Stilicho: The Vandal Who Saved Rome
Page 40
22 cf. Zos, 5.32.4.
23 e.g. CAH, 2004, 122; Liebeschuetz, 2004, 66.
24 Comes rei militaris magister militum vacans Burns; Drinkwater, 1998, 278 and note 63.
25 Drinkwater, 1998, 275–6 and 278.
26 Zos., 6.2.4.
27 Kulikowski, 2000, 334. Zos. 6.2.4; ‘Nebiogastes, the surviving magister, made overtures of peace to Sarus and was amicably received by him.’
28 Zos., 6. 5.
29 Zos., 5.28. It is also interesting to note that after Stilicho’s fall, and the death of the rest of her family, Thermantia was allowed to live in peace until she died in 415. Obviously, Honorius had either a deep respect or still retained some feelings for Thermantia.
30 Kulikowski, 2007, 172.
31 Ausonius, Ordo Nobilium, VIII.
32 Soz. 9.4, Zos. 5.34.1.
33 This section is largely reliant on the observations of Drinkwater, 1998, especially 279–80.
34 Zos., 6.4.1–2.
35 Drinkwater, 1998, 279.
36 Both Sozomen (9.11.4) and Zosimus (6.4.1) imply that Constans was promoted specifically for the campaign in Spain. cf. Kulikowski, 2005, 335.
37 On the appointments, Greg. Tur. 2.9.
38 It is difficult to reconcile the different accounts given in the sources. This reconstruction is based on Kulikowski, 2000, 335 and n. 67, using Soz. 9.11.4 – 12.1; Or. 7.40.6–8; and Zos. 6.4.
39 Or. 7.40.78; Soz. 9.12.1.
40 Zos. 6.5.1; 6.13.1; Greg. Tur. HF. II.9.
41 Or. 7.40.9–10; Soz. 9.12.3.
42 Zos., 5.29.1. It should be noted that this chapter is actually rather confusing and has Alaric crossing the Apennines, which was as yet an impossibility.
43 For example, Burns, 1994, 215 claims that it was not whereas Matthews, 1975, 46–7 claims that it was. Soz. HE 8.25.4 claims that Alaric returned to Italy, which may merely be a simple error given the context.
44 Zos., 5.29.5.
45 Zos., 5.29. 5.
46 Enough to keep 72,000 men, Liebeschuetz, 2004, 67 n. 155 quoting Wolfram; cost of the praetorian games, Matthews, 1975, 277 derived from Olymp. fr. 44.
47 For an alternative viewpoint, Matthews, 1975, 277–8.
48 Zos., 5.42.3.
49 30,000 men, Zos. 5.35–6; slaves from Rome, Zos. 5.42; large band under Athaulf, Zos. 5.37.1.
50 Liebeschuetz suggests that Stilicho was expecting the ‘pay’ to be in the form of booty, but this is not really valid, since he would need the goodwill of the people in Illyricum to ease the transition of government and, more importantly, have them volunteer to serve in the army and willingly pay their taxes.
51 This analysis is counter to that proposed, for example, by Heather, 2005, 221.
52 This section is heavily reliant on the account given by Zosimus: 5.29.
53 Salway, 1993, 295.
54 Zos., 5.29.6.
55 Zos., 5.29.7.
56 Zos. 5.29,9, following Olymp. fr. 5.
57 Burns, 1994, 361.n. 129; Olym. fr. 7.2. (from Photius).
58 Quotation, Zos. 5.29. 9; comparison to Claudius, Ridley, Zosimus, 217, n.105.
59 For the growth of Catholic opposition see Chapter 7.
60 Olymp. fr. 2.
61 Zos., 5.30.2.
62 Zos., 5.30.1.
63 Burns, 1994, 361, n. 129.
Chapter 15
1 Zos., 5.31.
2 Zos., 5.31.2.
3 Zos., 5.31.3.
4 Zos., 5.31.4.
5 Zos., 5.31.4.
6 Zos., 5.31.5.
7 Zos., 5.31, perhaps also Jord. 153; Liebeschuetz, 1990, 67
8 Drinkwater, 1998, 281.
9 Zos., 5.31.6.
10 See discussion in Wolfram, 1990, and 237 n.438 concerning contradictions between Zosimus (5, 42.1; 44.1; and 50.3) and Olym. fr.5 and the claim that Alaric was created magister equitum.
11 Zos., 5.32.4.
12 Zos., 5.30.3.
13 Soz., 9.4.6. On the significance of the labarum, Burns, 2004, 216.
14 Urged to travel to Ravenna by Serena, Zos. 5.30.
15 Kulikowski, 2007, 172.
16 Kulikowski, 2007, 172.
17 Williams and Friell, 1994, 157.
18 Interpreted as a betrayal, Zos. 5.29; motive for conspiracy, Zos. 5.32–4: 30.1.
19 cf Ferrill, 1988, 101.
20 Jones, 1966, 76.
21 Heather, 2005, 222.
22 Zos., 5.32.1.
23 Zos., 5.32.2.
24 Zos., 5.32.3.
25 Zos., 5.32.4.
26 Zos., 5.32.6f.
27 Zos., 5.32.7.
28 Zos., 5.33.
29 Zos., 5.34.1.
30 Zos., 5.34.2.
31 As a reward for his service, Heraclianus was made comes Africae: Zos. 5.37.6; PLRE II, p. 539. He remained loyal to Honorius, and was granted the consulship in 413. In the same year he rebelled, aiming to become emperor, before being murdered.
32 Zos., 5.34.4. For the date of the execution, Consularia Italica p. 300, as referenced by Burns, 1994, 216.
33 Zos., 5.34.5. Stilicho was allegedly buried in the Sarcophagus preserved beneath the pulpit of the Sant’Ambrogio Basilica in Milan, Italy.
34 Cod. Th. 9.42.21–1; cf. Zos. 5.35.
35 Cod. Th. 9.42.22.
36 Zos., 5.37.6.
37 Zos., 5.35.6; 40,000 men, 5.42.3.
38 See Chapter 11; Heather, 1994, 213f.
39 Zos., 5.36.1.
40 Zos., 5.36.3. Turpilio and Vigilantius were both killed following a mutiny of the troops in March 409, but Varanes was made consul in the East in 410: Ridley, 1983, 220, n. 132–134.
41 Zos., 5.37.1.
42 Zos., 5.35–7 and 45.
43 Heather, 1994, 215.
44 Zos., 5.38–44.
45 Jovius retained close ties with Alaric, Soz. 9.4.4.
46 Zos., 48.3.
47 Zos., 48.4.
48 Zos., 5.45–52: Soz. 9.7.
49 Zos., 6.12.3.
50 Zos., 6.8.
51 Zos., 6.6–12: Soz. 9.7.
52 Zos., 6.13; Soz. 9.9.
53 Zos., 6.5.2.
54 Jer., Ep. 123.16: Kulikowski, 2000, 331.
55 Poulter, 2007, 38.
56 Cod. Th. 7.16.1.
57 Goldsworthy, 2009, 303.
Chapter 16
1 Burns, 2003, 376.
2 cf. Halsall, 2007, 213–4.
3 Halsall, 2007, 188.
4 ‘The indecisive outcome of no less than five head-on confrontations between Stilicho and Alaric (392/3, 395, 397, and two in 402) implies a sense of solidarity between barbarians in the armies of the empire, and is a more likely explanation than the need to recruit barbarians.’ Liebeschuetz, 2004, 53.
5 Rut. de Reditu suo, 40f: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/ Rutilius_Namatianus/home.html, referenced May 2009. See also Williams and Friell, 1994, 224. n.64.
6 Elton, 2004, 141–2, noting that only Jerome and Orosius highlight his Vandal origins, and that even the extremely hostile Rutilius Namatianus makes no mention of it.
7 Olymp., 5.1.
8 Williams and Friell, 1994, 158; 224, n.64.
9 Williams and Friell, 1994, 156.
10 Williams and Friell, 1994, 156.
11 Muhlberger, 2006, 89–91.
12 Christie, 2007, 553.
13 For example, prior to Stilicho, Arbogast; after Stilicho, Orestes.
14 Kulikowski, 2007, 164.
15 ‘United empire’, Liebeschuetz, 2004, 67.
16 See Chapters 6, 7 and 10 for a more detailed analysis.
17 cf. Elton, 2004, 266.
18 cf. Matthews, 1975, 278.
19 Liebeschuetz, 2004, 68.
20 O’Flynn, 1983, 43.
21 ‘Propagandist’, O’Flynn, 1983, 43.
Appendix I
Glossary
A glossary of some of the Latin titles and phrases used in the book.
Angon Germanic heavy javelin with a long iron shank and a barbed head. The eq
uivalent of the earlier Roman pilum.
Annona Subsidies paid to barbarian kings in return for their cooperation.
Arcuballista Roman crossbow (see also Cheiroballista).
Aurem tironicum ‘Gold for recruits’: the tax paid in lieu of supplying men for the army.
Auxilia palatina ‘Auxilia of the palace’: auxiliaries (theoretically non-Roman troops) serving directly under the emperor and of suitable high status within the army.
Bipennis (Francisca) Name given to the throwing-axe later known as the francisca in texts contemporary to Stilicho.
Bucellarii ‘Biscuit eaters’: nickname originally applied to (some) Roman troops but during the time of Stilicho applied to the new bodyguards recruited by generals and high-ranking officials.
Carroballista Artillery piece mounted on a wagon for ease of transport.
Cheiroballista Roman crossbow (see also Arcuballista).
Claustra Alpium Iuliarum ‘Fortifications of the Julian Alps’: defensive fortifications in the Julian Alps to protect northern Italy from invasion.
Comes Africae ‘Count (Commander) of Africa’: military leader in Africa.
Comes Britanniarum ‘Count (Commander) of Britain’: military leader in Britain.
Comes domesticorum ‘Count (Commander) of the household bodyguards’: military leader of the imperial guard.
Comes et magister utriusque militiae per Africam ‘Count (Commander) and Master (General) of all of the troops in Africa’: title given to Gildo byTheodosius.
Comes Gildoniaci patrimonii ‘Count (Commander) of the patrimony of Gildo’: person in control of the lands confiscated by the emperor from Gildo after his revolt.
Comes rei militaris ‘Count (commander) of things military’: title of military commanders below the magistri in seniority.
Comes rei militaris per Aegyptum ‘Count (commander) of things military in Egypt’: sometimes title of military commander in Egypt.
Comes rei privatae ‘Count (commander) of things private’: personal secretary to the emperor.
Comes sacrarum largitionem ‘Count (commander) of the sacred largesse’: Imperial Chamberlain.
Comes sacri stabuli ‘Count of the sacred stables’: cavalry commander of the imperial guard.
Comes/comites ‘Count’ (commander): deriving from the ‘companions’ of the earlier emperors, by the time of Stilicho it was a rank given to men trusted by the emperor with specific duties (see above).
Comitatenses ‘Companions’: the second tier of the army, the troops so designated were stationed in the interior and could expect to serve in the emperor’s armies in the field.
Commentariensis ‘Registrar of public documents’: imperial functionarywith considerable power.
Dediticii Army units of unclear derivation and status, tending towards the lower end of the army hierarchy.
Dux Aegyptae ‘Duke of Egypt’: military leader of the frontier forces stationed in the province of Egypt.
Dux Pannonia Secunda ‘Duke of Pannonia Secunda’: military leader of the frontier.
Dux/duces ‘Duke’: military commander of forces stationed on the frontier of provinces on the borders of the Empire.
Foederati ‘Federates’: troops recruited from barbarian tribes, each one probably following a separate treaty and under different conditions. In this book, the term foederati is usually used of those men serving under Alaric in order to differentiate between them and other federates serving under different leaders and conditions.
Fabrica/fabricae ‘Factories’: the imperial factories making equipment for the army on a large scale.
Francisca Germanic throwing-axe, later associated with the Franks. At this time known as either the securis or the bipennis.
Fundae Sling.
Gentiles Army units of unclear derivation and status, tending towards the lower end of the army hierarchy.
Gladius hispaniensis ‘Spanish sword’: the sword used by the Roman legions earlier in the Empire.
Gothi minores ‘Little Goths’: name given to those Goths who, after the treaty of 382, chose to remain in Moesia rather than follow Alaric in another attempt to fight the Empire.
Hostis publicus ‘Public enemy’: name given by the emperor to any individual who is an ‘enemy of the state’.
Iacula A Roman spear or javelin.
Laetus/laeti ‘Allies’: name given to the Franks (and others) who had been defeated after entering the Empire, but had then been allowed to settle inside the Empire on condition that they guard the borders against attack.
Limitanei Roman troops assigned to defend the land frontiers of the Empire. For a more in-depth discussion on these troops, see Nicasie (1998, p. 19–22) and Southern and Dixon (1996, p. 36). See also riparienses.
Magister militum ‘Master of the soldiers’: Roman general. Without any additional title, it is assumed that the individual has been assigned the rank with duties under the emperor, rather than in a specific area (see magister militum per Illyricum etc. and the discussion of military titles in Chapter 4).
Magister equitum ‘Master of the cavalry’: the second-highest military post in the West after the magister peditum. See also Magister militum.
Magister equitum et peditum ‘Master of the cavalry and infantry’: title taken by Stilicho to denote his sole control of the Western military machine.
Magister militum per
llyricum ‘Master of the soldiers of Illyricum’: military commander in the Prefecture of Illyricum.
Magister militum per
Orientem ‘Master of the soldiers of the East’: military commander in the Prefecture of the East.
Magister militum per
Thracias ‘Master of the soldiers of Thrace’: military commander in the Prefecture of Illyricum.
Magister officiorum ‘Master of ceremonies’: personal secretary to the emperor.
Magister peditum ‘Master of the infantry’: highest ranking military officer in the West.
Magister scrinii ‘Master of the Imperial Secretaries’: high-ranking official in the immediate entourage of the emperor.
Magister utriusque militiae ‘Master of all the troops’: see Magister militum.
Magister utriusque militiae praesentalis ‘Master of all the troops in the presence (of the emperor’: one of two military officials serving directly underneath the emperor. In the West more normally called the magister equitum and the magister peditum.
Manuballista Roman torsion artillery firing a heavy bolt. Equivalent to the earlier scorpio.
Martiobarbuli Type of Roman throwing dart used by the army. See also Mattiobarbuli.
Mattiobarbuli Type of Roman throwing dart used by the army. See also Martiobarbuli.
Numerarii Financial officer on the staff of high-ranking officials charged with maintaining financial records.
Numerus/numeri Barbarian units serving within the Roman army earlier in the Empire. The word is used by later writers for any unit or groups thereof in the army.
Praefectus urbis Romae ‘Prefect of the city of Rome’: individual in charge of the running of the city.
Parens principum ‘Parental guardianship’: claim to ‘guardianship’ made by Stilicho over Honorius and Arcadius.
Pilleus Pannonicus ‘Pannonian Hat’: hat, probably made of felt and starting as headgear worn under a helmet. This later became a garment worn in its own right by soldiers to distinguish them from civilians when they did not need to wear a helmet.
Plumbatae mamillatae Throwing dart with a heavy lead weight to increase penetration.
Plumbatae tribolatae Throwing dart with a heavy lead weight to increase penetration and three spikes to form a caltrop, with one of the spikes always pointing upwards if it landed without hitting a target.
Praefectus praetorio
Galliarum ‘Praetorian prefect of Gaul’: one of the four praetorian prefects in the Empire with responsibility for the civil administration of approximately one-quarter of the Empire under the emperor.
Praefe
ctus praetorio Illyrici ‘Praetorian prefect of Illyricum’: see Praefectus praetorio Galliarum.
Praefectus praetorio Italiae ‘Praetorian prefect of Italy’: see Praefectus praetorio Galliarum.
Praefectus praetorio Orientis ‘Praetorian prefect of the East’: see Praefectus praetorio Galliarum.
Praepositus sacri cubiculi ‘Head of the Sacred Chambers’: high-ranking imperial functionary on the emperor’s staff.
Princeps ‘Chief clerk’: high-ranking imperial functionary on the emperor’s staff.
Proconsul Achaiae ‘Proconsul of (the province of) Achaea’: high-ranking official responsible for the administration of Achaea (Map 1).
Proconsul Africae Proconsul of (the province of) Achaea’: high-ranking official responsible for the administration of Achaea (Map 1).
Protectores divini lateris ‘Observed guards of the divine emperor’?): founded (possibly) during the reign of Gallienus (253–68). The precursors of the protectors domestici.
Protectores domestici ‘Household guards’: a group of individuals of relatively high rank who served under the emperor in the belief/hope that they could be trained and become high-ranking field officers in the army.
Pseudocomitatensis/
pseudocomitatenses ‘Almost-comitatenses’: limitanei/riparienses (q.v.).
Pteruges/pteryges Leather or fabric strips attached to garments worn under armour which protected the hips/groin and/or shoulders of Roman troops.
Pugio Earlier Roman dagger.
Reiks Gothic word for ‘king’. See also Thiudans.
Rex Gothorum ‘King of the Goths’: name taken by Alaric as a means of establishing his ascendancy amongst the Goths and as a political statement of intent in 400.
Ripariensis/riparienses Roman troops assigned to defend the river frontiers of the Empire. For a more in-depth discussion on these troops, see Nicasie (1998, p. 19–22) and Southern and Dixon (1996, p. 36). See also Limitanei.
Sax/seax Long dagger/short sword carried by many Germanic warriors.
Scholae ‘Bodyguard’: cavalry units serving directly under the emperor.
Scorpio ‘Scorpion’: early type of Roman catapult, later known as the manuballista.
Secures (francisca) Earlier name for the francisca (q.v.).
Semispatha ‘Half-spatha’: short version of the longsword known as the spatha (q.v.)