celtman

The citizens of this town (i.e. Constantinople) are wiser and wealthier than aforesaid people (Persians, Armenians etc.). In order not to be atacked by neighbouring people every night they used to put their armed soldiers where 2, 3 or 4 streets meet so that to protect their city. After dark if the guardsmen find out that someone goes somewhere they catch him at once, birch him and for security`s sake they put him into irons and throw into prison; there they guard him till next day and then bring him to people (sic! – I don`t know what does it mean). Thus the city is watchfully guarded not only from enemies but from brigands as well.



Liutprand of Cremona, Antapodosis, I, 11

Nick

Also it protected the city from spies working on the inside who may betray Constatninople to the Turks.

Nikd

By the way Liutprand was a Byzantine hater, till one point i can't blame him, cause the 1st time he go there as Ambassador to claim the hand of a byzantine princess for the "Emperor" of Germany from Nicephorus Fokas -Emperor of Byzantium then- (the "" are from byzantines) was treated in a really bad way forced even to buy his food, with no communication and especially no way to get out and speak or see the city.
The word Antapodosis in Greek means pay back in english.

falcon

Byzantine Empire:
Past glories, remembering and crying about them.