Marcellinus Ammianus (Ammianus Marcellinus)

(ca. 330 - OK. 395 BC)
In Greek origin, was born in Antioch (Syria) in a prosperous family. The army was enlisted in the regiment of the nobility, protectores domestici, and had served on the eastern borders of the Roman Empire in 353-354, in Gaul in 355-356 and again on the eastern borders of 357-359. Participated in the Persian campaign of Emperor Julian in 363. It is known that Ammianus visited Greece and Egypt, in 371 he returned to his native Antioch, and shortly after the 378 settled in Rome, where he stayed until the end of life.
In Rome, Ammianus wrote a history of the Roman Empire from the reign of nerves (96-98 AD) to the Battle of Adrianople (378 AD). Thus, his work continues the story of Rome from the time, who completed his History of Tacitus. Although Ammianus calls himself Greek and Greek was his native language, "he wrote in Latin, since has dedicated his work to readers of Romans. Through its history, includes 31 book, Ammianus has earned great reputation among his contemporaries in Rome and at Antioch. His work enjoyed great popularity until 6. But then was forgotten, and this explains the fact that to this day reached only books from 14 to 31. The fact that these books cover the period from 353 to 378, we can conclude that its era of Ammianus described much more than the story of the second, third and early fourth centuries, all of which fit into the lost 13 books

. The remaining narrative is replete with detail and serves as the main source for political stories of recent years in power, Constantine II and the entire reign of Julian, . Ioviana, . Valentinian I and Valenta, . and the first years of the reign Gratian,
. Ammianus also provides us with abundant information about the Roman system of governance and public events of his time, . tells about the situation in the empire to decline, . of the main enemies of the Romans among the barbarous nations, and the personal qualities of the various emperors, . portraits are distinguished by vividness and depth,
. By his sources Ammianus is carefully and critically. In general, the reliability of the submitted information has never been questioned, although at times it is overly circumstance when describing events in which he participated. Do not call him and completely impartial. His main character - a pagan emperor Julian the Apostate, whose biography he describes in detail and with an ardent (though not blind) admiration.

Ammianus often interrupts the course of historical narrative, to discuss a number of other topics, primarily related to the geography and customs of foreign nations, is particularly valuable description of the Huns, who first appeared in Europe about. 370 BC