Zosimus, New History 4.46

Zosimus (Greek Ζώσιμος): Early Byzantine, pagan author of a history of the Roman Empire, published in the first quarter of the sixth century CE.

The translation of Zosimus' New History offered here was printed in 1814 by W. Green and T. Chaplin in London, and was probably prepared by J. Davis of the Military Chronicle and Military Classics Office. The translator is anonymous. The text was found at Tertullian.org. The notes were added by Jona Lendering.


[4.46.1] While Theodosius was on his march, Maximus, having learnt that the mother of Valentinian and her children were to cross the Ionian Sea, collected a number of swift-sailing ships, which he sent under the command of Andragathius to cruize for them. 

[4.46.2] But Andragathius, though he sailed about in every direction, failed of his purpose, for they had already crossed the Ionian Strait. Collecting, therefore, a competent navy, he sailed along all the adjacent coasts, in expectation that Theodosius would attack him with his navy.

[4.46.3] While Andragathius was thus employed, Theodosius, having passed through Pannonia and the defiles of the Apennines,note attacked unawares the forces of Maximus before they were prepared for him. A part of his army, having pursued them with the utmost speed, forced their way through the gates of Aquileia, the guards being too few to resist them. Maximus was torn from his imperial throne while in the act of distributing money to his soldiers, and being stripped of his imperial robes, was brought to Theodosius, 

[4.46.4] who, having in reproach enumerated some of his crimes against the commonwealth, delivered him to the common executioner to receive due punishment. Such was the end of Maximus and of his usurpation. Having fraudulently overcome Valentinian, he imagined that he should with ease subdue the whole Roman Empire.