GOTHS, 



llai.linopk', and the Go'hs remained in a {late of tranquillity conquerors of the Roman empire. As the impatient 

 about fix yt>ars ; till they were violently impelled iigaiull Goths could only be redrained by the firm and temperate 

 the Roman empire by an innumerable hoil of Scythians, who charafter of Theodoiins, the public fafety feemed to dc- 

 appearcd to. iffue from the frozen regions of the North. In pend on the life and abilities of a fnigle man. He died in 

 the year 375 the HiinS invaded the territories of the Goths, the month of January A.D. 395, and before the end of the 

 arid fpread amontr them fuch a general conilernation, that winter of the fame year, the Gothic nation was in arms, 

 they fled for refiige to the Roman dominions. Valensliikned The interruption, or at leatl the diminution, of the fubfidy 

 to their fupplications, and granted them protedion. The which the Goths had received from the prudent liberality of 

 liberality of the eir.peror, however, was accompanied with Theodolius, was the fpecious pretence of their revolt. In- 

 t,oo Iwrfli and rigorous conditions. Before they pafTed the ftead of being impelled by the blind and headftrong paflions 

 Danube, they were required to deliver their arms ; and it of tlieir chiefs, they were now direfted by the bold and 

 was uiuiled that their children fhould be taken from them, artful genius of Alaric. In the year 396 Alaric marches 

 aud dlfperfed through the provinces of Aha ; where they into Greece ; and he hallened to occupy the city of Athens 

 mio-ht be civihzed by the arts of education, and lerve as hof- and the important harbour of^ the Tintus. Corinth, Argos, 

 la°es to fecure the iidehty of their parents. A probable and Sparta yielded without refiftance to the arms of the Goths, 

 tellimony has fixed the number of the Gothic warriors at From Thermopylx to Sparta, the leader of the Golhs 

 2GC,oco men ; and if we can venture to add the jull pro- purfucd his viiitorious march, without encountering any 

 portion of women, of children, and of flavet, the whole mortal antagonills ; and the Chridian faith, which he had 

 ;jiafs of people which compofed this formidable emigration devoutly embraced, taught him to defpife the imaginary dei- 

 nuill have amounted to near a million of perfons, of both ties of Rome and Athens. In 397 Stilicho, the general 

 le>:e3 and of all ages. The Goths, iulUy provoked at the of the Weft, advanced to chaftife the invaders of Greece, 

 cruel treatment they met with from the Roman officers, who The Ik ill and perfeverance of the Roman at length prevailed : 

 were to fupply them with provilions, had fcarcely entered and the Goths, after fuftaining a confiderable lofs by dlfeafe 

 Thraee> under the conditions impofed upon them, when and defervion, gradually retreated to the lofty mountains of 

 they began to mutiny and plunder the country. Ihisoe- Pholoe, near the fourees of the Pencus, and on the frontiers 

 cafioned a lonir and ' bloody \sar betv.ccn them and the of Elis ; a facred country, which had formerly been exempted ■ 

 Romans. They were joined by the Huns, Alani, Taifalx, from the calamities of war. Their camp was immediately 

 and other fivarms of" their countrymen. In the battle befieged ; and reduced to great diRrefs by thirft and hunger, 

 of Hadrianople, A. D. 378, the Roman cavalry fled ; A ftrong line of circumvallation was formed to prevent 

 and the infantry was abandoned, furrounded, and cut their cfcape. Alaric was fecret, prudent, and rapid in his 

 in pieces ; and though the Goths were obliged to raife operations : he immediately negotiated a treaty with the 

 the iieiTe of Hadrianople, the tide of the Gothic inundation minifters of Conftantinople ; and Stilicho was compelled to 

 rolled'tVom the walls of this city to the fuburbs of Con- retire from the dominions of Arcadius ; and he refpefted, in 

 ilantinople ; and the Roman provinces were ravaged by the enemy of Rome, the honourable character of the ally and 

 the barbarians. At this time a fafpicien prevailed, that fervant of the emperor of the Eaft. Alaric is declared mallcr- 

 the Goths of Afia had formed a fecret and dangerous con- general of the Eallern Illyricum: and the ufe to which he 

 fpiracv againft the pubhc fafety. An order was promul- apphed his new command diftinguilhes the firm and judicious 

 gated that, on a (lited day, the Gothic youth Ihould aflem- charafter of liis pohcy. He ilfues his orders to the four 

 bie in the capital cities of their refpettive provinces ; and magazines of ofcufive and defenfive arms, Margus, Ratiaria, 

 as a report was induifrioufly circidated, that they were Nailfus, and Thed'alonica, to provide his troops with an ex- 

 fummoned to receive a liberal gift of land and money, the traordinary fupjjly of fliields, helmets, fwords, and fpears. 

 plealino- hope allayed the fury of their refentment, and per- With the unanimous confent of the barbarian chreftains, 

 haps fufpended the motions of the confpiracy. On the ap- the mailer-general of Illyricum was elevated, according to 

 pointed day, the unarmed crowd of the Gothic youth aflt^m- ancient cuftom, on a fliield, and folemnly proclaimed king 

 bled in the fquare, or forum ; the ilrects and avenues were of the Vifigoths. Thus armed with do: ble power, 

 occupied by the Roman troops ; and the roofs of the houfes and feated on the verge of the two empires, he amufed 

 were covered with archers and {lingers. At the fame time the two emperors Arcadius and Honorius, till he declared 

 iji all the cities of the Eafl, the fignal was given of indifcri-, and executed his ref dution of invading the dominions of the 

 minate flaughter ; and the provinces of Afia were delivered Weil. He was tempted by the fame, the beauty, and the 

 by tlie cruel prudence of Juhus, who was mailer-general of wealth of Italy, which he had twice vifited ; and hefccrctly 

 the troops, from a domellic enemy, who, in a few months, afpired to plant the Gothic ilandard on the walls of Rome, 

 might have carried fire and fword from the Hcllefpont to the and to enrich his army with the accunudated fpoils of three 

 Euphrates. At length the Goths fubmitted to Theodofius I., hundred triumphs. Alaric lofes no time in executing his 

 ■ and were allowed by him to fettle ' in Thrace and Ivlccfia, purpofe of invading Italy, and advances, againfl much 

 which two provinces had been almoll depopulated by the fre- oppofition, towards the capital of the empire. It was in 

 quent iucurfions of tlie neighbouring barbarians, and the late the year 400 that he firft entered Italy, making dreadful 

 deilrutclve war. jV numerous colony of the Vifigoths was ravages in his progrefs. His march, probably Irom Tlief- 

 tettled in Thrace; the remains of the Oflrogotlis v\ ere planted falonica, through the warlike .ind hoflile country of Pan- 

 in Phrygia and Lydia ; their immediate wants were fupplied nonla, as far as the foot of the Julian Alps ; his paffagc 

 bv a dillribution of corn and cattle ; and their future iuduitry of thole mountains, i\ liich were flrongly guarded by troops 

 was encouraged by an exemption from tribute for a ctrtain and entrenchments ; the liege of Aquikia, and the con- 

 number of years. Plopes were entertained that the manners quell of the provinces of Illria and Venetui, appear to have 

 of the barbarians would in time be pollflied, and that their employed a confiderable time. In the year 403, AL-.ric 

 poilerity would be infenfibly blended with the body of the approaclied Milan, and the emperor Honorius, dreading 

 Roman people. Nolwithllandlng thefe flattering expefta- his arrival, fled to Ravenna. Stihcho, however, prepared 

 tions, it was apparent to every ddcerning eye, that the Goths to march agaiall the enemy, whom he found encamped at 

 would Icng remain the enemies, and might loon become the I'jUentia, on the Tanaroj iu Piedmont. \Vh;!e rfic 



7 Chrifliaii 



