The book is the first translation into Russian in Russian historiography of an outstanding monument of Byzantine military scientific literature, known as “Lion's Tactics”. The author of the treatise is the emperor from the Macedonian dynasty Leo VI the Wise; the time of creation of the work is determined by the chronological framework of this ruler’s stay on the throne (886–912). The translation of “Tactics” was carried out according to its publication in “Greek Patrology” by J.-P. Minya (Paris, 1863. T. 107), also used an unfinished edition of the treatise, published in Budapest in 1917–1922. under the direction of academician R. Vari, and the latest publication of the source undertaken by J. Dennis (Washington, 2010). The publications of individual fragments of “Tactics” in translations into modern languages are taken into account. The text of the translation is preceded by an introductory article, which highlights the main issues of the treatise (authorship, dating, history of creation, structure, sources, degree of dependence on previous literature and the extent of influence on subsequent literature). An analysis of the military-scientific and military-historical realities contained in “Tactics” gives grounds to recognize the analyzed work as a key link in a single ensemble of monuments of the Greco-Roman-Byzantine polemological tradition. The publication is intended for both specialist historians and a wide range of readers with an interest to military-scientific issues.

Contents: About the book by V. V. Kuchma Introduction “Lion's Tactics” as a historical source Translation and commentary. Leo, autocrat in Christ the Lord, a brief instruction on military tacticsIntroductionInstitution I. On tactics and strategyInstitution II. About what kind of strategist should be Establishment III. On the military council Regulation IV. On the division of the army and the appointment of archons. Institution V. On weapons. Institution VI. On the armament of cavalrymen and infantrymen. Regulation VII. On the training of cavalrymen and infantrymen. Regulation VIII. On military punishments Regulation IX. About the march Establishment X. About the so-called wagon train Establishment XI. About the aplices Establishment XII. On preparations for battle Regulation XIII. About the day before the battle Establishment XIV. About the day of the battle Establishment XV. On the siege of cities Establishment XVI. On actions after the end of the war Establishment XVII. About unexpected attacks Establishment XVIII. On training various peoples and Romans in combat formations Establishment XIX. About the war at sea Establishment XX. About various fundamental edificationsEpilogueList of abbreviationsMain bibliographyIndex of proper names, ethnographic and geographical terms (given in the spelling in which they are used in the source)Subject terminological index