- Ammianus Marcellinus (c. 325-400 CE), also known as Ammian, was a Roman soldier and historian.
- He is noted for his work on Roman History called the ‘Res Gestae’.
Biography
- Ammianus was born in Antioch, Syria between c. 325-330 CE and died in Rome between c. 392-400 CE.
- He wrote a History of Rome called the ‘Res Gestae’, covering the Period from 96-378 CE.
- As a soldier, Ammianus accompanied Constantius II (324-361 CE) against the Parthians, and also accompanied Julian (363-363 CE) on his campaigns against the Alemanni and the Parthians.
- Ammianus was a close friend of the Roman Emperor Julian (361-363 CE), whom he greatly admired, and he wrote in great detail about this Roman Emperor and his thinking.
Works
- Res Gestae
- Res Gestae means ‘Roman History’. It is a history that covers the Period from Nerva (96 CE) to Valens and the Battle of Adrianople in 378 CE.
- It consisted of 31 Books, but the first 13 Books covering the period between 96-353 CE have been lost. Books 14-31 only cover the Period 353-378 CE, mainly concerning the Emperor Julian.
The Main Events described in the Res Gestae
- Crete Earthquake and Tsunami of 21 July 365 CE:
- Ammianus writes in his Res Gestae, that a Tsunami struck Alexandria on this date. He describes the earthquake, followed by the sea withdrawing, and the subsequent tidal wave that engulfed the city of Alexandria and the coasts of the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Battle of Adrianople 378 CE:
- Ammianus describes the defeat of the Emperor Valens’ army by the Gothic army under Fritigern, marking the beginning of the.Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
- Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:
- Ammianus describes the impoverishment of Roman Society due to heavy taxation and the low spirit amongst the Legions, just before the Gothic Wars that ended the Western Roman Empire.
- Maldives:
- Ammianus mentions Nobles vying with each other by offering gifts from the Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka.