The murderhobo

[Michael the Syrian pp. 428-9. From French. Also see Palmer, 164-5 for the 1234 Chronicle.]

At that time, an Armenian named David set out with many (soldiers) from the imperial city, and Valentinus, [with] his army, from the western region. They agreed together to meet in the same place to attempt an effort against the Tayyayê. The Tayyayê, having heard of it, marched against Valenti[n]us and cut him to pieces. — David, having arrived in Mesopotamia, saw no Tayyayê in the country. His troops engaged in a host of misdeeds and crimes. They arrived at a village called Beit Maʿdâ and began the looting: (his soldiers) took gold, silver, goods, bread, wine, meat; they struck Christian men, threw vinegar and ashes into their nostrils to force them to show them their riches and their hiding places in the ground. Nothing was heard but the cry of tears and lamentations, especially of the women whom they raped in the presence of their husbands.

Titus with his people, seeing what the soldiers were doing and that David did not reprimand them, came to him and said to him: “It does not become you, since you are a Christian, to draw your sword against the Christians. The emperor will not praise you when he learns that you have entered the country for pillage and burning”. So he ordered him to take his troop and go [429] to expel those who were taking the Armenians captive. By doing so, Titus saved many people.

ʿIyâd having heard in Damascus of David Ourtaya, gathered his troops and came to Edessa. On learning, the Armenians were frightened, abandoned their entrenchment with all that was in it, and fled. The Tayyayê set off in pursuit with great haste and intercepted them. They reached them in groups of a hundred or fifty. Then David turned around and ordered the army to turn around to give battle to the Tayyayê. Titus and his people occupied one wing: the Tayyayê army was preparing to come to blows with him, but seeing that he was accompanied by brave men, they abandoned him and marched against David and his troops. David weakening called Titus and said: “Now is the time to show your affection for the Romans”. He answered: “If I help you, I will not be helped by the Lord”. The groans of the unfortunate, the lewdness towards women called for such a punishment. David was killed with many of those who were with him, because the Tayyayê pursued only him; Titus fled...