Mauritius Strategicon

Manuscripts and Publications

The original name of Strategikon is not known; the tradition of calling the work this way goes back to its first scientific publication, prepared by the librarian of Cardinal Barberini ^{[2] [3]} and implemented in 1664 by in Uppsala ^[4] . The oldest and best preserved manuscript ( Codex Mediceus - Laurentianus LV-4), created on the initiative of Konstantin Bagryanorodny, is entitled Dr. Greek. Ούρβκίου τακτικά στρτηγικά , completed after 959, Codex Ambrosianus gr. 139 (B 119 sup.) Has a longer name dr. Μαυρικίου τακτικά τού έπί τού βασλέος Μαυρικίου γεγονότος , in the other three manuscripts ( Paris , Neapolitan and Vatican ) it is called Dr. Greek. Μαυρικίου στρτηγικόν ^[1] .

To date, Schaeffer's publication has almost lost its scientific significance. In 1970, the Romanian philologist prepared a new edition, which, although it was a step forward, provoked comments, since it took into account only part of the manuscript readings. The publication, carried out in 1984 under the direction of J. Dennis, was also not without drawbacks - the numbering of paragraphs of the treatise was omitted, the numbering of chapters and books was changed. At the same time, Dennis did not take into account many of Miheesku's contexts, as a result of which the more modern edition did not replace the previous one ^[5] . The first translation of Strategikon into Russian appeared in 1903 and was made by M. A. Tsybyshev from the Latin edition of Schaeffer. The translation of VV Kuchma, prepared in 2004, was based on all the editions available at that time. Notable for translation accuracy and equipped with an extensive reference apparatus, the publication was highly appreciated by specialists ^[6] .

Author

The authorship of the work is also the subject of debate. Despite the fact that the names of manuscripts offer only two versions of the author’s name - “Urbikiy” and “Mauritius”, a significant number of other candidates were proposed by the researchers. Medieval historiography unanimously attributed authorship to the emperor of Mauritius. The first alternative version belongs to Schaeffer, who recognized the author as the author of the namesake of the emperor; her supporter was the German philologist and archaeologist ^[7] and the Russian Byzantine Yu. A. Kulakovsky ^[8] . Among the supporters of authorship of the emperor of Mauritius in the XIX century were F. Haase and G. Kohli , at the beginning of the XX century F. Osares . The authorship of Urbique was defended by R. Wari and ; according to JT Dennis , the word “Urbiqui” in this context is the erroneously written word “Mauritius” ^[9] . The German Byzantines K.E. Tsacharia von Lingenthal and C. Krumbacher defended the authorship of Ruf ^{[10] [11]} , the commander of the VIII century, but this theory did not receive support. Other points of view suggested the authorship of the emperor Heraclius or the commander Philip . In the works of Soviet historians, various points of view were encountered, for example, some considered the author of an unknown Byzantine writer and military theorist, who appeared under the conditional name Pseudo-Mauritius ^[12] . Thus, it is believed that in the current state of research, the issue of the authorship of Strategikon cannot be unambiguously resolved ^{[13] [approx. 1]} .

Dating

The dating of the work is also carried out taking into account indirect signs according to the instructions of the main opponents of the empire ( Persians , Lombards who became enemies of the empire after 568, Avars , Slavs and Ants ), as well as mention of individual military episodes. As a result, the appearance of the “Strategicon” is referred to the end of the reign of Mauritius or the reign of Foki ^[14] .

Structure

Different editions of Strategikon use different text divisions. In the modern Russian translation, following the 1981 edition of Dennis, a division into 12 books is used:

1. Introduction;
2. On the battle formations of cavalry formations;
3. About tagm constructions;
4. On the organization of ambushes ;
5. About the wagon train;
6. About various constructions and exercises;
7. 1. About Strategy
   2. About what should be provided on the day of the battle;
8. 1. On the general principles of military science;
   2. Edification;
9. About unexpected attacks;
10. On the siege and defense of cities;
11. On the military customs of different nations;
12. On the battle formations.

Influence of predecessors

In the introduction to the Strategikon, its author states that his task is to “convey the experience borrowed from the ancients and accumulated in everyday practice,” however, these sources are not explicitly named further in the text. Also, the identification of leadership sources is complicated by the fact that the author did not copy from the works of his predecessors, but creatively reworked them ^[15] .

Among the sources of Mauritius are usually called , , Elian , Arrian and Vegetius ^[15] .

The author of the "Strategicon" was familiar with the activities of the commanders of the past - he mentions the names of the emperors Trajan and Decius , the Persian Shah Peroz , twice mentioned Hannibal , Scipio Africanus and Lusius Quiet . Chapters on military punishment testify to the influence of Rufus, the author of Leges militares ^[16] . In turn, this part of the “Strategicon” was included in the Eclogue , and then in the “ Tactics ” of Emperor Leo VI ^[17] .

New Ideas

The strategic ideas contained in the treatise are most valuable, reflecting to the greatest degree the realities and specific features of the era. Mauritius defines the strategy as the highest art of leadership, considering the problems of preparing for war, its planning and direct management of campaigns. In this regard, the author considers it important not to construct the a priori image of the ideal commander, as Onasander ^[18] called the “ Platonic philosopher” in the Court , but, based on real military practice, indicates what qualities of the stratig are necessary to achieve the goals set. At the same time, Mauritius, among the qualities that should be inherent in a stratigue, includes piety , which, supplemented by martial experience and military leadership, is the most reliable guarantee of success in battle ^[19] . Mauritius considered the organization of worship in the army useful and important and the exclamation “ Lord have mercy ” before the troops left the fortifications, etc. ^[20] . Other recommendations of a religious nature are given ^[21] .

In the military doctrine of Mauritius there is no distinct predominance of the defensive or offensive component; a stratig must be ready to wage war both on someone else’s and in his territory. The main criterion here is “the cause of the war must be legal” ^[22] .

The XI book contains ethnographic information about the main opponents. Fundamentally new in the concept of Mauritius here is the recognition of the need to learn from the enemy ^[23] .

The Strategikon contains a complete system for preparing and training troops, maintaining discipline and preventing riots ^[24] .

Comments

Sources and references