Ostrogothic Provinces 83
frontier province, which was viewed in Ravenna as having become thoroughly
barbarized in the absence of Roman rule.
Upon his appointment, Colosseus was instructed not only to defend this
province but to order it by laws, “so that, among the perverse customs of vari-
ous peoples, you might demonstrate the justice of the Goths”, who have “the
prudence of Romans and the courage of barbarians”.52 “Let our customs”,
Theoderic continued, “be implanted into savage minds, until the ferocious
spirit grows accustomed to live in a suitable manner.”53 Just as in other prov-
inces, the need to decrease violence and have recourse to the laws was thus
pressing. The soldiers under Colosseus’ command were also of some concern,
doubtless because their ranks drew heavily from local recruits. Efforts were
made, therefore, to ensure that soldiers were properly provisioned, “according
to ancient [i.e. Roman] custom”, and paid in coin, “lest [the army] be forced
to ponder what it might take away by force”.54 Similar concerns about barba-
rization and the need to live like Romans or at least civilized Goths, were also
communicated to the inhabitants of this province. Decrying acts of violence,
vengeance, and vendetta and assuring them of the availability of legal recourse
courtesy of Colosseus and his subordinates, Theoderic enjoined these Romans
and barbarians to continue in their obedience and to “acquiesce to justice,
by which the world is made happy”. “Do not rage against yourselves but the
enemy... Imitate our Goths, who know how to conduct battles abroad but live
modestly at home.”55
Beyond this, little more can be said about the administration of Sirmiensis
during the reign of Theoderic. However, his death witnessed some disruption
in the region, most notably a Gepid attack on Sirmium in the late 520s, which
provided yet another opportunity to celebrate ideologies of Roman victory
under Gothic rule. Not only did the future king Witigis, a proven veteran of
the first Sirmian War, defeat the Gepids at this time, but he also pursued them
deep into east Roman territory, taking the city of Singidunum from the Heruli
52 Variae 3.23.2–3: “provinciam armis protege, iure compone... ut inter nationum consue-
tudinem perversam Gothorum possis demonstrare iustitiam: qui... et Romanorum pru-
dentiam caperent et virtutem gentium possiderent.”
53 Variae 3.23.4: “Quapropter consuetudo nostra feris mentibus inseratur, donec truculentus
animus belle vivere consuescat.”
54 Variae 4.13.1–2: “iuxta consuetudinem veterem victualia praebeantur... Habeat quod
emat, ne cogatur cogitare quod auferat.”
55 Variae 3.24.2–4: “parientiam vestram saepius approbatam... monstrate.... Adquiescite
iustitiae, qua mundus laetatur.... Imitamini certe Gothos nostros, qui foris proelia, intus
norunt exercere modestiam.”