History
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The year 732 is widely considered to be the absolute low point for Europe’s morale, the Caliphate had recently conquered Iberia and occupied half of Francia and Gaul as well, but it must be considered that further acquisition of territory would eventually have sparked an armed struggle with the still very powerful Eastern Roman Empire. The situation in 1529 was much more dire, Constantinople had already fallen, the east Mediterranean, Balkans and Hungary gradually followed suit and a 100 000-strong hostile force had besieged Vienna. Even worse the Ottoman Empire was known to be planning to use the area as a staging point for a combined army of over 300 000 warriors and janissaries, raised with the express purpose of overrunning the rest of the European nations and bringing the entire continent under its control, forces that the defending Holy Roman Empire was coming under increasing financial strain to match. Reading through accounts from back then, especially in the aftermath of terrible losses such as at Scutari or Mohács, one senses a feeling of utter desperation in both spiritual and military leaders, a lack of confidence in their ability to turn things around, almost apocalyptic in a way. Was the somber attitude of that era only widespread among the ruling class, or did it affect the rest of society as well?
Actually a short collection of excerpts, written by Ammianus Marcellinus in his Res Gestae of the 4th century CE, that are giving a view of magic & pagan practices and their treatment of his time by the Roman authorities; along with some really basic notes/analysis. Surely not an exhaustive list, rather few excerpts containing indicative & interesting instances, that I've read lately.
Besides of course my pure interest on the narrated facts, some thoughts occurred regarding reliability, too. Cause, as I've understood, Marcellinus being a pagan, hasn't always been considered totally objective by some scholars; especially regarding christianity.
However I'm not sure if this would reach to the point of inventing stories, or it was just an implied stance. Barnes [2008, p. 2], though has suggested Marcellinus' bias and sometimes lack of objectivity, he's writing: "It is by far our fullest, most precise and most reliable narrative source for military campaigns and political events at the imperial court in the fourth century".
In any case, the excerpts were quite interesting.
* Free renderings & translations of the latin & greek texts are mine. A translation of Marcellinus' history by John C. Rolfe of 1935, is given for each entry via perseus site, but with no different meanings; just for ease of access. Armenian texts are given via english or french translations.
1. Sorcery & paganism are really close according to Marcellinus
Marcellinus, narrating events of 360 CE, before Julian the apostate became emperor, is mentioning that Julian was still hiding his pagan identity, sharing it only with few. So he was practicing with them soothsaying/divination [haruspicina] and augury [augurium], and all that the worshippers of gods always do [deorum semper fecere cultores]
It's obvious that Marcellinus thinks that the art of divination was usually practiced by pagans /worshippers of [many] gods.
2. Persecution of magic/paganism since Constantius II
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