The Vandals Cross into Spain

Shortly afterward the troops of Constans were strengthened by reinforcements, and Didymus and Verinian were taken prisoner along with their wives, and in the end they were put to death. Their brothers Theodosiolus and Lagodius, who were living in other provinces, fled the country. The first escaped to Italy, to the emperor Honorius; the second fled to the East, to Theodosius. After this Constans returned to his father, having posted a guard of his own soldiers on the road into Spain. For he did not allow the Spaniards to keep the guard according to the ancient custom, though they had asked for this privilege. This precaution was probably the cause of the country’s ruin later on. For when Constantine was stripped of his power, the barbarian peoples of the Vandals, Suevi, and Alani took heart, won control of the road, seized many forts and cities in Spain and Gaul, and arrested the usurper’s officers. [a]

Meanwhile Constantine, who still thought that things would go as he intended, had his son proclaimed emperor instead of Caesar, and resolved to make himself master of Italy. With this in view he crossed the Cottian Alps and entered Liverona, a city of Liguria. He was on the point of crossing the Po when he was forced to turn back, on hearing of the death of Alavicus. This Alavicus was the commander of the troops of Honorius. He was suspected of plotting to put the whole western government under the rule of Constantine, and he was killed as he returned from a procession in which, by custom, it was his duty to march ahead of the emperor. Immediately afterward the emperor got down from his horse and publicly gave thanks to God for delivering him from a man who had openly plotted against him. Constantine fled and seized Arles, and his son Constans hurried from Spain and took refuge in the same city. [b]

As the power of Constantine declined, the Vandals, Suevi, and Alani eagerly seized the Pyrenees when they heard that Spain was a prosperous and very rich region. And since the men Constans had entrusted with guarding the pass had neglected their duty, the invaders went through into Spain. [c]