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And though this praise is doubtless exaggerated； he is a son of whom
his country may be justly proud。
Hugo Albert Rennert。
＇*＇ Villari； /Niccolo Machiavelli e i suoi tempi/； 2d ed。 Milan；
1895…97； the best work on the subject。 The most complete
bibliography of Machiavelli up to 1858 is to be found in Mohl；
/Gesch。 u。 Liter。 der Staatswissenshaften/； Erlangen； 1855； III。；
521…91。 See also /La Vita e gli scritti di Niccolo Machiavelli
nella loro Relazione col Machiavellismo/； by O。 Tommasini； Turin；
1883 （unfinished）。
The best English translation of Machiavelli with which I am
acquainted is： The Historical； Political； and Diplomatic writings
of Niccolo Machiavelli； translated by Christian E。 Detmold。 Osgood
& Co。； Boston； 1882； 4 vols。 8vo。
THE
FLORENTINE HISTORY OF
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
Irruption of Northern people upon the Roman territoriesVisigoths
Barbarians called in by StilichoVandals in AfricaFranks and
Burgundians give their names to France and BurgundyThe Huns
Angles give the name to EnglandAttila； king of the Huns； in
ItalyGenseric takes RomeThe Lombards。
The people who inhabit the northern parts beyond the Rhine and the
Danube； living in a healthy and prolific region； frequently increase
to such vast multitudes that part of them are compelled to abandon
their native soil； and seek a habitation in other countries。 The
method adopted； when one of these provinces had to be relieved of its
superabundant population； was to divide into three parts； each
containing an equal number of nobles and of people； of rich and of
poor。 The third upon whom the lot fell； then went in search of new
abodes； leaving the remaining two…thirds in possession of their native
country。
These migrating masses destroyed the Roman empire by the facilities
for settlement which the country offered when the emperors abandoned
Rome； the ancient seat of their dominion； and fixed their residence at
Constantinople； for by this step they exposed the western empire to
the rapine of both their ministers and their enemies； the remoteness
of their position preventing them either from seeing or providing for
its necessities。 To suffer the overthrow of such an extensive empire；
established by the blood of so many brave and virtuous men； showed no
less folly in the princes themselves than infidelity in their
ministers； for not one irruption alone； but many； contributed to its
ruin； and these barbarians exhibited much ability and perseverance in
accomplishing their object。
The first of these northern nations that invaded the empire after the
Cimbrians； who were conquered by Caius Marius； was the Visigoths
which name in our language signifies 〃Western Goths。〃 These； after
some battles fought along its confines； long held their seat of
dominion upon the Danube； with consent of the emperors； and although；
moved by various causes； they often attacked the Roman provinces； were
always kept in subjection by the imperial forces。 The emperor
Theodosius conquered them with great glory； and； being wholly reduced
to his power； they no longer selected a sovereign of their own； but；
satisfied with the terms which he granted them； lived and fought under
his ensigns； and authority。 On the death of Theodosius； his sons
Arcadius and Honorius； succeeded to the empire； but not to the talents
and fortune of their father； and the times became changed with the
princes。 Theodosius had appointed a governor to each of the three
divisions of the empire； Ruffinus to the eastern； to the western
Stilicho； and Gildo to the African。 Each of these； after the death of
Theodosius； determined not to be governors merely； but to assume
sovereign dominion over their respective provinces。 Gildo and Ruffinus
were suppressed at their outset； but Stilicho； concealing his design；
ingratiated himself with the new emperors； and at the same time so
disturbed their government； as to facilitate his occupation of it
afterward。 To make the Visigoths their enemies； he advised that the
accustomed stipend allowed to this people should be withheld； and as
he thought these enemies would not be sufficient alone to disturb the
empire； he contrived that the Burgundians； Franks； Vandals； and Alans
（a northern people in search of new habitations）； should assail the
Roman provinces。
That they might be better able to avenge themselves for the injury
they had sustained； the Visigoths； on being deprived of their subsidy；
created Alaric their king； and having assailed the empire； succeeded；
after many reverses； in overrunning Italy； and finally in pillaging
Rome。
After this victory； Alaric died； and his successor； Astolphus； having
married Placidia； sister of the emperors； agreed with them to go to
the relief of Gaul and Spain； which provinces had been assailed by the
Vandals； Burgundians； Alans； and Franks； from the causes before
mentioned。 Hence it followed； that the Vandals； who had occupied that
part of Spain called Betica （now Andalusia）； being pressed by the
Visigoths； and unable to resist them； were invited by Boniface； who
governed Africa for the empire； to occupy that province； for； being in
rebellion； he was afraid his error would become known to the emperor。
For these reasons the Vandals gladly undertook the enterprise； and
under Genseric； their king； became lords of Africa。
At this time Theodosius； son of Arcadius； succeeded to the empire；
and； bestowing little attention on the affairs of the west； caused
those who had taken possession to think of securing their
acquisitions。 Thus the Vandals ruled Africa； the Alans and Visigoths；
Spain； while the Franks and Burgundians not only took Gaul； but each
gave their name to the part they occupied； hence one is called France；
the other Burgundy。 The good fortune of these brought fresh people to
the destruction of the empire； one of which； the Huns； occupied the
province of Pannonia； situated upon the nearer shore of the Danube；
and which； from their name； is still called Hungary。 To these
disorders it must be added； that the emperor； seeing himself attacked
on so many sides； to lessen the number of his enemies； began to treat
first with the Vandals； then with the Franks； a course which
diminished his own power； and increased that of the barbarians。 Nor
was the island of Britain； which is now called England； secure from
them； for the Britons； being apprehensive of those who had occupied
Gaul； called the Angli； a people of Germany； to their aid； and these
under Vortigern their king； first defended； and then drove them from
the island； of which they took possession； and after themselves named
the country England。 But the inhabitants； being robbed of their home；
became desperate by necessity and resolved to take possession of some
other country； although they had been unable to defend their own。 They
therefore crossed the sea with their families； and settled in the
country nearest to the beach； which from themselves is called
Brittany。 The Huns； who were said above to have occupied Pannonia；
joining with other nations； as the Zepidi； Eurili； Turingi； and Ostro；
or eastern Goths； moved in search of new countries； and not being able
to enter France； which was defended by the forces of the barbarians；
came into Italy under Attila their king。 He； a short time previously；
in order to possess the entire monarchy； had murdered his brother
Bleda； and having thus become very powerful； Andaric； king of the
Zepidi； and Velamir； king of the Ostrogoths； became subject to him。
Attila； having entered Italy； laid siege to Aquileia； where he
remained without any obstacle for two years； wasting the country
round； and dispersing the inhabitants。 This； as will be related in its
place； caused the origin of Venice。 After the taking and ruin of
Aquileia； he directed his course towards Rome； from the destruction of
which he abstained at the entreaty of the pontiff； his respect for
whom was so great that he left Italy and retired into Austria； where
he died。 After the death of Attila； Velamir； king of the Ostrogoths；
and the heads of the other nations； took arms against his sons Henry
and Uric； slew the one and compelled the other； with his Huns； to
repass the Danube and return to their country； while the Ostrogoths
and the Zepidi established themselves in Pannonia； and the Eruli and
the Turingi upon the farther bank of the Danube。
Attila having left Italy； Valentinian； emperor of the west； thought of
restoring the country； and； that he might be more ready to defend it
against the barbarians； abandoned Rome； and removed the seat of
government to Ravenna。 The misfortunes which befell the western empire
caused the emperor； who resided at Constantinople； on many occasions
to give up the possession of it to others； as a charge full of danger