nately alarmed the coasts of Italy and of Africa.[1] Ægidius, the master-general of Gaul, who equalled, or at least who imitated, the heroes of ancient Rome,[2] and of Ægidius in Gaul proclaimed his immortal resentment against the assassins of his beloved master. A brave and numerous army was attached to his standard; and, though he was prevented by the arts of Ricimer, and the arms of the Visigoths, from marching to the gates of Rome, he maintained his independent sovereignty beyond the Alps, and rendered the name of Ægidius respectable both in peace and war. The Franks, who had punished with exile the youthful follies of Childeric, elected the Roman general for their king; his vanity, rather than his ambition, was gratified by that singular honour; and, when the nation, at the end of four years, repented of the injury which they had offered to the Merovingian family, he patiently acquiesced in the restoration of the lawful prince. [A.D. 464-5] The authority of Ægidius ended only with his life; and the suspicions of poison and secret violence, which derived some countenance from the character of Ricimer, were eagerly entertained by the passionate credulity of the Gauls.[3]
Naval war of the Vandals. A.D 461-467 The kingdom of Italy, a name to which the Western empire was gradually reduced, was afflicted, under the reign of Ricimer, by the incessant depredations of the Vandal pirates.[4] In the- ↑ Procopius de Bell Vandal. l. i. c. 6, p. 191. In various circumstances of the life of Marcellinus, it is not easy to reconcile the Greek historian with the Latin Chronicles of the times.
- ↑ I must apply to Ægidius the praises which Sidonius (Panegyr. Majorian. 553) bestows on a nameless master-general, who commanded the rear guard of Majorian. Idatius, from public report, commends his Christian piety; and Priscus mentions (p. 42 [fr. 30]) his military virtues.
- ↑ Greg. Turon. l. ii. c. 12 in tom. ii. p. 168. The Père Daniel, whose ideas were superficial and modern, has started some objections against the story of Childeric (Hist. de France, tom. i. Préface Historique, p. lxxviii. &c.); but they have been fairly satisfied by Dubos (Hist. Critique, tom. i. p. 460-510) and by two authors who disputed the prize of the Academy of Soissons (p. 131-177,310-339). With regard to the term of Childeric's exile, it is necessary either to prolong the life of Ægidius beyond the date assigned by the Chronicle of Idatius, or to correct the text ot Gregory, by reading quarto anno, instead of octavo.
- ↑ The naval war of Genseric is described by Priscus (Excerpta Legation. p. 42
[fr. 29], Procopius (de Bell. Vandal. l. i. c. 5, p. 189, 190, and c. 22, p. 228),
Victor Vitensis (de Persecut. Vandal. l. i. c. 17, and Ruin. p. 467-481), and in the
three panegyrics of Sidonius, whose chronological order is absurdly transposed in
the editions both of Savaron and Sirmond. (Avit. Carm. vii. 441-451, Majorian.
Carm. v. 327-350, 385-440. Anthem. Carm. ii. 348-386.) In one passage the poet
seems inspired by his subject, and expresses a strong idea by a lively image [Carm.
2, 348, sqq.]: —
— Hinc Vandalus hostis
Urget; et in nostrum numerosâ classe quotannis
