Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), val1.3

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[5] In the meantime, two other Caesars had been appointed,¹ Severus and Maximinus; to Maximinus was given the rule of the Orient; Galerius retained Illyricum for himself, as well as the Thracian provinces and Bithynia; Severus received Italy and whatever Herculius had formerly governed.²

[6] But after Constantius died in Britain, and his son Constantine succeeded him, Maxentius, the son of Herculius, was suddenly hailed as emperor by the praetorian soldiers in the city of Rome. By order of Galerius, Severus took the field against Maxentius, but he was suddenly deserted by all his followers and fled to Ravenna. Thereupon Galerius, with a great army, came against Rome, threatening the destruction of the city, and encamped at Interamna³ near the Tiber.

[7] Then he sent Licinius and Probus to the city as envoys, asking that the son-in-law, that is Maxentius, should attain his desires from the father-in-law, that is Galerius, at the price of requests rather than of arms. Galerius’ proposal was scorned, and having learned that through Maxentius’ promises many of his own men had been led to desert his cause, he was disturbed and turned back; and in order to furnish his men with whatever booty he could, he gave orders that the Flaminian Road should be plundered.⁴

[8] Maximianus⁵ took refuge with Constantine. Then Galerius made Licinius a Caesar⁶ in Illyricum, and after that, leaving him in Pannonia, returned himself to Serdica, where he was attacked by a violent disease and wasted away so completely, that he died with the inner parts of his body exposed and in a state of corruption⁷ —a punishment for a most unjust persecution,⁸ which recoiled as a well-merited penalty upon the author of the iniquitous order. He ruled for nineteen years.

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — val1.3 focus

[5] Interea Caesares duo facti, Severus et Maximinus; Maximino datum est Orientis imperium: Galerius sibi Illyricum, Thracias, et Bithyniam tenuit. Severus¹ suscepit Italiam et quicquid Herculius obtinebat.

[6] Postquam vero Constantius in Britannia mortuus est et Constantinus filius successit, subito in urbe Roma praetoriani milites Maxentium, filium Herculi, imperatorem crearunt. Sed adversum Maxentium iussu Galeri Severus duxit exercitum. Qui repente ab omnibus suis desertus est et Ravennam fugit. Dehine Galerius cum ingentibus copiis Romam venit, minatus civitatis² interitum, et castra Interamnae ad Tiberim posuit.

[7] Tune legatos ad urbem misit Licinium et Probum, per colloquium petens ut gener apud socerum, id est Maxentius apud Galerium, precibus magis quam armis optata mercaretur. Qui contemptus agnovit promissis motos multos suorum³ Maxenti partes suas deseruisse⁴ ; quibus perturbatus retro versus est, et ut militi suo praedam quamcunque conferret, Flaminiam iussit auferri.

[8] Ille ad Constantinum refugit. Tune Galerius in Illyrico Licinium Caesarem fecit. Deinde illo in Pannonia relicto, ipse ad Serdicam regressus, morbo ingenti⁵ occupatus sic distabuit, ut aperto et putrescenti viscere moreretur, in supplicium persecutionis iniquissimae ad auctorem scelerati praecepti iustissima poena redeunte. Imperavit annos XVIIII.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. By Galerius.

2. He had governed Italy and Africa.

3. In Southern Umbria on the river Nar, just below its junction with the Velinus; modern Terni.

4. Text and meaning are uncertain. Apparently he went along the Flaminian Road; cf. Lact., De Mort. Persec. 27, 5, dedit militibus potestatem ut diriperent omnia vel corrumperent, ut si quis insequi vellet, utensilia non haberet.

5. Ille seems to refer to Maximianus, who wished to resume his imperial power; if so, something is missing from the text.

6. Other writers imply that he was made an Augustus at once.

7. Cf. Oros. vii. 28, 12, put rescente introrsum pectore et visceribus dissolutis

8. Of the Christians; cf. Lact., De Mort. Persec. 33; Eusebius, Church Hist. viii. 16, 3 ff.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae val1.3

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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