Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/504

 482 THE DECLINE AND FALL province which no longer supplied the materials of rapine ; but he refused to disperse his troops ; and, while his style was re- spectful, his conduct was independent and hostile. He pro- tested that, if the emperor should march against him, he would advance forty paces to kiss the ground before him ; but, in rising from this prostrate attitude, Roger had a life and sword at the service of his friends. The Great Duke of Romania conde- scended to accept the title and ornaments of Caesar ; but he rejected the new proposal of the government of Asia, with a subsidy of corn and money, on condition that he should reduce his troops to the harmless number of three thousand men. As- sassination is the last resource of cowards. The Caesar was tempted to visit the royal residence of Hadrianople : in the apart- ad'isc^' iTtient. and before the eyes, of the empress, he was stabbed by the Alani *^^ guards ; ^^ and, though the deed was imputed to their private revenge, his countrymen, who dwelt at Constantinople in the security of peace, were involved in the same proscription by the prince or people. The loss of their leader intimidated the crowd of adventurers, who hoisted the sails of flight, and were soon scattered round the coasts of the Mediterranean. But a veteran band of fifteen hundred Catalans or French stood firm in the strong fortress of Gallipoli on the Hellespont, displayed the banners of Arragon, and offered to revenge and justify their chief by an equal combat of ten or an hundred warriors. In- stead of accepting this bold defiance, the emperor Michael, the son and colleague of Andronicus, resolved to oppress them with the weight of multitudes : every nerve was strained to form an army of thirteen thousand horse and thirty thousand foot ; and the Propontis was covered with the ships of the Greeks and Genoese. In two battles by sea and land, these mighty forces were encountered and overthrown by the despair and discipline of the Catalans ; the young emperor fled to the palace ; and an insuflncient guard of light horse was left for the protection of the open country. Victory renewed the hopes and numbers of the adventurers : every nation was blended under the name and standard of the great cojnpauii ; and three thousand Turkish proselytes deserted from the Imperial service to join this mili- ®^ ris this a misprint for Alanic or Alan ?] ^ [Roger had crossed to Europe to help the Emperor Andronicus against the Bulgarians. Before returning he wished to take leave of the young Emperor " Kyr Michael " who was at Hadrianople, though it was known that Michael bore him a grudge. Roger's wife and others tried to dissuade him, in vain (Muntaner, c. 213. 215).]