THE SCENE: In a Byzantine echo on the Song of the Cid, the following passage briefly recounts the tale of a great Greek general who, once scorned, defected to the Muslim side and achieved great renown.
THE TEXT: The emperor found himself surrounded and n a very vulnerable position, about to be taken prisoner. When Manuel (who was in command of the army) learnt of this, he spurred on his men and boldly charged into the midst of danger, for he counted it a terrible thing for a Roman emperor to be taken in battle. He found the emperor in a perilous situation, despairing of getting out alive and declaring that he did not want to abandon his men by taking to his heels. “Come now, emperor,” he said; “follow me as I go ahead and find the way for you.” Manuel set off, but the emperor was too afraid and did not flow, so he was obliged to turn back again. When the emperor missed his chance again, he came back a third time and threatened him with death if he did not follow. It was thus that, very late in the day and with great difficulty, the emperor was saved. For this, the emperor caused him to receive honours commensurate with his service, showering him with gifts and addressing him as “benefactor” and “savior”.
Jealousy, however, began to develop towards such a man as this and he was maliciously charged with high treason. He realized that he was standing in very great danger and he was informed that they were going to blind him. This intelligence came from a man who was utterly devoted to him, a former servant of his, now Theophilos’ wine-pourer. It caused him to throw off the imperial yoke and to go over to the Hargarenes. They, to whom he seemed to be of great importance, awarded him highest honours. He was entrusted with a large army and sent out against some hostile neighbors known as the Kormates. It was his will that he should have no followers other than the imprisoned Romans to campaign with him. He achieved great and glorious victories and even took by storm a place called Khorossan. It was not merely the superior boldness [of his force] which confused the enemy, but the difference in language, the change in uniform and the amazingly unconventional method of giving battle which reduced the adversary to unwonted timidity.
It was not only against the enemy that he displayed his boldness; he was courageous [in killing] the wild beasts which were ravaging the countryside. Because he was the author of great benefits for the people, he was greatly beloved by the ruler of the Saracens and his council of elders. When Theophilos learnt of all this, naturally he was not pleased. He left no stone unturned in his efforts to recall the man. By the hand of a mendicant monk, he sent him a cross and a chrysobull, inviting him to return and granting him a complete amnesty for his misdeeds by these means. Conveying the things he had received, the monk secretly delivered them into the hands of Manuel, whose heart burned within him after receiving them.
Trading on the confidence his former accomplishments had inspired, he let the Saracen ruler know that he cherished a desire of campaigning against the Romans and of revenging himself on those who had slandered him before the emperor, dwellers of Cappadocia. He asked that the ruler’s son be sent along with him, to add credence to his proposal. Ishmael acceded to his requests and gave him permission to depart on campaign. When Manuel approached the Roman border, he let the commander of the Cappadocian theme know who he was and that he was about to return to the Romans. He also intimated that the commander should set a detachment in such and such a place to lie in ambush, “So that, when I come that way,” he said, “I can send off the Saracen vanguard to some other place while I run across to the Roman side.” And that is what happened. As they were approaching the appointed place, the one agreed upon, he warmly embraced the son of Ishmael, saying “Go safely away to your father, child, for I am going to my lord and emperor.” He got away from there safely, reached the capital and encountered the emperor at the church of the Mother of God at Blachernae. He was honoured with the title of magister by him and was thenceforth treated as his kinsman. That is what is known of Manuel.
– John Skylitzes, Synopsis of Histories, 11th Century AD
