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Constantii Aug. militaris ac velut triumphalis in urbem Romam adventus.

[1] Haec dum per eoas partes et Gallias pro captu temporum disponuntur, Constantius quasi cluso¹ Iani templo stratisque hostibus cunctis, Romam visere gestiebat, post Magnenti exitium absque nomine ex sanguine Romano triumphaturus.

[2] Nec enim gentem ullam bella cientem per se superavit, aut victam fortitudine suorum comperit ducum, vel addidit quaedam imperio, aut usquam in necessitatibus summis primus vel inter primos est visus, sed ut pompam nimis extentam, rigentiaque auro vexilla, et pulcritudinem stipatorum ostenderet agenti tranquillius populo, haec vel simile quicquam videre nec speranti umquam nec optanti.

[3] Ignorans fortasse, quosdam veterum principum in pace quidem lictoribus fuisse contentos, ubi vero proeliorum ardor nihil perpeti poterat segne, alium anhelante rabido flatu ventorum lenunculo se commisisse piscantis, alium ad Deciorum exempla vovisse pro re publica spiritum, alium hostilia castra per semet ipsum cum militibus infimis explorasse, diversos denique actibus inclaruisse magnificis, ut glorias suas posteritatis celebri memoriae² commendarent.

[4] Ut igitur multa quaeque consumpta sunt in apparatu regio, pro meritis cuilibet munera reddita,³ secunda Orfiti praefectura, transcurso Ocriculo, elatus honoribus magnis, stipatusque agminibus formidandis, tamquam acie ducebatur instructa, omnium oculis in eum⁴ contuitu pertinaci intentis.

[5] Cumque urbi propinquaret, senatus officia, reverendasque patriciae stirpis effigies, ore sereno contemplans, non ut Cineas ille Pyrri legatus, in unum coactam multitudinem regum, sed asylum mundi totius adesse existimabat.

[6] Unde cum se vertisset ad plebem, stupebat qua celebritate⁵ omne quod ubique est hominum genus confluxerit Romam. Et tamquam Euphraten armorum specie territurus aut Rhenum, altrinsecus praeeuntibus signis, insidebat aureo solus ipse carpento, fulgenti claritudine lapidum variorum, quo micante lux quaedam misceri videbatur alterna.

[7] Eumque post antegressos multiplices alios, purpureis subtegminibus texti, circumdedere dracones, hastarum aureis gemmatisque summitatibus illigati, hiatu vasto perflabiles, et ideo velut ira perciti sibilantes, caudarumque volumina relinquentes in ventum.

[8] Et incedebat hinc inde ordo geminus armatorum, clipeatus atque cristatus, corusco lumine radians, nitidis loricis indutus, sparsique cataphracti equites (quos clibanarios dictitant) personati thoracum muniti tegminibus, et limbis ferreis cincti, ut Praxitelis manu polita crederes simulacra, non viros; quos laminarum circuli tenues, apti corporis flexibus ambiebant, per omnia membra diducti, ut quocumque artus necessitas commovisset, vestitus congrueret, iunctura cohaerenter aptata.

[9] Augustus itaque faustis vocibus appellatus, non montium⁶ litorumque intonante fragore cohorruit, talem se tamque immobilem, qualis in provinciis suis visebatur, ostendens.

[10] Nam et corpus perhumile curvabat portas ingrediens celsas, et velut collo munito, rectam aciem luminum tendens, nec dextra vultum nec laeva flectebat et⁷ (tamquam figmentum hominis) nec⁸ cum rota concuteret nutans, nec spuens, aut os aut nasum tergens vel fricans, manumve agitans visus est umquam.

[11] Quae licet affectabat, erant tamen haec et alia quaedam in citeriore vita, patientiae non mediocris indicia, ut existimari dabatur, uni illi concessae.

[12] Quod autem per omne tempus imperil, nec in consessum vehiculi quemquam suscepit, nec in trabea socium privatum asscivit, ut fecere principes consecrati, et similia multa elatus in arduum supercilium, tamquam leges aequissimas observavit, praetereo, memor ea me rettulisse cum incidissent.

[13] Proinde Romam ingressus imperil virtutumque omnium larem, cum venisset ad rostra, perspectissimum priscae potentiae forum, obstipuit, perque omne latus quo se oculi contulissent, miraculorum densitate praestrictus, allocutus nobilitatem in curia, populumque e⁹ tribunali, in palatium receptus favore multiplici, laetitia fruebatur optata, et saepe, cum equestres ederet ludos, dicacitate plebis oblectabatur, nec superbae nec a libertate coalita desciscentis, reverenter modum ipse quoque debitum servans.

[14] Non enim (ut per civitates alias) ad arbitrium suum certamina finiri patiebatur, sed (ut mos est) variis casibus permittebat. Deinde intra septem montium culmina, per acclivitates planitiemque posita urbis membra collustrans et suburbana, quicquid viderat¹⁰ primum, id eminere inter alia cuncta sperabat: Iovis Tarpei delubra, quantum terrenis divina praecellunt; lavacra in modum provinciarum exstructa; amphitheatri molem solidatam lapidis Tiburtini compage, ad cuius summitatem aegre visio humana conscendit; Pantheum velut regionem teretem speciosa celsitudine fornicatam; elatosque vertices qui¹¹ scansili¹² suggestu consurgunt, priorum principum imitamenta portantes, et Urbis templum forumque Pacis, et Pompei theatrum et Odeum et Stadium, aliaque inter haec decora urbis aeternae.

[15] Verum cum ad Traiani forum venisset, singularem sub omni caelo structuram, ut¹³ opinamur, etiam numinum assensione mirabilem, haerebat attonitus, per giganteos contextus circumferens mentem, nec relatu effabiles, nec rursus mortalibus appetendos. Omni itaque spe huius modi quicquam conandi depulsa, Traiani equum solum, locatum in atrii medio, qui ipsum principem vehit, imitari se velle dicebat et posse.

[16] Cui prope adstans regalis Ormisda, cuius e Perside discessum supra monstravimus, respondit astu gentili: Ante inquit imperator, stabulum tale condi iubeto, si vales; equus¹⁴ quem fabricare disponis, ita late succedat, ut iste quem videmus. Is ipse interrogatus quid de Roma sentiret, id tantum sibi placuisse aiebat, quod didicisset ibi quoque homines mori.

[17] Multis igitur cum stupore visis horrendo, imperator de¹⁵ fama querebatur, ut invalida vel maligna,¹⁶ quod augens omnia semper in maius, erga haec explicanda quae Romae sunt obsolescit, deliberansque diu quid ibi¹⁷ ageret, urbis addere statuit ornamentis, ut in maximo¹⁸ circo erigeret obeliscum, cuius originem formamque loco competenti monstrabo.

[18] Inter haec Helenae sorori Constanti, Iuliani coniugi Caesaris, Romam affectionis specie ductae, regina tunc insidiabatur Eusebia, ipsa quoad vixerat sterilis, quaesitumque venenum bibere per fraudem illexit, ut quotienscumque concepisset, immaturum abiceret partum.

[19] Nam et pridem in Galliis, cum marem genuisset infantem, hoc perdidit dolo, quod obstetrix corrupta mercede, mox¹⁹ natum, praesecto plus quam convenerat umbilico, necavit; tanta tamque diligens opera navabatur, ne fortissimi viri soboles appareret.

[20] Cupiens itaque augustissima omnium sede morari diutius imperator, ut otio puriore frueretur et voluptate, assiduis nuntiis terrebatur et certis, indicantibus Suebos Raetias incursare, Quadosque Valeriam, et Sarmatas, latrocinandi peritissimum genus, superiorem Moesiam et secundam populari Pannoniam; quibus percitus tricensimo postquam ingressus est die, quartum kal. lunias ab urbe profectus, per Tridentum iter in Illyricum festinavit.

[21] Unde misso in locum Marcelli Severo, bellorum usu et maturitate firmato, Ursicinum ad se venire praecepit. Et ille litteris gratanter acceptis, Sirmium venit, comitantibus sociis,²⁰ libratisque diu super pace consiliis, quam fundari posse cum Persis Musonianus rettulerat, in orientem cum magisterii remittitur potestate, provectis e consortio nostro ad regendos milites natu maioribus, adulescentes eum sequi iubemur, quicquid pro re publica mandaverit impleturi.

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Perseus

Res Gestae (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).)

Translations (1)

History Perseus (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).) — 16.10 focus

[1] While these events were so being arranged in the Orient and in Gaul in accordance with the times, Constantius, as if the temple of Janus had been closed and all his enemies overthrown, was eager to visit Rome and after the death of Magnentius to celebrate, without a title, a triumph over Roman blood.

[2] For neither in person did he vanquish any nation that made war upon him, nor learn of any conquered by the valour of his generals; nor did he add anything to his empire; nor at critical moments was he ever seen to be foremost, or among the foremost; but he desired to display an inordinately long procession, banners stiff with gold work, and the splendour of his retinue, to a populace living in perfect peace and neither expecting nor desiring to see this or anything like it.

[3] Perhaps he did not know that some of our ancient commanders in time of peace were satisfied with the attendance of their lictors; but when the heat of battle could tolerate no inaction, one, with the mad blast of the winds shrieking, entrusted himself to a fisherman’s skiff;¹ another, after the example of the Decii, vowed his life for the commonwealth;² a third in his own person together with common soldiers explored the enemy’s camp;³ in short, various among them became famous through splendid deeds, so that they commended their glories to the frequent remembrance of posterity.

[4] So soon, then, as much had been disbursed in regal preparation, and every sort of man had been rewarded according to his services, in the second prefecture of Orfitus he passed through Ocriculi, elated with his great honours and escorted by formidable troops; he was conducted, so to speak, in battle array and everyone’s eyes were riveted upon him with fixed gaze.

[5] And when he was nearing the city, as he beheld with calm countenance the dutiful attendance of the senate and the august likenesses of the patrician stock, he thought, not like Cineas, the famous envoy of Pyrrhus, that a throng of kings was assembled together, but that the sanctuary of the whole world was present before him.

[6] And when he turned from them to the populace, he was amazed to see in what crowds men of every type had flocked from all quarters to Rome. And as if he were planning to overawe the Euphrates with a show of arms, or the Rhine, while the standards preceded him on each side, he himself sat alone upon a golden car in the resplendent blaze of shimmering precious stones, whose mingled glitter seemed to form a sort of shifting light.

[7] And behind the manifold others that preceded him he was surrounded by dragons,⁴ woven out of purple thread and bound to the golden and jewelled tops of spears, with wide mouths open to the breeze and hence hissing as if roused by anger, and leaving their tails winding in the wind.

[8] And there marched on either side twin lines of infantrymen with shields and crests gleaming with glittering rays, clad in shining mail; and scattered among them were the full-armoured cavalry (whom they call clibanarii).⁵ all masked, furnished with protecting breastplates and girt with iron belts, so that you might have supposed them statues polished by the hand of Praxiteles, not men. Thin circles of iron plates, fitted to the curves of their bodies, completely covered their limbs; so that whichever way they had to move their members, their garment fitted, so skilfully were the joinings made.

[9] Accordingly, being saluted as Augustus with favouring shouts, while hills and shores thundered out the roar, he never stirred, but showed himself as calm and imperturbable as he was commonly seen in his provinces.

[10] For he both stooped when passing through lofty gates (although he was very short), and as if his neck were in a vice, he kept the gaze of his eyes straight ahead, and turned his face neither to right nor to left, but (as if he were a lay figure) neither did he nod when the wheel jolted nor was he ever seen to spit, or to wipe or rub his face or nose, or move his hands about.

[11] And although this was affectation on his part, yet these and various other features of his more intimate life were tokens of no slight endurance, granted to him alone, as was given to be understood.

[12] Furthermore, that during the entire period of his reign he neither took up anyone to sit beside him in his car, nor admitted any private person to be his colleague in the insignia of the consulship, as other anointed princes did, and many like habits which in his pride of lofty conceit he observed as though they were most just laws, I pass by, remembering that I set them down when they occurred.

[13] So then he entered Rome, the home of empire and of every virtue, and when he had come to the Rostra, the most renowned forum of ancient dominion, he stood amazed; and on every side on which his eyes rested he was dazzled by the array of marvellous sights. He addressed the nobles in the senate-house and the populace from the tribunal, and being welcomed to the palace with manifold attentions, he enjoyed a longed-for pleasure; and on several occasions, when holding equestrian games, he took delight in the sallies of the commons, who were neither presumptuous nor regardless of their old-time freedom, while he himself also respectfully observed the due mean.

[14] For he did not (as in the case of other cities) permit the contests to be terminated at his own discretion, but left them (as the custom is) to various chances. Then, as he surveyed the sections of the city and its suburbs, lying within the summits of the seven hills, along their slopes, or on level ground, he thought that whatever first met his gaze towered above all the rest: the sanctuaries of Tarpeian Jove so far surpassing as things divine excel those of earth; the baths built up to the measure of provinces; the huge bulk of the amphitheatre, strengthened by its framework of Tiburtine stone,⁶ to whose top human eyesight barely ascends; the Pantheon like a rounded city-district,⁷ vaulted over in lofty beauty; and the exalted heights which rise with platforms to which one may mount, and bear the likenesses of former emperors;⁸ the Temple of the City,⁹ the Forum of Peace,¹⁰ the Theatre of Pompey,¹¹ the Oleum,¹² the Stadium,¹³ and amongst these the other adornments of the Eternal City.

[15] But when he came to the Forum of Trajan, a construction unique under the heavens, as we believe, and admirable even in the unanimous opinion of the gods, he stood fast in amazement, turning his attention to the gigantic complex about him, beggaring description and never again to be imitated by mortal men. Therefore abandoning all hope of attempting anything like it, he said that he would and could copy Trajan’s steed alone, which stands in the centre of the vestibule, carrying the emperor himself.

[16] To this prince Ormisda, who was standing near him, and whose departure from Persia I have described above,¹⁴ replied with native wit: First, Sire, said he, command a like stable to be built, if you can; let the steed which you propose to create range as widely as this which we see. When Ormisda was asked directly what he thought of Rome, he said that he took comfort¹⁵ in this fact alone, that he had learned that even there men were mortal.

[17] So then, when the emperor had viewed many objects with awe and amazement, he complained of Fame as either incapable or spiteful, because while always exaggerating everything, in describing what there is in Rome, she becomes shabby. And after long deliberation what he should do there, he determined to add to the adornments of the city by erecting in the Circus Maximus an obelisk, the provenance and figure of which I shall describe in the proper place.¹⁶

[18] Meanwhile Constantius’ sister Helena, wife of Julian Caesar, had been brought to Rome under pretence of affection, but the reigning queen, Eusebia, was plotting against her; she herself had been childless all her life, and by her wiles she coaxed Helena to drink a rare potion, so that as often as she was with child she should have a miscarriage.

[19] For once before, in Gaul, when she had borne a baby boy, she lost it through this machination: a midwife had been bribed with a sum of money, and as soon as the child was born cut the umbilical cord more than was right, and so killed it; such great pains and so much thought were taken that this most valiant man might have no heir.

[20] Now the emperor desired to remain longer in this most majestic abode of all the world, to enjoy freer repose and pleasure; but he was alarmed by constant trustworthy reports, stating that the Suebi were raiding Raetia and the Quadi Valeria,¹⁷ while the Sarmatians, a tribe most accomplished in brigandage, were laying waste Upper Moesia and Lower Pannonia. Excited by this news, on the thirtieth day after entering Rome he left the city on May 29th, and marched rapidly into Illyricum by way of Tridentum.¹⁸

[21] From there he sent Severus, a general toughened by long military experience, to succeed Marcellus, and ordered Ursicinus to come to him. The latter received the letter with joy and came to Sirmium¹⁹ with his companions; and after long deliberations about the peace which Musonianus had reported might be established with the Persians, Ursicinus was sent back to the Orient with the powers of commander-in-chief; the elder members of our company were promoted to the command of his soldiers, while we younger men were directed to escort him and be ready to perform whatever he should direct on behalf of the commonwealth.

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. quasi cluso, Her.; quam recluso, V.

2. memoriae, Kiessling; memoria, V.

3. regio reddita, BG in lac. of 17 letters.

4. eum, Bentley, Günther; eo, V.

5. celebritate, Bentley; celeritate, V.

6. appellatus, EG; non, added by Her.; montium, Val.; appella (lac. 10 letters) otium, V.

7. et, added by Clark; V omits; asyndeton def. Heilmann.

8. nec, Clark; nam, V; non, AG.

9. e, Val.; pro, BG; V omits.

10. uiderat, Val.; erat, V.

11. qui, added by Novák.

12. uertice scaneili, G; uertices rasili, B; u.s., Lind; u. cassili, V.

13. et ut, Her.

14. ut equus, Her.

15. imperator de, AG; imperator in, Gronov; imperatori, V. See Dessau, Inscr. 736: C.I.L. vi. 1163.

16. maligna, A; magna, V.

17. quid ibi, suggested by Clark; quid, E 2BG; Vomits.

18. maximo, E 2, Val.; proximo, V.

19. mox, V, 20, 4; modo, Damsté.

20. sociis, BG; solis (lac.), Clark; solis, V.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 16.10

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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Constantii Aug. militaris ac velut triumphalis in urbem Romam adventus.

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