Centre of learning in the ancient world, london and new york, i. The res gestae of ammianus marcellinus poses numerous structural puzzles for the historian, among them the anomalous final book, numbered 31 in the manuscript tradition. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. This book demonstrates what a subtle and manipulative writer ammianus is. Claudius silvanus died 7 september 355 was a roman general of frankish descent, usurper in gaul against emperor constantius ii for 28 days in ad 355. Constantius and gallus book xv book xvi book xvii book xviii book xix book xx book xxi book xxii book xxiii book xxiv book xxv book xxvi book xxvii book xxviii book xxix. His is the penultimate major historical account written during antiquity the last was written by procopius. And there is probably no work as to the intrinsic value of which there is so little difference of opinion. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings rank alongside those of livy and tacitus. Although animianus was no doubt a heathen, his altitude towards christianity is that of a man of the world, free from prejudices in favor of any. Ammianus marcellinus, the caesar julian, and rhetorical failure. The whole of ammianus book xvi is a sort of textual monument to julians. The representatives of the new dynasty differ greatly from their predecessor julian, both personally and in their style of government. The death of emperor valentine i in the descriptions of ammianus.
Ammianus marcellinus 325 x 330 after 391 was a fourthcentury roman soldier and historian. Ammianus is an accurate and faithful guide, who composed the history of his own times without indulging the prejudices and passions which usually affect the mind of a contemporary edward gibbon. The first thirteen of his thirtyone books are lost. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events including the battle of. The topic of the book is somewhat narrow as it is more about the interaction of the huns and the romans, both directly and indirectly, than about the huns in general.
Ammianus makes so many digressions in books 22 24 when discussing the reign of julian as the sole emperor that he appears to be attempting to raise the level of the importance of the man through the use of accounts of egypt, artillery, and embassies. Julians deathbed speech xxv, 3, 15 is delivered in oratio recta, but. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from antiquity the last was written by procopius. The project gutenberg ebook of the roman history of ammianus. With this striking and bravura narrative of the earthquake and tsunami of 21 july a. This man he himself afterwards put to death, so the rumour went, in a. Religious history of the later roman empire benjamin james rogaczewski. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events.
In books 2631 ammianus marcellinus deals with the period of the emperors valentinian and valens. And at a small distance from them are some monuments of heroes, where. The original edition of the book called, i think, attila and the huns, was released in the late 50s so is not all that up to date. Ammianus marcellinus the roman history of ammianus marcellinus ammianus marcellinus pyrrhus press specializes in bringing books long out of date back to life, allowing todays readers access to yesterdays treasures. An excursionary introduction to the author of the res gestae, ammianus marcellinus, by one of the foremost ancient historians of the twentieth century, arnaldo momigliano. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant. From approximately 379 he lived at rome where he spent about thirteen years in writing the thirty one books of his res gestae, covering the period from nerva a. The death of emperor valentine i in the descriptions of ammianus marcellinus and other authors. Coded polemic in ammianus book 31 and the date and place. Although little is known about the author, the roman history of ammianus. Rolfes translation is fine, and you can always look over on the latin side and translate the word yourself. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events including the battle of strasbourg and.
The battle of hadrianopolis, 378 ce at this time valens was disturbed by a twofold anxiety, having learned that the people of lintz had been defeated, and also because sebastian, in the letters which he sent from time to time, exaggerated what had taken place by his pompous language. Ammianus marcellinus 325330after 391 was a fourthcentury roman historian. Andrew wallacehadrill is professor of classics at reading university. Of these 31 books only 1431 353378 ce survive, a remarkably accurate and impartial record of his own times. This volume contains in translation the major part of the extant books 1431 of the histories of ammianus marcellinus. Ammianus marcellinus author of the later roman empire. He subsequently settled in rome, where he wrote in latin a history of the roman. Soldier though he was, he includes economic and social affairs. Roman historybook xxviii wikisource, the free online.
Both the latin and english pages are clear and easy to read. The surviving books of his history cover the years 353 to 378. Ammianus marcellinus was an army officer of greek origin who left a history of the wars and conflicts that beset the roman empire in the latter half of the fourth century. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxvii, chapter 3. From fear of constantius julian halts in dacia, and secretly consults the augurs and soothsayers.
Historian ammianus marcellinus documented the devastating effects of a tsunami hitting alexandria, egypt, on july 21, ad 365. This article is simply a collection of citations, which i have found to be of invaluable assistance in the understanding of the. The great conspiracy was a yearlong state of war and disorder that occurred in roman britain near the end of the roman rule of the island. The death of an emperor and the religious history of the later roman empire by. After julians death, ammianus accompanied the retreat of the new emperor, jovian, as far as antioch. The text, which is in the public domain, is taken from bill thayers meticulous transcription at lacuscurtius ellipses in the translation indicate a lacuna or a. Ammianus marcellinus is usually regarded as our most important source for the history of the second half of the fourth century ad, while his literary qualities are neglected. Ammianus marcellinus was a roman soldier and historian who wrote the penultimate major. His work chronicled in latin the history of rome from 96 to 378, although only the sections covering the period 353378 are extant. Ammianus after julian the reign of valentinian and. When he hears of constantiuss death he passes through thrace, and enters constantinople, which he finds quiet. Born of genteel extraction in a greekspeaking part of the empire, ammianus served in the army in campaigns ranging form gaul to persia before settling in rome and beginning his literary carreer. Ammianus marcellinus, the last of the greater roman historians, was born in about a. Ammianus marcellinus, in the surviving books of rerum gestarum libri xxxi recounts the fourthcentury roman empire.
Ammianus marcellinus project gutenberg selfpublishing. This loeb volume covers books 20 26 in ammianus marcellinus history. His history, which he divided into thirtyone books of which the first thirteen are lost, while the text of those which remain is in some places imperfect, began with the accession of nerva, a. Would that they could be buried in everlasting silence, lest. One of the best known passages of ammianus marcellinus fourth century history is his account. Ammianus marcellinus, and the ecclesiastical historians of the fifth century socrates of constantinople, sozomen of gaza, and theodoret. Egypt in book 22, ammianus even uses the expression sapientia gloriosa. Julian crosses the rhine and plunders and burns the towns of the allemanni, repairs the fortress of trajan, and grants the barbarians a truce for ten months. Mediterranean megaturbidite triggered by the ad 365 crete. Rolfes complete translation of the surviving books of the res gestae of ammianus marcellinus, originally published in 193540 as three volumes of the bilingual loeb classical library. But now, in their empty arrogance, some persons look upon everything as. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings rank.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. This mans motherinlaw, it was said, had a violent passion for her soninlaw, but was unable to seduce him. And there is probably no work as to the intrinsic value of which there is so little. At this time also the saracens, a race whom it is never desirable to have either for friends or enemies, ranging up and down the country, if ever they found anything, plundered it in a moment, like rapacious hawks who, if from on high they behold any prey, carry it off with a rapid swoop, or, if they fail in. Of ammianus marcellinus, the writer of the following history, we know very little. The empire is divided between the two rulers, and suffers increasingly from barbarian invasions. His work, known as the res gestae, chronicled in latin the history of rome from the accession of the emperor nerva in 96 to the death of valens at the battle of adrianople in 378, although only the sections. Walter hamilton translated platos symposium, the gorgias, phaedrus and letters vii and viii for penguin classics.
Coded polemic in ammianus book 3 1 and the date and place of its composition michael kuliko w ski abstract the res gestae of ammianus marcellinus poses numerous structural puzzles for the historian, among them the anomalous final book, numbered 31 in the manuscript tradition. Marcellinus is firmly dated to late 392 by its reference to the death of. In this magisterial depiction of the closing decades of the roman empire, we can see the seeds of events that were to lead to the fall of the city, just twenty years after marcellinus death. After his death, julian, feeling that he was exposed to general reproach and. Books 21, 22, 23, and 24 all cover julians reign, including his campaign against the persians. Though displaying many of the features characteristic of ammianus daunting linguistic variation, brilliant. Ammianus and the great tsunami the journal of roman. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, continuing the histories of tacitus from ad 96 down to his own day.