The kings [of the Suavi], Hunimund and 277
Alaric, fearing the destruction that had come upon the
Sciri, next made war upon the Goths, relying upon the
aid of the Sarmations, who had come to them as auxiliaries
with their kings Beuca and Babai. They summoned
the last remnants of the Sciri, with Edica and Hunuulf,
their chieftains, thinking they would fight the more desperately
to avenge themselves. They had on their side
the Gepidae also, as well as no small reinforcements from
the race of the Rugi and from others gathered here
and there. Thus they brought together a great host at
the river Bolia in Pannonia and encamped there. Now 278
when Valamir was dead, the Goths fled to Thiudimer,
his brother. Although he had long ruled along with his
brothers, yet he took the insignia of his increased authority
and summoned his younger brother Vidimer and
shared with him the cares of war, resorting to arms under
compulsion. A battle was fought and the party of the
Goths was found to be so much the stronger that the
plain was drenched in the blood of their fallen foes and
looked like a crimson sea. Weapons and corpses, piled
up like hills, covered the plain for more than ten miles.
When the Goths saw this, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable, 279
because by this great slaughter of their foes they
had avenged the blood of Valamir their king and the
injury done themselves. But those of the innumerable
and motley throng of the foe who were able to escape,
though they got away, nevertheless came to their own
land with difficulty and without glory.

[Sidenote: THIUDIMER AGAIN WARS WITH THE SUAVI]

[Sidenote: THEODORIC SENT BACK TO HIS OWN PEOPLE 472]

[Sidenote: Capture of Belgrade]

LV After a certain time, when the wintry cold was 280
at hand, the river Danube was frozen over as usual. For
a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like
a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and
carts and whatsoever vehicles there may be,--nor is there
need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king of
the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army across
the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi from
the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the east
the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the
Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With 281
the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their
confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence
several stre