A further idea of the excellent organization of the Byzantine army will be given by the fact that in minor engagements each corps was told off into two parts, one of which, the cursores (κούρσορες {koursores}), represented the ‘skirmishing line,’ the other, the defensores (διφένσορες {diphensores}), ‘the supports.’ The former in the case of the infantry-turma would of course consist of the archers, the latter of the Scutati. To give a complete sketch of Leo’s ‘Tactics’ would be tedious and unnecessary. Enough indications have now been given to show their strength and completeness. It is easy to understand, after a perusal of such directions, the permanence of the military power of the Eastern Empire. Against the undisciplined Slav and Saracen the Imperial troops had on all normal occasions the tremendous advantages of science and discipline. It is their defeats rather than their victories which need an explanation. [Illustration: A BYZANTINE CAVALRY ‘TURMA’ IN ORDER OF BATTLE. A.A.A. _Front Line, three ‘banda’ of about 450 men each._ B.B.B.B. _Second Line, four half-’banda’ of about 225 men each._ C.C. _Reserve, two half-’banda’ of same force._ D.D.D. _One ‘bandon’ in double rank filling the intervals of the second line._ E.E. Ἔνεδροι {Enedroi}, _or detached bodies at the wings, who are to turn the enemy’s flanks: 225 each or one bandon together._ F.F. Πλαγιοφύλακες {Plagiophylakes}, _troops posted to prevent similar attempts of the enemy: 225 each, or one ‘bandon’ together._ G. _The Commander and his Staff._ H. _Place to which the troops D.D.D. would retire, when 2nd line charged._] We have fixed, as the termination of the period of Byzantine greatness, the battle of Manzikert, A.D. 1071. At this fight the rashness of Romanus Diogenes led to the annihilation of the forces of the Asiatic Themes by the horse-archers of Alp-Arslan. The decay of the central power which is marked by the rise of Isaac Comnenus, the nominee of the feudal party of Asiatic nobles, may have already enfeebled the army. It was, however, the result of Manzikert which was fatal to it; as the occupation of the themes of the interior of Asia Minor by the Seljuks cut off from the empire its greatest recruiting-ground, the land of the gallant Isaurians and Armenians, who had for five hundred years formed the core of the Eastern army.