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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 2, 8. What the Chroniclers Have Written Concerning Aëtius

Now therefore having set forth these facts and related them in their due order, I hold it wrong to be silent as to the mention of the above-named Aëtius in the History of Renatus Frigeridus. This writer relates in the twelfth book of his histories that after the death of Honorius the young Valentinian, at the age of five years, was raised to imperial rank by his cousin-german Theodosius, and that at Rome the tyrant John set himself up as ruler, whose ambassadors were treated with contempt by the emperor. He then continues: ‘While these things were taking place, the envoys returned to the tyrant, bearing with them a stern answer. John was troubled in his heart and sent Aëtius, controller of the palace, with a great sum of gold to the Huns, a people known to him since the time when he was their hostage, and attached to him by a close friendship; he added the following instructions, that as soon as the enemy had entered Italy, Aëtius should fall upon them from the rear, while he himself would engage them on the front. And since in what follows many things will be recorded of this man, I deem it fitting to speak first of his birth and character. His father Gaudentius was a person of distinction in the province of Scythia; he began his service in the praetorian guard, and rose to the high position of master of the horse. His mother was Italian, noble of birth, and very wealthy. Aëtius, their son, was admitted to the imperial guard as a boy; for three years he was a hostage with Alaric and after that with the Huns. Later, he became son-in-law of Carpilio, former count of the domestics, and was appointed to administer the palace of John. Of middle height, he was manly in appearance and well made, neither too frail nor too heavy; he was quick of wit and agile of limb, a very practised horseman and skilful archer; he was indefatigable with the spear. A born warrior, he was renowned for the arts of peace,¹ without avarice and little swayed by desire, endowed with the gifts of the mind, not swerving from his purpose for any kind of evil instigation. He bore wrongs with the utmost patience, and loved labour. Undaunted in danger, he was excelled by none in the endurance of hunger, thirst, and vigil. From his early youth he seemed forewarned of the great power² to which he was destined by the fates. Of him we shall speak later in the right time and place.’ So far the above-mentioned historian has to narrate about Aëtius. But the emperor Valentinian, reaching man’s estate, feared that Aëtius might grow strong enough to destroy him, and therefore slew him without having any charge to bring against him. But afterwards, while the emperor was seated on his tribunal haranguing the people in the Campus Martius, Occila, a trumpeter of Aëtius, came up to him and thrust him through with his sword. Such was the end of these twain.

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