Jordanes

ROMANA

sive

De Summa Temporum

vel

De Origine Actibusque Gentis Romanorum

with "classicized" grammar, normalized spelling and some emendations
by
Þeedrich Yeat

    Getica
ç Second half 		Excerpta Getica
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DE ORIGINE ACTIBUSQUE
GENTIS ROMANORUM		 THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS
OF THE ROMANS
Aþala-reik and Amala-swinþo
367
In Italia vero, Theodorico defuncto, Athalaricus nepos ejus, ipso ordinante, successit, octo annos - quamvis pueriliter vivens, matre tamen regente Amalaswentha - degebat, quando et Gallias diu tentas Francis repetentibus reddidit. But after King Þiuða-reik had died in Italy, in accordance with his directions his grandson Aþala-reik followed him in office, although he was just an eight-year-old boy;  for that reason his mother Amala-swinþo directed the government.  At that time the long-held Gaulic lands were returned to the Franks at their insistence.
Emperor Justinian and Belisarius
368
Mortuoque Athalarico, mater ejus Theodahadum consobrinum suum regni sui participem faciens non post multum, ipso jubente, occisa est. After Aþala-reik's death his mother made her cousin Þiuða-haþ her co-regent, but not long afterwards she was killed at his command.
Et quia dudum se suumque filium commendaverat Principi Justiniano, is mortem ejus audiens doluit, nec passus est inultam transire. And because quite some while before she had placed herself and her son under the protection of Emperor Justinian, the latter was grieved to hear of her death and did not let it go unpunished.
Sed mox eundem ducem belli, qui Poenorum domitor fuerat et de opibus Vandalicis triumphans adhuc in fascibus erat, agmini diversarum praeponens nationum ad partes Hesperias destinavit. Instead, he sent the same army commander who had vanquished the Phoenicians and who was still invested with consular powers from his triumph over the Vandals {534}, to the western land at the head of troops from various nations.
Belisarius and Sinþa-reþ;  African insurgency
369
Qui primo accessu mox Siciliam pervadit, duce ejus Sinderith superato:  ubi dum aliquantum temporis ob ordinandam patriam resideret, comperit in Africa civilia bella intestinumque proelium debacchari. In his first attack Belisarius took Sicily, where the Gothic field commander Sinþa-reþ was beaten.  But while he remained there a bit to reorganize the country, he learned that in Africa civil wars and an internal conflict were raging.
Nam Stotzas, paene ultimus militum et Martini clientulus Magistri militum {per Orientem post Belisarium}, tyrannidem arripiens auctorque seditiosorum effectus, Cyrillo, Marcello, Fara aliisque diverso judicibus dolo peremptis in ducem Salomonem saeviebat totamque Africam tyrannico ritu vastabat. For Stotzas, effectively the dregs of soldiery and a retainer of Martinus, the Master of Soldiery {in the East after Belisarius}, having killed Cyrillus, Marcellus, Fara and other administrators with various strategems, had seized upon despotism;  he had been made the leader of mutineers and was raging against the general Salomon, tyrannically devastating all of Africa {536}.
Belisarius and Ibr-moð
370
Emenso ergo Belisarius a Sicilia in Africam pelago solita felicitate, rebelles fugat, provinciam liberat, Salomonemque rursum Carthagine collocans, Siciliam redit. So Belisarius crossed over the water from Sicily to Africa and with his usual success defeated the rebels, liberated the province, re-installed Salomon in Carthage, and then returned to Sicily.
Ubi mox Ebermud Theodahadi Gothorum regis gener, qui contrarius cum exercitu venerat, cernens prosperitatem consulis, ultro se ad partes dedit victoris hortaturque ut jam anhelanti suique adventui suspectae subveniret Italiae. Here Ibr-moð, the Gothic king Þiuða-haþ's son-in-law who had come with an army to fight him, seeing the success of the victorious consul, surrendered to him of his own accord.  He urged him to come to the aid of Italy, which longed for him and was looking forward to his arrival.
Constructo ergo Belisarius exercitu et tam navali quam equestri agmine ductans, vallavit Neapolim, paucisque diebus eam obsidens, per aquaeductum noctu invasit et tam Gothis qui aderant quam Romanis rebellantibus interfectis, urbem plenissime spoliavit. So lining up his army and leading it with both fleet and cavalry, Belisarius surrounded Naples with a wall, forced his way into the city by night through a water-supply main after a siege of a few days, killed both the Goths and the rebellious Romans in it, and plundered it thoroughly.
Þiuða-haþ sends Weiti-gais against Belisarius
371
Quod Theodahadus animadvertens, Witiges, unum inter alios ductorem exercitui praeponens, contra Belisarium dirigit. When Þiuða-haþ learned of this, he appointed Weiti-gais, one of his commanders, to the head of the army and sent him against Belisarius.
Weiti-gais, acclaimed king of the Goths, has Þiuða-haþ killed
372
Qui, Campaniam ingressus, mox ad Campos venisset Barbaricos, ilico exercitus favorem, quod contra Theodahadum suspectum habebat, excepit, et "Quid," inquit "vultis?"  Weiti-gais had hardly arrived at the Barbarian Fields in Campania when the army turned in his favor because it held Þiuða-haþ in suspicion.  So he said, "What do you want?"
At illi "Tollatur," inquiunt, "de medio, qui cum sanguine Gothorum et interitu sua cupit scelera excusari." Whereupon they answered, "Get rid of him, who seeks to excuse his crimes with the downfall and blood of the Goths."
Factoque impetu in eum, consona voce Witiges regem denuntiant. And they rushed upon him and unanimously acclaimed him king.
At ille in regnum levatus - quod ipse optaverat - mox populi vota consentit, directisque e sociis Theodahadum Ravennam revertentem exstinguit. Thus raised to power, as he himself had wanted, in accordance with the people's wishes he immediately sent off several of his companions and had Þiuða-haþ killed on the latter's way back to Ravenna.
Weiti-gais weds in Ravenna, Belisarius enters Rome
373
Regnumque suum confirmans, expeditionem solvit et, privata conjuge repudiata, regiam puellam Matheswentham, Theodorici regis neptem, sibi plus vi copulat quam amore. To consolidate his rule, he broke off the campaign, repudiated his wife, a commoner, and - more through force than by love - joined to himself in marriage the princess Maþu-swinþo, a granddaughter of Þiuða-reik's.
Dumque ille novis nuptiis delectatur Ravennae, Consul Belisarius Romanam urbem ingressus est, exceptusque ab illo populo quondam Romano et Senatu (jam paene ipso nomine cum virtute sepulto), confestim vicina occupat loca - urbium oppidorumque munimina. While he was enjoying his new wedding in Ravenna, Consul Belisarius entered Rome {536 December 9/10} and was accepted by that people and Senate that had been formerly Roman (their name having practically died together with their virtue).  He quickly occupied the neighboring positions - the fortifications of the cities and towns.
Belarius battles the Goths
374
Primaque Gothica congressione, Hunilam ductantem Perusinum ad oppidum superat et, plus quam septem milibus trucidatis, reliquos Ravennam usque proturbat. In his first clash with the Goths near the city of Perusia, he beat their leader Hunila, slaughtered more than 7,000 of them, and chased the rest all the way to Ravenna.
Secunda, vero, cum ipso Witigis Romanas arces obsidente congreditur, machinisque illius et turribus, quibus urbem adire temptabat, igne consumptis, eum per anni spatium quamvis inedia laborans deludit. In the second one he fought with Weiti-gais himself while the latter was surrounding the Roman fortifications with siege works, used fire to destroy the machines and towers with which he was trying to attack the city, and, even though hard pressed by famine, made sport of him for a full year.
Belisarius triumphs over Goths and Franks
375
Post haec ad Ariminum persecutus exindeque eum fugatum Ravennae clausum in deditionem accepit. After that he pursued him to Ariminum, chased him from there too, shut him up in Ravenna and forced him to surrender.
Atque unus consul, dum contra Gothos dimicat, paene pari eventu de Francis, qui cum Theodeperto, rege suo, plus ducenta milia advenerant, triumphavit. Also, this one consul, while he was fighting against the Goths, triumphed with almost the same success over the Franks, who had come to Italy in a force more than 200,000 strong with their King Þiudða-baírht {"People-gleaming," "Bright Folk," "Glorious Nation"}.
Sed quia ad alia occupatus alibi noluit implicari, rogantibus Francis pacem concessit et sine suorum dispendio de finibus Italicis expulit, But because Belisarius, busy with other things, did not want to get tied down elsewhere, at the request of the Franks he gave them peace and without losing any of his own men expelled them from Italy.
Sumptoque rege et regina, simulque et opes palatii ad Principem qui eum miserat reportavit. Having taken King Weiti-gais and his queen prisoner, he also took the treasures of their palace together with them back to the Emperor who had sent him.
Sicque intra pauci temporis spatium Justinianus Imperator, per fidelissimum consulem, duo regna duasque res publicas suae dicioni subegit. Thus within a short time Emperor Justinian, through his faithful consul, subjected two kings and two kingdoms to his rule.
The Parthians ravage the East
376
Quod Parthus comperiens facibusque invidiae exardescens in Syriam movit procinctum, et Callinicum, Suram, Neocaesariamque devastans Antiochiam venit. Learning of this, the Parthians, becoming inflamed with the fire of envy, advanced into Syria and, laying waste to Callinicum, Sora and Neocaesaria {Callinicum and Neocaesaria are towns on the Euphrates river in northeastern Syria, Sura's location is unclear}, proceeded to Antioch.
Ubi Germanus Patricius cum Justino, filio suo eodemque Consule, postquam ab Africana provincia remeasset, dum adventum Parthorum obviare nequit, relicta urbe, ad partes secessit Ciliciae. When the Patrician Germanus, together with Justin, his son and Consul, had returned from the province of Africa, since he could not block the arrival of the Parthians, he left the city and withdrew to Cilicia {southern Asia Minor}.
Persi vero vacuam ab exercitu Antiochiam nancti populumque per Orontis alveum ad Seleuciam maritimam cum militibus mixtis fugientem aspiciunt nec sequuntur, sed praedas per urbem certatim diripiunt, vicinasque urbes et oppida partim invasa partim pecuniae quantitate multata praetereunt et totius Coelesyriae bona sibi unius in anni spatio paene Parthus assumit. The Persians took over the City of Antioch, which was empty of troops, and saw the populace intermixed with soldiers fleeing to the seaside Seleucia {Pieria, Mediterranean port city for Antioch} along the bed of the Orontes river, yet did not pursue them but competed with one another in pillaging through Antioch.  They then passed on, partly invading the neighboring cities and towns, partly exacting sums of money from them.  Indeed, the Parthians took the wealth of almost all of Coelesyria in the space of a single year.
Belisarius is sent to fight the Parthians
377
Nec sic quoque recedit, sed jugiter adversum Romanam rem publicam dimicat. And they did not leave, but kept constantly fighting against the Roman Empire.
Contra quem Wandalicus Gothicusque Consul solite destinatur. Consul Belisarius, victor over the Vandals and the Goths, was sent against them as usual.
Qui, etsi non ut reliquas gentes eum edomuit, tamen ut intra suos fines rediret compulit, fuissetque et de hac gente felici duci parta victoria, ni clades Italiae, quae post ejus discessum emerserat, celerem ei successorem dedisset Martinum. Even if he did not subdue them as he did the rest of the nations, he still compelled them to retreat to behind their own borders, and victory over this people, too, would have been granted to this successful general if the disaster of Italy, which had happened after his departure, had not made Martinus his rapid successor.  {I.e., Martinus was directed to replace Belisarius in Italy in 542, cf. Procopius, Bell. Pers. 2, 21. 24.}
Qui etsi viribus impar, consilio tamen, quamvis cum Constantiano conjuncto, non minor, dum resistere contra Parthos non praevalet, ne bellum diu teneret, pacem fecit. Even if he was unequal to the Parthians in troops, Belisarius was nonetheless not inferior in strategy - even though this was coordinated with Constantian {Master of Soldiery of the East and Count of the Imperial Stables}.  Since he was unable to hold them at bay, he made peace instead of dragging the war out over a long period.
The Goths rise up again
378
Cladem vero quam diximus in Hesperia plaga ut liquidius lector cognoscat, apertius memorabo. But so that the reader may understand more clearly the disaster in the West which I spoke about, I will be more explicit.
Egrediente Belisario Consule ab Italia et, ut diximus, regem, reginam opesque palatii ad Principem reportante, Gothi qui trans Padum in Liguria consistebant, recrudescentibus animis ad bella, consurgunt et, ordinato sibi regulo Heldebado, militi exsistunt adversi. When Consul Belisarius left Italy taking, as we said, the King and Queen and the treasure of the Palace back to the Emperor, the Goths who dwelt on the other side of the Po in Liguria revived their will to war, rose up, installed Hildi-baðu {"Battle-combat"} as chieftain, and attacked our army.
Contra quos dum non unius, sed plurium temptat varios apparatus, illi fortiores facti persistunt;  annique spatio vix emenso Heldebadus interficitur et loco ejus succedit Erarius. Although the Emperor sent out various strike units of not just one but several armies against them, the Goths proved themselves the stronger side and held firm.  After little more than a year Hildi-bað was killed and Aira-harjis {"Early-soldier," "Early warrior"} took his place.
Baðwila (Totila) reconquers Italy
379
Qui et ipse vix anno expleto peremptus est et in regno. This man, too, was assassinated in office in just over a year.
Malo Italiae Badwila juvenis nepos in regnum asciscitur Heldebadi. Then, to the misfortune of Italy, the youthful Baðwila {or Baðu "(Little) Combatant," "(Little) Fighter," ("-ila" is a diminutive suffix);  Totila's real name}, a nephew of Hildi-bað's, was elevated to the throne {October 541}.
Qui mox et sine mora Faventino in oppido Aemiliae soli, proelio commisso, Romanum superavit exercitum. He quickly went into battle {spring 542} near the city of Faventia {modern Faenza, southwest of Ravenna} in the province of Aemilia, and conquered the Roman army.
Et nec diu post haec item per suos ad Mucellos Annonariae Tusciae feliciter dimicans, judices fugat, exercitum partim donis, partim blanditiis sibi consociat, totamque Italiam cum ipsa Roma pervadit. Not long afterwards he fought a successful battle through his officers near Mucelli {modern Mugello}, a place in Annonary Tuscany, put the officials to flight, won the army over partly by gifts and partly by flattery, and marched through the whole of Italy including Rome.
Omniumque urbium munimenta destruens, cunctos Senatores nudatos, demolita Roma, Campaniae terram transmutat. He tore down the fortifications of all of the cities and, after destroying Rome, moved the Senators, one and all, to Campania, after he had divested them of everything {547}.
The return of Belisarius
380
Contra quem, ut supra diximus, Belisarius ex Oriente dirigitur cum paucis, ratus se omnem exercitum quem demiserat integrum reperturus. Belisarius was sent against him from the Orient with just a few troops, thinking he would find intact the entire army that he left.
Et ideo postquam in Ravennam ingressus est nec cum quibus ei obviaret invenit, remensoque Hadriatico mari, Epirum revertitur, ubi Johannes et Valerianus ei conjuncti;  dum in contiones et jurgia concertant, Totila, qui Badwila, hostile opus in Italia peragit. So when after his arrival in Ravenna {544} he found no forces with whom he could face Baðwila, he went back over the Adriatic Sea to Epirus, where Johannes and Valerianus joined him.  But while these three were arguing and quarreling with one another, Totila {Tot- = perhaps -tojis "doer, worker" (cf. fulla-tojis "perfectly wrought," Lat. per-fectus, & ubil-tojis "evil-doing") + -ila, i.e., "(Little) Doer, "Achiever"}, also called Baðwila, completed his hostile work in Italy.
Belisarius quoque, impatiens tantae crudelitati, navali classe a Sicilia solvens, per Tyrrheni maris aestum Romanum portum se recepit, statione egressusque ad urbem, quam ut destructam et desolatam attendit, doluit, hortansque socios ad reparationem tantae urbis accingitur. Belisarius, who could not face this cruelty, weighed anchor with a fleet from Sicily, sailed over the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Rome's port {546} , disembarked and marched to the city.  But when he found it destroyed and desolate, it pained him and, while exhorting his comrades, he set about to restore the great city.
Belisarius wins a battle, but is relieved of command.
381
Ubi nondum vallo circumsaeptus infestum experitur Totilam, sed solitis victoriis intrepidus, quamvis cum paucis contra eum egressus, sic fugavit, ut plus fugientes Tiberi demergerentur quam gladio caderent. When the wall around the city was not yet quite finished, he learned that Totila was coming;  but given all of his usual victories he was unafraid, marched out against him with but few troops and put him to flight so badly, that more people drowned fleeing into the Tiber than died by the sword {547}.
Indeque, hortatus exercitus, regreditur Siciliam, quatenus et Romae annonae faceret copiam et, vicinus ad fretum, Totilam turbaret in Campania commorantem. Then, after having exhorted his army, he returned to Sicily to provide the city immediately with grain and to remain in the vicinity of the straits and cause trouble for Totila, who was staying in Campania.
Sed ut assolet, rerum mutatio principum voluntate diversa. But as usual, the course of events varies depending on the will of the emperors.
Quiescenti in Domino Theodora Augusta, evocatur ad urbem Belisarius ex Sicilia. When the Empress Theodora died, Belisarius was called back to Constantinople from Sicily.
Totila takes Sicily
382
Post cujus discessum Totila securus, iterata rabie, tradentibus Isauris, invadit Romam. After his departure Totila, unhampered and with new fury, attacked Rome, which the Isaurians handed over to him.
Et sic, sumens undique vires, militarique vallatus auxilio, ingreditur capitque Siciliam. Then he drew his forces together from everywhere and, strengthened with auxiliaries, invaded and conquered Sicily.
Maþu-swinþo bears a son;  Totila devastates Italy.
383
Contra quem Germanus Patricius, dum exire disponit cum exercitu, Matheswentha, Theodorici regis nepte et a Witigis mortuo derelicta, tradente sibi Principe in matrimonio sumpta, in Sardicense civitate extremum halitum fudit, relinquens uxorem gravidam, quae post ejus obitum postumum ei edidit filium, vocavitque Germanum. Now the Emperor had given Maþu-swinþo, the granddaughter of Þiuða-reik and widow of Weiti-gais, in marriage to the Patrician Germanus.  But while he was preparing an expedition against Totila, he died in the city of Sardica leaving behind his pregnant wife;  after his death she bore him a posthumous son and named him Germanus.
Qua felicitate sibi Totila comperta totam paene insultans Romanis devastat Italiam. When Totila heard of this stroke of luck, making fun of the Romans he laid waste almost the whole of Italy.
Chaos in Africa finally suppressed by Artabanes
384
In Africa vero, a Mauris dudum perempto Salomone, Stotzas et Johannes invicem singulari certamine corruunt;  aliusque Johannis, qui Stotzas junior dicebatur, suscepta tyrannide, Guntharic, Magistrum Militum, secum suadet. But in Africa, with Salomon long since killed by the Moors {543}, Stotzas and John caused each other's destruction by their uncommon struggle.  Adopting tyranny, yet another John - called Stotzas the Younger - persuaded Gunþa-reik {"Battle-ruler"}, Master of the Soldiery, to go along with him.
Qui, interfecto Ariobinda, conjugem ejus neptem Imperatoris sibi cupiens sociare, praevenitur ab Artabane. Having killed {543} Arja-bind {"Aryan-bound," "Noble bond"}, Gunþa-reik, seeking to acquire the Emperor's niece as wife, was forestalled in this by Artabanes.
Qui eum in convivio trucidatum neptemque Imperatoris ereptam ad urbem Principi dirigit cum honore, simulque ferreis vinculis colligatum ei tyrannum destinavit Johannem, qui, Stotza perempto, in eadem successerat tyrannide. He killed Gunþa-reik at a banquet and sent the Emperor's rescued niece to Constantinople, to the Emperor, with honor, and at the same time also sent him John the tyrant chained in iron shackles - the one who, after Stotzas' murder, had taken the latter's place in the selfsame tyranny.
Artabanus is recalled from, John Troglita sent to, Africa
385
Quem in urbe praefectus discussum, manibus truncatis, ad exemplum ceterorum in patibulo fixit. After he had been put on trial in the city and his hands cut off, the prefect hung him on an X-cross as an example to others.
Johanni dehinc Patricio cognomine Troglitae Africae procuratione commissa, Artabanus evocatus Magistri Militum Praesentis accepit dignitatem. After the command of Africa had been assigned to John the Patrician, surnamed Troglita, Artabanus was recalled and accepted the title of Court Master of the Soldiery.
Non diu intercedente in ipsum Principem manus injicere gestiens detectus et comprobatus, pietate tamen principali impunitus permansit et quasi benevolus contra Totilam Siciliam cum Liberio Patricio properavit. Not long afterwards, Artabanus, seeking to lay hands on the Emperor himself, was exposed and convicted, but through Imperial grace he remained unpunished, and as if being faithful he hastened with Liberius to Sicily against Totila.
Johannes vero in Africana provincia feliciter degens, Mauris partis adversae per Pacificos Mauros superatis, una die decem et septem eorum praefectos exstinxit, pacemque totius Africae jubante Domino impetravit. John, on the other hand, was working successfully in the African province.  After the Peaceful Moors had overcome the Moors of the hostile side, in a single day he annihilated seventeen of their leaders and through the direction of the Lord achieved the peace of the whole of Africa.
The Langobards attack the Gibiðos
386
Langobardorum gens, socia Romani regni principibus, et Theodahadi sororis filiam, dante sibi Imperatore, in matrimonio jungens regi suo, contra aemulos Romanorum Gepidas una die pugna commissa, eorum paene castra invasit, cecideruntque ex utraque parte amplius LX {= sexaginta} milia. The nation of the Langobards, which was allied with the princes of the Roman Empire and had joined Þiuða-haþ's sister's daughter (whom the Emperor had given to them) to their king in marriage, in one day launched a battle against the enemies of the Romans, the Gibiðos, and practically overran their camp.  Altogether on both sides more than sixty thousand men died.
The Magnitude of the Battle
387
Nec par, ut ferunt, audita est in nostris temporibus pugna a diebus Attilae in illis locis, praeter illa quae ante hanc contigerat sub Calluce Magistro Militum cum Gepidas, aut certe Mundonis cum Gothis, in quibus ambabus auctores belli pariter corruerunt. And they say that in our times no battle equal to this one has been heard of in these parts since the days of Attila, other than the one before this with the Gibiðos which had happened under Calluc the Master of the Soldiery, or, of course, that of Mundo with the Goths, in both of which the initiators of the war fell equally.
Conclusion
388
Hi sunt casus Romanae rei publicae praeter instantia cottidiana Bulgarum, Antium et Sclavenorum. These are the misfortunes of the Roman Empire aside from the daily inroads of the Bulgars, Antes and Slavs.
Quae si quis scire cupit, annales consulumque seriem revolvat sine fastidio, reperietque dignam nostri temporis rem publicam tragoediae. If anyone wishes to know them, let him go through the annals and the history of the consuls uncynically, and he will find a modern-day empire worthy of a tragedy.
Scietque unde orta, quomodo aucta, qualiterve sibi cunctas terras subdiderit et quomodo iterum eas ab ignaris rectoribus amiserit. And he will know whence it arose, how it grew or in what way it subjected all lands to itself and how again it lost them through ignorant rulers.
Quod et nos pro captu ingenii breviter tetigimus, quatenus diligens lector latius ista legendo cognoscat. It is something we, to the extent of our ability, have treated so that through reading the serious reader may gain a broader knowledge of these things.
Explicit
(Added by later copyists)
Explicit historia Romanae rei publicae. The end of the history of the Roman Empire.
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— Þeedrich (reachable at theedrich@harbornet.com)