The Origin and Deeds of the GothsJordanes, active 6th century
History
The Origin and Deeds of the Goths
Jordanes, active 6th century
Attila, -453; Germanic peoples; Goths
Now when the Goths saw the Gepidae defending for
themselves the territory of the Huns and the people of
the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they
preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire
rather than invade the lands of others with danger to
themselves. So they received Pannonia, which stretches
in a long plain, being bounded on the east by Upper
Moesia, on the south by Dalmatia, on the west by Noricum
and on the north by the Danube. This land is
adorned with many cities, the first of which is Sirmium
and the last Vindobona. But the Sauromatae, whom we 265
call Sarmatians, and the Cemandri and certain of the
Huns dwelt in Castra Martis, a city given them in the
region of Illyricum. Of this race was Blivila, Duke of
Pentapolis, and his brother Froila and also Bessa, a Patrician
in our time. The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii
and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by
name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria,
the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say, 266
my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long
as he lived. To his sister's son Gunthigis, also called
Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of
Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the
stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an unlearned
man before my conversion, was secretary. The
Rugi, however, and some other races asked that they
might inhabit Bizye and Arcadiopolis. Hernac, the
younger son of Attila, with his followers, chose a home
in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and
Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and
Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of
the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves
into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the
Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended.
[Sidenote: Bishop Ulfilas about 311-381]
[Sidenote: THE LESSER GOTHS]
LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, 267
a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who
is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they
are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far
as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous
people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save
flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and
forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat
and other sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know
that vineyards exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine
from neighboring countries. But most of them drink
milk.
[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS IN PANNONIA]
[Sidenote: BIRTH OF THEODORIC THE GREAT 454]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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