" Had he left
the Dacians in possession of their independence, they would, under their
native kings, have made head against the Goths. But, being compelled to
assume the character of Roman citizens, they had lost their warlike
qualities. From Dacia the Goths had descended upon Moesia; and, passing
the Danube, they laid siege to Marcianopolis, a city built by Trajan in
honor of his sister. The inhabitants paid a heavy ransom for their town;
and the Goths were persuaded for the present to return home. But sooner
than was expected, they returned to Moesia, under their king, Kniva; and
they were already engaged in the siege of Nicopolis, when Decius came in
sight at the head of the Roman army. The Goths retired, but it was to
Thrace; and, in the conquest of Philippopolis, they found an ample
indemnity for their forced retreat and disappointment. Decius pursued, but
the king of the Goths turned suddenly upon him; the emperor was obliged to
fly; the Roman camp was plundered; Philippopolis was taken by storm; and
its whole population, reputed at more than a hundred thousand souls,
destroyed.
Such was the first great irruption of the barbarians into the Roman
territory: and panic was diffused on the wings of the winds over the whole
empire.
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