CHAPTER V

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN VALENS AND PROCOPIUS NEAR NACOLIA IN PHRYGIA; AFTER WHICH THE TYRANT IS BETRAYED BY HIS CHIEF OFFICERS, AND WITH THEM PUT TO DEATH

THE war was commenced in the following year under the consulate of Gratian and Dagalaïfus. For as soon as the tyrant Procopius, leaving Constantinople, began his march at the head of his army toward the emperor, Valens on receiving intelligence of it, hastens from Antioch, and comes to an engagement with him near Nacolia a city of Phrygia. The tyrant had the advantage in the first encounter; but soon after he was taken alive, through the treachery of Agilo and Gomarius, two of his generals, who together with their leader were despatched by the most extraordinary punishments. Valens had indeed pledged himself to spare the traitors, but disregarding his oaths, he caused them to be executed by being sawn asunder. Two trees standing near each other being forcibly bowed down, one of the tyrant’s legs was fastened to each of them, after which the trees being suddenly permitted to recover their erect position, by their rise rent the tyrant into two parts, and thus miserably destroyed him.