Book 29
1.1
At the end of the winter Sapor, king of the 371 A.D. Persian nations, made immoderately arrogant by the confidence inspired by his former battles, having filled up the number of his army and greatly strengthened it, had sent his mailed horsemen, archers, and mercenary soldiers to invade our territories.
1.2
To meet these forces the general Trajanus and Vadomarius, the former king of the Alamanni, advanced with very powerful forces, appointed by the emperor’s order to observe the policy of keeping off the Persians rather than attacking them.
1.3
When they had come to Vagabanta,In Mesopotamia. a favourable place for the legions, they met unwillingly the swift attacks of the enemy’s cavalry fiercely rushing upon them, and purposely retreated, in order not to be first to wound anyone of their adversaries and thus be judged guilty of violating the treaty; but at last, driven by extreme necessity, they engaged in battle, and, after slaying many of the Persians, came off victorious.
