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 190 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxix [Aug., 489] The three defeats of Odoacer. a.d. 489, Aug. 28, Sept. 27 a.d. 490, August [(1) Battle of the Isonzo] most perilous adventures, the possession of such enchanting objects. The march of Theodoric must be considered as the emigration of an entire people ; 20 the wives and children of the Goths, their aged parents, and most precious effects, were care- fully transported ; and some idea may be formed of the heavy baggage that now followed the camp, by the loss of two thousand waggons, which had been sustained in a single action in the war of Epirus. For their subsistence, the Goths depended on the magazines of corn which was ground in portable mills by the hands of their women ; on the milk and flesh of their flocks and herds; on the casual produce of the chase, and upon the con- tributions which they might impose on all who should presume to dispute the passage or to refuse their friendly assistance. Notwithstanding these precautions, they were exposed to the danger, and almost to the distress, of famine, in a march of seven hundred miles, which had been undertaken in the depth of a rigorous winter. Since the fall of the Roman power, Dacia and Pannonia no longer exhibited the rich prospect of populous cities, well-cultivated fields, and convenient highways : the reign of barbarism and desolation was restored, and the tribes of Bul- garians, Gepidae, and Sarmatians, who had occupied the vacant province, were prompted by their native fierceness, or the solicita- tions of Odoacer, to resist the progress of his enemy. In many obscure though bloody battles, Theodoric fought and vanquished ; till at length, surmounting every obstacle by skilful conduct and persevering courage, he descended from the Julian Alps, and displayed his invincible banners on the confines of Italy. 21 Odoacer, a rival not unworthy of his arms, had already oc- cupied the advantageous and well-known post of the river Sontius near the ruins of Aquileia ; at the head of a powerful host, whose independent kings 22 or leaders disdained the duties of subordi- nation and the prudence of delays. No sooner had Theodoric granted a short repose and refreshment to his wearied cavalry, than he boldly attacked the fortifications of the enemy ; the 20 [Various calculations of the numbers have been made. Hodgkin esti- mates the fighting strength of the army at about 40,000, the whole nation at 200,000, as minimum figures.] 21 Theodoric's march is supplied and illustrated by Ennodius (p. 1598-1602), when the bombast of the oration is translated into the language of common sense. 22 Tot reges, &c. (Ennodius, p. 1602 [p. 207, ed. Vogel]). We must recollect how much the royal title was multiplied and degraded, and that the mercenaries of Italy were the fragments of many tribes and nations.