The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain . shownthe ferocity of their religious hatred by the remarkthat it was a just doom that he who had caused thesouls of so many Goths to suffer eternal fire shouldbe burned alive by Gothic hands. Threatened ruin of the empire. 75 For the second time in history a Roman emperorhad perished amid the total ruin of his army, inconflict with the Goths. But even the day of Abrittahad been less terrible than was the day of Hadria-nople. Two-thirds of the Roman army lay dead onthe field, and amongst the slain were two generalso
The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain . shownthe ferocity of their religious hatred by the remarkthat it was a just doom that he who had caused thesouls of so many Goths to suffer eternal fire shouldbe burned alive by Gothic hands. Threatened ruin of the empire. 75 For the second time in history a Roman emperorhad perished amid the total ruin of his army, inconflict with the Goths. But even the day of Abrittahad been less terrible than was the day of Hadria-nople. Two-thirds of the Roman army lay dead onthe field, and amongst the slain were two generalsof great renown, Sebastian and Trajanus, two highofficers of the palace, Equitius and Valerian, andthirty-five tribunes. A contemporary historian saysthat no such disaster had befallen the Roman armssince that of Cannae. We can hardly doubt thatif the Goths had been united and disciplined, andhad known how to use their victory, the Easternempire would have come to a speedy end. But thiswas not to be ; the Goths could win battles, but theart of conquest they had yet to IX. THE GOTHS AND THEODOSIUS. On the morning after the battle, the victoriousGoths at once began to lay siege to the city ofHadrianople, where they had got to know that theimperial treasure had been deposited. But fightingwith stone walls requires more patience than thebarbarians had yet learned to exercise. When theirfirst assaults on the place were repulsed with heavyloss, they gave up the attempt in disgust, and aftertwo days marched away to besiege first attack was so violent that they had nearlysucceeded in forcing the gates, and perhaps if theirfury had continued unabated the imperial city wouldhave soon become their prey. But a band of Arabhorsemen in the Roman service issued from the city,and a sharp conflict took place. The skirmish wa«indecisive, but a panic was created among the Gothsby the sight of an act of cannibalism on the part ofone of the Arabs, who sucked the blood o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectgoths, bookyear1887
