Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), val1.5

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[13] Licinius itaque ex Nova Dacia vilioris originis a Galerio factus imperator, velut adversum Maxentium pugnaturus. Sed oppresso Maxentio cum recepisset Italiam Constantinus, hoc Licinium foedere sibi fecit adiungi: ut Licinius Constantiam, sororem Constantini, apud Mediolanum duxisset uxorem. Nuptiis celebratis Gallias repetit Constantinus, Licinio ad Illyricum reverse.

[14] Post aliquantum deinde temporis Constantium Constantinus ad Licinium misit, persuadens ut Bassianus Caesar fieret, qui habebat alteram Constantini sororem Anatasiam, ut exemplo Maximiani¹ inter Constantinum et Licinium Bassianus Italiam medius optineret.

[15] Et Licinio talia frustrante, per Senicionem Bassiani fratrem, qui Licinio² fidus erat, in Constantinum Bassianus armatur. Qui tamen in conatu deprehensus, Constantino iubente convictus et stratus est. Cum Senicio³ auctor insidiarum posceretur ad poenam, negante Licinio fracta concordia est; additis etiam causis quod apud Emonam Constantini imagines statuasque deiecerat. Bellum deinde apertum convenit ambobus.

[16] Utriusque ad Cibalensem campum ductus exercitus. Licinio XXXV milia peditum et equitum fuere; Constantinus XX milia peditum et⁴ equitum duxit. Caesis post dubium certamen Licinianis viginti peditum milibus et equitum ferratorum parte,⁵ Licinius cum magna parte equitatus noctis auxilio pervolavit ad Sirmium.

[17] Sublata inde uxore ac filio et thesauris tetendit ad Daciam. Valentem ducem limitis⁶ Caesarem fecit.⁷ Inde apud Hadrianopolim Thraciae civitatem per Valentem collecta ingenti multitudine, legatos ad Constantinum de pace misit apud Philippos constitutum. Quibus frustra remissis, iterum reparato bello, in campo Mardiense ab utroque concurritur et post dubium ac diuturnum proelium Licini partibus inclinatis profuit noctis auxilium.

[18] Licinius et Valens credentes Constantinum, quod et verum erat, ad persequendum longius ad Byzantium⁸ processurum, flexi in partem Beroeam concesserunt. Ita Constantinus vehementer in ulteriora festinans, deprehendit Licinium remansisse post tergum. Fatigatis bello et itinere militibus, missus deinde Mestrianus legatus pacem petiit, Licinio postulante et pollicente se imperata facturum. Denuo, sicut ante, mandatum est Valens privatus fieret; quo facto pax ab ambobus firmata est, ut Licinius Orientem, Asiam, Thraciam, Moesiam, minorem Scythiam possideret.

[19] Deinde reversus Serdicam Constantinus hoc cum Licinio absente constituit, ut filii Constantini Crispus et Constantinus, filius etiam Licini Licinius, Caesares fierent et sic ab utroque concorditer regnaretur. Itaque Constantinus et Licinius simul consules facti.⁹

[20] In Orientis partibus, Licinio Constantino consulibus,¹⁰ repentina¹¹ rabie suscitatus Licinius omnes Christianos a palatio iussit expelli.

Mox bellum inter ipsum Licinium et Constantinum efferbuit.

[21] Item cum Constantinus Thessalonica¹² esset, Gothi per neglectos limites eruperunt et, vastata Thracia et Moesia, praedas agere coeperunt. Tune Constantini terrore et impetu represso,¹³ captives illi impetrata pace reddiderunt. Sed hoc Licinius contra fidem factum questus est, quod partes suae ab¹⁴ alio fuerint vindicatae.

[22] Deinde cum variasset inter supplicantia et superba mandata, iram Constantini merito excitavit. Per tempora quibus nondum gerebatur bellum civile, sed item parabatur, Licinius scelere, avaritia, crudelitate, libidine saeviebat, occisis ob divitias pluribus, uxoribus eorum corruptis.

[23] Rupta iam¹⁵ pace utriusque consensu,¹⁶ Constantinus Caesarem Crispum cum grandi classe ad occupandam Asiam miserat, cui de parte Licinii similiter cum navalibus copiis Amandus obstabat.

[24] Licinius vero circa Hadrianopolim maximo exercitu latera ardui montis impleverat. Illuc toto agmine Constantinus inflexit. Cum bellum terra marique traheretur. quamvis per arduum suis nitentibus, at tamen disciplina militari et felicitate Constantinus Licini confusum et sine ordine agentem vicit exercitum, leviter femore sauciatus.

[25] Dehinc fugiens Licinius Byzantium petit; quo dum multitude dissipata contenderet, clauso Byzantio¹⁷ Licinius obsidionem terrenam maris securus agitabat. Sed Constantinus classem collegit ex Thracia. Dehinc solita vanitate Licinius Martinianum sibi Caesarem fecit.

[26] Crispus vero cum classe Constantini Callipolim pervenit; ibi bello maritimo sic Amandum vicit, ut vix per eos qui in litore remanserant vivus Amandus refugeret.¹⁸ Classis vero Licini vel oppressa vel capta est.

[27] Licinius, desperata maris spe, per quod se viderat obsidendum, Chalcedonam cum thesauris refugit. Byzantium Constantinus invasit, victoriam maritimam Crispo conveniente cognoscens. Deinde apud Chrysopolim Licinius pugnavit,¹⁹ maxime auxiliantibus Gothis quos Alica²⁰ regalis²¹ deduxerat; tum²² Constantini pars vincens XXV²³ milia armatorum fudit partis adversae, ceteris fugientibus.

[28] Postea cum legiones Constantini per liburnas²⁴ venire vidissent, proiectis armis se dediderunt. Sequenti autem die Constantia, soror Constantini, uxor Licini, venit ad castra fratris et marito vitam poposcit et impetravit. Ita Licinius privatus factus est et convivio Constantini adhibitus, et Martiniano vita concessa est.

[29] Licinius Thessalonicam missus est; sed Herculii Maximiani, soceri sui, motus exemplo, ne iterum depositam purpuram in perniciem rei publicae sumeret, tumultu militaribus²⁵ exigentibus in Thessalonica iussit occidi, Martinianum in Cappadocia. Qui regnavit annos XVIIII, filio et uxore superstite. Quamvis omnibus²⁶ iam ministris nefariae persecutionis exstinctis, hunc quoque in quantum exercere²⁷ potuit²⁸ persecutorem digna punitio flagitaret.

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).) — val1.5 focus

[13] Now Licinius was a native of New Dacia, and was of somewhat common origin. He was made emperor¹ by Galerius, in order that he might take the field against Maxentius. But when Maxentius was overthrown and Constantine had recovered Italy, he made Licinius his colleague on condition that he should marry Constantine’s sister Constantia at Mediolanum. After the celebration of the wedding Constantine went to Gaul, and Licinius returned to Illyricum.

[14] Some time after that Constantine sent Constantius² to Licinius, to persuade him to confer the rank of Caesar on Bassianus, who was married to a second sister of Constantine (named Anastasia), to the end that, after the manner of Maximianus, Bassianus might hold Italy and thus stand as a buffer between Constantine and Licinius.

[15] But Licinius thwarted such an arrangement, and influenced by Bassianus’ brother Senicio, who was loyal to Licinius, Bassianus took up arms against Constantine. But he was arrested in the act of accomplishing his purpose, and by order of Constantine was condemned and executed. When the punishment of Senicio was demanded as the instigator of the plot and Licinius refused, the harmony between the two emperors came to an end; an additional reason for the break was, that Licinius had overthrown the busts and statues of Constantine at Emona.³ Then the two emperors declared open war.

[16] Their armies were led to the plain of Cibalae.⁴ Licinius had 35,000 infantry and cavalry; Constantine commanded 20,000. After an indecisive contest, in which 20,000 of Licinius’ foot soldiers and a part of his mail-clad horsemen were slain, he himself with a great part of his other cavalry made his escape under cover of night to Sirmium.

[17] From there, taking with him his wife, his son, and his treasures, he went to Dacia and appointed Valens, who was commander on the frontier, to the rank of Caesar. Then, having through Valens mustered a large force at Hadrianopolis, a city of Thrace, he sent envoys to Constantine, who had established himself at Philippi, to treat for peace. When the envoys were sent back without accomplishing anything, the war was renewed and the two rivals joined battle on the plain of Mardia. After a long and indecisive struggle, the troops of Licinius gave way and night aided them to escape.

[18] Thereupon Licinius and Valens, believing that Constantine (as turned out to be the case), in order to follow up his advantage, would advance farther in the direction of Byzantium, turned aside and made their way towards Beroea.⁵ As Constantine was eagerly pushing on, he learned that Licinius had remained behind him; and just then, when his men were worn out from fighting and marching, Mestrianus was sent to him as an envoy, to propose peace in the name of Licinius, who promised to do as he was bidden. Valens was ordered to return again to his former private station;⁶ when that was done, peace was concluded by both emperors, with the stipulation that Licinius should hold the Orient, Asia, Thrace, Moesia, and Lesser Scythia.⁷

[19] Then Constantine, having returned to Serdica, arranged with Licinius, who was elsewhere, that Crispus and Constantinus, sons of Constantine, and Licinius, son of Licinius, should be made Caesars, and that thus the rule should be carried on in harmony by both emperors. Thus Constantine and Licinius became colleagues in the consulship.⁸

[20] In the regions of the Orient, while Licinius and Constantine were consuls, Licinius was stirred by sudden madness and ordered that all the Christians should be driven from the Palace.⁹ Soon war flamed out again between Licinius himself and Constantine.

[21] Also, when Constantine was at Thessalonica, the Goths broke through the neglected frontiers, devasted Thrace and Moesia, and began to drive off booty. Then because of fear of Constantine and his check of their attack they returned their prisoners to him and peace was granted them. But Licinius complained of this action as a breach of faith, on the ground that his function had been usurped by another.

[22] Finally, by using sometimes humble entreaties and sometimes arrogant threats, he aroused the deserved wrath of Constantine, During the interval before the civil war began, but while it was in preparation, Licinius gave himself up to a frenzy of wickedness, cruelty, avarice and lust; he put many men to death for the sake of their riches, and violated their wives.

[23] Now peace was broken by consent of both sides; Constantine sent Crispus Caesar with a large fleet to take possession of Asia, and on the side of Licinius, Amandus opposed him, likewise with naval forces.

[24] Licinius himself had covered the slopes of a high mountain near Hadrianopolis with a huge army. Hither Constantine turned his march with his entire force. While the war went on slowly by land and sea, although Constantine’s army had great difficulty in scaling the heights, at last his good fortune and the discipline of his army prevailed, and he defeated the confused and disorganised army of Licinius;¹⁰ but Constantine was slightly wounded in the thigh.

[25] Then Licinius fled to Byzantium; and while his scattered forces were on the way to the city, Licinius closed it, and feeling secure against an attack by sea, planned to meet a siege from the land-side. But Constantine got together a fleet from Thrace. Then Licinius, with his usual lack of consideration,¹¹ chose Martinianus as his Caesar.

[26] But Crispus, with Constantine’s fleet, sailed to Callipolis,¹² where in a sea-fight he so utterly defeated Amandus that the latter barely made his escape with the help of the forces which he had left on shore. But Licinius’ fleet was in part destroyed and in part captured.

[27] Licinius, abandoning hope on the sea, by way of which he saw that he would be blockaded, fled with his treasures to Chalcedon. Constantine entered Byzantium, where he met Crispus and learned of his naval victory. Then Licinius began a battle at Chrysopolis,¹³ being especially aided by the Gothic auxiliaries which their prince Alica had brought; whereupon the army of Constantine was victorious, slaying 25,000 soldiers¹⁴ of the opposing side and putting the rest to flight.

[28] Later, when they saw Constantine’s legions coming in Liburnian galleys, the survivors threw down their arms and gave themselves up. But on the following day Constantia, sister of Constantine and wife of Licinius, came to her brother’s camp and begged that her husband’s life be spared, which was granted. Thus Licinius became a private citizen,¹⁵ and was entertained at a banquet by Constantine. Martinianus’ life was also spared.

[29] Licinius was sent to Thessalonica; but Constantine, influenced by the example of his father-in-law Herculius Maximianus,¹⁶ for fear that Licinius might again, with disastrous consequences to the State, resume the purple which he had laid down, and also because the soldiers mutinously demanded his death, had him assassinated at Thessalonica,¹⁷ and Martinianus in Cappadocia. Licinius reigned nineteen years and was survived by his wife and a son. And yet, after all the other participants in the abominable persecution¹⁸ had already perished, the penalty he deserved would surely demand this man also, a persecutor so far as he could act as such.¹⁹

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. Maximiani Bassianus, Momm.; diocliciani et maximiani inter constantinum licinium et basianum, B.

2. Licinio] Hadr. Val.; uicino, B.

3. Senicio]; sinicius, B.

4. et]; B omits.

5. part, Momm.; item, B; tribus milibus, Zangemeister.

6. limtitis] Hadr. Val.; militis, B.

7. fecit] Henr. Val.; B omits.

8. ad Byzantium, Momm.; a bizantium, B 2.

9. facti]; facti sunt, Gardt.; factis, B 3.

10. consulibus] Oros., Henr. Val.; B omits.

11. repentina efferbuit (with changes in order) = Orosius, vii. 28, 18.

12. Thessalonica]; tessalonica, B; Thessalonicae, Gardt.

13. impetu represso, Momm.; et impetu et represso, B.

14. ab]; B omits.

15. corruptis. rupta iam] Henr. Val.; corrupta enim, B.

16. consensu, Momm.; exercitus, Henr. Val.; sensus, B.

17. petit Byzantio] Henr. Val.; quod m.d. contendere bizantium (bizantio, B 3), B.

18. refugeret, Momm.; re effugeret, B.

19. pugnauit] Hadr. Val.; B omits.

20. Alica] B.

21. regalis]; regulis, B.

22. tum, Momm.; cum, B.

23. tum, Momm.; cum, B.

24. liburnas, Momm.; liburnam, B; liburniam, earlier edd.

25. tumultu militaribus, Momm.; tumultum militari, B.

26. omnibus] Orosius, vii. 28, 21; omnium, B.

27. exercere] B, with inferior MSS. of Orosius; exerere, the better MSS.

28. potuit] Orosius; B omits.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae val1.5

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers