Book 9 – Parts 1-3

The Emperor traveled by foot to ensure that their lands were protected from outsiders.  He received word that a man named Tzachas wished to become Emperor and began a campaign against him.  The emperor’s man Ducas was fighting Tzachas but had not been successful.  The emperor found out that Ducas had been fighting at dawn, and the sun had been in his eyes.  The emperor sent word to him not to fight until the sun had passed the meridian, and then he would be victorious.  After this, Tzachas did not want to continue fighting.  He was told he could leave but that he must not do harm to any of the Mityleneans.  Tzachas tried to take some of the Mityleneans with their wives and children captive  The emperor’s men were able to rescue the prisoners of war from Tzachas.

A few days later, Calyces had seized Crete, but he was stopped and murdered.  Rhapsomes avoided battle, but when he finally engaged in it, he abandoned the fight, trying to find a ship to take him away.  He eventually took refuge in a church but was caught and brought back.

Soon, Tzachas attacked and took possession of Smyrna.  The emperor planned to defeat him.  The sultan heard of this and set out for Tzachas whose foes were now approaching on land and by sea.  The sultan arrived and had dinner with Tzachas who drank too much.  The sultan killed him with his sword.