History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2

Edward Gibbon · Written 1782; revised 1845 (for the later edition context of the modern title page)

passage 493 of 558 · Chapter XVI: Conduct Towards The Christians, From Nero To > part of the globe incapable of perpetuating and adorning the (1/5)

in brief

During a thirty-year peaceful interval, the Goths expand under Hermanric, conquering multiple peoples from near the Black Sea toward the Baltic, while Rome remains largely unaware of the rising Gothic threat.

glory of its heroes. The name of Hermanric is almost buried in oblivion; his exploits are imperfectly known; and the Romans themselves appeared unconscious of the progress of an aspiring power which threatened the liberty of the North, and the peace of the empire. 143

140 (return) [ The concise account of the reign and conquests of Hermanric seems to be one of the valuable fragments which Jornandes (c 28) borrowed from the Gothic histories of Ablavius, or Cassiodorus.]

141 (return) [ M. d. Buat. (Hist. des Peuples de l’Europe, tom. vi. p. 311-329) investigates, with more industry than success, the nations subdued by the arms of Hermanric. He denies the existence of the Vasinobroncæ, on account of the immoderate length of their name. Yet the French envoy to Ratisbon, or Dresden, must have traversed the country of the Mediomatrici.]

142 (return) [ The edition of Grotius (Jornandes, p. 642) exhibits the name of Æstri. But reason and the Ambrosian MS. have restored the Æstii, whose manners and situation are expressed by the pencil of Tacitus, (Germania, c. 45.)]

143 (return) [ Ammianus (xxxi. 3) observes, in general terms, Ermenrichi.... nobilissimi Regis, et per multa variaque fortiter facta, vicinigentibus formidati, &c.]

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topics: conquest, plunder, and captives · mobilization and recruitment · the city and urban life

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2 · Edward Gibbon · 1782–1845