In time of peace or truce, his thoughts were ever craftily engaged in endeavouring to find pretexts for war against his neighbours.

In war, he lost heart without reason, and, owing to his meanness, he never made his preparations in good time; and, instead of devoting his earnest attention to such matters, he busied himself with the investigation of heavenly phenomena and with curious researches into the nature of God.

Nevertheless, he would not abandon war, being by nature tyrannical and bloodthirsty, although he was unable to overcome his enemies, since his meanness prevented him from making the necessary preparations.

Thus, during the reign of this prince, the whole world was deluged with the blood of nearly all the Romans and barbarians.
Such were the events that took place, during the wars abroad, throughout the whole of the Roman Empire; but the disturbances in Byzantium and every other city caused equal bloodshed; for, since no regard was had to justice or impartiality in meting out punishment for offences, each faction being eager to gain the favour of the Emperor, neither party was able to keep quiet.

They alternately abandoned themselves to the madness of despair or presumptuous vanity, according as they failed or succeeded in ingratiating themselves with him.
Sometimes they attacked one another _en masse_, sometimes in small bands, sometimes in single combat, or set ambuscades for each other at every opportunity.