EUTROPIUS AND FESTUS:
SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE EMPIRE AND
IMPERIAL POLICY IN A.D. 369/370
H.W. Bird
By
A.D.
Goths i n the
desultory
straits
369
t h e e a s t e r n emperor V a l e n s
r e g i o n o f the lower
f i g h t i n g he was
t o beg
end
of that year,
f o r p a r d o n and p e a c e .
some j u s t i f i c a t i o n
Maximus.*
chose
The
finally
t h a t t h e y were c o m p e l l e d
him
Valens
he
was
work was
apparently
of
army was
in
was
probably
In a d d i t i o n , i t w i l l
be
the
with
Gothicus
memoriae,
o f Roman H i s t o r y .
2
d e d i c a t e d t o t h e emperor
subsequently
appointed
and
pro-
o f the u n d e r l y i n g purposes
t o a d o p t an a g g r e s s i v e
r e s t o r e t o Roman r u l e
Jovian.
unpopular
s e v e r e l y s h o r t o f f o o d and
emperor was
to
towards
assumed t h e t i t l e
t o show t h a t one
e a r l i e r by
and
such
post.''
The
peace t r e a t y
eastern
those p r o v i n c e s
l a t t e r had
i n A.D.
constantly harassed
justifiably
t h e West o r e v e n a t C o n s t a n t i n o p l e
probably
and
to encourage Valens
unfavourable
and,
w i t h h i s Brevlarium
c o m m i s s i o n e d by
the P e r s i a n s s i x years
b e c a u s e t h e new
and
f o r i t seems t h a t E u t r o p i u s was
a g a i n s t t h e P e r s i a n s and
t o s i g n an
granted
t h a t E u t r o p i u s , t h e e m p e r o r ' s magister
p r e s e n t paper attempts
t h e Breviarium
policy
to
T h i s was
the
somewhat
a b l e t o r e t u r n t o C o n s t a n t i n o p l e where
c o n s u l o f A s i a , a much c o v e t e d
The
After
to send s e v e r a l s u p p l i a n t deputations
t h i s moment t o p r e s e n t V a l e n s
well-received,
been campaigning a g a i n s t
s u c c e s s f u l i n r e d u c i n g them t o
c e l e b r a t e d a triumph
It is likely
had
Danube f o r t h r e e y e a r s .
been
363
ceded
compelled
because h i s
in i t s retreat,
and
w o r r i e d about u s u r p a t i o n s o c c u r r i n g
during h i s absence.
a r g u e d t h a t t h e Breviarium
of Festus,
a p p e a r e d o n l y a few months a f t e r t h a t o f E u t r o p i u s , was
11
which
deliberately
12
designed
its
t o e m p h a s i z e Rome's s e r i e s o f s u c c e s s e s
current a b i l i t y
J o v i a n had
Singara,
fifteen
and
manum.
He
W h i l e E u t r o p i u s was
the throne,
h i s own,
on
t h e Danube, t r i e d
compromising.
p a r t s , with
the t h r o n e
At
had
the s i t u a t i o n
Eutropius
items
have a c c u r a t e
6
us
t h a t he
A
ability
careful
and
to persuade Valens,
pursue a vigorous
r e s s e s g i v e n up
by
t h a t "the one
policy
had
divided Iberia
on
still
Sapor
by
into
two
eastern.
aided
the
to
eplstolazum.
latter's
7
Gothic
the
emperor's
Furthermore",
campaigns
He
he
for-he
would, t h e r e f o r e ,
the P e r s i a n s
and
of
the
c a p a c i t y t o mount a s u c c e s s f u l e x p e d i t i o n i n
and
t h a t one
I n d e e d , den
recover
B o e r was
i n the
o f the
perhaps, too, h i s m i l i t a r y
a g a i n s t S a p o r and
9
later
aims o f h i s
a d v i s o r s , to
the p r o v i n c e s
and
fort-
moved t o w r i t e some
t h r e a d w h i c h r u n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e book i s t h e d i g n i t y
always b e t t e r than
Romanum i m p e r i u m , quo
peace without
the
honour."*
first
neque ab e x o r d i o
minus neque i n c r e m e n t i s
of
0
sentence o f the
ullum
years
work:
fere
t o t o o r b e a m p l i u s humana
p o t e s t memoria r e c o r d a r i
and
there
5
accompanied J u l i a n on
i m p e r i a l theme commences w i t h
Thereafter,
army
t h a t t h e Romans h a d
g i v e s the i m p r e s s i o n
Jovian.
the
sending
V a l e n s , however,
reading o f c e r t a i n passages p a r t i c u l a r l y
work was
Armeniae
army u n d e r T e r e n t i u s
o f p r e c i s e i n f o r m a t i o n about t h a t a r e a .
o f t h e Breviarium
was
f o r war.
p e r h a p s as h i s magister
chapters
The
of Iberia.
was
executed
d e s p a t c h e d an
sent another
knowledge o f the peace t r e a t y w i t h
Romans' m i l i t a r y
War
iniectal>at
Romans r e s p o n d e d by
subsequently
to
Valens
terms o f J o v i a n ' s p e a c e t r e a t y , r e f u s e d
appears t o have been w i t h Valens
ago
The
o f A s p a c u r e s he
and p r e p a r e d
informs
P e r s i a n campaign,
war.
and
t r e a c h e r y , b l i n d e d and
n o t b e e n c o n s u l t e d and
the Armenians c o n t r a r y t o the
the E a s t .
agreement and
and
failed
Sauromaces h o l d i n g the w e s t e r n r e g i o n , A s p a c u r e s the
S a p o r , a n g r y t h a t he
exhibits
five provinces
even t h a t had
t o smooth o v e r d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h
the suggestion
Nisibis,
r e p l a c e d Sauromaces o f I b e r i a ,
In a d d i t i o n they
t o r e p l a c e Sauromaces on
embroiled
and
Aspacures.
son Papa back t o Armenia and
under Count A r i n t h e u s .
by
and
possessions.
composing h i s B r e v i a r i u m
i t s king, Arsaces,
p l a c e d a p u p p e t on
the
Apparently
the G o t h s , the .king b r o k e the
captured
Roman nominee, w i t h
Arsaces'
i t s lost
the g r e a t f o r t r e s s e s o f
C a s t r a Maurorum i n Mesopotamia and
occupied with
accept
recover
conceding
f o r t r e s s e s beyond the T i g r i s .
s a t i s f y Sapor.
him,
t o d e f e a t them and
g a i n e d p e a c e by
a g a i n s t the P e r s i a n s
4
. . . .
t h r o u g h o u t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e whole panorama o f
Rome's
13
progress
f r o m an
insignificant
empire, Eutropius gives
he
does
to c i v i l
Pharsalus
matters.
i n 48 B.C.,
But
i t i s when he
t o w a r d s t h e end
t h a t he makes h i s f i r s t
telling
Never b e f o r e had
one
settlement of p a s t o r a l bandits to a
f a r more p r o m i n e n c e t o c a m p a i g n s and
world
conquests
a r r i v e s a t the B a t t l e
than
of
o f t h e r e p u b l i c a n s e c t i o n o f h i s work,
comment:**
a g r e a t e r number o f Roman f o r c e s a s s e m b l e d i n
p l a c e o r under b e t t e r g e n e r a l s ,
h a v e s u b d u e d t h e whole w o r l d ,
had
f o r c e s which would
easily
they been l e d a g a i n s t b a r b a r i a n s .
12
The
in
topic
A.D.
i s p i c k e d up
3S1
i s discussed.
were d e s t r o y e d ,
and
again
i n the l a s t book
f o r c e s w h i c h w o u l d have b e e n " s u f f i c i e n t
f o r p r o c u r i n g many t r i u m p h s
In the
wars and
flourishing
and
lasting
f o r any
than
He
u n d e r him.
The
author
i n c l u d e s the
w h i c h t h e y had
the
Roman s t a n d a r d s
then g i v e s a long l i s t
following
had
d e f e a t e d him.*''
g i v e n t o no
which they had
one
t h e P e r s i a n s gave
b e f o r e , and
taken
of his
statement:
when
judged
lishments
T r a j a n i s t o be p r e f e r r e d t o a l l o t h e r s .
a l l of Trajan's
i n the E a s t which are
the N o r t h ,
far
naturally
lists
more
t o a g r e a t e x t e n t by
d e s p i t e the
fact
conquests
and
their military
alliances,
conquests
they
accompEutropius
in particular
t r e a t e d t o t w i c e a s much c o v e r a g e as
t h a t the D a c i a n
him
they r e s t o r e d
from Crassus
Subsequent emperors are
and
in
t h e Roman s t a t e more
r e c o v e r e d Armenia from the P a r t h i a n s :
hostages,
those
f o r e i g n wars
peace."
t h a t a t no p e r i o d was
t o t h e e m p i r e and
diligently
Mursa
i m p e r i a l p e r i o d Augustus i s h i g h l y p r a i s e d f o r h i s success
E u t r o p i u s observes
additions
when t h e B a t t l e o f
I n t h a t s t r u g g l e v a s t f o r c e s o f t h e Roman E m p i r e
those
in
were more e n d u r i n g
and
profitable:
The
l i m i t s o f t h e Roman e m p i r e , w h i c h , s i n c e t h e
A u g u s t u s , had
been r a t h e r defended than
He
rebuilt
e x t e n d e d f a r and
wide.
s u b d u e d D a c i a by
the overthrow o f Decebalus,
some c i t i e s
T h e r u i n g i now
occupy.
T h i s p r o v i n c e was
enlarged,
i n Germany;
and
b e y o n d t h e Danube, i n t h a t t e r r i t o r y w h i c h t h e
and
reign of
honourably
formed a
he
province
Thaiphali, Victoali,
a thousand m i l e s
circumference.
He
putting
r e c o v e r e d A r m e n i a , w h i c h t h e P a r t h i a n s had
to death
Parthamasires
who
he
seized,
h e l d the government o f i t .
in
14
He gave a k i n g t o t h e A l b a n i .
of
the Iberians, Sannatians,
Colchians.
He o b t a i n e d
He r e c e i v e d i n t o a l l i a n c e
Bosporani,
Arabians,
the mastery over
the king
O s d r o e n i , and
the Cordueni
and Marcomedi,
as w e l l a s o v e r A n t h e m u s i a , an e x t e n s i v e r e g i o n o f P e r s i a .
conquered and kept p o s s e s s i o n o f S e l e u c i a , Ctesiphon,
and
the country
boundaries
o f the Hessenii.
He
Babylon,
He a d v a n c e d a s f a r a s t h e
o f I n d i a , a n d t h e Red S e a , where he f o r m e d
three
p r o v i n c e s , Armenia, A s s y r i a , and Mesopotamia, i n c l u d i n g t h e t r i b e s
which border
the
reason
Valens.
Danube
He a f t e r w a r d s ,
t o o , reduced
Arabia
into
f o r t h e Red
14
t h a t he m i g h t u s e i t t o l a y w a s t e t h e c o a s t s o f I n d i a .
Sea,
One
o n Madena.
form o f a p r o v i n c e .
He a l s o f i t t e d o u t a f l e e t
f o r E u t r o p i u s " emphasis i s h i s a p p a r e n t d e s i r e t o i n f l u e n c e
The l a t t e r h a d j u s t c o n c l u d e d
(as h a d T r a j a n ) .
u r g e d by E u t r o p i u s
Roman p o s s e s s i o n s
a s u c c e s s f u l campaign o n t h e lower
With t h a t achievement behind
him Valens
t o emulate t h a t b e s t o f emperors and r e g a i n
i s now
those
i n t h e E a s t which T r a j a n had once conquered and which
J o v i a n had surrendered.
Unfortunately,
cousin's
according
son, Hadrian.
Trajan but rather gained
Trajan's
t o E u t r o p i u s , T r a j a n was s u c c e e d e d b y h i s
The l a t t e r , who was n o t s e l e c t e d t o s u c c e e d
t h e throne
through the machinations
by
of Plotina,
widow,
envying
Trajan's
g l o r y , immediately
gave up t h r e e o f t h e p r o v i n c e s
which T r a j a n had added t o t h e empire, w i t h d r a w i n g t h e a r m i e s
from
A s s y r i a , Mesopotamia a n d Armenia, and d e c i d i n g t h a t t h e E u p h r a t e s
s h o u l d be t h e b o u n d a r y o f t h e e m p i r e .
act s i m i l a r l y with
When h e was p r o c e e d i n g
to
r e g a r d t o Dacia, h i s f r i e n d s dissuaded him,
l e s t many Roman c i t i z e n s
s h o u l d be l e f t
i n t h e hands o f t h e
b a r b a r i a n s , b e c a u s e T r a j a n , a f t e r he h a d s u b d u e d D a c i a ,
had t r a n s -
p l a n t e d t h i t h e r a n i n f i n i t e number o f men f r o m t h e whole Roman
world,
to people
the country
and t h e c i t i e s
a s t h e l a n d had been
e x h a u s t e d o f i n h a b i t a n t s i n t h e l o n g war m a i n t a i n e d
The
r e p o r t that Hadrian
who e x c e l l e d i n a n y t h i n g
Hadrian,
considered
i s i n Dio.*^
Perowne c o n s i d e r e d
17
sceptical.
surrendering Dacia
this
by D e c e b a l u s . *
a n d was e n v i o u s
ofa l l
In t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e biographies o f
a possibility
b u t H e n d e r s o n was q u i t e
I t i s f e a s i b l e , however, t h a t H a d r i a n ,
o f t h e empire soon a f t e r h i s a c c e s s i o n , c o n s i d e r e d
i n h i s general
review
a l l of h i s options,
5
15
including
t h e new
the p o s s i b l e w i t h d r a w a l
and
recent settlers
r e i g n was
f r o m D a c i a , and p r u d e n t l y d e c i d e d t o
l u c r a t i v e p r o v i n c e and
and
probably
thereby p r o t e c t the i n t e r e s t s o f
those o f the s t a t e .
E u t r o p i u s ' account o f
f o l l o w e d by F e s t u s , who
retain
the
Hadrian's
a l s o noted Hadrian's
envy o f
18
T r a j a n but omitted to r e p o r t Hadrian's
The
other f o u r t h - c e n t u r y sources, such
Augusta,
This
and
the anonymous e p i t o m a t o r ,
i s hardly surprising
same p u r p o s e
to
the P a r t h i a n s
as A u r e l i u s V i c t o r ,
since i t i s unlikely
and h a d
inhabitants.
been unable
Furthermore
he was
h u m i l i a t i n g b l o w t o h i s Roman p r i d e .
c e r n i n 369.
template
It
most
t h a t any
Ten
years e a r l i e r ,
Historia
t h e i r recovery.
regard.
o f them had
the
i n person
the
i n the provinces
i n a position
I t was
ceded
suffering
to understand
of
and
sym-
also a b i t t e r
and
Q u i t e n a t u r a l l y , t h e n , he w a n t e d t o
when V i c t o r was
a matter o f major
writing,
no
T h e i r l o s s had
con-
t h e Romans
t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s l a t e r , when t h e H.A.
were b e i n g composed, Rome was
Dacia.
i n this
to f o r g e t the p i t i f u l
behind.
from
the
silent
had w i t n e s s e d
r e c o v e r t h e l o s t p o s s e s s i o n s , w h i c h was
h e l d those possessions;
Epitome
He
and o t h e r Roman c i t i e s
p a t h i z e w i t h the s i t u a t i o n o f those l e f t
see V a l e n s
withdrawal
are s i m i l a r l y
o r e x p e r i e n c e as E u t r o p i u s .
forced evacuation of N i s i b i s
19
their
contemplated
longer i n a p o s i t i o n
and
still
the
even t o
con-
become a c c e p t e d by most Romans.
i s a t the e n d o f h i s work, however, t h a t E u t r o p i u s shows h i s
feelings
clearly:
J o v i a n made- p e a c e w i t h S a p o r ,
ignominious
aries
f o r he was
and g i v e up
happened p r i o r
about
our
a p e a c e t h a t was
compelled
necessary but
t o c o n t r a c t the empire's
a part of i t s territories.
T h i s had
l e g i o n s had
been f o r c e d t o pass
Even
u n d e r t h e yoke a t t h e
F o r k s by P o n t u s T e l e s i n u s , a t N u m a n t i a i n S p a i n and
yet
no p a r t o f .the Roman t e r r i t o r y was
occasions.
restored,
g i v e n up on
i f he had b e e n w i l l i n g ,
immediately
I have m e n t i o n e d ;
But
as he
was
too l i t t l e
t h e N u m i d i a n s and
feared a r i v a l
concerned
these
when t h e s i t u a t i o n had
a f t e r w a r d s c a r r i e d on a g a i n s t b o t h
t h e Numantines and
Caudine
entirely
t o change t h e o b l i g a t i o n o f t h e t r e a t y , as was
t h e Romans i n a l l t h e wars t h a t
founded
though
i n Numidia,
any o f
Such t e r m s o f p e a c e w o u l d n o t have b e e n
reprehensible
never
t o h i s t i m e s i n c e t h e Roman E m p i r e h a d b e e n
e l e v e n h u n d r e d and e i g h t e e n y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y .
f o r power i f he
remained
with h i s m i l i t a r y
not
been
done
f o r war
and
ratified.
i n the E a s t
renown.^
0
by
was.
the Samnites
t h e p e a c e was
still
bound-
he
16
Ammianus, who
ed
had
a l s o taken p a r t i n J u l i a n ' s P e r s i a n
campaign and
had
witness-
t h e same l a m e n t a b l e s c e n e s as E u t r o p i u s , was
regarded
as
a shameful peace concluded
have b e e n b e t t e r t o h a v e f o u g h t
22
Rome's f o r t r e s s e s .
then
s i m i l a r l y a n g r y a t what he
21
by J o v i a n .
I n d e e d , he f e l t i t w o u l d
t e n b a t t l e s r a t h e r t h a n g i v e up
I n an e m o t i o n a l
p a s s a g e he
rails
e v e n one
of
against Fortune
and
adds:
Vet
what s t r u c k t o t h e marrow o f p a t r i o t i c
fearful of a rival
in
G a u l and
positions,
t o h i s power and
bearing
I l l y r i c u m t h a t many men
he
had
hastened to o u t s t r i p the
c o m m i t t e d an
the occupation
since
o f t h e O r i e n t by
the b e g i n n i n g
annals
t h a t any
enemy by
records
o f our
the P e r s i a n s .
city
p a r t of our
can
us
i t be
. . .
For never
In f a c t ,
t e r m s , were i m m e d i a t e l y a n n u l l e d by
at
the
Caudine Forks
the
(I.think)
reading
the
our
an
ancient
t h a t t r e a t i e s made i n e x t r e m e n e c e s s i t y
h a p p e n e d ) i n f o r m e r t i m e s when o u r
un-
been y i e l d e d t o
s h a m e f u l c o n d i t i o n s , e v e n when b o t h p a r t i e s h a d
fixed
and,
act
a l l i t s might
f o u n d by
t e r r i t o r y has
an emperor o r a c o n s u l .
teach
was
which ever s i n c e
r e s i s t e d with
that
higher
r e p o r t o f h i s coming
w o r t h y o f an emperor by b e t r a y i n g N i s i b i s ,
H i t h r i d a t e s ' r e i g n had
this,
i n mind t h a t i t
o f t e n sought
u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f a v o i d i n g p e r j u r y , he
time o f King
c i t i z e n s was
with
sworn an o a t h ,
a r e n e w a l o f war.
l e g i o n s were s e n t
i n Samnium, when A l b i n u s
under the
i n Numidia
on
(This
yoke
devised
a s h a m e f u l p e a c e , and when H a n c i n u s , t h e a u t h o r o f a
hasty
Syme has
t r e a t y , was
already
surrendered
n o t e d t h a t Ammianus
24
p a n i o n i n arms."
I t seems v e r y
o f the h i s t o r i a n ' s i n d e b t e d n e s s
elaborate
on
Eutropius'
disgracefully
23
to the people o f Numantia.
"had
likely
recourse
t h a t we
to Eutropius,
have here another
t o the b r e v i a r i s t .
he
shared
Eutropius'
com-
example
Ammianus d i d ,
theme, as h i s H i s t o r y demanded, a n d
same d i d a c t i c p u r p o s e , b u t
his
indeed,
d i d n o t have
resentment and
sense
the
of
shame.
Eutropius'
implicit
e v e n t h o u g h V a l e n s may
engaged h i s a t t e n t i o n .
(a s t r a n g e
coincidence
advice
initially
25
t o V a l e n s does n o t
have i n t e n d e d
Consequently, despite
o f names) and
make any
s e r i o u s attempt to r e c o v e r
to y i e l d
t o Sapor's
settlement
was
seem t o h a v e b e e n
t o do
the
so.
victories
V a d o m i r , t h e emperor was
the
l o s t p r o v i n c e s , but
l a t e r demands r e g a r d i n g A r m e n i a and
r e a c h e d between t h e
two
empires u n t i l
followed,
Domestic p l o t s
of
Trajanus
not
he
able
did
26
Iberia.
a b o u t A.D.
to
refuse
No
388
when
17
A r m e n i a was
finally
five-sixths
o f the
strategic
partitioned
country.
i m p o r t a n c e and,
and P e r s i a a c q u i r e d t h e
Still,
lion's
t h e Roman s e c t i o n was
as J o n e s a v e r s ,
of
share,
about
significant
"peace w i t h P e r s i a was
worth
pay-
xng f o r . "
I n A.D.
371-372.
he
369 E u t r o p i u s
could not
A c c o r d i n g l y , i n the
makes i t c l e a r t h a t t h e Romans had
and
still
given
emerged v i c t o r i o u s .
i n , triumphing
Republican
sack
of
the
Rome by
t h e Romans i n war
while
by
themselves,
t h e i r t e r r i t o r y was
Imperial period, although
he
c a n n o t be
had
no
ability
to maintain her
several
years
killed
empire.
One
Valens
troops,
In
the
I n A.D.
369,
military
can o n l y s p e c u l a t e about h i s
Roman army a t
a n d most o f h i s s e n i o r o f f i c e r s .
I suspect,
confidence.
Ammianus c e r t a i n l y
t h e Goths i n A.D.
T h o s e who
feeling
Adrianople
however,
a r e d e c e i v e d by
by
such
study e a r l i e r
these w i l l
29
have o f t e n happened.
t o o , g o e s on
still
recover.
Rutilius
fourth
to stress
century,
educated
circles
i n the
immediately
perienced
at f i r s t
never
but
o r those
dire
w h i c h have
disturbances
to s u f f e r major d i s a s t e r s
developed
c o n v i c t i o n , " and,
they
w h i c h have overwhelmed
by
by
Claudian
t h e end
and
and
of
become s o m e t h i n g o f a commonplace, a t any
the
r a t e among
West."^°
F o r E u t r o p i u s , however, t h e
Writing
times
subsequently
"with apparent
i t "had
t h a t t h e s t a t e was
show t h a t s u c h
Rome's a b i l i t y
T h i s theme was
Namatianus
say
a dark c l o u d o f misfortune,
r e c e n t l y passed,
He,
I n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f a Roman
the h o r r o r o f r e c e n t i l l s
For i f they
and
he w r i t e s :
are i g n o r a n t o f h i s t o r y
before overspread
them.
retained h i s .
376
he
then,
t h a t e v e n t h i s d i s a s t e r w o u l d n o t have s h a t t e r e d h i s i m p e r i a l p r i d e
d e f e a t by
the
r e g a r d i n g numbers,
to r u l e o r about her
the
the
t h e power o f
28
as y e t b u t s m a l l . "
l a t e r when t h e Goths d e s t r o y e d
never
the
Even a f t e r
"so g r e a t was
as s p e c i f i c
d o u b t s a b o u t Rome's r i g h t
past
t h e v a s t e x t e n t o f enemy
s t r e s s e s t h e m a g n i t u d e o f Rome's v i c t o r i e s .
Eutropius
of
above,
c e n t u r i e s they had
In h i s n a r r a t i v e o f
r e s o u r c e s o f t h e Roman s t a t e .
t h o u s a n d men
problems
l o s s e s i n the
t h e G a u l s , when t h e L a t i n s r e f u s e d t o f u r n i s h
Romans r a i s e d s i x t y
still
I n more t h a n e l e v e n
over a l l d i f f i c u l t i e s .
incredible
domestic
a s s e r t i o n quoted
endured severe
period Eutropius delights i n r e c i t i n g
casualties,
and
foresee Valens'
singularly passionate
a f t e r Valens'
theme was
victories
hand t h e s u c c e s s e s
probably
over
of Julian
not
a mere
commonplace.
t h e G o t h s and h a v i n g
i n t h e E a s t , he
felt
exthat
18
t h e P e r s i a n s c o u l d be d e f e a t e d a n d t h a t t h e l o s t p r o v i n c e s c o u l d be r e c o v e r e d ,
if
o n l y Valens
That
ically
would a c t e n e r g e t i c a l l y .
E u t r o p i u s was n o t a l o n e v o i c e c r y i n g
demonstrated by the appearance, p r o b a b l y
370,^* o f F e s t u s ' Breviarium.
32
den B o e r
i t seems a l m o s t
Despite
certain
i n the wilderness i s graphi n the following year,
the s t r o n g l y expressed
doubts o f
t h a t F e s t u s h a d s e r v e d a s consularis
S y r i a and r e p l a c e d E u t r o p i u s as V a l e n s ' m a g i s t e r
memoriae
i n 370.
in
He a g a i n
r e p l a c e d E u t r o p i u s as p r o c o n s u l o f A s i a i n 372 a f t e r h e h a d f a l s e l y
accused
33
the l a t t e r o f t r e a s o n .
L i k e E u t r o p i u s , F e s t u s was c o m m i s s i o n e d b y V a l e n s
summary o f Roman h i s t o r y .
Eutropius'
account
Momigliano suggested
34
t o be too l o n g .
however, was P e r s i a , w h i c h t a k e s
Festus' account
thirty,
o f t h e Boas partes
or fully
totumque
t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e book.
commission d i f f e r e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y
been asked
by V a l e n s
empire, s i m i l a r
moralizing
result
from
to write a b r i e f ,
d'etre
Orientem
the tendentious
In addition,
appealed
t o J u l i a n and
t h e r e p u b l i c was t o b e i n c l u d e d .
c l e a r l y p l e a s e d t h e emperor, hence h i s p r o m o t i o n
after
account
The Romans,
i n t h e f o u r t h c e n t u r y , d i d n o t h a v e t h e modern a c a d e m i c ' s
Minor.
Thus F e s t u s was e x p e c t e d
t o power i n I t a l y
His service
brief
and serve him w e l l i n h i s w r i t i n g .
He
imperialist.^
d i d as he was o r d e r e d .
H i s p o s t s a s magister
memoriae
were p r e s e n t e d w i t h
15 F e s t u s w r i t e s :
and l a t e r
The e m p e r o r
a handy r e f e r e n c e o f Rome's
the P a r t h i a n s and P e r s i a n s and a u s e f u l p i e c e o f propaganda.
In Chapter
Asia
survey o f
i n S y r i a and presumably i n o t h e r e a s t e r n
as p r o c o n s u l o f A s i a d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t h e h a d p l e a s e d V a l e n s .
h i s entourage
need,
a n d t h e West, a n d t h e n c o n c e n t r a t e o n t h e
as consularis
a patriotic
a s D. M a g i e ' s Roman R u l e in
t o g i v e an e x t r e m e l y
p a r t s w o u l d commend h i m t o V a l e n s
and
soon
369, t o compose a b r i e f
w i t h h e a v y e m p h a s i s upon V a l e n s ' domain, t h e E a s t , a n d
o r d e s i r e t o p r o d u c e a work s u c h
with
o f Eutropius to
F e s t u s was c o m m i s s i o n e d , p r o b a b l y
ability
Festus
The l a t t e r h a d
to that o f A u r e l i u s V i c t o r but without
i n p a r t i c u l a r upon Rome's d e a l i n g s w i t h P a r t h i a / P e r s i a .
was a l s o
Indeed,
tento
I t s t r i k e s me t h a t F e s t u s '
and p r e t e n t i o u s s t y l e which seemingly
o f Roman e x p a n s i o n
Rome's r i s e
5
spans chapters
that of Eutropius.
t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f E u t r o p i u s ' work i n l a t e
East.
o f t h e book,
h a l f o f the work.'
o f Rome and t h e
the p r o c o n s u l s h i p o f A s i a .
especially
found
general account
Ammianus b u t n o t t o V a l e n s .
The
t h a t t h e emperor
The r e a l raison
up p r a c t i c a l l y
t o produce a s h o r t
relations
19
Scio
nunc, i n c l y t e p r i n c e p s , quo
p r o f e c t o , quotiens Babyloniae
quibus
vicibus
sagittis pila
enumerabo b e l l o r u m .
v e r a autera v i r t u t e
go
i n 53 B.C.,
they
contenderint.
Furto hostes
intentio.
are
Requiris
Breviter
laetatos,
victores.
f r e q u e n t l y , as i n t h e c a s e o f C r a s s u s
" s o f t e n e d by
the thought
t h a t h i s death
Trajan,
t h e Romans' f a v o u r i t e m i l i t a r y h e r o , who
realm,
at
d i d not
7
u n a v e n g e d s i n c e t h e s o n o f t h e P a r t h i a n k i n g p e r i s h e d as w e l l . " ^
Persian
et
eventus
i n p a u c i s i n v e n i e s esse
semper Romanos p r o b a b i s e x s t i t i s s e
Roman d e f e a t s a r e d e s c r i b e d , b u t
Carrhae
tua pergat
a c Romanorum arma c o n l a t a s i n t
It
was
conquered v a s t areas o f
the
a n d o n l y b e c a u s e he e n v i e d T r a j a n ' s g l o r y d i d H a d r i a n
cede
38
A r m e n i a , M e s o p o t a m i a , and A s s y r i a .
recall
I t was
offensive, writes Festus, to
f o r t u n e s o f t h e u n l u c k y V a l e r i a n , c a p t u r e d by S a p o r and
39
t o grow o l d i n s h a m e f u l s e r v i t u d e .
He f e l t s i m i l a r d i s t a s t e f o r
who
the
compelled
Zenobia,
s u b j e c t e d t h e E a s t t o a woman's sway.
F o r t u n a t e l y A u r e l i a n tamed h e r
40
l e d h e r b e f o r e h i s c h a r i o t i n h i s t r i u m p h a t Rome.
and
Under D i o c l e t i a n
t h e P e r s i a n s were d u l y h u m i l i a t e d , t h e i r k i n g ,
Narses,
41
f l e d , h i s wife
and,
and
daughters
were c a p t u r e d .
Constantine
crushed
the
Goths
a t h i s approach,
t h e k i n g d o m s o f B a b y l o n i a t r e m b l e d and s e n t a
42
s u p p l i a n t l e g a t i o n t o him.
Under C o n s t a n t i u s N i s i b i s was t h r i c e b e s i e g e d ,
43
b u t t h e enemy s u f f e r e d g r e a t e r l o s s e s .
J u l i a n , t o o , m i g h t have e n t e r e d
Ctesiphon
i f the o p p o r t u n i t y f o r p l u n d e r had not outweighed h i s
44
for victory.
E v e n J o v i a n ' s h u m i l i a t i n g t r e a t y and e v a c u a t i o n a r e
concern
victorious
downplayed.
cupidior
I t was
regni
quam gloriae.
e m p e r o r as invicte,
(a d e r o g a t o r y
Eadie
narrative
and w i s h i n g him
t h i n k s t h a t i t was
with
the shameful
more l i k e l y
Julian
in
and
such
Valens
asked
f o r p e a c e , and J o v i a n
concludes
h i s work by
as g r e a t a v i c t o r y
he had won
utterly
over
the
over
simply
to reconquer
the
Babylonians
Goths.
t o end
Boer d e s c r i b e s
emperors a s T r a j a n , D i o c l e t i a n ,
Rome's e a s t e r n p o s s e s s i o n s , w h i c h J o v i a n had
a c r a v e n manner.
For Festus
his
by J o v i a n , " s c a r c e l y a r e p o r t t o
46
run out o f m a t e r i a l .
I t seems
47
" t h e u n d a u n t e d o p t i m i s t " a s den
to i m i t a t e such
was
addressing h i s
i n a p p r o p r i a t e f o r Festus
peace concluded
the a u t h o r had
that Festus
encouraging
first
Festus
term) as t h e one
i n s p i r e Valens," but
was
t h e P e r s i a n s who
45
" t h e r e was
no
such
t h i n g as a
him,
and
ceded
definite
loss."
The
w o r k s o f E u t r o p i u s and
o f each o t h e r and
a remarkable
both
confidence
Festus, appearing
as
t h e y d i d w i t h i n months
a t t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e emperor V a l e n s ,
i n t h e e m p i r e and
i t s resources.
demonstrate
T h i s i s no
hint
20
of pessimism
o r defeatism.
Valens
complementary, upbeat accounts
wanted a n d o b t a i n e d two d i f f e r e n t b u t
o f Roman h i s t o r y ,
i n t e n d e d campaign a g a i n s t t h e P e r s i a n s .
early
a s 370 a n d t h e emperor s u b s e q u e n t l y
49
personally.
only
other events
supervened,
l i m i t e d m i l i t a r y responses
never
occurred.
accept
Diplomacy
his
moved t o A n t i o c h t o t a k e
however, a n d b o t h
to each o t h e r .
took
i npart to justify
P r e p a r a t i o n s may h a v e commenced a s
empires
charge
offered
The g r e a t e a s t e r n
campaign
t h e p l a c e o f armed c o n f l i c t a n d Rome h a d t o
t h e p e r m a n e n t l o s s o f t h o s e p r o v i n c e s s u r r e n d e r e d by J o v i a n .
j i n g o i s t i c encouragement o f E u t r o p i u s and Festus had proven
University
t o be
5 0
The
nugatory.
o f Windsor
NOTES
1
Amm.
M a r c . 27.5.7-10.
2
Eutrop.
3
H.W.
praef.
Bird,
"Eutropius:
(1988) 51 f f . A.H.M. J o n e s ,
of
the Later
Roman Empire
H i s L i f e a n d C a r e e r , " E.M.C./C.V. 32, N.S. 7,
J.R. M a r t i n d a l e , J . M o r r i s , The
Prosopography
(Cambridge 1971) 317 ( h e n c e f o r t h c i t e d a s P.L.R.E.) .
4
On
t h e "shameful
cf. Eutrop.
peace t r e a t y "
10.17; H.A. Car. 9.
(R. Syme, Ammianus and the H.A.
vid.
the b r i e f statement
B o e r , Some Minor
5
Amm.
vid. Amm.
M a r c . 25.7.13; 25.9.3 f f . ;
T h e l a t t e r was p r o b a b l y w r i t t e n a f t e r 390
[ O x f o r d 1968]
220).
For Festus'
purpose
o f A. Cameron, C.R, N.S. 19 (1969) 305-07;
Roman Historians
W. d e n
( L e i d e n 1972) 176-77.
M a r c . 27.12.1-18.
6
Eutrop.
10.16.
7
l o c . cit. a t n . 3.
8
Eutrop.
8.2; 9.15.
9
Cf.
A. V i c t o r ,
quasi solemni
De Caes.
b e l l o subest."
38.2:
"Mesopotamia
Victor, writing
. . . quod ea Persarum
t e n years
earlier
than
Eutropius,
r e c o g n i z e d t h a t Mesopotamia was
b e t w e e n t h e two
1
0
W.
a constant source o f
conflict
empires.
den B o e r
( a t n. 4) 164, i n r e f e r e n c e t o E u t r o p i u s ' d i s c u s s i o n o f
Jovian's peace t r e a t y .
1
1
Eutrop.
6.21.
Eutrop.
10.12.
Eutrop.
7.9.
12
1
3
14
Eutrop.
8.2-3.
Eutrop.
8.6.
5
*
vid.
F o r a somewhat
D i o 69.1 a n d H.A.
1
6
Hadr.
D i o 68.13; 29.3.2
d i f f e r e n t account
o f these
circumstances
4.
ff.
C f . F l o r u s I . 33.7:
"Plus e s t provinciam
r e t i n e r e quam f a c e r e . "
1
7
S.Perowne, Hadrian
Principate
of
(London 1960) 48; B.W.
the Emperor
Hadrian
H e n d e r s o n , The Life
and
(London 1923) 57, 145-46.
18
Festus
20.
F o r h i s dependence h e r e
upon E u t r o p i u s
a common s o u r c e vid. J.W. E a d i e , The Breviarium
Amm. M a r c . 25.9.1 f f .
1
(as I b e l i e v e ) o r
of Festus
(London 1967)
140.
9
20
Eutrop.
10.17.
2
1
Amm.
M a r c . 25.7.13.
2
2
Amm.
M a r c . 25.7.10.
Amm.
M a r c . 25.9.7.
Syme
( a t n . 4) 105.
23
24
15.5.18
< Eutrop.
Ammianus
9.26.
Marcellinus
Amm.
Vid.
M a r c . 14.11.10 < E u t r o p .
a l s o E.A. Thompson,
(Cambridge 1947)
9.24; Amm.
The Historical
Marc.
Work of
121.
25
Amm.
M a r c . 29.1.1-4.
Amm.
Marc.
26
30.2.1-8.
27
A.H.M. J o n e s ,
The Later
Roman Empire
( O x f o r d 1964)
I , 158.
28
Eutrop.
III.
2
9
Amm.
3
0
Thompson
144
2.6.
M a r c . 31.5.11-17.
( a t n . 24) 131, c i t i n g
f f . ; R u t i l i u s . de reditu
suo.
C l a u d i a n , Bell.
I . 121 f f .
Get.
145 f f . ;
Stil.
22
3
1
Cf. Eadie
3
2
Den B o e r
3
3
( a t n . 4) 178 f f .
P.L.R.E.,
Since
( a t n . 18) 2.
317, 334-35; B i r d
he must h a v e b e e n p r o m o t e d p r i o r
probably
3
(at n. 3 ) . Cf. Eadie
t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e Bamberg m a n u s c r i p t
4
some t i m e
Century
( a t n . 18) 2 f f .
Festus magister
t o t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t n e Brevarium,
memoriae
i.e.
i n A.D. 370, p o s s i b l y a s a r e w a r d f o r i t s c o m p l e t i o n .
A. M o m i g l i a n o , The Conflict
Fourth
calls
( O x f o r d 1963)
Between
Paganism
and Christianity
in the
85-86: c f . A . Cameron, C.R., N.S. 19 (1969)
305-07.
3
5
Den B o e r
( a t n . 4) 176-77.
T h i s theme i s s t r o n g l y e m p h a s i z e d b y
Cameron.
3
6
Ibid. p.
199.
3
7
Ibid. p.
201.
38
F e s t u s 20.
39
F e s t u s 23.
40
F e s t u s 24.
4
1
F e s t u s 25.
42
F e s t u s 26.
4
3
F e s t u s 27.
4
4
Festus
28. Amm.
Marc.
(24.7.1-2) w r i t e s t h a t J u l i a n was d i s s u a d e d by
t h e s e n s i b l e a d v i c e o f some o f h i s g e n e r a l s f r o m b e s i e g i n g t h e i m p r e g n a b l e
city.
Vid. a l s o Magnus o f C a r r h a e
F.H.G. I V , 5-6; S o c r a t e s , H.E. 3.21.
45
Festus
29.
Cf. Eutrop.
10.17.
46
Eadie
4
7
4
8
( a t n . 18)
Den B o e r
153.
( a t n . 4) 201.
Ibid.
49
Amm. M a r c . 29.1.1-4; A . P i g a n i o l ,
175-77.
1947)
5
0
,
chretienne,
325-395
(Paris
F o r d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s between t h e two e m p i r e s s e e R.C. B l o c k l e y ,
Rome and Persia:
e s p . p p . 19 f f .
helpful
L'Empire
comments.
International
I should like
Relations
in Late
Antiquity
(Ottawa 1985)
t o t h a n k t h e anonymous r e f e r e e s f o r s e v e r a l