Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Anno ab Vrbe condita millesimo ducentesimo quarto defuncto Theodosio quadragesimus quartus in numero Marcianus Orientali aulae praeficitur imperator.

1 In the year from the founding of the City 1204, after the death of Theodosius the 44th, Marcianus is appointed emperor of the Eastern court.

Coeterum Valentiniani tempora huius uel superioris imperatoris curriculis adscribuntur.

Moreover, the times of Valentinian are ascribed to the curricula of this or the preceding emperor.

Igitur Valentinianus Occidui rector imperii pacis ea tempestate foedera cum Genserico Wandalorum rege firmauit certisque spatiis Africa inter utrosque diuisa est. Gensericus uero dum de rerum successu tumidus etiam apud suos superbiret, ualida aduersus eum suorum conspiratio facta est; quorum molitione detecta diuersis ab eo excruciati periere suppliciis. Horum si quidem funeribus non minus uirium amisit, quam si exuperatus belli certamine fuisset.

Therefore Valentinian, ruler of the Western empire, at that time confirmed treaties with Genseric, king of the Vandals, and Africa was for long intervals divided between the two. Genseric, however, while swelling with pride even among his own, became arrogant about the success of affairs, and a powerful conspiracy of his men was formed against him; when the plotting of these men was discovered they perished, having been tortured by him with various punishments. By their deaths he certainly lost no less strength than if he had been exhausted by the contest of war.

2 Interea rex Hunnorum Attila, dum cum fratre Bleba regnum intra Pannonias Daciamque gereret, Macedoniam Misiamque et Achaiam utrasque etiam Tracias inmanissima rabie deuastaret, Blebam suum germanum regnique consortem peremit eiusque sibi parere populos conpulit. Fultus itaque fortissimarum gentium, quas sibi subiugarat, praesidio ad Occidentale demoliendum animum intendit imperium. Erant siquidem eius subiecti dominio rex ille Gepidarum famosissimus Ardaricus, Walamir etiam Gothorum regnator, ipso cui tunc seruiebat rege nobilior, fortissimae nihilominus gentes Marcomanni, Sueui, Quadi, praeterea Eruli, Turcilingi siue Rugi cum propriis regulis aliaeque praeter hos barbarae nationes Aquilonis in finibus commanentes.

2 Meanwhile Attila, king of the Huns, while with his brother Bleda he governed the kingdom within the Pannonias and Dacia, devastated Macedonia, Moesia, and Achaia and both Thraces with most inhuman rage; he killed his brother Bleda, his consort in the kingdom, and forced the peoples to submit to him alone. Supported therefore by very powerful peoples which he had subjected, he turned his mind to the destruction of the Western empire. For under his dominion were, to be sure, that most famous king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, Walamir likewise the ruler of the Goths, who at that time served the more noble king, nonetheless the very brave peoples the Marcomanni, Suevi, Quadi, moreover the Heruli, the Turcilingi or Rugi with their own little kings, and other barbarian nations dwelling on the northern frontiers.

3 Horum omnium Attila superbus imperio, quamquam uirium robore facile se posse adipisci putaret quod cuperet, non minori tamen consilii astutia quam armorum fortitudine hostes adgredi satagebat. Praeuidens itaque sagacitate, qua callebat, non sibi fore tutum, si Gothi, qui intra Gallias morabantur, Romanis auxilio iungerentur, amicum se Gothis simulans aduersum Romanos se asserit proeliaturum Romanorumque e diuerso quasi amicitias appetens in Gothos, eorum uidelicet hostes, se pollicetur arma moturum. Agebat itaque hoc uersuta barbaries, quatenus, si hos posset a societate diuidere, facilius utrosque singulari certamine proculcaret.

3 Of all these Attila, proud in command, although by the robustness of his forces he thought he could easily obtain whatever he wished, nevertheless strove to assail his enemies with no less astuteness of counsel than with the bravery of arms. Foreseeing therefore by that sagacity in which he was seasoned that it would not be safe for him if the Goths, who dwelt within the Gauls, were joined to the Romans by aid, pretending friendship to the Goths he declared he would fight against the Romans, and toward the Romans, as if seeking amicitias, he promised the Goths — their ostensible enemies — that he would take up arms. Thus this crafty barbarian acted, so that, if he could divide those from the alliance, he might more easily keep both at bay by separate contest.

Quas eius astutias Aetius non minori acumine praeuidens legatos ad Theodoritum, qui eo tempore Gothis apud Tolosam regnabat, dirigit, qui cum eo pacis foedera sociarent. Annuit iuxta Aetii uotum Romanorum legatis Theodoritus iungitque cum eis non minus sibi prospiciens firmissimum foedus promittitque se pariter pugnaturum.

Perceiving these stratagems of his with no less acumen, Aetius dispatches legates to Theodoritus, who at that time reigned over the Goths at Tolosa, that they might bind him in treaties of peace. Theodoritus assented to Aetius’s wish, joined with the Roman legates, and — not less mindful of his own advantage — promised a most firm treaty and that he would likewise fight on their behalf.

4 Fuere interea Romanis auxilio Burgundiones, Halani cum Sangibano suo rege, Franci, Saxones, Riparioli, Briones, Sarmatae, Armoriciani, Liticiani ac paene totius populi Occidentis, quos omnes Aetius, ne inpar Attilae occurreret, ad belli adsciuerat societatem. Conuenitur ex utraque parte in campos Catalaunicos, qui centum in longitudinem leuuas et ex latitudine septuaginta leuuis, ut Gallis mos est metiri, feruntur.

4 Meanwhile the Burgundiones came to the Romans' aid, the Halani with their king Sangiban, the Franks, Saxons, Riparioli, Briones, Sarmatae, Armoricians, Liticians and almost the whole people of the West, all of whom Aetius, lest he should meet Attila unequal, had enrolled into the society of war. They assemble on both sides on the Catalaunian fields, which are said to measure a hundred leagues in length and seventy leagues in breadth, as is the Gauls’ custom to measure.

5 Attila itaque primo impetu, mox ut Gallias introgressus est, Gundicarium Burgundionum regem sibi occurrentem protriuit.

5 Attila therefore, at the first onset, and soon as he had entered Gaul, routed Gundicarius, king of the Burgundiones, who came forth to meet him.

Deinde cum ad locum certaminis uentum esset, inquirit aruspicem, si quid sibi de belli sorte uenturum praediceret. Qui arte daemoniaca exta pecudum perscrutans Attilae infausta denuntiat, hoc tamen quantulumcumque solacium fore, quod summus de parte hostili in certamine ductor occumberet. Attila uero dum haec de Aetii interitu, cuius mortem sitiebat, denuntiari putaret, non dubitauit uel cum suorum perditione bellum committere, dummodo Aetium suis motibus fortiter obsistentem possit extinguere.

Then, when they had come to the place of contest, he inquired of a haruspex whether he would predict to him anything concerning the lot of the war. The man, by demoniac art scrutinizing the exta of the pecudum, proclaimed inauspicious things to Attila, yet said that there would be some small solace, namely that the chief leader on the hostile side would fall in the contest. But Attila, while he thought these things were being announced about the death of Aetius, whose death he thirsted for, did not hesitate even to undertake war with the destruction of his own, provided only that he could extinguish Aetius, who stood firmly opposing his movements.

Committit itaque pugnam iam in uesperum die uergente, ut, si superaretur ab hostibus, inminentis se noctis tenebris occuleret.

He therefore engages the fight now as the day is declining into evening, so that, if he should be overcome by the enemies, he might hide himself in the darkness of the imminent night.

6 Conueniunt hinc et inde fortissimae nationes, conseruntur acies, fit bellum acre nimis et pertinax, quale uix ulla narratur historia. Nec ante a proeliandi ardore quieuere quam eis nox superueniens pugnandi uoluntatem adimeret. Eo siquidem proelio centum octoginta milia hominum caesa referuntur tantumque est sanguinis effusum, ut paruulus, qui ibidem labebatur, riuulus inmodicus subito torrens effectus cadauera secum traheret peremptorum.

6 The most valiant nations assemble from here and there, the battle-lines join, and a war arises excessively fierce and pertinacious, such as scarcely any history recounts. Nor did they rest from the ardor of fighting until night, coming upon them, robbed them of the will to fight. In that very engagement 180,000 men are reported slain, and so much blood was poured out that a little brook flowing there was suddenly made an immoderate torrent, dragging with it the corpses of the slain.

Attilam sane de morte Aetii sua suspicio fefellit; nam incolomi Aetio rex ibi Gothorum Theodoritus occubuit. In quo proelio quamuis neuter cessisset exercitus, constat tamen Attilam fuisse superatum.

Indeed Attila was mistaken in his suspicion about the death of Aetius; for, Aetius being unharmed, Theodoritus, king of the Goths, fell there. In that engagement, although neither army gave way, it is nevertheless agreed that Attila was defeated.

7 Qui cum die altera intra plaustrorum munimenta se continens erumpere non auderet nec tamen cessaret tubis et clamore perstrepere, Torismund Theodoriti regis filius dolens de paterno funere statuit Attilam obsidione coartare, ut eum eiusque exercitum ad internitionem usque deleret. Tum Attila de uitae fiducia iam desperans ex equitatoriis ingentem pyram sellis construxit, ut ibidem se Gothis inminentibus supposito igne cremaret, ne aut quisquam de eius laetaretur uulnere aut rex tantarum gentium in potestatem hostium deueniret.

7 He who, on the next day, keeping himself within the wagon fortifications, did not dare to break forth, nor yet ceased to resound with trumpets and clamour, — Torismund, son of King Theodoritus, grieving for his father’s death, resolved to hem Attila in by siege, that he might destroy him and his army utterly to annihilation. Then Attila, despairing now of the security of life, built a huge pyre of saddles from his horsemen, to burn himself there with fire placed beneath as the Goths pressed in, lest anyone rejoice at his wound or the king of so many peoples fall into the power of the enemy.

8 Aetius uero incaute perpendens Romanos a Gothis perempto Attila deprimi nec deinceps aduersum Gothos, si necessitas incumberet, solacium habere, Torismundo quasi eius rebus consulens persuadet, ut domum reuerteretur, regnum paternum arriperet, ne, si ab eius inuaderetur germanis, aceruius ei esset cum suis quam cum hostibus dimicare. Hoc ille consilium tamquam pro sua salute prolatum libenter amplectens domum reuersus est regnumque paternum suscepit. Coeterum Aetius ob hoc talia machinatus est, ut Attilam ab eius inpressione subduceret.

8 Aetius, however, reckoning unwisely that with Attila removed the Romans would be humbled by the Goths and that thereafter, should necessity press, they would have no solace against the Goths, persuades Torismund, as if consulting about his affairs, to return home and seize the paternal kingdom, lest, if the Germans were invaded by him, it be more bitter for him to fight with his own than with the enemies. That man, receiving this counsel, presented as for his safety, gladly embraced it, returned home and took up the paternal kingdom. Moreover Aetius by this device contrived other such things so that he might draw Attila away from his pressure.

Inscia, heu, mens hominum, quantum hac prouisione detrimentum patriae, dum auertere cupit, ingessit.

Unknowing, alas, the minds of men, how great a detriment to the fatherland this provision has inflicted, while it desires to avert it.

9 At uero Attila cernens se relicto hostes ad propria remeasse, erectis animis ac spe salutis eleuatus Pannonias repedauit multumque potiorem exercitum coaceruans Italiam furibundus introiit. Ac primum Aquileiam ciuitatem in ipso Italiae sitam principio expugnare adgressus est; quam continuo triennio obsidens, cum aduersus eam strenue ciuibus repugnantibus nihil praeualeret iamque murmur sui exercitus non ualentis famis tolerare penuriam audiret, cum die quadam ciuitatem circuit, ut ex qua parte eam facilius posset expugnare inquireret, cernit repente aues in aedificiorum fastigiis nidificare solitas, quae ciconiae uocantur, uno impetu ex urbe migrare fetusque suos sublatos rostris per rura forinsecus deportare. «Aspicite» inquit ad suos «aues futurorum praescias perituram relinquere ciuitatem». Statimque adhibitis machinis tormentisque hortatur suos, acriter expugnat urbem ac sine mora capit.

9 But when Attila, seeing that his enemies had gone back to their homes with him left behind, his spirits uplifted and raised by the hope of safety, retraced his steps to Pannonia and, amassing a far mightier army, furiously entered Italy. And first he undertook to besiege the city of Aquileia, situated in the heart of Italy; which, immediately besieging for three years, since nothing prevailed against it with the citizens resisting bravely and now he heard the murmur of his own army, unable by reason of famine to endure the scarcity, on a certain day, riding around the city to inquire from which part it could be more easily taken, suddenly sees storks, accustomed to nest on the roofs of buildings, called ciconiae, migrate from the city in one impulse and carry off their young, lifted in their beaks, through the fields outward. "Behold," he says to his men, "the birds, presages of things to come, foretell that the city will be left to perish." Immediately, with machines and catapults brought to bear, he urges his men on, fiercely assaults the city and without delay captures it.

Diripiuntur opes, captiuantur uel trucidantur ciues, residuum direptioni igni supposito flamma consumit.

Wealth is plundered, citizens are taken captive or slaughtered; the remainder, set to the fire for pillage, the flame consumes.

10 Fuerat si quidem in ea ciuitate feminarum nobilissima Digna nomine, forma quidem eximia sed candore pudicitiae amplius decorata. Haec dum habitaculum super ipsa urbis moenia haberet turremque excelsam suae domui imminentem, subter quam Natissa fluuius uitreis labebatur fluentis, ne sordidissimis hostibus ludibrium fieret animaeque pulchritudinem uel ui inlata libidine uitiaret, mox ingressum hostium captamque urbem praesensit, e summa se eadem turre obuoluto capite in gurgitem praecipitem dedit metumque amittendae pudicitiae memorabili exitu terminauit.

10 There had been in that city a most noble woman named Digna, of singular beauty yet adorned even more by the whiteness of chastity. While she kept a dwelling upon the very walls of the city and a lofty tower overhanging her house, beneath which the river Natissa flowed with glassy waters, lest the vilest enemies make her their mockery and lest the beauty of her soul be corrupted by violence or lust imposed upon her, she soon, foreseeing the approach of the enemy and the capture of the city, cast herself present from that same tower—her head unbound—headlong into the whirlpool, and by a memorable death put an end to the fear of her chastity being lost.

11 Plura praeterea eiusdem regionis castella inmanis hostis, extinctis uel captiuatis ciuibus, succendit ac diruit, Concordiam, Altinum siue Patauium, uicinas Aquileiae ciuitates, illius instar demoliens solo coaequauit. Exinde per uniuersas Venetiarum urbes, hoc est Vicentiam, Veronam, Brixiam, Pergamum seu reliquas nullo resistente Hunni bacchantur, Mediolanium Ticinumque pari sorte diripiunt ab igni tamen abstinentes et ferro. Deinde Aemiliae ciuitatibus similiter expoliatis nouissime eo loco, quo Mincius fluuius in Padum influit, castrametati sunt.

11 Furthermore the huge enemy burned and razed several fortresses of that same region, after the citizens had been killed or taken captive; demolishing Concordia, Altinum or Padua, the neighboring cities of Aquileia, he levelled them to the ground like that one. Thereupon through all the cities of the Venetiae — that is Vicenza, Verona, Brescia, Bergamo or the rest — the Huns revel unchecked, plundered; they sacked Milan and Pavia in like fashion, yet refraining from fire and from the sword. Finally, the towns of Emilia likewise having been stripped, they encamped at last in the place where the river Mincio flows into the Po.

Vbi Attila consistens, dum utrum adiret Romam an desisteret, animo fluctuaret, non Vrbi, cui infestus erat, consulens sed Alarici exemplum pauens, qui captae a se Vrbi non diutius superuixit, dum ergo has animo tempestates reuolueret, repente illi legatio placidissima a Roma aduenit.

Where Attila, pausing, while he wavered in mind whether to attack Rome or desist, not consulting the Urbs, to which he was hostile, but fearing Alaric’s example—who, after the Urbs had been captured by him, did not long survive—therefore while he revolved these tempests in his mind, suddenly a most placid embassy arrived to him from Rome.

12 Nam per se uir sanctissimus Leo papa ad eum accessit. Qui cum ad regem barbarum introgressus esset, cuncta ut optauerat optinens non solum Romae sed et totius Italiae salutem reportauit; territus namque nutu Dei Attila fuerat nec aliud Christi sacerdoti loqui ualuit nisi quod ipse praeoptabat. Fertur itaque post discessum pontificis interrogatum esse Attilam a suis, cur ultra solitum morem tantam reuerentiam Romano papae exhibuerit, quandoquidem paene ad omnia, quae ille imperasset, obtemperarit; tum regem respondisse: non se eius, qui aduenerat, personam reueritum esse, sed alium se uirum iuxta eum in habitu sacerdotali adstantem uidisse forma augustiore, canitie uenerabilem illumque euaginato gladio sibi terribiliter mortem minitantem, nisi cuncta, quae ille expetebat, explesset.

12 For the most holy man Pope Leo himself went to him. He, having entered to the barbarian king, obtained all as he had wished and brought back not only the safety of Rome but of the whole of Italy; for Attila had been terrified by the nod of God and could not speak anything to the priest of Christ except what the priest preferred. It is said, therefore, that after the pontiff’s departure Attila was asked by his men why he had shown so much reverence to the Roman pope beyond the usual custom, since he had nearly obeyed in all things that the pope commanded; then the king answered that he had not revered the person of him who had come, but had seen another man standing beside him in priestly vesture of more august appearance, venerable with white hair, and brandishing a drawn sword threatening him terribly with death unless all that the man desired were fulfilled.

13 Igitur Attila tali modo a sua seuitia repressus relicta Italia Pannonias repetit. Ad quem Honoria Valentiniani principis germana, dum a fratre ob decus pudicitiae districte seruaretur, suum eunuchum dirigit, quatenus eam sibi a fratre in matrimonium extorqueret. Accepto itaque hoc Attila nuntio, quia iam Italiae fines excesserat, nec statim fatigato exercitu regredi poterat, mandat Valentiniano imperatori minitans peiora se proxime inlaturum Italiae, nisi mox ei suam germanam cum parte regni debita transmisisset.

13 Therefore Attila, thus checked in his severity, having left Italy, returned to the Pannonias. To him Honoria, sister of the prince Valentinian, while she was strictly kept by her brother for the honour of chastity, sent her eunuch that he might extort her to be given in marriage to him by her brother. Having received this message, and because he had already passed the frontiers of Italy and could not at once return with his wearied army, he sent to Emperor Valentinian a command, threatening that he would shortly bring worse upon Italy unless he soon transmitted to him his sister together with the due portion of the kingdom.

Qui reuersus ad proprias sedes supra plures quas habebat uxores puellam ualde decoram Ildicco nomine sibi in matrimonium iunxit; ob cuius nuptias profusa conuiuia exercens, dum tantum uini quantum numquam antea insemel bibisset, cum supinus quiesceret, eruptione sanguinis, qui ei de naribus solitus erat effluere, suffocatus extinctus est. Eadem denique apud Constantinopolim nocte Marciano imperatori in somnis Dominus apparens arcum Attile fractum ostendit, quo scilicet armorum genere gens illa fidere in bello maxime solet.

Who, having returned to his own seats, and besides the many wives he had, joined to himself in marriage a very comely girl named Ildico; on account of whose nuptials, holding profuse convivia, while he had drunk at one time as much wine as he never before had, when he lay supine, by an eruption of blood, which was wont to flow from his nostrils, he was suffocated and perished. Moreover, in that same night at Constantinople the Lord, appearing in dreams to the emperor Marcian, showed the broken bow of Attila, by which sort of arms that people especially are accustomed to trust in war.

14 Dum haec geruntur, apud Brittaniam Pelagianae hereseos adsertores Brittanorum temptatant subuertere fidem; qui a Gallorum episcopis auxilium petentes ad rectae fidei defensionem sanctissimum uirum Germanum multisque iam uirtutibus clarum Altiodorensis ecclesiae episcopum accipiunt et Lupum Trecasenum praesulem aeque apostolicae gratiae uirum, qui non minus signorum miraculis quam doctrinae uerbis omnes ad sanae fidei confessionem reduxere. Ecce autem adhuc ibidem sanctis episcopis consistentibus ualida Saxonum Pictorumque manus Brittaniam aduehitur. Nihilominus Brittones mox arma corripientes hostibus obuiam pergunt, cum quibus beatissimus Germanus sponte se offerens una pergit ad proelium, cumque ipse dux belli ante consertam aciem constitisset iamque hostes conglobati propius aduentarent, non tubae clangoribus, non gladiis fidens, imperat solummodo sanctus antistes, ut, cum ipse prior inclamasset, omnes uoce consona eundem responderent sermonem.

14 While these things were being done, at Britain the adherents of the Pelagian heresy strove to subvert the Britons’ faith; who, seeking help from the bishops of the Gauls for the defence of the right faith, received the most holy man Germanus, already famed for many virtues, bishop of the Altiodorensis church, and Lupus of Trecasenum, a prelate likewise a man of apostolic grace, who by no less miracles of signs than by words of doctrine restored all to the confession of sound faith. Behold, moreover, while the holy bishops were standing there, a strong force of Saxons and Picts was carried to Britain. Nevertheless the Britons, soon seizing arms, proceed to meet the enemies, with whom the most blessed Germanus, offering himself of his own accord, goes together into the battle; and when he, the leader of the war, had set himself before the joined line and the enemies, massed, were already coming nearer, trusting neither in the clangour of trumpets nor in swords, the holy bishop commanded only that, when he himself had first cried out, all with a consonant voice should answer the same shout.

Moxque eleuata magna uoce «Alleluia» sonuit; cumque omnis exercitus sublato ad sidera clamore «Alleluia» respondisset cunctaque per circuitum loca resultassent, continuo tantus hostes pauor inuadit, ut dissoluta acie fugam arripientes, ac si singulorum ceruicibus gladius immineret, tremebundi ad propria refugerent.

Soon there rang out a great voice, “Alleluia”; and when the whole exercitus, with a shout raised to the stars, had answered “Alleluia,” and all the places round about had re-echoed, immediately such panic seized the hostes that, the acies having broken up, they seized flight and, as if a sword threatened each individual’s neck, trembling they fled back to their own homes.

15 Igitur quia semper uirtus inuidiam parit, Valentinianus imperator, quantum res edocuit, prosperos Aetii successus, ut supra praemissum est, pertimescens, eum simulque Boetium senatorem nobilissimum gladio peremit. Ita uir bellicosissimus Aetius et quondam Attilae regis potentissimi terror occubuit, cum quo pariter et Occidentis imperium salusque rei publicae corruit nec ultra actenus ualuit releuari. Sed nequaquam Valentiniano mors Aetii inpune cessit; nam et ipse anno sequenti a Transila Aetii milite, cum triginta annis imperium gessisset, confossus interiit, ex quibus cum Theodosio socero xxv, cum Marciano quinque imperauit.

15 Therefore, because virtue always breeds envy, the emperor Valentinian, fearing the prosperous successes of Aetius, as was prefixed above, slew him by the sword together with Boethius, a most noble senator. Thus the most warlike Aetius, once the terror of the very powerful king Attila, fell; with him likewise the empire of the West and the safety of the res publica collapsed and could no longer be restored thereafter. But Aetius’s death did not go unpunished for Valentinian; for he himself the following year was pierced and died by Transila, a soldier of Aetius, after he had held the imperium for thirty years, of which he reigned with Theodosius his father‑in‑law 25, with Marcian 5.

16 Mortuo Valentiniano regni iura Maximus apud Vrbem inuadens necdum duobus expletis mensibus a Romanis peremptus est; continuo aduectus ex Africa nauibus adest Gensericus cum ualidissimo suae gentis exercitu, fultus insuper praesidio Maurorum, cum adhuc Romanae ecclesiae beatissimus Leo ageret pontificatum. Perculsis itaque Romanis tam terribili nuntio nobilibusque simul ac popularibus ex Vrbe fugientibus Vrbem omni praesidio uacuam Gensericus optenuit occurrente sibi extra portam eodem sancto Leone episcopo, cuius supplicatio ita eum Deo adiuuante liniuit, ut, cum omnia potestati eius essent tradita, ab igne tamen et cede atque suppliciis abstineretur. Quattuordecim interim dies secura et libera scrutatione omnibus opibus suis Roma uacuata est multaque milia captiuorum, prout cuique aetate aut arte placuerunt, cum regina Eudoxia, quae Gensericum ad hoc facinus inuitauerat, duabusque eius filiabus Carthaginem abducta sunt.

16 When Valentinian died, Maximus, invading the rights of the realm at Rome, was himself slain by the Romans before two months had yet been completed; immediately Genseric, brought by ships from Africa, was present with the very strong army of his people, further supported by a garrison of Moors, while the most blessed Leo still exercised the pontificate of the Roman church. Struck therefore with so terrible a report and with nobles and populace alike fleeing from the city, Genseric took possession of Rome, which was void of all defence, meeting him outside the gate the same Bishop Saint Leo, whose supplication, God so aiding him, appeased him to such a degree that, although everything had been delivered into his power, he nevertheless refrained from fire, pillage, and cruelties. Meanwhile Rome was emptied of all its wealth and left open to untroubled search for 14 days, and many thousands of captives were carried off, according to whatever age or skill pleased each, and Queen Eudoxia, who had invited Genseric to this deed, was taken to Carthage with her two daughters.

17 Capta itaque hoc modo a Genserico Roma est, postquam eam primo Alaricus inuaserat, secunda iam uice expletis ab eo tempore quadraginta quattuor annis, a conditione sua mille ducentis atque octo euolutis. Relicta itaque Vrbe per Campaniam sese Wandali Maurique effundentes cuncta ferro flammisque consumunt, quicquid superesse potest diripiunt, captam nobilissimam ciuitatum Capuam ad solum usque deiciunt, captiuant, praedantur. Nolam nihilominus urbem ditissimam aliasque quamplures pari ruina prosternunt.

17 Thus was Rome taken by Genseric in this way, after Alaric had first invaded it, now for a second time—44 years having been completed from that time, and 1,208 years having passed since its foundation. Leaving the city, the Vandals and Moors, pouring themselves through Campania, consume all things with sword and fire; whatever can remain they plunder; the most noble city of Capua, once taken, they overthrow to the very ground, make captives, and despoil. Nola nevertheless, a very wealthy city, and many others they cast down with the same ruin.

Neapolim praeterea quasque ob firmitatem capere non poterant, rebus agrariis exinanitas relinquunt, quicumque gladio superfuerant, captiuitatis iugo subiciuntur.

Moreover, those of Naples whom they could not seize on account of their firmness they left bereft of agrarian goods; all who had survived the sword were subjected to the yoke of captivity.

18 Inter has procellas uir piissimus Paulinus Nolanae urbis episcopus, postquam quicquid habere poterat, in captiuorum redemptionem expendit, nouissime, cum nihil ei aliud nisi ipse sibi solummodo superesset, pro cuiusdam uiduae filio maternas non ualens piis ferre uisceribus lacrimas, cum eadem ad Africam proficiscens, quo iam hostes discesserant, sese barbaro uiro uice uicaria in seruitium tradidit. Cuius sanctitas cum apud eandem barbaram gentem Dei nutu cognita fuisset, demum cum omnibus suis ciuibus ad urbem propriam remeauit.

18 Among these calamities the most pious Paulinus, bishop of the city of Nola, after he had expended whatever he could for the redemption of captives, at last, when nothing remained to him except himself alone, unable in his pious bowels to endure the motherly tears for the son of a certain widow, when she, setting out for Africa, whither the enemies had now departed, surrendered herself into servitude to a barbarian man as a vicarious substitute in her stead. Whose holiness, when by the will of God it had been recognised among that same barbarian people, finally returned with all his fellow citizens to his own city.

19 At uero Gensericus postquam ditatus Italiae opibus ad Africam regressus est, Valentiniani principis natam, quam ab Vrbe captiuitatis sorte abduxerat, Transamundo suo filio in matrimonium copulauit, ex qua uidelicet Ildericus natus est, qui quartus postmodum a Genserico Wandalis apud Africam regnauit.

19 But indeed Genseric, after being enriched by the resources of Italy and returning to Africa, joined in marriage to his son Transamund the daughter of Prince Valentinian, whom he had carried off from the City by the lot of captivity; from her, evidently, Ilderic was born, who afterwards reigned as the fourth Vandal in Africa after Genseric.

Recedente igitur ab Vrbe Genserico Romani sequenti mense exinanitae rei publicae imperatorem Habitum praeficiunt. Wisigothae quoque circa haec tempora cum rege suo Theodorico Theodoriti filio, transcensis Pyrinei iugis, Hispanias inuadunt.

Therefore, when Genseric had withdrawn from the City, the Romans, the following month, appointed Habitus emperor of the depleted res publica. The Wisigoths also about these times, with their king Theodoric, son of Theodoritus, having crossed the Pyrenean ridges, invade the Spains.

Ast uero Marcianus imperator, cum apud Constantinopolim septem annis regnum administrasset, facta suorum conspiratione peremptus est.

But Emperor Marcian, when he had administered the rule at Constantinople for seven years, was put to death by a conspiracy of his own.

EXPLICIT LIBER QVARTVS DECIMVS

EXPLICIT BOOK 14