as assaulted and threatened by his national foes of
the Mahometan faith. The lofty titles of the morning star, and the
death of the Saracens, [111] were applied in the public acclamations to
Nicephorus Phocas, a prince as renowned in the camp, as he was unpopular
in the city. In the subordinate station of great domestic, or general
of the East, he reduced the Island of Crete, and extirpated the nest
of pirates who had so long defied, with impunity, the majesty of the
empire. [112] His military genius was displayed in the conduct and
success of the enterprise, which had so often failed with loss and
dishonor. The Saracens were confounded by the landing of his troops on
safe and level bridges, which he cast from the vessels to the shore.
Seven months were consumed in the siege of Candia; the despair of the
native Cretans was stimulated by the frequent aid of their brethren of
Africa and Spain; and after the massy wall and double ditch had been
stormed by the Greeks a hopeless conflict was still maintained in the
streets and houses of the city. [1121] The whole island was subdued in
the capital, and a submissive people accepted, without resistance,
the baptism of the conqueror. [113] Constantinople applauded the
long-forgotten pomp of a triumph; but the Imperial diadem was the
sole reward that could repay the services, or satisfy the ambition, of
Nicephorus.

[Footnote 111: Liutprand, whose choleric temper was imbittered by his
uneasy situation, suggests the names of reproach and contempt more
applicable to Nicephorus than the vain titles of the Greeks, Ecce venit
stella matutina, surgit Eous, reverberat obtutu solis radios, pallida
Saracenorum mors, Nicephorus.]

[Footnote 112: Notwithstanding the insinuation of Zonaras, &c., (tom.
ii. l. xvi. p. 197,) it is an undoubted fact, that Crete was completely
and finally subdued by Nicephorus Phocas, (Pagi, Critica, tom. iii. p.
873-875. Meursius, Creta, l. iii. c. 7, tom. iii. p. 464, 465.)]

[Footnote 1121: The Acroases of Theodorus, de expugnatione Cretae,
miserable iambics, relate the whole campaign. Whoever would fairly
estimate the merit of the poetic deacon, may read the description of the
slinging a jackass into the famishing city. The poet is in a transport
at the wit of the general, and revels in the luxury of antithesis.
Theodori Acroases, lib. iii. 172, in Niebuhr's Byzant. Hist.--M.]

[Footnote 113: A Greek Life of St. Nicon the Armenian was found in the
Sforza