a river like this freezes so hard that it will support like
a solid rock an army of foot-soldiers and wagons and
carts and whatsoever vehicles there may be,--nor is there
need of skiffs and boats. So when Thiudimer, king of
the Goths, saw that it was frozen, he led his army across
the Danube and appeared unexpectedly to the Suavi from
the rear. Now this country of the Suavi has on the east
the Baiovari, on the west the Franks, on the south the
Burgundians and on the north the Thuringians. With 281
the Suavi there were present the Alamanni, then their
confederates, who also ruled the Alpine heights, whence
several streams flow into the Danube, pouring in with a
great rushing sound. Into a place thus fortified King
Thiudimer led his army in the winter-time and conquered,
plundered and almost subdued the race of the Suavi as
well as the Alamanni, who were mutually banded together.
Thence he returned as victor to his own home in
Pannonia and joyfully received his son Theodoric, once
given as hostage to Constantinople and now sent back by
the Emperor Leo with great gifts. Now Theodoric had 282
reached man's estate, for he was eighteen years of age
and his boyhood was ended. So he summoned certain of
his father's adherents and took to himself from the people
his friends and retainers,--almost six thousand men.
With these he crossed the Danube, without his father's
knowledge, and marched against Babai, king of the Sarmatians,
who had just won a victory over Camundus, a
general of the Romans, and was ruling with insolent
pride. Theodoric came upon him and slew him, and
taking as booty his slaves and treasure, returned victorious