Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Anno ab Vrbis conditione millesimo ducentesimo undecimo post Marciani imperatoris interitum Leo quintus ac quadragesimus Romanorum regum apud urbem Constantinopolim Augustali potitus est dignitate, qui deinceps sequenti tempore Leonem suum filium imperii consortem effecit.

1 In the year from the founding of the City 1211, after the death of Emperor Marcian, Leo the 45th of the Roman kings obtained the Augustal dignity at the city of Constantinople, who thereafter in the next time made his son Leo consort of the empire.

Exempto quoque in Italia humanis rebus Auito, Maiorianus apud Rauennam inuadit imperium. Quod cum prope quattuor annis obtinuisset, haut procul a Dertonensi ciuitate iuxta Hiriam flumen occisus est statimque Seuerus apud Rauennam imperator efficitur atque Augustus appellatur.

With Auitus likewise removed from affairs in Italy, Maiorianus at Ravenna seized the imperium. And when he had held it for nearly four years, he was slain not far from the city of Dertona beside the Hirius river, and immediately Severus at Ravenna was made emperor and was called Augustus.

Tertio huius anno imperii Biorgor rex Alanorum cum exercitu adueniens occurrente patricio Ricimere superatus non longe a Bergamo ciuitate Venetiae atque extinctus est. Seuerus uero cum quattuor annis imperasset, mortem propriam apud Vrbem occubuit.

In the third year of this reign King Biorgor of the Alans, arriving with an army and encountering the patrician Ricimer, was overcome not far from the city of Bergamo in Venetia and put to death. Severus, however, having reigned four years, met his death at Rome.

Eodem tempore egresso inopinate igni magna Constantinopolis aedium strage cremata est.

At the same time, fire having broken out unexpectedly, the great Constantinople was burned in a slaughter of its buildings.

2 Dehinc totius consensu militiae post Seueri mortem iura imperii Anthemius suscepit.

2 Then, by the whole consent of the soldiery, after Severus's death Anthemius assumed the rights of the empire.

Sequenti anno Seruandus Galliarum praefectus imperium temptans inuadere iussu Anthemii principis in exilium trusus est.

In the following year Servandus, prefect of the Gauls, attempting to invade the empire, was thrust into exile by order of Prince Anthemius.

Rursus annali emenso spatio Romanus patricius imperatoriam fraudulenter satagens arripere dignitatem praecipiente Anthemio capite caesus est.

Again, after the annual period had been measured, the patrician Romanus, fraudulently attempting to seize the imperial dignity, was beheaded at the command of Anthemius.

His quoque diebus Gensericus iterum ad Italiam nauibus aduentare cupiens a Basilisco patricio nauali superatus certamine Carthaginem inglorius repedauit.

In these same days Genseric, again desiring to come to Italy by ships, having been overcome by Basiliscus the patrician in a naval engagement, returned ingloriously to Carthage.

At uero in Orientis partibus Aspar patricius Leoni Augusto insidias moliens suum filium Caesarem effecit. Leo uictorem exercitum statim ex Sicilia euocans Asparem patricium cum nouello Caesare filio alioque eius germano digno uitae multauit excidio.

But in the eastern parts Aspar the patrician, plotting ambushes against Leo Augustus, brought it about that his son was made Caesar. Leo the Victorious, immediately calling the army up from Sicily, punished Aspar the patrician with destruction, and his newly–made son the Caesar and another brother of his, worthy of death.

3 Hoc denique ipso in tempore inter Anthemium principem eiusque generum Ricimerem patricium, qui tunc Mediolani positus praeerat Liguriae, magnus discordiarum fomes exortus est, quibus se uir sanctitate conspicuus Epiphanius Ticinensis episcopus interponens eos primum ad concordiam reuocauit. Deinde barbarica perfidia foedus Ricimer inrumpens, erat Gothus prosapia, cum manu mox ualida Vrbem contendit atque apud Anicionis pontem castra composuit. Diuisa itaque Roma est et quidam fauebant Anthemio, quidam uero Ricimeris perfidiam sequebantur.

3 At that very time a great tinder of discord arose between Anthemius the prince and his son‑in‑law Ricimer the patrician, who then, stationed at Mediolanum, presided over Liguria; into these quarrels Epiphanius of Ticinum, a man conspicuous for sanctity, interposing, first recalled them to concord. Then Ricimer, breaking the treaty by barbaric perfidy—he was of Gothic stock—forthwith with a powerful hand hastened upon the City and encamped at the Anician bridge. Thus Rome was divided, and some favored Anthemius, while others followed Ricimer’s perfidy.

Inter haec Olibrius a Leone Augusto missus ad Vrbem uenit uiuoque adhuc Anthemio regiam adeptus est potestatem.

Among these events Olibrius, sent by Leo Augustus, came to the City and, with Anthemius still alive, obtained the royal power.

4 Bilimer Galliarum rector, cognita aduersus Anthemium conspiratione Ricimeris, Anthemio ferre praesidium cupiens Romam properauit. Is cum Ricimere apud Adriani pontem proelium committens, continuo ab eo superatus atque occisus est. Extincto Bilimere mox uictor Ricimer Vrbem inuadens quarto iam anno agentem iura imperii Anthemium gladio trucidauit.

4 Bilimer, governor of the Gauls, having learned of Ricimer’s conspiracy against Anthemium and wishing to bring aid to Anthemium, hastened to Rome. He, engaging Ricimer in battle at Hadrian’s bridge, was straightaway overcome by him and killed. With Bilimer dead, soon Ricimer, the victor, invading the city, in the fourth year now exercising the rights of the empire, slaughtered Anthemium with the sword.

Praeter famis denique morbique penuriam, quibus eo tempore Roma affligebatur, insuper etiam grauissime depraedata est et excepto duabus regionibus, in quibus Ricimer cum suis manebat, coetera omnia praedatorum sunt auiditate uastata. Sed non diutius de perfidia laetatus est Ricimer. Nam post mensem tertium excruciatus languoribus et ipse interiit.

Besides the penury of famine and disease with which Rome was afflicted at that time, it was moreover most grievously plundered; and, except for two regions in which Ricimer remained with his men, all the rest were laid waste by the greed of the plunderers. But Ricimer did not long rejoice in perfidy. For after the third month, tortured by maladies, he himself likewise died.

5 Mortuo Ricimere Olibrius imperator Gundibarum eius nepotem patricium effecit. Olibrius quoque dum septem menses imperium gessisset, morte propria Romae defunctus est. Post huius funus Licerius domesticus a Gundibaro patricio totius etiam uoluntate exercitus apud Rauennam imperator efficitur.

5 On Ricimer’s death Olibrius became emperor; Gundibarus made his nephew the patrician. Olibrius likewise, after he had exercised the imperial power for seven months, died a natural death in Rome. After this funeral, Licerius the domesticus was made emperor at Ravenna by Patrician Gundibarus and indeed by the whole will of the army.

Anno deinde sequenti inopinate Nepos patricius cum exercitu ueniens Licerium regia exuit potestate eumque apud Salonas Dalmatiarum urbem episcopum ordinauit.

In the following year, unexpectedly Nepos the patrician, coming with an army, stripped Licerius of royal power and ordained him bishop at Salona, a city of the Dalmatians.

Eo tempore cum apud Tolosam Wisegotharum populis Euricus regnaret ac pro Italiae Galliaeque finibus inter Nepotem et Euricum litium fomenta creuissent bellumque e diuerso utrique praepararent, interueniente Epiphanio, de quo praemissum est, Ticinensi episcopo, foederis inter eos iura firmata sunt.

At that time, when Euric reigned over the Visigothic peoples at Tolosa, and causes of dispute had arisen between Nepos and Euric concerning the frontiers of Italy and Gaul, and war was being prepared on either side, with Epiphanius — of whom it was said above — the bishop of Ticinum, intervening, the terms of a treaty between them were confirmed.

6 Haut procul ab his temporibus Theodoricus cognomento Strabo Triarii filius cum magna Ostrogotharum multitudine usque ad quartum Vrbis miliarium armatus aduenit, nulli tamen Romanorum noxius, continuoque in Illiricum reuersus extinctus est.

6 Not long after these times Theodoric, surnamed Strabo, son of Triarius, armed with a great multitude of Ostrogoths, came as far as the fourth mile of the City; yet harmful to none of the Romans, and immediately returned into Illyricum and died.

Exigit nunc locus dicere, quam ob causam Gothorum alii Ostrogothe, alii uero Wisegothe sint dicti, oportunumque est aliquantulum ad superiora tempora regredi, quatenus horum ratio uocabulorum possit exponi. Temporibus Valentiniani superioris Augusti, cum intra Traciae fines Gothorum tunc populi communiter habitarent, bifarie per Alaricum ac Fridigernum diuisi decreuerunt, ut utramque rem publicam, id est Fridigernus cum suis Orientalem, Alaricus uero cum suo exercitu Occidentalem opprimeret. Hi ergo, qui cum Fridigerno in Orientali remanserant parte, lingua patria ab Oriente Ostrogothe id est orientales Gothi sunt dicti; isti uero, qui occiduas petierant regiones, ab Occidente Wisigothe id est occidentales sunt appellati.

The place now requires to say for what cause some of the Goths are called Ostrogoths, and others indeed Wisegoths, and it is fitting to go back a little to earlier times, so far as the reason of these names can be explained. In the times of Valentinian the elder Augustus, when within the bounds of Thrace the peoples of the Goths then commonly dwelt, they were for a long time divided in two by Alaric and by Fridigernus, and decreed that each should oppress the other’s commonwealth: that is, Fridigernus with his men should overwhelm the Eastern commonwealth, and Alaric with his army the Western. Those therefore who had remained with Fridigernus in the eastern part, from the native tongue were called Ostrogothae, that is Eastern Goths; those, however, who sought the western regions were from the West called Wisegothae, that is Western Goths.

7 Leo igitur Augustus postquam Orientale decem et septem annis rexit imperium, diem clausit extremum. Mortuo Leone Zeno continuo Augustalem nanctus est dignitatem. Leonem itaque, de quo praemissum est, quem pater Leo in regni adsciuerat potestatem, mater sua Zenonis impetum formidans, occulte clericum fecit exigentique uehementer Zenoni, ut filium proderet, pro eo alium forma similem optulit.

7 Leo therefore Augustus, after he had ruled the Eastern imperium for 17 years, closed his final day. On Leo's death Zeno immediately obtained the Augustal dignity. And Leo, then, of whom it was above related, whom his father Leo had admitted to the power of the kingdom, his mother, fearing the assault of Zeno, secretly made a cleric of him, and when Zeno pressed vehemently that he betray the son, she offered another of similar form in his stead.

Qui Leo deinceps in clericatu ad Iustiniani usque tempora uixit.

Leo thereafter lived in the clerical order up to the times of Justinian.

Ipso denique anno Augustulus apud Italiam aduersus Nepotem cum exercitu ueniens, effugato eo, imperii regimen inuasit.

In that very year Augustulus, coming into Italy with an army against Nepos, and Nepos having been put to flight, seized the governance of the empire.

Annali deinceps circulo euoluto cum rege Wandalorum Genserico foedus initum est ab Oreste patricio.

Thereafter, with the year’s cycle completed, a treaty was entered into by the patrician Orestes with Genseric, king of the Vandals.

8 Haec dum apud Romanos geruntur, Odouacer cum fortissima Herolorum multitudine, fretus insuper Turcilingorum siue Scyrorum auxiliis, Italiam ab extremis Pannoniae finibus properare contendit. Qui dum adhuc per Noricorum rura exercitum duceret, cognita Seuerini fama Christi domini serui, qui illis tunc degebat in locis, ad eum sibi benedictionem petiturus accessit. Qui dum benedictione percepta ab eius egredi cellula uellet et caput, ne in superliminari ostii, eo quod procerae esset staturae, adlideret, inclinasset, a Dei uiro futurorum praescio mox talia audiuit: «Vade nunc ad Italiam, uade Odouacer, uilissimis interim animantium pellibus indutus, multis cito plura largiturus». Haec ille uerba rerum exitu conprobauit.

8 While these things were happening among the Romans, Odouacer, with a very brave multitude of Heruli, relying moreover on the auxiliaries of the Turcilings or Scyri, hastened to make for Italy from the furthest bounds of Pannonia. While he was still leading his army through the fields of the Norici, having learned of Severinus, famed as a servant of Christ the Lord who then lived among them in those places, he approached him to seek a blessing. When, after receiving the blessing, he would have left his cell and, because of his towering stature, would have struck his head against the lintel of the doorway, or stooped, he soon heard from the man of God, by foreknowledge of things to come, these words: “Go now to Italy, go, Odouacer, meanwhile clothed in the cheapest pelts of beasts, soon to bestow many greater things on many.” He proved those words by the event of affairs.

Nam aliquantis postmodum annis totius Italiae insuper et Vrbis usus est potestate.

For, after some years, he enjoyed the power of the whole of Italy and moreover of the City.

9 Ingresso ergo Italiam Odouacre statim ei apud Liguriae terminos Orestes patricius occurrit, qui aduersus fortissimam multitudinem nihil se praeualere conspiciens, maxime cum eum iam quidam suorum deseruissent, metu trepidus intra Ticinum se munitionis fiducia concludit. Mox adueniens cum exercitu Odouacer expugnatam fortiter ingreditur ciuitatem: uastantur uniuersa rapinis, saeuit ubique gladius, diuina quoque priuataque aedificia ignis absumit, captus demum Orestes ab hostibus Placentiam usque perducitur ibique gladio detruncatur. Exinde per uniuersas idem barbari urbes diffusi cunctam sine aliqua tarditate Italiam iuri proprio subdidere multasque tunc ciuitates parantes resistere extinctis habitatoribus ad solum usque deiecere.

9 When Odouacer therefore entered Italy, Orestes the Patrician immediately met him at the confines of Liguria; he, perceiving that he could prevail nothing against so mighty a multitude, and especially since some of his own men had already deserted him, fearful, shut himself up within the Ticinum trusting in the fortification. Soon Odouacer coming with his army bravely stormed and entered the captured city: all things were laid waste by pillage, the sword raged everywhere, public and private buildings were consumed by fire; at last Orestes was taken by the enemies, led as far as Placentia, and there his head was cut off by the sword. Thence the same barbarians, spread throughout the cities, with no delay subjected all Italy to their own law and, overthrowing many cities that then prepared to resist and whose inhabitants were slain, reduced them down to the very ground.

10 Odouacer itaque prosperos sibi cernens successus adcrescere statim regiam arripuit dignitatem. Augustulus siquidem, qui imperii praesumpserat potestatem, cernens uniuersam Italiam Odouacris uiribus subdi, inopinabili metu perterritus sponte miserabilis purpuram abiciens, cum uix undecim mensibus rem publicam obtinuisset, imperialem deposuit maiestatem. Ita Romanorum apud Romam imperium toto terrarum orbe uenerabile et Augustalis illa sublimitas, quae ab Augusto quondam Octauiano cepta est, cum hoc Augustulo periit anno ab Vrbis conditione millesimo ducentesimo nono, a Gaio uero Caesare, qui primo singularem arripuit principatum, anno quingentesimo septimo decimo, ab incarnatione autem Domini anno quadringentesimo septuagesimo quinto.

10 Odovacar therefore, seeing prosperous successes increase for himself, at once seized royal dignity. For young Augustus, who had assumed the power of the empire, seeing all Italy subject to Odovacrian forces, terrified by an unexpected fear, miserably voluntarily laying aside the purple, having held the res publica scarcely eleven months, relinquished imperial majesty. Thus the empire of the Romans at Rome, venerable throughout the whole world, and that Augustan sublimity, which was once begun by Augustus Octavian, perished with this little Augustus in the year 1209 from the foundation of the City, in the year 517 by Gaius Caesar, who first singularly seized the principate, and in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 475.

Igitur deiecto ab Augustali dignitate Augustulo Vrbem Odouacer ingressus totius Italiae adeptus est regnum. Quod dum per annos xiiii nullo inquietante tenuisset, ab Orientis tunc partibus adueniens Gothorum rex Theodericus Italiam possessurus intrauit.

Therefore, Augustulus, having been deposed from the Augustal dignity, Odovacer entered the City and acquired the kingdom of all Italy. Which, while he had held for 14 years with no one disturbing him, Theoderic, king of the Goths, coming then from the eastern regions, entered Italy to take possession.

Sed ut ad liquidum quam ob causam uel unde aduenerit, possit agnosci, necesse est aliquantisper ad superiora repedare.

But so that plainly for what cause or from where he came may be known, it is necessary to go back somewhat to the foregoing.

11 Walamir Ostrogotharum rex, de quo superiori libello praemissum est, quod Attilae Hunnorum regi subiectus extiterit, mox ut Attila occubuit, ab Hunnorum se suosque dominio auitae libertatis memor excussit. Idem quoque et Gepidarum rex Ardaricus coeteraeque Hunnis subiectae faciunt nationes. Hunni uero dolentes Walamirem eiusque exercitum non solum se a suae ditionis iugo excussisse, sed etiam coeteris nationibus, ut similia facerent, incentores fuisse, mox ut fugitiua mancipia eos insequentes ad seruitutem pristinam armis adgressi sunt reuocare.

11 Walamir, king of the Ostrogoths, of whom in the preceding little book it was already stated that he had been subject to Attila, king of the Huns, as soon as Attila fell he shook off the Huns and their dominion, remembering the liberty of his ancestors. Likewise Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, and the other peoples subject to the Huns did the same. The Huns, however, grieving not only that Walamir and his army had cast off the yoke of their rule but also that they had been the instigators of other nations to do likewise, as soon as they began by force to pursue the fugitive mancipia and recall them to their former servitude, attacked.

Conglobatis itaque suis super Hunnos Walamir irruit tantaque in eos cede grassatus est ut de reliquo qui superfuerant Hunni Ostrogotharum arma formidarent.

Thus, Walamir, his forces massed together, rushed upon the Huns and so dealt with them in ruthless onslaught that the Huns who remained feared the arms of the Ostrogoths.

12 Leo denique imperator cum Gothis post haec Illiricum uastantibus foedus iniit ac Theodoricum Thiudimeris filium ex Arileuua concubina genitum a Walamere eius patruo obsidem accepit. Occiso deinde a Scyris Walamere, Thiodimer eius germanus regia iura suscepit. Diuiso deinceps regno Thiudimer Orientis, Widimer uero Occidui sortitur imperium deuastandum, sed mox Widimer Italiam ingressus est, rebus excessit humanis, successorem regni Widimer filium relinquens.

12 Emperor Leo, finally, after the Goths had devastated Illyricum, made a treaty and received as hostage from Walamir, his uncle, Theodoric, the son of Thiudimer, born of the concubine Arileuva. Then, Walamir having been slain by the Sciri, Thiudimer his brother assumed the royal rights. The kingdom was then divided: Thiudimer received the Eastern part, Widimer the Western portion of the realm to be laid waste; but soon Widimer entered Italy and departed from human affairs, leaving his son Widimer as successor to the kingdom.

Widimer uero acceptis a Clicerio tunc imperatore muneribus Gallias contendit seseque cum parentibus Wisegothis iungens unum populum effecit. Interea dum de Suauis patrata uictoria Widimer domum reuertitur, Theodoricum filium a Leone imperatore remissum gratanter excepit. Qui Theodericus, dum iam octauum decimum annum ageret, inscio patre aliquantis secum eius satellitibus adscitis uicinam sibi Sarmatarum gentem inuadens opima ex eorum manubiis patri spolia praedamque copiosam reportauit.

Widimer, however, having accepted gifts from Clicerio then emperor, pressed into the Gauls and, joining himself with the parent Wisegothis, made them into one people. Meanwhile, while Widimer returned home from the victory achieved over the Suavi, he gladly received Theodoricus, the son sent back by Emperor Leo. Theodericus, who was already completing his eighteenth year, with his father unaware and having mustered some of his satellites, invading a Sarmatian people neighboring him, brought back to his father rich spoils from their booty and abundant plunder.

13 Thiudimere itaque uita decedente uniuersis adnitentibus ad regni gubernacula Theodoricus ascendit. Quod factum dum ad Zenonem Augustum perlatum esset, gratanter accepit eumque ad se rursus euocatum Constantinopolim magno simul honore et diuitiis extulit in tantum, ut etiam consularibus eum fascibus sublimaret, quae dignitas post imperiale fastigium prima est, aereamque illi equestrem statuam ante suum palatium collocaret.

13 Thus, with Thiudimer dead and all striving, Theodoric ascended to the helm of the kingdom. When this deed was reported to Zeno Augustus, he received him gladly and, having him again summoned to his presence, exalted him at Constantinople with great honor and riches to such a degree that he even raised him with the consular fasces, a dignity that is the first after the imperial height, and set an equestrian bronze statue of him before his palace.

14 At uero dum huiuscemodi Theodoricus deliciis apud Constantinopolim afflueret, gens illius, id est Ostrogothe, dum eis propter fidei sanctionem praedas agere more solito non liceret, nec tamen ab imperatore oblata stipendia sufficere possint, coepere non minimam egestatis penuriam pati, execrantur foedus conpositum, uituperant inutilem pactionem mittuntque continuo ad Theodoricum, qui dicerent quas, dum ipse Grecorum epulis superflueret, inopiae miserias sustinerent; hortantur, ut si suis sibique consulere uelit, citius redeat, quatenus, ne cuncta gens pessumdetur, nouas ad habitandum terras exquirant. His Theodoricus cognitis ad Augustum Zenonem accedit, questus penuriamque suorum exponit; Italiam sibi dari postulat, absolutionem efflagitat, adiciens quia, si superare Odouacrem possit Italiamque obtinere, ad eius redundaret gloriam, a quo directus fuisset, si in bello superatus foret, eius nihilo minus lucris adcresceret, quandoquidem cotidianorum stipendiorum exactoribus careret. Talia Zeno audiens contristatus quidem est, eo quod eum nollet amittere; attamen deliberato consilio rei publicae utilitati prospiciens eius petitionibus adnuit Italiamque ei per pragmaticum tribuens sacri etiam uelaminis dono confirmauit, senatum illi populumque Romanum commendans abire permisit.

14 But indeed while Theodoric thus luxuriated in delights at Constantinople, his people, that is the Ostrogoths, since by reason of the sanction of faith they were not permitted as usual to take plunder, nor yet could the stipends offered by the emperor suffice them, began to suffer no small want of destitution; they cursed the treaty concluded, reviled the useless pact, and immediately sent envoys to Theodoric, to tell him what miseries of want they endured while he himself overflowed at Greek banquets; they urged that if he wished to provide for them and for himself he should return quickly, so that, lest the whole people perish, they might seek new lands to dwell in. When Theodoric learned these things he went to the Augustus Zeno, complaining and setting forth the poverty of his men; he demanded that Italy be given to him, he demanded absolution, adding that if he could overcome Odoacer and obtain Italy, the glory would redound to him by whom he had been sent, and if he were overcome in war he would nevertheless gain in profit, since he lacked collectors of daily stipends. Hearing such things, Zeno was indeed saddened because he did not wish to lose him; yet, having deliberated with regard to the commonwealth’s advantage, he acceded to his petitions and by pragmatic sanction granted Italy to him, confirming it as a gift even of the sacred robe, and permitted him to depart commending the senate and the Roman people to him.

16 Egressus igitur Constantinopolim Theodoricus ad Ostrogothas reuertitur hortaturque continuo, ut quam primum parati sint, quatenus possessuri Italiam proficiscantur. Attamen prius quam Italiam aduentaret, Trapstilam Gepidarum regem insidias sibi molientem bello superans extinxit, Busan quoque Vulgarorum regem magna simul cum suis agminibus caede prostrauit. Egressus itaque a Misia cum omni Ostrogothorum multitudine uniuersaque supellectili, per Sirmium Pannoniasque iter faciens ad Italiam uenit.

16 Having therefore departed Constantinople, Theodoric returned to the Ostrogoths and immediately exhorted them to be as ready as possible, so that, being about to possess Italy, they might set out. Yet before he reached Italy he, overcoming Trapstila, king of the Gepids, who was plotting ambushes against him, destroyed him in war; and he likewise laid low Busan, king of the Bulgars, with great slaughter together with his forces. Thus having departed from Moesia with the whole multitude of the Ostrogoths and all their household baggage, he made his way through Sirmium and the Pannonias and came into Italy.

Ac primum iuxta Sontium flumen, qui non longe ab Aquileia labitur, castra componens, dum uberrimis quae eo loco habentur pascuis fatigata aliquantulum ex itineris longitudine iumenta reficeret, ibi mox ei cum grandi suorum exercitu totisque Odouacer Italiae uiribus occurrit. Quem Theodoricus alacriter excipiens magno superatum proelio postremo in fugam conuertit. Exinde Theodoricus mouens cum Veronam uenisset, iterum aduersus eum Odouacer non minori quam prius belli sese apparatu opponit.

And first, pitching his camp beside the Sontius river, which flows not far from Aquileia, while he refreshed his beasts somewhat, tired from the length of the march, upon the very rich pastures there, soon Odovacer met him with his great army and with all the forces of Italy. Theodoric, receiving him boldly, at last routed him in a great and decisive battle and put him to flight. Thence Theodoric, moving on and having come to Verona, again found Odovacer arrayed against him with no less preparation for war than before.

Contra quem Theodoricus haut procul a Veronensi urbe confligens nimia eius exercitum caede contriuit ipsumque pariter et omnem illius multitudinem dare terga coegit. Qui dum fugae metu se praecipites in Adesim fluuium mergunt, ex magna parte rapidissimis eius gurgitibus implicati suffocantur.

Against whom Theodoric, fighting not far from the city of Verona, utterly crushed his excessive army by slaughter and forced him likewise and all his host to turn their backs. While they, in fear of flight, hurled themselves headlong into the Adesim river, being for the most part entangled in its very rapid whirlpools, they were drowned.

16 Theodoricus uero dum ipso impetu subsequitur fugientes, Veronam ilico pauore ciuibus consternatis inuadit. Odouacer autem cum his qui euaserant fugiens Romam contendit, sed obseratis continuo portis exclusus est. Qui dum sibi denegari introitum cerneret, omnia quaeque adtingere potuit gladio flammisque consumpsit.

16 Theodoric, meanwhile, as he pursued the fugitives with that very onrush, at once invaded Verona, the citizens stricken with panic. Odovacer, however, with those who had escaped hastening fled to Rome, but with the gates immediately shut he was driven out. When he saw the entrance denied him, he burned up with sword and flame all things that he could lay hands on.

Inde quoque egrediens Rauennam ingressus est ibique quibus se tueri aduersum hostes possit munitionum praeparare obstacula coepit. Theodoricus itaque a Verona digrediens Mediolanum peruenit. Vbi dum consisteret, magna ad eum multitudo militum pluresque Italiae populi conuenere.

Thence also going forth he entered Ravenna, and there began to prepare works of fortification and obstacles by which he might defend himself against the enemies. Theodoric therefore, departing from Verona, reached Milan. Where, while he halted, a great multitude of soldiers and many of the peoples of Italy assembled to him.

Sed paucis interiectis diebus rursus dediticius exercitus Tuffa quodam nomine instigante Odouacris se partibus reddidit. Ea res Theodoricum in tantum perterruit, ut se suumque exercitum apud Ticinensem urbem muniret.

But after a few days had been interposed, the outlawed (dediticius) army again, at the instigation of a certain man named Tuffa, surrendered themselves in their divisions to Odouacrus. This affair so terrified Theodoric that he fortified himself and his army at the city of Ticinum.

17 Talium rerum uarietates Burgundionum rex Gundubadus aspiciens, Liguriam cum ingenti exercitu ingressus, cuncta quae repperire poterat pro uoluntate diripiens, infinitam secum ad Gallias captiuorum multitudinem abduxit. Theodoricus itaque aliquandiu intra munitiones exercitum retinens, demum relictis ibi matre, sororibus uniuersaque uulgi multitudine nihil plane dubius de Epiphanii uiri sanctissimi fide cum expeditis armatorum cuneis ad Odouacris obsidionem Rauennam perrexit, dumque eo loco cui Pinetum nomen est non procul ab urbe castra posuisset, per continuum pene triennium Odouacrem obsedit. Qui dum frequenter ex urbe cum suis egrediens eius exercitus inquietaret, nouissime noctu in castra inruens magna Theodorici exercitum strage prostrauit.

17 Observing such vicissitudes of affairs, Gundubad, king of the Burgundians, entering Liguria with a mighty army, pillaging at will all that he could find, carried off an endless multitude of captives with him into Gaul. Theodoric, therefore, keeping his army for a while within the fortifications, at length, having left there his mother, his sisters, and the whole multitude of the populace, with no real doubt about the faith of the most holy man Epiphanius, set out for Ravenna with expeditionary cunei of armed men to besiege Odouacris; and when he had pitched camp at the place called Pinetum not far from the city, he besieged Odouacris for almost three continuous years. That man, while frequently sallying forth from the city with his forces to harass his army, lastly rushing by night into the camp, laid Theodoric’s army low with a great slaughter.

Victus ad extremum fortissime Gothis resistentibus in urbem confugit nec multo post a Theodorico in fidem susceptus, ab eo truculente peremptus est.

Defeated at last, the Goths resisting very bravely, he fled into the city; and not long after, having been received into Theodoric’s trust, he was cruelly put to death by him.

18 Egressis denique a Ticinensi urbe post triennium Gothis eandem mox urbem Rugi inuasere, cuncta per circuitum loca simulque et ciuitatem per continuum biennium populatione uastantes, cum adhuc beatissimus Epiphanius superesset, cuius in tantis periculis sanctitate ciues replebantur afflicti. Hic a Theodorico Gallias ad Gundubadum pro captiuis redimendis directus excepta innumera multitudine, pro quibus pretium tribuit, sex milia captiuorum ob solam sanctitatis suae reuerentiam concessa secum reduxit. Igitur Theodoricus extincto apud Rauennam Odouacre totius Italiae adeptus est ditionem, nec multo post Romam profectus a Romanis magno gaudio susceptus est, quibus ille singulis tritici ad subsidium annis cxx milia modiorum concessit.

18 Finally, after three years' departure from the city of Ticinum, the Rugi soon invaded the same city, devastating all the surrounding places and also the city itself for a continuous two years with plunder, while the most blessed Epiphanius yet survived, whose sanctity filled the afflicted citizens in such great perils. He, sent by Theodoric to the Gauls to Gundubad for the redemption of captives, having received an innumerable multitude for whom he paid the ransom, brought back with him six thousand captives granted out of mere reverence for his sanctity. Therefore, Theodoric, Odovacar having been slain at Ravenna, obtained dominion of all Italy, and not long after having set out for Rome he was received with great joy by the Romans, to whom he granted, annually for the support of wheat, 120,000 modii for each year.

19 Dum haec apud Italiam geruntur, a Vulgaris uniuersa Thracia crudeliter deuastatur. Constantinopolis etiam ipsis diebus maximo conflagrauit incendio.

19 While these things were happening in Italy, all Thrace was cruelly devastated by Vulgaris. Constantinople also in those very days was consumed by a great conflagration.

At uero apud Africam Honoricus, qui mortuo Genserico in regnum successerat, Arriana perfidia trusis in exilium effugatisque amplius quam cccxxxiiii catholicis episcopis ecclesias eorum clausit, plebem uariis suppliciis affecit et quidem innumeris manus abscidens, linguas eorum praecidit, nec tamen loquellam catholicae confessionis eripere potuit.

But in Africa, Honoricus, who on the death of Genseric had succeeded to the kingdom, with Arian perfidy having driven some into exile and more than 334 Catholic bishops having fled, shut their churches, afflicted the people with various tortures, even cutting off innumerable hands and lopping off their tongues, yet he could not wrench away the speech of Catholic confession.

Apud Brittanias quoque Ambrosius Aurelianus, qui solus forte Romanae gentis Saxonum cedi superfuerat, purpuram induit uictoresque Saxones Brittonum ducens exercitum saepe superauit, atque ex eo tempore nunc hii nunc illi palmam habuerunt, donec Saxones potentiores effecti tota per longum insula potirentur.

In the Britains also Ambrosius Aurelianus, who alone, perhaps, of the Roman nation had survived the Saxons’ conquest, put on the purple and, leading the Britons’ army, often overthrew the victorious Saxons; and from that time now these, now those held the palm of victory, until the Saxons, having become more powerful, possessed the whole long island.

20 Theodoricus interea, ut sui regni uires constabiliret, Audefledam Lodoin Francorum regis filiam sibi in matrimonium iunxit, Amalafredam germanam suam Wandalorum regi Honorico, eiusdem Amalafredae filiam Malabergam Turingorum regi Ermenfredo, Theodicodo quoque et Ostrogotho ex concubina filias alteram Halarico Wisigotharum regi, alteram Sigismundo Burgundionum consociat, Amalasuintham uero tertiam filiam Eutharico ex Amalorum stirpe uenienti euocato ab Hispania tradidit. Nec fuit aliqua uicina Italiae gens quae Theodorico aut coniunctionis adfinitate aut pactionis foedere sociata non fuerit.

20 Theodoric meanwhile, that he might consolidate the forces of his kingdom, joined Audefleda, daughter of Lodoin, king of the Franks, to himself in marriage; gave his sister Amalafreda to Honoricus, king of the Vandals; gave Malaberga, daughter of that same Amalafreda, to Ermenfred, king of the Thuringians; likewise he allied to Theodicodus and to Ostrogothus daughters by a concubine, one of whom he consorted to Halaric, king of the Visigoths, the other to Sigismund of the Burgundians; and he delivered Amalasuintha, the third daughter, to Eutharic, summoned from Spain as coming of the Amal stock. Nor was there any neighboring people of Italy that was not allied to Theodoric either by affinity of marriage or by a treaty pact.

Zeno itaque Augustus cum per annos decem et septem rei publicae praefuisset, apud urbem Constantinopolim uitae terminum accepit.

Zeno therefore Augustus, when for 17 years he had presided over the republic, at the city of Constantinople received the term of his life.

EXPLICIT HISTORIAE ROMANAE LIBER QVINTVS DECIMVS

HERE ENDS THE ROMAN HISTORY, BOOK 15.