generals. It describes the specificities that the ships must have, the supplies and the correct positioning of the various crew members as well as their equipment. It especially evokes the Dromon, as the main ship used, but there is also mention of the existence of a larger Dromon which can hold 200 sailors. The author discusses several tactics, formations and naval military strategy that should be used, as well as several precautions to be taken: guarding the ships when the fleet is disembarked to avoid sabotage, etc. Chapter XX-On Various Maxims One evokes in this chapter many councils and maxims being able to serve to perfect the "science of the weapons" of which some come from old authors. We can cite these as an example: "[…] share on all occasions the work and fatigue of war with those you command, […]", "your morals must be a model for others. Epilogue Here the author recalls the most important lessons a general should have learned: the importance of prayer to God and good piety, what a good general should be and knowing how to use the science of war well (tactics , training and adaptation, etc.). Conclusions The twenty first chapters are largely taken from Strategikon written during the reign of the Emperor Maurice between 582 and 602, but they were given at the end of the day and adapted according to the vision of Leon VI around the 10th century. The text contains some drafting problems, it falls very often in unnecessary repetition and word use, despite the promises of the Emperor's preface to the reader: "I am me not dive elegance and got more attached to the essence of things than to the ornament of speech. I tried as much as I could to make my narration simple, clear and precise. References External links J.P. Migne's Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 107 contains the original Greek text of the Tactica and a Latin translation (coll. 669-1116) The 1917 edition of Rezső Vári is available at Open Library. (Original Greek text and a preface in Latin) 10th-century books Byzantine military manuals