The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15

courage. Nor were they animated by any CON-
mon purpose or common hatred Of Rome. So far
from having any common design. they were
hopelessly divided among themselves. and were
as often found fighting for the empire as against
1t. Thus the Franks on the Rhine we're acting
as champions of Rome when they were over
whelmed by the invaders OF 400. Stilicho had.
as we have seen. Alan and Hun auxiliaries in
his great battle with Radagesus. 1t was with
Hun cavalry that Aetius and Litorius strove to
check the advance Of the Visigoths in southern
Gaul. 1t was with the aid Of Visigoths. Franks.
Saxons and Burgundians that Aetlus defeated
the hosts Of Attila on the Catalaunian plains.
| Again and again the Visigoths OF Toulouse lent
| their forces TO support the Roman power in
Spain against the Sueyi. TIL Romans of Au-
| vergne. when they were deserted by the i'm
perial Government. received help and encour-
gemen in their last struggles against Euric
from the Burgundians. 1t is clear from these
facts that the empire was not an object of
hatred to the barbarians. Indeed. they were
often eager to be taken into its service. and
many Of their chiefs. like Alaric or Ataulphus.
had no higher ambition than to be appointed to
high military command.
On the other hand. there was a correspond
ing readiness on the Roman side to en-
ploy barbarian forces in war. From the
earliest days OF the empire, German auxiliaries
had appeared on the army lists. Germans are
found. for instance. in tho b%odyguard of Au-
gustus. They fought under Yitellius in the
oremost ranks at the battle Of emo YES
pasian had special confidence in the loyalty OF
the suevi. and had two of their chiefs in his
service. Marcus Aurelius formed some corps
of Germans for his war with their country
men on the Danube. In the third CEN
fury the tendency to employ barbarians
becomes even more marked. Valerian.
in a despatch to Aurelian. describes an
army the officers OF which bear names
70 Enthusiastically Teutonic as Hariomundus.
Hildomundus and Haldagates. Claudius H..
after the great defeat which he inflicted on the
Cloths. enrolled a large number OF them under
his standard. Probus recruited the frontier
garrisons with 10000 from the wreck OF the
great Teutonic host which. in his reign. had
devastated Gaul. The army OF Constantine at
the battle OF the Milvian Bridge was chiefly
composed Of Germans and Celts and Britons.
OF similar composition was the army with
which Theodosius defeated Eugenius at the
Frigidus.
Under the circumstances. we can understand
why the. establishment OF the Germans In the
south and east OF Gaul disturbed and alarmed
the Romans Of the provinces far less than
might. at first sight. be expected. The capture
Of the city Of Rome itself by Alaric. the Visi-
goth. in 40. gave. undoubtedly. a tremendous
shock to the old Roman confidence and pride.
To the onlooker there seemed to be a vast diff
ference between the plumber OF provinces.
which was constantly and rapidly avenged.
ana the violation of the heart and seat OF
Roman power. Eight hundred years had
passed since Rome had been taken by the
Gauls under Brennus. The sacred centre OF
government had never realized the posi-
bility that her own stately security
could ever be disturbed. Now the spell
was broken. The mystery and awe which
surrounded the great city had been pierced and
set at naught. The moral force. so much moro
important in government than the material,
had been seriously weakened. Notwithstand-
ing the catastrophe Of 40. however. the recov-
cry OF confidence and equanimity at Rome it.
self seems to have been rapid. 1t is probable
that the material damage inflicted by Alaric
has been exaggerated. The only great building
positively known to have been burned down
wast the Palace OF Sallust
The most convincing proof that but little
havoc can have been wrought Ia furnished bya
poem OF Rutilius. who may have seen the Cloths
within the walls. and three years after their
capture OF Rome held the office Of Project.
There is In this poem no querulous ard
faint-hearted lamentation over a crushing
and appalling disaster. There is hardly a hint
S''' 49, oSA'NA' 49, 'f~' 's'uliohs Il III
troubles OF the time referred to in a few vague
phrases are treated as merely viclssitudes OF
fortune, such as Rome has known before. and
from which she has always risen with renewed
vitality. The faith in the star of Rome, ex-
pressed with genuine enthusiasm by Rutllius.
seems not to be founded on the consciousness
of material strength. 1t Is rather a relig-
ious feeling, springing from a clear percep-
ton Of the oivilizinR mission OF Rome and
the nature OF her services TO mankind. Oro-
Sius. who had suffered personally in the
Vandal invasion OF Spain. recounts how
he had seen the Germans turning from
hrigandaRe and slaughter to the cultivation
OF the fields. and how they speedily began to
live on terms OF good fellowship with their Ro-
man neighbors. many Of whom preferred the
rule OF the barbarians to the crushing exac-
tons of the Roman treasury. Salvianus, who
wrote more than a generation later, tells us the
thing. Orosius. on his part. while he
that Rome, considered as a political
entity. has begun to feel the decrepltude OF
age, foresees that the Roman peace. the Roman
culture. or. In . word. BONANZA Is greater than