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
3. There was a certain man named Dynamius, the superintendent of the
emperor's beasts of burden, who had begged of Silvanus recommendatory
letters to his friends as of one who was admitted to his most intimate
friendship. Having obtained this favour, as Silvanus, having no
suspicion of any evil intention, had with great simplicity granted what
he was asked, Dynamius kept the letters, in order at a future time to
plan something to his injury.
4. Therefore, when the aforesaid commander had gone to the Gauls in the
service of the republic, and while he was engaged in repelling the
barbarians, who already began to distrust their own power, and to be
filled with alarm, Dynamius, being restless, like a man of cunning and
practised deceitfulness, devised a wicked plot; and in this it is said
he had for his accomplices Lampadius, the prefect of the prætorian
guard, Eusebius, who had been the superintendent of the emperor's privy
purse, and was known by the nickname of Mattyocopa,[40] and Ædesius,
formerly keeper of the records, whom this prefect had contrived to have
elected consul, as being his dearest friend. He then with a sponge
effaced the contents of the letters, leaving nothing but the address,
and inserted a text materially differing from the original writing, as
if Silvanus had asked, by indirect hints, and entreated his friends who
were within the palace, and those who had no office (among whom was
Albinus of Etruria, and many others), to aid him in projects of loftier
ambition, as one who would soon attain the imperial throne. This bundle
of letters he thus made up, inventing at his leisure, in order with them
to endanger the life of this innocent man.
5. Dynamius was appointed to investigate these charges on behalf of the
emperor; and while he was artfully weaving these and similar plans, he
contrived to enter alone into the imperial chamber, choosing his
opportunity, and hoping to entangle firmly in his meshes the most
vigilant guardian of the emperor's safety. And being full of wicked
cunning, after he had read the forged packet of letters in the council
chamber, the tribunes were ordered to be committed to custody, and also
several private individuals were commanded to be arrested and brought up
from the provinces, whose names were mentioned in those letters.
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