Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John Part 2

And a little after,

_aeternum tibi Rhenus aret._

And _Orosius_ in the end of his history, which was finished A.C. 417, represents now a general pacification of the barbarous nations by the words _comprimere_, _coangustare_, _addicere gentes immanissimas_; terming them _imperio addictas_, because they had obtained seats in the Empire by league and compact; and _coangustatas_, because they did no longer invade all regions at pleasure, but by the same compact remained quiet in the seats then granted them. And these are the kingdoms, of which the feet of the Image were henceforward composed, and which are represented by iron and clay intermixed, which did not stick one to another, and were of different strength.

Notes to Chap. V.

[1] Procop. l. 1. de Bello Vandalico.

[2] Galli Arborici: _whence the region was named _Arboricbant_, and by contraction _Brabant__.

CHAP. VI.

_Of the ten Kingdoms represented by the ten horns of the fourth Beast._

Now by the wars above described the _Western_ Empire of the _Romans_, about the time that _Rome_ was besieged and taken by the _Goths_, became broken into the following ten kingdoms.

1. The kingdom of the _Vandals_ and _Alans_ in _Spain_ and _Africa_.

2. The kingdom of the _Suevians_ in _Spain_.

3. The kingdom of the _Visigoths_.

4. The kingdom of the _Alans_ in _Gallia_.

5. The kingdom of the _Burgundians_.

6. The kingdom of the _Franks_.

7. The kingdom of the _Britains_.

8. The kingdom of the _Hunns_.

9. The kingdom of the _Lombards_.

10. The kingdom of _Ravenna_.

Seven of these kingdoms are thus mentioned by _Sigonius_. 1_Honorio regnante_, _in Pannoniam_ 2_Hunni_, _in Hispaniam_ 3_Vandali_, 4_Alani_, 5_Suevi_ & 6_Gothi_, _in Galliam_ 4_Alani_ 7_Burgundiones_ & 6_Gothi_, _certis sedibus permissis, accepti_. Add the _Franks_, _Britains_, and _Lombards_, and you have the ten: for these arose about the same time with the seven. But let us view them severally.

1. The Kings of the _Vandals_ were, A.C. 407 _G.o.degesilus_, 407 _Gunderic_, 426 _Geiseric_, 477 _Hunneric_, 484 _Gundemund_, 496 _Thrasamund_, 513 _Geiseric_, 530 _Gelimer_. _G.o.degesilus_ led them into _Gallia_ A.C. 406, _Gunderic_ into _Spain_ A.C. 409, _Geiseric_ into _Africa_ A.C. 427; and _Gelimer_ was conquered by _Belisarius_ A.C. 533. Their kingdom lasted in _Gallia_, _Spain_ and _Africa_ together 126 years; and in _Africa_ they were very potent. The _Alans_ had only two Kings of their own in _Spain_, _Resplendial_, and _Ataces_, _Utacus_ or _Othacar_. Under _Resplendial_ they went into _France_ A.C. 407, and into _Spain_ A.C. 409. _Ataces_ was slain with almost all his army by _Vallia_ King of the _Visigoths_ A.C.

419. And then the remainder of these _Alans_ subjected themselves to _Gunderic_ King of the _Vandals_ in _Boetica_, and went afterwards with them into _Africa_, as I learn out of _Procopius_. Whence the Kings of the _Vandals_ styled themselves Kings of the _Vandals_ and _Alans_; as may be seen in the Edict of _Hunneric_ recited by _Victor_ in his _Vandalic_ persecution. In conjunction with the _Chatti_, these _Alans_ gave the name of _Cathalaunia_, or _Catth-Alania_, to the Province which is still so called. These _Alans_ had also _Gepides_ among them; and therefore the _Gepides_ came into _Pannonia_ before the _Alans_ left it. There they became subject to the _Hunns_ till the death of _Attila_ A.C. 454, and at length were conquered by the _Ostrogoths_.

2. The Kings of the _Suevians_ were, A.C. 407 _Ermeric_, 458 _Rechila_, 448 _Rechiarius_, 458 _Maldra_, 460 _Frumarius_, 463 _Regismund_. And after some other Kings who are unknown, reigned A.C. 558 _Theudomir_, 568 _Miro_, 582 _Euboricus_, and 583 _Andeca_. This kingdom, after it had been once seated in _Spain_, remained always in _Gallaecia_ and _Lusitania_. _Ermeric_ after the fall of the _Alan_ kingdom, enlarged it into all _Gallaecia_, forcing the _Vandals_ to retire into _Boetica_ and the _Carthaginian_ Province. This kingdom lasted 177 years according to _Isidorus_, and then was subdued by _Leovigildus_ King of the _Visigoths_, and made a Province of his kingdom A.C. 585.

3. The Kings of the _Visigoths_ were, A.C. 400 _Alaric_, 410 _Athaulphus_, 415 _Sergeric_ and _Vallia_, 419 _Theoderic_, 451 _Thorismund_, 452 _Theoderic_, 465 _Euric_, 482 _Alaric_, 505 _Gensalaric_, 526 _Amalaric_, 531 _Theudius_, 548 _Theudisclus_, &c. I date this kingdom from the time that _Alaric_ left _Thrace_ and _Greece_ to invade the _Western Empire_. In the end of the reign of _Athaulphus_ the _Goths_ were humbled by the _Romans_, and attempted to pa.s.s out of _France_ into _Spain_. _Sergeric_ reigned but a few days. In the beginning of _Vallia_'s reign they a.s.saulted the _Romans_ afresh, but were again repulsed, and then made peace on this condition, that they should on the behalf of the Empire invade the _Barbarian_ kingdoms in _Spain_: and this they did, together with the _Romans_, in the years 417 and 418, overthrowing the _Alans_ and part of the _Vandals_. Then they received _Aquitain_ of the Emperor by a full donation, leaving their conquests in _Spain_ to the Emperor: and thereby the seats of the conquered _Alans_ came into the hands of the _Romans_. In the year 455, _Theoderic_, a.s.sisted by the _Burgundians_, invaded _Spain_, which was then almost all subject to the _Suevians_, and took a part of it from them. A.C. 506, the _Goths_ were driven out of _Gallia_ by the _Franks_. A.C. 585, they conquered the _Suevian_ kingdom, and became Lords of all _Spain_. A.C. 713, the _Saracens_ invaded them, but in time they recovered their dominions, and have reigned in _Spain_ ever since.

4. The Kings of the _Alans_ in _Gallia_ were _Goar_, _Sambida_, _Eocharic_, _Sangiba.n.u.s_, _Beurgus_, &c. Under _Goar_ they invaded _Gallia_ A.C. 407, and had seats given them near the _Rhine_, A.C. 412. Under _Sambida_, whom _Bucher_ makes the successor, if not the son of _Goar_, they had the territories of _Valence_ given them by _aetius_ the Emperor's General, A.C.

440. Under _Eocharic_ they conquered a region of the rebelling _Galli Arborici_, given them also by _aetius_. This region was from them named _Alenconium, quasi Alanorum conventus_. Under _Sangiba.n.u.s_ they were invaded, and their regal city _Orleans_ was besieged by _Attila_ King of the _Hunns_, with a vast army of 500000 men. _aetius_ and the _Barbarian_ Kings of _Gallia_ came to raise the siege, and beat the _Hunns_ in a very memorable battle, A.C. 451, _in campis Catalaunicis_, so called from these _Alans_ mixt with the _Chatti_. The region is now called _Campania_ or _Champagne_. In that battle were slain on both sides 162000 men. A year or two after, _Attila_ returned with an immense army to conquer this kingdom, but was again beaten by them and the _Visigoths_ together in a battle of three days continuance, with a slaughter almost as great as the former.

Under _Beurgus_, or _Biorgor_, they infested _Gallia_ round about, till the reign of _Maximus_ the Emperor; and then they pa.s.sed the _Alps_ in winter, and came into _Liguria_, but were there beaten, and _Beurgus_ slain, by _Ricimer_ commander of the Emperor's forces, A.C. 464. Afterwards they were again beaten, by the joint force of _Odoacer_ King of _Italy_ and _Childeric_ King of the _Franks_, about the year 480, and again by _Theudobert_ King of the _Austrian Franks_ about the year 511.

5. The Kings of the _Burgundians_ were, A.C. 407 _Gundicar_, 436 _Gundioc_, 467 _Bilimer_, 473 _Gundobaldus_ with his brothers, 510 _Sigismund_, 517 _G.o.domarus_. Under _Gundicar_ they invaded _Gallia_ A.C. 407, and had seats given them by the Emperor near the _Rhine_ in _Gallia Belgica_, A.C. 412.

They had _Saxons_ among them, and were now so potent, that _Orosius_ A.C.

417 wrote of them: '_Burgundionum esse praevalidam manum, Galliae hodieque testes sunt, in quibus praesumpta possessione consistunt_. About the year 435 they received great overthrows by _aetius_, and soon after by the _Hunns_: but five years after had _Savoy_ granted them to be shared with the inhabitants; and from that time became again a potent kingdom, being bounded by the river _Rhoda.n.u.s_, but afterwards extending much further into the heart of _Gallia_. _Gundobald_ conquered the regions about the rivers _Araris_ and _Rhoda.n.u.s_, with the territories of _Ma.r.s.eilles_; and invading _Italy_ in the time of the Emperor _Glycerius_, conquered all his brethren.

_G.o.domarus_ made _Orleans_ his royal seat: whence the kingdom was called _Regnum Aurelianorum_. He was conquered by _Clotharius_ and _Childebert_, Kings of the _Franks_, A.C. 526. From thenceforward this kingdom was sometimes united to the kingdom of the _Franks_, and sometimes divided from it, till the reign of _Charles_ the great, who made his son _Carolottus_ King of _Burgundy_. From that time, for about 300 years together, it enjoyed its proper Kings; and was then broken into the Dukedom of _Burgundy_, County of _Burgundy_, and County of _Savoy_; and afterwards those were broken into other lesser Counties.

6. The Kings of the _Franks_ were, A.C. 407 _Theudomir_, 417 _Pharamond_, 428 _Clodio_, 448 _Merovaeus_, 456 _Childeric_, 482 _Clodovaeus_, &c.

_Windeline_ and _Bucher_, two of the most diligent searchers into the originals of this kingdom, make it begin the same year with the _Barbarian_ invasions of _Gallia_, that is, A.C. 407. Of the first Kings there is in _Labbe's Bibliotheca M.S._ this record.

_Historica quaedam excerpta ex veteri stemmate genealogico Regum Franciae_.

_Gen.o.baldus, Marcomerus, Suno, Theodemeris. Isti duces vel reguli ext.i.terunt a principio gentis Francorum diversis temporibus. Sed incertum relinquunt historici quali sibi procreations linea successerunt_.

_Pharamundus: sub hoc rege suo primo Franci legibus se subdunt, quas primores eorum tulerunt Wisogastus, Atrogastus, Salegastus_.

_Chlochilo. Iste, transito Rheno, Romanos in Carbonaria sylva devicit, Camarac.u.m cepit & obtinuit, annis 20 regnavit. Sub hoc rege Franci usque Summam progressi sunt_.

_Merovechus. Sub hoc rege Franci Trevirim destruunt, Metim succendunt, usque Aurelianum perveniunt_.

Now for _Gen.o.baldus_, _Marcomer_ and _Suno_, they were captains of the _Transrhenane Franks_ in the reign of _Theodosius_, and concern us not. We are to begin with _Theudomir_ the first King of the rebelling _Salii_, called _Didio_ by _Ivo Carnotensis_, and _Thiedo_ and _Theudemerus_ by _Rhena.n.u.s_. His face is extant in a coin of gold found with this inscription, THEUDEMIR REX, published by _Petavius_, and still or lately extant, as _Windeline_ testifies: which shews that he was a King, and that in _Gallia_; seeing that rude _Germany_ understood not then the coining of money, nor used either _Latin_ words or letters. He was the son of _Ricimer_, or _Richomer_, the favourite of the Emperor _Theodosius_; and so being a _Roman Frank_, and of the _Salian_ royal blood, they therefore upon the rebellion made him King. The whole time of his reign you have stated in _Excerptis Gregorii Turonensis e Fredigario_, _cap._ 5, 6, 7, 8. where the making him King, the tyranny of _Jovinus_, the slaughter of the a.s.sociates of _Jovinus_, the second taking of _Triers_ by the _Franks_, and their war with _Castinus_, in which this King was slain, are as a series of successive things thus set down in order. _Extinctis Ducibus in Francis, denuo Reges creantur ex eadem stirpe qua prius fuerant. Eodem tempore Jovinus ornatus regios a.s.sumpsit. Constantinus fugam versus Italiam dirigit; missis a Jovino Principe percussoribus super Mentio flumine, capite truncatur. Multi n.o.bilium jussu Jovini apud Avernis capti, & a ducibus Honorii crudeliter interempti sunt. Trevirorum civitas, factione unius ex senatoribus nomine Lucii, a Francis capta & incensa est.--Castinus Domesticorum Comes expeditionem accipit contra Francos_, &c. Then returning to speak of _Theudomir_, he adds: _Franci electum a se regem, sicut prius fuerat, crinitum inquirentes diligenter ex genere Priami, Frigi & Francionis, super se crearunt nomine Theudemerum filium Richemeris, qui in hoc praelio quod supra memini, a Romanis interfectus est_; that is, in the battle with _Castinus_'s army. Of his death _Gregory Turonensis_ makes this further mention: _In consularibus legimus Theodemerem regem Francorum filium Ricimeris quondam, & Ascilam matrem ejus, gladio interfectos_.

Upon this victory of the _Romans_, the _Franks_ and rebelling _Gauls_, who in the time of _Theudomir_ were at war with one another, united to strengthen themselves, as _Ordericus Vitalis_[1] thus mentions. _c.u.m Galli prius contra Romanos rebella.s.sent, Franci iis sociati sunt, & pariter juncti, Ferramundum Sunonis ducis filium, sibi regem praefecerunt_.

_Prosper_ sets down the time; _Anno 25 Honorii, Pharamundus regnat in Francia_. This, _Bucher_ well observes, refers to the end of the year 416, or the beginning of the next year, dating the years of _Honorius_ from the death of _Valentinian_; and argues well, that at this time _Pharamond_ was not only King by the const.i.tution of the _Franks_, but crowned also by the consent of _Honorius_, and had a part of _Gallia_ a.s.signed him by covenant.

And this might be the cause that _Roman_ writers reckoned him the first King: which some not understanding, have reputed him the founder of this kingdom by an army of the _Transrhenane Franks_. He might come with such an army, but he succeeded _Theudomir_ by right of blood and consent of the people. For the above cited pa.s.sage of _Fredigarius_, _Extinctis Ducibus, in Francis denuo Reges creantur ex eadem stirpe qua prius fuerant_, implies that the kingdom continued to this new elected family during the reign of more Kings than one. If you date the years of _Honorius_ from the death of his father, the reign of _Pharamond_ might begin two years later than is a.s.signed by _Bucher_. The _Salique_ laws made in his reign, which are yet extant, shew by their name that it was the kingdom of the _Salii_ over which he reigned; and, by the pecuniary mulcts in them, that the place where he reigned abounded much with money, and consequently was within the Empire; rude _Germany_ knowing not the use of money, till they mixed with the _Romans_. In the Preface also to the _Salique_ laws, written and prefixed to them soon after the conversion of the _Franks_ to the Christian religion, that is, in the end of the reign of _Merovaeus_, or soon after, the original of this kingdom is thus described: _Haec enim gens, quae fortis dum esset & robore valida, Romanorum jugum durissimum de suis cervicibus excussit pugnando_, &c. This kingdom therefore was erected, not by invasion but by rebellion, as was described above. _Prosper_ in registering their Kings in order, tells us: _Pharamundus regnat in Francia; Clodio regnat in Francia; Merovaeus regnat in Francia_: and who can imagine but that in all these places he meant one and the same _Francia_? And yet 'tis certain that the _Francia_ of _Merovaeus_ was in _Gallia_.

Yet the father of _Pharamond_, being king of a body of _Franks_ in _Germany_ in the reign of the Emperor _Theodosius_, as above, _Pharamond_ might reign over the same _Franks_ in _Germany_ before he succeeded _Theudomir_ in the kingdom of the _Salians_ within the Empire, and even before _Theudomir_ began his reign; suppose in the first year of _Honorius_, or when those _Franks_ being repulsed by _Stilico_, lost their Kings _Marcomir_ and _Suno_, one of which was the father of _Pharamond_: and the _Roman Franks_, after the death of _Theudomir_, might invite _Pharamond_ with his people from beyond the _Rhine_. But we are not to regard the reign of _Pharamond_ in _Germany_: we are to date this kingdom from its rise within the Empire, and to look upon it as strengthened by the access of other _Franks_ coming from beyond the _Rhine_, whether in the reign of this King or in that of his successor _Clodio_. For in the last year of _Pharamond_'s reign, _aetius_ took from him a part of his possession in _Gallia_: but his successor _Clodio_, whom _Fredigarius_ represents as the son of _Theudomir_, and some call _Clogio_, _Cloio_, and _Claudius_, inviting from beyond the _Rhine_ a great body of _Franks_, recovered all, and carried on their conquests as far as the river _Soame_. Then those _Franks_ dividing conquests with him, erected certain new kingdoms at _Cologn_ and _Cambray_, and some other cities: all which were afterwards conquered by _Clodovaeus_, who also drove the _Goths_ out of _Gallia_, and fix'd his seat at _Paris_, where it has continued ever since. And this was the original of the present kingdom of _France_.

7. The Kings of _Britain_ were, A.C. 407 or 408, _Marcus_, _Gratian_, and _Constantine_ successively; A.C. 425 _Vortigern_, 466 _Aurelius Ambrosius_, 498 _Uther Pendraco_, 508 _Arthur_, 542 _Constantinus_, 545 _Aurelius Cuna.n.u.s_, 578 _Vortiporeus_, 581 _Malgo_, 586 _Careticus_, 613 _Cadwan_, 635 _Cadwalin_, 676 _Cadwallader_. The three first were _Roman_ Tyrants, who revolted from the Empire. _Orosius_, _Prosper_ and _Zosimus_ connect their revolt with the irruptions of the _Barbarians_ into _Gallia_, as consequent thereunto. _Prosper_, with whom _Zosimus_ agrees, puts it in the year which began the day after that irruption. The just time I thus collect: _Marcus_ reigned not many days, _Gratian_ four months, and _Constantine_ three years. He was slain the year after the taking of _Rome_, that is A.C. 411, 14 Kal. _Octob._ Whence the revolt was in Spring A.C. 408. _Sozomen_ joins _Constantine_'s expedition into _Gallia_ with _Arcadius_'s death, or the times a little after; and _Arcadius_ died A.C.

408 _May_ the 1st. Now tho the reign of these Tyrants was but short, yet they gave a beginning to the kingdom of _Britain_, and so may be reckoned the three first Kings, especially since the posterity of _Constantine_, viz. his sons _Aurelius Ambrosius_, and _Uther Pendraco_, and his grandson _Arthur_, reigned afterwards. For from the time of the revolt of these Tyrants _Britain_ continued a distict kingdom absolved from subjection to the Empire, the Emperor not being able to spare soldiers to be sent thither to receive and keep the Island, and therefore neglecting it; as we learn by unquestionable records. For _Prosper_ tells us; _A.C._ 410, _Variane Cos.

Hac tempestate prae valetudine Romanorum, vires funditus attenuatae Britanniae_. And _Sigebert_, conjoining this with the siege of _Rome_, saith: _Britannorum vires attenuatae, & substrahunt se a Romanorum dominatione_. And _Zosimus_ _lib._ 6. _The _Transrhenane Barbarians_ invading all places, reduced the inhabitants of the island of _Britain_, and also certain _Celtic_ nations to that pa.s.s, that they fell off from the _Roman_ Empire; and being no longer obedient to the _Roman_ laws_, [Greek: kat' heauton biateuein], _they lived in separate bodies after their own pleasure. The _Britons_ therefore taking up arms, and hazarding themselves for their own safety, freed their cities from the imminent _Barbarians_. In like manner all _Brabant_ and some other Provinces of the _Gauls_ imitating the _Britons_, freed themselves also, ejecting the _Roman_ Presidents, and forming themselves into a sort of commonwealth according to their own pleasure. This rebellion of _Britain_ and the _Celtic_ nations happened when _Constantine_ usurped the kingdom_. So also _Procopius_, _lib._ 1.

_Vandal._ speaking of the same _Constantine_, saith: Constantine _being overcome in battle, was slain with his children:_ [Greek: Bretannian men toi Romaioi anasosasthai ouketi echon; all' ousa hypo tyrannous ap' autou emene.] _Yet the _Romans_ could not recover _Britain_ any more, but from that time it remained under Tyrants_. And _Beda_, l. 1. _c._ 11. _Fracta est Roma a Gothis anno 1164 suae conditionis; ex quo tempore Romani in Britannia regnare cessaverunt_. And _Ethelwaldus_: _A tempore Romae a Gothis expugnatae, cessavit imperium Romanorum a Britannia insula, & ab aliis; quas sub jugo servitutis tenebant, multis terris_. And _Theodoret_, _serm._ 9.

_de curand. Graec. affect_. about the year 424, reckons the _Britons_ among the nations which were not then in subjection to the _Roman_ Empire. Thus _Sigonius_: _ad annum 411, Imperium Romanorum post excessum Constantini in Britannia nullum fuit_.

Between the death of _Constantine_ and the reign of _Vortigern_ was an interregnum of about 14 years, in which the _Britons_ had wars with the _Picts_ and _Scots_, and twice obtained the a.s.sistance of a _Roman_ Legion, who drove out the enemy, but told them positively at their departure that they would come no more. Of _Vortigern_'s beginning to reign there is this record in an old Chronicle in _Nennius_, quoted by _Camden_ and others: _Guortigernus tenuit imperium in Britannia, Theodosio & Valentiniano Coss._ [viz. A.C. 425.] _& in quarto anno regni sui Saxones ad Britanniam venerunt, Felice & Tauro Coss._ [viz. A.C. 428.] This coming of the _Saxons_, _Sigebert_ refers to the 4th year of _Valentinian_, which falls in with the year 428 a.s.signed by this Chronicle: and two years after, the _Saxons_ together with the _Picts_ were beaten by the _Britons_. Afterwards in the reign of _Martian_ the Emperor, that is, between the years 450 and 456, the _Saxons_ under _Hengist_ were called in by the _Britons_, but six years after revolted from them, made war upon them with various success, and by degrees succeeded them. Yet the _Britons_ continued a flouris.h.i.+ng kingdom till the reign of _Careticus_; and the war between the two nations continued till the pontificate of _Sergius_ A.C. 688.[2]

8. The Kings of the _Hunns_ were, A.C. 406 _Octar_ and _Rugila_, 433 _Bleda_ and _Attila_. _Octar_ and _Rugila_ were the brothers of _Munzuc_ King of the _Hunns_ in _Gothia_ beyond the _Danube_; and _Bleda_ and _Attila_ were his sons, and _Munzuc_ was the son of _Balamir_. The two first, as _Jornandes_ tells us, were Kings of the _Hunns_, but not of them all; and had the two last for their successors. I date the reign of the _Hunns_ in _Pannonia_ from the time that the _Vandals_ and _Alans_ relinquished _Pannonia_ to them, A.C. 407. _Sigonius_ from the time that the _Visigoths_ relinquished _Pannonia_ A. C. 408. _Constat_, saith he, _quod Gothis ex Illyrico profectis, Hunni successerunt, atque imprimis Pannoniam tenuerunt. Neque enim Honorius viribus ad resistendum in tantis difficultatibus dest.i.tutus, prorsus eos prohibere potuit, sed meliore consilio, animo ad pacem converso, foedus c.u.m eis, datis acceptisque obsidibus fecit; ex quibus qui dati sunt, aetius, qui etiam Alarico tributus fuerat, praecipue memoratur_. How _aetius_ was hostage to the _Goths_ and _Hunns_ is related by _Frigeridus_, who when he had mentioned that _Theodosius_ Emperor of the _East_ had sent grievous commands to _John_, who after the death of _Honorius_ had usurped the crown of the _Western Empire_, he subjoins: _Iis permotus Johannes, aetium id tempus curam palatii gerentem c.u.m ingenti auri pondere ad Chunnos transmisit, notos sibi obsidiatus sui tempore & familiari amicitia devinctos_--And a little after: _aetius tribus annis Alarici obses, dehinc Chunnorum, postea Carpilionis gener ex Comite domesticorum & Joannis curopalatae._ Now _Bucher_ shews that _aetius_ was hostage to _Alaric_ till the year 410, when _Alaric_ died, and to the _Hunns_ between the years 411 and 415, and son-in-law to _Carpilio_ about the year 417 or 418, and _Curopalates_ to _John_ about the end of the year 423. Whence 'tis probable that he became hostage to the _Hunns_ about the year 412 or 413, when _Honorius_ made leagues with almost all the barbarous nations, and granted them seats: but I had rather say with _Sigonius_, that _aetius_ became hostage to _Alaric_ A.C. 403. It is further manifest out of _Prosper_, that the _Hunns_ were in quiet possession of _Pannonia_ in the year 432. For in the first book of _Eusebius_'s Chronicle _Prosper_ writes: _Anno decimo post obitum Honorii, c.u.m ad Chunnorum gentem cui tunc Rugila praeerat, post praelium c.u.m Bonifacio se aetius contulisset, impetrato auxilio ad Romanorum solum regreditur._ And in the second book: _aetio & Valerio Coss. aetius deposita potestate profugus ad Hunnos in Pannonia pervenit, quorum amicitia auxilioque usus, pacem principum interpellatae potestatis obtinuit._ Hereby it appears that at this time _Rugila_, or as _Maximus_ calls him, _Rechilla_, reigned over the _Hunns_ in _Pannonia_; and that _Pannonia_ was not now so much as accounted within the soil of the Empire, being formerly granted away to the _Hunns_; and that these were the very same body of _Hunns_ with which _aetius_ had, in the time of his being an hostage, contracted friends.h.i.+p: by virtue of which, as he sollicited them before to the aid of _John_ the Tyrant A.C.

424, so now he procured their intercession for himself with the Emperor.

_Octar_ died A.C. 430; for _Socrates_ tells us, that about that time the _Burgundians_ having been newly vext by the _Hunns_, upon intelligence of _Octar_'s death, seeing them without a leader, set upon them suddenly with so much vigour, that 3000 _Burgundians_ slew 10000 _Hunns_. Of _Rugila_'s being now King in _Pannonia_ you have heard already. He died A.C. 433, and was succeeded by _Bleda_, as _Prosper_ and _Maximus_ inform us. This _Bleda_ with his brother _Attila_ were before this time Kings of the _Hunns_ beyond the _Danube_, their father _Munzuc_'s kingdom being divided between them; and now they united the kingdom _Pannonia_ to their own.

Whence _Paulus Diaconus_ saith, they did _regnum intra Pannoniam Daciamque gerere_. In the year 441, they began to invade the Empire afresh, adding to the _Pannonian_ forces new and great armies from _Scythia_. But this war was presently composed, and then _Attila_, seeing _Bleda_ inclined to peace, slew him, A.C. 444, inherited his dominions, and invaded the Empire again. At length, after various great wars with the _Romans_, _Attila_ perished A.C. 454; and his sons quarrelling about his dominions, gave occasion to the _Gepides_, _Ostrogoths_ and other nations who were their subjects, to rebel and make war upon them. The same year the _Ostrogoths_ had seats granted them in _Pannonia_ by the Emperors _Marcian_ and _Valentinian_; and with the _Romans_ ejected the _Hunns_ out of _Pannonia_, soon after the death of _Attila_, as all historians agree. This ejection was in the reign of _Avitus_, as is mentioned in the _Chronic.u.m Boiorum_, and in _Sidonius, Carm. 7 in Avitum_, which speaks thus of that Emperor.

----_Cujus solum amissas post saecula multa_ _Pannonias revocavit iter, jam credere promptum est._ _Quid faciet bellis._

The Poet means, that by the coming of _Avitus_ the _Hunns_ yielded more easily to the _Goths_. This was written by _Sidonius_ in the beginning of the reign of _Avitus_: and his reign began in the end of the year 455, and lasted not one full year.

_Jornandes_ tells us: _Duodecimo anno regni Valiae, quando & Hunni post pene quinquaginta annos invasa Pannonia, a Romanis & Gothis expulsi sunt._ And _Marcellinus_: _Hierio & Ardaburio Coss. Pannoniae, quae per quinquaginta annos ab Hunnis retinebantur, a Romanis receptae sunt_: whence it should seem that the _Hunns_ invaded and held _Pannonia_ from the year 378 or 379 to the year 427, and then were driven out of it. But this is a plain mistake: for it is certain that the Emperor _Theodosius_ left the Empire entire; and we have shewed out of _Prosper_, that the _Hunns_ were in quiet possession of _Pannonia_ in the year 432. The _Visigoths_ in those days had nothing to do with _Pannonia_, and the _Ostrogoths_ continued subject to the _Hunns_ till the death of _Attila_, A.C. 454; and _Valia_ King of the _Visigoths_ did not reign twelve years. He began his reign in the end of the year 415, reigned three years, and was slain A.C. 419, as _Idacius_, _Isidorus_, and the _Spanish_ ma.n.u.script Chronicles seen by _Grotius_ testify. And _Olympiodorus_, who carries his history only to the year 425, sets down therein the death of _Valia_ King of the _Visigoths_, and conjoins it with that of _Constantius_ which happened A.C. 420. Wherefore the _Valia_ of _Jornandes_, who reigned at the least twelve years, is some other King. And I suspect that this name hath been put by mistake for _Valamir_ King of the _Ostrogoths_: for the action recorded was of the _Romans_ and _Ostrogoths_ driving the _Hunns_ out of _Pannonia_ after the death of _Attila_; and it is not likely that the historian would refer the history of the _Ostrogoths_ to the years of the _Visigothic_ Kings. This action happened in the end of the year 455, which I take to be the twelfth year of _Valamir_ in _Pannonia_, and which was almost fifty years after the year 406, in which the _Hunns_ succeeded the _Vandals_ and _Alans_ in _Pannonia_. Upon the ceasing of the line of _Hunnimund_ the son of _Hermaneric_, the _Ostrogoths_ lived without Kings of their own nation about forty years together, being subject to the _Hunns_. And when _Alaric_ began to make war upon the _Romans_, which was in the year 444, he made _Valamir_, with his brothers _Theodomir_ and _Videmir_ the grandsons of _Vinethar_, captains or kings of these _Ostrogoths_ under him. In the twelfth year of _Valamir_'s reign dated from thence, the _Hunns_ were driven out of _Pannonia_.

Yet the _Hunns_ were not so ejected, but that they had further contests with the _Romans_, till the head of _Denfix_ the son of _Attila_, was carried to _Constantinople_, A.C. 469, in the Consuls.h.i.+p of _Zeno_ and _Marcian_, as _Marcellinus_ relates. Nor were they yet totally ejected the Empire: for besides their reliques in _Pannonia_, _Sigonius_ tells us, that when the Emperors _Marcian_ and _Valentinian_ granted _Pannonia_ to the _Goths_, which was in the year 454, they granted part of _Illyric.u.m_ to some of the _Hunns_ and _Sarmatians_. And in the year 526, when the _Lombards_ removing into _Pannonia_ made war there with the _Gepides_, the _Avares_, a part of the _Hunns_, who had taken the name of _Avares_ from one of their Kings, a.s.sisted the _Lombards_ in that war; and the _Lombards_ afterwards, when they went into _Italy_, left their seats in _Pannonia_ to the _Avares_ in recompence of their friends.h.i.+p. From that time the _Hunns_ grew again very powerful; their Kings, whom they called _Chagan_, troubling the Empire much in the reigns of the Emperors _Mauritius_, _Phocas_, and _Heraclius_: and this is the original of the present kingdom of _Hungary_, which from these _Avares_ and other _Hunns_ mixed together, took the name of _Hun-Avaria_, and by contraction _Hungary_.

9. The _Lombards_, before they came over the _Danube_, were commanded by two captains, _Ibor_ and _Ayon_: after whose death they had Kings, _Agilmund_, _Lamisso_, _Lechu_, _Hildehoc_, _Gudehoc_, _Cla.s.so_, _Tato_, _Wacho_, _Walter_, _Audoin_, _Alboin_, _Cleophis_, &c. _Agilmund_ was the son of _Ayon_, who became their King, according to _Prosper_, in the Consuls.h.i.+p of _Honorius_ and _Theodosius_ A.C. 389, reigned thirty three years, according to _Paulus Warnefridus_, and was slain in battle by the _Bulgarians_. _Prosper_ places his death in the Consuls.h.i.+p of _Marinia.n.u.s_ and _Asclepiodorus_, A.C. 413. _Lamisso_ routed the _Bulgarians_, and reigned three years, and _Lechu_ almost forty. _Gudehoc_ was contemporary to _Odoacer_ King of the _Heruli_ in _Italy_, and led his people from _Pannonia_ into _Rugia_, a country on the north side of _Noric.u.m_ next beyond the _Danube_; from whence _Odoacer_ then carried his people into _Italy_. _Tato_ overthrew the kingdom of the _Heruli_ beyond the _Danube_.

_Wacho_ conquered the _Suevians_, a kingdom then bounded on the east by _Bavaria_, on the west by _France_, and on the south by the _Burgundians_.

_Audoin_ returned into _Pannonia_ A.C. 526, and there overcame the _Gepides_. _Alboin_ A.C. 551 overthrew the kingdom of the _Gepides_, and slew their King _Chunnimund_: A.C. 563 he a.s.sisted the _Greek_ Emperor against _Totila_ King of the _Ostrogoths_ in _Italy_; and A.C. 568 led his people out of _Pannonia_ into _Lombardy_, where they reigned till the year 774.

According to _Paulus Diaconus_, the _Lombards_ with many other _Gothic_ nations came into the Empire from beyond the _Danube_ in the reign of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, that is, between the years 395 and 408. But they might come in a little earlier: for we are told that the _Lombards_, under their captains _Ibor_ and _Ayon_, beat the _Vandals_ in battle; and _Prosper_ placeth this victory in the Consuls.h.i.+p of _Ausonius_ and _Olybrius_, that is, A.C. 379. Before this war the _Vandals_ had remained quiet forty years in the seats granted them in _Pannonia_ by _Constantine_ the great. And therefore if these were the same _Vandals_, this war must have been in _Pannonia_; and might be occasioned by the coming of the _Lombards_ over the _Danube_ into _Pannonia_, a year or two before the battle; and so have put an end to that quiet which had lasted forty years.

After _Gratian_ and _Theodosius_ had quieted the _Barbarians_, they might either retire over the _Danube_, or continue quiet under the _Romans_ till the death of _Theodosius_; and then either invade the Empire anew, or throw off all subjection to it. By their wars, first with the _Vandals_, and then with the _Bulgarians_, a _Scythian_ nation so called from the river _Volga_ whence they came; it appears that even in those days they were a kingdom not contemptible.

10. These nine kingdoms being rent away, we are next to consider the residue of the _Western Empire_. While this Empire continued entire, it was the Beast itself: but the residue thereof is only a part of it. Now if this part be considered as a horn, the reign of this horn may be dated from the translation of the imperial seat from _Rome_ to _Ravenna_, which was in _October_ A.C. 408. For then the Emperor _Honorius_, fearing that _Alaric_ would besiege him in _Rome_, if he staid there, retired to _Millain_, and thence to _Ravenna_: and the ensuing siege and sacking of _Rome_ confirmed his residence there, so that he and his successors ever after made it their home. Accordingly _Macchiavel_ in his _Florentine_ history writes, that _Valentinian_ having left _Rome_, translated the seat of the Empire to _Ravenna_.