into one another, but to have grown together. Such is
this road. There is a lake close to Rhegium, into which rivers flowing
from the higher ground discharge their waters. This lake reaches as far
as the sea, so that there is but one very narrow bank between them,
both washed on either side by their several waters; when, however,
they approach most nearly to one another, they restrain their currents
and turn them back, as though they had there placed boundaries for
themselves. At one point they join one another, leaving a channel
between them, of which it is hard to say to which water it belongs, for
the water of the sea does not always flow into the lake, nor does the
lake always discharge its waters into the sea; but after much rain, and
with a southerly wind, the water of the channel appears to flow out of
the lake; though if the wind blows from the north, the sea appears to
wash into the lake. In this place the sea forms an immense extent of
shoal-water, with only one narrow channel leading through them into
deep water. This channel is so narrow that it is called the ‘Ant.’ The
channel which, as I have said before, joins the lake to the sea, used
in former times to be crossed by a wooden bridge, though with great
danger to the passengers, who often fell into the water together with
the beams of the bridge; now, however, the Emperor Justinian has raised
the bridge upon high arches of stone, and rendered the passage safe.
Beyond Rhegium there is a city named Athyra, whose inhabitants he
relieved from the distress from which he found them suffering from want
of water, by building a reservoir there, in which the excess of their
water might be stored up, and supplied to them in time of need; he also
restored the ruinous part of their wall.
Beyond Athyra there is a place which the natives call Episcopia. The
Emperor Justinian perceiving that this place lay exposed to the attacks
of the enemy, more especially as there was no strong place, but the
country was entirely unguarded, built a fort there, the towers of
which he constructed, not in the usual manner, but as follows. From
the ‘curtain’ wall projects a building, narrow at first, but very wide
at the outer end, upon which each of the towers is built. It is not
possible for an enemy to approach near to this wall, since they come
between these towers, and are overwhelmed by the cross-fire which the
garrison easily pour upon their heads. He placed the gates, not in the
usual manner, between two towers, but obliquely in a small projection
of the wall, so that they are not seen by the enemy, but are hidden
behind the wall. This work was performed for the Emperor by Theodorus
Silentiarius, a very clever man. Thus was this fort constructed. We
must now proceed to make some mention of the ‘long walls.’
IX. The sea which proceeds from the ocean and Spain, with Europe on
its left hand, flows in the same easterly direction as far as Thrace,
but there divides into two portions, one of which proceeds towards
the east, while another makes a short bend and terminates in the
Euxine Sea. When it reaches Byzantium, it winds round the city on its
eastern side, as though round a goal, and continues its course in a
much more oblique direction, proceeding by a strait which turns the
upper and lower parts of Thrace into an isthmus; not that the sea there
is divided into two parts, as is the case in other isthmuses, but it
circles round in a singular manner and embraces Thrace on both sides,
and more especially the whole suburbs of Byzantium. These suburbs the
inhabitants have built over and adorned, not merely for their use,
but with an arrogant and boundless luxury, and with all the license
which is produced by wealth. Here they have stored much furniture,
and preserved many works of art. Whenever, therefore, the barbarians
suddenly invade the Roman Empire, these places suffer far more damage
than the rest, and are in fact utterly ruined. The Emperor Anastasius,
wishing to prevent this, built long walls[79] at a place no less than
forty miles from Byzantium, joining the two seas where they were
distant two days’ journey from one another. Having constructed these
works, he supposed that all within them had been made secure; they
were, however, the cause of still greater disasters, for it was not
possible either to build so enormous a work firmly, or to guard it with
proper care; while when the enemy made themselves masters of one part
of the long wall, they conquered the remainder of the garrison without
difficulty, assailed the rest of the people unexpectedly, and did more
mischief than can easily be described.
Our Emperor, however, having rebuilt the ruinous part of these walls,
and strengthened their weak points so as to assist their defenders,
devised the following plan also. He stopped up all the passages leading
from one tower to another, and arranged one single means of ascent from
the ground, within the walls of each, so that the garrison could, if
necessary, block up this passage and defy an enemy, even though he had
made his way within the wall, since each tower is sufficient within
itself for the defence of its garrison. Within these walls he made the
most complete provision for safety, both by the buildings which I have
mentioned above, and by restoring the most ruinous part of the wall of
the city of Selybria.[80] These were the works of the Emperor Justinian
at the ‘long walls.’
The well-known city of Heraclea,[81] our neighbour on the sea-coast,
which formerly, under the name of Perinthus, was the first city in
Europe, and now is second to Constantinople alone, not long ago was
reduced to great straits by want of water; not that the country near it
was waterless, or that those who built the city in ancient times had
neglected to supply it with water—for Europe abounds with fountains,
and the ancients took care to make aqueducts—but time, as usual,
destroyed the fabric of the aqueduct either through contempt for the
age of the building, or encouraged to ruin it by the carelessness
of the citizens of Heraclea. This led to Heraclea being left almost
without inhabitants; while time produced the same effect upon the
palace there, which was a very magnificent building. However, the
Emperor Justinian did not neglect this city, but in a truly royal
manner furnished it with sweet and transparent waters, and did not
allow the palace to lose its ancient reputation, for he restored the
whole of it.
A day’s journey from Heraclea is a place by the seaside named
Rhædestus, conveniently situated for the navigation of the Hellespont,
with a good harbour where merchant-ships can moor and discharge their
cargoes in quiet water, and when reloaded can again put to sea without
difficulty. It is, however, exposed to attacks of barbarians if they
should make a sudden incursion into that country, being neither
fortified nor placed on difficult ground; for this reason it was
neglected by merchants, who disregarded it through fear of this danger.
Now, however, the Emperor Justinian has not only rendered the place
itself secure, but has also provided for the safety of all those who
dwell in the neighbourhood by building a city at Rhædestus, with a
strong wall and of very remarkable size, in which, on an invasion of
the barbarians, all the people of the neighbourhood can take refuge and
save their lives and property.
X. Thus did the Emperor Justinian at Rhædestus;[82] I now proceed to
his works in the Chersonesus. The Chersonesus projects beyond that
part of Thrace, for it runs out into the sea and appears as though it
proceeded as far as Asia, and was joined on to it. Its shore forms
a promontory near the city of Elæus,[83] thus dividing the sea into
two parts, while it itself is separated from the rest of the mainland
by the water which runs into a recess forming what is called the
Black Gulf; the rest of it almost forms an island, from which shape
it derives its name, for it is called Chersonesus because it is only
prevented by a narrow isthmus from being altogether an island. Across
this isthmus the ancients carelessly built a wall which could be
scaled with ladders, making it as low and narrow as though they thought
they were building a dry stone wall round an out-of-the-way garden.
In addition to this they built low and mean works, of the kind called
moles, projecting into the sea on either side of the isthmus, and thus
fortified the space between the wall and the sea, but in such a manner
as not to repel invaders but to invite them to make an attack, so
contemptible and easily captured was their fortification. Imagining,
however, that they had erected an impassable barrier against the enemy,
they did not think it necessary to build any strong place within this
wall, for there was no fort or any other place of strength in the
Chersonesus, though it extends for a distance of nearly three days’
journey. Quite lately the enemy invaded Thrace, made an attempt upon
the passage by the seashore, frightened away its guards, forced their
way in as if in sport, and gained the other side of the wall without
any difficulty.
The Emperor Justinian therefore, in his great care for the safety of
his subjects, did as follows: First, he utterly destroyed the ancient
wall so that no vestige of it was left. He then built a second wall
upon the same site, of considerable width and height; above the
battlements of this he built a vaulted roof like a portico to shelter
the defenders, while a second range of battlements resting upon these
vaults doubled the defensive power of this work against an enemy. After
this, at each end of the wall, on the very beach of the sea, he built
two of the projecting works named moles, reaching a long way into the
water, connected with the wall, and equalling it in height. He also
cleaned out the ditch outside the wall and excavated it to a great
width and depth; moreover, he placed a garrison of soldiers within
these long walls sufficient to hold them against all the barbarians who
might attack the Chersonesus. After having made this part so strong
and secure, he nevertheless built additional fortifications in the
interior, so that if, which God forbid, any disaster should befall the
‘long wall,’ the people of Chersonesus would nevertheless be safe;
for he enclosed the city of Aphrodisias, which before had been for
the greater part defenceless, with a very strong wall, and supplied
with walls and inhabitants the city of Ciberis, building there baths,
hospices, numerous houses, and all that is necessary for a magnificent
city. He likewise most securely fortified Callipolis,[84] which had
been left without walls by the ancients, through their trust in the
‘long wall.’ Here he built storehouses for corn and wine sufficient to
supply all the wants of the garrison of the Chersonesus.[85]
Opposite Abydos is an ancient city named Sestos, which also in former
times was uncared-for and possessed no defences. It was overhung
by a very steep hill, upon which he built a fort which is quite
inaccessible, and impossible to be taken by an enemy. Not far from
Sestos is Elæus, where a precipitous rock rises from the sea, raising
its summit high in the air and forming a natural fortification. Upon
this also the Emperor built a fort, which is difficult to pass by
and altogether impregnable; moreover, he built a fort at Thescus, on
the other side of the ‘long wall,’ fortifying it with an exceedingly
strong wall. Thus did he provide in all quarters for the safety of the
inhabitants of the Chersonesus.
XI. Beyond Chersonesus is the city of Ænus,[86] which takes its name
from that of its founder; for Æneas was, according to tradition, the
son of Anchises. The wall of this place was easy of capture from its
lowness, since it did not reach to the necessary height, while it lay
completely exposed in the neighbourhood of the sea, where it was washed
by the waves. However, the Emperor Justinian raised its walls to such
a height that not only they could not be taken, but could not even be
assaulted; and, by bringing them down to the seashore and strengthening
them in every quarter, rendered Ænus altogether impregnable. Thus he
provided for the safety of the city; but the country remained exposed
to the incursions of the barbarians, because the (mountains of) Rhodope
had been from ancient times deficient in fortifications. In the
interior was a village named Bellurus, in wealth and population equal
to a city, but always exposed to the plundering attacks of barbarians,
on account of its being defenceless, as was also a large extent of
country round about it: this place our Emperor made into a city,
fortified, and rendered worthy of himself; moreover he also restored
with great care all the fortifications which were wanting or had become
ruinous in the other cities in the Rhodope Mountains. Among these were
Trajanopolis and Maximianopolis, whose walls he rebuilt where they were
defective. These were his works in this quarter.
In this country Anastasiopolis was already furnished with walls,
but, though lying near the sea, had an undefended sea-beach, so that
it often happened that the barbarian Huns seized the vessels which
lay there helpless, and extended their ravages to the neighbouring
islands. The Emperor Justinian enclosed the whole sea-beach with a
fortification, and thus provided for the safety both of the ships and
of the islanders. He also constructed a very lofty aqueduct leading
to the city from the mountains in the neighbourhood. There is in
Rhodope an ancient city named Toperus, which is almost surrounded by
a river, and lies at the foot of a lofty hill, from which it had not
long before been captured by the barbarian Sclavonians; but Justinian
raised its wall to so great a height that it rises above this hill
as much as it formerly fell short of it. He built a vaulted portico
along the wall, so that the garrison could defend the city in safety
against besiegers, and formed each of its towers into a strong castle.
He also strengthened it by enclosing the part between the river and
the city-wall by a cross-wall. These were the works of the Emperor
Justinian in this quarter.
I will now describe the other fortifications which he built in the
rest of Thrace, and in what is now called Mount Hæmus. First, he
carefully built up what was wanting or ruinous at Philippopolis and
Plotinopolis, which were very weakly fortified, although they stood in
the neighbourhood of many tribes of barbarians. He also established
numberless forts throughout the whole of Thrace, by means of which the
country, which had formerly been exposed to the inroads of the enemy,
was entirely preserved from their ravages; the names of these forts, as
far as my memory goes, are as follows.
In Europe:
Lydicæ,
Elaeae.
In Rhodope the following new forts:
Caseera,
Theodoropolis,
Thrasi,
Thudanelanæ,
Mundepa,
Cuscabri,
Cusculus,
Thracian Bospara,
Vesiparum,
Capisturia,
Tharsandala,
Denizus,
Toparum,
Dalatarba,
Bre,
Scemnas,
Carasthyra,
Pinzus,
Tuleus,
Arzon,
Castrazarba,
Zositersum,
Bergisum,
Dingium,
Sacissus,
Cyrtuxura,
Potamocastellum,
Isdicaea,
Emporium,
Taurocephalaeum,
Velaidipara,
Scitaces,
Bepara,
Pusinum,
Hymanparubri,
Scariotasalucra,
Augustas,
Urdaus,
St. Trajanus,
Dertallus,
Solvani,
Vascum,
Zincyra,
Hæmimonti,
Veripara,
Isgipera,
Ozorme,
Vereiaros,
Tamonbari,
Ditch of Gesilas,
Cherœnum,
Probini,
St. Theodorus,
Burdepto,
Rhacule,
St. Julianus,
Tzitaëtus,
Velastyras,
Getrinas,
Bredas,
Verus,
Thocyodis,
Via,
Anagonclias,
Suras,
Anthipari,
Dordas,
Sarmathon,
Clisura,
Hylasianae,
Thrasarichi,
Bæca,
Chrysanthus,
Marcerota,
Zdebrin,
S. Theodorus,
Asgarzus,
Burtudgizi,
Zemarchi,
Cerioparorum,
Casibonorum,
Unci,
Antoninum,
Debre,
Probini,
Carberus,
Esimonti,
Asgizus,
Dalatarba,
Theodoropolis,
Taurocomum,
Nice,
Cavotumba,
Dixas,
Getistraus,
Tzyidon,
Tzonpolegon,
Basibunum,
Anchialus,
Marcianum,
Cyridana,
Beculi.
The following are the other forts in Thrace on the Euxine Sea and river
Danube, and also in the interior of the country.
On the river Danube:
Mysias,
Erculente,
Scatrina,
Appiara,
Exentaprista,
Deoniana,
Limo,
Odyssus,
Bidigis,
Arina,
Nicopolis,
Zicideba,
Poliscastellum,
Cistidizus,
Basternas,
Metalla,
Justinianopolis,
Therma,
Gemellomuntes,
Asilba,
Cuscana,
Cuscum,
Fossatum,
Bisdina,
Marcianopolis,
Scythias,
Grapso,
Nono,
Trosmes,
Naisduno,
Rhesidina,
Constantiana,
Veripara,
Spadizus,
Marcerota,
Bodas,
Zisnudeba,
Turules,
Monteregine,
Becis,
Altina,
Maurovalle,
Callatis,
Bassidina,
Beledina,
Abrittus,
Rubusta,
Diniscarta,
Tigra,
Scedeba,
Novas.
In the interior:
Copustorus,
Virginazo,
Tillito,
Ancyriana,
Murideba,
Itzes,
Castellonovo,
Padisara,
Bismapha,
Valentiniana,
Zaldapa,
Axiopa,
Carso,
Gratiana,
Preidis,
Argamo,
Paulimandra,
Tzasclis,
Fair Theodora,
Tomis,
Creas,
Catassi,
Nisconis,
Novejustiniana,
Presidio,
Ergamia.
And others beyond number.