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

We have said that one OF the sections OF this
volume is devoted to a description OF the gen.
eral character Of the barbarian invasion OF the
fifth century. There is, of course. no founda-
ton for the popular Instrumentation OF the
events Of that time. 1t is not true that the
empire in the West succumbed to an over
towering advance Of whole tribes Of peoples
animated by hatred OF Rome. sweeping away
the remains of an effete civilization. and re-
placing it in a sudden and cataclysmal change
by a spirit and by institutions OF a perfectly diff
ferent order. II such were a true account Of
the fall Of the empire. the tone and behavior OF
many Of the contemporary Romans would be
inexplicable. Here and there. no doubt, there
were cries OF horror at the havoc and
slaughter which were caused, tempo
rarily and locally. by some violent in
cursion. UnQuestionably. too. the cap
ture OF the capital city gave. for a moment. a
terrible shock to the ancient faith In the
stability of Rome. This. however. was but a
transitory feeling. Confidence soon returned.
The cities and regions which are alleged to
have been ravaged and desolated. reappear
with apparently few traces OF any catastrophe.
The Government betrays no sign of confusion
or despair. Individual observers may have
had their doubts and questionings about the
course of events. but few seem to have been
absolutely dismayed. and some displayed a
hopefulness which would be quite astonishing
II the once current conception Of the barbarian
onslaughts were correct.
A very cursory glance at the history Of the
Roman Empire in the West reveals the secret
OF this indifference. The invasions Of the fifth
century were nothing new. nor was there any
thing startling in the settlement OF Germans
on Roman soil. From the times Of Marius. not
a century had passed without some violent in
road OF German hosts. Tho myriads ami
hilated on the field of Aqua Sextie. in the early
years of the first century B. c.. were but the
advance guard Of a mighty movement which
was necessarily tending to the west or south.
julius. Augustus and Tiberius had all to meet
successive attacks on the frontier OF the Rhine.
Marcus Aurellus spent eight campaigns
in a struggle with a vast confcderacy
on the Danube. In the third century, al
most every province. and even Italy itself.
was ravaged and the Cloths. then a compare
lively new horde. who had worked their way
from Scandinavia TO the Ukraine. swept the
EuXine in thousands Of vessels. and harried
the towns of Asia Minor and Greece. In the
reign of Probus the Germans captured and
pillaged sixty towns in Gaul and overran the
whole province. Another formidable Eruption
took place In the middle OF the fourth century.
Enormous numbers of Franks. Alemanni and
Saxons passed the Rhine. A great part OF Gaul
q III anu lOIly ulouG ~ MN
were sacked. Once more. however. the in
vaders were driven back with enormous loss.
It seems to us now as II the invasions OF the
third and fourth century. in respect OF the mum
bers and impetuoSity of the assailants. should
have been overwhelming. The Gothic host.
In the reign OF Claudius. is said to have COM
prised 100000 men. The Germans who spread
over the whole OF Gaul In the reign OF Probus
must have been even more numerous II that
Emperor slaughtered 400. 900 OF them. as he Is
said TO have done. Yet II does not appear that
in crises so appalling the Romans ever de-
spaired of the safety of the State. A letter of
Probus to the Senate expressed an almost ex-
uberant confidence. 1t is certain that tho in
vaders, however numerous. were eventually
driven back. and, in n short time. but few traces
were left OF their ravages.
The truth is, apparently. that however terri
BILE tho bands might be 10 the unarmed popula-
ton. in a regular battle the Germans were i'm
mensely inferior to the Roman troops. Ammi-
anus. who had borne n part in many OF these
engagements. says that. in spite OF the courage
OF the Germans. their headlong fury was no
match for the steady discipline and coolness of
troons under Roman officers. The result OF this
mosIl superiority. founded on a long tradition,
was that the Roman soldier in the third and
fourth centuries was ready TO face almost any
odds. In A. D. 356. for example. an immense
multitude OF the Allemani inundated eastern
Gaul. Julian, the future Emperor. who was
then a mere youth. with no previous training
In the art of war, was in OF only H.
600 men, of whom few were veteran troops. In
a very short time. nevertheless. not an enemy
was left in Gaul. and the victors were carrying
the war far into the heart Of Germany. In some |
OF these raids. no doubt. there must have been
much loss Of life and property. Yet q very few