CHAP. XVIII.
IN the mean time the Emperour sent into Africk with some soldiers another General, Areobindus, a Senator, and a gallant man, but no soldier. With him for Prefect of the Camp, he sent Athanasius, lately come out of Italy, and some Armenians commanded by Artabanes and John, the sons of John, of the race of the Arsacides: These, with the Armenians with them, lately revolted from the Persians to the Romans. With Areobindus was his sister, and his wife Projecta, daughter to Vigilantia, the Emperours sister. Justinian did not call home Sergius, but divided the Generalship, the Province, and the Cohorts be∣tween Areobindus and him. And him he directed to make the war in Numidia, and Areobindus in Byzacium; who arriving at Carthage, Sergius with his Army went into Numidia. And Areobindus hearing that Antalas, and Stotzas were encamped at Sicavenerea, three days journey from Carthage, sent John the son of Sisinniolus against them, with the choice of his Army, and wrote to Sergius to joyn with John, and in one body to encounter the enemy. Sergius slighted the direction, and the business; so that John with a small power was forced to com∣bat with innumerable enemies. Between him and Stotzas was an everlasting ha∣tred; Their wish had been to kill one another, and so die. This bat••el being ready to joyn, they both rode out against each other. John shot Stotzas in the groine on the right side, who having his deaths wound, fell upon the place, but died not instantly; His own men and the Moors set him against a tree ready to expire, and then they furiously charged the Romans, and exceeding them so much in numbers, easily routed them. They say, John then said, that he should die a pleasant death, seeing his wish upon Stotzas accomplised: and then his horse stumbling down a hill, threw him: and the enemy killed him striving to get up again. A man great in reputation and valor Stotzas being told of it, said this only word and died, that now he died with delight. John the Armenian was also slain, having done very bravely. The Emperour advertised of the death of John, and troubled for the great worth of the man, finding it also inconvenient to have two Generals, recalled Sergius, and sent him with forces into Italy, and committed Africk whol∣ly to Areobindus. Two months after Sergius departure, Gontharis attempted to usurp, being Commander of the Cohorts in Numidia, and there residing. He dealt secretly with the Moors that they should invade Carthage; and they sudden∣ly with an Army levied out of Numidia and Byzacium, marcht thitherward; the Numidians led by Cutzinas and Jabdas, and the Byzacians by Antalas: With them was John, who was made General in the room of Stotzas, by the Roman mutiners. Areobindus informed hereof, sent for Gontharis and other Captains to Carthage: Artabanes also came to him with his Armenians. Gontharis being commanded by Areobindus to march in the van, and promising much forward∣ness, sent to the enemies camp a Moor, his cook, to pretend himself a runaway, but to Antalas privatly to say, that Gontharis would share with him in the domi∣nion of Africk. The cook performed accordingly; and Antalas, though glad at the motion, yet answered him, That men do not execute great matters by cooks. Gontharis hearing this, sent to him Ʋlitheus, one of his guard, whom he most trusted, to entreat him to come as near Carthage as he could, and promi∣sing to kill Areobindus. And Ʋlitheus (without the knowledge of the rest of the Moors) agrees that Antalas shall have the dominion of Byzacium, and half Areobindus wealth, and 1500 Roman soldiers; and that Gontharis shall retain the title of Emperour, Carthage, and the rest of Africk. Having negotiated this, Gontharis returned to the camp; the Romans being quartered before the walls, to guard the several gates of Carthage. The Barbarians made haste thither, encamped at Decimum, and the next day marcht forward. Some Romans fought