Maurice (emperor)

“Mauricii Strategicon, edited by George T. Dennis (Vienna, 1981), Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, vol. 17 (Series Vindobonensis) · Maurice's Strategikon, translated by George T. Dennis (U of Pennsylvania P, 1984) — text and translation used above”

“Isocrates, Ad Demonicum, 34”

“Ἐπειδὴ πέφυκε τῷ φρονήματι τῶν ἀρχόντων συνδιατίθεσθαι τοὺς ἀρχομένους, ἀρχαῖος ἐστι λόγος, κάλλιον εἶναι λέοντα ἐλάφων ἄρχειν ἢ ἔλαφον λεόντων.”

“A general who desires peace must be prepared for war, for the barbarians become very nervous when they face an adversary all set to fight.”

“The best general is not the man of noble family, but the man who can take pride in his own deeds.”

“When the battle line has been drawn up, the first rule is for the soldiers to maintain the formation and the intervals between the lines.”

“In time of peace, fear and the punishing of offenses keep the troops in line, but on active campaign great expectations and rewards get even better results.”

“The commander who relies on his own cavalry, especially the lancers, should seek out broad plains favorable to such troops and there force the battle.{{pb}}If, on the other hand, he relies more on his infantry, he should take care to choose uneven, thick, and rugged terrain for the fighting.”

“A prudent commander will not lead an allied force into his own country if it is larger than his own army. Otherwise it might mutiny, drive out the native troops, and take over the country.”

“Δικαίαν δεῖ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ πολέμου γίνεσθαι.”

“After gaining a victory the general who pursues the enemy with a scattered and disorganized army gives away his victory to the foe.”

“Nature produces but few brave men, whereas care and training make efficient soldiers. Soldiers who are kept working improve in courage, while too much leisure makes them weak and lazy. Care should be taken to keep them busy.”

“Deception is often helpful in warfare. An enemy soldier who deserts to us, apart from some plot, is of the greatest advantage, for the enemy is hurt by deserters more than if the same men were killed in action.”

“Ἢ δόλοις ἢ ἐφόδοις ἢ λιμῷ τοὺς πολεμίους βλάπτειν καλόν· οὐχὶ πάντως πρὸς πόλεμον ἐκκαλεῖσθαι δημόσιον, ἔνθα πλέον τῆς τύχης ἢ τῆς ἀνδρείας ἐστὶν ἡ ἐπίδειξις.”

“Πρὸ τῶν κινδύνων ὁ στρατηγός θεραπευέτω τὸ θεῖον· θαρρῶν γὰρ ἐν τοῖς κινδύνοις ὡς πρὸς φίλον αὐτῷ τὸ θεῖον τὰς ἱκεσίας ποιήσεται.”

“Ἐν μὲν τῇ διαίτῃ κοινὸν καὶ ἁπλοῦν τοῖς στρατιώταις τὸν στρατηγὸν εἶναι χρεὼν καὶ πατρικὴν στοργὴν ἔχειν πρὸς αὐτούς, πράως τὰ πράγματα διδασκόμενον καὶ συνεχῶς τὰ περὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ παραινοῦντα καὶ διαλεγόμενον.”

“Ἐν ταῖς ἀναγκαίων πραγμάτων ἐγχειρήσεσιν οὐ δεῖ χωρίζειν ἑαυτὸν τὸν στρατηγὸν ἐκ τῶν πόνων ὡς ὑπερέχοντα, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄρχεσθαι τῶν ἔργων καὶ συμπονεῖν τοῖς στρατιώταις κατὰ τὸ δυνατόν.”

“Κυνηγίῳ δὲ ἔοικε τὰ τῶν πολέμων. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐκεῖ διά τε κατασκόπων καὶ δικτύων καὶ ἐγκρυμμάτων καὶ παρασκόπων καὶ κατακυκλώσεων καὶ τοιούτων σοφισμάτων μᾶλλον ἢ δυνάμει ἡ θήρα τούτων περιγίνεται, οὕτως δεῖ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πολέμων ἁρμόζεσθαι, εἴτε πρὸς πλείους, εἴτε πρὸς ὀλίγους γίνονται. Τὸ γὰρ φανερῶς καὶ χειρὶ | δι᾽ ὄψεως μόνον βιάζεσθαι τοὺς ἐναντίους, ὅτι καὶ δόξῃ τις νικᾶν τούτους, μετὰ κινδύνου καὶ ζημίας οὐ τῆς τυχούσης ἡ τοῦ πράγματος ἀπόβασις αὐτῷ συμβαίνει. Ὅπερ τῶν ἀλογίστων ἐστὶν ἀνάγκης με-γίστης χωρὶς μετὰ ζημίας νίκην κτᾶσθαι, κενὴν ὑπόληψιν φέρουσαν.”