I'm in a class about security policy, and we were discussing the role of mercenaries throughout history. I seem to remember reading about this event in the Gibbons' Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, but that was some time ago. The professor wasn't familiar with what I was talking about, but one of my classmates said she remembered something like that.

So am I crazy, or did this happen? And if so, WHAT happened?

If you can tell me where in Gibbon I read that, or some other source, that would be even better.

Thanks.