r first
became known to the Romans by the conquests and fortifications of
Valentinian. Nunc primum victoriis tuis externus fluvius publicatur.
Gaudeat servitute, captivus innotuit. Symm. Orat. p. 22.--M.]

[Footnote 95: Ammian. xxviii. 2. Zosimus, l. iv. p. 214. The younger
Victor mentions the mechanical genius of Valentinian, nova arma meditari
fingere terra seu limo simulacra.]

That prudent emperor, who diligently practised the wise maxims of
Diocletian, was studious to foment and excite the intestine divisions
of the tribes of Germany. About the middle of the fourth century, the
countries, perhaps of Lusace and Thuringia, on either side of the Elbe,
were occupied by the vague dominion of the Burgundians; a warlike and
numerous people, [95a] of the Vandal race, [96] whose obscure name
insensibly swelled into a powerful kingdom, and has finally settled on
a flourishing province. The most remarkable circumstance in the ancient
manners of the Burgundians appears to have been the difference of their
civil and ecclesiastical constitution. The appellation of Hendinos was
given to the king or general, and the title of Sinistus to the high
priest, of the nation. The person of the priest was sacred, and his
dignity perpetual; but the temporal government was held by a very
precarious tenure. If the events of war accuses the courage or conduct
of the king, he was immediately deposed; and the injustice of his
subjects made him responsible for the fertility of the earth, and the
regularity of the seasons, which seemed to fall more properly within the
sacerdotal department. [97] The disputed possession of some salt-pits
[98] engaged the Alemanni and the Burgundians in frequent contests:
the latter were easily tempted, by the secret solicitations and liberal
offers of the emperor; and their fabulous descent from the Roman
soldiers, who had formerly been left to garrison the fortresses of
Drusus, was admitted with mutual credulity, as it was conducive to
mutual interest. [99] An army of fourscore thousand Burgundians soon
appeared on the banks of the Rhine; and impatiently required the support
and subsidies which Valentinian had promised: but they were amused with
excuses and delays, till at length, after a fruitless expectation, they
were compelled to retire. The arms and fortifications of the Gallic
frontier checked the fury of their just resentment; and their
massacre of the captives served to imbitter the hereditary feud of the