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 taxation, restrained extravagance, and, though practising thrift, responded liberally to every genuine application. His administration was much admired by those who were free from sectarian prejudice; and even the bigoted adherents of the Chalcedonian synod cannot avoid being eulogistic when recounting some of his measures.

Within the Byzantine province of Dardania, to the south of modern Servia, was situated the municipal town of Scupi, in a plain almost contained by a mountainous amphitheatre, consisting of the Scardus chain, and its connections with the greater ranges of Pindus and Haemus. Among its dependent villages, lying along the banks of the Axius or Vardar, the river of the plain, were the hamlets of Bederiana and Tauresium. Under Roman rule the language and manners of