| Keywords |
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| ID |
5029 |
| Text |
Historia (continuatio Agathiae) (557 - 582) Menander, the Guardsman |
| Quotation |
Περὶ Ἀβάρων, ὡς πολλὰ περινοστήσαντες ἧκον ἐς Ἀλανοὺς καὶ ἱκέται ἐγένοντο Σαρωσίου τοῦ Ἀλανῶν ἡγουμένου, ὡς ἂν δι᾿αὐτοῦ γνώριμοι ἔσοιντο ῾Ρωμαίοις. ὁ δὲ Ἰουστίνῳ τῷ Γερμανοῦ κατ᾿ ἐκεῖνο καιροῦ τῶν ἐν Λαζικῇ καταλόγων ἐξηγουμένῳ τῶν Ἀβάρων πέρι ἐδήλωσεν, ὁ δὲ Ἰουστῖνος Ἰουστινιανῷ βασιλεῖ· καὶ δὴ ἐνεκελεύσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ στρατηγῷ στέλλειν ἐς Βυζάντιον τὴν πρεσβείαν τοῦ ἔθνους. καὶ οὖν Κανδὶχ ὄνομά τις ᾑρέθη πρεσβευσόμευος ὐπὲρ Ἀβάρων πρῶτος, <ὃς> ἐς τὰ βασίλεια ἐσφοιτήσας ἔλεξε τῷ αὐτοκράτορι ὡς πάρεστι τὸ μέγιστόν τε καὶ ἀλκιμώτατον τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ὡς τὸ φῦλον οἱ Ἄβαροι ἀκαταμάχητοί τέ εἰσι καὶ τὸ ἀντιστατοῦν οἷοί τε ῥᾳδίως ἀπώσασθαί τε καὶ διαφθείρειν, καὶ ὡς προσῆκόν ἐστι τῷ βασιλεῖ ἐς ὁμαιχμίαν σφᾶς ἑταιρίσασθαι ἀλεξητῆράς τε ἔχειν ἀγαθούς, καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἄλλως εὐνούστατοι ἔσονται τῇ Ῥωμαϊκῇ πολιτειᾳ ἢ δώροις ἐς τὰ μάλιστα τιμιωτάτοις καὶ χρήμαστιν ἐτησίοις καὶ γῆς εὐφορωτάτης οἰκήσει. ταῦτα τῷ αὐτοκράτορι ἐπειδὴ ἤγγειλεν ὁ Κανδιχ (…), |
| Translation |
Concerning the Avars (Ábaroi): after many wanderings they came to the Alans (Alanoí) and begged Sarosius, the leader of the Alans (Alanoí), that he bring them to the attention of the Romans (Rhōmaîoi). Sarosius informed Germanus’ son Justin, who at the time was general of the forces in Lazica, about the Avars (Ábaroi), Justin told Justinian, and the Emperor ordered the general to send the embassy of the tribe to Byzantium. One Kandikh by name was chosen to be the first envoy from the Avars (Ábaroi), and when he came to the palace he told the Emperor of the arrival of the greatest and most powerful of the tribes. The Avars (Ábaroi) were invincible and could easily crush and destroy all who stood in their path. The Emperor should make an alliance with them and enjoy their efficient protection. But they would only be well-disposed to the Roman state in exchange for the most valuable gifts, yearly payments and very fertile land to inhabit. Thus spoke Kandikh to the Emperor. |
| Summary |
First Avar embassy under Kandikh in Constantinople after the mediation of the Alan leader Sarosius and the son of the commander Germanus, Justin. Kandikh paints a highly favorable image of his tribe and exhorts the Emperor to give gifts, land and yearly payments to the tribe in exchange for their protection. |
| Quotation source |
Fr. 5.1 (pp. 48-49) |
| Temporal Coverage |
558 - 559 |
| Associated use case(s) |
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| Spatial Coverage Objects |
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| Comment |
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