Res Gestae

But the oriental troop had the advantage from a strange event, never witnessed before. For one of their number, a man

Then, as they went on, their courage was further broken when they beheld the oblong circuit of the walls, the blocks of houses covering a vast space, the beauties of the city beyond their reach, the vast population inhabiting it, and the strait near by that separates the Pontus from the Aegean; so the Goths destroyed the manufactories of warlike materials which they were preparing, and after suffering greater losses than they had inflicted they then departed and spread everywhere over the northern provinces, which they traversed at will as far as the foot of the Julian, or, as they were formerly called, the Venetic Alps.

At that time[*](Shortly after the death of Valens, and before the accession of Theodosius; cf. Zos. iv. 26.) the salutary and swift efficiency of Julius, commander-in-chief of the troops beyond the Taurus, was conspicuous. For on learning of the ill-fated events in Thrace, by secret letters to their leaders, who were all Romans (a rare case in these times) he gave orders that the Goths who had been admitted before and were scattered through the various cities and camps, should be enticed to come without suspicion into the suburbs in the hope of receiving the pay that had been promised them, and there, as if on the raising of a banner, should all be slain on one and the same day. This

These events, from the principate of the emperor Nerva to the death of Valens, I, a former soldier and a Greek, have set forth to the measure of my ability, without ever (I believe) consciously venturing to debase through silence or through falsehood a work whose aim was the truth. The rest may be written by abler men, who are in the prime of life and learning. But if they chose to undertake such a task, I advise them to forge[*](For procudere, cf. xv. 2, 8 (ingenium); xxx. 4, 13 (ora); Horace, Odes, iv. 15, 19.) their tongues to the loftier style.

Diocletian ruled with Herculius[*](This name was conferred on Maximianus by Diocletian.) Maximianus for twenty years.

Constantius,[*](Constantius Chlorus, father of Constantine, emperor 305–306.) grandson of the brother of that best of emperors Claudius,[*](Claudius II.; his mother was Claudia, daughter of Crispus, brother of Claudius II; cf. Eutr. ix. 22; Hieron. a. Abr. 2307.) was first one of the emperor’s bodyguard, then a tribune, and later, governor of Dalmatia.[*](Under the emperor Carus, who wished to make him Caesar in place of his own brother Carinus.) With Galerius he was appointed Caesar by Diocletian[*](In 292.) ; for he put away his former wife Helena and married Theodora, daughter of Maximianus, by whom he afterwards had six children,[*](Three sons: Dalmatius, Julius Constantius, and Hannibalianus; and three daughters: Constantia, Anastasia, and Eutropia.) brothers of Constantine. But by his former wife Helena he already had a son Constantine, who was later the mightiest of emperors.

This Constantine, then, born of Helena, a mother of very common origin, and brought up in the town of Naissus,[*](In Moesia, on the river Margus; cf. xxi. 10, 5; modern Nis, in Yugoslavia.) which he afterwards splendidly adorned, had but slight training in letters.[*](minus = minus iusto, Tillemont iv, p. 132 (Wagner).) He was

For when Constantine, then a young man, was serving in the cavalry against the Sarmatians, he seized by the hair and carried off a fierce savage, and threw him at the feet of the emperor Galerius. Then sent by Galerius through a swamp, he entered it on his horse and made a way for the rest to the Sarmatians, of whom he slew many and won the victory for Galerius.

Then at last Galerius sent him back to his father. But in order to avoid meeting Severus[*](He had been appointed Caesar by Galerius; see 3, 5, below.) as he passed through Italy, Constantine crossed the Alps with the greatest haste, ordering the post-horses to be killed[*](At each station, so that his pursuers could not use them; cf. Zos. ii. 8; Ps.-Aur. Vict., Caesares, 40, 2, cum ad frustrandos insequentes publica iumenta quaqua iter egerat interficeret; and for another meaning, Amm. xv. 1, 2.) as he went on; and he came up with his father Constantius at Bononia,[*](Boulogne, cf. Amm. xx. 1, 3.) which the Gauls formerly called Gesoriacum. But his father Constantius, after winning a victory over the Picts, died at York, and Constantine was unanimously hailed as Caesar by all the troops.

In the meantime, two other Caesars had been appointed,[*](By Galerius.) Severus and Maximinus; to Maximinus was given the rule of the Orient; Galerius retained Illyricum for himself, as well as the Thracian provinces and Bithynia; Severus received Italy and whatever Herculius had formerly

But after Constantius died in Britain, and his son Constantine succeeded him, Maxentius, the son of Herculius, was suddenly hailed as emperor by the praetorian soldiers in the city of Rome. By order of Galerius, Severus took the field against Maxentius, but he was suddenly deserted by all his followers and fled to Ravenna. Thereupon Galerius, with a great army, came against Rome, threatening the destruction of the city, and encamped at Interamna[*](In Southern Umbria on the river Nar, just below its junction with the Velinus; modern Terni.) near the Tiber.

Then he sent Licinius and Probus to the city as envoys, asking that the son-in-law, that is Maxentius, should attain his desires from the father-in-law, that is Galerius, at the price of requests rather than of arms. Galerius’ proposal was scorned, and having learned that through Maxentius’ promises many of his own men had been led to desert his cause, he was disturbed and turned back; and in order to furnish his men with whatever booty he could, he gave orders that the Flaminian Road should be plundered.[*](Text and meaning are uncertain. Apparently he went along the Flaminian Road; cf. Lact., De Mort. Persec. 27, 5, dedit militibus potestatem ut diriperent omnia vel corrumperent, ut si quis insequi vellet, utensilia non haberet. )

Maximianus[*](Ille seems to refer to Maximianus, who wished to resume his imperial power; if so, something is missing from the text.) took refuge with Constantine. Then Galerius made Licinius a Caesar[*](Other writers imply that he was made an Augustus at once.) in Illyricum, and after that, leaving him in Pannonia, returned himself to Serdica, where he was attacked by a violent disease and wasted away so completely, that he died with the inner parts of his body exposed and in a state of corruption[*](Cf. Oros. vii. 28, 12, put rescente introrsum pectore et visceribus dissolutis ) —a punishment for a most

Severus Caesar was low both in character and in origin, given to drink, and hence a friend to Galerius. Accordingly Galerius made Caesars of him and Maximinus, without Constantine having knowledge of any such step. To this Severus were assigned some cities of Pannonia, Italy, and Africa. Through this chance Maxentius became emperor; for Severus was deserted by his men and fled to Ravenna.

Summoned to support his son Maxentius, Herculius came to Ravenna, deceived Severus by a false oath, gave him into custody, and took him to Rome in the condition of a captive; there he had him kept under guard in a villa belonging to the state, situated thirty miles from Rome on the Appian Road.[*](According to Zos. ii. 10, and Pseud.-Aur. Vict., Epit. 40, 3, it was at Tres Tabernae.) When Galerius later went to Italy, Severus was executed; then his body was taken to a place eight miles from the city, and laid in the tomb of Gallienus.

Now Galerius was such a tippler[*](Pseud.-Vict. 40, 19, makes this statement regarding Maxentius.) that when he was drunk he gave orders such as ought not to be obeyed; and so, at the advice of his prefect, he directed that no one should execute any commands which he issued after luncheon.

Meanwhile Constantine, after defeating the tyrant’s[*](Maxentius, called tyrant because his sovereignty was not officially recognised.) generals at Verona, went on to Rome. When he had reached the city, Maxentius came out and chose a plain[*](Saxa Rubra, near the Mulvian Bridge.) above the Tiber as the place to do battle. There the usurper was defeated, and when