Commentary
For centuries, Roman armies had manned two long defensive lines along the Rhine and Danube rivers, keeping back the migrating tribes that longed to loot and plunder the cities of the empire. When holding the line failed, tribesmen were encouraged to settle down in the border areas and provide troops for Rome. As the fourth century ended, many of the empire’s best generals and most loyal soldiers were of barbarian extraction, but mistreatment of the tribes by Roman authorities and conflicting rivalries among tribal leaders, imperial officials, and ambitious leaders of the legions led to decades of turmoil and fighting.
