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. XLIII. Concerning the Tyranny of Vitalianus.

[FUrther,] Vitalianus by Extract a Thracian, makes an insurrection against Anastasius. Having laid waste Thracia and * 1.1 Mysia a 1.2 as far as [the Cities] Odessus and An∣chialus, he hastned to the Imperial City, at the head of a [vast, but] inconside∣rate multitude of the Nations of the Hunni. Against whom the Emperour sent Hypatius. Who having been betrayed by his own [Forces,] and taken alive by the Enemy, was afterwards redeemed with a vast Ransome; and Cyrillus undertakes the man∣nagement of that whole War. And in the first place, a doubtfull En∣gagement hapned. Then, after [the fight] had received many * 1.3 Turns, as well in pur••••its, as Retreats▪ and Cyrillus had had the better; [on a sudden] b 1.4 the Enemy began to fall on again, the [Roman] Souldiers having volun∣tarily given ground and turned their backs. And, in this manner Vitalianus took Cy∣rillus † 1.5 in the [City] Odessus: and after he had ruined all places with fire and sword, he made his march as far as that place called Sycae; having no o∣ther thoughts in his mind, than of taking the Imperial City it self, and of being put into possession of the Empire. But when Vita∣lianus had encamped in Sycae, Marinus the Sy∣rian, of whom we have made mention before, is sent by the Emperour, to engage him with a * 1.6 Marine Army. Both † 1.7 Fleets therefore stood opposed to each other, the one having Sycae a Stern, the other Constantinople. And at first [by compact as 'twere] they forbore enga∣ging. Then, after some excursions of the Ships, and ‖ 1.8 Skirmishes on both sides, a sharp Sea∣fight was begun between the two Fleets, about those places termed Bytharia; and Vitalianus ha∣ving Tack't about, flies with all the Sail he could make▪ after he had lost most of his Forces▪ They also who were about him, Sailed off with all imaginable hast; in so much that on the day fol∣lowing, not one of the Enemy was to be found about c 1.9 Anaplus, or at the Imperial City it self.

'Tis moreover said, that [after this,] Vitali∣anus spent some time at Anchialus, and kept himself quiet. Further, another Nation of the Hunni d 1.10 having past the Caspian Streights, made an Incursion [into the Roman Provinces.] At those very same times also, Rho∣dus * 1.11 was shaken by a most Violent Earthquake, in the dead of the night; which was the third calamity it had suffered of that Nature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Moe∣sia.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as far as Odyssus. It must be written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Odessus. For so 'tis termed by Diodorus Siculus, by Strabo, and by Stephanus. The ancient Coyns▪ also have it thus written, as I have long since ob∣served at the twenty seventh Book of Amm. Marcellinus, pag. 334 of my notes. Nevertheless, most Writers, as well Greek as Latine, call it Odyssus as if it had had its name from Ulysses. Indeed, Jo∣hannes Langus has rendred that Ulyssopolim, which Nicephorus had termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in chap. 38, book 16. Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, Al∣terations.
• b 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ I judge it must be written in one word thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. There is the same mistake in Nicephorus, Chap. 38▪ Book 16. what the import of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is, Suidas tells us in∣comparably well, in that word. In the Tellerian M. S. I found it plainly written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Vales.
• † 1.5

  Or, O•••• of Odessus.
• * 1.6

  Or, N••∣v••ll Forces.
• † 1.7

  Or, Ar∣mies.
• ‖ 1.8

  Or, Throwing of Missile weapons.
• c 1.9

  There was a place so called, as Marcellinus attests in his Chronicon, whose words we have quoted at chap. 25▪ note (c.) Stephanus has made mention of the same place in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• d 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Hunni having pas∣sed the Caspian Streights [or, narrow passes,] made an irruption into Armenia, Cappadocia, and Pontus, in the Consulate of Anthemius and Florentius, on the year of Christ 515, as Marcellinus and Victor Thunonensis relate in their Chronicons. They were also termed Sabiri, or Saber, as Cedre∣nus attests: for so 'tis to be read in Theophanes. From which Au∣thours it must be made here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having past the Caspian, Streights. 'Tis certain, Nicephorus has thus exprest this place of Evagrius, at book 16. chap. 38. Through these Cas∣pian Narrow Passes, the Hunni were wont to break into the Roman Pale, as Procopius tells us Book 1. Persic. Where he gives an ex∣cellent description of these Narrow Passes, and attests that they had been heretofore fortified by Alexander the Macedonian. Whence, that passage of Saint Jerome, in his Epitaph of Fabiola, receives light; which runs thus: Ecce subito discurrentibus Nuntiis, Oriens totus in∣tremuit, ab ultimâ Maeötide inter Glacialem Tana••m, & Massagetarum immanes populos, ubi Caucasi rupibus feras Gentes Alexandri Cla••stra cohibent, ••rupisse Hunnorum examina. Vales.
• * 1.11

  Or, Suf∣fered a most vio∣lent, &c.