Anonymus Valesianus: Pars Prior: Origo Constantini Imperatoris

Constantius, divi Claudii optimi principis nepos ex fratre, protector primum, inde tribunus, postea praeses Dalmatiarum fuit. Iste cum Galerio a Diocletiano Caesar factus est. Relicta enim Helena priore uxore, filiam Maximiani Theodoram duxit uxorem, ex qua postea sex liberos Constantini fratres habuit.

Constantius, nephew of the divine Claudius the excellent princeps by a brother, was first protector, then tribune, and afterwards governor of Dalmatia. He, together with Galerius, was made Caesar by Diocletian. For, Helena having been set aside as his former wife, he took as wife Theodora, daughter of Maximian, by whom afterwards he had six children, the brothers of Constantine.

Sed de priore uxore Helena filium iam Constantinum habuit, qui postea princeps potentissimus fuit.

But from his prior wife Helena he already had a son, Constantine, who afterwards was a most powerful prince.

[2] Hic igitur Constantinus, natus Helena matre vilissima in oppido Naisso atque eductus, quod oppidum postea magnifice ornavit, litteris minus instructus, obses apud Diocletianum et Galerium, sub eisdem fortiter in Asia militavit; quem post depositum imperium Diocletiani et Herculi, Constantius a Galerio repetit; sed hunc Galerius obiecit ante pluribus periculis. Nam et in Sarmatas iuvenis equestris militans ferocem barbarum, capillis tentis raptum, ante pedes Galerii imperatoris adduxerat. Deinde Galerio mittente per paludem, equo ingressus suo, viam ceteris fecit ad Sarmatas, ex quibus plurimis stratis Galerio victoriam reportavit.

[2] Here then Constantine, born of Helena the most lowly mother in the town of Naisso and brought up there — which town he afterwards magnificently adorned — less instructed in letters, a hostage with Diocletian and Galerius, served stoutly under them in Asia; whom after the abdication of the empire by Diocletian and Herculius, Constantius sought back from Galerius; but Galerius set him before many dangers. For as a young man serving in the cavalry he had led a fierce Sarmatian barbarian, seized with hair pulled, before the feet of the emperor Galerius. Then, Galerius sending him through a marsh, he, having mounted his horse, made a way for the others to the Sarmatians, from whom, with many slain, he brought back victory to Galerius as victor.

Tunc eum Galerius patri remisit. Qui ut Severum per Italiam transiens vitaret, summa festinatione veredis post se truncati Alpes transgressus, ad patrem Constantium venit apud Bononiam, quam Galli prius Gesoriacum vocabant. Post victoriam autem Pictorum Constantius pater Eboraci mortuus est, et Constantinus omnium militum consensu Caesar creatus.

Then Galerius sent him back to his father. He, so as to avoid Severus passing through Italy, crossing the Alps with the utmost haste on a courser whose reins had been cut behind him, came to Constantius the father at Bononia, which the Gauls had formerly called Gesoriacum. After the victory over the Picts, however, Constantius the father died at Eboracum, and Constantine was created Caesar by the consent of all the soldiers.

[3] Interea Caesares duo facti, Severus et Maximinus; Maximino datum est Orientis imperium: Galerius sibi Illyricum, Thracias, et Bithyniam tenuit. Severus suscepit Italiam et quicquid Herculius obtinebat. Postquam vero Constantius in Britannia mortuus est et Constantinus filius successit, subito in urbe Roma praetoriani milites Maxentium, filium Herculi, imperatorem crearunt.

[3] Meanwhile two Caesars were made, Severus and Maximinus; to Maximinus was given the rule of the East: Galerius held Illyricum, Thrace, and Bithynia for himself. Severus undertook Italy and whatever Herculius possessed. But after Constantius died in Britain and his son Constantine succeeded him, suddenly in the city of Rome the praetorian soldiers made Maxentius, son of Herculius, emperor.

Sed adversum Maxentium iussu Galeri Severus duxit exercitum. Qui repente ab omnibus suis desertus est et Ravennam fugit. Dehinc Galerius cum ingentibus copiis Romam venit, minatus civitatis interitum et castra Interamnae ad Tiberim posuit.

But against Maxentius, by Galerius’ command Severus led an army. He was suddenly deserted by all his men and fled to Ravenna. Thereupon Galerius came to Rome with vast forces, having threatened the destruction of the city, and pitched his camp at Interamnae on the Tiber.

Tunc legatos ad urbem misit Licinium et Probum, per colloquium petens ut gener apud socerum, id est Maxentius apud Galerium, precibus magis quam armis optata mercaretur. Qui contemptus agnovit promissis motos multos suorum Maxenti partes suas deseruisse; quibus perturbatus retro versus est, et ut militi suo praedam quamcunque conferret, Flaminiam iussit auferri. Ille ad Constantinum refugit.

Then Licinius and Probus sent envoys to the city, seeking by conference that the son‑in‑law with the father‑in‑law, that is Maxentius with Galerius, might procure the desired things by entreaties rather than by arms. He, being slighted, perceived from promises that many of his own, stirred, had deserted Maxentius’ party; disturbed by these, he turned back, and, so that he might bestow any plunder upon his soldiers, he ordered Flaminia to be carried off. He fled to Constantine.

Tunc Galerius in Illyrico Licinium Caesarem fecit. Deinde illo in Pannonia relicto, ipse ad Serdicam regressus, morbo ingenti occupatus sic distabuit, ut aperto et putrescenti viscere moreretur, in supplicium persecutionis iniquissimae ad auctorem scelerati praecepti iustissima poena redeunte. Imperavit annos XVIIII.

Then Galerius made Licinius Caesar in Illyricum. Then, leaving him in Pannonia, he himself having returned to Serdica, was seized by a grievous disease and so consumed that he died with his inward parts open and putrefying, the most just punishment returning upon the author of the wicked precept as requital for the most unjust persecution. He reigned 19 years.

[4] Severus Caesar ignobilis et moribus et natalibus, ebriosus et hoc Galerio amicus. Hunc ergo et Maximinum Caesares Galerius fecit, Constantino nihil tale noscente. Huic Severo Pannoniae et Italiae urbes et Africae contigerunt.

[4] Severus Caesar, ignoble both in morals and in birth, drunken, and moreover a friend of Galerius. Therefore Galerius made him and Maximinus Caesars, Constantine knowing nothing of such a thing. To this Severus fell the cities of Pannonia and of Italy and of Africa.

Quo casu Maxentius factus est imperator; nam desertus Severus a suis fugit Ravennam. Pro Maxentio filio evocatus illuc venit Herculius, qui per peiurium Severum deceptum custodiae tradidit et captivi habitu in Urbem perduxit et in villa publica Appiae viae tricensimo miliario custodiri fecit. Postea cum Galerius Italiam peteret, ille iugulatus est et deinde relatus ad octavum miliarium conditusque in Gallieni monumento.

On which occasion Maxentius was made emperor; for Severus, having been deserted by his men, fled to Ravenna. Thither came Herculius, summoned on behalf of Maxentius the son, who, deceived by Severus through perjury, delivered him to custody and led him into the City in the guise of a captive, and had him kept under guard in the public villa on the Appian Way at the thirtieth mile. Afterwards, when Galerius was making for Italy, he was slaughtered and then carried back to the eighth mile and laid in the monument of Gallienus.

Igitur Galerius sic ebriosus fuit, urbs, cum iuberet temulentus ea quae facienda non essent, a praefecto admonitus, constituerit ne iussa eius aliquis post prandium faceret.

Therefore Galerius was so drunken that, when, drunk, he ordered things which ought not to be done, being admonished by the prefect, he decreed that no one should execute his orders after a meal.

Interea Constantinus, apud Veronam victis ducibus tyranni, Romam petiit. Cum autem ad urbem Constantinus venisset, egressus ex urbe Maxentius campum supra Tiberim, in quo dimicaret, elegit. Ubi victus, fugatis omnibus suis, inter angustias arcentis populi periit, equo praecipitatus in fluvium.

Meanwhile Constantine, after defeating the tyrant’s commanders at Verona, made for Rome. But when Constantine had come to the city, Maxentius, having left the city, chose the field above the Tiber in which to fight. There, defeated and his men all put to flight, he perished amid the narrows as the crowd hemmed him in, thrown from his horse into the river.

Postera die corpus ipsius levatum flumine et caput eius incisum in urbem perlatum est. De cuius origine mater eius, cum quaesitum esset, Syro quodam genitum esse confessa. Imperavit annos VI.

On the next day his body was raised from the river and his head, cut off, was carried into the city. Concerning whose origin his mother, when she was asked, confessed that he had been born of a certain Syrian. He reigned 6 years.

[5] Licinius in quibus ex Nova Dacia vilioris originis a Galerio factus imperator, velut adversum Maxentium pugnaturus. Sed oppresso Maxentio cum recepisset Italiam Constantinus, hoc Licinium foedere sibi fecit adiungi: ut Licinius Constantiam, sororem Constantini, apud Mediolanum duxisset uxorem. Nuptiis celebratis Gallias repetit Constantinus, Licinio ad Illyricum reverso.

[5] Licinius, who had been made emperor by Galerius from Nova Dacia of meaner origin, as if to fight against Maxentius. But when Maxentius was crushed and Constantine had recovered Italy, he caused Licinius by this treaty to be joined to himself: that Licinius should take Constantia, sister of Constantine, as his wife at Milan. With the nuptials celebrated, Constantine returned to the Gauls, Licinius to Illyricum.

Post aliquantum deinde temporis Constantium Constantinus ad Licinium misit, persuadens ut Bassianus Caesar fieret, qui habebat alteram Constantini sororem Anastasiam, ut exemplo Maximiani inter Constantinum et Licinium Bassianus Italiam medius optineret. Et Licinio talia frustrante, per Senicionem Bassiani fratrem, qui Licinio fidus erat, in Constantinum Bassianus armatur. Qui tamen in conatu deprehensus, Constantino iubente convictus et stratus est.

After some time Constantine sent Constantius to Licinius, persuading that Bassianus be made Caesar — Bassianus, who had Anastasia, another sister of Constantine — so that, by the example of Maximian, Bassianus might hold Italy as a middle party between Constantine and Licinius. And Licinius, frustrating such things, had Bassianus armed against Constantine through Senicio, Bassianus’s brother, who was faithful to Licinius. But he, having been discovered in the plot, was convicted and laid low at Constantine’s command.

Cum Senicio auctor insidiarum posceretur ad poenam, negante Licinio fracta concordia est; additis etiam causis quod apud Emonam Constantini imagines statuasque deiecerat. Bellum deinde apertum convenit ambobus. Utriusque ad Cibalensem campum ductus exercitus.

When Senicio, the author of the plot, was demanded for punishment, Licinius refusing, the concord was broken; furthermore charges were added that at Emona he had thrown down Constantine’s images and statues. Then open war arose between the two. The armies of each were led to the Cibalan field.

Licinio XXXV milia peditum et equitum fuere; Constantinus XX milia peditum et equitum duxit. Caesis post dubium certamen Licinianis viginti peditum milibus et equitum ferratorum parte, Licinius cum magna parte equitatus noctis auxilio pervolavit ad Sirmium. Sublata inde uxore ac filio et thesauris tetendit ad Daciam.

Licinius had 35,000 infantry and cavalry; Constantine led 20,000 infantry and cavalry. After many were slain in the doubtful contest, twenty thousand of the Licinians’ infantry and part of their iron-clad cavalry were cut down, and Licinius, with a large portion of his horse, by night fled with aid to Sirmium. Thereupon, having taken up his wife and son and his treasures, he made for Dacia.

Valentem ducem limitis Caesarem fecit. Inde apud Hadrianopolim Thraciae civitatem per Valentem collecta ingenti multitudine, legatos ad Constantinum de pace misit apud Philippos constitutum. Quibus frustra remissis, iterum reparato bello, in campo Mardiense ab utroque concurritur et post dubium ac diuturnum proelium Licini partibus inclinatis profuit noctis auxilium.

He made Valens leader of the frontier and Caesar. Thence at Hadrianopolis, a city of Thrace, with a vast multitude gathered by Valens, he sent legates to Constantine about peace, who was stationed at Philippi. These envoys having been sent in vain, with war again renewed, on the Mardian field they were engaged by both sides, and after a doubtful and protracted battle, Licinius’s ranks having been inclined, the aid of night proved advantageous.

Licinius et Valens credentes Constantinum, quod et verum erat, ad persequendum longius ad Byzantium processurum, flexi in partem Beroeam concesserunt. Ita Constantinus vehementer in ulteriora festinans, deprehendit Licinium remansisse post tergum. Fatigatis bello et itinere militibus, missus deinde Mestrianus legatus pacem petiit, Licinio postulante et pollicente se imperata facturum.

Licinius and Valens, believing that Constantine— which indeed was true— would go on to pursue him as far as Byzantium, turned aside and withdrew into the region of Beroea. Thus Constantine, hastening vehemently into the interior, found that Licinius had remained in his rear. The soldiers, exhausted by war and by the march, and then Mestrianus the legate was sent and sought peace, Licinius demanding and promising that he would perform what was commanded.

Denuo, sicut ante, mandatum est Valens privatus fieret; quo facto pax ab ambobus firmata est, ut Licinius Orientem, Asiam, Thraciam, Moesiam, minorem Scythiam possideret. Deinde reversus Serdicam Constantinus hoc cum Licinio absente constituit, ut filii Constantini Crispus et Constantinus, filius etiam Licini Licinius, Caesares fierent et sic ab utroque concorditer regnaretur. Itaque Constantinus et Licinius simul consules facti.

Again, as before, an order was given that Valens be reduced to private status; this done, peace was confirmed by both, so that Licinius should possess the Orient, Asia, Thrace, Moesia, and Lesser Scythia. Then Constantine, having returned to Serdica, established this in Licinius’s absence: that Constantine’s sons Crispus and Constantine, and Licinius’s son Licinius, be made Caesars, and thus that they might rule jointly in concord. And so Constantine and Licinius were made consuls together.

In Orientis partibus, Licinio Constantino consulibus, repentina rabie suscitatus Licinius omnes Christianos a palatio iussit expelli.

In the regions of the East, in the consulship of Licinius and Constantine, Licinius, roused by sudden madness, ordered all Christians to be expelled from the palace.

Mox bellum inter ipsum Licinium et Constantinum efferbuit. Item cum Constantinus Thessalonica esset, Gothi per neglectos limites eruperunt et, vastata Thracia et Moesia, praedas agere coeperunt. Tunc Constantini terrore et impetu represso, captivos illi impetrata pace reddiderunt.

Soon war flamed up between Licinius himself and Constantine. Likewise, when Constantine was at Thessalonica, the Goths burst through the neglected frontiers and, Thrace and Moesia having been laid waste, began to carry off plunder. Then, Constantine’s terror and onslaught having been checked, they returned the captives to him after peace was obtained.

Sed hoc Licinius contra fidem factum questus est, quod partes suae ab alio fuerint vindicatae. Deinde cum variasset inter supplicantia et superba mandata, iram Constantini merito excitavit. Per tempora quibus nondum gerebatur bellum civile, sed item parabatur, Licinius scelere, avaritia, crudelitate, libidine saeviebat, occisis ob divitias pluribus, uxoribus eorum corruptis.

But Licinius complained that this had been done against faith, because his parts had been claimed by another. Then, when he had wavered between supplicant entreaties and proud commands, he rightfully aroused the wrath of Constantine. In the times when civil war was not yet being waged, but was likewise being prepared, Licinius raged in crime, avarice, cruelty, and lust, with many slain for their riches and their wives corrupted.

Rupta iam pace utriusque consensu, Constantinus Caesarem Crispum cum grandi classe ad occupandam Asiam miserat, cui de parte Licinii similiter cum navalibus copiis Amandus obstabat. Licinius vero circa Hadrianopolim maximo exercitu latera ardui montis impleverat. Illuc toto agmine Constantinus inflexit.

With the peace now broken by the consent of both, Constantine had sent the Caesar Crispus with a great fleet to occupy Asia, against whom, on Licinius’s part, Amandus likewise opposed with naval forces. Licinius, however, about Hadrianopolis with a very large army had filled the flanks of a steep mountain. Thither Constantine turned with his whole host.

Cum bellum terra marique traheretur ,quamvis per arduum suis nitentibus, at tamen disciplina militari et felicitate Constantinus Licini confusum et sine ordine agentem vicit exercitum, leviter femore sauciatus. Dehinc fugiens Licinius Byzantium petit; quo dum multitudo dissipata contenderet, clauso Byzantio Licinius obsidionem terrenam maris securus agitabat. Sed Constantinus classem collegit ex Thracia.

As the war was being carried on by land and by sea, although striving up difficult ways with his men, yet by military discipline and by fortune Constantine routed Licinius’ army, confused and acting without order, himself slightly wounded in the thigh. Thence Licinius, fleeing, made for Byzantium; and while a dispersed multitude hastened thither, with Byzantium closed Licinius was conducting a siege on land, secure as to the sea. But Constantine gathered a fleet from Thrace.

Dehinc solita vanitate Licinius Martinianum sibi Caesarem fecit. Crispus vero cum classe Constantini Callipolim pervenit; ibi bello maritimo sic Amandum vicit, ut vix per eos qui in litore remanserant vivus Amandus refugeret. Classis vero Licini vel oppressa vel capta est.

Then, by his customary vanity, Licinius made Martinianus Caesar for himself. Crispus, however, with Constantine's fleet reached Callipolis; there in a maritime battle he so routed Amandus that Amandus scarcely escaped alive through those who had remained on the shore. And Licinius's fleet was either overwhelmed or captured.

Licinius, desperata maris spe, per quod se viderat obsidendum, Chalcedonam cum thesauris refugit. Byzantium Constantinus invasit, victoriam maritimam Crispo conveniente cognoscens. Deinde apud Chrysopolim Licinius pugnavit, maxime auxiliantibus Gothis quos Alica regalis deduxerat; tum Constantini pars vincens XXV milia armatorum fudit partis adversae, ceteris fugientibus.

Licinius, his hope of the sea despairing, by which he had seen himself to be besieged, fled back to Chalcedon with the treasures. Constantine invaded Byzantium, acknowledging a maritime victory advantageous to Crispus. Then at Chrysopolis Licinius fought, the Goths very greatly assisting whom Alica the royal had led; then Constantine’s victorious part routed 25,000 armed men of the opposing side, the rest fleeing.

Postea cum legiones Constantini per liburnas venire vidissent, proiectis armis se dediderunt. Sequenti autem die Constantia, soror Constantini, uxor Licini, venit ad castra fratris et marito vitam poposcit et impetravit. Ita Licinius privatus factus est et convivio Constantini adhibitus, et Martiniano vita concessa est.

Afterwards, when Constantine’s legions were seen to come by liburnas, having cast down their arms they surrendered. On the following day, however, Constantia, sister of Constantine and wife of Licinius, came to her brother’s camp and begged life for her husband and obtained it. Thus Licinius was deprived of office and admitted to Constantine’s banquet, and life was granted to Martinianus.

Licinius Thessalonicam missus est; sed Herculii Maximiani, soceri sui, motus exemplo, ne iterum depositam purpuram in perniciem rei publicae sumeret, tumultu militaribus exigentibus in Thessalonica iussit occidi, Martinianum in Cappadocia. Qui regnavit annos XVIIII , filio et uxore superstite. Quamvis omnibus iam ministris nefariae persecutionis exstinctis, hunc quoque in quantum exercere potuit persecutorem digna punitio flagitaret.

Licinius was sent to Thessalonica; but, by the example of the revolt of Herculianus Maximianus, his father‑in‑law, lest he again take up the laid‑aside purple to the ruin of the res publica, he ordered Martinianus, who was in Cappadocia, to be put to death in Thessalonica, the soldiery clamoring for it. He reigned 19 years, leaving a son and wife surviving. Although all the ministers of his nefarious persecution had now been extinguished, he too, insofar as he could exercise his power, demanded that this persecutor be meted out punishment worthy of his crimes.

[6] Constantinus autem ex se Byzantium Constantinopolim nuncupavit ob insignis victoriae memoriam. Quam velut patriam cultu decoravit ingenti et Romae desideravit aequari: deinde quaesitis ei undique civibus divitias multas largitus est, ut prope in ea omnes regias facultates exhauriret. Ibi etiam senatum constituit secundi ordinis; claros vocavit.

[6] Constantine, moreover, named Byzantium Constantinople after himself because of the memory of his notable victory. He adorned it with the devotion of a father and with great magnificence and wished it to be made equal to Rome: then, having sought citizens for it from every quarter, he lavished many riches, so that he nearly exhausted all the royal resources there. There he also established a senate of the second order; he called them clarissimi.

Deinde adversum Gothos bellum suscepit et implorantibus Sarmatis auxilium tulit. Ita per Constantinum Caesarem centum prope milia fame et frigore extincta sunt. Tunc et obsides accepit inter quos Ariarici regis filium.

Then he undertook war against the Goths and, the Sarmatians imploring, brought them aid. Thus, under Caesar Constantine nearly 100,000 were destroyed by famine and cold. Then he also received hostages, among whom was the son of King Ariaric.

Sic cum his pace firmata, in Sarmatas versus est, qui dubiae fidei probabantur. Sed servi Sarmatarum adversum omnes dominos rebellarunt, quos pulsos Constantinus libenter accepit et amplius trecenta milia hominum mixtae aetatis et sexus per Thraciam, Scythiam, Macedoniam, Italiamque divisit.

Thus, with peace thus confirmed with them, he turned against the Sarmatians, who were reputed of doubtful fidelity. But the slaves of the Sarmatians rebelled against all their masters; those having been driven off Constantine gladly received, and he distributed more than three hundred thousand people of mixed age and sex through Thrace, Scythia, Macedonia, and Italy.

Item Constantinus imperator primus Christianus, excepto Philippo, qui Christianus admodum ad hoc tantum constitutus fuisse mihi visus est, ut millesimus Romae annus Christo potius quam idolis dicaretur. A Constantino autem omnes semper Christiani imperatores usque in hodiernum diem creati sunt, excepto Iuliano, quem impia (ut aiunt) machinantem exitalis vita deseruit. Item Constantinus iusto ordine et pio vicem vertit; edicto si quidem statuit citra ullam caedem hominum paganorum templa claudi.

Moreover Constantine the emperor was the first Christian, Philip excepted, who seemed to me to have been somewhat Christian only to such a degree that he wished the thousandth year at Rome to be dedicated to Christ rather than to idols. From Constantine, moreover, all emperors have ever been Christians up to the present day, except Julian, whom impiety (as they say), plotting against Christianity, abandoned to a fatal death. Likewise Constantine in a just and pious order turned the course; by edict indeed he determined that temples should be closed without any slaughter of pagan people.

Mox Gothorum fortissimas et copiosissimas gentes in ipso barbarici soli sinu, hoc est in Sarmatarum regione, delevit.

Soon he destroyed the Goths’ most valiant and most numerous peoples in the very bosom of barbarian soil, that is, in the region of the Sarmatians.

Calocaerum quendam in Cypro aspirantem novis rebus oppressit. Dalmatium filium fratris sui Dalmatii, Caesarem fecit. Eius fratrem Hannibalianum, data ei Constantiana filia sua, regem regum et Ponticarum gentium constituit.

He crushed a certain Calocaerus in Cyprus who was aspiring to novelties. He made Dalmatianus, the son of his brother Dalmatius, Caesar. He appointed his brother Hannibalianus — giving him his daughter Constantiana — as king of kings and of the Pontic peoples.

Itaque Gallias Constantinus minor regebat, Orientem Constantius Caesar, Illyricum et Italiam Constans, ripam Gothicam Dalmatius tuebatur. Item Constantinus cum bellum pararet in Persas, in suburbano Constantinopolitano villa publica iuxta Nicomediam, dispositam bene rem publicam filiis tradens, diem obiit. Regnavit ann.

Thus Constantine the Younger ruled the Gauls, Constantius Caesar the East, Constans Illyricum and Italy, and Dalmatius guarded the Gothic shore. Likewise Constantine, while he prepared war against the Persians, in his suburban public villa near Nicomedia, having well ordered the res publica and delivered it to his sons, died that day. He reigned years.

XXXI. Sepultus est Constantinopoli.

31. He was buried in Constantinople.