The Goths Cross the Danube and Become Arians

This remarkable speech of Themistius made the emperor somewhat more humane, and as a result the punishments became less severe than before. He would not have wholly withdrawn his anger from the priests if the anxieties of public affairs had not come upon him and kept him from pursuing them further. For the Goths, who lived in the regions beyond the Danube and had conquered other barbarians, had been defeated and driven from their country by the Huns, and had crossed over into Roman territory. It is said that the Huns were unknown before this time to the Thracians living along the Danube and to the Goths. Though they were in fact living close to one another without knowing it, a lake of vast size lay between them, and the people on each side of the lake imagined that their own country lay at the end of the earth, and that there was nothing beyond them but the sea and water. But it happened that an ox, tormented by insects, plunged into the lake, and the herdsman went after it. Seeing for the first time that the opposite bank was inhabited, he told his fellow tribesmen. Others say that a stag was fleeing, and showed some hunters of the race of the Huns the way across, which was hidden just under the surface of the water. When the hunters reached the opposite bank, they were struck by the beauty of the country, the mildness of the air, and how well suited it was for farming; and they reported what they had seen to their king. The Huns then made an attempt to attack the Goths with a few soldiers. But afterward they raised a powerful army, defeated the Goths in battle, and took possession of their whole country. The defeated nation, pursued by its enemies, crossed into Roman territory. They crossed the river and sent an embassy to the emperor, promising to fight alongside him in any war he might wage, provided that he would give them a portion of land to live in. Ulfilas, the bishop of the nation, was the head of the embassy. The purpose of his embassy was fully achieved, and the Goths were allowed to settle in Thrace. Soon afterward quarrels broke out among them, which split them into two parts, one led by Athanaric and the other by Fritigern. They took up arms against each other, and Fritigern was defeated and begged the Romans for help. The emperor ordered the troops in Thrace to help him and fight as his allies, and a second battle was fought, in which Athanaric and his party were put to flight. To acknowledge the timely help Valens had given, and as proof of his loyalty to the Romans, Fritigern took up the religion of the emperor, and persuaded the barbarians he ruled to follow his example. It does not seem to me, however, that this is the only reason that can be given for the Goths holding the teachings of Arianism even to this day. For Ulfilas, their bishop, at first held no opinions at odds with those of the catholic church. During the reign of Constantius he took part, out of thoughtlessness, I am convinced, in the Council of Constantinople together with Eudoxius and Acacius; yet he did not turn aside from the doctrines of the Council of Nicaea. Afterward, it seems, he returned to Constantinople, and it is said that he entered into debates on doctrine with the leaders of the Arian party. They promised to lay his requests before the emperor and to further the purpose of his embassy if he would come over to their opinions. Pressed by the urgency of the moment, or perhaps thinking it better to hold such views about the divine nature, Ulfilas entered into communion with the Arians, and separated himself and his whole nation from all connection with the catholic church. For since he had taught the Goths the first elements of religion, and through him they had come to share in a gentler way of life, they placed complete confidence in his directions and were firmly convinced that he could neither do nor say anything evil. He had in fact given many striking proofs of the greatness of his virtue. He had exposed himself to countless dangers in defense of the faith during the time when these barbarians were given to pagan worship. He taught them the use of letters, and translated the sacred scriptures into their own language. This is why the barbarians along the banks of the Danube followed the teachings of Arius. At the same time there were many of Fritigern’s subjects who bore witness to Christ and died as martyrs. Athanaric resented that his subjects had become Christians through the persuasion of Ulfilas. Because they had abandoned the worship of their fathers, he subjected many of them to many punishments. Some he put to death after they had been dragged before courts and had nobly confessed the teaching; others were killed without being allowed to say a single word in their own defense. It is said that the officers Athanaric appointed to carry out his cruel orders had a statue made, which they set on a wagon and had carried to the tents of those suspected of having become Christians. These were ordered to worship the statue and offer sacrifice; if they refused, the men and their tents were burned together. But I have heard that an outrage of still greater cruelty was committed at this time. Many refused to obey those who were trying to force them to sacrifice. Among them were men and women; of the women, some were leading their little children by the hand, and others were nursing their newborn babies at the breast. They fled to their church, which was a tent. The pagans set fire to it, and all of them perished. [a]

The Goths were not long in making peace among themselves. Then, in a frenzy of unreason, they began to ravage Thrace and to plunder the cities and villages. Valens, looking into the matter, learned from experience how great a mistake he had made. He had counted on the Goths always being useful to the empire and fearsome to its enemies, and so he had neglected to keep up the strength of the Roman ranks. From the cities and villages under Roman rule he had taken gold instead of the usual quota of men for military service. Now that his hopes were dashed, he left Antioch and hurried to Constantinople. So the persecution he had been carrying on against the Christians who differed from him in opinion came to a pause. Euzoius, the head of the Arians, died, and Dorotheus was put forward to take his place. [e]