The Roman History

...if we connect [his work] to the times of Constantius, Julian, Valentinian, and Valens, not only with those things that can be recovered from the books of law, but also with the Ecclesiastical Church-related records of those times—which are very numerous—certainly the greatest substance and memory of that history will present itself to us.

DAVID CHYTRÄUS, FROM HIS BOOK,

on the Proper Method

of Reading Histories.

An ornamental woodcut initial 'A' is decorated with elaborate floral and scrollwork designs.
Ammianus Marcellinus, a Greek by birth, served as a soldier for many years under the Emperor Julian in Gaul and Germany. He traced Roman history in thirty-one books from the year of Christ 98 the start of Nerva's reign, where Tacitus ended until 382. However, from Book 14 through Book 31—which are the only ones that survive—he explained at length and with great brilliance a part of the reign of Constantius, as well as the deeds of Julian, Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens, up to the year of Christ 392. Since he himself recounts the wars of Julian waged in Gaul and Germany as an eyewitness original: αὐτόπτης (autoptes) or "eyed-witness", the reading of Marcellinus ought to be more pleasing to us, for the sake of understanding our own country and German affairs.

In the time of Ammianus Marcellinus, around the year of Christ 350, the name "Germany" was already used for the Gallic bank of the Rhine as well. The author is noting that the geographical term "Germany" had expanded to include lands on the Roman side of the Rhine river.