Who Was Ablavius, First Historian of Goths?

Abstract

This paper discusses the main versions of the origin of Ablavius, the author of the history of the Goths, and puts forward his own hypothesis of correspondence between the writer and the historical figure. It is noted that the question of the personality and nature of the activity of the historian Ablavius is still debatable, since we know about his existence only from quotes in the Getica, a text of Jordanes of the 6th century. A wide range of main versions of its origin, which have been proposed by various researchers since the Renaissance, has been studied. It is indicated that there is no single version of his origin, opinions are expressed that Ablavius could be a historian, geographer, bishop or prefect. Analysis of references to Ablavius in Jordanes made it possible to determine what information could be borrowed from the work of this author. The historical figures with the name Ablavius and the reasons that could prompt them to write a text dedicated to the Goths are considered. A version is proposed that the historian Ablavius and prefect Ablavius could be one and the same person, and an idea is expressed about the nature of his work, such as a short narrative describing the life and history of the Transdanubian barbarians and dedicated, first of all, to the victory of Emperor Constantine over the Goths and Sarmatians.