Latin and Archival English Texts
The Historia Augusta is a late antique collection of imperial biographies. It is not a simple chronicle and should be read with caution: its authorship is pseudonymous, its evidence is uneven, and several notices preserve Roman literary memory more clearly than reliable event-record.
For the Scythian shelf, the selected passages below matter because they show how later Roman biography remembered Sarmatians, Roxolani, Alans, Tauroscythians, Olbia, the Bosporan kingdom, Goths, Parthians, Persians, and the Danubian and Pontic frontiers.
This page gives the Latin text with David Magie's public-domain archival English beside it. It is a selected frontier dossier, not a complete edition of the Historia Augusta.
Text
Hadrian, Part 1
3.9. Latin
9 legatus postea praetorius in Pannoniam inferiorem missus Sarmatas compressit, disciplinam militarem tenuit, procuratores latius evagantes coercuit.
3.9. Archival English
9 Next he was sent as praetorian legate to Lower Pannonia, where he held the Sarmatians in check, maintained discipline among the soldiers, and restrained the procurators, who were overstepping too freely the bounds of their power.
5.2. Latin
2 nam deficientibus iis nationibus quas Traianus subegerat, Mauri lacessebant, Sarmatae bellum inferebant, Britanni teneri sub Romana dicione non poterant, Aegyptus seditionibus urgebatur, Libya denique ac Palaestina rebelles animos efferebant. 3 quare omnia trans Euphraten ac Tigrim reliquit exemplo, ut dicebat, Catonis, qui Macedones liberos pronuntiavit, quia tueri non poterant. 4 Parthamasirin, quem Traianus Parthis regem fecerat, quod eum non magni ponderis apud Parthos videret, proximis gentibus dedit regem.
5.2. Archival English
2 For the nations which Trajan had conquered began to revolt; the Moors, moreover, began to make attacks, and the Sarmatians to wage war, the Britons could not be kept under Roman sway, Egypt was thrown into disorder by riots, and finally Libya and Palestine showed the spirit of rebellion. 3 Whereupon he relinquished all the conquests east of the Euphrates and the Tigris, following, as he used to say, the example of Cato, who urged that the Macedonians, because they could not be held as subjects, should be declared free and independent. 4 And Parthamasiris, appointed king of the Parthians by Trajan, he assigned as ruler to the neighbouring tribes, because he saw that the man was held in little esteem by the Parthians.
6.6. Latin
6 Audito dein tumultu Sarmatarum et Roxolanorum praemissis exercitibus Moesiam petiit. 7 Marcium Turbonem post Mauretaniam praefecturae infulis ornatum Pannoniae Daciaeque ad tempus praefecit. 8 cum rege Roxolanorum, qui de inminutis stipendiis querebatur, cognito negotio pacem composuit.
6.6. Archival English
6 Then, on hearing of the incursions of the Sarmatians and Roxolani, he sent the troops ahead and set out for Moesia. 7 He conferred the insignia of a prefect on Marcius Turbo after his Mauretanian campaign and appointed him to the temporary command of Pannonia and Dacia. 8 When the king of the Roxolani complained of the diminution of his subsidy, he investigated his case and made peace with him.
12.6. Latin
6 Per ea tempora et alias frequenter in plurimis locis, in quibus barbari non fluminibus sed limitibus dividuntur, stipitibus magnis in modum muralis saepis funditus iactis atque conexis barbaros separavit. 7 Germanis regem constituit, motus Maurorum compressit et a senatu supplicationes emeruit. 8 bellum Parthorum per idem tempus in motu tantum fuit, idque Hadriani conloquio repressum est.
12.6. Archival English
6 During this period and on many other occasions also, in many regions where the barbarians are held back not by rivers but by artificial barriers, Hadrian shut them off by means of high stakes planted deep in the ground and fastened together in the manner of a palisade. 7 He appointed a king for the Germans, suppressed revolts among the Moors, and won from the senate the usual ceremonies of thanksgiving. 8 The war with the Parthians had not at that time advanced beyond the preparatory stage, and Hadrian checked it by a personal conference.
Hadrian, Part 2
16.3. Latin
3 Floro poetae scribenti ad se: Ego nolo Caesar esse, ambulare per Britannos, latitare per... Scythicas pati pruinas, 4 rescripsit: Ego nolo Florus esse, ambulare per tabernas, latitare per popinas culices pati rotundos.
16.3. Archival English
3 And when the poet Florus wrote to him: I don't want to be a Caesar, Stroll about among the Britons, Lurk about among the.... And endure the Scythian winters," 4 he wrote back I don't want to be a Florus, Stroll about among the taverns, Lurk about among the cook-shops And endure the round fat insects."
21.10. Latin
10 Parthos in amicitia semper habuit, quod inde regem retraxit, quem Traianus imposuerat. 11 Armeniis regem habere permisit, cum sub Traiano legatum habuissent. 12 a Mesopotamiis non exegit tributum, quod Traianus imposuit.
21.10. Archival English
10 The Parthians always regarded him as a friend because he took away the king whom Trajan had set over them. 11 The Armenians were permitted to have their own king, whereas under Trajan they had had a governor, 12 and the Mesopotamians were relieved of the tribute which Trajan had imposed.
Antoninus Pius
5.4. Latin
4 per legatos suos plurima bella gessit. nam et Britannos per Lollium Urbicum vicit legatum alio muro caespiticio summotis barbaris ducto, et Mauros ad pacem postulandam coegit, et Germanos et Dacos et multas gentes atque Iudaeos rebellantes contudit per praesides ac legatos.
5.4. Archival English
4 He waged a number of wars, but all of them through his legates. For Lollius Urbicus, his legate, overcame the Britons and built a second wall, one of turf, after driving back the barbarians. Through other legates or governors, he forced the Moors to sue for peace, and crushed the Germans and the Dacians and many other tribes, and also the Jews, who were in revolt.
9.6. Latin
6 Pharasmanes rex ad eum Romam venit plusque illi quam Hadriano detulit. Pacorum regem Laziis dedit. Parthorum regem ab Armeniorum expugnatione solis litteris reppulit. Abgarum regem ex orientis partibus sola auctoritate deduxit. 7 causas regales terminavit. sellam regiam Parthorum regi repetenti, quam Traianus ceperat, pernegavit. 8 Rhoemetalcen in regnum Bosphoranum audito inter ipsum et curatorem negotio remisit. 9 Olbiopolitis contra Tauroscythas in Pontum auxilia misit et Tauroscythas usque ad dandos Olbiopolitis obsides vicit. 10 tantum sane auctoritatis apud exteras gentes nemo habuit, cum semper amaverit pacem, eo usque ut Scipionis sententiam frequentarit, qua ille dicebat malle se unum civem servare quam mille hostes occidere.
9.6. Archival English
6 Pharasmenes, the king, visited him at Rome and showed him more respect than he had shown Hadrian. He appointed Pacorus king of the Lazi, induced the king of the Parthians to forego a campaign against the Armenians merely by writing him a letter, and solely by his personal influence brought Abgarus the king back from the regions of the East. 7 He settled the pleas of several kings. The royal throne of the Parthians, which Trajan had captured, he refused to return when their king asked for it, 8 and after hearing the dispute between Rhoemetalces and the imperial commissioner, sent the former back his kingdom of the Bosphorus. 9 He sent troops to the Black Sea to bring aid to Olbiopolis against the Tauroscythians and forced the latter to give hostages to Olbiopolis. 10 No one has ever had such prestige among foreign nations as he, for he was ever a lover of peace, even to such a degree that he was continually quoting the saying of Scipio in which he declared that he would rather save a single citizen than slay a thousand foes.
Marcus Aurelius, Part 2
17.3. Latin
3 Pannonias ergo, Marcomannis Sarmatis Vandalis simul etiam Quadis exstinctis, servitio liberavit et Romae cum Commodo, quem iam Caesarem fecerat, filio, ut diximus, suo triumphavit.
17.3. Archival English
3 And so, by crushing the Marcomanni, the Sarmatians, the Vandals, and even the Quadi, he freed the Pannonias from bondage, and with Commodus his son, whom he had previously named Caesar, triumphed at Rome, as we told above.
22.1. Latin
22 gentes omnes ab Illyrici limite usque in Galliam conspiraverant, ut Marcomanni Varistae Hermunduri et Quadi Suebi Sarmatae Lacringes et Buri hi aliique cum Victualis Osi Bessi Cobotes Roxolani Bastarnae Alani Peucini Costoboci. imminebat et Parthicum bellum et Britannicum. 2 magno igitur labore etiam suo gentes asperrimas vicit militibus sese imitantibus, ducentibus etiam exercitum legatis et praefectis praetorio, accepitque in deditionem Marcomannos plurimis in Italiam traductis.
22.1. Archival English
22 1 Then, from the borders of Illyricum even into Gaul, all the nations banded together against us — the Marcomanni, Varistae, Hermunduri and Quadi, the Suebians, Sarmatians, Lacringes and Buri, these and certain others together with the Victuali, namely, Osi, Bessi, Cobotes, Roxolani, Bastarnae, Alani, Peucini, and finally, the Costoboci. Furthermore, war threatened in Parthia and Britain. 2 Thereupon, by immense labour on his own part, while his soldiers reflected his energy, and both legates and prefects of the guard led the host, he conquered these exceedingly fierce peoples, accepted the surrender of the Marcomanni, and brought a great number of them to Italy.
26.1. Latin
26 Multa egit cum regibus et pacem confirmavit, sibi occurrentibus cunctis regibus et legatis Persarum.
26.1. Archival English
26 1 He conducted many negotiations with kings, and ratified peace with all the kings and satraps of Persia when they came to meet him.
Probus
5.1. Latin
5 1 Et haec quidem epistulis declarantur. nunc quantum ex ephemeride colligi potuit: cum bello Sarmatico iam tribunus transmisso Danuvio multa fortiter fecisset, publice in contione donatus est hastis puris quattuor, coronis vallaribus duabus, corona civica una, vexillis puris quattuor, armillis aureis duabus, torque aureo uno, patera sacrificali quinquelibri una. 2 quo quidem tempore Valerium Flaccinum, adulescentem nobilem, parentem Valeriani, e Quadorum liberavit manu. unde illi Valerianus coronam civicam detulit.
5.1. Archival English
5 1 The foregoing details are attested by the letters. Now as to what I have been able to gather from the journal: Whereas during the Sarmatian war, while holding the rank of tribune, he had crossed the Danube and performed many brave exploits, he was formally presented in an assembly with four spears without points, two rampart-crowns, one civic crown, four white banners, two golden arm-bands, one golden collar, one sacrificial saucer weighing five pounds. 2 At this same time, indeed, he delivered out of the hands of the Quadi Valerius Flaccinus, a young man of noble birth and a kinsman of Valerian's, and it was for this reason that Valerian presented him with the civic crown.
11.9. Latin
9 tu Francicus, tu Gothicus, tu Sarmaticus, tu Parthicus, tu omnia. et prius fuisti semper dignus imperio, dignus triumphis. felix agas, feliciter imperes."
11.9. Archival English
9 You are Francicus, you are Gothicus, you are Sarmaticus, you are Parthicus, you are all things. In former years, too, you were ever worthy of command, worthy of triumphs. Happily may you live, happily rule!"
Carus, Carinus, and Numerian
7.1. Latin
7 1 Ac ne minima quaeque conectam et ea quae apud alios poterunt inveniri, ubi primum accepit imperium, consensu omnium militum bellum Persicum, quod Probus parabat, adgressus est, liberis Caesaribus nuncupatis, et ita quidem ut Carinum ad Gallias tuendas cum viris lectissimis destinaret, secum vero Numerianum, adulescentem cum lectissimum tum etiam disertissimum, duceret.
7.1. Archival English
7 1 And so — not to include what is of little importance or what can be found in other writers — as soon as he received the imperial power, by the unanimous wish of all the soldiers he took up the war against the Persians for which Probus had been preparing. He gave to his sons the name of Caesar, planning to despatch Carinus, with some carefully selected men, to govern the provinces of Gaul, and to take along with himself Numerian, a most excellent and eloquent young man.
8.1. Latin
8 1 Ingenti apparatu et totis viribus Probi profligato magna ex parte bello Sarmatico, quod gerebat, contra Persas profectus nullo sibi occurrente Mesopotamiam Carus cepit et Ctesiphontem usque pervenit occupatisque Persis domestica seditione imperatoris Persici nomen emeruit. 2 verum cum avidus gloriae, praefecto suo maxime urgente, qui et ipsi et filiis eius quaerebat exitium cupiens imperare, longius progressus esset, ut alii dicunt morbo, ut plures fulmine, interemptus est.
8.1. Archival English
8 1 With a vast array and all the forces of Probus he set out against the Persians after finishing the greater part of the Sarmatian war, in which he had been engaged, and without opposition he conquered Mesopotamia and advanced as far as Ctesiphon; and while the Persians were busied with internal strife he won the name of Conqueror of Persia. 2 But when he advanced still further, desirous himself of glory and urged on most of all by his prefect, who in his wish to rule was seeking the destruction of both Carus and his sons as well, he met his death, according to some, by disease, according to others, through a stroke of lightning.
9.4. Latin
4 Bonum principem Carum fuisse cum multa indicant tum illud etiam, quod statim ut est adeptus imperium, Sarmatas adeo morte Probi feroces ut invasuros se non solum Illyricum sed Thracias quoque Italiamque minarentur, ita scienter bella partiendo contudit, ut paucissimis diebus Pannonias securitate donaverit occisis Sarmatarum sedecim milibus, captis diversi sexus viginti milibus.
9.4. Archival English
4 That Carus was a good emperor is evident from many of his deeds but especially from this, that as soon as he received the imperial power he crushed the Sarmatians, who were so emboldened by Probus' death that they threatened to invade not only Illyricum but Thrace and Italy as well, and he showed such skill in breaking up the war that in a very few days he made the provinces of Pannonia free from all fear, having killed sixteen thousand Sarmatians and captured twenty thousand of both sexes.
19.3. Latin
3 exhibuit et ludum Sarmaticum, quo dulcius nihil est. exhibuit Cyclopea. donatum est Graecis artificibus et gymnicis et histrionibus et musicis aurum et argentum, donata et vestis serica.
19.3. Archival English
3 They were given also Sarmatian games, than which nothing affords greater pleasure, and, besides, a Cyclops-performance. And they bestowed on the Greek artists and gymnasts and actors and musicians both gold and silver and they bestowed on them also garments of silk.
Colophon
The Latin and English texts are drawn from the public-domain Loeb Classical Library edition of the Historia Augusta: Latin text from Susan H. Ballou through Avidius Cassius and Hermann Peter from Commodus onward, with English translation by David Magie. The relevant volumes were published in 1921, 1924, and 1932; the later copyrights were not renewed.
Local source captures used for this selected dossier:
Tulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Hadrian_1_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Hadrian_1_english_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Hadrian_2_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Hadrian_2_english_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Antoninus_Pius_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Antoninus_Pius_english_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Marcus_Aurelius_2_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Marcus_Aurelius_2_english_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Probus_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Probus_english_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Carus_et_al_latin_manual38.htmlTulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/historia_augusta_pd_Carus_et_al_english_manual38.html
This archival page supplies a compact source base for Roman northern-frontier memory. It does not treat the Historia Augusta as neutral ethnography, and it does not identify Sarmatians, Alans, Goths, Roxolani, Tauroscythians, or Scythians as a single people.
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