Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

702 23. the balkans and greece 420,602
Moesia 3 – others were already suffering depopulation in the fourth century,
and hence were available for settlement by numerous tribesmen who had to
be accommodated under the agreements reached by Theodosius I.
Contrary to previous practice, these incomers remained under the control
of their own leaders and retained their individual identities, so that they were
less susceptible to Roman authority. The creation c. 420 of the new post of
comes foederatorum, whose first known holder was Areobindus, 4 may have
been intended to remedy this, but in the north civilian life remained insecure,
even within walled cities: the start of the transfer of Nicopolis ad
Istrum from an open site in the Yantra valley to Tsarevets hill at Veliko
Trnovo, a secluded site protected by river and ravines, is dated to this period.
The dangers are revealed by the fate of Noviodunum in Scythia which was
seized in the 430s by Roman allies, the Rubi (probably Rugi) under Valips,
who deterred a Roman counterattack by placing the children of his captives
on the ramparts. 5 The efficacy of Danubian defences was undermined both
by the presence of these potentially unruly elements to the south of the
river and by the loss of Pannonia, where Roman authority had been shaky
since the late fourth century. Pannonia controlled the main military route
between the eastern and western parts of the empire that ran from
Singidunum (Belgrade) up the Sava valley towards Aquileia at the head of
the Adriatic, and occupation of this area by Goths or Huns gave them easy
access in both directions; it took time for the Romans to readjust to this fact,
but the route of Olympiodorus’ embassy to the Huns, which seems to have
proceeded from Constantinople by sea to Aquileia and then on by land to
the middle Danube, may reflect the threat to road travel. The fate of
Pannonia is illustrated by the decline of Sirmium from a major provincial
capital and occasional imperial residence to an impoverished refuge where
the local population sought shelter in decaying buildings. 6 Claudian’s panegyric
of Stilicho optimistically describes Pannonian life, but also hints at the
urban blockade experienced by the Pannonians rather than any restoration
of imperial control. After 420 Pannonia was only attached to the empire
briefly and intermittently.
An anecdote in Olympiodorus is suggestive of the fate awaiting the
Balkans: Valerius, governor of Thrace under Constantius (421–3), dug up
three silver statues of captive barbarians that had been buried facing north;
shortly afterwards, Goths poured over Thrace and Huns and Sarmatians
over Illyricum and Thrace. Stories of the damaging removal of prophylactic
emblems are common, and the chronology of Valerius’ supposed action can
be disputed, 7 but it reflects a belief that Balkan life had dramatically changed.
3 Mócsy (1974) 351. 4 Jones, LRE 665; PLRE ii.145–6.
5 Poulter (1983b) 96–7; Priscus fr. 5.
6 Mócsy (1974); Eadie (1982); Bavant (1984); Claudian, II Cons. ii.191ff.
7 Olympiod. fr. 27; for date, see PLRE ii.1144 s.v. Valerius 4.
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