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The troops of Constans were shortly afterwards strengthened by
reinforcements, and Didymus and Verinian, with their wives, were
taken prisoners, and were eventually put to death. Their brothers,
Theodosiolus and Lagodius, who were living in other provinces, fled
the country; the former escaped to Italy, to the Emperor Honorius;
the latter fled to the East, to Theodosius. After these
transactions, Constans returned to his father, after he had posted a
guard of his own soldiers for the road to Spain; for he did not permit
the Spaniards to act as guard, according to the ancient custom, a
privilege for which they had petitioned. This precaution was probably
afterwards the cause of the ruin of the country; for when Constantine
was deprived of his power, the barbarous races of the Vandals,
Suevi, and Alani took confidence and conquered the road, and took
possession of many forts and cities in Spain and Gaul, and arrested
the officers of the tyrant.
In the meantime, Constantine, who still thought that matters would
go according to his purpose, caused his son to be proclaimed emperor
instead of Caesar, and determined to possess himself of Italy. With
this view, he crossed the Cottian Alps, and entered Liverona, a
city of Liguria. He was on the point of crossing the Po, when he
was compelled to retrace his steps, upon being informed of the death of
Alavicus. This Alavicus was the commander of the troops of
Honorius, and being suspected of conspiring to place the entire
Western government under the domination of Constantine, he was slain
when returning from a procession, in which, according to custom, it
was his office to march in advance of the emperor. Immediately after
this occurrence, the emperor descended from horseback, and publicly
returned thanks to God for having delivered him from one who had openly
conspired against him. Constantine fled and seized Aries, and
Constans, his son, hastened from Spain, and sought refuge in the
same city.
On the decline of the power of Constantine, the Vandals, Suevi,
and Alani eagerly took the Pyrenees when they heard that it was a
prosperous and most abundant region. And since those who had been
entrusted by Constans with the guard of the passage had neglected their
duty, the invaders passed by into Spain.
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