Chapter 4
Author: Fran Saleški Finžgar
When Azbad left Hilbudius’s tent, the entire army was already at work. Centurions1 and officers were supervising the various groups, and Hilbudius himself inspected the heavily and lightly armed foot soldiers. He personally oversaw the cavalry and assessed their equipment, testing the sharpness of many soldiers’ spears and swords.
Everyone believed they would cross the Danube at midnight. The horses were fed and saddled, and the soldiers, fully armed, rested lightly on the straw, dozing.
However, Hilbudius did not want to blindly strike into the land of the Slavs. He sent the fastest riders across the Danube to scout out the whereabouts of Svarun and his herds, for that was his main concern.
Justinian had informed him that General Belisarius had consistently defeated the Vandals, captured the city of Carthage in Africa, and that the Vandal King Gelimer was gathering the remnants of his army, which the valiant Belisarius would surely defeat soon. Therefore, Justinian planned to hold a grand celebration in Byzantium after the New Year to honor Belisarius with a triumph. For this, he needed money and provisions. Hilbudius was to procure livestock, as he couldn’t provide money, to feast the army and the people of Byzantium on the day of victory. He was ordered to strike swiftly at the Slavs, seize their livestock, and quickly send it to Byzantium. The order was signed by the emperor: Justinian, conqueror of the Alans, Vandals, and ruler of Africa.
Hilbudius was not pleased with the letter. Although he despised the barbarian Slavs, he was noble enough to find such a plundering raid beneath a true soldier’s dignity. He had enjoyed the storm of battle as long as he was subduing the marauding Slavs with a large army. But now the Slavs were subdued. They peacefully grazed their herds on their land, so why should he, a soldier and commander, attack these shepherds?
Because of this, Hilbudius was not eager for the campaign. He obediently followed the emperor’s command but sincerely wished he wouldn’t have to slaughter shepherds and instead hoped to encounter significant resistance from the Slavs.
Therefore, he sent advance scouts across the Danube and waited that night and the next day for news. The army waited in the camp, observing the dark shadows on their commander’s face. In the evening, the last scouts returned. None of the previous ones had found any trace. But these three, who rode past Iztok, had captured a young Slav in the forest. At first, he refused to speak. The soldiers then tied him between two trees and lit a fire under his stomach, burning his back with glowing embers. In great pain, the Slav revealed that Svarun’s stronghold was beyond the mountain, that Svarun had gathered large herds, and that there was much wealth hidden in the stronghold. The Slav didn’t disclose that these herds were actually warriors, all the united Slavs and Antes, not flocks of sheep and cattle. He hoped to deceive Hilbudius into not bringing his entire camp, making it easier for the Slavs to defeat him. When the half-dead Slav seemingly betrayed Svarun, a Byzantine thrust a sword into his heart, and the scouts rode back to the camp.
Hilbudius was delighted with the news. He selected a detachment of the best infantry, taking only a minimal cavalry with him to quickly fetch the rest of the army if needed.
He was pleased to have learned about the stronghold, thinking there would be at least some heroic work. He also longed for Svarun, the leader of the Slavs.
Six centurions immediately organized the troops. Hilbudius went into his tent and girded himself with a heavy sword; on his head, he placed the heaviest and finest helmet. He needed to protect his head from the stones that would be thrown over the fortifications from the stronghold. The helmet was divided into five fields, silver-plated and separated by golden clasps. On the front field, a cross composed of precious stones shone. On the left side, a dove with an olive branch was engraved, and on the right, a hanging crown. Below the cross, the golden letters alpha and omega glittered.
As he rode out of the camp, the troops were already assembled in front of the bridge. He waved his hand, the ranks moved, and the planks of the bridge resounded hollowly.
Hilbudius wanted to reach the plain and the gorge by night so the Slavs wouldn’t notice them and drive their herds into hidden forests, where they would be difficult to capture. He forbade trumpets on the march and ordered silence with shields and swords, to avoid making noise. The troops moved quietly through the tall grass, which rustled and crushed under their steps. The warriors whispered softly, sharing joyful war stories. Faces were filled with joy and carelessness, as if they were going to a feast. They believed in the invincible Hilbudius, who had led them from victory to victory for three years.
In the Slavic camp, all the elders gathered with Svarun in council immediately after Iztok’s arrival in the middle of the night. They deliberated for a long time without reaching an agreement. Some advised hiding the entire army in the stronghold, driving the livestock into it to ensure enough food, and sending the remaining herds far away into secret forests and gorges where Hilbudius wouldn’t go. This idea was supported by the elders of the Antes. The Slavs, along with Svarun, demanded that they immediately mobilize the troops and quickly march along the steep paths to intercept Hilbudius and ambush him. Opinions clashed, and time was running out.
Then Radogost, an elder, stood up and spoke: “Men, the stars are fading, Hilbudius rides towards us while we talk and wait for Byzantine swords over our heads. I advise you to summon Iztok, the noble youth, son of our elder Svarun, favored by the gods. Let him stand among us and speak wise words. Svetovit showed him the enemy in the darkness; Svetovit will inspire wise words in him, and our gray heads will bow to the young man’s bright thoughts.”
Everyone was surprised, even Svarun himself. For a youth to speak in the council of elders—never before! They looked at each other, but no one objected, and no one supported the idea.
Radogost continued: “Are you surprised and silent? But I tell you: The gods desire Iztok’s word!”
“The gods desire…” murmured through the assembly. Radogost went alone to fetch Iztok.
Almost timidly, with his head humbly bowed, Iztok entered the solemn assembly. Svarun spoke: “My son, the council of elders and experienced warriors from the noble tribes of the Antes and Slavs has silently called you because we were moved by the advice of the elder Radogost. You, a youth whose spear is stained only with the blood of boars and bears, are to speak, if inspired by Svetovit, on how we should face Hilbudius.”
Iztok clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
“I rode like the wind. My companions are not yet behind me. Who else but the gods supported my horse, which collapsed at home and not in the gorge, allowing our army to learn of Hilbudius’s approach? Svetovit lit the moon so I could see the army’s glint, Morana fled into the forest to spare my horse—I will sacrifice the finest ram to her. If you have summoned me, I believe it was Perun who inspired you. And I tell you, elders and nobles, brave warriors, let us quickly strike with the entire army against Hilbudius. Attack him from four sides, and our axes will be enough to split all shields, our spears to pierce armor, and our swords to cut through the helmets of the Byzantines.”
“You have spoken. Now, men, speak yourselves!” Svarun’s call was met with a unanimous response from the war council: “Against Hilbudius! Iztok is great!”
Everyone immediately dispersed throughout the camp. Each gathered their fighters. Svarun led the supreme command, surrounded by the mightiest heroes. From the waist up, they were all bare-chested, all bearing scars on their broad chests. They had often fought bravely. This wall of Slavic chests was to march through the valley and strike Hilbudius head-on, blocking his path to the stronghold. They were armed with heavy spears, which they threw up to thirty paces with such force that they pierced any shield and armor. Mighty swords hung from thick belts, and many carried axes. Few had small shields. All were on foot, except the old man Svarun, who rode a horse. He alone wore a breastplate made of horse horn over his lambskin—a gift from the Huns.
The most difficult task was given to Iztok. He was assigned all the young men to lead quickly along side paths, through slopes and dense woods, and attack Hilbudius’s army with arrows from ambush. The youth crowded around Iztok. They had full quivers, tested their bowstrings, and trembled with the desire for battle. Each had a short knife at his belt for close combat with Byzantine soldiers.
One detachment was led by Radogost, the bravest elder. Their main weapon was the mace, a war hammer that ruled fearsomely over enemy helmets. Anyone struck by the mace fell, if not dead, at least unconscious. They were to strike only in the middle of the battle when confusion and chaos began.
The second army was led by Krok: the horn-blowers. They had a variety of weapons, but a lot of horns. They weren’t much of warriors, but rather bold provocateurs—servants and shepherds, brawlers in the fields—whose task was to confuse the enemy with sudden noise, howling, and horn-blowing. They were also entrusted with a very important duty as sentinels. The most reliable among them had to climb all the high places and keep watch to ensure Hilbudij wouldn’t change direction and attack the fort over the hill. For they knew well that the Byzantines avoided gorges and even built roads over mountains rather than through narrow valleys to stay safe from ambushes.
Once all the troops were organized, Svarun performed a prayer. Then, he gave the signal, and the soldiers dispersed into the forests without noise, without shouting or clattering, as if swallowed by the dark woods. Svarun himself moved last. His company also crawled along the sides, wading through the stream to leave no trace behind. Svarun, having fought in so many battles, was very cautious. He knew well that Hilbudij would send scouts on swift horses ahead of him. If they discovered a well-trodden path in the grass, Hilbudij would immediately turn back and either outmaneuver or ambush them.
At dawn, when the sun began to rise, Ljubinica left the fort with all the maidens. They gathered under the linden tree and offered beautiful lambs to Perun for the fathers’ victory. A small garrison guarded the fort, among them the bard Radovan, who crouched on the ramparts, clutching his lute under his arm and nervously listening for what was to come. He feared the bloodshed; the war cry “offended his musical ear,” as he himself claimed. He had already carefully planned where he would flee with swift steps if messengers arrived bearing news of the Slavs’ defeat.
- Commander, nominally of a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries ↩︎