The origin and deeds of the Goths

by Jordanes

For other versions of this work, see Getica.

JORDANES

THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS

in English Version

Part of a Thesis

Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University

for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

By Charles C. Mierow

 

Princeton
1908

Note

For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in the Getica of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is now put in English form, as part of an edition of the Getica prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a lost cause and will not find the simple-hearted exaggerations of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his employment of fable and legend, as well as the naïve exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise remember the truthful, words of Delbrück: "Legende und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum, aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu übersetzen."

Andrew F. West.

Preface

The following version of the Getica of Jordanes is based upon the text of Mommsen, as found in the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882). I have adhered closely to his spelling of proper names, especially the Gothic names, except in the case of very few words which are in common use in another form (such as Gaiseric and Belisarius).

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dean Andrew F. West of the Princeton Graduate School for his unfailing interest in my work. It was in one of his graduate courses that the translation was begun, three years ago, and at his suggestion that I undertook the composition of the thesis in its present form. He has read the entire treatise in the manuscript, and has been my constant adviser and critic. Thanks are also due to Dr. Charles G. Osgood of the English Department of Princeton University for reading the translation.

Charles C. Mierow.

Classical Seminary,

Princeton University,

July 1908.

Literary Analysis

[The Arabic numbers, printed in the Literary Analysis below and in the margin of the English version, correspond to the Arabic numbers which mark the sections in Mommsen's text.]

	Preface 1-3
I	Geographical Introduction 4-24
		Ocean 4-5
		: The Eastern Islands 6
		: The Western Islands 7-24
		:: Lesser Islands 7-8
		:: Britain 10-15
		:: Scandza 9, 16-24
II	The United Goths 25-130
	1.	Migration of the Goths under their first king, Berig, from Scandza to Gothiscandza and thence to the land of the Ulmerugi 25-26
		Migration to Scythia under Filimer 27-29
		: [Description of Scythia 30-37]
		The three successive abodes of the Goths 38-42
		: In Scythia near Lake Maeotis.
		: In Moesia, Thrace and Dacia.
		: In Scythia again, above the Sea of Pontus.
		:: [Their archery and heroes 43]
	2.	The Goths in Scythia, near Lake Maeotis 44-57
		: Exploits of King Tanausis 44-48
		:: [Description of the Don and Dnieper 45-46]	The Scythian Amazons in Asia Minor 49-57 [Description of the Caucasus 52-55]   3. The Goths in Moesia, Thrace and Dacia 58-81 Telefus and Eurypylus: the Trojan War 58-60 Queen Tomyris defeats Cyrus 61-62 King Antyrus defeats Darius 63-64 Queen Gudila's daughter becomes the wife of Philip of Macedon 65 Sitalces conquers Perdiccas 66 King Buruista. The wise rule of Dicineus, a contemporary of Sulla 67, 69-72 The Goths in the time of Caesar, Augustus and Tiberius 68 Kings Comosicus and Coryllus 73 [Description of Dacia and the Danube 74-75] King Dorpaneus wars with Domitian 76-78 [Genealogy of the Amali 78-81]   4. The Goths again in Scythia—beyond the Sea of Pontus 82-130 Maximums, the Goth, a Roman Emperor 83-88 King Ostrogotha wars with Philip 89-92 [Description of Marcianople 93] The Gepidae and their defeat at the hands of Ostrogotha 94-100 King Cniva at war with Decius 101-103 The Goths in the time of Gallus, Volusianus and Aemilianus 104-106 The Goths plunder Asia Minor in the reign of Gallienus 107-109 [Descriptive references to Chalcedon, Ilium and Anchiali 107-109] Deeds of the Goths in the times of Diocle- tian and his colleagues 110 The Goths under Ariaric and Aoric in the time of Constantine I. King Geberich conquers the Vandals. 111-115 King Hermanaric conquers the Heruli, Venethi and Aesti 116-120 [Origin and history of the Huns 121-128] Battle of Hermanaric with the Huns. His death. The Goths separate into Visigoths and Ostrogoths. 129-130   III The Divided Goths 131-314   1. The Visigoths 131-245 Fritigern with the Visigoths enters Thrace and the two Moesias 131-137 They defeat and slay the Emperor Valens 138 King Athanaric makes peace with Gratian and Theodosius I. Dies at Constantinople I 39-144 The Visigoths, serving under Theodosius, conquer the usurper Eugenius 145 Deeds of Alaric I in the time of Arcadius and Honorius. His death 146-158 [Description of Ravenna 148-151] Deeds and death of King Athavulf 159-163 King Segeric 163 Deeds of King Valia 164-175 [Digression: The Kingdom of the Vandals 166-173] [Digression: Migration of the Amali to the Visigoths 174-175] First breach between King Theodorid I and the Romans 176-177 [Character of Attila the Hun 178-183] League of the Visigoths and Romans against Attila 184-191 Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Death of Theodorid I 192-217 Deeds and death of Thorismud. Continuation of Attila's career 218-228 King Theodorid II 229-234 King Eurich 235-244 The Western Empire from the death of Valentinian III to Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Emperor 235-241 The rule of Odoacer 242-243 Alaric II, last King of the Visigoths 245   2. The Ostrogoths 246-314 King Vinitharius conquers the Antes and is conquered by the Huns 246-249 King Hunimund 250 King Thorismud 250 Interregnum of forty years 251 King Valamir 252-276 Death of Attila and dissolution of the Kingdom of the Huns 254-263 Homes of the Goths along the Lower Danube 264-266 The Gothic origin of the author, Jordanes 266 The Lesser Goths 267 The Ostrogoths in Pannonia 268-276 King Thiudimer. Seizure of Macedonia 277-288 King Theodoric the Great, and the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths in Italy 289-304 King Athalaric. Amalasuentha 305-306 The Ostrogoths overcome by the Emperor Justinian 307-314   IV Conclusion 315-316