th his followers, chose a home
in the most distant part of Lesser Scythia. Emnetzur and
Ultzindur, kinsmen of his, won Oescus and Utus and
Almus in Dacia on the bank of the Danube, and many of
the Huns, then swarming everywhere, betook themselves
into Romania, and from them the Sacromontisi and the
Fossatisii of this day are said to be descended.

[Sidenote: Bishop Ulfilas about 311-381]

[Sidenote: THE LESSER GOTHS]

LI There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, 267
a great people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who
is said to have taught them to write. And to-day they
are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as far
as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous
people, but poor and unwarlike, rich in nothing save
flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for cattle and
forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat
and other sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know
that vineyards exist elsewhere, and they buy their wine
from neighboring countries. But most of them drink
milk.

[Sidenote: THE OSTROGOTHS IN PANNONIA]

[Sidenote: BIRTH OF THEODORIC THE GREAT 454]

LII Let us now return to the tribe with which we 268
started, namely the Ostrogoths, who were dwelling in
Pannonia under their king Valamir and his brothers Thiudimer
and Vidimer. Although their territories were
separate, yet their plans were one. For Valamir dwelt
between the rivers Scarniunga and Aqua Nigra, Thiudimer
near Lake Pelso and Vidimer between them both.
Now it happened that the sons of Attila, regarding the
Goths as deserters from their rule, came against them as
though they were seeking fugitive slaves, and attacked
Valamir alone, when his brothers knew nothing of it. He 269
sustained their attack, though he had but few supporters,
and after harassing them a long time, so utterly overwhelmed
them that scarcely any portion of the enemy
remained. The remnant turned in flight and sought
the parts of Scythia which border on the stream of the
river Danaper, which the Huns call in their own tongue
the Var. Thereupon he sent a messenger of good tidings
to his brother Thiudimer, and on the very day the messenger
arrived he found even greater joy in the house of
Thiudimer. For on that day his son Theodoric was born,
of a concubine Erelieva indeed, and yet a child of good
hope.

[Sidenote: HIS YOUTH SPENT AT CONSTANTINOPLE BEGINNING 461]

Now after no great time King Valamir and his brothers