l of importance and danger reached Constantius who was reposing in
winter quarters at Sirmium, informing him (as he had already greatly
feared) that the Sarmatian Limigantes, who, as we have before related,
had expelled their masters from their hereditary homes, had learnt to
despise the lands which had been generously allotted to them in the
preceding year, in order to prevent so fickle a class from undertaking
any mischievous enterprise, and had seized on the districts over the
border; that they were straggling, according to their national custom,
with great licence over the whole country, and would throw everything
into disorder if they were not put down.

2. The emperor, judging that any delay would increase their insolence,
collected from all quarters a strong force of veteran soldiers, and
before the spring was much advanced, set forth on an expedition against
them, being urged to greater activity by two considerations; first,
because the army, having acquired great booty during the last summer,
was likely to be encouraged to successful exertion in the hope of
similar reward; and secondly, because, as Anatolius was at that time
prefect of Illyricum, everything necessary for such an expedition could
be readily provided without recourse to any stringent measures.

3. For under no other prefect's government (as is agreed by all), up to
the present time, had the northern provinces ever been so flourishing in
every point of view; all abuses being corrected with a kind and prudent
hand, while the people were relieved from the burden of transporting the
public stores (which often caused such losses as to ruin many families),
and also from the heavy income tax. So that the natives of those
districts would have been free from all damage and cause of complaint,
if at a later period some detestable collectors had not come among them,
extorting money, and exaggerating accusations, in order to build up
wealth and influence for themselves, and to procure their own safety and
prosperity by draining the natives; carrying their severities to the
proscription and even execution of many of them.

4. To apply a remedy to this insurrection, the emperor set out, as I
have said, with a splendid staff, and reached Valeria, which was
formerly a part of Pannonia, but which had been established as a
separate province, and received its new name in honour of Valeria, the
daughter of Diocletian. And having encamped his army on the banks of th