CHAPTER XXX

THE BURGUNDIANS EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY

I MUST now relate an event well worthy of being recorded, which happened about this time. There is a barbarous nation dwelling beyond the Rhine, denominated Burgundians, who lead a very peaceful life, being almost all artisans, and supporting themselves by the exercise of their trades. The Huns by making continual irruptions on this people, devastated their country, and often destroyed great numbers of them. In this perplexity therefore, the Burgundians resolved to have no recourse to human aid, but to commit themselves to the protection of some god: and having seriously considered that the God of the Romans mightily defended those that feared him, they all with common consent embraced the faith of Christ. Going therefore to one of the Gallic cities, they requested the bishop to grant them Christian baptism: who ordering them to fast seven days, and having meanwhile instructed them in the elementary principles of the faith, on the eighth day baptized and dismissed them. Becoming confident thenceforth, they marched against their invaders; nor were they disappointed in their hope of Divine assistance. For Optar the king of the Huns having died in the night from the effects of a surfeit, the Burgundians attacked that people then without a commander-in-chief; and although they were vastly inferior in numbers, they obtained a complete victory, the Burgundians being altogether but three thousand men, having destroyed no less than ten thousand of the enemy. From that period this nation became zealously attached to the Christian religion. About the same time Barba bishop of the Arians died, on the 24th of June, under the thirteenth consulate of Theodosius, and the third of Valentinian, and Sabbatius was constituted his successor.