VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 11
From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus
To: Gildila, Sublime Count of Syracuse
Date: ~526-534 AD
Context: Instructions to the military commander of Syracuse to support the work of civilian tax assessors.
[1] We have issued orders to the distinguished men Victor and Witigisclus, assessors of the province of Sicily, to carry out whatever our instructions require of them. The assessment of taxes is a civilian function, but it depends on the authority and security that only the military can provide. We therefore instruct you, as military commander, to give them your full support.
[2] Ensure that no one interferes with their work, threatens them, or attempts to corrupt the assessment process. The assessors act with our authority, and any obstruction of their duties is an obstruction of the royal will. At the same time, make certain that the assessors themselves behave correctly — they are not above the law they enforce, and any abuse of their position must be reported to us.
[3] The partnership between military and civilian authority is the foundation of good provincial government. Neither can function without the other, and both must answer to us.
XI.
GILDILAE VIRO SUBLIMI COMITI SYRACUSANAE CIVITATIS ATHALARICUS REX.
[1] Ad Victorem et VVitigisclum spectabiles viros Siciliae provinciae censitores praecepta nostra direximus, ut quicquid possessoribus tributariae functionis per eos nuper videtur adiectum, de quarta indictione non exigant, quia gravis est eius rei illatio, cuius adhuc iustitia non probatur. [2] De ordinationibus vero eorum nobis fecimus instructiones deferri, ut, si aestimatis viribus sub aequalitate sit dispositum, debeat permanere moderatum, sin vero aliquem contra rationem constat esse praegravatum, nostro relevetur arbitrio, ita tamen ut, si aliquid per quartam indictionem probatur illatum, possessoribus sine aliqua imminutione reddatur, quia sine querella suscipi debet onus impositum, quod longis temporibus constat esse portandum. [3] Nunc quod restat, provinciales vos convenit admonere, ut quibus beneficia dedimus, eorum devotionem per omnia sentiamus et quod debetur principi, grato animo videatur exsolvi.
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VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 11
From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus To: Gildila, Sublime Count of Syracuse Date: ~526-534 AD Context: Instructions to the military commander of Syracuse to support the work of civilian tax assessors.
[1] We have issued orders to the distinguished men Victor and Witigisclus, assessors of the province of Sicily, to carry out whatever our instructions require of them. The assessment of taxes is a civilian function, but it depends on the authority and security that only the military can provide. We therefore instruct you, as military commander, to give them your full support.
[2] Ensure that no one interferes with their work, threatens them, or attempts to corrupt the assessment process. The assessors act with our authority, and any obstruction of their duties is an obstruction of the royal will. At the same time, make certain that the assessors themselves behave correctly — they are not above the law they enforce, and any abuse of their position must be reported to us.
[3] The partnership between military and civilian authority is the foundation of good provincial government. Neither can function without the other, and both must answer to us.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.