Transcriber’s Note
The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved. Only obvioustypographical errors have been corrected.
This text contains a several phrases in Greek, with English transliterations given as mouse hover pop-ups:τῆς δ’ ἀρεῆς
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THE
ROMAN HISTORY
OF
AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS
DURING THE REIGNS OF
THE EMPERORS CONSTANTIUS, JULIAN, JOVIANUS,
VALENTINIAN, AND VALENS.
TRANSLATED BY
C.D. YONGE, M.A.
WITH A GENERAL INDEX
LONDON
G. BELL AND SONS, LTD
1911
[Reprinted from Stereotype plates.]
PREFACE.
Of Ammianus Marcellinus, the writer of the following History, we knowvery little more than what can be collected from that portion of itwhich remains to us. From that source we learn that he was a native ofAntioch, and a soldier; being one of the prefectores domestici—thebody-guard of the emperor, into which none but men of noble birth wereadmitted. He was on the staff of Ursicinus, whom he attended in severalof his expeditions; and he bore a share in the campaigns which Julianmade against the Persians. After that time he never mentions himself,and we are ignorant when he quitted the service and retired to Rome, inwhich city he composed his History. We know not when he was born, orwhen he died, except that from one or two incidental passages in hiswork it is plain that he lived nearly to the end of the fourth century:and it is even uncertain whether he was a Christian or a Pagan; thoughthe general belief is, that he adhered to the religion of the ancientRomans, without, however, permitting it to lead him even to speakdisrespectfully of Christians or Christianity.
His History, which he divided into thirty-one books (of which the firstthirteen are lost, while the text of those which remain is in someplaces imperfect), began with the accession of Nerva, A.D. 96, whereTacitus and Suetonius end, and was continued to the death of Valens,A.D. 378, a period of 282 years. And there is probably no work as to theintrinsic value of which there is so little difference of opinion.Gibbon bears repeated testimony to his accuracy, fidelity, andimpartiality, and quotes him extensively. In losing his aid after A.D.378, he says, "It is not without sincere regret that I must now takeleave of an accurate and faithful guide, who has composed the history ofhis own times without indulging the prejudices and passions whichusually affect the mind of a contemporary." Professor Ramsay (in Smith'sDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography) says, "We are indebted to himfor a knowledge of many important facts not elsewhere recorded, and formuch valuable insight into the modes of thought and the general tone ofpublic feeling prevalent in his day. Nearly all the statements admittedappear to be founded upon his own observations, or upon the informationderived from trustworthy eye-witnesses. A considerab