WhiletheRomanempirewasattackedbytheTurksintheEast，east，andtheNormansintheWest，theagedsuccessorofMichaelsurrenderedthesceptretothehandsofAlexius，anillustriouscaptain，andthefounderoftheComneniandynasty。
TheprincessAnne，hisdaughterandhistorian，observes，inheraffectedstyle，thatevenHerculeswasunequaltoadoublecombat；and，onthisprinciple，sheapprovesahastypeacewiththeTurks，whichallowedherfathertoundertakeinpersonthereliefofDurazzo。Onhisaccession，Alexiusfoundthecampwithoutsoldiers，andthetreasurywithoutmoney；yetsuchwerethevigorandactivityofhismeasures，thatinsixmonthsheassembledanarmyofseventythousandmen，^69andperformedamarchoffivehundredmiles。HistroopswereleviedinEuropeandAsia，fromPeloponnesustotheBlackSea；hismajestywasdisplayedinthesilverarmsandrichtrappingsofthecompaniesofHorse—guards；andtheemperorwasattendedbyatrainofnoblesandprinces，someofwhom，inrapidsuccession，hadbeenclothedwiththepurple，andwereindulgedbythelenityofthetimesinalifeofaffluenceanddignity。Theiryouthfulardormightanimatethemultitude；buttheirloveofpleasureandcontemptofsubordinationwerepregnantwithdisorderandmischief；andtheirimportunateclamorsforspeedyanddecisiveactiondisconcertedtheprudenceofAlexius，whomighthavesurroundedandstarvedthebesiegingarmy。TheenumerationofprovincesrecallsasadcomparisonofthepastandpresentlimitsoftheRomanworld:therawleviesweredrawntogetherinhasteandterror；andthegarrisonsofAnatolia，orAsiaMinor，hadbeenpurchasedbytheevacuationofthecitieswhichwereimmediatelyoccupiedbytheTurks。ThestrengthoftheGreekarmyconsistedintheVarangians，theScandinavianguards，whosenumberswererecentlyaugmentedbyacolonyofexilesandvolunteersfromtheBritishIslandofThule。UndertheyokeoftheNormanconqueror，theDanesandEnglishwereoppressedandunited；abandofadventurousyouthsresolvedtodesertalandofslavery；theseawasopentotheirescape；and，intheirlongpilgrimage，theyvisitedeverycoastthataffordedanyhopeoflibertyandrevenge。TheywereentertainedintheserviceoftheGreekemperor；andtheirfirststationwasinanewcityontheAsiaticshore:butAlexiussoonrecalledthemtothedefenceofhispersonandpalace；andbequeathedtohissuccessorstheinheritanceoftheirfaithandvalor。^70ThenameofaNormaninvaderrevivedthememoryoftheirwrongs:theymarchedwithalacrityagainstthenationalfoe，andpantedtoregaininEpirustheglorywhichtheyhadlostinthebattleofHastings。TheVarangiansweresupportedbysomecompaniesofFranksorLatins；
andtherebels，whohadfledtoConstantinoplefromthetyrannyofGuiscard，wereeagertosignalizetheirzealandgratifytheirrevenge。Inthisemergency，theemperorhadnotdisdainedtheimpureaidofthePauliciansorManichaeansofThraceandBulgaria；andthesehereticsunitedwiththepatienceofmartyrdomthespiritanddisciplineofactivevalor。^71ThetreatywiththesultanhadprocuredasupplyofsomethousandTurks；andthearrowsoftheScythianhorsewereopposedtothelancesoftheNormancavalry。Onthereportanddistantprospectoftheseformidablenumbers，Robertassembledacouncilofhisprincipalofficers。\"Youbehold，\"saidhe，\"yourdanger:itisurgentandinevitable。Thehillsarecoveredwitharmsandstandards；andtheemperoroftheGreeksisaccustomedtowarsandtriumphs。Obedienceandunionareouronlysafety；andIamreadytoyieldthecommandtoamoreworthyleader。\"Thevoteandacclamationevenofhissecretenemies，assuredhim，inthatperilousmoment，oftheiresteemandconfidence；andthedukethuscontinued:\"Letustrustintherewardsofvictory，anddeprivecowardiceofthemeansofescape。Letusburnourvesselsandourbaggage，andgivebattleonthisspot，asifitweretheplaceofournativityandourburial。\"Theresolutionwasunanimouslyapproved；and，withoutconfininghimselftohislines，Guiscardawaitedinbattle—arraythenearerapproachoftheenemy。Hisrearwascoveredbyasmallriver；hisrightwingextendedtothesea；hislefttothehills:norwasheconscious，perhaps，thatonthesamegroundCaesarandPompeyhadformerlydisputedtheempireoftheworld。^72
[Footnote69:MuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。ix。p。136，137
observes，thatsomeauthorsPetrusDiacon。Chron。Casinen。l。