Zonaras: ZONARAS HISTORIAE ROMANORUM EXCERPTA

[.....] ex Caesarianis autem et Getae militibus ad XX millia occidit: Roma multis viris fortibus spoliata, ensem quo frater occisus est, consecravit. a caedibus ad ludos descendit, ac ne eos quidem incruentos. in milites liberalissimus: caeteros mortales, senatorii praesertim ordinis, vexare, spoliare, deglubere studio habuit.

[.....] but of the Caesarians and Geta’s soldiers he killed up to 20,000: Rome, stripped of many brave men, consecrated the sword with which his brother was slain. from slaughters he descended to games, and not even those were bloodless. toward the soldiers he was most liberal: the rest of mortals, especially of the senatorial order, he made it his pursuit to vex, spoliate, and flay.

sic 613 autem per omne tempus imperii illius, omnes populi Romani provinciae vastatae sunt, ut cum aliquando Julia dixisset: "nullus nobis, neque iustus neque iniustus quaestus relinquitur, stricto ense responderit: bono animo es, o mater, dum enim hunc tenuerimus, nihil nobis deerit". ad omnia caetera flagitia etiam perfidus fuit. nam Osrocnes regem Abgarum per amicitiae speciem ad se vocatum, in vincula coniecit: itaque regno illius potitus est. Armeniorum quoque regem cum filiis suis rixantem, amicis litteris tanquam compositurus controversiam, accersitum, eodem modo quo Abgarum tractavit, sed Armenios non subegit.

thus, however, through the whole time of his rule, all the provinces of the Roman people were ravaged, to such a degree that when at some point Julia had said: "no gain, neither just nor unjust, is left to us," with sword drawn he replied: "be of good courage, O mother, for so long as we shall have held this, nothing will be lacking to us." as to all the other outrages he was perfidious as well. for the Osroënian king Abgar, called to him under the semblance of friendship, he cast into chains; and thus he got possession of his kingdom. the king of the Armenians also, quarreling with his sons, having been summoned by friendly letters as though he would settle the controversy, he treated in the same way as Abgar, but he did not subdue the Armenians.

[I]li enim ad arma descenderunt, neque quisquam ei amplius fidem habuit. verum in necessitatibus et expeditionibus quae moram non ferebant, tenuis et frugalis fuit. cum militibus una et ambulavit et cursitavit: non lavit, non vestem mutavit, sed quodvis opus [u]na aggressus est, eodemque cum illis victu usus.

For they resorted to arms, and no one trusted him any longer. Yet, in necessities and on expeditions that did not brook delay, he was spare and frugal. Together with the soldiers he both walked and ran about: he did not bathe, he did not change his garment, but undertook any work together with them, and used the same victuals as they.

hostes insigniores aliquando ad singulare certamen provocavit. sed ducis munia parum commode obiit: omnesque res eius adulterinae fuerunt, atque adeo ipsum numisma. laboravit et manifestis et occultis morbis, ac saepe et patrem et fratrem strictis ensibus in se irruere putavit.

at times he challenged more distinguished enemies to a single combat. but he fulfilled the duties of a leader not very competently: and all his affairs were adulterine, indeed even his very coinage. he suffered from both manifest and occult diseases, and often thought that both his father and his brother were rushing upon him with drawn swords.

quare patris, Commodi et aliorum manes elicuisse fertur, sed solus ei Commodus respondisse: "perge ad supplicium. deinde de morte: quem gravis occulta urget circum loca morbus".¹ delatores et speculatores aluit, per quos etiam minutissima quaeque ad eum referebantur. iudicia et alias publicas actiones mane denuntiabat: sed ultra meridiem, aut in ipsam vesperam differebat, senatorum coetu nec in vestibulum admisso, spretisque multis salubribus matris suae monitis, caedibus, iniuriis, pecuniae profusionibus se oblectavit. fuit et magorum et praestigiatorum amator.

wherefore he is said to have elicited the Manes of his father, of Commodus, and of others, but Commodus alone answered him: "proceed to punishment. then about death: whom a grave, hidden disease presses around the regions".¹ he nourished delators and spies, through whom even the tiniest particulars were reported to him. he would announce trials and other public actions in the morning; but he deferred them beyond midday, or into the very evening, with the assembly of senators not admitted even into the vestibule; and, many salutary admonitions of his mother spurned, he amused himself with slaughters, outrages, and profusions of money. he was also a lover of magi and prestidigitators.

bello Parthis illato, cum Antiochiae luxui et ludis gladiatoriis vacaret, non secus querebatur, ac si magnis in laboribus et periculis versaretur, et senatui ignaviam opprobrabat. denique ad eum scripsit: "scire se acta sua illi non placere; sed hac de causa milites et arma habere, ne curaret nugatores". denuo expeditione contra Parthos suscepta, 614 quod Artabanus filiam ei desponsam non dedisset (norat enim eum per speciem nuptiarum de vindicando sibi regno cogitare), agros passim vastavit, Arbela subegit, revulsisque Parthorum regum sepulcris, ossa disiecit: cum ipsa autem gente acie non depugnavit. in re militari multa contra morem maiorum egit, et peculiarem quamdam vestem barbarico more in penulae modum incisam et confectam, crebro induit, eademque milites uti iussit; unde Caracalla cognominatus est.

with war brought upon the Parthians, while at Antioch he was at leisure for luxury and gladiatorial games, he complained no otherwise than if he were engaged in great labors and dangers, and he upbraided the senate for cowardice. finally he wrote to it: "that he knew his deeds were not pleasing to it; but for this reason he had soldiers and arms, that he might not care about triflers". again, an expedition against the Parthians having been undertaken, 614 because Artabanus had not given him his daughter betrothed (for he knew that he, under the appearance of nuptials, was thinking of vindicating the kingdom for himself), he ravaged fields everywhere, subdued Arbela, and, the sepulchres of the kings of the Parthians torn open, scattered the bones; but with the nation itself he did not fight in pitched battle. in military matters he did many things contrary to the custom of the ancestors, and he frequently put on a certain peculiar garment, cut and made in barbaric fashion in the mode of a penula, and he ordered the soldiers to use the same; whence he was surnamed Caracalla.

tamen a militibus est occisus. nam Macrinus praetorio praefectus, cui vates quidam imperium praedixerat, veritus ne ea de causa ab Antonino tolleretur, nihil cunctatus, per duos tribunos militum insidias ei struxit. nam cum Edessa Carras proficiscens, exonerandi ventris causa equo descendisset, miles quidam a tribunis submissus, tanquam dicturus aliquid, eum pugione percussit.

nevertheless he was slain by soldiers. For Macrinus, praetorian prefect, to whom a certain vates had foretold the imperium, fearing lest for that reason he be removed by Antoninus, and delaying not at all, laid an ambush for him through two military tribunes. For when, setting out from Edessa to Carrhae, he had dismounted from his horse for the sake of exonerating his belly, a certain soldier, sent in by the tribunes as if about to say something, struck him with a dagger.

sic ille vixit et periit, anno XXIX, imperii VI, cum duobus mensibus et diebus aliquot. fertur, cum postremo Antiochiae esset, somniasse, patrem stricto ense astantem sibi dicere: "ut tu fratrem occidisti, sic ego te occidam". est et a vatibus monitus, ut diem illum caveret. memorantur alia quoque signa eius interitum praecessisse.

Thus he lived and perished, in his 29th year, in the 6th of his empire, with two months and several days. It is reported that, when he was at Antioch for the last time, he dreamed that his father, standing by with a drawn sword, said to him: "as you killed your brother, so I will kill you." He was also admonished by vates to beware that day. Other signs, too, are recorded to have preceded his death.

XIII. Antonino, qui et Caracalla, ut dictum est, et Taras de gladiatoris cuiusdam turpissimi et crudelissimi nomine vocabatur, interempto. Macrinus quarto die post a militibus accepit imperium, natione Maurus Siciliensis, parentibus ortus obscurissimis: unde Maurorum more alteram aurem perforatam habuit, sed vir moderatus, et legum custos fidelissimus: qui praefectus praetorio, magistratum eum optime administrarat, sed imperium non per omnia recte gessit. nam magistratus indignis largiebatur, quae maxima pars est imperatorii muneris: et ratione victus delicatiore utebatur, et fastum quemdam prae se ferebat.

13. With Antoninus—who is also Caracalla, as has been said, and was called Taras from the name of a certain most vile and most cruel gladiator—having been slain, Macrinus on the 4th day after received the imperial power from the soldiers, by nation a Sicilian Moor, sprung from most obscure parents; whence, in the manner of the Moors, he had the other ear pierced; yet a moderate man, and a most faithful custodian of the laws; who, as praetorian prefect, had administered that magistracy most excellently, but did not in all respects conduct the imperial power rightly. For he was bestowing magistracies upon the unworthy, which is the greatest part of the imperial duty; and he used a more delicate regimen of living, and he displayed a certain haughtiness.

Julia vero, Antonini mater, Antiochiae degens, caede Antonini cognita, sibi ipsi manus afferre statuit, non propter filium, sed privatae vitae metu. sed cum res eius non immutarentur, ministeriis et satellitibus retentis, in vita manere maluit. 615 post cum Macrinus audivisset, eam sib[i] maledicere, et imperium affectare: relicta Antiochia, quo vellet abire iussa, tum demum sibi necem conscivit.

But Julia, the mother of Antoninus, living at Antioch, when the slaughter of Antoninus was learned, resolved to lay hands upon herself, not on account of her son, but from fear for her private life. But since her affairs were not altered, with her ministries and satellites retained, she preferred to remain alive. 615 Afterwards, when Macrinus had heard that she was speaking ill of him and aiming at the imperium, having left Antioch, being ordered to go away wherever she wished, then at last she contrived death for herself.

Macrinus vero ab Artabano magnis copiis Romanos invadente, circa Nisibim bis acie victus, pacem magna pecunia redimere coactus est. Parthico bello sedato, civile bellum inter Romanos exarsit. nam Eutychianus quidam Caesarianus militum odiis in Macrinum perspectis, quod ad largiendum Antonino restrictior esset, vatumque praedictionibus incitatus, contra Macrinum insurrexit.

But Macrinus, as Artabanus with great forces was invading the Romans, was twice defeated in pitched battle around Nisibis, and was forced to ransom peace with a great sum of money. With the Parthian war settled, a civil war flared up among the Romans. For a certain Eutychianus, a Caesarian, having perceived the soldiers’ hatreds toward Macrinus—because in largessing he was more restricted than Antoninus—and incited by the vaticinations of seers, rose up against Macrinus.

cum autem Maesa Juliae imperatricis soror, duas haberet filias, Soaemidem et Mammaeam, totidemque nepotes ex eis: horum alterum Eutychianus adulterinum esse[.] Caracallae filium mentitus, noctu in castra perduxit, ac milites iam ante seditionis occasionem captantes, ad studium novarum rerum impulit: qui eum, nomine Antonini facto, statim imperatorem consalutarunt, quamvis puerum: eoque assumpto, contra Macrinum Antiochiae agentem sunt profecti, ab eoque in loco quodam procul ab Antiochia dissito victi sunt. sed Macrinus cum eos reparare aciem videret, in fugam versus, Antiochiam pro victore se contulit: ne urbe excluderetur, filio ad Artabanum misso. eius autem clade nuntiata, cum multae caedes fierent, raso capite et barba, pullam vestem indu[t]us, ne agnosceretur, noctu aufugit: nec multo post Aegas Ciliciae, atque inde per Cappadociam, Galatiam et Bithyniam, usque ad Eribolum navale e regione Nicomediae situm profectus, Chalcedonem traiecit: ac per ministros petita a procuratore quodam pecunia, agnitus, ab iis qui [c]um Pseudantonino faciebant, comprehensus, et ad Cappadociam usque reductus est: ubi captivitate filii cognita, e vehiculo se deiecit, confractoque humero, non multo post occisus est, anno aetatis quarto et quinquagesimo, imperii primo, cum duobus mensibus, triduo dempto, a puerulo eversus.

but when Maesa, sister of the Empress Julia, had two daughters, Soaemias and Mamaea, and just as many grandsons from them, of these Eutychianus declared one to be illegitimate[.], feigning him to be the son of Caracalla; by night he led him into the camp and drove the soldiers—who already before were grasping at an occasion for sedition—to a zeal for new things: who, the name of Antoninus having been given, at once saluted him emperor, although a boy; and, having taken him up, they set out against Macrinus, who was residing at Antioch, and were defeated by him in a certain place far distant from Antioch. But Macrinus, when he saw them repairing their battle line, turned to flight, and as a victor betook himself to Antioch, lest he be shut out of the city, his son having been sent to Artabanus. But when the defeat of him was reported, while many slaughters were taking place, with head and beard shaved, clad[t] in dark clothing, so that he might not be recognized, he fled by night; and not long after to Aegeae of Cilicia, and thence through Cappadocia, Galatia, and Bithynia, he proceeded as far as Eribolus, a naval station situated opposite Nicomedia, he crossed over to Chalcedon; and, money having been sought through agents from a certain procurator, recognized, he was seized by those who [c]were acting with the Pseudo-Antoninus, and was brought back as far as Cappadocia; where, when the captivity of his son was learned, he threw himself from his carriage, and, his shoulder broken, not long after he was slain, in the fifty-fourth year of age, in the first year of his rule, with two months, three days lacking, overthrown by a little boy.

id quod his ei versibus praedictum fuerat:

that which had been foretold to him by these verses:

"heu tua vis resoluta, senex, cadit, aegra senectus,
te domat et iuvenis carpit tua robora miles".

"alas, your force, loosened, old man, falls; sickly old age tames you,
and a youthful soldier plucks at your robust strengths".

616 XIV. Avitus vero Pseudantoninus, sive Assyrius et Sardanapalus, ubi Romam venit, unam rem fecit bono imperatore dignam. nam cum multis contumeliis privatim et publice a Romanis affectus esset, ob Macrini litteras contra se scriptas, de nemine poenas sumpsit, caetera flagitiosissimus, iniustissimus, et saevissimus carnifex. Eutychianus vero praetorianis militibus praefectus, bis ac tertium consulatum gessit.

616 14. Avitus indeed Pseudantoninus, or the Assyrian and Sardanapalus, when he came to Rome, did one thing worthy of a good emperor. For although he had been afflicted with many contumelies by the Romans, privately and publicly, on account of Macrinus’s letters written against him, he exacted punishment from no one; in other respects a most flagitious, most unjust, and most savage executioner. Eutychianus indeed, prefect of the praetorian soldiers, held the consulship twice and a third time.

alii vero illustres viri, qua causis confictis, qua sine causis occidebantur, quod eius facinora non probarent. neque enim ad senatum id scribere cum puduit. agebat autem et virum et mulierem, et utraque et faciebat et patiebatur impudicissime: nec alios duntaxat, sed ex amicissimis nonnullos ad vitae modestiam adhortantes, occidebat.

But other illustrious men were put to death, partly on concocted charges, partly without any charges, because they did not approve his crimes. Nor was he ashamed to write that to the Senate. Moreover, he played both the man and the woman, and in both roles he both did and suffered things most shamelessly; and he killed not only others, but even some of his closest friends who were urging him to a modesty of life.

peregrinum quemdam deum Heleagabalum, Romam introductum, Jovi optimo maximo praetulit: unde ipsi quoque cognomentum Heleagabali factum. pudenda sua circumcidit, suillis carnibus abstinuit: veste barbarica in publicum prodiit, quali Syriaci sacerdotes utuntur, unde Assyrius appellatus est. praeter caeteras virginem vestalem uxorem duxit, patria religione per summam impudentiam violata: quam ideo se accepisse ferebat, ut ex sacrificula et se sacrificulo Heliogabali, pueri divini gignerentur.

he preferred a certain peregrine god, Heleagabalus, introduced to Rome, to Jupiter Best and Greatest: whence to himself too the cognomen of Heleagabalus was made. he circumcised his privy parts, he abstained from swine-flesh: he went forth into public in barbaric garb, of the kind which Syrian priests use, whence he was called Assyrian. besides the rest, he took a Vestal virgin as wife, the ancestral religion being violated with the utmost impudence: which woman he averred he had received for this reason, that from a little priestess and himself a little priest of Heleagabalus, divine boys might be begotten.

neque vero barbaricas duntaxat cantilenas, cum matre et avia peregrino deo cantabat, et nefandas hostias immolabat, pueros sacrificando et praestigiis utendo, et sexcenta amuleta subinde appendendo; sed uxorem etiam deo illi suo tanquam liberis egenti despondit, quam in palatio collocavit, dote a subditis exacta. ipsius vero tam corrupta fuit vita, ut singula neque commemorari neque audiri sine molestia summa possint. pauca tamen delibabimus.

Nor indeed did he only sing barbaric cantilenas with his mother and grandmother to a peregrine god, and immolate nefarious victims, sacrificing boys and using tricks, and ever and again hanging up six hundred amulets; but he even betrothed a wife to that god of his as though in want of children, whom he placed in the palace, the dowry exacted from the subjects. But his own life was so corrupt that the particulars can neither be recounted nor heard without the utmost vexation. Nevertheless, we will sample a few.

noctu cauponas ingrediebatur, capite apposititia coma redimito: et inter cauponias mulierculas, operas faciebat, famosaque prostibula frequentabat: et meretriculis expulsis, pro meretrice quibus vis sui copiam faciebat. in palatio quoque peculiare conclave habuit, cuius pro foribus instar meretricularum nudus stans, et flammeum vibrans, effeminata, mol[l]i, fractaque voce praetereuntes 617 ad coitum invitabat, et pecuniam ab eis exigebat. cum eiusdem vero quaestus aemulis rixabatur, et se plures quam illos amatores habere, maioremque pecuniam colligere gloriabatur.

At night he would enter taverns, his head wreathed with artificial hair; and among the little tavern-women he did jobs, and he frequented notorious brothels; and, the little prostitutes having been driven out, as a prostitute he made the use of himself available to whomever he wished. In the palace too he had a private chamber, before the doors of which, in the manner of little prostitutes, standing naked and brandishing a bridal veil, effeminately, with a soft and broken voice, he invited passers-by 617 to intercourse, and demanded money from them. He would also brawl with rivals in that same trade, and he boasted that he had more lovers than they and collected greater money.

neque bis flagitiis contentus, aurigabat, saltabat, nubere etiam volebat, ut unum legitimum maritum haberet, quem Caesarem designaret: ac dominae et imperatricis nomine gaudebat, cala[u=n]ticam gestans, et lanam tractans, et genas pingens. semel quoquo barbam abrasit, ut glabra et laevi facie muliercula videretur, cuius mulierculae maritus erat Caricum mancipium, nomine Hierocles. voluit et adulterii suspectus esse, ut nequissimas feminas imitaretur: et in ipso stupro de industria deprehensus, a marito obiurgabatur et vapulabat, ut livore oculi suffunderentur.

nor content with disgrace twice over, he drove a chariot, he danced, he even wanted to marry, so that he might have one legitimate husband, whom he would designate Caesar: and he delighted in the title of lady and empress, wearing the calautica [cala[u=n]tica], and handling wool, and painting his cheeks. once too he shaved off his beard, so that he might seem a little woman with a glabrous and smooth face, whose little woman’s husband was a Carian slave, named Hierocles. he even wished to be suspected of adultery, so as to imitate the most nefarious women: and, caught on purpose in the very act of defilement, he was rebuked by his husband and beaten, so that his eyes were suffused with bruise-discoloration.

Aurelium quemdam, cum toto corpore elegantem, tum pudendis ingentibus praeditum, comitatu magnifico statim adducendum ad se curavit; qui cum ei dixisset: "salve, domine imperator", ille muliebri mollitie collo inclinato, et oculis nonnihil conniventibus: "ne me dominum", inquit, "dixeris, domina enim sum". cum autem una cum eo lotus famam non mentiri comperisset, in pectore eius recubuit, et in sinu eius coenavit, instar amicae. veritus igitur Hierocles, ne prae Aurelio negligeretur, eum praestigiis aut veneficiis quibusdam effeminavit et stupefecit ut per totam noctem ignavus ad coitum iaceret: qua de causa et palatio et Roma et tota Italia pulsus est. tandem eo lasciviae venit, ut ingentibus praemiis propositis, a medicis postularet, ut per incisiones vulvam sibi facerent.

A certain Aurelius, elegant in his whole body and endowed with huge privates, he took care that he be brought to him at once with a magnificent retinue; who, when he had said to him: "hail, lord emperor", he, with womanly softness, his neck inclined and his eyes winking somewhat: "do not call me lord", he said, "for I am lady". when, however, having bathed together with him, he discovered that the rumor did not lie, he reclined upon his chest, and he dined in his lap, in the manner of a girlfriend. Therefore Hierocles, fearing that in comparison with Aurelius he might be neglected, effeminated and stupefied him by certain sleights or veneficial poisons, so that through the whole night he lay inert for coitus: for which cause he was driven out from the palace and from Rome and from all Italy. At length he came to such a pitch of lasciviousness that, with huge rewards proposed, he asked from the doctors that they make for him a vulva through incisions.

his de causis omnibus invisus fuit, ut Sardanapalus, flagitia et mollitiem eius non ferentibus. postea Bassianum Mammaeae materterae filium in curiam adductum adoptavit, et Alexandrum appellari iussit; nec multo post, omnes suspectos habere coepit, cumque illi plerosque bene cupere didicisset, facti poenitens, de eo perimendo cogitavit. sed cum is a militibus diligenter custodiretur, eaque de causa magnus tumultus satellitum ortus esset, eius sedandi causa cum Alexandro castra ingressus, animadversis insidiis, quae a militibus sibi parabantur, effugere studuit.

For all these causes he was hated by everyone, like Sardanapalus, they not bearing his flagitious acts and effeminacy. Afterwards he adopted Bassianus, the son of his aunt Mammaea, brought into the Curia, and ordered him to be called Alexander; and not long after, he began to hold everyone as suspect, and when he had learned that very many wished him well, repenting of the deed, he thought about putting him to death. But since he was carefully guarded by the soldiers, and for that reason a great tumult of the satellites had arisen, for the sake of sedating this, having entered the camp with Alexander, noticing the ambushes which were being prepared against him by the soldiers, he strove to flee.

sed deprehensus 618 in amplexu matris una cum ipsa iugulatus est, amborumque corpora nuda per mediam urbem tracta sunt. deinde Sardanapali cadaver in Tiberim abiectum, cognomentum ei praeter reliqua Tiberini fecit. occisus est cum eo Hierocles quoque, et alii multi.

but, caught 618 in his mother’s embrace, he was jugulated together with her, and the naked bodies of both were dragged through the middle of the city. then the cadaver of Sardanapalus, cast into the Tiber, gave him, besides the rest, the cognomen Tiberinus. Hierocles too was slain with him, and many others.

imperavit annos III, menses IX, et dies IV, ex quo Macrino acie victo rerum potitus fuit. eo imperante, Zephyrinus Ecclesiae Romanae episcopus decimo octavo suae gubernationis anno vitam cum morte commutavit. post quem coetui fidelium praefuit Callistus, per quinquennium.

he ruled for 3 years, 9 months, and 4 days, from the time when, Macrinus having been defeated in battle, he gained control of affairs. while he was ruling, Zephyrinus, bishop of the Roman Church, in the 18th year of his governance exchanged life for death. after whom Callistus presided over the assembly of the faithful for five years.

ei successit Urbanus.

Urban succeeded him.

XV. Pseudoantonino interfecto, Alexander Mammaeae filius, consobrinus illius, imperium adeptus, statim matrem Mammaeam Augustam declaravit: quae rerum administratione suscepta, viros eruditos ad filium accersivit, per quos mores eius formarentur, et optimum quemque ex senatu accivit, cum quibus omnium actionum consilia communicaret. Domitius Ulpianus praetorio praefectus, reipublicae gerendae cura suscepta, multa Sardanapali acta rescidit: qui Flaviano et Chresto occisis, ut eis succederet, non multo post et ipse a militibus noctu occisus est. quo adhuc superstite, levi de causa inter milites et populum orta seditione, per triduum est dimicatum.

15. With the Pseudo-Antoninus slain, Alexander, son of Mamaea, his cousin, having obtained the imperium, at once declared his mother Mamaea Augusta: who, having undertaken the administration of affairs, summoned learned men to her son, by whom his morals might be formed, and summoned the best from the Senate, with whom he might share the counsels of all actions. Domitius Ulpianus, Praetorian Prefect, having undertaken the care of managing the commonwealth, rescinded many acts of Sardanapalus: who, with Flavianus and Chrestus slain, that he might succeed them, not long after was himself slain by the soldiers at night. While he was still surviving, a sedition having arisen over a slight cause between the soldiers and the people, there was fighting for three days.

sed cum milites victi, ignem aedibus iniicerent, populus vel ingratis cum eis in gratiam rediit. sunt et alii motus sedati. caeterum Alexandri mater avara mulier, undique pecuniam coegit.

but when the soldiers, vanquished, were casting fire upon the edifices, the populace, even unwilling, returned into favor with them. Other commotions too were quelled. Moreover, Alexander’s mother, an avaricious woman, amassed money from every quarter.

uxorem filio despondit, quam nec Augustam appellari passa est, et aliquanto post ab eo avulsam in Africam relegavit: quam etsi Alexander diligebat, tamen matri, in cuius potestate erat, refragari non audebat. interim Artaxerxes Persa, homo obscuro et inglorio genere ortus, Parthorum regnum ad Persas translatum sibi vindicavit: a quo Chosroae genus deduci fertur. nam post Alexandri Macedonis obitum, successores illius Macedones longissimo tempore Persis et Parthis imperarunt, sed tandem intestinis bellis alii alios everterunt.

She betrothed a wife to her son, and did not allow her to be called Augusta, and somewhat later, torn away from him, she relegated her to Africa: although Alexander loved her, nevertheless he did not dare to oppose his mother, in whose power he was. Meanwhile Artaxerxes the Persian, a man born of an obscure and inglorious lineage, claimed for himself the kingdom of the Parthians transferred to the Persians: from whom the lineage of the Chosroes is said to be derived. For after the death of Alexander the Macedonian, his successors, Macedonians, for a very long time ruled over the Persians and the Parthians, but at last, by civil wars, they overthrew one another.

quorum fractis viribus primus Arsacides Parthus ab eis deficere, et Parthis dominari coepit, regno in successores 619 prorogato: quorum postremus fuit Artabanus, quem hic Artaxerxes tribus praeliis victum et comprehensum interfecit. deinde bello Armeniae illato, ab Armeniis et Medis atque Artabani filiis superatus, et reparatis viribus, Mesopotamiae Syriaeque occupandae cum maioribus copiis intentus, omnia se, ut quae antiquitus ad regnum Persicum pertinerent, recuperaturum esse minabatur. sed Cappadocia incursata cum Nisibim obsideret, Alexander per legatos pacem ab eo petiit.

with whose forces broken, the Arsacid, a Parthian, was the first to defect from them and to begin to dominate the Parthians, the kingship prolonged to his successors 619; the last of whom was Artabanus, whom this Artaxerxes, defeated in three battles and captured, killed. then, war having been brought upon Armenia, he was overcome by the Armenians and Medes and by the sons of Artabanus; and, his forces repaired, intent with larger troops on occupying Mesopotamia and Syria, he threatened that he would recover everything which from antiquity pertained to the Persian kingdom. but after a raid into Cappadocia, when he was besieging Nisibis, Alexander sought peace from him through envoys.

barbarus vero legatione repudiata, CCCC procerissimos viros pretiosis vestibus amictos, et splendidis armis exornatos, in equis eximiis ad Alexandrum misit, ea ratione se Alexandro et Romanis terrorem incussurum putans. qui cum in imperatoris conspectum venissent, dixerunt: "iubet magnus rex Artaxerxes Romanos cedere Syria, et universa Asia, quae Europam spectat, et Persis imperium usque ad mare concedere". hos Alexander comprehensos, et vestibus atque armis ex[ut]os, ademptisque equis, in plurimos pagos distributos, agros colere iussit (nam eos occidere nefas esse putabat), ac suis legionibus in tres partes distributis, trifariam Persas est adortus, quorum multi sunt occisi. perierunt Romani quoque plurimi, non tam ab hostibus, quam in reditu per Armeniae montes: qui cum gelu rigeant, euntium pedes et quorumdam manus sunt mutilatae, frigore adustae atque emortuae.

but the barbarian, his embassy indeed repudiated, sent 400 very tall men, clothed in precious garments and adorned with splendid arms, on exceptional horses, to Alexander, thinking that by this stratagem he would infuse terror into Alexander and the Romans. when they had come into the emperor’s sight, they said: "the great king Artaxerxes orders the Romans to yield Syria, and all Asia which looks toward Europe, and to concede to the Persians dominion up to the sea." these men Alexander, once seized and stripped of their garments and arms, and their horses taken away, distributed among very many villages, and ordered them to till the fields (for he thought it a nefas to kill them); and with his legions divided into three parts, he attacked the Persians in threefold fashion, many of whom were slain. very many Romans also perished, not so much by the enemies as on the return through the mountains of Armenia: which, since they are rigid with frost, the feet of those marching and the hands of some were mutilated, seared by the cold and lifeless.

qua de causa Romanis conquerentibus, Alexander sive ex moerore sive ex aeris mutatione graviter aegrotavit. recuperata valetudine contra Germanos est profectus, eosque per ferentarios et sagittarios vexavit. deinde pecunia oblata, ad pacem invitavit.

for which cause, as the Romans were complaining, Alexander, either from sorrow or from a change of air, fell grievously ill. having recovered his health, he set out against the Germans, and harassed them by skirmishers and archers. then, money being proffered, he invited them to peace.

quamobrem milites ei irati, defecerunt: et Maximinum quemdam natione Thracem, qui a puero armentarius fuerat, postea miles factus est, invitum scilicet, ad imperium pertraxerunt. qui iis militibus assumptis, a quibus imperator appellatus fuerat, statim ad Alexandri tentorium contendit. quo is audito, milites quos secum habebat, ad sui defensionem hortatus est: qui cum operam suam pollicerentur, exercitum coegit, et cum Maximino decertare iussit.

Wherefore the soldiers, angry with him, defected: and they dragged one Maximinus, by nation a Thracian, who had been a herdsman from boyhood and later was made a soldier, obviously unwilling, to the imperium. He, taking up those soldiers by whom he had been hailed emperor, straightway hastened to Alexander’s tent. When he heard this, he exhorted the soldiers whom he had with him to his own defense: and when they promised their service, he mustered the army, and ordered them to contend with Maximinus.

caeterum illi matri eius maledicentes, 620 et eius avaritiam criminantes, ipsi quoque ut timido insultantes, eo relicto abierunt. cum igitur se omni ope destitutum cerneret, in tentorium regressus, et matrem amplexus, fortunam suam deploravit. Maximinus vero per centurionem et ipso et matre et familiaribus eorum occisis, rerum potitus est.

However, they, maligning his mother, 620 and accusing her avarice, and also insulting him as timid, departed, leaving him. Therefore, when he perceived himself destitute of every aid, having returned into the tent and having embraced his mother, he lamented his fortune. But Maximinus, through a centurion, with him and his mother and their household slain, gained mastery of affairs.

Mammaea Alexandri mater virtutis honestaeque vitae studiosa, dum Antiochiae cum filio degeret, Origene, fama hominis permota, Alexandria accersito, ab eoque doctrina fidei erudita, Deum sanctissime coluit, ut Eusebius et alii memoriae prodiderunt. quo factum est, ut persecutio Christianorum eo tempore non modo conquiesceret, sed et honos maximus Christi cultoribus haberetur. sub Urbano Romano episcopo etiam Hippolytus, vir sanctissimus et doctissimus, Romani Portus episcopus floruit, qui in multa sacrae Scripturae opera commentarios conscripsit.

Mammaea, Alexander’s mother, zealous for virtue and an honorable life, while she was residing at Antioch with her son, having been moved by the fame of Origen, summoned him from Alexandria, and, having been instructed by him in the doctrine of the faith, worshiped God most holily, as Eusebius and others have handed down to memory. Whereby it came about that the persecution of Christians at that time not only subsided, but even the greatest honor was accorded to the worshipers of Christ. Under Urbanus, bishop of Rome, there also flourished Hippolytus, a most holy and most learned man, bishop of the Roman Port (Portus), who composed commentaries on many works of sacred Scripture.

tum Antiochiae praefuit, et coetum eius loci fidelium rexit Asclepiades, Hierosolymis Sardianus.

then at Antioch Asclepiades presided, and ruled the assembly of the faithful of that place; at Jerusalem, Sardianus.

XVI. Alexandro, cum decennium Romanis imperasset ad hunc modum interfecto, Maximinus statim suscepto imperio persecutionem contra Christianos movit, et Ecclesiarum gubernatores ut doctores Christianorum arcanorum ac praecones, tolli iussit: idque indignatione contra Alexandrum, qui Christum coluisset, fecisse perhibetur. eius enim imperatoris insano odio flagrabat: a quo dux delectus, et a Persis turpissime superatus, iram illius expertus fuerat. erat et altera persecutionis causa, quod in Alexandri familia multi Christum Deum agnoscebant.

16. When Alexander, after he had ruled the Romans for ten years, was in this manner slain, Maximinus, having immediately assumed the imperium, set a persecution in motion against the Christians, and ordered the governors of the Churches, as doctors of the Christian arcana and heralds, to be taken away; and he is said to have done this out of indignation against Alexander, who had worshiped Christ. For he burned with insane hatred of that emperor: having been chosen as a dux by him, and most shamefully overcome by the Persians, he had experienced that man’s wrath. There was also another cause of the persecution, that in Alexander’s household many acknowledged Christ as God.

quo tempore Ambrosius etiam, vir eruditionis amans, qui Originem ad sacrarum Litterarum enarrationem impulit, sumptibus abunde suppeditatis, et VII expeditis notariis adhibitis, qui per vices scriberent, ac librariis non paucioribus et virginibus eleganter scribere edoctis, martyrii corona cum Protocteto presbytero redimitus esse perhibetur. Maximinus rerum potitus, senatui statim, ut a militibus imperator appellatus esset, significavit. nec in Christianos duntaxat saevus atque immanis exstitit, sed in subditos aeque omnes.

At that time Ambrosius also, a man a lover of erudition, who impelled Origen to the exposition of the Sacred Letters, with funds abundantly provided and 7 ready notaries employed, who would write by turns, and with no fewer copyists and virgins taught to write elegantly, is said to have been wreathed with the crown of martyrdom together with the presbyter Protoctetus. Maximinus, having gotten control of affairs, immediately signified to the senate that he had been hailed as emperor by the soldiers. Nor did he prove savage and monstrous only against the Christians, but equally against all his subjects.

nam et superbus erat, et pecuniae avidus, eaque de causa iniustissimus 621 et sanguinarius, denique plane tyrannus, ad rapinas et caedes hominum sine ulla probabili causa ruens: ad quas adeo propensus fuit, ut nec uxoris suae vitae parceret. occultandae porro ignobilitatis suae studio patriciis despectis, hominum obscurorum familiaritate utebatur. quibus de causis omnium odia suscepit.

for he was both proud, and avid for money, and for that cause most unjust 621 and sanguinary, finally plainly a tyrant, rushing to rapines and slaughters of men without any probable cause: to which he was so prone that he spared not even his wife's life. and furthermore, from zeal for concealing his ignobility, with the patricians despised, he used the familiarity of obscure men. for which causes he incurred the odium of all.

bello Germanis illato, praedas ex agris egit, barbarorum nemine in conspectum veniente. deinde circa paludes et perpetuas silvas apparuerunt. quo cum Romani irruissent, magnam eorum multitudinem occiderunt.

with war brought upon the Germans, he drove off plunder from the fields, with none of the barbarians coming into sight. then around the marshes and the perpetual forests they appeared. where, when the Romans had irrupted, they slew a great multitude of them.

ita victor Maximinus, cum maxima captivorum turba reversus est. sed quia sibi omnia subditorum bona vindicabat, nec ullam pecuniae rapiendae occasionem negligebat, ac ne sacris quidem ipsis abstinebat, omnibus eos milites, a quibus imperator creatus esset, culpantibus, Africanae legiones tum ea de causa, tum alia quadam re irritatae defecerunt. nam Africanarum provinciarum procuratores, bona locupletum sine ulla probabili specie invadebant: nec iis contenti, ipsos quoque possessores trucidabant.

Thus the victor Maximinus returned with a very great throng of captives. But because he claimed for himself all the goods of his subjects, and neglected no occasion of snatching money, and did not refrain even from the sacred things themselves, while all were blaming those soldiers by whom he had been created emperor, the African legions, both for this cause and stirred by a certain other matter, defected. For the procurators of the African provinces were seizing the goods of the wealthy without any plausible pretext; and not content with those, they were also slaughtering the owners themselves.

quarum rerum indignitate ad seditionem concitati milites, virum senatorii ordinis Gordianum, hominem provectae aetatis vel invitum rapiunt: impositoque diademate, dataque purpura, imperatorem et Augustum salutant. qui Carthaginem profectus, et Maximini odio ab omnibus benigne susceptus, litteras legatosque de sua designatione ad senatum mittit. qui cum in navigatione morati essent, Romani tyrannidis Maximini pertae[s]i defecerunt: et statuis eius eversis, convicia in tyrannum iecerunt.

Stirred to sedition by the indignity of these things, the soldiers seize Gordian, a man of senatorial order and of advanced age, even unwilling; and, the diadem placed upon him and the purple given, they hail him emperor and Augustus. He set out to Carthage and, because of hatred for Maximinus, was kindly received by all; he sends letters and legates to the Senate concerning his designation. Since these were delayed on their voyage, the Romans, wearied of the tyranny of Maximinus, defected; and, his statues overthrown, they hurled insults at the tyrant.

deinde cum temeritatis poe[ni]teret, quod Maximino incolumi nulla eis salutis spes relinqueretur, duos ex senatu Maximum et Albinum duces crearunt. quidam etiam Caesares a senatu appellatos esse ferunt, designationem Gordiani adhuc ignorante. quibus rebus Maximinus cognitis, minas contra senatum spirans, in Italiam contendit.

then, as they repented of their temerity, because with Maximinus unscathed no hope of safety was left to them, they created from the senate two leaders, Maximus and Albinus. Some even report that they were styled Caesars by the senate, with Gordian still ignorant of the designation. When these things were learned by Maximinus, breathing threats against the senate, he made for Italy.

sed ubi Maximum, Albino ad urbis custodiam relicto, contra se adventare didicit, Aquileiam, qua potiri in primis studebat, cum exercitu Maurorum declinavit. Aquileia vero ea fuit, quae nunc Venetiae dicitur. sed civibus 622 fortiter se defendentibus, ab urbe repulsus, et a Maximo acie victus, in suum tabernaculum rediit: ortoque inter ipsius satellites et milites tumultu, egressus, ut eos alloqueretur, impetu illorum una cum filio, quem secum adduxerat, est occisus: natus annos V et LX, unde VI imperavit.

but when he learned that Maximus, Albinus having been left for the custody of the city, was advancing against him, he turned aside with an army of Moors toward Aquileia, which he was striving especially to get possession of. Aquileia in truth was that which is now called the Venetiae. But with the citizens 622 bravely defending themselves, repulsed from the city and defeated in battle-line by Maximus, he returned to his own tent: and when a tumult had arisen between his bodyguards and the soldiers, having gone out to address them, by the onset of those men he, together with his son whom he had brought with him, was slain: aged 65 years, of which he ruled 6.

Amborum capita amputata, Aquileiensibus ostentata, Romamque missa sunt. Romani vero Maximini caput in foro palo affixerunt, ut omnibus conspicuum esset.

The heads of both, having been amputated, were ostented to the Aquileians and sent to Rome. The Romans, moreover, affixed Maximinus’s head on a stake in the Forum, so that it might be conspicuous to all.

XVII. posthaec Maximus Romam reversus, Albino obviam egresso, a senatu populoque cum laetis acclamationibus et plausu est susceptus. inde ambo una, et quidem bene imperarunt. sed milites aegre ferebant eos non a se, sed a senatu populoque declaratos esse.

17. after this Maximus, having returned to Rome, with Albinus having gone out to meet him, was received by the senate and people with joyful acclamations and applause. thence both together, and indeed they ruled well. but the soldiers took it ill that they had been declared not by themselves, but by the senate and people.

post ipsi etiam imperato res inter se dissentientes, exitio suo causam praebuerunt. nam ea dissensione milites cognita, ambos vinculis constrictos per totam urbem, per ludibrium et contumeliam, nec sine verberibus circumduxerunt. deinde cum audivissent, Germanos eripere et conservare illos velle: utrumque occiderunt, quorum Maximus annos LXXIV, Albinus LX natus erat.

afterwards they themselves also, the command having been given, disagreeing among themselves, afforded the cause of their own destruction. for when that dissension was learned by the soldiers, they led both, bound in chains, through the whole city, for mockery and contumely, and not without blows. then, when they heard that the Germans wished to snatch them away and preserve them, they killed each of them; of whom Maximus was 74 years old, Albinus 60.

imperarunt vel, ut nonnulli auctores sunt, dies XXII, vel, alii tradunt, non tres menses integros. post hos quidam Pompelanum rerum potitum esse tradunt; sed imperio vix per somnium degustato, celerrime excidisse. priusquam enim duo menses elaberentur, una cum imperio vita etiam privatum esse: a quibus autem, et quibus de causis, cum scriptum non invenerim, silentio et ipse praeterii.

they ruled either, as some authors say, for 22 days, or, as others hand down, not three whole months. After these, some relate that a certain Pompelanus got possession of affairs; but, the imperium scarcely tasted, as if in a dream, he very swiftly fell out of it. For before two months had elapsed, he was deprived of life as well along with the imperium: by whom, however, and for what causes, since I did not find it written, I too have passed over it in silence.

ei P. Balbinum² successisse tradunt: qui, cum per tres menses imperii fructum brevem percepisset, in Gordiani designati imperatoris (ut dictum est) ex Africa adventu occisus fuerit. Gordianum vero, cum Romam venisset, aegrotasse, partim ob extremam aetatem (annos enim LXXIX habebat), partim quod ex longiore navigationis vexatione afflictus esset, obiisse, XXII duntaxat diebus in imperio exactis: filiumque Gordianum successorem reliquisse. atque alii haec ita consecuta esse tradunt.

they relate that P. Balbinus² succeeded him: who, when he had taken a short taste of the fruit of the imperium for three months, was slain upon the arrival from Africa of Gordian, the emperor-designate (as has been said). Gordian, however, when he had come to Rome, fell ill, partly on account of extreme age (for he had 79 years), partly because he had been afflicted by the longer vexation of a sea-voyage, and died, with only 22 days spent in the imperium: and he left his son Gordian as successor. and others relate that these events followed in this way.

alii scribunt, quosdam Gordiano in Africa imperatori appellato, seditionem movisse, et Gordiani 623 milites succubuisse: multisque caesis, atque ipso Gordiani filio, senem prae doloris impatientia, laqueo vitam finivisse. alii, qui iuniori Gordiano post patris obitum ex morbo imperium attribuunt, eum Persis intulisse bellum ferunt: dumque in pugna equo incitato aciem circumvolitans, suos ad rem strenue gerendam cohortatur, ex equi lapsu femore fracto Romam perlatum decessisse, cum sex annos imperasset. Urbanus Romano pontificatu annis octo functus, Maximino imperante obiit, Pontiano successore.

Others write that, when certain men, with Gordian hailed as emperor in Africa, stirred up a sedition, Gordian’s 623 soldiers succumbed; and with many slain, and even Gordian’s own son, the old man, through impatience of pain, finished his life with a noose. Others, who attribute the imperium to the younger Gordian after his father’s death from illness, say that he brought war against the Persians; and while, with his horse spurred on, flying around the battle-line he exhorts his men to conduct the matter strenuously, from a fall from the horse, with his thigh broken, he was carried to Rome and died, after he had ruled for 6 years. Urban, having fulfilled the Roman pontificate for 8 years, died while Maximinus was ruling, with Pontian as successor.

Antiochenae Ecclesiae post Philetum Zebinus praefuit. sub Gordiano filio, Pontiano Romano pontifici, sexto ministerii anno defuncto, successit Anteros, ac paulo post in aliam vitam migravit. post quem Flavianus, divino suffragio, ut narrat Eusebius, episcopatum est adeptus.

Over the Church of Antioch, after Philetus, Zebinus presided. Under Gordian the son, with Pontianus, the Roman pontiff, having died in the 6th year of his ministry, Anteros succeeded, and a little later migrated to another life. After him Flavianus, by divine suffrage, as Eusebius relates, obtained the episcopate.

fertur enim, fidelibus deligendi pontificis causa congregatis, Flavianum quoque recens ex agro advenisse, neque ab ullo mentionem esse factam, quasi is Ecclesiae praefuturus esset: sed concilium curasse, quemnam ex aliis anteferret. interea columbam advolantem capiti illius insedisse, atque inde omnes veluti signo dato una voce exclamasse, eum dignum pontificatu: ac citra ullam cunctationem in throno collocatum esse. tum Zebino quoque Antiochiae defuncto, successit Babyla.

It is reported, indeed, that, with the faithful assembled for the purpose of choosing a pontiff, Flavian too, recently come from the field, arrived, and that no mention was made by anyone, as though he were about to preside over the Church; but that the council took care whom from among the others it should prefer. Meanwhile a dove, flying in, settled upon his head; and then all, as if a sign had been given, with one voice exclaimed that he was worthy of the pontificate, and, without any hesitation, he was placed on the throne. Then, with Zebinus also at Antioch deceased, Babylas succeeded.

Origines vero sub id tempus Caesareae Palaestinae degens, praeter alios qui undique confluxerant, etiam magnum Gregorium, mirificum illum, auditorem habuit, et fratrem eius Athenodorum. tum quoque Africanus historicus noscebatur.

But Origen, in truth, residing at Caesarea in Palestine about that time, besides others who had flocked together from every side, had as a hearer even the great Gregory, that wondrous one, and his brother Athenodorus. Then too the historian Africanus was known.

XVIII. post Gordianum iuniorem, alius Gordianus, defunctis, ut fertur, genere coniunctus, imperium suscepit. is Sapore Artaxerxis Persarum regis filio acie superato, Nisibim et Cariam recuperavit, a Persis, Maximino imperante, Romanis ereptas. deinde Ctesiphontem profectus, insidiis Philippi praefecti praetorio periit.

18. after Gordian the younger, another Gordian, related in lineage to the deceased, as it is said, assumed the imperial power. he, with Sapor, son of Artaxerxes, king of the Persians, overcome in battle, recovered Nisibis and Carrhae, which had been snatched from the Romans by the Persians, Maximinus ruling. then, having set out to Ctesiphon, he perished by the plots of Philip, the praetorian prefect.

nam cum rerum potitus esset, Timesoclem socerum praefectum praetorio designavit: eoque superstite, 624 res imperii bene se habuerunt prospereque successerunt. eo vero defuncto, Philippus praefectus designatus, ut seditionem concitaret, stipendia militum minuisse dicitur, quasi id iussisset imperator. alii frumentum, quod in castra perferendum esset, eum inhibuisse ferunt: itaque milites commeatus penuria laborantes, contra imperatorem tanquam famis causam insurrexisse, eumque sexto imperii anno occidisse, Philippum vero statim summam rerum arripuisse.

for when he had gotten control of affairs, he designated his father-in-law Timesocles prefect of the praetorium; and while he survived, 624 the affairs of the empire were in good condition and succeeded prosperously. But when he died, Philip, designated prefect, is said, in order to stir up sedition, to have reduced the soldiers’ stipends, as if the emperor had ordered it; others report that he held back the grain which was to be carried into the camp: and so the soldiers, suffering from a scarcity of supplies, rose up against the emperor as the cause of the famine, and killed him in the 6th year of his reign, while Philip immediately seized the supreme command.

nuntiata Gordiani caede, a senatu Marcum quemdam philosophum statim Caesarem renuntiatum esse: qui ante firmatum imperium, in palatio repente obierit. eo mortuo, rerum potitum Severum Hostilianum: qui et ipse fere priusquam habenas imperii capesseret, vena propter morbum incisa, naturae debitum persolverit.³

With the slaying of Gordian announced, by the senate a certain Marcus, a philosopher, was immediately proclaimed Caesar: who, before the imperium was secured, suddenly died in the palace. He being dead, Severus Hostilianus got possession of affairs: who also himself, almost before he could seize the reins of imperium, with a vein cut on account of disease, paid the debt to nature.³

XIX. Philippus ab expeditione reversus, imperium Romanum occupavit, Philippo filio in via collega ascito. cum Sapore Persarum rege pacem fecit, Mesopotamia et Armenia concessis. sed cum Romanos earum provinciarum iacturam graviter ferre intellexisset, paulo post pace abrogata, eas defendendas suscepit.

19. Philip, having returned from the expedition, seized the Roman Empire, with his son Philip taken on as colleague on the road. He made peace with Shapur, king of the Persians, with Mesopotamia and Armenia conceded. But when he understood that the Romans were bearing the loss of those provinces grievously, shortly thereafter, the peace having been abrogated, he undertook to defend them.

fuit autem Sapores, ut ferunt, tanta mole corporis, quanta eo tempore visa nondum fuit. Philippus a bello Persico reversus, erga Christianos bene affectus fuit; ac potius auctores quidam sunt, eum Christianam fidem amplexum, in ecclesia communia cum Christianis vota fecisse, et peccata sua non gravatim confessum esse. nam cum a praeposito Ecclesiae ad communionem non admitteretur, nisi confiteri vellet, et nomen suum inter poenitentes profiteri: haud recusasse.

Sapor, moreover, was, as they say, of such a mass of body as had not yet been seen at that time. Philip, returning from the Persian war, was well-disposed toward the Christians; indeed, some authors rather assert that he embraced the Christian faith, made common vows with the Christians in the church, and did not confess his sins reluctantly. For when he was not admitted to communion by the prelate of the Church unless he would confess and declare his name among the penitents, he did not refuse.

qui vero eum martyris Eugeniae patrem esse tradunt, errant. nam is quidem et ipse praefectus fuisse narratur, sed Aegypti, non praetorio: ac post Christianam fidem, posito magistratu, Christum fortiter professus, ac martyrii corona ornatus est. hic autem Philippus imperator cum suscepto adversus Scythas bello, Romam rediisset, Marinus quidam ordinum ductor a militibus in Mysia imperator est delectus.

Those who hand down that he was the father of the martyr Eugenia are in error. For he too is indeed reported to have been a prefect, but of Egypt, not Praetorian; and after embracing the Christian faith, with his magistracy laid aside, having bravely professed Christ, he was adorned with the crown of martyrdom. But this emperor Philip, when, a war against the Scythians having been undertaken, he had returned to Rome, a certain Marinus, a commander of the ranks, was elected emperor by the soldiers in Mysia.

qua seditione turbatus cum apud senatum verba faceret, caeteris tacentibus, de Marino⁴ 625 ei non laborandum esse dixit Decius, quod ut homo regno indignus, ultro a militibus occidendus esset: idque ut ille praedixerat, paulo post accidit. qua de causa Philippus Decium admiratus, in Mysiam abire et seditionis auctores punire iussit. is vero eam legationem, quod nec sibi neque mittenti futura esset utilis, deprecatus: tamen urgente Philippo, abiit invitus, et a militibus statim strictis ensibus accipere imperium, quantumvis recusaret, coactus, Philippo scribit, ne turbetur: se enim, ubi Romam venerit, positurum esse insignia imperii.

Disturbed by this sedition, when he was speaking before the senate, while the rest were silent, Decius said to him, about Marinus⁴ 625 that he need not take any pains, because, as a man unworthy of rule, he would of his own accord be put to death by the soldiers; and, as he had foretold, a little after this came to pass. For which cause Philip, admiring Decius, ordered him to go into Mysia and punish the authors of the sedition. He, indeed, deprecated that legation, because it would be useful neither to himself nor to the sender; yet, Philip urging, he went off unwilling, and by the soldiers, their swords drawn, was immediately forced to accept the imperium, however much he refused, and he writes to Philip not to be disturbed: for that he, when he comes to Rome, will lay down the insignia of empire.

quod Philippus non credens, bellum ei intulit: commissoque praelio, in prima acie dimicans una [c]um filio Philippo cecidit. quibus sublatis, universi se ad Decium contulerunt. regnavit autem, ut quidam tradunt, annos V, ut alii VI, et totidem menses.

Philip, not believing this, brought war upon him; and when battle was joined, fighting in the front line, he fell together with his son Philip. With these removed, all betook themselves to Decius. He reigned, moreover, as some hand down, 5 years, as others 6, and just as many months.

fuit autem Bostris oriundus, ubi regno potitus, Philippopolim de suo nomine condidit.

He was, moreover, a native of Bostra, where, having obtained the rule, he founded Philippopolis from his own name.

XX. enimvero Decius omnibus legionibus acceptis Romam profectus, imperium firmavit; atque eius amplitudine ac negotiorum multitudine considerata, ut quidam aiunt, Valerianum collegam ascivit: et uterque alterum cohortatus, persecutionem atrocissimam contra Christianos instituerunt. sunt qui dicant, Philippi odio, Christianorum cultoris, Decium nostros persecutum esse. Utut est contra fideles profecto insaniit.

20. indeed, Decius, after receiving all the legions, set out for Rome and strengthened the empire; and, the amplitude of it and the multitude of affairs having been considered, as some say, he co-opted Valerian as colleague: and each, exhorting the other, instituted a most atrocious persecution against the Christians. There are those who say that, out of hatred for Philip, a cultor of the Christians, Decius persecuted our people. However that may be, he surely raved against the faithful.

eo tempore Flavianus, Ecclesiae Romanae episcopus, martyrio vitam finiit. item Babylas Antiochenus, et Alexander Hierosolymitanus episcopus, qui non tum primum pro Christiana fide decertavit, sed prius etiam, ut iam expositum est: tum vero in carcere obiit. sed et magnus Cyprianus, Carthaginiensis episcopus, pro Christiana fide certavit.

at that time Flavianus, bishop of the Roman Church, finished his life by martyrdom. likewise Babylas of Antioch, and Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem, who did not then for the first time do battle for the Christian faith, but earlier also, as has already been set forth: then indeed he died in prison. but also the great Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, contended for the Christian faith.

his igitur pontificibus defunctis, Romae Flaviano Cornelius, Antiocheno Babylae Flavianus, Alexandriae Dionysius, Hierosolymis Alexandro Mazabanes successit. sed et alii plurimi martyrii dignitate sunt ornati. tunc etiam Origenes ad tyrannicum tribunal ut Christi cultor adductus est, sed honore martyrii caruit miser, ei negato, ut opin[i]or, a Deo ob perversas opiniones.

these pontiffs having thus died, at Rome Cornelius succeeded Flavianus; at Antioch, Flavianus succeeded Babylas; at Alexandria, Dionysius; at Jerusalem, to Alexander, Mazabanes succeeded. but many others too were adorned with the dignity of martyrdom. then also Origen was led to the tyrannical tribunal as a worshipper of Christ, but the poor man lacked the honor of martyrdom, it being denied to him, as I think, by God on account of perverse opinions.

nam tormenta 626 iam expertus, tamen ordinem deseruit. hic, ut ante dictum est, cum doctrina et eloquentia excelleret, superbia et arrogantia elatus, veterum sanctorum Patrum decretis neglectis, novarum opinionum auctor esse non dubitavit: et blasphemias in sanctam Trinitatem, divinamque inhumanationem ex improbo cordis sui thesauro eructavit, nec ulla fere secta est, cui non initium praebuerit. nam et unigenitum Dei Filium conditum esse docuit, a paterna gloria et essentia alienum: et Spiritum sanctum infra Patris et Filii dignitatem collocavit, affirmans, neque Patrem a Filio, neque Filium a Spiritu sancto posse cerni: ut nec Spiritum ab angelis, nec angelos ab hominibus.

for, having already experienced tortures 626, nevertheless he deserted the order. this man, as said before, although he excelled in doctrine and eloquence, lifted up by pride and arrogance, with the decrees of the ancient holy Fathers neglected, did not hesitate to be an author of new opinions: and he belched forth blasphemies against the holy Trinity and the divine inhumanation from the wicked treasure of his heart, nor is there scarcely any sect to which he did not provide the beginning. for he also taught that the only‑begotten Son of God was created, alien from the paternal glory and essence: and he placed the Holy Spirit beneath the dignity of the Father and the Son, affirming that neither the Father can be perceived by the Son, nor the Son by the Holy Spirit: just as neither the Spirit by the angels, nor the angels by men.

ac hae sunt Origenis in sanctam et consubstantialem Trinitatem blasphemiae. circa Christi vero inhumanationem, Christum animatam carnem ex sancta Virgine assumpsisse impie negat; sed unigenitum Dei Filium ante mundum conditum menti unitum fuisse fabulatur, et electum esse fingit, et ramum qui aliquando non fuerit, cum eoque extremis temporibus inhumanatum esse, assumpta carne absque anima intelligente et ratione praedita: ac rursus deposuisse carnem Dominum, et finem habiturum esse eius regnum statuit. et daemones in integrum restituendos esse tradit: et supplicium finiti, non aeterni fore temporis, purgationi delictorum omnium destinatum: qua peracta, omnes ad unitatem redituros esse, tam homines quam daemones.

and these are Origen’s blasphemies against the holy and consubstantial Trinity. But concerning Christ’s inhumanation, he impiously denies that Christ assumed ensouled flesh from the holy Virgin; rather he fabulizes that the Only-begotten Son of God, before the world was founded, had been united to a mind, and he feigns that he was chosen and a branch which once had not been, and that with it in the last times he was inhumanated, the flesh being assumed without a soul endowed with intelligence and reason: and again he lays down that the Lord put off the flesh, and that his kingdom will have an end. And he hands down that the demons are to be restored to wholeness; and that punishment will be of finite, not eternal, duration, destined for the purgation of all sins: which once accomplished, all, both humans and demons, will return to unity.

unitatis autem illius rationem, seu nugas potius, cum sine multis verbis declarari haud possint, praetermisimus, ut et alias eius blasphemias. atque haec de Origene, qui etiam Adamantius dicebatur. tum Novatus quoque, Romanae Ecclesiae presbyter, haeresiarch[a=es] exstitit: eorumque qui se Catharos seu Puros dicunt, princeps: iis qui persecutione territi, simulacris immolarunt, et post, agnito peccato, se convertunt, poenitentiam negans, et supplices ac delicti medicinam dolenter afflictoque animo requirentes non admittens.

But the rationale of that unity—or rather its trifles—since they can scarcely be set forth without many words, we have passed over, as also his other blasphemies. And so much about Origen, who was also called Adamantius. Then Novatus likewise, a presbyter of the Roman Church, appeared as a heresiarch: the leader of those who call themselves Cathari, or Pure, denying penance to those who, terrified by the persecution, sacrificed to idols and, afterward, with the sin acknowledged, turn back; and he does not admit those who, as suppliants and with a painfully afflicted mind, seek the medicine for the delict.

contra hunc Romae concilium est indictum, cui Cornelius praefuit: in quo decretum est, tempore persecutionis lapsos recipiendos, si se converterint, 627 et poenitentiae medicina curandos esse. Novatum vero sancti illi patres, concilii decreto non acquiescentem, Ecclesia pulsum, ut fratrum hostem, abdicarunt. Eusebius quoque historiam quamdam ex epistola Dionysii Alexandrini episcopi, huiusmodi, iis verbis ab ipso descripta, quae sequuntur, refert: "fuit apud nos fidelis quidam senex Serapio, vita inculpate acta, sed in persecutione lapsus, qui cum saepe opem imploraret, ac ob sacrificium simulacris factum a nemine audiretur: aegrotus, per integrum tridu[u]m mutus et sensus expers iacuit.

against this man a council was convoked at Rome, over which Cornelius presided; in it it was decreed that those who had lapsed in the time of persecution should be received, if they should turn back, 627 and should be treated by the medicine of penance. But Novatus, not acquiescing in the decree of the council, those holy fathers disowned as one expelled from the Church, as an enemy of the brethren. Eusebius also reports a certain history from a letter of Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, of this kind, transcribed by himself in these words which follow: "There was among us a certain faithful old man, Serapion, his life conducted without reproach, but in the persecution lapsed, who, although he often implored help and, on account of the sacrifice made to the idols, was listened to by no one, being sick, for a full three days lay mute and bereft of sense."

die quarta morbo nonnihil remisso, per nepotem sibi festinanter presbyterum aliquem accersi iussit, ac rursus mutus iacuit. Accurrit puer ad presbyterum, qui cum ob morbum venire non posset, ego autem eos qui e vita discederent, si peterent, praesertim si prius etiam supplicassent, absolvi iussissem. ut cum spe bona morerentur: parum de Eucharistia dedit puero, ac iussit, ut madefaceret, ac seni in os instillaret.

on the fourth day, the illness having somewhat remitted, he ordered that some presbyter be summoned to him in haste through his grandson, and again he lay mute. The boy runs to the presbyter, who, since on account of sickness he could not come,—but I, however, had ordered that those departing from life, if they should ask, especially if they had previously even supplicated, be absolved, so that they might die with good hope:—gave the boy a little of the Eucharist, and ordered him to moisten it, and to instill it into the old man’s mouth.

quam cum puer afferens appropinquasset, priusquam ingrederetur, denno recreatus Serapio: ades, inquit, fili? etsi autem presbyter venire non potuit, tu tamen quod mandatum est, exsequere, meque absolvito. instillavit puer Eucharistiam in os senis: qui cum parum deglutisset, statim exspiravit.

When the boy, bringing it, had approached, before he entered, Serapion, restored anew, said: “Are you here, son? And although the presbyter could not come, do you nevertheless carry out what has been mandated, and absolve me.” The boy instilled the Eucharist into the old man’s mouth; and when he had swallowed a little, he immediately expired.

nonne vero evidenter conservatus, eo usque exspectavit, dum solveretur? peccatoque soluto, propter multa bona quae fecerat confiteri posset?". haec in epistola Dionysii referuntur. Decius vero sic erga Christi cultores affectus, nondum integro biennio in imperio exacto, turpissime periit.

was he not indeed evidently preserved, so far as to wait until he should be loosed? and, his sin loosed, could he confess because of the many good things which he had done?". these things are related in the epistle of Dionysius. But Decius, thus affected toward the cultors of Christ, with not yet a full two years completed in his imperium, perished most disgracefully.

nam cum barbarorum, Bosphorum populantium, multos occidisset, hique in angustias redacti, se omnem praedam reddituros promitterent, si discedere sinerentur, Decius negavit, et Gallum senatorem transitu eos prohibere iusset. at Gallus Decio insidians, monuit barbaros, ut iuxta profundam paludem aciem instruerent: quo illi facto, cum terga dedissent, Decius eos persequens cum filio et magna multitudine Romanorum, in paludem incidit, ubi omnes perierunt, ut nec corpora eorum invenirentur, coen[a] obruta.⁵

for when he had killed many of the barbarians who were ravaging the Bosporus, and these, reduced to straits, promised they would return all the plunder if they were allowed to depart, Decius refused, and ordered the senator Gallus to prevent their crossing. But Gallus, laying an ambush against Decius, warned the barbarians to draw up their battle-line near a deep marsh: which when they had done, when they had turned their backs, Decius, pursuing them with his son and a great multitude of Romans, fell into the marsh, where all perished, so that not even their bodies were found, buried in mud.⁵

XXI. Gallus rerum potitus (quem scriptores quidam etiam Volusianum vocant, ut binominem: aliis asserentibus, filium eumdemque 628 collegam eius, Volusianum appellatum esse), pactus cum barbaris, ut annuo tributo accepto, Romanis provinciis abstinerent, Romam abiit, ac filium Volusianum Caesarem declaravit. fuit et hic Christianis gravis, non minore quam Decius persecutione inchoata, multisque interfectis. sub hoc motus Persarum recruduit, qui Armeniam occuparunt, Tyridate rege fuga elapso, cuius filii se ad hostes contulerant.

21. Gallus, having gotten control of affairs (whom some writers also call Volusianus, as two-named; others asserting that his son, and likewise 628 his colleague, was called Volusianus), having made a pact with the barbarians that, on receiving an annual tribute, they should abstain from the Roman provinces, went to Rome and declared his son Volusianus Caesar. He too was harsh toward the Christians, a persecution no less than Decius’s having been initiated, with many put to death. Under him the commotion of the Persians recrudesced: they occupied Armenia, King Tiridates having slipped away by flight, whose sons had betaken themselves to the enemy.

Scytharum quoque multitudo pene innumerabilis in Italiam impressionem fecit: iidemque Macedoniam, Thessaliam et Graeciam incursarunt. eorum quoque pars, Maeotide palude superata, per Bosporum, in Pontum Euxinum [irrupisse/irruisse = irripuisse] fertur, ac multas vastasse provincias. sunt et aliae plures gentes contra []ditiones Romanorum concitatae.

An almost innumerable multitude of Scythians likewise made an irruption into Italy: and the same men raided Macedonia, Thessaly, and Greece. A part of them also, the Maeotian marsh having been overcome, is said to have broken in through the Bosporus into the Euxine Pontus [irrupisse/irruisse = irripuisse], and to have devastated many provinces. There are also many other nations incited against the []dominions of the Romans.

pestis quoque tum provincias invasit: quae ab Aethiopia orta, totumque pene Orientem et Occidentem pervagata, multas urbes civibus desolavit, duravitque per annos quindecim. Scythae vero annuo tributo ex pacto a Romanis petito, pauciora sibi quam promissa essent, dari questi, minitabundi abierunt. caeterum Aemilianus, homo Afer, Mysiis legionibus praefectus, militibus ea omnia promisit quae Scythis penderentur, si cum illis pugnarent.

A pestilence also then invaded the provinces: arising from Ethiopia, and having roamed through nearly the whole East and West, it desolated many cities of their citizens, and lasted for fifteen years. The Scythians, for their part, when the annual tribute, by pact, had been sought from the Romans, complained that fewer things than had been promised were being given to them, and departed menacingly. Moreover, Aemilian, an African man, prefect of the Mysian legions, promised to the soldiers all those things that would be paid to the Scythians, if they would fight them.

qui barbaros ex improviso aggressi, paucis exceptis, omnes occiderunt: et opimis spoliis partis, regionem eorum incursarunt. eo successu elatus Aemilianus, a suis legionibus impetravit, ut imperator salutaretur: coactisque in unum copiis, ad Italiam occupandam properavit. quo Gallus cognito, et ipse contra se paravit, commissoque praelio victus, a suis militibus una cum filio occisus est, cum biennium et menses octo imperasset.

who, having attacked the barbarians by surprise, slew them all, a few excepted; and, carrying off opulent spoils, they raided their region. Elated by that success, Aemilianus obtained from his legions that he be saluted emperor; and, the forces gathered into one, he hastened to occupy Italy. This, once learned by Gallus, he too prepared against him, and, battle being joined, defeated, he was killed by his own soldiers together with his son, when he had ruled for two years and eight months.

eius vero milites et ipsi Aemiliano coniuncti, imperium confirmarunt.

But his soldiers too, having themselves joined with Aemilianus, confirmed the imperial power.

XXII. appellatus imperator Aemilianus senatui per litteras promisit, se barbaros etiam Thracia pulsurum, et Persis bellum illaturum: omniaque facturum et dimicaturum, ut ducem eorum, imperio ipsis relicto. sed priusquam horum aliquid faceret, Valerianus Transalpinarum legionum dux, rebus Aemiliani cognitis, et ipse regnum affectavit: conductisque in 629 unum suis copiis, Romam properavit. quare [h]ii qui sub Aemiliano stipendia merebant, quia se Valeriano impares esse norant, et Romanos mutuis perire caedibus, ac intestina bella conflari nefas putabant.

22. proclaimed emperor, Aemilianus promised the senate by letters that he would drive the barbarians even from Thrace, and would bring war upon the Persians: and that he would do everything and fight, so that he might be their leader, with the imperium left to them. But before he did any of these things, Valerianus, commander of the Transalpine legions, once he learned of Aemilianus’s affairs, he too aspired to the throne: and, his forces brought together into 629 one, he hastened to Rome. Therefore [h]those who were earning stipends under Aemilianus, because they knew themselves unequal to Valerian, and thought it nefarious that Romans should perish by mutual slaughters, and that intestine wars be kindled.

eodem accedebat, quod Aemilianum, ut inglorium et humilem, regno indignum iudicabant: Valerianum vero ad principatum aptiorem, ut qui maiori cum auctoritate res administraturus esset: Aemiliano nondum quatuor menses imperio potito, annos vero quadraginta nato, interfecto, ad Valerianum transeunt, eique citra dimicationem Romanorum imperium tradunt. Flaviano sub Decio martyrii corona ornato, Cornelius Romanus pastor factus, munere suo per triennium praeclare []obito, decessit. Lucio in pontificatus solium evecto, et ante expletum in eo octavum annum mortuo, Stephanus est subrogatus.

To the same point there was added this: that they judged Aemilian, as inglorious and humble, unworthy of the royal power; Valerian, however, more apt for the Principate, as one who would administer affairs with greater authority: Aemilian, not yet having held the empire for four months, and forty years old, having been killed, they pass over to Valerian, and to him, without a clash of Romans, they hand over the Roman empire. Flavian, adorned with the crown of martyrdom under Decius, Cornelius, made shepherd of Rome, after his office had been splendidly [] discharged for three years, died. With Lucius raised to the throne of the Pontificate, and having died before the eighth year in it was completed, Stephen was appointed in his place.

huius sanctio est, ne Christiani ab haereticis ad Ecclesiam revertentes, rebaptizentur, sed precatione per manuum impositionem lustrentur: eaque de re epistola eius ad Cyprianum martyrem exstat. cum Stephanus post duos annos obdormisset, Xystus in pontificio Romae solio consedit. tum etiam Sabelliana haeresis Ptolemaide Pentapoleos urbe mota est.

the sanction of this one is, that Christians returning from heretics to the Church are not to be rebaptized, but are to be lustrated by prayer through the imposition of hands; and on this matter his epistle to Cyprian the martyr exists. when Stephen, after two years, had fallen asleep, Xystus sat upon the pontifical throne at Rome. then also the Sabellian heresy was set in motion at Ptolemais, a city of the Pentapolis.

atque haec de Romanis pontificibus.

And so much for the Roman pontiffs.

XXIII. Valerianus autem, cum Gallieno filio rerum potitus, et ipse Christianos vehementissime persecutus est: ac multi diversis in locis martyres facti sunt, variis pro Christi fide certaminibus defuncti. sub hoc quoque, propter exterarum gentium motus, male se res Romana habuit. nam Scythae Istrum transgressi, Thraciam denuo populati, urbem illustrem Thessalonicam obsederunt illi quidem, sed non expugnarunt: ac terrorem tantum intulerunt omnibus, ut Athenienses sua moenia iam inde a Syllae temporibus prostrata, instaurarent: Peloponnenses vero isthmum a mari ad mare ducto muro intercluderent.

23. Valerian, however, when, together with his son Gallienus, he had gotten control of affairs, he too most vehemently persecuted the Christians: and many in diverse places were made martyrs, having finished various contests for the faith of Christ. Under him also, on account of the movements of foreign nations, the Roman state fared ill. For the Scythians, having crossed the Ister, having ravaged Thrace anew, did indeed besiege the illustrious city of Thessalonica, but did not take it by storm: and they brought such terror upon all, that the Athenians restored their own walls, thrown down already from the times of Sulla; while the Peloponnesians, for their part, shut off the Isthmus with a wall drawn from sea to sea.

Persae quoque Sapore rege Syriam incursarunt, et Edessam obsederunt: quos Valerianus prius non aggredi ausus, cum Edessenos milites eruptionibus faciendis multos barbaros caedere, et plurimis potiri spoliis didicisset, recepto animo adortus est. qui, ut longe plures, Romanos 630 circumdederunt, quibus maxima ex parte occisis, nonnullis etiam elapsis, Valerianus cum suis satellitibus ab hostibus captus, atque ad Saporem abductus est.⁶ is vero [e]um imperatorem teneret, omnia se iam vicisse ratus, homo per se crudelis, multo deterior evasit. nonnulli ad hunc modum a Persis Valerianum esse captum tradunt.

The Persians also, with King Sapor, made an incursion into Syria and besieged Edessa; and Valerian, not daring at first to attack them, when he had learned that the soldiers of Edessa, by making sorties, were cutting down many barbarians and gaining possession of very many spoils, with courage recovered attacked. They, as being far more numerous, surrounded the Romans 630, and after the greater part of them had been slain, though some also slipped away, Valerian, with his own bodyguards, was captured by the enemies and led off to Sapor.⁶ He indeed, when he held the emperor, thinking that he had already conquered all things, a man cruel in himself, became much worse. Some relate that Valerian was captured by the Persians in this manner.

sunt et qui eum ultro deditionem fecisse narrent, quod cum Edessae ageret, milites fame laborantes, seditione mota, de interficiendo ipso cogitarint. eum vero ne a suis occideretur, ad Saporem profugum, hosti se tradidisse, ac nihilo secius ipsas legiones: quae quod ad ipsum attinet, sane periissent, milites tamen non perierunt, sed proditione cognita, paucis occisis, effugerunt. enimvero imperator sive in acie captus, sive ultro profugus, ignominiose a Sapore tractabatur.

There are also those who narrate that he made a surrender of his own accord, because, while he was staying at Edessa, the soldiers, laboring with hunger, a sedition having been stirred up, thought of killing him. And that, in order not to be slain by his own men, he, as a fugitive, fled to Sapor and handed himself over to the enemy, and nonetheless the legions themselves: which, so far as it pertains to himself, would certainly have perished; yet the soldiers did not perish, but, the treason having been recognized, with a few slain, they escaped. Indeed, whether the emperor was captured in the battle-line, or voluntarily a fugitive, he was treated ignominiously by Sapor.

Persae vero sine ullo meta urbes adorti, Antiochiam ad Orontem, et clarissimam Ciliciae civitatem Tarsum, et Cappadociae Caesarem ceperunt, nec captivorum multitudini cibi plus dederunt, quam quantum ad tuendam vitam satis esset: imo nec aquam affatim bibere siti sunt, sed a custodibus in die semel instar pecudum aquatum acti. Caesaream vero Cappadociae frequentissimam urbem (nam ad quadringenta hominum millia eam incoluisse traduntur), non prius hostes ceperunt, obsessis strenue se defendentibus, Demosthene, viro forti et cordate, duce: quam captivus quidam medicus, excarnificationum hostilium impatiens, locum eis quemdam demonstravit, per quem Persae noctu ingressi, omnes interfecerunt. civium vero dux Demosthenes, a multis Persis circumdatus, qui eum viventem capere iussi erant, conscenso equo, et stricto ense sublato, in medios hostes se immisit, et plurimis prostratis urbe elapsus effugit.

The Persians indeed, attacking the cities without any fear, seized Antioch on the Orontes, and Tarsus, the most illustrious city of Cilicia, and Caesarea of Cappadocia, nor did they give the multitude of captives more food than was sufficient to sustain life: nay, they were not even allowed to drink water to satiety, but were driven to water by their guards once a day after the manner of cattle. But Caesarea of Cappadocia, the most populous city (for up to 400,000 people are said to have inhabited it), the enemy did not take at first, the besieged defending themselves strenuously, with Demosthenes, a brave and stout-hearted man, as leader: until a certain captive physician, unable to endure the enemy’s flayings, pointed out to them a certain place, through which the Persians, having entered by night, killed all. But Demosthenes, the leader of the citizens, surrounded by many Persians, who had been ordered to take him alive, mounting a horse, and with drawn sword raised, hurled himself into the midst of the enemy, and, many prostrated, slipped from the city and escaped.

hoc rerum statu Persae, omnes Romanas in Oriente provincias pervagati, sine ullo metu vastarunt. at Romani fuga, ut dictum est, elapsi, Callistum quemdam ducem crearunt, qui cum Persas palantes: ac omnis hostilis metus, expertes temere provincias incursare videret: aggressione repentina maximam barbarorum caedem edidit, et Saporis concubinas cum magnis opibus cepit. qua clade ille 631 dolens, festinanter domum abiit, abducto etiam Valeriano secum: qui in Persia vitam inter captivitatis opprobria et ludibria exegit.

In this state of affairs the Persians, having traversed all the Roman provinces in the East, ravaged them without any fear. But the Romans, escaped by flight, as has been said, appointed a certain leader, Callistus, who, when he saw the Persians straggling and, devoid of all fear of an enemy, rashly making incursions into the provinces, by a sudden aggression wrought a very great slaughter of the barbarians, and seized Shapur’s concubines along with great opulence. At which disaster he 631 grieving, he hastily went home, leading away Valerian with him as well, who in Persia passed his life amid the disgraces and mockeries of captivity.

neque vero Callistus duntaxat rem contra Persas tum bene gessit: sed et Odenatus Palmyrenus, Romanorum socius, multos occidit, redeuntes iuxta Euphratem adortus, eaque de causa a Galieno imperatore, grati animi ergo, dux Orientis est creatus. inter spoliandum cadavera Persarum, dicuntur etiam mulieres habitu et armis virorum ornatae repertae, et tales aliquot vivae a Romanis captae esse. Sapores vero eum in reditu in profundam vallem incidisset, per quam iumentis transitus non patebat, captivos interfici, et in vallem abiici iussisse: itaque complanata valle, per cadavera iumenta traduxisse fertur.

nor indeed did Callistus alone then conduct the matter well against the Persians; but also Odenathus the Palmyrene, an ally of the Romans, attacking them as they were returning near the Euphrates, killed many, and for this cause, by the emperor Gallienus, as a token of grateful spirit, was created commander of the East. while despoiling the corpses of the Persians, women too are said to have been found adorned in the dress and arms of men, and several such were taken alive by the Romans. but Sapor, when on his return he had fallen into a deep valley, through which passage for beasts of burden did not stand open, is said to have ordered the captives to be slain and thrown into the valley; and thus, the valley having been leveled, to have led the pack-animals across over the corpses.

ac cum Valeriano sic actum est. Romanam autem Ecclesiam gubernavit Xystus: Antiochenam Demetrianus, Flaviani successor: Hierosolymitanam Mazabeno mortuo Hymenaeus, Alexandrinam Dionysius.

and thus it went with Valerian. But the Roman Church was governed by Xystus: the Antiochene by Demetrianus, the successor of Flavianus: the Jerusalem by Hymenaeus, Mazabenus having died, the Alexandrian by Dionysius.

XXIV. post Valerianum, Galienus illius filius, imperii Romani potitus est, a patre contra Persas abeunte in Occidente relictus, ut iis qui Italiae male cogitarent, et Thraciam vastarent, resisteret: qui cum non amplius decem millia haberet, trecenta millia Alemannorum iuxta Mediolanum vicit. deinde Herulos etiam, gentem Scythicam, et Gothicam profligavit. gessit et cum Francis bellum.

24. after Valerian, Gallienus, his son, came into possession of the Roman Empire, left in the West by his father as he went against the Persians, so that he might resist those who were plotting ill against Italy and were ravaging Thrace: who, although he had no more than ten thousand, defeated three hundred thousand Alamanni near Mediolanum. then he also overthrew the Heruli, a Scythian nation, and the Gothic people. he also waged war with the Franks.

Aureolus vero ex provincia Getica (sic enim Dacia quondam vocabatur) obscuro genere ortus (pastor enim fuit) [c]um a fortuna evehendus esset, militavit, atque industria consecutus est, ut equi imperatorii suae fidei mandarentur. quos quia praeclare tractabat, [c]harus habebatur imperatori. deinde cum Mysiae legiones Ingenuum per seditionem imperatorem dixissent, et Galienus praeter caeteros etiam Mauros (hos a Medis propagatos esse aiunt) contra eum ad Sirmium adduxisset: Aureolus magister equitum strenue dimicando, multis hostibus caesis, reliquos, ipsumque Ingenuum rebus desperatis in fugam coniecit, in qua a suis satellitibus est occisus.

But Aureolus, from the Getic province (for thus Dacia was formerly called), born of obscure stock (for he was a shepherd), [c]when he was to be raised by fortune, served as a soldier, and by industry achieved that the imperial horses were entrusted to his fidelity. Because he handled them excellently, he was held [c]dear by the emperor. Then, when the legions of Moesia had, through a sedition, proclaimed Ingenuus emperor, and Gallienus, besides others, had also led the Moors (these they say are propagated from the Medes) against him to Sirmium, Aureolus, master of horse, by fighting strenuously, many enemies having been cut down, cast the rest, and Ingenuus himself, with affairs in despair, into flight, in the course of which he was slain by his own bodyguards.

hoc domito, Posthumus⁷ contra imperatorem insurgit tali de causa. Galienus filium Galienum, 632 adolescentem solertem et formosum, quem imperii successorem destinabat, in urbe Agrippina reliquerat: ut Gallis, quos Scythae premebant, opem ferret, Albano cuidam propter aetatem commissum. Posthumus vero ad custodiam Rheni fluminis relictus, ut Transrhenanos barbaros Romanarum provinciarum incursione prohiberet: transitu eorum non animadverso, in reditu praeda onustos adortus, multis occisis, praedam omnem receptam inter milites statim divisit.

with this subdued, Postumus⁷ rises up against the emperor for such a cause. Gallienus had left his son Gallienus, 632 a clever and handsome adolescent, whom he destined as successor of the empire, in the city Agrippina: in order that he might bring aid to the Gauls, whom the Scythians were pressing, having been committed to a certain Albanus on account of his age. But Postumus, left for the custody of the river Rhine, so that he might prohibit the Transrhenane barbarians from an incursion of the Roman provinces: their crossing not having been noticed, attacking them on their return laden with plunder, after many were slain, all the booty recovered he immediately divided among the soldiers.

cum autem Albanus postularet ut ea ad se et Juniorem Galienum afferretur: milites ea repetita ad seditionem impulsos, ad Agrippinae moenia adduxit, Albanumque et Juniorem Galienum e civibus sibi deditos occidit. Galienus igitur bello contra Posthumum suscepto, primo congressu victus est. deinde tyrannum in fugam coniectum, Aureolum persequi iubet: qui cum eum assequi posset, diutius persequi nolens, causatus est, se eum adipisci non posse.

But when Albanus demanded that those things be brought to himself and to the Younger Gallienus, he led the soldiers—driven to sedition when the goods were demanded back—to the walls of Agrippina, and he killed Albanus and the Younger Gallienus, who had been handed over to him by the citizens. Gallienus therefore, a war against Postumus having been undertaken, was defeated in the first congress. Then, when the tyrant had been cast into flight, he orders Aureolus to pursue; who, although he could overtake him, being unwilling to pursue longer, alleged as a pretext that he could not attain him.

quare Posthumum sic elapsum, et copias reparantem, Galienus denuo adortus, in quoddam Galliae oppidum compulsum obsedit: sagittaque in dorso [i]ctus, ob vulneris dolorem obsidionem solvit. sed aliud quoque bellum a Macrino est exortum: qui cum duos filios haberet, Macrianum et Quintum, regnum affectavit. ac ipse quidem ob alterum pedem mutilatum, vestem imperatoriam non induit, sed filios induere iussit: atque ab Asianis cupide susceptus, cum ad breve tempus adversus Persas commoratus esset, contra Galienum se parabat: Balista, quem magistrum equitum crearat, contra Persas relicto, adiuncto etiam Quinto filio.

wherefore Gallienus, having again attacked Postumus, who had thus slipped away and was repairing his forces, besieged him, driven into a certain town of Gaul; and, struck in the back by an arrow, on account of the pain of the wound he raised the siege. but another war also arose from Macrinus: who, since he had two sons, Macrianus and Quintus, aspired to the kingship. and he himself, on account of one foot being mutilated, did not don the imperial garment, but ordered his sons to don it; and, eagerly received by the Asiatics, when he had tarried for a short time against the Persians, he prepared himself against Gallienus, Balista—whom he had created Master of Horse—being left against the Persians, with his son Quintus also joined.

quare imperator Aureolum cum aliis ducibus contra Macrinum et Macrianum misit: qui hoste circumvento nonnullos occiderunt (parcebant enim eis, ut popularibus suis) sperantes, eos ultro ad imperatorem transituros. sed cum non cederent, fortuito accidit, ut omnes ad officium redirent. nam dum tyrannorum milites erectis signis incedunt, quidam ex signiferis impeditus concidit: signoque una inclinato, reliqui signiferi causae ignari, putantes illum ultro 633 se imperatori submisisse, humi prostrati omnes idem fecerunt, Galienum faustis ominibus prosequentes; neque ulli, praeter Paeones, apud Macrinum manserunt.

Wherefore the emperor sent Aureolus with other commanders against Macrinus and Macrianus: who, the enemy having been surrounded, killed some (for they were sparing them, as their fellow countrymen), hoping that they would of their own accord cross over to the emperor. But since they did not yield, it happened by chance that they all returned to duty. For while the soldiers of the tyrants advanced with their standards erect, one of the standard-bearers, impeded, fell; and with the standard likewise inclined, the remaining standard-bearers, ignorant of the cause, thinking that he had of his own accord 633 submitted himself to the emperor, prostrate on the ground they all did the same, accompanying Gallienus with auspicious omens; nor did any, except the Paeonians, remain with Macrinus.

qui cum et ipsi transituri essent, Macrino et filio, ipsorum rogatu, ne in hostium potestatem venirent, interfectis, imperatori se diderunt. Galienus vero contra Quintum, iuniorem Macrini filium, qui totum pene Orientem subegerat, Odenatum Palmyrenorum ducem misit. verum Macrini et Macriani clade Pannonica nuntiata, multae urbes a Quinto et Balista defecerunt.

who, when they too were about to cross over, slew Macrinus and his son, at their own request, lest they come into the power of the enemy, and surrendered themselves to the emperor. But Galienus sent Odenathus, leader of the Palmyrenes, against Quintus, the younger son of Macrinus, who had subjugated nearly the whole Orient. However, once the Pannonian disaster of Macrinus and Macrianus was announced, many cities defected from Quintus and Balista.

quos Odenatus Emesae aggressus, vicit; ac Balistam ipse occidit, Quintum cives. qua de causa in rei fortiter gestae praemium dux totius Orientis ab imperatore designatus, fidelem se erga Romanos praebuit: magnaque parta gloria, varias gentes: multis bellis devicit, contra Persas etiam re bene gesta. sed tandem a fratris sui filio est occisus.

whom Odenatus, having attacked at Emesa, conquered; and Balista he himself killed, Quintus the citizens. For which cause, in reward for the affair bravely conducted, he was designated by the emperor as dux of the whole Orient, and he showed himself faithful toward the Romans: and with great glory obtained, various peoples: in many wars he subdued, with the matter well managed even against the Persians. But at length he was slain by his brother’s son.

qui cum in venatione belluam surgentem prior emisso iaculo deiecisset, eaque de causa a patruo obiurgatus, iterum ac tertio idem fecisset: Odenatus iratus, equum ei ademit, quae magna ignominia habetur apud barbaros: et hominem ea de causa minas spirantem, in vincula coniecit. sed postea rogatu filii Odenati natu maioris solutus, stricto gladio ipsum Odenatum, et eius filium liberatorem suum, in convivio interfecit, atque ipse ab aliis est occisus.

who, when on a hunt he had, before the others, felled a rearing beast with a javelin he had let fly, and on that account had been rebuked by his paternal uncle, and had done the same a second and a third time; Odenatus, angered, took his horse from him, which is held a great ignominy among the barbarians; and the man, for that cause breathing out threats, he cast into chains. But afterward, at the request of Odenatus’s elder-born son, he was released, and, with sword drawn, he slew Odenatus himself and his son—his liberator—at a banquet, and he himself was killed by others.

XXV. deinde Aureolus toti equitatui praefectus, homo potens, contra Galienum insurrexit: et Mediolano occupato, se ad invadendum imperatorem paravit. sed ab eo, multis suorum amissis, et vulnere accepto, Mediolanum compulsus, ubique obsessus est. dum autem Galienus contra hostes excursiones facit, imperatrix, quam secum adduxerat, in periculo fuit.

25. then Aureolus, prefect of the whole cavalry, a powerful man, rose up against Gallienus: and, with Mediolanum occupied, he prepared to attack the emperor. but by him, with many of his own lost, and a wound received, driven to Mediolanum, he was besieged on every side. but while Gallienus was making excursions against the enemies, the empress, whom he had brought with him, was in danger.

nam cum hostes vallum a paucis admodum militibus custodiri animadvertissent, imperatoris tabernaculum invaserunt, imperatricis rapiendae causa. sed miles quidam gregarius, qui ante tabernaculum sedens, calceum pede detractum 634 consuebat: arrepto clypeo et pugione, in eos ferociter irruit, et uno atque altero percusso, caeteros illius audacia territos repulit, dum plurium concursu coniux imperatoris erepta est. quo Mediolanum adhuc obsidente, Aurelianus cum equitibus ad Galienum venit: cuius occidendi consilium proceres cum Aureliano in[i]tum, dum Mediolanum caperetur, differre habebant in animo.

for when the enemies had noticed that the rampart was being guarded by very few soldiers, they invaded the emperor’s tent, for the purpose of seizing the empress. but a certain common soldier, who, sitting before the tent, was mending a shoe pulled off his foot 634 he was sewing up: snatching up a shield and a dagger, he rushed upon them ferociously, and, with one and then another struck down, he drove back the rest, terrified by his audacity, while by the rallying of more men the emperor’s consort was rescued. while he was still besieging Milan, Aurelian with the cavalry came to Gallienus: the nobles had in mind to defer the plan, entered upon with Aurelian, of killing him, until Milan should be captured.

sed cum id esse proditum intellexissent, maturatis insidiis, Galieno hostium adventum nuntiant, contra quos illi statim sub prandii tempus paucis comitantibus egredienti, occurrunt equites. qui cum non procul ab eo distantes, nec ex equis descenderent, nec ullum alium honorem imperatori debitum haberent: comites suos rogat, quid illi sibi vellent? qui cum respondissent, eos imperium illi abrogaturos: statim laxatis habenis in fugam conversus, insidiatores equi celeritate effugisset, nisi is ad fossam quamdam territus substitisset, ubi persequentibus eum assecutis, a quodam hasta ictus, decidit equo: nec multo post ex sanguinis profluvio decessit.

but when they understood that this had been betrayed, the ambush being hastened, they announce to Gallienus the arrival of the enemies; and as he immediately, about the time of luncheon, went out with a few accompanying, the cavalry met him. and since they, standing not far from him, neither dismounted from their horses nor offered any other honor due to the emperor, he asks his companions what those men wanted with him. and when they replied that they were going to abrogate his imperium, immediately, with the reins loosened, he turned to flight, and would have escaped the plotters by the speed of his horse, had not it, frightened at a certain ditch, stopped; where, his pursuers having overtaken him, struck by a spear by a certain man, he fell from his horse, and not long after, from a gush of blood, he departed.

imperavit solus, et cum patre, annos quindecim. animo liberali fuit, atque omnibus gratificari studuit, neque quemquam voti impotem dimisit: ne adversariis quidem suis, aut iis qui tyrannos secuti fuerant, supplicio affectis. ac alii sic periisse Galienum, alii ab Heracliano praefecto caesum esse tradunt.

He ruled alone, and with his father, for fifteen years. He was of a liberal mind, and strove to gratify all, nor did he dismiss anyone unable to obtain his wish: not even his adversaries, or those who had followed tyrants, were subjected to punishment. And some hand down that Gallienus perished thus, others that he was cut down by the prefect Heraclianus.

nam cum Aureolus, qui Gallicis legionibus praeerat, mota seditione cum exercitu in Italiam contenderet, Galienum contra eum abeuntem, dum noctu in tabernaculo dormit, ab Heracliano Aureoli coniurato excitatum esse. qui cum ei et Claudio viro bellicosissimo, Aureolum iam cum magnis copiis adventare nuntiasset, Galienum subito nuntio perterritum, ac seminudum lecto exsilientem, armaque petentem, ab illo caesum esse. huius temporibus Xystus, undecimo Romani episcopatus anno defunctus, Dionysium successorem habuit.

for when Aureolus, who was in command of the Gallic legions, with sedition stirred, was hastening with the army into Italy, Gallienus, going out against him, while by night sleeping in his tent, was roused by Heraclianus, a conspirator of Aureolus. When he had announced to him and to Claudius, a most warlike man, that Aureolus was now approaching with great forces, Gallienus—terrified by the sudden message, and half-naked leaping from the bed and seeking his arms—was cut down by him. In his times Xystus, having died in the 11th year of the Roman episcopate, had Dionysius as successor.

Demetriano Antiocheno mortuo, Paulus Samosatenus successit qui de Christo humiliter docuit, eum hominem esse natura communi praeditum, et non Deum. contra 635 hunc aliarum Ecclesiarum pastores concilium indixerunt, cui etiam Gregorius Thaumaturgus, et frater eius Athenodorus interfuerunt: eumque ut perperam de Christo sentientem, convictum, Ecclesia cedere iusserunt. recusantem, apud Aurelianum, qui tum imperabat, detulerunt orthodoxi: qui cum decreto iis Ecclesiam attribui iussisset, quibus Romani et Italici episcopi suffragarentur, Paulo per ignominiam pulso, Domnus successit.

Demetrianus the Antiochene having died, Paul of Samosata succeeded, who taught humbly about Christ, that he was a man endowed with the common nature, and not God. against 635 him the pastors of other Churches appointed a council, at which Gregory the Thaumaturge and his brother Athenodorus also were present; and him, as thinking wrongly about Christ, having been convicted, they ordered to withdraw from the Church. As he refused, the orthodox brought the case before Aurelian, who then was emperor; and when he by decree had ordered the Church to be assigned to those to whom the Roman and Italic bishops should give their suffrage, Paul being expelled in ignominy, Domnus succeeded.

XXVI. Galieno interfecto, Claudius Caesar est designatus, cui Aureolus armis positis se submisit: sed cum denuo regnum affectaret, a militibus occisus est. Claudius vero cum vir bonus iustitiaeque sectator esset, interdixit ne ultra cuiquam bona aliena ab imperatore peteret. receptum id enim moribus erat imperatores etiam aliena donare, quandoquidem idem ius reipublicae stanti per leges fuerat.

26. With Gallienus slain, Claudius was designated Caesar, to whom Aureolus, with arms laid down, surrendered himself: but when he again aspired to the kingship, he was killed by the soldiers. Claudius indeed, since he was a good man and a follower of justice, forbade that anyone henceforth should seek another’s goods from the emperor. For it had been received in custom that emperors even donate what was another’s, since that same right had belonged to the Republic standing by the laws.

itaque mulier quaedam, cuius praedium ipse ante imperium ex dono imperatoris acceperat, accessit, a Claudio magistro equitum iniuriam sibi esse factam conquerens. tum ille: "quod", inquit, "Claudius, dum privatus erat, nec leges curabat, abstulit, hoc factus imperator restituit". senatus Romanus, Galieni caede cognita, fratrem illius et filium etiam occidit. cum autem Posthumus adhuc tyrannidem obtineret, et barbari Maeotide palude superata, Asiam Europamque vastarent, ac utrum bellum prius conficiendum esset, deliberaretur, Claudius dixit, "bellum Posthumicum mea interest, barbaricum reipublicae, cuius in primis habenda est ratio". caeterum barbari multas provincias incursantes, Thessalonicam, quae, cum olim Emathia diceretur, a Philippi filia Cassandro nupta hoc nomen accepisse fertur, obsederunt: ab eaque repulsi, Athenas ceperunt.

and so a certain woman, whose estate he himself before the empire had received as a gift from the emperor, approached, complaining that an injury had been done to her by Claudius the master of horse. then he said: "what", he said, "Claudius, while he was a private man and did not care for the laws, took away, this, having become emperor, he restored". the Roman senate, when the slaughter of Gallienus was learned, killed his brother and also his son. but when Postumus was still holding tyranny, and the barbarians, the Maeotic marsh having been crossed, were ravaging Asia and Europe, and it was being deliberated which war ought to be finished first, Claudius said, "the Posthumian war concerns me; the barbarian war concerns the republic, whose interest must above all be considered". moreover, the barbarians, making inroads on many provinces, besieged Thessalonica, which, when once it was called Emathia, is said to have received this name from the daughter of Philip wedded to Cassander: and, repulsed from it, they took Athens.

ubi cum omnes libros in unum acervum congestos crematuri essent, unus ex cordatioribus populares suos a proposito revocavit: quod Graeci, dum iis rebus occupati, rem militarem negligerent, facile superari possent. enimvero Cleodemus, vir Atheniensis, fuga elapsus, coactaque multitudine, navibus ex mari hostes adortus, tantam caedem edidit, ut reliqui etiam inde aufugerent. Claudius vero cum eos in variis provinciis dispersos, 636 partim navalibus, partim terrestribus praeliis superasset, multis etiam tempestatum vexationibus et fame consumptis, Sirmii aegrotans: cum primoribus exercitus convocatis, de imperatore creando dissereret, Aurelianum imperio dignum esse dixit.

when they were about to burn all the books heaped into one pile, one of the more hard‑headed recalled his compatriots from their purpose: on the ground that the Greeks, while occupied with those matters, would neglect the military affair and could easily be overcome. Indeed, Cleodemus, an Athenian man, having escaped by flight, and, a multitude having been gathered, having attacked the enemies from the sea with ships, wrought such slaughter that the rest even fled from there. But Claudius, after he had defeated them, scattered through various provinces, 636 partly in naval, partly in terrestrial battles, with many also consumed by the vexations of tempests and by famine, while ailing at Sirmium: when, the chiefs of the army having been convened, he was discoursing about creating an emperor, said that Aurelian was worthy of the imperium.

sunt, qui eum statim imperatorem salutatum esse dicant. alii asserunt, senatum, Claudii morte audita, Quintiliano⁸ fratri eius, ob ipsius desiderium, detulisse imperium: qui ut homo simplex, et ad res gerendas parum idoneus, cum Aurelianum a militibus imperatorem salutatum esse audivisset, incisa manus vena ex profluvio sanguinis ultro necem sibi consciverit, per XVII duntaxat dies quasi somniato imperio.⁹ de spatio imperii Claudii, scriptores non consentiunt: quorum alii, eum unum annum, alii, ut et Eusebius, biennium imperasse ferunt. huius imperatoris Claudii ex filia nepos fuit Constans Chlorus, Magni Constantini pater.

There are those who say that he was at once hailed emperor. Others assert that the senate, when the death of Claudius had been heard, conferred the imperium upon Quintilianus,⁸ his brother, out of longing for him; who, as a simple man and scarcely fit for conducting affairs, when he had heard that Aurelian had been hailed emperor by the soldiers, with a vein of his hand cut, from a gush of blood voluntarily brought death upon himself, for only 17 days with an empire, as it were, dreamt.⁹ As for the span of Claudius’s imperium, the writers do not agree: some report that he ruled for one year, others, as also Eusebius, that he ruled for a biennium. The grandson of this emperor Claudius through a daughter was Constans Chlorus, father of Magnus Constantine.

XXVII. Aurelianus principatu Romanorum potitus, magnates rogavit quo pacto imperandum esset. quorum unus ei respondit: "si rempublicam rite administrare volueris, auro et ferro te munitum esse oportebit: ac ferro quidem contra hostes uti, tui vero observantes auro remunerari". atque is primus sui consilii tulisse fructum fertur, non multo post Aureliani ferrum expertus. qui principio imperii Christanis clementem se praebuit: sed progressu temporis mutatus, persecutionem et ipse contra eos meditatus est.

27. Aurelian, having obtained the principate of the Romans, asked the magnates by what manner it ought to be ruled. One of whom answered him: "if you shall wish to administer the republic duly, it will be necessary that you be fortified with gold and iron: and with iron indeed to use against enemies, but those observing loyalty to you to be remunerated with gold". and he is said to have been the first to bear the fruit of his own counsel, not long after having experienced Aurelian’s iron. He, who at the beginning of his reign showed himself clement to the Christians; but, with the progress of time changed, he too planned a persecution against them.

verum cum iam decreta contra Christi cultores scriberentur, divina vindicta improbitatem eius, vita adempta, coercuit. sed nondum de eius obitu, donec res sub eo gestas exposuerimus. nam cum rei militaris peritissimus esset, multa bella prospere confecit.

But when now decrees were being written against the worshipers of Christ, divine vindicta, with his life taken away, restrained his improbitas. Yet not yet about his obit, until we set forth the deeds done under him. For since he was most skilled in the military art, he brought many wars to a prosperous completion.

Palmyrenos subegit, eorumque reginam Zenobiam, Probo praetore capto, Aegypto potitam debellavit et subegit. hanc alii Romam perductam viro claro nupsisse ferunt; alii in itinere prae animi aegritudine ob mutatam fortunam obiisse: defunctae filiam unam uxorem duxisse Aurelianum, caeteras nobilibus Romanis despondisse. hic Gallias etiam, plurimus annis a tyrannis occupatas, imperio Romano recuperavit: et magistratibus ibi ordinatis Romam reversus, 637 quadrigis elephantorum triumphavit.

He subdued the Palmyrenes, and their queen Zenobia—after Probus the praetor had been captured—who had gotten possession of Egypt he warred down and subjugated. Some report that, after she was led to Rome, she married a famous man; others, that on the journey she died from distress of spirit on account of her changed fortune: that Aurelian took one daughter of the deceased as wife, and betrothed the rest to Roman nobles. He also recovered the Gauls, occupied by tyrants for very many years, to the Roman Empire: and with magistrates appointed there, having returned to Rome, 637 he triumphed in a chariot drawn by elephants.

Gallos quoque, tum res novas molitos, devicit. sed cum expeditionem contra Scythas suscepisset, iuxta Thraciae Heracleam est occisus. nam Eros quidam a responsis externis, aut, ut alii tradunt, delator, imperatori ea quae in eum dicerentur, referre solitus, insidias Aureliano, a quo per iracundiam obiurgatus erat, comparavit; et manum eius imitatus, litteras composuit, quibus potentes quidam viri capitis damnarentur, iisque ostensis, eosdem ad caedem imperatoris incitavit: qui vitae suae metuentes Aurelianum sustulerunt, VI annis imperio potitum, paucis mensibus demptis.

He also defeated the Gauls, who at that time had attempted a revolution. But when he had undertaken an expedition against the Scythians, he was slain near Heraclea of Thrace. For a certain Eros, from the bureau of external rescripts—or, as others relate, a delator, accustomed to report to the emperor the things that were said against him—prepared an ambush for Aurelian, by whom he had been rebuked in anger; and, imitating his hand, he composed letters by which certain powerful men were condemned to the capital penalty, and, these having been shown, he incited those same men to the slaughter of the emperor: who, fearing for their own life, did away with Aurelian, who had held the imperium for 6 years, a few months deducted.

XXVIII. ei successit Tacitus, homo senex, qui annos LXXV natus imperium suscepisse dicitur, et absens in Campania declaratus esse a militibus.¹⁰ ubi decreto accepto, privato habitu Romam ingressus, de sententia senatus populique imperatoria insignia sumpsit. cum autem Scythae, Maeotide palude et Phaside amne superato, Pontum, Cappadociam, Galatiam et Ciliciam invasissent: Tacitus et Florianus praefectus multos occiderunt, reliqui fuga salutem quaesiverunt. cum vero Maximinum quemdam, a Tacito cognato Syriae ducem creatum, milites potestate abutentem occidissent, supplicium eius facinoris metuentes, imperatorem quoque persecuti, nondum vel septimo mense, vel iuxta quosdam necdum integro biennio in imperio exacto, trucidarunt.

28. Tacitus succeeded him, an old man, who is said to have assumed the imperium at 75 years of age, and, while absent in Campania, to have been declared by the soldiers.¹⁰ when the decree had been received, entering Rome in private garb, he took up the imperial insignia by the judgment of the senate and people. but when the Scythians, the Maeotian marsh and the Phasis river having been crossed, had invaded Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, and Cilicia: Tacitus and the prefect Florianus killed many; the rest sought safety in flight. but when the soldiers had killed a certain Maximinus, a kinsman of Tacitus, made commander of Syria, who was abusing his power, fearing punishment for that crime, they also pursued the emperor and butchered him, with not yet even the 7th month, or, according to some, not yet a full 2 years, spent in the imperium.

XXIX. Tacitus sublato, duo imperatores eodem tempore sunt declarati, Probus in Oriente a militibus, Romae a senatu Florianus. ac uterque imperavit: Probus in Aegypto, Syria, Phoenicia et Palaestina: Florianus a Cilicia usque ad Italiam et Occidentem. caeterum hic nondum tertio mense exacto, et vitam et imperium amisit: a militibus, quos Probus subornasse ferebatur, interfectus.

29. Tacitus having been removed, two emperors at the same time were declared, Probus in the East by the soldiers, at Rome by the senate Florianus. And each ruled: Probus in Egypt, Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine: Florianus from Cilicia up to Italy and the West. Moreover, this man, with not even the third month completed, lost both his life and his imperium: killed by soldiers, whom Probus was reported to have suborned.

quo sic mortuo Probus totius imperii habenas accepit, qui eruditissimus fuisse, et de multis populis triumphasse fertur, et milites Aureliani et [Taciti = Probi] percussores convocatos, cum multis opprobriis occidisse. Saturnino Mauro, qui erat ipsi c[l]arissimus, regnum affectante, eius facinoris 638 indicem mentiri putans, supplicio affecit: Saturninum vero milites occiderunt. cum alius quidam in Britanniis defectionem meditaretur, quem ipse Probus, Victorini Mauri familiaris sui commendatione adductus, ad magistratum evexerat, cum Victorino expostulavit, qui impetrata ad illum abeundi potestate, se imperatorem fugere simulans, amanter a tyranno susceptus, noctu occiso homine, ad Probum rediit, ob mansuetudinem, placabilitatem et munificentiam charum omnibus.

with him thus dead, Probus received the reins of the whole empire; who is said to have been most erudite, and to have triumphed over many peoples, and, having summoned the soldiers of Aurelian and the assassins of [Tacitus = Probus], to have killed them with many reproaches. When Saturninus the Moor, who was most distinguished to him, was aiming at royal power, thinking the informer of that deed 638 to be lying, he subjected him to punishment; but the soldiers killed Saturninus. When a certain other man in the Britains was plotting a defection—whom Probus himself, led by the recommendation of Victorinus the Moor, his intimate, had raised to a magistracy—he remonstrated with Victorinus, who, having obtained permission to go to him, pretending that he was fleeing the emperor, was kindly received by the tyrant, and, the man having been slain by night, returned to Probus, dear to all for his mildness, placability, and munificence.

cum Germanis Romanas civitates vexantibus resisteret, bello diutius durante, ex penuria commeatus periclitatus est. fertur autem maximo imbri in castra eius delato, multum quoque frumenti (si cui credere libet) depluisse: quo milites collecto et famis periculum effugerint, et hostes profligarint. est et alia seditio contra Probum mota.

while he was resisting the Germans harrying the Roman cities, with the war lasting longer, he was put in jeopardy from a scarcity of provisions. It is reported, moreover, that when a very great downpour was brought upon his camp, a great quantity of grain also (if anyone cares to believe it) rained down; which, once collected by the soldiers, they both escaped the danger of famine and routed the enemies. There was also another sedition stirred up against Probus.

nam Carus, qui parti Europae praeerat, animadvertit suos milites de se imperatore creando agitare: qua re Probo significata, petiit ut inde revocaretur. sed cum is ei successorem dare nollet, milites corona facta Carum vel invitum suscipere imperium coegerunt, statimque cum eo in Italiam properarunt. quo Probus cognito, exercitum et ducem, qui illi resisterent, misit.

for Carus, who was presiding over a part of Europe, noticed his soldiers were agitating about creating him emperor; and when this matter was signified to Probus, he sought to be recalled from there. But when he would not give him a successor, the soldiers, a corona having been formed, compelled Carus, even unwilling, to take up the imperium, and immediately they hastened with him into Italy. When Probus learned this, he sent an army and a leader to resist him.

cum autem a Caro prope abessent, ducem suum in vincula coniectum, seque una illi dediderunt. Probus vero, ea militum transitione cognita, a suis satellitibus est interfectus, non integris VI annis imperio functus.

but when they were near to Carus, they threw their own leader into chains, and together surrendered themselves to him. Probus, however, on learning of this defection of the soldiers, was killed by his own bodyguards, not having exercised the imperium for a full 6 years.

XXX. Carus rerum potitus, filiis suis Carino et Numeriano imperatorio diademate ornatis¹¹, statim contra Persas profectus, Numeriano filio comitante, Ctesiphontem et Seleuciam occupavit. sed Romani cum in cavo quodam loco castra haberent, pene undis essent oppressi, fluvio praeterfluente per fossam a Persis in eos emisso. verum Carus profligatis hostibus re bene gesta cum magna captivorum multitudine, opimaque praeda Romam rediit.

30. Carus, having gotten control of affairs, with his sons Carinus and Numerian adorned with the imperial diadem¹¹, immediately set out against the Persians, Numerian his son accompanying, and seized Ctesiphon and Seleucia. But when the Romans had their camp in a certain hollow place, they were nearly overwhelmed by the waves, the river flowing by having been sent against them through a trench by the Persians. However, Carus, the enemies routed and the matter well conducted, returned to Rome with a great multitude of captives and with opulent booty.

deinde Sarmatas tumultuantes acie vicit, et gentem subegit. fuit natione Gallus¹², sed vir fortis, et rei militaris peritus. de morte eius non eadem historici prodiderunt.

then he defeated the Sarmatians, tumultuating, in line-of-battle, and subdued the nation. He was by nation a Gaul¹², but a brave man and skilled in the military art. About his death the historians have not handed down the same account.

nam alii in expeditione Runnica occisum ferunt; alii, cum 639 ad Tigrim fluvium castra haberet, una cum tabernaculo suo fulmine conflagrasse. quo sive hoc sive illo modo sublato, Numerianus filius eius, solus in exercitu relictus imperator, statim Persis bellum intulit, commissoque praelio, cum Romani a Persis superati terga dedissent, alii eum in fuga comprehensum, pelle toto corpore utris instar detracta periisse memorant: alii, cum in reditu ex Persia ex oculis laboraret, a socero suo praetorio praefecto cupiditate imperii interfectum esse: quod tamen non sit assecutus, Diocletiano a militibus delatum, eo bello Persico multis fortibus facinoribus nobilitato. caeterum alter Cari filius Carinus, cum Romanis gravis esset, luxuriosus, crudelis, et ultor iniuriarum, a Diocletiano Romam ingresso occisus est.

for some assert that he was slain in the Runnic expedition; others, that, when he had his camp by the river Tigris, he, together with his tent, was consumed by lightning. he being removed in this way or in that, his son Numerianus, left as the sole emperor in the army, straightway brought war upon the Persians, and, battle having been joined, when the Romans, overcome by the Persians, had turned their backs, some relate that he, seized in flight, perished, his skin stripped off from his whole body like wineskins; others, that, when on the return from Persia he was suffering in his eyes, he was killed by his father-in-law, the Praetorian Prefect, through desire for the imperium; which, however, he did not attain, it being conferred upon Diocletian by the soldiers, he being made notable in that Persian war by many brave deeds. moreover, the other son of Carus, Carinus, since he was grievous to the Romans—luxurious, cruel, and an avenger of injuries—was slain by Diocletian upon his entry into Rome. 639

tempus imperii horum trium, triennium non explevit. his temporibus Manes, homo detestandus, ex Persia in nostrum orbem delatus, suum venenum evomuit unde Manichaeorum nomen in hunc usque diem durat. is alias Peracletum et Spiritum sanctum se esse profitebatur, cum Spiritus improbitatis evidenter in eo habitaret: alias Christum se nominans, cum a daemonibus ad ipsorum ministerium unctus esset; duodecim discipulos sui delirii, ex multis sectis iam desitis coacervati, socios et praecones circumducebat.

the time of the empire of these three did not complete a three-year period. In these times Manes, a detestable man, carried from Persia into our world, spewed out his poison, whence the name of the Manichaeans endures unto this very day. At one time he professed that he was the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit, while the Spirit of wickedness plainly dwelt in him; at another, naming himself Christ, since he had been anointed by demons for their ministry; he led about twelve disciples of his delirium, heaped together from many sects now forsaken, as companions and heralds.

Dionysius cum Romae fideles IX annis pavisset, defunctus, Felicem successorem habuit. cui post quinquennium mortuo, Eutychianus successit. quo intra X menses illum consecuto, pastoris munus Caio est mandatum: qui cum annos circiter XV Ecclesiae praefuisset, Marcellinum habuit successorem.

Dionysius, when at Rome he had fed the faithful for 9 years, died and had Felix as successor. When he had died after a five-year period, Eutychianus succeeded. He, having been succeeded within 10 months, the office of pastor was entrusted to Caius; who, when he had presided over the Church for about 15 years, had Marcellinus as successor.

hi temporibus persecutionum fuerunt. in Antiochena Ecclesia post Domnum episcopus fuit Timaeus, Timaeo successit Cyrillus, Cyrillo Tyrannus: sub quo Ecclesiarum oppugnatio viguit, ac tyrannis facta est intolerabilis. Hierosolymitanam Ecclesiam post Hymenaeum gubernavit Zabdas: quo paulo post defuncto, thronum eum Hermon ornavit.

in these times there were persecutions. in the Antiochene Church, after Domnus, the bishop was Timaeus; to Timaeus succeeded Cyril, to Cyril Tyrannus: under whom the assault upon the Churches gained vigor, and the tyranny became intolerable. the Jerusalem Church, after Hymenaeus, was governed by Zabdas: when he shortly thereafter died, Hermon adorned that throne.

Alexandriae Maximo, qui post Dionysium XVIII annis Ecclesiam moderatus est, mortuo, 640 Theon factus est episcopus: cui successit Petrus, qui obtruncatus martyrii coronam suscepit. ac pontificum successiones hae fuerunt.

In Alexandria, Maximus, who after Dionysius governed the Church for 18 years, having died, 640 Theon was made bishop: him Peter succeeded, who, being beheaded, received the crown of martyrdom. And the successions of the pontiffs were these.

XXXI. imperium autem Diocletianus est adeptus, natione Dalmata, obscuris ortus parentibus, et, ut quidam tradunt, Anulini senatoris libertus, ex milite gregario Mysiae dux evasit. alii vero comitem domesticor[u=m]m fuisse tradunt, quos nonnulli equites esse putant. apud milites pro concione affirmavit, se caedis Numeriani non fuisse conscium: simulque ad Aprum praefectum militum conversus: "hoc", inquit, "illius percussor est", eumque ense arrepto, interfecit.

31. But Diocletian attained the imperial power, a Dalmatian by nation, born of obscure parents, and, as some hand down, a freedman of the senator Anulinus; from a common soldier he emerged as dux of Moesia. Others, indeed, relate that he was a comes of the domestics, whom some suppose to be equites. Before the soldiers, in public assembly, he affirmed that he had not been privy to the slaughter of Numerian; and at the same time, turning to Aper, prefect of the soldiers: "this," he says, "is that man’s assassin," and, seizing a sword, he killed him.

Romam cum venisset, rerum administrationem suscepit: considerataque principatus amplitudine, sive quarto, sive, ut alii docent, secundo imperii anno, collegam Maximianum Herculium asciscit, tantae moli rerum se unum imparem esse ratus. ambo igitur consentientibus animis persecutionem contra Christianos instituerunt, superioribus omnibus vehementiorem et immaniorem. summo enim studio, ac potius furore, Dei nostri Jesu Christi salutare nomen in omnibus delere terris sunt conati.

When he had come to Rome, he undertook the administration of affairs: and, the amplitude of the principate having been considered, whether in the fourth, or, as others teach, in the second year of his imperium, he enrolls Maximian Herculius as colleague, thinking himself, alone, unequal to so great a mass of affairs. Both, therefore, with minds in consent, instituted a persecution against the Christians, more vehement and more monstrous than all previous. For with the highest zeal—or rather with frenzy—they attempted to obliterate the saving name of our God Jesus Christ in all lands.

Quo tempore tanta eorum qui pro Christi confessione in omnibus civitatibus et provinciis fortiter occumberent, multitudo fuit, ut eorum iniri numerus aegre possit. hanc enim carnificinam caeteris rebus omnibus antevertendam esse putabant. Busiridem vero et Coptum urbes, Thebis Aegyptiacis vicinas, cum defecissent, Diocletianus cepit atque evertit.

At that time so great was the multitude of those who, for the confession of Christ, were bravely meeting death in all cities and provinces, that their number could scarcely be reckoned. For they considered this carnage to be set before all other affairs. And the cities Busiris and Coptum, near Egyptian Thebes, when they had defected, Diocletian seized and overthrew.

post, Alexandria quoque et Aegyptus Achille quodam auctore arma contra Romanos sumpserunt: sed Diocletiano haud diu restiterunt, multique seditionis concitatores una cum Achille poenas dederunt. Diocletianus porro et Maximianus, suum uterque generum Caesares declararunt: Diocletianus Maximinum Gallerium, cui filiam Valeriam desponderat: Herculius Maximianus Constantium¹³, qui a pallore Chlorus vocabatur, nepotem Claudii, qui paulo ante imperarat, ut iam exposui, desponsa filia Theodora. quamvis autem ambo Caesares uxores haberent, tamen repudiatis illis, imperatorum affinitatem praetulerunt.

afterwards, Alexandria too and Egypt, with a certain Achilles as author-instigator, took up arms against the Romans: but they did not resist Diocletian for long, and many agitators of sedition together with Achilles paid the penalties. moreover Diocletian and Maximian, each declared his own son-in-law Caesars: Diocletian [declared] Maximinus Galerius, to whom he had betrothed his daughter Valeria: Maximian Herculius [declared] Constantius¹³, who from his pallor was called Chlorus, the grandson of Claudius, who had ruled a little before, as I have already set forth, with his daughter Theodora betrothed. although, however, both Caesars had wives, yet, those repudiated, they preferred the affinity (marital alliance) of the emperors.

Maximianus in Gallias 641 profectus, Amandi cuiusdam motum repressit. Crassum, qui Britanniam per triennium occuparat, praefectus Asclepiodotus sustulit. quinque-Gentianos qui Africam occuparant, Herculius debellavit.

Maximian, having set out into Gaul 641, suppressed the rising of a certain Amandus. The prefect Asclepiodotus removed Crassus, who had occupied Britain for three years. The Quinque-Gentiani, who had seized Africa, Herculius defeated in war.

Constantius Caesar in Galliis adversus Alemannos bellum gerens, eodem die et victus est, et vicit. nam primum [c]um Alemanni magno impetu in eius exercitum irruerent, terga omnes dederunt, quos dum Constantius fuga postremus consequitur, parum abfuit quin portis iam clausis caperetur: ac plane ab hostibus comprehensus esset, in eum capiendum intentis, nisi funibus ex muro demissis attractus esset. ita conservatus atque in urbem receptus, convocato statim exercitu, oratione habita, qua militum animis alacritatem ad rem strenue gerendam attulit, ac fiduciam quamdam quasi inspiravit, statim duxit contra hostem, atque illustri victoria potitus est, circiter LX millibus Alemannorum caesis.

Constantius Caesar in Gaul, waging war against the Alemanni, on the same day both was defeated, and he conquered. For at first, when the Alemanni with great impetus rushed upon his army, all turned tail; and while Constantius, last in flight, follows them, he was little short of being taken, with the gates now closed: and he would clearly have been seized by the enemies, intent on taking him, had he not been drawn up by ropes let down from the wall. Thus preserved and received back into the city, with the army at once convoked, and a speech having been delivered, by which he brought to the spirits of the soldiers an alacrity for prosecuting the matter vigorously, and as it were inspired a certain confidence, he immediately led out against the enemy, and gained an illustrious victory, with about 60 thousand of the Alemanni cut down.

apud Persas autem regnavit Narses, qui septimus ab Artaxerxe numeratur: cuius supra facta est mentio, ut regni Persici instauratoris. nam post hunc sive Artaxerxem, sive Artaxarem (utroque enim nomine appellatur) Sapores Persis imperavit. hunc Hormisdas, Hormisdam Vararanes, Vararanem Vararaces secutus est: huic alius Vararanes successit, et post hos Narses regnavit.

among the Persians, however, Narses reigned, who is counted seventh from Artaxerxes: of whom mention was made above, as the restorer of the Persian realm. for after this either Artaxerxes or Artaxares (for by both names he is called) Sapor ruled the Persians. him Hormisdas followed, Hormisdas by Vararanes, Vararanes by Vararaces: to him another Vararanes succeeded, and after these Narses reigned.

contra hunc igitur Narse[m=n], Syriam vastantem, Diocletianus per Aegyptum in Aethiopiam profectus, generum Gallerium Maximinum, cum iustis copiis misit: a Persis victum et profligatum, cum maiore exercitu ablegavit. denuo igitur hostes adortus, tam illustrem victoriam adeptus est, ut acceptae cladis ignominiam aboleret. Persarum certe quidem partem maiorem occidit, Narsem vulneratum usque ad interiorem Persiam persecutus, eius uxores, liberos et sorores, ac multos illustres Persas cepit, omnique pecunia a Narse in militiam advecta potitus est.

Against this Narses, then, ravaging Syria, Diocletian set out through Egypt into Ethiopia, and sent his son-in-law Galerius Maximinus with adequate forces; when he had been defeated and routed by the Persians, he dispatched him away with a larger army. Therefore, having assailed the enemy anew, he obtained so illustrious a victory that he abolished the ignominy of the disaster received. He certainly slew the greater part of the Persians, pursued Narses, wounded, as far as inner Persia, captured his wives, children, and sisters, and many illustrious Persians, and took possession of all the money that had been conveyed by Narses for the soldiery.

Narses vero ex vulnere recreatus, per legatos a Diocletiano et Gallerio, ut sibi mulieres et liberi redderentur, et pacis foedus feriretur, impetravit, cum Romanis, rebus omnibus quas volebant, cessisset. aliis quoque multis bellis Diocletianus et Maximianus partim per se, 642 partim per Caesares et duces prospere confectis, imperii fines amplificarunt. quibus victoriis elatus Diocletianus, se non amplius, ut prius, a senatu salutari, sed adorari voluit¹⁴: vestes suas et calceos auro, gemmis, margaritis exornavit, et imperatoria insignia maioribus sumptibus decoravit.

Narses, indeed, restored from his wound, obtained through envoys from Diocletian and Galerius that his women and children be returned to him, and that a peace treaty be struck, since he had yielded to the Romans in all the matters which they wished. In many other wars as well, Diocletian and Maximian, partly by themselves, 642 partly through the Caesars and commanders, having brought them to a prosperous conclusion, enlarged the borders of the empire. Elated by these victories, Diocletian wished that he no longer, as before, be saluted by the senate, but adored¹⁴: he adorned his garments and shoes with gold, gems, and pearls, and decorated the imperial insignia with greater expenditures.

superiores enim imperatores consulari duntaxat honore afficiebantur, et imperii insigne purpuram tantum gestabant.

for the earlier emperors were invested only with consular honor, and wore as the insignia of the imperium only the purple.

XXXII. persecutione gliscente, virisque et mulieribus innumeris pro Christi confessione morientibus, cum nihilominus magna fidelium multitudo superesset: hi tyranni sub annum XIX imperii Diocletiani, edicta quovis terrarum mittebant, quibus ecclesiae Christianorum dirui, libri cremari iubebantur, et sacerdotes eorum, ut doctores et praecones fidei, crudeliter interfici. caeteros qui aut dignitatibus praediti, aut in militiam ascripti essent, ignominiose eiici atque exauctorari. privatae vero conditionis homines, in servitutem rapi XX anno imperii Diocletiani exacto, ambo imperatores consentientibus animis imperio se abdicarunt, publice profitentes, se moli negotiorum succumbere: sed apud eos quibus arcana sui pectoris credebant, id ex desperatione facere se fatebantur.

32. with the persecution swelling, and innumerable men and women dying for the confession of Christ, when nonetheless a great multitude of the faithful remained: these tyrants, about the 19th year of the reign of Diocletian, were sending edicts to every quarter of the earth, by which it was ordered that the churches of the Christians be torn down, the books be burned, and that their priests, as doctors and heralds of the faith, be cruelly put to death. The rest, who either were endowed with dignities, or had been enrolled in the military, were to be ignominiously ejected and cashiered. But men of private condition were to be snatched into servitude. With the 20th year of the reign of Diocletian completed, both emperors, with consenting minds, abdicated the empire, publicly professing that they were succumbing to the mass of affairs: but among those to whom they entrusted the arcana of their heart, they admitted that they were doing this out of desperation.

quia enim nec Christianos superare nec praeconium Christiani nominis exstinguere possent, se nec imperio velle frui. cum autem ambo eodem die imperio se ex composito abdicassent, Diocletianus Nicomediae¹⁵, Maximianus Mediolani: ille Salonis in Dalmatia, quas patriam habebat, hic in Luciana vitam egit. prius tamen de Persis Romae triumpharunt, in quo triumpho Narsis uxores, liberos et sorores, aliarumque gentium duces duxerunt, omnesque divitias ex Persia apportatas.

because, indeed, since they could neither overcome the Christians nor extinguish the proclamation of the Christian name, they said that they did not even wish to enjoy the empire. and when both on the same day, by prearrangement, had abdicated the empire, Diocletian at Nicomedia¹⁵, Maximian at Milan: the former lived at Salona in Dalmatia, which he had as his homeland, the latter lived in Lucania. first, however, they triumphed at Rome over the Persians, in which triumph they led Narseh’s wives, children, and sisters, and the leaders of other nations, and all the riches brought from Persia.

haud vero abs re fuerit explicari, unde triumphi nomen sumptum sit, ac id quidem a Thriis, quae ficulna folia sunt, factum putant. priusquam enim personas scenici excogitassent, ficulnis foliis facies velati, dicteria versibus iambicis proferebant. eamdem et milites in victoriae festivitate licentiam eodem ornatu in victores usurpabant, atque hinc triumpho nomen esse factum antumant.

Nor indeed would it be off the mark to explain whence the name of the triumph was taken; and they think that it was derived from the Thriae, which are fig-leaves. For before scenic actors had devised masks, with their faces veiled in fig-leaves they used to utter witticisms in iambic verses. The soldiers too, at the festival of victory, exercised the same license, with the same adornment, upon the victors; and from this, they maintain, the name “triumph” arose.

alii vero ex eo, quod tribus constet ordinibus, senatu, 643 populo, et militibus, una incedentibus, litterarum in Graeco vocabulo [GREEK] nonnulla mutatione facta. ea agitur victoriae festivitate peracta imperatoriam potestatem in Caesares transtulerunt, et partiti imperium, Orientalem partem una cum Illyrico Gallerio Maximino assignarunt: Constantio Chloro provincias occidentales, una cum Africa attribuerunt. his ita gestis, milites praetoriani filium Herculii Maximiani Maxentium Romae imperatorem declararunt.

others indeed [derive it] from this, that it consists of three orders—the senate, 643 the people, and the soldiers—advancing together, with some change having been made of the letters in the Greek term [GREEK]. and it is performed; when the celebration of victory has been completed, they transferred the imperial power to the Caesars, and, having partitioned the Empire, assigned the Eastern part together with Illyricum to Galerius Maximinus; to Constantius Chlorus they allotted the western provinces together with Africa. with these things thus done, the Praetorian soldiers at Rome declared Maxentius, the son of Herculius Maximianus, emperor.

ex his tribus igitur, Constantius in Britanniis, Cottiis Alpibus et Galliis dominans, Christi cultores admodum clementer tractavit, atque adeo subditos suos omnes: et pecuniae contemptor fuit. sed Maximinus Orientis imperator, tum Christianos acerrime persecutus est, tum caeteris subditis gravissimus fuit. nam cum libidine arderet, ac summus adulter esset: non privatae conditionis solum mulieres ad stupra rapiebat, sed etiam illustrium virorum coniuges a maritis per vim avulsas, expleta libidine sua domum remittebat: divinationibus adeo deditus, ut nullam rem minimam iis inconsultis susciperet, et arcanorum illorum patratoribus honorem haberet.

of these three, therefore, Constantius, ruling in the Britains, the Cottian Alps, and the Gauls, treated the worshipers of Christ very clemently, and indeed all his subjects as well; and he was a contemner of money. But Maximinus, emperor of the East, at once persecuted the Christians most fiercely and was most grievous to his other subjects. For, burning with lust and being a consummate adulterer, he would not only seize women of private condition for debauchery, but even the wives of illustrious men, torn from their husbands by force; his lust satisfied, he sent them back home. So devoted was he to divinations that he undertook nothing, however minimal, without consulting them, and he held in honor the perpetrators of those arcana.

hic pios homines ad internecionem condemnavit, eorumque facultates publicavit, nullo alio crimine insontibus obiecto, praeterquam Dei cognitione et fide in Christum.

here he condemned pious men to extermination, and confiscated their estates, no other crime being alleged against the innocent except the knowledge of God and faith in Christ.

XXXIII. Maxentius vero Romae nihilo clementior tyrannus fuit, sed aeque ut Maximinus, imperium administravit, in proximos quosque Christianos insaniendo, et omnibus aerumnis exagitando, summaque perfidia in omnes suos subditos grassando. nam et multos claros viros nullo iusto iudicio occidebat, et nobiles matronas ac virgines in dies per summam contumeliam constuprabat, et locupletibus bona per iniuriam eripiebat, et subditos novis, iisque gravibus exactionibus atterebat. hic aliquando Romae nobilissimae castaeque matronae, quae viro illustri nupta erat, immodesto amore correptus, talium operum ministros ad eam adducendam misit.

33. Maxentius, however, at Rome was a tyrant not a whit more clement, but, just as Maximinus, administered the rule, raving against whatever Christians were at hand and hounding them with every hardship, and with utmost perfidy preying upon all his own subjects. For he would kill many renowned men without any just judgment, and day by day, with extreme contumely, he would rape noble matrons and virgins; he would by injustice snatch away the goods of the wealthy, and he wore down his subjects with new—and grievous—exactions. On one occasion, at Rome, seized with immoderate love for a most noble and chaste matron, who was married to an illustrious man, he sent agents for such deeds to bring her to him.

quae cum lenones aedibus suis astare videret, adventusque causa cognita, citra ullam deprecationem ad tyrannum abeundum esse intelligeret 644 (nam maritus mortis metu attonitus, ab illis abduci mulierem patiebatur), neque ullum aliunde auxilium exspectaret: exiguam moram postulavit , ut se exornaret prius, quam abiret. collebat autem Christum, et divino mysterio initiata erat. ingressa igitur cubiculum, remotis arbitris, sibi necem conscivit, ut contumeliae expers modestiam conservaret, voluntariam mortem amplexa, cadavere lenonibus et nefario amatori relicto.

when she saw the pimps standing at her house, and, the cause of their arrival known, understood that, without any plea, she must go away to the tyrant 644 (for her husband, stunned by fear of death, was permitting the woman to be led off by them), and expected no help from elsewhere: she asked a brief delay , that she might adorn herself before she departed. She cherished Christ, moreover, and had been initiated into the divine mystery. Therefore, having entered her chamber, with the witnesses removed, she brought death upon herself, that, free from contumely, she might preserve modesty—embracing a voluntary death, the corpse left to the pimps and to the nefarious lover.

his ita imperantibus Diocletianus et Maximianus in vita privata obierunt: etsi de illorum obitu scriptores non consentiunt. nam Eusebius "Ecclesiasticae historiae" liber VIII, Diocletianum mentis errore affectum, et diuturno morbo tabescentem, miseram animam violenter eructasse scribit: Maximianum vero Herculium laqueo sibi necem conscivisse. alii vero tradunt eos, cum depositae potestatis poeniteret, in conatu recuperandi imperii deprehensos, et senatusconsulto interfectos esse.

with these thus ruling, Diocletian and Maximian died in private life: although writers do not consent about their death. For Eusebius, "Ecclesiastical History" book 8, writes that Diocletian, affected by an error of mind and wasting away with a long disease, violently belched forth his wretched soul; Maximian, however, Herculius, contrived death for himself by a noose. Others, however, hand down that, when they repented of the power they had laid down, having been caught in the attempt at recovering the empire, they were put to death by a decree of the Senate.

sunt etiam qui dicant, Herculium rursus imperium desiderantem, consilium cum Diocletiano de eo recuperando communicasse: eoque conatum illum recusante, curiam ingressum dixisse, filium suum reipublicae gerendae esse imparem. militibus autem iis verbis ad iram concitatis, quasi imperium sibi vindicaret: periculo territum, negasse id se in animo habuisse, sed militum animos ut erga filium suum affecti essent, periclitari voluisse: itaque sedasse tumultum. deinde in Gallias ad Constantinum Magnum, qui Faustam filiam eius et ipse in matrimonio haberet, abiisse, ac in regno eius per insidias sibi vindicando ibi quoque deprehensum, eoque conatu deiectum, tum demum vitam laqueo finivisse.

there are also those who say that Herculius, desiring the imperium again, shared counsel with Diocletian about recovering it: and when that man refused the attempt, having entered the curia he said that his son was unequal to administering the republic. but when the soldiers, by these words, were stirred to anger, as if he were vindicating the imperium for himself: frightened by the danger, he denied that he had had that in mind, but said that he had wished to put the soldiers’ spirits to the test, how they were affected toward his son: and so he calmed the tumult. then he went into Gaul to Constantine the Great, who also had his daughter Fausta in marriage; and, in his realm, by plots, while vindicating it for himself, there too he was detected, and, cast down by that attempt, then at last he ended his life by a noose.

verum isti uno quopiam modo ex his, naturae debitum persolverunt. Constantius autem undecimo anno in imperio exacto, ex quo Caesar appellatus fuerat, potestate clementer et humaniter usus, in Britannia extremum diem clausit, cum luctu subditorum, bonitatem eius desiderantium: filio natu maiore, Magno videlicet Constantino, ex priore coniuge, imperii successore declarato. habuit enim ex secunda quoque Herculii filia Theodora alios filios, Constantinum, Anaballianum et Constantium.

But those men, in one or other of these ways, paid nature’s debt. Constantius, however, after the eleventh year in power, from the time he had been called Caesar, having used his authority with clemency and humanity, closed his last day in Britain, amid the grief of his subjects, who longed for his goodness; his elder-born son, namely Constantine the Great, by his former wife, having been declared successor to the empire. For he also had by a second wife, Theodora, daughter of Herculius, other sons: Constantine, Anaballianus, and Constantius.

sed magnus Constantius 645 praelatus est, quod hi patri ad imperium inepti esse videbantur. imo totum negotium divinae Providentiae fuit, salutari praeconio ac potius omnibus Romani imperii subditis consulentis, ut per eum tyrannides destruerentur. fertur enim, Constantio aegrotanti, et ob exterorum filiorum ineptam indolem m[a=o]esto, angelus astitisse, qui iuberet, ut Constantino relinqueret imperium.

but the great Constantius 645 was preferred, because these seemed to the father to be unfit for the imperium. Nay rather, the whole business was of divine Providence, taking counsel for all the subjects of the Roman empire with a saving proclamation, that through him tyrannies might be destroyed. For it is reported that, as Constantius was sick, and sorrowful on account of the inept disposition of the sons by the other wife, an angel stood by, who commanded that he leave the imperium to Constantine.

hunc igitur Constantinum pater, adolescentem etiamnun, Gallerio dedisse obsidem memoratur, ut interim etiam in re militari exerceretur. qui cum ei ob ingenii dexteritatem ex invidia insidias strueret, in pugna Sarmatica mandarit, ut barbarorum ducem armis insignem aggrederetur. Constantinum vero paruisse, eumque correptum, viventem ad Gallerium portasse.

Accordingly, this Constantine, still an adolescent, is remembered to have been given by his father as a hostage to Galerius, so that in the meantime he might also be exercised in military affairs. And when he, out of envy at the dexterity of his ingenium, was contriving insidious plots against him, in a Sarmatian battle he ordered that he should attack the dux of the barbarians, distinguished in arms. But Constantine obeyed, and, having seized him, carried him alive to Galerius.

deinde leonem immanem et cruentam belluam iussisse subsistere: illum vero id quoque certamen, quamvis non sine periculo, divina tamen gratia incolumem obiisse. unde [c]um Gallerium invidere sibi atque insidiari intellexisset, noctu cum iis quibus fidebat, fuga elapsum ad patrem rediisse: eoque pacto et periculum evasisse, et paterno imperio potitum esse.

then he ordered him to withstand a huge lion, a blood-stained beast: but he, indeed, underwent that contest too, although not without danger, yet by divine grace came through unharmed. whence, when he had understood that Galerius was envying him and laying ambushes, by night, with those in whom he trusted, he slipped away in flight and returned to his father: and by that method he both evaded the danger and gained possession of the paternal imperium.

XXXIV. Maximinus Licinium, natione Dacum, qui Constantini Magni sororem in matrimonio habebat¹⁶, imperii collegam asciturus, in Illyrico reliquit, ut Thracibus qui a barbaris vexabantur, opem ferret. ipse Romam profectus est, ut cum Maxentio pugnaret. deinde cum suis militibus diffideret, metuens ne ad hostem transirent, omisso bello recessit.

34. Maximinus left Licinius, by nation a Dacian, who had the sister of Constantine the Great in marriage¹⁶, about to be admitted as colleague of the imperium, in Illyricum, so that he might bear aid to the Thracians who were vexed by barbarians. He himself set out to Rome, to fight with Maxentius. Then, as he distrusted his own soldiers, fearing lest they cross over to the enemy, with the war set aside he withdrew.

ac Lucinium, quia collegam eum ascivisse poenituerat, primum clam per insidias, deinde aperto marte adortus, in fugam vertitur, in qua seipsum interemit. et hoc modo Maximinum periisse, quidam tradunt. alii auctores sunt, eum furore quodam contra Christianos grassantem, divinae vindictae poenas dedisse, ulcere gravissimo circa bubonem et pudenda orto, quod instrumenta libidinis eius consumpserit: nam ex ea putrefactione etiam vermes erupisse, et malum fuisse immedicabile.

and Licinius, because he repented of having adscited him as colleague, having attacked him first secretly by ambushes, then in open warfare, is turned to flight, in which he slew himself. And in this way Maximinus perished, some relate. Other authors are authorities that, rampaging with a certain fury against the Christians, he paid the penalties of divine vengeance, a most severe ulcer arising about the bubo and the pudenda, which consumed the instruments of his lust: for from that putrefaction even worms burst forth, and the malady was immedicable.

medicos autem, qui conatum faciendae medicinae statim vetuerint, crudeliter esse iugulatos: qui vero curatione suscepta nihil 646 profecerint, immanissime trucidatos, quod ea praestare non possent, quae artis facultatem superarent. sero tandem suspicatum tyrannum, se iniustarum caedium cultorum Christi dare poenas, ubique edictis propositis persecutionem Christianorum inhiberi, atque illos vivere, ac Deum suo arbitratu colere, et pro ipsius salute vota facere iussisse. atque hic etiam duplex rumor ortus est.

but the doctors who immediately forbade the attempt at administering treatment were cruelly slaughtered; whereas those who, the cure having been undertaken, accomplished nothing 646 were most savagely butchered, because they could not furnish things which surpassed the capacity of the art. at last, too late, the tyrant suspected that he was paying the penalties for the unjust slaughters of the worshipers of Christ, and he had ordered, with edicts posted everywhere, that the persecution of the Christians be inhibited, and that they live, and worship God at their own discretion, and make vows for his safety. and here too a twofold rumor arose.

nam alii tradunt, praeter omnem spem eo morbo liberatum, renovasse persecutionem non mutatis moribus, donec poculi quod Dominus manu tenet, fecem exhauserit: alii valetudinem recuperatam negantes, ex eo malo impium decessisse tradunt, ac vermes etiam per os reiecisse. uno certo ex his modis vitam abrupit. Romae coetui fidelium post Marcellinum, duobus annis sacerdotio functum, Eusebius praefuit: cui post annum mortuo, successit Miltiades, qui cum fidelibus quadriennium praefuisset, Silvestrum successorem reliquit.

for some hand down that, beyond all hope, having been freed from that disease, he renewed the persecution, his morals not changed, until he had drained the dregs of the cup which the Lord holds in his hand; others, denying that his health had been recuperated, relate that the impious man departed this life from that evil, and that he even cast out worms through his mouth. by one of these modes, at any rate, he certainly ended his life. at Rome, over the assembly of the faithful, after Marcellinus—who had performed the priesthood for two years—Eusebius presided; and when he died after a year, Miltiades succeeded him, who, after he had presided over the faithful for four years, left Sylvester as successor.

Antiochiae post Tyrannum XIII annis episcopatu functum, delectus est Vitalis. huic post sexennium successit Philogenes; atque is quoque annis V exactis, Paulinum habuit successorem. Hierosolymis post Zabdam, qui ministerium ad decimum annum obiit, Hermon pontificiam sedem est sortitus.

At Antioch, after Tyrannus had exercised the episcopate for 13 years, Vitalis was chosen. To him, after a six-year period, Philogenes succeeded; and he also, with 5 years completed, had Paulinus as successor. At Jerusalem, after Zabdas, who died in his ministry in the tenth year, Hermon obtained the pontifical seat.

Alexandriae post sanctum martyrem Petrum, qui pontificiam sedem per annos XI ornarat, Alexander pontificatum obtinuit. Romae Silvestro per annos XXVIII episcopatu functo, Julius Ecclesiae XV annis praefuit. post quem Liberius sextum absolvit annum; eique successit Damasus, qui XXVIII annos fideles pavit.

At Alexandria, after the holy martyr Peter, who had adorned the pontifical seat for 11 years, Alexander obtained the pontificate. At Rome, with Sylvester having held the episcopate for 28 years, Julius presided over the Church for 15 years. After whom Liberius completed the sixth year; and to him succeeded Damasus, who fed the faithful for 28 years.

hunc Siricius secutus, annis XVI ministerium obiit. deinde Innocentius est electus, qui populum Domini per annos XV erudiit. quo mortuo, Zosimus in Ecclesiae Romanae solio est collocatus: cui duodecimo anno exacto successit Coelestinus, qui annis decem in pontificatu claruit, huius successor fuit Xystus, qui VIII annos duravit.

Siricius followed him, and he ended his ministry in 16 years. Then Innocentius was elected, who instructed the people of the Lord for 15 years. When he had died, Zosimus was seated on the throne of the Roman Church: to him, with the twelfth year completed, Coelestinus succeeded, who was illustrious in the pontificate for ten years; his successor was Xystus, who lasted 8 years.

deinde Leo in eius locum suffectus est, qui veram doctrinam per annos XXIV defendit. Leone defuncto, Hilario in sede collocatus est: qui VI annis expletis, electioni Simplicii locum fecit, qui et ipse anno XIX ministerii decessit. 647 in eius locum introductus est Felix: qui nono anno defunctus, Gelasio honorem reliquit per quinquennium fruendum.

then Leo was appointed in his place, who defended the true doctrine for 24 years. Leo having died, Hilary was placed in the see: who, the 6 years having been completed, made room for the election of Simplicius, who also himself died in the 19th year of his ministry. 647 in his place Felix was introduced: who, having died in the ninth year, left the honor to Gelasius to be enjoyed for a five-year period.

post eum Anastasius est electus: qui anno quarto elapso, Symmachum successorem habuit, qui cum annos XII in pontificatu exegisset, Hormisdas est electus, sed hic quoque decimo anno ministerii mortem obiit. Romanae vero Ecclesiae sedes Joannem in triennium suscepit. post quem Felix Romanis fidelibus praefuit, quatuor annos eo honore gavisus.

after him Anastasius was elected: who, the fourth year elapsed, had Symmachus as successor, who, when he had spent 12 years in the pontificate, Hormisdas was elected, but this man too, in the 10th year of his ministry, met death. indeed the See of the Roman Church received John for a three-year period. after whom Felix presided over the Roman faithful, enjoying that honor for 4 years.

deinde Bonifacius per biennium episcopatum gubernavit. post hunc Agapetus designatus est, qui cum summi pastoris Christi gregem Romanum duobus annis et ipse pavisset, naturae debitum persolvit. Romae autem pontifex electus est Silverius: unoque anno pontificatu functus, vitam exegit.

then Boniface governed the episcopate for a biennium. after him Agapetus was designated, who, when he too had fed the Roman flock of Christ, the supreme pastor, for two years, paid the debt of nature. at Rome, moreover, Silverius was elected pontiff: and, having performed the pontificate for one year, he finished his life.

huius successor Virgilius, cum XVIII annis Ecclesiae praefuisset, in eius locum suffectus est Pelagius: qui quinque annis obito ministerio, decessit. Romana vero sedes Joannem in VIII annos suscepit, et post hunc Gregorium in annos XV. post hunc perpetua sedes eorum qui Romanae Ecclesiae praefuerunt, non reperitur. Antiochiae vero Coelesyriae Eustathius Paulino, qui ministerio quinquennium vacarat, successit.

His successor was Virgilius, who, when he had presided over the Church for 18 years, had Pelagius substituted in his place: who, his ministry ended in five years, deceased. But the Roman See received John for 8 years, and after him Gregory for 15 years.
after this, no perpetual succession of those who presided over the Roman Church is found. But at Antioch in Coele-Syria, Eustathius succeeded Paulinus, who had devoted a five-year term to the ministry.

cum Eustathius fideles annos XVIII pavisset, Euphronius per annos VIII ministravit. post quem Phlacitus XII explevit annos. deinde Stephanus Arii sectator, Ecclesiae per triennium se ingessit.

when Eustathius had pastured the faithful for 18 years, Euphronius ministered for 8 years. after whom Phlacitus completed 12 years. then Stephen, a follower of Arius, thrust himself upon the Church for three years.

post hunc introductus est Leontius, qui VIII anno episcopatus mortem obiit. post hunc Antiochenae Ecclesiae Eudoxius alterum annum praefuit. post Eudoxium Arianus quartum annum fuit episcopus.

after him Leontius was introduced, who, in the 8th year of his episcopate, met death. after him Eudoxius presided over the Antiochene Church for another year. after Eudoxius, Arianus was bishop for 4 years.

post hunc Meletius annos XXV. post hunc Flavianus Christianis annos XXVI praefuit. deinde Theodotus ministerium suscepit, in eoque annos IV exegit.

After him Meletius held office for 25 years. After him Flavianus presided over the Christians for 26 years. Then Theodotus undertook the ministry, and in it he spent 4 years.

in huius locum Joannes introductus, per annos XVIII duravit. pro Joanne Domnus electus, annos VIII postea vixit. post quem in Antiochenae Ecclesiae thronum Maximus introductus, in eo munere quadriennium vixit: successore Martyrio, qui IX explevit in magistratu annos.

into his place Joannes was introduced, he endured for 18 years. in place of Joannes Domnus was elected, thereafter he lived for 8 years. after whom Maximus was introduced into the throne of the Church of Antioch; in that function he lived for a four-year period: with Martyrius as successor, who completed 9 years in office.

deinde Julianus in ea pontificia sede, annos VI consedit, et Petrum successorem habuit. 648 cui triennio post Stephanus successit, totidem annos pontificatu functus. in Stephani locum Calandio suffectus est, et huic post quadriennium alius Petrus successit, qui Ecclesiam per triennium gubernavit.

then Julian sat in that pontifical seat for 6 years, and had Peter as successor. 648 after a three-year interval Stephen succeeded him, having performed the pontificate for the same number of years. in Stephen’s place Calandio was substituted, and to him after a four-year period another Peter succeeded, who governed the Church for three years.

huius successor exstitit Palladius, decem annis in magistratu exactis. deinde Flavianus creatus episcopus, XIII annis. post eum Severus VII annis gubernata Ecclesia, Euphrasio sacram sedem reliquit: cui post annum quintum Ephraimus successit, et in ministerio annos XVIII vixit.

His successor was Palladius, with ten years completed in the magistracy. Then Flavianus was created bishop, for 13 years. After him, Severus, the Church having been governed for 7 years, left the sacred see to Euphrasius; to whom, after the fifth year, Ephraimus succeeded, and he lived in the ministry for 18 years.

End of Book XII.

End of Book 12.

NOTES.

The translator of Zonaras in Patrologiae Graecae appended a number of notes. Some refer to commentary about the nature of the Greek text, and have not been reproduced below. Historical notes are mostly retained below, but the reader should remember that many opinions of the mid-19th Century have been overtaken by more recent discoveries.

The numbering system is not that of the original text.

1. haec verba male vertit interpres, quae ex Dione habet Zonaras: "poena tibi parata est. sub obitum in occultis locis malum insanabile habuit." sic autem Dio: perge ad supplicium: deinde alterum, idque de morte. quem gravis occulta vexat circum loca morbus.
2. Maximo et Albino Publium successisse scribit auctor "Chronici Alexandrini", huicque Gordianum seniorem; is autem Publius Maximus Balbinus Pupienus vocabatur, quem eumdem esse cum Pompeiano Zonarae putat Casaubonus.

1. the interpreter has badly translated these words, which Zonaras has from Dio: "the penalty is prepared for you. near death he had an incurable evil in hidden places." but thus Dio: "proceed to punishment; then another, and that concerning death. whom a grave disease in hidden places around the parts torments."
2. the author of the "Alexandrian Chronicle" writes that Publius succeeded Maximus and Albinus, and to him Gordian the elder; but he was called Publius Maximus Balbinus Pupienus, whom Casaubon thinks to be the same as Zonaras’s Pompeianus.

is vero, Pompeianus Civica, consul fuit cum Gordiano secundum, cuius consulatus men[t]io est in veteri inscriptione nuper edita a Thoma Reinesio: (GREEK). huius Pompeiani gentilis fuit Sextus Vetulennus Civica Pompeianus consul cum L. Calonio Commodo an. VI. C. 888.
3. Marci et Severi Hostiliani imperii memoria uni Zonarae debetur, ut pridem observatum a viris doctis.
4. Istius Marini, praeter Zonaram, meminit etiam Zosimus: cuius caeteram vix alibi mentio occurrit.

he indeed, Pompeianus Civica, was consul with Gordian the Second, of whose consulship there is ment[ion] in an ancient inscription recently published by Thomas Reinesius: (GREEK). A clansman of this Pompeianus was Sextus Vetulennus Civica Pompeianus, consul with L. Calonius Commodus in year 6, C. 888.
3. The memory of the reign of Marcus and Severus Hostilian is owed to Zonaras alone, as long since observed by learned men.
4. Of this Marinus, besides Zonaras, Zosimus also makes mention: of whom scarcely elsewhere does mention occur.

5. ita Victor in Epitome. Lactantius, De mortibus persecut. n. 1, de Decio: circumventus a barbaris, et cum magna exercitus parte deletus, nec sepultura quidem potuit honorari, sed exutus ac nudus, ut hostem Dei oportebat, pabulum feris ac volucribus iacuit.

5. thus Victor in the Epitome. Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, no. 1, about Decius: surrounded by barbarians, and destroyed along with a great part of the army, he could not even be honored with burial, but, stripped and naked, as befitted an enemy of God, he lay as fodder for wild beasts and birds.

6. id sub initium Galieni Marcell. lib. XXIII, capto scilicet Valeriano; ante ipsam vero infelicem pugnam, accidisse scribit Trebellius Pollio in XXX Tyrannis.

6. that, at the beginning of Gallienus, Marcell., book 23, namely with Valerian captured; but that it happened before the unlucky battle itself, Trebellius Pollio writes in the 30 Tyrants.

7. ita Zosimo appellatur, Victor[] et EutropioPosthumus. Trebellio, et in Numans. Posthumius.
8. quemQuintillum vocat Trebellius Pollio, ut et Vopiscus in Aureliano.
9. ita etiam Pollio.

7. thus he is appellated by Zosimus, by Victor and by EutropiusPosthumus. By Trebellius, and in the Numans., Posthumius.
8. whom Trebellius Pollio callsQuintillus, as also Vopiscus in the Aurelianus.
9. so also Pollio.

Victor paucis diebus imperium tenuisse Quintillum ait.
10. atqui Tacitus imperator a senatu electus, non a militibus, ut scribit Vopiscus.
11. hinc in legum aliquot Cari inscriptionibus: "impp.

Victor says that Quintillus held the imperium for a few days.
10. and yet the emperor Tacitus was elected by the senate, not by the soldiers, as Vopiscus writes.
11. hence in the inscriptions of several laws of Carus: "impp.

Carus, Carinus et Numerianus A.A.A." quod observatum a Casaubono, qui id Zonaram a probo quodam auctore accepisse existimat.
12. id estGallus. inquit Casaubonus ad Vopiscum in Caro, qui illius patriam incertam fuisse ait, et Romae natum videri vult. at uterque Victor et Sidonius Narbone genitum scribunt.

Carus, Carinus and Numerianus A.A.A." which was observed by Casaubon, who thinks that Zonaras received it from some respectable author.
12. that isGallus. says Casaubon on Vopiscus in Carus, who says that his homeland was uncertain, and wants him to seem to have been born at Rome. But both Victor and Sidonius write that he was born at Narbo.

13. ita ZonarasConstantem perpetuo vocat, quem alii Constantium: quemadmodum etiam Constantinus Porphyrog. lib. "De adm.

13. thus Zonaras perpetually calls himConstans, whom others Constantius: just so also Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in the book "On the Administration".

imp.".
14. id ipsum narrant Eutropius, Aurelius Victor et Eusebius in Chronico, atque adeo Ammianus, lib. XV: omnium primus extero ritu et regio more instituit adorari, cum semper antea ad similitudinem iudicum salutatos principes legerimus.
15. ubi palatia construxerant imperatores ante Diocletianum, ut indicat Socrates, lib.

emp.".
14. the very same is narrated by Eutropius, Aurelius Victor, and Eusebius in the Chronicle, and indeed by Ammianus, book 15: he, first of all, instituted that he be adored by a foreign rite and in regal fashion, whereas previously we have always read that princes were saluted in the likeness of judges.
15. where the emperors before Diocletian had constructed palaces, as Socrates indicates, book

1 "Hist. Eccl." cap 6. aliud palatium praeterea Nicomediae aedificavit Constantinus Heraclii filius.
16. scribit anonymus in Vita S. Basilei archiepiscopi Amazeni, n. 5 et 6, Licinium simulasse se esse Christianum, ut Constantiam Constantini M. sororem in uxorem obtineret et adepto imperio in Oriente, ad vomitum rediisse.

1 "Ecclesiastical History" chapter 6. besides, Constantine, son of Heraclius, built another palace at Nicomedia.
16. an anonymous writer records, in the Life of St. Basil, archbishop of Amasea, nos. 5 and 6, that Licinius pretended to be a Christian, in order to obtain Constantia, the sister of Constantine the Great, as his wife; and, having obtained the empire in the East, he returned to his vomit.

certe Constantinus Christianismum amplexus fuerat ante initum inter Licinium et Constantiam matrimonium, an. 313, verum scribit Lactantius, in lib. "De mortib. persecutor." n. 46, 47 et 48, aliquanto post initas cum sorore Constantini nuptias, ac cum Maximino congressurum, somno monitum, Christum invocasse, dedisseque litteras ad provinciarum praesides de restituendis Christianis ecclesiis, Constantino et ipso III coss.

certainly Constantine had embraced Christianity before the marriage entered into between Licinius and Constantia, in the year 313; however Lactantius writes, in the book "On the Deaths of the Persecutors", nos. 46, 47, and 48, that somewhat after the nuptials entered into with Constantine’s sister, and when he was about to engage with Maximinus, having been warned by a dream, he invoked Christ, and that he gave letters to the provincial presidents about restoring the Christian churches, when Constantine and he himself were consuls for the 3rd time.