and went over to the side of Romanus; on his return to the Court he
found nothing to criticise in the administration of the province.
Pancratius had died at Trier but Jovinus was sent back to Africa with
Palladius, the latter being directed to hold a further examination as to
the truth of the allegations made by the second embassy. Men who on
the shewing of the Emperor’s representative had given false witness on
the inquiry were to have their tongues cut from their mouths. By
threats, trickery, and bribes Romanus once more achieved his end. The
citizens of Leptis denied that they had ever given any authority to
Jovinus to act on their behalf, while he, endeavouring to save his life, was
forced to confess himself a liar. It was to no purpose: together with
Ruricius the governor and others he was put to death by order of the Emperor (369?).
Not even this sacrifice of innocent lives gave peace to Africa. Firmus, a Moorish prince, on the death of his father Nebul, had slain his brother; that brother however had enjoyed the favour of Romanus, and the machinations of the Roman general drove Firmus into rebellion. He assumed the purple, while persecuted Donatists and exasperated soldiers and provincials gladly rallied round him. Theodosius, fresh from his successes in Britain and Gaul, was despatched to Airica by Valentinian as commander-in-chief, charged with the task of reasserting imperial authority. On examining his predecessor’s papers, a chance reference caused the discovery of the plots of the last eight years, but it was not till the reign of Gratian that the subsequent inquiries were concluded. Palladius and Remigius both committed suicide, but the arch-offender Romanus was protected by the influence of Merobaudes. The whole story needs no comment : before men’s eyes the powerlessness of the Emperor and the might of organised corruption stood luridly revealed.
For at least two years Theodosius fought and struggled against odds in Africa; at length discipline was restored amongst the troops, the Moors were defeated with great loss, and the usurper driven to take his own life: the Roman commander entered Sitifis in triumph (374?). Hardly however was his master Valentinian removed by death when Theodosius fell a victim to the intrigues of his enemies (at Carthage, a.d. 375-6); baptised at the last hour and thus cleansed of all sin, he walked calmly to the block. We do not know the ostensible charge upon which he was beheaded, nor do our authorities name his accuser. But the evidence points to Merobaudes, the all-powerful minister of Gratian. Theodosius had superseded Romanus and disclosed his schemes, and Romanus was the friend and protSgS of Merobaudes, while it is clear that Gratian held in his own hands the entire West including Africa, for as yet (376) the youthful Valentinian II was not permitted to exercise any independent authority.[1] Possibly Merobaudes may have
- ↑ Rauschen, Jahrbücher, p. 23.
