Very soon he coveted more, as is generally the rule with men of insatiable ambition, and decided he ought to make an attempt upon the cities scattered throughout Illyria, and then, if that venture was successful, to proceed still further. For covetousness, whenever it grasps at Empire. does not differ at all from gangrene, which can never be arrested once it has attacked a body, until it has passed right through and vitiated it entirely.
II The Emperor was kept informed of all these events by the letters of Palaeologus – namely, that Robert crossed the sea in June (as already told); that, in spite of being caught in a terrible storm and shipwrecked and subjected to God’s wrath, he was nothing daunted, but took Valona at first assault with the forces he had brought with him; further, that innumerable troops from all quarters were rallying to his standard, as many as the flakes of a snowstorm in number; and that the lighter-headed were joining Robert because they believed that the impostor Michael was really the Emperor.
Consequently Alexius was afraid and considering the magnitude of the task before him and realizing that the forces at his command were only equal to a small fraction of Robert’s, he deemed it necessary to call upon the Turks in the East for help, and signified his desire to the Sultan.
By promises and bribes he also solicited the aid of the Venetians (from them, it is said, the Romans had previously introduced the name “Venetian colour ” in their horse races). Some things he promised, and others he offered to give at once, provided that they would equip their whole navy and with all speed sail to Dyrrachium with the object firstly, of protecting the city and secondly, of engaging in battle with Robert’s fleet.
God’s help gained the victory
And if they carried out his request, and by God’s help gained the victory or (as may always happen) they were defeated, even then they should receive all he had promised, just the same as if they had conquered. And all their desires, provided only they were not injurious to the Roman Empire, should be fulfilled and confirmed by Golden Bulls. On hearing this the Venetians signified their desires through their ambassadors and received definite promises.
Thereupon they got their navy ready with every kind of ship and started for Dyrrachium in good order. They passed safely over the high seas and reached the chapel built long ago to the Immaculate Virgin at a spot called Pallia, about eighteen stades distant from Robert’s camp outside Dyrrachium. But when from the region of Dyrrachium they had viewed Robert’s fleet fitted out with every species of military instruments they lost heart for the war.
As soon as Robert knew of their arrival he sent his son Bohemund to them with the fleet to bid them ‘hurrah’ for the Emperor Michael and for Robert. However, they put off their hurrahing to the morrow. When night fell, as they were not able to approach the shore, and there was a calm, they tied the larger vessels together with ropes and constructed a so-called “sea-harbour,” and built wooden towers at their mastheads and hauled up on to them by ropes the small boats which were usually towed together at their stems.
Read More about War with the Normans
