Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Anno ab Vrbe condita millesimo centesimo tricesimo octauo Theodosius, genitus patre Theodosio, matre Termantia, quadragesimus primus imperatorum, interfecto per Maximum Gratiano imperium Romani orbis solus optinuit mansitque in eo annis undecim, cum iam in Orientis partibus sex annis Gratiano uiuente regnasset. Itaque iustis necessariisque causis ad bellum ciuile permotus, cum e duobus Augustis fratribus unius interfecti ultionem, alterius restitutionem procuraret, sese aduersum Maximum tyrannum sola fide maior, nam longe minor uniuersi apparatus bellici conparatione, proripuit. Aquileiae tunc Maximus insederat, Andragatius comes eius summam belli administrabat; qui cum largissimis militum copiis astuto consilio omnes Alpium ac fluminum aditus communisset, dum nauali expeditione incautum hostem praeuenire parat et obruere, sponte eadem quae obstruxerat claustra deseruit.

1 In the year 1138 from the founding of the City Theodosius, born of a father Theodosius and a mother Termantia, the forty-first of the emperors, with Gratian having been killed by Maximus, alone obtained and remained in the empire of the Roman world for eleven years, having already reigned in the eastern provinces for six years while Gratian yet lived. Therefore, moved to civil war by just and necessary causes, since he sought vengeance for one of the two Augusti brothers having been slain and the restoration of the other, he rushed upon Maximus the tyrant trusting in greater faith alone — for by comparison of the whole military apparatus he was much the smaller —. Maximus then had taken position at Aquileia, Andragathius, his comes, managed the chief conduct of the war; who, having with a cunning plan massed very large forces at all the passes of the Alps and the approaches of the rivers, while he prepared by a naval expedition to forestall and overwhelm the unsuspecting enemy, of his own accord abandoned the very barriers which he had blocked.

2 Ita Theodosius nemine sentiente uacuas Alpes intrauit atque Aquileiam inprouisus adueniens magnum hostem Maximum ac trucem et ab inmanissimis quoque Germanorum gentibus tributa ac stipendia solo terrore nominis exigentem sine controuersia clausit, coepit, occidit. Hanc Maximo perditionem beatus Martinus ante praedixit. Valentinianus recepto Italiae potitus imperio est; Andragatius comes cognita Maximi nece praecipitem sese e naui in undas dedit ac suffocatus est.

2 Thus Theodosius, with no one perceiving, entered the vacated Alps and, arriving unexpectedly at Aquileia, without dispute shut in the great and savage enemy Maximus — who, by the mere terror of his name, exacted tributes and stipends even from the most enormous Germanic peoples — attacked him, slew him. Blessed Martin had foretold this perdition of Maximus beforehand. Valentinian, having regained Italy, obtained the empire; Andragatius, the comes, when Maximus’s death was made known, cast himself headlong from the ship into the waves and was drowned.

Theodosius incruentam uictoriam Deo procurante suscepit; Victorem quoque Maximi filium, quem imperatorem pater Gallis infantili aetate reliquerat, extinxit.

Theodosius received a bloodless victory, God procuring; he also put to death Victor, the son of Maximus, whom his father had left to the Gauls as emperor in his infantile age.

3 Igitur Valentinianus iunior, cum in Galliam transisset ibique tranquilla re publica in pace ageret, apud Viennam dolo Arbogastis comitis sui strangulatus atque, ut uoluntariam sibi consciuisse mortem putaretur, laqueo suspensus est; quo extincto Arbogastes tyrannum creauit Eugenium, eligens hominem cui titulum imperatoris imponeret, ipse aucturus imperium; uir barbarus animo, consilio, manu, audacia potentiaque nimius, contraxit undique innumeras inuictasque copias uel Romanorum praesidiis uel auxiliis barbarorum, aliis potestate, aliis cognatione subnixus. Denique extabat genere Francus cultorque sordidissimus idolorum.

3 Therefore Valentinian the Younger, when he had crossed into Gaul and there was governing the calm republic in peace, at Vienna was strangled by the treachery of his count Arbogast and, so that his death might be thought voluntary, was hanged by a noose; with him dead Arbogast made Eugene a tyrant, choosing a man to whom he would put the title of emperor, himself to augment the imperium; a barbarous man in spirit, counsel, hand, boldness and power excessive, he gathered from every quarter innumerable and unconquered forces, some Roman praesidia and some barbarian auxiliaries, some resting on authority, others on kinship. Finally he was a Frank by birth and the most sordid worshiper of idols.

4 Igitur Eugenius atque Arbogastes cum instructa acie Alpium transitus tenerent, Theodosius expers cibi ac somni orationi incumbens totam noctem peruigil exegit; cum tamen se esse a suis destitutum sciret, ab hostibus circumseptum nesciret, fiducialiter arma corripiens signoque crucis signum proelio dedit ac se in bellum, etiam si nemo sequeretur, uictor futurus inmisit; nam consultus Iohannes anachoreta eum uicturum spoponderat. Quem cum Arbitio hostilium partium comes ignarum circumpositis excepisset insidiis, conuersus mox ad reuerentiam Augusti eum non solum periculo liberauit, uerum etiam auxilio instruxit; cumque ad congressionem uentum esset, uehemens turbo uentorum a parte Theodosii in ora hostium ruit, qui et ab eius parte spicula missa ualenter hosti infigeret et hostili manu missa repelleret. Nec mora, parua suorum data strage, uictori se Theodosio hostilis exercitus prostrauit.

4 Therefore Eugenius and Arbogastes, when they held the Alpine passes with a formed battle-line, Theodosius, deprived of food and sleep and devoting himself to prayer, kept watch sleepless the whole night; although he knew himself abandoned by his own, he did not know he was surrounded by enemies, confidently seizing arms and, giving the sign of the cross as token, committed himself to the battle, throwing himself in as one who would be victorious even if no one followed; for the seer John the anchorite had pledged that he would survive. When Arbitio, count of the hostile faction, ignorant of him, had intercepted him with ambushes placed about, he soon, turning to reverence for the Augustus, not only freed him from danger but even furnished him with aid; and when they came to the engagement, a violent gust of wind from Theodosius’s side burst into the faces of the enemy, which both, with spears hurled from his side, would bravely fix in the foe and repel those cast by the enemy’s hand. Nor was there delay: after a small slaughter of his men, the hostile army prostrated itself before the victorious Theodosius.

Eugenius captus atque interfectus est; Arbogastes sua se manu percussit. Praemiserat denique prius Theodosius decem milia auxiliatorum Gothorum, quae ab Arbogaste comite funditus deleta sunt; quos utique Theodosio perdidisse magis lucrum quam detrimentum fuit. Ad cuius laudem ob insignem uictoriam poeta quidam eximius sed infidelis inter coetera hos uersiculos cecinit:

Eugenius was captured and slain; Arbogastes struck himself with his own hand. Finally Theodosius had previously sent ahead ten thousand Gothic auxiliaries, which were utterly destroyed by Count Arbogastes; the loss of whom was in truth more a gain than a detriment to Theodosius. To his praise, on account of the notable victory, a certain distinguished but unfaithful poet among others composed these verses:

O nimium dilecte Dei, tibi militat aether
et coniurati ueniunt ad classica uenti.

O most dearly beloved of God, for you the aether wars
and the sworn winds come to the trumpets.

5 Huic ferunt somnio nomen parentes monitos sacrauisse, quod in Latinum A Deo datum potest intellegi. De hoc etiam oraculo in Asia diuulgatum est eum Valenti successurum, cuius nomen ΘΕΟ atque Δ litteris initiaretur; qua cognitione principii deceptus Theodorus, cum sibi imperium deberi praesumeret, scelestae cupidinis supplicia persoluit. Fuit autem Theodosius propagator rei publicae atque defensor eximius; moribus et corpore Traiano similis, quantum scripta ueterum et picturae docent, a quo et originem traxit: sic eminens status, membra eadem, par caesaries, os, absque eo, quod illi aliquantum uellendo steriles genae, neque tam ingentes oculi erant; nescio an et tanta gratia tantusque flos in facie seu tanta dignitas in incessu fuisset.

5 They report that his parents, warned by a dream, consecrated his name, which in Latin can be understood as “given by God.” From this oracle, also promulgated in Asia, it was foretold that he would succeed Valens, whose name would begin with the letters ΘΕΟ and Δ; deceived by this knowledge of the beginning, Theodorus, presuming that rule was due to him, paid the penalties of wicked desire. Theodosius, however, was an outstanding promoter and defender of the res publica; in manners and body similar to Trajan, as the writings of the ancients and painting show, from whom he also traced his origin: thus eminent in stature, the same limbs, equal hair, the same mouth, save that his cheeks were somewhat barren from plucking, nor were his eyes so large; I do not know whether so great a grace and so great a bloom was likewise in his face, or such dignity in his carriage.

Mens uero prorsus similis, adeo ut nihil dici queat quod non ex libris in istum uideatur transferri. Clemens animus, misericors, communis, solo habitu differre se ceteris putans; in omnes homines honorificus, uerum effusius in bonos, simplicia ingenia aeque diligere, erudita mirari sed innoxia, largiri magno animo magna, amare ciues uel priuato contubernio cognitos eosque honoribus, pecunia, beneficiis ceteris munerari, praesertim quorum erga se uel patrem aspero casu officia conprobasset. Illa tamen, quibus Traianus aspersus est, uinolentiam scilicet et cupidinem triumphandi, usque eo detestatus ut bella non mouerit sed inuenerit.

His mind, moreover, entirely similar — so that nothing can be said which does not seem to have been transferred from books into this man. A clement soul, merciful, communitarian, thinking himself to differ from others only in outward habit; respectful toward all men, but more lavishly toward the good; to love simple natures alike, to admire the learned yet harmless, to bestow great things with a magnanimous spirit; to love citizens, even those known in private companionship, and to reward them with honours, money, and other benefits, especially those whose services toward him or his father he had approved in an adverse chance. Yet those things with which Traianus was tainted — namely wine-excess and a craving for triumph — he so detested that he did not set wars in motion but encountered them.

Ministeria lasciua psaltriasque commessationibus adhiberi lege prohibuit; consobrinarum nuptias tamquam sororum interdixit. Litteris mediocriter doctus, sagax plane multumque diligens ad noscenda gesta maiorum; execrabatur cum legisset superbiam dominantium, praecipue perfidos et ingratos; irasci sane rebus indignis, sed subito flecti, unde quoque dilatione modica emolliebantur interdum seuera praecepta; habuitque a naturae munere quod Augustus a philosophiae doctore; qui cum uidisset eum facile commoueri, ne asperum aliquid statueret, monuit, ubi irasci coepisset, quattuor atque uiginti Grecas litteras memoria recenseret, ut illa concitatio, quae momenti est, mente alio traducta parui temporis interiectu languesceret. Melior haut dubie, quod est rare uirtutis, post auctam annis potentiam regalem auri argentique pondera sublata a tyrannis multis ex suo restituit.

He forbade by law lascivious ministrations and psaltries to be used at banquets; he interdicted the marriages of consobrinae as if they were sisters. Moderately learned in letters, keen and very diligent in learning the deeds of his ancestors; he would execrate, when he read, the arrogance of rulers, especially the perfidious and ungrateful. He was indeed angered by unworthy things, but was quickly bent aside, so that by a slight delay his severe precepts were at times softened; and he had by nature the same gift that Augustus had from a teacher of philosophy. That teacher, when he saw that he was easily moved, advised him, lest he decide anything harsh, that when he began to be angry he should run through by memory the twenty‑four Greek letters, so that that agitation, which lasts a moment, being translated to another mind by the interposition of a short time would languish. Undoubtedly the better part, which is rare in virtue: when his royal power had grown with years he restored, from his own resources, the weights of gold and silver taken away by many tyrants.

Inerat ei cura pielatis eximiae: colere patruum tamquam genitorem, fratris mortui sororisque liberos habere pro suis, cognatos adfinesque parentis animo conplecti. Elegans letumque conuiuium dare nec tamen sumptuosum, miscere colloquia pro personis, studio, dignitatibus, sermone cum grauitate iocundo, blandus pater, concors maritus. Exercebatur neque ad inlecebram neque ad lassitudinem; ambulationibus, cum esset otium, animum reficiens, regebat ualitudinem continentia uescendi.

He possessed a care of singular piety: to revere his uncle as a father, to count the children of his dead brother and of his sister as his own, to embrace kin and in-laws with a parental mind. Elegant, and to provide both funerary and convivial entertainments yet not sumptuous, to adapt conversations to persons, to zeal, to dignities, with speech grave yet pleasant; a flattering/agreeable father, a concordant husband. He exercised himself neither toward seduction nor toward lassitude; by walks, when there was leisure, restoring his spirit, he kept his health by restraint in eating.

6 Huius et apud homines mansuetudo et quanta extiterit apud Deum deuotio, hoc uno monstratur exemplo: nam cum apud Mediolanum missarum fruiturus sollemniis ecclesiam uellet intrare eumque beatus Ambrosius pro quodam facinore, nisi publice peniteret, non admissurum se diceret, et prohibitionem humiliter pertulit et satisfactionem non erubescens indictum ab episcopo penitentiae modum deuotus excepit.

6 Both his gentleness among men and how great his devotion was before God are shown by this one example: for when at Mediolanum he wished to enter the church to partake of the solemnities of the masses, and blessed Ambrosius, on account of a certain crime, said that unless he repented publicly he would not admit him, he bore the prohibition humbly, and, not ashamed of the required satisfaction, devoutly accepted the penance imposed by the bishop.

7 Huic sociata in coniugio Flaccilla fuit, ex qua Archadium et Honorium genuit; qua defuncta Gallam Valentiniani maioris et Iustinae filiam Valentiniani quoque iunioris sororem in matrimonium duxit, quae ei Placidiam peperit, cui postea de matris nomine Gallae cognomentum accessit.

7 To him was joined in marriage Flaccilla, by whom she bore Arcadius and Honorius; and when she had died he took in marriage Galla, daughter of Valentinian the Elder and of Justina and likewise sister of Valentinian the Younger, who bore him Placidia, to whom afterwards the cognomen Galla was added from her mother’s name.

8 Itaque quinquagesimum Theodosius annum agens aetatis in pace apud Mediolanum rebus excessit humanis utramque rem publicam utrisque filiis Archadio et Honorio quietam relinquens. Corpus eius eodem anno Constantinopolim translatum atque sepultum est.

8 Thus Theodosius, being in the fiftieth year of his age, passed away in peace at Milan, departing from human affairs and leaving the res publica tranquil to both his sons, Archadius and Honorius. His body in the same year was transferred to Constantinople and buried.

9 Anno ab Vrbe condita millesimo centesimo quadragesimo nono Archadius Augustus in Oriente, Honorius frater eius in Occidente quadragesimo secundo loco commune imperium, diuisis tantum sedibus, tenere coeperunt. Quorum pater curam uiris potentissimis mandarat habere, id est Rufino Orientalis aulae, Stiliconi Occidentalis imperii. Vixitque Archadius post patris excessum annis duodecim imperiique summam Theodosio filio paruo admodum moriens tradidit.

9 In the year from the founding of the City 1149, Archadius Augustus in the East and his brother Honorius in the West began to hold the common empire in the 42nd year, only with the residences divided. Their father had entrusted the care to very powerful men, that is to Rufinus of the Eastern court and to Stilicho of the Western empire. And Archadius lived twelve years after his father's death, and dying, handed over the supreme command of the empire to Theodosius, his very young son.

10 Interea Gildo comes Africae, cognita Theodosii morte, arbitratus minimam in paruulis spem fore, Africam iuri proprio coepit usurpare. Huius frater Mascelzer germani perfidiam perhorrescens in Italiam rediit; Gildo duos eius filios, quos pater reliquerat, dolo circumuentos occidit. Ad hunc iam hostem bello insequendum Mascelzer frater missus est.

10 Meanwhile Gildo, count of Africa, on learning of Theodosius’ death, judging that there would be but little hope in the little ones, began to usurp Africa as his own right. His brother Mascelzer, recoiling at the perfidy of the kinsman, returned to Italy; Gildo treacherously put to death two sons of his, whom their father had left behind. To pursue this now enemy with war, Mascelzer the brother was sent.

Mascelzer iam a Theodosio sciens quantum in rebus desperatissimis oratio hominis per fidem Christi clementiam Dei impetraret, Caprariam insulam adiit; inde secum sanctos uiros abducens, cum quibus orationibus ac ieiuniis dies aliquod continuauit et noctes; ante triduum quoque quam hosti contiguus fieret, cernit noctu beatum Ambrosium paulo ante defunctum, quo uel quando uictoriam caperet, diem sibi indicantem et locum. Ac tertio demum die post noctem orationibus hymnisque peruigilem cum quinque solummodo milibus aduersus lxxx milia hostium pergens eos Dei nutu sine bello in deditionem accepit; quo uiso auxiliarii Gildonis barbari ilico terga dedere; Gildo et ipse fugam arripiens ascensa naui, cum in Africam redisset, post aliquot dies strangulatus interiit. Sane idem Mascelzer rerum secundarum insolentia tumens ecclesiam Dei temerare ausus est atque ex ea quosdam non dubitauit extrahere.

Mascelzer, by now knowing from Theodosius how much in most desperate matters a man’s prayer through the faith of Christ could obtain the clemency of God, went to the island of Capraria; thence carrying off with him holy men, with whom by prayers and fasts he continued several days and nights; and even three days before he would be near the enemy, he saw by night the blessed Ambrose, who had died a little before, indicating to him the day and the place when or where he would win the victory. And on the third day at last, after the night, wakeful with prayers and hymns, advancing with only five thousand against 80 thousand of the enemy, by God’s nod he received them into surrender without war; at this sight Gildo’s barbarian auxiliaries at once turned tail; Gildo himself likewise seizing flight, having boarded a ship, when he had returned to Africa, after a few days was strangled and died. Indeed that same Mascelzer, swollen with the insolence of prosperous affairs, dared to profane the church of God and did not hesitate to drag some out of it.

Secuta mox poena sacrilegium est, nam post aliquantum temporis ipse punitus est.

Soon after, punishment followed the sacrilege, for after a little time he himself was punished.

11 Interea Rufinus, cui a Theodosio Orientalis aulae cura commissa est, malo perfidiae deprauatus, cum barbarorum solaciis regnum temptaret inuadere, morte iustissima poenas luit. Stilico quoque Occidentis tutor imperii, inmemor conlatorum beneficiorum, inmemor adfinitatis, nam socer extabat Honorii, regnum et ipse Eucherio filio affectans ingentia rei publicae intulit mala; nam saepe cum delere posset barbaros, fouit, saepe Alaricum cum Gothis suis uicit, saepe conclusit, semperque dimisit. Cui quis fuerit exitus, suo melius in loco dicetur.

11 Meanwhile Rufinus, to whom Theodosius had entrusted the care of the Eastern aula, corrupted by the evil of perfidy, when he sought to invade the kingdom by the solaces of the barbarians, paid the penalty with a most just death. Stilicho likewise, guardian of the Western empire, forgetful of benefits conferred, forgetful of kinship — for he was Honorius’s father-in-law — and likewise coveting the kingdom for his son Eucherius, brought great evils upon the res publica; for often, when he could have destroyed the barbarians, he fostered them, often he defeated Alaric with his Goths, often he besieged him, and always he dismissed him. What his end was will be told better in its own place.

12 Inter haec omnium antiquorum praesentiumque hostium longe inmanissimus Radagaisus rex Gothorum totam repentino inundauit Italiam impetu. Nam fuisse in eius populo plus quam ducenta milia Gothorum ferunt. Hic supra hanc incredibilem multitudinem indomitamque uirtutem barbarus erat et Scytha, qui omnem Romani generis sanguinem diis suis propinare deuouerat.

12 Meanwhile among these, by far the most monstrous of all ancient and present enemies was Radagaisus, king of the Goths, who with a sudden onrush inundated the whole of Italy. For they report that in his people there were more than 200,000 Goths. Above that incredible multitude and untamed valour he was a barbarian and a Scythian, who had vowed to his gods to propinare (pour forth) the entire blood of the Roman race.

Inuadit ilico Romam pauor infinitus, fit omnium paganorum in Vrbe concursus; adclamatur a cunctis se haec ideo perpeti, quod neglecta fuerint magnorum sacra deorum. Magnis querelis ubique agitur et continuo de repetendis sacris celebrandisque tractatur; feruent tota Vrbe blasphemiae, nomen Christi tamquam lues aliqua probris ingrauatur. Conducuntur a Romanis aduersus Radagaisum duo pagani duces, Gothorum Sarus, Vldin Hunnorum.

Immediately a boundless panic invades Rome; there is a gathering of all the pagans in the Vrbe; it is shouted by everyone that they endure these things for this reason, because the great sacred rites of the gods have been neglected. With loud complaints everywhere, and continually there is discussion about restoring and celebrating the sacred rites; the whole Vrbe seethes with blasphemies, the name of Christ is burdened as if by some plague with reproaches. Two pagan leaders are marshalled by the Romans against Radagaisus: Sarus of the Goths, Uldin of the Hunnic people.

Sed non sinit Deus rem suae potentiae infidelium uirtutem uideri; conterritus namque diuinitus Radagaisus in aspero Fesulani montis iugo urguente undique timore concluditur agminaque, quibus angusta dudum uidebatur Italia, latendi spe in unum ac paruum uerticem truduntur; quo cum fame et siti conficerentur, rex Radagaisus solus spem fugae sumens captus a Romanis in uincla coicitur ac paulisper retentus uita priuatur. Tanta uero multitudo captiuorum Gothorum fuisse fertur, ut uilissimorum pecodum modo singulis aureis passim greges hominum uenderentur.

But God does not permit the matter of his potency to be seen in the virtue of unbelievers; for Radagaisus, frightened divinely, is shut in on the harsh ridge of the Fesulan mount, pressed on all sides by fear, and the bands by which Italy a short while before seemed narrow are forced together into one small vertex by the hope of hiding; and when they were being consumed by famine and thirst, King Radagaisus alone, taking hope of flight, was seized by the Romans and thrown into chains and for a short time detained was deprived of life. Moreover it is reported that so great a multitude of Gothic captives existed that, like cheapest flocks of sheep, herds of men were sold here and there for single gold coins.

13 Interea Alaricus Italiam ingressus, cum ab Honorio sedes quo cum suo exercitu consistere possit expeteret, Honorius deliberato consilio ei Gallias concessit; qui dum ad Galliam pergens ob recuperationem iumentorum apud Pollentiam aliquantulum resedisset, Stilico comes in perniciem rei publicae Gothos pertemptans, dum eos insidiis adgredi cuperet, belli summam Sauli pagano duci commisit. Qui ipso sacratissimo die Paschae Gothis nil tale suspicantibus super eos inruit magnamque eorum partem prostrauit; nam primum perturbati Gothi ac propter religionem cedentes, demum arma corripiunt, more se solito cohortantur uictoremque uirtute potiori prosternunt exercitum. Hinc in rabiem furoris excitati coeptum iter deserentes Romam contendunt petere, cuncta per quae ierant igni ferroque uastantes.

13 Meanwhile Alaric, having entered Italy, since he sought from Honorius a seat where he with his army might halt, Honorius, with deliberate counsel, granted him Gaul; who, while proceeding to Gaul and having paused a little at Pollentia to recover his beasts of burden, Stilicho the comes, testing the Goths to the ruin of the res publica, and wishing to attack them by ambush, committed the sum of the war to Saul, a pagan leader. Who on the most sacred day of Easter, the Goths suspecting nothing, fell upon them and laid low a great part of them; for at first the Goths, disturbed and yielding on account of religion, at length seize arms, in their wonted manner rally, and overthrow the victor’s army by valor the rather. Hence, roused into a frenzy of fury, abandoning the march they had begun, they hasten to seek Rome, devastating all things by fire and sword through which they passed.

Nec mora uenientes Vrbem capiunt, deuastant, incendunt, dato tamen prius praecepto, ut si qui in sancta loca praecipueque sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli basilicas confugissent, hos in primis inuiolatos securosque esse sinerent, deinde in quantum possint praedae inhiantes a sanguine temperarent. Capta itaque Roma est anno millesimo centesimo sexagensimo quarto conditionis suae. Die sane tertia sponte Gothi Vrbe discedunt, facto aliquantarum aedium incendio, sed ne tanto quidem, quantum olim a Caesare factum est.

Without delay they come and seize the City, lay it waste, and set it on fire, having nevertheless first given the order that if any had taken refuge in sacred places, and especially in the basilicas of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, these above all should be allowed to remain inviolate and secure, and then that, so far as they can, those eager for booty should restrain themselves from blood. Thus Rome was taken in the year 1164 of its condition. On the third day indeed the Goths of their own accord depart the City, having set fire to a number of houses, but not to so great an extent as was once done by Caesar.

14 Deinde per Campaniam, Lucaniam Britiamque simili strage bacchantes Regium peruenere, in Siciliam transfretare cupientes. Quo cum transmeare ascensis nauibus uellent, perpessi naufragium plures suorum amisere. Halaricus inter haec, dum quid ageret deliberaret, apud Consentiam subita morte defunctus est.

14 Then, roaming through Campania, Lucania and Bruttium in like slaughter, they reached Regium, wishing to cross over into Sicily. When they would cross by embarking their ships, having suffered shipwreck they lost many of their men. Halaric among these, while he was deliberating what to do, at Consentia died a sudden death.

Gothi Basentum amnem de alueo suo captiuorum labore deriuantes Halaricum in medio eius alueo cum multis opibus sepeliunt amnemque meatui proprio reddentes, ne quis locum scire possit, captiuos qui interfuerant extingunt.

The Goths, diverting the Basentum river from its channel by the captives' labour, bury Halaricus in the middle of that channel with many riches and, restoring the river to its proper flow, so that no one might know the place, put to death the captives who had been present.

15 Regem deinceps Athaulfum Alarici adfinem Gothi constituentes Romam redeunt: si quid residui fuit, more locustarum eradunt, auferentes exinde Gallam Placidiam Theodosii principis filiam, sororem Honorii, quam sibi Athaulfus apud Forum Cornelii coniugio sociauit. Quae multo post rei publicae commodo fuit. Nam ad hoc mariti animum acerrimo ingenio subtilibus blandimentis inflexit, ut ultro a Romanis pacem expeteret.

15 Then the Goths, appointing Athaulfus, a kinsman of Alaric, as king, returned to Rome: whatever remained they eradicated like locusts, and thence carrying off Galla Placidia, daughter of the prince Theodosius, sister of Honorius, whom Athaulfus allied to himself in marriage at Forum Cornelii. She was much later to the advantage of the republic. For to this end she bent her husband’s mind, with the keenest wit and subtle blandishments, so that he of his own accord sought peace from the Romans.

Qui ad Gallias proficiscens dein apud Barchilonem fraude suorum occisus est. Post quem Segericus regnum capiens, dum pacem Romanis seruare disponit, et ipse a suis peremptus est. Deinde Wallia regnandi iura suscepit ad hoc electus a Gothis, ut pacem infringeret, ad hoc a Deo ordinatus, ut confirmaret.

He, setting out for the Gauls, was then slain at Barchilon by the treachery of his own men. After him Segericus, taking the kingship, while he resolved to preserve peace with the Romans, was himself likewise put to death by his own. Then Wallia assumed the rights of reigning, chosen by the Goths for this end to break the peace, and ordained by God for this end to confirm it.

16 Interea comes Stilico Wandalorum perfidae et dolosae gentis genere editus, Eucherium, ut dictum est, filium iam a puero Christianorum persecutionem meditantem, ut in imperio substitueret, ante biennium Romanae inruptionis gentes copiis uiribusque intolerabiles, hoc est Alanorum, Sueuorum, Wandalorum, Burgundionum, ultro in arma suscitauit easque pulsare Gallias uoluit, ut sub hac necessitate a genero in filium extorquere imperium possit. Tandem ubi imperatori Honorio exercituique Romano haec tam ingentia damna patefacta sunt, commoto iustissime exercitu occisus est Stilico, qui ut unum puerum purpuram indueret, totius generis humani sanguinem dedidit. Occisus Eucherius eius filius paucique cum isdem satellites tantarum molitionum puniti sunt.

16 Meanwhile the comes Stilicho, sprung from the perfidious and deceitful stock of the Vandals, raised up Eucherius, as has been said, his son — already from boyhood meditating the persecution of Christians — to place him in the empire; two years before the Roman incursion he stirred up, of his own accord, intolerable peoples with their troops and forces, namely the Alans, Sueves, Vandals, Burgundians, and wished them to take up arms and strike Gaul, so that under this necessity he might extort the imperium from his son‑in‑law into his son. Finally, when such great harms were laid bare to the emperor Honorius and to the Roman army, Stilicho was justly slain by the stirred army, he who, that he might clothe one boy with the purple, surrendered the blood of the whole human kind. His son Eucherius was killed, and few of the same satellites of such molitions were punished.

Eodem tempore clarissima Vrbis loca fulminibus diruta sunt, quae inflammari ab hostibus nequiuerunt.

At the same time the most celebrated places of the City were shattered by lightning, which the enemies could not set ablaze.

17 Inter haec apud Brittanias Gratianus tyrannus mox creatur occiditur. Huius in loco Constantinus ex infima militia propter solam spem nominis sine merito uirtutis eligitur. Qui ad Gallias transiens saepe a barbaris incerto foedere inlusus detrimento magis rei publicae fuit quam augmento.

17 Meanwhile, in the Britains Gratian the tyrant was soon proclaimed and killed. In his place Constantine, from the lowest rank of the militia, for the mere hope of a name without merit of virtue, was chosen. He, crossing into Gaul, often played upon by the barbarians with an uncertain treaty, proved more a detriment to the republic than an augmentation.

Tunc duo iuuenes locupletes, Didimus et Viridianus, adsumptis propriis seruulis ac uernaculis sese patriamque a barbaris et tyranno defensare moliti sunt. Aduersus hos Constantinus Constantem filium ex monacho Caesarem factum cum quibusdam foederatis barbaris in Hispanias misit. Constans barbarorum fultus auxilio eos primo proelio peremit.

Then two wealthy youths, Didimus and Viridianus, having taken up their own servants and household bondsmen, set about defending themselves and their fatherland from the barbarians and the tyrant. Against these men Constantine sent Constans, his son, made Caesar from a monk, with certain federate barbarians into the Hispanias. Constans, supported by the aid of the barbarians, destroyed them in the first engagement.

Quibus barbaris dum claustra Pyrinaei montis commissa fuissent, ab eis tota illa, quae per Gallias bachabatur, ferocitas gentium Hispaniarum prouinciis intromissa est. Itaque post multas strages, incendia et rapinas tandem diuisis sedibus barbari ad aratra conuersi Romanorum residuos coeperunt ut socios amicosque fouere.

While those barbarians were entrusted with the passes of the Pyrenean mountain, by them that whole ferocity of the peoples which was raging through the Gauls was introduced into the provinces of the Spanish peoples. And so, after many massacres, burnings and robberies, at last with settlements divided the barbarians, turned to the plough, began to cherish the remnants of the Romans as allies and friends.

EXPLICIT HISTORIAE ROMANAE LIBER DVODECIMVS

HERE ENDS THE ROMAN HISTORY, BOOK 12