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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:45:25 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14809-0.txt b/14809-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd203da --- /dev/null +++ b/14809-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3894 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14809 *** + +Transcriber's Note: + +The numbers in the right margin of the text are from the original book; +although nothing in the book says so, it appears that they might be +page numbers from the manuscript of which this is a translation. They +are preserved in this transcription in the hope that they are indeed +page numbers. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +by + +JORDANES + +in English Version + +Part of a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University +for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy + +by CHARLES C. MIEROW + +Princeton + +1908 + + + + + + + +NOTE + +For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in +the _Getica_ of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his +account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is +now put in English form, as part of an edition of the +_Getica_ prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the +romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a +lost cause and will not find the simple-hearted exaggerations +of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He +pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his +employment of fable and legend, as well as the naïve +exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the +interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific +narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise +remember the truthful, words of Delbrück: "Legende +und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie +mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden +nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum, +aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu übersetzen." + +ANDREW F. WEST. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The following version of the Getica of Jordanes is +based upon the text of Mommsen, as found in the +Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores +Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882). I have +adhered closely to his spelling of proper names, especially +the Gothic names, except in the case of a very few words +which are in common use in another form (such as +Gaiseric and Belisarius). + +I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dean Andrew F. +West of the Princeton Graduate School for his unfailing +interest in my work. It was in one of his graduate +courses that the translation was begun, three years ago, +and at his suggestion that I undertook the composition +of the thesis in its present form. He has read the entire +treatise in the manuscript, and has been my constant +adviser and critic. Thanks are also due to Dr. Charles +G. Osgood of the English Department of Princeton +University for reading the translation. + +CHARLES C. MIEROW. + + + Classical Seminary, + Princeton University, + July 1908. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +(Preface) + + +Though it had been my wish to glide in my little boat 1 +by the shore of a peaceful coast and, as a certain writer +says, to gather little fishes from the pools of the ancients, +you, brother Castalius, bid me set my sails toward the +deep. You urge me to leave the little work I have in +hand, that is, the abbreviation of the Chronicles, and to +condense in my own style in this small book the twelve +volumes of the Senator on the origin and deeds of the +Getae from olden time to the present day, descending +through the generations of the kings. Truly a hard command, 2 +and imposed by one who seems unwilling to realize +the burden of the task. Nor do you note this, that my +utterance is too slight to fill so magnificent a trumpet of +speech as his. But above every burden is the fact that +I have no access to his books that I may follow his +thought. Still--and let me lie not--I have in times past +read the books a second time by his steward's loan for a +three days' reading. The words I recall not, but the +sense and the deeds related I think I retain entire. To 3 +this I have added fitting matters from some Greek and +Latin histories. I have also put in an introduction and +a conclusion, and have inserted many things of my own +authorship. Wherefore reproach me not, but receive and +read with gladness what you have asked me to write. If +aught be insufficiently spoken and you remember it, do +you as a neighbor to our race add to it, praying for me, +dearest brother. The Lord be with you. Amen. + +(Geographical Introduction) + +[Sidenote: Ocean and Its Lesser Isles.] + +I Our ancestors, as Orosius relates, were of the 4 +opinion that the circle of the whole world was surrounded +by the girdle of Ocean on three sides. Its three parts +they called Asia, Europe and Africa. Concerning this +threefold division of the earth's extent there are almost +innumerable writers, who not only explain the situations +of cities and places, but also measure out the number of +miles and paces to give more clearness. Moreover they +locate the islands interspersed amid the waves, both the +greater and also the lesser islands, called Cyclades or +Sporades, as situated in the vast flood of the Great Sea. +But the impassable farther bounds of Ocean not only has 5 +no one attempted to describe, but no man has been allowed +to reach; for by reason of obstructing seaweed and +the failing of the winds it is plainly inaccessible and is +unknown to any save to Him who made it. But the 6 +nearer border of this sea, which we call the circle of the +world, surrounds its coasts like a wreath. This has +become clearly known to men of inquiring mind, even +to such as desired to write about it. For not only is the +coast itself inhabited, but certain islands off in the sea +are habitable. Thus there are to the East in the Indian +Ocean, Hippodes, Iamnesia, Solis Perusta (which though +not habitable, is yet of great length and breadth), besides +Taprobane, a fair island wherein there are towns or +estates and ten strongly fortified cities. But there is yet 7 +another, the lovely Silefantina, and Theros also. These, +though not clearly described by any writer, are nevertheless +well filled with inhabitants. This same Ocean has +in its western region certain islands known to almost +everyone by reason of the great number of those that +journey to and fro. And there are two not far from the +neighborhood of the Strait of Gades, one the Blessed +Isle and another called the Fortunate. Although some +reckon as islands of Ocean the twin promontories of +Galicia and Lusitania, where are still to be seen the +Temple of Hercules on one and Scipio's Monument on +the other, yet since they are joined to the extremity of +the Galician country, they belong rather to the great land +of Europe than to the islands of Ocean. However, it 8 +has other islands deeper within its own tides, which are +called the Baleares; and yet another, Mevania, besides +the Orcades, thirty-three in number, though not all inhabited. +And at the farthest bound of its western expanse 9 +it has another island named Thule, of which the +Mantuan bard makes mention: + + "And Farthest Thule shall serve thee." + +The same mighty sea has also in its arctic region, that is +in the north, a great island named Scandza, from which +my tale (by God's grace) shall take its beginning. For +the race whose origin you ask to know burst forth like a +swarm of bees from the midst of this island and came +into the land of Europe. But how or in what wise we +shall explain hereafter, if it be the Lord's will. + +(BRITAIN) + +[Sidenote: Caesar's two invasions of Britain B.C. 55-54] + +II But now let me speak briefly as I can concerning 10 +the island of Britain, which is situated in the bosom of +Ocean between Spain, Gaul and Germany. Although +Livy tells us that no one in former days sailed around +it, because of its great size, yet many writers have held +various opinions of it. It was long unapproached by +Roman arms, until Julius Caesar disclosed it by battles +fought for mere glory. In the busy age which followed +it became accessible to many through trade and by other +means. Thus it revealed more clearly its position, which +I shall here explain as I have found it in Greek and Latin +authors. Most of them say it is like a triangle pointing 11 +between the north and west. Its widest angle faces the +mouths of the Rhine. Then the island shrinks in breadth +and recedes until it ends in two other angles. Its long +doubled side faces Gaul and Germany. Its greatest +breadth is said to be over two thousand three hundred +and ten stadia, and its length not more than seven thousand +one hundred and thirty-two stadia. In some parts 12 +it is moorland, in others there are wooded plains, and +sometimes it rises into mountain peaks. The island is +surrounded by a sluggish sea, which neither gives readily +to the stroke of the oar nor runs high under the blasts +of the wind. I suppose this is because other lands are +so far removed from it as to cause no disturbance of the +sea, which indeed is of greater width here than anywhere +else. Moreover Strabo, a famous writer of the Greeks, +relates that the island exhales such mists from its soil, +soaked by the frequent inroads of Ocean, that the sun is +covered throughout the whole of their disagreeable sort +of day that passes as fair, and so is hidden from sight. + +Cornelius also, the author of the Annals, says that in 13 +the farthest part of Britain the night gets brighter and +is very short. He also says that the island abounds in +metals, is well supplied with grass and is more productive +in all those things which feed beasts rather than men. +Moreover many large rivers flow through it, and the +tides are borne back into them, rolling along precious +stones and pearls. The Silures have swarthy features +and are usually born with curly black hair, but the inhabitants +of Caledonia have reddish hair and large loose-jointed +bodies. They are like the Gauls or the Spaniards, +according as they are opposite either nation. Hence some 14 +have supposed that from these lands the island received +its inhabitants, alluring them by its nearness. All the +people and their kings are alike wild. Yet Dio, a most +celebrated writer of annals, assures us of the fact that +they have all been combined under the name of Caledonians +and Maeatae. They live in wattled huts, a shelter +used in common with their flocks, and often the woods +are their home. They paint their bodies with iron-red, +whether by way of adornment or perhaps for some other +reason. They often wage war with one another, either 15 +because they desire power or to increase their possessions. +They fight not only on horseback or on foot, but even +with scythed two-horse chariots, which they commonly +call _essedae_. Let it suffice to have said thus much on the +shape of the island of Britain. + +(SCANDZA) + +III Let us now return to the site of the island of 16 +Scandza, which we left above. Claudius Ptolemaeus, an +excellent describer of the world, has made mention of it +in the second book of his work, saying: "There is a +great island situated in the surge of the northern Ocean, +Scandza by name, in the shape of a juniper leaf with +bulging sides that taper down to a point at a long end." +Pomponius Mela also makes mention of it as situated in +the Codan Gulf of the sea, with Ocean lapping its shores. + +This island lies in front of the river Vistula, which rises 17 +in the Sarmatian mountains and flows through its triple +mouth into the northern Ocean in sight of Scandza, separating +Germany and Scythia. The island has in its +eastern part a vast lake in the bosom of the earth, whence +the Vagus river springs from the bowels of the earth and +flows surging into the Ocean. And on the west it is surrounded +by an immense sea. On the north it is bounded +by the same vast unnavigable Ocean, from which by +means of a sort of projecting arm of land a bay is cut off +and forms the German Sea. Here also there are said to 18 +be many small islands scattered round about. If wolves +cross over to these islands when the sea is frozen by +reason of the great cold, they are said to lose their sight. +Thus the land is not only inhospitable to men but cruel +even to wild beasts. + +Now in the island of Scandza, whereof I speak, there 19 +dwell many and divers nations, though Ptolemaeus mentions +the names of but seven of them. There the honey-making +swarms of bees are nowhere to be found on +account of the exceeding great cold. In the northern part +of the island the race of the Adogit live, who are said +to have continual light in midsummer for forty days and +nights, and who likewise have no clear light in the winter +season for the same number of days and nights. By 20 +reason of this alternation of sorrow and joy they are like +no other race in their sufferings and blessings. And why? +Because during the longer days they see the sun returning +to the east along the rim of the horizon, but on the shorter +days it is not thus seen. The sun shows itself differently +because it is passing through the southern signs, and +whereas to us the sun seem to rise from below, it seems +to go around them along the edge of the earth. There +also are other peoples. There are the Screrefennae, who 21 +do not seek grain for food but live on the flesh of wild +beasts and birds' eggs; for there are such multitudes of +young game in the swamps as to provide for the natural +increase of their kind and to afford satisfaction to the +needs of the people. But still another race dwells there, +the Suehans, who, like the Thuringians, have splendid +horses. Here also are those who send through innumerable +other tribes the sappherine skins to trade for Roman +use. They are a people famed for the dark beauty of +their furs and, though living in poverty, are most richly +clothed. Then comes a throng of various nations, Theustes, 22 +Vagoth, Bergio, Hallin, Liothida. All their habitations +are in one level and fertile region. Wherefore they +are disturbed there by the attacks of other tribes. Behind +these are the Ahelmil, Finnaithae, Fervir and Gauthigoth, +a race of men bold and quick to fight. Then come the +Mixi, Evagre, and Otingis. All these live like wild animals +in rocks hewn out like castles. And there are beyond 23 +these the Ostrogoths, Raumarici, Aeragnaricii, and +the most gentle Finns, milder than all the inhabitants of +Scandza. Like them are the Vinovilith also. The Suetidi +are of this stock and excel the rest in stature. However, +the Dani, who trace their origin to the same stock, drove +from their homes the Heruli, who lay claim to preëminence +among all the nations of Scandza for their tallness. +Furthermore there are in the same neighborhood the 24 +Grannii, Augandzi, Eunixi, Taetel, Rugi, Arochi and +Ranii, over whom Roduulf was king not many years ago. +But he despised his own kingdom and fled to the embrace +of Theodoric, king of the Goths, finding there what he +desired. All these nations surpassed the Germans in size +and spirit, and fought with the cruelty of wild beasts. + +(The United Goths) + +[Sidenote: HOW THE GOTHS CAME TO SCYTHIA] + +IV Now from this island of Scandza, as from a hive 25 +of races or a womb of nations, the Goths are said to have +come forth long ago under their king, Berig by name. +As soon as they disembarked from their ships and set +foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to the +place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothiscandza. +Soon they moved from here to the abodes of +the Ulmerugi, who then dwelt on the shores of Ocean, 26 +where they pitched camp, joined battle with them and +drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their +neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories. +But when the number of the people increased greatly and +Filimer, son of Gadaric, reigned as king--about the fifth +since Berig--he decided that the army of the Goths with +their families should move from that region. In search 27 +of suitable homes and pleasant places they came to the +land of Scythia, called Oium in that tongue. Here they +were delighted with the great richness of the country, +and it is said that when half the army had been brought +over, the bridge whereby they had crossed the river fell +in utter ruin, nor could anyone thereafter pass to or fro. +For the place is said to be surrounded by quaking bogs +and an encircling abyss, so that by this double obstacle +nature has made it inaccessible. And even to-day one +may hear in that neighborhood the lowing of cattle and +may find traces of men, if we are to believe the stories +of travellers, although we must grant that they hear these +things from afar. + +This part of the Goths, which is said to have crossed 28 +the river and entered with Filimer into the country of +Oium, came into possession of the desired land, and there +they soon came upon the race of the Spali, joined battle +with them and won the victory. Thence the victors hastened +to the farthest part of Scythia, which is near the sea +of Pontus; for so the story is generally told in their early +songs, in almost historic fashion. Ablabius also, a famous +chronicler of the Gothic race, confirms this in his +most trustworthy account. Some of the ancient writers 29 +also agree with the tale. Among these we may mention +Josephus, a most reliable relator of annals, who everywhere +follows the rule of truth and unravels from the +beginning the origin of causes;--but why he has omitted +the beginnings of the race of the Goths, of which I have +spoken, I do not know. He barely mentions Magog +of that stock, and says they were Scythians by race and +were called so by name. + +Before we enter on our history, we must describe the +boundaries of this land, as it lies. + +[Sidenote: SCYTHIA] + +V Now Scythia borders on the land of Germany as 30 +far as the source of the river Ister and the expanse of the +Morsian Swamp. It reaches even to the rivers Tyra, +Danaster and Vagosola, and the great Danaper, extending +to the Taurus range--not the mountains in Asia but +our own, that is, the Scythian Taurus--all the way to +Lake Maeotis. Beyond Lake Maeotis it spreads on the +other side of the straits of Bosphorus to the Caucasus +Mountains and the river Araxes. Then it bends back to +the left behind the Caspian Sea, which comes from the +north-eastern ocean in the most distant parts of Asia, and +so is formed like a mushroom, at first narrow and then +broad and round in shape. It extends as far as the Huns, +Albani and Seres. This land, I say,--namely, Scythia, 31 +stretching far and spreading wide,--has on the east the +Seres, a race that dwelt at the very beginning of their +history on the shore of the Caspian Sea. On the west are +the Germans and the river Vistula; on the arctic side, +namely the north, it is surrounded by Ocean; on the south +by Persis, Albania, Hiberia, Pontus and the farthest +channel of the Ister, which is called the Danube all the +way from mouth to source. But in that region where 32 +Scythia touches the Pontic coast it is dotted with towns +of no mean fame:--Borysthenis, Olbia, Callipolis, Cherson, +Theodosia, Careon, Myrmicion and Trapezus. These +towns the wild Scythian tribes allowed the Greeks to build +to afford them means of trade. In the midst of Scythia is +the place that separates Asia and Europe, I mean the +Rhipaeian mountains, from which the mighty Tanais +flows. This river enters Maeotis, a marsh having a circuit +of one hundred and forty-four miles and never subsiding +to a depth of less than eight fathoms. + +In the land of Scythia to the westward dwells, first of 33 +all, the race of the Gepidae, surrounded by great and +famous rivers. For the Tisia flows through it on the +north and northwest, and on the southwest is the great +Danube. On the east it is cut by the Flutausis, a swiftly +eddying stream that sweeps whirling into the Ister's +waters. Within these rivers lies Dacia, encircled by the 34 +lofty Alps as by a crown. Near their left ridge, which +inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of +the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occupying +a great expanse of land. Though their names are +now dispersed amid various clans and places, yet they are +chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes. The abode of the 35 +Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the +lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as +far as the Vistula. They have swamps and forests for +their cities. The Antes, who are the bravest of these +peoples dwelling in the curve of the sea of Pontus, spread +from the Danaster to the Danaper, rivers that are many +days' journey apart. But on the shore of Ocean, where 36 +the floods of the river Vistula empty from three mouths, +the Vidivarii dwell, a people gathered out of various +tribes. Beyond them the Aesti, a subject race, likewise +hold the shore of Ocean. To the south dwell the Acatziri, +a very brave tribe ignorant of agriculture, who subsist +on their flocks and by hunting. Farther away and above 37 +the Sea of Pontus are the abodes of the Bulgares, well +known from the wrongs done to them by reason of our +oppression. From this region the Huns, like a fruitful +root of bravest races, sprouted into two hordes of people. +Some of these are called Altziagiri, others Sabiri; and +they have different dwelling places. The Altziagiri are +near Cherson, where the avaricious traders bring in the +goods of Asia. In summer they range the plains, their +broad domains, wherever the pasturage for their cattle +invites them, and betake themselves in winter beyond the +Sea of Pontus. Now the Hunuguri are known to us from +the fact that they trade in marten skins. But they have +been cowed by their bolder neighbors. + +[Sidenote: THE THREE ABODES OF THE GOTHS] + +We read that on their first migration the Goths dwelt 38 +in the land of Scythia near Lake Maeotis. On the second +migration they went to Moesia, Thrace and Dacia, and +after their third they dwelt again in Scythia, above the +Sea of Pontus. Nor do we find anywhere in their +written records legends which tell of their subjection to +slavery in Britain or in some other island, or of their +redemption by a certain man at the cost of a single horse. +Of course if anyone in our city says that the Goths had an +origin different from that I have related, let him object. +For myself, I prefer to believe what I have read, rather +than put trust in old wives' tales. + +To return, then, to my subject. The aforesaid race of 39 +which I speak is known to have had Filimer as king while +they remained in their first home in Scythia near Maeotis. +In their second home, that is in the countries of Dacia, +Thrace and Moesia, Zalmoxes reigned, whom many writers +of annals mention as a man of remarkable learning in +philosophy. Yet even before this they had a learned man +Zeuta, and after him Dicineus; and the third was Zalmoxes +of whom I have made mention above. Nor did +they lack teachers of wisdom. Wherefore the Goths have 40 +ever been wiser than other barbarians and were nearly +like the Greeks, as Dio relates, who wrote their history +and annals with a Greek pen. He says that those of noble +birth among them, from whom their kings and priests +were appointed, were called first Tarabostesei and then +Pilleati. Moreover so highly were the Getae praised that +Mars, whom the fables of poets call the god of war, was +reputed to have been born among them. Hence Virgil +says: + + "Father Gradivus rules the Getic fields." 41 + +Now Mars has always been worshipped by the Goths +with cruel rites, and captives were slain as his victims. +They thought that he who is the lord of war ought to be +appeased by the shedding of human blood. To him they +devoted the first share of the spoil, and in his honor arms +stripped from the foe were suspended from trees. And +they had more than all other races a deep spirit of religion, +since the worship of this god seemed to be really +bestowed upon their ancestor. + +In their third dwelling place, which was above the Sea 42 +of Pontus, they had now become more civilized and, as I +have said before, were more learned. Then the people +were divided under ruling families. The Visigoths served +the family of the Balthi and the Ostrogoths served the +renowned Amali. They were the first race of men to 43 +string the bow with cords, as Lucan, who is more of a +historian than a poet, affirms: + + "They string Armenian bows with Getic cords." + +[Sidenote: THE RIVER DON] + +[Sidenote: THE DNIEPER] + +In earliest times they sang of the deeds of their ancestors +in strains of song accompanied by the cithara; chanting +of Eterpamara, Hanala, Fritigern, Vidigoia and +others whose fame among them is great; such heroes as +admiring antiquity scarce proclaims its own to be. Then, 44 +as the story goes, Vesosis waged a war disastrous to +himself against the Scythians, whom ancient tradition +asserts to have been the husbands of the Amazons. Concerning +these female warriors Orosius speaks in convincing +language. Thus we can clearly prove that Vesosis +then fought with the Goths, since we know surely that he +waged war with the husbands of the Amazons. They +dwelt at that time along a bend of Lake Maeotis, from +the river Borysthenes, which the natives call the Danaper, +to the stream of the Tanais. By the Tanais I mean the 45 +river which flows down from the Rhipaeian mountains +and rushes with so swift a current that when the neighboring +streams or Lake Maeotis and the Bosphorus are +frozen fast, it is the only river that is kept warm by the +rugged mountains and is never solidified by the Scythian +cold. It is also famous as the boundary of Asia and +Europe. For the other Tanais is the one which rises in +the mountains of the Chrinni and flows into the Caspian +Sea. The Danaper begins in a great marsh and issues 46 +from it as from its mother. It is sweet and fit to drink +as far as half-way down its course. It also produces fish +of a fine flavor and without bones, having only cartilage +as the frame-work of their bodies. But as it approaches +the Pontus it receives a little spring called Exampaeus, +so very bitter that although the river is navigable for the +length of a forty days' voyage, it is so altered by the +water of this scanty stream as to become tainted and +unlike itself, and flows thus tainted into the sea between +the Greek towns of Callipidae and Hypanis. At its mouth +there is an island named Achilles. Between these two +rivers is a vast land filled with forests and treacherous +swamps. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF VESOSIS (SESOSTRIS)] + +VI This was the region where the Goths dwelt when 47 +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, made war upon them. +Their king at that time was Tanausis. In a battle at the +river Phasis (whence come the birds called pheasants, +which are found in abundance at the banquets of the great +all over the world) Tanausis, king of the Goths, met +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, and there inflicted a +severe defeat upon him, pursuing him even to Egypt. +Had he not been restrained by the waters of the impassable +Nile and the fortifications which Vesosis had long +ago ordered to be made against the raids of the Ethiopians, +he would have slain him in his own land. But +finding he had no power to injure him there, he returned +and conquered almost all Asia and made it subject and +tributary to Sornus, king of the Medes, who was then his +dear friend. At that time some of his victorious army, +seeing that the subdued provinces were rich and fruitful, +deserted their companies and of their own accord +remained in various parts of Asia. + +From their name or race Pompeius Trogus says the 48 +stock of the Parthians had its origin. Hence even to-day +in the Scythian tongue they are called Parthi, that is, +Deserters. And in consequence of their descent they are +archers--almost alone among all the nations of Asia--and +are very valiant warriors. Now in regard to the +name, though I have said they were called Parthi because +they were deserters, some have traced the derivation of +the word otherwise, saying that they were called Parthi +because they fled from their kinsmen. Now when this +Tanausis, king of the Goths, was dead, his people worshipped +him as one of their gods. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS IN ASIA MINOR] + +VII After his death, while the army under his successors 49 +was engaged in an expedition in other parts, a +neighboring tribe attempted to carry off women of the +Goths as booty. But they made a brave resistance, as +they had been taught to do by their husbands, and routed +in disgrace the enemy who had come upon them. When +they had won this victory, they were inspired with greater +daring. Mutually encouraging each other, they took up +arms and chose two of the bolder, Lampeto and Marpesia, +to act as their leaders. While they were in command, 50 +they cast lots both for the defense of their own country +and the devastation of other lands. So Lampeto remained +to guard their native land and Marpesia took a company +of women and led this novel army into Asia. After conquering +various tribes in war and making others their +allies by treaties, she came to the Caucasus. There she +remained for some time and gave the place the name Rock +of Marpesia, of which also Virgil makes mention: + + "Like to hard flint or the Marpesian Cliff." + +It was here Alexander the Great afterwards built gates +and named them the Caspian Gates, which now the tribe +of the Lazi guard as a Roman fortification. Here, then, 51 +the Amazons remained for some time and were much +strengthened. Then they departed and crossed the river +Halys, which flows near the city of Gangra, and with +equal success subdued Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, +Pisidia and all the places of Asia. Then they turned to +Ionia and Aeolia, and made provinces of them after their +surrender. Here they ruled for some time and even +founded cities and camps bearing their name. At Ephesus +also they built a very costly and beautiful temple for +Diana, because of her delight in archery and the chase--arts +to which they were themselves devoted. Then these 52 +Scythian-born women, who had by such a chance gained +control over the kingdoms of Asia, held them for almost +a hundred years, and at last came back to their own kinsfolk +in the Marpesian rocks I have mentioned above, +namely the Caucasus mountains. + +[Sidenote: THE CAUCASUS] + +Inasmuch as I have twice mentioned this mountain-range, +I think it not out of place to describe its extent and +situation, for, as is well known, it encompasses a great +part of the earth with its continuous chain. Beginning 53 +at the Indian Ocean, where it faces the south it is warm, +giving off vapor in the sun; where it lies open to the +north it is exposed to chill winds and frost. Then bending +back into Syria with a curving turn, it not only sends +forth many other streams, but pours from its plenteous +breasts into the Vasianensian region the Euphrates and +the Tigris, navigable rivers famed for their unfailing +springs. These rivers surround the land of the Syrians +and cause it to be called Mesopotamia, as it truly is. Their +waters empty into the bosom of the Red Sea. Then turning 54 +back to the north, the range I have spoken of passes +with great bends through the Scythian lands. There it +sends forth very famous rivers into the Caspian Sea--the +Araxes, the Cyrus and the Cambyses. It goes on in continuous +range even to the Rhipaeian mountains. Thence +it descends from the north toward the Pontic Sea, furnishing +a boundary to the Scythian tribes by its ridge, and +even touches the waters of the Ister with its clustered +hills. Being cut by this river, it divides, and in Scythia +is named Taurus also. Such then is the great range, 55 +almost the mightiest of mountain chains, rearing aloft its +summits and by its natural conformation supplying men +with impregnable strongholds. Here and there it divides +where the ridge breaks apart and leaves a deep gap, thus +forming now the Caspian Gates, and again the Armenian +or the Cilician, or of whatever name the place may be. +Yet they are barely passable for a wagon, for both sides +are sharp and steep as well as very high. The range has +different names among various peoples. The Indian calls +it Imaus and in another part Paropamisus. The Parthian +calls it first Choatras and afterward Niphates; the Syrian +and Armenian call it Taurus; the Scythian names it Caucasus +and Rhipaeus, and at its end calls it Taurus. Many +other tribes have given names to the range. Now that we +have devoted a few words to describing its extent, let us +return to the subject of the Amazons. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS] + +VIII Fearing their race would fail, they sought marriage 56 +with neighboring tribes. They appointed a day for +meeting once in every year, so that when they should +return to the same place on that day in the following year +each mother might give over to the father whatever male +child she had borne, but should herself keep and train for +warfare whatever children of the female sex were born. +Or else, as some maintain, they exposed the males, destroying +the life of the ill-fated child with a hate like +that of a stepmother. Among them childbearing was +detested, though everywhere else it is desired. The terror 57 +of their cruelty was increased by common rumor; for +what hope, pray, would there be for a captive, when it +was considered wrong to spare even a son? Hercules, +they say, fought against them and overcame Menalippe, +yet more by guile than by valor. Theseus, moreover, took +Hippolyte captive, and of her he begat Hippolytus. And +in later times the Amazons had a queen named Penthesilea, +famed in the tales of the Trojan war. These women +are said to have kept their power even to the time of +Aleander the Great. + +[Sidenote: REIGN OF TELEFUS AND EURYPYLUS] + +IX But say not "Why does a story which deals with 58 +the men of the Goths have so much to say of their women?" +Hear, then, the tale of the famous and glorious +valor of the men. Now Dio, the historian and diligent +investigator of ancient times, who gave to his work the +title "Getica" (and the Getae we have proved in a previous +passage to be Goths, on the testimony of Orosius +Paulus)--this Dio, I say, makes mention of a later king +of theirs named Telefus. Let no one say that this name +is quite foreign to the Gothic tongue, and let no one who +is ignorant cavil at the fact that the tribes of men make +use of many names, even as the Romans borrow from the +Macedonians, the Greeks from the Romans, the Sarmatians +from the Germans, and the Goths frequently from +the Huns. This Telefus, then, a son of Hercules by 59 +Auge, and the husband of a sister of Priam, was of +towering stature and terrible strength. He matched his +father's valor by virtues of his own and also recalled the +traits of Hercules by his likeness in appearance. Our +ancestors called his kingdom Moesia. This province has +on the east the mouths of the Danube, on the south +Macedonia, on the west Histria and on the north the +Danube. Now this king we have mentioned carried on 60 +wars with the Greeks, and in their course he slew in battle +Thesander, the leader of Greece. But while he was making +a hostile attack upon Ajax and was pursuing Ulysses, +his horse became entangled in some vines and fell. He +himself was thrown and wounded in the thigh by a javelin +of Achilles, so that for a long time he could not be healed. +Yet, despite his wound, he drove the Greeks from his +land. Now when Telefus died, his son Eurypylus succeeded +to the throne, being a son of the sister of Priam, +king of the Phrygians. For love of Cassandra he sought +to take part in the Trojan war, that he might come to the +help of her parents and his own father-in-law; but soon +after his arrival he was killed. + +[Sidenote: Cyrus the Great B.C. 559-529] + +[Sidenote: QUEEN TOMYRIS AND CYRUS B.C. 529] + +X Then Cyrus, king of the Persians, after a long 61 +interval of almost exactly six hundred and thirty years +(as Pompeius Trogus relates), waged an unsuccessful +war against Tomyris, Queen of the Getae. Elated by his +victories in Asia, he strove to conquer the Getae, whose +queen, as I have said, was Tomyris. Though she could +have stopped the approach of Cyrus at the river Araxes, +yet she permitted him to cross, preferring to overcome +him in battle rather than to thwart him by advantage of 62 +position. And so she did. As Cyrus approached, fortune +at first so favored the Parthians that they slew the son +of Tomyris and most of the army. But when the battle +was renewed, the Getae and their queen defeated, conquered +and overwhelmed the Parthians and took rich +plunder from them. There for the first time the race of +the Goths saw silken tents. After achieving this victory +and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen +Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is +now called Lesser Scythia--a name borrowed from great +Scythia,--and built on the Moesian shore of Pontus the +city of Tomi, named after herself. + +[Sidenote: DARIUS B.C. 521-485] + +[Sidenote: DARIUS REPELLED] + +Afterwards Darius, king of the Persians, the son of 63 +Hystaspes, demanded in marriage the daughter of Antyrus, +king of the Goths, asking for her hand and at the +same time making threats in case they did not fulfil his +wish. The Goths spurned this alliance and brought his +embassy to naught. Inflamed with anger because his +offer had been rejected, he led an army of seven hundred +thousand armed men against them and sought to avenge +his wounded feelings by inflicting a public injury. Crossing +on boats covered with boards and joined like a bridge +almost the whole way from Chalcedon to Byzantium, he +started for Thrace and Moesia. Later he built a bridge +over the Danube in like manner, but he was wearied by +two brief months of effort and lost eight thousand armed +men among the Tapae. Then, fearing the bridge over the +Danube would be seized by his foes, he marched back to +Thrace in swift retreat, believing the land of Moesia +would not be safe for even a short sojourn there. + +[Sidenote: Xerxes B.C. 485-465] + +After his death, his son Xerxes planned to avenge his 64 +father's wrongs and so proceeded to undertake a war +against the Goths with seven hundred thousand of his +own men and three hundred thousand armed auxiliaries, +twelve hundred ships of war and three thousand transports. +But he did not venture to try them in battle, being +overawed by their unyielding animosity. So he returned +with his force just as he had come, and without righting +a single battle. + +[Sidenote: Philip of Macedon B.C. 359-336] + +[Sidenote: SIEGE OF ODESSUS] + +Then Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, made 65 +alliance with the Goths and took to wife Medopa, the +daughter of King Gudila, so that he might render the +kingdom of Macedon more secure by the help of this +marriage. It was at this time, as the historian Dio relates, +that Philip, suffering from need of money, determined +to lead out his forces and sack Odessus, a city of +Moesia, which was then subject to the Goths by reason of +the neighboring city of Tomi. Thereupon those priests +of the Goths that are called the Holy Men suddenly +opened the gates of Odessus and came forth to meet them. +They bore harps and were clad in snowy robes, and +chanted in suppliant strains to the gods of their fathers +that they might be propitious and repel the Macedonians. +When the Macedonians saw them coming with such confidence +to meet them, they were astonished and, so to +speak, the armed were terrified by the unarmed. Straight-way +they broke the line they had formed for battle and +not only refrained from destroying the city, but even +gave back those whom they had captured outside by right +of war. Then they made a truce and returned to their +own country. + +After a long time Sitalces, a famous leader of the 66 +Goths, remembering this treacherous attempt, gathered a +hundred and fifty thousand men and made war upon the +Athenians, fighting against Perdiccas, King of Macedon. +This Perdiccas had been left by Alexander as his successor +to rule Athens by hereditary right, when he drank his +destruction at Babylon through the treachery of an attendant. +The Goths engaged in a great battle with him +and proved themselves to be the stronger. Thus in return +for the wrong which the Macedonians had long before +committed in Moesia, the Goths overran Greece and laid +waste the whole of Macedonia. + +[Sidenote: Sulla's Dictatorship B.C. 82-79] + +[Sidenote: THE WISE RULE OF DICINEUS] + +[Sidenote: Caesar's Dictatorship B.C. 49-44] + +[Sidenote: Tiberius A.D. 14-37] + +XI Then when Buruista was king of the Goths, 67 +Dicineus came to Gothia at the time when Sulla ruled the +Romans. Buruista received Dicineus and gave him almost +royal power. It was by his advice the Goths ravaged +the lands of the Germans, which the Franks now possess. 68 +Then came Caesar, the first of all the Romans to assume +imperial power and to subdue almost the whole world, +who conquered all kingdoms and even seized islands lying +beyond our world, reposing in the bosom of Ocean. He +made tributary to the Romans those that knew not the +Roman name even by hearsay, and yet was unable to prevail +against the Goths, despite his frequent attempts. +Soon Gaius Tiberius reigned as third emperor of the +Romans, and yet the Goths continued in their kingdom +unharmed. Their safety, their advantage, their one hope 69 +lay in this, that whatever their counsellor Dicineus advised +should by all means be done; and they judged it +expedient that they should labor for its accomplishment. +And when he saw that their minds were obedient to him +in all things and that they had natural ability, he taught +them almost the whole of philosophy, for he was a skilled +master of this subject. Thus by teaching them ethics he +restrained their barbarous customs; by imparting a knowledge +of physics he made them live naturally under laws +of their own, which they possess in written form to this +day and call _belagines_. He taught them logic and made +them skilled in reasoning beyond all other races; he +showed them practical knowledge and so persuaded them +to abound in good works. By demonstrating theoretical +knowledge he urged them to contemplate the twelve signs +and the courses of the planets passing through them, and +the whole of astronomy. He told them how the disc of +the moon gains increase or suffers loss, and showed them +how much the fiery globe of the sun exceeds in size our +earthly planet. He explained the names of the three hundred +and forty-six stars and told through what signs in +the arching vault of the heavens they glide swiftly from +their rising to their setting. Think, I pray you, what 70 +pleasure it was for these brave men, when for a little +space they had leisure from warfare, to be instructed in +the teachings of philosophy! You might have seen one +scanning the position of the heavens and another investigating +the nature of plants and bushes. Here stood one +who studied the waxing and waning of the moon, while +still another regarded the labors of the sun and observed +how those bodies which were hastening to go toward the +east are whirled around and borne back to the west by +the rotation of the heavens. When they had learned the 71 +reason, they were at rest. These and various other matters +Dicineus taught the Goths in his wisdom and gained +marvellous repute among them, so that he ruled not only +the common men but their kings. He chose from among +them those that were at that time of noblest birth and +superior wisdom and taught them theology, bidding them +worship certain divinities and holy places. He gave the +name of Pilleati to the priests he ordained, I suppose +because they offered sacrifice having their heads covered +with tiaras, which we otherwise call _pillei_. But he bade +them call the rest of their race Capillati. This name the 72 +Goths accepted and prized highly and they retain it to +this day in their songs. + +After the death of Dicineus, they held Comosicus in 73 +almost equal honor, because he was not inferior in knowledge. +By reason of his wisdom he was accounted their +priest and king, and he judged the people with the greatest +uprightness. + +[Sidenote: DACIA] + +XII When he too had departed from human affairs, +Coryllus ascended the throne as king of the Goths and for +forty years ruled his people in Dacia. I mean ancient +Dacia, which the race of the Gepidae now possess. This +country lies across the Danube within sight of Moesia, 74 +and is surrounded by a crown of mountains. It has only +two ways of access, one by way of the Boutae and the +other by the Tapae. This Gothia, which our ancestors +called Dacia and now, as I have said, is called Gepidia, +was then bounded on the east by the Roxolani, on the west +by the Iazyges, on the north by the Sarmatians and Basternae +and on the south by the river Danube. The Iazyges +are separated from the Roxolani by the Aluta river only. + +[Sidenote: THE DANUBE] + +And since mention has been made of the Danube, I 75 +think it not out of place to make brief notice of so excellent +a stream. Rising in the fields of the Alamanni, it +receives sixty streams which flow into it here and there +in the twelve hundred miles from its source to its mouths +in the Pontus, resembling a spine inwoven with ribs like +a basket. It is indeed a most vast river. In the language +of the Bessi it is called the Hister, and it has profound +waters in its channel to a depth of quite two hundred feet. +This stream surpasses in size all other rivers, except the +Nile. Let this much suffice for the Danube. But let us +now with the Lord's help return to the subject from which +we have digressed. + +[Sidenote: Domitian A.D. 81-96] + +[Sidenote: WAR WITH DOMITIAN] + +XIII Now after a long time, in the reign of the 76 +Emperor Domitian, the Goths, through fear of his avarrice, +broke the truce they had long observed under other +emperors. They laid waste the bank of the Danube, so +long held by the Roman Empire, and slew the soldiers and +their generals. Oppius Sabinus was then in command of +that province, succeeding Agrippa, while Dorpaneus held +command over the Goths. Thereupon the Goths made +war and conquered the Romans, cut off the head of +Oppius Sabinus, and invaded and boldly plundered many +castles and cities belonging to the Emperor. In this plight 77 +of his countrymen Domitian hastened with all his might +to Illyricum, bringing with him the troops of almost +the entire empire. He sent Fuscus before him as his +general with picked soldiers. Then joining boats together +like a bridge, he made his soldiers cross the river +Danube above the army of Dorpaneus. But the Goths 78 +were on the alert. They took up arms and presently overwhelmed +the Romans in the first encounter. They slew +Fuscus, the commander, and plundered the soldiers' camp +of its treasure. And because of the great victory they +had won in this region, they thereafter called their leaders, +by whose good fortune they seemed to have conquered, +not mere men, but demigods, that is Ansis. Their +genealogy I shall run through briefly, telling the lineage +of each and the beginning and the end of this line. And +do thou, O reader, hear me without repining; for I speak +truly. + +[Sidenote: GENEALOGY OF THE ANSIS OR AMALI] + +XIV Now the first of these heroes, as they themselves 79 +relate in their legends, was Gapt, who begat +Hulmul. And Hulmul begat Augis; and Augis begat +him who was called Amal, from whom the name of the +Amali comes. This Amal begat Hisarnis. Hisarnis +moreover begat Ostrogotha, and Ostrogotha begat Hunuil, +and Hunuil likewise begat Athal. Athal begat +Achiulf and Oduulf. Now Achiulf begat Ansila and +Ediulf, Vultuulf and Hermanaric. And Vultuulf begat +Valaravans and Valaravans begat Vinitharius. Vinitharius +moreover begat Vandalarius; Vandalarius begat 80 +Thiudimer and Valamir and Vidimer; and Thiudimer +begat Theodoric. Theodoric begat Amalasuentha; Amalasuentha +bore Athalaric and Mathesuentha to her husband +Eutharic, whose race was thus joined to hers in +kinship. For the aforesaid Hermanaric, the son of 81 +Achiulf, begat Hunimund, and Hunimund begat Thorismud. +Now Thorismud begat Beremud, Beremud begat +Veteric, and Veteric likewise begat Eutharic, who married +Amalasuentha and begat Athalaric and Mathesuentha. +Athalaric died in the years of his childhood, and +Mathesuentha married Vitiges, to whom she bore no +child. Both of them were taken together by Belisarius to +Constantinople. When Vitiges passed from human affairs, +Germanus the patrician, a cousin of the Emperor +Justinian, took Mathesuentha in marriage and made her +a Patrician Ordinary. And of her he begat a son, also +called Germanus. But upon the death of Germanus, she +determined to remain a widow. Now how and in what +wise the kingdom of the Amali was overthrown we shall +keep to tell in its proper place, if the Lord help us. + +But let us now return to the point whence we made our 82 +digression and tell how the stock of this people of whom +I speak reached the end of its course. Now Ablabius the +historian relates that in Scythia, where we have said that +they were dwelling above an arm of the Pontic Sea, part +of them who held the eastern region and whose king was +Ostrogotha, were called Ostrogoths, that is, eastern +Goths, either from his name or from the place. But the +rest were called Visigoths, that is, the Goths of the western +country. + +[Sidenote: MAXIMINUS, THE GOTH WHO BECAME A ROMAN EMPEROR] + +[Sidenote: Septimius Severus A.D. 193-211] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Caracalla A.D. 198-217] + +[Sidenote: Macrinus A.D. 217-218] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Elagabalus A.D. 218-222] + +[Sidenote: Alexander A.D. 222-235] + +[Sidenote: Maximinus A.D. 235-238] + +[Sidenote: Pupienus A.D. 238] + +XV As already said, they crossed the Danube and 83 +dwelt a little while in Moesia and Thrace. From the +remnant of these came Maximinus, the Emperor succeeding +Alexander the son of Mama. For Symmachus relates +it thus in the fifth book of his history, saying that +upon the death of Caesar Alexander, Maximinus was +made Emperor by the army; a man born in Thrace of +most humble parentage, his father being a Goth named +Micca, and his mother a woman of the Alani called +Ababa. He reigned three years and lost alike his empire +and his life while making war on the Christians. Now 84 +after his first years spent in rustic life, he had come from +his flocks to military service in the reign of the Emperor +Severus and at the time when he was celebrating his +son's birthday. It happened that the Emperor was giving +military games. When Maximinus saw this, although he +was a semi-barbarian youth, he besought the Emperor in +his native tongue to give him permission to wrestle with 85 +the trained soldiers for the prizes offered. Severus marvelling +much at his great size--for his stature, it is said, +was more than eight feet,--bade him contend in wrestling +with the camp followers, in order that no injury might +befall his soldiers at the hands of this wild fellow. Thereupon +Maximinus threw sixteen attendants with so great +ease that he conquered them one by one without taking +any rest by pausing between the bouts. So then, when +he had won the prizes, it was ordered that he should be +sent into the army and should take his first campaign with +the cavalry. On the third day after this, when the Emperor +went out to the field, he saw him coursing about +in barbarian fashion and bade a tribune restrain him and +teach him Roman discipline. But when he understood +it was the Emperor who was speaking about him, he came 86 +forward and began to run ahead of him as he rode. Then +the Emperor spurred on his horse to a slow trot and +wheeled in many a circle hither and thither with various +turns, until he was weary. And then he said to him "Are +you willing to wrestle now after your running, my little +Thracian?" "As much as you like, O Emperor," he +answered. So Severus leaped from his horse and ordered +the freshest soldiers to wrestle with him. But he threw +to the ground seven very powerful youths, even as before, +taking no breathing space between the bouts. So he alone +was given prizes of silver and a golden necklace by Caesar. +Then he was bidden to serve in the body guard of +the Emperor. After this he was an officer under Antoninus 87 +Caracalla, often increasing his fame by his deeds, +and rose to many military grades and finally to the centurionship +as the reward of his active service. Yet afterwards, +when Macrinus became Emperor, he refused military +service for almost three years, and though he held +the office of tribune, he never came into the presence of +Macrinus, thinking his rule shameful because he had won +it by committing a crime. Then he returned to Eliogabalus, 88 +believing him to be the son of Antoninus, and +entered upon his tribuneship. After his reign, he fought +with marvellous success against the Parthians, under +Alexander the son of Mama. When he was slain in an +uprising of the soldiers at Mogontiacum, Maximinus +himself was made Emperor by a vote of the army, without +a decree of the senate. But he marred all his good +deeds by persecuting the Christians in accordance with +an evil vow and, being slain by Pupienus at Aquileia, left +the kingdom to Philip. These matters we have borrowed +from the history of Symmachus for this our little book, +in order to show that the race of which we speak attained +to the very highest station in the Roman Empire. But +our subject requires us to return in due order to the point +whence we digressed. + +[Sidenote: KING OSTROGOTHA WARS WITH PHILIP] + +[Sidenote: Philip pater A.D. 244-249 "The Arabian"] + +[Sidenote: Philip filius A.D. 247-249] + +XVI Now the Gothic race gained great fame in the 89 +region where they were then dwelling, that is in the +Scythian land on the shore of Pontus, holding undisputed +sway over great stretches of country, many arms of the +sea and many river courses. By their strong right arm +the Vandals were often laid low, the Marcomanni held +their footing by paying tribute and the princes of the +Quadi were reduced to slavery. Now when the aforesaid +Philip--who, with his son Philip, was the only Christian +emperor before Constantine--ruled over the Romans, in +the second year of his reign Rome completed its one +thousandth year. He withheld from the Goths the tribute +due them; whereupon they were naturally enraged and +instead of friends became his foes. For though they dwelt +apart under their own kings, yet they had been allied to +the Roman state and received annual gifts. And what 90 +more? Ostrogotha and his men soon crossed the Danube +and ravaged Moesia and Thrace. Philip sent the senator +Decius against him. And since he could do nothing +against the Getae, he released his own soldiers from military +service and sent them back to private life, as though +it had been by their neglect that the Goths had crossed the +Danube. When, as he supposed, he had thus taken vengeance +on his soldiers, he returned to Philip. But when +the soldiers found themselves expelled from the army +after so many hardships, in their anger they had recourse +to the protection of Ostrogotha, king of the Goths. He 91 +received them, was aroused by their words and presently +led out three hundred thousand armed men, having as +allies for this war some of the Taifali and Astringi and +also three thousand of the Carpi, a race of men very ready +to make war and frequently hostile to the Romans. But +in later times when Diocletian and Maximian were Emperors, +the Caesar Galerius Maximianus conquered them +and made them tributary to the Roman Empire. Besides +these tribes, Ostrogotha had Goths and Peucini from the +island of Peucë, which lies in the mouths of the Danube +where they empty into the Sea of Pontus. He placed in +command Argaithus and Guntheric, the noblest leaders 92 +of his race. They speedily crossed the Danube, devastated +Moesia a second time and approached Marcianople, +the famed metropolis of that land. Yet after a long siege +they departed, upon receiving money from the inhabitants. + +[Sidenote: MARCIANOPLE] + +[Sidenote: THE GEPIDAE AND THEIR DEFEAT BY OSTROGOTHA] + +Now since we have mentioned Marcianople, we may 93 +briefly relate a few matters in connection with its founding. +They say that the Emperor Trajan built this city +for the following reason. While his sister's daughter +Marcia was bathing in the stream called Potamus--a +river of great clearness and purity that rises in the midst +of the city--she wished to draw some water from it and +by chance dropped into its depths the golden pitcher she +was carrying. Yet though very heavy from its weight +of metal, it emerged from the waves a long time afterwards. +It surely is not a usual thing for an empty vessel +to sink; much less that, when once swallowed up, it should +be cast up by the waves and float again. Trajan marvelled +at hearing this and believed there was some divinity +in the stream. So he built a city and called it Marcianople +after the name of his sister. + +XVII From this city, then, as we were saying, the 94 +Getae returned after a long siege to their own land, enriched +by the ransom they had received. Now the race +of the Gepidae was moved with envy when they saw them +laden with booty and so suddenly victorious everywhere, +and made war on their kinsmen. Should you ask how +the Getae and Gepidae are kinsmen, I can tell you in a +few words. You surely remember that in the beginning +I said the Goths went forth from the bosom of the island +of Scandza with Berig, their king, sailing in only three +ships toward the hither shore of Ocean, namely to +Gothiscandza. One of these three ships proved to be 95 +slower than the others, as is usually the case, and thus is +said to have given the tribe their name, for in their +language _gepanta_ means slow. Hence it came to pass +that gradually and by corruption the name Gepidae was +coined for them by way of reproach. For undoubtedly +they too trace their origin from the stock of the Goths, +but because, as I have said, _gepanta_ means something +slow and stolid, the word Gepidae arose as a gratuitous +name of reproach. I do not believe this is very far +wrong, for they are slow of thought and too sluggish for +quick movement of their bodies. + +These Gepidae were then smitten by envy while they 96 +dwelt in the province of Spesis on an island surrounded +by the shallow waters of the Vistula. This island they +called, in the speech of their fathers, Gepedoios; but it is +now inhabited by the race of the Vividarii, since the +Gepidae themselves have moved to better lands. The +Vividarii are gathered from various races into this one +asylum, if I may call it so, and thus they form a nation. +So then, as we were saying, Fastida, king of the Gepidae, 97 +stirred up his quiet people to enlarge their boundaries by +war. He overwhelmed the Burgundians, almost annihilating +them, and conquered a number of other races also. +He unjustly provoked the Goths, being the first to break +the bonds of kinship by unseemly strife. He was greatly +puffed up with vain glory, but in seeking to acquire new +lands for his growing nation, he only reduced the numbers +of his own countrymen. For he sent ambassadors 98 +to Ostrogotha, to whose rule Ostrogoths and Visigoths +alike, that is, the two peoples of the same tribe, were still +subject. Complaining that he was hemmed in by rugged +mountains and dense forests, he demanded one of two +things,--that Ostrogotha should either prepare for war +or give up part of his lands to them. Then Ostrogotha, 99 +king of the Goths, who was a man of firm mind, answered +the ambassadors that he did indeed dread such a +war and that it would be a grievous and infamous thing +to join battle with their kin,--but he would not give up +his lands. And why say more? The Gepidae hastened +to take arms and Ostrogotha likewise moved his forces +against them, lest he should seem a coward. They met +at the town of Galtis, near which the river Auha flows +and there both sides fought with great valor; indeed the +similarity of their arms and of their manner of fighting +turned them against their own men. But the better cause +and their natural alertness aided the Goths. Finally night 100 +put an end to the battle as a part of the Gepidae were +giving way. Then Fastida, king of the Gepidae, left the +field of slaughter and hastened to his own land, as much +humiliated with shame and disgrace as formerly he had +been elated with pride. The Goths returned victorious, +content with the retreat of the Gepidae, and dwelt in +peace and happiness in their own land so long as Ostrogotha +was their leader. + +[Sidenote: KING CNIVA AT WAR WITH DECIUS] + +[Sidenote: Decius A.D. 249-251] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Philippopolis A.D. 250] + +[Sidenote: Death of Decius at Abrittus A.D. 251] + +XVIII After his death, Cniva divided the army into 101 +two parts and sent some to waste Moesia, knowing that it +was undefended through the neglect of the emperors. +He himself with seventy thousand men hastened to +Euscia, that is, Novae. When driven from this place by +the general Gallus, he approached Nicopolis, a very famous +town situated near the Iatrus river. This city +Trajan built when he conquered the Sarmatians and +named it the City of Victory. When the Emperor Decius +drew near, Cniva at last withdrew to the regions of +Haemus, which were not far distant. Thence he hastened +to Philippopolis, with his forces in good array. When 102 +the Emperor Decius learned of his departure, he was +eager to bring relief to his own city and, crossing Mount +Haemus, came to Beroa. While he was resting his horses +and his weary army in that place, all at once Cniva and +his Goths fell upon him like a thunderbolt. He cut the +Roman army to pieces and drove the Emperor, with a +few who had succeeded in escaping, across the Alps again +to Euscia in Moesia, where Gallus was then stationed +with a large force of soldiers as guardian of the frontier. +Collecting an army from this region as well as from +Oescus, he prepared for the conflict of the coming war. +But Cniva took Philippopolis after a long siege and then, 103 +laden with spoil, allied himself to Priscus, the commander +in the city, to fight against Decius. In the battle that +followed they quickly pierced the son of Decius with an +arrow and cruelly slew him. The father saw this, and +although he is said to have exclaimed, to cheer the hearts +of his soldiers: "Let no one mourn; the death of one +soldier is not a great loss to the republic", he was yet +unable to endure it, because of his love for his son. So +he rode against the foe, demanding either death or vengeance, +and when he came to Abrittus, a city of Moesia, +he was himself cut off by the Goths and slain, thus making +an end of his dominion and of his life. This place +is to-day called the Altar of Decius, because he there +offered strange sacrifices to idols before the battle. + +(THE GOTHS IN THE TIME OF GALLUS, VOLUSIANUS AND AEMILIANUS) + +[Sidenote: Gallus A.D. 251-253] + +[Sidenote: Volusianus A.D. 252-253] + +[Sidenote: Aemilianus A.D. 253] + +[Sidenote: The Plague A.D. 252-267] + +[Sidenote: Gallienus A.D. 253-268] + +XIX Then upon the death of Decius, Gallus and 104 +Volusianus succeeded to the Roman Empire. At this +time a destructive plague, almost like death itself, such +as we suffered nine years ago, blighted the face of the +whole earth and especially devastated Alexandria and all +the land of Egypt. The historian Dionysius gives a +mournful account of it and Cyprian, our own bishop and +venerable martyr in Christ, also describes it in his book +entitled "On Mortality". At this time the Goths frequently +ravaged Moesia, through the neglect of the Emperors. +When a certain Aemilianus saw that they were 105 +free to do this, and that they could not be dislodged by +anyone without great cost to the republic, he thought that +he too might be able to achieve fame and fortune. So he +seized the rule in Moesia and, taking all the soldiers he +could gather, began to plunder cities and people. In the +next few months, while an armed host was being gathered +against him, he wrought no small harm to the state. +Yet he died almost at the beginning of his evil attempt, +thus losing at once his life and the power he coveted. +Now though Gallus and Volusianus, the Emperors we 106 +have mentioned, departed this life after remaining in +power for barely two years, yet during this space of two +years which they spent on earth they reigned amid universal +peace and favor. Only one thing was laid to their +charge, namely the great plague. But this was an accusation +made by ignorant slanderers, whose custom it is +to wound the lives of others with their malicious bite. +Soon after they came to power they made a treaty with +the race of the Goths. When both rulers were dead, it +was no long time before Gallienus usurped the throne. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS PLUNDER ASIA MINOR A.D. 262 or 263] + +XX While he was given over to luxurious living of 107 +every sort, Respa, Veduc and Thuruar, leaders of the +Goths, took ship and sailed across the strait of the Hellespont +to Asia. There they laid waste many populous +cities and set fire to the renowned temple of Diana at +Ephesus, which, as we said before, the Amazons built. +Being driven from the neighborhood of Bithynia, they +destroyed Chalcedon, which Cornelius Avitus afterwards +restored to some extent. Yet even to-day, though it is +happily situated near the royal city, it still shows some +traces of its ruin as a witness to posterity. After their 108 +success, the Goths recrossed the strait of the Hellespont, +laden with booty and spoil, and returned along the same +route by which they had entered the lands of Asia, sacking +Troy and Ilium on the way. These cities, which had +scarce recovered a little from the famous war with Agamemnon, +were thus destroyed anew by the hostile sword. +After the Goths had thus devastated Asia, Thrace next +felt their ferocity. For they went thither and presently +attacked Anchiali, a city at the foot of Haemus and not +far from the sea. Sardanapalus, king of the Parthians, +had built this city long ago between an inlet of the sea +and the base of Haemus. There they are said to have 109 +stayed for many days, enjoying the baths of the hot +springs which are situated about twelve miles from the +city of Anchiali. There they gush from the depths of +their fiery source, and among the innumerable hot springs +of the world they are esteemed as specially famous and +efficacious for their healing virtues. + +(THE TIMES OF DIOCLETIAN) + +[Sidenote: Diocletian 284-305] + +[Sidenote: Masimian 284-305] + +XXI After these events, the Goths had already returned 110 +home when they were summoned at the request +of the Emperor Maximian to aid the Romans against the +Parthians. They fought for him faithfully, serving as +auxiliaries. But after Caesar Maximian by their aid had +routed Narseus, king of the Persians, the grandson of +Sapor the Great, taking as spoil all his possessions, together +with his wives and his sons, and when Diocletian +had conquered Achilles in Alexandria and Maximianus +Herculius had broken the Quinquegentiani in Africa, thus +winning peace for the empire, they began rather to neglect +the Goths. + +[Sidenote: Constantine I 306-337] + +[Sidenote: Licinius 307-323] + +Now it had long been a hard matter for the Roman 111 +army to fight against any nations whatsoever without +them. This is evident from the way in which the Goths +were so frequently called upon. Thus they were summoned +by Constantine to bear arms against his kinsman +Licinius. Later, when he was vanquished and shut up +Thessalonica and deprived of his power, they slew him +with the sword of Constantine the victor. In like manner 112 +it was the aid of the Goths that enabled him to build the +famous city that is named after him, the rival of Rome, +inasmuch as they entered into a truce with the Emperor +and furnished him forty thousand men to aid him against +various peoples. This body of men, namely, the Allies, +and the service they rendered in war are still spoken of in +the land to this day. Now at that time they prospered +under the rule of their kings Ariaric and Aoric. Upon +their death Geberich appeared as successor to the throne, +a man renowned for his valor and noble birth. + +[Sidenote: GEBERICH CONQUERS THE VANDALS 336] + +XXII For he was the son of Hilderith, who was the 113 +son of Ovida, who was the son of Nidada; and by his +illustrious deeds he equalled the glory of his race. Soon +he sought to enlarge his country's narrow bounds at the +expense of the race of the Vandals and Visimar, their +king. This Visimar was of the stock of the Asdingi, +which is eminent among them and indicates a most warlike +descent, as Dexippus the historian relates. He states +furthermore that by reason of the great extent of their +country they could scarcely come from Ocean to our frontier +in a year's time. At that time they dwelt in the land +where the Gepidae now live, near the rivers Marisia, +Miliare, Gilpil and the Grisia, which exceeds in size all +previously mentioned. They then had on the east the 114 +Goths, on the west the Marcomanni, on the north the +Hermunduli and on the south the Hister, which is also +called the Danube. At the time when the Vandals were +dwelling in this region, war was begun against them by +Geberich, king of the Goths, on the shore of the river +Marisia which I have mentioned. Here the battle raged +for a little while on equal terms. But soon Visimar himself, +the king of the Vandals, was overthrown, together +with the greater part of his people. When Geberich, the 115 +famous leader of the Goths, had conquered and spoiled +Vandals, he returned to his own place whence he had +come. Then the remnant of the Vandals who had escaped, +collecting a band of their unwarlike folk, left their +ill-fated country and asked the Emperor Constantine for +Pannonia. Here they made their home for about sixty +years and obeyed the commands of the emperors like +subjects. A long time afterward they were summoned +thence by Stilicho, Master of the Soldiery, Ex-Consul and +Patrician, and took possession of Gaul. Here they plundered +their neighbors and had no settled place of abode. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE HERCULI, VENETHI AND AESTI] + +XXIII Soon Geberich, king of the Goths, departed 116 +from human affairs and Hermanaric, noblest of the +Amali, succeeded to the throne. He subdued many warlike +peoples of the north and made them obey his laws, +and some of our ancestors have justly compared him to +Alexander the Great. Among the tribes he conquered +were the Golthescytha, Thiudos, Inaunxis, Vasinabroncae, +Merens, Mordens, Imniscaris, Rogas, Tadzans, Athaul, 117 +Navego, Bubegenae and Coldae. But though famous +for his conquest of so many races, he gave himself no rest +until he had slain some in battle and then reduced to his +sway the remainder of the tribe of the Heruli, whose chief +was Alaric. Now the aforesaid race, as the historian +Ablabius tells us, dwelt near Lake Maeotis in swampy +places which the Greeks call _hel[=e]_; hence they were named +Heluri. They were a people swift of foot, and on that +account were the more swollen with pride, for there was 118 +at that time no race that did not choose from them its +light-armed troops for battle. But though their quickness +often saved them from others who made war upon them, +yet they were overthrown by the slowness and steadiness +of the Goths; and the lot of fortune brought it to pass +that they, as well as the other tribes, had to serve Hermanaric, +king of the Getae. After the slaughter of the 119 +Heruli, Hermanaric also took arms against the Venethi. +This people, though despised in war, was strong in numbers +and tried to resist him. But a multitude of cowards +is of no avail, particularly when God permits an armed +multitude to attack them. These people, as we started +to say at the beginning of our account or catalogue of +nations, though off-shoots from one stock, have now +three names, that is, Venethi, Antes and Sclaveni. Though +they now rage in war far and wide, in punishment for +our sins, yet at that time they were all obedient to Hermanaric's +commands. This ruler also subdued by his 120 +wisdom and might the race of the Aesti, who dwell on +the farthest shore of the German Ocean, and ruled all the +nations of Scythia and Germany by his own prowess +alone. + +[Sidenote: ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE HUNS] + +XXIV But after a short space of time, as Orosius 121 +relates, the race of the Huns, fiercer than ferocity itself, +flamed forth against the Goths. We learn from old traditions +that their origin was as follows: Filimer, king of +the Goths, son of Gadaric the Great, who was the fifth in +succession to hold the rule of the Getae after their departure +from the island of Scandza,--and who, as we have +said, entered the land of Scythia with his tribe,--found +among his people certain witches, whom he called in his +native tongue Haliurunnae. Suspecting these women, he +expelled them from the midst of his race and compelled +them to wander in solitary exile afar from his army. +There the unclean spirits, who beheld them as they wandered 122 +through the wilderness, bestowed their embraces +upon them and begat this savage race, which dwelt at +first in the swamps,--a stunted, foul and puny tribe, +scarcely human, and having no language save one which +bore slight resemblance to human speech. Such was +the descent of the Huns who came to the country of the +Goths. + +This cruel tribe, as Priscus the historian relates, settled 123 +on the farther bank of the Maeotic swamp. They +were fond of hunting and had no skill in any other +art. After they had grown to a nation, they disturbed +the peace of neighboring races by theft and rapine. At +one time, while hunters of their tribe were as usual seeking +for game on the farthest edge of Maeotis, they +saw a doe unexpectedly appear to their sight and enter +the swamp, acting as guide of the way; now advancing +and again standing still. The hunters followed and 124 +crossed on foot the Maeotic swamp, which they had +supposed was impassable as the sea. Presently the +unknown land of Scythia disclosed itself and the doe +disappeared. Now in my opinion the evil spirits, from +whom the Huns are descended, did this from envy of the +Scythians. And the Huns, who had been wholly ignorant 125 +that there was another world beyond Maeotis, were now +filled with admiration for the Scythian land. As they +were quick of mind, they believed that this path, utterly +unknown to any age of the past, had been divinely revealed +to them. They returned to their tribe, told them +what had happened, praised Scythia and persuaded the +people to hasten thither along the way they had found +by the guidance of the doe. As many as they captured, +when they thus entered Scythia for the first time, they +sacrificed to Victory. The remainder they conquered +and made subject to themselves. Like a whirlwind of 126 +nations they swept across the great swamp and at once +fell upon the Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari, Tuncarsi and +Boisci, who bordered on that part of Scythia. The Alani +also, who were their equals in battle, but unlike them in +civilization, manners and appearance, they exhausted by +their incessant attacks and subdued. For by the terror 127 +of their features they inspired great fear in those whom +perhaps they did not really surpass in war. They made +their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was +fearful, and they had, if I may call it so, a sort of shapeless +lump, not a head, with pin-holes rather than eyes. +Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and +they are beings who are cruel to their children on the +very day they are born. For they cut the cheeks of the +males with a sword, so that before they receive the nourishment +of milk they must learn to endure wounds. +Hence they grow old beardless and their young men are 128 +without comeliness, because a face furrowed by the sword +spoils by its scars the natural beauty of a beard. They +are short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert +horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and +arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in +pride. Though they live in the form of men, they have +the cruelty of wild beasts. + +[Sidenote: FIRST IRRUPTION OF THE HUNS as early as 375] + +When the Getae beheld this active race that had invaded 129 +many nations, they took fright and consulted with +their king how they might escape from such a foe. Now +although Hermanaric, king of the Goths, was the conqueror +of many tribes, as we have said above, yet while +he was deliberating on this invasion of the Huns, the +treacherous tribe of the Rosomoni, who at that time were +among those who owed him their homage, took this +chance to catch him unawares. For when the king had +given orders that a certain woman of the tribe I have +mentioned, Sunilda by name, should be bound to wild +horses and torn apart by driving them at full speed in +opposite directions (for he was roused to fury by her +husband's treachery to him), her brothers Sarus and +Immius came to avenge their sister's death and plunged +a sword into Hermanaric's side. Enfeebled by this blow, +he dragged out a miserable existence in bodily weakness. +Balamber, king of the Huns, took advantage of his ill 130 +health to move an army into the country of the Ostrogoths, +from whom the Visigoths had already separated +because of some dispute. Meanwhile Hermanaric, who +was unable to endure either the pain of his wound or the +inroads of the Huns, died full of days at the great age of +one hundred and ten years. The fact of his death enabled +the Huns to prevail over those Goths who, as we have +said, dwelt in the East and were called Ostrogoths. + +(The Divided Goths: Visigoths) + +[Sidenote: Valentinian I 364-375] + +[Sidenote: THE VISIGOTHS SETTLE IN THRACE AND MOESIA 376] + +[Sidenote: Valens 364-378] + +XXV The Visigoths, who were their other allies and 131 +inhabitants of the western country, were terrified as their +kinsmen had been, and knew not how to plan for safety +against the race of the Huns. After long deliberation by +common consent they finally sent ambassadors into Romania +to the Emperor Valens, brother of Valentinian, +the elder Emperor, to say that if he would give them part +of Thrace or Moesia to keep, they would submit themselves +to his laws and commands. That he might have +greater confidence in them, they promised to become +Christians, if he would give them teachers who spoke +their language. When Valens learned this, he gladly and 132 +promptly granted what he had himself intended to ask. +He received the Getae into the region of Moesia and +placed them there as a wall of defense for his kingdom +against other tribes. And since at that time the Emperor +Valens, who was infected with the Arian perfidy, had +closed all the churches of our party, he sent as preachers +to them those who favored his sect. They came and +straightway filled a rude and ignorant people with the +poison of their heresy. Thus the Emperor Valens made +the Visigoths Arians rather than Christians. Moreover 133 +from the love they bore them, they preached the gospel +both to the Ostrogoths and to their kinsmen the Gepidae, +teaching them to reverence this heresy, and they invited +all people of their speech everywhere to attach themselves +to this sect. They themselves as we have said, crossed +the Danube and settled Dacia Ripensis, Moesia and +Thrace by permission of the Emperor. + +[Sidenote: FAMINE 376-377] + +XXVI Soon famine and want came upon them, as 134 +often happens to a people not yet well settled in a country. +Their princes and the leaders who ruled them in +place of kings, that is Fritigern, Alatheus and Safrac, +began to lament the plight of their army and begged +Lupicinus and Maximus, the Roman commanders, to +open a market. But to what will not the "cursed lust for +gold" compel men to assent? The generals, swayed by +avarice, sold them at a high price not only the flesh of +sheep and oxen, but even the carcasses of dogs and unclean +animals, so that a slave would be bartered for a loaf +of bread or ten pounds of meat. When their goods and 135 +chattels failed, the greedy trader demanded their sons in +return for the necessities of life. And the parents consented +even to this, in order to provide for the safety of +their children, arguing that it was better to lose liberty +than life; and indeed it is better that one be sold, if he +will be mercifully fed, than that he should be kept free +only to die. + +[Sidenote: TREACHERY OF THE ROMANS] + +Now it came to pass in that troublous time that Lupicinus, +the Roman general, invited Fritigern, a chieftain +of the Goths, to a feast and, as the event revealed, +devised a plot against him. But Fritigern, thinking 136 +evil came to the feast with a few followers. While +he was dining in the praetorium he heard the dying +cries of his ill-fated men, for, by order of the general, +the soldiers were slaying his companions who were shut +up in another part of the house. The loud cries of the +dying fell upon ears already suspicious, and Fritigern at +once perceived the treacherous trick. He drew his sword +and with great courage dashed quickly from the banqueting-hall, +rescued his men from their threatening doom +and incited them to slay the Romans. Thus these valiant 137 +men gained the chance they had longed for--to be free to +die in battle rather than to perish of hunger--and immediately +took arms to kill the generals Lupicinus and +Maximus. Thus that day put an end to the famine of the +Goths and the safety of the Romans, for the Goths no +longer as strangers and pilgrims, but as citizens and lords, +began to rule the inhabitants and to hold in their own +right all the northern country as far as the Danube. + +[Sidenote: EMPEROR VALENS DEFEATED AND SLAIN A.D. 378] + +When the Emperor Valens heard of this at Antioch, 138 +he made ready an army at once and set out for the country +of Thrace. Here a grievous battle took place and the +Goths prevailed. The Emperor himself was wounded and +fled to a farm near Hadrianople. The Goths, not knowing +that an emperor lay hidden in so poor a hut, set fire +to it (as is customary in dealing with a cruel foe), and +thus he was cremated in royal splendor. Plainly it was +a direct judgment of God that he should be burned with +fire by the very men whom he had perfidiously led astray +when they sought the true faith, turning them aside from +the flame of love into the fire of hell. From this time the +Visigoths, in consequence of their glorious victory, possessed +Thrace and Dacia Ripensis as if it were their native +land. + +[Sidenote: Gratian 367-383] + +[Sidenote: HOSTILE RELATIONS WITH ROME ENDED BY A TRUCE] + +[Sidenote: Theodosius 379-305] + +XXVII Now in the place of Valens, his uncle, the 139 +Emperor Gratian established Theodosius the Spaniard in +the Eastern Empire. Military discipline was soon restored +to a high level, and the Goth, perceiving that the +cowardice and sloth of former princes was ended, became +afraid. For the Emperor was famed alike for his acuteness +and discretion. By stern commands and by generosity +and kindness he encouraged a demoralized army to +deeds of daring. But when the soldiers, who had obtained 140 +a better leader by the change, gained new confidence, +they sought to attack the Goths and drive them +from the borders of Thrace. But as the Emperor Theodosius +fell so sick at this time that his life was almost +despaired of, the Goths were again inspired with courage. +Dividing the Gothic army, Fritigern set out to plunder +Thessaly, Epirus and Achaia, while Alatheus and Safrac +with the rest of the troops made for Pannonia. Now the 141 +Emperor Gratian had at this time retreated from Rome to +Gaul because of the invasions of the Vandals. When he +learned that the Goths were acting with greater boldness +because Theodosius was in despair of his life, he quickly +gathered an army and came against them. Yet he put no +trust in arms, but sought to conquer them by kindness and +gifts. So he entered on a truce with them and made +peace, giving them provisions. + +[Sidenote: PEACE CONFIRMED BY THEODOSIUS 380] + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING ATHANARIC AT CONSTANTINOPLE 381] + +XXVIII When the Emperor Theodosius afterwards 142 +recovered and learned that the Emperor Gratian had +made a compact between the Goths and the Romans, as +he had himself desired, he took it very graciously and +gave his assent. He gave gifts to King Athanaric, who +had succeeded Fritigern, made an alliance with him and +in the most gracious manner invited him to visit him in +Constantinople. Athanaric very gladly consented and 143 +as he entered the royal city exclaimed in wonder "Lo, +now I see what I have often heard of with unbelieving +ears," meaning the great and famous city. Turning his +eyes hither and thither, he marvelled as he beheld the +situation of the city, the coming and going of the ships, +the splendid walls, and the people of divers nations gathered +like a flood of waters streaming from different regions +into one basin. So too, when he saw the army in +array, he said "Truly the Emperor is a god on earth, and +whoso raises a hand against him is guilty of his own +blood." In the midst of his admiration and the enjoyment 144 +of even greater honors at the hand of the emperor, +he departed this life after the space of a few months. +The emperor had such affection for him that he honored +Athanaric even more when he was dead than during his +life-time, for he not only gave him a worthy burial, but +himself walked before the bier at the funeral. Now when 145 +Athanaric was dead, his whole army continued in the +service of the Emperor Theodosius and submitted to the +Roman rule, forming as it were one body with the imperial +soldiery. The former service of the Allies under the +Emperor Constantine was now renewed and they were +again called Allies. And since the Emperor knew that +they were faithful to him and his friends, he took from +their number more than twenty thousand warriors to +serve against the tyrant Eugenius who had slain Gratian +and seized Gaul. After winning the victory over this +usurper, he wreaked his vengeance upon him. + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I KING OF THE GOTHS 395-410] + +[Sidenote: Stilicho and Aurelian Consuls in 400] + +XXIX But after Theodosius, the lover of peace and 146 +of the Gothic race, had passed from human cares, his +sons began to ruin both empires by their luxurious living +and to deprive their Allies, that is to say the Goths, of the +customary gifts. The contempt of the Goths for the +Romans soon increased, and for fear their valor would be +destroyed by long peace, they appointed Alaric king over +them. He was of a famous stock, and his nobility was +second only to that of the Amali, for he came from the +family of the Balthi, who because of their daring valor +had long ago received among their race the name _Baltha_, 147 +that is, The Bold. Now when this Alaric was made king, +he took counsel with his men and persuaded them to seek +a kingdom by their own exertions rather than serve others +in idleness. In the consulship of Stilicho and Aurelian +he raised an army and entered Italy, which seemed to be +bare of defenders, and came through Pannonia and Sirmium +along the right side. Without meeting any resistance, +he reached the bridge of the river Candidianus at +the third milestone from the royal city of Ravenna. + +[Sidenote: DESCRIPTION OF RAVENNA] + +This city lies amid the streams of the Po between 148 +swamps and the sea, and is accessible only on one side. +Its ancient inhabitants, as our ancestors relate, were +called _Ainetoi_, that is, "Laudable". Situated in a corner +of the Roman Empire above the Ionian Sea, it is hemmed +in like an island by a flood of rushing waters. On the 149 +east it has the sea, and one who sails straight to it from +the region of Corcyra and those parts of Hellas sweeps +with his oars along the right hand coast, first touching +Epirus, then Dalmatia, Liburnia and Histria and at last +the Venetian Isles. But on the west it has swamps +through which a sort of door has been left by a very +narrow entrance. To the north is an arm of the Po, +called the Fossa Asconis. On the south likewise is the 150 +Po itself, which they call the King of the rivers of Italy; +and it has also the name Eridanus. This river was turned +aside by the Emperor Augustus into a very broad canal +which flows through the midst of the city with a seventh +part of its stream, affording a pleasant harbor at its +mouth. Men believed in ancient times, as Dio relates, +that it would hold a fleet of two hundred and fifty vessels +in its safe anchorage. Fabius says that this, which was 151 +once a harbor, now displays itself like a spacious garden +full of trees; but from them hang not sails but apples. +The city itself boasts of three names and is happily placed +in its threefold location. I mean to say the first is called +Ravenna and the most distant part Classis; while midway +between the city and the sea is Caesarea, full of luxury. +The sand of the beach is fine and suited for riding. + +[Sidenote: Honorius 393-423] + +[Sidenote: HONORIUS GRANTS THE GOTHS LANDS IN GAUL AND SPAIN] + +XXX But as I was saying, when the army of the 152 +Visigoths had come into the neighborhood of this city, +they sent an embassy to the Emperor Honorius, who +dwelt within. They said that if he would permit the +Goths to settle peaceably in Italy, they would so live with +the Roman people that men might believe them both to +be of one race; but if not, whoever prevailed in war +should drive out the other, and the victor should henceforth +rule unmolested. But the Emperor Honorius feared +to make either promise. So he took counsel with his +Senate and considered how he might drive them from the +Italian borders. He finally decided that Alaric and his 153 +race, if they were able to do so, should be allowed to +seize for their own home the provinces farthest away, +namely, Gaul and Spain. For at this time he had almost +lost them, and moreover they had been devastated by the +invasion of Gaiseric, king of the Vandals. The grant +was confirmed by an imperial rescript, and the Goths, +consenting to the arrangement, set out for the country +given them. + +[Sidenote: STILICHO'S TREACHEROUS ATTACK 402] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I SACKS ROME A.D. 410] + +When they had gone away without doing any harm 154 +in Italy, Stilicho, the Patrician and father-in-law of +the Emperor Honorius,--for the Emperor had married +both his daughters, Maria and Thermantia, in succession, +but God called both from this world in their virgin +purity--this Stilicho, I say, treacherously hurried +to Pollentia, a city in the Cottian Alps. There he fell +upon the unsuspecting Goths in battle, to the ruin of all +Italy and his own disgrace. When the Goths suddenly 155 +beheld him, at first they were terrified. Soon regaining +their courage and arousing each other by brave shouting, +as is their custom, they turned to flight the entire army +of Stilicho and almost exterminated it. Then forsaking +the journey they had undertaken, the Goths with hearts +full of rage returned again to Liguria whence they +had set out. When they had plundered and spoiled it, +they also laid waste Aemilia, and then hastened toward +the city of Rome along the Flaminian Way, which runs +between Picenum and Tuscia, taking as booty whatever 156 +they found on either hand. When they finally entered +Rome, by Alaric's express command they merely +sacked it and did not set the city on fire, as wild peoples +usually do, nor did they permit serious damage to be done +to the holy places. Thence they departed to bring like +ruin upon Campania and Lucania, and then came to +Bruttii. Here they remained a long time and planned to +go to Sicily and thence to the countries of Africa. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ALARIC I A.D. 410] + +[Sidenote: Athavulf 410-415] + +Now the land of the Bruttii is at the extreme southern +bound of Italy, and a corner of it marks the beginning of +the Apennine mountains. It stretches out like a tongue +into the Adriatic Sea and separates it from the Tyrrhenian +waters. It chanced to receive its name in ancient times +from a Queen Bruttia. To this place came Alaric, king of 157 +Visigoths, with the wealth of all Italy which he had +taken as spoil, and from there, as we have said, he intended +to cross over by way of Sicily to the quiet land of +Africa. But since man is not free to do anything he +wishes without the will of God, that dread strait sunk several +of his ships and threw all into confusion. Alaric was +cast down by his reverse and, while deliberating what he +should do, was suddenly overtaken by an untimely death +and departed from human cares. His people mourned for 158 +him with the utmost affection. Then turning from its +course the river Busentus near the city of Consentia--for +this stream flows with its wholesome waters from the foot +of a mountain near that city--they led a band of captives +into the midst of its bed to dig out a place for his grave. +In the depths of this pit they buried Alaric, together with +many treasures, and then turned the waters back into +their channel. And that none might ever know the place, +they put to death all the diggers. They bestowed the +kingdom of the Visigoths on Athavulf his kinsman, a +man of imposing beauty and great spirit; for though not +tall of stature, he was distinguished for beauty of face +and form. + +[Sidenote: DEEDS OF KING ATHAVULF] + +[Sidenote: Marries Galla Placidia 414] + +[Sidenote: KING SEGERIC 415] + +XXXI When Athavulf became king, he returned 159 +again to Rome, and whatever had escaped the first sack +his Goths stripped bare like locusts, not merely despoiling +Italy of its private wealth, but even of its public +resources. The Emperor Honorius was powerless to +resist even when his sister Placidia, the daughter of the +Emperor Theodosius by his second wife, was led away +captive from the city. But Athavulf was attracted by her 160 +nobility, beauty and chaste purity, and so he took her to +wife in lawful marriage at Forum Julii, a city of Aemilia. +When the barbarians learned of this alliance, they were +the more effectually terrified, since the Empire and the +Goths now seemed to be made one. Then Athavulf set +out for Gaul, leaving Honorius Augustus stripped of his +wealth, to be sure, yet pleased at heart because he was +now a sort of kinsman of his. Upon his arrival the 161 +neighboring tribes who had long made cruel raids into +Gaul,--Franks and Burgundians alike,--were terrified +and began to keep within their own borders. Now the +Vandals and the Alani, as we have said before, had been +dwelling in both Pannonias by permission of the Roman +Emperors. Yet fearing they would not be safe even here +if the Goths should return, they crossed over into Gaul. +But no long time after they had taken possession of Gaul 162 +they fled thence and shut themselves up in Spain, for they +still remembered from the tales of their forefathers what +ruin Geberich, king of the Goths, had long ago brought +on their race, and how by his valor he had driven them +from their native land. And thus it happened that Gaul +lay open to Athavulf when he came. Now when the 163 +Goth had established his kingdom in Gaul, he began to +grieve for the plight of the Spaniards and planned to +save them from the attacks of the Vandals. So Athavulf +left at Barcelona his treasures and the men who were +unfit for war, and entered the interior of Spain with a +few faithful followers. Here he fought frequently with +the Vandals and, in the third year after he had subdued +Gaul and Spain, fell pierced through the groin by the +sword of Euervulf, a man whose short stature he had +been wont to mock. After his death Segeric was appointed +king, but he too was slain by the treachery of his +own men and lost both his kingdom and his life even more +quickly than Athavulf. 164 + +[Sidenote: KING VALIA 415-419] + +XXXII Then Valia, the fourth from Alaric, was +made king, and he was an exceeding stern and prudent +man. The Emperor Honorius sent an army against him +under Constantius, who was famed for his achievements +in war and distinguished in many battles, for he feared +that Valia would break the treaty long ago made with +Athavulf and that, after driving out the neighboring +tribes, he would again plot evil against the Empire. +Moreover Honorius was eager to free his sister Placidia +from the disgrace of servitude, and made an agreement +with Constantius that if by peace or war or any means +soever he could bring her back to the kingdom, he should +have her in marriage. Pleased with this promise, Constantius 165 +set out for Spain with an armed force and in +almost royal splendor. Valia, king of the Goths, met him +at a pass in the Pyrenees with as great a force. Here-upon +embassies were sent by both sides and it was decided +to make peace on the following terms, namely that Valia +should give up Placidia, the Emperor's sister, and should +not refuse to aid the Roman Empire when occasion +demanded. + +[Sidenote: Constantine III 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Constans 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Jovinus 411-413] + +[Sidenote: Sebastian 412] + +Now at that time a certain Constantine usurped imperial +power in Gaul and appointed as Caesar his son Constans, +who was formerly a monk. But when he had held +for a short time the Empire he had seized, he was himself +slain at Arelate and his son at Vienne. Jovinus and +Sebastian succeeded them with equal presumption and +thought they might seize the imperial power; but they +perished by a like fate. + +[Sidenote: VALIA MOVES AGAINST THE VANDALS 427] + +Now in the twelfth year of Valia's reign the Huns 166 +were driven out of Pannonia by the Romans and Goths, +almost fifty years after they had taken possession of it. +Then Valia found that the Vandals had come forth with +bold audacity from the interior of Galicia, whither Athavulf +had long ago driven them, and were devastating and +plundering everywhere in his own territories, namely in +the land of Spain. So he made no delay but moved his +army against them at once, at about the time when Hierius +and Ardabures had become consuls. + +[Sidenote: VALENTINIAN III 425-455] + +[Sidenote: THE VANDALS AND GAISERIC THEIR KING 427-477] + +XXXIII But Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, had already 167 +been invited into Africa by Boniface, who had +fallen into a dispute with the Emperor Valentinian and +was able to obtain revenge only by injuring the empire. +So he invited them urgently and brought them across the +narrow strait known as the Strait of Gades, scarcely seven +miles wide, which divides Africa from Spain and unites +the mouth of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the waters of +Ocean. Gaiseric, still famous in the City for the disaster 168 +of the Romans, was a man of moderate height and lame +in consequence of a fall from his horse. He was a man +of deep thought and few words, holding luxury in disdain, +furious in his anger, greedy for gain, shrewd in +winning over the barbarians and skilled in sowing the +seeds of dissension to arouse enmity. Such was he who, 169 +as we have said, came at the solicitous invitation of Boniface +to the country of Africa. There he reigned for a +long time, receiving authority, as they say, from God +Himself. Before his death he summoned the band of his +sons and ordained that there should be no strife among +them because of desire for the kingdom, but that each +should reign in his own rank and order as he survived +the others; that is, the next younger should succeed his +elder brother, and he in turn should be followed by his +junior. By giving heed to this command they ruled their +kingdom in happiness for the space of many years and +were not disgraced by civil war, as is usual among other +nations; one after the other receiving the kingdom and +ruling the people in peace. + +[Sidenote: The six kings of the Vandals 427-534] + +[Sidenote: KINGDOM OF THE VANDALS MADE SUBJECT TO ROME] + +Now this is their order of succession: first, Gaiseric 170 +who was father and lord, next, Huneric, the third +Gunthamund, the fourth Thrasamund, and the fifth +Ilderich. He was driven from the throne and slain +by Gelimer, who destroyed his race by disregarding +his ancestor's advice and setting up a tyranny. But 171 +what he had done did not remain unpunished, for soon +the vengeance of the Emperor Justinian was manifested +against him. With his whole family and that +wealth over which he gloated like a robber, he was taken +to Constantinople by that most renowned warrior Belisarius, +Master of the Soldiery of the East, Ex-Consul +Ordinary and Patrician. Here he afforded a great spectacle +to the people in the Circus. His repentance, when +he beheld himself cast down from his royal state, came +too late. He died as a mere subject and in retirement, +though he had formerly been unwilling to submit to private 172 +life. Thus after a century Africa, which in the +division of the earth's surface is regarded as the third +part of the world, was delivered from the yoke of the +Vandals and brought back to the liberty of the Roman +Empire. The country which the hand of the heathen had +long ago cut off from the body of the Roman Empire, +by reason of the cowardice of emperors and the treachery +of generals, was now restored by a wise prince and a +faithful leader and to-day is happily flourishing. And +though, even after this, it had to deplore the misery of +civil war and the treachery of the Moors, yet the triumph +of the Emperor Justinian, vouchsafed him by God. +brought to a peaceful conclusion what he had begun. But +why need we speak of what the subject does not require? +Let us return to our theme. + +[Sidenote: MIGRATION or THE AMALI TO THE VISIGOTHS] + +[Sidenote: THEODORID I 419-451] + +Now Valia, king of the Goths, and his army fought so 173 +fiercely against the Vandals that he would have pursued +them even into Africa, had not such a misfortune recalled +him as befell Alaric when he was setting out for Africa. +So when he had won great fame in Spain, he returned +after a bloodless victory to Tolosa, turning over to the +Roman Empire, as he had promised, a number of provinces +which he had rid of his foes. A long time after this +he was seized by sickness and departed this life. Just at 174 +that time Beremud, the son of Thorismud, whom we have +mentioned above in the genealogy of the family of the +Amali, departed with his son Veteric from the Ostrogoths, +who still submitted to the oppression of the Huns +in the land of Scythia, and came to the kingdom of the +Visigoths. Well aware of his valor and noble birth, he +believed that the kingdom would be the more readily +bestowed upon him by his kinsmen, inasmuch as he was +known to be the heir of many kings. And who would +hesitate to choose one of the Amali, if there were an empty +throne? But he was not himself eager to make known +who he was, and so upon the death of Valia the Visigoths +made Theodorid his successor. Beremud came to 175 +him and, with the strength of mind for which he was +noted, concealed his noble birth by prudent silence, for he +knew that those of royal lineage are always distrusted by +kings. So he suffered himself to remain unknown, that +he might not bring the established order into confusion. +King Theodorid received him and his son with special +honor and made him partner in his counsels and a companion +at his board; not for his noble birth, which he +knew not, but for his brave spirit and strong mind, which +Beremud could not conceal. + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Theodosius 439] + +[Sidenote: FIRST BREACH BETWEEN THEODORID I AND THE ROMANS] + +[Sidenote: The Truce 439] + +XXXIV And what more? Valia (to repeat what we 176 +have said) had but little success against the Gauls, but +when he died the more fortunate and prosperous Theodorid +succeeded to the throne. He was a man of the +greatest moderation and notable for vigor of mind and +body. In consulship of Theodosius and Festus the +Romans broke the truce and took up arms against him in +Gaul, with the Huns as their auxiliaries. For a band of +the Gallic Allies, led by Count Gaina, had aroused the +Romans by throwing Constantinople into a panic. Now +at that time the Patrician Aëtius was in command of the +army. He was of the bravest Moesian stock, born of his +father Gaudentius in the city of Durostorum. He was a man +fitted to endure the toils of war, born expressly to +serve the Roman state; and by inflicting crushing defeats +he had compelled the proud Suavi and barbarous Franks +to submit to Roman sway. So then, with the Huns as 177 +allies under their leader Litorius, the Roman army +moved in array against the Goths. When the battle +lines of both sides had been standing for a long time +opposite each other, both being brave and neither side the +weaker, they struck a truce and returned to their ancient +alliance. And after the treaty had been confirmed by +both and an honest peace was established, they both withdrew. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Attila 448] + +During this peace Attila was lord over all the Huns 178 +and almost the sole earthly ruler of all the tribes of +Scythia; a man marvellous for his glorious fame among +all nations. The historian Priscus, who was sent to him +on an embassy by the younger Theodosius, says this +among other things: "Crossing mighty rivers--namely, +the Tisia and Tibisia and Dricca--we came to the place +where long ago Vidigoia, bravest of the Goths, perished +by the guile of the Sarmatians. At no great distance +from that place we arrived at the village where King +Attila was dwelling,--a village, I say, like a great city +in which we found wooden walls made of smooth-shining +boards, whose joints so counterfeited solidity that the +union of the boards could scarcely be distinguished by +close scrutiny. There you might see dining halls of 179 +large extent and porticoes planned with great beauty, +while the courtyard was bounded by so vast a circuit that +its very size showed it was the royal palace." This was +the abode of Attila, the king of all the barbarian world; +and he preferred this as a dwelling to the cities he +captured. + +[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF ATTILA KING OF THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Attila and Bleda joint kings 433-445] + +[Sidenote: Attila sole king 445-453] + +XXXV Now this Attila was the son of Mundiuch, 180 +and his brothers were Octar and Ruas who are said to +have ruled before Attila, though not over quite so many +tribes as he. After their death he succeeded to the throne +of the Huns, together with his brother Bleda. In order +that he might first be equal to the expedition he was +preparing, he sought to increase his strength by murder. +Thus he proceeded from the destruction of his own kindred +to the menace of all others. But though he increased 181 +his power by this shameful means, yet by the balance of +justice he received the hideous consequences of his own +cruelty. Now when his brother Bleda, who ruled over +a great part of the Huns, had been slain by his treachery, +Attila united all the people under his own rule. Gathering +also a host of the other tribes which he then held +under his sway, he sought to subdue the foremost nations +of the world--the Romans and the Visigoths. His army 182 +is said to have numbered five hundred thousand men. +He was a man born into the world to shake the nations, +the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all +mankind by the dreadful rumors noised abroad concerning +him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes +hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit +appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed +a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in counsel, +gracious to suppliants and lenient to those who were +once received into his protection. He was short of stature +with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were +small, his beard thin and sprinkled with gray; and he had +a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, showing the evidences +of his origin. And though his temper was such 183 +that he always had great self-confidence, yet his assurance +was increased by finding the sword of Mars, always +esteemed sacred among the kings of the Scythians. The +historian Priscus says it was discovered under the following +circumstances: "When a certain shepherd beheld +one heifer of his flock limping and could find no cause +for this wound, he anxiously followed the trail of blood +and at length came to a sword it had unwittingly trampled +while nibbling the grass. He dug it up and took it +straight to Attila. He rejoiced at this gift and, being +ambitious, thought he had been appointed ruler of the +whole world, and that through the sword of Mars supremacy +in all wars was assured to him." + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC INCITES HIM TO WAR WITH THE GOTHS] + +XXXVI Now when Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, 184 +whom we mentioned shortly before, learned that his mind +was bent on the devastation of the world, he incited +Attila by many gifts to make war on the Visigoths, for +he was afraid that Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, +would avenge the injury done to his daughter. She had +been joined in wedlock with Huneric, the son of Gaiseric, +and at first was happy in this union. But afterwards he +was cruel even to his own children, and because of the +mere suspicion that she was attempting to poison him, he +cut off her nose and mutilated her ears. He sent her +back to her father in Gaul thus despoiled of her natural +charms. So the wretched girl presented a pitiable aspect +ever after, and the cruelty which would stir even strangers +still more surely incited her father to vengeance. +Attila, therefore, in his efforts to bring about the wars 185 +long ago instigated by the bribe of Gaiseric, sent ambassadors +into Italy to the Emperor Valentinian to sow +strife between the Goths and the Romans, thinking to +shatter by civil discord those whom he could not crush +in battle. He declared that he was in no way violating +his friendly relations with the Empire, but that he had a +quarrel with Theodorid, king of the Visigoths. As he +wished to be kindly received, he had filled the rest of the +letter with the visual flattering salutations, striving to win +credence for his falsehood. In like manner he despatched 186 +a message to Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, urging +him to break his alliance with the Romans and reminding +him of the battles to which they had recently provoked +him. Beneath his great ferocity he was a subtle man, +and fought with craft before he made war. + +[Sidenote: LEAGUE OF THE VISIGOTHS AND ROMANS AGAINST ATTILA 451] + +Then the Emperor Valentinian sent an embassy to the +Visigoths and their king Theodorid, with this message: +"Bravest of nations, it is the part of prudence for us to 187 +unite against the lord of the earth who wishes to enslave +the whole world; who requires no just cause for battle, +but supposes whatever he does is right. He measures +his ambition by his might. License satisfies his pride. +Despising law and right, he shows himself an enemy to +Nature herself. And thus he, who clearly is the common +foe of each, deserves the hatred of all. Pray remember--what 188 +you surely cannot forget--that the Huns do not +overthrow nations by means of war, where there is an +equal chance, but assail them by treachery, which is a +greater cause for anxiety. To say nothing about ourselves, +can you suffer such insolence to go unpunished? +Since you are mighty in arms, give heed to your own +danger and join hands with us in common. Bear aid +also to the Empire, of which you hold a part. If you +would learn how needful such an alliance is for us, look +into the plans of the foe." + +[Sidenote: THE FORCES OF THE ALLIES] + +By these and like arguments the ambassadors of Valentinian 189 +prevailed upon King Theodorid. He answered +them, saying "Romans, you have attained your desire; +you have made Attila our foe also. We will pursue +him wherever he summons us, and though he is puffed +up by his victories over divers races, yet the Goths know +how to fight this haughty foe. I call no war dangerous +save one whose cause is weak; for he fears no ill on +whom Majesty has smiled." The nobles shouted assent 190 +to the reply and the multitude gladly followed. All were +fierce for battle and longed to meet the Huns, their foe. +And so a countless host was led forth by Theodorid, king +of the Visigoths, who sent home four of his sons, namely +Friderich and Eurich, Retemer and Himnerith, taking +with him only the two elder sons, Thorismud and Theodorid, +as partners of his toil. O brave array, sure defense +and sweet comradeship! having as its solace the +peril of those whose one joy is the endurance of the same +dangers. + +On the side of the Romans stood the Patrician Aëtius, 191 +on whom at that time the whole Empire of the West depended; +a man of such wisdom that he had assembled +warriors from everywhere to meet them on equal terms. +Now these were his auxiliaries: Franks, Sarmatians, +Armoricians, Liticians, Burgundians, Saxons, Riparians +Olibriones (once Roman soldiers and now the flower of +the allied forces), and some other Celtic or German tribes. +And so they met in the Catalaunian Plains, which are 192 +also called Mauriacian, extending in length one hundred +_leuva_, as the Gauls express it, and seventy in width. Now +a Gallic _leuva_ measures a distance of fifteen hundred +paces. That portion of the earth accordingly became +the threshing-floor of countless races. The two hosts +bravely joined battle. Nothing was done under cover, +but they contended in open fight. What just cause can 193 +be found for the encounter of so many nations, or what +hatred inspired them all to take arms against each other? +It is proof that the human race lives for its kings, for it is +at the mad impulse of one mind a slaughter of nations +takes place, and at the whim of a haughty ruler that +which nature has taken ages to produce perishes in a +moment. + +[Sidenote: THE BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE] + +XXXVII But before we set forth the order of the 194 +battle itself, it seems needful to relate what had already +happened in the course of the campaign, for it was not +only a famous struggle but one that was complicated and +confused. Well then, Sangiban, king of the Alani, smitten +with fear of what might come to pass, had promised +to surrender to Attila, and to give into his keeping Aureliani, +a city of Gaul wherein he then dwelt. When Theodorid 195 +and Aëtius learned of this, they cast up great earthworks +around that city before Attila's arrival and kept +watch over the suspected Sangiban, placing him with his +tribe in the midst of their auxiliaries. Then Attila, king +of the Huns, was taken aback by this event and lost confidence +in his own troops, so that he feared to begin the +conflict. While he was meditating on flight--a greater +calamity than death itself--he decided to inquire into the +future through soothsayers. So, as was their custom, 196 +they examined the entrails of cattle and certain streaks in +bones that had been scraped, and foretold disaster to the +Huns. Yet as a slight consolation they prophesied that +the chief commander of the foe they were to meet should +fall and mar by his death the rest of the victory and the +triumph. Now Attila deemed the death of Aëtius a thing +to be desired even at the cost of his own life, for Aëtius +stood in the way of his plans. So although he was disturbed +by this prophecy, yet inasmuch as he was a man +who sought counsel of omens in all warfare, he began +the battle with anxious heart at about the ninth hour of +the day, in order that the impending darkness might come +to his aid if the outcome should be disastrous. + +[Sidenote: BATTLE OF THE CATALAUNIAN PLAINS A.D. 451] + +XXXVIII The armies met, as we have said, in the 197 +Catalaunian Plains. The battle field was a plain rising +by a sharp slope to a ridge, which both armies sought to +gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The +Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans, +the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a +struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodorid with +the Visigoths held the right wing and Aëtius with the +Romans the left. They placed in the centre Sangiban +(who, as said before, was in command of the Alani), +thus contriving with military caution to surround by a +host of faithful troops the man in whose loyalty they had +little confidence. For one who has difficulties placed in +the way of his flight readily submits to the necessity of 198 +fighting. On the other side, however, the battle line of +the Huns was so arranged that Attila and his bravest +followers were stationed in the centre. In arranging +them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view, +since by his position in the very midst of his race he +would be kept out of the way of threatening danger. +The innumerable peoples of divers tribes, which he had +subjected to his sway, formed the wings. Amid them 199 +was conspicuous the army of the Ostrogoths under the +leadership of the brothers Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidimer, +nobler even than the king they served, for the might +of the family of the Amali rendered them glorious. The +renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also +with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to +Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them +in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostrogoths, +above all the other chieftains. Valamir was a 200 +good keeper of secrets, bland of speech and skilled in +wiles, and Ardaric, as we have said, was famed for his +loyalty and wisdom. Attila might well feel sure that +they would fight against the Visigoths, their kinsmen. +Now the rest of the crowd of kings (if we may call them +so) and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila's +nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance, +without a murmur each stood forth in fear and trembling, +or at all events did as he was bid. Attila alone was 201 +king of all kings over all and concerned for all. + +So then the struggle began for the advantage of position +we have mentioned. Attila sent his men to take the +summit of the mountain, but was outstripped by Thorismud +and Aëtius, who in their effort to gain the top of the +hill reached higher ground and through this advantage +of position easily routed the Huns as they came up. + +[Sidenote: ATTILA ADDRESSES HIS MEN] + +XXXIX Now when Attila saw his army was thrown 202 +into confusion by this event, he thought it best to encourage +them by an extemporaneous address on this wise: +"Here you stand, after conquering mighty nations and +subduing the world. I therefore think it foolish for me +to goad you with words, as though you were men who +had not been proved in action. Let a new leader or an +untried army resort to that. It is not right for me to 203 +say anything common, nor ought you to listen. For what +is war but your usual custom? Or what is sweeter for a +brave man than to seek revenge with his own hand? It +is a right of nature to glut the soul with vengeance. Let 204 +us then attack the foe eagerly; for they are ever the +bolder who make the attack. Despise this union of discordant +races! To defend oneself by alliance is proof of +cowardice. See, even before our attack they are smitten +with terror. They seek the heights, they seize the hills +and, repenting too late, clamor for protection against +battle in the open fields. You know how slight a matter +the Roman attack is. While they are still gathering in +order and forming in one line with locked shields, they +are checked, I will not say by the first wound, but even +by the dust of battle. Then on to the fray with stout 205 +hearts, as is your wont. Despise their battle line. Attack +the Alani, smite the Visigoths! Seek swift victory in +that spot where the battle rages. For when the sinews +are cut the limbs soon relax, nor can a body stand when +you have taken away the bones. Let your courage rise +and your own fury burst forth! Now show your cunning, +Huns, now your deeds of arms! Let the wounded +exact in return the death of his foe; let the unwounded 206 +revel in slaughter of the enemy. No spear shall harm +those who are sure to live; and those who are sure to die +Fate overtakes even in peace. And finally, why should +fortune have made the Huns victorious over so many +nations, unless it were to prepare them for the joy of +this conflict. Who was it revealed to our sires the +path through the Maeotian swamp, for so many ages +closed secret? Who, moreover, made armed men yield +to you, when you were as yet unarmed? Even a mass of +federated nations could not endure the sight of the Huns. +I am not deceived in the issue;--here is the field so many +victories have promised us. I shall hurl the first spear +at the foe. If any can stand at rest while Attila fights, +he is a dead man." Inflamed by these words, they all +dashed into battle. + +[Sidenote: FIERCE FIGHTING] + +XL And although the situation was itself fearful, yet 207 +the presence of their king dispelled anxiety and hesitation. +Hand to hand they clashed in battle, and the fight +grew fierce, confused, monstrous, unrelenting--a fight +whose like no ancient time has ever recorded. There such +deeds were done that a brave man who missed this marvellous +spectacle could not hope to see anything so wonderful +all his life long. For, if we may believe our 208 +elders, a brook flowing between low banks through the +plain was greatly increased by blood from the wounds +of the slain. It was not flooded by showers, as brooks +usually rise, but was swollen by a strange stream and +turned into a torrent by the increase of blood. Those +whose wounds drove them to slake their parching thirst +drank water mingled with gore. In their wretched plight +they were forced to drink what they thought was the +blood they had poured from their own wounds. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING THEODORID I IN THE BATTLE] + +Here King Theodorid, while riding by to encourage 209 +his army, was thrown from his horse and trampled under +foot by his own men, thus ending his days at a ripe old +age. But others say he was slain by the spear of Andag +of the host of the Ostrogoths, who were then under the +sway of Attila. This was what the soothsayers had told +to Attila in prophecy, though he understood it of Aëtius. +Then the Visigoths, separating from the Alani, fell upon 210 +the horde of the Huns and nearly slew Attila. But he +prudently took flight and straightway shut himself and +his companions within the barriers of the camp, which +he had fortified with wagons. A frail defence indeed; +yet there they sought refuge for their lives, whom but a +little while before no walls of earth could withstand. +But Thorismud, the son of King Theodorid, who with 211 +Aëtius had seized the hill and repulsed the enemy from +the higher ground, came unwittingly to the wagons of +the enemy in the darkness of night, thinking he had +reached his own lines. As he was fighting bravely, someone +wounded him in the head and dragged him from his +horse. Then he was rescued by the watchful care of his +followers and withdrew from the fierce conflict. Aëtius 212 +also became separated from his men in the confusion of +night and wandered about in the midst of the enemy. +Fearing disaster had happened, he went about in search +of the Goths. At last he reached the camp of his allies +and passed the remainder of the night in the protection +of their shields. + +At dawn on the following day, when the Romans +saw the fields were piled high with bodies and that +the Huns did not venture forth, they thought the victory +was theirs, but knew that Attila would not flee from +the battle unless overwhelmed by a great disaster. Yet +he did nothing cowardly, like one that is overcome, but +with clash of arms sounded the trumpets and threatened +an attack. He was like a lion pierced by hunting +spears, who paces to and fro before the mouth of his +den and dares not spring, but ceases not to terrify the +neighborhood by his roaring. Even so this warlike king +at bay terrified his conquerors. Therefore the Goths and 213 +Romans assembled and considered what to do with the +vanquished Attila. They determined to wear him out by +a siege, because he had no supply of provisions and was +hindered from approaching by a shower of arrows from +the bowmen placed within the confines of the Roman +camp. But it was said that the king remained supremely +brave even in this extremity and had heaped up a funeral +pyre of horse trappings, so that if the enemy should attack +him, he was determined to cast himself into the +flames, that none might have the joy of wounding him +and that the lord of so many races might not fall into +the hands of his foes. + +[Sidenote: RESULTS OF THE BATTLE] + +XLI Now during these delays in the siege, the Visigoths 214 +sought their king and the king's sons their father, +wondering at his absence when success had been attained. +When, after a long search, they found him where the +dead lay thickest, as happens with brave men, they honored +him with songs and bore him away in the sight of +the enemy. You might have seen bands of Goths shouting +with dissonant cries and paying the honors of death +while the battle still raged. Tears were shed, but such +as they were accustomed to devote to brave men. It was +death indeed, but the Huns are witness that it was a +glorious one. It was a death whereby one might well +suppose the pride of the enemy would be lowered, when +they beheld the body of so great a king borne forth with +fitting honors. And so the Goths, still continuing the 215 +rites due to Theodorid, bore forth the royal majesty with +sounding arms, and valiant Thorismud, as befitted a son, +honored the glorious spirit of his dear father by following +his remains. + +When this was done, Thorismud was eager to take +vengeance for his father's death on the remaining Huns, +being moved to this both by the pain of bereavement and +the impulse of that valor for which he was noted. Yet +he consulted with the Patrician Aëtius (for he was an +older man and of more mature wisdom) with regard to +what he ought to do next. But Aëtius feared that if the 216 +Huns were totally destroyed by the Goths, the Roman +Empire would be overwhelmed, and urgently advised him +to return to his own dominions to take up the rule which +his father had left. Otherwise his brothers might seize +their father's possessions and obtain the power over the +Visigoths. In this case Thorismud would have to fight +fiercely and, what is worse, disastrously with his own +countrymen. Thorismud accepted the advice without +perceiving its double meaning, but followed it with an +eye toward his own advantage. So he left the Huns and +returned to Gaul. Thus while human frailty rushes into 217 +suspicion, it often loses an opportunity of doing great +things. + +In this most famous war of the bravest tribes, one hundred +and sixty five thousand are said to have been slain on +both sides, leaving out of account fifteen thousand of the +Gepidae and Franks, who met each other the night before +the general engagement and fell by wounds mutually received, +the Franks fighting for the Romans and the Gepidae +for the Huns. + +Now when Attila learned of the retreat of the Goths, 218 +he thought it a ruse of the enemy,--for so men are wont +to believe when the unexpected happens--and remained +for some time in his camp. But when a long silence followed +the absence of the foe, the spirit of the mighty +king was aroused to the thought of victory and the anticipation +of pleasure, and his mind turned to the old oracles +of his destiny. + +[Sidenote: THORISMUD 451-453] + +Thorismud, however, after the death of his father on +the Catalaunian Plains where he had fought, advanced in +royal state and entered Tolosa. Here although the throng +of his brothers and brave companions were still rejoicing +over the victory he yet began to rule so mildly that no one +strove with him for the succession to the kingdom. + +[Sidenote: THE SIEGE AND FALL OF AQUILEIA 452] + +XLII But Attila took occasion from the withdrawal 219 +of the Visigoths, observing what he had often desired +that his enemies were divided. At length feeling secure, +he moved forward his array to attack the Romans. As +his first move he besieged the city of Aquileia, the metropolis +of Venetia, which is situated on a point or tongue +of land by the Adriatic Sea. On the eastern side its walls +are washed by the river Natissa, flowing from Mount +Piccis. The siege was long and fierce, but of no avail, 220 +since the bravest soldiers of the Romans withstood him +from within. At last his army was discontented and +eager to withdraw. Attila chanced to be walking around +the walls, considering whether to break camp or delay +longer, and noticed that the white birds, namely, the +storks, who build their nests in the gables of houses, were +bearing their young from the city and, contrary to their +custom, were carrying them out into the country. Being 221 +a shrewd observer of events, he understood this and said +to his soldiers: "You see the birds foresee the future. +They are leaving the city sure to perish and are forsaking +strongholds doomed to fall by reason of imminent peril. +Do not think this a meaningless or uncertain sign; fear, +arising from the things they foresee, has changed their +custom." Why say more? He inflamed the hearts of +his soldiers to attack Aquileia again. Constructing battering +rams and bringing to bear all manner of engines +of war, they quickly forced their way into the city, laid it +waste, divided the spoil and so cruelly devastated it as +scarcely to leave a trace to be seen. Then growing bolder 222 +and still thirsting for Roman blood, the Huns raged +madly through the remaining cities of the Veneti. They +also laid waste Mediolanum, the metropolis of Liguria, +once an imperial city, and gave over Ticinum to a like +fate. Then they destroyed the neighboring country in +their frenzy and demolished almost the whole of Italy. + +[Sidenote: POPE LEO INTERVENES TO SAVE ROME 452] + +Attila's mind had been bent on going to Rome. But +his followers, as the historian Priscus relates, took him +away, not out of regard for the city to which they were +hostile, but because they remembered the case of Alaric, +the former king of the Visigoths. They distrusted the +good fortune of their own king, inasmuch as Alaric did +not live long after the sack of Rome, but straightway +departed this life. Therefore while Attila's spirit was 223 +wavering in doubt between going and not going, and he +still lingered to ponder the matter, an embassy came to +him from Rome to seek peace. Pope Leo himself came +to meet him in the Ambuleian district of the Veneti at the +well-travelled ford of the river Mincius. Then Attila +quickly put aside his usual fury, turned back on the way +he had advanced from beyond the Danube and departed +with the promise of peace. But above all he declared and +avowed with threats that he would bring worse things +upon Italy, unless they sent him Honoria, the sister of the +Emperor Valentinian and daughter of Augusta Placidia, +with her due share of the royal wealth. For it was said 224 +that Honoria, although bound to chastity for the honor +of the imperial court and kept in constraint by command +of her brother, had secretly despatched a eunuch to summon +Attila that she might have his protection against he +brother's power;--a shameful thing, indeed, to get license +for her passion at the cost of the public weal. + +[Sidenote: MARCIAN 450-457] + +[Sidenote: ATTILA DEFEATED BY THORISMUD] + +XLIII So Attila returned to his own country, seeming 225 +to regret the peace and to be vexed at the cessation of +war. For he sent ambassadors to Marcian, Emperor of +the East, threatening to devastate the provinces, because +that which had been promised him by Theodosius, a former +emperor, was in no wise performed, and saying that +he would show himself more cruel to his foes than ever. +But as he was shrewd and crafty, he threatened in one +direction and moved his army in another; for in the +midst of these preparations he turned his face toward the +Visigoths who had yet to feel his vengeance. But here 226 +he had not the same success as against the Romans. +Hastening back by a different way than before, he decided +to reduce to his sway that part of the Alani which +was settled across the river Loire, in order that by attacking +them, and thus changing the aspect of the war, he +might become a more terrible menace to the Visigoths. +Accordingly he started from the provinces of Dacia and +Pannonia, where the Huns were then dwelling with various +subject peoples, and moved his array against the +Alani. But Thorismud, king of the Visigoths, with like 227 +quickness of thought perceived Attila's trick. By forced +marches he came to the Alani before him, and was well +prepared to check the advance of Attila when he came +after him. They joined battle in almost the same way as +before at the Catalaunian Plains, and Thorismud dashed +his hopes of victory, for he routed him and drove him +from the land without a triumph, compelling him to flee +to his own country. Thus while Attila, the famous leader +and lord of many victories, sought to blot out the fame +of his destroyer and in this way to annul what he had +suffered at the hands of the Visigoths, he met a second +defeat and retreated ingloriously. Now after the bands 228 +of the Huns had been repulsed by the Alani, without any +hurt to his own men, Thorismud departed for Tolosa. +There he established a settled peace for his people and in +the third year of his reign fell sick. While letting blood +from a vein, he was betrayed to his death by Ascalc, a +client, who told his foes that his weapons were out of +reach. Yet grasping a foot-stool in the one hand he had +free, he became the avenger of his own blood by slaying +several of those that were lying in wait for him. + +[Sidenote: THE REIGN OF KING THEODORID II 453-466] + +[Sidenote: Battle near the Ulbius 456] + +XLIV After his death, his brother Theodorid succeeded 229 +to the kingdom of the Visigoths and soon found +that Riciarius his kinsman, the king of the Suavi, was +hostile to him. For Riciarius, presuming on his relationship +to Theodorid, believed that he might seize almost the +whole of Spain, thinking the disturbed beginning of +Theodorid's reign made the time opportune for his trick. +The Suavi formerly occupied as their country Galicia and 230 +Lusitania, which extend on the right side of Spain along +the shore of Ocean. To the east is Austrogonia, to the +west, on a promontory, is the sacred Monument of the +Roman general Scipio, to the north Ocean, and to the +south Lusitania and the Tagus river, which mingles +golden grains in its sands and thus carries wealth in its +worthless mud. So then Riciarius, king of the Suavi, set +forth and strove to seize the whole of Spain. Theodorid, 231 +his kinsman, a man of moderation, sent ambassadors to +him and told him quietly that he must not only withdraw +from the territories that were not his own, but furthermore +that he should not presume to make such an attempt, +as he was becoming hated for his ambition. But with +arrogant spirit he replied: "If you murmur here and +find fault with my coming, I shall come to Tolosa where +you dwell. Resist me there, if you can." When he heard +this, Theodorid was angry and, making a compact with +all the other tribes, moved his array against the Suavi. +He had as his close allies Gundiuch and Hilperic, kings +of the Burgundians. They came to battle near the river 232 +Ulbius, which flows between Asturica and Hiberia, and +in the engagement Theodorid with the Visigoths, who +fought for the right, came off victorious, overthrowing +the entire tribe of the Suavi and almost exterminating +them. Their king Riciarius fled from the dread foe and +embarked upon a ship. But he was beaten back by another +foe, the adverse wind of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and +so fell into the hands of the Visigoths. Thus though +he changed from sea to land, the wretched man did not +avert his death. + +When Theodorid had become the victor, he spared the 233 +conquered and did not suffer the rage of conflict to continue, +but placed over the Suavi whom he had conquered +one of his own retainers, named Agrivulf. But Agrivulf +soon treacherously changed his mind, through the persuasion +of the Suavi, and failed to fulfil his duty. For +he was quite puffed up with tyrannical pride, believing +he had obtained the province as a reward for the valor +by which he and his lord had recently subjugated it. Now +he was a man born of the stock of the Varni, far below +the nobility of Gothic blood, and so was neither zealous +for liberty nor faithful toward his patron. As soon as 234 +Theodorid heard of this, he gathered a force to cast him +out from the kingdom he had usurped. They came +quickly and conquered him in the first battle, inflicting a +punishment befitting his deeds. For he was captured, +taken from his friends and beheaded. Thus at last he +was made aware of the wrath of the master he thought +might be despised because he was kind. Now when the +Suavi beheld the death of their leader, they sent priests +of their country to Theodorid as suppliants. He received +them with the reverence due their office and not only +granted the Suavi exemption from punishment, but was +moved by compassion and allowed them to choose a ruler +of their own race for themselves. The Suavi did so, +taking Rimismund as their prince. When this was done +and peace was everywhere assured, Theodorid died in +the thirteenth year of his reign. + +[Sidenote: KING EURICH 66-485] + +[Sidenote: THE WESTERN EMPIRE FROM THE DEATH OF VALENTINIAN III TO +ROMULUS AUGUSTULUS] + +[Sidenote: Maximus 455] + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC SACKS ROME 455] + +[Sidenote: Majorian 457-461] + +[Sidenote: Livius Severus 461-465] + +[Sidenote: Leo I 457-474] + +[Sidenote: Anthemius 467-472] + +XLV His brother Eurich succeeded him with such 235 +eager haste that he fell under dark suspicion. Now while +these and various other matters were happening among +the people of the Visigoths, the Emperor Valentinian was +slain by the treachery of Maximus, and Maximus himself, +like a tyrant, usurped the rule. Gaiseric, king of the +Vandals, heard of this and came from Africa to Italy +with ships of war, entered Rome and laid it waste. +Maximus fled and was slain by a certain Ursus, a Roman +soldier. After him Majorian undertook the government 236 +of the Western Empire at the bidding of Marcian, Emperor +of the East. But he too ruled but a short time. +For when he had moved his forces against the Alani who +were harassing Gaul, he was killed at Dertona near the +river named Ira. Severus succeeded him and died at +Rome in the third year of his reign. When the Emperor +Leo, who had succeeded Marcian in the Eastern Empire, +learned of this, he chose as emperor his Patrician Anthemius +and sent him to Rome. Upon his arrival he sent +against the Alani his son-in-law Ricimer, who was an +excellent man and almost the only one in Italy at that +time fit to command the army. In the very first engagement +he conquered and destroyed the host of the Alani, +together with their king, Beorg. + +[Sidenote: Olybrius 472] + +Now Eurich, king of the Visigoths, perceived the frequent 237 +change of Roman Emperors and strove to hold +Gaul by his own right. The Emperor Anthemius heard +of it and asked the Brittones for aid. Their King +Riotimus came with twelve thousand men into the state +of the Bituriges by the way of Ocean, and was received +as he disembarked from his ships. Eurich, king of the 238 +Visigoths, came against them with an innumerable army, +and after a long fight he routed Riotimus, king of the +Brittones, before the Romans could join him. So when +he had lost a great part of his army, he fled with all the +men he could gather together, and came to the Burgundians, +a neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But +Eurich, king of the Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of +Arverna; for the Emperor Anthemius was now dead. +Engaged in fierce war with his son-in-law Ricimer, he 239 +had worn out Rome and was himself finally slain by his +son-in-law and yielded the rule to Olybrius. + +[Sidenote: Glycerius 473] + +[Sidenote: Nepos 474] + +At that time Aspar, first of the Patricians and a famous +man of the Gothic race was wounded by the swords of +the eunuchs in his palace at Constantinople and died. +With him were slain his sons Ardabures and Patriciolus, +the one long a Patrician, and the other styled a Caesar +and son-in-law of the Emperor Leo. Now Olybrius died +barely eight months after he had entered upon his reign, +and Glycerius was made Caesar at Ravenna, rather by +usurpation than by election. Hardly had a year been +ended when Nepos, the son of the sister of Marcellinus, +once a Patrician, deposed him from his office and ordained +him bishop at the Port of Rome. + +[Sidenote: Romulus Augustulus 476] + +When Eurich, as we have already said, beheld these 240 +great and various changes, he seized the city of Arverna, +where the Roman general Ecdicius was at that time in +command. He was a senator of most renowned family +and the son of Avitus, a recent emperor who had usurped +the reign for a few days--for Avitus held the rule for a +few days before Olybrius, and then withdrew of his own +accord to Placentia, where he was ordained bishop. His +son Ecdicius strove for a long time with the Visigoths, +but had not the power to prevail. So he left the country +and (what was more important) the city of Arverna to +the enemy and betook himself to safer regions. When 241 +the Emperor Nepos heard of this, he ordered Ecdicius +to leave Gaul and come to him, appointing Orestes in his +stead as Master of the Soldiery. This Orestes thereupon +received the army, set out from Rome against the +enemy and came to Ravenna. Here he tarried while he +made his son Romulus Augustulus emperor. When +Nepos learned of this, he fled to Dalmatia and died there, +deprived of his throne, in the very place where Glycerius, +who was formerly emperor, held at that time the bishopric +of Salona. + +[Sidenote: THE RULE OF ODOACER 476-493] + +[Sidenote: Death of Bracila 477] + +XLVI Now when Augustulus had been appointed 242 +Emperor by his father Orestes in Ravenna, it was not +long before Odoacer, king of the Torcilingi, invaded +Italy, as leader of the Sciri, the Heruli and allies of +various races. He put Orestes to death, drove his son +Augustulus from the throne and condemned him to the +punishment of exile in the Castle of Lucullus in Campania. +Thus the Western Empire of the Roman race, which 243 +Octavianus Augustus, the first of the Augusti, began to +govern in the seven hundred and ninth year from the +founding of the city, perished with this Augustulus in the +five hundred and twenty second year from the beginning +of the rule of his predecessors and those before them, +and from this time onward kings of the Goths held Rome +and Italy. Meanwhile Odoacer, king of nations, subdued +all Italy and then at the very outset of his reign slew +Count Bracila at Ravenna that he might inspire a fear +of himself among the Romans. He strengthened his +kingdom and held it for almost thirteen years, even until +the appearance of Theodoric, of whom we shall speak +hereafter. + +[Sidenote: Leo II 473-474] + +[Sidenote: Zeno 474-491] + +[Sidenote: Eurich killed 485] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC II LAST KING OF THE VISIGOTHS 485-507] + +XLVII But first let us return to that order from 244 +which we have digressed and tell how Eurich, king of the +Visigoths, beheld the tottering of the Roman Empire and +reduced Arelate and Massilia to his own sway. Gaiseric, +king of the Vandals, enticed him by gifts to do these +things, to the end that he himself might forestall the plots +which Leo and Zeno had contrived against him. Therefore +he stirred the Ostrogoths to lay waste the Eastern +Empire and the Visigoths the Western, so that while his +foes were battling in both empires, he might himself +reign peacefully in Africa. Eurich perceived this with +gladness and, as he already held all of Spain and Gaul +by his own right, proceeded to subdue the Burgundians +also. In the nineteenth year of his reign he was deprived +of his life at Arelate, where he then dwelt. He was succeeded 245 +by his own son Alaric, the ninth in succession +from the famous Alaric the Great to receive the kingdom +of the Visigoths. For even as it happened to the line of +the Augusti, as we have stated above, so too it appears in +the line of the Alarici, that kingdoms often come to an +end in kings who bear the same name as those at the +beginning. Meanwhile let us leave this subject, and +weave together the whole story of the origin of the Goths, +as we promised. + +(The Divided Goths: Ostrogoths) + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS AND THEIR SUBJECTION TO THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Death of Hermanaric 375 or 376] + +XLVIII Since I have followed the stories of my 246 +ancestors and retold to the best of my ability the tale of +the period when both tribes, Ostrogoths and Visigoths, +were united, and then clearly treated of the Visigoths +apart from the Ostrogoths, I must now return to those +ancient Scythian abodes and set forth in like manner the +ancestry and deeds of the Ostrogoths. It appears that at +the death of their king, Hermanaric, they were made a +separate people by the departure of the Visigoths, and +remained in their country subject to the sway of the +Huns; yet Vinitharius of the Amali retained the insignia +of his rule. He rivalled the valor of his grandfather 247 +Vultuulf, although he had not the good fortune of Hermanaric. +But disliking to remain under the rule of the +Huns, he withdrew a little from them and strove to show +his courage by moving his forces against the country of +the Antes. When he attacked them, he was beaten in the +first encounter. Thereafter he did valiantly and, as a +terrible example, crucified their king, named Boz, together +with his sons and seventy nobles, and left their bodies +hanging there to double the fear of those who had surrendered. +When he had ruled with such license for 248 +barely a year, Balamber, king of the Huns, would no +longer endure it, but sent for Gesimund, son of Hunimund +the Great. Now Gesimund, together with a great +part of the Goths, remained under the rule of the Huns, +being mindful of his oath of fidelity. Balamber renewed +his alliance with him and led his army up against Vinitharius. +After a long contest, Vinitharius prevailed in +the first and in the second conflict, nor can any say how +great a slaughter he made of the army of the Huns. But 249 +in the third battle, when they met each other unexpectedly +at the river named Erac, Balamber shot an arrow and +wounded Vinitharius in the head, so that he died. Then +Balamber took to himself in marriage Vadamerca, the +grand-daughter of Vinitharius, and finally ruled all the +people of the Goths as his peaceful subjects, but in such +a way that one ruler of their own number always held the +power over the Gothic race, though subject to the Huns. + +[Sidenote: KING HUNIMUND] + +[Sidenote: KING THORISMUD KILLED 404] + +And later, after the death of Vinitharius, Hunimund 250 +ruled them, the son of Hermanaric, a mighty king of +yore; a man fierce in war and of famous personal beauty, +who afterwards fought successfully against the race of +the Suavi. And when he died, his son Thorismud succeeded +him, in the very bloom of youth. In the second +year of his rule he moved an army against the Gepidae +and won a great victory over them, but is said to have +been killed by falling from his horse. When he was dead, 251 +the Ostrogoths mourned for him so deeply that for forty +years no other king succeeded in his place, and during all +this time they had ever on their lips the tale of his memory. +Now as time went on, Valamir grew to man's +estate. He was the son of Thorismud's cousin Vandalarius. +For his son Beremud, as we have said before, at +last grew to despise the race of the Ostrogoths because of +the overlordship of the Huns, and so had followed the +tribe of the Visigoths to the western country, and it was +from him Veteric was descended. Veteric also had a son +Eutharic, who married Amalasuentha, the daughter of +Theodoric, thus uniting again the stock of the Amali +which had divided long ago. Eutharic begat Athalaric +and Mathesuentha. But since Athalaric died in the +years of his boyhood, Mathesuentha was taken to Constantinople +by her second husband, namely Germanus, a +cousin of the Emperor Justinian, and bore a posthumous +son, whom she named Germanus. + +[Sidenote: KING VALAMIR 445?] + +But that the order we have taken for our history may 252 +run its due course, we must return to the stock of Vandalarius, +which put forth three branches. This Vandalarius, +the son of a brother of Hermanaric and cousin of the +aforesaid Thorismud, vaunted himself among the race of +the Amali because he had begotten three sons, Valamir, +Thiudimer and Vidimer. Of these Valamir ascended the +throne after his parents, though the Huns as yet held the +power over the Goths in general as among other nations. +It was pleasant to behold the concord of these three brothers; 253 +for the admirable Thiudimer served as a soldier for +the empire of his brother Valamir, and Valamir bade +honors be given him, while Vidimer was eager to serve +them both. Thus regarding one another with common +affection, not one was wholly deprived of the kingdom +which two of them held in mutual peace. Yet, as has +often been said, they ruled in such a way that they respected +the dominion of Attila, king of the Huns. Indeed +they could not have refused to fight against their kinsmen +the Visigoths, and they must even have committed parricide +at their lord's command. There was no way whereby +any Scythian tribe could have been wrested from the +power of the Huns, save by the death of Attila,--an +event the Romans and all other nations desired. Now his +death was as base as his life was marvellous. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ATTILA 453] + +XLIX Shortly before he died, as the historian Priscus 254 +relates, he took in marriage a very beautiful girl named +Ildico, after countless other wives, as was the custom of +his race. He had given himself up to excessive joy at +his wedding, and as he lay on his back, heavy with wine +and sleep, a rush of superfluous blood, which would ordinarily +have flowed from his nose, streamed in deadly +course down his throat and killed him, since it was hindered +in the usual passages. Thus did drunkenness put a +disgraceful end to a king renowned in war. On the following +day, when a great part of the morning was spent, +the royal attendants suspected some ill and, after a great +uproar, broke in the doors. There they found the death +of Attila accomplished by an effusion of blood, without +any wound, and the girl with downcast face weeping +beneath her veil. Then, as is the custom of that race, 255 +they plucked out the hair of their heads and made their +faces hideous with deep wounds, that the renowned warrior +might be mourned, not by effeminate wailings and +tears, but by the blood of men. Moreover a wondrous +thing took place in connection with Attila's death. For +in a dream some god stood at the side of Marcian, Emperor +of the East, while he was disquieted about his +fierce foe, and showed him the bow of Attila broken in +that same night, as if to intimate that the race of Huns +owed much to that weapon. This account the historian +Priscus says he accepts upon truthful evidence. For so +terrible was Attila thought to be to great empires that +the gods announced his death to rulers as a special boon. + +We shall not omit to say a few words about the many 256 +ways in which his shade was honored by his race. His +body was placed in the midst of a plain and lay in state +in a silken tent as a sight for men's admiration. The best +horsemen of the entire tribe of the Huns rode around in +circles, after the manner of circus games, in the place +to which he had been brought and told of his deeds in a +funeral dirge in the following manner: "The chief of the 257 +Huns, King Attila, born of his sire Mundiuch, lord of +bravest tribes, sole possessor of the Scythian and German +realms--powers unknown before--captured cities and +terrified both empires of the Roman world and, appeased +by their prayers, took annual tribute to save the rest from +plunder. And when he had accomplished all this by the +favor of fortune, he fell, not by wound of the foe, nor +by treachery of friends, but in the midst of his nation at +peace, happy in his joy and without sense of pain. Who +can rate this as death, when none believes it calls for +vengeance?" When they had mourned him with such 258 +lamentations, a _strava_, as they call it, was celebrated over +his tomb with great revelling. They gave way in turn to +the extremes of feeling and displayed funereal grief alternating +with joy. Then in the secrecy of night they buried +his body in the earth. They bound his coffins, the first +with gold, the second with silver and the third with the +strength of iron, showing by such means that these three +things suited the mightiest of kings; iron because he +subdued the nations, gold and silver because he received +the honors of both empires. They also added the arms +of foemen won in the fight, trappings of rare worth, +sparkling with various gems, and ornaments of all sorts +whereby princely state is maintained. And that so great +riches might be kept from human curiosity, they slew +those appointed to the work--a dreadful pay for their +labor; and thus sudden death was the lot of those who +buried him as well as of him who was buried. + +[Sidenote: DISSOLUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF THE HUNS 454] + +[Sidenote: Battle of Nedao 454] + +L After they had fulfilled these rites, a contest for 259 +the highest place arose among Attila's successors,--for the +minds of young men are wont to be inflamed by ambition +for power,--and in their rash eagerness to rule they all +alike destroyed his empire. Thus kingdoms are often +weighed down by a superfluity rather than by a lack of +successors. For the sons of Attila, who through the +license of his lust formed almost a people of themselves, +were clamoring that the nations should be divided among +them equally and that warlike kings with their peoples +should be apportioned to them by lot like a family estate. +When Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, learned this, he 260 +became enraged because so many nations were being +treated like slaves of the basest condition, and was the +first to rise against the sons of Attila. Good fortune +attended him, and he effaced the disgrace of servitude that +rested upon him. For by his revolt he freed not only his +own tribe, but all the others who were equally oppressed; +since all readily strive for that which is sought for the +general advantage. They took up arms against the destruction +that menaced all and joined battle with the +Huns in Pannonia, near a river called Nedao. There an 261 +encounter took place between the various nations Attila +had held under his sway. Kingdoms with their peoples +were divided, and out of one body were made many +members not responding to a common impulse. Being +deprived of their head, they madly strove against each +other. They never found their equals ranged against +them without harming each other by wounds mutually +given. And so the bravest nations tore themselves to +pieces. For then, I think, must have occurred a most +remarkable spectacle, where one might see the Goths +fighting with pikes, the Gepidae raging with the sword, +the Rugi breaking off the spears in their own wounds, the +Suavi fighting on foot, the Huns with bows, the Alani +drawing up a battle-line of heavy-armed and the Heruli +of light-armed warriors. + +Finally, after many bitter conflicts, victory fell unexpectedly +to the Gepidae. For the sword and conspiracy 262 +of Ardaric destroyed almost thirty thousand men, Huns +as well as those of the other nations who brought them +aid. In this battle fell Ellac, the elder son of Attila, +whom his father is said to have loved so much more than +all the rest that he preferred him to any child or even to +all the children of his kingdom. But fortune was not in +accord with his father's wish. For after slaying many +of the foe, it appears that he met his death so bravely +that, if his father had lived, he would have rejoiced at his +glorious end. When Ellac was slain, his remaining 263 +brothers were put to flight near the shore of the Sea of +Pontus, where we have said the Goths first settled. Thus +did the Huns give way, a race to which men thought the +whole world must yield. So baneful a thing is division, +that they who used to inspire terror when their strength +was united, were overthrown separately. The cause of +Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, was fortunate for the various +nations who were unwillingly subject to the rule +of the Huns, for it raised their long downcast spirits to +the glad hope of freedom. Many sent ambassadors to +the Roman territory, where they were most graciously +received by Marcian, who was then emperor, and took the +abodes allotted them to dwell in. But the Gepidae by their 264 +own might won for themselves the territory of the Huns +and ruled as victors over the extent of all Dacia, demanding +of the Roman Empire nothing more than peace and +an annual gift as a pledge of their friendly alliance. This +the Emperor freely granted at the time, and to this day +that race receives its customary gifts from the Roman +Emperor. + +[Sidenote: JORDANES] + +Now when the Goths saw the Gepidae defending for +themselves the territory of the Huns and the people of +the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they +preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire +rather than invade the lands of others with danger to +themselves. So they received Pannonia, which stretches +in a long plain, being bounded on the east by Upper +Moesia, on the south by Dalmatia, on the west by Noricum +and on the north by the Danube. This land is +adorned with many cities, the first of which is Sirmium +and the last Vindobona. But the Sauromatae, whom we 265 +call Sarmatians, and the Cemandri and certain of the +Huns dwelt in Castra Martis, a city given them in the +region of Illyricum. Of this race was Blivila, Duke of +Pentapolis, and his brother Froila and also Bessa, a Patrician +in our time. The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii +and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by +name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria, +the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say, 266 +my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long +as he lived. To his sister's son Gunthigis, also called +Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of +Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the +stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an unlearned +man before my conversion, was secretary. The +Rugi, however, and some other races asked that they +might inhabit Bizye and Arcadiopolis. Hernac, the +younger son of Attila, with his followers, chose a home +in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and +Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and +Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of +the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves +into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the +Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Ulfilas about 311-381] + +[Sidenote: THE LESSER GOTHS] + +LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, 267 +a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who +is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they +are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far +as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous +people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save +flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and +forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat +and other sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know +that vineyards exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine +from neighboring countries. But most of them drink +milk. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS IN PANNONIA] + +[Sidenote: BIRTH OF THEODORIC THE GREAT 454] + +LII Let us now return to the tribe with which we 268 +started, namely the Ostrogoths, who were dwelling in +Pannonia under their king Valamir and his brothers Thiudimer +and Vidimer. Although their territories were +separate, yet their plans were one. For Valamir dwelt +between the rivers Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra, Thiudimer +near Lake Pelso and Vidimer between them both. +Now it happened that the sons of Attila, regarding the +Goths as deserters from their rule, came against them as +though they were seeking fugitive slaves, and attacked +Valamir alone, when his brothers knew nothing of it. He 269 +sustained their attack, though he had but few supporters, +and after harassing them a long time, so utterly overwhelmed +them that scarcely any portion of the enemy +remained. The remnant turned in flight and sought +the parts of Scythia which border on the stream of the +river Danaper, which the Huns call in their own tongue +the Var. Thereupon he sent a messenger of good tidings +to his brother Thiudimer, and on the very day the messenger +arrived he found even greater joy in the house of +Thiudimer. For on that day his son Theodoric was born, +of a concubine Erelieva indeed, and yet a child of good +hope. + +[Sidenote: HIS YOUTH SPENT AT CONSTANTINOPLE BEGINNING 461] + +Now after no great time King Valamir and his brothers 270 +Thiudimer and Vidimer sent an embassy to the Emperor +Marcian, because the usual gifts which they received +like a New Year's present from the Emperor, to +preserve the compact of peace, were slow in arriving. +And they found that Theodoric, son of Triarius, a man +of Gothic blood also, but born of another stock, not of +the Amali, was in great favor, together with his followers. +He was allied in friendship with the Romans +and obtained an annual bounty, while they themselves +were merely held in disdain. Thereat they were aroused 271 +to frenzy and took up arms. They roved through almost +the whole of Illyricum and laid it waste in their search +for spoil. Then the Emperor quickly changed his mind +and returned to his former state of friendship. He sent +an embassy to give them the past gifts, as well as those +now due, and furthermore promised to give these gifts +in future without any dispute. From the Goths the +Romans received as a hostage of peace Theodoric, the +young child of Thiudimer, whom we have mentioned +above. He had now attained the age of seven years and +was entering upon his eighth. While his father hesitated +about giving him up, his uncle Valamir besought him to +do it, hoping that peace between the Romans and the +Goths might thus be assured. Therefore Theodoric was +given as a hostage by the Goths and brought to the city +of Constantinople to the Emperor Leo and, being a +goodly child, deservedly gained the imperial favor. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS OVERWHELM THE REMNANT OF THE HUNS] + +LIII Now after firm peace was established between 272 +Goths and Romans, the Goths found that the possessions +they had received from the Emperor were not sufficient +for them. Furthermore, they were eager to display their +wonted valor, and so began to plunder the neighboring +races round about them, first attacking the Sadagis who +held the interior of Pannonia. When Dintzic, king of the +Huns, a son of Attila, learned this, he gathered to him +the few who still seemed to have remained under his +sway, namely, the Ultzinzures, and Angisciri, the Bittugures +and the Bardores. Coming to Bassiana, a city of +Pannonia, he beleaguered it and began to plunder its territory. +Then the Goths at once abandoned the expedition 273 +they had planned against the Sadagis, turned upon the +Huns and drove them so ingloriously from their own +land that those who remained have been in dread of the +arms of the Goths from that time down to the present +day. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: Plot of Hunimund about 470] + +When the tribe of the Huns was at last subdued by the +Goths, Hunimund, chief of the Suavi, who was crossing +over to plunder Dalmatia, carried off some cattle of the +Goths which were straying over the plains; for Dalmatia +was near Suavia and not far distant from the territory +of Pannonia, especially that part where the Goths were +then staying. So then, as Hunimund was returning 274 +with the Suavi to his own country, after he had devastated +Dalmatia, Thiudimer the brother of Valamir, +king of the Goths, kept watch on their line of march. +Not that he grieved so much over the loss of his cattle, +but he feared that if the Suavi obtained this plunder with +impunity, they would proceed to greater license. So in +the dead of night, while they were asleep, he made an +unexpected attack upon them, near Lake Pelso. Here he +so completely crushed them that he took captive and sent +into slavery under the Goths even Hunimund, their king, +and all of his army who had escaped the sword. Yet +as he was a great lover of mercy, he granted pardon +after taking vengeance and became reconciled to the +Suavi. He adopted as his son the same man whom he +had taken captive, and sent him back with his followers +into Suavia. But Hunimund was unmindful of his 275 +adopted father's kindness. After some time he brought +forth a plot he had contrived and aroused the tribe of the +Sciri, who then dwelt above the Danube and abode peaceably +with the Goths. So the Sciri broke off their alliance +with them, took up arms, joined themselves to Hunimund +and went out to attack the race of the Goths. Thus war +came upon the Goths who were expecting no evil, because +they relied upon both of their neighbors as friends. Constrained +by necessity they took up arms and avenged +themselves and their injuries by recourse to battle. In 276 +this battle, as King Valamir rode on his horse before the +line to encourage his men, the horse was wounded and +fell, overthrowing its rider. Valamir was quickly pierced +by his enemies' spears and slain. Thereupon the Goths +proceeded to exact vengeance for the death of their king, +as well as for the injury done them by the rebels. They +fought in such wise that there remained of all the race of +the Sciri only a few who bore the name, and they with +disgrace. Thus were all destroyed. + +[Sidenote: SUCCESS OF THE GOTHS UNDER HIUDIMER ABOUT 470] + +LIV The kings [of the Suavi], Hunimund and 277 +Alaric, fearing the destruction that had come upon the +Sciri, next made war upon the Goths, relying upon the +aid of the Sarmations, who had come to them as auxiliaries +with their kings Beuca and Babai. They summoned +the last remnants of the Sciri, with Edica and Hunuulf, +their chieftains, thinking they would fight the more desperately +to avenge themselves. They had on their side +the Gepidae also, as well as no small reinforcements from +the race of the Rugi and from others gathered here +and there. Thus they brought together a great host at +the river Bolia in Pannonia and encamped there. Now 278 +when Valamir was dead, the Goths fled to Thiudimer, +his brother. Although he had long ruled along with his +brothers, yet he took the insignia of his increased authority +and summoned his younger brother Vidimer and +shared with him the cares of war, resorting to arms under +compulsion. A battle was fought and the party of the +Goths was found to be so much the stronger that the +plain was drenched in the blood of their fallen foes and +looked like a crimson sea. Weapons and corpses, piled +up like hills, covered the plain for more than ten miles. +When the Goths saw this, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable, 279 +because by this great slaughter of their foes they +had avenged the blood of Valamir their king and the +injury done themselves. But those of the innumerable +and motley throng of the foe who were able to escape, +though they got away, nevertheless came to their own +land with difficulty and without glory. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER AGAIN WARS WITH THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SENT BACK TO HIS OWN PEOPLE 472] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Belgrade] + +LV After a certain time, when the wintry cold was 280 +at hand, the river Danube was frozen over as usual. For +a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like +a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and +carts and whatsoever vehicles there may be,--nor is there +need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king of +the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army across +the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi from +the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the east +the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the +Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With 281 +the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their +confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence +several streams flow into the Danube, pouring in with a +great rushing sound. Into a place thus fortified King +Thiudimer led his army in the winter-time and conquered, +plundered and almost subdued the race of the Suavi as +well as the Alamanni, who were mutually banded together. +Thence he returned as victor to his own home in +Pannonia and joyfully received his son Theodoric, once +given as hostage to Constantinople and now sent back by +the Emperor Leo with great gifts. Now Theodoric had 282 +reached man's estate, for he was eighteen years of age +and his boyhood was ended. So he summoned certain of +his father's adherents and took to himself from the people +his friends and retainers,--almost six thousand men. +With these he crossed the Danube, without his father's +knowledge, and marched against Babai, king of the Sarmatians, +who had just won a victory over Camundus, a +general of the Romans, and was ruling with insolent +pride. Theodoric came upon him and slew him, and +taking as booty his slaves and treasure, returned victorious +to his father. Next he invaded the city of Singidunum, +which the Sarmatians themselves had seized, and +did not return it to the Romans, but reduced it to his own +sway. + +[Sidenote: VIDIMER THE YOUNGER GOES TO GAUL 473] + +LVI Then as the spoil taken from one and another 283 +of the neighboring tribes diminished, the Goths began +to lack food and clothing, and peace became distasteful +to men for whom war had long furnished the +necessaries of life. So all the Goths approached their +king Thiudimer and, with great outcry, begged him to +lead forth his army in whatsoever direction he might +wish. He summoned his brother and, after casting lots, +bade him go into the country of Italy, where at this time +Glycerius ruled as emperor, saying that he himself as the +mightier would go to the east against a mightier empire. +And so it happened. Thereupon Vidimer entered the 284 +land of Italy, but soon paid the last debt of fate and +departed from earthly affairs, leaving his son and namesake +Vidimer to succeed him. The Emperor Glycerius +bestowed gifts upon Vidimer and persuaded him to go +from Italy to Gaul, which was then harassed on all sides +by various races, saying that their own kinsmen, the +Visigoths, there ruled a neighboring kingdom. And +what more? Vidimer accepted the gifts and, obeying +the command of the Emperor Glycerius, pressed on to +Gaul. Joining with his kinsmen the Visigoths, they +again formed one body, as they had been long ago. Thus +they held Gaul and Spain by their own right and so +defended them that no other race won the mastery there. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER IN MACEDONIA] + +But Thiudimer, the elder brother, crossed the river 285 +Savus with his men, threatening the Sarmatians and their +soldiers with war if any should resist him. From fear of +this they kept quiet; moreover they were powerless in the +face of so great a host. Thiudimer, seeing prosperity +everywhere awaiting him, invaded Naissus, the first city +of Illyricum. He was joined by his son Theodoric and +the Counts Astat and Invilia, and sent them to Ulpiana +by way of Castrum Herculis. Upon their arrival the 286 +town surrendered, as did Stobi later; and several places +of Illyricum, inaccessible to them at first, were thus made +easy of approach. For they first plundered and then +ruled by right of war Heraclea and Larissa, cities of +Thessaly. But Thiudimer the king, perceiving his own +good fortune and that of his son, was not content with +this alone, but set forth from the city of Naissus, leaving +only a few men behind as a guard. He himself advanced +to Thessalonica, where Hilarianus the Patrician, appointed +by the Emperor, was stationed with his army. +When Hilarianus beheld Thessalonica surrounded by an 287 +entrenchment and saw that he could not resist attack, he +sent an embassy to Thiudimer the king and by the offer +of gifts turned him aside from destroying the city. Then +the Roman general entered upon a truce with the Goths +and of his own accord handed over to them those places +they inhabited, namely Cyrrhus, Pella, Europus, Methone, +Pydna, Beroea, and another which is called Dium. +So the Goths and their king laid aside their arms, consented 288 +to peace and became quiet. Soon after these +events, King Thiudimer was seized with a mortal illness +in the city of Cyrrhus. He called the Goths to himself, +appointed Theodoric his son as heir of his kingdom and +presently departed this life. + +[Sidenote: Zeno 491] + +[Sidenote: Theodoric the Great 526] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC HONORED BY ZENO 528] + +LVII When the Emperor Zeno heard that Theodoric 289 +had been appointed king over his own people, he received +the news with pleasure and invited him to come and visit +him in the city, appointing an escort of honor. Receiving +Theodoric with all due respect, he placed him among the +princes of his palace. After some time Zeno increased +his dignity by adopting him as his son-at-arms and gave +him a triumph in the city at his expense. Theodoric was +made Consul Ordinary also, which is well known to be +the supreme good and highest honor in the world. Nor +was this all, for Zeno set up before the royal palace an +equestrian statue to the glory of this great man. + +[Sidenote: ASKS TO THE EMPIRE FOR HIS RULE] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SETS OUT FOR ITALY 488] + +Now while Theodoric was in alliance by treaty with 290 +the Empire of Zeno and was himself enjoying every +comfort in the city, he heard that his tribe, dwelling as +we have said in Illyricum, was not altogether satisfied or +content. So he chose rather to seek a living by his own +exertions, after the manner customary to his race, rather +than to enjoy the advantages of the Roman Empire in +luxurious ease while his tribe lived in want. After pondering +these matters, he said to the Emperor: "Though I +lack nothing in serving your Empire, yet if Your Piety +deem it worthy, be pleased to hear the desire of my +heart." And when as usual he had been granted permission 291 +to speak freely, he said: "The western country, long +ago governed by the rule of your ancestors and predecessors, +and that city which was the head and mistress of +the world,--wherefore is it now shaken by the tyranny +of the Torcilingi and the Rugi? Send me there with my +race. Thus if you but say the word, you may be freed +from the burden of expense here, and, if by the Lord's +help I shall conquer, the fame of Your Piety shall be +glorious there. For it is better that I, your servant and +your son, should rule that kingdom, receiving it as a +gift from you if I conquer, than that one whom you do +not recognize should oppress your Senate with his tyrannical +yoke and a part of the republic with slavery. For if +I prevail, I shall retain it as your grant and gift; if I am +conquered, Your Piety will lose nothing--nay, as I have +said, it will save the expense I now entail." Although the 292 +Emperor was grieved that he should go, yet when he +heard this he granted what Theodoric asked, for he was +unwilling to cause him sorrow. He sent him forth enriched +by great gifts and commended to his charge the +Senate and the Roman People. + +[Sidenote: HE CONQUERS ODOACER AND PUTS HIM TO DEATH 493] + +Therefore Theodoric departed from the royal city and +returned to his own people. In company with the whole +tribe of the Goths, who gave him their unanimous consent, +he set out for Hesperia. He went in straight march +through Sirmium to the places bordering on Pannonia +and, advancing into the territory of Venetia as far as +the bridge of the Sontius, encamped there. When he 293 +had halted there for some time to rest the bodies of +his men and pack-animals, Odoacer sent an armed force +against him, which he met on the plains of Verona and +destroyed with great slaughter. Then he broke camp +and advanced through Italy with greater boldness. Crossing +the river Po, he pitched camp near the royal city +of Ravenna, about the third milestone from the city in +the place called Pineta. When Odoacer saw this, he +fortified himself within the city. He frequently harassed +the army of the Goths at night, sallying forth stealthily +with his men, and this not once or twice, but often; and +thus he struggled for almost three whole years. But he 294 +labored in vain, for all Italy at last called Theodoric its +lord and the Empire obeyed his nod. But Odoacer, with +his few adherents and the Romans who were present, suffered +daily from war and famine in Ravenna. Since he +accomplished nothing, he sent an embassy and begged for +mercy. Theodoric first granted it and afterwards deprived 295 +him of his life. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC FOUNDS THE OSTROGOTHIC KINGDOM IN ITALY 493] + +It was in the third year after his entrance into Italy, +as we have said, that Theodoric, by advice of the Emperor +Zeno, laid aside the garb of a private citizen and +the dress of his race and assumed a costume with a royal +mantle, as he had now become the ruler over both Goths +and Romans. He sent an embassy to Lodoin, king of the +Franks, and asked for his daughter Audefleda in marriage. 296 +Lodoin freely and gladly gave her, and also his +sons Celdebert and Heldebert and Thiudebert, believing +that by this alliance a league would be formed and that +they would be associated with the race of the Goths. But +that union was of no avail for peace and harmony, for +they fought fiercely with each other again and again for +the lands of the Goths; but never did the Goths yield to +the Franks while Theodoric lived. + +[Sidenote: OF THE INCREASE OF HIS POWER] + +[Sidenote: Amalaric 507-531] + +LVIII Now before he had a child from Audefleda, 297 +Theodoric had children of a concubine, daughters begotten +in Moesia, one named Thiudigoto and another Ostrogotho. +Soon after he came to Italy, he gave them in marriage +to neighboring kings, one to Alaric, king of the +Visigoths, and the other to Sigismund, king of the Burgundians. +Now Alaric begat Amalaric. While his grandfather 298 +Theodoric cared for and protected him--for he +had lost both parents in the years of childhood--he +found that Eutharic, the son of Veteric, grandchild of +Beremud and Thorismud, and a descendant of the race +of the Amali, was living in Spain, a young man strong in +wisdom and valor and health of body. Theodoric sent +for him and gave him his daughter Amalasuentha in +marriage. And that he might extend his family as much 299 +as possible, he sent his sister Amalafrida (the mother of +Theodahad, who was afterwards king) to Africa as wife +of Thrasamund, king of the Vandals, and her daughter +Amalaberga, who was his own niece, he united with Herminefred, +king of the Thuringians. + +Now he sent his Count Pitza, chosen from among the 300 +chief men of his kingdom, to hold the city of Sirmium. +He got possession of it by driving out its king Thrasaric, +son of Thraustila, and keeping his mother captive. Thence +he came with two thousand infantry and five hundred +horsemen to aid Mundo against Sabinian, Master of the +Soldiery of Illyricum, who at that time had made ready to +fight with Mundo near the city named Margoplanum, +which lies between the Danube and Margus rivers, and +destroyed the Army of Illyricum. For this Mundo, who 301 +traced his descent from the Attilani of old, had put to +flight the tribe of the Gepidae and was roaming beyond +the Danube in waste places where no man tilled the soil. +He had gathered around him many outlaws and ruffians +and robbers from all sides and had seized a tower called +Herta, situated on the bank of the Danube. There he +plundered his neighbors in wild license and made himself +king over his vagabonds. Now Pitza came upon him +when he was nearly reduced to desperation and was already +thinking of surrender. So he rescued him from +the hands of Sabinian and made him a grateful subject of +his king Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Thiudis 531-548] + +[Sidenote: Thiudigisclus 548-549] + +[Sidenote: Agil 549-554] + +[Sidenote: Athanagild 554-567] + +Theodoric won an equally great victory over the 302 +Franks through his Count Ibba in Gaul, when more than +thirty thousand Franks were slain in battle. Moreover, +after the death of his son-in-law Alaric, Theodoric appointed +Thiudis, his armor-bearer, guardian of his grandson +Amalaric in Spain. But Amalaric was ensnared by +the plots of the Franks in early youth and lost at once his +kingdom and his life. Then his guardian Thiudis, advancing +from the same kingdom, assailed the Franks and +delivered the Spaniards from their disgraceful treachery. +So long as he lived he kept the Visigoths united. After 303 +him Thiudigisclus obtained the kingdom and, ruling but +a short time, met his death at the hands of his own followers. +He was succeeded by Agil, who holds the kingdom +to the present day. Athanagild has rebelled against +him and is even now provoking the might of the Roman +Empire. So Liberius the Patrician is on the way with +an army to oppose him. Now there was not a tribe in +the west that did not serve Theodoric while he lived, +either in friendship or by conquest. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC THE GREAT DIES 526] + +[Sidenote: KING ATHALARIC 526-534] + +LIX When he had reached old age and knew that he 304 +should soon depart this life, he called together the Gothic +counts and chieftains of his race and appointed Athalaric +as king. He was a boy scarce ten years old, the son of +his daughter Amalasuentha, and he had lost his father +Eutharic. As though uttering his last will and testament, +Theodoric adjured and commanded them to honor their +king, to love the Senate and Roman People and to make +sure of the peace and good will of the Emperor of the +East, as next after God. + +[Sidenote: AMALASUENTHA] + +[Sidenote: Theodahad 534-536] + +[Sidenote: 534] + +They kept this command fully so long as Athalaric 305 +their king and his mother lived, and ruled in peace for +almost eight years. But as the Franks put no confidence +in the rule of a child and furthermore held him in contempt, +and were also plotting war, he gave back to them +those parts of Gaul which his father and grandfather had +seized. He possessed all the rest in peace and quiet. +Therefore when Athalaric was approaching the age of +manhood, he entrusted to the Emperor of the East both +his own youth and his mother's widowhood. But in a +short time the ill-fated boy was carried off by an untimely +death and departed from earthly affairs. His mother 306 +feared she might be despised by the Goths on account of +the weakness of her sex. So after much thought she decided, +for the sake of relationship, to summon her cousin +Theodahad from Tuscany, where he led a retired life at +home, and thus she established him on the throne. But +he was unmindful of their kinship and, after a little time, +had her taken from the palace at Ravenna to an island +of the Bulsinian lake where he kept her in exile. After +spending a very few days there in sorrow, she was +strangled in the bath by his hirelings. + +[Sidenote: Justinian 527-565] + +[Sidenote: JUSTINIAN SENDS BELISARIUS TO AVENGE THE DEATH OF HIS WARDS +534] + +[Sidenote: Vitiges King 536-540] + +LX When Justinian, the Emperor of the East, heard 307 +this, he was aroused as if he had suffered personal injury +in the death of his wards. Now at that time he had won +a triumph over the Vandals in Africa, through his most +faithful Patrician Belisarius. Without delay he sent his +army under this leader against the Goths at the very time +when his arms were yet dripping with the blood of the +Vandals. This sagacious general believed he could not 308 +overcome the Gothic nation, unless he should first seize +Sicily, their nursing-mother. Accordingly he did so. As +soon as he entered Trinacria, the Goths, who were besieging +the town of Syracuse, found that they were not succeeding +and surrendered of their own accord to Belisarius, +with their leader Sinderith. When the Roman general +reached Sicily, Theodahad sought out Evermud, his +son-in-law, and sent him with an army to guard the strait +which lies between Campania and Sicily and sweeps from +a bend of the Tyrrhenian Sea into the vast tide of the +Adriatic. When Evermud arrived, he pitched his camp 309 +by the town of Rhegium. He soon saw that his side was +the weaker. Coming over with a few close and faithful +followers to the side of the victor and willingly casting +himself at the feet of Belisarius, he decided to serve the +rulers of the Roman Empire. When the army of the +Goths perceived this, they distrusted Theodahad and +clamored for his expulsion from the kingdom and for the +appointment as king of their leader Vitiges, who had been +his armor bearer. This was done; and presently Vitiges 310 +was raised to the office of king on the Barbarian Plains. +He entered Rome and sent on to Ravenna the men most +faithful to him to demand the death of Theodahad. They +came and executed his command. After King Theodahad +was slain, a messenger came from the king--for he was +already king in the Barbarian Plains--to proclaim Vitiges +to the people. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS OVERCOME BY BELISARIUS] + +[Sidenote: Siege of Rome 537-538] + +[Sidenote: Surrender of Vitiges 540] + +[Sidenote: Death of Vitiges 542] + +[Sidenote: Mathesuentha marries Germanus 542] + +Meanwhile the Roman army crossed the strait and 311 +marched toward Campania. They took Naples and +pressed on to Rome. Now a few days before they arrived, +King Vitiges had set forth from Rome, arrived at +Ravenna and married Mathesuentha, the daughter of +Amalasuentha and grand-daughter of Theodoric, the former +king. While he was celebrating his new marriage and +holding court at Ravenna, the imperial army advanced +from Rome and attacked the strongholds in both parts of +Tuscany. When Vitiges learned of this through messengers, +he sent a force under Hunila, a leader of the Goths, +to Perusia which was beleaguered by them. While they 312 +were endeavoring by a long siege to dislodge Count +Magnus, who was holding the place with a small force, +the Roman army came upon them, and they themselves +were driven away and utterly exterminated. When Vitiges +heard the news, he raged like a lion and assembled +all the host of the Goths. He advanced from Ravenna +and harassed the walls of Rome with a long siege. But +after fourteen months his courage was broken and he +raised the siege of the city of Rome and prepared to overwhelm +Ariminum. Here he was baffled in like manner 313 +and put to flight; and so he retreated to Ravenna. When +besieged there, he quickly and willingly surrendered himself +to the victorious side, together with his wife Mathesuentha +and the royal treasure. + +And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race, +which had long held sway, was at last overcome in almost +its two thousand and thirtieth year by that conquerer of +many nations, the Emperor Justinian, through his most +faithful consul Belisarius. He gave Vitiges the title of +Patrician and took him to Constantinople, where he dwelt +for more than two years, bound by ties of affection to the +Emperor, and then departed this life. But his consort 314 +Mathesuentha was bestowed by the Emperor upon the +Patrician Germanus, his cousin. And of them was born +a son (also called Germanus) after the death of his +father Germanus. This union of the race of the Anicii +with the stock of the Amali gives hopeful promise, under +the Lord's favor, to both peoples. + +(Conclusion) + +And now we have recited the origin of the Goths, the 315 +noble line of the Amali and the deeds of brave men. This +glorious race yielded to a more glorious prince and surrendered +to a more valiant leader, whose fame shall be +silenced by no ages or cycles of years; for the victorious +and triumphant Emperor Justinian and his consul Belisarius +shall be named and known as Vandalicus, Africanus +and Geticus. + +Thou who readest this, know that I have followed the 316 +writings of my ancestors, and have culled a few flowers +from their broad meadows to weave a chaplet for him +who cares to know these things. Let no one believe that +to the advantage of the race of which I have spoken--though +indeed I trace my own descent from it--I have +added aught besides what I have read or learned by +inquiry. Even thus I have not included all that is written +or told about them, nor spoken so much to their praise as +to the glory of him who conquered them. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14809 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e18b8c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14809 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14809) diff --git a/old/14809-8.txt b/old/14809-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eff816e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14809-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4287 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Origin and Deeds of the Goths, by +Jordanes, Translated by Charles C. Mierow + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Origin and Deeds of the Goths
+ +Author: Jordanes + +Release Date: January 26, 2005 [eBook #14809] +[Date last updated: July 5, 2006] + +Language: English
+ +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE +GOTHS
*** + + +E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, SuperCrispy, David King, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The numbers in the right margin of the text are from the original book; +although nothing in the book says so, it appears that they might be +page numbers from the manuscript of which this is a translation. They +are preserved in this transcription in the hope that they are indeed +page numbers. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +by + +JORDANES + +in English Version + +Part of a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University +for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy + +by CHARLES C. MIEROW + +Princeton + +1908 + + + + + + + +NOTE + +For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in +the _Getica_ of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his +account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is +now put in English form, as part of an edition of the +_Getica_ prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the +romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a +lost cause and will not find the simple-hearted exaggerations +of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He +pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his +employment of fable and legend, as well as the naïve +exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the +interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific +narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise +remember the truthful, words of Delbrück: "Legende +und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie +mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden +nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum, +aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu übersetzen." + +ANDREW F. WEST. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The following version of the Getica of Jordanes is +based upon the text of Mommsen, as found in the +Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores +Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882). I have +adhered closely to his spelling of proper names, especially +the Gothic names, except in the case of a very few words +which are in common use in another form (such as +Gaiseric and Belisarius). + +I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dean Andrew F. +West of the Princeton Graduate School for his unfailing +interest in my work. It was in one of his graduate +courses that the translation was begun, three years ago, +and at his suggestion that I undertook the composition +of the thesis in its present form. He has read the entire +treatise in the manuscript, and has been my constant +adviser and critic. Thanks are also due to Dr. Charles +G. Osgood of the English Department of Princeton +University for reading the translation. + +CHARLES C. MIEROW. + + + Classical Seminary, + Princeton University, + July 1908. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +(Preface) + + +Though it had been my wish to glide in my little boat 1 +by the shore of a peaceful coast and, as a certain writer +says, to gather little fishes from the pools of the ancients, +you, brother Castalius, bid me set my sails toward the +deep. You urge me to leave the little work I have in +hand, that is, the abbreviation of the Chronicles, and to +condense in my own style in this small book the twelve +volumes of the Senator on the origin and deeds of the +Getae from olden time to the present day, descending +through the generations of the kings. Truly a hard command, 2 +and imposed by one who seems unwilling to realize +the burden of the task. Nor do you note this, that my +utterance is too slight to fill so magnificent a trumpet of +speech as his. But above every burden is the fact that +I have no access to his books that I may follow his +thought. Still--and let me lie not--I have in times past +read the books a second time by his steward's loan for a +three days' reading. The words I recall not, but the +sense and the deeds related I think I retain entire. To 3 +this I have added fitting matters from some Greek and +Latin histories. I have also put in an introduction and +a conclusion, and have inserted many things of my own +authorship. Wherefore reproach me not, but receive and +read with gladness what you have asked me to write. If +aught be insufficiently spoken and you remember it, do +you as a neighbor to our race add to it, praying for me, +dearest brother. The Lord be with you. Amen. + +(Geographical Introduction) + +[Sidenote: Ocean and Its Lesser Isles.] + +I Our ancestors, as Orosius relates, were of the 4 +opinion that the circle of the whole world was surrounded +by the girdle of Ocean on three sides. Its three parts +they called Asia, Europe and Africa. Concerning this +threefold division of the earth's extent there are almost +innumerable writers, who not only explain the situations +of cities and places, but also measure out the number of +miles and paces to give more clearness. Moreover they +locate the islands interspersed amid the waves, both the +greater and also the lesser islands, called Cyclades or +Sporades, as situated in the vast flood of the Great Sea. +But the impassable farther bounds of Ocean not only has 5 +no one attempted to describe, but no man has been allowed +to reach; for by reason of obstructing seaweed and +the failing of the winds it is plainly inaccessible and is +unknown to any save to Him who made it. But the 6 +nearer border of this sea, which we call the circle of the +world, surrounds its coasts like a wreath. This has +become clearly known to men of inquiring mind, even +to such as desired to write about it. For not only is the +coast itself inhabited, but certain islands off in the sea +are habitable. Thus there are to the East in the Indian +Ocean, Hippodes, Iamnesia, Solis Perusta (which though +not habitable, is yet of great length and breadth), besides +Taprobane, a fair island wherein there are towns or +estates and ten strongly fortified cities. But there is yet 7 +another, the lovely Silefantina, and Theros also. These, +though not clearly described by any writer, are nevertheless +well filled with inhabitants. This same Ocean has +in its western region certain islands known to almost +everyone by reason of the great number of those that +journey to and fro. And there are two not far from the +neighborhood of the Strait of Gades, one the Blessed +Isle and another called the Fortunate. Although some +reckon as islands of Ocean the twin promontories of +Galicia and Lusitania, where are still to be seen the +Temple of Hercules on one and Scipio's Monument on +the other, yet since they are joined to the extremity of +the Galician country, they belong rather to the great land +of Europe than to the islands of Ocean. However, it 8 +has other islands deeper within its own tides, which are +called the Baleares; and yet another, Mevania, besides +the Orcades, thirty-three in number, though not all inhabited. +And at the farthest bound of its western expanse 9 +it has another island named Thule, of which the +Mantuan bard makes mention: + + "And Farthest Thule shall serve thee." + +The same mighty sea has also in its arctic region, that is +in the north, a great island named Scandza, from which +my tale (by God's grace) shall take its beginning. For +the race whose origin you ask to know burst forth like a +swarm of bees from the midst of this island and came +into the land of Europe. But how or in what wise we +shall explain hereafter, if it be the Lord's will. + +(BRITAIN) + +[Sidenote: Caesar's two invasions of Britain B.C. 55-54] + +II But now let me speak briefly as I can concerning 10 +the island of Britain, which is situated in the bosom of +Ocean between Spain, Gaul and Germany. Although +Livy tells us that no one in former days sailed around +it, because of its great size, yet many writers have held +various opinions of it. It was long unapproached by +Roman arms, until Julius Caesar disclosed it by battles +fought for mere glory. In the busy age which followed +it became accessible to many through trade and by other +means. Thus it revealed more clearly its position, which +I shall here explain as I have found it in Greek and Latin +authors. Most of them say it is like a triangle pointing 11 +between the north and west. Its widest angle faces the +mouths of the Rhine. Then the island shrinks in breadth +and recedes until it ends in two other angles. Its long +doubled side faces Gaul and Germany. Its greatest +breadth is said to be over two thousand three hundred +and ten stadia, and its length not more than seven thousand +one hundred and thirty-two stadia. In some parts 12 +it is moorland, in others there are wooded plains, and +sometimes it rises into mountain peaks. The island is +surrounded by a sluggish sea, which neither gives readily +to the stroke of the oar nor runs high under the blasts +of the wind. I suppose this is because other lands are +so far removed from it as to cause no disturbance of the +sea, which indeed is of greater width here than anywhere +else. Moreover Strabo, a famous writer of the Greeks, +relates that the island exhales such mists from its soil, +soaked by the frequent inroads of Ocean, that the sun is +covered throughout the whole of their disagreeable sort +of day that passes as fair, and so is hidden from sight. + +Cornelius also, the author of the Annals, says that in 13 +the farthest part of Britain the night gets brighter and +is very short. He also says that the island abounds in +metals, is well supplied with grass and is more productive +in all those things which feed beasts rather than men. +Moreover many large rivers flow through it, and the +tides are borne back into them, rolling along precious +stones and pearls. The Silures have swarthy features +and are usually born with curly black hair, but the inhabitants +of Caledonia have reddish hair and large loose-jointed +bodies. They are like the Gauls or the Spaniards, +according as they are opposite either nation. Hence some 14 +have supposed that from these lands the island received +its inhabitants, alluring them by its nearness. All the +people and their kings are alike wild. Yet Dio, a most +celebrated writer of annals, assures us of the fact that +they have all been combined under the name of Caledonians +and Maeatae. They live in wattled huts, a shelter +used in common with their flocks, and often the woods +are their home. They paint their bodies with iron-red, +whether by way of adornment or perhaps for some other +reason. They often wage war with one another, either 15 +because they desire power or to increase their possessions. +They fight not only on horseback or on foot, but even +with scythed two-horse chariots, which they commonly +call _essedae_. Let it suffice to have said thus much on the +shape of the island of Britain. + +(SCANDZA) + +III Let us now return to the site of the island of 16 +Scandza, which we left above. Claudius Ptolemaeus, an +excellent describer of the world, has made mention of it +in the second book of his work, saying: "There is a +great island situated in the surge of the northern Ocean, +Scandza by name, in the shape of a juniper leaf with +bulging sides that taper down to a point at a long end." +Pomponius Mela also makes mention of it as situated in +the Codan Gulf of the sea, with Ocean lapping its shores. + +This island lies in front of the river Vistula, which rises 17 +in the Sarmatian mountains and flows through its triple +mouth into the northern Ocean in sight of Scandza, separating +Germany and Scythia. The island has in its +eastern part a vast lake in the bosom of the earth, whence +the Vagus river springs from the bowels of the earth and +flows surging into the Ocean. And on the west it is surrounded +by an immense sea. On the north it is bounded +by the same vast unnavigable Ocean, from which by +means of a sort of projecting arm of land a bay is cut off +and forms the German Sea. Here also there are said to 18 +be many small islands scattered round about. If wolves +cross over to these islands when the sea is frozen by +reason of the great cold, they are said to lose their sight. +Thus the land is not only inhospitable to men but cruel +even to wild beasts. + +Now in the island of Scandza, whereof I speak, there 19 +dwell many and divers nations, though Ptolemaeus mentions +the names of but seven of them. There the honey-making +swarms of bees are nowhere to be found on +account of the exceeding great cold. In the northern part +of the island the race of the Adogit live, who are said +to have continual light in midsummer for forty days and +nights, and who likewise have no clear light in the winter +season for the same number of days and nights. By 20 +reason of this alternation of sorrow and joy they are like +no other race in their sufferings and blessings. And why? +Because during the longer days they see the sun returning +to the east along the rim of the horizon, but on the shorter +days it is not thus seen. The sun shows itself differently +because it is passing through the southern signs, and +whereas to us the sun seem to rise from below, it seems +to go around them along the edge of the earth. There +also are other peoples. There are the Screrefennae, who 21 +do not seek grain for food but live on the flesh of wild +beasts and birds' eggs; for there are such multitudes of +young game in the swamps as to provide for the natural +increase of their kind and to afford satisfaction to the +needs of the people. But still another race dwells there, +the Suehans, who, like the Thuringians, have splendid +horses. Here also are those who send through innumerable +other tribes the sappherine skins to trade for Roman +use. They are a people famed for the dark beauty of +their furs and, though living in poverty, are most richly +clothed. Then comes a throng of various nations, Theustes, 22 +Vagoth, Bergio, Hallin, Liothida. All their habitations +are in one level and fertile region. Wherefore they +are disturbed there by the attacks of other tribes. Behind +these are the Ahelmil, Finnaithae, Fervir and Gauthigoth, +a race of men bold and quick to fight. Then come the +Mixi, Evagre, and Otingis. All these live like wild animals +in rocks hewn out like castles. And there are beyond 23 +these the Ostrogoths, Raumarici, Aeragnaricii, and +the most gentle Finns, milder than all the inhabitants of +Scandza. Like them are the Vinovilith also. The Suetidi +are of this stock and excel the rest in stature. However, +the Dani, who trace their origin to the same stock, drove +from their homes the Heruli, who lay claim to preëminence +among all the nations of Scandza for their tallness. +Furthermore there are in the same neighborhood the 24 +Grannii, Augandzi, Eunixi, Taetel, Rugi, Arochi and +Ranii, over whom Roduulf was king not many years ago. +But he despised his own kingdom and fled to the embrace +of Theodoric, king of the Goths, finding there what he +desired. All these nations surpassed the Germans in size +and spirit, and fought with the cruelty of wild beasts. + +(The United Goths) + +[Sidenote: HOW THE GOTHS CAME TO SCYTHIA] + +IV Now from this island of Scandza, as from a hive 25 +of races or a womb of nations, the Goths are said to have +come forth long ago under their king, Berig by name. +As soon as they disembarked from their ships and set +foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to the +place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothiscandza. +Soon they moved from here to the abodes of +the Ulmerugi, who then dwelt on the shores of Ocean, 26 +where they pitched camp, joined battle with them and +drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their +neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories. +But when the number of the people increased greatly and +Filimer, son of Gadaric, reigned as king--about the fifth +since Berig--he decided that the army of the Goths with +their families should move from that region. In search 27 +of suitable homes and pleasant places they came to the +land of Scythia, called Oium in that tongue. Here they +were delighted with the great richness of the country, +and it is said that when half the army had been brought +over, the bridge whereby they had crossed the river fell +in utter ruin, nor could anyone thereafter pass to or fro. +For the place is said to be surrounded by quaking bogs +and an encircling abyss, so that by this double obstacle +nature has made it inaccessible. And even to-day one +may hear in that neighborhood the lowing of cattle and +may find traces of men, if we are to believe the stories +of travellers, although we must grant that they hear these +things from afar. + +This part of the Goths, which is said to have crossed 28 +the river and entered with Filimer into the country of +Oium, came into possession of the desired land, and there +they soon came upon the race of the Spali, joined battle +with them and won the victory. Thence the victors hastened +to the farthest part of Scythia, which is near the sea +of Pontus; for so the story is generally told in their early +songs, in almost historic fashion. Ablabius also, a famous +chronicler of the Gothic race, confirms this in his +most trustworthy account. Some of the ancient writers 29 +also agree with the tale. Among these we may mention +Josephus, a most reliable relator of annals, who everywhere +follows the rule of truth and unravels from the +beginning the origin of causes;--but why he has omitted +the beginnings of the race of the Goths, of which I have +spoken, I do not know. He barely mentions Magog +of that stock, and says they were Scythians by race and +were called so by name. + +Before we enter on our history, we must describe the +boundaries of this land, as it lies. + +[Sidenote: SCYTHIA] + +V Now Scythia borders on the land of Germany as 30 +far as the source of the river Ister and the expanse of the +Morsian Swamp. It reaches even to the rivers Tyra, +Danaster and Vagosola, and the great Danaper, extending +to the Taurus range--not the mountains in Asia but +our own, that is, the Scythian Taurus--all the way to +Lake Maeotis. Beyond Lake Maeotis it spreads on the +other side of the straits of Bosphorus to the Caucasus +Mountains and the river Araxes. Then it bends back to +the left behind the Caspian Sea, which comes from the +north-eastern ocean in the most distant parts of Asia, and +so is formed like a mushroom, at first narrow and then +broad and round in shape. It extends as far as the Huns, +Albani and Seres. This land, I say,--namely, Scythia, 31 +stretching far and spreading wide,--has on the east the +Seres, a race that dwelt at the very beginning of their +history on the shore of the Caspian Sea. On the west are +the Germans and the river Vistula; on the arctic side, +namely the north, it is surrounded by Ocean; on the south +by Persis, Albania, Hiberia, Pontus and the farthest +channel of the Ister, which is called the Danube all the +way from mouth to source. But in that region where 32 +Scythia touches the Pontic coast it is dotted with towns +of no mean fame:--Borysthenis, Olbia, Callipolis, Cherson, +Theodosia, Careon, Myrmicion and Trapezus. These +towns the wild Scythian tribes allowed the Greeks to build +to afford them means of trade. In the midst of Scythia is +the place that separates Asia and Europe, I mean the +Rhipaeian mountains, from which the mighty Tanais +flows. This river enters Maeotis, a marsh having a circuit +of one hundred and forty-four miles and never subsiding +to a depth of less than eight fathoms. + +In the land of Scythia to the westward dwells, first of 33 +all, the race of the Gepidae, surrounded by great and +famous rivers. For the Tisia flows through it on the +north and northwest, and on the southwest is the great +Danube. On the east it is cut by the Flutausis, a swiftly +eddying stream that sweeps whirling into the Ister's +waters. Within these rivers lies Dacia, encircled by the 34 +lofty Alps as by a crown. Near their left ridge, which +inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of +the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occupying +a great expanse of land. Though their names are +now dispersed amid various clans and places, yet they are +chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes. The abode of the 35 +Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the +lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as +far as the Vistula. They have swamps and forests for +their cities. The Antes, who are the bravest of these +peoples dwelling in the curve of the sea of Pontus, spread +from the Danaster to the Danaper, rivers that are many +days' journey apart. But on the shore of Ocean, where 36 +the floods of the river Vistula empty from three mouths, +the Vidivarii dwell, a people gathered out of various +tribes. Beyond them the Aesti, a subject race, likewise +hold the shore of Ocean. To the south dwell the Acatziri, +a very brave tribe ignorant of agriculture, who subsist +on their flocks and by hunting. Farther away and above 37 +the Sea of Pontus are the abodes of the Bulgares, well +known from the wrongs done to them by reason of our +oppression. From this region the Huns, like a fruitful +root of bravest races, sprouted into two hordes of people. +Some of these are called Altziagiri, others Sabiri; and +they have different dwelling places. The Altziagiri are +near Cherson, where the avaricious traders bring in the +goods of Asia. In summer they range the plains, their +broad domains, wherever the pasturage for their cattle +invites them, and betake themselves in winter beyond the +Sea of Pontus. Now the Hunuguri are known to us from +the fact that they trade in marten skins. But they have +been cowed by their bolder neighbors. + +[Sidenote: THE THREE ABODES OF THE GOTHS] + +We read that on their first migration the Goths dwelt 38 +in the land of Scythia near Lake Maeotis. On the second +migration they went to Moesia, Thrace and Dacia, and +after their third they dwelt again in Scythia, above the +Sea of Pontus. Nor do we find anywhere in their +written records legends which tell of their subjection to +slavery in Britain or in some other island, or of their +redemption by a certain man at the cost of a single horse. +Of course if anyone in our city says that the Goths had an +origin different from that I have related, let him object. +For myself, I prefer to believe what I have read, rather +than put trust in old wives' tales. + +To return, then, to my subject. The aforesaid race of 39 +which I speak is known to have had Filimer as king while +they remained in their first home in Scythia near Maeotis. +In their second home, that is in the countries of Dacia, +Thrace and Moesia, Zalmoxes reigned, whom many writers +of annals mention as a man of remarkable learning in +philosophy. Yet even before this they had a learned man +Zeuta, and after him Dicineus; and the third was Zalmoxes +of whom I have made mention above. Nor did +they lack teachers of wisdom. Wherefore the Goths have 40 +ever been wiser than other barbarians and were nearly +like the Greeks, as Dio relates, who wrote their history +and annals with a Greek pen. He says that those of noble +birth among them, from whom their kings and priests +were appointed, were called first Tarabostesei and then +Pilleati. Moreover so highly were the Getae praised that +Mars, whom the fables of poets call the god of war, was +reputed to have been born among them. Hence Virgil +says: + + "Father Gradivus rules the Getic fields." 41 + +Now Mars has always been worshipped by the Goths +with cruel rites, and captives were slain as his victims. +They thought that he who is the lord of war ought to be +appeased by the shedding of human blood. To him they +devoted the first share of the spoil, and in his honor arms +stripped from the foe were suspended from trees. And +they had more than all other races a deep spirit of religion, +since the worship of this god seemed to be really +bestowed upon their ancestor. + +In their third dwelling place, which was above the Sea 42 +of Pontus, they had now become more civilized and, as I +have said before, were more learned. Then the people +were divided under ruling families. The Visigoths served +the family of the Balthi and the Ostrogoths served the +renowned Amali. They were the first race of men to 43 +string the bow with cords, as Lucan, who is more of a +historian than a poet, affirms: + + "They string Armenian bows with Getic cords." + +[Sidenote: THE RIVER DON] + +[Sidenote: THE DNIEPER] + +In earliest times they sang of the deeds of their ancestors +in strains of song accompanied by the cithara; chanting +of Eterpamara, Hanala, Fritigern, Vidigoia and +others whose fame among them is great; such heroes as +admiring antiquity scarce proclaims its own to be. Then, 44 +as the story goes, Vesosis waged a war disastrous to +himself against the Scythians, whom ancient tradition +asserts to have been the husbands of the Amazons. Concerning +these female warriors Orosius speaks in convincing +language. Thus we can clearly prove that Vesosis +then fought with the Goths, since we know surely that he +waged war with the husbands of the Amazons. They +dwelt at that time along a bend of Lake Maeotis, from +the river Borysthenes, which the natives call the Danaper, +to the stream of the Tanais. By the Tanais I mean the 45 +river which flows down from the Rhipaeian mountains +and rushes with so swift a current that when the neighboring +streams or Lake Maeotis and the Bosphorus are +frozen fast, it is the only river that is kept warm by the +rugged mountains and is never solidified by the Scythian +cold. It is also famous as the boundary of Asia and +Europe. For the other Tanais is the one which rises in +the mountains of the Chrinni and flows into the Caspian +Sea. The Danaper begins in a great marsh and issues 46 +from it as from its mother. It is sweet and fit to drink +as far as half-way down its course. It also produces fish +of a fine flavor and without bones, having only cartilage +as the frame-work of their bodies. But as it approaches +the Pontus it receives a little spring called Exampaeus, +so very bitter that although the river is navigable for the +length of a forty days' voyage, it is so altered by the +water of this scanty stream as to become tainted and +unlike itself, and flows thus tainted into the sea between +the Greek towns of Callipidae and Hypanis. At its mouth +there is an island named Achilles. Between these two +rivers is a vast land filled with forests and treacherous +swamps. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF VESOSIS (SESOSTRIS)] + +VI This was the region where the Goths dwelt when 47 +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, made war upon them. +Their king at that time was Tanausis. In a battle at the +river Phasis (whence come the birds called pheasants, +which are found in abundance at the banquets of the great +all over the world) Tanausis, king of the Goths, met +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, and there inflicted a +severe defeat upon him, pursuing him even to Egypt. +Had he not been restrained by the waters of the impassable +Nile and the fortifications which Vesosis had long +ago ordered to be made against the raids of the Ethiopians, +he would have slain him in his own land. But +finding he had no power to injure him there, he returned +and conquered almost all Asia and made it subject and +tributary to Sornus, king of the Medes, who was then his +dear friend. At that time some of his victorious army, +seeing that the subdued provinces were rich and fruitful, +deserted their companies and of their own accord +remained in various parts of Asia. + +From their name or race Pompeius Trogus says the 48 +stock of the Parthians had its origin. Hence even to-day +in the Scythian tongue they are called Parthi, that is, +Deserters. And in consequence of their descent they are +archers--almost alone among all the nations of Asia--and +are very valiant warriors. Now in regard to the +name, though I have said they were called Parthi because +they were deserters, some have traced the derivation of +the word otherwise, saying that they were called Parthi +because they fled from their kinsmen. Now when this +Tanausis, king of the Goths, was dead, his people worshipped +him as one of their gods. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS IN ASIA MINOR] + +VII After his death, while the army under his successors 49 +was engaged in an expedition in other parts, a +neighboring tribe attempted to carry off women of the +Goths as booty. But they made a brave resistance, as +they had been taught to do by their husbands, and routed +in disgrace the enemy who had come upon them. When +they had won this victory, they were inspired with greater +daring. Mutually encouraging each other, they took up +arms and chose two of the bolder, Lampeto and Marpesia, +to act as their leaders. While they were in command, 50 +they cast lots both for the defense of their own country +and the devastation of other lands. So Lampeto remained +to guard their native land and Marpesia took a company +of women and led this novel army into Asia. After conquering +various tribes in war and making others their +allies by treaties, she came to the Caucasus. There she +remained for some time and gave the place the name Rock +of Marpesia, of which also Virgil makes mention: + + "Like to hard flint or the Marpesian Cliff." + +It was here Alexander the Great afterwards built gates +and named them the Caspian Gates, which now the tribe +of the Lazi guard as a Roman fortification. Here, then, 51 +the Amazons remained for some time and were much +strengthened. Then they departed and crossed the river +Halys, which flows near the city of Gangra, and with +equal success subdued Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, +Pisidia and all the places of Asia. Then they turned to +Ionia and Aeolia, and made provinces of them after their +surrender. Here they ruled for some time and even +founded cities and camps bearing their name. At Ephesus +also they built a very costly and beautiful temple for +Diana, because of her delight in archery and the chase--arts +to which they were themselves devoted. Then these 52 +Scythian-born women, who had by such a chance gained +control over the kingdoms of Asia, held them for almost +a hundred years, and at last came back to their own kinsfolk +in the Marpesian rocks I have mentioned above, +namely the Caucasus mountains. + +[Sidenote: THE CAUCASUS] + +Inasmuch as I have twice mentioned this mountain-range, +I think it not out of place to describe its extent and +situation, for, as is well known, it encompasses a great +part of the earth with its continuous chain. Beginning 53 +at the Indian Ocean, where it faces the south it is warm, +giving off vapor in the sun; where it lies open to the +north it is exposed to chill winds and frost. Then bending +back into Syria with a curving turn, it not only sends +forth many other streams, but pours from its plenteous +breasts into the Vasianensian region the Euphrates and +the Tigris, navigable rivers famed for their unfailing +springs. These rivers surround the land of the Syrians +and cause it to be called Mesopotamia, as it truly is. Their +waters empty into the bosom of the Red Sea. Then turning 54 +back to the north, the range I have spoken of passes +with great bends through the Scythian lands. There it +sends forth very famous rivers into the Caspian Sea--the +Araxes, the Cyrus and the Cambyses. It goes on in continuous +range even to the Rhipaeian mountains. Thence +it descends from the north toward the Pontic Sea, furnishing +a boundary to the Scythian tribes by its ridge, and +even touches the waters of the Ister with its clustered +hills. Being cut by this river, it divides, and in Scythia +is named Taurus also. Such then is the great range, 55 +almost the mightiest of mountain chains, rearing aloft its +summits and by its natural conformation supplying men +with impregnable strongholds. Here and there it divides +where the ridge breaks apart and leaves a deep gap, thus +forming now the Caspian Gates, and again the Armenian +or the Cilician, or of whatever name the place may be. +Yet they are barely passable for a wagon, for both sides +are sharp and steep as well as very high. The range has +different names among various peoples. The Indian calls +it Imaus and in another part Paropamisus. The Parthian +calls it first Choatras and afterward Niphates; the Syrian +and Armenian call it Taurus; the Scythian names it Caucasus +and Rhipaeus, and at its end calls it Taurus. Many +other tribes have given names to the range. Now that we +have devoted a few words to describing its extent, let us +return to the subject of the Amazons. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS] + +VIII Fearing their race would fail, they sought marriage 56 +with neighboring tribes. They appointed a day for +meeting once in every year, so that when they should +return to the same place on that day in the following year +each mother might give over to the father whatever male +child she had borne, but should herself keep and train for +warfare whatever children of the female sex were born. +Or else, as some maintain, they exposed the males, destroying +the life of the ill-fated child with a hate like +that of a stepmother. Among them childbearing was +detested, though everywhere else it is desired. The terror 57 +of their cruelty was increased by common rumor; for +what hope, pray, would there be for a captive, when it +was considered wrong to spare even a son? Hercules, +they say, fought against them and overcame Menalippe, +yet more by guile than by valor. Theseus, moreover, took +Hippolyte captive, and of her he begat Hippolytus. And +in later times the Amazons had a queen named Penthesilea, +famed in the tales of the Trojan war. These women +are said to have kept their power even to the time of +Aleander the Great. + +[Sidenote: REIGN OF TELEFUS AND EURYPYLUS] + +IX But say not "Why does a story which deals with 58 +the men of the Goths have so much to say of their women?" +Hear, then, the tale of the famous and glorious +valor of the men. Now Dio, the historian and diligent +investigator of ancient times, who gave to his work the +title "Getica" (and the Getae we have proved in a previous +passage to be Goths, on the testimony of Orosius +Paulus)--this Dio, I say, makes mention of a later king +of theirs named Telefus. Let no one say that this name +is quite foreign to the Gothic tongue, and let no one who +is ignorant cavil at the fact that the tribes of men make +use of many names, even as the Romans borrow from the +Macedonians, the Greeks from the Romans, the Sarmatians +from the Germans, and the Goths frequently from +the Huns. This Telefus, then, a son of Hercules by 59 +Auge, and the husband of a sister of Priam, was of +towering stature and terrible strength. He matched his +father's valor by virtues of his own and also recalled the +traits of Hercules by his likeness in appearance. Our +ancestors called his kingdom Moesia. This province has +on the east the mouths of the Danube, on the south +Macedonia, on the west Histria and on the north the +Danube. Now this king we have mentioned carried on 60 +wars with the Greeks, and in their course he slew in battle +Thesander, the leader of Greece. But while he was making +a hostile attack upon Ajax and was pursuing Ulysses, +his horse became entangled in some vines and fell. He +himself was thrown and wounded in the thigh by a javelin +of Achilles, so that for a long time he could not be healed. +Yet, despite his wound, he drove the Greeks from his +land. Now when Telefus died, his son Eurypylus succeeded +to the throne, being a son of the sister of Priam, +king of the Phrygians. For love of Cassandra he sought +to take part in the Trojan war, that he might come to the +help of her parents and his own father-in-law; but soon +after his arrival he was killed. + +[Sidenote: Cyrus the Great B.C. 559-529] + +[Sidenote: QUEEN TOMYRIS AND CYRUS B.C. 529] + +X Then Cyrus, king of the Persians, after a long 61 +interval of almost exactly six hundred and thirty years +(as Pompeius Trogus relates), waged an unsuccessful +war against Tomyris, Queen of the Getae. Elated by his +victories in Asia, he strove to conquer the Getae, whose +queen, as I have said, was Tomyris. Though she could +have stopped the approach of Cyrus at the river Araxes, +yet she permitted him to cross, preferring to overcome +him in battle rather than to thwart him by advantage of 62 +position. And so she did. As Cyrus approached, fortune +at first so favored the Parthians that they slew the son +of Tomyris and most of the army. But when the battle +was renewed, the Getae and their queen defeated, conquered +and overwhelmed the Parthians and took rich +plunder from them. There for the first time the race of +the Goths saw silken tents. After achieving this victory +and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen +Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is +now called Lesser Scythia--a name borrowed from great +Scythia,--and built on the Moesian shore of Pontus the +city of Tomi, named after herself. + +[Sidenote: DARIUS B.C. 521-485] + +[Sidenote: DARIUS REPELLED] + +Afterwards Darius, king of the Persians, the son of 63 +Hystaspes, demanded in marriage the daughter of Antyrus, +king of the Goths, asking for her hand and at the +same time making threats in case they did not fulfil his +wish. The Goths spurned this alliance and brought his +embassy to naught. Inflamed with anger because his +offer had been rejected, he led an army of seven hundred +thousand armed men against them and sought to avenge +his wounded feelings by inflicting a public injury. Crossing +on boats covered with boards and joined like a bridge +almost the whole way from Chalcedon to Byzantium, he +started for Thrace and Moesia. Later he built a bridge +over the Danube in like manner, but he was wearied by +two brief months of effort and lost eight thousand armed +men among the Tapae. Then, fearing the bridge over the +Danube would be seized by his foes, he marched back to +Thrace in swift retreat, believing the land of Moesia +would not be safe for even a short sojourn there. + +[Sidenote: Xerxes B.C. 485-465] + +After his death, his son Xerxes planned to avenge his 64 +father's wrongs and so proceeded to undertake a war +against the Goths with seven hundred thousand of his +own men and three hundred thousand armed auxiliaries, +twelve hundred ships of war and three thousand transports. +But he did not venture to try them in battle, being +overawed by their unyielding animosity. So he returned +with his force just as he had come, and without righting +a single battle. + +[Sidenote: Philip of Macedon B.C. 359-336] + +[Sidenote: SIEGE OF ODESSUS] + +Then Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, made 65 +alliance with the Goths and took to wife Medopa, the +daughter of King Gudila, so that he might render the +kingdom of Macedon more secure by the help of this +marriage. It was at this time, as the historian Dio relates, +that Philip, suffering from need of money, determined +to lead out his forces and sack Odessus, a city of +Moesia, which was then subject to the Goths by reason of +the neighboring city of Tomi. Thereupon those priests +of the Goths that are called the Holy Men suddenly +opened the gates of Odessus and came forth to meet them. +They bore harps and were clad in snowy robes, and +chanted in suppliant strains to the gods of their fathers +that they might be propitious and repel the Macedonians. +When the Macedonians saw them coming with such confidence +to meet them, they were astonished and, so to +speak, the armed were terrified by the unarmed. Straight-way +they broke the line they had formed for battle and +not only refrained from destroying the city, but even +gave back those whom they had captured outside by right +of war. Then they made a truce and returned to their +own country. + +After a long time Sitalces, a famous leader of the 66 +Goths, remembering this treacherous attempt, gathered a +hundred and fifty thousand men and made war upon the +Athenians, fighting against Perdiccas, King of Macedon. +This Perdiccas had been left by Alexander as his successor +to rule Athens by hereditary right, when he drank his +destruction at Babylon through the treachery of an attendant. +The Goths engaged in a great battle with him +and proved themselves to be the stronger. Thus in return +for the wrong which the Macedonians had long before +committed in Moesia, the Goths overran Greece and laid +waste the whole of Macedonia. + +[Sidenote: Sulla's Dictatorship B.C. 82-79] + +[Sidenote: THE WISE RULE OF DICINEUS] + +[Sidenote: Caesar's Dictatorship B.C. 49-44] + +[Sidenote: Tiberius A.D. 14-37] + +XI Then when Buruista was king of the Goths, 67 +Dicineus came to Gothia at the time when Sulla ruled the +Romans. Buruista received Dicineus and gave him almost +royal power. It was by his advice the Goths ravaged +the lands of the Germans, which the Franks now possess. 68 +Then came Caesar, the first of all the Romans to assume +imperial power and to subdue almost the whole world, +who conquered all kingdoms and even seized islands lying +beyond our world, reposing in the bosom of Ocean. He +made tributary to the Romans those that knew not the +Roman name even by hearsay, and yet was unable to prevail +against the Goths, despite his frequent attempts. +Soon Gaius Tiberius reigned as third emperor of the +Romans, and yet the Goths continued in their kingdom +unharmed. Their safety, their advantage, their one hope 69 +lay in this, that whatever their counsellor Dicineus advised +should by all means be done; and they judged it +expedient that they should labor for its accomplishment. +And when he saw that their minds were obedient to him +in all things and that they had natural ability, he taught +them almost the whole of philosophy, for he was a skilled +master of this subject. Thus by teaching them ethics he +restrained their barbarous customs; by imparting a knowledge +of physics he made them live naturally under laws +of their own, which they possess in written form to this +day and call _belagines_. He taught them logic and made +them skilled in reasoning beyond all other races; he +showed them practical knowledge and so persuaded them +to abound in good works. By demonstrating theoretical +knowledge he urged them to contemplate the twelve signs +and the courses of the planets passing through them, and +the whole of astronomy. He told them how the disc of +the moon gains increase or suffers loss, and showed them +how much the fiery globe of the sun exceeds in size our +earthly planet. He explained the names of the three hundred +and forty-six stars and told through what signs in +the arching vault of the heavens they glide swiftly from +their rising to their setting. Think, I pray you, what 70 +pleasure it was for these brave men, when for a little +space they had leisure from warfare, to be instructed in +the teachings of philosophy! You might have seen one +scanning the position of the heavens and another investigating +the nature of plants and bushes. Here stood one +who studied the waxing and waning of the moon, while +still another regarded the labors of the sun and observed +how those bodies which were hastening to go toward the +east are whirled around and borne back to the west by +the rotation of the heavens. When they had learned the 71 +reason, they were at rest. These and various other matters +Dicineus taught the Goths in his wisdom and gained +marvellous repute among them, so that he ruled not only +the common men but their kings. He chose from among +them those that were at that time of noblest birth and +superior wisdom and taught them theology, bidding them +worship certain divinities and holy places. He gave the +name of Pilleati to the priests he ordained, I suppose +because they offered sacrifice having their heads covered +with tiaras, which we otherwise call _pillei_. But he bade +them call the rest of their race Capillati. This name the 72 +Goths accepted and prized highly and they retain it to +this day in their songs. + +After the death of Dicineus, they held Comosicus in 73 +almost equal honor, because he was not inferior in knowledge. +By reason of his wisdom he was accounted their +priest and king, and he judged the people with the greatest +uprightness. + +[Sidenote: DACIA] + +XII When he too had departed from human affairs, +Coryllus ascended the throne as king of the Goths and for +forty years ruled his people in Dacia. I mean ancient +Dacia, which the race of the Gepidae now possess. This +country lies across the Danube within sight of Moesia, 74 +and is surrounded by a crown of mountains. It has only +two ways of access, one by way of the Boutae and the +other by the Tapae. This Gothia, which our ancestors +called Dacia and now, as I have said, is called Gepidia, +was then bounded on the east by the Roxolani, on the west +by the Iazyges, on the north by the Sarmatians and Basternae +and on the south by the river Danube. The Iazyges +are separated from the Roxolani by the Aluta river only. + +[Sidenote: THE DANUBE] + +And since mention has been made of the Danube, I 75 +think it not out of place to make brief notice of so excellent +a stream. Rising in the fields of the Alamanni, it +receives sixty streams which flow into it here and there +in the twelve hundred miles from its source to its mouths +in the Pontus, resembling a spine inwoven with ribs like +a basket. It is indeed a most vast river. In the language +of the Bessi it is called the Hister, and it has profound +waters in its channel to a depth of quite two hundred feet. +This stream surpasses in size all other rivers, except the +Nile. Let this much suffice for the Danube. But let us +now with the Lord's help return to the subject from which +we have digressed. + +[Sidenote: Domitian A.D. 81-96] + +[Sidenote: WAR WITH DOMITIAN] + +XIII Now after a long time, in the reign of the 76 +Emperor Domitian, the Goths, through fear of his avarrice, +broke the truce they had long observed under other +emperors. They laid waste the bank of the Danube, so +long held by the Roman Empire, and slew the soldiers and +their generals. Oppius Sabinus was then in command of +that province, succeeding Agrippa, while Dorpaneus held +command over the Goths. Thereupon the Goths made +war and conquered the Romans, cut off the head of +Oppius Sabinus, and invaded and boldly plundered many +castles and cities belonging to the Emperor. In this plight 77 +of his countrymen Domitian hastened with all his might +to Illyricum, bringing with him the troops of almost +the entire empire. He sent Fuscus before him as his +general with picked soldiers. Then joining boats together +like a bridge, he made his soldiers cross the river +Danube above the army of Dorpaneus. But the Goths 78 +were on the alert. They took up arms and presently overwhelmed +the Romans in the first encounter. They slew +Fuscus, the commander, and plundered the soldiers' camp +of its treasure. And because of the great victory they +had won in this region, they thereafter called their leaders, +by whose good fortune they seemed to have conquered, +not mere men, but demigods, that is Ansis. Their +genealogy I shall run through briefly, telling the lineage +of each and the beginning and the end of this line. And +do thou, O reader, hear me without repining; for I speak +truly. + +[Sidenote: GENEALOGY OF THE ANSIS OR AMALI] + +XIV Now the first of these heroes, as they themselves 79 +relate in their legends, was Gapt, who begat +Hulmul. And Hulmul begat Augis; and Augis begat +him who was called Amal, from whom the name of the +Amali comes. This Amal begat Hisarnis. Hisarnis +moreover begat Ostrogotha, and Ostrogotha begat Hunuil, +and Hunuil likewise begat Athal. Athal begat +Achiulf and Oduulf. Now Achiulf begat Ansila and +Ediulf, Vultuulf and Hermanaric. And Vultuulf begat +Valaravans and Valaravans begat Vinitharius. Vinitharius +moreover begat Vandalarius; Vandalarius begat 80 +Thiudimer and Valamir and Vidimer; and Thiudimer +begat Theodoric. Theodoric begat Amalasuentha; Amalasuentha +bore Athalaric and Mathesuentha to her husband +Eutharic, whose race was thus joined to hers in +kinship. For the aforesaid Hermanaric, the son of 81 +Achiulf, begat Hunimund, and Hunimund begat Thorismud. +Now Thorismud begat Beremud, Beremud begat +Veteric, and Veteric likewise begat Eutharic, who married +Amalasuentha and begat Athalaric and Mathesuentha. +Athalaric died in the years of his childhood, and +Mathesuentha married Vitiges, to whom she bore no +child. Both of them were taken together by Belisarius to +Constantinople. When Vitiges passed from human affairs, +Germanus the patrician, a cousin of the Emperor +Justinian, took Mathesuentha in marriage and made her +a Patrician Ordinary. And of her he begat a son, also +called Germanus. But upon the death of Germanus, she +determined to remain a widow. Now how and in what +wise the kingdom of the Amali was overthrown we shall +keep to tell in its proper place, if the Lord help us. + +But let us now return to the point whence we made our 82 +digression and tell how the stock of this people of whom +I speak reached the end of its course. Now Ablabius the +historian relates that in Scythia, where we have said that +they were dwelling above an arm of the Pontic Sea, part +of them who held the eastern region and whose king was +Ostrogotha, were called Ostrogoths, that is, eastern +Goths, either from his name or from the place. But the +rest were called Visigoths, that is, the Goths of the western +country. + +[Sidenote: MAXIMINUS, THE GOTH WHO BECAME A ROMAN EMPEROR] + +[Sidenote: Septimius Severus A.D. 193-211] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Caracalla A.D. 198-217] + +[Sidenote: Macrinus A.D. 217-218] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Elagabalus A.D. 218-222] + +[Sidenote: Alexander A.D. 222-235] + +[Sidenote: Maximinus A.D. 235-238] + +[Sidenote: Pupienus A.D. 238] + +XV As already said, they crossed the Danube and 83 +dwelt a little while in Moesia and Thrace. From the +remnant of these came Maximinus, the Emperor succeeding +Alexander the son of Mama. For Symmachus relates +it thus in the fifth book of his history, saying that +upon the death of Caesar Alexander, Maximinus was +made Emperor by the army; a man born in Thrace of +most humble parentage, his father being a Goth named +Micca, and his mother a woman of the Alani called +Ababa. He reigned three years and lost alike his empire +and his life while making war on the Christians. Now 84 +after his first years spent in rustic life, he had come from +his flocks to military service in the reign of the Emperor +Severus and at the time when he was celebrating his +son's birthday. It happened that the Emperor was giving +military games. When Maximinus saw this, although he +was a semi-barbarian youth, he besought the Emperor in +his native tongue to give him permission to wrestle with 85 +the trained soldiers for the prizes offered. Severus marvelling +much at his great size--for his stature, it is said, +was more than eight feet,--bade him contend in wrestling +with the camp followers, in order that no injury might +befall his soldiers at the hands of this wild fellow. Thereupon +Maximinus threw sixteen attendants with so great +ease that he conquered them one by one without taking +any rest by pausing between the bouts. So then, when +he had won the prizes, it was ordered that he should be +sent into the army and should take his first campaign with +the cavalry. On the third day after this, when the Emperor +went out to the field, he saw him coursing about +in barbarian fashion and bade a tribune restrain him and +teach him Roman discipline. But when he understood +it was the Emperor who was speaking about him, he came 86 +forward and began to run ahead of him as he rode. Then +the Emperor spurred on his horse to a slow trot and +wheeled in many a circle hither and thither with various +turns, until he was weary. And then he said to him "Are +you willing to wrestle now after your running, my little +Thracian?" "As much as you like, O Emperor," he +answered. So Severus leaped from his horse and ordered +the freshest soldiers to wrestle with him. But he threw +to the ground seven very powerful youths, even as before, +taking no breathing space between the bouts. So he alone +was given prizes of silver and a golden necklace by Caesar. +Then he was bidden to serve in the body guard of +the Emperor. After this he was an officer under Antoninus 87 +Caracalla, often increasing his fame by his deeds, +and rose to many military grades and finally to the centurionship +as the reward of his active service. Yet afterwards, +when Macrinus became Emperor, he refused military +service for almost three years, and though he held +the office of tribune, he never came into the presence of +Macrinus, thinking his rule shameful because he had won +it by committing a crime. Then he returned to Eliogabalus, 88 +believing him to be the son of Antoninus, and +entered upon his tribuneship. After his reign, he fought +with marvellous success against the Parthians, under +Alexander the son of Mama. When he was slain in an +uprising of the soldiers at Mogontiacum, Maximinus +himself was made Emperor by a vote of the army, without +a decree of the senate. But he marred all his good +deeds by persecuting the Christians in accordance with +an evil vow and, being slain by Pupienus at Aquileia, left +the kingdom to Philip. These matters we have borrowed +from the history of Symmachus for this our little book, +in order to show that the race of which we speak attained +to the very highest station in the Roman Empire. But +our subject requires us to return in due order to the point +whence we digressed. + +[Sidenote: KING OSTROGOTHA WARS WITH PHILIP] + +[Sidenote: Philip pater A.D. 244-249 "The Arabian"] + +[Sidenote: Philip filius A.D. 247-249] + +XVI Now the Gothic race gained great fame in the 89 +region where they were then dwelling, that is in the +Scythian land on the shore of Pontus, holding undisputed +sway over great stretches of country, many arms of the +sea and many river courses. By their strong right arm +the Vandals were often laid low, the Marcomanni held +their footing by paying tribute and the princes of the +Quadi were reduced to slavery. Now when the aforesaid +Philip--who, with his son Philip, was the only Christian +emperor before Constantine--ruled over the Romans, in +the second year of his reign Rome completed its one +thousandth year. He withheld from the Goths the tribute +due them; whereupon they were naturally enraged and +instead of friends became his foes. For though they dwelt +apart under their own kings, yet they had been allied to +the Roman state and received annual gifts. And what 90 +more? Ostrogotha and his men soon crossed the Danube +and ravaged Moesia and Thrace. Philip sent the senator +Decius against him. And since he could do nothing +against the Getae, he released his own soldiers from military +service and sent them back to private life, as though +it had been by their neglect that the Goths had crossed the +Danube. When, as he supposed, he had thus taken vengeance +on his soldiers, he returned to Philip. But when +the soldiers found themselves expelled from the army +after so many hardships, in their anger they had recourse +to the protection of Ostrogotha, king of the Goths. He 91 +received them, was aroused by their words and presently +led out three hundred thousand armed men, having as +allies for this war some of the Taifali and Astringi and +also three thousand of the Carpi, a race of men very ready +to make war and frequently hostile to the Romans. But +in later times when Diocletian and Maximian were Emperors, +the Caesar Galerius Maximianus conquered them +and made them tributary to the Roman Empire. Besides +these tribes, Ostrogotha had Goths and Peucini from the +island of Peucë, which lies in the mouths of the Danube +where they empty into the Sea of Pontus. He placed in +command Argaithus and Guntheric, the noblest leaders 92 +of his race. They speedily crossed the Danube, devastated +Moesia a second time and approached Marcianople, +the famed metropolis of that land. Yet after a long siege +they departed, upon receiving money from the inhabitants. + +[Sidenote: MARCIANOPLE] + +[Sidenote: THE GEPIDAE AND THEIR DEFEAT BY OSTROGOTHA] + +Now since we have mentioned Marcianople, we may 93 +briefly relate a few matters in connection with its founding. +They say that the Emperor Trajan built this city +for the following reason. While his sister's daughter +Marcia was bathing in the stream called Potamus--a +river of great clearness and purity that rises in the midst +of the city--she wished to draw some water from it and +by chance dropped into its depths the golden pitcher she +was carrying. Yet though very heavy from its weight +of metal, it emerged from the waves a long time afterwards. +It surely is not a usual thing for an empty vessel +to sink; much less that, when once swallowed up, it should +be cast up by the waves and float again. Trajan marvelled +at hearing this and believed there was some divinity +in the stream. So he built a city and called it Marcianople +after the name of his sister. + +XVII From this city, then, as we were saying, the 94 +Getae returned after a long siege to their own land, enriched +by the ransom they had received. Now the race +of the Gepidae was moved with envy when they saw them +laden with booty and so suddenly victorious everywhere, +and made war on their kinsmen. Should you ask how +the Getae and Gepidae are kinsmen, I can tell you in a +few words. You surely remember that in the beginning +I said the Goths went forth from the bosom of the island +of Scandza with Berig, their king, sailing in only three +ships toward the hither shore of Ocean, namely to +Gothiscandza. One of these three ships proved to be 95 +slower than the others, as is usually the case, and thus is +said to have given the tribe their name, for in their +language _gepanta_ means slow. Hence it came to pass +that gradually and by corruption the name Gepidae was +coined for them by way of reproach. For undoubtedly +they too trace their origin from the stock of the Goths, +but because, as I have said, _gepanta_ means something +slow and stolid, the word Gepidae arose as a gratuitous +name of reproach. I do not believe this is very far +wrong, for they are slow of thought and too sluggish for +quick movement of their bodies. + +These Gepidae were then smitten by envy while they 96 +dwelt in the province of Spesis on an island surrounded +by the shallow waters of the Vistula. This island they +called, in the speech of their fathers, Gepedoios; but it is +now inhabited by the race of the Vividarii, since the +Gepidae themselves have moved to better lands. The +Vividarii are gathered from various races into this one +asylum, if I may call it so, and thus they form a nation. +So then, as we were saying, Fastida, king of the Gepidae, 97 +stirred up his quiet people to enlarge their boundaries by +war. He overwhelmed the Burgundians, almost annihilating +them, and conquered a number of other races also. +He unjustly provoked the Goths, being the first to break +the bonds of kinship by unseemly strife. He was greatly +puffed up with vain glory, but in seeking to acquire new +lands for his growing nation, he only reduced the numbers +of his own countrymen. For he sent ambassadors 98 +to Ostrogotha, to whose rule Ostrogoths and Visigoths +alike, that is, the two peoples of the same tribe, were still +subject. Complaining that he was hemmed in by rugged +mountains and dense forests, he demanded one of two +things,--that Ostrogotha should either prepare for war +or give up part of his lands to them. Then Ostrogotha, 99 +king of the Goths, who was a man of firm mind, answered +the ambassadors that he did indeed dread such a +war and that it would be a grievous and infamous thing +to join battle with their kin,--but he would not give up +his lands. And why say more? The Gepidae hastened +to take arms and Ostrogotha likewise moved his forces +against them, lest he should seem a coward. They met +at the town of Galtis, near which the river Auha flows +and there both sides fought with great valor; indeed the +similarity of their arms and of their manner of fighting +turned them against their own men. But the better cause +and their natural alertness aided the Goths. Finally night 100 +put an end to the battle as a part of the Gepidae were +giving way. Then Fastida, king of the Gepidae, left the +field of slaughter and hastened to his own land, as much +humiliated with shame and disgrace as formerly he had +been elated with pride. The Goths returned victorious, +content with the retreat of the Gepidae, and dwelt in +peace and happiness in their own land so long as Ostrogotha +was their leader. + +[Sidenote: KING CNIVA AT WAR WITH DECIUS] + +[Sidenote: Decius A.D. 249-251] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Philippopolis A.D. 250] + +[Sidenote: Death of Decius at Abrittus A.D. 251] + +XVIII After his death, Cniva divided the army into 101 +two parts and sent some to waste Moesia, knowing that it +was undefended through the neglect of the emperors. +He himself with seventy thousand men hastened to +Euscia, that is, Novae. When driven from this place by +the general Gallus, he approached Nicopolis, a very famous +town situated near the Iatrus river. This city +Trajan built when he conquered the Sarmatians and +named it the City of Victory. When the Emperor Decius +drew near, Cniva at last withdrew to the regions of +Haemus, which were not far distant. Thence he hastened +to Philippopolis, with his forces in good array. When 102 +the Emperor Decius learned of his departure, he was +eager to bring relief to his own city and, crossing Mount +Haemus, came to Beroa. While he was resting his horses +and his weary army in that place, all at once Cniva and +his Goths fell upon him like a thunderbolt. He cut the +Roman army to pieces and drove the Emperor, with a +few who had succeeded in escaping, across the Alps again +to Euscia in Moesia, where Gallus was then stationed +with a large force of soldiers as guardian of the frontier. +Collecting an army from this region as well as from +Oescus, he prepared for the conflict of the coming war. +But Cniva took Philippopolis after a long siege and then, 103 +laden with spoil, allied himself to Priscus, the commander +in the city, to fight against Decius. In the battle that +followed they quickly pierced the son of Decius with an +arrow and cruelly slew him. The father saw this, and +although he is said to have exclaimed, to cheer the hearts +of his soldiers: "Let no one mourn; the death of one +soldier is not a great loss to the republic", he was yet +unable to endure it, because of his love for his son. So +he rode against the foe, demanding either death or vengeance, +and when he came to Abrittus, a city of Moesia, +he was himself cut off by the Goths and slain, thus making +an end of his dominion and of his life. This place +is to-day called the Altar of Decius, because he there +offered strange sacrifices to idols before the battle. + +(THE GOTHS IN THE TIME OF GALLUS, VOLUSIANUS AND AEMILIANUS) + +[Sidenote: Gallus A.D. 251-253] + +[Sidenote: Volusianus A.D. 252-253] + +[Sidenote: Aemilianus A.D. 253] + +[Sidenote: The Plague A.D. 252-267] + +[Sidenote: Gallienus A.D. 253-268] + +XIX Then upon the death of Decius, Gallus and 104 +Volusianus succeeded to the Roman Empire. At this +time a destructive plague, almost like death itself, such +as we suffered nine years ago, blighted the face of the +whole earth and especially devastated Alexandria and all +the land of Egypt. The historian Dionysius gives a +mournful account of it and Cyprian, our own bishop and +venerable martyr in Christ, also describes it in his book +entitled "On Mortality". At this time the Goths frequently +ravaged Moesia, through the neglect of the Emperors. +When a certain Aemilianus saw that they were 105 +free to do this, and that they could not be dislodged by +anyone without great cost to the republic, he thought that +he too might be able to achieve fame and fortune. So he +seized the rule in Moesia and, taking all the soldiers he +could gather, began to plunder cities and people. In the +next few months, while an armed host was being gathered +against him, he wrought no small harm to the state. +Yet he died almost at the beginning of his evil attempt, +thus losing at once his life and the power he coveted. +Now though Gallus and Volusianus, the Emperors we 106 +have mentioned, departed this life after remaining in +power for barely two years, yet during this space of two +years which they spent on earth they reigned amid universal +peace and favor. Only one thing was laid to their +charge, namely the great plague. But this was an accusation +made by ignorant slanderers, whose custom it is +to wound the lives of others with their malicious bite. +Soon after they came to power they made a treaty with +the race of the Goths. When both rulers were dead, it +was no long time before Gallienus usurped the throne. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS PLUNDER ASIA MINOR A.D. 262 or 263] + +XX While he was given over to luxurious living of 107 +every sort, Respa, Veduc and Thuruar, leaders of the +Goths, took ship and sailed across the strait of the Hellespont +to Asia. There they laid waste many populous +cities and set fire to the renowned temple of Diana at +Ephesus, which, as we said before, the Amazons built. +Being driven from the neighborhood of Bithynia, they +destroyed Chalcedon, which Cornelius Avitus afterwards +restored to some extent. Yet even to-day, though it is +happily situated near the royal city, it still shows some +traces of its ruin as a witness to posterity. After their 108 +success, the Goths recrossed the strait of the Hellespont, +laden with booty and spoil, and returned along the same +route by which they had entered the lands of Asia, sacking +Troy and Ilium on the way. These cities, which had +scarce recovered a little from the famous war with Agamemnon, +were thus destroyed anew by the hostile sword. +After the Goths had thus devastated Asia, Thrace next +felt their ferocity. For they went thither and presently +attacked Anchiali, a city at the foot of Haemus and not +far from the sea. Sardanapalus, king of the Parthians, +had built this city long ago between an inlet of the sea +and the base of Haemus. There they are said to have 109 +stayed for many days, enjoying the baths of the hot +springs which are situated about twelve miles from the +city of Anchiali. There they gush from the depths of +their fiery source, and among the innumerable hot springs +of the world they are esteemed as specially famous and +efficacious for their healing virtues. + +(THE TIMES OF DIOCLETIAN) + +[Sidenote: Diocletian 284-305] + +[Sidenote: Masimian 284-305] + +XXI After these events, the Goths had already returned 110 +home when they were summoned at the request +of the Emperor Maximian to aid the Romans against the +Parthians. They fought for him faithfully, serving as +auxiliaries. But after Caesar Maximian by their aid had +routed Narseus, king of the Persians, the grandson of +Sapor the Great, taking as spoil all his possessions, together +with his wives and his sons, and when Diocletian +had conquered Achilles in Alexandria and Maximianus +Herculius had broken the Quinquegentiani in Africa, thus +winning peace for the empire, they began rather to neglect +the Goths. + +[Sidenote: Constantine I 306-337] + +[Sidenote: Licinius 307-323] + +Now it had long been a hard matter for the Roman 111 +army to fight against any nations whatsoever without +them. This is evident from the way in which the Goths +were so frequently called upon. Thus they were summoned +by Constantine to bear arms against his kinsman +Licinius. Later, when he was vanquished and shut up +Thessalonica and deprived of his power, they slew him +with the sword of Constantine the victor. In like manner 112 +it was the aid of the Goths that enabled him to build the +famous city that is named after him, the rival of Rome, +inasmuch as they entered into a truce with the Emperor +and furnished him forty thousand men to aid him against +various peoples. This body of men, namely, the Allies, +and the service they rendered in war are still spoken of in +the land to this day. Now at that time they prospered +under the rule of their kings Ariaric and Aoric. Upon +their death Geberich appeared as successor to the throne, +a man renowned for his valor and noble birth. + +[Sidenote: GEBERICH CONQUERS THE VANDALS 336] + +XXII For he was the son of Hilderith, who was the 113 +son of Ovida, who was the son of Nidada; and by his +illustrious deeds he equalled the glory of his race. Soon +he sought to enlarge his country's narrow bounds at the +expense of the race of the Vandals and Visimar, their +king. This Visimar was of the stock of the Asdingi, +which is eminent among them and indicates a most warlike +descent, as Dexippus the historian relates. He states +furthermore that by reason of the great extent of their +country they could scarcely come from Ocean to our frontier +in a year's time. At that time they dwelt in the land +where the Gepidae now live, near the rivers Marisia, +Miliare, Gilpil and the Grisia, which exceeds in size all +previously mentioned. They then had on the east the 114 +Goths, on the west the Marcomanni, on the north the +Hermunduli and on the south the Hister, which is also +called the Danube. At the time when the Vandals were +dwelling in this region, war was begun against them by +Geberich, king of the Goths, on the shore of the river +Marisia which I have mentioned. Here the battle raged +for a little while on equal terms. But soon Visimar himself, +the king of the Vandals, was overthrown, together +with the greater part of his people. When Geberich, the 115 +famous leader of the Goths, had conquered and spoiled +Vandals, he returned to his own place whence he had +come. Then the remnant of the Vandals who had escaped, +collecting a band of their unwarlike folk, left their +ill-fated country and asked the Emperor Constantine for +Pannonia. Here they made their home for about sixty +years and obeyed the commands of the emperors like +subjects. A long time afterward they were summoned +thence by Stilicho, Master of the Soldiery, Ex-Consul and +Patrician, and took possession of Gaul. Here they plundered +their neighbors and had no settled place of abode. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE HERCULI, VENETHI AND AESTI] + +XXIII Soon Geberich, king of the Goths, departed 116 +from human affairs and Hermanaric, noblest of the +Amali, succeeded to the throne. He subdued many warlike +peoples of the north and made them obey his laws, +and some of our ancestors have justly compared him to +Alexander the Great. Among the tribes he conquered +were the Golthescytha, Thiudos, Inaunxis, Vasinabroncae, +Merens, Mordens, Imniscaris, Rogas, Tadzans, Athaul, 117 +Navego, Bubegenae and Coldae. But though famous +for his conquest of so many races, he gave himself no rest +until he had slain some in battle and then reduced to his +sway the remainder of the tribe of the Heruli, whose chief +was Alaric. Now the aforesaid race, as the historian +Ablabius tells us, dwelt near Lake Maeotis in swampy +places which the Greeks call _hel[=e]_; hence they were named +Heluri. They were a people swift of foot, and on that +account were the more swollen with pride, for there was 118 +at that time no race that did not choose from them its +light-armed troops for battle. But though their quickness +often saved them from others who made war upon them, +yet they were overthrown by the slowness and steadiness +of the Goths; and the lot of fortune brought it to pass +that they, as well as the other tribes, had to serve Hermanaric, +king of the Getae. After the slaughter of the 119 +Heruli, Hermanaric also took arms against the Venethi. +This people, though despised in war, was strong in numbers +and tried to resist him. But a multitude of cowards +is of no avail, particularly when God permits an armed +multitude to attack them. These people, as we started +to say at the beginning of our account or catalogue of +nations, though off-shoots from one stock, have now +three names, that is, Venethi, Antes and Sclaveni. Though +they now rage in war far and wide, in punishment for +our sins, yet at that time they were all obedient to Hermanaric's +commands. This ruler also subdued by his 120 +wisdom and might the race of the Aesti, who dwell on +the farthest shore of the German Ocean, and ruled all the +nations of Scythia and Germany by his own prowess +alone. + +[Sidenote: ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE HUNS] + +XXIV But after a short space of time, as Orosius 121 +relates, the race of the Huns, fiercer than ferocity itself, +flamed forth against the Goths. We learn from old traditions +that their origin was as follows: Filimer, king of +the Goths, son of Gadaric the Great, who was the fifth in +succession to hold the rule of the Getae after their departure +from the island of Scandza,--and who, as we have +said, entered the land of Scythia with his tribe,--found +among his people certain witches, whom he called in his +native tongue Haliurunnae. Suspecting these women, he +expelled them from the midst of his race and compelled +them to wander in solitary exile afar from his army. +There the unclean spirits, who beheld them as they wandered 122 +through the wilderness, bestowed their embraces +upon them and begat this savage race, which dwelt at +first in the swamps,--a stunted, foul and puny tribe, +scarcely human, and having no language save one which +bore slight resemblance to human speech. Such was +the descent of the Huns who came to the country of the +Goths. + +This cruel tribe, as Priscus the historian relates, settled 123 +on the farther bank of the Maeotic swamp. They +were fond of hunting and had no skill in any other +art. After they had grown to a nation, they disturbed +the peace of neighboring races by theft and rapine. At +one time, while hunters of their tribe were as usual seeking +for game on the farthest edge of Maeotis, they +saw a doe unexpectedly appear to their sight and enter +the swamp, acting as guide of the way; now advancing +and again standing still. The hunters followed and 124 +crossed on foot the Maeotic swamp, which they had +supposed was impassable as the sea. Presently the +unknown land of Scythia disclosed itself and the doe +disappeared. Now in my opinion the evil spirits, from +whom the Huns are descended, did this from envy of the +Scythians. And the Huns, who had been wholly ignorant 125 +that there was another world beyond Maeotis, were now +filled with admiration for the Scythian land. As they +were quick of mind, they believed that this path, utterly +unknown to any age of the past, had been divinely revealed +to them. They returned to their tribe, told them +what had happened, praised Scythia and persuaded the +people to hasten thither along the way they had found +by the guidance of the doe. As many as they captured, +when they thus entered Scythia for the first time, they +sacrificed to Victory. The remainder they conquered +and made subject to themselves. Like a whirlwind of 126 +nations they swept across the great swamp and at once +fell upon the Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari, Tuncarsi and +Boisci, who bordered on that part of Scythia. The Alani +also, who were their equals in battle, but unlike them in +civilization, manners and appearance, they exhausted by +their incessant attacks and subdued. For by the terror 127 +of their features they inspired great fear in those whom +perhaps they did not really surpass in war. They made +their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was +fearful, and they had, if I may call it so, a sort of shapeless +lump, not a head, with pin-holes rather than eyes. +Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and +they are beings who are cruel to their children on the +very day they are born. For they cut the cheeks of the +males with a sword, so that before they receive the nourishment +of milk they must learn to endure wounds. +Hence they grow old beardless and their young men are 128 +without comeliness, because a face furrowed by the sword +spoils by its scars the natural beauty of a beard. They +are short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert +horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and +arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in +pride. Though they live in the form of men, they have +the cruelty of wild beasts. + +[Sidenote: FIRST IRRUPTION OF THE HUNS as early as 375] + +When the Getae beheld this active race that had invaded 129 +many nations, they took fright and consulted with +their king how they might escape from such a foe. Now +although Hermanaric, king of the Goths, was the conqueror +of many tribes, as we have said above, yet while +he was deliberating on this invasion of the Huns, the +treacherous tribe of the Rosomoni, who at that time were +among those who owed him their homage, took this +chance to catch him unawares. For when the king had +given orders that a certain woman of the tribe I have +mentioned, Sunilda by name, should be bound to wild +horses and torn apart by driving them at full speed in +opposite directions (for he was roused to fury by her +husband's treachery to him), her brothers Sarus and +Immius came to avenge their sister's death and plunged +a sword into Hermanaric's side. Enfeebled by this blow, +he dragged out a miserable existence in bodily weakness. +Balamber, king of the Huns, took advantage of his ill 130 +health to move an army into the country of the Ostrogoths, +from whom the Visigoths had already separated +because of some dispute. Meanwhile Hermanaric, who +was unable to endure either the pain of his wound or the +inroads of the Huns, died full of days at the great age of +one hundred and ten years. The fact of his death enabled +the Huns to prevail over those Goths who, as we have +said, dwelt in the East and were called Ostrogoths. + +(The Divided Goths: Visigoths) + +[Sidenote: Valentinian I 364-375] + +[Sidenote: THE VISIGOTHS SETTLE IN THRACE AND MOESIA 376] + +[Sidenote: Valens 364-378] + +XXV The Visigoths, who were their other allies and 131 +inhabitants of the western country, were terrified as their +kinsmen had been, and knew not how to plan for safety +against the race of the Huns. After long deliberation by +common consent they finally sent ambassadors into Romania +to the Emperor Valens, brother of Valentinian, +the elder Emperor, to say that if he would give them part +of Thrace or Moesia to keep, they would submit themselves +to his laws and commands. That he might have +greater confidence in them, they promised to become +Christians, if he would give them teachers who spoke +their language. When Valens learned this, he gladly and 132 +promptly granted what he had himself intended to ask. +He received the Getae into the region of Moesia and +placed them there as a wall of defense for his kingdom +against other tribes. And since at that time the Emperor +Valens, who was infected with the Arian perfidy, had +closed all the churches of our party, he sent as preachers +to them those who favored his sect. They came and +straightway filled a rude and ignorant people with the +poison of their heresy. Thus the Emperor Valens made +the Visigoths Arians rather than Christians. Moreover 133 +from the love they bore them, they preached the gospel +both to the Ostrogoths and to their kinsmen the Gepidae, +teaching them to reverence this heresy, and they invited +all people of their speech everywhere to attach themselves +to this sect. They themselves as we have said, crossed +the Danube and settled Dacia Ripensis, Moesia and +Thrace by permission of the Emperor. + +[Sidenote: FAMINE 376-377] + +XXVI Soon famine and want came upon them, as 134 +often happens to a people not yet well settled in a country. +Their princes and the leaders who ruled them in +place of kings, that is Fritigern, Alatheus and Safrac, +began to lament the plight of their army and begged +Lupicinus and Maximus, the Roman commanders, to +open a market. But to what will not the "cursed lust for +gold" compel men to assent? The generals, swayed by +avarice, sold them at a high price not only the flesh of +sheep and oxen, but even the carcasses of dogs and unclean +animals, so that a slave would be bartered for a loaf +of bread or ten pounds of meat. When their goods and 135 +chattels failed, the greedy trader demanded their sons in +return for the necessities of life. And the parents consented +even to this, in order to provide for the safety of +their children, arguing that it was better to lose liberty +than life; and indeed it is better that one be sold, if he +will be mercifully fed, than that he should be kept free +only to die. + +[Sidenote: TREACHERY OF THE ROMANS] + +Now it came to pass in that troublous time that Lupicinus, +the Roman general, invited Fritigern, a chieftain +of the Goths, to a feast and, as the event revealed, +devised a plot against him. But Fritigern, thinking 136 +evil came to the feast with a few followers. While +he was dining in the praetorium he heard the dying +cries of his ill-fated men, for, by order of the general, +the soldiers were slaying his companions who were shut +up in another part of the house. The loud cries of the +dying fell upon ears already suspicious, and Fritigern at +once perceived the treacherous trick. He drew his sword +and with great courage dashed quickly from the banqueting-hall, +rescued his men from their threatening doom +and incited them to slay the Romans. Thus these valiant 137 +men gained the chance they had longed for--to be free to +die in battle rather than to perish of hunger--and immediately +took arms to kill the generals Lupicinus and +Maximus. Thus that day put an end to the famine of the +Goths and the safety of the Romans, for the Goths no +longer as strangers and pilgrims, but as citizens and lords, +began to rule the inhabitants and to hold in their own +right all the northern country as far as the Danube. + +[Sidenote: EMPEROR VALENS DEFEATED AND SLAIN A.D. 378] + +When the Emperor Valens heard of this at Antioch, 138 +he made ready an army at once and set out for the country +of Thrace. Here a grievous battle took place and the +Goths prevailed. The Emperor himself was wounded and +fled to a farm near Hadrianople. The Goths, not knowing +that an emperor lay hidden in so poor a hut, set fire +to it (as is customary in dealing with a cruel foe), and +thus he was cremated in royal splendor. Plainly it was +a direct judgment of God that he should be burned with +fire by the very men whom he had perfidiously led astray +when they sought the true faith, turning them aside from +the flame of love into the fire of hell. From this time the +Visigoths, in consequence of their glorious victory, possessed +Thrace and Dacia Ripensis as if it were their native +land. + +[Sidenote: Gratian 367-383] + +[Sidenote: HOSTILE RELATIONS WITH ROME ENDED BY A TRUCE] + +[Sidenote: Theodosius 379-305] + +XXVII Now in the place of Valens, his uncle, the 139 +Emperor Gratian established Theodosius the Spaniard in +the Eastern Empire. Military discipline was soon restored +to a high level, and the Goth, perceiving that the +cowardice and sloth of former princes was ended, became +afraid. For the Emperor was famed alike for his acuteness +and discretion. By stern commands and by generosity +and kindness he encouraged a demoralized army to +deeds of daring. But when the soldiers, who had obtained 140 +a better leader by the change, gained new confidence, +they sought to attack the Goths and drive them +from the borders of Thrace. But as the Emperor Theodosius +fell so sick at this time that his life was almost +despaired of, the Goths were again inspired with courage. +Dividing the Gothic army, Fritigern set out to plunder +Thessaly, Epirus and Achaia, while Alatheus and Safrac +with the rest of the troops made for Pannonia. Now the 141 +Emperor Gratian had at this time retreated from Rome to +Gaul because of the invasions of the Vandals. When he +learned that the Goths were acting with greater boldness +because Theodosius was in despair of his life, he quickly +gathered an army and came against them. Yet he put no +trust in arms, but sought to conquer them by kindness and +gifts. So he entered on a truce with them and made +peace, giving them provisions. + +[Sidenote: PEACE CONFIRMED BY THEODOSIUS 380] + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING ATHANARIC AT CONSTANTINOPLE 381] + +XXVIII When the Emperor Theodosius afterwards 142 +recovered and learned that the Emperor Gratian had +made a compact between the Goths and the Romans, as +he had himself desired, he took it very graciously and +gave his assent. He gave gifts to King Athanaric, who +had succeeded Fritigern, made an alliance with him and +in the most gracious manner invited him to visit him in +Constantinople. Athanaric very gladly consented and 143 +as he entered the royal city exclaimed in wonder "Lo, +now I see what I have often heard of with unbelieving +ears," meaning the great and famous city. Turning his +eyes hither and thither, he marvelled as he beheld the +situation of the city, the coming and going of the ships, +the splendid walls, and the people of divers nations gathered +like a flood of waters streaming from different regions +into one basin. So too, when he saw the army in +array, he said "Truly the Emperor is a god on earth, and +whoso raises a hand against him is guilty of his own +blood." In the midst of his admiration and the enjoyment 144 +of even greater honors at the hand of the emperor, +he departed this life after the space of a few months. +The emperor had such affection for him that he honored +Athanaric even more when he was dead than during his +life-time, for he not only gave him a worthy burial, but +himself walked before the bier at the funeral. Now when 145 +Athanaric was dead, his whole army continued in the +service of the Emperor Theodosius and submitted to the +Roman rule, forming as it were one body with the imperial +soldiery. The former service of the Allies under the +Emperor Constantine was now renewed and they were +again called Allies. And since the Emperor knew that +they were faithful to him and his friends, he took from +their number more than twenty thousand warriors to +serve against the tyrant Eugenius who had slain Gratian +and seized Gaul. After winning the victory over this +usurper, he wreaked his vengeance upon him. + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I KING OF THE GOTHS 395-410] + +[Sidenote: Stilicho and Aurelian Consuls in 400] + +XXIX But after Theodosius, the lover of peace and 146 +of the Gothic race, had passed from human cares, his +sons began to ruin both empires by their luxurious living +and to deprive their Allies, that is to say the Goths, of the +customary gifts. The contempt of the Goths for the +Romans soon increased, and for fear their valor would be +destroyed by long peace, they appointed Alaric king over +them. He was of a famous stock, and his nobility was +second only to that of the Amali, for he came from the +family of the Balthi, who because of their daring valor +had long ago received among their race the name _Baltha_, 147 +that is, The Bold. Now when this Alaric was made king, +he took counsel with his men and persuaded them to seek +a kingdom by their own exertions rather than serve others +in idleness. In the consulship of Stilicho and Aurelian +he raised an army and entered Italy, which seemed to be +bare of defenders, and came through Pannonia and Sirmium +along the right side. Without meeting any resistance, +he reached the bridge of the river Candidianus at +the third milestone from the royal city of Ravenna. + +[Sidenote: DESCRIPTION OF RAVENNA] + +This city lies amid the streams of the Po between 148 +swamps and the sea, and is accessible only on one side. +Its ancient inhabitants, as our ancestors relate, were +called _Ainetoi_, that is, "Laudable". Situated in a corner +of the Roman Empire above the Ionian Sea, it is hemmed +in like an island by a flood of rushing waters. On the 149 +east it has the sea, and one who sails straight to it from +the region of Corcyra and those parts of Hellas sweeps +with his oars along the right hand coast, first touching +Epirus, then Dalmatia, Liburnia and Histria and at last +the Venetian Isles. But on the west it has swamps +through which a sort of door has been left by a very +narrow entrance. To the north is an arm of the Po, +called the Fossa Asconis. On the south likewise is the 150 +Po itself, which they call the King of the rivers of Italy; +and it has also the name Eridanus. This river was turned +aside by the Emperor Augustus into a very broad canal +which flows through the midst of the city with a seventh +part of its stream, affording a pleasant harbor at its +mouth. Men believed in ancient times, as Dio relates, +that it would hold a fleet of two hundred and fifty vessels +in its safe anchorage. Fabius says that this, which was 151 +once a harbor, now displays itself like a spacious garden +full of trees; but from them hang not sails but apples. +The city itself boasts of three names and is happily placed +in its threefold location. I mean to say the first is called +Ravenna and the most distant part Classis; while midway +between the city and the sea is Caesarea, full of luxury. +The sand of the beach is fine and suited for riding. + +[Sidenote: Honorius 393-423] + +[Sidenote: HONORIUS GRANTS THE GOTHS LANDS IN GAUL AND SPAIN] + +XXX But as I was saying, when the army of the 152 +Visigoths had come into the neighborhood of this city, +they sent an embassy to the Emperor Honorius, who +dwelt within. They said that if he would permit the +Goths to settle peaceably in Italy, they would so live with +the Roman people that men might believe them both to +be of one race; but if not, whoever prevailed in war +should drive out the other, and the victor should henceforth +rule unmolested. But the Emperor Honorius feared +to make either promise. So he took counsel with his +Senate and considered how he might drive them from the +Italian borders. He finally decided that Alaric and his 153 +race, if they were able to do so, should be allowed to +seize for their own home the provinces farthest away, +namely, Gaul and Spain. For at this time he had almost +lost them, and moreover they had been devastated by the +invasion of Gaiseric, king of the Vandals. The grant +was confirmed by an imperial rescript, and the Goths, +consenting to the arrangement, set out for the country +given them. + +[Sidenote: STILICHO'S TREACHEROUS ATTACK 402] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I SACKS ROME A.D. 410] + +When they had gone away without doing any harm 154 +in Italy, Stilicho, the Patrician and father-in-law of +the Emperor Honorius,--for the Emperor had married +both his daughters, Maria and Thermantia, in succession, +but God called both from this world in their virgin +purity--this Stilicho, I say, treacherously hurried +to Pollentia, a city in the Cottian Alps. There he fell +upon the unsuspecting Goths in battle, to the ruin of all +Italy and his own disgrace. When the Goths suddenly 155 +beheld him, at first they were terrified. Soon regaining +their courage and arousing each other by brave shouting, +as is their custom, they turned to flight the entire army +of Stilicho and almost exterminated it. Then forsaking +the journey they had undertaken, the Goths with hearts +full of rage returned again to Liguria whence they +had set out. When they had plundered and spoiled it, +they also laid waste Aemilia, and then hastened toward +the city of Rome along the Flaminian Way, which runs +between Picenum and Tuscia, taking as booty whatever 156 +they found on either hand. When they finally entered +Rome, by Alaric's express command they merely +sacked it and did not set the city on fire, as wild peoples +usually do, nor did they permit serious damage to be done +to the holy places. Thence they departed to bring like +ruin upon Campania and Lucania, and then came to +Bruttii. Here they remained a long time and planned to +go to Sicily and thence to the countries of Africa. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ALARIC I A.D. 410] + +[Sidenote: Athavulf 410-415] + +Now the land of the Bruttii is at the extreme southern +bound of Italy, and a corner of it marks the beginning of +the Apennine mountains. It stretches out like a tongue +into the Adriatic Sea and separates it from the Tyrrhenian +waters. It chanced to receive its name in ancient times +from a Queen Bruttia. To this place came Alaric, king of 157 +Visigoths, with the wealth of all Italy which he had +taken as spoil, and from there, as we have said, he intended +to cross over by way of Sicily to the quiet land of +Africa. But since man is not free to do anything he +wishes without the will of God, that dread strait sunk several +of his ships and threw all into confusion. Alaric was +cast down by his reverse and, while deliberating what he +should do, was suddenly overtaken by an untimely death +and departed from human cares. His people mourned for 158 +him with the utmost affection. Then turning from its +course the river Busentus near the city of Consentia--for +this stream flows with its wholesome waters from the foot +of a mountain near that city--they led a band of captives +into the midst of its bed to dig out a place for his grave. +In the depths of this pit they buried Alaric, together with +many treasures, and then turned the waters back into +their channel. And that none might ever know the place, +they put to death all the diggers. They bestowed the +kingdom of the Visigoths on Athavulf his kinsman, a +man of imposing beauty and great spirit; for though not +tall of stature, he was distinguished for beauty of face +and form. + +[Sidenote: DEEDS OF KING ATHAVULF] + +[Sidenote: Marries Galla Placidia 414] + +[Sidenote: KING SEGERIC 415] + +XXXI When Athavulf became king, he returned 159 +again to Rome, and whatever had escaped the first sack +his Goths stripped bare like locusts, not merely despoiling +Italy of its private wealth, but even of its public +resources. The Emperor Honorius was powerless to +resist even when his sister Placidia, the daughter of the +Emperor Theodosius by his second wife, was led away +captive from the city. But Athavulf was attracted by her 160 +nobility, beauty and chaste purity, and so he took her to +wife in lawful marriage at Forum Julii, a city of Aemilia. +When the barbarians learned of this alliance, they were +the more effectually terrified, since the Empire and the +Goths now seemed to be made one. Then Athavulf set +out for Gaul, leaving Honorius Augustus stripped of his +wealth, to be sure, yet pleased at heart because he was +now a sort of kinsman of his. Upon his arrival the 161 +neighboring tribes who had long made cruel raids into +Gaul,--Franks and Burgundians alike,--were terrified +and began to keep within their own borders. Now the +Vandals and the Alani, as we have said before, had been +dwelling in both Pannonias by permission of the Roman +Emperors. Yet fearing they would not be safe even here +if the Goths should return, they crossed over into Gaul. +But no long time after they had taken possession of Gaul 162 +they fled thence and shut themselves up in Spain, for they +still remembered from the tales of their forefathers what +ruin Geberich, king of the Goths, had long ago brought +on their race, and how by his valor he had driven them +from their native land. And thus it happened that Gaul +lay open to Athavulf when he came. Now when the 163 +Goth had established his kingdom in Gaul, he began to +grieve for the plight of the Spaniards and planned to +save them from the attacks of the Vandals. So Athavulf +left at Barcelona his treasures and the men who were +unfit for war, and entered the interior of Spain with a +few faithful followers. Here he fought frequently with +the Vandals and, in the third year after he had subdued +Gaul and Spain, fell pierced through the groin by the +sword of Euervulf, a man whose short stature he had +been wont to mock. After his death Segeric was appointed +king, but he too was slain by the treachery of his +own men and lost both his kingdom and his life even more +quickly than Athavulf. 164 + +[Sidenote: KING VALIA 415-419] + +XXXII Then Valia, the fourth from Alaric, was +made king, and he was an exceeding stern and prudent +man. The Emperor Honorius sent an army against him +under Constantius, who was famed for his achievements +in war and distinguished in many battles, for he feared +that Valia would break the treaty long ago made with +Athavulf and that, after driving out the neighboring +tribes, he would again plot evil against the Empire. +Moreover Honorius was eager to free his sister Placidia +from the disgrace of servitude, and made an agreement +with Constantius that if by peace or war or any means +soever he could bring her back to the kingdom, he should +have her in marriage. Pleased with this promise, Constantius 165 +set out for Spain with an armed force and in +almost royal splendor. Valia, king of the Goths, met him +at a pass in the Pyrenees with as great a force. Here-upon +embassies were sent by both sides and it was decided +to make peace on the following terms, namely that Valia +should give up Placidia, the Emperor's sister, and should +not refuse to aid the Roman Empire when occasion +demanded. + +[Sidenote: Constantine III 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Constans 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Jovinus 411-413] + +[Sidenote: Sebastian 412] + +Now at that time a certain Constantine usurped imperial +power in Gaul and appointed as Caesar his son Constans, +who was formerly a monk. But when he had held +for a short time the Empire he had seized, he was himself +slain at Arelate and his son at Vienne. Jovinus and +Sebastian succeeded them with equal presumption and +thought they might seize the imperial power; but they +perished by a like fate. + +[Sidenote: VALIA MOVES AGAINST THE VANDALS 427] + +Now in the twelfth year of Valia's reign the Huns 166 +were driven out of Pannonia by the Romans and Goths, +almost fifty years after they had taken possession of it. +Then Valia found that the Vandals had come forth with +bold audacity from the interior of Galicia, whither Athavulf +had long ago driven them, and were devastating and +plundering everywhere in his own territories, namely in +the land of Spain. So he made no delay but moved his +army against them at once, at about the time when Hierius +and Ardabures had become consuls. + +[Sidenote: VALENTINIAN III 425-455] + +[Sidenote: THE VANDALS AND GAISERIC THEIR KING 427-477] + +XXXIII But Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, had already 167 +been invited into Africa by Boniface, who had +fallen into a dispute with the Emperor Valentinian and +was able to obtain revenge only by injuring the empire. +So he invited them urgently and brought them across the +narrow strait known as the Strait of Gades, scarcely seven +miles wide, which divides Africa from Spain and unites +the mouth of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the waters of +Ocean. Gaiseric, still famous in the City for the disaster 168 +of the Romans, was a man of moderate height and lame +in consequence of a fall from his horse. He was a man +of deep thought and few words, holding luxury in disdain, +furious in his anger, greedy for gain, shrewd in +winning over the barbarians and skilled in sowing the +seeds of dissension to arouse enmity. Such was he who, 169 +as we have said, came at the solicitous invitation of Boniface +to the country of Africa. There he reigned for a +long time, receiving authority, as they say, from God +Himself. Before his death he summoned the band of his +sons and ordained that there should be no strife among +them because of desire for the kingdom, but that each +should reign in his own rank and order as he survived +the others; that is, the next younger should succeed his +elder brother, and he in turn should be followed by his +junior. By giving heed to this command they ruled their +kingdom in happiness for the space of many years and +were not disgraced by civil war, as is usual among other +nations; one after the other receiving the kingdom and +ruling the people in peace. + +[Sidenote: The six kings of the Vandals 427-534] + +[Sidenote: KINGDOM OF THE VANDALS MADE SUBJECT TO ROME] + +Now this is their order of succession: first, Gaiseric 170 +who was father and lord, next, Huneric, the third +Gunthamund, the fourth Thrasamund, and the fifth +Ilderich. He was driven from the throne and slain +by Gelimer, who destroyed his race by disregarding +his ancestor's advice and setting up a tyranny. But 171 +what he had done did not remain unpunished, for soon +the vengeance of the Emperor Justinian was manifested +against him. With his whole family and that +wealth over which he gloated like a robber, he was taken +to Constantinople by that most renowned warrior Belisarius, +Master of the Soldiery of the East, Ex-Consul +Ordinary and Patrician. Here he afforded a great spectacle +to the people in the Circus. His repentance, when +he beheld himself cast down from his royal state, came +too late. He died as a mere subject and in retirement, +though he had formerly been unwilling to submit to private 172 +life. Thus after a century Africa, which in the +division of the earth's surface is regarded as the third +part of the world, was delivered from the yoke of the +Vandals and brought back to the liberty of the Roman +Empire. The country which the hand of the heathen had +long ago cut off from the body of the Roman Empire, +by reason of the cowardice of emperors and the treachery +of generals, was now restored by a wise prince and a +faithful leader and to-day is happily flourishing. And +though, even after this, it had to deplore the misery of +civil war and the treachery of the Moors, yet the triumph +of the Emperor Justinian, vouchsafed him by God. +brought to a peaceful conclusion what he had begun. But +why need we speak of what the subject does not require? +Let us return to our theme. + +[Sidenote: MIGRATION or THE AMALI TO THE VISIGOTHS] + +[Sidenote: THEODORID I 419-451] + +Now Valia, king of the Goths, and his army fought so 173 +fiercely against the Vandals that he would have pursued +them even into Africa, had not such a misfortune recalled +him as befell Alaric when he was setting out for Africa. +So when he had won great fame in Spain, he returned +after a bloodless victory to Tolosa, turning over to the +Roman Empire, as he had promised, a number of provinces +which he had rid of his foes. A long time after this +he was seized by sickness and departed this life. Just at 174 +that time Beremud, the son of Thorismud, whom we have +mentioned above in the genealogy of the family of the +Amali, departed with his son Veteric from the Ostrogoths, +who still submitted to the oppression of the Huns +in the land of Scythia, and came to the kingdom of the +Visigoths. Well aware of his valor and noble birth, he +believed that the kingdom would be the more readily +bestowed upon him by his kinsmen, inasmuch as he was +known to be the heir of many kings. And who would +hesitate to choose one of the Amali, if there were an empty +throne? But he was not himself eager to make known +who he was, and so upon the death of Valia the Visigoths +made Theodorid his successor. Beremud came to 175 +him and, with the strength of mind for which he was +noted, concealed his noble birth by prudent silence, for he +knew that those of royal lineage are always distrusted by +kings. So he suffered himself to remain unknown, that +he might not bring the established order into confusion. +King Theodorid received him and his son with special +honor and made him partner in his counsels and a companion +at his board; not for his noble birth, which he +knew not, but for his brave spirit and strong mind, which +Beremud could not conceal. + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Theodosius 439] + +[Sidenote: FIRST BREACH BETWEEN THEODORID I AND THE ROMANS] + +[Sidenote: The Truce 439] + +XXXIV And what more? Valia (to repeat what we 176 +have said) had but little success against the Gauls, but +when he died the more fortunate and prosperous Theodorid +succeeded to the throne. He was a man of the +greatest moderation and notable for vigor of mind and +body. In consulship of Theodosius and Festus the +Romans broke the truce and took up arms against him in +Gaul, with the Huns as their auxiliaries. For a band of +the Gallic Allies, led by Count Gaina, had aroused the +Romans by throwing Constantinople into a panic. Now +at that time the Patrician Aëtius was in command of the +army. He was of the bravest Moesian stock, born of his +father Gaudentius in the city of Durostorum. He was a man +fitted to endure the toils of war, born expressly to +serve the Roman state; and by inflicting crushing defeats +he had compelled the proud Suavi and barbarous Franks +to submit to Roman sway. So then, with the Huns as 177 +allies under their leader Litorius, the Roman army +moved in array against the Goths. When the battle +lines of both sides had been standing for a long time +opposite each other, both being brave and neither side the +weaker, they struck a truce and returned to their ancient +alliance. And after the treaty had been confirmed by +both and an honest peace was established, they both withdrew. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Attila 448] + +During this peace Attila was lord over all the Huns 178 +and almost the sole earthly ruler of all the tribes of +Scythia; a man marvellous for his glorious fame among +all nations. The historian Priscus, who was sent to him +on an embassy by the younger Theodosius, says this +among other things: "Crossing mighty rivers--namely, +the Tisia and Tibisia and Dricca--we came to the place +where long ago Vidigoia, bravest of the Goths, perished +by the guile of the Sarmatians. At no great distance +from that place we arrived at the village where King +Attila was dwelling,--a village, I say, like a great city +in which we found wooden walls made of smooth-shining +boards, whose joints so counterfeited solidity that the +union of the boards could scarcely be distinguished by +close scrutiny. There you might see dining halls of 179 +large extent and porticoes planned with great beauty, +while the courtyard was bounded by so vast a circuit that +its very size showed it was the royal palace." This was +the abode of Attila, the king of all the barbarian world; +and he preferred this as a dwelling to the cities he +captured. + +[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF ATTILA KING OF THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Attila and Bleda joint kings 433-445] + +[Sidenote: Attila sole king 445-453] + +XXXV Now this Attila was the son of Mundiuch, 180 +and his brothers were Octar and Ruas who are said to +have ruled before Attila, though not over quite so many +tribes as he. After their death he succeeded to the throne +of the Huns, together with his brother Bleda. In order +that he might first be equal to the expedition he was +preparing, he sought to increase his strength by murder. +Thus he proceeded from the destruction of his own kindred +to the menace of all others. But though he increased 181 +his power by this shameful means, yet by the balance of +justice he received the hideous consequences of his own +cruelty. Now when his brother Bleda, who ruled over +a great part of the Huns, had been slain by his treachery, +Attila united all the people under his own rule. Gathering +also a host of the other tribes which he then held +under his sway, he sought to subdue the foremost nations +of the world--the Romans and the Visigoths. His army 182 +is said to have numbered five hundred thousand men. +He was a man born into the world to shake the nations, +the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all +mankind by the dreadful rumors noised abroad concerning +him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes +hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit +appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed +a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in counsel, +gracious to suppliants and lenient to those who were +once received into his protection. He was short of stature +with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were +small, his beard thin and sprinkled with gray; and he had +a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, showing the evidences +of his origin. And though his temper was such 183 +that he always had great self-confidence, yet his assurance +was increased by finding the sword of Mars, always +esteemed sacred among the kings of the Scythians. The +historian Priscus says it was discovered under the following +circumstances: "When a certain shepherd beheld +one heifer of his flock limping and could find no cause +for this wound, he anxiously followed the trail of blood +and at length came to a sword it had unwittingly trampled +while nibbling the grass. He dug it up and took it +straight to Attila. He rejoiced at this gift and, being +ambitious, thought he had been appointed ruler of the +whole world, and that through the sword of Mars supremacy +in all wars was assured to him." + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC INCITES HIM TO WAR WITH THE GOTHS] + +XXXVI Now when Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, 184 +whom we mentioned shortly before, learned that his mind +was bent on the devastation of the world, he incited +Attila by many gifts to make war on the Visigoths, for +he was afraid that Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, +would avenge the injury done to his daughter. She had +been joined in wedlock with Huneric, the son of Gaiseric, +and at first was happy in this union. But afterwards he +was cruel even to his own children, and because of the +mere suspicion that she was attempting to poison him, he +cut off her nose and mutilated her ears. He sent her +back to her father in Gaul thus despoiled of her natural +charms. So the wretched girl presented a pitiable aspect +ever after, and the cruelty which would stir even strangers +still more surely incited her father to vengeance. +Attila, therefore, in his efforts to bring about the wars 185 +long ago instigated by the bribe of Gaiseric, sent ambassadors +into Italy to the Emperor Valentinian to sow +strife between the Goths and the Romans, thinking to +shatter by civil discord those whom he could not crush +in battle. He declared that he was in no way violating +his friendly relations with the Empire, but that he had a +quarrel with Theodorid, king of the Visigoths. As he +wished to be kindly received, he had filled the rest of the +letter with the visual flattering salutations, striving to win +credence for his falsehood. In like manner he despatched 186 +a message to Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, urging +him to break his alliance with the Romans and reminding +him of the battles to which they had recently provoked +him. Beneath his great ferocity he was a subtle man, +and fought with craft before he made war. + +[Sidenote: LEAGUE OF THE VISIGOTHS AND ROMANS AGAINST ATTILA 451] + +Then the Emperor Valentinian sent an embassy to the +Visigoths and their king Theodorid, with this message: +"Bravest of nations, it is the part of prudence for us to 187 +unite against the lord of the earth who wishes to enslave +the whole world; who requires no just cause for battle, +but supposes whatever he does is right. He measures +his ambition by his might. License satisfies his pride. +Despising law and right, he shows himself an enemy to +Nature herself. And thus he, who clearly is the common +foe of each, deserves the hatred of all. Pray remember--what 188 +you surely cannot forget--that the Huns do not +overthrow nations by means of war, where there is an +equal chance, but assail them by treachery, which is a +greater cause for anxiety. To say nothing about ourselves, +can you suffer such insolence to go unpunished? +Since you are mighty in arms, give heed to your own +danger and join hands with us in common. Bear aid +also to the Empire, of which you hold a part. If you +would learn how needful such an alliance is for us, look +into the plans of the foe." + +[Sidenote: THE FORCES OF THE ALLIES] + +By these and like arguments the ambassadors of Valentinian 189 +prevailed upon King Theodorid. He answered +them, saying "Romans, you have attained your desire; +you have made Attila our foe also. We will pursue +him wherever he summons us, and though he is puffed +up by his victories over divers races, yet the Goths know +how to fight this haughty foe. I call no war dangerous +save one whose cause is weak; for he fears no ill on +whom Majesty has smiled." The nobles shouted assent 190 +to the reply and the multitude gladly followed. All were +fierce for battle and longed to meet the Huns, their foe. +And so a countless host was led forth by Theodorid, king +of the Visigoths, who sent home four of his sons, namely +Friderich and Eurich, Retemer and Himnerith, taking +with him only the two elder sons, Thorismud and Theodorid, +as partners of his toil. O brave array, sure defense +and sweet comradeship! having as its solace the +peril of those whose one joy is the endurance of the same +dangers. + +On the side of the Romans stood the Patrician Aëtius, 191 +on whom at that time the whole Empire of the West depended; +a man of such wisdom that he had assembled +warriors from everywhere to meet them on equal terms. +Now these were his auxiliaries: Franks, Sarmatians, +Armoricians, Liticians, Burgundians, Saxons, Riparians +Olibriones (once Roman soldiers and now the flower of +the allied forces), and some other Celtic or German tribes. +And so they met in the Catalaunian Plains, which are 192 +also called Mauriacian, extending in length one hundred +_leuva_, as the Gauls express it, and seventy in width. Now +a Gallic _leuva_ measures a distance of fifteen hundred +paces. That portion of the earth accordingly became +the threshing-floor of countless races. The two hosts +bravely joined battle. Nothing was done under cover, +but they contended in open fight. What just cause can 193 +be found for the encounter of so many nations, or what +hatred inspired them all to take arms against each other? +It is proof that the human race lives for its kings, for it is +at the mad impulse of one mind a slaughter of nations +takes place, and at the whim of a haughty ruler that +which nature has taken ages to produce perishes in a +moment. + +[Sidenote: THE BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE] + +XXXVII But before we set forth the order of the 194 +battle itself, it seems needful to relate what had already +happened in the course of the campaign, for it was not +only a famous struggle but one that was complicated and +confused. Well then, Sangiban, king of the Alani, smitten +with fear of what might come to pass, had promised +to surrender to Attila, and to give into his keeping Aureliani, +a city of Gaul wherein he then dwelt. When Theodorid 195 +and Aëtius learned of this, they cast up great earthworks +around that city before Attila's arrival and kept +watch over the suspected Sangiban, placing him with his +tribe in the midst of their auxiliaries. Then Attila, king +of the Huns, was taken aback by this event and lost confidence +in his own troops, so that he feared to begin the +conflict. While he was meditating on flight--a greater +calamity than death itself--he decided to inquire into the +future through soothsayers. So, as was their custom, 196 +they examined the entrails of cattle and certain streaks in +bones that had been scraped, and foretold disaster to the +Huns. Yet as a slight consolation they prophesied that +the chief commander of the foe they were to meet should +fall and mar by his death the rest of the victory and the +triumph. Now Attila deemed the death of Aëtius a thing +to be desired even at the cost of his own life, for Aëtius +stood in the way of his plans. So although he was disturbed +by this prophecy, yet inasmuch as he was a man +who sought counsel of omens in all warfare, he began +the battle with anxious heart at about the ninth hour of +the day, in order that the impending darkness might come +to his aid if the outcome should be disastrous. + +[Sidenote: BATTLE OF THE CATALAUNIAN PLAINS A.D. 451] + +XXXVIII The armies met, as we have said, in the 197 +Catalaunian Plains. The battle field was a plain rising +by a sharp slope to a ridge, which both armies sought to +gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The +Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans, +the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a +struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodorid with +the Visigoths held the right wing and Aëtius with the +Romans the left. They placed in the centre Sangiban +(who, as said before, was in command of the Alani), +thus contriving with military caution to surround by a +host of faithful troops the man in whose loyalty they had +little confidence. For one who has difficulties placed in +the way of his flight readily submits to the necessity of 198 +fighting. On the other side, however, the battle line of +the Huns was so arranged that Attila and his bravest +followers were stationed in the centre. In arranging +them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view, +since by his position in the very midst of his race he +would be kept out of the way of threatening danger. +The innumerable peoples of divers tribes, which he had +subjected to his sway, formed the wings. Amid them 199 +was conspicuous the army of the Ostrogoths under the +leadership of the brothers Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidimer, +nobler even than the king they served, for the might +of the family of the Amali rendered them glorious. The +renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also +with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to +Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them +in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostrogoths, +above all the other chieftains. Valamir was a 200 +good keeper of secrets, bland of speech and skilled in +wiles, and Ardaric, as we have said, was famed for his +loyalty and wisdom. Attila might well feel sure that +they would fight against the Visigoths, their kinsmen. +Now the rest of the crowd of kings (if we may call them +so) and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila's +nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance, +without a murmur each stood forth in fear and trembling, +or at all events did as he was bid. Attila alone was 201 +king of all kings over all and concerned for all. + +So then the struggle began for the advantage of position +we have mentioned. Attila sent his men to take the +summit of the mountain, but was outstripped by Thorismud +and Aëtius, who in their effort to gain the top of the +hill reached higher ground and through this advantage +of position easily routed the Huns as they came up. + +[Sidenote: ATTILA ADDRESSES HIS MEN] + +XXXIX Now when Attila saw his army was thrown 202 +into confusion by this event, he thought it best to encourage +them by an extemporaneous address on this wise: +"Here you stand, after conquering mighty nations and +subduing the world. I therefore think it foolish for me +to goad you with words, as though you were men who +had not been proved in action. Let a new leader or an +untried army resort to that. It is not right for me to 203 +say anything common, nor ought you to listen. For what +is war but your usual custom? Or what is sweeter for a +brave man than to seek revenge with his own hand? It +is a right of nature to glut the soul with vengeance. Let 204 +us then attack the foe eagerly; for they are ever the +bolder who make the attack. Despise this union of discordant +races! To defend oneself by alliance is proof of +cowardice. See, even before our attack they are smitten +with terror. They seek the heights, they seize the hills +and, repenting too late, clamor for protection against +battle in the open fields. You know how slight a matter +the Roman attack is. While they are still gathering in +order and forming in one line with locked shields, they +are checked, I will not say by the first wound, but even +by the dust of battle. Then on to the fray with stout 205 +hearts, as is your wont. Despise their battle line. Attack +the Alani, smite the Visigoths! Seek swift victory in +that spot where the battle rages. For when the sinews +are cut the limbs soon relax, nor can a body stand when +you have taken away the bones. Let your courage rise +and your own fury burst forth! Now show your cunning, +Huns, now your deeds of arms! Let the wounded +exact in return the death of his foe; let the unwounded 206 +revel in slaughter of the enemy. No spear shall harm +those who are sure to live; and those who are sure to die +Fate overtakes even in peace. And finally, why should +fortune have made the Huns victorious over so many +nations, unless it were to prepare them for the joy of +this conflict. Who was it revealed to our sires the +path through the Maeotian swamp, for so many ages +closed secret? Who, moreover, made armed men yield +to you, when you were as yet unarmed? Even a mass of +federated nations could not endure the sight of the Huns. +I am not deceived in the issue;--here is the field so many +victories have promised us. I shall hurl the first spear +at the foe. If any can stand at rest while Attila fights, +he is a dead man." Inflamed by these words, they all +dashed into battle. + +[Sidenote: FIERCE FIGHTING] + +XL And although the situation was itself fearful, yet 207 +the presence of their king dispelled anxiety and hesitation. +Hand to hand they clashed in battle, and the fight +grew fierce, confused, monstrous, unrelenting--a fight +whose like no ancient time has ever recorded. There such +deeds were done that a brave man who missed this marvellous +spectacle could not hope to see anything so wonderful +all his life long. For, if we may believe our 208 +elders, a brook flowing between low banks through the +plain was greatly increased by blood from the wounds +of the slain. It was not flooded by showers, as brooks +usually rise, but was swollen by a strange stream and +turned into a torrent by the increase of blood. Those +whose wounds drove them to slake their parching thirst +drank water mingled with gore. In their wretched plight +they were forced to drink what they thought was the +blood they had poured from their own wounds. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING THEODORID I IN THE BATTLE] + +Here King Theodorid, while riding by to encourage 209 +his army, was thrown from his horse and trampled under +foot by his own men, thus ending his days at a ripe old +age. But others say he was slain by the spear of Andag +of the host of the Ostrogoths, who were then under the +sway of Attila. This was what the soothsayers had told +to Attila in prophecy, though he understood it of Aëtius. +Then the Visigoths, separating from the Alani, fell upon 210 +the horde of the Huns and nearly slew Attila. But he +prudently took flight and straightway shut himself and +his companions within the barriers of the camp, which +he had fortified with wagons. A frail defence indeed; +yet there they sought refuge for their lives, whom but a +little while before no walls of earth could withstand. +But Thorismud, the son of King Theodorid, who with 211 +Aëtius had seized the hill and repulsed the enemy from +the higher ground, came unwittingly to the wagons of +the enemy in the darkness of night, thinking he had +reached his own lines. As he was fighting bravely, someone +wounded him in the head and dragged him from his +horse. Then he was rescued by the watchful care of his +followers and withdrew from the fierce conflict. Aëtius 212 +also became separated from his men in the confusion of +night and wandered about in the midst of the enemy. +Fearing disaster had happened, he went about in search +of the Goths. At last he reached the camp of his allies +and passed the remainder of the night in the protection +of their shields. + +At dawn on the following day, when the Romans +saw the fields were piled high with bodies and that +the Huns did not venture forth, they thought the victory +was theirs, but knew that Attila would not flee from +the battle unless overwhelmed by a great disaster. Yet +he did nothing cowardly, like one that is overcome, but +with clash of arms sounded the trumpets and threatened +an attack. He was like a lion pierced by hunting +spears, who paces to and fro before the mouth of his +den and dares not spring, but ceases not to terrify the +neighborhood by his roaring. Even so this warlike king +at bay terrified his conquerors. Therefore the Goths and 213 +Romans assembled and considered what to do with the +vanquished Attila. They determined to wear him out by +a siege, because he had no supply of provisions and was +hindered from approaching by a shower of arrows from +the bowmen placed within the confines of the Roman +camp. But it was said that the king remained supremely +brave even in this extremity and had heaped up a funeral +pyre of horse trappings, so that if the enemy should attack +him, he was determined to cast himself into the +flames, that none might have the joy of wounding him +and that the lord of so many races might not fall into +the hands of his foes. + +[Sidenote: RESULTS OF THE BATTLE] + +XLI Now during these delays in the siege, the Visigoths 214 +sought their king and the king's sons their father, +wondering at his absence when success had been attained. +When, after a long search, they found him where the +dead lay thickest, as happens with brave men, they honored +him with songs and bore him away in the sight of +the enemy. You might have seen bands of Goths shouting +with dissonant cries and paying the honors of death +while the battle still raged. Tears were shed, but such +as they were accustomed to devote to brave men. It was +death indeed, but the Huns are witness that it was a +glorious one. It was a death whereby one might well +suppose the pride of the enemy would be lowered, when +they beheld the body of so great a king borne forth with +fitting honors. And so the Goths, still continuing the 215 +rites due to Theodorid, bore forth the royal majesty with +sounding arms, and valiant Thorismud, as befitted a son, +honored the glorious spirit of his dear father by following +his remains. + +When this was done, Thorismud was eager to take +vengeance for his father's death on the remaining Huns, +being moved to this both by the pain of bereavement and +the impulse of that valor for which he was noted. Yet +he consulted with the Patrician Aëtius (for he was an +older man and of more mature wisdom) with regard to +what he ought to do next. But Aëtius feared that if the 216 +Huns were totally destroyed by the Goths, the Roman +Empire would be overwhelmed, and urgently advised him +to return to his own dominions to take up the rule which +his father had left. Otherwise his brothers might seize +their father's possessions and obtain the power over the +Visigoths. In this case Thorismud would have to fight +fiercely and, what is worse, disastrously with his own +countrymen. Thorismud accepted the advice without +perceiving its double meaning, but followed it with an +eye toward his own advantage. So he left the Huns and +returned to Gaul. Thus while human frailty rushes into 217 +suspicion, it often loses an opportunity of doing great +things. + +In this most famous war of the bravest tribes, one hundred +and sixty five thousand are said to have been slain on +both sides, leaving out of account fifteen thousand of the +Gepidae and Franks, who met each other the night before +the general engagement and fell by wounds mutually received, +the Franks fighting for the Romans and the Gepidae +for the Huns. + +Now when Attila learned of the retreat of the Goths, 218 +he thought it a ruse of the enemy,--for so men are wont +to believe when the unexpected happens--and remained +for some time in his camp. But when a long silence followed +the absence of the foe, the spirit of the mighty +king was aroused to the thought of victory and the anticipation +of pleasure, and his mind turned to the old oracles +of his destiny. + +[Sidenote: THORISMUD 451-453] + +Thorismud, however, after the death of his father on +the Catalaunian Plains where he had fought, advanced in +royal state and entered Tolosa. Here although the throng +of his brothers and brave companions were still rejoicing +over the victory he yet began to rule so mildly that no one +strove with him for the succession to the kingdom. + +[Sidenote: THE SIEGE AND FALL OF AQUILEIA 452] + +XLII But Attila took occasion from the withdrawal 219 +of the Visigoths, observing what he had often desired +that his enemies were divided. At length feeling secure, +he moved forward his array to attack the Romans. As +his first move he besieged the city of Aquileia, the metropolis +of Venetia, which is situated on a point or tongue +of land by the Adriatic Sea. On the eastern side its walls +are washed by the river Natissa, flowing from Mount +Piccis. The siege was long and fierce, but of no avail, 220 +since the bravest soldiers of the Romans withstood him +from within. At last his army was discontented and +eager to withdraw. Attila chanced to be walking around +the walls, considering whether to break camp or delay +longer, and noticed that the white birds, namely, the +storks, who build their nests in the gables of houses, were +bearing their young from the city and, contrary to their +custom, were carrying them out into the country. Being 221 +a shrewd observer of events, he understood this and said +to his soldiers: "You see the birds foresee the future. +They are leaving the city sure to perish and are forsaking +strongholds doomed to fall by reason of imminent peril. +Do not think this a meaningless or uncertain sign; fear, +arising from the things they foresee, has changed their +custom." Why say more? He inflamed the hearts of +his soldiers to attack Aquileia again. Constructing battering +rams and bringing to bear all manner of engines +of war, they quickly forced their way into the city, laid it +waste, divided the spoil and so cruelly devastated it as +scarcely to leave a trace to be seen. Then growing bolder 222 +and still thirsting for Roman blood, the Huns raged +madly through the remaining cities of the Veneti. They +also laid waste Mediolanum, the metropolis of Liguria, +once an imperial city, and gave over Ticinum to a like +fate. Then they destroyed the neighboring country in +their frenzy and demolished almost the whole of Italy. + +[Sidenote: POPE LEO INTERVENES TO SAVE ROME 452] + +Attila's mind had been bent on going to Rome. But +his followers, as the historian Priscus relates, took him +away, not out of regard for the city to which they were +hostile, but because they remembered the case of Alaric, +the former king of the Visigoths. They distrusted the +good fortune of their own king, inasmuch as Alaric did +not live long after the sack of Rome, but straightway +departed this life. Therefore while Attila's spirit was 223 +wavering in doubt between going and not going, and he +still lingered to ponder the matter, an embassy came to +him from Rome to seek peace. Pope Leo himself came +to meet him in the Ambuleian district of the Veneti at the +well-travelled ford of the river Mincius. Then Attila +quickly put aside his usual fury, turned back on the way +he had advanced from beyond the Danube and departed +with the promise of peace. But above all he declared and +avowed with threats that he would bring worse things +upon Italy, unless they sent him Honoria, the sister of the +Emperor Valentinian and daughter of Augusta Placidia, +with her due share of the royal wealth. For it was said 224 +that Honoria, although bound to chastity for the honor +of the imperial court and kept in constraint by command +of her brother, had secretly despatched a eunuch to summon +Attila that she might have his protection against he +brother's power;--a shameful thing, indeed, to get license +for her passion at the cost of the public weal. + +[Sidenote: MARCIAN 450-457] + +[Sidenote: ATTILA DEFEATED BY THORISMUD] + +XLIII So Attila returned to his own country, seeming 225 +to regret the peace and to be vexed at the cessation of +war. For he sent ambassadors to Marcian, Emperor of +the East, threatening to devastate the provinces, because +that which had been promised him by Theodosius, a former +emperor, was in no wise performed, and saying that +he would show himself more cruel to his foes than ever. +But as he was shrewd and crafty, he threatened in one +direction and moved his army in another; for in the +midst of these preparations he turned his face toward the +Visigoths who had yet to feel his vengeance. But here 226 +he had not the same success as against the Romans. +Hastening back by a different way than before, he decided +to reduce to his sway that part of the Alani which +was settled across the river Loire, in order that by attacking +them, and thus changing the aspect of the war, he +might become a more terrible menace to the Visigoths. +Accordingly he started from the provinces of Dacia and +Pannonia, where the Huns were then dwelling with various +subject peoples, and moved his array against the +Alani. But Thorismud, king of the Visigoths, with like 227 +quickness of thought perceived Attila's trick. By forced +marches he came to the Alani before him, and was well +prepared to check the advance of Attila when he came +after him. They joined battle in almost the same way as +before at the Catalaunian Plains, and Thorismud dashed +his hopes of victory, for he routed him and drove him +from the land without a triumph, compelling him to flee +to his own country. Thus while Attila, the famous leader +and lord of many victories, sought to blot out the fame +of his destroyer and in this way to annul what he had +suffered at the hands of the Visigoths, he met a second +defeat and retreated ingloriously. Now after the bands 228 +of the Huns had been repulsed by the Alani, without any +hurt to his own men, Thorismud departed for Tolosa. +There he established a settled peace for his people and in +the third year of his reign fell sick. While letting blood +from a vein, he was betrayed to his death by Ascalc, a +client, who told his foes that his weapons were out of +reach. Yet grasping a foot-stool in the one hand he had +free, he became the avenger of his own blood by slaying +several of those that were lying in wait for him. + +[Sidenote: THE REIGN OF KING THEODORID II 453-466] + +[Sidenote: Battle near the Ulbius 456] + +XLIV After his death, his brother Theodorid succeeded 229 +to the kingdom of the Visigoths and soon found +that Riciarius his kinsman, the king of the Suavi, was +hostile to him. For Riciarius, presuming on his relationship +to Theodorid, believed that he might seize almost the +whole of Spain, thinking the disturbed beginning of +Theodorid's reign made the time opportune for his trick. +The Suavi formerly occupied as their country Galicia and 230 +Lusitania, which extend on the right side of Spain along +the shore of Ocean. To the east is Austrogonia, to the +west, on a promontory, is the sacred Monument of the +Roman general Scipio, to the north Ocean, and to the +south Lusitania and the Tagus river, which mingles +golden grains in its sands and thus carries wealth in its +worthless mud. So then Riciarius, king of the Suavi, set +forth and strove to seize the whole of Spain. Theodorid, 231 +his kinsman, a man of moderation, sent ambassadors to +him and told him quietly that he must not only withdraw +from the territories that were not his own, but furthermore +that he should not presume to make such an attempt, +as he was becoming hated for his ambition. But with +arrogant spirit he replied: "If you murmur here and +find fault with my coming, I shall come to Tolosa where +you dwell. Resist me there, if you can." When he heard +this, Theodorid was angry and, making a compact with +all the other tribes, moved his array against the Suavi. +He had as his close allies Gundiuch and Hilperic, kings +of the Burgundians. They came to battle near the river 232 +Ulbius, which flows between Asturica and Hiberia, and +in the engagement Theodorid with the Visigoths, who +fought for the right, came off victorious, overthrowing +the entire tribe of the Suavi and almost exterminating +them. Their king Riciarius fled from the dread foe and +embarked upon a ship. But he was beaten back by another +foe, the adverse wind of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and +so fell into the hands of the Visigoths. Thus though +he changed from sea to land, the wretched man did not +avert his death. + +When Theodorid had become the victor, he spared the 233 +conquered and did not suffer the rage of conflict to continue, +but placed over the Suavi whom he had conquered +one of his own retainers, named Agrivulf. But Agrivulf +soon treacherously changed his mind, through the persuasion +of the Suavi, and failed to fulfil his duty. For +he was quite puffed up with tyrannical pride, believing +he had obtained the province as a reward for the valor +by which he and his lord had recently subjugated it. Now +he was a man born of the stock of the Varni, far below +the nobility of Gothic blood, and so was neither zealous +for liberty nor faithful toward his patron. As soon as 234 +Theodorid heard of this, he gathered a force to cast him +out from the kingdom he had usurped. They came +quickly and conquered him in the first battle, inflicting a +punishment befitting his deeds. For he was captured, +taken from his friends and beheaded. Thus at last he +was made aware of the wrath of the master he thought +might be despised because he was kind. Now when the +Suavi beheld the death of their leader, they sent priests +of their country to Theodorid as suppliants. He received +them with the reverence due their office and not only +granted the Suavi exemption from punishment, but was +moved by compassion and allowed them to choose a ruler +of their own race for themselves. The Suavi did so, +taking Rimismund as their prince. When this was done +and peace was everywhere assured, Theodorid died in +the thirteenth year of his reign. + +[Sidenote: KING EURICH 66-485] + +[Sidenote: THE WESTERN EMPIRE FROM THE DEATH OF VALENTINIAN III TO +ROMULUS AUGUSTULUS] + +[Sidenote: Maximus 455] + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC SACKS ROME 455] + +[Sidenote: Majorian 457-461] + +[Sidenote: Livius Severus 461-465] + +[Sidenote: Leo I 457-474] + +[Sidenote: Anthemius 467-472] + +XLV His brother Eurich succeeded him with such 235 +eager haste that he fell under dark suspicion. Now while +these and various other matters were happening among +the people of the Visigoths, the Emperor Valentinian was +slain by the treachery of Maximus, and Maximus himself, +like a tyrant, usurped the rule. Gaiseric, king of the +Vandals, heard of this and came from Africa to Italy +with ships of war, entered Rome and laid it waste. +Maximus fled and was slain by a certain Ursus, a Roman +soldier. After him Majorian undertook the government 236 +of the Western Empire at the bidding of Marcian, Emperor +of the East. But he too ruled but a short time. +For when he had moved his forces against the Alani who +were harassing Gaul, he was killed at Dertona near the +river named Ira. Severus succeeded him and died at +Rome in the third year of his reign. When the Emperor +Leo, who had succeeded Marcian in the Eastern Empire, +learned of this, he chose as emperor his Patrician Anthemius +and sent him to Rome. Upon his arrival he sent +against the Alani his son-in-law Ricimer, who was an +excellent man and almost the only one in Italy at that +time fit to command the army. In the very first engagement +he conquered and destroyed the host of the Alani, +together with their king, Beorg. + +[Sidenote: Olybrius 472] + +Now Eurich, king of the Visigoths, perceived the frequent 237 +change of Roman Emperors and strove to hold +Gaul by his own right. The Emperor Anthemius heard +of it and asked the Brittones for aid. Their King +Riotimus came with twelve thousand men into the state +of the Bituriges by the way of Ocean, and was received +as he disembarked from his ships. Eurich, king of the 238 +Visigoths, came against them with an innumerable army, +and after a long fight he routed Riotimus, king of the +Brittones, before the Romans could join him. So when +he had lost a great part of his army, he fled with all the +men he could gather together, and came to the Burgundians, +a neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But +Eurich, king of the Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of +Arverna; for the Emperor Anthemius was now dead. +Engaged in fierce war with his son-in-law Ricimer, he 239 +had worn out Rome and was himself finally slain by his +son-in-law and yielded the rule to Olybrius. + +[Sidenote: Glycerius 473] + +[Sidenote: Nepos 474] + +At that time Aspar, first of the Patricians and a famous +man of the Gothic race was wounded by the swords of +the eunuchs in his palace at Constantinople and died. +With him were slain his sons Ardabures and Patriciolus, +the one long a Patrician, and the other styled a Caesar +and son-in-law of the Emperor Leo. Now Olybrius died +barely eight months after he had entered upon his reign, +and Glycerius was made Caesar at Ravenna, rather by +usurpation than by election. Hardly had a year been +ended when Nepos, the son of the sister of Marcellinus, +once a Patrician, deposed him from his office and ordained +him bishop at the Port of Rome. + +[Sidenote: Romulus Augustulus 476] + +When Eurich, as we have already said, beheld these 240 +great and various changes, he seized the city of Arverna, +where the Roman general Ecdicius was at that time in +command. He was a senator of most renowned family +and the son of Avitus, a recent emperor who had usurped +the reign for a few days--for Avitus held the rule for a +few days before Olybrius, and then withdrew of his own +accord to Placentia, where he was ordained bishop. His +son Ecdicius strove for a long time with the Visigoths, +but had not the power to prevail. So he left the country +and (what was more important) the city of Arverna to +the enemy and betook himself to safer regions. When 241 +the Emperor Nepos heard of this, he ordered Ecdicius +to leave Gaul and come to him, appointing Orestes in his +stead as Master of the Soldiery. This Orestes thereupon +received the army, set out from Rome against the +enemy and came to Ravenna. Here he tarried while he +made his son Romulus Augustulus emperor. When +Nepos learned of this, he fled to Dalmatia and died there, +deprived of his throne, in the very place where Glycerius, +who was formerly emperor, held at that time the bishopric +of Salona. + +[Sidenote: THE RULE OF ODOACER 476-493] + +[Sidenote: Death of Bracila 477] + +XLVI Now when Augustulus had been appointed 242 +Emperor by his father Orestes in Ravenna, it was not +long before Odoacer, king of the Torcilingi, invaded +Italy, as leader of the Sciri, the Heruli and allies of +various races. He put Orestes to death, drove his son +Augustulus from the throne and condemned him to the +punishment of exile in the Castle of Lucullus in Campania. +Thus the Western Empire of the Roman race, which 243 +Octavianus Augustus, the first of the Augusti, began to +govern in the seven hundred and ninth year from the +founding of the city, perished with this Augustulus in the +five hundred and twenty second year from the beginning +of the rule of his predecessors and those before them, +and from this time onward kings of the Goths held Rome +and Italy. Meanwhile Odoacer, king of nations, subdued +all Italy and then at the very outset of his reign slew +Count Bracila at Ravenna that he might inspire a fear +of himself among the Romans. He strengthened his +kingdom and held it for almost thirteen years, even until +the appearance of Theodoric, of whom we shall speak +hereafter. + +[Sidenote: Leo II 473-474] + +[Sidenote: Zeno 474-491] + +[Sidenote: Eurich killed 485] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC II LAST KING OF THE VISIGOTHS 485-507] + +XLVII But first let us return to that order from 244 +which we have digressed and tell how Eurich, king of the +Visigoths, beheld the tottering of the Roman Empire and +reduced Arelate and Massilia to his own sway. Gaiseric, +king of the Vandals, enticed him by gifts to do these +things, to the end that he himself might forestall the plots +which Leo and Zeno had contrived against him. Therefore +he stirred the Ostrogoths to lay waste the Eastern +Empire and the Visigoths the Western, so that while his +foes were battling in both empires, he might himself +reign peacefully in Africa. Eurich perceived this with +gladness and, as he already held all of Spain and Gaul +by his own right, proceeded to subdue the Burgundians +also. In the nineteenth year of his reign he was deprived +of his life at Arelate, where he then dwelt. He was succeeded 245 +by his own son Alaric, the ninth in succession +from the famous Alaric the Great to receive the kingdom +of the Visigoths. For even as it happened to the line of +the Augusti, as we have stated above, so too it appears in +the line of the Alarici, that kingdoms often come to an +end in kings who bear the same name as those at the +beginning. Meanwhile let us leave this subject, and +weave together the whole story of the origin of the Goths, +as we promised. + +(The Divided Goths: Ostrogoths) + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS AND THEIR SUBJECTION TO THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Death of Hermanaric 375 or 376] + +XLVIII Since I have followed the stories of my 246 +ancestors and retold to the best of my ability the tale of +the period when both tribes, Ostrogoths and Visigoths, +were united, and then clearly treated of the Visigoths +apart from the Ostrogoths, I must now return to those +ancient Scythian abodes and set forth in like manner the +ancestry and deeds of the Ostrogoths. It appears that at +the death of their king, Hermanaric, they were made a +separate people by the departure of the Visigoths, and +remained in their country subject to the sway of the +Huns; yet Vinitharius of the Amali retained the insignia +of his rule. He rivalled the valor of his grandfather 247 +Vultuulf, although he had not the good fortune of Hermanaric. +But disliking to remain under the rule of the +Huns, he withdrew a little from them and strove to show +his courage by moving his forces against the country of +the Antes. When he attacked them, he was beaten in the +first encounter. Thereafter he did valiantly and, as a +terrible example, crucified their king, named Boz, together +with his sons and seventy nobles, and left their bodies +hanging there to double the fear of those who had surrendered. +When he had ruled with such license for 248 +barely a year, Balamber, king of the Huns, would no +longer endure it, but sent for Gesimund, son of Hunimund +the Great. Now Gesimund, together with a great +part of the Goths, remained under the rule of the Huns, +being mindful of his oath of fidelity. Balamber renewed +his alliance with him and led his army up against Vinitharius. +After a long contest, Vinitharius prevailed in +the first and in the second conflict, nor can any say how +great a slaughter he made of the army of the Huns. But 249 +in the third battle, when they met each other unexpectedly +at the river named Erac, Balamber shot an arrow and +wounded Vinitharius in the head, so that he died. Then +Balamber took to himself in marriage Vadamerca, the +grand-daughter of Vinitharius, and finally ruled all the +people of the Goths as his peaceful subjects, but in such +a way that one ruler of their own number always held the +power over the Gothic race, though subject to the Huns. + +[Sidenote: KING HUNIMUND] + +[Sidenote: KING THORISMUD KILLED 404] + +And later, after the death of Vinitharius, Hunimund 250 +ruled them, the son of Hermanaric, a mighty king of +yore; a man fierce in war and of famous personal beauty, +who afterwards fought successfully against the race of +the Suavi. And when he died, his son Thorismud succeeded +him, in the very bloom of youth. In the second +year of his rule he moved an army against the Gepidae +and won a great victory over them, but is said to have +been killed by falling from his horse. When he was dead, 251 +the Ostrogoths mourned for him so deeply that for forty +years no other king succeeded in his place, and during all +this time they had ever on their lips the tale of his memory. +Now as time went on, Valamir grew to man's +estate. He was the son of Thorismud's cousin Vandalarius. +For his son Beremud, as we have said before, at +last grew to despise the race of the Ostrogoths because of +the overlordship of the Huns, and so had followed the +tribe of the Visigoths to the western country, and it was +from him Veteric was descended. Veteric also had a son +Eutharic, who married Amalasuentha, the daughter of +Theodoric, thus uniting again the stock of the Amali +which had divided long ago. Eutharic begat Athalaric +and Mathesuentha. But since Athalaric died in the +years of his boyhood, Mathesuentha was taken to Constantinople +by her second husband, namely Germanus, a +cousin of the Emperor Justinian, and bore a posthumous +son, whom she named Germanus. + +[Sidenote: KING VALAMIR 445?] + +But that the order we have taken for our history may 252 +run its due course, we must return to the stock of Vandalarius, +which put forth three branches. This Vandalarius, +the son of a brother of Hermanaric and cousin of the +aforesaid Thorismud, vaunted himself among the race of +the Amali because he had begotten three sons, Valamir, +Thiudimer and Vidimer. Of these Valamir ascended the +throne after his parents, though the Huns as yet held the +power over the Goths in general as among other nations. +It was pleasant to behold the concord of these three brothers; 253 +for the admirable Thiudimer served as a soldier for +the empire of his brother Valamir, and Valamir bade +honors be given him, while Vidimer was eager to serve +them both. Thus regarding one another with common +affection, not one was wholly deprived of the kingdom +which two of them held in mutual peace. Yet, as has +often been said, they ruled in such a way that they respected +the dominion of Attila, king of the Huns. Indeed +they could not have refused to fight against their kinsmen +the Visigoths, and they must even have committed parricide +at their lord's command. There was no way whereby +any Scythian tribe could have been wrested from the +power of the Huns, save by the death of Attila,--an +event the Romans and all other nations desired. Now his +death was as base as his life was marvellous. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ATTILA 453] + +XLIX Shortly before he died, as the historian Priscus 254 +relates, he took in marriage a very beautiful girl named +Ildico, after countless other wives, as was the custom of +his race. He had given himself up to excessive joy at +his wedding, and as he lay on his back, heavy with wine +and sleep, a rush of superfluous blood, which would ordinarily +have flowed from his nose, streamed in deadly +course down his throat and killed him, since it was hindered +in the usual passages. Thus did drunkenness put a +disgraceful end to a king renowned in war. On the following +day, when a great part of the morning was spent, +the royal attendants suspected some ill and, after a great +uproar, broke in the doors. There they found the death +of Attila accomplished by an effusion of blood, without +any wound, and the girl with downcast face weeping +beneath her veil. Then, as is the custom of that race, 255 +they plucked out the hair of their heads and made their +faces hideous with deep wounds, that the renowned warrior +might be mourned, not by effeminate wailings and +tears, but by the blood of men. Moreover a wondrous +thing took place in connection with Attila's death. For +in a dream some god stood at the side of Marcian, Emperor +of the East, while he was disquieted about his +fierce foe, and showed him the bow of Attila broken in +that same night, as if to intimate that the race of Huns +owed much to that weapon. This account the historian +Priscus says he accepts upon truthful evidence. For so +terrible was Attila thought to be to great empires that +the gods announced his death to rulers as a special boon. + +We shall not omit to say a few words about the many 256 +ways in which his shade was honored by his race. His +body was placed in the midst of a plain and lay in state +in a silken tent as a sight for men's admiration. The best +horsemen of the entire tribe of the Huns rode around in +circles, after the manner of circus games, in the place +to which he had been brought and told of his deeds in a +funeral dirge in the following manner: "The chief of the 257 +Huns, King Attila, born of his sire Mundiuch, lord of +bravest tribes, sole possessor of the Scythian and German +realms--powers unknown before--captured cities and +terrified both empires of the Roman world and, appeased +by their prayers, took annual tribute to save the rest from +plunder. And when he had accomplished all this by the +favor of fortune, he fell, not by wound of the foe, nor +by treachery of friends, but in the midst of his nation at +peace, happy in his joy and without sense of pain. Who +can rate this as death, when none believes it calls for +vengeance?" When they had mourned him with such 258 +lamentations, a _strava_, as they call it, was celebrated over +his tomb with great revelling. They gave way in turn to +the extremes of feeling and displayed funereal grief alternating +with joy. Then in the secrecy of night they buried +his body in the earth. They bound his coffins, the first +with gold, the second with silver and the third with the +strength of iron, showing by such means that these three +things suited the mightiest of kings; iron because he +subdued the nations, gold and silver because he received +the honors of both empires. They also added the arms +of foemen won in the fight, trappings of rare worth, +sparkling with various gems, and ornaments of all sorts +whereby princely state is maintained. And that so great +riches might be kept from human curiosity, they slew +those appointed to the work--a dreadful pay for their +labor; and thus sudden death was the lot of those who +buried him as well as of him who was buried. + +[Sidenote: DISSOLUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF THE HUNS 454] + +[Sidenote: Battle of Nedao 454] + +L After they had fulfilled these rites, a contest for 259 +the highest place arose among Attila's successors,--for the +minds of young men are wont to be inflamed by ambition +for power,--and in their rash eagerness to rule they all +alike destroyed his empire. Thus kingdoms are often +weighed down by a superfluity rather than by a lack of +successors. For the sons of Attila, who through the +license of his lust formed almost a people of themselves, +were clamoring that the nations should be divided among +them equally and that warlike kings with their peoples +should be apportioned to them by lot like a family estate. +When Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, learned this, he 260 +became enraged because so many nations were being +treated like slaves of the basest condition, and was the +first to rise against the sons of Attila. Good fortune +attended him, and he effaced the disgrace of servitude that +rested upon him. For by his revolt he freed not only his +own tribe, but all the others who were equally oppressed; +since all readily strive for that which is sought for the +general advantage. They took up arms against the destruction +that menaced all and joined battle with the +Huns in Pannonia, near a river called Nedao. There an 261 +encounter took place between the various nations Attila +had held under his sway. Kingdoms with their peoples +were divided, and out of one body were made many +members not responding to a common impulse. Being +deprived of their head, they madly strove against each +other. They never found their equals ranged against +them without harming each other by wounds mutually +given. And so the bravest nations tore themselves to +pieces. For then, I think, must have occurred a most +remarkable spectacle, where one might see the Goths +fighting with pikes, the Gepidae raging with the sword, +the Rugi breaking off the spears in their own wounds, the +Suavi fighting on foot, the Huns with bows, the Alani +drawing up a battle-line of heavy-armed and the Heruli +of light-armed warriors. + +Finally, after many bitter conflicts, victory fell unexpectedly +to the Gepidae. For the sword and conspiracy 262 +of Ardaric destroyed almost thirty thousand men, Huns +as well as those of the other nations who brought them +aid. In this battle fell Ellac, the elder son of Attila, +whom his father is said to have loved so much more than +all the rest that he preferred him to any child or even to +all the children of his kingdom. But fortune was not in +accord with his father's wish. For after slaying many +of the foe, it appears that he met his death so bravely +that, if his father had lived, he would have rejoiced at his +glorious end. When Ellac was slain, his remaining 263 +brothers were put to flight near the shore of the Sea of +Pontus, where we have said the Goths first settled. Thus +did the Huns give way, a race to which men thought the +whole world must yield. So baneful a thing is division, +that they who used to inspire terror when their strength +was united, were overthrown separately. The cause of +Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, was fortunate for the various +nations who were unwillingly subject to the rule +of the Huns, for it raised their long downcast spirits to +the glad hope of freedom. Many sent ambassadors to +the Roman territory, where they were most graciously +received by Marcian, who was then emperor, and took the +abodes allotted them to dwell in. But the Gepidae by their 264 +own might won for themselves the territory of the Huns +and ruled as victors over the extent of all Dacia, demanding +of the Roman Empire nothing more than peace and +an annual gift as a pledge of their friendly alliance. This +the Emperor freely granted at the time, and to this day +that race receives its customary gifts from the Roman +Emperor. + +[Sidenote: JORDANES] + +Now when the Goths saw the Gepidae defending for +themselves the territory of the Huns and the people of +the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they +preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire +rather than invade the lands of others with danger to +themselves. So they received Pannonia, which stretches +in a long plain, being bounded on the east by Upper +Moesia, on the south by Dalmatia, on the west by Noricum +and on the north by the Danube. This land is +adorned with many cities, the first of which is Sirmium +and the last Vindobona. But the Sauromatae, whom we 265 +call Sarmatians, and the Cemandri and certain of the +Huns dwelt in Castra Martis, a city given them in the +region of Illyricum. Of this race was Blivila, Duke of +Pentapolis, and his brother Froila and also Bessa, a Patrician +in our time. The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii +and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by +name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria, +the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say, 266 +my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long +as he lived. To his sister's son Gunthigis, also called +Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of +Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the +stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an unlearned +man before my conversion, was secretary. The +Rugi, however, and some other races asked that they +might inhabit Bizye and Arcadiopolis. Hernac, the +younger son of Attila, with his followers, chose a home +in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and +Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and +Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of +the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves +into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the +Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Ulfilas about 311-381] + +[Sidenote: THE LESSER GOTHS] + +LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, 267 +a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who +is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they +are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far +as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous +people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save +flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and +forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat +and other sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know +that vineyards exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine +from neighboring countries. But most of them drink +milk. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS IN PANNONIA] + +[Sidenote: BIRTH OF THEODORIC THE GREAT 454] + +LII Let us now return to the tribe with which we 268 +started, namely the Ostrogoths, who were dwelling in +Pannonia under their king Valamir and his brothers Thiudimer +and Vidimer. Although their territories were +separate, yet their plans were one. For Valamir dwelt +between the rivers Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra, Thiudimer +near Lake Pelso and Vidimer between them both. +Now it happened that the sons of Attila, regarding the +Goths as deserters from their rule, came against them as +though they were seeking fugitive slaves, and attacked +Valamir alone, when his brothers knew nothing of it. He 269 +sustained their attack, though he had but few supporters, +and after harassing them a long time, so utterly overwhelmed +them that scarcely any portion of the enemy +remained. The remnant turned in flight and sought +the parts of Scythia which border on the stream of the +river Danaper, which the Huns call in their own tongue +the Var. Thereupon he sent a messenger of good tidings +to his brother Thiudimer, and on the very day the messenger +arrived he found even greater joy in the house of +Thiudimer. For on that day his son Theodoric was born, +of a concubine Erelieva indeed, and yet a child of good +hope. + +[Sidenote: HIS YOUTH SPENT AT CONSTANTINOPLE BEGINNING 461] + +Now after no great time King Valamir and his brothers 270 +Thiudimer and Vidimer sent an embassy to the Emperor +Marcian, because the usual gifts which they received +like a New Year's present from the Emperor, to +preserve the compact of peace, were slow in arriving. +And they found that Theodoric, son of Triarius, a man +of Gothic blood also, but born of another stock, not of +the Amali, was in great favor, together with his followers. +He was allied in friendship with the Romans +and obtained an annual bounty, while they themselves +were merely held in disdain. Thereat they were aroused 271 +to frenzy and took up arms. They roved through almost +the whole of Illyricum and laid it waste in their search +for spoil. Then the Emperor quickly changed his mind +and returned to his former state of friendship. He sent +an embassy to give them the past gifts, as well as those +now due, and furthermore promised to give these gifts +in future without any dispute. From the Goths the +Romans received as a hostage of peace Theodoric, the +young child of Thiudimer, whom we have mentioned +above. He had now attained the age of seven years and +was entering upon his eighth. While his father hesitated +about giving him up, his uncle Valamir besought him to +do it, hoping that peace between the Romans and the +Goths might thus be assured. Therefore Theodoric was +given as a hostage by the Goths and brought to the city +of Constantinople to the Emperor Leo and, being a +goodly child, deservedly gained the imperial favor. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS OVERWHELM THE REMNANT OF THE HUNS] + +LIII Now after firm peace was established between 272 +Goths and Romans, the Goths found that the possessions +they had received from the Emperor were not sufficient +for them. Furthermore, they were eager to display their +wonted valor, and so began to plunder the neighboring +races round about them, first attacking the Sadagis who +held the interior of Pannonia. When Dintzic, king of the +Huns, a son of Attila, learned this, he gathered to him +the few who still seemed to have remained under his +sway, namely, the Ultzinzures, and Angisciri, the Bittugures +and the Bardores. Coming to Bassiana, a city of +Pannonia, he beleaguered it and began to plunder its territory. +Then the Goths at once abandoned the expedition 273 +they had planned against the Sadagis, turned upon the +Huns and drove them so ingloriously from their own +land that those who remained have been in dread of the +arms of the Goths from that time down to the present +day. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: Plot of Hunimund about 470] + +When the tribe of the Huns was at last subdued by the +Goths, Hunimund, chief of the Suavi, who was crossing +over to plunder Dalmatia, carried off some cattle of the +Goths which were straying over the plains; for Dalmatia +was near Suavia and not far distant from the territory +of Pannonia, especially that part where the Goths were +then staying. So then, as Hunimund was returning 274 +with the Suavi to his own country, after he had devastated +Dalmatia, Thiudimer the brother of Valamir, +king of the Goths, kept watch on their line of march. +Not that he grieved so much over the loss of his cattle, +but he feared that if the Suavi obtained this plunder with +impunity, they would proceed to greater license. So in +the dead of night, while they were asleep, he made an +unexpected attack upon them, near Lake Pelso. Here he +so completely crushed them that he took captive and sent +into slavery under the Goths even Hunimund, their king, +and all of his army who had escaped the sword. Yet +as he was a great lover of mercy, he granted pardon +after taking vengeance and became reconciled to the +Suavi. He adopted as his son the same man whom he +had taken captive, and sent him back with his followers +into Suavia. But Hunimund was unmindful of his 275 +adopted father's kindness. After some time he brought +forth a plot he had contrived and aroused the tribe of the +Sciri, who then dwelt above the Danube and abode peaceably +with the Goths. So the Sciri broke off their alliance +with them, took up arms, joined themselves to Hunimund +and went out to attack the race of the Goths. Thus war +came upon the Goths who were expecting no evil, because +they relied upon both of their neighbors as friends. Constrained +by necessity they took up arms and avenged +themselves and their injuries by recourse to battle. In 276 +this battle, as King Valamir rode on his horse before the +line to encourage his men, the horse was wounded and +fell, overthrowing its rider. Valamir was quickly pierced +by his enemies' spears and slain. Thereupon the Goths +proceeded to exact vengeance for the death of their king, +as well as for the injury done them by the rebels. They +fought in such wise that there remained of all the race of +the Sciri only a few who bore the name, and they with +disgrace. Thus were all destroyed. + +[Sidenote: SUCCESS OF THE GOTHS UNDER HIUDIMER ABOUT 470] + +LIV The kings [of the Suavi], Hunimund and 277 +Alaric, fearing the destruction that had come upon the +Sciri, next made war upon the Goths, relying upon the +aid of the Sarmations, who had come to them as auxiliaries +with their kings Beuca and Babai. They summoned +the last remnants of the Sciri, with Edica and Hunuulf, +their chieftains, thinking they would fight the more desperately +to avenge themselves. They had on their side +the Gepidae also, as well as no small reinforcements from +the race of the Rugi and from others gathered here +and there. Thus they brought together a great host at +the river Bolia in Pannonia and encamped there. Now 278 +when Valamir was dead, the Goths fled to Thiudimer, +his brother. Although he had long ruled along with his +brothers, yet he took the insignia of his increased authority +and summoned his younger brother Vidimer and +shared with him the cares of war, resorting to arms under +compulsion. A battle was fought and the party of the +Goths was found to be so much the stronger that the +plain was drenched in the blood of their fallen foes and +looked like a crimson sea. Weapons and corpses, piled +up like hills, covered the plain for more than ten miles. +When the Goths saw this, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable, 279 +because by this great slaughter of their foes they +had avenged the blood of Valamir their king and the +injury done themselves. But those of the innumerable +and motley throng of the foe who were able to escape, +though they got away, nevertheless came to their own +land with difficulty and without glory. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER AGAIN WARS WITH THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SENT BACK TO HIS OWN PEOPLE 472] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Belgrade] + +LV After a certain time, when the wintry cold was 280 +at hand, the river Danube was frozen over as usual. For +a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like +a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and +carts and whatsoever vehicles there may be,--nor is there +need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king of +the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army across +the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi from +the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the east +the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the +Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With 281 +the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their +confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence +several streams flow into the Danube, pouring in with a +great rushing sound. Into a place thus fortified King +Thiudimer led his army in the winter-time and conquered, +plundered and almost subdued the race of the Suavi as +well as the Alamanni, who were mutually banded together. +Thence he returned as victor to his own home in +Pannonia and joyfully received his son Theodoric, once +given as hostage to Constantinople and now sent back by +the Emperor Leo with great gifts. Now Theodoric had 282 +reached man's estate, for he was eighteen years of age +and his boyhood was ended. So he summoned certain of +his father's adherents and took to himself from the people +his friends and retainers,--almost six thousand men. +With these he crossed the Danube, without his father's +knowledge, and marched against Babai, king of the Sarmatians, +who had just won a victory over Camundus, a +general of the Romans, and was ruling with insolent +pride. Theodoric came upon him and slew him, and +taking as booty his slaves and treasure, returned victorious +to his father. Next he invaded the city of Singidunum, +which the Sarmatians themselves had seized, and +did not return it to the Romans, but reduced it to his own +sway. + +[Sidenote: VIDIMER THE YOUNGER GOES TO GAUL 473] + +LVI Then as the spoil taken from one and another 283 +of the neighboring tribes diminished, the Goths began +to lack food and clothing, and peace became distasteful +to men for whom war had long furnished the +necessaries of life. So all the Goths approached their +king Thiudimer and, with great outcry, begged him to +lead forth his army in whatsoever direction he might +wish. He summoned his brother and, after casting lots, +bade him go into the country of Italy, where at this time +Glycerius ruled as emperor, saying that he himself as the +mightier would go to the east against a mightier empire. +And so it happened. Thereupon Vidimer entered the 284 +land of Italy, but soon paid the last debt of fate and +departed from earthly affairs, leaving his son and namesake +Vidimer to succeed him. The Emperor Glycerius +bestowed gifts upon Vidimer and persuaded him to go +from Italy to Gaul, which was then harassed on all sides +by various races, saying that their own kinsmen, the +Visigoths, there ruled a neighboring kingdom. And +what more? Vidimer accepted the gifts and, obeying +the command of the Emperor Glycerius, pressed on to +Gaul. Joining with his kinsmen the Visigoths, they +again formed one body, as they had been long ago. Thus +they held Gaul and Spain by their own right and so +defended them that no other race won the mastery there. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER IN MACEDONIA] + +But Thiudimer, the elder brother, crossed the river 285 +Savus with his men, threatening the Sarmatians and their +soldiers with war if any should resist him. From fear of +this they kept quiet; moreover they were powerless in the +face of so great a host. Thiudimer, seeing prosperity +everywhere awaiting him, invaded Naissus, the first city +of Illyricum. He was joined by his son Theodoric and +the Counts Astat and Invilia, and sent them to Ulpiana +by way of Castrum Herculis. Upon their arrival the 286 +town surrendered, as did Stobi later; and several places +of Illyricum, inaccessible to them at first, were thus made +easy of approach. For they first plundered and then +ruled by right of war Heraclea and Larissa, cities of +Thessaly. But Thiudimer the king, perceiving his own +good fortune and that of his son, was not content with +this alone, but set forth from the city of Naissus, leaving +only a few men behind as a guard. He himself advanced +to Thessalonica, where Hilarianus the Patrician, appointed +by the Emperor, was stationed with his army. +When Hilarianus beheld Thessalonica surrounded by an 287 +entrenchment and saw that he could not resist attack, he +sent an embassy to Thiudimer the king and by the offer +of gifts turned him aside from destroying the city. Then +the Roman general entered upon a truce with the Goths +and of his own accord handed over to them those places +they inhabited, namely Cyrrhus, Pella, Europus, Methone, +Pydna, Beroea, and another which is called Dium. +So the Goths and their king laid aside their arms, consented 288 +to peace and became quiet. Soon after these +events, King Thiudimer was seized with a mortal illness +in the city of Cyrrhus. He called the Goths to himself, +appointed Theodoric his son as heir of his kingdom and +presently departed this life. + +[Sidenote: Zeno 491] + +[Sidenote: Theodoric the Great 526] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC HONORED BY ZENO 528] + +LVII When the Emperor Zeno heard that Theodoric 289 +had been appointed king over his own people, he received +the news with pleasure and invited him to come and visit +him in the city, appointing an escort of honor. Receiving +Theodoric with all due respect, he placed him among the +princes of his palace. After some time Zeno increased +his dignity by adopting him as his son-at-arms and gave +him a triumph in the city at his expense. Theodoric was +made Consul Ordinary also, which is well known to be +the supreme good and highest honor in the world. Nor +was this all, for Zeno set up before the royal palace an +equestrian statue to the glory of this great man. + +[Sidenote: ASKS TO THE EMPIRE FOR HIS RULE] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SETS OUT FOR ITALY 488] + +Now while Theodoric was in alliance by treaty with 290 +the Empire of Zeno and was himself enjoying every +comfort in the city, he heard that his tribe, dwelling as +we have said in Illyricum, was not altogether satisfied or +content. So he chose rather to seek a living by his own +exertions, after the manner customary to his race, rather +than to enjoy the advantages of the Roman Empire in +luxurious ease while his tribe lived in want. After pondering +these matters, he said to the Emperor: "Though I +lack nothing in serving your Empire, yet if Your Piety +deem it worthy, be pleased to hear the desire of my +heart." And when as usual he had been granted permission 291 +to speak freely, he said: "The western country, long +ago governed by the rule of your ancestors and predecessors, +and that city which was the head and mistress of +the world,--wherefore is it now shaken by the tyranny +of the Torcilingi and the Rugi? Send me there with my +race. Thus if you but say the word, you may be freed +from the burden of expense here, and, if by the Lord's +help I shall conquer, the fame of Your Piety shall be +glorious there. For it is better that I, your servant and +your son, should rule that kingdom, receiving it as a +gift from you if I conquer, than that one whom you do +not recognize should oppress your Senate with his tyrannical +yoke and a part of the republic with slavery. For if +I prevail, I shall retain it as your grant and gift; if I am +conquered, Your Piety will lose nothing--nay, as I have +said, it will save the expense I now entail." Although the 292 +Emperor was grieved that he should go, yet when he +heard this he granted what Theodoric asked, for he was +unwilling to cause him sorrow. He sent him forth enriched +by great gifts and commended to his charge the +Senate and the Roman People. + +[Sidenote: HE CONQUERS ODOACER AND PUTS HIM TO DEATH 493] + +Therefore Theodoric departed from the royal city and +returned to his own people. In company with the whole +tribe of the Goths, who gave him their unanimous consent, +he set out for Hesperia. He went in straight march +through Sirmium to the places bordering on Pannonia +and, advancing into the territory of Venetia as far as +the bridge of the Sontius, encamped there. When he 293 +had halted there for some time to rest the bodies of +his men and pack-animals, Odoacer sent an armed force +against him, which he met on the plains of Verona and +destroyed with great slaughter. Then he broke camp +and advanced through Italy with greater boldness. Crossing +the river Po, he pitched camp near the royal city +of Ravenna, about the third milestone from the city in +the place called Pineta. When Odoacer saw this, he +fortified himself within the city. He frequently harassed +the army of the Goths at night, sallying forth stealthily +with his men, and this not once or twice, but often; and +thus he struggled for almost three whole years. But he 294 +labored in vain, for all Italy at last called Theodoric its +lord and the Empire obeyed his nod. But Odoacer, with +his few adherents and the Romans who were present, suffered +daily from war and famine in Ravenna. Since he +accomplished nothing, he sent an embassy and begged for +mercy. Theodoric first granted it and afterwards deprived 295 +him of his life. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC FOUNDS THE OSTROGOTHIC KINGDOM IN ITALY 493] + +It was in the third year after his entrance into Italy, +as we have said, that Theodoric, by advice of the Emperor +Zeno, laid aside the garb of a private citizen and +the dress of his race and assumed a costume with a royal +mantle, as he had now become the ruler over both Goths +and Romans. He sent an embassy to Lodoin, king of the +Franks, and asked for his daughter Audefleda in marriage. 296 +Lodoin freely and gladly gave her, and also his +sons Celdebert and Heldebert and Thiudebert, believing +that by this alliance a league would be formed and that +they would be associated with the race of the Goths. But +that union was of no avail for peace and harmony, for +they fought fiercely with each other again and again for +the lands of the Goths; but never did the Goths yield to +the Franks while Theodoric lived. + +[Sidenote: OF THE INCREASE OF HIS POWER] + +[Sidenote: Amalaric 507-531] + +LVIII Now before he had a child from Audefleda, 297 +Theodoric had children of a concubine, daughters begotten +in Moesia, one named Thiudigoto and another Ostrogotho. +Soon after he came to Italy, he gave them in marriage +to neighboring kings, one to Alaric, king of the +Visigoths, and the other to Sigismund, king of the Burgundians. +Now Alaric begat Amalaric. While his grandfather 298 +Theodoric cared for and protected him--for he +had lost both parents in the years of childhood--he +found that Eutharic, the son of Veteric, grandchild of +Beremud and Thorismud, and a descendant of the race +of the Amali, was living in Spain, a young man strong in +wisdom and valor and health of body. Theodoric sent +for him and gave him his daughter Amalasuentha in +marriage. And that he might extend his family as much 299 +as possible, he sent his sister Amalafrida (the mother of +Theodahad, who was afterwards king) to Africa as wife +of Thrasamund, king of the Vandals, and her daughter +Amalaberga, who was his own niece, he united with Herminefred, +king of the Thuringians. + +Now he sent his Count Pitza, chosen from among the 300 +chief men of his kingdom, to hold the city of Sirmium. +He got possession of it by driving out its king Thrasaric, +son of Thraustila, and keeping his mother captive. Thence +he came with two thousand infantry and five hundred +horsemen to aid Mundo against Sabinian, Master of the +Soldiery of Illyricum, who at that time had made ready to +fight with Mundo near the city named Margoplanum, +which lies between the Danube and Margus rivers, and +destroyed the Army of Illyricum. For this Mundo, who 301 +traced his descent from the Attilani of old, had put to +flight the tribe of the Gepidae and was roaming beyond +the Danube in waste places where no man tilled the soil. +He had gathered around him many outlaws and ruffians +and robbers from all sides and had seized a tower called +Herta, situated on the bank of the Danube. There he +plundered his neighbors in wild license and made himself +king over his vagabonds. Now Pitza came upon him +when he was nearly reduced to desperation and was already +thinking of surrender. So he rescued him from +the hands of Sabinian and made him a grateful subject of +his king Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Thiudis 531-548] + +[Sidenote: Thiudigisclus 548-549] + +[Sidenote: Agil 549-554] + +[Sidenote: Athanagild 554-567] + +Theodoric won an equally great victory over the 302 +Franks through his Count Ibba in Gaul, when more than +thirty thousand Franks were slain in battle. Moreover, +after the death of his son-in-law Alaric, Theodoric appointed +Thiudis, his armor-bearer, guardian of his grandson +Amalaric in Spain. But Amalaric was ensnared by +the plots of the Franks in early youth and lost at once his +kingdom and his life. Then his guardian Thiudis, advancing +from the same kingdom, assailed the Franks and +delivered the Spaniards from their disgraceful treachery. +So long as he lived he kept the Visigoths united. After 303 +him Thiudigisclus obtained the kingdom and, ruling but +a short time, met his death at the hands of his own followers. +He was succeeded by Agil, who holds the kingdom +to the present day. Athanagild has rebelled against +him and is even now provoking the might of the Roman +Empire. So Liberius the Patrician is on the way with +an army to oppose him. Now there was not a tribe in +the west that did not serve Theodoric while he lived, +either in friendship or by conquest. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC THE GREAT DIES 526] + +[Sidenote: KING ATHALARIC 526-534] + +LIX When he had reached old age and knew that he 304 +should soon depart this life, he called together the Gothic +counts and chieftains of his race and appointed Athalaric +as king. He was a boy scarce ten years old, the son of +his daughter Amalasuentha, and he had lost his father +Eutharic. As though uttering his last will and testament, +Theodoric adjured and commanded them to honor their +king, to love the Senate and Roman People and to make +sure of the peace and good will of the Emperor of the +East, as next after God. + +[Sidenote: AMALASUENTHA] + +[Sidenote: Theodahad 534-536] + +[Sidenote: 534] + +They kept this command fully so long as Athalaric 305 +their king and his mother lived, and ruled in peace for +almost eight years. But as the Franks put no confidence +in the rule of a child and furthermore held him in contempt, +and were also plotting war, he gave back to them +those parts of Gaul which his father and grandfather had +seized. He possessed all the rest in peace and quiet. +Therefore when Athalaric was approaching the age of +manhood, he entrusted to the Emperor of the East both +his own youth and his mother's widowhood. But in a +short time the ill-fated boy was carried off by an untimely +death and departed from earthly affairs. His mother 306 +feared she might be despised by the Goths on account of +the weakness of her sex. So after much thought she decided, +for the sake of relationship, to summon her cousin +Theodahad from Tuscany, where he led a retired life at +home, and thus she established him on the throne. But +he was unmindful of their kinship and, after a little time, +had her taken from the palace at Ravenna to an island +of the Bulsinian lake where he kept her in exile. After +spending a very few days there in sorrow, she was +strangled in the bath by his hirelings. + +[Sidenote: Justinian 527-565] + +[Sidenote: JUSTINIAN SENDS BELISARIUS TO AVENGE THE DEATH OF HIS WARDS +534] + +[Sidenote: Vitiges King 536-540] + +LX When Justinian, the Emperor of the East, heard 307 +this, he was aroused as if he had suffered personal injury +in the death of his wards. Now at that time he had won +a triumph over the Vandals in Africa, through his most +faithful Patrician Belisarius. Without delay he sent his +army under this leader against the Goths at the very time +when his arms were yet dripping with the blood of the +Vandals. This sagacious general believed he could not 308 +overcome the Gothic nation, unless he should first seize +Sicily, their nursing-mother. Accordingly he did so. As +soon as he entered Trinacria, the Goths, who were besieging +the town of Syracuse, found that they were not succeeding +and surrendered of their own accord to Belisarius, +with their leader Sinderith. When the Roman general +reached Sicily, Theodahad sought out Evermud, his +son-in-law, and sent him with an army to guard the strait +which lies between Campania and Sicily and sweeps from +a bend of the Tyrrhenian Sea into the vast tide of the +Adriatic. When Evermud arrived, he pitched his camp 309 +by the town of Rhegium. He soon saw that his side was +the weaker. Coming over with a few close and faithful +followers to the side of the victor and willingly casting +himself at the feet of Belisarius, he decided to serve the +rulers of the Roman Empire. When the army of the +Goths perceived this, they distrusted Theodahad and +clamored for his expulsion from the kingdom and for the +appointment as king of their leader Vitiges, who had been +his armor bearer. This was done; and presently Vitiges 310 +was raised to the office of king on the Barbarian Plains. +He entered Rome and sent on to Ravenna the men most +faithful to him to demand the death of Theodahad. They +came and executed his command. After King Theodahad +was slain, a messenger came from the king--for he was +already king in the Barbarian Plains--to proclaim Vitiges +to the people. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS OVERCOME BY BELISARIUS] + +[Sidenote: Siege of Rome 537-538] + +[Sidenote: Surrender of Vitiges 540] + +[Sidenote: Death of Vitiges 542] + +[Sidenote: Mathesuentha marries Germanus 542] + +Meanwhile the Roman army crossed the strait and 311 +marched toward Campania. They took Naples and +pressed on to Rome. Now a few days before they arrived, +King Vitiges had set forth from Rome, arrived at +Ravenna and married Mathesuentha, the daughter of +Amalasuentha and grand-daughter of Theodoric, the former +king. While he was celebrating his new marriage and +holding court at Ravenna, the imperial army advanced +from Rome and attacked the strongholds in both parts of +Tuscany. When Vitiges learned of this through messengers, +he sent a force under Hunila, a leader of the Goths, +to Perusia which was beleaguered by them. While they 312 +were endeavoring by a long siege to dislodge Count +Magnus, who was holding the place with a small force, +the Roman army came upon them, and they themselves +were driven away and utterly exterminated. When Vitiges +heard the news, he raged like a lion and assembled +all the host of the Goths. He advanced from Ravenna +and harassed the walls of Rome with a long siege. But +after fourteen months his courage was broken and he +raised the siege of the city of Rome and prepared to overwhelm +Ariminum. Here he was baffled in like manner 313 +and put to flight; and so he retreated to Ravenna. When +besieged there, he quickly and willingly surrendered himself +to the victorious side, together with his wife Mathesuentha +and the royal treasure. + +And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race, +which had long held sway, was at last overcome in almost +its two thousand and thirtieth year by that conquerer of +many nations, the Emperor Justinian, through his most +faithful consul Belisarius. He gave Vitiges the title of +Patrician and took him to Constantinople, where he dwelt +for more than two years, bound by ties of affection to the +Emperor, and then departed this life. But his consort 314 +Mathesuentha was bestowed by the Emperor upon the +Patrician Germanus, his cousin. And of them was born +a son (also called Germanus) after the death of his +father Germanus. This union of the race of the Anicii +with the stock of the Amali gives hopeful promise, under +the Lord's favor, to both peoples. + +(Conclusion) + +And now we have recited the origin of the Goths, the 315 +noble line of the Amali and the deeds of brave men. This +glorious race yielded to a more glorious prince and surrendered +to a more valiant leader, whose fame shall be +silenced by no ages or cycles of years; for the victorious +and triumphant Emperor Justinian and his consul Belisarius +shall be named and known as Vandalicus, Africanus +and Geticus. + +Thou who readest this, know that I have followed the 316 +writings of my ancestors, and have culled a few flowers +from their broad meadows to weave a chaplet for him +who cares to know these things. Let no one believe that +to the advantage of the race of which I have spoken--though +indeed I trace my own descent from it--I have +added aught besides what I have read or learned by +inquiry. Even thus I have not included all that is written +or told about them, nor spoken so much to their praise as +to the glory of him who conquered them. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS
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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/14809-8.zip b/old/14809-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9293298 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14809-8.zip diff --git a/old/14809.txt b/old/14809.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34cc71e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14809.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4287 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Origin and Deeds of the Goths, by +Jordanes, Translated by Charles C. Mierow + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Origin and Deeds of the Goths
+ +Author: Jordanes + +Release Date: January 26, 2005 [eBook #14809] +[Date last updated: July 5, 2006] + +Language: English
+ +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE +GOTHS
*** + + +E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, SuperCrispy, David King, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The numbers in the right margin of the text are from the original book; +although nothing in the book says so, it appears that they might be +page numbers from the manuscript of which this is a translation. They +are preserved in this transcription in the hope that they are indeed +page numbers. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +by + +JORDANES + +in English Version + +Part of a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University +for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy + +by CHARLES C. MIEROW + +Princeton + +1908 + + + + + + + +NOTE + +For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in +the _Getica_ of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his +account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is +now put in English form, as part of an edition of the +_Getica_ prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the +romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a +lost cause and will not find the simple-hearted exaggerations +of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He +pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his +employment of fable and legend, as well as the naive +exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the +interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific +narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise +remember the truthful, words of Delbrueck: "Legende +und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie +mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden +nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum, +aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu uebersetzen." + +ANDREW F. WEST. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The following version of the Getica of Jordanes is +based upon the text of Mommsen, as found in the +Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores +Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882). I have +adhered closely to his spelling of proper names, especially +the Gothic names, except in the case of a very few words +which are in common use in another form (such as +Gaiseric and Belisarius). + +I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dean Andrew F. +West of the Princeton Graduate School for his unfailing +interest in my work. It was in one of his graduate +courses that the translation was begun, three years ago, +and at his suggestion that I undertook the composition +of the thesis in its present form. He has read the entire +treatise in the manuscript, and has been my constant +adviser and critic. Thanks are also due to Dr. Charles +G. Osgood of the English Department of Princeton +University for reading the translation. + +CHARLES C. MIEROW. + + + Classical Seminary, + Princeton University, + July 1908. + + + + + +THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS + +(Preface) + + +Though it had been my wish to glide in my little boat 1 +by the shore of a peaceful coast and, as a certain writer +says, to gather little fishes from the pools of the ancients, +you, brother Castalius, bid me set my sails toward the +deep. You urge me to leave the little work I have in +hand, that is, the abbreviation of the Chronicles, and to +condense in my own style in this small book the twelve +volumes of the Senator on the origin and deeds of the +Getae from olden time to the present day, descending +through the generations of the kings. Truly a hard command, 2 +and imposed by one who seems unwilling to realize +the burden of the task. Nor do you note this, that my +utterance is too slight to fill so magnificent a trumpet of +speech as his. But above every burden is the fact that +I have no access to his books that I may follow his +thought. Still--and let me lie not--I have in times past +read the books a second time by his steward's loan for a +three days' reading. The words I recall not, but the +sense and the deeds related I think I retain entire. To 3 +this I have added fitting matters from some Greek and +Latin histories. I have also put in an introduction and +a conclusion, and have inserted many things of my own +authorship. Wherefore reproach me not, but receive and +read with gladness what you have asked me to write. If +aught be insufficiently spoken and you remember it, do +you as a neighbor to our race add to it, praying for me, +dearest brother. The Lord be with you. Amen. + +(Geographical Introduction) + +[Sidenote: Ocean and Its Lesser Isles.] + +I Our ancestors, as Orosius relates, were of the 4 +opinion that the circle of the whole world was surrounded +by the girdle of Ocean on three sides. Its three parts +they called Asia, Europe and Africa. Concerning this +threefold division of the earth's extent there are almost +innumerable writers, who not only explain the situations +of cities and places, but also measure out the number of +miles and paces to give more clearness. Moreover they +locate the islands interspersed amid the waves, both the +greater and also the lesser islands, called Cyclades or +Sporades, as situated in the vast flood of the Great Sea. +But the impassable farther bounds of Ocean not only has 5 +no one attempted to describe, but no man has been allowed +to reach; for by reason of obstructing seaweed and +the failing of the winds it is plainly inaccessible and is +unknown to any save to Him who made it. But the 6 +nearer border of this sea, which we call the circle of the +world, surrounds its coasts like a wreath. This has +become clearly known to men of inquiring mind, even +to such as desired to write about it. For not only is the +coast itself inhabited, but certain islands off in the sea +are habitable. Thus there are to the East in the Indian +Ocean, Hippodes, Iamnesia, Solis Perusta (which though +not habitable, is yet of great length and breadth), besides +Taprobane, a fair island wherein there are towns or +estates and ten strongly fortified cities. But there is yet 7 +another, the lovely Silefantina, and Theros also. These, +though not clearly described by any writer, are nevertheless +well filled with inhabitants. This same Ocean has +in its western region certain islands known to almost +everyone by reason of the great number of those that +journey to and fro. And there are two not far from the +neighborhood of the Strait of Gades, one the Blessed +Isle and another called the Fortunate. Although some +reckon as islands of Ocean the twin promontories of +Galicia and Lusitania, where are still to be seen the +Temple of Hercules on one and Scipio's Monument on +the other, yet since they are joined to the extremity of +the Galician country, they belong rather to the great land +of Europe than to the islands of Ocean. However, it 8 +has other islands deeper within its own tides, which are +called the Baleares; and yet another, Mevania, besides +the Orcades, thirty-three in number, though not all inhabited. +And at the farthest bound of its western expanse 9 +it has another island named Thule, of which the +Mantuan bard makes mention: + + "And Farthest Thule shall serve thee." + +The same mighty sea has also in its arctic region, that is +in the north, a great island named Scandza, from which +my tale (by God's grace) shall take its beginning. For +the race whose origin you ask to know burst forth like a +swarm of bees from the midst of this island and came +into the land of Europe. But how or in what wise we +shall explain hereafter, if it be the Lord's will. + +(BRITAIN) + +[Sidenote: Caesar's two invasions of Britain B.C. 55-54] + +II But now let me speak briefly as I can concerning 10 +the island of Britain, which is situated in the bosom of +Ocean between Spain, Gaul and Germany. Although +Livy tells us that no one in former days sailed around +it, because of its great size, yet many writers have held +various opinions of it. It was long unapproached by +Roman arms, until Julius Caesar disclosed it by battles +fought for mere glory. In the busy age which followed +it became accessible to many through trade and by other +means. Thus it revealed more clearly its position, which +I shall here explain as I have found it in Greek and Latin +authors. Most of them say it is like a triangle pointing 11 +between the north and west. Its widest angle faces the +mouths of the Rhine. Then the island shrinks in breadth +and recedes until it ends in two other angles. Its long +doubled side faces Gaul and Germany. Its greatest +breadth is said to be over two thousand three hundred +and ten stadia, and its length not more than seven thousand +one hundred and thirty-two stadia. In some parts 12 +it is moorland, in others there are wooded plains, and +sometimes it rises into mountain peaks. The island is +surrounded by a sluggish sea, which neither gives readily +to the stroke of the oar nor runs high under the blasts +of the wind. I suppose this is because other lands are +so far removed from it as to cause no disturbance of the +sea, which indeed is of greater width here than anywhere +else. Moreover Strabo, a famous writer of the Greeks, +relates that the island exhales such mists from its soil, +soaked by the frequent inroads of Ocean, that the sun is +covered throughout the whole of their disagreeable sort +of day that passes as fair, and so is hidden from sight. + +Cornelius also, the author of the Annals, says that in 13 +the farthest part of Britain the night gets brighter and +is very short. He also says that the island abounds in +metals, is well supplied with grass and is more productive +in all those things which feed beasts rather than men. +Moreover many large rivers flow through it, and the +tides are borne back into them, rolling along precious +stones and pearls. The Silures have swarthy features +and are usually born with curly black hair, but the inhabitants +of Caledonia have reddish hair and large loose-jointed +bodies. They are like the Gauls or the Spaniards, +according as they are opposite either nation. Hence some 14 +have supposed that from these lands the island received +its inhabitants, alluring them by its nearness. All the +people and their kings are alike wild. Yet Dio, a most +celebrated writer of annals, assures us of the fact that +they have all been combined under the name of Caledonians +and Maeatae. They live in wattled huts, a shelter +used in common with their flocks, and often the woods +are their home. They paint their bodies with iron-red, +whether by way of adornment or perhaps for some other +reason. They often wage war with one another, either 15 +because they desire power or to increase their possessions. +They fight not only on horseback or on foot, but even +with scythed two-horse chariots, which they commonly +call _essedae_. Let it suffice to have said thus much on the +shape of the island of Britain. + +(SCANDZA) + +III Let us now return to the site of the island of 16 +Scandza, which we left above. Claudius Ptolemaeus, an +excellent describer of the world, has made mention of it +in the second book of his work, saying: "There is a +great island situated in the surge of the northern Ocean, +Scandza by name, in the shape of a juniper leaf with +bulging sides that taper down to a point at a long end." +Pomponius Mela also makes mention of it as situated in +the Codan Gulf of the sea, with Ocean lapping its shores. + +This island lies in front of the river Vistula, which rises 17 +in the Sarmatian mountains and flows through its triple +mouth into the northern Ocean in sight of Scandza, separating +Germany and Scythia. The island has in its +eastern part a vast lake in the bosom of the earth, whence +the Vagus river springs from the bowels of the earth and +flows surging into the Ocean. And on the west it is surrounded +by an immense sea. On the north it is bounded +by the same vast unnavigable Ocean, from which by +means of a sort of projecting arm of land a bay is cut off +and forms the German Sea. Here also there are said to 18 +be many small islands scattered round about. If wolves +cross over to these islands when the sea is frozen by +reason of the great cold, they are said to lose their sight. +Thus the land is not only inhospitable to men but cruel +even to wild beasts. + +Now in the island of Scandza, whereof I speak, there 19 +dwell many and divers nations, though Ptolemaeus mentions +the names of but seven of them. There the honey-making +swarms of bees are nowhere to be found on +account of the exceeding great cold. In the northern part +of the island the race of the Adogit live, who are said +to have continual light in midsummer for forty days and +nights, and who likewise have no clear light in the winter +season for the same number of days and nights. By 20 +reason of this alternation of sorrow and joy they are like +no other race in their sufferings and blessings. And why? +Because during the longer days they see the sun returning +to the east along the rim of the horizon, but on the shorter +days it is not thus seen. The sun shows itself differently +because it is passing through the southern signs, and +whereas to us the sun seem to rise from below, it seems +to go around them along the edge of the earth. There +also are other peoples. There are the Screrefennae, who 21 +do not seek grain for food but live on the flesh of wild +beasts and birds' eggs; for there are such multitudes of +young game in the swamps as to provide for the natural +increase of their kind and to afford satisfaction to the +needs of the people. But still another race dwells there, +the Suehans, who, like the Thuringians, have splendid +horses. Here also are those who send through innumerable +other tribes the sappherine skins to trade for Roman +use. They are a people famed for the dark beauty of +their furs and, though living in poverty, are most richly +clothed. Then comes a throng of various nations, Theustes, 22 +Vagoth, Bergio, Hallin, Liothida. All their habitations +are in one level and fertile region. Wherefore they +are disturbed there by the attacks of other tribes. Behind +these are the Ahelmil, Finnaithae, Fervir and Gauthigoth, +a race of men bold and quick to fight. Then come the +Mixi, Evagre, and Otingis. All these live like wild animals +in rocks hewn out like castles. And there are beyond 23 +these the Ostrogoths, Raumarici, Aeragnaricii, and +the most gentle Finns, milder than all the inhabitants of +Scandza. Like them are the Vinovilith also. The Suetidi +are of this stock and excel the rest in stature. However, +the Dani, who trace their origin to the same stock, drove +from their homes the Heruli, who lay claim to preeminence +among all the nations of Scandza for their tallness. +Furthermore there are in the same neighborhood the 24 +Grannii, Augandzi, Eunixi, Taetel, Rugi, Arochi and +Ranii, over whom Roduulf was king not many years ago. +But he despised his own kingdom and fled to the embrace +of Theodoric, king of the Goths, finding there what he +desired. All these nations surpassed the Germans in size +and spirit, and fought with the cruelty of wild beasts. + +(The United Goths) + +[Sidenote: HOW THE GOTHS CAME TO SCYTHIA] + +IV Now from this island of Scandza, as from a hive 25 +of races or a womb of nations, the Goths are said to have +come forth long ago under their king, Berig by name. +As soon as they disembarked from their ships and set +foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to the +place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothiscandza. +Soon they moved from here to the abodes of +the Ulmerugi, who then dwelt on the shores of Ocean, 26 +where they pitched camp, joined battle with them and +drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their +neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories. +But when the number of the people increased greatly and +Filimer, son of Gadaric, reigned as king--about the fifth +since Berig--he decided that the army of the Goths with +their families should move from that region. In search 27 +of suitable homes and pleasant places they came to the +land of Scythia, called Oium in that tongue. Here they +were delighted with the great richness of the country, +and it is said that when half the army had been brought +over, the bridge whereby they had crossed the river fell +in utter ruin, nor could anyone thereafter pass to or fro. +For the place is said to be surrounded by quaking bogs +and an encircling abyss, so that by this double obstacle +nature has made it inaccessible. And even to-day one +may hear in that neighborhood the lowing of cattle and +may find traces of men, if we are to believe the stories +of travellers, although we must grant that they hear these +things from afar. + +This part of the Goths, which is said to have crossed 28 +the river and entered with Filimer into the country of +Oium, came into possession of the desired land, and there +they soon came upon the race of the Spali, joined battle +with them and won the victory. Thence the victors hastened +to the farthest part of Scythia, which is near the sea +of Pontus; for so the story is generally told in their early +songs, in almost historic fashion. Ablabius also, a famous +chronicler of the Gothic race, confirms this in his +most trustworthy account. Some of the ancient writers 29 +also agree with the tale. Among these we may mention +Josephus, a most reliable relator of annals, who everywhere +follows the rule of truth and unravels from the +beginning the origin of causes;--but why he has omitted +the beginnings of the race of the Goths, of which I have +spoken, I do not know. He barely mentions Magog +of that stock, and says they were Scythians by race and +were called so by name. + +Before we enter on our history, we must describe the +boundaries of this land, as it lies. + +[Sidenote: SCYTHIA] + +V Now Scythia borders on the land of Germany as 30 +far as the source of the river Ister and the expanse of the +Morsian Swamp. It reaches even to the rivers Tyra, +Danaster and Vagosola, and the great Danaper, extending +to the Taurus range--not the mountains in Asia but +our own, that is, the Scythian Taurus--all the way to +Lake Maeotis. Beyond Lake Maeotis it spreads on the +other side of the straits of Bosphorus to the Caucasus +Mountains and the river Araxes. Then it bends back to +the left behind the Caspian Sea, which comes from the +north-eastern ocean in the most distant parts of Asia, and +so is formed like a mushroom, at first narrow and then +broad and round in shape. It extends as far as the Huns, +Albani and Seres. This land, I say,--namely, Scythia, 31 +stretching far and spreading wide,--has on the east the +Seres, a race that dwelt at the very beginning of their +history on the shore of the Caspian Sea. On the west are +the Germans and the river Vistula; on the arctic side, +namely the north, it is surrounded by Ocean; on the south +by Persis, Albania, Hiberia, Pontus and the farthest +channel of the Ister, which is called the Danube all the +way from mouth to source. But in that region where 32 +Scythia touches the Pontic coast it is dotted with towns +of no mean fame:--Borysthenis, Olbia, Callipolis, Cherson, +Theodosia, Careon, Myrmicion and Trapezus. These +towns the wild Scythian tribes allowed the Greeks to build +to afford them means of trade. In the midst of Scythia is +the place that separates Asia and Europe, I mean the +Rhipaeian mountains, from which the mighty Tanais +flows. This river enters Maeotis, a marsh having a circuit +of one hundred and forty-four miles and never subsiding +to a depth of less than eight fathoms. + +In the land of Scythia to the westward dwells, first of 33 +all, the race of the Gepidae, surrounded by great and +famous rivers. For the Tisia flows through it on the +north and northwest, and on the southwest is the great +Danube. On the east it is cut by the Flutausis, a swiftly +eddying stream that sweeps whirling into the Ister's +waters. Within these rivers lies Dacia, encircled by the 34 +lofty Alps as by a crown. Near their left ridge, which +inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of +the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occupying +a great expanse of land. Though their names are +now dispersed amid various clans and places, yet they are +chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes. The abode of the 35 +Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the +lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as +far as the Vistula. They have swamps and forests for +their cities. The Antes, who are the bravest of these +peoples dwelling in the curve of the sea of Pontus, spread +from the Danaster to the Danaper, rivers that are many +days' journey apart. But on the shore of Ocean, where 36 +the floods of the river Vistula empty from three mouths, +the Vidivarii dwell, a people gathered out of various +tribes. Beyond them the Aesti, a subject race, likewise +hold the shore of Ocean. To the south dwell the Acatziri, +a very brave tribe ignorant of agriculture, who subsist +on their flocks and by hunting. Farther away and above 37 +the Sea of Pontus are the abodes of the Bulgares, well +known from the wrongs done to them by reason of our +oppression. From this region the Huns, like a fruitful +root of bravest races, sprouted into two hordes of people. +Some of these are called Altziagiri, others Sabiri; and +they have different dwelling places. The Altziagiri are +near Cherson, where the avaricious traders bring in the +goods of Asia. In summer they range the plains, their +broad domains, wherever the pasturage for their cattle +invites them, and betake themselves in winter beyond the +Sea of Pontus. Now the Hunuguri are known to us from +the fact that they trade in marten skins. But they have +been cowed by their bolder neighbors. + +[Sidenote: THE THREE ABODES OF THE GOTHS] + +We read that on their first migration the Goths dwelt 38 +in the land of Scythia near Lake Maeotis. On the second +migration they went to Moesia, Thrace and Dacia, and +after their third they dwelt again in Scythia, above the +Sea of Pontus. Nor do we find anywhere in their +written records legends which tell of their subjection to +slavery in Britain or in some other island, or of their +redemption by a certain man at the cost of a single horse. +Of course if anyone in our city says that the Goths had an +origin different from that I have related, let him object. +For myself, I prefer to believe what I have read, rather +than put trust in old wives' tales. + +To return, then, to my subject. The aforesaid race of 39 +which I speak is known to have had Filimer as king while +they remained in their first home in Scythia near Maeotis. +In their second home, that is in the countries of Dacia, +Thrace and Moesia, Zalmoxes reigned, whom many writers +of annals mention as a man of remarkable learning in +philosophy. Yet even before this they had a learned man +Zeuta, and after him Dicineus; and the third was Zalmoxes +of whom I have made mention above. Nor did +they lack teachers of wisdom. Wherefore the Goths have 40 +ever been wiser than other barbarians and were nearly +like the Greeks, as Dio relates, who wrote their history +and annals with a Greek pen. He says that those of noble +birth among them, from whom their kings and priests +were appointed, were called first Tarabostesei and then +Pilleati. Moreover so highly were the Getae praised that +Mars, whom the fables of poets call the god of war, was +reputed to have been born among them. Hence Virgil +says: + + "Father Gradivus rules the Getic fields." 41 + +Now Mars has always been worshipped by the Goths +with cruel rites, and captives were slain as his victims. +They thought that he who is the lord of war ought to be +appeased by the shedding of human blood. To him they +devoted the first share of the spoil, and in his honor arms +stripped from the foe were suspended from trees. And +they had more than all other races a deep spirit of religion, +since the worship of this god seemed to be really +bestowed upon their ancestor. + +In their third dwelling place, which was above the Sea 42 +of Pontus, they had now become more civilized and, as I +have said before, were more learned. Then the people +were divided under ruling families. The Visigoths served +the family of the Balthi and the Ostrogoths served the +renowned Amali. They were the first race of men to 43 +string the bow with cords, as Lucan, who is more of a +historian than a poet, affirms: + + "They string Armenian bows with Getic cords." + +[Sidenote: THE RIVER DON] + +[Sidenote: THE DNIEPER] + +In earliest times they sang of the deeds of their ancestors +in strains of song accompanied by the cithara; chanting +of Eterpamara, Hanala, Fritigern, Vidigoia and +others whose fame among them is great; such heroes as +admiring antiquity scarce proclaims its own to be. Then, 44 +as the story goes, Vesosis waged a war disastrous to +himself against the Scythians, whom ancient tradition +asserts to have been the husbands of the Amazons. Concerning +these female warriors Orosius speaks in convincing +language. Thus we can clearly prove that Vesosis +then fought with the Goths, since we know surely that he +waged war with the husbands of the Amazons. They +dwelt at that time along a bend of Lake Maeotis, from +the river Borysthenes, which the natives call the Danaper, +to the stream of the Tanais. By the Tanais I mean the 45 +river which flows down from the Rhipaeian mountains +and rushes with so swift a current that when the neighboring +streams or Lake Maeotis and the Bosphorus are +frozen fast, it is the only river that is kept warm by the +rugged mountains and is never solidified by the Scythian +cold. It is also famous as the boundary of Asia and +Europe. For the other Tanais is the one which rises in +the mountains of the Chrinni and flows into the Caspian +Sea. The Danaper begins in a great marsh and issues 46 +from it as from its mother. It is sweet and fit to drink +as far as half-way down its course. It also produces fish +of a fine flavor and without bones, having only cartilage +as the frame-work of their bodies. But as it approaches +the Pontus it receives a little spring called Exampaeus, +so very bitter that although the river is navigable for the +length of a forty days' voyage, it is so altered by the +water of this scanty stream as to become tainted and +unlike itself, and flows thus tainted into the sea between +the Greek towns of Callipidae and Hypanis. At its mouth +there is an island named Achilles. Between these two +rivers is a vast land filled with forests and treacherous +swamps. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF VESOSIS (SESOSTRIS)] + +VI This was the region where the Goths dwelt when 47 +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, made war upon them. +Their king at that time was Tanausis. In a battle at the +river Phasis (whence come the birds called pheasants, +which are found in abundance at the banquets of the great +all over the world) Tanausis, king of the Goths, met +Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, and there inflicted a +severe defeat upon him, pursuing him even to Egypt. +Had he not been restrained by the waters of the impassable +Nile and the fortifications which Vesosis had long +ago ordered to be made against the raids of the Ethiopians, +he would have slain him in his own land. But +finding he had no power to injure him there, he returned +and conquered almost all Asia and made it subject and +tributary to Sornus, king of the Medes, who was then his +dear friend. At that time some of his victorious army, +seeing that the subdued provinces were rich and fruitful, +deserted their companies and of their own accord +remained in various parts of Asia. + +From their name or race Pompeius Trogus says the 48 +stock of the Parthians had its origin. Hence even to-day +in the Scythian tongue they are called Parthi, that is, +Deserters. And in consequence of their descent they are +archers--almost alone among all the nations of Asia--and +are very valiant warriors. Now in regard to the +name, though I have said they were called Parthi because +they were deserters, some have traced the derivation of +the word otherwise, saying that they were called Parthi +because they fled from their kinsmen. Now when this +Tanausis, king of the Goths, was dead, his people worshipped +him as one of their gods. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS IN ASIA MINOR] + +VII After his death, while the army under his successors 49 +was engaged in an expedition in other parts, a +neighboring tribe attempted to carry off women of the +Goths as booty. But they made a brave resistance, as +they had been taught to do by their husbands, and routed +in disgrace the enemy who had come upon them. When +they had won this victory, they were inspired with greater +daring. Mutually encouraging each other, they took up +arms and chose two of the bolder, Lampeto and Marpesia, +to act as their leaders. While they were in command, 50 +they cast lots both for the defense of their own country +and the devastation of other lands. So Lampeto remained +to guard their native land and Marpesia took a company +of women and led this novel army into Asia. After conquering +various tribes in war and making others their +allies by treaties, she came to the Caucasus. There she +remained for some time and gave the place the name Rock +of Marpesia, of which also Virgil makes mention: + + "Like to hard flint or the Marpesian Cliff." + +It was here Alexander the Great afterwards built gates +and named them the Caspian Gates, which now the tribe +of the Lazi guard as a Roman fortification. Here, then, 51 +the Amazons remained for some time and were much +strengthened. Then they departed and crossed the river +Halys, which flows near the city of Gangra, and with +equal success subdued Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, +Pisidia and all the places of Asia. Then they turned to +Ionia and Aeolia, and made provinces of them after their +surrender. Here they ruled for some time and even +founded cities and camps bearing their name. At Ephesus +also they built a very costly and beautiful temple for +Diana, because of her delight in archery and the chase--arts +to which they were themselves devoted. Then these 52 +Scythian-born women, who had by such a chance gained +control over the kingdoms of Asia, held them for almost +a hundred years, and at last came back to their own kinsfolk +in the Marpesian rocks I have mentioned above, +namely the Caucasus mountains. + +[Sidenote: THE CAUCASUS] + +Inasmuch as I have twice mentioned this mountain-range, +I think it not out of place to describe its extent and +situation, for, as is well known, it encompasses a great +part of the earth with its continuous chain. Beginning 53 +at the Indian Ocean, where it faces the south it is warm, +giving off vapor in the sun; where it lies open to the +north it is exposed to chill winds and frost. Then bending +back into Syria with a curving turn, it not only sends +forth many other streams, but pours from its plenteous +breasts into the Vasianensian region the Euphrates and +the Tigris, navigable rivers famed for their unfailing +springs. These rivers surround the land of the Syrians +and cause it to be called Mesopotamia, as it truly is. Their +waters empty into the bosom of the Red Sea. Then turning 54 +back to the north, the range I have spoken of passes +with great bends through the Scythian lands. There it +sends forth very famous rivers into the Caspian Sea--the +Araxes, the Cyrus and the Cambyses. It goes on in continuous +range even to the Rhipaeian mountains. Thence +it descends from the north toward the Pontic Sea, furnishing +a boundary to the Scythian tribes by its ridge, and +even touches the waters of the Ister with its clustered +hills. Being cut by this river, it divides, and in Scythia +is named Taurus also. Such then is the great range, 55 +almost the mightiest of mountain chains, rearing aloft its +summits and by its natural conformation supplying men +with impregnable strongholds. Here and there it divides +where the ridge breaks apart and leaves a deep gap, thus +forming now the Caspian Gates, and again the Armenian +or the Cilician, or of whatever name the place may be. +Yet they are barely passable for a wagon, for both sides +are sharp and steep as well as very high. The range has +different names among various peoples. The Indian calls +it Imaus and in another part Paropamisus. The Parthian +calls it first Choatras and afterward Niphates; the Syrian +and Armenian call it Taurus; the Scythian names it Caucasus +and Rhipaeus, and at its end calls it Taurus. Many +other tribes have given names to the range. Now that we +have devoted a few words to describing its extent, let us +return to the subject of the Amazons. + +[Sidenote: THE AMAZONS] + +VIII Fearing their race would fail, they sought marriage 56 +with neighboring tribes. They appointed a day for +meeting once in every year, so that when they should +return to the same place on that day in the following year +each mother might give over to the father whatever male +child she had borne, but should herself keep and train for +warfare whatever children of the female sex were born. +Or else, as some maintain, they exposed the males, destroying +the life of the ill-fated child with a hate like +that of a stepmother. Among them childbearing was +detested, though everywhere else it is desired. The terror 57 +of their cruelty was increased by common rumor; for +what hope, pray, would there be for a captive, when it +was considered wrong to spare even a son? Hercules, +they say, fought against them and overcame Menalippe, +yet more by guile than by valor. Theseus, moreover, took +Hippolyte captive, and of her he begat Hippolytus. And +in later times the Amazons had a queen named Penthesilea, +famed in the tales of the Trojan war. These women +are said to have kept their power even to the time of +Aleander the Great. + +[Sidenote: REIGN OF TELEFUS AND EURYPYLUS] + +IX But say not "Why does a story which deals with 58 +the men of the Goths have so much to say of their women?" +Hear, then, the tale of the famous and glorious +valor of the men. Now Dio, the historian and diligent +investigator of ancient times, who gave to his work the +title "Getica" (and the Getae we have proved in a previous +passage to be Goths, on the testimony of Orosius +Paulus)--this Dio, I say, makes mention of a later king +of theirs named Telefus. Let no one say that this name +is quite foreign to the Gothic tongue, and let no one who +is ignorant cavil at the fact that the tribes of men make +use of many names, even as the Romans borrow from the +Macedonians, the Greeks from the Romans, the Sarmatians +from the Germans, and the Goths frequently from +the Huns. This Telefus, then, a son of Hercules by 59 +Auge, and the husband of a sister of Priam, was of +towering stature and terrible strength. He matched his +father's valor by virtues of his own and also recalled the +traits of Hercules by his likeness in appearance. Our +ancestors called his kingdom Moesia. This province has +on the east the mouths of the Danube, on the south +Macedonia, on the west Histria and on the north the +Danube. Now this king we have mentioned carried on 60 +wars with the Greeks, and in their course he slew in battle +Thesander, the leader of Greece. But while he was making +a hostile attack upon Ajax and was pursuing Ulysses, +his horse became entangled in some vines and fell. He +himself was thrown and wounded in the thigh by a javelin +of Achilles, so that for a long time he could not be healed. +Yet, despite his wound, he drove the Greeks from his +land. Now when Telefus died, his son Eurypylus succeeded +to the throne, being a son of the sister of Priam, +king of the Phrygians. For love of Cassandra he sought +to take part in the Trojan war, that he might come to the +help of her parents and his own father-in-law; but soon +after his arrival he was killed. + +[Sidenote: Cyrus the Great B.C. 559-529] + +[Sidenote: QUEEN TOMYRIS AND CYRUS B.C. 529] + +X Then Cyrus, king of the Persians, after a long 61 +interval of almost exactly six hundred and thirty years +(as Pompeius Trogus relates), waged an unsuccessful +war against Tomyris, Queen of the Getae. Elated by his +victories in Asia, he strove to conquer the Getae, whose +queen, as I have said, was Tomyris. Though she could +have stopped the approach of Cyrus at the river Araxes, +yet she permitted him to cross, preferring to overcome +him in battle rather than to thwart him by advantage of 62 +position. And so she did. As Cyrus approached, fortune +at first so favored the Parthians that they slew the son +of Tomyris and most of the army. But when the battle +was renewed, the Getae and their queen defeated, conquered +and overwhelmed the Parthians and took rich +plunder from them. There for the first time the race of +the Goths saw silken tents. After achieving this victory +and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen +Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is +now called Lesser Scythia--a name borrowed from great +Scythia,--and built on the Moesian shore of Pontus the +city of Tomi, named after herself. + +[Sidenote: DARIUS B.C. 521-485] + +[Sidenote: DARIUS REPELLED] + +Afterwards Darius, king of the Persians, the son of 63 +Hystaspes, demanded in marriage the daughter of Antyrus, +king of the Goths, asking for her hand and at the +same time making threats in case they did not fulfil his +wish. The Goths spurned this alliance and brought his +embassy to naught. Inflamed with anger because his +offer had been rejected, he led an army of seven hundred +thousand armed men against them and sought to avenge +his wounded feelings by inflicting a public injury. Crossing +on boats covered with boards and joined like a bridge +almost the whole way from Chalcedon to Byzantium, he +started for Thrace and Moesia. Later he built a bridge +over the Danube in like manner, but he was wearied by +two brief months of effort and lost eight thousand armed +men among the Tapae. Then, fearing the bridge over the +Danube would be seized by his foes, he marched back to +Thrace in swift retreat, believing the land of Moesia +would not be safe for even a short sojourn there. + +[Sidenote: Xerxes B.C. 485-465] + +After his death, his son Xerxes planned to avenge his 64 +father's wrongs and so proceeded to undertake a war +against the Goths with seven hundred thousand of his +own men and three hundred thousand armed auxiliaries, +twelve hundred ships of war and three thousand transports. +But he did not venture to try them in battle, being +overawed by their unyielding animosity. So he returned +with his force just as he had come, and without righting +a single battle. + +[Sidenote: Philip of Macedon B.C. 359-336] + +[Sidenote: SIEGE OF ODESSUS] + +Then Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, made 65 +alliance with the Goths and took to wife Medopa, the +daughter of King Gudila, so that he might render the +kingdom of Macedon more secure by the help of this +marriage. It was at this time, as the historian Dio relates, +that Philip, suffering from need of money, determined +to lead out his forces and sack Odessus, a city of +Moesia, which was then subject to the Goths by reason of +the neighboring city of Tomi. Thereupon those priests +of the Goths that are called the Holy Men suddenly +opened the gates of Odessus and came forth to meet them. +They bore harps and were clad in snowy robes, and +chanted in suppliant strains to the gods of their fathers +that they might be propitious and repel the Macedonians. +When the Macedonians saw them coming with such confidence +to meet them, they were astonished and, so to +speak, the armed were terrified by the unarmed. Straight-way +they broke the line they had formed for battle and +not only refrained from destroying the city, but even +gave back those whom they had captured outside by right +of war. Then they made a truce and returned to their +own country. + +After a long time Sitalces, a famous leader of the 66 +Goths, remembering this treacherous attempt, gathered a +hundred and fifty thousand men and made war upon the +Athenians, fighting against Perdiccas, King of Macedon. +This Perdiccas had been left by Alexander as his successor +to rule Athens by hereditary right, when he drank his +destruction at Babylon through the treachery of an attendant. +The Goths engaged in a great battle with him +and proved themselves to be the stronger. Thus in return +for the wrong which the Macedonians had long before +committed in Moesia, the Goths overran Greece and laid +waste the whole of Macedonia. + +[Sidenote: Sulla's Dictatorship B.C. 82-79] + +[Sidenote: THE WISE RULE OF DICINEUS] + +[Sidenote: Caesar's Dictatorship B.C. 49-44] + +[Sidenote: Tiberius A.D. 14-37] + +XI Then when Buruista was king of the Goths, 67 +Dicineus came to Gothia at the time when Sulla ruled the +Romans. Buruista received Dicineus and gave him almost +royal power. It was by his advice the Goths ravaged +the lands of the Germans, which the Franks now possess. 68 +Then came Caesar, the first of all the Romans to assume +imperial power and to subdue almost the whole world, +who conquered all kingdoms and even seized islands lying +beyond our world, reposing in the bosom of Ocean. He +made tributary to the Romans those that knew not the +Roman name even by hearsay, and yet was unable to prevail +against the Goths, despite his frequent attempts. +Soon Gaius Tiberius reigned as third emperor of the +Romans, and yet the Goths continued in their kingdom +unharmed. Their safety, their advantage, their one hope 69 +lay in this, that whatever their counsellor Dicineus advised +should by all means be done; and they judged it +expedient that they should labor for its accomplishment. +And when he saw that their minds were obedient to him +in all things and that they had natural ability, he taught +them almost the whole of philosophy, for he was a skilled +master of this subject. Thus by teaching them ethics he +restrained their barbarous customs; by imparting a knowledge +of physics he made them live naturally under laws +of their own, which they possess in written form to this +day and call _belagines_. He taught them logic and made +them skilled in reasoning beyond all other races; he +showed them practical knowledge and so persuaded them +to abound in good works. By demonstrating theoretical +knowledge he urged them to contemplate the twelve signs +and the courses of the planets passing through them, and +the whole of astronomy. He told them how the disc of +the moon gains increase or suffers loss, and showed them +how much the fiery globe of the sun exceeds in size our +earthly planet. He explained the names of the three hundred +and forty-six stars and told through what signs in +the arching vault of the heavens they glide swiftly from +their rising to their setting. Think, I pray you, what 70 +pleasure it was for these brave men, when for a little +space they had leisure from warfare, to be instructed in +the teachings of philosophy! You might have seen one +scanning the position of the heavens and another investigating +the nature of plants and bushes. Here stood one +who studied the waxing and waning of the moon, while +still another regarded the labors of the sun and observed +how those bodies which were hastening to go toward the +east are whirled around and borne back to the west by +the rotation of the heavens. When they had learned the 71 +reason, they were at rest. These and various other matters +Dicineus taught the Goths in his wisdom and gained +marvellous repute among them, so that he ruled not only +the common men but their kings. He chose from among +them those that were at that time of noblest birth and +superior wisdom and taught them theology, bidding them +worship certain divinities and holy places. He gave the +name of Pilleati to the priests he ordained, I suppose +because they offered sacrifice having their heads covered +with tiaras, which we otherwise call _pillei_. But he bade +them call the rest of their race Capillati. This name the 72 +Goths accepted and prized highly and they retain it to +this day in their songs. + +After the death of Dicineus, they held Comosicus in 73 +almost equal honor, because he was not inferior in knowledge. +By reason of his wisdom he was accounted their +priest and king, and he judged the people with the greatest +uprightness. + +[Sidenote: DACIA] + +XII When he too had departed from human affairs, +Coryllus ascended the throne as king of the Goths and for +forty years ruled his people in Dacia. I mean ancient +Dacia, which the race of the Gepidae now possess. This +country lies across the Danube within sight of Moesia, 74 +and is surrounded by a crown of mountains. It has only +two ways of access, one by way of the Boutae and the +other by the Tapae. This Gothia, which our ancestors +called Dacia and now, as I have said, is called Gepidia, +was then bounded on the east by the Roxolani, on the west +by the Iazyges, on the north by the Sarmatians and Basternae +and on the south by the river Danube. The Iazyges +are separated from the Roxolani by the Aluta river only. + +[Sidenote: THE DANUBE] + +And since mention has been made of the Danube, I 75 +think it not out of place to make brief notice of so excellent +a stream. Rising in the fields of the Alamanni, it +receives sixty streams which flow into it here and there +in the twelve hundred miles from its source to its mouths +in the Pontus, resembling a spine inwoven with ribs like +a basket. It is indeed a most vast river. In the language +of the Bessi it is called the Hister, and it has profound +waters in its channel to a depth of quite two hundred feet. +This stream surpasses in size all other rivers, except the +Nile. Let this much suffice for the Danube. But let us +now with the Lord's help return to the subject from which +we have digressed. + +[Sidenote: Domitian A.D. 81-96] + +[Sidenote: WAR WITH DOMITIAN] + +XIII Now after a long time, in the reign of the 76 +Emperor Domitian, the Goths, through fear of his avarrice, +broke the truce they had long observed under other +emperors. They laid waste the bank of the Danube, so +long held by the Roman Empire, and slew the soldiers and +their generals. Oppius Sabinus was then in command of +that province, succeeding Agrippa, while Dorpaneus held +command over the Goths. Thereupon the Goths made +war and conquered the Romans, cut off the head of +Oppius Sabinus, and invaded and boldly plundered many +castles and cities belonging to the Emperor. In this plight 77 +of his countrymen Domitian hastened with all his might +to Illyricum, bringing with him the troops of almost +the entire empire. He sent Fuscus before him as his +general with picked soldiers. Then joining boats together +like a bridge, he made his soldiers cross the river +Danube above the army of Dorpaneus. But the Goths 78 +were on the alert. They took up arms and presently overwhelmed +the Romans in the first encounter. They slew +Fuscus, the commander, and plundered the soldiers' camp +of its treasure. And because of the great victory they +had won in this region, they thereafter called their leaders, +by whose good fortune they seemed to have conquered, +not mere men, but demigods, that is Ansis. Their +genealogy I shall run through briefly, telling the lineage +of each and the beginning and the end of this line. And +do thou, O reader, hear me without repining; for I speak +truly. + +[Sidenote: GENEALOGY OF THE ANSIS OR AMALI] + +XIV Now the first of these heroes, as they themselves 79 +relate in their legends, was Gapt, who begat +Hulmul. And Hulmul begat Augis; and Augis begat +him who was called Amal, from whom the name of the +Amali comes. This Amal begat Hisarnis. Hisarnis +moreover begat Ostrogotha, and Ostrogotha begat Hunuil, +and Hunuil likewise begat Athal. Athal begat +Achiulf and Oduulf. Now Achiulf begat Ansila and +Ediulf, Vultuulf and Hermanaric. And Vultuulf begat +Valaravans and Valaravans begat Vinitharius. Vinitharius +moreover begat Vandalarius; Vandalarius begat 80 +Thiudimer and Valamir and Vidimer; and Thiudimer +begat Theodoric. Theodoric begat Amalasuentha; Amalasuentha +bore Athalaric and Mathesuentha to her husband +Eutharic, whose race was thus joined to hers in +kinship. For the aforesaid Hermanaric, the son of 81 +Achiulf, begat Hunimund, and Hunimund begat Thorismud. +Now Thorismud begat Beremud, Beremud begat +Veteric, and Veteric likewise begat Eutharic, who married +Amalasuentha and begat Athalaric and Mathesuentha. +Athalaric died in the years of his childhood, and +Mathesuentha married Vitiges, to whom she bore no +child. Both of them were taken together by Belisarius to +Constantinople. When Vitiges passed from human affairs, +Germanus the patrician, a cousin of the Emperor +Justinian, took Mathesuentha in marriage and made her +a Patrician Ordinary. And of her he begat a son, also +called Germanus. But upon the death of Germanus, she +determined to remain a widow. Now how and in what +wise the kingdom of the Amali was overthrown we shall +keep to tell in its proper place, if the Lord help us. + +But let us now return to the point whence we made our 82 +digression and tell how the stock of this people of whom +I speak reached the end of its course. Now Ablabius the +historian relates that in Scythia, where we have said that +they were dwelling above an arm of the Pontic Sea, part +of them who held the eastern region and whose king was +Ostrogotha, were called Ostrogoths, that is, eastern +Goths, either from his name or from the place. But the +rest were called Visigoths, that is, the Goths of the western +country. + +[Sidenote: MAXIMINUS, THE GOTH WHO BECAME A ROMAN EMPEROR] + +[Sidenote: Septimius Severus A.D. 193-211] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Caracalla A.D. 198-217] + +[Sidenote: Macrinus A.D. 217-218] + +[Sidenote: Antoninus Elagabalus A.D. 218-222] + +[Sidenote: Alexander A.D. 222-235] + +[Sidenote: Maximinus A.D. 235-238] + +[Sidenote: Pupienus A.D. 238] + +XV As already said, they crossed the Danube and 83 +dwelt a little while in Moesia and Thrace. From the +remnant of these came Maximinus, the Emperor succeeding +Alexander the son of Mama. For Symmachus relates +it thus in the fifth book of his history, saying that +upon the death of Caesar Alexander, Maximinus was +made Emperor by the army; a man born in Thrace of +most humble parentage, his father being a Goth named +Micca, and his mother a woman of the Alani called +Ababa. He reigned three years and lost alike his empire +and his life while making war on the Christians. Now 84 +after his first years spent in rustic life, he had come from +his flocks to military service in the reign of the Emperor +Severus and at the time when he was celebrating his +son's birthday. It happened that the Emperor was giving +military games. When Maximinus saw this, although he +was a semi-barbarian youth, he besought the Emperor in +his native tongue to give him permission to wrestle with 85 +the trained soldiers for the prizes offered. Severus marvelling +much at his great size--for his stature, it is said, +was more than eight feet,--bade him contend in wrestling +with the camp followers, in order that no injury might +befall his soldiers at the hands of this wild fellow. Thereupon +Maximinus threw sixteen attendants with so great +ease that he conquered them one by one without taking +any rest by pausing between the bouts. So then, when +he had won the prizes, it was ordered that he should be +sent into the army and should take his first campaign with +the cavalry. On the third day after this, when the Emperor +went out to the field, he saw him coursing about +in barbarian fashion and bade a tribune restrain him and +teach him Roman discipline. But when he understood +it was the Emperor who was speaking about him, he came 86 +forward and began to run ahead of him as he rode. Then +the Emperor spurred on his horse to a slow trot and +wheeled in many a circle hither and thither with various +turns, until he was weary. And then he said to him "Are +you willing to wrestle now after your running, my little +Thracian?" "As much as you like, O Emperor," he +answered. So Severus leaped from his horse and ordered +the freshest soldiers to wrestle with him. But he threw +to the ground seven very powerful youths, even as before, +taking no breathing space between the bouts. So he alone +was given prizes of silver and a golden necklace by Caesar. +Then he was bidden to serve in the body guard of +the Emperor. After this he was an officer under Antoninus 87 +Caracalla, often increasing his fame by his deeds, +and rose to many military grades and finally to the centurionship +as the reward of his active service. Yet afterwards, +when Macrinus became Emperor, he refused military +service for almost three years, and though he held +the office of tribune, he never came into the presence of +Macrinus, thinking his rule shameful because he had won +it by committing a crime. Then he returned to Eliogabalus, 88 +believing him to be the son of Antoninus, and +entered upon his tribuneship. After his reign, he fought +with marvellous success against the Parthians, under +Alexander the son of Mama. When he was slain in an +uprising of the soldiers at Mogontiacum, Maximinus +himself was made Emperor by a vote of the army, without +a decree of the senate. But he marred all his good +deeds by persecuting the Christians in accordance with +an evil vow and, being slain by Pupienus at Aquileia, left +the kingdom to Philip. These matters we have borrowed +from the history of Symmachus for this our little book, +in order to show that the race of which we speak attained +to the very highest station in the Roman Empire. But +our subject requires us to return in due order to the point +whence we digressed. + +[Sidenote: KING OSTROGOTHA WARS WITH PHILIP] + +[Sidenote: Philip pater A.D. 244-249 "The Arabian"] + +[Sidenote: Philip filius A.D. 247-249] + +XVI Now the Gothic race gained great fame in the 89 +region where they were then dwelling, that is in the +Scythian land on the shore of Pontus, holding undisputed +sway over great stretches of country, many arms of the +sea and many river courses. By their strong right arm +the Vandals were often laid low, the Marcomanni held +their footing by paying tribute and the princes of the +Quadi were reduced to slavery. Now when the aforesaid +Philip--who, with his son Philip, was the only Christian +emperor before Constantine--ruled over the Romans, in +the second year of his reign Rome completed its one +thousandth year. He withheld from the Goths the tribute +due them; whereupon they were naturally enraged and +instead of friends became his foes. For though they dwelt +apart under their own kings, yet they had been allied to +the Roman state and received annual gifts. And what 90 +more? Ostrogotha and his men soon crossed the Danube +and ravaged Moesia and Thrace. Philip sent the senator +Decius against him. And since he could do nothing +against the Getae, he released his own soldiers from military +service and sent them back to private life, as though +it had been by their neglect that the Goths had crossed the +Danube. When, as he supposed, he had thus taken vengeance +on his soldiers, he returned to Philip. But when +the soldiers found themselves expelled from the army +after so many hardships, in their anger they had recourse +to the protection of Ostrogotha, king of the Goths. He 91 +received them, was aroused by their words and presently +led out three hundred thousand armed men, having as +allies for this war some of the Taifali and Astringi and +also three thousand of the Carpi, a race of men very ready +to make war and frequently hostile to the Romans. But +in later times when Diocletian and Maximian were Emperors, +the Caesar Galerius Maximianus conquered them +and made them tributary to the Roman Empire. Besides +these tribes, Ostrogotha had Goths and Peucini from the +island of Peuce, which lies in the mouths of the Danube +where they empty into the Sea of Pontus. He placed in +command Argaithus and Guntheric, the noblest leaders 92 +of his race. They speedily crossed the Danube, devastated +Moesia a second time and approached Marcianople, +the famed metropolis of that land. Yet after a long siege +they departed, upon receiving money from the inhabitants. + +[Sidenote: MARCIANOPLE] + +[Sidenote: THE GEPIDAE AND THEIR DEFEAT BY OSTROGOTHA] + +Now since we have mentioned Marcianople, we may 93 +briefly relate a few matters in connection with its founding. +They say that the Emperor Trajan built this city +for the following reason. While his sister's daughter +Marcia was bathing in the stream called Potamus--a +river of great clearness and purity that rises in the midst +of the city--she wished to draw some water from it and +by chance dropped into its depths the golden pitcher she +was carrying. Yet though very heavy from its weight +of metal, it emerged from the waves a long time afterwards. +It surely is not a usual thing for an empty vessel +to sink; much less that, when once swallowed up, it should +be cast up by the waves and float again. Trajan marvelled +at hearing this and believed there was some divinity +in the stream. So he built a city and called it Marcianople +after the name of his sister. + +XVII From this city, then, as we were saying, the 94 +Getae returned after a long siege to their own land, enriched +by the ransom they had received. Now the race +of the Gepidae was moved with envy when they saw them +laden with booty and so suddenly victorious everywhere, +and made war on their kinsmen. Should you ask how +the Getae and Gepidae are kinsmen, I can tell you in a +few words. You surely remember that in the beginning +I said the Goths went forth from the bosom of the island +of Scandza with Berig, their king, sailing in only three +ships toward the hither shore of Ocean, namely to +Gothiscandza. One of these three ships proved to be 95 +slower than the others, as is usually the case, and thus is +said to have given the tribe their name, for in their +language _gepanta_ means slow. Hence it came to pass +that gradually and by corruption the name Gepidae was +coined for them by way of reproach. For undoubtedly +they too trace their origin from the stock of the Goths, +but because, as I have said, _gepanta_ means something +slow and stolid, the word Gepidae arose as a gratuitous +name of reproach. I do not believe this is very far +wrong, for they are slow of thought and too sluggish for +quick movement of their bodies. + +These Gepidae were then smitten by envy while they 96 +dwelt in the province of Spesis on an island surrounded +by the shallow waters of the Vistula. This island they +called, in the speech of their fathers, Gepedoios; but it is +now inhabited by the race of the Vividarii, since the +Gepidae themselves have moved to better lands. The +Vividarii are gathered from various races into this one +asylum, if I may call it so, and thus they form a nation. +So then, as we were saying, Fastida, king of the Gepidae, 97 +stirred up his quiet people to enlarge their boundaries by +war. He overwhelmed the Burgundians, almost annihilating +them, and conquered a number of other races also. +He unjustly provoked the Goths, being the first to break +the bonds of kinship by unseemly strife. He was greatly +puffed up with vain glory, but in seeking to acquire new +lands for his growing nation, he only reduced the numbers +of his own countrymen. For he sent ambassadors 98 +to Ostrogotha, to whose rule Ostrogoths and Visigoths +alike, that is, the two peoples of the same tribe, were still +subject. Complaining that he was hemmed in by rugged +mountains and dense forests, he demanded one of two +things,--that Ostrogotha should either prepare for war +or give up part of his lands to them. Then Ostrogotha, 99 +king of the Goths, who was a man of firm mind, answered +the ambassadors that he did indeed dread such a +war and that it would be a grievous and infamous thing +to join battle with their kin,--but he would not give up +his lands. And why say more? The Gepidae hastened +to take arms and Ostrogotha likewise moved his forces +against them, lest he should seem a coward. They met +at the town of Galtis, near which the river Auha flows +and there both sides fought with great valor; indeed the +similarity of their arms and of their manner of fighting +turned them against their own men. But the better cause +and their natural alertness aided the Goths. Finally night 100 +put an end to the battle as a part of the Gepidae were +giving way. Then Fastida, king of the Gepidae, left the +field of slaughter and hastened to his own land, as much +humiliated with shame and disgrace as formerly he had +been elated with pride. The Goths returned victorious, +content with the retreat of the Gepidae, and dwelt in +peace and happiness in their own land so long as Ostrogotha +was their leader. + +[Sidenote: KING CNIVA AT WAR WITH DECIUS] + +[Sidenote: Decius A.D. 249-251] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Philippopolis A.D. 250] + +[Sidenote: Death of Decius at Abrittus A.D. 251] + +XVIII After his death, Cniva divided the army into 101 +two parts and sent some to waste Moesia, knowing that it +was undefended through the neglect of the emperors. +He himself with seventy thousand men hastened to +Euscia, that is, Novae. When driven from this place by +the general Gallus, he approached Nicopolis, a very famous +town situated near the Iatrus river. This city +Trajan built when he conquered the Sarmatians and +named it the City of Victory. When the Emperor Decius +drew near, Cniva at last withdrew to the regions of +Haemus, which were not far distant. Thence he hastened +to Philippopolis, with his forces in good array. When 102 +the Emperor Decius learned of his departure, he was +eager to bring relief to his own city and, crossing Mount +Haemus, came to Beroa. While he was resting his horses +and his weary army in that place, all at once Cniva and +his Goths fell upon him like a thunderbolt. He cut the +Roman army to pieces and drove the Emperor, with a +few who had succeeded in escaping, across the Alps again +to Euscia in Moesia, where Gallus was then stationed +with a large force of soldiers as guardian of the frontier. +Collecting an army from this region as well as from +Oescus, he prepared for the conflict of the coming war. +But Cniva took Philippopolis after a long siege and then, 103 +laden with spoil, allied himself to Priscus, the commander +in the city, to fight against Decius. In the battle that +followed they quickly pierced the son of Decius with an +arrow and cruelly slew him. The father saw this, and +although he is said to have exclaimed, to cheer the hearts +of his soldiers: "Let no one mourn; the death of one +soldier is not a great loss to the republic", he was yet +unable to endure it, because of his love for his son. So +he rode against the foe, demanding either death or vengeance, +and when he came to Abrittus, a city of Moesia, +he was himself cut off by the Goths and slain, thus making +an end of his dominion and of his life. This place +is to-day called the Altar of Decius, because he there +offered strange sacrifices to idols before the battle. + +(THE GOTHS IN THE TIME OF GALLUS, VOLUSIANUS AND AEMILIANUS) + +[Sidenote: Gallus A.D. 251-253] + +[Sidenote: Volusianus A.D. 252-253] + +[Sidenote: Aemilianus A.D. 253] + +[Sidenote: The Plague A.D. 252-267] + +[Sidenote: Gallienus A.D. 253-268] + +XIX Then upon the death of Decius, Gallus and 104 +Volusianus succeeded to the Roman Empire. At this +time a destructive plague, almost like death itself, such +as we suffered nine years ago, blighted the face of the +whole earth and especially devastated Alexandria and all +the land of Egypt. The historian Dionysius gives a +mournful account of it and Cyprian, our own bishop and +venerable martyr in Christ, also describes it in his book +entitled "On Mortality". At this time the Goths frequently +ravaged Moesia, through the neglect of the Emperors. +When a certain Aemilianus saw that they were 105 +free to do this, and that they could not be dislodged by +anyone without great cost to the republic, he thought that +he too might be able to achieve fame and fortune. So he +seized the rule in Moesia and, taking all the soldiers he +could gather, began to plunder cities and people. In the +next few months, while an armed host was being gathered +against him, he wrought no small harm to the state. +Yet he died almost at the beginning of his evil attempt, +thus losing at once his life and the power he coveted. +Now though Gallus and Volusianus, the Emperors we 106 +have mentioned, departed this life after remaining in +power for barely two years, yet during this space of two +years which they spent on earth they reigned amid universal +peace and favor. Only one thing was laid to their +charge, namely the great plague. But this was an accusation +made by ignorant slanderers, whose custom it is +to wound the lives of others with their malicious bite. +Soon after they came to power they made a treaty with +the race of the Goths. When both rulers were dead, it +was no long time before Gallienus usurped the throne. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS PLUNDER ASIA MINOR A.D. 262 or 263] + +XX While he was given over to luxurious living of 107 +every sort, Respa, Veduc and Thuruar, leaders of the +Goths, took ship and sailed across the strait of the Hellespont +to Asia. There they laid waste many populous +cities and set fire to the renowned temple of Diana at +Ephesus, which, as we said before, the Amazons built. +Being driven from the neighborhood of Bithynia, they +destroyed Chalcedon, which Cornelius Avitus afterwards +restored to some extent. Yet even to-day, though it is +happily situated near the royal city, it still shows some +traces of its ruin as a witness to posterity. After their 108 +success, the Goths recrossed the strait of the Hellespont, +laden with booty and spoil, and returned along the same +route by which they had entered the lands of Asia, sacking +Troy and Ilium on the way. These cities, which had +scarce recovered a little from the famous war with Agamemnon, +were thus destroyed anew by the hostile sword. +After the Goths had thus devastated Asia, Thrace next +felt their ferocity. For they went thither and presently +attacked Anchiali, a city at the foot of Haemus and not +far from the sea. Sardanapalus, king of the Parthians, +had built this city long ago between an inlet of the sea +and the base of Haemus. There they are said to have 109 +stayed for many days, enjoying the baths of the hot +springs which are situated about twelve miles from the +city of Anchiali. There they gush from the depths of +their fiery source, and among the innumerable hot springs +of the world they are esteemed as specially famous and +efficacious for their healing virtues. + +(THE TIMES OF DIOCLETIAN) + +[Sidenote: Diocletian 284-305] + +[Sidenote: Masimian 284-305] + +XXI After these events, the Goths had already returned 110 +home when they were summoned at the request +of the Emperor Maximian to aid the Romans against the +Parthians. They fought for him faithfully, serving as +auxiliaries. But after Caesar Maximian by their aid had +routed Narseus, king of the Persians, the grandson of +Sapor the Great, taking as spoil all his possessions, together +with his wives and his sons, and when Diocletian +had conquered Achilles in Alexandria and Maximianus +Herculius had broken the Quinquegentiani in Africa, thus +winning peace for the empire, they began rather to neglect +the Goths. + +[Sidenote: Constantine I 306-337] + +[Sidenote: Licinius 307-323] + +Now it had long been a hard matter for the Roman 111 +army to fight against any nations whatsoever without +them. This is evident from the way in which the Goths +were so frequently called upon. Thus they were summoned +by Constantine to bear arms against his kinsman +Licinius. Later, when he was vanquished and shut up +Thessalonica and deprived of his power, they slew him +with the sword of Constantine the victor. In like manner 112 +it was the aid of the Goths that enabled him to build the +famous city that is named after him, the rival of Rome, +inasmuch as they entered into a truce with the Emperor +and furnished him forty thousand men to aid him against +various peoples. This body of men, namely, the Allies, +and the service they rendered in war are still spoken of in +the land to this day. Now at that time they prospered +under the rule of their kings Ariaric and Aoric. Upon +their death Geberich appeared as successor to the throne, +a man renowned for his valor and noble birth. + +[Sidenote: GEBERICH CONQUERS THE VANDALS 336] + +XXII For he was the son of Hilderith, who was the 113 +son of Ovida, who was the son of Nidada; and by his +illustrious deeds he equalled the glory of his race. Soon +he sought to enlarge his country's narrow bounds at the +expense of the race of the Vandals and Visimar, their +king. This Visimar was of the stock of the Asdingi, +which is eminent among them and indicates a most warlike +descent, as Dexippus the historian relates. He states +furthermore that by reason of the great extent of their +country they could scarcely come from Ocean to our frontier +in a year's time. At that time they dwelt in the land +where the Gepidae now live, near the rivers Marisia, +Miliare, Gilpil and the Grisia, which exceeds in size all +previously mentioned. They then had on the east the 114 +Goths, on the west the Marcomanni, on the north the +Hermunduli and on the south the Hister, which is also +called the Danube. At the time when the Vandals were +dwelling in this region, war was begun against them by +Geberich, king of the Goths, on the shore of the river +Marisia which I have mentioned. Here the battle raged +for a little while on equal terms. But soon Visimar himself, +the king of the Vandals, was overthrown, together +with the greater part of his people. When Geberich, the 115 +famous leader of the Goths, had conquered and spoiled +Vandals, he returned to his own place whence he had +come. Then the remnant of the Vandals who had escaped, +collecting a band of their unwarlike folk, left their +ill-fated country and asked the Emperor Constantine for +Pannonia. Here they made their home for about sixty +years and obeyed the commands of the emperors like +subjects. A long time afterward they were summoned +thence by Stilicho, Master of the Soldiery, Ex-Consul and +Patrician, and took possession of Gaul. Here they plundered +their neighbors and had no settled place of abode. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE HERCULI, VENETHI AND AESTI] + +XXIII Soon Geberich, king of the Goths, departed 116 +from human affairs and Hermanaric, noblest of the +Amali, succeeded to the throne. He subdued many warlike +peoples of the north and made them obey his laws, +and some of our ancestors have justly compared him to +Alexander the Great. Among the tribes he conquered +were the Golthescytha, Thiudos, Inaunxis, Vasinabroncae, +Merens, Mordens, Imniscaris, Rogas, Tadzans, Athaul, 117 +Navego, Bubegenae and Coldae. But though famous +for his conquest of so many races, he gave himself no rest +until he had slain some in battle and then reduced to his +sway the remainder of the tribe of the Heruli, whose chief +was Alaric. Now the aforesaid race, as the historian +Ablabius tells us, dwelt near Lake Maeotis in swampy +places which the Greeks call _hel[=e]_; hence they were named +Heluri. They were a people swift of foot, and on that +account were the more swollen with pride, for there was 118 +at that time no race that did not choose from them its +light-armed troops for battle. But though their quickness +often saved them from others who made war upon them, +yet they were overthrown by the slowness and steadiness +of the Goths; and the lot of fortune brought it to pass +that they, as well as the other tribes, had to serve Hermanaric, +king of the Getae. After the slaughter of the 119 +Heruli, Hermanaric also took arms against the Venethi. +This people, though despised in war, was strong in numbers +and tried to resist him. But a multitude of cowards +is of no avail, particularly when God permits an armed +multitude to attack them. These people, as we started +to say at the beginning of our account or catalogue of +nations, though off-shoots from one stock, have now +three names, that is, Venethi, Antes and Sclaveni. Though +they now rage in war far and wide, in punishment for +our sins, yet at that time they were all obedient to Hermanaric's +commands. This ruler also subdued by his 120 +wisdom and might the race of the Aesti, who dwell on +the farthest shore of the German Ocean, and ruled all the +nations of Scythia and Germany by his own prowess +alone. + +[Sidenote: ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE HUNS] + +XXIV But after a short space of time, as Orosius 121 +relates, the race of the Huns, fiercer than ferocity itself, +flamed forth against the Goths. We learn from old traditions +that their origin was as follows: Filimer, king of +the Goths, son of Gadaric the Great, who was the fifth in +succession to hold the rule of the Getae after their departure +from the island of Scandza,--and who, as we have +said, entered the land of Scythia with his tribe,--found +among his people certain witches, whom he called in his +native tongue Haliurunnae. Suspecting these women, he +expelled them from the midst of his race and compelled +them to wander in solitary exile afar from his army. +There the unclean spirits, who beheld them as they wandered 122 +through the wilderness, bestowed their embraces +upon them and begat this savage race, which dwelt at +first in the swamps,--a stunted, foul and puny tribe, +scarcely human, and having no language save one which +bore slight resemblance to human speech. Such was +the descent of the Huns who came to the country of the +Goths. + +This cruel tribe, as Priscus the historian relates, settled 123 +on the farther bank of the Maeotic swamp. They +were fond of hunting and had no skill in any other +art. After they had grown to a nation, they disturbed +the peace of neighboring races by theft and rapine. At +one time, while hunters of their tribe were as usual seeking +for game on the farthest edge of Maeotis, they +saw a doe unexpectedly appear to their sight and enter +the swamp, acting as guide of the way; now advancing +and again standing still. The hunters followed and 124 +crossed on foot the Maeotic swamp, which they had +supposed was impassable as the sea. Presently the +unknown land of Scythia disclosed itself and the doe +disappeared. Now in my opinion the evil spirits, from +whom the Huns are descended, did this from envy of the +Scythians. And the Huns, who had been wholly ignorant 125 +that there was another world beyond Maeotis, were now +filled with admiration for the Scythian land. As they +were quick of mind, they believed that this path, utterly +unknown to any age of the past, had been divinely revealed +to them. They returned to their tribe, told them +what had happened, praised Scythia and persuaded the +people to hasten thither along the way they had found +by the guidance of the doe. As many as they captured, +when they thus entered Scythia for the first time, they +sacrificed to Victory. The remainder they conquered +and made subject to themselves. Like a whirlwind of 126 +nations they swept across the great swamp and at once +fell upon the Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari, Tuncarsi and +Boisci, who bordered on that part of Scythia. The Alani +also, who were their equals in battle, but unlike them in +civilization, manners and appearance, they exhausted by +their incessant attacks and subdued. For by the terror 127 +of their features they inspired great fear in those whom +perhaps they did not really surpass in war. They made +their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was +fearful, and they had, if I may call it so, a sort of shapeless +lump, not a head, with pin-holes rather than eyes. +Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and +they are beings who are cruel to their children on the +very day they are born. For they cut the cheeks of the +males with a sword, so that before they receive the nourishment +of milk they must learn to endure wounds. +Hence they grow old beardless and their young men are 128 +without comeliness, because a face furrowed by the sword +spoils by its scars the natural beauty of a beard. They +are short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert +horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and +arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in +pride. Though they live in the form of men, they have +the cruelty of wild beasts. + +[Sidenote: FIRST IRRUPTION OF THE HUNS as early as 375] + +When the Getae beheld this active race that had invaded 129 +many nations, they took fright and consulted with +their king how they might escape from such a foe. Now +although Hermanaric, king of the Goths, was the conqueror +of many tribes, as we have said above, yet while +he was deliberating on this invasion of the Huns, the +treacherous tribe of the Rosomoni, who at that time were +among those who owed him their homage, took this +chance to catch him unawares. For when the king had +given orders that a certain woman of the tribe I have +mentioned, Sunilda by name, should be bound to wild +horses and torn apart by driving them at full speed in +opposite directions (for he was roused to fury by her +husband's treachery to him), her brothers Sarus and +Immius came to avenge their sister's death and plunged +a sword into Hermanaric's side. Enfeebled by this blow, +he dragged out a miserable existence in bodily weakness. +Balamber, king of the Huns, took advantage of his ill 130 +health to move an army into the country of the Ostrogoths, +from whom the Visigoths had already separated +because of some dispute. Meanwhile Hermanaric, who +was unable to endure either the pain of his wound or the +inroads of the Huns, died full of days at the great age of +one hundred and ten years. The fact of his death enabled +the Huns to prevail over those Goths who, as we have +said, dwelt in the East and were called Ostrogoths. + +(The Divided Goths: Visigoths) + +[Sidenote: Valentinian I 364-375] + +[Sidenote: THE VISIGOTHS SETTLE IN THRACE AND MOESIA 376] + +[Sidenote: Valens 364-378] + +XXV The Visigoths, who were their other allies and 131 +inhabitants of the western country, were terrified as their +kinsmen had been, and knew not how to plan for safety +against the race of the Huns. After long deliberation by +common consent they finally sent ambassadors into Romania +to the Emperor Valens, brother of Valentinian, +the elder Emperor, to say that if he would give them part +of Thrace or Moesia to keep, they would submit themselves +to his laws and commands. That he might have +greater confidence in them, they promised to become +Christians, if he would give them teachers who spoke +their language. When Valens learned this, he gladly and 132 +promptly granted what he had himself intended to ask. +He received the Getae into the region of Moesia and +placed them there as a wall of defense for his kingdom +against other tribes. And since at that time the Emperor +Valens, who was infected with the Arian perfidy, had +closed all the churches of our party, he sent as preachers +to them those who favored his sect. They came and +straightway filled a rude and ignorant people with the +poison of their heresy. Thus the Emperor Valens made +the Visigoths Arians rather than Christians. Moreover 133 +from the love they bore them, they preached the gospel +both to the Ostrogoths and to their kinsmen the Gepidae, +teaching them to reverence this heresy, and they invited +all people of their speech everywhere to attach themselves +to this sect. They themselves as we have said, crossed +the Danube and settled Dacia Ripensis, Moesia and +Thrace by permission of the Emperor. + +[Sidenote: FAMINE 376-377] + +XXVI Soon famine and want came upon them, as 134 +often happens to a people not yet well settled in a country. +Their princes and the leaders who ruled them in +place of kings, that is Fritigern, Alatheus and Safrac, +began to lament the plight of their army and begged +Lupicinus and Maximus, the Roman commanders, to +open a market. But to what will not the "cursed lust for +gold" compel men to assent? The generals, swayed by +avarice, sold them at a high price not only the flesh of +sheep and oxen, but even the carcasses of dogs and unclean +animals, so that a slave would be bartered for a loaf +of bread or ten pounds of meat. When their goods and 135 +chattels failed, the greedy trader demanded their sons in +return for the necessities of life. And the parents consented +even to this, in order to provide for the safety of +their children, arguing that it was better to lose liberty +than life; and indeed it is better that one be sold, if he +will be mercifully fed, than that he should be kept free +only to die. + +[Sidenote: TREACHERY OF THE ROMANS] + +Now it came to pass in that troublous time that Lupicinus, +the Roman general, invited Fritigern, a chieftain +of the Goths, to a feast and, as the event revealed, +devised a plot against him. But Fritigern, thinking 136 +evil came to the feast with a few followers. While +he was dining in the praetorium he heard the dying +cries of his ill-fated men, for, by order of the general, +the soldiers were slaying his companions who were shut +up in another part of the house. The loud cries of the +dying fell upon ears already suspicious, and Fritigern at +once perceived the treacherous trick. He drew his sword +and with great courage dashed quickly from the banqueting-hall, +rescued his men from their threatening doom +and incited them to slay the Romans. Thus these valiant 137 +men gained the chance they had longed for--to be free to +die in battle rather than to perish of hunger--and immediately +took arms to kill the generals Lupicinus and +Maximus. Thus that day put an end to the famine of the +Goths and the safety of the Romans, for the Goths no +longer as strangers and pilgrims, but as citizens and lords, +began to rule the inhabitants and to hold in their own +right all the northern country as far as the Danube. + +[Sidenote: EMPEROR VALENS DEFEATED AND SLAIN A.D. 378] + +When the Emperor Valens heard of this at Antioch, 138 +he made ready an army at once and set out for the country +of Thrace. Here a grievous battle took place and the +Goths prevailed. The Emperor himself was wounded and +fled to a farm near Hadrianople. The Goths, not knowing +that an emperor lay hidden in so poor a hut, set fire +to it (as is customary in dealing with a cruel foe), and +thus he was cremated in royal splendor. Plainly it was +a direct judgment of God that he should be burned with +fire by the very men whom he had perfidiously led astray +when they sought the true faith, turning them aside from +the flame of love into the fire of hell. From this time the +Visigoths, in consequence of their glorious victory, possessed +Thrace and Dacia Ripensis as if it were their native +land. + +[Sidenote: Gratian 367-383] + +[Sidenote: HOSTILE RELATIONS WITH ROME ENDED BY A TRUCE] + +[Sidenote: Theodosius 379-305] + +XXVII Now in the place of Valens, his uncle, the 139 +Emperor Gratian established Theodosius the Spaniard in +the Eastern Empire. Military discipline was soon restored +to a high level, and the Goth, perceiving that the +cowardice and sloth of former princes was ended, became +afraid. For the Emperor was famed alike for his acuteness +and discretion. By stern commands and by generosity +and kindness he encouraged a demoralized army to +deeds of daring. But when the soldiers, who had obtained 140 +a better leader by the change, gained new confidence, +they sought to attack the Goths and drive them +from the borders of Thrace. But as the Emperor Theodosius +fell so sick at this time that his life was almost +despaired of, the Goths were again inspired with courage. +Dividing the Gothic army, Fritigern set out to plunder +Thessaly, Epirus and Achaia, while Alatheus and Safrac +with the rest of the troops made for Pannonia. Now the 141 +Emperor Gratian had at this time retreated from Rome to +Gaul because of the invasions of the Vandals. When he +learned that the Goths were acting with greater boldness +because Theodosius was in despair of his life, he quickly +gathered an army and came against them. Yet he put no +trust in arms, but sought to conquer them by kindness and +gifts. So he entered on a truce with them and made +peace, giving them provisions. + +[Sidenote: PEACE CONFIRMED BY THEODOSIUS 380] + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING ATHANARIC AT CONSTANTINOPLE 381] + +XXVIII When the Emperor Theodosius afterwards 142 +recovered and learned that the Emperor Gratian had +made a compact between the Goths and the Romans, as +he had himself desired, he took it very graciously and +gave his assent. He gave gifts to King Athanaric, who +had succeeded Fritigern, made an alliance with him and +in the most gracious manner invited him to visit him in +Constantinople. Athanaric very gladly consented and 143 +as he entered the royal city exclaimed in wonder "Lo, +now I see what I have often heard of with unbelieving +ears," meaning the great and famous city. Turning his +eyes hither and thither, he marvelled as he beheld the +situation of the city, the coming and going of the ships, +the splendid walls, and the people of divers nations gathered +like a flood of waters streaming from different regions +into one basin. So too, when he saw the army in +array, he said "Truly the Emperor is a god on earth, and +whoso raises a hand against him is guilty of his own +blood." In the midst of his admiration and the enjoyment 144 +of even greater honors at the hand of the emperor, +he departed this life after the space of a few months. +The emperor had such affection for him that he honored +Athanaric even more when he was dead than during his +life-time, for he not only gave him a worthy burial, but +himself walked before the bier at the funeral. Now when 145 +Athanaric was dead, his whole army continued in the +service of the Emperor Theodosius and submitted to the +Roman rule, forming as it were one body with the imperial +soldiery. The former service of the Allies under the +Emperor Constantine was now renewed and they were +again called Allies. And since the Emperor knew that +they were faithful to him and his friends, he took from +their number more than twenty thousand warriors to +serve against the tyrant Eugenius who had slain Gratian +and seized Gaul. After winning the victory over this +usurper, he wreaked his vengeance upon him. + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I KING OF THE GOTHS 395-410] + +[Sidenote: Stilicho and Aurelian Consuls in 400] + +XXIX But after Theodosius, the lover of peace and 146 +of the Gothic race, had passed from human cares, his +sons began to ruin both empires by their luxurious living +and to deprive their Allies, that is to say the Goths, of the +customary gifts. The contempt of the Goths for the +Romans soon increased, and for fear their valor would be +destroyed by long peace, they appointed Alaric king over +them. He was of a famous stock, and his nobility was +second only to that of the Amali, for he came from the +family of the Balthi, who because of their daring valor +had long ago received among their race the name _Baltha_, 147 +that is, The Bold. Now when this Alaric was made king, +he took counsel with his men and persuaded them to seek +a kingdom by their own exertions rather than serve others +in idleness. In the consulship of Stilicho and Aurelian +he raised an army and entered Italy, which seemed to be +bare of defenders, and came through Pannonia and Sirmium +along the right side. Without meeting any resistance, +he reached the bridge of the river Candidianus at +the third milestone from the royal city of Ravenna. + +[Sidenote: DESCRIPTION OF RAVENNA] + +This city lies amid the streams of the Po between 148 +swamps and the sea, and is accessible only on one side. +Its ancient inhabitants, as our ancestors relate, were +called _Ainetoi_, that is, "Laudable". Situated in a corner +of the Roman Empire above the Ionian Sea, it is hemmed +in like an island by a flood of rushing waters. On the 149 +east it has the sea, and one who sails straight to it from +the region of Corcyra and those parts of Hellas sweeps +with his oars along the right hand coast, first touching +Epirus, then Dalmatia, Liburnia and Histria and at last +the Venetian Isles. But on the west it has swamps +through which a sort of door has been left by a very +narrow entrance. To the north is an arm of the Po, +called the Fossa Asconis. On the south likewise is the 150 +Po itself, which they call the King of the rivers of Italy; +and it has also the name Eridanus. This river was turned +aside by the Emperor Augustus into a very broad canal +which flows through the midst of the city with a seventh +part of its stream, affording a pleasant harbor at its +mouth. Men believed in ancient times, as Dio relates, +that it would hold a fleet of two hundred and fifty vessels +in its safe anchorage. Fabius says that this, which was 151 +once a harbor, now displays itself like a spacious garden +full of trees; but from them hang not sails but apples. +The city itself boasts of three names and is happily placed +in its threefold location. I mean to say the first is called +Ravenna and the most distant part Classis; while midway +between the city and the sea is Caesarea, full of luxury. +The sand of the beach is fine and suited for riding. + +[Sidenote: Honorius 393-423] + +[Sidenote: HONORIUS GRANTS THE GOTHS LANDS IN GAUL AND SPAIN] + +XXX But as I was saying, when the army of the 152 +Visigoths had come into the neighborhood of this city, +they sent an embassy to the Emperor Honorius, who +dwelt within. They said that if he would permit the +Goths to settle peaceably in Italy, they would so live with +the Roman people that men might believe them both to +be of one race; but if not, whoever prevailed in war +should drive out the other, and the victor should henceforth +rule unmolested. But the Emperor Honorius feared +to make either promise. So he took counsel with his +Senate and considered how he might drive them from the +Italian borders. He finally decided that Alaric and his 153 +race, if they were able to do so, should be allowed to +seize for their own home the provinces farthest away, +namely, Gaul and Spain. For at this time he had almost +lost them, and moreover they had been devastated by the +invasion of Gaiseric, king of the Vandals. The grant +was confirmed by an imperial rescript, and the Goths, +consenting to the arrangement, set out for the country +given them. + +[Sidenote: STILICHO'S TREACHEROUS ATTACK 402] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC I SACKS ROME A.D. 410] + +When they had gone away without doing any harm 154 +in Italy, Stilicho, the Patrician and father-in-law of +the Emperor Honorius,--for the Emperor had married +both his daughters, Maria and Thermantia, in succession, +but God called both from this world in their virgin +purity--this Stilicho, I say, treacherously hurried +to Pollentia, a city in the Cottian Alps. There he fell +upon the unsuspecting Goths in battle, to the ruin of all +Italy and his own disgrace. When the Goths suddenly 155 +beheld him, at first they were terrified. Soon regaining +their courage and arousing each other by brave shouting, +as is their custom, they turned to flight the entire army +of Stilicho and almost exterminated it. Then forsaking +the journey they had undertaken, the Goths with hearts +full of rage returned again to Liguria whence they +had set out. When they had plundered and spoiled it, +they also laid waste Aemilia, and then hastened toward +the city of Rome along the Flaminian Way, which runs +between Picenum and Tuscia, taking as booty whatever 156 +they found on either hand. When they finally entered +Rome, by Alaric's express command they merely +sacked it and did not set the city on fire, as wild peoples +usually do, nor did they permit serious damage to be done +to the holy places. Thence they departed to bring like +ruin upon Campania and Lucania, and then came to +Bruttii. Here they remained a long time and planned to +go to Sicily and thence to the countries of Africa. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ALARIC I A.D. 410] + +[Sidenote: Athavulf 410-415] + +Now the land of the Bruttii is at the extreme southern +bound of Italy, and a corner of it marks the beginning of +the Apennine mountains. It stretches out like a tongue +into the Adriatic Sea and separates it from the Tyrrhenian +waters. It chanced to receive its name in ancient times +from a Queen Bruttia. To this place came Alaric, king of 157 +Visigoths, with the wealth of all Italy which he had +taken as spoil, and from there, as we have said, he intended +to cross over by way of Sicily to the quiet land of +Africa. But since man is not free to do anything he +wishes without the will of God, that dread strait sunk several +of his ships and threw all into confusion. Alaric was +cast down by his reverse and, while deliberating what he +should do, was suddenly overtaken by an untimely death +and departed from human cares. His people mourned for 158 +him with the utmost affection. Then turning from its +course the river Busentus near the city of Consentia--for +this stream flows with its wholesome waters from the foot +of a mountain near that city--they led a band of captives +into the midst of its bed to dig out a place for his grave. +In the depths of this pit they buried Alaric, together with +many treasures, and then turned the waters back into +their channel. And that none might ever know the place, +they put to death all the diggers. They bestowed the +kingdom of the Visigoths on Athavulf his kinsman, a +man of imposing beauty and great spirit; for though not +tall of stature, he was distinguished for beauty of face +and form. + +[Sidenote: DEEDS OF KING ATHAVULF] + +[Sidenote: Marries Galla Placidia 414] + +[Sidenote: KING SEGERIC 415] + +XXXI When Athavulf became king, he returned 159 +again to Rome, and whatever had escaped the first sack +his Goths stripped bare like locusts, not merely despoiling +Italy of its private wealth, but even of its public +resources. The Emperor Honorius was powerless to +resist even when his sister Placidia, the daughter of the +Emperor Theodosius by his second wife, was led away +captive from the city. But Athavulf was attracted by her 160 +nobility, beauty and chaste purity, and so he took her to +wife in lawful marriage at Forum Julii, a city of Aemilia. +When the barbarians learned of this alliance, they were +the more effectually terrified, since the Empire and the +Goths now seemed to be made one. Then Athavulf set +out for Gaul, leaving Honorius Augustus stripped of his +wealth, to be sure, yet pleased at heart because he was +now a sort of kinsman of his. Upon his arrival the 161 +neighboring tribes who had long made cruel raids into +Gaul,--Franks and Burgundians alike,--were terrified +and began to keep within their own borders. Now the +Vandals and the Alani, as we have said before, had been +dwelling in both Pannonias by permission of the Roman +Emperors. Yet fearing they would not be safe even here +if the Goths should return, they crossed over into Gaul. +But no long time after they had taken possession of Gaul 162 +they fled thence and shut themselves up in Spain, for they +still remembered from the tales of their forefathers what +ruin Geberich, king of the Goths, had long ago brought +on their race, and how by his valor he had driven them +from their native land. And thus it happened that Gaul +lay open to Athavulf when he came. Now when the 163 +Goth had established his kingdom in Gaul, he began to +grieve for the plight of the Spaniards and planned to +save them from the attacks of the Vandals. So Athavulf +left at Barcelona his treasures and the men who were +unfit for war, and entered the interior of Spain with a +few faithful followers. Here he fought frequently with +the Vandals and, in the third year after he had subdued +Gaul and Spain, fell pierced through the groin by the +sword of Euervulf, a man whose short stature he had +been wont to mock. After his death Segeric was appointed +king, but he too was slain by the treachery of his +own men and lost both his kingdom and his life even more +quickly than Athavulf. 164 + +[Sidenote: KING VALIA 415-419] + +XXXII Then Valia, the fourth from Alaric, was +made king, and he was an exceeding stern and prudent +man. The Emperor Honorius sent an army against him +under Constantius, who was famed for his achievements +in war and distinguished in many battles, for he feared +that Valia would break the treaty long ago made with +Athavulf and that, after driving out the neighboring +tribes, he would again plot evil against the Empire. +Moreover Honorius was eager to free his sister Placidia +from the disgrace of servitude, and made an agreement +with Constantius that if by peace or war or any means +soever he could bring her back to the kingdom, he should +have her in marriage. Pleased with this promise, Constantius 165 +set out for Spain with an armed force and in +almost royal splendor. Valia, king of the Goths, met him +at a pass in the Pyrenees with as great a force. Here-upon +embassies were sent by both sides and it was decided +to make peace on the following terms, namely that Valia +should give up Placidia, the Emperor's sister, and should +not refuse to aid the Roman Empire when occasion +demanded. + +[Sidenote: Constantine III 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Constans 407-411] + +[Sidenote: Jovinus 411-413] + +[Sidenote: Sebastian 412] + +Now at that time a certain Constantine usurped imperial +power in Gaul and appointed as Caesar his son Constans, +who was formerly a monk. But when he had held +for a short time the Empire he had seized, he was himself +slain at Arelate and his son at Vienne. Jovinus and +Sebastian succeeded them with equal presumption and +thought they might seize the imperial power; but they +perished by a like fate. + +[Sidenote: VALIA MOVES AGAINST THE VANDALS 427] + +Now in the twelfth year of Valia's reign the Huns 166 +were driven out of Pannonia by the Romans and Goths, +almost fifty years after they had taken possession of it. +Then Valia found that the Vandals had come forth with +bold audacity from the interior of Galicia, whither Athavulf +had long ago driven them, and were devastating and +plundering everywhere in his own territories, namely in +the land of Spain. So he made no delay but moved his +army against them at once, at about the time when Hierius +and Ardabures had become consuls. + +[Sidenote: VALENTINIAN III 425-455] + +[Sidenote: THE VANDALS AND GAISERIC THEIR KING 427-477] + +XXXIII But Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, had already 167 +been invited into Africa by Boniface, who had +fallen into a dispute with the Emperor Valentinian and +was able to obtain revenge only by injuring the empire. +So he invited them urgently and brought them across the +narrow strait known as the Strait of Gades, scarcely seven +miles wide, which divides Africa from Spain and unites +the mouth of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the waters of +Ocean. Gaiseric, still famous in the City for the disaster 168 +of the Romans, was a man of moderate height and lame +in consequence of a fall from his horse. He was a man +of deep thought and few words, holding luxury in disdain, +furious in his anger, greedy for gain, shrewd in +winning over the barbarians and skilled in sowing the +seeds of dissension to arouse enmity. Such was he who, 169 +as we have said, came at the solicitous invitation of Boniface +to the country of Africa. There he reigned for a +long time, receiving authority, as they say, from God +Himself. Before his death he summoned the band of his +sons and ordained that there should be no strife among +them because of desire for the kingdom, but that each +should reign in his own rank and order as he survived +the others; that is, the next younger should succeed his +elder brother, and he in turn should be followed by his +junior. By giving heed to this command they ruled their +kingdom in happiness for the space of many years and +were not disgraced by civil war, as is usual among other +nations; one after the other receiving the kingdom and +ruling the people in peace. + +[Sidenote: The six kings of the Vandals 427-534] + +[Sidenote: KINGDOM OF THE VANDALS MADE SUBJECT TO ROME] + +Now this is their order of succession: first, Gaiseric 170 +who was father and lord, next, Huneric, the third +Gunthamund, the fourth Thrasamund, and the fifth +Ilderich. He was driven from the throne and slain +by Gelimer, who destroyed his race by disregarding +his ancestor's advice and setting up a tyranny. But 171 +what he had done did not remain unpunished, for soon +the vengeance of the Emperor Justinian was manifested +against him. With his whole family and that +wealth over which he gloated like a robber, he was taken +to Constantinople by that most renowned warrior Belisarius, +Master of the Soldiery of the East, Ex-Consul +Ordinary and Patrician. Here he afforded a great spectacle +to the people in the Circus. His repentance, when +he beheld himself cast down from his royal state, came +too late. He died as a mere subject and in retirement, +though he had formerly been unwilling to submit to private 172 +life. Thus after a century Africa, which in the +division of the earth's surface is regarded as the third +part of the world, was delivered from the yoke of the +Vandals and brought back to the liberty of the Roman +Empire. The country which the hand of the heathen had +long ago cut off from the body of the Roman Empire, +by reason of the cowardice of emperors and the treachery +of generals, was now restored by a wise prince and a +faithful leader and to-day is happily flourishing. And +though, even after this, it had to deplore the misery of +civil war and the treachery of the Moors, yet the triumph +of the Emperor Justinian, vouchsafed him by God. +brought to a peaceful conclusion what he had begun. But +why need we speak of what the subject does not require? +Let us return to our theme. + +[Sidenote: MIGRATION or THE AMALI TO THE VISIGOTHS] + +[Sidenote: THEODORID I 419-451] + +Now Valia, king of the Goths, and his army fought so 173 +fiercely against the Vandals that he would have pursued +them even into Africa, had not such a misfortune recalled +him as befell Alaric when he was setting out for Africa. +So when he had won great fame in Spain, he returned +after a bloodless victory to Tolosa, turning over to the +Roman Empire, as he had promised, a number of provinces +which he had rid of his foes. A long time after this +he was seized by sickness and departed this life. Just at 174 +that time Beremud, the son of Thorismud, whom we have +mentioned above in the genealogy of the family of the +Amali, departed with his son Veteric from the Ostrogoths, +who still submitted to the oppression of the Huns +in the land of Scythia, and came to the kingdom of the +Visigoths. Well aware of his valor and noble birth, he +believed that the kingdom would be the more readily +bestowed upon him by his kinsmen, inasmuch as he was +known to be the heir of many kings. And who would +hesitate to choose one of the Amali, if there were an empty +throne? But he was not himself eager to make known +who he was, and so upon the death of Valia the Visigoths +made Theodorid his successor. Beremud came to 175 +him and, with the strength of mind for which he was +noted, concealed his noble birth by prudent silence, for he +knew that those of royal lineage are always distrusted by +kings. So he suffered himself to remain unknown, that +he might not bring the established order into confusion. +King Theodorid received him and his son with special +honor and made him partner in his counsels and a companion +at his board; not for his noble birth, which he +knew not, but for his brave spirit and strong mind, which +Beremud could not conceal. + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Theodosius 439] + +[Sidenote: FIRST BREACH BETWEEN THEODORID I AND THE ROMANS] + +[Sidenote: The Truce 439] + +XXXIV And what more? Valia (to repeat what we 176 +have said) had but little success against the Gauls, but +when he died the more fortunate and prosperous Theodorid +succeeded to the throne. He was a man of the +greatest moderation and notable for vigor of mind and +body. In consulship of Theodosius and Festus the +Romans broke the truce and took up arms against him in +Gaul, with the Huns as their auxiliaries. For a band of +the Gallic Allies, led by Count Gaina, had aroused the +Romans by throwing Constantinople into a panic. Now +at that time the Patrician Aetius was in command of the +army. He was of the bravest Moesian stock, born of his +father Gaudentius in the city of Durostorum. He was a man +fitted to endure the toils of war, born expressly to +serve the Roman state; and by inflicting crushing defeats +he had compelled the proud Suavi and barbarous Franks +to submit to Roman sway. So then, with the Huns as 177 +allies under their leader Litorius, the Roman army +moved in array against the Goths. When the battle +lines of both sides had been standing for a long time +opposite each other, both being brave and neither side the +weaker, they struck a truce and returned to their ancient +alliance. And after the treaty had been confirmed by +both and an honest peace was established, they both withdrew. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Attila 448] + +During this peace Attila was lord over all the Huns 178 +and almost the sole earthly ruler of all the tribes of +Scythia; a man marvellous for his glorious fame among +all nations. The historian Priscus, who was sent to him +on an embassy by the younger Theodosius, says this +among other things: "Crossing mighty rivers--namely, +the Tisia and Tibisia and Dricca--we came to the place +where long ago Vidigoia, bravest of the Goths, perished +by the guile of the Sarmatians. At no great distance +from that place we arrived at the village where King +Attila was dwelling,--a village, I say, like a great city +in which we found wooden walls made of smooth-shining +boards, whose joints so counterfeited solidity that the +union of the boards could scarcely be distinguished by +close scrutiny. There you might see dining halls of 179 +large extent and porticoes planned with great beauty, +while the courtyard was bounded by so vast a circuit that +its very size showed it was the royal palace." This was +the abode of Attila, the king of all the barbarian world; +and he preferred this as a dwelling to the cities he +captured. + +[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF ATTILA KING OF THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Attila and Bleda joint kings 433-445] + +[Sidenote: Attila sole king 445-453] + +XXXV Now this Attila was the son of Mundiuch, 180 +and his brothers were Octar and Ruas who are said to +have ruled before Attila, though not over quite so many +tribes as he. After their death he succeeded to the throne +of the Huns, together with his brother Bleda. In order +that he might first be equal to the expedition he was +preparing, he sought to increase his strength by murder. +Thus he proceeded from the destruction of his own kindred +to the menace of all others. But though he increased 181 +his power by this shameful means, yet by the balance of +justice he received the hideous consequences of his own +cruelty. Now when his brother Bleda, who ruled over +a great part of the Huns, had been slain by his treachery, +Attila united all the people under his own rule. Gathering +also a host of the other tribes which he then held +under his sway, he sought to subdue the foremost nations +of the world--the Romans and the Visigoths. His army 182 +is said to have numbered five hundred thousand men. +He was a man born into the world to shake the nations, +the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all +mankind by the dreadful rumors noised abroad concerning +him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes +hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit +appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed +a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in counsel, +gracious to suppliants and lenient to those who were +once received into his protection. He was short of stature +with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were +small, his beard thin and sprinkled with gray; and he had +a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, showing the evidences +of his origin. And though his temper was such 183 +that he always had great self-confidence, yet his assurance +was increased by finding the sword of Mars, always +esteemed sacred among the kings of the Scythians. The +historian Priscus says it was discovered under the following +circumstances: "When a certain shepherd beheld +one heifer of his flock limping and could find no cause +for this wound, he anxiously followed the trail of blood +and at length came to a sword it had unwittingly trampled +while nibbling the grass. He dug it up and took it +straight to Attila. He rejoiced at this gift and, being +ambitious, thought he had been appointed ruler of the +whole world, and that through the sword of Mars supremacy +in all wars was assured to him." + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC INCITES HIM TO WAR WITH THE GOTHS] + +XXXVI Now when Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, 184 +whom we mentioned shortly before, learned that his mind +was bent on the devastation of the world, he incited +Attila by many gifts to make war on the Visigoths, for +he was afraid that Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, +would avenge the injury done to his daughter. She had +been joined in wedlock with Huneric, the son of Gaiseric, +and at first was happy in this union. But afterwards he +was cruel even to his own children, and because of the +mere suspicion that she was attempting to poison him, he +cut off her nose and mutilated her ears. He sent her +back to her father in Gaul thus despoiled of her natural +charms. So the wretched girl presented a pitiable aspect +ever after, and the cruelty which would stir even strangers +still more surely incited her father to vengeance. +Attila, therefore, in his efforts to bring about the wars 185 +long ago instigated by the bribe of Gaiseric, sent ambassadors +into Italy to the Emperor Valentinian to sow +strife between the Goths and the Romans, thinking to +shatter by civil discord those whom he could not crush +in battle. He declared that he was in no way violating +his friendly relations with the Empire, but that he had a +quarrel with Theodorid, king of the Visigoths. As he +wished to be kindly received, he had filled the rest of the +letter with the visual flattering salutations, striving to win +credence for his falsehood. In like manner he despatched 186 +a message to Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, urging +him to break his alliance with the Romans and reminding +him of the battles to which they had recently provoked +him. Beneath his great ferocity he was a subtle man, +and fought with craft before he made war. + +[Sidenote: LEAGUE OF THE VISIGOTHS AND ROMANS AGAINST ATTILA 451] + +Then the Emperor Valentinian sent an embassy to the +Visigoths and their king Theodorid, with this message: +"Bravest of nations, it is the part of prudence for us to 187 +unite against the lord of the earth who wishes to enslave +the whole world; who requires no just cause for battle, +but supposes whatever he does is right. He measures +his ambition by his might. License satisfies his pride. +Despising law and right, he shows himself an enemy to +Nature herself. And thus he, who clearly is the common +foe of each, deserves the hatred of all. Pray remember--what 188 +you surely cannot forget--that the Huns do not +overthrow nations by means of war, where there is an +equal chance, but assail them by treachery, which is a +greater cause for anxiety. To say nothing about ourselves, +can you suffer such insolence to go unpunished? +Since you are mighty in arms, give heed to your own +danger and join hands with us in common. Bear aid +also to the Empire, of which you hold a part. If you +would learn how needful such an alliance is for us, look +into the plans of the foe." + +[Sidenote: THE FORCES OF THE ALLIES] + +By these and like arguments the ambassadors of Valentinian 189 +prevailed upon King Theodorid. He answered +them, saying "Romans, you have attained your desire; +you have made Attila our foe also. We will pursue +him wherever he summons us, and though he is puffed +up by his victories over divers races, yet the Goths know +how to fight this haughty foe. I call no war dangerous +save one whose cause is weak; for he fears no ill on +whom Majesty has smiled." The nobles shouted assent 190 +to the reply and the multitude gladly followed. All were +fierce for battle and longed to meet the Huns, their foe. +And so a countless host was led forth by Theodorid, king +of the Visigoths, who sent home four of his sons, namely +Friderich and Eurich, Retemer and Himnerith, taking +with him only the two elder sons, Thorismud and Theodorid, +as partners of his toil. O brave array, sure defense +and sweet comradeship! having as its solace the +peril of those whose one joy is the endurance of the same +dangers. + +On the side of the Romans stood the Patrician Aetius, 191 +on whom at that time the whole Empire of the West depended; +a man of such wisdom that he had assembled +warriors from everywhere to meet them on equal terms. +Now these were his auxiliaries: Franks, Sarmatians, +Armoricians, Liticians, Burgundians, Saxons, Riparians +Olibriones (once Roman soldiers and now the flower of +the allied forces), and some other Celtic or German tribes. +And so they met in the Catalaunian Plains, which are 192 +also called Mauriacian, extending in length one hundred +_leuva_, as the Gauls express it, and seventy in width. Now +a Gallic _leuva_ measures a distance of fifteen hundred +paces. That portion of the earth accordingly became +the threshing-floor of countless races. The two hosts +bravely joined battle. Nothing was done under cover, +but they contended in open fight. What just cause can 193 +be found for the encounter of so many nations, or what +hatred inspired them all to take arms against each other? +It is proof that the human race lives for its kings, for it is +at the mad impulse of one mind a slaughter of nations +takes place, and at the whim of a haughty ruler that +which nature has taken ages to produce perishes in a +moment. + +[Sidenote: THE BEGINNING OF THE STRIFE] + +XXXVII But before we set forth the order of the 194 +battle itself, it seems needful to relate what had already +happened in the course of the campaign, for it was not +only a famous struggle but one that was complicated and +confused. Well then, Sangiban, king of the Alani, smitten +with fear of what might come to pass, had promised +to surrender to Attila, and to give into his keeping Aureliani, +a city of Gaul wherein he then dwelt. When Theodorid 195 +and Aetius learned of this, they cast up great earthworks +around that city before Attila's arrival and kept +watch over the suspected Sangiban, placing him with his +tribe in the midst of their auxiliaries. Then Attila, king +of the Huns, was taken aback by this event and lost confidence +in his own troops, so that he feared to begin the +conflict. While he was meditating on flight--a greater +calamity than death itself--he decided to inquire into the +future through soothsayers. So, as was their custom, 196 +they examined the entrails of cattle and certain streaks in +bones that had been scraped, and foretold disaster to the +Huns. Yet as a slight consolation they prophesied that +the chief commander of the foe they were to meet should +fall and mar by his death the rest of the victory and the +triumph. Now Attila deemed the death of Aetius a thing +to be desired even at the cost of his own life, for Aetius +stood in the way of his plans. So although he was disturbed +by this prophecy, yet inasmuch as he was a man +who sought counsel of omens in all warfare, he began +the battle with anxious heart at about the ninth hour of +the day, in order that the impending darkness might come +to his aid if the outcome should be disastrous. + +[Sidenote: BATTLE OF THE CATALAUNIAN PLAINS A.D. 451] + +XXXVIII The armies met, as we have said, in the 197 +Catalaunian Plains. The battle field was a plain rising +by a sharp slope to a ridge, which both armies sought to +gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The +Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans, +the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a +struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodorid with +the Visigoths held the right wing and Aetius with the +Romans the left. They placed in the centre Sangiban +(who, as said before, was in command of the Alani), +thus contriving with military caution to surround by a +host of faithful troops the man in whose loyalty they had +little confidence. For one who has difficulties placed in +the way of his flight readily submits to the necessity of 198 +fighting. On the other side, however, the battle line of +the Huns was so arranged that Attila and his bravest +followers were stationed in the centre. In arranging +them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view, +since by his position in the very midst of his race he +would be kept out of the way of threatening danger. +The innumerable peoples of divers tribes, which he had +subjected to his sway, formed the wings. Amid them 199 +was conspicuous the army of the Ostrogoths under the +leadership of the brothers Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidimer, +nobler even than the king they served, for the might +of the family of the Amali rendered them glorious. The +renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also +with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to +Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them +in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostrogoths, +above all the other chieftains. Valamir was a 200 +good keeper of secrets, bland of speech and skilled in +wiles, and Ardaric, as we have said, was famed for his +loyalty and wisdom. Attila might well feel sure that +they would fight against the Visigoths, their kinsmen. +Now the rest of the crowd of kings (if we may call them +so) and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila's +nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance, +without a murmur each stood forth in fear and trembling, +or at all events did as he was bid. Attila alone was 201 +king of all kings over all and concerned for all. + +So then the struggle began for the advantage of position +we have mentioned. Attila sent his men to take the +summit of the mountain, but was outstripped by Thorismud +and Aetius, who in their effort to gain the top of the +hill reached higher ground and through this advantage +of position easily routed the Huns as they came up. + +[Sidenote: ATTILA ADDRESSES HIS MEN] + +XXXIX Now when Attila saw his army was thrown 202 +into confusion by this event, he thought it best to encourage +them by an extemporaneous address on this wise: +"Here you stand, after conquering mighty nations and +subduing the world. I therefore think it foolish for me +to goad you with words, as though you were men who +had not been proved in action. Let a new leader or an +untried army resort to that. It is not right for me to 203 +say anything common, nor ought you to listen. For what +is war but your usual custom? Or what is sweeter for a +brave man than to seek revenge with his own hand? It +is a right of nature to glut the soul with vengeance. Let 204 +us then attack the foe eagerly; for they are ever the +bolder who make the attack. Despise this union of discordant +races! To defend oneself by alliance is proof of +cowardice. See, even before our attack they are smitten +with terror. They seek the heights, they seize the hills +and, repenting too late, clamor for protection against +battle in the open fields. You know how slight a matter +the Roman attack is. While they are still gathering in +order and forming in one line with locked shields, they +are checked, I will not say by the first wound, but even +by the dust of battle. Then on to the fray with stout 205 +hearts, as is your wont. Despise their battle line. Attack +the Alani, smite the Visigoths! Seek swift victory in +that spot where the battle rages. For when the sinews +are cut the limbs soon relax, nor can a body stand when +you have taken away the bones. Let your courage rise +and your own fury burst forth! Now show your cunning, +Huns, now your deeds of arms! Let the wounded +exact in return the death of his foe; let the unwounded 206 +revel in slaughter of the enemy. No spear shall harm +those who are sure to live; and those who are sure to die +Fate overtakes even in peace. And finally, why should +fortune have made the Huns victorious over so many +nations, unless it were to prepare them for the joy of +this conflict. Who was it revealed to our sires the +path through the Maeotian swamp, for so many ages +closed secret? Who, moreover, made armed men yield +to you, when you were as yet unarmed? Even a mass of +federated nations could not endure the sight of the Huns. +I am not deceived in the issue;--here is the field so many +victories have promised us. I shall hurl the first spear +at the foe. If any can stand at rest while Attila fights, +he is a dead man." Inflamed by these words, they all +dashed into battle. + +[Sidenote: FIERCE FIGHTING] + +XL And although the situation was itself fearful, yet 207 +the presence of their king dispelled anxiety and hesitation. +Hand to hand they clashed in battle, and the fight +grew fierce, confused, monstrous, unrelenting--a fight +whose like no ancient time has ever recorded. There such +deeds were done that a brave man who missed this marvellous +spectacle could not hope to see anything so wonderful +all his life long. For, if we may believe our 208 +elders, a brook flowing between low banks through the +plain was greatly increased by blood from the wounds +of the slain. It was not flooded by showers, as brooks +usually rise, but was swollen by a strange stream and +turned into a torrent by the increase of blood. Those +whose wounds drove them to slake their parching thirst +drank water mingled with gore. In their wretched plight +they were forced to drink what they thought was the +blood they had poured from their own wounds. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF KING THEODORID I IN THE BATTLE] + +Here King Theodorid, while riding by to encourage 209 +his army, was thrown from his horse and trampled under +foot by his own men, thus ending his days at a ripe old +age. But others say he was slain by the spear of Andag +of the host of the Ostrogoths, who were then under the +sway of Attila. This was what the soothsayers had told +to Attila in prophecy, though he understood it of Aetius. +Then the Visigoths, separating from the Alani, fell upon 210 +the horde of the Huns and nearly slew Attila. But he +prudently took flight and straightway shut himself and +his companions within the barriers of the camp, which +he had fortified with wagons. A frail defence indeed; +yet there they sought refuge for their lives, whom but a +little while before no walls of earth could withstand. +But Thorismud, the son of King Theodorid, who with 211 +Aetius had seized the hill and repulsed the enemy from +the higher ground, came unwittingly to the wagons of +the enemy in the darkness of night, thinking he had +reached his own lines. As he was fighting bravely, someone +wounded him in the head and dragged him from his +horse. Then he was rescued by the watchful care of his +followers and withdrew from the fierce conflict. Aetius 212 +also became separated from his men in the confusion of +night and wandered about in the midst of the enemy. +Fearing disaster had happened, he went about in search +of the Goths. At last he reached the camp of his allies +and passed the remainder of the night in the protection +of their shields. + +At dawn on the following day, when the Romans +saw the fields were piled high with bodies and that +the Huns did not venture forth, they thought the victory +was theirs, but knew that Attila would not flee from +the battle unless overwhelmed by a great disaster. Yet +he did nothing cowardly, like one that is overcome, but +with clash of arms sounded the trumpets and threatened +an attack. He was like a lion pierced by hunting +spears, who paces to and fro before the mouth of his +den and dares not spring, but ceases not to terrify the +neighborhood by his roaring. Even so this warlike king +at bay terrified his conquerors. Therefore the Goths and 213 +Romans assembled and considered what to do with the +vanquished Attila. They determined to wear him out by +a siege, because he had no supply of provisions and was +hindered from approaching by a shower of arrows from +the bowmen placed within the confines of the Roman +camp. But it was said that the king remained supremely +brave even in this extremity and had heaped up a funeral +pyre of horse trappings, so that if the enemy should attack +him, he was determined to cast himself into the +flames, that none might have the joy of wounding him +and that the lord of so many races might not fall into +the hands of his foes. + +[Sidenote: RESULTS OF THE BATTLE] + +XLI Now during these delays in the siege, the Visigoths 214 +sought their king and the king's sons their father, +wondering at his absence when success had been attained. +When, after a long search, they found him where the +dead lay thickest, as happens with brave men, they honored +him with songs and bore him away in the sight of +the enemy. You might have seen bands of Goths shouting +with dissonant cries and paying the honors of death +while the battle still raged. Tears were shed, but such +as they were accustomed to devote to brave men. It was +death indeed, but the Huns are witness that it was a +glorious one. It was a death whereby one might well +suppose the pride of the enemy would be lowered, when +they beheld the body of so great a king borne forth with +fitting honors. And so the Goths, still continuing the 215 +rites due to Theodorid, bore forth the royal majesty with +sounding arms, and valiant Thorismud, as befitted a son, +honored the glorious spirit of his dear father by following +his remains. + +When this was done, Thorismud was eager to take +vengeance for his father's death on the remaining Huns, +being moved to this both by the pain of bereavement and +the impulse of that valor for which he was noted. Yet +he consulted with the Patrician Aetius (for he was an +older man and of more mature wisdom) with regard to +what he ought to do next. But Aetius feared that if the 216 +Huns were totally destroyed by the Goths, the Roman +Empire would be overwhelmed, and urgently advised him +to return to his own dominions to take up the rule which +his father had left. Otherwise his brothers might seize +their father's possessions and obtain the power over the +Visigoths. In this case Thorismud would have to fight +fiercely and, what is worse, disastrously with his own +countrymen. Thorismud accepted the advice without +perceiving its double meaning, but followed it with an +eye toward his own advantage. So he left the Huns and +returned to Gaul. Thus while human frailty rushes into 217 +suspicion, it often loses an opportunity of doing great +things. + +In this most famous war of the bravest tribes, one hundred +and sixty five thousand are said to have been slain on +both sides, leaving out of account fifteen thousand of the +Gepidae and Franks, who met each other the night before +the general engagement and fell by wounds mutually received, +the Franks fighting for the Romans and the Gepidae +for the Huns. + +Now when Attila learned of the retreat of the Goths, 218 +he thought it a ruse of the enemy,--for so men are wont +to believe when the unexpected happens--and remained +for some time in his camp. But when a long silence followed +the absence of the foe, the spirit of the mighty +king was aroused to the thought of victory and the anticipation +of pleasure, and his mind turned to the old oracles +of his destiny. + +[Sidenote: THORISMUD 451-453] + +Thorismud, however, after the death of his father on +the Catalaunian Plains where he had fought, advanced in +royal state and entered Tolosa. Here although the throng +of his brothers and brave companions were still rejoicing +over the victory he yet began to rule so mildly that no one +strove with him for the succession to the kingdom. + +[Sidenote: THE SIEGE AND FALL OF AQUILEIA 452] + +XLII But Attila took occasion from the withdrawal 219 +of the Visigoths, observing what he had often desired +that his enemies were divided. At length feeling secure, +he moved forward his array to attack the Romans. As +his first move he besieged the city of Aquileia, the metropolis +of Venetia, which is situated on a point or tongue +of land by the Adriatic Sea. On the eastern side its walls +are washed by the river Natissa, flowing from Mount +Piccis. The siege was long and fierce, but of no avail, 220 +since the bravest soldiers of the Romans withstood him +from within. At last his army was discontented and +eager to withdraw. Attila chanced to be walking around +the walls, considering whether to break camp or delay +longer, and noticed that the white birds, namely, the +storks, who build their nests in the gables of houses, were +bearing their young from the city and, contrary to their +custom, were carrying them out into the country. Being 221 +a shrewd observer of events, he understood this and said +to his soldiers: "You see the birds foresee the future. +They are leaving the city sure to perish and are forsaking +strongholds doomed to fall by reason of imminent peril. +Do not think this a meaningless or uncertain sign; fear, +arising from the things they foresee, has changed their +custom." Why say more? He inflamed the hearts of +his soldiers to attack Aquileia again. Constructing battering +rams and bringing to bear all manner of engines +of war, they quickly forced their way into the city, laid it +waste, divided the spoil and so cruelly devastated it as +scarcely to leave a trace to be seen. Then growing bolder 222 +and still thirsting for Roman blood, the Huns raged +madly through the remaining cities of the Veneti. They +also laid waste Mediolanum, the metropolis of Liguria, +once an imperial city, and gave over Ticinum to a like +fate. Then they destroyed the neighboring country in +their frenzy and demolished almost the whole of Italy. + +[Sidenote: POPE LEO INTERVENES TO SAVE ROME 452] + +Attila's mind had been bent on going to Rome. But +his followers, as the historian Priscus relates, took him +away, not out of regard for the city to which they were +hostile, but because they remembered the case of Alaric, +the former king of the Visigoths. They distrusted the +good fortune of their own king, inasmuch as Alaric did +not live long after the sack of Rome, but straightway +departed this life. Therefore while Attila's spirit was 223 +wavering in doubt between going and not going, and he +still lingered to ponder the matter, an embassy came to +him from Rome to seek peace. Pope Leo himself came +to meet him in the Ambuleian district of the Veneti at the +well-travelled ford of the river Mincius. Then Attila +quickly put aside his usual fury, turned back on the way +he had advanced from beyond the Danube and departed +with the promise of peace. But above all he declared and +avowed with threats that he would bring worse things +upon Italy, unless they sent him Honoria, the sister of the +Emperor Valentinian and daughter of Augusta Placidia, +with her due share of the royal wealth. For it was said 224 +that Honoria, although bound to chastity for the honor +of the imperial court and kept in constraint by command +of her brother, had secretly despatched a eunuch to summon +Attila that she might have his protection against he +brother's power;--a shameful thing, indeed, to get license +for her passion at the cost of the public weal. + +[Sidenote: MARCIAN 450-457] + +[Sidenote: ATTILA DEFEATED BY THORISMUD] + +XLIII So Attila returned to his own country, seeming 225 +to regret the peace and to be vexed at the cessation of +war. For he sent ambassadors to Marcian, Emperor of +the East, threatening to devastate the provinces, because +that which had been promised him by Theodosius, a former +emperor, was in no wise performed, and saying that +he would show himself more cruel to his foes than ever. +But as he was shrewd and crafty, he threatened in one +direction and moved his army in another; for in the +midst of these preparations he turned his face toward the +Visigoths who had yet to feel his vengeance. But here 226 +he had not the same success as against the Romans. +Hastening back by a different way than before, he decided +to reduce to his sway that part of the Alani which +was settled across the river Loire, in order that by attacking +them, and thus changing the aspect of the war, he +might become a more terrible menace to the Visigoths. +Accordingly he started from the provinces of Dacia and +Pannonia, where the Huns were then dwelling with various +subject peoples, and moved his array against the +Alani. But Thorismud, king of the Visigoths, with like 227 +quickness of thought perceived Attila's trick. By forced +marches he came to the Alani before him, and was well +prepared to check the advance of Attila when he came +after him. They joined battle in almost the same way as +before at the Catalaunian Plains, and Thorismud dashed +his hopes of victory, for he routed him and drove him +from the land without a triumph, compelling him to flee +to his own country. Thus while Attila, the famous leader +and lord of many victories, sought to blot out the fame +of his destroyer and in this way to annul what he had +suffered at the hands of the Visigoths, he met a second +defeat and retreated ingloriously. Now after the bands 228 +of the Huns had been repulsed by the Alani, without any +hurt to his own men, Thorismud departed for Tolosa. +There he established a settled peace for his people and in +the third year of his reign fell sick. While letting blood +from a vein, he was betrayed to his death by Ascalc, a +client, who told his foes that his weapons were out of +reach. Yet grasping a foot-stool in the one hand he had +free, he became the avenger of his own blood by slaying +several of those that were lying in wait for him. + +[Sidenote: THE REIGN OF KING THEODORID II 453-466] + +[Sidenote: Battle near the Ulbius 456] + +XLIV After his death, his brother Theodorid succeeded 229 +to the kingdom of the Visigoths and soon found +that Riciarius his kinsman, the king of the Suavi, was +hostile to him. For Riciarius, presuming on his relationship +to Theodorid, believed that he might seize almost the +whole of Spain, thinking the disturbed beginning of +Theodorid's reign made the time opportune for his trick. +The Suavi formerly occupied as their country Galicia and 230 +Lusitania, which extend on the right side of Spain along +the shore of Ocean. To the east is Austrogonia, to the +west, on a promontory, is the sacred Monument of the +Roman general Scipio, to the north Ocean, and to the +south Lusitania and the Tagus river, which mingles +golden grains in its sands and thus carries wealth in its +worthless mud. So then Riciarius, king of the Suavi, set +forth and strove to seize the whole of Spain. Theodorid, 231 +his kinsman, a man of moderation, sent ambassadors to +him and told him quietly that he must not only withdraw +from the territories that were not his own, but furthermore +that he should not presume to make such an attempt, +as he was becoming hated for his ambition. But with +arrogant spirit he replied: "If you murmur here and +find fault with my coming, I shall come to Tolosa where +you dwell. Resist me there, if you can." When he heard +this, Theodorid was angry and, making a compact with +all the other tribes, moved his array against the Suavi. +He had as his close allies Gundiuch and Hilperic, kings +of the Burgundians. They came to battle near the river 232 +Ulbius, which flows between Asturica and Hiberia, and +in the engagement Theodorid with the Visigoths, who +fought for the right, came off victorious, overthrowing +the entire tribe of the Suavi and almost exterminating +them. Their king Riciarius fled from the dread foe and +embarked upon a ship. But he was beaten back by another +foe, the adverse wind of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and +so fell into the hands of the Visigoths. Thus though +he changed from sea to land, the wretched man did not +avert his death. + +When Theodorid had become the victor, he spared the 233 +conquered and did not suffer the rage of conflict to continue, +but placed over the Suavi whom he had conquered +one of his own retainers, named Agrivulf. But Agrivulf +soon treacherously changed his mind, through the persuasion +of the Suavi, and failed to fulfil his duty. For +he was quite puffed up with tyrannical pride, believing +he had obtained the province as a reward for the valor +by which he and his lord had recently subjugated it. Now +he was a man born of the stock of the Varni, far below +the nobility of Gothic blood, and so was neither zealous +for liberty nor faithful toward his patron. As soon as 234 +Theodorid heard of this, he gathered a force to cast him +out from the kingdom he had usurped. They came +quickly and conquered him in the first battle, inflicting a +punishment befitting his deeds. For he was captured, +taken from his friends and beheaded. Thus at last he +was made aware of the wrath of the master he thought +might be despised because he was kind. Now when the +Suavi beheld the death of their leader, they sent priests +of their country to Theodorid as suppliants. He received +them with the reverence due their office and not only +granted the Suavi exemption from punishment, but was +moved by compassion and allowed them to choose a ruler +of their own race for themselves. The Suavi did so, +taking Rimismund as their prince. When this was done +and peace was everywhere assured, Theodorid died in +the thirteenth year of his reign. + +[Sidenote: KING EURICH 66-485] + +[Sidenote: THE WESTERN EMPIRE FROM THE DEATH OF VALENTINIAN III TO +ROMULUS AUGUSTULUS] + +[Sidenote: Maximus 455] + +[Sidenote: GAISERIC SACKS ROME 455] + +[Sidenote: Majorian 457-461] + +[Sidenote: Livius Severus 461-465] + +[Sidenote: Leo I 457-474] + +[Sidenote: Anthemius 467-472] + +XLV His brother Eurich succeeded him with such 235 +eager haste that he fell under dark suspicion. Now while +these and various other matters were happening among +the people of the Visigoths, the Emperor Valentinian was +slain by the treachery of Maximus, and Maximus himself, +like a tyrant, usurped the rule. Gaiseric, king of the +Vandals, heard of this and came from Africa to Italy +with ships of war, entered Rome and laid it waste. +Maximus fled and was slain by a certain Ursus, a Roman +soldier. After him Majorian undertook the government 236 +of the Western Empire at the bidding of Marcian, Emperor +of the East. But he too ruled but a short time. +For when he had moved his forces against the Alani who +were harassing Gaul, he was killed at Dertona near the +river named Ira. Severus succeeded him and died at +Rome in the third year of his reign. When the Emperor +Leo, who had succeeded Marcian in the Eastern Empire, +learned of this, he chose as emperor his Patrician Anthemius +and sent him to Rome. Upon his arrival he sent +against the Alani his son-in-law Ricimer, who was an +excellent man and almost the only one in Italy at that +time fit to command the army. In the very first engagement +he conquered and destroyed the host of the Alani, +together with their king, Beorg. + +[Sidenote: Olybrius 472] + +Now Eurich, king of the Visigoths, perceived the frequent 237 +change of Roman Emperors and strove to hold +Gaul by his own right. The Emperor Anthemius heard +of it and asked the Brittones for aid. Their King +Riotimus came with twelve thousand men into the state +of the Bituriges by the way of Ocean, and was received +as he disembarked from his ships. Eurich, king of the 238 +Visigoths, came against them with an innumerable army, +and after a long fight he routed Riotimus, king of the +Brittones, before the Romans could join him. So when +he had lost a great part of his army, he fled with all the +men he could gather together, and came to the Burgundians, +a neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But +Eurich, king of the Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of +Arverna; for the Emperor Anthemius was now dead. +Engaged in fierce war with his son-in-law Ricimer, he 239 +had worn out Rome and was himself finally slain by his +son-in-law and yielded the rule to Olybrius. + +[Sidenote: Glycerius 473] + +[Sidenote: Nepos 474] + +At that time Aspar, first of the Patricians and a famous +man of the Gothic race was wounded by the swords of +the eunuchs in his palace at Constantinople and died. +With him were slain his sons Ardabures and Patriciolus, +the one long a Patrician, and the other styled a Caesar +and son-in-law of the Emperor Leo. Now Olybrius died +barely eight months after he had entered upon his reign, +and Glycerius was made Caesar at Ravenna, rather by +usurpation than by election. Hardly had a year been +ended when Nepos, the son of the sister of Marcellinus, +once a Patrician, deposed him from his office and ordained +him bishop at the Port of Rome. + +[Sidenote: Romulus Augustulus 476] + +When Eurich, as we have already said, beheld these 240 +great and various changes, he seized the city of Arverna, +where the Roman general Ecdicius was at that time in +command. He was a senator of most renowned family +and the son of Avitus, a recent emperor who had usurped +the reign for a few days--for Avitus held the rule for a +few days before Olybrius, and then withdrew of his own +accord to Placentia, where he was ordained bishop. His +son Ecdicius strove for a long time with the Visigoths, +but had not the power to prevail. So he left the country +and (what was more important) the city of Arverna to +the enemy and betook himself to safer regions. When 241 +the Emperor Nepos heard of this, he ordered Ecdicius +to leave Gaul and come to him, appointing Orestes in his +stead as Master of the Soldiery. This Orestes thereupon +received the army, set out from Rome against the +enemy and came to Ravenna. Here he tarried while he +made his son Romulus Augustulus emperor. When +Nepos learned of this, he fled to Dalmatia and died there, +deprived of his throne, in the very place where Glycerius, +who was formerly emperor, held at that time the bishopric +of Salona. + +[Sidenote: THE RULE OF ODOACER 476-493] + +[Sidenote: Death of Bracila 477] + +XLVI Now when Augustulus had been appointed 242 +Emperor by his father Orestes in Ravenna, it was not +long before Odoacer, king of the Torcilingi, invaded +Italy, as leader of the Sciri, the Heruli and allies of +various races. He put Orestes to death, drove his son +Augustulus from the throne and condemned him to the +punishment of exile in the Castle of Lucullus in Campania. +Thus the Western Empire of the Roman race, which 243 +Octavianus Augustus, the first of the Augusti, began to +govern in the seven hundred and ninth year from the +founding of the city, perished with this Augustulus in the +five hundred and twenty second year from the beginning +of the rule of his predecessors and those before them, +and from this time onward kings of the Goths held Rome +and Italy. Meanwhile Odoacer, king of nations, subdued +all Italy and then at the very outset of his reign slew +Count Bracila at Ravenna that he might inspire a fear +of himself among the Romans. He strengthened his +kingdom and held it for almost thirteen years, even until +the appearance of Theodoric, of whom we shall speak +hereafter. + +[Sidenote: Leo II 473-474] + +[Sidenote: Zeno 474-491] + +[Sidenote: Eurich killed 485] + +[Sidenote: ALARIC II LAST KING OF THE VISIGOTHS 485-507] + +XLVII But first let us return to that order from 244 +which we have digressed and tell how Eurich, king of the +Visigoths, beheld the tottering of the Roman Empire and +reduced Arelate and Massilia to his own sway. Gaiseric, +king of the Vandals, enticed him by gifts to do these +things, to the end that he himself might forestall the plots +which Leo and Zeno had contrived against him. Therefore +he stirred the Ostrogoths to lay waste the Eastern +Empire and the Visigoths the Western, so that while his +foes were battling in both empires, he might himself +reign peacefully in Africa. Eurich perceived this with +gladness and, as he already held all of Spain and Gaul +by his own right, proceeded to subdue the Burgundians +also. In the nineteenth year of his reign he was deprived +of his life at Arelate, where he then dwelt. He was succeeded 245 +by his own son Alaric, the ninth in succession +from the famous Alaric the Great to receive the kingdom +of the Visigoths. For even as it happened to the line of +the Augusti, as we have stated above, so too it appears in +the line of the Alarici, that kingdoms often come to an +end in kings who bear the same name as those at the +beginning. Meanwhile let us leave this subject, and +weave together the whole story of the origin of the Goths, +as we promised. + +(The Divided Goths: Ostrogoths) + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS AND THEIR SUBJECTION TO THE HUNS] + +[Sidenote: Death of Hermanaric 375 or 376] + +XLVIII Since I have followed the stories of my 246 +ancestors and retold to the best of my ability the tale of +the period when both tribes, Ostrogoths and Visigoths, +were united, and then clearly treated of the Visigoths +apart from the Ostrogoths, I must now return to those +ancient Scythian abodes and set forth in like manner the +ancestry and deeds of the Ostrogoths. It appears that at +the death of their king, Hermanaric, they were made a +separate people by the departure of the Visigoths, and +remained in their country subject to the sway of the +Huns; yet Vinitharius of the Amali retained the insignia +of his rule. He rivalled the valor of his grandfather 247 +Vultuulf, although he had not the good fortune of Hermanaric. +But disliking to remain under the rule of the +Huns, he withdrew a little from them and strove to show +his courage by moving his forces against the country of +the Antes. When he attacked them, he was beaten in the +first encounter. Thereafter he did valiantly and, as a +terrible example, crucified their king, named Boz, together +with his sons and seventy nobles, and left their bodies +hanging there to double the fear of those who had surrendered. +When he had ruled with such license for 248 +barely a year, Balamber, king of the Huns, would no +longer endure it, but sent for Gesimund, son of Hunimund +the Great. Now Gesimund, together with a great +part of the Goths, remained under the rule of the Huns, +being mindful of his oath of fidelity. Balamber renewed +his alliance with him and led his army up against Vinitharius. +After a long contest, Vinitharius prevailed in +the first and in the second conflict, nor can any say how +great a slaughter he made of the army of the Huns. But 249 +in the third battle, when they met each other unexpectedly +at the river named Erac, Balamber shot an arrow and +wounded Vinitharius in the head, so that he died. Then +Balamber took to himself in marriage Vadamerca, the +grand-daughter of Vinitharius, and finally ruled all the +people of the Goths as his peaceful subjects, but in such +a way that one ruler of their own number always held the +power over the Gothic race, though subject to the Huns. + +[Sidenote: KING HUNIMUND] + +[Sidenote: KING THORISMUD KILLED 404] + +And later, after the death of Vinitharius, Hunimund 250 +ruled them, the son of Hermanaric, a mighty king of +yore; a man fierce in war and of famous personal beauty, +who afterwards fought successfully against the race of +the Suavi. And when he died, his son Thorismud succeeded +him, in the very bloom of youth. In the second +year of his rule he moved an army against the Gepidae +and won a great victory over them, but is said to have +been killed by falling from his horse. When he was dead, 251 +the Ostrogoths mourned for him so deeply that for forty +years no other king succeeded in his place, and during all +this time they had ever on their lips the tale of his memory. +Now as time went on, Valamir grew to man's +estate. He was the son of Thorismud's cousin Vandalarius. +For his son Beremud, as we have said before, at +last grew to despise the race of the Ostrogoths because of +the overlordship of the Huns, and so had followed the +tribe of the Visigoths to the western country, and it was +from him Veteric was descended. Veteric also had a son +Eutharic, who married Amalasuentha, the daughter of +Theodoric, thus uniting again the stock of the Amali +which had divided long ago. Eutharic begat Athalaric +and Mathesuentha. But since Athalaric died in the +years of his boyhood, Mathesuentha was taken to Constantinople +by her second husband, namely Germanus, a +cousin of the Emperor Justinian, and bore a posthumous +son, whom she named Germanus. + +[Sidenote: KING VALAMIR 445?] + +But that the order we have taken for our history may 252 +run its due course, we must return to the stock of Vandalarius, +which put forth three branches. This Vandalarius, +the son of a brother of Hermanaric and cousin of the +aforesaid Thorismud, vaunted himself among the race of +the Amali because he had begotten three sons, Valamir, +Thiudimer and Vidimer. Of these Valamir ascended the +throne after his parents, though the Huns as yet held the +power over the Goths in general as among other nations. +It was pleasant to behold the concord of these three brothers; 253 +for the admirable Thiudimer served as a soldier for +the empire of his brother Valamir, and Valamir bade +honors be given him, while Vidimer was eager to serve +them both. Thus regarding one another with common +affection, not one was wholly deprived of the kingdom +which two of them held in mutual peace. Yet, as has +often been said, they ruled in such a way that they respected +the dominion of Attila, king of the Huns. Indeed +they could not have refused to fight against their kinsmen +the Visigoths, and they must even have committed parricide +at their lord's command. There was no way whereby +any Scythian tribe could have been wrested from the +power of the Huns, save by the death of Attila,--an +event the Romans and all other nations desired. Now his +death was as base as his life was marvellous. + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF ATTILA 453] + +XLIX Shortly before he died, as the historian Priscus 254 +relates, he took in marriage a very beautiful girl named +Ildico, after countless other wives, as was the custom of +his race. He had given himself up to excessive joy at +his wedding, and as he lay on his back, heavy with wine +and sleep, a rush of superfluous blood, which would ordinarily +have flowed from his nose, streamed in deadly +course down his throat and killed him, since it was hindered +in the usual passages. Thus did drunkenness put a +disgraceful end to a king renowned in war. On the following +day, when a great part of the morning was spent, +the royal attendants suspected some ill and, after a great +uproar, broke in the doors. There they found the death +of Attila accomplished by an effusion of blood, without +any wound, and the girl with downcast face weeping +beneath her veil. Then, as is the custom of that race, 255 +they plucked out the hair of their heads and made their +faces hideous with deep wounds, that the renowned warrior +might be mourned, not by effeminate wailings and +tears, but by the blood of men. Moreover a wondrous +thing took place in connection with Attila's death. For +in a dream some god stood at the side of Marcian, Emperor +of the East, while he was disquieted about his +fierce foe, and showed him the bow of Attila broken in +that same night, as if to intimate that the race of Huns +owed much to that weapon. This account the historian +Priscus says he accepts upon truthful evidence. For so +terrible was Attila thought to be to great empires that +the gods announced his death to rulers as a special boon. + +We shall not omit to say a few words about the many 256 +ways in which his shade was honored by his race. His +body was placed in the midst of a plain and lay in state +in a silken tent as a sight for men's admiration. The best +horsemen of the entire tribe of the Huns rode around in +circles, after the manner of circus games, in the place +to which he had been brought and told of his deeds in a +funeral dirge in the following manner: "The chief of the 257 +Huns, King Attila, born of his sire Mundiuch, lord of +bravest tribes, sole possessor of the Scythian and German +realms--powers unknown before--captured cities and +terrified both empires of the Roman world and, appeased +by their prayers, took annual tribute to save the rest from +plunder. And when he had accomplished all this by the +favor of fortune, he fell, not by wound of the foe, nor +by treachery of friends, but in the midst of his nation at +peace, happy in his joy and without sense of pain. Who +can rate this as death, when none believes it calls for +vengeance?" When they had mourned him with such 258 +lamentations, a _strava_, as they call it, was celebrated over +his tomb with great revelling. They gave way in turn to +the extremes of feeling and displayed funereal grief alternating +with joy. Then in the secrecy of night they buried +his body in the earth. They bound his coffins, the first +with gold, the second with silver and the third with the +strength of iron, showing by such means that these three +things suited the mightiest of kings; iron because he +subdued the nations, gold and silver because he received +the honors of both empires. They also added the arms +of foemen won in the fight, trappings of rare worth, +sparkling with various gems, and ornaments of all sorts +whereby princely state is maintained. And that so great +riches might be kept from human curiosity, they slew +those appointed to the work--a dreadful pay for their +labor; and thus sudden death was the lot of those who +buried him as well as of him who was buried. + +[Sidenote: DISSOLUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF THE HUNS 454] + +[Sidenote: Battle of Nedao 454] + +L After they had fulfilled these rites, a contest for 259 +the highest place arose among Attila's successors,--for the +minds of young men are wont to be inflamed by ambition +for power,--and in their rash eagerness to rule they all +alike destroyed his empire. Thus kingdoms are often +weighed down by a superfluity rather than by a lack of +successors. For the sons of Attila, who through the +license of his lust formed almost a people of themselves, +were clamoring that the nations should be divided among +them equally and that warlike kings with their peoples +should be apportioned to them by lot like a family estate. +When Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, learned this, he 260 +became enraged because so many nations were being +treated like slaves of the basest condition, and was the +first to rise against the sons of Attila. Good fortune +attended him, and he effaced the disgrace of servitude that +rested upon him. For by his revolt he freed not only his +own tribe, but all the others who were equally oppressed; +since all readily strive for that which is sought for the +general advantage. They took up arms against the destruction +that menaced all and joined battle with the +Huns in Pannonia, near a river called Nedao. There an 261 +encounter took place between the various nations Attila +had held under his sway. Kingdoms with their peoples +were divided, and out of one body were made many +members not responding to a common impulse. Being +deprived of their head, they madly strove against each +other. They never found their equals ranged against +them without harming each other by wounds mutually +given. And so the bravest nations tore themselves to +pieces. For then, I think, must have occurred a most +remarkable spectacle, where one might see the Goths +fighting with pikes, the Gepidae raging with the sword, +the Rugi breaking off the spears in their own wounds, the +Suavi fighting on foot, the Huns with bows, the Alani +drawing up a battle-line of heavy-armed and the Heruli +of light-armed warriors. + +Finally, after many bitter conflicts, victory fell unexpectedly +to the Gepidae. For the sword and conspiracy 262 +of Ardaric destroyed almost thirty thousand men, Huns +as well as those of the other nations who brought them +aid. In this battle fell Ellac, the elder son of Attila, +whom his father is said to have loved so much more than +all the rest that he preferred him to any child or even to +all the children of his kingdom. But fortune was not in +accord with his father's wish. For after slaying many +of the foe, it appears that he met his death so bravely +that, if his father had lived, he would have rejoiced at his +glorious end. When Ellac was slain, his remaining 263 +brothers were put to flight near the shore of the Sea of +Pontus, where we have said the Goths first settled. Thus +did the Huns give way, a race to which men thought the +whole world must yield. So baneful a thing is division, +that they who used to inspire terror when their strength +was united, were overthrown separately. The cause of +Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, was fortunate for the various +nations who were unwillingly subject to the rule +of the Huns, for it raised their long downcast spirits to +the glad hope of freedom. Many sent ambassadors to +the Roman territory, where they were most graciously +received by Marcian, who was then emperor, and took the +abodes allotted them to dwell in. But the Gepidae by their 264 +own might won for themselves the territory of the Huns +and ruled as victors over the extent of all Dacia, demanding +of the Roman Empire nothing more than peace and +an annual gift as a pledge of their friendly alliance. This +the Emperor freely granted at the time, and to this day +that race receives its customary gifts from the Roman +Emperor. + +[Sidenote: JORDANES] + +Now when the Goths saw the Gepidae defending for +themselves the territory of the Huns and the people of +the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they +preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire +rather than invade the lands of others with danger to +themselves. So they received Pannonia, which stretches +in a long plain, being bounded on the east by Upper +Moesia, on the south by Dalmatia, on the west by Noricum +and on the north by the Danube. This land is +adorned with many cities, the first of which is Sirmium +and the last Vindobona. But the Sauromatae, whom we 265 +call Sarmatians, and the Cemandri and certain of the +Huns dwelt in Castra Martis, a city given them in the +region of Illyricum. Of this race was Blivila, Duke of +Pentapolis, and his brother Froila and also Bessa, a Patrician +in our time. The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii +and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by +name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria, +the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say, 266 +my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long +as he lived. To his sister's son Gunthigis, also called +Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of +Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the +stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an unlearned +man before my conversion, was secretary. The +Rugi, however, and some other races asked that they +might inhabit Bizye and Arcadiopolis. Hernac, the +younger son of Attila, with his followers, chose a home +in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and +Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and +Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of +the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves +into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the +Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Ulfilas about 311-381] + +[Sidenote: THE LESSER GOTHS] + +LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, 267 +a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who +is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they +are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far +as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous +people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save +flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and +forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat +and other sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know +that vineyards exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine +from neighboring countries. But most of them drink +milk. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS IN PANNONIA] + +[Sidenote: BIRTH OF THEODORIC THE GREAT 454] + +LII Let us now return to the tribe with which we 268 +started, namely the Ostrogoths, who were dwelling in +Pannonia under their king Valamir and his brothers Thiudimer +and Vidimer. Although their territories were +separate, yet their plans were one. For Valamir dwelt +between the rivers Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra, Thiudimer +near Lake Pelso and Vidimer between them both. +Now it happened that the sons of Attila, regarding the +Goths as deserters from their rule, came against them as +though they were seeking fugitive slaves, and attacked +Valamir alone, when his brothers knew nothing of it. He 269 +sustained their attack, though he had but few supporters, +and after harassing them a long time, so utterly overwhelmed +them that scarcely any portion of the enemy +remained. The remnant turned in flight and sought +the parts of Scythia which border on the stream of the +river Danaper, which the Huns call in their own tongue +the Var. Thereupon he sent a messenger of good tidings +to his brother Thiudimer, and on the very day the messenger +arrived he found even greater joy in the house of +Thiudimer. For on that day his son Theodoric was born, +of a concubine Erelieva indeed, and yet a child of good +hope. + +[Sidenote: HIS YOUTH SPENT AT CONSTANTINOPLE BEGINNING 461] + +Now after no great time King Valamir and his brothers 270 +Thiudimer and Vidimer sent an embassy to the Emperor +Marcian, because the usual gifts which they received +like a New Year's present from the Emperor, to +preserve the compact of peace, were slow in arriving. +And they found that Theodoric, son of Triarius, a man +of Gothic blood also, but born of another stock, not of +the Amali, was in great favor, together with his followers. +He was allied in friendship with the Romans +and obtained an annual bounty, while they themselves +were merely held in disdain. Thereat they were aroused 271 +to frenzy and took up arms. They roved through almost +the whole of Illyricum and laid it waste in their search +for spoil. Then the Emperor quickly changed his mind +and returned to his former state of friendship. He sent +an embassy to give them the past gifts, as well as those +now due, and furthermore promised to give these gifts +in future without any dispute. From the Goths the +Romans received as a hostage of peace Theodoric, the +young child of Thiudimer, whom we have mentioned +above. He had now attained the age of seven years and +was entering upon his eighth. While his father hesitated +about giving him up, his uncle Valamir besought him to +do it, hoping that peace between the Romans and the +Goths might thus be assured. Therefore Theodoric was +given as a hostage by the Goths and brought to the city +of Constantinople to the Emperor Leo and, being a +goodly child, deservedly gained the imperial favor. + +[Sidenote: THE GOTHS OVERWHELM THE REMNANT OF THE HUNS] + +LIII Now after firm peace was established between 272 +Goths and Romans, the Goths found that the possessions +they had received from the Emperor were not sufficient +for them. Furthermore, they were eager to display their +wonted valor, and so began to plunder the neighboring +races round about them, first attacking the Sadagis who +held the interior of Pannonia. When Dintzic, king of the +Huns, a son of Attila, learned this, he gathered to him +the few who still seemed to have remained under his +sway, namely, the Ultzinzures, and Angisciri, the Bittugures +and the Bardores. Coming to Bassiana, a city of +Pannonia, he beleaguered it and began to plunder its territory. +Then the Goths at once abandoned the expedition 273 +they had planned against the Sadagis, turned upon the +Huns and drove them so ingloriously from their own +land that those who remained have been in dread of the +arms of the Goths from that time down to the present +day. + +[Sidenote: CONQUEST OF THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: Plot of Hunimund about 470] + +When the tribe of the Huns was at last subdued by the +Goths, Hunimund, chief of the Suavi, who was crossing +over to plunder Dalmatia, carried off some cattle of the +Goths which were straying over the plains; for Dalmatia +was near Suavia and not far distant from the territory +of Pannonia, especially that part where the Goths were +then staying. So then, as Hunimund was returning 274 +with the Suavi to his own country, after he had devastated +Dalmatia, Thiudimer the brother of Valamir, +king of the Goths, kept watch on their line of march. +Not that he grieved so much over the loss of his cattle, +but he feared that if the Suavi obtained this plunder with +impunity, they would proceed to greater license. So in +the dead of night, while they were asleep, he made an +unexpected attack upon them, near Lake Pelso. Here he +so completely crushed them that he took captive and sent +into slavery under the Goths even Hunimund, their king, +and all of his army who had escaped the sword. Yet +as he was a great lover of mercy, he granted pardon +after taking vengeance and became reconciled to the +Suavi. He adopted as his son the same man whom he +had taken captive, and sent him back with his followers +into Suavia. But Hunimund was unmindful of his 275 +adopted father's kindness. After some time he brought +forth a plot he had contrived and aroused the tribe of the +Sciri, who then dwelt above the Danube and abode peaceably +with the Goths. So the Sciri broke off their alliance +with them, took up arms, joined themselves to Hunimund +and went out to attack the race of the Goths. Thus war +came upon the Goths who were expecting no evil, because +they relied upon both of their neighbors as friends. Constrained +by necessity they took up arms and avenged +themselves and their injuries by recourse to battle. In 276 +this battle, as King Valamir rode on his horse before the +line to encourage his men, the horse was wounded and +fell, overthrowing its rider. Valamir was quickly pierced +by his enemies' spears and slain. Thereupon the Goths +proceeded to exact vengeance for the death of their king, +as well as for the injury done them by the rebels. They +fought in such wise that there remained of all the race of +the Sciri only a few who bore the name, and they with +disgrace. Thus were all destroyed. + +[Sidenote: SUCCESS OF THE GOTHS UNDER HIUDIMER ABOUT 470] + +LIV The kings [of the Suavi], Hunimund and 277 +Alaric, fearing the destruction that had come upon the +Sciri, next made war upon the Goths, relying upon the +aid of the Sarmations, who had come to them as auxiliaries +with their kings Beuca and Babai. They summoned +the last remnants of the Sciri, with Edica and Hunuulf, +their chieftains, thinking they would fight the more desperately +to avenge themselves. They had on their side +the Gepidae also, as well as no small reinforcements from +the race of the Rugi and from others gathered here +and there. Thus they brought together a great host at +the river Bolia in Pannonia and encamped there. Now 278 +when Valamir was dead, the Goths fled to Thiudimer, +his brother. Although he had long ruled along with his +brothers, yet he took the insignia of his increased authority +and summoned his younger brother Vidimer and +shared with him the cares of war, resorting to arms under +compulsion. A battle was fought and the party of the +Goths was found to be so much the stronger that the +plain was drenched in the blood of their fallen foes and +looked like a crimson sea. Weapons and corpses, piled +up like hills, covered the plain for more than ten miles. +When the Goths saw this, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable, 279 +because by this great slaughter of their foes they +had avenged the blood of Valamir their king and the +injury done themselves. But those of the innumerable +and motley throng of the foe who were able to escape, +though they got away, nevertheless came to their own +land with difficulty and without glory. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER AGAIN WARS WITH THE SUAVI] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SENT BACK TO HIS OWN PEOPLE 472] + +[Sidenote: Capture of Belgrade] + +LV After a certain time, when the wintry cold was 280 +at hand, the river Danube was frozen over as usual. For +a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like +a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and +carts and whatsoever vehicles there may be,--nor is there +need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king of +the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army across +the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi from +the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the east +the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the +Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With 281 +the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their +confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence +several streams flow into the Danube, pouring in with a +great rushing sound. Into a place thus fortified King +Thiudimer led his army in the winter-time and conquered, +plundered and almost subdued the race of the Suavi as +well as the Alamanni, who were mutually banded together. +Thence he returned as victor to his own home in +Pannonia and joyfully received his son Theodoric, once +given as hostage to Constantinople and now sent back by +the Emperor Leo with great gifts. Now Theodoric had 282 +reached man's estate, for he was eighteen years of age +and his boyhood was ended. So he summoned certain of +his father's adherents and took to himself from the people +his friends and retainers,--almost six thousand men. +With these he crossed the Danube, without his father's +knowledge, and marched against Babai, king of the Sarmatians, +who had just won a victory over Camundus, a +general of the Romans, and was ruling with insolent +pride. Theodoric came upon him and slew him, and +taking as booty his slaves and treasure, returned victorious +to his father. Next he invaded the city of Singidunum, +which the Sarmatians themselves had seized, and +did not return it to the Romans, but reduced it to his own +sway. + +[Sidenote: VIDIMER THE YOUNGER GOES TO GAUL 473] + +LVI Then as the spoil taken from one and another 283 +of the neighboring tribes diminished, the Goths began +to lack food and clothing, and peace became distasteful +to men for whom war had long furnished the +necessaries of life. So all the Goths approached their +king Thiudimer and, with great outcry, begged him to +lead forth his army in whatsoever direction he might +wish. He summoned his brother and, after casting lots, +bade him go into the country of Italy, where at this time +Glycerius ruled as emperor, saying that he himself as the +mightier would go to the east against a mightier empire. +And so it happened. Thereupon Vidimer entered the 284 +land of Italy, but soon paid the last debt of fate and +departed from earthly affairs, leaving his son and namesake +Vidimer to succeed him. The Emperor Glycerius +bestowed gifts upon Vidimer and persuaded him to go +from Italy to Gaul, which was then harassed on all sides +by various races, saying that their own kinsmen, the +Visigoths, there ruled a neighboring kingdom. And +what more? Vidimer accepted the gifts and, obeying +the command of the Emperor Glycerius, pressed on to +Gaul. Joining with his kinsmen the Visigoths, they +again formed one body, as they had been long ago. Thus +they held Gaul and Spain by their own right and so +defended them that no other race won the mastery there. + +[Sidenote: THIUDIMER IN MACEDONIA] + +But Thiudimer, the elder brother, crossed the river 285 +Savus with his men, threatening the Sarmatians and their +soldiers with war if any should resist him. From fear of +this they kept quiet; moreover they were powerless in the +face of so great a host. Thiudimer, seeing prosperity +everywhere awaiting him, invaded Naissus, the first city +of Illyricum. He was joined by his son Theodoric and +the Counts Astat and Invilia, and sent them to Ulpiana +by way of Castrum Herculis. Upon their arrival the 286 +town surrendered, as did Stobi later; and several places +of Illyricum, inaccessible to them at first, were thus made +easy of approach. For they first plundered and then +ruled by right of war Heraclea and Larissa, cities of +Thessaly. But Thiudimer the king, perceiving his own +good fortune and that of his son, was not content with +this alone, but set forth from the city of Naissus, leaving +only a few men behind as a guard. He himself advanced +to Thessalonica, where Hilarianus the Patrician, appointed +by the Emperor, was stationed with his army. +When Hilarianus beheld Thessalonica surrounded by an 287 +entrenchment and saw that he could not resist attack, he +sent an embassy to Thiudimer the king and by the offer +of gifts turned him aside from destroying the city. Then +the Roman general entered upon a truce with the Goths +and of his own accord handed over to them those places +they inhabited, namely Cyrrhus, Pella, Europus, Methone, +Pydna, Beroea, and another which is called Dium. +So the Goths and their king laid aside their arms, consented 288 +to peace and became quiet. Soon after these +events, King Thiudimer was seized with a mortal illness +in the city of Cyrrhus. He called the Goths to himself, +appointed Theodoric his son as heir of his kingdom and +presently departed this life. + +[Sidenote: Zeno 491] + +[Sidenote: Theodoric the Great 526] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC HONORED BY ZENO 528] + +LVII When the Emperor Zeno heard that Theodoric 289 +had been appointed king over his own people, he received +the news with pleasure and invited him to come and visit +him in the city, appointing an escort of honor. Receiving +Theodoric with all due respect, he placed him among the +princes of his palace. After some time Zeno increased +his dignity by adopting him as his son-at-arms and gave +him a triumph in the city at his expense. Theodoric was +made Consul Ordinary also, which is well known to be +the supreme good and highest honor in the world. Nor +was this all, for Zeno set up before the royal palace an +equestrian statue to the glory of this great man. + +[Sidenote: ASKS TO THE EMPIRE FOR HIS RULE] + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC SETS OUT FOR ITALY 488] + +Now while Theodoric was in alliance by treaty with 290 +the Empire of Zeno and was himself enjoying every +comfort in the city, he heard that his tribe, dwelling as +we have said in Illyricum, was not altogether satisfied or +content. So he chose rather to seek a living by his own +exertions, after the manner customary to his race, rather +than to enjoy the advantages of the Roman Empire in +luxurious ease while his tribe lived in want. After pondering +these matters, he said to the Emperor: "Though I +lack nothing in serving your Empire, yet if Your Piety +deem it worthy, be pleased to hear the desire of my +heart." And when as usual he had been granted permission 291 +to speak freely, he said: "The western country, long +ago governed by the rule of your ancestors and predecessors, +and that city which was the head and mistress of +the world,--wherefore is it now shaken by the tyranny +of the Torcilingi and the Rugi? Send me there with my +race. Thus if you but say the word, you may be freed +from the burden of expense here, and, if by the Lord's +help I shall conquer, the fame of Your Piety shall be +glorious there. For it is better that I, your servant and +your son, should rule that kingdom, receiving it as a +gift from you if I conquer, than that one whom you do +not recognize should oppress your Senate with his tyrannical +yoke and a part of the republic with slavery. For if +I prevail, I shall retain it as your grant and gift; if I am +conquered, Your Piety will lose nothing--nay, as I have +said, it will save the expense I now entail." Although the 292 +Emperor was grieved that he should go, yet when he +heard this he granted what Theodoric asked, for he was +unwilling to cause him sorrow. He sent him forth enriched +by great gifts and commended to his charge the +Senate and the Roman People. + +[Sidenote: HE CONQUERS ODOACER AND PUTS HIM TO DEATH 493] + +Therefore Theodoric departed from the royal city and +returned to his own people. In company with the whole +tribe of the Goths, who gave him their unanimous consent, +he set out for Hesperia. He went in straight march +through Sirmium to the places bordering on Pannonia +and, advancing into the territory of Venetia as far as +the bridge of the Sontius, encamped there. When he 293 +had halted there for some time to rest the bodies of +his men and pack-animals, Odoacer sent an armed force +against him, which he met on the plains of Verona and +destroyed with great slaughter. Then he broke camp +and advanced through Italy with greater boldness. Crossing +the river Po, he pitched camp near the royal city +of Ravenna, about the third milestone from the city in +the place called Pineta. When Odoacer saw this, he +fortified himself within the city. He frequently harassed +the army of the Goths at night, sallying forth stealthily +with his men, and this not once or twice, but often; and +thus he struggled for almost three whole years. But he 294 +labored in vain, for all Italy at last called Theodoric its +lord and the Empire obeyed his nod. But Odoacer, with +his few adherents and the Romans who were present, suffered +daily from war and famine in Ravenna. Since he +accomplished nothing, he sent an embassy and begged for +mercy. Theodoric first granted it and afterwards deprived 295 +him of his life. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC FOUNDS THE OSTROGOTHIC KINGDOM IN ITALY 493] + +It was in the third year after his entrance into Italy, +as we have said, that Theodoric, by advice of the Emperor +Zeno, laid aside the garb of a private citizen and +the dress of his race and assumed a costume with a royal +mantle, as he had now become the ruler over both Goths +and Romans. He sent an embassy to Lodoin, king of the +Franks, and asked for his daughter Audefleda in marriage. 296 +Lodoin freely and gladly gave her, and also his +sons Celdebert and Heldebert and Thiudebert, believing +that by this alliance a league would be formed and that +they would be associated with the race of the Goths. But +that union was of no avail for peace and harmony, for +they fought fiercely with each other again and again for +the lands of the Goths; but never did the Goths yield to +the Franks while Theodoric lived. + +[Sidenote: OF THE INCREASE OF HIS POWER] + +[Sidenote: Amalaric 507-531] + +LVIII Now before he had a child from Audefleda, 297 +Theodoric had children of a concubine, daughters begotten +in Moesia, one named Thiudigoto and another Ostrogotho. +Soon after he came to Italy, he gave them in marriage +to neighboring kings, one to Alaric, king of the +Visigoths, and the other to Sigismund, king of the Burgundians. +Now Alaric begat Amalaric. While his grandfather 298 +Theodoric cared for and protected him--for he +had lost both parents in the years of childhood--he +found that Eutharic, the son of Veteric, grandchild of +Beremud and Thorismud, and a descendant of the race +of the Amali, was living in Spain, a young man strong in +wisdom and valor and health of body. Theodoric sent +for him and gave him his daughter Amalasuentha in +marriage. And that he might extend his family as much 299 +as possible, he sent his sister Amalafrida (the mother of +Theodahad, who was afterwards king) to Africa as wife +of Thrasamund, king of the Vandals, and her daughter +Amalaberga, who was his own niece, he united with Herminefred, +king of the Thuringians. + +Now he sent his Count Pitza, chosen from among the 300 +chief men of his kingdom, to hold the city of Sirmium. +He got possession of it by driving out its king Thrasaric, +son of Thraustila, and keeping his mother captive. Thence +he came with two thousand infantry and five hundred +horsemen to aid Mundo against Sabinian, Master of the +Soldiery of Illyricum, who at that time had made ready to +fight with Mundo near the city named Margoplanum, +which lies between the Danube and Margus rivers, and +destroyed the Army of Illyricum. For this Mundo, who 301 +traced his descent from the Attilani of old, had put to +flight the tribe of the Gepidae and was roaming beyond +the Danube in waste places where no man tilled the soil. +He had gathered around him many outlaws and ruffians +and robbers from all sides and had seized a tower called +Herta, situated on the bank of the Danube. There he +plundered his neighbors in wild license and made himself +king over his vagabonds. Now Pitza came upon him +when he was nearly reduced to desperation and was already +thinking of surrender. So he rescued him from +the hands of Sabinian and made him a grateful subject of +his king Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Thiudis 531-548] + +[Sidenote: Thiudigisclus 548-549] + +[Sidenote: Agil 549-554] + +[Sidenote: Athanagild 554-567] + +Theodoric won an equally great victory over the 302 +Franks through his Count Ibba in Gaul, when more than +thirty thousand Franks were slain in battle. Moreover, +after the death of his son-in-law Alaric, Theodoric appointed +Thiudis, his armor-bearer, guardian of his grandson +Amalaric in Spain. But Amalaric was ensnared by +the plots of the Franks in early youth and lost at once his +kingdom and his life. Then his guardian Thiudis, advancing +from the same kingdom, assailed the Franks and +delivered the Spaniards from their disgraceful treachery. +So long as he lived he kept the Visigoths united. After 303 +him Thiudigisclus obtained the kingdom and, ruling but +a short time, met his death at the hands of his own followers. +He was succeeded by Agil, who holds the kingdom +to the present day. Athanagild has rebelled against +him and is even now provoking the might of the Roman +Empire. So Liberius the Patrician is on the way with +an army to oppose him. Now there was not a tribe in +the west that did not serve Theodoric while he lived, +either in friendship or by conquest. + +[Sidenote: THEODORIC THE GREAT DIES 526] + +[Sidenote: KING ATHALARIC 526-534] + +LIX When he had reached old age and knew that he 304 +should soon depart this life, he called together the Gothic +counts and chieftains of his race and appointed Athalaric +as king. He was a boy scarce ten years old, the son of +his daughter Amalasuentha, and he had lost his father +Eutharic. As though uttering his last will and testament, +Theodoric adjured and commanded them to honor their +king, to love the Senate and Roman People and to make +sure of the peace and good will of the Emperor of the +East, as next after God. + +[Sidenote: AMALASUENTHA] + +[Sidenote: Theodahad 534-536] + +[Sidenote: 534] + +They kept this command fully so long as Athalaric 305 +their king and his mother lived, and ruled in peace for +almost eight years. But as the Franks put no confidence +in the rule of a child and furthermore held him in contempt, +and were also plotting war, he gave back to them +those parts of Gaul which his father and grandfather had +seized. He possessed all the rest in peace and quiet. +Therefore when Athalaric was approaching the age of +manhood, he entrusted to the Emperor of the East both +his own youth and his mother's widowhood. But in a +short time the ill-fated boy was carried off by an untimely +death and departed from earthly affairs. His mother 306 +feared she might be despised by the Goths on account of +the weakness of her sex. So after much thought she decided, +for the sake of relationship, to summon her cousin +Theodahad from Tuscany, where he led a retired life at +home, and thus she established him on the throne. But +he was unmindful of their kinship and, after a little time, +had her taken from the palace at Ravenna to an island +of the Bulsinian lake where he kept her in exile. After +spending a very few days there in sorrow, she was +strangled in the bath by his hirelings. + +[Sidenote: Justinian 527-565] + +[Sidenote: JUSTINIAN SENDS BELISARIUS TO AVENGE THE DEATH OF HIS WARDS +534] + +[Sidenote: Vitiges King 536-540] + +LX When Justinian, the Emperor of the East, heard 307 +this, he was aroused as if he had suffered personal injury +in the death of his wards. Now at that time he had won +a triumph over the Vandals in Africa, through his most +faithful Patrician Belisarius. Without delay he sent his +army under this leader against the Goths at the very time +when his arms were yet dripping with the blood of the +Vandals. This sagacious general believed he could not 308 +overcome the Gothic nation, unless he should first seize +Sicily, their nursing-mother. Accordingly he did so. As +soon as he entered Trinacria, the Goths, who were besieging +the town of Syracuse, found that they were not succeeding +and surrendered of their own accord to Belisarius, +with their leader Sinderith. When the Roman general +reached Sicily, Theodahad sought out Evermud, his +son-in-law, and sent him with an army to guard the strait +which lies between Campania and Sicily and sweeps from +a bend of the Tyrrhenian Sea into the vast tide of the +Adriatic. When Evermud arrived, he pitched his camp 309 +by the town of Rhegium. He soon saw that his side was +the weaker. Coming over with a few close and faithful +followers to the side of the victor and willingly casting +himself at the feet of Belisarius, he decided to serve the +rulers of the Roman Empire. When the army of the +Goths perceived this, they distrusted Theodahad and +clamored for his expulsion from the kingdom and for the +appointment as king of their leader Vitiges, who had been +his armor bearer. This was done; and presently Vitiges 310 +was raised to the office of king on the Barbarian Plains. +He entered Rome and sent on to Ravenna the men most +faithful to him to demand the death of Theodahad. They +came and executed his command. After King Theodahad +was slain, a messenger came from the king--for he was +already king in the Barbarian Plains--to proclaim Vitiges +to the people. + +[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS OVERCOME BY BELISARIUS] + +[Sidenote: Siege of Rome 537-538] + +[Sidenote: Surrender of Vitiges 540] + +[Sidenote: Death of Vitiges 542] + +[Sidenote: Mathesuentha marries Germanus 542] + +Meanwhile the Roman army crossed the strait and 311 +marched toward Campania. They took Naples and +pressed on to Rome. Now a few days before they arrived, +King Vitiges had set forth from Rome, arrived at +Ravenna and married Mathesuentha, the daughter of +Amalasuentha and grand-daughter of Theodoric, the former +king. While he was celebrating his new marriage and +holding court at Ravenna, the imperial army advanced +from Rome and attacked the strongholds in both parts of +Tuscany. When Vitiges learned of this through messengers, +he sent a force under Hunila, a leader of the Goths, +to Perusia which was beleaguered by them. While they 312 +were endeavoring by a long siege to dislodge Count +Magnus, who was holding the place with a small force, +the Roman army came upon them, and they themselves +were driven away and utterly exterminated. When Vitiges +heard the news, he raged like a lion and assembled +all the host of the Goths. He advanced from Ravenna +and harassed the walls of Rome with a long siege. But +after fourteen months his courage was broken and he +raised the siege of the city of Rome and prepared to overwhelm +Ariminum. Here he was baffled in like manner 313 +and put to flight; and so he retreated to Ravenna. When +besieged there, he quickly and willingly surrendered himself +to the victorious side, together with his wife Mathesuentha +and the royal treasure. + +And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race, +which had long held sway, was at last overcome in almost +its two thousand and thirtieth year by that conquerer of +many nations, the Emperor Justinian, through his most +faithful consul Belisarius. He gave Vitiges the title of +Patrician and took him to Constantinople, where he dwelt +for more than two years, bound by ties of affection to the +Emperor, and then departed this life. But his consort 314 +Mathesuentha was bestowed by the Emperor upon the +Patrician Germanus, his cousin. And of them was born +a son (also called Germanus) after the death of his +father Germanus. This union of the race of the Anicii +with the stock of the Amali gives hopeful promise, under +the Lord's favor, to both peoples. + +(Conclusion) + +And now we have recited the origin of the Goths, the 315 +noble line of the Amali and the deeds of brave men. This +glorious race yielded to a more glorious prince and surrendered +to a more valiant leader, whose fame shall be +silenced by no ages or cycles of years; for the victorious +and triumphant Emperor Justinian and his consul Belisarius +shall be named and known as Vandalicus, Africanus +and Geticus. + +Thou who readest this, know that I have followed the 316 +writings of my ancestors, and have culled a few flowers +from their broad meadows to weave a chaplet for him +who cares to know these things. Let no one believe that +to the advantage of the race of which I have spoken--though +indeed I trace my own descent from it--I have +added aught besides what I have read or learned by +inquiry. Even thus I have not included all that is written +or told about them, nor spoken so much to their praise as +to the glory of him who conquered them. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS
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