Zosimus on the End of Roman Britain

Extract

When we study the end of the Roman occupation of Britain we tend to glue our eyes so closely to the nnumismatical and archaeological evidence that there seems to be some danger of giving the literary authorities rather less attention than they deserve. But the relevant passages of Zosimus are of capital importance, and it is proposed to examine them here.

It will not be denied, I think, that Zosimus is one of the most incompetent of the Greek historians. Nevertheless, as in the case of all ancient historians, we are bound to suppose that Zosimus’ statements are accurate unless we have some sufficient reason for doubting them. It is a mistake in method to ascribe errors to him when there is no evidence for doing so. Now in the passages under discussion he is supported by other writers in some particulars and he is our sole authority in others. It does not follow that where he is our only authority his statements are necessarily wrong. His source here is Olympiodons, who, though an Egyptian Greek, seems to have dealt mainly with Western events in his History. Born c. 365, he was an exact contemporary of the last days of the Roman administration of Britain. His History in 22 books covered the fateful years 407–25, and an examination of his fragments (mostly preserved by Photius) gives good reason for supposing that he was a writer of exceptional interest and reliability. It would be folly to ignore the narrative of such a writer, even though that narrative survives only at second hand.