Opposite Abydos is an ancient city named Sestos, which also in former times was uncared-for and possessed no defences. It was overhung by a very steep hill, upon which he built a fort which is quite inaccessible, and impossible to be taken by an enemy. Not far from Sestos is Elæus, where a precipitous rock rises from the sea, raising its summit high in the air and forming a natural fortification. Upon this also the Emperor built a fort, which is difficult to pass by and altogether impregnable; moreover, he built a fort at Thescus, on the other side of the ‘long wall,’ fortifying it with an exceedingly strong wall. Thus did he provide in all quarters for the safety of the inhabitants of the Chersonesus.

XI. Beyond Chersonesus is the city of Ænus,[86] which takes its name from that of its founder; for Æneas was, according to tradition, the son of Anchises. The wall of this place was easy of capture from its lowness, since it did not reach to the necessary height, while it lay completely exposed in the neighbourhood of the sea, where it was washed by the waves. However, the Emperor Justinian raised its walls to such a height that not only they could not be taken, but could not even be assaulted; and, by bringing them down to the seashore and strengthening them in every quarter, rendered Ænus altogether impregnable. Thus he provided for the safety of the city; but the country remained exposed to the incursions of the barbarians, because the (mountains of) Rhodope had been from ancient times deficient in fortifications. In the interior was a village named Bellurus, in wealth and population equal to a city, but always exposed to the plundering attacks of barbarians, on account of its being defenceless, as was also a large extent of country round about it: this place our Emperor made into a city, fortified, and rendered worthy of himself; moreover he also restored with great care all the fortifications which were wanting or had become ruinous in the other cities in the Rhodope Mountains. Among these were Trajanopolis and Maximianopolis, whose walls he rebuilt where they were defective. These were his works in this quarter.

In this country Anastasiopolis was already furnished with walls, but, though lying near the sea, had an undefended sea-beach, so that it often happened that the barbarian Huns seized the vessels which lay there helpless, and extended their ravages to the neighbouring islands. The Emperor Justinian enclosed the whole sea-beach with a fortification, and thus provided for the safety both of the ships and of the islanders. He also constructed a very lofty aqueduct leading to the city from the mountains in the neighbourhood. There is in Rhodope an ancient city named Toperus, which is almost surrounded by a river, and lies at the foot of a lofty hill, from which it had not long before been captured by the barbarian Sclavonians; but Justinian raised its wall to so great a height that it rises above this hill as much as it formerly fell short of it. He built a vaulted portico along the wall, so that the garrison could defend the city in safety against besiegers, and formed each of its towers into a strong castle. He also strengthened it by enclosing the part between the river and the city-wall by a cross-wall. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian in this quarter.

I will now describe the other fortifications which he built in the rest of Thrace, and in what is now called Mount Hæmus. First, he carefully built up what was wanting or ruinous at Philippopolis and Plotinopolis, which were very weakly fortified, although they stood in the neighbourhood of many tribes of barbarians. He also established numberless forts throughout the whole of Thrace, by means of which the country, which had formerly been exposed to the inroads of the enemy, was entirely preserved from their ravages; the names of these forts, as far as my memory goes, are as follows.

In Europe:
  • Lydicæ,
  • Elaeae.
In Rhodope the following new forts:
  • Caseera,
  • Theodoropolis,
  • Thrasi,
  • Thudanelanæ,
  • Mundepa,
  • Tharsandala,
  • Denizus,
  • Toparum,
  • Dalatarba,
  • Bre,
  • Scemnas,
  • Carasthyra,
  • Pinzus,
  • Tuleus,
  • Arzon,
  • Castrazarba,
  • Zositersum,
  • Bergisum,
  • Dingium,
  • Sacissus,
  • Cyrtuxura,
  • Potamocastellum,
  • Isdicaea,
  • Emporium,
  • Taurocephalaeum,
  • Velaidipara,
  • Scitaces,
  • Bepara,
  • Pusinum,
  • Hymanparubri,
  • Scariotasalucra,
  • Augustas,
  • Urdaus,
  • St. Trajanus,
  • Dertallus,
  • Solvani,
  • Vascum,
  • Zincyra,
  • Hæmimonti,
  • Zemarchi,
  • Cerioparorum,
  • Casibonorum,
  • Unci,
  • Antoninum,
  • Debre,
  • Probini,
  • Carberus,
  • Esimonti,
  • Asgizus,
  • Dalatarba,
  • Theodoropolis,
  • Cuscabri,
  • Cusculus,
  • Thracian Bospara,
  • Vesiparum,
  • Capisturia,
  • Veripara,
  • Isgipera,
  • Ozorme,
  • Vereiaros,
  • Tamonbari,
  • Ditch of Gesilas,
  • Cherœnum,
  • Probini,
  • St. Theodorus,
  • Burdepto,
  • Rhacule,
  • St. Julianus,
  • Tzitaëtus,
  • Velastyras,
  • Getrinas,
  • Bredas,
  • Verus,
  • Thocyodis,
  • Via,
  • Anagonclias,
  • Suras,
  • Anthipari,
  • Dordas,
  • Sarmathon,
  • Clisura,
  • Hylasianae,
  • Thrasarichi,
  • Bæca,
  • Chrysanthus,
  • Marcerota,
  • Zdebrin,
  • S. Theodorus,
  • Asgarzus,
  • Burtudgizi,
  • Taurocomum,
  • Nice,
  • Cavotumba,
  • Dixas,
  • Getistraus,
  • Tzyidon,
  • Tzonpolegon,
  • Basibunum,
  • Anchialus,
  • Marcianum,
  • Cyridana,
  • Beculi.

The following are the other forts in Thrace on the Euxine Sea and river Danube, and also in the interior of the country.