[gothic-l] Rome Turning Into a Sewer

[Bertil Haggman]

For introduction of law and order of the Vandals
at the sack of Rome see Salvianus VII, 20-2 and
Dill, _Roman Society in the Last Century of the Western
Empire_, p. 305.

A contemporary of Salvianus, Sidonius, born in Lyons
around 430 AD and later Bishop of Clermont has provided
a description of his visit to the court of Theodoric II, a Visi-
gothic ruler 453 - 466 AD.

Theoderic, so Sidonius, attended religious service
daily befor dawn, the dinner was that of an ordinary
private household, and food was good but neither
ostentatious nor costly. The goblets were refilled infrequently.
Roman entertainers and lavish luxuries did not exist at
the court of Theoderic II but the king enjoyed string
music which comforted the soul with virtue just as it
soothed the ear with melody.

There were indeed Romans, according to Salvianus,
who preferred life among the Goths to the unremitting
greed and avarice that characterized the civilization of
Rome.

The military commentator Vegetius also disclosed
the lack of fortitude of Roman citizens. Roman infantry
refused to wear helmets or breastplates, because they
were too heavy

"when, because of negligence and laziness, parade
ground drills were abandoned, the customary armor began
to seem heavy, since the soldiers rarely ever wore it. There-
fore they first asked the emperor to set aside the brestplates and
mail, and then the helmets. So our soldiers fought the Goths
without any protection for chest and head, and were often
beaten by archers. Although there were many disasters,
which led to the loss of great cities, noone tried to restore
breastplates and helmets to the infantry. Thus it happens
that troops in battle, exposed to wounds because they
have no armour, think about running and not about
fighting."

There was of course also the advantage of not having
breastplates, mail and helmet when running away from the
Goths.

Bertil Haggman


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