Stelle [Ζαβεργὰν] αὐτὸς δὲ ξὺν ἑπτακισχιλί...; (Historiae, Ε.12.5-7 (pp. 178-179)) [5338]

Basic Information
Keywords
ID 5338
Text Historiae (565 - 580) Agathias of Myrina
Quotation [Ζαβεργὰν] αὐτὸς δὲ ξὺν ἑπτακισχιλίοις ἱππόταις ἰθὺ τῆς Κωνσταντίνου πόλεως πορευόμενος τούς τε ἀγρους ἐδῄου καὶ τῶν πολισμάτων ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ἅπαντα ἐκίνει χύδην καὶ ξυνετάραττεν. 6 αἰτία δὲ ἦν τῆς ἐφόδου τῷ μὲν ἀληθεστάτῳ λόγῳ ἀδικία βαρβαρικὴ καὶ πλεονεξίας ἐπιθυμία, σκῆψιν δὲ ὅμως τινὰ καὶ προκάλυμμα ἐποιεῖτο τὴν πρὸς τοὺς Οὐτιγούρους δυσμένειαν. Σάνδιλχος γάρ τις ὄνομα Οὖννος ἀνὴρ ἡγεῖτο μὲν έκείνου τοῦ γένους, εὔνους δὲ ἐς τὰ μάλιστα καὶ ἔνσπονδος ὑπῆρχε Ῥωμαίοις. τοιγάρτοι βασιλεὺς. εστεργέ τε αὐτὸν καὶ ἐγέραιρε καὶ δώροις θαμὰ ἐφιλοφρονεῖτο. 7 οἱ δὲ Κοτρίγουροι ἅτε δὴ οὐ τῶν ὁμοίων μετέχοντες, ἀλλὰ παντάπασι περιπεφρονημένι καὶ περιφανῶς προπηλακιζόμενοι, τήνδε πορεῖσθαι τὴν ἐκστρατείαν ᾠήυησαν χρῆναι, ὡς ἂν καὶ αύτοὶ δῆθεν φοβεροί τε καὶ λόγου ἄξιοι ἀποδειχθεῖεν καὶ οἷοι μὴ ἐφιέναι τῷ ἀτιμάζοντι.
Translation 5.12, p. 147, 12.5 [Zabergan] made straight for Constantinople with seven thousand horse, ravaging fields and attacking towns on his way and creating havoc and confusion wherever he went. 6 Though his real motive was the innate violence and rapacity that characterizes the behaviour of barbarians he used his hostility towards the Utigurs as a sort of excuse for his attack. The Utigurs were led by a Hun called Sandilch who was on extremely cordial terms of friendship and alliance with the Romans. He had won the esteem and affection of the Emperor and was a frequent recipient of his largesse. 7 The Cotrigurs on the other hand far from having any share in such favours were the object of open contempt. Consequently they felt that they ought to make this expedition in order to show that they too were a force to be reckoned with and feared and that they would tolerate no disrespect.
Summary The advance on Constantinople by Zabergan is explained by barbarian stereotypes as well as a reaction to the friendly relations between Utigurs and Romans, wishing to put the Cutrigurs on the political map.
Quotation source Ε.12.5-7 (pp. 178-179)
Temporal Coverage None - 559
Associated use case(s)
Comment