Strategikon: Intricate Military Manual for Success
The organization, training, and structure of Byzantine troops is described, in detail, in the Strategikon’s twelve “books”. These troops depicted in Strategikon were not your average, ordinary soldiers; they were intelligent and skilled soldiers, capable of making self-sufficient decisions on command in battle against enemies and in different varied terrain. The Byzantine army's infantry was used more for guarding, protection of a home base and small-scale mountain warfare than for taking the field with the horse. There is valuable information in the manual, such as responsibilities and roles of the ranks, religion, Byzantine economy, upward mobility, and logistics.
Emperor Maurice of the Byzantine