History of the Wars, Books I and II | Page 5

divine inspiration which came to
him. For in drawing up the writings of his will, he designated the child
as his successor to the throne, but appointed as guardian over him
Isdigerdes, the Persian King, enjoining upon him earnestly in his will to
preserve the empire for Theodosius by all his power and foresight. So
Arcadius died, having thus arranged his private affairs as well as those
of the empire. But Isdigerdes, the Persian King, when he saw this
writing which was duly delivered to him, being even before a sovereign
whose nobility of character had won for him the greatest renown, did
then display a virtue at once amazing and remarkable. For, loyally
observing the behests of Arcadius, he adopted and continued without
interruption a policy of profound peace with the Romans, and thus
preserved the empire for Theodosius. Indeed, he straightway dispatched
a letter to the Roman senate, not declining the office of guardian of the
Emperor Theodosius, and threatening war against any who should
attempt to enter into a conspiracy against him.
[441 A.D.] When Theodosius had grown to manhood and was in the
prime of life, and Isdigerdes had been taken from the world by disease,
Vararanes, the Persian King, invaded the Roman domains with a
mighty army; however he did no damage, but returned to his home
without accomplishing anything. This came about in the following way.
Anatolius, General of the East, had, as it happened, been sent by the
Emperor Theodosius as ambassador to the Persians, alone and
unaccompanied; as he approached the Median army, solitary as he was,
he leapt down from his horse, and advanced on foot toward Vararanes.
And when Vararanes saw him, he enquired from those who were near
who this man could be who was coming forward. And they replied that
he was the general of the Romans. Thereupon the king was so

dumbfounded by this excessive degree of respect that he himself
wheeled his horse about and rode away, and the whole Persian host
followed him. When he had reached his own territory, he received the
envoy with great cordiality, and granted the treaty of peace on the terms
which Anatolius desired of him; one condition, however, he added, that
neither party should construct any new fortification in his own territory
in the neighbourhood of the boundary line between the two countries.
When this treaty had been executed, both sovereigns then continued to
administer the affairs of their respective countries as seemed best to
them.
III
At a later time the Persian King Perozes became involved in a war
concerning boundaries with the nation of the Ephthalitae Huns, who are
called White Huns, gathered an imposing army, and marched against
them. The Ephthalitae are of the stock of the Huns in fact as well as in
name; however they do not mingle with any of the Huns known to us,
for they occupy a land neither adjoining nor even very near to them; but
their territory lies immediately to the north of Persia; indeed their city,
called Gorgo, is located over against the Persian frontier, and is
consequently the centre of frequent contests concerning boundary lines
between the two peoples. For they are not nomads like the other
Hunnic peoples, but for a long period have been established in a goodly
land. As a result of this they have never made any incursion into the
Roman territory except in company with the Median army. They are
the only ones among the Huns who have white bodies and
countenances which are not ugly. It is also true that their manner of
living is unlike that of their kinsmen, nor do they live a savage life as
they do; but they are ruled by one king, and since they possess a lawful
constitution, they observe right and justice in their dealings both with
one another and with their neighbours, in no degree less than the
Romans and the Persians. Moreover, the wealthy citizens are in the
habit of attaching to themselves friends to the number of twenty or
more, as the case may be, and these become permanently their
banquet-companions, and have a share in all their property, enjoying
some kind of a common right in this matter. Then, when the man who

has gathered such a company together comes to die, it is the custom
that all these men be borne alive into the tomb with him.
Perozes, marching against these Ephthalitae, was accompanied by an
ambassador, Eusebius by name, who, as it happened, had been sent to
his court by the Emperor Zeno. Now the Ephthalitae made it appear to
their enemy that they had turned to flight because they were wholly
terrified by their attack, and they retired with all speed to a place which
was shut in on