Res Gestae

The emperor’s letters were gladly received for two reasons: first, because the Burgundians know that they are descendants of the Romans from ancient times;[*](Possibly from the Romans whom Drusus, and later Tiberius, left behind on the Elbe and elsewhere to defend the frontier.) and then, since they frequently quarrelled with the Alamanni about salt-pits[*](This was a frequent cause of war; cf. Tac., Ann. xiii. 57; Strabo, vii. 5, 11 (C. 318); and for these salt-pits, John of Salisbury, Epist. 196.) and boundaries.[*](Cf. xviii. 2, 15.) They therefore sent their choicest troops, which, before our soldiers were gathered together, advanced as far as the banks of the Rhine; and while the emperor was still occupied with the building of fortifications, they caused the very greatest alarm to our people.

And so they halted for a time, but when Valentinian did not appear on the appointed day, as he had agreed, and they saw that none of his promises had been fulfilled, they sent envoys to the emperor’s camp, demanding that support be given them for their return to their homes, in order that they might not expose their unprotected rear to the enemy.

And when they perceived that by subterfuges and delays their request was practically denied, they went off from there in sorrow and indignation. And their kings,

In their country a king is called by the general name Hendinos, and, according to an ancient custom, lays down his power and is deposed, if under him the fortune of war has wavered, or the earth has denied sufficient crops; just as the Egyptians commonly blame their rulers for such occurrences.[*](Since they regarded them as gods; see Diod. Sic., i. 90, 3.) On the other hand the chief priest among the Burgundians is called Sinistus, holds his power for life, and is exposed to no such dangers as threaten the kings.

Taking advantage of this very timely occasion,[*](370 A.D.) Theodosius, at that time commander of the cavalry,[*](I.e., in Gaul.) made an attack through Raetia upon the Alamanni, who through fear of the aforesaid people[*](The Burgundians.) were scattered; he killed many of them, and by the emperor’s order sent all his prisoners to Italy, where they received fertile cantons, and now live as our subjects on the banks of the Po.[*](Further wars with the Alamanni are described in xxix. 4, and xxx. 3.)

From here, as if moving to another part[*](For this partitive use of the adjective363 ff. A.D. cf. Hor., Odes, iii. 23, 8, pomifer anncus;; Sall., Jug. 107, 1, nudum et caecum corpus. ) of the world, let us come to the sorrows of the African province of Tripolis, over which (I think) even Justice herself has wept; and from what cause these blazed out like flames will appear when my narrative is completed.

The Austoriani,[*](Ammianus, in xxvi. 4, 5, counts them among the people of Mauritania.) who are neighbours to those regions, are savages, always ready for sudden raids and accustomed to live by murder and robbery. These were subdued for a time, but then returned to their natural turbulence, for which they seriously alleged this reason:-

A certain man of their country, Stachao by name, when he was wandering freely in our territory, it being a time of peace, committed some violations of the laws, among which the most conspicuous was, that he tried by every kind of deceit to betray the province,[*](Apparently by rousing the barbarians against the Romans.) as was proved by most trustworthy testimony. Accordingly he was burned to death.

To avenge his execution, under the pretext that he was a countryman of theirs and had been unjustly condemned, like beasts aroused by madness, they sallied forth from their homes while Jovian was still ruling, and, fearing to come near Lepcis, a city strong in its walls and population, they encamped for three days in the fertile districts near the city. There they slaughtered the peasants, whom sudden fear had paralysed or had compelled to take refuge in caves, burned a great deal of furniture which could not be carried off, and returned laden with immense spoils, taking with them also as prisoner one Silva, the most eminent of the local magistrates, who chanced to be found in the country[*](I.e., his country estate.) with his wife and children.