Cassiodorus→Thrasamund of Vandals|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
barbarian invasiondiplomaticeducation bookswomen
VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 43
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus
To: King Thrasamund of the Vandals
Date: ~507-511 AD
Context: A diplomatic letter of reproach: Theoderic accuses his brother-in-law Thrasamund of sheltering Gesalic, the deposed Visigothic king and an enemy of Theoderic's, and of funding his escape to other kingdoms -- a serious breach of the alliance sealed by marriage.
[1] Although many kings have sought alliance with us, and we have given granddaughters and daughters in marriage, with God's inspiration, to strengthen those bonds, we consider that we gave nothing comparable to what we did when we made our own sister -- the singular glory of the Amal dynasty -- your wife: a woman equal to your own wisdom, as admirable in counsel as she is revered as a queen. [2] Yet I am astonished that you, bound by such favors, received Gesalic under your protection -- a man who, while we supported him, joined our enemies. He came to you stripped of power and fortune, yet was so lavishly supplied with money that he was sent on to other kingdoms. Though with God's help he can do us no harm, his treatment has revealed the true state of your intentions. [3] What can strangers expect from you, if this is how you treat family? If he was taken in out of mercy, he should have been kept under your control. If he was expelled for our sake, he should not have been sent away enriched to foreign kingdoms -- kingdoms that our own military campaigns had ensured would not threaten you. Where is that wisdom your extensive reading used to let you teach others about proper conduct? Had you consulted our sister on this matter, it would never have happened -- for she would neither have allowed her brother to be wronged nor let her husband be caught up in such an affair. [4] Therefore, through our envoys, we greet you with due respect and ask that your deliberation address this injustice, lest our kinsmen, provoked by clear causes, consider attempting something that might break the peace. An injury that comes unexpectedly cuts deep, and treachery stings worst when it comes from a quarter where help was expected. We have entrusted certain matters to be communicated to you verbally by the bearers of this letter, so that you may weigh everything and determine what ought to be done, since it is no light thing for wise men to transgress the terms of peace.
XLIII.
TRANSIMUNDO REGI VVANDALORUM THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Quamvis a diversis regibus expetiti pro solidanda concordia aut neptes dedimus aut filias deo nobis inspirante coniunximus, nulli tamen aestimamus nos aliquid simile contulisse, quam quod germanam nostram, generis Hamali singulare praeconium, vestrum fecimus esse coniugium: feminam prudentiae vestrae parem, quae non tantum reverenda regno, quantum mirabilis possit esse consilio. [2] Sed stupeo vos his beneficiis obligatos Gesalecum, qui nostris inimicis, dum a nobis foveretur, adiunctus est, in vestram defensionem sic fuisse susceptum, ut qui ad vos viribus destitutus privatusque fortunis venerat, subita pecuniae ubertate conpletus ad gentes exteras probetur esse transmissus: qui quamvis deo iuvante laedere nihil possit, tamen animum vestrae cogitationis aperuit. [3] Quid expectent extraneorum iura, si sic meretur affinitas? nam si causa misericordiae susceptus est in regno vestro, teneri debuit: si nostri propter expulsus est, non oportuerat cum divitiis ad aliena regna transmitti, quae ne vobis redderentur infesta, nostra fecerunt absolute certamina. ubi est, quod tanta lectione saginatus alios solebas docere de moribus? hoc si voluisses cum sorore nostra tractare, utique vobis non potuisset accidere, quia nec fratrem permiserat laedi nec maritum fecerat in rebus talibus inveniri. [4] Atque ideo per illum et illum legatos nostros salutantes honorificentia conpetenti petimus, ut hanc iniustitiam deliberatio vestra pertractet, ne parentum nostrorum animus causis evidentibus excitatus cogitet aliquid temptare quod pacem videatur irrumpere. graviter siquidem dolet iniuria, quae contigerit insperata et si inde proveniat dolus, unde credebatur auxilium. quaedam vero per harum portitores verbo vobis insinuanda commisimus, ut aestimantes omnia, quid fieri in tanta causa oporteat, providentia vestra reponat, quia non est leve prudentes viros in pacis constituta peccare.
◆
VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 43
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: King Thrasamund of the Vandals Date: ~507-511 AD Context: A diplomatic letter of reproach: Theoderic accuses his brother-in-law Thrasamund of sheltering Gesalic, the deposed Visigothic king and an enemy of Theoderic's, and of funding his escape to other kingdoms -- a serious breach of the alliance sealed by marriage.
[1] Although many kings have sought alliance with us, and we have given granddaughters and daughters in marriage, with God's inspiration, to strengthen those bonds, we consider that we gave nothing comparable to what we did when we made our own sister -- the singular glory of the Amal dynasty -- your wife: a woman equal to your own wisdom, as admirable in counsel as she is revered as a queen. [2] Yet I am astonished that you, bound by such favors, received Gesalic under your protection -- a man who, while we supported him, joined our enemies. He came to you stripped of power and fortune, yet was so lavishly supplied with money that he was sent on to other kingdoms. Though with God's help he can do us no harm, his treatment has revealed the true state of your intentions. [3] What can strangers expect from you, if this is how you treat family? If he was taken in out of mercy, he should have been kept under your control. If he was expelled for our sake, he should not have been sent away enriched to foreign kingdoms -- kingdoms that our own military campaigns had ensured would not threaten you. Where is that wisdom your extensive reading used to let you teach others about proper conduct? Had you consulted our sister on this matter, it would never have happened -- for she would neither have allowed her brother to be wronged nor let her husband be caught up in such an affair. [4] Therefore, through our envoys, we greet you with due respect and ask that your deliberation address this injustice, lest our kinsmen, provoked by clear causes, consider attempting something that might break the peace. An injury that comes unexpectedly cuts deep, and treachery stings worst when it comes from a quarter where help was expected. We have entrusted certain matters to be communicated to you verbally by the bearers of this letter, so that you may weigh everything and determine what ought to be done, since it is no light thing for wise men to transgress the terms of peace.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.