PREFACE

original: homo ethnicus, & ad bella natus...[although he was] a pagan man and one born for war, he revealed a sincere and noble character. Being fair both to himself and to others, he seems to have achieved the highest praise. As for the other elements required for the perfection of a history—namely, the proper arrangement of facts, digressions, descriptions, and the inclusion of speeches—all these are so solidly and wisely observed by Ammianus that you could desire nothing more in him. This will be evident from the summaries original: breuiariis. These were short synopses or "briefs" often added by early modern editors at the beginning of chapters to help readers navigate long historical works. placed before each book and from the continuous flow of the narrative.

He declares himself a reporter of deeds original: rerum; literally "things" or "matters," referring to objective historical facts, not merely words; he expresses these facts diligently, inventing nothing, nor recounting things that never happened. He neither belittles nor exalts anything out of personal bias original: animi vitio; literally "a vice of the mind," suggesting a lack of objectivity or a prejudiced spirit., but instead, having properly explained causes and outcomes, he distinguishes everything by its own manner, place, and time.

Although he praises Julian The Emperor Julian (reigned 361–363 AD), often called "the Apostate." Ammianus served under him as a soldier and admired his character while remaining critical of his faults. for his many exceptional virtues, he does not bury Julian's vices in silence, nor the great errors of Julian's retinue and army that occurred through the prince's own fault. He does not attack the misdeeds of enemies with insults, nor does he overlook their noble deeds; on the contrary, he explains them at length. He observes and reports omens and prodigies original: portenta & prodigia. In the ancient world, unusual natural events like eclipses or strange births were seen as divine signs concerning the fate of the state. in such a way that he must be judged to have desired, with the greatest discernment, to set the truth of things before himself and others. He frequently interjected his own opinion, wisely a-