Such wns the life I led from about the time I unr i,EntEEn ntil I war

tweny. Finally my parrnts' senre of responsibility eompclled mc, gainrt my

will, I confess, to give up the allurements of the soft ltib rnd forced me to
take a wife. The ancient name of her house rves rnore impresrive than its
estate, which at the tirre was burdened with problems becausc of lack of
attention from its aged owner. A young grandchild who had survived her
father succeeded to it, and later yielded to my nuptial torches.
Once I had decided to bear the burden laid upon me, in only a few days I
\Mas content, aided by the ardor of youth and a zealous spirit, to enjoy the
establishment I had acquired.
Quickly
I forced myself and my people to
exchange seductive idleness for unaccustomed activity. Some of them I chal-
lenged with the example of my own labor, but others I compelled against
their will with the severity of a master. And so, actively pursuing the duties of
my new situation, I immediately took action to bring the fallow lands under
cultivation and to renew the exhausted vineyards with prompt attention, once
I had learned how. And I was first to py my tax obligations t the appointed
time, willingly and of my or/n accord
-
something that seems to many
particula bitter pill to swallow; but thereby I quickly assured myself of
leisure to expend later upon private relaxation.
Paulinus describes the luxury of his household.
As much as I enjoyed pleasing and welcome amenities, the great devotion
I had for my parents was dearer still and outweighed them all. It bound me
with a tie of overwhelming love, so tht for the greter part of a year we kept
them company, n rrangement we all wanted and found rewarding.
Would that this way of life granted to us might have lasted longer by the
bountiful gift of Christ and that also the earlier period of peace might have
continued. In so many
rrr/ays
my youth could have done with the constant
attention of my father's experience, and my education could have been fur-
thered by good models. But the completion of the third decade of life
[a.
4o6]
was marked by the unhappy onset of wvo afflictions. In a public ctstro-
phe mourned by everyone, enemies were poured into the guts of the Roman
realm. This coincided with a private misfortune, the death and funeral of my
father. For the last days of the end of his life accorded almost exacdy with the
time when the peace was broken. But for me the.destruction caused to my
home by the ravages of the enemy, though in itself considerable, was lighter
by far than the immeasurable grief caused by the death of my father. He
made both homeland and home itself dear to me. For we had such genuine
mutual respect for each other that we lived as if there were no age difference
between us and our friendship surpassed that of friends of the same age.
TER FOUR
TF{ E ANTIOUE CHRON TCLE TR.ADNTXONI
I N TI..NE FIFTH AND SNXTI_N CENTUR.NES
'llwr ,rrc uo extensiue nanatiue histories
Jor
the
fifth
century. Coitemporary historians
ild tlul tuith euents under the western emperors during this period, but their works,
,0r,,rli,?,( o.f eastern provefiance, suruiue as
fragments
embedded in later sources (see
ilt
27,
Jt).
For complete examples oJ western historical writing in thefiJth ce,xtu{y
-
antl
.litr
many of that period\ events and much of its chronology
-
we haue to loole to
iltnntilcs.
()hronicles
became a signficant
form
oJ historical writing in the western empire in
the
.liurth
century under the infiuence of the work l<nown as Eusebius-Jerome. This
ilut ,t ruorld chronicle, setting out in tabular
Jorm
biblical, secular, and ecclesiastical his-
tory.liom Abraham to the present.The original version was written'in Greek by the
rc'ldmn'd church historian Eusebius (ca. z6o-i4o), bkhop of Caesarea; it suruiues now
uly in.fagments and in Armenian and l-atin translations. In j9o, Saint
Jerome
(ca.
j1:-4io),adapted an edition of Eusebius\ work. that ended in A.D. jz5, translating it
Ittto Lrrtin and bringing euents down to the year j78. It was
Jerome's
I-atin uersion
llnl lrymme infiuential in the west, and his
ffirt
to bring the chronicle up to date
b*,ttttc ,r modelJor western practitioners of chronicle historiography.The main chronicles
Itiursled here are all continuations of
Jerome
and record people and euents oJ recent
hittory.
'l'lu'y
often do so in a deliberatefashion that belies their appearance as sterile com-
pctilit tf haphazard data. The chronicle
Jorm
may not immediately invite reflectiue
n'iiliu.q, ltut modern scholarship has shown how the genre in its late antiqwe and eaily
nrtlirwl
.form
desert,es to be treated as the purytoseful construct of authors with distinct
Itttrttliotts. For this reason, not to mention the intrinsic interest and sometimes unique
tnltr of' their contents, I have included large excerpts
from
the chronicles and attempted
trttnybtcness ouer a substantial range of entries.
I ltnve also kept some, though not all, chronologiul trappings of the chronicles.
llrttrttion oJ contemporary dating conventions is often a necessity: not all chronicle
t'tttriu can be reduced to simple, standard anno domini dating. Rcaders should also be
u\ut'
(!l the nwmber of chronological systems available to thosc recortling euents;
for
rlrrotrolo.gy was, among other things, an aspect oJ historical scU'-conseiouvrcss and a refi-
trtiott qf the the public
face
of the Roman state. Finally, sonc undarstdnding of the
nttir'ly ttf systems in use in theffth and sixth centuie5 and tlu'ir impcrfictions, may
Itrly n'dders understand the practical problems
Jaced
by nwdcrn atrd dildcnt sch()lars
ttyi,t.( to reconstruct a chronologicalframeworkfor historical n.tftttlit4',
16. PROSPER OF AQUITAINE
Prosper oJ Aquitaine (or ProsJter Tiro) was d natiue oJ Giaut who tpent nuu'lr ' his
aduh lfe in Rome. He may haue held an impofiant position in papal drcles, possibly
dying in
463.
Pyosper was deeply inuolued in the theological disputes of his rlay in both
Caul and Rome, especially thase concerning grace and
free
will. Hk ehronicle is just
one oJhis works, Itwas conceiueil as an abbreyiation of thefamous chronicle oJJerome,
with an original continuation by Prosper himselJ that began in j78;it was composed in
a number of editions between
4y
and
455.
Prosper\ chronicle was infiuenced
.by
another
Jorm
of contemporary historical recoril-
keeping, consulay annals. Sin Republican times, the year in Roman practice had been
named'after the two consuls who took
ffice
on t
January;by
late imperial conuention,
one consul was named
from
the West and one
om
the East. Lists of these consuls cir-
culated, often with octasional and brieJ annotations that might be used by chroniclers or
historians; suruiving examples of annals sometimes contain ytrecise dates
for
important
public euents. Proslter adopted consular chronology
for
his chronicle, combining it with a
system of his own deuising that numbered years
from
Christ\ crucifixion.
In the excerpts below, a selection of the years
Jor
the eailier portions of Prosper\
continuation is giuen. From the year
4og
the chronicle is complete; the years ith con-
suls but no euents giuen in Mommsen's edition haue been omitted. No attempt has
been made to distinguish uarious recensions, but in a couple of cases I haue giuen vari-
ants. I haue combined the dating schemes into one line: the number oJ the years
from
Chrbt\ passion,
followed
by the names (usually two) of the consuls
for
the year in
question. Prosper\ dating can readily be incorporated into the later anno domini
scheme of dating, which has been placed in the margin.
Source: Prosperi Tironis epitoma chronicon, ed. Th. Mommsen, Clronlca Mitora r, MGH AA
9
(r892), pp.
385-485.Translation by A.C. Murray.
a.37e Year
352 [from
Christh passion].usonius and Olybrius
[consuls].
-
...In this period, Priscillian, bishop of Gallaecia, established from the
dogma of the Manichees and Gnostics the heresy bearing his name.
a. i8r Year
354.
Syagrius and Eucherius.
Martin, bishop of the,city of Tours in Gaul, was famous for many exam-
ples o[ miracles...
a. 382 Year
355.Antonius
and Syagrius.
Athanaric, king of the Goths, was killed at Constantinople on the fifteenth
day after he had been received thcre...
a. 384 Year
357.
Richomer and C)learclrus.
Honorius, the son ofTheodrsius wrs born.
iriciur'pr$ided over th Romen church Efter Drnnnrut tha thirry*ixth
buhop'
In Britein Maximus ws medc empercr by a mudny of the loldiers, He
;6Etl crri3ed ovr to Gaul. Gratian was dcfcatcd at Parii through the treach-
{ of thc mester of the soldiers, Merobaudes, end f,eeing was captured and
llled at Lyons. Maximus mde his sonVictor his colleague in power.
Valentinian
[l],
forty-second emperor, reigned for I years with Theodo-
liur,
Ye.r ish.
nt adius and Bauto,
,,,Priscillian, knowing he would be condemned at the Synod of Bordeaux,
rpperled to the emperor
[Maximus].
He was tried at Trier and, along with
Ettcltnltia, wife of Delfidius the teacher of rhetoric, Latroninus, and other
Psrtners
in his error, ws put to death by Euvodius, Maximus's praetorian
pref'ect,At Bordeaux a cefiat disciple of Priscillian called Urbica was stoned.
to dcatl'r on account of her pbstinate impiety by an unruly mob.
Yelr 3fir.Theodosius
for the second time and Cynegius.
'l'he
usurper Maximus, despoiled of his royal garments, appeared before
Vele tttinian and Theodosius at the third milestone from Aquilea and was con-
deurned to death. His sonVictor was killed in Gaul by Count Arbogst in the
mnlc yer.
Yclr 36z.Timasius
and Promotlls.
llishops Itacius and lJrsacius, on account of the destruction of Priscillian,
wlrose accusers they were, were deprived of the communion of the church.
Yeur 365.Arcadius
for the second time and Rufinus.
'l'he
extreme severiry of Arbogast, master of the soldiers, droveValentinian
tnt() committing suicide at Vienne by hanging himself. On the death of
Valcntinian, Arbogast, who was burdened with the way the emperor died, as
corrrrnander of the army, made Eugenius emperor in Gaul'
'I'heodosius,
forry+hird emperor, already in power for 14 years, reigned for
I
yclrs with his sons Arcadius and Honorius.
Yclr 367.Arcadius
for the third time and Honorius for the second.
.fohn
the hermit monk was renowned. He had been granted the gift of
prophecy and predicted that Theodosius, who was consulting him on the
outcome of the campaign he was mounting against Eugenius, would be vic-
lorious.
.3ej Year
368.
Olybrius end Prrbinur,
Theodosius defeated and killed Eugcnius,
Augustine, the disciplc of the blessed Ambrose and eminent ln eloquence
and learning, was made bishop at Hippo in Africa'
At this time, Claudian, the distinguished poet, became well known.
Theodosius died at Milan.
Arcadius, forty-fourth emperor, already in power fot tz yeats, reigned 13
years with his brother Honorius...
a.4o6 Year
379.Arcadius
for the sixth time and Probus.
vandals and Alans crossed the Rhine and entered Gaul on December 3r.
a.4o7 Year
38o.
Honorius r the seventh time andTheodosius for the second.
Constanline arose in Britain as a usurper and crossed to Gaul.
a. 4o8
Year
38r.
Bassus and Philippus.
Arcadius died in ConstantinoPle.
Honorius, forthy-fifth emperor, reigned for r5 years with Theodosius
[II],
the son of Honorius's brother.
a.4oe
year
3gz.
Honorius for the eighth time andTheodosius for the third.
TheVandals took Spain.
Attalus was made emperor at Rome. He was soon deprived of power but
remained connected with the Goths.
a.4ro Year
383.
SenatorVaranes.
Rome was captured by the Goths under the command of Alaric' and for
this reason there was on-try a consul for the east, a practice followed the next
year as well.
Year
384.
Augustus Theodosius r the fourth time'
constantine was defeated and captured by Honorius's generals, constan-
tius and Ulfila, at the town ofArles. Count Gerontius killed Constantine's son
Oonstans, who had begun his rule in Spain, passing the usurper's role to a
ecftilirl Maximus.
ar *g
Yt 3t5.
Hnorius for the ninth time and Theodosius for the fifth.
In prin Maxiurlrs was removed from power and was granted his life
ill-v/i11
lfeU he mOdereti.u and insignificance of the man did not merit
}d hir effctltiort of ltrthoriry.
At thic time, Hetos, r holy nan and dieeiple of blomcd Mrtda' wru drirn
out of Arles by iB people while he preBided over the eity nl bbhopi he wao
S,itrtu*
end ntt *uUjo.t to ny ehrg, In his place $,e! od.in_ed Patttelus,
rieud and acquintence
of Constantius, master of the soldie*, whose fevor he
prucured, This affair ws a subject of great disagrccments mong the bishops
of thc region,
l,
4?,
Yeer'.11i6. Senator Lucius.
His colleague in the consulship was Heraclian' who was responsible for
Fvolution in Africa and deprived of his honor and his life'
The tsurgundians acquired part of Gaul near the Rhine'
The brothers
Jovinus
and Sebastian seized power in Gaul and were killed'
At that time the Briton Pelagius set forth the doctrine bearing his name
egainst the grace of Christ; Caelestius and
Julian [of
Eclanum] were his assis.
trnts, He attracted many people to his erroneous views' He proclaimed that
enclt person is guided to righteousness by his own will and receives as much
gr(:eashedeserves,sincedam'ssininjuredonlyhimselfanddidnotalso
iriuct his descendants. For this reason it would be possible for those so wishing
to bt: completely without sin and for all little children to be born as innocent
r ws the first man before transgression; nor are children to be baptized so
tlteycanbedivestedofsinbutsotheycanbehonoredwiththesacramentof
ndoPtion.
i.4ir
Yerrr 387.
Constantius and Constans'
Attalus on the advice of the Goths and with their help resumed the role
ol ttsurper in Gaul.
,
']
i'
Yclrr388.HonoriusforthetenthtimeandTheodosiusforthesixth.
AttaluswasabandonedbytheGoths,whoremovedthemselvestoSpain,
,rtrrl, deprived of their support, was captured and presented alive to Constan-
tirts the patrician.
Athaulf,woundedbyoneofhisownmen'died'and'Walliaseizedhis
kirrgdomafterdestroyingthosewhowerethoughttowantthesamething.
l":,1
Y...':Ag.th.odosius
for the seventh time and Palladius'
s".ti.rg peace with Honorius,
wallia restored the daughter of the emperor
'l'hcodosius
[I],
Placidia, whom the Goths had captured and whom Athaulf
Itacl married, and Constantius won her hand in marriage'
Zosimus took up the episcopal ofiice of the Roman church' He was the
llrirry-ninth bishoP.
At this time the Pelagians, already condemned by Pope Innocent' v/ere
Cbthr enteretl
(iatrl
under King Athaulf.
resisted by the diligence of the Africanr and especirlly

the knowledge of
Bishop Augustine.
a. 4t7 Year
39o.
Honorius for the eleventh time, Constantius for the second.
Honorius enrered Rome in a triumph with Attalus walking ahead of his
chariot. Honorius ordered him to live in exile on the island of Lipara.
.4r8 Year
39r.
Honorius for the twelfth time andTheodosius for the eighth.
At this time Constantius, a servant of Christ, and former vicar, living at
Rome, most devoutly resisted the Pelagians on behalf of the grace of God.
The many things he endured at the hands of their faction placed him among
the holy confessors.
A council was held at Carthage and the synodal decrees of the two hun-
dred and fourteen bishops \^/ere conveyed to Pope Zosimus. They were
approved and the Pelagian heresy was condemned throughout the whole
world.
Valentinian, the son of Constantius and Placidia, was born on z
July.
,r.
4r9 Year
3gz. Monaxius and Plinta.
At Rome Boniface took up the episcopal oflice, the fortieth bishop of the
Roman church.
Constantius the patrician made peace with Wallia and gave him the
province of Aquitania secunda to live in and certain cities of neighboring
provinces.
t
4zo Year
3g3.Theodosius for the ninth time and Constantius for the third.
Constantius was taken as a colleague in power by Honorius.
Jerome
the priest died at the age of ninery-one on
3o
September.
^.4zt
Year
3g4.Agricola and Eustathius.
Emperor Constantius died.
t-
4zz Year
395.
Honorius for the thirteenth time and rheodosius for the tenth.
At this time an rmy ws sent to Spain against theVandals under the com-
mand of Castinus. By a senseless and wrongful order, he made Boniface, a
man quite famous in the arts of war, averse to participating in his expedition.
And Boniface, reckoning tht ro follow Castinus, whom he had found dis-
agreeable and proud, would be dangerous to himself and degrading, rushed
off to Portus and from there to Africa. That was the beginning of many difii-
culties and subsequent evils for the stte.
[Cf.
18, Hydatius, s.a.
4zz.)
Yeer Jgo,
Mariniarrur rnd rehpiodotur,
,{ugusta lllacidie, dtiven rwry by her bnrther Honodul, wtlt t the east
with her children Honorir
gndVelentiniatt,
Cclcstiue ws set over the Roman church as its forry-flrrt bishop,
Horrorius died and
John
took his imperial authority, It was thought that
Cartilus, who commanded the army es master of the soldier, pretended to
look thc other way,
Theodosius
[l]
held the Roman empire as forty-sixth emperor.
Ycar 397.
Castinus andVictor.
Exuperantius of Poitiers, praetorian prefect for Gaul, was killed in the ciry
ot'Arles by a mutiny of the soldiers, and this deed was not avenged byJohn.
'Iheodosius
made his cousin Valentinian
[II!
Caesar and sent him along
witl, the Augusta, his mother, to take back the western empire. At the time,
.folrn',s
defenses were made weaker because he tried to recapture Africa, over
wlrich Boniface ws maintaining his hold.
Ycirr jg8.Theodosus, for the eleventh time, and CaesarValentinian'
Augusta Placidia and Caesar Valentinian with astonishing good fortune
crushed the usurper
John
and as victors regained royal power' Pardon was
given,to Atius, because the Huns he had brought in on behalf ofJohn were
lrr1ed back home by his efforts. Castinus, on the other hand, was sent into
cxile, because it seemed as ifJohn would not have been able to take over the
kirrgdom without his connivance.
'fhe
manuscripts oler two slightly dffirent uersions oJ the next entry:
r.Valentinian was hailed asugustus by a decree ofTheodosius'
z. Valentinian was hailed as ugustus by the army.
Arles, noble ciry of Gaul, was assailed by the Goths with great violence,
until, threatened by tius, they withdrew not without losses.
1-rn
Ycar
399.
Theodosius for the twelfth time and Valentinian Augustus for the
sccond.
Patroclus, bishop of Arles, was wounded many times and killed by a
tribune, a certain Barnabus. This crime was blamed on the orders of Felix,
nraster of the soldiers, at whose instigation the deacon Titus, a holy man dis-
tributing money to the poor at Rome, was also killed.
{,,
Yc'ar
4oo.
Hierius and Ardabur.
Due to the decision of Felix, war ws waged against Boniface in the name
of the state by the generals Mavortius, Gallio, and Sanoeces. Bonifacet power
;rnd fame were growing in Africa and he had refused to come to Italy. The
67
generls beseiging IJorriface were killed, betrayed by srnoecer, end soon he
who had betrayed them was himself killed. Thereafter accesr to the sea wt
gained by peoples who were unacquainred with ships until they were called
in by the rival sides to give assistance. The conduct of the war undertaken
against Boniface \Mas transferred to Count Sigisvult.
The Vandal people crossed from Spain to Africa.
d. 428 Year
4or.
Felix and Taurus.
Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople, tried to introduce a new error into
the churches. He proclaimed that Christ was born of Mary as a man only, not
also as God, and divinity was conferred upon him because of his merit. The
diligence of Bishop Cyril of Alexandria in particular and the authority of
Pope Caelestinus opposed this impiery.
Part of Gaul near the Rhine seized by the Franks was recovered by the
forces of Count Atius.
rr.4:9 Ycar
4oz.
Florentius and Dionysius.
Felix was promoted to the oflice of patrician andAtius was made master
of the soldiers.
Agricola the Pelagian, the son of Bishop Severianus the Pelagian, cor-
rupted the churches of Britain by introducing his own doctrine. On the rec=
ommendation of the deacon Palladius, Pope Celestine sent Germanus, bishop
of Auxerre, as his representative, and when the heretics had been cast down,
he guided the Britons to the Catholic faith.
a.43o Year
4o3.Theodosius for the thirteenth time andValentinian for the third.
Atius killed Felix and his wife Padusia and the deacon Grun-itus, sensing
that they were plotting against him.
Aurelius Augustine, a bishop most olttstanding in evey respect, died z8
August. In his very last days he was responding to the books ofJulian
[of
Eclanum] amidst the ttcks of besieging Vandals and persevering gloriously
in deflense of Christian grace.
a.
43r Year
4o4.Bassus and ntiochus.
A synod of more than rwo hundred bishops gathered at Ephesus. Nesto-
rius was condemned along with the heresy bearing his name and many Pela-
gians who supported it because the doctrine was related to their own.
Palladius, having been ordained by Pope Celestine, was rhe first bishop
sent to the Scots believing in Christ.
a. 432 Year
4o5.tius
andValerius.
Sixtus was set over the Roman church as the thirty-second bishop. The
Tole eiry rmlned pccfuIin urcnderful hrrmony,
Bonifeee 'recived thc ofce of mtter of the roldlil rad came fnrm
to ltaly by wey of Rome, -{lthough hc fought r battle wlth Atius,
war opposing him, rnd defeated him, he died r few dnye later from ill-
Atius, who had surrendercd po$rcr, residcd on his country cstates and
lome of his enemies tricd to crush him in a sudden attack. Fleeing to
and from there to Dalmatia, he thererfter rcachcd the Huns through
ia, He used their friendship and assistance to obtain the peace of the
Itipcnrrs
and get his power restored.
l,
'/, j'
Yesr 4o6.Theodosius
for the fourteenth time and Maximus.
ll the years calculated up to the fourteenth consulship of Theodosius and
ibat of Maximus:
From the fifteenth year ofTiberius and the passion of the Lord,4o6 years.
From the restoration of the temple under Darius, ro54 years.
r-rcm the first Olympiad and Isaia the prophet, r2ro years.
Fr<rm Solomon and the first building of the temple, 1466 years.
lirom Moses and Cecrops, king of Attica, 1965 years.
;
From Abraham and the rule of Ninus, 2450 years.
Now from the flood to Abraham there are g42 yers, and from Adam to
tlre llood 2242 years.Thus from dam to the time of the consuls mentioned
hove, the years amount to
5634.
.-
rl.
Yc;rr 4oS.fheodosius
for the fifteenth time andValentinian for the fourth.
l)eace made with the Vandals by Trigetius t Hippo on r r February. The
Vrrrdals were given a part ofAfrica to live in.
At the same time Atius crushed Gundichar,-who was king of the Burgun-
rli;rns and living in Gaul. In response to his entreary Atius gave him peace,
which the king did not enjoy for long. For the Huns destroyed him and his
llcople
root and branch.
fi
r I t:,:
Yt'ar
4o9.
lsidorus and Senator.
The Goths conunded the peace agreements and seized many towns in
tlrc vicinity of their settlements, attacking the city of Narbonne most of all.
When it had sufered for some time from siege and hunger, the city was
s;tved from both dangers by Count Litorius. For he put the enemy to flight
,rrrd filled the city with grain, having each of his troopers bring along two
nleasures of wheat.
Year
4ro.
Atius for the second time and Sigisvult.
'War
was waged against the Goths with the help of the Huns.
In Africa, Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, wanted to use the Arian impiery to
undo the Catholic faith within the regions where he redded, He persecuted
some of our bishops, of whom the most famous were Posidius, Novatus, and
Severianus, to the extent that he deprived them of their right to their
churches and even drove them from their cities, for their steadfastness would
not yield to the terrors of that most proud king.
The Augustus Valentinian went to the emperor Theodosius at Constan-
tinople and married his daughter.
In the same period, four Spaniards, Arcadius, Paschasius, Probus, and Eu-
chianus were formerly considered by Gaiseric to be valued and distinguished
by virtue of their wisdom and faithful service. To make them even more
esteemed, he commanded them to convert to the Arian heresy. But as they
most steadfasdy rejected this wickedness, the barbarian was roused to a most
furious anger. First their property was confiscated, next they were driven into
exile, then tortured severely, and, finally, suffering death in various ways, they
succumbed wonderfully to most glorious martydom. A boy called Paulillus,
the brother of Eurychianus and Paschasius, was very dear to the king on
account ofhis fine body and refined nture; since he could not be separated
by threats from his acknowledgment and love of the Catholic faith, he was
beaten for some time with rods and condemned to the menest sertude. He
ws not killed, it seems, so that youth should not also take g1ory in over-
throwing the savagery of an impious man.
In the same year barbarian deserters of the federates took to pircy.
. 438 Year
4rr.Theodosius
for the sixteenth time and Faustus.
In this year too the same pirates plundered many islands, especially Sicily.
Measures against the Goths in Gaul went well.
a.
439
Year
4rz.Theodosius
for the seventeenth time and Festus.
Litorius, who led Hun auxiliaries, second in command after Atius, rashly
joined battle with the Goths, striving to surpss the glory ofAtius and trust-
ing in the oracles of diviners and the portents of demons. He made us under-
stand the success the band that perished with him might have achieved, had
he chosen to follow course better than his own foolhardiness; for he infli-
cted such losses on the enemy that, if he had not fallen into captiviry by
fighting heedlessly, it would have been doubtful to what side victory should
properly have been ascribed.
At this time,
Julian
of Eclanum, a most boastful defender of the Pelagian
error was aroused by an immoderate longing for a former lost bishopric. By
the varied art of deceiving, and exhibiting the pretence of having amended
lril wayr, lte ettrleavrlrccl to insinuate himself into the communion of the
church, llut l'ope Sixtus, with the urging of Leo the deacon, opposed these
triekr rnd allowed no appnxrclr to lie open to these pestilential efforts, and he
eaffied all Ctholiel t reJoi |n threwing beek the dceeitful bealt, ar if the
apostolic Br,ord thn for the firrt time beheaded the molt
Pmud
herry'
ln the same period, vlterlcur wffi comidered loyd to our itte and
renowned for the frequent demonstrstion of his skill in war'
Peacc made with the Coths, for thcy sought it more humbly than ever
lrefore after the lamentable trial of an inconclusive war'
SinceAtiuswasconcernedwithmettersthatwerebeingsettledinGaul,
Gaiseric had nothing to fear from losing his friendship' On r9 October' he
took advantage of the peace and seized carthage. He put its citizens to vari-
ous kinds of torture and took all of their wealth as his own' Nor did he
refrain from despoiling the churches' Euryrying them of their sacred vessels'
lncldeprivingthemoftheattentionoftheirpriests,heorderedthattheyno
l,r,rg., b. places of divine worship but quarters for his people' He was harsh
towards the entire captive population but particular hostile to the nobility
and clergy so that no one could tell whether he was waging war more against
lllln or God. Carthage suffered this captivity in the 585th
year after it had
become Roman.
Year 4I3.Valentinian
Augustus for the fifth time and Anatolius'
WhenBishopSixtusdied,theRomanchurchwaswithoutabishopfor
.
nlore than forty days, awaiting with wondrous peacefulness and forbearance
the arrival of Deacon Leo, who was detained in Gaul restoring the friendship
between Atius and Albinus. It was as if he had been removed quite a dis-
tgrce so that both the merit of him chosen and the judgment of those
clroosing might be tested. Then Deacon Leo, summoned by a civic legation
lrrcl delivered to his rejoicing home ciry was consecrted the forty-third
hishop of the Roman church.
!hile Gaiseric was inflicring serious damage on Sicily, he received word
tlr;tt sebastian
[the
son-in-law of Boniface] was crossing from Spain to Africa
rnd quickly returned to carthage. Gaiseric thought it would be dangerous to
lrirrrself and his people if a man skilled in \ /r was bent upon retaking
(
)rrrthage. But Sebastian, wishing to be regarded as a friend rther than as an
crrcmy, found everything in the mind of the barbarian contrary to what he
lncl supposed. That hope ws to him a cause of the greatest calamiry and an
trrrluppy death.-[Cf. r8, Hydatius, s'a'
444,445, 449'1
r Yt'rtr 414.
Cyrus.
.l.heodosiusopenedhostilitieswiththeVandalsbysendingthegenerals
Ariobindus, nsila, and Germanus with a large fleet. They deferred the busi-
rrcss with long delays and proved to be more of a burden to Sicily than a help
to Africa.
I
t.442 Year
4r5.
Dioscorus and Eudoxius.
As the Huns were laying waste to Thrace and Illyrlcum tvith ravage plun-
dering, the army that \Mas delayrng in sicily returned for the defence of thc
estern pronces.
The Augustus valentinian made peace with Gaiseric and Africa was
dided between the two inro disfincr rerrirories.
Some of Gaiseric's magntes conspired against him because he was proud,
even among tris own people, due to the successful outcome of events. But
when the undertaking was discovered, they were subjected to many tortures
and killed by him.'Whenever others seemed to venture rhe same thing, the
king's mistrust served to destroy so many that he lost more men by this anxi.
ety of his than if he had been overthrown in war.
. 443 Year
4r6.Maximus for the second time and Paterius.
At this time it became clear to the diligent perception of pope Leo that
many Manichees were taking refuge in the city. He rooted them out frorn
their hiding places and revealed rhem ro the eyes of the whole church; he
caused them to censure and report all the deformities of their doctrine and
had great piles of books that had been seized burned. This concern, inspired ,
in the holy man, it seems, by God, was of the greatest benefit not only to the
city of Rome but also to the whole world, inasmuch as the confessions of
those arrested in Rome might reveal the identity of their teachers, bishops or
priests, and the pronces or cities in which they lived. Many bishops in the
east imitated the energy of the apostolic governor.
a.
444 Year
4r7.
Theodosius for the eighteenth time and Albinus.
In this year Easter was celebrated on
4
April.This was not an error, r
the day of the passion was on zr April. out of respect,the anniversary of the
City
[on
zr April] passed without circuses.
Attila king of the Huns killed Bteda, his brother and co-ruler, and forced
his people to submit to him.
a.
448 Yeat
4zt.Postumianus and Zeno.
At this time the Euchian heresy arose. Ir was created by Eutyches a cer-
tain priest who presided over a renotvned monastery in Constantinople. He
proclaimed that
Jesus
Christ, our Lord and son of the blessed Virgin Mary
had no maternal substance, but only the nature of God's word was in him in
the likeness of a human. on account of this impiety he was condemned by
Flavian, bishop of the same ciry for he would not be corrected. But reing
on royal friendship and the favor of courtiers, he asked to be heard by a uni-
versal synod. Thodosius gave his consent and ordered all the bishops to
gremble t'EphBur in otd to ndthdtaw thir eondenrnrtion, In this eouncil,
Eutyehes wes absolvcd rnd DicrcUrur, bishop sf Nexlndria, clainring primrcy
t'or himself, proposed 3ntne of condemnation against Flavian, bishop of
C)orrstautinople.This was done oer.thc objections of Hilarus, deacon of the
ehurch of Rome, who had been sent fiorn the apostolic see along with
Julius
the bishop to Pozzuoli to represent the holy Pope Leo. For all the bishops
who rnade up the council were compelled to render consent to this heresy
try force and fear of counts and soldiers whom the emperor had assigned to
l)ioscorus, bishop of Alexandria;,but the aforesaid deacon, amid serious dan-
ger to his life, called out his objection although the fury this caused threat-
encd to destroy him. Leaving ,1 6 6wn-people there, he secretly departed so
lrc might lay bere the aforesaid pope and other Italian bishops an accustion
of how the Catholic faith was olated at the council. The holy Flavian passed
op to Christ, ending his life in a most glorious fashion, while in the hands of
those who led him into exile.
l-
Ycar 433.Valentinian
for the seventh time and Avienus.
When Theodosius had died and the chamberlain Chrysaphius. who had
rnisused the friendship of the emperor, had been killed, Marcian received the
kingdom with the agreement of the whole army. He ws a most impressive
rnan, indispensible to not only the state but also the church'
By his edicts, which complied with the authority of the apostolic see, the
synod of Ephesus was condemned, and it was decided that an episcopal
council should be held at chalcedon, so rhat forgiveness might heal the
reformed aqd the intransigent might be driven out with their heresy'
tl.4
t ' l1
,.,
t ..1
I
Year
434.
Augustus Marcian and Adelphius'
After killing his brother, Attila was strengthened by the resources of the
deceased and forced many thousands of neighboring peoples into a war. This
war, he announced as guardian of Roman friendship, he would wage only
against the Goths. But when he had crossed the Rhine and many Gallic cities
experienced his savage attcks, both our people and the Goths soon agreed to
oppose with allied forces the fury of their proud enemies. nd Atius had
such great foresight that, when fighting men were hurriedly collected from
everywhere, a not unequal force met the opposing multitude. Although the
slaughter of alt ihose who died rhere was incalculable
-
for neither side gave
way
-
it appears that the Fluns were defeated in this battle because those
mong them that survived lost their tste for fighting and turned back home.
[,
r,;/
Yeir'
az.
Senator Herculanus and Sporacius.
Attila restored the forces he lost in Gaul and tried to enter Italy by way of
l'atrtteitlia,
()ttr
t:onrtnattcler Atitrs rnadc rro provision following the exertions
of the previous war and failed to rnake use of the barrieru of'thc Alps by
which the enerry could have been checked. He believed his o,ly hope lay in
a full retreat from Italy along with the emperor. But since this course seemed
disgraceful and fraught with danger, a sense of shame restrined fear and the
widespread overthrow of so many of the noble provinces was used to stiate
the savagery and greed of the enemy. of all the plans of the emperor, senare,
and people of Rome, none seemed sounder than to send envoys to seek
peace from this most fierce of kings. The blessed
pope
Leo, supported by the
help of God, whom he knew never neglects the labors of the devout, took up
this matter along with Avienus, a man of consurar rank, and rrygetius, a man
with the rank of prefect. Nor was the result other than what faith had taken
for granted. For when the entire delegation was honorably received, the king
was so delighted with the presence of the chief bishop that he ordered the
war to be halted and, having promised peace, retired beyond the Danube.
a.4j3 Year
426. Senator Opilio andVincomalus.
The synod of chalcedon ended. Euryches and Dioscorus were con-
demned. All who disassociated themserves from them were received into
communion. [Jniversally confirmed was the faith that was proclaimed by
holy Pope Leo with respect to the incarnation of the word, according to the
evangelic and apostolic doctrine.
Attila died in his own territory. At first great struggles over succession ro
the kingship broke out among his sons; then a few of the peoples that used to
obey the Huns tried to revolt and created conditions and opportunities for
wars. In these the fiercest peoples were corlsulned by attacks upon one
another.
Among the Goths residing in Gaul, dissersicT xrose among the sons of
KingTheodoric, the eldest of which,Thorisnrund, succeeded his father.'when
the king tried to act against both the llourarr pcace and the repose of the
Goths, he was killed by his brothers, fcrr he
lrrcssecl
on uncontrollably with
harmful measures.
a. 454 Year
427.
Atius and Studius.
Ominous enmities grew stronger tretwecrr tlre Augustus Valentinian and
the patrician Atius, even after oathl
lrmruirirrg
rrruttral loyalty and after an
greement to join their childrert in tnarriuge,Wlrcrc the kindness of affection
ought to have been streugthctred, thert the tirrrler of hatred burst into flame
at the instigation, so it was believed, of Herhclius tl)c eunuch. By insincere
devotion, he gained such inflttenc wer the errrperrrls thinking that he could
easily push him into doing whetever he wirlrcrl,
The manusdltls runlaln tuto tnlane
$
rubsequent even$:
t, Sincc Hereclius peruurded the enrpcxrr of all manner of wickedness on
Atius' prt, there wes thought to be just one course of action available to
ve the cmpcror: get his eReRly bfore he got him, As a result Atius was
cruelly put to the sword within the recesses of the palace at the hands of the
ernperor and his entourage.
z, And so while Atius more vehemently sought agreements and more
frgssiolltely
pressed the case of his son, he was cruelly put to the sword
witlrin the recesses of the palace at the hands of the emperor and his
entourage.
lJoethius, the praetorian prefect, wa killed at the same time; he ws con-
nccted to Atius by great friendship.
I,
,,,
,,,
Yeirr
4ztt.Valentinian
for the eighth time andAnthemius.
Thc death ofValentinian followed not long after the death ofAtius. So
iurpludently was it not avoided that the killer of Atius associated with the
tttanis friends and retainers. They found the right time for their crime and,
recrctly stalking the prince when he left the city and was awaiting a display of
lrttts, stabbed him unexpectedly. Heraclius was killed at the same time, as he
ws llext to the emperor, and no one of that royal host was incited to take
rcvcnge for so great a crime.
As this murder was carried out, moreover, Maximus, t'urice possessor of
tltc consulship and holder of the patrician dig"iry took up the imperial
powcr. Although people believed he would be in every way beneficial to the
erttlungered state, it did not take long for him to show by example the kind
nl'rtrirrd he had. Not only did he not punish the killers of Valentinian, but he
feceivqd them as friends; and he forbade the Augusta, Valentinian's wife, to
nlouru the loss of her husband and within a few days forced her to mrry
hirrr. llut he was not to indulge this lack of restraint for long. After another
nlolrtll he got news of the arrival of Gaiseric from Africa, and many nobles
arrtl cornmoners fled the city.When he gave permission for everyone to leave
attrl wished himself to get away in haste, on the seventy-seventh day after his
reiu urc of power, he was torn to pieces by the royal slaves; thrown in pieces
Ittto thc Tiber, he ws even deprived of burial. After this end to Maximus, a
Itonrln cptivity, deserving of many tears, immediately followed, and Gaiseric
ohtlinc'cl the ciry devoid of 11 protection. Holy Bishop Leo met him outside
tlte glters and his supplication mollified him through the power of God to
rur'lr urr cxtent that, when everything was given into his hands, he was held
lrack rrcvcrtheless from burning, killing, and torture. Then for fourteen days,
thnrugh r1 untrmmeled and open search, l\otne was emptied of all its
wr,rltlr, lnd many thousands of captives, all that wcre satisfactory s to age or
71
occupatioll, along wlth the queen rnd her ehlldrcn, were raken way to
Carthage.
In rhe same year Easter wer celebnted on :4 April, according to the stub-
born assertion of the bishop of Alcxandria, with whom all the easterncrg
think they should gree, even when holy Pope Leo proresred that it should
rather be observed on r7'April. on that day there was no error in the calcu,
lation of the firll moon or in the demarcation of the first month. There exist
letters of the same pope sent.to the most merciful prince Marcian, in which
the calculation of the true date is laid out carefully and plainly and in which
the catholic church can be instructed. Though the opinion of easterners was
tolerated out ofa desire for unity and peace rather than approved, it must by
no means go on being imitated, since an opinion that has brought destructiv
of[ense should forever lose authority.
TT.T}JE GALLIC CHRONICLE OF
452
This chronicle is the work. oJ an anonymous Caul, writing uery close to the year
452;
Itlothing is known of the awthor but what un be inferred of his uiews
om
the con-
tents of his chronicle. His perspectiue is sfficently clear to suggest interesting points oJ
contrast with that of his contemporary Proslter. Like Prosper\ work, the Gallic
chronicle of
452
was a continuation of an epitome of
Jerome's
translation of Euse-
bius, and begins where
Jerome
left off in j7s. I gbe the continuation in its entiretyi
from 379.
The chronicler's treatment of years anil dates contains a number of errors, traceable
in part to the sources he used, which are only reasonably detectable in the earlier
Ttor-
tions oJ the chroniele, Not only did the chronicler work with incorrect regnal year cotlnts
for
the reigns of Gratian, Theodosius I, and Honoius, but his relatiue placement oJ
events is not always acturdte. Following Mommsen's edition, I haye added anno
domini dates sparingly
ryt
to the end of Honorius's reign. After
424
the number of
regnal years is correct, and it is possible to equate these with anno domini dates, but
readers shoulil be aware that doing so does not preclude misilating, intentional or other-
wise,by the chronicler.The Cltorucle is eorreet in the lastfew years after
447.Where
the chronicle shows 'double dating'- that is the sprcad of what might be construed
as one entry oer nlore than a single year
-
I havc grouped the years together rather
than assuming a blank. year. Finally, it should bc noted that,followingJerome, not only
does the chronieler date euents by the regnal years of emperors, but he also introduces
olympiads eueryfour years and the years of Abraham euery decade; I haue omitted the
laer two modes of dating.
In the translation, anno domini datcs ara placcd in the left margin. The year
numbers oJ the emperor's reign are in boltllo' Arabic numerals set fiext to the'first
entry oJ the year, and the number in hrtrals tltc cnd of each entry conesltonds to
*t nunheil4q oJ Monmsenl edhlon'The headlngt Ne thot of the ehrcakle'
: Ohnwka
(irllint
A,
(:C:C:e:Ltl,
crl,Tlt, Mottttttscrr,
(lltrottirn
Mhktftt t, M(iH AA u
(tlluz),
6+-trri arrd ef, Stc'vctt Muhlbergcr,
'l'h? ttl.litt"(ilttttty Ohruilerc: l\ttptr, llyrlttiltt, uil rht
(lhrriller
rl'45t (Leccls, I99o), pp, t37-15:,Trrnslation by A.o, Mtrrtry'
, Gratian rcigned for 6 years
[a. IZC-f8S]
n, since he had quite a young brother as a royal colleague, admitted a
t of suitable age,Theodosius;'into partnership in the kingdom.[z]
(iratiau was much inclined to religion and well disposed toward the
hes in all matters.[3]
Martirr, bishop ofTours, was regarded as outstanding for his apostolic pow-
4l
lelosius restored the exhausted state in the regions of the East.[5]
In
ltritrrin Maximus ws set up s llsurper by the soldiers.[6],
Mtxirtrus
vigorously overcme invading Picts and Scots.[7]
Altrhrosius
wrote most splendid books against the faithlessness of the Anans
tltc Augustus Gratian.[8]
Maxiirrus
crossed the channel and, after a clash with Gratian, killed the
lttperor as he fled to Lyons.[g]
Theodosius reigned for rr years
[a.384-395]
Maxintus, out of fear of the leader of the eastern empire,Theodosius, entered
intu l treaty withValentinian
[II]. [tt]
At'l'rier, Manichees were detected and destroyed owing to the utmost zel
of Mrximus.
Irz]
Jultirrl,
the mother of Valentinian, favored the Arians and heaped various
types of injustices upon Ambrose and the entire church of Milan.
[r3]
l(clics of the martyrs Gervasius and Protasius first discovered by Ambrose
el Milrrn.Ir4]
Arpbrosei hymns composed; they wele sung in a form never before heard
Itt l,ltin churches.
[r5]
M,rxirrrus, saying that an unworthy action had been taken against the position
ot tlrc church, discovered a wy to break the treaty he had made with
a.
388 4
- 392 tO
II
8-9
valentinian. valentinian, fearing the usurper, who wnc dnrdy * threat to his
life, fled to Theodosius,[r6l
Augustine, while at first teaching rheroric at Milan, geve up the crassroom
and converted to the true faith, for previously he was a Manichee.
[r7]
Theodosius came over to Italy with an army, killed Maximus, and restored
Valentinian to his kingdom.
[r8]
Justina,
who had africted the churches, \Mas prevented by death from get-
ting back the kingdom with her son.[r9]
The devout emperor expunged the monstrous act committed in Thessa-
lonica by an extrordinary example of repentence for the people he massa-
cred.Izo]
Heresy of the Apollinarians begun by Apollinaris.
[zr]
The Arians, who polluted almost the entire East and West, were, by an edict
of the devout emperor, despoiled of their churches, which were assigned to
Catholics.[zz]
John,
an Egyptian monk, was regarded as famous because he earned the gift
of prophecy from the Lord owing to the puriry of his life.[23]
After Damasus, Siricius was the thirty-sixth bishop to take up direction of the
Roman church. At Alexandria, on the death of Peter, Timotheus, and after
him, Theophilus were made bishops. At
Jerusalem,
after Cyril,
John
received
the church. At Antioch, on the death of Miletius, Flavianus took his place.[24]
A huge dispute rose among us. The bishops who had been driven out by
heretics wanted none but themselves to fill the priestly office now that the,
heretics had been removed by the emperor.[25]
A terrible portent, resembling in every respect a column, appeared in the
sky.[26]
Temples were destroyed in Alexandria, among thcm the very ancient and
famous temple of Serapis, which, like some colurn,, was keeping idolatry
from falling.[28]
valentinian was eliminated at vienne by Arbogast, his own counr. Eugenius
took the emperorh place, seizing power s a ururper,lagl
To revenge valentinian's death and erurh the usurpation of Eugenius, Theo.
dosius crossed over into ltaly; the frrrcr of tlod wls rcvealed when the ele-
ments conspired to assist that very endgar;nr,l,tol
7t
t;
After Eugeniur hsd been Orcrmc, Theodoriur rcached t[e end of his lifc
ln the seventeenth yet of hil rclgn'l3tl
Arcadiur and Honorlur reigned for
3a
years
[Arcadlur,
i.
395-408'
Honorius, a.395'44]
t
r L.-
/
iorrsturtirrople, in fear of God's anger revealed in fire- flashing dreadfully
bove the clouds, escaped by turning to
Pennce
with its whole heart.[33]
stilicho killed Rufinus of the Bosphorus region after overcoming the
gftarcl of Huns that supported him, because Rufinus reached the summit of
irrrperial service but could not abide that Stilirho was preferred to him.[34]
(llludian the poet was considered worthy of admiration.[35]
(iildo
stirred Africa into rebellion and withdrew the usual taxes from the
l(omans.[36]
Prudentius, our
[i.e.
christian] lyric poet, a spaniard by his illustrious
birth, developed the strength of his talents.[37]
1
Stilicho, master of the soldiers, killed Gildo in Muretnia and restored Africa
t(' its former status.[38]
Innocent ws the thirty-seventh bishop to occupy the throne of the
Itornan church.
[39]
'll'rnples
of the ancient superstition destroyed over the whole Roman
world.[4o]
Paulinus of Nola, later a bishop' sold everything as an admirable example,
lirr he was the master of innumerable estates, and unimpeded chose the reli-
gious life.[4r]
.frhn [Chrysostom],
bishop of Constantinople, shone in word and deed'[42]
Martin, after living an extraordinary life, put aside his
[mortal]
body.[a3]
'fhe
insane Pelagius
qied to soil the churches with his purulent doctrine.[44]
A synod at Alexandria was convened to deal with a dispute arising from the
cloctrine of Origen. This decision emerged from it: that whoever approved of
the works of the above mentioned Origen should be placed outside the
church.
[45]
There was an eclipse of the sun.[46]
7
Augustine trcated r
ErrG
rr attt! in countless books,[461
p In three books Severus used examples of the raint',s holiness to givc us a life
of Martin.[48]
ro-rr A savage storm ofbarbaric disturbance lay over Italy. For Radagaisus, king of
the Goths, crossed the frontier of Italy to plunder.[5o]
As a consequence of this, the Arians who had been driven some distance
from the Roman world began to take encouragement from the protection of
the barbarian peoples ro whom they had turned.[5r]
. 4a5 12 Radagaisus laid many cities waste before he fell: his division of his army into
three parts under different leaders opened up to the Romans some means of
resisting. Stilicho wheeled around his Hun auxiliaries and annihilated a third
part of the enemy force in a notable victory.
[52]
a.4o8 Arcadius, ruler of the est, died leaving quite a small son,Theodosius, as his
successor to the empire.[53]
Caelestine was the thirry-eighth bishop ro govern the Roman church.[54]
13 The fury of various peoples began to tear Gaul to pieces. Stilicho set them
loose as much as he could, indignant that his son had been denied the king-
dom.155
|
,+
|
At uti., the land in the forum of Trajan let out a bellowing noise for seven
I
days.[50]
a. 4oll Many advised, among other things, the death of Stilicho in the interests of
the state, because he was devising plots against the well-being of the
emperor.[57]
Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople
[a. 428-r), turned to a heresy that
separtes God from man in
[the
person of] Christ.[58]
15
John,
count of Africa, ws killed by the people.[59]
Proculus, bishop of Marseilles, was considered a man of renown: he agreed
to an extensive investigation being conducted into the suspected adultery of
bishop Remedius
[Remigius].[6o]
t6 At this time. as the host of enemies grew stronger, the powers of the Romans
were weakened to their very foundation.[6r]
The British provinces were laid waste by an invasion of Saxons.[62]
TheVandals andAlans ravaged part of Gaul; Constantine the usurper took
possession of what was left.[63]
.,10.
s,iJr" took owr the gatet prt of prin,[6a]
Finnlly, the capit{ of the rrydd, Rome herself, was most foully exposed to
t\
at thc hands of the Goths'[651
,\ ,l
the usurper v/es kid,[661
nothcr looting of Gaul, by the Goths who, under the command of
aric,
had taken Rome and had then crossed the Alps.[67]
Jvirrus
scized power as a usurper after Constantine.[68]
Hy the diligence of a vigorous man, Datdanus, who \/as the only one not
t lubnrit to the usurper, thaulf, who was in command of the Goths after
Aluric, was turned away from an alliance withJovinus.[69]
Slllustius as well as Sebastian
fbrothers
ofJovinus] were killed.[7o]
Vitlelce, the noblest city of Gaul, was stormed by the Goths;
Jovinus
had
EoIc
there in flight.[7r]
Enorurous famine in Gaul.[72]
"'
Aquitaine given over to the Goths.[73]
l)ttroclus, bishop of Arles, dared to conduct a disreputable trade in the sale
ot' cpiscopal oftices.
[741
Heraclian, count of Africa, who rendered vigorous service in the restora-
tion of the Roman world, was killed when he ttempted a revolurion.[75]
L:
l'lrrcidia,'the emperor's sister, who was a cptive for a long time, and then wife
ol'a king, married Constantius, after the king was killed by deception.[77]
The Goths were driven back by an attack of Constantius when they
nroved again after the death ofAthaulf.[78]
'l'lre
heresy of the praedestinati,satd to have started with Augustine, began to
spread in this period.[8r]
'lhere
was an eclipse of the sun.[82]
Sixtus was the thirry-ninth bishop to direct the Roman church
l^. 432-
44ol
.
[8 3]
A wonderful portent appeared in the sky.[84]
Maximus the usurper took control of Spain by force'[851
Honoratus, Minervius, Castor, and
Jovian,
the heads of c{iffcrent lnonasteries,
Ilourished in Gaul.
[86]
29-30
420-2r
The imperial digniry was conferred on constantius at the wier of Hono_
rius. consrantius exercised it for scarcery eight months and died, leaving an
eight year-old son Valentinian.
[88]
The usurper Maximus was toppled from power and taken to Ravenna
where he was put on display before the emperor during the cerebrations of
Hnorius's thirrieth anniversary.
[g9]
The Vandals crcmed the redt to Aler end, havlng torn th provinee to
inflietcd an immense diralter on the Rornans,[to8]
1.7
hiitonsulate had been proclried, Atius, turning to better protection,
lvy to Boniface, who hrd eome fiom Africa on)rthe summons of the
,Iropl
Thcre was severe cold that was also ruinous to the health of a great many
people,Ir ro]
lloniface was wounded in a battle he won against Atius but retired from
It to die.1Cf. 16, Prosper, s.a.
432.1[r
r r]
l,
"i'.,''.,
After the battle, Atius turned to the Huns, who at the time were led by
Rugila, and returned to Roman territory with the help he had asked
r,lr rzl 4
'l'he
Goths were summoned by the Romans to bring help.[r13]
(iermanus
the bishop of Auxerre became renowned for his miraculous
powcrs and the strictness of his life.[rr4] ,.
i
, ,," i*_l
Atius was received into favor.[rr5]
I\ugila, king of the Huns, with whom peace had been made, died. He was
.utccceded by Bleda.[r r6]
,
i'. ir-
Frrther Gaul followed Tibatto, the Jeader of a rebellion, and separated from
l(ornan society. This was only the beginning of almost all the servile order
ltrvitial
of Gaul oming into accord in a Bacaudic rcvolt (Bacauda).1n7)
i
,
"'.,
{i
A rnemorable war against the Burgundians broke out in which almost the
urtire people with their king were destroyed by Atius.
Ir
r 8]
!. J'r 4
After Tibitto was captured and the other leaders of the revolt were put in
lronds or killed, the commotion of the Bacaudae quietened down.[r19]
'.
:.
'l'he
Theodosian book bringing together all the laws of legitimate emperors
lirr the first time.was issued in this year.[rzo]
[Polemius]
Si1us, who was quite mentally disturbed, composed some
writings on religion after he completed his duty serving in the palace.[rzr]
t-'
l.eo was the fortieth bishop to take up leadership of the Roman church.[rzz]
i, tii
l{aving pacified disturbances in Gaul,tius returned to ltaly.
Irz3]
Abandoned country properties of the city ofValence were given over for
3r Placidia was discovered plotting against her brother and exiled to Rome.[go]
a. 423 32 Honorius died at Ravenna.[g2]
John,
a former chief of the bureau of notaries, assumed po,/er, though he
had no right to it.[92]
Honorius left an empire severely weakened by many crises.[93]
Theodosius
[I]
reigned for z7 years
[a. 424_4So]
a.
424 r Placidia sent a message to Theodosius begging help.[95]
Sigisvult hastened to Africa against Boniface.[96]
a'+25 z In Gaul, the
[praetorian] prefect Exuperanrius was kilred by the soldiers.[97]
Carthage was surrounded with a wall. From the time when the ancient
city had been destroyed, carthage \Mas not allowed to be fortified by walls by
decree of the Romans in case it sheltered rebellion.[9g]
John
was defeated by the army of the east and killed. Ravenna then was
laid waste by looting.[99]
Atius, rhe son of count Gaudentius who was killed by the sordiers in
Gaul, entered Italy with Huns in order to supportJohn.[roo]
t.
426 3 Valentinian
[III]
was made emperor at Rome.[ror]
a. 427 + Arles was freed from the Goths by Atius.[roz]
a'
428 s At last Placidia was brought to the power she wished for.[ro3]
t.
42e o cassian set forth in books distributed to a great many people the lives of the
fathers, their teachings and rules, which he had rearneJin gypt.[roa]
a
n,07-8 Atius tried to bring about the destruction of theJuthungi.[ro6]
Massacre of almost 2o,ooo troops fighting in spain against thevandals.
[cf.
16, Prosper, s.a.422; rg, Hydatius, s,a,
4zz.llto7)
83
r8-r9
a. 44r-42
a.443 20
a.444 2t
a.446 23
a. 447 24
division to the Alans who were led by Sarnbida.frz4]
The British provinces, which up to this time had endured a variery of disas-
ters and misfortunes, were subjected to the authority of the Saxons.[rz6]
The lands of Farther Gaul were handed over by the patrician Atius to
Alans to be divided with the inhabitants. They subdued those who
them with arms, drove out the owners, and obtained possession of the
by force.fizTl
1l
Sapaudia was given to the remnants of the Burgundians to be divided
the native inhabitants.
[rz8]
Carthage was captured by the Vandals
[r. +:S]
and along with atl Africa
off the might of the Roman Empire with lamentable harm and injury.
thereby it became a possession of theVandals.[rz9]
Vrhndalra
[II, fr. lSll
and Mrrclrn
l.
Y,
A
thll tirne the pitiable condition of the state wm quitc evident, for there
no prlovince without a b*berin settler, nd thc unspeakable hcrcsy of
Arians, which had permcted the barbarian nalons, pred over the
world and laid claim to the name Catholic.I1381
Ittila entercd Gaul as if he had the right,to ask fora wife that was owed
hilu, There he inflicted and suffered defeat and then withdrew to his
I - '',O
Chir yerr a gret mny portents appeared.[r4o]
a. 44s 22 Thrace was shaken by an attack of the Huns.[r3o]
Bleda, king of the Huns, was struck down through the deceit of his
Attila, who succeeded him.[r3r]
New destruction broke out in the East. No less than seventy cities were
waste by the plundering of the Huns, for no assistence was brought from the
W'est.Ir3z]
a.448 23 Eudoxius, a physician by profession and ofperverse, ifwell-developed, talents;
fled to the Huns when implicated in the Bacauda that took place at that
time.Ir3 j]
Eucherius, bishop of Lyons, and Hilary ofArles died, bringing to a close their
extraordinary lives.
I
r
34]
An abominable heresy was stirred up by a certain abbot
[Euryches].
Theodo-
sius, who provided him with support, died in
July,
having completed over
forty years in power. Marcian succeeded him.[r35]
Placidia also died in this year, after a life that was irreproachable following
her conversion, and while her son completed his twenty-fifth year in
power.Ir36]
.449 26
a.4so 27
l he had suffered an unexpected defeat in Gaul, Attila, enraged, attacked
whiclr the inhabitants, alarmed by fear alone, had stripped of its protec-
It*r I
IH. FROMITHE CHRONICLE OF HY,DATIUS
ol'wltat we lenow of Hydatius depends on the testimony of hk own chronicle. He
lnru in Ltmica (the area around present-day Ginzo d.e Limia in north-western
in thc prouince of Callaecia (Calicia, the modern name, rcfers to a smaller area
Its.filih-ccntury equiualent); Callaecia was the home country oJTheodosius the
, At a child Hydatius truvelled to Palestine, probably in
407,
where he saw,
ollrcr rhurch luminaries, Saint
Jerorne.
We can infer that he came
from
a well-
tttl wcll-cohnected, Christianfamily. He tells us that he became a bkhop in
428
dars rrot explicitly tell us the city, though it was likely Chaues ln modern Portugal.
Iflr Ohronicle, which he completed writing around
470,
is a continuation of the
U*ltlus-lmtme
world chronicle. It is preserued in later epitomes, and a near,ly com-
ft'rsioil oJ it suruives in one Carolingian MS. For the per:iod
Jollowing
the close
tlnr.rlrr.rl Histories, it is thefunddmental sourcefor Iberian history and the only
r',r',rrnplc of Spanbh historiography prior to the late s.ixth century. But these are
llrc rrnsons the ChrontcTe is quoted at length here (in
fact
much of Hydatius's
ftriturt ,,1' strictly local
ffiirs,
especially concerning the Sueves, has had to be omitted
hl ,Iil\ thttlldtion). Hydatius was also deeply interestetl in euents elsewhere in the
rrorld, esBecially in Caul and ltaly. In llydatius\ day the Iberian peninsula
IHr
tlil/ srrpposed to be part of the Gallic prefecture and the Goths, operating out of
'frtttlrnt ()aul
at the behest oJ the imperial goernment, were beginning their profound
rrporr the course oJ Spanish history.
llnlirtuntcly Hydatius\ uersion oJ euents is often complicated by chronological
ruhich are especially euident in his ualuable account of the period ortr,
4ss.
t itt tlrc Chronicle are dated lry regnal years of empcrors, but these cannot
tt5
Of Anastasius; ths consulr were Felix
liu
the Wett] rnd ecurrdinus [in
the
East].The indiction was the fourth, the era
S4Z7.l= ,
Srrl
ZO. THE CHRONICLE OF MARIUS OF
VENCHES
Marius was bishop of Auenches probably
from
ca.
SZ4
to
5g4.
Auenches was in the
Burgundian leingdom, near l-ake Neuchtel. Marius's chronicle
fuk
only known work)
is preserued in a single manuscript of Carolingian date, where it appears as a eontinu-
ation of
Jerome's
chronicle, the Gallic Chronicle of
452
and the last years of Pros-
per's chronicle. Among his sources, Marius mad.e use oJ consular and Callic annals,
including annals resembling those that must haue been used by Cregory oJ Tours. In
this translation I haue noted parallek and analogues with sources that appear elsewhere
in this Reader but not with Italian and eastern annals.
Marius dates his euents by means oJ consular years, At the time of writing, the old
consular system had
finally
broken down. The last annual consulship was that of
Basilius in
54t.
The years
following
were dated
Jrom
his consulship (the period being
called his post-consulship), until the consulship was
finally
appropriated as part of the
imperial title. A peculiarity of Marius's chronology is that an extld post-consukhip of
Basilius was added at the year
566
combined with a misdating of
Justinian\
death;
thereafter the yearly numbering of the imperial consulship is off by a year.
A temporary interruption of the yeaily appointment of consuls, with a consequent
post-consulship, also occurred in
5jt.
Starting in
5zj
Marius includes ind.ictions in his dating scheme. At one time the
term indiction meant afiscal cycle of
fifteen
years beginning with the year,312, but
eventually each of the years within the cycle itself came to be called an indiction, num-
beredfrom I to XVThe indietion began on t September, and so overlapped two con-
sular years, but
for
purposes of calculation was normalty identified with the consular
year in which most of its months
fell,
In the one instance where Marius does not
merely include notice of the indiction but precisely tlates an euent by month and indic-
tion (s.a.58t),the event obviouslyfalls in the preuious consular year.There are other
examples where the indictions are right, though euents are placed under the wrong con-
sular year. Unlike the consular dates, the indictions
Jor
the reign oJ
Justin Jall
in the
coffe(t year.
I give only those years in which euents hauc bcen entered, though these are com-
plete, and the year oJJustin\ iruperial tnsulship, which th.e manuscript marked with
capital letters. The use oJ dating by consulshilt allou,s us readily to giue anno domini
equiualents, which in the transldtion are
ltla'd
in the margin. Cross rcferences to
Hydatius and the Chronicle of
5rt
can he
.lrrund
in documents t6 and 19 respec-
tiuely.The abbreuiation }{ist. reJers to f/lc Hislrics t' Marius's contem.porary, Gregory
ofTours; see
46-49,where
most (ut uot ,il|) tlusr toss rcferences will beJound.
Two.erlitioru wrre uretl irr thlr ranrlatiorr, (r) Cftrrr/rir a, f,'f]f,'fltr-DL,t{l etl,Th,
}|nttttttrert,
()hruilra
Mlmn:, MGH AA rr (rNr;4), pp, :iJ-.19,
Ql I*t Chnque tle lt{,drltn
(ist"ltt,), ed, nnd trrnr,Jurtin Favr'rrd, rnd, ed, (Lsurrnne, rgql)t thh hlr rr phor-
lirrriurile of thc MS,Tfunclutiorr lry A,(1, Murrly,
(,
"'/
Valcntinian, for the cighth time, and Anthemilrs.
The.final year of Prosper\ chronicle
follows
(as aboue t6).
Prcrper cnds at this point and Bishop Marius begiru.
ln the year of the above consul[s], Avitus was raised up as emperor in
attl, arrd Theoderic, king of the oths, entered Arles in peace with his
brathcrr,
(. \("
Eottruh
Johrr
and Varanes.
Itr the ycar of their consulships, Emperor Avitus was toppled by Majorian
lfld l{iciruer at Placentia and made bishop for the ciry.
ltt this year the Burgundians took part of Gaul and divided the lands with
ihe
(iallic
senators.
I
)
r,;.,
i"
I
otuuls Magnus and Apollinaris.
Itt tlre year of their consulships, Emperor Majorian went to Spin.
- lrt this year ships were cptured by the Vandals at Elche near Spanish
Cirrtl'rrrge. [Cf.
18, s.a.
463;
r9, Leo
3.]
(,
.1
ottsuls Severinus and Dagauulf
[Dagalaiphus].
,
lrr thc year of their consulships, the emperor Majorian was toppled from
Powcr
at Tortona by the patrictan Ricimer and killed on the river Scrivia.
evcrus was raised.up as emperor at Ravenna.
Ir-"
:.
It: ^:
(
lonstrls Basilius andVivianus.
lrr the year of their consulships, a battle was fought between Aegidius and
tlte
(
loths berween the Loire and the Loiret near Orleans, and there Frederic,
[trrg .,f the Goths, was killed.
[Cf.
18, s.a.463; 19, Leo
S;and 35]
l
(
lrusuls Pusaeus and
John.
lrr the year of their consulships,Anthemius was raised up s emperor.
lrr this year Theoderic, king of the Goths, was killed by his brother Euric
al'lirnlouse.
[Cf.
r8,.s.a.
466-62;
19, Leo ro.]
'lJ
lco, consul for the fifth time.
Irr the year of his consulship, Glycerius was raised up t Ravenn as
It)ll
er r rPcror.
r.474 Leo,junior.
In the year of his consulship,
(ilycerius
was depoled fnrtn drc inrperial
ofiice, and Nepos was raised up s emperor.
a. +76 Consuls Basiliscus and Armatus.
'When
they were consuls, Odoacer was raised up as king.
. 48e Consuls Probinus and Eusebius.
In the year of their consulships, Theoderic
[the
Great], king of the
[Ostro]goths,
entered Italy at Bridge of the Isonzo
lMainizza].
^.
4s3 [Consuls
Eusebius, for the second time, and Faustus Albinus]
In the year of their consulships, King Odoacer was killed by
Theoderic at
[the
palace of] Lauretum.
a. 5oo Consuls Patricius and Hypatius.
ln the year of their consulships, a battle was fought at Dijon ber'uveen
Franks and Burgundians, due to the deceitful machinations of Godigi
against his brother Gundobad. In the battle Godigisel along with his followe
fought alongside the Franks against his brother Gundobad. After Gu
fled, Godigisel obtained his brother's kingdom for a little while, and
dobad took refuge in Agnon.
lCf
. Hist.Il
32.]
ln this year Gundobad regained his strength and surrounded Vienne with
a army. He took the ciry killed his brother, and condemned to death
many refined tortures a good number of magnates and Burgundians who
been in greement with Godigisel. Gundobad recovered the kingdom he
lost along with that which his brother had held and ruled successfully
to the day of his death.
[Cf.
Hrsr. II
33.]
In this year Odoin was killed at Rome.
a. jo9 Consul Inportunus.
In the year of his consulship, Mammo, a duke of the
[Ostro]goths
plun-
dered part of Gaul
a. 5r5 Consuls Florentius and Anthemius,
In the year of their consulships, thc lllol)stery t Agune was built
Sigismund.
[Cf.
Hrit.III
5.]
a. 5t6 Consul Peter.
In the year of his consulship, King
(iutttkrbird
died, and his son
was raised up as king.
[Hrst,
III
5:]
Y-7,1
eorrnuii Syinrnchui f, nd Borhlur,
ln thc 'year of their contuhhipr, Segeric, the ron of igltrnulrd, w;u
Qiurtly killed by ordcr of his fether,
lCf',
Hrsl,III
5,1
i't,)
).' I
on*ul Maximus,lndiction I, \
In thc year of his consulship, Sigismund, king of the Burgurrdians, was sur-
tndercd by thc l3urgundians to the Franks, led inro Francia dressed as a
Itonk, nnd there thrown into a well with his wife and children.
lCf.
Hkt. III
6,1 i
'r
.
,1,'
{r
ottruls
Justirr
and Opilio, Indiction II.
ln the year of their consulships, Godomar, the brother of Sigismund, was
lppointccl king of the Burgundians.
[Cf.
H,i/. III 6.]
tn this year, he fought against Chlodomer, king of the Franks, atVzeronce
td
tlrere Chlodomer was killed.
[Cf.
H,s/. III 6.]
'
ltt tlris year, Boethius the patrician was killed in the territory of Milan.
i
{,r
I I
pttruls Probus junior and Philoxenus, Indiction III.
Itt thc year of their consulships, Symmachus the patrician was kfled at
*ve,,,,r.
\'I
I
()lybrius,
Indiction IV
Itt tltc year of his consulship, Theoderic, king of the
[Ostro]goths
died in
rity of Ravenna, and Athalaric, his grandson, was raised up as king.
ecut'.|
ycar of the post-consulships of Lampadius and Orestes, Indiction X.
ttt tlris year of their consulships, Hypatius the patrician was raised up as
?nltr(.r)r' in an uprising of the people and was killed at the order of the
Attgtrrt,'* Justinian.
Pompeius and almost
3o,ooo
people were put to the
tirrtl ;rlong with Hypatius in the circus.
,,,}
Gurtrrrls [ustinianus
the Augustus, for the fourth rime. and] Paulinus junior.
ln+lt,'ti.,rr Xll.
fPaulinus
was the last western consul.)
Itt thc year of their- consulships, the kings of the Franks, Childebert,
lhfurth,rr, and Tlheudebert, took hold of Burgundy and, when they had put
ftlng
(
ioclomar to flight, divided his kingdom.
[Cf.
H,s/. III rr]
' Itr tlris year, Africa was restored to the Roman empire after ninety-rwo
ftatl
hy llesarius the patrician. Gelimer, king of theVandals, was delivered a
attttvc
to Constantinople and presented with his wife and tresure to the
ttgt',t,'ri Justinian
by the above mentioned patrician.
,r, sJJ Cousul l}elislrius, htdictio XIII,
In the year he was consul and gave consular gernes, he lerrdcd in Sicily and
restored it to the lloman empire.
a. 538 Consul
John,
Indiction I.
In the year he was consul, Milan was stormed by the
[Ostro]goths
and
Burgundians, and there sentors and priests along with other people were
killed even in the holy places, so tht the altars \/ere stained with their blood,
a.
J3e Consul Apio, Indiction II.
In the year he was consul, Theudebert, king of the Franks, entered Italy
and wasted Liguria and Aemilia. His army caught the sickness of the region
and was greatly affiicted.
l
.
J4o Consul
Justin,
Indiction III.
In the year he was consul, the Persians ravaged Antioch and laid waste all
of Syria.
In this year, BeJisarius the patrician took away'Witigis as a captive frort'r
Ravenna and presented him along with his wife and tresure to the Augustus
Justin[ian]
at Constantinople.
a.547 Sixth year of the post-consulship of Basilius, Indiction X.
In this year,Vigilius the Roman pope hastened to Constantinople.
In this year, Baduila
[Totila],
king of the
[Ostro]goths,
took Rome and laid
it waste. He pulled down the walls and set part of the ciry on fire.
In this year, General Belisarius restored his forces and brought the ciry
Rome back under Roman rule.
a. 54s Seventh year of the post-consulship of I3asilius, Indiction XI.
In this year, Theudebert, the great king of the Franks, died, and his son
Theudebald replaced him in the kingship.
lCf,
Hrsr. lll
36,37.1
In this year, Lanthacarius, dukc of tlrc Franks, died, stabbed during
Roman war.
a.553 Twelfth year of the post-consulship of llasilius, lncliction I.
In this year, Baduila
[Totilal,
king of thc
l()stro]goths,
was killed by an
army of the Roman state under Ncrsel, il ruuu(ih secretry (chartularius).Teias
received Baduilat kingdom.
.ii4 Thirteenth year of the post-con,iulrhip ot'llolilirrs, Indiction II.
In this year, Teias, king of the
(iotlu,
war killcd by the above mentioned
Narses.
frr
Fcurteenth yer of th port onruhhip of Builiur, Indiction IIL
In thir year, Theudebcld, Ling of thc Frankr, dicd, end Chlothrr the peter-
rul uncle of his fathcr took eontrcl of hir kingdom.
[Cf,
H/rt, IV
9.1
In this year, Chramn, the rcn of King Chlothar, was indueed by his pater-
uncle Childebert to tke refuge with him,
[Cf,
,{ls' IV t6,]
In this year, the Saxons rebelled, and Chlothar fought against them with a
tqior fbrce: a host of Franks and Saxons fell in the- fighting but Chlothar
*ent v/ay the victor.
lCC.
Hist.IV Io, 14.]
ln tlris period, Buccelin, a duke of the Franks, perished in the Roman war
tlrxrg with all of his army.
[Cf.
Hrsr,IV
9.]
."','. r',
.,, \,
b
Fitteerrth
year of the post-consulship of Basilius, Indiction IV
Itr this year, the Saxons rebelled again and King Chlothar engaged them in
bsttle where the larger part of the Saxons fell..$7ist. IV ro, r4.]
ttt this year, the Franks devastated all ofThuringia because it had conspired
lth tlre Saxons.
[Hlsl.
IV ro, r4.]
At tlre same tipe, Chramn gthered an arrrry and laid waste the territory
of lris firther.
fHisllY ry.]
,,,.:ll::1,::liii:\,'";:;,*i"::JT:.iff
:j:#"l*"'f
"'
lrr this year, when their strength was restored, the forces of the Roman
ltte took possession of the part of Italy that King Theudebert had acquired.
- .i
t r..#
tieverrteenth year of the post-consulship of Basilius, IndictionVI.
, lrr this yeaa Childebert, king of the Franks, passed away, and his brother
Kirrg Ohlothar took possession of his kingdom.
[C1.
Hkt.IV zo.]
1f
\' t
Ntrrctcenth year of the post-consulship of Basilius, IndictionVIIL
lrr this year the sixteenth moon'was darkened in the clear s amidst the
rlttrrirrg stars and could scarcely be seen.
lrr this year, Chramn, after giving oaths to his father, went to the Bretons
attrl, :rttempting to seize his father's kingdom, dared to
.lnove
against him,
revcrcly plundering many districts. To stop his son's madness, the father
quickly brought up an rmy and killed the count of the Bretons. He took
(
ihrirrrtn alive, burned him along with his wife and children, and put an end
[u tlre destruction of the whole region.
[Cf
. Hkt. IV zo.]
'llvcrrtieth
ear
of the post-consulship of Basilius, Indiction IX.
lrr this year, King Chlothar died and his sons
-
that is Charibert, Gun-
tr,rrrr, Ohilperic, and Sigibert
-
dided his kingdom.
lcf.
Hist.lY zr, zz.l
t
x. .53 Twenty-secoud year of the post-corrsulship of I3asiliur, Indiction XI.
In this yer, the power l mount of Turedunum in the'territory ofValais
collapsed so sudden-ly that it crushed the fortress which was ncarby and the
villages along with all their inhabitants. It set in motion the whole lake sixty
miles long and twenty miles wide so that the outpouring of water devastated
the ancient llages on both banks with their inhabitants and herds and also
demolished many holy places with their servants. The force.of the 'rvter
brought down the bridge at Geneva, mills and people, and the flood pouring
into the city of Geneva killed a great many people.
[Cf.
Hist.IV
3r.]
. s6s Twenry-fourth year of the post-consulship of Basilius, Indiction XIII.
In this year, the monks of gaune, roused by the spirit of anger, stormed
the church house at night, trying to kill their bishop Agricola and the clergy
and citizens who were with him.'While the clergy and citizens strove to pro.
tect their bishop, they were seriously wounded by those monks.
In this year Magnachar, a duke of the Franks, passed away.
[Cf.
Hist.IY z5;
Y 17, zo.)
a.566 Twenty-fifth year of the post-consulship of Basilius, Indicrion XIV
In this year, a sign appeared in the sky for seventy days.
In this year Augustus
Justinian
died
[r. S6S],
and his nephew
Justin
took up
the imperial ofiice.
In this year, the winter was very severe, so that for five or more months
the land could not be seen owing to the great amount of snow. These harsh
conditions killed many animals.
In this yea Sindual the Herul usurped power but was killed by Narses.
. s67 Frnsr Yran oF rHE coNSULSHTp oF rHE Aucusrus
JusrrN
f f
[a.
jOO];
INprcrroN XV. Fnola rHE BEGINNING oF THE woRLD To rHrs coNSUL
THE YEARS AMoUNT ro
5,7r8.
a.568 SEcoN Ynan or rHE coNsuLSHIp ol Aucusrqs
JusrrN
II, INrc-
TION I.
After Narses, former superintendent
lof
thc sacred bedchamber] and patri-
cian, had laid low so many usurpers
-
that is lladuila
[Totila]
and Teias, kings
of the Goths; and Buccelin, a duke of the Franks; as well as Sindual the Herul
-
he was recalled from Italy in this ye:rr by thc above-mentioned Augustus,
having commendably restored Milarr ancl othcr rowns the
[Ostro]goths
had
ruined.
86"
Thirrl yeai of the eonrulehip of Auguitu
Jurtill
II, Indiction IL
In thir year, the kirrg of the tonrtrrrdr Alboin, with sll hir forces, lcft and
burnccl his hermeland Pannonia, nnd, in an expedition thet includecl wivcs
rtd his entirc people, took porie$iorr of Italy; thcre sonre dicd by clisease,
rctue by hunger, and not a few by the sword,
[Cf.
Hrs IV
ar,l
ln this year also, they dared to entcr thc adjoining districts of
(]aul,
where
I lergc nurnbcr of them were captured and put up for sale.
,'+
Fourth year of the consulship of AugustusJustin II, Indiction III.
Itt this year, a severe illness accompanied by diarrhea nd pustules struck
ItEly rrnd Gaul severely, and cattle in particular perished throughout the
abuve-tnentioned regions.
Irr this year, Celsus the patrician died.
[Cf.
Hist. lY
42.)
,,"1
.4,
Fiftlr year of the consulship of Augustus
Justin
II, Indiction IV
lrr tlris year, an unspeakable disease of the groin called the pox (ltustula)
Ievrgccl countlesslpeople in the above-mentioned districts.
lCf
. Hist.IV
3r.]
. i t/
ixth year of the consulship ofAugustusJustin II, IndictionV
ln this year,Alboin, king of the Lombards was killed atVerona by his own
ft)llowc:rs
-
that is Helmichis and others
-
with the agreement of the kih.g's
witb, And the above-mentioned Helmichis, in company with the aforesaid
lvifb, whom he married, surrendered himself at Ravenna to the Roman stte
*long with part of the army and all the treasure brought from Pannonia as
wrll ls that accumulated in Italy.
ji
evorth'year of the consulship ofAugustusJustin II, IndictionVI.
lrr this year, a duke of the Lombards called Cleph was appointed king of
tlut people, and many magnates and those of moderate rank were killed by
Irtrrr.
Irr this year, Vaefarius, a duke of the Franks, died, and Theudefred was
i.ppointed duke
[of
theTlansjuran region] in his place.
'r
' j
i
- .-d
F,tglrth year of the consulhip ofAugustusJustin II, IndictionVII.
ln this year,,Cleph, king of the Lombards, was killed by one of his own
Iel,rirtcrs.
ln this year, the Lombards again invaded Valais and took possession of
(ilusrre.They
lived in the monastery of the saints of Agaune for many days,
arrtl rrfterward engaged an arrrly of the Franks in battle at llcx, where they
rvclc killed almost to a rnar,; a few escaped by flight, Morcovcr Mauri and
other peoples werc defcated
S
th: mnie Fnnkr 6t wnHring to irrvade their\
territory ofProvence,
a. s76 Tenth year of the consulship ofAugustusJustin II, Indiction IX,
In this year, Sigibert, king of the Franks, began hostilities against his
brother chilperic, and when he had already boxed him in and \Mas conrem.
plating killing him, he was killed by Chilperic's men through deception;
SigiberttsonChi1deberttookupthekingship.[Cf.Hist.IV5r,s.a.575.]
I
a.577 Eleventh year of the consulship ofAugustusJustin II, Indiction X.
In this year died the royal and distinguished youths chlothar and
Chlodomer, the sons of king Guntram.
ICfl
Hkt.IV z5;V t7, s.a.
577.) ;l
.578Twe1fthyearoftheconsu1shipofAugustuSJustinII,IndictionXI.
In this year, Merovech, the son of King Chilperic was killed.
lcf.
Hkt.
18, s.a.
577.1
a.
s7s Thirteenth year of the consulship ofAugustusJustin II, Indiction XII.
In this year the rwo brothers Bishops Salonius and Sagittarius were
removed from the dignity of the episcopal office for various crimes by a
council that gathered at Chalon-sur-Sone.
lcf.Hist.V
27,s.a.579.1
In this year, the Augustus
Justin
died and riberius succeeded him
[g
octo-
ber
5781.
a.
58o First year of the consulship of Augustus Tiberius Constantinus, Indiction
XIII.
In this year, in the month of october, the Rhne so overflowed its banks
in the territory ofvalais that it impeded the gathering of the harvest.And in
Italy the rivers so overflowed that the farmers suffered losses.
[cf.
Hist.y y,
s.a.
58o.]
JSr Second year of the consulship of Augustus Tiberius Constantinus, Indiction
XIV
In this indiction, in the month of September
1:
a.
5go], eueen
Aus-
trechild died; because of her passing, two doctors, Nicolaus and Donatus,
were killed.
lcfl
Hist. V
35,
s,a.
5Bo.l
In this year, Mummolus the patricirn took refuge in the border counrry of
king childebert, rht is Avignon, taking with him his wife and children, a
host of household servants, and mueh weelth.
lCf.
Hr.sr.VI r, s.a.5gr.]
CHAPTER FIVE
SALVIAN OF MARSEILLES -oN GOD'S
JUDGMENT
,1lpis11 was born of a noblefanily ca,
4lo
and died cd.48o, His birthplace is generally
thought ttt haue been nofihern Gaul, probably Tiier or Cologne. He married (hb wtJe\
lltnn' u,as Palladia) and had a daughter, but, after her birth, he and his wfe adopted
Iligirrrrs lives anil separated. Saluian entered the mofiastery of Urins ca.
424
and
rtil\'d to Marseilles in the
4jos;
by thk time he had become a priest. A number of his
ll,.trkt surie: a treatise against auarice written under the pseudonymTimotlry, a hand-
tltl
ol' lctters, and the work
for
which he is renowned, On the Governance of God.
()rr
the Governance of God, the main argument oJ which is excerpted here,
Httiutdins thar Go(\ judgment is irnmanent. In so doing, it prouides a theological
esplntationfor the poorJortunes oJ the Roman state.Written in the
440s,
the work is
noublc.for its reJerens to contemporary and neu cofitemporary conditions and society,
-both
Roman and barbarian, but readers should beware. Saluian does not attempt to
dtxvibc society, nor strictly speaking does he prouide a commentary on it; his subject
\
finvility, his aim is the reJorm of human behauior, and his method is an indictment'of
fu priuate and public morls of the Roman elite.
'lb
-facilitate
re,ailing anil reJerence, I have added two levels of subheadings.
\rrrrrlc: Ie Writings of Salvian the Presbyter, trans.Jererniah E O'Sullivan, (NewYork, r947), with
rrrrrrc ruinor revisions-
2I. ON TH COZERNANC OF GOD
.
BOOK I
r. God's
Judgment
and God's Governance
l\iorne men say that God is indiffereirt and, as it were, unconcerned with
Irrrnran acts, inasmuch as He neither protects the good nor curbs the wicked.
'l'lrey
say that in this world, therefore, the good are generally unhappy; the
cvildoers, happy. Because I am addressing Christians, the holy scriptures alone
rlrould suflice as a refutation of this charge. But, because many have some
I
r09