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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 2, 7. Of the Wife of Aëtius
In these days a rumour reached Rome that Aëtius was hard pressed and in grievous danger among the hordes of the enemy. At these tidings his wife in her sadness and anxiety frequented without ceasing the churches of the holy apostles, and prayed that she might receive back her lord safe from this campaign. She continued in prayer night and day, and one night a poor man who was drunken fell asleep in a corner of the church of the blessed apostle Peter. The doors were shut as usual, but he was not discovered by the guardians. During the night he got up, to find a brilliance of lamps flashing light through the whole building, and searched in terror for the entry, that he might find a way out. He tried the bolts, first of one door and then of another, but found them all fast; so he lay down on the ground anxiously watching the door, that he might escape as soon as the people assembled for the morning hymns. But now he perceived two persons who saluted each other with reverence, and asked each other how they did. The elder thus began: ‘I may no longer endure the tears of the wife of Aëtius. She prayeth without ceasing that I may bring back her husband safe and sound from Gaul, when the divine judgement hath otherwise determined. Nevertheless I have obtained this immeasurable grace for his life. And behold I hasten thither now to bring him thence alive. But I adjure him who hath heard these things to hold his peace, nor dare to divulge the secret, or forthwith he shall perish from the earth.’ Nevertheless the man could not be silent, but as soon as light appeared in the heaven, he revealed all that he had heard to the wife of Aëtius; and as soon as he had spoken, the light of his eyes failed. Now Aëtius, in alliance with the Goths and Franks, fought with Attila, who seeing his army being worn down even to destruction, left the field in flight. Theodoric, king of the Goths, succumbed in this battle. No man may doubt that the army of the Huns was routed by the intercession of the bishop whom I have named. But the patrician Aëtius won the victory with Thorismund, and utterly destroyed the enemy. And when the war was ended, Aëtius said to Thorismund: ‘Make haste to return with all speed to thy country, lest by the action of thy brother thou be despoiled of thy father’s kingdom.’ At these words Thorismund departed in haste to forestall his brother and take first possession of his father’s throne. With like craft he sent off the king of the Franks. And as soon as they were gone he collected the spoil from the field and returned home with great booty. But Attila retired with a small number of men; and soon afterwards Aquileia was taken, burned, and laid in ruins by the Huns, who roamed over all Italy and laid the land waste.1 The above-named Thorismund overcame the Alans in battle; but at last, after many disputes and wars, he perished, strangled by his brothers.
Notes
- A. D. 452.