Aetius Attila’s Nemesis Read online

  46. This can be compared to the richer East, which was not only able to meet the ‘subsidies’ of Attila, but also able to allow remissions of taxes throughout the period (e.g. Cod. Th. 5.12.3; 11.28.15 and 16 and 17).

  47. On the dating, Wood, ‘The Fall of the Western Empire’, p. 256.

  Chapter 12

  1. Hyd. s.a. 446: main army in Italy to face Huns, Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 345. Vitus may have been one of the temporary magistri sent to Spain to deal with the Sueves and bacaudae (conversation with Perry Gray).

  2. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations, p. 250.

  3. Hyd. s.a. 446.

  4. Ibid.

  5. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations, p. 250.

  6. Implied by statement of the Gallic Chronicler, s.a. 447. For full analysis see below.

  7. Date and extent of collapse, Joh. Mal. 14. 22 (363); see also Prisc. fr. 5; Marcell. com. s.a. 447.

  8. On the date, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 117ff. Prisc. fr. 9.3; Marcell. com. s.a. 447; Jordanes Rom. 331; Theoph. AM 5942.

  9. Prisc. fr. 9.1

  10. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, pp. 118–19: Prisc. fr. 9.1.

  11. Prisc. fr. 9.1.

  12. Chron Gall. 452. s.a. 447.

  13. Call. 104.

  14. Ratiaria, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 118; Athyras, Prisc. fr. 5.; Marcianopolis, Marcell. com. s.a. 447; Chron. Pasch. s.a. 447.

  15. Details of rebuild, Joh. Mal. 14. 22 (363); ‘Rebuilt in three months’; Marcell. com. s.a. 447.

  16. Flight of the Huns, Nestorius, 363–368; due to ‘sickness of the bowels’, Isaac of Antioch, Homily on the Royal City, referenced and translated in Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, 121–123.

  17. Prisc. fr. 9.3. Unfortunately, no details are given by Marcellinus (s.a. 448).

  18. Prisc. fr. 11.1; ‘dangerous for the future’, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 124.

  19. Whitby in Sabin, van Wees and Whitby, Cambridge History, p. 326.

  20. Hyd. s.a. 448.

  21. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations, p. 250.

  22. Chron. Gall. 452, s.a. 448.

  23. Jord. Get. 36 (191).

  24. Gild. 2. 20.

  25. Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire, pp. 347–8.

  26. Geoffrey of Monmouth, British History, Chapter 12, suggesting that Conan Meriadoc was the founder of the Kingdom of Brittany. However, it should be noted that this is a very late document written in the twelfth century, so its accuracy is extremely doubtful. http://books.google.com/books?id=FUoMAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=geoffrey+of+monmouth&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q&f=false (January, 2011)

  27. Const. Vita Germ. 5. 38, which notes that he had a cancellarius (secretary) named Volusianus: cf. Mansi, V 1163, 1167, ‘which although a forgery contains genuine historical matter’ (PLRE Vol. 2, Sigisvultus, 1010).

  28. Opponents to Sigisvult’s ‘patriciate’ include Ensslin and Demandt, acceptance includes Sundwall and Stein. For a more detailed analysis, including references and bibliography, see O’Flynn, Generalissimos, pp. 86–86 and 178, n.47.

  29. Fasti, Rossi I. 745, 747; SB 9515 (PLRE 2, 1243); Leo, Ep. 23–4, 27–40, 42, 44–5, 47–51, 54.

  30. Twyman, ‘Aetius and the Aristocracy’, p. 482ff.

  31. The debate centres around Stein’s claim that Aetius, in league with the Italian aristocracy, thwarted Valentinian’s attempts to raise taxes and supplement the armed forces. For further discussion, see ibid, passim.

  32. PLRE Vol. 2, Theodosius 8, 1101: Cod. Th. 12.6.3.

  33. Twyman, ‘Aetius and the Aristocracy’, p. 480, n.1.

  34. Ibid., p. 488ff.

  35. Ibid., p. 488.

  36. Nov. Val. 1.3 (14 March 450); see also Chapter 10.

  37. Conversation with Perry Gray.

  38. Chron. Gall. 452, s.a. 449.

  39. Ibid.

  40. Hyd. s.a. 449 (Burgess). PLRE Vol. 2, Censorius, 280, dates the event to 448.

  41. Hyd. s.a. 449.

  42. Ibid.

  43. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations, p. 250.

  44. For the full story, Prisc. fr. 7, 8, 12–13; Joh. Ant. fr. 198.

  45. Prisc. fr. 11.2.314ff.

  46. Tax collectors, Nov. Val. 1.3; Sardinia, Nov. Val. 1.3.6 (5 March 450).

  47. Famine, Nov. Val. 33 (no precise date).

  48. cf. Marc. com. s.a. 434, who claims that Honoria was pregnant and sent to Constantinople.

  49. On the doubts, see Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 130.

  50. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 335.

  51. Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450.

  52. The accident happened near the River Lycus not far from the city: Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450: Joh. Mal. 14.10 (358), 14. 27 (367); Cass. Chron. s.a. 450. Vict. Tonn. s.a. 450.1.

  53. Prisc. fr. 30. 1. = Joh. Ant. fr. 201. Although Theodosius II had theoretically been sole emperor in 424, he had made no attempt to impose his rule on the West.

  54. Date, Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450; Hyd. s.a. 450; Chron. Gall. 452, s.a. 450; Cass. Chron. s.a. 450; Vict. Tonn. s.a. 450.3; Pulcheria as the main instigator, Theoph. AM 5942.

  55. Prosp. s.a. 450; Theod. Lect. Epit. 353; Addit ad Prosp. Haun. s.a. 450; Coll Avell. 99.11; Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450; beheaded, Joh. Mal. 14.31 (368) etc.

  56. Prisc. fr. 30. 1. = Joh. Ant. fr. 201. I have accepted Blockley’s translation for this difficult passage.

  57. cf. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 371.

  58. Agnellus, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, 42; Chron. Gall. 452, s.a. 450; Proc. 3.4.15.; burial Agnellus, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, 42.

  59. Conversation with Perry Gray.

  60. Prisc. fr. 20.1.

  Chapter 13

  1. Prisc. fr. 16, cf. Greg. Tur. 2.7.

  2. The chronology is based on the description given by Priscus, fr. 20.3, where Attila’s support of the elder son followed the death of the king. But cf. PLRE Vol. 2, Aetius 7, 27, where the assumption is that the king of the Franks died during the Battle of the Catalaunian Plain.

  3. Gothic embassies, Chron Pasch. s.a. 450; cf. Prisc. fr. 17.

  4. Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450. The message is echoed by Malalas, 14.10 (358).

  5. Prisc. fr. 20.1.

  6. Ibid., 17.

  7. Ibid.

  8. Ibid., 20.1.

  9. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 366.

  10. Jord. Get. 184-5.

  11. Prisc. fr. 15.

  12. On the strained relations between Gaiseric and Valentinian in 450, Clover, ‘Geiseric and Attila’, p. 108.

  13. PLRE Vol. 2, Attila, 182: ‘East Roman interlocutors’ mistakenly praised, Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 334.

  14. Prisc. fr. 11.

  15. Joh. Ant. fr. 199.2.

  16. Prosp. s.a. 448.

  17. Prisc. fr. 20.3.

  18. Hyd. s.a. 451.

  19. Conversation with Perry Gray. The date of Carpilio’s return from being a hostage – or even if he was ever sent home – are unrecorded.

  20. Jord. Get. 194 (37). The reality of this claim is insecure, as will be discussed in the next chapter.

  21. Ibid., 186 (36).

  22. The fact that the Romans sent more than one messenger is a possible conclusion from the passage in ibid. (188–189: 36) where ‘several arguments’ were needed by the ambassadors to convince Theoderic to fight, possibly from more than one embassy.

  23. The list is based on ibid. 36 (191). It may be confused due to the fact that Jordanes was writing approximately 100 years after the events being described, and so has confused the peoples fighting alongside Aetius. Additional information and some of the analysis, Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 109ff.

  24. Prisc. fr. 16; cf. Greg. Tur. 2.7.

  25. Jord Get. 37 (194).

  26. The list is derived from ibid., 36 (191).

  27. See Chapter 12.

  28. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invader, p. 109.

  29. Jord, Get, 36 (191).

  30. Ho
dgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 109.

  31. Hodgkin is followed by Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 292, n.55: Boulogne and Bessin, Rouche, in Fossier, Cambridge Illustrated History of the Middle Ages 350–950, p. 55.

  32. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 131, esp. nn. 614—616.

  33. Chron. Gall. 452, s.a. 451.

  34. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.319–325. Sidonius (and Jordanes) may have embellished their lists to reflect that the two armies were formed from many peoples.

  35. Locations, Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 106ff.

  36. Jord. Get. 38 (199–200).

  37. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, pp. 117–118.

  38. The relevant lives in the Acta are summarized in ibid., p. 114ff.

  39. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 129, n. 604.

  40. Greg. Tur. 2.6.

  41. Sid. Ap. Ep. 2.5; Greg. Tur. 2.6: Hyd. s.a. 451.

  42. Greg. Tur. 2.7.

  43. This hypothesis is supported by Gordon, Age of Attila, p. 107.

  44. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 115ff.

  45. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 131 and n.618.

  46. Conversation with Perry Gray.

  47. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 116ff.

  48. See Chapter 17.

  49. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7, 329–330.

  50. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 129, referencing letters of Pope Leo I: see esp. n. 605 and 606: Leo, Ep. 41.

  51. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7. 329–330.

  52. As implied by Nov. Val;. 29 (24 April 450) and Nov. Val. 33 (31 January 451): Clover, ‘Geiseric and Attila’, p. 116 and see Thompson, The Huns, p. 161.

  53. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.215-317: see Chapter 7.

  54. Ibid., 7.339ff. The agreement was reached when the Huns were already in Gaul; Aetius persuaded Theoderic via Avitus to join with him against Attila, ‘who had attacked many Roman cities’: Joh. Mal. 14.10 (358). cf. Sidonius, who claims that Theoderic waited until the last minute, Sid. Ap. Carm. 7. 328–331. See also Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 292.

  55. Thorismund, Greg Tur. 2.7; Theoderic, Jord. Get. 190.

  56. Greg Tur 2.7.

  57. Ibid.

  58. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.12.3.

  59. Conversation with Perry Gray.

  60. Theoph. AM 5943.

  61. Greg Tur. 2.7. Modern sources, for example Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 292, n.58 suggest that there was no siege, but that Aetius and Theoderic arrived at the city first. The versions given by Gregory of Tours and in the Acta Sanctorum, supported by the testimony of Sidonius (Ep. 8.15. 1) have been preferred.

  62. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 121, n.1: ‘The Life of Saint Anianus’ from the

  Acta Sanctorum.

  63. For the date, Vita Aniani, ch. 7, p. 113: ‘octavodecimo kal. Iulias’, referenced in Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 292, n. 59.

  64. Greg. Tur. 2.7.

  65. cf. Sid. Ap. Ep. 8.15.1, where the city was ‘invaded but never plundered’.

  66. Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, p. 122.

  67. Greg Tur. 2.7.

  Chapter 14

  1. Jord. Get. 41 (217).

  2. Date following Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, pp. 292–293, n. 59.

  3. Jord. Get. 36 (191–192) and 38 (196–197): Hyd. s.a. 451: Chron. Caes. s.a. 450.

  4. Chron. Gall. 511, s.a. 451, ‘Tricassis pugnat loco Mauriacos’; Consul. Ital. (Prosp. Havn.), ‘quinto miliario de Trecas loco nuncupato Maurica in eo Campania’; Greg. Tur. 2.7, ‘Mauriacum campum’; Lex Burg. 17.1, ‘pugna Mauriacensis’.

  5. Theoph. AM 5943.

  6. Joh. Mal. 14.10 (358).

  7. For further analysis, Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 293, esp. n.60.

  8. Jord. Get. 37 (196).

  9. Ibid. 38 (197ff).

  10. This is the story given by Gibbon, who notes that: ‘This spacious plain was distinguished, however, by some inequalities of ground; and the importance of an height which commanded the camp of Attila was understood and disputed by the two generals’: History of the Decline and Fall, Vol. 2, pp. 370–371.

  11. Jord. Get. 38 (197–8).

  12. e.g. Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders Vol. 2, p. 126.

  13. For a modern appraisal of this battle, and a more detailed bibliography, Goldsworthy, A K, Cannae, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2001.

  14. For a modern appraisal and references, see A. Goldsworthy, In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire (Phoenix, 2003).

  15. Jord. Get. 37 (197).

  16. Again, the detail given here is obtained from ibid., 38–40 (197–212). It is probable that he derived his material from Priscus: Mitchell, History of the Later Roman Empire, pp. 28–29.

  17. Jord. Get. 38 (197).

  18. The use of pre-battle speeches is an old tradition and is usually included in histories even if the words are pure fiction. The authors followed a format. Jordanes was writing well after the period so much of his account may be based on oral history rather than written accounts and he wanted to please his Gothic audience: conversation with Perry Gray.

  19. Joh. Mal. 358. Chron. Pasch. s.a. 450.

  20. Greg Tur. 2.7; see also Addit. Ad Prosp. Haun. s.a 451.

  21. Greg Tur. 2.7; Addit. Ad Prosp. Haun. s.a 451.

  22. PLRE 2, Theodericus 2, 1070.

  23. Jord. Get. 41 (218).

  24. Ibid.

  25. Prosp. s.a. 451; Hyd. s.a. 451; Chron. Pasch. s.a. 451 (who confuses Theoderic with the earlier Gothic ‘king’ Alaric); Greg. Tur. 2.7; Cass. Chron. s.a. 451. cf. Cass. Variae 3.3.

  26. Sid. Ap. Carmina 7, esp. 330ff.

  27. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 126.

  28. Possibly following Creasey, The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, ch. 7.

  29. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 294.

  30. Ferreolus, Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.12.3; Avitus, Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.338ff.

  31. Nov. Val. 34 (13 July 451).

  32. Rouche, ‘Autopsy of the West, pp. 44-45.

  Chapter 15

  1. Clover, ‘Geiseric and Attila’, p. 109, esp. n.20.

  2. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 294: Nov. Val. 34 (13 July 451).

  3. Nov. Val. 36 (29 June 452); see below.

  4. He was ‘enraged’ by the ‘unexpected defeat in Gaul’; Chron. Gall. 511, s.a. 452.

  5. Prisc. fr. 22.1 = Jord. Get. 42. 219–24.

  6. Maenchen-Helfen, 1973, 132.

  7. Date, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, pp. 132–135: probably before Aetius issued Nov. Val. 36 (29 June 452), as this talks of warfare – possibly in Italy.

  8. Attila travelled through ‘Pannonia’; Prosp. s.a. 452.

  9. Ibid.

  10. Disputed, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 134.

  11. Prosp. s.a. 452, who notes that the invasion was unexpected and so Aetius had accordingly taken no actions to defend the passes across the Julian Alps.

  12. See Paul. Diac. 2.9: Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 135.

  13. For example, Theodosius defeating Magnus Maximus at the Battles of Siscia and Poetovio.

  14. Hughes, Stilicho, p. 138.

  15. Prisc. fr. 22: Marc. com. s.a. 452: Cass. Chron. s.a. 452: Greg. Tur. 2.7. Siege engines, Jord. Get. 42 (221).

  16. See Chapter 13.

  17. Prisc. fr. 22.

  18. Paul Diac. 14.9. Paul gives ‘three years’, but this is obviously an error: cf. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 133, n. 628.

  19. Prisc. fr. 22; Paul Diac. 14.9.

  20. Burning of Aquileia Theoph. AM 5945; Jord. Get. 42 (221): analysis, Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, pp. 136–137.

  21. Nov. Val. 36 (29 June 452).

  22. Prosp. s.a. 452.

  23. This is proved by later events: see below.

  24. Prisc. fr. 22.1 = Jord. Get. 42. 219–24.: ‘Taken some cities by storm’ Hyd. s.a. 452–3.

  25. Paul Diac. 14.11.


  26. Prisc. fr. 22.3.

  27. Conversation with Perry Gray.

  28. Hyd. s.a. 452–3.

  29. Compare this to the invasion by the Franks during the Wars of Belisarius, when the Franks lost a third of their army to disease: Hughes, Belisarius, p. 172.

  30. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 340.

  31. Prisc. fr. 22.1 = Jord. Get. 42. 219-24. Alaric had died shortly after the sack of Rome.

  32. Hyd. s.a. 452–3.

  33. Freeman, ‘Aetius and Boniface’ claims that ‘we first hear of Aetius in his own peninsula as prefect of Constantinople in the consulship of Maximus and Plintha (p. 428). He also notes that ‘Aetius’ was made consul in 454 and that therefore ‘Aetius was killed during his fourth consulship’ (p. 418). In this he is combining the careers of the two Aetius’s. Muhlberger also denies that there was a second Aetius (Fifth-Century Chroniclers, p. 231. n. 86).

  34. PLRE Vol. 2, Aetius 1, 19–20.

  35. Ibid.

  36. Ibid. 8, 29–30.

  37. Although earlier attested as a civilian administrator, Hydatius calls Aetius ‘Aetio duce’, implying that he commanded the army: Hyd. s.a. 452: PLRE 2, Aetius 8, 29.

  38. Prisc. fr. 22.1 = Jord. Get. 42. 219–24.

  39. Prosp. s.a. 452: Vict. Tonn. s.a. 449: Cass. Chron. s.a 452: Prisc. fr. 22.1.

  40. Paul Diac. 14.12: Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, pp. 140–141.

  41. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 141 referencing Patrologiae Latina 52, 59–60.

  42. Prisc. fr. 22.1 = Jord. Get. 42. 219–24.

  Chapter 16

  1. Prisc. fr. 23.1, 2: Jord. Get. 225.

  2. Prisc. fr. 23.3.

  3. Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 143: Jord. Get. 255.

  4. See also Prisc. fr. 24.2; Marc. com. s.a. 454; Cass. Chron. s.a. 453; Vict. Tonn. s.a. 453.2; Theoph. AM 5946.

  5. Joh. Mal. 14.10 (359).

  6. Theoph. AM 5946: Prisc. fr. 25 = Jord. Get. 50 (259–263).

  7. Prisc. fr. 25 = Jord. Get. 50 (259–63).

  8. Date, Hyd. s.a. 453. PLRE Vol. 2, Pulcheria, 930; Chron. Pasch. s.a. 453; Theoph. AM 5945.

  9. Addit. Ad Prosp. Haun. s.a. 453.

  10. Jord. Get. 43 (225-229).

  11. Sid Ap. Ep. 7.12.3.

  12. Chron. Gall. 511, no. 621.

  13. Sid Ap. Ep. 7.12.3

  14. Sid. Ap. Ep. 7. 12. 3; Chron. Gall. 511, no. 621.

  15. PLRE Vol. 2, Fredericus 1, 484; Hyd. s.a. 453–454. See below.

  16. Prosper (s.a. 453) claims that it was his willingness to wage war against Rome that was his downfall.