03-01-2014, 01:09 PM
I've just been reading through Zosimus, Books 5 and 6, and he makes a few comments that suggest the Roman citizens were indeed prepared to defend their own city.
Book 5, as Alaric's men first surround the city and seal the gates, the Romans... resolved to persevere in their defence, expecting daily to receive auxiliaries from Ravenna.
A little later, after pestilence breaks out in the city, the citizens resolved on sending an embassy to the enemy, to inform him that they were willing to accept any reasonable conditions of peace, and at the same time were ready for war, since the people of Rome had taken up arms, and by means of continual military exercise were become well disposed for action.
...When Alaric heard it, and that the people having been exercised to arms were ready for war, he remarked, "The thickest grass is more easy to cut than the thinnest." Having said this, he laughed immoderately at the ambassadors...
However, Alaric seems to have made no attempt to attack the city. Some time later, after the initial Gothic withdrawal, Honorius sent five regiments of soldiers, who were quartered in Dalmatia, to guard the city of Rome. These regiments consisted of six thousand men, who for strength and discipline were the flower of the whole Roman army. (Interesting evidence here for a late 'legion' being 1200 men; a little later six 'regiments' of auxilia arrive at Ravenna from the east numberign 6000).
These troops, commanded by one Valens, were attacked on the march and almost completely destroyed; Valens himself, together with ambassador Attalus and 100 surviving men, reached Rome. After Attalus had been proclaimed emperor by Alaric, he gave the command to Alaric and Valens, who formerly commanded the Dalmatian legions... He then proceeded towards the palace, attended by an imperial guard (Book 6). This implies that the 100 surviving soldiers of Valens were still in the city, and perhaps formed Attalus's 'guard'.
Is there any further evidence, that anyone knows of?
Book 5, as Alaric's men first surround the city and seal the gates, the Romans... resolved to persevere in their defence, expecting daily to receive auxiliaries from Ravenna.
A little later, after pestilence breaks out in the city, the citizens resolved on sending an embassy to the enemy, to inform him that they were willing to accept any reasonable conditions of peace, and at the same time were ready for war, since the people of Rome had taken up arms, and by means of continual military exercise were become well disposed for action.
...When Alaric heard it, and that the people having been exercised to arms were ready for war, he remarked, "The thickest grass is more easy to cut than the thinnest." Having said this, he laughed immoderately at the ambassadors...
However, Alaric seems to have made no attempt to attack the city. Some time later, after the initial Gothic withdrawal, Honorius sent five regiments of soldiers, who were quartered in Dalmatia, to guard the city of Rome. These regiments consisted of six thousand men, who for strength and discipline were the flower of the whole Roman army. (Interesting evidence here for a late 'legion' being 1200 men; a little later six 'regiments' of auxilia arrive at Ravenna from the east numberign 6000).
These troops, commanded by one Valens, were attacked on the march and almost completely destroyed; Valens himself, together with ambassador Attalus and 100 surviving men, reached Rome. After Attalus had been proclaimed emperor by Alaric, he gave the command to Alaric and Valens, who formerly commanded the Dalmatian legions... He then proceeded towards the palace, attended by an imperial guard (Book 6). This implies that the 100 surviving soldiers of Valens were still in the city, and perhaps formed Attalus's 'guard'.
Is there any further evidence, that anyone knows of?
Nathan Ross
