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
10. For that prince, being always unfavourable to Athanasius, although
he knew that what he ordered had in fact taken effect, yet was
exceedingly desirous that it should be confirmed by that authority which
the bishops of the Eternal City enjoy, as being of higher rank. And as
he did not succeed in this, Liberius was removed by night; a measure
which was not effected without great difficulty, through the fear which
his enemies had of the people, among whom he was exceedingly popular.
VIII.
§ 1. These events, then, took place at Rome, as I have already
mentioned. But Constantius was agitated by frequent intelligence which
assured him that the Gauls were in a lamentable condition, since no
adequate resistance could be made to the barbarians who were now
carrying their devastations with fire and sword over the whole country.
And after deliberating a long time, in great anxiety, what force he
could employ to repel these dangers (himself remaining in Italy, as he
thought it very dangerous to remove into so remote a country), he at
last determined on a wise plan, which was this: to associate with
himself in the cares of the empire his cousin Julian, whom he had some
time before summoned to court, and who still retained the robe he had
worn in the Greek schools.
2. And when, oppressed by the heavy weight of impending calamities, he
had confessed to his dearest friends that by himself he was unequal to
the burden of such weighty and numerous difficulties--a thing which he
had never felt before--they, being trained to excessive flattery, tried
to fill him with foolish ideas, affirming that there was nothing in the
world so difficult but what his pre-eminent virtue and his good fortune,
equal to that of the gods, would be able to overcome, as it always
hitherto had done. And many of them added further, being stung by their
consciousness of guilt, that henceforth he ought to beware of conferring
the title of Cæsar on any one, enumerating the deeds which had been done
in the time of Gallus.
3. They therefore opposed his design resolutely, and it was supported by
no one but the queen, who, whether it was that she feared a journey to a
distant country, or that, from her own natural wisdom, she saw the best
course for the common good, urged him that a relation like Julian ought
to be preferred to every one else. Accordingly, after many undecided
deliberations and long discussions, his resolution was at last taken
decidedly, and having discarded all further vain debate, he resolved on
associating Julian with him in the empire.
4. He was therefore summoned; and when he had arrived, on a fixed day,
the whole of his fellow-comrades who were in the city were ordered to
attend, and a tribunal was erected on a lofty scaffolding, surrounded by
the eagles and standards. And Augustus, mounting it, and holding Julian
by the right hand, made this conciliatory speech:--
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