Stelle Valentiniani imperatoris mater Plac...; (Continuatio Chronicorum Hieronymianorum (458 - 469), Hydatius, Chronicle a. 451, ed. and trans. Burgess, p. 100-103) [5764]

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ID 5764
Text Continuatio Chronicorum Hieronymianorum (458 - 469) Hydatius of Aquae Flaviae
Quotation Valentiniani imperatoris mater Placidia moritur apud Romam. In Gallecia terremotus assidui, signa in caelo plurima ostenduntur. Nam pridie non. Aprilis tertia feria post solis occasum ab aquilonis plaga caelum rubens sicut ignis aut sanguis efficitur, intermixtis per igneum ruborem lineis clarioribus in speciem hastarum rutilantium deformatis. A die clauso usque in horam noctis fere tertiam signi durat ostensio, quae mox ingenti exitu perdocetur. Gens Unorum pace rupta depraedatur prouintias Galliarum; plurime ciuitates effractae. In campis Catalaunicis, haud longe de ciuitate quam effregerant Mettis, Aetio duci et regi Theodori, quibus erat in pace societas, aperto marte confligens diuino caesa superatur auxilio. Bellum nox intempesta diremit, Rex illic Theodorus prostratus occubit. CCC ferme milia hominum in eo certamine cecidisse memorantur. Multa anno signa procedunt. VI kla. Octubris a parte orientis luna fuscatur. In diebus insequentis paschae uisa quedam in caelo regionibus Galliarum epistola de his Eufroni Augustudunensis episcopi ad Agrippinum commitem facta euidenter ostendit. Stella cometes XIIII kla. Iulias apparere incipit, que tertio kal. diluculo ab oriente uisa post occasum solis ab occidua parte mox cernitur. kal. Aug. a parte occidentis apparet. Occiso Theodore Thurismo filius eius succedit in regno.
Translation (140) Placidia, the mother of the emperor Valentinian, died in Rome. (141) In Gallaecia there were constant earthquakes and a great many signs appeared in the sky. On Tuesday, 4 April, after sunset, the northern sky became red like fire or blood, with brighter streaks shaped like glowing red spears intermingled through the fiery redness. The manifestation of this portent, which was soon thoroughly explained by a momentous outcome, lasted from nightfall until almost the third hour of the night. (142) The tribe of the Huns broke the peace treaty, pillaged the provinces of Gaul, and sacked a vast number of cities. In the Catalaunian Plains, not far from the city of Mettis, which they had sacked, the Huns were defeated and slaughtered with divine assistance, fighting in open battle against the dux Aëtius and King Theoderic, who were joined in peaceful alliance. It was the darkness of night which broke off the fighting. King Theoderic died here after being thrown to the ground. Almost 300,000 men are said to have fallen in this battle. (143) Many signs appeared this year. On 26th of September the moon was darkened in the eastern sky. That certain things seen in the sky in areas of Gaul around the following Easter did occur is vividly proved by a letter of Eufronius, bishop of Augustodunum, to the comes Agrippinus concerning these matters. A comet [Halley’s comet] began to appear from 18 June; by the 29th it was visible at dawn in the eastern sky and was soon perceived after sunset in the western sky. By (16 July- 1 August) it appeared [only] in the west. (144) After Theoderic was killed, his son Thorismodus succeeded him as king. (145) The Huns and their king, Attila, abandoned Gaul after their battle and made for Italy.
Quotation source Hydatius, Chronicle a. 451, ed. and trans. Burgess, p. 100-103
Temporal Coverage 451 - 451
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