[Footnote 102: Smith (Dacia) says it was evacuated between 270 and 275 A.D. Neigebaur and other German as well as French writers name years between these two, the edict of Aurelian being dated, it is said, 274 A.D.; whilst Roesler (pp. 60-51) believes that the actual withdrawal of the Roman army did not take place until 280 A.D.]
[Footnote 103: lxviii. 13. He says (after describing the bridge in glowing terms): 'Trajan, fearing lest, when the Ister was frozen, the Romans on the farther bank should be attacked, built it in order to afford an easy passage for the troops; Adrian, on the other hand, apprehensive that the barbarians, after having overcome those who guarded it, would find it an easy means of penetrating into Moesia, demolished the upper portion of it.']
[Footnote 104: Freeman (_General Sketch of European History_) says 269-270 A.D.]
[Footnote 105: Trebellius Pollio. Gibbon sets down the number of Goths slain at 50,000.]
[Footnote 106: Vol. ii. p. 17. The other writers here referred to are Pic, Roesler, Paget, Petermann, &c.]
FROM THE EVACUATION OF DACIA BY AURELIAN (ABOUT 274 A.D.) TO THE END OF THE BARBARIAN RULE (ABOUT THE CLOSE OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY).
The 'Barbarians'--Brief mention of them by Roumanian historians--The Goths--Their settlement in Dacia--Defeat by Theodosius and disappearance--The Huns--Their ferocity--Attila--His successes--Deserted and overthrown by the Gepidæ--His death, and expulsion of the Huns--The Sarmatians--The Gepidæ ally themselves with the Byzantines--Defeated by the Lombards under Alboin--The Avari--Settle in Dacia--Are defeated and dispersed by Priscus and Heraclius--The Bulgari--Their origin and that of the Slavonians--Their cruelty--Warlike habits--Severe punishment of criminals--Superstitions--Their 'Chagan,' or chief rider--Conversion to Christianity--Their chieftains--Improved habits--Curious superstitions--Career of the Bulgari--Invasion of the Eastern Empire and defeat by Belisarius--Supreme in Dacia, Moesia, and Servia--Vicissitudes--Story of Krumus--Daco-Roman princes--The Bulgarian territories annexed by Basilius to the Greek Empire--The Ungri, or Hungarians--Their supposed origin--Their cruelty and ferocity--Hallam's description of them--German account of their savage mode of warfare--Ravage Europe--Settle in Hungary and found a kingdom--Are driven over the Carpathians by the Bulgari--(Note: Story of their contests with the chiefs Gellius, Gladius, Mariotus, &c,--The anonymous notary of King Bela)--The Patzinakitai--Scanty records concerning them--The Wallachs--Controversy regarding their origin--Daco-Roman descendants--Mediæval accounts of their origin and character--Anna Comnena--Bonfinius--Æneas Sylvius--M. Opitz--Their career in the Danubian territories--Revolt in alliance with the Bulgari--Foundation of the Wallacho-Bulgarian Empire by Peter, Asan, and John--The historical _soufflet_--Recognition of the new empire--Its duration--The Kumani--Their domination--The Teutonic Knights and Knights of St. John--Interesting correspondence between King Joannitz and Pope Innocent III.--Temporary conversion of the Bulgarians to Rome--Downfall of the Wallacho-Bulgarian Empire--Irruptions and retirement of the Tartars--End of the barbarian age.