Festus: FESTI BREVIARIUM RERUM GESTARUM POPULI ROMANI

[1] Brevem fieri Clementia tua praecepit. Parebo libens praeceptis; quippe cui desit facultas latius eloquendi: ac morem secutus calculatorum, qui ingentes summas aeris brevioribus exprimunt; res gestas signabo, non eloquar. Accipe ergo, quo breviter dicta brevius computentur; ut annosam vetustatem populi Romani, ac prisci facta temporis, non tam legere tibi, gloriose Princeps, quam numerare videaris.

[1] Your Clemency has ordered that it be made brief. I will gladly obey the precepts; for to him to whom the faculty of speaking at greater length is lacking; and having followed the custom of accountants, who express enormous sums of money in shorter terms; I will mark down the deeds done, I will not be eloquent. Therefore accept this, by which things said briefly may be reckoned more briefly; so that the aged antiquity of the Roman people, and the ancient deeds of time, you, glorious Prince, may seem not so much to read as to count.

[2] Ab urbe igitur condita in ortum Perennitatis vestrae, quo prosperius factum Romanum imperium sortitus es, anni numerantur mille centum decem et septem, sic. Sub regibus, ducenti quadraginta tres: sub consulibus, quadringenti sexaginta septem: sub imperatoribus, quadringenti septem. Regnaverunt Romae per annos ducentos quadraginta tres, reges numero septem.

[2] From the founding of the city, therefore, to the rise of your Perennity, by which you more prosperously came into the Roman imperium, the years are counted 1,117, thus. Under the kings, 243: under the consuls, 467: under the emperors, 407. They reigned at Rome for 243 years, seven in number.

Romulus regnavit annos triginta septem: senatores, per quinos dies singuli, annum unum: Numa Pompilius regnavit annos quadraginta tres: Tullus Hostilius regnavit annos triginta duos: Ancus Marcius annos viginti quattuor: Tarquinius Priscus regnavit annos triginta septem: Servius Tullius regnavit annos quadraginta quattuor: Lucius Tarquinius Superbus regno expulsus est anno vicesimo quinto. Consules deinde fuerunt a Iunio Bruto et Publicola in Pansam et Marcum Hirtium, numero DCCCCXVI; praeter eos, qui in eumdem annum sorte aliqua sunt subrogati, per annos quadringentos sexaginta septem. Quadraginta novem annis Romae consules defuerunt: sub decemviris, annis duobus; sub tribunis militum, annis quadraginta tribus.

Romulus reigned thirty-seven years: the senators, each for five days, made up one year: Numa Pompilius reigned forty-three years: Tullus Hostilius reigned thirty-two years: Ancus Marcius (reigned) twenty-four years: Tarquinius Priscus reigned thirty-seven years: Servius Tullius reigned forty-four years: Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was expelled from the kingship in the twenty-fifth year. Then the consuls were, beginning with Junius Brutus and Publicola, in Pansa and Marcus Hirtius, in number 916; besides those who in that same year were by some lot substituted, for 467 years. For forty-nine years consuls were lacking at Rome: under the decemvirs, for two years; under the military tribunes, for forty-three years.

Sine magistratibus Roma fuit annis quattuor. Imperatores ab Octaviano Caesare Augusto usque ad Iovianum fuerunt numero quadraginta quattuor, per annos quadringentos septem.

Rome was without magistrates for four years. The emperors, from Octavian Caesar Augustus up to Jovian, were forty-four in number, for four hundred and seven years.

[3] Sub his igitur tribus imperandi generibus, hoc est regio, consulari, et imperatorio, quantum Roma profecerit, breviter indicabo. Sub regibus septem, per annos ducentos quadraginta tres, non amplius quam usque Portum atque Ostiam, intra octavum decimum milliarium a portis urbis Romae, utpote adhuc parvae, et a pastoribus conditae, cum finitimae earn circum civitates premerent, Romanum processit imperium. Sub consulibus, inter quos nonnumquam et dictatores fuerunt, per annos simul quadringentos sexaginta septem, usque trans Padum Italia occupata est: Africa subacta, Hispaniae accesserunt; Galliae et Britanniae tributariae factae sunt.

[3] Under these therefore three genera of imperancy, that is regal, consular, and imperatorial, how far Rome progressed I will briefly indicate. Under the seven kings, for 243 years, the Roman power advanced no farther than the Portus and Ostia, within the eighteenth mile from the gates of the city of Rome, as yet small and founded by shepherds, while neighboring cities pressed upon it round about. Under the consuls — among whom sometimes there were also dictators — for 467 years together, Italy was occupied as far as beyond the Po: Africa was subdued, the Spains were added; Gaul and Britain were made tributary.

Deinde Illyrici, Istrii, Liburni, Dalmatae, domiti sunt: ad Achaiam transitum est: Macedones subacti: cum Dardanis, Moesis, et Thracibus bellatum est: etiam ad Danuvium usque perventum. In Asia, expulso Antiocho, primum pedem posuerunt Romani: Mithridate victo; primum Ponti regnum occupatum est; et Armenia minor, quam idem tenuerat, armis obtenta est: in Mesopotamiam Romanus pervenit exercitus: cum Parthis foedus initum est; contra Corduenos, ac Saracenos, et Arabas bellatum est; Iudaea omnis devicta est: Cilices, et Syri in potestatem populi Romani devenerunt. Aegypti reges foederati erant.

Then the Illyrians, Istrians, Liburnians, Dalmatians were subdued: passage was made into Achaia: the Macedonians were conquered: there was war with the Dardanians, Moesians, and Thracians: they even reached as far as the Danube. In Asia, Antiochus having been expelled, the Romans first set foot there: Mithridates defeated; first the kingdom of Pontus was occupied; and Lesser Armenia, which the same man had held, was won by arms: a Roman army reached Mesopotamia: a treaty was entered into with the Parthians; against the Cordueni, and the Saracens, and the Arabs war was waged; all Judea was subdued: the Cilicians and Syrians came into the power of the Roman people. The kings of Egypt were allied.

Sub imperatoribus vero per annos quadringentos septem, cum divisa reipublicae fortuna multi principes imperarent; accesserunt tamen Romanae urbi Alpes Maritimae, Alpes Cottiae, Rhaetiae, Noricae: Pannoniae, Moesiae; et omnis ora Danuvii in provincias est redacta: Pontus omnis, Armenia maior, Oriens totus cum Mesopotamia, Assyria, Arabia, et Aegypto, sub imperii Romani iura transivit.

Under the emperors, however, for 407 years, with the fortune of the republic divided and many princes ruling; nevertheless the Maritime Alps, the Cottian Alps, Rhaetia, Noricum were added to the Roman city: Pannonia, Moesia; and the whole shore of the Danube was reduced into provinces: all Pontus, Greater Armenia, the whole Orient with Mesopotamia, Assyria, Arabia, and Egypt passed under the laws of the Roman empire.

[4] Quo autem ordine singulas provincias Romana respublica adsecuta sit, ostenditur ita. Prima provinciarum Sicilia facta est. Eam, victo Hierone, Siculorum rege, Marcellus consul obtinuit.

[4] But in what order the Roman state acquired the individual provinces is shown thus. The first of the provinces was made Sicily. It was obtained by the consul Marcellus after Hieron, king of the Sicels, was defeated.

Deinde a praetoribus recta est; postea commissa est praesidibus: nunc a consularibus administratur. Sardiniam et Corsicam Metellus vicit: qui et triumphavit de Sardis, qui rebellavere saepe. Iunctaque illi administrado harum insularum fuerat: post quaelibet suos praetores habuit: nunc singulae a suis praesidibus reguntur.

Then it was governed directly by praetors; afterwards it was entrusted to praesides; now it is administered by consulares. Metellus defeated Sardinia and Corsica: he who triumphed over the Sardians, who had often rebelled. And they were joined to him in the administration of these islands: afterwards each had its own praetors: now each is ruled by its own praesides.

In Africam propter defensionem Siculorum Romana transmissa sunt signa. Ter Africa rebellavit: ad extremum, deleta per Africanum Scipionem Carthagine, provincia facta est: nunc sub proconsulibus agit. Numidia ab amicis regibus tenebatur: sed Iugurthae, ob necatos Adherbalem et Hiempsalem, Micipsae regis filios, bellum indictum est: et eo per Metellum consulem attrito, per Marium capto, in populi Romani potestatem Numidia pervenit.

Into Africa, on account of the defence of the Sicilians, the Roman standards were transferred. Africa rebelled three times: at last, Carthage having been destroyed by Scipio Africanus, it was made a province; now it is governed under proconsuls. Numidia was held by friendly kings: but against Jugurtha, because Adherbal and Hiempsal, the sons of King Micipsa, were slain, war was proclaimed; and by that war, with Metellus as consul worn down, and Jugurtha captured by Marius, Numidia came into the power of the Roman people.

Mauretaniae a Boccho Rege obtentae sunt. Sed subacta omni Africa, Mauros Iuba rex tenebat; qui in causa belli civilis ab Iulio Caesare victus, mortem sibi propria manu conscivit. Ita Mauretaniae nostrae esse coeperunt: ac per omnem Africam sex provinciae factae sunt: ipsa, ubi Carthago est, proconsularis; Numidia, consularis; Byzacium, consularis; Tripolis et Mauritaniae duae; hoc est Sitifensis, et Caesariensis, sunt praesidales.

Mauretaniae were obtained from King Bocchus. But, with all Africa subdued, King Juba held the Mauri; who, having been defeated by Julius Caesar in the cause of the civil war, took his own life with his own hand. Thus our Mauretanias began to be: and throughout all Africa six provinces were made: the very region where Carthage is, proconsular; Numidia, consular; Byzacium, consular; Tripolis and the two Mauretaniae — that is, Sitifensis and Caesariensis — are praesidales.

[5] Hispanis primum auxilium adversus Afros per Scipiones tulimus. Rebellantes Lusitanos in Hispania per Decimum Brutum continuimus; et usque Gades ad Oceanum mare pervenimus. Post ad Hispanos tumultuantes (?) Sylla cum exercitu missus, eos vicit.

[5] First we brought aid to the Hispanians against the Afri through the Scipios. We pursued the rebelling Lusitanians in Hispania under Decimus Brutus; and reached as far as Gades on the Ocean sea. Afterwards Sulla, sent with an army against the Spaniards in tumult (?), defeated them.

Celtiberi in Hispania saepe rebellavere: sed, misso iuniore Scipione, cum excidio Numantiae subacti sunt. Omnes prope Hispaniae, occasione belli Sertoriani, per Metellum, et Pompeium in deditionem acceptae sunt: postea, prorogato in quinquennium imperio, a Pompeio perdomitae sunt. Ad extremum quoque ab Octaviano Caesare Augusto Cantabri et Astures, qui freti montibus resistebant, deleti sunt.

The Celtiberians in Spain often rebelled: but, with Scipio the Younger sent, they were subdued with the destruction of Numantia. Almost all of Spain, on the occasion of the Sertorian war, were received into surrender by Metellus and Pompey; and afterwards, the command being extended for five years, they were completely subdued by Pompey. Finally also the Cantabrians and Asturians, who relied on the mountains and resisted, were destroyed by Octavian Caesar Augustus.

Ac per omnes Hispanias sex nunc sunt provinciae: Tarraconensis, Carthaginensis, Lusitania, Gallaecia, Baetica. Trans fretum etiam in solo terrae Africae, provincia Hispaniarum est, quae Tingitanica Mauretania cognominatur. Ex his Baetica et Lusitania consulares; ceterae praesidales sunt.

And through all the Hispanic lands there are now six provinces: Tarraconensis, Carthaginensis, Lusitania, Gallaecia, Baetica. Across the Strait even on the mainland of Africa there is a province of the Hispaniæ, which is called Mauretania Tingitana. Of these Baetica and Lusitania are consular; the others are praesidial.

[6] Cum Gallis gravissima bella populus Romanus habuit. Galli enim etiam illam partem Italiae, in qua nunc Mediolanum est, usque ad Rubiconem fluvium tenebant; in tantum viribus freti, ut Romam ipsam bello peterent; et, aoesis exercitibus Romanis apud Alliam fluvium, moenia urbis intrarent; Capitoliumque obsiderent; ad cuius arcem sexcenti nobiles, et senatores confugerant, qui mille auri pondo se ab obsidione redemerunt. Postea Gallos victoria remeantes, Camillus, qui in exilio erat, collecta de agris multitudine, oppressit; et aurum ac signa, quae Galli ceperant,reportavit.

[6] The Roman people had very grave wars with the Gauls. For the Gauls even held that part of Italy in which now Mediolanum stands, as far as the river Rubicon; so confident in their strength that they marched upon Rome itself; and, with the Roman armies routed at the river Allia, they entered the city’s walls and besieged the Capitol; into whose citadel six hundred nobles and senators had taken refuge, who redeemed themselves from the siege for a thousand pounds of gold. Afterwards, the Gauls returning defeated, Camillus, who had been in exile, having raised a multitude from the fields, crushed them and carried back the gold and the standards which the Gauls had seized.

Cum Gallis multi consules, praetores, ac dictatores eventu vario conflixerunt. Marius Gallos de Italia expulit, et transcensis Alpibus, feliciter adversus eos pugnavit. Caius Caesar cum decem legionibus, quae quaterna millia militum Italorum habuerant, per annos octo ab Alpibus ad Rhenum usque Gallias subegit: cum barbaris ultra Rhenum positis conflixit: in Britanniam transivit; decimo anno Gallias, et Britannias tributarias fecit.

With the Gauls many consuls, praetors, and dictators contended with various outcome. Marius drove the Gauls out of Italy, and, the Alps having been crossed, fought successfully against them. Gaius Caesar, with 10 legions, which had 4,000 Italian soldiers, for 8 years subdued Gaul from the Alps as far as the Rhine; he fought with the barbarians stationed beyond the Rhine; he crossed into Britain; in the 10th year he made Gaul and the Britains tributary.

Sunt in Gallia cum Aquitania, et Britanniis, decem et octo provinciae: Alpes Maritimae, provincia Narbonensis, Viennensis, Novempopulana, Aquitaniae duae, Lugdunenses duae, Alpes Graiae, Maxima Sequanorum, Germanicae duae, Belgicae duae: in Britannia, Maxima Caesariensis, Flavia, Britannia prima, Britannia secunda.

There are in Gaul, with Aquitaine and the Britains, eighteen provinces: Alpes Maritimae, the province Narbonensis, Viennensis, Novempopulana, two Aquitanias, two Lugdunenses, Alpes Graiae, Maxima Sequanorum, two Germanicae, two Belgicae: in Britain, Maxima Caesariensis, Flavia, Britannia prima, Britannia secunda.

[7] In lllyricum ab ora maritima paulatim ingressi sumus. Laevinus consul Hadriaticum, atque Ionium mare primus ingressus, maritimas obtinuit civitates. Creta per Metellum proconsulem, qui Creticus dictus est, provincia facta est.

[7] Into Illyricum from the seashore we gradually entered. Laevinus, the consul, having first entered the Adriatic and Ionian seas, obtained the maritime cities. Crete was made a province by Metellus the proconsul, who was called Creticus.

Graecis in fidem nostram confugientibus, ad Achaiam accessimus. Athenienses adversus Philippum, Macedonum Regem, auxilium nostrum petierunt. Libera diu sub amicitiis nostris Achaia fuit: ad extremum legatis Romanorum apud Corinthum violatis, per Lucium Mummium proconsulem capta Corintho, Achaia omnis obtenta est.

With the Greeks fleeing for refuge into our protection, we entered Achaia. The Athenians, against Philip, King of the Macedonians, sought our aid. Achaia was free for a long time under our friendships; at last, with the envoys of the Romans at Corinth having been violated, and with Corinth captured by Lucius Mummius the proconsul, all Achaia was subdued.

Epirotae, qui aliquando cum rege Pyrrho, etiam ad Italiam transire praesumserant, victi sunt. Thessali, simul cum Achivorum, et Macedonum regionibus, nobis accesserunt. Macedonia ter rebellavit; sub Philippo, sub Perseo, et sub Pseudophilippo.

The Epirotes, who once with King Pyrrhus even ventured to cross into Italy, were defeated. The Thessalians, together with the regions of the Achaeans and of the Macedonians, came over to us. Macedonia rebelled three times: under Philip, under Perseus, and under Pseudophilippus.

Philippum Flamininus, Perseum Paullus, Pseudophilippum Metellus oppressit: quorum triumphis Macedonia quoque populo Romano adiuncta est. Illyricos, qui Macedonibus auxilium tulerant, ex eadem occasione per Lucium Anicium Praetorem vicimus; et eos cum rege Gentio in deditionem accepimus. Dardanos et Moesos Curio proconsul subegit; et primus Romanorum ducum ad Danuvium usque pervenit.

Flamininus overthrew Philip, Paullus Perseus, Metellus Pseudophilippus: by the triumphs of these men Macedonia too was joined to the Roman people. We defeated the Illyrians, who had brought aid to the Macedonians, on the same occasion through Lucius Anicius the Praetor; and we received them, together with their king Gentio, into surrender. Curio the proconsul subdued the Dardani and the Moesians; and he was the first of the Roman commanders to reach as far as the Danube.

Sub (?) Iulio et Octaviano Augusto per Alpes Iulias iter factum est: Alpinis omnibus victis, Noricorum provinciae accesserunt. Bathone Pannoniorum rege subacto, in ditionem nostram Pannoniae venerunt. Amantinis inter Savum et Dravum prostratis, regio Savensis ac Secundorum Pannoniorum loca obtenta sunt.

Under (?) Julius and Octavian Augustus a march was made through the Julian Alps: with all the Alpine peoples defeated, the province of the Norici was annexed. Batho, king of the Pannonians, having been subdued, Pannonia came into our dominion. The Amantini, overthrown between the Sava and the Dravus, the Savian region and the lands of the Second Pannonians were obtained.

[8] Marcomanni et Quadi, de locis Valeriae, quae sunt inter Danuvium et Dravum, pulsi sunt: et limes inter Romanos ac barbaros ab Augusta Vindelicorum per Noricum, Pannonias ac Moesiam, est constitutus. Traianus Dacos sub rege Decibalo vicit; et Daciam trans Danuvium in solo barbarico provinciam fecit, quae in circuitu decies centena millia passuum habuit; sed sub Gallieno imperatore amissa est; et per Aurelianum, translatis exinde Romanis, duae Daciae in regionibus Moesiae, ac Dardaniae factae sunt. Provincias habet Illyricus septem et decem: Noricorum duas, Pannoniarum duas, Valeriam, Saviam, Dalmatiam, Moesiam, Daciarum duas.

[8] The Marcomanni and the Quadi, driven from the regions of Valeria which lie between the Danube and the Drava, were expelled: and the frontier (limes) between Romans and barbarians was established from Augusta Vindelicorum through Noricum, the Pannonias, and Moesia. Trajan defeated the Dacians under their king Decibalus, and made Dacia beyond the Danube into a province on barbarian soil, which had a circuit of ten times a hundred thousand paces (one million paces); but it was lost under the emperor Gallienus; and by Aurelian, the Romans being transferred thence, two Dacias were made in the regions of Moesia and Dardania. Illyricus has seventeen provinces: two of the Norici, two of the Pannonii, Valeria, Savia, Dalmatia, Moesia, and two Dacias.

Et in Dioecesi Macedoniae sunt septem: Macedonia, Thessalia, Achaia, Epiri duae, Praevalis, et Creta.

And in the Diocese of Macedonia there are seven: Macedonia, Thessaly, Achaia, two Epeirs, Praevalis, and Crete.

[9] In Thracias Macedonici belli occasione transcursum est. Saevissimi omnium gentium Thraces fuerunt. In Thracium regionibus etiam Scordisci habitaverunt, pariter crudele et callidum genus.

[9] On the occasion of the Macedonian war there was an incursion into the Thracian regions. The Thracians were the most savage of all peoples. In the regions of the Thracians the Scordisci also dwelt, an equally cruel and crafty stock.

Multa de saevitiis praedictorum fabulose memorantur; quod hostium captivos diis suis aliquando litaverint; quodque humanum sanguinem in ossibus capitum potare sint soliti. Saepe per eos Romanus est caesus exercitus. Marcus Didius vagantes Thracas repressit: Marcus Drusus intra fines proprios continuit: Marcus Minutius in Hebri fluminis glacie vastavit.

Many things of the savage deeds of the aforesaid are fabulously recounted; that they sometimes propitiated their gods with the captives of the enemy; and that they were wont to drink human blood from the skull-bones. Often a Roman army was cut down by them. Marcus Didius repressed the roving Thracians: Marcus Drusus kept them within their own bounds: Marcus Minutius devastated them upon the ice of the Hebrus River.

Per Appium Claudium proconsulem hi, qui Rhodopen incolebant, victi sunt. Europae maritimas urbes antea Romana classis obtinuit. Marcus Lucullus per Thracias cum Bessis primus pugnavit; ipsamque caput gentis Thraciam vicit: Haemimontanos subegit, et Eumolpiadem, quae nunc Philippopolis dicitur; Uscudamam, quae modo Hadrianopolis nominatur, in ditionem nostram redegit: Cabylen cepit.

By Appius Claudius, proconsul, those who dwelt in the Rhodope were defeated. The Roman fleet previously gained possession of the maritime cities of Europe. Marcus Lucullus was the first to fight through Thrace with the Bessi; and he overcame Thrace itself, the head of the people: he subdued the Haemimontani, and Eumolpiadem, which is now called Philippopolis; Uscudama, which is now named Hadrianopolis, he reduced to our dominion: he captured Cabyle.

Supra Pontum positas civitates occupavit, Apolloniam, Calathum, Parthenopolim, Tomos, Istrum; ad Danuvium usque perveniens, Romana Scythis arma monstravit. Ita in ditionem reipublicae sex Thraciarum provinciae sunt acquisitae: Thracia, Haemimontus, Moesia inferior, Scythia, Rhodope, Europa; in qua nunc secundae arces Romani orbis sunt constitutae, Constantinopolis.

He occupied the cities set above the Pontus: Apollonia, Calathus, Parthenopolis, Tomis, Istrum; reaching even to the Danube, he displayed Roman arms to the Scythians. Thus six provinces of Thrace were acquired into the dominion of the republic: Thrace, Haemimontus, Lower Moesia, Scythia, Rhodope, Europa; in which now the second citadels of the Roman world are established, Constantinople.

[10] Nunc Eoas partes, totumque Orientem, ac positas sub vicino sole provincias, qui victores sceptris tuis paraverint, explicabo; quo studium clementiae tuae, quod in iisdem propagandis habes, amplius incitetur. Asia societate Attali regis nota Romanis est; eamque Attali testamento relictam hereditario iure possedimus. Ne quid tamen populus Romanus non viribus partum haberet; armis per nos ab Antiocho, Syriarum rege maximo, est vindicata.

[10] Now I will set forth the Eoan parts, the whole Orient, and the provinces lying beneath the neighbouring sun, which those who, as victors, have prepared for your scepters possess; that the zeal of your clemency, which you have in propagating the same, may be further incited. Asia, known to the Romans through the association with King Attalus, we possess by hereditary right, he having left it in his will. Yet so that the Roman people should not hold what was gained without strength, it was vindicated by arms by us from Antiochus, greatest king of the Syrians.

Eadem occasione etiam Lydia, sedes antiqua regnorum, Caria, Hellespontus, ac Phrygiae in potestatem populi Romani iuncta deditione venerunt. Rhodiis, et insularum populis primum infestissimis, post iisdem fidelissimis auxiliatoribus usi sumus. Ita Rhodus, et insulae primum libere agebant: postea in consuetudinem parendi Romanis, clementer provocantibus, pervenerunt; et sub Vespasiano principe, Insularum provincia facta est.

At the same time Lydia, the ancient seat of kingdoms, Caria, the Hellespont, and Phrygia came into the power of the Roman people by a joined surrender. The Rhodians and the peoples of the islands we used first as most hostile, afterwards as those very same most faithful auxiliaries. Thus Rhodes and the islands at first lived freely: afterwards, being gently urged by clemency, they came into the custom of obeying the Romans; and under the prince Vespasian, a province of the Islands was established.

[11] Pamphyliam, Lyciam, Phrygiam, Pisidiam, Cariam, Isauriam Servilius proconsul, ad bellum piratarum missus, obtinuit. Bithyniam defuncti regis Nicomedis testamento sumus adsecuti. Gallograeciam, id est, Galatiam, (sunt enim, ut nomen resonat, ex Gallis Galatae) quod Antiocho contra Romanos auxilium praebuissent, invasimus.

[11] Pamphylia, Lycia, Phrygia, Pisidia, Caria, Isauria were held by Servilius the proconsul, sent to the war against the pirates. Bithynia we acquired by the testament of the late king Nicomedes. We invaded Gallograecia, that is, Galatia (for they are, as the name sounds, Galatae from the Gauls) because they had furnished aid to Antiochus against the Romans.

Manlius proconsul Galatas persecutus est; et confugientes partim in Olympum, partim in Magabam montem, qui nunc Modiacus dicitur, de arduis eos in plana detrusit; victosque in perpetuam, pacem redegit. Postea Galatiam Deiotarus tetrarches, nobis permittentibus, tenuit. Ad extremum sub Octaviano Caesare Augusto Galatia in formam provinciae redacta est, et eam primus Lollius pro praetore administravit.

Manlius the proconsul pursued the Galatians; and those fleeing, some to Olympus, some to the Magaba mountain, which is now called Modiacus, he thrust down from the heights into the plains; and, having been conquered, he reduced them to perpetual peace. Afterwards Deiotarus the tetrarch held Galatia, with our allowing; at last, under Octavian Caesar Augustus, Galatia was brought into the form of a province, and Lollius first administered it as propraetor.

Cappadoces primo societatem nostram sub Ariarathe rege per legatos petiverunt: posteaque Ariobarzanes rex Cappadocum a Mithridate expulsus, Romanorum armis restitutus est; semperque in auxilia nostra fuere Cappadoces, et ita maiestatem coluere Romanam, ut in honorem Augusti Caesaris Mazaca, civitas Cappadociae maxima, Caesarea nuncuparetur. Postremo, cum sub imperatore Claudio Caesare Archelaus ex Cappadocia Romam venisset, ibique diu detentus occubuisset, in provinciae speciem Cappadocia migravit. Pontus, per Pompeium victo Mithridate rege Pontico, formam provinciae accepit.

The Cappadocians first sought our alliance under King Ariarathes through envoys: afterwards Ariobarzanes, king of the Cappadocians, having been expelled by Mithridates, was restored by Roman arms; and the Cappadocians were always among our auxiliaries, and so honored the Roman majesty that, in honor of Augustus Caesar, Mazaca — the greatest city of Cappadocia — was named Caesarea. Finally, when under Emperor Claudius Caesar Archelaus of Cappadocia had come to Rome, and there, having been detained for a long time, had died, Cappadocia was converted into the form of a province. Pontus, Mithridates king of Pontus having been defeated by Pompey, received the form of a province.

Paphlagoniam Pylaemenes rex, amicus populi Romani, tenuit. Saepe ex ea pulsus, regno a nobis est restitutus: quo mortuo, provincia Paphlagonibus imposita est.

King Pylaemenes, a friend of the Roman people, held Paphlagonia. Often driven from it, he was restored to the kingdom by us: when he died, a province was imposed upon the Paphlagonians.

[12] Ultra iuga Tauri montis, quem admodum Romana perrexerit possessio, consequeuti locorum magis, quam temporum servata digestione, monstrabitur. Antiochus, Syriae rex potentissimus, bellum formidabile populo Romano intulit. Trecenta millia armatorum habuit: falcatis etiam curribus, et elephantis aciem instruxit; a Scipione consule, fratre Scipionis Africani, in Asia apud Magnesiam victus, pace accepta, intra Taurum montem regnare permissus est.

[12] Beyond the ridges of Mount Taurus, as the Roman possession advanced, it will be shown more by the succession of places than by a preserved ordering of times. Antiochus, the most powerful king of Syria, brought a formidable war upon the Roman people. He had three hundred thousand armed men: he even arrayed scythed chariots and elephants in his line; defeated by Scipio the consul, brother of Scipio Africanus, in Asia near Magnesia, and peace having been accepted, he was permitted to reign within the Taurus mountain.

Eius filii sub clientela populi Romani regnum Syriae retinuerunt: quibus defunctis, Syriarum provinciis potiti sumus. Cilices, et Isauros, qui piratis et praedonibus maritimis se iunxerant, Servilius proconsul, ad praedonum bellum missus, subegit, et viam per Taurum montem primus instituit; isque de Cilicibus et Isauris triumphavit; atque Isauricus est cognominatus.

His sons, under the clientship of the Roman people, retained the kingdom of Syria: upon their death we came into possession of the provinces of Syria. The Cilicians and Isauri, who had joined themselves to pirates and maritime plunderers, Servilius the proconsul, sent against the robbers, subdued, and first established a road through Mount Taurus; and he triumphed over the Cilicians and Isauri, and was surnamed Isauricus.

[13] Cyprus, famosa divitiis, paupertatem populi Romani, ut occuparetur, sollicitavit. Eam rex foederatus Ptolemaeus regebat: sed tanta fuit penuria aerarii Romani, et tam ingens fama opum Cypriarum, ut lege lata per Publium Clodium, tribunum plebis, Cyprus confiscari iuberetur. Quo accepto nuntio, rex Cyprius venenum sumpsit; quo vitam prius, quam divitias, amitteret.

[13] Cyprus, famed for its riches, stirred up the poverty of the Roman people to be seized. It was ruled by the allied king Ptolemy; but so great was the scarcity of the Roman treasury, and so vast the renown of Cyprian wealth, that by a law passed through Publius Clodius, tribune of the plebs, Cyprus was ordered to be confiscated. On receiving that message, the Cypriot king took poison, preferring to lose his life rather than his riches.

Cato Cyprias opes Romam navibus advexit; ita ius eius insulae, avarias magis, quam iustius, sumus adsecuti. Cyrenas, cum ceteris civitatibus Libyae Pentapolis, Ptolemaei antiquioris liberalitate suscepimus. Libyam supremo Apionis regis arbitrio sumus adsecuti.

Cato brought Cyprian wealth to Rome by ships; thus we obtained the jurisdiction of that island more as plunder than more justly. We received Cyrenaica, with the other cities of the Libyan Pentapolis, by the liberality of the elder Ptolemy. We obtained Libya by the final decision of King Apion.

Aegyptus omnis sub amicis regibus fuerat; sed victa cum Antonio Cleopatra, provinciae formam Octaviani Caesaris Augusti tempore accepit: et primum apud Alexandrinos Cornelius Gallus, Romanus iudex, administravit.

All Egypt had been under friendly kings; but, Cleopatra having been defeated with Antony, it took the form of a province in the time of Octavian Caesar Augustus: and first among the Alexandrians Cornelius Gallus, a Roman judge, administered it.

[14] Per confinia Armeniarum primum sub Lucio Lucullo Romana trans Taurum transmissa sunt arma. Phylarchi Saracenorum in Osroene superati cessere. In Mesopotamia ab eodem Lucullo Nisibis capta est.

[14] Through the borders of the Armenias the Roman arms were first sent over the Taurus under Lucius Lucullus. The phylarchs of the Saracens in Osroene, being defeated, yielded. In Mesopotamia Nisibis was taken by the same Lucullus.

Postea per Pompeium eadem loca armis obtenta sunt. Syriae et Phoenice, bello a Tigrane, Armeniorum rege, receptae sunt. Arabes et Iudaei in Palaestina victi sunt.

Afterward, through Pompey the same regions were won by arms. Syria and Phoenicia were regained in the war by Tigranes, king of the Armenians. Arabs and Jews in Palestine were defeated.

Ad extremum sub Traiano principe, regi maioris Armeniae diadema sublatum est, et per Traianum Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, et Arabia, provinciae factae sunt; ac limes Orientalis supra ripam fluminis Tigridis institutus est. Sed Hadrianus, qui successit Traiano eius invidens gloriae, sponte sua Armeniam, Mesopotamiam et Assyriam reddidit, ac medium inter Persas et Romanos Euphratem esse voluit. Sed postea sub Antoninis duobus, Marco et Vero, et Severo Pertinace, ceterisque principibus Romanis, qui adversus Parthos eventu vario dimicaverunt, quater amissa, quater recepta Mesopotamia est: ac Diocletiani temporibus, victis prima congressione Romanis, secundo autem conflictu superato rege Narseo, uxore eius ac filiabus captis, et cum summa pudicitiae custodia reservatis, pace facta, Mesopotamia est restituta: et supra ripam Tigridis limes est reformatus; ita ut quinque gentium trans Tigridem constitutarum ditionem adsequeremur: quae conditio foederis in tempus divi Constantini conservata duravit.

At the end, under the prince Trajan, the diadem was taken from the king of Greater Armenia, and through Trajan Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Arabia were made provinces; and an eastern limes was established above the bank of the river Tigris. But Hadrian, who succeeded Trajan and envied his glory, of his own accord restored Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, and wished the Euphrates to be the boundary between the Persians and the Romans. But afterwards, under the two Antonines, Marcus and Verus, and Severus Pertinax, and other Roman princes who fought with varied success against the Parthians, Mesopotamia was lost four times and recovered four times: and in the times of Diocletian, the Romans having been victorious in the first engagement, and in the second conflict overcoming King Narseh, his wife and daughters being captured and preserved with the highest guardianship of chastity, peace being made, Mesopotamia was restored; and the limes above the bank of the Tigris was reestablished; so that we obtained the dominion of five peoples settled across the Tigris: and this condition of the treaty, kept until the time of the divine Constantine, endured.

[15] Scio nunc, inclite princeps, quo tua vergat intentio. Requiris profecto, quoties Babyloniae et Romanorum arma collata sint, et quibus vicibus sagittis pila contenderint. Breviter eventus enumerabo bellorum.

[15] I know now, illustrious prince, toward what your intention leans. You ask, indeed, how often the arms of Babylonia and of the Romans have been brought together, and by what turns they have striven with arrows and javelins. I will briefly enumerate the outcomes of the wars.

Furto hostes in paucis invenies esse laetatos; vera autem virtute semper Romanas probatas extitisse victorias. Primum a Lucio Sulla proconsule Arsaces rex Parthorum propulsatus, missa legatione, amicitiam populi Romani rogavit, ac meruit. Lucius Lucullus Mithridatem, regno Ponti exutum, ad Armeniam prosecutus, est.

You will find the enemies glad at petty thefts; but true victories, proven Roman, have always been by virtue. First, Arsaces, king of the Parthians, driven back by Lucius Sulla, proconsul, sent an embassy, sought the friendship of the Roman people, and deserved it. Lucius Lucullus pursued Mithridates, stripped of the kingdom of Pontus, into Armenia.

Tigranem, Armeniorum regem, cum decem septem millibus quingentis clibanariis, et centum viginti millibus sagittariorum, ipse cum decem et octo millibus Romanorum vicit. Tigranocertam, maximam Armeniae civitatem, expugnavit; et Madenam, opimam Armeniorum regionem, obtinuit. Inde per Melitenam ad Mesopotamiam descendit: Nisibim cum fratre regis cepit.

He defeated Tigranes, king of the Armenians, who had 17,500 clibanarii and 120,000 archers, himself with 18,000 Romans. He stormed Tigranocerta, the greatest city of Armenia; and took Madena, a fertile region of the Armenians. From there he descended through Melitene into Mesopotamia: he took Nisibis with the king’s brother.

Tendere in Persas paratus successorem accepit.

He received as successor a man prepared to march against the Persians.

[16] Cn. Pompeius, expertae felicitatis, ad Mithridaticum bellum missus, Mithridatem in Armenia minore nocturno adgressus praelio, superavit: caesis duobus et quadraginta millibus hostium, castra eius invasit. Mithridates enim cum uxore et duobus comitibus in Bosporum fugit; ubi desperatione rerum suarum venenum hausit; et cum parum ageret vis veneni, a milite suo, ut ferro perimeretur, impetravit. Pompeius auxiliatorem Mithridatis Tigranem, Armeniorum regem, persecutus est: ille se ei, oblato diademate, apud Artaxata dedidit.

[16] Cn. Pompeius, experienced in good fortune, sent to the Mithridatic war, attacked Mithridates in Lesser Armenia by a night engagement and defeated him: with forty-two thousand of the enemy slain, he stormed his camp. For Mithridates, with his wife and two companions, fled to the Bosporus; there, in despair of his affairs, he drank poison; and when the force of the poison was too little, he obtained from his soldier that he should be killed with a sword. Pompeius pursued Mithridates’ ally Tigranes, king of the Armenians: he, having offered his diadem, surrendered himself to him at Artaxata.

Receptae sunt ab eo Mesopotamia, Syriae, et aliquanta pars Phoenices; atque intra Armeniam maiorera regnare permissus est. Idem Pompeius Bosporanis et Colchis Aristarcum regem imposuit: cum Albanis conflixit: Orhodi, Albanorum regi, ter victo, pacem dedit. Iberiam cum Artoce rege in deditionem accepit.

Mesopotamia, Syria, and a considerable part of Phoenicia were taken by him; and he was permitted to reign with greater authority within Armenia. The same Pompey set Aristarchus as king over the Bosporans and Colchis: he clashed with the Albanians: to Orhodi, king of the Albanians, thrice defeated, he granted peace. He received Iberia into submission with King Artoces.

Saracenos et Arabas vicit. Iudaea capta, Hierosolymam obtinuit. Cum Persis foedus fecit.

He defeated the Saracens and the Arabs. Judea captured, he obtained Jerusalem. He made a treaty with the Persians.

Rediens, apud Antiochiam Daphensem lucum, delectatus loci amoenitate et aquarum abundantia,addito nemore, Apollini consecravit.

Returning, at Antioch he consecrated the Daphnean grove to Apollo, delighted by the amenity of the place and the abundance of waters, with an added wood.

[17] Marcus Crassus consul adversus Parthos rebellantes missus est. Is cum pacem, missa a Parthis legatione, rogaretur, apud Ctesiphontem responsurum se ait. Apud Zeugma traiecit Euphratem; et a transfuga quodam Abgaro inductus, ad ignotam camporum solitudinem descendit.

[17] Marcus Crassus was sent as consul against the rebelling Parthians. When, a legation having been sent by the Parthians, he was asked for peace, he said that he would answer at Ctesiphon. He crossed the Euphrates at Zeugma; and, having been led on by a certain deserter, Abgarus, he descended into an unknown solitude of the plains.

Ibi undique circumvallantibus sagittariorum agminibus cum Silate, et Surena praefectis regiis, est cinctus exercitus, et vi telorum obrutus. Ipse Crassus, ad colloquium sollicitatus repugnantibus tribunis, cum vivus paene capi posset, evaserat: et dum fugam petit, occisus est. Caput eius cum dextera manu resectum, ad regem perlatum est; atque ita ludibrio habitum, ut faucibus eius aurum liquefactum infunderetur: Scilicet ut, qui ardens cupiditate praedandi pacem regi dare rogatus abnuerat, etiam mortui eius reliquias auri flamma combureret.

There, with columns of archers circumvallating on every side and Silas and Surena as royal prefects, the army was hemmed in and overwhelmed by the violence of missiles. Crassus himself, invited to a colloquy while the tribunes were resisting, though he might almost have been taken alive, had escaped; and while he sought flight he was killed. His head, cut off together with his right hand, was borne to the king; and thus made a mockery, so that molten gold was poured into his gullet: namely, that he who, burning with the cupidity of plundering, when asked to give peace to the king had refused, might even have his relics in death consumed by the flame of gold.

Gaius Cassius, quaestor Crassi, vir strenuus, reliquias fusi collegit exercitus. Contra Persas in Syriam irrumpentes, ter cum summa admiratione conflixit; eosque, trans Euphratem reiectos, vastavit.

Gaius Cassius, quaestor of Crassus, a strenuous (vigorous) man, collected the relics of the dispersed army. He fought three times with the Persians intruding into Syria, with the greatest admiration; and after driving them back across the Euphrates, he laid them waste.

[18] Parthi, Labieno duce, qui Pompeianarum partium fuerat, et victus ad Persas confugerat, in Syriam irrupere, ac totam provinciam occupaverunt. Sed Publius Ventidius Bassus Parthos, qui ducente Labieno Syriam invaserant, occurrens in Tauro monte, cum paucis fugavit, Labienum occidit, persecutus est Parthos, et ad internecionem stravit: qua congressione Parthorum regis filium eadem die, qua Crassus victus fuerat, ne aliquando Romani ducis mors inulta relinqueretur, occidit. Ventidius de Parthis primus triumphavit.

[18] The Parthians, with Labienus as leader, who had been of Pompeian allegiance and, defeated, had taken refuge with the Parthians, burst into Syria and occupied the whole province. But Publius Ventidius Bassus, meeting the Parthians who, under Labienus, had invaded Syria, routed them on Mount Taurus with few men, killed Labienus, pursued the Parthians, and laid them low to destruction: in that engagement he killed the son of the Parthian king on the same day on which Crassus had been defeated, so that the death of a Roman commander would not be left unavenged. Ventidius was the first to triumph over the Parthians.

Marcus Antonius Mediam ingressus, quae nunc Medena appellatur, bellum Parthis intulit, et primis eos proeliis vicit: verum post, duabus legionibus amissis, cum fame, pestilentia, tempestatibusque premeretur, vix per Armeniam, Parthis insequentibus, revocavit exercitum; tanto per momenta temporum terrore perculsus, ut a gladiatore suo percuti postularet, ne vivus veniret in hostium potestatem.

Marcus Antonius, having entered Media, which is now called Medena, waged war upon the Parthians, and in the first battles defeated them: but afterwards, having lost two legions, and being pressed by famine, pestilence, and tempests, he with difficulty drew back his army through Armenia, the Parthians pursuing; so struck by the terrors of the times that he begged to be struck by his gladiator, lest he be brought alive into the power of the enemies.

[19] Sub Octaviano Caesare Augusto Armenia cum Parthis conspiravit. Claudius Caesar, nepos Augusti, cum exercitu missus ad Orientem, cum per maiestatem Romani nominis facile cuncta sedasset, atque ei se Armenii, qui tunc temporis validiores erant Parthis, dedidissent, iudicesque ex instituto Pompeii praedictis gentibus Claudius Caesar praeficeret; Donnes quidam, quem Parthis Arsaces praeposuerat, proditione simulata, libellum, in quo scripti thesauri continerentur, illi obtulit: quem cum imperator Romanus legeret attentius, cultro eum aggressus Donnes vulneravit. Percussor quidem a militibus confossus est; Caius ex vulnere, regressus in Syriam, obiit.

[19] Under Octavian Caesar Augustus, Armenia conspired with the Parthians. Claudius Caesar, nephew of Augustus, sent with an army to the East, when by the majesty of the Roman name he had easily quelled everything, and the Armenians — who at that time were stronger than the Parthians — had surrendered to him, and when, according to the established practice of Pompey, Claudius Caesar was to appoint judges for those aforesaid peoples; a certain Donnes, whom Arsaces had set over the Parthians, feigning treachery, offered him a little paper in which the treasures were listed: when the Roman commander read it more closely, Donnes, having assailed him with a dagger, wounded him. The assailant was indeed run through by the soldiers; Caius, of the wound, having returned to Syria, died.

Parthi ad satisfactionem facinoris admissi, obsides tune primum Octaviano Caesari Augusto dederunt, et erepta sub Crasso signa retulerunt. Pacatis gentibus Orientis, Augustus Caesar etiam Indorum legationem primus accepit.

The Parthians, admitted to make satisfaction for the crime committed, then for the first time gave hostages to Octavian Caesar Augustus, and returned the standards wrested away under Crassus. With the peoples of the East pacified, Augustus Caesar also was the first to receive an embassy from the Indians.

[20] Nero, quem turpissimum imperatorem Romana est passa respublica, amisit Armenias duas. Tunc Romanae legiones duae sub iugum a Parthis missae, extremo dedecore Romani nominis, exercitus sacramenta foedarunt. Traianus, qui post Augustum Romanae reipublicae movit lacertos, Armeniam recepit a Parthis: sublato diademate, regi Armeniae maioris regnum ademit.

[20] Nero, whom the Roman res publica endured as the most shameful emperor, lost two Armenias. Then two Roman legions were sent under the yoke by the Parthians, to the extreme dishonour of the Roman name, and the armies' sacramenta were defiled. Trajan, who after Augustus stirred the strength of the Roman republic, recovered Armenia from the Parthians: with the diadem removed, he took the kingdom from the king of Greater Armenia.

Albanis regem dedit: Iberos, Bosporanos, Colchos in fidem Romanae ditionis accepit: Osroenorum loca et Arabum occupavit. Corduenos, et Marcomedos obtinuit. Antemusium, optimam Persidis regionem, Seleuciamque, et Ctesiphontem ac Babyloniam accepit, et tenuit; usque ad Indiae fines post Alexandrum accessit.

He gave a king to the Albanians: he received the Iberians, Bosporans, and Colchians into the faith of Roman dominion: he occupied the lands of the Osroeni and the Arabs. He held the Cordueni and the Marcomedoi. He took Antemusium, the best region of Persia, and Seleucia, and Ctesiphon and Babylon, and retained them; he advanced as far as the borders of India after Alexander.

In mari rubro classem instituit. Provincias fecit Armeniam, Assyriam, et Mesopotamiam, quae inter Tigridem atque Euphratem sita, irriguis amnibus, instar Aegypti, foecundatur. Hadrianum gloriae Traiani certum est invidisse, quia ei successit in imperio.

He established a fleet in the Red Sea. He made provinces of Armenia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia, which, situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates, watered by irrigating rivers, are made fertile like Egypt. It is certain that Hadrian envied the glory of Trajan, because he succeeded him in the empire.

Hic, sponte propria reductis exercitibus, Armeniam, Mesopotamiam, et Assyriam concessit; et inter Romanos ac Parthos medium Euphratem esse voluit.

Here, with his armies withdrawn of his own accord, he ceded Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria; and wished the Euphrates to be the boundary between the Romans and the Parthians.

[21] Antonini duo, Marcus et Verus, ille socer, hic gener, pariter Augusti, imperium orbis aequata primum potestate tenuerunt. Sed ex his Antoninus iunior ad expeditionem Parthicam profectus est; multaque et ingentia adversus Persas feliciter gessit. Seleuciam, Assyriae urbem, cum quadringentis millibus hostium cepit: ingenti gloria de Parthis cum socero triumphavit.

[21] The two Antonini, Marcus and Verus, the one father‑in‑law, the other son‑in‑law, jointly Augusti, at first held the empire of the world with equal power. But of these the younger Antoninus set out on a Parthian expedition; and he carried out many and great deeds successfully against the Persians. He captured Seleucia, a city of Assyria, with 400,000 of the enemy: with immense glory he triumphed over the Parthians together with his father‑in‑law.

Septimius Severus, natione Afer, acerrimus imperator, Parthos strenuissime vicit, Adiabenos delevit, Arabas interiores obtinuit, et Arabiam provinciam fecit; hinc cognomina ei a victoriis acquisita sunt: nam Parthicus, Adiabenicus, et Arabicus dictus est. Antoninus Bassianus, cognomento Caracalla, filius Severi imperatoris, expeditionem in Persas parans, in Osroena apud Edessam propera morte obiit, et ibidem sepultas est.

Septimius Severus, by nation an African, a most fierce emperor, very vigorously defeated the Parthians, destroyed the Adiabenes, held the inner Arabs, and made Arabia a province; hence the cognomina were acquired for him from his victories: for he was called Parthicus, Adiabenicus, and Arabicus. Antoninus Bassianus, by the cognomen Caracalla, son of the emperor Severus, preparing an expedition against the Persians, died by a sudden death in Osroene near Edessa, and there was buried.

[22] Aurelius Alexander, quasi fato quodam in exitium Persicae gentis natus, iuvenis admodum Romani gubernacula suscepit imperii. Ipse Persarum regem nobilissimum Xerxem gloriose vicit. Hic Alexander scriniorum magistrum habuit Ulpianum iurisconsultum.

[22] Aurelius Alexander, as if by some fate born for the ruin of the Persic people, in very young years undertook the helm of the Roman empire. He himself gloriously defeated the most noble king of the Persians, Xerxes. This Alexander had Ulpianus, the jurisconsult, as master of the scrinia (the imperial archives).

De Parthis Romae pompa spectabili triumphavit. Sub Gordiano Augusto, eius ex iuventutis fiducia rebellantes Parthi, ingentibus proeliis contusi sunt: isque de Perside rediens victor, fraude Philippi, qui praefectus praetorii erat, occisus est. Milites ei tumulum in vicesimo milliario a Circensio castro, quod et nunc extat, aedificaverunt; atque exequias eius Romam cum maxima reverentia deduxerunt.

He triumphed at Rome with a conspicuous procession over the Parthians. Under Gordian Augustus the Parthians, rebelling from his youthful confidence, were shattered in vast battles: and he, returning victor from Persis, was slain by the fraud of Philip, who was Praetorian Prefect. The soldiers built him a tomb at the twentieth milestone from the Castrician camp, which even now stands; and they led his funeral into Rome with the utmost reverence.

[23] Valeriani, infausti principis, fortunam taedet referre. Is cum Gallieno suscepit imperium: Cum Valerianum exercitus, Gallienum senatus imperatorem fecit, in Mesopotamia adversus Persas congressus, a Sapore, Persarum Rege, superatus est: et captus in dedecore servitutis consenuit. Sub Gallieno Mesopotamia invasa, etiam Syriam sibi Persae coeperunt vindicare: nisi, quod turpe dictu est, Odenathus, decurio Palmyrenus, collecta Syrorum agrestium manu, acriter restitisset: et fusis aliquoties Persis, non modo nostrum limitem defendisset; sed etiam ad Ctesiphontem Romani ultor imperii, quod mirum est dictu, penetrasset.

[23] It is wearisome to recount the fortune of Valerian, the unlucky prince. He, together with Gallienus, assumed the imperial power: when Valerian, having engaged the Persians in Mesopotamia, was overcome by Sapor, king of the Persians, he was taken and grew old in the dishonour of slavery. Under Gallienus, with Mesopotamia invaded, the Persians even began to lay claim to Syria for themselves; unless — which is shameful to say — Odenathus, a decurion of Palmyra, having gathered a band of rustic Syrians, bravely restored it: and, after routing the Persians several times, he not only defended our frontier but even, to Ctesiphon, the avenger of the Roman empire, penetrated, which is wondrous to tell.

[24] Aureliani imperatoris gloriae Zenobia, Odenathi uxor, accessit. Ea enim post mortem mariti foeminea ditione Orientis tenebat imperium: quam Aurelianus, multis clibanariorum et sagittariorum millibus fretam, apud Immas haud procul ab Antiochia vicit, et captam Romam triumphans ante currum duxit. Cari imperatoris victoria de Persis nimium audax superno numini visa, eadem ad iudicium caelestis indignationis pertinuisse credenda est.

[24] The glory of Emperor Aurelian was enhanced by Zenobia, wife of Odenathus. For she, after her husband's death, held the rule of the East by feminine dominion: whom Aurelian, relying on many thousands of clibanarii and archers, defeated at Immae not far from Antioch, and, having captured her, led her triumphantly before his chariot into Rome. The dear emperor's victory over the Persians, seen as too bold by the supreme divinity, must be judged to have belonged to the sentence of celestial indignation.

Is enim ingressus Persidem, quasi nullo obsistente, vastavit: Cochen et Ctesiphontem, urbes Persarum nobilissimas, cepit: cum victor totius gentis castra supra Tigridem haberet, fulminis ictu interiit.

For when he had entered Persia, as if with no one resisting, he laid it waste: he took Cochen and Ctesiphon, the most noble cities of the Persians; and when the victor of the whole nation held his camp above the Tigris, he perished by a thunderbolt’s stroke.

[25] Sub Diocletiano principe pompa victoriae de Persis nota est. Maximianus Caesar, prima congressione, cum contra innumeram multitudinem cum paucis acriter dimicasset, pulsus recessit. Hic tanta indignatione a Diocletiano exceptus est, ut ante carpentum eius per aliquot millia passuum cucurrerit purpuratus: et cum vix impetrasset, ut reparato de limitaneis Daciae exercitu, eventum Martis repeteret, in Armenia maiore ipse imperator cura duobus equitibus exploravit hostes: et cum viginti quinque millibus militum superveniens castris hostilibus, subito innumera Persarum agmina adgressus est, et ad internecionem cecidit.

[25] Under the prince Diocletian, a pomp of victory over the Persians is famed. Maximianus Caesar, at the first engagement, though he had fought fiercely with few against an innumerable multitude, was driven off and withdrew. He was received by Diocletian with such indignation that, clad in purple, he ran before his carriage for several thousand paces; and when he had scarcely obtained, after the frontier forces of Dacia were restored, leave to essay again the fortune of Mars, the emperor himself in Greater Armenia, with the care of two horsemen, reconnoitred the enemies: and when, arriving with 25,000 soldiers at the hostile camp, he suddenly charged countless ranks of Persians, he fell to annihilation.

Rex Persarum Narseus effugit; uxor eius, et filiae captae sunt; et cum maxima pudicitiae custodia reservatae. Pro qua admiratione Persae non modo armis, sed etiam moribus, superiores esse Romanos confessi sunt: Mesopotamiam cum Transtigritanis quinque regionibus dediderunt: paceque facta, usque ad nostram memoriam in fide perdurarunt.

The king of the Persians, Narseus, fled; his wife and daughters were taken; and they were kept under the greatest custody of chastity. By this wonder the Persians confessed that the Romans were superior not only in arms but also in mores: they yielded Mesopotamia together with the five regions beyond the Tigris; and with peace made, they endured in fidelity down to our memory.

[26] Constantinus, rerum dominus, extremo vitae suae tempore, expeditionem paravit in Persas: toto enim orbe pacatis gentibus, et recenti de Gothis gloriosior victoria, cunctis in Persas descendebat agminibus. Sub cuius adventum Babyloniae in tantum regna trepidaverunt, ut multiplex ad eum legatio occurreret Persarum, qui facturos se imperata promitterent. Nec tamen pro assidais eruptionibus, quas sub Constantio Caesare per Orientem tentaverant, veniam meruerunt.

[26] Constantinus, master of affairs, at the last time of his life prepared an expedition against the Persians: for with the whole world’s peoples pacified, and with a recent and more glorious victory over the Goths, all his hosts were descending upon the Persians. At his coming the kingdoms of Babylonia so trembled that a manifold embassy of Persians met him, promising that they would perform the commands. Nor, however, did they merit pardon for the assiduous raids which they had attempted throughout the East under Constantius Caesar.

[27] Constantius in Persas vario, ac difficili magis, quam prospero, pugnavit eventu. Praeter leves excubantium in limite congressiones, acriori acie novies decertatum est per duces eius; septies ipse praesens adfuit veris, et gravibus pugnis: verum pugnis Sisaruena, Singarena et iterum Singarena, praesente Constantio, ac Sicgarena, Constantiensi quoque, et cum Amida capta est, grave sub eo principe respublica vulnus accepit. Ter autem est a Persis obsessa Nisibis; sed maiore suo detrimento, dum obsideret, hostis affectus est.

[27] Constantius fought the Persians with an outcome more varied and more difficult than prosperous. Apart from light frontier skirmishes of sentinels, the line was fiercely contested nine times by his commanders; seven times he himself was present at true and weighty battles: nevertheless in the battles of Sisaruena, Singarena and again Singarena, in the presence of Constantius, and Sicgarena, also to Constantius, and when Amida was taken, under that prince the res publica received a grievous wound. Nisibis was besieged by the Persians three times; but the enemy was stricken with greater loss while he besieged it.

Narasarensi autem, ubi Narseus occiditur, superiores discessimus. Nocturna vero in agro Eliensi prope Singaram pugna, ubi praesens Constantius adfuit, omnium expeditionum compensatus fuisset eventus, si, locis ac nocte adversantibus, percitos ferocia milites, ab intempestivo pugnandi tempore imperator ipse alloquendo revocare potuisset: qui tamen invicti viribus, improvisis adversos sitim aquarum subsidiis, incumbente iam vespere, castra Persarum adgressi, ruptis munitionibus, occupaverunt; fugatoque rege, cum a proelio respirantes, praetentis luminibus repertae inhiarent aquae, nimbo sagittarum obruti sunt; cum stolide, ad dirigendos certius in se ictus, lumina ipsi per noctem accensa praeberent.

At Narasarensis, where Narseus was slain, we withdrew from the heights. Now the night engagement in the field of Elias near Singara, in which Constantius was present, would have made good the outcomes of all the expeditions, if—places and night being unfavorable—the soldiers, struck by ferocity, could have been recalled by the emperor himself from that untimely hour of fighting by a word; but they, unbeaten in strength, unexpectedly falling upon an enemy afflicted by thirst and without water supplies, with evening already pressing on, assaulted the Persians’ camp, broke the works, and seized it; and with the king put to flight, when, breathing after the battle, they gaped at the waters found by held-up torches, they were buried by a shower of arrows; for, foolishly, to aim blows more surely at their opponents, they themselves had kept lights burning through the night.

[28] Iuliano, in externos hostes expertae felicitatis principi, adversus Persas modus defuit. Is enim cum ingenti apparatu, utpote totius orbis regnator, infesta in Persas signa commovit; instructam commeatibus classem per Euphratem invexit. Strenuus in ingressu multa Persarum oppida, et castella aut suscepit dedita, aut manu cepit.

[28] To Julian, a prince experienced in success against foreign enemies, a due measure failed versus the Persians. For he, with a vast apparatus, as ruler of the whole orb, marshalled hostile standards against the Persians; he carried a fleet, furnished with supplies, up the Euphrates. Energetic in his ingress, he either received many Persian towns and fortresses as surrendered, or took them by hand.

Cum contra Ctesiphontem, in Tigridis et Euphratis ripa iam mixtim castra haberet; ludosque campestres, ut hosti sollicitudinem demeret, per diem agitasset, noctis in medio impositos navibus milites in ulteriorem ripam repente transvexit: qui ardua nitentes, qua difficilis etiam per diem, et nullo prohibente, fuisset ascensus, Persas terrore subito occuparunt; versisque agminibus totius gentis, apertas Ctesiphontis portas victores intrassent, nisi maior eis praedandi occasio fuisset, quam cura victoriae. Tantam adeptus gloriam, cum de reditu a comitibus admoneretur, intentioni suae magis credidit: et exustis navibus, cum a transfuga, qui se ad fallendum obiecerat, inductus viae in Madaenam compendia sectaretur, dextrum adversa Tigridis ripa, nudato militum latere, iter relegens, dum incautius per agmen errat, excito pulvere ereptus e suorum conspectu, ab hostium obvio equite, conto per ilia ictus, inguinum tenus vulneratus est. Inter efusionem nimii sanguinis cum suorum ordinem, licet saucius, instaurasset; cunctantem animam, multis suos allocutus, efflavit.

But when against Ctesiphon he had now camped here and there on the bank of the Tigris and the Euphrates; and had staged field-games by day, to allay the enemy’s anxiety, he at midnight secretly transported troops placed on ships across to the farther bank: they, striving up the steep places — which even by day had been difficult, and with no one preventing their ascent — suddenly seized the Persians with terror; and, their ranks turned about, the victors would have entered the open gates of Ctesiphon, had not a greater occasion for plundering presented itself to them than a care for victory. Having won such glory, when he was warned by his companions about the return, he trusted more his own intent; and after the ships were burned, when a deserter, who had cast himself forward to deceive, led him by a road into Madaen in search of shortcuts, keeping the right-hand way along the opposite bank of the Tigris and exposing the side of his soldiers, while he wandered too heedlessly through the column, he was swept up in the risen dust, snatched from the sight of his men, and met by a horseman of the enemy, struck with a lance through the flanks and wounded as far as the groin. In the outpouring of excessive blood, though wounded, he restored the order of his men; and, his spirit hesitating, having addressed many of his own, he breathed his last.

[29] Iovianus proeliis superiorem, sed confusum subita morte amissi imperatoris, suscepit exercitum. Cum commeatus deficerent, et via in reditu prolixior immineret, et Persae crebris incursionibus nunc a fronte, nunc a tergo, mediorum quoque latera incursantes, iter agminis morarentur; consumptis aliquot diebus, tanta reverentia Romani nominis fuit, ut a Persis primus de pace sermo haberetur; ac reduci confectus inedia exercitus sineretur; conditionibus, quod nunquam antea accidit, dispendiosis Romanae reipublicae impositis; ut Nisibis, et pars Mesopotamiae traderentur: quibus, cupidior regni, quam gloriae, Iovianus, imperio rudis, acquievit.

[29] Iovianus, superior in battles, but thrown into confusion by the sudden death of the emperor who had been lost, took up the army. Since supplies failed, and the road on the return threatened to be more protracted, and the Persians, by frequent incursions now from the front, now from the rear, even attacking the flanks of the center, delayed the march of the column; after several days were consumed, there was such reverence for the Roman name that the first parle of peace was held by the Persians; and the army, exhausted and wasted by hunger, was allowed to be led back; on terms, which had never before occurred, ruinous and imposed upon the Roman republic; so that Nisibis and part of Mesopotamia were handed over: to these, more eager for a kingdom than for glory, Iovianus, inexperienced in command, acquiesced.

[30] Quam magno deinceps ore tua, o Princeps invicte, facta inclita sunt personanda? Quibus me licet imparem dicendi nisu, et aevo graviorem, parabo. Maneat modo concessa Dei nutu, cui credis, et ab amico, cui creditus es, numine indulta felicitas, ut ad hanc ingentem de Gothis, etiam Babylonicae tibi palma pacis accedat.

[30] With what great mouth hereafter must your illustrious deeds be proclaimed, O unconquered Prince? To which, though unequal in the effort of speaking, and the heavier with age, I will set myself. Let only the things granted remain by the nod of God, whom you trust, and the felicity bestowed by the divinity of the friend to whom you were entrusted, so that to this great (victory) over the Goths the Babylonian palm of peace may also be added to you.