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The History of King Theodoric1

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Latter Part The History of King Theodoric1 7 36 Now during the reign of Zeno Augustus2 at Constantinople, the patrician3 Nepos came to the Port of the city of Rome,4 deposed Glycerius,5 who was made a bishop, while Nepos himself became emperor at Rome. Presently Nepos came6 to Ravenna; he was followed by the patrician Orestes with an army,7 and in fear of his coming Nepos embarked on board a ship and fled to Salona,8 where he remained for five years; but later he was slain by his own men. Soon after Nepos left Rome Augustulus was made emperor and ruled for ten years. p533 8 37 Augustulus,9 who was called Romulus by his parents before he mounted the throne, was made emperor by his father, the patrician Orestes. Then Odoacar made his appearance with a force of Sciri10 and killed the patrician Orestes at Placentia, and his brother Paulus at the Pine Grove,11 outside the Classis12 at Ravenna. 38 Then he entered Ravenna, deposed Augustulus from his throne, but in pity for his tender years, granted him his life; and because of his beauty he also gave him an income of six thousand gold-pieces13 and sent him to Campania,14 to live there a free man with his relatives. Now his father Orestes was a Pannonian, who joined with Attila at the time when he came to Rome, and was made his secretary, a position from which he had advanced to the rank of patrician. 9 39 Then, after Zeno was made emperor by his son Leo,15 who was the offspring of the daughter of Leo the Great, Ariagne by name, he reigned for a year with his son Leo, and it was through Leo's merit that Zeno retained his power. But after sharing the rule with his son for one year, Zeno was emperor for fourteen years more; he was an Isaurian of high rank, trained to arms, and worthy to receive an emperor's daughter in marriage. 40 It is said of him that he was of even superhuman speed as a p535swift runner,16 since his kneepans were not attached to his knees, but moved freely. In the administration of the State he was in general most wise, but inclined to favour his own people.17 41 A plot was made against him by Basiliscus, himself a senator of high distinction.18 As soon as Zeno learned of the plot, he took some of his wealth and went to Isauria. But soon after his departure Basiliscus, who, as was said, was plotting against him, seized upon the imperial power. 42 Basiliscus ruled for two years. Zeno strengthened the Isaurians within the province; then he sent to the city of Nova,19 where Theoderic, the general of the Goths and son of Walamericus, was stationed, and invited him to render him relief against Basiliscus. Then he came back20 to Constantinople after two years, brought an attacking force against the city, and laid siege to it. 43 But because the senate and people feared Zeno, to prevent the city from suffering any harm they deserted Basiliscus, opened the gates, and all surrendered to Zeno. Basiliscus fled to a church and took refuge within the baptistery with his wife and his sons. After Zeno had given him a pledge confirmed by oath that his blood would not be shed,21 he came out and was shut up with his wife and children in a dry cistern,22 where they all died of cold. 44 Zeno remembered the affection felt for him by the senate and people; p537and therefore showed himself so generous to all that he earned the gratitude of every one. He upheld so well the senate and people of Rome, that statues were even erected to him in various parts of the city. His times were peaceful. 10 45 Odoacer, of whom we have made mention above,23 presently deposed Augustulus from the rule and was made king; he remained on the throne for thirteen years. His father was named Edico,24 and Odoacer is also mentioned in the books25 on The Life of Saint Severinus, a Pannonian monk, who gave him advice and predicted his future royal power. 46 In that place you will find the following words: "When some barbarians26 were on their way to Italy, they turned aside and went to Severinus' abode with a view to earning his benediction; among them also came Odoacer, who afterwards ruled in Italy, a youth of tall stature, but very poorly clad; and when he bowed his head, in order that it might not touch the roof of the very low cell, he learned from the man of God that he would attain glory. And as Odoacer bade him farewell, Severinus said: 'Go on to Italy; go of, now clad in paltry skins, but soon to be able to give great gifts to many'." 47 Meanwhile, as the servant of God had predicted to him, as soon as Odoacer entered Italy he received the royal power. At that same time, after becoming king, Odoacer recalled the prophecy which he had heard from the holy man, and at once addressed to him a friendly letter, "wherein he respectfully offered to grant his wish, should he think there was anything worth while to ask. Accordingly the man p539of God, encouraged by so cordial a letter of the king, asked for the pardon of a certain Ambrosius, who was living in exile, and Odoacer gratefully granted his request." 48 After that, King Odoacer made war on the Rugi,27 and in a second campaign vanquished and utterly destroyed them. Then, since he was a man of good intentions and favoured the Arian28 sect, "it happened that once, when in the presence of the holy man many nobles, as often happens, were praising and flattering the said king, as men will do, he asked what king they had extolled with such high commendations. And when they replied 'Odoacar,' he said 'Odoacer is safe for between thirteen and fourteen years,' thus, of course, indicating the years of his safe reign." 11 49 Zeno accordingly rewarded Theoderic for his support, made him a patrician29 and a consul, gave him a great sum of money, and sent him to Italy. Theoderic stipulated with him, that if Odoacer should be vanquished, in return for his own labours in Odoacer's place he should rule in his stead only until the arrival of Zeno. Therefore, when the patrician Theoderic came from the city of Nova with the Gothic people, he was sent by the emperor Zeno from the regions of the Orient, in order to defend Italy for him. 50 As Theoderic was on his way, Odoacer met him at the river Sontius,30 engaged in battle with him p541there, and was defeated and put to flight; he withdrew to Verona, and on the 27th of September made a fortified camp on a plain of moderate extent before the city. Theoderic followed him there, and joined battle with him; numbers fell on both sides: Odoacer, however, was overcome, and on the 30th of September fled to Ravenna. 51 Theoderic the patrician went on to Mediolanum, and the most of Odoacer's army surrendered to him, including Tufa, his general-in-chief, whom Odoacer had appointed, along with his other high officials, on the 1st of April. In that same year Tufa, the commanding general, was sent by Theoderic to Ravenna against Odoacer. 52 Tufa came to Faventia,31 and with the army with which he had been sent besieged Odoacer. The latter left Ravenna and came to Faventia, where Tufa handed over to him the high officers of the patrician Theoderic, who were put in irons and taken to Ravenna. 53 The consulship of Faustus and Longinus.32 When these were consuls, King Odoacer marched out from Cremona and went to Mediolanum. Then the Visigoths came to the help of Theoderic, and a battle was fought on the 11th of August on the bank of the river Addua,33 where many fell on both sides; Pierius, commander of the household troops, was slain, and Odoacer fled to Ravenna. The patrician Theoderic soon followed him, came to the Pine Grove,34 and made a camp there; then he kept Odoacer in a state of siege for three p543years in Ravenna, where the value of a modius of wheat rose to the price of six gold-pieces.35 And Theoderic sent Festus, the head of the senate,36 as an envoy to the emperor Zeno, hoping to be invested by him with the royal robe. 54 The consulship37 of Olybrius, vir clarissimus. In his consulship King Odoacer sallied forth from Ravenna by night, entered into the Pine Grove with the Heruli, and attacked the fortified camp of the patrician Theoderic. The losses were great on both sides, and Levila, Odoacer's commander- in-chief, fled and lost his life in the river Bedens;38 Odoacer was defeated and fled to Ravenna on the 15th of July. Then Odoacer was forced to give his son Thelanes to Theoderic as a hostage, first receiving a pledge that his blood would be spared.39 55 So Theoderic entered Ravenna, and after several days Odoacer laid a snare for him: but Theoderic discovered him in the palace and forestalled him, then caught him off his guard and with his own hand slew him with a sword as he was coming into the Laurel Grove.40 56 On the same day, all of Odoacer's army who could be found anywhere were killed by order of the Theoderic, as well as all of his family.
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