The Gothic history of Jordanes in English version

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THE GOTHIC HISTORY

OF

JORDANES

IN ENGLISH VERSION
WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND A COMMENTARY

BY
CHARLES CHRISTOPHER MIEROW, PhD:

Instructor in Classics in Princeton University

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON
LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1915

Copyright, 1915, by
CHARLES CHRISTOPHER MIEROW

Published, February, 1915

FEB 27 1915
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PREFACE

This edition of the Getica of Jordanes is based upon
the authoritative text and critical apparatus of Mommsen
as found in the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auc-
tores Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882), with other material
added. I have adhered closely to his spelling of proper
names, especially Gothic names, except in a few words
which are of common use in another form. I have care-
fully reviewed all the existing evidence on controverted
points, dissenting in several instances from the conclu-
sions of Mommsen, particularly in regard to the sup-
posedly Gothic writer Ablabius, the ecclesiastical status of
Jordanes, and the place of composition of the Getica.
For the Latinity of Jordanes the studies of E. Wolfflin
(Arehy ἢ lat. Lex. 11, 361), J. Beremiuller (Augsburg
1903), and Fritz Werner (Halle 1908) have been con-
sulted, and for ready convenience of illustration in his-
torical matters frequent reference is made in the com-
mentary to Hodgkin’s “Italy and Her Invaders’ (2nd.
edition, Clarendon Press, 1892), Gibbon’s “Decline and
Fall of the Roman Empire” (edited by J. B. Bury,
London 1896), Bury’s “History of the Later Roman
Empire” (MacMillan ἃ Co., 1889), and “The Cambridge
Medieval History” (The MacMillan Co., New York
IQII).

The translation, already separately printed (Princeton
University Press, 1908) and thus far the only existing
English version, has been revised throughout, and a few
slight changes have been made. As the Latin text of
Mommsen is available elsewhere, it is not reprinted in
this edition.

I desire to make especial acknowledgment of the many
helpful criticisms received from Dean West and to ex-
press my gratitude for his constant and unfailing interest
in this as in all my studies in the later Latin.

CHARLES CHRISTOPHER MIEROW.

Princeton University.

CONTENTS

Ι. INERODUCTION

τ jordanes: Els Lite and Works... I
ondanese Wis as es c05 cc wire et ete I
Me NEO Se Namtiennis oct 130s". 2 os a 2
ἘΠῚ ΔΤ yews nares het προ τι shane 2
ἘΠ Nationality anc. (feta c)-c siecdhols 3
SPE OSItION: ᾿π ἰδ Harte) cals Cinch ene 4
His Ecclesiastical Condition........ 5
ἘΠῚ. Paiteratys /ACtivity a oii. ange sues 10
Where the books were written...... II
Date of Composition of the Romana

BiG Uh ALA) τ a SieheeRST OS I2

Ὁ πὸ Genca sh tea eee 13
Natitrerot: then wortleac ae (oc ane 13
Blisg@ricinalityae © ots csceittons ome 14
CassiodorusisenatOtec. sae aetia- css ΤΕ
PATI Ole απο οι 2 sare areas aes 15
ΠΕ ΛΠ πὶ OF Ordanes. 1... 2.2.35 16
ΠΕ ποτα. ΠῚ Style.jc. cise. es 16

2. The Literary Sources used in the Getica 19
Authors mentioned:

ΠΟ ΑΙ ΠΟ ee ta cnene ie ee 19
Gassiod onus spas tess tte ot ee 23
Claudius. Ptolemacus, =... ere 29
ΤΟΝ ΡΡ στ τ ἐν 29
iO erase ee ees ee Cee ees 29
IADILIS ger crs yinra steer ce renee 30
MOSE PUSH tetkes ssc aeeecamacte 30
ΤΕΊΛ ce Verret tea want eevee Cee eee: 30
Petia, aes Upsets tak ope a ae 30
ompeis Pnogus.aa.t- sneer 30
Pomponmis, Melave 2. y-2- ee 30
PGISCUS εν oc oh oe Gar Hence eh 31
Shirl ΟΠ ys ene ed eae 22
Sytimachs 7. Sawa as ese oe 32
BACIGMS Wg toons tay cas aoe eters ee 22
δ ον Πα ΠΥ 33

CONTENTS

Further authorities used:

DDIGEYS > 55). tithe aoms reba! oc ate 69
Mareellinus: sass oe eee 33

A continuator of Ammianus
Marcellinus: |<. 2Gti. «cater 34
Manrcellinus Comes: iz. 2-:.22..ee 35
PEOS PED. ρου ct ree 35
RGNMUS) (cg. 0 ca. ee ots ee 36
Solimus) 0 iw eae 36
i. -eostaphical map... 2... 5 36
3. - hronologicaly Vane: cn eae ae 38
4. (Genealopical Chart of the πα 41
ΡΠ οὐ το τ 4. some aiaes ater eee 42
6. . Literary Analysis of the Getica......: 47

Il. THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE
GOUHS? τ os a ee 51

TE COMME N PARRY: τ τ ee 143

INTRODUCTION
i) JORDANES> HIS LIFE AND WORKS

Jordanes. The author of “The Origin and Deeds of
the Goths” is not a model of literary excellence or
originality. He tells us himself! that he was an un-
learned man before his conversion, and his writings
fully bear out this statement. His book is mainly a
compilation, not very carefully made; his style is irreg-
ular, rambling, uneven, and exhibits to a marked de-
gree the traits of the decadent, crumbling later Latin.
Yet he is important as the earliest Gothic historian
whose work has survived, and he gives much informa-
tion in regard to the Goths that is nowhere else recorded.
Across the scene he unfolds before us pass some of
the greatest—and some of the most terrible—figures in
history: Attila the Hun, “the scourge of God,” the
Visigoth Alaric who thrice sacked the Eternal City,
Gaiseric the Vandal and the great Theodoric. So for the
matter, if not for the style of his history of the Goths,
Jordanes deserves careful consideration.

And there is too a certain irresistible charm in his
naive simplicity. He is so credulous, and tells in all sin-
cerity such marvellous tales of the mighty achievements
of his people, that the reader is drawn to him by his very
loyalty and devotion to the defeated Gothic race in whose
greatness he has so confident a belief. For despite the
fact that he is following closely in another’s footsteps
and is giving at second hand practically all the matters
of fact he relates, his own simple, trustful personality so
pervades the whole work as to awaken sympathy for the
writer and his great tale of the lost cause.

*Getica L 266.

2 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

The Author’s Name. Of his life little is known apart
from the scant information contained in a few brief sen-
tences of his own. The very spelling of his name was
long a matter of controversy, and Jacob Grimm? (fol-
lowed later by Dietrich*) argued in favor of the form
Jornandes, which appears in the first printed editions of
his works. But the authority for this spelling is only
the second class of manuscripts, while the name Jordanes
is attested by the primary family of manuscripts and by
the only ancient author who mentiones him—the Geo-
grapher of Ravenna.

His Family. Jordanes was himself a Goth* and held
the office of secretary or notary (notarius) in a noble
family of the Gothic race. Here is his own brief but
tangled account of himself and his ancestors :°

Scyri vero et Sadagariu et certt Alanorum cum duce
suo nomine Candac Scythiam minorem inferioremque
Moesiam acceperunt. cuius Candacis Alanoviiamuthis
patris mei genitor Paria, id est meus avus, notarius, quous-
que Candac ipse viveret, fuit, etusque germanae filio Gun-
thicis, qui et Baza dicebatur, mag. muil., filio Andages fil
Andele de prosapia Amalorum descendente, ego item
gquamvis agramatus Tordannis ante conversionem meam
notarius fut.

From this passage it appears that at the time of Attila’s
death (453 A.D.) Candac was leader of part of the Alani.
Candac’s sister was the wife of the Ostrogoth Andag,
whom Jordanes mentions elsewhere® as the slayer of
Theodorid I in the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. This

? Abhandlungen der Berliner Akademie 1846, pp 1-59 = Kleine
Schriften III 171-235.

*Uber die Aussprache des Gothischen (1862).

*Getica LX 316.

*L 266.

*XL 2009.

INTRODUCTION 3

Andag was the son of Andela who was descended from
the family of the Amali. The son of Andag and Candac’s
sister was Gunthigis (or Baza), whose notary Jordanes
was. Paria, the grandfather of Jordanes, had served
Candac in the same capacity. It would appear from
Mommsen’s text that the name of Jordanes’ father was
Alanoviiamuthis. For this long and unwieldly word
Erhardt’ suggested the reading Alanorum ducis, to be
taken in apposition with Candacis. The conjecture
was reasonable enough; the serious objection to it is
the unnatural omission of his father’s name in a passage
where Jordanes is avowedly giving an account of his
ancestry. Grienberger* more plausibly explains the form
as ALAN. Ὁ. UIIAMUTHIS; that is, the abbreviation of
Alanorum ducis (in apposition with the preceding Canda-
cis) followed by the name of Jordanes’ father, which
would thus be Uuamuth (Gothic Vethaméoths).

His Nationality. This Gothic name accords also with
the statement of the author himself as to his national-
ity,? and tends to overthrow Mommsen’s theory that in
reality he belonged to the tribe of the Alani, like the
leader whom he served.?° Not only is this an unneces-
sary assumption, but if Jordanes belonged to that tribe
he might well be expected to mention the fact explicitly
in the passage quoted above. It is difficult to find in the
Getica any such prejudice in favor of the Alani as
Mommisen mentions, and Jordanes has certainly not

"Gottingische gelehrte Anzeigen 17 (1886), pp. 669-708.

*Die Vorfahren des Jordanes, Germania 34 (1889), pp. 406-400.

ΠΧ 316: nec me quis in favorem gentis praedictae, quasi ex ipsa
trahenti originem, aliqua addidisse credat.

Ὁ Friedrich (Uber die Kontroversen Fragen im Leben des got-
ischen Geschichtschreiber’s Jordanes, Sb. d. philos.-philol. τι. hist. ΚΙ.
d. K. B. ΑΚ. d. W. 1907, III pp. 379-442) cites a number of in-
stances of leaders of barbarian tribes whose secretaries were not
of the same race as themselves.

4 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

availed himself of the opportunity here presented to
glorify Candac, as he could easily have done if he were
eager to bring this race into prominence. It seems more
reasonable therefore to take his words in their simplest
and most obvious meaning when he says that he traces
his descent from the race of the Goths.

His Position in Life. The office of secretary in mili-
tary life was a position of some distinction, and was
often conferred by leaders upon their equals ;'* in this case
the fact that Paria, the grandfather of Jordanes, had held
a like office under Candac gives added distinction to the
secretaryship as an honor perhaps hereditary in this fam-
ily. The Gunthigis or Baza whom Jordanes served has
been identified with some plausibility by Friedrich’? with
Godigisclus, a leader of the Goths mentioned by Proco-
pius,!® and further with the Batza of Marcellinus Comes,"
who was in 536 dux of the Euphrates limes and entrusted
with the defense of the empire’s farthest frontier. Fried-
rich argues that Jordanes must have resigned his office
before this year (since he shows no intimate knowledge
of Asia), acting as secretary for Gunthigis only during
the time that he was stationed in the European part of
the Eastern Empire, and accordingly that a considerable
space of time elapsed between the resignation of his office

™See for example Anonymus Valesianus 38: Orestes Pan-
nonius eo tempore, quando Attila in Italiam venit, se ili iunxit et
eius notarius factus fuerat: unde profecit et usque ad patriciatus
dignitatem pervenit.

Oc

* Bell. Pers. I 8 (on the years 502-505): Γοδίδισκλός τε kai Béooas
Τότθοι ἄνδρες. Compare with this the mention of nostri temporis
Bessa patricius by Jordanes in the same passage (L 265-266) with
Gunthicis .. . mag. mail.

“On the year 536: limitem Euphratesiae ingressa, ubi Batzas
dux eosdem partim blanditiis partim districtione pacifica fovit et
inhiantes bellare repressit.

INTRODUCTION 5

and the writing of the Getica.° At all events it 15
evident that Jordanes, writing in 551, was an elderly man
when he composed his history: for his grandfather was
almost contemporary with the Battle of the Catalaunian
Plains in 451—just a century before—and he himself had
served the son of a man who had taken part in the same
conflict.1®

His Ecclesiastical Condition. The words ante con-
versionem meam in the passage quoted above have occa-
sioned much difference of opinion with regard to the
author’s status during the latter part of his life. The
phrase has been variously interpreted as referring to
conversion to Christianity,17 conversion from Arianism to
the Nicene belief,!® entrance upon the monastic state,’®
or merely a withdrawal from everyday activities into a
life of meditation and quiet.?° It is by no means neces-
sary to infer from these words that Jordanes became a
monk, as Mommsen sought to prove,”! for the expression
may just as well be understood to refer to entrance upon
the life of an ecclesiastic,?” and Jordanes is probably to

*Tn further support of which see the letter to Vigilius prefaced
to the Romana: me longo per tempore dormientem vestris tandem
interrogationibus excitastis.

* See Erhardt, l.c.

“Bergmiller, Einige Bemerkungen zur Latinitat des Jordanes.
Progr. Augsburg 1903.

* Ebert, Allgemeine Geschichte der Literatur des Mittelalters
(Leipzig 1889), p. 557, n. 2.

“So Mommsen, following Muratori (Scriptores rerum Italicarum
Vol. 1, 1723). In support of his view he quotes the preface of the
de orthographia of Cassiodorus (gramm. Lat. ed. Keil 7, 144):
post commenta psalterit, ubi ... conversionis meae tempore
primum studium laboris impendi.

Ὁ Friedrich, o.c. pp. 395-402, feels convinced that he became a
religiosus.

*Mommsen claimed further that he wrote in a Moesian, Thracian
or Illyrian Monastery (Introduction to the Getica p. ix, and Momm-
sen’s edition of Marcellinus Comes p. 53).

See Simson, Neues Archiv 22, pp. 741-743; Pope Gelasius I

6 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

be identified with the Bishop Jordanes of Crotona who
was with Pope Vigilius in Constantinople in the
year 551.78

Mommsen opposed the theory that Jordanes was a
bishop, asserting that he became and remained a simple
monk. Yet the first class of manuscripts calls him epis-
copus?* in the title of the Romana, while the third class,
in the title of the Getica, speaks of him as Bishop of
Ravenna. This he certainly was not, as Muratori
showed,”®> basing his proof on an extremely accurate list
of the archbishops of Ravenna by Rubens, Ughelli and
others. Moreover we find no trace of Jordanes in the
lives of these prelates by Agnellus, who wrote in the
ninth century under the Emperor Lothar I. It is hard
to believe that he could have escaped the investigations
of Agnellus, particularly as the church at Ravenna was
so celebrated and abundantly supplied with records.
Simson’s attempt?® to show that Jordanes was possibly a
bishop of Africa was not very successful, and has found
few supporters. But there was a Bishop of Crotona
named Jordanes who was in Constantinople with Pope
Vigilius in the year 551, and it seems reasonably cer-
tain that he is identical with the author of the Getica.?*

We find mention of Bishop Jordanes in the document

(Thiel p. 370) : sub religiosae conversionis obtentu vel ad monasteria
sese conferre, vel ad ecclesiasticum famulatum .. . indifferenter
admittt.

* See below (p. 7-10). There was also a Jordanes defensor eccle-
siae Romanae in 556 (mentioned by Pope Pelagius in his fifth
letter to the bishops of Tuscia, Mansi 9, 716).

*So also Sigebert of Gembloux, de script. eccl. 35: Iordanus
episcopus Gothorum scripsit historiam.

* Muratori, Scriptores 1, 180.

ἘΝ A. 22, 741-747.

7 Among the adherents to this theory are Bessell, Cassell, Er-
hardt, Grimm, von Gutschmid, Manitius, Martens, Schirren and
Wattenbach.

INTRODUCTION 7

known as the Damnatio ΤΠΠοοαογῖδ in which the Pope
says: nos... cum Dacio Mediolanensi . . . Paschasio
Aletrino atque Iordane Crotonensi fratribus et episcopts
nostris. As Bishop of Crotona in Bruttium Jordanes
would have lived not far from the monastery (monas-
terium Vivariense) to which Cassiodorus had retired in
his old age. Here then is the one place where he might
easily have obtained the twelve books of the Gothic His-
tory of Cassiodorus,”® and his inability to refer to them
later when he was actually writing his compilation®®
would be explained by his absence in Constantinople.

It is furthermore probable that he wrote his work at
Constantinople because of his evident ignorance of the
later and contemporary events in Italy and his accurate
knowledge of the trend of affairs in the Eastern Em-
pire.*! His eulogy of the Emperor Justinian and his
general Belisarius is also just what might be expected
from one who wrote in the vicinity of the imperial court.
And finally it has been pointed out that his words to
Castalius in the introduction to the Getica: si quid parum
dictum est et tu, ut vicinus genti, commemoras, adde, are
peculiarly appropriate if we may suppose that his friend
was a fellow-townsman of his and lived at Crotona, which
was in close contact with the Goths but not actually in
their possession.

The fact that the Romana is dedicated to a Vigilius has
made this theory still more plausible, and it is hard to
avoid the conclusion that this Vigilius is the Pope of
that name. Mommsen follows Ebert®? in denying even

8 Acta concil tom. 5, p. 1314; Mansi 9, p. 60.

™ See below (p. 10).

” Getica, preface 2.

* Friedrich (0.c. pp. 402-428) in support of his theory that Jor-
danes wrote in Thessalonica cites arguments which indicate an
eastern rather than a western origin of the work and which are

at least equally applicable to Constantinople.
* Geschichte d. christlich lat. Lit. 1, pp. 556-562 (1889).

ὃ JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the possibility of this, and Friedrich still more scornfully
rejects the hypothesis ;** their arguments are based on
both the form and the content of the letter to Vigilius
which forms the introduction to the Romana, With re-
gard to the salutation, nobilissime frater, and later novi-
lissime et magnifice frater, while it is not, indeed, the
way in which a simple monk would have addressed the
pope, yet a bishop might perhaps use such expressions to
one who was his friend. And, as Grimm has pointed out,**
these words of greeting sound more respectful than the
frater Castali and frater carissime in the opening sections
of the Getica.** Even so, frater carissime is the very
salutation used by Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, in a
letter?® to the Roman Pope Cornelius in the year 250-
251, and again in 433 we find John, Bishop of Antioch,
addressing Pope Xystus simply as “brother.’’??

It will be remembered too that Pope Vigilius held the
office under trying circumstances which detracted from

*p. 433: So toricht spricht kein Bischof oder gar ein romischer
defensor ecclesiae zu einem Papst. Others who agree with Momm-
sen on this point are Teuffel § 485 and Werner, Die Latinitat der
Getica des Jordanis, Halle 1908.

* Kleinere Schriften 3, pp. 171-235.

© Friedrich claims that no argument can be based upon a com-
parison of the salutations of these two letters because the intro-
duction of the Getica is borrowed from Rufinus, asserting that
even the words frater Castali merely correspond to the frater
Heracli of that author! And since magnificus was a title of respect
bestowed upon the holders of certain offices of importance, he
would see in Jordanes, Castalius and Vigilius three men in secular
life, perhaps veterans of the imperial army. Yet Friedrich else-
where calls attention to the fact that Pope Vigilius was of dis-
tinguished ancestry, a Roman and the son of a consul, which might
in itself account for such a title of respect, and further the use
of the word frater in both letters is a significant fact; it surely
savors more of ecclesiastical than military life.

*In Epist. roman. pontif. ed. Constant, Paris 1721, pp. 125,
91; 150.

ὅτ Ibid. p. 1242.

INTRODUCTION 9

the dignity usual to the position. He was made Pope at
Rome in 537 through the influence of Belisarius and at
the request of the Empress Theodora, who hoped that
he would be unorthodox. In 547 he was summoned to
Constantinople because of his refusal to sign the Three
Chapters issued by Justinian. It was not until 554 that
he finally obtained permission to return to Italy, and
during the seven years of his captivity—for he was vir-
tually a prisoner in Constantinople—he was much perse-
cuted by the imperial party, and was twice compelled to
flee to a church for sanctuary.** It was in Constantinople
and in 551, the very year when Jordanes was writing the
Romana and Getica, that Vigilius issued the Dammnatio
Theodori from which we have quoted above a sentence
containing the name Jordanes.*°

Bearing these facts in mind, let us now glance at the
dedication of the Romana to Vigilius, and see if its con-
tent is such as to preclude its having been written to the
pope of that name. Jordanes says that he is sending the
universal history which he has just completed iungens et
aliud volumen de origine actusque Getice gentis, quam
iam dudum communi amico Castalio ededissem, quatinus
diversarum gentium calamitate conperta ab ommi erumna
liberum te fiert cupias et ad deum convertas, qui est vera
libertas. legens ergo utrosque libellos, scito quod dili-
genti mundo semper necessitas umminet. tu vero ausculta
Iohannem apostolum, qui ait: ‘carissini, nolite dilegere
mundum neque ea que in mundo sunt. quia mundus tran-
sit et concupiscentia eius: qui autem fecerit voluntatem
dei, manet in aeternum. estoque toto corde diligens
deum et proximum, ut adimpleas legem et ores pro me
novilissime et magnifice frater.

If this, as Mommsen would have us believe, is merely

* See Vigilius Encyclica p. 55 Migne.
See above (p. 7).

Io JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

an exhortation to a friend, bidding him to follow his
own example, renounce the world, and become a monk,
why should Jordanes already address him as “brother”
and ask for his prayers? On the contrary, we can easily
understand these words as an attempt on the part of
Jordanes to console his distinguished friend in the midst
of his trialk—and we have seen that this pope had his
share of cares and tribulations—by recalling to his mind
the disasters that have overtaken men in all ages, and
by exhorting him anew to find freedom from anxiety in
trusting God’s purposes, while he continues steadfast in
doing what he feels is the divine will, and persists in
that love of God and of his neighbor which is the ful-
filling of the law.

His Literary Activity. There are two books that
have come down under the name of Jordanes. One is a
compendium of universal history, which he entitled De
summa temporum vel origine actibusque gentis Roman-
orum. The other is the abbreviation of the Gothic His-
tory of Cassiodorus, a large work of twelve books which
Jordanes reduced to the small pamphlet which alone has
survived. This, like the original work of which it is
an abridgment, is entitled De origine actibusque Ge-
tarum. The terms Romana and Getica, introduced by
Mommsen, are most convenient for compendious refer-
ence to the two works.

As we learn from Jordanes himself in the introductory
sections of the Getica, he was engaged in the work of
“the abbreviation of the Chronicles,” that is, he was writ-
ing the Romana, when his friend Castalius requested him
to undertake the composition of the Gothic History. So
laying aside for a time the work he had in hand (which
was probably almost completed), he first wrote and pub-
lished the Getica and then returned to the Romana. The

INTRODUCTION II

latter work was dedicated to Vigilius and sent to him
with the Getica.*®

Where the books were written. Where Jordanes
was when he wrote these books is a matter of dispute.
Of course if the author can be identified with that Bishop
Jordanes who accompanied Pope Vigilius to Constanti-
nople, this difficulty is at once cleared up; and we have
tried to show the reasonableness of this theory.

Mommsen believed that Jordanes makes his whole
narrative hinge upon the home of his ancestors, namely
the two Roman provinces of Scythia, with its capital at
Tomi, and Moesia Inferior, with its capital at Mar-
cianople. He found too that there is an enormously dis-
proportionate number of Moesian names in the Getica
compared with those belonging to other provinces of the
empire. He believed he could discover a pushing for-
ward of Moesia and Thrace and an intimate acquaintance
with these regions, from which he drew the conclusion
that Jordanes was himself a Moeso-Goth dwelling in this
part of the country, and that he wrote his book perhaps
at Tomi, Marcianople or Anchiali.*!

And yet, as Erhardt*® and Schirren** have shown, even
granting Mommsen’s premises, the conclusions he draws
therefrom do not necessarily follow. For these regions
were in a sense the cradle of the race, and must naturally
have a central interest for all Goths, and the subject
itself makes it proper that they should be placed in the
foreground. Jordanes’ personal knowledge of the coun-
try may be easily explained by his previous office as notary,
and it is not necessary to assume that he continued to

“See the letter to Vigilius ὃ 4.

“Friedrich (pp. 402-428) adduces a number of arguments in
support of an eastern origin, and favors Thessalonica as the place
of writing.

“Gott. gel. Anzeigen 1886 N. 17 p. 660.

“Deutsche Literaturzeitung 1882 N. 40 p. 1420.

12 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

dwell in Moesia and wrote his books there just because he
shows an intimate acquaintance with these regions. In
fact, when Jordanes borrowed the work of Cassiodorus
from his steward (dispensator) for a three days’ read-
ing** he must naturally have lived—for the time at least—
in the neighborhood of where the book was, and we know
that Cassiodorus lived only in Bruttium.*” Of course it
does not follow that Jordanes wrote in the place where
he read the book of Cassiodorus, for his own language
indicates a composition considerably later than the read-
ing. The weight of evidence is still in favor of Constan-
tinople rather than Moesia. The very fact that he calls
upon the absent Castalius to corroborate his statements
as “a neighbor to the race” seems to show that he wrote
from the non-Gothic Constantinople, and not from
Moesia, where remnants of the Gothic race were still
dwelling in their ancestral regions.

Date of Composition of the Romana, 551 A.D. There
can be little doubt with regard to the date of the completed
composition of the Romana, for Jordanes himself says in
his introduction*® that he wrote it im vicensimo quarto
anno Iustiniani imperatoris, and again in the body of the
work*’ we find this sentence : Justinianus imperator regnat
zam itubante domino ann. X Χ 1111. The twenty-fourth year
of the reign of Justinian is the year beginning April 1,
551. The content of the work is in agreement with these
statements of the author, for we find recorded the death
of Germanus‘® which occurred in the autumn of 550 and
the birth of his posthumous son. Mention is likewise
made of the “daily’’*® instantia . . . Bulgarum, Antium ~

“Getica preface 2.

“So W. A. in Lit. Centralblatt 1883 p. 1060.
* Romana § 4.

* Romana ὃ 363.

“Romana ὃ 383.

” Romana ὃ 388.

INTRODUCTION 13

et Sclavinorum (that is, their expedition into Thrace in
550), and finally®° of the victory of the Lombards over
the Gepidae in 551. On the other hand, there is no men-
tion of later events.

5

Of the Getica, Js A.D. If then Jordanes wrote the
Getica after he had begun the Romana, and published it
first, we may conclude that it too was written in 551. In
this work also we find the death of Germanus mentioned,
while there is no record of events later than those re-
counted in the Romana. Furthermore, he speaks of the
plague®! quod nos ante hos novem annos experti sumus.
Now this is probably the pestilence which arose in Egypt°?
in 541, reached Byzantium in October 542, and there
caused great desolation for four months, and finally in
543 devastated Italy. So this too serves to support the
opinion that the Getica was written in 551. Jordanes
says, to be sure, in the preface to the Romana that he has
published the Getica “iam dudum,”’ but this expression
may readily indicate as short an interval as several
months.

Nature of the Work. Now as already seen, Jordanes
himself admits that the Getica is merely an abridgment
of the history of Cassiodorus. Furthermore he claims
that in writing it he was obliged to rely largely upon his
memory, as he did not have the original work before him
at the time.®® He says of the twelve books of the Gothic
History :°4 “The words I recall not, but the sense and the
deeds related I think I retain entire. To this I have added
fitting matters from some Greek and Latin histories. 1

Ὁ Romana §§ 386, 387; Procopius bell. Goth. 4, 25 p. 638.

* Getica xix 104.

See Clinton’s Fasti for 542.

% Friedrich (p. 438) flatly refuses to believe this statement: “Er

hatte sie ja in Wirklichkeit vor sich.”
δ Getica preface 2, 3.

14 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

have also put in an introduction and a conclusion, and
have inserted many things of my own authorship.”

His Originality. These are statements hard to believe.
His introduction, as we shall 566,05 is taken almost word
for word from Rufinus. At the end of the work, in re-
lating events not found in the work of Cassiodorus, he
makes use of Marcellinus Comes as an authority without
once mentioning him—though to be sure we must credit
him here with first-hand quotation. Most of the sixteen
authors from whom he quotes as if from personal knowl-
edge were perhaps not known to him at all except at
second hand, for in the Romana, written but a short
time before, he apparently knows nothing of these sources,
even when relating the same events on which he cites
them as authorities in the Getica. The inference is that
he has taken over quotations and references to sources
directly from the work of Cassiodorus. As to the “many
things of my own authorship” which Jordanes claims to
have inserted, it is difficult indeed to locate many of
these. Mommsen goes so far as to believe that almost his
sole original contribution consists in quotations from
Orosius at first hand!?® The unfairness of Mommsen’s
view lies in the fact that he overlooks the personal tone
of the style of Jordanes, which colors the entire work,
and that he minimizes the evident joining and fitting that
have to be done to connect the parts of the narrative.
Perhaps Jordanes does little more than bow in and bow
out his authors as they appear and disappear; but this at
least he does. Moreover we must not underestimate our
indebtedness to this ecclesiastic whose compiled book has
become practically the sole authority for much of our
information about the Goths, and notably for the Battle

* Literary Sources (p. 36).
See Literary Sources (p. 26).

INTRODUCTION 15

of the Catalaunian Plains (451 A.D.) and Attila’s mem-
orable defeat, so far-reaching in its consequences.

Cassiodorus Senator. Cassiodorus Senator, the great
statesman and man of letters, who was secretary both to
Theodoric the Great and to Athalaric, his grandson and
successor, wrote his history at the personal bidding of
Theodoric.®* In it (as Cassiodorus himself says in a
speech®® written for the young King Athalaric) “he
carried his researches up to the very cradle of the Gothic
race, gathering from the stores of his learning what even
hoar antiquity scarce remembered. He drew forth the
kings of the Goths from the dim lurking-place of ages,
restoring to the Amal line the splendor that truly belonged
to it, and clearly proving that for seventeen generations
Athalaric’s ancestors had been kings. Thus did he assign
a Roman origin to Gothic history, weaving as it were into
one chaplet the flowers which he had culled from the
pages of widely scattered authors.”

“Consider therefore,’ Athalaric continues in his ad-
dress to the Roman senate, “what love he showed to you
in praising us, by his proof that the nation of your sover-
eign has been from antiquity a marvellous people; so that
ye who from the days of your forefathers have ever been
deemed noble, are still ruled by the ancient progeny of
kings.”

The Aim of Cassiodorus. His intention then was to
reconcile the Romans to the rule of those whom they
regarded as barbarians by glorifying the Gothic race in
general, tracing its history back into the dim past and
bringing it into close contact with the great classical na-
tions of antiquity, and to exalt in particular the House of

* Usener’s Anecdoton Holderi p. 4; and see the Literary Sources
(p. 24). On the spelling Cassidor(i)us, see Manitius, Geschichte
der Lateinischen Literatur des Mittelalters, I page 30.

*§ Cassiodorus Var. 9, 25, Hodgkin’s version. This is a eulogy of
Cassiodorus upon his appointment as Praetorian Prefect in 533 A.D.

16 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the Amali, a line of kings from whom Theodoric traced
his descent. In order to win for his race a place in the
remote past, he identified the Goths with the Getae and
with the Scythians—a very vague term which covered
practically all the tribes who had their homes east of the
Vistula and Danube and north of the Black Sea. And
the Amazons, according to his account, were Gothic
women. Though he may have done this in good faith,
these are mistaken identifications, and accordingly we
must reject as evidence for true history the chapters that
deal with these peoples.*®

The Aim of Jordanes. When Jordanes wrote his
abridgment of this great work, he rested his hope for
the future of the Gothic race as much upon the Romans
as upon his own people. It is the union of the two races
that he feels sure will bring peace and prosperity to both
in the days to come. So he refers frequently® to the
marriage of Mathesuentha the Goth to Germanus the
Roman, and of their young son Germanus he says:*!
“This union of the race of the Anicii with the stock of
the Amali gives hopeful promise, by the Lord’s favor,
to both peoples.”

So it is evident that the Getica, though primarily a his-
torical work, naturally concludes somewhat in the manner
of a political pamphlet, portraying the reconcilement of
Goth and Roman under the beneficent rule of Justinian.

Language and Style.*™" To the student of classical
Latin only, the text of Jordanes as exhibited in Momm-

τ Hodgkin omits entirely chapters V-XIII of the Getica in using
Jordanes as a source.

OXLV δὲ. XLV 251 LX 717.

gi Be. Ge is

ἴα The Latinity of Jordanes has been investigated by Wolfflin
(Arch. f. 1. Lex. 11, 361), Bergmiiller (Augsburg 1903), and most
recently and exhaustively by Fritz Werner (Halle 1908), whose
satisfactory exposition I have followed.

INTRODUCTION 17

sen’s edition appears uncouth and almost barbarous.
Interchange of vowel sounds gives rise to such forms as
paenitus, Grecia, efoebi, distinavit, helaritatem, prumtis-
simum, Eoropam. Consonantal changes are fully as fre-
quent, resulting in such spellings as lacrimaviliter, Atri-
atici, storicus, habundans, Cauchasum. In consequence
of the omission of final m the accusative is often identical
in form with the ablative, as manu moverit, confidentia
addebat, and sometimes -wm is represented by -o, as in
Danubio transmeantes.

As regards inflection, there are fourth declension
words now changed to the second (laco, grados), and
conversely (immensu); third declension adjectives
changed to the second declension (acri ingenti) and sec-
ond to third (magnamimus). There are ablatives of i
stems in e (mare), datives in e (tali hoste), and nouns
ordinarily inflected now changed to indeclinables (a cor-
pus, foedus imto). There are also many changes in
gender, as may be seen from such phrases as laetus vul-
gus, iugus antefatus, quod dolus reminiscens. In matters
of conjugation, we find deponents that have become active
(remorasse) and the reverse (diuque certati), and
frequent interchange of conjugations (imquiret, 3rd.
sing. pres. indic., cognoscent, 3rd. plu. pres. indic.,
accersientes ).

In syntax the changes are no less marked. Preposi-
tions occur in combination with unexpected cases ( inter
Danubium Margumque fluminbus; a Pannonios fines
.. . distabat; cum multas opes; sine tpsos). Among
other peculiarities in the use of cases the following ex-
amples may be cited: omnem ... phylosphiam eos in-
struxit; equo insidens; ipsius urbis ferre subsidium; vix
biennio . . . perseverantes; Orestem interfectum (accu-
sative absolute). Verb constructions are marked by
many changes of voice, mood and tense: there are pres-

18 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

ent participles used like perfects (egresst... et
transeuntes), unusual infinitive combinations (quis...
cedere faciebat armatos?), and indicatives in indirect
questions (doceamus, quomodo . . . explevit). The use
of conjunctions is likewise distinguished by many pecu-
liarities, such as the use of quia and the indicative in
indirect discourse, a confusion of dum and cum, mox
equivalent to simul atque, and a great variety in condi-
tional usage. Moreover the periodic structure has in
large measure disappeared. Clauses and phrases whether
of principal or subordinate character are loosely swung
along in careless and sometimes clumsy succession, not
infrequently tangling the sense and at times making close
translation impossible.

Finally, there are many changes in the meanings of
words, and substitutions of new words for the familiar
expressions of classical Latin, as: amplus, grandis and im-
mensus for magnus; proprius for suus; germanus for
frater; solacium for auxilium,; civitas for urbs. We find
also patria synonymous with terra, pelagus usurping the
place of mare, and pars and plaga used as equivalents for
regio. There is a frequent use of abstracts, and some
specifically Christian phrases of course appear in the
work of this ecclesiastic. Jordanes is fond of circum-
locutions and sententious utterances, and his: style is at
times almost hopelessly confusing. In seeking a cause for
these many and exasperating peculiarities of form and ex-
pression, we must take account not only of the changing
language itself, with its many alterations similar in
nature to the changes in Western Latin, glimmerings
which preceded the dawn of the Romance languages, but
also of the candid confession of this Gothic secretary to
whom Latin was at best an imperfectly mastered foreign
tongue: ego . . . agramatus Tordannis ante conversio-
neni meam ... fut.

“

5 ΝΠ ἘΠ ιν SOURCES USED
ENOTES (6 15 ΤΣ ΠΟΣΊ

In the preface to his Getica, after stating that the book
is an epitome of the larger Gothic History of Cassiodorus
Senator, Jordanes says:® “To this I have added fitting
matters from some Greek and Latin histories,” and in the
chapters that follow sixteen ancient writers are cited as
authorities. Besides those whom he mentions, some seven
or eight others have evidently been used.

The question of the literary sources of Jordanes was
investigated by Sybel,®* and again by Mommsen in
his edition. The following consideration of the sources
is largely an abridgment of Mommsen’s thorough treat-
ment of the subject, although in several important points
(notably his opinion of the value of the unknown writer
Ablabius and his low estimate of the personal element in
Jordanes’ work) his views cannot be accepted without
question. The authorities mentioned by Jordanes are here
taken up in alphabetical order; his indebtedness to each
can be more clearly traced by comparing the text of the
Getica with the passages cited in Mommsen’s footnotes
and here given in the commentary.

Ablabius. This otherwise unknown descriptor Gotho-
rum gentis egregius is mentioned three times by Jordanes:
once his verissima historia® is cited as authority, and in
two other passages he is referred to as Ablabius .. .
storicus. He can not be identified with any writer

δ Preface 3.

*De fontibus libri Iordanis de origine actuque Getarwm, Berlin
1838.

SIN 28.

SIV 1820 XX 1r7,

19

20 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

known to have borne this name (which is not an uncom-
mon one), and it is not even clear whether he was a Greek,
a Roman or a Goth.®® Upon this meagre foundation of
fact Mommsen has built up an elaborate theory, ascrib-
ing to Ablabius all the material in the Getica which comes
ultimately from narratives of the Goths. According to
his view Cassiodorus could hardly have collected from the
lips of the people such legends and traditions, as he was
busied his life long with affairs of state, and perhaps not
even skilled in the Gothic tongue, as he was a Bruttian by
birth. In fact he undertakes to prove that Cassiodorus
condemned oral tradition as a source in saying :®7
nec eorum fabulas alicubi repperimus scriptas, qui eos
(the Goths) dicunt in Brittania . . . in servitute redactos
et in untus caballi praetio a quodam ereptos, adding fur-
ther: nos potius lectiont credimus quam fabulis anilibus
consentimus. Concluding therefore that he used literary
sources entirely, Mommsen decides that of all the authors
mentioned by Jordanes the only one to whom such legends
can be attributed is Ablabius. He regards this unknown
writer as the author of a book on Gothic History (rather
than of a Roman History merely containing references
to the Goths), and believes that his work concerned itself
largely with the origins of that race. And since the third
passage®*® quoted as from Ablabius seems really to be
from Dexippus, Mommsen makes the further inference
that Greek too was beyond the attainments of Cassiodorus,
and that most of the references to Greek authors (and
notably those to Priscus) are really quoted through Abla-
bius.©® Mommsen believed, therefore, that Cassiodorus

“The passage about the Heruli (XXIII 117) might just as well
be derived from a Greek as from a Roman writer.

ὙΠ 28:

See XXIII 117, and commentary.

® To support this theory Mommsen points out that what is said

of Vidigoia (V 43, XXXIV 178) is undoubtedly derived from the
same author as the Gothic legends.

INTRODUCTION 21

was indebted to this Ablabius for the greatest and most
valuable part of his Gothic History, including the first
part of the work that deals with the three abodes of the
Goths,’° and among the passages derived from Ablabius
he would include XI 72, XI 69, II, XIV, XVII,
XXIII 116.

Schirren*! presented some strong objections to this
highly complicated theory of the importance of Ablabius.
He justly observes that Mommsen goes too far in assign-
ing to this Ablabius practically everything in Jordanes
that goes back to old Gothic tradition, in spite of the fact
that no definite statements can be made about the man
or his work. Indeed there is no real proof of any specific
Gothic tradition that can be attributed to him, and in the
passages that can be assigned with certainty to Ablabius
as a source his knowledge is only such as a Greek writer
might have had. In his rebuttal of Mommsen’s view
Schirren makes three main points:

(1) Mommsen states: omnes (referring to the passages
in which this author is mentioned) ostendunt Ablabium
egisse de Gothorum originibus. On the contrary, in one
of the three instances we must read this meaning into
the passage, and in the other two we cannot even do that
much.

(2) Mommsen claims that Ablabius deserves high place
as an author because Jordanes speaks of him as descriptor
Gothorum gentis egregius. We might with equal right
have judged Jordanes himself, had his works been lost,
by the reference in the anonymous Geographer of Ra-
venna (4, 14) : lordanis Cosmographus subtilius exposuit.

(3) As to the various passages cited as probably ascrib-
able to Ablabius, some are thus assigned arbitrarily (for

ὯΝ 38-42. Mommsen held that this was practically attributed to
Ablabius by the statement in XIV 82.
™ Deutsche Literaturzeitung 1882, N. 40, pp. 1420-1424.

22 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

example, XI 69 and XI 72), and some can even be defin-
itely referred to another writer. So the stemma Ama-
lorum in XIV is almost certainly to be attributed to
Cassiodorus, who emphatically claims it as his own.

So that whereas Mommsen laments the lost Herodotus
of the Goths, and would even favor changing the reading
Favius in XXIX 151 to Ablabius, despite all the manu-
scripts, we find that everything that may be clearly as-
signed to Ablabius corresponds with Dexippus, and the
other passages are attributed to Ablabius on very doubt-
ful grounds. Now regarding Mommsen’s argument from
the sentences found in V 38: nec eorum fabulas .. .
consentimus. He holds, as has been seen, that this is a
remark made by Cassiodorus, and that Cassiodorus could
not have used any oral Gothic tradition but was indebted
to reading (lection) for everything. As to the story
about the horse, which has called forth the author’s disap-
proval, Mommsen believes Cassiodorus undoubtedly
found it mentioned in some author. But the speaker
expressly states that he nowhere found the story in
written form. So it must have come to him orally, and
moreover as a generally known tale (as is seen from the
use of the plural eorwm). Consequently Cassiodorus
did have some knowledge of Gothic tradition, and Momm-
sen’s theory, based on the opposite assumption, falls to
the ground. Schirren suggests that it is perhaps more
plausible to ascribe this passage directly to Jordanes him-
self, a view made more probable by the use of the first
person repperimus. Then the word lectioni would refer to
Cassiodorus, whom Jordanes followed. As to the fable
itself, it may have been a story not known to Cassiodorus
at all—perhaps a good joke told at Constantinople at
the expense of the Goths.

INTRODUCTION 23
<

Cassiodorus.*? Flavius Magnus Atirelius Cassiodorus
Senator (about 487—about 583) of Bruttii was one of
the most eminent men of his time and came of distin-
guished ancestors; his grandfather had been tribune and
notarius under Valentinian III, who died in 455; his
father filled the highest offices under Odoacer and Theo-
doric, and was made patrician by the latter. He himself
was guaestor sacri palati shortly after 500, afterwards
patrician, and then in the year 514 consul ordinarius and
finally magister officiorum. This office he seems to have
held for many years; at any rate, he held it in 526 when
Theodoric died and his grandson Athalaric succeeded to
the throne, but he resigned it when appointed praefectus
practorio in 533-534. In the year 534, when Athalaric
died, Cassiodorus delivered a public eulogy of his suc-
cessor Theodahad, and both under him and under Vitiges
(who became king in 536) he held the office of quaestor.
When the Goths were overcome he forsook secular life
and became a monk. In the monastery he founded Cas-
siodorus wrote a number of theological, historical and
educational works, and sought to impress upon his monks
the value of the ancient literature. Even after his ninety-
third year he wrote a book on orthography, and died
probably as late as his ninety-fifth year.

Of his work on Gothic history we learn solely from
Jordanes and from Cassiodorus himself. The earliest
mention he makes of it is in a letter written in 533 to
the senate of Rome.’* He writes in Athalaric’s name of
himself: tetendit se . . . in antiquam prosapiam nostram
lectione discens quod vix maiorum notitia cana retinebat.
iste reges Gothorum longa oblivione celatos latibulo vetu-
statis eduxit. iste Amalos cum generis sui claritate resti-

™ For his life see Mommsen’s Introduction (from which this ac-
count is taken) and Hermann Usener: Festschrift zur Philo-
logenversammlung in Wiesbaden 1877, p. 66 onward.

™ Var. Οἱ 25.

24 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

tuit, evidenter ostendens in decimam septimam progeniem
stirpem nos habere regalem. originem Gothicam histo-
riam fecit esse Romanam colligens quasi in unam coronam
germen floridum quod per librorum campos passim fuerat
ante dispersum. perpendite quantum vos in nostra laude
dilexerit, qui vestri principis nationem docuit ab antiqui-
tate mirabilem, ut, sicut fuistis a maioribus semper nobiles
aestimati, ita vos regum antiqua progemes imperaret.
When made praefectus praetorio and entering upon his
office he wrote a letter to the senate’* in which he makes
mention of the line of Amal kings, which is taken from
this work, and again” he refers to a passage in his his-
tory which Jordanes has epitomized.’® Finally, in the
preface to his Variae, apparently written in 538, his
friends address him thus: duodecim libris Gothorum his-
toriam defloratis prosperitatibus condidisti: cum tibt in
illis fuerit secundus eventus, quid ambigis et haec publico
dare, qui iam cognosceris dicendi tirocinia posuisse?
Moreover in the Codex Caroliruhensis edited by Use-
ner‘’ we have preserved the ordo generis Cassiodoriorum
eorumque qui scriptores extiterint ex eorum progenie vel
qui eruditi, and from it we learn the following: Cassio-
dorus Senator vir eruditissimus et multis dignitatibus
pollens iuvenis adeo dum patris Cassiodori patricii et prae-
fectt praetori consiliarius fieret et laudes Theodoricht
regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, ab eo quaestor
est factus, patricius et consul ordinarius, postmodum de-
hinc magister officiorum et praefuisset formulas dictionum,
quas in XII libris ordinavit, et variarum titulum superpo-
suit. scripsit praecifrente Theodoricho rege historiam
Gothicam originem et loca mores in (moresque XII is
Usener’s emendation) libris annuntians. ~Usener be-

4 Var. τας τ.

™\Var. 12, 20.

See Getica XXX 156 and note.

τ Ancedoton Holderi; for full title see p. 23, note 72.

INTRODUCTION 25

lieved that the book from which these excerpts are made
had been written by Cassiodorus in 522,75 and that there-
fore the History of the Goths must have been published
before that date. But Mommsen points out that this
very passage mentions his praefectura praetoriu, which he
obtained in 534, and the publication of the Variae, which
is to be dated about 538. Furthermore, in the very be-
ginning Cassiodorus is called monachus servus det. So
this fragment is evidently from a book published after
Cassiodorus became a monk, or else (as is possibly the
case) it has been added to by others. But it is unrea-
sonable to say that the part relating to the Variae is an
interpolation and then to make use of this fragment as
evidence to define the date of the appearance of the
Gothic History. It seems entirely probable that the his-
tory was begun at Theodoric’s suggestion, and all indica-
tions point toward its publication between 526, the year
of Theodoric’s death, and 533, when it is mentioned in
the letter cited above.‘ Mommsen calls attention to the
fact that Cassiodorus (who was not sparing of self-
praise) mentions this work only in the last years of his
office. Furthermore the statement, apparently taken from
the history itself, that Athalaric, the successor of Theo-
doric, is reigning as the seventeenth in the succession,
makes it clear that Cassiodorus could not have finished his
Gothic History in Theodoric’s lifetime.

The title of the Gothic History of Cassiodorus was in
all likelihood the same as that given by Jordanes to his
abridgment, De origine actibusque Getarwm;*° it was di-
vided into twelve books, like most of the other works of

τὸ Mainly because it gives the lives of Symmachus and Boethius
without making any mention of their trial and death.

m Page 15.

® See the passage from the Variae quoted on page 24 with its
mention of originem Gothicam, and the preface to the Getica 1.
When Cassiodorus speaks of the work as historiam he is referring
to its content rather than its title.

26 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Cassiodorus, and starting from the beginnings of the
Gothic race carried on the account to his own day, per
generationes regesque, as Jordanes states in his own
preface. Aside from making an epitome, the author of
the Getica claims that he has added to the work: ad quos
et ex nonnullis histortis Grecis ac Latinis addedi conven-
ientia initium finemque et plurain medio mea dictione per-
miscens. As regards the latter part of the book this
statement must, of course, be true, for Cassiodorus closed
his account with the year 526. But Mommsen is loath to
give any further credit for originality. He wholly dis-
credits the statement that Jordanes has himself added
convementia from various Greek and Latin authors, as-
signing rather to Cassiodorus all that comes from Priscus,
both Dios, Strabo and Ptolemaeus, and ultimately refer-
ring even this back to Ablabius and Ammianus Marcel-
linus. He concedes to Jordanes as a possible personal
contribution at the beginning of the work quotations from
Orosius at first hand (regarding this author as an author-
ity whom Cassiodorus did not hold in especially high
regard),°? and even goes so far as to admit that perhaps
all the passages from Orosius throughout the Getica are
quoted by Jordanes and make up the plura in medio.®?
Mommsen expresses small confidence in the truth of any
of the author’s claims, however, remarking that Jordanes
was not ashamed to appropriate for his Getica an intro-
duction from Rufinus and to pretend to give a quotation
from Iamblichus at the beginning of the Romana, that
he might adorn his book by that distinguished name.

“In support of this he quotes from Inst. div. litt. 17: Orosius
quoque Christianorum temporum paganorumque collator praesto
vobis est, si eum volueritis legere.

“ But Mommsen is in error, as Erhardt first pointed out, when he
says that Orosius is the only author referred to in the Getica

with the addition of the number of the book; references to books
are found also in III 16 (Ptolomaeus) and XV 83 (Symmachus).

INTRODUCTION 27

Of course what Jordanes says of himself and his own
people*®® cannot be referred back to Cassiodorus, nor can
so sharp a denunciation of Arianism** have been found
in the larger work, for Theodoric’s magister officiorum
though orthodox himself was mindful of the Arian con-
victions of his king. In general, to discover what pas-
sages are the actual work of Jordanes one must start from
the Romana, and after observing what authorities are
there employed note whether in the Getica the quotations
from these same writers are also made by Jordanes him-
self.8° Schirren,®® in his careful investigation, found in
many passages an ornate style (whether peculiar to Cas-
siodorus or to his age) which is very different from the
meagreness of Jordanes as he reveals himself in the
Romana and in those sections of the Getica which treat of
events later than 526.

According to Mommsen’s theory, Jordanes was a
Moeso-Goth and a subject of the Eastern Empire
(whereas Cassiodorus was a Gotho-Roman attached to
Theodoric’s court), and in his epitome the account of the
Foederatio of Gothic mercenaries and the history of the
provinces on the Danube has taken the place held in the
work of Cassiodorus by the account of the kingdom of
Theodoric the Great; in short, he held that as Cassiodorus
made the Gothic History Roman, so Jordanes made it
Moesian.

It will be noted, however, that Mommsen himself

eile le

*XXV 131-132; XXVI 138.

* So Mommsen points out that the death of Valens is described
in the Romana 314 in the words of Victor’s epitome, whereas in
the Getica he has fused with this the account taken from Am-
mianus Marcellinus which he found in Cassiodorus.

*De ratione quae inter Iordanem et Cassiodorium intercedat
commentatio, Dorpat 1858. See Gutschmid’s review of this, Kleine
Schriften 5, 293-336.

2ὃ JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

admits** that these very Moeso-Thracian references to
which he calls so much attention appeared also in Cassio-
dorus, and, as Schirren first observed, there is need of a
more convincing proof than Mommsen has given to
establish the fact that in Cassiodorus the Gotho-Moesian
history stood in a noticeably different proportion to the
Gotho-Italian than is the case in Jordanes. For after all,
the Gotho-Italian history begins with Theodoric, and
what precedes must necessarily have occupied a consider-
able space in Cassiodorus as it does in the abridgment of
his work.8§ Mommsen is unfair in his charges of pla-
giarism, for in his borrowed preface Jordanes indicates,
in some measure at least, his indebtedness to Rufinus by
the words ut quidam ait; moreover the author of the
Getica should be judged by the standards of his own age,
in which such customary open incorporation of another’s
writings was not viewed as plagiarism. The accusation
that Jordanes has at the beginning of his Romana used the
name of lamblichus to add lustre to his own work, in
pretending to quote from him while in reality putting for-
ward his own ideas, is likewise too severe a criticism.
Friedrich*? makes clear that Jordanes is accrediting Iam-
blichus merely with the phrase armis et legibus exer-
centes, which may well have been circulated under his
name, as it is quite in accord with a passage from his
work.

Erhardt,°®° while agreeing in the main with Mommsen’s
views on the literary sources and pointing out that these
conclusions are strengthened by a comparison of the
Romana with the Getica, inasmuch as the former work
contains few citations because Florus®®" seldom refers to

* Introduction XIII.

δ See also the introduction to this book, p. 15.

© Pp. 379-442.

δ Gott. gel. Anz. 1886, p. 660.

δὰ Jordanes follows Florus in the Romana.

INTRODUCTION 29

his authorities, while the latter bristles with them since
Cassiodorus loves to make a show of learned quotations,
would still not go so far as to say that Jordanes added
nothing of his own. He thinks that the quotations from
Symmachus regarding Maximin and perhaps some of the
geographical digressions have been added by Jordanes
to the account as found in Cassiodorus.

Claudius Ptolemaeus. The geographer of Alexan-
dria, orbis terrae discriptor egregius, a contemporary of
Marcus Aurelius, is quoted on Scandza in III 16-19.

Dexippus. This author, who wrote in Greek in the
period before Diocletian, is cited®! in regard to the march
of the Vandals from the ocean to the Roman frontier.
Moreover the passage about the Heruli,®°* which is
credited to Ablabius, comes from Dexippus. Mommsen
believed that in both instances Dexippus was quoted
through Ablabius.**

Dio. In his description of Britain, Jordanes once
cites?" and elsewhere makes use of Dio . . . celeberri-
mus scriptor annalium, and later refers to him as an au-
thority on Ravenna** and on the siege of Odessus.°® He
also praises him®® as: Dio storicus et antiquitatum dili-
gentissimus inquisitor, qui operi suo Getica titulum dedit,
and again®* as Dio, qui listorias (of the Goths) an-
nalesque Greco stilo composuit. But both Cassiodorus
and Suidas’® have erred in assigning to Dio Cassius the

OR tT 13.

2. XXIII 117.

* See above, p. 20.

pease TAL

™*XXIX 151.

*X 65.

"EX: 56:

sai AQ:

8. Δίων ὁ Κάσσιος * * * ἔγραψε 'ΡῬωμαικὴν. . . Περσικά, Τετικὰ ἐνόδια.

30 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

work on the Getae, contrary to the testimony of Philos-
tratus.°® It is Dio Chrysostom (b. 40 A.D.) who wrote
the Γετικά.

Fabius. It seems impossible to identify this author,
from whom part of the description of Ravenna’? is
taken. Mommsen’s view is that Jordanes may have writ-
ten Fabius where Cassiodorus had named Ablabius.

Josephus. The historian of the Jewish War (Ὁ. 37
A.D.), annalium relator verissimus, as he is called in
the Getica, is referred to in IV 29. Cassiodorus’®? re-
garded him as paene secundus Livius.

Livy. As Sybel pointed out,’°? the apparent quo-
tation from Livy in II Io rests in reality upon a passage
in the Agricola of Tacitus where Livy’s name is
mentioned.

Lucan. Lucan (39-65 A.D.) plus storico quam poeta,
as Jordanes says, accepting the judgment of former
critics, is cited once, in V 43.

Pompeius Trogus. This contemporary of Livy is
now known chiefly through the epitome of his Historiae
Philippicae by Justinus. According to Gutschmid??®
Jordanes or his authority Cassiodorus used, not the epi-
tome, but the original work of Trogus. He is cited in
VI 48 and X 61 and used also in VII 50 and in VIII
(see commentary ).

Pomponius Mela. Pomponius Mela, of Tingentera
in Spain, wrote under Caligula or Claudius three books

δ Vit. soph. 1,7 p. 487.

το ΟΝ ΧΟ TST

™ Inst. div. litt. 17.

™ De fontibus libri Iordanis, p. 13.

108 Jahn’s Jahrbticher fiir classische Philologie, suppl. 1856/7 pp.
193-202.

INTRODUCTION 31

De Chorographia, the oldest extant Latin treatise on
geography. He is cited in III 16 and is used also
with no mention of his name throughout the whole of
II and in V 44-45, XII 75. Manitius (Neues Archiv
1888, p. 213) calls attention to the verbal resemblance
between V 37 and Mela 3, 34.

Priscus. In the year 448 Priscus, a Thracian from
the town of Panium, accompanied Maximin, the general
of Theodosius II, on his celebrated embassy to Attila,
and to his account of this trip we owe our detailed knowl-
edce of the oreat bun. °*” Priscus 1s cited in X XLV 125,
DOO 175; KX XV 183, XE 222, XX 254-255,
and Mommsen argues from the agreement of fragments
of Priscus elsewhere preserved with the account of Jor-
danes that the following passages also come from his
work SocLV 126, XXXVI 184, XLII 225. XLII 225;
and probably III 21. He would also refer to the same
source what Jordanes says of the sons of Attila (L 266,
LIII 272, and compare LII 268), remarking that in the
Getica all the passages derived from Priscus deal with
Attila, and that conversely there is no account of Attila
which does not come from Priscus. Among the excerpts
from this author, three passages appear to have been
added to from other sources:

(1) In XL 209, where credit for the victory at the
Catalaunian Plains is wrongfully given to the Goths (as
also in the chronicle of Cassiodorus).

(2) In XLII 223, where the account of Pope Leo’s
embassy to Attila is increased by material from Prosper’s
chronicle.

(3) In XXXV 181, concerning the murder of Bleda,
where the sententious statement at the close, librante
tustitia detestabili remedio crescens deformes exitus suae

™ He wrote in Greek ἃ ἱστορίαν βυζαντιακὴν καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὸν ᾿Αττήλαν,
in eight books.

32 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

crudelitatis invenit, is not in accord with the simple and
dignified manner of Priscus.

Mommsen calls particular attention to the difference in
style between the general clumsiness and difficulty of the
Getica and the smoothness and charm of those passages
which are based upon Priscus.1° In these are found
accurate descriptions of the distinguishing traits of
various peoples,’°® a life-like and truthful portrayal of
men,!°* a keen and careful analysis of the causes and
meanings of various events,!°* and the use of apt figures
of speech and comparisons.1°® Mommsen believed that
Jordanes was impressed by the beauty of the narrative of
Priscus (evident even in the version of Cassiodorus) and
copied out these passages rather than condensed them.

Strabo. The geographer, Grecorum nobilis scriptor
(b. 64 B.C.) is cited in II 12 concerning Britain, and is
elsewhere used as an authority on the same subject.

Symmachus. Jordanes speaks of the life of the Em-
peror Maximin recorded by a certain Symmachus im
quinto suae historiae ἰἰδγο, 115 and there seems to have
been a consul ordinarius of that name in 485 who wrote a
Roman history in seven books. The passages preserved
by Jordanes correspond almost word for word with the
life of Maximin given in the Scriptores historiae Au-

gustae under the name of Julius Capitolinus; so it seems

that Symmachus borrowed his account from that work.

Tacitus. Cornelius annalium scriptor is cited in II 13
and used elsewhere on the same subject, namely Britain.

5 See XXXVI 187, XXXIX 202, XLIX 257.

ae 1.201:

7 XXXV 182, XXXVIII 200, XLIX 254.

*8§ See the passages on the number of Attila’s soldiers, XXXV
182; the funeral pyre, XL 213; Honoria, XLII 224.

*° XX XVIII 200; XL 212

mXV 83, and see 88.

INTRODUCTION 33

Manitius (Neues Archiv 1888, p. 213) sees a resemblance
between X 62 and the Germania 36; also between
XXXIV 176 and Annals 12, 49.

Vergil. “The Mantuan,” as Jordanes calls him, is
quoted inI 9, V 40 and VII 50. A paraphrase of a verse
of the Aeneid is found in XXVI-134. In XXXV 182 is
the expression huc atque illuc circumferens oculos, remin-
iscent of Aeneid 4, 363. To these Manitius (Neues
Archiv 1888, p. 214) would add the following resem-
blances between the two authors: XX 108 and Aeneid
9, 450; XXIX 150 and Georgics 1, 482; XLIX 254 and
Aeneid 6, 520; LVI 288 and Aeneid 1, 249.

This completes the list of authorities actually named
by Jordanes as sources. Aside from these there are
several whom he almost certainly made use of without
acknowledging his indebtedness. It is worth while to
consider these also.

Dictys. Lucius Septimius wrote in the second half
of the fourth century what purported to be a Latin ver-
sion of a Greek story of the Trojan War by a certain
Dictys of Crete. Mommsen’s opinion, that the story of
Telephus in the Getica rests not on the Latin version of
Dictys but upon the lost original, is rendered more plausi-
ble by the discovery of part of the Greek original in

Egypt.11

Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus of Antioch
(about 330-400) wrote at Rome a continuation of Taci-
tus. He himself says that his work covered the period
from Nerva to the death of Valens (that is, 96-378 A.D.),

™ See Grenfell, Hunt and Goodspeed, Tebtunis Papyri vol. II
N. 268, London 1907. Also Dares and Dictys, N. E. Griffin, Balti-

more 1907; Ihm, Der Griechische und Lateinische Dictys, Hermes
1909, 1-22; The Greek Dictys, Griffin, American Journal of Phil-

ology 29, 320.

34 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

but only books XIV-XXXI are extant, beginning with the
last years of Constantius II (353-378). Jordanes records
some events of Roman history of this period in XXIV
126, 127, 128. In XXV and XXVI he also uses Ammia-
nus; not much, to be sure, for after the victories of
Claudius and Aurelian almost to the time of Valens the
Goths per longa saecula siluerunt tmmobiles,''* and ac-
cordingly Jordanes passes directly from Constantine to
Valens. Schirren conjectured that such passages as XVI
89-93, XVIII 101, XX 109, and XXI 111, 112, pertain-
ing to the emperors from Philip to Constantine I are
taken from the lost parts of the work of Ammianus.'*3
The story of the war between the Goths and the
Gepidae,1* and the account given of Geberich and of
Hermanaric!!® does not seem to be taken from Am-
mianus, for he says!!® that Hermanaric committed sui-
cide through fear of the Huns, while Jordanes tells of
his murder by the brothers Sarus and Ammius. Mommsen
believed that the passages in the Getica based on extant
portions of Ammianus Marcellinus reveal how Jordanes
(or Cassiodorus) perverts the records in his zeal for the
Goths, pointing out as a notable instance of this the ac-
count of Fritigern’s escape in XXVI 136-137 (see
commentary ).

A Continuator of Marcellinus. In Mommsen’s opin-
ion some continuator has been made use of between the
excerpts from Ammianus, which end in XXVI 138, and
those from Priscus, which begin in XXXIV 178.117

™ Ammianus Marcellinus 31, 5, 17.

™ See also notes on XVI 93, XVIII 101, 103, XX 108.

a VAN

1 XXII, XXIV and XXIV.

esis, Ἢ 2.

™ Koepke (Anfange d. Konigthums bei den Gothen p. 81) sug-
gests Eunapius.

INTRODUCTION 35

Marcellinus Comes. As this author’s work'!® was
not published until 534, Cassiodorus, writing between
526 and 533, could not have used it, but Jordanes evi-
dently availed himself of this chronicle, probably in fuller
form than the version we now possess, in writing the
latter part of both his works.1"”

Mommsen believed that there are traces of consularia
also in those part of the Getica which can be referred
with reasonable assurance to Cassiodorus himself,!*° and
that this chronicle began either from the end of Prosper
or perhaps from the end of Hieronymus. Cassiodorus
could not make use of his own annals (published in 519)
on account of their brevity, but we find that such passages
as he there changed (in abbreviating Prosper) because of
his Gothic tendencies are similarly treated in the Getica,
so that the germs of the greater work may be said to
appear in the smaller.‘ In narrating the events of
Theodoric’s time, Cassiodorus availed himself of the so-
called Ravenna Annals.

Prosper. Prosper of Aquitaine (b. about 400 A.D.)
wrote a continuation of the chronicle of Hieronymus,
covering the years 379-455. Cassiodorus used Prosper
in writing his chronicle of the world (to the year 519),
and also commended the work to his monks.!??— In

™8 A chronicle by Count Marcellinus, an Illyrian, exclusively on
events in the eastern empire. It falls into three parts: (1) the
chronicle proper, 379-518; (2) a continuation to 534; (3) a further
continuation to 548.

*° See what is said in Romana 388 of the annales consulumque
seriem.

™In XLV and XLVI (on the years 455-477), and perhaps also
in XXXII 165-166 (on the years 411-427).

*1See the commentary on: XVIII 103 (Decius); XXVIII 144
(Athanaric) ; XXX 154 (Pollentia) ; XXX 156 (Capture of Rome) ;
XXXII 166 (“Flight” of the Vandals into Spain); XL 209 (Battle
of the Catalaunian Plains) ; XLII 221 (Siege of Aquileia).

™ Inst. div. litt. 17.

26 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

XXXIV 177 the story of Litorius is taken over from
Prosper, consuls and all,12* and in XLII 223 the account
of Pope Leo’s embassy to Attila is from the same source.
These passages must go back to Cassiodorus, for in the
Romana there is no trace of Prosper.

Rufinus. Rufinus of Aquileia (about 345-410) de-
voted himself almost exclusively to the production of
Latin versions of the works of the Greek patristic writers,
and it is from one of these that Jordanes borrowed his
preface to the Getica.1**

Solinus. C. Iulius Solinus, the grammarian, who lived
probably in the time before Diocletian, composed a
Collectanea rerum memorabilium, based mainly on
Pliny’s Natural History, and containing a selection of
the curiosities therein mentioned, arranged from a geo-
graphical point of view. While Cassiodorus probably did
not make use of this writer directly, yet certain passages
in the Getica (V 46, VII 53-55) so closely resemble the
Collectanea as to suggest the inference that both writers
drew from a common source.

A Geographical Map. Finally, it is Mommsen’s belief
that such geographical passages as the descriptions of
Scythia,?2° Pannonia,!*® the Danube,?** Scandza,?#* the
mouths of the Vistula, and the river Vagus,??° in which
places are portrayed as they would appear on a map, are
based upon an actual map. Even the list of the islands
of the Indian Ocean’*? is given in exactly the same order

See commentary on Litorius, XXXIV 177.

™™ See commentary on the preface to the Getica.
aN 30,

a lge26A"

OX 75:

2 ETAT:

eee.

6:

INTRODUCTION 37

as in the work of Julius Honorius who wrote from a map.
Mommsen would ascribe to a like source five passages in
which countries or tribes are located with reference to
the points of the compass.'*! Now the provinces there
mentioned are of the time before Diocletian, and the
descriptions do not hold good for the time of Cassio-
dorus or Jordanes, but for about the second century,
whereas the other names of localities and races found in
the Getica accord properly with fifth century conditions.
It would be difficult, however, to decide whether Cas-
siodorus actually made use of a map of the world as it
was in the second century or merely of an epitome from
such a map, like the extant books of Julius Honorius'*?
and the Geographer of Ravenna.1** As Cassiodorus'**
speaks highly of this very Cosmographia of Honortus, it
not unlikely that he used it, perhaps in fuller form than
it is now known.

To these Manitius (Neues Archiv 1888, pp. 213-214)
would add the following as possible sources: Sallust,
Jugurtha 60, 1 and 7 for XVII 99 and 100; Caesar, B. 6.
8, 27 for XXXI 161; Martianus Capella 6, 628 for
XLIV 230. But there is no evidence that Jordanes read
or used these writers.

™ Galicia XLIV 230, Pannonia L 264, the Vandals XXII 114,
Dacia XII 74, Scythia V 31 (compare 33).

182 This work, although dating from the 5th century, contains the
names taken from a map constructed about 360 A.D.

18 End of the 7th century.
™ Inst. div. litt. 25.

3. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

(Following Gutschmid)

Jordanes says (LX 313), probably following the fig-
ures of Cassiodorus and adding in on his own account
the fourteen years from the death of Theodoric in 526
to the capture of Vitiges in 540, that the Kingdom of the
Goths endured 2030 years. This statement assigns the
beginning of the Gothic Kingdom to the year 1490 B.C.
Gutschmid (in Mommsen’s preface, XX-XXI) sought
to explain the chronology as follows:

Five generations of the first kings of the
Goths, from Berig to Filimer son of
Gadaric (1V 25, XXIV 221), about
167 years. B.C. 14901-1324

Tanausis,” shortly before the Amazons
(VI 47, VII 49), about 33 years. I 323-1290

Three generations of Amazons (Lam-
peto and Marpesia, Menalippe and Hip-
polyte, Penthesilea), about 100 years
VII 52). 1289-1190

From the Trojan War, or the death of
Penthesilea (VIII 57), or the death of

*This year rests on the testimony of Herodotus, 4, 7: ἔτεα σφίσι (the
Scythians) ἐπείτε γεγόνασι τὰ σύμπαντα λέγουσι εἶναι ἀπὸ τοῦ πρώτου βασιλέος
Ταργιτάου ἐς τὴν Δαρείου διάβασιν τὴν ἐπὶ σφέας χιλίων οὐ πλέω ἀλλὰ τοσαῦτα.
Hieronymus assigns the battle of Marathon to the year of Abraham
125) ΞΞ 9 702.

2 Tanausis, a contemporary of Vesosis or Sesostris, reigned ac-
cording to Eusebius from 1374-1319 B.C. Cassiodorus has assigned
him a more reasonable date.

38

INTRODUCTION 39

Eurypylus (IX 60), to the reign of Cy-
rus,® almost 630 years (X 61), actually

631. T1Q0-559
From Cyrus to Sulla 558-91
Buruista, king in Sulla’s time (XI 67) 90--57
King Comosicus (XI 73) 56-23
The forty-year reign of Coryllus (XII 73)

the time of Tiberius (XI 68) ? B.C; 22-18 ACD:
Interval of one generation (XIII 76) 19-50

Amalt Balthae
Gapt* King Dorpaneus time of

Domitian (XIII 76) 51-83

Hulmul 84-117
Augis 118-150
Amal 151-183
Hisarnis 184-217
Ostrogotha Nidada 218-250
Hunuil Ovida (King Cniva? XVIII 101) 251-283
Athal Hilderith 284-317
Achiulf Geberich® (XXII 113) 318-350

* This is the year Jordanes meant, although he has indicated the
last year of his reign.

* Accordingly both King Dorpaneus and the first of the Amali,
whom Jordanes mentions together (XIII 78), lived in the reign
of Domitian.

5 Constantine, who established the Vandals in Pannonia (XXII
115) died in 337; if the Vandals lived there for 70 years (so
Gutschmid would emend, in place of LX) they went off into Gaul
in 406. Thus the victory of Geberich over the Vandals occurred
in 336, approximately.

40 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Hermanaric 351-376
Vinitharius a ie
πη τ "> eS) eee ;
Thorismud ἐδ 3.- 4047
40-year interregnum (XLVIII 251) 405 ?-444?
Valamir 445°...
Piidimers= <9 |.) 0 ee.’ OS) |) eee
Theodoric 475-526
Athalaric 526-534
Theodahad 534-536
Vitiges 536-540

Years of the reign of the Goths amount to
1490 + 540 = 2030 (LX 313).

, “KINGS: OF THE VISIGOLHS
Alaric 1

395-410

Athavulf 410-415
Segeric 415
Valia 415-419
Theodorid I 419-451
Thorismud 451-453
Theodorid IT 453-466
Eurich 466-485

Friderich

Retemer | rote of the three preceding

Himnerith
miarie LL 485-507
Amalaric 507-531
Thiudis 531-548
Thiudigisclus 548-549
Agil 549-554
Athanagild 554-567

“ἢ

4. Genealogy of the Ansis or Amali and the kings of the United Goths and of the Ostrogoths (accord-

ing to Mommsen).

Gapt
Hain
σης
fa
ae
Oo ae
abc
Sah
[ Ϊ
aca Oduulf
II. I trl =
Ansila Ediulf δ ὩΣ: ti as
Vee pune
Mesa ΙΝ Honiouie
Neng ieoue fo a
| : Ϊ οὶ |
Valamir Erelieva τῇ Thiudimer Vidimer Bere ae
εξ. ἐὐτεε ς | |
+ Theodoric + Audefleda Thrasmund + Amalafrida Vidimer Veteric
| 475-526 | [ |
married Eutharic, Theodahad Herminefred + Amalaberga Eutharic + Amalasuentha
| Amalasuentha { then Theodahad 534-536 Ϊ
| | |
| | Vitiges -+ Mathesuentha ΠΕ Germanus Athalaric
Ostrogotho Thiudigotho + Alaric 11. 536-540 526.534
married | Germanus

Sigismund Amalaric

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Manuscript Sources of the Text.

For a detailed account of the manuscript sources of the
text, see Mommsen’s discussion in the Monumenta
Germaniae Historica V 1, pp. XLIV-LXX. For a later
discussion see the article Jordanes in a forthcoming
volume of the Pauly-Wissowa Feal Encyclopadie.

2. Editions.?

Holder, A.: Iordanis, De origine actibusque Getarum.
Freiburg I.B. und Tibingen 1882. Without critical
apparatus or commentary, and fully superseded by
Mommsen’s edition.

Mommsen, Th.: Jordanis Romana et Getica. Monu-
menta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissim1
V 1, Berlin 1882. The authoritative edition.

3. Translations.

Jordan, J.: Jordanes Leben und Schriften nebst Probe
einer deutschen Uebersetzung seiner Geschichte. Progr.
Ansbach 1843. Contains a translation of chapters I-4
and 24-27, made as samples.

Martens, W.: Jordanes Gothengeschichte nebst Aus-
ziigen aus seiner R6mischen Geschichte. Leipzig 1883.
(Geschichtschreiber der deutschen Vorzeit Vol. 5.)
The translation is based on Mommsen’s text, but con-
tains many inaccuracies and mistakes.

Savagner, M. A.: Jornandés de la succession des
royaumes et des temps, et de l’origine et des actes des
Goths. Paris 1842. A faithful rendering of an older
text, in the main that of Muratori (1723).

This bibliography does not give references to such general
works as the histories of literature by Ebert, Manitius and Teuffel,
Wattenbach’s Geschichtsquellen, or similar general source books.

?Mommsen records nineteen editions that preceded his own,
all now of little value.

42

INTRODUCTION 43

4. Special Monographs, Journal Articles, and Reviews.

Arndt, W.: Review of Mommsen, in Literarisches Cen-
tralblatt 1883 N. 31 pp. 1060-1063.

Arndt, W.: Review of Holder, in Literarisches Central-
blatt 1883 N. 36 p. 1263.

Bachmann, A: Zu Jordanis, in Neues Archiv der Gesell-
schaft fur altere deutsche Geschichtskunde 1898 (23)
pp. 175-176.

Bergmuller, L.: Einige Bemerkungen zur Latinitat des
Jordanes. Progr. Augsburg 1903.

Cipolla, C.: Considerazioni sulle “Getica’ di Jordanes
e sulle loro relazioni colla Historia Getarum di Cassio-
dorio Senatore. Torino 1892. (Mem. della R. Accad.
di Torino ser. II tom. 43, 116.)

Erhardt, L.: Review of Mommsen, Holder and Martens,
in Historische Zeitschrift 1886 (56, or Neue Folge
20) N. 6 pp. 513-519.

Erhardt, L.: Review of Mommsen, in Gottingische ge-
lehrte Anzeigen 1886 N. 17 pp. 669-708.

Frick, C.: Review of Cipolla, in Berliner philologische
Wochenschrift 1894 N. 44 pp. 1387-1392.

Friedrich, J.: Ueber die kontroversen Fragen im Leben
des Gotischen Geschichtschreibers Jordanes, in Sit-
zungsberichte der philosophisch-philologischen und der
historischen Klasse der K.B. Akademie der Wissen-
schaften zu Munchen 1907 pp. 379-442.

Grienberger, Th. v.: Die Vorfahren des Jordanes, in
Germania 1889 pp. 406-409.

Grimm, Jac.: Ueber Iornandes und die Geten, Kleinere
Schriften III pp. 171-235. Berlin 1866.

Gutschmid, A. v.: Review of Schirren, in Jahn’s Jahr-
bucher ftir classische Philologie 1862 pp. 124-151.
(Kleine Schriften V pp. 288-336, Leipzig 1894.)

Jordan, J.: see above, under Translations.

Kopke, R.: Die Anfange des Konigthums bei den
Gothen pp. 44-77. Berlin 1859.

44 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Manitius, M.: Zu Ekkehard und Jordanes, in Neues
Archiv der Gesellschaft fur altere deutsche Geschichts-
kunde 1888 (13) pp. 213-214.

Manitius, M.: Geschichtliches aus mittelalterlichen Bib-
liothekskatalogen: LIordanis, in Neues Archiv 1907
(32) pp. 651-652.

Manitius, M.: Review of Bergmuller, in Wochenschrift
fur Klassische Philologie 1903 N. 44 pp. 1204-1207.
Manitius, M.: Review of Bergmiuller, in Blatter fur das
Gymnasial-Schulwesen herausgegeben vom bayer.

Gymnasialschulwesen 1904 I/II pp. 94-95.

Martens, W.: Review of Mommsen and Holder, in Lit-
eraturblatt fur germanische und romanische Philologie
1883 N. 3 pp. 85-87.

Schirren, C.: de ratione quae inter lordanem et Cassio-
dorium intercedat commentatio. Dorpat 1858.

Schirren, C.: Review of Mommsen and Holder, in
Deutsche Literaturzeitung 1882 N. 40 pp. 1420-1424.

Simson, B. v.: Zu Jordanis, in Neues Archiv 1897 (22)
PP. 741-747.

Sybel, H. v.: de fontibus libri Iordanis De origine
actuque Getarum. Berlin 1838.

Sybel, H. v.: Review of Kopke and Schirren, in His-
torische Zeitschrift 1859 N. 2 pp. 511-5106.

Usener, H.: Anecdoton Holderi, Festschrift zur Philo-
logenversammlung in Wiesbaden 1877.

Weise, O.: Review of Bergmiiller, in Neue Philologische
Rundschau 1904 N. 23 pp. 539-540.

Werner, F.: Die Latinitat der Getica des Jordanis.
Halle 1908.

Wofflin E.: Zur Latinitat des Jordanes, in Archiv fir
Lateinische Lexicographie und Grammatik XI pp. 361-
368. Leipzig 1900.

THE GOTHIC HISTORY
OF JORDANES

ον ANALYSIS: ΘΕ. THE GETICA

[The Arabic numbers, printed in the Literary Analysis below and
in the margin of the English version, correspond to the Arabic
numbers which mark the sections in Mommsen’s text.]

Preface 1-3

I Geographical Introduction 4-24

Ocean 4-5

The Eastern Islands 6

The Western Islands 7-24
Lesser Islands 7-8
Britain 10-15
Scandza 9, 16-24

II The United Goths 25-130

1. Migration of the Goths under their first king,
Berig, from Scandza to Gothiscandza and
thence to the land of the Ulmerugi 25-26
Migration to Scythia under Filimer 27-29
[Description of Scythia 30-37]

The three successive abodes of the Goths 38-42
In Scythia near Lake Maeotis
In Moesia, Thrace and Dacia
In Scythia again, above the Sea of Pontus.
[Their archery and heroes 43]

2. The Goths in Scythia, near Lake Maeotis 44-57
Exploits of King Tanausis 44-48
[Description of the Don and Dnieper
45-46]
The Scythian Amazons in Asia Minor 49-57
[Description of the Caucasus 52-55]

47

48 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

3. The Goths in Moesia, Thrace and Dacia 57-81
Telefus and Eurypylus: the Trojan War
58-60
Queen Tomyris defeats Cyrus 61-62
King Antyrus defeats Darius 63-64
Queen Gudila’s daughter becomes the wife
of Philip of Macedon 65
Sitalces conquers Perdiccas 66
King Buruista. The wise rule of Dicineus,
a contemporary of Sulla 67, 69-72
The Goths in the time of Caesar, Augustus
and Tiberius 68
Kings Comosicus and Coryllus 73
[Description of Dacia and the Danube
74-75]

King Dorpaneus wars with Domitian 76-78
[Genealogy of the Amali 78-81]

4. The Goths again in Scythia—beyond the Sea

of Pontus 82-130

Maximin, the Goth, a Roman Emperor

83-88

King Ostrogotha wars with Philip 89-92
[Description of Marcianople 93]

The Gepidae and their defeat at the hands of

Ostrogotha 94-100

King Cniva at war with Decius 101-103

The Goths in the time of Gallus, Volusianus

and Aemilianus 104-106.

The Goths plunder Asia Minor in the reign

of Gallienus 107-109
[Descriptive references to Chalcedon,
Ilium and Anchiali 107-109]

Deeds of the Goths in the times of Diocle-

tian and his colleagues 110

The Goths under Ariaric and Aoric in the

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 49

time of Constantine I. King Geberich con-
quers the Vandals. 111-15
King Hermanaric conquers the Heruli, Ve-
nethi and Aesti 116-120

[Origin and history of the Huns 121-128]
Battle of Hermanaric with the Huns. His
death. The Goths separate into Visigoths
and Ostrogoths. 129-130.

Wi The Divided Goths 131-314

1. The Visigoths 131-245
Fritigern with the Visigoths enters Thrace
and the two Moesias 131-137
They defeat and slay the Emperor Valens
138
King Athanaric makes peace with Gratian
and Theodosius I. Dies at Constantinople
139-144
The Visigoths, serving under Theodosius,
conquer the usurper Eugenius 145
Deeds of Alaric I in the time of Arcadius
and Honorius. His death 146-158
[ Description of Ravenna 148-151 |
Deeds and death of King Athavulf 159-163
King Segeric 163
Deeds of King Valia 164-175
[Digression: The Kingdom of the Van-
dals 166-173 |
[Digression: Migration of the Amali to
the Visigoths 174-175]
First breach between King Theodorid I and
the Romans 176-177
[Character of Attila the Hun 178-183]
League of the Visigoths and Romans against
Attila 184-191

50

JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Death of

Theodorid I 192-217

Deeds and death of Thorismud. Continua-

tion of Attila’s career 218-228
King Theodorid II 229-234
King Eurich 235-244

The Western Empire from the death of Va-
lentinian III to Romulus Augustulus, the

last Western Emperor 235-241
The rule of Odoacer 242-243

Alaric II, last King of the Visigoths 245

2. The Ostrogoths 246-314

King Vinitharius conquers the Antes and is

conquered by the Huns 246-249
King Hunimund 250

King Thorismud 250
Interregnum of forty years 251
King Valamir 252-276

Death of Attila and dissolution of the King-

dom of the Huns 254-263

Homes of the Goths along the Lower Dan-

ube 264-266

The Gothic origin of the author, Jordanes

266
The Lesser Goths 267
The Ostrogoths in Pannonia 268-276

King Thiudimer. Seizure of Macedonia

277-288

King Theodoric the Great, and the King-
dom of the Ostrogoths in Italy 289-304
‘King Athalaric. Amalasuentha 305-306
The Ostrogoths overcome by the Emperor

Justinian 307-314

IV Conclusion 315-316

i

THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS
Preface

Though it had been my wish to glide in my little boat
by the edge of the peaceful shore and, as a certain writer
says, to catch little fishes from the pools of the ancients,
you, brother Castalius, bid me set my sails toward the
deep. You urge me to leave the little work I have in
hand, that is, the abbreviation of the Chronicles, and to
condense in my own style in this small book the twelve
volumes of Senator on the origin and deeds of the
Getae from olden time to the present day, descending
through the generations of the kings. Truly a hard com-
mand, and imposed by one who seems unwilling to realize
the burden of the task. Nor do you note this, that my
utterance is too slight to fill so magnificent a trumpet of
speech as his. But worse than every other burden is the
fact that I have no access to his books that I may follow
his thought. Still—and let me lie not—I have in times
past read the books a second time by his steward’s loan for
athree days’ reading. The words I recall not, but the
sense and the deeds related I think I retain entire. To
this I have added fitting matters from some Greek and
Latin histories. I have also put in an introduction and
a conclusion, and have inserted many things of my own
authorship. Wherefore reproach me not, but receive and
read with gladness what you have asked me to write. If
aught be insufficiently spoken and you remember it, do
you as a neighbor to our race add to it, praying for me,
dearest brother. The Lord be with you. Amen.

51

OcEAN
AND ITS
Lesser ISLES

52 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Geographical Introduction

I Our ancestors, as Orosius relates, were of opinion
that the circle of the whole world was surrounded
by the girdle of Ocean on three sides. Its three parts
they called Asia, Europe and Africa. Concerning this
threefold division of the earth’s extent there are almost
innumerable writers, who not only explain the situations
of cities and places, but also measure out the number of
miles and paces to give more clearness. Moreover they
locate the islands interspersed amid the waves, both the
greater and also the lesser islands, called the Cyclades or
Sporades, as situated in the vast flood of the Great Sea.
But the impassable farther bounds of Ocean not only has
no one attempted to describe, but no man has been al-
lowed to reach; for by reason of obstructing seaweed and
the failing of the winds it is plainly inaccessible and is
unknown to any save to Him who made it. But the
nearer border of this sea, which we call the circle of the
world, surrounds its coasts like a wreath. This has
become clearly known to men of inquiring mind, even
to such as desired to write about it. For not only is the
coast itself inhabited, but certain islands off in the sea
are habitable. Thus there are to the East in the Indian
Ocean, Hippodes, Iamnesia, Solis Perusta (which though
not habitable, is yet of great length and breadth), besides
Taprobane, a fair island wherein there are towns or
estates and ten strongly fortified cities. But there is yet
another, the lovely Silefantina, and Theros also. These,
though not clearly described by any writer, are neverthe-
less well filled with inhabitants. This same Ocean has
in its western region certain islands known to almost
everyone by reason of the great number of those that
journey to and fro. And there are two not far from the
neighborhood of the Strait of Gades, one the Blessed
Isle and another called the Fortunate. Although some

Io

ΤΙ

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 53

reckon as islands of Ocean the twin promontories of
Galicia and Lusitania, where are still to be seen the
Temple of Hercules on one and Scipio’s Monument on
the other, yet since they are joined to the extremity of
the Galician country, they belong rather to the continent
of Europe than to the islands of Ocean. However, it
has other islands deeper within its own tides, which are
called the Baleares; and yet another, Mevania, besides
the Orcades, thirty-three in number, though not all in-
habited. And at the farthest bound of its western ex-
panse it has another island named Thule, of which the
Mantuan bard makes mention:

“And Farthest Thule shall serve thee.”

The same mighty sea has also in its arctic region, that is,
in the north, a great island named Scandza, from which
my tale (by God’s grace) shall take its beginning. For
the race whose origin you ask to know burst forth like a
swarm of bees from the midst of this island and came
into the land of Europe. But how or in what wise we
shall explain hereafter, if it be the Lord’s will.

II But now let me speak briefly as I can concerning
the island of Britain, which is situated in the bosom of
Ocean between Spain, Gaul and Germany. Although
Livy tells us that no one in former days sailed around
it, because of its great size, yet many writers have held
various opinions about it. It was long unapproached by
Roman arms, until Julius Caesar disclosed it by battles
fought for mere glory. In the busy age which followed
it became accessible to many through trade and by other
means. Thus it revealed more clearly its position, which
I shall here explain as I have found it in Greek and Latin
authors. Most of them say it is like a triangle pointing
between the north and west. Its widest angle faces the
mouths of the Rhine. Then the island shrinks in breadth
and recedes until it ends in two other angles. Its two

BRITAIN

Caesar’s two
invasions
of Britain
B.C. 55-54

54 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

long sides face Gaul and Germany. Its greatest breadth
is said to be over two thousand three hundred and ten
stadia, and its length not more than seven thousand
one hundred and thirty-two stadia. In some parts
it is moorland, in others there are wooded plains, and
sometimes it rises into mountain peaks. The island is
surrounded by a sluggish sea, which neither gives readily
to the stroke of the oar nor runs high under the blasts
of the wind. I suppose this is because other lands are
so far removed from it as to cause no disturbance of the
sea, which indeed is of greater width here than anywhere
else. Moreover Strabo, a famous writer of the Greeks,
relates that the island exhales such mists from its soil,
soaked by the frequent inroads of Ocean, that the sun is
covered throughout the whole of their disagreeable sort
of day that passes as fair, and so is hidden from sight.
Cornelius also, the author of the Annals, says that in
the farthest part of Britain the night gets brighter and
is very short. He also says that the island abounds in
metals, is well supplied with grass and is more produc-
tive in all those things which feed beasts rather than men.
Moreover many large rivers flow through it, and the
tides are borne back into them, rolling along precious
stones and pearls. The Silures have swarthy features
and are usually born with curly black hair, but the inhab-
itants of Caledonia have reddish hair and large loose-
jointed bodies. They are like the Gauls or the Spaniards,
according as they are opposite either nation. Hence some
have supposed that from these lands the island received
its inhabitants, alluring them by its nearness. All the
people and their kings are alike wild. Yet Dio, a most
celebrated writer of annals, assures us of the fact that
they have been combined under the name of Caledo-
nians and Maeatae. They live in wattled huts, a shelter
used in common with their flocks, and often the woods
are their home. They paint their bodies with iron-red,

15

16

17

18

19

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 55

whether by way of adornment or perhaps for some other
reason. They often wage war with one another, either
because they desire power or to increase their possessions.
They fight not only on horseback or on foot, but even
with scythed two-horse chariots, which they commonly
call essedae. Let it suffice to have said thus much on the
shape of the island of Britain.

III Let us now return to the site of the island of
Scandza, which we left above. Claudius Ptolemaeus, an
excellent describer of the world, has made mention of it
in the second book of his work, saying: “There is a
great island situated in the surge of the northern Ocean,
Scandza by name, in the shape of a juniper leaf with
bulging sides which taper to a point at a long end.”
Pomponius Mela also makes mention of it as situated in
the Codan Gulf of the sea, with Ocean lapping its shores.
This island lies in front of the river Vistula, which rises
in the Sarmatian mountains and flows through its triple
mouth into the northern Ocean in sight of Scandza, sep-
arating Germany and Scythia. The island has in its
eastern part a vast lake in the bosom of the earth, whence
the Vagus river springs from the bowels of the earth and
flows surging into the Ocean. And on the west it is sur-
rounded by an immense sea. On the north it is bounded
by the same vast unnavigable Ocean, from which by
means of a sort of projecting arm of land a bay is cut off
and forms the German Sea. Here also there are said to
be many small islands scattered round about. If wolves
cross over to these islands when the sea is frozen by
reason of the great cold, they are said to lose their sight.
Thus the land is not only inhospitable to men but cruel
even to wild beasts.

Now in the island of Scandza, whereof I speak, there
dwell many and divers nations, though Ptolemaeus men-
tions the names of but seven of them. There the honey-
making swarms of bees are nowhere to be found on

SCANDZA

56 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

account of the exceeding great cold. In the northern part
of the island the race of the Adogit live, who are said
to have continual light in midsummer for forty days and
nights, and who likewise have no clear light in the winter
season for the same number of days and nights. By

reason of this alternation of sorrow and joy they are like

no other race in their sufferings and blessings. And why?
Because during the longer days they see the sun returning
to the east along the rim of the horizon, but on the shorter
days it is not thus seen. The sun shows itself differently
because it is passing through the southern signs, and
whereas to us the sun is seen to rise from below, it is said
to go around them along the edge of the earth. There
also are other peoples. There are the Screrefennae, who
do not seek grain for food but live on the flesh of wild
beasts and birds’ eggs; for there are such multitudes of
young game in the swamps as to provide for the natural
increase of their kind and to afford satisfaction to the
needs of the people. But still another race dwells there,
the Suehans, who, like the Thuringians, have splendid
horses. Here also are those who send through innumer-
able other tribes the sapphire colored skins to trade for
Roman use. They are a people famed for the dark beauty
of their furs and, though living in poverty, are most richly
clothed. Then comes a throng of various nations, Theu-
stes, Vagoth, Bergio, Hallin, Liothida. All their habita-
tions are in one level and fertile region. Wherefore they
are disturbed there by the attacks of other tribes. Behind
these are the Ahelmil, Finnaithae, Fervir and Gauthigoth,
a race of men bold and quick to fight. Then come the
Mixi, Evagre, and Otingis. All these live like wild ani-
mals in rocks hewn out like castles. And there are be-
yond these the Ostrogoths, Raumarici, Aeragnaricii, and
the most gentle Finns, milder than all the inhabitants of
Scandza. Like them are the Vinovilith also. The Suetidi
are of this stock and excell the rest in stature. However,

29
=)

24

26

27

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 57

the Dani, who trace their origin to the same stock, drove
from their homes the Heruli, who lay claim to preemi-
nence among all the nations of Scandza for their tallness.
Furthermore there are in the same neighborhood the
Grannii, Augandzi, Eunixi, Taetel, Rugi, Arochi and
Ranii, over whom Roduulf was king not many years ago.
But he despised his own kingdom and fled to the embrace
of Theodoric, king of the Goths, finding there what he
desired. All these nations surpassed the Germans in size
and spirit, and fought with the cruelty of wild beasts.

The United Goths

IV Now from this island of Scandza, as from a hive
of races or a womb of nations, the Goths are said to have
come forth long ago under their king, Berig by name.
As soon as they disembarked from their ships and set
foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to the
place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothi-
scandza. Soon they moved from here to the abodes of
the Ulmerugi, who then dwelt on the shores of Ocean,
where they pitched camp, joined battle with them and
drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their
neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories.
But when the number of the people increased greatly and
Filimer, son of Gadaric, reigned as king—about the fifth
since Berig—he decided that the army of the Goths with
their families should move from that region. In search
of suitable homes and pleasant places they came to the
land of Scythia, called Oiwm in that tongue. Here they
were delighted with the great richness of the country,
and it is said that when half the army had been brought
over, the bridge whereby they had crossed the river fell
in utter ruin, nor could anyone thereafter pass to or fro.
For the place is said to be surrounded by quaking bogs
and an encircling abyss, so that by this double obstacle
nature has made it inaccessible. And even to-day one

How THE
GoTHS CAME
ΤΟ SCYTHIA

ΘΟΥΤΗΙΑ

58 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

may hear in that neighborhood the lowing of cattle and
may find traces of men, if we are to believe the stories
of travellers, although we must grant that they hear these
things from afar.

This part of the Goths, which is said to have crossed
the river and entered with Filimer into the country of
Oium, came into possession of the desired land, and there
they soon came upon the race of the Spali, joined battle
with them and won the victory. Thence the victors hast-
ened to the farthest part of Scythia, which is near the sea
of Pontus; for so the story is generally told in their early
songs, in almost historic fashion. Ablabius also, a fa-
mous chronicler of the Gothic race, confirms this in his
most trustworthy account. Some of the ancient writers
also agree with the tale. Among these we may mention
Josephus, a most reliable relator of annals, who every-
where follows the rule of truth and unravels from the
beginning the origin of things ;—but why he has omitted
the beginnings of the race of the Goths, of which I have
spoken, I do not know. He barely mentions Magog
of that stock, and says they were Scythians by race and
were called so by name.

Before we enter on our history, we must describe the
boundaries of this land, as it lies.

V_ Now Scythia borders on the land of Germany as
far as the source of the river Ister and the expanse of the
Morsian Swamp. It reaches even to the rivers Tyra,
Danaster and Vagosola, and the great Danaper, extend-
ing to the Taurus range—not the mountains in Asia but
our own, that is, the Scythian Taurus—all the way to
Lake Maeotis. Beyond Lake Maeotis it spreads on the
other side of the straits of Bosphorus to the Caucasus
Mountains and the river Araxes. Then it bends back to
the left behind the Caspian Sea, which comes from the
northeastern ocean in the most distant parts of Asia, and
so is formed like a mushroom, at first narrow and then

28

29

30

31

34

38

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 59

broad and round in shape. It extends as far as the Huns,
Albani and Seres. This land, I say—namely, Scythia,
stretching far and spreading wide—has on the east the
Seres, a race that dwelt at the very beginning of their
history on the shore of the Caspian Sea. On the west are
the Germans and the river Vistula; on the arctic side,
namely the north, it is surrounded by Ocean; on the south
by Persis, Albania, Hiberia, Pontus and the farthest
channel of the Ister, which is called the Danube all the
way from mouth to source. But in that region where
Scythia touches the Pontic coast it is dotted with towns
of no mean fame:—Borysthenis, Olbia, Callipolis, Cher-
son, Theodosia, Careon, Myrmicion and Trapezus. These
towns the wild Scythian tribes allowed the Greeks to build
to afford them means of trade. In the midst of Scythia is
the place that separates Asia and Europe, I mean the
Rhipaeian mountains, from which the mighty Tanais
flows. This river enters Maeotis, a marsh having a cir-
cuit of one hundred and four miles and never sub-
siding to a depth of less than eight cubits.

In the land of Scythia to the westward dwells, first of
all, the race of the Gepidae, surrounded by great and
famous rivers. For the Tisia flows through it on the
north and northwest, and on the southwest is the great
Danube. On the east it is cut by the Flutausis, a swiftly
eddying stream that sweeps whirling into the Ister’s
waters. Within these rivers lies Dacia, encircled by the
lofty Alps as by a crown. Near their left ridge, which
inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of
the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occu-
pying a great expanse of land. Though their names are
now dispersed amid various clans and places, yet they are
chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes. The abode of the
Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the
lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as
far as the Vistula. They have swamps and forests for

‘

THE
THREE ABODES
OF THE GOTHS

60 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

their cities. The Antes, who are the bravest of these
peoples dwelling in the curve of the sea of Pontus, spread
from the Danaster to the Danaper, rivers that are many
days’ journey apart. But on the shore of Ocean, where
the floods of the river Vistula empty from three mouths,
the Vidivarii dwell, a people gathered out of various
tribes. Beyond them the Aesti, a subject race, likewise
hold the shore of Ocean. To the south dwell the Acatziri
a very brave tribe ignorant of agriculture, who subsist
on their flocks and by hunting. Farther away and above
the Sea of Pontus are the abodes of the Bulgares, well
known from the disasters our neglect has brought
upon us. From this region the Huns, like a fruitful
root of bravest races, sprouted into two hordes of people.
Some of these are called Altziagiri, others Sabiri; and
they have different dwelling places. The Altziagiri are
near Cherson, where the avaricious traders bring in the
goods of Asia. In summer they range the plains, their
broad domains, wherever the pasturage for their cattle
invites them, and betake themselves in winter beyond the
sea of Pontus. Now the Hunuguri are known to us from
the fact that they trade in marten skins. But they have
been cowed by their bolder neighbors.

We read that in their first abode the Goths dwelt
in the land of Scythia near Lake Maeotis; in their
second in Moesia, Thrace and Dacia, and in their
third they dwelt again in Scythia, above the sea of
Pontus. Nor do we find anywhere in their written
records legends which tell of their subjection to
slavery in Britain or in some other island, or of their
redemption by a certain man at the cost of a single horse.
Of course if anyone in our city says that the Goths had an
origin different from that I have related, let him object.
For myself, I prefer to believe what I have read, rather
than put trust in old wives’ tales.

36

37 ἢ

38

29

40

42

43

THE GOTHIC HISTORY ΘΙ

To return, then, to my subject. The aforesaid race of
which I speak is known to have had Filimer as king while
they remained in their first home in Scythia near Maeotis.
In their second home, that is, in the countries of Dacia,
Thrace and Moesia, Zalmoxes reigned, whom many writ-
ers of annals mention as a man of remarkable learning in
philosophy. Yet even before this they had a learned man
Zeuta, and after him Dicineus; and the third was Zal-
moxes of whom I have made mention above. Nor did
they lack teachers of wisdom. Wherefore the Goths have
ever been wiser than other barbarians and were nearly
like the Greeks, as Dio relates, who wrote their history
and annals with a Greek pen. He says that those of noble
birth among them, from whom their kings and priests
were appointed, were called first Tarabostesei and then
Pilleati. Moreover so highly were the Getae praised that
Mars, whom the fables of poets call the god of war, was re-
puted to have been born among them. Hence Vergil says:

“Father Gradivus rules the Getic fields.”

Now Mars has always been worshipped by the Goths
with cruel rites, and captives were slain as his victims.
They thought that he who is lord of war ought to be
appeased by the shedding of human blood. To him they
devoted the first share of the spoil, and in his honor arms
stripped from the foe were suspended from trees. And
they had more than all other races a deep spirit of relig-
ion, since the worship of this god seemed to be really
bestowed upon their ancestor.

In their third dwelling place, which was above the Sea
of Pontus, they had now become more civilized and, as I
have said before, were more learned. Then the people
were divided under ruling families. The Visigoths served
the family of the Balthi and the Ostrogoths served the
renowned Amali. They were the first race of men to
string the bow with cords, as Lucan, who is more of a
historian than a poet, affirms:

Tue River Don

THe DNIEPER

62 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

“They string Armenian bows with Getic cords.”

In earliest times they sang of the deeds of their ances-
tors in strains of song accompanied by the cithara; chant-
ing of Eterpamara, Hanala, Fritigern, Vidigoia and
others whose fame among them is great; such heroes as
admiring antiquity scarce proclaims its own to be. Then,
as the story goes, Vesosis waged a war disastrous to
himself against the Scythians, whom ancient tradition
asserts to have been the husbands of the Amazons. Con-
cerning these female warriors Orosius speaks in convinc-
ing language. Thus we can clearly prove that Vesosis
then fought with the Goths, since we know surely that he
waged war with the husbands of the Amazons. They
dwelt at that time along a bend of Lake Maeotis, from
the river Borysthenes, which the natives call the Danaper,
to the stream of the Tanais. By the Tanais I mean the
river which flows down from the Rhipaeian mountains
and rushes with so swift a current that when the neigh-
boring streams or Lake Maeotis and the Bosphorus are
frozen fast, it is the only river that is kept warm by the
rugged mountains and is never solidified by the Scythian
cold. It is also famous as the boundary of Asia. and
Europe. For the other Tanais is the one which rises in
the mountains of the Chrinni and flows into the Caspian
Sea. The Danaper begins in a great marsh and issues
from it as from its mother. It is sweet and fit to drink
as far as half-way down its course. It also produces fish
of a fine flavor and without bones, having only cartilage
as the frame-work of their bodies. But as it approaches
the Pontus it receives a little stream called Exampaeus,
so very bitter that although the river is navigable for the
length of a forty days’ voyage, it is so altered by the
water of this scanty stream as to become tainted and
unlike itself, and flows thus tainted into the sea between
the Greek towns of Callipidae and Hypanis. At its mouth
there is an island named Achilles. Between these two

47

48

49

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 63

rivers is a vast land filled with forests and treacherous
swamps.

VI This was the region where the Goths dwelt when
Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, made war upon them.
Their king at that time was Tanausis. In a battle at the
river Phasis (whence come the birds called pheasants,
which are found in abundance at the banquets of the great
all over the world) Tanausis, king of the Goths, met
Vesosis, king of the Egyptians, and there inflicted a
severe defeat upon him, pursuing him even to Egypt.
Had he not been restrained by the waters of the impass-
able Nile and the fortifications which Vesosis had long
ago ordered to be made against the raids of the Ethio-
pians, he would have slain him in his own land. But
finding he had no power to injure him there, he returned
and conquered almost all Asia and made it subject and
tributary to Sornus, king of the Medes, who was then his
dear friend. At that time some of his victorious army,
seeing that the subdued provinces were rich’ and fruit-
ful, deserted their companies and of their own accord
remained in various parts of Asia.

From their name or race Pompeius Trogus says the
stock of the Parthians had its origin. Hence even to-day
in the Scythian tongue they are called Parthi, that is,
Deserters. And in consequence of their descent they are
archers—almost alone among all the nations of Asia—
and are very valiant warriors. Now in regard to the
name, though I have said they were called Parthi because
they were deserters, some have traced the derivation of
the word otherwise, saying that they were called Parthi
because they fled from their kinsmen. Now when this
Tanausis, king of the Goths, was dead, his people wor-
shipped him as one of their gods.

VII After his death, while the army under his suc-
cessors was engaged in an expedition in other parts, a
neighboring tribe attempted to carry off women of the

DEFEAT OF
VESOSIS
( SESOSTRIS )

THE
AMAZONS IN
Asta ΜΊΝΟΚ

64 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Goths as booty. But they made a brave resistance, as
they had been taught to do by their husbands, and routed
in disgrace the enemy who had come upon them. When
they had won this victory, they were inspired with greater
daring. Mutually encouraging each other, they took up
arms and chose two of the bolder, Lampeto and Marpesia,
to act as their leaders. While they were in command,
they cast lots both for the defense of their own country
and the devastation of other lands. So Lampeto remained
to guard their native land and Marpesia took a company
of women and led this novel army into Asia. After con-
quering various tribes in war and making others their
allies by treaties, she came to the Caucasus. There she
remained for some time and gave the place the name Rock
of Marpesia, of which also Vergil makes mention:

“Like to hard flint or the Marpesian Cliff.”

It was here Alexander the Great afterwards built gates
and named them the Caspian Gates, which now the tribe
of the Lazi guard as a Roman outpost. Here, then,
the Amazons remained for some time and were much
strengthened. Then they departed and crossed the river
Halys, which flows near the city of Gangra, and with
equal success subdued Armenia, Syria, Cilicia, Galatia,
Pisidia and all the places of Asia. Then they turned to
Ionia and Aeolia, and made provinces of them after their
surrender. Here they ruled for some time and even
founded cities and camps bearing their name. At Ephesus
also they built a very costly and beautiful temple for
Diana, because of her delight in archery and the chase—
arts to which they were themselves devoted. Then these
Scythian-born women, who had by such a chance gained
control over the kingdoms of Asia, held them for almost
a hundred years, and at last came back to their own kins-
folk in the Marpesian rocks I have mentioned above,
namely the Caucasus mountains.

84

53

59

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 65

Inasmuch as 1 have twice mentioned this mountain-
range, I think it not out of place to describe its extent and
situation, for, as is well known, it encompasses a great
part of the earth with its continuous chain. Beginning
at the Indian Ocean, where it faces the south it is warm,
giving off vapor in the sun; where it lies open to the
north it is exposed to chill winds and frost. Then bend-
ing back into Syria with a curving turn, it not only sends
forth many other streams, but pours from its plenteous
breasts into the Vasianensian region the Euphrates and
the Tigris, navigable rivers famed for their unfailing
springs. These rivers surround the land of the Syrians
and cause it to be called Mesopotamia, as it truly is. Their
waters empty into the bosom of the Red Sea. Then turn-
ing back to the north, the range I have spoken of passes
with great bends through the Scythian lands. There it
sends forth very famous rivers into the Caspian Sea—the
Araxes, the Cyrus and the Cambyses. It goes on in con-
tinuous range even to the Rhipaeian mountains. Thence
it descends from the north toward the Pontic Sea, fur-
nishing a boundary to the Scythian tribes by its ridge, and
even touches the waters of the Ister with its clustered
hills. Being cut by this river, it divides, and in Scythia
is named Taurus also. Such then is the great range,
almost the mightiest of mountain chains, rearing aloft its
summits and by its natural conformation supplying men
with impregnable strongholds. Here and there it divides
where the ridge breaks apart and leaves a deep gap, thus
forming now the Caspian Gates, and again the Armenian
or the Cilician, or of whatever name the place may be.
Yet they are barely passable for a wagon, for both sides
are sharp and steep as well as very high. The range has
different names among various peoples. The Indian calls
it Imaus and in another part Paropamisus. The Parthian
calls it first Choatras and afterward Niphates; the Syrian
and Armenian call it Taurus; the Scythian names it Cau-

THE
CAUCASUS

THE
AMAZONS

REIGN
OF TELEFUS

AND
EuryPyLus

66 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

casus and Rhipaeus, and at its end calls it Taurus. Many
other tribes have given names to the range. Now that we
have devoted a few words to describing its extent, let us
return to the subject of the Amazons from which we have
digressed.

VIII Fearing their race would fail, they sought mar-
riage with neighboring tribes. They appointed a day for
meeting once in every year, so that when they should
return to the same place on that day in the following year
each mother might give over to the father whatever male
child she had borne, but should herself keep and train for
warfare whatever children of the female sex were born.
Or else, as some maintain, they exposed the males, de-
stroying the life of the ill-fated child with a hate like
that of a stepmother. Among them childbearing was
detested, though everywhere else it is desired. The terror
of their cruelty was increased by common rumor; for
what hope, pray, would there be for a captive, when it
was considered wrong to spare even a son? Hercules,
they say fought against them and overcame Menalippe,
yet more by guile than by valor. Theseus, moreover, took
Hippolyte captive, and of her he begat Hippolytus. And
in later times the Amazons had a queen named Penthe-
silea, famed in the tales of the Trojan war. These women
are said to have kept their power even to the time of
Alexander the Great.

IX But say not “Why does a story which deals with
the men of the Goths have so much to say of their wo-
men?’ Hear, then, the tale of the famous and glorious
valor of the men. Now Dio, the historian and diligent
investigator of ancient times, who gave to his work the
title ““Getica’’ (and the Getae we have proved in a pre-
vious passage to be Goths, on the testimony of Orosius
Paulus )—this Dio, I say, makes mention of a later king
of theirs named Telefus. Let no one say that this name
is quite foreign to the Gothic tongue, and let no one who
is ignorant cavil at the fact that the tribes of men make

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60

ΓΟῚ

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 67

use of many names, even as the Romans borrow from the
Macedonians, the Greeks from the Romans, the Sarma-
tians from the Germans, and the Goths frequently from
fHieeitunss Uhis-Velefus; then, a son of Hercules by
Auge, and the husband of a sister of Priam, was of
towering stature and terrible strength. He matched his
father’s valor by virtues of his own and also recalled the
traits of Hercules by his likeness in appearance. Our
ancestors called his kingdom Moesia. This province has
on the east the mouths of the Danube, on the south
Macedonia, on the west Histria and on the north the
Danube. New this king we have mentioned carried on
wars with the Greeks, and in their course he slew in battle
Thesander, the leader of Greece. But while he was mak-
ing a hostile attack upon Ajax and was pursuing Ulysses,
his horse became entangled in some vines and fell. He
himself was thrown and wounded in the thigh by a javelin
of Achilles, so that for a long time he could not be healed.
Yet, despite his wound, he drove the Greeks from his
land. Now when Telefus died, his son Eurypylus suc-
ceeded to the throne, being a son of the sister of Priam,
king of the Phrygians. For love of Cassandra he sought
to take part in the Trojan war, that he might come to the
help of her parents and his own father-in-law; but soon
after his arrival he was killed.

X Then Cyrus, king of the Persians, after a long
interval of almost exactly six hundred and thirty years
(as Pompeius Trogus relates), waged an unsuccessful
war against Tomyris, queen of the Getae. Elated by his
victories in Asia, he strove to conquer the Getae, whose
queen, as I have said, was Tomyris. Though she could
have stopped the approach of Cyrus at the river Araxes,
yet she permitted him to cross, preferring to overcome
him in battle rather than to thwart him by advantage of
position. And so she did. As Cyrus approached, fortune
at first so favored the Parthians that they slew the son

Cyrus the
Great
B.C. 559-529

QUEEN
ToMyYRIS AND
Cyrus
ΒΘ 20

Darius
B.C. 521-485

DARIUS
REPELLED

Xerxes
B.C. 485-465

68 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

of Tomyris and most of the army. But when the battle
was renewed, the Getae and their queen defeated, con-
quered and overwhelmed the Parthians and took rich
plunder from them. There for the first time the race of
the Goths saw silken tents. After achieving this victory
and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen
Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is
now called Lesser Scythia—a name borrowed from great
Scythia—and built on the Moesian shore of Pontus the
city of Tomi, named after herself.

Afterwards Darius, king of the Persians, the son of
Hystaspes, demanded in marriage the daughter of Anty-
rus, king of the Goths, asking for her hand and at the
same time making threats in case they did not fulfil his
wish. The Goths spurned this alliance and brought his
embassy to naught. Inflamed with anger because his
offer had been rejected, he led an army of seven hundred
thousand armed men against them and sought to avenge
his wounded feelings by inflicting a public injury. Cross-
ing on boats covered with boards and joined like a bridge
almost the whole way from Chalcedon to Byzantium, he
started for Thrace and Moesia. Later he built a bridge
over the Danube in like manner, but he was wearied by
two brief months of effort and lost eight thousand armed
men at Tapae. Then, fearing the bridge over the Danube
would be seized by his foes, he marched back to Thrace
in swift retreat, believing the land cf Moesia would not
be safe for even a short sojourn there.

After his death, his son Xerxes planned to avenge his
father’s wrongs and so proceeded to undertake a war
against the Goths with seven hundred thousand of his
own men and three hundred thousand armed auxiliaries,
twelve hundred ships of war and three thousand trans-
ports. But he did not venture to try them in battle, being
overawed by their unyielding courage. So he returned
with his force just as he had come, and without fighting
a single battle.

65

66

67

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 69

Then Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, made
alliance with the Goths and took to wife Medopa, the
daughter of King Gudila, so that he might render the
kingdom of Macedon more secure by the help of this
marriage. It was at this time, as the historian Dio re-
lates, that Philip, suffering from need of money, deter-
mined to lead out his forces and sack Odessus, a city of
Moesia, which was then subject to the Goths by reason of
the neighboring city of Tomi. Thereupon those priests
of the Goths that are called the Holy Men suddenly
opened the gates of Odessus and came forth to meet them.
They bore harps and were clad in snowy robes, and
chanted in suppliant strains to the gods of their fathers
that they might be propitious and repel the Macedonians.
When the Macedonians saw them coming with such con-
fidence to meet them, they were astonished and, so to
speak, the armed were terrified by the unarmed. Straight-
way they broke the line they had formed for battle and
not only refrained from destroying the city, but even
gave back those whom they had captured outside by right
of war.. Then they made a truce and returned to their
own country.

After a long time Sitalces, a famous leader of the
Goths, remembering this treacherous attempt, gathered a
hundred and fifty thousand men and made war upon the
Athenians, fighting against Perdiccas, King of Macedon.
This Perdiccas had been left by Alexander as his succes-
sor to rule Athens by hereditary right, when he drank his
destruction at Babylon through the treachery of an at-
tendant. The Goths engaged in a great battle with him
and proved themselves to be the stronger. Thus in return
for the wrong which the Macedonians had long before
committed in Moesia, the Goths overran Greece and laid
waste the whole of Macedonia.

XI Then when Buruista was king of the Goths,
Dicineus came to Gothia at the time when Sulla ruled the

Philip of
Macedon
B.C. 359-336

SIEGE
OF
ODESSUS

Sulla’s
Dictatorship
B.C. 82-79

THE WISE
RULE OF
DICINEUS

Caesar’s_
Dictatorship

B.C. 49-44

Tiberius
A.D. 14-37

79 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Romans. Buruista received Dicineus and gave him al-
most royal power. It was by his advice the Goths ravaged
the lands of the Germans, which the Franks now possess.
Then came Caesar, the first of all the Romans to assume
imperial power and to subdue almost the whole world,
who conquered all kingdoms and even seized islands lying
beyond our world, reposing in the bosom of Ocean. He
made tributary to the Romans those that knew not the
Roman name even by hearsay, and yet was unable to pre-
vail against the Goths, despite his frequent attempts.
Soon Gaius Tiberius reigned as third emperor of the
Romans, and yet the Goths continued in their kingdom
unharmed. Their safety, their advantage, their one hope
lay in this, that whatever their counsellor Dicineus ad-
vised should by all means be done; and they judged it
expedient that they should labor for its accomplishment.
And when he saw that their minds were obedient to him
in all things and that they had natural ability, he taught
them almost the whole of philosophy, for he was a skilled
master of this subject. Thus by teaching them ethics he
restrained their barbarous customs; by imparting a knowl-
edge of physics he made them live naturally under laws
of their own, which they possess in written form to this
day and call belagines. He taught them logic and made
them skilled in reasoning; beyond all other races; he
showed them practical knowledge and so persuaded them
to abound in good works. By demonstrating theoretical
knowledge he urged them to contemplate the courses of
the twelve signs and of the planets passing through them,
and the whole of astronomy. He told them how the disc
of the moon gains increase or suffers loss, and showed
them how much the fiery globe of the sun exceeds in size
our earthly planet. He explained the names of the three
hundred and forty-six stars and told through what signs
in the arching vault of the heavens they glide swiftly from
their rising to their setting. Think, I pray you, what

70

yl

73

74

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 71

pleasure it was for these brave men, when for a little
space they had leisure from warfare, to be instructed in
the teachings of philosophy! You might have seen one
scanning the position of the heavens and another investi-
gating the nature of plants and bushes. Here stood one
who studied the waxing and waning of the moon, while
still another regarded the labors of the sun and observed
how those bodies which were hastening to go toward the
east are whirled around and borne back to the west by
the rotation of the heavens. When they had learned the
reason, they were at rest. These and various other mat-
ters Dicineus taught the Goths in his wisdom and gained
marvellous repute among them, so that he ruled not only
the common men but their kings. He chose from among
them those that were at that time of noblest birth and
superior wisdom and taught them theology, bidding them
worship certain divinities and holy places. He gave the
name of Pilleati to the priests he ordained, I suppose
because they offered sacrifice having their heads covered
with tiaras, which we otherwise call pillei. But he bade
them call the rest of their race Capillati. This name the
Goths accepted and prized highly, and they retain it to
this day in their songs.

After the death of Dicineus, they held Comosicus in
almost equal honor, because he was not inferior in knowl-
edge. By reason of his wisdom he was accounted their
priest and king, and he judged the people with the great-
est uprightness.

XII When he too had departed from human affairs,
Coryllus ascended the throne as king of the Goths and for
forty years ruled his people in Dacia. I mean ancient
Dacia, which the race of the Gepidae now possesses. This
country lies across the Danube within sight of Moesia,
and is surrounded by a crown of mountains. It has only
two ways of access, one by way of Boutae and the
other by Tapae. This Gothia, which our ancestors

DaAcIA

THE
DANUBE

Domitian

A.D. 81-96

War WITH
DoMITIAN

72 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

called Dacia and now, as I have said, is called Gepidia,
was then bounded on the east by the Roxolani, on the west
by the Iazyges, on the north by the Sarmatians and Bas-
ternae and on the south by the river Danube. The lazyges
are separated from the Roxolani by the Aluta river only.

And since mention has been made of the Danube, I
think it not out of place to make brief notice of so excel-
lent a stream. Rising in the fields of the Alamanni, it
receives sixty streams which flow into it here and there
in the twelve hundred miles from its source to its mouths
in the Pontus, resembling a spine inwoven with ribs like
a basket. It is indeed a most vast river. In the language
of the Bessi it is called the Hister, and it has profound
waters in its channel to a depth of quite two hundred feet.
This stream surpasses in size all other rivers, except the
Nile. Let this much suffice for the Danube. But let us
now with the Lord’s help return to the subject from which
we have digressed.

XIII Now after a long time, in the reign of the
Emperor Domitian, the Goths, through fear of his ava-
rice, broke the truce they had long observed under other
emperors. They laid waste the bank of the Danube, so
long held by the Roman Empire, and slew the soldiers and
their generals. Oppius Sabinus was then governor of
that province, after Agrippa, while Dorpaneus held
command over the Goths. Thereupon the Goths made
war and conquered the Romans, cut off the head of
Oppius Sabinus and invaded and boldly plundered many
castles and cities belonging to the Emperor. In this plight
of his countrymen Domitian hastened with all his might
to Illyricum, bringing with him the troops of almost
the entire empire. He sent Fuscus before him as his
general with picked soldiers. Then joining boats to-
gether like a bridge, he made his soldiers cross the river
Danube above the army of Dorpaneus. But the Goths
were on the alert. They took up arms and presently over-

78

8I

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 73

whelmed the Romans in the first encounter. They slew
Fuscus, the commander, and plundered the soldiers’ camp
of its treasure. And because of the great victory they
had won in this region, they thereafter called their lead-
ers, by whose good fortune they seemed to have con-
quered, not mere men, but demigods, that is Ansis. Their
genealogy I shall run through briefly, telling the lineage
of each and the beginning and the end of this line. And
do thou, O reader, hear me without repining; for I speak
truly.

XIV Now the first of these heroes, as they them-
selves relate in their legends, was Gapt, who begat
Hulmul. And Hulmul begat Augis; and Augis begat
him who was called Amal, from whom the name of the
Amali comes. This Amal begat Hisarnis. Hisarnis
moreover begat Ostrogotha, and Ostrogotha begat Hu-
nuil, and Hunuil likewise begat Athal. Athal begat
Achiulf and Oduulf. Now Achiulf begat Ansila and
Ediulf, Vultuulf and Hermanaric. And Vultuulf begat
Valaravans and Valaravans begat Vinitharius. Vinitha-
rius moreover begat Vandalarius; Vandalarius begat
Thiudimer and Valamir and Vidimer; and Thiudimer
begat Theodoric. Theodoric begat Amalasuentha; Amal-
asuentha bore Athalaric and Mathesuentha to her hus-
band Eutharic, whose race was thus joined to hers in
kinship. For the aforesaid Hermanaric, the son of
Achiulf, begat Hunimund, and Hunimund begat Thoris-
mud. Now Thorismud begat Beremud, Beremud begat
Veteric, and Veteric likewise begat Eutharic, who mar-
ried Amalasuentha and begat Athalaric and Mathesu-
entha. Athalaric died in the years of his childhood, and
Mathesuentha married Vitiges, to whom she bore no
child. Both of them were taken together by. Belisarius to
Constantinople. When Vitiges passed from human af-
fairs, Germanus the patrician, a nephew of the Emperor
Justinian, took Mathesuentha in marriage and made her

GENEALOGY
OF THE
ANSIS OR
AMALI

MAXIMIN,
THE GOTH
WHO BECAME
A ROMAN
EMPEROR

Septimius
Severus
A.D, 103-211

74 JORDANES?: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

a Patrician Ordinary. And of her he begat a son, also
called Germanus. But upon the death of Germanus, she
determined to remain a widow. Now how and in what
wise the kingdom of the Amali was overthrown we shall
keep to tell in its proper place, if the Lord help us.

But let us now return to the point whence we made our
digression and tell how the stock of this people of whom
I speak reached the end of its course. Now Ablabius the
historian relates that in Scythia, where we have said that
they were dwelling above an arm of the Pontic Sea, part
of them who held the eastern region and whose king was
Ostrogotha, were call Ostrogoths, that is, eastern
Goths, either from his name or from the place. But the
rest were called Visigoths, that is, the Goths of the west-
ern country.

XV_ As already said, they crossed the Danube and
dwelt a little while in Moesia and Thrace.. From the
remnant of these came Maximin, the Emperor succeed-
ing Alexander the son of Mamaea. For Symmachus re-
lates it thus in the fifth book of his history, saying that
upon the death of Caesar Alexander, Maximin was
made Emperor by the army; a man born in Thrace of
most humble parentage, his father being a Goth named
Micca, and his mother a woman of the Alani called
Ababa. He reigned three years and lost alike his empire
and his life while making war on the Christians. Now
after his first years spent in rustic life, he had come from
his flocks to military service in the reign of the Emperor
Severus and at the time when the latter was celebrating
his son’s birthday. It happened that the Emperor was giv-
ing military games. When Maximin saw this, although
he was a semi-barbarian youth, he besought the Emperor
in his native tongue to give him permission to wrestle with
the trained soldiers for the prizes offered. Severus mar-
velling much at his great size—for his stature, it is said,
was more than eight feet—bade him contend in wrestling

87

88

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 75

with the camp followers, in order that no injury might
befall his soldiers at the hands of this wild fellow. There-
upon Maximin threw sixteen attendants with so great
ease that he conquered them one by one without taking
any rest by pausing between the bouts. So then, when
he had won the prizes he was ordered into the army
and served his first campaign with the cavalry. On
the third day after this, when the Emperor went out
to the field, he saw him coursing about in barbarian
fashion and bade a tribune restrain him and_ teach
him Roman discipline. But when he understood that
the Emperor was speaking about him, he came for-
ward and began to run ahead of him as he rode. Then
the Emperor spurred on his horse to a slow trot and
wheeled in many a circle hither and thither with various
turns, until he was weary. And then he said to him “Are
you willing to wrestle now after your running, my little
Whracian:~ “As much as you like, OQ Eniperor;” he
answered. So Severus leaped from his horse and ordered
the freshest soldiers to wrestle with him. But he threw
to the ground seven very powerful youths, even as before,
taking no breathing space between the bouts. So he alone
was given prizes of silver and a golden necklace by Cae-
sar. Then he was bidden to serve in the body guard of
the Emperor. After this he was an officer under Anto-
ninus Caracalla, often increasing his fame by his deeds,
and rose to many military grades and finally to the cen-
turionship as a reward of his active service. Yet after-
wards, when Macrinus became Emperor, he refused mili-
tary service for almost three years, and though he held
the office of tribune, he never came into the presence of
Macrinus, thinking his rule shameful because he had won
it by committing a crime. Then he returned to Helioga-
balus, believing him to be the son of Antoninus, and
entered upon his tribuneship. After his reign, he fought
with marvellous success against the Parthians, under

Antoninus
Caracalla
A.D. 198-217

Macrinus
A.D, 217-218

Antoninus
Elagabalus
A.D. 218-222

Alexander
A.D. 222-235

Maximin
A.D. 235-238

Pupienus
A.D. 238

KING
OsTROGOTHA
WARS WITH

PHILIP

Philip pater
A.D. 244-249
“The Arabian”

Philip filius
A.D. 247-249

76 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Alexander the son of Mamaea. When he was slain in an
uprising of the soldiers at Mogontiacum, Maximin him-
self was made Emperor by a vote of the army, with-
out a decree of the senate. But he marred all his good
deeds by persecuting the Christians in accordance with
an evil vow and, being slain by Pupienus at Aquileia, left
the kingdom to Philip. These matters we have borrowed
from the history of Symmachus for this our little book,
in order to show that the race of which we speak attained
to the very highest station in the Roman Empire. But
our subject requires us to return in due order to the point
whence we digressed.

XVI Now the Gothic race gained great fame in the
region where they were then dwelling, that is, in the
Scythian land on the shore of Pontus, holding undisputed
sway over great stretches of country, many arms of the
sea and many river courses. By their strong right arm
the Vandals were often laid low; the Marcomanni held
their footing by paying tribute and the princes of the
Quadi were reduced to slavery. Now when the aforesaid
Philip—who, with his son Philip, was the only Christian
emperor before Constantine—ruled over the Romans, in
the second year of his reign Rome completed its one
thousandth year. He withheld from the Goths the tribute
due them; whereupon they were naturally enraged and
instead of friends became his foes. For though they dwelt
apart under their own kings, yet they had been allied to

the Roman state and received annual gifts. And what

more? Ostrogotha and his men soon crossed the Danube
and ravaged Moesia and Thrace. Philip sent the senator
Decius against him. And since he could do nothing
against the Getae, he released his soldiers from mili-
tary service and sent them back to private life, as though
it had been by their neglect that the Goths had crossed the
Danube. When, as he supposed, he had thus taken ven-
geance on his soldiers, he returned to Philip. But when

go

i of

99

94

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 77

the soldiers found themselves expelled from the army
after so many hardships, in their anger they had recourse
to the protection of Ostrogotha, king of the Goths. He
received them, was aroused by their words and presently
led out three hundred thousand armed men, having as
allies for this war some of the Taifali and Astringi and
also three thousand of the Carpi, a race of men very ready
to make war and frequently hostile to the Romans. But
in later times when Diocletian and Maximian were Em-
perors, the Caesar Galerius Maximianus conquered them
and made them tributary to the Roman Empire. Besides
these tribes, Ostrogotha had Goths and Peucini from the
island of Peucé, which lies in the mouths of the Danube
where they empty into the Sea of Pontus. He placed in
command Argaith and Guntheric, the noblest leaders
of his race. They speedily crossed the Danube, devas-
tated Moesia a second time and approached Marcianople,
the famed metropolis of that land. Yet after a long siege
they departed, upon receiving money from the inhabitants.

Now since we have mentioned Marcianople, we may
briefly relate a few matters in connection with its found-
ing. They say that the Emperor Trajan built this city
for the following reason. While his sister’s daughter
Marcia was bathing in the stream called Potamus—a
river of great clearness and purity that rises in the midst
of the city—she wished to draw some water from it and
by chance dropped into its depths the golden pitcher she
was carrying. Yet though very heavy from its weight
of metal, it emerged from the waves a long time after-
wards. It surely is not a usual thing for an empty vessel
to sink ; much less that, when once swallowed up, it should
be cast up by the waves and float again. Trajan mar-
velled at hearing this and believed there was some divin-
ity in the stream. So he built a city and called it
Marcianople after the name of his sister.

XVII From this city, then, as we were saying, the

MARCIANOPLE

THE
GEPIDAE
AND THEIR
DEFEAT BY
OSTROGOTHA

78 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Getae returned after a long siege to their own land, en-
riched by the ransom they had received. Now the race

of the Gepidae was moved with envy when they saw them.

laden with booty and so suddenly victorious everywhere,
and made war on their kinsmen. Should you ask how
the Getae and Gepidae are kinsmen, I can tell you in a
few words. You surely remember that in the beginning
I said the Goths went forth from the bosom of the island
of Scandza with Berig, their king, sailing in only three
ships toward the hither shore of Ocean, namely to
Gothiscandza. One of these three ships proved to be
slower than the others, as is usually the case, and thus is
said to have given the tribe their name, for in their
language gepanta means slow. Hence it came to pass
that gradually and by corruption the name Gepidae was
coined for them by way of reproach. For undoubtedly
they too trace their origin from the stock of the Goths,
but because, as I have said, gepanta means something
slow and stolid, the word Gepidae arose as a gratuitous
name of repreach. I do not believe this is very far
wrong, for they are slow of thought and too sluggish for
quick movement of their bodies.

These Gepidae were then smitten by envy while they
dwelt in the province of Spesis on an island surrounded
by the shallow waters of the Vistula. This island they
called, in the speech of their fathers, Gepedoios ; but it is
now inhabited by the race of the Vividarii, since the
Gepidae themselves have moved to better lands. The
Vividaril are gathered from various races into this one
asylum, if I may call it so, and thus they form a nation.
So then, as we were saying, Fastida, king of the Gepidae,
stirred up his quiet people to enlarge their boundaries by
war. He overwhelmed the Burgundians, almost annihi-
lating them, and conquered a number of other races also.
He unjustly provoked the Goths, being the first to break
the bonds of kinship by unseemly strife. He was greatly

98

99

I0O

IOI

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 79

puffed up with vain glory, but in seeking to acquire new
lands for his growing nation, he only reduced the num-
bers of his own countrymen. For he sent ambassadors
to Ostrogotha, to whose rule Ostrogoths and Visigoths
alike, that is, the two peoples of the same tribe, were still
subject. Complaining that he was hemmed in by rugged
mountains and dense forests, he demanded one of two
things, that Ostrogotha should either prepare for war
or give up part of his lands to them. Then Ostrogotha,
king of the Goths, who was a man of firm mind, an-
swered the ambassadors that he did indeed dread such a
war and that it would be a grievous and infamous thing
to join battle with their kin—but he would not give up
his lands. And why say more? The Gepidae hastened
to take arms and Ostrogotha likewise moved his forces
against them, lest he should seem a coward. They met
at the town of Galtis, near which the river Auha flows,
and there both sides fought with great valor; indeed the
similarity of their arms and of their manner of fighting
turned them against their own men. But the better cause
and their natural alertness aided the Goths. Finally night
put an end to the battle as a part of the Gepidae were
giving way. Then Fastida, king of the Gepidae, left the
field of slaughter and hastened to his own land, as much
humiliated with shame and disgrace as formerly he had
been elated with pride. The Goths returned victorious,
content with the retreat of the Gepidae, and dwelt in
peace and happiness in their own land so long as Ostro-
gotha was their leader.

XVIII After his death, Cniva divided the army into
two parts and sent some to waste Moesia, knowing that it
was undefended through the neglect of the emperors.
He himself with seventy thousand men hastened to
Euscia, that is, Novae. When driven from this place by
the general Gallus, he approached Nicopolis, a very fa-
mous town situated near the Iatrus river. This city

KING CNIVA
AT WAR WITH
DEcIuUS

Decius
A.D. 249-251

Capture of
Philippopolis
A.D. 250

Death of
Decius at
Abrittus
ACD) 25

Gallus
A.D. 251-253

Volusianus
A.D, 252-253

80 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Trajan built when he conquered the Sarmatians and
named it the City of Victory. When the Emperor Decius
drew near, Cniva at last withdrew to the regions of
Haemus, which were not far distant. Thence he hastened
to Philippopolis, with his forces in good array. When
the Emperor Decius learned of his departure, he was
eager to bring relief to his own city and, crossing Mount
Haemus, came to Beroa. While he was resting his horses
and his weary army in that place, all at once Cniva and
his Goths fell upon him like a thunderbolt. He cut the
Roman army to pieces and drove the Emperor, with a
few who had succeeded in escaping, across the Alps again
to Euscia in Moesia, where Gallus was then stationed
with a large force of soldiers as guardian of the frontier.
Collecting an army from this region as well as from
Oescus, he prepared for the conflict of the coming war.
But Cniva took Philippopolis after a long siege and then,
laden with spoil, allied himself to Priscus, the commander
in the city, to fight against Decius. In the battle that
followed they quickly pierced the son of Decius with an
arrow and cruelly slew him. His father saw it, and
although he is said ta have exclaimed, to cheer the hearts
of his soldiers: ‘Let no one mourn; the death of one
soldier is not a great loss to the republic,” he was yet
unable to endure it, because of his love for his son. So
he rode against the foe, demanding either death or ven-
geance, and when he came to Abrittus, a city of Moesia,
he was himself cut off by the Goths and slain, thus mak-
ing an end of his dominion and of his life. This place
is to-day called the Altar of Decius, because he there
offered strange sacrifices to idols before the battle.

XIX Then upon the death of Decius, Gallus and
Volusianus succeeded to the Roman Empire. At this
time a destructive plague, almost like death itself, such
as we suffered nine years ago, blighted the face of the
whole earth and especially devastated Alexandria and all

102}

103 ||

104

105

106

07

THE GOTHIC HISTORY SI
the land of Egypt. The historian Dionysius gives a
mournful account of it and Cyprian, our own bishop and
venerable martyr in Christ, also describes it in his book
entitled “On Mortality.” At this time the Goths fre-
quently ravaged Moesia, through the neglect of the Em-
perors. When a certain Aemilianus saw that they were
free to do this, and that they could not be dislodged by
anyone without great cost to the republic, he thought that
he too might be able to achieve fame and fortune. So he
seized the rule in Moesia and, taking all the soldiers he
could gather, began to plunder cities and people. In the
next few months, while an armed host was being gath-
ered against him, he wrought no small harm to the state.
Yet he died almost at the beginning of his evil attempt,
thus losing at once his life and the power he coveted.
Now though Gallus and Volusianus, the Emperors we
have mentioned, departed this life after remaining in
power for barely two years, yet during this space of two
years which they spent on earth they reigned amid uni-
versal peace and favor. Only one thing was laid to their
charge, namely the great plague. But this was an ac-
cusation made by ignorant slanderers, whose custom it is
to wound the lives of others with their malicious bite.
Soon after they came to power they made a treaty with
the race of the Goths. When both rulers were dead, it
was no long time before Gallienus usurped the throne.
XX While he was given over to luxurious living of
every sort, Respa, Veduc and Thuruar, leaders of the
Goths, took ship and sailed across the strait of the Helle-
spont to Asia. There they laid waste many populous
cities and set fire to the renowned temple of Diana at
Ephesus, which, as we said before, the Amazons built.
Being driven from the neighborhood of Bithynia, they
destroyed Chalcedon, which Cornelius Avitus afterwards
restored to some extent. Yet even to-day, though it is
happily situated near the royal city, it still shows some

Tue GoTHs IN
THE TIME OF
GALLUS,
VOLUSIANUS AND
AEMILIANUS

Aemilianus
A.D. 253

The Plague
A.D. 252-267

Gallienus
A.D. 253-268

THe GoTHs
PLUNDER
Asta MINOR
A.D. 262 or 263

Tue TIMES
oF DIOCLETIAN

Diocletian
284-305
Maximian
284-305

Constantine I
306-337
Licinius
307-323

82 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

traces of its ruin as a witness to posterity. After their
success, the Goths recrossed the strait of the Hellespont,
laden with booty and spoil, and returned along the same
route by which they had entered Asia, sacking Troy
and Ilium on the way. These cities, which had scarce re-
covered a little from the famous war with Agamemnon,
were thus destroyed anew by the hostile sword. After
the Goths had thus devastated Asia, Thrace next felt
their ferocity. For they went thither and presently
attacked Anchiali, a city at the foot of Haemus and not
far from the sea. Sardanapalus, king of the Parthians,
had built this city long ago between an inlet of the sea
and the base of Haemus. ‘There they are said to have
stayed for many days, enjoying the baths of the hot
springs which are situated about twelve miles from the
city of Anchiali. There they gush from the depths of
their fiery source, and among the innumerable hot springs
of the world they are particularly famous and efficacious
to heal the sick.

XXI After these events, the Goths had already re-
turned home when they were summoned at the request
of the Emperor Maximian to aid the Romans against the
Parthians. They fought for him faithfully, serving as
auxiliaries. But after Caesar Maximian by their aid had
routed Narseus, king of the Persians, the grandson of
Sapor the Great, taking as spoil all his possessions, to-
gether with his wives and his sons, and when Diocletian
had conquered Achilles in Alexandria and Maximianus
Herculius had broken the Quinquegentiani in Africa, thus
winning peace for the empire, they began rather to neg-
lect the Goths.

Now it had long been a hard matter for the Roman
army to fight against any nations whatsoever without
them. This is evident from the way in which the Goths
were so frequently called upon. Thus they were sum-
moned by Constantine to bear arms against his kinsman

108

109

PLZ

Ππ 8

114

II5

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 83

Licinius. Later, when he was vanquished and shut up
in Thessalonica and deprived of his power, they slew him
with the sword of Constantine the victor. In like manner
it was the aid of the Goths that enabled him to build the
famous city that is named after him, the rival of Rome,
inasmuch as they entered into a truce with the Emperor
and furnished him forty thousand men to aid him against
various peoples. This body of men, namely, the Allies,
and the service they rendered in war are still spoken of in
the land to this day. Now at that time they prospered
under the rule of their kings Ariaric and Aoric. Upon
their death Geberich appeared as successor to the throne,
a man renowned for his valor and noble birth.

XXII For he was the son of Hilderith, who was the
son of Ovida, who was the son of Nidada; and by his
illustrious deeds he equalled the glory of his race. Soon
he sought to enlarge his country’s narrow bounds at the
expense of the race of the Vandals and Visimar, their
king. This Visimar was of the stock of the Asding1,
which is eminent among them and indicates a most war-
like descent, as Dexippus the historian relates. He states
furthermore that by reason of the great extent of their
country they could scarcely come from Ocean to our fron-
tier in a year’s time. At that time they dwelt in the land
where the Gepidae now live, near the rivers Marisia,
Miliare, Gilpil and the Grisia, which exceeds in size all
previously mentioned. They then had on the east the
Goths, on the west the Marcomanni, on the north the
Hermunduli and on the south the Hister, which is also
called the Danube. At the time when the Vandals were
dwelling in this region, war was begun against them by
Geberich, king of the Goths, on the shore of the river
Marisia which I have mentioned. Here the battle raged
for a little while on equal terms. But soon Visimar him-
self, the king of the Vandals, was overthrown, together
with the greater part of his people. When Geberich, the

GEBERICH
CONQUERS
THE VANDALS
336

CONQUEST
OF THE
HERULI, VENETHI
AND AESTI

84 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

famous leader of the Goths, had conquered and spoiled
the Vandals, he returned to his own place whence he had
come. Then the remnant of the Vandals who had es-
caped, collecting a band of their unwarlike folk, left their
ill-fated country and asked the Emperor Constantine for
Pannonia. Here they made their home for about sixty
years and obeyed the commands of the emperors like
subjects. A long time afterward they were summoned
thence by Stilicho, Master of the Soldiery, Ex-Consul and
Patrician, and took possession of Gaul. Here they plun-
dered their neighbors and had no settled place of abode.

XXIII Soon Geberich, king of the Goths, departed
from human affairs and Hermanaric, noblest of the
Amali, succeeded to the throne. He subdued many war-
like peoples of the north and made them obey his laws,
and some of our ancestors have justly compared him to
Alexander the Great. Among the tribes he conquered
were the Golthescytha, Thiudos, Inaunxis, Vasinabron-
cae, Merens, Mordens. Imniscaris, Rogas, Tadzans, Ath-
aul, Navego, Bubegenae and Coldae. But though famous
for his conquest of so many races, he gave himself no rest
until he had slain some in battle and then reduced to his
sway the remainder of the tribe of the Heruli, whose chief
was Alaric. Now the aforesaid race, as the historian
Ablabius tells us, dwelt near Lake Maeotis in swampy
places which the Greeks call e/é; hence they were named
Heluri. They were a people swift of foot, and on that
account were the more swollen with pride, for there was
at that time no race that did not choose from them its
light-armed troops for battle. But though their quickness
often saved them from others who made war upon them,
yet they were overthrown by the slowness and steadiness
of the Goths; and the lot of fortune brought it to pass
that they, as well as the other tribes, had to serve Her-
manaric, king of the Getae. After the slaughter of the
Heruli, Hermanaric also took arms against the Venethi.

116

ey,

118

119

121

122

3

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 85

This people, though despised in war, was strong in num-
bers and tried to resist him. But a multitude of cowards
is of no avail, particularly when God permits an armed
multitude to attack them. These people, as we started
to say at the beginning of our account or catalogue of
nations, though off-shoots from one stock, have now
three names, that is, Venethi, Antes and Sclaveni. Though
they now rage in war far and wide, in consequence of
our neglect, yet at that time they were all obedient to Her-
manaric’s commands. This ruler also subdued by his
wisdom and might the race of the Aesti, who dwell on
the farthest shore of the German Ocean, and ruled all the
nations of Scythia and Germany by his own prowess
alone.

XXIV But after a short space of time, as Orosius
relates, the race of the Huns, fiercer than ferocity itself,
flamed forth against the Goths. We learn from old tra-
ditions that their origin was as follows: Filimer, king of
the Goths, son of Gadaric the Great, who was the fifth in
succession to hold the rule of the Getae after their de-
parture from the island of Scandza—and who, as we have
said, entered the land of Scythia with his tribe—found
among his people certain witches, whom he called in his
native tongue Haliurunnae. Suspecting these women, he
expelled them from the midst of his race and compelled
them to wander in solitary exile afar from his army.
There the unclean spirits, who beheld them as they wan-
dered through the wilderness, bestowed their embraces
upon them and begat this savage race, which dwelt at
first in the swamps, a stunted, foul and puny tribe,
scarcely human and having no language save one which
bore but slight resemblance to human speech. Such was
the descent of the Huns who came to the country of the
Goths.

This cruel tribe, as Priscus the historian relates, set-
tled on the farther bank of the Maeotic swamp. They

ORIGIN
AND History
OF THE Huns

86 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

were fond of hunting and had no skill in any other
art. After they had grown to a nation, they disturbed
the peace of neighboring races by theft and rapine. At
one time, while hunters of their tribe were as usual seek-
ing for game on the farthest edge of Maeotis, they
saw a doe unexpectedly appear to their sight and enter
the swamp, acting as guide of the way; now advancing
and again standing still. The hunters followed and
crossed on foot the Maeotic swamp, which they had
supposed was impassable as the sea. Presently the
unknown land of Scythia disclosed itself and the doe
disappeared. Now in my opinion the evil spirits, from
whom the Huns are descended, did this from envy of the
Scythians. And the Huns, who had been wholly ignorant
that there was another world beyond Maeotis, were now
filled with admiration for the Scythian land. As they
were quick of mind, they believed that this path, utterly
unknown to any age of the past, had been divinely re-
vealed to them. They returned to their tribe, told them
what had happened, praised Scythia and persuaded the
people to hasten thither along the way they had found
by the guidance of the doe. As many as they captured,
when they thus entered Scythia for the first time, they
sacrificed to Victory. The remainder they conquered
and made subject to themselves. Like a whirlwind of
nations they swept across the great swamp and at once
fell upon the Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari, Tuncarsi and
Boisci, who bordered on that part of Scythia. The Alani
also, who were their equals in battle, but unlike them in
civilization, manners and appearance, they exhausted by
their incessant attacks and subdued. For by the terror
of their features they inspired great fear in those whom
perhaps they did not really surpass in war. They made
their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was
fearful, and they had, if I may call it so, a sort of shape-
less lump, not a head, with pin-holes rather than eyes.

125

126

127

130

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 87

Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and
they are beings who are cruel to their children on the
very day they are born. For they cut the cheeks of the
males with a sword, so that before they receive the nour-
ishment of milk they must learn to endure wounds.
Hence they grow old beardless and their young men are
without comeliness, because a face furrowed by the sword
spoils by its scars the natural beauty of a beard. They
are short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert
horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and
arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in
pride. Though they live in the form of men, they have
the cruelty of wild beasts.

When the Getae beheld this active race that had in-
vaded many nations, they took fright and consulted with
their king how they might escape from such a foe. Now
although Hermanaric, king of the Goths, was the con-
queror of many tribes, as we have said above, yet while
he was deliberating on this invasion of the Huns, the
treacherous tribe of the Rosomoni, who at that time were
among those who owed him their homage, took this
chance to catch him unawares. For when the king had
given orders that a certain woman of the tribe I have
mentioned, Sunilda by name, should be bound to wild
horses and torn apart by driving them at full speed in
opposite directions (for he was roused to fury by her
husband’s treachery to him), her brothers Sarus and
Ammius came to avenge their sister’s death and plunged
a sword into Hermanaric’s side. Enfeebled by this blow,
he dragged out a miserable existence in bodily weakness.

/Balamber, king of the Huns, took advantage of his ill

health to move an army into the country of the Ostro-
goths, from whom the Visigoths had already separated
because of some dispute. Meanwhile Hermanaric, who
was unable to endure either the pain of his wound or the
inroads of the Huns, died full of days at the great age of

First
TRRUPTION OF
THE HuNS
as early as
375

Valentinian I
364-375

THE
VISIGOTHS
SETTLE IN

THRACE AND
MoeEsIA
376

Valens
364-378

FAMINE
376-377

88 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

one hundred and ten years. The fact of his death enabled
the Huns to prevail over those Goths who, as we have
said, dwelt in the east and were called Ostrogoths.

The Divided Goths: Visigoths

XXV_ The Visigoths, who were their other allies and
inhabitants of the western country, were terrified as their
kinsmen had been, and knew not how to plan for safety
against the race of the Huns. After long deliberation by
common consent they finally sent ambassadors into Ro-
mania to the Emperor Valens, brother of Valentinian,
the elder Emperor, to say that if he would give them part
of Thrace or Moesia to keep, they would submit them-
selves to his laws and commands. That he might have
greater confidence in them, they promised to become
Christians, if he would give them teachers who spoke
their language. When Valens learned this, he gladly and
promptly granted what he had himself intended to ask.
He received the Getae into the region of Moesia and
placed them there as a wall of defense for his kingdom
against other tribes. And since at that time the Emperor
Valens, who was infected with the Arian perfidy, had
closed all the churches of our party, he sent as preachers
to them those who favored his sect. They came and
straightway filled a rude and ignorant people with the
poison of their heresy. Thus the Emperor Valens made
the Visigoths Arians rather than Christians. Moreover,
from the love they bore them, they preached the gospel
both to the Ostrogoths and to their kinsmen the Gepidae,
teaching them to reverence this heresy, and they invited
all people of their speech everywhere to attach themselves
to this sect. They themselves, as we have said, crossed
the Danube and settled Dacia Ripensis, Moesia and Thrace
by permission of the Emperor.

XXVI Soon famine and want came upon them, as
often happens to a people not yet well settled in a coun-

131

132

133

134

135

137

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 89

try. Their princes and the leaders who ruled them in
place of kings, that is Fritigern, Alatheus and Safrac,
began to lament the plight of their army and begged
Lupicinus and Maximus, the Roman commanders, to
open a market. But to what will not the “cursed lust for
gold” compel men to assent? The generals, swayed by
avarice, sold them at a high price not only the flesh of
sheep and oxen, but even the carcasses of dogs and un-
clean animals, so that a slave would be bartered for a loaf
of bread or ten pounds of meat. When their goods and
chattels failed, the greedy trader demanded their sons in
return for the.necessities of life. And the parents con-
sented even to this, in order to provide for the safety of
their children, arguing that it was better to lose liberty
than life; and indeed it is better than one be sold, if he
will be mercifully fed, than that he should be kept free
only to die.

Now it came to pass in that troublous time that Lu-
picinus, the Roman general, invited Fritigern, a chief-
tain of the Goths, to a feast and, as the event revealed,
devised a plot against him. But Fritigern, thinking
no evil, came to the feast with a few followers. While
he was dining in the praetorium he heard the dying
cries of his ill-fated men, for, by order of the general,
the soldiers were slaying his companions who were shut
up in another part of the house. The loud cries of the
dying fell upon ears already suspicious, and Fritigern at
once perceived the treacherous trick. He drew his sword
and with great courage dashed quickly from the banquet-
ing-hall, rescued his men from their threatening doom
and incited them to slay the Romans. Thus these valiant
men gained the chance they had longed for—to be free to
die in battle rather than to perish of hunger—and imme-
diately took arms to kill the generals Lupicinus and
Maximus. Thus that day put an end to the famine of the
Goths and the safety of the Romans, for the ‘Goths no

TREACHERY
OF THE
ROMANS

ἘΜΡΕΒΟΒ
VALENS
DEFEATED
AND SLAIN
A.D. 378

Gratian
367-383

HOsTILE
RELATIONS

A TRUCE

Theodosius
379-395

go JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

longer as strangers and pilgrims, but as citizens and lords,
began to rule the inhabitants and to hold in their own
right all the northern country as far as the Danube.

When the Emperor Valens heard of this at Antioch,
he made ready an army at once and set out for the coun-
try of Thrace. Here a grievous battle took place and the
Goths prevailed. The Emperor himself was wounded and
fled to a farm near Hadrianople. The Goths, not know-
ing that an emperor lay hidden in so poor a hut, set fire
to it (as is customary in dealing with a cruel foe), and
thus he was cremated in royal splendor. Plainly it was
a direct judgment of God that he should be burned with
fire by the very men whom he had perfidiously led astray
when they sought the true faith, turning them aside from
the flame of love into the fire of hell. From this time the
Visigoths, in consequence of their glorious victory, pos-
sessed Thrace and Dacia Ripensis as if it were their
native land.

XXVII Now in the place of Valens, his uncle, the
Emperor Gratian established Theodosius the Spaniard in
the Eastern Empire. Military discipline was soon re-
stored to a high level, and the Goth, perceiving that the
cowardice and sloth of former princes was ended, became
afraid. For the Emperor was famed alike for his acute-
ness and discretion. By stern commands and by gener-
osity and kindness he encouraged a demoralized army to
deeds of daring. But when the soldiers, who had ob-
tained a better leader by the change, gained new confi-
dence, they sought to attack the Goths and drive them
from the borders of Thrace, But as the Emperor Theo-
dosius fell so sick at this time that his life was almost
despaired of, the Goths were again inspired with courage.
Dividing the Gothic army, Fritigern set out to plunder
Thessaly, Epirus and Achaia, while Alatheus and Safrac
with the rest of the troops made for Pannonia. Now the
Emperor Gratian had at this time retreated from Rome to

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

THE GOTHIC HISTORY ΟἹ

Gaul because of the invasions of the Vandals. When he
learned that the Goths were acting with greater boldness
because Theodosius was in despair of his life, he quickly
gathered an army and came against them. Yet he put no
trust in arms, but sought to conquer them by kindness and
gifts. So he entered on a truce with them and made
peace, giving them provisions.

XXVIII When the Emperor Theodosius afterwards
recovered and learned that the Emperor Gratian had
made a compact between the Goths and the Romans, as
he had himself desired, he was very well pleased and
gave his assent. He gave gifts to King Athanaric, who
had succeeded Fritigern, made an alliance with him and
in the most gracious manner invited him to visit him in
Constantinople. Athanaric very gladly consented and
as he entered the royal city exclaimed in wonder, “Lo,
now I see what I have often heard of with unbelieving
ears,’ meaning the great and famous city. Turning his
eyes hither and thither, he marvelled as he beheld the
situation of the city, the coming and going of the ships,
the splendid walls, and the people of divers nations gath-
ered like a flood of waters streaming from different re-
regions into one basin. So too, when he saw the army in
array, he said “Truly the Emperor is a god on earth, and
whoso raises a hand against him is guilty of his own
blood.” In the midst of his admiration and the enjoy-
ment of even greater honors at the hand of the Emperor,
he departed this life after the space of a few months.
The Emperor had such affection for him that he honored
Athanaric even more when he was dead than during his
lifetime, for he not only gave him a worthy burial, but
himself walked before the bier at the funeral. Now when
Athanaric was dead, his whole army continued in the
service of the Emperor Theodosius and submitted to the
Roman rule, forming as it were one body with the impe-
rial soldiery. The former service of the Allies under the

PEACE
CONFIRMED
BY
THEODOSIUS
380

DEATH
oF KING
ATHANARIC
AT
CONSTANTINOPLE
381

Axaric I
KING
OF THE
GoTHsS
395-410

Stilicho and
Aurelian
Consuls in
400

DESCRIPTION
OF
RAVENNA

ΟΖ JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Emperor Constantine was now renewed and they were
again called Allies. And since the Emperor knew that
they were faithful to him and his friends, he took from
their number more than twenty thousand warriors to
serve against the tyrant Eugenius who had slain Gratian
and seized Gaul. After winning the victory over this
usurper, he wreaked his vengeance upon him.

XXIX But after Theodosius, the lover of peace and
of the Gothic race, had passed from human cares, his
sons began to ruin both empires by their luxurious living
and to deprive their Allies, that is to say the Goths, of the
customary gifts. The contempt of the Goths for the
Romans soon increased, and for fear their valor would be
destroyed by long peace, they appointed Alaric king over
them. He was of famous stock, and his nobility was
second only to that of the Amali, for he came from the
family of the Balthi, who because of their daring valor
had long ago received among their race the name Baltha,
that is, The Bold. Now when this Alaric was made king,
he tcok counsel with his men and persuaded them to seek
a kingdom by their own exertions rather than serve others
in idleness. In the consulship of Stilicho and Aurelian
he raised an army and entered Italy, which seemed to be
bare of defenders, and came through Pannonia and Sir-
mium along the right side. Without meeting any resist-
ance, he reached the bridge of the river Candidianus at
the third milestone from the royal city cof Ravenna.

This city lies amid the streams of the Po between
swamps and the sea, and is accessible only on one side.
Its ancient inhabitants, as our ancestors relate, were
called αἰνετοί, that is, “Laudable.’’ Situated in a corner
of the Roman Empire above the Ionian Sea, it is hemmed
in like an island by a flood of rushing waters. On the
east it has the sea, and one who sails straight to it from
the region of Corcyra and those parts of Hellas sweeps
with his oars along the right hand coast, first touching

149

150

ed

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 93

Epirus, then Dalmatia, Liburnia and Histria and at last
the Venetian Isles. But on the west it has swamps
through which a sort of door has been left by a very
narrow entrance. To the north is an arm of the Po,
called the Fossa Asconis. On the south likewise is the
Po itself, which they call the King of the rivers of Italy;
and it has also the name Eridanus. This river was turned
aside by the Emperor Augustus into a very broad canal
which flows through the midst of the city with a seventh
part of its stream, affording a pleasant harbor at its
mouth. Men believed in ancient times, as Dio relates,
that it would hold a fleet of two hundred and fifty vessels
in its safe anchorage. Fabius says that this, which was
once a harbor, now displays itself like a spacious garden
full of trees; but. from them hang not sails but apples.
The city itself boasts of three names and is happily placed
in its threefold location. I mean to say the first is called
Ravenna and the most distant part Classis; while midway
between the city and the sea is Caesarea, full of luxury.
The sand of the beach is fine and suited for riding.

XXX But as I was saying, when the army of the
Visigoths had come into the neighborhood of this city,
they sent an embassy to the Emperor Honorius, who
dwelt within. They said that if he would permit the
Goths to settle peaceably in Italy, they would so live with
the Roman people that men might believe them both to
be of one race; but if not, whoever prevailed in war
should drive out the other, and the victor should hence-
forth rule unmolested. But the Emperor Honorius feared
to make either promise. So he took counsel with his
senate and considered how he might drive them from the
Italian borders. He finally decided that Alaric and his
race, if they were able to do so, should be allowed to
seize for their own home the provinces farthest away,
namely Gaul and Spain. For at this time he had almost
lost them, and moreover they had been devasted by the

Honorius
393-423

Hownortus
GRANTS THE
GOTHS LANDS
IN GAUL AND

SPAIN

STILICHO’S
TREACHEROUS
ATTACK
402

Avaric I
sAcKsS ROME
A.D. 410

94 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

invasion of Gaiseric, king of the Vandals. The grant
was confirmed by an imperial rescript, and the Goths,
consenting to the arrangement, set out for the country
given them.

When they had gone away without doing any harm
in Italy, Stilicho, the Patrician and father-in-law of
the Emperor Honorius—for the Emperor had married
both his daughters, Maria and Thermantia, in succes-
sion, but God called both from this world in their vir-
gin purity—this Stilicho, I say, treacherously hurried
to Pollentia, a city in the Cottian Alps. There he fell
upon the unsuspecting Goths in battle, to the ruin of all
Italy and his own disgrace. When the Goths suddenly
beheld him, at first they were terrified. Soon regaining
their courage and arousing each other by brave shouting,
as is their custom, they turned to flight the entire army
of Stilicho and almost exterminated it. Then forsaking
the journey they had undertaken, the Goths with hearts
full of rage returned again to Liguria whence they
had set out. When they had plundered and spoiled it,
they also laid waste Aemilia, and then hastened toward
the city of Rome along the Flaminian Way, which runs
between Picenum and Tuscia, taking as booty what-
ever they found on either hand. When they finally en-
tered Rome, by Alaric’s express command they merely
sacked it and did not set the city on fire, as wild peoples
usually do, nor did they permit serious damage to be done
to the holy places. | Thence they departed to bring like
ruin upon Campania and Lucania, and then came to
Bruttii. Here they remained a long time and planned to
go to Sicily and thence to the countries of Africa.

Now the land of the Bruttii is at the extreme southern
bound of Italy , and a corner of it marks the beginning of
the Apennine mountains. It stretches out like a tongue
into the Adriatic Sea and separates it from the Tyrrhenian
waters. It chanced to receive its name in ancient times

154

156

157

150

160

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 95

from a Queen Bruttia. To this place came Alaric, king of
the Visigoths, with the wealth of all Italy which he had
taken as spoil, and from there, as we have said, he in-
tended to cross over by way of Sicily to the quiet land of
Africa. But since man is not free to do anything he
wishes without the will of God, that dread strait sunk sev-
eral of his ships and threw all into confusion. Alaric was
cast down by his reverse and, while deliberating what he
should do, was suddenly overtaken by an untimely death
and departed from human cares. His people mourned for
him with the utmost affection. Then turning from its
course the river Busentus near the city of Consentia—for
this stream flows with its wholesome waters from the foot
of a mountain near that city—they led a band of captives
into the midst of its bed to dig out a place for his grave.
In the depths of this pit they buried Alaric, together with
many treasures, and then turned the waters back into
their channel. And that none might ever know the place,
they put to death all the diggers. They bestowed the
kingdom of the Visigoths on Athavulf his kinsman, a
a man of imposing beauty and great spirit; for though not
tall of stature, he was distinguished for beauty of face
and form.

XXXI When Athavulf became king, he returned
again to Rome, and whatever had escaped the first sack
his Goths stripped bare like locusts, not merely despoil-
ing Italy of its private wealth, but even of its public
resources. The Emperor Honorius was powerless to
resist even when his sister Placidia, the daughter of the
Emperor Theodosius by his second wife, was led away
captive from the city. But Athavulf was attracted by her
nobility, beauty and chaste purity, and so he took her to
wife in lawful marriage at Forum Julii, a city of Aemilia.
When the barbarians learned of this alliance, they were
the more effectually terrified, since the Empire and the
Goths now seemed to be made one. Then Athavulf set

Avaric I
A.D, 410

Athavulf
410-415

DEEDS OF
Kine ATHAVULF

Marries
Galla Placidia
414

KING
SEGERIC
415

KING VALIA
415-419

96 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

out for Gaul, leaving Honorius Augustus stripped of his
wealth, to be sure, yet pleased at heart because he was
now a sort of kinsman of his. Upon his arrival the
neighboring tribes who had long made cruel raids into
Gaul—Franks and Burgundians alike—were terrified and
began to keep within their own borders. Now the
Vandals and the Alani, as we have said before, had been
dwelling in both Pannonias by permission of the Roman
Emperors. Yet fearing they would not be safe even here
if the Goths should return, they crossed over into Gaul.
But no long time after they had taken possession of Gaul
they fled thence and shut themselves up in Spain, for they
still remembered from the tales of their forefathers what
ruin Geberich, king of the Goths, had long ago brought
on their race, and how by his valor he had driven them
from their native land. And thus it happened that Gaul
lay open to Athavulf when he came. Now when the
Goth had established his kingdom in Gaul, he began to
grieve for the plight of the Spaniards and planned to
save them from the attacks of the Vandals. So Athavulf
left with a few faithful men at Barcelona his treasures and
those who were unfit for war, and entered the interior of
Spain. Here he fought frequently with the Vandals and,
in the third year after he had subdued Gaul and Spain, fell
pierced through the groin by the sword of Euervulf, a
man whose short stature he had been wont to mock. After
his death Segeric was appointed king, but he too was slain
by the treachery of his own men and lost both his kingdom
and his life even more quickly than Athavulf.

XXXII Then. Valia, the fourth from Alaric, was
made king, and he was an exceeding stern and prudent
man. The Emperor Honorius sent an army against him
under Constantius, who was famed for his achievements
in war and distinguished in many battles, for he feared

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 97

that Valia would break the treaty long ago made with
Athavulf and that, after driving out the neighboring
tribes, he would again plot evil against the Empire.
Moreover Honorius was eager to free his sister Placidia
from the disgrace of servitude, and made an agreement
with Constantius that if by peace or war or any means
soever he could bring her back to the kingdom, he should
have her in marriage. Pleased with this promise, Con-
stantius set out for Spain with an armed force and in
almost royal splendor. Valia, king of the Goths, met him
at a pass in the Pyrenees with as great a force. Here-
upon embassies were sent by both sides and it was decided
to make peace on the following terms, namely that Valia
should give up Placidia, the Emperor’s sister, and should
not refuse to aid the Roman Empire when occasion
demanded.

Now at that time a certain Constantine usurped impe-
rial power in Gaul and appointed as Caesar his son Con-
stans, who was formerly a monk. But when he had held
for a short time the Empire he had seized, he was himself
slain at Arelate and his son at Vienne. Jovinus and
Sebastian succeeded them with equal presumption and
thought they might seize the imperial power; but they
perished by a like fate.

Now in the twelfth year of Valia’s reign the Huns
were driven out of Pannonia by the Romans and Goths,
almost fifty years after they had taken possession of it.
Then Valia found that the Vandals had come forth with
bold audacity from the interior of Galicia, whither Atha-
vulf had long ago driven them, and were devastating and
plundering everywhere in his own territories, namely in
the land of Spain. So he made no delay but moved his
army against them at once, at about the time when Hier-
ius and Ardabures had become consuls.

XXXIII But Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, had al-
ready been invited into Africa by Boniface, who had

Constantine III
407-411
Constans
407-411

Jovinus
411-413

Sebastian
412

VALIA
MOVES AGAINST
THE
VANDALS

427

THE VANDALS
AND
GAISERIC THEIR
KING

427-477

The six kings
of the Vandals
427-534

98 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

fallen into a dispute with the Emperor Valentinian and
was able to obtain revenge only by injuring the Empire.
So he invited them urgently and brought them across the
narrow strait known as the Strait of Gades, scarcely seven
miles wide, which divides Africa from Spain and unites
the mouth of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the waters of
Ocean. Gaiseric, still famous in the City for the disaster
of the Romans, was a man of moderate height and lame
in consequence of a fall from his horse. He was a man
of deep thought and few words, holding luxury in dis-
dain, furious in his anger, greedy for gain, shrewd in
winning over the barbarians and skilled in sowing the
seeds of dissension to arouse enmity. Such was he who,
as we have said, came at the solicitous invitation of Boni-
face to the country of Africa. There he reigned for a
long time, receiving authority, as they say, from God
Himself. Before his death he summoned the band of his
sons and ordained that there should be no strife among
them because of desire for the kingdom, but that each
should reign in his own rank and order as he survived
the others; that is, the next younger should succeed his
elder brother, and he in turn should be followed by his
junior. By giving heed to this command they ruled their
kingdom in happiness for the space of many years and
were not disgraced by civil war, as is usual among other
nations; one after the other receiving the kingdom and
ruling the people in peace.

Now this is their order of succession: first, Gaiseric
who was the father and lord, next Huneric, the third
Gunthamund, the fourth Thrasamund, and the fifth
Ilderich. He was driven from his throne and _ slain
by Gelimer, who destroyed his race by disregarding
his ancestor’s advice and setting up a tyranny. But
what he had done did not remain unpunished, for soon
the vengeance of the Emperor Justinian was mani-
fested against him. With his whole family and that

168

170

171

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 99

wealth over which he gloated like a robber, he was taken KINGpoM
to Constantinople by that most renowned warrior Beli- eae
ANDALS

sarius, Master of the Soldiery of the East, Ex-Consul ΜΑΡῈ supyjecr
Ordinary and Patrician. Here he afforded a great spec- 1 νος
tacle to the people in the Circus. His repentance, when

he beheld himself cast down from his royal state, came

too late. He died as a mere subject and in retirement,

though he had formerly been unwilling to submit to pri-

172 vate life. Thus after a century Africa, which in the
division of the earth’s surface is regarded as the third
part of the world, was delivered from the yoke of the
Vandals and brought back to the liberty of the Roman
Empire. The country which the hand of the heathen had
long ago cut off from the body of the Roman Empire,
by reason of the cowardice of emperors and the treachery
of generals, was now restored by a wise prince and a
faithful leader and to-day is happily flourishing. And
though, even after this, it had to deplore the misery of
civil war and the treachery of the Moors, yet the triumph
of the Emperor Justinian, vouchsafed him by God,
brought to a peaceful conclusion what he had begun. But
why need we speak of what the subject does not require?
Let us return to our theme.

173 Now Valia, king of the Goths, and his army fought so
fiercely against the Vandals that he would have pursued
them even into Africa, had not such a misfortune recalled
him as befell Alaric when he was setting out for Africa.
So when he had won great fame in Spain, he returned
after a bloodless victory to Tolosa, turning over to the
Roman Empire, as he had promised, a number of prov-
inces which he had rid of his foes. A long time after this

174 he was seized by sickness and departed this life. Just at
that time Beremud, the son of Thorismud, whom we have
mentioned above in the genealogy of the family of the
Amali, departed with his son Veteric from the Ostro-
goths, who still submitted to the oppression of the Huns

MIGRATION
OF THE AMALI
TO THE
VISIGOTHS

THEOopoRID I
419-451

Consulship of
Theodosius
439

"FIRST BREACH
BETWEEN
THEODORID I
AND THE
RoMANS

100 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

in the land of Scythia, and came to the kingdom of the
Visigoths. Well aware of his valor and noble birth, he
believed that the kingdom would be the more readily
bestowed upon him by his kinsmen, inasmuch as he was
known to be the heir of many kings. And who would
hesitate to choose one of the Amali, if there were an empty
throne? But he was not himself eager to make known
who he was, and so upon the death of Valia the Visi-
goths made Theodorid his successor. Beremud came to
him and, with the strength of mind for which he was
noted, concealed his noble birth by prudent silence, for he
knew that those of royal lineage are always distrusted by
kings. So he suffered himself to remain unknown, that
he might not bring the established order into confusion.
King Theodorid received him and his son with special
honor and made him partner in his counsels and a com-
panion at his board; not for his noble birth, which he
knew not, but for his brave spirit and strong mind, which
Beremud could not conceal.

XXXIV And what more? Valia (to repeat what we
have said) had but little success against the Gauls, but
when he died the more fortunate and prosperous Theo-
dorid succeeded to the throne. He was a man of the
greatest moderation and notable for vigor of mind and
body. In the consulship of Theodosius and Festus the
Romans broke the truce and took up arms against him in
Gaul, with the Huns as their auxiliaries. For a band of
the Gallic Allies, led by Count Gaina, had aroused the
Romans by throwing Constantinople into a panic. Now
at that time the Patrician Aétius was in command of the
army. He was of the bravest Moesian stock, the son of
Gaudentius and born in the city of Durostorum. He wasa
man fitted to endure the toils of war, born expressly to
serve the Roman state; and by inflicting crushing defeats
he had compelled the proud Suavi and barbarous Franks
to submit to Roman sway. So then, with the Huns as

175

177

179

180

THE GOTHIC HISTORY IOI

allies under their leader Litorius, the Roman army
moved in array against the Goths. When the battle
lines of both sides had been standing for a long time
opposite each other, both being brave and neither side the
weaker, they struck a truce and returned to their ancient
alliance. And after the treaty had been confirmed by
both and an honest peace was established, they both
withdrew.

During this peace Attila was lord over all the Huns
and almost the sole earthly ruler of all the tribes of
Scythia; a man marvellous for his glorious fame among
all nations. The historian Priscus, who was sent to him
on an embassy by the younger Theodosius, says this
among other things: “Crossing mighty rivers—namely,
the Tisia and Tibisia and Dricca—we came to the place
where long ago Vidigoia, bravest of the Goths, perished
by the guile of the Sarmatians. At no great distance
from that place we arrived at the village where King
Attila was dwelling, a village, I say, like a great city,
in which we found wooden walls made of smooth-shining
boards, whose joints so counterfeited solidity that the
union of the boards could scarcely be distinguished by
close scrutiny. There you might see dining halls of
large extent and porticoes planned with great beauty,
while the courtyard was bounded by so vast a circuit that
its very size showed it was the royal palace.”’ This was
the abode of Attila, the king of all the barbarian world;
and he preferred this as a dwelling to the cities he
captured.

XXXV_ Now this Attila was the son of Mundiuch,
and his brothers were Octar and Ruas who are said to
have ruled before Attila, though not over quite so many
tribes as he. After their death he succeeded to the throne
of the Huns, together with his brother Bleda. In order
that he might first be equal to the expedition he was
preparing, he sought to increase his strength by murder.

The Truce
439

Embassy to
Attila
448

CHARACTER
or ATTILA
KING OF THE
Huns

Attila and Bleda
joint kings
433-445

Attila sole
king
445-453

102 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Thus he proceeded from the destruction of his own kin-
dred to the menace of all others. But though he increased
his power by this shameful means, yet by the balance of
justice he received the hideous consequences of his own
cruelty. Now when his brother Bleda, who ruled over
a great part of the Huns, had been slain by his treachery,
Attila united all the people under his own rule. Gath-
ering also a host of the other tribes which he then held
under his sway, he sought to subdue the foremost nations
of the world—the Romans and the Visigoths. His army
is said to have numbered five hundred thousand men.
He was a man born into the world to shake the nations,
the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all
mankind by the dreadful rumors noised abroad concern-
ing him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes
hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit
appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed
a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in coun-
sel, gracious to suppliants and lenient to those who were
once received into his protection. He was short of stat-
ure, with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were
small, his beard thin and sprinkled with gray; and he had
a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, showing the evi-
dences of his origin. And though his temper was such
that he always had great self-confidence, yet his assur-
ance was increased by finding the sword of Mars, always
esteemed sacred among the kings of the Scythians. The
historian Priscus says it was discovered under the fol-
lowing circumstances: “When a certain shepherd beheld
one heifer of his flock limping and could find no cause
for this wound, he anxiously followed the trail of blood
and at length came to a sword it had unwittingly trampled
while nibbling the grass. He dug it up and took it
straight to Attila. He rejoiced at this gift and, being
ambitious, thought he had been appointed ruler of the

181

182

183

185

186

187

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 103

whole world, and that through the sword of Mars supre-
macy in all wars was assured to him.”

XXXVI Now when Gaiseric, king of the Vandals,
whom we mentioned shortly before, learned that his mind
was bent on the devastation of the world, he incited
Attila by many gifts to make war on the Visigoths, for
he was afraid that Theodorid, king of the Visigoths,
would avenge the injury done to his daughter. She had
been joined in wedlock with Huneric, the son of Gaiseric,
and at first was happy in this union. But afterwards he
was cruel even to his own children, and because of the
mere suspicion that she was attempting to poison him, he
cut off her nose and mutilated her ears. He sent her
back to her father in Gaul thus despoiled of her natural
charms. So the wretched girl presented a pitiable aspect
ever after, and the cruelty which would stir even strang-
ers still more surely incited her father to vengeance.
Attila, therefore, in his efforts to bring about the wars
long ago instigated by the bribe of Gaiseric, sent ambas-
sadors into Italy to the Emperor Valentinian to sow
strife between the Goths and the Romans, thinking to
shatter by civil discord those whom he cculd not crush
in battle. He declared that he was in no way violating
his friendly relations with the Empire, but that he had a
quarrel with Theodorid, king of the Visigoths. As he
wished to be kindly received, he filled the rest of the
letter with the usual flattering salutations, striving to win
credence for his falsehood. In like manner he despatched
a message to Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, urging
him to break his alliance with the Romans and reminding
him of the battles to which they had recently provoked
him. Beneath his great ferocity he was a subtle man,
and fought with craft before he made war.

Then the Emperor Valentinian sent an embassy to the
Visigoths and their king Theodorid, with this message:
“Bravest of nations, it is the part of prudence for us to

GAISERIC
INCITES
HIM TO WAR
WITH THE GOTHS

LEAGUE OF
THE
VISIGOTHS
AND RoMANS
AGAINST
ATTILA

451

THE
FORCES OF THE
ALLIES

104 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

unite against the lord of the earth who wishes to enslave
the whole world; who requires no just cause for battle,
but supposes whatever he does is right. He measures
his ambition by his might. License satisfies his pride.
Despising law and right, he shows himself an enemy to
Nature herself. And thus he, who clearly is the common
foe of each, deserves the hatred of all. Pray remember—
what you surely cannot forget—that the Huns do not
overthrow nations by means of war, where there is an
equal chance, but assail them by treachery, which is a
greater cause for anxiety. To say nothing about our-
selves, can you suffer such insolence to go unpunished ?
Since you are mighty in arms, give heed to your own
danger and join hands with us in common. Bear aid
also to the Empire, of which you hold a part. If you
would learn how such an alliance should be sought and
welcomed by us, look into the plans of the foe.”

By these and like arguments the ambassadors of Va-
lentinian prevailed upon King Theodorid. He answered
them, saying: ““Romans, you have attained your desire;
you have made Attila our foe also. We will pursue
him wherever he summons us, and though he is puffed
up by his victories over divers races, yet the Goths know
how to fight this haughty foe. I call no war dangerous
save one whose cause is weak; for he fears no ill on
whom Majesty has smiled.” The nobles shouted assent
to the reply and the multitude gladly followed. All were
fierce for battle and longed to meet the Huns, their foe.
And so a countless host was led forth by Theodorid, king
of the Visigoths, who sent home four of his sons, namely
Friderich and Eurich, Retemer and Himnerith, taking
with him only the two elder sons, Thorismud and Theo-
dorid, as partners of his toil. O brave array, sure de-
fense and sweet comradeship, having the aid of those who
delight to share in the same dangers!

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| 191

192

193

194

195

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 105

On the side of the Romans stood the Patrician Aétius,
on whom at that time the whole Empire of the West de-
pended; a man of such wisdom that he had assembled
warriors from everywhere to meet them on equal terms.
Now these were his auxiliaries: Franks, Sarmatians
Armoricians, Liticians, Burgundians, Saxons, Riparians,
Olibriones (once Roman soldiers and now the flower of
the allied forces), and some other Celtic or German tribes.
And so they met in the Catalaunian Plains, which are
also called Mauriacian, extending in length one hundred
leuva, as the Gauls express it, and seventy in width. Now
a Gallic Jewva measures a distance of fifteen hundred
paces. That portion of the earth accordingly became
the threshing-floor of countless races. The two hosts
bravely joined battle. Nothing was done under cover,
but they contended in open fight. What just cause can
be found for the encounter of so many nations, or what
hatred inspired them all to take arms against each cther?
It is proof that the human race lives for its kings, for it is
at the mad impulse of one mind a slaughter of nations
takes place, and at the whim of a haughty ruler that
which nature has taken ages to produce perishes in a
moment.

XXXVII But before we set forth the order of the
battle itself, it seems needful to relate what had already
happened in the course of the campaign, for it was not
only a famous struggle but one that was complicated and
confused. Well then, Sangiban, king of the Alani, smit-
ten with fear of what might come to pass, had promised
to surrender to Attila, and to give into his keeping Aure-
liani, a city of Gaul wherein he then dwelt. When Theo-
dorid and Aetius learned of this, they cast up great earth-
works around that city before Attila’s arrival and kept
watch over the suspected Sangiban, placing him with his
tribe in the midst of their auxiliaries. Then Attila, king
of the Huns, was taken aback by this event and lost confi-

THE
BEGINNING
OF THE
STRIFE

BATTLE
OF THE
CATALAUNIAN
PLAINS
A.D. 451

106 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

dence in his own troops, so that he feared to begin the
conflict. While he was meditating on flight—a greater
calamity than death itself—he decided to inquire into the
future through soothsayers. So, as was their custom,
they examined the entrails of cattle and certain streaks in
bones that had been scraped, and foretold disaster to the
Huns. Yet as a slight consolation they prophesied that
the chief commander of the foe they were to meet should
fall and mar by his death the rest of the victory and the
triumph. Now Attila deemed the death of Aétius a thing
to be desired even at the cost of his own life, for Aétius
stood in the way of his plans. So although he was dis-
turbed by this prophecy, yet inasmuch as he was a man
who sought counsel of omens in all warfare, he began
the battle with anxious heart at about the ninth hour of
the day, in order that the impending darkness might come
to his aid if the outcome should be disastrous.
XXXVIII The armies met, as we have said, in the
Catalaunian Plains. The battle field was a plain rising
by a sharp slope to a ridge, which both armies sought to
gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The
Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans,
the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a
struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodorid with
the Visigoths held the right wing and Aétius with the
Romans the left. They placed in the centre Sangiban
(who, as said before, was in command of the Alani),
thus contriving with military caution to surround by a
host of faithful troops the man in whose loyalty they had
little confidence. For one who has difficulties placed in
the way of his flight readily submits to the necessity of
fighting. On the other side, however, the battle line of
the Huns was so arranged that Attila and his bravest
followers were stationed in the centre. In arranging
them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view,
since by his position in the very midst of his race he

196

197 |

198

109

200

201

203

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 107

would be kept out of the way of threatening danger.
The innumerable peoples of divers tribes, which he had
subjected to his sway, formed the wings. Amid them
was conspicuous the army of the Ostrogoths under the
leadership of the brothers Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidi-
mer, nobler even than the king they served, for the might
of the family of the Amali rendered them glorious. The
renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also
with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to
Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them
in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostro-
goths, above all the other chieftains. Valamir was a
good keeper of secrets, bland of speech and skilled in
wiles, and Ardaric, as we have said, was famed for his
loyalty and wisdom. Attila might well feel sure that
they would fight against the Visigoths, their kinsmen.
Now the rest of the crowd of kings (if we may call them
so) and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila’s
nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance,
without a murmur each stood forth in fear and tremb-
ling, or at all events did as he was bid. Attila alone was
king of all kings over all and concerned for all.

So then the struggle began for the advantage of posi-
tion we have mentioned. Attila sent his men to take the
summit of the mountain, but was outstripped by Thoris-
mud and Aétius, who in their effort to gain the top of the
hill reached higher ground and through this advantage
of position easily routed the Huns as they came up.

XXXIX Now when Attila saw his army was thrown
into confusion by this event, he thought it best to encour-
age them by an extemporaneous address on this wise:
“Here you stand, after conquering mighty nations and
subduing the world. I therefore think it foolish for me
to goad you with words, as though you were men who
had not been proved in action. Let a new leader or an
untried army resort to that. It is not right for me to

ATTILA
ADDRESSES
HIS MEN

108 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

say anything common, nor ought you to listen. For what
is war but your usual custom? Or what is sweeter for a
brave man than to seek revenge with his own hand? It is
a right of nature to glut the soul with vengeance.
Let us then attack the foe eagerly; for they are ever the
bolder who make the attack. Despise this union of dis-
cordant races! To defend oneself by alliance is proof of
cowardice. See, even before our attack they are smitten
with terror. They seek the heights, they seize the hills
and, repenting too late, clamor for protection against
battle in the open fields. You know how slight a matter
the Roman attack is. While they are still gathering in
order and forming in one line with locked shields, they
are checked, I will not say by the first wound, but even
by the dust of battle. Then on to the fray with stout
hearts, as is your wont. Despise their battle line. Attack
the Alani, smite the Visigoths! Seek swift victory in
that spot where the battle rages. For when the sinews
are cut the limbs soon relax, nor can a body stand when
you have taken away the bones. Let your courage rise
and your own fury burst forth! Now show your cun-
ning, Huns, now your deeds of arms! Let the wounded
exact in return the death of his foe; let the unwounded
revel in slaughter of the enemy. No spear shall harm
those who are sure to live; and those who are sure to die
Fate overtakes even in peace. And finally, why should
Fortune have made the Huns victorious over so many
nations, unless it were to prepare them for the joy of
this conflict. Who was it revealed to our sires the
path through the Maeotian swamp, for so many ages a
closed secret? Who, moreover, made armed men yield
to you, when you were as yet unarmed? Even a mass of
federated nations could not endure the sight of the Huns.
I am not deceived in the issue; here is the field so many
victories have promised us. I shall hurl the first spear
at the foe. If any can stand at rest while Attila fights,

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

2117

THE GOTHIC HISTORY Ι09

he is a dead πηδη. Inflamed by these words, they all
dashed into battle.

ΧΙ, And although the situation was itself fearful, yet
the presence of their king dispelled anxiety and hesita-
tion. Hand to hand they clashed in battle, and the fight
grew fierce, confused, monstrous, unrelenting—a fight
whose like no ancient time has ever recorded. There such
deeds were done that a brave man who missed this mar-
vellous spectacle could not hope to see anything so won-
derful all his life long. For, if we may believe our
elders, a brook flowing between low banks through the
plain was greatly increased by blood from the wounds
of the slain. It was not flooded by showers, as brooks
usually rise, but was swollen by a strange stream and
turned into a torrent by the increase of blood. Those
whose wounds drove them to slake their parching thirst
drank water mingled with gore. In their wretched plight
they were forced to drink what they thought was the
blood they had poured from their own wounds.

Here King Theodorid, while riding by to encourage
his army, was thrown from his horse and trampled under
foot by his own men, thus ending his days at a ripe old
age. But others say he was slain by the spear of Andag
of the host of the Ostrogoths, who were then under the
sway of Attila. This was what the soothsayers had told
to Attila in prophecy, though he understood it of Aétius.
Then the Visigoths, separating from the Alani, fell upon
the horde of the Huns and nearly slew Attila. But he
prudently took flight and straightway shut himself and
his companions within the barriers of the camp, which
he had fortified with wagons. A frail defense indeed;
yet there they sought refuge for their lives, whom but a
little while while before no walls of earth could withstand.
But Thorismud, the son of King Theodorid, who with
Aétius had seized the hill and repulsed the enemy from
the higher ground, came unwittingly to the wagons of

FIERCE
FIGHTING

DEATH OF
Kinc THeEoporip I
IN THE BATTLE

110 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the enemy in the darkness of night, thinking he had
reached his own lines. As he was fighting bravely, some-
one wounded him in the head and dragged him from his
horse. Then he was rescued by the watchful care of his
followers and withdrew from the fierce conflict. Aétius
also became separated from his men in the confusion of
night and wandered about in the midst of the enemy.
Fearing disaster had happened, he went about in search
of the Goths. At last he reached the camp of his allies
and passed the remainder of the night in the protection
of their shields.

At dawn on the following day, when the Romans
saw the fields were piled high with bodies and that
the Huns did not venture forth, they thought the vic-
tory was theirs, but knew that Attila would not flee from
the battle unless overwhelmed by a great disaster. Yet
he did nothing cowardly, like one that is overcome, but
with clash of arms sounded the trumpets and _ threat-
ened an attack. He was like a lion pierced by hunting
spears, who paces to and fro before the mouth of his
den and dares not spring, but ceases not to terrify the
neighborhood by his roaring. Even so this warlike king
at bay terrified his conquerors. Therefore the Goths and
Romans assembled and considered what to do with the
vanquished Attila. They determined to wear him out by
a siege, because he had no supply of provisions and was
hindered from approaching by a shower of arrows from
the bowmen placed within the confines of the Roman
camp. But it was said that the king remained supremely
brave even in this extremity and had heaped up a funeral
pyre of horse saddles, so that if the enemy should at-
tack him, he was determined to cast himself into the
flames, that none might have the joy of wounding him
and that the lord of so many races might not fall into
the hands of his foes.

XLI Now during these delays in the siege, the Visi-

212

ΘΠ

214

B15

217

THE GOTHIC HISTORY Ide dt

goths sought their king and the king’s sons their father,
wondering at his absence when success had been attained.
When, after a long search, they found him where the
dead lay thickest, as happens with brave men, they hon-
ored him with songs and bore him away in the sight of
the enemy. You might have seen bands of Goths shout-
ing with dissonant cries and paying honor to the dead
while the battle still raged. Tears were shed, but such
as they were accustomed to devote to brave men. It was
death indeed, but the Huns are witness that it was a
glorious one. It was a death whereby one might well
suppose the pride of the enemy would be lowered, when
they beheld the body of so great a king borne forth with
fitting honors. And so the Goths, still continuing the
rites due to Theodorid, bore forth the royal majesty with
sounding arms, and valiant Thorismud, as befitted a son,
honored the glorious spirit of his dear father by follow-
ing his remains.

When this was done, Thorismud was eager to take
vengeance for his father’s death on the remaining Huns,
being moved to this both by the pain of bereavement and
the impulse of that valor for which he was noted. Yet
he consulted with the Patrician Aétius (for he was an
older man and of more mature wisdom) with regard to
what he ought to do next. But Aétius feared that if the
Huns were totally destroyed by the Goths, the Roman
Empire would be overwhelmed, and urgently advised him
to return to his own dominions to take up the rule which
his father had left. Otherwise his brothers might seize
their father’s possessions and obtain the power over the
Visigoths. In this case Thorismud would have to fight
fiercely and, what is worse, disastrously with his own
countrymen. Thorismud accepted the advice without
perceiving its double meaning, but followed it with an
eye toward his own advantage. So he left the Huns and
returned to Gaul. Thus while human frailty rushes into

RESULTS
OF
THE BATTLE

THorRISMUD
451-453

ΤῊΕ SIEGE
AND FALL
OF AQUILEIA

452

112 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

suspicion, it often loses an opportunity of doing great
things.

In this most famous war of the bravest tribes, one hun-
dred and sixty-five thousand are said to have been slain on
both sides, leaving out of account fifteen thousand of the
Gepidae and Franks, who met each other the night before
the general engagement and fell by wounds mutually re-
ceived, the Franks fighting for the Romans and the Gepi-
dae for the Huns.

Now when Attila learned of the retreat of the Goths,
he thought it a ruse of the enemy—for so men are wont
to believe when the unexpected happens—and remained
for some time in his camp. But when a long silence fol-
lowed the absence of the foe, the spirit of the mighty
king was aroused to the thought of victory and the antici-
pation of pleasure, and his mind turned to the old oracles
of his destiny.

Thorismud, however, after the death of his father on
the Catalaunian Plains where he had fought, advanced in
royal state and entered Tolosa. Here although the throng
of his brothers and brave companions were still rejoicing
over the victory he yet began to rule so mildly that no one
strove with him for the succession to the kingdom.

ΧΙ But Attila took occasion from the withdrawal
of the Visigoths, observing what he had often desired—
that his enemies were divided. At length feeling secure,
he moved forward his array to attack the Romans. As
his first move he besieged the city of Aquileia, the me-
tropolis of Venetia, which is situated on a point or tongue
of land by the Adriatic Sea. On the eastern side its walls
are washed by the river Natissa, flowing from Mount
Piccis. The siege was long and fierce, but of no avail,
since the bravest soldiers of the Romans withstood him
from within. At last his army was discontented and
eager to withdraw . Attila chanced to be walking around
the walls, considering whether to break camp or delay

219

221

THE GOTHIC HISTORY I13

longer, and noticed that the white birds, namely, the
storks, who build their nests in the gables of houses, were
bearing their young from the city and, contrary to their
custom, were carrying them out into the country. Being
a shrewd observer of events, he understood this and said
to his soldiers: “You see the birds foresee the future.
They are leaving the city sure to perish and are forsaking
strongholds doomed to fall by reason of imminent peril.
Do not think this a meaningless or uncertain sign; fear,
arising from the things they foresee, has changed their
custom.” Why say more? He inflamed the hearts of
his soldiers to attack Aquileia again. Constructing bat-
tering rams and bringing to bear all manner of engines
of war, they quickly forced their way into the city, laid it
waste, divided the spoil and so cruelly devastated it as
scarcely to leave a trace to be seen. Then growing bolder
and still thirsting for Roman blood, the Huns raged
madly through the remaining cities of the Veneti. They
also laid waste Mediolanum, the metropolis of Liguria,
once an imperial city, and gave over Ticinum to a like
fate. Then they destroyed the neighboring country in
their frenzy and demolished almost the whole of Italy.
Attila’s mind had been bent on going to Rome. But
his followers, as the historian Priscus relates, took him
away, not out of regard for the city to which they were
hostile, but because they remembered the case of Alaric,
the former king of the Visigoths. They distrusted the
good fortune of their own king, inasmuch as Alaric did
not live long after the sack of Rome, but straightway
departed this life. Therefore while Attila’s spirit was
wavering in doubt between going and not going, and he
still lingered to ponder the matter, an embassy came to
him from Rome to seek peace. Pope Leo himself came
to meet him in the Ambuleian district of the Veneti at the
well-travelled ford of the river Mincius. Then Attila
quickly put aside his usual fury, turned back on the way

Pore [ΕΟ
INTERVENES
TO SAVE
RoME
452

MARCIAN
450-457

ATTILA
DEFEATED
BY
THORISMUD

ETA JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

he had advanced from beyond the Danube and departed
with the promise of peace. But above all he declared and
avowed with threats that he would bring worse things
upon Italy, unless they sent him Honoria, the sister of the
Emperor Valentinian and daughter of Augusta Placidia,
with her due share of the royal wealth. For it was said
that Honoria, although bound to chastity for the honor
of the imperial court and kept in constraint by command
of her brother, had secretly despatched a eunuch to sum-
mon Attila that she might have his protection against her
brother’s power; a shameful thing, indeed, to get license
for her passion at the cost of the public weal.

XLIII So Attila returned to his own country, seem-
ing to regret the peace and to be vexed at the cessation of
war. For he sent ambassadors to Marcian, Emperor of
the East, threatening to devastate the provinces, because
that which had been promised him by Theodosius, a for-
mer emperor, was in no wise performed, and saying that
he would show himself more cruel to his foes than ever.
But as he was shrewd and crafty, he threatened in one
direction and moved his army in another; for in the
midst of these preparations he turned his face towards the
Visigoths who had yet to feel his vengeance. But here
he had not the same success as against the Romans.
Hastening back by a different way than before, he de-
cided to reduce to his sway that part of the Alani which
was settled across the river Loire, in order that by attack-
ing them, and thus changing the aspect of the war, he
might become a more terrible menace to the Visigoths.
Accordingly he started from the provinces of Dacia and
Pannonia, where the Huns were then dwelling with vari-
ous subject peoples, and moved his array against the
Alani. But Thorismud, king of the Visigoths, with like
quickness of thought perceived Attila’s trick. By forced
marches he came to the Alani before him, and was well
prepared to check the advance of Attila when he came

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

221

THE GOTHIC HISTORY ΠΝ

after him. They joined battle in almost the same way as
before at the Catalaunian Plains, and Thorismud dashed
his hopes of victory, for he routed him and drove him
from the land without a triumph, compelling him to flee
to his own country. Thus while Attila, the famous leader
and lord of many victories, sought to blot out the fame
of his destroyer and in this way to annul what he had
suffered at the hands of the Visigoths, he met a second
defeat and retreated ingloriously. Now after the bands
of the Huns had been repulsed by the Alani, without any
hurt to his own men, Thorismud departed for Tolosa.
There he established a settled peace for his people and in
the third year of his reign fell sick. While letting blood
from a vein, he was betrayed to his death by Ascalc, a
client, who told his foes that his weapons were out of
reach. Yet grasping a foot-stool in the one hand he had
free, he became the avenger of his own blood by slaying
several of those that were lying in wait for him.

XLIV After his death, his brother Theodorid suc-
ceeded to the kingdom of the Visigoths and soon found
that Riciarius his kinsman, the king of the Suavi, was
hostile to him. For Riciarius, presuming on his relation-
ship to Theodorid, believed that he might seize almost the
whole of Spain, thinking the disturbed beginning of
Theodorid’s reign made the time opportune for this trick.
The Suavi formerly occupied as their country Galicia and
Lusitania, which extend on the right side of Spain along
the shore of Ocean. To the east is Austrogonia, to the
west, on a promontory, is the sacred Monument of the
Roman general Scipio, to the north Ocean, and to the
south Lusitania and the Tagus river, which mingles
golden grains in its sands and thus carries wealth in its
worthless mud. So then Riciarius, king of the Suavi, set
forth and strove to seize the whole of Spain. Theodorid,
his kinsman, a man of moderation, sent ambassadors to
him and told him quietly that he must not only withdraw

THE REIGN
oF KING
THeEoporiIp II
453-466

Battle near
the Ulbius
456

116 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

from the territories that were not his own, but further-
more that he should not presume to make such an attempt,
as he was becoming hated .for his ambition. But with
arrogant spirit he replied: “If you murmur here and
find fault with my coming, I shall come to Tolosa where
you dwell. Resist me there, if you can.’’ When he heard
this, Theodorid was angry and, making a compact with
all the other tribes, moved his array against the Suavi.
He had as his close allies Gundiuch and Hilperic, kings
of the Burgundians. They came to battle near the river
Ulbius, which flows between Asturica and Hiberia, and
in the engagement Theodorid with the Visigoths, who
fought for the right, came off victorious, overthrowing
the entire tribe of the Suavi and almost exterminating
them. Their king Riciarius fled from the dread foe and
embarked upon a ship. But he was beaten back by an-
other foe, the adverse wind of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and
so fell into the hands of the Visigoths. Thus though
he changed from sea to land, the wretched man did not
avert his death.

When Theodorid had become the victor, he spared the
conquered and did not suffer the rage of conflict to con-
tinue, but placed over the Suavi whom he had conquered
one of his own retainers, named Agrivulf. But Agrivulf
soon treacherously changed his mind, through the per-
suasion of the Suavi, and failed to fulfil his duty. For
he was quite puffed up with tyrannical pride, believing
he had obtained the province as a reward for the valor
by which he and his lord had recently subjugated it. Now
he was a man born of the stock of the Varni, far below
the nobility of Gothic blood, and so was neither zealous
for liberty nor faithful toward his patron. As soon as
Theodorid heard of this, he despatched a force to cast him
out from the kingdom he had usurped. They came
quickly and conquered him in the first battle, inflicting a
punishment befitting his deeds. For he was captured,

222

233

234

235

236

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 117

taken from his friends and beheaded. Thus at last he
was made aware of the wrath of the master he thought
might be despised because he was kind. Now when the
Suavi beheld the death of their leader, they sent priests
of their country to Theodorid as suppliants. He received
them with the reverence due their office and not only
granted the Suavi exemption from punishment, but was
moved by compassion and allowed them to choose a ruler
of their own race for themselves. The Suavi did so,
taking Rimismund as their prince. When this was done
and peace was everywhere assured. Theodorid died in
the thirteenth year of his reign.

XLV _ His brother Eurich succeeded him with such
eager haste that he fell under dark suspicion. Now while
these and various other matters were happening among
the people of the Visigoths, the Emperor Valentinian was
slain by the treachery of Maximus, and Maximus himself,
like a tyrant, usurped the rule. Gaiseric, king of the
Vandals, heard of this and came from Africa to Italy
with ships of war, entered Rome and laid it waste.
Maximus fled and was slain by a certain Ursus, a Roman
soldier. After him Majorian undertook the government
of the Western Empire at the bidding of Marcian, Em-
peror of the East. But he too ruled but a short time.
For when he had moved his forces against the Alani who
were harassing Gaul, he was killed at Dertona near the
river named Ira. Severus succeeded him and died at
Rome in the third year of his reign. When the Emperor
Leo, who had succeeded Marcian in the Eastern Empire,
learned of this, he chose as emperor his Patrician Anthe-
mius and sent him to Rome. Upon his arrival he sent
against the Alani his son-in-law Ricimer, who was an
excellent man and almost the only one in Italy at that
time fit to command the army. In the very first engage-
ment he conquered and destroyed the host of the Alani,
together with their king, Beorg.

Kine Euricu
466-485

THE WESTERN
EMPIRE FROM
THE DEATH OF
V ALENTINIAN

III to Romutus
AUGUSTULUS

Maximus 455

GatIseric SACKS
RoME 455

Majorian
457-461

Livius
Severus
461-465

Leo I
457-474

Anthemius
467-472

Olybrius
472

Glycerius
473

Nepos
474

118 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Now Eurich, king of the Visigoths, perceived the fre-
quent change of Roman Emperors and strove to hold
Gaul by his own right. The Emperor Anthemius heard
of it and asked tthe Brittones for aid. Their King
Riotimus came with twelve thousand men into the state
of the Bituriges by the way of Ocean, and was received
as he disembarked from his ships. Eurich, king of the
Visigoths, came against them with an innumerable army,
and after a long fight he routed Riotimus, king of the
Brittones, before the Romans could join him. So when
he had lost a great part of his army, he fled with all the
men he could gather together, and came to the Burgun-
dians, a neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But
Eurich, king of the Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of
Arverna; for the Emperor Anthemius was now dead.
Engaged in fierce war with his son-in-law Ricimer, he
had worn out Rome and was himself finally slain by his
son-in-law and yielded the rule to Olybrius.

At that time Aspar, first of the Patricians and a famous
man of the Gothic race was wounded by the swords of
the eunuchs in his palace at Constantinople and died.
With him were slain his sons Ardabures and Patriciolus,
the one long a Patrician, and the other styled a Caesar
and son-in-law of the Emperor Leo. Now Olybrius died
barely eight months after he had entered upon his reign,
and Glycerius was made Caesar at Ravenna, rather by
usurpation than by election. Hardly had a year been
ended when Nepos, the son of the sister of Marcellinus,
once a Patrician, deposed him from his office and or-
dained him bishop at the Port of Rome.

When Eurich, as we have already said, beheld these
great and various changes, he seized the city of Arverna,
where the Roman general Ecdicius was at that time in
command. He was a senator of most renowned family
and the son of Avitus, a recent emperor who had usurped
the reign for a few days—for Avitus held the rule for a

237

239

240

241

243

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 119

few days before Olybrius, and then withdrew of his own
accord to Placentia, where he was ordained bishop. His
son Ecdicius strove for a long time with the Visigoths,
but had not the power to prevail. So he left the country
and (what was more important) the city of Arverna to
the enemy and betook himself to safer regions. When
the Emperor Nepos heard of this, he ordered Ecdicius
to leave Gaul and come to him, appointing Orestes in his
stead as Master of the Soldiery. This Orestes there-
upon received the army, set out from Rome against the
enemy and came to Ravenna. Here he tarried while he
made his son Romulus Augustulus emperor. When
Nepos learned of this, he fled to Dalmatia and died there,
deprived of his throne, in the very place where Glycerius,
who was formerly emperor, held at that time the bishopric
of Salona.

XLVI Now when Augustulus had been appointed
Emperor by his father Orestes in Ravenna, it was not
long before Odoacer, king of the Torcilingi, invaded
Italy, as leader of the Sciri, the: Heruli and allies of
various races. He put Orestes to death, drove his son
Augustulus from the throne and condemned him to the
punishment of exile in the Castle of Lucullus in Campania.
Thus the Western Empire of the Roman race, which
Octavianus Augustus, the first of the Augusti, began to
govern in the seven hundred and ninth year from the
founding of the city, perished with this Augustulus in the
five hundred and twenty-second year from the beginning
of the rule of his predecessors and those before them,
and from this time onward kings of the Goths held Rome
and Italy. Meanwhile Odoacer, king of nations, subdued
all Italy and then at the very outset of his reign slew
Count Bracila at Ravenna that he might inspire a fear
of himself among the Romans. He strengthened his
kingdom and held it for almost thirteen years, even until

Romulus
Augustulus
476

THE RULE
OF ODOACER
476-493

Death of
Bracila
477

Leo II
473-474

Zeno
474-491

Eurich killed
485

Ataric 11
Last KING
OF THE
VISIGOTHS

485-507

THE
OSTROGOTHS
AND THEIR
SUBJECTION
TO THE HuNS

120 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the appearance of Theodoric, of whom we shall speak
hereafter.

XLVII But first let us return to that order from
which we have digressed and tell how Eurich, king of the
Visigoths, beheld the tottering of the Roman Empire and
reduced Arelate and Massilia to his own sway. Gaiseric,
king of the Vandals, enticed him by gifts to do these
things, to the end that he himself might forestall the plots
which Leo and Zeno had contrived against him. There-
fore he stirred the Ostrogoths to lay waste the Eastern
Empire and the Visigoths the Western, so that while his
foes were battling in both empires, he might himself
reign peacefully in Africa. Eurich perceived this with
gladness and, as he already held all of Spain and Gaul
by his own right, proceeded to subdue the Burgundians
also. In the nineteenth year of his reign he was deprived
of his life at Arelate, where he then dwelt. He was suc-
ceeded by his own son Alaric, the ninth in succession
from the famous Alaric the Great to receive the kingdom
of the Visigoths. For even as it happened to the line of
the Augusti, as we have stated above, so too it appears in
the line of the Alarici, that kingdoms often come to an
end in kings who bear the same name as those at the
beginning. Meanwhile let us leave this subject, and
weave together the whole story of the origin of the Goths,
as we promised.

The Divided Goths: Ostrogoths

XLVIII Since I have followed the stories of my
ancestors and retold to the best of my ability the tale of
the period when both tribes, Ostrogoths and Visigoths,
were united, and then clearly treated of the Visigoths
apart from the Ostrogoths, I must now return to those
ancient Scythian abodes and set forth in like manner the
ancestry and deeds of the Ostrogoths. It appears that at

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 121

the death of their king, Hermanaric, they were made a
separate people by the departure of the Visigoths, and
remained in their country subject to the sway of the
Huns; yet Vinitharius of the Amali retained the insignia
of his rule. He rivalled the valor of his grandfather
Vultuulf, although he had not the good fortune of Her-
manaric. But disliking to remain under the rule of the
Huns, he withdrew a little from them and strove to show
his courage by moving his forces against the country of
the Antes. When he attacked them, he was beaten in the
first encounter. Thereafter he did valiantly and, as a
terrible example, crucified their king, named Boz, together
with his sons and seventy nobles, and left their bodies
hanging there to double the fear of those who had sur-
rendered. When he had ruled with such license for
barely a year, Balamber, king of the Huns, would no
longer endure it, but sent for Gesimund, son of Huni-
mund the Great. Now Gesimund, together with a great
part of the Goths, remained under the rule of the Huns,
being mindful of his oath of fidelity. Balamber renewed
his alliance with him and led his army up against Vini-
tharius. After a long contest, Vinitharius prevailed in
the first and in the second conflict, nor can any say how
great slaughter he made of the army of the Huns. But
in the third battle, when they met each other unexpectedly
at the river named Erac, Balamber shot an arrow and
wounded Vinitharius in the head, so that he died. Then
Balamber took to himself in marriage Vadamerca, the
grand-daughter of Vinitharius, and finally ruled all the
people of the Goths as his peaceful subjects, but in such
a way that one ruler of their own number always held the
power over the Gothic race, though subject to the Huns.
And later, after the death of Vinitharius, Hunimund
ruled them, the son of Hermanaric, a mighty king of
yore; a man fierce in war and of famous personal beauty,
who afterwards fought successfully against the race of

Death of
Hermanaric
375 or 376

KING
HUNIMUND

KING
THORISMUD
KILLED
404

KING
VALAMIR
445?

122 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the Suavi. And when he died, his son Thorismud suc-
ceeded him, in the very bloom of youth. In the second
year of his rule he moved an army against the Gepidae
and won a great victory over them, but is said to have
been killed by falling from his horse. When he was dead,
the Ostrogoths mourned for him so deeply that for forty
years no other king succeeded in his place, and during all
this time they had ever on their lips the tale of his mem-
ory. Now as time went on, Valamir grew to man’s
estate. He was the son of Thorismud’s cousin Vanda-
larius. For his son Beremud, as we have said before, at
last grew to despise the race of the Ostrogoths because of
the overlordship of the Huns, and so had followed the
tribe of the Visigoths to the western country, and it was
from him Veteric was descended. Veteric also had a son
Eutharic, who married Amalasuentha, the daughter of
Theodoric, thus uniting again the stock of the Amali
which had divided long ago. Eutharic begat Athalaric
and Mathesuentha. But since Athalaric died in the
years of his boyhood, Mathesuentha was taken to Con-
stantinople by her second husband, namely Germanus, a
nephew of the Emperor Justinian, and bore a posthumous
son, whom she named Germanus.

But that the order we have taken for our history may
run its due course, we must return to the stock of Vandal-
arius, which put forth three branches. This Vandalarius,
the great grand-nephew of Hermanaric and cousin of the
aforesaid Thorismud, vaunted himself among the race of
the Amali because he had begotten three sons, Valamir
Thiudimer and Vidimer. Of these Valamir ascended the
throne after his parents, though the Huns as yet held the
power over the Goths in general as among other nations.
It was pleasant to behold the concord of these three broth-
ers; for the admirable Thiudimer served as a soldier for
the empire of his brother Valamir, and Valamir bade
honors be given him, while Vidimer was eager to serve

251

252

254

255

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 123

them both. Thus regarding one another with common
affection, not one was wholly deprived of the kingdom
which two of them held in mutual peace. Yet, as has
often been said, they ruled in such a way that they re-
spected the dominion of Attila, king of the Huns. Indeed
they could not have refused to fight against their kinsmen
the Visigoths, and they must even have committed parri-
cide at their lord’s command. There was no way whereby
any Scythian tribe could have been wrested from the
power of the Huns, save by the death of Attila—an
event the Romans and all other nations desired. Now his
death was as base as his life was marvellous.

XLIX Shortly before he died, as the historian Priscus
relates, he took in marriage a very beautiful girl named
Ildico, after countless other wives, as was the custom of
his race. He had given himself up to excessive joy at
his wedding, and as he lay on his back, heavy with wine
and sleep, a rush of superfluous blood, which would ordi-
narily have flowed from his nose, streamed in deadly
course down his throat and killed him, since it was hin-
dered in the usual passages. Thus did drunkenness put a
disgraceful end to a king renowned in war. On the fol-
lowing day, when a great part of the morning was spent,
the royal attendants suspected some ill and, after a great
uproar, broke in the doors. There they found the death
of Attila accomplished by an effusion of blood, without
any wound, and the girl with downcast face weeping
beneath her veil. Then, as is the custom of that race,
they plucked out the hair of their heads and made their
faces hideous with deep wounds, that the renowned war-
rior might be mourned, not by effeminate wailings and
tears, but by the blood of men. Moreover a wondrous
thing took place in connecton with Attila’s death. For
in a dream some god stood at the side of Marcian, Em-
peror of the East, while he was disquieted about his
fierce foe, and showed him the bow of Attila broken in

DEATH
oF ATTILA
453

124 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

that same night, as if to intimate that the race of Huns
owed much to that weapon. This account the historian
Priscus says he accepts upon truthful evidence. For so
terrible was Attila thought to be to great empires that
the gods announced his death to rulers as a special boon.
We shall not omit to say a few words about the many
ways in which his shade was honored by his race. His
body was placed in the midst of a plain and lay in state
in a silken tent as a sight for men’s admiration. The best
horsemen of the entire tribe of the Huns rode around in
circles, after the manner of circus games, in the place
to which he had been brought and told of his deeds in a
funeral dirge in the following manner: “The chief of the
Huns, King Attila, born of his sire Mundiuch, lord of
bravest tribes, sole possessor of the Scythian and German
realms—powers unknown before—captured cities and
terrified both empires of the Roman world and, appeased
by their prayers, took annual tribute to save the rest from
plunder. And when he had accomplished all this by the
favor of fortune, he fell not by wound of the foe, nor
by treachery of friends, but in the midst of his nation at
peace, happy in his joy and without sense of pain. Who
can rate this as death, when none believes it calls for
vengeance?’ When they had mourned him with such
lamentations, a strava, as they call it, was celebrated over
his tomb with great revelling. They gave way in turn to
the extremes of feeling and displayed funereal grief alter-
nating with joy. Then in the secrecy of night they buried
his body in the earth. They bound his coffins, the first
with gold, the second with silver and the third with the
strength of iron, showing by such means that these three
things suited the mightiest of kings; iron because he
subdued the nations, gold and silver because he received
the honors of beth empires. They also added the arms
of foemen won in the fight, trappings of rare worth,
sparkling with various gems, and ornaments of all sorts

256

“55

258

250

260

261

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 125

whereby princely state is maintained. And that so great
riches might be kept from human curiosity, they slew
those appointed to the work—a dreadful pay for their
labor; and thus sudden death was the lot of those who
buried him as well as of him who was buried.

Τ, After they had fulfilled these rites, a contest for
the highest place arose among Attila’s successors—for the
minds of young men are wont to be inflamed by ambition
for power—and in their rash eagerness to rule they all
alike destroyed his empire. Thus kingdoms are often
weighed down by a superfluity rather than by a lack of
successors. For the sons of Attila, who through the
license of his lust formed almost a people of themselves,
were clamoring that the nations should be divided among
them equally and that warlike kings with their peoples
should be apportioned to them by lot like a family estate.
When Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, learned this, he
became enraged because so many nations were being
treated like slaves of the basest condition, and was the
first to rise against the sons of Attila. Good fortune
attended him, and he effaced the disgrace of servitude that
rested upon him. For by his revolt he freed not only his
own tribe, but all the others who were equally oppressed ;
since all readily strive for that which is sought for the
general advantage. They took up arms against the de-
struction that menaced all and joined battle with the
Huns in Pannonia, near a river called Nedao. There an
encounter took place between the various nations Attila
had held under his sway. Kingdoms with their peoples
were divided, and out of one body were made many
members not responding to a common impulse. Being
deprived of their head, they madly strove against each
other. They never found their equals ranged against
them without harming each other by wounds mutually
given. And so the bravest nations tore themselves to
pieces. For then, I think, must have occurred a most

DISSOLUTION
OF THE
KINGDOM
OF THE
Huns

454

126 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

remarkable spectacle, where one might see the Goths
fighting with pikes, the Gepidae raging with the sword,
the Rugi breaking off the spears in their own wounds, the
Suavi fighting on foot, the Huns with bows, the Alani
drawing up a battle-line of heavy-armed and the Heruli
of light-armed warriors.

Finally, after many bitter conflicts, victory fell unex-
pectedly to the Gepidae. For the sword and conspiracy
of Ardaric destroyed almost thirty thousand men, Huns
as well as those of the other nations who brought them
aid. In this battle fell Ellac, the elder son of Attila,
whom his father is said to have loved so much more than
all the rest that he preferred him to any child or even to
all the children of his kingdom. But fortune was not in
accord with his father’s wish. For after slaying many
of the foe, it appears that he met his death so bravely
that if his father had lived, he would have rejoiced at his
glorious end. When Ellac was slain, his remaining
brothers were put to flight near the shore of the Sea of
Pontus, where we have said the Goths first settled. Thus
did the Huns give way, a race to which men thought the
whole world must yield. So baneful a thing is division,
that they who used to inspire terror when their strength
was united, were overthrown separately. The cause of
Ardaric, king of the Gepidae, was fortunate for the va-
rious nations who were unwillingly subject to the rule
of the Huns, for it raised their long downcast spirits to
the glad hope of freedom. Many sent ambassadors to
the Roman territory, where they were most graciously
received by Marcian, who was then emperor, and took the
abodes allotted them to dwell in. But the Gepidae by their
own might won for themselves the territory of the Huns
and ruled as victors over the extent of all Dacia, demand-
ing of the Roman Empire nothing more than peace and
an annual gift as a pledge of their friendly alliance. This
the Emperor freely granted at the time, and to this day

262

263

264

265

266

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 127

that race receives its customary gifts from the Roman

Emperor.

Now when the Goths saw the Gepidae defending for
themselves the territory of the Huns, and the people of
the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they
preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire,
rather than invade the lands of others with danger to
themselves. So they received Pannonia, which stretches
in a long plain, being bounded on the east by Upper
Moesia, on the south by Dalmatia, on the.west by Nori-
cum and on the north by the Danube. This land is
adorned with many cities, the first of which is Sirmium
and the last Vindobona. But the Sauromatae, whom we
call Sarmatians, and the Cemandri and certain of the
Huns dwelt in Castra Martis, a city given them in the
region of Illyricium. Of this race was Blivila, Duke of
Pentapolis, and his brother Froila and also Bessa, a Patri-
cian in our time. The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii
and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by
name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria,
the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say,
my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long
as he lived. To his sister’s son Gunthigis, also called
Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of
Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the
stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an un-
learned man before my conversion, was secretary. The
Rugi, however, and some other races asked that they
might inhabit Bizye and Arcadiopolis. Hernac, the
younger son of Attila, with his followers, chose a home
in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and
Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and
Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of
the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves
into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the
Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended.

JorDANES

Bishop Ulfilas
about 311-381

THE
LESSER
GotHs

THE
OsSTROGOTHS
IN PANNONIA

BirtH
OF
THEODORIC
THE GREAT
454

128 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser,
a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who
is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they
are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far
as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous
people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save
flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and
forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat
and other sorts of grain. Some of them do not know
that vineyards. exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine
from neighboring countries. But most of them drink
milk.

LII Let us now return to the tribe with which we
started, namely the Ostrogoths, who were dwelling in
Pannonia under their king Valamir and his brothers Thi-
udimer and Vidimer. Although their territories were
separate, yet their plans were one. For Valamir dwelt
between the rivers Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra, Thiudi-
mer near Lake Pelso and Vidimer between them both.
Now it happened that the sons of Attila, regarding the
Goths as deserters from their rule, came against them as
though they were seeking fugitive slaves, and attacked
Valamir alone, when his brothers knew nothing of it. He
sustained their attack, though he had but few supporters,
and after harassing them a long time, so utterly over-
whelmed them that scarcely any portion of the enemy
remained. The remnant turned in flight and sought
the parts of Scythia which border on the stream of the
river Danaper, which the Huns call in their own tongue
the Var. Thereupon he sent a messenger of good tidings
to his brother Thiudimer, and on the very day the mes-
senger arrived he found even greater joy in the house of
Thiudimer. For on that day his son Theodoric was born,
of a concubine Erelieva indeed, and yet a child of good
hope.

267

268

269

270

271

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 129

Now after no great time King Valamir and his broth-
ers Thiudimer and Vidimer sent an embassy to the Em-
peror Marcian, because the usual gifts which they re-
ceived like a New Year’s present from the Emperor, to
preserve the compact of peace, were slow in arriving.
And they found that Theodoric, son of Triarius, a man
of Gothic blood also, but born of another stock, not of
the Amali, was in great favor, together with his fol-
lowers. He was allied in friendship with the Romans
and obtained an annual bounty, while they themselves
were merely held in disdain. Thereat they were aroused
to frenzy and took up arms. They roved through almost
the whole of Illyricum and laid it waste in their search
for spoil. Then the Emperor quickly changed his mind
and returned to his former state of friendship. He sent
an embassy to give them the past gifts, as well as those
now due, and furthermore promised to give these gifts
in future without any dispute. From the Goths the
Romans received as a hostage of peace Theodoric, the
young child of Thiudimer, whom we have mentioned
above. He had now attained the age of seven years and
was entering upon his eighth. While his father hesitated
about giving him up, his uncle Valamir besought him to
do it, hoping that peace between the Romans and the
Goths might thus be assured. Therefore Theodoric was
given as a hostage by the Goths and brought to the city
of Constantinople to the Emperor Leo and, being a
goodly child, deservedly gained the imperial favor.

LIII Now after firm peace was established between
Goths and Romans, the Goths found that the possessions
they had received from the Emperor were not sufficient
for them. Furthermore, they were eager to display their
wonted valor, and so began to plunder the neighboring
races round about them, first attacking the Sadagis who
held the interior of Pannonia. When Dintzic, king of the
Huns, a son of Attila, learned this, he gathered to him

His YouTH
SPENT AT
CONSTANTINOPLE
BEGINNING 461

Tue GorHs
OVERWHELM
THE REMNANT
OF THE HuUNS

CONQUEST
OF THE
SUAVI

Plot of
Hunimund
about 470

130 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the few who still seemed to have remained under his
sway, namely, the Ultzinzures, the Angisciri, the Bittu-
gures and the Bardores. Coming to Bassiana, a city of
Pannonia, he beleaguered it and began to plunder its terri-
tory. Then the Goths at once abandoned the expedition
they had planned against the Sadagis, turned upon the
Huns and drove them so ingloriously from their own
land that those who remained have been in dread of the
arms of the Goths from that time down to the present
day.

When the tribe of the Huns was at last subdued by the
Goths, Hunimund, chief of the Suavi, who was crossing
over to plunder Dalmatia, carried off some cattle of the
Goths which were straying over the plains; for Dalmatia
was near Suavia and not far distant from the territory
of Pannonia, especially that part where the Goths were
then staying. So then, as Hunimund was returning
with the Suavi to his own country, after he had de-
vastated Dalmatia, Thiudimer the brother of Valamir,
king of the Goths, kept watch on their line of march.
Not that he grieved so much over the loss of his cattle,
but he feared that if the Suavi obtained this plunder with
impunity, they would proceed to greater license. So in
the dead of night, while they were asleep, he made an
unexpected attack upon them, near Lake Pelso. Here he
so completely crushed them that he took captive and sent
into slavery under the Goths even Hunimund, their king,
and all of his army who had escaped the sword. Yet
as he was a great lover of mercy, he granted pardon
after taking vengeance and became reconciled to the
Suavi. He adopted as his son the same man whom he
had taken captive, and sent him back with his followers
into Suavia. But Hunimund was unmindful of his
adopted father’s kindness. After some time he brought
forth a plot he had contrived and aroused the tribe of the
Sciri, who then dwelt above the Danube and abode peace-

273

274

275

277

278

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 121

ably with the Goths. So the Sciri broke off their alliance
with them, took up arms, joined themselves to Hunimund
and went out to attack the race of the Goths. Thus war
came upon the Goths who were expecting no evil, because
they relied upon both of their neighbors as friends. Con-
strained by necessity they took up arms and avenged
themselves and their injuries by recourse to battle. In
this battle, as King Valamir rode on his horse before the
line to encourage his men, the horse was wounded and
fell, overthrowing its rider. Valamir was quickly pierced
by his enemies’ spears and slain. Thereupon the Goths
proceeded to exact vengeance for the death of their king,
as well as for the injury done them by the rebels. They
fought in such wise that there remained of all the race of
the Sciri only a few who bore the name, and they with
disgrace. Thus were all destroyed.

LIV. The kings [of the Suavi], Hunimund and
Alaric, fearing the destruction that had come upon the
Sciri, next made war upon the Goths, relying upon the
aid of the Sarmatians, who had come to them as auxili-
aries with their kings Beuca and Babai. They summoned
the last remnants of the Sciri, with Edica and Hunuulf,
their chieftains, thinking they would fight the more des-
perately to avenge themselves. They had on their side
the Gepidae also, as well as no small reenforcements from
the race of the Rugi and from others gathered here
and there. Thus they brought together a great host at
the river Bolia in Pannonia and encamped there. Now
when Valamir was dead, the Goths fled to Thiudimer,
his brother. Although he had long ruled along with his
brothers, yet he took the insignia of his increased author-
ity and summoned his younger brother Vidimer and
shared with him the cares of war, resorting to arms under
compulsion. A battle was fought and the party of the
Goths was found to be so much the stronger that the
plain was drenched in the blood of their fallen foes and

SUCCESS OF
THE GoTHsS
UNDER
THIUDIMER
ABOUT 470

THIUDIMER
AGAIN WARS
WITH THE
SUAVI

THIUDIMER
SENT BACK
TO HIS OWN
PEOPLE
472

132 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

looked like a crimson sea. Weapons and corpses, piled
up like hills, covered the plain for more than ten miles.
When the Goths saw this, they rejoiced with joy unspeak-
able, because by this great slaughter of their foes they
had avenged the blood of Valamir their king and the
injury done themselves. But those of the innumerable
and motley throng of the foe who were able to escape,
though they got away, nevertheless came to their own
land with difficulty and without glory.

LV After a certain time, when the wintry cold was
at hand, the river Danube was frozen over as usual. For
a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like
a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and
sledges and whatsoever vehicles there may be—nor is
there need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king
of the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army
across the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi
from the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the
east the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the
Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With
the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their
confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence
several streams flow into the Danube, pouring in with a
great rushing sound. Into a place thus fortified King
Thiudimer led his army in the winter-time and conquered,
plundered and almost subdued the race of the Suavi as
well as the Alamanni, who were mutually banded to-
gether. Thence he returned as victor to his own home in
Pannonia and joyfully received his son Theodoric, once
given as hostage to Constantinople and now sent back by

the Emperor Leo with great gifts. Now Theodoric had

reached man’s estate, for he was eighteen years of age
and his boyhood was ended. So he summoned certain of
his father’s adherents and took to himself from the people
his friends and retainers—almost six thousand men.
With these he crossed the Danube, without his father’s

280

281

282

283

284

285

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 133

knowledge, and marched against Babai, king of the Sar-
matians, who had just won a victory over Camundus, a
general of the Romans, and was ruling with insolent
pride. Theodoric came upon him and slew him, and
taking as booty his slaves and treasure, returned vic-
torious to his father. Next he invaded the city of Singi-
dunum, which the Sarmatians themselves had seized, and
did not return it to the Romans, but reduced it to his own
sway.

LVI Then as the spoil taken from one and another
of the neighboring tribes diminished, the Goths began
to lack food and clothing, and peace became distaste-
ful to men for whom war had long furnished the
necessaries of life. So all the Goths approached their
king Thiudimer and, with great outcry, begged him to
lead forth his army in whatsoever direction he might
wish. He summoned his brother and, after casting lots,
bade him go into the country of Italy, where at this time
Glycerius ruled as emperor, saying that he himself as the
mightier would go to the east against a mightier empire.
And so it happened. Thereupon Vidimer entered the
land of Italy, but soon paid the last debt of fate and
departed from earthly affairs, leaving his son and name-
sake Vidimer to succeed him. The Emperor Glycerius
bestowed gifts upon Vidimer and persuaded him to go
from Italy to Gaul, which was then harrassed on all sides
by various races, saying that their own kinsmen, the
Visigoths, there ruled a neighboring kingdom. And
what more? Vidimer accepted the gifts and, obeying
the command of the Emperor Glycerius, pressed on to
Gaul. Joining with his kinsmen the Visigoths, they
again formed one body, as they had been long ago. Thus
they held Gaul and Spain by their own right and so
defended them that no other race won the mastery there.

But Thiudimer, the elder brother, crossed the river
Savus with his men, threatening the Sarmatians and their

Capture of
Belgrade

VIDIMER
THE YOUNGER
GOES TO
GAUL
473

THIUDIMER
IN
MACEDONIA

Zeno
474-491

Theodoric the
Great
475-526

134 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

soldiers with war if any should resist him. From fear of
this they kept quiet; moreover they were powerless in the
face of so great a host. Thiudimer, seeing prosperity
everywhere awaiting him, invaded Naissus, the first city
of Illyricum. He was joined by his son Theodoric and
the Counts Astat and Invilia, and sent them to Ulpiana
by way of Castrum Herculis. Upon their arrival the
town surrendered, as did Stobi later; and several places
of Illyricum, inaccessible to them at first, were thus made
easy of approach. For they first plundered and then
ruled by right of war Heraclea and Larissa, cities of
Thessaly. But Thiudimer the king, perceiving his own
good fortune and that of his son, was not content with
this alone, but set forth from the city of Naissus, leaving
only a few men behind as a guard. He himself advanced
to Thessalonica, where Hilarianus the Patrician, ap-
pointed by the Emperor, was stationed with his army.
When Hilarianus beheld Thessalonica surrounded by an
entrenchment and saw that he could not resist attack, he
sent an embassy to Thiudimer the king and by the offer
of gifts turned him aside from destroying the city. Then
the Roman general entered upon a truce with the Goths
and of his own accord handed over to them those places
they inhabited, namely Cyrrhus, Pella, Europus, Me-
thone, Pydna, Beroea, and another which is called Dium.
So the Goths and their king laid aside their arms, con-
sented to peace and became quiet. Soon after these
events, King Thiudimer was seized with a mortal illness
in the city of Cyrrhus. He called the Goths to himself,
appointed Theodoric his son as heir of his kingdom and
presently departed this life.

LVII When the Emperor Zeno heard that Theodoric
had been appointed king over his own people, he received
the news with pleasure and invited him to come and visit
him in the city, sending an escort of honor. Receiving
Theodoric with all due respect, he placed him among the

286

287

288

289

200

201

292

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 135

princes of his palace. After some time Zeno increased
his dignity by adopting him as his son-at-arms and gave
him a triumph in the city at his expense. Theodoric was
made Consul Ordinary also, which is well known to be
the supreme good and highest honor in the world. Nor
was this all, for Zeno set up before the royal palace an
equestrian statue to the glory of this great man.

Now while Theodoric was in alliance by treaty with
the Empire of Zeno and was himself enjoying every
comfort in the city, he heard that his tribe, dwelling as
we have said in Illyricum, was not altogether satisfied or
content. So he chose rather to seek a living by his own
exertions, after the manner customary to his race, rather
than to enjoy the advantages of the Roman Empire in
luxurious ease while his tribe lived apart. After pon-
dering these matters, he said to the Emperor: “Though I
lack nothing in serving your Empire, yet if Your Piety
deem it worthy, be pleased to hear the desire of my
heart.”” And when as usual he had been granted permis-
to speak freely, he said: “The western country, long
ago governed by the rule of your ancestors and prede-
cessors, and that city which was the head and mistress of
the world—wherefore is it now shaken by the tyranny
of the Torcilingi and the Rugi? Send me there with my
race. Thus if you but say the word, you may be freed
from the burden of expense here, and, if by the Lord’s
help I shall conquer, the fame of Your Piety shall be
glorious there. For it is better that I, your servant and
your son, should rule that kingdom, receiving it as a
gift from you if I conquer, than that one whom you do
not recognize should oppress your Senate with his tyran-
nical yoke and a part of the republic with slavery. For if
I prevail, I shall retain it as your grant and gift; if I am
conquered, Your Piety will lose nothing—nay, as I have
said, it will save the expense I now entail.”’ Although the
Emperor was grieved that he should go, yet when he

THEODORIC
HONORED
BY ZENO

478

HE SEEKS TO
OBTAIN THE
WESTERN EMPIRE
FOR HIS
PEOPLE

‘T HEODORIC
SETS OUT FOR
ITALY

488

HE CONQUERS
ODOACER
AND PUTS

HIM TO DEATH

493

THEODORIC
FOUNDS THE
OsTROGOTHIC
KINGDOM IN

ITALY
493

136 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

heard this he granted what Theodoric asked, for he was
unwilling to cause him sorrow. He sent him forth en-
riched by great gifts and commended to his charge the
Senate and the Roman People.

Therefore Theodoric departed from the royal city and
returned to his own people. In company with the whole
tribe of the Goths, who gave him their unanimous con-
sent, he set out for Hesperia. He went in straight march
through Sirmium to the places bordering on Pannonia
and, advancing into the territory of Venetia as far as
the bridge of the Sontius, encamped there. When he
had halted there for some time to rest the bodies of
his men and pack-animals, Odoacer sent an armed force
against him, which he met on the plains of Verona and
destroyed with great slaughter. Then he broke camp
and advanced through Italy with greater boldness. Cross-
ing the river Po, he pitched camp near the royal city
of Ravenna, about the third milestone from the city in
the place called Pineta) When Odoacer saw this, he
fortified himself within the city. He frequently harassed
the army of the Goths at night, sallying forth stealthily
with his men, and this not once or twice, but often; and
thus he struggled for almost three whole years. But he
labored in vain, for all Italy at last called Theodoric its
lord and the Empire obeyed his nod. But Odoacer, with
his few adherents and the Romans who were present, suf-
fered daily from war and famine in Ravenna. Since he
accomplished nothing, he sent an embassy and begged for
mercy. Theodoric first granted it and afterwards de-
prived him of his life.

It was in the third year after his entrance into Italy,
as we have said, that Theodoric, by advice of the Em-
peror Zeno, laid aside the garb of a private citizen and
the dress of his race and assumed a costume with a royal
mantle, as he had now become the ruler over both Goths
and Romans. He sent an embassy to Lodoin, king of the

293

294

206

297

298

209

300

THE GOTHIC HISTORY iY

Franks, and asked for his daughter Audefleda in mar-
riage. Lodoin freely and gladly gave her, and also his
sons Celdebert and Heldebert and Thiudebert, believing
that by this alliance a league would be formed and that
they would be associated with the race of the Goths. But
that union was of no avail for peace and harmony, for
they fought fiercely with each other again and again for
the lands of the Goths; but never did the Goths yield to
the Franks while Theodoric lived.

LVIII Now before he had a child from Audefleda,
Theodoric had children of a concubine, daughters begot-
ten in Moesia, one named Thiudigoto and another Ostro-
gotho. Soon after he came to Italy, he gave them in mar-
riage to neighboring kings, one to Alaric, king of the
Visigoths, and the other to Sigismund, king of the Bur-
gundians. Now Alaric begat Amalaric. While his grand-
father Theodoric cared for and protected him—for he
had lost both parents in the years of childhood—he
found that Eutharic, the son of Veteric, grandchild of
Beremud and of Thorismud, and a descendant of the race
of the Amali, was living in Spain, a young man strong in
wisdom and valor and health of body. Theodoric sent
for him and gave him his daughter Amalasuentha in
marriage. And that he might extend his family as much
as possible, he sent his sister Amalafrida (the mother of
Theodahad, who was afterwards king) to Africa as wife
of Thrasamund, king of the Vandals, and her daughter
Amalaberga ,who was his own niece, he united with Her-
minefred, king of the Thuringians.

Now he sent his Count Pitza, chosen from among the
chief men of his kingdom, to hold the city of Sirmium.
He got possession of it by driving out its king Thrasaric,
son of Thraustila, and keeping his mother captive. Thence
he came with two thousand infantry and five hundred
horsemen to aid Mundo against Sabinian, Master of the
Soldiery of Illyricum, who at that time had made ready to

ΟΕ THE INCREASE
OF HIS POWER

Amalaric
507-531

Thiudis
531-548

Thiudigisclus
548-549

Agil
549-554

Athanagild
554-567

THEODORIC
THE GREAT DIES
526

138 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

fight with Mundo near the city named Margoplanum,
which lies between the Danube and Margus rivers, and
destroyed the Army of Illyricum. For this Mundo, who
traced his descent from the Attilani of old, had fled
from the tribe of the Gepidae and was roaming beyond
the Danube in waste places where no man tilled the soil.
He had gathered around him many outlaws and ruffians
and robbers from all sides and had seized a tower called
Herta, situated on the bank of the Danube. There he
plundered his neighbors in wild license and made himself
king over his vagabonds. Now Pitza came upon him
when he was nearly reduced to desperation and was al-
ready thinking of surrender. So he rescued him from
the hands of Sabinian and made him a grateful subject of
his king Theodoric.

Theodoric won an equally great victory over the
Franks through his Count Ibba in Gaul, when more than
thirty thousand Franks were slain in battle. Moreover,
after the death of his son-in-law Alaric, Theodoric ap-
pointed Thiudis, his armor-bearer, guardian of his grand-
son Amalaric in Spain. But Amalaric was ensnared by
the plots of the Franks in early youth and lost at once his
kingdom and his life. Then his guardian Thiudis, ad-
vancing from the same kingdom, assailed the Franks and
delivered the Spaniards from their disgraceful treachery.
So long as he lived he kept the Visigoths united. After
him Thiudigisclus obtained the kingdom and, ruling but
a short time, met his death at the hands of his own fol-
lowers. He was succeeded by Agil, who holds the king-
dom to the present day. Athanagild has rebelled against
him and is even now provoking the might of the Roman
Empire. So Liberius the Patrician is on the way with
an army to oppose him. Now there was not a tribe in
the west that did not serve Theodoric while he lived,
either in friendship or by conquest.

LIX When he had reached old age and knew that he

301

302

393

304

305

306

307

THE GOTHIC HISTORY 139

should soon depart this life, he called together the Gothic
counts and chieftains of his race and appointed Athalaric
as king. He was a boy scarce ten years old, the son of
his daughter Amalasuentha, and he had lost his father
Eutharic. As though uttering his last will and testament,
Theodoric adjured and commanded them to honor their
king, to love the Senate and Roman People and to make
sure of the peace and good will of the Emperor of the
East, as next after God.

They kept this command fully so long as Athalaric
their king and his mother lived, and ruled in peace for
almost eight years. But as the Franks put no confidence
in the rule of a child and furthermore held him in con-
tempt, and were also plotting war, he gave back to them
those parts of Gaul which his father and grandfather had
seized. He possessed all the rest in peace and quiet.
Therefore when Athalaric was approaching the age of
manhood, he entrusted to the Emperor of the East both
his own youth and his mother’s widowhood. But in a
short time the ill-fated boy was carried off by an untimely
death and departed from earthly affairs. His mother
feared she might be despised by the Goths on account of
the weakness of her sex. So after much thought she de-
cided, for the sake of relationship, to summon her cousin
Theodahad from Tuscany, where he led a retired life at
home, and thus she established him on the throne. But
he was unmindful of their kinship and, after a little time,
had her taken from the palace at Ravenna to an island
of the Bulsinian lake where he kept her in exile. After
spending a very few days there in sorrow, she was
strangled in the bath by his hirelings. }

LX When Justinian, the Emperor of the East, heard
this, he was aroused as if he had suffered personal injury
in the death of his wards. Now at that time he had won
a triumph over the Vandals in Africa, through his most
faithful Patrician Belisarius. Without delay he sent his

KING
ATHALARIC
526-534

AMALASUENTHA

Theodahad
534-530

534

Justinian
527-565

JUSTINIAN SENDS
' BELISARIUS TO
AVENGE THE
DEATH OF HIS
WARDS
534

Vitiges
King
536-540

140 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

army under this leader against the Goths at the very time
when his arms were yet dripping with the blood of the
Vandals. This sagacious general believed he could not
overcome the Gothic nation, unless he should first seize
Sicily, their nursing-mother. Acordingly he did so. As
soon as he entered Trinacria, the Goths, who were besieg-
ing the town of Syracuse, found that they were not suc-
ceeding and surrendered of their own accord to Belisa-
rius, with their leader Sinderith. When the Roman gen-
eral reached Sicily, Theodahad sought out Evermud, his
son-in-law, and sent him with an army to guard the strait
which lies between Campania and Sicily and sweeps from
a bend of the Tyrrhenian Sea into the vast tide of the
Adriatic. When Evermud arrived, he pitched his camp
by the town of Rhegium. He soon saw that his side was
the weaker. Coming over with a few close and faithful
followers to the side of the victor and willingly casting
himself at the feet of Belisarius, he decided to serve the
rulers of the Roman Empire. When the army of the
Goths perceived this, they distrusted Theodahad and
clamored for his expulsion from the kingdom and for the
appointment as king of their leader Vitiges, who had been
his armor bearer. This was done; and presently Vitiges
was raised to the office of king on the Barbarian Plains.
He entered Rome and sent on to Ravenna the men most
faithful to him to demand the death of Theodahad. They
came and executed his command. After King Theodahad
was slain, a messenger came from the king—for he was
already king in the Barbarian Plains—to proclaim Vitiges
to the people.

Meanwhile the Roman army crossed the strait and
marched toward Campania. They took Naples and
pressed on to Rome. Now a few days before they ar-
rived, King Vitiges had set forth from Rome, arrived at
Ravenna and married Mathesuentha, the daughter of

209

310

311

es sa I EE

212

313

314

THE GOTHIC HISTORY ΤῊΣ

Amalasuentha and grand-daughter of Theodoric, the for-
mer king. While he was celebrating his new marriage and
holding court at Ravenna, the imperial army advanced
from Rome and attacked the strongholds in both parts of
Tuscany. When Vitiges learned of this through messen-
gers, he sent a force under Hunila, a leader of the Goths,
to Perusia which was beleaguered by them. While they
were endeavoring by a long siege to dislodge Count
Magnus, who was holding the place with a small force,
the Roman army came upon them, and they themselves
were driven away and utterly exterminated. When Vit-
iges heard the news, he raged like a lion and assembled
all the host of the Goths. He advanced from Ravenna
and harassed the walls of Rome with a long siege. But
after fourteen months his courage was broken and he
raised the siege of the city of Rome and prepared to over-
whelm Ariminum. Here he was baffled in like manner
and put to flight; and so he retreated to Ravenna. When
besieged there, he quickly and willingly surrendered him-
self to the victorious side, together with his wife Mathe-
suentha and the royal treasure.

And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race,
which had long held sway, was at last overcome in almost
its two thousand and thirtieth year by that conqueror of
many nations, the Emperor Justinian, through his most
faithful consul Belisarius. He gave Vitiges the title of
Patrician and took him to Constantinople, where he dwelt
for more than two years, bound by ties of affection to the
Emperor, and then departed this life. But his consort
Mathesuentha was bestowed by the Emperor upon the
Patrician Germanus, his nephew. And of them was born
a son (also called Germanus) after the death of his father
Germanus. This union of the race of the Anicii with
the stock of the Amali gives hopeful promise, under the
Lord’s favor, to both peoples.

THE
OsTROGOTHS
OVERCOME
BY
BELISARIUS

Siege of
Rome
537-538

Surrender of
Vitiges
540

Death of
Vitiges
542

Mathesuentha
marries
Germanus
542

142 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Conclusion

And now we have recited the origin of the Goths, the
noble line of the Amali and the deeds of brave men. This
glorious race yielded to a more glorious prince and sur-
rendered to a more valiant leader, whose fame shall be
silenced by no ages or cycles of years; for the victorious
and triumphant Emperor Justinian and his consul Beli-
sarius shall be named and known as Vandalicus, A fri-
canus and Geticus.

Thou who readest this, know that I have followed the
writings of my ancestors, and have culled a few flowers
from their broad meadows to weave a chaplet for him
who cares to know these things. Let no one believe that
to the advantage of the race of which I have spoken—
though indeed I trace my own descent from it—I have
added aught besides what I have read or learned by
inquiry. Even thus I have not included all that is written
or told about them, nor spoken so much to their praise as
to the glory of him who conquered them.

315

316

COMMENTARY

Preface 1. as a certain writer says: this refers to the state-
ment of Rufinus (about 345-410), in the preface to his ver-
sion of Origen’s commentary on the epistle to the Romans.
Jordanes thas not merely borrowed a phrase, as his words
seem to indicate; he has taken over the entire introduction of
Rufinus almost word for word, as Sybel first pointed out
(Schmidt: Zeitschrift fir Geschichtswissenschaft, vii, 288).
brother Castalius: this form of address (compare frater Vigil
in the introduction to his Romana) together with such pious
expressions as orans pro me, frater carissime. Dominus tecum.
Amen. (δ 3), si dominus donaverit (ὃ 9), iubante domino (ὃ 75), etc.,
naturally accord with the belief that Jordanes was a monk or
an ecclesiastic. See also Introduction (p. 5). abbreviation
of the Chronicles: namely, the Romana, Jordanes was en-
gaged in writing his Romana, more fully entitled De summa
temporum vel origine actibusque gentis Romanorum, but laid it
aside to write the History of the Goths (Getica) which the pub-
lished first (551 A.D.). See his preface to the Romana (§ 4):
aliud volumen de origine actusque Getice gentis, quam iam dudum
communi anuco Castalio ededissem. Senator: not a title, but
part of the name of Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodor(i)us
Senator (about 487—about 583), whose History of the Goths
in twelve books is known to us only in the abridgment of
Jordanes, Cassiodorus himself mentions the work in the preface
to his Variae, where his friends are represented as saying to
him: duodecim libris Gothorum historiam defloratis prosperitatibus
condidisti.

I 4. Orosius: almost an exact quotation from Orosius 1, 2, I:
maiores nostri orbem totius terrae Oceani limbo circumsaeptum
triquadrum statuere eiusque tres partes Asiam, Europam et Africam
vocaverunt.

6. Hippodes: see Julius Honorius p. 691. Gron.: insulae
orientales Oceant quae sunt Hippopodes insula, Iannessi insula,
Solis perusta insula, Taprobane insula, Silefantine insula, Teron
insula. Taprobane: the island of Ceylon. ten... cities:
see Orosius I, 2, 16: insula Taprobane, quae habet decem civitates.
On the punctuation of this sentence in the Latin, see A. Bach-
mann, Zu Iordanis, in Neues Archiv 23, 175 (1898).

7. Strait of Gades: the strait of Gibraltar. Fortunate:
the storied islands of the western Ocean, the abodes of the
Blessed ( μακάρων νῆσοι ), are perhaps to ‘be identified with the

143

144 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Canary Islands. Galicia: Gallicia or Callaecia is the modern
Galicia in N. W. Spain. Lusitania: approximately corresponding
to Portugal. Temple of Hercules: this was on an island in the
neighborhood of the town of Onoba (now called Huelva) in the
province of Baetica. See Strabo 3, 5,5, p. 170: εἰς. νῆσον ‘Hpaxhéous
ἱερὰν κειμένην κατὰ πόλιν “OvoBay τῆς ᾿Ιβηρίας. Scipio’s Monument:
we are to understand by this the monumentum Caeponis in ipso
mari scopulo magis quam insulae impositum (Mela, 3, 1, 5; Strabo 3,
I, 9, p. 140), near the mouth of the Baetis (now the Guadalquivir).
Its mention here in connection with Galicia and Lusitania is
perhaps due to a confusion with the promunturium sacrum (Cape
St. Vincent).

8. Baleares: the Balearic Islands. Mevania: Isle of Man?
see Orosius 1, 2, 82: huic (Ireland) etiam Mevania insula proxima
est. Orcades: the Orkneys. Orosius 1, 2, 78: a tergo (Britain)

.. . Orcadas insulas habet, quarum viginti desertae sunt, tredecim
coluntur.

g. Thule: Mainland, the largest of the Shetland Islands; or,
according to others, Iceland. Mantuan bard: Vergil, Georgics
I, 30: fbi serviat ultima Thyle. Scandza: or Scandia, the
Scandinavian peninsula.

II το. Livy tells: see Tacitus, Agricola 10: formam totius
Britanniae Livius veterum, Fabius Rusticus recentium eloquen-
tissimt auctores oblongae scutulae vel bipenni adsimilavere ...
hanc oram novissimi maris tunc primum Romana classis circum-
vecta insulam esse Britanniam affirmavit. Caesar: see Tacitus,
Agricola 13: primus omnium Romanorum divus Iulius cum exercitu
Britanniam ingressus.

11. face Gaul and Germany: Mela 3, 6, 50: (Britain) inter
Septentrionem occidentemque proiecta grandi angulo Rheni ostia
prospicit; dein obliqua retro latera abstralit, altero Galliam altero
Germaniam spectans; tum rursus perpetuo margine directi litoris ab
tergore abducta iterum se in diversos angulos cuneat triquetra.
See also Tacitus, Agricola 10: immensum ... spatium procurren-
tium extremo iam litore terrarum velut in cuneum tenuatur.
stadia: Dio epit. 76, 12: καὶ αὐτῆς (Britain) τὸ μὲν μῆκος στάδιοι
ἑπτακισχίλιοι καὶ ἑκατὸν τριάκοντα δύο εἰσί, τοῦ δὲ δὴ πλάτους τὸ μὲν πλεῖστον
δέκα καὶ τριακόσιοι καὶ δισχίλιοι, τὸ δὲ ἐλάχιστον τριακόσιοι.

12. the sea: see Tacitus, Agricola 10: mare pigrum et grave
remigantibus perhibent ne ventis quidem perinde attolli, credo, quod
rariores terrae montesque, causa ac materia tempestatum, et pro-
funda moles continui maris tardius impellitur .. . unum addiderim
nusquam latius dominari mare. Strabo ... relates: Strabo
4, 5, 2, p. 200, Cas.: ἐν δὲ ταῖς αἰθρίαις ὁμίχλη κατέχει πολὺν χρόνον,
ὥστε δ ἡμέρας ὅλης ἐπὶ τρεῖς μόνον ἢ τέτταρας ὥρας τὰς περὶ τὴν μεσημβρίαν
ὁρᾶσθαι τὸν ἥλιον.

COMMENTARY 145

13. Cornelius ... says: see Tacitus, Agricola 12: nox clara et
extrema Britanniae parte brevis, ut finem atque initium lucis exiguo
discrimine internoscas. more productive ... pearls: Mela 3, 6,
50. 51; fecunda, verum iis quae pecora quam homines benignius
alant. fert nemora saltusque ac praegrandia flumina alternis motibus
modo in pelagus modo retro fluentia et quaedam gemmas margari-
tasque generantia. Caledonia: the Highlands in the northern
part of Scotland. With this passage compare Tacitus, Agricola
11: rutilae Caledoniam habitantium comae, magni artus Germanicam
originem adseverant. Silurum colorati vultus, torti plerumque crines
et posita contra Hispama Iberos veteres traiecisse easque sedes occu-
passe fidem faciunt. Also Tacitus, Histories 2,32: Germanos...
fluxis corporibus.

14. alike wild: Mela 3, 6, 51: fert populos regesque populorum,
sed sunt inculti omnes. Dio . . . assures us: Dio epit. 76, 12:
δύο δὲ γένη τῶν Βρεττανῶν μέγιστά εἰσι, ΚΚαληδόνιοι καὶ Μαιᾶται. καὶ és αὐτὰ
καὶ τὰ τῶν ἄλλων προσρήματα ὡς εἰπεῖν συγκεχώρηκεν. Woods are their
home: so Strabo 4, 5, 2, p. 200: πόλεις δ᾽ αὐτῶν εἰσιν οἱ δρυμοί
περιφράξαντες yap δένδρεσι καταβεβλημένοις εὐρυχωρῇ κύκλον ἐνταῦθα καὶ
αὐτοὶ καλυβοποιοῦνται καὶ τὰ βοσκήματα κατασταθμεύουσιν οὐ πρὸς πολὺν χρόνον.
They paint their bodies: Mela, 3, 2, 51.52: incertum ob decorem an
quid aliud vitro corpora infecti. causas tamen bellorum et bella con-
trahunt ac se frequenter invicem infestant, maxime imperitandi cupi-
dine studioque ea prolatandi quae possident. dimicant non equitatu
modo aut pedite, verum et bigis et cwrribus Gallice armati: covinnos
vocant: quorum falcatis axibus utuntur. See Claudianus de laud.
Stilich. 2, 247: Britannia ... ferro picta genas; in Rufin. 1, 313:
membraque qui ferro gaudet pinxisse Gelonus.

III. 16. above: see I 9. Ptolemaeus . . . made mention: Ptole-
maeus 2, II, 33: "An ἀνατολῶν δὲ τῆς Χερσονήσου τέσσαρες ai καλούμεναι
Σκανδίαι, τρεῖς μὲν μικραί, ... 34: μία δὲ μεγίστη καὶ ἀνατολικωτάτη κατὰ
τὰς ἐκβολὰς Οὐιστούλα ποταμοῦ... .. 35: καλεῖται δὲ ἰδίως καὶ αὐτὴ Σκανδία.
Mela ... makes mention: Mela, 3, 3, 31: super Albim Codanus
ingens sinus magnis parvisque insulis refertus est. The Codan Gulf
appears to be the Kattegat. Mommsen is mistaken in saying
(p. 58, note 2) de Scandia auctor tacet. In Mela 3, 6, 54, we read
(as restored by Muellenhoff): in illo sinu quem Codanum diximus
eximia Scandinavia. See Berliner Philologische Wochenschrift 14
(1894), 1380.

17. Sarmatian Mountains: the Carpathian range. Vagus:
Muellenhoff (Weltkarte, p. 31) believes that this is the same
stream called by the anonymous Geographer of Ravenna, 4, II,
the Bangis, and argues that as the Northmen called every stream
that emptied into the Ocean wags flod, vags floi?, vags straumr,
or something of the sort, the general term seems here to be
used as a proper name.

146 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

19. Ptolemaeus mentions: Ptolemaeus 2, 11, 35: καὶ κατέχου-
σιν αὐτῆς τὰ μὲν δυτικὰ (1) Χαιδεινοί, τὰ δ᾽ ἀνατολικὰ (2) Φαυόναι καὶ (3) Φιραῖσοι
[τὰ δὲ ἀρκτικὰ (4) Φίννοι], τὰ δὲ μεσημβρινὰ (5) Τοῦτοι καὶ (6) Δαυκίωνες, τὰ δὲ
μέσα (7) Λευῶνο. Adogit: Muellenhoff thinks this name has been
corrupted and we are to understand by it the Alogi or Halogu
or Haleygir, the inhabitants of Hdlogalandi, the most northern
region of Norway, now known as Nordland, and extending be-
yond the Arctic Circle.

21. Screrefennae: according to Muellenhoff, this form of the
name is used incorrectly by Jordanes for Scretefennae, Screthe-
fennae, Scrithefenni or Scridifinni. Under this name he here in-
cludes all men of Finnish race. See Procopius b. Goth., 2, 15:
Σκριθίφινοι. . . ore . . . αὐτοὶ γῆν γεωργοῦσιν οὔτε τι αὐτοῖς ai γυναῖκες
ἐργάζονται, ἀλλὰ ἄνδρες ἀεὶ ξὺν ταῖς γυναιξὶ τὴν θήραν μόνην ἐπιτηδεύον-
ται. θηρίων τε γὰρ καὶ ἄλλων ἕῴων μέγα τι χρῆμα αἵ τε ὗλαι αὐτοῖς
φέρουσι, μεγάλαι ὑπερφυῶς οὖσαι, καὶ τὰ ὄρη, ἃ ταύτῃ ἀνέχει. καὶ κρέασι
μὲν θηρίων ἀεὶ τῶν ἁλισκομένων σιτίζονται, τὰ δέρματα δὲ ἀμφιέννυνται
Paulus hist. Lang., 1. 5: Scritofini ... crudis agrestium animan-
tium carnibus vescuntur, de quorum etiam hirtis pellibus sibi indu-
menta peraptant. Suehans: see Zeuss: Die Deutschen und die
Nachbarstamme (1837), p. 514. Thuringians . .. horses: see
Cassiodorus var. 4, 1: Herminafrido regi Thoringorum Theodoricus
rex... indicamus nos venientibus legatis vestris ... more gen-
tium suscepisse ... equos argenteo colore vestitos. sapphire
colored: σαπφείρινος = like lapis lazuli; sables.

22. Theustes... Ranii (24): these twenty-seven tribes are
vaguely conceived as dwelling in a receding series of northern
regions.

24. Roduulf: Mommsen thinks he is to be identified with that
King Ῥοδοῦλφος of the Heruli mentioned by Procopius (Ὁ. Goth.,
2, 14), who was forced by his tribe to make war on the Lom-
bards in the third year of the emperor Anastasius (the year
493), and was slain in battle. This same man may well have
come to Theodoric at the time when he was in Moesia, namely
before 489, and asked his protection. That he despised his own
kingdom is probably an exaggeration of the ‘Gothic historians.

IV 25. Berig: the period of this earliest King of the Goths
is thought by Muellenhoff to be not earlier than the first century
of our era. Relying on Pliny (N. H., 37, 2 and 4, 14), Hodgkin
argues (Italy and her invaders, 1802, I. I, 34), that the Goths were
settled on the Baltic at least as early as 330 B.C., and possibly
as early as the sixth century B.C. Gothiscandza: somewhere
near the southeastern corner of the Baltic, probably not far from
the modern city of Dantzig.

26. abodes of the Ulmerugi: Zeuss (p. 484) thinks that the

COMMENTARY 147

Rugi who inhabited the shores of the Ocean, or rather the
islands in the Vistula at its mouth, were called by the Goths
Hulmarugeis, whence Ulmerugi. Savagner, in the notes to his
French translation of the Getica, identifies ‘ithe abodes of the
Ulmerugi’ with Pomerania and Mecklenburg. Vandals: we
find mention of the Vandals as a people in the northern part of
Germany as early as Tacitus (Germania 2). Filimer: the date
of this king of the Goths is placed by Muellenhoff at about the
beginning of the Scythian war in 238 A.D. Hodgkin (I. I, 40)
favors 170 A.D., the time of the Marcomannic war, as the
date when a part of the Goths migrated to the mouths of the
Danube.

27. Scythia... Oium: Ulfilas, according to Muellenhoff,
would have written this word aujém, dative plural of au, a familiar
Teutonic root, meaning a watered meadow. He believes that
the regions of Oium were probably in Volhynia among the
streams that emptied into the Dnieper.

28. Spali: a people near the Don? We should expect to hear
of the Venethi rather than the Spali. Pliny (N. H., 6, 7, 22)
mentions among other races the Spalaet who once crossed the

Tanais. sea of Pontus: the Euxine or Black Sea. Ablabius:
or Ablavius; see notes on the sources of Jordanes, p. 19.
29. Josephus: see notes on the sources, p. 30. Magog:

Josephus, antiquitates Iudaicae, 1, 6, 1: Μαγώγης (the son of Japheth)
δὲ τοὺς dm αὐτοῦ Maywyas ὀνομασθέντας ᾧκισε, Σκύθας δὲ ὑπ΄ αὐτῶν
(the Greeks) προσαγορευομένου. Compare Isidorus Goth. laud. 66
(from Cassiodorus?): Gothorum antiquissima origo de Magog filio
Iaphet fuit, unde et Scytharum genus extitit: nam tidem Goth
Scythica probantur origine sati, unde nec longe a vocabulo discre-
pant: demutata enim ac detracta littera Getae quasi Scythae sunt
nuncupatt. See also Etym., 9,1, 27: Magog a quo quidam arbit-
rantur Scythas et Gothos traxisse originem. And 89: Gothi a Magog
filio Iaphet nominati putantur de similitudine ultimae syllabae, quos
veteres magis Getas quam Gothos vocaverunt.

V 30. river Ister: or Hister, the Danube; see V 31, and
OMIM ati, Morsian Swamp: called also Mursianus lacus (V
35), ἃ swamp near Mursa in Pannonia (now Eszek). Tyra:
Tyras is the Greek name for the Dniester, not a different stream.
Danaster: the Dniester, a river forming tthe boundary between
Dacia and Sarmatia. Vagosola: not elsewhere mentioned.
But considering the order in which these rivers are named, it is
clearly to be identified with the Hypanis, now called the Bug, a
river of European Sarmatia. Danaper: elsewhere called Bory-
sthenes (see V 44), the Dnieper, which like the other two streams
mentioned above, empties into the Black Sea. Taurus range: a

148 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

ridge in the Chersonesus Taurica, now the Crimea. Lake
Maeotis: the Sea of Azov. Bosphorus: the Cimmerian Bos-
phorus, the outlet of the Sea of Azov. Araxes: a river of
Armenia, now the Aras. like a mushroom: compare Cassio-
dorus var. 3, 48: ima (of the mountain) graciliora sunt quam
cacumina et in mollissimi fungi modo superius extenditur, cum
inferiore parte tenuetur. Albani: the natives of Albania on the
Caspian, now Schirwan. Seres: the Chinese.

31. Persis: a country between Carmania, Media and Susiana,
now Fars or Farsistan. Here the word seems to ‘be used in a
more general sense for ‘Persia. Hiberia: or I'beria, near the
Caucasus, now ‘Georgia.

32. Borysthenis, Olbia: the town of Olbia, a colony from
Miletus, was situated at the mouth of the river Borysthenes.
The expression Borithenide, Olbia, indicates that Jordanes, fol-
lowing his literary source for this passage, took these as the
names of two towns. However it seems not unlikely that Borys-
thenis and Olbia are merely two names for the same place
(see Strabo, 7, 3, 17). There were several towns of Greek origin
named ‘Olbia, and Jordanes himself (Romana, 167) mentions an-
other Olbia in Sardinia. Savagner (p. 360) incorrectly indexes
Olbia on the Borysthenes under “Olbia (Terra Nuova) capitale
de Vile de Sardaigne.” Callipolis: probably in the Tauric Cher-
sonese. Cherson: on the Euxine, perhaps Eupatoria, a city of
the Tauric Chersonese. Theodosia: a town of the Tauric Cher-
sonese, now Caffa or Feodosia. Careon: since this is placed
between Theodosia and Myrmicion (see Strabo, 7, 4, 5, p. 310),
the place meant is evidently Panticapaeum (now Kertsch), in
the Tauric Chersonese. Myrmicion: also in the Tauric Cher-
sonese. Trapezus: a city in Pontus, now Trebizond. Rhi-
paeian mountains: a range of mountains supposed to be in the
northern part of Scythia. Tanais: the river Don. See Orosius,
I, 2, 4. 5: Riphaei montes... Tanaim fluvium fundunt qui...
Maeotidas auget paludes.

33. Gepidae: see XVII 94-95 Tisia: the Patisus, a river
of Hungary, now the Theiss. Flutausis: Mommsen thinks it
probable that this river of Hungary is the same as the Aluta men-
tioned by Jordanes in XII 74.

34. Venethi: Muellenhoff upholds this spelling which the says
is confirmed by the Gothic Vinithés.

35. Noviodunum: in lower Moesia, probably the modern
Isaktscha.

36. Vidivarii: Muellenhoff says that this name (of which Vivi-
darit in XVII 96, is a corrupt form), is a hybrid derived from the
islands between the mouths of the Vistula and the adjacent

COMMENTARY 149

swamp. These were generally known by the Germans in the
middle ages as Widland.

37. Bulgares: this tribe, with the Antes and the Sclaveni,
made raids into Thrace and Illyria in 549 and 550. See Jordanes
Romana, 388, and Procopius Goth., 3, 40, p. 560 A. two hordes:
but see ‘Cassiodorus var. 3, 6: pullulat ex uno genere quadrifariam
decus. Altziagiri: see Zeuss, p. 715 (Cutziagiri). Sabiri: see
Zeuss, p. 711, 715 (Savirt). Hunuguri: Zeuss, p. 712.

38. in our city: probably Constantinople; see introduction,
Dp: IT. old wives’ tales: with the fabulis anilibus of the text
compare the Vulgate, I. Tim., IV, 7: aniles fabulas devita.

39. Zalmoxes, or Zalmoxis: mentioned by Herodotus (4,
94-96) as the reputed teacher of the Getae, who gave them the
doctrine of immortality which he was supposed to have learned
from Pythagoras. Even Herodotus doubts whether he was a
historical character: c. 96, εἴτε δὲ ἐγένετό τις Ζάλμοξις ἄνθρωπος, εἴτ᾽
ἐστὶ δαίμων τις Τέτῃσι οὗτος ἐπιχώριος χαιρέτω! Apuleius (De Magia,
26), refers to Zalmoxis as an ancient Thracian magician whose
incantations and other utterances are mentioned by Plato.
Zeuta: possibly Seuthes, who according to Suidas was the father
of Abaris. Dicineus: the Δεκαίνεος of Strabo, 7, 3, 5, p. 208;
7a 3, Τ| P4303:

40. Dio relates: Dio, 68, 9: ἐπεπόμφει μὲν (Decebalus) . . . πρέσβεις
οὐκ ἔτι τῶν κωμητῶν ὥσπερ πρότερον, ἀλλὰ τῶν πιλοφόρων τοὺς ἀρίστους. But,
as Mommsen remarks, Cassiodorus did not use the annals of
Dio Cassius as much as the Getica of Dio Chrysostom, who
probably gives a similar account, judging from his words in 72
(2, p. 383, Reiske): ἔνθα ἐνίοτε βλέπουσιν ἀνθρώπους τοὺς μέν τινας πίλους
ἐπὶ ταῖς κεφαλαῖς ἔχοντας, ὡς νῦν τῶν Θρᾳκῶν τινες τῶν Τετῶν λεγομένων.
Pilleati: see XI 71. Vergil: Aen. 3, 35: Gradivumque patrem,
Geticis qui praesidet arvis.

42. Balthi: the Bold: see XXIX 146. Amali: see note on
XIV, 78, on the genealogy of this family.

43. more... historian than... poet: Jordanes is here re-
peating a literary commonplace; see Martial 14, 194; Servius ad
Aen. I, 382; Isidorus orig., 8, 7, 10. They string Armenian
bows: Lucan, Pharsal, 8, 221: Armeniosque arcus Geticis intendite
nervis. In earliest times: ante quos in Mommsen’s text seems
impossible to translate with clearness of reference. So I follow
the reading antiquitus. Eterpamara: Muellenhoff regards this
as a very obscure word, probably not of Germanic origin.
Fritigern: in all probability the leader of the Visigoths in the
time of Emperor Valens. Vidigoia: the Gothic hero men-
tioned in XXXIV 178.

44. Orosius speaks: see Orosius, 1, 14: Vesozes ‘vex

I50 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Aegypti ... Scythis bellum primus indixit ... Scythae ... Ve-
sozem territum refugere in regnum cogunt ... c. 15: apud Scythas
duo regii iuvenes Plynos et Scolopythus .. . ingentem inventutem
secum traxere ... per insidias trucidantur. horum uxores e-xilio
ac viduitate permotae arma sumunt .. . Amazones dictae. Veso-
sis: Sesostris of Egypt, Rameses II, the Great. Tradition trans-
formed him into that military hero whom the Greeks knew as
Σέσωστρις (Herod. 2, 102-110) or Σεσόωσις (Diod. Sic., 1, 53-58),
and to whom they ascribed fabulous expeditions to Thrace and
India.

45. never solidified: see Mela, 1, 19, 115: Tanais ex Riphaeo
monte deiectus, adeo praeceps ruit, ut, cum vicina flumina tum
Maeotis et Bosphorus tum Ponti aliqua brumali rigore durentur,
solus aestus hiememque iuxta ferens idem semper et subsimilis
incitatusque decurrat. boundary of Asia and Europe: compare
Orosius. 1, 2; 4, 52.

46. as from its mother: Mela, 2, 1, 7: Callipidas Hypanis in-
cludit: ex grandi palude oritur, quam matrem eius accolae appellant
et diu qualis natus est defluit. fish: Mela, 2, 1, 6: Borysthenes ...
alit laetissint pabula magnosque pisces, quibus et optimus sapor
et nulla ossa sunt. \Solinus, 15, 1: im quo (Borysthenes) pisces
egregu saporis et quibus ossa nulla sunt nec aliud quam cartilagines
tenerrimae. Exampaeus: Mela, 2, I, 7: tantum non longe a
mari ex parvo fonte cui Exampheo cognomen est adeo amaras aquas
accipit, ut ipse quoque iam sui dissimilis et non dulcis hinc defluat.
Asiaces proximus inter Callippidas Asiacasque descendit. Calli-
pidae and Hypanis: these two towns at the mouth of the Danaper
(or Borysthenes) are not to be identified with any other towns
mentioned by Jordanes in V 32. For Callipidae, see Strabo,
12. 3. 2, ἢ. 550: Achilles: Mela, 2, 7, 98: Leuce Borysthenis ostio
obiecta (insula) parva admodum et quod ibi Achilles situs est,
Achillea cognomine.

VI 47. Tanausis: the reign of this contemporary of Vesosis
(Sesostris) is assigned by Gutschmid to 1323-1290 B.C. See
chronological chart p. 38. Phasis: a river of Colchis, now
the Rioni, emptying into the Black Sea. conquered... all
Asia: Asia Minor, of course. Iustinus, 1, 1, 6: fuere .. Vegosis
Aegypti et Scythiae rex Tanaus, quorum alter in Pontum, alter
usque Aegyptum excessit. 2, 3, 8: primus Scythis bellum indixit
Vezosis rex Aegyptus... Scythae ... legatis respondent...
non expectaturos Scythas dum ad se veniatur ... nec dicta res
morata...rex ...in fugam vertitur ... Scythas ab Aegypto
paludes prohibuere. inde reversi Asiam perdomitam vectigalem
fecere. Sornus: as there is no mention of Sornus in Justin’s
narrative, this statement may have been taken from Pompeius
Trogus directly, either by Jordanes or his source.

COMMENTARY I5I

48. Pompeius Trogus says: see the epitome of Trogus in
Iustinus, 2, I, 3: cum ipsi (Scythae) Parthos Bactrianosque, femi-
nae autem eorum Amazonum regna condiderint. Compare Arrianus
Parth. (in Photius cod. 58): Πάρθους δέ φησιν ἐπὶ Σεσώστριδος τοῦ
Αἰγυπτίων βασιλέως καὶ ᾿Τανδύσου (Trogus read Ταναύσου) τοῦ Σκυθῶν ἀπὸ
THs σφῶν χώρας Σκυθίας εἰς τὴν νῦν μετοικῆσαι. See discussion of sources,
Dp: go: Parthi: Iustinus, 41, 1, 1.2: Parthi ... Scytharum exules
fuere. hoc etiam ipsorum vocabulo manifestatur, nam Scythico ser-
mone exules Parthi dicuntur.

VII. 49. Lampeto and Marpesia: Iustinus, 2, 4, 12-14: duae his
(Amazonibus) reginae fuere Marpesia et Lampeto, quae in duas
partes agmine diviso ... vicibus gerebant bella, soli terminos al-
ternis defendentes . . . itaque maiore parte Europae subacta Asiae
quoque nonnullas civitates occupavere. Compare Oros., 1, 15.

50. Vergil: Aen., 6, 471:quam si dura silex aut stet Marpesia
cautes. But Vergil is referring to the mountain in the island
of Paros, where the marble quarries were. Servius on Aen. 6,
471. Caspian Gates: the Sirdar pass. Lazi: a truce with
Persia concluded in 545 was broken in 549 by the Romans who
gave assistance to their former dependents, the Lazi (inhabi-
tants of ancient Colchis), in their war with Persia. For the
Lazic war see Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire I 441.

51. Halys: a large river of Asia Minor flowing into the Black
Sea, now called the Kyzyl-irmak. Gangra: a city of Paphla-
gonia, afterwards called Germanicopolis, now Kiankari. they
built a...temple for Diana: this tradition of a shrine to
Artemis built by the Amazons is found in many classical writers.
From the excavations of Mr. David Hogarth, who thoroughly
explored the site in 1904-1905, it appears that no less than five
temples of Artemis were successively erected on the spot where
the ruins are still found to-day. The fourth, or last but one,
is that mentioned by Herodotus (1, 92), ‘toward which Croesus is
said to have contributed columns. It was in building in the year
550 B.C. The last and greatest, which ranked as one of the
seven wonders of the world, was begun about 350 B.C., and it
was this which was sacked in the year 262 A.D. by the Goths,
as mentioned by Jordanes in XX 107. (See The Archaic Arte-
misia, David Hogarth, London, 1908.) With this passage com-
pare Iustinus, 2, 4, 14.15 (Amazones) maiore parte Europae
subacta Asiae quoque nonnullas civitates occupavere: ibi Epheso
multisque aliis urbibus conditis. Compare Orosius, I, 15.

52. a hundred years: see Orosius, 1, 16: mulieres patria profugae
Europam atque Asiam . . . intraverunt pervagatae sunt deleverunt:
centum paene annis ... tenuerunt ... (Gothorum) feminae maio-
rem terrarum partem immenstis caedibus deleverunt. came back:

152 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Iustinus, 2, 4, 14.15: partem exercitus cum ingenti praeda domum
dimittunt. Compare Orosius, I, 15. have ... mentioned: see VII

50. Caucasus mountains: see Solinus 38, 10: mons Taurus ab
Indico primum mari surgit...§ 12: ... nominatus .. «δὲ in
excelsissimam consurgit sublinutatem Caucasus ... ὃ 13: quantus

meridiem videt, sole inaestuat; quidquid septemtriont oppositum est.
vento tunditur et pruina.
53. Wasianensian region: some part of Armenia is meant, per-

haps the Βασιλισηνή of Ptolomaeus 5, 13, 13. Red Sea: the
Persian Gulf.

54. the Araxes: see note on V 30. the Cyrus: now the
Kur, a river emptying into the Araxes. the Cambyses, the

Jora, a little river of Albania which empties into the Cyrus.
cut by this river: the Ister or Danube cuts 'through the mountain
ranges at the Iron Gates. Mommsen regards Histri in the text
as incorrect igeographically, though supported by all the manu-
scripts. He thinks the Danaper, and not the Jster, is the river
here meant. At any rate, Jordanes does not say so. in Scythia
is named Taurus also: that is, in the Tauric Chersonese, or
Crimea; see note on V 30.

55. Caspian Gates: see note on VII 50. Armenian...
Cilician: see Solinus 38, 13: ubi dehiscit hiulcis iugis, facit portas,
quarum primae sunt Armeniae, tum Caspiae, post Ciliciae. Imaus:
the Himalaya range. Paropamisus: a mountain chain of cen-
tral Asia, now the Hindtkisch. Choatras: mountains of Assy-
ria and Media. Niphates: part of the Taurus range in Ar-
menia, the modern Ala-dagh. Compare also Solinus 38, 12: pro
gentium ac linguarum varietate plurifariam nominatus apud Indos
Iamus, mox Propanisus. Choatras apud Parthos, post Niphates,
inde Taurus atque ubi in excelsissimam consurgit sublimitatem Cau-
casus. interea etiam a populis appellationem trahit.

VIII 56. destroying the life: Iustinus 2, 4, 9. 10. 11. ne genus
interiret, concubitus finitimorum ineunt. si qui mares nascerentur,
interficiebant: wvirgines in eundem ipsis morem... armis equis
venationibus exercebant. Compare Orosius I, I5.

57. Hercules: Iustinus, 2, 4, 21-24: Hercules ad litus Amazo-
num adplicuit,... multae ... caesae captaeque, in his Mela-
nippe ab Hercule, Hippolyte a Theseo ... Theseus obtenta in
praemium captiva eandem in matrimonium adsumpsit et ex ea
genuit Hippolytum. Compare Orosius 1, 15. Penthesilea:
Orosius 1, 15: post Orithyiam Penthesilea regno potita est cuius
Troiano bello clarissima inter viros documenta virtutis accepimus.
Compare Iustinus 2, 4, 31. the time of Alexander the Great:
Iustinus 2, 4, 32: interfecta deinde Penthesilea ... paucae quae
in regno remanserant ... usque ad tempora Alexander magni
duraverunt.

COMMENTARY 153

IX 58. we have proved in a previous passage: Jordanes says
nothing of this in a previous passage in the Getica, though in
V 40 he uses the words Gothi and Gaetae interchangeably.
testimony of Orosius Paulus: see Orosius 1, 16: modo autem
Getae illi, qui et nunc Gothi. Telefus: see Dictys 2, 4: (Tele-
phus) Hercule genitus procerus corpore ac pollens viribus divims
patriis virtutibus propriam gloriam aequiparaverat. c. 3: Teuthra-
nius Teuthrante et Auge genitus frater Telephi uterinus. c. 5:
Astyochen enim Priami iunctam sibi (Telepho) matrimonio.
Quintus of Smyrna (6, 135) agrees with Jordanes in saying that
Astyoche was the sister, not the daughter, of Priam.

59. Moesia: see Dictys 2, 1: Telephus ... tum Moesiae im-
perator erat. Histria: a country on the eastern shore of the
Adriatic Sea, afterwards included in the tenth region of Augus-
tus. Compare Orosius 1, I, 55: Moesia ab oriente habet ostia
fluminis Danuvit, ab euro Thraciam, a meridie Macedoniam, ab
Africo Dalmatiam, ab occasu Histriam, a circio Pannoniam, a
septentrione Danuvium.

60. Thesander: or Thersander. See Dictys 2, 2; in ea pugna
Thessandrus . . . congressus cum Telepho ictusque ab eo cadit ...
c. 3: Teuthranius... frater Telephi uterinus ... telo etus
(Ajax) occubuit. eius casu Telephus... perculsus ... fugatis
quos adversum ierat cum obstinate Vlixem inter vineas . . . inseque-
retur, praepeditus trunci vitis rwit ... Achilles . . . telum iaculatus
femur sinistrum regi transfigit. c. 10: Telephus ... cum nullo
remedio mederi posset. Also Eustathius Schol. Iliad. 1, 50:
ὁ δὲ Τήλεφος... πέπονθε μὲν τραῦμα δεινὸν ὑπὸ ᾿Αχιλλέως, ἀμπέλου ἕλικι
συμποδισθέντος αὐτῷ τοῦ ἵππου... καὶ πεσόντος εἰς γῆν. Eurypylus: see
Dictys 2. 5: Astyochen ... Priami iunctam sibi (Telephus) matri-
monio, ex qua Eurypylus genitus. he was killed: see Dictys
4, 14: nuntius Priamo supervenit Eurypylum Telephi ex Moesia ad-
ventare, quem rex ... oblatione desponsae Cassandrae confirma-
verat. In c. 17, 18 Dictys tells how Eurypylus was slain by
Neoptolemus and this bones sent back to his father.

X 61. almost exactly six hundred and thirty years: see
chronological chart p. 39. According to Gutschmid, Jordanes
had in mind tthe year of the accession of Cyrus, even though he
relates the events of the last year of his reign. In this way we
get a period of six hundred and thirty-one years, 1190-559 B.C.
Pompeius Trogus relates: see Iustinus 1, 8: Cyrus subacta
Asia ... Scythis bellum infert. erat eo tempore regina Scytharum
Tomyris, quae ...cum prohibere eos transitu. Oaxis fluminis
posset, transire permisit ... itaque Cyrus tratectis copiis . .
casira metatus est... Cyrus ...ommnes...Scythas cum re-
ginae filio interfecit . . . (Tomyris) compositis in montibus insidits

154 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

ducenta milia Persarum cum ipso rege trucidavit. Compare Orosius
poe as I have said: in the last sentence above, “Tomyris,
queen of the Getae.” Observe that Mommsen’s comment non
dixit antea is cancelled in his table of corrigenda.

62. Lesser Scythia: a district of Moesia, bordering on the
Black Sea, now Dobrudja. Tomi: famous as the place of
Ovid’s banishment, now Ko6stendjé in Bulgaria.

63. Antyrus: see Orosius 2,8: Darius ... Antyro regi Scytha-
rum hac vel maxime causa bellum intuht, quod filiae eius petitas sibi
nuptias non obtinuisset ... cum septingentis milibus armatorum
Scythiam ingressus ... metuens, ne sibi reditus interrupto ponte
Histri fluminis negaretur, amissis LXXX milibus bellatorum tre-
pidus refugit. The corrupt form of the name Antyrus (the
᾿Ιδάνθυρσος of Herodotus 4, 76) shows that Jordanes drew upon
Orosius rather than upon the very similar account given by
Iustinus 2, 5, 8-10. Chalcedon: or Calchedon, now Kadik6i, a
town in Bithynia on the Sea of Marmora, directly opposite Con-
stantinople. Byzantium: the ancient city upon whose site
Constantinople was afterwards built. Tapae: not definitely
located, but apparently near the Danube. The place is men-
tioned by Dio Cassius 67. 10 and 68.8.

64. Xerxes: see Orosius 2,9: Xerxes septingenta milia arma-
torum de regno et trecenta milia de auxiliis, rostratas etiam naves
mille ducentas, onerarias autem tria milia numero habuisse narra-
tur. See also Iustinus 2, 10, 18-20.

65. Medopa, the daughter of King Gudila: Satyrus in Athe-
naeus 13, 15 p.557 d speaks of Κοθήλας ὁ τῶν Θρᾳκῶν βασιλεύς, For
Medopa see Stephanus on the word Terla: ἔστι καὶ θηλυκῶς Téris -
οὕτως yap ἐκαλεῖτο ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ Φιλίππου τοῦ ᾿Αμύντου. Satyrus in A'the-
naeus 13, 5 p. 557 d calls her Μήδα. Odessus: a city of lower
Moesia on the Black Sea, now Varna.

66. Sitalces ... Perdiccas: according to Thucydides (2, 98),
in the year 429 B.C. Sitalces, King of the Odrysae concluding an
alliance with the Athenians, undertook an expedition against
King Perdiccas II of Macedon and sent against him an army
of 150,000 men. Thucydides also mentions the Getae (2. 96):
dvicrnoev ... τοὺς ὑπερβάντι Αἷμον Τέτας καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα μέρη ἐντὸς τοῦ
Ἴστρου ποταμοῦ πρὸς θάλασσαν μάλλον τὴν τοῦ Εὐξείνου πόντου κατῴκητο - εἰσὶ
δ᾽ οἱ Τέται καὶ οἱ ταύτῃ ὅμοροί τε τοῖς Σκύθαις καὶ ὁμόσκευοι πάντες ἱπποτοξόται.
Mommsen believes that this information was also found in Dio
Chrysostom’s Getica and that Cassiodorus took it from this
source. But Jordanes, following Cassiodorus, confuses Per-
diccas II, against whom Sitalces made war in 429 B.C., with the
other Perdiccas, the general and successor of Alexander the
Great a century later, and regarding him as in a way the ruler

COMMENTARY 155

of Athens, inverts the part played by the Athenians in that war.
Alexander: Orosius 3, 20: Alexander apud Babyloniam cum...
ministri insidiis venenum potasset, interiit.

ΧΟ: Buruista: see Strabo 7; 3; 5 Ρ. 208; ἢ, 3; 1 p- 303;
16, 2, 39 p. 762. Hodgkin (1. I 96) says Buruista is perhaps the
same as Boerebislas, a king of Dacia in the time of Augustus.
Sulla: with |Sulla’s dictatorship (82-79 'B.C.) we have the first
definite reference in the Getica to historical Roman times. the
Franks now possess: Chlodwig (Clovis) had defeated the Ala-
manni in 496. [Bury (1 284) gives the date as 402.]

68. islands ... beyond our world: so the Romans regarded
Britain. unable to prevail against the Goths: see Orosius
I, 16: Caesar ... declinavit (the Getae).

69. belagines: Muellenhoff argues from the chronicles of
Isidorus that the Goths had no written laws before the reign
of Eurich (466-485), and thinks that Jordanes or Cassiodorus has
given the Goths credit for a thing told by Dio of the Getae.
twelve signs: of the Zodiac. With this whole passage (XI 60-
70) compare what Athalaric writes to Cassiodorus, var. 9, 24:
(King Theodoric) cum esset publica cura vacuatus, sententias pru-
dentum a tuis fabulis exigebat ... stellarum cursus, maris sinus,
fontium nuracula rimator acutissimus inquirebat, ut rerum naturis
diligentius perscrutatis quidam purpuratus videretur esse philosophus.

72. Capillati: see Cassiodorus var. 4, 49: universis provincialibus
et capillatis, defensoribus et curtalibus Suavia consistentibus Theo-
dericus rex.

73. Comosicus ... Coryllus: these Gothic kings do not seem
to be mentioned elsewhere in ancient literature. But Gutschmid
(Prosopographia imperu Romani Ὁ. 473, 1244) conjectures that
Coryllus should be Scoryllus, citing Frontinus Stratogematon
I, 10, 4: Scorylo dux Dacorum.

XII 73. ancient Dacia: Dacia was the name applied origin-
ally to the region which lies between the Danube, the Theiss, the
Carpathians and the Pruth, extending over part of modern Hun-
gary, Wallachia and Moldavia, with Transylvania as its central
district. The Dacians under Decebalus were defeated by Trajan
in 102 and 107, in campaigns still commemorated at Rome by
Trajan’s column, and their country became a Roman province. (On
the limits of the Roman province of Dacia, see Hodgkin in the Eng-
lish Historical Review IJ, 100-103.) Aurelian (270-275) finally
abandoned it, settling its inhabitants in a new province which he
likewise named Dacia. This new Dacia was created from parts
of Moesia Superior and Inferior (Hist. Aug., Vita Aureliani 39),
and consisted of the eastern half of Servia and the western end
of Bulgaria. It was eventually divided into Dacia Ripensis, with

156 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

its Capital at Ratiaria on the Danube, and Dacia Mediterranea
with 115 capital at Serdica, modern Sofia (the capital of Bul-
garia). After the disruption of Attila’s empire in 454 Dacia,
namely that part of Hungary which lies east and north of the
Danube, fell to the lot of the Gepidae under Ardaric.

74. Boutae: not mentioned elsewhere. Possibly a corruption
of Pons (Augusti). See Jung, Romer und Romanen in den
Donaulandern (Innsbruck 1887) p. 118 n. 2. Roxolani: a
people dwelling ‘between the rivers Don and Dnieper. lazy-
ges: a Sarmatian people on the Danube. Sarmatians: a great
Slavic people dwelling from the Vistula to the Don, in the
modern Poland and Russia. Basternae: they dwelt in the
lands along the upper reaches of the Vistula north of the Car-
pathian mountains. Aluta: a river of Hungary, now tthe Alt.
The Roxolani here mentioned by Jordanes are the Rhoxolam,
Sarmatica gens of Tacitus, Histories I, 70.

75. Alamanni: German tribes who formed a confederation
on the upper Rhine and Danube, and from whom the nation
got its name. Compare the French Allemagne. sixty streams:
see Ammianus 22, 8, 44: Danuvius . . . sexaginta navigabiles paene
recipiens fluvios. Bessi: a savage race in Thrace, near the
Haemus mountains, and in the vicinity of the river Hebrus.
Bury (II 15) states that the Bessi or Satri, in the region of
Rhodope, remained longest a corporate nation in the presence
of Roman influences. In the fourth century they were converted
to Christianity, and a hundred years later still held the church
service in their own tongue. except the Nile: Mela 2, 1, 8:
Hister ... ingens iam et eorum qui in nostrum mare decidunt
tantum Nilo minor: and see Sallust, in Gellius 10, 7, 1.

XIII 76. Oppius Sabinus... governor... after Agrippa:
Fonteius Agrippa was governor of Moesia in 69-70 (Tacitus, His-
tories 3, 46 and Josephus Bell. Iud. 7, 4, 3), and lost his life
resisting an attack of the Sarmatae. Oppius Sabinus (about 85
or 86) did not succeed him directly, as Jordanes seems to imply,
for there were at least four governors in between. (See Stout,
The Governors of Moesia, Princton, 1011, p. 21, ἢ. 51). Sabinus
was consul in 84, probably went to Moesia as governor the fol-
lowing year, and was killed in 85 or 86. Dorpaneus: the Diur-
paneus of Orosius 7, 10, 4. From Petrus Patricius fr. 4 (4, 185
Muell.) it is clear that he is to be identified with Decebalus,
the famous Dacian leader.

77. Domitian hastened: upon the death of Sabinus Domitian
set out in person for the Danube, but gave Cornelius Fuscus, his
praefectus praetorio, charge of the war. See Suetonius
Domitian 6.

COMMENTARY 157

78. slew Fuscus: see Eutropius 7, 23, 4. Ansis: merely
another and more heroic name of the Amali, the royal stock of
the Goths. Jacob Grimm observes that this is the same word as
the Aesir of the Northmen. genealogy: see the chart on page 41.
Compare also with this chapter XLVIII 246 onward and LVIII
297 onward.

XIV 81. its proper place: this is done in XL 315.

82. we have said: in V 38 and 42.

XV 83. As already said: in V 38. Alexander: he reigned
from 222-235 A.D. Symmachus relates: see Literary Sources
p. 32, and compare Iulii Capitolini Maximini duo, 1: Mazi-
minus ... de vico Threiciae ... barbaro ... patre et matre geni-
tus, quorum alter e Gothia, alter ex Alanis genitus esse perhibetur:
et patri quidem nomen Micca, matri Hababa fuisse dicitur. Also
c 4: amatus est... unce a Getis quasi eorum civis. And see
Romana 281. Alani: a very warlike nomadic Scythian nation,
ranging from ‘tthe Caucasus to the Tanais and north of the
Caspian. After 406 Alans seems to have dwelt on the Loire.
(Bury I. 167, note 1.)

84. military games: vita Maximini 2: et in prima quidem
pueritia fuit pastor ... natali Getae filii minoris, Severus militares
dabat ludos propositis praemtis argenteis ... hic adulescens et
semibarbarus et vix adhuc Latinae linguae, prope Thraecica im-
peratorem publice petut, ut sibt daret licentiam contendendi cum his,
qui iam non mediocri loco muilitarent.

85. eight feet: vita 2: magnitudinem corporis Severus miratus
c. 6: erat magnitudine tanta, ut octo pedes digito videretur egressus.
Compare vita Maximini iun. c. 2. camp followers: vita 2:
primum eum cum lixis composuit ... ne disciplinam muilitarem
corrumperet. threw sixteen: vita 2: tunc Maximinus sedecim
lixas uno sudore devicit sedecim acceptis praemiis .. . 1ussusque
militare. cavalry: vita 2: prima stipendia equestria huic fuere.
On the third day: vita 3: tertia forte die cum processisset Severus
ad campum, in turba exultantem more barbarico Maximinum vidit
iussitque statim tribuno, ut eum coerceret ac Romanam disciplinam
imbueret. tunc ille ubi de se intellexit imperatorem locutum.. ,
ad pedes imperatoris equitantis accessit. tum... Severus...
equum admisit multis circumitionibus et cum .. . imperator laboras-
set neque ille a currendo per multa spatia desisset.

86. my little Thracian: vita 3: ‘quid vis, Thracisce? num quid
delectat luctari post cursum?’ tum ‘quantum libet, inquit, ‘imperator,
post hoc ex equo Severus descendit et recentissimos quosque ac
fortissimos milites ei comparari iussit. tum ille more solito septem
fortissimos uno sudore vicit solusque omnium a Severo post
argentea praemia torque aureo donatus est iussusque inter stipa-
tores corporis semper in aula consistere.

158 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

87. he was an officer: vita 4: diu sub Antonino Caracalla ordines
duxit, centuriatus et ceteras militares dignitates saepe tractavitt.
when Macrinus became emperor: vita 4: sub Macrino, quod eum,
qui imperatoris sui filium occiderat, vehementer odisset, a militia
destit. c. 5: Maximinus... tribunus.

88. Heliogabalus: or Elagabalus; vita 4: occiso Macrino...
ubi Heliogabalum quasi Antonini filium imperatorem comperit, ...

ad eum vent. Alexander the son of Mamaea: vita 5: quem
Alexander miro cum gaudio ... suscepit. Mogontiacum: Ma-
yence or Mainz. Aquileia: see Orosius 7, 18: (Alexander)
militart tumultu apud Moguntiacum interfectus est. c. το:
... Maximinus... nulla senatus voluntate imperator ab exer-
citu.... creatus persecutionem in Christianos ... exercuit. sed

.. tertio quam regnabat anno a Pupieno Aquileiae interfectus.
Aquileia is a town in Triest, at the northern end of the Adriatic,
still called Aquileia. For the story of its siege and capture by
Attila, see XLII 219 onward.

XVI 89. Marcomanni: a Germanic people, a portion of the
tribe of the Suevi, who after their defeat by Drusus moved from
the Rhine and Main to the country of the Boii (Bohemia).
Quadi: a Germanic people in the modern Moravia. one thou-
sandth year: so Hieronymus on the year of Abraham 2262, the
second of Philip’s reign: regnantibus Philippis millesimus annus
Romanae urbis expletus est. received annual gifts: Rome was
willing to pay the Goths and other barbarian tribes subsidies
called stipendia, and given as pay; but the receiver might easily
come to regard them as given for tribute.

go. the senator Decius: he reigned as emperor from 249-251.
Ostrogotha: see genealogical chart, p. 41, and XVII 98-100.

gt. Taifali: neighbors of the Goths, once settled near the
Danube in Dacia. Zeuss p. 433. Astringi: better Asdingi; see
XXII 113 and Zeuss 461. Probably neighbors of the Taifali.
Carpi: a people on the Danube in Dacia, Zeuss p. 697. They
were subdued by Diocletian and Galerius in 295 and transported
to Pannonia. (Bury I 32.) Galerius . . . conquered them: see
Orosius 7, 25, 12: per eosdem duces (Diocletian and Galerius)
strenue adversus Carpos Basternasque pugnatum est. Peucini:
the inhabitants of Peuce, a pine-covered island (peuce, πεύκη =
pine-tree), the delta of the Danube. Argaith: see Scriptores
Historiae Augustae XX Gordiani tres 31, 1: Imperavit Gordianus
annis sex atque dum haec agerentur Argunt Scytharum rex finiti-
morum regna vastabat. Muellenhoff regards Argaith as the
correct form. Guntheric: see The Cambridge Mediaeval His-
tory, I. 203.

92. Marcianople: in Lower Moesia, near the Euxine; the

COMMENTARY 159

great city built by Trajan on the north slope of the Balkans,
now represented by Pravadi, near Schumla. (Hodgkin I. I. 50).

93. Potamus: the river Panysus? The anonymous Geogra-
pher of Ravenna (4, 6 p. 185) follows Jordanes: per quam Marcia-
nopolim medio transit fluvius qui dicitur Potamia. his sister:
Marciana, Ammianus 27, 4, 12: Mysia, ubi Marcianopolis est a
sorore Traiant principis ita cognominata.

XVII 94. in the beginning: see IV 25. three ships: this
is the first and only mention Jordanes makes of the number of
the ships.

95. gepanta: Muellenhoff rejects this derivation of the name
Gepidae.

96. Spesis: otherwise unknown. Holder (Jordanis, De Origine
Actibusque Getarum, Freiburg 1882) would read dum spes is pro-
vincia, Vividarii: see note on Vidivarii, V 36. Gepedoios:
Muellenhoff points out that here is the nominative plural of the
same word met before in IV 27, Oium, that is, the Meadows, the
native name for Scythia. He calls attention also to the German
au or awe which has the same meaning. Gepedoios thus means
the Gepid Meadows.

97. Fastida: apparently unknown outside this account. Jor-
danes mentions also as kings of the Gepidae Ardaric (XXXVIII
199), Thraustila, and Thrasaric (LVIII 300). Burgundians: a
northern tribe who dwelt between the Oder and the Vistula,

99. Galtis: Mommsen suggests for this town the Transyl-
vanian Galt on the river Aluta. It is not mentioned elsewhere.
(Hodgkin I. I 51.)

XVIII τοι. Cniva: Gutschmid identifies him with Ovida, the
grandfather of King Geberich (mentioned by Jordanes in XXII
113) and Cannaba or Cannabaudes, the leader of the Goths in
the reign of Aurelian (vita Aurel. 22). See also The Cambridge
Mediaeval History, I. 203. Euscia: Euscia or Novae is the
modern Novo-grad on the Danube, about thirty-four miles above
Rustchuk. (Hodgkin I. I 52.) Gallus: C. Vibius Trebo-
nianus Gallus, governor of Moesia Inferior in 251 and Emperor
from 251-253. See XIX 104. Stout (The Governors of Moesia,
p. 248) regards the title dux limitis (XVIII 102) as as anachron-
ism. Nicopolis: apparently Nikup on the Jantra, the ancient
Tatrus, a tributary of the Danube. the regions of Haemus: the
Balkans. Philippopolis: in modern times the capital of East-
ern Roumelia.

102. Beroa: Augusta Traiana, a city about eighty-seven miles
northwest of Hadrianople, now Eski-Zaghra. Oescus: a city
‘on the Danube, near the mouth of a river of the same name.

103. took Philippopolis: it is interesting to compare with this

160 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

chapter the account given by Ammianus 31, 5, 15: duobus navium
milibus perrupto Bosporo et litoribus Propontidis Scythicarum
gentium catervae transgressae ediderunt quidem acerbas terra ma-
rique strages, sed amissa suorum parte maxima reverterunt, ceciderunt
dimicando cum barbaris impratores Decti pater et filus...
Anchialos capta et tempore eodem Nicopolis, quam indicium victoriae
contra Dacos Traianus condidit imperator. post clades acceptas in-
latasque multas et saevas excisa est Philippopolis centum hominum
milibus, nisi fingunt annales, intra moenia iugulatis. allied him-
self to Priscus: then governor of Macedonia (Lucio Prisco qui
Macedonas praesidatu regebat, Aurelius Victor de Caes. 29) and
a brother of the late Emperor Philip. This appears to be the
first attempt on the part of the Goths to create an anti-emperor.
(Hodgkin I. I 53.) the son of Decius: see Cassiodorus chr.
ad. a. 252: Decius cum filio suo in Abritio Thraciae loco a Gothis
occiditur. He substitutes these words for the following sen-
tence of Prosper: Decius cum filio in Abritto, quae est civitas
Mysiae, occiditur. Abrittus: otherwise called Forum Thembronii
or Terebronii, but its site is unknown. It was probably some-
where in the marshy ground near the mouth of the Danube
(Hodgkin I. I 56). cut off ... and slain: Hodgkin remarks
(I. I. 56) παῖ this is one of three great disasters that foretold
the final overthrow of Rome. The other two were the defeat
of Varus in A.D. 9 and the Battle of Hadrianople, A.D. 378.
(See XXVI 138.)

XIX 104. plague: see Hieronymus on the year of Abraham
2269: pestilens morbus multas totius orbis provincias occupavit
maximeque Alexandriam et Aegyptum, ut scribit Dionysius et Cy-
priant de mortalitate testis est liber. nine years ago: in 542. On
the date, see introduction, p. 13. For an account of this plague
see Bury I. 390-403. Dionysius: Bishop of Alexandria 248-
265; see Eusebius, hist. eccl. 7, 22. Cyprian: Thascius Caecilius
Cyprianus (d. 258), Bishop of Carthage, who was martyred in
the persecution started by Decius.

106. universal ... favor: see Orosius 7, 21, 6: hac sola pernicie
(the plague) insignes Gallus et Volusianus.

107. Respa, Veduc and Thuruar: otherwise unknown. as
we said before: in VII 51. Cornelius Avitus: not the
Emperor Avitus. The Emperor, who reigned 455-456 A.D. [see
XLV 240], was named Marcus Maecilius Avitus. the royal

city: Constantinople.

XX 108. Troy and Ilium: Jordanes oddly takes these as
the names of two distinct cities and speaks of them as “re-
covering a little’ (in A.D. 259 +) from the Trojan War!

Thrace: it will be noticed that Jordanes names the places at-

COMMENTARY 161

tacked by the Goths in a different order than Ammianus in the
passage cited above (note on XVIII 103).

10g. Anchiali: the authors cited in Stephanus and Suidas
(s.v. ᾿Αγχιάλη), say it was not this city in Moesia but Anchiale in
Cilicia that was founded by Sardanapalus.

XXI 110. to aid the Romans: after the disastrous campaign
of 206 in which Galerius (the “Caesar Maximian” of Jordanes)
was humbled on the ill-omened field of Carrhae, a considerable
number of Gothic auxiliaries was taken into the Roman forces,
and the Imperial armies again marched against Narses of Persia.
This time, whether mainly “by their aid,” as Jordanes says,
or not, the Romans were victorious (297). [Gibbon I. 370.

Bury’s ed. of 18096.] Narseus: or Narses. Sapor the Great:
this was the Persian king who captured the Emperor Valerian
in 260 and kept him prisoner until his death in 265. Achilles:

or Achilleus (292-296); he arose as a usurper in Alexandria.
Maximianus Herculius: this is the Emperor Maximian, the col-
league of Diocletian. Quinquegentiani: a confederation of
five Moorish nations invaded the peaceful provinces of Africa
in 206, 297. With this last section compare Orosius 7, 25:
rebellante ... Achilleo in Aegypto cum et Africam Quinquegen-
tiant infestarent, Narseus etiam rex Persarum Orientem bello
premeret ... Maximianus Augustus Quinquegentianos in Africa
domut, porro autem Diocletianus Achilleum ...apud Alexan-
driam cepit et interfecit ... Galerius Maximianus ... per Iliy-
ricum et Moesiam undique copias contraxit ... Narseum magnis
consiliis viribusque superavit ... castra eius invasit, uxores soro-
res liberosque cepit, immensam vim gazae Persicae diripuit.

111. Licinius: he had been elevated to the rank of Augustus
by the Emperor Galerius in 307, apparently without passing
through the intermediate rank of Caesar. The first quarrel be-
tween Constantine and Licinius—then respectively masters of the
West and the East—occurred in 314. The second civil war, in
323, was brought τὸ a close by the imprisonment and death of
Licinus. (By this victory the Roman world was again united
under the authority of one emperor.

112. the famous city: the part Jordanes supposes the Goths
to have played in the founding of Constantinople is not very
clear, even to our author himself. Ariaric and Aoric: Con-
stantine, intervening in some quarrel between the Goths and
Sarmatians, took part with the latter, and the son of Ariaric was
among the hostages given by the Goths upon their defeat. See
Anonymous Valesianus 31: (Constantine) adversum Gothos bel-
lum suscepit et implorantibus Sarmatis auxilium tulit: ita per Con-
stantinum Caesarem c prope milia fame et frigore extincta sunt:

102 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

tunc et obsides accepit, inter quos et Ariarici regis filium, Gebe-
rich: or Geberic (Hodgkin I. I 76). The reign of Geberich, ac-
cording to Gutschmid, is to be dated 318-350.

XXII 113. Visimar: a Vandal king over the Sarmatians? See
Gibbon II 217. Asdingi: see note on XIV gt under Astringi.
Dexippus (in fr. 24, 3 p. 685 Muell.) tells of the victory of
Aurelian over the Viandals and of their return to the countries
beyond the Danube after peace was made. Marisia: see
Strabo: 7, 3, ΤΆ p. 3053) pee δὲ δ αὐτῶν Μάρισος ποταμὸς els τόν Δανούιον
Miliare, Gilpil: not mentioned elsewhere. Grisia: a river of
Hungary. See Constantinus Porphyrogen. de adm. imp. 40: ῥεῖ.
τέταρτος ὁ κρίσος, and Zeuss p. 447.

114. Hermunduli, or Hermunduri: a Germanic people on the
Elbe, neighbors of the Chatti.

115. Pannonia: the expulsion of the Vandals (or Sarma-
tians? Gibbon II. 219) and their reception by Constantine into

Pannonia occurred in the year 334. A long time afterward: see
Orosius 7, 38: Stilico ... gentes .. . Alanorum Sueborum Vanda-
lorum ... Burgundionum ... ripas Rheni quatere et pulsare Gal-

lias voluit.

XXIII 116. Hermanaric: or Hermanric, the Ostrogoth. The
date is about 351-376 according to Gutschmid. Most of these
thirteen northern tribes, which Jordanes says were conquered
by this second Alexander, cannot now be identified with any
certainty.

117. Heruli: see Etymologicum magnum Ὁ. 332 Gaisford: ἀπὸ
τῶν ἐκεῖσε ἑλῶν “Edoupor κέκληνται. Δέξιππος ἐν δωδεκάτῳ χρονικῶν.
Also Stephanus of Byzantium s.v.: “Edouvpot Σκυθικὸν ἔθνος, περὶ ὧν
Δέξιππος ἐν χρονικῶν ιβ΄. Alaric: this chief of the Heruli must not
be confused with Alaric, King of the Suavi, mentioned in LIV 277
or with the kings of the Visigoths named Alaric. helé: ἕλη.

119. Venethi: or Veneti; but nee note on V 34; Wends. They
dwelt in the region that is now Poland. we started to say: in
Vi 34: Antes, Sclaveni: the Heruli lived in the swampy
regions near the Sea of Azov; the parent stock of the Veneti
(Wends) scattered in various directions, the Sclaveni going to
the upper waters of the Dniester and Vistula, the Antes along
the Euxine from the Dniester to the Dnieper. (Hodgkin I.
L77-)

120. Aesti: a Germanic people near the Baltic; see Tacitus,
Germania 45.

XXIV 121. Orosius relates: gens Hunnorum diu inacessis se-
clusa montibus, repentina rabie percita exarsit in Gothos eosque
passim conturbatos ab antiquis sedibus expulit (7, 33,10). Filimer:
see IV 26.

COMMENTARY 163

123. Priscus: the passage is apparently untraceable. But see
Zeuss p. 708, and compare next note.

126. swept across the great swamp: it is interesting to com-
pare with this passage the account given by Procopius, bell.
Goth. 4, 5: οὗτοι (the Huns, then called Cimmerians) μὲν ἅπαντες
τῇδε ᾧκηντο, κοινὰ μὲν τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα ξύμπαντα ἔχοντες, οὐκ ἐπιμιγνύμενοι δὲ
ἀνθρώποις, δι δὴ τῆς τε λίμνης (Maeotis) καὶ τῆς ἐνθένδε ἐκροῆς ἐς τὰ ἐπὶ θάτερα
ἵδρυντο - ἐπεὶ οὔτε διέβαινον ποτε τὰ ὕδατα ταῦτα οὔτε διαβατὰ εἶναι ὑπώπτευον

. . προιόντος δὲ τοῦ χρόνου φασίν, εἴπερ ὁ λόγος ὑγιής ἐστι, τῶν μὲν Κιμμερίων
νεανίας τινὰς ἐν κυνηγεσίῳ διατριβὴν ἔχειν, ἔλαφον δὲ μίαν πρὸς αὐτῶν φεύγουσαν
ἐς τὰ ὕδατα ἐσπηδῆσαι ταῦτα. τούς τε νεανίας... τῇ ἐλάφῳ ἐπισπέσθαι ταύτῃ,
μηχανῇ τε αὐτῆς μεθίεσθαι οὐδεμιᾷ, ἕως ξὺν αὐτῇ ἐς τὴν ἀντιπέρας ἀκτὴν ἵκοντο.
καὶ τὸ μὲν διωκόμενον ὅ τι ποτ᾽ ἣν ἐυθὺς ἀφανισθῆναι... τοὺς δὲ νεανίας τοῦ μὲν
κυνηγησίου ἀποτυχεῖν, μάχης δὲ ἀφορμὴν καὶ λείας εὑρέσθαι. ἐς ἤθη γὰρ τὰ
πάτρια ὅτι τάχιστα ἐπανήκοντες ἔκδηλα πᾶσι Κιμμερίοις πεποίηνται ὅτι
δὴ ταύτῃ βατὰ σφίσι τὰ ὕδατα ἔιη ἀνελόμενοι οὖν αὐτίκα τὰ ὅπλα
πανδημεί τε διαβάντες ἐγένοντο μελλήσει οὐδεμιᾷ ἐν τῇ ἀντιπέρας ἠπείρῳ.
See also the similar account given by Agathias 5, 11, p. 300 Bonn
and Cedrenus 1, p. 547 Bonn. Mommsen points out that this
passage is biased on Priscus, as is evident not only from the
agreement between Procopius and Jordanes, but furthermore
from XXXIX 206, which is undowbtedly taken from Priscus
and agrees with this account. Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari,
Tuncarsi and Boisci: these tribes are mentioned in ‘Priscus
(Teulbner text Historici Graecit Minores ed. Dindorf, p. 276); see
Zeuss p. 708. unlike ... in civilization: Ammiants 31, 2, 21:
Halam ... sunt... Hunis... per omnia suppares, verum victu
muitiores et cultu.

128. cruelty of wild beasts: so also Ammianus 31, 2, I:
Hunorum gens ... omnem modum feritatis excedit. 2: ubi quomam
ab ipsis nascendi primitiis infantum ferro sulcantur altius genae, ut
pilorum vigor tempestivus emergens conrugatis cicatricibus hebetetur,

senescunt imberbes absque ulla venustate .., compactis omnes
firmisque membris et opimis cervicibus prodigiosae formae, sed pandi
ut bipedes existimes bestias . . . 6: equis prope adfixt ... 9: procul

missilibus telis . . . con[fligunt].

129. this active race: see Ammianus 31, 2, 12: hoc expeditum
indomitumque hominum genus (the Huns) ... per rapinas finiti-
morum grassatum. And c. 3, 1: Hum... Ermenricht ... pagos
repentino impetu perruperunt. Note that many of the actual words
used by Ammianus recur in the account given by Jordanes.
Rosomoni: not otherwise known. Muellenhoff regards the name
as unhistoric. But see Schonfeld: Worterbuch der altgerman-
ischen Personen und Voikernamen, p. 194. Sunilda... Sarus
and Ammius: this tale “is peculiar to Jordanes, and is probably
part of some old Gothic Saga.” (Hodgkin I. I 246.)

164. JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

130. Balamber: the earliest king of the Huns of whom there is
mention in Jordanes. See also XLVIII 248, 2 40. the
Huns... prevail: the death of Hermanaric and the overthrow
of the Ostrogothic Empire by the Huns had probably taken
place by 375. According to Ammianus 31, 3 Hermanaric com-
mitted suicide: magnorum discriminum metum voluntaria morte
sedavit. As Hodgkin says (I. I 247), the inclination of the
German critics is to spread the Hunneneinfall over five years:
372, attack upon the Alani; 374-375, overthrow of the Ostro-
goths; 375-376, defeats of Athamnaric.

XXV 131. Romania: or Roman-land, a late name for the
Roman Empire as contrasted with Gothia. Jordanes uses the
term several times: see Romana 247, 275, 313; Getica L 266.
they would submit: compare Ammianus 31, 4, 1: (the Goths)
ripas occupavere Danuvii missisque oratoribus ad Valentem suscipit
se humili prece poscebant, et quiete victuros se pollicentes et daturos,
si res flagitasset, auxilia, promised to become Christians: Oro-
sits (7, 33, 19) speaks of their acceptance of Christianity:
Gothi antea per legatos supplices poposcerunt, ut illis episcopi, a
quibus regulam Christianae fidei discerent, mitterentur. Valens
imperator exitiabil pravitate doctores Arriani dogmatis misit.
Gothi primae fidei rudimentum quod accepere tenuerunt. See also
Isidorus hist. Goth. ad eram 415: Atanaricus Fridigernum Valentis
imperatoris suffragio superans huius rei gratia legatos cum muneri-
bus ad eundem imperatorem muttit et doctores propter suscipiendam
Christianae fidei regulam poscit. Valens autem a veritate fidei devius
et Arrianae haeresis perversitate detentus missis haereticis sacerdo-
tibus Gothos persuasione nefanda sui erroris dogmati adgregavit
et in tam praeclaram gentem virus pestiferum semine pernicioso
transfudit.

132. intended to ask: Valens was by no means so ready and
willing to receive this barbarian horde as Jordanes assumes.
This was in fact one of the great crises of the empire, and
better statesmen than Valens might well have hesitated before
deciding so momentous a question. Eunapius (Historict Graeci
Minores (Dindorf) p. 237, says there were 200,000 men of fight-
ing age besides old men, women and children who crossed the
Danube (Hodgkin I. I. 251). Arian perfidy: see Hodgkin.
The Arian sect, named from Arius, differed from the general
body of the church in believing that the Son of God, though
divine, was a created being. Athanasius, in opposition to Arius,
was the champion of what came to be authoritatively adopted as
the orthodox belief regarding the Trinity by the Council of
Nicaea in 325. Ulfilas was an Arian because while his theo-
logical ideas were being formed, Arianism of one ‘kind or

COMMENTARY 165

another—for there were many varieties—was orthodoxy at
Constantinople, and Athanasius was denounced there as ἃ dan-
gerous heretic. Ulfilas professed the form of Arianism known
as Homoion: “The Son is like unto the Father in such manner
as the scriptures declare.” This then was the form of Chris-
tianity he taught, and which the Goths, Vandals, Burgundians
and Suavi accepted. This also was the creed of the Emperor
Vilens. In later times Theodoric the Great was himself un-
shaken in the Arianism which had been tthe faith of his fore-
fathers, but he ruled with impartiality over a people the majority
of whom were orthodox. Mommsen says (Intro. XLIII) that
Jordanes did not find in the original of his Getica that sharp
denunciation of Arianism in which the delights (see also XXVI
138), for Cassiodorus, though orthodox himself, was mindful
of the Arian convictions of his miasters. Ebert (Geschichte der
christlichlateinischen Literatur, Leipzig 1874 p. 531 n. 2) believes
that Jordanes’ intense dislike of Arianism is best explained by
the theory that he at first held this belief himself and was later
converted to the orthodox party. See introduction p. 5.

133. crossed the Danube: this was in 376. Ammianus (31,
4, I, quoted under 131 above) also tells of their embassy.

ΧΧΝῚ 134. Fritigern, Alatheus and Safrac: see Ammianus
31, 4, 8: primus cum Alavivo suscipitur Fritigernus c. 4, 12: Vithe-
ricus Greuthungorum rex cum Alatheo et Safrace quorum arbitrio
regebatur,... ut simili susciperetur humanitate obsecravit .. .
ς 5, 3: Greuthingt . . . ratibus transiere. Lupicinus and Maxi-
mus: Lupicinus was Count of Thrace, and Maximus probably
Duke of Moesia (Hodgkin I. I 254). cursed lust for gold:
a reminiscence of Vergil’s auri sacra fames, Aen. 3, 57.

135. demanded their sons: Ammianus (31, 4. 9) likewise re-
cords the inhuman conduct of these Roman commanders: potesta-
tibus praefuere castrensibus homines maculosi quibus Lupicinus
antestabat et Maximus, alter per Thracias comes, dux alter. c. 4, 11:
cum traductt barbari victus inopia vexarentur, turpe commercium
duces invisissimi [ex]cogitarunt et quantos undique insatiabilitas
colligere potwit canes pro singulis dederunt manciptis: inter quae
[et filii] ducti sunt optimatium.

137. took arms: Ammianus (31, 5, 5) gives the following ac-
count of the banquet and its consequences: Alavivo et Fritigerno
ad convivium conrogatis Lupicinus ...6 dum in nepotali mensa
ludicris concrepantibus diu discumbens vino marcebat et somno,.. .
satellites omnes, qui praetorio honoris et tutelae causa duces
praestolabantur, occidit. 7: hocque populus qui muros obsidebat
dolenter accepto ad vindictam detentorum regum... multa
minabatur et saeva. utque erat Fritigernus expediti consilii, veritus

166 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

ne teneretur obsidis vice cum ceteris, exclamavit graviore pugnandum
exitio, ni ipse ad leniendum vulgus sineretur exire cum sociis, quod
arbitratum humanitatis specie ductores suos occisos in tumultum
exarsit. hocque inpetrato egressi omnes exceptique cum plausu et
gaudiis ascensis equis evolarunt moturi incitamenta diversorum
bellorum. as strangers and pilgrims: compare the ut advenae
et peregrini of Jordanes with the Vulgate tanquam advenas et
peregrinos, I. Petr. 2, 11; quasi advenam et peregrinum, Levit. 25,
35; also Gen. 23, 4, Num. 9, 14, Levit. 25, 47. There seems to
be a like Biblical reminiscence in Getica LIV 279. the
Goths ... began to rule: their power was actually used only
to plunder and destroy. Innocent subjects of the Empire were
thus their victims. (Gibbon III τοι.)

138. set out for... Thrace: see Ammianus 31, 11, 1: Valens
tandem excitus Antiochia ... venit Constantinopolim. Hadri-
anople: Ammianus 31, 12 10: signa ... commoventur impedi-
mentis et sarcinis prope Hadrianopoleos muros .. . conlocatis.
emperor lay hidden: the same story is told by Victor epit. 46:
hic Valens cum Gothis lacrimabili bello commisso sagittis saucius
in casa deportatur vilissima, ubi supervenientibus Gothis igneque
supposito incendio concrematus est. See also Hieronymus on the
year of Abraham 2395; Orosius 7, 33, 15. The following ac-
count is given by Ammianus 31, 13, 12: imperator ... sagitta
perniciose saucius ruit .. . 14: dicunt Valentem . . . cum candidatis
et spadonibus paucis prope ad agrestem casam. relatum .. . cir-
cumsessum ab hostibus, qui esset ignorantibus, dedecore captivitatis
exemptum. judgment of God: thus it seemed to Orosius also
(7, 33, 19): itaque iusto iudicio dei ipsi eum vivum incenderunt,
qui propter eum etiam mortui vitio erroris arsuri sunt. See Isidorus
hist. Goth. ad eram 416. their glorious victory: Ammianus (31,
13, 19) says of this Roman disaster: nec ulla annalibus praeter
Cannensem pugnam ita ad internecionem res legitur gesta, quam-
quam Romani aliquotiens reflante Fortuna fallaciis lusi bellorum
iniquitati cesserunt ad tempus, et certamina multa fabulosae naeniae
flevere Graecorum.

XXXVII 139. his uncle: Gratian was the son of Valentinian I,
and nephew of Valens.

XXVIII 142. King Athanaric: or Aithanaric. An old enemy
of Fritigern, this chieftain had dwelt secure in the mountains and
forests of Caucaland in Dacia until driven out by Alatheus and
Safrac. (See Ammianus 27, 5, 10: Athanaricus proximorum fac-
tione gemtalibus terris expulsus.) He then fled for refuge to
Theodosius. (Hodgkin I. I 308.)

144. departed this life: see Cassiodorus on the year 382:
Athanaricus rex Gothorum Constantinopolim ibique vitam exegit.

COMMENTARY 167

Also Ammianus 27, 5, 10: ubi (at Constantinople) ... Atha-
naricus ... fatali sorte decessit et ambitiosis exequiis ritu sepultus
est nostro. Marcellinus on the year 381: Athanaricus rex Gothorum,
cum quo Theodosius imp. foedus pepigerat, Constantinopolim mense
Ianuario venit eodemque mense morbo periit. Also Orosius 7, 34,
6, 7; Idatius on the year 381; Zosimus 4, 34; Socrates 5, 10.

145. submitted to the Roman rule: see Orosius 7, 34, 7:
universae Gothorum gentes rege defuncto adspicientes virtutem
benignitatemque Theodosu Romano 5656 imperio dediderunt. Eu-
genius: Jordanes has made a mistake here. Gratian was assas-
sinated in the year 383 by order of Maximus the Spaniard, who
then usurped the throne. Eugenius (392-394), the rhetorician,
was elevated to imperial power by Arbogast the Frank, upon the
death of Vialentinian 11. He was the last enemy of Theodosius
and was slain after the battle of the Frigidus in 304.

XXIX 146. his sons: Arcadius and Honorius.

147. Stilicho and Aurelian: they held the consulship in 400.
See Prosper ad annum p. 400: Stilicone et Aureliano. Gothi
Italhiam Alarico et Radagaiso ducibus ingressi. Jordanes, appar-
ently knowing nothing of the campaigns in Greece, proceeds at
once to Alaric’s invasion of Italy (Hodgkin I. II 653; see also
Bury I 67; Cambridge Mediaeval History, page 261 and 457).
river Candidianus: this stream is now called the Candiano. The
bridge is mentioned also by Cassiodorus on the year 401:
Odovacar cum Herulis egressus Ravenna nocturnis horis ad pontem
Candidiani a. d. n. rege Theoderico memorabili certamine superatur.
the royal city of Ravenna: Ravenna was the residence of the
western Roman emperors (402-476), Ostrogothic kings (to 540)
and Byzantine exarchs (to 750). See Hodgkin I. II, 851-917.

148. Aiveroc: the Italian Veneti (Romana 180) or Venetes
(Getica 222, 223). To tbe distinguished from the Venethi men-
tioned in XXIII 11g. above the Ionian Sea: Ravenna was
three miles from the Adriatic, sometimes known as Mare Supe-
rum, and in fact a northward extension of the Mare Ionium.
like an island: see Cassiodorus var. 12, 24: Venetiae ... ab
austro Ravennam Padumque contingunt, ab oriente iucunditate
Tonii litoris perfruuntur, ubi alternus aestus egrediens modo claudit,
modo aperit faciem reciproca inundatione camporum: hic vobts
aliquantulum aquatilium avium more domus est, namque nunc
terrestris, modo cernitur insularis.

149. Sweeps with his oars along: with the language of this
passage compare Vergil, Aen. 5, 162:

quo tantum mihi dexter abis? huc derige gressum;
litus ama et laeva stringat sine palmula cautes.

168 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS
Fossa Asconis: see Agnellus lib. eccl. Rav. 70; also 79: in
loco qui dicitur Fossa Sconti iuxta Fluvium.

150. Eridanus: the poetical name of the Po. See Vergil,
Georgics 4, 372. turned aside by . .. Augustus: he had made
Ravenna his naval station for the Adriatic. Dio relates: the
passage is lost.

151. Fabius says: a writer not mentioned elsewhere. Momm-
sen curtly observes: quinam fuerit nescio (Intro. XXXIII).

XXX 152. embassy to... Honorius: the story of the siege
of Ravenna rests on the authority of Jordanes alone. His
whole account of Alaric’s movements in Italy is very much
confused (Hodgkin I. 11. 711).

153. invasion of Gaiseric: the Vandals together with the
Suavi and Alani entered Gaul in 406, and tthree years later they
poured into Spain through the passes of the Pyrenees. In
Spain there was severe warfare for many years. Gaiseric be-
came king of the Vandals upon the death of this father Gunderic
in 427.

154. Pollentia: the modern Pollenza, near Turin. The battle
of Pollentia was fought on Easter Sunday, April 6, 402, and
Alaric was attacked while he was attending the service of the
day. Hodgkin (1. II 720), by a curious slip, places both
Easter Sunday and Good Friday in the year 402 on the 6th of
April. See Bury I τοῦ; Cambridge Medieval History 265
and 460.

155. almost exterminated it: that the dubious battle of Pol-
lentia was a Gothic victory is asserted also by Cassiodorus on
the year 402: Pollentiae Stiliconem cum exercitu Romano Gothi
victum acie fugaverunt. Prosper merely says: Pollentiae adversus
Gothos vehementer utriusque partis clade pugnaium est. Orosius
says of this battle (7, 37, 2): taceo de infelicibus illis apud Pollen-
tiam gestis, cum barbaro et pagano duci . . . cwius inprobitati reve-
rentissimi dies et sanctum pascha violatum est cedentique hosti
propter religionem, ut pugnaret, extortum est; ... pugnantes vici-
mus, victores victi sumus. returned again to Liguria: Pollentia
is in Liguria. Alaric’s march toward Rome took place in the
year 408. See Bury I 115.

156. finally entered Rome: after his third and final siege
of Rome in 410 Alaric sacked the city. The first siege occurred
in 408, the second in 400. See Bury I 121; Hodgkin I. II 766 —
810; Cambridge Medieval History 270-274. merely sacked it:
see Cassiodorus on the year 410. To Prosper’s words: Roma...
a Gothis Halarico duce capta, he adds: ubi clementer usi victoria sunt.
Also var. 12, 20: exemplum ... in historia nostra magna inten-
tione rettulimus. nam cum rex Alaricus urbis Romae depraedatione

COMMENTARY 169

satiatus apostoli Petri vasa suis deferentibus excepisset, mox ut
ret causam habita interrogatione cognovit, sacris liminibus deportari
diripientium manibus imperavit, ut cupiditas, quae depraedationis
ambitu admiserat scelus, devotione largissima deleret excessum.
And Orosius 7, 30, 15: tertia die barbari quam ingressi wrbem
fuerant sponte discedunt facto quidem aliquantarum aedium incen-
dio, sed ne tanto quidem, quanto septingentesimo conditionis eius
anno casus effecerat. See also Orosius 7, 39, I and Augustine,
De Cwitate Dei τ, 1. Bruttii: the modern Calabria. Adriatic
Sea: here as in LX 308 and Romana 151 Jordanes is referring
to the Ionian Sea; he also refers to the Mediterranean as the
Adriatic (see Romana 223: Rodus ... totius Atriae insularum
metropolis).

157. sunk several of his ships: see Orosius 7, 43, 12 (quoted
below in note on XXXIII 173).

158. Busentus: a little river now called the Busento, which
flows around Cosenza (Consentia), where Alaric died. Atha-
vulf: or Ataulfus; he was Alaric’s brother-in-law.

XXXII 159. returned again to Rome: a doubtful statement.
What Orosius (7, 43, 3) says of Athavulf seems to disprove it:
is, ut saepe auditum atque ultimo exitu eius probatum est, satis
studiose sectator pacis militare fideliter Honorio imperatori ac
pro defendenda Romana republica inpendere vires Gothorum praeop-
tavit. See Bury I 137; Cambridge Medieval History 274
and 300. Placidia: Galla Placidia was the daughter of Theo-
dosius I and the Empress Galla, and granddaughter of
Valentinian 1.

160. Forum Julii:as Mommsen points out, Jordanes is here in
error either with regard to the region or the city. In Aemilia
there is a Forum Livii; a Forum Julii is found both in Venetia
and in Gallia Narbonensis. But we learn from other authors
(Olympiodorus fr. 24; Idatius p. 18 Ronc.) that the marriage
took place at Narbonne. See Bury I 147; Cambridge Medieval
History 402. Then Athavulf set out for Gaul: Jordanes has
the order of facts reversed. It was in 412 that he left Italy,
never to return. The wedding of Athavulf and Placidia took
place at Narbonne in 414. (Hodgkin I. II 820, 833.)

161. we have said before: see XXII 115. crossed over
into Gaul: see Isidorus Goth. laud. 68 (which Mommsen thinks
is taken from Cassiodorus): Wandalica et ipsa crebro opinata
barbaries non tantum praesentia eorum (the Goths) exterrita quam
opinione fugata est.

162. in Spain: the invasion of Spain by the Vandals and the
Alani occurred in 409. See note on XXX 153: Also Bury I
142; Cambridge Medieval History 274 and 304. Geberich: see
XXII 113 and following.

I70 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

163. he... fell: Athavulf was assassinated in 415. Two
years later his widow, Galla Placidia, married Constantius III
and bore him a son who ruled later as Valentinian III (425-455).
Euervulf: Olympiodorus frag. 26 names a certain Dubius as his
slayer; he says ἀναιρεῖ αὐτὸν (Athavulf) εἷς τῶν οἰκείων Τότθων Δούβοις
τοὔνομα ἔχθραν παλαιὰν καιροφυλακήσας, See Hodgkin I. II 834 π. 1.
Segeric: or Singeric. See Orosius 7, 43, 9: Segericus rex a Gothis
creatus . . . a suis interfectus est. He reigned only a week. See
Hodgkin, The Dynasty of Theodosius 175, and Bury I 149.

XXXII 164. Valia or Wallia, the founder of the Visigothic
kingdom, with its capital at Tolosa. He received a grant in
southern Gaul and was at first under Roman supremacy but
soon made himself independent. See Bury I 152, Cambridge
Medieval History 404. Constantius: this is Constantius III
who became emperor in 421. The meeting of Constantius and
Valia at the pass in the Pyrenees, where they made a treaty of
peace, took place in the year 416.

165. on the following terms: see Orosius 7, 43, 12: Vallia...
pacem optimam cum Honorio imperatore ... pepigit: Placidiam
imperatoris sororem ... fratri reddidit: Romanae securitati peri-
culum suum obtulit, ut adversus ceteras gentes, quae per Hispanias
consedissent, sibi pugnaret et Romanis vinceret. a certain Con-
stantine: see Marcellinus on the year 411: Constantinus apud
Gallias invasit imperium filiumque suum ex monacho Caesarem fecit.
ipse apud Arelatum civitatem occiditur, Constans filius apud Vien-
nam capite plectitur. See also Orosius 7, 40, 4.7; 42, 3, 4; Bury
I 139-144. Arelate: Arelas or Arelate in southern Gaul, on
the eastern branch of the Rhone, is the modern Arles. Vienne:
the Roman Vienna was a city of Gallia Narbonensis on the
Rhone, the modern Vienne. Jovinus: see Marcellinus on the
year 412: lovinus et Sebastianus in Gallias tyrannidem molientes
occist sunt. See also Orosius 7, 42, 6; and Bury I 144 onward.

166. twelfth year of Valia’s reign: this would be the year
427. But as Valia reigned only four years (415-419), “the
twelfth year of Valia’s reign’ mentioned by Jordanes is a
statement of no value, except as meaning “the twelfth year
after the year of Valia’s accession.” If the first irruption of the
Huns is dated at 375 and a few years are allowed for their
conquest of Pannonia the “almost fifty years” of Jordanes is a

fairly accurate statement. Pannonia: see Marcellinus on
the year 427: Pannoniae quae per L annos ab Hunnis retinebantur,
a Romanis receptae sunt. Hierius and Ardabures: consuls in

427. See Prosper and Cassiodorus, chronicle for this year:
gens Vandalorum [Cassiodorus adds a Gothis exclusa] de Hispantis
ad Africam transit.

COMMENTARY 172

XXXIII 167. Boniface: he was one of the chief advisers of
the Empress Placidia, the mother of Valentinian III, and held
the rank of Comes Africae. According to Procopius (De bello
Vandalico 1, 3) it was due to a plot of Aétius that Boniface’s
loyalty was suspected, and that in 427 he was declared a public
enemy of Rome. It was then that he summoned the Vandals
to his assistance from Spain. Hodgkin I. II 876, Bury I 156,
Cambridge Medieval History 400.

168. disaster of the Romans: the sack of Rome by Gaiseric
occurred in 455. See XLV 235 and note; also Bury I 235.

170. order of succession: Mommsen gives the following
chronology for the Kings of the Vandals:

Gaiseric 427-477
Huneric 477-484
Gunthamund 484-496
Thrasamund 496-5 23
Ilderich 523-530
Gelimer 530-534

171. Justinian: Emperor of the East from 527 to 565; see
LX 307 onward. Belisarius: this great soldier was born
about 505, and received the appointment of Magister Militum
per Orientem in 530. His conquest of the Vandals occurred in
the year 534. (Hodgkin III 580.) For the Vandalic war see
Bury I 385 onward. a great spectacle: Belisarius was re-
warded for his success by the honor of a triumph, and Gelimer
walked before him in the triumphal procession, together with
the other Vandal captives. (Hodgkin III 624.) private life:
after the celebration of the ‘triumph, Gelimer received estates in
the province of Galatia and lived there with his exiled
countrymen.

172. third part of the world: see Marcellinus on the year
534: provincia Africa, quae in divisione orbis terrarum a plerisque
in parte tertia posita est, volente deo vindicata est. See also Oro-
sius I, 2, 83; Codex Iustinianus 1, 27, I pr. and Cassiodorus
Vat ΓΙ, 12. the misery of civil war: a war with the Moors
followed directly upon the departure of Belisarius from Africa,
and after raging for several years was brought to a successful
conclusion by his lieutenant Solomon in 539 (Gibbon IV 208).
See Bury I 387 onward.

173. such a misfortune: his ships were wrecked. See XXX
157, also Orosius 7, 43, 11.12: (Valia) territus maxime iudicio det,
quia, cum magna superiore abbinc anno Gothorum manus. .
transire in Africam moliretur in XII milibus passuum Gaditani
freti tempestate correpta miserabili exitu perierat, memor etiam
illius acceptae sub Alarico cladis, cum in Siciliam Gothi transire

17Χ72ὥ: JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

conati in conspectu suorum muiserabiliter arrepti et demersi sunt,
pacem ...cum Honorio... pepigit. a bloodless victory:
a reference to the peace concluded with Honorius; see passage
from Orosius cited in preceding note, also XXXII 165 and note.
Tolosa: the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom in Gaul, now
Toulouse.

174. mentioned above: see XIV 81. Veteric: see XIV 81.
still submitted to . . . the Huns: see XXIV 130.

175. Theodorid: this is Theodorid I who was slain in the
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451. See XL 2009.

XXXIV 176. Theodosius and Festus: consuls in 4309.
Count Gaina: the revolt of Count Gaina, or Gainas, and the con-
sequent outbreak of popular frenzy against the Goths in Con-
stantinople actually occurred in 400, though Jordanes seems ‘to
assign it to the consulship of Theodosius and Festus, the
year 439. Gaina was killed on the shores of the Danube by
the Hun Uldis, who sent his head to Arcadius. (Hodgkin I.
II 695.) For details of the revolt of Count Gaina see Bury
I 83-89, Cambridge Medieval History 262-263. Aetius: the
great Roman general who defeated Attila at the Battle of the
Catalaunian Plains (Chalons) in 451. See XXXVI tot.
Durostorum: the modern Silistria on the lower Danube.

177. Litorius: Jordanes probably got his information from
Prosper on the year 439: Theodosio XVII et Festo. Litorius qui
secunda ab Aetio patricio potestate Hunnis auxiliantibus prae-
erat... pugnam cum Gothis imprudenter conseruit ... tantam
ipse hostibus cladem intulit, ut nisi inconsideranter proelians im
captivitatem incidisset, dubitandum foret, cui potius parti victoria
adscriberetur ... pax cum Gothis facta, cum eam post ancipitis
pugnae lacrimabile experimentum humilius quam umquam antea
poposcissent. See Bury I 172, Cambridge Medieval History 411.

178. Attila: he and his brother Bleda gained the rule over the
Huns in 433 and Bleda was murdered twelve years later. See
XXXV_ 180. an embassy: in 448 the Emperor Theodosius
II sent an embassy to Attila and the chief ambassador, Maximin,
invited Priscus, the man of letters, to accompany him. From
Priscus we learn much of Attila’s own country and court.
(Hodgkin II 60.) The account of Priscus is well translated
by Busy {1 212): mighty rivers: see Priscus fr. 8 (4 p. 83
Muell.): ναυσιπόροις τε προσεβάλομεν ποταμοῖς, ὧν οἱ μέγιστοι μετὰ τὸν
Ἴστρον ὅ τε Δρήκων λεγόμενος καὶ ὁ Τίγας καὶ ὁ Τιφήσας ἢν. καὶ τούτους μὲν
ἐπεραιώθμεν. Tisia: ithe river Theiss. See also the Corpus.
Inscr. Lat. III p. 247 for these rivers. Vidigoia: see V 43.
village ... like a great city: see Priscus fr. ὃ (p. 89 Muell.):
ἔνδον δὲ τοῦ περιβόλου πλεῖστα ἐτύγχανεν οἰκήματα, τὰ μὲν ἐκ σανίδων ἐγγλύφων

COMMENTARY 173
καὶ ἡρμωσμένων εἰς εὐπρέπειαν, τὰ δὲ ἐκ δικῶν... ἐνταῦθα τῆς ᾿Αττήλα ἐνδι-
αιτωμένης γαμετῆς.

179. dining halls: see Priscus fr. ὃ (p. 91 Muell.): πρὸς δὲ τοῖς
τοίχοις τοῦ οἰκήματος πάντες ὑπῆρχον οἱ δίφροι ἐξ ἑκατέρας mevpas . . . βαθμοί
τινες ἐπὶ τὴν αὐτοῦ (Attila) ἀνῆγον εὐνὴν καλυπτομένην ὀθόναις καῖ ποικίλοις
παραπετάσμασι κόσμου χάριν.

XXXV 180. Bleda: Marcellinus says under the year 445:
Bleda rex Hunnorum Attilae fratris sui insidiis interimitur.

183. Priscus says: for the story of the sword of Mars, see
Priscus fr. 8 (p. 91 Muell.): ἔσεσθαι δὲ οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν τῆς παρούσης αὐτῷ
(Attila) δυνάμεως αὔξησιν σημαίνειν καὶ τοῦτο τὸν θεὸν τὸ τοῦ " Apeos ἀνα.
φήναντα ξίφος, ὅπερ ὄν ἱερὸν καὶ παρὰ τῶν Σκυθικῶν βασιλέων τιμώμενον, οἷα δὴ
τῷ ἐφόρῳ τῶν πολέμων ἀνακείμενον, ἐν τοῖς πάλαι ἀφανισθῆναι χρόνοις, εἶτα διὰ
βοὸς εὑρεθῆναι.

XXXVI 184. mentioned shortly before: in XXXIII 170.
incited ...to... war: see Priscus fr. 15 (p. 98 Muell.): ἔχειν
αὐτῷ (Attila) ἐδόκει kah@s ... és τὴν ἑσπέραν στρατεύεσθαι τῆς μάχης αὐτῷ
μὴ μόνον πρὸς Ἰταλιώτας, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς Τότθους καὶ Φράγγους ἐσομένης, πρὸς
μὲν ᾿Ιταλιώτας ὥστε τὴν 'Ονωρίαν μετὰ τῶν χρημάτων λαβεῖν, πρὸς δὲ Τ᾽᾿ότθου5
χάριν Τιζερίχῳ κατατιθέμενον. See Bury I 175, Cambridge Medieval
History 364 and 415. Huneric: see note on XXXIII 170.

185. sent ambassadors into Italy: this was in the year 451.

188. give heed: W. Frohner (Philologus, supplbd. 5, 55 [1889]
would read fovete, not favete.

190. Friderich ...Eurich, Retemer ... Himnerith: of
these four sons, Eurich alone became king. He reigned from
466 to 485. Thorismud and Theodorid: Thorismud succeeded
his father as king of the Visigoths, reigning from 451-453, and
his brother Theodorid succeeded him, as Theodorid II, reigning
from 453-460.

192. Catalaunian Plains: the site of this great battle is
usually placed at Chalons-sur-Marne, but von Wietersheim and
Hodgkin believe it was fought near Mery-sur-Seine; see Hodg-
kin II 143-145; also Bury I 177 and Cambridge Medieval
History 416 note 2. The description of the battle, as well as
the general account of Attila is believed by Mommsen (Intro-
duction XXXVI) to have been taken over solidly from Priscus.
Hodgkin (II 125, note) regards Cassiodorus as a more probable
source, because of the strong Gothic coloring.

XXXVII 194. Sangiban: see Prosper Tiro on the year 440:
deserta Valentinae urbis rura Alanis, quibus Sambida praeerat,
partienda traduntur, Aureliani: the present Orleans. Gregory
of Tours (2, 7) gives a different version of this siege.

XXXVIII 199. Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidimer: see also
XLVIII 252 and following. the king they served: the Ostro-

174 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

goths, it will be remembered, at ‘this time submitted to the
overlordship of the Huns. Ardaric: see L 260, 262, 263.
Also Romana 331 and Bury, I 261 note 2.

200. keeper of secrets: Cassiodorus says (var. 11, 1): Vnala-
mer... enituit fide. we had said: in XXXVIII 199. in
fear and trembling: compare with the cum timore et tremore
of Jordanes the Vulgate Phil. II 12: cum metu et tremore.

XX XIX 206. the Maeotian swamp: see XXIV 123.

XL 209. Andag: the father of Baza, to whom Jordanes was
notarius. See note on L 266. in prophecy: see XXXVII τοῦ.

210. nearly slew Attila: see Cassiodorus on the year 451:
Romani Aetio duce Gothic auxiliaribus contra Attilam in campo
Catalaunico pugnaverunt, qui virtute Gothorum superatus abscessit.
Prosper neither mentions the place nor gives the Goths credit
for the victory.

XLI 216. his brothers: it will be remembered that Theo-
dorid I had sent home four of his sons before the battle; see
XXXVI 190.

218. the old oracles: such as the good omen of the sword
of Mars, XXV 183.

XLII 219. Aquileia: see XV 88. The river Natissa or
Natiso (Ammianus 21, 12, 8) is the modern Natisone; Mount
Piccis is not mentioned elsewhere.

221. forced their way: Prosper has nothing about this. Cas-
siodorus says on the year 452: Attila... Aquileiam magna vi
dimicans introivit. The refugees from the cities sacked and
burned by Attila fled to the lagoons at the mouths of the
Piave and the Brenta, occupying the islands which later be-
came the site of the city of Venice. See Bury I 170, 180.

222. Mediolanum: Milan. Ticinum: on the Ticinus river;
the modern Pavia. Priscus relates: the passage is not preserved.

223. Pope Leo: Pope from 440-461. Prosper (on the year

452) says of this embassy: suscepit... negotium... papa
Leo... ita summi sacerdotis praesentia rex gavisus est, ut et
bello abstinert praeciperet et ultra Danuvium promissa pace disce-
deret. See Bury I 179, Hodgkin II 156-161. Ambuleian

district: this region is not elsewhere mentioned. The Mincius
is a tributary of the Po in Cisalpine Gaul, now called the
Mincio. Honoria: the daughter of Galla Placidia and Con-
stantius III, whom Galla Placidia married upon the death of
her first husband Athavulf. See also the account given by
Priscus fr. 16 (p. 99 Muell.): ὁ ‘Arras... τῶν dug αὐτὸν ἄνδρας
és τὴν ᾿Ιταλίαν ἔπεμπεν ὥστε τὴν ‘Ovwplay ἐκδιδόναι. εἶναι yap αὐτῷ ἡρμοσ-
μένην πρὸς γάμον, τεκμήριον ποιούμενος τὸν παρ αὐτῆς πεμφθέντα δακτύλιον, ὅν
καὶ ἐπιδειχθησόμενον ἐστάλκει " παραχωρεῖν δὲ αὐτῷ τὸν Βαλεντινιανὸν καὶ τοῦ

COMMENTARY 175

ἡμίσεως τῆς βασιλείας μέρους. Attila’s demand was refused. See also
Romana 328 and Bury I 174, 175.

XLIII 225. promised him by Theodosius: that is, Theodo-
sius II (402-450). This refers to tribute money. See Priscus
fr. τὸ (p. 99 Muell.); 6’ Arras μετὰ τὸ τὴν ᾿Ιταλίαν ἀνδραποδίσασθαι
ἐπὶ τὰ σφέτερα ἀναζεύξας τοῖς κρατοῦσι τῶν ἑῴων Ῥωμαίων πόλεμον καὶ dvdpa-
ποδισμὸν τῆς χῶρας κατήγγελλεν, ὡς μὴ ἐκπεμφθέντος τοῦ παρὰ Θεοδοσίου
τεταγμένου φόρου.

227. Catalaunian Plains: this second defeat of Attila by the
Visigoths on the very site of the former battle is generally
disbelieved by historians, since it is mentioned by no other
author (Hodgkin II 170).

228. Ascalc: Prosper of Aquitaine, Idatius and Isidorus say
Thorismud was slain by his brothers and their dependents. Nor
is this inconsistent with the account given by Jordanes who
speaks of those that were lying in wait. Ascalc probably played
the part of betrayer.

XLIV 229. Riciarius: or Rechiarius, king of the Suavi in
Spain from 448-456. For his death see XLIV 232. his kins-
man: he had married Theodorid’s sister.

230. Austrogonia: the Autrigones actually dwelt on the west
of Gallaecia. See Mela 3, 1, 15; Pliny 3, 3, 27; Florus 4, 12;
Orosius 6, 21; Corpus inscr. lat. II p. 304. Monument of...
Scipio: see I 7. Tagus: now the Tajo.

231. moved his array: probably in the year 456 (Hodgkin
II 388). Gundiuch: or Gundiok, a brother-in-law of Ricimer
XLV 236). Hilperic: or Chilperic. See Hodgkin II 388.

232. Ulbius: according to Idatius the battle took place at a
river called the Urbicus, now πὸ Obrego, near Asturica Augusta
(now Astorga) in northwestern Spain. Tyrrhenian Sea: this
geographical reference is baffling, for the battle was fought at
Oporto.

233. Agrivulf: he ruled over the Suavi in Spain in 456-
457. See Idatius on the year 457: Aiulfus deserens Gothos in
Gallaecia residet. Varni: or Varini; see Zeuss 132 and 360.

234. Rimismund: he ruled the Suavi from 458 onward.

XLV 235. Eurich: he too was a son of Theodorid I; see
XXXVI 190. with such eager haste: a euphemistic way of
saying that he assassinated his brother. Valentinian: he was
murdered on the Campus Martius in 455. In the Romana 334
Jordanes, following Marcellinus, says that the deed was done
by two dependents of Aétius. See Bury I 182. laid it waste:
compare tthe account of the events of this year (455) as given
by Marcellinus: Valentinianus princeps dolo Maximi patricii ...
truncatus est. idem Maximus invasit imperium tertioque tyrannidis

176 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

suae mense membratim Romae a Romanis discerptus est. Gense-
ricus rex Wandalorum ... ex Africa Romam ingressus est eaque
urbe rebus omnibus spoliata. The Vandals are said to have been
summoned from Africa by the Empress Eudoxia, widow of
Valentinian III, whom Maximus had forced to marry him.
(Hodgkin II 203). ‘But see Bury I 235, Cambridge Medieval
History 308. was slain: Maximus was murdered after a
reign of about three months; see Bury I 235, Hodgkin II 205.

236. Majorian: the Emperor Majorian was killed in August
461. See Marcellinus on this year: Maiorianus Caesar apud
Dertonam iuxta fluvium qui Hira dicitur interemptus est: locum
eius Severus invasit. Compare also Romana 335, where Jordanes
seems to have drawn on the Getica as a source. See Bury I 240
Dertona: a city in Liguria, now Tortona. For the river Ira
see Corpus inscr. lat. V. p. 828. Anthemius: so Marcellinus
on the year 467: Leo imperator Anthemium patricium Romam
misit imperatoremque constituit. After the death of Severus there
was for twenty months no emperor in the west; an interregnum
which, as Hodgkin (II 440) points out, “prepared the way for
the abolition of the dignity of Augustus in 476.” Anthemius
was the son-in-law of Marcian, Leo’s predecessor in the east.
See Bury I 243-244, Cambridge Medieval History 426. Rici-
mer: Ricimer, the grandson of Valia, king of the Visigoths,
was the power behind the Roman throne for the sixteen years
(456-472) after Avitus [XLV 240] was deposed (Hodgkin II
3990). See Bury I 234-249, Cambridge Medieval History 422.
Beorg: Hodgkin (II 440) suggests that ‘he may have ‘been the
successor of Sangiban (XXXVII 1094). Beorg was killed
in 464. :

237. Brittones: see Gregory of Tours 2, 18: Britanni de Biturica
a Gothis expulsi sunt multis apud Dolensem vicum peremptis. Rio-
timus: supposed to be the same as the Riothamus to whom a
letter of Sidonius (3. 9) is addressed.

238. Arverna: the Arverni were a people of Gaul in the region
now called Auvergne. See XLV 240, and Hodgkin II 486-488.

239. Olybrius: see Marcellinus on the year 472: wit id. Nov.
Anthemius imp. Romae a Ricimere genero suo occiditur. loco
eius Olybrius substitutus. See Bury I 248, Cambridge Medieval
History 428. Aspar: he was of the Alani, a general and ex-
consul, and his power in ‘the eastern empire was great for many
years. (Hodgkin II 442.) It was mainly through his influence
that Leo became emperor (457-474). Compare Marcellinus on
the year 471: Aspar primus patriciorum cum Ardabure et Patriciolo
filiis, illo quidem olim patricio, hoc autem Caesare generoque Leonis
principis appellato, Arrianus cum Arriana prole spadonum ensibus

COMMENTARY ly

in palatio vulneratus interuit. See Romana 338. barely eight
months: Marcellinus on the year 472: septimo mense imperi
sui vita defunctus est. rather by usurpation: so Marcellinus
on the year 473: Glycerius apud Ravennam plus praesumptione
quam electione Caesar factus est. Glycerius was raised to the
throne by Gundobad, a Burgundian, the nephew of Ricimer
(Hodgkin II 478). See Bury I 274-276. Nepos: Julius Nepos
was elevated to the imperial dignity by the rulers of the east,
who refused to recognize Glycerius as the emperor. Though
proclaimed at Constantinople in 473, he did not arrive in Italy
until the following year (Hodgkin II 480). deposed him: see
Marcellinus on the year 474: Glycerius ...a Nepote Marcellini
quondam patricti sororis filio imperio expulsus in Portu urbis
Romae ex Caesare episcopus ordinatus est. See Romana 338.
bishop: the ex-emperor Glycerius was consecrated as Bishop of
Salona, and sent off to Dalmatia. Port of Rome: the fortified
harbor town known as Portus Augusti (that is, Nero) et Traiani,
opposite Ostia.

240. already said: in XLV 237. .Arverna: see XLV 238.
Ecdicius: see Gregory of Tours, hist. Franc. 2, 24, and Hodgkin
II 404. Avitus: he was raised to the imperial dignity in 455
and died the following year. It was in 456 that he was deposed
by Ricimer and consecrated bishop at Placentia.

241. Orestes: see Marcellinus on the year 475: Nepote Orestes
protinus effugato Augustulum filium suum in imperium collocavit.
See Romana 344. Orestes had been the secretary of Attila. fled
to Dalmatia: it is a curious coincidence ‘that these two deposed
emperors should end their days in ‘the same city.

XLVI 242. Torcilingi ... Sciri...Heruli: these races
dwelt in the region to the north of the middle Danube (Hodg-
kin II 510). invaded Italy: see Marceilinus on the year 476:
Odovacer rex Gothorum Romam obtinuit. Orestem Odovacer tlico
trucidavit. Augustulum filium Orestis Odovacer in Lucullano Cam-
paniae castello exilii poena damnavit. See also Romana 344 and
Bury I 278-281, Cambridge Medieval History 430. Castle of
Lucullus: the Lucullanum, the magnificent villa built near Naples
by L. Licinius Lucullus, who defeated Mithridates in 73 B.C.
and died 57-56 B.C.

243. seven hundred and ninth year: that is, dating the begin-
ning of the rule of Augustus from the assassination of Julius
Caesar in 44 B.C. five hundred and twenty-second year: the
sentence is taken over almost unchanged from Marcellinus on
the year 476. The chronology may be explained as follows:

178 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Founding οἱ (Romney) aaance w-.0 ase of occrele Fisch Β'Ὁ.
Accession of Augustus in 7ogth year
aber: (== JOO. WEats) mite. ae aceon 45 Β΄.

Romulus Augustulus in 522nd year
after accession of Augustus ( =
δ WWEAUS)) ον πιἃᾳ meas 476 A.D.

Although the total reckoning comes out correctly, the date of
the assassination of Julius ‘Caesar should, of course, be 44, not
45, B.C. See also Romana 345. slew Count Bracila: see Mar-
cellinus on the year 477: Bracilam comitem Odovacer rex apud
Ravennam occidit. almost thirteen years: Odoacer fled to
Ravenna in 489 after the Battle of Verona; see LVII 293.

XLVII 245. ninth in succession: the following is a list of
the Visigothic kings mentioned by Jordanes:

Alarie 1 305-410
Athavulf 410-415
Segeric 4153
Valia 415-419
Theodorid I 419-451
Thorismud 45 1-453
Theodorid II 453-466
Eurich 406-485
Alaric II 485-507
Amalaric 507-531
Thiudis 531-548
Thiudigislus 548-549
Agil 549-554
Athanagild 554-567

stated above: in XLVI 243.
XLVIII 246. Hermanaric: he died in 375; see XXIV 130

and note. Vinitharius: see genealogical chart, p. 41.
247. Boz: not otherwise mentioned.
248. Balamber: see XXIV 130 and note. Gesimund:

Mommsen (/ndex Personarum, p. 143, under Gesimundus) points
out that it is evident from two passages that a generation has
fallen out in one branch of the family tree of the Amali as
given in XIV 79. For in X‘LVIII 252 Vandalarius the son of
Vinitharius and Thorismud the son of Hunimund are called
cousins, which requires the same number of generations between
each of them and their common ancestors, and furthermore
Gesimund, who is here (XLVIII 248) called the son of Huni-
mund the Great, is not found in the genealogical list, though the
other Amali with whom he is mentioned are all named there.
Furthermore (though Mommsen does not attach much impor-

COMMENTARY 179

tance ‘to this argument), by the addition of one generation
Eutharic and Amalasuentha are made to be of the same
generation.

Mommsen believes that Gesimund has fallen out, not between
Hunimund and Thorismud, but between Hermanaric and
Hunimund. For both Jordanes (XLVIII 250) and Cassio-
dorus himself (var. 11, 1) speak of Hunimund’s beauty,
80 we must admit that he began to rule when a young man.
And yet, if Hermanaric died at the age of 110, it is scarcely
likely that ‘he left a youthful son as his successor. Furthermore
what Jordanes says in XLVIII 248—that when the Huns ex-
pelled Vinitharius from his kingdom they summoned Gesimund,
the son of Hunimund the Great, and (XLVIII 250) that this
Hunimund ruled the Goths upon the defeat and death of Vini-
tharius—is scarcely credible.

Mommsen therefore argues that in XIV 81 the author should
have written: Hermanaricus genuit [Gesimundum; Gesimundus
autem genuit] Hunimundum. And likewise, since the words in
parentheses had fallen out, instead of Gesitmundo Hermanarici
fiio in XLVIII 248 there was substituted Gesimundo Hunimundi
magni filio and in the XLVIII 250 instead of Hunimundus filius
Gesimundi was substituted Hunimundus filius Hermanarici.

Hodgkin (III 9) believes that Gesimund was probably an
elder brother of Thorismud. Erhardt (G6ttingische gelehrte
Anzeigen 1886, 1-2, page 677) is of the opinion that the contra-
dictions found in Getica 246-252 clearly indicate that the genea-
logical table as given in 79 has been cleverly restored—probably
by Cassiodorus—and is not to be ‘relied upon. Accordingly he
considers Mommsen’s attempt to reconcile Jordanes’ various
statements with each other as equally untrustworthy. See the
genealogical chart on p. 41.

249. Erac: possibly the river Phasis in Colchis; see VI 47.

250. personal beauty: Cassiodorus 11, 1: enituit ... Vmimun-
dus forma. bloom of youth: Cassiodorus 11, I: enitwit...
Thorismut castitate.

251. for forty years: Kopke (Die Anfinge des K6nigthums
bei den Gothen, p. 141) seeks to explain this legendary forty
years of mourning by a notice preserved in a letter of Cassio-
dorus (var. 8,9). He assumes that we must interpolate a reign,
namely that of a Gensemund who, as Cassiodorus says: “though
only adopted as a son-in-arms, joined himself with such devotion
to the Amal race that he rendered service of anxious fidelity
to its heirs, although he himself was besought to wear the
crown.” (Hodgkin’s translation.) But Hodgkin points out that
the point of this story seems rather to be that Gesimund refused

180 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

the crown. Hodgkin’s explanation seems rather more probable:
that the Goths did for a time hesitate to fill the place of their
beloved king, and the Huns, who were their overlords, so pro-
longed this period that it was a generation before they suc-
eceded in restoring the Amal line to the throne. (Hodgkin III
8.) we have said before: in XX XIII 174. Amalasuentha: or
Amalasuntha, the daughter of Theodoric and Audefleda. See
also LIX 304 onward. divided long ago: that is, when Bere-
mud went to the Visigoths; see XXXIII 174. second
husband: Mathesuentha’s first husband was Vitiges, the armor-
bearer of Theodahad (LX 309).

252. stock of Vandalarius: with the sections of this chapter
compare also XIV 79 onward and LVIII 297 onward.

253. Thiudimer served: so Cassiodorts I1, 1: emituit...
Vnalamer fide, Theudimer pietate.

XLIX 254. Priscus relates: the passage is not preserved.

257. took annual tribute: see Priscus fr. 3 (p. 90 Muell.):
οὐδενὶ τῶν πῶποτε τῆς Σκυθικῆς ἢ καὶ ἑτέρας ἀρξάντων γῆς τοσαῦτα ἐν ὀλίγῳ
καταπεπρᾶχθαι, ὥστε καὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ ὠκεανῷ νήσων ἄρχειν καὶ πρὸς πάσῃ τῇ
Σκυθικῇ καὶ Ῥωμαίους ἔχειν ἐς φόρου ἀπαγωγήν.

L 260. Ardaric: see also XXXVIII 199 and Romana 331.
Nedao: or Netad: this stream was probably in the part of
Hungary west of the Danube. (Hodgkin II 192.) By this
victory in 454 the Ostrogoths were at last freed from the yoke
of the Huns after almost eighty years of subjection to them.
See Bury I 261.

261. the Suavi fighting on foot: W. Frohner (Philologus sup-
plbd. 5, 55 [1880] would read lapide for pede, referring to the use
of the sling.

263. Marcian: he reigned from 450-457.

264. Sirmium ... Vindobona: Sirmium corresponds to a
town of Hungary called Mitrovitz; Vindobona is the modern
Vienna.

265. Castra Martis: Castra Martis or Castramartena urbs, as
it here called, was a city of Dacia Ripensis. Duke of Penta-
polis: in Libya; see Procopius bell. Vand. 2, 21. Froila and
Bessa: of Blivila, mentioned above, and Froila, we know no
more than Jordanes states. Procopius (bell. Goth. 1, 16) says
of Bessa (or Bessas): otros Πότθος μὲν ἣν γένος τῶν ἐκ παλαιοῦ ἐν Θρᾳίκῃ
φκημένων, Θευδερίχῳ τε οὐκ ἐπισπομένων, ἡνίκα ἐνθένδε ἐς ᾿Ιταλίαν ἐπῆγε τὸν
Γότθων λεών.“ From another passage (4, II) it appears that he
was over seventy years of age in 551. The fact that Jordanes
speaks of Bessa as Patrician in our time helps to establish the
date of the Getica. Sciri: see XLVI 242. Sadagarii:
Zeuss p. 700.

COMMENTARY 181

266. Paria... Candac: this short section contains practi-
cally all that we know of Jordanes on his own statement: that
he was the son of Alanoviiamuth (but see Introduction p. 3)
and grandson of Paria, the notary of that Candac who led the
Sciri, Sadagarii and certain of the Alani into Scythia Minor and
Lower Moesia. And, if I read the Latin aright, Jordanes him-
self was secretary of Gunthigis, otherwise known as Baza, the
son of Candac’s sister and Andag, whose father Andela was
of the royal family of the Amali.

[ Alani] [Ostrogoths]
| Andela (Amalus)

Candac sister married Andag (see XL 209)
αν ὩΣ or Baza

before my conversion: see introduction p. 5. Rugi: pre-
viously mentioned in III 24 and perhaps in IV 26 (Ulmerugi).
Bizye: Bizye was a town of Thrace, not far from Constanti-
nople. Arcadiopolis: this town, formerly called Bergula, was
near Bizye. Hernac: Priscus calls him ’Hpvdéx see fr. 36 (p. 107
Muell.). Emnetzur and Ultzindur: not mentioned elsewhere.
But see note on \LIII 272. Oescus and Utus and Almus:
Mommsen thinks that these are three tributaries of the Danube
with three towns bearing the same names situated at their
mouths. There is no other mention of Utus. Sacromontisi
and ... Fossatisii: not mentioned elsewhere.

LI 267. Vulfila: Bishop Ulfilas lived probably from 311-381.
See Bessel, Ueber das Leben des Ulfilas und die Bekehrung der
Gothen zum Christenthum (Gottingen, 1860). taught them to
write: see Socrates hist. eccl. 4, 33: Οὐλφίλας ὁ τῶν Τότθων ἐπίσκοπος
γράμματα épetpe Τοτθικά, Nicopolitan region: see XVIII ΤΟΙ, and
note on Nicopolis.

LII 268. Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra: these streams in Pan-
nonia are not mentioned elsewhere, and it seems impossible to
identify them. Lake Pelso: see corpus inscr. lat. III p. 523.
Either the Neusiedler See in the northwest corner of Hungary
or the ‘Platten See, more than a hundred miles southeast of it.
(Hodgkin III 13.)

270. like a New Year’s present: strena, not strenua as in
Jordanes, is the correct form. Theodoric, son of Triarius: he
was a kinsman of Aspar and perhaps therefore a friend of the
Emperor Leo (Hodgkin III 17). In after years the two
Theodorics crossed each others paths and their relations with
the Emperor Zeno were intricate and ever changing. See Bury
I 262 onward, Cambridge Medieval History 470 onward.

182 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

LIII 272. Sadagis: see Zeuss p. 700. Dintzic: in Priscus
fr. 36, 38 (p. 107, 108 Muell.) he is called δΔέγγιζιχ. Ultzin-
zures: in L 266 mention is made of a certain Ultzindur. Com-
pare Agathias 5, 11: ἅπαντες κοινῇ μὲν Σκύθαι καὶ Οὖννοι ἐπωνομάζοντο "
ἰδίᾳ δὲ κατὰ γένη, τὸ μέν τι αὐτῶν Κοτρίγουροι, τὸ δὲ Οὐτίγουροι, ἄλλοι δὲ
Οὐλτίζουροι, αἱ ἄλλοι Βουρουγούνδιοι. Zeuss p. 7o9. Angisciri: see
Zeuss p. 700. Bittugures: Agathias 2, 13 speaks of Οὐννικὸν τὸ
ἔθνος οἱ Birropes. See also Zeuss p. 700. Bardores: see Zeuss
p. 709. Bassiana: Mommsen (corpus inscr. lat. 111) places this
city on the Raab in Hungary, about twenty miles east of Stein-
am-Anger.

273. Hunimund: to be distinguished from Hunimund the
Amal, mentioned in XIV 81. Dalmatia was near Suavia:
Mommsen (p. 165) shows that Jordanes is in error. He con-
founds Suavia with Savia, the Roman province which borders
on Dalmatia. Moreover the narrative of Jordanes makes it
clear that Hunimund came into Dalmatia from Germany. For
the situation of the Suavi see LV 280 and note. According to
Procopius (bell. Goth. 1, 12), the Suavi were neighbors of the
Thuringi and Alamanni. See Bury I 262, note 3.

276. Valamir ...was... slain: Jordanes gives a résumé
of these and the following events in the Romana 347. Thus
were all destroyed: Hodgkin (III 22) remarks that Jordanes
dwells upon the destruction of the Sciri, perhaps to obscure the
real issue of tthe fight. In addition to tthe loss of their king,
the Goths may have suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the
Suavi; a surmise rendered all the more probable by the events
recounted in the following sections.

LIV 277. Alaric: this Alaric, king with Hunimund of the
German Suavi, is ἴο be distinguished from either of the two
Alarics, the Visigothic kings, and Alaric King of the Heruli
(CXEXeT ea): Beuca and Babai: Beuca is not mentioned
elsewhere; Babai appears again in LV _ 282. Edica and
Hunuulf: not mentioned elsewhere; but see Hodgkin II 517 n.
the river Bolia: not mentioned elsewhere.

278. a crimson sea: Jordanes is at this best in describing
battle scenes and appears ito take delight in the bloody details
he recounts. Compare XL 208.

279. they rejoiced with joy unspeakable: the ineffabili exul-
tatione laetantar of Jordanes seems to be made over from
exultabitis laetitia inenarrabili in the Vulgate I Petr. 1, 8. See
note on XXVI 137 for another Vulgate reminiscence. That
both of these Biblical echoes are referable to a single book of
the New Testament is noteworthy.

COMMENTARY 183

LV 280. country of the Suavi: Hodgkin (III 21) thinks the
diagram suggested by Jordanes:
Thuringians
Franks Suavt Bavarians
Burgundians

must be replaced by this:

Franks
Burgundians Suavi Bavarians
Burgundians

281. almost subdued: a form of statement which may mean
to our author almost anything from a drawn battle to a defeat.

282. summoned... adherents: as Hodgkin (III 24) ob-
serves, this was a reproduction of the old Germanic Comitatus
which Tacitus describes (Germania 13): haec dignitas, hae vires:
magno semper electorum iuvenum globo circumdari in pace decus,
tn bello praesidium. Camundus: if a Roman general bore such
a name, he was probably of barbarian origin or descent (Hodg-
kin III 24). Singidunum: now Belgrade.

LVI 283. Glycerius ruled. see XLV 230.

285. river Savus: a tributary of the Danube in Pannonia, now
the Save. Naissus: Nisch. Bury I 262, note 5. Astat and
Invilia: not otherwise mentioned. Ulpiana: its site is doubt-
ful. Mommsen thinks it was tthe first stage from Castrum Her-
culis on the road to Scupi. See Corpus inscr. lat. 111 pp. 268.
1024. Castrum Herculis: a place fourteen miles from Naissus.
See Corpus inscr. lat. III p. 268.

286. Stobi: probably now represented by the village of
Czerna Gratzko near the confluence of the Czerna and Vardar
(Erigon and Axius). Here the roads from Scupi, Sardica, Hera-
clea and Thessalonica met (Hodgkin III 28). Heraclea and
Larissa: Heraclea is Monastir in Macedonia; Larissa is in
Thessaly. Thessalonica: now Salonica. Hilarianus: magister
officiorum and Patricius at Leo’s court; see Codex Iustin. 1, 23, 6.
the emperor: Leo II, 473-474.

287. places they inhabited: Mommsen identifies as follows the
places mentioned in the text Cerru, Pellas, Europa, Mediana, Petina,
Bereu, Sium): Cyrrhus and Pella, neighboring towns in Mace-
donia prima; Pella is tthe birthplace of Alexander the Great.
Europus and Methone, in the same province. Pydna and Beroea,
also towns of this province; the former famous as the scene of
the defeat of Perseus (B.C. 168), the latter the Berea mentioned
in Acts 17, 10. Dium on the Thermaic Gulf. (See map, Hodg-
kin III 28.)

LVII 289. Consul Ordinary: this was in 484. He was made

184 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

Patrician and Master of Soldiery in 478, for helping restore
Zeno to the throne after the revolt of Basiliscus. In the Romana
384 we find these same things related, the writer adhering there
a little more closely to the account given by Marcellinus

291. it will save the expense: in Orosius (7, 43) Valia, king
of the Visigoths says to the Emperor Honorius: tu cum omnibus
pacem habe omniumque obsides accipe;: nos nobis confligimus, nobis
perimus, tibt vincimus: immortalis vero quaestus erit rei publicae
tuae, si utrique pereamus.

292. sent him forth: see Anonymus Valesianus 49: Zeno recom-
pensans beneficiis Theodericum quem fecit patricium et consulem,
donans ei multum et mittens eum ad Italiam. Hesperia: the
poetic name for Italy, the western country. Sontius: now the
river Isonzo. See corpus inscr. lat. V pp. 75. 935. Theodoric
dated his reign in Italy from the battle of the Isonzo (Hodgkin
III 191). The Annals of Ravenna on the year 490 say: his con-
sulibus ingressus est rex Theodericus in fossato pontis Sontis et
fugit Odoacer rex de fossato et abtit in Beronam. Hodgkin gives
the date as 480.

293. Odoacer: see XLVI 242. Pineta: the famous pine
forest near Ravenna. harrassed ... the Goths: see Anony-
mus Valesianus 54: hoc consule (the year 491) exiit Odoachar
rex de Ravenna nocte cum Herulis ingressus in Pineta in fossato
patric Theoderici ... et victus Odoachar fugit Ravenna idibus
Tuliis.

294. begged for mercy: see the continuator of Prosper
(Havniensis) on the year 493: Odoachar pacem ab Theudorico
postulans accepit, qua non diu potitus est... Theodoricus cum
pacem cum Odoachar fecisset, ingressus est Classem III k. Mart.
ac deinde ingressus est Ravennam, pacis specie Odoachrem interfecit.

295. deprived him of his life: the assassination of Odoacer is
the darkest blot on the career of Theodoric the Great. Theo-
doric invited his rival to a banquet in the Palace of Lauretum
and there slew him with his own hand. See Bury I 281,
Hodgkin III 212, Cambridge Medieval History 440. Lodoin:
this is Chlodwig or Clovis, king of the Franks from 481-511.
daughter Audefleda: Gregory of Tours (hist. Franc. 3, 31) says
she was his sister: Theodoricus rex Italiae Chlodovechi regis
sororem in matrimonio habuit.

296. Celdebert ... Thiudebert: we learn from Gregory of
Tours 3, 1 that the sons of Clovis were Theudericus, Chlodomerus
Childebertus and Chlotocharius, and that Theuderic, the eldest,
had a son named Theudebert. So when Jordanes speaks of
Celdebert, Heldebert and Thiudebert, the first two names seem
to have arisen from dittography, while the third is not that of a
son but of a grandson of Clovis.

COMMENTARY 185

LVIII 297. Thiudigoto ... Ostrogotho: see Procopius bell,
Goth. 1, 12: τῷ τηνικαῦτα τῶν Οὐισιγότθων ἡγουμένῳ ᾿Αλαρίχῳ τῳ.
νεωτέρῳ (Theodoric) Θευδεχοῦσαν τὴν αὑτοῦ θυγάτερα παρθένον ἠγγυήσεν.
also Anonymus Valesianus 63: uxorem habuit ante regnum, de qua
susceperat filias: unam dedit nomine Arevagni Alarico regi Visi-
gotharum in Gallia et aliam fiiam suam nomine Theodegotha Sigis-
mundo filio Gundebaudi regis. Alaric: Alaric II reigned from
485-507. See XLVII 245. He was slain in battle by Clovis.
Sigismund: king of the Burgundians from 516-523.

298. Thorismud: Eutharic was the grandson of Beremud and
great grandson of Thorismud. See genealogical table, p. 41.
Amalasuentha: the daughter of Theodoric and Audefleda. For
her later history see LIX 305-300.

299. Amalafrida: the name of her first husband is unknown.
Theodahad: king from 534-536. His unnatural cruelty is related
π ΤΙΝ 300. Thrasamund: see above, XXXIII 170. He
reigned from 496-523. Amalaberga: see Procopius bell. Goth.
I, 12: Ἑρμενεφρίδῳ δὲ τῶν Θορίγγων ἄρχοντι ᾿Αμελοβέργαν τὴν ᾿Αμαλαφρίδης
τῆς ἀδελφῆς παῖδα.

300. Count Pitza: for the duties of the Comes Gothorum, see
Cassiodorus var. 7, 3 (Hodgkin III 253). For Pitza see Enno-
dius paneg. 12 Ὁ. 410 Sirm. (quoted in the next note below) and
Cassiodorus var. 5, 290. Possibly the person to whom Proco-
pius refers (bell. Goth. 1, 15) under the year 536; Πίτζας Τότθος ἀνήῤ
Thrasaric: in Ennodius paneg. 12 p. 410 Sirm. we read: Sirmien-
sium civitas olim limes Italiae fuit, in qua seniores domini excuba-
bant ... haec postea per regentium neglectum in Gepidarum iura
concessit . . . urebant animum principis (Theodoric) dolosi blan-
dimenta commenti et circa alios Gepidas quorum ductor est Gun-
derit, intempestiva Traserici familiaritas ... postquam liquido
Traserict patuere commenta, Gothorum nobilissimos Pitzia,
Herduic et pubem nullis adhuc dedicatam proeliis destinastt
ut si oblatis pactionbus adquiesceret, semel invaso locorum

potiretur arbitrio... fugit sponte aliena et sine impulsu
exercitus tui deseruit quod debebat. continuo Pitzia ... non
adquisitam esse terram credidit, sed refusam. Thraustila: see
Paulus hist. Rom. 15, 15: Theodericus ... prius quam Italiam ad-

ventaret, Trapstilam Gepidarum regem insidias sibi molientem bello
superans extinxit. Mundo: a Hun, aided by the Goths in 505.
In Ennodius paneg. 12, p. 411 sirm. after the narrative of the
capture of Sirmium by Pitza, we read: quibus (Pitza and his
army) ibi ordinationem moderantibus per foederati Mundonts attrec-
tationem Graecia est professa discordiam secum Bulgares suos in
tutela deducendo ... quid strages militum revolvam et Sabiniani
ducis abitionem turpissimam? See Bury I 285 note. Sabinian: the

186 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

son of the general of the same name who fought with Theodoric
in Macedonia twenty-six years before. Margoplanum: prob-
ably one of the two cities of Upper Moesia—Horrea Margi and
Maregus. The form Margoplanum is not elsewhere found.
Hodgkin believes the battle took place at Horrea Margi in the
valley of the Morava. Margus: a stream in Moesia, now the
Morava.

301. Attilani: descendants of Attila.

302. Ibba: see add. ad Victorem Tunnunensem on the year
509: Gesalicus ab Helbane Theodorici Italiae regis duce ab Hispania
fugatus Africam petit. Isidorus hist. Goth. 38, on the year 507:
Gesalicus . . . ab Ebbane Theoderici regis duce duodecimo a Barci-
lona urbe miliario commisso proelio in fugam vertitur. This is the
Ibba vir sublimis dux to whom Cassiodorus writes var. 4, 17.
Thiudis: upon tthe death of Alaric II in 507, his son Amalaric
succeeded to ‘tthe throne and ruled the Visigoths until 531.
Thiudis reigned from 531-548.

303. the present day: the year 551, when the Getica was
written. See introduction, page 113. Athanagild: Isidorus,
hist. Goth. ad eram 587, says Athanagild’s insurrection occurred
in the third year of King Agil’s reign, that is, in 551. The
additamenta ad Victorem Tunnunensem (p. 372 Ronc.) for the
year 552 say: Agila mortuo Athanagildus qui dudum tyrannidem
adsumpserat Gothorum rex efficitur. Mommsen (Intro. p. XV
note 31) believes that Athanagild’s revolt started in 550. For
Athanagild and Liberius see Bury I 415. Liberius the Patri-
cian: see Procopius bell. Goth. 3, 39 on ithe year 549. Compare
also 3, 40 and 4, 24.

LIX 304. Athalaric: a résumé of the following sections is
given in Romana 367 onward.

306. Theodahad: the son of Amalafrida; see LVIII 299.
Also Bury I 388 onward, Hodgkin III 641 onward. Bulsinian
lake: the lake of Bolsena, in Etruria. by his hirelings: see the
continuator of Marcellinus on the year 534: Theodahadus rex
Gothorum Amalasuentham reginam creatricem suam de regno pul-
sam in insula lact Bulsiniensis occidit. cuius mortem imp. Tusti-
mianus ut doluit sic et ultus est.

LX 307. triumph over the Vandals: Belisarius conquered
Africa in 534 and was rewarded by a magnificent triumph at
Constantinople in the autumn of the same year.

308. Sicily, their nursing mother: great exports of corn were
sent every year from Sicily to Rome. Trinacria: the trian-
gular land, the poetic name for Sicily. Sinderith: the sur-
render of Syracuse in 535 is recorded by Procopius bell. Goth.
I, 5 and by Marcellinus, ‘but they do not mention the name of

COMMENTARY 187

the Gothic leader. Evermud: the Continuator of Marcellinus
on the year 536 calls him Ebremud. Procopius says (bell. Goth.
1, 8): ἐκ δὲ Τότθων αὐτόμολος παρὰ Βελισάριον ᾿Εβριμοὺθ ξὺν παισὶ τοῖς éro-
μένοις ἦλθεν, ὁ Θευδάτου γαμβρὸς, ὅς τῇ ἐκείνου θυγατρὶ Θευδενάνθῃ ξυνῴκει.
Adriatic: see note on XXX 156.

309. Rhegium: a city of Calabria on the Strait of Messina,
now Reggio. Evermud’s defection occurred in the year 536.

310. Barbarian Plains: probably the Pomptine marshes be-
tween Rome and Terracina. Procopius says of this region
(bell. Goth. 1, 11): (The Goths) és χωρίον ξυνελέγησαν Ῥώμης ὀγδοή-
κοντα καὶ διακοσίοις σταδίοις διέχον, ὅπερ Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσι ‘Pévyera. ἐνθένδε
γὰρ ἐνστρατοπεδεύσασθαι σφίσιν ἔδοξεν ἄριστον εἶναι. πεδία γὰρ πολλὰ ἐνταῦθά
ἐστιν ἱππόβατα. See also Corpus inscr. lat. X p. 691. executed
his command: see the continuator of Marcellinus on the year
536: Gothorum exercitus Theodahadum regem habens suspectum
Vitigis in regnum adsciscit. qui mox in campo Barbarico regnum
pervasit, expeditione soluta Romam ingreditur ... ibique residens
dirigit Ravennam, Theodahadum occidit.

311. took Naples: Belisarius besieged this city for some time
before he finally succeeded in taking it. on to Rome: so the
city was restored to the empire after sixty years of barbarian
rule. married Mathesuentha: see tthe Continuator of Mar-
cellinus on the year 536: Ravennamque ingressus Matesuentham
neptem Theodorici sibi sociam in regno plus vi copulat quam amore.
Compare Romana 373. Mathesuentha, it will be remembered,
was the daughter of Amalasuentha and Eutharic of Spain
(LVIII 298) and sister of Athalaric (LIX 304). Hunila: see
Procopius bell. Goth. 1, τό: Oviriys ... στρατιάν τε καὶ ἄρχοντας Οὔνι.
Adv τε καὶ Πίτζαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἔπεμψε" ols Κωνσταντῖνος ὑπαντιάσας ἐν τῷ
Περυσίας προαστείῳ ἐς χεῖρας ἦλθε... Ρωμαῖοι... τοὺς πολεμίους ἐτρέψαντο.
Perusia: Perugia.

312. a long siege: this siege of Rome began in ‘the spring
of 537 (Hodgkin IV 127). Count Magnus: a subordinate
cavalry officer of the force under Belisarius. He was in charge
of the aqueduct party at the siege of Naples (536), and in the
following year ‘he was sent to Tibur. In 540 it became his duty
to blockade Ravenna. See Hodgkin IV 4, 56, 219, 327; Pro-
copius bell. Goth. 2, 28. Ariminum: ‘the siege of Ariminum, the
modern Rimini, occurred in 538. Two years later Vitiges gave
up the unequal contest and surrendered to Belisarius at Ra-
venna. See Hodgkin IV 334, and Bury I 393 onward.

313. two thousand and thirtieth year: from 1490 B.C. to 540
A.D. See chronological table, p. 38.

314. Germanus: the son of Justinian’s brother. fratri in the
text is evidently a mistake of the copyist for fratrueli (compare

188 JORDANES: ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

XIV 81 and XLVIII 251). The death of Mathesuentha’s first
husband Vitiges took place in 542, and her marriage to Germanus
followed soon after. a son (also called Germanus): Ger-
manus the Younger became a great noble of Constantinople
but did not realize the hopes of Jordanes. His daughter mar-
ried Theodosius, the son of Emperor Maurice (582-602). On
his death the imperial power was offered to Germanus but he
declined it. Later he made two attempts to gain the position
he had refused; as a result of the first he was forced to become
a priest and renounce his official position, and in consequence
of the second (605) he and his daughter were put to death on
an island in the Sea of Marmora. Thus the Amal line finally
came to an end (Hodgkin IV 569). Anicii: a very ancient
Roman family of distinction, both in classical and Christian
times. Cassiodorus speaks of this family (var. 10, I1) in the
following terms: Anicios paene principibus pares aetas prisca pro-
genuit. It is not known whether this family really had an
ancestral relation to the house of Justinian. Possibly the
mother of Germanus was a descendant of the Anicii.

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