While these nations remained quiet within the Empire, subject to the _Romans_, many others continued so beyond the _Danube_ till the death of the Emperor _Theodosius_, and then rose up in arms. For _Paulus Diaconus_ in his _Historia Miscell._ _lib._ xiv. speaking of the times next after the death of this Emperor, tells us: _Eodem tempore erant Gothi & aliae gentes maximae trans Danubium habitantes: ex quibus rationabiliores quatuor sunt, Gothi scilicet, Huisogothi, Gepides & Vandali; & nomen tantum & nihil aliud mutantes. Isti sub Arcadia & Honorio Danubium transeuntes, locati sunt in terra Romanorum: & Gepides quidem, ex quibus postea divisi sunt Longobardi & Avares, villas, quae sunt circa Singidonum & Sirmium, habitavere:_ and _Procopius_ in the beginning of his _Historia Vandalica_ writes to the same purpose. Hitherto the _Western Empire_ continued entire, but now brake into many kingdoms. _Theodosius_ died A.C. 395; and then the _Visigoths_, under the conduct of _Alaric_ the successor of _Fridigern_, rose from their seats in _Thrace_ and wasted _Macedon_, _Thessaly_, _Achaia_, _Peloponnesus_, and _Epirus_, with fire and sword for five years together; when turning westward, they invaded _Dalmatia_, _Illyricum_ and _Pannonia_; and from thence went into _Italy_ A.C. 402; and the next year were so beaten at _Pollentia_ and _Verona_, by _Stilico_ the commander of the forces of the _Western Empire_, that _Claudian_ calls the remainder of the forces of _Alaric_, _tanta ex gente reliquias breves_, and _Prudentius_, _Gentem deletam_. Thereupon _Alaric_ made peace with the Emperor, being so far humbled, that _Orosius_ saith, he did, _pro pace optima & quibuscunque sedibus suppliciter & simpliciter orare_. This peace was ratified by mutual hostages; _AEtius_ was sent hostage to _Alaric_; and _Alaric_ continued a free Prince in the seats now granted to him. When _Alaric_ took up arms, the nations beyond the _Danube_ began to be in motion; and the next winter, between A.C. 395 and 396, a great body of _Hunns_, _Alans_, _Ostrogoths_, _Gepides_, and other northern nations, came over the frozen _Danube_, being invited by _Rufinus_: when their brethren, who had obtained seats within the Empire, took up arms also. _Jerome_ calls this great multitude, _Hunns_, _Alans_, _Vandals_, _Goths_, _Sarmatians_, _Quades_, and _Marcomans_; and saith, that they invaded all places between _Constantinople_ and the _Julian Alps_, wasting _Scythia_, _Thrace_, _Macedon_, _Dardania_, _Dacia_, _Thessaly_, _Achaia_, _Epirus_, _Dalmatia_, and all _Pannonia_. The _Suevians_ also invaded _Rhaetia_: for when _Alaric_ ravaged _Pannonia_, the _Romans_ were defending _Rhaetia_; which gave _Alaric_ an opportunity of invading _Italy_, as _Claudian_ thus mentions. _Non nisi perfidia nacti penetrabile tempus,_ _Irrupere Getae, nostras dum Rhaetia vires_ _Occupat, atque alio desudant Marte cohortes_.