Alexander the Arab

In 1305 AD, Alexander the Arab was a scout in Andreas Hermoniakos' army on the Danube frontier. He and his partner Bardanes Philippikos were joined on a patrol by Basil Argyros, the former commander of the scouts, when the latter was demoted to private for cowardice.

Initially the patrol was carried out in an uneasy silence. After a while, Philippikos asked Argyros what had caused him to fall out with the hypostrategos Andreas Hermoniakos. Argyros replied that he had shown Hermoniakos was in the wrong to take the merarch Constantine Doukas task for the failed battle they had just fought. After that, Argyros figured anything could have set off Hermoniakos' temper. Both Philippikos and Alexander expressed sympathy with Alexander adding this was the way of things when you mixed in with the quarrels of superiors.

When they reached a tree lined creek that would make a good place for a Jurchen ambush, Alexander, from habit, looked to Argyros for direction even though he was nominally his subordinate. Argyros suggested that he and Philippikos circle the stand towards the south while Argyros go north. They would then ford the stream and meet up to the east of the trees. The two agreed and set out. However, they did not find Argyros. They rushed back but did not find any sign of an ambush and so Alexander was forced to report Argyros as a deserter.