HumanitiesWeb.org - Roman History Roman History - Book XXI. (IX. Taurus and Florentius, consuls, and prefects of the praetorium, fly at the approach of Julian, the one through Illyricum, the other through Italy-Lucillianus, the commander of the cavalry, who was preparing to resist Julian, is crushed by him.) by Ammianus Marcellinus
Roman History Roman History - Book XXI. IX. Taurus and Florentius, consuls, and prefects of the praetorium, fly at the approach of Julian, the one through Illyricum, the other through Italy-Lucillianus, the commander of the cavalry, who was preparing to resist Julian, is crushed by him.
by Ammianus Marcellinus
These things having been arranged according to the best of his
judgment, Julian adhering to the maxim by which he had often forced his
way through the countries of the barbarians, and trusting in his
continued successes, proceeded in his advance.
And when he had reached the spot at which he had been informed
that the river was navigable, he embarked on board some boats which
good fortune had brought thither in numbers, and passed as secretly as
he could down the stream, escaping notice the more because his habits
of endurance and fortitude had made him indifferent to delicate food;
so that, being contented with meagre and poor fare, he did not care to
approach their towns or camps, forming his conduct in this respect
according to the celebrated saying of the ancient Cyrus, who, when he
was introduced to a host who asked him what he wished to have got ready
for supper, answered, "Nothing beyond bread, for that he hoped he
should sup by the side of a river."
But Fame, which, as they say, having a thousand tongues,
always exaggerates the truth, at this time spread abroad a report among
all the tribes of Illyricum that Julian, having overthrown a number of
kings and nations in Gaul, was coming on flushed with success and with
a numerous army.
Jovinus, the prefect of the praetorium, being alarmed at
this rumour, fled in haste, as if from a foreign enemy; and going by
the public conveyances with frequent relays, he crossed the Julian
Alps, taking with him also Florentius the prefect.
But Count Lucillianus, who at that time had the command of
the army in these districts, being at Sirmium, and having received some
slight intelligence of Julian's movements, collected the soldiers whom
the emergency gave time for being quickly called from their several
stations, and proposed to resist his advance.
Julian, however, like a firebrand or torch once kindled,
hastened quickly to his object; and when, at the waning of the moon, he
had reached Bonmunster, which is about nineteen miles from Sirmium, and
when, therefore, the main part of the night was dark, he unexpectedly
quitted his boats, and at once sent forward Dagalaiphus with his light
troops to summon Lucillianus to his presence, and to drag him before
him if he resisted.
He was asleep, and when he was awakened by the violence of
this uproar, and saw himself surrounded by a crowd of strangers,
perceiving the state of the case, and being filled with awe at the name
of the emperor, he obeyed his orders, though sadly against his will.
And though commander of the cavalry, a little while before proud and
fierce, he now obeyed the will of another, and mounting a horse which
was brought him on a sudden, he was led before Julian as an ignoble
prisoner, and from fear was hardly able to collect his senses.
But as soon as he saw the emperor, and was relieved by
receiving permission to offer his salutations to his purple robe, he
recovered his courage, and feeling safe said, " You have been
incautious and rash, O emperor, to trust yourself with but a few troops
in the country of another." But Julian, with a sarcastic smile,
replied, " Keep these prudent speeches for
Constantius. I offered you the ensign of my royal rank to ease you of
your fears, and not to take you for my counsellor."