The Scythians Conquered Through the Sign of the Savior

And why should I tell, even briefly and in passing, how he brought barbarian nations under Roman power? How he was the first to subdue the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes, which had never learned to submit, and forced them, however unwilling, to acknowledge the sovereignty of Rome? For the emperors before him had actually paid tribute to the Scythians. Romans, by a yearly payment, had admitted themselves servants of barbarians. Our emperor could no longer bear this disgrace, and he did not think it fitting for his victorious career to keep up the payment his predecessors had made. So, fully confident in his Savior’s help, he raised his conquering standard against these enemies too, and soon brought them all to obedience. Those who fiercely resisted his authority he forced into submission by arms. The rest he won over by wisely conducted embassies, and brought them back from their lawless and savage life to a state of order and civilization. In this way the Scythians at last learned to accept subjection to the power of Rome. [a]