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ALTHOUGH ambassadors were dispatched to treat of peace, the
enemies of Alaric at the court of the emperor sedulously guarded
against the conclusion of any treaty with him. But after this, when
an embassy had been sent to him by Innocent, bishop of Rome, and
Alaric was summoned by a letter of the emperor, he repaired to the
city of Ariminum, which is two hundred and ten stadia distant from
Ravenna.
He encamped beyond the walls of the city; and Jovius, the prefect of
Italy, held a conference with him and conveyed his demands to the
emperor, one of which was, that he might be appointed by an edict to
the generalship of the cavalry and infantry. The emperor gave full
power to Jovius to grant Alaric as much money and provision as he
might desire, but refused ever to confer this dignity upon him.
Jovius unadvisedly awaited the messenger from the palace, in the camp
of Alaric; and commanded the decision of the emperor to be read in the
presence of all the barbarians. On finding that the dignity was denied
him, Alaric was enraged at the result, ordered the trumpets to be
sounded, and marched towards Rome. Jovius, apprehensive of being
suspected by the emperor of siding with Alaric, committed a still
greater act of imprudence by taking an oath on the safety of the
emperor, and compelling the principal officers to swear that they would
never consent to any terms of peace with Alaric. The barbarian
chief, however, soon after changed his mind, and sent word he did not
desire any post of dignity, but was willing to act as an ally of the
Romans, provided that they would grant him a certain quantity of
corn, and some territory of secondary importance to them, in which he
might establish himself.
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