Philological and historical commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus/ [20], Philological and historical commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXXI / by J. den Boeft, J.W. Drijvers, D. den Hengst, H.C. Teitler

This is the final volume in the series of commentaries on Ammianus'__Res Gestae__. Book 31 describes the Gothic invasion of 376 CE, the defeat of the Romans in the battle of Adrianople and the death of the emperor Valens. This is the final volume in the series of commentaries on Ammianus'Res Gestae. The last book of Ammianus Marcellinus'Res Gestae is the most important source for a momentous event in European history: the invasion of the Goths across the Danube border into the Roman Empire and the ensuing battle of Adrianople (378 CE), in which a Roman army was annihilated and the emperor Valens lost his life. Many contemporaries were of the opinion that this defeat heralded the decline of the Empire. Ammianus is sharply critical of the way Valens and his generals handled the military situation, but holds on to his belief in the permanence of Roma Aeterna, reminding his readers of earlier crises from which the Empire had recovered and pointing to the incompetence of the barbarians in siege craft. "The last book of Ammianus Marcellinus' Res Gestae is the most important source for a momentous event in European history: the invasion of the Goths across the Danube border into the Roman Empire and the ensuing battle of Adrianople (378 CE), in which a Roman army was annihilated and the emperor Valens lost his life. Many contemporaries were of the opinion that this defeat heralded the decline of the Empire. Ammianus is sharply critical of the way Valens and his generals handled the military situation, but holds on to his belief in the permanence of Roma Aeterna, reminding his readers of earlier crises from which the Empire had recovered and pointing to the incompetence of the barbarians in siege craft"-- Provided by publisher Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 7 Introduction......Page 9 Chronology......Page 17 Legenda......Page 23 Chapter 1......Page 27 Chapter 2......Page 37 Chapter 3......Page 65 Chapter 4......Page 79 Chapter 5......Page 107 Chapter 6......Page 133 Chapter 7......Page 145 Chapter 8......Page 167 Chapter 9......Page 179 Chapter 10......Page 187 Chapter 11......Page 207 Chapter 12......Page 221 Chapter 13......Page 247 Chapter 14......Page 269 Chapter 15......Page 285 Chapter 16......Page 303 Bibliography......Page 331 Indices......Page 355 Maps......Page 385 Continuing the series of philological and historical commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae this volume deals with Book 28, which is devoted primarily to the deplorable events in Rome during the reign of Valentinian and his defense of the Rhine frontier. This is the final volume in the series of commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae . Book 31 describes the Gothic invasion of 376 CE, the defeat of the Romans in the battle of Adrianople and the death of the emperor Valens.