Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions The Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions is the conventional title given to a Byzantine literary treatise on warfare associated with Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos ( 905 - 959 AD ) , giving advice on how an emperor should prepare and mount a military campaign . It is actually the appendix to one of his major works , the " De Ceremoniis " . The " Treatises " , as part of the " De Ceremoniis " , are assumed to have been written by Constantine for his son , the future Romanos II . The date of writing is unknown , but we can assume it was written after 945 AD , when Constantine regained the throne and his son was crowned co - emperor at the age of seven . Constantine ’ s main source for past military protocol was Leo Katakylas , who wrote in the early 10th century under emperor Leo VI the Wise . He in turn drew most of his information from the deeds of Basil I . The popular translation written by John F . Haldon is split into three texts : Text A . Exposition of imperial expeditions and roster of " aplēkta " : The text begins with marshalling orders for various themes , and then lists the six major assembly bases ( " aplekta " ) : Malagina , Dorylaion , Kaborkin , Koloneia , Kaisareia , and Dazimon in the Armeniac Theme . Specific instructions to specific officers ( the " strategoi " , " domestikoi " , etc . ) are contained , as to where they should assemble when the emperor sets off on campaign . Text B . What should be observed when the emperor intends to go on an expedition : The text consists of two case studies : Constantine the Great and Julius Caesar ; only it cannot really be them because they are described very anachronistically – particularly a Christian Julius Caesar . Their names however could be a cover up for using the case studies of the ' heretical ' Isaurian emperors , Leo III and Constantine V , etc . – if so then this is proof that iconoclasm was still bitterly condemned during the 10th century . Constantine the Great is presented as being thorough in campaigns , taking care about gathering information , throwing off spies , and ensuring there was enough equipment – overall stress is laid on the importance of good order ( ) . The text further lists the duties of the " strategoi " , also of the " sakellarios " , " protovestiarios " , " domestikos " , and dozens of other officers etc . – mainly in making sure there were enough pack animals . Emperors leaving on campaign also had to appoint a representative in the capital to defend the city , provide weapons and maintain morale by suppressing bad rumours and inventing good ones . Julius Caesar is described as pious , praying at churches and giving alms throughout the City . The text also describes Caesar ’ s imperial convoy as it advanced , with different practices and formations when on friendly soil and when in hostile land . Text C . Constantine , emperor of the Romans … to Romanos , God - crowned emperor , his son . What should be observed when the great and high emperor of the Romans goes on campaign : This is the only text in the work addressed specifically to Romanos – particularly note Constantine ’ s stresses on the importance of father - to - son knowledge . It features eleven lists of what is required for an imperial expedition , a thorough compilation of officers and items : taxes , fodder , animals for feasts , pay for officers and troops , blanket s , saddle s , napkin s , halter s , picks , shovel s , weapon s , rope , goatskin mat s and plain garment s for foreigners , cushion s , folding table s , folding bench es , etc . It also contains advice on camp security and specific for greeting troop s , and ends with three case studies of the triumphant returns of emperors : Michael III , Basil I and Theophilos . The text ends abruptly ; there is a grand introduction but no conclusion at all , so we can assume that it is an unfinished work . Conclusions . There was a surprising amount of continuity in Byzantine tradition despite the upheavals of the Muslim conquests , the ensuing Iconoclast controversies and the serious decline in urban life in the West . Central in this process was the continuity of the huge Constantinopolitan bureaucracy itself – the same towering apparatus that kept the taxes flowing in during the ' Byzantine Dark Age ' also powered the Byzantine army and its supply mechanism . There is also a surprising amount of late Antique terminology and titulature that survived : the " spatharioi " and " optimatoi " date from the 6th century , while the " exkoubitai " , the " praitorion " and the " komes " from even earlier . The Treatises are also the first military work written by an emperor since Maurice ’ s " Strategikon " – Constantine writes about military tradition that has been passed on from the Amorian dynasty , and even before the Isaurian dynasty – though no earlier than the days of Theodosius the Great ( 5th century AD ) . The return of confidence implied by the Treatises – note the stress on good order – was part of the general recovery of the Byzantine state during the Macedonian period , which saw extensive reconquests in both Asia and Europe . The fact that the Treatises deal with offensive operations is an important point to make – it differs significantly from the other major military work of the day , Nikephoros Phokas ' " On Skirmishing Warfare " ( " De velitatione bellica " ) , which deals with defensive operations against raiders and damage limitation . This work is characteristic of a transitional stage between the bitter fighting of the 7th to 8th centuries and the turning of the tide in the 10th ; Constantine ’ s reign saw the beginnings of the great offensive in the East , led by general and then emperor Nikephoros Phokas . Thus the Treatises anticipate the major offensive operations after the mid - 10th century , described by the " Praecepta Militaria " and the " Taktika " of Nikephoros Ouranos .