The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian, Jovianus, Valentinian, and ValensAmmianus Marcellinus
History
The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus: During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius, Julian, Jovianus, Valentinian, and Valens
Ammianus Marcellinus
Rome -- History -- Empire, 284-476
7. For, as is often the case in times of uncertainty and difficulty,
they were panic-stricken by the incursion of our cavalry on the one
side, and the sudden attacks of our infantry, conveyed in boats, on the
other; and therefore, relying on their knowledge of the country, they
sought safety in the rapidity of their flight; and, as their retreat
left the motions of our troops free, we plundered the wealthy farms of
their crops and their cattle, sparing no one. And having carried off a
number of prisoners, we set fire to, and burnt to the ground all their
houses, which in that district were built more carefully than usual, in
the Roman fashion.
8. And when we had penetrated a distance of ten miles, till we came near
a wood terrible from the denseness of its shade, our army halted for a
while, and stayed its advance, having learnt from information given by a
deserter that a number of enemies were concealed in some subterranean
passages and caverns with many entrances in the neighbourhood, ready to
sally forth when a favourable opportunity should appear.
9. Nevertheless our men presently ventured to advance in full
confidence, and found the roads blockaded by oaks, ashes, and pines, of
great size, cut down and laid together. And so they retreated with
caution, perceiving that it was impossible to advance except by long and
rugged defiles; though they could hardly restrain their indignation at
being compelled to do so.
10. The weather too became very severe, so that they were enveloped in
all kinds of toil and danger to no purpose (forasmuch as it was now past
the autumnal equinox, and the snow, which had already fallen in those
regions, covered the mountains and the plains), and so, instead of
proceeding, Julian undertook a work worthy of being related.
11. He repaired with great expedition, while there was no one to hinder
him, the fortress which Trajan had constructed in the territory of the
Allemanni, and to which he had given his own name, and which had lately
been attacked with great violence and almost destroyed. And he placed
there a temporary garrison, and also some magazines, which he had
collected from the barbarians.
12. But when the Allemanni saw these preparations made for their
destruction, they assembled rapidly in great consternation at what had
already been done, and sent ambassadors to implore peace, with prayers
of extreme humility. And the Cæsar, now that he had fully matured and
secured the success of all his designs, taking into consideration all
probabilities, granted them a truce for ten months. In reality he was
especially influenced by this prudent consideration, that the camp which
he had thus occupied without hindrance, in a way that could hardly have
been hoped for, required, nevertheless, to be fortified with mural
engines and other adequate equipments.
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