CHAPTER 2

Introduction

The opening sections of this chapter are a continuation of the preceding one in the sense that the scene and the action remain the same: in the series of trials for high treason continues. It difers from the  rst chapter because a pair of delatores, Palladius and Heliodorus, take centre stage, and also because in its second half the east as a whole becomes involved. Another diference is that the tone of this chapter becomes gradually more strident, until it develops into what Sabbah has called “une panégyrique à rebours”, in which becomes the object of  erce criticism because of the gross violation of justice during his reign. This is not a new theme; in fact it is a “Leitmotiv” that recurs in Ammi- anus’ account of the reigns of Constantius, Valentinian and Valens, that is to say of all his main characters with the exception of . The theme is developed in stages: the emperor’s life is in danger—he acts to pro- tect himself, as is appropriate—many people, also completely innocent ones, are brought to trial, tortured and executed—the witch-hunt is exac- erbated by the greed of the emperor and his courtiers, who stand to gain from the con scations. This scenario can be found in 15.5–6: Silvanus takes the purple; Constantius has him murdered, reprisals against his accom- plices follow, in which the delator Paulus Catena plays a pernicious part. Also under Constantius Paulus investigates charges of laesa maiestas. Tri- als are held in Scythopolis, during which many become victims of Paulus on trumped up charges of magic and treason (19.12). In 26.6–10 Ammianus describes the coup d’état by Procopius, which has its own aftermath of executions and con scations. In 28.1 the central character is Maximinus, a worthy successor to Paulus, who triggers a witch-hunt in mainly against aristocrats, on charges of subversive activities. The counterpart to the trials in Rome is 29.1–2, where the scene is set in the east and the emperor Valens takes part in the trials instead of being above the parties, as an emperor should. Ammianus clearly saw a pattern in these events. The rule of emperors who cared more for their own position than for the well-being of their subjects, who failed to distinguish between right and wrong and who were motivated by greed, brought about a state of lawless- ness. 74 commentary

As regards the strident tone of the indictment of Valens, the author clearly allows himself to be carried away by his indignation. He speaks of the emperor’s ‘stupidity and the total rottenness of his rule’, rectoris imperii caries tota stoliditatis (2.14). This makes the elogium on Valens (31.14), where some remarks on the good qualities of the emperor were de rigueur, so implausible that it seems hard to believe that the two passages were written by the same man. The structure of the chapter is as follows: §1–5 Palladius brings a large number of people to trial; he plants fake evidence in the houses of the defendants, which leads to the burning of complete libraries. §6–10 his collaborator Heliodorus is becomes an employee of the court in order to compromise people on real or imaginary charges. He even accuses the former consuls and Hypatius, about whom Ammianus speaks in glowing terms, of planning to take power. Although the two brothers are released and reinstated in their former positions, Ammianus remains indignant about what he sees as an unforgivable insult. §17–20 the acquittal of a real criminal, Numerius, causes Ammianus to vent his spleen on Valens and makes him predict that the emperor will meet a violent end. §21–28 in the eastern provinces the governor Festus follows the example of his friend Maximinus, and kills a number of completely innocent peo- ple.

2.1 Per id omne tempus Palladius ille, coagulum omnium aerumnarum, quem captum a Fortunatiano docuimus primum The words per id omne tempus indicate that chapters 1 and 2 are closely linked. Both Palladius and the comes (rei privatae) Fortunatianus had been mentioned in §5 of the pre- ceding chapter. There Amm. states that Fortunatianus had the low-born Palladius arrested and handed over to the jurisdiction of the praetorian pre- fect, because he suspected him of magical practices (ut venecum). Palladius then unveiled details of a conspiracy and accused some people of complic- ity; they in turn implicated others (29.1.6, cf. 29.1.25). Coagulum, ‘thickener’, is used metaphorically by Varro, who says in his praise of wine (Men. 111) hoc continet coagulum convivia, ‘it holds parties together like a thickener’. It is used by Gel. 12.1.21 in the same positive sense vinculum illud coagulumque animi atque amoris and August. serm. 265.6 nos experti dolores divisionis, studiose coagulum quaeramus unitatis. Palladius, on the other hand, is the cause of all sorts of misery; TLL III 1380.46.