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Sarus the Goth

March 14, 2023

Sarus or Saurus (d. 413 AD) was a Gothic chieftain, known as a particularly brave and skillful warrior. He became a commander for the emperor Honorius.[1] He was known for his hostility to the prominent Gothic brothers-in-law Alaric I and Athaulf, and was the brother of Sigeric, who ruled the Goths briefly in 415.

Career

Nothing is known of his life before he comes to notice in 406 commanding a force of Gothic troops, along with other barbarian foederati, against the invasion of Italy by Radagaisus of 405–6.[2] Roman and federate troops ultimately defeated the invaders at the Battle of Faesulae.

In 407 he was sent against the British usurper Constantine III.[3] First he defeated and killed Iustinianus, one of Constantine's magistri militum, then tricked and killed the other, Nebiogastes. Then Sarus laid siege to Constantine himself in Valentia, but fled back to Italy at the approach of Constantine's new generals Edobichus and Gerontius, being forced to surrender all his booty to Bacaudae (late Roman bandits or rebels) for passage over the Alps.[4] As he must have commanded an army, he may have been appointed magister militum (general) for this expedition;[5] elsewhere he is said to have had a following or warband of only about three hundred.[6]

Early in 408, whilst commanding a force of barbarians at Ravenna, Stilicho induced him to mutiny in an attempt to prevent Honorius from travelling there. Then, when Stilicho was recalled by the Emperor under suspicion of treachery, Sarus, apparently incensed that Stilicho continued to obey orders and refused to use the barbarian troops on hand to defend himself, fought his way through Stilicho's Hun bodyguard to protest.[7] Later in 408, after the fall of Stilicho, Sarus' name was put forward as Stilicho's successor as the most suitable candidate for the office of magister militum in praesenti (supreme commander), but the Emperor Honorius refused to promote him.[8] It is possible his resentment of Honorius, as borne out by later actions, started here [9]

We next hear of Sarus in 410, apparently subsisting independently in the region of Picenum. Athaulf, who was coming to join his brother-in-law Alaric, decided to attack him in passing and Sarus, thinking his force of three hundred would be no match for the Gothic army, fled to Honorius.[10] Later that year, when Alaric was conducting negotiations with Honorius near Ravenna, Sarus with his warband attacked him, seemingly on his own initiative. This prompted Alaric to finally give up on negotiations and sack Rome on August 24.[11]

Death and aftermath

Sarus seems to have stayed in the service of the Emperor for the next two years, but he developed a grudge against Honorius, who had failed to investigate or avenge the murder of his servant.[12] In 412 another usurper, Jovinus, approached from Northern Gaul, supported at first by Ataulf; Sarus went to join Jovinus. Sarus had only twenty eight men with him, but Ataulf gathered a force of ten thousand to waylay him. Even so, Sarus fought with marvellous courage and was only with difficulty taken alive, and shortly killed.[13]

Sarus' last contribution to the events of the time were posthumous. Ataulf had been foolish enough to take one of Sarus' followers into his own service; this man waited till Ataulf visited his stable alone and there killed him (September 415).[14] Sarus' brother, Sigeric, then ruled for seven days before Wallia killed him and took over the kingship.[15]

Sarus was active for only six years in an extremely confused period, yet he made his mark as a figure of some importance in several large and small events of those years. Unfortunately a bald account of his deeds gives a very disjointed picture of him, but he obviously made an impression on those of his time, who describe him as "a brave and invincible warrior", possessing "marvellous heroism",[16] who "excelled all the other confederates in power and rank" and had "intrepidity" and "experience in warlike affairs".[17]

Notes

  1. ^ Doyle, Chris (2018). Honorius: The Fight for the Roman West AD395-423. New York & London: Routledge Roman Imperial Biographies. ISBN 9781138190887.
  2. ^ Orosius VII 37
  3. ^ Doyle, Christopher (2014). The Endgame of Treason: Suppressing Rebellion and Usurpation in the Late Roman Empire AD 397‑411. National University of Ireland: Unpublished doctoral thesis. pp. 7–8, 16ff., 163–192.
  4. ^ Zosimus VI 2; Kulkowsky (2000), p. 334
  5. ^ PLRE II p. 978; Boak (1915) p. 159 considers him to have definitely been a magistri militum.
  6. ^ Zosimus VI 13; Olympiodorus fr. 3
  7. ^ Zosimus V 34
  8. ^ Zosimus V.36, though Philostorgius Historia Ecclesiastica XII.3 claims he was made magister militum in praesenti.
  9. ^ PLRE II p. 979
  10. ^ Zosimus VI 13
  11. ^ Sozomen IV 9; Bury (1923), p. 183
  12. ^ This is the reason Boak regards Sarus as a magister militum: the servant, Belleridus, is described as a domesticus, one of the official servants of a general. However it is certain that the future Constantius III was supreme commander in the West by 412; perhaps Sarus was a subordinate general. Boak (1915) p. 159
  13. ^ Olympiodorus fr. 17; Bury (1923) p. 194
  14. ^ Olympiodorus fr. 25
  15. ^ It is easy to see a conspiracy here, as did Bury (1923) p. 199
  16. ^ Olympiodorus fragments 3 and 17
  17. ^ Zosimus V.34 and 36. There are several more citations in a similar vein.

References

Ancient

Modern

External links

  • Olympiodorus of Thebes. Histories. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  • Sozomen. Historia Ecclesiastica. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  • Translation of Zosimus' Historia Nova (published in 1814), book 1, book 2, book 3, book 4, book 5, book 6
  • Orosius, Histories against the Pagans, Book VII.
  • Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius from The Tertullian Project

March 14, 2023
sarus, goth, sarus, saurus, gothic, chieftain, known, particularly, brave, skillful, warrior, became, commander, emperor, honorius, known, hostility, prominent, gothic, brothers, alaric, athaulf, brother, sigeric, ruled, goths, briefly, contents, career, death. Sarus or Saurus d 413 AD was a Gothic chieftain known as a particularly brave and skillful warrior He became a commander for the emperor Honorius 1 He was known for his hostility to the prominent Gothic brothers in law Alaric I and Athaulf and was the brother of Sigeric who ruled the Goths briefly in 415 Contents 1 Career 2 Death and aftermath 3 Notes 4 References 4 1 Ancient 4 2 Modern 5 External linksCareer EditNothing is known of his life before he comes to notice in 406 commanding a force of Gothic troops along with other barbarian foederati against the invasion of Italy by Radagaisus of 405 6 2 Roman and federate troops ultimately defeated the invaders at the Battle of Faesulae In 407 he was sent against the British usurper Constantine III 3 First he defeated and killed Iustinianus one of Constantine s magistri militum then tricked and killed the other Nebiogastes Then Sarus laid siege to Constantine himself in Valentia but fled back to Italy at the approach of Constantine s new generals Edobichus and Gerontius being forced to surrender all his booty to Bacaudae late Roman bandits or rebels for passage over the Alps 4 As he must have commanded an army he may have been appointed magister militum general for this expedition 5 elsewhere he is said to have had a following or warband of only about three hundred 6 Early in 408 whilst commanding a force of barbarians at Ravenna Stilicho induced him to mutiny in an attempt to prevent Honorius from travelling there Then when Stilicho was recalled by the Emperor under suspicion of treachery Sarus apparently incensed that Stilicho continued to obey orders and refused to use the barbarian troops on hand to defend himself fought his way through Stilicho s Hun bodyguard to protest 7 Later in 408 after the fall of Stilicho Sarus name was put forward as Stilicho s successor as the most suitable candidate for the office of magister militum in praesenti supreme commander but the Emperor Honorius refused to promote him 8 It is possible his resentment of Honorius as borne out by later actions started here 9 We next hear of Sarus in 410 apparently subsisting independently in the region of Picenum Athaulf who was coming to join his brother in law Alaric decided to attack him in passing and Sarus thinking his force of three hundred would be no match for the Gothic army fled to Honorius 10 Later that year when Alaric was conducting negotiations with Honorius near Ravenna Sarus with his warband attacked him seemingly on his own initiative This prompted Alaric to finally give up on negotiations and sack Rome on August 24 11 Death and aftermath EditSarus seems to have stayed in the service of the Emperor for the next two years but he developed a grudge against Honorius who had failed to investigate or avenge the murder of his servant 12 In 412 another usurper Jovinus approached from Northern Gaul supported at first by Ataulf Sarus went to join Jovinus Sarus had only twenty eight men with him but Ataulf gathered a force of ten thousand to waylay him Even so Sarus fought with marvellous courage and was only with difficulty taken alive and shortly killed 13 Sarus last contribution to the events of the time were posthumous Ataulf had been foolish enough to take one of Sarus followers into his own service this man waited till Ataulf visited his stable alone and there killed him September 415 14 Sarus brother Sigeric then ruled for seven days before Wallia killed him and took over the kingship 15 Sarus was active for only six years in an extremely confused period yet he made his mark as a figure of some importance in several large and small events of those years Unfortunately a bald account of his deeds gives a very disjointed picture of him but he obviously made an impression on those of his time who describe him as a brave and invincible warrior possessing marvellous heroism 16 who excelled all the other confederates in power and rank and had intrepidity and experience in warlike affairs 17 Notes Edit Doyle Chris 2018 Honorius The Fight for the Roman West AD395 423 New York amp London Routledge Roman Imperial Biographies ISBN 9781138190887 Orosius VII 37 Doyle Christopher 2014 The Endgame of Treason Suppressing Rebellion and Usurpation in the Late Roman Empire AD 397 411 National University of Ireland Unpublished doctoral thesis pp 7 8 16ff 163 192 Zosimus VI 2 Kulkowsky 2000 p 334 PLRE II p 978 Boak 1915 p 159 considers him to have definitely been a magistri militum Zosimus VI 13 Olympiodorus fr 3 Zosimus V 34 Zosimus V 36 though Philostorgius Historia Ecclesiastica XII 3 claims he was made magister militum in praesenti PLRE II p 979 Zosimus VI 13 Sozomen IV 9 Bury 1923 p 183 This is the reason Boak regards Sarus as a magister militum the servant Belleridus is described as a domesticus one of the official servants of a general However it is certain that the future Constantius III was supreme commander in the West by 412 perhaps Sarus was a subordinate general Boak 1915 p 159 Olympiodorus fr 17 Bury 1923 p 194 Olympiodorus fr 25 It is easy to see a conspiracy here as did Bury 1923 p 199 Olympiodorus fragments 3 and 17 Zosimus V 34 and 36 There are several more citations in a similar vein References EditAncient Edit Olympiodorus of Thebes Histories existing only in 10th century summary by Photius Orosius Historiarum Adversum Paganos Philostorgius Historia Ecclesiastica Sozomen Historia Ecclesiastica Zosimus Historia NovaModern Edit Boak A E R 1915 The Roman Magistri in the Civil and Military Service of the Empire Harvard Studies in Classical Philology Department of the Classics Harvard University 26 73 164 JSTOR 310606 doi 10 2307 310606 JSTOR 310606 Bury J B 1923 History of the Later Roman Empire Retrieved 2010 03 22 Doyle C 2018 Honorius The Fight for the Roman West AD395 423 Roman Imperial Biographies Routledge New York amp London https www routledge com Honorius The Fight for the Roman West AD 395 423 Doyle p book 9781138190887 Doyle C 2014 The Endgame of Treason Suppressing Rebellion and Usurpation in the Late Roman Empire AD 397 411 National University of Ireland Galway Unpublished doctoral thesis https aran library nuigalway ie handle 10379 4631 Kulikowski Michael 2000 Barbarians in Gaul Usurpers in Britain Britannia Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 31 325 345 JSTOR 526925 doi 10 2307 526925 JSTOR 526925 S2CID 162663612 Martindale John Robert Morris John 1980 Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire PLRE Vol II Cambridge Cambridge University Press External links EditOlympiodorus of Thebes Histories Retrieved 2010 03 22 Sozomen Historia Ecclesiastica Retrieved 2010 03 22 Translation of Zosimus Historia Nova published in 1814 book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 Orosius Histories against the Pagans Book VII Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius from The Tertullian Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarus the Goth amp oldid 1137069374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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