The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. VII. Concerning the Murder of Valentinianus, and the taking of Rome; and concerning those other Emperours who governed Rome [after Valen∣tinianus's death.]

WHilest these things * 1.1 were transacted in the Eastern parts, Aëtius † 1.2 is in a mi∣serable manner murdered at the Elder Rome. Valentinianus also Emperour of the Western parts, and together with him Heraclius, [is slain] by some of Aëtius's Guards; the Plot against them being framed by Maximus (who afterwards possest himself of the Empire,) be∣cause Valentinianus had abused Maximus's wife, having by force debauch't her. Further, this Maximus, by making use of all manner of violence, compelled Eudoxia (who had been Valentinianus's wife,) to be married to him∣self. She, deservedly accounting this fact to be contumelious, and the highest indignity, took a resolution to cast every Dye (as the saying is,) [to the end she might be revenged] both for what had been done in relation to [the assassination of] her husband, and also for the reproach which had been brought upon her own Liberty. For, a woman is fierce, and of an anger * 1.3 implacable, if (when she uses her utmost endeavour to preserve it inviolate,) her chastity be forcibly taken from her, and espe∣cially by him who hath been her husband's Assassine. She sends therefore into † 1.4 Africa, to Gizerichus, and having forthwith presented him with many Gifts, and by her Declaration put him into a good hope of what was behind, she prevails with him to make a sudden and un∣expected Invasion upon the Roman Empire, pro∣mising she would betray all to him. Which ha∣ving in this manner been performed, Rome is taken. But Gizerichus, in regard he was a Bar∣barian and of a disposition inconstant and mu∣table, kept not * 1.5 his promise even with her: but having burnt the City, and made plunder of all [its riches,] he took Eudoxia together with her two daughters, marched back, went away, and returned into Africa. The elder of Eu∣doxia's daughters, by name Eudocia, he mar∣ried to his own son † 1.6 Hunericus. But the youn∣ger, (her name was Placidia,) together with her mother Eudoxia, he sent some time after to * 1.7 Byzantium, attended with an Imperial Train and a Guard, to the end he might pacifie Mar∣cianus. For he had highly incensed him, both because Rome had been burnt, and also in regard the Imperial Princesses had been so contume∣liously used. Moreover, Placidia is match't by Marcianus's order, Olybrius having married her; who was look't upon to be the eminent∣est personage amongst the [Roman] Senatours, and after the taking of Rome had betaken him∣self to Constantinople. Further, after Maximus, a 1.8 Avitus reigned over the Romans eight months.

He having ended his life by the b 1.9 Pestilence, c 1.10 Majorianus held the Empire two years. Af∣ter Majorianus had been traecherously slain by Ricimeres, Master of the Milice, Severus possest the Empire three years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, pro∣ceeded on.
• † 1.2

  Or, in a miserable manner re∣moves from amongst men.
• * 1.3

  Or, in∣exorable.
• † 1.4

  Or, Li∣bya.
• * 1.5

  Or, his saith.
• † 1.6

  Or, On••∣richus.
• * 1.7

  Constan∣tinople.
• a 1.8

  After Va∣lentinianus Placidus's death, and after the murder of Maximus, Avitus was pro∣claimed Emperour, first at Tolouse, and then at Orlcance, in Valen∣tinianus's eighth Consulate [which he bore] with Anthemius, in the year of Christ 455, on the sixth of the Ides of July; as 'tis re∣corded in the Old Chronicon, which Cuspinianus first published in his Fasti. On the year following, the same Avitus was Consul, as 'tis related in the Fasti which Jacobus Sirmondus has publish't under the name of Idatius: and on the same year he was deposed at Placentia, as Marius and Cassiodorus inform us in their Fasti, as likewise that Old Chronographer put forth by Cuspinianus. But, on what day, and in what month Avitus resigned the Empire, I do not find declared by the Ancients. Indeed, Sigonius (in his fourteenth book de Occi∣dentali Imperio,) writes, that Avitus resigned the Empire on the sixteenth of the Calends of June. But Sigonius quotes no Author of this thing. The words of Cuspinianus's Old Chronographer are these: Joanne & Varane Coss. captus est Imp. Avitus, &c. In the Consulate of Joannes and Varanes, the Emperour Avitus is taken at Placentia by Ricimeres master of the Milice. And his Patritius Messianus is slain, on the sixteenth of the Calends of June. From this place therefore Sigonius, induced thereto by conjectures, thought that Avitus had put off his purple, and that Messianus had been slain, on one and the same day; although the Old Chronographer affirms not that. For, that sixteenth of the Calends of June is referred to the murder of Messianus, not to Avitus's deposition. 'Tis certain, if what Evagrius relates here be true, (viz. that Avitus reigned eight months,) his deposition must necessarily fall on the month of March in the year 456. Idatius, in his Chronicon, seems to attribute three years Reign to Avitus. For, his words are these: Avitus tertio anno posteaquam à Gallis & à Got∣this factus suerat Imperator, caret Imperio, Gotthorum promisso destitu∣tus auxilio, caret & vitâ, Avitus on the third year after he had been made Emperour by the Galli and the Gotthi, wants his Empire, being disappointed of the promised assistance of the Gotthi, is deprived of his life also. But, in the Manuscript Copy, which Jacobus Sirmondus made use of, this place is read thus: Tertio anno, Avitus septimo mense posteaquam à Gallis & à Gotthis factus fuerat Imperator, &c. On the third year, Avitus on the seventh month after he had been made Emperour by the Galli and Gotthi, &c. Jacobus Sirmondus, perceiving that these two were inconsistent, omitted these two words [septimo mense, on the seventh month] in his Edition; but he had done better, if he had expunged these two [tertio anno, on the third year.] For Avitus did not reign three years, but seven or eight months only, which months were part of two Consulates. For which reason 'tis affirmed by some Writers, that he reigned two years. Cedrenus, 'tis certain, writes thus in his Chronicon. Vales.
• b 1.9

  Musculus and Chri∣stophorson read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the Pestilence. Which rea∣ding is in my judgment truer than the other, to wit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by Famine. For, 'tis not probable, that Avitus (who after he had resigned the Empire, was made Bishop of Placentia, as Victor Tunonensis, and Marius in his Chronicon, do relate;) should have dyed by Famine. Notwithstanding, Nicephorus has retained the Vulgar reading. Vales. In Robert Stephens the reading is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Famine.]
• c 1.10

  Majorianus [or Majourinus] governed the Roman Empire four years and as many months, as the Old Chronographer publisht by Cus∣pinianus informs us▪ to whom agree Idatius and Marcellinus in his Chronicon. Severus, who succeeded him, reigned almost the same space of years, as the same writers relate. But these things hapned after the death of the Emperour Marcianus, during Leo Augustus's government of the Eastern Empire. Vales.