Chapter XXVI
.—
Death of
the Emperor Jovian.
Thus
did the emperor repress at
that time the impetuosity of those who were disposed to cavil: and
immediately departing from Antioch, he went to Tarsus in Cilicia, where
he duly performed the funeral obsequies of Julian, after which he was
declared consul. Proceeding thence directly to Constantinople, he
arrived at a place named Dadastana, situated on the frontiers of
Galatia and Bithynia. There Themistius the philosopher, with others of
the senatorial order, met him, and pronounced the consular oration
before him, which he afterwards recited before the people at
Constantinople. And indeed the Roman empire, blest with so excellent a
sovereign, would doubtless have flourished exceedingly, as it is likely
that both the civil and ecclesiastical departments would have been
happily administered, had not his sudden death bereft the state of so
eminent a personage. For disease caused by some obstruction, having
attacked him at the place above mentioned during the winter season, he
died there on the 17th day of February, in his own and his son
Varronian’s consulate,
568
in the thirty-third year of his age, after having reigned seven
months.
This book contains an account of the events which took
place in the space of two years and five months.
568
364
a.d.