ThefavorableinstantwasimprovedbytheactivityofClaudius。
Herevivedthecourageofhistroops，restoredtheirranks，andpressedthebarbariansoneveryside。FiftythousandmenarereportedtohavebeenslaininthebattleofNaissus。Severallargebodiesofbarbarians，coveringtheirretreatwithamovablefortificationofwagons，retired，orratherescaped，fromthefieldofslaughter。II。Wemaypresumethatsomeinsurmountabledifficulty，thefatigue，perhaps，orthedisobedience，oftheconquerors，preventedClaudiusfromcompletinginonedaythedestructionoftheGoths。ThewarwasdiffusedovertheprovinceofMaesia，Thrace，andMacedonia，anditsoperationsdrawnoutintoavarietyofmarches，surprises，andtumultuaryengagements，aswellbyseaasbyland。WhentheRomanssufferedanyloss，itwascommonlyoccasionedbytheirowncowardiceorrashness；butthesuperiortalentsoftheemperor，hisperfectknowledgeofthecountry，andhisjudiciouschoiceofmeasuresaswellasofficers，assuredonmostoccasionsthesuccessofhisarms。Theimmensebooty，thefruitofsomanyvictories，consistedforthegreaterpartofcattleandslaves。AselectbodyoftheGothicyouthwasreceivedamongtheImperialtroops；theremainderwassoldintoservitude；andsoconsiderablewasthenumberoffemalecaptives，thateverysoldierobtainedtohissharetwoorthreewomen。Acircumstancefromwhichwemayconclude，thattheinvadersentertainedsomedesignsofsettlementaswellasofplunder；sinceeveninanavalexpedition，theywereaccompaniedbytheirfamilies。III。Thelossoftheirfleet，whichwaseithertakenorsunk，hadinterceptedtheretreatoftheGoths。
AvastcircleofRomanposts，distributedwithskill，supportedwithfirmness，andgraduallyclosingtowardsacommoncentre，forcedthebarbariansintothemostinaccessiblepartsofMountHaemus，wheretheyfoundasaferefuge，butaveryscantysubsistence。Duringthecourseofarigorouswinterinwhichtheywerebesiegedbytheemperor\'stroops，famineandpestilence，desertionandthesword，continuallydiminishedtheimprisonedmultitude。Onthereturnofspring，nothingappearedinarmsexceptahardyanddesperateband，theremnantofthatmightyhostwhichhadembarkedatthemouthoftheNiester。
[Footnote13:Hist。August。inClaud。Aurelian。etProb。
Zosimus，l。i。p。38—42。Zonaras，l。xii。p。638。Aurel。VictorinEpitom。VictorJuniorinCaesar。Eutrop。ixll。Euseb。inChron。]
Thepestilencewhichsweptawaysuchnumbersofthebarbarians，atlengthprovedfataltotheirconqueror。Afterashortbutgloriousreignoftwoyears，ClaudiusexpiredatSirmium，amidstthetearsandacclamationsofhissubjects。Inhislastillness，heconvenedtheprincipalofficersofthestateandarmy，andintheirpresencerecommendedAurelian，^14oneofhisgenerals，asthemostdeservingofthethrone，andthebestqualifiedtoexecutethegreatdesignwhichhehimselfhadbeenpermittedonlytoundertake。ThevirtuesofClaudius，hisvalor，affability，justice，andtemperance，hisloveoffameandofhiscountry，placehiminthatshortlistofemperorswhoaddedlustretotheRomanpurple。Thosevirtues，however，werecelebratedwithpeculiarzealandcomplacencybythecourtlywritersoftheageofConstantine，whowasthegreatgrandsonofCrispus，theelderbrotherofClaudius。Thevoiceofflatterywassoontaughttorepeat，thatgods，whosohastilyhadsnatchedClaudiusfromtheearth，rewardedhismeritandpietybytheperpetualestablishmentoftheempireinhisfamily。^15
[Footnote14:AccordingtoZonaras，l。xii。p。638，Claudius，beforehisdeath，investedhimwiththepurple；butthissingularfactisrathercontradictedthanconfirmedbyotherwriters。]
[Footnote15:SeetheLifeofClaudiusbyPollio，andtheOrationsofMamertinus，Eumenius，andJulian。SeelikewisetheCaesarsofJulianp。318。InJulianitwasnotadulation，butsuperstitionandvanity。]
Notwithstandingtheseoracles，thegreatnessoftheFlavianfamilyanamewhichithadpleasedthemtoassumewasdeferredabovetwentyyears，andtheelevationofClaudiusoccasionedtheimmediateruinofhisbrotherQuintilius，whopossessednotsufficientmoderationorcouragetodescendintotheprivatestationtowhichthepatriotismofthelateemperorhadcondemnedhim。Withoutdelayorreflection，heassumedthepurpleatAquileia，wherehecommandedaconsiderableforce；andthoughhisreignlastedonlyseventeendays，hehadtimetoobtainthesanctionofthesenate，andtoexperienceamutinyofthetroops。
AssoonashewasinformedthatthegreatarmyoftheDanubehadinvestedthewell—knownvalorofAurelianwithImperialpower，hesunkunderthefameandmeritofhisrival；andorderinghisveinstobeopened，prudentlywithdrewhimselffromtheunequalcontest。^16
[Footnote*:Suchisthenarrativeofthegreaterpartoftheolderhistorians；butthenumberandthevarietyofhismedalsseemtorequiremoretime，andgiveprobabilitytothereportofZosimus，whomakeshimreignsomemonths。—G。]
[Footnote16:Zosimus，l。i。p。42。PollioHist。August。p。
107allowshimvirtues，andsays，that，likePertinax，hewaskilledbythelicentioussoldiers。AccordingtoDexippus，hediedofadisease。]
Thegeneraldesignofthisworkwillnotpermitusminutelytorelatetheactionsofeveryemperorafterheascendedthethrone，muchlesstodeducethevariousfortunesofhisprivatelife。Weshallonlyobserve，thatthefatherofAurelianwasapeasantoftheterritoryofSirmium，whooccupiedasmallfarm，thepropertyofAurelius，arichsenator。Hiswarlikesonenlistedinthetroopsasacommonsoldier，successivelyrosetotherankofacenturion，atribune，thepraefectofalegion，theinspectorofthecamp，thegeneral，or，asitwasthencalled，theduke，ofafrontier；andatlength，duringtheGothicwar，exercisedtheimportantofficeofcommander—in—chiefofthecavalry。Ineverystationhedistinguishedhimselfbymatchlessvalor，^17rigiddiscipline，andsuccessfulconduct。HewasinvestedwiththeconsulshipbytheemperorValerian，whostyleshim，inthepompouslanguageofthatage，thedelivererofIllyricum，therestorerofGaul，andtherivaloftheScipios。
AttherecommendationofValerian，asenatorofthehighestrankandmerit，UlpiusCrinitus，whosebloodwasderivedfromthesamesourceasthatofTrajan，adoptedthePannonianpeasant，gavehimhisdaughterinmarriage，andrelievedwithhisamplefortunethehonorablepovertywhichAurelianhadpreservedinviolate。^18
[Footnote17:TheocliusasquotedintheAugustanHistory，p。
211affirmsthatinonedayhekilledwithhisownhandforty—eightSarmatians，andinseveralsubsequentengagementsninehundredandfifty。Thisheroicvalorwasadmiredbythesoldiers，andcelebratedintheirrudesongs，theburdenofwhichwas，mille，mile，mille，occidit。]
[Footnote18:Acholiusap。Hist。August。p。213describestheceremonyoftheadoption，asitwasperformedatByzantium，inthepresenceoftheemperorandhisgreatofficers。]
ThereignofAurelianlastedonlyfouryearsandaboutninemonths；buteveryinstantofthatshortperiodwasfilledbysomememorableachievement。HeputanendtotheGothicwar，chastisedtheGermanswhoinvadedItaly，recoveredGaul，Spain，andBritainoutofthehandsofTetricus，anddestroyedtheproudmonarchywhichZenobiahaderectedintheEastontheruinsoftheafflictedempire。
ItwastherigidattentionofAurelian，eventotheminutestarticlesofdiscipline，whichbestowedsuchuninterruptedsuccessonhisarms。Hismilitaryregulationsarecontainedinaveryconciseepistletooneofhisinferiorofficers，whoiscommandedtoenforcethem，ashewishestobecomeatribune，orasheisdesiroustolive。Gaming，drinking，andtheartsofdivination，wereseverelyprohibited。Aurelianexpectedthathissoldiersshouldbemodest，frugal，andlaborous；thattheirarmorshouldbeconstantlykeptbright，theirweaponssharp，theirclothingandhorsesreadyforimmediateservice；thattheyshouldliveintheirquarterswithchastityandsobriety，withoutdamagingthecornfields，withoutstealingevenasheep，afowl，orabunchofgrapes，withoutexactingfromtheirlandlords，eithersalt，oroil，orwood。\"Thepublicallowance，\"continuestheemperor，\"issufficientfortheirsupport；theirwealthshouldbecollectedfromthespoilsoftheenemy，notfromthetearsoftheprovincials。\"^19Asingleinstancewillservetodisplaytherigor，andevencruelty，ofAurelian。Oneofthesoldiershadseducedthewifeofhishost。Theguiltywretchwasfastenedtotwotreesforciblydrawntowardseachother，andhislimbsweretornasunderbytheirsuddenseparation。Afewsuchexamplesimpressedasalutaryconsternation。ThepunishmentsofAurelianwereterrible；buthehadseldomoccasiontopunishmorethanoncethesameoffence。Hisownconductgaveasanctiontohislaws，andtheseditiouslegionsdreadedachiefwhohadlearnedtoobey，andwhowasworthytocommand。
[Footnote19:Hist。August，p。211Thislaconicepistleistrulytheworkofasoldier；itaboundswithmilitaryphrasesandwords，someofwhichcannotbeunderstoodwithoutdifficulty。
FerramentasamiataiswellexplainedbySalmasius。Theformerofthewordsmeansallweaponsofoffence，andiscontrastedwithArma，defensivearmorThelattersignifieskeenandwellsharpened。]
ChapterXI:ReignOfClaudius，DefeatOfTheGoths。
PartII。
ThedeathofClaudiushadrevivedthefaintingspiritoftheGoths。ThetroopswhichguardedthepassesofMountHaemus，andthebanksoftheDanube，hadbeendrawnawaybytheapprehensionofacivilwar；anditseemsprobablethattheremainingbodyoftheGothicandVandalictribesembracedthefavorableopportunity，abandonedtheirsettlementsoftheUkraine，traversedtherivers，andswelledwithnewmultitudesthedestroyinghostoftheircountrymen。TheirunitednumberswereatlengthencounteredbyAurelian，andthebloodyanddoubtfulconflictendedonlywiththeapproachofnight。^20Exhaustedbysomanycalamities，whichtheyhadmutuallyenduredandinflictedduringatwentyyears\'war，theGothsandtheRomansconsentedtoalastingandbeneficialtreaty。Itwasearnestlysolicitedbythebarbarians，andcheerfullyratifiedbythelegions，towhosesuffragetheprudenceofAurelianreferredthedecisionofthatimportantquestion。TheGothicnationengagedtosupplythearmiesofRomewithabodyoftwothousandauxiliaries，consistingentirelyofcavalry，andstipulatedinreturnanundisturbedretreat，witharegularmarketasfarastheDanube，providedbytheemperor\'scare，butattheirownexpense。Thetreatywasobservedwithsuchreligiousfidelity，thatwhenapartyoffivehundredmenstraggledfromthecampinquestofplunder，thekingorgeneralofthebarbarianscommandedthattheguiltyleadershouldbeapprehendedandshottodeathwithdarts，asavictimdevotedtothesanctityoftheirengagements。Itis，however，notunlikely，thattheprecautionofAurelian，whohadexactedashostagesthesonsanddaughtersoftheGothicchiefs，contributedsomethingtothispacifictemper。Theyouthshetrainedintheexerciseofarms，andnearhisownperson:tothedamselshegavealiberalandRomaneducation，andbybestowingtheminmarriageonsomeofhisprincipalofficers，graduallyintroducedbetweenthetwonationstheclosestandmostendearingconnections。^21
[Footnote20:Zosimus，l。i。p。45。]
[Footnote*:Thefivehundredstragglerswereallslain。—M。]
[Footnote21:Dexipphusap。ExcerptaLegat。p。12relatesthewholetransactionunderthenameofVandals。AurelianmarriedoneoftheGothicladiestohisgeneralBonosus，whowasabletodrinkwiththeGothsanddiscovertheirsecrets。Hist。August。
p。247。]
Butthemostimportantconditionofpeacewasunderstoodratherthanexpressedinthetreaty。AurelianwithdrewtheRomanforcesfromDacia，andtacitlyrelinquishedthatgreatprovincetotheGothsandVandals。^22Hismanlyjudgmentconvincedhimofthesolidadvantages，andtaughthimtodespisetheseemingdisgrace，ofthuscontractingthefrontiersofthemonarchy。TheDaciansubjects，removedfromthosedistantpossessionswhichtheywereunabletocultivateordefend，addedstrengthandpopulousnesstothesouthernsideoftheDanube。Afertileterritory，whichtherepetitionofbarbarousinroadshadchangedintoadesert，wasyieldedtotheirindustry，andanewprovinceofDaciastillpreservedthememoryofTrajan\'sconquests。Theoldcountryofthatnamedetained，however，aconsiderablenumberofitsinhabitants，whodreadedexilemorethanaGothicmaster。
^23ThesedegenerateRomanscontinuedtoservetheempire，whoseallegiancetheyhadrenounced，byintroducingamongtheirconquerorsthefirstnotionsofagriculture，theusefularts，andtheconveniencesofcivilizedlife。AnintercourseofcommerceandlanguagewasgraduallyestablishedbetweentheoppositebanksoftheDanube；andafterDaciabecameanindependentstate，itoftenprovedthefirmestbarrieroftheempireagainsttheinvasionsofthesavagesoftheNorth。AsenseofinterestattachedthesemoresettledbarbarianstotheallianceofRome，andapermanentinterestveryfrequentlyripensintosincereandusefulfriendship。Thisvariouscolony，whichfilledtheancientprovince，andwasinsensiblyblendedintoonegreatpeople，stillacknowledgedthesuperiorrenownandauthorityoftheGothictribe，andclaimedthefanciedhonorofaScandinavianorigin。
Atthesametime，theluckythoughaccidentalresemblanceofthenameofGetae，infusedamongthecredulousGothsavainpersuasion，thatinaremoteage，theirownancestors，alreadyseatedintheDacianprovinces，hadreceivedtheinstructionsofZamolxis，andcheckedthevictoriousarmsofSesostrisandDarius。^24
[Footnote22:Hist。August。p。222。Eutrop。ix。15。SextusRufus，c。9。deMortibusPersecutorum，c。9。]
[Footnote23:TheWalachiansstillpreservemanytracesoftheLatinlanguageandhaveboasted，ineveryage，oftheirRomandescent。Theyaresurroundedby，butnotmixedwith，thebarbarians。SeeaMemoirofM。d\'AnvilleonancientDacia，intheAcademyofInscriptions，tom。xxx。]
[Footnote*:TheconnectionbetweentheGetaeandtheGothsisstillinmyopinionincorrectlymaintainedbysomelearnedwriters—M。]
[Footnote24:SeethefirstchapterofJornandes。TheVandals，however，c。22，maintainedashortindependencebetweentheRiversMarisiaandCrissia，MarosandKeres，whichfellintotheTeiss。]
WhilethevigorousandmoderateconductofAurelianrestoredtheIllyrianfrontier，thenationoftheAlemanni^25violatedtheconditionsofpeace，whicheitherGallienushadpurchased，orClaudiushadimposed，and，inflamedbytheirimpatientyouth，suddenlyflewtoarms。Fortythousandhorseappearedinthefield，^26andthenumbersoftheinfantrydoubledthoseofthecavalry。^27ThefirstobjectsoftheiravaricewereafewcitiesoftheRhaetianfrontier；buttheirhopessoonrisingwithsuccess，therapidmarchoftheAlemannitracedalineofdevastationfromtheDanubetothePo。^28
[Footnote25:Dexippus，p。7—12。Zosimus，l。i。p。43。
VopiscusinAurelianinHist。August。Howeverthesehistoriansdifferinnames，AlemanniJuthungi，andMarcomanni，itisevidentthattheymeanthesamepeople，andthesamewar；butitrequiressomecaretoconciliateandexplainthem。]
[Footnote26:Cantoclarus，withhisusualaccuracy，choosestotranslatethreehundredthousand:hisversionisequallyrepugnanttosenseandtogrammar。]
[Footnote27:Wemayremark，asaninstanceofbadtaste，thatDexippusappliestothelightinfantryoftheAlemannithetechnicaltermsproperonlytotheGrecianphalanx。]
[Footnote28:InDexippus，weatpresentreadRhodanus:M。deValoisveryjudiciouslyaltersthewordtoEridanus。]
Theemperorwasalmostatthesametimeinformedoftheirruption，andoftheretreat，ofthebarbarians。Collectinganactivebodyoftroops，hemarchedwithsilenceandcelerityalongtheskirtsoftheHercynianforest；andtheAlemanni，ladenwiththespoilsofItaly，arrivedattheDanube，withoutsuspecting，thatontheoppositebank，andinanadvantageouspost，aRomanarmylayconcealedandpreparedtointercepttheirreturn。
Aurelianindulgedthefatalsecurityofthebarbarians，andpermittedabouthalftheirforcestopasstheriverwithoutdisturbanceandwithoutprecaution。Theirsituationandastonishmentgavehimaneasyvictory；hisskilfulconductimprovedtheadvantage。Disposingthelegionsinasemicircularform，headvancedthetwohornsofthecrescentacrosstheDanube，andwheelingthemonasuddentowardsthecentre，enclosedtherearoftheGermanhost。Thedismayedbarbarians，onwhatsoeversidetheycasttheireyes，beheld，withdespair，awastedcountry，adeepandrapidstream，avictoriousandimplacableenemy。
Reducedtothisdistressedcondition，theAlemanninolongerdisdainedtosueforpeace。Aurelianreceivedtheirambassadorsattheheadofhiscamp，andwitheverycircumstanceofmartialpompthatcoulddisplaythegreatnessanddisciplineofRome。
Thelegionsstoodtotheirarmsinwell—orderedranksandawfulsilence。Theprincipalcommanders，distinguishedbytheensignsoftheirrank，appearedonhorsebackoneithersideoftheImperialthrone。Behindthethronetheconsecratedimagesoftheemperor，andhispredecessors，^29thegoldeneagles，andthevarioustitlesofthelegions，engravedinlettersofgold，wereexaltedintheaironloftypikescoveredwithsilver。WhenAurelianassumedhisseat，hismanlygraceandmajesticfigure^30taughtthebarbarianstoreverethepersonaswellasthepurpleoftheirconqueror。Theambassadorsfellprostrateonthegroundinsilence。Theywerecommandedtorise，andpermittedtospeak。Bytheassistanceofinterpreterstheyextenuatedtheirperfidy，magnifiedtheirexploits，expatiatedonthevicissitudesoffortuneandtheadvantagesofpeace，and，withanill—timedconfidence，demandedalargesubsidy，asthepriceofthealliancewhichtheyofferedtotheRomans。Theansweroftheemperorwassternandimperious。Hetreatedtheirofferwithcontempt，andtheirdemandwithindignation，reproachedthebarbarians，thattheywereasignorantoftheartsofwarasofthelawsofpeace，andfinallydismissedthemwiththechoiceonlyofsubmittingtothisunconditionalmercy，orawaitingtheutmostseverityofhisresentment。^31AurelianhadresignedadistantprovincetotheGoths；butitwasdangeroustotrustortopardontheseperfidiousbarbarians，whoseformidablepowerkeptItalyitselfinperpetualalarms。
[Footnote29:TheemperorClaudiuswascertainlyofthenumber；
butweareignoranthowfarthismarkofrespectwasextended；iftoCaesarandAugustus，itmusthaveproducedaveryawfulspectacle；alonglineofthemastersoftheworld。]