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diff --git a/16765-8.txt b/16765-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..31651b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/16765-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9002 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, History of the Wars, Books III and IV (of 8), +by Procopius, Translated by H. B. Dewing + + +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: History of the Wars, Books III and IV (of 8) + The Vandalic War + + +Author: Procopius + +Translator: H. B. Dewing + + +Release Date: September 27, 2005 [eBook #16765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS III AND +IV (OF 8)*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, jayam, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +PROCOPIUS + +With an English Translation by H. B. Dewing + +In Seven Volumes + +II + +HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS III AND IV + +London +William Heinemann Ltd +Cambridge, Massachusetts +Harvard University Press + +MCMLXXI + +First Printed 1916 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + HISTORY OF THE WARS-- + + PAGE + BOOK III.--THE VANDALIC WAR 1 + BOOK IV.--THE VANDALIC WAR _(CONTINUED)_ 209 + + INDEX 461 + + + + + + + +PROCOPIUS OF CAESAREA + +HISTORY OF THE WARS. + +BOOK III + +THE VANDALIC WAR + + +I + +Such, then, was the final outcome of the Persian War for the Emperor +Justinian; and I shall now proceed to set forth all that he did against +the Vandals and the Moors. But first shall be told whence came the host +of the Vandals when they descended upon the land of the Romans. After +Theodosius, the Roman Emperor, had departed from the world, having +proved himself one of the most just of men and an able warrior, his +kingdom was taken over by his two sons, Arcadius, the elder, receiving +the Eastern portion, and Honorius, the younger, the Western. [Jan. 17, +395 A.D.] But the Roman power had been thus divided as far back as the +time of Constantine and his sons; for he transferred his government to +Byzantium, and making the city larger and much more renowned, allowed it +to be named after him. + +Now the earth is surrounded by a circle of ocean, either entirely or for +the most part (for our knowledge is not as yet at all clear in this +matter); and it is split into two continents by a sort of outflow from +the ocean, a flow which enters at the western part and forms this Sea +which we know, beginning at Gadira[1] and extending all the way to the +Maeotic Lake.[2] Of these two continents the one to the right, as one +sails into the Sea, as far as the Lake, has received the name of Asia, +beginning at Gadira and at the southern[3] of the two Pillars of +Heracles. Septem[4] is the name given by the natives to the fort at that +point, since seven hills appear there; for "septem" has the force of +"seven" in the Latin tongue. And the whole continent opposite this was +named Europe. And the strait at that point separates the two +continents[5] by about eighty-four stades, but from there on they are +kept apart by wide expanses of sea as far as the Hellespont. For at this +point they again approach each other at Sestus and Abydus, and once more +at Byzantium and Chalcedon as far as the rocks called in ancient times +the "Dark Blue Rocks," where even now is the place called Hieron. For at +these places the continents are separated from one another by a distance +of only ten stades and even less than that. + +Now the distance from one of the Pillars of Heracles to the other, if +one goes along the shore and does not pass around the Ionian Gulf and +the sea called the Euxine but crosses from Chalcedon[6] to Byzantium and +from Dryous[7] to the opposite mainland,[8] is a journey of two hundred +and eighty-five days for an unencumbered traveller. For as to the land +about the Euxine Sea, which extends from Byzantium to the Lake, it would +be impossible to tell everything with precision, since the barbarians +beyond the Ister River, which they also call the Danube, make the shore +of that sea quite impossible for the Romans to traverse--except, indeed, +that from Byzantium to the mouth of the Ister is a journey of twenty-two +days, which should be added to the measure of Europe by one making the +computation. And on the Asiatic side, that is from Chalcedon to the +Phasis River, which, flowing from the country of the Colchians, descends +into the Pontus, the journey is accomplished in forty days. So that the +whole Roman domain, according to the distance along the sea at least, +attains the measure of a three hundred and forty-seven days' journey, +if, as has been said, one ferries over the Ionian Gulf, which extends +about eight hundred stades from Dryous. For the passage across the +gulf[9] amounts to a journey of not less than four days. Such, then, was +the size of the Roman empire in the ancient times. + +And there fell to him who held the power in the West the most of Libya, +extending ninety days' journey--for such is the distance from Gadira to +the boundaries of Tripolis in Libya; and in Europe he received as his +portion territory extending seventy-five days' journey--for such is the +distance from the northern[10] of the Pillars of Heracles to the Ionian +Gulf.[11] And one might add also the distance around the gulf. And the +emperor of the East received territory extending one hundred and twenty +days' journey, from the boundaries of Cyrene in Libya as far as +Epidamnus, which lies on the Ionian Gulf and is called at the present +time Dyrrachium, as well as that portion of the country about the Euxine +Sea which, as previously stated, is subject to the Romans. Now one day's +journey extends two hundred and ten stades,[12] or as far as from Athens +to Megara. Thus, then, the Roman emperors divided either continent +between them. And among the islands Britain, which is outside the +Pillars of Heracles and by far the largest of all islands, was counted, +as is natural, with the West; and inside the Pillars, Ebusa,[13] which +lies in the Mediterranean in what we may call the Propontis, just inside +the opening where the ocean enters, about seven days' journey from the +opening, and two others near it, Majorica and Minorica, as they are +called by the natives, were also assigned to the Western empire. And +each of the islands in the Sea itself fell to the share of that one of +the two emperors within whose boundaries it happened to lie. + + +II + +Now while Honorius was holding the imperial power in the West, +barbarians took possession of his land; and I shall tell who they were +and in what manner they did so. [395-423 A.D.] There were many Gothic +nations in earlier times, just as also at the present, but the greatest +and most important of all are the Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, and +Gepaedes. In ancient times, however, they were named Sauromatae and +Melanchlaeni;[14] and there were some too who called these nations +Getic. All these, while they are distinguished from one another by their +names, as has been said, do not differ in anything else at all. For they +all have white bodies and fair hair, and are tall and handsome to look +upon, and they use the same laws and practise a common religion. For +they are all of the Arian faith, and have one language called Gothic; +and, as it seems to me, they all came originally from one tribe, and +were distinguished later by the names of those who led each group. This +people used to dwell above the Ister River from of old. Later on the +Gepaedes got possession of the country about Singidunum[15] and +Sirmium,[16] on both sides of the Ister River, where they have remained +settled even down to my time. + +But the Visigoths, separating from the others, removed from there and at +first entered into an alliance with the Emperor Arcadius, but at a later +time (for faith with the Romans cannot dwell in barbarians), under the +leadership of Alaric, they became hostile to both emperors, and, +beginning with Thrace, treated all Europe as an enemy's land. Now the +Emperor Honorius had before this time been sitting in Rome, with never a +thought of war in his mind, but glad, I think, if men allowed him to +remain quiet in his palace. But when word was brought that the +barbarians with a great army were not far off, but somewhere among the +Taulantii,[17] he abandoned the palace and fled in disorderly fashion to +Ravenna, a strong city lying just about at the end of the Ionian Gulf, +while some say that he brought in the barbarians himself, because an +uprising had been started against him among his subjects; but this does +not seem to me trustworthy, as far, at least, as one can judge of the +character of the man. And the barbarians, finding that they had no +hostile force to encounter them, became the most cruel of all men. For +they destroyed all the cities which they captured, especially those +south of the Ionian Gulf, so completely that nothing has been left to my +time to know them by, unless, indeed, it might be one tower or one gate +or some such thing which chanced to remain. And they killed all the +people, as many as came in their way, both old and young alike, sparing +neither women nor children. Wherefore even up to the present time Italy +is sparsely populated. They also gathered as plunder all the money out +of all Europe, and, most important of all, they left in Rome nothing +whatever of public or private wealth when they moved on to Gaul. But I +shall now tell how Alaric captured Rome. + +After much time had been spent by him in the siege, and he had not been +able either by force or by any other device to capture the place, he +formed the following plan. Among the youths in the army whose beards had +not yet grown, but who had just come of age, he chose out three hundred +whom he knew to be of good birth and possessed of valour beyond their +years, and told them secretly that he was about to make a present of +them to certain of the patricians in Rome, pretending that they were +slaves. And he instructed them that, as soon as they got inside the +houses of those men, they should display much gentleness and moderation +and serve them eagerly in whatever tasks should be laid upon them by +their owners; and he further directed them that not long afterwards, on +an appointed day at about midday, when all those who were to be their +masters would most likely be already asleep after their meal, they +should all come to the gate called Salarian and with a sudden rush kill +the guards, who would have no previous knowledge of the plot, and open +the gates as quickly as possible. After giving these orders to the +youths, Alaric straightway sent ambassadors to the members of the +senate, stating that he admired them for their loyalty toward their +emperor, and that he would trouble them no longer, because of their +valour and faithfulness, with which it was plain that they were endowed +to a remarkable degree, and in order that tokens of himself might be +preserved among men both noble and brave, he wished to present each one +of them with some domestics. After making this declaration and sending +the youths not long afterwards, he commanded the barbarians to make +preparations for the departure, and he let this be known to the Romans. +And they heard his words gladly, and receiving the gifts began to be +exceedingly happy, since they were completely ignorant of the plot of +the barbarian. For the youths, by being unusually obedient to their +owners, averted suspicion, and in the camp some were already seen moving +from their positions and raising the siege, while it seemed that the +others were just on the point of doing the very same thing. But when the +appointed day had come, Alaric armed his whole force for the attack and +was holding them in readiness close by the Salarian Gate; for it +happened that he had encamped there at the beginning of the siege. And +all the youths at the time of the day agreed upon came to this gate, +and, assailing the guards suddenly, put them to death; then they opened +the gates and received Alaric and the army into the city at their +leisure. [Aug. 24, 410 A.D.] And they set fire to the houses which were +next to the gate, among which was also the house of Sallust, who in +ancient times wrote the history of the Romans, and the greater part of +this house has stood half-burned up to my time; and after plundering the +whole city and destroying the most of the Romans, they moved on. At that +time they say that the Emperor Honorius in Ravenna received the message +from one of the eunuchs, evidently a keeper of the poultry, that Rome +had perished. And he cried out and said, "And yet it has just eaten from +my hands!" For he had a very large cock, Rome by name; and the eunuch +comprehending his words said that it was the city of Rome which had +perished at the hands of Alaric, and the emperor with a sigh of relief +answered quickly: "But I, my good fellow, thought that my fowl Rome had +perished." So great, they say, was the folly with which this emperor was +possessed. + +But some say that Rome was not captured in this way by Alaric, but that +Proba, a woman of very unusual eminence in wealth and in fame among the +Roman senatorial class, felt pity for the Romans who were being +destroyed by hunger and the other suffering they endured; for they were +already even tasting each other's flesh; and seeing that every good hope +had left them, since both the river and the harbour were held by the +enemy, she commanded her domestics, they say, to open the gates by +night. + +Now when Alaric was about to depart from Rome, he declared Attalus, one +of their nobles, emperor of the Romans, investing him with the diadem +and the purple and whatever else pertains to the imperial dignity. And +he did this with the intention of removing Honorius from his throne and +of giving over the whole power in the West to Attalus. With such a +purpose, then, both Attalus and Alaric were going with a great army +against Ravenna. But this Attalus was neither able to think wisely +himself, nor to be persuaded by one who had wisdom to offer. So while +Alaric did not by any means approve the plan, Attalus sent commanders to +Libya without an army. Thus, then, were these things going on. + +And the island of Britain revolted from the Romans, and the soldiers +there chose as their king Constantinus, a man of no mean station. [407 +A.D.] And he straightway gathered a fleet of ships and a formidable army +and invaded both Spain and Gaul with a great force, thinking to enslave +these countries. But Honorius was holding ships in readiness and waiting +to see what would happen in Libya, in order that, if those sent by +Attalus were repulsed, he might himself sail for Libya and keep some +portion of his own kingdom, while if matters there should go against +him, he might reach Theodosius and remain with him. For Arcadius had +already died long before, and his son Theodosius, still a very young +child,[18] held the power of the East. [408-450 A.D.] But while Honorius +was thus anxiously awaiting the outcome of these events and tossed amid +the billows of uncertain fortune, it so chanced that some wonderful +pieces of good fortune befell him. For God is accustomed to succour +those who are neither clever nor able to devise anything of themselves, +and to lend them assistance, if they be not wicked, when they are in the +last extremity of despair; such a thing, indeed, befell this emperor. +For it was suddenly reported from Libya that the commanders of Attalus +had been destroyed, and that a host of ships was at hand from Byzantium +with a very great number of soldiers who had come to assist him, though +he had not expected them, and that Alaric, having quarrelled with +Attalus, had stripped him of the emperor's garb and was now keeping him +under guard in the position of a private citizen. [411 A.D.] And +afterwards Alaric died of disease, and the army of the Visigoths under +the leadership of Adaulphus proceeded into Gaul, and Constantinus, +defeated in battle, died with his sons. However the Romans never +succeeded in recovering Britain, but it remained from that time on under +tyrants. And the Goths, after making the crossing of the Ister, at first +occupied Pannonia, but afterwards, since the emperor gave them the +right, they inhabited the country of Thrace. And after spending no great +time there they conquered the West. But this will be told in the +narrative concerning the Goths. + + +III + +Now the Vandals dwelling about the Maeotic Lake, since they were pressed +by hunger, moved to the country of the Germans, who are now called +Franks, and the river Rhine, associating with themselves the Alani, a +Gothic people. Then from there, under the leadership of Godigisclus, +they moved and settled in Spain, which is the first land of the Roman +empire on the side of the ocean. At that time Honorius made an agreement +with Godigisclus that they should settle there on condition that it +should not be to the detriment of the country. But there was a law among +the Romans, that if any persons should fail to keep their property in +their own possession, and if, meanwhile, a time amounting to thirty +years should pass, that these persons should thenceforth not be entitled +to proceed against those who had forced them out, but they were excluded +by demurrer[19] from access to the court; and in view of this he +established a law that whatever time should be spent by the Vandals in +the Roman domain should not by any means be counted toward this +thirty-year demurrer. And Honorius himself, when the West had been +driven by him to this pass, died of disease. [Aug. 27, 423 A.D.] Now +before this, as it happened, the royal power had been shared by Honorius +with Constantius, the husband of Placidia, the sister of Arcadius and +Honorius; but he lived to exercise the power only a few days, and then, +becoming seriously ill, he died while Honorius was still living, [421 +A.D.] having never succeeded in saying or in doing anything worth +recounting; for the time was not sufficient during which he lived in +possession of the royal power. Now a son of this Constantius, +Valentinian, a child just weaned, was being reared in the palace of +Theodosius, but the members of the imperial court in Rome chose one of +the soldiers there, John by name, as emperor. This man was both gentle +and well-endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds. +At any rate he held the tyranny five years[20] and directed it with +moderation, and he neither gave ear to slanderers nor did he do any +unjust murder, willingly at least, nor did he set his hand to robbing +men of money; but he did not prove able to do anything at all against +the barbarians, since his relations with Byzantium were hostile. Against +this John, Theodosius, the son of Arcadius, sent a great army and Aspar +and Ardaburius, the son of Aspar, as generals, and wrested from him the +tyranny and gave over the royal power to Valentinian, who was still a +child. And Valentinian took John alive, and he brought him out in the +hippodrome of Aquileia with one of his hands cut off and caused him to +ride in state on an ass, and then after he had suffered much ill +treatment from the stage-performers there, both in word and in deed, he +put him to death. [426 A.D.] Thus Valentinian took over the power of the +West. But Placidia, his mother, had reared this emperor and educated him +in an altogether effeminate manner, and in consequence he was filled +with wickedness from childhood. For he associated mostly with sorcerers +and those who busy themselves with the stars, and, being an +extraordinarily zealous pursuer of love affairs with other men's wives, +he conducted himself in a most indecent manner, although he was married +to a woman of exceptional beauty. [455 A.D.] And not only was this true, +but he also failed to recover for the empire anything of what had been +wrested from it before, and he both lost Libya in addition to the +territory previously lost and was himself destroyed. And when he +perished, it fell to the lot of his wife and his children to become +captives. Now the disaster in Libya came about as follows. + +There were two Roman generals, Aetius and Boniface, especially valiant +men and in experience of many wars inferior to none of that time at +least. These two came to be at variance in regard to matters of state, +but they attained to such a degree of highmindedness and excellence in +every respect that if one should call either of them "the last of the +Romans" he would not err, so true was it that all the excellent +qualities of the Romans were summed up in these two men. One of these, +Boniface, was appointed by Placidia general of all Libya. Now this was +not in accord with the wishes of Aetius, but he by no means disclosed +the fact that it did not please him. For their hostility had not as yet +come to light, but was concealed behind the countenance of each. But +when Boniface had got out of the way, Aetius slandered him to Placidia, +saying that he was setting up a tyranny and had robbed her and the +emperor of all Libya, and he said that it was very easy for her to find +out the truth; for if she should summon Boniface to Rome, he would never +come. And when the woman heard this, Aetius seemed to her to speak well +and she acted accordingly. But Aetius, anticipating her, wrote to +Boniface secretly that the mother of the emperor was plotting against +him and wished to put him out of the way. And he predicted to him that +there would be convincing proof of the plot; for he would be summoned +very shortly for no reason at all. Such was the announcement of the +letter. And Boniface did not disregard the message, for as soon as those +arrived who were summoning him to the emperor, he refused to give heed +to the emperor and his mother, disclosing to no one the warning of +Aetius. So when Placidia heard this, she thought that Aetius was +exceedingly well-disposed towards the emperor's cause and took under +consideration the question of Boniface. But Boniface, since it did not +seem to him that he was able to array himself against the emperor, and +since if he returned to Rome there was clearly no safety for him, began +to lay plans so that, if possible, he might have a defensive alliance +with the Vandals, who, as previously stated, had established themselves +in Spain not far from Libya. There Godigisclus had died and the royal +power had fallen to his sons, Gontharis, who was born to him from his +wedded wife, and Gizeric,[21] of illegitimate birth. But the former was +still a child and not of very energetic temper, while Gizeric had been +excellently trained in warfare, and was the cleverest of all men. +Boniface accordingly sent to Spain those who were his own most intimate +friends and gained the adherence of each of the sons of Godigisclus on +terms of complete equality, it being agreed that each one of the three, +holding a third part of Libya, should rule over his own subjects; but if +a foe should come against any one of them to make war, that they should +in common ward off the aggressors. On the basis of this agreement the +Vandals crossed the strait at Gadira and came into Libya, and the +Visigoths in later times settled in Spain. But in Rome the friends of +Boniface, remembering the character of the man and considering how +strange his action was, were greatly astonished to think that Boniface +was setting up a tyranny, and some of them at the order of Placidia went +to Carthage. There they met Boniface, and saw the letter of Aetius, and +after hearing the whole story they returned to Rome as quickly as they +could and reported to Placidia how Boniface stood in relation to her. +And though the woman was dumbfounded, she did nothing unpleasant to +Aetius nor did she upbraid him for what he had done to the emperor's +house, for he himself wielded great power and the affairs of the empire +were already in an evil plight; but she disclosed to the friends of +Boniface the advice Aetius had given, and, offering oaths and pledges of +safety, entreated them to persuade the man, if they could, to return to +his fatherland and not to permit the empire of the Romans to lie under +the hand of barbarians. And when Boniface heard this, he repented of his +act and of his agreement with the barbarians, and he besought them +incessantly, promising them everything, to remove from Libya. But since +they did not receive his words with favour, but considered that they +were being insulted, he was compelled to fight with them, and being +defeated in the battle, he retired to Hippo[22] Regius, a strong city in +the portion of Numidia that is on the sea. There the Vandals made camp +under the leadership of Gizeric and began a siege; for Gontharis had +already died. And they say that he perished at the hand of his brother. +The Vandals, however, do not agree with those who make this statement, +but say that Gontharis' was captured in battle by Germans in Spain and +impaled, and that Gizeric was already sole ruler when he led the Vandals +into Libya. This, indeed, I have heard from the Vandals, stated in this +way. But after much time had passed by, since they were unable to secure +Hippo Regius either by force or by surrender, and since at the same time +they were being pressed by hunger, they raised the siege. And a little +later Boniface and the Romans in Libya, since a numerous army had come +from both Rome and Byzantium and Aspar with them as general, decided to +renew the struggle, and a fierce battle was fought in which they were +badly beaten by the enemy, and they made haste to flee as each one +could. And Aspar betook himself homeward, and Boniface, coming before +Placidia, acquitted himself of the suspicion, showing that it had arisen +against him for no true cause. + + +IV + +So the Vandals, having wrested Libya from the Romans in this way, made +it their own. And those of the enemy whom they took alive they reduced +to slavery and held under guard. Among these happened to be Marcian, who +later upon the death of Theodosius assumed the imperial power. At that +time, however, Gizeric commanded that the captives be brought into the +king's courtyard, in order that it might be possible for him, by looking +at them, to know what master each of them might serve without +degradation. And when they were gathered under the open sky, about +midday, the season being summer, they were distressed by the sun and sat +down. And somewhere or other among them Marcian, quite neglected, was +sleeping. Then an eagle flew over him spreading out his wings, as they +say, and always remaining in the same place in the air he cast a shadow +over Marcian alone. And Gizeric, upon seeing from the upper storey what +was happening, since he was an exceedingly discerning person, suspected +that the thing was a divine manifestation, and summoning the man +enquired of him who he might be. And he replied that he was a +confidential adviser of Aspar; such a person the Romans call a +"domesticus" in their own tongue. And when Gizeric heard this and +considered first the meaning of the bird's action, and then remembered +how great power Aspar exercised in Byzantium, it became evident to him +that the man was being led to royal power. He therefore by no means +deemed it right to kill him, reasoning that, if he should remove him +from the world, it would be very clear that the thing which the bird had +done was nothing (for he would not honour with his shadow a king who was +about to die straightway), and he felt, too, that he would be killing +him for no good cause; and if, on the other hand, it was fated that in +later times the man should become king, it would never be within his +power to inflict death upon him; for that which has been decided upon by +God could never be prevented by a man's decision. But he bound Marcian +by oaths that, if it should be in his power, he would never take up arms +against the Vandals at least. [450 A.D.] Thus, then, Marcian was +released and came to Byzantium, and when at a later time Theodosius died +he received the empire. And in all other respects he proved himself a +good emperor, but he paid no attention at all to affairs in Libya. But +this happened in later times. + +At that time Gizeric, after conquering Aspar and Boniface in battle, +displayed a foresight worth recounting, whereby he made his good fortune +most thoroughly secure. For fearing lest, if once again an army should +come against him from both Rome and Byzantium, the Vandals might not be +able to use the same strength and enjoy the same fortune, (since human +affairs are wont to be overturned by Heaven and to fail by reason of the +weakness of men's bodies), he was not lifted up by the good fortune he +had enjoyed, but rather became moderate because of what he feared, and +so he made a treaty with the Emperor Valentinian providing that each +year he should pay to the emperor tribute from Libya, and he delivered +over one of his sons, Honoric, as a hostage to make this agreement +binding. So Gizeric both showed himself a brave man in the battle and +guarded the victory as securely as possible, and, since the friendship +between the two peoples increased greatly, he received back his son +Honoric. And at Rome Placidia had died before this time, and after her, +Valentinian, her son, also died, having no male offspring, but two +daughters had been born to him from Eudoxia, the child of Theodosius. +And I shall now relate in what manner Valentinian died. + +There was a certain Maximus, a Roman senator, of the house of that +Maximus[23] who, while usurping the imperial power, was overthrown by +the elder Theodosius and put to death, and on whose account also the +Romans celebrate the annual festival named from the defeat of Maximus. +This younger Maximus was married to a woman discreet in her ways and +exceedingly famous for her beauty. For this reason a desire came over +Valentinian to have her to wife. And since it was impossible, much as he +wished it, to meet her, he plotted an unholy deed and carried it to +fulfilment. For he summoned Maximus to the palace and sat down with him +to a game of draughts, and a certain sum was set as a penalty for the +loser; and the emperor won in this game, and receiving Maximus' ring as +a pledge for the agreed amount, he sent it to his house, instructing the +messenger to tell the wife of Maximus that her husband bade her come as +quickly as possible to the palace to salute the queen Eudoxia. And she, +judging by the ring that the message was from Maximus, entered her +litter and was conveyed to the emperor's court. And she was received by +those who had been assigned this service by the emperor, and led into a +certain room far removed from the women's apartments, where Valentinian +met her and forced her, much against her will. And she, after the +outrage, went to her husband's house weeping and feeling the deepest +possible grief because of her misfortune, and she cast many curses upon +Maximus as having provided the cause for what had been done. Maximus, +accordingly, became exceedingly aggrieved at that which had come to +pass, and straightway entered into a conspiracy against the emperor; but +when he saw that Aetius was exceedingly powerful, for he had recently +conquered Attila, who had invaded the Roman domain with a great army of +Massagetae and the other Scythians, the thought occurred to him that +Aetius would be in the way of his undertaking. And upon considering this +matter, it seemed to him that it was the better course to put Aetius out +of the way first, paying no heed to the fact that the whole hope of the +Romans centred in him. And since the eunuchs who were in attendance upon +the emperor were well-disposed toward him, he persuaded the emperor by +their devices that Aetius was setting on foot a revolution. And +Valentinian, judging by nothing else than the power and valour of Aetius +that the report was true, put the man to death. [Sept. 21, 454 A.D.] +Whereupon a certain Roman made himself famous by a saying which he +uttered. For when the emperor enquired of him whether he had done well +in putting Aetius to death, he replied saying that, as to this matter, +he was not able to know whether he had done well or perhaps otherwise, +but one thing he understood exceedingly well, that he had cut off his +own right hand with the other. + +So after the death of Aetius,[24] Attila, since no one was a match for +him, plundered all Europe with no trouble and made both emperors +subservient and tributary to himself. For tribute money was sent to him +every year by the emperors. At that time, while Attila was besieging +Aquileia, a city of great size and exceedingly populous situated near +the sea and above the Ionian Gulf, they say that the following good +fortune befell him. For they tell the story that, when he was able to +capture the place neither by force nor by any other means, he gave up +the siege in despair, since it had already lasted a long time, and +commanded the whole army without any delay to make their preparations +for the departure, in order that on the morrow all might move from there +at sunrise. And the following day about sunrise, the barbarians had +raised the siege and were already beginning the departure, when a single +male stork which had a nest on a certain tower of the city wall and was +rearing his nestlings there suddenly rose and left the place with his +young. And the father stork was flying, but the little storks, since +they were not yet quite ready to fly, were at times sharing their +father's flight and at times riding upon his back, and thus they flew +off and went far away from the city. And when Attila saw this (for he +was most clever at comprehending and interpreting all things), he +commanded the army, they say, to remain still in the same place, adding +that the bird would never have gone flying off at random from there with +his nestlings, unless he was prophesying that some evil would come to +the place at no distant time. Thus, they say, the army of the barbarians +settled down to the siege once more, and not long after that a portion +of the wall--the very part which held the nest of that bird--for no +apparent reason suddenly fell down, and it became possible for the enemy +to enter the city at that point, and thus Aquileia was captured by +storm. Such is the story touching Aquileia. + +Later on Maximus slew the emperor with no trouble and secured the +tyranny, and he married Eudoxia by force. [455 A.D.] For the wife to +whom he had been wedded had died not long before. And on one occasion in +private he made the statement to Eudoxia that it was all for the sake of +her love that he had carried out all that he had done. And since she +felt a repulsion for Maximus even before that time, and had been +desirous of exacting vengeance from him for the wrong done Valentinian, +his words made her swell with rage still more against him, and led her +on to carry out her plot, since she had heard Maximus say that on +account of her the misfortune had befallen her husband. And as soon as +day came, she sent to Carthage entreating Gizeric to avenge Valentinian, +who had been destroyed by an unholy man, in a manner unworthy both of +himself and of his imperial station, and to deliver her, since she was +suffering unholy treatment at the hand of the tyrant. And she impressed +it upon Gizeric that, since he was a friend and ally and so great a +calamity had befallen the imperial house, it was not a holy thing to +fail to become an avenger. For from Byzantium she thought no vengeance +would come, since Theodosius had already departed from the world and +Marcian had taken over the empire. [Mar. 17, 455 A.D.] + + +V + +And Gizeric, for no other reason than that he suspected that much money +would come to him, set sail for Italy with a great fleet. And going up +to Rome, since no one stood in his way, he took possession of the +palace. Now while Maximus was trying to flee, the Romans threw stones at +him and killed him, and they cut off his head and each of his other +members and divided them among themselves. But Gizeric took Eudoxia +captive, together with Eudocia and Placidia, the children of herself and +Valentinian, and placing an exceedingly great amount of gold and other +imperial treasure[25] in his ships sailed to Carthage, having spared +neither bronze nor anything else whatsoever in the palace. He plundered +also the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, and tore off half of the roof. +Now this roof was of bronze of the finest quality, and since gold was +laid over it exceedingly thick, it shone as a magnificent and wonderful +spectacle.[26] But of the ships with Gizeric, one, which was bearing the +statues, was lost, they say, but with all the others the Vandals reached +port in the harbour of Carthage. Gizeric then married Eudocia to +Honoric, the elder of his sons; but the other of the two women, being +the wife of Olybrius, a most distinguished man in the Roman senate, he +sent to Byzantium together with her mother, Eudoxia, at the request of +the emperor. Now the power of the East had by now fallen to Leon, who +had been set in this position by Aspar, since Marcian had already passed +from the world. [457 A.D.] + +Afterwards Gizeric devised the following scheme. He tore down the walls +of all the cities in Libya except Carthage, so that neither the Libyans +themselves, espousing the cause of the Romans, might have a strong base +from which to begin a rebellion, nor those sent by the emperor have any +ground for hoping to capture a city and by establishing a garrison in it +to make trouble for the Vandals. Now at that time it seemed that he had +counselled well and had ensured prosperity for the Vandals in the safest +possible manner; but in later times when these cities, being without +walls, were captured by Belisarius all the more easily and with less +exertion, Gizeric was then condemned to suffer much ridicule, and that +which for the time he considered wise counsel turned out for him to be +folly. For as fortunes change, men are always accustomed to change with +them their judgments regarding what has been planned in the past. And +among the Libyans all who happened to be men of note and conspicuous for +their wealth he handed over as slaves, together with their estates and +all their money, to his sons Honoric and Genzon. For Theodorus, the +youngest son, had died already, being altogether without offspring, +either male or female. And he robbed the rest of the Libyans of their +estates, which were both very numerous and excellent, and distributed +them among the nation of the Vandals, and as a result of this these +lands have been called "Vandals' estates" up to the present time. And it +fell to the lot of those who had formerly possessed these lands to be in +extreme poverty and to be at the same time free men; and they had the +privilege of going away wheresoever they wished. And Gizeric commanded +that all the lands which he had given over to his sons and to the other +Vandals should not be subject to any kind of taxation. But as much of +the land as did not seem to him good he allowed to remain in the hands +of the former owners, but assessed so large a sum to be paid on this +land for taxes to the government that nothing whatever remained to those +who retained their farms. And many of them were constantly being sent +into exile or killed. For charges were brought against them of many +sorts, and heavy ones too; but one charge seemed to be the greatest of +all, that a man, having money of his own, was hiding it. Thus the +Libyans were visited with every form of misfortune. + +The Vandals and the Alani he arranged in companies, appointing over them +no less than eighty captains, whom he called "chiliarchs,"[27] making it +appear that his host of fighting men in active service amounted to +eighty thousand. And yet the number of the Vandals and Alani was said in +former times, at least, to amount to no more than fifty thousand men. +However, after that time by their natural increase among themselves and +by associating other barbarians with them they came to be an exceedingly +numerous people. But the names of the Alani and all the other +barbarians, except the Moors, were united in the name of Vandals. At +that time, after the death of Valentinian, Gizeric gained the support of +the Moors, and every year at the beginning of spring he made invasions +into Sicily and Italy, enslaving some of the cities, razing others to +the ground, and plundering everything; and when the land had become +destitute of men and of money, he invaded the domain of the emperor of +the East. And so he plundered Illyricum and the most of the Peloponnesus +and of the rest of Greece and all the islands which lie near it. And +again he went off to Sicily and Italy, and kept plundering and pillaging +all places in turn. And one day when he had embarked on his ship in the +harbour of Carthage, and the sails were already being spread, the pilot +asked him, they say, against what men in the world he bade them go. And +he in reply said: "Plainly against those with whom God is angry." Thus +without any cause he kept making invasions wherever chance might lead +him. + + +VI + +And the Emperor Leon, wishing to punish the Vandals because of these +things, was gathering an army against them; and they say that this army +amounted to about one hundred thousand men. And he collected a fleet of +ships from the whole of the eastern Mediterranean, shewing great +generosity to both soldiers and sailors, for he feared lest from a +parsimonious policy some obstacle might arise to hinder him in his +desire to carry out his punishment of the barbarians. Therefore, they +say, thirteen hundred centenaria[28] were expended by him to no purpose. +But since it was not fated that the Vandals should be destroyed by this +expedition, he made Basiliscus commander-in-chief, the brother of his +wife Berine, a man who was extraordinarily desirous of the royal power, +which he hoped would come to him without a struggle if he won the +friendship of Aspar. For Aspar himself, being an adherent of the Arian +faith, and having no intention of changing it for another, was unable to +enter upon the imperial office, but he was easily strong enough to +establish another in it, and it already seemed likely that he would plot +against the Emperor Leon, who had given him offence. So they say that +since Aspar was then fearful lest, if the Vandals were defeated, Leon +should establish his power most securely, he repeatedly urged upon +Basiliscus that he should spare the Vandals and Gizeric. + +[467 A.D.] Now before this time Leon had already appointed and sent +Anthemius, as Emperor of the West, a man of the senate of great wealth +and high birth, in order that he might assist him in the Vandalic war. +And yet Gizeric kept asking and earnestly entreating that the imperial +power be given to Olybrius, who was married to Placidia, the daughter of +Valentinian, and on account of his relationship[29] well-disposed toward +him, and when he failed in this he was still more angry and kept +plundering the whole land of the emperor. Now there was in Dalmatia a +certain Marcellianus, one of the acquaintances of Aetius and a man of +repute, who, after Aetius had died in the manner told above,[30] no +longer deigned to yield obedience to the emperor, but beginning a +revolution and detaching all the others from allegiance, held the power +of Dalmatia himself, since no one dared encounter him. But the Emperor +Leon at that time won over this Marcellianus by very careful wheedling, +and bade him go to the island of Sardinia, which was then subject to the +Vandals. And he drove out the Vandals and gained possession of it with +no great difficulty. And Heracleius was sent from Byzantium to Tripolis +in Libya, and after conquering the Vandals of that district in battle, +he easily captured the cities, and leaving his ships there, led his army +on foot toward Carthage. Such, then, was the sequence of events which +formed the prelude of the war. + +But Basiliscus with his whole fleet put in at a town distant from +Carthage no less than two hundred and eighty stades (now it so happened +that a temple of Hermes had been there from of old, from which fact the +place was named Mercurium; for the Romans call Hermes "Mercurius"), and +if he had not purposely played the coward and hesitated, but had +undertaken to go straight for Carthage, he would have captured it at the +first onset, and he would have reduced the Vandals to subjection without +their even thinking of resistance; so overcome was Gizeric with awe of +Leon as an invincible emperor, when the report was brought to him that +Sardinia and Tripolis had been captured, and he saw the fleet of +Basiliscus to be such as the Romans were said never to have had before. +But, as it was, the general's hesitation, whether caused by cowardice or +treachery, prevented this success. And Gizeric, profiting by the +negligence of Basiliscus, did as follows. Arming all his subjects in the +best way he could, he filled his ships, but not all, for some he kept in +readiness empty, and they were the ships which sailed most swiftly. And +sending envoys to Basiliscus, he begged him to defer the war for the +space of five days, in order that in the meantime he might take counsel +and do those things which were especially desired by the emperor. They +say, too, that he sent also a great amount of gold without the knowledge +of the army of Basiliscus and thus purchased this armistice. And he did +this, thinking, as actually did happen, that a favouring wind would rise +for him during this time. And Basiliscus, either as doing a favour to +Aspar in accordance with what he had promised, or selling the moment of +opportunity for money, or perhaps thinking it the better course, did as +he was requested and remained quietly in the camp, awaiting the moment +favourable to the enemy. + +But the Vandals, as soon as the wind had arisen for them which they had +been expecting during the time they lay at rest, raised their sails and, +taking in tow the boats which, as has been stated above, they had made +ready with no men in them, they sailed against the enemy. And when they +came near, they set fire to the boats which they were towing, when their +sails were bellied by the wind, and let them go against the Roman fleet. +And since there were a great number of ships there, these boats easily +spread fire wherever they struck, and were themselves readily destroyed +together with those with which they came in contact. And as the fire +advanced in this way the Roman fleet was filled with tumult, as was +natural, and with a great din that rivalled the noise caused by the wind +and the roaring of the flames, as the soldiers together with the sailors +shouted orders to one another and pushed off with their poles the +fire-boats and their own ships as well, which were being destroyed by +one another in complete disorder. And already the Vandals too were at +hand ramming and sinking the ships, and making booty of such of the +soldiers as attempted to escape, and of their arms as well. But there +were also some of the Romans who proved themselves brave men in this +struggle, and most of all John, who was a general under Basiliscus and +who had no share whatever in his treason. For a great throng having +surrounded his ship, he stood on the deck, and turning from side to side +kept killing very great numbers of the enemy from there, and when he +perceived that the ship was being captured, he leaped with his whole +equipment of arms from the deck into the sea. And though Genzon, the son +of Gizeric, entreated him earnestly not to do this, offering pledges and +holding out promises of safety, he nevertheless threw himself into the +sea, uttering this one word, that John would never come under the hands +of dogs. + +So this war came to an end, and Heracleius departed for home; for +Marcellianus had been destroyed treacherously by one of his +fellow-officers. And Basiliscus, coming to Byzantium, seated himself as +a suppliant in the sanctuary of Christ the Great God ("Sophia"[31] the +temple is called by the men of Byzantium who consider that this +designation is especially appropriate to God), and although, by the +intercession of Berine, the queen, he escaped this danger, he was not +able at that time to reach the throne, the thing for the sake of which +everything had been done by him. For the Emperor Leon not long +afterwards destroyed both Aspar and Ardaburius in the palace, because he +suspected that they were plotting against his life. [471 A.D.] Thus, +then, did these events take place. + + +VII + +[Aug. 11, 472 A.D.] Now Anthemius, the emperor of the West, died at the +hand of his son-in-law Rhecimer, and Olybrius, succeeding to the throne, +a short time afterward suffered the same fate. [Oct. 10, 472 A.D.] And +when Leon also had died in Byzantium, the imperial office was taken over +by the younger Leon, the son of Zeno and Ariadne, the daughter of Leon, +while he was still only a few days old. And his father having been +chosen as partner in the royal power, the child forthwith passed from +the world. [474 A.D.] Majorinus also deserves mention, who had gained +the power of the West before this time. For this Majorinus, who +surpassed in every virtue all who have ever been emperors of the Romans, +did not bear lightly the loss of Libya, but collected a very +considerable army against the Vandals and came to Liguria, intending +himself to lead the army against the enemy. For Majorinus never showed +the least hesitation before any task and least of all before the dangers +of war. But thinking it not inexpedient for him to investigate first the +strength of the Vandals and the character of Gizeric and to discover how +the Moors and Libyans stood with regard to friendship or hostility +toward the Romans, he decided to trust no eyes other than his own in +such a matter. Accordingly he set out as if an envoy from the emperor to +Gizeric, assuming some fictitious name. And fearing lest, by becoming +known, he should himself receive some harm and at the same time prevent +the success of the enterprise, he devised the following scheme. His +hair, which was famous among all men as being so fair as to resemble +pure gold, he anointed with some kind of dye, which was especially +invented for this purpose, and so succeeded completely in changing it +for the time to a dark hue. And when he came before Gizeric, the +barbarian attempted in many ways to terrify him, and in particular, +while treating him with engaging attention, as if a friend, he brought +him into the house where all his weapons were stored, a numerous and +exceedingly noteworthy array. Thereupon they say that the weapons shook +of their own accord and gave forth a sound of no ordinary or casual +sort, and then it seemed to Gizeric that there had been an earthquake, +but when he got outside and made enquiries concerning the earthquake, +since no one else agreed with him, a great wonder, they say, came over +him, but he was not able to comprehend the meaning of what had happened. +So Majorinus, having accomplished the very things he wished, returned to +Liguria, and leading his army on foot, came to the Pillars of Heracles, +purposing to cross over the strait at that point, and then to march by +land from there against Carthage. And when Gizeric became aware of this, +and perceived that he had been tricked by Majorinus in the matter of the +embassy, he became alarmed and made his preparations for war. And the +Romans, basing their confidence on the valour of Majorinus, already +began to have fair hopes of recovering Libya for the empire. [461 A.D.] +But meantime Majorinus was attacked by the disease of dysentery and +died, a man who had shewn himself moderate toward his subjects, and an +object of fear to his enemies. [July 24, 474 A.D.] And another emperor, +Nepos, upon taking over the empire, and living to enjoy it only a few +days, died of disease, and Glycerius after him entered into this office +and suffered a similar fate. [474-475 A.D.] And after him Augustus +assumed the imperial power. There were, moreover, still other emperors +in the West before this time, but though I know their names well, I +shall make no mention of them whatever. For it so fell out that they +lived only a short time after attaining the office, and as a result of +this accomplished nothing worthy of mention. Such was the course of +events in the West. + +But in Byzantium Basiliscus, being no longer able to master his passion +for royal power, made an attempt to usurp the throne, and succeeded +without difficulty, since Zeno, together with his wife, sought refuge in +Isauria, which was his native home. [471 A.D.] And while he was +maintaining his tyranny for a year and eight months he was detested by +practically everyone and in particular by the soldiers of the court on +account of the greatness of his avarice. And Zeno, perceiving this, +collected an army and came against him. And Basiliscus sent an army +under the general Harmatus in order to array himself against Zeno. But +when they had made camp near one another, Harmatus surrendered his army +to Zeno, on the condition that Zeno should appoint as Caesar Harmatus' +son Basiliscus, who was a very young child, and leave him as successor +to the throne upon his death. And Basiliscus, deserted by all, fled for +refuge to the same sanctuary as formerly. And Acacius, the priest of the +city, put him into the hands of Zeno, charging him with impiety and with +having brought great confusion and many innovations into the Christian +doctrine, having inclined toward the heresy of Eutyches. And this was +so. And after Zeno had thus taken over the empire a second time, he +carried out his pledge to Harmatus formally by appointing his son +Basiliscus Caesar, but not long afterwards he both stripped him of the +office and put Harmatus to death. And he sent Basiliscus together with +his children and his wife into Cappadocia in the winter season, +commanding that they should be destitute of food and clothes and every +kind of care. And there, being hard pressed by both cold and hunger, +they took refuge in one another's arms, and embracing their loved ones, +perished. And this punishment overtook Basiliscus for the policy he had +pursued. These things, however, happened in later times. + +But at that time Gizeric was plundering the whole Roman domain just as +much as before, if not more, circumventing his enemy by craft and +driving them out of their possessions by force, as has been previously +said, and he continued to do so until the emperor Zeno came to an +agreement with him and an endless peace was established between them, by +which it was provided that the Vandals should never in all time perform +any hostile act against the Romans nor suffer such a thing at their +hands. And this peace was preserved by Zeno himself and also by his +successor in the empire, Anastasius And it remained in force until the +time of the emperor Justinus. But Justinian, who was the nephew of +Justinus, succeeded him in the imperial power, and it was in the reign +of this Justinian that the war with which we are concerned came to pass, +in the manner which will be told in the following narrative. [477 A.D.] +Gizeric, after living on a short time, died at an advanced age, having +made a will in which he enjoined many things upon the Vandals and in +particular that the royal power among them should always fall to that +one who should be the first in years among all the male offspring +descended from Gizeric himself. So Gizeric, having ruled over the +Vandals thirty-nine years from the time when he captured Carthage, died, +as I have said. + + +VIII + +And Honoric, the eldest of his sons, succeeded to the throne, Genzon +having already departed from the world. During the time when this +Honoric ruled the Vandals they had no war against anyone at all, except +the Moors. For through fear of Gizeric the Moors had remained quiet +before that time, but as soon as he was out of their way they both did +much harm to the Vandals and suffered the same themselves. And Honoric +shewed himself the most cruel and unjust of all men toward the +Christians in Libya. For he forced them to change over to the Arian +faith, and as many as he found not readily yielding to him he burned, or +destroyed by other forms of death; and he also cut off the tongues of +many from the very throat, who even up to my time were going about in +Byzantium having their speech uninjured, and perceiving not the least +effect from this punishment; but two of these, since they saw fit to go +in to harlots, were thenceforth no longer able to speak. And after +ruling over the Vandals eight years he died of disease; and by that time +the Moors dwelling on Mt. Aurasium[32] had revolted from the Vandals and +were independent (this Aurasium is a mountain of Numidia, about thirteen +days' journey distant from Carthage and fronting the south); and indeed +they never came under the Vandals again, since the latter were unable to +carry on a war against Moors on a mountain difficult of access and +exceedingly steep. + +After the death of Honoric the rule of the Vandals fell to Gundamundus, +the son of Genzon, the son of Gizeric. [485 A.D.] For he, in point of +years, was the first of the offspring of Gizeric. This Gundamundus +fought against the Moors in numerous encounters, and after subjecting +the Christians to still greater suffering, he died of disease, being now +at about the middle of the twelfth year of his reign. [496 A.D.] And his +brother Trasamundus took over the kingdom, a man well-favoured in +appearance and especially gifted with discretion and highmindedness. +However he continued to force the Christians to change their ancestral +faith, not by torturing their bodies as his predecessors had done, but +by seeking to win them with honours and offices and presenting them with +great sums of money; and in the case of those who would not be +persuaded, he pretended he had not the least knowledge of what manner of +men they were.[33] And if he caught any guilty of great crimes which +they had committed either by accident or deliberate intent, he would +offer such men, as a reward for changing their faith, that they should +not be punished for their offences. And when his wife died without +becoming the mother of either male or female offspring, wishing to +establish the kingdom as securely as possible, he sent to Theoderic, the +king of the Goths, asking him to give him his sister Amalafrida to wife, +for her husband had just died. And Theoderic sent him not only his +sister but also a thousand of the notable Goths as a bodyguard, who were +followed by a host of attendants amounting to about five thousand +fighting men. And Theoderic also presented his sister with one of the +promontories of Sicily, which are three in number,--the one which they +call Lilybaeum,--and as a result of this Trasamundus was accounted the +strongest and most powerful of all those who had ruled over the Vandals. +He became also a very special friend of the emperor Anastasius. It was +during the reign of Trasamundus that it came about that the Vandals +suffered a disaster at the hands of the Moors such as had never befallen +them before that time. + +There was a certain Cabaon ruling over the Moors of Tripolis, a man +experienced in many wars and exceedingly shrewd. This Cabaon, upon +learning that the Vandals were marching against him, did as follows. +First of all he issued orders to his subjects to abstain from all +injustice and from all foods tending towards luxury and most of all from +association with women; and setting up two palisaded enclosures, he +encamped himself with all the men in one, and in the other he shut the +women, and he threatened that death would be the penalty if anyone +should go to the women's palisade. And after this he sent spies to +Carthage with the following instructions: whenever the Vandals in going +forth on the expedition should offer insult to any temple which the +Christians reverence, they were to look on and see what took place; and +when the Vandals had passed the place, they were to do the opposite of +everything which the Vandals had done to the sanctuary before their +departure. And they say that he added this also, that he was ignorant of +the God whom the Christians worshipped, but it was probable that if He +was powerful, as He was said to be, He should wreak vengeance upon those +who insulted Him and defend those who honoured Him. So the spies came to +Carthage and waited quietly, observing the preparation of the Vandals; +but when the army set out on the march to Tripolis, they followed, +clothing themselves in humble garb. And the Vandals, upon making camp +the first day, led their horses and their other animals into the temples +of the Christians, and sparing no insult, they acted with all the +unrestrained lawlessness natural to them, beating as many priests as +they caught and lashing them with many blows over the back and +commanding them to render such service to the Vandals as they were +accustomed to assign to the most dishonoured of their domestics. And as +soon as they had departed from there, the spies of Cabaon did as they +had been directed to do; for they straightway cleansed the sanctuaries +and took away with great care the filth and whatever other unholy thing +lay in them, and they lighted all the lamps and bowed down before the +priests with great reverence and saluted them with all friendliness; and +after giving pieces of silver to the poor who sat about these +sanctuaries, they then followed after the army of the Vandals. And from +then on along the whole route the Vandals continued to commit the same +offences and the spies to render the same service. And when they were +coming near the Moors, the spies anticipated them and reported to Cabaon +what had been done by the Vandals and by themselves to the temples of +the Christians, and that the enemy were somewhere near by. And Cabaon, +upon learning this, arranged for the encounter as follows. He marked off +a circle in the plain where he was about to make his palisade, and +placed his camels turned sideways in a circle as a protection for the +camp, making his line fronting the enemy about twelve camels deep. Then +he placed the children and the women and all those who were unfit for +fighting together with their possessions in the middle, while he +commanded the host of fighting men to stand between the feet of those +animals, covering themselves with their shields.[34] And since the +phalanx of the Moors was of such a sort, the Vandals were at a loss how +to handle the situation; for they were neither good with the javelin nor +with the bow, nor did they know how to go into battle on foot, but they +were all horsemen, and used spears and swords for the most part, so that +they were unable to do the enemy any harm at a distance; and their +horses, annoyed at the sight of the camels, refused absolutely to be +driven against the enemy. And since the Moors, by hurling javelins in +great numbers among them from their safe position, kept killing both +their horses and men without difficulty, because they were a vast +throng, they began to flee, and, when the Moors came out against them, +the most of them were destroyed, while some fell into the hands of the +enemy; and an exceedingly small number from this army returned home. +Such was the fortune which Trasamundus suffered at the hands of the +Moors. And he died at a later time, having ruled over the Moors +twenty-seven years. + + +IX + +[523 A.D.] And Ilderic, the son of Honoric, the son of Gizeric, next +received the kingdom, a ruler who was easily approached by his subjects +and altogether gentle, and he shewed himself harsh neither to the +Christians nor to anyone else, but in regard to affairs of war he was a +weakling and did not wish this thing even to come to his ears. Hoamer, +accordingly, his nephew and an able warrior, led the armies against any +with whom the Vandals were at war; he it was whom they called the +Achilles of the Vandals. During the reign of this Ilderic the Vandals +were defeated in Byzacium by the Moors, who were ruled by Antalas, and +it so fell out that they became enemies instead of allies and friends to +Theoderic and the Goths in Italy. For they put Amalafrida in prison and +destroyed all the Goths, charging them with revolutionary designs +against the Vandals and Ilderic. However, no revenge came from +Theoderic, for he considered himself unable to gather a great fleet and +make an expedition into Libya, and Ilderic was a very particular friend +and guest-friend of Justinian, who had not yet come to the throne, but +was administering the government according to his pleasure; for his +uncle Justinus, who was emperor, was very old and not altogether +experienced in matters of state. And Ilderic and Justinian made large +presents of money to each other. + +Now there was a certain man in the family of Gizeric, Gelimer, the son +of Geilaris, the son of Genzon, the son of Gizeric, who was of such age +as to be second only to Ilderic, and for this reason he was expected to +come into the kingdom very soon. This man was thought to be the best +warrior of his time, but for the rest he was a cunning fellow and base +at heart and well versed in undertaking revolutionary enterprises and in +laying hold upon the money of others. Now this Gelimer, when he saw the +power coming to him, was not able to live in his accustomed way, but +assumed to himself the tasks of a king and usurped the rule, though it +was not yet due him; and since Ilderic in a spirit of friendliness gave +in to him, he was no longer able to restrain his thoughts, but allying +with himself all the noblest of the Vandals, he persuaded them to wrest +the kingdom from Ilderic, as being an unwarlike king who had been +defeated by the Moors, and as betraying the power of the Vandals into +the hand of the Emperor Justinus, in order that the kingdom might not +come to him, because he was of the other branch of the family; for he +asserted slanderously that this was the meaning of Ilderic's embassy to +Byzantium, and that he was giving over the empire of the Vandals to +Justinus. And they, being persuaded, carried out this plan. [530 A.D.] +Thus Gelimer seized the supreme power, and imprisoned Ilderic, after he +had ruled over the Vandals seven years, and also Hoamer and his brother +Euagees. + +[527 A.D.] But when Justinian heard these things, having already +received the imperial power, he sent envoys to Gelimer in Libya with the +following letter: "You are not acting in a holy manner nor worthily of +the will of Gizeric, keeping in prison an old man and a kinsman and the +king of the Vandals (if the counsels of Gizeric are to be of effect), +and robbing him of his office by violence, though it would be possible +for you to receive it after a short time in a lawful manner. Do you +therefore do no further wrong and do not exchange the name of king for +the title of tyrant, which comes but a short time earlier. But as for +this man, whose death may be expected at any moment, allow him to bear +in appearance the form of royal power, while you do all the things which +it is proper that a king should do; and wait until you can receive from +time and the law of Gizeric, and from them alone, the name which belongs +to the position. For if you do this, the attitude of the Almighty will +be favourable and at the same time our relations with you will be +friendly." Such was his message. But Gelimer sent the envoys away with +nothing accomplished, and he blinded Hoamer and also kept Ilderic and +Euagees in closer confinement, charging them with planning flight to +Byzantium. And when this too was heard by the Emperor Justinian, he sent +envoys a second time and wrote as follows: "We, indeed, supposed that +you would never go contrary to our advice when we wrote you the former +letter. But since it pleases you to have secured possession of the royal +power in the manner in which you have taken and now hold it, get from it +whatever Heaven grants. But do you send to us Ilderic, and Hoamer whom +you have blinded, and his brother, to receive what comfort they can who +have been robbed of a kingdom or of sight; for we shall not let the +matter rest if you do not do this. And I speak thus because we are led +by the hope which I had based on our friendship. And the treaty with +Gizeric will not stand as an obstacle for us. For it is not to make war +upon him who has succeeded to the kingdom of Gizeric that we come, but +to avenge Gizeric with all our power." + +When Gelimer had read this, he replied as follows: "King Gelimer to the +Emperor Justinian. Neither have I taken the office by violence nor has +anything unholy been done by me to my kinsmen. For Ilderic, while +planning a revolution against the house of Gizeric, was dethroned by the +nation of the Vandals; and I was called to the kingdom by my years, +which gave me the preference, according to the law at least. Now it is +well for one to administer the kingly office which belongs to him and +not to make the concerns of others his own. Hence for you also, who have +a kingdom, meddling in other's affairs is not just; and if you break the +treaty and come against us, we shall oppose you with all our power, +calling to witness the oaths which were sworn by Zeno, from whom you +have received the kingdom which you hold." The Emperor Justinian, upon +receiving this letter, having been angry with Gelimer even before then, +was still more eager to punish him. And it seemed to him best to put an +end to the Persian war as soon as possible and then to make an +expedition to Libya; and since he was quick at forming a plan and prompt +in carrying out his decisions, Belisarius, the General of the East, was +summoned and came to him immediately, no announcement having been made +to him nor to anyone else that he was about to lead an army against +Libya, but it was given out that he had been removed from the office +which he held. And straightway the treaty with Persia was made, as has +been told in the preceding narrative.[35] + + +X + +And when the Emperor Justinian considered that the situation was as +favourable as possible, both as to domestic affairs and as to his +relations with Persia, he took under consideration the situation in +Libya. But when he disclosed to the magistrates that he was gathering an +army against the Vandals and Gelimer, the most of them began immediately +to show hostility to the plan, and they lamented it as a misfortune, +recalling the expedition of the Emperor Leon and the disaster of +Basiliscus, and reciting how many soldiers had perished and how much +money the state had lost. But the men who were the most sorrowful of +all, and who, by reason of their anxiety, felt the keenest regret, were +the pretorian prefect, whom the Romans call "praetor," and the +administrator of the treasury, and all to whom had been assigned the +collection of either public or imperial[36] taxes, for they reasoned +that while it would be necessary for them to produce countless sums for +the needs of the war, they would be granted neither pardon in case of +failure nor extension of time in which to raise these sums. And every +one of the generals, supposing that he himself would command the army, +was in terror and dread at the greatness of the danger, if it should be +necessary for him, if he were preserved from the perils of the sea, to +encamp in the enemy's land, and, using his ships as a base, to engage in +a struggle against a kingdom both large and formidable. The soldiers, +also, having recently returned from a long, hard war, and having not yet +tasted to the full the blessings of home, were in despair, both because +they were being led into sea-fighting,--a thing which they had not +learned even from tradition before then,--and because they were sent +from the eastern frontier to the West, in order to risk their lives +against Vandals and Moors. But all the rest, as usually happens in a +great throng, wished to be spectators of new adventures while others +faced the dangers. + +But as for saying anything to the emperor to prevent the expedition, no +one dared to do this except John the Cappadocian, the pretorian prefect, +a man of the greatest daring and the cleverest of all men of his time. +For this John, while all the others were bewailing in silence the +fortune which was upon them, came before the emperor and spoke as +follows: "O Emperor, the good faith which thou dost shew in dealing with +thy subjects enables us to speak frankly regarding anything which will +be of advantage to thy government, even though what is said and done may +not be agreeable to thee. For thus does thy wisdom temper thy authority +with justice, in that thou dost not consider that man only as loyal to +thy cause who serves thee under any and all conditions, nor art thou +angry with the man who speaks against thee, but by weighing all things +by pure reason alone, thou hast often shewn that it involves us in no +danger to oppose thy purposes. Led by these considerations, O Emperor, I +have come to offer this advice, knowing that, though I shall give +perhaps offence at the moment, if it so chance, yet in the future the +loyalty which I bear you will be made clear, and that for this I shall +be able to shew thee as a witness. For if, through not hearkening to my +words, thou shalt carry out the war against the Vandals, it will come +about, if the struggle is prolonged for thee, that my advice will win +renown. For if thou hast confidence that thou wilt conquer the enemy, it +is not at all unreasonable that thou shouldst sacrifice the lives of men +and expend a vast amount of treasure, and undergo the difficulties of +the struggle; for victory, coming at the end, covers up all the +calamities of war. But if in reality these things lie on the knees of +God, and if it behoves us, taking example from what has happened in the +past, to fear the outcome of war, on what grounds is it not better to +love a state of quiet rather than the dangers of mortal strife? Thou art +purposing to make an expedition against Carthage, to which, if one goes +by land, the journey is one of a hundred and forty days, and if one goes +by water, he is forced to cross the whole open sea and go to its very +end. So that he who brings thee news of what will happen in the camp +must needs reach thee a year after the event. And one might add that if +thou art victorious over thy enemy, thou couldst not take possession of +Libya while Sicily and Italy lie in the hands of others; and at the same +time, if any reverse befall thee, O Emperor, the treaty having already +been broken by thee, thou wilt bring the danger upon our own land. In +fact, putting all in a word, it will not be possible for thee to reap +the fruits of victory, and at the same time any reversal of fortune will +bring harm to what is well established. It is before an enterprise that +wise planning is useful. For when men have failed, repentance is of no +avail, but before disaster comes there is no danger in altering plans. +Therefore it will be of advantage above all else to make fitting use of +the decisive moment." + +Thus spoke John; and the Emperor Justinian, hearkening to his words, +checked his eager desire for the war. But one of the priests whom they +call bishops, who had come from the East, said that he wished to have a +word with the emperor. And when he met Justinian, he said that God had +visited him in a dream, and bidden him go to the emperor and rebuke him, +because, after undertaking the task of protecting the Christians in +Libya from tyrants, he had for no good reason become afraid. "And yet," +He had said, "I will Myself join with him in waging war and make him +lord of Libya." When the emperor heard this, he was no longer able to +restrain his purpose, and he began to collect the army and the ships, +and to make ready supplies of weapons and of food, and he announced to +Belisarius that he should be in readiness, because he was very soon to +act as general in Libya. Meanwhile Pudentius, one of the natives of +Tripolis in Libya, caused this district to revolt from the Vandals, and +sending to the emperor he begged that he should despatch an army to him; +for, he said, he would with no trouble win the land for the emperor. And +Justinian sent him Tattimuth and an army of no very great size. This +force Pudentius joined with his own troops and, the Vandals being +absent, he gained possession of the land and made it subject to the +emperor. And Gelimer, though wishing to inflict punishment upon +Pudentius, found the following obstacle in his way. + +There was a certain Godas among the slaves of Gelimer, a Goth by birth, +a passionate and energetic fellow possessed of great bodily strength, +but appearing to be well-disposed to the cause of his master. To this +Godas Gelimer entrusted the island of Sardinia, in order both to guard +the island and to pay over the annual tribute. But he neither could +digest the prosperity brought by fortune nor had he the spirit to endure +it, and so he undertook to establish a tyranny, and he refused to +continue the payment of the tribute, and actually detached the island +from the Vandals and held it himself. And when he perceived that the +Emperor Justinian was eager to make war against Libya and Gelimer, he +wrote to him as follows: + +"It was neither because I yielded to folly nor because I had suffered +anything unpleasant at my master's hands that I turned my thoughts +towards rebellion, but seeing the extreme cruelty of the man both toward +his kinsmen and toward his subjects, I could not, willingly at least, be +reputed to have a share in his inhumanity. For it is better to serve a +just king than a tyrant whose commands are unlawful. But do thou join +with me to assist in this my effort and send soldiers so that I may be +able to ward off my assailants." + +And the emperor, on receiving this letter, was pleased, and he sent +Eulogius as envoy and wrote a letter praising Godas for his wisdom and +his zeal for justice, and he promised an alliance and soldiers and a +general, who would be able to guard the island with him and to assist +him in every other way, so that no trouble should come to him from the +Vandals. But Eulogius, upon coming to Sardinia, found that Godas was +assuming the name and wearing the dress of a king and that he had +attached a body-guard to his person. And when Godas read the emperor's +letter, he said that it was his wish to have soldiers, indeed, come to +fight along with him, but as for a commander, he had absolutely no +desire for one. And having written to the emperor in this sense, he +dismissed Eulogius. + + +XI + +The emperor, meanwhile, not having yet ascertained these things, was +preparing four hundred soldiers with Cyril as commander, who were to +assist Godas in guarding the island. And with them he also had in +readiness the expedition against Carthage, ten thousand foot-soldiers, +and five thousand horsemen, gathered from the regular troops and from +the "foederati." Now at an earlier time only barbarians were enlisted +among the foederati, those, namely, who had come into the Roman +political system, not in the condition of slaves, since they had not +been conquered by the Romans, but on the basis of complete equality.[37] +For the Romans call treaties with their enemies "foedera." But at the +present time there is nothing to prevent anyone from assuming this name, +since time will by no means consent to keep names attached to the things +to which they were formerly applied, but conditions are ever changing +about according to the desire of men who control them, and men pay +little heed to the meaning which they originally attached to a name. And +the commanders of the foederati were Dorotheus, the general of the +troops in Armenia, and Solomon, who was acting as manager for the +general Belisarius; (such a person the Romans call "domesticus." Now +this Solomon was a eunuch, but it was not by the devising of man that he +had suffered mutilation, but some accident which befell him while in +swaddling clothes had imposed this lot upon him); and there were also +Cyprian, Valerian, Martinus, Althias, John, Marcellus, and the Cyril +whom I have mentioned above; and the commanders of the regular cavalry +were Rufinus and Aïgan, who were of the house of Belisarius, and +Barbatus and Pappus, while the regular infantry was commanded by +Theodorus, who was surnamed Cteanus, and Terentius, Zaïdus, Marcian, and +Sarapis. And a certain John, a native of Epidamnus, which is now called +Dyrrachium, held supreme command over all the leaders of infantry. Among +all these commanders Solomon was from a place in the East, at the very +extremity of the Roman domain, where the city called Daras now stands, +and Aïgan was by birth of the Massagetae whom they now call Huns; and +the rest were almost all inhabitants of the land of Thrace. And there +followed with them also four hundred Eruli, whom Pharas led, and about +six hundred barbarian allies from the nation of the Massagetae, all +mounted bowmen; these were led by Sinnion and Balas, men endowed with +bravery and endurance in the highest degree. And for the whole force +five hundred ships were required, no one of which was able to carry more +than fifty thousand medimni,[38] nor any one less than three thousand. +And in all the vessels together there were thirty thousand sailors, +Egyptians and Ionians for the most part, and Cilicians, and one +commander was appointed over all the ships, Calonymus of Alexandria. And +they had also ships of war prepared as for sea-fighting, to the number +of ninety-two, and they were single-banked ships covered by decks, in +order that the men rowing them might if possible not be exposed to the +bolts of the enemy. Such boats are called "dromones"[39] by those of the +present time; for they are able to attain a great speed. In these sailed +two thousand men of Byzantium, who were all rowers as well as fighting +men; for there was not a single superfluous man among them. And +Archelaus was also sent, a man of patrician standing who had already +been pretorian prefect both in Byzantium and in Illyricum, but he then +held the position of prefect of the army; for thus the officer charged +with the maintenance of the army is designated. But as general with +supreme authority over all the emperor sent Belisarius, who was in +command of the troops of the East for the second time. And he was +followed by many spearmen and many guards as well, men who were capable +warriors and thoroughly experienced in the dangers of fighting. And the +emperor gave him written instructions, bidding him do everything as +seemed best to him, and stating that his acts would be final, as if the +emperor himself had done them. The writing, in fact, gave him the power +of a king. Now Belisarius was a native of Germania, which lies between +Thrace and Illyricum. These things, then, took place in this way. + +Gelimer, however, being deprived of Tripolis by Pudentius and of +Sardinia by Godas, scarcely hoped to regain Tripolis, since it was +situated at a great distance and the rebels were already being assisted +by the Romans, against whom just at that moment it seemed to him best +not to take the field; but he was eager to get to the island before any +army sent by the emperor to fight for his enemies should arrive there. +He accordingly selected five thousand of the Vandals and one hundred and +twenty ships of the fastest kind, and appointing as general his brother +Tzazon, he sent them off. And so they were sailing with great enthusiasm +and eagerness against Godas and Sardinia. In the meantime the Emperor +Justinian was sending off Valerian and Martinus in advance of the others +in order to await the rest of the army in the Peloponnesus. And when +these two had embarked upon their ships, it came to the emperor's mind +that there was something which he wished to enjoin upon them,--a thing +which he had wished to say previously, but he had been so busied with +the other matters of which he had to speak that his mind had been +occupied with them and this subject had been driven out. He summoned +them, accordingly, intending to say what he wished, but upon considering +the matter, he saw that it would not be propitious for them to interrupt +their journey. He therefore sent men to forbid them either to return to +him or to disembark from their ships. And these men, upon coming near +the ships, commanded them with much shouting and loud cries by no means +to turn back, and it seemed to those present that the thing which had +happened was no good omen and that never would one of the men in those +ships return from Libya to Byzantium. For besides the omen they +suspected that a curse also had come to the men from the emperor, not at +all by his own will, so that they would not return. Now if anyone should +so interpret the incident with regard to these two commanders, Valerian +and Martinus, he will find the original opinion untrue. But there was a +certain man among the body-guards of Martinus, Stotzas by name, who was +destined to be an enemy of the emperor, to make an attempt to set up a +tyranny, and by no means to return to Byzantium, and one might suppose +that curse to have been turned upon him by Heaven. But whether this +matter stands thus or otherwise, I leave to each one to reason out as he +wishes. But I shall proceed to tell how the general Belisarius and the +army departed. + + +XII + +[533 A.D.] In the seventh year of Justinian's reign, at about the spring +equinox, the emperor commanded the general's ship to anchor off the +point which is before the royal palace. Thither came also Epiphanius, +the chief priest of the city, and after uttering an appropriate prayer, +he put on the ships one of the soldiers who had lately been baptized and +had taken the Christian name. And after this the general Belisarius and +Antonina, his wife, set sail. And there was with them also Procopius, +who wrote this history; now previously he had been exceedingly terrified +at the danger, but later he had seen a vision in his sleep which caused +him to take courage and made him eager to go on the expedition. For it +seemed in the dream that he was in the house of Belisarius, and one of +the servants entering announced that some men had come bearing gifts; +and Belisarius bade him investigate what sort of gifts they were, and he +went out into the court and saw men who carried on their shoulders earth +with the flowers and all. And he bade him bring these men into the house +and deposit the earth they were carrying in the portico; and Belisarius +together with his guardsmen came there, and he himself reclined on that +earth and ate of the flowers, and urged the others to do likewise; and +as they reclined and ate, as if upon a couch, the food seemed to them +exceedingly sweet. Such, then, was the vision of the dream. + +And the whole fleet followed the general's ship, and they put in at +Perinthus, which is now called Heracleia,[40] where five days' time was +spent by the army, since at that place the general received as a present +from the emperor an exceedingly great number of horses from the royal +pastures, which are kept for him in the territory of Thrace. And setting +sail from there, they anchored off Abydus, and it came about as they +were delaying there four days on account of the lack of wind that the +following event took place. Two Massagetae killed one of their comrades +who was ridiculing them, in the midst of their intemperate drinking; for +they were intoxicated. For of all men the Massagetae are the most +intemperate drinkers. Belisarius, accordingly, straightway impaled these +two men on the hill which is near Abydus. And since all, and especially +the relatives of these two men, were angry and declared that it was not +in order to be punished nor to be subject to the laws of the Romans that +they had entered into an alliance (for their own laws did not make the +punishment for murder such _as_ this, they said); and since they were +joined in voicing the accusation against the general even by Roman +soldiers, who were anxious that there should be no punishment for their +offences, Belisarius called together both the Massagetae and the rest of +the army and spoke as follows: "If my words were addressed to men now +for the first time entering into war, it would require a long time for +me to convince you by speech how great a help justice is for gaining the +victory. For those who do not understand the fortunes of such struggles +think that the outcome of war lies in strength of arm alone. But you, +who have often conquered an enemy not inferior to you in strength of +body and well endowed with valour, you who have often tried your +strength against your opponents, you, I think, are not ignorant that, +while it is men who always do the fighting in either army, it is God who +judges the contest as seems best to Him and bestows the victory in +battle. Now since this is so, it is fitting to consider good bodily +condition and practice in arms and all the other provision for war of +less account than justice and those things which pertain to God. For +that which may possibly be of greatest advantage to men in need would +naturally be honoured by them above all other things. Now the first +proof of justice would be the punishment of those who have committed +unjust murder. For if it is incumbent upon us to sit in judgment upon +the actions which from time to time are committed by men toward their +neighbours, and to adjudge and to name the just and the unjust action, +we should find that nothing is more precious to a man than his life. And +if any barbarian who has slain his kinsman expects to find indulgence in +his trial on the ground that he was drunk, in all fairness he makes the +charge so much the worse by reason of the very circumstance by which, as +he alleges, his guilt is removed. For it is not right for a man under +any circumstances, and especially when serving in an army, to be so +drunk as readily to kill his dearest friends; nay, the drunkenness +itself, even if the murder is not added at all, is worthy of punishment; +and when a kinsman is wronged, the crime would clearly be of greater +moment as regards punishment than when committed against those who are +not kinsmen, at least in the eyes of men of sense. Now the example is +before you and you may see what sort of an outcome such actions have. +But as for you, it is your duty to avoid laying violent hands upon +anyone without provocation, or carrying off the possessions of others; +for I shall not overlook it, be assured, and I shall not consider anyone +of you a fellow-soldier of mine, no matter how terrible he is reputed to +be to the foe, who is not able to use clean hands against the enemy. For +bravery cannot be victorious unless it be arrayed along with justice." +So spoke Belisarius. And the whole army, hearing what was said and +looking up at the two men impaled, felt an overwhelming fear come over +them and took thought to conduct their lives with moderation, for they +saw that they would not be free from great danger if they should be +caught doing anything unlawful. + + +XIII + +After this Belisarius bethought him how his whole fleet should always +keep together as it sailed and should anchor in the same place. For he +knew that in a large fleet, and especially if rough winds should assail +them, it was inevitable that many of the ships should be left behind and +scattered on the open sea, and that their pilots should not know which +of the ships that put to sea ahead of them it was better to follow. So +after considering the matter, he did as follows. The sails of the three +ships in which he and his following were carried he painted red from the +upper corner for about one third of their length, and he erected upright +poles on the prow of each, and hung lights from them, so that both by +day and by night the general's ships might be distinguishable; then he +commanded all the pilots to follow these ships. Thus with the three +ships leading the whole fleet not a single ship was left behind. And +whenever they were about to put out from a harbour, the trumpets +announced this to them. + +And upon setting out from Abydus they met with strong winds which +carried them to Sigeum. And again in calm weather they proceeded more +leisurely to Malea, where the calm proved of the greatest advantage to +them. For since they had a great fleet and exceedingly large ships, as +night came on everything was thrown into confusion by reason of their +being crowded into small space, and they were brought into extreme +peril. At that time both the pilots and the rest of the sailors shewed +themselves skilful and efficient, for while shouting at the top of their +voices and making a great noise they kept pushing the ships apart with +their poles, and cleverly kept the distances between their different +vessels; but if a wind had arisen, whether a following or a head wind, +it seems to me that the sailors would hardly have preserved themselves +and their ships. But as it was, they escaped, as I have said, and put in +at Taenarum, which is now called Caenopolis.[41] Then, pressing on from +there, they touched at Methone, and found Valerian and Martinus with +their men, who had reached the same place a short time before. And since +there were no winds blowing, Belisarius anchored the ships there, and +disembarked the whole army; and after they were on shore he assigned the +commanders their positions and drew up the soldiers. And while he was +thus engaged and no wind at all arose, it came about that many of the +soldiers were destroyed by disease caused in the following manner. + +The pretorian prefect, John, was a man of worthless character, and so +skilful at devising ways of bringing money into the public treasury to +the detriment of men that I, for my part, should never be competent to +describe this trait of his. But this has been said in the preceding +pages, when I was brought to this point by my narrative.[42] But I shall +tell in the present case in what manner he destroyed the soldiers. The +bread which soldiers are destined to eat in camp must of necessity be +put twice into the oven, and be cooked so carefully as to last for a +very long period and not spoil in a short time, and loaves cooked in +this way necessarily weigh less; and for this reason, when such bread is +distributed, the soldiers generally received as their portion one-fourth +more than the usual weight.[43] John, therefore, calculating how he +might reduce the amount of firewood used and have less to pay to the +bakers in wages, and also how he might not lose in the weight of the +bread, brought the still uncooked dough to the public baths of Achilles, +in the basement of which the fire is kept burning, and bade his men set +it down there. And when it seemed to be cooked in some fashion or other, +he threw it into bags, put it on the ships, and sent it off. And when +the fleet arrived at Methone, the loaves disintegrated and returned +again to flour, not wholesome flour, however, but rotten and becoming +mouldy and already giving out a sort of oppressive odour. And the loaves +were dispensed by measure[44] to the soldiers by those to whom this +office was assigned, and they were already making the distribution of +the bread by quarts and bushels. And the soldiers, feeding upon this in +the summer time in a place where the climate is very hot, became sick, +and not less than five hundred of them died; and the same thing was +about to happen to more, but Belisarius prevented it by ordering the +bread of the country to be furnished them. And reporting the matter to +the emperor, he himself gained in favour, but he did not at that time +bring any punishment upon John. + +These events, then, took place in the manner described. And setting out +from Methone they reached the harbour of Zacynthus, where they took in +enough water to last them in crossing the Adriatic Sea, and after making +all their other preparations, sailed on. But since the wind they had was +very gentle and languid, it was only on the sixteenth day that they came +to land at a deserted place in Sicily near which Mount Aetna rises. And +while they were being delayed in this passage, as has been said, it so +happened that the water of the whole fleet was spoiled, except that +which Belisarius himself and his table-companions were drinking. For +this alone was preserved by the wife of Belisarius in the following +manner. She filled with water jars made of glass and constructed a small +room with planks in the hold of the ship where it was impossible for the +sun to penetrate, and there she sank the jars in sand, and by this means +the water remained unaffected. So much, then, for this. + + +XIV + +And as soon as Belisarius had disembarked upon the island, he began to +feel restless, knowing not how to proceed, and his mind was tormented by +the thought that he did not know what sort of men the Vandals were +against whom he was going, and how strong they were in war, or in what +manner the Romans would have to wage the war, or what place would be +their base of operations. But most of all he was disturbed by the +soldiers, who were in mortal dread of sea-fighting and had no shame in +saying beforehand that, if they should be disembarked on the land, they +would try to show themselves brave men in the battle, but if hostile +ships assailed them, they would turn to flight; for, they said, they +were not able to contend against two enemies at once, both men and +water. Being at a loss, therefore, because of all these things, he sent +Procopius, his adviser, to Syracuse, to find out whether the enemy had +any ships in ambush keeping watch over the passage across the sea, +either on the island or on the continent, and where it would be best for +them to anchor in Libya, and from what point as base it would be +advantageous for them to start in carrying on the war against the +Vandals. And he bade him, when he should have accomplished his commands, +return and meet him at the place called Caucana,[45] about two hundred +stades distant from Syracuse, where both he and the whole fleet were to +anchor. But he let it be understood that he was sending him to buy +provisions, since the Goths were willing to give them a market, this +having been decided upon by the Emperor Justinian and Amalasountha, the +mother of Antalaric,[46] who was at that time a boy being reared under +the care of his mother, Amalasountha, and held sway over both the Goths +and the Italians. For when Theoderic had died and the kingdom came to +his nephew, Antalaric, who had already before this lost his father, +Amalasountha was fearful both for her child and for the kingdom and +cultivated the friendship of Justinian very carefully, and she gave heed +to his commands in all matters and at that time promised to provide a +market for his army and did so. + +Now when Procopius reached Syracuse, he unexpectedly met a man who had +been a fellow-citizen and friend of his from childhood, who had been +living in Syracuse for a long time engaged in the shipping business, and +he learned from him what he wanted; for this man showed him a domestic +who had three days before that very day come from Carthage, and he said +that they need not suspect that there would be any ambush set for the +fleet by the Vandals. For from no one in the world had they learned that +an army was coming against them at that time, but all the active men +among the Vandals had actually a little before gone on an expedition +against Godas. And for this reason Gelimer, with no thought of an enemy +in his mind and regardless of Carthage and all the other places on the +sea, was staying in Hermione, which is in Byzacium, four days' journey +distant from the coast; so that it was possible for them to sail without +fearing any difficulty and to anchor wherever the wind should call them. +When Procopius heard this, he took the hand of the domestic and walked +to the harbour of Arethousa where his boat lay at anchor, making many +enquiries of the man and searching out every detail. And going on board +the ship with him, he gave orders to raise the sails and to make all +speed for Caucana. And since the master of the domestic stood on the +shore wondering that he did not give him back the man, Procopius shouted +out, when the ship was already under way, begging him not to be angry +with him; for it was necessary that the domestic should meet the +general, and, after leading the army to Libya, would return after no +long time to Syracuse with much money in his pocket. + +But upon coming to Caucana they found all in deep grief. For Dorotheus, +the general of the troops of Armenia, had died there, leaving to the +whole army a great sense of loss. But Belisarius, when the domestic had +come before him and related his whole story, became exceedingly glad, +and after bestowing many praises upon Procopius, he issued orders to +give the signal for departure with the trumpets. And setting sail +quickly they touched at the islands of Gaulus and Melita,[47] which mark +the boundary between the Adriatic and Tuscan Seas. There a strong east +wind arose for them, and on the following day it carried the ships to +the point of Libya, at the place which the Romans call in their own +tongue "Shoal's Head." For its name is "Caputvada," and it is five days' +journey from Carthage for an unencumbered traveller. + + +XV + +And when they came near the shore, the general bade them furl the sails, +throw out anchors from the ships, and make a halt; and calling together +all the commanders to his own ship, he opened a discussion with regard +to the disembarkation. Thereupon many speeches were made inclining to +either side, and Archelaus came forward and spoke as follows: + +"I admire, indeed, the virtue of our general, who, while surpassing all +by far in judgment and possessing the greatest wealth of experience, and +at the same time holding the power alone, has proposed an open +discussion and bids each one of us speak, so that we shall be able to +choose whichever course seems best, though it is possible for him to +decide alone on what is needful and at his leisure to put it into +execution as he wishes. But as for you, my fellow officers--I do not +know how I am to say it easily--one might wonder that each one did not +hasten to be the first to oppose the disembarkation. And yet I +understand that the making of suggestions to those who are entering upon +a perilous course brings no personal advantage to him who offers the +advice, but as a general thing results in bringing blame upon him. For +when things go well for men, they attribute their success to their own +judgment or to fortune, but when they fail, they blame only the one who +has advised them. Nevertheless I shall speak out. For it is not right +for those who deliberate about safety to shrink from blame. You are +purposing to disembark on the enemy's land, fellow-officers; but in what +harbour are you planning to place the ships in safety? Or in what city's +wall will you find security for yourselves? Have you not then heard that +this promontory--I mean from Carthage to Iouce--extends, they say, for a +journey of nine days, altogether without harbours and lying open to the +wind from whatever quarter it may blow? And not a single walled town is +left in all Libya except Carthage, thanks to the decision of +Gizeric.[48] And one might add that in this place, they say, water is +entirely lacking. Come now, if you wish, let us suppose that some +adversity befall us, and with this in view make the decision. For that +those who enter into contests of arms should expect no difficulty is not +in keeping with human experience nor with the nature of things. If, +then, after we have disembarked upon the mainland, a storm should fall +upon us, will it not be necessary that one of two things befall the +ships, either that they flee away as far as possible, or perish upon +this promontory? Secondly, what means will there be of supplying us with +necessities? Let no one look to me as the officer charged with the +maintenance of the army. For every official, when deprived of the means +of administering his office, is of necessity reduced to the name and +character of a private person. And where shall we deposit our +superfluous arms or any other part of our necessaries when we are +compelled to receive the attack of the barbarians? Nay, as for this, it +is not well even to say how it will turn out. But I think that we ought +to make straight for Carthage. For they say that there is a harbour +called Stagnum not more than forty stades distant from that city, which +is entirely unguarded and large enough for the whole fleet. And if we +make this the base of our operations, we shall carry on the war without +difficulty. And I, for my part, think it likely that we shall win +Carthage by a sudden attack, especially since the enemy are far away +from it, and that after we have won it we shall have no further trouble. +For it is a way with all men's undertakings that when the chief point +has been captured, they collapse after no long time. It behoves us, +therefore, to bear in mind all these things and to choose the best +course." So spoke Archelaus. + +And Belisarius spoke as follows: "Let no one of you, fellow-officers, +think that my words are those of censure, nor that they are spoken in +the last place to the end that it may become necessary for all to follow +them, of whatever sort they may be. For I have heard what seems best to +each one of you, and it is becoming that I too should lay before you +what I think, and then with you should choose the better course. But it +is right to remind you of this fact, that the soldiers said openly a +little earlier that they feared the dangers by sea and would turn to +flight if a hostile ship should attack them, and we prayed God to shew +us the land of Libya and allow us a peaceful disembarkation upon it. And +since this is so, I think it the part of foolish men first to pray to +receive from God the more favourable fortune, then when this is given +them, to reject it and go in the contrary direction. And if we do sail +straight for Carthage and a hostile fleet encounters us, the soldiers +will remain without blame, if they flee with all their might--for a +delinquency announced beforehand carries with it its own defence--but +for us, even if we come through safely, there will be no forgiveness. +Now while there are many difficulties if we remain in the ships, it will +be sufficient, I think, to mention only one thing,--that by which +especially they wish to frighten us when they hold over our heads the +danger of a storm. For if any storm should fall upon us, one of two +things, they say, must necessarily befall the ships, either that they +flee far from Libya or be destroyed upon this headland. What then under +the present circumstances will be more to our advantage to choose? to +have the ships alone destroyed, or to have lost everything, men and all? +But apart from this, at the present time we shall fall upon the enemy +unprepared, and in all probability shall fare as we desire; for in +warfare it is the unexpected which is accustomed to govern the course of +events. But a little later, when the enemy have already made their +preparation, the struggle we shall have will be one of strength evenly +matched. And one might add that it will be necessary perhaps to fight +even for the disembarkation, and to seek for that which now we have +within our grasp but over which we are deliberating as a thing not +necessary. And if at the very time, when we are engaged in conflict, a +storm also comes upon us, as often happens on the sea, then while +struggling both against the waves and against the Vandals, we shall come +to regret our prudence. As for me, then, I say that we must disembark +upon the land with all possible speed, landing horses and arms and +whatever else we consider necessary for our use, and that we must dig a +trench quickly and throw a stockade around us of a kind which can +contribute to our safety no less than any walled town one might mention, +and with that as our base must carry on the war from there if anyone +should attack us. And if we shew ourselves brave men, we shall lack +nothing in the way of provisions. For those who hold the mastery over +their enemy are lords also of the enemy's possessions; and it is the way +of victory, first to invest herself with all the wealth, and then to set +it down again on that side to which she inclines. Therefore, for you +both the chance of safety and of having an abundance of good things lies +in your own hands." + +When Belisarius had said this, the whole assembly agreed and adopted his +proposal, and separating from one another, they made the disembarkation +as quickly as possible, about three months later than their departure +from Byzantium. And indicating a certain spot on the shore the general +bade both soldiers and sailors dig the trench and place the stockade +about it. And they did as directed. And since a great throng was working +and fear was stimulating their enthusiasm and the general was urging +them on, not only was the trench dug on the same day, but the stockade +was also completed and the pointed stakes were fixed in place all +around. Then, indeed, while they were digging the trench, something +happened which was altogether amazing. A great abundance of water sprang +forth from the earth, a thing which had not happened before in Byzacium, +and besides this the place where they were was altogether waterless. Now +this water sufficed for all uses of both men and animals. And in +congratulating the general, Procopius said that he rejoiced at the +abundance of water, not so much because of its usefulness, as because it +seemed to him a symbol of an easy victory, and that Heaven was +foretelling a victory to them. This, at any rate, actually came to pass. +So for that night all the soldiers bivouacked in the camp, setting +guards and doing everything else as was customary, except, indeed, that +Belisarius commanded five bowmen to remain in each ship for the purpose +of a guard, and that the ships-of-war should anchor in a circle about +them, taking care that no one should come against them to do them harm. + + +XVI + +But on the following day, when some of the soldiers went out into the +fields and laid hands on the fruit, the general inflicted corporal +punishment of no casual sort upon them, and he called all the army +together and spoke as follows: "This using of violence and the eating of +that which belongs to others seems at other times a wicked thing only on +this account, that injustice is in the deed itself, as the saying is; +but in the present instance so great an element of detriment is added to +the wrongdoing that--if it is not too harsh to say so--we must consider +the question of justice of less account and calculate the magnitude of +the danger that may arise from your act. For I have disembarked you upon +this land basing my confidence on this alone, that the Libyans, being +Romans from of old, are unfaithful and hostile to the Vandals, and for +this reason I thought that no necessaries would fail us and, besides, +that the enemy would not do us any injury by a sudden attack. But now +this your lack of self-control has changed it all and made the opposite +true. For you have doubtless reconciled the Libyans to the Vandals, +bringing their hostility round upon your own selves. For by nature those +who are wronged feel enmity toward those who have done them violence, +and it has come round to this that you have exchanged your own safety +and a bountiful supply of good things for some few pieces of silver, +when it was possible for you, by purchasing provisions from willing +owners, not to appear unjust and at the same time to enjoy their +friendship to the utmost. Now, therefore, the war will be between you +and both Vandals and Libyans, and I, at least, say further that it will +be against God himself, whose aid no one who does wrong can invoke. But +do you cease trespassing wantonly upon the possessions of others, and +reject a gain which is full of dangers. For this is that time in which +above all others moderation is able to save, but lawlessness leads to +death. For if you give heed to these things, you will find God +propitious, the Libyan people well-disposed, and the race of the Vandals +open to your attack." + +With these words Belisarius dismissed the assembly. And at that time he +heard that the city of Syllectus was distant one day's journey from the +camp, lying close to the sea on the road leading to Carthage, and that +the wall of this city had been torn down for a long time, but the +inhabitants of the place had made a barrier on all sides by means of the +walls of their houses, on account of the attacks of the Moors, and +guarded a kind of fortified enclosure; he, accordingly, sent one of his +spearmen, Boriades, together with some of the guards, commanding them to +make an attempt oh the city, and, if they captured it, to do no harm in +it, but to promise a thousand good things and to say that they had come +for the sake of the people's freedom, that so the army might be able to +enter into it. And they came near the city about dusk and passed the +night hidden in a ravine. But at early dawn, meeting country folk going +into the city with waggons, they entered quietly with them and with no +trouble took possession of the city. And when day came, no one having +begun any disturbance, they called together the priest and all the other +notables and announced the commands of the general, and receiving the +keys of the entrances from willing hands, they sent them to the general. + +On the same day the overseer of the public post deserted, handing over +all the government horses. And they captured also one of those who are +occasionally sent to bear the royal responses, whom they call +"veredarii"[49]; and the general did him no harm but presented him with +much gold and, receiving pledges from him, put into his hand the letter +which the Emperor Justinian had written to the Vandals, that he might +give it to the magistrates of the Vandals. And the writing was as +follows: "Neither have we decided to make war upon the Vandals, nor are +we breaking the treaty of Gizeric, but we are attempting to dethrone +your tyrant, who, making light of the testament of Gizeric, has +imprisoned your king and is keeping him in custody, and those of his +relatives whom he hated exceedingly he put to death at the first, and +the rest, after robbing them of their sight, he keeps under guard, not +allowing them to terminate their misfortunes by death. Do you, +therefore, join forces with us and help us in freeing yourselves from so +wicked a tyranny, in order that you may be able to enjoy both peace and +freedom. For we give you pledges in the name of God that these things +will come to you by our hand." Such was the message of the emperor's +letter. But the man who received this from Belisarius did not dare to +publish it openly, and though he shewed it secretly to his friends, he +accomplished nothing whatever of consequence. + + +XVII + +And Belisarius, having arrayed his army as for battle in the following +manner, began the march to Carthage. He chose out three hundred of his +guards, men who were able warriors, and handed them over to John, who +was in charge of the expenditures of the general's household; such a +person the Romans call "optio."[50] And he was an Armenian by birth, a +man gifted with discretion and courage in the highest degree. This John, +then, he commanded to go ahead of the army, at a distance of not less +than twenty stades, and if he should see anything of the enemy, to +report it with all speed, so that they might not be compelled to enter +into battle unprepared. And the allied Massagetae he commanded to travel +constantly on the left of the army, keeping as many stades away or more; +and he himself marched in the rear with the best troops. For he +suspected that it would not be long before Gelimer, following them from +Hermione, would make an attack upon them. And these precautions were +sufficient, for on the right side there was no fear, since they were +travelling not far from the coast. And he commanded the sailors to +follow along with them always and not to separate themselves far from +the army, but when the wind was favouring to lower the great sails, and +follow with the small sails, which they call "dolones,"[51] and when the +wind dropped altogether to keep the ships under way as well as they +could by rowing. + +And when Belisarius reached Syllectus, the soldiers behaved with +moderation, and they neither began any unjust brawls nor did anything +out of the way, and he himself, by displaying great gentleness and +kindness, won the Libyans to his side so completely that thereafter he +made the journey as if in his own land; for neither did the inhabitants +of the land withdraw nor did they wish to conceal anything, but they +both furnished a market and served the soldiers in whatever else they +wished. And accomplishing eighty stades each day, we completed the whole +journey to Carthage, passing the night either in a city, should it so +happen, or in a camp made as thoroughly secure as the circumstances +permitted. Thus we passed through the city of Leptis and Hadrumetum and +reached the place called Grasse, three hundred and fifty stades distant +from Carthage. In that place was a palace of the ruler of the Vandals +and a park the most beautiful of all we know. For it is excellently +watered by springs and has a great wealth of woods. And all the trees +are full of fruit; so that each one of the soldiers pitched his tent +among fruit-trees, and though all of them ate their fill of the fruit, +which was then ripe, there was practically no diminution to be seen in +the fruit. + +But Gelimer, as soon as he heard in Hermione that the enemy were at +hand, wrote to his brother Ammatas in Carthage to kill Ilderic and all +the others, connected with him either by birth or otherwise, whom he was +keeping under guard, and commanded him to make ready the Vandals and all +others in the city serviceable for war, in order that, when the enemy +got inside the narrow passage at the suburb of the city which they call +Decimum,[52] they might come together from both sides and surround them +and, catching them as in a net, destroy them. And Ammatas carried this +out, and killed Ilderic, who was a relative of his, and Euagees, and all +the Libyans who were intimate with them. For Hoamer had already departed +from the world.[53] And arming the Vandals, he made them ready, +intending to make his attack at the opportune moment. But Gelimer was +following behind, without letting it be known to us, except, indeed, +that, on that night when we bivouacked in Grasse, scouts coming from +both armies met each other, and after an exchange of blows they each +retired to their own camp, and in this way it became evident to us that +the enemy were not far away. As we proceeded from there it was +impossible to discern the ships. For high rocks extending well into the +sea cause mariners to make a great circuit, and there is a projecting +headland,[54] inside of which lies the town of Hermes. Belisarius +therefore commanded Archelaus, the prefect, and Calonymus, the admiral, +not to put in at Carthage, but to remain about two hundred stades away +until he himself should summon them. And departing from Grasse we came +on the fourth day to Decimum, seventy stades distant from Carthage. + + +XVIII + +And on that day Gelimer commanded his nephew Gibamundus with two +thousand of the Vandals to go ahead of the rest of the army on the left +side, in order that Ammatas coming from Carthage, Gelimer himself from +the rear, and Gibamundus from the country to the left, might unite and +accomplish the task of encircling the enemy with less difficulty and +exertion. But as for me, during this struggle I was moved to wonder at +the ways of Heaven and of men, noting how God, who sees from afar what +will come to pass, traces out the manner in which it seems best to him +that things should come to pass, while men, whether they are deceived or +counsel aright, know not that they have failed, should that be the +issue, or that they have succeeded, God's purpose being that a path +shall be made for Fortune, who presses on inevitably toward that which +has been foreordained. For if Belisarius had not thus arranged his +forces, commanding the men under John to take the lead, and the +Massagetae to march on the left of the army, we should never have been +able to escape the Vandals. And even with this planned so by Belisarius, +if Ammatas had observed the opportune time, and had not anticipated this +by about the fourth part of a day, never would the cause of the Vandals +have fallen as it did; but as it was, Ammatas came to Decimum about +midday, in advance of the time, while both we and the Vandal army were +far away, erring not only in that he did not arrive at the fitting time, +but also in leaving at Carthage the host of the Vandals, commanding them +to come to Decimum as quickly as possible, while he with a few men and +not even the pick of the army came into conflict with John's men. And he +killed twelve of the best men who were fighting in the front rank, and +he himself fell, having shewn himself a brave man in this engagement. +And the rout, after Ammatas fell, became complete, and the Vandals, +fleeing at top speed, swept back all those who were coming from Carthage +to Decimum. For they were advancing in no order and not drawn up as for +battle, but in companies, and small ones at that; for they were coming +in bands of twenty or thirty. And seeing the Vandals under Ammatas +fleeing, and thinking their pursuers were a great multitude, they turned +and joined in the flight. And John and his men, killing all whom they +came upon, advanced as far as the gates of Carthage. And there was so +great a slaughter of Vandals in the course of the seventy stades that +those who beheld it would have supposed that it was the work of an enemy +twenty thousand strong. + +At the same time Gibamundus and his two thousand came to Pedion Halon, +which is forty stades distant from Decimum on the left as one goes to +Carthage, and is destitute of human habitation or trees or anything +else, since the salt in the water permits nothing except salt to be +produced there; in that place they encountered the Huns and were all +destroyed. Now there was a certain man among the Massagetae, well gifted +with courage and strength of body, the leader of a few men; this man had +the privilege handed down from his fathers and ancestors to be the first +in all the Hunnic armies to attack the enemy. For it was not lawful for +a man of the Massagetae to strike first in battle and capture one of the +enemy until, indeed, someone from this house began the struggle with the +enemy. So when the two armies had come not far from each other, this man +rode out and stopped alone close to the army of the Vandals. And the +Vandals, either because they were dumbfounded at the courageous spirit +of the man or perhaps because they suspected that the enemy were +contriving something against them, decided neither to move nor to shoot +at the man. And I think that, since they had never had experience of +battle with the Massagetae, but heard that the nation was very warlike, +they were for this reason terrified at the danger. And the man, +returning to his compatriots, said that God had sent them these +strangers as a ready feast. Then at length they made their onset and the +Vandals did not withstand them, but breaking their ranks and never +thinking of resistance, they were all disgracefully destroyed. + + +XIX + +But we, having learned nothing at all of what had happened, were going +on to Decimum. And Belisarius, seeing a place well adapted for a camp, +thirty-five stades distant from Decimum, surrounded it with a stockade +which was very well made, and placing all the infantry there and calling +together the whole army, he spoke as follows: "Fellow-soldiers, the +decisive moment of the struggle is already at hand; for I perceive that +the enemy are advancing upon us; and the ships have been taken far away +from us by the nature of the place; and it has come round to this that +our hope of safety lies in the strength of our hands. For there is not a +friendly city, no, nor any other stronghold, in which we may put our +trust and have confidence concerning ourselves. But if we should show +ourselves brave men, it is probable that we shall still overcome the +enemy in the war; but if we should weaken at all, it will remain for us +to fall under the hand of the Vandals and to be destroyed disgracefully. +And yet there are many advantages on our side to help us on toward +victory; for we have with us both justice, with which we have come +against our enemy (for we are here in order to recover what is our own), +and the hatred of the Vandals toward their own tyrant. For the alliance +of God follows naturally those who put justice forward, and a soldier +who is ill-disposed toward his ruler knows not how to play the part of a +brave man. And apart from this, we have been engaged with Persians and +Scythians all the time, but the Vandals, since the time they conquered +Libya, have seen not a single enemy except naked Moors. And who does not +know that in every work practice leads to skill, while idleness leads to +inefficiency? Now the stockade, from which we shall have to carry on the +war, has been made by us in the best possible manner. And we are able to +deposit here our weapons and everything else which we are not able to +carry when we go forth; and when we return here again, no kind of +provisions can fail us. And I pray that each one of you, calling to mind +his own valour and those whom he has left at home, may so march with +contempt against the enemy." + +After speaking these words and uttering a prayer after them, Belisarius +left his wife and the barricaded camp to the infantry, and himself set +forth with all the horsemen. For it did not seem to him advantageous for +the present to risk an engagement with the whole army, but it seemed +wise to skirmish first with the horsemen and make trial of the enemy's +strength, and finally to fight a decisive battle with the whole army. +Sending forward, therefore, the commanders of the foederati,[55] he +himself followed with the rest of the force and his own spearmen and +guards. And when the foederati and their leaders reached Decimum, they +saw the corpses of the fallen--twelve comrades from the forces of John +and near them Ammatas and some of the Vandals. And hearing from the +inhabitants of the place the whole story of the fight, they were vexed, +being at a loss as to where they ought to go. But while they were still +at a loss and from the hills were looking around over the whole country +thereabouts, a dust appeared from the south and a little later a very +large force of Vandal horsemen. And they sent to Belisarius urging him +to come as quickly as possible, since the enemy were bearing down upon +them. And the opinions of the commanders were divided. For some thought +that they ought to close with their assailants, but the others said that +their force was not sufficient for this. And while they were debating +thus among themselves, the barbarians drew near under the leadership of +Gelimer, who was following a road between the one which Belisarius was +travelling and the one by which the Massagetae who had encountered +Gibamundus had come. But since the land was hilly on both sides, it did +not allow him to see either the disaster of Gibamundus or Belisarius' +stockade, nor even the road along which Belisarius' men were advancing. +But when they came near each other, a contest arose between the two +armies as to which should capture the highest of all the hills there. +For it seemed a suitable one to encamp upon, and both sides preferred to +engage with the enemy from there. And the Vandals, coming first, took +possession of the hill by crowding off their assailants and routed the +enemy, having already become an object of terror to them. And the Romans +in flight came to a place seven stades distant from Decimum, where, as +it happened, Uliaris, the personal guard of Belisarius, was, with eight +hundred guardsmen. And all supposed that Uliaris would receive them and +hold his position, and together with them would go against the Vandals; +but when they came together, these troops all unexpectedly fled at top +speed and went on the run to Belisarius. + +From then on I am unable to say what happened to Gelimer that, having +the victory in his hands, he willingly gave it up to the enemy, unless +one ought to refer foolish actions also to God, who, whenever He +purposes that some adversity shall befall a man, touches first his +reason and does not permit that which will be to his advantage to come +to his consideration. For if, on the one hand, he had made the pursuit +immediately, I do not think that even Belisarius would have withstood +him, but our cause would have been utterly and completely lost, so +numerous appeared the force of the Vandals and so great the fear they +inspired in the Romans; or if, on the other hand, he had even ridden +straight for Carthage, he would easily have killed all John's men, who, +heedless of everything else, were wandering about the plain one by one +or by twos and stripping the dead. And he would have preserved the city +with its treasures, and captured our ships, which had come rather near, +and he would have withdrawn from us all hope both of sailing away and of +victory. But in fact he did neither of these things. Instead he +descended from the hill at a walk, and when he reached the level ground +and saw the corpse of his brother, he turned to lamentations, and, in +caring for his burial, he blunted the edge of his opportunity--an +opportunity which he was not able to grasp again. Meantime Belisarius, +meeting the fugitives, bade them stop, and arrayed them all in order and +rebuked them at length; then, after hearing of the death of Ammatas and +the pursuit of John, and learning what he wished concerning the place +and the enemy, he proceeded at full speed against Gelimer and the +Vandals. But the barbarians, having already fallen into disorder and +being now unprepared, did not withstand the onset of the Romans, but +fled with all their might, losing many there, and the battle ended at +night. Now the Vandals were in flight, not to Carthage nor to Byzacium, +whence they had come, but to the plain of Boulla and the road leading +into Numidia. So the men with John and the Massagetae returned to us +about dusk, and after learning all that had happened and reporting what +they had done, they passed the night with us in Decimum. + + +XX + +But on the following day the infantry with the wife of Belisarius came +up and we all proceeded together on the road toward Carthage, which we +reached in the late evening; and we passed the night in the open, +although no one hindered us from marching into the city at once. For the +Carthaginians opened the gates and burned lights everywhere and the city +was brilliant with the illumination that whole night, and those of the +Vandals who had been left behind were sitting as suppliants in the +sanctuaries. But Belisarius prevented the entrance in order to guard +against any ambuscade being set for his men by the enemy, and also to +prevent the soldiers from having freedom to turn to plundering, as they +might under the concealment of night. On that day, since an east wind +arose for them, the ships reached the headland, and the Carthaginians, +for they already sighted them, removed the iron chains of the harbour +which they call Mandracium, and made it possible for the fleet to enter. +Now there is in the king's palace a room filled with darkness, which the +Carthaginians call Ancon, where all were cast with whom the tyrant was +angry. In that place, as it happened, many of the eastern merchants had +been confined up to that time. For Gelimer was angry with these men, +charging them with having urged the emperor on to the war, and they were +about to be destroyed, all of them, this having been decided upon by +Gelimer on that day on which Ammatas was killed in Decimum; to such an +extremity of danger did they come. The guard of this prison, upon +hearing what had taken place in Decimum and seeing the fleet inside the +point, entered the room and enquired of the men, who had not yet learned +the good news, but were sitting in the darkness and expecting death, +what among their possessions they would be willing to give up and be +saved. And when they said they desired to give everything he might wish, +he demanded nothing of all their treasures, but required them all to +swear that, if they escaped, they would assist him also with all their +power when he came into danger. And they did this. Then he told them +them the whole story, and tearing off a plank from the side toward the +sea, he pointed out the fleet approaching, and releasing all from the +prison went out with them. + +But the men on the ships, having as yet heard nothing of what the army +had done on the land, were completely at a loss, and slackening their +sails they sent to the town of Mercurium; there they learned what had +taken place at Decimum, and becoming exceedingly joyful sailed on. And +when, with a favouring wind blowing, they came to within one hundred and +fifty stades of Carthage, Archelaus and the soldiers bade them anchor +there, fearing the warning of the general, but the sailors would not +obey. For they said that the promontory at that point was without a +harbour and also that the indications were that a well-known storm, +which the natives call Cypriana, would arise immediately. And they +predicted that, if it came upon them in that place, they would not be +able to save even one of the ships. And it was as they said. So they +slackened their sails for a short time and deliberated; and they did not +think they ought to try for Mandracium (for they shrank from violating +the commands of Belisarius, and at the same time they suspected that the +entrance to Mandracium was closed by the chains, and besides they feared +that this harbour was not sufficient for the whole fleet) but Stagnum +seemed to them well situated (for it is forty stades distant from +Carthage), and there was nothing in it to hinder them, and also it was +large enough for the whole fleet. There they arrived about dusk and all +anchored, except, indeed, that Calonymus with some of the sailors, +disregarding the general and all the others, went off secretly to +Mandracium, no one daring to hinder him, and plundered the property of +the merchants dwelling on the sea, both foreigners and Carthaginians. + +On the following day Belisarius commanded those on the ships to +disembark, and after marshalling the whole army and drawing it up in +battle formation, he marched into Carthage; for he feared lest he should +encounter some snare set by the enemy. There he reminded the soldiers at +length of how much good fortune had come to them because they had +displayed moderation toward the Libyans, and he exhorted them earnestly +to preserve good order with the greatest care in Carthage. For all the +Libyans had been Romans in earlier times and had come under the Vandals +by no will of their own and had suffered many outrages at the hands of +these barbarians. For this very reason the emperor had entered into war +with the Vandals, and it was not holy that any harm should come from +them to the people whose freedom they had made the ground for taking the +field against the Vandals. [Sept. 15, 533 A.D.] After such words of +exhortation he entered Carthage, and, since no enemy was seen by them, +he went up to the palace and seated himself on Gelimer's throne. There a +crowd of merchants and other Carthaginians came before Belisarius with +much shouting, persons whose homes were on the sea, and they made the +charge that there had been a robbery of their property on the preceding +night by the sailors. And Belisarius bound Calonymus by oaths to bring +without fail all his thefts to the light. And Calonymus, taking the oath +and disregarding what he had sworn, for the moment made the money his +plunder, but not long afterwards he paid his just penalty in Byzantium. +For being taken with the disease called apoplexy, he became insane and +bit off his own tongue and then died. But this happened at a later time. + + +XXI + +But then, since the hour was appropriate, Belisarius commanded that +lunch be prepared for them, in the very place where Gelimer was +accustomed to entertain the leaders of the Vandals. This place the +Romans call "Delphix," not in their own tongue, but using the Greek word +according to the ancient custom. For in the palace at Rome, where the +dining couches of the emperor were placed, a tripod had stood from olden +times, on which the emperor's cupbearers used to place the cups. Now the +Romans call a tripod "Delphix," since they were first made at Delphi, +and from this both in Byzantium and wherever there is a king's dining +couch they call the room "Delphix"; for the Romans follow the Greek also +in calling the emperor's residence "Palatium." For a Greek named Pallas +lived in this place before the capture of Troy and built a noteworthy +house there, and they called this dwelling "Palatium"; and when Augustus +received the imperial power, he decided to take up his first residence +in that house, and from this they call the place wherever the emperor +resides "Palatium." So Belisarius dined in the Delphix and with him all +the notables of the army. And it happened that the lunch made for +Gelimer on the preceding day was in readiness. And we feasted on that +very food and the domestics of Gelimer served it and poured the wine and +waited upon us in every way. And it was possible to see Fortune in her +glory and making a display of the fact that all things are hers and that +nothing is the private possession of any man. And it fell to the lot of +Belisarius on that day to win such fame as no one of the men of his time +ever won nor indeed any of the men of olden times. For though the Roman +soldiers were not accustomed to enter a subject city without confusion, +even if they numbered only five hundred, and especially if they made the +entry unexpectedly, all the soldiers under the command of this general +showed themselves so orderly that there was not a single act of +insolence nor a threat, and indeed nothing happened to hinder the +business of the city; but in a captured city, one which had changed its +government and shifted its allegiance, it came about that no man's +household was excluded from the privileges of the marketplace; on the +contrary, the clerks drew up their lists of the men and conducted the +soldiers to their lodgings, just as usual,[56] and the soldiers +themselves, getting their lunch by purchase from the market, rested as +each one wished. + +Afterwards Belisarius gave pledges to those Vandals who had fled into +the sanctuaries, and began to take thought for the fortifications. For +the circuit-wall of Carthage had been so neglected that in many places +it had become accessible to anyone who wished and easy to attack. For no +small part of it had fallen down, and it was for this reason, the +Carthaginians said, that Gelimer had not made his stand in the city. For +he thought that it would be impossible in a short time to restore such a +circuit-wall to a safe condition. And they said that an old oracle had +been uttered by the children in earlier times in Carthage, to the effect +that "gamma shall pursue beta, and again beta itself shall pursue +gamma." And at that time it had been spoken by the children in play and +had been left as an unexplained riddle, but now it was perfectly clear +to all. For formerly Gizeric had driven out Boniface and now Belisarius +was doing the same to Gelimer. This, then, whether it was a rumour or an +oracle, came out as I have stated. + +At that time a dream also came to light, which had been seen often +before this by many persons, but without being clear as to how it would +turn out. And the dream was as follows. Cyprian,[57] a holy man, is +reverenced above all others by the Carthaginians. And they have founded +a very noteworthy temple in his honour before the city on the sea-shore, +in which they conduct all other customary services, and also celebrate +there a festival which they call the "Cypriana"; and the sailors are +accustomed to name after Cyprian the storm, which I mentioned +lately,[58] giving it the same name as the festival, since it is wont to +come on at the time at which the Libyans have always been accustomed to +celebrate the festival. This temple the Vandals took from the Christians +by violence in the reign of Honoric. And they straightway drove out +their priests from the temple in great dishonour, and themselves +thereafter attended to the sacred festival which, they said, now +belonged to the Arians. And the Libyans, indeed, were angry on this +account and altogether at a loss, but Cyprian, they say, often sent them +a dream saying that there was not the least need for the Christians to +be concerned about him; for he himself as time went on would be his own +avenger. And when the report of this was passed around and came to all +the Libyans, they were expecting that some vengeance would come upon the +Vandals at some time because of this sacred festival, but were unable to +conjecture how in the world the vision would be realized for them. Now, +therefore, when the emperor's expedition had come to Libya, since the +time had already come round and would bring the celebration of the +festival on the succeeding day, the priests of the Arians, in spite of +the fact that Ammatas had led the Vandals to Decimum, cleansed the whole +sanctuary and were engaged in hanging up the most beautiful of the +votive offerings there, and making ready the lamps and bringing out the +treasures from the store-houses and preparing all things with exactness, +arranging everything according to its appropriate use. But the events in +Decimum turned out in the manner already described. And the priests of +the Arians were off in flight, while the Christians who conform to the +orthodox faith came to the temple of Cyprian, and they burned all the +lamps and attended to the sacred festival just as is customary for them +to perform this service, and thus it was known to all what the vision of +the dream was foretelling. This, then, came about in this way. + + +XXII + +And the Vandals, recalling an ancient saying, marvelled, understanding +clearly thereafter that for a man, at least, no hope could be impossible +nor any possession secure. And what this saying was and in what manner +it was spoken I shall explain. When the Vandals originally, pressed by +hunger, were about to remove from their ancestral abodes, a certain part +of them was left behind who were reluctant to go and not desirous of +following Godigisclus. And as time went on it seemed to those who had +remained that they were well off as regards abundance of provisions, and +Gizeric with his followers gained possession of Libya. And when this was +heard by those who had not followed Godigisclus, they rejoiced, since +thenceforth the country was altogether sufficient for them to live upon. +But fearing lest at some time much later either the very ones who had +conquered Libya, or their descendants, should in some way or other be +driven out of Libya and return to their ancestral homes (for they never +supposed that the Romans would let Libya be held for ever), they sent +ambassadors to them. And these men, upon coming before Gizeric, said +that they rejoiced with their compatriots who had met with such success, +but that they were no longer able to guard the land of which he and his +men had thought so little that they had settled in Libya. They prayed +therefore that, if they laid no claim to their fatherland, they would +bestow it as an unprofitable possession upon themselves, so that their +title to the land might be made as secure as possible, and if anyone +should come to do it harm, they might by no means disdain to die in +behalf of it. Gizeric, accordingly, and all the other Vandals thought +that they spoke fairly and justly, and they were in the act of granting +everything which the envoys desired of them. But a certain old man who +was esteemed among them and had a great reputation for discretion said +that he would by no means permit such a thing. "For in human affairs," +he said, "not one thing stands secure; nay, nothing which now exists is +stable for all time for men, while as regards that which does not yet +exist, there is nothing which may not come to pass." When Gizeric heard +this, he expressed approval and decided to send the envoys away with +nothing accomplished. Now at that time both he himself and the man who +had given the advice were judged worthy of ridicule by all the Vandals, +as foreseeing the impossible. But when these things which have been told +took place, the Vandals learned to take a different view of the nature +of human affairs and realized that the saying was that of a wise man. + +Now as for those Vandals who remained in their native land, neither +remembrance nor any name of them has been preserved to my time.[59] For +since, I suppose, they were a small number, they were either overpowered +by the neighbouring barbarians or they were mingled with them not at all +unwillingly and their name gave way to that of their conquerors. Indeed, +when the Vandals were conquered at that time by Belisarius, no thought +occurred to them to go from there to their ancestral homes. For they +were not able to convey themselves suddenly from Libya to Europe, +especially as they had no ships at hand, but paid the penalty[60] there +for all the wrongs they had done the Romans and especially the +Zacynthians. For at one time Gizeric, falling suddenly upon the towns in +the Peloponnesus, undertook to assault Taenarum. And being repulsed from +there and losing many of his followers he retired in complete disorder. +And while he was still filled with anger on account of this, he touched +at Zacynthus, and having killed many of those he met and enslaved five +hundred of the notables, he sailed away soon afterwards. And when he +reached the middle of the Adriatic Sea, as it is called, he cut into +small pieces the bodies of the five hundred and threw them all about the +sea without the least concern. But this happened in earlier times. + + +XXIII + +But at that time Gelimer, by distributing much money to the farmers +among the Libyans and shewing great friendliness toward them, succeeded +in winning many to his side. These he commanded to kill the Romans who +went out into the country, proclaiming a fixed sum of gold for each man +killed, to be paid to him who did the deed. And they killed many from +the Roman army, not soldiers, however, but slaves and servants, who +because of a desire for money went up into the villages stealthily and +were caught. And the farmers brought their heads before Gelimer and +departed receiving their pay, while he supposed that they had slain +soldiers of the enemy. + +At that time Diogenes, the aide of Belisarius, made a display of +valorous deeds. For having been sent, together with twenty-two of the +body-guards, to spy upon their opponents, he came to a place two days' +journey distant from Carthage. And the farmers of the place, being +unable to kill these men, reported to Gelimer that they were there. And +he chose out and sent against them three hundred horsemen of the +Vandals, enjoining upon them to bring all the men alive before him. For +it seemed to him a most remarkable achievement to make captive a +personal aide of Belisarius with twenty-two body-guards. Now Diogenes +and his party had entered a certain house and were sleeping in the upper +storey, having no thought of the enemy in mind, since, indeed, they had +learned that their opponents were far away. But the Vandals, coming +there at early dawn, thought it would not be to their advantage to +destroy the doors of the house or to enter it in the dark, fearing lest, +being involved in a night encounter, they might themselves destroy one +another, and at the same time, if that should happen, provide a way of +escape for a large number of the enemy in the darkness. But they did +this because cowardice had paralyzed their minds, though it would have +been possible for them with no trouble, by carrying torches or even +without these, to catch their enemies in their beds not only without +weapons, but absolutely naked besides. But as it was, they made a +phalanx in a circle about the whole house and especially at the doors, +and all took their stand there. But in the meantime it so happened that +one of the Roman soldiers was roused from sleep, and he, noticing the +noise which the Vandals made as they talked stealthily among themselves +and moved with their weapons, was able to comprehend what was being +done, and rousing each one of his comrades silently, he told them what +was going on. And they, following the opinion of Diogenes, all put on +their clothes quietly and taking up their weapons went below. There they +put the bridles on their horses and leaped upon them unperceived by +anyone. And after standing for a time by the court-yard entrance, they +suddenly opened the door there, and straightway all came out. And then +the Vandals immediately closed with them, but they accomplished nothing. +For the Romans rode hard, covering themselves with their shields and +warding off their assailants with their spears. And in this way Diogenes +escaped the enemy, losing two of his followers, but saving the rest. He +himself, however, received three blows in this encounter on the neck and +the face, from which indeed he came within a little of dying, and one +blow also on the left hand, as a result of which he was thereafter +unable to move his little finger. This, then, took place in this way. + +And Belisarius offered great sums of money to the artisans engaged in +the building trade and to the general throng of workmen, and by this +means he dug a trench deserving of great admiration about the +circuit-wall, and setting stakes close together along it he made an +excellent stockade about the fortifications. And not only this, but he +built up in a short time the portions of the wall which had suffered, a +thing which seemed worthy of wonder not only to the Carthaginians, but +also to Gelimer himself at a later time. For when he came as a captive +to Carthage, he marvelled when he saw the wall and said that his own +negligence had proved the cause of all his present troubles. This, then, +was accomplished by Belisarius while in Carthage. + + +XXIV + +But Tzazon, the brother of Gelimer, reached Sardinia with the expedition +which has been mentioned above[61] and disembarked at the harbour of +Caranalis[62]; and at the first onset he captured the city and killed +the tyrant Godas and all the fighting men about him. And when he heard +that the emperor's expedition was in the land of Libya, having as yet +learned nothing of what had been done there, he wrote to Gelimer as +follows: "Know, O King of the Vandals and Alani, that the tyrant Godas +has perished, having fallen into our hands, and that the island is again +under thy kingdom, and celebrate the festival of triumph. And as for the +enemy who have had the daring to march against our land, expect that +their attempt will come to the same fate as that experienced by those +who in former times marched against our ancestors." And those who took +this letter sailed into the harbour of Carthage with no thought of the +enemy in mind. And being brought by the guards before the general, they +put the letter into his hands and gave him information on the matters +about which he enquired, being thunderstruck at what they beheld and +awed at the suddenness of the change; however, they suffered nothing +unpleasant at the hand of Belisarius. + +At this same time another event also occurred as follows. A short time +before the emperor's expedition reached Libya, Gelimer had sent envoys +into Spain, among whom were Gothaeus and Fuscias, in order to persuade +Theudis, the ruler of the Visigoths,[63] to establish an alliance with +the Vandals. And these envoys, upon disembarking on the mainland after +crossing the strait at Gadira, found Theudis in a place situated far +from the sea. And when they had come up to the place where he was, +Theudis received them with friendliness and entertained them heartily, +and during the feast he pretended to enquire how matters stood with +Gelimer and the Vandals. Now since these envoys had travelled to him +rather slowly, it happened that he had heard from others everything +which had befallen the Vandals. For one merchant ship sailing for trade +had put out from Carthage on the very same day as the army marched into +the city, and finding a favouring wind, had come to Spain. From those on +this ship Theudis learned all that had happened in Libya, but he forbade +the merchants to reveal it to anyone, in order that this might not +become generally known. And when Gothaeus and his followers replied that +everything was as well as possible for them, he asked them for what +purpose, then, they had come. And when they proposed the alliance, +Theudis bade them go to the sea-coast; "For from there," he said, "you +will learn of the affairs at home with certainty." And the envoys, +supposing that the man was in his cups and his words were not sane, +remained silent. But when on the following day they met him and made +mention of the alliance, and Theudis used the same words a second time, +then at length they understood that some change of fortune had befallen +them in Libya, but never once thinking of Carthage they sailed for the +city. And upon coming to land close by it and happening upon Roman +soldiers, they put themselves in their hands to do with them as they +wished. And from there they were led away to the general, and reporting +the whole story, they suffered no harm at his hand. These things, then, +happened thus. And Cyril,[64] upon coming near to Sardinia and learning +what had happened to Godas, sailed to Carthage, and there, finding the +Roman army and Belisarius victorious, he remained at rest; and +Solomon[65] was sent to the emperor in order to announce what had been +accomplished. + + +XXV + +But Gelimer, upon reaching the plain of Boulla, which is distant from +Carthage a journey of four days for an unencumbered traveller, not far +from the boundaries of Numidia, began to gather there all the Vandals +and as many of the Moors as happened to be friendly to him. Few Moors, +however, joined his alliance, and these were altogether insubordinate. +For all those who ruled over the Moors in Mauretania and Numidia and +Byzacium sent envoys to Belisarius saying that they were slaves of the +emperor and promised to fight with him. There were some also who even +furnished their children as hostages and requested that the symbols of +office be sent them from him according to the ancient custom. For it was +a law among the Moors that no one should be a ruler over them, even if +he was hostile to the Romans, until the emperor of the Romans should +give him the tokens of the office. And though they had already received +them from the Vandals, they did not consider that the Vandals held the +office securely. Now these symbols are a staff of silver covered with +gold, and a silver cap,--not covering the whole head, but like a crown +and held in place on all sides by bands of silver,--a kind of white +cloak gathered by a golden brooch on the right shoulder in the form of a +Thessalian cape, and a white tunic with embroidery, and a gilded boot. +And Belisarius sent these things to them, and presented each one of them +with much money. However, they did not come to fight along with him, +nor, on the other hand, did they dare give their support to the Vandals, +but standing out of the way of both contestants, they waited to see what +would be the outcome of the war. Thus, then, matters stood with the +Romans. + +But Gelimer sent one of the Vandals to Sardinia with a letter to his +brother Tzazon. And he went quickly to the coast, and finding by chance +a merchant-ship putting out to sea, he sailed into the harbour of +Caranalis and put the letter into the hands of Tzazon. Now the message +of the letter was as follows: + +"It was not, I venture to think, Godas who caused the island to revolt +from us, but some curse of madness sent from Heaven which fell upon the +Vandals. For by depriving us of you and the notables of the Vandals, it +has seized and carried off from the house of Gizeric absolutely all the +blessings which we enjoyed. For it was not to recover the island for us +that you sailed from here, but in order that Justinian might be master +of Libya. For that which Fortune had decided upon previously it is now +possible to know from the outcome. Belisarius, then, has come against us +with a small army, but valour straightway departed and fled from the +Vandals, taking good fortune with her. For Ammatas and Gibamundus have +fallen, because the Vandals lost their courage, and the horses and +shipyards and all Libya and, not least of all, Carthage itself, are held +already by the enemy. And the Vandals are sitting here, having paid with +their children and wives and all their possessions for their failure to +play the part of brave men in battle, and to us is left only the plain +of Boulla, where our hope in you has set us down and still keeps us. But +do you have done with such matters as rebel tyrants and Sardinia and the +cares concerning these things, and come to us with your whole force as +quickly as possible. For when men find the very heart and centre of all +in danger, it is not advisable for them to consider minutely other +matters. And struggling hereafter in common against the enemy, we shall +either recover our previous fortune, or gain the advantage of not +bearing apart from each other the hard fate sent by Heaven." + +When this letter had been brought to Tzazon, and he had disclosed its +contents to the Vandals, they turned to wailing and lamentation, not +openly, however, but concealing their feelings as much as possible and +avoiding the notice of the islanders, silently among themselves they +bewailed the fate which was upon them. And straightway setting in order +matters in hand just as chance directed, they manned the ships. And +sailing from there with the whole fleet, on the third day they came to +land at the point of Libya which marks the boundary between the +Numidians and Mauretanians. And they reached the plain of Boulla +travelling on foot, and there joined with the rest of the army. And in +that place there were many most pitiable scenes among the Vandals, which +I, at least, could never relate as they deserve. For I think that even +if one of the enemy themselves had happened to be a spectator at that +time, he would probably have felt pity, in spite of himself, for the +Vandals and for human fortune. For Gelimer and Tzazon threw their arms +about each other's necks, and could not let go, but they spoke not a +word to each other, but kept wringing their hands and weeping, and each +one of the Vandals with Gelimer embraced one of those who had come from +Sardinia, and did the same thing. And they stood for a long time as if +grown together and found such comfort as they could in this, and neither +did the men of Gelimer think fit to ask about Godas (for their present +fortune had prostrated them and caused them to reckon such things as had +previously seemed to them most important with those which were now +utterly negligible), nor could those who came from Sardinia bring +themselves to ask about what had happened in Libya. For the place was +sufficient to permit them to judge of what had come to pass. And indeed +they did not make any mention even of their own wives and children, +knowing well that whoever of theirs was not there had either died or +fallen into the hands of the enemy. Thus, then, did these things happen. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + +Cadiz. + +[2] + +Sea of Azov. + +[3] + +Abila. + +[4] + +Or Septem Fratres. + +[5] + +Most ancient geographers divided the inhabited world into three +continents, but some made two divisions. It was a debated question with +these latter whether Africa belonged to Asia or to Europe; of. Sallust, +_Jugurtha_, 17. + +[6] + +Kadi Keui. + +[7] + +More correctly Hydrous, Lat. Hydruntum (Otranto). + +[8] + +At Aulon (Avlona). + +[9] + +Adding these four days to the other items (285, 22, 40), the total is +351 days. + +[10] + +Calpe (Gibraltar). + +[11] + +_i.e._, instead of stopping at Otranto, one might also reckon in the +coast-line around the Adriatic to Dyrrachium. + +[12] + +About twenty-four English miles. + +[13] + +Iviza. + +[14] + +"Black-cloaks." + +[15] + +Belgrade. + +[16] + +Mitrovitz. + +[17] + +In Illyricum. + +[18] + +He ascended the throne at the age of seven. + +[19] + +That is, the actual occupant could enter a demurrer to the former +owner's action for recovery, citing his own occupancy for thirty years +or more. The new law extended the period during which the ousted +proprietor could recover possession, by admitting no demurrer from the +occupant so far as the years were concerned during which the Vandals +should be in possession of the country. + +[20] + +This is an error; he really ruled only eighteen months. + +[21] + +Geiseric, Gaiseric, less properly Genseric. + +[22] + +Now corrupted to Bona. + +[23] + +Emperor in Gaul, Britain and Spain 383-388. Aspiring to be Emperor of +the West, he invaded Italy, was defeated by Theodosius, and put to +death. + +[24] + +This is an error, for Attila died before Aetius. + +[25] + +Including the famous treasure which Titus had brought from Jerusalem, +cf. IV. ix. 5. + +[26] + +Domitian had spent 12,000 talents (£2,400,000) on the gilding alone; +Plutarch, _Publ._ 15. + +[27] + +_i.e._ "leaders of a thousand." + +[28] + +130,000 Roman pounds; cf. Book I. xxii. 4. The modern equivalent is +unknown. + +[29] + +Placidia's sister, Eudocia, was wife of Honoric, Gizeric's son. + +[30] + +See chap. iv. 27. + +[31] + +_i.e._ "wisdom." + +[32] + +Jebel Auress. + +[33] + +_i.e._ to what sect or religion they belonged. + +[34] + +Cf. Book IV. xi. 17 ff. + +[35] + +Book I. xxii. 16. + +[36] + +The "imperial" taxes were for the emperor's privy purse, the fiscus. + +[37] + +These foederati were private bands of troops under the leadership of +condottiere; these had the title of "count" and received from the state +an allowance for the support of their bands. + +[38] + +The medimnus equalled about one and a half bushels. + +[39] + +_i.e._ "runners." + +[40] + +Eregli, on the Sea of Marmora. + +[41] + +Cape Matapan. + +[42] + +Book I. xxiv. 12-15; xxv. 8-10. + +[43] + +The ration of this twice-baked bread represented for the same weight +one-fourth more wheat than when issued in the once-baked bread. He was +evidently paid on the basis of so much per ration, in weight, of the +once-baked bread, but on account of the length of the voyage the other +kind was requisitioned. + +[44] + +Instead of by weight. + +[45] + +Now Porto Lombardo. + +[46] + +Or Athalaric. + +[47] + +Now Gozzo and Malta. + +[48] + +Cf. III. v. 8 ff. + +[49] + +_i.e._ couriers, from _veredus_, "post-horse." + +[50] + +An adjutant, the general's own "choice." + +[51] + +Topsails. + +[52] + +_i.e._ _Decimum miliarium_, tenth milestone from Carthage. + +[53] + +Before 533 A.D. + +[54] + +Hermaeum, Lat. Mercurii promontorium (Cape Bon). + +[55] + +"Auxiliaries"; see chap. xi. 3, 4. + +[56] + +The troops were billeted as at a peaceful occupation. + +[57] + +St. Cyprian (_circa_ 200-257 A.D.), Bishop of Carthage. + +[58] + +Chap. xx. 13. + +[59] + +Compare the remarks of Gibbon, iv. p. 295. + +[60] + +In _Arcana_, 18, 5 ff., Procopius estimates the number of the Vandals in +Africa, at the time of Belisarius, at 80,000 males, and intimates that +practically all perished. + +[61] + +Chap. xi. 23. + +[62] + +Cagliari. + +[63] + +On this Theudis and his accession to the throne of the Visigoths in +Spain see V. xii. 50 ff. + +[64] + +The leader of a band of _foederati_. Cf. III. xi. 1, 6, xxiv. 19. + +[65] + +Also a _dux foederatorum_, and _domesticus_ of Belisarius. Cf. III. xi. +5 ff. + + * * * * * + + + + + HISTORY OF THE WARS: + + + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK IV + +THE VANDALIC WAR (_Continued_) + + +I + +Gelimer, seeing all the Vandals gathered together, led his army against +Carthage. And when they came close to it, they tore down a portion of +the aqueduct,--a structure well worth seeing--which conducted water into +the city, and after encamping for a time they withdrew, since no one of +the enemy came out against them. And going about the country there they +kept the roads under guard and thought that in this way they were +besieging Carthage; however, they did not gather any booty, nor plunder +the land, but took possession of it as their own. And at the same time +they kept hoping that there would be some treason on the part of the +Carthaginians themselves and such of the Roman soldiers as followed the +doctrine of Arius. They also sent to the leaders of the Huns, and +promising that they would have many good things from the Vandals, +entreated them to become their friends and allies. Now the Huns even +before this had not been well-disposed toward the cause of the Romans, +since they had not indeed come to them willingly as allies (for they +asserted that the Roman general Peter had given an oath and then, +disregarding what had been sworn, had thus brought them to Byzantium), +and accordingly they received the words of the Vandals, and promised +that when they should come to real fighting they would turn with them +against the Roman army. But Belisarius had a suspicion of all this (for +he had heard it from the deserters), and also the circuit-wall had not +as yet been completed entirely, and for these reasons he did not think +it possible for his men to go out against the enemy for the present, but +he was making his preparations within as well as possible. And one of +the Carthaginians, Laurus by name, having been condemned on a charge of +treason and proved guilty by his own secretary, was impaled by +Belisarius on a hill before the city, and as a result of this the others +came to feel a sort of irresistible fear and refrained from attempts at +treason. And he courted the Massagetae with gifts and banquets and every +other manner of flattering attention every day, and thus persuaded them +to disclose to him what Gelimer had promised them on condition of their +turning traitors in the battle. And these barbarians said that they had +no enthusiasm for fighting, for they feared that, if the Vandals were +vanquished, the Romans would not send them back to their native land, +but they would be compelled to grow old and die right there in Libya; +and besides they were also concerned, they said, about the booty, lest +they be robbed of it. Then indeed Belisarius gave them pledges that, if +the Vandals should be conquered decisively, they would be sent without +the least delay to their homes with all their booty, and thus he bound +them by oaths in very truth to assist the Romans with all zeal in +carrying through the war. + +And when all things had been prepared by him in the best way possible, +and the circuit-wall had been already completed, he called together the +whole army and spoke as follows: "As for exhortation, fellow Romans, I +do not know that it is necessary to make any to you,--men who have +recently conquered the enemy so completely that Carthage here and the +whole of Libya is a possession of your valour, and for this reason you +will have no need of admonition that prompts to daring. For the spirits +of those who have conquered are by no means wont to be overcome. But I +think it not untimely to remind you of this one thing, that, if you on +the present occasion but prove equal to your own selves in valour, +straightway there will be an end for the Vandals of their hopes, and for +you of the battle. Hence there is every reason why you should enter into +this engagement with the greatest eagerness. For ever sweet to men is +toil coming to an end and reaching its close. Now as for the host of the +Vandals, let no one of you consider them. For not by numbers of men nor +by measure of body, but by valour of soul, is war wont to be decided. +And let the strongest motive which actuates men come to your minds, +namely, pride in past achievement. For it is a shame, for those at least +who have reason, to fall short of one's own self and to be found +inferior to one's own standard of valour. For I know well that terror +and the memory of misfortunes have laid hold upon the enemy and compel +them to become less brave, for the one fills them with fear because of +what has already happened, and the other brushes aside their hope of +success. For Fortune, once seen to be bad, straightway enslaves the +spirit of those who have fallen in her way. And I shall explain how the +struggle involves for you at the present time a greater stake than +formerly. For in the former battle the danger was, if things did not go +well for us, that we should not take the land of others; but now, if we +do not win the struggle, we shall lose the land which is our own. In +proportion, then, as it is easier to possess nothing than to be deprived +of what one has, just so now our fear touches our most vital concerns +more than before. And yet formerly we had the fortune to win the victory +with the infantry absent, but now, entering the battle with God +propitious and with our whole army, I have hopes of capturing the camp +of the enemy, men and all. Thus, then, having the end of the war ready +at hand, do not by reason of any negligence put it off to another time, +lest you be compelled to seek for the opportune moment after it has run +past us. For when the fortune of war is postponed, its nature is not to +proceed in the same manner as before, especially if the war be prolonged +by the will of those who are carrying it on. For Heaven is accustomed to +bring retribution always upon those who abandon the good fortune which +is present. But if anyone considers that the enemy, seeing their +children and wives and most precious possessions in our hands, will be +daring beyond reason and will incur risks beyond the strength which they +have, he does not think rightly. For an overpowering passion springing +up in the heart in behalf of what is most precious is wont to diminish +men's actual strength and does not allow them to make full use of their +present opportunities. Considering, then, all these things, it behooves +you to go with great contempt against the enemy." + + +II + +After such words of exhortation, Belisarius sent out all the horsemen on +the same day, except five hundred, and also the guardsmen and the +standard, which the Romans call "bandum,"[1] entrusting them to John the +Armenian, and directing him to skirmish only, if opportunity should +arise. And he himself on the following day followed with the infantry +forces and the five hundred horsemen. And the Massagetae, deliberating +among themselves, decided, in order to seem in friendly agreement with +both Gelimer and Belisarius, neither to begin fighting for the Romans +nor to go over to the Vandals before the encounter, but whenever the +situation of one or the other army should be bad, then to join the +victors in their pursuit of the vanquished. Thus, then, had this matter +been decided upon by the barbarians. And the Roman army came upon the +Vandals encamped in Tricamarum, one hundred and fifty stades distant +from Carthage. So they both bivouacked there at a considerable distance +from one another. And when it was well on in the night, a prodigy came +to pass in the Roman camp as follows. The tips of their spears were +lighted with a bright fire and the points of them seemed to be burning +most vigorously. This was not seen by many, but it filled with +consternation the few who did see it, not knowing how it would come out. +And this happened to the Romans in Italy again at a much later time. And +at that time, since they knew by experience, they believed it to be a +sign of victory. But now, as I have said, since this was the first time +it had happened, they were filled with consternation and passed the +night in great fear. + +And on the following day Gelimer commanded the Vandals to place the +women and children and all their possessions in the middle of the +stockade, although it had not the character of a fort, and calling all +together, he spoke as follows: "It is not to gain glory, or to retrieve +the loss of empire alone, O fellow Vandals, that we are about to fight, +so that even if we wilfully played the coward and sacrificed these our +belongings we might possibly live, sitting at home and keeping our own +possessions; but you see, surely, that our fortunes have come round to +such a pass that, if we do not gain the mastery over the enemy, we +shall, if we perish, leave them as masters of these our children and our +wives and our land and all our possessions, while if we survive, there +will be added our own enslavement and to behold all these enslaved; but +if, indeed, we overcome our foes in the war, we shall, if we live, pass +our lives among all good things, or, after the glorious ending of our +lives, there will be left to our wives and children the blessings of +prosperity, while the name of the Vandals will survive and their empire +be preserved. For if it has ever happened to any men to be engaged in a +struggle for their all, we now more than all others realize that we are +entering the battle-line with our hopes for all we have resting wholly +upon ourselves. Not for our bodies, then, is our fear, nor in death is +our danger, but in being defeated by the enemy. For if we lose the +victory, death will be to our advantage. Since, therefore, the case +stands so, let no one of the Vandals weaken, but let him proudly expose +his body, and from shame at the evils that follow defeat let him court +the end of life. For when a man is ashamed of that which is shameful, +there is always present with him a dauntless courage in the face of +danger. And let no recollection of the earlier battle come into your +minds. For it was not by cowardice on our part that we were defeated, +but we tripped upon obstacles interposed by fortune and were overthrown. +Now it is not the way of the tide of fortune to flow always in the same +direction, but every day, as a rule, it is wont to change about. In +manliness it is our boast that we surpass the enemy, and that in numbers +we are much superior; for we believe that we surpass them no less than +tenfold. And why shall I add that many and great are the incentives +which, now especially, urge us on to valour, naming the glory of our +ancestors and the empire which has been handed down to us by them? For +in our case that glory is obscured by our unlikeness to our kindred, +while the empire is bent upon fleeing from us as unworthy. And I pass +over in silence the wails of these poor women and the tears of our +children, by which, as you see, I am now so deeply moved that I am +unable to prolong my discourse. But having said this one thing, I shall +stop,--that there will be for us no returning to these most precious +possessions if we do not gain the mastery over the enemy. Remembering +these things, shew yourselves brave men and do not bring shame upon the +fame of Gizeric." + +After speaking such words, Gelimer commanded his brother Tzazon to +deliver an exhortation separately to the Vandals who had come with him +from Sardinia. And he gathered them together a little apart from the +camp and spoke as follows: "For all the Vandals, fellow soldiers, the +struggle is in behalf of those things which you have just heard the king +recount, but for you, in addition to all the other considerations, it so +happens that you are vying with yourselves. For you have recently been +victorious in a struggle for the maintenance of our rule, and you have +recovered the island for the empire of the Vandals; there is every +reason, therefore, for you to make still greater display of your valour. +For those whose hazard involves the greatest things must needs display +the greatest zeal for warfare also. Indeed, when men who struggle for +the maintenance of their rule are defeated, should it so happen, they +have not failed in the most vital part; but when men are engaged in +battle for their all, surely their very lives are influenced by the +outcome of the struggle. And for the rest, if you shew yourselves brave +men at the present time, you will thereby prove with certainty that the +destruction[2] of the tyrant Godas was an achievement of valour on your +part; but if you weaken now, you will be deprived of even the renown of +those deeds, as of something which does not belong to you at all. And +yet, even apart from this, it is reasonable to think that you will have +an advantage over the rest of the Vandals in this battle. For those who +have failed are dismayed by their previous fortune, while those who have +encountered no reverse enter the struggle with their courage unimpaired. +And this too, I think, will not be spoken out of season, that if we +conquer the enemy, it will be you who will win the credit for the +greatest part of the victory, and all will call you saviours of the +nation of the Vandals. For men who achieve renown in company with those +who have previously met with misfortune naturally claim the better +fortune as their own. Considering all these things, therefore, I say +that you should bid the women and children who are lamenting their fate +to take courage even now, should summon God to fight with us, should go +with enthusiasm against the enemy, and lead the way for our compatriots +into this battle." + + +III + +After both Gelimer and Tzazon had spoken such exhortations, they led out +the Vandals, and at about the time of lunch, when the Romans were not +expecting them, but were preparing their meal, they were at hand and +arrayed themselves for battle along the bank of the stream. Now the +stream at that place is an ever-flowing one, to be sure, but its volume +is so small that it is not even given a special name by the inhabitants +of the place, but it is designated simply as a brook. So the Romans came +to the other bank of this river, after preparing themselves as well as +they could under the circumstances, and arrayed themselves as follows. +The left wing was held by Martinus and Valerian, John, Cyprian, Althias, +and Marcellus, and as many others as were commanders of the +foederati[3]; and the right was held by Pappas, Barbatus, and Aïgan, and +the others who commanded the forces of cavalry. And in the centre John +took his position, leading the guards and spearmen of Belisarius and +carrying the general's standard. And Belisarius also came there at the +opportune moment with his five hundred horsemen, leaving the infantry +behind advancing at a walk. For all the Huns had been arrayed in another +place, it being customary for them even before this not to mingle with +the Roman army if they could avoid so doing, and at that time +especially, since they had in mind the purpose which has previously been +explained,[4] it was not their wish to be arrayed with the rest of the +army. Such, then, was the formation of the Romans. And on the side of +the Vandals, either wing was held by the chiliarchs, and each one led +the division under him, while in the centre was Tzazon, the brother of +Gelimer, and behind him were arrayed the Moors. But Gelimer himself was +going about everywhere exhorting them and urging them on to daring. And +the command had been previously given to all the Vandals to use neither +spear nor any other weapon in this engagement except their swords. + +After a considerable time had passed and no one began the battle, John +chose out a few of those under him by the advice of Belisarius and +crossing the river made an attack on the centre, where Tzazon crowded +them back and gave chase. And the Romans in flight came into their own +camp, while the Vandals in pursuit came as far as the stream, but did +not cross it. And once more John, leading out more of the guardsmen of +Belisarius, made a dash against the forces of Tzazon, and again being +repulsed from there, withdrew to the Roman camp. And a third time with +almost all the guards and spearmen of Belisarius he took the general's +standard and made his attack with much shouting and a great noise. But +since the barbarians manfully withstood them and used only their swords, +the battle became fierce, and many of the noblest of the Vandals fell, +and among them Tzazon himself, the brother of Gelimer. Then at last the +whole Roman army was set in motion, and crossing the river they advanced +upon the enemy, and the rout, beginning at the centre, became complete; +for each of the Roman divisions turned to flight those before them with +no trouble. And the Massagetae, seeing this, according to their +agreement among themselves[5] joined the Roman army in making the +pursuit, but this pursuit was not continued for a great distance. For +the Vandals entered their own camp quickly and remained quiet, while the +Romans, thinking that they would not be able to fight it out with them +inside the stockade, stripped such of the corpses as had gold upon them +and retired to their own camp. And there perished in this battle, of the +Romans less than fifty, but of the Vandals about eight hundred. + +But Belisarius, when the infantry came up in the late afternoon, moved +as quickly as he could with the whole army and went against the camp of +the Vandals. And Gelimer, realising that Belisarius with his infantry +and the rest of his army was coming against him straightway, without +saying a word or giving a command leaped upon his horse and was off in +flight on the road leading to Numidia. And his kinsmen and some few of +his domestics followed him in utter consternation and guarding with +silence what was taking place. And for some time it escaped the notice +of the Vandals that Gelimer had run away, but when they all perceived +that he had fled, and the enemy were already plainly seen, then indeed +the men began to shout and the children cried out and the women wailed. +And they neither took with them the money they had nor did they heed the +laments of those dearest to them, but every man fled in complete +disorder just as he could. And the Romans, coming up, captured the camp, +money and all, with not a man in it; and they pursued the fugitives +throughout the whole night, killing all the men upon whom they happened, +and making slaves of the women and children. And they found in this camp +a quantity of wealth such as has never before been found, at least in +one place. For the Vandals had plundered the Roman domain for a long +time and had transferred great amounts of money to Libya, and since +their land was an especially good one, nourishing abundantly with the +most useful crops, it came about that the revenue collected from the +commodities produced there was not paid out to any other country in the +purchase of a food supply, but those who possessed the land always kept +for themselves the income from it for the ninety-five years during which +the Vandals ruled Libya. And from this it resulted that their wealth, +amounting to an extraordinary sum, returned once more on that day into +the hands of the Romans. So this battle and the pursuit and the capture +of the Vandals' camp happened three months after the Roman army came to +Carthage, at about the middle of the last month, which the Romans call +"December." [533 A.D.] + + +IV + +Then Belisarius, seeing the Roman army rushing about in confusion and +great disorder, was disturbed, being fearful throughout the whole night +lest the enemy, uniting by mutual agreement against him, should do him +irreparable harm. And if this thing had happened at that time in any way +at all, I believe that, not one of the Romans would have escaped and +enjoyed this booty. For the soldiers, being extremely poor men, upon +becoming all of a sudden masters of very great wealth and of women both +young and extremely comely, were no longer able to restrain their minds +or to find any satiety in the things they had, but were so intoxicated, +drenched as they were by their present good fortunes, that each one +wished to take everything with him back to Carthage. And they were going +about, not in companies but alone or by twos, wherever hope led them, +searching out everything roundabout among the valleys and the rough +country and wherever there chanced to be a cave or anything such as +might bring them into danger or ambush. For neither did fear of the +enemy nor their respect for Belisarius occur to them, nor indeed +anything else at all except the desire for spoils, and being +overmastered by this they came to think lightly of everything else. And +Belisarius, taking note of all this, was at a loss as to how he should +handle the situation. But at daybreak he took his stand upon a certain +hill near the road, appealing to the discipline which no longer existed +and heaping reproaches upon all, soldiers and officers alike. Then +indeed, those who chanced to be near, and especially those who were of +the household of Belisarius, sent the money and slaves which they had to +Carthage with their tentmates and messmates, and themselves came up +beside the general and gave heed to the orders given them. + +And he commanded John, the Armenian, with two hundred men to follow +Gelimer, and without slackening their speed either night or day to +pursue him, until they should take him living or dead. And he sent word +to his associates in Carthage to lead into the city all the Vandals who +were sitting as suppliants in sanctuaries in the places about the city, +giving them pledges and taking away their weapons, that they might not +begin an uprising, and to keep them there until he himself should come. +And with those who were left he went about everywhere and gathered the +soldiers hastily, and to all the Vandals he came upon he gave pledges +for their safety. For it was no longer possible to catch anyone of the +Vandals except as a suppliant in the sanctuaries. And from these he took +away their weapons and sent them, with soldiers to guard them, to +Carthage, not giving them time to unite against the Romans. And when +everything was as well settled as possible, he himself with the greater +part of the army moved against Gelimer with all speed. But John, after +continuing the pursuit five days and nights, had already come not far +from Gelimer, and in fact he was about to engage with him on the +following day. But since it was not fated that Gelimer should be +captured by John, the following obstacle was contrived by fortune. Among +those pursuing with John it happened that there was Uliaris, the aide of +Belisarius. Now this man was a passionate fellow and well favoured in +strength of heart and body, but not a very serious man, but one who +generally took delight in wine and buffoonery. This Uliaris on the sixth +day of the pursuit, being drunk, saw a bird sitting in a tree at about +sunrise, and he quickly stretched his bow and despatched a missile at +the bird. And he missed the bird, but John, who was behind it, he hit in +the neck by no will of his own. And since the wound was mortal, John +passed away a short time afterwards, leaving great sorrow at his loss to +the Emperor Justinian and Belisarius, the general, and to all the Romans +and Carthaginians. For in manliness and every sort of virtue he was well +endowed, and he shewed himself, to those who associated with him, gentle +and equitable to a degree quite unsurpassed. Thus, then, John fulfilled +his destiny. As for Uliaris, when he came to himself, he fled to a +certain village which was near by and sat as a suppliant in the +sanctuary there. And the soldiers no longer pressed the pursuit of +Gelimer, but they cared for John as long as he survived, and when he had +died they carried out all the customary rites in his burial, and +reporting the whole matter to Belisarius they remained where they were. +And as soon as he heard of it, he came to John's burial, and bewailed +his fate. And after weeping over him and grieving bitterly at the whole +occurrence, he honoured the tomb of John with many gifts and especially +by providing for it a regular income. However, he did nothing severe to +Uliaris, since the soldiers said that John had enjoined upon them by the +most dread oaths that no vengeance should come to him, since he had not +performed the unholy deed with deliberate intent. + +Thus, then, Gelimer escaped falling into the hands of the enemy on that +day. And from that time on Belisarius pursued him, but upon reaching a +strong city of Numidia situated on the sea, ten days distant from +Carthage, which they call Hippo Regius,[6] he learned that Gelimer had +ascended the mountain Papua and could no longer be captured by the +Romans. Now this mountain is situated at the extremity of Numidia and is +exceedingly precipitous and climbed only with the greatest difficulty +(for lofty cliffs rise up toward it from every side), and on it dwell +barbarian Moors, who were friends and allies to Gelimer, and an ancient +city named Medeus lies on the outskirts of the mountain. There Gelimer +rested with his followers. But as for Belisarius, he was not able to +make any attempt at all on the mountain, much less in the winter season, +and since his affairs were still in an uncertain state, he did not think +it advisable to be away from Carthage; and so he chose out soldiers, +with Pharas as their leader, and set them to maintain the siege of the +mountain. Now this Pharas was energetic and thoroughly serious and +upright in every way, although he was an Erulian by birth. And for an +Erulian not to give himself over to treachery and drunkenness, but to +strive after uprightness, is no easy matter and merits abundant +praise.[7] But not only was it Pharas who maintained orderly conduct, +but also all the Erulians who followed him. This Pharas, then, +Belisarius commanded to establish himself at the foot of the mountain +during the winter season and to keep close guard, so that it would +neither be possible for Gelimer to leave the mountain nor for any +supplies to be brought in to him. And Pharas acted accordingly. Then +Belisarius turned to the Vandals who were sitting as suppliants in the +sanctuaries in Hippo Regius,--and there were many of them and of the +nobility--and he caused them all to accept pledges and arise, and then +he sent them to Carthage with a guard. And there it came about that the +following event happened to him. + +In the house of Gelimer there was a certain scribe named Boniface, a +Libyan, and a native of Byzacium, a man exceedingly faithful to Gelimer. +At the beginning of this war Gelimer had put this Boniface on a very +swift-sailing ship, and placing all the royal treasure in it commanded +him to anchor in the harbour of Hippo Regius, and if he should see that +the situation was not favourable to their side, he was to sail with all +speed to Spain with the money, and go to Theudis, the leader of the +Visigoths, where he was expecting to find safety for himself also, +should the fortune of war prove adverse for the Vandals. So Boniface, as +long as he felt hope for the cause of the Vandals, remained there; but +as soon as the battle in Tricamarum took place, with all the other +events which have been related, he spread his canvas and sailed away +just as Gelimer had directed him. But an opposing wind brought him back, +much against his will, into the harbour of Hippo Regius. And since he +had already heard that the enemy were somewhere near, he entreated the +sailors with many promises to row with all their might for some other +continent or for an island. But they were unable to do so, since a very +severe storm had fallen upon them and the waves of the sea were rising +to a great height, seeing that it was the Tuscan sea,[8] and then it +occurred to them and to Boniface that, after all, God wished to give the +money to the Romans and so was not allowing the ship to put out. +However, though they had got outside the harbour, they encountered great +danger in bringing their ship back to anchorage. And when Belisarius +arrived at Hippo Regius, Boniface sent some men to him. These he +commanded to sit in a sanctuary, and they were to say that they had been +sent by Boniface, who had the money of Gelimer, but to conceal the place +where he was, until they should receive the pledges of Belisarius that +upon giving Gelimer's money he himself should escape free from harm, +having all that was his own. These men, then, acted according to these +instructions, and Belisarius was pleased at the good news and did not +decline to take an oath. And sending some of his associates he took the +treasure of Gelimer and released Boniface in possession of his own money +and also with an enormous sum which he plundered from Gelimer's +treasure. + + + +V + +And when he returned to Carthage, he put all the Vandals in readiness, +so that at the opening of spring he might send them to Byzantium; and he +sent out an army to recover for the Romans everything which the Vandals +ruled. And first he sent Cyril to Sardinia with a great force, having +the head of Tzazon, since these islanders were not at all willing to +yield to the Romans, fearing the Vandals and thinking that what had been +told them as having happened in Tricamarum could not be true. And he +ordered this Cyril to send a portion of the army to Corsica, and to +recover for the Roman empire the island, which had been previously +subject to the Vandals; this island was called Cyrnus in early times, +and is not far from Sardinia. So he came to Sardinia and displayed the +head of Tzazon to the inhabitants of the place, and he won back both the +islands and made them tributary to the Roman domain. And to Caesarea[9] +in Mauretania Belisarius sent John with an infantry company which he +usually commanded himself; this place is distant from Carthage a journey +of thirty days for an unencumbered traveller, as one goes towards Gadira +and the west; and it is situated upon the sea, having been a great and +populous city from ancient times. Another John, one of his own +guardsmen, he sent to Gadira on the strait and by one of the Pillars of +Heracles, to take possession of the fort there which they call +"Septem."[10] And to the islands which are near the strait where the +ocean flows in, called Ebusa and Majorica and Minorica[11] by the +natives, he sent Apollinarius, who was a native of Italy, but had come +while still a lad to Libya. And he had been rewarded with great sums of +money by Ilderic, who was then leader of the Vandals, and after Ilderic +had been removed from the office and was in confinement, as has been +told in the previous narrative,[12] he came to the Emperor Justinian +with the other Libyans who were working in the interest of Ilderic, in +order to entreat his favour as a suppliant. And he joined the Roman +expedition against Gelimer and the Vandals, and proved himself a brave +man in this war and most of all at Tricamarum. And as a result of his +deeds there Belisarius entrusted to him these islands. And later +Belisarius sent an army also into Tripolis to Pudentius and +Tattimuth,[13] who were being pressed by the Moors there, and thus +strengthened the Roman power in that quarter. + +He also sent some men to Sicily in order to take the fortress in +Lilybaeum, as belonging to the Vandals' kingdom,[14] but he was repulsed +from there, since the Goths by no means saw fit to yield any part of +Sicily, on the ground that this fortress did not belong to the Vandals +at all. And when Belisarius heard this, he wrote to the commanders who +were there as follows: "You are depriving us of Lilybaeum, the fortress +of the Vandals who are the slaves of the emperor, and are not acting +justly nor in a way to benefit yourselves, and you wish to bring upon +your ruler, though he does not so will it and is far distant from the +scene of these actions, the hostility of the great emperor, whose +good-will he has, having won it with great labour. And yet how could you +but seem to be acting contrary to the ways of men, it you recently +allowed Gelimer to hold the fortress, but have decided to wrest from the +emperor, Gelimer's master, the possessions of the slave? You, at least, +should not act thus, most excellent sirs. But reflect that, while it is +the nature of friendship to cover over many faults, hostility does not +brook even the smallest misdeeds, but searches the past for every +offence, and allows not its enemy to grow rich on what does not in the +least belong to them.[15] Moreover, the enemy fights to avenge the +wrongs which it says have been done to its ancestors; and whereas, if +friendship thus turned to hostility fails in the struggle, it suffers no +loss of its own possessions, yet if it succeeds, it teaches the +vanquished to take a new view of the indulgence which has been shewn +them in the past. See to it, then, that you neither do us further harm +nor suffer harm yourselves, and do not make the great emperor an enemy +to the Gothic nation, when it is your prayer that he be propitious +toward you. For be well assured that, if you lay claim to this fortress, +war will confront you immediately, and not for Lilybaeum alone, but for +all the possessions you claim as yours, though not one of them belongs +to you." + +Such was the message of the letter. And the Goths reported these things +to the mother[16] of Antalaric, and at her direction made the following +reply: "The letter which you have written, most excellent Belisarius, +carries sound admonition, but pertinent to some other men, not to us the +Goths. For there is nothing of the Emperor Justinian's which we have +taken and hold; may we never be so mad as to do such a thing! The whole +of Sicily we claim because it is our own, and the fortress of Lilybaeum +is one of its promontories. And if Theoderic gave his sister, who was +the consort of the king of the Vandals, one of the trading-ports of +Sicily for her use, this is nothing. For this fact could not afford a +basis for any claim on your part. But you, O General, would be acting +justly toward us, if you should be willing to make the settlement of the +matters in dispute between us, not as an enemy, but as a friend. And +there is this difference, that friends are accustomed to settle their +disagreements by arbitration, but enemies by battle. We, therefore, +shall commit this matter to the Emperor Justinian, to arbitrate[17] in +whatever manner seems to him lawful and just. And we desire that the +decisions you make shall be as wise as possible, rather than as hasty as +possible, and that you, therefore, await the decision of your emperor." +Such was the message of the letter of the Goths. And Belisarius, +reporting all to the emperor, remained quiet until the emperor should +send him word what his wish was. + + +VI + +But Pharas, having by this time become weary of the siege for many +reasons, and especially because of the winter season, and at the same +time thinking that the Moors there would not be able to stand in his +way, undertook the ascent of Papua with great zeal. Accordingly he armed +all his followers very carefully and began the ascent. But the Moors +rushed to the defence, and since they were on ground which was steep and +very hard to traverse, their efforts to hinder those making the ascent +were easily accomplished. But Pharas fought hard to force the ascent, +and one hundred and ten of his men perished in this struggle, and he +himself with the remainder was beaten back and retired; and as a result +of this he did not dare to attempt the ascent again, since the situation +was against him, but he established as careful a guard as possible, in +order that those on Papua, being pressed by hunger, might surrender +themselves; and he neither permitted them to run away nor anything to be +brought in to them from outside. Then, indeed, it came about that +Gelimer and those about him, who were nephews and cousins of his and +other persons of high birth, experienced a misery which no one could +describe, however eloquent he might be, in a way which would equal the +facts. For of all the nations which we know that of the Vandals is the +most luxurious, and that of the Moors the most hardy. For the Vandals, +since the time when they gained possession of Libya, used to indulge in +baths, all of them, every day, and enjoyed a table abounding in all +things, the sweetest and best that the earth and sea produce. And they +wore gold very generally, and clothed themselves in the Medic garments, +which now they call "seric,"[18] and passed their time, thus dressed, in +theatres and hippodromes and in other pleasureable pursuits, and above +all else in hunting. And they had dancers and mimes and all other things +to hear and see which are of a musical nature or otherwise merit +attention among men. And the most of them dwelt in parks, which were +well supplied with water and trees; and they had great numbers of +banquets, and all manner of sexual pleasures were in great vogue among +them. But the Moors live in stuffy huts[19] both in winter and in summer +and at every other time, never removing from them either because of snow +or the heat of the sun or any other discomfort whatever due to nature. +And they sleep on the ground, the prosperous among them, if it should so +happen, spreading a fleece under themselves. Moreover, it is not +customary among them to change their clothing with the seasons, but they +wear a thick cloak and a rough shirt at all times. And they have neither +bread nor wine nor any other good thing, but they take grain, either +wheat or barley, and, without boiling it or grinding it to flour or +barley-meal, they eat it in a manner not a whit different from that of +animals. Since the Moors, then, were of a such a sort, the followers of +Gelimer, after living with them for a long time and changing their +accustomed manner of life to such a miserable existence, when at last +even the necessities of life had failed, held out no longer, but death +was thought by them most sweet and slavery by no means disgraceful. + +Now when this was learned by Pharas, he wrote to Gelimer as follows: "I +too am a barbarian and not accustomed to writing and speaking, nor am I +skilful in these matters. But that which I am forced as a man to know, +having learned from the nature of things, this I am writing you. What in +the world has happened to you, my dear Gelimer, that you have cast, not +yourself alone, but your whole family besides, into this pit? Is it, +forsooth, that you may avoid becoming a slave? But this is assuredly +nothing but youthful folly, and making of 'liberty' a mere shibboleth, +as though liberty were worth possessing at the price of all this misery! +And, after all, do you not consider that you are, even now, a slave to +the most wretched of the Moors, since your only hope of being saved, if +the best happens, is in them? And yet why would it not be better in +every way to be a slave among the Romans and beggared, than to be +monarch on Mount Papua with Moors as your subjects? But of course it +seems to you the very height of disgrace even to be a fellow slave with +Belisarius! Away with the thought, most excellent Gelimer. Are not +we,[20] who also are born of noble families, proud that we are now in +the service of an emperor? And indeed they say that it is the wish of +the Emperor Justinian to have you enrolled in the senate, thus sharing +in the highest honour and being a patrician, as we term that rank, and +to present you with lands both spacious and good and with great sums of +money, and that Belisarius is willing to make himself responsible for +your having all these things, and to give you pledges. Now as for all +the miseries which fortune has brought you, you are able to bear with +fortitude whatever comes from her, knowing that you are but a man and +that these things are inevitable; but if fortune has purposed to temper +these adversities with some admixture of good, would you of yourself +refuse to accept this gladly? Or should we consider that the good gifts +of fortune are not just as inevitable as are her undesirable gifts? Yet +such is not the opinion of even the utterly senseless; but you, it would +seem, have now lost your good judgment, steeped as you are in +misfortunes. Indeed, discouragement is wont to confound the mind and to +be transformed to folly. If, however, you can bear your own thoughts and +refrain from rebelling against fortune when she changes, it will be +possible at this very moment for you to choose that which will be wholly +to your advantage, and to escape from the evils which hang over you." + +When Gelimer had read this letter and wept bitterly over it, he wrote in +reply as follows: "I am both deeply grateful to you for the advice which +you have given me and I also think it unbearable to be a slave to an +enemy who wrongs me, from whom I should pray God to exact justice, if He +should be propitious to me,--an enemy who, though he had never +experienced any harm from me either in deeds which he suffered or in +words which he heard, provided a pretext for a war which was unprovoked, +and reduced me to this state of misfortune, bringing Belisarius against +me from I know not where. And yet it is not at all unlikely that he +also, since he is but a man, though he be emperor too, may have +something befall him which he would not choose. But as for me, I am not +able to write further. For my present misfortune has robbed me of my +thoughts. Farewell, then, dear Pharas, and send me a lyre and one loaf +of bread and a sponge, I pray you." When this reply was read by Pharas, +he was at a loss for some time, being unable to understand the final +words of the letter, until he who had brought the letter explained that +Gelimer desired one loaf because he was eager to enjoy the sight of it +and to eat it, since from the time when he went up upon Papua he had not +seen a single baked loaf. A sponge also was necessary for him; for one +of his eyes, becoming irritated by lack of washing, was greatly swollen. +And being a skilful harpist he had composed an ode relating to his +present misfortune, which he was eager to chant to the accompaniment of +a lyre while he wept out his soul. When Pharas heard this, he was deeply +moved, and lamenting the fortune of men, he did as was written and sent +all the things which Gelimer desired of him. However he relaxed the +siege not a whit, but kept watch more closely than before. + + +VII + +And already a space of three months had been spent in this siege and the +winter was coming to an end. And Gelimer was afraid, suspecting that his +besiegers would come up against him after no great time; and the bodies +of most of the children who were related to him[21] were discharging +worms in this time of misery. And though in everything he was deeply +distressed, and looked upon everything,--except, indeed, death,--with +dissatisfaction, he nevertheless endured the suffering beyond all +expectation, until it happened that he beheld a sight such as the +following. A certain Moorish woman had managed somehow to crush a little +corn, and making of it a very tiny cake, threw it into the hot ashes on +the hearth. For thus it is the custom among the Moors to bake their +loaves. And beside this hearth two children were sitting, in exceedingly +great distress by reason of their hunger, the one being the son of the +very woman who had thrown in the cake, and the other a nephew of +Gelimer; and they were eager to seize the cake as soon as it should seem +to them to be cooked. And of the two children the Vandal got ahead of +the other and snatched the cake first, and, though it was still +exceedingly hot and covered with ashes, hunger overpowered him, and he +threw it into his mouth and was eating it, when the other seized him by +the hair of the head and struck him over the temple and beat him again +and thus compelled him with great violence to cast out the cake which +was already in his throat. This sad experience Gelimer could not endure +(for he had followed all from the beginning), and his spirit was +weakened and he wrote as quickly as possible to Pharas as follows: "If +it has ever happened to any man, after manfully enduring terrible +misfortunes, to take a course contrary to that which he had previously +determined upon, consider me to be such a one, O most excellent Pharas. +For there has come to my mind your advice, which I am far from wishing +to disregard. For I cannot resist fortune further nor rebel against +fate, but I shall follow straightway wherever it seems to her best to +lead; but let me receive the pledges, that Belisarius guarantees that +the emperor will do everything which you recently promised me. For I, +indeed, as soon as you give the pledges, shall put both myself into your +hands and these kinsmen of mine and the Vandals, as many as are here +with us." + +Such were the words written by Gelimer in this letter. And Pharas, +having signified this to Belisarius, as well as what they had previously +written to each other, begged him to declare as quickly as possible what +his wish was. And Belisarius (since he was greatly desirous of leading +Gelimer alive to the emperor), as soon as he had read the letter, became +overjoyed and commanded Cyprian, a leader of foederati,[22] to go to +Papua with certain others, and directed them to give an oath concerning +the safety of Gelimer and of those with him, and to swear that he would +be honoured before the emperor and would lack nothing. And when these +men had come to Pharas, they went with him to a certain place by the +foot of the mountain, where Gelimer came at their summons, and after +receiving the pledges just as he wished he came with them to Carthage. +And it happened that Belisarius was staying for a time in the suburb of +the city which they call Aclas. Accordingly Gelimer came before him in +that place, laughing with such laughter as was neither moderate nor the +kind one could conceal, and some of those who were looking at him +suspected that by reason of the extremity of his affliction he had +changed entirely from his natural state and that, already beside +himself, he was laughing for no reason. But his friends would have it +that the man was in his sound mind, and that because he had been born in +a royal family, and had ascended the throne, and had been clothed with +great power and immense wealth from childhood even to old age, and then +being driven to flight and plunged into great fear had undergone the +sufferings on Papua, and now had come as a captive, having in this way +had experience of all the gifts of fortune, both good and evil, for this +reason, they believed, he thought that man's lot was worthy of nothing +else than much laughter. Now concerning this laughter of Gelimer's, let +each one speak according to his judgment, both enemy and friend. But +Belisarius, reporting to the emperor that Gelimer was a captive in +Carthage, asked permission to bring him to Byzantium with him. At the +same time he guarded both him and all the Vandals in no dishonour and +proceeded to put the fleet in readiness. + +Now many other things too great to be hoped for have before now been +experienced in the long course of time, and they will continue as long +as the fortunes of men are the same as they now are; for those things +which seem to reason impossible are actually accomplished, and many +times those things which previously appeared impossible, when they have +befallen, have seemed to be worthy of wonder; but whether such events as +these ever took place before I am not able to say, wherein the fourth +descendant of Gizeric, and his kingdom at the height of its wealth and +military strength, were completely undone in so short a time by five +thousand men coming in as invaders and having not a place to cast +anchor. For such was the number of the horsemen who followed Belisarius, +and carried through the whole war against the Vandals. For whether this +happened by chance or because of some kind of valour, one would justly +marvel at it. But I shall return to the point from which I have strayed. + + +VIII + +So the Vandalic war ended thus. But envy, as is wont to happen in cases +of great good fortune, was already swelling against Belisarius, although +he provided no pretext for it. For some of the officers slandered him to +the emperor, charging him, without any grounds whatever, with seeking to +set up a kingdom for himself,[23] a statement for which there was no +basis whatever. But the emperor did not disclose these things to the +world, either because he paid no heed to the slander, or because this +course seemed better to him. But he sent Solomon and gave Belisarius the +opportunity to choose whichever of two things he desired, either to come +to Byzantium with Gelimer and the Vandals, or to remain there and send +them. And Belisarius, since it did not escape him that the officers were +bringing against him the charge of seeking supreme power, was eager to +get to Byzantium, in order that he might clear himself of the charge and +be able to proceed against his slanderers. Now as to the manner in which +he learned of the attempt of his accusers, I shall explain. When those +who denounced him wished to present this slander, fearing lest the man +who was to carry their letter to the emperor should be lost at sea and +thus put a stop to their proceedings, they wrote the aforesaid +accusation on two tablets, purposing to send two messengers to the +emperor in two ships. And one of these two sailed away without being +detected, but the second, on account of some suspicion or other, was +captured in Mandracium, and putting the writing into the hands of his +captors, he made known what was being done. So Belisarius, having +learned in this way, was eager to come before the emperor, as has been +said. Such, then, was the course of these events at Carthage. + +But the Moors who dwelt in Byzacium and in Numidia turned to revolt for +no good reason, and they decided to break the treaty and to rise +suddenly against the Romans. And this was not out of keeping with their +peculiar character. For there is among the Moors neither fear of God nor +respect for men. For they care not either for oaths or for hostages, +even though the hostages chance to be the children or brothers of their +leaders. Nor is peace maintained among the Moors by any other means than +by fear of the enemies opposing them. Now I shall set forth in what +manner the treaty was made by them with Belisarius and how it was +broken. When it came to be expected that the emperor's expedition would +arrive in Libya, the Moors, fearing lest they should receive some harm +from it, consulted the oracles of their women. For it is not lawful in +this nation for a man to utter oracles, but the women among them as a +result of some sacred rites become possessed and foretell the future, no +less than any of the ancient oracles. So on that occasion, when they +made enquiry, as has been said, the women gave the response: "There +shall be a host from the waters, the overthrow of the Vandals, +destruction and defeat of the Moors, when the general of the Romans +shall come unbearded." When the Moors heard this, since they saw that +the emperor's army had come from the sea, they began to be in great fear +and were quite unwilling to fight in alliance with the Vandals, but they +sent to Belisarius and established peace, as has been stated +previously,[24] and then remained quiet and waited for the future, to +see how it would fall out. And when the power of the Vandals had now +come to an end, they sent to the Roman army, investigating whether there +was anyone unbearded among them holding an office. And when they saw all +wearing full beards, they thought that the oracle did not indicate the +present time to them, but one many generations later, interpreting the +saying in that way which they themselves wished. Immediately, therefore, +they were eager to break the treaty, but their fear of Belisarius +prevented them. For they had no hope that they would ever overcome the +Romans in war, at least with him present. But when they heard that he +was making his departure together with his guards and spearmen, and that +the ships were already being filled with them and the Vandals, they +suddenly rose in arms and displayed every manner of outrage upon the +Libyans. For the soldiers were both few in each place on the frontier +and still unprepared, so that they would not have been able to stand +against the barbarians as they made inroads at every point, nor to +prevent their incursions, which took place frequently and not in an open +manner. But men were being killed indiscriminately and women with their +children were being made slaves, and the wealth was being plundered from +every part of the frontier and the whole country was being filled with +fugitives. These things were reported to Belisarius when he was just +about setting sail. And since it was now too late for him to return +himself, he entrusted Solomon with the administration of Libya and he +also chose out the greatest part of his own guards and spearmen, +instructing them to follow Solomon and as quickly as possible to punish +with all zeal those of the Moors who had risen in revolt and to exact +vengeance for the injury done the Romans. And the emperor sent another +army also to Solomon with Theodoras, the Cappadocian, and Ildiger, who +was the son-in-law of Antonina, the wife of Belisarius. And since it was +no longer possible to find the revenues of the districts of Libya set +down in order in documents, as the Romans had recorded them in former +times,[25] inasmuch as Gizeric had upset and destroyed everything in the +beginning, Tryphon and Eustratius were sent by the emperor, in order to +assess the taxes for the Libyans each according to his proportion. But +these men seemed to the Libyans neither moderate nor endurable. + + +IX + +Belisarius, upon reaching Byzantium with Gelimer and the Vandals, was +counted worthy to receive such honours, as in former times were assigned +to those generals of the Romans who had won the greatest and most +noteworthy victories. And a period of about six hundred years had now +passed since anyone had attained these honours,[26] except, indeed, +Titus and Trajan, and such other emperors as had led armies against some +barbarian nation and had been victorious. For he displayed the spoils +and slaves from the war in the midst of the city and led a procession +which the Romans call a "triumph," not, however, in the ancient manner, +but going on foot from his own house to the hippodrome and then again +from the barriers until he reached the place where the imperial throne +is.[27] And there was booty,--first of all, whatever articles are wont +to be set apart for the royal service,--thrones of gold and carriages in +which it is customary for a king's consort to ride, and much jewelry +made of precious stones, and golden drinking cups, and all the other +things which are useful for the royal table. And there was also silver +weighing many thousands of talents and all the royal treasure amounting +to an exceedingly great sum (for Gizeric had despoiled the Palatium in +Rome, as has been said in the preceding narrative),[28] and among these +were the treasures of the Jews, which Titus, the son of Vespasian, +together with certain others, had brought to Rome after the capture of +Jerusalem. And one of the Jews, seeing these things, approached one of +those known to the emperor and said: "These treasures I think it +inexpedient to carry into the palace in Byzantium. Indeed, it is not +possible for them to be elsewhere than in the place where Solomon, the +king of the Jews, formerly placed them. For it is because of these that +Gizeric captured the palace of the Romans, and that now the Roman army +has captured that the Vandals." When this had been brought to the ears +of the Emperor, he became afraid and quickly sent everything to the +sanctuaries of the Christians in Jerusalem. And there were slaves in the +triumph, among whom was Gelimer himself, wearing some sort of a purple +garment upon his shoulders, and all his family, and as many of the +Vandals as were very tall and fair of body. And when Gelimer reached the +hippodrome and saw the emperor sitting upon a lofty seat and the people +standing on either side and realized as he looked about in what an evil +plight he was, he neither wept nor cried out, but ceased not saying over +in the words of the Hebrew scripture:[29] "Vanity of vanities, all is +vanity." And when he came before the emperor's seat, they stripped off +the purple garment, and compelled him to fall prone on the ground and do +obeisance to the Emperor Justinian. This also Belisarius did, as being a +suppliant of the emperor along with him. And the Emperor Justinian and +the Empress Theodora presented the children of Ilderic and his offspring +and all those of the family of the Emperor Valentinian with sufficient +sums of money, and to Gelimer they gave lands not to be despised in +Galatia and permitted him to live there together with his family. +However, Gelimer was by no means enrolled among the patricians, since he +was unwilling to change from the faith of Arius. + +[Jan. 1, 535 A.D.] A little later the triumph[30] was celebrated by, +Belisarius in the ancient manner also. For he had the fortune to be +advanced to the office of consul, and therefore was borne aloft by the +captives, and as he was thus carried in his curule chair, he threw to +the populace those very spoils of the Vandalic war. For the people +carried off the silver plate and golden girdles and a vast amount of the +Vandals' wealth of other sorts as a result of Belisarius' consulship, +and it seemed that after a long interval of disuse an old custom was +being revived.[31] These things, then, took place in Byzantium in the +manner described. + + +X + +And Solomon took over the army in Libya; but in view of the fact that +the Moors had risen against him, as has been told previously, and that +everything was in suspense, he was at a loss how to treat the situation. +For it was reported that the barbarians had destroyed the soldiers in +Byzacium and Numidia and that they were pillaging and plundering +everything there. But what disturbed most of all both him and all +Carthage was the fate which befell Aïgan, the Massagete, and Rufinus, +the Thracian, in Byzacium. For both were men of great repute both in the +household of Belisarius and in the Roman army, one of them, Aïgan, being +among the spearmen of Belisarius, while the other, as the most +courageous of all, was accustomed to carry the standard of the general +in battle; such an officer the Romans call "bandifer."[32] Now at the +time referred to these two men were commanding detatchments of cavalry +in Byzacium, and when they saw the Moors plundering everything before +them and making all the Libyans captives, they watched in a narrow pass +with their followers for those who were escorting the booty, and killed +them and took away all the captives. And when a report of this came to +the commanders of the barbarians, Coutzinas and Esdilasas and +Iourphouthes and Medisinissas, who were not far away from this pass, +they moved against them with their whole army in the late afternoon. And +the Romans, being a very few men and shut off in a narrow place in the +midst of many thousands, were not able to ward off their assailants. For +wherever they might turn, they were always shot at from the rear. Then, +indeed, Rufinus and Aïgan with some few men ran to the top of a rock +which was near by and from there defended themselves against the +barbarians. Now as long as they were using their bows, the enemy did not +dare come directly to a hand-to-hand struggle with them, but they kept +hurling their javelins among them; but when all the arrows of the Romans +were now exhausted, the Moors closed with them, and they defended +themselves with their swords as well as the circumstances permitted. But +since they were overpowered by the multitude of the barbarians, Aïgan +fell there with his whole body hacked to pieces, and Rufinus was seized +by the enemy and led away. But straightway one of the commanders, +Medisinissas, fearing lest he should escape and again make trouble for +them, cut off his head and taking it to his home shewed it to his wives, +for it was a remarkable sight on account of the extraordinary size of +the head and the abundance of hair. And now, since the narration of the +history has brought me to this point, it is necessary to tell from the +beginning whence the nations of the Moors came to Libya and how they +settled there. + +When the Hebrews had withdrawn from Egypt and had come near the +boundaries of Palestine, Moses, a wise man, who was their leader on the +journey, died, and the leadership was passed on to Joshua, the son of +Nun, who led this people into Palestine, and, by displaying a valour in +war greater than that natural to a man, gained possession of the land. +And after overthrowing all the nations he easily won the cities, and he +seemed to be altogether invincible. Now at that time the whole country +along the sea from Sidon as far as the boundaries of Egypt was called +Phoenicia. And one king in ancient times held sway over it, as is agreed +by all who have written the earliest accounts of the Phoenicians. In +that country there dwelt very populous tribes, the Gergesites and the +Jebusites and some others with other names by which they are called in +the history of the Hebrews.[33] Now when these nations saw that the +invading general was an irresistible prodigy, they emigrated from their +ancestral homes and made their way to Egypt, which adjoined their +country. And finding there no place sufficient for them to dwell in, +since there has been a great population in Aegypt from ancient times, +they proceeded to Libya. And they established numerous cities and took +possession of the whole of Libya as far as the Pillars of Heracles, and +there they have lived even up to my time, using the Phoenician tongue. +They also built a fortress in Numidia, where now is the city called +Tigisis. In that place are two columns made of white stone near by the +great spring, having Phoenician letters cut in them which say in the +Phoenician tongue: "We are they who fled from before the face of Joshua, +the robber, the son of Nun." There were also other nations settled in +Libya before the Moors, who on account of having been established there +from of old were said to be children of the soil. And because of this +they said that Antaeus, their king, who wrestled with Heracles in +Clipea,[34] was a son of the earth. And in later times those who removed +from Phoenicia with Dido came to the inhabitants of Libya as to kinsmen. +And they willingly allowed them to found and hold Carthage. But as time +went on Carthage became a powerful and populous city. And a battle took +place between them and their neighbours, who, as has been said, had come +from Palestine before them and are called Moors at the present time, and +the Carthaginians defeated them and compelled them to live a very great +distance away from Carthage. Later on the Romans gained the supremacy +over all of them in war, and settled the Moors at the extremity of the +inhabited land of Libya, and made the Carthaginians and the other +Libyans subject and tributary to themselves. And after this the Moors +won many victories over the Vandals and gained possession of the land +now called Mauretania, extending from Gadira as far as the boundaries of +Caesarea,[35] as well as the most of Libya which remained. Such, then, +is the story of the settlement of the Moors in Libya. + + +XI + +Now when Solomon heard what had befallen Rufinus and Aïgan, he made +ready for war and wrote as follows to the commanders of the Moors: +"Other men than you have even before this had the ill fortune to lose +their senses and to be destroyed, men who had no means of judging +beforehand how their folly would turn out. But as for you, who have the +example near at hand in your neighbours, the Vandals, what in the world +has happened to you that you have decided to raise your hands against +the great emperor and throw away your own security, and that too when +you have given the most dread oaths in writing and have handed over your +children as pledges to the agreement? Is it that you have determined to +make a kind of display of the fact that you have no consideration either +for God or for good faith or for kinship itself or for safety or for any +other thing at all? And yet, if such is your practice in matters which +concern the divine, in what ally do you put your trust in marching +against the emperor of the Romans? And if you are taking the field to +the destruction of your children, what in the world is it in behalf of +which you have decided to endanger yourselves? But if any repentance has +by now entered your hearts for what has already taken place, write to +us, that we may satisfactorily arrange with you touching what has +already been done; but if your madness has not yet abated, expect a +Roman war, which will come upon you together with the oaths which you +have violated and the wrong which you are doing to your own children." + +Such was the letter which Solomon wrote. And the Moors replied as +follows: "Belisarius deluded us with great promises and by this means +persuaded us to become subjects of the Emperor Justinian; but the +Romans, while giving us no share in any good thing, expected to have us, +though pinched with hunger, as their friends and allies. Therefore it is +more fitting that you should be called faithless than that the Moors +should be. For the men who break treaties are not those who, when +manifestly wronged, bring accusation against their neighbours and turn +away from them, but those who expect to keep others in faithful alliance +with them and then do them violence. And men make God their enemy, not +when they march against others in order to recover their own +possessions, but when they get themselves into danger of war by +encroaching upon the possessions of others. And as for children, that +will be your concern, who are not permitted to marry more than one wife; +but with us, who have, it may be, fifty wives living with each of us, +offspring of children can never fail." + +When Solomon had read this letter, he decided to lead his whole army +against the Moors. So after arranging matters in Carthage, he proceeded +with all his troops to Byzacium. And when he reached the place which is +called Mammes,[36] where the four Moorish commanders, whom I have +mentioned a little before,[37] were encamped, he made a stockade for +himself. Now there are lofty mountains there, and a level space near the +foothills of the mountains, where the barbarians had made preparations +for the battle and arranged their fighting order as follows. They formed +a circle of their camels, just as, in the previous narrative,[38] I have +said Cabaon did, making the front about twelve deep. And they placed the +women with the children within the circle; (for among the Moors it is +customary to take also a few women, with their children, to battle, and +these make the stockades and huts for them and tend the horses +skilfully, and have charge of the camels and the food; they also sharpen +the iron weapons and take upon themselves many of the tasks in +connection with the preparation for battle); and the men themselves took +their stand on foot in between the legs of the camels, having shields +and swords and small spears which they are accustomed to hurl like +javelins. And some of them with their horses remained quietly among the +mountains. But Solomon disregarded one half of the circle of the Moors, +which was towards the mountain, placing no one there. For he feared lest +the enemy on the mountain should come down and those in the circle +should turn about and thus make the men drawn up there exposed to attack +on both sides in the battle. But against the remainder of the circle he +drew up his whole army, and since he saw the most of them frightened and +without courage, on account of what had befallen Aïgan and Rufinus, and +wishing to admonish them to be of good cheer, he spoke as follows: "Men +who have campaigned with Belisarius, let no fear of these men enter your +minds, and, if Moors gathered to the number of fifty thousand have +already defeated five hundred Romans, let not this stand for you as an +example. But call to mind your own valour, and consider that while the +Vandals defeated the Moors, you have become masters of the Vandals in +war without any effort, and that it is not right that those who have +conquered the greater should be terrified before those who are inferior. +And indeed of all men the Moorish nation seems to be the most poorly +equipped for war's struggle. For the most of them have no armour at all, +and those who have shields to hold before themselves have only small +ones which are not well made and are not able to turn aside what strikes +against them. And after they have thrown those two small spears, if they +do not accomplish anything, they turn of their own accord to flight. So +that it is possible for you, after guarding against the first attack of +the barbarians, to win the victory with no trouble at all. But as to +your equipment of arms, you see, of course, how great is the difference +between it and that of your opponents. And apart from this, both valour +of heart and strength of body and experience in war and confidence +because you have already conquered all your enemies,--all these +advantages you have; but the Moors, being deprived of all these things, +put their trust only in their own great throng. And it is easier for a +few who are most excellently prepared to conquer a multitude of men not +good at warfare than it is for the multitude to defeat them. For while +the good soldier has his confidence in himself, the cowardly man +generally finds that the very number of those arrayed with him produces +a want of room that is full of peril. Furthermore, you are warranted in +despising these camels, which cannot fight for the enemy, and when +struck by our missiles will, in all probability, become the cause of +considerable confusion and disorder among them. And the eagerness for +battle which the enemy have acquired on account of their former success +will be your ally in the fight. For daring, when it is kept commensurate +with one's power, will perhaps be of some benefit even to those who make +use of it, but when it exceeds one's power it lends into danger. Bearing +these things in mind and despising the enemy, observe silence and order; +for by taking thought for these things we shall win the victory over the +disorder of the barbarians more easily and with less labour." Thus spoke +Solomon. + +And the commanders of the Moors also, seeing the barbarians terrified at +the orderly array of the Romans, and wishing to recall their host to +confidence again, exhorted them in this wise: "That the Romans have +human bodies, the kind that yield when struck with iron, we have been +taught, O fellow-soldiers, by those of them whom we have recently met, +the best of them all, some of whom we have overwhelmed with our spears +and killed, and the others we have seized and made our prisoners of war. +And not only is this so, but it is now possible to see also that we +boast great superiority over them in numbers. And, furthermore, the +struggle for us involves the very greatest things, either to be masters +of all Libya or to be slaves to these braggarts. It is therefore +necessary for us to be in the highest degree brave men at the present +time. For it is not expedient that those whose all is at stake should be +other than exceedingly courageous. And it behoves us to despise the +equipment of arms which the enemy have. For if they come on foot against +us, they will not be able to move rapidly, but will be worsted by the +agility of the Moors, and their cavalry will be terrified both by the +sight of the camels, and by the noise they make, which, rising above the +general tumult of battle, will, in all likelihood, throw them into +disorder. And if anyone by taking into consideration the victory of the +Romans over the Vandals thinks them not to be withstood, he is mistaken +in his judgment. For the scales of war are, in the nature of the case, +turned by the valour of the commander or by fortune; and Belisarius, who +was responsible for their gaining the mastery over the Vandals, has now, +thanks to Heaven, been removed out of our way. And, besides, we too have +many times conquered the Vandals and stripped them of their power, and +have thus made the victory over them a more feasible and an easier task +for the Romans. And now we have reason to hope to conquer this enemy +also if you shew yourselves brave men in the struggle." + +After the officers of the Moors had delivered this exhortation, they +began the engagement. And at first there arose great disorder in the +Roman army. For their horses were offended by the noise made by the +camels and by the sight of them, and reared up and threw off their +riders and the most of them fled in complete disorder. And in the +meantime the Moors were making sallies and hurling all the small spears +which they had in their hands, thus causing the Roman army to be filled +with tumult, and they were hitting them with their missiles while they +were unable either to defend themselves or to remain in position. But +after this, Solomon, observing what was happening, leaped down from his +horse himself first and caused all the others to do the same. And when +they had dismounted, he commanded the others to stand still, and, +holding their shields before them and receiving the missiles sent by the +enemy, to remain in their position; but he himself, leading forward not +less than five hundred men, made an attack upon the other portion of the +circle.[39] These men he commanded to draw their swords and kill the +camels which stood at that point. Then the Moors who were stationed +there beat a hasty retreat, and the men under Solomon killed about two +hundred camels, and straightway, when the camels fell, the circle became +accessible to the Romans. And they advanced on the run into the middle +of the circle where the women of the Moors were sitting; meanwhile the +barbarians in consternation withdrew to the mountain which was close by, +and as they fled in complete disorder the Romans followed behind and +killed them. And it is said that ten thousand of the Moors perished in +this encounter, while all the women together with the children were made +slaves. And the soldiers secured as booty all the camels which they had +not killed. Thus the Romans with all their plunder went to Carthage to +celebrate the festival of triumph. + + +XII + +But the barbarians, being moved with anger, once more took the field in +a body against the Romans, leaving behind not one of their number, and +they began to overrun the country in Byzacium, sparing none of any age +of those who fell in their way. And when Solomon had just marched into +Carthage it was reported that the barbarians with a great host had come +into Byzacium and were plundering everything there. He therefore +departed quickly with his whole army and marched against them. And when +he reached Bourgaon, where the enemy were encamped, he remained some +days in camp over against them, in order that, as soon as the Moors +should get on level ground, he might begin the battle. But since they +remained on the mountain, he marshalled his army and arrayed it for +battle; the Moors, however, had no intention of ever again engaging in +battle with the Romans in level country (for already an irresistible +fear had come over them), but on the mountain they hoped to overcome +them more easily. Now Mt. Bourgaon is for the most part precipitous and +on the side toward the east extremely difficult to ascend, but on the +west it is easily accessible and rises in an even slope. And there are +two lofty peaks which rise up, forming between them a sort of vale, very +narrow, but of incredible depth. Now the barbarians left the peak of the +mountain unoccupied, thinking that on this side no hostile movement +would be made against them; and they left equally unprotected the space +about the foot of the mountain where Bourgaon was easy of access. But at +the middle of the ascent they made their camp and remained there, in +order that, if the enemy should ascend and begin battle with them, they +might at the outset, being on higher ground, shoot down upon their +heads. They also had on the mountain many horses, prepared either for +flight or for the pursuit, if they should win the battle. + +Now when Solomon saw that the Moors were unwilling to fight another +battle on the level ground, and also that the Roman army was opposed to +making a siege in a desert place, he was eager to come to an encounter +with the enemy on Bourgaon. But inasmuch as he saw that the soldiers +were stricken with terror because of the multitude of their opponents, +which was many times greater than it had been in the previous battle, he +called together the army and spoke as follows: "The fear which the enemy +feel toward you needs no other arraignment, but voluntarily pleads +guilty, bringing forward, as it does, the testimony of its own +witnesses. For you see, surely, our opponents gathered in so many tens +and tens of thousands, but not daring to come down to the plain and +engage with us, unable to feel confidence even in their own selves, but +taking refuge in the difficulty of this place. It is therefore not even +necessary to address any exhortation to you, at the present time at +least. For those to whom both the circumstances and the weakness of the +enemy give courage, need not, I think, the additional assistance of +words. But of this one thing it will be needful to remind you, that if +we fight out this engagement also with brave hearts, it will remain for +us, having defeated the Vandals and reduced the Moors to the same +fortune, to enjoy all the good things of Libya, having no thought +whatever of an enemy in our minds. But as to preventing the enemy from +shooting down upon our heads, and providing that no harm come to us from +the nature of the place, I myself shall make provision." + +After making this exhortation Solomon commanded Theodorus, who led the +"excubitores[40]" (for thus the Romans call their guards), to take with +him a thousand infantrymen toward the end of the afternoon and with some +of the standards to go up secretly on the east side of Bourgaon, where +the mountain is most difficult of ascent and, one might say, +impracticable, commanding him that, when they arrived near the crest of +the mountain, they should remain quietly there and pass the rest of the +night, and that at sunrise they should appear above the enemy and +displaying the standards commence to shoot. And Theodoras did as +directed. And when it was well on in the night, they climbed up the +precipitous slope and reached a point near the peak without being +noticed either by the Moors or even by any of the Romans; for they were +being sent out, it was said, as an advance guard, to prevent anyone from +coming to the camp from the outside to do mischief. And at early dawn +Solomon with the whole army went up against the enemy to the outskirts +of Bourgaon. And when morning had come and the enemy were seen near at +hand, the soldiers were completely at a loss, seeing the summit of the +mountain no longer unoccupied, as formerly, but covered with men who +were displaying Roman standards; for already some daylight was beginning +to shew. But when those on the peak began their attack, the Romans +perceived that the army was their own and the barbarians that they had +been placed between their enemy's forces, and being shot at from both +sides and having no opportunity to ward off the enemy, they thought no +more of resistance but turned, all of them, to a hasty flight. And since +they could neither run up to the top of Bourgaon, which was held by the +enemy, nor go to the plain anywhere over the lower slopes of the +mountain, since their opponents were pressing upon them from that side, +they went with a great rush to the vale and the unoccupied peak, some +even with their horses, others on foot. But since they were a numerous +throng fleeing in great fear and confusion, they kept killing each +other, and as they rushed into the vale, which was exceedingly deep, +those who were first were being killed constantly, but their plight +could not be perceived by those who were coming up behind. And when the +vale became full of dead horses and men, and the bodies made a passage +from Bourgaon to the other mountain, then the remainder were saved by +making the crossing over the bodies. And there perished in this +struggle, among the Moors fifty thousand, as was declared by those of +them who survived, but among the Romans no one at all, nor indeed did +anyone receive even a wound, either at the hand of the enemy or by any +accident happening to him, but they all enjoyed this victory unscathed. +All of the leaders of the barbarians also made their escape, except +Esdilasas, who received pledges and surrendered himself to the Romans. +So great, however, was the multitude of women and children whom the +Romans seized as booty, that they would sell a Moorish boy for the price +of a sheep to any who wished to buy. And then the remainder of the Moors +recalled the saying of their women, to the effect that their nation +would be destroyed by a beardless man.[41] + +So the Roman army, together with its booty and with Esdilasas, marched +into Carthage; and those of the barbarians who had not perished decided +that it was impossible to settle in Byzacium, lest they, being few, +should be treated with violence by the Libyans who were their +neighbours, and with their leaders they went into Numidia and made +themselves suppliants of Iaudas, who ruled the Moors in Aurasium.[42] +And the only Moors who remained in Byzacium were those led by Antalas, +who during this time had kept faith with the Romans and together with +his subjects had remained unharmed. + + +XIII + +But during the time when these things were happening in Byzacium, +Iaudas, who ruled the Moors in Aurasium, bringing more than thirty +thousand fighting men, was plundering the country of Numidia and +enslaving many of the Libyans. Now it so happened that Althias[43] in +Centuriae was keeping guard over the forts there; and he, being eager to +take from the enemy some of their captives, went outside the fort with +the Huns who were under his command, to the number of about seventy. And +reasoning that he was not able to cope with such a great multitude of +Moors with only seventy men, he wished to occupy some narrow pass, so +that, while the enemy were marching through it, he might be able to +snatch up some of the captives. And since there are no such roads there, +because flat plains extend in every direction, he devised the following +plan. + +There is a city not far distant, named Tigisis, then an unwalled place, +but having a great spring at a place which was very closely shut in. +Althias therefore decided to take possession of this spring, reasoning +that the enemy, compelled by thirst, would surely come there; for there +is no other water at all close by. Now it seemed to all upon considering +the disparity of the armies that his plan was insane. But the Moors came +up feeling very much wearied and greatly oppressed by the heat in the +summer weather, and naturally almost overcome by an intense thirst, and +they made for the spring with a great rush, having no thought of meeting +any obstacle. But when they found the water held by the enemy, they all +halted, at a loss what to do, the greatest part of their strength having +been already expended because of their desire for water. Iaudas +therefore had a parley with Althias and agreed to give him the third +part of the booty, on condition that the Moors should all drink. But +Althias was by no means willing to accept the proposal, but demanded +that he fight with him in single combat for the booty. And this +challenge being accepted by Iaudas, it was agreed that if it so fell out +that Althias was overcame, the Moors should drink. And the whole Moorish +army was rejoiced, being in good hope, since Althias was lean and not +tall of body, while Iaudas was the finest and most warlike of all the +Moors. Now both of them were, as it happened, mounted. And Iaudas hurled +his spear first, but as it was coming toward him Althias succeeded with +amazing skill in catching it with his right hand, thus filling Iaudas +and the enemy with consternation. And with his left hand he drew his bow +instantly, for he was ambidextrous, and hit and killed the horse of +Iaudas. And as he fell, the Moors brought another horse for their +commander, upon which Iaudas leaped and straightway fled; and the +Moorish army followed him in complete disorder. And Althias, by thus +taking from them the captives and the whole of the booty, won a great +name in consequence of this deed throughout all Libya. Such, then, was +the course of these events. + +And Solomon, after delaying a short time in Carthage, led his army +toward Mt. Aurasium and Iaudas, alleging against him that, while the +Roman army was occupied in Byzacium, he had plundered many of the places +in Numidia. And this was true. Solomon was also urged on against Iaudas +by the other commanders of the Moors, Massonas and Ortaïas, because of +their personal enmity; Massonas, because his father Mephanias, who was +the father-in-law of Iaudas, had been treacherously slain by him, and +Ortaïas, because Iaudas, together with Mastinas, who ruled over the +barbarians in Mauretania, had purposed to drive him and all the Moors +whom he ruled from the land where they had dwelt from of old. So the +Roman army, under the leadership of Solomon, and those of the Moors who +came into alliance with them, made their camp on the river Abigas, which +flows along by Aurasium and waters the land there. But to Iaudas it +seemed inexpedient to array himself against the enemy in the plain, but +he made his preparations on Aurasium in such a way as seemed to him +would offer most difficulty to his assailants. This mountain is about +thirteen days' journey distant from Carthage, and the largest of all +known to us. For its circuit is a three days' journey for an +unencumbered traveller. And for one wishing to go upon it the mountain +is difficult of access and extremely wild, but as one ascends and +reaches the level ground, plains are seen and many springs which form +rivers and a great number of altogether wonderful parks. And the grain +which grows here, and every kind of fruit, is double the size of that +produced in all the rest of Libya. And there are fortresses also on this +mountain, which are neglected, by reason of the fact that they do not +seem necessary to the inhabitants. For since the time when the Moors +wrested Aurasium from the Vandals,[44] not a single enemy had until now +ever come there or so much as caused the barbarians to be afraid that +they would come, but even the populous city of Tamougadis, situated +against the mountain on the east at the beginning of the plain, was +emptied of its population by the Moors and razed to the ground, in order +that the enemy should not only not be able to encamp there, but should +not even have the city as an excuse for coming near the mountain. And +the Moors of that place held also the land to the west of Aurasium, a +tract both extensive and fertile. And beyond these dwelt other nations +of the Moors, who were ruled by Ortaïas, who had come, as was stated +above, as an ally to Solomon and the Romans. And I have heard this man +say that beyond the country which he ruled there was no habitation of +men, but desert land extending to a great distance, and that beyond that +there are men, not black-skinned like the Moors, but very white in body +and fair-haired. So much, then, for these things. + +And Solomon, after bribing the Moorish allies with great sums of money +and earnestly exhorting them, began the ascent of Mt. Aurasium with the +whole army arrayed as for battle, thinking that on that day he would do +battle with the enemy and just as he was have the matter out with them +according as fortune should wish. Accordingly the soldiers did not even +take with them any food, except a little, for themselves and their +horses. And after proceeding over very rough ground for about fifty +stades, they made a bivouac. And covering a similar distance each day +they came on the seventh day to a place where there was an ancient +fortress and an ever-flowing stream. The place is called "Shield +Mountain" by the Romans in their own tongue.[45] Now it was reported to +them that the enemy were encamped there, and when they reached this +place and encountered no enemy, they made camp and, preparing themselves +for battle, remained there; and three days' time was spent by them in +that place. And since the enemy kept altogether out of their way, and +their provisions had failed, the thought came to Solomon and to the +whole army that there had been some plot against them on the part of the +Moors who were their allies; for these Moors were not unacquainted with +the conditions of travel on Aurasium, and understood, probably, what had +been decided upon by the enemy; they were stealthily going out to meet +them each day, it was said, and had also frequently been sent to their +country by the Romans to reconnoitre, and had decided to make nothing +but false reports, in order, no doubt, that the Romans, with no prior +knowledge of conditions, might make the ascent of Mt. Aurasium without +supplies for a longer time or without preparing themselves otherwise in +the way which would be best. And, all things considered, the Romans were +suspicious that an ambush had been set for them by men who were their +allies and began to be afraid, reasoning that the Moors are said to be +by nature untrustworthy at all times and especially whenever they march +as allies with the Romans or any others against Moors. So, remembering +these things, and at the same time being pinched by hunger, they +withdrew from there with all speed without accomplishing anything, and, +upon reaching the plain, constructed a stockade. + +After this Solomon established a part of the army in Numidia to serve as +a guard and with the remainder went to Carthage, since it was already +winter. There he arranged and set everything in order, so that at the +beginning of spring he might again march against Aurasium with a larger +equipment and, if possible, without Moors as allies. At the same time he +prepared generals and another army and a fleet of ships for an +expedition against the Moors who dwell in the island of Sardinia; for +this island is a large one and flourishing besides, being about two +thirds as large as Sicily (for the perimeter of the island makes a +journey of twenty days for an unencumbered traveller); and lying, as it +does, between Rome and Carthage, it was oppressed by the Moors who dwelt +there. For the Vandals in ancient times, being enraged against these +barbarians, sent some few of them with their wives to Sardinia and +confined them there. But as time went on they seized the mountains which +are near Caranalis, at first making plundering expeditions secretly upon +those who dwelt round about, but when they became no less than three +thousand, they even made their raids openly, and with no desire for +concealment plundered all the country there, being called +Barbaricini[46] by the natives. It was against these barbarians, +therefore, that Solomon was preparing the fleet during that winter. +Such, then, was the course of events in Libya. + + +XIV + +And in Italy during these same times the following events took place. +Belisarius was sent against Theodatus and the Gothic nation by the +Emperor Justinian, and sailing to Sicily he secured this island with no +trouble. And the manner in which this was done will be told in the +following pages, when the history leads me to the narration of the +events in Italy. For it has not seemed to me out of order first to +record all the events which happened in Libya and after that to turn to +the portion of the history touching Italy and the Goths. + +During this winter Belisarius remained in Syracuse and Solomon in +Carthage. And it came about during this year that a most dread portent +took place. For the sun gave forth its light without brightness, like +the moon, during this whole year, and it seemed exceedingly like the sun +in eclipse, for the beams it shed were not clear nor such as it is +accustomed to shed. And from the time when this thing happened men were +free neither from war nor pestilence nor any other thing leading to +death. And it was the time when Justinian was in the tenth year of his +reign. [536-537 A.D.] + +[536 A.D.] At the opening of spring, when the Christians were +celebrating the feast which they call Easter, there arose a mutiny among +the soldiers in Libya. I shall now tell how it arose and to what end it +came. + +After the Vandals had been defeated in the battle, as I have told +previously,[47] the Roman soldiers took their daughters and wives and +made them their own by lawful marriage. And each one of these women kept +urging her husband to lay claim to the possession of the lands which she +had owned previously, saying that it was not right or fitting if, while +living with the Vandals, they had enjoyed these lands, but after +entering into marriage with the conquerors of the Vandals they were then +to be deprived of their possessions. And having these things in mind, +the soldiers did not think that they were bound to yield the lands of +the Vandals to Solomon, who wished to register them as belonging to the +commonwealth and to the emperor's house and said that while it was not +unreasonable that the slaves and all other things of value should go as +booty to the soldiers, the land itself belonged to the emperor and the +empire of the Romans, which had nourished them and caused them to be +called soldiers and to be such, not in order to win for themselves such +land as they should wrest from the barbarians who were trespassing on +the Roman empire, but that this land might come to the commonwealth, +from which both they and all others secured their maintenance. This was +one cause of the mutiny. And there was a second, concurrent, cause also, +which was no less, perhaps even more, effective in throwing all Libya +into confusion. It was as follows: In the Roman army there were, as it +happened, not less than one thousand soldiers of the Arian faith; and +the most of these were barbarians, some of these being of the +Erulian[48] nation. Now these men were urged on to the mutiny by the +priests of the Vandals with the greatest zeal. For it was not possible +for them to worship God in their accustomed way, but they were excluded +both from all sacraments and from all sacred rites. For the Emperor +Justinian did not allow any Christian who did not espouse the orthodox +faith to receive baptism or any other sacrament. But most of all they +were agitated by the feast of Easter, during which they found themselves +unable to baptize[49] their own children with the sacred water, or do +anything else pertaining to this feast. And as if these things were not +sufficient for Heaven, in its eagerness to ruin the fortunes of the +Romans, it so fell out that still another thing provided an occasion for +those who were planning the mutiny. For the Vandals whom Belisarius took +to Byzantium were placed by the emperor in five cavalry squadrons, in +order that they might be settled permanently in the cities of the East; +he also called them the "Vandals of Justinian," and ordered them to +betake themselves in ships to the East. Now the majority of these Vandal +soldiers reached the East, and, filling up the squadrons to which they +had been assigned, they have been fighting against the Persians up to +the present time; but the remainder, about four hundred in number, after +reaching Lesbos, waiting until the sails were bellied with the wind, +forced the sailors to submission and sailed on till they reached the +Peloponnesus. And setting sail from there, they came to land in Libya at +a desert place, where they abandoned the ships, and, after equipping +themselves, went up to Mt. Aurasium and Mauretania. Elated by their +accession, the soldiers who were planning the mutiny formed a still +closer conspiracy among themselves. And there was much talk about this +in the camp and oaths were already being taken. And when the rest were +about to celebrate the Easter festival, the Arians, being vexed by their +exclusion from the sacred rites, purposed to attack them vigorously. + +And it seemed best to their leading men to kill Solomon in the sanctuary +on the first day of the feast, which they call the great day. [March 23, +536 A.D.] And they were fortunate enough not to be found out, since no +one disclosed this plan. For though there were many who shared in the +horrible plot, no word of it was divulged to any hostile person as the +orders were passed around, and thus they succeeded completely in +escaping detection, for even the spearmen and guards of Solomon for the +most part and the majority of his domestics had become associated with +this mutiny because of their desire for the lands. And when the +appointed day had now come, Solomon was sitting in the sanctuary, +utterly ignorant of his own misfortune. And those who had decided to +kill the man went in, and, urging one another with nods, they put their +hands to their swords, but they did nothing nevertheless, either because +they were filled with awe of the rites then being performed in the +sanctuary, or because the fame of the general caused them to be ashamed, +or perhaps also some divine power prevented them. + +And when the rites on that day had been completely performed and all +were betaking themselves homeward, the conspirators began to blame one +another with having turned soft-hearted at no fitting time, and they +postponed the plot for a second attempt on the following day. And on the +next day they acted in the same manner and departed from the sanctuary +without doing anything, and entering the market place, they reviled each +other openly, and every single man of them called the next one +soft-hearted and a demoralizer of the band, not hesitating to censure +strongly the respect felt for Solomon. For this reason, indeed, they +thought that they could no longer without danger remain in Carthage, +inasmuch as they had disclosed their plot to the whole city. The most of +them, accordingly, went out of the city quickly and began to plunder the +lands and to treat as enemies all the Libyans whom they met; but the +rest remained in the city, giving no indication of what their own +intentions were but pretending ignorance of the plot which had been +formed. + +But Solomon, upon hearing what was being done by the soldiers in the +country, became greatly disturbed, and ceased not exhorting those in the +city and urging them to loyalty toward the emperor. And they at first +seemed to receive his words with favour, but on the fifth day, when they +heard that those who had gone out were secure in their power, they +gathered in the hippodrome and insulted Solomon and the other commanders +without restraint. And Theodorus, the Cappadocian, being sent there by +Solomon, attempted to dissuade them and win them by kind words, but they +listened to nothing of what was said. Now this Theodorus had a certain +hostility against Solomon and was suspected of plotting against him. For +this reason the mutineers straightway elected him general over them by +acclamation, and with him they went with all speed to the palace +carrying weapons and raising a great tumult. There they killed another +Theodorus, who was commander of the guards, a man of the greatest +excellence in every respect and an especially capable warrior. And when +they had tasted this blood, they began immediately to kill everyone they +met, whether Libyan or Roman, if he were known to Solomon or had money +in his hands; and then they turned to plundering, going up into the +houses which had no soldiers to defend them and seizing all the most +valuable things, until the coming of night, and drunkenness following +their toil, made them cease. + +And Solomon succeeded in escaping unnoticed into the great sanctuary +which is in the palace, and Martinus joined him there in the late +afternoon. And when all the mutineers were sleeping, they went out from +the sanctuary and entered the house of Theodorus, the Cappadocian, who +compelled them to dine although they had no desire to do so, and +conveyed them to the harbour and put them on the skiff of a certain +ship, which happened to have been made ready there by Martinus. And +Procopius also, who wrote this history, was with them, and about five +men of the house of Solomon. And after accomplishing three hundred +stades they reached Misuas, the ship-yard of Carthage, and, since they +had reached safety, Solomon straightway commanded Martinus to go into +Numidia to Valerian and the others who shared his command, and endeavour +to bring it about that each one of them, if it were in any way possible, +should appeal to some of the soldiers known to him, either with money or +by other means, and bring them back to loyalty toward the emperor. And +he sent a letter to Theodorus, charging him to take care of Carthage and +to handle the other matters as should seem possible to him, and he +himself with Procopius went to Belisarius at Syracuse. And after +reporting everything to him which had taken place in Libya, he begged +him to come with all speed to Carthage and defend the emperor, who was +suffering unholy treatment at the hands of his own soldiers, Solomon, +then, was thus engaged. + + +XV + +But the mutineers, after plundering everything in Carthage, gathered in +the plain of Boulla, and chose Stotzas,[50] one of the guards of +Martinus, and a passionate and energetic man, as tyrant over them, with +the purpose of driving the emperor's commanders out of all Libya and +thus gaining control over it. And he armed the whole force, amounting to +about eight thousand men, and led them on to Carthage, thinking to win +over the city instantly with no trouble. He sent also to the Vandals who +had run away from Byzantium with the ships and those who had not gone +there with Belisarius in the beginning, either because they had escaped +notice, or because those who were taking off the Vandals at that time +took no account of them. Now they were not fewer than a thousand, and +after no great time they joined Stotzas and the army with enthusiasm. +And a great throng of slaves also came to him. And when they drew near +Carthage, Stotzas sent orders that the people should surrender the city +to him as quickly as possible, on condition of their remaining free from +harm. But those in Carthage and Theodorus, in reply to this, refused +flatly to obey, and announced that they were guarding Carthage for the +emperor. And they sent to Stotzas Joseph, the secretary of the emperor's +guards, a man of no humble birth and one of the household of Belisarius, +who had recently been sent to Carthage on some mission to them, and they +demanded that Stotzas should go no further in his violence. But Stotzas, +upon hearing this, straightway killed Joseph and commenced a siege. And +those in the city, becoming terrified at the danger, were purposing to +surrender themselves and Carthage to Stotzas under an agreement. Such +was the course of events in the army in Libya. + +But Belisarius selected one hundred men from his own spearmen and +guards, and taking Solomon with him, sailed into Carthage with one ship +at about dusk, at the time when the besiegers were expecting that the +city would be surrendered to them on the following day. And since they +were expecting this, they bivouacked that night. But when day had come +and they learned that Belisarius was present, they broke up camp as +quickly as possible and disgracefully and in complete disorder beat a +hasty retreat And Belisarius gathered about two thousand of the army +and, after urging them with words to be loyal to the emperor and +encouraging them with large gifts of money, he began the pursuit of the +fugitives. And he overtook them at the city of Membresa, three hundred +and fifty stades distant from Carthage. There both armies made camp and +prepared themselves for battle, the forces of Belisarius making their +entrenchment at the River Bagradas, and the others in a high and +difficult position. For neither of them saw fit to enter the city, since +it was without walls. And on the day following they joined battle, the +mutineers trusting in their numbers, and the troops of Belisarius +despising their enemy as both without sense and without generals. And +Belisarius, wishing that these thoughts should be firmly lodged in the +minds of his soldiers, called them all together and spoke as follows:-- + +"The situation, fellow-soldiers, both for the emperor and for the +Romans, falls far short of our hopes and of our prayers. For we have now +come to a combat in which even the winning of the victory will not be +without tears for us, since we are fighting against kinsmen and men who +have been reared with us. But we have this comfort in our misfortune, +that we are not ourselves beginning the battle, but have been brought +into the conflict in our own defence. For he who has framed the plot +against his dearest friends and by his own act has dissolved the ties of +kinship, dies not, if he perishes, by the hands of his friends, but +having become an enemy is but making atonement to those who have +suffered wrong. And that our opponents are public enemies and barbarians +and whatever worse name one might call them, is shewn not alone by +Libya, which has become plunder under their hands, nor by the +inhabitants of this land, who have been wrongfully slain, but also by +the multitude of Roman soldiers whom these enemies have dared to kill, +though they have had but one fault to charge them with--loyalty to their +government. And it is to avenge these their victims that we have now +come against them, having with good reason become enemies to those who +were once most dear. For nature has made no men in the world either +friends or opponents to one another, but it is the actions of men in +every case which, either by the similarity of the motives which actuate +them unite them in alliance, or by the difference set them in hostility +to each other, making them friends or enemies as the case may be. That, +therefore, we are fighting against men who are outlaws and enemies of +the state, you must now be convinced; and now I shall make it plain that +they deserve to be despised by us. For a throng of men united by no law, +but brought together by motives of injustice, is utterly unable by +nature to play the part of brave men, since valour is unable to dwell +with lawlessness, but always shuns those who are unholy. Nor, indeed, +will they preserve discipline or give heed to the commands given by +Stotzas. For when a tyranny is newly organized and has not yet won that +authority which self-confidence gives, it is, of necessity, looked upon +by its subjects with contempt. Nor is it honoured through any sentiment +of loyalty, for a tyranny is, in the nature of the case, hated; nor does +it lead its subjects by fear, for timidity deprives it of the power to +speak out openly. And when the enemy is handicapped in point of valour +and of discipline, their defeat is ready at hand. With great contempt, +therefore, as I said, we should go against this enemy of ours. For it is +not by the numbers of the combatants, but by their orderly array and +their bravery, that prowess in war is wont to be measured." + +So spoke Belisarius. And Stotzas exhorted his troops as follows: "Men +who with me have escaped our servitude to the Romans, let no one of you +count it unworthy to die on behalf of the freedom which you have won by +your courage and your other qualities. For it is not so terrible a thing +to grow old and die in the midst of ills, as to return again to it after +having gained freedom from oppressive conditions. For the interval which +has given one a taste of deliverance makes the misfortune, naturally +enough, harder to bear. And this being so, it is necessary for you to +call to mind that after conquering the Vandals and the Moors you +yourselves have enjoyed the labours of war, while others have become +masters of all the spoils. And consider that, as soldiers, you will be +compelled all your lives to be acquainted with the dangers of war, +either in behalf of the emperor's cause, if, indeed, you are again his +slaves, or in behalf of your own selves, if you preserve this present +liberty. And whichever of the two is preferable, this it is in your +power to choose, either by becoming faint-hearted at this time, or by +preferring to play the part of brave men. Furthermore, this thought also +should come to your minds,--that if, having taken up arms against the +Romans, you come under their power, you will have experience of no +moderate or indulgent masters, but you will suffer the extreme of +punishment, and, what is more, your death will not have been unmerited. +To whomsoever of you, therefore, death comes in this battle, it is plain +that it will be a glorious death; and life, if you conquer the enemy, +will be independent and in all other respects happy; but if you are +defeated,--I need mention no other bitterness than this, that all your +hope will depend upon the mercy of those men yonder. And the conflict +will not be evenly matched in regard to strength. For not only are the +enemy greatly surpassed by us in numbers, but they will come against us +without the least enthusiasm, for I think that they are praying for a +share of this our freedom." Such was the speech of Stotzas. + +As the armies entered the combat, a wind both violent and exceedingly +troublesome began to blow in the faces of the mutineers of Stotzas. For +this reason they thought it disadvantageous for them to fight the battle +where they were, fearing lest the wind by its overpowering force should +carry the missiles of the enemy against them, while the impetus of their +own missiles would be very seriously checked. They therefore left their +position and moved toward the flank, reasoning that if the enemy also +should change front, as they probably would, in order that they might +not be assailed from the rear, the wind would then be in their faces. +But Belisarius, upon seeing that they had left their position and in +complete disorder were moving to his flank, gave orders immediately to +open the attack. And the troops of Stotzas were thrown into confusion by +the unexpected move, and in great disorder, as each one could, they fled +precipitately, and only when they reached Numidia did they collect +themselves again. Few of them, however, perished in this action, and +most of them were Vandals. For Belisarius did not pursue them at all, +for the reason that it seemed to him sufficient, since his army was very +small, if the enemy, having been defeated for the present, should get +out of his way. And he gave the soldiers the enemy's stockade to +plunder, and they took it with not a man inside. But much money was +found there and many women, the very women because of whom this war took +place.[51] After accomplishing this, Belisarius marched back to +Carthage. And someone coming from Sicily reported to him that a mutiny +had broken out in the army and was about to throw everything into +confusion, unless he himself should return to them with all speed and +take measures to prevent it. He there therefore arranged matters in +Libya as well as he could and, entrusting Carthage to Ildiger and +Theodorus, went to Sicily. + +And the Roman commanders in Numidia, hearing that the troops of Stotzas +had come and were gathering there, prepared for battle. Now the +commanders were as follows: of foederati,[52] Marcellus and Cyril, of +the cavalry forces, Barbatus, and of infantry Terentius and Sarapis. +All, however, took their commands from Marcellus, as holding the +authority in Numidia. He, therefore, upon hearing that Stotzas with some +few men was in a place called Gazophyla,[53] about two days' journey +distant from Constantina,[54] wished to anticipate the gathering of all +the mutineers, and led his army swiftly against them. And when the two +armies were near together and the battle was about to commence, Stotzas +came alone into the midst of his opponents and spoke as follows: + +"Fellow-soldiers, you are not acting justly in taking the field against +kinsmen and those who have been reared with you, and in raising arms +against men who in vexation at your misfortunes and the wrongs you have +suffered have decided to make war upon the emperor and the Romans. Or do +you not remember that you have been deprived of the pay which has been +owing you for a long time back, and that you have been robbed of the +enemy's spoil, which the law of war has set as prizes for the dangers of +battle? And that the others have claimed the right to live sumptuously +all their lives upon the good things of victory, while you have followed +as if their servants? If, now, you are angry with me, it is within your +power to vent your wrath upon this body, and to escape the pollution of +killing the others; but if you have no charge to bring against me, it is +time for you to take up your weapons in your own behalf." So spoke +Stotzas; and the soldiers listened to his words and greeted him with +great favour. And when the commanders saw what was happening, they +withdrew in silence and took refuge in a sanctuary which was in +Gazophyla. And Stotzas combined both armies into one and then went to +the commanders. And finding them in the sanctuary, he gave pledges and +then killed them all. + + +XVI + +When the emperor learned this, he sent his nephew Germanus, a man of +patrician rank, with some few men to Libya. And Symmachus also and +Domnicus, men of the senate, followed him, the former to be prefect and +charged with the maintenance of the army, while Domnicus was to command +the infantry forces. For John,[55] who had held the office of prefect, +had already died of disease. And when they had sailed into Carthage, +Germanus counted the soldiers whom they had, and upon looking over the +books of the scribes where the names of all the soldiers were +registered, he found that the third part of the army was in Carthage and +the other cities, while all the rest were arrayed with the tyrant +against the Romans. He did not, therefore, begin any fighting, but +bestowed the greatest care upon his army. And considering that those +left in Carthage were the kinsmen or tentmates of the enemy, he kept +addressing many winning words to all, and in particular said that he had +himself been sent by the emperor to Libya in order to defend the +soldiers who had been wronged and to punish those who had unprovoked +done them any injury. And when this was found out by the mutineers, they +began to come over to him a few at a time. And Germanus both received +them into the city in a friendly manner and, giving pledges, held them +in honour, and he gave them their pay for the time during which they had +been in arms against the Romans. And when the report of these acts was +circulated and came to all, they began now to detach themselves in large +numbers from the tyrant and to march to Carthage. Then at last Germanus, +hoping that in the battle he would be evenly matched in strength with +his opponents, began to make preparations for the conflict. + +But in the meantime Stotzas, already perceiving the trouble, and fearing +lest by the defection of still others of his soldiers the army should be +reduced still more, was pressing for a decisive encounter immediately +and trying to take hold of the war with more vigour. And since he had +some hope regarding the soldiers in Carthage, that they would come over +to him, and thought that they would readily desert if he came near them, +he held out the hope to all his men; and after encouraging them +exceedingly in this way, he advanced swiftly with his whole army against +Carthage. And when he had come within thirty-five stades of the city, he +made camp not far from the sea, and Germanus, after arming his whole +army and arraying them for battle, marched forth. And when they were all +outside the city, since he had heard what Stotzas was hoping for, he +called together the whole army and spoke as follows: + +"That there is nothing, fellow-soldiers, with which you can justly +reproach the emperor, and no fault which you can find with what he has +done to you, this, I think, no one of you all could deny; for it was he +who took you as you came from the fields with your wallets and one small +frock apiece and brought you together in Byzantium, and has caused you +to be so powerful that the Roman state now depends upon you. And that he +has not only been treated with wanton insult, but has also suffered the +most dreadful of all things at your hands, you yourselves, doubtless, +know full well. And desiring that you should preserve the memory of +these things for ever, he has dismissed the accusations brought against +you for your crimes, asking that this debt alone be due to him from +you--shame for what you have done. It is reasonable, therefore, that +you, being thus regarded by him, should learn anew the lesson of good +faith and correct your former folly. For when repentance comes at the +fitting time upon those who have done wrong, it is accustomed to make +those who have been injured indulgent; and service which comes in season +is wont to bring another name to those who have been called ungrateful. + +"And it will be needful for you to know well this also, that if at the +present time you shew yourselves completely loyal to the emperor, no +remembrance will remain of what has gone before. For in the nature of +things every course of action is characterized by men in accordance with +its final outcome; and while a wrong which has once been committed can +never be undone in all time, still, when it has been corrected by better +deeds on the part of those who committed it, it receives the fitting +reward of silence and generally comes to be forgotten. Moreover, if you +act with any disregard of duty toward these accursed rascals at the +present time, even though afterwards you fight through many wars in +behalf of the Romans and often win the victory over the enemy, you will +never again be regarded as having requited the emperor as you can +requite him to-day. For those who win applause in the very matter of +their former wrong-doing always gain for themselves a fairer apology. As +regards the emperor, then, let each one of you reason in some such way. +But as for me, I have not voluntarily done you any injustice, and I have +displayed my good-will to you by all possible means, and now, facing +this danger, I have decided to ask this much of you all: let no man +advance with us against the enemy contrary to his judgement. But if +anyone of you is already desirous of arraying himself with them, without +delay let him go with his weapons to the enemy's camp, granting us this +one favour, that it be not stealthily, but openly, that he has decided +to do us wrong. Indeed, it is for this reason that I am making my +speech, not in Carthage, but after coming on the battle-field, in order +that I might not be an obstacle to anyone who desires to desert to our +opponents, since it is possible for all without danger to shew their +disposition toward the state." Thus spoke Germanus. And a great uproar +ensued in the Roman army, for each one demanded the right to be the +first to display to the general his loyalty to the emperor and to swear +the most dread oaths in confirmation. + + +XVII + +Now for some time the two armies remained in position opposite each +other. But when the mutineers saw that nothing of what Stotzas had +foretold was coming to pass, they began to be afraid as having been +unexpectedly cheated of their hope, and they broke their ranks and +withdrew, and marched off to Numidia, where were their women and the +money from their booty. And Germanus too came there with the whole army +not long afterwards, having made all preparations in the best way +possible and also bringing along many wagons for the army. And +overtaking his opponents in a place which the Romans call Scalae +Veteres, he made his preparations for battle in the following manner. +Placing the wagons in line facing the front, he arrayed all the infantry +along them under the leadership of Domnicus, so that by reason of having +their rear in security they might fight with the greater courage. And +the best of the horsemen and those who had come with him from Byzantium +he himself had on the left of the infantry, while all the others he +placed on the right wing, not marshalled in one body but in three +divisions. And Ildiger led one of them, Theodoras the Cappadocian +another, while the remaining one, which was larger, was commanded by +John, the brother of Pappus, with three others. Thus did the Romans +array themselves. + +And the mutineers took their stand opposite them, not in order, however, +but scattered, more in the manner of barbarians. And at no great +distance many thousands of Moors followed them, who were commanded by a +number of leaders, and especially by Iaudas and Ortaïas. But not all of +them, as it happened, were faithful to Stotzas and his men, for many had +sent previously to Germanus and agreed that, when they came into the +fight, they would array themselves with the emperor's army against the +enemy. However, Germanus could not trust them altogether, for the +Moorish nation is by nature faithless to all men. It was for this reason +also that they did not array themselves with the mutineers, but remained +behind, waiting for what would come to pass, in order that with those +who should be victorious they might join in the pursuit of the +vanquished. Such was the purpose, then, of the Moors, in following +behind and not mingling with the mutineers. + +And when Stotzas came close to the enemy and saw the standard of +Germanus, he exhorted his men and began to charge against him. But the +mutinous Eruli who were arrayed about him did not follow and even tried +with all their might to prevent him, saying that they did not know the +character of the forces of Germanus, but that they did know that those +arrayed on the enemy's right would by no means withstand them. If, +therefore, they should advance against these, they would not only give +way themselves and turn to flight, but would also, in all probability, +throw the rest of the Roman army into confusion; but if they should +attack Germanus and be driven back and put to rout, their whole cause +would be ruined on the spot. And Stotzas was persuaded by these words, +and permitted the others to fight with the men of Germanus, while he +himself with the best men went against John and those arrayed with him. +And they failed to withstand the attack and hastened to flee in complete +disorder. And the mutineers took all their standards immediately, and +pursued them as they fled at top speed, while some too charged upon the +infantry, who had already begun to abandon their ranks. But at this +juncture Germanus himself, drawing his sword and urging the whole of +that part of the army to do the same, with great difficulty routed the +mutineers opposed to him and advanced on the run against Stotzas. And +then, since he was joined in this effort by the men of Ildiger and +Theodorus, the two armies mingled with each other in such a way that, +while the mutineers were pursuing some of their enemy, they were being +overtaken and killed by others. And as the confusion became greater and +greater, the troops of Germanus, who were in the rear, pressed on still +more, and the mutineers, falling into great fear, thought no longer of +resistance. But neither side could be distinguished either by their own +comrades or by their opponents. For all used one language and the same +equipment of arms, and they differed neither in figure nor in dress nor +in any other thing whatever. For this reason the soldiers of the emperor +by the advice of Germanus, whenever they captured anyone, asked who he +was; and then, if he said that he was a soldier of Germanus, they bade +him give the watchword of Germanus, and if he was not at all able to +give this, they killed him instantly. In this struggle one of the enemy +got by unnoticed and killed the horse of Germanus, and Germanus himself +fell to the ground and came into danger, and would have been lost had +not his guards quickly saved him by forming an enclosure around him and +mounting him on another horse. + +As for Stotzas, he succeeded in this tumult in escaping with a few men. +But Germanus, urging on his men, went straight for the enemy's camp. +There he was encountered by those of the mutineers who had been +stationed to guard the stockade. A stubborn fight took place around its +entrance, and the mutineers came within a little of forcing back their +opponents, but Germanus sent some of his followers and bade them make +trial of the camp at another point. These men, since no one was +defending the camp at this place, got inside the stockade with little +trouble. And the mutineers, upon seeing them, rushed off in flight, and +Germanus with all the rest of the army dashed into the enemy's camp. +There the soldiers, finding it easy to plunder the goods of the camp, +neither took any account of the enemy nor paid any further heed to the +exhortations of their general, since booty was at hand. For this reason +Germanus, fearing lest the enemy should get together and come upon them, +himself with some few men took his stand at the entrance of the +stockade, uttering many laments and urging his unheeding men to return +to good order. And many of the Moors, when the rout had taken place in +this way, were now pursuing the mutineers, and, arraying themselves with +the emperor's troops, were plundering the camp of the vanquished. But +Stotzas, at first having confidence in the Moorish army, rode to them in +order to renew the battle. But perceiving what was being done, he fled +with a hundred men, and succeeded with difficulty in making his escape. +And once more many gathered about him and attempted to engage with the +enemy, but being repulsed no less decisively than before, if not even +more so, they all came over to Germanus. And Stotzas alone with some few +Vandals withdrew to Mauretania, and taking to wife the daughter of one +of the rulers, remained there. And this was the conclusion of that +mutiny. + + +XVIII + +Now there was among the body-guards of Theodorus, the Cappadocian, a +certain Maximinus, an exceedingly base man. This Maximinus had first got +a very large number of the soldiers to join with him in a conspiracy +against the government, and was now purposing to attempt a tyranny. And +being eager to associate with himself still more men, he explained the +project to others and especially to Asclepiades, a native of Palestine, +who was a man of good birth and the first of the personal friends of +Theodorus. Now Asclepiades, after conversing with Theodorus, straightway +reported the whole matter to Germanus. And he, not wishing as yet, while +affairs were still unsettled, to begin any other disturbance, decided to +get the best of the man by cajoling and flattering him rather than by +punishment, and to bind him by oaths to loyalty toward the government. +Accordingly, since it was an old custom among all Romans that no one +should become a body-guard of one of the commanders, unless he had +previously taken the most dread oaths and given pledges of his loyalty +both toward his own commander and toward the Roman emperor, he summoned +Maximinus, and praising him for his daring, directed him to be one of +his body-guards from that time forth. And he, being overjoyed at the +extraordinary honour, and conjecturing that his project would in this +way get on more easily, took the oath, and though from that time forth +he was counted among the body-guards of Germanus, he did not hesitate to +disregard his oaths immediately and to strengthen much more than ever +his plans to achieve the tyranny. + +Now the whole city was celebrating some general festival, and many of +the conspirators of Maximinus at about the time of lunch came according +to their agreement to the palace, where Germanus was entertaining his +friends at a feast, and Maximinus took his stand beside the couches with +the other body-guards. And as the drinking proceeded, someone entered +and announced to Germanus that many soldiers were standing in great +disorder before the door of the court, putting forward the charge that +the government owed them their pay for a long period. And he commanded +the most trusty of the guards secretly to keep close watch over +Maximinus, allowing him in no way to perceive what was being done. Then +the conspirators with threats and tumult proceeded on the run to the +hippodrome, and those who shared their plan with them gathered gradually +from the houses and were assembling there. And if it had so chanced that +all of them had come together, no one, I think, would have been able +easily to destroy their power; but, as it was, Germanus anticipated +this, and, before the greater part had yet arrived, he straightway sent +against them all who were well-disposed to himself and to the emperor. +And they attacked the conspirators before they expected them. And then, +since Maximinus, for whom they were waiting to begin the battle for +them, was not with them, and they did not see the crowd gathered to help +them, as they had thought it would be, but instead even beheld their +fellow-soldiers unexpectedly fighting against them, they consequently +lost heart and were easily overcome in the struggle and rushed off in +flight and in complete disorder. And their opponents slew many of them, +and they also captured many alive and brought them to Germanus. Those, +however, who had not already come to the hippodrome gave no indication +of their sentiment toward Maximinus. And Germanus did not see fit to go +on and seek them out, but he enquired whether Maximinus, since he had +sworn the oath, had taken part in the plot. And since it was proved +that, though numbered among his own body-guards he had carried on his +designs still more than before, Germanus impaled him close by the +fortifications of Carthage, and in this way succeeded completely in +putting down the sedition. As for Maximinus, then, such was the end of +his plot. + + +XI + +[539-540 A.D.] And the emperor summoned Germanus together with Symmachus +and Domnicus and again entrusted all Libya to Solomon, in the thirteenth +year of his reign; and he provided him with an army and officers, among +whom were Rufinus and Leontius, the sons of Zaunas the son of +Pharesmanas, and John, the son of Sisiniolus. For Martinus and +Valerianus had already before this gone under summons to Byzantium. And +Solomon sailed to Carthage, and having rid himself of the sedition of +Stotzas, he ruled with moderation and guarded Libya securely, setting +the army in order, and sending to Byzantium and to Belisarius whatever +suspicious elements he found in it, and enrolling new soldiers to equal +their number, and removing those of the Vandals who were left and +especially all their women from the whole of Libya. And he surrounded +each city with a wall, and guarding the laws with great strictness, he +restored the government completely. And Libya became under his rule +powerful as to its revenues and prosperous in other respects. + +And when everything had been arranged by him in the best way possible, +he again made an expedition against Iaudas and the Moors on Aurasium. +And first he sent forward Gontharis, one of his own body-guards and an +able warrior, with an army. Now Gontharis came to the Abigas River and +made camp near Bagaïs, a deserted city. And there he engaged with the +enemy, but was defeated in battle, and retiring to his stockade was +already being hard pressed by the siege of the Moors. But afterwards +Solomon himself arrived with his whole army, and when he was sixty +stades away from the camp which Gontharis was commanding, he made a +stockade and remained there; and hearing all that had befallen the force +of Gontharis, he sent them a part of his army and bade them keep up the +fight against the enemy with courage. But the Moors, having gained the +upper hand in the engagement, as I have said, did as follows. The Abigas +River flows from Aurasium, and descending into a plain, waters the land +just as the men there desire. For the natives conduct this stream to +whatever place they think it will best serve them at the moment, for in +this plain there are many channels, into which the Abigas is divided, +and entering all of them, it passes underground, and reappears again +above the ground and gathers its stream together. This takes place over +the greatest part of the plain and makes it possible for the inhabitants +of the region, by stopping up the waterways with earth, or by again +opening them, to make use of the waters of this river as they wish. So +at that time the Moors shut off all the channels there and thus allowed +the whole stream to flow about the camp of the Romans. As a result of +this, a deep, muddy marsh formed there through which it was impossible +to go; this terrified them exceedingly and reduced them to a state of +helplessness. When this was heard by Solomon, he came quickly. But the +barbarians, becoming afraid, withdrew to the foot of Aurasium. And in a +place which they call Babosis they made camp and remained there. So +Solomon moved with his whole army and came to that place. And upon +engaging with the enemy, he defeated them decisively and turned them to +flight. Now after this the Moors did not think it advisable for them to +fight a pitched battle with the Romans; for they did not hope to +overcome them in this kind of contest; but they did have hope, based on +the difficult character of the country around Aurasium, that the Romans +would in a short time give up by reason of the sufferings they would +have to endure and would withdraw from there, just as they formerly had +done. The most of them, therefore, went off to Mauretania and the +barbarians to the south of Aurasium, but Iaudas with twenty thousand of +the Moors remained there. And it happened that he had built a fortress +on Aurasium, Zerboule by name. Into this he entered with all the Moors +and remained quiet. But Solomon was by no means willing that time should +be wasted in the siege, and learning that the plains about the city of +Tamougade were full of grain just becoming ripe, he led his army into +them, and settling himself there, began to plunder the land. Then, after +firing everything, he returned again to the fortress of Zerboule. + +But during this time, while the Romans were plundering the land, Iaudas, +leaving behind some of the Moors, about as many as he thought would be +sufficient for the defence of the fortress, himself ascended to the +summit of Aurasium with the rest of the army, not wishing to stand siege +in the fort and have provisions fail his forces. And finding a high +place with cliff's on all sides of it and concealed by perpendicular +rocks, Toumar by name, he remained quietly there. And the Romans +besieged the fortress of Zerboule for three days. And using their bows, +since the wall was not high, they hit many of the barbarians upon the +parapets. And by some chance it happened that all the leaders of the +Moors were hit by these missiles and died. And when the three days' time +had passed and night came on, the Romans, having learned nothing of the +death of the leaders among the Moors, were planning to break up the +siege. For it seemed better to Solomon to go against Iaudas and the +multitude of the Moors, thinking that, if he should be able to capture +that force by siege, the barbarians in Zerboule would with less trouble +and difficulty yield to the Romans. But the barbarians, thinking that +they could no longer hold out against the siege, since all their leaders +had now been destroyed, decided to flee with all speed and abandon the +fortress. Accordingly they fled immediately in silence and without +allowing the enemy in any way to perceive it, and the Romans also at +daybreak began to prepare for departure. And since no one appeared on +the wall, although the besieging army was withdrawing, they began to +wonder and fell into the greatest perplexity among themselves. And in +this state of uncertainty they went around the fortress and found the +gate open from which the Moors had departed in flight. And entering the +fortress they treated everything as plunder, but they had no thought of +pursuing the enemy, for they had set out with light equipment and were +familiar with the country round about. And when they had plundered +everything, they set guards over the fortress, and all moved forward on +foot. + + +XX + +And coming to the place Toumar, where the enemy had shut themselves in +and were remaining quiet, they encamped near by in a bad position, where +there would be no supply of water, except a little, nor any other +necessary thing. And after much time had been spent and the barbarians +did not come out against them at all, they themselves, no less than the +enemy, if not even more, were hard pressed by the siege and began to be +impatient. And more than anything else, they were distressed by the lack +of water; this Solomon himself guarded, giving each day no more than a +single cupful to each man. And since he saw that they were openly +discontented and no longer able to bear their present hardships, he +planned to make trial of the place, although it was difficult of access, +and called all together and exhorted them as follows: "Since God has +granted to the Romans to besiege the Moors on Aurasium, a thing which +hitherto has been beyond hope and now, to such as do not see what is +actually being done, is altogether incredible, it is necessary that we +too should lend our aid to the help that has come from above, and not +prove false to this favour, but undergoing the danger with enthusiasm, +should reach after the good fortune which is to come from success. For +in every case the turning of the scales of human affairs depends upon +the moment of opportunity; but if a man, by wilful cowardice, is traitor +to his fortune, he cannot justly blame it, having by his own action +brought the guilt upon himself. Now as for the Moors, you see their +weakness surely and the place in which they have shut themselves up and +are keeping guard, deprived of all the necessities of life. And as for +you, one of two things is necessary, either without feeling any vexation +at the siege to await the surrender of the enemy, or, if you shrink from +this, to accept the victory which goes with the danger. And fighting +against these barbarians will be the more free from danger for us, +inasmuch as they are already fighting with hunger and I think they will +never even come to an engagement with us. Having these things in mind at +the present time, it behooves you to execute all your orders with +eagerness." + +After Solomon had made this exhortation, he looked about to see from +what point it would be best for his men to make an attempt on the place, +and for a long time he seemed to be in perplexity. For the difficult +nature of the ground seemed to him quite too much to contend with. But +while Solomon was considering this, chance provided a way for the +enterprise as follows. There was a certain Gezon in the army, a +foot-soldier, "optio"[56] of the detachment to which Solomon belonged; +for thus the Romans call the paymaster. This Gezon, either in play or in +anger, or perhaps even moved by some divine impulse, began to make the +ascent alone, apparently going against the enemy, and not far from him +went some of his fellow-soldiers, marvelling greatly at what he was +doing. And three of the Moors, who had been stationed to guard the +approach, suspecting that the man was coming against them, went on the +run to confront him. But since they were in a narrow way, they did not +proceed in orderly array, but each one went separately. And Gezon struck +the first one who came upon him and killed him, and in this way he +despatched each of the others. And when those in the rear perceived +this, they advanced with much shouting and tumult against the enemy. And +when the whole Roman army both heard and saw what was being done, +without waiting either for the general to lead the way for them or for +the trumpets to give the signal for battle, as was customary, nor indeed +even keeping their order, but making a great uproar and urging one +another on, they ran against the enemy's camp. There Rufinus and +Leontius, the sons of Zaunas the son of Pharesmanes, made a splendid +display of valorous deeds against the enemy. And by this the Moors were +terror-stricken, and when they learned that their guards also had been +destroyed, they straightway turned to flight where each one could, and +the most of them were overtaken in the difficult ground and killed. And +Iaudas himself, though struck by a javelin in the thigh, still made his +escape and withdrew to Mauretania. But the Romans, after plundering the +enemy's camp, decided not to abandon Aurasium again, but to guard +fortresses which Solomon was to build there, so that this mountain might +not be again accessible to the Moors. + +Now there is on Aurasium a perpendicular rock which rises in the midst +of precipices; the natives call it the Rock of Geminianus; there the men +of ancient times had built a tower, making it very small as a place of +refuge, strong and unassailable, since the nature of the position +assisted them. Here, as it happened, Iaudas had a few days previously +deposited his money and his women, setting one old Moor in charge as +guardian of the money. For he could never have suspected that the enemy +would either reach this place, or that they could in all time capture +the tower by force. But the Romans at that time, searching through the +rough country of Aurasium, came there, and one of them, with a laugh, +attempted to climb up to the tower; but the women began to taunt him, +ridiculing him as attempting the impossible; and the old man, peering +out from the tower, did the same thing. But when the Roman soldier, +climbing with both hands and feet, had come near them, he drew his sword +quietly and leaped forward as quickly as he could, and struck the old +man a fair blow on the neck, and succeeded in cutting it through. And +the head fell down to the ground, and the soldiers, now emboldened and +holding to one another, ascended to the tower, and took out from there +both the women and the money, of which there was an exceedingly great +quantity. And by means of it Solomon surrounded many of the cities in +Libya with walls. + +And after the Moors had retired from Numidia, defeated in the manner +described, the land of Zabe, which is beyond Mt. Aurasium and is called +"First Mauretania," whose metropolis is Sitiphis,[57] was added to the +Roman empire by Solomon as a tributary province; for of the other +Mauretania Caesarea is the first city, where was settled Mastigas[58] +with his Moors, having the whole country there subject and tributary to +him, except, indeed, the city of Caesarea. For this city Belisarius had +previously recovered for the Romans, as has been set forth in the +previous narrative[59]; and the Romans always journey to this city in +ships, but they are not able to go by land, since Moors dwell in that +country. And as a result of this all the Libyans who were subjects of +the Romans, coming to enjoy secure peace and finding the rule of Solomon +wise and very moderate, and having no longer any thought of hostility in +their minds, seemed the most fortunate of all men. + + +XXI + +But in the fourth year after this it came about that all their blessings +were turned to the opposite. [543-544 A.D.] For in the seventeenth year +of the reign of the Emperor Justinian, Cyrus and Sergius, the sons of +Bacchus, Solomon's brother, were assigned by the emperor to rule over +the cities in Libya, Cyrus, the elder, to have Pentapolis,[60] and +Sergius Tripolis. And the Moors who are called Leuathae came to Sergius +with a great army at the city of Leptimagna,[61] spreading the report +that the reason they had come was this, that Sergius might give them the +gifts and insignia of office which were customary[62] and so make the +peace secure. But Sergius, persuaded by Pudentius, a man of Tripolis, of +whom I made mention in the preceding narrative[63] as having served the +Emperor Justinian against the Vandals at the beginning of the Vandalic +War, received eighty of the barbarians, their most notable men, into the +city, promising to fulfil all their demands; but he commanded the rest +to remain in the suburb. Then after giving these eighty men pledges +concerning the peace, he invited them to a banquet. But they say that +these barbarians had come into the city with treacherous intent, that +they might lay a trap for Sergius and kill him. And when they came into +conference with him, they called up many charges against the Romans, and +in particular said that their crops had been plundered wrongfully. And +Sergius, paying no heed to these things, rose from the seat on which he +was sitting, with intent to go away. And one of the barbarians, laying +hold upon his shoulder, attempted to prevent him from going. Then the +others began to shout in confusion, and were already rushing together +about him. But one of the body-guards of Sergius, drawing his sword, +despatched that Moor. And as a result of this a great tumult, as was +natural, arose in the room, and the guards of Sergius killed all the +barbarians. But one of them, upon seeing the others being slain, rushed +out of the house where these things were taking place, unnoticed by +anyone, and coming to his tribemates, revealed what had befallen their +fellows. And when they heard this, they betook themselves on the run to +their own camp and together with all the others arrayed themselves in +arms against the Romans. Now when they came near the city of Leptimagna, +Sergius and Pudentius confronted them with their whole army. And the +battle becoming a hand-to-hand fight, at first the Romans were +victorious and slew many of the enemy, and, plundering their camp, +secured their goods and enslaved an exceedingly great number of women +and children. But afterwards Pudentius, being possessed by a spirit of +reckless daring, was killed; and Sergius with the Roman army, since it +was already growing dark, marched into Leptimagna. + +At a later time the barbarians took the field against the Romans with a +greater array. And Sergius went to join his uncle Solomon, in order that +he too might go to meet the enemy with a larger army; and he found there +his brother Cyrus also. And the barbarians, coming into Byzacium, made +raids and plundered a great part of the country there; and Antalas (whom +I mentioned in the preceding narrative[64] as having remained faithful +to the Romans and as being for this reason sole ruler of the Moors in +Byzacium) had by now, as it happened, become hostile to Solomon, because +Solomon had deprived him of the maintenance with which the emperor had +honoured him and had killed his brother, charging him with +responsibility for an uprising against the people of Byzacium. So at +that time Antalas was pleased to see these barbarians, and making an +offensive and defensive alliance with them, led them against Solomon and +Carthage. + +And Solomon, as soon as he heard about this, put his whole army in +motion and marched against them, and coming upon them at the city of +Tebesta, distant six days' journey from Carthage, he established his +camp in company with the sons of his brother Bacchus, Cyrus and Sergius +and Solomon the younger. And fearing the multitude of the barbarians, he +sent to the leaders of the Leuathae, reproaching them because, while at +peace with the Romans, they had taken up arms and come against them, and +demanding that they should confirm the peace existing between the two +peoples, and he promised to swear the most dread oaths, that he would +hold no remembrance of what they had done. But the barbarians, mocking +his words, said that he would of course swear by the sacred writings of +the Christians, which they are accustomed to call Gospels. Now since +Sergius had once taken these oaths and then had slain those who trusted +in them,[65] it was their desire to go into battle and make a test of +these same sacred writings, to see what sort of power they had against +the perjurers, in order that they might first have absolute confidence +in them before they finally entered into the agreement. When Solomon +heard this, he made his preparations for the combat. + +And on the following day he engaged with a portion of the enemy as they +were bringing in a very large booty, conquered them in battle, seized +all their booty and kept it under guard. And when the soldiers were +dissatisfied and counted it an outrage that he did not give them the +plunder, he said that he was awaiting the outcome of the war, in order +that they might distribute everything then, according to the share that +should seem to suit the merit of each. But when the barbarians advanced +a second time, with their whole army, to give battle, this time some of +the Romans stayed behind and the others entered the encounter with no +enthusiasm. At first, then, the battle was evenly contested, but later, +since the Moors were vastly superior by reason of their great numbers, +the most of the Romans fled, and though Solomon and a few men about him +held out for a time against the missiles of the barbarians, afterwards +they were overpowered by the enemy, and fleeing in haste, reached a +ravine made by a brook which flowed in that region. And there Solomon's +horse stumbled and threw him to the ground, and his body-guards lifted +him quickly in their arms and set him upon his horse. But overcome by +great pain and unable to hold the reins longer, he was overtaken and +killed by the barbarians, and many of his guards besides. Such was the +end of Solomon's life. + + +XXII + +After the death of Solomon, Sergius, who, as has been said, was his +nephew, took over the government of Libya by gift of the emperor. And +this man became the chief cause of great ruin to the people of Libya, +and all were dissatisfied with his rule--the officers because, being +exceedingly stupid and young both in character and in years, he proved +to be the greatest braggart of all men, and he insulted them for no just +cause and disregarded them, always using the power of his wealth and the +authority of his office to this end; and the soldiers disliked him +because he was altogether unmanly and weak; and the Libyans, not only +for these reasons, but also because he had shown himself strangely fond +of the wives and the possessions of others. But most of all John, the +son of Sisiniolus, was hostile to the power of Sergius; for, though he +was an able warrior and was a man of unusually fair repute, he found +Sergius absolutely ungrateful. For this reason neither he nor anyone +else at all was willing to take up arms against the enemy. But almost +all the Moors were following Antalas, and Stotzas came at his summons +from Mauretania. And since not one of the enemy came out against them, +they began to sack the country, making plunder of everything without +fear. At that time Antalas sent to the Emperor Justinian a letter, which +set forth the following: + +"That I am a slave of thy empire not even I myself would deny, but the +Moors, having suffered unholy treatment at the hands of Solomon in time +of peace, have taken up arms under the most severe constraint, not +lifting them against thee, but warding off our personal enemy; and this +is especially true of me. For he not only decided to deprive me of the +maintenance, which Belisarius long before specified and thou didst +grant, but he also killed my own brother, although he had no wrongdoing +to charge against him. We have therefore taken vengeance upon him who +wronged us. And if it is thy will that the Moors be in subjection to thy +empire and serve it in all things as they are accustomed to do, command +Sergius, the nephew of Solomon, to depart from here and return to thee, +and send another general to Libya. For thou wilt not be lacking in men +of discretion and more worthy than Sergius in every way; for as long as +this man commands thy army, it is impossible for peace to be established +between the Romans and the Moors." + +Such was the letter written by Antalas. But the emperor, even after +reading these things and learning the common enmity of all toward +Sergius, was still unwilling to remove him from his office, out of +respect for the virtues of Solomon and especially the manner of his +death. Such, then, was the course of these events. + +But Solomon, the brother of Sergius, who was supposed to have +disappeared from the world together with his uncle Solomon, was +forgotten by his brother and by the rest as well; for no one had learned +that he was alive. But the Moors, as it happened, had taken him alive, +since he was very young; and they enquired of him who he was. And he +said that he was a Vandal by birth, and a slave of Solomon. He said, +moreover, that he had a friend, a physician, Pegasius by name, in the +city of Laribus near by, who would purchase him by giving ransom. So the +Moors came up close to the fortifications of the city and called +Pegasius and displayed Solomon to him, and asked whether it was his +pleasure to purchase the man. And since he agreed to purchase him, they +sold Solomon to him for fifty pieces of gold. But upon getting inside +the fortifications, Solomon taunted the Moors as having been deceived by +him, a mere lad; for he said that he was no other than Solomon, the son +of Bacchus and nephew of Solomon. And the Moors, being deeply stung by +what had happened, and counting it a terrible thing that, while having a +strong security for the conduct of Sergius and the Romans, they had +relinquished it so carelessly, came to Laribus and laid siege to the +place, in order to capture Solomon with the city. And the besieged, in +terror at being shut in by the barbarians, for they had not even carried +in provisions, as it happened, opened negotiations with the Moors, +proposing that upon receiving a great sum of money they should +straightway abandon the siege. Whereupon the barbarians, thinking that +they could never take the city by force--for the Moors are not at all +practised in the storming of walls--and at the same time not knowing +that provisions were scarce for the besieged, welcomed their words, and +when they had received three thousand pieces of gold, they abandoned the +siege, and all the Leuathae retired homeward. + + +XXIII + +But Antalas and the army of the Moors were gathering again in Byzacium +and Stotzas was with them, having some few soldiers and Vandals. And +John, the son of Sisiniolus, being earnestly entreated by the Libyans, +gathered an army and marched against them. Now Himerius, the Thracian, +was commander of the troops in Byzacium, and at that time he was ordered +by John to bring with him all the troops there, together with the +commanders of each detachment, and come to a place called Menephesse, +which is in Byzacium, and join his force there. But later, upon hearing +that the enemy were encamped there, John wrote to Himerius telling what +had happened and directing him to unite with his forces at another +place, that they might not go separately, but all together, to encounter +the enemy. But by some chance those who had this letter, making use of +another road, were quite unable to find Himerius, and he together with +his army, coming upon the camp of the enemy, fell into their hands. Now +there was in this Roman army a certain youth, Severianus, son of +Asiaticus, a Phoenician and a native of Emesa, commanding a detachment +of horse. This man alone, together with the soldiers under him, fifty in +number, engaged with the enemy. And for some time they held out, but +later, being overpowered by the great multitude, they ran to the top of +a hill in the neighbourhood on which there was also a fort, but one +which offered no security. For this reason they surrendered themselves +to their opponents when they ascended the hill to attack them. And the +Moors killed neither him nor any of the soldiers, but they made +prisoners of the whole force; and Himerius they kept under guard, and +handed over his soldiers to Stotzas, since they agreed with great +readiness to march with the rebels against the Romans; Himerius, +however, they threatened with death, if he should not carry out their +commands. And they commanded him to put into their hands by some device +the city of Hadrumetum on the sea. And since he declared that he was +willing, they went with him against Hadrumetum. And upon coming near the +city, they sent Himerius a little in advance with some of the soldiers +of Stotzas, dragging along, as it seemed, some Moors in chains, and they +themselves followed behind. And they directed Himerius to say to those +in command of the gates of the city that the emperor's army had won a +decisive victory, and that John would come very soon, bringing an +innumerable multitude of Moorish captives; and when in this manner the +gates had been opened to them, he was to get inside the fortifications +together with those who went with him. And he carried out these +instructions. And the citizens of Hadrumetum, being deceived in this way +(for they could not distrust the commander of all the troops in +Byzacium), opened wide the gates and received the enemy. Then, indeed, +those who had entered with Himerius drew their swords and would not +allow the guards there to shut the gates again, but straightway received +the whole army of the Moors into the city. And the barbarians, after +plundering it and establishing there some few guards, departed. And of +the Romans who had been captured some few escaped and came to Carthage, +among whom were Severianus and Himerius. For it was not difficult for +those who wished it to make their escape from Moors. And many also, not +at all unwillingly, remained with Stotzas. + +Not long after this one of the priests, Paulus by name, who had been +appointed to take charge of the sick, in conferring with some of the +nobles, said: "I myself shall journey to Carthage and I am hopeful that +I shall return quickly with an army, and it will be your care to receive +the emperor's forces into the city." So they attached some ropes to him +and let him down by night from the fortifications, and he, coming to the +sea-shore and happening upon a fishing-vessel which was thereabouts, won +over the masters of this boat by great sums of money and sailed off to +Carthage. And when he had landed there and come into the presence of +Sergius, he told the whole story and asked him to give him a +considerable army in order to recover Hadrumetum. And since this by no +means pleased Sergius, inasmuch as the army in Carthage was not great, +the priest begged him to give him some few soldiers, and receiving not +more than eighty men, he formed the following plan. He collected a large +number of boats and skiffs and embarked on them many sailors and Libyans +also, clad in the garments which the Roman soldiers are accustomed to +wear. And setting off with the whole fleet, he sailed at full speed +straight for Hadrumetum. And when he had come close to it, he sent some +men stealthily and declared to the notables of the city that Germanus, +the emperor's nephew, had recently come to Carthage, and had sent a very +considerable army to the citizens of Hadrumetum. And he bade them take +courage at this and open for them one small gate that night. And they +carried out his orders. Thus Paulus with his followers got inside the +fortifications, and he slew all the enemy and recovered Hadrumetum for +the emperor; and the rumour about Germanus, beginning there, went even +to Carthage. And the Moors, as well as Stotzas and his followers, upon +hearing this, at first became terrified and went off in flight to the +extremities of Libya, but later, upon learning the truth, they counted +it a terrible thing that they, after sparing all the citizens of +Hadrumetum, had suffered such things at their hands. For this reason +they made raids everywhere and wrought unholy deeds upon the Libyans, +sparing no one whatever his age, and the land became at that time for +the most part depopulated. For of the Libyans who had been left some +fled into the cities and some to Sicily and the other islands. But +almost all the notables came to Byzantium, among whom was Paulus also, +who had recovered Hadrumetum for the emperor. And the Moors with still +less fear, since no one came out against them, were plundering +everything, and with them Stotzas, who was now powerful. For many Roman +soldiers were following him, some who had come as deserters, and others +who had been in the beginning captives but now remained with him of +their own free will. And John, who was indeed a man of some reputation +among the Moors, was remaining quiet because of the extreme hostility he +had conceived against Sergius. + + +XXIV + +At this time the emperor sent to Libya, with some few soldiers, another +general, Areobindus, a man of the senate and of good birth, but not at +all skilled in matters of warfare. And he sent with him Athanasius, a +prefect, who had come recently from Italy, and some few Armenians led by +Artabanes and John, sons of John, of the line of the Arsacidae,[66] who +had recently left the Persian army and as deserters had come back to the +Romans, together with the other Armenians. And with Areobindus was his +sister and Prejecta, his wife, who was the daughter of Vigilantia, the +sister of the Emperor Justinian. The emperor, however, did not recall +Sergius, but commanded both him and Areobindus to be generals of Libya, +dividing the country and the detachments of soldiers between them. And +he enjoined upon Sergius to carry on the war against the barbarians in +Numidia, and upon Areobindus to direct his operations constantly against +the Moors in Byzacium. And when this expedition lauded at Carthage, +Sergius departed forthwith for Numidia with his own army, and +Areobindus, upon learning that Antalas and Stotzas were encamped near +the city of Siccaveneria, which is three days' journey distant from +Carthage, commanded John, the son of Sisiniolus, to go against them, +choosing out whatever was best of the army; and he wrote to Sergius to +unite with the forces of John, in order that they might all with one +common force engage with the enemy. Now Sergius decided to pay no heed +to the message and have nothing to do with this affair, and John with a +small army was compelled to engage with an innumerable host of the +enemy. And there had always been great enmity between him and Stotzas, +and each one used to pray that he might become the slayer of the other +before departing from the world. At that time, accordingly, as soon as +the fighting was about to come to close quarters, both rode out from +their armies and came against each other. And John drew his bow, and, as +Stotzas was still advancing, made a successful shot and hit him in the +right groin, and Stotzas, mortally wounded, fell there, not yet dead, +but destined to survive this wound only a little time. And all came up +immediately, both the Moorish army and those who followed Stotzas, and +placing Stotzas with little life in him against a tree, they advanced +upon their enemy with great fury; and since they were far superior in +numbers, they routed John and all the Romans with no difficulty. Then, +indeed, they say, John remarked that death had now a certain sweetness +for him, since his prayer regarding Stotzas had reached fulfilment. And +there was a steep place near by, where his horse stumbled and threw him +off. And as he was trying to leap upon the horse again, the enemy caught +and killed him, a man who had shown himself great both in reputation and +in valour. And Stotzas learned this and then died, remarking only that +now it was most sweet to die. In this battle John, the Armenian, brother +of Artabanes, also died, after making a display of valorous deeds +against the enemy. And the emperor, upon hearing this, was very deeply +grieved because of the valour of John; and thinking it inexpedient for +the two generals to administer the province, he immediately recalled +Sergius and sent him to Italy with an army, and gave over the whole +power of Libya to Areobindus. + + +XXV + +And two months after Sergius had departed from there, Gontharis essayed +to set up a tyranny in the following manner. He himself, as it happened, +was commanding the troops in Numidia and spending his time there for +that reason, but he was secretly treating with the Moors that they might +march against Carthage. Forthwith, therefore, an army of the enemy, +having been gathered into one place from Numidia and Byzacium, went with +great zeal against Carthage. And the Numidians were commanded by +Coutzinas and Iaudas, and the men of Byzacium by Antalas. And with him +was also John, the tyrant, and his followers; for the mutineers, after +the death of Stotzas, had set him up as ruler over themselves. And when +Areobindus learned of their attack, he summoned to Carthage a number of +the officers with their men, and among them Gontharis. And he was joined +also by Artabanes and the Armenians. Areobindus, accordingly, bade +Gontharis lead the whole army against the enemy. And Gontharis, though +he had promised to serve him zealously in the war, proceeded to act as +follows. One of his servants, a Moor by birth and a cook by trade, he +commanded to go to the enemy's camp, and to make it appear to all others +that he had run away from his master, but to tell Antalas secretly that +Gontharis wished to share with him the rule of Libya. So the cook +carried out these directions, and Antalas heard the word gladly, but +made no further reply than to say that worthy enterprises are not +properly brought to pass among men by cooks. When this was heard by +Gontharis, he immediately sent to Antalas one of his body-guards, +Ulitheus by name, whom he had found especially trustworthy in his +service, inviting him to come as close as possible to Carthage. For, if +this were done, he promised him to put Areobindus out of the way. So +Ulitheus without the knowledge of the rest of the barbarians made an +agreement with Antalas that he, Antalas, should rule Byzacium, having +half the possessions of Areobindus and taking with him fifteen hundred +Roman soldiers, while Gontharis should assume the dignity of king, +holding the power over Carthage and the rest of Libya. And after +settling these matters he returned to the Roman camp, which they had +made entirely in front of the circuit-wall, distributing among +themselves the guarding of each gate. And the barbarians not long +afterwards proceeded straight for Carthage in great haste, and they made +camp and remained in the place called Decimum.[67] And departing from +there on the following day, they were moving forward. But some of the +Roman army encountered them, and engaging with them unexpectedly, slew a +small number of the Moors. But these were straightway called back by +Gontharis, who rebuked them for acting with reckless daring and for +being willing to give the Romans foreknowledge of the danger into which +they were thrown. + +But in the meantime Areobindus sent to Coutzinas secretly and began to +treat with him with regard to turning traitor. And Coutzinas promised +him that, as soon as they should begin the action, he would turn against +Antalas and the Moors of Byzacium. For the Moors keep faith neither with +any other men nor with each other. This Areobindus reported to +Gontharis. And he, wishing to frustrate the enterprise by having it +postponed, advised Areobindus by no means to have faith in Coutzinas, +unless he should receive from him his children as hostages. So +Areobindus and Coutzinas, constantly sending secret messages to each +other, were busying themselves with the plot against Antalas. And +Gontharis sent Ulitheus once more and made known to Antalas what was +being done. And he decided not to make any charges against Coutzinas nor +did he allow him to know that he had discovered the plot, nor indeed did +he disclose anything of what had been agreed upon by himself and +Gontharis. But though enemies and hostile at heart to one another, they +were arrayed together with treacherous intent, and each of them was +marching with the other against his own particular friend. With such +purposes Coutzinas and Antalas were leading the Moorish army against +Carthage. And Gontharis was intending to kill Areobindus, but, in order +to avoid the appearance of aiming at sole power, he wished to do this +secretly in battle, in order that it might seem that the plot had been +made by others against the general, and that he had been compelled by +the Roman army to assume command over Libya. Accordingly he circumvented +Areobindus by deceit, and persuaded him to go out against the enemy and +engage with them, now that they had already come close to Carthage. He +decided, therefore, that on the following day he would lead the whole +army against the enemy at sunrise. But Areobindus, being very +inexperienced in this matter and reluctant besides, kept holding back +for no good reason. For while considering how he should put on his +equipment of arms and armour, and making the other preparations for the +sally, he wasted the greatest part of the day. He accordingly put off +the engagement to the following day and remained quiet. But Gontharis, +suspecting that he had hesitated purposely, as being aware of what was +being done, decided openly to accomplish the murder of the general and +make his attempt at the tyranny. + + +XXVI + +And on the succeeding day he proceeded to act as follows. Opening wide +the gates where he himself kept guard, he placed huge rocks under them, +that no one might be able easily to shut them, and he placed armoured +men with bows in their hands about the parapet in great numbers, and he +himself, having put on his breastplate, took his stand between the +gates. And his purpose in doing this was not that he might receive the +Moors into the city; for the Moors, being altogether fickle, are +suspicious of all men. And it is not unnatural that they are so; for +whoever is by nature treacherous toward his neighbours is himself unable +to trust anyone at all, but he is compelled to be suspicious of all men, +since he estimates the character of his neighbour by his own mind. For +this reason, then, Gontharis did not hope that even the Moors would +trust him and come inside the circuit-wall, but he made this move in +order that Areobindus, falling into great fear, might straightway rush +off in flight, and, abandoning Carthage as quickly as he could, might +betake himself to Byzantium. And he would have been right in his +expectation had not winter come on just then and frustrated his plan. +[544-545 A.D.] And Areobindus, learning what was being done, summoned +Athanasius and some of the notables. And Artabanes also came to him from +the camp with two others and he urged Areobindus neither to lose heart +nor to give way to the daring of Gontharis, but to go against him +instantly with all his men and engage him in battle, before any further +trouble arose. At first, then, Areobindus sent to Gontharis one of his +friends, Phredas by name, and commanded him to test the other's purpose. +And when Phredas returned and reported that Gontharis by no means denied +his intention of seizing the supreme power, he purposed immediately to +go against him arrayed for battle. + +But in the meantime Gontharis slandered Areobindus to the soldiers, +saying that he was a coward and not only possessed with fear of the +enemy, but at the same time quite unwilling to give them, his soldiers, +their pay, and that he was planning to run away with Anastasius and that +they were about to sail very soon from Mandracium[68], in order that the +soldiers, fighting both with hunger and with the Moors, might be +destroyed; and he enquired whether it was their wish to arrest both and +keep them under guard. For thus he hoped either that Areobindus, +perceiving the tumult, would turn to flight, or that he would be +captured by the soldiers and ruthlessly put to death. Moreover he +promised that he himself would advance to the soldiers money of his own, +as much as the government owed them. And they were approving his words +and were possessed with great wrath against Areobindus, but while this +was going on Areobindus together with Artabanes and his followers came +there. And a battle took place on the parapet and below about the gate +where Gontharis had taken his stand, and neither side was worsted. And +all were about to gather from the camps, as many as were well disposed +to the emperor, and capture the mutineers by force. For Gontharis had +not as yet deceived all, but the majority remained still uncorrupted in +mind. But Areobindus, seeing then for the first time the killing of men +(for he had not yet, as it happened, become acquainted with this sight), +was terror-stricken and, turning coward, fled, unable to endure what he +saw. + +Now there is a temple inside the fortifications of Carthage hard by the +sea-shore, the abode of men who are very exact in their practice of +religion, whom we have always been accustomed to call "monks"; this +temple had been built by Solomon not long before, and he had surrounded +it with a wall and rendered it a very strong fortress. And Areobindus, +fleeing for refuge, rushed into the monastery, where he had already sent +his wife and sister. Then Artabanes too ran away, and all the rest +withdrew from Carthage as each one could. And Gontharis, having taken +the city by assault, with the mutineers took possession of the palace, +and was already guarding both the gates and the harbour most carefully. +First, then, he summoned Athanasius, who came to him without delay, and +by using much flattery Athanasius made it appear that what had been done +pleased him exceedingly. And after this Gontharis sent the priest of the +city and commanded Areobindus, after receiving pledges, to come to the +palace, threatening that he would besiege him if he disobeyed and would +not again give him pledges of safety, but would use every means to +capture and put him to death. So the priest, Reparatus, stoutly declared +to Areobindus that in accordance with the decision of Gontharis he would +swear that no harm would come to him from Gontharis, telling also what +he had threatened in case he did not obey. But Areobindus became afraid +and agreed that he would follow the priest immediately, if the priest, +after performing the rite of the sacred bath[69] in the usual manner, +should swear to him by that rite and then give him pledges for his +safety. So the priest did according to this. And Areobindus without +delay followed him, clad in a garment which was suitable neither for a +general nor for any one else in military service, but altogether +appropriate to a slave or one of private station; this garment the +Romans call "casula"[70] in the Latin tongue. And when they came near +the palace, he took in his hands the holy scriptures from the priest, +and so went before Gontharis. And falling prone he lay there a long +time, holding out to him the suppliant olive-branch and the holy +scriptures, and with him was the child which had been counted worthy of +the sacred bath by which the priest had given him the pledge, as has +been told. And when, with difficulty, Gontharis had raised him to his +feet, he enquired of Gontharis in the name of all things holy whether +his safety was secure. And Gontharis now bade him most positively to be +of good cheer, for he would suffer no harm at his hands, but on the +following day would be gone from Carthage with his wife and his +possessions. Then he dismissed the priest Reparatus, and bade Areobindus +and Athanasius dine with him in the palace. And during the dinner he +honoured Areobindus, inviting him to take his place first on the couch; +but after the dinner he did not let him go, but compelled him to sleep +in a chamber alone; and he sent there Ulitheus with certain others to +assail him. And while he was wailing and crying aloud again and again +and speaking many entreating words to them to move them to pity, they +slew him. Athanasius, however, they spared, passing him by, I suppose, +on account of his advanced age. + + +XXVII + +And on the following day Gontharis sent the head of Areobindus to +Antalas, but decided to deprive him of the money and of the soldiers. +Antalas, therefore, was outraged, because he was not carrying out +anything of what had been agreed with him, and at the same time, upon +considering what Gontharis had sworn and what he had done to Areobindus, +he was incensed. For it did not seem to him that one who had disregarded +such oaths would ever be faithful either to him or to anyone else at +all. So after considering the matter long with himself, he was desirous +of submitting to the Emperor Justinian; for this reason, then, he +marched back. And learning that Marcentius, who commanded the troops in +Byzacium, had fled to one of the islands which lie off the coast, he +sent to him, and telling him the whole story and giving pledges, +persuaded him by kind words to come to him. And Marcentius remained with +Antalas in the camp, while the soldiers who were on duty in Byzacium, +being well disposed to the emperor, were guarding the city of +Hadrumetum. But the soldiers of Stotzas, being not less than a thousand, +perceiving what was being done, went in great haste, with John leading +them, to Gontharis; and he gladly received them into the city. Now there +were five hundred Romans and about eighty Huns, while all the rest were +Vandals. And Artabanes, upon receiving pledges, went up to the palace +with his Armenians, and promised to serve the tyrant according to his +orders. But secretly he was purposing to destroy Gontharis, having +previously communicated this purpose to Gregorius, his nephew, and to +Artasires, his body-guard. And Gregorius, urging him on to the +undertaking, spoke as follows: + +"Artabanes, the opportunity is now at hand for you, and you alone, to +win the glory of Belisarius--nay more, even to surpass that glory by +far. For he came here, having received from the emperor a most +formidable army and great sums of money, having officers accompanying +him and advisers in great numbers, and a fleet of ships whose like we +have never before heard tell of, and numerous cavalry, and arms, and +everything else, to put it in a word, prepared for him in a manner +worthy of the Roman empire. And thus equipped he won back Libya for the +Romans with much toil. But all these achievements have so completely +come to naught, that they are, at this moment, as if they had never +been--except indeed, that there is at present left to the Romans from +the victory of Belisarius the losses they have suffered in lives and in +money, and, in addition, that they are no longer able even to guard the +good things they won. But the winning back of all these things for the +emperor now depends upon the courage and judgment and right hand of you +alone. Therefore consider that you are of the house of the Arsacidae by +ancient descent, and remember that it is seemly for men of noble birth +to play the part of brave men always and in all places. Now many +remarkable deeds have been performed by you in behalf of freedom. For +when you were still young, you slew Acacius,[71] the ruler of the +Armenians, and Sittas,[72] the general of the Romans, and as a result of +this becoming known to the king Chosroes, you campaigned with him +against the Romans. And since you have reached so great a station that +it devolves upon you not to allow the Roman power to lie subject to a +drunken dog, show at this time that it was by reason of noble birth and +a valorous heart that at the former time, good sir, you performed those +deeds; and I as well as Artasires here will assist you in everything, so +far as we have the power, in accordance with your commands." + +So spoke Gregorius; and he excited the mind of Artabanes still more +against the tyrant. But Gontharis, bringing out the wife and the sister +of Areobindus from the fortress, compelled them to remain at a certain +house, showing them no insult by any word or deed whatsoever, nor did +they have provisions in any less measure than they needed, nor were they +compelled to say or to do anything except, indeed, that Prejecta was +forced to write to her uncle[73] that Gontharis was honouring them +exceedingly and that he was altogether guiltless of the murder of her +husband, and that the base deed had been done by Ulitheus, Gontharis by +no means approving. And Gontharis was persuaded to do this by +Pasiphilus, a man who had been foremost among the mutineers in Byzacium, +and had assisted Gontharis very greatly in his effort to establish the +tyranny. For Pasiphilus maintained that, if he should do this, the +emperor would marry the young woman to him, and in view of his kinship +with her would give also a, dowry of a large sum of money. And Gontharis +commanded Artabanes to lead the army against Antalas and the Moors in +Byzacium. For Coutzinas, having quarrelled with Antalas, had separated +from him openly and allied himself with Gontharis; and he gave Gontharis +his son and his mother as hostages. So the army, under the leadership of +Artabanes, proceeded immediately against Antalas. And with Artabanes was +John also, the commander of the mutineers of Stotzas, and Ulitheus, the +body-guard of Gontharis; and there were Moors also following him, led by +Coutzinas. And after passing by the city of Hadrumetum, they came upon +their opponents somewhere near there, and making a camp a little apart +from the enemy, they passed the night. And on the day after that John +and Ulitheus, with a detachment of the army, remained there, while +Artabanes and Coutzinas led their army against their opponents. And the +Moors under Antalas did not withstand their attack and rushed off in +flight. But Artabanes of a sudden wilfully played the coward, and +turning his standard about marched off towards the rear. For this reason +Ulitheus was purposing to kill him when he came into the camp. But +Artabanes, by way of excusing himself, said he feared lest Marcentius, +coming to assist the enemy from the city of Hadrumetum, where he then +happened to be, would do his forces irreparable harm; but Gontharis, he +said, ought to march against the enemy with the whole army. And at first +he considered going to Hadrumetum with his followers and uniting with +the emperor's forces. But after long deliberation it seemed to him +better to put Gontharis out of the world and thus free both the emperor +and Libya from a difficult situation. Returning, accordingly, to +Carthage, he reported to the tyrant that he would need a larger army to +meet the enemy. And Gontharis, after conferring with Pasiphilus, +consented, indeed, to equip his whole army, but purposed to place a +guard in Carthage, and in person to lead the army against the enemy. +Each day, therefore, he was destroying many men toward whom he felt any +suspicion, even though groundless. And he gave orders to Pasiphilus, +whom he was intending to appoint in charge of the garrison of Carthage, +to kill all the Greeks[74] without any consideration. + + +XXVIII + +And after arranging everything else in the very best way, as it seemed +to him, Gontharis decided to entertain his friends at a banquet, with +the intention of making his departure on the following day. And in a +room where there were in readiness three couches which had been there +from ancient times, he made the banquet. So he himself reclined, as was +natural, upon the first couch, where were also Athanasius and Artabanes, +and some of those known to Gontharis, and Peter, a Thracian by birth, +who had previously been a body-guard of Solomon. And on both the other +couches were the first and noblest of the Vandals. John, however, who +commanded the mutineers of Stotzas; was entertained by Pasiphilus in his +own house, and each of the other leaders wherever it suited the several +friends of Gontharis to entertain them. Artabanes, accordingly, when he +was bidden to this banquet, thinking that this occasion furnished him a +suitable opportunity for the murder of the tyrant, was planning to carry +out his purpose. He therefore disclosed the matter to Gregorius and to +Artasires and three other body-guards, bidding the body-guards get +inside the hall with their swords (for when commanders are entertained +at a banquet it is customary for their body-guards to stand behind +them), and after getting inside to make an attack suddenly, at whatever +moment should seem to them most suitable; and Artasires was to strike +the first blow. At the same time he directed Gregorius to pick out a +large number of the most daring of the Armenians and bring them to the +palace, carrying only their swords in their hands (for it is not lawful +for the escort of officers in a city to be armed with anything else), +and leaving these men in the vestibule, to come inside with the +body-guards; and he was to tell the plan to no one of them, but to make +only this explanation, that he was suspicious of Gontharis, fearing that +he had called Artabanes to this banquet to do him harm, and therefore +wished that they should stand beside the soldiers of Gontharis who had +been stationed there on guard, and giving the appearance of indulging in +some play, they were to take hold of the shields which these guards +carried, and waving them about and otherwise moving them keep constantly +turning them up and down; and if any tumult or shouting took place +within, they were to take up these very shields and come to the rescue +on the run. Such were the orders which Artabanes gave, and Gregorius +proceeded to put them into execution. And Artasires devised the +following plan: he cut some arrows into two parts and placed them on the +wrist of his left arm, the sections reaching to his elbow. And after +binding them very carefully with straps, he laid over them the sleeve of +his tunic. And he did this in order that, if anyone should raise his +sword over him and attempt to strike him, he might avoid the chance of +suffering serious injury; for he had only to thrust his left arm in +front of him, and the steel would break off as it crashed upon the wood, +and thus his body could not be reached at any point. + +With such purpose, then, Artasires did as I have said. And to Artabanes +he spoke as follows: "As for me, I have hopes that I shall prove equal +to the undertaking and shall not hesitate, and also that I shall touch +the body of Gontharis with this sword; but as for what will follow, I am +unable to say whether God in His anger against the tyrant will +co-operate with me in this daring deed, or whether, avenging some sin of +mine, He will stand against me there and be an obstacle in my way. If, +therefore, you see that the tyrant is not wounded in a vital spot, do +you kill me with my sword without the least hesitation, so that I may +not be tortured by him into saying that it was by your will that I +rushed into the undertaking, and thus not only perish myself most +shamefully, but also be compelled against my will to destroy you as +well." And after Artasires had spoken such words he too, together with +Gregorius and one of the body-guards, entered the room where the couches +were and took his stand behind Artabanes. And the rest, remaining by the +guards, did as they had been commanded. + +So Artasires, when the banquet had only just begun, was purposing to set +to work, and he was already touching the hilt of his sword. But +Gregorius prevented him by saying in the Armenian tongue that Gontharis +was still wholly himself, not having as yet drunk any great quantity of +wine. Then Artasires groaned and said: "My good fellow, how fine a heart +I have for the deed, and now you have for the moment wrongfully hindered +me!" And as the drinking went on, Gontharis, who by now was thoroughly +saturated with wine, began to give portions of the food to the +body-guards, yielding to a generous mood. And they, upon receiving these +portions, went outside the building immediately and were about to eat +them, leaving beside Gontharis only three body-guards, one of whom +happened to be Ulitheus. And Artasires also started to go out in order +to taste the morsels with the rest. But just then a kind of fear came +over him lest, when he should wish to draw his sword, something might +prevent him. Accordingly, as soon as he got outside, he secretly threw +away the sheath of the sword, and taking it naked under his arm, hidden +by his cloak, he rushed in to Gontharis, as if to say something without +the knowledge of the others. And Artabanes, seeing this, was in a fever +of excitement, and became exceedingly anxious by reason of the +surpassing magnitude of the issue at stake; he began to move his head, +the colour of his countenance changed repeatedly, and he seemed to have +become altogether like one inspired, on account of the greatness of the +undertaking. And Peter, upon seeing this, understood what was being +done, but he did not disclose it to any of the others, because, being +well disposed to the emperor, he was exceedingly pleased by what was +going on. And Artasires, having come close to the tyrant, was pushed by +one of the servants, and as he retreated a little to the rear, the +servant observed that his sword was bared and cried out saying: "What is +this, my excellent fellow?" And Gontharis, putting his hand to his right +ear, and turning his face, looked at him. And Artasires struck him with +his sword as he did so, and cut off a piece of his scalp together with +his fingers. And Peter cried out and exhorted Artasires to kill the most +unholy of all men. And Artabanes, seeing Gontharis leaping to his feet +(for he reclined close to him), drew a two-edged dagger which hung by +his thigh--a rather large one--and thrusting it into the tyrant's left +side clean up to the hilt, left it there. And the tyrant none the less +tried to leap up, but having received a mortal wound, he fell where he +was. Ulitheus then brought his sword down upon Artasires as if to strike +him over the head; but he held his left arm above his head, and thus +profited by his own idea in the moment of greatest need. For since +Ulitheus' sword had its edge turned when it struck the sections of +arrows on his arm, he himself was unscathed, and he killed Ulitheus with +no difficulty. And Peter and Artabanes, the one seizing the sword of +Gontharis and the other that of Ulitheus who had fallen, killed on the +spot those of the body-guards who remained. Thus there arose, as was +natural, an exceedingly great tumult and confusion. And when this was +perceived by those of the Armenians who were standing by the tyrant's +guards, they immediately picked up the shields according to the plan +which had been arranged with them, and went on the run to the +banquet-room. And they slew all the Vandals and the friends of +Gontharis, no one resisting. + +Then Artabanes enjoined upon Athanasius to take charge of the money in +the palace: for all that had been left by Areobindus was there. And when +the guards learned of the death of Gontharis, straightway many arrayed +themselves with the Armenians; for the most of them were of the +household of Areobindus. With one accord, therefore, they proclaimed the +Emperor Justinian triumphant. And the cry, coming forth from a multitude +of men, and being, therefore, an exceedingly mighty sound, was strong +enough to reach the greater part of the city. Wherefore those who were +well-disposed to the emperor leaped into the houses of the mutineers and +straightway killed them, some while enjoying sleep, others while taking +food, and still others while they were awe-struck with fear and in +terrible perplexity. And among these was Pasiphilus, but not John, for +he with some of the Vandals fled to the sanctuary. To these Artabanes +gave pledges, and making them rise from there, sent them to Byzantium, +and having thus recovered the city for the emperor, he continued to +guard it. And the murder of the tyrant took place on the thirty-sixth +day of the tyranny, in the nineteenth year of the reign of the Emperor +Justinian. [545-546 A.D.] + +And Artabanes won great fame for himself from this deed among all men. +And straightway Prejecta, the wife of Areobindus, rewarded him with +great sums of money, and the emperor appointed him general of all Libya. +But not long after this Artabanes entreated the emperor to summon him to +Byzantium, and the emperor fulfilled his request. And having summoned +Artabanes, he appointed John, the brother of Pappus, sole general of +Libya. And this John, immediately upon arriving in Libya, had an +engagement with Antalas and the Moors in Byzacium, and conquering them +in battle, slew many; and he wrested from these barbarians all the +standards of Solomon, and sent them to the emperor--standards which they +had previously secured as plunder, when Solomon had been taken from the +world.[75] And the rest of the Moors he drove as far as possible from +the Roman territory. But at a later time the Leuathae came again with a +great army from the country about Tripolis to Byzacium, and united with +the forces of Antalas. And when John went to meet this army, he was +defeated in the engagement, and losing many of his men, fled to Laribus. +And then indeed the enemy, overrunning the whole country there as far as +Carthage, treated in a terrible manner those Libyans who fell in their +way. But not long afterward John collected those of the soldiers who had +survived, and drawing into alliance with him many Moors and especially +those under Coutzinas, came to battle with the enemy and unexpectedly +routed them. And the Romans, following them up as they fled in complete +disorder, slew a great part of them, while the rest escaped to the +confines of Libya. Thus it came to pass that those of the Libyans who +survived, few as they were in number and exceedingly poor, at last and +after great toil found some peace. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + +The _vexillum praetorium_ carried by the cavalry of the imperial guard, +IV. x. 4 below; cf. Lat. _pannum_. + +[2] + +See III. xxiv. 1. + +[3] + +"Auxiliaries"; see Book III. xi. 3 and note. + +[4] + +Chap. i. 3. + +[5] + +Chap. i. 3. + +[6] + +Now Bona; it was the home and burial-place of St. Augustine. + +[7] + +The Eruli, or Heruli, were one of the wildest and most corrupt of the +barbarian tribes. They came from beyond the Danube. On their origin, +practices, and character, see VI. xiv. + +[8] + +The Greek implies that the Tuscan Sea was stormy, like the Adriatic. The +Syrtes farther east had a bad reputation. + +[9] + +About twelve miles west of Algiers, originally Iol, now Cherchel; named +after Augustus. + +[10] + +See III. i. 6 and note. + +[11] + +See III. i. 18. + +[12] + +Book III. ix. 9. + +[13] + +See III. x. 23 + +[14] + +Lilybaeum had been ceded to the Vandals by Theoderic as dower of his +sister Amalafrida on her marriage to Thrasamund, the African king (III. +viii. 13). + +[15] + +"Friendship" and "hostility" refer to the present relations between +Justinian and the Goths and what they may become. + +[16] + +Amalasountha. + +[17] + +The correspondence between Queen Amalasountha and Justinian is given in +V. iii. 17. + +[18] + +In Latin _serica_, "silk," as coming from the Chinese (Seres). + +[19] + +Cf. Thucydides' description of the huts in which the Athenians lived +during the great plague. + +[20] + +Pharas and the other Eruli. + +[21] + +Cf. ch. vi. 4. + +[22] + +"Auxiliaries"; see Book III. xi. 3. + +[23] + +_i.e._ there in Africa, as successor to the throne of the Vandal kings. + +[24] + +Book III. xxv. 2-4. + +[25] + +Examples of the Roman system have come to light in Egyptian papyri: cf. +the declarations of personal property, [Greek: apographai], _Pap. +Lond._, I., p. 79; _Flinders Petrie Pap._, III., p. 200, ed. Mahaffy and +Smyly. + +[26] + +Since a triumph was granted only to an _imperator_, after the +establishment of the principate by Augustus all triumphs were celebrated +in the name of the emperor himself, the victorious general receiving +only the _insignia triumphalia_. The first general to refuse a triumph +was Agrippa, after his campaign in Spain, about 550 years before +Belisarius' triumph in Constantinople. + +[27] + +The barriers (_carceres_), or starting-point for the racers, were at the +open end of the hippodrome, the imperial box at the middle of the course +at the right as one entered. + +[28] + +Cf. Book III. v. 3; that was in A.D. 455. The spoliation of Jerusalem by +Titus had taken place in A.D. 70. + +[29] + +Ecclesiastes, i. 2. + +[30] + +Not an actual "triumph," but a triumphal celebration of his inauguration +as consul. + +[31] + +The reference is to the old custom of distributing to the populace +largesses (_congiaria_) of money or valuables on the occasion of events +of interest to the imperial house, such as the emperor's assumption of +the consular office, birthdays, etc. The first largess of this kind was +made by Julius Caesar. + +[32] + +Cf. Book IV. ii. 1. + +[33] + +The Canaanites of the Old Testament. + +[34] + +_i.e._, Clypea, or Aspis, now Kalibia, on the Carthaginian coast. + +[35] + +_i.e._, from Tangier, opposite Cadiz, to Algiers. On Caesarea see IV. v. +5 and note. + +[36] + +"On the borders of Mauretania" according to Procopius, _De aedificiis_, +vi. 6. 18. + +[37] + +Chap. x. 6. + +[38] + +Book III. viii. 25, 26. + +[39] + +The side toward the mountains; cf. § 20. + +[40] + +In the late Empire the _excubitores_, 300 in number, constituted the +select guard of the palace. Their commander, _comes excubitorum_, held +high rank at court; cf. VIII. xxi. 1, where we are told that Belisarius +held this position, and _Arcana_ 6. 10, where Justin, afterwards +emperor, is mentioned. + +[41] + +Cf. chap. viii. 14. Procopius has explained in III. xi. 6 that Solomon +was a eunuch. + +[42] + +See III. viii. 5. + +[43] + +A _comes foedtratorum_, mentioned in III. xi. 6. + +[44] + +Book III. viii. 5. + +[45] + +_i.e._ Clypea. Not the place mentioned in IV. x. 24. + +[46] + +The region in the interior of Sardinia called Barbargia or Barbagia +still preserves this name. But Procopius' explanation of the origin of +the barbarian settlers there has not been generally accepted. + +[47] + +Book III. xviii. 7 ff. + +[48] + +IV. iv. 30 and note. + +[49] + +Baptism was administered only during the fifty days between Easter and +Pentecost. Justinian had forbidden the baptism of Arians. + +[50] + +Cf. III. xi. 30. + +[51] + +Cf. chap. xiv. 8. + +[52] + +"Auxiliaries"; see Book III. xi. 3. + +[53] + +More correctly Gadiaufala, now Ksar-Sbehi. + +[54] + +Cirta, later named Constantina, now Constantine (Ksantina). + +[55] + +John the Cappadocian, cf. I. xxiv. 11 ff. + +[56] + +See Book III. xvii. 1 and note. + +[57] + +Now Setif. + +[58] + +Called Mastinas in IV. xiii. 19. + +[59] + +Book IV. v. 5. + +[60] + +Cyrenaica. + +[61] + +Now Lebida. + +[62] + +Cf. III. xxv. 4 ff. + +[63] + +Book III. x. 22 ff. + +[64] + +Book IV. xii. 30. + +[65] + +A reference to his slaughter of the eighty notables, IV. xxi. 7, where, +however, nothing is said of an oath sworn on the Gospels. + +[66] + +Cf. Book II. iii. 32. + +[67] + +Cf. Book III. xvii. 11, xxi. 23. + +[68] + +The port of Carthage; see III. xx. 3. + +[69] + +_i.e._ baptism. + +[70] + +A garment with a cowl, like the _cucullus_. + +[71] + +Cf. Book II. iii. 25. + +[72] + +Cf. Book II. iii. 15. + +[73] + +Justinian. + +[74] + +A contemptuous term for "subjects of the emperor." + +[75] + +See Book IV. xxi. 27. + + * * * * * + + + + +INDEX + +Abigas River, in Numidia, flowing down from Mt. Aurasium, IV. + xix. 7, 11, xiii. 20; + its many channels, IV. xix. 11-13; + turned upon the Roman camp, IV. x. 14 + +Abydus, city on the Hellespont, III. i. 8; + the Roman fleet delayed there, III. xii. 7-xiii. 5 + +Acacius, ruler of Armenians; + slain by Artabanes, IV. xxvii. 17 + +Acacius, priest of Byzantium, delivers over Basiliscus, III. vii. 22 + +Achilles, Bath of, in Byzantium, III. xiii. 16 + +Achilles, The, of the Vandals, name applied to Hoamer, III. ix. 2 + +Aclas, suburb of Carthage, IV. vii. 13 + +Adaulphus, king of the Visigoths, III. ii. 37 + +Adriatic Sea, divided from the Tuscan Sea by the islands Gaulus + and Melite, III. xiv. 16; + crossed by the Roman fleet, III. xiii. 21; + the scene of one of Gizeric's atrocities, III. xxii. 18 + +Aetius, Roman general; his splendid qualities, III. iii. 14, 15; + rival of Boniface, III. iii. 15; + whom he slanders to Placidia, III. iii. 17; + writes a deceitful letter to Boniface, III. iii. 18, 28; + spared by Placidia by reason of his great power, III. iii. 29; + defeats Attila, III. iv. 24; + Maximus plans to destroy him, III. iv. 24, 25; + slandered to the emperor, III. iv. 26; + his death, III. iv. 27, vi. 7; + a great loss to the emperor, III. iv. 28 + +Aetna, mountain in Sicily, III. xiii. 22 + +Aïgan, a Massagete, bodyguard of Belisarius, III, xi. 7, 9, IV. x. 4; + commander of cavalry, III. xi. 7; + on the right wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + makes a successful attack upon the Moors in Byzacium, IV. x. 5; + his force in turn annihilated by the Moors, IV. x. 6 ff.; + his death, IV. x. 10, xi. 22 + +Alani, a Gothic people, allies of the Vandals in their migration, + III. iii. 1; + with the Vandals in Africa, III. v. 18, 19, xxiv. 3; + lose their individuality as a people, III. v. 21 + +Alaric, king of the Visigoths, invades Europe, III, ii, 7; + captures Rome by a trick, III. ii. 14-23; + plunders the city, III. ii. 24; + declares Attalus emperor of the Romans, III. ii. 28; + marches with Attalus against Ravenna, III. ii. 29; + opposes sending of commanders to Libya by Attalus, III. ii. 30; + quarrels with Attalus, and reduces him from the kingship, III. ii. 36; + dies of disease, III. ii. 37 + +Alexandria, the home of Calonymus, III. xi. 14 + +Althias, commander of Roman auxiliaries, III. xi. 6; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + commander of Huns in Numidia, IV. xiii. 2; + his encounter with Iaudas, IV. xiii. 3-16; + his fame from the deed, IV. xiii. 17 + +Amalasountha, mother of Antalaric; + makes an agreement with Justinian, III. xiv. 5; + courts his friendship to secure protection, III. xiv. 6; + appealed to by the Goths in regard to Lilybaeum, IV. v. 18 + +Amalafrida, sister of Theoderic; + sought and given in marriage to Trasamundus, III. viii. 11, 12; + presented with Lilybaeum, III. viii. 13; + put under guard by the Vandals, III. ix. 4 + +Ammatas, brother of Gelimer; + instructed to prepare to meet the Romans near Carthage, + III. xvii. 11, xviii. 1; + kills his kinsmen in prison, III. xvii. 12; + his inopportune arrival at Decimum, III. xviii. 4, 5; + on the day before Easter, III. xxi. 23; + engages with John there and is defeated, III. xviii. 5, 6; + his death, III. xviii. 6; xix. 30, xx. 6, xxv. 15; + his body found by the Romans, III. xix. 14 + +Anastasius, emperor of the East, keeps peace with the Vandals, + III. vii. 26, viii. 14 + +Ancon, a dungeon in the royal residence in Carthage, III. xx. 4; + unexpected release of Roman merchants confined there, III. xx. 5-9 + +Antaeus, the mythical wrestler, king in Libya, IV. x. 24 + +Antalas, ruler of the Moors in Byzacium, III. ix. 3, IV. xxv. 2; + remains faithful to the Romans, IV. xii. 30; + becomes hostile to Solomon, IV. xxi. 17; + joins forces with the Leuathae, IV. xxi. 18; + gathers almost all the Moors under him, IV. xxii. 5; + writes a letter to Justinian, IV. xxii. 6-10; + gathers his army again, IV. xxiii. 1; + Areobindus sends an army against him, IV. xxiv. 6; + makes an agreement with Gontharis for the destruction of + Areobindus, IV. xxv. 6-10; + Coutzinas agrees to turn against him, IV. 25, 15, 18; + hears of the plot of Coutzinas and keeps his knowledge secret, + IV. xxv. 19-21; + resents the sending of the head of Areobindus to him by + Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 1, 2; + decides to side with Justinian, IV. xxvii. 4; + persuades Marcentius to come to him, IV. xxvii. 5, 6; + Artabanes sent against him, IV. xxvii. 23; + his quarrel with Coutzinas, IV. xxvii. 24; + Artabanes marches against him, IV. xxvii. 25; + his army spared by Artabanes, IV. xxvii. 28, 29; + defeated by John, IV. xxviii. 46, 47 + +Anthemius, a wealthy senator, appointed emperor of the West by Leon, + III. vi. 5; + killed by his son-in-law, Rhecimer, III. vii. 1 + +Antonina, wife of Belisarius, mother-in-law of Ildiger, IV. viii. 24; + sets sail with Belisarius for Africa, III. xii. 2; + preserves drinking water for Belisarius and his attendants, + III. xiii. 23, 24; + with the army at Decimum, III, xix. 11, xx. 1 + +Apollinaris, a native of Italy; + comes to Justinian to seek support for Ilderic, IV. v. 7, 8; + his good services to the Romans, IV. v. 9; + sent to the islands of Ebusa, Majorica, and Minorica, with an army, + IV. v. 7 + +Aquileia, city in Italy, III. iii. 9; + its size and importance, III. iv. 30; + besieged and captured by Attila, III. iv. 30 ff. + +Arcadius, elder son of Theodosius I; + receives the eastern empire, III. i. 2; + brother of Honorius and Placidia, III. iii. 4; + his alliance with the Visigoths, III. ii. 7; + succeeded by his son Theodosius II, III. ii. 33 + +Archelaus, a patrician; + manager of expenditures of the African expedition, III. xi. 17; + advises against disembarking on the African coast, III. xv. 2-17; + ordered by Belisarius not to take the fleet into Carthage, + III. xvii. 16; + commands the fleet to anchor off Carthage, III. xx. 11 + +Ardaburius, son of Aspar, Roman general; sent against the tyrant John, + III. iii. 8; + destroyed by Leon, III. vi. 27 + +Areobindus, a senator; sent as general to Libya, IV. xxiv. 1; + his inexperience in warfare, IV. xxiv. 1, xxv. 25, xxvi. 16; + accompanied by his sister and wife, IV. xxiv. 3; + shares the rule of Libya with Sergius, IV. xxiv. 4, 5; + sends John against Antalas and Stotzas, IV. xxiv. 6; + writes to Sergius to unite with John, IV. xxiv. 7; + made sole commander of Libya, IV. xxiv. 16; + sends Gontharis against the Moors, IV. xxv. 4, 5; + arranges with Coutzinas to turn against the other Moors, IV. xxv. 15; + tells Gontharis of his dealings with Coutzinas, IV. xxv. 16; + persuaded by G. to postpone the engagement, IV. xxv. 17, 18; + his death planned and finally accomplished by Gontharis, + IV. xxv. 22-xxvi. 33; + treasure left by him in the palace, IV. xxviii. 35; + sister of, IV. xxiv. 3; + placed in a fortress for her safety, IV. xxvi. 18; + removed from the fortress by Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 20 + +Arethusa, harbour of Syracuse, III. xiv. 11 + +Ariadne, daughter of Leon, wife of Zenon, and mother of Leon the + younger, III. vii. 2; + flees to Isauria with Zenon, III. vii. 18 + +Arian faith, disqualified one for the office of emperor, III. vi. 3; + followed by all Goths, III. ii, 5; + by the Vandals, III. viii. 4, xxi. 20; + by some among the Roman soldiers, IV. i, 4, xiv. 12, 21; + adhered to steadfastly by Gelimer, IV. ix. 14; + Arian priests of the Vandals, III. xxi. 23, 25 + +Armenia, III. xi. 5; + Armenians, sent with Areobindus to Libya, IV. xxiv. 2; + follow Artabanes in entering the service of Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 9; + support Artabanes in his plot against Gontharis, IV. xxviii. 8, 34, 36 + +Arsacidae, the ancient royal family of Armenia, IV. xxiv. 2, xxvii. 16 + +Artabanes, son of John, of the Arsacidae; + sent to Libya in command of Armenians, IV. xxiv. 2; + known to Chosroes for his brave deeds, IV. xxvii. 17; + brother of John, IV. xxiv. 15; + uncle of Gregorius, IV. xxvii. 10; + joins Areobindus, IV. xxv. 4; + supports him against Gontharis, IV. xxvi. 7, 13, 19; + enters the service of Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 9; + his plot to kill the tyrant, IV. xxvii. 10; + urged on by Gregorius, IV. xxvii. 11-19; + sent against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 23, 25; + joins battle, but allows the enemy to escape, IV. xxvii. 27-29; + threatened by Ulitheus, IV. xxvii. 30; + his excuses, IV. xxvii. 31, 32; + after deliberation returns to Carthage, IV. xxvii. 33, 35; + entertained by Gontharis at a banquet, IV. xxviii. 3; + arranges to carry out his plot against Gontharis, IV. xxviii. 6-9; + Artasires makes a request of him, IV. xxviii. 12, 13; + he succeeds in destroying Gontharis with his own hand, + IV. xxviii. 15-30; + assisted by Peter, cuts down the body-guards who remain, IV. xxviii. 33; + directs Athanasius to look after the treasure of Areobindus, + IV. xxviii. 35; + sends John and others to Byzantium, IV. xxviii. 40; + wins great fame, IV, xxviii. 42; + rewarded with money by Prejecta, IV. xxviii. 43; + made general of all Libya, IV. xxviii. 43; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xxviii. 44. + +Artasires, body-guard of Artabanes; + shares knowledge of his plot against Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 10, 18; + renders good service in the execution of the plot, IV. xxviii. 7-32; + his ingenious protection for his arm, IV. xxviii. 10, 11, 31 + +Asclepiades, a native of Palestine and friend of Theodorus, IV. xviii. 3; + reveals the plot of Maximinus to Theodorus and Germanus, IV. xviii. 4 + +Asia, the continent to the right of the Mediterranean as one sails into it, + III. i. 5; + distance from Europe at different points, III. i. 7, 8; + distance along the Asiatic side of the Euxine, III. i. 11 + +Asiaticus, father of Severianus, IV. xxiii. 6 + +Aspar, Roman general; father of Ardaburius, III. iii. 8; + of the Arian faith, III. vi. 3; + his great power in Byzantium, III. iv. 8; + sent against the tyrant John, III. iii. 8; + defeated by the Vandals in Libya, III. iii. 35; + returns home, III. iii. 36; + makes Leon emperor of the East, III. v. 7; + his friendship sought by Basiliscus, III. vi. 2; + quarrels with Leon, III. vi. 3; + urges Basiliscus to spare the Vandals, III. vi. 4, 16; + destroyed by Leon, III. vi. 27; + the emperor Marcian had been his adviser, III. iv. 7 + +Atalaric, son of Amalasuntha; + ruler of the Goths, III. xiv. 5; + succeeded his grandfather Theoderic, III. xiv. 6 + +Athanasius, sent with Areobindus to Libya, IV. xxiv. 2; + summoned by Areobindus, IV. xxvi. 6; + being summoned by Gontharis, pretends to be pleased, IV. xxvi. 21, 22; + with Areobindus entertained by Gontharis, IV. xxvi. 31; + spared by the assassins of Gontharis, IV. xxvi. 33; + entertained by Gontharis at a second banquet, IV. xxviii. 3; + directed by Artabanes to look after the treasure of + Areobindus, IV. xxviii. 35 + +Athens, its distance from Megara a measure of one day's journey, III. i. 17 + +Attalus, made king of the Visigoths and declared emperor of the + Romans by Alaric, III. ii. 28; + of noble family, _ibid._; his lack of discretion, III. ii. 29; + marches with Alaric against Ravenna, _ibid._; + sends commanders alone to Libya against the advice of + Alaric, III. ii. 30, 32; + failure of his attempt upon Libya, _ibid._; + quarrels with Alaric, and is reduced from the kingship, III. ii. 36 + +Attila, leader of the Huns, defeated by Aetius, III. iv. 24; + overruns Europe, III. iv. 29; + besieges and captures Aquileia; III. iv. 30 ff. + +Augustus, emperor of the West, III. vii. 15 + +Aurasium, a mountain in Numidia; + distance from Carthage, III. viii. 5, IV. xiii. 22; + its great size, fruitful plateaus, and defences, IV. xiii. 23-25; + source of the Abigas River there, IV. xiii. 20, xix. 11; + adjoins First Mauretania, IV. xx. 30; + taken by the Moors from the Vandals, III. viii. 5, IV. xiii. 26; + its west side also held by the Moors, IV. xiii. 27; + Moors of, ruled by Iaudas, IV. xii. 29, xiii. 1; + Solomon marches thither, IV. xiii. 18; + Iaudas establishes himself there, IV. xiii. 21; + ascended by Solomon, IV. xiii. 30 ff.; + the Romans eluded by the Moors on the mountain, IV. xiii. 35, 36; + Solomon prepares more carefully for a second attempt, IV. xiii. 40; + in which he succeeds completely in dislodging the Moors from there, + IV. xix. 5-xx. 20; + fortified and held by the Romans, IV. xx. 22; + capture of Iaudas' treasure there, IV. xx. 23-29; + fugitive Vandals return thither, IV. xiv. 19 + + +Babosis, place in Numidia, IV. xix. 16 + +Bacchus, brother of Solomon, and father of Cyrus and Sergius, + IV. xxi. 1, 19; + father of Solomon the younger, IV. xxi. 19, xxii. 17 + +Bagaïs, a deserted city near the Abigas River, IV. xix. 7 + +Bagradas River, in Libya, IV. xv. 13 + +Balas, leader of the Massagetae, III. xi. 12 + +Bandifer, "standard-bearer" (Latin), cf. Bandum, IV. x. 4 + +Bandum, the Latin term for "standard" in Procopius' time, IV. ii. 1 + +Barbaricini, name applied to the Moors in Sardinia, IV. xiii. 44 + +Barbatus, commander of Roman cavalry, III. xi. 7, IV. xv. 50; + on the Roman right wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + his death, IV. xv. 59 + +Basiliscus, brother of Berine; commander of an expedition against the + Vandals, III. vi. 2; + his aspirations to the throne, _ibid._; + urged by Aspar to spare the Vandals, III. vi. 4; + landing in Africa, makes a complete failure of the + expedition, III. vi. 10-24, x. 2; + returning to Byzantium, becomes a suppliant, III. vi. 26; + saved by Berine, _ibid._; + makes himself tyrant in Byzantium, III. vii. 18; + his misrule, III. vii. 19; + sends an army under Harmatus to meet Zenon, III. vii. 20; + becomes a suppliant, III. vii. 22; + exiled to Cappadocia and dies, III. vii. 24, 25 + +Basiliscus, son of Harmatus, III. vii. 21; + made Caesar and then removed by Zenon, III. vii. 23 + +Belisarius, Roman general; a native of "Germany," III. xi. 21; + summoned from the East, III. ix. 25; + ordered to be in readiness to lead the African expedition, III. x. 21; + made commander-in-chief of the African expedition with unlimited power, + III. xi. 18, 20; + sets sail for Africa, III. xii. 2; + punished two Massagetae for murder, III. xii. 9; + addresses the army at Abydus, III. xii. 10-21; + provides for the safe navigation of the fleet, III. xiii. 1-4; + disembarks the army at Methone, III. xiii. 9 ff.; + provides a supply of bread for the army, III. xiii. 20; + his wife preserves the drinking water, III. xiii. 23, 24; + sends Procopius to Syracuse to get information, III. xiv. 3 ff.; + his anxiety regarding the Vandals and the attitude of his own soldiers, + III. xiv. 1, 2; + starts from Sicily toward Africa, III. xiv. 15; + holds a consultation regarding disembarking on the African coast, + III. xv. 1 ff.; + disembarks the army and fortifies a camp, III. xv. 31-33; + orders the fleet not to put in at Carthage, III. xvii. 10; + commands five men to remain on each ship, III. xv. 36; + punishes some of the soldiers for stealing and addresses the army, + III. xvi. 1-8; + advances with the army to Decimum, where he defeats the Vandals in + an engagement, III. xvi. 9-xix. 33, xxi. 16. xxii. 14; + captures with ease the unwalled cities of Libya, III. v. 9; + prevents the army from entering Carthage on the evening of their arrival, + III. xx. 2; + his commands respected by the greater part of the fleet, III. xx. 15; + enters Carthage with his army, III. xx. 17; + exhorts the soldiers to moderation, III. xx. 18-20; + sits upon the throne of Gelimer, III. xx. 21; + hears and answers complaints of Carthaginian citizens, III. xx. 22, 23; + lunches in Gelimer's palace, III. xxi. 1, 5; + enjoys great renown by reason of the peaceful entry into Carthage, + III. xxi. 8; + his treaties with the Moors, III. xxv. 2-9, IV. viii. 11 ff., xi. 9; + considers the repair of the fortifications of Carthage, III. xxi. 11; + presses on the work of repairing them, III. xxiii. 19, 20; + spares the messengers of Tzazon, III. xxiv. 6; + and the envoys of Gelimer, III. xxiv. 17; + takes measures to prevent desertions to the Vandals, IV, i. 7-11; + addresses the army, IV. i. 12-25; + defeats the Moors in the battle of Tricamarum, IV. ii. 1-iii. 18; + attacks the Vandal camp, IV. iii. 19; + takes measures to stop the disorder in the Roman army, IV. iv. 6-8; + sends John the Armenian to pursue Gelimer, IV. iv. 9; + himself follows Gelimer, IV. iv. 13; + mourns the death of John the Armenian, IV. iv. 24; + spares Uliaris, IV. iv, 25; + continues the pursuit of Gelimer, IV. iv. 26; + leaves Pharas to besiege Gelimer, IV. iv. 28; + sends suppliant Vandals to Carthage, IV. iv. 32; + captures Boniface with the treasures of Gelimer, IV. iv. 33-41; + returns to Carthage, IV. v. 1; + sends out armies to recover many lost provinces, V. v. 1-10; + makes an unsuccessful expedition to Sicily, IV. v. 11; + writes a letter to the Goths, IV. v. 12-17; + their reply, IV. v. 8-24; + reports to Justinian, IV. v. 25; + receives the report of Pharas regarding Gelimer, IV. vii. 10; + sends Cyprian with instructions, IV. vii. 11; + receives Gelimer at Aclas, IV. vii. 13, 14; + reports the capture of Gelimer, IV. vii. 17; + the victim of unjust slander, IV. viii. 1, 2; + given choice of going to Byzantium or remaining in Carthage, IV. viii. 4; + chooses the former IV. viii. 5; + learns of the accusation of treason to be brought against + him, IV. viii. 6, 7; + hears the report of the uprising of the Moors, IV. viii. 22; + leaves Solomon in charge of Libya, IV. viii. 23; + returning to Byzantium, receives great honours, IV, ix. 1 ff.; + brings Vandals with him, IV. ix. 1, xiv. 17; + pays homage to Justinian in the hippodrome, IV. ix. 12; + later celebrates a "triumph" in the old manner, IV. ix. 15; + becomes a consul, _ibid._; + distributes much wealth of the Vandals to the people, IV. ix. 16; + subjugates Sicily, IV. xiv. 1; + passes the winter in Syracuse, IV. xiv. 4, 41; + Solomon begs him to come to Carthage from Syracuse to put down the + mutiny, IV. xiv. 41, 42; + arrives at Carthage in time to prevent its surrender, IV. xv. 9-10; + pursues and overtakes the fugitives, IV. xv. 11, 12; + encamps at the Bagradas River and prepares for battle, IV. xv. 13-15; + addresses the army, IV. xv. 16-29; + defeats Stotzas' army, IV. xv. 40 ff.; + forbids pursuit of the enemy, but allows their camp to be plundered, + IV. xv. 46, 47; + returns to Carthage, IV. xv. 47; upon receipt of unfavourable news, + sets sail for Sicily, IV. xv. 48, 49; + Solomon sends suspected soldiers to him, IV. xix. 3; + counted the chief cause of the defeat of the Vandals, IV. xi. 44. + +Berine, wife of the Emperor Leon, and sister of Basiliscus, III. vi. 2; + gains clemency for Basiliscus, III. vi. 26 + +Boniface, Roman general; his splendid qualities, III. iii. 14, 15; + rival of Aetius, III. iii. 15; + made general of all Libya, III. iii. 16; + slandered by Aetius, III. iii. 17; + summoned to Rome by Placidia, III. iii. 18; + refuses to come, III. iii. 20; + makes an alliance with the Vandals, III. iii. 22, 25; + the true cause of his conduct discovered by his friends, + III. iii. 27, 28; + urged by Placidia to return to Rome, III. iii. 29; + unable to persuade the Vandals to withdraw, meets them in battle + and is twice defeated, III. iii. 30-35, xxi. 16; + returns to Rome, III. iii. 36 + +Boniface, the Libyan, a native of Byzacium; entrusted by + Gelimer with his wealth, IV. iv. 33, 34; + falls into the hands of Belisarius, IV. iv. 35-41 + +Boriades, body-guard of Belisarius; + sent to capture Syllectus, III. xvi. 9 + +Boulla, Plain of, distance from Carthage, III. xxv. 1; + near the boundary of Numidia, _ibid._; + the Vandals gather there, III. xix. 32, xxv. 1; + the only territory left to the Vandals, III. xxv. 16; + Gelimer and Tzazon meet there, III. xxv. 22; + mutineers gather there, IV. xv. 1 + +Bourgaon, mountain in Byzacium; + battle there with the Moors, IV. xii. 3 ff. + +Britain, counted in the Western empire, III. i. 18; + revolts from the Romans, III. ii. 31; + not recovered by the Romans, but held by tyrants, III. ii. 38 + +Byzacium, a Moorish province in Libya, III. xix. 32; + a dry region, III. xv. 34; + the town Hermione there, III. xiv. 10; + Moors of, defeat the Vandals, III. ix. 3; + Moors, of, seek alliance with the Romans, III. xxv. 3; + the home of Boniface, the Libyan, IV. iv. 33; + Moors of, revolt, IV. viii. 9, x. 2, xii. 1, 2; + Roman force annihilated there, IV. x. 3 ff.; + Solomon marches thither to confront the Moors, IV. xi. 14; + Moors of, suffer a crushing defeat, IV. xii. 21-25; + abandoned by the Moors, IV. xii. 29; + except those under Antalas, IV. xii. 30; + plundered by the Leuathae, IV. xxi. 17; + Moors gather there once more, IV. xxiii. 1; + Himerius of Thrace commander there, IV. xxiii. 3, 14; + Moors march, thence against Carthage, IV. xxv. 2; + defeated by John, IV. xxviii. 46; + subsequent battles, IV. xxviii. 47 ff. + +Byzantium, distance from the mouth of the Danube, III. i. 10; + from Carthage, III. x. 14; + its chief priest Epiphanius, III. xii. 2; + natives of, as rowers in the Roman fleet, III. xi. 16 + + +Cabaon, a Moorish ruler, prepares to meet the Vandals, III. viii. 15-16; + sends spies to Carthage, III. viii. 17 ff.; + receives the report of his spies, III. viii. 24; + prepares for the conflict, III. viii. 25, 26, IV. xi. 17; + defeats the enemy, III. viii. 28 + +Caenopolis, name of Taenarum in Procopius' time, III. xiii. 8 + +Caesar, a title given to one next below the emperor in + station, III. vii. 21, 23 + +Caesarea, first city of "Second Mauretania," IV. xx. 31; + situated at its eastern extremity, IV. x. 29; + distance from Carthage, IV. v. 5; + recovered for the Romans by Belisarius, _ibid._, IV. xx. 32 + +Calonymus, of Alexandria, admiral of the Roman fleet, III. xi. 14; + ordered by Belisarius not to take the fleet into Carthage, + III. xvii. 16; + enters the harbour Mandracium with a few ships, and plunders + the houses along the sea, III. xx. 16; + bound by oath to return his plunder, III. xx. 23; + disregards his oath, but later dies of apoplexy in Byzantium, + III. xx. 24, 25 + +Capitolinus, see Jupiter. + +Cappadocia, Basiliscus exiled thither, III. vii. 24 + +Caputvada, a place on the African coast; distance from Carthage, + III. xiv. 17; + the Roman army lands there, _ibid._ + +Caranalis, town in Sardinia, captured by Tzazon, + III. xxiv. 1, xxv. 10, IV. xiii. 44 + +Carthage, city in Africa, founded by Dido, IV. x. 25; + grows to be the metropolis of Libya, IV. x. 26, 27; + captured by the Romans, IV. x. 28; + after the Vandal occupation, its wall preserved by Gizeric, III. v. 6; + the only city with walls in Libya, III. xv. 9; + its defences neglected by the Vandals, III. xxi. 11, 12; + entered by the Roman army under Belisarius, III. xx. 17, 21; + its fortifications restored by Belisarius, III. xxiii. 19, 20; + besieged by Gelimer, IV. i. 3; + by Stotzas, IV. xv. 8; + its surrender prevented by Belisarius, IV. xv. 9, 10; + the harbours, Stagnum, III. xv. 15, xx. 15, + and Mandracium, III. xx. 3, 14, IV. xxvi. 10; + the ship-yard Misuas, IV. xiv. 40; + its suburb Aclas, IV. vii. 13; + and Decimum, III. xvii. 11; + its aqueduct, IV. i. 2; + its hippodrome, IV. xiv. 31, xviii. 11; + its palace, III. xx, 21, IV. xiv. 34, xviii. 8, xxvi. 20; + the priest of the city, Reparatus, IV. xxvi. 24, 31; + monastery built and fortified there by Solomon, IV. xxvi. 17; + an ancient saying among the children there, III. xxi. 14-16; + church of St. Cyprian, and a special annual festival in his honour, + III. xxi. 17, 18; + distance from Aurasium, III, viii. 5, IV. xiii. 22; + from the Plain of Boulla, III. xxv. 1; + from Byzantium, III. x. 14; + from Caesarea, IV. v. 5; + from Caputvada, III. xiv. 17; + from Decimum, III. xvii. 17; + from Grasse, III. xvii. 8; + from Hippo Regius, IV. iv. 26; + from Iouce, III, xv. 8; + from Membresa, IV. xv. 12; + from Mercurium, III. vi. 10; + from Siccaveneria, IV. xxiv. 6; + from Stagnum, III. xv. 15, xx. 15; + from Tebesta, IV. xxi. 19; + from Tricamarum, IV. ii. 4 + +Casula (Latin), garment befitting one of humble station, IV. xxvi. 26 + +Caucana, place in Sicily, III. xiv. 4, 11, 14; + distance from Syracuse, III. xiv. 4 + +Centenarium, a sum of money, so called because it "weighs one + hundred pounds" (I. xxii. 4), III. vi. 2 + +Centuriae, place in Numidia, IV. xiii. 2 + +Chalcedon, city opposite Byzantium, III. i. 8, 9; + distance from the Phasis River, III. i. 11 + +Chiliarch, III. v. 18, IV. iii. 8 + +Chosroes, Persian king; Artabanes known to him, IV. xxvii. 17 + +Christ, His temple in Byzantium, III. vi. 26 + +Christians, persecuted by Honoric, III. viii. 3, 4, xxi. 19; + by Gundamundus, III. viii. 7; + courted by Trasamundus, III. viii. 9, 10; + not troubled by Ilderic, III. ix. 1; + Justinian reproached for not protecting them, III. x. 19; + the church of St. Cyprian taken from them by the Vandals, III. xxi. 19; + consoled in a dream sent by St. Cyprian, III. xxi. 21; + recover the church of St. Cyprian, III. xxi. 25; + in Jerusalem, receive the treasures of the temple, IV. ix. 9; + reverence their churches and their worship, III. viii. 17, 18, 20, 24; + their rite of baptism, III. xii. 2, IV. xxvi. 25, 28; + their feast of Easter, IV. xiv. 7; + if not of the orthodox faith, excluded from the church, IV. xiv. 14; + Christian scriptures, IV. xxi. 21, xxvi. 28; + Christian teaching, offended against by Basiliscus, III. vii. 22 + +Cilicians, as sailors in the African expedition, III. xi. 14 + +Clipea, city in Africa, IV. x. 24 + +Clypea, see Shield Mountain + +Colchis, at the end of the Black Sea, III. i. 11 + +Constantina, city in Africa; distance from Gazophyla, IV. xv. 52 + +Constantine the Great; division of the Roman empire dating + from his time, III. i. 3; + his enlargement of Byzantium and giving of his name to the city, _ibid._ + +Constantinus, chosen king by the soldiers in Britain, III. ii. 31; + his invasion of Spain and Gaul, _ibid._; defeated and killed + in battle, III. ii. 37 + +Constantius, husband of Placidia, partner in the royal power with Honorius; + his brief reign and death, III. iii. 4; + father of Valentinian, III. iii. 5 + +Corsica, called Cyrnus in ancient times, IV. v. 3; + Cyril sent thither with an army, _ibid._; + recovered for the Roman empire, IV. v. 4 + +Coutzinas, a Moorish ruler, joins in an attack upon a Roman force, + IV. x. 6; + agrees to turn against the other Moors, IV. xxv. 2, 15; + his further dealings with Areobindus, IV. xxv. 17, 18; + ignorant of Antalas' knowledge of his plot, IV. xxv. 20, 21; + separates from Antalas, and sides with Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 24; + marches with Artabanes against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 25, 27; + in alliance with John, IV. xxviii. 50 + +Cteanus, name applied to Theodorus, III. xi. 7 + +Cyanean Rocks, or "Dark Blue Rocks" at the mouth of the Bosphorus, + III. i. 8 + +Cyprian, commander of Roman auxiliaries, III. xi. 6; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + sent by Belisarius to bring Gelimer from Papua, IV. vii. 11 + +Cyprian, a saint, especially reverenced at Carthage, III. xxi. 17; + a church to him there and a festival celebrated in his honour, + III. xxi. 18, 23, 25; + sends a dream to devout Christians, III. xxi. 21 + +Cypriana, a periodic storm on the African coast, III. xx. 12 + +Cypriana, a festival celebrated at Carthage, in honour of Cyprian, + from which the storm was named, III. xxi. 18 + +Cyrene, city in Africa, marking the division between the eastern + and western empires, III. i. 16 + +Cyril, sent as commander of an army to Sardinia, III. xi. 1, 6; + avoids Sardinia and sails to Carthage, III. xxiv. 19; + sent to Sardinia and Corsica with an army, IV. v. 2, 3; + wins them back for the empire, IV. v. 4; + commander of auxiliaries in Numidia, IV. xv. 50; + his death, IV. xv. 59 + +Cyrnus, ancient name of Corsica, IV. v. 3 + +Cyrus, son of Bacchus and brother of Sergius; + becomes ruler of Pentapolis in Libya, IV. xxi. 1, 16; + brother of Solomon the younger, IV. xxi. 19; + marches with Solomon against the Moors, ibid. + + +Dalmatia, held by Marcellianus as tyrant, III. vi. 7 + +Danube River, called also the Ister, III. i. 10 + +Daras, city on the eastern frontier of the empire; + home of Solomon, III. xi. 9 + +December, IV. in. 28 + +Decimum, suburb of Carthage, III. xvii. 11, 17, xviii. 5, + xix. 1, 14, 23, 33, xx. 6, 7, 10, xxi. 23, 24, IV. xxv. 12; + the Vandals routed there, III. xviii. 7-11, xix. 31; + distance from Carthage, III. xvii. 17; + from Pedion Halon, III. xviii. 12 + +Delphi, tripods first made there, III. xxi. 3 + +Delphix, a word used by the Romans to designate a royal banquet room, + III. xxi. 2, 3; + in the palace of Gelimer, III. xxi. 5 + +Dido, her emigration from Phoenicia, IV. x. 25 + +Diogenes, guardsman of Belisarius; + his notable exploit on a scouting expedition, III. xxiii. 5-18 + +Dolones, the large sails on ships, III. xvii. 5 + +Domesticus, a title designating a kind of confidential adviser, + III. iv. 7, xi. 5 + +Domnicus, senator, accompanies Germanus to Libya, IV. xvi. 2; + at the battle of Scalae Veteres, IV. xvii. 4; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xix. 1 + +Dorotheus, general of Armenia; + commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 5; + his death; III. xiv. 14 + +Dromon, a swift ship of war, III. xi. 15, 16, xv. 36 + +Dryous, city on the east + coast of Italy, III. i. 9, 12 + +Dyrrachium, the name of Epidamnus in Procopius' time, III. i. 16, xi. 8 + + +Easter, a feast of the Christians, IV. xiv. 7; + Arians annoyed by exclusion from it, IV. xiv, 15 + +Ebusa, island in the western Mediterranean, + so-called by the natives, III. i. 18; + Apollinarius sent thither with an army, IV. v. 7 + +Egypt, formerly marked the limit of Phoenicia, IV. x. 15; + densely populated from ancient times, IV. x. 19; + the migration of the Hebrews from there, IV. x. 13; + the Phoenicians pass through it on their way to Libya, IV. x. 18 + +Egyptians, as sailors in the African expedition, III. xi. 14 + +Emesa, city in Syria; + home of Severianus, IV. xxiii. 6 + +Epidamnus (Dyrrachium), city on the Ionian Sea, III. i. 16; + home of John, III. xi. 8 + +Epiphanius, chief priest of Byzantium; + blesses the fleet, III. xii. 2 + +Eruli, Roman auxiliaries in the African expedition, III. xi. 11; + their untrustworthy character, IV. iv. 30; + of the Arian faith, IV. xiv. 12; + dissuade Stotzas from attacking Germanus, IV. xvii. 14, 15 + +Esdilasas, a Moorish ruler; + joins in an attack upon a Roman force, IV. x. 6 ff.; + surrenders himself to the Romans, IV. xii. 26; + brought to Carthage, IV. xii. 29 + +Euagees, brother of Hoamer; + imprisoned by Gelimer, III. ix. 9. 14; + killed in prison by Ammatas, III. xvii. 12 + +Eudocia, daughter of Eudoxia; + taken captive by Gizeric, III. v. 3; + married to Honoric, III. v. 6 + +Eudoxia, daughter of Theodosius and wife of Valentinian, III. iv. 15, 20; + mother of Eudocia and Placidia, III. v. 3; + forced to be the mistress of Maximus, III. iv. 86; + invites Gizeric to avenge her, III. iv. 37-39; + taken captive by Gizeric, III. v. 3; + sent to Byzantium, III. v. 6 + +Eulogius, Roman envoy to Godas, III. x. 32, 33; + returns with his reply, III. x. 34 + +Europe, the continent opposite Asia, III. i. 7, xxii. 15; + distance from Asia at different points, III. i. 7, 8; + distance along the European side of the Euxine, III. i. 10; + extent of the western empire in, III. i. 14; + invaded by Alaric, III. ii. 7; + all its wealth plundered by the Visigoths, III. ii. 13; + overrun by Attila, III. iv. 29 + +Eustratius, sent to Libya to assess the taxes, IV. viii. 25 + +Eutyches, heresy of, III. vii. 22 + +Euxine Sea, distance around it, III. i. 10, 11; + receives the waters of the Phasis, III. i. 11 + +Excubitori, a Latin name for "guard," IV. xii. 17 + + +Foederati, auxiliary troops, III. xi. 2, 3, 5, xix. 13, 14, + IV. iii. 4, vii. 11, xv. 50 + +Foedus (Latin) "treaty," III. xi. 4 + +Franks, name used for all the Germans in Procopius' time, III. iii. 1 + +Fuscias, sent as envoy to Spain by Gelimer, III. xxiv. 7 ff. + + +Gadira, the strait of Gibraltar at the western extremity of the + Mediterranean, III. i. 4, 5, xxiv. 8, IV. v. 5, 6; + width of the strait, III. i. 7; + distance from Tripolis, III. i. 14; + and from the Ionian Sea, III. i. 15; + marking the limit of Mauretania, IV. x. 29; + the Vandals cross there, III. iii. 26; + _see_ Heracles, Pillars of + +Galatia, lands there given to Gelimer, IV. ix. 13 + +Gaulus, island between + the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas, III. xiv. 16 + +Gaul, the Visigoths retire thither, III. ii. 13, 37; + invaded by Constantius, III. ii. 31 + +Gazophyla, place in Numidia, IV. xv. 62; + distance from Constantina, _ibid._; + Roman commanders take sanctuary there, IV. xv. 59 + +Geilaris, son of Genzon and father of Gelimer, III. ix. 6 + +Gelimer, king of the Vandals; + son of Geilaris, III. ix. 6; + brother of Tzazon, III. xi. 23, xxiv. 1; + and of Ammatas, III. xvii. 11; + uncle of Gibamundus, III. xviii. 1; + his character, III. ix. 7; + encroaches upon the authority of Ilderic, III. ix. 8; + secures the royal power, _ibid._; + allowed by the Goths to hold Lilybaeum, IV. v. 13; + imprisons Ilderic, Hoamer, and Euagees, III. ix. 9; + defies Justinian, and shews further cruelty to the imprisoned princes, + III. ix. 14; + replies to Justinian, III. ix. 20-23; + Justinian prepares an expedition against him, III. x. 1 ff.; + sends envoys to Spain, III. xxiv. 7; + his slave Godas becomes tyrant of Sardinia, III. x. 25-27; + sends an expedition to Sardinia, III. xi. 22, 23; + his ignorance of the approaching Roman expedition, III. xiv. 10; + entrusts his wealth to Boniface, IV. iv. 34; + confines Roman merchants in a dungeon in the palace, III. xx. 5, 6; + expected by Belisarius to make an attack, III. xvii. 4; + writes to his brother in Carthage, III. xvii. 11; + follows the Roman army, III. xvii. 14; + plans his attack upon the Roman army, III. xviii. 1; + comes upon the Romans with a large force of cavalry, III. xix. 18; + anticipates them in seizing a point of advantage, III. xix. 20-22; + by a great blunder loses the chance of defeating the Roman armies, + III. xix. 25-29; + attacked and routed by Belisarius, III. xix. 30, 31, xxi. 16; + flees to the Plain of Boulla, III. xix. 32; + Belisarius sits upon his throne, III. xx. 21; + his banquet-hall, servants, and even food, used by the Romans, + III. xxi. 1-6; + reason for his not staying in Carthage, III. xxi. 12; + encourages Libyan farmers to kill Roman soldiers, III. xxiii. 1-4; + eluded by a party of Roman scouts, III. xxiii. 6-16; + Tzazon writes to him from Sardinia, III. xxiv. 2-4; + collects the Vandals in the Plain of Boulla, III. xxv. 1; + sends a letter to Tzazon in Sardinia, III. xxv. 10-18; + leads the Vandals against Carthage, IV. i. 1; + cuts the aqueduct and tries to besiege the city, IV. i. 2, 3; + prepares the Vandals for battle at Tricamarum, and addresses the army, + IV. ii. 8-22; + at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 9; + flees from the Vandals' camp, IV. iii. 20; + pursued by John the Armenian, IV. iv. 9, 14; + and by Belisarius, IV. iv. 13, 26; + escapes his pursuers, and takes refuge on Mt. Papua, IV. iv. 26, 28; + Moors there friendly to him, IV. iv. 27; + Pharas set to guard him, IV. iv. 28, 31; + suffers great misery on Mt. Papua, IV. vi. 4, 14; + receives a letter from Pharas, IV. vi. 15-26; + replies with a letter, IV. vi. 27-30; + the meaning of his strange request, IV. vi. 31-33; + after enduring extreme suffering, is induced by a piteous + sight to surrender, IV. vii. 1-6; + writes a second time to Pharas, IV. vii. 6-9; + Cyprian comes to Papua to take him prisoner, IV. vii. 11; + surrenders himself, IV. vii. 12; + meets Belisarius at Aclas, IV. vii. 14; + his unexpected laughter, IV. vii. 14-16; + marvels at the restoration of the fortifications of Carthage by + Belisarius, III. xxiii. 20, 21; + his capture reported by Belisarius, IV. vii. 17; + reaches Byzantium with Belisarius, IV, ix. 1; + a slave in Belisarius' triumph, IV. ix. 10; + before Justinian in the hippodrome, IV. ix. 11, 12; + given lands in Galatia, but not made a patrician, IV. ix. 13, 14; + nephew of, IV. vii. 4 + +Geminianus, Rock of, on Mt Aurasium, IV. xx. 23 + +Genzon, son of Gizeric; + receives Libyan slaves, III. v. 11; + tries to save John, III. vi. 24; + father of Gundamundus and Trasamundus, III. viii. 6, 8; + and of Geilaris, III. ix. 6; + his death, III. viii. 1 + +Gergesites, ancient people of Phoenicia, IV. x. 17; + emigrate to Egypt and then to Libya, IV. x. 18, 19 + +Gepaides, one division of the Gothic peoples, III. ii. 2; + their location, III. ii. 6 + +Getic, a name sometime applied to the Gothic peoples, III. ii. 2 + +Gezon, a Roman infantryman, paymaster of his company, IV. xx. 12; + scales the fortress of Toumar and leads the army to its + capture, IV. xx. 13-16 + +Germania, the home of Belisarius, III. xi. 21 + +Germans, called Franks in Procopius' time, III. iii. 1; + according to one account killed Gontharis, III. iii. 33 + +Germanus, Roman general, nephew of Justinian; + sent to Libya, IV. xvi. 1; + makes a count of the loyal part of the army, IV. xvi. 3; + wins over many mutineers by persuasion, IV. xvi. 4-6; + prepares to meet Stotzas in battle, IV. xvi. 7; + arrays his army for battle, IV. xvi. 10; + addresses his troops, IV. xvi. 11-24; + follows the mutineers into Numidia, IV. xvii. 2; + overtaking the enemy at Scalae Veteres, prepares for battle, + IV. xvii. 3-6; + receives offers of desertion from the Moors with Stotzas, IV. xvii. 9; + not able to trust them, IV. xvii. 10; + Stotzas proposes to attack his division, IV. xvii. 13; + rallies the Romans, IV. xvii. 18; + routs the mutineers, IV. xvii. 19, 20; + his horse killed under him, IV. xvii. 23; + orders his men to distinguish their comrades by the countersign, + IV. xvii. 22; + captures and plunders the enemy's camp, IV. xvii. 24-29; + tries to restore order in the army, IV. xvii. 30; + defeats Stotzas in a second battle, IV. xvii. 34; + learns the plot of Maximinus from Asclepiades; IV. xviii. 4; + invites Max. to join his body-guards, IV. xviii. 5, 6; + frustrates the attempt of Maximinus, IV. xviii. 8-15; + examines Max. and impales him, IV. xviii. 17, 18; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xix. 1; + false report of his coming to Carthage, IV. xxiii. 23, 25 + +Gibamundus, nephew of Gelimer, III. xviii. 1; + sent to attack the Roman army on the left, _ibid._; + his force destroyed at Pedion Halon, III. xviii. 12, 19, xix. 18, 19, + xxv. 15 + +Gizeric, king of the Vandals; + son of Godigisclus and brother of Gontharis, III. iii. 23; + father of Honoric, Genzon, and Theodorus, III. v. 6, 11, vi. 24; + becomes ruler of the Vandals with his brother, III. iii. 23; + according to one account destroyed his brother Gontharis, III. iii. 33; + his great ability, III. iii. 24; + invited by Boniface to share Libya, III. iii. 25; + leads the Vandals into Libya, III. iii. 33; + besieges Hippo Regius, III. iii. 32, 34; + discovers Marcian among Roman captives, III. iv. 3-8; + spares his life and makes him swear friendship to + the Vandals, III. iv. 9, 10; + secures possession of Libya, III. xxi. 16, xxii. 4; + secures his power by making a compact with Valentinian and + giving his son as a hostage, III. iv. 12-14, xvi. 13; + receives his son back, III. iv. 14; + receives ambassadors from the Vandals who had not emigrated, + III. xxii. 7; + at first hears them with favour, but later refuses their petition, + III. xxii. 9-11; + makes an attempt on Taenarum, III. xxii. 16; + attacks Zacynthus and brutally massacres many of the inhabitants, + III. xxii. 17, 18; + invited by Eudoxia to punish Maximus, III. iv. 38, 39; + despoils the city of Rome, III. v. 1 ff. IV. ix. 5, 8; + takes captive Eudoxia and her daughters, III. v. 3; + removes the walls of Libyan cities, III. v. 8, xv. 9; + wins ridicule thereby in later times, III. v. 9; + destroyed all the tax records of Libya, IV. viii. 25; + enslaves notable Libyans and takes property from others, III. v. 11, 12; + exempts confiscated lands from taxation, III. v. 14; + with the Moors, makes many inroads into Roman provinces III. v. 22-25; + Aspar urges Basiliscus to spare him, III. vi. 4; + desires the appointment of Olyvrius as emperor of the West, III. vi. 6; + his fear of Leon, III. vi. 11; + persuades Basiliscus to delay, III. vi. 12-16; + destroys the Roman fleet, III. vi. 17-21; + receives Majorinus disguised as an envoy, III. vii. 6, 7, 9, 10; + prepares to meet the army of Majorinus, III. vii. 12; + forms a compact with Zenon, III. vii. 26, ix. 23; + his death and his will, III. vii. 29, 30. ix. 10, xvi. 13; + the "law of Gizeric," III. ix. 12 + +Glycerius, emperor of the West, dies after a very short reign, III. vii. 15 + +Godas, a Goth, slave of Gelimer; + sets up a tyranny in Sardinia, III. x. 25-27. xi. 22, xxv. 11; + invites Justinian to support him, III. x. 28-31; + receives the envoy Eulogius, III. x. 33; + sends him back with a letter, III. x. 34; + the Vandals send an expedition against him, III. xi. 23, xiv. 9; + killed by Tzazon, xi, xxiv. 1, 3, IV. ii. 27 + +Godigisclus, leader of the Vandals in their migration, + III. iii. 2, xxii. 3, 5; + settles in Spain by agreement with Honorius, III. iii. 2; + dies in Spain, III. ii. 23; + father of Gontharis and Gizeric, III. ii. 23 + +Gontharis, son of Godigisclus and brother of Gizeric; + becomes ruler of the Vandals with his brother, III. ii. 23; + his mild character, III. ii. 21; + invited by Boniface to share Libya, III. ii. 25; + his death, III. iii. 32, 33. + +Gontharis, body-guard of Solomon; + sent forward against the Moors, IV. xix. 6; + camps near the Abigas River, IV. xix. 7; + defeated by the Moors and besieged in his camp, IV. xix. 8; + receives support from Solomon, IV. xix. 9; + attempts to set up a tyranny, IV. xxv. 1 ff.; + summoned to Carthage and sent against the Moors, IV. xxv. 4, 5; + makes an agreement with Antalas to betray the Romans, IV. xxv. 6-10; + recalls Roman skirmishers, IV. xxv. 14; + hears of the treasonable plan of Coutzinas, IV. xxv. 16; + persuades Areobindus to postpone the engagement, IV. xxv. 17, 18; + reveals the plot to Antalas, IV. xxv. 19; + plans to kill Areobindus, IV. xxv. 22; + persuades him to join battle with the Moors, IV. xxv. 23 ff.; + openly sets about establishing his tyranny, IV. xxv. 28 ff.; + summons Athanasius, IV. xxvi. 21; + and Areobindus, IV. xxvi. 23; + his reception of Areobindus, IV. xxvi. 27-32; + has him assassinated, IV. xxvi. 32, 33; + offends Antalas by sending him the head of Areobindus, IV. xxvii. 1, 2; + receives the mutineers under John, IV. xxvii. 7, 8; + removes the wife and sister of Areobindus from the fortress, + IV. xxvii. 20; + compels Prejecta to write a false report in a letter to Justinian + for his own advantage, IV. xxvii. 20-22; + sends Artabanes against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 23; + Coutzinas sides with him, IV. xxvii. 21; + Artabanes determines to kill him, IV. xxvii. 34; + prepares a larger army against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 36; + destroys many in the city, IV. xxvii. 37, 38; + entertains Artabanes and others at a banquet, IV. xxviii. 1 ff.; + his murder planned by Artabanes, IV. xxviii. 6 ff; + his death, IV. xxviii. 27-30 + +Gospels, the sacred writings of the Christians; + oaths taken upon them, IV. xxi. 21. + +Gothaeus, sent as envoy to Spain by Gelimer, III. xxiv. 7 ff. + +Goths, general description of the Gothic peoples, III. ii. 2 ff.; + their migrations, III. ii. 6 ff.; + their common religion and language, III. ii. 5; + enter Pannonia and then settle in Thrace for a time, III. ii. 39; + subdue the western empire, III. ii. 40; + in Italy, Belisarius sent against them, IV. xiv. 1; + furnish the Roman fleet a market in Sicily, III. xiv. 5; + refuse to give up Lilybaeum, IV. v. 11; + receive a letter of remonstrance from Belisarius, IV. v. 12-17; + their reply, IV. v. 18-24 + +Grasse, a place in Libya, III. xvii. 8, 14, 17; + its pleasant park, III. xvii. 9, 10; + distance from Carthage, III. xvii. 8 + +Greece, plundered by Gizeric, III. v. 23 + +Greeks, contemptuous term for the subjects of the emperor, + IV. xxvii. 38 + +Gregorius, nephew of Artabanes; + with him plans the murder of Gontharis, IV. xxviii. 7-9; + urges Artabanes to carry out the plot, IV. xxvii. 10-19; + takes his stand in the banquet-hall, IV. xxviii. 14; + restrains Artasires, IV. xxviii. 16 + +Gundamundus, son of Gezon; + becomes king of the Vandals, III. viii. 6; + his reign and death, III. viii. 7; + brother of Trasamundus, III. viii. 8 + + +Hadrumetum, city in Libya, III. xvii. 8, IV. xxvii. 26, 31, 33; + taken by the Moors, IV. xxiii. 11-15; + recovered by Paulus, a priest, IV. xxiii. 18-25, 29; + guarded for the emperor, IV. xxvii. 6 + +Harmatus, Roman General; + marches against Zenon, III. vii. 20; + surrenders to him, III. vii. 21; + killed by Zenon, III. vii. 23 + +Hebrews, their migration from Egypt to Palestine, IV. x. 13; + history of the, IV. x. 17 + +Hebrew Scripture, quoted by Gelimer, IV. ix. 11 + +Hellespont, strait between Sestus and Abydus, III. i. 7 + +Heracleia, the name of Perinthus in Procopius' time, III. xii. 6 + +Heracles, wrestled with Antaeus in Clipea, IV. x. 24 + +Heracles, Pillars of, Gibraltar, III. i. 5, 9, + 15, 18. vii. 11, IV. x. 20 + +Heraclius, defeats the Vandals in Tripolis, III. vi. 9; + returns to Byzantium, III. vi. 25 + +Hermes, called Mercury by the Romans, III. vi. 10; + town of Hermes or Mercurium, on the coast of Libya, + III. vi. 10, xvii. 15, xx. 10 + +Hermione, town in Byzacium; + distance from the coast, III. xiv. 10, xvii. 4, 11 + +Hieron, near the mouth of the Bosphorus, III. i. 8 + +Himerius of Thrace, commander in Byzacium; fails to unite with John, + and falls into the hands of the Moors, IV. xxiii. 3-5; + guarded by the Moors, IV. xxiii. 10; + puts Hadrumetum into their hands, IV. xxiii. 10-15; + escapes to Carthage, IV. xxiii. 17 + +Hippo Regius, a strong city of Numidia, III. iii. 31, IV. iv. 32; + besieged by the Vandals, III. iii. 32, 34; + distance from Carthage, IV. iv. 26; + Boniface the Libyan captured there, IV. iv. 34, 36, 39 + +Hoamer, nephew of Ilderic; + acts as his general, III. ix. 2; + imprisoned by Gelimer, III. ix. 9; + blinded by Gelimer, III. ix. 14, 17; + his death, III. xvii. 12 + +Honoric, son of Gizeric; + given as a hostage to Valentinian, III. iv. 13; + returned, III, iv. 14; + marries Eudocia, III. v. 6; + receives Libyan slaves, III. v. 11; + succeeds to the throne of the Vandals, III. viii. 1, xxi. 19; + makes war on the Moors, III. viii. 1, 2; + persecutes the Christians, III. viii. 3, 4; + his death, III. viii. 5; + father of Ilderic, III. ix. 1; + in his reign the church of St. Cyprian taken by the Arians, III. xxi. 19 + +Honorius, younger son of Theodosius; + receives the western empire, III. i. 2, ii. 1; + brother of Arcadius and Placidia, III. iii. 4; + the western empire overrun by barbarians during his reign, III. ii. 1; + retires from Rome to Ravenna, III. ii. 8, 9; + accused of bringing in the Visigoths, III. ii. 10; + his stupid remark upon hearing of the fall of Rome, III. ii. 25, 26; + displaced from the throne of the western empire by Attalus, III. ii. 28; + prepares for flight either to Libya or to Byzantium, III. ii. 32; + his good fortune in extreme peril, III. ii. 34-37; + allows the Vandals to settle in Spain, III. iii. 2; + provides that they shall not acquire possession of the land, III. iii. 3; + shares royal power with Constantius, III. iii. 4; + his death, III. iii. 4 + +Huns, see Massagetae. + + +Iaudas, ruler of the Moors in Aurasium, IV. xii. 29, xxv. 2; + the best warrior among the Moors, IV. xiii. 13; + plunders Numidia, IV. xiii. 1; + his combat with Althias at Tigisis, IV. xiii. 10-16; + Solomon marches against him, IV. xiii. 18; + accused before Solomon by other Moorish rulers, IV. xiii. 19; + slays his father-in-law Mephanius, _ibid._; + establishes himself on Mt, Aurasium, IV. xiii. 21; + with the mutineers of Stotzas, IV. xvii. 8; + Solomon marches against him, IV. xix. 5; + remains on Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 19; + goes up to the top of Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 21; + escapes wounded from Toumar, IV. xx. 21; + deposited his treasures in a tower at the Rock of Geminianus, IV. xx. 24 + +Ilderic, son of Honoric, + becomes king of the Vandals, III. ix. 1; + an unwarlike ruler, _ibid._; + uncle of Hoamer, III. ix. 2; + suspected plot of the Goths against him, III. ix. 4; + on terms of special friendship with Justinian, III. ix. 5; + makes large gifts to Apollinarius, IV. v. 8; + allows Gelimer to encroach upon his authority, III. ix. 8; + dethroned and imprisoned, III. ix. 8, 9, 14, 17; + killed in prison by Ammatas, III. xvii. 11, 12; + his sons and other offspring receive rewards from Justinian + and Theodora, IV. ix. 13 + +Ildiger, son-in-law of Antonina, IV. viii. 24; + sent to Libya with an army, _ibid._; + made joint commander of Carthage with Theodoras, IV. xv. 49; + at the battle of Scalae Veteres, IV. xvii. 6, 19 + +Illyricum, III. xi. 17, 21; + plundered by Gizeric, III. v. 23 + +Ionian Sea, III. i. 9, 12, 15, ii. 9, 11 + +Ionians, as sailors in the African expedition, III. xi. 14 + +Iouce, distance from Carthage, III. xv. 8 + +Iourpouthes, a Moorish ruler, joins in an attack upon a Roman force, + IV. x. 6 ff. + +Ister, called also the Danube, III. i. 10, ii. 6; + crossed by the Goths, III. ii. 39 + +Italy the brutal destruction of its cities and people by the Visigoths, + III. ii. 11, 12; + invaded by Gizeric, III. v. 1 ff., 22, 23 + + +Jebusites, ancient people of Phoenicia, IV. x. 17; + emigrate to Egypt and then to Libya, IV. x. 18, 19 + +Jerusalem, captured by Titus, IV. ix. 5; + Christians there receive back the treasures of the temple, IV. ix. 9 + +Jews, their treasures brought to Byzantium by Belisarius, IV. ix. 5; + sent back to Jerusalem by Justinian, IV. ix. 9; + one of them warns the Romans not to keep the treasures of the + temple in Jerusalem, IV. ix. 6-8 + +John the Armenian; + financial manager of Belisarius, III. xvii. 1, 2; + commanded to precede the Roman army, III. xvii, 2, xviii. 3; + engages with Ammatas at Decimum and defeats his force, III. xviii. 5, 6; + pursues the fugitives to Carthage, III. xviii. 10, xix. 30; + rejoins Belisarius, III. xix. 33; + entrusted with the command of a skirmishing force, IV. ii. 1; + in the centre at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 5; + begins the fighting, IV. iii. 10, 12, 13; + pursues Gelimer, IV, iv. 9, 14; + killed accidentally by Uliaris, IV. iv. 18, 19; + his character, IV, iv. 20; + cared for and buried by his soldiers, IV. iv. 22; + mourned by Belisarius, IV. iv. 24 + +John, father of Artabanes and John, of the Arsacidae, IV. xxiv. 2 + +John, commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 6; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. in. 4; + sent with an army to Caesarea, IV. v. 5 + +John, a general under Basiliscus; + his excellent fighting against the Vandals, III. vi. 22-24 + +John the Cappadocian, urges Justinian not to make war on the Vandals, + III. x. 7-17; + praetorian perfect; + supplies the army with bad bread, III. xiii. 12 ff. + +John, guardsman of Belisarius; + sent to the Pillars of Heracles with an army, IV. v. 6 + +John, a Roman soldier, chosen emperor, III. iii. 5; + his virtues as a ruler, III. iii. 6, 7; + reduced from power by Theodosius, III. iii. 8; + captured, brutally abused, and killed by Valentinian, III. iii. 9 + +John of Epidamnus, + commander-in-chief of infantry, III. xi. 8, IV. xvi. 2 + +John, son of John, of the Arsacidae; + sent to Libya in command of Armenians, IV. xxiv. 2; + brother of Artabanes, IV. xxiv. 15; + his death, _ibid._ + +John the mutineer, succeeds Stotzas as general of the mutineers, + IV. xxv. 3; + leads the mutineers to join Gontharis, IV. xxvii. 7; + marches with Artabanes against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 25; + does not take part in the battle, IV, xxvii. 27; + entertained by Pamphilus at a banquet, IV. xxviii. 5; + taken from sanctuary, and sent to Byzantium, IV. xxviii. 39, 40 + +John, brother of Pappus; + at the battle of Scalae Veteres, IV. xvii. 6, 16; + made general of Libya, IV. xxviii. 45; + his varying fortunes in fighting with the Moors, IV. xxviii. 46-51 + +John, son of Sisiniolus; + sent as commander to Libya, IV. xix. 1; + especially hostile to Sergius, IV. xxii. 3, 4; + marches against the Moors, IV. xxiii. 2; + fails to meet Himerius, IV. xxiii. 3-5; + quarrels with Sergius, IV. xxiii. 32; + sent against Antalas and Stotzas, IV. xxiv. C; + meets the enemy at a great disadvantage, IV. xxiv. 8; + his enmity against Stotzas, IV, xxiv. 9; + gives him a mortal wound in the battle, IV. xxiv. 11; + his army routed by the Moors, IV. xxiv. 12; + his death, IV. xxiv. 13. 14; + Justinian's sorrow at his death, IV. xxiv. 16 + +Joseph, an imperial scribe, sent as envoy to Stotzas, IV. xv. 7; + killed by Stotzas, IV. xv. 8 + +Joshua ("Jesus"), son of ("Naues"), brings the Hebrews into Palestine, + IV. x. 13; + subjugates the country, IV. x. 14; + mentioned in a Phoenician inscription, IV. x. 22 + +Juppiter Capitolinus, temple of, in Rome, despoiled by Gizeric, III. v. 4 + +Justinian, succeeds his uncle Justinus as emperor, III. vii. 27; + on terms of especial friendship with Ilderic, III. ix. 5; + sends warning to Gelimer, III. ix. 10-13; + sends a second warning to Gelimer, III. ix. 15-19; + approached by Apollinarius and other Libyans seeking help for Ilderic, + IV. v. 8; + prepares to make war upon Gelimer, III. ix. 24, 25; + summons Belisarius from the East to command the African expedition, + III. ix. 25; + makes preparations for the expedition, III. x. 1 ff.; + discouraged by John the Cappadocian, III. x. 7 ff.; + urged by a priest to prosecute the war, III. x. 18-20; + continues preparations III. x. 21; + invited by Godas to support him in Sardinia, III. x. 28-31; + sends an envoy to him, III. x. 32; + and later an army, III. xi. 1; + sends Valerianus and Martinus in advance of the African expedition, + III. xi. 24; + despatches the expedition, III. xii. 1 ff.; + makes an agreement with Amalasountha for a market, III. xiv. 5; + their mutual friendship, III. xiv. 6; + his letter to the Vandals, III. xvi. 12-14; + never properly delivered, III. xvi. 15; + the Goths appeal to him as arbiter, IV. v. 24; + receives report of Belisarius regarding the dispute with the Goths, + IV. v. 25; + hears slander against Belisarius, IV. viii. 2; + sends Solomon to test him, IV. viii. 4; + sends the Jewish treasures back to Jerusalem, IV. ix. 9; + receives the homage of Gelimer and of Belisarius, IV. ix. 12; + distributes rewards to Gelimer and others, IV. ix. 13; + sends Belisarius against the Goths in Italy, IV. xiv. 1; + sends Germanus to Libya, IV. xvi. 1; + entrusts Solomon again with the command of Libya, IV. xix. 1; + receives a letter from Antalas, IV. xxii. 6-10; + refuses to recall Sergius, IV. xxii. 11; + sends Areobindus to Libya IV. xxiv. 1; + recalls Sergius and sends him to Italy, IV. xxiv. 16; + appoints Artabanes general of all Libya, IV. xxviii. 43; + summons him to Byzantium, IV. xxviii. 44; + uncle of Germanus, IV. xvi. 1; + and of Vigilantia, IV. xxiv. 3; + the Vandals of, IV. xiv. 17; + excluded all not of the orthodox faith from the church, IV. xiv. 14; + years of reign noted, III. xii. 1, IV. xiv. 6, xix. 1, xxi. 1, xxviii. 41 + +Justinus, Roman emperor, uncle of Justinian, III. vii. 27; + not a vigorous or skilful ruler, III. ix. 5; + Ilderic accused of betraying the Vandals to him, III. ix. 8 + + +Laribus or Laribous, city in Libya, IV. xxii. 14, xxviii. 48; + attacked by the Moors, IV. xxii. 18-20 + +Latin tongue, the, III. i. 6, IV. xiii. 33 + +Laurus, a Carthaginian; + impaled by Belisarius, IV. i. 8 + +Leon, emperor of the East, III. v. 7; + sends an expedition against the Vandals, III. vi. 1 ff., xx. 2; + quarrels with Aspar, III. vi. 3; + appoints Anthemius emperor of the West, III. vi. 5; + wins over the tyrant Marcellianus and sends him against the + Vandals in Sardinia, III. vi. 8; + dreaded by Gizeric, III. vi. 11; + his expedition destroyed by the Vandals, III. vi. 17 ff.; + destroys Aspar and Ardaburius, III. vi. 27; + his death, III. vii. 2; + husband of Berine, III. vi. 2; + father of Ariadne, III. vii. 2 + +Leon the younger, son of Zenon and Ariadne, III. vii. 2; + becomes emperor while an infant, III. vii. 2; + dies soon afterwards, III. vii. 3 + +Leontius, son of Zaunus, sent as commander to Libya, IV. xix. 1; + fights valorously at the capture of Toumar, IV. xx. 19; + brother of Rufinus, _ibid._ + +Leptes, city in Libya, III. xvii. 8 + +Leptimagna, city in Tripolis; + threatened by an army of Leuathae, IV. xxi. 2, 13, 15 + +Lesbos, passed by the fugitive Vandals, IV. xiv. 18 + +Leuathae, tribe of Moors; + present demands to Sergius, IV. xxi. 2; + their representatives received by Sergius and killed, IV. xxi. 4-10; + come in arms against Leptimagna, IV. xxi. 12; + routed by the Romans, IV. xxi. 14; + march against the Romans a second time, IV. xxi. 16; + scorn the overtures of Solomon, IV. xxi. 20-22; + capture Solomon, son of Bacchus, IV. xxii. 13; + release him, IV. xxii. 16; + besiege Laribus, IV. xxii. 18; + depart to their homes IV. xxii. 20; + join the Moors of Byzacium against the Romans, IV. xxviii. 47 + +Libya, included in "Asia," III. i. 5; + its aborigines, IV. x. 23; + the Phoenicians emigrate thither, IV. x. 19; + Phoenician tongue used there, IV. x. 20; + subjugated by the Romans, IV. x. 28; + failure of the Visigothic king Attalus to get a foothold there, + III. ii. 30, 32, 36; + lost by Valentinian, III. iii. 12; + occupied by the Vandals, III. iii. 26, xxii. 4; + who remove the walls of the cities, III. v. 8, xv. 9; + recovered for the Romans by Belisarius, III. xvi. 9 ff.; + prospers under the rule of Solomon, IV. xix. 3, xx. 33; + who restores the walls of the cities, IV. xix. 3, xx. 29; + overrun by the Moors, IV. xxiii. 26-31, xxviii. 49 + +Libyans, enslaved and impoverished by Gizeric, III. v. 11-13, 15-17; + cannot trust the Vandals, III. xvi. 3; + their sufferings at the hands of the Vandals, III. xx. 19; + oppressed by the Moors, IV. viii. 20, xxiii. 27; + enjoy peace at last, IV. xxviii. 52 + +Liguria, the army of Majorinus halts there, III. vii. 4, 11 + +Lilybaeum, a promontory of Sicily; + presented to Amalafrida, III. viii. 13; + Belisarius attempts unsuccessfully to take it, IV. v. 11; + he asserts his claim, IV. v. 12 ff.; + the claim denied by the Goths, IV. v. 19 ff. + + +Massagetae, called Huns in Procopius' time, III. xi. 9; + their love of wine, III. xii. 8; + their custom of allowing only members of a certain family to begin + a battle, III. xviii. 14; + in the army of Aetius, III. iv. 24; + in the African expedition of Belisarius, III. xi. 11, xii. 8-10, + xvii. 3, xviii. 3, 12, 17, xix. 18, 33, IV. xiii. 2; + their doubtful allegiance, IV. i. 5, 6, 9-11, ii. 3, iii. 7, 16; + with the mutineers under John, IV. xxvii. 8 + +Maeotic Lake, at the eastern extremity of the "Mediterranean," III. i. 4; + limit of the Euxine, III. i. 10; + home of the Vandals, III. iii. 1 + +Majorica, island in the western Mediterranean, III. i. 18; + Apollinarius sent thither with an army, IV. v. 7 + +Majorinus, emperor of the West; + makes an expedition against the Vandals, III. vii. 4-13; + disguised as an envoy and received by Gizeric, III. vii. 8-10; + his death, III. vii. 14 + +Malea, southern promontory of the Peloponnesus, III. xiii. 5 + +Mammes, a place in Byzacium; + Solomon encamps there, IV. xi. 15; + battle fought there, IV. xi. 47-54 + +Mandracium, the harbour of Carthage, III. xx. 14, 15, + IV. viii. 7, xxvi. 10; + opened to the Roman fleet, III. xx. 3; + entered by Calonymus with a few ships, III. xx. 16 + +Marcellianus, rules as independent tyrant over Dalmatia, III. vi. 7; + won over by Leon and sent to Sardinia against the Vandals, III. vi. 8; + destroyed by treachery, III. vi. 25 + +Marcellus, commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 6; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + commander-in-chief of Roman forces in Numidia, IV. xv. 50, 51; + leads his army against Stotzas, IV. xv. 52; + his death, IV. xv. 59 + +Marcentius, commander in Byzacium; + persuaded by Antalas to join him, IV. xxvii. 5, 6, 31 + +Marcian, confidential adviser of Aspar, III. iv. 7; + taken prisoner by Gizeric, III. iv. 2; + his career foreshadowed by a sign, III. iv. 4-8; + spared by Gizeric, III. iv. 9, 10; + becomes emperor of the East, III. iv. 10, 39; + his successful reign, III. iv. 11; + his death, III. v. 7 + +Marcian, commander of infantry, III. xi. 7 + +Martinus, commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 6, 29; + sent with Valerian in advance of the African expedition, III. xi. 24; + meets the Roman fleet at Methone, III. xiii. 9; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + escapes with Solomon from the mutiny in Carthage IV. xiv. 37-40; + sent back to Numidia, IV. xiv. 40; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xix. 2 + +Massonas, son of Mephanias; + a Moorish ruler, accuses Iaudas to Solomon, IV. xiii. 19 + +Mastigas, Moorish ruler, IV. xx. 31 + +Mastinas, ruler of Moors in Mauretania, IV. xiii. 19 + +Mauritania, occupied by the Moors, IV. x. 29; + Moors of, seek alliance with the Romans, III. xxv. 3; + ruled by Mastinas IV. xiii. 19; + fugitive Vandals return thither, IV. xiv. 19; + Iaudas retires thither, IV. xx. 21; + "First Mauritania," called Zabe, subjugated by Solomon, IV. xx. 30; + Stotzas comes thence to joiZabetalas, IV. xxii. 5; + adjoins Numidia, III. xxv. 21; + city of Caesarea there, IV. v. 5 + +Maximinus, body-guard of Theodorus the Cappadocian; + tries to set up a tyranny, IV. xviii. 1-3; + upon invitation of Germanus, becomes a body-guard of + his, IV. xviii. 6, 7; + his attempt frustrated by Germanus, IV. xviii. 8-15; + examined by Germanus and impaled, IV. xviii. 17, 18 + +Maximus the elder, his tyranny, III. iv. 16; + the festival celebrating his defeat, _ibid._ + +Maximus, a Roman senator, III. iv. 16; + his wife outraged by Valentinian, III. iv. 17-22; + plans to murder Valentinian, III. iv. 24; + slanders and destroys Aetius, III. iv. 25-27; + kills Valentinian, and makes himself tyrant, III. iv. 36; + stoned to death, III. v. 2 + +Medeos, city at the foot of Mt. Papua in Numidia, IV. iv. 27 + +Medic garments, _i.e._ silk; + called "seric" in Procopius' time, as coming from the Chinese (Seres); + worn by the Vandals, IV. vi. 7 + +Medissinissas, a Moorish ruler; + joins in an attack upon a Roman force, IV. x. 6 ff.; + slays Rufinus, IV. x. 11 + +Megara, its distance from Athens the measure of a one day's journey, + III. i. 17 + +Melanchlaenae, an old name for the Goths, III. ii. 2 + +Melita, island between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas (Malta), + III. xiv. 16 + +Membresa, city in Libya, IV. xv. 12; + distance from Carthage, _ibid._ + +Menephesse, place in Byzacium, IV. xxiii. 3 + +Mephanias, a Moor, father of Massonas, and father-in-law of Iaudas, + IV. xiii. 10; + treacherously slain by Iaudas, _ibid._ + +Mercurium, a town near Carthage, III. vi. 10, xvii. 15, xx. 10 + +Mercurius, the Latin name for Hermes, III. vi. 10 + +Methone, a town in the Peloponnesus, III. xiii. 9; + the Roman fleet stops there, III. xiii. 9-21 + +Minorica, island in the western Mediterranean, III. i. 18; + Apollinarius sent thither with an army, IV. v. 7 + +Misuas, the ship-yard of Carthage, IV. xiv. 40 + +Monks, their monastery in Carthage, IV. xxvi. 17 + +Moors, a black race of Africa, IV. xiii. 29; + an account of their origin in Palestine, and migration westward, + IV. x. 13 ff.; + driven away from Carthage, IV. x. 27, 28; + possess themselves of much of Libya, IV. x. 29; + take Mt. Aurasium from the Vandals, IV. xiii. 26, 27; + those beyond Mt. Aurasium ruled by Ortaïas, IV. xiii. 28; + on Aurasium, ruled by Iaudas, IV. xii. 29, xiii. 1; + of Mauritania, ruled by Mastinas, IV. xiii. 19; + inhabit Mt. Papua, IV. iv. 27, vi. 19, 20; + not merged with the Vandals, III. v. 21; + their alliance secured by Gizeric, III. v. 22; + make war on the Vandals, III. viii. 1, 2; + dwelling on Mt. Aurasium, establish their independence from the Vandals, + III. viii. 5; + their wars with Gundamundus, III. viii. 7; + inflict a great disaster upon the Vandals, III. viii. 15-28; + of Byzacium, defeat the Vandals, III. ix. 3; + most of them seek alliance with the Romans, III. xxv. 2-4, + IV. viii. 11 ff.; + their doubtful fidelity, III. xxv. 9; + stationed in the rear of the Vandals at the battle of Tricamarum, + IV. iii. 8; + threaten the Roman power in Tripolis, IV. v. 10; + on Mt. Papua, drive back Pharas and his men, IV. vi. 1-3; + of Byzacium and Numidia, rise and overrun the + country, IV. viii. 20-23, x. 1, 2; + caught by Aïgan and Rufinus in an ambush, IV. x. 5; + in turn annihilate the Roman force, IV. x. 6 ff.; + receive a warning letter from Solomon, IV. xi. 1-8; + their reply, IV. xi. 9-13; + Solomon marches against them, IV. xi. 14; + prepare for battle at Mammes, IV. xi. 17, 18, 37-46; + defeated by the Romans, IV. xi. 47-54; + rise against the Romans a second time, IV. xii. 1; + establish themselves on Mt. Bourgaon, IV. xii. 3-9; + suffer a crushing defeat, IV. xii. 17 ff.; + finally understand their ancient prophecy, IV. xii. 28; + emigrate from Byzacium to Numidia, IV. xii, 29; + those under Antalas remain in Byzacium, IV. xii. 30; + of Aurasium, take up arms under Iaudas, IV. xiii. 1 ff.; + checked by Althias at the spring of Tigisis, IV. xiii. 8, 9; + in the army of Solomon, IV. xiii. 20; + elude Solomon on Mt. Aurasium, IV. xiii. 35, 36; + Solomon prepares another expedition against them, IV. xiii. 40; + with the mutineers of Stotzas, IV. xvii. 8; + their uncertain allegiance, IV. xvii. 9-12; + join in the pursuit of the mutineers, IV. xvii. 31; + on Aurasium; Solomon marches against them, IV. xix. 5; + defeat Gontharis, IV. xix. 8; + flood the Roman camp, IV. xix. 14; + retire to Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 16; + defeated by Solomon, retire to the heights of Aurasium, IV. xix. 17, 18; + abandon the fortress of Zerboule to the Romans, IV. xix. 23-32; + overwhelmingly defeated at Toumar, IV, xx. 1 ff.; + defeat the Romans under Solomon, IV. xxi. 25-28; + gather under Antalas, IV. xxii. 5; + tricked by Solomon the younger, IV. xxii. 12-17; + attack Laribus, IV. xxii. 18-20; + gathered a second time by Antalas, IV. xxiii. 1; + capture Himerius and take Hadrumetum, IV. xxiii. 10-15; + lose Hadrumetum, IV. xxiii. 25; + pillage all Libya unhindered, IV. xxiii. 26-32; + defeat the Roman army at Siccaveneria, IV. xxiv. 8-12; + at the invitation of Gontharis, march against Carthage, IV. xxv. 1, 2; + of Coutzinas, in the army of Artabanes, IV. xxvii. 25; + of Byzacium, defeated by John, IV. xxviii. 46; + with the Leuathae defeat John, IV. xxviii. 47, 48; + routed in a third battle, IV. xxviii. 50, 51; + of Coutzinas, in alliance with John, IV. xxviii. 50; + in Sardinia, Solomon prepares an expedition against them, + IV. xiii. 41, 45; + sent thither by the Vandals, IV. xiii. 43; + overrun the island, IV. xiii. 42, 44; + called Barbaricini, IV. xiii. 44; + their polygamy, IV. xi. 13; + untrustworthy by nature, IV. xiii. 37, xvii. 10, + even among themselves, IV. xxv. 16; + suspicious toward all, IV. xxvi. 2; + their hardiness as a nation, IV. vi. 5, 10-13; + their reckless character, IV. viii. 10; + their female oracles, IV. viii. 13; + their method of cooking bread, IV. vii. 3; + accustomed to take some women with their armies, IV. xi. 18, 19; + undesirable allies, IV. xiii. 40; + not practised in storming walls, IV. xxii. 20; + not diligent in guarding captives, IV. xxiii. 17; + the symbols of kingship among them received from the Roman + emperor, III. xxv. 5-7; + Moorish old man, guardian of Iaudas' treasures, IV. xx. 24; + slain by a Roman soldier, IV. xx. 27; + Moorish woman, IV. vii. 3 + +Moses, leader of the Hebrews, his death, IV. x. 13 + + +Nepos, emperor of the West, dies after a reign of a few days, III. vii. 15 + +Numidia, in Africa, adjoins Mauritania, III. xxv. 21; + its boundary near the plain of Boulla, III. xxv. 1; + Mt. Papua on its borders, IV. iv. 27; + includes Mt. Aurasium, III. viii. 5; + and the city of Hippo Regius, III. iii. 31, IV. iv. 26; + and the city of Tigisis, IV. x. 21; + Moors of, seek alliance with the Romans, III. xxv. 3; + plundered by the Moors, IV. viii. 9, x. 2; + plundered by Iaudas, IV. xiii. 1, 18; + a place of retreat for the mutineers of Stotzas, IV. xv. 44, 50, xvii. 1; + Romans retire from there, IV. xx. 30; + Gontharis commander there, IV. xxv. 1; + Moors of, march out against Carthage, IV. xxv. 2 + +Nun ("Naues"), father of Joshua ("Jesus"), IV. x. 13, 22 + + +Ocean, Procopius' conception of it as encircling the earth, III. 1. 4 + +Olyvrius, Roman senator, husband of Placidia, III. v. 6, vi. 6; + becomes emperor of the West; killed after a short reign, III. vii. 1 + +Optio (Latin), a kind of adjutant in the Roman army, + III. xvii. 1, IV. xx. 12 + +Ortaïas, Moorish ruler beyond Mt. Aurasium, IV. xiii. 19, 28; + accuses Iaudas to Solomon, IV. xiii. 19; + with the mutineers of Stotzas, IV. xvii. 8; + his report of the country beyond his own, IV. xiii. 29 + + +Palatium, the imperial residence in Rome; said to be named from Pallas, + III. xxi. 4; + despoiled by Gizeric, III. v. 34, IV. ix. 5 + +Palestine, settlement of the Hebrews there, IV. x. 13; + Moors emigrated therefrom, IV. x. 27 + +Pallas, an "eponymous" hero, used to explain the word "Palatium," + III. xxi. 4 + +Pannonia, entered by the Goths, III. ii. 39 + +Pappus, brother of John, IV. xvii. 6, xxviii. 45; + commander of cavalry, III. xi. 7; + on the right wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4 + +Papua, mountain in Numidia, IV. iv. 27; + Gelimer takes refuge there, IV. 26, 28; + its ascent attempted by Pharas, IV. vi. 1; + closely besieged, IV. iv. 28, vi. 3; + Cyprian sent thither to receive Gelimer, IV. vii. 11 + +Pasiphilus, a mutineer in the Roman army; active supporter of Gontharis, + IV. xxvii. 21, 22, 36, 38; + entertains John at a banquet, IV. xxviii. 3; + his death, IV. xxviii. 39 + +Patrician rank, III. ii. 15, xi. 17, IV. vi. 22, xvi. 1; + Gelimer excluded from it because of Arianism, IV. ix. 14 + +Paulus, a priest of Hadrumetum; + rescues the city from the Moors, IV. xxiii. 18-25; + comes to Byzantium, IV. xxiii. 29 + +Pedion Halon, in Libya, distance from Decimum; + forces of Gibamundus destroyed there, III. xviii. 12 + +Pegasius, friend of Solomon the younger, IV. xxii. 14, 15 + +Peloponnesus, III. xi. 24, IV. xiv. 18; + plundered by Gizeric, III. v. 23, xxii. 16 + +Pentapolis, part of Libya; + its rule falls to Cyrus, IV. xxi. 1 + +Perinthus, called Heracleia in Procopius' time, III, xii. 6 + +Persians, III. xix. 7; + make peace with the Romans, III. i. 1, ix. 25, 26; + Vandals fight against them IV. xiv. 18 + +Peter, Roman general, accused by the Massagetae of unfair dealing, IV. i. 6 + +Peter, of Thrace, body-guard of Solomon; + at the banquet of Gontharis, IV. xxviii. 3; + looks with approval upon Artabanes' plot, IV. xxviii. 24, 28; + with Artabanes cuts down the body-guards who remain, IV. xxviii. 33 + +Pharas, leader of Eruli, in the African expedition, III. xi. 11; + left in charge of the siege of Gelimer on Mt. Papua, + IV. iv. 28, 31, vi. 1, 3; + his correspondence with Gelimer, IV. vi. 15-30, vii. 6-9; + learns the reasons for Gelimer's peculiar request, and fulfils it, + IV. vi. 31-34; + reports to Belisarius, IV. vii. 10; + his good qualities, IV. iv. 29, 31; + an uneducated man, IV. vi. 15 + +Pharesmanes, father of Zaunas, IV. xix. 1, xx. 19 + +Phasis River, in Colchis, III. i. 11; + distance from Chalcedon, _ibid._ + +Phoenicia, its extent, IV. x. 15; + ruled by one king in ancient times, IV. x. 16; + home of various peoples, IV. x. 17; + Dido's emigration therefrom, IV. x. 25; + Phoenician tongue, spoken in Libya, IV. x. 20; + Phoenician writing, on two stones in Numidia IV. x. 22 + +Phredas, friend of Areobindus, sent by him to Gontharis, IV. xxvi. 8, 9 + +Placidia, sister of Arcadius and Honorius and wife of + Constantius, III. iii. 4; + mother of Valentinian, brings him up in vicious ways, III. iii. 10; + as regent for her son, appoints Boniface general of all + Libya, III. iii. 16; + gives ear to Aetius' slander of Boniface, III. iii. 17, 18; + summons him to Rome, III. iii. 18; + sends men to Boniface at Carthage, III. iii. 27; + upon learning the truth tries to bring him back, III. iii. 28, 29; + finally receives him back, III. iii. 36; + her death, III. iv. 15 + +Placidia, daughter of Eudoxia and wife of Olyvrius; + taken captive by Gizeric, III. v. 3, vi. 6; + sent to Byzantium, III. v. 6 + +Pontus, see Euxine + +Praetor, III. x. 3 + +Praetorian, see Prefect + +Prefect, praetorian prefect (lit. "of the court"), + III. x. 3, 7, xi. 17, xiii. 12; + of the army, "financial manager," III. xi. 17. cf. + III. xv. 13, xvii, 16, IV. xvi. 2 + +Prejecta, daughter of Vigilantia and wife of Areobindus, accompanies + him to Libya, IV. xxiv. 3; + placed in a fortress for her safety, IV. xxvi. 18; + removed from the fortress by Gontharis and compelled to give a + false report in a letter to Justinian, IV. xxvii. 20; + presents a great sum of money to Artabanes, IV. xxviii. 43 + +Proba, a notable woman of Rome; + according to one account opened the gates of the city to Alaric, + III. ii. 27 + +Procopius, author of the History of the Wars; + sails with Belisarius for Africa, III. xii. 3; + his reassuring dream, III. xii. 3-5; + sent by Belisarius to Syracuse to get information, III. xiv. 3, 4, 7-13; + praised by Belisarius III. xiv. 15; + congratulates Belisarius upon a good omen, III. xv. 35; + escapes from Carthage with Solomon, IV. xiv. 39; + goes to Belisarius in Syracuse, IV. xiv. 41 + +Pudentius, of Tripolis; + recovers this country for the Roman empire, III. x. 22-24, xi. 22, + IV. xxi. 3; + receives support from Belisarius, IV. v. 10; + persuades Sergius to receive only representatives of the + Leuathae, IV. xxi. 3; + rights against the Leuathae, IV. xxi. 13, 14; + his death, IV. xxii. 15 + + +Ravenna, city in Italy; + the refuge of Honorius, III. ii. 9, 25; + attacked by Alaric and Attalus, III. ii. 29 + +Reparatus, priest of Carthage; + sent by Gontharis to summon Areobindus, IV. xxvi. 23; + with difficulty persuades him to come, IV. xxvi. 24-27; + dismissed by Gontharis, IV. xxvi. 31 + +Rhecimer, slays his father-in-law Anthemius, emperor of the West, + III. vii. 1 + +Rhine River, crossed by the Vandals, III. iii. 1 + +Romans, subjects of the Roman empire, both in the East and in the West; + mentioned constantly throughout; + celebrate a festival commemorating the overthrow of Maximus, + III. iv. 16; + accustomed to enter subject cities in disorder, III. xxi. 9; + require especial oaths of loyalty from body-guards of officers, + IV. xviii. 6; + subjugate the peoples of Libya, IV. x. 28; + lose Libya to Gizeric and the Vandals, III. iii. 31-35; + send an unsuccessful expedition under Basiliscus against the Vandals, + III. vi. 1-24; + make peace with the Persians, III. ix. 26; + send a second expedition under Belisarius, III. xi. 1 ff.; + defeat the Vandals at Decimum, III. xviii. 5-19, xix. 31-33; + at Tricamarum, IV. ii. 4 ff.; + defeat the Moors at the battle of Mammes, IV. xi. 47-54; + on Mt. Bourgaon, IV. xii. 19 ff.; + and on Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 5-xx. 22; + further conflicts with the Moors, IV. xi.-xxviii.; + poverty of the Roman soldiers, IV. iv. 3; + their marriages with the Vandal women, IV. xiv. 8; + and their desire for the Vandals estates, IV. xiv. 10; + they make a mutiny, IV. xiv. 7 ff. + +Rome, abandoned by Honorius, III. ii. 8, 9; + completely sacked by the Visigoths, III. ii. 13; + captured by Alaric, III. ii. 14-23; + sacked by Alaric, III. ii. 24; + according to one account, was delivered over to Alaric by Proba, + III. ii. 27; + the suffering of the city during the siege of Alaric, III. ii. 27; + despoiled by Gizeric, III. v. 1 ff., IV. ix. 5 + +Rome, name of a cock of the Emperor Honorius, III. ii. 26 + +Rufinus, of Thrace; + of the house of Belisarius and his standard-bearer, IV. x. 3, 4; + commander of cavalry, III. xi. 7; + makes a successful attack upon the Moors in Byzacium, IV. x. 5; + his force in turn annihilated by the Moors, IV. x. 6 ff; + captured and killed, IV. x. 10, 11, xi. 22 + +Rufinus, son of Zaunas and brother of Leontius; + sent as commander to Libya, IV. xix. 1; + fights valorously at the capture of Toumar, IV. xx. 19 + + +Salarian Gate, at Rome, III. ii. 17, 22 + +Sallust, Roman historian, the house of, burned by Alaric, III. ii. 24 + +Sarapis, commander of Roman infantry, III. xi. 7, IV. xv. 50; + his death, IV. xv. 59 + +Sardinia, its size compared with that of Sicily, IV. xiii. 42; + half way between Rome and Carthage, _ibid._; + recovered by the Romans from the Vandals, III. vi. 8, 11; + occupied by the tyrant Godas, III. x. 26, 27; + Gelimer sends an expedition to recover it, III. xi. 22, 23; + subdued by Tzazon, III, xxiv. 1, 3, IV. ii. 25; + avoided by Cyril, III. xxiv. 19; + Tzazon and his men summoned thence by Gelimer, III. xxv. 10, 17, 24, 25; + recovered for the Roman empire by Cyril, IV. v. 2, 4; + Solomon sends an expedition against the Moors who had overrun the island, + IV. xiii. 41-45 + +Sauromatae, an old name for the Goths, III. ii. 2 + +Scalae Veteres, place in Numidia, IV. xvii. 3 + +Scythians, a barbarian people, III. xix. 7; + in the army of Attila, III. iv. 24 + +Scriptures of the Christians; + Areobindus seeks to protect himself by them, IV. xxvi. 27; + see also Gospel, and Hebrew Scriptures + +Septem, fort at the Pillars of Heracles, III. i. 6; + John sent thither with an army, IV. v. 6 + +Sergius, son of Bacchus, and brother of Cyrus; + becomes ruler of Tripolis in Libya, IV. xxi. 1; + brother of Solomon the younger, IV. xxi. 19; + threatened by an army of Leuathae, IV. xxi, 2; + receives representative from them, IV. xxi. 3 ff.; + meets them in battle, IV. xxi. 13, 14; + retires into the city, IV. xxi. 15; + and receives help from Solomon, IV. xxi. 16, 19; + succeeds Solomon in the command of Libya, IV. xxii. 1; + his misrule, IV. xxii, 2; + his recall demanded by Antalas, IV. xxii. 9, 10; + Justinian refuses to recall him, IV. xxii. 11; + appealed to by Paulus to save Hadrumetum, but does nothing, + IV. xxiii. 20, 21; + quarrels with John, son of Sisiniolus, IV. xxii. 3; xxiii. 32; + shares the rule of Libya with Areobindus, IV. xxiv. 4, 5; + departs to Numidia, IV. xxiv. 6; + disregards Areobindus' instructions to unite with John, IV. xxiv. 7, 8; + recalled and sent to Italy, IV. xxiv. 16, XXV. 1 + +Seric, see Medic Garments, IV. vi. 7 + +Sestus, city on the Hellespont, III. i. 8 + +Severianus, son of Asiaticus, a Phoenician; + his daring encounter with the Moors, IV. xxiii. 6-9; + escapes to Carthage, IV. xxiii. 17 + +Shield Mountain (Clypea), ancient fort on Aurasium, IV. xiii. 33 + +Shoal's Head, see Caputvada, III. xiv. 17 + +Siccaveneria, city in Libya; + distance from Carthage, IV. xxiv. 6 + +Sicily, its size compared with that of Sardinia, IV. xiii. 42; + invaded by Gizeric, III. v. 22, 23; + concessions given the Vandals there, III. viii. 13, IV. v. 21; + reached by the Roman fleet, III. xiii. 22; + expedition sent thither by Belisarius, IV. v. 11; + claimed by the Goths, IV. v. 19; + subjugated by Belisarius, IV. xiv. 1; + a mutiny there causes Belisarius to return to it, IV. xv. 48, 49; + refuge of Libyans, IV. xxiii. 28 + +Sidon, city at the extremity of Phoenicia, IV. x. 15 + +Sigeum, promontory on the coast of the Troad, III. xiii. 5 + +Singidunum, town in the land of the Gepaides, modern Belgrade, III. ii. 6 + +Sinnion, leader of the Massagetae, III. xi. 12 + +Sirmium, town in the land of the Gepaides, III. ii. 6 + +Sisiniolus, father of John, IV. xix. 1, xxii. 3, xxiii. 2, xxiv. 6 + +Sitiphis, metropolis of "First Mauritania," IV. xx. 30 + +Sittas, Roman general; slain by Artabanes, IV. xxvii. 17 + +Sophia, name of the great church in Byzantium, III. vi. 26 + +Solomon, commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 5; + a eunuch, III. xi. 6; + a native of the country about Daras, III. xi. 9; + uncle of Bacchus, IV. xxi. 1; + sent to report Belisarius' victory to the emperor, III. xxiv. 19; + returns to Libya, IV. viii. 4; + left by Belisarius in charge of Libya, IV. viii. 23; + receives reinforcements from Byzantium, IV. viii. 24; + disturbed by the news of uprisings in Libya, IV. x. 1 _ff._; + writes to the Moorish leaders, IV. xi. 1-8; + their reply, IV. xi. 9-13; + moves against the Moors with his whole army, IV. xi. 14; + addresses his troops, IV. xi. 23-36; + inflicts a crushing defeat upon the enemy at Mammes, IV. xi. 15 ff.; + receives word of the second Moorish uprising, and marches back, + IV. xii. 2; + wins a brilliant victory on Mt. Bourgaon, IV. xii. 3 ff.; + moves against Iaudas, IV. xiii. 18; + instigated against him by other Moorish leaders, IV. xiii. 19; + encamps on the Abigas River, IV. xiii. 20; + ascends Mt. Aurasium with few provisions, IV. xiii. 30-33; + eluded by the Moors, IV. xiii. 35, 36; + returns to Carthage, IV. xiii. 39; + prepares a second expedition against Mt. Aurasium, IV. xiii. 40; + and against Sardinia, IV. xiii. 41. 45; + passes the winter in Carthage, IV. xiv. 4; + opposed by the soldiers in regard to confiscated lands, IV. xiv. 10; + plan to assassinate him, IV. xiv. 22; + his guards implicated in the plot, IV. xiv. 23; + failure of the conspirators to act, IV. xiv. 24-27; + tries to win back the loyalty of his men, IV. xiv. 30; + insulted openly, IV. xiv. 31; + sends Theodorus to the mutineers, IV. xiv. 32; + his enmity toward Theodorus, IV. xiv. 33; + his acquaintances killed by the mutineers, IV. xiv. 36; + flees to a sanctuary in the palace, IV. xiv. 37; + joined by Martinus there, _ibid._; + they come out to the house of Theodorus, IV. xiv. 38; + escape in a boat to Misuas, whence he sends Martinus to + Numidia, IV. xiv. 40; + writes to Theodorus, and departs to Syracuse, IV. xiv. 41; + begs Belisarius to come to Carthage, IV. xiv. 42; + returns with him, IV. xv. 9; + entrusted again with the command of Libya, IV. xix. 1; + his prosperous rule, IV. xix. 3, 4, xx. 33; + marches against Iaudas once more, IV. xix. 5; + sends Gontharis ahead, IV. xix. 6; + hears of the defeat of Gontharis, IV. xix. 9; + advances to the camp of Gontharis, thence to Babosis, IV. xix. 16; + defeats the Moors in battle, IV. xix. 17; + plunders the plain and then returns to Zerboule, IV. xix. 20; + which he unexpectedly captures, IV. xix. 25-31; + his care of the water supply during the siege of Toumar, IV. xx. 3; + addresses the army, IV. xx. 4-9; + tries to find a point of attack, IV. xx. 10, 11; + fortifies Mt. Aurasium against the Moors, IV. xx, 22; + fortifies many Libyan cities with money captured from Iaudas, + IV. xix. 3, xx. 29; + subjugates Zabe, or "First Mauritania," IV. xx. 30; + appealed to by Sergius for help, IV. xxi. 16; + incurs the enmity of Antalas, IV. xxi. 17, xxii. 7, 8; + marches against the Moors, IV. xxi. 19; + his overtures scorned by the Leuathae, IV. xxi. 20-22; + captures some booty and refuses to distribute it to the + soldiers, IV. xxi. 23, 24; + defeated by the Moors and slain, IV. xxi. 25-28; + Justinian's regard for him, IV. xxii. 11; + builds and fortifies a monastery in Carthage, IV. xxvi. 17; + standards of, recovered from the Moors, IV. xxviii. 46 + +Solomon the younger, brother of Cyrus and Sergius; + marches with Solomon against the Moors, IV. xxi. 19; + his capture and release, IV. xxii. 12-17 + +Solomon, king of the Jews, IV. ix. 7 + +Sophia, temple of, in Byzantium; + appropriateness of its name, III. vi. 26 + +Spain, settled by the Vandals, III. iii. 2, 22; + invaded by Constantinus, III. ii. 31; + settled by the Visigoths, III. iii. 26. xxiv. 7, IV. iv. 34 + +Stagnum, a harbour near Carthage, III. xv. 15; + the Roman fleet anchors there, III. xx. 15, 16 + +Stotzas, a body-guard of Martinus, destined not to return to + Byzantium, III. xi. 30; + chosen tyrant by the mutineers, IV. xv. 1; + marches on Carthage, IV. xv. 2; + invites the Vandals to join his army, IV. xv. 3, 4; + demands the surrender of Carthage, IV. xv. 5; + kills the envoy Joseph, and besieges Carthage, IV. xv. 8; + addresses his troops, IV. xv. 30-39; + defeated by Belisarius, IV. xv. 40 ff.; + his forces gather in Numidia, IV. xv. 50; + the Romans march against him at Gazophyla, IV. xv. 52; + comes alone into the Roman army and addresses the soldiers, + IV. xv. 53-57; + received with favour, IV. xv. 58; + kills the Roman commanders in a sanctuary, IV. xv. 59; + eager to fight a battle with Germanus, IV. xvi. 8; + approaches Carthage, hoping for defection from there, IV. xvi. 9, 10; + his hopes falsified, IV. xvii. 1; + defeated by Germanus at Scalae Veteres, IV. xvii. 3 ff.; + escapes with a few men, IV. xvii. 24; + hopes to renew the battle with the help of the Moors, IV. xvii. 32; + makes his escape with difficulty, IV. xvii. 33; + suffers another defeat, IV. xvii. 34; + withdraws to Mauritania and marries the daughter of a Moorish + chief, IV. xvii. 35; + the end of his mutiny, _ibid._; IV. xix. 3; + joins Antalas, IV. xxii. 5, xxiii. 1; + receives Roman captives, IV. xxiii. 10, 17; + joins the Moors in plundering Libya, IV. xxiii. 26-31; + Areobindus sends an army against him, IV. xxiv. 6; + his enmity against John, IV, xxiv. 9; + mortally wounded by him in battle, IV. xxiv. 11; + carried out of the battle, IV. xxiv. 12; + his death, IV. xxiv. 14; + succeeded by John as tyrant of the mutineers, IV. xxv. 3 + +Syllectus, city in Libya, III. xvi. 9; + captured by Belisarius' men, III. xvi. 11; + entered by the Roman army, III. xvii. 6 + +Symmachus, a Roman senator; + accompanies Germanus to Libya, IV. xvi. 2; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xix. 1 + +Syracuse, city in Sicily, III. xiv. 13; + its harbour Arethusa, III. xiv. 11; + Procopius sent thither, III. xiv. 3, 7; + Belisarius passes the winter there, IV. xiv. 4, 41; + distance from Caucana, III. xiv. 4 + + +Taenarum, called Caenopolis in Procopius' time; + promontory of the Peloponnesus, III. xiii. 8; + Gizeric repulsed from there, III. xxii. 16 + +Tamougadis, a city at the foot of Mt. Aurasium; + dismantled by the Moors, IV. xiii. 26, xix. 20 + +Tattimuth, sent in command of an army to Tripolis, III. x. 23; + receives support from Belisarius, IV. v. 10 + +Taulantii, a people of Illyricum, III. ii. 9 + +Tebesta, city in Libya; + distance from Carthage, IV. xxi. 19 + +Terentius, Roman commander of infantry, III. xi. 7, IV. xv. 50 + +Theoderic, king of the Goths; + gives his daughter in marriage to the king of the Vandals, and + makes certain concessions in Sicily, III. viii. 11-13, IV. v. 21; + becomes hostile to the Vandals, III. ix. 3; + refrains from attacking them III. ix. 5; + his death, III. xiv. 6; + grandfather of Antalaric, _ibid._; + brother of Amalafrida, III. viii. 11, 13 + +Theodora, wife of Justinian; + distributes rewards to Gelimer and others, IV. ix. 13 + +Theodorus, youngest son of Gizeric; + his death, III. v. 11 + +Theodorus, called Cteanus, commander of infantry, III. xi. 7 + +Theodorus, commander of guards; + sent to the top of Mt. Bourgaon by Solomon, IV. xii. 17; + killed by the mutineers, IV. xiv. 35; + his excellent qualities as a soldier, _ibid._ + +Theodorus, the Cappadocian; + sent to Libya with an army, IV. viii. 24; + sent by Solomon to quiet the mutineers, IV. xiv. 32; + his enmity against Solomon, IV. xiv. 33; + elected general by the mutineers, IV. xiv. 34; + gives Solomon and Martinus dinner and helps them to escape, IV. xiv. 38; + bidden by Solomon to take care of Carthage, IV. xiv. 41; + refuses to surrender Carthage to Stotzas, IV. xv. 6; + made joint ruler of Carthage with Ildiger, IV. xv. 49; + at the battle of Scalae Veteres, IV. xvii. 6, 19; + learns of the plot of Maximinus from Asclepiades, IV. xviii. 4 + +Theodosius I, Roman emperor, father of Arcadius and Honorius, III. i. 2; + overthrows the tyranny of Maximus, III. iv. 16 + +Theodosius II, son of Arcadius; + becomes emperor of the East, III. ii. 33, iii. 6; + Honorius considers the possibility of finding refuge with him, + III. ii. 32; + rears Valentinian, III. iii. 5; + makes him emperor of the West, III. iii. 8; + sends an army against the tyrant John, _ibid._; + his death, III. iv. 39; + succeeded by Marcian, III. iv. 2, 10; + father of Eudoxia, III. iv. 15 + +Thrace, starting point of Alaric's invasion, III. ii. 7; + the Goths settle there for a time, III. ii. 39; + home of several Roman commanders, III. xi. 10; + adjoins "Germania," III. xi. 21; + royal horse-pastures there, III. xii. 6; + home of Himerius, IV. xxiii. 3; + and of Peter, IV. xxviii. 3 + +Thessalian cape, or chlamys, III. xxv. 7 + +Theodatus, king of the Goths; + Belisarius sent against him, IV. xiv. 1 + +Theudis, king of the Visigoths, IV. iv. 34; + receives envoys from Gelimer, III. xxiv. 7-16 + +Tigisis, city in Numidia, IV. x. 21; + two Phoenician inscriptions there, IV. x. 22; + its great spring, IV. xiii. 5 + +Titus, Roman emperor, IV. ix. 2; + his capture of Jerusalem, IV. ix. 5; + son of Vespasian, _ibid._ + +Toumar, place on the summit of Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 22; + besieged by the Romans, IV. xx. 1 ff.; + scaled by Gezon and captured by Solomon, IV. xx. 1-20 + +Trajan, Roman emperor, IV. ix. 2 + +Trasamundus, brother of Gundamundus; + becomes king of the Vandals, III. viii. 8; + tries to win over the Christians, III. viii. 9, 10; + asks the hand of Amalafrida, III. viii. 11; + becomes a friend of Anastasius, III. viii. 14; + his death, III. viii. 29 + +Tricamarum, place in Libya; + distance from Carthage, IV. ii. 4; + Vandals defeated there, IV. iii. 1 ff., iv. 35, v. 2, 9 + +Tripolis, district in Libya; + distance from Gadira, III. i. 14; + the Vandals there defeated by Heraclius, III. vi. 9, 11; + Moors dwelling there, III. viii. 15; + lost again by the Vandals, III. x. 22-24; + Gelimer hopeless of recovering it, III. xi. 22; + Belisarius sends an army thither, IV. v. 10; + rule of, falls to Sergius, IV. xxi. 1; + Leuathae come from there with a large army, IV. xxviii. 47 + +Troy, III. xxi. 4 + +Tryphon, sent to Libya to assess the taxes, IV. viii. 25 + +Tuscan Sea, separated from the Adriatic by Gaulus and Melita, III. xiv. 16; + severity of its storms, IV. iv. 37 + +Tzazon, brother of Gelimer; + sent with an army to recover Sardinia, III. xi. 23; + overthrows and kills Godas in Sardinia, III. xxiv. 1; + writes to Gelimer, III. xxiv. 2-4; + receives a letter from him, III. xxv. 10-18; + thereupon departs for Libya, III. xxv. 19-21; + meets Gelimer in the Plain of Boulla, III. xxv. 24; + addresses his troops separately, IV. ii. 23-32; + commands the centre at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. in. 1, 8, 10, 12; + his death, IV. iii. 14; + his head taken to Sardinia by Cyril, IV. v. 2, 4 + + +Uliaris, body-guard of Belisarius, III. xix. 23; + his stupid action at Decimum, III. xix. 24; + kills John the Armenian accidentally, IV, iv. 15 ff.; + takes refuge in a sanctuary, IV. iv. 21; + spared by Belisarius, IV. iv. 25 + +Ulitheus, trusted body-guard of Gontharis, IV. xxv. 8; + bears messages to Antalas, IV. xxv. 8-11, 19; + at Gontharis' order assassinates Areobindus, IV. xxvi. 32, 33, xxvii. 20; + marches with Artabanes against Antalas, IV. xxvii. 25 ff.; + killed by Artasires at the banquet of Gontharis, IV. xxviii. 19 ff. + + +Valentinian, son of Constantius, reared by Theodosius, III. iii. 5; + made emperor of the West, III. iii. 8; + captures John and after brutal abuse kills him, III. iii. 9; + his viciousness resulting from early training, III. iii. 10, 11; + loses Libya to the empire, III. iii. 12; + receives tribute and a hostage from Gizeric, III. iv. 13; + returns the hostage, III. iv. 14; + slays Aetius, III. iv. 27; + outrages the wife of Maximus, III. iv. 16 ff.; + slain by him, III. iv. 15, 36; + son of Placidia, III. iii. 10; + father of Eudocia and Placidia, III. v. 3, vi. 6; + husband of Eudoxia, III. iv. 15; + members of his family receive rewards from Justinian and Theodora, + IV. ix. 13 + +Valerian, commander of auxiliaries, III. xi. 6; + sent with Martinus in advance of the African expedition, + III. xi. 24, 29; + meets the Roman fleet at Methone, III. xiii. 9; + on the left wing at the battle of Tricamarum, IV. iii. 4; + Martinus sent to him in Numidia, IV. xiv. 40; + summoned to Byzantium, IV. xix. 2 + +Vandals, a Gothic people, III. ii. 2; + whence they came into the Roman empire, III. i. 1, iii. 1 ff.; + a portion of them left behind and lost to memory, III. xxii. 3, 13; + settle in Spain, III. iii. 2; + their alliance sought by Boniface, III. iii. 22, 25; + cross from Spain into Libya, III. iii. 26; + defeat Boniface in battle, III. iii. 31; + besiege Hippo Regius, III. iii. 32, 34; + defeat a second Roman army, III. iii. 35; + secure possession of Libya, III. xxii. 4; + send Moors to Sardinia, IV. xiii. 43; + take the church of St. Cyprian at Carthage from the Christians, + III. xxi. 19; + invade Italy and sack Rome, III. v. 1 ff.; + their numbers together with the Alani, III. v. 18-20; + absorb all barbarian peoples associated with them except the Moors, + III. v. 21; + Leon sends an expedition against them, III. vi. 1 ff.; + driven out of Sardinia by Marcellianus; III. vi. 8; + defeated in Tripolis by Heraclius, III. vi. 9; + lost Mt. Aurasium to the Moors, IV. xiii. 26; + enter into an "endless peace" with the emperor Zeno, III. vii. 26; + make war on the Moors, III. viii. 1, 2; + suffer a great disaster at the hands of the Moors, III. viii. 15-28; + defeated by the Moors, and become enemies of the Goths, III. ix. 3; + defeated many times by the Moors, IV. x. 29; + Justinian prepares an expedition against them, III. x. 1 ff.; + lose Tripolis, III. x. 22-24; + and Sardinia, III. x. 25-27; + letter addressed to them by Justinian, III. xvi. 12-14; + recover Sardinia, III. xxiv. 1; + defeated by the Romans at Decimum, III. xviii. 1 ff.; + greatly feared by the Roman army III. xix. 27; + collected by Gelimer in the Plain of Boulla, III. xxv. 1 ff.; + besiege Carthage, IV. i. 3; + invite the Huns to join them, IV. i. 5; + defeated by the Romans at Tricamarum, IV. ii. 4 ff.; + taken to Byzantium by Belisarius, IV. xiv. 17; + some of them go to the East, while the others escape to Libya, + IV. xiv. 17-19; + together with their women, sent out of Libya, IV. xix. 3; + upon invitation of Stotzas, join the mutineers, IV. xv. 3, 4; + accumulate great wealth in Africa, IV. iii. 26; + not trusted by the Libyans, III. xvi. 3; + their effeminacy as a nation, IV. vi. 5-9; + their women, as wives of the Romans, incite them to mutiny, + IV. xiv. 8, 9; + priests of, incite Romans of Arian faith to mutiny, IV. xiv. 13; + Vandals' estates, established by Gizeric, III. v. 12; + Vandals of Justinian, IV. xiv. 17 + +Veredarii (Latin), royal messengers, III. xvi. 12 + +Vespasian, Roman emperor, father of Titus, IV. ix. 5 + +Vigilantia, mother of Prejecta, and sister of Justinian, IV. xxiv. 3 + +Visigoths, a Gothic people, III. ii. 2; + their alliance with Arcadius, III. ii. 7; + the destruction wrought by them in Italy, III. ii. 11-12; + settle in Spain, III. iii. 26; IV. iv. 34; + invited to form alliance with the Vandals, III. xxiv. 7 + +Zabe, called "First Mauritania"; + subjugated by Solomon, IV. xx. 30 + +Zacynthus, island off the coast of Greece, III. xiii. 21; + its inhabitants the victims of Gizeric's atrocity, III. xxii. 15, 17, 18 + +Zaïdus, commander of Roman infantry, III. xi. 7 + +Zaunus, son of Paresmanes, and father of Leontius and Rufinus, + IV. xix. 1, xx. 19 + +Zeno, emperor of the East; + husband of Ariadne, and father of Leon the younger, III. vii. 2; + shares the empire with his infant son, III. vii. 3; + flees into Isauria, III. vii. 18; + gathers an army and marches against Basiliscus, III. vii. 20; + meets Harmatus and receives the army by surrender, III. vii. 21; + captures Basiliscus and banishes him, III. vii. 22, 24; + becomes emperor a second time, III. vii. 23; + kills Harmatus, _ibid._; + forms a compact with Gizeric, III. vii. 26 + +Zerboule, fortress on Mt. Aurasium, IV. xix. 19, 20; + besieged by the Romans, IV. xix. 23-27; + abandoned by the Moors, IV. xix. 28-32 + + + + * * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Periods added in index to some instances of Roman numerals + to conform to rest of index. + + Index Errata: + + Under Adriatic Sea "Melite" should read "Melita" + + "Apollonaris" should read "Apollonarius" + + "Arethusa" should read "Arethousa" (also under Syracuse) + + Under Ariadne "Zenon" should read "Zeno" + Also under: Basiliscus, brother of Berine + Basiliscus, son of Harmatus + Gizeric + Harmatus + Leon the younger + + "Atalaric" should be "Antalaric" + + Under Atalaric "Amalasuntha" should be "Amalasountha" + + "Centenarium" should be "Centenaria" + + "Dromon" should be "Dromone" + + "Gepaides" should be "Gepaedes" + Also under: Singidunum + Sirmium + + Under Gizeric "Olyvrius" should be "Olybrius" + Also under: Olyvrius + Placidia + + "Heraclius" should be "Heracleius" also under: Tripolis Vandals + + Under Iaudas "Mephanius" should be "Mephanias" + + "Iourpouthes" should be "Iourphothes" + + Under John, the mutineer, "Pamphilus" should be "Pasiphilus" + + "Juppiter" should be "Jupiter" + + Under Leontius "Zaunus" should be "Zaunas" Also under: Zaunus + + "Leptes" should be "Leptis" + + "Medeos" should be "Medeus" + + "Medissinissas" should be "Medisinissas" + + Under Zaunus "Paresmanes" should be "Pharesmanes" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE WARS, BOOKS III AND +IV (OF 8)*** + + +******* This file should be named 16765-8.txt or 16765-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/7/6/16765 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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