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HI

STORY
THE
OF THE.

DECLINE

AND

FALL

ROMAN EMPIRE.
VOLUME THE SECOND.

OF THE

THE

HISTORY
OF THE

DECLINE AND FALL

OF THE

ROMAN EMPIRE.
By

EDWARD

GIBBON,

Efq;

VOLUME THE SECOND.

LONDON:
-PRINTED FOR W.

STRAHAN

AND

T,

CADELL, IN THE STRAND,

MDCCLXXXI.

=1

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

OF THE

SECOND VOLUME,
C
II

P.

XVII.

A.D.

Foundation of Conftantinopk.

Political SyfSucceffes.

iem of Ccrjlantine, and bis

Military Lifcipline.
Finances.
A.D.

The

Palace.

The

O
CHAP.
XVIII.

E
A. D.

S.
PageItaly.

Charaler of Conjlantine.

Death of Conjlantine. Empire among his three

War. Tragic Tounger, and Magnentius.

Confiantius.

Conjlans.

Gothic War. Divifion of Sons Death of of

the
Perfian
Conftantini the
Uftirpation

352 Con queft of

122.

353 Laft Defeat and Death of Magnentius

123

CHAP.
Confiantius
fole

XIX.

Emperor.

Civil

War.

Victory

Death of
of Julian.

of

Sarmatian and Perfian Wars.

Callus.

Elevation and Danger and Elevation

Page

Victories of Julian in Gaul.

^.D.
Charafler of Conflantlne

Pcge

74
75

A.D.

His Virtues His Vices His Family

Virtues of Crifpus

Power of the Eunuchs

Education of Gallus and Julian 351 Gallus declared Caifar Cruelty and Imprudence of Gallus

126
128

76 78 80
81
ib.

129 130
'3

324 Jealoufy of Conftantine

325 Edift of Conftantine Difgrace and Death of Crifpus

354 Maflacre of the Imperial Minifters Dangerous Situation of Gallus

His Difgrace and Death

'33

82
84

The Emprefs Faulla The Sons and Nephews

Their Education

The Danger and Efcape

355

of Julian

13+ .36
137 138
141

of Conftantine

86
87

He is

fent to

Athens

Recalled to Milan

Manners of

the Sarmatians

89
9>

Declared Csefar
Fatal

Their Settlement near the Danube 331 The Gothic War

End of Sylvanus
vifits

J43

92

357 Conftantius

Rome
Sarmatian

144

334 Expulfion of the Sarmatians Conftantine 337 Death and Funeral of

FaQions of the Court
MaiTacre of the Princes
the Empire 337 Divifion of

94 96
97 98 100
lOI

new

Obeliflc

HS
'47

357, 358, 359.

The Quadian and

War
358 The
Perfian Negociation

J50
'53
15s 157

359 Invafion of Mefopotamia by Sapor

310 Sapor, King State of Mefopotamia and Armenia 342 Death of Tiridates
of Perfia

SiegeofAmida
360 Siege of Singara Condufl of the Romans
Invafion of

102
>03

J58

337

360.

The

Perfian

War

104
105 107

Gaul by

the

Germans

160
161 163 1^5

348 Battle of Siagara 338 , 346, 350. Siege of Nifibis 34c Civil W.ir, and Death of Conftantine

109

Conduft of Julian 356 His iirft Campaign in Gaul 357 His fecond Campaign
Battle of Strafljurg

110 350 Murder of Conftans Magnentius and Vetranio affume the

Purple
1

166

12

Conftantius refufes to treat

"3
115

169 358 Julian fubdues the Franks 357' 358> 359- Makes three Expeditions beyond the Rhine 171
Reftores the Cities of

Depofes Vetranio
35

Gaul

17.3

Makes War againft Magnentius Battle of Murfa

117 119

Civil Adminiftration of Julian

174
'77

Defcription of Paris

CHAP.

O
CHAP.
^he
XX.

Motives, Progrefs, and EffeHs of the

Converfion of Conflantim.
hlifloment

Legal
or

of Church and Empire under of Paganifm,

Athanafius.

DifiraSled

State

the

Conftantine

and

his Sons.

Toleration

B.fia-

of the Chrijiian,

Catholic^

A.D.

Pjje
-

Church.
A.D.
Page

312 African Controverfy

315 Schifm of the Donatifts

233
235

The
A.C.

Trinitarian Contjoverfy

306337. Date of the Converfion of Conftantine

-

237
-

His Pagan Superftitlon

179 iSz
183

360 The Syftem of Plato

ib.

The Logos
300 Taught
A.D.

306

31'z.

He

protefts the Chriflians of

-

Gaul
-

238
ib.

in the School of Alexandria

513 Edift of Milan

184

Ufe and Beauty of the Chriflian Morality 185 Theory and Praftice of paffive Obedience 187
Divine Right of Conftantine
-

97 Revealed by the Apoftle St. John The Ebionites and Docetes

Myfterious Nature of the Trinity Zeal of the Chriftians .

240
-

ib.

189

190 524 General Edift of Toleration Loyalty and Zeal of the Chriftian Party ib. Expeftation and Belief of a Miracle 192 I. The Laharum, or Standard of the

242 3^5 246

, .
-

Authority of the Church

Faftions
-

j5,

Crofs
II.

193 195

318 Heterodox Opinions of Arius Three Syftems of the Trinity

I.

The Dream

247 248
i[j.

of Conftantine
In the

Arianifm
Tritheifm
Sabellianifai
-

Sky 198 The Converfion of Conftantine might be

III.

Appearance of a Crofs
-

II.

240

III.

2co
.
-

fincere

201

325 Council of Nice

ib^
2i;i 5'

Devotion and Privileges of Conftantine

204
205

The Homooufion
Arian Creeds Arian Sefts

Delay of Death

his

Baptifm
-

till

the

Approach of
-

253
255 258
2

Propagation of Chriftianity

207
211

Faith of the Weftern, or Latin, Church

312438. Change of
Powers

the national Religion

Diftinftion of the fpiritual and temporal

-

360 Council of Rimini Conduft of the Emperors

Controverfy
-

eg

in

the Arian
-

ib.

26a
ib.

State of the Bifhops under the Chriftian

324 Indifference of Conftantine

213 325 His Zeal
-

Emperors
I,

261

Eleftion of Biiliops

II.

Ordination of the Clergy

Property
-

214 216
219 222

328337. He

perfecutes

the Arian
-

and the
.

Orthodox Party

262

III.

337 361.

Conftantius favours the Arians

-

264
26c

IV. Civil Jurifdiftion

Arian Councils

V.

Spiritual Cenfures

VI. Freedom of public Preaching

VII. Privilege of Icgiflative Affemblies

224 226
229

Charafter and Adventures of Athanafius

268
2-1

330 Perfecution

againft Athanafius
.

336 His firft Exile 338 His Reftoration

341 His fecond Exile

j-?

CHAP.
Perfecution

275
ib.
-

XXI.
of the

of Herefy.

7he Schifn

Dcnakfls.-

the

Arian

Cor.lrovzrfy,

349 His Reftoration 351 Refentment of Conftantius

277 2-9

353 35$'

Councils of Aries and Milan

280
3 55 Con-

O
A. D, 35 c Condemnation of Athanafiua
Exiles

N
Page
-

E
A. D.

N
Is

S.
Page

...
-

aSz
284.

356 Third Expulfion of Athanafius from Alexandria

-

acknowledged by the whole Empire 361 His civil Government and private Life Reformation of the Palace

337
ib.

340
343

285

Chamber of
Guilty

Juftice

His Beliaviour 556362. His Retreat

Arian Bifhops
Divifions
I.

287
-

Punifhmenc of the Innocent

-

and
-

the

388

345
-

, -

292
,-

ib.

Clemency of Julian His Love of Freedom

public
-

347
-

and
-

the

Re-

Rome

294
295 298

II.

Conftantinople

Cruelty of the Arians

34;, &c.
tift

His Care of the Grecian Cities Julian, an Orator and a Judge

348 350
351

The

Revolt and Fury of the Dona-

His Charadter

353

Circumcellions

300
303

Their Religious Suicides

Sefts

312361. General Charafter of the

Toleration of Paganifm by Conftantine

...
-

CHAP.
The Religion of Julian.
tion.

XXIII.

Chriflian

304
30; 307

By

his

Sons

the

CHAP.
jfulian is declared

XXII.
by the Legions

ple

of Gaul.

His

Emperor

of the Chrijlians.
jujlice.
A. D,

He attempts and reform Tem His of Jerufalem. Mutual Zeal and

to reftore

Univerfal Tolera'

Pagan Worfhip

to rebuild the

artful Perfecution
In-

March

md

The Death of
tiiftration

Conjlantius,

Civil AdmiP^

Succefs.

Page

of Julian.

Religion of Julian

355

A. D.

356 351 His Education and Apoftacy He embraces the Mythology of Paganifm 359

The

Jealoufy of ConHantius againft Ju-

The
311

Allegories

361

lian

Theological Syftem of Julian

Fanaticifm of the Philofophers
Initiation

362

Fears and

Envy

of Conftantius
to
-

313
ib.

364
36; 367

360 The Legions of Gaul are ordered

into the Eaft
-

march
-

and Fanaticifm of Julian

-

His religious Diffimulation

Their Difcontents

316
317 319 320
361

He

writes againft Chriftianity

-

They

proclaim Julian Emperor

361 Univerfal Toleration

Reftoration of Paganifm

369 376
372

His Proteflations of Innocence

363. Zeal and Devotion of Julian in the

-

His Embaffy to Conftantius

360, 361. His fourth and
fifth

Expeditions be-

Reforrpation of Paganifm

-r

374
377 379
-

-,61

yond the Rhine 322 Fruitlefs Treaty and Declaration of War 324 Julian prepares to attack Conftantius 326 His March from the Rhine into llly-

The

Philofophers
-

Converfions

The Jews
Pilgrimages

381

Defcription of Jerufalm
-

382
jgj

ricum

328
332
333

Hejuflifies his Caufe

363 Julian attempts to rebuild the Temple

Hoitile Preparations

The

Enterprife

is

defeated

361 Death of Conftantius

335
-

Perhaps by a preternatural Event

Partiality of Julian
-

361 Julian enters Conftantinople 6

336

386 388 389 390

He

O
A. D.

N
rage

N
A.D.

S.
Page

He prohibits
Schools

the Chrlfliians from teaching

. -

Military Preparations

^p2

Julian enters the Perfian Territories

427 428

DJfgrace and Oppreflion of the Chriilians 393

They

condemned to Temples
are

reftore the
-

Pagan
-

394
of
-

His March over the Defert of Mefopo. . tamia 429 . His Succefs 43
Defcription of Afiyria

The

Te:nple

and

facred

Grove

432

Daphne NegleA and Profanation of Daphne

396
398

363 Invafion of
Siege of

Afl'yria

43+
435

Siege of Perifabor

362 Removal of the dead Bodies, and Conflagration of the Temple 399 400 JuHan fnuts the Cathedral of Antioch

Maogamalcha
his Fleet

Perfonal Behaviour of Julian

436 438
441

He tranfports

from the Euphrates

George of Cappadocia
dria and Egj'pt

opprefles Alexan-

to the Tigris

402
4c 3

Paflage of the Tigris, and Viftor)- of the

361

worfhipped as a Saint and Martyr 362 Reftoration of Athanafius

is

He He

is

maflacred by the People

Romans
Situation

He is
361

perfecuted and expelled by Julian

404 406 407

409

and Obftinacy of Julian

againft Sapor

443 446
44 i
4.-3

He

burns his Fleet

Marches
Julian
is

363

Zeal

and Imprudence
-

of
-

the

Retreat and Diftrefs of the

Roman armv

453
45
j"

Chriftians

mortally wounded

CHAP.
Refide?ice of

363 Death of Julian Elei5lion of tlie Emperor Jovian

XXIV.

Danger and
fuccefs-

Julian at Antioch.
againft

His

Ditliculty^ of the Retreat Negociation and Tj-eaty of Peace

457 459 462

Jul Expedition

the

Piijfage

of the Tigris.

and Death of Julian.

vian.

He faves

The

Perjians.

The Weaknefs and

D.ifgrace of Jovian

464 460
467

He

continues his Retreat to Niiibis

Retreat

EleSiion

of Joby a

the

Roman Army

Univerfal Clamour againft the Treaty of . Peace 469 Jovian evacuates Nifibis, and reftores the
five

Provinces to the Perfians

difgraceful Treaty.

4"

Refleftions on the
Page

Death of Julian
-

473
.

A.D.

On

his

Funeral

475

The
362

Casfars of Julian

412
Perfians

He

refolves to

march againft the

-

414
415

Julian proceeds from Conftantinople to

CHAP.

XXV.

Antioch
tioch
-

Licentious Manners of the People of

.

An.

The Government and Death of Jovian.

4.6
47

EleSlion of Valentinian^ -who affociates his

Their Averfion
Scarcity of tent

to Julian

Corn,
-

and public Difcon-

Brother Valens, and makes his final Di-

ib.

Julian compofes a Satire againft Antioch

4^3
421

vijion

314390, The Sophift Libanius 363 March of Julian to the Euphrates

His Defign of invading Perfia
Difaffeftion of the
-

423

Britain.

424
4-25

King of Armenia

Civil and EcAdminifiration. Germany. Africa. The The Danube. Death of Valentinian. His two
Revolt of Procopius.
clefiafiical

of the Eafiern andlVeflern Empires.

EaJi.

Sons.

O
Softs,

N
II.
ft4C-

N
A.D.

S.

Gratian and Vakntinian

ceed to the Wejlcrn Empire.

372 R-cvolt of Firmus 373 Theodofius recovers Africa

Paf

S35

536
53*
ib.

D.

376

He

is

executed at Carthage

363 State of the

Church

State of Africa

477

Jovian proclaims oniverral Toleration

480
481
4^12
ib.

365-378. IV. TheEasT. The

Perfian

War 540

His Progrefs from Aiuioch

364 Jovian, with his iiifant Son, aflumes the Name and Enfigns of the Confiilfliip
564 Death of Jovian Vacancy of the Throne
-

3S4 The Treaty of Peace 544 Adventures of Para, King of Armenia ib. V. The Danube. Conquefts of Her-

manric

546

483

364 Eleftion and Charafter of Valentinian He is acknowledged by the Army

484 486

366 The Caufe of the Gothic War 367, 368, 369. Hoftilities and Peace 374
375

548 550
552 555
-

War
The

of the Quadi and Sarmatians

AiTociates his Brother Valens 487 364 The final Divifion of the Eaftern and 4^^ Weftern Empires

Expedition of Valentinian
-

His Death

557
ib.

The

Emperors
11.

Gratian
-

and Valenti-

365 Revolt of Procopius 366 His Defeat and Death

at

489
493

nian

Magic 373 Severe Inquifuion into the Crime of

Rome

and Antioch
-

495

CHAP.
Manners of

XXVL

364375. The Cruelty of Valentinian and

Valens
-

49^
501

the pajloral Natians.

to

Progrefs
Europe.
the

Their Laws and Government

ration
. -

of the Huns, from China

Flight of the Goths.

Valentinian maintains the religious Tole-

504
505 508

367
-373

378.
Jufl;

nube.

Valens

profefles Arianifm,
-

and per-

fecutes the Catholics

Death of Athanafius

ib. Idea of the Perfecution of Valens Valentinian reftrains the Avarice of the 370 510 Clergy

Gothic War. Defeat and De/ith Gratian of with Eajlern Empire. His Chara51er Peace and and of
Valens.
the
invefls
Succefs.

They fafs

Da-

Theodofius

Settlement

the

Goths.
A. D.
365 Earthquakes 576 The Huns and Goths -

,66384. Ambition and Luxury of Damafus, BifhcpofRome 512 Wars 514 364 375. Foreign 365 I. Germany. The Alemanni invade Gaul 515
366 Their Defeat
368 Valentinian
pafles,
-

Pj^e
-

561

563
-

The
Diet

paftoral

Manners of the Scythians,

-

517
the
-

or Tartars

ib.

and

fortifies,

565
-

Rhine
371 The
Burgua'.ians

518

Habitations
Exercifes

567

520
522
525
-

569
57!

The
3
j.3

Saxons

Government
Situation and Extent of Scythia, or

n. Britai.v.

The

Scots and Pifts

Tar-

366.

Their

Livafioii

of Britain

529

tary

574
577
-

367 -370. Reftoration ofBritain by Theodofius 531 " ry of Romanus 533 366 ni. Afr;
:

Original Seat of the

Huns

Their Conquefis

in Scythia

jb.

201 Their

O
A.-C.

N
Page

E
A.D.

S.
Pjge

sol Their Wars with the Chinefe

141

87.

Decline and Fall of the

Huns

579 580
583 584
585

Battle of Hadrianople

613

The Defeat of

the

Romans

614
615 617
.

A.D.

Death of the Emperor Valens

Funeral Oration of Valens and his

100 Their Emigrations

Army 616
-

The White Huns of Sogdiana The Huns of the Volga

Their Conqueft of the Alani
375 Their Viftories over the Goths 376 The Goths implore the Protedlion Valens
'

378, 379.

The Goths befiege Hadrianople They ravage the Roman

vinces
.

Pro-

586
588
of
591

6,9

621 378 Maffacre of the Gothic Youth in Afia 379 The Emperor Gratian invefts Theodofius
with the Empire of the Eaft
Birth and Charadler of Theodofius

623

They
Their

are

tranfported over the

Danube
594
596
rg^ 601

624
Con627

into the

Roman Empire
and Difcontent

379~3S2. His prudent and

duft of the Gothic
Divifions, Defeat,

fuccefsful

Diftrefs

Revolt of the Goths in Ma:fia, and their

iirft

Vldories
penetrate into Thrace

Goths

...
War
-

and Submiffion, of the

630
632
633

They

381 Death and Funeral of Athanaric

Oflrogoths
-

377 Operations of the Gothic War Union of the Goths with the
Alani, &c.

603

386 Invaf.on and Defeat of the Gruthungl, or

383 395.
Settlement of the Goths in Thrace
-

Huns,

37S Viflory of Gratian over the Alemanni Valens marches againll the Goth*

606 6cS 610

and Afia
Their
hoftile

636
6,\8

Sentiments

T H E

/^

HISTORY
O
F

THE

TH

DECLINE

AND

FALL

OF THE

ROMAN EMPIRE.
CHAP.
Foundatw7i
flantim^
XVII.
Political Syjiem

of Conjlantinoph.
a7id

"The Palace,

his

Succejfors.

of Con-

Military Difcipline.

"The Finances,

1
and

"^HE

unfortunate Licinius was the

laft rival

who

oppofed the
.

HA
XVII.

p.

greatnefs,

and the

laft

captive

who

adorned the triumph, of

the

Conftantine.

After a tranquil and profperous reign,

to his family the inheritance of the

Conqueror bequeathed

Roman
and the

Empire
crated

new

capital, a

new

policy,

and a new religion

innovations which he eftablilhed have been embraced and confe-

by fucceedlng generations.

The

age of the great Conftantine

;

his fons is filled with important events

but the hiftorian muft

be opprefled by their number and variety, unlefs he diligently fe-

VoL.

II.

parates

THE DECLINE AND FALL

-V-
^
^
P-

C
v-

parates

from each other the fcenes which are connedled only by the

order of time.

He

will dcfcribe the political inftitutions that

gave

ftreng^h and liability to the empire, before he proceeds to relate the

wars and revolutions which haftened

divifion

its

decline.

He

will adopt the

unknown

to the ancients, of civil

and

ecclefiaftical affairs

the vidlory of the Chriftians, and their intefline difcord, will fupply

copious and diftindt materials both for edification and for fcandal.
Defign of a

After the defeat and abdication of Licinius, his vidlorious rival

A. D. 324.

proceeded to lay

tlie

foundations of a city,

deftined to reign,

in

future times, the miftrefs of the Eaft, and to furvive the empire and
religion of Conftantiae.
licy,

The

motives, whether of pride or of po-

which

firfl

induced Diocletian to withdraw himfelf from the

ancient feat of government, had acquired additional weight

by the

example of
infenfibly

his fucceflbrs,

and the habits of forty

years.

Rome was

confounded with the dependent kingdoms which had once

;

acknowledged her fupremacy

'

and the country of the Casfars was

viewed with cold indifference by a martial prince, born in the neigh-

bourhood of the Danube, educated

In the courts

and armies of Afia,

and invefted with the purple by the legions of

Britain.

The

Italians,

who had

received Conflantine as their deliverer, fubmiffively obeyed

the edits which he fometimes condefcended to addrefs to the fenate

and people of
of their

Rome

but they were feldom honoured with the prefence

new

fovereign.

During the vigour of

his age, Conftantine,

according to the various exigencies of peace and war,

moved with

flow dignity,

or with adtive diligence,

;

along the frontiers of his

to take the
as
field

extenfive dominions
eithei; againft a

and was always prepared

foreign or a domeftic enemy.

But

he gradually
life,

reached the fummit of profperity and the decline of

to meditate the defign of fixing in a

he began

more permanent

ftation the

ftrength as well as majefty of the throne.

In the choice of an ad;

vantageous fituation, he preferred the confines of Europe and Afia

to

OF THE
the

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
who
dwelt between
A. \ ii

to curb, with a powerful arm, the barbarians

CHAP.

Danube and

the Tanais

to

watch with an eye of jcaloufy the v,r

conduit of the Perfian monarch,

who

indignantly fupported the

yoke of an ignominious
feledted

treaty.

With

thefe views, Diocletian

:

had

and embellifhed the refidence of Nicomedia

but the

me-

mory
city

of Diocletian was juftly abhorred by the protestor of the church

infenfible to the ambition of

and Conftantine was not

founding a

which might perpetuate the glory of

his

own name.

During

the late operations of the

war

againft Licinius, he

had fufEcient op-

portunity to contemplate, both as a foldler and as a ftatefman, the

incomparable pofition of Byzantium

it

and

to obferve

how
it

ftrongly
accef-

Situation of

was guarded by nature

on every

againft

an

hoftile attack, whilft

was

fible

fide to the benefits

of commercial intercourfe.

Many

ages before Conftantine, one of the moft judicious hiftorians of antiquity

'

had defcribed the advantages of a

fituation,

from whence a
fea,

feeble colony of

Greeks derived the command of the

and the

honours of a flourifhing and independent republic %

If

we

furvey Byzantium in the extent which

it

acquired with the

auguft

name of

Conftantinople, the figure of the imperial city

may

Defcriptioa of Con-

stanti-

be reprefented under that of an unequal triangle.

The

obtufe point, nople.

which advances towards the

repels the

eaft

and the Ihores of Afia, meets and

waves of the Thracian Bofphorus.

The

northern fide of
is

the city

is

bounded by the harbour

and the fouthern

waflaed

by

'

Polybius,

I.

iv. p.

423. edit. Cafaubon.

Spartan general Paufanias. SeeScaliger Ani-

He

obferves that the peace of the Byzantines

madverf. ad Eufeb. p. 8i.

ftantinopolis,
1. i.

was frequently dillurbed, and the extent of their territory contrafted, by the inroads of
the wild Thracians.
^

part

i.

c.

Ducange ConWith i;, i6.

regard to the wars of the Byzantines againft

Philip, the Gauls, and

the kings of Bithy-

The

navigator Byzas,

who was

filled

the

fon of Neptune, founded the city

656 years

before the Chriftian

^ra. His

followers were

drawn from Argos and Megara. Byzantium was afterwards rebuilt and fortified by the

none but the ancient writers who lived before the greatnefs of the imperial city had excited a fpirit of flattery and fiftion.
nia,
fliould
trull

we

the

[.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

C H A

the Propontis, or fea of

Marmara.

The

bafis

of the triangle

is

op

pofed to the weft, and terminates the continent of Europe.

But the

admirable form and divifion of the circumjacent land and water

cannot, without a more ample explanation, be clearly or fufficiently
underftood.
TheBofphorus.

The winding channel through which

flow with a rapid and
incefllvnt courfe

the waters of the

Euxine

towards the Mediterranean,

received the appellation of Bofphorus, a

name
'.

not

lefs

celebrated in

the hiftory, than in the fables, of antiquity

A
its

crowd of temples
ftcep

and of votive

altars,

profufely fcattered along

and woody

banks, attefted the unfkilfulnefs, the terrors, and the devotion of the

Grecian navigators, who,

after the

example of the Argonauts, ex-

plored the dangers of the inhofpitable Euxine.

dition long preferved the

On

thefe banks tra-

memory
;

of the palace of Phineus, infefted

by the obfcene

harpies

and of the fylvan reign of Amycus,

who

defied the fon of

Leda

to the

combat of the Ceftus \

The

ftreights

of the Bofphorus are terminated by the Cyanea-n rocks,, which, according to the defcription of the poets, had once floated on the face
of the waters
;

and were deftined by the gods

to protedl the entrance

".

of the Euxine againft the eye of profane curiofity

From

the

Cy-

'

The Bofphorus

has been very minutely

into- the Tea,

all

contribute to form this flrik-

defcribed by Dionyfuis of Bjzaiuium,

who

ing refemblance.
' TJie refidence of Amycus was in-Afi.'^y between the old and the new caflles, at a place called Laurus Infana. That of Phiivsus was in Europe, near the village of Mauromole and the Black Sea. See Gyllius cs Bofph, J. ii. c. 23. Tournefort, Lettre XY.

lived in the time of Domitian (Hudfon Geograph. Minor, torn, iil.), and by Gilles or

Gyllius, a French traveller of the

XVIth

century.
h.tve

Tournefort (bettre XV.) feems ta ufed his own eyes and the learning ofare very,

Gyllius.
*

There
i.

few ccnieflures

fo

happy-

as that torn.

of Le Clerc (Bibliotheque Univerfelle,

p.

The deception was occafioned by feveral pointed rocks, alternately covered andaban^
''

24803 who fuppofes

that the har^

pies were only locufts.

The

Syriac or

Phs-

nician

name of thoiein fedls,

their noify flight,

the ftench
l:on,

and devaftaiion which they occaand the north wind which drives them,

doned by the waves. At prefent there are two fmall illands, one towards either Ihore ; that of Europe is diftinguifhed by the columa of Pompey.

anean

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
',

anean rocks to the point and harbour of Byzantium, the winding

length of the Bofphorus extends about fixteen miles

CHAP,
i

and

its

mofi;
half.

ordinary breadth

may

be computed

at

about one mile and a

The new
tinent,

caftles

of Europe and Alia are conftrudled, on either con-

upon

the foundations of

two

celebrated temples, of Serapis and

of Jupiter Urius.

The

o/d caftles, a

work of

the

Greek emperors,
where the

command
Thefe

the narroweft part of the channel,

in a place

oppofite banks advance within five hundred paces of each other.

fortreffes

were reftored and ftrengthened by Mahomet the

meditated the fiege of Conftantinople
"
:

Second,

when he

but the

Turkilli conqueror

was moft probably ignorant,

that near

two thou-

fand years before his reign, Darius had chofen the fame fituation to

connect the two continents by

tance from the old caftles
or Scutari,

a.

bridge of boats
little

'.

At

a fmall dif-

we

difcover the

town of Chryfopolis,
fuburb of

which may almoft be confidered

as the Afiatic

Conftantinople.
pontis,
pafles

The
built

Bofphorus, as

it

begins to open into the Pro-

between Byzantium and Chalcedon.

The

latter

of
;

thofe cities

was

by the Greeks,
its

few years before the former

and the blindnefs of

founders,

who

overlooked the fuperior ad-

vantages of the oppofite coaft, has been ftigmatized by a proverbial

exprefllon of contempt
',

'

The

ancients

computed one hundred and

bers of his land and fea forces.

tines

The Byzauof

twentyftadia, or fifteen

Roman

miles.

They

afterwards

tranfporled thefe columns

meafured only from the new

carried

caftles,

but they

into the city, and ufed

their tutelar deities.
'

them

for the altars

1.

the ftreights as far as the

town of

Herodotus,
inter

iv. c.

K7:

Chalcedon.
Leunclavius Hid. Ducas Hid. c. 31. UnTurcica Mufulmanica, 1. xv. p. 577. der the Greek empire thefe caftles were ufed
^

Namque

artiffimo

Europam

Afi-

amqiie divortio Byzantium in extrcma Europd pofuere Grsci, quibus, Pythium Apolli-

nem

confulentibus

ubi
eft,

conderent

urbeni,
c/r-

as

ftate prifons,

under the tremendous

name

redditum oraculum
car:im terris

quxrerent fedem

of Lethe, or towers of oblivion. 9 Darius engraved in Greek and Afiyrian letters on two marble columns, the names of
his

advcrfam.

Ea ambage Chalccquod
xii.

donii

monftrabantur,
prsvifa
Tacit. Annal.

priores

illuc

advefti,
legiffent.

locorum

utiiitate

pejora

fubjeft-nations,

and the amazing num-

62.

The

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The harbour
arm of
of Conflaatlnople, which
. .

CHAP.
XVII.

may

be confidcred as an

the Bofphorus, obtained, in a very remote period, the de-

The

port.

nomination of the Golden Horn.

The
The

curve which
it

it

defcribes

might

be compared to the horn of a

propriety, to that of an

flag, or, as

fhould feem, with more

ox

'

'.

epithet of golden

was expreffive
diftant

of the

riches

which every wind wafted from the moft

coun-

tries into the fecure

and capacious port of Conftantinople.

Httle ftreams,

TTie river

Lycus, formed by the conflux of two harbour a perpetual fupply of

frefli

pours into the

cleanfe

water, which

ferv'es to fifh to

the bottom, and to invite the periodical fhoals of

retreat in that convenient recefs.

feek their

As

the vicifTitudes of tides are

fcarcely felt in thofe feas, the conftant depth of the harbour allows

goods
it

to

be landed on the quays without the

alTiftance

of boats

and
reft

has been obferved, that in

many
the

places the largeft vefTels

may

their

prows againft the houfes, while

their fterns are floating in the

water ".
this

From

the

mouth of
is

Lycus

to that of the harbour,

in length.

arm of
is

the Bofphorus

more than feven miles

to guard the port

The

entrance

about five hundred yards broad, and a ftrong chain could

it,

be occafionally drawn acrofs

attack of an hoftile

and

city

from the

navy

".

The Propontis

Between the Bofphorus and the Hellefpont, the fhores of Europe

and Afta receding on
either fide inclofe the fea of

Marmara, which

was known to the ancients by the denomination of Propontis. The navigation from the iflTue of the Bofphorus to the entrance of the
"
tiers

Strabo, 1.x. p. 492.

are

Moft of the anor,

fort, Lettre

XII.

Niebuhr Voyage dArabie,

1. i.

now broke
filled
1. i.

off;

to fpeak lefs

p. 22.
'^

figuratively, moft of the receffes of the har-

See Ducange, C. P.
his

part

i.

c. 16.

bour are Thracio,

'^

up.
c. 5.

See Gyllius de Bofphoro

and
289.

Obfervations fur Villehardouin, p. The chain was drawn from the Acro-

Procopius de -^dificiis,
is

I.

i.

c. 5.

His

polls, near the

modern Kioik,
piles.

to the tower at convenient

defcription

confirmed by modern travellers,

i. I.

of Galata
diftances

and was fuppcrted

See Thevenot, part

i.

c.

15.

Tourne-

by large wooden

Hellefpont

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
Hellefpont
fleer their
Is

about one hundred and twenty miles.

Thofe

who CHAP.
A.

V 11.

weftward courfe through the middle of the Propontis,

s^

may

at

once defcry the high lands of Thrace and Bithynia, and never
of the lofty fummit
'^

lofe figlit

of

Mount Olympus,
left a

covered with
at the

eternal

fnows

They

leave

on the

deep gulf,

bottom

of which Nicomedia was feated, the imperial refidence of Diocletian

and they pafs the fmall

call

iflands of

Cyzicus and Proconnefus before they

fea,

anchor
is

at Gallipoli:

where the

which

feparates Afia

from

Europe,

again contraled into a narrow channel.

fkilful

The
for the

geographers who, with the moft

accuracy, have fur- The Hellc^

veyed the form and extent of the Hellefpont,

affign about fixty miles

winding

courfe,

and about three miles

for the

ordinary

breadth of thofe celebrated ftreights ".

the channel
is

But the narroweft part of

caftles

found to the northward of the old Turkifh

of Seftus and Abydus.
It

between the

cities

was here

that the ad-

venturous Leander braved the paflage of the flood for the poflefTion of
his miftrefs
'*.

It

was here

likewife, in a place
five

where the

diftance

between the oppofite banks cannot exceed

hundred paces, that

Xerxes impofed

a ftupendous bridge of boats, for the purpofe of tranf-

porting into Europe

an hundred and feventy myriads of barba-

'
1. i.

Thevenot (Voyages au Levant, part

c.

i.

pofing new,
fitres,

and

perhaps imaginary mea-

14.)

contrafls

the meafure to

fmall Greek miles.

1. ii.

Belon

125 (Obfervations,

for

the purpofe of rendering ancient

writers as accurate as himfelf.

The
(1.

ftadia

c.

I.)

gives a

good defcription of the

employed by Herodotus

in the defcription

of
c.

Propontis,

but

contents himfelf with the

the Euxine, the Bofphorus,

fpecies

&c.

iv.

vague expreffion of one day and one night's When Sandys (Travels, p. 21.) talks fail.
of 150 furlongs
in length as well as breadth,

85.) mull undoubtedly be all of the

:

fame

but

it

feems impoflible to reconcile

them
'^

either with truth or with each other.

we can only
'5

fuppofe fome miftake of theprefs

in the text of that judicious traveller.

See an admirable diflertation of M.d'An-

ville

upon the Hellefpont or Dardanelles, in theMemoires de I'Academie dcslnfcriptions, torn, xxviii. p. 318 346. Yet even that
ingenious

The oblique diflance between Sellu? and Abydus was thirty ftadia. The improbable tale of Hero and Leander is expofed by M. Mahudel, but is defended on the authority of poets and medals by M. de la Nauze, See the Academic des Infcriptions,
torn. vii.

geographer

is

too

fond of fup-

Hill. p. 74.

Mem.

p. 240.

rians.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

X V li.
rlans''.

CHAP,

A fea contra led within fuch narrow limits, may feem but
which Homer,
as well as

ill

to

deferve the fmgular epithet oibroad^

Orpheus,

has frequently bellowed on the Hellcfpont.

are of a relative nature
failed
:

But our

ideas of greatnefs

the traveller, and efpecially the poet,

who
fide

along the Hellcfpont,

who

purfued the windings of the ftream,

and contemplated the

rural fcenery,

which appeared on every

remembrance of the
with
all

to terminate the profpet, infenfibly loft the

fea

and

his fancy painted thofc celebrated ftreights,

the attri-

butes of a mighty river flowing with a fwift current, in the midft of

woody and

inland country, and at length through a wide mouth,

into the jEgean or Archipelago '^
at

difcharging
feated

itfelf

Ancient Troy '%

overlooked the
acceffion

on an eminence

the foot of

Mount

Ida,

mouth of

the Hellcfpont,

which

fcarcely received an

of

waters from the tribute of thofe immortal rivulets the Simois and

Scamander.
the Ihore

The Grecian camp had

to

ftretched twelve miles along

;

from the Sigsan

the Rhsetean promontory

the braveft chiefs
firft

and the
fought

flanks of the

army were guarded by

who

under the banners of Agamemnon.

The

of thofe promontories

was occupied by
dauntlefs

Achilles with his invincible

his tents

Myrmidons, and the

After Ajax had fallen

Ajax pitched

on the

other.

a facrifice to his difappointed pride, and to the ingratitude of the

Greeks, his fepulchre was ereded on the ground where he had de-

"
and

See the feventh book of Herodotus,

to that

has erefted an elegant trophy to his

who own fame

to

have difappointed the expeftation of the

critic,

public as a
veller.

and

ftill

more

as a tra-

of his country.

The

review ap-

He had
;

pears to have been

cur.icy
:

made with
firft

tolerable ac-

lefpont

banks of the Helhe had read Strabo; he ought to

vifited the

but the vanity,

of the Perfians,

and afterwards of the Greeks, was interefted to magnify the armament and the viftory. I fhould much doubt whether the 7>i;(?a'frj have ever outnumbered the men of any country which they attacked.
'"

have con fulted the Roman itineraries: how was it poflible for him to confound Ilium and Alexandria Troas (Obfervations, p. 340,
341
)>

diftant
'9

^^'O cities which were fixteen miles from each otlier ? Demetrius of Scepfw wrote fixty books

See Wood's Obfervations on Homer,

I

p. 320.

have, with pleafure, felefted this

in general feems

on thirty lines of Homer's Catalogue. The Xlllth Book of Strabo is fufficient for our
curiofity,

remark from an author who

I

fended

OF THE
citizens

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
;

fended the navy againfl the rage of Jove and of

of the rifing town of Rhasteum celebrated

Hedor and the ^ ^^ ^ ' -^ his memory with u

divine honours ".

fituation of
feat

Before Conftantine gave a juft preference to the

Byzantium, he had conceived the defign of erefting the

this celebrated

of empire on

fpot,

from whence the Romans

derived their fabulous origin.

The

extenfive plain

which

lies

below

ancient Troy, towards the Rhsetean promontory and the

tomb of

Ajax, was

firfl

chofen for his

new

capital

and, though the under-

taking was foon relinquifhed, the ftately remains of unfiniflied walls

and towers

attradted the notice of

*'.

all

who

failed

through the

ftreights

of the Hellefpont

We

are at prefent qualified to

view the advantageous pofition of

Advantages ofConftantinople,

Conftantinople; which appears to have been formed by Nature tor

the centre and capital of a great monarchy.
firft

Situated in the forty-

degree of latitude, the Imperial city commanded, from her feven

",

hills

the oppofite fhores of Europe and Afia

foil fertile,

the climate

was

healthy and temperate, the

cious
;

the harbour fecure and capa-

and the approach on the

fide

of the continent was of fmall

the Hellefpont

extent and eafy defence.

confidered as the

The Bofphorus and

two

gates of Conftantinople ;

and the

may be prince who

againft a

pofTefled thofe Important paflages covdd always fhut

them

naval enemy, and open

^ Strabo,
tion
1.

them
The

to the fleets of

commerce.

The

prefer-

xiii.

p.

591;.

difpofi-

foundation of Conftantinople, Theffalonica is

of the ihips wjilch were drawn upon dry land, and the polls of Ajax and Achilles,
are very clearly defcribed by
Iliad ix. 220.
*'

mentioned by Cedrenus

(p. 283.),

and Sardica

by Zonaras,

as the

intended capital.
little

They

Homer.
1.

See

both fuppofe, with very

that the Emperor, if he

probability,

had not been pre-

Zofim.
vii.

1.

ii.

p. 105.
p. 18.

Sozomen,
torn.

ii.

vented by a prodigy, would have repeated

the miftake of the

c. 3.
liftus,
xiii.

Theophanes,
1.

Nicephorus Calii.
1.

i//W Chalcedonians.
ii.

p.

4.8.

Zonaras,

"
part
js

Pocock'3 Defcription of the Eaft, vol.

ii.

p. 6.

Zofimus places the new

city be-

p. 127.

His plan of the feven

hills
fel-

tween Ilium and Alexandria, but this apparent difference may be reconciled by the large extent of its circumference. Before the

clear

and accurate.

That

traveller

is

dom

fo fatisfaftory.

Vol,

II.

'

vation

lo

THE DECLINE AND FALL

vation of the eaftern provinces may, in fome degree, be afcribed to the policy of Conftantine, as the Barbarians of the Euxine,
,
'

CHAP,
"

who

in
tlie

the preceding age had poured their armaments into the heart of

Mediterranean, foon defifted from the exercife of piracy, and defpaired of forcing this infurmountable barrier.

When

the gates of

the Hellefpont and Bofphorus were Ihut, the capital

ftill

enjoyed,

'within their fpacious inclofure, every produdlion which could fupply

the wants, or gratify the luxury, of
fea-coafts of
its

numerous

inhabitants.

The
of

Thrace and Bithynia, which languifh under the weight

llill

of Tarkifli oppreffion,

exhibit a rich profped of vineyards,

;

gardens, and of plentiful harvefts

and the Propontis has ever

moft exquifite
fifh,

been,

renowned

for

an inexhauftible

ftore of the

that
la-

are taken in their ftated feafons, without

fkill,

and almcft without

bour

''.

But when the pafTages of the Streights were thrown open for and
artificial riches

trade, they alternately admitted the natural

cf the

north and fouth, of the Euxine and of the Mediterranean.

.ever

rude commodities were colledted in the forefts

as far as the fources

Whatof Germany
;

and Scythia,

of the Tanais and the Boryfthenes

fkill

whatfoever was manufa<lured by the

of Europe or Afiaj the

corn of Egypt, and the gems and fpices of the fartheft India, were

brought by the varying winds into the port of Conllantinople, which,

for
Foundation cftaecity.

many

ages^ attrafted the

commerce of the ancient world

llifety,

'*.

l^^e profpcdi of beauty, of

and of wealth, united in a

fmgle fpot, was fufficient to juftify the choice of Conftantine.

as

But

fome decent mixture of prodigy and

reflecTt

fable

has, in every age,

been fuppofed to
''

a
c.

becoming
72 76.

rnajefty
'"*

on the origin of great

See Belon.

Obfervations,

See the eloquent defcription of Bulbe-

Araong

a variety of differert fpecies, the Pe-

lamides. a fort of Thunnies, were the moft

celebrated.

We may

learn from Polybius,

Strabo, and Tacitus, that the profits of the

iifhery conftiiuted

epiftol. i. Ell in Europa p. 64. habetin confpeftu Afiam, ^gyptum, Africamque a dextra qus; tametfi contigua non funt, maris tamen navigandique commodi-

quius,

the principal revenue of

tate veluti
eft

junguntur,

Jiniftra

vero Pontus

Byzantium.

Euxinus, &c.
cities,.

OF THE
cities **,

ROMAN
human
that,

EMPIRE.
^
^^

n
^
^'

the emperor was defirous of afcrlbing his refohition, not fo

policy, as to the infallible

much
and

to the uncertain counfels of

vv-

eternal decrees of divine

wifdom.

In one of his laws he has

in

been careful to inftrud: pofterity,

obedience to the

comwhat

mands of God, he
nople
'
:

laid the

everlafting foundations of Conftantito

relate in

and though he has not condefcended

coeleftial infpiration

manner the

was communicated

to his

mind, the
the inge-

defsdt of his modeft filence has been liberally fupplied

by

nuity of fucceeding writers

who

defcribe the nocturnal vifion

flept

which

appeared to the fancy of Conftantine, as he

within the walls of

Byzantium.

The

tutelar

genius of the city, a venerable matron

infirmities,

finking under the weight of years and

was fuddenly

transformed into a blooming maid,

whom

his

with

all

the fymbols of Imperial greatnefs ^\

own hands adorned The monarch awoke,

without hefitation

interpreted

the aufpicious

omen, and obeyed,

the will of heaven.

was celebrated

The day which gave birth to a city or colony by the Romans with fuch ceremonies as had been
fuperftition
*'
;

ordained by a generous

and though

Conftantine
their

might omit fome

origin, yet

rites

which favoured too ftrongly of

Pagan

he was anxious to leave a deep impreffion of hope and

fpetators.

refped:

on the minds of the

On

foot,

with a lance in
;

his hand, the

emperor himlelf led the folemn proceflion

and di-

reded the
eapital:
till

line,

which was traced

as

the boundary of the deftined

the growing circumference was obferved with aftonifhvenia antiquitati, ut mifcendo

the vifion,
to Aich

^'

Datur

hffic

we

are obliged to

have recourfe

huraana
'^

divinis, primordia

ra faciat.

T. Liv.
fays in

in

urbium auguflioproem.
his laws,

Latin writers as William of MalmfSee Ducange C. P.

1, i.

bury.

p. 24, 25.

He

one of

pro comju1.

"
edit.

See Plutarch in Romul. torn.

meditate Urbis

quam xterno nomine,

Bryan.
hole,

Among
filled

i. p. ^9. other ceremonies, a

bente Deo, donavimus.

xiii.
tit. V.

Cod. Theodof.

leg. 7.

Greeks, Theophanes, Cedrenus, Author of the Alexandrian Chronicle, confine themfelves to vague and general expreffions. For a more particular account of

^'

The

and

tlie

which had been dug for that up with handfuls of earth, which each of the fettlers brought from the place of his birth, and thus adopted his new
large

purpofe, was

country,

ment

12

THE DECLINE AND FALL

jnent

CHAP,
\_

by the

afliftants,

who,

at length,

ventured to obferve, that he

,-

.'

had already exceeded the moft ample meafure of a great city. " I *' fhall " till he, the invifible ftill advance," replied Conftantine, " guide

who marches

before me, thinks proper to flop

*'."

Without

prefuming
conducflor,

to inveftigate the nature or motives

of

this

extraordinary
tafk of

we

fhall

content ourfelves with the

more humble
'".

defcribing the extent and limits of Conftantinople

Extent.

In the adlual
raglio

flate

of the

city, the palace

and gardens of the Seof the feven

hills,

occupy the eaftern promontory, the

fifty acres

firft

and

cover about one hundred and

feat

of our
is

own

meafure.

The

of Turkifh jealoufy and defpotifm

:

erected

on the foundations
to extend their

of a Grecian republic

but

it

may

be fuppofed that the Byzantines

were tempted by the conveniency of the harbour

bitations

ha-

on

that fide

beyond the modern

limits of the Seraglio.

The

new

walls of Conflantine ftretched

from the port

and with the

to the Propontis

acrofs the enlarged breadth of the triangle, at the diftance of fifteen

ftadia

from the ancient

five

fortification

city of

Byzantium

they inclofed

of the feven

hills,

which, to the eyes of thofe

rife

who
new

approach Conftantinople, appear to

order
'

above each other in beautiful

of the founder, the

'.

About

a century after the death

buildings, extending

on one

fide

up the harbour, and on the other

along the Propontis, already covered the narrow ridge of the fixth,

and the broad fummit of the feventh

tefting thofe fuburbs

hill.

The

necefTity of

pro-

from the

incefTant inroads of the Barbarians,

to furround his capital

engaged the younger Theodofius

1. ii. c. 9. This incithough borrowed from a fufpefted writer, is charafteriftic and probable. 3' See in the Memoires de I'Academie,

with an

? Phltoftorgius,

dent,

ference

torn. XXXV. p.

747 7<;8, adiflertationof M.

d'Anville on the extent of Conftantinople. He takes the plan inferted in the Imperium Orientale of Banduri as the moft complete
;

and inftead of 9500, determines the circumof the city as confifting of about 7800 French toifes. ^i Codinus Antiquitat. Confl. p. 12. He afllgns the church of St. Antony as the boundary on the fide of the harbour. It is mentioned in Ducange, 1. iv. c. vi. ; but I have
tried, without fuccefs, to difcover the

but,

exaA

by a

feries

of very nice obfervations, he re-

place where

it

was

fituated.

duces the extravagant proportion of the fcale,

adequate

OF THE
promontory
to the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
From
the
eaftern

13

adequate and permanent inclofure of walls '\

CHAP,
xvn.

golden gate, the extreme length of Conftantinople

;

was about three Roman miles "

tween ten and eleven
to about
;

the circumference meafurcd beas equal

and the furface might be computed

acres.
It is

two thoufand Englifh

impoffible to jufcify the

vain and credulous exaggerations of modern travellers,

who have
But the

fometimes ftretched the limits of Conftantinople over, the adjacent

villages of the

European, and even of the Afiatic coaft

'*.

fuburbs of Pera and Galata, though fituate beyond the harbour,

deferve to be confidered as a part of the city
'' ;

may

and

this addition

may

perhaps authorife the meafure of a Byzantine hiftorian,

who

affigns fixteen

Greek (about fourteen Roman) miles

'*.

for the circum-

ference of his native city

Such an extent may feem not unworthy

Yet Conftantinople muft yield
to to

of an Imperial refidence.
atnd

Babylon

Thebes ^\ to ancient Rome,

London, and even

to Paris '^

The
^^

The new

wall of Theodofius was con-

without including Scutari,

^'

is

a ftrange de-

In 447 it the year 413. thrown down by an earthquake, and rebuilt in three months by the diligence of the prsThe fuburb of the Blacherna; feft Cyrus. was firft taken into the city in the reign of
ftrufted in

was

parture from his ufual charafter.

The

fyc2E,

or fig-trees, formed the thir-

Heraclius.
^^

Ducange

Conft.
is

1.

i.

c.

10, ii.

much embelby Juftinian. It has fince borne the names of Pera and Galata. The etymology of the former is obvious ; that of the latter is
teenth region, and were very
lilhed

The

nieafurement

exprefTed in the
is

unknown.
'

See

Ducange

Conft.

1.

i.

c.

22.

Notitia by 14,075 feet.

It

reafonable to

fuppofe that thefe were Greek feet ; the proportion of which has been ingenioufly deter-

and Gyllius de Byzant. 1. iv. c. 10. ^ One hundred and eleven ftadia, which may be tranflated into modern Greek miles
each of feven
ftadia, or
toifes.

mined by M. d'Anville.
180
feet

He

compares the

with the 78 Hafhemite cubits, which in different writers are affigned for the height Each of thefe cubits was of St. Sophia.
equal to 27 French inches. ^* The accurate Thevenot
(I.
i.

600 French
^!

660, fometimes only See d'Anville Mefures

Itineraires, p. 53.

When

the ancient texts, which defcribe

the
c.

15.)

of Babylon and Thebes, are fettled, the ex'aggerations reduced, and the meafures
fize

walked

one hour and three quarters round two of the Jides of the triangle, from the
in

afcertained,
filled

we

find that thofe

famous

cities

the great but not incredible circum-

Kiofk of the Seraglio to the feven towers. D'Anville examines with care, and receives with confidence, this decifive teftimony, which gives a circumference of ten or twelve miles. The extravagant computation of Tournefort
(Lettre XI.)

ference of about twenty-five or thirty-miles.

Compare d'Anville Mem. de I'Academie,

torn, xxviii. p. 235, with his Defcription de I'Egypte, p. 201, 202. ^ If we divide Conftantinople and Paris

of thirty-four or thirty miles.

into equal fquares of 50 French

toifes,

the

former

14'

THE DECLINE AND

P.
I
. . . ,

EALL"

C H A
XVII.
,^>

the work.

The mafter of the Roman world, who afpired to eret an eternal J monument of the glories of his reign, could employ in the profecution of that great work the wealth, the labour, and all that yet remained of the genius of obedient millions. Some eftimate may be
formed of the expence beftowed with Imperial
dation of Conftantinople,
liberality

on

th*^

founfive

by
".

the allowance of about

two millions
walls, the

hundred thoufand pounds for the conftrudlion of the

ticoes,

por-

and the aquedufts

The

forefts

that

overfhadowed the

fhores of the Euxine, and the celebrated quarries of white marble in

the

little

ifland of Proconnefus,

fupplied an inexhauftible flock of

materials,

ready to be conveyed,
to the

by

the convenience of a fhort

*.

water-carriage,

harbour of Byzantium

multitude of
incef-

labourers and artificers urged the conclufion of the

fant toil
:

work with

but the impatience of Conftantine foon difcovered, that, in

arts,

the decline of the

the

fkill as

well as numbers of his architedts^

bore a very unequal proportion to the greatnefs of his defigns.

magiftrates of the moft diftant provinces
inilitute fchools, to

The
to

were therefore directed

appoint profeflbrs, and, by the hopes of rewards

in the ftudy

and

privileges, to

engage

and pradlice of architediure a

received a liberal

fufficient

number of ingenious youths, who had

*'.

education

The

buildings of the

new

city

were executed by fuch

;

artificers as the

reign of Conftantine could afford

but they were

decorated by the hands of the moft celebrated mafters of the age of

Pericles

and Alexander.

To

revive the genius of Phidias and Lyfippus,

former contains S50, and the latter 1160 of

thofe divifions.
'9

quarries of Proconnefus,
p. 588.

fee Strabo,

1.

xiii.

The

latter

had already furniihed

Six hundred centenaries, or fixty thou-

the materials of the ftately buildings of

zicus.
*'

Cyiv.

fand pounds weight of gold.

This fum
.

is

taken from Codinus Antiquit. Conft. p. 1 1 ; but unlcfs that contemptible author had derived his information from fome purer fources,

See the Codex Theodof.

1.

xiii.

tit.

be would probably have been unacquainted with

fo obfolete a

dated in the year 334, and was addreffed to the prasfeft of Italy, whofejurifdiftion extended over Africa. The
is

leg. i.

This law

mode of reckoning.
of the Black Sea, con-

commentary of Godefroy on the whole

well deferves to be confulted.

title

For the

forefts

fult Tournefort, Lettre

XVI.

for the marble

furpaffed

OF THE
furpafled indeed the

ROMAN
a

EMPIRE.
;

15

power of

Roman emperor

but the immortal

-^

^^

productions which they had bequeathed to pofterity were expofed

without defence to the rapacious vanity of a defpot.

By

his

com-

mands

the cities of Greece and Afia were defpoiled of their mofl va-

luable ornaments. *\

The

trophies of

memorable wars, the

objedls

of religious veneration, the mofl finifhed ftatues of the gods and

heroes, of the fages and poets of ancient times, contributed to the

fplendid triumph of Conftantinople

and gave occafion to the remark

with fome enthufiafm,

of the hiftorian Cedrenus ^\

that nothing

who

obferves,

feemed wanting except the

fouls of the llluftrious

men
But

whom
it is

thofe admirable

monuments were intended

to reprefent.

not in the city of Conftantine, nor in the declining period of

civil

an empire, when the human mind was deprefled by

gious flavery, that

and

reli-

we

fhould feek for the fouls of

Homer and

of

Demofthenes.
Dux'ing the fiege of Byzantium, the conqueror had pitched his
tent
Edifices.

on the commanding eminence of the fecond

hill.

To

perpe-

tuate the

memory

of his fuccefs, he chofe the fame advantageous

pofition for the principal

Forum
the

*"*

which appears

to

have been of
entrances
it

-circular,

or rather elliptical form. arches

;

The two

oppofite

formed
every

triumphal

porticoes,
;

which

inclofed

oa

fide,

were

filled

with ftatues

and the centre of the Forum

was occupied by
**

a lofty column, of
pane om-

which a mutilated fragment

is

Conftantinopolis dedicatur
urbiiim nuditate.

degree of
age.
*''

rium

Hieronyr!. Chron.
p. 8,
9.

tafte which plainly indicates that Cedrenus copied the ft) le of a more fortunate

p. 181.

See Codinus,
torn.

The

au-

thorofthe Antiquitat. Conft.

duri Imp. Orient
i.

l.iii.

(apudB.in-

Zofim.
c.

1.

ii.

p. ic6.

Chron. Alexan-

p. 41.)

enumerates

drin. vel Pafchal, p. 284.

1. i.

Ducange Conft.
of thofe writers

Rome,
lift

Sicily,

Antioch, Athens, and a long

zi.

Even the

laft

of other cities. The provinces of Greece and Afia Minor may be fuppofed to have
*'

feems to confound the Forum of Conftantine with the Augufteum, or court of the palace,
I

yielded the richeft booty.

Hift.

am

not fatisfied whether I have properly

Compend.

p. 369.

Ke

defcribes

diftinguilhed
other.

what belongs

to the

one and the

the ftatue, or rather buft of

Homer

w'nh a

now

i6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

degraded by the appellation of the burnt pillar.
a pedeftal of white

CHAP, now
'

This column
feet

^-^

was eredted on

marble twenty

high

and

was compofed of

ten pieces of porphyry, each of which meafured

**.

about ten feet in height, and about thirty-three in circumference

On

the

fummit of the

pillar,

above one hundred and twenty

ftatue

feet

from the ground, flood the

colofTal

of Apollo.

It

was of

bronze, had been tranfported either from Athens or from a town of

Phrygia, and was fuppofed to be the

work of
it

Phidias.

The

artift

had reprefented the god of day,

the globe of the world in his
his head
**.

or, as

was afterwards

interpreted,

the emperor Conftantine himfelf, with a fceptre in his right hand,

left,

and a crown of rays

glittering

on

The

Circus, or

Hippodrome, was a

ftately building
*'.

about four hundred paces in length, and one hundred in breadth

The
tues

fpace

between the two meta or goals was

:

filled

with

fta-

and

obelifks

and
;

we may
triple

ftill

remark a very fmgular frag-

ment of
pillar

antiquity
brafs.

the bodies of three ferpents, twifted into one

of

Their

heads had once fupported the golden

tripod which,

after the defeat

of Xerxes, was confecrated in the

*'.

temple of Delphi by the vidorious Greeks

The beauty

of the

Hippodrome
*'

The
is

lumn
in

given by Pocock.
ii.

moft tolerable account of this coDefcription of the

part
ii.

fuch a chain of evidence as

may

be alleged

on
tat.

this

occafion.

See Banduri ad AntiquiGyllius de Byzant.

I.

Eaft, vol.

p. 131.

But

It

is ftill

Conft. p. 668.
i.

ii.

many
**

inllances

perplexed

and

unfatif-

c. 13.

The

original confecration of the

faftory.

tripod and pillar in the temple of Delphi

1.
i.

Ducange Conft.

c.

24. p. 76. and

Notes ad Alexiad. p. 582. The ftatue of Conftantine or Apollo was thrown down under the reign of Alexis Comnenus. *' Tournefort (Lettre XII.) computes the Atmeidan at four hundred paces. If he means geometrical paces of five feet each, it was three hundred toijis in length, about forty more than the great Circus of Rome. See d'Anville Mefures Itineraires, p. 73. ' The guardians of the moft holy relics
his

may be proved from Herodotus and Paufanias. 2. The pagan Zofimus agrees with
the three eccleilaftical hiftorians,
Socrates,

Eufebius,

and Sozomen, that the facred ornaments of the temple of Delphi were removed to Conftantinople by the order of Conftantine ; and among thefe the Terpentine
pillar

of the Hippodrome
3.

is

particularly

tioned.

All the European travellers

defcribe
in the

menwho

have
place,

vifited Conftantinople,

from Buondelit

monte

to

Pocock,

in

the fame
:

would

rejoice if they were able to produce

and almoil

fame manner

the

differences

OF THE
Hippodrome has been long
ferves as a place

ROMAN
fnice defaced

EMPIRE.
by the rude hands of the
C U A
XVil.
P.

Turkifti conquerors: but, under the fimilar appellation of Atmeidan^

it
ftill

of exercife

for their

horfes.

From

the

throne,

whence the emperor viewed the Circenfian games, a wind*'

ing ftalrcafe

defcended to the palace

a magnificent edifice, v.'hich

itfelf,

fcarcely yielded to the refidence of

Rome

and which, toge-

ther with the dependent courts, gardens,

confiderable extent of ground

and porticoes, covered a

upon the banks of the Propontis beSt.

tween the Hippodrome and the church of

likewife celebrate the baths,

Sophia

'.

We

might

which

ftill

retained the

name of Zeu-

xippus, after they had been enriched,

tine,

by the munificence of Conftanand above threefcore

this

with lofty columns,

bronze
''.

various marbles,

ftatues of

But we fhould deviate from the defign of

hiflory, if

wc

attempted minutely to defcribe the different buildings

city.
It

or quaiters of the

may

be

fufficient to obferve, that

what-

ever could adorn the dignity of a great capital, or contribute to the

benefit or pleafure of
its

numerous

inhabitants,

was contained within

compofed

the

walls of Conftantinople.
its

particular defcription,

about a century after

foundation, enumerates a capitol or fchool

differences between

by the

injuries

the Turks.

them are occasioned only which it has fullained from Mahomet the Second broke the

fide

the palace,
St.

of which was occupied by the front of and another by the church of

Sophia.

under-jaw of one of the ferpents with a ftroke of his battle-axe. Thevenot, 1. i. c. 17. "^ The Latin n:ime Cochlea was adopted

Zeiixippus was an epithet of Jupiter, and the barhs were a part of old Byzantium.
^'

The
to

difficulty

by the Greeks, and very frequently occurs the Byzantine hiflory. Ducange Conft. 1.
C. I. p. 104. '" There are

in
ii.

has not been

lace

felt

of afligning their true fituation by Ducange. Hiftory feems

St.

conneft them with

;

Sophia and the pa-

three topographical points

fituation

which indicate the

1.

of the palace,
it

The

flair-cafe, svhich

connefted

with the

but the original plan, inferted in Bauduri, places them on the other fide of the For their beauties, city, near the harbour. fee Chron. Pafchal, p. 285, and Gyllius de
Eyzant.
quitat.
1. ii.

Hippodrome, or Atmeidan. z. A fmall artificial port on the Propontis, from whence there was an eafy afcent, by a flight of marble fteps, to the gardens of the palace.
3.

c.
1.

7.

Chriitodorus (fee Antl^.

Conft.

vii.)

compofed

infcriptloos

in verfe for each of the ftatues.

He

was g

The

Augufteura was a fpacious court,

one

Theban poet in genius as well as in blrthy Bsorum in craffo jurarcs aere natum.

Vol. IL

of

i8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

H A
-V
P.

C
V

of learning, a circus, two theatres, eight public, and one hundred

'

and

fifty-three

private,

baths,

fifty-two porticoes,

five granaries,

eight aquedudts or refervoirs of water, four fpacious halls for the

meetings of the fenate or courts of juftiee, fourteen churches, fourteen palaces, and four thoufand
three

hundred and eighty-eight

houfes, which, for their fize or beauty, deferved to be diftinguiftied

from the multitude of plebeian habitations

Population.

".

The
ferious

populoufnefs of his favoured city was the next and moll

objed of the attention of

tranflatlon

its

founder.

In the dark ages

which fucceeded the

of the empire, the remote and the

immediate confequences of that memorable event were ftrangely

confounded by the vanity of the Greeks, and the credulity of the

Latins ".
It

was

aflerted,

and believed, that

all

the noble families

of

Rome,

the fenate,

and the equeflrian

ordei",

with their innu-

merable attendants, had followed their emperor to the banks of the

Propontls
;

that a fpurious race of flrangers

;

and plebeians was and

at

left

to poflefs the folitude of the ancient capital

Italy,

that the lands

of

long fince converted into gardens, were

once deprived of

cultivation

and inhabitants

'*.

In the courfe of this hiftory, fuch

:

exaggerations will be reduced to their juft value

yet,

fince the

growth of Conftantinople cannot be afcrlbed

of mankind and of induftry,
it

to the general increafe

this artificial

muil be admitted, that

ferved in their
fiftion

5- See the Notitia. Rome only reckoned 1780 large houfes, dcmuj ; but the word muft have had a more dignified fignification. No
)j/riA?

own language,

fliould prefer

are

men tic.ried

at Conftantinople.

olcl

capita! confilled

of 424

ftreets,

the

The new

and loofe tradition to genuine hiftory. In a fingle page of Codiniis we may deteft twelve unpardonable raifto truth,

f 322. '^ Liutprand. Legatio ad Imp. Nicephorum, p. 153. The modern Greeks have
ftrangely disfigured the antiquities of
ftintinop'e.

the reconciliation of Severus and ; Niger, the marriage of their fon and daughter, the fiege of Byzantium by the Macedo-

takes

nians,

the

inva:

on of the Gauls,
to

which
year3

Con-

recalled Severus

Rome,

the Jixty

might excufe the errors of the Turkifn or Arabian writers; but it is fomewhat aftoniftiing, that the Greeks, who

We

which elapfed from

his death to the foun-

dation of Conftantinople, iSc.

"

Montefquieu, Grandeur
c. 17.

et

Decadence

had

acccfs

to

the authentic

materials pre-

des Romains,

colony

OF THE
colony was railed
at the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
cities

19

expence of the ancient

of the empire.

^
'

^''

j^

Many

opulent fenators of

Rome, and of
to

the Eaftern provinces, were

^-

probably invited

by Conftantine

adopt for their

country the

fortunate fpot which he had chofen for his

own

refidencc.

The

invitations of a mailer are fcarcely to be diftingulflied

from com-

mands
he had

and the

liberality

of the emperor obtained a ready and

cheerful obedience.

He

bellowed on his favourites the palaces which

of the city, affigned them lands
^',

built in the feveral quarters

and penfions

for the fupport

of their dignity

and alienated the

ellates

demefnes of Pontus and Afia, to grant hereditary

tenure of maintaining a houfe in the capital
'*.

by

the eafy

But

thefe

encou-

ragements and obligations foon became fuperfluous, and were gradually abolifhed.

Wherever the

feat

of government

is

fixed, a

con-

fiderable part of the public revenue will be

expended by the prince

jullice,

himfelf,

by

his minifters,

by the

officers

of

and by the do-

meflics of the palace.

The moft wealthy

of the provincials will be

attraded by the powerful motives of intereil and duty, of amufe-

ment and
merchants,

curiofity.

third

and more numerous

of fervants, of

clafs

of inha-

bitants will infenfibly be formed,

artificers,

and of and

who

derive their fubfiflence from their

own
lefs

labour,

from the wants or luxury of the fuperior ranks.

tury, Conftantinople dlfputed with
riches

In

than a cen-

Rome

itfelf

the pre-eminence of

and numbers.
ili.
ii.

New
p. 48.

piles

of buildings, crowded together with

nure,
that

^'

Themift. Orat.

edit.

Har1. ii.

douin.
p, J07.

Sozomen,

1.

c. 3.

Zofim.

Anonym.

Valefian. p. 715.
(p. 10.),

If

we

could credit Codinus

del of their

Conftantine

may be found among the Novellas of emperor at the end of the Theodofian Code, torn. vi. nov. 12. M. de Tillemont (Hift. des Empereurs, tom. iv. p. 371.) has
With
a grant

built houfes for the fenators

on the exaft moand gratified them, as well as himfelf, with the pleafure of an agreeable furprife ; but the whole ftory

evidently miftaken the nature of thefe cftates.

Roman

palaces,

from the Imperial demefnes,

the fame condition was accepted as a favour,

is full

5*

and inconfillencies. The law by which the younger Theoof

fiflions

which would jullly have been deemed a hardfliip, if it had been impofed upon private
property,

doiius,

in the year 438,

abolifhed this te-

too

20

THE DECLINE AND FALL

too
little

CHAP,
xvrt.

regard to health or convenience, fcarcely allowed the In' ^

ftreets for the perpetual

U-v-

tervals

of narrow

throng of men, of horfes,

infufficient to

and of carnages.

The

allotted fpace
;

of ground was

contain the increafing people

and the additional foundations, which,

fea,

on

either fide,

were advanced into the

might alone have com-

poied a very confiderable city '\

Privileges.

The

frequent and regular diflributlons of wine and

oil,

of corn or

bread, of
tizens of

money

or provifions, had almoft exempted the poorer ci-

Rome from
Csefars
**

the necelTity of labour.

in

The
it

magnificence of

the

firft

was
:

fome meafure imitated by the founder of

might excite the

Conftantinople

but' his liberality, however

applaufe of the people, has incurred the cenfure of pofterity.

A
and

nation of legiflators and conquerors might afTert their claim to the

harvefts of Africa,
it

which had been purchafed with

their blood

was

artfully contrived

by Auguftus,

that,

in the

enjoyment of

plenty, the

Romans

fliould lofe the

memory

of freedom.

But the

prodigality of Conftantine could not be excufed

either of public or private intereft
;

by any

confideration

and the annual

tribute of corn

impofed upon Egypt for the benefit of his

new

capital,

was applied

to feed a lazy and infolent populace, at the expence of the hufband-

men

of an induftrious province ".

lefs liable to

Some

other regulations of this

lefs

emperor are

blame, but they are

deferving of notice.

" The pa/Tages of Zofimus, of Eunapius, of Sozomen, and of Agathias, which relate to the increafe of buildings and inhabitants at Conftantinople, are coUefted and connefted by
56.

daily allowance of the city confuted of eight

myriads of
late with

a-ira,

Vale/ius

which we may either tranfby the words modii cf

corn, or confider as expreilive of the

number
xir,
ii.

Gyllius

de Byzant.

1.

i.

c.

3.

of loaves of bread.

Sidonlus ApoUinaris (in Panegyr. Anthem.

p.

"
and

See Cod. Thcodof.

I.

xiii.

and
torn.

290.

edit.

Sirmond)

defcribes

the

Cod.

Juftinian.

Edift.

xii.

moles that

v/ere piifhed forwards into the fea;

p. 648.

edit.

Genev.

See

the

beautiful

they confifted of the famous Puzzolan fund, which hardens in the water. '* Sozomen, 1. ii. c. 3. Philollorg. I. ii. It Codin. Antiquitat. Conlh p. S. c. 9. appears by Socrates, 1. ii. c. 13, that the

complaint of Rome in the poem of Claudian de Bell. Gildonico, ver. 46 64.

Cum fubiii par Roma mihi, divifaque furafit

.(Equales aurora togas
;

./Egyptia rura

In partem ceflere novam.

He

OF THE
He
nified the public council
ni-cated

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
**,

21
dig-

divided Conftantinople into fourteen regions or quarters

CHAP.
xvir.

with the appellation of Senate

the privileges

*',

commufavoured

to

the

citizens

of Italy
firfl

''",

and beftowed

on the

rifing city the title of

Colony, the

and

mod
ftill

daughter of ancient Rome.

The

venerable parent

maintained

the legal and acknowledged fupremacy, which was due to her age,
to her dignity,

and

to the

remembrance of her former greatnefs

*'.

As

Conftantine urged the progrefs of the

work with

the impa-

Dedication;,

tience of a lover, the walls, the porticoes,

and the principal

A.D. 330 edifices or 334

were completed in a few

in a

years, or,

according to another account,

few months

*"*:'

but this extraordinary diligence fhould excite the

lefs

The regions of Conftantinople are menof the younger of them are

fift,

after the

freedom of the city had been

to the
i.

tioned in the code of Juflinian, and particularly defcribed in the Notitia

communicated
'^

whole empire.
p. 8.)

Julian (Orat.

celebrates

Con-

Theodofius

but as the four

laft

ftantinople as not lefs fuperior to all other

cities,

it

not included within the wall of Conftantine, may be doubted whether this divifion of
the city ihould be referred to the founder.

than fne was inferior to Rome itfelf. His learned commentator (Spanheim, p. 75,

Senatum conftituit fecundi rcsvoc&vit. Anonyn. Valefian.

'"

ordinis
p. 715.

C/ar

The

language by feveral parallel and contemporary inftances. Zofimus, as well as Socrates and Sozomen, flouriftied
76.)^juftifies this

fenators of old

Rome

v/ere (liled Clarijpmi.

See a curious note of Valefius ad Amraian.

Marcellin. xxii. 9.
ftle

From

the eleventh epi-

of the empire between the two Tons of Theodofius, which cftabliflied a perfeft equality between the old and the
after the diviilon

of Julian,

it

fhould fcem that the place

new
'''

capita!.

of fenator was confidered as a burthen, rather than as an honour: but the Abbe de la
Bletterie (Vie de Jovien, torn.
ii. p. 371.) has fliewn that this epiftle could not relate to

Codinu(Antiquitat. p.

8.) affirms, that

the foundations of Conftantinople were laid

in the year of the world 5837 (A. D. 329), on the 26th of September, and that the city

Conftantinople.

Might we not

read, inftead

was dedicated the nth of

330).

May

5838 (A. D.
each
little

of the celebrated name of Bf^asTtoK, the cbfcure but more probable word Eia-aiO/;!.: ? Bifanthe or Rhosdeftus, now Rhodofto, was
a fmall maritime city of Thrace. See Ste-

He

connefts thefe dates with feveral

charafteriftic epochs, but they con tradicl

other; the authority of Codinus

is

of

phan. Byz. de Urbibus, p. 225. and Cellar, Geograph. tom. i. p. 849.

weight, and the fpace which he affigns muft appear infuiEcient. The term of ten years
is

Cod. Theodof. 1. xiv. 13. mentary of Godefroy (tom. v.

long, but perplexed
afcertaiii in
;

"

The Comp.

220.)

is

nor indeed

is it

eafy to

what the Jus Italicum could con-

given us by Julian (Orat. i. p. 8.), and Spanheim labours to eftabliih the truth of it (p. 69 75), by the help of two paiTages from Themiftius (Orat. iv. p. 58.) and Philoftorgiiis (1, ii, c, 9.), which form a period from

22

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

Yvu v-'v>-^

^^^^

admiration,

fince

many

of the buildings were finifhed in (o

hafty and imperfect a manner, that, under the fucceeding reign, they

were preferved with

difficulty

from impending ruin

''.

But while

they difplayed the vigour and frefhnefs of youth, the founder prepared to celebrate the dedication of his city '^
largeffes
ealily

which crowned the pomp of

;

this

The games and memoi'able feftival may

be fuppofed

but there

is

one circumftance of a more fingular

and permanent nature, which ought not entirely to be overlooked.

As

often as the birth-day of the city returned, the ftatue of Conftan-

tine,

framed, by his order, of

fmall

gilt

wood, and bearing

place,

in

its

right-

hand a

image of the genius of the

was eredted on a
and clothed
as
it

triumphal

car.

The
the

guards, carrying white

tapers,

in their richeft apparel,

accompanied the folemn proceffion

moved through

Hippodrome.

When
from

it

was oppofite
^^.

to the throne

of the reigning emperor, he

reverence adored the

I'ofe

his feat,

and with grateful

memory
or

of his predecefTor

At the
city of

feftival

of the dedication, an edidt, engraved on a column of marble, be-

ftowed the
tine *\

title

of

Second

New Rome
*'

on the

Conftan-

But the name of Conftantinople

7.

has prevailed over that

honourable epithet; and,

ftill

after the revolution of fourteen centuries,

its

pepetuates the fame of

author

from the year 3:4

critics are

to the year 334. Modern divided concerning this point of

lemont, and the other friends of Conflantine,

who

chronology,

and

their different

fentiments

are very accurately difcuffed

Hiil. des
''5

Empereurs,

torn. iv.
iii.

by Tillemont, p. 619 625.

47.

are offended with the air of Paganifm which feems unworthy of a Chriflian prince, had a right to confider it as doubtful, but

they were not authorifed to omit the

tion of
<'<

men-

Zofim. Conflantine himfelf, in one 108. 1. ii. p. of his laws (Cod. Theod. 1. xv. tit. i.),
Themiflius, Orat.
p.

it.

betrays his impatience.

'

1. ii. c. 2. Ducange C. P. Velut ipfius Roms filiam, is the expreflion of AuguAin de Civitat. Dei, 1. v
1. i.

Sozomen,

c. 6.

Cedrenus and Zonaras,

faithful to the

c.

25.
^9 Eutropius,
I.

mode of fuperflition which prevailed in their own times, affureus, that Conftantinople was
confecrated to the Virgin
''^

x.

c. 8.
1. i.

Julian. Orat. i.
c. c.

p. 8.

Ducange C.

P.

The name

Mother of God.

of Conftantinople
Conflantine.
t^

is

extant on the medals of

and moft complete acccunt may he found jn the Alexandrian Chronicle, p. 285. Tilearlieft

The

of

this

extraordinary ceremony

The
2

lively Fontenelle

(Dialogues des

Morts,

xii.)

affeHs to deride the vanity of

human

OF
The The
by
eftablifhment of a

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

new
capital
is

23

foundation of a

naturally connetcd with the

new form

of

civil

and military adminiftration.

lv
"

^^
yv

^'
.'S

V Jl.

diftlnd view of the complicated fyftem of policy, introduced vemmentt

Diocletian,

improved by Conflantine, and

completed

by

his

immediate

fucceflbrs,

may

not only amufe the fancy by the fmgular

picture of a great empire, but will tend to illuftrate the fecret and
internal caufes of
inllitution,
its

rapid decay.

In the purfuit of any remarkable

we may

be frequently led into the more early or the more

recent times of the

Roman

hiftory

but the proper limits of this

enquiry will be included within a period of about one hundred and

thirty years,

from the
'
'

acceffion of Conftantine to the publication of

;

the Theodofian code

the eaft and weft
'",

from which,

as well

as

from the

Notitia of

we

derive the moft copious and authentic in-

formation of the
fufpend, for

ftate

of the empire.

This variety of objeds will

naiTative
;

fome time, the courfe of the

but the interare infenfible to

ruption will be cenfured only by thofe readers

who

the importance of laws and manners, while they perufe, with eager
curiofity, the tranfient intrigues

of a court, or the accidental event

of a

battle.

The manly
had
left

pride of the

Romans, content with

fubftantial

power.

Hierarchy of
^
'

to the vanity of the eaft the

forms and ceremonies of often''

human

ambition, and feems to triumph ia

the difappointment

of Conftantine,
loll

whofe
corrup-

The Theodo/ian code was promul^rited A. D. 438, See the Prolegomena of Godefroy,
'^
c, i.

immortal name
pellation
tion
is

is

now

in

the vulgar ap-

p. 185.

of Jftambol,
tr,,

Turkilh

Pancirolus, in his elaborate

afligns

Commen;

of iK

TO'.Aif.

Yet the original name

tary,

to

the Notitia

date almoll

flill

preferved,
2.

i.

By

the nations of
3.

Eu-

fimilar to that
his

of the Theodofian code

rather conjedures,
I fhould

but

rope.

By

the

modern Greeks.

By

proofs,

or

are ex-

the Arabs, whofe writings are difFufed over

tremely feeble.
to place
this

be rather inclined

the wide extent of their conquefts in Afia

and Africa.

See

d'Herbelot Bibliotheque
4.

Orientale, p. 275.

By

the more learned

work between the final divifion of the empire A. D. 395), and the fuccefsful invafion of Gaul by the Barbarians
ufeful

Turks, and by the emperor himfelf in his public mandates. Cantemir's Hiftory of the Othman Empire, p. 51.

(A.D.

407).

See Hiftoire des anciens Feu-

pies de I'Europe, torn. vii. p. 40.

tatious

24
^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^ ^^
^-

tatious greatnefs ".

But when they

loft

even the femblance of thofc

virtues
city of

which were derived from

their ancient freedom, the fimpli-

Roman manners was

infenfibly corrupted

by

the ftately affec-

tation of the courts of Afia.

The

diflindlions of perfonal merit

and

influence, fo confpicuous in a republic, fo feeble

and obfcure under a

monarchy, were aboUfhed by the defpotifm of the emperors;

fubftituted in their

who
office,

room

a fevere fubordination of rank and

feated

from the

titled flaves

who were

on

tire

fteps

of the throne, to

the meaneft inftruments of arbitrary power.

abjeh dependents

This multitude of
of the alual governat

was

intereiled in the fupport

ment, from the dread of a revolution, which might

once conIn this

found

their hopes,

and intercept the reward of

it

their fervices.

divine hierarchy (for fuch

is

frequently ftyled), every rank

its

was
dis-

marked

vvith the

moft fcrupulous exadnefs, and

trifling

dignity

was
it

played in a variety of

and folemn ceremonies, which

'*.

was

a ftudy to learn, and a facrilege to negledl

The

purity of the

Latin language was debafed, by adopting, in the intercourfe of pride

and

flatter}'-,

a profufion of epithets,

which Tully would

were

fcarcely

have underfl:ood,
indignation.

and which Auguftus would have rejeded with

principal officers of the empire
faluted,

The

even

by the fovereign
your Gravity^

himfelf, with the deceitful titles of

your

Sincerity^

your Excelkjicy^

your Eminence^ your

aJid magnificent

fiiblime

and
''K

wonderful Magnitude^

your

illujljious

Highnefs

The
''

codicils
Scilicet

or patents of their office were curioufly emblazoned

non apud
nian, the father of his Di-vifiity, thus conti-

externa: fuperbiae fueto,

erat notitia noflri

(perhaps mjlra);

nues

Siquis igiturindcbitum fibi

locum ufur;

qucs vis Imperii valet, inania tranfmlttunTacit. Annal. XV. 31. The gradation from the ftyle of freedom and fimplicity, to
tiir.

paverit, nulla fe ignoratione defendat

fitque

plane facrihgii reus,

neglexcrit.
leg. z.
'.

qui divina prjecepta

1.

Cod.

Theod.
'Nctitla

vi.

tit.

v.

that of form

and

fervitude,

may

be traced in

the Epiftles of Cicero, of Pliny, and of "achus.

'''

Sym-

Confult the

Digmtatum, at the
Code,
torn.
vi.

end
Gratian, after confirming

of the

Theodpfian

The emperor

p. 316,

a law of precedency publiihed by Valenti-

with

OF THE
wkh
high dignity;

RPMAN

EMPIRE.
its

25
nature and

fuch emblems as were beft adapted to explain

^ ^^^

^'

the image or portrait of the reigning emperors; a

A.

ii-

-v^

triumphal car; the book of mandates placed on a table, covered with

a rich carpet, and illuminated

by four

tapers
;

the allegorical figures

of the provinces which they governed

ftandards of the troops
official

or the appellations

and

whom

they commanded.

Some

of thefe
;

enfigns were really exhibited in their hall of audience

others

preceded their pompous march whenever they appeared in public

and every circumftance of

ments, and their
train,

their

demeanour, their

drefs, their

orna-

was

calculated

to infpire a

deep reverence

for the reprefentatives of fupreme majefty.

ferver,

By

a philofopliic ob-

the fyftcm

of the

Roman government
filled

might have been

miftaken for a fplendid theatre,

with players of every charadler

paflions of

and degree, who repeated the language, and imitated the

their original

model

'^
ranlcs

All the magiftrates of fufficient importance to find a place in the Three

general
claffes.

ftate
I.

of the empire,
lllujlrious.
;

were accurately divided into three

:

The

3.

The

ClariJJlmi

The SpeBabiles, or RefpeHable And whom we may tranflate by the word Honourable.
2.

In the times of

Roman

fimplicity, the

laft-mentioned epithet was

till it

fed only as a vague expreffion of deference,

the peculiar and appropriated
fenate '%
title
all

became

at

length

of

all

who were members

that

of the

and confequently of

who, from

venerable body,

were
from

feledted to

govern the provinces.

office,

The

vanity of thofe who,

their

rank and

might claim a fuperior diftindion above

the reft of the fenatorial order,

the
'*

was long afterwards indulged with

title

new

appellation of RefpeBable : but the

Im-

of

lllujlrious

was

Pancirolus ad Notitiam utriufqne

"

In the Pandefts, which

the ordinary

may

be referCla-

perii, p. 39.

But

his explanations are ob-

red to the reigns of the Antonines,

rijjimus
is

fcure,

and he does not funiciently diftinguifh

and legal

title

of a

the

painted

emblems

from the

efFedive

fenator.

enfigns of ofnce.

Vol.

II.

always

26 ^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^ J^
_,
^-

always referved to fome eminent perfonages

verenced by the two fubordinate
I.

who were

obeyed or re-

clafles.
II.

It

was communicated only,

the Prsetorian przefedls,
;

To

the confuls
praefedls

and patricians;

To
;

with the

of

Rome
who

and Conftantinople

III.

general of the cavalry and the infantry

nifters

and, IV.

To the mafters To the feven miwho

of the palace,

exercifed their facred fundions about the

perfon of the emperor '^

Among

thofe illuftrious magiftrates

were efteemed co-ordinate with each

other, the feniority of appoint''.

ment gave
honorary

place to the union of dignities

By

the expedient of

codicils, the

emperors,

who were

fond of multiplying their

favours, might fometimes gratify the vanity,

tion, of impatient courtiers
*.

though not the ambi-

The

confuls.

J.

As long

as the

koman

confuls were

the

firfl:

magiftrates of a

free ftate,

they derived their light to power from the choice of the

people.

As long

as the

emperors condefcended to difguife the ferviftill

tude which they impofed, the confuls were

or apparent fuffrage of the fenate-

eleded by the real

From

the reign of Diocletian,

even thefe veftiges of liberty were abolifhed, and the fuccefsful candidates

who were

invefted with the annual honours of the confulfhip,

affefted to deplore the

humiliating condition of their predecefTors.

The

Scipios and the Catos

had been reduced

to folicit the votes of ple-

beians, to pafs through the tedious

eleftion,

and expenfive forms of a popular

and

to expofe their dignity to the

fhame of a public

refufal

while their

own

happier fate had referved them for an age and govern-

ment

in

which the rewards of virtue were afligned by the unerring wif'

dom
^'

of a gracious fovereign
12-17.
I

',

In the

epiftles

which the emperor adby

their learned;

Pancirol. p.

have not taken

trated with equal prolixity

interpreter.
*=*

any notice of the two inferior ranks, Ferfcctijjtmus, and Bgregius, which were given to many perfons, who were not raifed to the
fenatorial dignity.
79 Cod. Theodof. I. vi. tit. vi. The rules of precedency are afcertained with the moft minute accuracy by the emperors, and illuf-

Cod. Theod.
Aufonius
(in

1.

vi.

tit.

xxii.

Gratiarum Aftione) bafely expatiates on this unworthy topic, which is managed by Mamertinus (Panegyr. Vet. xi. 16. 19.) with fomewhat more freedom and
''

ingenuity.

drefled

OF THE
ilrelled to the

ROMAN
it

EMPIRE.
were created
gilt

27
^
^^/'^
^'

two

confuls eledl,
"'.

was

declared, that they

portraits,

AV

li.

by his
tablets

fole authority

Their names and

engraved on

of ivory, were difperfed over the empire as prefents to the pro-

vinces, the cities, the magiftrates, the fenate,

and the people

^'.

Their
refi-

folemn inauguration was performed

dence
;

at the place

of the Imperial

and during a period of one hundred and twenty years,

Rome
'*.

was conftantly deprived of the prefence of her ancient

magiftrates

On the morning of the firft of January,

of their dignity.

the confuls aflumed the enfigns

in filk
this

Their drefs was a robe of purple, embroidered

coftly

and gold, and fometimes ornamented with

gems

*'.

On

folemn occafion they were attended by the moft eminent

officers

of

the ftate and army, in the habit of fenators; and the ufelefs fafces,

armed with the once formidable

the
lidors ".

axes,

were borne before them by

the palace
"''

The

procelTion

moved from

to

the

^^

Cum

de Confulibus in

annum
.
.

creandis,

folus

mecum
:

volutarem

te

Confulem

et defignavi, et

cupavi

declaravi, et priorem nunfome of the expreffions employed by the emperor Gratian to his prjeceptor the
are

poet Aufonius.
*3

Immanefque .... denies Qui fefti ferroin tabulas auroque micantes,

Infcripti rutilum ccelato

the emperors were always abfent from Rome on the firll: day of January. See the Chronoiogie de Tillemont, torn iii. iv. and v. '"' See Claudian in Conf. Prob. et Olybrii 17S, &c. and in iv Conf. Honorii, 585, &c.; though in the latter it is not eafy to feparate the ornaments of the emperor from thofe of Aufonius received, from the lithe conful.
berality

Confule nomen

of Gratian,
ftate,

a fejlis palmaia,

or

Per proceres

et

valgus eant.
ii

robe of

Claud, in

Conf. Stilichon. 456.

which the figure of the emperor Conftantius was embroidered.

in

Montfaucon has reprefented fome of thefe tablets or dypticfcs ; fee Supplement a I'Antiquite expliquee,
^*
torn.
iii.

**

Cernis et

armorum

proceres

legumque pomore Gabino

tentes
Patricios

p. 220.

fumunt habitus
fignis,

et

Confule Istatur poll plurima fxculavifo

Pallanteus apex: agnofcuntroftra curules

Difcolor incedit legio, pofitifque parumper

Bellorum

fequitur vexilla Quirini.

Auditas quondam proavis

git

defuetaque cin-

Liftori cedunt aquila;, ridetque togatus

Miles, et in mediis efFulget curia

caftris.

Regius auratis Fora fafcibus Ulpia liftor. Claudian in vi Conf. Honorii. 643.

'

Conf. Honorii, 5. JlriSafqite procul radiare /ecures.

iv

Claud, in

From
Ihip

the reign of

Carus

In Conf. Prob. 229.

to the fixth conful''
1.

one

of Honorius, there was an interval of hundred and twgnty years, during which

See Valefius ad
c. 7.

Ammian.

Marcellin.

xxii.

Forum,

^8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Forum, or principal fquare of the
their tribunal,
city;

CHAP.

where

the. confuls

afcendeJ

and feated themfelves

in the curule chairs, Avhich

wcrj
exer-

framed
cifed

after tlie falhion

of ancient times.

They immediately
flave,

an adl of jurifdition, by the manumiflion of a

;

who was

brought before them for that purpofe

and the ceremony was in-

tended to reprefent the celebrated aftion of the elder Brutus, the

author of liberty and of the confulfliip,
his fellow-citizens the faithful

when he admitted among Vindex, who had revealed the confpipublic feftival

racy of the Tarquins '\

feveral days in all

The

was continued during

in

the principal cities; in

Rome, from cuftom;

Conftantinople, from imitation; in Carthage, Antioch, and Alexandria,

from the love of pleafure and the

fuperfluity of wealth^'.

In

the two capitals of the empire the annual games of the theatre,
the
circus,,

and the amphitheatre

'^,

cofl

four thoufand pounds

fterling:.

of gold, (about) one hundred and fixty thoufand pounds

and

if fo

heavy an expence furpafled the

faculties or the inclination

of the magiftrates themfelves, the

rial

fum was

fupplied from the

thefe

Impe-

treafury

''.

As foon

as the confals

had difcharged

cuftomary
life,,

duties, they

were

at liberty to retire

into the fhade of private

and

to enjoy, during the

remainder of the year, the undiflurbedgreatnels.

contemplation of their
the national councils
;

own

They no

longer prefided in

they no longer executed the refolutions of

abilities
little

peace or war.

Their

(unlefs

they were employed in more

;

effedive offices) were of

*

moment

and their names ferved only

AU-

Aufpice

mox

Isto fonuit claraore tribunal

;

andria, fed Treviri Principis benencio.

fonius in Grat. Aftione. '^ Claudian (in Conf.

Te
Lex

faftos

ineunte quater
:

folemnia ludit

Omina

libertas

deduilum vindice iBorem

herili

Mall. Theodori,

fervat,

famulufque jugo laxatus

279331.)
manner,

defcribes, in a lively

IJucitur, et grato renieat fecurior iflu.

the various

and fanciful games of the circus,.

Claudian in iv Conf. Honorii, 611.

89

the theatre, and the amphitheatre, exhibited

Celebrant quidem folemnes

de more,

iftos

dies,

omnes ubique urbes qux fub legibus

et

agiint;

bats

by the new conful. The fanguinary com-of gladiators had already been prohi9'

Roma

et Conftantinopolis

de

bited.

imitatione, et Antiochia pro luxu, et difcinfta Carthago, et domus fliuninis Alex-

Procopius in Hift. Arcana^

c.

z6.

^s

OF THE
Marius and of Cicero.
the
lafi:

ROMAN
it

EMPIRE.
filled

29
the chair of
II A A V a1 nv

as the legal date of the year, hi

which they had

flill

P.

Yet

was

felt

and acknowledged, in
this

period

of

Roman
and

fervitude,

that to

empty

name

might be compared,
fubftantial

even

preferred,

the

pofleffion of

power.

The

title

of conful was

ftill

the

moft fplen-

did object of ambition, the nobleft reward of virtue

and

loyalty.

The emperors
republic,

themfelves,

who

difdained the faint

fhadow of the

were confcious that they acquired an additional fplenas often as

dour and majefty

they aiTumed the annual honours of the

confular dignity 5\

The

proudeft and moft perfect feparation which can be found in The

is

patrl-

any age or country, between the nobles and the people,

that of the Patricians
firft

perhaps

and the Plebeians,

republic.

as

it

was

eftablifhed in the
offices

age of the
ftate,

Roman
;

Wealth and honours, the

religion,

of the

and the ceremonies of

werc almoft exclufively

poffeiTed

by the former

who

prefer\'ing the purity of their blood

clients in a condition

with the moft infulting jealoufy ", held their

of fpecious vaftldage.
the
fpirit

But thefe

diftindlions, io incompatible with'

of a free people, were removed, after a long ftruggle, by

the perfevering efforts of the Tribunes.

cefsful

The moft
after

adlive

and fuc-

of the Plebeians accumulated wealth, afpired to honours, deand,

ferved triumphs, contraled alliance?,

afllimed the. pride of ancieat nobility '\

fome generations,

The

Patrician families,

on
the

9'

In Confulatu honos ilne labore fufcipi-

tur.

(Mamerlin in Panegyr. Vet.

xi.

2.)

and Plebeians were prohibited by the l:iws of the ILW Tables and the uniform opera;

This exalted idea of the confiillhip is borrowed from an Oration (iii. p. 107.) pronounced by Julian in the fervile court of
Conftantius.

tions of

human

nature

may

atteil

that the

cuflom- furvived the law. See in Livy (iv. 1 6.), the pride of family urged by the

See the

Abbe de

la

Bleterie
xxiv.
p.

conful, and the rights of

mankind

aflerted

(Memoires de I'Academie,
289.),

torn.

who

delights to purfue the veftiges of

the old conftitution, and

who fometimes

finds

them
53

in his copious fancy.

by the tribune Canuleius. '''' See the animated piftiires drawn by Sal'"ft. in the Jugurthine war, of the pride of the nobles, and even of the virtuous Metellus,

Intermarriages between the Patricians

who was

ttnable

to

brook the idea

that

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the other hand, whofe original

CHAP.
XVII.

number was never

failed in the

recruited

till

the

end of the commonwealth, either

natui'Cy or

ordinary courfe of

were extinguiflied

in fo

many

foreign and domeftic wars,

or,

through a want of merit or fortune, infenfibly mingled with the

of the people
'*'.

rnafs

Very few remained who could

city,

derive their

pure and genuine origin from the infimcy of the

that

or even from

of

the republic,

when

Caiiiir

and Auguftus, Claudius and

Veipafian, created from the body of the fenate a competent

number
thefe

of

new

Patrician
ftill

families, in

the hope

of perpetuating an order,

which was

confidered as honourable and facred '\

(in

But

artificial fupplies

which the reigning houfe was always included)

tyrants,

were rapidly fwept away by the rage of

tions,

by frequent revolu'^

by the change of manners, and by the intermixture of nations more was

left,

Little

when

Conflantine afcended the throne, than a

vague and imperfed:

firft

tradition, that the Patricians

had once been the

of the Romans.
reftrain,

To form
it

body of

nobles,

whofe influence
monarch, would

may

while

fecures the authority of the

that the honour of the confulfhip Ihould be

Scauro.)

The

family was faved from oblixi.

beftowed on the obfcure merit of his lieute-

vion by the merit of the fon.

9" Tacit.
1.

nant Marius

(c.

64).

Two

hundred years

Annal.

25.

Dion

Caffius,

before, the race of the Metelli themfelves were confounded among the Plebeians of

The virtues of Agricola, 693. was created a Patrician by the emperor

Hi. p.

who
Ve-

Rome

and from

the etymology of their

is

fpafian,

reflefted

name of
from
9

CteciVms, there

reafon to believe

order; but his

on that ancient anceftors had not any claim

honour

that thofe haughty nobles derived their origin

a futier.

In the year of

Rome

800, very few re-

beyond an Equeftrian nobility. ^' This failure would have been almoil impoffible if it were true, as Cafaubon compels Aureliiis
Ca;far.
c.

mained, not only of the old Patrician families, but even of thofe which had been cre(Tacit. Anated by C2:far and Auguftus. The family of Scaurus (a nal. xi. 25.) branch of the Patrician ^milii) was degraded
low that his father, who the trade of a charcoal-merchant,
fo
flaves,

Vidor

to affirm (ad Sueton.

in

j2.

See Hift. Auguft. p.

p. 220.), that

203.

and Cafaubon. Comment,

families.

Ve-

fpafian created at once a thoufand Patrician

exi-Tcifed
left

him

only ten
jnus,

and fomewhat
fterling.
4.

lefs

than three

But this extravagant number is much even for the whole Senatorial order, unlefs we ihould include all the Roman knights who were diftinguiflicd by the pertoo
miflion of wearing the laticlave.

hundred pounds
1.

(Valerius

Maxi-

iv.

c.

n.

Ji.,

Aurel. Viftor in

have

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
have been very inconfiftent with the charadler and policy of Conftantine; but

31

CHAP,
v_-v-^

had he ferioufly entertained fuch a dcfign,

ratify,

it

might

have exceeded the meafure of his power to

by an

arbitrary

edia, an inftitution which muft expedl the fandion of time and of

opinion.

He

revived, indeed, the

title

of Patricians, but he re-

vived

it

as a perfonal, not as

an hereditary diftindion.
;

They

yielded

only to the tranfient fuperiorify of the annual confuls

but they en-

joyed the pre-eminence over

all

the great officers of ftate, with the

moft familiar accefs to the perfon of the prince.

rank was beftowed on them for
ites,

This honourable

life;

and

as

they were ufually favour-

and minifters

who had grown

old in the Imperial court, the true

flattery
;

etymology of the word was perverted by ignorance and

and

the Patricians of Conftantine were reverenced as the adopted Fathers

of the emperor and the republic '\

II.

The

fortunes of the Praetorian prsefeds were eflentially different The Praeopatricians.

title.

from thofe of the confuls and

cient greatnefs evaporate in a vain

The latter iliw their anThe former, rifing by decivil

fta".^'*"

grees

from the moft humble condition, were invefted with the

and military adminiftration of the

Roman

world.

From

the reign

of Severus to that of Diocletian, the guards and the palace, the laws

and the

finances,

the armies and the provinces, were entrufted to

;

their fuperintending care

and, like the Vizirs of the Eaft, they

held with one hand the

feal,

and with the other the ftandard, of the

prasfedts,

empire.

The ambition of the

to the mafters

always formidable and fome-

times

fatal

whom

they ferved, was fupported by the

but after thofe haughty troops
finally fuppreffed

ftrength of the Praetorian bands;

had been weakened by Diocletian, and

by Con-

ftantine, the pra^feds, v/ho furvived their fall,

difficulty to the ftation

were reduced without

of ufeful and obedient minifters.

When they

were no longer refponfible for the

=
'^

fafety of the emperor's perfon,

1.

Zofiir.us,

1. ii.

p. ii3.;

and Godefroy ad Cod, Theodof.

vi.

tit. vi.

they

,2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

they refigned the jurifdidbion which they had hitherto claimed and
exercifed over
all

CHAP,
X.VII

the departments of the palace.

all

They were defoon as they had

flov,rer

prived by Conftantine of
ceafed to lead into the

military

command,
by

as

field,
;

under their immediate orders, the

at length,

of the

Roman

troops

and

a fingular revolution, the

civil

captains of the guards

were transformed into the

magiftrates of

the provinces.

According to the plan of government inftituted by

Diocletian, the four princes

after the
tine,

had each

their Pra:;tonan pr.-Efeit

and,

monarchy was once more united

ftill

in the perfon of Conftan-

he

continued to create the fame number of

to their care the
i.

four prje-

FCTSj and entrufted

already adminiftered.

fame provinces which they

of the Eaft ftretched his

The

prscfedt

ample jurifdidtion
jedl to the

into the three parts of the globe

which were fubbanks of

Romans, from the

cataracts of the Nile to the

the Phafis, and from the mountains of Thrace to the frontiers of

Perfia.
2.

The important

provinces of Pannonia, Dacia,

Macedoprjefed: of

nia,

and Greece, once acknowledged the authority of the

3.

Illyricum.

The power of

the

pr2efe(fl:

of Italy was not confined

his title
;

to the country

from Avhence he derived

it

extended over

the additional territory of Rhxtia as far as the hanks of the Danube,

over the dependent iflands of the Mediterranean, and over that part

of the continent of Africa which

lies

between the confines of Cyrene

prxfedl of the Gauls compre-

and thofe of Tingitania.

hended under
that plural

4.

The

denomination the kindred provinces of

Britain and Spain,

and
of

his authority

was obeyed from the wall of

'"',

Antoninus to the

fort

Mount

Atlas

After the Pr^torian prxfefts had been difmiffed from

all

military

command,

the civil fundions which they were ordained to exercife

frequently have been perplexed amidft the

99 Zofimus, I. ii. p. 109, 1 10. If we had npt fortunately poflefled this fatisfaftory ac-

copious details of the Code, and the circumftantial

.yinces

count of the divi 'on of the power and proof the Prstorian prrefefts, we fliould

minutenefs of the Notitia.

over

OF THE
over fo
abilities

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
to the ambition

3^ and

many

fubje(5t nations,

were adequate

CHAP,

of the moft confummate minifters.

To

their

wifdom was
the

committed the fupreme adminiftration of

the

juftice

and of the finances,

all

two

objedls which, in a ftate of peace,

comprehend almoft
;

refpelive duties of the fovereign

to proted: the citizens

and of the people

of the former,
;

who

are obedient to the laws

of the

latter,

to contribute the fhare of their property

which

is

required for the

the ports,

expences

of the

ftate.

The

coin,

the highways,

the

granaries, the manufadlures, whatever could intereft the public profperity,

was moderated by the authority of the

Praetorian prsfedls.

As

the immediate reprefentatives of the Imperial majefty, they

to explain, to enforce,

were

empowered

and on fome occafions

to

modify,

the general edids

by their

difcretionary proclamations.

They watched
the inferior ju-

over the condud: of the provincial governors, removed the negligent,

and inflided punifhments on the

rifdidions,

guilty.

From

all

an appeal

in every matter of importance, either civil or

:

criminal,
his

might be brought before the tribunal of the prasfed

but

fentence

was

final

and abfolute

and the emperors themfelves

refufed to admit

any complaints

againft the

judgment or the

inte-

grity of a magiftrate

M^hom they honoured with fuch unbounded

fuitable to his dignity ""
;

confidence

'.

His appointments were

and

if avarice

was

his ruling paffion,

he enjoyed frequent opportuof prefents, and of perqui-

nities
fites.

of coUeding a rich harveft of

fees,

Though

the emperors ho longer dreaded the ambition of their

'<"'

See a law of Conftantine himfelf.

of the ancient didators.

tit. xi.

Pandeft.

1.

i.

praefeftis

mus.

autem prjetorio provocare non finiCod. Juftinian. 1. vii. tit. Ixii. leg. 19.

"" When

Juftinian, in the exhaufted con-

Charifius, a lawyer of the time of Conftantine (Heinec. Hill. Juris

dition of the empire, inflituted a Prstorian

praefeft for Africa,

Romani,

p. 349.),

who
rian

admits this law as a fundamental principle of jurifprudence, compares the Praetopraefefts

of

one hundred
I.
i.

he allowed him a falary pounds of gold. Cod.

xxvii. leg. i.

Juftinian.

tit.

to

the mailers

of the horfe

Vol.

II.

prsefcds,

34

THE DECLINE AND FALL

pr^sfeds, they
great office

CHAP,

were

attentive to counterbalance the

power of
''.

this

V
The
Conftanti-

by the uncertainty and

fhortnefs of

its

duration

prsfeas

From
tinople

their fuperior importance

and dignity,

Rome

and Conftan-

^^

'^*

Were alone excepted from the jurifdidion of the Prsetorian The immenfe fize of the city, and the experience of the prsefeds.
tardy, inefFeluaI operation of the laws,

had furnifhed the policy of

Auguftus with a fpecious pretence for introducing a new magiftrate,,

who
the

alone could reftrain a fervile and turbulent populace

by the

ftrong

arm of

arbitrary

power

''.

Valerius Meflalla was appointed

fo

firft

pr32fet

of Rome, that his reputation might countenance

:

invidious a meafure
plifhed citizen
''*

but, at the

end of a few days, that accom-

refigned his office, declaring with a fpirit

worthy

of the friend of Brutus, that he found himfelf incapable of exercifmg a power incompatible with public freedom
''.

As

the fenfe

of liberty became
dearly underftood

lefs exquifite,
;

the advantages of order were

more
de-

and the

pra:fet,

who feemed

to have been

figned as a terror only to flaves and vagrants, was permitted to extend'

"*

For

this,
it

and the other

be fufEcient

dignities of
to refer to

republic
Philippi
:

till

the empire,

may

it was broken in the fields oP he then accepted and deferved the

the ample cemmentaries of Pancirolus and

Godefroy,
the
legal

who have
and
ii.

diligently collefted

and
all

ors

accurately digefted in their proper order

hiftorical

materials.

From

thofe authors,

World,

vol.

Dr. Howell (Hiftory of the p. 2477.) '^ad deduced a

ftate

m oft moderate of the conquerand uniformly afferted his freedom and dignity in the court of Auguftus. The triumph of Meflalla was juftified by the conqueft of Aquitain. As an orator, he difputed
favour of the
;

the paL-n of eloquence with Cicero himfelf.

very diftinft abridgment of the

of the

Meflalla cultivated every mufe,

and was the

Roman
""J

empire.
Tacit. Annal.
p. 155.
vi.

patron of every
11.

man of

genius.

He

fpent

Eufeb. in
in the ora-

his evenings in philofophic converfation

with

Chron.

Dion
(I.

Cafllus,

tion of Mjecenas

vii.

p. 67J.),. defcribes

Horace; aflumeu his place at table between Delia and Tibullus ; and amufed his leifure by
encouraging the poetical talents of young Ovid.
'"s

the prerogatives of the praefeft of the city as

they were eftablifhed in his

'*

own

time.

The fame of Meflalla

has been fcarcely

Incivilem

efle

poteftatem conteftans,

equal to his merit.

In the earlieft youth he

to the friendlhip

fays the tranflator of Eufebius.

preffes the

Tacitus ex:

was recommended by Cicero

of Brutus.

fame idea in other words

quafi

He

followed the ftandard of the

nefcius exercendi.

his

OF THE
lus civil

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
C H A

3S
p.

and criminal junfdidlion over the equeftnan and noble fa-

milies of

Rome.

The

prsetors,

annually created as the judges of

pofTeffion

law and equity, could not long difpute the

with a vigorous and permanent magiftrate,
ted into the confidence of the prince.
their

of the Forum
ufually admit-

who was

Their courts were deferted,

number,

which had once fluduated between twelve and

''

eighteen '\ was gradually reduced to two or three, and their important fundtions were confined to the expenfive obligation
exhibiting games for the

of

amufement of the people.

After the office

of

Roman

confuls had been changed into a vain pageant,

in the capital,

which was

rarely difplayed

the prsefeds aflumed their vacant

place in the fenate, and were foon acknowledged as the ordinary

prefidents of that venerable affembly.

They
it

received appeals

from

the diflance of one hundred miles

and

was allowed

as a principle

of jurifprudence, that
alone
'*.

all

municipal authority was derived from them

In the difcharge of his laborious employment, the go-

vernor of

Rome was

affifted

by

fifteen officers,

fome of

whom

had

been originally his equals, or even his fuperiors.

departments were relative to the

The

principal

command

of a numerous watch

eftabliftied as a fafeguard agalnfh fires, robberies,

and nodturnal

dif-

orders

the cuftody and diftribution of the public allowance of corn

;

and provifions

the care of the port, of the aquedudls, of the

com-

mon
'"*

fewers, and of the navigation and bed of the

D. ad

Tyber ; the Inurbem admit;

See Lipfius,

Excurfus

lib.

"" Quidquid
titur,

igitur intra

Tacit. Annal.
'"''

ad P.

U. videtur pertinere
milliarium.
n. i.
i.

fed et fiquid

Heineccii Element. Juris Clvilis

i.

fe-

intra

centefimum
1.

Ulpian

iri

cund. ordinem Pandeft. torn.

likewife

p. 70.

See

Pandeft.
to

tit. xiii.

He

proceeds

Spanheim de Ufu Numifmatum,

difTertat.

enumerate the various

offices

of the prE(I. i.

tom.
4i;o,

ii.

x.

p. 119.

In the year
tiree

feft,
tit.

who,

in
leg.

the
3.),

Code of
is

Juftinian

Marcian publifhed a law, that

xxxix.

declared to precede

citizens fhould be annually created Pra2tor3

of

and command
riu ac

all city

magiflrates, fine injualieni.

Conftantinople by the choice of the fenate, bat with their own confent. Cod, Juftinian,
I.

detrimento honoris

i. tit.

xxxix. leg. 2.

fpedion

36 ^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

HA
P.

fpetion of the markets, the theatres, and of the private as well as

c -^
V

A.Vi,l.

public works.

Their vigilance enfured the three principal objects of

;

a regular police, fafety, plenty, and cleanlinefs

and

as a

proof of

the attention of government to preferve the fplendour and ornaments

of the

capital, a particular infpedlor

it

was appointed

for the ftatues

the guardian, as

were, of that inanimate people, which, according

to the extravagant computation of an old writer,

rior in

was

fcarcely infe-

number

to the living inhabitants of

Rome.

About

thirty

years after the foundation of Conftantinople, a fimilar magiftrate

created in that rifing metropolis, for the

was

fame

ufes,

and with the

fame powers.
nity of the

A perfe<Sl

equality

was

eftabllfhed

between the dig-

two municipal, and

that of the

four prxtorian, prx-

feds
The
luls

"'.

proconVlCC-

Thofe who, in the Imperial hierarchy, were diftingulfhed by the

title

prsfeas, &c.

of Refpe&able^ formed an intermediate

clafs

between the

illif-

trious prxfedts

and the honourable magiftrates of the provinces.

In

this clafs, the proconfuls

of Afia, Achaia, and Africa, claimed a pre-

eminence, which was yielded to the remembrance of their ancient

dignity
;

and the appeal from

their tribunal to that of the prsefedts

was almoft the only mark of their dependence ". But the civil government of the empire was diftributed Into thirteen great dioceses, each of which equalled the juft meafure of a powerful king-

dom.

The

firft

of thefe diocefes was

;

fubjefl: to

the jurifdidlion of the

count of the eaft

and

we may convey fome

by

idea of the importance

and variety of

his functions,

obferving, that fix hundred appa-

'<^'

Befides our ufual guides,

we may obUrbis
;

ferve, that Felix

Cantelorius has written a

feparate treatife,
that
lice

De

Prscfefto

and

many curious details concerning the poof Rome and Conftantinople are conbook of the Theo-

"=' Eunapius affirms, that the proconful of Afia was independent of the prasfedl ; which muft, however, be underftood with fome allowance the jurifdiftion of the vicePanpra;feft he moft afliiredly difclaimed.
:

lained in the fourteenth

dofian Code.

cii-olus,

p. i6i.

ritorsj

OF THE
ritors,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

37

who

%vould be ftyled at prefent either fecretaries, or clerks,

CHAP,
^-v

or ufhers, or meflbngers, were employed in his immediate office'".

The

place of Augnjlal prcefeEl of

Egypt was no longer

retained
;

filled

by a

Roman

knight

but the

name was

and the extraordinary and the temper of the

ftill

powers which the

inhabitants,

fituation of the country,

had once made indifpenfable, were

continued to the

governor.

The

eleven remaining diocefes, of Afiana, Pontica, and

;

Thrace

of Macedonia, Dacia, and Pannonia or Weftern Illyricum

;

of Italy and Africa

of Gaul, Spain, and Britain

were governed
be added, that

by twelve

vicars, or vicc-pi'ofe&s'^^,

whofe name
office.
It

fufficiently explains

the nature and dependence of their

the lieutenant-generals of the

may

Roman

armies,

the military counts

and dukes,

who

will be hereafter mentioned,

were allowed the rank

and

title

of RefpeSiable.
fpirit

As

the

of jealoufy and oftentation prevailed in the councils The

,
.

no''5

goverof the

of the emperors, they proceeded with anxious diligence to divide the

fubftance

provinces,

and

to multiply the titles of power.

The

vaft countries

which the
ments

Roman
at

conquerors had united under the fame fimple form

of adminiflration, were imperceptibly crumbled into minute frag;

till

length the whole empire

was

diftributed

into

one

hundred and fixteen provinces, each of which fupported an expenfive

and fplendid

eftablifliment.

Of

thefe, three
five

were governed by
and feventy-

procofifuls^ thirty-feven

by
in

cotifiilars,

by

corre&ors,

one by
ferent
;

prefidents.

The

appellations of thefe magiftrates wei-e diffucceffive

they

ranked

order,

the

enfigns

of their
acci-

dignity

were curioufly varied,

and

their fituation,

from

dental circumftances, might be

"'

more

or

lefs

agreeable, or advan-

The

proconfu! of Africa had four hun-

"* In
of Rome.

Italy there
It

was likewife the Vicar

dred apparitors
falaries,

either

and they all received large from the treafury or the pro;

has been

much

difputed, wYie-

vince.

See Pancirol. p. 26, and Cod. Julli1.

nian.

xii.

tit. Ivi, Ivii.

meafured one hundred miles from the city, or whether it ftretched over the ten fouthern provinces of Italy.
ther his jurifdiiftion

tageous.

38

THE DECLINE AND FALL

tageous.

CHAP,
'

But they were

clafs

all

(excepting only the procoiifuls) alike

;

included in the
trufted,

of honom-able perfons

and they were

alike

en-

during the pleafure of the prince, and under the authority

of the prjefedls or their deputies, with the adininiftration of juftice

and the finances

in their refpedtive diftrids.

The ponderous vo-

Jumes of the Codes and Pandects "^ would furnifh ample materials

for a minute inquiry into the fyftem

as in fhe fpace

of provincial governthe

ment,

of fix centuries

it

was improved by
It

wifdom

of the

Roman

ftatefmen and lawyers.

may

be

fufficient for the

hiftorian to feled

two

fingular

and
i
.

falutary provifions intended to

reftrain the abufe of authority,

For the prefervation of peace and

order, the governors of the provinces

juftice.

were armed with the fword of

and they
-exercifed,

They

inflidled corporal

puniihments,
life

In capital offences, the power of

authorifed to indulge the

and death.

But they were not

condemned criminal with the choice of his

Thefe prerogatives were refen^ed to the

own

execution, or to pronounce a fentence of the mildeft and moft

exile.

honourable kind of
prasfeds,

who

alone could impofe the heavy fine of fifty pounds of

gold

their vicegerents

were confined

to the trifling

weight of a few

ounces ".
it

This diftindion, which feems

to grant the larger, while

denies the fmaller degree of authority,

was founded on

a very ra-

tional motive.

The

fmaller degree

was

infinitely

more

liable to abufe.

The
into

paflions of a provincial magiftrate

might frequently provoke him

ads of oppreflion, which affeded only the freedom or the for;

tunes of the fubjet

though, from a principle of prudence, perhaps

ftill

of humanity, he might
"3

be

terrified

by the
The

guilt

of innocent blood.
or confulars,
;

Among

the works of

tlie

celebrated

"*
three;

prefidents,

coald

Ulpian, there was one in ten books, concerning the office of a proconful, whofe duties in the moft effential articles were the

impofe only two ounces

the proconfuls,

the vice-prifefts,

count of the
fix.

eaft,

and
tit.

prsefeft

of Egypt,
i.

See Heineccii
1.

fame

as thofe

of an ordinarj' governor of a

Jur. Civil, torn.

xix. n. 8.

p. 75.

Pandefl.
1. i.

xlviii.

province.

Cod. JulUnian.

tit. liv.

leg- 4. 6.

It

OF THE
ft

ROMAN
more

EMPIRE.
and the

39:

may

likewlfe be confidered, that exile, confiderable fines,, or the

particularly to the rich

CHAP,

choice of an eafy death, relate

noble ; and the perfons the moft expofed to the avarice or refentment

of a provincial magiftrate, were thus removed from his obfcure perfecution to the
praefedt..

more auguft and

impartial tribunal of the Praetorian

that the integrity of

a.

As

it

was reafonably apprehended

the judge might be biaffed, if his interefl was concerned, or his af-

fedions were engaged

the flrideft regulations were eftablillied, to

exclude any perfon, without the fpecial difpenfation of the emperor,

from the government of the province where he was bom."5j and

to prohibit the governor or his fon
native or an inhabitant"*;

from contradling marriage with a

flaves,

or

from purchafmg

lands,

or

houfes, within the extent of his jurifdidlion "7.

thefe rigorous precautions, the

Notwithftanding
after a reign

emperor Conftantine,

of twenty-five years,
ftration of juftice,

ftill

deplores the venal and oppreffive admini-

and expreffes the warmeft indignation that the au-

dience of the judge, his difpatch of bufmels, his feafonable delays,

and

his final fentence,

were publicly

fold,

either

by himfelf

or

by

the officers of his court.

The
attefled

continuance, and perhaps the im-

punity, oFthefe crimes,

is

by the

repetition of impotent

Iavrs3

and

inefFetual

menaces

*'^

'" Ut nulli patris fus adminiftratio

fpeciali principis permilTu permittatur.
.

fine

Conftantine to Juftin.
tion,

From

this

prohibi

Cod.

Juftinian.
eiiafted

This law was firll by the emperor Marcus, after the re1.

i.

tit. jcli.

bellion

of Caflius
is

(Dion.

1.

Ixxi.).

The

extended to the meaneft officers of the governor, they except only clothes and provifions. The purchafe within five years may be recovered ; after which, on inis it

which

faiae regulation

obferved in China, with, formation,

effeft.
ii.

devolves to the treafury.

equal

ftriftnefs

and with equal

1.

"' Pandeft,
63.

xxiii.

tit.

n.

38. 57.

"* Ceffent rapaces jam nunc officialium manus ; ceffent, inquam ; nam fi moniti non Cod, ceffaverint, gladiis prscidentur, &c.

'" In jure continetur, ne quis in adminiCod. Theod. 1. viii. tit. xv. leg. i. This maxim of common law was enforced by a feries of eaifts (fee the remainder of the title) from
ftrationeconftitutus aliquid compararet.

Theod.

1. i.

tit. vii.

leg. 1.

Zeno

enafted,

that all governors Ihould remain in the province, to anfwer

after the expiration

any accufations, fifty days of their power. Cod.

xHx. leg.
i.

Juftinian.

1.

ii. -tit.

All.

40

THE DECLINE AND FALL

All the civil magiftrates were ^
law.

CHAP.
XVII.

drawn from the profeflion of the ^

.

.yj
of the

The

celebrated Inftitutes of Tuftinian are addreffed to the youth

fion

of his dominions,

who had

devoted themfelves to the ftudy of

Ro-

man

jurifprudence; and the fovereign condefcends to animate their

diligence,

by the afTurance

that their fkill

il\are in

and

ability

would

in time

be rewarded by an adequate
lic "'.

the government of the repub-

The rudiments of
was
that of Berytus

this

lucrative fcience

were taught in

all

the confiderable cities of the eaft and weft; but the moft famous
fchool
'*,

on the

coaft

of Phoenicia

which

flourilhed above three centuries

from the time of Alexander Severus,

the author perhaps of an inftitution fo advantageous to his native country.

After a regular courfe of education, which lafted five years,

the ftudents difperfed themfelves through the provinces, in fearch of fortune and honours ; nor could they

want an inexhauftible fupply of

court of the Prsetorian prsefedl
fifty

bufmefs in a great empire, already corrupted by the multiplicity of

laws,

of

arts,

and of

vices.

The
were

of the

eaft

could alone furnifti employment for one hundred and

advocates, fixty-four of
leges,

whom

diftinguiftied

by

peculiar privi-

and two were annually chofen with a falary of lixty pounds

f gold, to defend the caufes of the treafury.

The

firft

experiment
to adt occa-

was made of

their judicial talents,

by appointing them

fionally as afl'eflbrs to the magiftrates;

raifed to prefide in

from thence they were often

the tribunals before

which they had pleaded.

;

They

obtained the government of a province

and, by the aid of

merit, of reputation, or of favour, they afcended,

by

fucceffive fteps,

"'

Summa

igitur

ope,
;

et alacri

ftudio

has leges noftras accipite

erudites oflendite,
lit

et vofmetipfos fic

fpes vos

pulcherrima
poffe

foveat

toto legitime opere perfedlo,

etiam nollram rempublicam in partibus ejus

vobis credendis gubernari.
era. Infticutionum.

'^' The fplendor of the fchool of Berytus, which preferved in the eaft the language and jurifprudence of the Romans, may be computed to have lafted from the third to the middle of the fixth century. Heinecc.

Juftinian in pro-

Jur.

Rom.

Hift. p.

351

356.

to

OF THE
to the
(hefe
ilhiftnoits disrnlties J ^D

ROMAN
ftate "'.

EMPIRE.
In the pradice of the bar,
;

41

of the

men had

confidered reafon as the inftrnment of diiputc

...
of a

CHAP.
xvir.
<

they
;

v^^-^

interpreted the laws according to the dilates of private intcreft

the fame pernicious habits

and

might

ftill

adhere to their charadlers in the

liberal profefTion

public adminiftration of the

ftate.

The honour

has indeed been vindicated

by

ancient and

modern

advocates,

who
the

have

filled

the moft important ftations, with pure integrity, and conin the decline of

fummate wifdom: but

Roman jurifprudence,

ordinary promotion of lawyers was pregnant with mifchief and difgrace.

The

noble

art,

which had once been preferved was

fallen into the

as the facred

inheritance of the patricians,

hands of freedmen
fkill,

and plebeians'", who, with cunning rather than with

fordid

exercifed a

and pernicious

trade.

Some of them procured admittance

into families for the purpofe of fomenting differences, of encouraging

fuits,

and of preparing a harveft of gain for themfelves or their

Others, reclufe in their .chambers, maintained the gravity

brethren.

of legal profeflbrs, by furnifhing a rich client with fubtleties to con-

found the plainefl

truth,

and with arguments

to colour the

moft un-

juftifiable pretenfions.

The

fplendid and popular clafs

p.

was compofed

"' As in a former period I have traced the and military promotion of Pertinax, I ihall here infert the civil honours of Mallius i. He was djftinguiflied by his Theodoras,
civil

501.) employed in the ftady of the Grecian philofophy, he was named Prstorian
prsefeil

of Italy, in the year 397.

exercifed
in

8.

While
he was
the

he

flill

that

great

office,

tioquence, while he pleaded as an advocate

in the court of the Praetorian pra;fet.
2.

created,

the

year

399,

conful

for

He
ei-

governed one of the provinces of Africa,

Iher as prefident or confular,

Weft; and his name, on account of the infamy of his colleague, the eunuch Eutropius,
year 408,
the Fafti. 9. In the Mallius was appointed a fecond time Pra;torian praefeft of Italy. Even in the venal panegyric of Claudian, we may often ftands alone in

and deferved, by his adminiftration, the honour of a brafs ftatue. 3. He was appointed vicar, or vicepraefeft of Macedonia. ^.QuKftor. 5. Count
6. Prstorian praeof the facred largeiTes. fed of the Gauls ; whilft he might yet be reprefented as a young man. 7. After a

who, by a
guftin.
v. p. 11

Theodorus, was the intimate friend both of Symmachus and of St. Audifcover
rare felicity,

the merit of Mallius

retreat,

perhaps a difgrace of

many

years,
critics

which Mallius (confounded by fome

with
the iliothec. Latin. Edit. Erneft. tom.
i.

See Tillemont, Hift. des 10 11 14.

Emp.

torn,

poet Manilius, fee Fabricius Bic.

'**

18.

Afterius

Mamertinus in Panegyr. apud Photium, p. 1500.

vet. xi. 20.

Vol.

II.

*G

of

42

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of
tlie

CHAP,
xvir.

advocates, '

who

filled

the

Forum with

the found of their turcrid

r

and loquacious

rhetoric.

Carelefs of

fame and of

juftice,

they are

defcribed, for the moft part, as ignorant

and rapacious guides,

who

conduced
were
The
military

their clients
;

through a maze of expence, of delay, and of

after a tedious feries

difappointment
''\

from whence,

of years, they

at length difmiffed,

when their

patience and fortune were almoft

exhaufted
Oiticeis.

JH. In the fyftem of policy introduced by Auguftus, the governors, thofe at leaft of the Imperial provinces,
full

were invefted with the

powers of the fovereign

himfelf.

Minifters of peace and war,

the diftribution of rewards and punifhments depended on

them

alone,

and they

fucceffively appeared

on

their tribunal in the robes of civil

magiftracy, and in complete armour at the head of the

leo-ions

Roman

^\

and the power fupreme and abfolute

violate their allegiance,
their rebellion,
ftate.

The influence of the revenue, the authority of law, command of a military force, concurred to render their
;

and whenever they were tempted

of any change in
to

to

the loyal province

fenfible

which they involved in

its

was

fcarcely

political

From

the time of

Commodus

the reign of Conftantine,

near

one hundred

governors

might be enumerated, who, with

;

various fuccefs,

erected

the ftandard of revolt

facrificed,

and though the

might be fome"'.

innocent were too

often

the

guilty

times prevented, by the fufpicious cruelty of their mafter

'" The curious pafiage of Ammianus (1. c. 4-.), in which he paints the manners

To

lieutenant of Britain was entrufted with the

XXX.

of contemporary lawyers, aftbrds a ftrange mixture of found fenfe, falfe rhetoric, and extravagant fatire. Godefroy (Prokgom. ad

Cod.Theod.

c.

i.

p. 185.) fupports the hifto-

fame powers which Cicero, proconful of Cihad exercifed in the name of the fenate and people. '^^ The Abbe Dubos, who has examined with accuracy (fee Hift. de la Monarchic
licia,

rianbyfimilar complaints, and authentic fafts. In the fourth century, many camels might

Frauyoife, torn. i. p. 41 100. edit. 1742.) the inftitutions of Auguftus and of Conftantine, obferves, that if

have been laden with law-bocks.

in Vet. Edefii, p. 72.

Eunapius

Otho had been put

to

" See a

death the day before he executed his confpiracy,

very fplendid example in the Life

c.

Otho would now appear

in hiilory as

of Agricola, particularly

20,

21.

The

innocent as Corbulo.

fecure

or THE
i'ervants,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
from
thefe formidable
. .

43
^
^^

fecure his throne and the public tranquillity

Conftantine refolved to divide the military from the

;

....
exercifed

XVIL

^,

^-

civil

adminiftration

and

to eftablifli, as a

permanent and

profeffional dias

ftindlion, a pradtice

which had been adopted only

an occafional

expedient.
fefts

The fupreme jurifdidion

by

the Prxtorian pra;-

over the armies of the empire, was transferred to the tw9

majlers general

whom

he

inftituted, the

one for the cavalry^ the other

thefe
ilhijirioiis

for the i7ifantry;

and though each of

officers

was

tnoi"e peculiarly refponfible for the

difcipline of thofe troops

which

Were under

his

immediate infpedion, they both indifferently comfoot,

footi

manded in the field the feveral bodies, whether of horfe or which M'-ere united in the fame army '^*. Their number was
doubled by the divifion of the
of the fame rank and
frontiers of
title

eaft

and weft

and

as feparate generals

were appointed on the four important

the

Rhine,

of the

Upper and

the

Lower Danube,
empire was
at

and of the Euphrates, the defence of the

length
fantry.

Roman

committed to eight mafters general of the cavalry and

in-,

Under
in the

their orders, thirty-five military

commanders were
one in

ftationcd

provinces

three

in

Britain, fix in Gaul,

Spain, one in Italy, five on the Upper, and four on the

Lower

Danube
titles

in Afia eight, three

'

in Egypt,

and four in Africa.

The

of counts J and dukes ^% by which they were properly diftin-

guifhed, have obtained in

that the ufe of

modern languages

fo

very different a fenfe,

them may occafion fome

lurprife.
is

But

it

fliould

be

recolledled, that the fecond of thofe appellations

only a corruption

of the Latin word, which was indifcriminately applied to any mili"' Zofimus, 1. ii. p. no. end of the reign of Conftsntius,
Valefuis ad

Before the
\.\\e

magijiri

militum were already increafed to four.

See

Ammian. 1. xvi. c. 7. "' Though the military counts and dukes

frequently mentioned,

are

both

in hiftory

and the codes, we muft have recourfe to the Notitia for the exaft knowledge of their number and ftations. For the inflitution, rank, privileges, &c. of the counts in general, fee Cod. Theod. 1. vi. tit. xii xx. with the Commentary of Gode&oy.

tarv

44
^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^-

^^

tary chief.

All

thefe provincial generals

were therefore d/des

buc

no more than ten among them were

or companions, a
title

dignified with the rank of counts

of honour, or rather of favour, which had

been recently invented in the court of Conftantine.

the enfign

gold belt

was
;.

which diftinguifhed the

office

of the counts and dukes

and befides
maiat;\In

their pay, they received a liberal allowance fufficient to

one hundred and ninety fervants, and one hundred and

fifty-eight horfes.

They were

ftridly prohibited

from interfering ia

any matter which

nue
;

related to the adminiftration of juftice or the reve-

but the

command which

they exercifed over the troops of their

department, was independent of the authority of the magiftrates.

About the fame time

ecclefiaftical

that Conftantine

gave a legal fandion to the

order, he inftituted in the

Roman

empire the nice baemulation, and

lance of the civil and the

military powers.

The

fometimes the difcord, which reigned between two profeffions of

oppofite interefts and incompatible manners,
ficial

was produdlLve of benefeldom to be expected

and of pernicious confequences.

It:v/a3

that the general

and the

civil

governor of a province fhould either

confpu'e for the difturbance, or fhould unite for the fervice, of their

country.

While the one delayed

folicit,

to

offer the affiftance

which the

other difdained to

the troops very frequently remained with-

out orders or v^^ithout fupplies; the public fafety was betrayed, and
the defencelefs fubjefts were
rians.
left

expofed to the fury of the Barba-

The

divided adminiftration, which had been formed by

it

Con-

ftantine, relaxed the vigour of the ftate, while

quillity
Diiiineiion

fecured the traa-

of the monarch.
has been defervedly cenfured for an-

The memory of Conftantine

the ruin of the empire.
final

of the troops.

other innovation which corrupted military difcipline, and prepared

The

nineteen years which preceded his

viftory over Licinius, had been a period of licenfe and inteftine

wax.

The

rivals

who

contended for the pofleiTion of the

Rom^i
worlds

OF THE
of the general frontier

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
xvn.

45

world, had withdrawn the greateft part of their forces from the guard
;

CHAP.

and the principal

cities

which formed the

with
foldiers

boundary of

their

refpedtive domiriions

were

filled

who

confidered their countrymen as their moft implacable enemies.

civil

After the ufe of thefe internal garrifons had ceafed with the

war, the conqueror wanted either wifdom or firmnefs to revive the

fevere
difcipline

of Diocletian, and to fupprefs a

fatal

indulgence,
the

which habit had endeared and almoft confirmed

order.

to

military

the reign of Conftantine a popular and even legal diftindlion was admitted between the Palatines "' and the Borderers-

From

the troops of the court, as they were improperly

troops of the frontier.
their

ftiled,

and the

The

former, elevated by the fuperiority of

in the extraordinaiy

pay and

privileges,

were permitted, except

emergencies of war, to occupy their tranquil ftations in the heart of

the provinces.
intolerable

The moft

flourifhing cities

were opprefled by the

infenfibly forgot

weight of quarters.

The

foldiers

the

virtues of their profefTion,

and contracted only the vices of

civil life.

They were

either degraded

by the induftry of mechanic

trades, or

enervated by the luxury of baths and theatres.

They

foon became

carelefs of their martial exercifes, curious in their diet

and apparel;

and while they infpired

trembled
at

terror to

the fubjeds of the empire, they

the hoftile approach of the Barbarians "'.

The

chain

of fortifications which Diocletian and his colleagues had

extended'

along the banks of

the fame care,
^*

was no longer maintained with or defended with the fame vigilance. The numbers
the- great rivers,
p.

Zofimus,

1.

ii.

in.
of

tion between the

is

two

clafles

The dlftincRoman troops

Code,
'^^

1.

vii.

tit.

i.

leg. iS.

L.

viii.

th.

i.

]eg. lo.

very darkly exprefled in the hiftorians, the

.the

perox erat in fuos miles

c.

et rapax,

\g-

laws, and the

Notitia.

Confult, however,
or
abflraft,

navus vero in hoftes

J.

et fraftus.

Ammia-n.
they loved
;

copious paraililon
has

which
feventh

xxii.

4.

He

obferves

that

Godefroy

drawn

up of

the

downy beds and houfes of marble

and that

book, de Re Militaii, of the Theodofuin.

their cups were heavier than their fwords.

which

46
C H
A.P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

which
ftill

remained under the name of the troops of the

fufficient

frontier,

XVII.

might be
>

for the ordinary defence.

But their

fplrit

was

degraded by the humiliating rcfledion, that they

who

w^ere expofed

;to the hardfhips

and dangers of a perpetual warfare, were rewarded

'Only with about two-thirds -of the pay and were laviflied

emoluments which

on the troops of

the court.

Even

the bands or

legions that were raifed the neareft to the level of thofe

favourites,

unworthy
of honour

were in fome meafure difgraced by the

to

title

which they were allowed

flantine repeated the

aflume.

It

was
fire

in vain that

Con-

moll dreadful menaces of

and fword againft

4he Borderers
-the inroads

who

fhould dare to defert their colours, to connive at

'^o.

of the Barbarians, or to participate in the fpoil

The

mifchiefs

which flow from injudicious counfels are feldom removed

partial feverities:

by the application of
the empire,
the

and though fucceeding princes

laboured to reftore the ftrength and numbers of the frontier garrifons,

till
lafl;

guifh under the mortal

inflidled
Reduflionof
e

moment of its diflblution, continued to lanwound which had been fo rafhly or fo weakly
of dividing whatever
is

by the hand of Conftantine.

timid policy,
is

The fame
.of

united, of re-

egions.

(Joeing whatever

eminent, of dreading every adlive power, and

expedling
to

that the

moll feeble will prove the mofl obedient,

Teems

pervade the inftitutions of feveral princes, and particularly

thofe of Conftantine.
torious

The

martial pride of the legions,

whofe vic-

camps had

fo often

been the fcene of rebellion, was nourilhed

by the memory of
adlual ftrength.

their paft exploits,

as

and the confcioufnefs of

their

As long

they maintained their antient eftablifh-

ment of
tian,

fix

thoufand men, they fubfifted, under the reign of Dioclevifible

each of them fingly, a

and important objel in the

.military hiftory
"''

of the
vii.
tit.
i.

Roman
leg. i.
tit.

empire.
is

few years afterwards,

known, labours
to juftify

Cod. Theod.
1
.

1.

not fufficiently

xii. leg.
.vol. ii.

See Howell's Hift. of the World,

the charatter and policy of Conftantine.

p. 19.

That learned
I

hillorian,

who
thefe

OF
tfiele

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

were fhrunk
to a very diminutive
iTze
;

47
and
^
^'

gigantic bodies
feve/i

^,,j

when

legions,

with fome auxiliaries, defended the city of *v

tlie

>

Amida
exceed

againfl the Perfians, the total garrifon, with

inhabitants

of both fexes, and the peafants of the deferted country, did not
tiie

number of twenty thoufand perfons

fimilar examples,

'3'.

From

this fat,

and from

there

is

reafon
to

to believe,

that the

conftitution
their valour

of the legionary troops,

which they partly owed by Conftantine

ftill
;

and

difcipline,

was

diffolved

and
fame
fifteen

that the bands of

Roman
The

infantry,

which

aflumed

tlie

names and the fame honours,

hundred men
'3^.

confifted only of

one thoufand or

confpiracy of fo

many
its

feparate detachments,

each of which was awed by the fenfe of

eafily

own

weaknefs, could

be checked

and the fucceflbrs of Conftantine might indulge

their love of oftentation,

by

ifluing their orders to

one hundred and

thirty-two legions, infcribed on the mufter-roll of their numerous

armies.

The remainder

of their troops was diftributed into feveral'

hundred cohorts of infantry, and fquadrons of cavalry.

Their arms,.

and

titles,

and enfigns, were calculated

to infpire terror,

and

to dif-

play the variety of nations

who marched under

the Imperial ftandard.

And

not a veftige w^as

left

of that fevere fimplicity, which, in the

ages of freedom and vidtory, had diftinguifhed the line of battle of a

Roman army from

more
eife

the confufed hoft of an Afiatic

monarch

,33.

particular enumeration,

drawn from the Nohti^, might exer;

the diligence of an antiquary

but the hiftorian will content

ftations or

himfelf with obferving, that the

'3'

number of permanent
varia

Ammian.

I.

xix.

c.

2.

(c. 5.) lie

that the defperate fallies of

Heobferves, two Galof water

magis nuiltis gentibus diffimilitudine

erat.

armorum auxiliorumque
xxxvii.
c.

T. Liv.

I.

legions were like an handful

39, 40.

Flaminius, even before

thrown on a great conflagration. 'J* Pancirolus ad Notitinm, p. 96. Memoires de I'Academie des Infcriptions, torn,
XXV. p. 491.
et
''^ Romana acies uniiis prope forma; erat hondnum et armorum genere. Regla acies

the event, had compared the army of Antiochus to a fupper, in which the flefli of one
vile

cooks.

animal was diverfified by the (kill of tlie See the life of Flaminius in Plu-

tarch.

garrifons

48
^ ^
*

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^^

^'

garrlfons eftabliflied

on the
;

frontiers of the empire,

amounted

to five

hundred and eighty-three

tine, the
at

and

that,

under the fucceflbrs of Conftan-

complete force of the miUtary eftablifliment was computed

foldiers
'3+.

fix

hundred and forty-five thoufand

An

effort fo

prodigious furpafled the wants of a more antient, and the faculties

of a
-pifficu!ty
levies.

of

different motives.

...
later, period.
ti^e

In

various ftates of fociety, armies are recruited from very

Barbarians are urged by the love of war

the
;

citizens of a free republic

may

be prompted by a principle of duty

the fubjefts, or at leaft the nobles of a monarchy, are animated

by a

fentiment of honour

but the timid and luxurious inhabitants of a

declining empire muft be allured into the fervice

profit,

by the hopes of

or compelled
treafury

by the dread of punilhment.

The

refources of

the

Roman

were exhaufl;ed by the encreafe of pay, by the

and by the invention of new emoluments and

repetition of donatives,

indulgences, which, in the opinion of the provincial youth, might

compenfate the hardlhips and dangers of a military

the
ffature

life.

Yet, although

was lowered

'^5,

although

flaves,

at

leaft

by a

tacit

connivance, were indifcriminately received into the ranks, the infur-

mountable

difficulty

of procuring a regular and adequate fupply of

volunteers, obliged the emperors to adopt

more

effectual

and coercive reward

methods.

The

lands bellowed

on the

veterans, as the free

of their valour, were henceforwards granted under a condition, which

contains the
firfi:

rudiments of the feudal tenures

that their fons,

who
and

fiacceeded to the inheritance, fhould devote themfelves to the profeffion of arms,

their
as

foon as they attained the age of

manhood

cowardly
Agathias,

refufal

was punifhed by the

edit.

lofs

of honour, of fortune
ten inches, and in the beft
feet.

'-* '35

1.

v. p. 157.

Louvre.
1.

been
corps

five
fix

feet

Valentinian (Cod. Theodof.

3.)
fixes

vii. tit.

Roman

Sed tunc erat am-

xiii. leg.

the ftandard at five feet

plior multltudo.&plures fequebantur militiam

feven inches, about five feet four inches and

armatam.
c. 5.

Vegetius de

Re

Militari,

1.

i.

a half Englilh meafure.

It

had formerly

or

>v

OF THE
or even of
veterans
life
'^s.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
the

49

But

as the

annual growth of the fons of the

CHAP.
xvir.

bore

a very

fmall proportion to

demands of the

fervice, levies

of

men

w^ere frequently required

either to take

from the provinces,

to procure

and every proprietor was obhged

up arms, or

a fubftitute, or to purchafe his exemption by the payment of a heavy

fine.

The fum
the

of forty-two pieces of gold, to which

exorbitant
price

it

was reduced^

afcertains

of volunteers,

and the reluctance

'37.

with which the government admitted of

this alternatiA^e

Such

was the horror

for the profeffion of a foldier,

which had

affefted the
Italy,

minds of the degenerate Romans, that many of the youth of

and the provinces, chofe
to efcape
to cut off the fingers of their right
;

hand
expe-

from being
fo

preffed into the fervice

and

this ftrange

dient

was

commonly
'3^,

pradifed, as to deferve the fevere animad-

verfion of the laws

and a peculiar name

in

the Latin

lan-

guage

'59.

The Introdudion of

Barbarians into the

Roman

armies became
fatal.

every day more univerfal, more neceflary, and more

titles, De Veteranis, and Veteranorum, in the feventh book of the Theodofian Code. The age at which their military fervice was required, varied from twenty-five to fixteen. If the fons of the veterans appeared with a horfe, they had a right to ferve in the cavalry ; two horfes gave them fome valuable privileges. '^' Cod. Theod. 1. vii. tit. xiii. leg. 7. According to the hiftorian Socrates (fee Godefroy ad loc), the fame emperor Valcns fometimes required eighty pieces of gold for a reIn the following law it is faintly excruit. prefTed, that flaves fliall not be admitted inter optimas leftiffimorum miiitum turmas. "^ The perfon .ind property of a Roman knight, who had mutilated his two fons, were fold at public anftion by the order of

The
a

Encreafe of Barbarian
auxiliaries.

''"

See the two

the fpiiit of the times.

diftinftion

Ammianus makes

De

Filiis

between the effeminate Italians and the hardy Gauls. (L. xv. c. iz.) Yet
only
a
fifteen years afterwards,

Valcntinian, in

law addrefled to the prxfcft of Gaul, is obliged to enaft that thefe cowardly deferters fhall be burnt alive. (Cod. Theod.
J.

vii.

tit. xiii.

leg, ;.)

Theirnumbers

in II-

lyricum were fo confiderable, that the province complained of a fcarcity of recruits.

(Id. leg. 10.)
'^9 They were called ilfam. Murciilus'\% found in Plautus and Feftus, to denote a lazy and cowardly perfon, who, according to Arnobius and AugulHn, was under the imme-

diate protection of the goddefs Mv/fl.

this particuirr inftance
is

From
by the

of cowardice, murcare
See LindcnM.arcellin.

ufed as fynonimous to mutilare,

Auguilus. (Sueton. in Auguft. c 27.) The moderation of that artful ufurper proves,
that this example of fevgrity was juflified by

writers of the middle Latinity.

brogius, and Valefiusad

1.

Ammian.

XV,

C.

12,

Vol.

II.

moft:

so
^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^"

xvn

'^^ daring of the Scythians, of the Goths, and of the Germans,

who
ries

delighted in war, and

who found

it

more

profitable to defend

than to ravage the provinces, were enrolled, not only in the auxiliaof their refpecflive nations, but in the legions themfelves, and
the moft diftinguiflied of the Palatine troops.

among

As they

freely

mingled with the fubjefts of the empire, they gradually learned to

defpife their

manners, and to imitate their

arts.

They

abjured the

implicit reverence

which the pride of

Rome

had exacted from their

ignorance, while they acquired the knowledge and poffeffion of thofe

advantages by which alone fhe fupported her declining greatnefs.

The

Barbarian foldiers

who

difplayed

any military

talents,
;

were
and

advanced, without exception, to the moft important

the names of the tribunes,

commands

of the counts and dukes, and of the

generals themfelves, betray a foreign origin, which they

no longer con-

defcended to difguife.

They were

often entrufted with the conduct

;

of a war againft their countrymen

and though moft of them pre-

ferred the ties of allegiance to thofe of blood, they did not always

avoid the guilt, or at

leaft

the fufpicion, of holding a treafonable cor-

refpondence with the enemy, of inviting his invafion, or of fparing

his retreat.

The camps, and

the palace of the fon of Conftantine,

were governed by the powerful fadlion of the Franks, who preferved the ftrideft connexion with each other, and with their country, and

who

refented every perfonal affront as a national indignity

'^..

When

the tyrant Caligula

was fufpe^ted of an intention

to inveft a

very extraordinary candidate with the confular robes, the facrilegious

profanation would have fcarcely excited
lefs

aftonilhment,

if,

inftead

of a horfe, the nobleft chieftain of

the objedl of

Germany

or Britain had been

Ms

choice.

The

revolution of three centuries had prothat,^^,

duced
*'

fo

remarkable a change in the prejudices of the people,

ereftius

Malarichus adhibitis Francis quorum

ea tempellate in palatio

mddtudo

florebat,

jam loquebatur tumultuabaturque. Ammian. 1. xv. c, 5.

with.

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
with the public approbation, Conftantine fhewed his fucceQors the
^
^-

51

example of beflowing the honours of the confulfhip on the Barbarians,

^ ^^

^'

who, by

their merit

and

fervices,
'4'.

had deferved
as thefe

to be ranked

among the firft who had been

of the

Romans

But

hardy veterans,

educated in the ignorance or contempt of the laws,

civil
offices,

were incapable of exercifing any

the powers of the

human mind were

talents as well as

contraled

by the

irreconcileable feparation of

of profeflions.
republics,

The

accomplifhed citizens of the

Greek and Roman

to the bar,

whofe characters could adapt themfelves

camp,
or the fchools, had learned to

the fenate, the

write, to fpeak,
lities.

and

to al with the

fame

fpirit,

and with equal abiSeven mimfters of the

palace.

IV. Befides the magiftrates and generals, ' ^

armies, the emperor conferred the rank of

who

at a diftance

from

the court diffufed their delegated authority over the provinces and
Illujlr'ioia

on feven of

his

more immediate

fervants, to

whofe
i.

fidelity

he entrufted his

fafety,

or his counfels, or his treafures.

palace were governed

The

private apartments of the

by a

favourite eunuch,

who,

in the language
'^^^^'

of that age, was ftyled the prcepofitus or prasfedl of the facred bedchaniber.

j^'^

His duty was

to attend the

emperor

in his hours of ftate,

all

or in thofe of amufement, and to perform about his perfon

thofe

menial
fluence

fervices,

which can only derive

their fplendor

from the in-

of royalty.

Under

a prince

who
call

deferved to reign, the

ufeful

great chamberlain (for fuch

we may

him) was an

and

humble domeftic

but an artful domcftic,

who

improves every oc-

cafion of unguarded confidence, will infenfibly acquire over a feeble

mind
'+'

that afcendant
Barbaros
xx.
c.

which

harfli

wifdom and uncomplying

Conftantine, I cannot difcover the
fingle Barbarian.
I fliould

virtue

omnium primus, ad ufque

confulares.
(in Vit.

name of a

fafces auxerat

et trabeas

AmConyet in

therefore inter

mian.
ftantin.

1.

lo.

Eufebius

pret die liberality of that prince, as relative

to the

1. iv.

c.

7.) and AureliusVidlor, feem

;

ornaments, rather than

to the office,

of

to confirm the truth of this afTertion

the confuldiip.

the thirty-two confular FaiU of the reign of

can

^2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

can feldom obtain.

CHAP, XVII.
,

The

degenerate grandfons of Thcodofius,

who
the

'

were

invifible to their fubjedls,

and contemptible to

their enemies,
all

exalted the prxfedts of their bed-chamber above the heads of

minifters of the palace '*^
;

and even

his

deputy, the

firft

of the

fplendid train of flaves

who

waited in the prefence, was thought

worthy

to

rank before the

refpeclable proconfuls

of Greece or Afia.

The j urifdidtion of the chamberlain was acknowledged by the couiitSy or fuperintendents, who regulated the two important provinces, of
the magnificence of the wardrobe, and of the luxury of the Imperial
2. The principal adminiftration of public affairs was comThemafterof table "^^ ces. t eo ''*. jj-jittg(^ to the diligence and abilities of the majler of the offices

He

was the fupreme magiftrate of the

the empire
in the caufes

palace, infpedled the difcipline of

all

the civil and military fcbools, and received appeals from

;

parts of

which

related to that

numerous army of

privileged perfons,
for themfelves

who,

as the fervants

of the court, had obtained,

and

families, a right to decline the authority of the

ordinary judges.
fubjets

The

correfpondence between the prince and his

of

ftate.

was managed by the ioxxx fcrinta^ or offices of this minifter The firft was appropriated to memorials, the fecond to
the third to petitions, and the fourth to papers and orders of

epiftles,

a mifcellaneous kind.
7tmjler

Each of

thefe w^as diredled

by an

inferior

of refpeBahle dignity, and the whole bufinefs was difpatched

forty-eight fecretaries, chofen for the moft part

by an hundred and
'^^
^''^

Cod. Theod.

1.

vi. tit. 8.

'* Gutherius
1. ii.

(de OfficiisDomus Auguftas,

By

a very lingular

metaphor, borrowed
firft

c.

20.

I.

iii.)

has very accurately ex-

from the military charafter of the

rors, the fteward

empe-

plained the funftions of the mafter of the offices,

of their houfehold was ftyled

the count of their

camp (comes

caftrenfis).

fcrinia.

Cafliodorius very ferioufly reprefents to him,

that his own fame, and that of the empire, muft depend on the opinion which foreign ambafladors may conceive of the plenty and (Variar. magnificence of the royal table.
], vi.

and the conftitution of his fubordinate But he vainly attempts, on the moft doubtful authority, to deduce from the time of the Antonines, or even of Nero, the origin of a magiftrate who cannot be found in hiftory before the reign of Conftantine.

epiftol. g.)

from

OF THE

ROMAN
From

EMPIRE.
XV If

53

from the profefTion of the law, on account of the variety of abftrads of reports and references which frequently occurred in the exerclfe
of their feveral fundions.
a condefcenfion,

CHAP.
_r

which

in former

ages would have been efteemed

particular fecretary
terpreters

unworthy of the Roman majefty, a was allowed for the Greek language and in;

were appointed

to

receive

tlie

ambafTadors of the Barba-

rians

but the department of foreign

affairs,

which

conftitutes fo

elTential a part
tlie

of modern policy, feldom diverted the attention of

offices.

mafter of the

His mind was more

ferioufly

engaged

by the general

direlion of the polls and

cities, fifteen in

arfenals

of the empire.

There were thirty-four

weft, in

the eaft, and nineteen in the

which regular companies of workmen were perpetually

in fabricating defenfive armour, offeniive

employed
forts,

weapons of
arfenals,

all

and military engines, which were depofited in the

3.

and

occafionally delivered for the fervice of the troops.

In the courfe The qusclen

fin-

of nine centuries, the

gvilar revolution.

office

of

qucejlor

had experienced a very

In the infancy of

Rome, two
''*'
j

inferior maglftrates

were annually elected by the people,

invidious

to relieve the confuls

from the

management of the

public treafure

a fimilar affiflant

was

granted to every proconful, and to every prcCtor,

tary or provincial
quaeftors

who exercifed a

mili-

command; with

the extent of conqueft, the

two
of

were gradually multiplied

to the

number of four, of
'"^^
;

eight,

twenty, and, for a fhort time, perhaps, of forty

citizens ambitioufly folicited

and the

nobleffc

an

office

which gave them a

feat in the

fenate,

and a

juft

hope of obtaining the honours of the

22.) fays, that the
''^

republic.

'^'

Tacitus (Annnl.

xi.

were elected by the people, fixtyfour years after the foundation of tlie republie ; but he is of opinion, that they had, long
firll qiia-'ftors

fider
ftors

T.icitus (Annal. xi. 22.) feems to contwenty as the higheft number of qusand Dion (1. xliii. p. 374.) infinuates^ ;

that if the diftator Ciefar once created forty

before that period, been annually appointed

by the confuls, and even by the kings.

this

obfcure point of antifiuity

is

But contelled by

was only to facilitate the payment of an immenfe debt of gratitude. Yet the augit

Other writers.

mentation which he made of pra;tors fubfdled under the fucceeding reigns.

Whilft

.54

THE DECLINE AND FALL

"Whllft

CHAP.
XVII.

Auguftus affedted *

to maintain the
, .

freedom of eledion,

lie

confented to accept the annual privilege of recommending, or rather

indeed of nominating, a certain proportion of candidates

his

and

it

was
his

cuftom to

feled;

one of thcfe diftinguifhed youths, to read

"'^.

orations or epiftles in the affemblies of the fenate

The

practice

of Auguftus was imitated by fucceeding princes; the occafional

commiflion was eftablifhed as a permanent
qujeftor,
office
;

and the favoured

afluming a

new and more

in the

illuftrious

charader, alone fur'**.

vived the fuppreffion of his antient and ufelefs colleagues

orations,

As

the

which he compofed

name of

the emperor '+9, acquired

the force, and, at length, the form of abfolute edidls, he

was con-

fidered as the reprefentatlve of the legiflative power, the oracle of

the council, and the original fource of the

civil

jurifprudence.

He

was fometimes
of the

invited to take his feat in the

fupreme judicature of

the Imperial confiftoiy, with the Przctorian pn-Efedls, and the mafter
offices
;

and he was frequently requefted to refolve the doubts

as

of inferior judges: but

he was not oppreffed with a variety of

'*"

Sueton. in Auguft.

c.

65. and Torrent,

ftors

till

the

reign of

Marcus Antoninas
faft in the

ad

Dion. Caf. p. 755. "'' The youth and inexperience of the qua;fl:ors, who entered on that important ofloc.

(See the Infcriptions of Gruter, the Epiftles

of Pliny, and a decifive

hiftory,
p.

Auguftan
learn,

64.)

From Ulpian we may

13.) that

ce in their twenty-fifth year (Lipf. Excurf. ad Tacit. 1. iii. D.), engaged Auguftus toremove them from the management of the treafury ; and though they were reftored by Claudius, they feem to have been finally difmifled by Nero.
(Tacit.
c.

(Pandeft,

1. i.

tit.

under the govetK-

ment of
cial

the houfe of Sevcrus, their provin-

and in the ; fubfequent troubles, the annual or triennial

eleftions

adminiftration was abolifhed

of

qua;Ilors

muft

have naturally

Annal.

xxii.
c.

29.

ceafed.
''^^

Sueton. in Aug.

36.

in Claud,

24.

Cum

patris

nomine

&

epiftolas ipfe

Dion. p. 696. 961, kc. Plin. Epiftol. x 20. & alib.) In the provinces of the Imperial divifion, the

diftaret, &ediftaconfcriberet, orationefquein

fenatu recitaret, etiam quseftoris vice. Sueton.

in Tit.
c. 6.

place of the qu^ftors was

more
or, as

The

ofBce muft have acquired

ably fupplied hy (ht procurators (Dion. Caf.

p. 707. Tacit. inVit. Agricol. c. 15.)
;

new

dignity, which was occafionally executed

they were afterwards called, rationales. (Hift.

fcnate

Auguft, p. 130.) But in the provinces of the we may ftill difcover a feries of quK-

by the heir apparent of the empire. Trajan entrufted the fame care to Hadrian his quaeftor and coufm. See D^ dwell Pneleftion Cambden. x. xi. p. 362 394.

fubordinate

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
feibordlnate bufinefs, his leifure

55
cultl-

and taknts were employed to

^^

'^

vate that dignified ftyle of eloquence, which, in the corruption of

tafte

< - >--

and language,

ftill

preferves the majefty of the

In fome refpedls, the

office

of the Imperial
;

Roman laws '5. quxftor may be compared

feal,

with that of a modern chancellor

but the ufe of a great

illiterate

which-

feems to have been adopted by the

introduced to
atteft

Barbarians,
4.

was never

the public adbs of the emperors.

The

extra- The

publlt-

ordinary

title

of count of the /acred largejes, was beftowed on the

^^^^ "'^"'

treafurer-general of the revenue, with the intention perhaps of inculcating, that every

payment flowed from

the voluntary bounty of

the monarch.

To

conceive the almoft infinite detail of the annual

civil

and daily expence of the

part of a great empire,

and military adminiftration in every

would exceed the powers of the moll vigoactual account

rous imagination.

The

employed

feveral

hundred
artfully

perfons, diftributed into eleven diiferent offices,

which were

contrived to examine and controul their refpedive operations.

The
and
it

multitude of thefe agents had a natural tendency to encreafe

was more than once thought expedient

homes, the
ufelefs fupernumeraries,

to

difmifs to their native

who,

deferting their honeft la-

bours, had prefled with too

feffion

much

eagernefs into the lucrative proreceivers,

of the

finances

'5'.

Twenty-nine provincial
title

of

whom

eighteen were honoured with the

of count, correfponded

with the treafurer; and he extended his jurlfdidion over the mines

from whence the precious metals were extradled, over the mints in which they were converted into the current coin, and over the public treafurles of the moft important cities, where they were depofited for the fervice of the ftate.
"
Terris edifta daturus

The

foreign trade of the empire

i.

See likewife Symmachus (Epiftol.

Cafliodorius (Variar. vi. 5.).
"''

17.)

and

Supplicibus refponfa. Oracula regis

Eloquio crevere tuo

nee dignius

unquam

Cod. Theod.
1. xii. tit.

1,

vi. tit.

30, Cod. Tufti-

Majertas meminit fefe

Romana

locutam.

nian.

24.

eiaudian in Confulat. Mall. Theodor. 33.

was

56

THE DECLINE AND FALL

XVII.

CHAP.

was regulated by

this minlfter,

who

direted likewife
fucceflive

all

the linne

and woollen manufadtures, in which the

operations of

fpinning, weaving, and dying were executed, chiefly

by women of
Twenty-fiK
arts

fervile condition, for tlie ufe

of the palace and army.

of thefe inftitutions are enumerated in the weft, where the

had
be

been more recently introduced, and a

The
p.'ivate

ftill

larger proportion
eaft'5*.

may

allowed for the induftrious provinces of the

public revenue,

5.

Befides the

treafurer.

which an abfolute monarch might levy and expend

very extenfive property, which was admlniftered
treafurer

according to his pleafure, the emperors, in the capacity of opulent

citizens, poflefled a

by

the county

or

of the p?-ivate

ejiate.

Some

part had
;

perhaps been the antient demefnes of kings and republics

acceflions

fome

might be derived from the families which were

;

fucceflively

invefted with the purple

but the

mod

confidcrable portion flowed

from the impure fource of

rial

confifcations

and

forfeitures.

The Impe-

eftates

were
;

fcattered

through the provinces, from Mauritania

fertile
foil

to

Britain

but the rich and

of Cappadocia tempted the

fairefl: pofl!eflions'53,

monarch
either

to

acquire in that country his

and
juft;i-

Confl:antine or his fucceflbrs

embraced the occafion of

fying avarice

by

religious zeal.

They fuppreffed

the rich temple of

w^ar fupported
to their private
fix

Comana, where the

high-prieft of the goddefs of

;

the dignity of a fovereign prince

ufe the confecrated lands,

and they applied

'^\

which were inhabited by

and her minifters
'-+

thoufand

fubjedls or flaves of the Deity

'5-

But
I.

thefe

were
The
p.

In the departments of the two counts of

Strabon. Geograph.

xii. p.

809.

the treafury, the ealtern part of the Notitia happens to be very defeftive. It may be obferved, that

other temple of

Comana,
Des

in Pontus,
1.

was a
xii.

colony from that of Cappadocia,

82;.
lufte,

don, and a
chefter.

we had a treafury-cheft gyneceum or manufaflure

in
at

Lon-

The
torn,

prefident
ii.

Brofles (fee his Sa-

Win-

p.

21.) conjeftures that the

Beliis,

But Britain was not thought worthy either of a mint or of an arfenal. Gaul alone poflefTed three of the former, and eight of the
'

deity adored in

both Coman.i5 was

Eail, the goddefs

the

Venus of the
;

ration

a very diiferent

ofgenebeing indeed from the

latter.
'J5 Cod. Theod. Godefroy ad loc,
1.

goddefs of war.

vi. tit. xx.x. leg. 2.

and

"ot

OF
Mount
horfes,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

:

57
-^

T?ot the valuable inhabitants

the plains that ftretch

from the foot of ^ ^

'

Arga^us to the banks of the Sarus, bred a generous race of

'

renowned above

all

others in the antient world,

for their

majeftic fliape, and incomparable fwLftnefs.

Thefe J'acrcd animals,

deftined for the fervice of the palace and the Imperial games, were

protedled by the laws from the profanation of a vulgar mafler

'5s,

The

demefnes of Cappadocia were important enough

fped:ion of a count
''^^
;

to require the in-

officers .of
;

an inferior rank were ftationed in

as well

the other parts of the empire

and the deputies of the private,

as thole of the public, treafurei",

their independent funSions,
rity

were maintained

in the exercife of

and encouraged to controul the autho6, 7.

of the provincial magiftrates's?.

. .

The chofen bands of

.

The counts of the domeflics.

cavalry and infantry, which guarded the perl'on of the emperor,

were under the immediate command of the

Jl'ics.

tzvo counts

of the dome-

The whole number

conliftcd of three thoufand five

hundred
;

men, divided

into itvcnfchools^ or troops, of five

hundred each

and

in the eaft, this honourable fervice

to the

was almoft

entirely appropriated

Armenians. Whenever, on public ceremonies, they were drawn

up

in the courts

and porticos of the palace,

arms of
the
filver

their lofty ftature, filent

order, and

fplendid

and gold, difplayed a martial

majefty'^^.

pomp, not unworthy of fchools two companies of

te&orsy

Roman

From

the feven

horfe and foot were feledled, of the proftation

whofe advantageous

was the hope and reward of the

in

the moft deferving foldiers.

They mounted guard

the interior

apartments, and were occafionally difpatched into the provinces, to

'5' Cod. Theod. 1.x. tit. vi. de Grege Godefroy has colledled every Dominico. circumftance of antiquity relative to the Cap-

province of the count of Cappadocia, to the

who

padocian horfes.

One of

the finetl breeds,

immediate authority of the favourite eunuch, prefided over the facred bedchamber, '" Cod. Theod. 1. vi. tit. xx.v. leg. 4, Sec.
'^^

the Palmatian, was the forfeiture of a rebel,

Pancirolus, p. 102. 136.

The

appcar-

whofe eftate lay about Tyana, near the great road between Conftantinople and Antioch.
fixteen
'5'

miles from

ance of thefe military domeftics is defcribed in the Latin poem of Corippus, De Laudibus Juilin.

yuftinian

(Novell. 30.)

fubjefteJ the

P.419, 420, 1. iii. 157 179. of the Appendix Hift. Byzantin, Rom. 1777.
I

Vol.

II.

execute

58
C

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^
-^

P'

execute with celerity and vigour the orders of their mafter

"'.

The
of

counts of the domeftics had fucceeded to the

rian prsefeits
;

office

of the Praetofervice

Uke the prxfeds, they afpired from the

the palace to the

Agents, or
official

command

of armies.

The
But

perpetual intercourfe between the court and the provinces

was

fpies.

facilitated

by the

confi:rution of roads

and the

inftitution

of pofts.

thefe beneficial eftablifhments

were accidentally connected with

a pernicious and intolerable abufe.

Two

or three hundred agents or

meffengers were employed, under the jurifdiction of the mafter of

the offices, to announce the

names of the annual

confuls,

and the

cdidts or vidlories of the emperors.

They

infenfibly affumed the

licence of reporting either of magiftrates

whatever they could obferve of the conduct

or of private citizens
;

and were foon con-

tidered as the eyes of the

monarch

"",

and the fcourge of the people.

difdained the mild though fre-

Under

the

warm

influence of a feeble reign, they multiplied to the

incredible

number of

ten thoufand,

quent admonitions of the laws, and exercifed in the profitable

ma-

nagement of the
official fpies,

pofts a rapacious

and

infolent oppreffion.

Thefe

v/ho regularly correfponded with the palace, were en-

couraged, by favour and reward, anxioufly to watch the progrefs of

every treafonable defign, from the faint and latent fymptoms of dif
affetion, to the atual preparation of

an open

revolt.

Their carelefa

or criminal violation of truth and juftice was covered

crated maflc of zeal
;

by the confetheir poifoned

and they might fecurely aim

arrows

at

the breaft cither of the guilty or the innocent,

who had

provoked

their refentment, or refufed to purchafe their filence.

faithful fubjet, of Syria perhaps, or of Britain,

was expofed

to the

danger,

or at

leafl;

to the dread,

of being dragged in chains to

" Xenophon. Cyropced.
de Regno Perfico,
1.
i.

'" Ammianus Marcellinus, who ferved

fo

1. viii.

Briflbn^
p.

many

years, obtained only the

rank of a
thefe ho-

190.

26^,
this

Proteflor.

The

firft

ten

among

The emperors

adopted with pleafure

aourable foldiers were Clanjftmi,

PerCaa metaphor.

the

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
C

59

the court of Milan or Conftantinople, to defend his Ufe and fortune

againft the maHcious charge of thefe privileged informers.

HA
A.

P.

V 1 1.

The vv

-'

ordinary adminiftration was conducted by thofe methods which ex-

treme neceflity can alone

diligently fupplied

palliate

and the
"'.

defeSts

of evidence were

by

the ufe of torture

The
as
it is

deceitful

and dangerous experiment of the criminal

qiicpjl'ion^

Ufeoftor-

eiuiphatically ftyled,

was admitted, rather than approved,

in

tlie

jurifprudence of the Romans.

They

applied this fanguinary

mode

of examination only to fervile bodies, whofe fufFerings were

fcale

fcldom weighed by thofe haughty republicans in the

or humanity
:

of juftice

but they would never confent to violate the facred

till

perfon of a citizen,
guilt
'^".

they pofleifed the cleareft evidence of his

The

annals of tyranny, from the reign of Tiberius to

circumftantially relate
but,
as long as

that of Domitian,

the executions of

many
was
"".

innocent vidiras

the fainteft remembrance

laft

kept alive of the national freedom and honour, the

hours of a

Roman were The conduct

lated
lians.

fecure

from the danger of ignominious torture

of the provincial magiftrates was not, however, regupractice of the city, or the ftrit

by the

maxims of

the civi-

They found

the ufe of torture eftablifhed not only

among

the ilaves of oriental defpotifm, but

among

the Macedonians,

who

obeyed a limited monarch

among

the Rhodians,

who
;

flourifhed

'*'
1.

For the Agentes

c. 3.
1.

in

Reiui, fee
1.

Ammian.
c. 7.

llriftly

confine

it

to /laves

and Ulpian himell

XV.

xvi. c. 5.

xxii.

with

felf is

ready to acknowledge, that Res

et

the curious annotations of Valefius,

Cod.

fragilis,
fallat.

periculofa,

et

quK

ve4-itateni

Theod.

I.

vi.

tit.

xxvii, xxvili, xxix.

Among
one from

the pafiages colleded in the

Commentary of
is

Godefroy, the
Libanius,
in

moA
his

remarkable

difcourfe

concerning the

death of Julian,

'"

The

Pandefls

(1.

xlviii.

tit,

xviii.)

againft Nero, was the only perfon tortured ; the reft were intaiii torvuniu. It would be fuperfluous to add a weaker, and it would be difficult to iind a

"" In the confpiracy of Pifo

(libertina

Epicharis

mulier)

contain the fentiments of the moft celebrated

civilian}

ftronger, example.

Tacit. Anna), xv, 57.

on the fubjeft of torture.

They
I

by

6o c H A
XVII.
r

THE DECLINE AND FALL

by the
liberty of
aflerted

commerce

and even among the fage Athenians,

who had

and adorned the dignity of human kind "\

The

acquiefcence of the provincials encouraged their governors to acquire,

or perhaps to ufurp, a difcretionary
to extort
guilt,
till

power of employing the rack,

their

from vagrants or plebeian criminals the confeffion of

they infenfibly proceeded to confound the diflintions of

rank, and to difregard the privileges of

Roman
folicit,

citizens.

The apinterell

preheniions of the fubjedls urged them to

the fovereign engaged

and the

of

him

to grant, a variety of fpecial exemptions, authorifed^^ the general ufe of tor-

which
ture.

tacitly allowed,

and even
all

They

protedled

perfons of illuftrious or honourable rank,

bifhops and their prefbyters, profellbrs of the liberal arts, foldiers

and

their families, municipal officers,

and

their pofterity to the third

'*'.

generation,
fatal

and

all

children under the age of puberty

But a

maxim was

introduced into the

new jurifprudence
hojlile-

of the

emthat

pire, that in the cafe of treafon,

which included every offence

intention

the fubtlety of lawyers could derive from an

the prince

towards
all

or republic

'",

all

privileges

were fufpended, and

conditions w-ere reduced to the fame ignominious level.

fafety of the

As

the

emperor was avowedly preferred

to every confideration

of

juftice or

humanity, the dignity of age, and the tendernefs of

;

youth, were alike expofed to the moft cruel tortures

and the
as the

terrors

of a malicious information, which might

plices,

feledl

them

accom-

or even as the witneffes,

de

perhaps, of an imaginary crime,

'^'

"+ Dicendum

Inllitutrs

Atheniea-

fium, Rhodiorum,

doftiffimorum

homlnum,
ell)

vii.

p.

Helneccius (Element. Jur. Civil, part Si.) has colledted thefe exemptions

apud quos etiam (id quod acerbifTimum

liberi,
tit.

into one view.

civefque
c.

torquentur.

Cicero. Parlearn from the

Orat.

34.

We may
Sicul. II.)
1,

(Pandeft.

trial

of Philotas the praftice of the Macedo(Diodor.

1.

nians.

xvii,

p.

604.

This definition of the lage Ulpian tit. iv.) feems to have 1. xlviii. been adapted to the court of Caracalla, rather than to that of Alexander Severus. See
the Codes of Theodofius and Jullinian
leg.

"^

Q^ Curt.

vi.

c.

ad

Juliam

majellatis.

perpetually

OF THE
pci-petually

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^^5,,"'^

61
^"

hung over
"'.

the heads

of the principal citizens of the

Roman
Thefe

world
evils,

t-

however

terrible

they

may

appear, were confined to

fituation

Financfs.

the fmaller

number of Roman fubjeds, whofc dangerous

was

in

fome degree compenfated by the enjoyment of thofe ad-

vantages, either of nature or of fortune, which expofed

them

to the

jealoufy of the monarch.

The

obfcure millions of a great empire

have much

lefs
;

to dread

from the cruelty than from the avarice of

their mafters

and

their

humble happinefs

is

principally affefted

by
,

the grievance of exceflive taxes, which gently preffing on the wealtln

defcend with accelerated weight on the meaner and more indigent

clafTes

of fociety.

An
;

ingenious philofopher "* has calculated

the
free-

univerfal meafure of the public impofitlons

by the degrees of

dom

and fervitude

and ventures
it

to

aflert,

that, according to

an

invariable law of nature,

muft always increafe with the former,

and dlminifh

in a jufl proportion to the latter.

But

this refledion,
is

which would tend

didled at leafl

to alleviate the miferies of defpotifm,

contraaccui'es

by

the hiftory of the

Roman

empire
its all

which

the fame princes of defpoiling the fenate of

authority, and the

provinces of their wealth.

Without abolifhing

the various cuftoms

and

duties

on merchandizes, which are imperceptibly difcharged by the

and diredl mode of taxation, more con-

apparent choice of the purchafer, the policy of Conftantine and his

fucceflbrs preferred a fimple

genial to the fpirit of an arbitrary

government

ir!>

"^ Arcadius Charifius

quoted in the Pandedls
this

is

the oldeft lawyer

to juiHfy the univerfal

Theod. 1. ix. tit. xxxv. In majeftatis cnmine omnibus a;qua ell conditio,
'^^

praftice of torture in all cafes

maxim of Ammianus (1.

fucceflbrs

tyranny, which
xix.
is

c.

12.)

of treafon ; but is admitted by with the mod reSee

Montefquieu, Efprit des Loix,

I.

xii.

c. 13.
'^' Mr. Hume (Effays, vol. i. p. 389.) has feen this important truth, with fome de-

fpeftful terror,

enforced by feveral laws of

die

of Conilantine.

Cod,

gree of perplexity.

The

62

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The name and
'

CHAP.
XVII.
'

ufe of the itidiElhns "",

which

ferve to afcertaln

the chronology of the middle ages,

pradlice of the
his

was derived from the regular

tribuferor
jndiftion.

Roman

tributes

"".

The emperor
city of

fubfcribed with

own

hand, and in purple ink, the folemn edid, or indiction,

fixed

which was

up in the principal
to the
firft

each diocefe, during two

months previous
connexion of
of tribute which

day of September.
indilion

And, by

a very eafy

ideas, the
it

word

was

transferred to the meafurc

prefcribed,

and

to the annual

term which

it

al-

lowed for the payment.

This general eftimate of the fupplies was

ftate
;

proportioned to the real and imaginary wants of the

but as
fhort

often as the expence exceeded the revenue, or the revenue

fell

of the computation, an additional tax, under the name oi fuperindiStiojty

was impofed on the people, and the moil valuable

attri-

bute of fovereignty was communicated to the Prastorian praefects,

who, on fome

occafions,

were permitted to provide for the unfore-

feen and extraordinary exigencies of the public fervice.

The exethe

cution of thefe laws (which

it

would be tedious

to purfue in their
;

minute and

intricate detail)

confifted of

two
its

diftimSt operations

refolving the

general impofition into

conflituent parts,

which

were

aflefled

on the provinces, the

;

cities,

and the individuals of the

Roman

world

and the collecting the feparate contributions of the

and the provinces,
till

individuals, the cities,

the accumulated fums

were poured

into the Imperial treafuries.

But

as the account beas the

tween the monarch and the

''

fubjed:

was perpetually open, and

come from the workfhop of
tines.

The
as

cycle of indiftions, which

may
ftill

the Benedic-

be traced

high as the reign of Conftantius,

is

cr perhaps of his father Conftantine,

'"

The
with

firft

twenty-eight

titles

of the
are

employed by the Papal court: but the commencement of their year has been very reafonably altered to the
I'Art de
Verifier
les
firft

eleventh book of the Theodofian

filled

Code
;

the

circumftantial

regulations

of January.
p,
xi. ;

See

on the important fubjeft of

damental principles than
our power to attain.

tributes

but

Dates,

and

they fuppofe a clearer knowledge

it is

of fun-

Diftionnaire
torn. IL p. 35.

Raifon.
;

de

la

Diplomatique,
treatifes,

at prefent in

two accurate

which

renewal

; ;

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE^
moved What-

%
CHAP,

renewal of the demand anticipated the perfet difcharge of the preceding obligation, the weighty machine of the finances was

by the fame hands round

the circle of

its

yearly revolution.

ever was honourable or important in the adminiftration of the re-

venue, was committed to the wifdom of the prasfedls, and their pro-^
vincial reprefentatives
;

the lucrative fundlions were claimed

by a

crowd of
fiirer,

fi.ibordinate officers,

fome of

whom

depended on the trea;

others

on the governor of the province

and who,

in the in-

evitable confiidts of a perplexed jurifdiftion,

nities

had frequent opportu-

of difputing with each other the fpoils of the people.

The

laborious offices,

which could be productive only of envy and re-

proach,

of expence and danger, were impofed on the Decurions,

the corporations of the
cities,

who formed
focicty

and

whom

the feverity of

the Imperial laws had

condemned

to fuflain the burthens of civil

"^

The whole landed property of

the empire

(without

excepting the patrimonial eftates of the monarch) was the objedl of

ordinary taxation
tions of the

and every new purchafer contraded the obliga-

former proprietor.
equitable

An

accurate cenfus '", or furvey,

was the only

mode

of afcertaining the proportion which

every citizen fhould be obliged to contribute for the public fervice

and from the well-known period of the indidxions, there

believe that this difficult and expenfive operation

is

reafon to
at

was repeated

the
fur-

regular diftance of fifteen years.

The

lands were meafured

;

by

veyors,

who were

fent into the provinces

their nature,
diftiniflly

whether

arable or pafture, or vineyards or woods,

was

reported

and an eftimate was made of their

''^
(1. xii.

common

value from the average

et

The

titk concerning the Decurions

is

'" Habemus enim

qui delati
fiint,

tit. i.)

the moft
;

ample

in the

whole

et

agruin

hominum numeruai modum. Eume6.

Theodofian Code fince it contains not lefs than one hundred and ninety-two diftinft
laws
to afcertain the duties

nius in Panegyr. Vet.

viii.

See Cod.

and privileges of

Theod. 1. xiii. Commentary,

tit.

x.

xi.

with Godefroy's

that afeful order of citizens.

produce

64
^
xyti^'
P^"'^'^'-''^^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^ fi^^ years.

The numbers
;

of flaves and of

cattle confli-

tuted an eflential part of the report

proprietors,
affairs
;

an oath was adminiftered to the

difclofe the

which bound them

to

true ftate of their

and

their attempts to prevaricate, or elude the intention

of

the legiflator, were feverely watched, and punilhed as a capital crime,

which included the double

large portion of the tribute

guilt

of treafon and facrilege "\

in

A
re-

was paid

money

and of the current

'".

coin of the empire, gold alone could be legally accepted

The

mainder of the taxes, according

to

the proportions determined

by

the annual indiftion, was furnifhed in a

manner

ftill

more

dired:,

and

ftill

more

oppreflive.

According

to the different nature

of lands, corn or
the ex-

their real produce, in the various articles of

wine or

oil,

barley,

wood

or iron,

was tranfported by the labour or

at

pence of the provincials to the Imperial magazines, from whence

they were occafionally diftributed, for the ule of the court, of the

army, and of the two

capitals,

Rome and
were

Conftantinople.

The
make

commiflioners of the revenue were fo frequently obliged to

confiderable purchafes,
that they
ftriftly

prohibited from al-

lowing any compenfation, or from receiving in money the value of

thofe fupplies
plicity

which were exadled

in kind.

In the primitive fmi-

of fmall communities, this method

may

be well adapted to
;

collect the almoft voluntary offerings

of the people

but

it is

at

once

fufceptible of the utmoft latitude

and of the utmoft

ftridtnefs,

which

in a corrupt

and abfolute monarchy

rnuft introduce a perpetual conteft

"*
aut

Siquis facrilega vitam falce fucciderit,

ftudied obfcurity,

it is,

however, clear enough of the inquiiition,

feracium

Ramorum

foetus

hebetaverit,
et mentiatur

to prove the minutenefs

quo

declinet fidem

Cenfuum,

callide paupertatis ingenium,

mox

deteftus

and the difproportion of the penalty, "' The aftoniihment of Pliny would have
ceafed.

bona ejus in Fiici juramigrabunt. Cod. Thcod. 1. xiii. tit. xi. leg. I. Although this law is not without its
capitale fubibit exitium, et

Equidem miror

P. R. viftis genti-

bus argentum femper imperitafle non aurutn.

Hill. Natur. x.xxiii. 15.

between

OF THE
agriculture of the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
arts

6^
'"*.

between the power of oppreffion and the

of fraud

The ^

^f\

Roman

provinces was infenfibly ruined, and, in

its

Ui -,-./

the progrefs of defpotifm, which tends to difappoint

own purpofe,
were utItaly,

the emperors were obliged to derive fome merit from the forgivenefs

of debts, or the remiffion of

terly incapable of paying.

tributes,

which

their fubjedts

According to the new divifion of

the fertile and

victories

happy province of Campania, the fcene of the

citizens of

early

and of the delicious retirements of the

Rome,
and on
in fa-

extended between the fea and the Apennine from the Tyber to the
Silarus.

Within

fixty years after the death of Conftantine,

the evidence of an adual furvey, an exemption

was granted

vour of three hundred and thirty thoufand Englifh acres of defert

and uncultivated land

which amounted

to one-eighth of the

whole

furface of the province.

As

the footfteps of the Barbarians had not

yet been feen in Italy, the caufe of this amazing defolation, which
is

recorded in the laws, can be afcribed only to the adminiftration, of

the

Roman

emperors

'".

Either from defign or from accident,

the

mode of

afleffment

AfrefTed in

feemed to unite the fubftance of a land-tax with the forms of a

capitation
''*.

the form of a
capitation.

The

returns

which were

fent of every province or

diftrid, expreffed the

number of
Cod.

tributary fubjefts,

and the amount

Theod.
1.

"* Some precautions were taken 1. xi. tit. ii. and Cod.
tit.

(fee

''^

Cod. Theod.

1.

xi.

tit.

xxviii. leg. 2,

Juftinian.

X.

xxvii. leg.

i, 2, 3.)

to reftrain t!ie

publifhed the 24th of March, A. D. 395, by the emperor Honorius, only two months
after

magiftrates from the abufe of their authority,

either in

the

the exaflion or in thcpurchafe of

He
I

fpeaks of 528,042

death of his father Theodofius. Roman jugera, which

corn

but thofe

wh

had learning enough

to

have reduced to the Englifli meafiire.

The

read the orations of Cicero againft Verres

(iii.

de Frumento), might inftruft themfelves

jugerum contained 28,800 fquare Roman feet, ''^ Godefroy (Cod. Theod. torn. vi. p.
116.) argues

in all the various arts of oppreffion, with re-

gard to the weight, the price, the quality, and the carriage. The avarice of an unlettered governor would fuppiy the ignorance of precept or precedent.

the fubjeil of the capitation

with weight and learning on but while he ;

explains the caput, as a fhare or meafure of

property, he tco abfolutely excludes the idea

of a perfonal aiTelTment.

Vol.

II.

of

66

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of
{j^Q

CHAP,

public impofitions.

The

latter

of thefe fums was divided by

the former; and the eftimate, that fuch a province contained fo

capita^ or

many

heads of tribute

and that each head was rated

at

fuch a

price,

was univerfally received, not only

in the popular, but even

in the legal computation.

varied, according to
ftances
;

The value of

a tributary head m.uft have

many

accidental, or at leaft flu<ftuating

circum-

but fome knowledge has been preferred of a very curious

fadt, the

more important,

fince

it

relates to

one of the

richeft

pro-

vinces of the

Roman

empire, and which

now
The

flourifhes as the

moft

fplendid of the European kingdoms.

rapacious minifters of

Conftantius had exhaufted the wealth of Gaul,

five pieces

by exacting twenty-

of goldfor the annual tribute of every head.

The humane
'"'.

policy of his fucccflbr reduced the capitation to feven pieces

A moderate proportion
at fixteen pieces

between thefe oppofite extremes of extraor-

dinary oppreffion and of tranfient indulgence,

may

therefore be fixed

of gold, or about nine pounds fterling, the

comthis

mon

ftandard perhaps of the impofitions of

Gaul

'*.

But
is

calculation, or rather indeed the fafts

from whence

it

deduced,

cannot
'^

fail

of fuggefting two

difiicidties to a

thinking mind,

who

Quid

profuerit (Julianus) anhelanti-

bus extrema penuria Gallis,

claiet,

hinc maxime
ingreffus,

quod primitus
reperit

partes eas
tributi

pro capitiius fmgulis

quints aureos
plentes.

nomine vicenos
;

flagitari

difcedens

vero feptenos tantum munera univerfa com-

Ammian.

1.

xvi. c. 5.

"" In the calculation of any fum of money under Conftantine and his fucceiTors, we
need only refer to the excellent difcourfe of Mr. Greaves on the Denarius, for the
proof of the following principles:
tTie

which had once been divided into forty-eight aurei, was at this time coined into feventytwo fmaller pieces of the fame denomination, 3. That five of thefe aurei were the legal tender for a pound of filver, and that con fequently the pound of gold was exchanged for fourteen pounds eight ounces of filver^ according to the Roman, or about thirteen pounds according to the Engliih, weight. 4. That the Englifh pound of filver is coined
into fixty-two fliillings.

From

thefe

ele-

1.

That

ancient

and

modern

Roman pound,

containing 5256 grains of Troy weight, is about one twelfth lighter than the Englilh

ments we may compute the Roman pound of gold, the ufual method of reckoning large fums, at forty pounds fterling ; and we may fix the currency of the aureus at fomewhac

pound, which

is

Cime gniins.

2.

That

compofed of 5760 of the the pound of gold,

more than eleven

fliillings.

will

OF THE
xviir

ROMAN
equality,
.

EMPIRE.
and hj the enonnky of the
XVIJ.

(S-j

be

at

once furprifed by tbe

CHAP.

capitation.
light

An

attempt to explani them

may

perhaps refled fome

of the decUning

on the

interelling

iubjcd of the

finances

empire.
I.

It

is

obvious,

that,

as long as

the

immutable conftitution
fo

of

human

nature produces
the

and maintains

unequal a

divifioii

of property,

moft numerous part of the community would

be deprived of their fubfiftence, by the equal affeffment of a tax

from which the foverelgn would derive a very

Such indeed might be the theory of the

trifling

revenue.

Roman

capitation; but in
felt,

the practice, this unjuft equality was no longer

as the tribute

was

collected

on the

principle of a real, not of a perfofial impofition.

Several indigent citizens contributed to compofe a fmgle head,

or

fhare of taxation; while the wealthy provincial, in proportion to his

fortune, alone reprefented feveral of thofe imaginary beings.
poetical requeft, addrefled to

In a

one of the

laft

and moft deferving of the

Roman

Princes

who

reigned in Gaul, Sidonius Apollinarls perfonitriple

fies his tribute

under the figure of a

monfter, the

Geryon of
would

the Grecian fables,

and

intreats

the

new Hercules
by

that he

moft gracioufly be pleafed

heads
'".

to fave his life

cutting off three of his

The

fortune
if

of Sidonius far exceeded

the cuftomary

wealth of a poet ; but

painted

he had purfued the

allufion,

he muft have

many

of the Gallic nobles with the hundred heads of the

deadly Hydra, fprcading over the face of the country, and devour-

ing the

fubftance of an hundred families.

II.

The

difficulty

of

allowing an annual fum of about nine pounds fterling, even for the
average of the capitation of Gaul,
'*'

may
expeft
his

be rendered more evident

more
fatisfaftlon than I

Gerj'ones

nos

efie

puta,

monftrumque
tolle tria.
xiii.

have found in

tributum,

H:c

capita ut

vivam, tu mihi

nove (p. 144.) on this remarkable paffage. The words, fuo vel fuorum nomine,
betray the perplexity of the commentator.
to

Sidon. Apollinar. Carm.

The

reputation of Father Sirmond led

me

by

68

THE DECLINE AND FALL

HA
P.

by

tj^e

comparifon of the prefent

the abfokite

ftate

of the fame country, as

It is

now governed by
fied,

monarch of an

induftrious, wealthy,

and afFedionate people.

either

The
by

taxes of France cannot be

magni-

by

fear or

flattery,

beyond the annual amount of

eighteen millions fterling, which ought perhaps to be fliared

four

among

and twenty millions of inhabitants

of fathers,

"^\

Seven millions of
or hufbands,

thefe, in the capacity

or brothers,

difcharge the obligations of the remaining multitude of

may women

and children

yet the equal proportion of each tributary fubjedl

will fcarcely rife

alwve

fifty

(hillings

of our money, inftead of a

proportion almoft four times

larly

as

confiderable,^

which was regureafon of this diffcarcity or

impofed on their Gallic anceftors.

The

ference

may

be found,

aot fo

much

in the relative

plenty of gold and

ancient
fonal
taxes,

filver,

as In

the different ftate of foclety in

Gaul and
i&

in

modern France.

Li a country where per-

freedom

the privilege of every fubjedl, the whole mafs of

whether they are levied on property or on confumption,.

may

be fairly divided

among

the whole

body of the

nation.
as

But the

far greater part of the lands of ancient

Gaul, as well

of the otheror

provinces of the

Roman

world, were cultivated by flaves,

by

however formidabfe It founded on the original regiHers of births, deaths, and marriages, collefted by public authority,, and now depoaflertion,

"* This
feem,

may

is

nault contains 257,097 inhabitants. By th* rules of fair analogy, we might infer, that
the ordinary proportion of annual births to

the wJiole people, the

is

about

to

26

and that
If

fited in

the ContrSle General at Paris.

The
(from

kingdom of France contains 24,1-51,863

ourfelves with the
i

annual average of births whole kingdom, taken in

throughout the
five

perfons of both fexes and of every age.

years

we content
will

1/74, both inclufive) is, 479,649 and 449,369 girls, in all 928,9^18 children. The province of French Hainault alone furnifhes 9906 births and we are affured, by an adual numeration of the peopie annually repeated from the year 1773 to the year 1776, that, upon an average, Hai-

1770

to

proportion of

to 25, the

more moderate whole population

boys,

amount

to 23,222,950..

From

the dili?

gent refearches of the French government (which are not unworthy of our own imita^ tion), we may hope to obtain a llil! greater
degree of certainty on
jeiit.

this

important fub-

peafaatSj.,

OF THE
peafants,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
a lefs rigid fervltude '".

69
C H A
XVII.
P.

whofe dependent condition was

In fuch a ftate the poor were maintained at the expence of the

mafters,
tribute

who

enjoyed the

fruits

of their labour; and as the

rolls

of

were

filled

only with the names of thofe citizens

at leaft

who

pof-

feffed the

means of an honourable, or

of a decent fubfiftence,

the comparative fmallnefs of their numbers explains and juftifies the

high rate of their capitation.

illuftrated

The
cities

truth
:

of this aflertion

may

be

by the following example

The ^dui, one of

the moft

powerful and civilized tribes or

territory, which

of Gaul, occupied an extent of

now contains above five hundred

of

thoufand inhabitants,
'^*:

in the

two

ecclefiaftical diocefes

Autun and Nevers

and with

the probable acceffion of thofe of Chalons and

lation

Ma9on
fouls.

"', the

popu-

would amount

to eight

hundred thoulimd

In the time

of Conftantine, the territory of the iEdui afforded no more than

twenty-five thoufand heads of capitation, of

whom

feven thoufand

were difcharged by
'" Cod. Theod.
luftinian.
1.

that prince

from the

intolerable weight of tri-

1.

v. tit. ix, x, xi.

Cod.

perfons for the extent of country which was

tur qui

Coloni appellanconditionem debent genitali folo,

xi.
tit. Ixiii.

propter agriciilturam fub dominio pofleflb-

nim.
'"'

Auguftin. de Civitate Dei,

I.

x.

c. i.

once pofTefled by the jEdui. '^5 We might derive an additional fupply of 301,750 inhabitants from the diocefes of Chalons (Cabillonum) and of Ma90n
the one ZOQ, ; fmce they contain, and the other 260, parities. This acceffion of territory might be jullified by very fpecious reafons. i. Chalons and Macon were undoubtedly within the original jurifdidion of the ^dui. (See d'Anville Notice, p. 187, 2. In the Notitia of Gaul, they are 443.) enumerated not as Cimtales, but merely as They do not appear to hava Caftra. 3. been epifcopal feats before the fifth and fixth centuries. Yet 'there is a paffage in Eumenius (Panegyr. Vet. viii. 7.) which very forcibly deters me from extending the terri(MaliJ'eo)

The

ancient jurifdiftion of ( Augufio-

dunum) Autun in Burgundy, the capital of the ^^dui, comprehended the adjacent terriSee d'Antory of (No-uicduninn ) Nevers.
ville.

The two
latter

Notice de I'ancienne Gaule, p. 491. diocefes of Autun and Nevers are

the former of 610, and the

now compofed,

of 160, pariihes. The regifters of births, taken during eleven years, in 476 paridies of the fame province of Burgundy, and multiplied by the moderate proportion cf 25 (fee Meflance Recherches fur la Population, p. 142..),

may

authorife

us to aiiign

an average number of 656 perfons for each parilh, which being again multiplied by the

tory of

the^dui in the reign of Conftantine, along the beautiful banks of the navigable
Saone.

770

parifhes of the diocefes of

Nevers and
of 505,120

Aiuut),

will

produce the fum

2.

butCv

o
bute'**.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

A juft analogy
hiftorian '^\

^ l\ru^'

would feem

to countenance the opinion of

an ingenious
lurpafs the

that the free

;

and tributary
and
if,

citizens did not

number of

half a million

in the ordinary

admi-

niftration of
at

government, their annual payments

may
it

be computed

about four millions and a half of our money,

would appear*
as confi-

that although the fhare of each individual

was four times

derable,

a fourth part only of the

modern

taxes of France

was

levied
tius

on the Imperial province of Gaul.

The

exactions of Conftan-

may be

calculated at feven millions fterling,

which were reduced

Julian.

to
Capitstion
induftry.

two
But

millions
this tax,

by the humanity or the wifdom of

and numerous

or capitation, on the proprietors of land, would have

clafs

fuffered a rich

of free citizens to efcape.

With

the view of fliaring that fpecies of wealth

which

is

derived from art

or labour, and

which

exifts in

money

or in merchandife, the

em-

perors impofed a diftindt and perfonal tribute on the trading part of

their fubjefts '"^

Some exemptions, very

ftridtly

confined both in
difpofed of the

time and place, were allowed to the proprietors

who

produce of their

own

eftates.
:

Some

indulgence was granted to the

profeffion of the liberal arts

but every other branch of commercial

feverity of the law.

induftry was affedled

by the

The honourable
from the
ingenious

merchant of Alexandria,

who

imported the gems and fpices of India

;

for the ufe of the weftern world

intereft

the ufurer, v.ho derived

;

of

money

a filent and ignominious profit

the

manufadlurer, the diligent mechanic, and even the moft obfcure retailer

of a fequeftered

village,

were obliged

to admit the officers

:

of

the revenue into the partnerfhip of their gain

and the fovereign of

confented
to

the

Roman
Eumenius

empire,

who
viii.

tolerated

the

profeffion,

*^*
"''

in Panegyr. Vet.

ii,

L'Abbe du Bos

Hiil. Critique de la
1.

M.
iv,

F. torn.

i.

p. 121.

'**

See Cod. Theod.

I

xiii.

tit.

i<

and

fliare

OF THE
fhare the infamous falary,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
As
this general
it

7^

of public proftitutes.

tax upon induflry was collected every fourth year,

the
that
tears

was
'*'

ftiled

^^

'^

^'

-v

Lujlral Contribution:
the

and

the

hiftorian

Zoiimus

laments

approach
terrors

of

the

flital

period

was announced by the

often compelled

and

of the citizens,
to

who were
at

by
had
juf-

the

impending fcourge

embrace the moft abhorred and un-

natural

methods of procuring the fum

which

their poverty

been
titied

affeffed.

The teftimony of Zofimus cannot indeed be

but,
it

from the charge of paffion and prejudice,

from the
it

nature of this tribute,

feems reafonable to conclude that

was

arbitrary in the diftribution,

collecting.
profits

and extremely rigorous in the mode of

of commerce,

The

fecret Avealth

and the precarious

of art or labour, are fufceptible only of a difcretionary va-

luation,

which
;

is

feldom difadvantageous to the

intereft

of the

treafury
vifible

and

as the perfon

of the trader fupplies the want of a

the

and permanent

fecurity,

payment of the impoiition,

be obtained by the feizure of
thofe of

which, in the cafe of a land-tax,

property, can rarely be extorted
corporal punifhments.

may

by any other means than

The

cruel treatment of the infolvent debtors

of the

ftate,

is

attefted,

and was perhaps mitigated by a very

humane

edidt

of Conftantine,
allots a fpacious

who,

difclaiming the ufe of racks

tlieir

and of fcourges,
confinement
''.

and airy prifon for the place of

Thefe general taxes were impofed and levied by the abfolute

authority of the

Free

gifts.

monarch

but the occafional offerings of the coro-

nary gold
It

ftill

retained the

name and femblance of popular

allies

confent.
afcribed

was an ancient cuftom that the

of the republic,

who

"" Zofimus, 1. ii. p. 115. There is probably as much paflion and prejudice in the attack of Zofimus, as in the elaborate defence of the memory of Conftantine by

the zealous Dr. Howell. Hift. of the World,

vol.
ii.

p. 20.

's"

Cod. Theod.

1,

xi.

tit. vii.

leg, 3.

their

7^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^^^^'^^

^n ^ wV

fafety or deliverance to the fuccefs of the

cities

Roman arms

and

even the

of

Italy,

general, adorned the

who admired the virtues of pomp of his triumph by their

after the

their vidorious

voluntary

gifts

of crovi'ns of gold,

v\'hich,

ceremony, were confecrated

in the temple of Jupiter, to

remain a

lafting

monument

of his glory

to future ages.

The

progrefs of zeal and flattery foon multiplied the

fize,

number, and increafed the

of thefe popular donations

and the

triumph of Csfar was enriched with two thoufand eight hundred

and twenty-two mafly crowns, whofe weight amounted

thoufand four hundred and fourteen pounds of gold.

to

twenty

This Lreafure

was immediately melted down by the prudent

fatisfied that it

didlator,

who was
and
the

would be more

ferviceable to his foldiers than to the

gods

his

example was

imitated

by

his

fucceflbrs

cuftom was introduced,

for the

of exchanging thefe fplendid ornaments

current gold coin of the
at

more
''.

acceptable prefent of the

offering

empire

The fpontaneous
;

was

length exafted as the

debt of duty

and

inftead of being confined to the occafion of a to be granted

triumph,

it

was fuppofed

by the

feveral

cities

and

provinces of the monarchy, as often as the emperor condefcended

to

announce

his acceffion, his confulfhip, the birth

of a fon, the
real

creation of a C^efar, a

vidory over the Barbarians, or any other

i-eign.

or imaginary event which graced the annals of his

peculiar free gift of the fenate of
fixteen
fterling.

The
at

Rome

v\ras

fixed

by cuftom

hundred pounds of gold, or about fixty-four thoufand pounds

The

oppreffed fubjedts celebrated their

own
'^\

felicity, that

their fovereign fhould gracioufly confent

to accept

this feeble

but

voluntary teftimony of their loyalty and gratitude

A
''"
1,

people

See
c.

Lipfius
9.

de Magnitud.

Romana,
Spain pre-

ii.

The Tarragonefe

fented the emperor Claudius with a crown

gold of feven, and Gaul with another of

nine hundred pounds weight. I have followed the rational emendation of Lipfius. ''^ Cod. Theod. I. xii. tit. xiii. The fenators were fuppofed to be exempt from the

Aurum

OF THE
A
lified to

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
is

73
feldom qua-

people elated by pride, or foured by difcontent,

l^

^'

form

a juft eftimate

of their atual

fituation.

The

fubjcfts
Conclufion,

of Conftantine \vere incapable of difcerning the decline of genius

and manly

virtue,
;

which

fo far

degraded them below the dignity of

feel

their anceftors

but they could

and lament the rage of tyranny,

the relaxation of difcipline, and the encreafe of taxes.

tial

The impar-

hiftorian,

who

acknowledges the juftice of their complaints, will

obferve fome favourable circumftances which tended to alleviate the

mifery of their condition.

The
on the

threatening tempeft of Barbarians,

which
ftill

fo

foon fubverted the foundations of

frontiers.

Roman
The
arts

greatnefs,

was

repelled, or fufpended,

of luxury and
fociety

literature

were

cultivated,

and the elegant pleafures of

were enjoyed by the inhabitants of a confiderable portion of the The forms, the pomp, and the expence of the civil admiglobe.
niftration contributed to reftrain the irregular licence of the foldiers

and although the laws were violated by power, or perverted by fubtiety,"

the fage principles of the

Roman

jurifprudence preferved a

fenfe of order

and equity, unknown

rights

to the defpotic

governments of

the

eaft.

The

of mankind
;

might derive fome protedion

from

religion

and philofophy

and the name of freedom, which

could no longer alarm, might fometimes admonilli, the fucceflbrs of Auguftus, that they did not reign over a nation of Slaves or Barba

nans

193
.

Jurum Coronarium

but

the Jiiri Ohlatio,

which was required at their hands, was piecifely of the fame nature,
'9^

Honorli, 214, &c.), diftinguidies the llation of a Roman prince from that of a Parthian monarch. Virtue was necefTary for the one.
Birth might
fufiice for the other,

The

great Theodofius, in his judicious

advice to his fon (Claudian in iv Confulat.

Vol.

II.

H A

P.

74

'i'HE

DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.
CharaSler of ConJla?ttme.
flantme.

XVIIL

Perfan
Civil

Gothic

War.

Death

of C072-

Divijion of the

War.

Empire among

his three Sons.

"Tragic

Deaths of Confantine the

younger and

War.

Vi^ory of

Co7tflans.

Ufurpatioji of Magnentius.
Confia7itiiis.

^
f'h

xvni

^*

'

-^ ^ charader of the prince

P*'^^'

who removed

the feat of
civil

emand"

fl~~^r

^^'^

introduced fuch important changes into the

Conitantine.

religious conftitutlon of his country, has fixed the attention,

and di-

vided the opinions, of mankind.

tians, the deliverer

By
faint

the grateful zeal of the Chrif-

of the church has been decorated with every at-

tribute of a hero,

and even of a

while the difcontent of the

vanquiilied party has compared Conftantine to the moft abhorred of

thofe tyrants,
perial purple.

who, by their

vice

and weaknefs, difhonoured the Im-

The fame

paffions have in

fome degree been per-

petuated to fucceeding generations, and the character of Conftantine

is

confidered, even in the prefent age, as an objel either of fatire or

of panegyric.
confefTed

By
his

the impartial union of thofe defeats which are

by

warmeft admirers, and of thofe virtues which are

his

acknowledged by

moft implacable enemies,

we might hope
But
it

to

delineate a juft portrait of that extraordinary

man, which the

blufla'.

truth,

and candour of hiftory

ftiould

adopt without a

would
foon.

'

On

ne

fe

trompera point fur Conftantin,

tout le bien qu'en dit Zofirae.

Ecclefiafliquej.
torn.
iii.

FleuryHift.
Eufebiur-

tn croyant tout le mal qu'en dit Eufebe, et

p.

233.

and

OF THE
and

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
muft produce a figure
its
'

75
^ Jf/^r^'
w

jfoon appear, that the vain attempt to blend fuch difcordant colours,

to reconcile fuch inconfillent qualities,

it

'

monftrous rather than human, unlefs

diflindl lights,

is

viewed in

proper and

by

a careful feparation of the different periods of the

reign of Conflantine.

The
riched

perlbn, as well as the

mind of Conftantlne, had been enendowments.

His

virtuej.

by nature with her

were difplayed

choiceil

His

flature

was

lofty, his

countenance majeftic, his deportment graceful; his ftrength

in every

and

adtivity

manly

exereife,
life,

and from

his

earlieft

youth, to a very advanced feafon of

ftrift

he preferved the

vigour of his conflitution by a

tues of chaftity

adherence to the domeftic virdelighted in the focial inter-

and temperance.
;

He

courfe of familiar converfation

and though he might fometimes

lefs

indulge his difpofition to raillery with

referve than

was required

by

the fevere dignity of his flation, the courtefy and liberality of his
all

manners gained the hearts of

cerity of his friendfhip has

who

approached him.
;

The fm-

been fufpeled
a

yet he fhewed, on fome

occafions, that

he was not incapable of

illiterate

warm and

lafting attach-

ment.

The

difadvantage of an

education had not prevented

him from forming

arts

a jull eftimate of the value of learning;

and the

and fciences derived fome encouragement from the munificent protedion of Confi;antine. In the difpatch of bufmefs, his dihgence

was

indefatigable

and the active powers of

his

mind were almofl

continually exercifcd in reading, writing, or meditating, in giving

audience to ambalTadors, and in examining the complaints of his

fubjedls.

Even

thofe

who

cenfured the propriety of his meafures

were compelled

to acknowledge, that

he pofTefTed magnanimity

to

conceive, and patience to execute, the moft arduous defigns, without

and Zofimus form indeed the two extremes of flattery and inveftive. The intermediate fhades are exprefled by thofe writers, whofe

charafter or fituation varioufly tempered

influence of their religious zeal,

tlie

being

76

THE DECLINE AND FALL

being checked either by the prejudices of education, or by the cla-

CHAP.
XVIIl.

mours of the muhitudefpirit into

In the

field,

he infufed

his

own

intrepid

the troops,
;

whom
fignal

he conduled with the talents of a con-

fummate general

and

to his abilities, rather than to his fortune,

we may

afcribe

the

viilories

which he obtained over the

foreign and domeflic foes of the republic.

He

loved glory, as the

reward, perhaps as the motive, of his labours.

bition,

The

boundlefs

am-

which, from the

moment

of his .accepting the purple at York,

appears as the ruling pafTion of his foul,

may

be juftified by the
his rivals,

dangers of his

own

fituation,

by the character of
and order

by the

confcioufnefs of fuperior merit, and

by the profpel

that his fuccefs

v/ould enable

him

to reftore peace

to the diftradled empire.

In his

civil

wars againfl Maxentius and Licinius, he had engaged

on

his fide the inclinations of the people,

who compared

the undif-

fembled vices of thofe tyrants, with the

fpirit

of wifdom and juflice

which feemed
Conftantine ^
h:IS
vices.

to dire<3: the general tenor of the adminiftration

of

Had
plains

Conftantine fallen on the banks of the Tyber, or even In the

of Hadrianople,

fuch

is

the character which,

with a few

exceptions, he might have tranfmitted to pofterity.

clufion of his reign (according to the moderate

But the con-

and indeed tender

the rank

fentence of a writer of the fame age) degraded

him from

which he had acquired among the moft deferving of the

princes
*
'.

Roman

In the

life

of Auguftus,
fion I

we

behold the tyrant of the

The

virtues of Conftantine are collefted

of Pcsanius

for the moft

part from Eutropius,

and the

am

(edit. Havercamp. p. 697.), inclined to fufpeft that Eutropius had

;

younger Viftor, two fmcere pagans, who wrote after the extlnftion of his family. Even Zofimus, and the Emperor Julian, acknowledge his perfonal courage and military
achievements. See Eutropius x. 6. In primo Imperii tempore optimis principibus, ultimo mediis comparandus. From the ancient Greek, ver^

originally written fix mediis

ofFenfive

and

that the

monofyllable was dropped by the

Aurelius
Trachala.
fe-

wilful inadvertency of tranfcribers.

Vidlor expreffes the general opinion by a vul-

gar and indeed obfcure proverb.

decern annis prx-ftantiflimus
;

duodecim

quentibus latro

decem

noviffimis /////w

ob

immodicas profufiones.

republic.

OF THE
republic, converted, almoft

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
degrees, into the father

77
C H
\

by imperceptible

P.

XVIII.

of his country and of

may
love,

contemplate a

human kind. hero, who had fo

his

In that of Conftantinc,

we
dif-

long infplred his fubjedls with

and

his

enemies with terror, degenerating into a cruel and

fortune,

folute

monarch, corrupted by

or raifed

by conqueil
which he
a period

above the neceffity of diffimulation.

maintained during the
lafi:

The

general peace

fourteen years of his reign,,

real profperity
;

was

A.D.

of apparent fplendor rather than of

and the old age

of Conftantine was difgraced by the oppofite yet reconcileable vices

of rapacioufnefs and prodigality.

in the palaces of

The accumulated

treafures

found
;

Maxentius and Licinius, were

laviflily

confumed

the various innovations introduced

by the conqueror, were attended

and

with an encreafing expence

his feftivals, required

the coft of his buildings, his court,

;

an immediate and plentiful fupply

and the

oppreffion

of the people was the only fund which could fupport

the magnificence of the fovereign".

His imworthy
of their mafler,
'.

favourites,

en-

riched

by the boundlefs
was

liberality

ufurped with

impunity the privilege of rapine and corruption

univerfal decay
felt

fecret

but

in every part of the public adminiftration)

ftill

and

the

emperor himfelf, though he

loft

retained the obedience,

gradually

the efteem, of his fubjeds.

life,

The

drefs

and manners,

which, towards the decline of

he chofe to afFed, ferved only to The Afiatic pomp, which degrade him in the eyes of mankind.

had been adopted by the pride of Diocletian,

foftnefs

afTumed an

air

of

and effeminacy

in the perfon

of Conftantine.

He

is

repre-

fented with falfe hair of various colours, laborioufly arranged

Julian.
difcourfe

by the
all

Orat.

i.

p.

8.

in

a flattering

'

The

impartial

Ammianus

deferves

pronounced before the fon of Conftantine; and Caefarep, p. 335. Zofimus, p. The ftately buildings of Conilan114, 115. tinople, &c. may be quoted as a lafting and
unexceptionable proof of the profnfenefs of
their founder.

our confidence.

Proximorum

fauces aperuit

primus

omnium Conftantinus. L. xvi. c. 8. Eufebius himfelf confefles the abnfe (Vit. Conftantin. 1. iv. c. 29. 54.) ; and feme of the
Imperial laws feebly point out the remedy, See nbove, p. 39 of this volume.

fkilful

78
^YVTf

THE DECLINE AND TALL

^'

^^^^^

artifts

of the times;
;

a diadem

of a
pearls,

new and more exof collars and brace-

v^

penlive falliion
lets,

a profufion of gems

and
filk,

and a variegated flowing robe of

moft curioufly embroidered

with flowers of gold.

In fuch apparel, fcarcely to be excufed by

the youth and folly of Elagabalus,

we

are at a lofs to difcover the

wifdom of an aged monarch, and the fimplicity of a Roman veteran'. A mind thus relaxed by profperity and indulgence, was incapable
of rifmg to that magnanimity which difdains fufpicion, and dares to
forgive.
juftified

The

deaths of

Maximian and

Licinius

may

perhaps be

by the maxims of
;

policy, as they are taught in the fchools

of tyrants

but an impartial narrative of the executions, or rather

murders, which fuUied the declining age of Conftantine, will fugged

to our moft candid thoughts, the idea of a prince,

who

could

facrifice

without reluctance the Jaws of

the
His family.
di<3:ates

juftice,

and the

feelings of nature, to

either of his paflions or of his intereft.

The fame
meftic
life.

fortune which fo invariably followed the ftandard of

Conftantine, feemed to fecure the hopes and comforts of his do-

Thofe among

his predeceffors

who had

enjoyed the

longeft and moft profperous reigns, Auguftus, Trajan,

:tian,

and Diocle-

had been difappointed of pofterity

and the frequent revolu-

tions

had never allowed

vip

fufficient

time for any Imperial family to

grow

and multiply under the fhade of the purple.

firft

But the and Conhonours

twice

royalty of the Flavian line, which had been

ennobled by the
;

Gothic Claudius, defcended through

ftantine himfelf derived

feveral generations

from

his royal father the hereditary

which he tranfmitted
married.

to his children.

The emperor had been

Minervina, the obfcure but lawful objedt of his youthful

* Julian,

in the Caefars, attempts to ridi-

(Orat.

c.

5.) alleges, that Conftantine dreffed

His fufpicious telHmony is confirmed however by the learned Spanheim, with the authority of medals (See Commenculc his uncle.

for the public, not for

himfelf.

Were

this

admitted, the vaineft coxcomb could never

want an excufe.

Uue,

p. ij6,

299. 397.

4590-

Eufebius,

attachment*

OF
attachment^, had
Faufta, the

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

79-

him only one fon, who was called Crifpus. By daughter of Maximian, he had three daughters, and three
left

^J^r'^r^'

fons

known by the kindred names of Conftantine, Gonftantius, and Conftans. The unambitious brothers of the great Conftantine, Julius Gonftantius,

Dalmatius, and Hannibalianus

',

were permitted to

enjoy the moft honourable rank, and the moft affluent fortune, that
could be confiftent with a private ftation.
lived without a

The youngeft
pofterity.

of the three

name, and died without

His two elder

brothers obtained in marriage the daughters

of wealthy fenators,
race.

and propagated new branches of the Imperial

Gallus and
of

Julian afterwards became the moft illuftrious of the children

Julius

Gonftantius,

the Patrician.

The two
vain
Tlie

fons

of Dalmatius,

who had

been

decorated

with the

title

of Cenfor^
fifters

were
of the

named Dahnatius and Hannibalianus.

great Gonftantlne, Anaftafia
tatus

two

and Eutropla, were beftowed on Op-

and Nepotianus, two fenators of noble birth and of confular

dignity.

His third

fifter,

Gonftantia,

was

diftinguilhed

by her pre-

eitunence of greatnefs and of mifery.

She remained the widow

entreaties, that

of the v^nquilhed LIcinius

and

it

was by her

an

innocent boy, the offspring of their marriage, preferved for fome

time, his
ceffion.
life,

the

title

of Gxlar, and a precarious hope of the fuc-

Befides the females, and the alhes of the Flavian houfe, ten

or twelve males, to
apply the
order of
title

whom

the language of

modern

courts

would

of princes of the blood, feem.ed, according to the

to be deftlned either to inherit or to fupport the

th'eir birth,

throne of Conftantine.
^

But

in lefs than thirty years,

thisr

numerous

Zofimus and Zonaras agree

in reprefent-

ing Minervina as the concubine of Conftantine but Ducange has very galiaally refcued
:

beftows on him, after Zonaras, the name ot" Conftantine ; a name fomewhat unlikely, as it was already occupied by the elder brother,

her charafter, by producing a decifivepaflage

That of Hannibalianus
Pafchal chronicle, and

from one of the panegyrics

"

" Ab

ipfo fine

pueritia:te matrimonii legibus dedifti."

mont, HiiL des

527.

mentioned in the approved by TilleEmpcreurs, torn. iv. p.

is
is

Ducange

(Familia; Byzantinjc, p. 44.)

and

^o
C H A
XVIII.
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and
eiicreafing family

was reduced

to the perfons of

Coaflantlus

and Julian,

who

alone had furvived a feries of crimes and calamities,

fuch as the tragic poets have deplored in the devoted lines of Pelops

and of Cadmus.
Virtues of
Crifpus.

Crifpus, the eldeft fon of Conftantine, and the prefumptive heir

of the empire,

is

reprefented

by impartial

hiftorians as an amiable

and accompliflied youth.

his ftudies,

The

care of his education, or at leaft ot

was entrufted

to La(flantius,

the moll eloquent of the

Chriftians

a prseceptor admirably qualified to

'.

form the

tafte,

and

to

excite the virtues, of his illuftrious difciple

At

the age of feven-

teen, Crifpus

was invefted with the

title

of Csefar, and the admini-

ftration of the Gallic provinces,

where the inroads of the Germans

his military

gave him an early occafion of fignallzing

In the
civil

prowefs.

war which broke out foon

;

afterwards, the father and fon

divided their powers

and

this

hiftory has already celebrated the

latter,

Talour as well as condud: difplayed by the

ftreights of the Hellefpont, fo obftinately
fleet

in

forcing the

defended by the fuperior

of Licinius.

This naval vidtory contributed to determine the

;

event of the war

and the names of Conftantine and of Crifpus

of their eaftern fubjets
:

were united

in the joyful acclamations

who now

loudly proclaimed, that the world had been fubdued, and was

governed, by an emperor endowed with every virtue

and by

his illuftrious ion, a prince beloved of heaven,

and the

lively

image

of his father's perfedtions.

The
its

public favour,

which feldom acCrifpus.

companies old-age, dlfFufed

luftre

over

the youth of

He

deferved the efteem, and he engaged the affedions, of the court,

the army, and the people.

The

experienced merit of a reigning

monarch
'

is

acknowledged by

his fubjedts

with reludtance, and

torn.
vi.

fre--

tantiiis

Jerom. in Chron. The poverty of Lacmay be applied either to the praife of

unfeeling patron.

Mem.

Ecclefiaft.

part

i.

p. 345.
i.

Diipin, Bibliotheque Ecclefiaft. torn.

the difinterefted philofopher, or to the fliame

p. 205. Lardner's Credibility of the Gofpel Hiftory,

of

the

See Tillemont,

part

ii.

vol. vii. p. 66.

quently

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
;

8i
while, from

quently denied with partial and difcontented murmurs

^
\.

^, ^, P-

the opening virtues of his fuccefror, they fondly conceive the moll

-w-

~-j

unbounded hopes of private

tme, who,
equal.
,
,

as well as public felicity

'.

This dangerous popularity foon excited the attention of Conflanboth as a lather

,

and

as

kmg, was nnpatient

or

Jealoufy of Conftantine.

an A.D.72+,

Inftead of attempting to fecure the allegiance of his fon,

ties

by

"

''

the generous the mifchiefs

of confidence and gratitude, he refolved to prevent

diffatisfied

which might be apprehended from

ambition.

Crifpus foon had reafon to complain, that while his infant brother

Conftantius was fent, with the

culiar

title

of

Ca::far,

to reign over his

pe-

department of the Gallic provinces",

/jc^

a prince of

mature

years,

who had performed

fuch recent and fignal fervices, inftead of

being raifed to the fuperior rank of Auguftus, was confined almoft

a prifoner to his father's court;

and expofed, without power or dehis

fence, to every
geft.

calumny w^hich the malice of

enemies could fug-

Under fuch

painful circumftances, the royal youth might not

his difcontent

always be able to compofe his behaviour, or fupprefs

and we may be
indifcreet

affured,

that

he was encompafl'ed by a train of

or

perfidious

followers,

who

affiduoufiy
to

ftudied

to

inflame,

and

who were

perhaps

inftrufted

betray,

the

un-

guarded warmth of his refentment. An edid of Conftantine, pub- ^-P; ^^^' ' o Odlober i. / liflied about this time, manifeftly indicates his real or aflefted
_

fufpicions, that a fecret confpiracy

had been formed agalnft

his per-

fon and government.

By

all

the allurements of honours

and rewards,

he

invites informers of every degree to accufe

without exception his

maglftrates or minifters, his friends or his moft intimate favourites,

'

Eufeb. Hift. Ecclefiaft.

tropius (x. 6.) ftyles him,

1. x. c. 9. Eu"egregium virum" ;

chronologilb

feems to be more accurately fixed by the two the hiftorian who lived in ; but

and Julian (Orat.

i.)

very plainly alludes to

his court, could not be ignorant of the day

of

the exploits of Crifpus in the civil war.

See

the anniverfary.

Spanheim. Comment,

p. 92.

" Compare
nicle, with
j'^tfr in

Idatius

and the Pafchal Chro(1.

Ammianus
II.

xiv. c. 5.).

The

For the appointment of the new Csfar to the provinces of Gaul, fee JuGodefroy, Chronol. lian, Orat. i. p. jz. Legum, p. 26. and Blondel de la Primautc
de I'Eglife, p. 1183.

which Conftantius was created

Caefar,

Vol.

protefting,

THE DECLINE AND FALL

nroteftlna:, D' r
/

CHAP,
XVIII.
'

with a folemn afTeveration, that he himfelf will

;

llflen tcr

I.

the charge, that he liimfelf will revenge his injuries

and concluding:

with a prayer, which difcovers fome apprelienfion of danger, that the

providence of the Supreme Being
fafety
Difgrace and deathofCrifpus, A.
"'

may

ftill
"'.

continue to protect the.

of the emperor and of the empire

informers,
verfed

^he

who
in

complied with fo
the
arts

liberal

an invitation, were,

D.

fufficiently

of courts
guilty

to

feledl
j

tiie

friends.
is

''"^'

and adherents of Crifpus

as

the

perfons

nor

there

any reafon

to diftruft the veracity of the

emperor,

who had
The

pro-

mlfed an ample meafure of revenge and punifhment.

policy

of Conftantine maintained, however, the fame appearances of regard and confidence towards a fon,
his

whom

he began to confider

as-

moft irreconcileabie enemy.

Medals were flruck with the cu-

ftomary vows for the long and aufpicious reign of the young Casfar'^j

and

as the people,
ftill

who was

not admitted into the fecrets of the

palace,

loved his virtues, and refpefted his dignity, a poet w^ho-

folicits his recal

from

exLIe, adores

with equal devotion the majefty

of the father and that of the fon

celebrating the auguft

'*.

The time was now

arrived for
reign,

ceremony of the twentieth year of the

of Conflantine

and the emperor, for that purpofe, removed his

court from Nicomedia to

tions

Rome, where

the moft fplendid prepara-

had been made for

his reception..

Every eye, and every tongue,

and the
veil

affedled to exprefs their fenfe of the general happinefs,

of ceremony and diflimulation was drawn for a while over the

darkeft defigns of revenge and"
val,
'^

murder

'^

In the midft of the

feftl-

the unfortunate Crifpus

Cod. Theod.
1.

was apprehended by order of the emComTille-

ix.

tit.

iv.

Godefroy

fufpefted the fecret motives of this law.

msnt.

torn. iii..p. 9.

of the age in vile acrollics, is fetby Scaliger ad Eufeb. p. 250. Tinemont, torn. iv. p.607. and FabriciusBiblioth. Latin.to the tafte
tied
1.

" Ducange Fam.

Byzant. p. 28.

iv. c.
'^

i.
1. ii.

mont, torn. iv. p. 610. '* His name was Porphyrius Optatianus.

Zofim.

p. 103.

Godefroy Chro-

nol.

Legum,

p. 28.

The

date of his panegyric, written according

peror^

OF THE
peror,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
fhort

83

who

laid afide the tendernefs

of a father, without affuming the

CHAP,
'

equity of a judge.
it

The examination was

to conceal the fate

and private

'*;

and

as

\ V lilt
w

'

was thought decent

of the young prince from

the eyes of the

Roman

people, he

was

fent

under a ftrong guard to

Pola, in Iftria, where, foon afterwards, he

was put

to death, either

by

the

hand of the executioner, or by the more gentle opera-

tion of poifon "\

ners,

The

Csefar Licinius, a

youth of amiable man'^

j

was involved

in the ruin of Crifpus

and the fternjealoufy

of Conftantine was unmoved by the prayers and tears of his favourite

filler,

pleading for the

life

of a

fort

whofe rank was

his

only

crime, and whofe lofs (he did not long furvive.

The

ftory of thefe

rmhappy
their trial,

princes, the nature

and evidence of

their guilt, the

forms of
in

and the circumflances of

;

their death,

were buried

mj{~

terious obfcurity

and the courtly bifhop,

who

has celebrated in an

elaborate
filence

work

the virtues and piety of his hero, obferves a prudent

tragic events".
it

on the fubjeft of thefe

Such haughty conimprints an indelible

tempt for the opinion of mankind, whilft

flain

on the memory of Conftantine, muft remind us of the very

one of the
and

different behaviour of
^^Ay.^nuc, ivitkout

greateft

monarchs of the prefent

trial, is (he (irong,

chufes to adminifter a draught of /</ poifon.

'^

imoft probably the juft expreffion of Suidas.

The
*'

elder Victor,

who wrote under

the next

Sororis filium,

commodse
6.

indolis juveI not be per-

reign, fpeaks with becoming caution.

" Natu

nem.

Eutropius

x.

May

grandior incertum qua causa, patris judicio

occidiflet."

mitted to conjefture, that Crifpus had married Helena, the daughter of the

"

If

we

confuit the fucceeding

younger Viftor, Orofius, Jerom, Zofimus, Philoftorgius, and Gregory of Tours their knowledge will apwriters, Eutropius, the
;

Licinius, and that on the

emperor happy delivery of

the princefs, in the year 322, a general par-

pear gradually to encreafe, as their means of information nnill have diminifhed ; a circumflance

don was granted by Conftantine-? See Ducange Fam. Byzant. p. 47. and the law (l.ix. tit. xxxvii.) of the Theodofian Code, which
has fo

which frequently occurs in

(1.

hiftorical

much
torn.

embarrafled the interpreters,

difqiiifition.

Godefroy,
xiv. c.

" Ammianus
34.) beheads the

n.)

ufes the ge-

'*
1.
ii.

iii. p. 267. See the Life of Conftantine, particularly

neral expreffion ci peremptum.

Codinus

(p.

19, 20.

Two

hundred and
(1. iii.

fifty

years

young prince; but Sidonius

afterwards Evagrius

c.41.) deduced

-Apollinaris, (Epirtol. v. 8.) for the fake perhaj)s of an antithefis to Eaufta's tu;7 bath,

from the

filence

of Eufebius a vain argument

againft the reality of the fa*.

age.

84

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^ ^^ The Czar Peter, in the full pofTeflion of defpotic power, fubf^^- age. A Vlil. \^r-/ mltted to the judgment of Rufha, of Europe, and of poftcrity, the
reafons

which had compelled him

at Icaft

to fubfcribe the

condemnation of

a criminal, or

of a degenerate, fon".

The

emprefs

The innocence
the

of Crifpus was fo univerfally acknowledged, that

their founder, arc

modern Greeks, who adore the memory of

palliate the guilt

reduced to
ings of

of a parricide, which the

common

feel-

human

nature forbade them to juftify.

They

pretend, that

as foon as the affliled father difcovered the

faUehood of the accufatally mifled,

;

fation

by which

his credulity

had been

fo

he pub-

liflied to

the world his repentance and remorfe

that

he mourned

forty days, during

all

which he abftained from the ufe of the bath, and

life
;

the ordinary comforts of

and

that, for the lafting inftrudlion

of pofterity, he ereded a golden ftatue of Crifpus, with

morable infcription

To MY

SON,

WHOM
:

meUNJUSTLY CONthis

DEMNED

".

A
leis

tale fo

moral and

fo interefting

would deferve

to be

lupported by

exceptionable authority

but

if

we

confult the
that

more

ancient and authentic writers,

they will inform us,

the re-

pentance of Conflantine was manifefted only in adts of blood and

revenge

and that he atoned for the murder of an innocent fon, by

the execution, perhaps, of a guilty wife.

They

afcribe the misfor-

tunes of Crifpus to the arts of his ftepmother Faufta, whofe implacable hatred, or

whofe difappointed

love,

renewed

in the palace

of

Conftantlne the ancient tragedy of Hippolitus and of Phsedra ".

Like the daughter of Minos, the daughter of Maximian accufed her

fon-in-law of an inceftuous attempt on the chaftity of his father's

"
taire,
"'

Hiftoire de Pierre le

Grand, par Vol-

whofe imaginary
*^

hillories

he appeals with

part

ii.

c. x.

unblufhing confidence.

In order to prove that the ftatue was

Zofimus

(1.

ii.

p. 103.)

may be

con-

and afterwards concealed by the malice of the Arians, Codinus very feadily creates (p. 34.) two witnefles, Hippolitus, and the younger Herodotus, to
erefted by Conrtantine,

fidered as our original.

The

ingenuity of

the moderns,
ancients,

affifted

by a few hints from the

has illuftrated and improved his

obfcurc and imperfeifl narrative.

wife

OF THE
v>afe
;

ROMAN
young
prince,

EMPIRE.
whom
own
fhe confidered with
children.
i^

S^

and

eafily obtained,

from the jealoufy of the emperor, a fenBut He-

CHAP,
^_/

tence of death againft a

reafon as the moft formidable rival of her

lena, the

aged mother of Conftantine, lamented and revenged the

fate

untimely

of her grandfon Crifpus

nor was

it

long before a real

or pretended difcovery was made, that Faufta herfelf entertained a

criminal conned;ion with a flave belonging to the Imperial ftables

''^

Her condemnation and punilhment were

of the charge
;

the inftant confequences

and the

adulterefs

was

fuffocated

by the fteam of a

bath, which, for that purpofe, had been heated to an extraordinary

degree

^*.

By fome

it

will

perhaps be thought, that the remembrance

of a conjugal union

of twenty years,
deflined heirs

and the

honour of

their

common

offspring, the

of the throne, might

;

have

foftened the

obdurate heart

of Conftantine

and perfuaded him

to expiate

to fufFer his wife,

however guilty fhe might appear,

But
it

her offences in a folitary prilon.

to

feems a fuperfluous labour

weigh the propriety, unlefs we could

;

afcertain the truth, of this

fmgular event

which

is

attended with fome circumftances of doubt

and perplexity.
fended,

Thofe who have attacked, and thofe who have dedifregarded

the charader of Conftantine, have alike

two

very remarkable paflages of two orations pronounced under the fucceeding

reign.

The former
fo

celebrates

the

virtues,

the

beautv,
fifter,

and the fortune of the emprefs Faufta, the daughter, wife,

and mother of

many

princes

^'.

The

latter

afferts,

in explicit

terms,
*' Philoftorgius,

1. ii.

c. 4.

Zoiimus

(1. ii.

'^*

If Fauffa was put to death,

it is

reafon-

imputes to Conftantine the death of two wives, of the innocent Faufta, and of an adulterefs who was the mother of his three fucceflbrs. According to Jerom,
p.

104.

116.)

able to believe that the private apartments of

the palace were the fcene of her execution,

The
tain,
^'

orator Chryfoftom indulges his fancy

the

expofmg
to

three or four years elapfed between the death

by naked emprefs on a defert mounbe devoured by wild beafts.

i.

of Crifpus and that of Faufta.

yiflor
is

The
"

elder

Julian. Orat.

He

feems to

call

her

prudently

filent.

the

mother of Crifpus.

She might aftume

that

g6
.C
i_

THE DECLINE AND FALL

H A
-^P.
.'

terms, that the mother of the youneer Conflantine,

three years after his father's death, furvived to

who was

flain

weep over

the fate of

her fon

"^

Notwlthftanding the pofitive teftimony of feveral writers

as

of the Pagan as well

of the Chriftian religion, there

may

flill

re-

main fome reafon

to believe, or at leaft to fufped, that Faufta efcaped

the blind and fufpicious cruelty of her hufband.

fon,

The

deaths of a

and of a nephew, with the execution of and perhaps innocent friends

''',

a great

number of
involved in

refpedtable,

who were

their

fall,

may

be

fufficient,

however, to juftify the difcontent of

the

Roman

people, and to explain the fatirical verfes affixed to the

palace-gate,
tine

comparing the fplendid and bloody reigns of Conflan^'.

and Nero

The

fons

and

By

the death of Crifpus, the inheritance of the empire feemed to

Coniian'tine.

devolve on the three fons of Faufla,

who

have been already menof Conftantius,

tioned under the names of Conflantine,

Conftans.
title

and of

Thefe young princes were fucceflively invefled with the

;

of Csefar

and the dates of

their

promotion

may

be referred to

the tenth,
their father

the twentieth,
*'.

and the

thirtieth years
it

of the reign of

This conduit,

though

tended to multiply the

future mafters of the

tiality
^hat

Roman
;

world, might be excufed by the parbut

it

of paternal affedlion
by adoption.
as
his

is

not fo eafy to underfland the

Saturni aurea fecula quis requirat
?

title

At

leaft,

(he

was not
Julian

'^^

.-confidered

mortal

enemy.

Sunt hac gemmea, fed Neroniaiia.

Sidon. Apollinar.
it is v. 8.

compares the fortune of Faufta with that of

Paryfatis,

the

Perfian

queen.

A Roman

fomewhat

fingular, that thefe fatirical

would have more naturally recolleaed the

fecond Agrippina

lines fhould
libeller,

be attributed, not to an obfcure

but to

or a difappointed patriot,

Et moi, qui fur !e trone ai fuivi mes ancetres; Moi, fille, femme, fcEurct mere devos maitres.

Ablavius,

prime minifter an^ favourite of

the emperor.

We may

now

perceive that

Monod. in Conftantin. Jun. c. 4. ad Calcem Eutrop. edit. Havercamp. The orator ftyles her

"

the imprecations of the

diftated
ftition-

Roman

people were

by humanity,
Zofim.
1. ii.

as well as
p. 105.

by fuper-

the moft divine and pious of

queens.
^'

^'

Eufeb.

Orat.

in

Conftantin.

c.

3.

Interfecit

numerofos amices.

Eutrop.

Thefe dates are

the orator.

fufficiently correft to juftify

xx. 6.

motives

OF THE
motives of the emperor,

ROMAN
.

EMPIRE.
the fafety both of his

Sy ^ ^,^

when he endangered

^
'

family and of his people, by the unneceflary elevation of his two

nephews, Dalmatius and Hannibalianus.

The former was

raifed,

by the
the

title

of Csefar, to an equahty with his coufms.

In favour of

latter,

Conftantine invented the

"
;

new and

fingular appellation of

Nobiliffimus

to

which he annexed the

flattering diftindlion of a
feries

robe of purple and gold.

But of the whole

of

Roman

princes

Ln.any age of the empire, Hannibalianus alone was diflinguiflied by

the
title

of

King

name which
even
as

the fubjedls of Tiberius

infult

would

have deteiled, as the profane and cruel

of capricious tyranny.

The

ufe of fuch a
is

title,

it

appears under the reign of

fliV,

Con-

ftantine,

a ftrange

and unconnedted

which can

fcarcely be.

admitted on the joint authority of Imperial medals and contemporary writei^s

^'.

The whole empire was

five youths, the
cifes

deeply interefted in the education of thefe

fucceflbrs of Conftantine.

Their sduca-

acknowledged

The exer-

of the body prepared them for the fatigues of war, and the
life.

duties of adlivc

Thofe who occafionally mention the education

that he
all

or talents of Conftantius, allow that he excelled In the gymnaftic arts

of leaping and running

was a dextrous

archer, a fkilful

horfeman, and a mafter of

the different weapons ufed in the fer-

vice either of the cavalry or of the infantiy ^\

cultivation

The fame afhduous

fuccefs, to
".

was beftowed, though not perhaps with equal

improve the minds of the fons and nephews of Conftantine

Zofim. ]. ii. p. 117. Under the preof Conftantine, KobiliffiDius was a vague epithet, rather than a legal and deter^

The
Orat.
(1.

^^

His dexterity

in martial exercifes is cei.

deceflbrs

lebrated by Julian (Orat.

p. 53.))
c.

p. 11.

ii,

and allowed by Ammianus

1.

xxi.

mined
^'

title.

16.).
^^

Adftruunt

nummi

veteres ac fmgulares,
DifTertat.xii.

Eufeb. in Vit. Conftantin.

i.

iv.

c.

ji.

Spanheim de Ufu Numifmat.

vol.
ii.

Julian. Orat.

p. i!

16.

with Spanheim's
iii.

p.

357.
(1.

Ammianus
xiv. c. i.

Roman
loc).

king

The

Valefian
;

fpeaks of this and Valefius ad fragment ftyles him

elaborate
p. 109.

Commentary.

Libanius, Orat.

Conftantius ftudicd with laudable

and the Pafchal Chronicle by employing the word Vt,-/a, (p. 286.), acquires the weight of Latin evideucc..

King of kings

diligence; but the dulnefs of his fancy prevented him from fucceeding in the art of
poetry, or even of rhetoric,

moH

88

THE DECLINE AND FALL

moft celebrated profeflors of the Chriftian
lofophy, and of the
berality of the
faith,

CHAP.
xvm.

of the Grecian

ph'i-

Roman jurifprudence, were invited by the liemperor, who referved for himfelf the important taflc
But the genius of Conftantine himfelf had
In the free intercourfe of

of inftrudting the royal youths in the fcience of government, and the

knowledge of mankind.

been formed by adverfity and experience.

private
life,

and amidft the dangers of the court of Galerius, he had

learned to
equals,

command
to

his

own

paflions,

to encounter thofe

of his

and

depend for

his prefent fafety

and future greatnefs on

the prudence and firmnefs of his perfonal condudl:.

fucceffors

His deftined

had the misfortime of being born and educated in the ImInceflantly furrounded with
a
train of
flatterers,

perial purple.

they pailed their youth in the enjoyment of luxury and the expectation of a throne
to defcend
racters of
;

nor would the dignity of their rank permit them

from

that elevated ftation

from whence the various cha-

human

nature appear to wear a fmooth and uniform afped:.

at a

The

indulgence of Conftantine admitted them,

very tender age,

art

to Ihare the adminiftration of the

empire

and they ftudied the

care.

of reigning

at the

expence of the people entrufted to their

to hold his court in

The
;

younger Conftantine was appointed

his brother Conftantius

Gaul

and

exchanged that department, the ancient pa-

trimony of
tries

their father, for the

Italy, the

more opulent, but

lefs

martial,

coun-

of the Eaft.

Weftern Illyricum, and Africa, were

accuftomed to revere Conftans, the third of his fons, as the reprefentative

of the great Conftantine.

He

fixed Dalmatius

on the

Gothic

frontier, to

which he annexed the government of Thrace,

Macedonia, and Greece.

relidence of Hannlballanus
docia,
his

The
;

city of C^efarea

was chofen

for the

and the provinces of Pontus, Cappato

and the Leffer Armenia, were defigned

form the extent of

new kingdom.
was 6

For each of thefe princes a fuitable eftablifh-

ment was provided.

t)f auxiliaries,

juft proportion

of guards, of legions, and

allotted for their

refpedive dignity and defence.

The

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The
miniflfers

89
their perfons,

and generals, who were placed about

aflift,

^Jfrjfy^'

were fuch

as Conftantine could truft to

and even to control,

v^

<~

"'

thefe youthful fovereigns in the exercife of their delegated power.

As they advanced
Bity

in years

and experience, the

:

limits of their

autho-

were

infenfibly enlarged
title

but the emperor always referved for

;

himfelf the

of Auguftus

and while he fhewed the

^^

C<^fars to

the armies and provinces, he maintained every part of the empire in equal obedience to
its

fupreme head

The

tranquillity of the laft

fourteen years of his reign was fcaixely interrupted

by

the con-

temptible infurredtion of a camel-driver in the ifland of Cyprus ", or by the aftive part which the policy of Conftantine engaged
to afllime in the wars of the

him

Goths and Sarmatians.

Among

the different branches of the

;

human
feem

race, the Sarmatians

Manners of
jians.

form a very remarkable ihade

of the Afiatic barbarians
the
ancient
inhabitants

as they

to unite the

manners
of

Vv^ith

the

figure

and

complexion
to

of Europe.

According
or

the

various
the Sar-

accidents

of peace

and war, of

alliance

conqueft,

matians were fometimes confined

to

the

banks of the
the
^^

Tanais
plains

and they fometimes fpread themfelves

over

immenfe

which

lie

between the Viftula and the Volga

flocks

The

care of their

numerous
cife

and herds,

the

purfuit

of game, and the exer-

of war, or rather of rapine, directed the vagrant motions of the

Sarmatians.

The moveable camps

(1. iv.

or

cities,

the ordinary refidence

'+

Eufebius

c.

fign of exalting the authority

51,52.), with a deand glory of

the

fus,

by the vigilance of Dalrnatius.

elder Viftor, the Clironicle of Jerom,

Conftantine,

affirms,

that he divided
private citizen

the doubtful traditions

Seethe and of Theophanes and

Roman empire
have divided

as a

might

Cedrenus.
^^

liis

patrimony.

His

diftribu-

Cellarius has collefted the opinions of

tion of the provinces

may

be collcftcd from

the ancients concerning the European

Afiatic Sarmatia
;

and

Kutropius, the two Viftors,

fian
^'

and the Vale-

fragment.
Calocerus,
the obfcure leader of this

and M. d'Anville has applied them to modern geography with the (kill and accuracy which always diftinguilhes
that excellent writer,

rebellion, or rather tumult,

and burnt

alive in the market-place of

was apprehended Tar-

VoL.

II.

of

90

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of their wives and children, confifted only of large waggons drawn
- ^- '_;

CHAP,
%_

by oxen, and covered

in the

form of

tents.
;

The

military ftrength
their

of the nation was compofed of cavalry

warriors, to lead in their
to advance
fecurity,

and the cuftom of

hand one or two fpare

horfes, enabled thera

and

to retreat

with a rapid diligence, Avhich furprifed the

diftant

and eluded the purfuit, of a

enemy

".

TTieir

po-

verty of iron prompted their rude induflry to invent a fort of cuirafs,

which was capable of

refifting

a fword or javelin, though

into thin

it

was
care-

formed only of horfes hoofs, cut

fully laid over each other in the

and polifhed
fcales

flices,

manner of

or feathers, and
^'.

ftrongly fewed
fenfive

upon an under-garment of

coarfe linen

The

of-

arms of the Sarmatians were fhort daggers, long

lances,

and

a weighty bow. with a quiver of arrows.

necefTity of

They were reduced

their

to the

employing fifh-bones for the points of

weapons

but the cuftom of dipping them in a venomous liquor, that poifoned

the

wounds which they

;

infli<fled,

is

alone fufficient to prove the mofl

favage manners

iince a people imprefled

fo cruel a pralice,

with a fenfe of humanity

would have abhorred

arts

and a nation

ikilled in the
^'.

of war would have difdained fo impotent a refource

When-

ever thefe Barbarians iffued from their deferts in queft of prey, their

fhaggy beards,

uncombed

locks,

the furs with which they were

their fierce countenances,

covered from head to foot,

and

which

feemed

to exprefs the innate cruelty of their minds, infpired the

more

civilized provincials of

Rome

with horror and difmay.

See in the Recherches fur
torn.
ii.

" Ammian.

1.

xvii. c. 12.

The Sarmatiaa

les

Americains,
difler-

horfes were caftra ted, to prevent the mifchie-

p.

236 271, a very curious

darts.

voas accidents which might happen from the

ncify and ungovernable pafTions of the males,
^'

tation

on poifoned

The venom was

;

commonly extrafted from

to

the vegetable reign

Paufanias,

1.

i.

p.

50.

edit.

Kuhn.

but that employed by the Scythians appears

That inquifitive traveller had carefully examined a Sarmatian cuirafs, whick was preferved in the temple of iEfculapius at Athens,
^'

mixture of

Afpicis et mitti fub adunco toxica ferro,

Et telum caufas mortis habere duas. Ovid, ex Ponto, 1. iv. ep. 7. ver. j

have been- drav/n from the viper, and a human blood. The ufe of poifoned arms, which has been fpread over both worlds, never preferved a favage tribe from the arms of a difciplined enemy.

The

OF THE
The

ROMAN
to

EMPIRE.
"

91
^iy/^r^"

tender Ovid, after a youth fpent in the enjoyment of fame

and luxury, was condemned

bariks of the

an hopelefs exile on the frozen

r
1
,

-.

Danube, where he was expofed, almolt without de-

Their

fettlc-

ment near

fence, to the fury of thefe monfters of the defert, with

fpirits

whofe

ftern

he feared that his gentle

fliade

might hereafter be confounded.

'*,

In his pathetic, but fometimes unmanly lamentations

in the moft lively colours,

he defcribes

the drefs and manners, the arms and

aflbciated' for the

inroads of the

Gets and Sarmatians, who were

;

purpofes of deftrulion

and from the accounts of

hiftory, there

is

fome reafon

to believe that thefe Sarmatians

were the Jazygae, one of

'

the moft numerous and warlike tribes of the nation.

The

allure-

ments of plenty engaged them to feek a permanent eftablifliment on

the frontiers of the empire.

Soon
fubfifted

after the reign

of Auguftus, they

obliged the Dacians,

who

by hfhing on the banks of the

and
to

river Teyfs or Tibifcus, to retire into the hilly country,

aban-

don

to the

victorious Sarmatians
are

the fertile plains of the

Upper
In this

Hungary, which
femi-circular

bounded by the courfe of the Danube and the

of
the Carpathian mountains
*'.

inclofure

advantageous pofition, they watched or fufpended the

attack, as they

moment of
by
prefents

were provoked by
ftill

injuries or appeafed

they gradually acquired the

of ufing more dangerous weailluftrate their

pons; and although the Sarmatians did not

name by
and

any memorable
*

exploits, they occailonally affifted their eaftern

The

nine books

of Poetical Epiftles,
full
pofl'efs,

very accurate Count de Buat.

des Peuplcs de I'Europe,
p.

Hift.

Ancienne
c.

which Ovid conipofed during the feven

years of his melancholy exile,
fides the

torn. iv.

xvi.

be-

286 317.
*'

merit of elegance, a double value.

The

Sarmatians Jazygs were fettled on

They

exhibit a pi&ure of the

human mind
;

the banks of the Pathiflus or Tibifcus,

when

and they contain many curious obfervations, which no Roman, except Ovid, could have an opportunity of making. Every circumltance which tends to illuilrate the hiftory of the Barbarians, has been drawn together by the
under very fmgular circumftances

Plinv, in the year 79, publilhed his Natural Hiftory. See 1. iv. c. 2;. In the time of

Strabo and Ovid,

fore, they

fix'ty

or feventy years be-

appear to have inhabited beyond

the Geta;, along the coaft of the Eu.xine.

wcftern

92
''

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^-

xviir.

^j'^^

weftern neighbours, the Goths and the Germans, with a formidable

body of

cavalry.

They
after

lived

under the irregular ariftocracy of their

chieftains
tive

*\ but

they had received into their bofom the fugithe prefTure of the Gothic power^

Vandals,

who

yielded to

they feem to have chofen a king from that nation, and from the
illuftrious

race

of the Aftingi,

who had

formerly dwelt on the

fhores of the Northern ocean *\

The Gothic
war, A.
33-

This motive of enmity muft have inflamed the fubjedls of contention,

D.

which perpetually

arife

on the confines of warlike and indeprinces were ftimulated

pendent nations.

The Vandal

by

fear

and

revenge, the Gothic kings afpired to extend their dominion from the

Euxine

to the frontiers of
falls

Germany

and the waters of the Maros,. were ftained with the blood

a fmall river which

into the Teyfs,

of the contending Barbarians.

rior ftrength

After fome experience of the fupetheir

and

numbers of

adverfaries,

the

Sarmatians

implored the protection of the

pleafure the difcord of the

Roman Monarch, who beheld with nations, but who was juftly alarmed by
As foon
as

the progrefs of the

Gothic arms.

Conftantine had

declared himfelf in favour of the weaker party, the haughty Araric,

king of the Goths, inftead of expelling the attack of the Legions,

boldly pafled the Danube, and fpread teiTor and devaflation through

the province of Ma-'fia.

hoft, the

To

oppofe the inroad of

field in

this

deftroying^

aged emperor took the

perfon

but on this occafion

either his conduct or his fortune betrayed the glory

which he had

acquired in fo
*- Principes

many

foreign and domeftic wars.

to reconcile the

He

had the morti-

Sarmatarum Jazygum penes

.

Goth Jornandes with the

hiftorians of Conftantine..

regimen plebem quoque et vim equitum qua fold valent offerebant. Tacit. Hill. iii. i;. This offer was made in the civil war between Vitellius and Vefpacivitatis
. .

quos

Greek and Latin

It

may

be obferved that Ifidore,

for

who

lived

in

Spain under the dominion of the Goths,

gives

them

enemies, not the Vandals,

See his Chronicle in.

fian.

but the Sarmatians.

Grotius, p, 709.

This hypothefisof a Vandal king reigning over Sarmatian fubjeds, feems neceflary

*'

fication

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
ficatlon

93

of feeing his troops

fly

before an inconfiderable detachment

fortified

CHAP.
xviir.

of the Barbarians,

who

purfued them to the edge of their

his

camp, and obliged him to confult

ignominious
retreat.

fafety

by a

precipitate

and

The

event of a fecond and more fuccefsful

adtion retrieved the honour of the

Roman name

and the powers

of art and difcipiine prevailed, after an obllinate conteft, over the

efforts

of irregular valour.
field

The broken army

eldeft

of the Goths aban-

doned the

of

battle,

the wafted province, and the paflage of the

Danube
which

and although the

of the fons of Conftantine was

332^.

permitted to fupply the place of his father, the merit of the vidory, A. D.
diffufed univerfal joy,

was
to

afcribed to the aufpicious counfels

of the emperor himfelf.

He

contributed, at

leaft,

Improve

this advantage,

by

his
**,

nego-

ciations

with the free and warlike people of Cherfonefus

whofe

capital, fituate

on the weftern

coaft of, the Tauric or

Crimccan pe-

ninfula,

ftill

retained fome veftiges of a Grecian colony, and

aflifted

was

governed by a perpetual magiftrate,

by

a council of fenators,

emphatically ftyled the Fathers of the City.

The

Cherfonites
v>'ars

were

animated againft the Goths, by the

the preceding century,
againft the

memory

of the

which, in

they had maintained with unequal forces

invaders of their country.

the mutual benefits of

They were connedled with

as

the

Romans by

commerce;

they were fup-

plied

from the provinces of Afia with corn and manufadures, which

fait,

they purchafed with their only produdtions,

wax, and

hides

Obedient to the requifition of Conftantine, they prepared, under the

** I
for

may

ftand in need of fome apology

his narrative is, for the

moft part, confiftent

having ufed, without fcriiple, the authority of Conftantine Porphyrogenitiis, in all that relates to the wars and negociations of
the Cherfonites.
I

and probable; nor

in conceiving that

is

there

much

difficulty

am aware

that he

Greek of

the tenth century,

was a and that his

frequently
this occafion

an emperor might have accefs to fome fecret archives, which had efcapeii the diligence of meaner hiftorians For the fituation and hiftory of Cherfone, fee
Peyflbnel des Peuples barbares qui ont habite
les

accounts of ancient hiilory

are

confufed and fabulous.

But on

Bords du Danube,

c. xvj. p.

8490.

conduit

54

THE DECLINE AND FALL

conclut of their maglftrate Diogenes, a confiderable army, of

CHAP.

which

Vv-'

the principal flrength confided in crofs-bows

and miUtary

chaiiots.

The fpeedy march and

rial

intrepid attack of the Cherfonites,

by

divert-

ing the attention of the Goths, affifted the operations of the Impegenerals.

The Goths, vanquifhed on every

where,
in the

fide,

were driven

into the mountains,

courfe of a fevere campaign,

above an hundred thoufand were computed to have perifhed by cold

and hunger.
tlons
;

Peace was at length granted to their humble fupplica-

the eldeft fon of Araric

;

was accepted

as the

moft valuable

hoftage

and Conflantine endeavoured

to convince their chiefs,

by a

liberal difhribution

of honours and rewards,

how

far the friendfhip

of the

Romans was

preferable to their enmity.

In the expreffions

of his gratitude towards the faithful Cherfonites, the emperor was

ftill

more magnificent.

The

pride of the nation

was

gratified

by the
ftipu-

fplendid and almoft royal decorations beftowed on their magiftrate

and

his fucceflbrs.

peipetual exemption from

all

duties

was

lated for their vefTels

which traded

to the ports of the Black Sea.

oil,

regular fubfidy was promifed, of iron, corn,

and of every fupply But

it

which could be

ufefuJ either in peace or war.

was thought

that the Sarmatians

were
;

fufficiently

rewarded by their deliverance

ftridl

from impending ruin

and the emperor, perhaps with too

an

oeconomy^ dedudled fome part of the expences of the war from

the cuftomary gratifications which were allov/ed to that turbulent
nation.
Expulfion of
tians,

Exafperated by this apparent negledl, the Sarmatians foon forgot,

w'ith the levity

A. D.

of Barbarians, the fervices which they had fo lately

ftill

3^+'

received,

and the dangers which

territory of the
to.

threatened their fafety.

Their

inroads

on the

empire provoked the indignation of

;

Conflantine to leave them

the ambition of Geberic,

their fate

and he no longer oppofed

a renov/ned warrior,

who had

recently

afcended the Gothic tlirone.

Wifumar, the Vandal king, whilil

alone

OF THE

ROMAN
his

EMPIRE.
dominions with undaunted

95

alone and unaffifted, he defended

CHAP,

courage, was vanquillied and flain in a decifive battle which fwept

away

the flower of the

Sarmatian youth.

The remainder

of the

nation embraced the defperate expedient of arming their flaves, a

hardy race of hunters and herdfmen, by whofe tumultuary

aid they

revenged their defeat, and expelled the invader from their confines.

But they foon difcovered

that they

had exchanged

foreign for a

domellic enemy, more dangerous and more implacable.

Enraged
flaves,

by

their

former fervitude, elated by their prefent glory, the

under the name of Limigantes, claimed and ufurped the

the country which they had faved.

pofTeffion
to

of

Their mafters, unable

with-

ftand the ungoverned fury of the populace, preferred the hardfliips

of

exile, to the

tyranny of their fervants.

lefs

Some

of the fugitive

Sarmatians foliclted a

ignominious dependence, under the hoftile

ftandard of the Goths.

more numerous band

the Quadi, their

retired

beyond the
allies,

Carpathian mountains,

among

German

and

were
land.

eafily

admitted to fhare a fuperfluous wafte of uncultivated

far greater part of the diftrelTed nation turned their

But the

eyes towards the fruitful provinces of

tion

Rome.

Imploring the protec-

and forgivenefs of the emperor,

as.

they folemnly promifed, as

fidelity

fubjeds in peace, and

to the empire

foldiers in

war, the moft inviolable

into
its

which fhould gracioufty receive them

bofom.

According
oiFers

to the

maxims adopted hy Probus and

his fucceflbrs, the

of this Barbarian colony were eagerly accepted ; and a compe-

tent portion of lands in the provinces of Pannonia, Thrace,

Mace.

donia, and Italy, were immediately affigned for the habitation and
fubfiflence of three

hundred thoufand Sarmatians

'*\

By
' The
Gothic and Sarmatian wars are
reft,

and

illuftrate

each- ofher.

Tho/c who
acquire a

related in fo broken and imperfecl a manner,

that I have been obliged to

will

take the fame trouble,

may

compare the

fol-

right of criticii.ng

my

narrative.

Ammia^
Pj-

lowing writers, who mutuaUy";.fupply, cor-

nus,

1.

xvii.

c.

i3.

Anoym.

Valefian.

iS-

pg

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.
XVIII.
>

By ^

chaftlfinp; the o

pride .

of the Goths, and by accepting the ho' r o /

mage of

a fuppliant nation, Conftantine aflerted the majefty of the

funerarof

Roman
the moft

empire

and the ambafladors of Ethiopia,

he
reckoned,

Perfia,

and

ad!"335,'
-"'^ 25-

remote countries of India, congratulated the peace and

of
his

profperity

government

*.

If

among

the

favours of fortune,

the death of his eldeft fon,

of his nephew,

and perhaps of
private
as

his wife,

he enjoyed an uninterrupted flow of

felicity,
till

well as public

the thirtieth year

of

his

reign; a

period

which none of
to
celebrate.
;

his predeceffors,

fmce Auguftus,
thyt

had been permitted

Conftantine furvived
and, at

fo-

lemn
four,
A. D. 337,

feftival

about ten months

illnefs,

the mature age of iixtylife

after

a ihort

he ended his memorable

fuburbs of

at

the

palace

of Aquyrion,
for the

in the

Nicomedia,

whither
the

he

^^^

^^'

had

retired

benefit

of the

air,

and with

hope of
baths.

recruiting his

exhaufted

ftrength

by the ufe of the warm

grief,

The

exceffive

demonftrations

of

or at

leaft

of mourning,

furpafled whatever

had been pradtifed on

any former occafion.

Notwithftanding the claims of the fenate and people of ancient

Rome,
requeft,

the corpfe

of the deceafed emperor, according to

to the city,
its

his- laft

was tranfported

which was deftined

to preferve

the

name and memory of

founder.

The body

of Conftantine,

adorned with the vain fymbols of greatnefs, the purple and dia-

dem, was depofited on

palace,

a golden

bed in one of the apartments of the

which

for that purpofe

had been fplendidly

* Eufebius

furniftied

and

715.

Eutropius

X.

7.

Sextus
i.

Provinciis, c. 26.

Julian. Orat.
p.

Spanheim
in Chron.
c. 6. c. 8.

Comment,
1. 1.
i.

p^.

Rufus de p. 9. and Hieronym.

I.

(in Vit. Conft.

1.

iv.

c. go.)'

Eufeb. in Vit. Conilantin.

c.

iv.

Socrates,

Zofimus,
in

Reb. Geticis,
p.

c.

709

Hift.

Sozomen. 1. i. ii. p. 108. Jornandesde Ifidorus in Chron. 22. Gothorum Grotii. Con18.

remarks three circumftances relarive to thefe Indians, i. Tliey came from the (hores of the eaftern ocean ; a defcription which might be applied to the coaft oi China or Coromandel. 2. They prefented fhining gems, and unknown animals. 3. They protefted
their

kings had erecled ftatues to reprefent

llantin.

Porphyrogenitus de Adminillrat. Im-

the fiipreme majefty of Conftantine.

perii, c. 53. p. 208. edit. Meurfii,

illuminated.

OF THE
Illuminated.

ROMAN
the

EMPIRE.
were
flrldtly

97
maintained.

The forms of
at the

court

CHAP.
_
xviir. -.-

Every day,

appointed hours, the principal

officers

of the

ftate,

the army, and the houfehold, approaching the perfon of their fove-

relgn with bended knees and a compofed countenance, offered their

reipedful
tives

homage

as ferioufly as if

he had been

ftill

alive.

From mo-

of policy, this theatrical reprefentation was for fome time con;

tinued

nor could

flattery negledl the

opportunity of remai-king that

Conftantine alone, by the peculiar indulgence of heaven, had reigned

after his death *\

But

this reign

could fubfift only in empty pageantry

and
is

it

was

Faaions of

foon difcovered that the will of the moll abfolute monarch

obeyed,

feldom

when

his fubjets

have no longer any thing to hope from

his favour, or to

dread from his refentment.

and generals

who bowed

with fuch reverential

The fame minifters awe before the inanifecret

mate corpfe of their deceafed fovereign, were engaged in

fultations to exclude his

con-

two nephews, Dalmatius and Hannibalianus,

affigned

from the
empire.

fliare

which he had

them

in the fucceffion of the

We

are too imperfetflly acquainted with the court of

real
v^^e

Con-

ftantine to

form any judgment of the

;

motives which influenced

fhould fuppofe that they

the leaders of the confpiracy

Vv-ere

unlefs

actuated

by

a fpirit of jealoufy and revenge againft the prsefeil

Ablavius, a proud favourite,

who had
late

long dlrecTted the counfels and

abufed the confidence of the

emperor.

The arguments, by
as well as

which they

folicited the

concurrence of the foldiers and people, are

:

of a more obvious nature

truth, infift

and they might with decency,

on the fuperior rank of the children of Conftantine, the

danger of multiplying the number of fovereigns, and the impending

Funus relatum in iirbem fji nominis, quod fane P. R. a:gerrime tulit. Aureiius V'iftor. Conftantine had prepared for himfflf a ftately tomb in the church of the Holy
Apoftles.
<'

and indeed almoft the only account of the ficknefs, death, and funeral of Conftantine,
is

contained in the fourth book of his Life,

by Eufebius.

Eufeb.
II.

1.

iv,

c,

60.

The

beft.

Vol.

mifchlefs

98

THE DECLINE AND FALL

mifchlefjs

CHAP.
XVIII.

which threatened

the republic,

from the difcord of Co

many

rival princes,

who

w^ere not

conneded by the tender fympawas conducted with

zeal

thy of fraternal afFedlion.

The
would

intrigue

and fecrecy,

till

a loud

and unanimous declaration was procured

fuffer

from the troops,

that they

none except the fons of

empire
*'.

their

lamented monarch, to reign over the

Dalmatius,

Roman

The younger
ties

who was

united with his collateral relations by the

is

of

friendfhip and intereft,

allowed to have inherited a confiderable

:

ihare of the abilities of the great Conflantine

but,

on

this occaiTon,

he does not appear to have concerted any meafures for fupportlng,

by arms, the

juft

claims

which himfelf and

his

royal

brother

derived from the liberality of their uncle.

Aftonifhed and over-

whelmed by

the tide of popular fury, they feem to have remained

flight

without the power of

implacable enemies.

or of refiftance, in the hands of their

till

Their fate was fufpended

the arrival of

Conftantius, the fecond'*', and perhaps the mofl favoured,

fons of Conftantine.
Maflacre of
the princes.

of the

Tlie voice of the dying emperor had

funeral to the piety of Conftantius
;

recommended

the care of his

and that prince, by the vicinity

of his eaftern ftation, could eafily prevent the diligence of his brothers,

who
as

refided in their dlftant

government of

Italy

and Gaul..

As foon
his
firft

he had taken pofleffion of the palace of Conftantinople,

care

was

to

remove the apprehenfions of

his

kinfmen, by a

folemn oath, which he pledged for their fecurity.

His next employreleafe his

ment was

to find

fome fpecious pretence which might

6.)

'

Eufebius

(1.

iv. c.

terminates his

pcft,

oppreffus

eft

feftione militari.

As both

narrative by
troops,
ftances
*'

this

]oyal
all

declaration of the

and avoids

the invidious circum-

Jercm and the Alexandrian Chronicle mention the third year of the Csfar, which did
not

of the fubfequent mafiacre.

character of Dalmatius
is

commence
A.

till

the iSth or 24th of Sep-

The

advanta-

geoufly, though conciiely pius (x. 9-).

indole,

drawn by EutroDalmatius Carfar profperrima

abfimilis,
/jaui^

3^7, it is certain thatr thefe military fadions continued above four

tember,

D.

months.

ncque patruo

multa

confcience

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
The
;

99
ai-ts

confcience from the obligation of an imprudent promifc.

^
v..

^^

P-

of fraud were made fubfervieat to the defigns of cruelty

and a

-.-.

manifeft forgery was attefted by a perfon of the moft facred character.

From
in

the

hands of the

bifliop

of Nicomedia, Conftantius re-

ceived a fatal
father
;

fcroll,

affirmed to be the

genuine teftament of his

his fufpicions that his fons to

which the emperor exprefled

;

he had

been poifoned by his brothers

death, and to confalt their
guilty
'.

and conjured
fafety

revenge his

own

by the punifhment of the

alleged

Whatever reafons might have been

life

by

thefe

unfortunate princes to defend their

dible

and honour againft

fo incre-

an accufation, they were filenced by the furious clamours of

the foldiers,

who

declared themfelves, at once, their enemies, their

judges, and their executioners.

legal proceedings

The

fpirit,

and even the forms of

a promifcuous maffacre
;

were repeatedly violated in

which involved the two uncles of Conftantius, feven of

of

his coufins,
illuftrious,

whom

Dalmatius and Hannibalianus were the moft

the Patrician Optatus,

who had

married a

fifter

of the

late

emperor,

and the

Prccfecfl

Ablavius, whofe

power and

riches

had infpired him were neceflaiy

add, that
to

with fome hopes of obtaining the purple.

aggravate the horrors of this bloody fccne,
ftantius himfelf

If

it

we might
his

Con-

had efpoufed the daughter of

his fifter in marriage

uncle Julius, and

that he nus.

had beftowed
Thefe

on

his

coufm Hannibaliaregardlefs of

alliances,
^',

which the policy of Conftantine,

had formed between the

the public prejudice

feveral branches of

the
' I

have related

this

Angular anecdote on
1.

the authority of Philoftorgius,

ii.

c.

i6.

was ever ufed by Conand his adherents, it was laid afide with contempt, as foon as it had ferved their (torn. i. immediate purpofe. Athanafiiis p. 856.) mentions the oath which Conitantius had taken for the fccurity of his kinfmen. But
if fuch a pretext

ftantine

'' Conjiigia fobrinanim diu ignorata, tempore addito percrebuifl'e. Tacit. Annal. The repeal of xii. 6. and Lipfius ad loc. the ancient law, and the practice of five hundred years, were infufficient to eradicate

the prejudices of the

Romans

who

ftill

con-

fidered the marriages of coufins-geriiian, as

a.

fpecies of imperfeft incelt

(Auguilin
Julian,

de

Civitate Dei,

xv. 6.);

and

whofe

mind

lOO

THE DECLINE AND FALL

A
P.

II

tfie

XVIII.

Imperial houfe, ferved ^ f

only to convince mankind, that thefc J

the

princes
as

were

as

cold to

endearments of conjugal affedion,

of confanguinity, and the moving

they were infenftblc to the

ties

entreaties

of youth and innocence.

Of

fo

numerous

family,

Gallus and Julian alone, the two youngeft children of Julius

ftantius,

Con-

were faved from the hands of the

affaffins,

till

their rage,

fatiated

with flaughter, had in fome meafure fubfided.

The emperor

Conftantius,

who,

in the abfence of his brothers,

was the moft obperfidious

noxious to guilt and reproach, difcovered, on fome future occafions,

a faint

and tranfient remorfe for thofe

cruelties

which the

counfels of his minifters, and the irrefiftible violence of the troops,

had extorted from

Divifion of the empire,

his

unexperienced youth

''.

The

maflacre of the Flavian race was fucceeded by a

\

new

divifiou

A. D. 337,
Sept.

of the provinces
three brothers.

which was

ratified in a perfonal

interview of the
obtained,

IK

Conftantine, the eldeft of the Cxfars,

with a certain pre-eminence of rank, the poffeffion of the new Thrace, capital, which bore his own name and that of his father.

and the countries of the

ftantius
;

eaft,

were

allotted for the

patrimony of Conof

and Conftans was acknowledged

as the lawful fovereign

Italy, Africa,

and the weftern Illyricum.

right
j

The

armies fubmitted to
after

their hereditary

and they condefcended,

and refent1767, and Trident. 1.
5^

fome delay.
del

mind was

biaflcd

b)- fuperftition

Fra-Paolo
viii.

Iftoria

Concilio

ment, between his own coiifins with the opprobrious epithet of ya.i/,wt te ov ycifim (Orat. VJl. p. The jurifprudence of the canons has 22S.). fince revived and enforced this prohibition, without being able to introduce it either into the civil or the common law of Europe. See on the fubjeft of thefe marriages, Taylor's Civil Law, p. 331. Brouer de Jure Con nub. Hericourt des Loix Ecclefiaf1. ii. c. 12. Fleury Inftitutions du tiques, part iii. c. 5^.
Droit Canonique,
torn.
i.

lligmatizes thefe unnatural alliances

S. P. Q^ Athen. p. Julian 270.J charges his coufin Conftantius with the whole guilt of a maflacre, from which he himfelf;
fo

(ad

narrowly efcaped.

His

iffertion

is

con-

firmed by Athanafius, who, for rf-afons of a very diiferent nature, was not lefs an enemy
joins in the
i. p. 8j6.,). Zofimus fame accufation. But the three abbreviators, Eutropius and the Victors, life

of Conftantius (torn.

p.

331.

Paris

very qualifying expreilions; " tius quam jubente ;" "

"

finente poincertum quo

"

fuaforci"

"

vi roilicum."

to

OF THE
to accept frona the
firft

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
When
they
the eldeft of thefe princes
third only feventeen^

ici

Roman

fenate, the title oi Aiigiijliis.

afllimed the reins

of government,

CHAP, v-v

was twenty-one, the fecond twenty, and the

years of age
".

While the martial nations of Europe followed the ftandards of

was
to fuftain the

his

Sapor king

brothers, Conftantius, at the head of the effeminate troops of Afia, a. D. 310,

left

weight of the Perfian war.

filled

At the deceafe of
vidory

Conftantine, the throne of the eaft was

by Sapor, fon of Horafter the

mouz, or Hormifdas, and grandfon of Narfes, who,

Although Sapor was
ftill

of Galerius, had humbly confeffed the fuperiority of the

Roman
by a

power.

in the thirtieth year of his long reign,

he was

in the vigour of youth, as the date of his acceffion,

fatality,

very ftrange

had preceded that of

pregnant
at

his birth.

The

wife of

Hormouz remained

the time of her hufband's death

and the uncertainty of the

fex, as well as of the event, excited the

ambitious hopes of the princes of the houfe of Saffan.

henfions of
civil

The apprepofitive alTur-

war were

at

length removed,

by the

ance of the Magi, that the

widow

of

Hormouz had

conceived, and

would

fafely produce, a fon.

Obedient to the voice of fuperftition,

the Perfians prepared, without delay, the ceremony of his coronation,

A royal

bed,

on which
;

the queen lay in ftate, the diadem

was exhibited
fpot,

in the midft of the palace

was placed on the

which might be fuppofed

and the

to conceal the future heir of Artaxerxes,

proftrate Satraps adored the majefty of their invifible

'*.

and

infenfible fovereign
''

If
1.

any
iv.
c.

credit can be given to this' marvellous

69.

Eufeb. in Vit. Conftantin.

1.

Zofimus,
pereurs,

ii.

p.

117.

Idat.

in

Chion

He derived his inform135. edit. Louvre). ation from fome extrafts of the Perfian Chronicies,

See two notes of Tilkmont, Hift. dcs

torn.
iv.

p.

ic86-

\cc)\.

EmThe

obtained and tranflated by the inter-

preter Sergius, during his embafly at that

reign of the eldeft brother at C'oiiltantinople

is

noticed only in the Alexandrian Chroni'*

cle.

The coronation of the mcther. of Sapor is likewife mentioned by Schlkard (Tarikh. p. 116.) and d'Herbelo: (Biblio
court.

Agathias,
is

who

lived

in

the fixth cen(1. iv.

theque Orientale, p. 763.).

tury,

the author of this ftory

p.
tale,..

102

THE DECLINE AND FALL

tale,

CHAP.
XVIII.

which feems however

to be

countenanced by the manners of

the people, and by the extraordinary duration of his reign,

we

muft

admire, not only the fortune, but the genius, of Sapor.

fequeftered education

In the foft

of a Perfian haram,

the royal youth could

difcover the importance of exercifmg the vigour of his

mind and
on which
to the

body; and, by

his

perfonal

merit, deferved

a throne,

he had been feated, while he was yet unconfcious of the duties and
temptations of abfolute power.

His minority was expofed

;

almofl

inevitable

calamities

of domeftic difcord

his

capital

was

furprifed

and plundered by Thair, a powerful king of Yemen, or and the majefl:y of the royal family was degraded by the But
as

Arabia

captivity of a princefs, the fifter of the deceafed king.

as

foon

Sapor attained the age of manhood, the prefumptuous Thair, his

fell

nation, and his country,

beneath the

firft

effort

of the young

warrior

who

ufed his victory with fo judicious a mixture of rigour

that

and clemency,
Arabs, the
State of

he obtained from the

fears

and gratitude of the

".

title

oi Dhottlacnaf^ or protedbor of the nation of the Perfian, to

Me-

The ambition

whom

his

enemies afcribe the

defire

fopotamia

and Armenia.

virtues of a foldier

and a ftatefman, was animated by the

of

revenging the difgrace of his fathers, and of wrefting from the hands
of the

Romans

the five provinces

beyond the

Tigris.

The

military

fame of Conftantine, and the

real or apparent ftrength

;

of his go-

vernment, fufpended the attack

and while the

hoftile

condudt ot

Sapor provoked the refentment, his

patience of the Imperial court.
fignal of war"',

artful negociations

amufed the

The

death of Conftantine was the

and the adlual condition of the Syrian and Arme-

nian frontier, feemed to encourage the Perfians by the profped: of a

"

D'Herbelot,

Bibliotheque

Orientale,

p. 764. *" Sextus "Rufus (c. 26.'), iion

is

them : yet the fiiperior weight of the teftimony of Eufebius, obliges us to admit the
preliminaries, if not the ratiScation, of the
treaty.

who on

this

occa-

no contemptible authority,

affirms, that

See Tilleraont, Ki(L des Empereurs,

the Perfians, fued in vain for peace, and that

torn. iv. p. 4_20.

Couftantine was prejiaring to march agauill

rich

OF THE
rich fpoll,

ROMAN EMPIRE.
The example
of the maflacres of of licentioufnefs and fcdition

103
^jj^j^j^'
'

and an eafy conqueft.

fpirit

the palace, clifFufed a

troops of the eaft,

among

the

'

who were no

longer reftrained by their habits of

obedience to a veteran commander.

tius,

By

the prudence of Conftan-

who, from the interview with

to the

his brothers in Pannonia,

imme-

diately haftened

banks of the Euphrates, the legions were

;

gradually reftored to a fenfe of duty and difcipline

but the feafon cf

anarchy had permitted Sapor to form the

fiege of Nifibis,

and to
In

occupy

feveral of the

moll important

fortrefies

of Mefopotamia ".

Armenia, the renowned Tiridates had long enjoyed the peace and
glory which he deferved by his valour and fidelity to the caufe of

Rome.

The

firm alliance which he maintained with Conftantine,.

fpiritual as well as

was productive of

of temporal benefits: by the

converfion of Tiridates, the charadler of a faint was applied to that of

a hero, the Chriftian faith was preached and eftablifhed from the

Euphrates to the
the empire

fliores

of the Cafpian, and Armenia was attached to of policy and of religion.

refufed to

by the

dovible tics

But

as

many
by

of the

Armenian nobles

ftlU

abandon the

plurality of

their gods

and of their wives, the public tranquillity was difturbed

a difcontented fadllon,

which

infulted the feeble age of their fo-

vereign, and impatiently expedted the hour of his death.

at

He

died
342.

length after a reign of fifty-fix years, and the fortune of the A. D.

Tiridates.

Armenian monarchy expired with

pelled

His lawful heir was

driven into exile, the Chriftian priefts were either murdered or ex-

from

their churches, the barbarous tribes of Albania

were

foli-

cited to defcend

from

their

mountains

and two of the moft powerful

governors, ufurping the enfigns or the powers of royalty, implored the

affiftance

of Sapor, and opened the gates of their

cities to

the Perfian

garrifons.

The

Chriftian party, under the guidance of the archbifhop

"

Julian. Orat.

i.

p. 20.

of

104
-

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of Artaxata, the immediate fucceffor of
St.

^vv'^

Gregory the Illuminator,

'

had

recovirfe to the piety

of Conflantius.

After the troubles had contiofficers

nued about three

years, Antiochus,

one of the

of the houfeof reftoring

hold, executed with fuccefs the Imperial

commiffion

Chofroes, the
diilributing

fon of Tiridates,

to

the throne of his fathers, of

faithful fervants

honours and rewards among the

of the

houfe of Arfaces, and of proclaiming a general amnefly, which was

accepted

by

the greater part of the rebellious Satraps.

But the Romans

Chofroes

derived

was a

more honour than advantage from this revolution. prince of a puny flature, and a pufillanimous fpirit.
which he

Unequal

to the fatigues of war, averfe to the fociety of

mankind, he withdrew
built

from

his capital to a retired palace,

on the banks of
;

the river Eleutherus, and in the centre of a fhady grove

Vv^here

he

coufumed
iup-.

his vacant hours in the rural fports of

hunting and hawk-

To

fecure this inglorious eafe, he fubmitted to the conditions

;

of peace which Sapor condefcended to impofe

the

payment of an

annual tribute, and the reftitution of the fertile province of Atropatene,

which the courage of

had annexed
The
Perfian

Tiridates,

and the vidtorious arms of Galerius,

'\

to the

Armenian monarchy

DuHng
of the
eaQ;

the long period of the reign of Conftantius, the provinces

337360.

were aflBided by the calamities of the Perfian war.

The
and

irregular incurfions of the light troops alternately fpread terror

devailation

beyond the

Tigris,

and beyond the Euphrates, from the

;

gates of Ctefiphon to thofe of Antioch

and

this active fervice

was

performed by the Arabs of the

intereil

defert,

who were

divided in their

and

affelions

fome of

their

independent chiefs being

enlifted in the party

5^

of Sapor, whilft others had engaged their doubtweight

it

Mofes of p- 226 The perledl agreement between the 24.0. vague hints of the contemporary orator, and
Julian.

Orat.
c.

i.

p.

20,21.
c.

to

the latter.

For the

credit of

Mofes

Chorene,

1. ii.

89.

1.

iii.

1-9-

may be

likewife obferved,
is

that the

name

of Antiochus
froy,

found a few years before in

See Godevi. p.

a civil office of inferior dignity.

the circumftantial narrative of the national

hiftorian,

Cod. Theod. tom.

350.

gives

light

to

the

former,

and

ful

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
ful fidelity to the

lo^-

emperor

".

The more

grave and important ope;

CHAP.
"

rations of the

war were conduced with equal vigour

Perfia encountered each other in nine

and the armies

fields,
'.

-v

of

Rome and

bloody

in
BattleofSin-

two of which Conftantius himfelf commanded

event of the day was moft

in perfon

The

commonly

adverfe to the

Romans, but

in A. D. 34?.

the battle of Singara, their imprudent valour had almoft atchleved a

fignal

and

decifive vidory.

The

ftationary troops of Singara retired

on the approach of Sapor, who palled the Tigris over three bridges,
and occupied near the
village of

Hilleh

an advantageous camp,

which, by the labour of his numerous pioneers, he furrounded in

one day with a deep

hoft,

ditch,

and

a lofty rampart.

His formidable

when

it

was drawn out

in order of battle, covered the banks of

the river, the adjacent heights, and the whole extent of a plain of

above twelve miles, which feparated the two armies.

impatient to engage
in diforder
j
;

Both were

alike

but the Barbarians, after a flight refiftance, fled

refill,

unable to

or defirous to weary, the ftrength of the

thirfl:,

heavy legions, who, fainting with heat and

acrofs the plain,

purfued them
clothed in

and cut

in pieces a line

of cavalry,

complete armour, which had been polled before the gates of the

camp

to

proted

their retreat.

Conftantius,

who was

hurried along

in the purfuit, attempted, without eftel, to reftrain the ardour of his

" Ammianus

(xiv.

4.)

gives a lively de-

and predatory life of the Saracens, who ftretched from the confines of Affyria to the catarafts of the Nile,
fcription of the vvandering
]t

appears from the adventures of Malchus,

quod apud Singaram, he. This by the hints of is confirmed Ammianus, Rufns, and Jerom. The two firft orations of Julian, and the third oratiin ofLibanius, exhibit a more flattering piftare ;
fait,
nifi

honeft account

which Jerom has related in fo entertaining a manner, that the high road between Bera;a and Edeffa was infefted by thefe robbers. See

but the recantation of both

thofe

orators,
it rem-

after the death of Conftantius, while

ftores

us to the pofTeffion of the truth, deov,^n

Hieronym.
6

torn.

i.

p.

256.

grades their

charaftcr, and that of the

We (hall take
war

from Eutropius the general

(x. 10.).

emperor.
on
the
firft

The commentary
oration

of Spanheim
is

idea of the

Peifis

enlm

of Julian
ife

profufely

multa et gravia perpefTus, fcepe cnptis oppiexercitibus, mildls, obfeffis urbibus, csfis

learned.

See like-

the judicious obfervaHift.

tions of Tillemont,
torn. iv.

des Empereurs,

lumque

ei

contra S.iporem profperum praelium

II.

p. 656.

Vol.

troops,

io6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

troops,

CHAP.
XVIII.

by reprefenting

to

them the

clangers of the approaching night,

and the certainty of completing

their fuccefs

with the return of day.

As they depended much more on

their

own

valour, than

on the expe-

rience or the abilities of their chief, they filenced

his timid remonftrances
;

by

their clamours-

and rufhlng with fury

the rampart,

to the charge, filled

aip the ditch,

broke

down

and difperfed themfelves

through the

tents, to recruit their

exhaufled ftrength, and to enjoy the

rich harveft of their labours.

But the prudent Sapor had watched

part, fe-

the

moment

of vilory.

His army, of which the greater

curely polled on the heights, had been fpedtators of the adtion,

advanced in

filence,

and under the fhadow of the night

and

his

Perfian archers, guided

by the illumination of the camp, poured a

licentious crowd.

fhower of arrows on a difarmed and

rity of hiftory " declares, that the

The

fuice-

Romans were vanquiihed with

Even the
draw

dreadful flaughter, and that the flying remnant of the legions

was

expofed to the moft intolerable hardfhips.

tendernefs of

panegyric, confeffing that the glory of the emperor was fullied

the difobedience of his foldiers, chufes to

by

a veil over the cir-

cumftances of this melancholy

tors, fo jealous

retreat.

Yet one of thofe venal ora-

of the fame of Conftantius, relates with amazing

coolnefs,
pofterity,

an at of fuch incredible cruelty, muft imprint a

far

deeper ftain

judgment of on the honour of the Imas,

in the

perial

name.

The

Ton of Sapor, the heir of his crown, had been

made

a captive in the Perfian camp.

The unhappy

youth,

who

might have excited the compafliori of the moft favage

fcourged,
tortured,

enemy, was

and publicly executed .by the inhuman Ro-

mans
*'

61,
.

Acerrima nodlurnaconcertationepugnaeft,

^^

Libanius, Orat.
i.

iii.

p. 133.

with Julian,

turn

noftrorum

copii';

ingenti flrage con-

Orat.

p. 24.

and Spanheim's Commentary,

foffis.

Ammian.

xviii. 5.

See likewife Euc.

p- 179-

tropius, X. 10.

and

S.

Rufus,

27.

Whatever

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

in the field,
>

107

Whatever advantages might attend the arms of Sapor

though nine repeated
vidlories diffufed

CHAP.
XVI! I.
,

among

the nations the fame

'

Siege of Mi-

of his valour and condud, he could not hope to fucceed in the execution of his defigns, while the fortified tov^^ns of Mefopotamia, and

fibis.

above

all,

the ftrong and antient city of Nifibis, remained in the

pofleffion

of the Romans.

In the fpace of twelve years, Nifibis,

which, fince the time of Lucullus, had been defervedly elleemed the

bulwark of the

eaft,
;

fuftained three

memorable

fieges
after

againft the

A. D. 338.

power of Sapor
attacks

and the difappointed monarch,

urging his
thrice recity

above

fixty,

eighty, and an hundred days,

was

pulfed with

lofs

and ignominy*'.

This

large

and populous

was

fituate

about two days journey from the Tigris, in the midft

fertile

of a pleafant and

plain

at

the foot of

mount Mafius.
ditch
**
;

A
and

treble inclofure of brick walls

was defended by a deep

the intrepid refiflance of Count Lucilianus, and his garrifon, was

feconded by the defperate courage of the people.

Nifibis

The

citizens
*',

of

were animated by the exhortations of

their bifhop

inured to

arms by the prefence of danger, and convinced of the intentions

of Sapor to plant a Perfian colony in their room, and to lead them

away

into diftant

and barbarous

captivity.
;

The

event of the two

former fieges elated their confidence

fpirit
*^

and exafperated the haughty

Nifibis,

of the Great King,

i.

who
Orat.

advanced a third time towards

p.

See Julian. Orat.

p. 27.

ii.

and the

fertile

meadows, asfaras Moful and

the ruins of
\

62, &c. with the

(p.

188

202.),
and

Commentary of Spanheira who illuftrate^ the circum-

the Tigris,

are covered vvith

towns and
torn.
''^

villages.

See Niebuhr,

oyages,

fiances,
lieges

afcertains the time of the three

ii.

p.

300

309.
(1.
ii.

of Nifibis. Their dates are likewife examined by Tillemont {Hift. des Empercurs, torn. iv. p. 668. 67 1. 674.). Something is added from Zofimus, 1. iii. p. 151. and theAlexandrian Chronicle, p. 290.
'+ SallulL Fragment. Ixxxiv. edit. Brofles, aud Plutarch in Lucull. torn. iii. p. 184. Nifibis is now reduced to one hundred and
fifty

The

miracles which Theodoret

c.

30.) afcribes to St. James, bifhop of Edeila,

atleail:

were

performed

in a

worthy

caufv?,

the

appeared on the walls under the figure of the Roman emperor,

defence of his country.

He

and fent an army of gnats to iHng the trunks of the elephants, and to difcomfit the hoil of
the

new Scnacherib.

houfes

the marfhy lands produce rice,

at

io8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

at the

C HAP.
XVIII.

head of the united forces of Perfia and India.

The

ordinary

machines, invented to batter or undermine the walls, were rendered

ineffedual by the fuperior
Ikill

of the

Romans

and many days had

vainly elapfed,
eaftern
fubjel

when Sapor embraced a monarch, who believed that the

to his

refolution

worthy of an

elements themfelves were

power.

At

the ftated feafon of the melting of the

fnows

in

Armenia, the
city

river

Mygdonius, wljich divides the plain

"*,

and the

of Nifibis, "forms, like the Nile

an inundation over

the adjacent country.

By
folid

the labour of the Perfians, the courfe of

the river was flopped below the town, and the waters were confined

on every

fide

by

mounds of
with

earth.

On

this artificial lake,

a fleet of

armed

veflels, filled

foldiers,

and with engines which

difcharged ftones of five hundred pounds weight, advanced in order of

battle,

and engaged,

almofi:

upon

a level, the troops

which defended

the ramparts.
fatal

The

irrefiftible

force of the
till

waters was alternately

to the contending parties,

at

length a portion of the walls,

unable to fuftain the accumulated

prefllire,

gave

way

at

once, and
Perfians

expofed an ample breach of one hundred and

v.'ere inftantly

fifty feet.

The

driven to the

afiault,

and the

fate

of Nifibis depended

on

the event of the day.

a

The heavy-armed

cavalry,

who

led the

van of

deep column, were embarrafled

in the unfeen holes

in the

mud, and
by
their

great

numbers were drowned

the rufhing waters.

which had been

furious

filled

by

The

elephants,

made

wounds,

encreafed the diforder, and trampled

archers.

down

thoufands of the Perfian

The Great King, who from an

exalted throne beheld the

misfortunes of his arms, founded, with reluctant indignation, the

fignal of the retreat,

and fufpended for fome hours the profecution

Though Nietrifling rivulet

"
buhr

Julian. Orat.
(torn.
ii.

i.

p. 27.

with a mighty
tiic

river.

There

p. 307) allows a very confi-

are

many

cLrcumftances obfcure, and almofr

defcription of thefe ftu-

derable fwell to the Mygdonius, over which

unintelligible, in

he faw a bridge ot tivel've arches ; it is difficujt, however, to iinderlland this parallel of a

pendous water-works,

of

OF THE
of the attack.
the night
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
improved the opportunity of
fix feet
>

109
^ ^,,ni^' /v \ 111.- -'

But the

vigilant citizens

and the return of day difcovered a new wall of

in height, rifing every

moment

to

iill

up the

interval of the breach.

lofs

Notwithftanding the difappointment of his hopes, and the

of

more than twenty thoufand men, Sapor

Nifibis with an obftinate firmnefs,

ilill

preffed the redudlion of

to

which could have yielded only

the neceffity of defending the eaftern provinces of Perfia againft a

formidable invafion of the Maflligetae ''\

Alarmed by

this intelli-

gence, he haftily relinquiilied the fiege, and

diligence

marched with rapid

of the Oxus,

from the banks of the Tigris

difficulties

to thofe

The
after-

danger and

of the Scythian war engaged

at leaft to obferve,

him foon

wards

to

conclude, or

a truce

with the
;

Roman

emperor, which was equally grateful to both princes

himfelf, after the deaths of his

as Conftantius

two

brothers,

was involved, by the

revolutions of the weft, in a civil conteft, which required and feemed

to exceed the
'-

moft vigorous exertion of his undivided ftrength.

After the partition of the empire, three years had fcarcely elapfed,
.

before the fons of Conftantine feemed impatient to convince

that they

...

C'^'' "'^^
^"'J

mankind

death of Conilantine,

were incapable of contenting themfelves with the domi-

March,

nions which they were unqualified to govern.

princes foon complained, that he
tion of the fpoils of their
yield

The

eldeft

of thofe

was defrauded of
;

his juft

propor-

murdered kinfmen

and though he might

to the fuperior guilt

and merit of Conftantius, he exadled

an equivalent
his brother
fincerity,

from Conftans the

celTion of the African provinces, as

for the rich countries of

Macedonia and Greece, which

had acquired by the death of Dalmatius.

The want of
and

which Conftantine experienced

in a tedious

fruitlefs negociation,

exafperated the fiercenefs of his temper; and he eagerly liftened to

*'
xiii.

We
p.

are obliged to

Zonaras

(torn.

ii.

1.

general

feries

of events,

to

which we are

11.) for this invafion of the Maffais

darkly led by the broken hiftory of

nus.

Ammiathofe

gets, which

perfeftly confiftent with the

no
CHAP,

THE DECLINE AND FALL

thofe favourites, 5
his intereft,

who

XVIII.
'

fuge-efted to tob

him

that his honour, as well as

was concerned

in the profecution of the quarrel.

At

the head

of a tumultuary band, fuited for rapine rather than for

conqueft, he fuddenly broke into the dominions of Conftans,

by the
the
firft

way

of the Julian Alps, and the country round Aquileia of his refentment.

felt

efFedls

The meafures of

Conftans,

who

then re-

fided in Dacia,

wxre directed with more prudence and

ability.

On
with
foon

the news of his brother's invafion, he detached a feleitand dlfciplined

body of

his Illyrian troops, propoling to follow

them

in perfon

the remainder of his forces.

But the condudl of

his lieutenants

terminated
flight,

the unnatural conteft.

By

the

artful

appearances of

Conftantine was betrayed into an ambufcade, which had been

concealed in a wood, where the rath youth, with a few attendants,

was

furprifed, furrounded,

and

flain.

His body,

after

it

had been

found in the obfcure ftream of the Alfa, obtained the honours of an

Lnperial fepulchre
;

but his provinces transferred their allegiance to

the conqueror, who, refufmg to admit his elder brother Conftantius

to

any

lliare

in thefe

new

acquifitions, maintained the undifputed

pofleflion of

Murder of

The

fate

more than two-thirds of the Roman empire "'. of Conftans himfelf was delayed about ten years
his brother's death

longer,

AD.T5o,
february.

and the revenge of

was referved

for the

more

ignoble hand of a domeftic traitor.

the fyftem introduced

The

pernicious tendency of
in the feeble

by Conftantine, was difplayed

;

adminlftration of his fons

loft

who, by

their vices

and weaknefs, foon

the efteem and affedtions of their people.

The

pride affiimed

by Conftans, from the unmerited

more contemptible by
his

fuccefs of his arms,

abilities

was rendered
His

want of

and application.

fond partiality towards fome

^*

German

captives, diftinguifhed only

by

The

caufes and the events of this civil

war

are related with

much

perplexity and

contradilion.
naras,

I have chiefly followed Zoand the younger Viftor. The monody (ad calcem Eutrop. edit. Havercamp.)

pronounced on the death of Conftantine, might have been very inftruftive ; but prudence and falfe tafte engaged the orator to
involve himfelf in vague declaniaticn.

the

OF THK
Magnentius, an ambitious
tradion, was encouraged

ROMAN
foldier,

EMPIRE.
C
himfelf of Barbarian ex-

in

the charms of youth, was an objed: of fcandal to the people^'; and

HA

P.

who was

by the pubUc

difcontent to afTert the

honour

of the
Hans,

Roman name'. The chofen who acknowledged Magnentius

bands of Jovians and Hercuas their leader,

maintained the

moft refpedtahle and important

friendship of Marcellinus,

ftation in the Imperial

camp.

The
were

count of the facred

largefles,

fupplied

with a

liberal

hand the means of fedudtion.

The

foldiers

convinced by the moft fpccious arguments, that the republic fum-

moned them
which had

to break the

bonds of hereditary fervitude

and,

by the

choice of an ative and vigilant prince, to reward the fame virtues

raifed the anceftors of the degenerate

Conftans from a
as the

private condition to the throne of the world.

fpiracy

As foon

con-

was

ripe for execution, Marcellinus,

under the pretence of

celebrating his fon's birth-day, gave a fplendid entertainment to the

illnjlrlous

and honourable perfons of the court of Gaul, which then Autun.

refided in the city of

artfully protradled
till

The intemperance

of the
,

feaft

was

a very late

hour of the night

and the un-

fufpedling guefts were tempted to indulge themfelves in a dangerous

and guilty freedom of converfation.

On

fudden the doors were

thrown open, and Magnentius, who had

retired for a

few moments,

returned into the apartment, inverted with the diadem and purple.

The

confpirators inftantly Tainted

him with

the

titles

of Auguftus and

Emperor.
"5
fitos

The

furprife, the terror, the intoxication, the ambitious

to believe, that

Quarum

(gentium) obfides pretio quspro

tafte

Magnentius was born

in

in

one
this

pueros venulHores, quod cultius habue-

of thofe Barbarian colonies wiiich Conllantius

rat, libidine

hujufmodi

arfifle

certo

ha-

Chlorus had eftablifhed

Hiftory, vol.
i.

Gaul (See

betur.
ftantlus

Had
who

not the depraved

of Conelder

p. 438.).

His behaviour

may

been publicly avowed,

held a confiderable

the

Viftor,

office in his

brother's reign,
'"

would not have

i.

afTerted

it

in

fuch pofitive terms.

Julian. Orat.

and

ii.

Zofim.
is

1.

ii.

remind us of the patriot earl of Leicefter, the famous Simon de Montfort, who could perfuade the good people of England, that he, a Frenchman by birth, had taken arms to deliver them from foreign favourites.

p. 134. ViiSlorin

Epitome.

There

reafon

hopes.

112

THE DECLINE AND FALL

hopes, and the mutual ignorance of the
reft

CHAP,
XVIII.
' '
..

of the affembly, prompted

them

to join their voices

to the general acclamation.

;

The guards
town were

haftened to take the oath of fidelity

ihut
;

the gates of the

and before the dawn of day, Magnentius became mafter of the

troops and treafure of the palace and city of Autun.

By

his fe-

crecy and

diligence

he entertained fome hopes of furprifmg the

perfon of Conftans,
vourite

who was

purfuing in the adjacent foreft his fapleafures of a

amufement of hunting, or perhaps fome

more

private and criminal nature.

The
flight,

rapid progrefs of fame allowed

him, however, an inftant for

diers

though the defertion of

the

his fol-

and

lubjedls deprived

him of
'",

power of

refiftance.

Before

he could reach a fea-port

in Spain,
at

where he intended

to

embark,

he was overtaken near Helena

the foot of the Pyrenees,

by a

party of light cavalry, whole chief, regardlefs of the fandlity of a

temple, executed his commiflion by the murder of the fon of
ftantine '\
M.-i

Con-

nentius
'

^^
by

^^^ ^^ ^^^

death of Conftans had decided this eafy but im-

and Vetranio
aflume the
purple,

portant revolution, the example of the court of

_

Autun was

imitated

the provinces of the weft.

The

authority of Magnentius

was

March u

'

acknowledged through the whole extent of the two great prsefedures

of Gaul and Italy; and the ufurper prepared, by every act of opprefTion, to collect a treafure,

which might difcharge the obligation

a civil war. to the extre-

of an imraenfe donative, and fupply the expences of

The

martial countries of Illyricum,

from the Danube

mity of Greece, had long obeyed the government of Vetranio, an

aged general, beloved for the limplicity of his manners, and
This antient city had once flouriflied under the name of Illiberis (Pomponius Me''

who had

capital of

la,

ii.

J.)it

The
new

munificence of Coiiftantine

modern Roufillon. See d'Anville Notice de I'Ancienne Gaule, p. 380. Longuerue Defcription de la France, p. 223. and
the

gave

fpieridor,
(it is ftill

and

his

mother's

Marca Hifpanica,
Zofimus,
ii. 1.
1.
ii.

1.

i.e. 2.

name

Helena

called Elne)

became

"^

p.

115, 120.

Zonaras,

the feat of a bilhop,

transfcrred his
I

who long

afterwards

torn.
tors.

xiii.

p.

13.

and the Abbrevia-

reudence to Porpignan, the

acquired

OF THE ROMAIC EMPIRE;

acquired fome reputation by his experience and fervices in war",

113
^"

^y^y.fr
"^

Attached by habit, by duty, and by gratitude, to the houfc of Conftantine,

-r*

he immediately gave the ftrongeft affurances to the only

furviving fon of his late mafter, that he would expofe, with unfhaken
fidelity, his

perfon and his troops, to

inflidl

a juft revenge

on the

traitors

of Gaul.

But the legions of Vetranio were feduced, rather

;

than provoked, by the example of rebellion

their leader foon be*

;

trayed a want of firmnefs, or a want of fmcerity

and

his

ambition

derived a fpecious pretence from the approbation of the princefs

Conftantina.

That

cruel

and afpiring woman,

who

had obtained
placed the
;

from the great Conftantine her father the rank of

diadem with her own hands on the head of the

Aiigujla.,

Illyrian general

and

feemed to expert from his vidlory, the accomplifhment of thofe un-

bounded hopes, of which

flie

had been difappointed by the death of

Perhaps
it

her hufband Hanniballanus.

Conftantina, that the

was without the confent of

a neceffary, though difho-

new emperor formed

nourable, alliance with the ufurper of the weft, whofe purple was fo
recently ftained with her brother's blood '\

The
ftantius

intelligence of thefe important events,

which

fo

deeply affefted

Conflantius
treat.

the honour and fafety of the Imperial houfe, recalled the arms of

Con-

from the inglorious profecution of the Perfian war.

He
;

^^'
' '

recommended
to his

the care of the eaft to his lieutenants, and afterwards

coufm Gallus,

whom

he

raifed

from a prifon
agitated

to a throne

and
of

tnarched towards Europe, with a

mind

by the

conflidl

hope and

fear,

of grief and indignation.

On

his arrival at

Heraclea

in Thrace, the
'^

emperor gave audience

lo.) defcribes Vetranio
''*

to the ambafladors
doubtful, fluftuating

of

Mag-

Eutropius

(x.

The
is

condud of Ve- ^
firft

with more temper, and probably with more truth, than either of the two Viftors. Vetranio was born of obfcure parents in the wildeft
parts of

tranio
tion,

defcribed by Julian in his

ora-

and accurately explained by Spanheim, who difcufles the fituation and behaviour of
Conftantina.

Msfia

and

fo

much had

his educa-

tion been negleSed, that, after his elevation,

he

ftudied the alphabet.

Vol.

II.

Q^

nentius

114

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

C H A

nentlus and Vetranlo.

linus,

xviir.

The

firft

author of the confpiracy, Marcelhis

who

In

fomc meafure had beftowcd the purple on

;

new
flate

mafter, boldly accepted this dangerous commiflion

colleagues

and

his three

were

feleled

from the

illuftrlous

perfonages of the
to

and army.

Thefe deputies were inftrudted

fears,

foothe the refent-

ment, and to alarm the

to offer

of Conftantius.

They were empowered

of Conftantius with the

him
their

the frlendfhip and alliance of the weftern princes, to

cement

union by a double marriage

daughter of Magnentius, and of Magnentius himfelf with the ambitious Conftantina

;

and

to

acknowledge in the treaty the pre-eminence

eaft.

of rank, which might juftly be claimed by the emperor of the

Should pride and miftaken piety urge him

conditions, the ambaffadors
table ruin

to refufe thefe equitable

were ordered

to expatiate

on the inevi-

which muft attend

his rafhnefs, if

he ventured to provoke

the fovereigns of the weft to exert their fuperior ftrength ; and to

employ

againft

him

that valour, thofe abilities,

and thofe

legions, to

which the houfe of Conftantine had been indebted

triumphs.
ferve the moft ferious

for fo

many
to de-"

Such propofitions and fuch arguments appeared

attention
;

the anfwer

of Conftantius was

deferred

till

the next day

civil

and

as

he had refleded on the importance " Laft

of juftifying a

war

in the opinion of the people, he thus addref-

fed his council,

who
"

liftened

with

real or affedled credulity.

" night,"

faid he,

after I retired to reft, the fhade

of the great Conbrother, rofe

to revenge,

" ftantine, " before

'

embracing the corpfe of

eyes
;

my

murdered

my
me

his

well-known voice awakened me

and allured

forbade
cefs

to defpair of the republic,

me

of the fuc-

"

and immortal glory which would crown the

juftice of

my

" arms."

The
it,

authority of fuch a vifion, or rather of the prince

filenced

who
tion.

alleged

every doubt,

and excluded

all

negocia-

The ignominious terms of

peace were rejedled with difdain.

One of the

ambaffadors of the tyrant was difmiffed with the haughty

anfwer

OF THE
anfwer of Conftantius
;

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
unworthy of
privileges of

115 C

his colleagues, as

H A

p.

the law of nations, were put in irons

and the contending powers ^

prepared to wage an Implacable war

".
Depofes Ve.

Such was the condud, and fuch perhaps was the duty, of the
brother of Conftans towards the perfidious ufurper of Gaul.
fituation

The
;

^^"0!%;?,
^5-

and charadter of Vetranio admitted of milder meafures

and ^""

the policy of the eaftern emperor

gonifts, rebellion.

was diredted

to difunite his anta-

and
It

to feparate the forces of

lUyrlcum from the caufe of

was an eafy

taflc

to deceive the franknefs

and fimplicity

of Vetranio, who, fluduating fome time between the oppofite views of honour and
intereft,

difplayed to the world the infmcerity of his

temper, and was infenfibly engaged In the fnares of an artful negotiation.

Conftantius acknowledged

him

as a legitimate

and equal
his

colleague in the empire, on condition that he

difgraceful alliance with Magnentius,

would renounce

and appoint a place of Inter;

view on the

frontiers of their refpetive provinces

where they might

and
war.
i-egulate

pledge their friendlliip by mutual vows of

fidelity,
civil

by

common
quence of
at the

confent the future operations of the

this

In confe-

agreement, Vetranio advanced to the city of Sardica "^,

head of twenty thoufand horfe, and of a more numerous body

;

of Infantry

power

fo far fuperior to the forces

of Conftantius,

that the Illyrian

emperor appeared

to

command

the

life

and fortunes

of his
tlons,

rival, v/ho,

depending on the fuccefs of his private negocla-

had feduced the troops, and undermined the throne, of Ve-

tranio.
ftantius,

The

chiefs,

who had

fecretly

embraced the party of Con-

prepared in his favour a public fpedtacle, calculated to dlf-

'^

See Peter the Patrician,

in

the

Ex-

Sophia, nppears better

fiiited

to

this inter-

cerpta Legationum, p. 27.

Zonaras, torn.

ii.

1. xiii.

p. 16.

The
of

view than the fituation of either Naifius or Sirmium, where it is placed by Jeroni, Socrates>

pofttion of Sardica, near the mo<iern city

and Sozomen.

Q.^

cover

1x6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

cover and inflame the paffions of the multitude ".

CHAP,
A.

The

united armies

V 111.

were commanded

to affemblc in a large plain near the city.

In the

centre, according to the rules of ancient difcipline, a military tri-

bunal, or rather fcafFold,

was creded, from whence the emperors

were accuftomed, on folemn and important occafions, to harangue

the troops.

The

well-ordered ranks of
erefled

Romans and

Barbarians,

with drawn fwords, or with

fpean, the fquadrons of cavalry,

and the cohorts of infantry,

diflinguiflied

by the variety of

their
;

arms and enfigns, formed an immenfe

and the
attentive filence

circle

round the tribunal

v/as

which they preferved

fometimes interIn the prefence of

rupted by loud burfts of clamour or of applaufe.

this formidable aflembly, the

two emperors were

;

called

upon

to

ex-

plain the lituation of public affairs

the precedency of rank was.

;

yielded to the royal birth of Conilantius

and though he was indifunder

ferently fkilled in the arts of rhetoric, he acquitted himfelf,

thefe difficult circumftances,

with firmnefs, dexterity, and eloquence^

The

firft

part of his oration feemed to be pointed only againfl: the

tyrant of

Gaul

but while he tragically lamented the cruel murder

of Conftans, he infinuated, that none, except a brother, could claim

a right to the fucceffion of his brother.

He

difplayed, with
;

fome
to the

complacency, the glories of his Imperial race

and recalled

memory
legiance

of the troops, the valour, the triumphs,

the liberality of

the great Conftantine, to whofe fons they had engaged their al-

by an oath of

fidelity,

which the ingratitude of

to violate.

his mofli

fiivoured fervants

had tempted them

The

officers,

who

iiirrounded the tribunal, and were inftruded to acl their parts in

this

extraordinary fcene, confefled the

faluting the

irrefiftible

power of reafon
as their lawful

and eloquence, by
7'

emperor Conftantius
to illuftrate

See the two

;

firft

orations of Julian, parI. ii.

the diffufe, but vague, defcrip-

licularly p. 31.

and Zofimus,

p. 122.

tions of the orator.

The

diftinft narrative

of the hiftorian ferves

fovereign*

OF THE
fovereign.

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
commuvv

ri7
^j^j^j^"

The

contagion of loyalty and repentance was

to

nicated

from rank

rank

till

the plain of Sardica refounded with

the univerfal acclamation of "

Away

with thefe upftart nfurpers

!

" Long
*^

life

and victory

to the fon of Conftantine

Under

his

ban-

ners alone

we

will fight

and conquer."

The

fhout of thoufands,

their

menacing

geftures, the fierce clafhing of thir arms, aftonifhed

and fubdued the courage of Vetranio,

fetStion

who

flood, amidft the de-

of his followers, in anxious and

laft

filent fufpence.

Inflead of

embracing the
to his fate
;.

refuge of generous defpair, he tamely fubmitted

his head, in the

and taking the diadem from

view of

both

ai-mies,, fell proftrate at

the feet of his conqueror.

;

Conftantius
raifing

ufed his vidtory with prudence and moderation

the ground the aged fuppliant,

and

from

whom

he afiedted
his

to flyle

by the
from

endearing

name of

Father, he gave

him

hand

to defcend

the throne.

The
and

city of Prufa

was affigned

for the exile or retire-

ment of the abdicated monarch, who

lived fix years in the enjoy-

ment of

eafe

affluence.

He

often exprefled his grateful fenfe

of

the goodnefs of Conftantius, and, with a very amiable fimplicity,

advifed his benefadtor to refign the fceptre of the world, and to feek
for content (where alone
it

could be found) in the peaceful obfcurity

of a private condition

'\

The behaviour

of Conftantius on this memorable occafion was Makes war

;

celebrated with forne appearance of juftice

and

his courtiers

com-

again 11

Mag351.

nentiiis,

pared the ftudied orations which a Pericles or a Demofthenes addrefled to the populace of Athens,

A.D.

with the vidorious eloquence

to defert

which had perfuaded an armed multitude

pbjed;

and depofe the

conteft witli

of their partial choice ".

The

a}>prQaching

Magnentius
'*

The younger

Viflor afligns to his exile

Vetranio was, indeed,

fimpllciffimus.
''

prope ad ftuIuLiam
facundia: vi

the emphatical appellation of

" Voluptarium
C..28.)
is

" otium."

Socrates

(1.

ii.

the

Eum

Conftantius

voucher for the correfgondence with the emperor, which would feem to prove, that

dc-jeflum Imperio in privatiira otium remoyit.

Qua; gloria polt natum Imperium

foli

procefiit

ii8
^l3gi^^'^'^''^is

THE DECLINE AND FALL

was of
a

^vvifr^'

more

ferlous

and bloody kind.

at

The

tyrant

advanced by rapid marches to encounter Conftantius,

a

the head of

numerous army, compofed of Gauls and Spaniards, of Franks and

;

Saxons

of thofe provincials

and of thofe barbarians

enemies of the republic.

who fupplled the ftrength of the legions, who were dreaded as the mod formidable
The
fertile plains
^

of the

Lower Pannonia,

between the Drave, the Save, and the Danube, prefented a fpacious
theatre
;

and the operations of the

the
fkill

civil

war were protracted during

^'.

the

fummer months by
of Cibalis, a
the

or timidity of the combatants

Conftantius had declared his intention of deciding the quarrel in the

fields

name

that

would animate

his troops

by the reYet,

membrance of

vidory which, on the fame aufpicious ground,

his father Conftantine.

had been obtained by the arms of

by

the impregnable fortifications with which the emperor encompafl'ed

his

camp, he appeared to decline, rather than to

It

invite, a general

engagement.

was the

objeSl

of Magnentius to tempt or to com;

pel his adverfary to relinquifh this advantageous pofition

and he

employed, with that view, the various marches,

ftratagems,

evolutions,

and

which the knowledge of the

officer.

art

of war could fuggeft to

important town of

an experienced
Sifcia
;

He
;

carried

by

aflault the

made an

attack

on the

city of

Sirmium, which lay in the rear

of the Imperial camp

attempted to force a paflage over the Save

;

into the eaftern provinces of Illyricum

and cut in pieces a numerous

pafl'es

detachment, which he had allured into the narrow

ceiTit

of Adarne.

eloquio

clementiaque,

&c.

Aurelius
iii.

Viftor.

Julian,

and Themiflius (Orat.

this exploit

and

iv.),

adorn

with

all the arti-

and obferves, that the height of the grafs was fufficient to conceal a loaded waggon from his fight. See likewife Browne's Travels, in Harris's Colledion, vol.
ii.

ficial

and gaudy colouring

EulhequJus
(p.

of their rhetraverfcd

p. 762,

toric.
'

&c.
112.)
the the war,

Lower Hungary and Sclavonia at a time when they were reduced almoft to a defert, by the reciprocal hollilities of the Turks and
Yet he mentions with admiration the unconquerable fertility of the foil
Chridians.

Zofimus gives a very large account of and the negociation (1. ii. p. 123 But as he neither fliews himfelf a 130.)*'

foldier nor a politician, his narrative muft be

weighed with attention, and received with

caution.

During

OF THE
During the
and
himfelf mailer of the
difpirlted
;

ROMAN
The
folicit

EMPIRE.
^

119

greater part of the

field.

fummer, the tyrant of Gaul fliewed

troops of Conflantius were harafled

CHAP.
A.

V 111 -.- _f

his reputation declined in the

eye of the world

and

his pride

condefcended to

a treaty of peace,

which would

have refigned to the

aflaffin

of Conftans the fovereignty of the prooffers

;

vinces beyond the Alps.

Thefe

were enforced by the eloquence

and the council
as well as the

of Philip, the Imperial ambaffador

army of Magnentius were

ufurper,
carelefs

diipofed to accept them.

But the haughty

of the remonftrances of his friends, gave orders

that Philip fhould be detained as a captive, or at leaft as a hoftage

while he difpatched an
nefs of his reign,

officer to

reproach Conftantius with the weak-

and

to infult

him by

the promlfe of a pardon, if

he would inftantly abdicate the purple.

" That he fhould confide in

" the

juftice of his caufe,

and the protedlion of an avenging Deity,"

to return.

was the only anfwer which honour permitted the emperor

But he was
fo fenfible

of the

difficulties

of his fituation, that he

no longer dared

to retaliate the indignity

which had been

offered to

his reprefentative.
ineffectual
;

The

negociation of Philip was not,

however,

fince

he determined Sylvanus the Frank, a general of

merit and reputation, to defert with a confiderable a few days before the battle of Murfa.

body of

cavalry,

The

city of

Murfa, or Effek, celebrated in modern times for

Battle of

bridge of boats five miles in length, over the river Drave, and the a"d^'--i
adjacent moraffes ^\ has been always confidered as a place of

im-

^"^P^-

"^

portance in the wars of Hungary.

Magnentius diredling

his

march
had

towards Murfa,

fet

fire

to the gates, and,

by a fudden

affault,

almoft fcaled the walls of the town.

The

vigilance of the garrifon

'*

This

remarkable

bridge,

which

is

of

his armies into

flanked with towers, and fupported on large

Travels,

Hungary. See Browne's and Bufching's S)ftejn of Geoii.

wooden

piles, was conflrufled, A. D. 1566, by Sultan Soliman, to facilitate the inarch

graphy, vel.

p. 90.

extlngullhed

120

THE DECLINE AND FALt

eKtlnguiflied the flames
;

CHAP.
xvnr.

the approach of Conftantius

;

left

him no time
by forcing

to continue the operations of the fiege

and the emperor foon re-

moved
a

the only obftacle that could embarrafs his motions,

poft in

body of troops which had taken

field

an adjoining amphitheatre.
level plain
:

The

of battle round Murfa was a naked and

on

this

ground the army of Conftantius formed, with the Drave on

right; while their
left,

their

either

from the nature of

their difpofition, or

from the fuperiority of

flank of

their cavalry, extended far

beyond the

right

Magnentius

".

The

troops on both fides remained under

arms
ing
;

in anxious expedlation during the greateft part

of the morn-

and the fon of Conflantine,

after

animating his foldiers by an

field

eloquent fpeech, retired into a church at fome dlftance from the

of

battle,
'\

and committed

to his generals the

condul of
tTie

this decifive

day
fkill

They

deferved his confidence

by

valour and military

tlie

which they exerted.

and advancing
their
it

They

wifely began

adion upon the

an oblique
line,

left

whole wing of cavahy

in

thej fuddenly wheeled

on the right flank of the enemy, which was

unprepared to

refift

the impetuofity of their charge.

rallied,

But the Ro;

mans of

the

Weft foon

by

the habits of difcipline the

and the
national

Barbarians of
bravery.

Germany

fupported

renown of
general
;

their

The engagement foon became

was maintained

with various and fingular turns of fortune; and fcarcely ended with
the darknefs of the night.

The

fignal victory

which Conftantius
His
cuirafllers are

obtained

is

attributed to the

arms of his cavalry.

fteel,

defcribed as fo

many

mafly ftatues of

glittering

with their fcaly

"^

This

pofition,

lutions,

are clearly,

and the fubfequent evothough concifely, dei.

frribed by Julian, Orat.

'*

p. 36.
ii.

Sulpicius Severus,

1.

p.

emperor pafled the day

lens, the

in prayer

The 405. with Va-

battle. M. de Tillemont (Hift. des Empereurs, torn. iv. p. mo.) very properly remarks the filence of Julian with regard to the perfonal prowefs of Conftantius in the battle of Murfa. The filence of

the

Arian bifhop of Murf.i, who gained

flattery
fitive

is

foraetimes equal to the moft po-

his confidence

by announcing the fuccefs of

and authentic evidence.

armour,

OF
the Gallic legions.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

As loon
as the legions

121

arnnour, and breaking with their ponderous lances the firm array of

chap.
'

gave way, the lighter and

'

more

adlive fquadrons of the fecond line rode

fword in hand into the

intervals,

and completed the dilbrder.

In the

mean

while, the huge

bodies of the

Germans were expofed

;

almofl:

naked

to the dexterity

of

the oriental archers

and whole troops of thofe barbarians were urged and

"^

by anguilh and

defpair to precipitate themfelves into the broad

rapid ftream of the

at fifty-four

Drave

The number

of the

flain

was computed

thoufand men, and the flaughter of the conquerors w^as

'^
;

more

confiderable than that of the vanquifhed

conteft,

a circumftance
obferva-

which proves the obftinacy of the

and

juftifies the

tion of an ancient writer, that the forces of the empire

were con-

fumed

in the fatal battle of

to

Murfa, by the
or
to

lofs

of a veteran army,

fufficient
tTie

defend

the
"\

frontiers,

add new triumphs to

fervile
'

glory of

Rome
is

Notwithftanding the invelives of a

leafl:

orator, there
his

not the

reafon to believe that the tyrant deferted

own

ftandard in the beginning of the engagement.

foldler

He
till

feems

to

have difplayed the virtues of a general and of a

loft,

the day

was irrecoverably

and

his

camp
fome

in the poffeflion of the

enemy.

Magnentius then confulted

his fafety,

and throwing away the Im-

perial ornaments, efcaped with

difficulty

from the purfuit of

have been m'lftaken, either

''
li.

Julian. Orat.

i.

p. 36, 37,

and Orat.
ii.
1.

rant's

army

rauil:

p.

59, 60.

Zonaras,
1.

torn.

xiii.

by the author or his tranfcribers.

tins

Magnen-

p. 17.
laft

Zofimus,

ii.

p.

130

133.

The

had coUedled the whole force of the Weft,

of thefe celebrates the dexterity of the

Romans and
lefs

archer Menelaus,

who

could difcharge three

Barbarians, into one foimidable body, which cannot fairly be eftimated at

tlian

arrows

at the fame time; an advantage which, according to his apprehenfion of military affairs,

100,000 men.

Julian.

Orat.

i.

p. 34, 35.
'

materially contributed to the

Ingcntes

viftory of Conftantius.

confumpts
idonea;,

funt,

R. 1. vires ea dimicatione ad qua:libet bella externa

portent
x.

" According to Zonaras, Conftantius, out of 80,000 men, 10(130,000; and Magnentius loft 24,000 out of 36,000. The other articles of this account feem probable
and authentic
;

qua multum triumphorum

Eutropius,

fecuritatifque conferre.

13.

The younger
fsme
effect,

Viclor expreifes Jiimfelf to the

but the numbers of the ty-

VoL.

II,

the

122

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the light horfe,

CHAP,
Conquefl of
Italy.

who

incefTantly followed his rapid flight

".

from

the-

banks of the Drave to the foot of the Julian Alps

The approach
fpring.

of winter fupplied the indolence of Conftantius with

A.D.

352.

fpecious reafons for deferring the profecution of the

war

till

the enfuing

Magnentius had fixed

his refidence in the city of Aquileia,

and fhewed a feeming refolution to difpute the palTage of the mountains,

and morafles which

fortified the confines

of the Venetian province.

fecret

The

furprifal

of a

caftle in the

Alps by the

march of the Im-

perialifts,

could fcarcely have determined

if

him

to relinquilh the pof-

feflion

of Italy,

the inclinations of the people had fupported the

^'.

caufe of their tyrant

But the memory of the

cruelties exercifed

by

his minifters, after the unfuccefsful revolt of Nepotian,

had

left

a deep impreffion of horror

and refentment on the minds of the Ro-

mans.

That

rafli

youth, the fon of the princefs Eutropia, and the

nephew of

Conftantine, had ken. with indignation the fceptre of the

a perfidious barbarian.

Weft ufurped by

Arming

a defperate troop

of flaves and gladiators, he overpowered the feeble guard of the domeftic tranquillity of

Rome,

received the

homage of

the fenate, and

afluming the

title

of Auguftus, precarioufly reigned during a

tumuk

of twenty-eight days.
to his ambitious hopes
:

The march of fome

the rebellion

regular forces put an end

in the blood
;

was extinguifhed

of Nepotian, of his mother Eutropia, and of his adherents

profcription

and the

was extended

to all

who had

contradled a fatal alliance

^.

with the name and family of Conftantine

But

as

foon as Conftantius,

" On

this occafion,

we muft

prefer the

verned by nature or by
for the latter.
"'

art

I fliould incline

Bnfufpefted teftimony of Zofimus and Zonaras to the flattering aflertions of Julian.

Julian.

Orat.

i.

p.

38, 39.
as

In that
ii.

The younger

Viftor paints the charafter of

:

place,
p. 97.

however,

as well

in

Oration

Magnentius in a fingular light " Sermonis acer, animi tumidi, et immodice timidus ; artifex tamen ad occultandam audacia; fpecie formidinem." Is it moft likely that in the battle of Murfa his behaviour was go-

he infinuates the general difpofition of the fenate, the people, and the foldiers of Italy, towards the party of the emperor.

The

elder Viclor defcribes in a pathetic

manner

tb; ralferable condition of

Rome

" Cujus

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

of Murlii, became mafter of the fea-coaft of
.

123

ftantius, after the battle '

^
'

^^

XVIII.

Dalmatia, a band of noble exiles,

in

who had

ventured to equip a

fleet

r~-~-f.

fome harbour of the Hadriatic, fought protedlion and revenge in

camp.

his vidlorious

By

their fecret intelligence

cities vv^ere

wdth their country-

men,

Rome
by the

and the

Italian

perfuaded to difplay the

grateful veterans, en-

banners of Conftantius on their walls.

riched
liberality

The

of the father, fignalized their gratitude and

cavalry, the legions,

loyalty to the fon.

Italy,

The

and the

auxiliaries
;

of

renewed

their

oath of allegiance to Conftantius

defertion,
retire

and the

ufurper, alarmed

by the general

was compelled, with the

remains of his faithful troops, to

provinces of Gaul.

beyond the Alps into the

The

detachments, however, which were orflight

dered either to prefs or to intercept the

of Magnentius, con;

duced

themfelves with the ufual imprudence of fuccefs

in the plains of Pavia,

and

al-

lowed him,
purfuers,

an opportunity of turning on his

and of gratifying

his defpair

by the carnage of a

ufelefs

victory

''.

The
in

pride of Magnentius

was reduced, by repeated misfortunes,

Laft defeat

to fue, and to fue in vain, for peace.

He

firft

difpatched a fenator,

Mao-nentius,
"^'

whofe

abilities

he confided, and afterwards feveral bifhops, whofe ' -T '

Auguit

^'J^^" 10.

holy character might obtain a more favourable audience, with the

offer of refigning the purple,

and the promife of devoting- the reof the emperor.

mainder of his

life

to the fervice
fair

But Conftantius,
all

though he granted

terms of pardon and recohciliation to

rebellion '\

who

abandoned the ffandard of

"

avowed
Zofiiti.
1.

his inflexible refoluVidlor in Epi-

Cujus ftolidum ingenium adeo P. R. pa-

'
tome.

ii.

p. 133.

tribufque exitio fuit, uti paffim

v'lx,

domus,

fora,

The

panegyrills of Conftantius, with

forget to

templaque,

cruore,

cadaveribufque
Athanafius

their ufua! candour,

mention

thiy

opplerentur buftorum
(torn.
i.

mode."
fate

accidental defeat.
'^

p. 677.) deplores the

of feveral
p. 58.)

Zonaras,

torn.

ii.

illuftrious vidlims,

and Julian (Orat.ii.

Han,

in feveral places

1. xiii. p. 17. Juof the two orations,

execrates the cruelty of Marcelllnus, the im-

expatiates on the clemency of Conftantius to

placable

enemy of

the houfe of Conftantine.

the rebels.

tion

124

THE DECLINE AND FALL

iuft punifliment tion to inflift a J r

CHAP,
XVIII.

on the crimes of an
fide

afTalTm,

whom

he prepared to overwhelm on every

rious arms.

by the

effort

of his vi(Q:o-

An

Imperial

fleet

acquired the eafy poffeffion of Africa

faith

and Spain, confirmed the wavering

of the Moorifli nations,

and landed a confiderable

force,
laft

which paffed the Pyrenees, and

and
fatal ftation

advanced towards Lyons, the

of Magnentius

''\

The temper
was urged by

of the tyrant, which was never inclined to clemency,

diftrefs to exercife

every at of oppreffion which could

cities

extort an immediate fupply

tience

from the
;

of Gaul

'*.

Their paof Praetorian

was

at

length exhaufted

and Treves, the

revolt,

feat

government, gave the fignal of

Decentius,

by

fliutting her gates againft

who had been

raifed

by

his brother to the

rank either of

Casfar or of Auguftus ^
retire to Sens,

From

Treves, Decentius v/as obliged to

where he was foon furrounded by an army of Gerthe pernicious arts of Conftantius had introduced into

mans,
the

whom

civil

diffenfions of

Rome

'".

In the

mean

time, the Imperial

troops forced the paffages of the Cottian Alps, and in the bloody

combat of Mount Seleucus irrevocably fixed the

the party of Magnentius
into the field
;

title

of Rebels on

^\

He

was unable

to bring another
;

army

the fidelity of his guards was. corrupted

and when
he w^as
Hift.

he appeared
*'

in public to animate
Julian.

them by
named

his exhortations,

Zofun.

I.

ii.

p. 133.

Orat.

i.

Defiderius.

See Tillemont,
iv.

ii. p. 74. p. 40. + Ammian. xv. 6.

des Empereurs, torn.

p. 7^7.

Zofim.
i.

I. ii.

p. 133.

Julian,

who

(Orat.

p.

40.)

inveighs

ngalnft the cruel eiFels of the tyrant's de-

mentions (Orat. i. p. 34.) the opprefwhich were diftated by his neceffities, or by his avarice. His fubjefts were compelled to purchafe the Imperial demefnes a doubtful and dangerous fpecies of property, which, in cafe of a revolution, might be imputed to them as a treafonable ufurpation. ' The medals of Magnentius celebrate
fpair,
five edifts

ii. p. 74. with His Commentary illuftrates the tranfaflions of this civil war. Mons Seleuci was a fmall place in the Cottian Alps, a few miles diftant from Vapincum, or Gap, an epifcopal city of Dauphine.. See d'Anville Notice de la Gaule, p. 464.; and Longuerue Defcription de la France,

' Julian.

Orat.

i.

p. 40.

Spanheim,

p.

263.

p. ^27.
'

Zofimus,

1. ii.

p. 134.
latter

Liban. Orat. x.

p. 268, 269.

The

moft vehemently
policy of

the viiftories of the tiuo Augufti, and of the

arraigns this cruel and

ftantius,

felfilh

Con-

Csfar.

The

Caefar

was

another brother,

laluted.

OF THE
laluted with

ROMAN
fliout

EMPIRE.
live

12^

an unanimous

of "

Long

the emperor

Con-

CHAP.

"

ftantius !"

The

tyrant,

who

perceived that they were preparing

facrifice

to deferve

pardon and rewards by the

of the moft obnoxious

his

criminal, prevented their defign

by

falling

on

fword

'^

death

more eafy and more honourable than he could hope

the hands of an enemy, whofe revenge
the fpecious pretence of juftice and fraternal piety.

to obtain

from

would have been coloured with

The example
on the

of fuicide was imitated by Decentius,

who

ftrangled himfelf

news of
cellinus,

his brother's death.

The author of
battle

the confplracy,.

Mar-

had long fmce difappeared in the

of Murfa '% and the

public tranquillity
leaders of a

was confirmed by the execution of the furviving guilty and unfuccefsful fadlion. A fevere inquifition
all

was extended over

had been involved

who,

either

from choice or from compulfion,

Paul,

in the caufe of rebellioni

furnamed Catena

from

his fuperior fkill in the judicial exercife

of tyranny, was fent to

explore the latent remains of the confpiracy in the remote province of

Britain.

The

honeft indignation exprefled by Martin, vice-prcefed:

of the ifland,

was

interpreted as an evidence of his

own

guilt

and

the governor was urged to the neceflity of turning againft his breafh

the fword with which he had been provoked to

minifter.
exile

wound
and

the Imperial

The moft

innocent fubjeds of the Weft were expofed to

to death

and confifcation,

and torture

as the timid are

'.

always cruel, the mind of Conftantius was inacceflible to mercy

*'

Julian. Orat.

i. 1.

p. 40.
ii.

Zofimus,
32.

1.

ii.

''

Julian (Orat.

p. 134.
I.

Socrates,

c.

Sozomen,
:

lofs to

i. p. 58, 59.) feems at a determine, whether he inflifled on him-

iv.

c. 7.

The younger

Viftor defcribes

his

death with fome horrid circumOances

Transfofib latere, ut erat vafli corporis, vulnere naribufque et ore

exfpiravit.

cruorem effundens,

felf the punifhment of his crimes, whether he was drowned in the Drave, or whether he was carried by the avenging da;mons from the field of battle to his deftined place of

If

we can

give credit to Zonaras,

eternal tortures,
''

the tyrant, before he expired,

fare of

murdering with his mother and his brother Defiderius.

had the pleaown hands his

Ammian.

xiv. 5.

xxi. 16.

126

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.
Conjlantiusfole Emperor.

XIX.

and Death of Gallus. Sarmatian and Danger and Elevation of yulian. FiEtories of "Julian in Gaul. Perftan Wars.

Elevation

C
^lY
'

^'
'

'

^HE divided
vi(3:ory

provinces of the empire

;

virere

again united by the

JL

of Conftantius

but as that feeble prince was deilior war

the
;

cunuchs.

tute of perfonal merit,

either in peace
;

as

he feared his
his

generals,

and

diftrufted his, minifters

triumph of

arms

ferved only to eftablilh the reign of the eunuchs over the

Roman

world.
tal

Thofe unhappy beings, the antient produdtion of Orien",

jealoufy and defpotifm

were introduced into Greece and

Their progrefs was rapid

Rome
;

by

the contagion of Afiatic luxury \

and

the eunuchs, who, in the time of Auguftus, had been abhorred, as the

monftrous retinue of an Egyptian queen

into the families of matrons, of fenators,

^,

were gradually admitted

and of the emperors themfrom Menander, and

'

Ammianus

(1.

xiv. c. 6.) to

imputes the

firft

This play

is

tranflated

praiflice

of cartration

the cruel ingenuity

the original mull have appeared foon after the

eaflern conqiiefts of Alexander.
^

who is fuppofed to have reigned above nineteen hundred years before Chrift. The ufe of eunuchs is of high antiquity, both in Afia and Egypt. They are mentioned in the Uw of Mofes, Deuteron. xxiii. i.
of Semiramis,
See Goguet, Origines des Loix, &c.
1.
i.

Miles

fpadonibus

Servire rugofis poteft.

Horat. Carm.

v. 9.

and Dacier ad loc.

By

the worA/pado,

the

Romans

very for-

Part

i.

cibly expre/Ted their abhorrence of this

tilated condition.

muhad

c. 3.

The Greek
infenfibly

appellation of

Eunuchum

dixti velle te

eunuchs,
a milder
2.

which
found,

prevailed,

Quia folx utuntur his regina; Terent. Eunuch, afti. fcene

and

mere

ambiguous

fenfe.

felves.

OF
felves
*.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

',

127

Reftrained by the fevere edids of Domltlan and Nerva

C H A
XiX.

P,

cherlfhed

by the pride of Diocletian, reduced

*,

to

an humble ftation

by

the prudence of Conftantine

they multiplied in the palaces of

at

his degenerate fons,

and infenfibly acquired the knowledge, and

of the fecret councils of Conftantius.

length the diredion,

The

averfion and contempt which

mankind has

fo

uniformly entertained

for that imperfed: fpecies, appears to have degraded their charafter

and

to

have rendered them almoft

as incapable as

they were fuppo-

fed to be, of conceiving

any generous fentiment, or of performing

fkilled in the arts

any worthy
flattery

alion'.
;

But the eunuchs were

of

and intrigue

Conftantius by his

and they alternately governed the mind of fears, his indolence, and his vanity'. Whiift he
of public profperity,

viewed

in a deceitful mirror the fair appearance

he fupinely permitted them to intercept the complaints of the injured

need only mention PofiJes, a freedof Claudius, in whofe favour the emperor profiituted feme of the moll honourable rewards of military valour. See
*

We

''

Xenophon (Cyropcedia,

1.

viii.

p. i;40.)

man and eunuch

has ftated the fpecious reafons which eng.iged Cyrus to entruft his perfon to the guard of

eunuchs.

He had

obferved in animals, that

Sueton. in Claudio,

c.

28.

Pofides

employed

a great part of his wealth in building.

Ut Spado
Pofides.

vincebat Capitolia nollra

Juvenal. Sat. xiv.

although the pradliceof caftration might tame their ungovernable fiercenefs, it did not diminifh their ftrength or fpirit; and he per-

from the

'

Caftrari
c.
1.

mares

vetuit.

Sueton. in
1.

Domlp.

who were feparated kind, would be more firmly attached to the perfon of their benefuaded himfcif, thatthofe
reft

of

human

tian.
1

7.

See Dion. Caflius,

1 1

Ixvii.

fador.

But a long experience has contra-

107.
*

Ixviii. p.
is

19.

difted the

judgment of Cyrus.

Some

partidiftin-

Auguftan hiftory, p. 137, in which Lampridius, whiift he praifes Alexander Sevcrus and Conftantine
a paflage in the
for reftraining the tyranny of the eunuchs,

There

cular inftances

may

occur of eunuchs

guilhed by their
their abilities
ral hiftory
;

fidelity,

their valour,

and

but if

we examine

the gene-

deplores the mifchiefs which they occafioned

in other reigns.

Hue

accedit

quod eunuchos
;

of Perfia, India, and China, we power of the eunuchs has uniformly marked the decline and fall of every
Ihall find that the

nee
foli

in ccnfiliis

nee in minifteriis habuit

qui

dynafty.
* 1.

principes perdunt,

dum

eos

more gentium
;

See

aut

rcgum Perfarum volunt

vivere
;

qui a po-

xxii. c. 4.

Ammiauus Marcellinus, 1. xxi. c. 16. The whole tenor of his impar-

pulo etiam amicilTimum femovent

nuntii funt, allud
tes
;

qui inter-

quam
fciat.

refpondetur referen-

claudentes principera fuum, et agentes

hiftory ferves to juftify the invedlives of Mamertinus, of Libanius, and of Julian himfelf, who have infulted the vices of the court
tial

ante omnia ne quid

of Conftantius.

provmces,

128

THE DECLINE AND FALL

provinces, to accumulate

CHAP,
^
-._'

immenfe

treafures

by the

fale

of juftice and

of honours

to

difgrace the moft important dignities,

by the pro-

motion of thofe
of opprellion
',

who had
who

purchafed at their hands the powers

refentment againfl the few in-

and

to gratify their

dependent
flaves.

fpirits,

arrogantly refufed to folkit the protedion of

Of thefe flaves the moft diftingulfhed was the chamberlain Eufebius, who ruled the monarch' and the palace with fuch abfolute
fway,
that

Conftantius,

according
credit

to the farcafm
this

of an impartial
'.

hiftorian, pofTeired
his artful

fome

with

haughty favourite

By

fuggellions, the

emperor was perfuaded

to

to fubfci-lbe the

condemnation of the unfortunate Gallus, and

the long
lift

add a

new

crime to

of unnatural murders which pollute the honour of the

houfc of Conftantine.
Education of
^"
luHaT.

When

the

two nephews of Conftantine, Gallus and

years of age

Julian,

were

faved from the fury of the foldiers, the former was about twelve, and

the latter about

fix,

and, as the eldeft was thought to

lefs

be of a fickly conftitution, they obtained with the

precarious and dependent
life,

difficulty a

from the

affefted pity of Conftantius,

who was
cruelty".

fenfible that the execution of thefe helplefs

all

orphans would

have been efteemed, by

mankind, an

at of the

moft deliberate

Different cities of Ionia and Bithynia were affigned for

;

the places of their exile and education

but, as foon as their

it

growing

years excited the jealoufy of the emperor, he judged

to fecure thofe

more prudent

unhappy youths

in the ftrong caftle of

Macellum, near
multum

Aurelius

Viaor

cenfures the negligence

Apud quem

(fi

veredici debeat)

ot his fovereign in chuiing the governors of

the provinces, and the generals of the army,

Conftantius potuit.

Ammian.

1.

and concludes
obfervation, as

his hiftory
it is

with a very bold

minifters

much more dangerous

to attack the

(Orat. iii. p. 90.) reproaches the apoftate with his ingratitude towards Mark, biibop of Arethufa, who had

' Gregory Nazianzen

xviii. c. 4.

under a feeble reign

than the mafter himfeff.

" Uti verum

ab-

" folvam

brevi, ut Imperatore

ipfo clarius
atro.x ni-

"

contributed to fave his life ; and we learn, though from a lefs refpeftable authority (Tillemont, Hift. des Empereurs, torn. iv. p.
916.), that Julian was concealed in the fanctuary of a church,

ita

apparitorum plerifque magis

^*il*"

Caefarea.

OF THE
Ca;farea.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
*

129

The

treatment which they experienced during a fix years

fiich as

^^
A,
I
.

^'

A..

confinement, was partly

they could hope fi-om a careful guar-

->,- -/

dian, and partly fuch as they

might dread from a fufpicious tyrant".

Their prifon was an ancient palace, the refidence of the kings of

Cappadocia; the fituation was pleafant, the buildings
clofure fpacious.
ftately, the in*

They

purfued their ftudies, and pradlifed their

fl<.ilful

exercifes

under the tuition of the moft

mafters

and the nume-

rous houfehold appointed to attend, or rather to guard, the nephews

of Conftantine, was not unworthy of the dignity of their birth.

But they could not

difguife to themfelves that they

;

were deprived of
all

fortune, of freedom, and of fafety

fecluded from the fociety of

whom
of

they could

trufl:

or efteem, and

condemned

to pafs their

me-

lancholy hours in the

a tyrant,

company of

flaves,

devoted to the

commands

who had
At
the

already injured

them beyond the hope of reemergencies

to

conciliation.

length,

however, the
or rather

of the
invefl:

ftate

compelled
lus,

emperor,

his eunuchs,

CalGallusdeclared 032iHr

in the twenty-fifth year to

of his age, with the

connedlion

title

of Csefar,

and

cement

this

political

by

his

marriage

with

A. D.
^'^'^

351',

the prlncefs Conftantina.

After a formal interview, in w^hich the

^'

two

princes

mutually engaged their faith never to undertake any

thing to the prejudice of each other, they repaired without delay

to their refpedive fiiations.

Conftantius continued his march towards

the Weft, and Gallus fixed his refidence at Antioch, from whence,

with a delegated authority, he adminiftered the

of the eaftern prazfedure
".

five great diocefes

In this fortunate change, the

tius,

new Cxfar
i.),

" The

moft authentic account of the eduis

Zofimus,

and the two Viflors.

(1. iv. c.

cation and adventures of Julian,

in the epiftle or manifefto

contained

cording to Philoftorgius
philus,

AcTheo-

which he himfelf

an Arian bifhop,
it

was the witnefs,

addrefled to the fenate and people of Athens,

and, as

Libanius (Orat. Parentalis), onthefideof the Pagans, and Socrates (1. iii. c. i.), on that of
the Chrillians, have preferved feveral intereft-

were, the guarantee, of this folemn engagement. He fupported that charader with generous iirmnefs ; but M. de Tille-

mont
thinks

(Hill, des
it

Empereurs,

torn. iv. p.

:o.)

ing circumftances.

"

For the promotion of Gallus,

II.

fee Ida-

very improbable that an heretic fhculd have poffefled fuch virtue.

Vol.

was

130

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

^ vTv XIX.
Ui

^'^5 ^'^^

unmindful of

his brother Julian,

who

obtained the honours

ant

>

of his rank, the appearances of Hberty, and the reflitution of

ample patrimony
i^'^rid'ence'^

'*.

The

writers the moft indulgent to the

memory

of Gallus, and

of Gallus.

even Julian himfelf, though he wifhed to

cafl:

a veil over the frailties

of his brother, are obliged to confefs that the Ciefar was incapable of reigning.

Tranfported from a prifon to a throne, he poffelTed

for the

neither genius nor application, nor docility to compenfate

want of knowledge and experience.

Adolent, inftead of being corrected,

A temper

naturally morofe
folitude

and

was foured hy

and adto

verfity

the

remembrance of what he had endured, difpofed him

fympathy
thofe
;

retaliation rather than to

and the ungoverned

failles

of

his rage

were often
to his

fatal to

who

approached his perfon, or

is

were fubjed
as a

power '\

Conftantina, his wife,

defcrlbed, not

woman, but as one of the infatlate thirfl of human blood '\

tO infniuate the

infernal furies torm.ented

with an

Inftead of employing her influence

mild counfels of prudence and humanity, fhe exaf;

perated the fierce paflions of her hufband

and

as fhe retained the

vanity, though fhe had renounced the gentlenefs of her fex, a pearl

necklace was efleemed an equivalent price for the murder of an in-

nocent and virtuous nobleman

'*

".

The
" "
et

cruelty of Gallus

was fomefi

Julian was at

firfl:

permitted to purfue
but the reputa-

ad tyrannidem pronior,
licuifl'et."

fuo jure im-

his ftudiesat Conftantinopie,

perare
"*

which he acquired fooa excited the jeayoung prince was advifed to withdraw himfelf to the lefs confpicuous fcenes of Bithynia and Ionia.
tion

Meg^sra quidem mortalis, inflammatrix

loufy of Conftantius; and the

fevientis affidua,

humani
1.

cruoris avida, &c.

i.

Ammian.
cerity of

Mrj-cellin.

xiv.c.

The

fin-

Ammianus would

not fufFer him to

See Julian ad S. P. Q^ A. p. 27 1. Jerom. Chron. Aurelius Viftor, Eutropius, x. 14. I fhall copy the words of Eutropius, who wrote his abridgment about fifteen years after the deRth of Gallus when there was no Ion'5

mifreprefent fads or characters, but his love

ofai^Vioj ornaments frequently betraved him

in

vehemence of expreffion. His name was Clematius of Alexandria, and his only crime was a refufal to gratify the
into an unnatural
?

ger any motive either to

flatter or

to

depre-

deiires

of his mother-in-law

who

folicited

date

his

character.

" Multis
,
. .

inclvilibus

his death, becaufe fhe

"

geftis

Gallus Csfar

vir

natara ferox,

of his love.

had been difappointed Ainmian. 1. xiv. c. i.

times.

OF THE
executions
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
*-

131

times difplayed in the iindifTcmblecl violence of popular or military

CHAP.

and was fometimes difguifed by the abule of law, and

the forms of judicial proceedings.

The

private houfes of Antioch,

fpics

and the places of public

refort,

were befieged by

and informers;
very frequently

and the Csefar himfelf, concealed

in a plebeian habit,
charatfter.

condefcended to afTume that odious

Every apartment of

the palace was adorned with the inftruments of death and torture,

and

a general confternation

was
if

difFufed

through the

capital

of Syria.

The
had

Prince of the Eaft, as

to
fear,

he had been confcious

how much he

and

how

little

he deferved to reign, feleded for the

objefts of his refentment, the provincials accufed of

treafon,

fome imaginary
and fufpicious

and

his

own

courtiers,

whom with

more reafon he fufpefted

was depriving himfelf
;

of incenfmg, by

their fecret correfpondence, the timid

mind of
of

Conftantius.

But he forgot

that he

his only fupport, the afFedion of the people

whilft he furnifhed

the malice of his enemies with the arms of truth, and afforded the

emperor the
of his
life '^

faireft

pretence of exading the forfeit of his purple, and

As long
ftration to

as the civil w\ar

fufpended the fate of the

Roman

world,

MaiTacre of
minifters,'
'

Conftantius diflembled his knowledge of the

weak and
;

cruel admini-

which

his choice

had fubjeded the Eaft and the difcovery

^^^'
'

of fome afTafTms, fecretly difpatched to Antioch by the tyrant of

Gaul, was employed to convince the public, that the emperor and
the Csefar were united

by the fame

intereft,

and purfued by the fame

in favour of

enemies

'".

But

v^rhen the

vidory was decided

7.)

Con-

"

See in

Ammianus

(1.

xiv.

c.

i.

agent:,
tune.
'^

who were

refolved to

make

their for-

very ample detail of the cruelties of Gallus.

His brother Julian

that

(p.

272.)

infinuates,

Zonaras,

1. xiii.

torn.
a.

ii.

p. 17, 18.

Ths
le'

fecret

confpiracy

againft

him

had been formed and Zofimus names (1. ii.

aflaffins

had feduced
;

great

number of
in

gionaries

but their defigns were difcovered

p. 135.) the perfons engaged in it ; a mi"ilVr of confiderable rank, and two obfcure

and revealed by an old

tage they lodgeiJ.

woman

whofe cot-

S 1

ftantius,

132

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ftant-Ius,

CHAP.

his

dependent colleague became

his

lefs

ufeful

and

lefs

formid-

able.

Every circumftance of
and
it

conduct was feverely and fufpi-

cioufly examined,

was

privately refolved, either to deprive

Gallus of the purple, or at

leaft to

remove him from the indolent

luxury of Afia to the hardfhips and dangers of a

German

war.

The
in a

death of Theophilus, confular of the province of Syria,

who

time of fcarcity had been maflacred by the people of Antioch, with

the connivance,

and almoft

at the inftigation,

of Gallus, was juftly

refented, not only as an at of wanton cruelty, but as a dangerous infult

on the fupreme majefty of Conftantius.

Domitian, the Oriental
prsefedt,

Two

minifters of

illuftrious rank,

and Montius, quaeftor

vifit

of the palace, were empowered by a fpecial commifTion to

and

reform the

ftate

of the Eaft.

They were

inftrudted to behave towards

Gallus with moderation and refpedt, and, by the gentleft arts of perfuafion, to

engage him to comply with the invitation of his brother

and colleague.

The

raflinefs

of the prsefel

difappointed
as well as

thefe
that of

prudent meafures, and haftened his

his

own

ruin,

enemy.

On

his arrival at Antioch,

Domitian pafled difdainfully

before the gates of the palace, and alleging a flight pretence of indifpofition, continued feveral

days in fullen retirement, to prepare an

inflammatory memorial, which he tranfmitted to the Imperial court.

Yielding
at

length to the prefllng folicitations of Gallus, the pra:fet

feat in council
;

condefcended to take his

fignify a concife

but his

firft

ftep

was

to

and haughty mandate, importing that the Cxfar

fbould immediately repair to Italy, and threatening that he himfelf

would

punifli his delay or hefitation,

by fufpending the

ufual allow-

ance of his houfehold.

The nephew and daughter of

Domitian

Conftantine,

who could
ment by

ill

brook the infolence of a

fubjedt, expreflled their refent-

infl:antly delivering
ftill

to the cufl:ody of a guard.

The

quarrel

admitted of fome terms of accommodation.

They
a llatel-

were rendered impracticable by the imprudent behaviour of Montius,

'

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

^.

^33

a ftatefman, whofe art and experience were frequently betrayed by

the levity of his difpofition

CHAP.
'

The

qu^eftor reproached Gallus in

1^

haughty language,
to

that

a prince,

who was

fcarcely
to

authorifed

remove

municipal
;

magiftrate, fhould

prefume
civil

imprifon

a Prsetorian prasfe^t
oflicers
;

convoked a meeting of the

in the

and military
to defend

and required them,

name of their fovereign,

the perfon and dignity of his reprefentatives.

By this

ralh declaration

of war, the impatient temper of Gallus was provoked to embrace

the moft defperate counfels.

He

ordered his guards to ftand to their

arms, affembled the populace of Antioch, and recommended to their

zeal the care of his fafety
fatally

and revenge.

His commands were too

obeyed.

They

rudely feized the prsefed and the quscftor,

and tying

their legs together

with ropes, they dragged them through

the ftreets of the city, inflided a thoufand infults and a thoufand

wounds on
mangled and

thefe

unhappy

victims,

and

at

laft

precipitated their

lifelefs

bodies into the llream of the

O routes ".
innocence with
^
|i,'"f""

After fuch a deed, whatever might have been the defigns of Gallus, Dangerous
it

was only

in a field of battle that

fuccefs.

he could

aflert his

But the mind of that prince was formed of an equal mixture of violence and weaknefs. Inftead of affuming the

any hope of

title

of Auguftus, inflead of employing in his defence the troops

treafures of the Eaft,

and

he fuffered himfelf to be deceived by the

affedled tranquillity of Conftantius,

who, leaving him the vain pa-

geantry of a court, imperceptibly recalled the veteran legions from

^

In the prefent text of

Ammianus, we

'"'

read, A/per,
fior
;

quidem, fed ad

lenitatem propen-

tered

Inftead of being obliged to colled featand imperfedl hints from various fources,

which forms a fentence ofcontradiftory

we now
tory of

enter into the full ftream of the hif-

nonfenfe.

With

the aid of an old manufcript,

firft

Valefius has reftified the

of thefe corruptions, and we perceive a ray of light in the fubftitution of the word njafer. If we venture to change lenitatem into levhatem, this alteration of a fingle letter will render the whole
paflage clear and confiftent.

refer to the feventh and ninth chapters of his fourteenth book. Philoftorgius, however (1. iii.
c.

Ammianus, and need only

28.),

though partial

to Gallus,

fliould

noi

be entirely overlooked,

the

134

THE T)ECLINE AND TALL

P.

C H A w~v

the provinces of Afia.

But
n

as it

ftill

appeared dangerous to arreft

Gallus in his capital, the flow and fafer arts of diffimiilation were
pradtifed with fuccefs.

-iff*

The

frequent and prefling epiftles of Conftan-

tius were filled withprofeffions

of confidence and fricndfhip ; exhorting

the Coefar to difcharge the duties of his high ftatlon, to relieve his

colleague from a part of the public cares, and to

his prefence,
his counfels,

affift

the

Weft by

and

his arms.

After fo

many

reciprocal

injuries, Gallus

had reafon

to fear

and

to diftruft.
;

But he had nehe was feduced

gledled the opportunities of flight and of refiftancc

by

the flattering afliirances of the tribune Scudilo,

foldier,

who, imder the

femblance of a rough

difguifed the mofl; artful infi.nuation

and he depended on the

feafonable

credit

of his wife Confl:antina,

till

the

un-

death of that princefs completed the ruin in which he

^\

had been involved by her impetuous paflions

His difgrace

After a long delay, the reludiant Caefar

to the Imperial court.

fet

forwards on his journey

A.D.354', December.

From Antioch

to Hadrlanople,

he traverfed
ftately train
;

the wide extent of

"his

dominions with a numerous and

and as he laboured to conceal his apprehenfions from the world, and

perhaps from himfelf, he entertained the people of Conftantinople

with an exhibition of the games of the

circus.

The

progrefs of the

journey might, however, have warned him of the impending danger.

In

all

tlie

principal

cities

he was met by minifters of confidence,

offices

commifiioned to

feize

the

of government, to obferve his

motions, and to prevent the hafty

fallies

of his defpair.
left

The

perfons

diipatclied to fecure the provinces

which he
;

behind, pafled

him
his

with cold falutatlona, or afFeled difdain

ftation lay along the public road,

and the troops, whofe

were ftudloufly removed on

approach,

left

they might be tempted to offer their fwords for the

**

She had preceded her hufband

but died of a fever on the road, at a

little

place ia

Bithynia, called

Ccenum Gallicanum.

fervice

OF THE
fervice

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^

135

of a

civil

war".

After Gallus had been permitted to rcpofe

^,^ XIX.

^'

himfeif a few days at Hadrianople, he received a mandate, expreffed

in

the moft haughty and

abfohite ftyle, that his

fplendid retinue

fhould halt in that city, while the Cxfar himfeif, with only ten poftcarriages, fhould haften to the Imperial refidence at Milan.

In this

rapid journey, the profound refpeft wliich was due to the brother

and colleague of Conftantius, was

liarity
;

infenfibly

changed into rude fami-

and Gallus,

who

difcovered in the countenances of the

attendants that they already confidered themfelves as his guards, and

might foon be employed

fatal rafhnels,

as his executioners,

began to accufe his

and

to recoiled:

with terror and remorfe the condudt

by which he had provoked

hitherto been preferved,

his fate.

The

diffimulation

which had

was

laid afide at Petovio in

Pannonia.

He

was conduced
tio,

to a palace in the fuburbs,

where the general Barba-

with a

fele6t

band of

foldiers,

M^ho could neither be

moved by
illufi:riou&

pity,

nor corrupted by rewards, expelled the arrival of his

vicflim.

In the clofe of the evening he was arrefted, ignominioufly

ftripped
Iftria,

of the enfigns

of Csefar,

and hurried away

tx)

Pola

in

a fequeftered prifon,

which had been

felt,

fo recently polluted

with

royal blood.

The

horror which he

was foon encreafed by the

appearance of his implacable

enemy

the

eunuch Eufebius, who, with

the affiftance of a notary and

a tribune, proceeded to interrogate

him concerning
and

the adminiftration of the Eaft.

guilt,

The
all

Casfar funk

under the weight of fhame and

actions,
all

confefled

the criminal
\

the treafonable defigns with which he was charged

to the advice

and by imputing them

^'

of his wife, exafperated the

zeal of

The Thcba;an

legions,

which were then

The

M.

de Voltaire, to dcftroy a de

quartered at Hadrianople, fent a deputation to Gallus, with a tender of their fcrvlces.

fpicable though celebrated legend, has tempted

him on the
armies.

flighteft

grounds to deny the

the

exif-

Ammian.

1.

xiv.

c.

ii.

The

Notitia

(f.

6.

tence of a Theba;an legion in

Roman

30. 38. edit. Labb.)

mentions three feveral

See Oeuvres de Voltaire, toni. xv,

legions which bore the

name of Theba:an.

p. 414. quarto edition,

indignation

136

THE DECLINE AND FALL

indignation of Conftantius,

CHAT,
^-V'

minutes of the
that his

who reviewed with partial prejudice the The emperor was eafily convinced, examination.
was incompatible
vyith the life of his
;

own

fafety

coufm
and the

the fentence of death was figned, difpatched, and executed

nephew of

Conftantine, with his hands tied behind his back,

like

was

beheaded in prifon

the

vileft

malefador

^'\

Thoie who are

inclined to palliate the cruelties of Conftantius, alTert that he foon

relented,

and endeavoured

to recall the

bloody mandate

but that

the fecond meffenger entrufted with the reprieve, was detained

by

the eunuchs,

who

dreaded the unforgiving temper of Gallus, and

to iheir empire the

were defirous of re-uniting

wealthy provinces of

theEaft^
The
danger

Bcfides the reigning emperor, Julian alone furvived,

of

all

the

of JuHanr

numerous

pofterity of Conftantius Chlorus.

The

misfortune of his

royal birth involved

him

In the difgrace of Gallus.

Ionia, he
;

From

his retire-

ment

in the

happy country of

was conveyed under a ftrong

guard to the court of Milan

where he languifhed above feven

months, In the continual apprehenfion of fuffering the fame ignominious depth, which was daily inflidled, almoft before his eyes, on
the friends and adherents of his perfecuted family.
geftures, his filence,

His looks,
curiofity,

his

were fcrutinized with malignant

and

he was

pei'petually aflaulted

by enemies,

whom

he had never of-

fended, and by arts to which he was

^* See the complete narrative of the journey and death of Gallus in Ammianus, 1. Julian complains that his broxiv. c. 11. ther was put to death without a trial ; at-

a ftranger "\

But in the fchool

without choice or
criti-

latter tranfcribed,

clfm, whatever he found in the writings of

the ancients.
^^ 3. 8.

See

Ammianus

Marcellin.

1.

xv.

c.

i.

tempts tojuftify, or at leaft cruel revenge which he had

to

excufe,

the

Julian himfelf, in his epiftle to the

inflified

enemics

but feems at

laft

to

on his acknowledge

Athenians, draws a very lively and juft picture of his own danger, and of his fentimcnts.

that he might juftly have been deprived of

He

(hews, however, a tendency to

his

the purple.

Zonaras, But the former was 1, xiii. torn. ii. p. 19. partial towards an Arian monarch, and the
Philoftorgius,
1.

^5

iv.

c.

i.

fufFerings, by infinuating, though in obfcure terms, that they lafted above a year; a period which cannot be re-

exaggerate

conciled with the truth of chronology.

of

OF THE
of
difcretion.

ROMAN
who

EMPIRE.
and
the
life,

137

adverfity, Julian infenfibly acquired the virtues of firmnefs

CHAP,
XIX.

He

defended his honour, as well as his

againfl;

enfnaring fubtleties of the eunuchs,

declaration of his fentiments
his grief
:

endeavoured to extort fomc

and whilft he cautioufly fupprefled

to flatter the tyrant,

and refentment, he nobly difdained

his brother's

by

any feeming approbation of

Gods,

murder.

Julian moft de-

voutly afcribes his miraculous deliverance to the protection of the

who had exempted

pronounced by
".

his innocence
their juftice

from the fentence of deimpious houfe

ftrudtion

againfl the

of Conftantine
vidence,

As

the moft effetual

inftrument of their profteady

he

gratefully

acknowledges
'^,

the

and

generous

friendfhip of the emprefs Eufebia

woman

of beauty and merit,

who, by the afcendant which

hufbaiid, counterbalanced, in

fhe had gained over the

mind of her

fome meafure, the powerful confpi-

racy of the eunuchs.

By

the interceffion of his patronefs, Julian

:

was admitted

into the Imperial prefence

he pleaded
;

his caufe v^^ith

a decent freedom, he was heard with favour

the efforts of his enemies,

and, notwithftanding

who

urged the danger of fparing an

avenger of the blood of Gallus, the milder fentiment of Eufebia

prevailed in the council.

But the
;

eftefts

of a fecond interview were

to

dreaded by the eunuchs

and Julian was advifed

till

withdraw for a
is

while into the neighbourhood of Milan,

the emperor thought He

Af
ii

fent to
^

pn

proper to afTign the city of Athens for the place of his honourable
exile.

a. D. 355,
^^^''

As he had difcovered from

his earlieft youth, a propenfity,

or rather paffion, for the language, the manners, the Learning, and
^^

Julian has

wo:ked the crimes and mif-

fortunes of the family of Conftantine into

" She was a native of ThefTalonica in Macedonia, -of a noble famii)', and the
daughter as well as fifter of confuls. Her marriage with the emperor may be placed in
the year 352. In a divided age, the hiftorians of all parties agree in her praifes. See
their teftimonies collefled

an allegorical fable, which is happily conceived and agreeably related. It forms the
conclufion

of the

feventh

Oration,

from

whence it has been detached and tranflated by the Abbe de la Bleterie. Vie dc Jovien,
torn.
ii.

by Tillcmont, Hill.
p.

p.

385408.

des Empereurs, torn,

iv.

7JO-7S+.
tlie

Vol. IL

138

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the religion of the Greeks, he obeyed with pleafure an order fo

CHAP,

agreeable to his wiihes.

Far from the tumult of arms,

and the

treachery of courts, he fpent fix months amidft the groves of the

academy,
age,
nity,

in

free

intercourfe

with

the
to

philofophers

of
the

the--

who
and

ftudied

to cultivate the genius,

encourage

va-

to inflame the devotion

of their royal pupil.

Their

labours
for

v.'cre

not

unfuccefsful

and Julian inviolably preferved

Athens

that tender

regard,

which feldom

fails

to

arife''
it

in

a liberal mind,

from the recollection of the place where

its

has

difcovered and exercifed

affability

growing powers.

The

gentlenefs

and

of manners, which his temper fuggefted and his fituation

impofed, infenfibly engaged the affedlions of the ftrangers, as well

as citizens,

with

whom

he converfed.
his behaviour

Some of

his fellow-ftudents

might perhaps examine

averfion
;

with an eye of prejudice and

but Julian eftablifhed, in the fchools of Athens, a general

prepofieffion in favour of his virtues

diffufed over the
"Recalled to

and

talents,

which was foon

Roman world

''.

Whilft his hours were paffed in ftudious retirement, the

prefs, refolute to atchieve the

em-

Milan,

generous defign which ihe had underfortune.

taken,

was not unmindful of the care of his

had
left

The

death of the

late Casfar

Conftantius invefted v/ith the fole

command, and
Gaul were
longer
rapine
;,

oppreffed

by the accumulated weight of a mighty empire. Before the

the provinces of

wounds of civil difcord could be healed, overwhelmed by a deluge of Barbarians.

refpedled the barrier

of the Danube.

The Sarmatians no The impunity of

had increafed the boldnefs and numbers of the wild Ifaurians

*

Libsnius and Gregory Nazianzen have

to reprefent Julian as the

apoftate,

exhaufted the arts as well as the powers of

their eloquence,
firft

perfeftions,

amount only to feme bodily imand to feme peculiarities in his

fpeech and manner.

that he then forefaw

He

protefts,

however,

of heroes,

or

the

worft

of tyrants,

Gregory was his fellow-ftudent at Athens and the fymptoms, which he fo tragically
defcribes,

and foretold the calamities of the church and ftate (Greg. Nazianzen, OraE.
iv. p.

izi, 122.).

of the future wickednefs of the

thofe

OF THE
thofe robbers defcended

ROMAN
their

EMPIRE.
^

139
^^

from

craggy mountains to ravage the

^"

adjacent country, and had even prefumed, though without fucceis,

to befiege the important city of Seleucia,

which was defended by a

all,

garrlfon of three
elated

Roman

legions.

Above

the Perfian monarch,

by

vI(3:ory,

again threatened the peace of Afia, and the pre-

fence of the emperor

was indifpenfably required, both

firft

in the

Weft,

and

in the Eaft.

For the

time, Conftantius fmcerely

acknowwhich

ledged, that his fingle ftrength

care and of
aflured
ilill

was unequal
and

to

fuch an extent of

dominion

^^

Infenfible to the voice of flattery,

celeftial

him

that his all-powerful virtue,

fortune,

would

continue to triumph over every obftacle, he liftened with

com-

placency to the advice of Eufebia, which gratified

his indolence,

without offending his fufpicious pride.

As

fhe perceived that the

artfully

remembrance of Gallus dwelt on the emperor's mind, fhe

which from
and of Titus
their infancy
'".

turned his attention to the oppofite charadlers of the two brothers,

had been compared

to thofe of

Domitiau

She accuftomed her hufband

difpofition,
gift

to confider Julian as a

youth of a mild unambitious

titude

whofe

allegiance

and gra-

might be fecured by the

fill,

of the purple, and

ftation,

who was

qualified to

with honour, a fubordinate

without afpiring
of his fovereign

to difpute the

commands, or

to fhade the glories,

and

benefiiftor.
tlie

After an obftinate, though fecret ftruggle, the opfavourite eunuchs fubmitted to the afcendency of the
it

pofition of

emprefs

and

was refolved
fifter

that Julian, after celebrating his

nup-

tials Vv^ith

Helena,

of Conftantius, fhould be appointed, with

the
3

title

of Csefar, to reign over the countries beyond the Alps ^\

filios fuit,
1. ,\iv.

crebris

Succumbere tot neceflitatibus tamque unum fe quod nunquam fecerat aperte

Domitianum
ii.

et Titiim.

Ammnn.

c.

The

circumilances and edu-

demonllrans.

then exprefles, in their

^'

Ammian. 1. xv. c. own words,

8.

He

cation of the two brothers were fo nearly

the flat-

the fame, as to afford a flrong example of

the innate difference of charafters.
^iii.

tering afiurance's of the courtiers.

Tantum

a temperatis moribus Juliani

Ammianus,
p. 137, 13S.

1.

xv,

c.

8.

Zofimuj,

I,

differens

fratris

quantum

inter

Vefpafiani

Although

HO
^ y\y
^'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Although the order which
recalled

him

to court

was probably
greatiiefs,

accompanied by fome intimation of

appeals to the people of Athens
*to

his

approaching

he

witnefs his tears of undifTembled

forrow,

when he was reludantly

torn

away from

his beloved retire-

ment

^\
;

He
and

trembled for his

life,

for his fame,

and even for

his

virtue

his fole confidence

all

was derived from the

and
that

perfuafion, that

Minerva
invifible

infpired

his actions,

he was protedled by an

guard of angels,

from the Sun and

of Milan
Vv'hen
;

whom for that purpofe flie had borrowed Moon. He approached, with horror, the palace
falfe

nor could the ingenuous youth conceal his indignation*

he found himfelf accofted with

of his family.

and

fervile refpedl

by the

aflaflins

Eufebia, rejoicing in the fuccefs of her be-

nevolent fchemes, embraced

him with

the tendernefs of a

fifter

and and
his

endeavoured, by the moft foothing

reconcile

careffes, to difpel his terrors,

him

to his fortune.

But the ceremony of fhaving

firft

beard, and his

awkward demeanour, when he

during a few days,

exchanged the

cloak of a Greek philofopher for the military habit of a

prince,

Roman

amufed,

the levity

of the Imperial

court

^*.

The emperors of

the age of Conftantine

no longer deigned
;

to

confult with the fenate in the choice of a colleague

but they were

anxious that their nomination fhould be

ratified

by the confent of the

army.

On

this

folemn occafion, the guards, with the other troops

whofe
arms
;

ftations

were in the neighbourhood of Milan, appeared under

his lofty tribunal,

and Conftantius afcended

holding by the

hand
5'

his

coufm

Julian,

who
p.

entered the fame day into the twenty^* Julian himfelf relates (p. 274.),

Julian ad S. P.

Q^ A.

Libanius Orat. x. p. 268.

yield
till

275, 276. Julian did not

with

fome humour, the circumftances of

his

own

the

Gods had
to
refill.

fignified their will

by

metamorphofis, his downcaft looks, and his

perplexity at being thus fuddenly tranfported
into a

repeated vifions and omens.

His piety then

forbade

him

new world, where every

and
koiUle.-

objefl appear-

ed

llrange

fifth

OF THE
fifth

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
^^ -^

141
P

year of his age

'\

In a ftudied fpeech, conceived and delivered

with dignity, the emperor I'eprefented the various dangers which

threatened the profperity of the repubUc, the neceffity of
Csefar for the adminiftration of the Weft,
it

-,-

naming a

and

his

own

intention, if

was agreeable
the

to their wiflies, of

rewarding with the honours of

of the nephew of Conftantine.
teftilied

the purple,

promifmg

virtues

The mur
by

approbation of the foldiers was

:

by a

refpedlful

mur-

they gazed on the manly countenance of Julian, and obferved

fire

with pleafure, that the

a modeft blufh,

which fparkled

in his eyes

was tempered
time, to the

on being thus expofed,

for the

firft

public view of mankind.

As foon

as the

ceremony of

his inveftiture

had been performed, Conftantius addrefled him with the tone of

authority,

which

his

fuperior age and ftation permitted

him

to

affume

and exhorting

the

new C^far

to

deferve,

by heroic

deeds, that facred and. immortal name, the emperor gave his col-

league the ftrongeft aflurances of a friendfhip which fhould never be

impaired by time, nor interrupted by their feparation into the moft

diftant climates.

As foon

as the fpeech

was ended, the

troops, as a
^;

token of applaufe, claihed their fhields againft their knees

the officers

w^hile

who

furrounded the tribunal expreffed, with decent re

ferve, their fenfe

of the merits of the reprefentative of Conftantius.

;

The two
favourite
to his

princes returned to the palace in the fame chariot

and

and declared C^far A.D.355,

during the flow proceflion, Julian repeated to himfclf a verfe of his

Nov.6l

Homer, which he might equally apply to his fortune and The four and twenty days which the Csefar fpent at fears ".
Ammian.
I.

^5

See

Marcellin.
139.

I.

xv.

c.

8.

diftinftion,

Eumque
fupra

ut

potion reverentia

Zofimus,

iii.

p.

Aureliiis Viftor.

fervaretur, nee
infra

modum

laudabant nee

Viftor Junior in Epitom.

^^ Militares

Eiitrop. x. 14,

quam

decebat.

omnes horrendo fragore fcuta quod ell profperitatis in; dicium plenum; nam contra cum haltis dypei fcriuntur, irx documentum eft et dogenibus illidentes
loris,
. ,

^' .xxaSi !7o^(pv^ioi Sarzro-, X2i ftsiga x^zrai);.

"The word purple, which

a vague but

Homer had

uied as

common

epithet for death,

was

applied by Julian to exprefs, very aptly, the

Ammianus

adds,

with a nice

nature and objeil of his

own

apprehenfions.

Milaa^

14a

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Milan
after his inveftiture,

CHAP.
XIX.

and the

firft

months of

his Gallic reign,

were devoted
acquifition of

to a

Iplendid, but fevere captivity;

lofs

nor could the

^'.

honour compenfate for the

his

of freedom
;

His

Heps were watched,

correfpondence was intercepted

to decline the vilits of his

and he

was

obliged,

by prudence,
his

moft intimate

friends.

Of
;

former domeftlcs,
his phyfician,

four only were permitted to

attend

him

two pages,

and

his librarian

the

laft

of

wdiom was employed

the
gift

in the care of a valuable colledtion of books,

of the emprefs,

who

ftudied the inclinations as well as the

intereft

of her friend.

In the room of thefe faithful fervants, an

houfehold was formed, fuch indeed as became the dignity of a Csefar

but
it

was

filled

with a crowd of

flaves,

deftitute,

and perhaps inca-

pable of any attachment for their

moft

part, they

were

either

new mafter, to Mdiom, for the unknown or fufpeded. His want of

;

experience might require the affiftance of a wife council

but the

minute inftrutions which regulated the

tiiftribution

fervice of his table,

ftill

and the

of his hours, were adapted to a youth

under the

difcipline of his prseceptors, rather than to the fituation of a prince

entrufted with the condud; of an important war-.

If he afpired to
fear

deferve the efteem of his fubjedls, he

was checked by the

fruits
^'

of

difpleafmg his fovereign

and even the

artifices

of his marriage-bed
herfelf,

were

blafted

by the jealous

of Eufebia

who, on
this

^^

He

reprefents,

in

Ae mod
his table

pathetic

et

inferri.

Ammian.

Marcellin.

I.

xvi.

terms
ation.

(p. 277.),

the diftrefs of his

new
that

fitu-

c. 9.

The

pro vilion for

was howthe

^'

If

we

recoHefl that Conftantine,

the

ever fo

elegant

and fumptuous,
rejefted
it

father of Helena, died above eighteen years

young philofopher

with difdain.

before in a mature old age,

it

will appear

Quum
nu

legeret libellum aflldue, quern

ftantius ut

privignum ad ftudia

Conmittens ma-

probable, that the daughter, though a virgin, could not be very

fua confcripferat,

prslicenter difponens

her marriage.
livered

young at the time of She was foon afterwards de-

quid in convivio Csfaris impend! deberet,

I'hafianuin, et

of a fon,

who

died

immediately,

vulvam

et

fumen

exigi vetuit

quod

oblletrix corrupta mercede, mo-x

natum

j)rxfe&o

OF THE
this occafion alone,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
<

143
^^
^'^

feems to have been unmindful of the tendernefs

P-

of her fex, and the generofity of her charadter.

his father

and of

his brothers

reminded Julian

The memory of of his own danger,

his

-v
XI A.

-^

and

his apprehenfions

were encreafed by the recent and unworthy

fate of Sylvanus.

In the

fummer which preceded

to deliver

own

elevation,

Fatal end

of

Sylvanus,

that general

had been chofcn

;

Gaul from the tyranny of

left his

A. D.

3";?,

the Barbarians

but Sylvanus foon difcovered that he had

moil

dangerous enemies in the Imperial court.

dexterous informer,

countenanced by feveral of the principal minifters, procured from

him fome recommendatory

letters

and crazing the whole of the

contents, except the fignature, filled

up the vacant parchment

vvith

matters of high and treafonable import.

By

the induftry and cou-

rage of his friends, the fraud was however detected, and in a great
council of the civil and military officers, held in the prefence of the

emperor himfelf, the innocence of Sylvanus was publicly acknowledged.

But the difcovery came too

feizure of his eflate,

late

the report of the calumny,,

and the hafly

had already provoked the indig-

nant chief to the rebellion of which he was fo unjuftly accufed.

He

aflumed the purple

at

his head-quarters

of Cologne, and his adlive

powers appeared
a fiege.
gained,

to

menace

Italy

with an invafion, and Milan with-

In this emergency, Urficinus, a general of equal rank, re-

by an
by

act

of treachery, the favour which he had

loft

by

his

eminent
allege,

fervices in the Eaft.

injm-ies

Exafperated, as he might fpecioufly

of a fimilar nature,

he

haftened

with a few

followers to join the ftandard, and to betray the confidence, of his too

credulous friend.

After a reign of only twenty-eight days, Sylva-xvi. c.

prxfedlo plufquam convenerat umbilico ne-

lo.

Our

phyficians will determine

She accompanied the emperor and emprefs in their journey to Rome, and the latter, qu:efuum venenum bibere per fraudem illexit, ut quotiefcunque concepifi'et,
cavit.

whether there

exifts

Aich a poifon.

For

my

own

part, I

am

inclined to hope that the

effects

public malignity imputed the

of acci-

dent as the guilt of Eufebia.

immaturum

abjiceret partum.

Amraian.

1.

31US.

144

THE DECLINE AND FALL

i-^us
.

CHAP,
XIX.
'

vvas aflaiTinated
.

the foldiers

who, without any criminal inten.

'

tlon,

had bhndly followed the example of

;

their leader,

immediately

returned to their allegiance

brated the

and the

flatterers

of Conftantius cele-

wifdom and

felicity

of the monarch
a battle
*'.

who had

extinguifhed

a
Conftantius
vifits

civil

war without the hazard of

protecfxlon of the
.

The
months

Rhxtian

frontier,
n

and the perfecution of

t

Rome,

A. D. 357,
'^P" -

the Catholic Church, detamed Conftantius in Italy above eighteen

after the departure

r^

of Julian.

Before the emperor returned,

into the Eaft, he indulged his pride

and

curiofity in a vifit to the

ancient capital

*'.

He

proceeded from Milan to

;

Rome

along the

jEmilian and Flaminlan ways

forty miles

and as foon

as

he approached within

of the

city,

the

march of a prince who had never

was compofed of
the minifters of

vanquifhed a foreign enemy, alTumed the appeai^ance of a triumphal

proceffion.

His fplendld

train

all

luxury

but in a time of profound peace, he was encompaffed

by

the glittering arms of the numerous

cuiraffiers.

fquadrons of his guards and

filk,

Their ftreaming banners of

in the

embofled with gold,

and fhaped
emperor.

form of dragons, waved round the perfon of the

fat

Conftantius
;

alone in a lofty car refplendent with gold

and precious gems

and, except
cities,

when he bowed

his

head to pafs

under the gates of the

inflexible, and, as
it

he afFedled a

ftately

demeanour of

might feem, of

infenfible gravity.

The

fevere
into

difcipline of the Perfian youth had been introduced

by the eunuchs

the Imperial palace

and fuch were the habits of patience which they

during a flow and lultry march, he was never
tov/ards his face, or to turn his eyes either

had inculcated,
feen to

that,

move

his

hand

to the right or to the

*

left.

He

was received by the magiftrates and

ftantius
c.

Ammianiis

(xv. 5.)

was perfeftly well

to
Vv'e

Rome,

fee

Ammianus,
to add,

1.

xvi.

informed of the conduft and fate efSylvanuj. He himfelf was one of the few followers who attendedUrficinus in his dangerous enterprife.
"'

10.

have only

that

Themi-

ftius

was appointed deputy from Conftanti-

nople, and that he compofed his fourth Oration for this ceremony,

For the particulars of the

vifit

of Con-

fenate

OF.
"fenate
1

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

attention, the civil
families.

145

of

Rome
r*

and the emperor furveyed, with

honours of the republic, and the confular images of the noble

C H A A X. <
J

i*.

The

ftreets

were lined with an innumerable multitude.

Their re-

peated acclamations expi-efTed their joy at beholding, after an abfence

of thirty-two years, the facred perfon of their fovereign

ilantius himfelf exprefled,

and Con-

with fome pleafantry, his aiTedted furprife

that the

human

race fhould thus fuddenly be colIed:ed

on the fame fpot.

The

fon of Conftantine was lodged in the ancient palace of Auguftus

in the fenate,

he prelided

harangued the people from the tribunal which

affifted

Cicero had fo often afcended,

with unufual courtefy

at the

games
pane-

of the Circus, and accepted the crowns of gold,

gyrics

as well as the

which had been prepared

cities.

for this
Adfit

ceremony by the deputies of

the principal

His fhort
art

of thirty days was employed in

fcattered

viewing the monuments of

the feven
hills

and power, which were

vallies.

over

and the interjacent

He

admired the awful

niajefty of the capitol, the vaft extent of the baths of Caracalla

and

Diocletian, the fevere fimplicity of the Pantheon, the mafly greatnefs

of the amphitheatre of Titus, the elegant architecture of the theatre

Pompey and the Temple of Peace, and, above all, the ftately ftrudlure of the Forum and column of Trajan; acknowledging, that
of
the voice of fame, fo prone to invent and to magnify, had

made an
ti-aveller,

inadequate report of the metropolis of the world.

The

who

has contemplated the ruins of ancient

Rome, may conceive

fome imperfedt idea of the fentiments which they muft have infpired

when

they reared their heads in the fplendour of unfullied

beauty.

The
excited

fatisfaftion

which Conftantius had received from

this

journey a new

obe-

him

to the generous emulation

his

of beftowing on the

Romans
firft

fome memorial of

own

gratitude and munificence.

colofTal

His

idea

was

to imitate

the

equeftrian and
;

ftatue

which he had

feen in the

Forum of Trajan

but

when he had maturely weighed

the

Vol.

II.

146

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the diflkulties of the execution
capital
*',

CHAP,
XIX.

he choie rather to embellifh the

In a remote but po-

by

the gift of an Egyptian obehflc.

Ufhed age, which feems to have preceded the invention of alphabetical

writing, a great

number of

thefe obelifks

had been eredled, in

the cities of

Thebes and Heliopolis, by the ancient fovereigns of

confidence that the fimplicity of their form, and the

Eg;jrpt, in a juft

hardnefs of their fubftance,

violence
'^^

would

refift

the injuries of time

and

Several of thefe extraordinary columns had been tranf-

ported to

Rome by
tkeir

Auguftus and

his fucceflbrs, as the

**
;

moft durable

monuments of
obel-ifk,

power and vilory

its

but there remained one

which, from

fize or fantity, efcaped for a

It

long time the

rapacious vanity of the conquerors.

to

was defigned by Conftantine

adorn his

new

city
it

*'

and, after being removed by his order from

the pedeftal where

polis,

flood before the

Temple of

the

Sun

at

Helio-

was

floated

down

the Nile to Alexandria.

his purpofe,

The
and

death of

Conwas
of

ftantine fufpended the execution of

this obelifk

deftined

by

his fon to the ancient capital of the empire.

vefTel

uncommon
length,

ftrength and capacioufnefs

granite, at leaft

was provided

to

convey

this

enormous weight of

an hundred and
to thofe of the

fifteen feet in

from the banks of the Nile

Tyber.

The
city,

obelifk of Conftantius

was landed about three miles from the

of
Perfia,

^'^

Hormifd as,

a fugitive prince

hieroglyphics.
it

Tacit. Annal.

ii.

c.

60.

But

obferved to the emperor,

fimilar (table (the

that if he

made
Ano" that

fuch a horfe, he muft think of preparing a

fcems probable, that before the ufeful invention of an alphabet, thefe natural or ar-

Forum of Trajan).
is

ther faying of Hormifdas

recorded,

" one thing on]y had tfi/p/ea/eJ ]\\m, to find " that men died at Rome as well a? elfe" where." If we adopt this reading of the text of Ammianus Ci/i/f/icui^e inHead of ylacuijfe), we may confider it as a reproof of Roman vanity. The contrary fenfe would
be that of a mifanthrope.

were the common charaiSers of See Warburton's Divine Legation of Mofes, vol. iii. p. 69
bitrary figns

the Egyptian nation.

24.'?

**

See Plin. Hift. Natur.

1.

x.Yxvi.

c.

14,

15.
*'

Ammian.

Marcellin.

1.

xvii.

c. 4.

He

gives us a

glyphics,
vifited

Greek interpretation of the hieroand his commentator Lindenbro-

Germanicus monuments of Thebes,

priells

*''

When

the ancient

gius

-the

eldeft

of the

adds a Latin infcription, which, in twenty verfes of the age of Conftantius, contaia a Ihort hiftory of the obelifk.

explained to him the meaning of thefe

and

OF THE
and
elevated,
*".

ROMAN
of
art

EMPIRE.
^
'

147
'f
.

by the

effoits

and labour, in the great Circus of

^'-

Rome
The
vinces.

'

departure of Conflantius from

tlie diftrefs

Rome was

haftened by

tlie

The Quamatia,-,' ^vai,"

alarming intelligence of

and danger of the

Illyrian prolofs

The

diftradlions of civil

v\^ar,

and the irreparable

which

^" ^' 357>

the

Roman
;

legions had fuftained in the battle of Murfa, expofed

thofc countries, almoft without defence, to the light cavalry of the

Barbarians

and particularly to the inroads of the Quadi, a

to

fierce

and powerful nation, who feem

have exchanged the inftitutions

arts

of Germany for the arms and military

of their Sarmatian

allies

'^\

The
grefs

garrifons of the frontier

;

were

infufficient to
at

check their pro-

and the indolent monarch was

length compelled to affemble,

from the extremities of

his dominions, the flower of the Palatine

troops, to take the field in perfon, and to

employ a whole campaign,

with the preceding autumn and the enfuing fpring, in the ferious profecution of the war.

The emperor
all

pafled the

Danube on

a bridge

of boats, cut in pieces

that encountered his march, penetrated

into the heart of the country of the Quadi, and feverely retaliated

the calamities which they had infiidled on the

Roman

province.
:

The

dlfmayed Barbarians were foon reduced to fue for peace

they offered

the reftitution of his captive fubjeds, as an atonement for the paft,

and the nobleft hoftages

as a pledge

of their future condudl.

firft

The

generous courtefy which was fhewn to the

tains

among

their chief-

who

implored the clemency of Conflantius,

encouraged the

more

timid, or the

more

obftinate, to

imitate their

example

and

the Imperial

camp was crowded with

the princes and ambafladors of

the moft diftant tribes,

**

who

occupied the plains of the Lefler Poland,

who
erefted the obelifk of Conflantius in the
St.

Roma Antiqua, 1. iii. c. 14. and the learned, though confufed, Differtation of Bargseus on Obelilks, inferted in the fourth volume of GTa;vius's Roman Antiquities, p. 1897 1936. This Differtation is dedicated to pope Sixtus V.
See Donat.
c.
1. iv.

12.

fquare before the patriarchal church of

John Lateran.
"*' The events of this Quadian and Sarmatian war are related by Ammianus, xvi.

10.

xvii. 12, 13,

xix. 11,

and

1^8

'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and

CHAP,

,,

who might

have deemed themfelves fecure behind the lofty

ridge'

of the Carpathian mountains.

While Conftantius gave laws

to the

Barbarians beyond the Danube, he diftinguiflied with fpecious

paffion the Sarmatian exiles,

com-

who had

been expelled from their native

country by the rebellion of their

fiderable acceflion to the

flaves,

and

who formed

a very con-

power of the Quadi.

The emperor, em-

bracing a generous but artful fyflem of policy, releafed the Sarmatians

from the bands of

this

humiliating dependence, and reftored

them, by a feparate treaty, to the dignity of a nation united under

the government of a king, the friend and ally of the republic.

He

declared his refolution of aflerting the juftice of their caufe, and of

fecuring the peace of the provinces

by

the extirpation, or at leaft the

ftill

banifhment, of the Limigantes, whofe manners were

v/ith the vices of their fervlle origin.

infefted

The

execution of this defign

was attended with more

difficulty

than glory.

The

territory of the

Limigantes was protected againft the Romans by the Danube, againft

the hoftile Barbarians

by

the Teyfs.

The marfhy

lands which lay

betw^een thofe rivers, and were often covered by their inundations,

formed an

intricate wildernefs, pervious

its

only to the inhabitants,

inacceffible fortrefles.

who

were

acqviainted with

fecret paths

and

On

the approach of Conftantius,

the Limigantes tried the efficacy of

;

prayers, of fraud, and of arms

plications, defeated their

but he fternly rejeled their fupfkii'l

rude ftratagems, and repelled with

irregular valour.

and

lirmnefs the efforts of

tlieir

One

of their moft

v/arlike tribes, eflabliihed in a fmall ifland

towards the conflux of

the Teyfs and the Danube, confented to pafs the river with the intention of furpriilng the emperor during the fecurity of an amicable

conference.

They

foon became the vidlims of the perfidy which

fide,

they meditated.

EncompafTed on every

trampled

down by

the

cavalry, flaughtered

by the fwords of the

Vv'ith

legions, they difdained to

ftill

aik for mercy

and

an undaunted countenance

grafped their

weapons

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

After this victory a confiderable
oppofite banks of the

149 ^

vpeapons in the agonies of death.

^^

^'

body of Romans was landed on the

invaded the Limigantes on the

Danube

the Taifalse, a Gothic tribe engaged in the fervice of the empire,

ilde

of the Teyfs

and their former

mafters, the free Sarmatians, animated

by hope and revenge, pene-

trated through the hilly country into the heart of their ancient pofleffions.

general conflagration revealed the huts of the Barbarians,

feated in the depth of the wildernefs
it
;

which were

and the

foldier

fought with confidence on marfhy ground, which

was dangerous for

him

to tread.

In this extremity the braveft of the Limigantes were re:

folved to die in arms, rather than to yield

but the milder fentiment,

;

enforced by the authority of their elders, at length prevailed

the fuppliant crowd, followed
to the Imperial

and

by

their wives

and children, repaired

camp,

to learn their fate

from the mouth of the conftill

queror.

After celebrating his

own

clemency, which was

in-

clined to pardon their repeated crimes,

and

to ipare the

remnant of

a guilty nation,

Conftantius affigned for the place of their exile a

fafe

remote country, where they might enjoy a

pofe.

and honourable re;

The Limigantes obeyed with

leaft

reludlance

but before they

could reach, at
tions,

before they could occupy, their deftined habita-

they returned to the banks of the Danube, exaggerating the

hardfhips of their fituation,

fions

and requeiling,

with fervent profcfan

of

fidelity,

that

the

emperor would grant them

unIn-

difturbed fettlem.ent within the limits of the

flead

Roman

provinces.

of confulting his

own

experience of their incurable perfidy,

Conftantius liftened to his flatterers,

who were

ready to reprefent the

foldiers,
at a

honour and advantage of accepting a colony of

time

when

it

was much

eafier to obtain the

pecuniary contributions, than

the military fervice of the fubjedts of the empire.

The Limigantes
city cf

were permitted
to the

to pafs the

Danube

and the emperor gave audience

muldtude

in a large plain near the

modern

Buda.

They

i^o

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Tiiey furrourided the tribunal, and feemed to hear with refpel an
oration full of mildnefs and dignity
;

CHAP.

when one

of the Barbarians,

cafting his flioe into the air, exclaimed with a loud voice,

Marha !
of

Marha
peror

word of

defiance,
ruftied

which was received

as the fignal

the tumult.
;

They

with fury to feize the perfon of the em-

his royal throne

;

and golden couch were pillaged by thefe

rude hands
feet,

but the faithful defence of his guards,

who

died at his

allowed him a

from the

moment to mount a fleet horfe, and to efcape The difgrace which had been incurred by a confulion.
and the combat was only terminated by the ex-

treacherous furprife was foon retrieved by- the numbers and difcipline

of the

Romans

tindion of the name and nation of the Limigantes.

The

free Sar;

matians were reinflated in the pofleffion of their ancient

feats

and

although Conftantius diftrufted the levity of their charader, he entertained

fome hopes

that a fenfe of gratitude

might influence

their

future conduit.

He
title

had remarked the

lofty flature

and obfequious

demeanour of
ferred

Zizais,

one of the nobleil of their

of King
;

chiefs.

He

con-

on him the

and Zizais proved that he was not

unworthy
terefl:

to reign,

by

a fmcere

and

lafl:ing

attachment to the inreceived

victorious

of his benefadtor, who, after

Sannaticiis

this

fplendid fuccefs,
his

name of army 48
the

from the acclamations of

The

Perfian

While the Roman emperor and the Perfian monarch,

at the dif-

iiegociation,

A. D. 358.

tance of three thoufand miles, defended their extreme limits againfl:

the Barbarians of the

Danube and of

the Oxus, their intermediate

frontier experienced the vicifl^tudes of a languid war,

and a preca-

rious truce.

Two

of the

eafl:ern minifters

of Confl:antius, the Prse-

torian prsefedt

Mufonian,

I'diofe abilities

were difgraced by the want

he expatiates on his vanity, and fome

*^

Gentl Sarmatarum magno decori

confi-

Conftantius himfelf,

dens apud eos regem dedit.

tor.

Auielius Vic-

ewn

exploits

with

much

In a pompous oration pronounced by

I

truth.

of

OF THE
and veteran
foldier,

ROMAN
fecret

EMPIRE.
*^

151
^*

of truth and integrity, and Caffian duke of Mefopotamia, a hardy

vi^^

opened a

negoclation with the Satrap

fervile

^_x.-^

Tamfapor
and

".

Thefc overtures of peace, tranflated into the

flattering
;

language of Afia, were tranfmitted to the camp of the

Great King

who

refolved to fignify,

by an ambaflador, the terms

Romans.
Narfes,

which he was incUned

to grant to the fupphant

whom
mium

he inverted with that charadler, was honourably received in

through Antioch and Conftantinople
long journey, and,
veil
:

his pafTage

he reached Sir-

after a

at his firft audience, refpedfully

epiftle

unfolded the filken

fovereign.

which covered the haughty

of his

Sapor,

King of Kings, and Brother of

lofty titles affecfted

the

Sun and
had been

Moon
taught

(fuch

were the

by Oriental

vanity), ex-

prefTed his fatisfadlion that his brother, Conftantius Csefar,

wifdom by

adverfity.

As

the lawful fucceflbr of Darius

v^^as

Hyftafpes, Sapor alTerted, that the river Strymon in Macedonia

the true and ancient
that as

boundary of

his

empire

declaring, however,

an evidence of his moderation, he would content himfelf

with the provinces of Armenia and Mefopota,mia, which had beeri

fraudulently extorted from his anceflors.
the reflitution of thefe difputed countries,
blilh

He
it

alleged, that,

without
to efta-

was impoffible
;

any treaty on

a folid

and permanent

bafis

and he arrogantly

threatened, that if his ambaflador returned in vain, he

to take the held in the fpring,

was prepared
of his caufe

and

to fupport the juftice

by the

fl:rength

of his invincible arms.

Narfes,

who was endowed

harflinefs

with the mofl: polite and amiable manners, endeavoured, as far as

was

confiftent
^^

with

his

duty,

to

foften

the

of

the

meflage
*"
'

Both the

fl:yle

and fubftance were maturely weighed

ing.
Idatius and

Ammian. xvi. 9. Ammianus (xvii.

letter.

5.)

tranfcribes
iv.

the

ney of the ambaflador

Zonaras mention the jourand Peter the Patri;

haughty

Themiftius (Orat.
of the

p. 57.

cian (in Excerpt. Legat. p. 28.) has informed

us of his conciliating behaviour.

edit. Petav.) takes notice

filk cover-

in.

153

THE DECLINE AND TALL

in

CHAP,
___^J__;

the Imperial council,

and he was difmined with the following

without any

arJ'wer:

" Conftantius had a right to dilclaim the officioufnefs of

"

his minifters,
:

who had aded

not,
it
;

fpecific

orders

from

" the throne lie was " nourable treaty but

*'

however, averfe to an equal and hoas well as abfurd, to

was highly indecent,

propofe to the fole and vidtorious emperor of the

Roman

world,

" the fame conditions of peace which he had indignantly rejedted at *' the time when his power was contraded within the narrow limits " of the Eafl: the chance of arms was uncertain and Sapor fhould
:

" recoUedl,
"
battle,

that if the

Romans had fometimes been vanquifhed

in

they had almoft always been fuccefsful in the event of the

" war."

A few days after the departure

of Narfes, three ambafladors

already returned from the

were

fent to the court of Sapor,

who was

Scythian expedition to his ordinary refidence of Ctefiphon.

A count,
com-

a notary, and a fophift, had been feleded for this important

mifTion
;

and Conftantius,

who was

fecretly anxious for the conclu-

fion of the peace, entertained

firft

fome hopes

that the

dignity of the

of thefe minifters, the dexterity of the fecond, and the rhetoric

'',

of the third

would perfuade the Perfian monarch

But the progrefs of
arts

to abate of the

rigour of his demands.

their negociation
'",

was

oppofed and defeated by the hoftile

fubjedt of Syria,

of Antoninus

Roman

who had

fled

from oppreflion, and was admitted

to the royal table,

into the councils of Sapor,

and even

where, ac-

cording to the cuftom of the Perfians, the moft important bufinefs

''

Ammianus,

xvii. 5.

and Valefius ad

loc.

qitence.
reurs,
'i

See Tillemont,
p. 828.
xviii.
1

Hift.

des

Empedecent

The

fophift, or philofopher (in that

age thefe

torn. iv.

132.
6.
8.

words were almoft fynonymous), was Euftathius the Cappadocian, the difciple of JamBunablichus, and the friend of St. Bafil.
pius (in Vit. ^defii, p.
tributes

Ammian.

^,

The

44

47.)

fondly at-

to this philofophic ambaffador the

glory of enchanting the Barbarian king by

the perfuafive

and refpeftful behaviour of Antoninus towards the Roman general fets him in a very interelling light; and Ammianus himfelf fpeaks of the traitor with fome compaffion and efteem,

charms of reafon and elo-

was

OF THE
was frequently
tereft

ROMAN
The

EMPIRE.
^

153
^^
v
^'}

diicuffed ".

dexterous fugitive promoted his inhis

P'

by the fame

condufl; wliich gratified

revenge.

He

incef-

fantly urged the ambition of his

new

mafter, to embrace the favour-

able opportunity

when

the braveft of the Palatine troops were

em-

ployed with the emperor in a diftant war on the Danube.

prefled Sapor to invade the exhaulted

He

and defencelefs provinces of

Perfia,

the Eaft, with the

alliance

numerous armies of
fierceft

now

fortified

by the

and acceffion of the

Barbarians.

The ambaifadors of
ftill

Rome

retired

without fuccefs, and a fecond embaffy, of a

ftrid:

more

honourable rank, was detained in

either with death or exile.

confinement, and threaitened

The
the

military hiftorian

'*,

who was

himfelf difpatched to obferve

to conftruft

invafion of

army of

the

Perfians, as they

were preparing

bridge of boats over the Tigris, beheld from

a miabySapor, an eminence the plain ^^359-

of

Aflyria, as far

as the

edge of the horizon, covered with men,

with horfes, and with arms.

Sapor appeared in the front, confpi-

cuous by the fplendor of his purple.

On

his left hand, the place of

honour among the Orientals, Grumbates, king of the Chionites,

difplayed the ftern countenance of an aged and

renowned warrior.
hand
for the

The monarch had

(hores of the

referved a fimilar place on his right

king of the Albanians,

Cafpian.

who The

led

his

independent

tribes

from the

fatraps

and generals were diftributed

according to their feveral ranks, and the wfiole army, befides the

numerous

train

of Oriental luxury,
effedlive

confifted

of more than one

hundred thoufand

men, inured

to fatigue,

and

feledled from,

the braveft nations

of Afia.

The Roman

deferter,

who

in

fome
that,

meafure guided the councils of Sapor, had prudently advifed,

^^ This circumftance, as it is noticed by Aramianus, ferves to prove the veracity of Herodotus (1. i. c. 133.), and thepermanency of the Perfian manners. In every age the

and the wines of Shiraz have triumphed over the law of Mahomet. Briflbn de Regno
Perf.
1. ii.

p.

462-472. and Chardin, Voyiii.

ages en Perfe, tom.

'*

p. go.

Perfians have been addifted to intemperance,

Ammian.

1. ,\viii.

6, 7, 8. 10.

Vol. IL

inilead

154

THE DECLINE AND FALL

inftcad of wafting

CHAP,
XIX.

the fuinmer in tedious and

difficult

fieges,

he

Ihould march direftly to the Ituphrates, and prefs forwards without

delay to feize the feeble and wealthy metropolis of Syria.
Perfians were

But the

no fooner advanced into the

plaiiis

of Mefopotamia,

than they difcovered that every precaution had been ufed which
could retard their progrefs, or defeat their defign.

The

inhabitants*

with their

cattle,

were fecured

in places of ftrength, the green forage

throughout the country was

fortified

fet

on

fire,

the fords of the river

were

by fharp

flakes

military engines

were planted on the op-

pofite banks,

and a feafonable fwell of the waters of the Euphrates

deterred the Barbarians from attempting the ordinary paflage of the

bridge of Thapfacus.
operations,, then

Their
the

fkilful

guide, changing his plan of

a longer circuit, but

conduced

army by

through

a fertile territory,
infant river
is

towards the head of the Euphrates, where the

reduced to a fhallow and acceffible ftream.

;

Sapor

overlooked, with prudent difdain, the ftrength of Nilibls

pafled

but as he

under the walls of Amida, he refolved to try whether the

majcfty of his prefence would not awe the garrifon into immediate
fubmiffion.

The

facrilegious infult of a

random

dart,
;

which glanced
and the indigadvice

againft the royal tiara, convinced

him of

his error to

nant

monarch

liftened

with

impatience

the

of

his

minifters,

who

conjured him, not to

gratification

facrifice the fuccefs

of his

am-

bition

to the

of his refentment.

The

following day

Grumbates advanced towards the

and required the

gates with a feledl

body of

troops,

inftant furrender of the city, as the only

a(3;

atonement

which could be accepted for fuch an

of rafhnefs and infolence.

His propofals were anfwered by

fon, a beautiful a javelin, fhot

a general difcharge,

and

his

only

and valiant youth, was pierced through the heart by

ballftce.

from one of the

The

funeral of the prince of

;

the Chionites

was celebrated according was

to the rites of his country

and

fhe grief of his aged father

alleviated

by the

foleran promife of

Sapor,

OF THE

ROMAN
Amida
or

EMPIRE.
his fon.
i

i^j

Sapor, that the guilty city of

iliould ferve as a funeral piJe to

C H A
XIX.

1'.

expiate the death, and to perpetuate the

memory, of
'',

-'

_,

The

antient city of

Amid

Amida

which fometimes ailumes

is

the provincial appellation of Diarbekir'",

a fertile plain, watered
Tigris, of

advantageoufly fituate in

Siege of Aniida.

by the

natural and artificial channels of the

which the

leaft

inconfiderable ftream bends in a femicir-

cular form round the eaftern part of the city.

ftantius

The emperor Con-

had recently conferred on Amida the honour of his name, and the additional fortifications of ftrong walls and
towers.
It

own
lofty

was provided with an

the place

arfenal of military engines,

and the
".

ordinary garrifon had been reinforced to the amount of feven legions,

lirfl

when

was inverted by the arms of Sapor

His

and moil fanguine hopes depended on the

fuccefs of a general
his ftandard their

aflault.

To

the feveral nations

which followed

refpedlive ports

were affigned

the fouth to the Vert.T, the north to

the Albanians, the eaft to the Chionites, inflamed with grief and indignation
;

the weft to the Segertans, the braveft of his warriors,

who

covered their front with a formidable line of Indian elephants'*.

The
^5

Perfians,

on every

fide,

fupported their

efforts,

and animated
in tlic

For the defcription of Amida, feed'HerHif1. iii.

19.). who afted an honourable part

defence, and efcaped with ditficuiry
city
''

belot, Bibliotheque Orientale, p. 108.

when

the

toire
c.

deTimur Bee, par Chcreieddin AH,

was ftormed by the Perfians.

41.

Ahmed

Arabfiades,

tom.

i.

p. 331.

Voyages de Tavernier, tom. i. p. 301. Voyages d'Otter, tom. ii. p. 273. and Voy328. The ages deNiebuhr, tom. ii. p. 324 Jaft of thefe travellers, a learned and accurate Dane, has given a plan of Amida, which
C.43.

illuftrates the operations

^*

of the
ftiled

fiege.

the Albanians any defcription. The Segcftanf inhabited a large and level country, which ftill preferves their n-me, to the foath of Khorafan, and the well: of Hindoftan (See Geographia Nubienfis, p. 133, and d'Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale, p.
are too well

Of

thefe

four nations,

known

to require

Diarbekir, which

is

Amid,
is

or

Ka-

f a- Amid, in the public writings of the Tur.ks,

contains above 16,000 houfes, and
iidence of a paiha with three
thet of
tails.

the reepi-

The

Notwithftanding the boallsd viftory 797-). of Bahram (vol. i. p. 410.), the Scgeftans, above fourfcore years afterwards, appear as an independent nation, the ally of Perfia.

Kara

is

derived from the blacknefs of

We

are ignorant of the fituation of the Verta;

the ftone which compofco the ifrong and ancient wall of

''''

Amida.
fiege

The operations of the

very minutely defcribed by

cf Amida are Ammianuj (xLx.

and Chionites, but I am inclined to place them (at leart: the latter) towards the confines of India and Scythia. See Ammian. xvi. 9.

their

156

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

C H A
XIX

their courajrc o

: '

and the monarch hhnfelf,

carelefs

of his rank and

fafcty, difplayed in the profecution

of the fiegc, the ardor of a youth;

ful foldier.

After an obftlnate combat the Barbarians were repulfcd

;

they inccfTantly returned to the charge

they were again driven back

with a dreadful flaughter, and two rebel legions of Gauls,

who had

been banifhed into the Eaft, fignalized their undifciplined courage by

a nodturnal fally into the heart of the Perfian camp.
fierceft

In one of the

of thefe repeated

affaults,

Amida was

betrayed by the trea-

chery of a deferter,

who

indicated to the Barbarians a fecret

and

negleled ftaircafe, fcooped out of the rock that hangs over the ftream

of the Tigris.

Seventy chofen archers of the royal guard afcended

in filence to the third ftory of a lofty

tower which commanded the

precipice

they elevated on high the Perfian banner, the fignal of

;

confidence to the aflailants, and of difmay to the befieged

this

and

if

devoted band could have maintained their poft a few m.inutes

longer, the redudlion of the place might have been purchafed

facrilice

by the

of their

lives.

After Sapor had tried, without fuccefs, the

efficacy

of force and of ftratagem, he had recourfe to the flower but

more

certain operations of a regular fiege, in the condu<fi of

fkill

which

he was inftruded by the

of the

Roman

deferters.

The

trenches

were opened
fervice

at a

convenient diilance, and the troops deftined for that

fill

advanced under the portable cover of ftrong hurdles, to

up

the ditch, and

undermine the foundations of the

walls.

Wooden-

towers were
wheels,
miffile
till

at the

fame time conftrudled, and moved forwards on

the foldiers,

who were

provided with eveiy fpecies of

level

weapons, could engage almoft on

ground with the troops

refiftance

who
could

defended the rampart.

fuggefl:,

Every mode of

which

art

or courage could execute,

was employed

in the defence

of Amida, and the works of Sapor were more than once deftroyed

by the
city

fire

of

the

Romans.

But the

refources

of a befieged
lofl'es,

may

be exhaufted.

The

Perfians repaired their

and

puflied

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
was made by the battering^
'

15;
^^

puflied their approaches; a large breach

^'-

ram, and the ftrength of the garrifon, wafted by the fword and by
dlfeafe,

-v~
AI A.

yielded to the fury of the affauh.

all

The

foldiers, the citizens,

their wives, their children,

who had

not time to efcape through

the oppofite gate, were involved by the conquerors in a promifcuous

maffacre.

But the ruin of Amida was the

fafety of the

Roman

provinces.
vv^as at

Of Singara,
A. D. 360.

As loon

as the nrft tranfports

of victory had fubfided, Sapor

leifure to refledl, that to chaftife a difobedient city,

he had

loft

the

flower of his troops, and the moft favourable feafon for conqueft".

Thirty thoufand of

his veterans

had

fallen

under the walls of Amida,

Lifted feventy-three

during- the continuance of a fiege

which

days

and the difappointed monarch returned

triumph and
fecret mortrfication.
allies
It is

to his capital with affected

more than probable,

that the

inconftancy of his Barbarian

in

was tempted

to relinquifh a w^ar
difficulties;

which they had encountered fuch unexpected

and that

the aged king of the Chionites, fatiated with revenge, turned

away

with horror from a fcene of action where he had been deprived of

the hope of his family and nation.

The

ftrength as well as fpirit

of the army with which Sapor took the

field in

the enfuing fpring,

Inftead

was no longer equal

to the

unbounded views of

his ambition.

of afpiring to the conqueft of the Eaft, he was obliged to content

himfelf with, the reduction of

two

fortified cities

of Mefopotamia,
and Viaggi di

" Ammianus
feftly coincide
feries

has

marked

ihe chronology

phrates, which generally happens in July

of this year by three figns, which do not perwith each other, or with the
1.

Auguft.

Plin. Hill. Nat. v. 21.

Pietro dclla Valle, torn.

of the hiftory.

The

corn was ripe

i. p. 696. 3. When Sapor had taken Amida, after a fiege of fe-

when Sapor invaded Mefopotamia; " Cum " jam ftipulaflavente turgerent ;" acircumfiance,

venty-three days, the

autumn was

far

ad-

vanced.
"

" Autumno

precipiti hjedoriimque

which, in the latitude of Aleppo,

improbo

fidere exorto."

To

reconcile thefe

would naturally refer us to the month of April or May. See Harmer's Obfervations on Scripture, vol. i. p. 41. Shaw's Travels,
2. The progrefs of Sapor was checked by the overflowing of the Eu-

apparent contradiftions,

we muft

allow for

'

fome delay
feafons.

in the Perfian king,

fome inaccu-

racy in the hiftorian, and fome diforder in the

p. 33J. edit. 4to.

Singara

J58

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Singara and Bezabde
.defert,
''"

CHAP,
__y-!
f

the

one

fituate

in

the midft of a flmdy

the other In a

fraall

peninfula, lurrounded almoft

on every

fide

by the deep and rapid ftream of the Tigris. Five Roman legions, of the diminutive fize, to which they had been reduced in

the age of Conftantine, were

captivity

made

prifoners,
Perfia.

and

fent into

remote

on the extreme confines of

After difmanthng the

walls of Singara, the conqueror abandoned that folitary and fequeftered place
;

but he carefully reftored the fortifications of Bezabde,

-and fixed in that important poft a garrifon or colony of veterans

.amply fupplied with every means of defence, and animated by high

-fentiments
paip"n, the

of honour and

fidelity.

Towards

the clofe of the

cam-

arms of Sapor incurred fome difgrace by an unfuccefsful

it

enterprlze againfl; Virtha, or Tecrit, a ftrong, or, as

fally

was univer-

efteemed

till

the age of Tamerlane, an impregnable fortrefs of

*'.

the independent Arabs

.Condua of the Romans.

j'he defence of the Eafl againft the arms of Sapor, xequired and r -i j ... would have exercifed the abilities of the moft confummate general;
,

and

it

feemed fortunate for the

ftate, that

it

was the

afiual province

of the brave Urficinus,

foldiers

who

alone deferved the confidence of the

and people.

In the hour of danger, Urficinus** was removed

intrigues of the eunuchs.;

from

his ftation

by the

and the military

command

of the Eaft was beftowed, by the fame influence, on Sabi-

nian, a wealthy and fubtle veteran,

without acquiring the experience,

iffued
*^

who had attained the infirmities, of age. By a fecond order, which

counfels, Urficinus

from the fame jealous and inconftant

account of thefe fieges
xx. 6, 7.
is

was
for-

The

given by

livered the caravans

Ammianus,
'*'

of Bagdad from a midable gang of robbers.

*-

For the identity of Virtha and Tecrit, fee d' Anville, Gecgraphie Ancienne, torn. ii. Tiraur p. 201. For the fiege of thatcaftle by
Bec, or Tamerlane, fee Cherefeddin, I. iii. c. The Perfian biographer exaggerates the 33.
.merit

Ammianus

(xviii.

5, 6.

xi.x.

3.

xx. 2.)

reprefents the merit

nus with that

dier

and difgrace of Urficifaithful attention which a fol-

owed

to his general.

Some

partiality
is

may be
confiftent

fufpefted,

yet the whole account

aad

difficulty

this exploit,

which de-

and probable.

again

OF THE
fuftain the labours

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
condemned
to

159
C

again difpatched to the frontier of Mefopotamia, and

H A
XIX.

P.

of a war, the honours of which had been tranfrival.

ferred to his

unworthy

Sabinian fixed his indolent ftation

under the walls of

idle

Edeflli,

and while he amufed himfelf with the

parade of military exercifc, and

moved

to the

found of

flutes

in the Pyrrhic dance, the public defence

nefs

was abandoned
Eaft.

to the bold-

and diligence of the former general of the

But whenever

Urficinus

recommended any vigorous plan of

operations;

when he

propofed, at the head of a light and adtive army, to wheel round

the foot of the mountains, to intercept the convoys of the enemy, to
harafs
diftrefs

the wide extent of

the Perlian

lines,

and

to

relieve

the

of

Amida

the

timid

and envious commander

alleged,

that

he Avas reftrained by his

pofiti've

orders from endangering the

fafety of the troops.

Amida was

at length

taken

its

braveft de-

fenders,

who had

efcaped the fword of the Barbarians, died in the-

Roman camp by

the

hand of the executioner

and Urficinus

himfelf,

after fupporting the difgrace of a partial enquiry,

was puniflied

for the

mifcondudt of Sabinian by the

ftantius

lofs

of his military rank.

But Con-

foon experienced the truth of the prediction which honeft

indignation had extorted from his injured lieutenant, that as long as

fuch

maxims of government were

it

fuffered to prevail, the

emperor

himfelf would find

no eafy

tafk to defend his eaftern

dominions

from the invafion of a foreign enemy.

pacified the Barbarians of the

When

he had fubdued or

Danube, Conftantius proceeded by flow

after

marches into the Eaft

ruins of

and

he had wept over the fmoking

fiegs of

Amida, he formed, with a powerful army, the

Be-

zabde.

The

walls were fhaken

by the
;

reiterated efforts of the mofl-

enormous of the battering-rams

extremity; but
it

the

town was reduced

to the laft

was
till

ftill

defended by the patient and intrepid valour

of the garrifon,

the approach of the rainy feafon obliged the

emperor

to raife the fiege,

and inglorioufly

to retreat into his winter-

quarters

i6.o

THE DECLINE AND FALL

<|uarters at

C
v

HAP.
^r-'

Antioch

".

The

pride of Conftantius, and the ingenuity

of his courtiers, were

in

at a lofs to difcover

any materials

for panegyric

the events of the Perfian

war

while the glory of his coufin

Julian, to
rof

whofe military command he had entruiled the provinces

to the

Gaul, was proclaimed

of his exploits.
^^^
\i\\'^^

world in the fimple and concife nar-

-rative
rnvafion of ;Gaul by the .Germans.

^'^

fury of

civil

difcord, Conftantius

had abandoned
ftill

to

^-^^

Barbarians of

Germany

the countries of Gaul, which

his
rival.

ac-

knowledged the authority of

numerous fwarm of

Franks and Alemanni were invited to crofs the Rhine by prefents

and promifes, by the hopes of

the territories which

fpoil,

and by a perpetual grant of

all

they fhould be able to fubdue*\

But the

.emperor,

who

for a

temporary fervice had thus imprudently profpirit

.voked the rapacious

of the Barbarians, foon difcovered and

allies, after

lamented the

difficulty

of difmiffing thefe formidable

they

had

tafted the richnefs of the

Roman
all

foil.

Regardlefs of the nice

undifciplined

diftindtion

of

loyalty

and

rebellion,

thefe

robbers

treated as their natural enemies

poffefled
tive

the fubjects of the empire,

who

any property which they were defirous of acquiring.

cities,

Forty-

flourifhing

Tongres, Cologne, Treves, Worms, Spires,

Strafburgh, &c. befides a far greater

number of towns and

to
afhes.

villages,

were

pillaged,

and

for the
ftill

moft part reduced

faithful

The Bartheir ancef-

barians of
tors,

Germany,

to the

maxims of

abhorred the confinement of walls, to which they applied the

odious names

of prifons and fepulchres

and fixing

their

independ-

ent habitations on the banks of rivers, the Rhine, the Mofelle,

'

and

'^^ Ammian. xx. ii. Omiflb vpno incepto, hiematurus Antiochiy redit in Syriam asrum-

perceived. I expelled Asme additional light from the recent iabours oi the learned Erneftus (Lipfis, 1773).

nofim, perpeffus
diuque deflenda.
novius
has

et
It

ulcerum fed
is /^;;/

et atrocia,

that

James Gropaflage
;

reilored

an

obfcure

diftrefs

and he thinks that this correction alone would have deferved a pew edition of l^is jiithor; whofe fenfe may now be darkly

ravages 0/ the Germans, and the of Gaul, may be collected from Julian himfelf. Orac. ad S. P. Q. Athen. p. 277.

''^

Th

Ammian.
mus,
1.

xv.

n.

Libanius, Orat. x.

Zofii.

iii.

p. i/,o.

Sozomen,

!.

iii.

c.

the

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
the Meufe, they fecured themfelves againft the danger of a furprifc,

i6i

^ H AT.
A.1 A.
'

by

a rude

and hafty

fortification

of large

trees,

which were

felled

'

and thrown

acrofs the roads.

The Alemanni were

;

eftabliilied in the

modern

countries of Alface and Lorraine

the Franks occupied the

diftri<St

ifland of the Batavians, together

with an extenfive

of Bra*',

bant,

which was then known by the appellation of Toxandria

and

may

deferve

to

be confidered

as

the original feat

of their

Gallic monalchy'^

From

the fources, to the mouth, of the Rhine,

forty miles to the

the conquefts of the

Germans extended above

weft of that river, over a country peopled by colonies of their

own

name and
more
of the

nation

and the fcene of their devaftations was three times

extenfive than that of their conquefts.

At

ftill

greater dif-

tance the open towns of Gaul were deferted, and the inhabitants
fortified cities,

who

trufted to their ftrength

and

vigilance,

were obliged
they could
walls.

to content

themfelves with fuch fupplies

of corn as
of their

raife

on the vacant land within the

inclofure

The

diminifhed legions, deftitute of pay and provifions, of

arms and

difcipline,

trembled

at the

approach, and even at the name,

of the Barbarians.

Under
he

thefe

melancholy circumftances, an unexperienced youth

Conduft of
Julian,

was appointed
as

to fave
it

and

to

govern the provinces of Gaul, or rather,

exhibit the vain image of Imperial

exprefles

himfelf, to

greatnefs.

The

retired fcholaftic education of Julian, in

which he

to be derived from the Toxandri of Pliny,

This name feems and very frequently occurs in the hillories of the middle age. Toxandria was a countiy of woods and morafles, which extended from the neighbourhood of Tongres to the conflux of the Vahal and the Rhine. Sec Valefius, No(xvi. 8.).
tit.

*'Ammianus

ing and good fenfe by M. Biet, who has proved, by a chain of evidence, their uninterrupted poffeflion of Toxandria one hundred and thirty years before the acceffion

The Di/lertatlon of M. Biet was crowned by the Academy of Soiflbns, in the year 1736, and feems to have been juftiy preof Clovis.
ft-rred to the difcourfe

Galliar. p. 558.

of
le

his

more celebrated

paradox of P. Daniel, that the Franks never obtained any permanent fettle-

" The

competitor, the
rian,

Abbe whofe name was

Bceuf, an antiqua-

happily expreffive of

ment on

this

fide
is

of the Rhine before the

refuted with

his talents.

time of Clovis,

much

learn-

Vol.

11.

had

i62

THE DECLINE AND FALL

?.

C H A
XIX.
"

|-,jj
'

hssn more converf-int with books than with arms, with

left

tlie

dead

than with the Hving,

arts

him

in
;

profound ignorance of the pradicaJ

of

vs'a.Y

and government
exercife

and when he awkwardly repeated

w^as neceflary for

fome military
" pher

which

it

him

to learn,

he

exclaimed with a figh, "

!"

Plato, Plato,

what a

tafk for a philofo-

Yet even

this

fpeculative philofophy,

which men of
Julian with

bufinefs are too apt

to defpife,

had

filled

the

mind of
;

the nobleft precepts, and the moft fhining examples

had animated

him with
death.
ftill

the love of virtue, the defire of fame, and the contempt of

habits of temperance

The

recommended
his

in the fchools, are

more

eflential

in the fevere dilcipline

of a camp.

The
fleep.

fimplc

wants of nature regulated the meafure of

food and

Re-

jeling with difdain the delicacies provided for his table, he fatisfied
his appetite

with the coarfe and

common
and

fare

which was

allotted to

the meaneft foldiers.

fuffered a fire in his

During the rigour of a Gallic winter, he never

bed-chamber
;

after a fhort

and interrupted

flumber, he frequently rofe in the middle of the night from a carpet

fpread on the floor, to difpatch any urgent bufmefs, to
vifit his

rounds,

or to
dies
*'.

fleal

few moments for the profecution of

precepts of eloquence,

his favourite ftu-

The

which he had

hitherto praftifed

on fancied topics of declamation, were more ufefully applied to

excite or to alTuage the pailions of

an armed multitude

and although

Julian,

from

his

early habits of converfation

and

literature,

was

more famiUarly acquainted with the beauties of the Greek language,, he had attained a competent knowledge of the Latin tongue ". Since
Julian
*'

was not
private
life

originally defigned for the character of a legiflator^

of Julian in Gaul, and
(xvi. 5.),
*'

The

Aderat Latine quoque

diflerenti

fuffi-

the fevere difcipline which he embraced, are

ciens fermo.
lian,

Ammianus,

xvi. 5.

But Ju-

difplayed by

Ammianus
and by

who

pro-

educated in the fchools of Greece, al~

fefies to praife,

Ju-lian himfelf,

who

afFefts

to ridicule

(Mifopogon,. p. 340.), a

conduft, which, in a prince of the houfe of Conftantine, might juftly excite the furprife

ways conftdered the language of the Romans as a foreign and popular dialeft, wiicli he might ufe on neceffary occafions.

of mankind.

cf

OF THE
or a judge,
it is

ROMAN
civil

EMPIRE.
Romans ^
but he
'

163
^"

probable that the

jurifprudence of the
his attention
:

had not engaged any confiderable fhare of

^iv

derived from his philofophic ftudies an inflexible regard for juftice,

tempered by a difpofition to clemency

principles of equity

the

knowledge of the general

and evidence, and the faculty of patiently invefand tedious queftions which could be pro-

tigating the moft intricate

pofed for his difcufTion.

of war,

The meafures of policy, and

the operations

muft fubmit

to the various accidents of circumftance

and

character, and the unpraftifed ftudent will often be perplexed in the

application of the moft perfect theory.

this

But

in the acquifition

of

important fcience, Julian was

aflifted

by the

ad;ive vigour of
Salluft,

his

own

genius, as well as

by the wifdom and experience of

an officer of rank, v/ho foon conceived a fmcere attachment for a

prince fo worthy of his fricndfhip
grity
;

and whofe incorruptible inteinhnuating the harlheft truths,

'^'.

was adorned by the

talent of

without wounding the delicacy of a royal ear

Immediately

after Julian

had received the purple

.

at

Milan, he

^'.*

fif^cam-

was

fent

into

Gaul, with a feeble relinue of three hundred and

Gaul,

fixty foldiers.

At Vienna, where he

A. D. 356.

pafTed a painful and anxious

winter, in the hands of thofe minifters to

whom

Conftantius had

entrufted the diredtion of his conduft, the Caifar

was informed of
citA'',

the fiege and deliverance of Autun.

That large and antient

proteded only by a ruined wall and puriilanimous garrifon, was

faved
their

by the generous

refolution of a
their

few veterans,

who rcfumed

arms for the defence of

country.

In his miarch from

Autun, through the heart of the Gallic provinces, Julian embraced

with ardour the
'^

earlieft

opportunity of fignalizlng his courage.

of
dnn'tic difcourfe (p.

At
fu-

We

are Ignorant of the afliinl cffice

240

252),

in

which

this excellent

minifter,
prajfeft

whom

Julian afterSallull

lian deplores the lofs of fo valuable a friend, to

wards created

of Gaul.

was

whom

he acknowledges himfelf indebted

See

fpeedily recalled by the jealoufy of the

T'lx
;

empc-

for his reputation.

La BkncriCj Pr.face

and we may

rtil!

read a fenfible but pc-

a la

Vie de Jovien, p 20.

the

i64

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the head of a fmall the fhorter but the
ing,

CHAP,

body of archers, and heavy cavahy, he preferred

;

more dangerous of two roads

refifting, the attacks

and fometimes elud-

and fometimes
of the

of the Barbarians,
at

who were
the

raafters

field,

he arrived with honour and fafety

camp
fpirit

near Rheims, where the

ble.

Roman
young

troops had been ordered to afTemprince revived the drooping

The

afped: of their

of the foldiers, and they marched from Rheims in fearch of the

enemy, with a confidence which had almoft proved

fatal to

them*
fe-

The Alemannl,

familiarized to the

knowledge of the country,

cretly colledted their fcattered forces,

and feizing the opportunity of

a dark and rainy day, poured with unexpected fury on the rear-

guard of the Romans.

Before the

inevitable
;

diforder

could be

remedied, two legions were deftroyed

and Julian was taught by

experience, that caution and vigilance are the moft important leffons

of the

art

of war.

In a fecond and

recovered and eftablifhed his military

more fuccefsful aftion, he fame but as the a.gility of the

;

Barbarians faved them from the purfuit, his vid:ory was neither

bloody nor

decifive.

He

advanced, however, to the banks of the

Rhine, furveyed the ruins of Cologne, convinced himfelf of the difficulties

of the war, and retreated on the approach of winter, dif-

contented with the court, with his army, and with his

own

fuccefs'.

The power

of the

enemy was

yet unbroken

and the Csefar had no

quarters at Sens, ia

fooner feparated his troops, and fixed his

own

the centre of Gaul, than he w-as furrounded and befieged

by

nu-

merous
of his

hoft of

Germans.

Reduced in this- extremity to the

refources

own mind, he
all

difplayed a prudent intrepidity

which com;

penfated for

the deficiencies of the place and garrifon

and the

Barbarians, at the end of thirty days, were obliged to retire with

difappointed rage.
'

Ainmianus

(xvi.

2.

3.)

appears

much
firft

fairly

better fatisfied with

tha fuccefs of this

q^uence,

owns that he did nothing of confeand that he fled before che enemy,

campaign than Julian himfelf j

who

very

The

OF THE
The
that

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
indebted only to
his

165
^
"

confcious pride of Julian,

this fignal delivei-ance,

who was

^ ^
-^

P*

fword for

was embittered by the

reflelion,

-;

he was abandoned, betrayed, and perhaps devoted to dcftrudion,

campaign,
" *

by

thole

who were bound

to aflift

him by every

tie

of honour and

^^^'

fidelity.

Marcellus, mafcer-general of the cavalry in Gaul, inter-

preting too ftridly the jealous orders of the court, beheld with fupine
indifference the diftrefs of Julian,
his

and had reftrained the troops under

the relief of Sens.
infult,

command from marching

in
filence fo

to

If the

CseHir

had diffembled

dangerous an

his perfon

and
;

authority would have been expofed to the contempt of the world

and

if

an

acStion fo criminal

had been fuffered

to pafs with impimity,

the emperor would have confirmed the fufpicions, which received a very fpecious colour from his pall conduit towards the princes of the Flavian family.

Marcellus was recalled, and gently difmiffed

In his

from

his

office ".

room Severus was appointed

general of

the cavalry; an experienced foldier, of approved courage and fidelity,

who

could advife with refpedf, and execute with zeal

and

who

fubmitted, without reludlance, to the fupreme

command which
length obtained

Julian,

by the

intereft

of his patronefs Eufebia,

''\

at

over the armies of Gaul

very jvidicious plan of operations was

Julian himfelf, at the head

adopted for the approaching campaign.

of the remains of the veteran bands, and of fome

new

levies

which

he had been permitted to form, boldly penetrated into the centre of

the

German

cantonments, and carefully re-eftablilhed the

fortifica-

tions of Saverne, in

an advantageous

port,

which would

either

check

the incurfions, or intercept the retreat, of the enemy.

At the fame
non arrogans, fed
;

" Ammian.

xvi. 7.

Libanias fpeaks rather

military talents

'* Severus,

non

difcors,

more advantageoufly of the

of Marcellus, Orat.
infinuates, that he
eafily recalled,
x. p.

longa militis frugalitate compertus

et

eum

272.

And

Julian

unlefs

would not have been fo he had given other

reda prseuntem fecuturus, ut duftorem moZofimus, rigerus miles. Ammian, xvi. II.
l.jii, p.

140,

reafons of oiFence to the court, p. 278.

time

i66

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'
'

^ vTv v

"-^'^^^

Barbatio, general of the infantr)', advanced

from Milan

-with

an army of thirty thoufand men, and paflmg the mountains, prepared to throw a bridge over the Rhine, in the neighbourhood of
Bafil.
It

was reafonable

to expedl that the

Alemanni, prefled on
to evacuate the

either fide

by the Roman arms, would foon be forced

the

provinces of Gaul, and to haften to

country.

defence of their native

But the hopes of the campaign were defeated by the

;

incapacity, or th^ envy, or the fecret inftrudlions, of Barbatio

who

ad:ed as if he had been the

enemy of

the Cxfar, and the fecret ally

of the Barbarians.

The

negligence with which he permitted a troop

of pillagers freely to
his

pafs,

and

to return almoft before the gates

abilities
;

of

camp,

may

be imputed to his want of

but the treafon-

able ad: of burning a

provifions,

number of boats, and a fuperfluous flock of which would have been of the moft eiTential fervice to

the

army of Gaul, was an evidence of his hoftile and criminal intentions. The Germans defpifed an enemy who appeared deftitute
either of

power or of

inclination to offend

them

and the ignomi-

nious retreat of Barbatio deprived Julian of the expedled fupport

and

left

him

to extricate himfelf

from a hazardous
nor
retire

fituation,

where
".

he could neither remain with

Sattleof
Strafburgh,
A".

fafety,

with honour

As foon

as

they were delivered from the fears of invafion, the '

to chaftife the

D. 35;,

Alemanni prepared

Roman

youth,

who prefumed

to

difpute the poffeffion of that countiy,

which they claimed

as their

own by
military
javelin,

the right of conqueft and of treaties.

They employed

three

days, and as

many nights, in tranfporting over the Rhine their The fierce Chnodomar, fhaking the ponderous povi^ers.
vidlorloufly wielded againft the brother of

which he had

Magnentius, led the van of the Barbarians, and moderated

by

his

" On
11s (xvl,

the defign and failure of the co-operadon between Julian and Barbatio, fee Aminia1

1.))

and Libanius,

Oriit. X. p. 27J,

experience

OF THE
was followed by
tion,
fix

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
princes of regal extrac-

167

experience the martial ardour which his example Infpired '\

other kings,

He CHAP, XIX.

by ten

by

long train of high-fpirited nobles,

and by

thirty-five

thoufand of the braveft warriors of the tribes of Germany. The confidence derived from the view of their own ftrength, was encreafed

by the

intelligence

the Cxfar, with a feeble

poll about one

which they received from a deferter, that army of thirteen thoufand men, occupied a
their

and twenty miles from

camp of Strafburglu
was preferred

With

this

inadequate force, Julian refolved to feek and to encounter

;

the Barbarian hoft

to the tedious

and the chance of a

genex"al ation

and uncertain operation of feparately engagino- the difperfed parties of the Alemanni. The Romans marched in clofe
order,

and
left

in
;

two columns, the cavalry on the

and the day was
fo

right,,

the infantry

on the

far fpent

when

they appeared in
battle

fight of the
till

enemy, that Julian was delirous of deferring the

the next morning, and of allowing his troops to recruit their

exhaufted ftrength by the neceflary refrefhments of fleep and food;

Yielding, however, with fome reludlance, to the clamours of the
diers,
folr-

and even

to the opinion

of his council, he exhorted them to

juftify
feat,

by

their valour the eager impatience,

which, in cafe of a de-

would be

univerfally branded with the epithets of ralhnefs

and

prefumption.

The trumpets
field,

founded, the military hout was heard

through the
charge.

and the two armies rufhed with equal fury to the The Cseilir, who conducted in perfon his right wing,,
his archers,

depended on the dexterity of

raffiers.

and the weight of

his cui-

But

his ranks

were

inftantly

broken by an Irregular mixture

of light-horfe and of light-infantry, and he had the mortification

'*

Ammianus

(xvi. 12.) defcrlbes,

with his

in

jaculum formidand:evaftitatis,arniorumque
:

inflated eloquence, the figure

and charafter

nitore confpicuus
utilis

an tea ftrenuus et miles, e:

.

of Chnodomar.
feore lacertorum,

Audax

et fidens ingenti ro-

prster cxteros duclor.

Decentium.

ubi ardor proelii fperabatur

Cjefarem fuperavit aequo marte congreffus,

immanis,, equo fpumante, fublimior, eredlus

i(S8

THE DECLINE AND FALL.

of beholding the
rafliers".
flight

CHAP,
XIX.

of fix hundred of his moft renowned cui-

The

fugitives

were flopped and raUied by the prefence

carelefs

and authority of Juhan, who,

felf before

of his

own
The

fafety,

threw him-

them, and urging every motive of fhame and honour, led

againft the vidorious

them back
two
lines

enemy.

confiid between the

of infantry was obftinate and bloody.

fefl'ed

the fuperiority of ftrength and ftature,

The Germans pofthe Romans that of

difclpline

and temper

and

as the Barbarians,

who

ferved under the

ftandard of the empire, united the refpedive advantages of both

parties, their ftrenuous efforts,

guided by a

ikilful

leader, at length
loft

determined the event of the day.

The Romans
foldiers,

four tribunes,
battle

and two hundred and forty-three

in this

memorable

of Strafburgh, fo glorious to the Ca^far'^, and fo falutary to the

afflided provinces of

GauL

Six thoufand of the Alemanni were

flain

in the field,

without including thofe

who were drowned

in the

Rhine, or transfixed with darts whihl they attempted to fwim acrofs

the river '\

Chnodomar himfelf was furrounded and taken

his brave

prifoner,

with three of

companions,

who had

devoted themfelves
Julian received
;

to follow in life or death the fate of their chieftain.

him with

military

pomp

in the council of his officers

ftate,

and expreffing

a generous pity for the fallen

'5

diffembled his inward contempt

''

After the battle, Julian ventured to re-

vIve the rigour of antient difcipline, by ex-

more

Ammianos, xvi. 12. Libanius adds 2000 to the number of the flain (Orat. x.
But thefe
trifling differences dif-

pofing thefe fugitives in female apparel to the

p. 274.).

whole camp. In the next campaign, ihefe troops nobly retrieved their Zofimus, 1. iii. p. 14Z. honour. '* Julian himfelf (ad S. P. Q^ Athen. p. 279.) fpeaks of the battle of Strafburgh with the modefty of confcious merit; ti/.ct.xfaaii.r,v
derifion of the

appear before the 60,000 Barbarians,

whom

Zofimus has
(1. iii.

facrificed to the glory

of his hero
of tran-

p. 141.).

We

might

attribute this ex-

travagant

number

to the carele.Tnefs

fcribers, if this credulous or partial hillorian

nx

ccy-hiui,

iau:

xat

ei?

vfjrxc

a^iKsTo

n -eoiuvrn

had not fwelled the army of 35,000 Alemanni to an innumerable multitude of barbarians,
w^r,eo,-

Zofimus compares it with the viftory of Alexander over Darius ; and yet we are
(i.%X^-

amwt..

^a^a^m.

It

is

our

own

fault if

this deteftion diftrufl

does not infpire us with proper

at a

lofs to difcover

military

genius which

any of thofe llrokes of fix the attention of

fuccefs

on

fimilar occafions.

^ges on the conduft and

of a fingle day.
1

for

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

Inftcad of exhibiting the
cities

169

for the abject humiliatloa of his captive.

^
^.

II A A t A.

P.

vanquiihed king of the Alemanni, as a grateful fJDcdacle to the

of Gaul, he i-efpelfully
laid at the feet

of the emperor

this fplendid

trophy of his vilory.

Chnodomar experienced an honourable

and
his exile '^
Julian fub-

treatment: but the impatient Barbarian could not long furvive his
defeat, his confinement,

After Julian had repulfed the Alemanni from the provinces of

the

Upper Rhine, he turned

their

his

arms againft the Franks,

who were

Franks,
' '

feated nearer to the ocean

on the confines of Gaul and Germany;

ftill

^^

'

and who, from

rians ".

numbers, and

more from

their intrepid

valour, had ever been efteemed the moft formidable of the Barba-

Although they were ftrongly actuated by the allurements

;

of rapine, they profefTed a difinterefted love of w^ar

which they

confidered as the fupreme honour and felicity of hviman nature

and

their

minds and bodies were

fo completely

hardened by perpeof an orator, the

of fpring.

tual ation, that, according to the lively expreflion

fnows of winter were

as pleafant to

them

as the flowers

In the month of December, which followed the battle of Strafburgh,

Julian attacked a body of fix hundred Franks,

who had thrown

themfelves into two

fevere feafon

caftles

on the Meufe

^^

In the midll of that

they fuftained, with inflexible confl:ancy, a fiege of

;

fifty-four days

till

at

length, exhauflied

by hunger, and
of the

fatisfied

that the vigilance of the

enemy

in breaking the ice

river, left
firfl

them no hopes of

efcape, the Franks confented, for the

time,

to difpenfe with the ancient

law which commanded them to conquer

prehending a pafiage of Julian, has been induced to reprefent the Franks as confifting of a thoufand men; and as his head was always full of the Peloponnefian war, he cornpares them to the Lacedemonians, who were
befieged and taken in the ifland of Sphafteria.

^'

Ammian.

xvi. 12.

Libanius, Orat. x.

p. 276.

" Libanius (Orat. iii. p. 137.) draws a very lively pidlure of the manners of the
Franks,
""

Ammianus,
278.

xvii.

2.

Libanius, Orat.
orator,

X. p.

The Greek
II.

by mifap-

Vol.

or

JO
P.

THE DECLINE AND EALL

or to die.

C H A
XIX.
V

The

Ccefar immediately fent his captives to the court of

Conftantius,

who

accepting them as a valuable prefent ", rejoiced in

the opportunity of adding fo

his

many

heroes to the choiceft troops of

refiftance

domeftic

guards.

The

obftinate

of this handful of

Franks, appriied Julian of the

difficulties

of the expedition which

he meditated for the enfuing fpring, againft the whole body of the His rapid diligence furprifed and aftonilhed the aftive Barnation.
barians.
for

Ordering his

foldiers

to

provide themfelves with bifcuit

his

twenty days, he fuddenly pitched

camp near Tongres, while

Without allow-

the
ino-

enemy
the

ftill

fuppofed

him

in his winter-quarters of Paris, expeft-

How

arrival of his

convoys from Aquitain.

ing the Franks to unite or to deliberate, he fkilfully fpread his legions

from Cologne

to the ocean

and by the

terror, as well

as

by the

fuccefs of his arms, foon reduced the fuppliant tribes to implore the

clemency, and to obey the commands, of their conqueror.

The
efta-

Chamavians fubmilTively
the Rhine
:

retired to their

former habitations beyond

but the Salians were permitted to poflefs their

new

blifhment of Toxandria, as the fubjedts and auxiliaries of the

Roand

man
the

empire

".

The

treaty

was

ratified

by folemn oaths

perpetual infpetors were appointed to refide

among
itfelf,

the Franks, with

authority of enforcing the ftrid obfervance of the conditions.

incident
is

An

related, interefting

enough

in

and by no means

repugnant to the charader of Julian,

who

ingenioufly contrived

Libanius, Orat.

Athen. p. 2?o. According to the expreffion of Libanius, the emperor Ja^a ,'ofia^E, which la Bleterie underftands (Vie de Julien, p. 118) as an honeft confeflion, and
Julian,

"

ad

S. P.
x.

Q^

p.

278.

'^ Ammian. 146150. (his

xvii.

narrative

mixture of fable) ; Athen. p. 280. His expreflion, vmh^af/.ny

ftst

Zofimus, 1. iii. p. is darkened by a and Julian, ad S. P. Q^

8.
;^;a:fxa?B;

ftoiaaw

to-.'Ktm

ibtm.,

^n |>iAacra.

Valefius (ad

Ammian.

xvii.

2.\ as a

mean

evafion, of the truth.

Dom. Bouquet

(Hiilo-

This difference of treatment confirms the opinion, that the Salian Franks were perfitted to retain the fettlements in Texan-,
"J'i*-

riensde France, torn. i. p. 733.), by fubftituting another word, mf^im, would fupprefs
both
tlie

difficulty

and the fpiritof thispaflage.

both

; :

OF THE
l)Oth the plot

ROMAN
A

EMPIRE.
When
the

7T

and the cataftrophe of the tragedy.

Chaonly

CHAP,
.-'.-

mavians

I'ued for peace,

he required the fon of their king,

rely.

as the

hoftage on

whom

he could

mournful

filence, interrupted

by

tears

and groans, declared the fad perplexity of the Barbarians

and

their aged chief lamented in pathetic language, that his private lofs

was now embittered by

Chamavians lay

a fenfe of the public calamity.

While the

proftrate at the foot of his throne, the royal captive,

flain,

whom

they believed to have been

unexpedledly appeared be-

fore their eyes;

and

as foon as the

tumult of' joy was bullied into

attention, the Casfar addreffed the aflembly in the following terms

*'

Behold the fon, the prince,

whom

you wept.

You had
reftored

loft

him

*'

by your
I

fault.

God and

the

Romans have

him

to you.

"

fhali

ftill

preferve and educate the youth, rather as a

monument

" of my own virtue, than as a pledge of your fincerity. Should " you prefume to violate the faith which you have fworn, the arms " of the republic will avenge the perfidy, not on the innocent, but
**

on the

guilty."

The

Barbarians withdrew from his prefence,

impreifed with the warmeft fentiments of gratitude and admiration ".

It

was not enough

for Julian to

have delivered the provinces of Makes

three

Gaul from

the Barbarians of
firft

Germany.

He

afpired to emulate the

after

be^ond""]^^

glory of the

and moft

illuflxious

of the emperors;

whofe

Rhine, A.D.
359.

example, he compofed his

own commentaries

of the Gallic war^*.

Csefar has related, with confcious pride, the

manner

in

which he

twice paffed the Rhine.

'^
lias

Julian could boaft, that before he aflumed

infinuates (Oral. iv. p. J78.) that his

This interefling
abridged,
is

ftory,

related

which Zofimus by Eunapius (in

hero

Excerpt. Legationum, p. 15, 16, 17.), with all the amplifications of Grecian rhetoric:

had compofed the hiltory of his Gallic campaigns. But Zofimus (i. iii. p. ii).o.) feems to have derived his information only from
the Orations \?,;yfA] and the Epiftles of JuHan. The difcourfe which is addrefl'ed to the Athenians contains an accurate, though general,

but the filence of Libanius, of Ammianus,

xmd of Julian himfelf, renders the truth of

it

extremely fufpicious.
**

Libanius, the friend of Julian, clearly

account of the war againft the Germans.

the

172

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

c H A

the

title

of Auguftus, he had carried the

Roman
"'.

Eagles beyond that

confternation of

\^.-_;

great river in three fuccefsful expeditions

The

the
firft

Germans,
attempt
;

after the battle

of Strafburgh, encouraged

him

to the
to the

and the rcludlance of the troops foon yielded

perfuafive eloquence of a leader,

who

fhared the fatigues and dangers

foldiers.

which he impofed on the meaneft of the

either fide of the

The

villages

on

Meyn, which were

plentifully ftored with corn

and

cattle, felt

the ravages of an invading army.

The

principal

houfes, conflruded with fome imitation of

Roman

elegance,

were

confumed by the flames

miles,
till

and the Cnefar boldly advanced about ten

foreft,

his progrcfs

was flopped by a dark and impenetrable

pafl'ages,

undermined by fubterraneous
fnares and ambufh,

which threatened, with

allailant.

fecret

every ftep of the

;

The ground was

an ancient
a

already covered with fnow

caflle

and Julian,

after repairing

which had been ereted by Trajan, granted

to the fubmilTive Barbarians.

truce of ten

months

At the expiration of

the truce,,

Julian undertook a fecond expedition beyond the Rhine, to the pride of Surmar and Hortaire,

humble

two of the kings of the Ale-

manni,

who had

been prefent
all

at

the battle of Strafburgh.

captives

They
alive
-y-

promrfed to reflore

the

Roman

who

yet

remamed
loft,

and

as the

Cxfar had procured an exat account from the

cities

and

villages

of Gaul, of the inhabitants

whom

they had

he detedled

every attempt to deceive him with a degree of readinefs and accuracy,

ledge.

which almoft

eftabliflied the belief

ftill

of his fupernatural

know-

His third expedition was

more fplendid and important

colledled their military
river,

than the two former.

The Germans had

powers, and moved along the oppofite banks of the

with a

defign of deftroying the bridge, and of preventing the pafTage of

the

Romans.
See

But
xvii.

this judicious

plan of defence was difconcerted

Julian aJ
S. P.

by
Q^

"

Ammian,

i.

lo.

xviii. z.

and Zoflm.

1.

iii.

p. 144.

Athen. p. 2S0.
1

a fkilful

OF TIIK
a-

ROMAN
boals,
to

EMPIRE.
armed and
fall

173
acllve foldiers

fkilful

diverfion.
In

Tiiree hundred light

forty
at
fniall

C H A
>

P.

were detaehed
iilence,

down

the ftreain in

and

to land

fome diftance from the

fc;

polls of the

enemy.

They

executed their orders witli

much

boldnefs and celerity, that

they had almoft furprlftd the Barbarian chiefs,

fearlefs
vals.

who

returned in the
fclli-

confidence of intoxication from one of their nodturnal

Without repeating the uniform and difgufting

devaftation,
it

tale

of flaughter
di(rtated his

and

is

fufficient

to

obferve, that

Juhan

own

conditions of peace to fix of the haughtieft kings of the Ale-

manni, three of

whom
a

were permitted

to

view the fevere

difcipline

and martial pomp of

fand captives,
rians, the

Roman

camp.

Followed by twenty thou-

whom

he had refcued from the chains of the Barba-

Ca:far repafled the Rhine, after terminating a war, the

fuccefs of

which has been compared

victories.

to the ancient glories

of

tlie

Punic and Cimbric

As foon

as the valour

and condudl of Julian had fecured an

Inter-

Reilores the
(^^^^i

val of peace,

he applied himfelf to a work more congenial to his

philofophic temper.

humane and
fufFered

The

cities

of Gaul, which had

diligently repaired;

from the inroads of the Barbarians, he

pofts,

and fevcn important

between Mentz and the mouth of the

Rhine, are particularly mentioned, as ha^dng been rebuilt and fortified

by the order of Julian

^*.

The

vanquiflied

Germans had fubmitted

and conveying the

to the juft but humiliating condition, of preparing

neceflary materials.

The

ative zeal of Julian urged the profecution

fpirit

of the work ; and fuch was the

which he had
waving

diffufed
their

among

the troops, that the auxiliaries themfelves,

'*

exemption
the

Ammian.
280.

xviii.

2.

Libanius, Orat. x.

the ground of Quadiibuigium,

Dutch

p. 279,

Of

thefe feven poils, four are

have conftrufted the

leau.

fort

of Schenk, a name

at prefent

towns of fome confequence; Bin-

fo offenfive to the faftidious delicacy

Bonn, and Nuyfs. The other three, Tricefimx, Quadriburgium, and Caftra Herculis, or Heraclea, no longer fubflit ; but there is room to believe, that, on
gen, Andernach,

See d'Anville Notice

Gaule, p. 183.
notes.

of Boide I'ancienne Boileau, Epitre iv. and the

from

1-4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

from any
duties of fatigue, contended
in

CHAP, c

the moft fervile labours

It

.-.,-.,-.

with the dihgence of the

Roman

foldiers.

was incumbent on the

and

Caefar to provide for the fubfiftence, as well as for the fafety, of the

inhabitants

and of the

garrifons.

The

defertion of the former,

fatal

the mutiny of the

latter,

muft have been the

and inevitable

confequences of famine.

The
by

tillage

of the provinces of Gaul had

been interrupted by the calamities of war; but the fcanty harvefts of

the continent were fupplied,
his paternal care,

from the plenty of

the adjacent ifland. the Ardennes,

Six hundred large barks, framed in the forcft of

feveral

made

voyages to the coaft of Britain

and

returning from thence laden with corn, failed up the Rhine, and
diftributed their cargoes
to

the feveral towns and fortrefles along

the banks of the river ^\

free

The arms of

Julian

had reftored
to

and fecure navigation, which Conftantius had offered

pur-

chafe at the expence of his dignity, and of a tributary prefent of

two thoufand pounds of

filvcr.

The emperor

parfimonioufly relavifh

fufed to his foldiers the fums

which he granted with a

and

trembling hand to the Barbarians.

firmnefs of Julian,

The

dexterity, as well as the

was put

to a fevere trial,

when he took

the field

with a difcontented army, which had already ferved two campaigns,

without receiving any regular pay or any extraordinary donative
Civil admi-

*\

tender regard for the peace and happinefs of his fubjedls, was

Julian.

the ruling principle

ftration of Julian
"'.

which

diredled, or

feemed

to direft, the

admini-

He

devoted the leifure of his winter-quarters

*'

We may
Q^

credit Julian himfelf, Orat.

could bear fo large

an exportation,

muft
of

Athenienfem, p 280. who gives a very particular account of the tranfaftion. Zofimus adds two hundred veflels more,
ad S. P.
1.
iii.

already have attained an improved

agriculture.
'

ilate

p. 145.

If we computed the 600 corn

ihips

of Julian at only feventy tons each,

(See

troops once broke out into a moimmediately before the fecond pafl'age of the Rhine. Ammian. xvii. 9,
tiny,
^'

The

they were capable

quarters

of exporting 120,000 Arbuthnot's Weights and

;

Ammian.

xvi.

5.
xi.

xviii.

i.

Mamerti-

nus in Panegyr. Vet.

4.

Meafures, p. 237.)

and the country, which

to

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
to

/:>

the offices of civil government;

pleal'ure,

and

affecSted

to

alTume, with

^^

^'

more

the character of a magiftrate than that of a general.

field,

Before he took the

he devolved on the provincial governors,

moft of the puhlic and private caufes which had heen referred to
his tribunal
;

but,

on

his return,

he carefully revifed their proceedings,

mitigated the rigour of the law, and pronounced a lecond judgment

on the judges themfelves.

tuous

Superior to the

laft

temptation of virfor juftice,

minds,

an indifcreet and intemperate zeal

he

reftrained,

with calmnefs and dignity, the warmth of an advocate

for

who

profecuted,

extortion,

the

prefident

of the Narbonnefc

province.

"

Who

will ever be
if
it

found guilty," exclaimed the vehe-

ment Delphidius, "

be enough to deny
it is

" and who," replied

In the

Julian, " will ever be innocent, if

fufficient to affirm ?"

general adminiftration of peace and war, the intereft of the fovereign

is

commonly

the fame as that of his people

if

but Conftantius would

have thought himfelf deeply injured,

the virtues of Julian had

defrauded him of any part of the tribute which he extorted from an

opprefled and exhaufted country.

The

prince

who was

invefted

with the enfigns of royalty, might fometimes prefume to corredt the

rapacious infolence of the inferior agents
arts,
;

to

expofe their eorrujrt

of colledlion.

and

to introduce

an equal and

eafier

mode

But
Flo-

the

management of

the finances

was more

fafely entrufted to

rentius. Praetorian praefet of

Gaul, an effeminate tyrant, incapable

of pity or remorfe

and the haughty minifter complained of the

moft decent and gentle oppofition, while Julian himfelf was rather
inclined to cenfure the weaknefs of his

owm

behaviour.

The

Csefar

had rejedted with abhorrence, a mandate for the levy of an extraordinary tax
;

new

fuperdidion, which the prasfeft had offered

faithful

for his fignature;

and the

picture of the public mifery,

by

which he had been obliged

of Conftantius.

to juftify his refufal, offended the court

We may

enjoy the pleafure of reading the fenti-

ments

176

THE DECLINE AND FALL

merits of Julian, as

CHAP,
'

he exprefles them with warmth and freedom

After dating his

in

a letter to one of his moft intimate friends.

own
have

condudl, he proceeds in the following terms: "

*' *'

Was

it

poflible for
I

the difciple of Plato and Ariftotle to al otherwife than

done

Could

abandon the unhappy

fubjedls entrufted to

my

" care?
*' *'

Was

not called upon to defend them from the repeated

?

injuries of thefe unfeeling robbers

tribune

who

deferts his

port
rial.

is

punifhed with death, and deprived of the honours of bu-

"

With what juflice could

I

pronounce

his fentence,

if,

in the

" hour of danger,

myfelf neglected a duty far more facred and

In this elevated

"
*'

far

more important? God has placed me

pod;

his

providence will guard and fupport me.

to fuffer, I fhall derive comfort

Should

be condemned

"
*'

from the teftimony of a pure and

heaven,
that
I
flill

upright confcience.
counfellor like Sallufl
I

Would
!

to

poffefTed a

^'
*'

If they think proper to fend

;

me

a fucceflbr,

fhall

fubmit without reludlance

and had much rather improve

*'

the fhort opportunity of doing good, than enjoy a long and lafting
evil '"."

" impunity of

The

precarious and dependent fituation of

Julian dlfplayed his virtues, and concealed his defedls.

The young
was not

hero

who

fupported, in Gaul, the throne of Conftantius,

;

permitted to reform the vices of the government

but he had cou-

rage to alleviate or to pity the diftrefs of the people.

Unlefs he had

been able to revive the martial

fpirit

of the Romans, or to Introduce

the arts of indufiry and refinement

among

their favage enemies,

he

could not entertain any rational hopes of fecuring the public tranquillity,

either

by the peace or conqueft of Germany.

Yet the

viftories of Julian fufpended, for a fhort time, the inroads of the

Barbarians, and delayed the ruin of the Weftern Empire.

'"
catt.

Ammian.

xvii.

3.

Julian. Epiftol. xv.

mitct, aut civibus jura reflituat

perpetuum

Spanhcim.

juflifies
illi

Such a conduft almoft the encomium of Mamertinus. Ita

profeflus, aut contra hofleirij aut contra vitia,

certamen.

anni fpatia divifa funt, ut aut Earbaros do-

His

'

OF THE
His

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
which had been
Barbarian w^ar, and
>

177

falutary influence reftored the cities of Gaul,

CHAP.
y~

(o long expofed to the evils of civil difcord,

domeftic tyranny

and the

fpirit

of induftry v^as revived with the

of Paris,

"hopes of enjoyment.
fiourlfhed

Agriculture, manufaftures and

;

commerce again
ciirice^

under the protection of the laws

and the

or civil

corporations, were again filled with ufeful and refpetable

members

the youth were no longer apprehenfive of marriage

and married

perfons were no longer apprehenfive of pofterlty

private feftivals

the public and

;

were celebrated with cuftomary pomp

and the

fre-

quent and fecure intercourfe of the provinces difplayed the image of

national profperity
'.

mind

like that

of Julian, mufl: have

;

felt

the

general happinefs of

which he was the author

and the objel even of

but he viewed, with

;

peculiar fatisfaftion and complacency, the city of Paris

his winter refidence,

the feat of

his partial affedlion '\

That fplendid
in the midft

capital,

which now embraces an ample

territory

on

either fide of the Seine,

was

originally confined to the fmall ifland

of the river, from whence the inhabitants derived a

fupply of pure and falubrious water.

The

river bathed the foot of

the walls

and the town was

acceffible

only by two wooden bridges.

;

A foreft overfpread
the ground, which
fibly

the northern fide of the Seine

but on the fouth,

now

bears the

name of the

Univerfity,

was infen-

covered with houfes, and adorned with a palace and amphithe-

atre, baths,

an aquedudt, and a

field

of Mars for the exercife of the

Roman

troops.

The

feverity of the climate

;

was tempered by the

neighbourhood of the ocean

and with fome precautions, which ex-

perience had taught, the vine and fig-tree were fuccefsfully cultivated.
'

llan. c. 38.

Libanius, Orat. Parental, in Imp. Juin Fabricius Bibliotliec. Gra;c.

See Julian, in Mifopogon. p. 340, 341. primitive ftate of Paris is illuftrated by
Valefius (ad
II.

brother Hadrian Valefius, or de Valois, and M. d'Anville (in their refpeftive Notitias of
ancient Gaul), the
fcription

torn. vii. p. 263, 264.

'^

Abbe de Longuerue Dei.

de

la

France, torn.
(in the

p.

12,

13.

The

and

M. Bonamy

Mem.

de I'Acaderaie

Krnry

Ammian.

xx.

4.),

his

des Infcriptions, torn, x v. p. 656

691.).

Vol..

But,

178

THE DECLINE AND FALL

But^ in remarkable winters, the Seine was deeply frozen
;

CHAP.

and the

huge

pieces of ice that floated

down

the Itream, might be compared,

by an

Aliatic, to the blocks of

white marble which were extracted

from the

quarries of Phrygia.

Antioch, recalled to the

The licentioufnefs and corruption of memory of Julian the fevere and fimple
"
;

manners of
theatre

his beloved Lutetia

where the amufements of the

were unknown or

defpifed.

He

indignantly contrafted the

effeminate Syrians

with the brave and honeft fimplicity of the

Gauls, and almoft forgave the intemperance, which was the only
ftain

of the Celtic charader

"*.

If Julian

could

now

revifit

the

capital of France,

he might converfe with

men

of fcience and genius,

a
difciple

capable

of
;

underftanding

and of inftrudling

of the

Greeks

he might excufe the lively and graceful

fpirit

follies

of a nation,

whofe martial

has never been enervated

by the indulgence of
that ineftimable art,
fecial

luxury

and he muft applaud the perfeftion of

which
life.

foftens

and

refines

and embellilhes the intercourfe of

'^ Tti iftXnv

AtvmriM.

Julian, in

Mifopo-

to the fafhion of the fourth centu-ry,

aflumed
360.

gon. p. 340.
ancient

Leucetia, or Lutetia, was the

the city which, according

the territorial appellation of

** Julian, in

P<;irj/?/.

name of

Mifopogon.

p. 359,-

CHAP.

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

179

CHAP.
Hhe MotivzSj Progrefsy
Cojjjlantine.

XX.
the Co?iverJion of
CQ7iJiitiitio?t

Legal

and EffeBs of
RJlabliJlDment

a?id

of

the Chriflian or Catholic Church.

THE
The
the
ftate

public eftablifhmcnt of ChriPdamty

may

be confidered as

H A
'

P.
.

one of thofe important and domeftic revolutions which excite

the moil lively curiofity, and afford the moft valuable inftrudtion.
victories

'

and the
;

civil

policy of Conftantine no longer influence

ftill

of Europe

but a confiderable portion of the globe

re-

tains the impreflion

which

it

received from the converfion of that

monarch
nedied,

and the

ecciefiaftical inftitutions

of his reign are

ftill

con-

by an

indiflx)luble chain,

with the opinions,

the paffions,

and the

interefts

of the prefent generation.

In the confideration of a fubjedl which

impartiality,

may
;

be examined with Date

a
difficult}''

but cannot be viewed with indifference,

arifes

of the converfion of Conftantine.

immediately

of a very unexpefted nature

that of afcertaining

the real and precife date of the converfion of Conftantine.

The ^
'

q.

506.

eloquent Ladlantius, in the midft of his court, feems impatient

to

proclaim to the world the gloi-ious example of the fovereign of Gaul

'

The

date of the Divine Inftitutions of

ftarted, folutions propofed,

p.

465 470.
p.

Lardner's Credibility, part

ii.

Laftantius has been accurately difcufled, difficulties

have been

and an expedient imagined of two

editions
;

original

For my own part, I 86. 78 am almoft convinced that Laftantius dedicated his Inftitutions to the fovereign cf
vol. vii.

the former publiftied

during the
Prefat.
torn. vi.

perfecution of Diocletian, the latter under

that of Licinius.
p. V.

See Dufrefnoy,

Gaul, at a time when Galerius, Maximin, and even Licinius, perfecuted the Chriftians; that is, between the years 306 and 311.

Tillemontj

Mem.

Ecclcilaft.

Aa

who.

So

THE declinf: and fall

who,
in the
firft

moments of

his reign,
'".

acknowledged and adored

the majefty of the true

and only God

The

learned Eulebius has

afcribed the faith of Coiirtantine to the miraculous fign

which was

difplayed in the heavens whilll: he meditated and prepared the Italian

A.D.

312.

expedition \

The

hiftorian

Zoiimus malicioufly

afferts,

that the

em-

peror had imbrued his hands in the blood of his eldeft fon, before h
A. D, 326.

publicly renounced the gods of

Rome

and of

his anceftors
is

*.

The

perplexity produced by thefe difcordant authorities,

the behaviour of Conftantine himfelf.
ecclefiaftical

derived from,

According to the ftridnefs of

language, the

firll

of the Chrijlian emperors was un-

worthy of
A.D.jsr-

that

name,

till

the

moment

of his death

fmce

it

was only

during his
fition
rites

lafl illnefs
',

that he received, as a

catechumen, the impo-

of hands

and was afterwards- admitted, by the initiatory

*.

of baptifm,^ into the number of the faithful

The

Chriftianity
qualified

of Conftantine mull be allowed in a

much more vague and

Laftant. Divin. Inftitut.

firil
is

i.

1.

vii.

27.

Conftant.

1.

Iv.

c.

61.) immediately before

The
fages

and moll important of thefe pafindeed wanting in twenty-eight

;

manufcripts

but

it is

found

in nineteen.

If

we weigh

the comparative value of chofe

ma-

nufcripts, one of 900 years old, in the king of France's library, may be alleged in its favour ; but the paflage is omitted in the correft manufcript of Bologna, which the P.

and death. From the connection of thefe two fafts, Valefius (ad loc. Eufeb.)' has drawn the conclufion which is reluftantly admitted by Tillemont (Hill, des Empereurs,' tom. iv. p. 628.), and oppofed with feeble arguments by Mofheim (p. 968.).
his baptifm
*

Eufeb. in Vit. Conftant.

62, 63.
tifm at

century
tafte

de Montfaucon afcribcs to the fixth or feventh (Diarium Italic, p. 409.). The of moll of the editors (except Ifsus,
torn.
i.

The Rome,

1. iv. c. 6(, legend of Conftantine's bap-

thirteen years before his death,

fee

Laftant. edit. Dufrefnoy,

p.

596.)

was invented in the eighth century, as i proper motive for his donation. Such has been the gradual progrefs of knowledge,
that a ftory,

has
5

felt

the genuine ftyle of Laftantius.

in \'it.
1.

of which

Cardinal Baronius-

Eufeb.

Conlbuit.
p. 104.

1.

i.

c.

27 32.

*
'

Zofimu?,

ii.

324, No. 43 ,0.) declared himfelf the unbluihing advocate, is

Eccleliaft.

(Annal.

A.D.

That

rite

catechumen
c.
I.

(fee

p. 419.

was a/uvyt ufed in making a Bingham's Antiquities, 1.x. Dom. Chardon, Hill, dcs Sai.

cremcns, torn.
received
it

p. 62.),
Jirjl

and Conftantine

now feebly fupported, even within the ver"eof the Vatican. See the Antiquitates Chriftians, tom. ii. p. 232 ; a work publifted with^ fix approbations at Rome, in the year 1751,
by Father Mamachi, a learned Dominican.

for

\.\\e

time (Eufeb. in Vit.

fenfe u

OF
fenfe
;

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

is

ib"i

and the

niceft accuracy

required in tracing the flow and

^^

''

ahnoft imperceptible gradations by which the

fclf the

monarch declared himIt

protedtor,

and

at

length the profelyte, of the church.

was an arduous

tafk to eradicate the habits

and prejudices of
Chrift,

his

education, to acknowledge the divine

power of

and

to

un-

derftand that the truth of his revelation

was incompatible with the

worfhip of the gods.

rienced in his
the

The

obftacles

which he had probably expe^

own mind,

inftrudled

him

to

proceed with caution in

;

momentous change of

a national religion

and he infenfibly

dif-

eovered his

new

opinions, as far as he could enforce

them with

fafety

and with

efFeft.

During the whole courfe of

gentle,,

his reign, the ftream

:

of Chriflianity flowed with a

its

though accelerated, motion

but

general diredion was fometimes checked, and fometimes diverted,

the accidental circumfl:aaces of the times, and

by

by the prudence;

or poflibly

by the

caprice, of the

monarch.

His miniflers were perand

mitted to fignify the intentions of their mafl:er in the various lan-

guage which was

he

befl adapted to their refpe<Slive principles

'

artfully balanced the

hopes and fears of his fubjeds, by publifli;

Ing in the fame year two edidts

the

firfl:

of which enjoined the fo-

A. D.

lemn obfervance of Sunday \ and the fecond directed the regular While this important revolution confultation of the Arufpices '.
yet remained in fufpence, the Chrifl:ians and the Pagans watched the

conduct of their fovereign with the fame anxiety, but with very

'

The

qua;(lor,

or fecretary,

who com-

ftantine flyles

the

Lord's day Jies

folis,

pofed the law of the Theodofian Code, makes

his mafter fay

name which could

Pagan fubjefts. * Cod. Theod.
Godefroy,
tor,

not offend the ears of his

with indifference,
(1.

" hominibus

"

fupradidljereligionis"

xvi. tit.ii. leg.i.).

1.

xvi.

tit.

x.

leg.

i.

The
c-m

miuifler of ecclcfiaftical affairs was alflyle,

in

the charafler of a commentavi. p. 257.) to excufe but the more zealous Baronius

lowed a more devout and refpeftful

ifcor(/.a

endeavours (tom.
;

Kui

ayiwra-rt)?

xccGoAiku;

fifv.irKriaf

Conflantine

the legal,

moft holy, and Catholic worlhip.

1.

See Eufeb. Hitl. Ecclef.

^

x.

c. 6. viii.

fures
leg. i.

(Annal. Ecclef. A. D. 321, No. 18.) cenhis profane conduft with truth and

Cod. Theodof.
Juftinian.
1. iii.

1.

ii.

tit.

afperity.

Cod.

tit.

xii.

leg. 3,

Con-

oppofite.

i82

THE DECLINE AND FALL

oppofite fentiments.

CHAP,
V
t

The former were prompted by every motive

marks of
his favour,
his faith.

of zeal, as

v^'ell

as vanity, to exaggerate the

and the evidences of

fions

The

latter,

till

their juft a})prehento

were changed into defpair and refentment, attempted

con-

ceal from the world, and from themfelves, that the gods of

Rome

could no longer reckon the emperor in the

number of

their votaries.
partial writers

The

liune paffions

and prejudices have engaged the

of the times to connedl the public profefiion of Chriftianity with the

moft glorious or the moft ignominious

ftantine.
His Pagan
fuperftition.

a^ra

of the reign of Con-

Whatever fymptoms of
.

Chriftian
n

piety
i

might tranfpire in the

r
i

difcourfes or alions oi Conltantme, he perievered

r /^

mi
till

he was near
'
;

forty years of age in the pradlice of the eflabliflied religion

and

the fame condudt which in the court of Nicomedia might be im-

puted to his

fear,

could be afcribed only to the inclination or policy

of the fovereign of Gaul.

temples of the gods
:

His

liberality reftored

and enriched the

his Imperial

the medals

which

iffiied

from

mint

are imprefled with the figures and attributes of Jupiter and Apollo,

of Mars and Hercules

and

his

filial

piety increafed the council of

".

Olynipus by the folemn apotheolis of his father Conftantlus

the devotion of Conftantine

But

was more

peculiarly dire<led to the ge-

nius of the Sun,

the

Apollo of Greek and

to

Roman mythology
of that deity, the

and he was pleafed

be

reprefented with the fymbols of the

God

of Light and Poetry-

The unerring

iliafts

brightnefs of his eyes, his laurel wreath, immortal beauty, and ele-

gant accomplifhments, feem to point him out as the patron of a

Thcodoret
but

(1.

i.

c.

iS.)

feems to in-

finuate that

Helena gave her

fon a Chriftian

education

we may be

afTured,

from the

fuperior authority of Eufebius (in Vit.

ftant.
I.
iii.

Con-

47. )> that fhe herfelf was indebted to Conftantine for the knowledge of
c.

" See the medals of Conftantine in Ducange and Bandiiii. As few cities had retcir.ed the privilege of coining, almoft all the medals of that age iffued from the mint under the fanftion of the Imperial authority.

Chriftianitv.
I

young

OF THE
young ^
hero.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
C
'

jgj

The

altars
;

of Apollo were crowned with the votive

ofFerings of Conftantine

and the credulous multitude were taught

to behold

-v

A XX.

P.

to believe, that the

emperor was permitted

;

with mortal

eyes the vifible majefty of their tutelar deity

or in a vifion,

and

that, either

waking

he was bleffed with the aufpicious

omens of a

long and vidlorious reign.

invincible guide

The Sun was

univerfally celebrated as the

;

and protestor of Conftantine

and the Pagans might

reafonably expert that the infulted god would purfue with unrelent-

ing vengeance the impiety of his ungrateful favourite

'\
protefls

As long
thority,

as Conftantine exercifed a

limited fovereignty over the He

provinces of Gaul, his Chriftian

fubje<3:s

were protefted by the au-

tians

of
. ,

and perhaps by the laws, of a prince,

who

wifely
If

left

to the
credit

^\^
3

__

gods the care of vindicating their

own

honour.

we may

-'

the aflertion of Conftantine himfelf, he had been an indignant fpcctator of the favage cruelties

which were

inflided,
religion

by

the hands of
their

Roman
crime
'\

foldiers,

on thofe

citizens

whofe

was

only

In the Eaft and in the Weft, he had

i&Q.\\

the different efftill

fects of feverity

and indulgence

and

as the

former was rendered

more odious by the example of

latter

Galerius, his implacable

enemy, the

was recommended

to his imitation

by

the authority and advice

of a dying father.

The

fon of Conftantius immediately fufpended

or repealed the edidls of perfecution, and granted the free exercife

of their religious ceremonies to

themfelvcs

all

thofe

who had

already profefled

members of

the church.

They were
"
But
Conftantin.
it

foon encouraged to

" The

panegyric of Eumenius

(vii. inter

Orat.
be

ad Sanflos,
fhswn,

c.

25.

Panegyr. Vet.),

which was pronounced a few months before the Italian war, abounds with the moft unexceptionable evidence of the Pagan fuperftition of Conftantine, and of his particular veneration for Apollo, or the

might

eafily

that

the

Greek
might

tranflator has
;

the Latin original

recolleft

improved the fenfe of and the aged emperor

perfecution of Dioclc-

the

tian with a

more

lively

abhorrence than he

Sun
p.

to

which Julian alludes

a7roXi7ra.>

(Orat.

vii.

228.

a.).

See

Commentaire

had aftuaily felt and Paganifm.

in the days of his

youth

de Spanlveim fur

les

Cefars, p. 317.

depend

184 ^
vv^
^'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

depend on the favour
had imbibed a
fecret as well as

on the juftice of

their fovereign,

who

*
A.D.
an.

'

and

fincere reverence for the

'*.

name of

Chrift,

and
313,

for the

God

of the Chriftians

About

five

months

after the conqueft

-

of
.

Italy, the
^
.

emperor made

March.

Edia of Mi- a folemn and authentic declaration of his fentiments,

by the

cele-

brated edift of Milan, which reftored peace to the Catholic church.

In the perfonal interview of the two weftern princes, Conftantine,

by

the

afcendant of genius and power,

;

obtained the ready con-

currence of his colleague Licinius

authority dilarmed the fury of

the union of their

;

names and

Maximin

and, after the death of

the tyrant of the Eaft, the edidt of Milan

was received
'\

as a general

and fundamental law of the

emperors provided for the
rights of

Roman

world

The wifdom

of the

reftitution of all the ci^^l

fo

and religious
It

which the Chriftians had been

that the places of worfliip,

unjuftly deprived.
lands,

was enadted,

and public

which had

been confifcated, fhould be reftored to the church, without difpute,

without delay, and without expence
:

and

this fevere injundtion

if

was

-accompanied with a gracious promife, that

any of the purchafers

had paid a

fair

and adequate

price,

they fhould be indemnified from

the Imperial treafury.

The

falutaiy regulations

which guard the

future tranquillity of the faithful,

are

framed on the principles of

enlarged and equal toleration

interpreted
tlncTtion.

and fuch an equality muft have been

an advantageous and honourable
to the world, that they
all

by

a recent fedl as

dif-

The two emperors proclaim

tave

granted a free and abfolute power to the Chriftians, and to

others,

of following the religion which each individual thinks proper to

prefer, to

which he has addiled

Hift. Ecclef.

his

mind, and which he

may deem

'*

Sec Eufeb.

L
i.

viii.

13.

has preferveJ the Latin original; and Eufebins

(Hift.

ix. 9.

and

in

Vit.

Confl.
i.

1.

c.

16, 17.

Ecclef.

1.

x.

c. 5.)

has given a
edift,

Lrvflant. Divin.

Inflitut.
c.

1.

Caecilius de

Greek
which
tions.

tranflation
refers to

of

this

perpetual

Mort. Perfecut.
rs

25.

fome

provifional

regula-

Cx-cilius

(de

Mort. Perfecut.

c.

48.)

the

'

0^ THE
the beft adapted to his

ROMAN
ufe.

EMPIRE.
carefully explani every

185

own

They

am- ^

^^

^-

biguous word,

remove every exception, and exadt from the go- *

ftridt

vernors of the provinces a

obedience to the true and fimple

to eftabhfh
liberty.

meaning of an

edil,

which was defigned

and

fecure,

without any limitation, the claims of religious

They con-

defcend to aflign two weighty reafons which have induced them to

allow this univerfal toleration
:

the

humane
;

intention of confulting
that,

the peace and happinefs of their people

and the pious hope,

by fuch
feat
is

a conduft, they

fliall

appeafe and propitiate the Di(j, whofe

in heaven.

They

gratefully

acknowledge the many

;

fignal

proofs which they have received of the divine favour

truft that the

and they

fame Providence

will for ever continue to protedT: the

profperity of the prince and people.

finite expreflions
different,

From

thefe

vague and inde-

of piety, three fuppofitions

but not of an incompatible,

may be deduced, of a The mind of Connature.

reli-

ftantine

might fluduate between the Pagan and the Chriflian

gions.

According to.the loofe and complying notions of polytheifm,

he might acknowledge the

-deities

God

of the Chriftians as one of the tnany

who compofed

the hierarchy

of heaven.
idea,

Or perhaps he
that,

might embrace the philofophic and pleafmg

ftanding the variety of names,
fedts

notwithall

of

rites,

and of opinions,

the

and

all

the nations of

mankind

are united in the worfliip of the

'".

common

Father and Creator of the univerfe

But the counfels of princes are more frequently influenced by

views of temporal advantage, than by confiderations of abftradt and

ufe and
chriiiun
morality.

" A
Ian

panegyric of Conllantine, pronounced

feven or eight months after the edift of Mi(fee

Gothofred.
p.

Chronolog.
Hift. des

Legum,
re-

" " "

ctsjus tot

nomina
non

funt,

quot linguas gente ipfe dici

tiiim effe voluifti,

velis,
ix.

quern enim

fcire

poflumus."

Panegyr.
971, &c.)

^.

7.

and Tillemont,
iv.

Empereurs,
fator,

Vet.

26.

In explaining

Conftantinc's
(p.

torn.

246.),
:

ufes

the folJowing

progrefs in the faith,

is

Mofheim

Tiarkable exprefnon

" Summe rerum

ingenious, fubtle, prolix.

Vol.

II.

fpeculative

i86

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

^^

fpeculatlve trutli.

The

partial

and increafing favour of Conftantlne

may

naturally be referred to the efteem

;

which he entertained for the

a perfuafion, that the pro-

moral character of the Chriflians

pagation of the gofpel would

and to

inculcate
latitude

the

pradlice

of private

and public
aflume
for his
in

virtue.

Whatever

an abfolute monarch

may
claim
his

his

own

condudt, whatever indulgence he

it

may
that

own

paffions,

is

undoubtedly his

intereft

all

fubjedts fhould refpetS: the natural

and
is

civil

obligations of fociety^

But the operation of the

wifeft laws

imperfedt and precarious.

They feldom
Their power
nor can they

infpire
is

viitue,

they cannot
to

ahvays
that

reftrain

vice..

infufficient

prohibit

all

they condemn,
prohibit..

always

puniih

the

adlions

which they

The
once

legiflators

of antiquity bad

fummoned

to their aid the

powers

of education and of opinion.

maintained
the

But every principle which

and purity of

had

vigour

Rome
over

and

Sparta,

was long fmce

Philofophy
ftill

extinguiflied

in a declining

and defpotic empire.

the

exercifed

her temperate fway

human

mind, but the caufe of virtue derived very feeble fupport from
the influence of the Pagan fuperftition.
circumftances,
a prudent
a

Under

thefe difcouraging

magiftrate might obferve with pleafure

the

progrefs of

religion

which

diffufed

among

the people

pure, benevolent, and univerfal fyftem of ethics, adapted to every

duty and

every

condition

of

life

recommended

as

the

will,

and reafon of the Supreme Deity, and enforced by the fandlion

of eternal
rew^irds
hiftory

or puniHiments.

The
the

experience of

Greek
far

and

Roman

could

not inform be
;

world

how
and

the

fyftem

of national manners m-ight

precepts of a

refcrm.ed

improved

by the
liften

divine revelation

and Conftantine might

and indeed reafonable,

with fome confidence to the

flattering,

affurances of La<3:antiuSx

The

eloquent apologift feemed firmly to

OF THE
Chriftianity

ROMAN
to promife,

EMPIRE.
that the eftabliflimcnt of
felicity

i3;

exped, and almoft ventured

^
'^

^'

^\^.^

would

reftore the innocence

and

of the primitive

'

age

that the worfliip of the true

God would
impure

extinguifh

war and

difl'enfion

among
pafTion,

thofe

who

mutually confidered themfelves as the

;

children of a

common

parent

that every
reftrained

defire,

every angry

or

felfifli
;

would be

by the knowledge of the

juftice

gofpel

and that the magiftrates might fheath the fword of

a people

among

who would

be univerfally aduated by the fentiments

of truth and piety,

univerfal love '^

of equity and moderation,

of harmony and

The

paffive

and unrefifting obedience, which bows under the yoke

or even of opprelfion, muft have appeared, in the eyes

Theory and
paffive obe'^"<^^-

'of authority,

of an abiblute monarch, the moft conlpicuous and ufeful of the

evangelic virtues
'^

The

primitive Chriftians derived the inftitution

of
the

civil

government, not from the confent of the people, but from

heaven.

decrees of

The

reigning emperor, though he had

ufurped the fceptre by treafon and murder, immediately affumed the

facred character of vicegerent of the Deity.

To
;

the Deity alone he

his fubjedls

was accountable

for the abufc of his pov/er

and

were

indiflblubly bound,

by

their oath of fidelity, to a tyrant,

who had
Chriftians

violated every law of nature

and

fociety.

The humble
;

were

fent into the

world
to

as fheep
force,

among wolves
if

and fmce they

were not permitted

ligion,

employ
ftill

even in the defence of their rethey were tempted to

they fhould be

niore criminal

{hed the blood of their fellow-creatures, in difputing the vain privileges, or the fordid poffeffions,

of this tranfitory

life.

Faithful to the

''

See the elegant defcription of Laflantius

explained by Grotius, de jure Belli et Paris,

1. i.

(Divin. Inftitut. v. 8.),

creet prophet.
IS

who

is

much more
dif-

c. 3,

perfpicuous and pofitive than

it

becomes a

an

exile,

Grotius was a republican and but the mildnefs of his temper in4.
to fupport the eftabJiflied powers.

dined him
is

Thepolitio.il fyllemofthe Chiiftjans

b 2

doctrine

i88

THE DECLINE AND FALL

dodrine of the
apoftle,

CHAP,

who

in the reign of

Nero had preached the

firft

kV

'

duty of unconditional fubmiflion,

the Chriftlans of the three

centuries preferved their confcience pure

fecret confpiracy,

and innocent of the

guilt

of

or open rebellion.

While they experienced the

withdraw themfelves
"'.

rigour of perfccution, they were never provoked either to meet their

tyrants in the field, or indignantly to
into

fome
of

remote and fequertered corner of the globe

France, of

The

proteftants

Germany, and of
civil

Britain,

who

aflerted

with fuch intrepid

courage their

and religious freedom, have been Infulted by the

invidious comparifon between the condudl of the primitive and of

the reformed Chriftians ".

plaufe

Perhaps, inftead of cenfure, fome apfpirit

may

be due to the fuperior fenfe and

of our anceftors,
abollfli

who had
primitive
virtue.

convinced themfelves that religion

cannot

the

unalienable rights of

human nature ". Perhaps the patience of the church may be afcribed to its weaknefs, as well as to its
fedl

of

unwarlike plebeians, without leaders, without

arms, without fortifications, muft have encountered inevitable de-

ftrudion in a
legions.

rafli

and

fruitlefs refiftance to the

mafter of the

Roman
allege,

But the

Chriftians,

when

they deprecated the wrath of

could

Diocletian,

or folicited

the

favour of Conftantine,

with truth and confidence, that they held the principle of pafTive
obedience,

and

that,

in

the fpace

of three centuries, their condes

Eglifes
Proteftantes
(torn.

'' TertuIIian. Apolog. c. 32. 34, 35,36. Tanien nunquam Alblniani, nee Nigriani

tions

iii.

210

258.), and
1

p.
ii.

the malicious Bayle (torn.

Ba.yle,

vel Cafliani inveiiiri potuerunt Chrilliaai.

Ad

p. 620.).

name

for

he was certainly
;

Scapulam,
true,
it

c.

2.

If this aflertion be flriftly

the author of the Avis aux Refugies

confult

ex'chidcs

the

Chriilinns of that age

theDiftionnaire Critique deChaufFepiCjtom.i.

part
^'
ii.

from all civil and military employments, which would have compelled them to take an
aftive part in the fervice of their rcfpeflive

p. 145.
is

Buchanan

the earlieft, or at leail the

moft celebrated, of the reformers,

juftified the

who

has

governors.

See Moyle's Works, vol.

ii.

p.

theory of refiftance.

See his Dia-

349.
**

logue de Jure Regni apud Scotos, torn. iL

See the artful Boffuet (Hill, des Yariap. 28. 3c. edit.
fol.

Ruddiman.
d\xt

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
They might
*~

189

du6l had always been conformable to their principles.

CHAP.

add, that the throne of the emperors would be eftabliflied on a fixed

AA
,~..^

and permanent

bafis,

if all

their fubjedts

embracing the Chriilian

doftrine, fhould learn to fufTer

and

to obeyDivine right
tine,

In the general order of Providence, princes and tyrants are confidered as the minifters of

Heaven, appointed
But facred hiftory

to rule or to chaftife

the nations of the earth.

affords

many

illuftrious

examples of the more immediate intcrpofition of the Deity in the

government of
committed

his chofen people.

The

fceptre

and the fword were

to the

hands of Mofes, of Jofhua, of Gideon, of David,

;

of the Maccabees

the virtues of thofe heroes were the motive or

the effed: of the Divine flivour, the fuccefs of their arms was deftined
to atchieve the deliverance or the

triumph of the church.

If the

judges

of

Ifrael

were occafional and temporary magiftrates, the from the royal undlion of
their

kings of
anceftor,
forfeited
fubjedts.

Judah derived

great

an hereditary and indefeafible right, which could not be

by

their

own

vices,

nor recalled by the caprice of their

The fame
to

extraordinary providence, which was no longer

confined

the Jewlfli people,

might

eleft

Conflantine and his

;

family as the proteGors of the Chriftian world

Laftantius

and the devout

future
glories

announces,

in

prophetic

tone,

the

of his long and univerfal reign".

entius
rite

Galerius and Maximin,

Maxdeaths

and Licinius, were the

rivals

who

fliared

with the favoutragic

of heaven the provinces of the empire.

The

of Galerius and
filled

Maximin foon

gratified

the

refentment, and ful-

the

fanguine

expedlatlons,

of the Chriftians.

The

fuccefs

of Conftantine againft Maxentius and Licinius, removed

the

two

formidable competitors

who

ftill

oppofed the triumph of the fe-

cond David, and

^''

his caufe

might feem to claim the peculiar interoration, repeatedly inculcates the divine right

Laftant. Diviii. Inftitut.

i.

i.

Eufcbiiis,

in the courfe

of

hi^ iiillorv, his life,

and

his

of Conltantine to the empire.

pofition

I9&

HE DECLINE AND FALL

pofitioii

CHAP,
.V

of Providence.

The
nature

charadler of the
;

Roman

tyrant dlfgi'aced

the purple and

human

and though the Chriftians might enjoy

reft

his precarious favour, they

to the effects of his

were expofed, with the

capricious cruelty.

of his fubjedls,
condui: of

wanton and

The

Licinius foon betrayed the rehidlance with which he had confented

to the wife

and humane regulations of the

of provincial fynods was
Chriftian officers

edidl of Milan. in
his

The
domi-.
;

convocation
nions
if
;

prohibited

his

were ignominioully difmiffed

rather danger,

and

he avoided
his

the guilt,

or

of a
ftill

general

perfe-

cution,

partial

oppreiTions

were

rendered

more odious,
While

by the

violation of a

folemn and voluntary engagement^'.

the Eaft, according to the lively expreffion of Eufebius, was involved

in the fhades of infernal darknefs, the aufpicious rays cf celeftial
light

warmed and
and

illuminated the provinces of the "Weft.

The

piety of

Conftantine was admitted as an unexceptionable proof of the juftice of

his arms;
his ufe of vidlory confirmed the opinion of the Chriftians,

that their hero

was

infpired,

and condudled, by the Lord of

edi(t

Elofts.

The
A.D.
324.

conqueft of Italy produced a general

of toleration

and

as

foon as the defeat of Licinius had invefted Conftantine with the

fole

dominion of the
exhorted
all

Roman
to

world, he immediately, by circular

letters,

his fubjedls to imitate,

without delay, the example

of

their
^\

fovereign,

and

embrace the divine truth of Chrifli-

anity
Loyalty and
.7-cal

The

affurance

that the elevation of Conftantine

was intimately
the minds of
alfifted

of the

Chriitian
^^"^
^

counedlcd with the defigns of Providence,

the Chriftians

inftilled into

two opinions, which, by very

different

means,

the accompliihment of the prophecy.

Their warm and aftive loyalty

exhaufted in his favour every refource of

'^

human

induftry

and they

Our

imperfeft knowledge of the perfeis

I.

relius Viftor

mentions

his cruelty in general

cution
.-bins

of Licinius
Ecclcf.
c.

derived
x.
1.

from EufeVit.
i, 2.).

terms.
"+

(Hifl.
1. i.

c.
ii.

8.
c.

flaniin.

49 ^6. 2

ConAu-

Eufcb.

in A'it,

Conilant.

1. ii.

c.

24-

42.

48

60,
confidentl V

OF THE
confidently

ROMAN
aid.

EMPIRE.
would be reconded
Conftantine

191

expeded

that their ftrenuous efibrts

CHAP.
\_v
-^

by fome divine and miraculous

The enemies of

have imputed to interefted motives the alliance which he infenfibly

contracted with the Catholic church, and which apparently contributes to the fuccefs of his ambition.

In the beginning of the fourth

century, the Chriftians

inhabitants of the

ftill

bore a very inadequate proportion to the

;

empire

but

among

a degenerate people,

who

viewed the change of mafters with the indifference of

flaves, the fpirit

and union of

a religious

party might

aflift

the popular leader, to

whofe
lives

fervice,

from

a principle of confcience, they

had devoted

their

and

fortunes^'.

The example of his

to

father

had inflrufted Con;

ftantine to efteem

and

reward the merit of the Chriftians

and in

the diflribution of public ofiices, he had the advantage of ftrengthen-

ing his government, by the choice of minifters or generals, in whofe

fidelity

he could repofe a juft and unreferved confidence.

influence of thefe dignified miffionaries, the profelytes of

faith

By the the new

muft have multiplied

in the court

and army

the Barbarians

of Germany,

who

filled

the ranks cf the legions, v^ere of a carelefs

temper, which acquiefced without refiftance in the religion of their

commander

and when they pafled the Alps,

foldiers

it

may

fairly

be pre-

fumed, that a great number of the

their fwords

had already confecrated

to

the fervice of Chrift and of Conftantine ".

intereft

The

habits of
''

mankind, and the

laft

of religion, gradually abated the

In the beginning of the

century, the

Bentivoglio was curious, well-informed, but

Papifts

of England were only a

thirtieth,

and

fomewhat

partial.

the Proteftants of Yrz.r'xe only zffteenth part

"
^^

This

carelefs

temper of the Germans

ttibes.
.

of the lefpeftive nations, to whom their fpirit !_ a n r and power were a conltant obiea ofapprehenJ rr
,
1

^'""oft ^PP^'^''^
^
.

uniformly in the hiftory of the

,

con verfion of cach of the

(Zof.mus,
j^ij

'^

of Conftantine were recruited with Germans

fat^g^
firft
1. ii. p. 86.^ and thecourt even of had been filled with ChriiHans. See book of the Life of Conftantine, by
;

.,

Ths legrions

fion.

See the relations which Bentivoglio

at Braflels,

(who was then nuncio

and

after-

wards cardinal) tranfmitted to the court of

the

.Rome (Relazione,

torn.

ii.

p. 211.

241.).

Eufebius.

horror

192

THE DECLINE AND

f

ALL
among
was

CHAP,

horror of war and bloodflied, which had fo long prevailed

the Chriflians; and in the councils

-r^

which were aflembled under the

gracious protection of Conftantine, the authority of the bifhops

feafonably employed to ratify the obligation of the military oath, and

to
inflidl

the penalty of
their

excommunication on thofe

foldiers
^\

who

threw away

arms during the peace of the church

While

Conftantine, in his

own

dominions, encreafed the number and zeal

of his faithful adherents, he could

depend on the fupport of a

powerful fadion
ufurped by his

in thofe provinces,

which were
was
;

ftill

polTefl'ed

or
the

rivals.

fecret difriffeQion

difFufed

among

Chriftian fubjedls of Maxentius and Licinius

and the refentment

which the

latter

did not attempt to conceal, ferved only to engage

in the intereft of his competitor.

them
lar

ftill

more deeply

The regu-

correfpondence which conneiled the bifliops of the moft diftant

enabled them freely to communicate their willies and

provinces,

their defigns,

and

to tranfmit

without danger any ufeful intelligence,

fervice of

or any pious contributions,

ftantine,

which might promote the

Con-

who

publicly declared that he had taken

up arms

for the

deliverance of the church ''\

^Ti^r'f
a
miracle.

"
f

"^^^ enthufiafm which infpired the troops, and perhaps the emperor
hlmfelf,

had fharpened

their

fwords while

it

fatisfied their confcience.

They marched to battle with the full who had formerly opened a pafl'age
waters of Jordan, and had thrown
*'
ciiit

aflurance, that the

to

fame God,

the Ifraelites through the

down

the walls of Jericho at

Their condufl was
af-

De

his qui

arma
a
iii.

projiciunt in face, pla-

the military fervice.

eos abftinere

communione.

Concil.

terwards cenfured by the 12th canon of the

council of Nice
;

Arelat.
-"

Canon

The

bell:

critics

apply

if this particular application

thefe words to the peace of the church.

Eufebius always confiders the fecond

be received, inftead of the loofe and general fenfe of the Greek interpreters, Balfa-

may

clvil

war againft Licinius

as a fort

of religious
tyrant,

mon, Zonaras, and Alexis

72. torn.
ii.

Ariftenus.

See
i.

cru'ade.

At

the

invitation of the

Beveridge, Pandeft. Ecclef Grac. torn.

p. 78.

p.

fome
zones
;

Chriftian
or,

had refumed their in other words, had returned to

ofiic^r^

Annotation.

.-5

the

GF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
The
evidence of ecclefiafu-

193

the found of the trumpets of Jofhua, would difplay his vifible majefty

CHAP.
yv A..

and power in the vidtory of Conftantine.

tical

<r-J

hlftory

is

prepared to affirm, that their expedtations were juftito

fied

by the confpicuous miracle

which the converfiou of the

hrft
real

Chriftian emperor has been almofl: unanimoufly afcribed.

The

or imaginary caufe of fo important an event, deferves and demands

the attention of pofterity; and
I

fhall

endeavour to form a juft

efti-

mate of the famous vifion of Conftantine, by

of xhtjiandard, the dream, and the
hiftorical, the natural,
celejl'ial

a diftinft confideration
;

fign

by

feparating the

and the marvellous parts of

this extraordinary

ftory,

which, in the compofition of a fpecious argument, have been

artfully
I.

confounded in one fplendid and

brittle mafs.
r^^^
r
,

An
,

inftrument of the tortures which were infiided only on

ftrangers,
.

flaves

and

became an obiedl of horror

,
.

in the eyes of a ^

7""; o"!**^"-

dard of the
crofs.

Rolttian citizen;

and the ideas of

guilt,

of pain, and of ignominy,

were

clofely united ^yith the idea of the crofs"'.

The

piety, rather

than the humanity, of Conftantine, foon aboliflied in his dominions

the puniiliment which the Saviour of
^^

mankind had condefcended

to

fuiFer

but the emperor had already learned to defpife the prejudices

oj^ his

of his education, and of

people, before he could eredl in the midft

its

Rome

his

own

ftatue,

bearing a crofs in

right

hand

with an

infcription,

which

referred the vidtory of his arms,

and the deliverfymbol of

ance of

Rome,
ipfum
occulis,

to the virtue of that falutary fign, the true

r

-'

Nomen

crucii

abfit

non modo a
fed

mad and
&c.
as
^

corpore clvium
cogitatione,

Romanorum,
auribus.

etiam

&;c.

Cicero pro

yard, a plough, a Jlandard, &c. See Lipllus de Cruce, 1. i. c. 9. See Aurelius Viftor, who confiders this

Raberio,

c. 5.

The

Chriftian writers, Juftin,

law

MinuciusFselix, Tertiillian, Jerom, andMaximus of Turin, haveinveftigated with tolerable

fuccefs the figure or

pjety.

An edicl

one of the examples of Conftantine's fo honourable to Chriftianity

deferv^d a place in the Theodofian code, inftead

likenefs of a crofs in

almoft every objeft of nature or art; in the

interfeflion

of the meridian and equator, the

of the indireft mention of it, which fesmsto refult from the ccmparifon of the vth andxviiith titles of the ixth book,

human

face, a bird flying, a

man fwimming,

Vol.

II.

force

194

THE DECLINE AND EALL

force

CHAP.
XX.

and courage

".

The fame fymbol

;

fandlified the

arms of the

foldiers

of Conftantine

the crofs

ghttered on their helmet,

into their banners
;

was
and

engraved an their
the confecrated
himfelf,
fite

fhields,

was interwoven

emblems which adorned the perfon of the emperor

But the principal ftandard which difplayed the

were diftinguilhed only by richer materials and more exqui'\

workmanfhip

triumph of the

crofs

was

filled

the Labaruvi ", an obfcure though celeall

brated name, which has been vainly derived from almoft

the

languages of the world.

It is

defcribed

^*

as a

long pike- interfered

by a

tranfverfal

beam.

The

filken veil

which hung down from the

beam, was curioufly enwrought with the images of the reigning

monarch and

his children.

The fummit of
the
crofs,

the pike fupported a

crown

of

gold

which
".

inclofed

myfterious

monogram,
initial

at

once expreffive of the figure of the

and the

letters

of the name of Chrift

to fifty
^'

The

fafety of the

labarum was entrufted

guards, of approved valour and fidelity; their ftation

1. i. c.

was

Eufebius, in Vit. Conftantin.

ftatue, or at leaft the crofs

40.

Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrofe, Prudentios,

&c.
ftill

This
tion,

and infcripmay be afcrlbed with more probability

or

remain

totally

of the

efforts

of the

critics,

unknown ; in fpite who have ineffecGreek, Spanifh, Armenian, &c.

See Ducange, in

to the fecond,

even

the third,

vifit

of

tually tortured
Celtic,

the Latin,
Illyric,

Conftantine toR.ome.

Immediately

after the

Teutonic,

defeat of Maxentius, the minds of thefenate

in fearch of an etymology.
Gloir.
bariim,
torn.
'*
ii.

and people were He monument.

'^

fcarcely ripe for this

pub-

Med.

Laand Godefroy, ad Cod. Theodof.

Latinitat. fub voce
p. 143.

& infim.

Agnofcas regina libens mes. figna necefle

eft;
effigies

In quibus

rrac/jaut

gemmata

refulget

Eufeb.in Vit. Conftantin. I. i. c. 30, 3!.. Baronius (Annal. Ecclef. A. D. 312, Nz6.)
has engraved a reprefentation of the Laba-

Aut

longis foIiJo ex auro pra;fertur in haftis.

figno inviftus, tranfmiffis Alpibus Ultor

Hoc

rum.
2'

Servitium folvit miferabile Conftantinus

Chriftus puipureum

Tranfversa
P.

litera,

fummo

capite cirCaecilius

cumi^exo, Chriftum in

fcutis notat.

gemmand

textiis in

auro

de

M.

c.

44.
ii.

Signabat Labarum, clypeorum infignia Chriftus

Laftant.
cient

torn.

Cuper (ad M. P. in edit. p. 500.) and Baronius

fcveral fpecimens
(as thus

(A. D. 3rt.

25.) have engraved from an-

Scripferat; ardebat

fummis

fr?(jf

aJdicacriftis.

monuments

Prudent, in
23

Symmachum,
which

I. ii.

464. 486.

thefe

Xhe derivation and meaning

is

(iaiarK.m> or Lgicrum.,

of the word employed by

ame ^^'tYL

monograms, which beia

extremely falTiionable

the Chriilian world.

marked.

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

;

195 ^
<

marked by honours and emoluments

were engaged
in the execution

and fome fortunate accidents

H
-,

P.

ibon introduced an opinion, that as long as the guards of the labarum

of their

office,

they were fecure and

civil

invulnerable amidft the darts of the enemy.

Licinius
felt

In the fecond

war

and dreaded the power of

this confecrated

banner, the

fight of which, in the diftrefs of battle,

animated the

foldiers

of Con-

ftantine

with an invincible enthufiafm, and fcattered terror and difmay

^.

through the ranks of the adverfe legions

rors,

The

Chrifcian

empeall

who

refpeded the example of Conftantine, difplayed in

;

their military expeditions the ftandard of the crofs

but

when

the

degenerate fucceflbrs of Theodofius had ceafed to appear in perfon

at the

head of their armies, the labarum was depofited

i-elic

as a venerable

but ufelefs
ftill

in the palace of Conftantinople ".

Its

honours are

preferved on the medals of the Flavian family.

Their grateful

devotion has placed the

enfigns of

monogram

of Chrifl in the midft of the

Rome.

The folemn

epithets of, fafety of the republic,

glory of the army, reftoration of public happinefs, are equally applied to the religious

and military trophies

and there

is ftill

extant

a medal of the emperor Conftantius,

where the ftandard of the

labarum

is

accompanied with thefe memorable words,

By this sign
dream

THOU SHALT CONQyER^^

II.

In

all

occafions of danger or diftrefs,

it

was the pradice of the The

primitive Chriftians to fortify their minds and bodies

^^

by the

fign of

tine.

Eufeb. in Vit. Coiiftantin.

I.

ii.

c. 7, 8,

after Conftantine.

The modern Greeks were

field the

9.

He

introduces the

Labarum

before the

not inclined to difplay in the

ftandard

Italian expedition;
to indicate

but his narrative feems

that

it

was never fliewn

at the

of the empire and of Chriftianity; and though they depended on every fuperftitious hope of
defence,

head of an army,

till

Conftantine, above ten

the

promife oi 'vidoiy would have

fiiR;ion.

years afterwards, declared himfelf the

enemy

appeared too bold a

^'

of Licinius, and the deliverer of the church, " See Cod. Theod. 1. vi. tit. xxv. Sozomen, I. i. c. z. Theophan. Chronograph., Theophanes lived towards the end of 1. p. the eighth century, almoiliive hmidred years
1

The Abbe du

Voifin, p. 103,

&c.

al-

leges feveral of thefe medalp,

and quotes a

particular differtation of a Jefuit, thePere.de

Grainville, on this

fiibjed;.

the

19(5

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the crofs, which they ufed, in
daily occurrences of
life,

CHAP,
*

all

their ecclefiaftical rites, in all the

'

as

an

infallible prefervative
^'.

againft every

fpecies of fpiritual or temporal evil

The

authority of the church

might alone have had

Conftantine,

fufficient freight to juftify the

devotion of

who

in the

fame prudent and gradual progrefe ac-

knowledged the

truth,

and affumed the fymhol, of Chriftianity.

contemporary writer,

But the teflimony of

tife

who

in a formal trea-

has avenged the caufe of religion, bellows on the piety of the

a

emperor

more awful and fublime

charafter.

He

affirms with the

lafl

moft perfet confidence, that in the night which preceded the

battle againft

Maxentius, Conftantine was admonilhed in a dream

to infcribe the fhields of his foldiers with the celejiial fign of

God^

the facred

monogram of
decifive

the

name of

Chrift

that he executed the

commands of heaven, and

warded by the
fiderations

that his valour

and obedience were re-

vidory of the Milvian bridge.

fceptical

Some confufpel the

either

might perhaps incline a

mind

to

judgment or the
zeal or intereft,

veracity of the rhetorician,

whofe pen,

from

was devoted

to the caufe of the prevailing faction *\

He

appears to have publifhed his deaths of the perfecutors at Nicoafter the

media about three years

Roman

vidlory

but the interval of

a thoufand
'' fius,

miles,

and a thoufand days,

c.

will allow

an ample latitude

Tertullian, de Corona,
torn.
i.

3.

Athanaxv.
c.

p. 101.

The

learned jefuic
1.

cienne et Moderne, torn.

bility

of Le Clerc and Lardner (Bibllothcque AnCrediiii. p. 438.

of the Gofpel,
5;c. partii.

Petavius
10.)

(Dogmata Theolog.
colleifted

g,

vol. vii. p.

has

many

fimilar

pafTages
laft

the virtues of the crofs, which in the

age embarrafled our Protellant difputants. *" Cascilius, de M. P. c.44. It is certain,

,

Three arguments fcom the title >of the book, and from the names of Donattfs and Csecilius, are produced by the advocates
54.)
for
p.

that this hiftorica! declamation was

compofed

46

Ladantius (See the P. Leftocq, Each of thefe proofs 60.).

torn.
is

ii.

fingly

and publilhed, while Licinius, fovereign of

theEaft, ftillpreferved the friendfliipof Conftantine,

weak and
and
lius.

defeftive

but their concurrence

has great weight.

ihall tamely

have often fluluated,

and of the Chriftians.

Every readis

follow the Colbert

'

MS.

in

er of tafte muft perceive, that the Hyle

of a

calling

the author (whoever he was)

Csci-

verydiiFerent and inferior charafter to that of

X,aiSantius
;

and fuch indeed

is

the

judgment

for

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
and the
tacit
^

197

for the indention of declaimers, the credulity of party,

CHAP.
A A.

approbation of the emperor himfelf;

dignation to a marvellous
his defigns.
tale,

who might
ftill

Uften without in-

which exalted

his fame,

and promoted

In favour of Licinius,

who

diffembled his animofity

vifion,

to the Chriftians, the

fame author has provided a fimilar

of a

form of prayer, which was communicated by an angel, and repeated by the whole army before they engaged the legions of the tyrant

Maximin.
where
it

The

frequent repetition of miracles ferves to provoke,

*'
;

does not fubdue, the reafon of mankind

is

but if the dream

of Conftantine
either

feparately confidered,

it

may

be naturally explained

by the policy or the enthufiafm of the emperor.

Whilft his

anxiety for the approaching day, which muft decide the fate of the

empire, was fufpended by a

rable

fliort

and interrupted Humber, the venehis religion,

form of Chrift, and the well-known fymbol of

might

forcibly offer themfelves to the ative fancy of a prince

the name, and had perhaps fecretly implored the

who reverenced power, of the God

of the Chriftians.

As

readily might a

confummate ftatefman indulge

himfelf in the ufe of one of thofe military ftratagems, one of thofe

pious frauds, which Philip and Sertorius had employed with fuch
art

and

effed;''\

The

pr^eternatural origin of

dreams was univer-

fally admitted

by

the nations of antiquity,

and a confiderable part of

the Gallic
*'

army was
de

ah'eady prepared to place their confidence In

There feems
of

Cjecilius,

M.

P.

c.

46.

to be

feme reafon

in the obfervation

M.

de

Voltaire (Oeuvres, torn. xiv. p, 307.), who afcribes to the fuccefs of Conftantine the fuperior fame of his Labarum above the angel of Licinius. Yet even this angel is favour-

pentagon (the fymbol of fafety) with thefe " In this conquer." But Tollius has moll inexcufably omitted^to produce his authority ; and his own charatler, literary as
words,
well
as

moral,

is

not free from

reproach

(See Chauffepie Diftionnaire Critique, torn,

ably entertained by Pagi, Tillemont, Fleury, &c. who are fond of encreafing their ftock of miracks.
*^

460.). Without infilling on the filence of Diodorus, Plutarch, Juftin, &c. it may beobferved that PoIya;nus, who in a feparatc
iv. p.

Befides

thefe

well-known

examples,

chapter

of Longinus) has difcovered a vifion of Antigoiius, who affured his troops that he had feen a

Tollius' (Preface to Boileau's tranllation

6 (1. iv. c. has collefted nineteen military llratagems of Antigonus, is totally

')

ignorant of this remarkable vifion.

the

198
^
V

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^' ->
*^^^

vv^
-M-

falutary

fign

of the Chriftian religion.

The
;

fecret vifion

of

Conftantine could be difproved only by the event

and the intrepid

hero

who had
The

paffed the Alps

and the Apennine, might view with

of a defeat

carelefs

defpair the confequences

fenate

under the walls of

Rome.

and people, exulting

in their

own

deliverance

from an odious

tyrant,

acknowledged that the vidlory of Conftanto infinuate that

tine furpafled the

it

powers of man, without daring

had been obtained by the protedHon of the Gods.

The triumphal
the event,

arch,

which was eredted about three years

ambiguous language,
iriJliuEl

after

pro-

claims, in

that,

by the

greatnefs of his

own

mind, and by an

or impulfe of the Divinity, he had faved

republic *^

and avenged the

Roman

The Pagan

orator,

who had
com-

feized an earlier opportunity of celebrating the virtues of the con-

queror, fuppofes that he alone enjoyed a fecret and intimate

merce with the Supreme Being,

to his fubordinate deities
;

who

delegated the care of mortals

afligns a

and thus
'^.

very plaufible reafon

why
new
Appearance of a crofs in
the
fliy.

the fubjedts of Conftantine fliould not prefume to embrace the

religion of their fovereign
'YYiQ

Jij_

philofopher, r r

who

'

with calm fufpicion examines the r

dreams and omens, the miracles and prodigies, of profane or even

of
ecclefiaftical

hiftory, will probably conclude, that if the eyes of

the fpelators have fometimes been deceived by fraud, the underftanding of the readers has
by fidlion.

much more

frequently been infulted

accident,

Every event, or appearance, or

which feems

to

deviate

from the ordinary courfe of nature,

;

has been ralhly

afcribed to the immediate adlion of the Deity

^ed

and the aftonifh-

fancy of the multitude has fometimes given fhape and colour,

mentis magnltuon the triumphal arch
**

*' Inftinftu Divinltatis,

Habes profefto

aliquid

cum

ilia raente

dine.

The infcripdon

of Conftantine, which has been copied by Baronius, Gruter, &c. may ftill be perufed

Divina ftcretum ; qua; dclegata nollra DLis Minoribus cura uni fe tibi dignatur olleiidere, Panegyr. Vet. ix. 2.

hy every

curious traveller.

language

'

OF THE ROM.AN EMPIRE.

language and motion, to the fleeting but
air
*'.

199

uncommon

meteors of the

CHAP.
'

Nazarius and Eufebius are the two moft celebrated orators,

in ftudicd panegyrics

^-

who

have laboured to exalt the glory of Con-

ftantine.

Nine years

after the

an army of divine warriors,

Roman viftory, Nazarius * defcribes who feemed to fall from the fky he
:

A. D. 321,

marks

their beauty,

their fpirit,

their gigantic
celeftial

forms,

the flream

of light which beamed from their

armour, their patience in

fuffering themfelves to be heard, as well as feen,

their declaration that they

by mortals

and

were

fent, that

they flew, to the afllflance

this prodigy, the

of the great Confl:antine.

For the truth of

Pagan
*^

orator appeals to the whole Gallic nation, In

whofe prefence he was

then fpeaking

and feems
credit

to

hope that the ancient apparitions

this recent

would now obtain

from

and public event.

The
^.d.
,^g,

Chriftian fable of Eufebius, which, in the fpace of twenty-fix years,

might

arife

from the

original dream,

is cafl:

in a

much more

corredl
is

and elegant mould.

In one of the marches of Confl:antine, he

reported to have feen with his

crofs, placed

own

eyes the luminous tro}>hy of the

above the meridian fun, and infcribed with the follow-

ing words
afl:oniilied

By THIS, CONQUER.

This amazing objedl in the fky

the whole army, as well as the emperor himfelf,

;

who was
Chrifl:

yet undetermined in the choice of a religion

but his afl:onifhment

was converted

into faith
;

by the

vifion of the enfuing night.

celeftial fign

appeared before his eyes

crofs,

and difplaying the fame

of the

he

dire^Sled

Conftantine to frame a fimilar ftandard, and to

undiftinguifhing and ravenous appetite has
fvvallowed even the Pagan bait cf Nazarius.
*'

" M.
des
fxplainSj

Freret

(Memoires de I'Ac.idemie
torn.
iv.

Infcriptions,

p.

411

437.)
of the

by phyfical
of.

caufes,
;

many

The

apparitions of Caftor and Pollux,

prodigies
js

antiquity

and Eabricius, who

tries to in-

abufed by both parties, vainly

the
celeftial

troduce

crofs

of Conftantine

among
tom.
**
It is

the folar Halos.

p.

Bibliothec. Grasc.

vi.

8-29.
X.

Nazarius inter Panegyr. Vet.

unneccfiary to

14, 15.

name

the moderns, whofe

announce the Macedonian vicand public monuments. Sec Cicero de NaturaDeorum,ii. z. iii. 5, 6. Florus, ii. 12. Valerius Maximus, 1. i. c. 8. N 1. Yet the moft recent of thefe miracles is omitted, and indirectly denied by Livy (xlv. i.).
particularly to
tory, are attefted by hiftorians

march,,

300

THE DECLINE AND FALL

march, with an aflurance of viftory, againft Maxentius and all his The learned bifhop of Csefarea appears to be fenfible, enemies*'.
that the recent dlfcovery of this marvellous anecdote

would

excite

fome

furprife

and

diftruft

among

the moft pious of his readers.

Yet,

inftead of afcertaining the precife circumilances of time

and place,
""
;

which always

ferve to detect falfehood, or eftablifn truth

inftead

of collecting and recording the evidence of fo

many

living witnefles,
^'
;

who

muft have been fpedators of

this

ftupendous miracle

Eufe-

bius contents himfelf with alleging a very fmgular teftimony ; that of

the deceafed Conftantine,

who, many years

to

after the event, in the

this extraordinary inciit

freedom of converfation, had related

dent of his

him

own

life,

and had

attefted the truth of

by

folemn oath.

The prudence and

gratitude of the learned prelate forbade

;

him

to

fufpedt the A'eracity of his victorious mafter

but he plainly inti-

mates, that, in a fadt of fuch a nature, he Ihould have refufed his

aflent to

any meaner

authority.

This motive of credibility could

;

not furvive the power of the Flavian family

fign,

and the
",

celeftial

which

the

Infidels

might afterwards deride

was

difre-

garded by the Chriftians of the age which iipmediately followed

the converfion of Conftantine
*^
^'.

But the Catholic church, both of

^'
1.
i.

Eufebius,

1.

i.

c.

28,

29,

30.

The

Gelafius Cyzic. in AiS. Concil. Nicen.

c. 4.

filence of the
aflical Hiftory,

fame Eufebius,
is

in his Ecclef:-

deeply

felt

by thofe advo-

cates for the miracle

call us.
*9

who

are not abfolutely

to

The advocates for the vlfion are unable produce a fingle teftimony from the Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries, who,
'-

The

narrative of Conftantine feems to

in their

indicate, that he faw the crofs in the iky before he pafled the Alps againft Maxentius.

lebrate the

The

fcene has been fixed by provincial vanity

voluminous writings, repeatedly cetriumph of the church and of Conftantine. As thefe venerable men had not any diflike to a miracle, we may fufpedl

at Treves, Befanjon,

Sic. See Tillemont, Empereurs, tom. iv. p. 573. ^" The pious Tillemont (Mem. Ecclef. tom. vii. p. 13 17.) rejeds with a figh the ufeful Afts of Artemius, a veteran and a

Hift. des

(and the fufpicion i; confirmed by the ignoranee of Jerom) that they -were all unacquainted with the ?ife of Conftantine by Eufebius.

Ti^is traft

ligence of thofe
his Ecclefiaftical

who

martyr,
vifion

who

attefts

as

an eye-witnefs the

was recovered by the ditranflated or continued Hiftory, and who have re-

of Conftantine.

prefented in various colours the vifion of the

crofs.

the

OF THE
tlie

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
which favours, or
crofs.

4o
C H A
'

Eaft and of the Weft, has adopted a prodigy

P.
'

feems to favour, the popular worlhip of the

The

vifion of

Conftantine maintained an honourable place in the legend of fuperftition,

till

the bold and Higacious

fpirit

of criticifm prefumed to
firft

depreciate the triumph, and to arraign the truth, of the

Chriftian

emperor".

The

Proteftant and philofophic readers of the prefent age will in- The convw-

cline to believe, that, in the

account of his

own

converfion,

Con- ^"JLe

""'

ftantine attefted a wilful falfehood

by a folemn and

deliberate perjury,

'"'s'^' ''*''"

They may
gion, his

not hefitate to pronounce, that, in the choice of a relia fenfe of

interefl:
^*)
;

mind was determined only by

the
expreffion of a

and that

(according to
altars

profane

poet

he ufed the

of the church as a convenient footftool to the throne of the

empire.

conclufion fo harfli and fo abfolute

is

not,

however,

warranted by our knowledge of

human

nature, of Conftantine, or

of

Chriftianity.

In an age of religious fervour,

the moft artful

ftatefmen are obferved to feel fome part of the enthufiafm which they
infpire
;

and the moft orthodox

faints aflimie the

dangerous privideceit

lege of defending the caufe of truth

falfehood.
'^

by the arms of

and

Perfonal intereft
firft

is

often the ftandard of our belief, as

Sur
les

Godefroy was the

(Not. ad

who, in the year

1.
i.

debris de leurs temples

fumans
grandeur

1643

Philoftorgium,

c.

6.

Au Dieu du

Ciel j'ai prodigue I'encens.

foins

p. 16.),

expreffed any doubt of a miracle which had been fupported with equal zeal by Cardinal Baronius, and the Centuriators of Magdeburgh. Since that time, many cf the Proteftant critics have inclined towards

Mais tous mcs

fupreme

pour

fa

N'eurent jamais d'autre objet que moi-

meme
Les

doubt and dilbelief

\yith great force, (DietionnaireCritique, torn. iv. p. 6-11.); and, in the year 1774, a doftor of Sorbonne, the

The objeftions are by M. Chauifepie

urged,

mes regards Qu'un marchepie du trone des Cefars.

faints autels n'etoient a
la fureur,
les delices

L'ambition,

Abbe du Voifin, which deferves the

moderation.
'*

Etoient mesDieux, avoientmes facrifices. L'or des Chretiens, leurs intrigues, leur

publiftied

an

praife of learning

Apology, and

fa^g

m
cuke des
idoles

Ont cimente ma fortune , IJie poem which contains

1

et
,

men
^

rang,
,.

thefe lines

may

Lois Conftantin dit ces propres paroles:

J'ai renverfe le

be read with pleafure, but cannot be named with decency.

Vol,

II,

well

202.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

well as of our pradice
;

CHAP,

and the fame motives of temporal advan-

tage

which might influence the public condud and profefTions of Conftantine, would infenfibly difpofe his mind to embrace a religion
fo propitious to his

fame and fortunes.

His vanity was

gratified

by

the flattering afllirance, that he had been chofen by

Heaven

to reign

over the earth; fuccefs had juftified his divine

that
title

title

to the throne,

and

was founded on the

is

truth of the Chrift.ian revelation.

As

real virtue

fometimes excited by undeferved applaufe, the fpecious

firft it

piety of Confl:antine, if at

was only

fpecious,

might gradually,

by the
of the

influence of praife,

of habit, and of example, be matured

into ferious faith

and fervent devotion.

The

biihops and teachers

new

fed, whofe drefs and manners had not qualified

them
;.

for the refidence of a court,

were admitted

to the Imperial table

;

they accompanied the monarch in his expeditions

and the afcend'*.

ant which one of them, an Egyptian or a Spaniard ", acquired over

his

mind, was imputed by the Pagans

to

the

efFed of magic

Ladantius,

who

has adorned the precepts of the gofpel with the elo;

quence of Cicero "

and Eufebius,

who

has confecrated the learning,

'^,

and philofophy of the Greeks to the

fervice of religion

w^ere
:

both

received into the friendfhip and familiarity of their fovereign

and
and

thofe able maflers of controverfy could patiently watch the foft

yielding

moments of perfuafion, and dexteroufly apply

beft adapted to his

the arguments

which were the

5'

charader and underftanding^

The
Chriftianity of Ladlatuius was of

This favourite was probably the great

''

Ofius, bifhop of Cordova,

paftoral care of the

who

preferred the
to the go-

a moral,

rather than of a myllerious caft.

rudis
(fays the orthodux Bull)

whole church vernment of a particular diocefe.

rafter
is

His chaconcifely,
p.

magnificently,

though
(torn.
i.

" Erat pcene " difciplins " lius quam

^s

Chriftianae, et in rhetorica
in

theologia verfatus."
ii.

meDe-

exprcfled

by Athanafius

703.)vii.

fenfio FiJei Nicenas, feft.

c.

14.

See Tillemont,
p.

Mem.

Ecclef.

torn.

Fabricius, with his ufual diligence, has

524 561.

Ofius was accufed,

perhaps

unjuftly, of retiring

from court with a yery

ample fortune.
5*

lift of between three and four hundred authors quoted in the Evangelical Preparation of Eufebius. See Bibliothec.

coHedted a

See Eufebius (in Vit. ConHant. paffim),

1.

Grxc.

1. v.

c. 4.

tom.

vi.

p. 37

56.

and Zofimus,

ii.

p. 104.

Whatever

OF THE
Imperial profelyte,
purple, rather than

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

203 ^ ^^A
''

V/hatcver advantages might be derived from the acquifition of an

he was diftinguifhed by the fplendour of his

by

tlie

fuperiority of

wildom or

virtue,

from the

many

thoufands of his fubjefts

who had embraced

the dodlrines of

Chriftianity.

Nor can

it

be deemed incredible, that the mind of an

unlettered foldier Ihould have yielded to the weight of evidence,

which, in

more enlightened

age, has fatisfied or fubdued the reafon

of a Grotius, a Pafcal, or a Locke.

In the midft of the inceflant

labours of his great office, this foldier employed, or affefted to

em-

ploy, the hours of the night in the diligent ftudy of the Scriptures,

and the compofition of theological

In a very long difcourfe, which
expatiates
culiar

difcourfes

which he afterwards
the royal preacher

pronounced in the prefence of a numerous and applauding audience.

is
flill

extant,
;

on the various proofs of

religion

but he dwells with pe-

complacency on the Sybilline verfes

^''.

'',

and the fourth eclogue The

fourth

of Virgil
bard, as

Forty years before the birth of Chrift, the Mantuan

infpired

of
virgil.'^

if

by the

celeftial

mufe of

Ifaiah,

had celebrated,

with
the

all

the

pomp

of Oriental metaphor, the return of the Virgin,

fall

of the ferpent, the approaching birth of a godlike child, the

Ouspring of the great Jupiter,

who

fhould expiate the guilt of hu-

man

kind, and govern the peaceful univerfe with the virtues of his
;

father

the

rife

and appearance of an heavenly

;

race, a primitive
tlie

na-

tion throughout the world

and the gradual reftoration of

inno-

cence and felicity of the golden age.

fcious of the fecret fenfe

The

poet was perhaps uncon-

and objeft of

thefe fublime predidtions,

which have been

'''

fo unwortJiily applied to the

infmt fon of

a conful,

See Conftr.ntin. Orat. ad SnnGos,

c.

19,

prophetic fentcnce

20.

depends on a myfterious acroftic, compoled in the fixth age after the Deluge by the Erythrsan Sybil, and tranfchiefly

He

Jesus Christ, of God, Saviour of the World.

:

Son

"
the

In

his

paraphrafe of Virgil, the cinaflilled

peror has
literal

frequently
fenfc

and impro\ed
text.

latcd by Cicero into Latin.

ters

The

initial let-

of the Latin
1. i.

See

of the thirty-four Greek verfes form

this

Blondel des Sybiiles,

c. 14,

15, 16.

d 2

or

204

THE DECLINE AND FALL

or a tnumvrr
*'
:

CHAP,
<

but

if

more

fplendid,

and indeed fpeclous, Inter-

'

pretation of the fourth eclogue contributed to the converfion of the

firfk

Chriftian emperor, Virgil

may

deferve to be ranked

among

the

moft
Devotion and privileges of
Conilantine.

fuccefsful miffionaries of the gofpel '\

The awful
cealed

mvfteries of the Chriftian faith and worfhip were conftrangers,

from the eyes of

and even of catechumens, with

f.

an affedled fecrecy, which ferved to excite their wonder and curiofity ^\

But the fevere had

inftituted,

rules of difcipline

which the prudence of the

in favour

bifliops

were relaxed by the fame prudence

of an Imperial profelyte,

whom it was fo important to

;

allure,

by every
of the of a

gentle condefcenfion, into the pale of the church

and Conftantine
enjoy
ff?o/i

was permitted,
privileges,

at leaft

by a

tacit difpenfation, to

before he had contracted a?!y of the obligations,

Inftead of retiring

Chriftian.

from the congregation, when the

voice of the deacon difmiffed the profane multitude, he prayed with

the faithful, difputed with the bilhops, preached on the moft fublirae

and
vigil

intricate fubjedls

of theology, celebrated with facred

rites

the

of Eafter, and publicly declared himfelf, not only a partaker,

in

but,

fome meafure, a

prieft

and hierophant of the Chriftian

myfteries *\
vices

The

pride of Conftantine might aflume, and his fer-

had deferved,

fome extraordinary diftindion

elder and

an ill-timed
and

*'

The

difFerent claims of an

catechumenonim, and the mijfa fidelium,

younger fon of

of Julia, of Drufus, of Marcellus, are found to be incompatible with chronology, hillory, and the good fenfe
Pollio,

the myilenous veil which piety or policy had

caft

over the latter, are very judicioufly ex-

plained by Thiers, Expofition du Saint Sa-

of Virgil. '^ See Lowth de Sacra Poefi Hebr^orum

In the examip. 289 293. nation of the fourth eclogue, the refpeftable
Prjeleft. xxi.

crement,

I.

i.

c. 3

12.

p.

59

91:

but as,

on

this

fubjeft, the Papiils

may reafonablv

be fufpefted, a Protefiant reader will depend

with more confidence on the learned Bing-

bifhop of
tafte,

London has difplayed

learning,

ham.
^'*

Antiquities,

1.

x.

c. 5.
1.

ingenuity,

afm, which exalts

his

and a temperate enthuihis fancy without degrading

between the public and

See Eufebius in Vit. Conft.

iv.

c.

32,

15

judgment.

and the whole tenor of Conilantine's Sermon. The faith and devotion of the emin favour

*^

The

dillindlion

peror has furnifhed Baronlus with a fpecious

the fecret parts of divine fervice, the

m (fa

argument

of

his early baptifm.

rigour

'

OF THE
if the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
of his converfion
;

205
and

rigour might have blafted the unripened

frviits

CHAP.
u-v-
XX-

doors of the cliurch had been ftridlly clofed againft a prince

deferted the ahars of the gods, the mafter of the empire
left dcftitutc

who had

would have been

his laft vilit to
ftition

of any form of rehgious worfhip.

In

Rome, he

pioufly difclaimed and infulted the fuperto lead the military proceffion

of

his anccftors,

by refuhng

of

the equeftrian order, and to offer the public the Capitoline Hill '\

vows

to the Jupiter of

Many

years before his baptifm and death,

Conftantine had proclaimed to the world, that neither his perfon nor
his

image fhould ever more be feen within the walls of an idolatrous

;

temple

while he diftributed through the provinces a variety of

medals and pidlures, which reprefented the emperor in an humble

and fuppliant pofture of Chriftian devotion

*".

The
baptifm

pride of Conftantine,
eafily

who

refufed the privileges of a cate- Delay of

;

his

chumen, cannot

be explained or excufed

but the delay of his

the approach

may

be juftified by the maxims and the pradice of ecclefi-

^^'

'

aftical antiquity.

The facrament

of baptifm

*"

was regularly admiin the ca-

niftered

by the

biftiop himfelf,

with his

afliftant clergy,

thedral church of the diocefe, during the fifty days between the fo-

lemn

feftivals

of Eafter and Pentecoft

and

this

holy term admitted

a numerous band of infants and adult perfons into the bofom the church.

oF

The

difcretion of parents often fufpended the baptifm

of their children

till

they could underftand the obligations which they

contraded

the feverity of ancient bifhops exacted from the

new

converts a noviciate of
*'

two or

three years
tenth

and the catechumens

his

Zofimus,

1.

ii.

p. 10;.
1.

and eleventh books of

Chriftian

'*
*'

EufebiusinVit. Conftant.

iv, c.

15,1

5.

Antiquities.

One

circumftance

may

be ob-

The

theory and praftice of antiquity

to

ferved, in wliich the

modern churches have

the ancient cuf-

with regard

the facrament

of baptifm,

materially departed from

torn.
it

have been copioufly explained by don,

Hift.

Dom. Chari.

The

facrament of baptifm (even

to infants)

when

des Sacremens, torn.

p. 3

405

Dom. Martenne, de
i.
;

Ritious Ecclefije

was immediately followed by confirmation and the was adminiftered

holy communion,

Antiquis, torn.

and by Bingham, in the

themfelves.

2o6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

themfelves, from different motives of a temporal or a fpirltual nature,

CHAP,
XX.

were feldom impatient

to

aflume the charadler of perfect and

initiated Chriftians.

The

facrament of baptifm was fuppofed to confin

;

tain a full

and abfolute expiation of

its

and the foul was inftantly

promife of eternal

reftored to
falvation.

original purity,

and

entitled to the

Among
it
;

the profelytes of Chriftianity, there were

rite,

many
which

wlio judged

imprudent to precipitate a falutary

to

which could

not be repeated

throw away an ineflimable

privilege,

could never be recovered.

By

the delay of their baptifm, they could

venture freely to indulge their paflions in the enjoyment of this

world, while they
fure
ilill

retained in their
'^\

own

hands the means of a

and eafy abfolution

a

The

fublime theory of the gofpel had

made

much

fainter impreflion

on the heart than on the underftandpurfued the great obje6: of his

ing of Conftantine himfelf.

He

ambition through the dark and bloody paths of war and policy
and, after the vidory, he abandoned himfelf, without moderation,
to the abufe of his fortune.

Liftead of alTerting his juft fuperiority

above the imperfed heroifm and profane philofcphy of Trajan and

the Antonines,
the mature age of Conftantine forfeited the re-

putation which he had acquired in his youth.

As he

gradually

advanced

in

the

knowledge of
;

truth,

he proportionably declined
his reign in

in the pradice of virtue

and the fame year of

which

*^

The

fathers,

who

ccnfured

this

cii-

pared to the funs of righteournefs

fuccefj,

who have
ift

mlnal delay,

could

not deny

the

certain

run their appoiniei courfe with labour, with

and viLlorioos
baptifm. foftom

efficacy,

even of a death-bed
three

nnd with

glory.

Chrjfoflom
xiii.

The

ingenious rhetoric of Chryfind

Epift. ad Hebr.xos,

Homil.

apud Char-

could

only

arguments
i.

againft thefe prudent Chrifiian;.

That
her

don, Hi:t. des Sacremens, tom, i. p. 49. I believe that this delay of baptifm, though
attended

we fhould love and purA;e virtue own fake, and not merely for the
z.

for

with

the

moll pernicious cenfe-

reward,

quences, was never condemned by any jens-ral

That we may be
fhall

furprifed by death with3.

or provincial council, or by any public

cut an opportunity of baptifm.

That

al-

aft or declaration

of the church

The

zeal

though we

be placed in heaven, we

cf the bifhops was eafily kindled on ir.u:h

fiighter occaficns.

ihall only twinkle like little ftars,

when com-

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

^
'

207
II
A.

he convened the council of Nice was polluted by the execution,

or rather murder, of his eldeft fon.
to

A
A.
<

P..

This date

is

alone fufficient

'

refute

the

ignorant and
that,

malicious

fuggeftions

of Zofimus

''',

who

affirms,

after the

death of Crifpus,

the remorfe of

his-

father accepted

from the minifters of Chriftianity the expiation

folicited

which he had vainly

from the Pagan

pontiffs.

At the

time of the death of Crifpus, the emperor could no longer hefitate in the choice

of a religion

he could no longer be ignorant that

the church was pofTefled of an infallible remedy, though he chofe to

defer the application of
it,
till

the approach of death had

removed
he

the temptation and danger of a relapfe.

The

bilhops,

whom

fummoned,
fied

in his

lafi:

illnefs,

to the palace

of Nicomedia, were edifacra-

by the fervour with which he requefted and received the

worthy of a

ment of baptifm, by
his life fhould be
refufal to

the folemn proteftation that the remainder of

difciple

of Chrift, and by his humble

wear the Imperial purple

after

he had been clothed in the

reputation of
'".

white garment of a Neophyte.

ftantine

The example and

Con-

feemed to countenance the delay of baptifm

Future

tyrants were encouraged to believe, that the innocent blood which

they might fhed in a long reign would inftantly be wafhed away in

the waters of regeneration
;

and the abufe of

virtue.
tlie

religion dangerouily

undermined the foundations of moral

The

gratitude of the church has exalted

virtues

and excufed
on the
celebrate the

Propagation
nity.

the failings of a generous patron,

who

feated

Chriftianity

throne of the
feftival
"'

Roman

world
faint,,

and the Greeks,

who

of the Imperial
1.
ii.

feldom mention the name of Conftandifcx'-

Zofimus,

p. 104.
lias

For

this

cafion to

employ the
I.

ingenuous falfehood he
perienced the
Bius (A.
harftieft

deferved and
all

fervice againft the

'

Infidel on a particular Arian Eufebius.

iv.
c.

treatment from

the

Eufebius,

6l, 62, 63.

The

ecclefiaftical writers,

except Cardinal Bare15

bifhop of Csefarea fuppofes the falvation of

D. 324, N.

28),

who had

oc-

Conftantine with the moft perfeft confidence.

tinc:

2o8
C
IT

THE DECLINE AND FALL

A
P.

tine

without adding the

if
it

title

of equal

to

the Apoftlcs ".

Such a

comparifon,
aries,

alludes to the charadter of thofe divine miffionflattery.

muft be imputed to the extravagance of impious

coniined to the extent and

But

if the parallel is

number of

their evangelic

victories, the fucccfs

of Conftantine might perhaps equal that of the

Apoftles themfelves.

By

the edicts of toleration, he removed the

temporal difadvantages which had hitherto retarded the progrefs of

Chriftianity
;

and

its

adlive

and numerous minifters received a

free

permiffion, a liberal encouragement, to

recommend

the falutary truths

of revelation by every argument which could

piety of mankind.

afFet the reafon

or

The

exact balance of the two religions continued

but a

moment

and the piercing eye of ambition and avarice foon

difcovered, that the profeffion of Chriftianity might contribute to the

intereft

of the prefent, as well as of a future,

life '\

The hopes of

wealth and honours, the example of an emperor,

his irrefiftible fmiles, difFufed convilion

his exhortations,

among

the venal and obfe-

quious crowds which ufually

cities

fill

the apartments of a palace.

The

which

fignalized a forward zeal,

by the voluntary deftrudtion

of their temples, were diftinguifhed by municipal privileges, and re-

warded with popular donatives

gloried

and the new

capital of the Eaft

in the fmgular advantage,

".

that Conftantinople

was never

profaned by the worfhip of idols

are governed

As

the lower ranks of fociety

by

imitation, the converfion of thofe

who

polTefTed

any

eminence of

birth, of

power, or of

riches,

was foon followed by de-

"
fians,

See Tillemont,
p. 4.29.

Hiil.

des Empereurs,
the Ruf-

ther Chrift

was preached

in pretence or In
(I. iii.

torn. iv.

The

Greeks,

truth, he fhould lUlI rejoice

'^
iVI.

c.

58.).

and, in the darker ages, the Latins

in the

themfelves,

Conftantine
'life.

have been defirous of placing catalogue of faints.

to fay, that

torn. iv.

de Tillemont (Hill, des Empereurs, p. 374. 616.) has defended, witii

firength

and

fpirit,

the virgin purity of

Con-

See the third and fourth books of his

ftantinople againft
tions of the

feme malevolent inlinua-

He

was accuftomed

whe-

Pagan Zofimus,

penden

OF
^ndent
fand

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The
it

209
people was

multitudes ".
at

falvation of the

common

^^

'^

^-

purchafed

an

eai'y rate, if

be true, that, hi one year, twelve thoubefides a proportionable

men were

baptized at
children
;

Rome,

number

of

women and

and that a white garment, with twenty

pieces of gold, had been promifed

by the emperor

to cveiy convert ".

The powerful
narrow

influence of Conftantine

was not circumfcribed by the

limits of his life, or of his

his fons

dominions.

The
to the

education which

he beftowed on
princes,

and ne;phews, fecured

flill

empire a race of
as they

whofe

faith w^as

more

lively

and fmcere,

imof

bibed, in their earlieft infancy, the fplrit, or at leaft the dodtrine,

Chriftianity.

War

and

commerce had
difdained

fpread

the

knowledge
;

of the gofpel beyond the confines of the

the
{ai^i,

Roman

provinces

and

Barbarians,

who had
greateft

an humble and

profcribed

foon learned to

efteem a religion which had been fo lately

embraced by the
of the globe
^^

monarch and the moll

civilized

nation

the ftandard of
'*

The Goths and Germans, who enfifted under Rome, revered the crofs which glittered at the head
um
Anna!. Ecclef. A. D. 324, N". 67. 74. Such evidence is contemptible enough but
;

The

author of the Hiftoire Politique et

i.

Philofophique des deux Indes, (torn.

p. 9.)

condemns a law of Conftantine, which gnve

freedom to
ail

the flaves

who

fhould embrace

thefecircuniftances are in themfelves fo probable, that the learned Dr. Howell (Hiliory

indeed publidi alaw, which reftrained the Jews fromcircumcifing, perhaps from keeping, any Chriftian
Chriftianity.
ilaves (See Eufeb. inVit. Conftant.
1.

The emperor did

of the World, vol.

pled to adopt them.
''^

iii.

p. 14.) has not fcru-

The

converfion of the Barbarians under

is

iv. c. 27.

the reign of Conftantine

ecclefiaftical
c. 6.

celebrated by the

and Cod. Theod. 1. froy's Commentary,

xvi.

tit. ix.

with Gode247.).

hiftorians

(fee
1. i.

Sozomen,
23, 24.).

1.

ii.

torn. vi. p.

But

and Theodoret,

c.

But

this imperfeft exception

;

related only to the

Rufinus,

the Latin tranflator of Eufebius,

Jews and the great body of flaves, who were the property of Chrillian or Pagan mafters, could not improve their temporal condition by
ciianging their religion.
I am ignorant by what guides the Abbe Raynal was deceived;

defcrves to be confidered as an original au-

His information was curioufly colfrom one of the companions of the apoftle of yEthiopia, and from Bacurius, an
thority.

lefted

Iberian prince,
tics.

a? the total abfence of quotations

is

ihe unpar-

Father

who was count of the domefMamachi has given an ample

his great

donable blemifh of
'*

his entertaining hiftory.

Silveftri,
1,

compilation on the progrefs of Chriftianity,

in the
firft

See

A&A

".

and

Hift. Ecclef.

and fecond volumes of

us'icephor.

Callift.

vii.

c.

34. ap. Baroni-

but imperfeft work,

Vol. IL

of

2IO

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of the legions,

CHAP,

and their

fierce

countrymen received

at the

fame

time the leffons of faith and of humanity.

The
;

kings of Iberia and

Armenia worfhipped the God of

their prote<Stor

and

their fubjefls,

who

have invariably preferved the name of Chriftians, foon formed

a facred and perpetual

Chriftians of Perfia
their

connexion with
but

their

Roman
as

brethren.

The

were fufpeded,
country
;

in time of war, of preferring

as

religion

to

their

long
fpirit

peace fubfifted
?viagi

between the two empires, the perfecuting

effedtually reftrained

of the

was

by the

interpofition of Conftantine ".

The
colo-

rays
nies

of the

gofpel

illuminated

the

coaft

of India.

The
and

of

Jews,

who had
in

penetrated

into
;

Arabia

vEthio-

pla

'',

oppofed the progrefs of Chriftianity

but the labour of the

miffionaries

was

fome meafure
;

facilitated

by a previous knowledge
reveres the

of the Mofaic revelation

and Abyffinia

ftill

memory
life

of

Frumentius, who, in the time of Conftantine, devoted his

converfion of thofe fequeftered regions.
Conftantius, Theophilus ",

to the
foil

Under

the reign of his

who was

himfelf of Indian extradtion,

biftiop.

was invefted with the double charadler of ambaflador and

He

embarked on the Red Sea with two hundred horfes of the

pureft:

breed of Cappadocia, which were fent by the emperor to the prince

of the Sabseans,
or Homerites.

Theophilus was entrufted with

many
ration,

other ufeful or curious prefents, which might raife the admi-

and

conciliate the friendlhip, of the Barbarians

iv.

and he fuc-

"
c.

See in Eufebiiis (in Vit. Conftant. L

the
prefling

Q.)

and pathetic

epiftle

of

Conftantine in favour of his Chriftian brethren of Perfia.

'*

See Bafnage, Hift. des Juifs, torn.

vii.

p. 182.

tom.

viii.

p.

333.

torn, ix.- p. 810.

The

curious diligence of this writer purfuss

the JewilK exiles to the extremities of the

learning and piety. The Malwhich Male, or Dii'a, may be the capital, are a clufter of 1900 or 12,000 minute iflands in the Indian Ocean. The ancicnts were imperfeftly acquainted with the Maldives ; but they are defcribed in the two Mahometan travellers of the ninth century, publifhed by Renaudot. Geograph. Nubien-

mans

in

dives, of

globe.

fis,

p.

30,

31.

D'Herbelot, Bibliotheque
Hift.

had been given in his infancy as a hoftage by his countrymen of the Ifie of Diva, and was educated by the Ro''

Theophilus

Orientale, p. 704.
ages, tom.
viii.

Generale des Voy-

cefsfully

OF THE
celsfully

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^ ^
*

211

employed
".

feveral years in a pafloral vifit to the churches of

^
,

^'

the torrid zone

The

irreliilible

power of the Roman emperors was difplayed

in

Change of
rclio-ion.

the important and dangerous change of the national religion.

terrors of a military force filenced the faint

The

and unfupported mur-

murs of the Pagans, and

ful

there

was reafon

to expeft, that the cheer-

fubmiffion of the Ohriftian clergy, as well as people, would be

It

the refult of confcience and gratitude.

as a fundamental

was long fmce

eftabliflied,

maxim
right
as

of the

Roman
as

conftitution, that every

rank of citizens were alike fubjet to the laws, and that the care of
religion

was the

well

duty of the

civil

magiftrate.

Conftantine and his fucceflbrs could not eafily perfuade themfelves

that they

had

forfeited,

by

their converfion,

any branch of

tlie

Im-

perial prerogatives, or that

they were incapable of giving laws to

a religion
ftill

which they had protedled and embraced.

The emperors
ecclefiaftical

continued to exercife a fupreme jurifdidtion over the

;

order

and the fixteenth book of the Theodofian code

.

reprefents, f

^- ^*

under a variety of

3I2-438-

titles,

the authority

which they affumed

in the

government of the Catholic church.

But the
diftindlion of the fpiritual

and temporal powers

",

which

DiftJnaion
tual

had never been impofed on the

free fpirit of

Greece and Rome, was

and

Km-

introduced and confirmed by the legal eftablifliment of Chriftianity. ^"

powers.

The

office

of fupreme pontiff, which, from the time of

Numa to

that

of Auguftus, had always been exercifed by one of the moft eminent of the fenatorSj was
firft

at length united

to the Imperial dignity.

The

magiftrate of the ftate, as often as he

with

was prompted by fu-

Philoftorgius,

I.

iii.

c. 4,

5, 6,

Godefroy's learned obfervations.

rical narrative
is

The hiftomon-

foon

loll in

an enquiry con-

cerning the feat of paradife, flrange

Iters,

&c.
See the
epiftle

i. The public remonp. 840. which Ofius was forced to addrefs to the fon, contained the fame principles of ecclefiaftical and civil governnient which he had fecretly inftilled into the mind of the fa-

fium, vol.

ftrance

*'

of Oiius, ap. Athana-

ther.

e 2

perdition

ai2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

perftition

CHAP,

or policy, performed with his

;

own hands
pricfts,

the facerdotal'

fundlions "

nor was there any order of

either at

Rome
among
in the

or in the provinces,

who

claimed a more facred character

the Gods.

men, or

more intimate communication with

which

But

Chriftian church,

entrufts the fervice of the altar to a perpe-

tual fucceflion of confecrated miniftcrs, the

monarch, whofe

fpiritual

rank
feated

is

lefs

honourable
rails

than that of

the

meaneft deacon,

was
reft

below the

of the fandluary, and confounded with the

of the

faithful multitude ".

father of his people, but

fathers of the church
ftantine
;

The emperor might be faluted he owed a filial duty and reverence

of^ refpe<l, Avhich
confeflbrs,
"*.

as the

to the

and the fame marks

Con-

had paid

to the perfons of faints

and

were foon
conflict

exacted by the pride of the eplicopal order

fecret

between the

civil

and

ecclefiaftical jurifdidtions,
;

embarrafled the ope-

rations of the

Roman government and

The
feparation of

a pious

emperor was alarmed

by

the guilt and danger of touching with a profane

hand

the ark

of the covenant.

men

into the

two orders of the

clergy and of the laity was, indeed, familiar to m.any nations of antti'quity
;

and the

priefts

of India, of Perfia, of AlTyria, of Judeaj.

* M. de la Battle (Memoires de I'Academie des Infcriptions, torn. xv. p. 38 61) has evidently proved, that Auguftus and his fucceflbrs exereifed in

from an attendant, and gave it to the prefbyter his companion, before he allowed the emperor to drink ; the emprefs waited on
Martin
at table.
c.

perfon

all

the facred

Sulpiciiis

Severus, in Vir.
it-

fundibns of pontifex maximus^ or high-prieft

of the
^^

S". Martin,

23. andDialogueii. 7.. Yet

Roman

empire,,

Something of a contrary praftice had

be doubted, whether thefe extraordinary compliments were paid to the biihop or the
faint.

may

infenfibly prevailed in the church of Conllan-

The

but the rigid Ambrofe commanded Theodofius to retire below the rails, and taught him to know the difference between a
tinople
;

former cliarac^er
Antiquities,
doret,
nial
1.

honours ufually granted to the may ba feen in Binghan:!s

iL
c.

1.

iv. c. 6.

9. and Valef. ad TheoSee the haughty ceremo-

king and a
18.
'*

prieft.

See Theodoret,

J.

v.

c.

which Leontius, bifhop of Tripoli, imTillemont, Hift. des

p. 754.
torn.
iv.

pofed on the emprefs.

At

the table of the emperor

Maximus,

Empereurs,
toL
torn.
ii.

Patres Apop?-

Martin, biihop of Tours, received the cup

p. 179.

OF THE
f VEthlopia,
of Egypt,
origin the temporal

ROMAN
and
of Gaul,
polfcirions

EMPIRE.
derived from
a
celeftial

213,

^J,^

^j

power and

which they had acquired.

afTunilated themfelves to
*'
;

Thefe venerable
the manners and

inftitutions

had gradually

government of

their rei'petive countries

civil

but the

oppoiition

or

contempt of the

power ferved
and

to

cement the

difclpline of the primitive church.

The
to

Chriftians had been obliged

difti-lbute

to

elecTt

their

own

magiflrates,

raife

a peculiar

revenue, and to regulate the internal policy of their republic by a

code of laws, which were

ratified

by the confent of the people,

and the

practice of three

hundred

years.

When

Conftantine embraced

the faith of the Chriftians, he fecmed to contract a perpetual alliance

leges
fors,

with

.a.

diftin^l

and

independent Ibciety

and the privi-

granted

or

confirmed by that emperor,

as-

or

by

his

fuccef-

were accepted, not

the precarious favours of the court, but

ecclefiaftical order.

as the jiaft

and inalienable rights of the

The
were

Catholic church

was adminiftered by the

;,

fpiritual

and

legal

^|j^'^

un^^

jurilclLiTtion

of eighteen hundred hilltops'*

of

whom

one thoufand

dertheChriftian emoe.rors.

feated in the

Greek, and eight hundred in the Latin, provinces

extent anxl boundaries of their refpedlive diocefes,
zeal

of the empire.

The

had been varioufly and accidentally decided by the

of the
firft

and

fuccefs

by the wifhes of the people, and by the propagation of the gofpel. Epifcopal churches were clofely planted
miffionaries,,

along the banks of the Nile, on the fea-coaft of Africa, in the proconfular Afia, and through the fouthern provinces of Italy.

The

biihops of Gaul and Spain, of Thrace and Pontus, reigned over an

='

Plutarch, in his trostife of

Ifis

and Oh-

of Charles a
all

S'.

Paolo, of

Luke

HolftenJus,

Hs, informs us, that the kings of Egypt,

who

and of Bingham, has laborioufly inveftigated

the epifcopal fees of the Catholic church,,

were not already

priefts,

were initiated, after by

their eledlion, into the facerdotal order. '* The numbers are not afcertained

which was almort commenfurate with the Roman empire. The ninth book of the Chriftiaii
Antiquities
fuftical
is

any ancient

writer,
lifts

or original

catalogue;

a very accurate

map of ecde-

for the partial

of the eaftern churches are

geography,

comparatively modern.

The

patient diligence

ample

J14

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

C H A

ample

territory,

and delegated

their rural
office"'.

fuffragans

to execute the

J-^^

fubordinate duties of the paftoral

A Chriftian diocefe might be

all

fpread over a province, or reduced to a village, but

iefled

the bifhoj^s pof-

an equal and indelible character: they

all

derived the fame powers

and

privileges

from the

apoftles,

from the people, and from the laws.

While the

civil

and military profcffions were feparated by the policy of

order oi ecclejiajlical imm^i&rs^ always

Conftantine, a

new and perpetual

refpedable, fometimes dangerous, vvas eftablifhed in the church and

flate.

The important review of

their ftation
:

and

attributes

may

be

diftributed

under the following heads

in. Property.

Popular eledtion.

IL Or-

dination of the clergy,

ritual cenfures.

IV. Civil jurifdidion.

V. Spi-

VI. Exercife of public oratory.

VII. Privilege of

legiflative aflemblies.
I. Eleftion of biihops.

I.

The freedom of
Chriftianity

elelions fubfifted long after the legal eftablifh^'

;

ment of

and the

fubjel:s

of

Rome

enjoyed in the

church the privilege which they had

the magiftrates

loft in

the republic, of

chufmg
as

whom

they were bound to obey.

As foon

bifhop had clofed his eyes, the metropolitan iffued a commiflion to

one of

his fuffragans

to

adminifter the vacant

fee,

and prepare,

within a limited time, the future eledlion.

The

right of voting

was

vefted in the inferior clergy,

;

who were
by
their

beft qualified to

judge
city,

of the merit of the candidates

all

in the fenators or nobles

of the

thofe

who were

diflinguilhed

rank or property; and

finally in the

whole body of the people, w^ho, on the appointed day,

^'
ii. 1.

"*-'On the fubjefl of the rural birtiops, or

Ci^orf/iZ/fc//,

Thomaflin (Difcipline de
ii.

I'Eglife, tom.

who voted

red thrminororders, fee

and conferThomaflin, Difcipline

in fynods,

c.

p.

673

721.)

has copioufly

treated of the eledlion of bifhops during the

five
firft

de I'Eglife, tom.
Hill, des

They
and

i. p. 447, &c. and Chardon, Sncremens, tom. v. p. 395, kc. do not appear till the fourth, century;

centuries, both in the Eaft

and

in the

Weft; but he Ihews a very

(I. iv.

partial bias in fa-

vour of the epifcopal ariftocracy.

c. 2.) is

Bingham
(Hift.
is

this

equivocal charafter, which had ex-

moderate

and Chardon

citedthejealoufyof the prelates, was abolilhed

before the end of the tenth, both in the Eaft

des Sacremens, tom. v. p. 108

clear

128)

very

and

concife.

and

tlie

Weft,

flocked

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
flocked in multitudes

215
',

from the moft remote

parts of the diocefe

tlic

C
'

H A

P.

and fometimes

filenced,

by

their

tumultuous acclamations,

voice

r*

of reafon, and the laws of

accidentally fix

difcipline.

Thefe acclamations might

;

on the head of the moft deferving competitor of fome ancient prefbyter, fome holy monk, or fome layman, confpicuous
for his zeal

and

piety.

But the epifcopal chair was

cities

folicited, efpe-

cially in the great

and opulent

of the empire, as a temporal,

interefted views, the felfifh

rather than as a ipiritual dignity.

The

and angry

paflions, the arts of perfidy

and diffimulation, the

feci-et

corruption, the open and even bloody violence which had formerly
difgraced the freedom of eledlion in the

commonwealths of Greece
fuccefTors of the
his fa-

and Rome, too often influenced the choice of the

apoftles.

While one of the candidates boafted the honours of

mily, a fecond allured his judges

table,

by the

delicacies

of a plentiful

and a

third,

more

guilty than his rivals, offered to fliare the

plunder of the church

among

the accomplices of his facrilegious

hopes
the

The

civil as

well as ecclefiaftical laws attempted to exclude

populace from

this

folemn and

important tranfadion.

The

canons of ancient difcipline,

tions of age, ftation,

by requiring
in

feveral epifcopal qualificaindifcri-

&c. reftrained

fome meafure the

authority of the

minate caprice of the eledors.

bifhops,

The

provincial

who were

affembled in the vacant church to confecrate the

choice of the people, was interpofed to moderate their paflions, and

to corredt their miftakes.

The

biflaops

could

refufe to

ordain an

unworthy candidate, and the rage of contending fadions fometimes

accepted their impartial mediation.

The

fubmiffion, or the refiftance

' Incredibilis

multitudo, non folum ex eo

of eleftion to the nobility.

j.
'>

Novell, cxxiii.

oppido (Tours), fed etiam ex vicinis urbibus ad fufFragia ferenda convenerat, &c. Sulpicius Severus, inVit. Martin, c. 7. Thecouncil

The

epiftlesof Sidonius Apollin.iris (iv.

9.)

25.

vii. 5.

exhibit

of Laodicea (canon
;

xiii.)

prohibits

mobs

of the Gallican church

fome of the fcandals and Gaul was lefs

;

and tumults

and

J uftinian confines the right

polifhed and lefs corrupt than the Eaft.

of

'}.

6
P.

THE DECLINE AND PALL

of the clergy and people,
precedents,

C H A
XX.

on various

occafions, afforded

difTerent

which were
'"
:

infenfibly converted into pofitive laws,

it

and

provincial cuftoms

but

was every where admitted,

policy,
that

as

a funbe

damental

maxim of

rehgious

no

bifliop

could
its

impofed on an orthodox church, without the confent of

bers.

mem-

The

emperors, as the guardians of the public peace, and as

the

firft

citizens of

Rome and

Conftantinople, might effectually de:

clare their wilhes in the choice of a primate

but thofe abfolute

;

monarchs refpedtcd the freedom of

ecclefiaftical ele(5lions
ftate

and while

they diftributed and refumed the honours of the

and army, they

allowed eighteen hundred perpetual magiftrates to receive their important offices

agreeable to the
defert

from the
dicStates

free

fuffrages of the

people '\

It

was

of juftice, that thefe magiftrates fhould not

an honourable
;

ftatlon

from which they could not be re-

moved
fuccefs,

but the wifdom of councils endeavoured, without

to

much

enforce the

reiidence,

and

to prevent

the tranflatiou
lefs

of bifhops.

Th

difcipline
;

of the Weft was indeed

relaxed

than that of the Eaft

but the fame paffions which

made

thofe regu-

lations neceffary, rendered

them

ineffedlual.

The
their

reproaches which

angry

prelates

have

fo

vehemently urged againft each other, ferve

only to expofe their

tioru
Sf.

common

guilt,

and

mutual indifcre-

Ordination of the

II.

Tlie biftiops alone poffeffed the faculty oifpiritttal generation

clergy.

and

this

extraordinary privilege might compenfate, in fome degree,

'^

for the painful celibacy

which was impofed as

a virtue, as a duty,

and
compromife was fometimes introdaced bylaw or by confent; either the bifhops or the people diofe one of the three candi<lates who had been named by the other party, s^ All the examples quoted ^y Thomaflin
5'

confirmation of the bifhop of Alexandria

is

mentioned by Philoltorgius

as a

more regular

proceeding (Hill. Ecclef. 1. ii. 11.). ^' The celibacy of the clergy during the
firft five

^Difcipline de I'Eglife, tom.

ii.

1.

ii.

c. 6.

pline,

iifts

p. 704 714-) appear to be extraordinary of power, and even of oppreffion. The

3

or fix centuries, is afubjecl of difciand indeed of controverfy, which has been very diligently examined. See in par-

ticular

Thomdfin, Difcipline de

I'Eglife,

tom.

OF THE
'and
at

ROMAN
order of

EMPIRE.
The
religions of antu[ulty,

217
^ ^^^
^

length as a pofitive obligation.

eftablilhed a feparate

which
a

prlefts,

dedicated a holy race,

tribe

or family to the perpetual fervice of the

Gods '\

Siicli

inftitutions

were founded for

priefts

pofleflion, rather

than conqueft.

The

children

of the

enjoyed, with proud and

;

indolent fecu-

rity, their facred inheritance

and the

fiery fpirit

of enthufiafm was

abated
life.

by

the cares, the pleafures, and the endearments of domeftic

to

But the Chriftian fanduary was open

every ambitious can-

didate,
fions.

who The

afpired to
office

its

heavenly promifes, or temporal poffefof foldicrs or magiftrates, was

abilities

of

priefts, like that

ftrenuoufly exercifed

by

thofe

men, whofe temper and

had

prompted them

to embrace the ecclefiaftical profeffion, or

biiliop, as

who had
'^

been feleded by a difcerning

the beft qualified to pro-

mote the glory and

interefl

of the church.

The

bifhops

(till

the

abufe was reftrained by the prudence of the laws) might conflrain

the reludlant, and proted the diftrefled
for
;

and the impofition of hands

of
civil

ever beftowed fome of the moft valuable privileges

fociety.

The whole body

all

of the Catholic clergy,

more numerous
all

perhaps than the legions, was exempted by the emperors from

fervice, private or public,

municipal

offices,

and

all

perfonal taxes

torn.

i.

I.

ii.

c,

Ix.

Ixi.
1.

p.

Bingham's Antiquities,

iv. c.

886902. and By each 5.

forib.

Burdigal.
Celtic

iv.)

but

we
(vi.

may
13.),

infer
that,

from the remark of Csfar

in

of thefe learned but partial critits, one half cf the truth is produced, and the other is
concealed.

the

hierarchy,

fome room

was

left for

choice and emulation,

Diodorus Siculus

attefts

and approves

the hereditary fucceffion

of the priefthood
p. 142. 153. edit.

'' The fubjeft of the vocation, ordination, obedience, &c. of the clergy, is laborioufly difcufled by Thomaffin (Difciplinedel'Eglife,

among

the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, and the

(1. i.

torn.

ii.

p.

83.)

and Bingham

(in

the

Indians

p. 84.

1.

ii.

4th book of his Antiquities, more efpecially

the 4th, 6th,
brotlier

Wefleling).

are defcribed by numerous family " Per " f^cula multa ad pra:fens una eademque

The magi

Ammianusas

a very

of

St.

and 7th chapters). Jerom was ordained

When

the

in Cyprus,
lell

the deacons forcibly flopped his mouth,

" "

profapia multitudo creata,

Deorum

culti-

he ftould

make

a folemn proteilation, which

rites,

bus dedicata

(xxiii.

6.)."

Aufonius ceProfef-

might invalidate the holy

lebrates the Stirfs

Druidamm (De

Vol.

II.

F f

and

2l8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and contributions, which prefled on ' ^
lerable

CHAP,
XX.
'

their fellow-citizens with into-

'

weight

and the duties of

their holy profeflion

were accepted
**.

as a full difcharge
flaop acquired

of their obligations to the republic

Each bi-

an abfolute and indefeafible right to the perpetual

obedience of the clerk

copal church,

whom

he ordained

the clergy of each epif-

with
;

permanent

fociety

formed a regular and and the cathedrals of Conflantinople " and Carits

dependent parifhes,

thage'' maintained their peculiar eftablifhment of five hundred ecclefiaftical

minifters.

Their ranks

"'

and numbers were infenfibly

multiplied

by

the fuperftition of the times,

which introduced into

j

the church the fplendid ceremonies of a Jewifh or Pagan temple

and

a long train of priefts, deacons, fub-deacons, acolythes, exorcifts^

readers, fingers,

and door-keepers, contributed,

in their refpedive

flations, to fwell the

clerical
nities,

pomp and harmony

of religious worfhip.

The

name and

privilege w^ere

extended to
ecclefiaftical

many

pious frater-

who

devoutly fupported the

throne '.

Six hun;

dred parabolan'i^ or adventurers, vifited the fick at Alexandria

eleven

huixJred ccpiata^ or grave-diggers, buried the dead at Conflantinople

;

and the fwarms of monks,

who

arofe

from the Nile, overfpread

and darkened the

^^

face of the Chriftian worlds

The

charter of immunities, which the

.

"
. .

Univerfus clerus

ecclefi^ae

Carthaginienfis

clergy obtained from the Christian emperors,

is

contained

in.

the i6th

book of the Theo-

and is illuftrated with tolerable ; candour by the learned Godefroy, whofe mind was balanced by the oppofite prq'udofian code
dices of a civilian
^''

inter quoi j quamplurimierant ledores infantuli. Vidor Vitenfis, de Perfecut. Vandal, v. 9. p. 78. edit. Ruinart. This remnant of a more profperous ftate ftill fubfifted under theoppreffi^a
fere quingenti vel

amplius

and

a proteftant.
ciii.

of the Vandals.
'

Jufcinian, Novell,

Sixty prefbyters,

The number

oi /euen orders has been

or priefts, one hundred deacons, forty deaconefles, ninety fub-deacons, one hundred

the Latin Church, exclufive of the epifcopal charafter. Bat the four inferior
fixed in

and ten readers, twenty-five chanters, and

one hundred door-keepers ; in all, five hundred and twenty-five. This moderate number was fixed by the emperor, to relieve the diftrefs of the church, which had been involved
in

ranks, the minor orders, are

now reduced
xvi.
tit. 2.

to

empty and ufelefs titles. '" See Cod. Theodof.

42, 43.

1.

leg.

debt and ufury by the expence of a

much

Godefroy's Commentary^ and the Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Alexandria, (hew the danger of thefe pious inflitutions, which often
dillurbed the peace of that turbulent capital.

higher eftablilhment.

IIL Thfi

OF
III.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

A.

219

The edid
"".

of Milan fecured the revenue as well as the peace

CHAP,
A
'
*
'

of the church

The

Chriftians not only recovered the lands

and

'

houfes of which they had been ftripped by the perfecuting laws of

Diocletian, but

ni.Property.

they acquired a perfect

title

to

all

the polTelTions
magiftrate.

which they had hitherto enjoyed by the connivance of the

As

foon as Chriftianity became the religion of the emperor and the

empire, the national clergy might claim a decent and honourable

maintenance

and the payment of an annual tax might have

deli-

vered the people from the more oppreflive tribute, which fuperftition
impofes on her votaries.

But

as the

wants and expences of the church

ftill

encreafed with her profperity, the ecclefiaftical order was

fup-

ported

and

enriched

by the voluntary

oblations of the faithfuL

all

Eight years after the edit of Milan, Conftantine granted to

his

A.D.

321c

fubjeds the free and univerfal permiflion of bequeathing their fortunes to the holy Catholic church
'^
;

and

their

devout

liberality,

which during

their lives

was checked by luxury or

the hour of their death.

avarice, flowed

with a profufe ftream

Chriftians

at

The wealthy

were encouraged by the example of

their fovereign.

An

abfolute monarch,

who

is

rich without patrimony,

may

be charitable

without merit

and Conftantine too

if

eafily believed that

he fhould

purchafe the favour of heaven,

he maintained the

idle at the

exthe

pence of the induftrious

wealth of the republic.

and

diftrlbuted

among

the

faints

The fame

meflenger

who

carried over to

Africa the head of Maxentius, might be entrufted with an epiftle to

Cxcilian,
''

bifhop of Carthage.
(de

The emperor
fimo Catholics
cilio,

acquaints him,

that
fanftif-

The edia of Milan

M.

P. c. 48.)

'" Habeat unufquifque licentiam

('ffc/^/?^^^

acknowledgei, by reciting, that there exifted a fpecies of landed proprty, ad jus corporis

venerabilique con-

decedens bonorum quod optavit relin1.

eorum,

id eft, ecclefiarum xion

hominiim

fingulorum pertinentia.

Such

a folemn de-

Cod. Theodof. This law was publirtied

quere.
at a

xvi.

tit.

ii.

leg. 4.

at

Rome, A. D. 321,
forefee the

clarationof the fupreme magiftrate muft have

time

when Conftantine might

been received of civil law.

in all the tribunals as a

maxim

probability of a rupture with the emperor of

the Kaft.

f 2

the

220

THE DECLINE AND FALL

tlie

CHAP, ^v--__/

treafurers of the province are diredted to

pay into

his

hands the

fuin of three thoufand folks, or eighteen thoufand

pounds fterhng,
of

and

to

obey

his farther requifitions for the rehef of the churches

"'\

Africa, Numidia, and Mauritania

The

liberaUty of Conftantine

encreafed in a juft proportion to his faith, and to his vices.

He

af-

figned in each city a regular allowance of corn, to fupply the fund

of

ecclefiaftical

charity

and the perfons of both fexes

who emtheir

braced the
fovereign.

monaftic

life,

became the peculiar favourites of

The

Chriftian temples of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerufa-

lem, Conftantinople, &c. difplayed the oftentatious piety of a prince,

ambitious in a declining age to equal the perfedl labours of antiquity

'*.

The form of

thefe

religious

edifices

was fimple and

oblong; though they might fometimes fwell into the fhape of a

dome, and fometimes branch

bers were framed for the

into the figure of a crofs.

The tim;

mod

part of cedars of Libanus

gilt brafs
;

the roof

was covered with

tiles,

perhaps of

and the

walls, the co-

lumns, the pavement, were incrufted with variegated marbles.

The

moft precious ornaments of gold and

profufely dedicated to the
fervice

filver,

of

filk
;

and gems, were

this fpecious

of the altar
folid

and

magnificence was fupported

on the

and perpetual

bafis

of

landed property.

In the fpace of two centuries, from the reign of

Conftantine to that of Juftinian, the eighteen hundred churches of

the empire were enriched by the frequent and unalienable
the prince and people.
ftcrling
gifts

of

An

annual income of

fix

hundred pounds

may

be reafonably affigned to the

Ecclef.
x. 6.
in Vit.

bifliops,

who were

placed

"3 Eufebius,
Conftantin.
patiates
1.

Hii't. c.

1.

in

public

an elaborate defcription of the

iv.

28.

He

repeatedly ex-

on thcliberality of the Chriftian hero, which the bifhcp himfelf had an opportunity of knowing, and even of tafting.
'* Eufebius,

church of Jenifalem (in Vit. Conf. 1. iv. c. It no longer exifts, buthe has inferteJ 46.).
in

the

life

of Conflantine

(1.

iii. c.

Ihort account of the architefture

36.), a and orna-

Hift. Ecclef.

1.

x. c. z, 3, 4.

ments.

He

likewife mentions the church of

(1. iv.

The
tified

bifhop of Csfarea,
the
taite

who

of his

and gramailer, pronounced

iludied

the holy Apoftles at Conftantinopl;

59-)-

c.

at

OF
at

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

'",

221

an equal diftance between riches and poverty

but the ftandard

^^ AA

^-

of their weahh infenfibly rofe with the dignity and opulence of the
cities

which they governed.

An

authentic but imperfed:

''^

rent-roll
to

fpecifies

fome houfes, {hops, gardens, and farms, which belonged

the three Bafillcix of

Rome,

St. Peter, St.

Paul,
Eafl.

and

St.

John Lateran,
produce, be-

in the provinces of Italy, Africa,

fides

and the

They

a referved rent of

oil,

linen, paper, aromatics,

&c. a

clear

annual revenue of twenty-two thoulimd pieces of gold, or twelve

thoufand pounds

fterling.

In the age of Conftantine and Juftinian,

the bilhops no longer poflelTed, perhaps they no longer defer ved, the unfufjiefting confidence of their clergy and people.
fiaftical

The

eccle;

revenues of each diocefe were divided into four parts

for

the refpelive ufes, of the bifliop himfelf, of his inferior clergy, of the

poor, and of the public worfhip

w^as ftriftly

and the abufe of

''.

this facred truft

and repeatedly checked

all

was

ftill

fubjedl to

the public

The patrimony of the church impofitions of the ftate '*. The

might
folicit

clergy of

Rome, Alexandria,

Theffalonica, &c.
;

and

obtain fome partial exemptions

''

but the premature attempt of the

the time
plicius

See Juftinian. Novell, cxxiii. not exprefled

at rwo,

3.

The

revenue of the patriarchs, and the moft wealthy bi(hops,

is
;

of Ambrofe and Chryfollom. Simand Gelafius, who were biOiops of

of the
fifth

the highcll anis

Rome
ral

in the latter part

it

century,

nual valuation of a bifhopric

thirty,

flated

at
;

mention

in their paftoral letters as a gene-

and the lowcll

pounds of gold

law, which was already confirmed by the

''

ihe

medium might

be taken at Jtxteen,

but

cuftora of Italy.

ihefe valuations are

lue.

much below

the real va-

Ambrofe, the moft ftrenuous

privileges,

afferter of

ecclefiaftical

fubmits

without a

N".

'^'^SeeBaronius (Annal. Ecclef A. D. 324, Every record which 58. 65.70,71.).

is

comes from the Vatican

juftly fufpedled

murmur to the payment of the land-tax. " Si tributum petit Imperator, non negamus " agri ecclefia: folvunt tributum folvimus
;

yet thefe rent-rolls have an ancient and authentic colour ; and it is at leaft evident, that,
if foro-ed, they

"

qua; funt Ca:faiis Caefari,

:

& quE
;

" Deo tributum

as

Csfarls

eft

funt Dei non negatur."

were forged in

a period

when

Baronius labours to interpret

this tribute as

farms, not kingdoms, were the objefls of papal avarice.

'

an aft of charity rather than of duty (Annal. Ecclef. A. D. 5S7.) ; but the words, if not the
intentions,

See Thomaffin, Difcipline de I'Eglife,

iii.
1. ii.

of Ambrofe,

are

more

tom.

c.

13,

14,

15. p.

689

706.

candidly explained by Thomaffin, Difcipline

The

legal divifion of the ecclefiaftical revenue

de I'Eglife, tom.

iii. 1. i. c.

34. p. 268.

does not appear to have been eftablilhed in

I

great

222

THE DECLINE AND FALL

great council of Rimini,

CHAP,
IV. Civil
iurifdiftioii.

which

afpired to univerfal freedom,

''.

was

fuccefsfuUy refifted

by the fon of Conftantine

IV.
the

The

Latin clergy,

who ereded

their tribunal

on the ruins of

civil

and

common

law, have modeftly accepted as the gift of

Conftantine"", the independent jurifdidion which was the fruit of

time, of accident, and of their

own

induftry.

But the

liberality

of

the Chriftian emperors had adtually

prerogatives,
I.

endowed them with fome

legal
'".

which fecured and

dignified the facerdotal character

Under a defpotic government, the

bifhops alone enjoyed and aflerted

the ineftimable privilege of being tried only

by

their peers

and even in

a capital accufation, a fynod of their brethren were the fole judges of

their guilt or innocence.

Such

a tribunal, unlefs

it

was inflamed by
fatisfied "*,
:

perfonal refentment or religious difcord, might be favourable, or even

partial to the facerdotal order
fecrct
:

but Conftantine was

that

impunity would be

lefs

pernicious than public fcandal

and

''

In Ariminenfe fynodo fuper ecdefia-

'"

The

fubjefl

of

ecclefiaftical jurifdidion

rum &

clericorum privileges tradatu habito,

eft,

has been involved in a mift of paffion, of prejudice, and of intereft.

ufque eo difpofitio progrefla

funftione
ceflarent

ut

juga qua;

viderentur ad ecclefiam pertinere, a publica

inquietudine defiftente
:

quod

noftra videtur
1.

dudum
ii.

fandlio
leg. 15.

repulfifTe.

Cod. Theod.

xvi. tit.

Had

the

Two of the fairefl books which have fallen into my hands are toe Inftitutes of Canon Law, by the Abbe de Fleury, and the Civil Hiftory of Naples, by Giannone. Their moderation was the eiFefl

fynod of Rimini carried this point, fuch practical merit might have atoned for fome fpeculative herefies.

of fituation as well as of temper. Fleury was a French ecclefiaftic, who relpefled the authority of the parliaments Giannone was
;

c.

" From Eufebius 27.) and Sozomen

(in \'it. Conftant. l.iv.

(1. i. c.

an Italian lawyer,
the church.

9.)

we

are afTu-

who dreaded And here let me

the power of

obferve, that
I

red that the epifcopal jurifdidionwas extend-

as the general propofitions

which

advance

ed and confirmed by Conftantine ; bu,t the forgery of a famous edift, which vvas never fairly inferred in the Theodofian code (fee
at the end, torn.
vi.

are the refult of wan)' particular and imperfeft fafts,

I

muft either refer the reader to

e.vprefsly treatdif-

thofe

modern authors who have

p. 303.), ic

demonftrated

by Godefroy
It
is

in the moft fatisfadlory

ftrange that

M.

,de

manner. Montefquieu, who

ed the fubjeft, or fwell thefe notes to a agreeable and difproportioned fize.

was a lawyer
allege this

as well, as

a philofopher, fhould

edii?. ,of

Conftantine (Efprit des

'" Tillemont has collefted from Rufinus, Theodoret, &c. the fentiments and language of Conftantine. Mem. Ecclef. torn, iii,
749 750.

Loix,

1.

xxix.^c. 16.) without intimating

any

fufpicioiu

the

'

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
if

223
he
'

the Nicene council was edified by his public declaration, that

C H A
J-

furprifed a bilhop in the adl of adultery, he fhould caft his Imperial

P.

mantle over the epifcopal finner.

2.

The

donieftic jurifdidion of

the bifhops was at once a privilege and a reftraint of the ecclefiaftical

order,

whofe

civil

caufes

were decently withdrawn from the

Their venial offences were
trial

cognizance

of a fecular judge.

not

expofed to the fliame of a pubhc

corredlion,

or puniihment

and the gentle

its

which the tendernefs of youth may endure from

pa-

rents or inftrudors,

was inflided by the temperate

clergy were guilty of

feverity of the

bifhops.

But

if the

any crime which could

not be fufficiently expiated by their degradation from an honourable

and
of

beneficial

profeffion, the

Roman
ratified

magiftrate

drew the fword

3.

juflice,

without any regard to

ecclefiaftical

immunities.

The
the

arbitration of the bifliops

was

by

a pofitive

law
or

and the

judges were inftruded to execute, without appeal

epifcopal decrees,

delay,

whofe

validity

had hitherto depended on the con-

fent of the parties.

The

converfion of the magiftrates themfelves,

fears

and of the whole empire, might gradually remove the

fcruples of the Chriftians.

and

But they

ftill

reforted to the tribunal of

;

the biiliops, whofe abilities and integrity they efteemed

and the

venerable Auftin enjoyed the fatisfadion of complaining that his

fpiritual

fundions were perpetually interrupted by the invidious

poffefllon of filver

la-

bour of deciding the claim or the

lands and cattle.
ferred
to
4.

and gold, of

The

ancient privilege of fanduary

was transliberal

the Chriftian

temples,

and

extended,

by the

piety of the

younger Theodofius,
fugitive,

to the

precinds of confecrated

ground

'".

The

and even

guilty, fuppliants,

were permitted

to implore, either the juflice, or the

"^ SeeCod. Theod.
1.

mercy, of the Deity and his miniGreece might perhaps contain fifteen or twenty ax^la or fanftuaries ; a nnmber which
at prcfent

ix.

tit. xl v.

leg. 4.

In the works of Fra Paolo (torn. iv. p. 192, &c.) there is an excellent difcourfe on the origin, claims, abufes, and limits of fanetaaries.

may

be found in Italy within the

walls of a iingle city,

He

juftly

obferves,

that

ancient

fiers>

224
fters.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The
rafh violence of defpotifm
:

was fufpended by by the

tlic

mild

interpofition of the church

and the Uves or fortunes of the moft

protected

eminent fubjefts might be

bifhop.
V.
Spiritual

mediation

of the

V. The bilhop was the perpetual cenfor of the morals of

people.

his

ceu ures.

The

difcipline

of penance was digefted into a fyftem of

canonical jurifprudence

"^ which accurately defined the duty of

was impoffible
to execute

private or public confeffion, the rules of evidence, the degrees of

guilt,

and the meafure of punifhment.

It

this fpiritual cenfure, if the Chriftian pontiff,

who

punifhed the ob-

fcure fms of the

multitude,

refpeded the
:

confpicuous vices and

to arraign

deftrudive crimes of the magiftrate

but

it

was impoffible

the condudt of the magiftrate, without controuling the adminiftration of civil government.

Some

confiderations of religion, or loyalty,

or fear, protected the facred perfons of the emperors from the zeal

or refentment of the bifhops ; but they boldly cenfured and excom-

municated the fubordinate tyrants,

majefty of the purple.
minifters of
St.

who were

not inverted with the

Athanafius excommunicated one of the

interdidl

Egypt

and the

which he pronounced, of

fire
'".

and water, was folemnly tranfmitted

to the churches of

Cappadocia

Under

the reign of the younger Theodofius, the polite and eloquent

filled

Synefius, one of the defcendants of Hercules "^,

the epifcopal
feat

"* The
councils.

penitential jurifprudence

was

"'

Bafil Epiftol. xlvii. in Baronius

(Annal.

continually improved hy the canons of the

Ecclef. A.

D. 370. N. 91.) who declares that

it,

But

as

many

cafes

were

Hill left

he purpofely relates
that they were not

to

convince governors

to the difcretion of the bifhops,

ftonally publiftied, after the

they occa-

Roman

Praetor, the rules

example of the of difcipline which

they propofed to obfcrve.

Among

the ca-

nonical epiftles of the fourth century, thofe

of Bafil the Great were the moft celebrated, They are inferted in the Pandefts of Beveridge (torn.
lated
ii. p. 47 by Chardon.

i;i-),

and are tranfHiiL des SacremenSj

cm.

iv.

p.

219 27-.

a fentence of excommunication. In his opinion, even a royal head is not fafe from the thunders of the Vatican; and the cardinal fhews himfelf much more confillent than the lawyers and theologians of the Gallican church. "" The long feries of his anceftors, as high as Euryfthenes, the firlt: Doric king of Sparta, and the fifth in lineal defcent from Hercules, was infcribed in the public regif-

exempt from

OF THE
feat

ROMAN
He

EMPIRE.
'",

225 ^
^^

of Ptolemals, near the

laiins

of ancient Cyi-cne

and the phi-

^-

lolophic bifhop fupported, with dignity, the charadlcr

afliimed with rehidance "*.

which he had

vanquifhed the monfter of Libya,

office,

the prefident Andronicus,

who

abufed the authority of a venal

invented
guilt

new modes of

rapine and torture,

facrilege '",

and aggravated the

fruitlefs

of oppreffion by that of

After a

attempt

to reclaim the haughty magiftrate

by mild and

religious admonition,

Synefms proceeds

to inflit the laft fentence of ecclefiaflital juftice "",

his
aflbciates

which devotes Andronicus, with

to

and

their families^

the abhorrence of earth and heaven.

cruel than Phalaris or Sennacherib,

The

impenitent fmners,

more

more dcftruQive than war,

peftilence, or a cloud of locufts, are deprived of the

name and

privi-

leges of Chriftians, of the participation of the facraments,

and of the

hope of

Paradife.
to

The

bilhop exhorts the clergy, the magiftrates,

all

and the people,

ters

renounce

fociety with the enemies of Chrift

of Cyrene,
Epift.

a
Ivii.

Lacedxmonian colony.
p.

(Synef.

197.

edit.

Petav.)

Such a pure and illuftrious pedigree of feventeen hundred years, without adding the
royal anceftors of Hercules, cannot be equalled in the hiftory of mankind.

fports ; he was incapable of fupporting a life of celibacy ; he dilbelieved the refurreflion : and he refufed to prea.ch/ai/es to the people,

unlefs he
at

might be permitted
his merit,

to philofophixe

home.

Theophilus, primate of Egypt,

accepted this extraor-

who knew
in

'" Synefius (de Regno, p. 2.) pathetically deplores the fallen and ruined ftate of Cy-

dinary compromife.

See the
Ecclef.

life

of Synefius
xii,

Tillemont
'-

Mem.

torn,

p.

499554See the inveftive of Synefius,

p.
Epift.
iprc,

Kai fisya spi7rio.

Ptolemais, a

new

city,

Ivii.

191

201.
;

The promotion of An-

82 miles to the weilward of Cyrene, a/Fumed

the Metropolitan honours of the Pentapolis,

or

Upper

Libya,

which

were

afterward

dronicus was illegal fince he was a native of Berenice, in the fame province. The inftruments of tortures are curioufly fpecified,
the
wiEr^ifujij

transferred to Sozufa.
rar. p.

See Weffeling ItineCellarius

or prefs,

the JaxTuAr.P^x,
(uTicyja,

the

6768. 732.
part
ii.

Geograph.
d'Anville

EJoJor^afn,
J(;:l^s^f6lplCJ,

the pvoXaJi;, the

the

and the
the ears,

torn.

ii.

p. 72.

74.

Carolus a S'"

that varioufly preffed or diftended

feet,

Paulo Geograph. Sacra, p. 273.

the fingers,

the nofe,

Geographic ancienne, torn. iii. p. 43, 44. Memoires de I'Acad. des Infcriptions, torn,
xxxvii. p. 363

and the
'-'

lips

of the viftims.
fentence of excommunication
a rhetorical flyle.
is

The

391.
his

exprefled in

(Synefius,

"' Synefius had previoufly reprefented

Epift. Iviii. p. 201

203.)

The method of
interdifts.

own

difqualifications (Epift. c. v. p.

250.).

He loved profane ftudies

246 and profane

involving whole families, though fomewhat

unjuft,

was improved into national

Vol. IL

to

226

THE DECLINE AND FALL

to exclude

CHAP,
XX.

them from
offices

their houfes
life,

and

tables

and to

refufe

them

\->r

'

the

common

of

and the decent

rites

of burial.
as

The
apof the

church of Ptolemais,
pear, addrefles this

obfcure

and contemptible
all

ihe

may

declaration ro

her her

filler

churches
will

world

and

the

profane

who

rejed

decrees,

be in-

volved in

the guilt and punifhment

of Andronicus and his

im-

pious followers.

Thefe

fpiritual

terrors

were enforced by a dex-

terous application to the Byzantine court; the trembling prefident

implored the mercy of the church

and the defcendant of Hercules

a
proftrate

enjoyed

the
'".

fatisfadlion

of raifmg

tyrant

from the

ground
the

Such

principles

and fuch examples infenfibly prepared

pontiffs,

triumph of the

Roman

who

have trampled on the

necks of kings.
VI. Freedom
preaching.

VI.
I'ude or

Every popular government has experienced the

artificial
is

efFefts

of

eloquence.

The
is

coldeft

nature

is

animated, the

firmeft reafon

moved, by the rapid communication of the prevailaffected

ing impulfe; and each hearer

by

his

own

paffions,

and

by

thofe of the furrounding multitude.

filenced the

The

ruin of

civil liberty

had

demagogues of Athens, and the tribunes of

had not been

Rome j
the

the cuftom of preaching, which feems to conftitute a confiderable

part of Chriftian

devotion,
;

introduced into

temples of antiquity

and the ears of monarchs were never invaded

till

by the harlh found of popular eloquence,

empire were
filled

the

pulpits

of the

with facred orators,

unknown
toric
fkilful

to their profane predeceflbrs

who poffeiTed fome advantages "^ The arguments and rhe-

of the tribune were inftantly oppofed, with equal arms, by

and

refolute antagonifts

and the caufe of truth and reafon

Bingham
p.

'" Sec

Synefius, Epift. xlvii. p. i86, 187,

p. 218,

(Antiquities, vol.

i.

I.

xiv. c. 4.

Eplft. Ixxii.

219.

Epift. Ixxxix. p.

230231.
"'^

See Thomaffiii (Difcipline de I'Eglife,

ii. 1.

torn.

iii.

c.

83. p.

1761

1770.)

and

was confidered as the moft important office of the biftiop ; but this funftion was fometimes intruiled to fuch prelbyters as Chryfoilom and Auguftin.
P.-eaching

688

717.).

might

OF THE
fions.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
conflidt

-^27

might derive an accidental fupport from the

of hoftile paf-

CHAP.

The

billiop, or

feme

diflinguiflied prefbyter, to

whom

he

cautioufly delegated the powers of preaching,

harangued, without

the danger of interruption or reply, a fubmiiilve multitude, whofc

minds had been prepared and fubdued by the awful ceremonies of

religion.

Such was the

ftrift

fubordination of the catholic church,

that the i;ime concerted founds

might

iffue at

once from an hundred

'^*

pulpits of Italy or Egypt, if they

were tuned

by

the mafter

hand

of the
tion

Roman

or Alexandrian primate.

The

defign of this inftitu-

was

laudable,

but the fruits were not always falutary.

The

preachers

recommended

the practice of the focial duties; but they

exalted the perfection of monaftic virtue,

individual and ufelefs to mankind.

which

is

painful to the

Their charitable exhortations

betrayed a fecret wifh, that the clergy might be permitted to manage

the wealth of the faithful, for the benefit of the poor.

The moft

fublime reprefentations of the attributes and laws of the Deity were

fullied

by an

idle

mixture of metaphyseal
:

fubtleties, puerile rites,

and
zeal,

fidlitious miracles

and they expatiated, with the moft fervent and obeying the

on the

religious merit of hating the adverfaries,

minifters, of the church.

When
The

the public peace was diftraded

by

herefy and fchifm, the facred orators founded the trumpet, of difcord
and,
tions

perhaps of fedition.

underftandings of their congregatheir

were perplexed by myftery,

paffions

were inflamed by

invedtives:

and they rufhed from the Chriftian temples of Antioch

prepared either to fuffer or to
is

or Alexandria,

inflit

martyrdom.
in the

The

corruption of tafte and language

ftrongly

marked

vehe-

ment declamations of the Latin bifhops; but

'"*

the compofitions of

Queen Elizabeth

ufed this exprefiion,

and

praftifed this art,

whenever

llie

wifhed

to prepoflefs the minds of her people in favour of any extraordinary meafure of govern-

apprehended by her fucceflbr, and feverely " When pulpit, drum ecfelt by his fon. " clefiaftic, &c." See Heylin's Life of Archbifhop Laud, p. 153.

ment.

The

holUle effefts of this mujic were

g 2

Gregory

228

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^
Gregoiy and Chryfoftom have been compared with the mofl fplendid
'

CHAP.
'

models of Attic, or

at leaft

of Afiatic, eloquence

"'.

VII. Prlvilege of legifblies.

VIL The

reprefentatives of the Chriftian republic

were regularly
thefe fynods

^flembled in the fpring and

autumn of each year

and

and

diffufed the fpirit of ecclefiaftical difcipline

legiflation

through

the hundred and twenty provinces of the

Roman

world "^

archbiihop or metropolitan was empowered, by the laws, to

the fuffragan bifhops of his province;
to revife

The fummon
to

their

condud,

vindicate their rights, to declare their faith, and to

examine the

merit of the candidates

who were

eleded by the clergy and people

college.

to fupply the vacancies of the epifcopal

The

primates of
Conftantithe

Rome,
nople,

Alexandria, Antioch, Carthage,

and

aftervv'-ards

who

exercifed a

more ample jurifdidion, convened

nu-

merous aflembly of their dependent bifhops. But the convocation of great and extraordinary fynods, was the prerogative of the emperor
alone.
decifive

Whenever
meafure,

the

emergencies of the church required

a

this

he

difpatched

peremptory fummons to the

bifhops, or the deputies of each province, with an order for the ufe of
poft-horfes,
A. D. 314.

and a competent allowance for the expences of

early period,

their

journey.

At an

when
;

Conflantine was the proteftor,

rather than the profelyte, of Chrifi;ianity, he referred the African

controverfy to the council of Aries

in

which the bifhops of York, of

Treves, of Milan, and of Carthage, met as friends and brethren, to

debate in their native tongue on the
A.D.
325.

common

interefl

of the Latin or

Weftern church

'".

Eleven years afterwards, a more numerous and

celebrated

'*5

Thofe modeft

orators

acknowledged,

Nicene canons
to the interefl
fi7i7fl

hai'e

that, as they were deftitute of the gift of

abufed, interpolated,' or forged,

been varioufly tortured, according

miracles,
arts

they endeavoured to .acquire the

of the clergy.

The

Suburbi-

of eloquence. "* The Council of Nice, in the fourth, fifth, fixth, and feventh, canons, has made

churches, alTigned (by Rufinus) to the

bifhop of

Rome, have been made

the fubjeft

fome fundamental

regulations

concerning

fynods, metropolitans, and primates.

The

(See Sirmond. of vehement controverfy. Opera, torn. iv. p. 1 238.) *'' We have only thirty-three or forty-

feven

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
celebrated aflembly

229

was convened

at

Nice In Blthynia, to cxtinguifh,

CHAP.

by

their final fentence, the fubtle difputes

which had

ariien in

Egypt

on the fubjeit of the Trinity.

obeyed the fummons of
every rank, and
tlioufand and
{eO:^

Three hundred and eighteen

;

bifliops

their indulgent mafter

the ecclefiaftics of
at

and denomination, have been computed

;

two
;

forty-eight perfons "'

the Greeks appeared in perfon

and the confent of the Latins was exprefled by the

legates of the

Roman
guards

pontiff.

The

feffion,

which

lafted

about two months, was

frequently honoured by the prefence of the emperor.

at the

Leaving

his

door, he feated himfelf (with the permiflion of the

council) on a

low

flool in the

midft of the
:

hall.

Conftantine liftened

with patience, and fpoke with modefty

the debates, he

and while he influenced

humbly

profefled that he

was the

minifler,

not the

judge, of the fucceflbrs of the apoflles,

priefts

who had

been

eftablillied as

and

as gods

upon

earth

"^.

Such profound reverence of an

and unarmed aflembly of
his

abfolute
fubjets,

monarch towards

a^ feeble

own

can only be compared to the refpet with which the fenate

had been treated by the

Auguftus.

Roman

princes

who

adopted the policy of

a phllofophic fpedlator

Within the fpace of

of

fifty years,

of the

viciflltudes

in the fenate

human affairs might have contemplated Tacitus of Rome, and Confl:antine in the council of Nice^ The
and thofe of the church had
alike degenerated

fathers of the capitol

from the

virtues of their founders; but as the bifhops

were more

deeply rooted in the public opinion, they fuftained their dignity with

more decent

pride,

and fometimes oppofed, with a manly

fpirit,

the wifhes of their foverelgn.

feven
epifcopal fubfcriptions

The
a
fix

progrefs of time and fuperflition

to the

but Ado,

by Eiitychius
torn.
i.

2048

ecclefiaftics

(Annal.

writer indeed of fmall account, reckons

hundred bidiops in the council of Aries, Tillemont Mem. Ecclef. torn. vi. p. 422. "^ See Tillemont, torn. vi. p. 915, and Beaufobre Hift. du Manicheifme, torn. i. The name oibifoop, which is given p. 529.

440. verf. I'ocock), muft be cxtended far beyond the limits of an orthodox
p.

or even epifcopal ordination.

"' See Eufeb.

c.

in Vit. Conftantin.

1.

iii.

21.
p.

Tillemont

Mem.

Ecclefiaftiques,

torn. vi.

669

759.
crazed

230

THE DECLINE AND FALL

erazed the

CHAP.
XX.

memory

of-

the weaknefs,

the pafTion,
;

the ignorance,

which difgraced
'".

thefe ecclefiaftical fynods

'^

and the Catholic world

has unanimoufly fubmittcd

councils
'^

to the irifallible decrees of the general

quas a quatuor Sanftis Conciliis

fite

Sancimus igiturvicem legum obtineie, expo. .

.

'^'

See the article

iii.

clopedic, torn.

funt aut firmata;.

Praediftarum enim
ficut

Lucques.
chaud, has

in the Ency668 -679. edition de The author, M. le dofteur Bou-

Concile

p.

quatuor fynodorum

dogmata

fanftas

difcufl'ed,

according to the prin-

Scripturas et regulas ficut leges obfervamus.

Juftinian. Novell, cxxxi. Beveridge (ad
deft, proleg. p. 2.) remarks,

ciples of the Gallican church, the principal

Pan-

queftions which relate to the form and conftitution

cial

that the

em-

of general,

national,

and provinthis article.

perors never

made new

laws in ecclefiaftical

councils.

The

editors (fee Preface, p.

matters
tion to

difFerent fpirit, that they

and Giannone obferves, in a very gave a legal fancthe canons of councils. Iftoria Civile
;

xvi.)

have reafon to be proud of

their

Thofe who confult

tion,

immenfe compilafatisfied.

feldom depart fo well

di Napoli, torn.

i.

p. 136.

CHAR

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

231

CHAP.
Perfecution of Herejy.

XXI.

The Aria7i

Co7itroverfy.

The

Schifm of the Donatifls.

Athanajius.

his

DijlraSied State

of the Church and Empi?'e u?tder Conf}anti?je and

Sof2s.

Toleration of Paganifm.

THE
their

grateful applaufe

of the clergy has confecrated the

me- c H A

P.

mory of a

prince

who

indulged their paflions and promoted

intereft.
:

Conftantine gave

them

fecurity, wealth,
faith

honours,

and revenge
as the

and the fupport of the orthodox

was confidered

mod

facred and important duty of the civil magiftrate.

The

edit of Milan, the great charter of toleration,

had confirmed

to each

individual of the

Roman
religion.

world, the privilege of chufmg and pro-

fefTmg his
violated
:

own

But

this

ineftimable privilege

was foon

with the knowledge of truth, the emperor imbibed the

perfecution
;

maxims of
tholic

and the

fecfts

which

diflented

from the Catriumph of

church,

were afBidled and

opprefl'ed

by

the

Chriftianity.

Conftantine eafily believed that

the Pleretics,

who

prefumed

to difpute his opinions, or to oppofe his

commands, were
and that a feafon-

guilty of the moll: abfurd

and criminal obftinacy

able application of moderate feverities

might fave thofe unhappy

from the danger of an everlafling condemnation.

Not

men moment

was

loft

in excluding the

minifters

and teachers of the feparated

congregations from any ihare of the rewards and immunities which

the emperor had fo
liberally

beftowed
ftill

on the orthodox

clergy.

But

as the

fedaries

might

exift

under the cloud of royal

difgrace,

i32

THE DECLINE AND FALL

dilgrace,

CHAP,
XXI'

the conquefl of the Eaft was immediately followed by

>r

'

an

cdidi

which
filled

announced

their

total

dcftrudion

'.

After a

preamble

with paffion

and reproach, Conftantine abfolutely

prohibits the aflemblies of the Heretics, and confifcates their public

property to the ufe either of the revenue or of the Catholic church.

The feds
Phrygia,

againft

whom

the Imperial feverity

was direded, appear

to

have been the adherents of Paul of Samofata;

the Montanifts of
j

who maintained an enthufiaftic fucceffion of prophecy the Novatians, who fternly rejected the temporal efficacy of repentance;
the Marcionites and Valentinians, under whofe leading banners the

various Gnoftics of Afia and Egypt had infenfibly rallied

the Manichseans,
artful

and perhaps
a

who had

recently imported

from

Perfia

more

compofition

of Oriental

and

Chriftian theology \

The

defign of e>ttirpating the name, or at leaft of reflraining the progrefs of thefe odious Heretics,

was profecuted with vigour and

efFe6t.

Some
cletian

of the penal regulations were copied from the edlds of Dio;

and

this

method of converfion
felt

vras

applauded by the fame

bifliops

who had

the

hand of oppreffion,

and had pleaded

for the rights of humanity.

ferve,

Two

immaterial circumftances

may

however, to prove that the mind of Conftantine was not

entirely corrupted

by the

fpirit

of zeal and bigotry.

their

Before he con-

demned make an
ples.
fellors,

the

Manichxans and

kindred feds, he refolved to

accurate enquiry into the nature of their religious princiif

As

he diftrufted the impartiality of his

ecclefiaftical
civil
;

coun-

this delicate

commiffion was entrufted to a

juftly efteemed

magiftrate

whofe learning and moderation he

' Eufebius in Vlt. Conftantln. 1. lii. c. 63, 64, 65, 66. ^ After fome examination of the various

and of whofe
that a philofophic

year 270.

It is ftrange,

and foreign herefy

rapidly into

fliould

have penetrated

fo

the African provinces;

yet I

opinions of Tillemont, Beaufobre, Lardner,

cannot

eafily rejeft

the edift of Diocletian

&c.

am

convinced

that

Manes

did not

againft the Manichseans,

in Baronius.

propagate his fed, even in Perfia, before the

which mav be found (Annal. Eccl. A. D. 3S7.)

venal

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
'.

233
foon

venal cliaralcr he was probably ignorant

The emperor was

]^

^-

convinced that he had too haftily profcribed the orthodox faith and
the exemplary morals of the Novatians
;

v.^-^1.^

who had

diffented

from

the church in fome articles of difcipline

eiTential to falvation.

which were not perhaps

he exempted them from

By

a particular edldl,
*;

the general penalties of the law

allowed them to build a church at

Conftantinople, refpeiSted the miracles of their faints, invited their

])iihop Acefius to the council of

Nice

and gently ridiculed the narwhich, from the mouth of a

'.

row

tenets of his fet

by

a familiar jeft;

fovereign, muft have been received with applaufe and gratitude

The

complaints and mutual accufations which affailed the throne

African

of Conftantine, as foon as the death of Maxentius had fubmitted

Africa to his vidlorious arms, were
profelyte.
ill

a. D. 313.'

adapted to edify an imperfeft

that the

He

learned,

with

furprife,

provinces of that
to

great

country,

from the

confines of Cyrene

the columns of

Hercules, were diftradted with religious

the divlfion

dlfcord ^

The

fource of

was derived from a double

election in the church of

Carthage; the fecond, in rank and opulence,

thrones of the Weft.
Conftantinus, enim

of the

ecclefiaftical

Cxcilian and Majorinus were the two

rival

'

cum

limatius fuperet

to the

Novatian doflrine.

ftitionum quxreret feftas,

Manichaoorum
xv.
15.

to the bifhop,

fimilium.
giu?,

Sec.

Ammian.
this

Strate-

"

get

up

to

The emperor faid " Acefius, take a ladder, and Heaven by yourfelf." Moll
fefts

who from
fei5t.

commiflion obtained the

aled as

of the Chriftian
*

have, by turns, bor-

furnanie of Mufonianus, was a Chrillian of

rowed the ladder of Acefius.

the Arian

He

counts at the council of Sardica.

praifes
his

one of the Libanius

Valef.

The

bell materials for this part

of eccle-

fiaftical

hillary

may be found

in the edition

mildnefa

and prudence.
xvi.
tit. v.

ad locum
*

Ammian.
1.

of Optatus Milevitanus, publill.ed (Paris 1700) by M. Dupin, who has enriched it

with critical iwtes, geographical difcufficns,

Cod. Theod.
is it is

leg. 2.

As

the general law

not inferted in the T'l^o-

dofian code,

probable that, in the year

it

438, the fefts which already extinft.

'

had condemned were

22.

c. 10.

Sozomen, Thefe

1.

i.

c.

Socrates,

1.

i.

and an accurate abridgement of the whole controverfy. M. de Tillemont has bellowed on the Donatifts the greatell part of a volume (tom. vi. parti.): and I am indebted to him for an ample coloriginal records,
leftion

hiftorians

have been fufpeded,

of

all the

paflages of his favourite St.

but I think without reafon, of an attachment

Augullin, which relate to thofe heretics.

Vol.

II.

primates

^34

THE DECLINE AND FAIL

^'

^
^,l

V v'?

pi'iiT^ates

of Africa

and the death of the

y- .^

Donatus, who, by his fuperior abiUties

the firmed fupport of his party.

made room for and apparent virtues, was

hitter

foon

The advantage which

it

CseciUan

might claim from the priority of his ordination, was deftroyed by the
illegal,

or at leaft indecent, hafte, with which

had been performed,,

without expeding the arrival of the bilhops of Numidia.

authority of thefe biftiops,

The
by

who,

to

the

number of
is

feventy, con-

demned

Cascilian,

and confecrated Majorinus,

again weakened
;

the infamy of fome of their perfonal charaders

intrigues,
facrilegious bargains,

and by the female

and tumultuous proceedings which

'.

are imputed to this

Numidian

council

The
leaft

bifliops

of the con-

tending fadions maintained, with equal ardour and obftinacy, that

their

advcrlaries

were degraded,
delivering the
their

or at

difhonoured,

by the

odious crime of
Diocletian.

Holy

Scriptures to the officers of

as

From

mutual reproaches, as well

it

from the

ftory of this dark tranfadion,

may juftly be

inferred, that the late

perfecution had embittered the zeal, without reforming the manners,

of the African Chriftians.

That divided church was incapable of

;

affording an impartial judicature

in five fucceffive tribunals,

the controverfy-

was folemnly

tried
;
,

which were appointed by the emperor

firft

and the whole proceeding, from the

lafted

appeal to the final fentencci

above three years.

fevere inquifition, v^diich

was taken by

the Prxtorian vicar, and the proconful of Africa, the report of

epifcopal vifitors

two

who had

been fent to Carthage, the decrees of the

councils of

Rome
illo

and of Aries, and the fupreme judgment of Contempore confufe mu;

'

Schifma igitur
iracundia
roboravit.

ad

calc.

Optat;
to

p.

274.

When

Cicciiian.

iieris

peperit

ambitus nutrivit
!.

was invited

an afTembly of

biiTiops,

Pur-

avaritia

Optatus,
is

i.

c.

19.

purius faid to his brethren, or rather to his

The
rious

language of Purpurius

that of a fufilios

accomplices,

" Let him come

hither to re-

madman.
.
.

Dicitur te necafl'e

fo-

roris tuas duos.

Purpurius refpondit: Putas

.

" "

ceive our impofition of hands;

will

and we

break his head by way of penance."

I.

me

teireri a te

occidi

et occido eos qui

Cirteiifis,

Optat.-

i.

c.

19.

contra

me

faciunt.

Afta Concil.

ftantinc;

OF THE
caufe of Carcllian
civil
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
were
all

s^c
C
II

ftantlne himfelf in his facred confiftory,

favourable to the

1'.

XXI.

and he was inianimoufly acknowledged by the

powers,
as

and

ecclefiaflical

the true and lawful primate

of

Africa.

The honours and

bifhops,
fatisfied

eftates
it

of the church were attributed to

difficulty, that

his fuffragan

and

was not without

Con-

ftantine

was

with inflidting the punifhment of exile on the

principal leaders of the Donatift faction.

As

their

caufe

was exaPer-

mined with

attention, perhaps

it

was detennined with

juftice.

haps their complaint was not without foundation, that the credulity
of the emperor had been abufed by the iniidious
vourite Ohus.
arts

of his fa-

The

influence of falfehood

and corruption might,

procure the condemnation of the innocent, or aggravate the fentence

of the guilty.

Such an

adl,

however, of

injuftice, if

it

concluded

an importunate difpute, might be numbered among the tranfient

evils

of a defpotic adminiftration, which are neither

felt

nor

rememSchifm of
tlieDonatiili,

bered by pofterity.

But

this incident,
1

in hiftory,

was productive of a memorable fchilmj

lb inconfiderable that c ^

it
^

fcarcely deferves a place

r

m which amided

A. 0.315.

the provinces of Africa above three hundred years, and

was extinfreedom

guifhed only with Chriftianity

itlelf.

The

inflexible zeal of

and fanaticifm
ufurpers,

animated the Donatlflis to refufe obedience to the

election they difputcd,
civil

whofe

and whofe

fpiritual

powers

they denied.

Excluded from the

and religious communion of

reft

mankind, they boldly excommunicated the

of mankind,

who

had embraced the impious party of

Ca:cilian,

and of the Traditors,

from

whom

he derived his pretended ordination.

They

afi'erted

with confidence, and almoft with exultation, that the Apoftolical

fucceffion

was interrupted

that all the bifhops of

guilt

Europe and Afia

and
that the pre-

were infedled by the contagion of

rogatives of the Catholic church

and fchifm

were confined

to the chofen portion

of the African

believers,

who

alone had preferved inviolate the inte-

h 2

grity

236

THE DECLINE AND FALL

grity of their faith

CHAP,
A. A.1.

and

dlfcipline.

This rigid theory was fupported

by the moft uncharitable condudt.

lyte,

Whenever they
"

acquired a profe-

even from the diftant provinces of the Eaft, they carefully

rites

repeated the facred

of baptifm

and ordination

as

they rejeded

the validity of thofe which he had already received from the hands of
heretics or fchifmatics.

Bifhops, virgins, and even fpotlefs infiints,

a public penance,

were fubjeded

to

the difgrace of

before they
If they

could be admitted to the

communion of

the

Donatifts.

obtained pofTeflion of a church which had been ufed by their Catholic

adverfaries,

they purified the unhallowed building with the fame

jealous care which a temple of Idols might have required.

They
Holy

wafhed the pavement, fcraped the

walls, burnt the altar,

which was

commonly of wood, melted

the confecrated plate, and caft the

Eucharift to the dogs, with every circumllance of ignominy which

could provoke and perpetuate the animofity of religious

fadlions'"".

Notwithllanding

this

irreconcilable averfion, the

in
all

two

parties,

who
fame

were mixed and feparated

the cities of Africa, had the

language and manners, the fame zeal and learning, the fame faith

and worfhip.

Profcribed by the civil and ecclefiaftical powers of the

ftill

empire, the Donatifts

in

maintained in fome provinces, particularly

;

Numidia, their fuperior numbers

of the led fometimes preyed on

and four hundred bifhops

acknowledged the jurifdidion of

ipirlt

their primate.
its

But the invincible

;

own

vitals

and the bofom

of their fchifmatical church was torn by inteftine divifions.

A fourth
their
firft

part of the Donatifl bifliops followed the independent ftandard of the

Maximianifts.
*

The narrow and

and moderate

folitary

path

which
vi.

The

councils of Aries, of Nice, and of

Mem.
ed

Ecclef. torn.

p. 13S.) has e.vplain-

Trent,
natifts,

contirmed

the

wife

why

the Donatifts tis eternally burning

St.

praftice of the church of

Rome.

The Doof

with the Devil, while

Cyprian reigns

in

however,

had

the

advantage

heaven with Jefus

'

Chrift.

maintaining the fentiment of Cyprian, and of a confiderable part of the primitive church,
Vincentius Lirinenfis (p. 332. ap. Tillemont,

See the

fi.vth

book cf Optatus Milevita-

nus, p. gi

100.
leaders

OF
leaders

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

to deviate
fel

237
fociety
'

had marked out, continued

from the great

II

P.
.

of mankind.
affirm,

Even the imperceptible

of the Rogatians could

without a bluih, that

when

Chrift ihould defcend to judge the

earth, he

would

find his true religion preferved only in a

few namelefs

villages of the Caefarean

Mauritania

'.

The

fchifm of the Donatifls was confined to Africa

the

more The

Tnni-

diffufive mifchief of the Trinitarian

controverfy fucceflively pene-

troverfy.

trated into every part of the Chriftian world.

The former was an

;

accidental quarrel, occafioned

by the abufe of freedom

the latter

was

a high

and

m)'fl:erious

argument, derived from the abufe of

philofophy.

From

the age of Conftantine to that of Clovis and

interefts

Theodoric, the temporal

rians

both of the

Romans and Barbawithdraw

were deeply involved in the theological difputes of Arianifm.

hiftorian

The
faith,

may

therefore be permitted refpedfully to

;

the veil of the fandluary

and

to

deduce the progrefs of reafon and

of error and paffion, from the fchool of Plato to the decline

of the empire.
genius of Plato, informed by his

and

fall

The

own

meditation, or by the The

fyftem

traditional

knowledge of the

priefts

of Egypt ",

had ventured

to

Befoi^e Chriil

explore the myfterious nature of the Deity.

his

When
lirfl

he had elevated
ne-

^^'

mind

to the fublime contemplation of the

felf-exiftent,

cellliry

caufe of the univerfe, the Athenian fage

was incapable of

conceiving ho%v the fimple unity of his efience could admit the infinite variety of diftinfl

and fucceffive ideas which compofe the model

j

of the intelledlual world

'

bow
torn. vi.

Being purely incorporeal could

that Plato derived a part of his
;

Tillemont, Mem. Ecelefiaftiques,

1.

part

p. 253.

He

laughs at their partial

cruelty.

He

revered

AuguiHn, the great

peragravit ut a facercrchjlia
v.

doflor of the fyftem of pvedeftination.

"
peret.

Plato

Egyptum
de

knowledge from the Jews but this vain opinion cannot be reconciled with the obfcure ftate and unfecial manners of the Jewiih people, whofe fcrijjtures were not acceifible to Gie.k curiofity
till

dotibus

Barbaris numeros et

acci-

Cicero
creed

Finibus,
ftiU

25.

The
tradi-

the death of Plato.

more than one hundred years after See Marfliam, Canon.

P^gyptians
lional

might
of

preferve

the

Chron.
vii.

p. 144..

Le

Clsrc, Epillol. Critic,

the

Patriarchs.

Jofephus

p. 177

194.
execute

has perfuaded

many

of the Chriftian fathers,

238

THE DECLINE AND FALL

execute that perfed model, and mould with a plaftic hand the rude

CHAP
XXI.

and independent chaos.

thefe difficulties,

The

vain hope of extricating himlelf from

feeble

which muft ever opprefs the

powers of the

human mind, might

Thi Logos

induce Plato to confider the divine nature under

firfh

the threefold modification; of the

caufe, the reafon, or Logoi,

and the

foul

or fpirit of the univerfe.

His

poetical imagination
;

fometimes fixed and animated thefe metaphyfical abftradtions

three archical
or
original principles

the

were reprefented

in the Plaa myfterious

tonic fyftem as three

Gods, united with each other by

;

and

ineffable generation

and the Logos was particularly confidered

of the Son of an Eternal Father,

under the more

accefTible charaler

and the Creator and Governor of the world.

been the
fccret dolrincs
;

Such appear

to

have

which were cautioufly whifpered

in the gar-

dens of the academy

difciples

and which, according to the more recent

till

of Plato, could not be perfeftly underftood,

''.

after

an

afliduous ftudy of thirty years

taught in the

The arms
"^^ taught,

of the Macedonians diffufed over Afia and Egypt the

;

Alexandria,

language and learning of Greece

and the theological fyftem of Plato

?oo7^

"

with

lefs

referve,

and perhaps with fome improvements,

in the celebrated fchool of Alexandria ".

numerous colony of

Jews had been

their

invited,
'*.

by

the favour of the Ptolemies, to fettle in

pradlifed

new

capital

While the bulk of the nation

cf a more liberal

the

legal ceremonies,

and purfued the lucrative occupations

fpirit,

of comlives

merce, a

iew Hebrews,

devoted their

" The modern guides who lead me to the knowledge of the Platonic fyftem are. Cudworth(IntelleaualSyftem,p. 56S-620.),Bafnage Hift. des Juifs, 1. iv. c. iv. p. 53-86.), Le Clerc (Epift. Crit. vii. p. 194209.), and Brucker (Hift. Philofoph. torn. i. p. 675 706,). As the learning of thefe writers was
equal, and their intention different, an inqui-

fitive

obferver may derive inftruftion from their

difputes,
'^

and certainty from

Hift.

their agreement.
torn.
i.

Brucker,

Philofoph.

p.

1349 1357.
(xxii. 5.).

The Alexandrian
(1.

fchool

is

celebrated by Strabo

xvii.)

and Ammiac. i. 3.

nus
'+

Jofeph. Antiquitat.
1.

1.

xli.

Baf-

nage, Hift. des Juifs,

vii.

c. 7.

10

OF
to religious
diligence,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

'\

'39

and philofophical contemplation

They

cultivated with

CHAP.
XXI.
"^-

and embraced with ardour, the theological fyftem of the

lage.

'

Athenian
fied

But their national pride would have been morti-

by

a fair confeflion of their former poverty: and they boldly

as the

marked,

facred inheritance of their anceftors, the gold

ftolen.

and

jewels which they had fo lately

from

their

Egyptian mafters.
Before Chrift 100.

One hundred
Plato,

years before the birth of Chrift, a philoibphical treatife,

ftyle

which manifeftly betrays the

and fentiments of the fchool of

was produced by the Alexandrian Jews, and unanimoufly rerelic

ceived as a genuine and valuable

of the infpired
faith,

Wifdom

of

Solomon

'\

fimilar

union of the Mofaic

and the Grecian

philofophy, diftinguifhes the works of Philo, which were compofed, for

the moft part, under the reign of Auguftus '\

imiverfe

'*

might offend the piety of the

The material foul of the Hebrews but they applied

:

the charadter of the Logos to the Jehovah of Mofes and the patriarchs

and the Son of

even

God was

introduced upon earth under a

vifible,

and

human

appearance, to perform thofe familiar offices whicli feem

Incompatible with the nature

and

attributes of the Univerfal

Caufe".

The
'5

For the origin of the Jewifh phHofophy,

to Philo,

and moft probably before the

o'

birth,

of Chrift.

fee Eufebius, Prccparat. Ev.ingel. viii. 9, 10.

In fuch a time of darknefs, the knowledgePhilo

is

According

the Therapeuta: ftudied

more

aftonilliing than his errors.

f.

philofophy; and Bnicker has proved (Hift.

Philofoph. torn.
"^
ii.

Bull, Defenf. Fid. Nicen.

'*

i.

c. 1.

p. 12.
fe

p. 787.), that they

gave

Mens
pori

agitat
mifce.'.

molem,

et

magno

cor-

the preference to that of Plato.

See Calmet, Diflertations fur

ii.

la

Bible,

Befides this material foul,

Cudworth has

dif-

torn.

p. 277.

The book
that

of the

Wifdom
and
for
al-

covered

(p.

562.)

in

Amelius,

Porphyry,

of Solomotjvvas received by
tliers as

many

of the fa;

Plotinus, and, as he
felf,

thinks, in Plato

the

work of

monarch

a fuperior,

fpiritual,
this

iiftrcofmlan foul
is

himof

though rejefted by the Proteftants

of a Hebrew original,
the
reft
it

want

the univerfe.

But

double foul

explod-

has obtained, with

ed by Brucker, Bafnage, and Le Clerc, as an

idle fancy
''

of the Vulgate, the fanflion of the

Platonifm of Philo, which was
is

of the

latter Platonifts.
ii.

council of Trent.
''

Petav.
c. 2.

Dogmata Theoiogica, tom.

p.

The

fa-

I. viii.

791.

Bull, Defenf. Fid. Ni-

mous to a proverb, by Le Clerc (Epill.

Bafnage

proved beyond a doubt

viii.
1.

cen.
it

Crit.

p.
iv.

211

228.).

This notion, till f. i. c. 1. p. 8. 13. was abufed by the Arians, was freely

(Hift. des Juifs,

c. 5.)

has

clearly afcertained, that the theological

works

adopted in the Chriitian theology. Tertullian (adv. Praxeam, c. 16.) has a remarkable

ef Philo were compofed before the death,

and dangerous palTage.

After contrafting,

with

240

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The eloquence of
Were
Plato, the

CHAP.
XXI.
'
.

name of Solomon,

the authority of

the fchool of Alexandria, and the confent of the

infufficient to eftablifh the truth

Jews and Greeks,

the Apoille

of a myfterious dodrine, which

A.

D.'

ai.

might

pleafe,

but could not

fatisfy,

a rational mind.

A prophet,

or

apoftle, infpired

by the Deity, can alone

;

exercife a lawful

dominion

over the f lith of mankind

and the theology of Plato might have

been for ever confounded with the philofophical vifions of the Aca-

demv, the Porch, and the Lycseum,

and

if

the

name and
celeftial

divine attributes

of the Logos had not been confirmed by the

mofl: fublime of the

pen of the

lall

Evangellfts ".
tiie

The

Chriftian Revelation,

which was confummated under

world the amazing
the beginning,

reign of Nerva, difclofed to the

fecret, that the

Logos, who was with God from

had made
all

and was God,

VN^ho

things,

and for

whom

all

things had been made,

;

was incarnate

in the perfon of Jefus

of Nazareth
the crofs.

who had

been born of a virgin, and fuffered death on

Befides the general defign of fixing on a pei"petual bafis

the divine honours of Chrift, the mofl ancient and refpedtable of the
ecclefiailical writers
s

have afcribed to the evangelic theologian, a parconfute two oppofite herefies, which dillurbed

ticular intention to

The Ebioncetes.
'

the peace of the primitive church ".

L The

fiiith

of the Ebionites ",

perhaps of the Nazarenes

''\

was

grofs

and imperfedl.

They

revered

with indifcreet wit, the nature of God, and the anions of Jehovah, he concludes Sci:

cheifme, torn.

i.

p.
is

377.

The Gofpel
to

ac-

cording

to St.

John

fuppofed

have been

licet ut h.TC
fi

de

filio

Dei non credcnda

;

faiflc,

non

fcripta etTent

fortafie

non credenJa

publiflied about feventy years after the death of Chrift.

^^

de

Piitre licet fcripta.

The

admired the beginning of the Gofpel of St. John, as containing an exaft tranfcript of their own principles. AuPlatonifts
guftin. de Civitat. Dei, x. 29.

" The

fentiments of the Ebionites are

fairly ftated

by Moiheim (p.33l.) and Le

Ecclef. p. 535.).

Clerc

(Hift.

The
to

Cle-

mentines, publifhed

among
by the

the apoftolical
critics

Cyril, adverf.
in the third
nifts

Julian.

1.

viii.

Amelias apud But p. 283.

the Plato-

fathers, are attributed

one

of thefe
^'

feftaries.

and fourth

centuries,

of Alexandria might improve their Tri-

nity,

by the

fecret ftudy

of the ChrilHan

theology.
*'

Staunch polemics, like Bull (Judicium c. 2.), infill on the orthodoxy of the Nazarenes which appears lefs pure and certain in the eyes of Moiheim
Ecclef. Cathol.
;

(p.

See Beaufobre Hift. Critique du Mani-

330.).

Jefus

'

OF
tue and power.
all

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

endowed with fupernatural
and
vlr-

241

Jefus as the greateft of the prophets,

C H A
'-..

P.

They

afcribed to his perfon

to his future reign

[r

the predidions of the

Hebrew

oraeles

which

relate to the fpirltual

'*.

and everlafling kingdom of the promifed MefTiah

might confefs that he was born of a virgin
;

Some

of them

but they obflinately re-

jedled the preceding exiftence and divine perfeftions of the Logos, or

Son of God, which

are fo clearly defined in the Gofpel of St. John.

About
tioned
ferve '\
II.

fifty

years afterwards, the Ebionites, whofe errors are

men-

by

Juftin

Martyr with

lefs

feverity than they feem to de-

formed a very inconfiderable portion of the Chriftian name. The Gnoftics, who were diftinguilhed by the epithet of Docetes,
;

deviated into the contrary extreme

and betrayed the human, while

Educated in the fchool

they aflerted the divine, nature of Chrift.

of Plato, accuftomed to the fublime idea of the Logos, they readily

conceived that the brighteft jEofi, or Emanatio-a of the Deity, might
afllmie the
"'
;

outward fhape and

vifible

appearances of a mortal

but

they vainly pretended, that the imperfections of matter are incompatible

with the purity of a

celeftial

fubftance.

While the blood of

from the

Chrift yet

fmoked on Mount Calvary, the Docetes invented the

that, inftead of iffuing

impious and extravagant hypothefis,

womb
-+

of the Virgin

*',

he had defcended on the banks of the Jordan

of the text
editors.
^^
is

The humble

condition and fufferings of

contrariis coloribus

rejefled even

by the Benediftine
the orthodox

Jefus have alweys been a ftumbling-block to

" Deus ' Mefliam depinxerat " Judex, Paftor," &c.

the Jews.
. .

The

Arians reproached
Marcionites.
I.

futurus erat

Rex,

party with borrowing their Trinity from the

See Limborch et Orobio Arnica Collat. p. 8. 19. 53 76. 192 But this objeftion has obliged the 234. believing Chrillians to lift up their eyes to a fpiritual and everlafting kingdom. ^5 Juftin Martyr, Dialog, cum Tryphonte,

Valentinians and
fobre, Hift.
^'

See Beauiii.

du Manicheifme,
eft

c.

5.7.

Non dignum

ex utcro credere

Deum,
eft

et

Deum

Chriftum .... non dignum

ut

tanta majeftas per fordes et fqualores mulieris

tranfire credatur.

The

Gnoftics aflerted

p. 143,

144.

See Le Clerc,

Hift. Ecclef.

the impurity of matter,

Bull, and his editor Grabc (Judicium Ecclef. Cathol. c. 7. and Appendix), attempt to diftort either the fentiments or the words of Juftin but their violent corredion

p. 615.

and of marriage; and they were fcandalized by the grofs interpretations of the fathers, and even of Auguftin
p. 523.

himfelf.

See

Beaufobre,

torn.

ii.

Vol.

II.

in

242

THK DECLINE AND FALL

In the

CHAP.
XXI
\_-,^J_>

form of perfedt manhood 1

their impotent rage

; '

that
;

he had impofed on the ftnfts

of his enemies, and of his difciples

and that the minifters of

airy

Pilate

had wafted

on an

phantom, who/eemed to
rife

expire on the crofs, and, after three days, to

Myfterlous
'

from the dead".

The
^

divine fandion, which the Apoftle had bcftowed on the fun-

TdnTt/.

damental principle of the theology of Plato, encouraged the learned profelytes of the fecond and third centuries to admire and ftudy tlisc
writings of the Athenian fage,

who had

thus mai-velloufly anticipated

one of the moft furprifing difcoveries of the Chriftian revelation. The refpedlable name of Plato was ufed by the orthodox '', and
abufed by the heretics
^"j

as the

common

fupport of truth and error

the authority of his fkilful commentators, and the fcience of dialectics,

were employed
;

to juftify

xhe remote confequences of his

opinions

and
fubtle

to fupply the difcreet filence of the infpired writers.

The fame

and profound quellions concerning the nature, the

generation, the diftindion, and the equality of the three divine perfons of the myfterious Triad,
or Trinity
'",

were agitated

in the

philofophical, and, in the Chriftian, fchools of Alexandria.

ipirit
^'

An eager
;

of curlolity urged them to explore the fecrets of the abyfs

tullian.de Anima,
c.

and

Apoftolis adhuc in fsculo fuperftitibus

Chriili fanguine

23.

Petaviiis

(Dogm.

npud judxam

recente,

et

fhar.tajma corpus

Domini

aflcrebatur.
ii.

Cop. 24.)

Theolog. this was

(toni.
i.

torn. a

iii.

proleg. 2.)

fhews that

general complaint.
c.

Beaufobre

telerius thinks (PatresApoftol. torn.

1. iii.

9, 10.)

has deduced the

;

that thofe

who

will not allow the Docetes to

Gnoftic errors from Platonic principles

as,

and

have arifen in the time of the Apoftles, may with equal reafon deny that the fun Ihines at noon-day. Thefe Docetes, who formed the moft confiderable party among the Gnoftics, were fo called, becaufe they granted only a
Jeeming body to Chrift.
''

of Alexandria, thofe principles were blended with the Oriental philoin the fchool

fophy (Brucker,

torn.

i.

p. 1356.), the fen-

timent of Beaufobre

may

be reconciled with

the opinion of Mciheira (General Hillory of the Church, vol. i. p. 37.).

-'

Some

proofs of the refpeft which the

If Theophilus, bifhop of Antioch

(fee

Chriftians

entertained

for

the

perfon
in

and
la

doftrine of Plato,

may be found
torn.

De

Dupin, Bibliotheque Ecclefiaftique, torn, i^ p. 66.), was the firft who employed the word
Tried, Trinity, that abftraft term, which ^as already familiar to the fchools of phiiofophy, muft have been introduced into the theology oi the Chriftians after the middia of the fecond centurv.

Mothe
1757
3
;

le

Vayer,

v.

p. 135, &c. edit.

and Bafnage,

Hift. des Juifs, torn. iv.

p. 29. 79, &c.

Doleo bona

fide,

Platonem omnium

.hxreticorum condimentarium fadura.

Ter-

the

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

and of
their difclples,

Hi
was
fatisficd

the pride of the profefTors,

CHAP.
A.

All
.-

with the fcience of words.

tian theologians,
fefl'ed ",

But the moil fagacious of the Chrifhas candidly conto

his underftanding

_'

the great Athanafius himfelf,

that

whenever he forced

meditate
efforts re-

on the
coiled

divinity of the Logos, his toilfome

and vmavaiUng
the
lefs

on themlelves
;

that the

more he thought,
lefs

he compre-

liended

and the more he wrote, the

capable was he of exprefling

his thoughts.
feel

In every ftcp of the enquiry,

we

are compelled to

and acknowledge the immeafurable difproportion between the

of the object and the capacity of the

fize

human

inind.

We may
know-

ftrive to abftradt the

notions of time, of fpace, and of matter, which

fo clofely adhere to all the perceptions

of our experimental

ledge.
fpiritual

But

from a

we prefume to reafon of infinite fubftance, of generation as often as we deduce any pofitive conclufions negative idea, we are involved in darknefs, perplexity, and
as

foon as
;

inevitable contradiftion.

As

thefe difficulties arife

from the nature

of the fubjeft, they opprefs, with the fame infuperable weight, the
philofophic and the theological difputant
elTential
;

but

we may

obferve

two

and peculiar circumftances, which difcriminated the doctrines

-

of the Catholic church from the opinions of the Platonic fchool. A

I.

chofen fociety of philofophers,

difpofition,

men

of a liberal education

Zeal of the

and curious
cufs,

might

filently meditate,

and temperately

dif-

in the gardens of

Athens or the

library of Alexandria,

the

abftrufe quefticns of metaphyfical fcience.

The

lofty fpeculations-,

which neither convinced the underftanding, nor

agitated the paffions,

idle,

of the Platonifts themfelves, were carelefsly overlooked by the

the bufy, and even the ftudious part of mankind
'\

But

after the

Logos
'^

Athanafius, torn.

i.

p. So8.

His exas

'^

In a treatife, which profe/ied to explain

;

preffions

have an

uncommon energy; and

the opinions of the ancient philofophers con<

he was writing to Monks, there could not be any occafioii for him to affed a rational Ianguage,

cerning the nature of the gods,

Plato.
I
i
-7,

we might

expeft to difcover the theological "iVinity of

But Cicero very honellly confeifed,

that.

244

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Logos had been revealed as the facred objcl of the
faith, the

CHAP.

hope,

and the reUgious worfhip of the Chriftiansj the myfterious fyftem

was embraced by a numerous and increafmg mukitude

vince of the

in every pro-

Roman

world.

Thofe perfons who, from

leaft qualified to

their age, or

fex, or occupations,
leaft exercifed in

were the

judge,

who were

the

the habits of abftradl reafoning ; afpired to contem:

plate the

oeconomy of the Divine Nature

that a Chriftian

and

it

is

the boaft of

Tertullian ^%

mechanic could readily anfwer fuch

queftions as had perplexed the wifeft of the Grecian fages.

Where

the fubjedl

lies fo far

beyond our reach, the

difference

between the

higheft and the lowefl of

culated as infinitely fmall

human
;

underftandings

may

indeed be cal-

yet the degree of weaknefs

may

perhaps

be meafured by the degree of obflinacy and dogmatic confidence.

Thefe fpeculations, inilead of being treated

as the

amufement of a

vacant hour, became the moft ferious bufinefs of the prefent, and the

moil ufeful preparation for a future,

life.

theology, which
to doubt,

it

was
it

incumbent

to believe,

which

it

was impious

and which

might be dangerous, and even

topic of private meditation

fatal,

to miftake,

became the familiar

and popular

difcourfe.

The
fpirit

cold indif-

ference of philofophy

was inflamed by the fervent

of devotion

and even the metaphors of

common

language fuggefted the fallacious

prejudices of fenfe and experience.

The

Chriftians,

who

abhor"',

red the grofs and impure generation of the Greek mythology

were tempted

to

argue from the familiar analogy of the

filial

and

paternal relations.

The

character of Son feemed to imply a perpeYet the Probok, or which the moil orthodox divines borrowed without fcruple from the Valentinians, and iliullrated by the comparifons of a fountain and ftream, the ftin and its rays, &c. either meant nothing, or f.ivoured a
Laftantius, iv. 8.
Prclatio,
^'

that though he had tranflateJ the Tima^us, he could never underftand that myfterious dialogue. See Hieronyni. prsf. ad 1. xii. in

Ifaiam, torn. v. p. 154. ^* Tertullian. in Apolog.

c.

46.

See

Bayle, Diftionnaire, au mot Simoniiie.

His

remarks on the prefumption of Tertullian are profound and interefting.

material idea of the divine generation.

See

Beaufobre, torn.
5

i.

1.

iii.

c. 7, p.

548.

tual

OF
the
a<fl

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

^'
;

245
but
.13

tual fubordlnation to the voluntary author of his exiftencc

C H A
A A J.

P.

of generation, in the moft fpiritual and abflradled fenfe,

to tranfmit the properties of a

\-^-^

mufl be fuppofed

common

nature ",

they durft not prefume to circumfcribe the powers or the duration of the Son of an eternal and omnipotent Father,
after the death

Fourfcore years

of Chrift, the Chriftians of Bithynia declared before

that they

the tribunal of Pliny,

invoked him

as

god

and

his

divine honours have been perpetuated in every age and countr)',

by the various feds who alTume the name

Their
tender

of his

difciples

^.

reverence

for

the

memory

of Chrift,

and

their

horror for the profane worfliip of any created being, would have

engaged them to

aflert

the

equal

and abfolute divinity of the

heaven had not

L'igos^ if their rapid

afcent towards the throne of

been imperceptibly checked by the apprehenfion of violating the

unity and fole fupremacy of the great Father of Chrift and of the

Univerfe.

The
by

fufpenfe and fluctuation produced in the minds of

thefe oppofite tendencies,

the Chriftians

may

be obferved in the

writings of the theologians

ftolic

who

flourifhed after the

end of the apoTheir

age, and before the origin of the Arian controverfy.

is

fuffrage

claimed, with equal confidence, by the orthodox and by

;

the heretical parties

and the moft

inquifitive critics

have

fairly al-

lowed, that
verity,

if

they had the good fortune of poflefling the Catholic

they have delivered their conceptions in loofe, Inaccurate,

^'.

and fometimes contradidory language

^*

11.

The
dicere

Many

frankly

coiifefl'ed,
I','///

of the primitive writers have that the Son owed his

of the Father.
p.

" Carmenque

Chriflo quafi

Deo

being to the
other hand,

See Clarke's

Scripture Trinity,

280

287.
his

O"

''"^

Athanafius and

followers

feem unwilling to grant what they are afraid to deny. The fchoolmen extricate thenifclves

fecum invicem. Plin. Epift. x. 97. The fenfe oi Dcus, sc:, Eiohim, in the ancient languages, is critically examined by Le CIcrc (Ars Critica, p. 150156.), and the propriety of worfhipping a very excellent creature, is ably defended by the Socinian Emlyn
(Trafts, p.
^'

from

this ditliculty

by the diftinaion of a
Petav.
p.
1.

/>?r-

29 36.

51

145.).
and
torn.

ceding and a concomitrnt will.

Theolog.

torn.

ii.

vi.

c. 8.

Dogm. 587 603.

tom.
ii.

See Daille

de Ufu Patrum,
Univerfellc,

I.e
x.

Clerc,
P- 409-

Bibliotheque

"
1.

See Petav.
c.

Dogm. Theolog.

To

arraign the faith of the Anti-

ii.

io. p. 159.

Niccnc

fathers,

was the objcfl, or

at

Icall

ha^

^4.6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

-.-

CHAP.
'

n.

The devotion

of individuals

v^as

the

firft

circumftance which
the fecond was the

'

diftinguifhed the Chriftians

from the Platonius

the

chmch.

authority of the church.

The

difciples

of philofophy aflerted the

rights of intelle<3:ual freedom, their teachers

and

their refpedt for the fentiments of

tribute,

was a

liberal

and voluntary

which they offered

difci-

to fuperior reafon.

But the Chriftians formed a numerous and

jurifdiftion of their laws

plined fociety

and the

and magiftrates was

ftridlly exercifed

over the minds of the faithful.

The
by

loofe

wander-

ings of the imagination were gradually confined

feffions*'';

creeds and conto the public

the freedom of private

;

judgment fubmitted

wifdom of fynods

the authority of a theologian

;

was determined by

his ecclefiaftical rank

inflifted the cenfures

and the epifcopal

fucceffors of the apoftles

of the church on thofe

in

who

deviated from the

orthodox

belief.

But

an age of religious controverfy, every adt

to the elaftic vigour of the

of opprelTion adds new force

mind; and

the zeal or obftinacy of a fpiritual rebel was fometimes ftimulated

Faaions.

fecret

motives of ambition or avarice.

by metaphyfical argument
;

became the caufe or pretence of

the Platonic fchool
Vv^ere

political contefts

the fubtleties of

ufed as the badges of popular factions, and

the diftance which feparated their refpedlive tenets was enlarged or

magnified by the acrimony of difpute.

fies

As long

as the

dark here-

of Praxeas and Sabellius laboured to confound the Father with

Soil
*',

the

the orthodox party might be excufed if they adhered

more

ftridtly

and more earneftly But

to the diftinclion, than to the equality of

the divine perfons.

as foon as the heat of controverfy

had fub-

has been the

efFecl,

of the ftupendous work

Epifcopius from deriving any advantage from

this obfervation.
*'
^"'^
'^

of Petavius on the Trinity (Dogm. Thcolog.

torn, ii.)
;

nor has the deep Inipreffion been

the

'^^

herefies

of

Praxc.-it,

Sabellius, &c.
(p. 425.

erazed

by

learned defence of

Bifhop

^'^curately explained

by Mofheim

,.

Q*

The

moft

anamt

creeds were drawn ud

with the greateft

Iatit;;de.

See Bull (Juditries to

680714.). Praxeas, who came to Rome about the end of the fecond century, dereived, for fome time, the fimplicity of the bifhop, and was confuted by the pen of the
angry Tertullian,

iCiiun Ecck'f. Cathol.),

who

prevent

fided.

OF THE
Tided,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
or of Egy^Jt
the tide of

247

and the

progi-efs

of the Sabellians was no longer an objcft of

CHAP,

terror to the churches of

Rome, of Africa,

theological opinion

began to flow with a gentle but fteady motion

;

toward the contrary extreme

and the moft orthodox doftors

definitions

al-

lowed themfelves the ufe of the terms and

cenfured in the

which had been

con-

mouth

of the feftaries *^

After the edit of toleration

had reftored peace and

troverfy

leifure to the Chriftians, the Trinitarian

was revived

in the ancient feat of Platonifm, the learned,,

;

the opulent, the tumultuous city of Alexandria

religious difcord

and the flame of

fchools, to the

was rapidly communicated from the

and the
Eaft.

clergy, the people, the province,

The

abftrufe queftion

of the eternity of the Logos was agitated in

ecclefiaftic

conferences,
Arius'*^

and popular fermons

and the heterodox opinions of

were

Arlus,.

foon made public by his

own

zeal,

and by that of

his adverfaries.

His moft implacable adverfaries have acknowledged the learning and

blamelefs
life

of that eminent prefbyter

VN^ho,

ia a former eledion,
his pretenfions to the
office

had declared, and perhaps generoufly declined,

epifcopal throne**.
Ills

His competitor Alexander afllimed the

caufe

of

judge.

The important
to hefitate,

was argued before him

pronounced

and

if at

iirfl

he feemed

he

at length

his final fentence,,

as

an abfolute rule of

faith *\

The undaunted

prefbyter,

who pre-

sumed

to refift the authority of his

acknowledges, that the herefy

angry biihbp, was feparated from

eyes of the orthodox, by his Arianii'iTi
in thoie of rational critics,
his prejudice,
*'
;

*- Socrates

and.

of

Ariiis

proceeded from his ftrong defire to

by

his pafiion,

enibrace an opinion the moft diametrically

and

his

ignorance,
15.) reprefents Alexand even ignorant, in-

oppcnte to that of Sabelliiis. *3 The figure and manners of Arius, the oharafter and numbers of his firft profelytes, are painted in very lively colours by Epiphaand nius (loni. i. Haref. Ixix. 3. p. 729.)
;

Sozomen

(1. i. c.

ander
crates

as indifferent,

the beginning of the controverfy; while Sc(I. i.

c.

5.)

afcribes the origin of the

difpute to the vain curiofity of his theological

we cannot but regret

that he ihould foon for-

fpeculations.

Dr. Jortin (Remarks onii.

get the hi-lorian, to afl'ume the tafk of controverfy. ** See Phlloftorfjius

Ecclefiaftical

Hiflory, vol.

p. 178.)

has-

cenfured, with his ufual freedom, the con-duifl

oficiis

Godcfroy's ample
cxedibility

and (I. i. c. 3.), Yet the Commentary. of Philoftorgius is le&ned, in the

of Alexander
((;mu naMuiri.

wfo; ofj-zt iSocTrmxi

tiie-

C48

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.

C H A
XXI.

the

communion of

the church.

But the pride of

Ar'ius

was fup-

ported by the applaufe of a numerous party.

his

He

reckoned

among

immediate followers two bifhops of Egypt,

feven prefbyters,

twelve deacons, and (what

may
;

appear almoft incredible) feven hun-

dred virgins.

large majority of the bifhops of Afia appeared to

kipport or favour his caufe

and

their

meafures were conducted by

Eufebius of Ca^farea, the moft learned of the Chriftian prelates; and

by Eufebius of Nicomedia, who had acquired the reputation of a

ftatefman without forfeiting that of a faint.

Synods

in Palefline

and

Bithynia were oppofed to the fynods of Egypt.

the prince and people

The

attention of
;

was

attracted

by

this theological difpute

and

A.D. 318-

the decifion, at the end of fix years *\

was

referred to the

fupreme

authority of the general council of Nice.

Three
fyf-

When

the myfteries of the Chriftian faith were dangeroufly exit

tems of the
Trinity.

pofed to public debate,

might be obferved, that the human under-

ftanding was capable of forming three diftindt, though imperfedl,

fyftems,

concerning the nature of the Divine Trinity

that

and

it

was

pronounced,
Arianifm.

none of

tliefe

fyftems,

in a

pure and abfolute

to the

fenfe,
firft

were exempt from herefy and

error*'.

L According

h}'pothefis,

which was maintained by Arius and

his difciples,

the Logos was a dependent and fpontaneous produdlion, created from

nothing by the will of the Father.

The Son, by whom

all

all

things

were made
**

"',

had been begotten before

worlds, and the longeft

The

flames of Arianifm might burn for

in fecret
;

credidit creaturas.

Aut

(bme time

but there

is

reafon to

dere potuerit nefcio.

ferianos.

extra hic quid creHieronym. adv. Luci-

believe that they burft out with violence as

Jerom

referves for the laft the or-

early as the year 319.

Ecclef. torn. vi. p.
*'

Tillemont,

Mem.
nomina

thodox fyftem,

which

is

more complicated
creation

774780.
?

and
"^^

dilHcult.

Quid

credidit

Certe, aut tria

As

the doftrine of abfolute

audiens

tres
;

Deos

efTe credidit,

et idololatra

from
p. 165

nothing,

was

gradually

introduced
torn.
ii.

effeftus eft

aut in tribus vocabulis trinomi-

among

the Chriflians (Beaufobre,

nem

credens

Deum,

in

Sabellii hnerefira in-

215.),

the dignity oi

^t

ivorkman

currit; aut edodlus ab Arianis

unum

efle

ve-

very naturally rofc with that of the ivork.

j-omDeum Patrem,

iilium et fpiricum fanftum

of

'

OF THE
;of the

ROMAN
;

EMPIRK.
a

249
fleeting

aftronomical periods could he compared only as

to the extent

CHAP.
<

moment
infinite
*',

of his duration

yet this duration was not

inefi'able

f-

and there had been a time v/hich preceded the

generation of the Logos.

On

this

only begotten Son the Almighty

Father had transfufed his ample

fpirit,

and imprefled the effulgence

he faw,
at

of

his glory.

Vifible

image of

invifible :perfelion,
feet,

an

immeafurable diftance beneath his

archangels
:

the thrones of the brightest

light,

yet

lie

fhone only with a refledled

emperors,

and, like the

th-e

fons of the

Roman

who were
II.

inverted with

titks of

Casfar or Auguftus
will of his Father

',

he governed the univerfe in obedience to the

In the fecond hypothefis, the
Triiheirm,

and Monarch.

Logos

pofl'elTed all

the inherent, incommunicable perfedlions,

to the Supi"eme

which
Three

religion
diftindx

and philofopliy appropriate and

infinite

God.

minds or

fubftances, three co-equal

;

and co-eternal

beings,

compofed the Divine Effence^'

and

it

would have implied

exifted, or that they

contradilion, that

any of them fhould not have

ihould ever ceafe to exift '\

Tlte advocates of a fyllem

which feemed

to eftablifh three independent Deities, attem.pted to prefen'e the unity

of the

Firft

Caufe,fo coufpicuous in the defign and order of the world

their adminiftration,

by the perpetual concord of

.agreement of their
iTkay
will.

and the

eflential

faint refemblance

of

this

unity of afiion

be difcovered in the focieties of men,

caufes

and even of animals.

the

The
"^

which

difturb their

harmony proceed only from

The

metaphyfics of Dr. Clarke (Scripp.

tare Trinity,

276 28c.) could digell an eternal generation from an infinite caufe. 5 This profane and abfurd fimilc is employed by feveral of the primitive fathers, particularly by Athenagoras, in his Apology to the emperor Marcus and his fon and it
;

countenanced by the two Gregories, of Nyila and Nazianzen, by Cyril of Alexandria,

John of Damafcus,
p.

&c.

See

Cudworth,

oj.
sz

Le

Clerc, Bibliotheque Univerfellc,

torn, xviii. p.

97 105.
Liberis verbis loquuntur

Auguftin feems to envy the freedom of

the phiiofophers.
philofoi^hi

is

alleged, without cenfure, by Bull himfelf.

f.

Nos autem non dicimus duo

See Defenf. Fid. Nicen.

''

iii.

c. 5.

in14.

vcl tria principia, duos vel tres Deos.

\itat.

De

Ci-

See

Cudworth'a], Intellectual

Syllcm,

Dei,

x. zj.

p. 559. 579.

This dangerous

hypotiiefis

was

Vol. IL

iiriperfeAion

sjo

THE DECLINE AND FALL

imperfedlion and inequality of their faculties
tence which
is
:

CHAP,
\_,

but

the

omnipofail

-.-

_'

guided by

infinite

wifdom and goodnefs, cannot

of

chufing the fame means for the accomplifhment of the fame ends.
Sabellianifm.

IIL Three Beings, who, by the felf-derived neceflity of their exiftence, poflefs
all

the divine attributes in the moft perfedt degree

who

are eternal in duration, infinite in fpace, and intimately prefent to

each other, and to the whole univerfe;

irrefiftibly force

themfelves on

the aftonifhed mind, as one and the fame Being",

who,

in the

oeconomy of
himfelf under
afpe(!;ts.

grace,

as

well as in that

of nature,

may
is

manifeft
different

different forms,

and be confidered under

By

this hypothefis,

a real fubftantial Trinity

refined into

a trinity of names, and abftrat modifications, that fubfift only in the

mind which conceives them. The Logos

attribute
;

is

no longer

a perfon,but an.

and

it is

only in a figurative fenfe, that the epithet of Son

can be applied to the eternal reafon which was with

beginning, and by which^ not by 'whom^
incarnation of the Logos
is

God from

the

all

things were made.

The

reduced to a mere infpiration of the

the foul, and directed
all

Divine Wifdom, which

of the
circle,

filled

the adlions

man Jefus. Thus, after revolving round the theologicalwe are furpriled to find that the Sabellian ends where the
;

Ebionite had begun

and that the incomprehenfible myftery which'*.

*'

excites our adoration, eludes our enquiry

Council of Nice A. D. 325.

If the bllhops

of the council of Nice

had been peiTnitted to

follow the unbiaffed diftates of their confclence, Arius and his affociates

"

Boetius,

who

was deeply verfed in the

the crofs

philofophy of Plato and Ariftotle, explains

the unity of the Trinity by the in-difference

thet of Patri-paffians, with

and thus deferved the odious epiwhich they were

branded by
tives

of the three perfons. marks of Le Clerc,

torn. xvi. p. 225,

See the judicious re-

Bibliotheque Choiile,
ftartled at this

their adverfaries. See the invecof Tertullian againft Praxeas, and the temperate reflexions of Mofheim (p. 423.

&c.

681);
p. 533.

and Beaufobre,

torn.

i.

I.

iii.

c.

6.

If the Sabellians were

conclufion,

they were driven

down another

" The
are
partial,

tranfaftions of the council of

Nice

precipice into the confeflion, that the Father

related by the ancients, not only in

was

bom

of a virgin, that he had fufiered on

but in a very Lmperfeft, manner. Such

a pic-

OF THE
elates

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
the hopes of

251

could fcarcely have flattered themfelves with

voter.,

C H a

p.

obtainhig a majority of

in favour of

an hypothefis fo direftly

adverfe to the two mofl popular opinions of the Catholic world.

The

Avians foou perceived the danger of their fituation, and prudently

alTumed thofe modefl: virtues, which, in the fury of

diflentions, are

civil

and

religious

feldom pradifed,

or even

praifed, except

by

the

weaker party.
rity

They recommended
;

the exercife of Chriftian cha-

and moderation

urged the incomprehenfible

nature

of the

controverfy; difclaimed the ufe

of any terms or definitions which

;

could not be found in the fcriptures

and

offered,

by very

liberal

concefTions, to fatisfy their adverfaries, without renouncing the integrity of their

their

own

principles.

The

vidlorious fadion received

;

all

propofals with
irreconcileable

haughty fufpicion

and anxioufly fought for

the rejedion of which

fome

mark of
read,

diftindlion,
guilt

might involve the Arians in the

and confequences of herefy.

in

letter

was publicly

and ignominioufly torn,

which

their

patron, Eufebius of Nicomedia, ingenuoufly confeffed, that the admifllion

of the

Homoousion,
fyftem.

or Confubflantial, a

word already The Homoprinciples of

familiar to the Platonifts,

their theological

was incompatible with the

The

foitunate

opportunity was eagerly

embraced by the bi{liops,who governed the refolutions of the fynod

and according to the

fword, which herefy

lively exprefTion
itfelf

of Ambrofe ^\ they ufed the

had drawn from the fcabbard, to cut off

the head of the hated monfter.

The

confubftantiality of the Father

and the Son was

eftabliflied

by

the council of Nice, and has been

a pifture as Fra-Paolo would have drawn, can never be recovered ; but fuch rude (ketches as

^"
I.

We

are indebted to

iii.

cap. ult.) for

have been traced by the pencil of bigotry, and that of reafon, may be feen in Tille-

curious
Patres,

anecdote.

Ambrofe (de Fide, knowledge of this Hoc verbum pofuerunt

the

mont (Mem. Ecclef. torn. vi. p. 669 759-) and in Le Clerc (Bibliotheque Univerfelle,
torn. X.

quod viderunt adverfariis eflc formidini ; ut tanquam evaginato ab ipfis gLidio, ipfum nefands caput hersefeos amputarent.

p.

43S 454-)-

k 2

unanimoufly

252

THE DECLINE AND FALL

unanimouny
received as a fundamental article of the Chriftlan faitR^
Oriental,

CHAP.
XXI.

by the confent of the Greek, the Latin, the

tcftant churches.

and the Pro-

But

if

the fame

word had not

it

ferved to ftigmatize

the heretics, and to unite the Catholics,

would have been inadit

equate to the purpofe of the majority, by

into the orthodox creed.
ties,

whom

was introduced

This majority was divided into two parto the fentiments

diftingui-fhed

by a contrary tendency
Sabellians.

of the

Tritheifts

and of the

But

as

thofe oppofite extremes

revealed",

Teemed

to

overthrow the foundations either of natural, or

religioii,

they mutually agreed to qualify the rigour of their printo

ciples

and

difavow the

juft,

but invidious, confequences, which

might be urged by
caufe inclined
ferences
;

their antagonifts.

The

intereft

of the.common
dif-

them

to join their

numbers, and to conceal their

their animofity

was foftened by the healing counfels of

were fufpended by the ufe of the myf-

toleration,

and

their difputes

terious Homooi/fon^

which

either party

was

free to interpret accord-

ing to
fifty

their peculiar

tenets.

The

Sabellian lenfe, which, about

years before, had obliged the council of Antioch " to prohibit

this celebrated term,

had endeared

it

to thofe theologians

who

enter-

tained a fecret but partial affection for a nominal Trinity.

But the

more

fafhionable faints of the Arian times, the intrepid Athanafius,

the learned Gregory Nazianzen, and the other pillars of the church,

who

fupported with ability and fuccefs the Nicene dotrine, appeared

it

to coniider the expreffion oi fubfljince, as if

had been fynonimous

meaning,

with that of nature

and they ventured

homooufian
feft.
ii.

to illuftrate their

by

affirming that three m^en, as they belong to the fame

to each other '\

common
This pure

fpecies, are confubftantial or

"
c.
).

See Bull, Defenf. Fid. Nicen.

p.

25

36.

He thinks
to

it

his

duty

to re-

concile two orthodox fynods.

*'

" " "

been fhcwn by Petavius, CurcellKus, Cudworth, Le CIerc,&c. and to prove

it,

would

he aSlum izgere." This

is

the juft remark of

According

Ariftotle,

the ftars were

Homooufian to each other. " That Homoou*' ftus means of one fubllance in kind, hath
4-

Dr. Jortin (vol. ii. p. 212.), who examines the Arian con troverfy with learning, candour, and ingenuity.

aud

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

25J

and diftind equality was tempered, on the one hand, by the internal connexion, and fpu-itual penetration, which indiflblubly unites the and on the other, by the pre-eminence of the Father, which was acknowledged as far as it is compatible with the
divine perfons "
;

CHAP,
.

independence of the Son

".

Within

thefe limits the almoft invifible

and tremulous
-On either
fide,

ball

of orthodoxy was allowed fecurely to vibrate.

this confecrated

beyond

ground, the heretics and the

dsemons lurked in ambufli

derer.

to furprife

and devour the unhappy wanfpirit

But

as the degrees

of theological hatred depend on the

of the war, rather than on the importance of the controverfy, the

heretics

who

degraded, were treated with more feverity than thofe

who

annihilated, the perfon of the Son.

The

life

of Athanafius was

confumed
Arians "
;

in irreconcileable oppofition to the impious madnefs of the

but he defended above twenty years the Sabellianifm of

;

Marcellus of Ancyra

and when

at laft

he was compelled to withto mention, with

draw himfelf from

his

communion, he continued

an ambiguous fmile, the venial errors of

his refpelable friend ".

The
felves

authority of a general council, to which the Arians them- Arian creeds,

to fubmit, infcribed

had been compelled

on the banners of the

orthodox parfy the myfterious charadters of the word Homooiifwn^

which

eflentially contributed,

notwithftanding fome obfcure dlfputes,

fome nodlurnal combats,

"
}.

to maintain

and perpetuate the uniformity

See Petavius

(Dogm. Theolog.

torn.

ii.

Athanafius and his followers chofe to com-

iv. c. 16. p.
(fefl.

Bull

453, &c.),Cudworth (p. 559.), zgo. edit. Grab.), iv. p. 285

pliment the Arians,

nites.
^'^

\y:,i

that

oi Ariomal.xxii.

The

^Eci;^a)5;crif,

Or circumincejjio,

is

perhaps

Epiphanius,

torn.

i.

Haeref.

4. p.

the deepeft and darkeil corner of the whole

theological abyfs.
"=

See the adventures of Marcellus, in 837. 'lillemont (Mem. Ecclef. torn. vil. p. 880
899). His work, in
o;;^

The

third feftion of Bull'sDefence of the

Nicene Faith, which feme of his antagonifts have called iionfenfe, and others herefy, is confecrated to the fupremacy of the Father.
*'

God, was anfwered

in

book, of the unity of the three books, which

After a lono(torn.
ii.

are Hill extant, of Eufebius.

and careful examination, Petavius

1.
i.

c.

1^. p. 78.) has rcluftantly pronoiincexi

The

ordinary

appellation with which

the condemnation of Marcellus.'

of

254

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of
faith,

CHAP,

or at leaft of language.

The

Confuhftantialifls, wfio
title

by

their fuccefs

have deferved and obtained the

of Catholics, glo-

ried in the fmiplicity

and

fteadinefs of their

the repeated A'ariations of their

own creed, and infulted adverfaries, who were deflitute of

cunning of the Ariaa

any

certain rule of faith.

The

fincerity or the

chiefs, the fear

of the laws or of the people, their reverence for

all

Chrift, their hatred of Athanafius,

the caufes,

human and

divine,

that influence and difturb the counfels of a theological fadion, intro-

duced among the fedaries a

in the courfe of a
religion ",

fpirit

of difcord and inconftancy, which,

different

few

years,

ereded eighteen

models of

and avenged the violated dignity of the church.

**,

The

zealous Hilary

who, from the

peculiar hardfhips of his fituation,

was

inclined to extenuate rather than to aggravate the en*ors of the

Oriental clergy, declares, that in the wide extent of the ten pro-

vinces of Afia, to which he had been banifhed, there could be found

very few prelates

who had

preferved the
felt,

knowledge of the true

the diforders of which

God

'''.

The

oppreflion

which he had

he was the fpedator and the vidim, appeafed, during a fhort interval, the

angry paffions of
fhall

his foul

and in the following paflage, of

of Poitiers unwarily

which

tranfcribe a

few

lines, the bifliop

deviates into the ftyle of a Chriftian philofopher.

fays Hilary, " equally deplorable

"

It is

a thing,"
as

and dangerous, that there are

*5

*'

Athanafius, in his eplftle concerning the

Abfque epifcopo Eleufio

quas
confifto,

et paucis

cum

fynods of Seleucia and Rimini (torn. i. p. 886 505.), has given an ample liftof Arian
creeds,

eo, ex majore parte

Afian^ decern provincia;,

vere

inter

Deum
!

nefciunt.

which has been enlarged and improved by the labours of the indefatigable TilleEcclef. tom. vi. p. 477.). ** Erafmus, with admirable fenfe and free-

Atque utinam penitus nefcirent cum procliviore enim venia ignorarent quam obtrectarent. Hilar, de Synodis, five de Fide

mont (Mem.

OrienIn

talium,

c.

6^. p.

u86.

edit.

Benedift.

dom, has delineated

Hilary.
nients

the juft charafter of

to

the celebrated parallel between atheifm

fuperftition, the bifhop

and

To

revife his text,

life,

compofe the

annals of his

and
is

to juftify his fcnti-

and conduft,

the province of the

of Poitiers would have been furprifed in the philofophic fociety of Bayle and Plutarch.

Benediftine editors.

many

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

255

" many creeds as opinions among men, as many dodrines as in- CHAP. XXi " clinations, and as many fources of blafpliemy as there are faults v^ -,- ^ " among us becaufe we make creeds arbitrarily, and explain them " as arbitrarily. The Homooufion is rejeifted, and received, and
;

*'

explained

away by

fucceffive fynods.

The
is

partial o^

total re-

" femblance of the Father and of the Son, " thefe unhappy times.
**

a fubjedl of dlfpute for

E^'-ery year,

nay every moon, we make

new

creeds to defcribe invifible myfteries.

We

repent of what

" we have done, we defend thofe who repent, we anathematife " thofe whom we defended. We condemn either the dodtrine of " others in ourfelves, or our own in that of others; and reciprocally " tearing one another to pieces, we have been the caufe of each " other s ruin
.

It will

not be expecfted,

it

would not perhaps be endured,

that I

A"''" ^^^^'

fhould fwell this theological digreffion, by a minute examination of

the eighteen creeds, the authors of which, for the moft part, dlf-

claimed the odious

name of

their parent Arius.

It

is

amufmg
of a

enough

to

delineate
;

the form,

and

to

trace the vegetation,

fingular plant

but the tedious detail of leaves without flowers, and

fruit,

of branches without

would foon exhauft the

patience, and dif-

appoint the curioiity, of the laborious ftudent.

gradually arofe from the Arian controverfy,
ticed, as
it

One queftion which, may however be no-

ferved to produce and difcriminate the three fets,

their
i.
;

who

were united only by

of the Nicene fynod.
like

common

averfion to the

Homooufion

If they

were afked, whether the Son was

unto the Father

the queftion

was

refolutely anfwered in the

negative,

by the

heretics

who

adhered to the principles of Arius, or

;

indeed to thofe of philofophy

which feem
tranfcribed

to eftablifla an infinite

'* Hilarhis

ad Conftantium,

1.

ii. c.

4, 5.

p.

1227,

1228.

This remarkable paflhge

it (vol. iii. p. 470) into the model; of his new common-place book,

deferved the attention of Mr. Locke,

who

has

difference

tSb

THE DECLINE AND

diflercnce
tures.

I'ALL
excellent of- his cre?'

CHAP,
w.

between the Creator and the

mod

r- -J

This obvious confequence was maintained by ^tius

zeal of his adverfaries

on

xrhom the
His
of

beftowed the furname of the Atheift.

ever}'-

i-cftlefs

and afpiring
life.

fpirit

urged him to try almoft

fucceflivcly a
flave, or

proa

feffion

human

He

was

at

leail:

hufbandman, a

travelling tinker, a goldfmith, a phyfician, a fchoollaft

mafher, a theologian, and at

the apoftle of a

new

church, which
*'.

was propagated by the

abilities

of his dlfciple Eunomius

Armed

with texts of fcripture, and with captious fyllogifms from the logic
of Ariftotle, the fubtle iEtius had acquired the fame of an invincible
difputant, v^^hom
it

was impoTible

either to filence or to convince.

till

Such

talents

engaged the friendfhip of the Arian bifhops,

to renounce,

they

were forced

and even

to perfecutc, a dangerous ally,

who, by the accuracy of

his reafoning,

had prejudiced their caufe in

the popular opinion, and offended the piety of their moil devoted
followers.
2.

The omnipotence of the

Creator fuggefted a fpecious

and refpedful folution of the Uhenefs of the Father and the Son and
faith

might humbly receive what reafon could not prefume

to

deny, that the Supreme

fections,

God

might communicate
only to himfelf
''.

his infinite per-

and create a being

fimilai-

Thefe Arians
of their

were powerfully fupported by the weight and

leaders,

abilities

-who had fucceeded to the management of the Eufebian inThe con1. viii. c. 18. ) and apology of Eunomius (Fabrickis, Bibliot, Gra;c. torn. viii. p. 258 305.) is one of the few heretical pieces which have
ing (Philofcorgius,
feffion

*'

In Philoftorglus

(1. iii. c.

15.) the

cha-

rafter arid adventures of

lar

^tius appear iingu-

enough, though they are carefully foftened by the -hand of a friend. The editor Godefroy (p. I53.)j who was more attached to his
principles than to his author, hascollefted the

efcaped.
'*

Yet, according to the opinion of Efiius

(p. 297-)> there
is

odious circumliances which his

verfaries
"5^

various ad-

and Bull

one pou'er, that

have preferved or invented.

of creation, which
to a creature.

God

cannot

communicate
was a Dutch45.

Accordingto the judgment ofa man who fefpefted both thofe feftaries, ^tius had been

Eftius,

who

fo accurately de-

fined the limits of Omnipotence,

endowed with a ftronger underftanding, and Eunomius had acquired more art and leai-n-

and by trade a Dupin, Bibliot. Ecdcf. torn.

birth,

man by

fcholaftic divine.
x^ii. p.

tereft,

OF THE
tereft,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
They
;

257
^ ^\^
^'
'

and

who

occupied the principal thrones of the Euft.

detefted, perhaps

with fome afFed.ation, the impiety of iEtius

they
fcrip-

^v

profelfed to beUeve, either without referve, or according to

tures,

th.".

that

the Son was

different

from

all ol.ber

creatures,

and

fimilar

only to the Father.

But they denied, that he was

;

either of the fame,

dilTent,

or of a fimilar fubftance

fometimes boldly juftifylng their

ufe

and fometimes objeding

to the

of the word fubftance, which notion of the nature

feems to imply an adequate, or

at leaft a diftindt,

of the Deity.
fubftance,

3.

The

fedt

which

afferted the dodlrine of a fimilar

at leaft in the

was the moft numerous,

provinces of Afia

and when the leaders of both

parties

were affembled
liy

in the council

of Seleucia', fbeir opinion would have prevailed

a majority of

one hundred and

five to

forty-three

bifhops.

The Greek

word,,

which was chofen

clofe

to exprefs this myfterious refemblance, bears fo

an

affinity to the

orthodox fymbol, that the profane of every

age have derided the furious contefts which the difference of a fingle

diphthong excited between the Homooufians and the Homoioufians

As

it

frequently happens, that the founds and charafters which ap-

proach the neareft to each other, accidentally reprefent the moft

oppofite ideas, the obfervation
poffible to

would be

itfelf ridiculous,

if

it

were

mark any real and

fenfible diftlndlion

between the dodrine

of the Semi-Arians, as they were improperly ftyled, and that of the

Catholics themfelves.
exile
that,

The

biftiop

of Poitiers,

who

in his

Phiygian

very wifely aimed

at a coalition

of parties, endeavours to prove

by

a pious

and
1.

faithful interpretation ", the

Homomifion

may

'

Sabinus (ap.
;
!^

Socrat.

ii.

c.

39.)

had

copied the afts

thanafius and Hilary have

this

explained the divifions of

Arian fynod

by the Benediaines from a Chartres) he obferves, that he ufed this cautious expreflion, qui intelligerem et
(firft

publiflied

MS. of

the other circumilances which are relative to

it

iin^iam, p.
giu:,

1:06.

Seep. 1146.

Philoilor-

ore carefully coUefted by Baroiiius

and TilSynod,

who faw
medium,
viii.

thofe objefls through a difFeis

lemont.

rent
.

inclined to forget the dif-

"

Fideli et piaintelligcntia.

De

ference of the important diphthong.

particular
17.

See in

C. 77. p.

H93.
II.

In his (hort aporogetica) notes

and Godefroy,
'

p. 352.

Vol.

*LI.

be

258
c

THE DECLINE AND FALL

p.

HA
V

^g reduced to a confubftantial

fcnfe.
;

Yet he confefTcs that the word

has a dark and fufpicious afpedl

to theological difputes, the

and, as if darknefs were congenial

Semi-Arians,

who advanced

to the doors

of the church,
Weftern or i,atm
church.
_

affaiied

them with the mofl unrelenting

fury.

T\\Q provinces of Egypt and Afia, which cultivated the language

-^^(j

manners of the Greeks, had deeply imbibed the venom of the

Arian controverfy.

The

familiar ftudy of the

Platonic

fyftem, a

vain and argumentative difpofition, a copious and flexible idiom,

fupplied the clergy and people of the Eaft with an inexhauflible flow

of words and diftindions

tions,

and, in the midft of their fierce contenis

they eafily forgot the doubt which

is

recommended by philo-

fophy, and the fubmillion which

habitants of the

enjoined by religion.
inquifitive ipirit.;
;

The

in-

Weft were of

lefs

their paffions

were not

fo forcibly

moved

by, invifible obj.e3:s

their mirids

were
above

lefs fi'equently

exercifed

by the

habits of difpute

and fuch was the

happy ignorance of the Galilean church,

thirty years after the
firft

that Hilary himfelf,

ftill

general council, was

a ftranger to the

Nicene creed

'\

The

Latins hadreceived the rays of divine

ledge through the dark and doubtful

medium

of a

knowtranflation. The
for the

poverty and ftubbornnefs of their native tongue, was not always capable of affording juft equivalents for the
technical
fecrated

Greek terms,

words of the Platonic philofophy

the gofpel or
;

",

which had been conof

by

by the church,

to exprefs the myfteries

the Chxiftian faith

and a verbal defedl might introduce into the

Latin theology, a long train of error or perplexity '\

But

as the

weftern
^* Teftor

Deum

coeli

atque

terra;

mecum

neutrum audiflem, femper tamen utrumque Regeneratus pridem et in epiffenfifle. . copatu aliquantifper manens fidem Nicenam
.
.

even the

Iviii.) complains that of the Platonifls (the ens of the bolder fchoolmen) could not be expreffed by

''

Seneca
t3

(Epift.

;.

nunquam
Synodis,

nifi

exfulaturus audivi.
p. 1205.

Hilar, de

a Latin noun. "* The preference which the fourth council

c. xci.

The

Benediftines

of the Lateran
i.

at length

gave

to a. <?.-/-

are perfuaded that he governed the diocefe of

Poitiers feveral years before his exile.

cal ra-ther than

tom.'ii.
1.

gcnerical unity (See Petav,

iv.

C.-13.P. 424.) was favoured by

the

OF THE
weftern" provincials

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
their religion

259
C
PI

had the good fortune of deriving

p.

XXI.

from an orthodox fource, they preferved with

fteadinefs the doftrine

which they had accepted with

approached their
frontiers,

docility

and when the Arian peftilence

they were fupplied with the feafonable

care of the

prefervative of the
pontiff.

Homooufion, by the paternal

Roman
Council of

Their fentiments and their temper were difplayed in the

furpafled in

memorable fynod of Rimini, which

of Nice, fnice
it

numbers the council

a. d. 360.

was compofed of above four hundred bifhops of

Gaul, Britain, and Illyricum.

Italy, Africa, Spain,

From

the

firft

debates

it

appeared, that only fourfcore prelates adhered to the party,

to anathematife the

though they afFefted

But
this inferiority

name and memory, of Arius.

fkil!,

was compenfated by the advantages of

;

of

experience, and of diicipline

and the minority was condutSted by

Valens and Urfacius, two bifhops of Illyricum,

lives

in

the intrigues

of courts and councils,

who had fpent and who had

their

been

trained under the Eufebian banner,

Eaft.

in the religious

wars of the

By

their

arguments and negociations, they embarraffed, they

at laft deceived,

confounded, they
bilhops
;

the honeft fimplicity of the Latin

who

fuffered the palladium of the faith to be extorted

from

their hands

by fraud and importunity,

rather than
to feparate, in

by open
till

violence.

The

council of Rimini

was not allowed

the

members

had Imprudently fubfcribed a captious creed,

fions, fufceptlble

which fome expref-

of an heretical fenfe, were inferted in the room of

It

the Homooufion.

was on

this occafion, that,

Itfelf Arian".

according to Jerom,
blfliops

the world was furprifed to find

But the

of the

Latin provinces had no fooner reached their refpedlive

diocefes,

than they difcovered their mlftake, and repented of their weaknefs.

The ignominious
rence
:

capitulation

was

rejedled with difdain

and abhor-

and the Homooufian ftandard, which had been fhaken but

;

the Latin language the

tjes.

r^ia?

feems to excite

''

Ingemuit totus orbis,

eft.

idea

of fubilance,

trinitas

of quali-

miratus
P-

et Arianum fe efle Hieronym. adv. Lucifer, torn. i.

HS2

not

26o

THE DECLINE AND FALL

not overthrown, v/as more firmly replanted in
the
all

CHAP.
XXI.
Conduftof
the cm])crors in the Arian

the churches of

Weft

'^
rife

Such was the

tions of

and progrefs, and fuch were the natural revoludifputes,

thofe theological

which difturbed the peace of

and of
his fons.

controverfy.

Chriftianity under the reigns of Conftantine

But

as

thofe princes prefumed to extend their defpotifm over the faith, as

well as over the lives and fortunes, of their fubjedts

their fuffrage

the weight of
:

fometimes inclined the

ecclefiaftical

balance

and tha

prerogatives

of the King of Heaven were

fettled,

or changed, or

modified, in the cabinet of an earthly monarch.

Indifference

The unhappy
Eaft,

fpirit

of difcord which pervaded the provinces of the

of Conftantine
;

of Conftantine,

interrupted the triumph

but

the emperor

A,D,

324.

continued for fome time to view, with cool and carelefs indifference,
the objedt of the difpute.

As he was

yet ignorant of the difficulty

of appeafing the quarrels of theologians, he addreffed to the contending parties, to Alexander and to Arius, a moderating
epiftle ";

which may be

afcribed,

with

far greater reafon, to the

untutored

fenfe of a foldier

and ftatefman, than

to the dictates of

any of

his

epifcopal counfellors.

He

attributes the origin of the

whole conbifhop,

troverfy ta a trifling and fubtle queftion, concerning an incomprehenfible point of the law,

which was
the fame

fooliftily

afked

by the

and imprudently refolved by the prefbyter.

Chriftian people,

He

laments that the

who had

God,

the fame religion, and the

fame worlhip, fhould be divided by fuch inconfiderable diftindions;

and he
'^

ferioufly

recommends

to the clergy of Alexandria the

ex-

The
1.

ftory

of the couacil of Rimini

is

J2.

The principles

of toleration and religious

very elegantly told by Sulpicius Severus (Hift.

Sacra,
ii.

indifFerence, contained in this epiftle, have

p.

419 -430.

edit.

Lugd. Bat.
is

given great offence to Baronius, Tillemont,

1647.), and by Jerom, in his dialogue againft

the Luciferinns.
to

&c.

who

Aippofe that the emperor had fome

The

defign of the latter

evil counfellor, either

Satan or Eufebius, at
ii.

apologize for the condudi of the Latin bi-

his

elbow. See Jortin's Remarks, tom.

p.

fliops,

who were deceived, and who

V,it.

repented.
ii. c.

''Eufebius, in

Conflant.

I.

6x

.83.

amplc:

OF THE

ROMAN EMPIRE,
;

261

ample of the Greek phllofophers

who

could maintahi their arguaflert iheir

C H A
<

P.
1

ments without lofuig their temper, and

violating their friendfhip.

freedom without

The

indifference

and contempt of the fo-

vereign would have been,

filencing the difpute
:

perhaps, the moil effedlual method of

lefs

if

the popular current had been

rapid and

impetuous
fanaticifm,

and

if

Conftantine himfelf, in the mldft of fadion and

pofleflion of
his

could have preferved the calm

his ecclefiaftical minifters

own
^'\^^^^''

mind.

But

foon contrived to feduce the

impartiality of the magiftrate, and to

lyte.

awaken

the zeal of the profeoffered to

He
;

was provoked by the

infults

which had been

as well as the

his ftatues

he was alarmed by the

real,

imaginary,

magnitude of the fpreading mifchief ; and he extlnguifhed the hope

of peace and toleration, from the

moment

that he afTembled three

palace.
;,

hundred bifhops within the walls of the fame

The
with

prefence

of the monarch fwelled the importance of the debate

multiplied the arguments
intrepidity,
;

his attention
a patient

and he expofed

his perfon

which animated the valour of the combatants.

Not-

withftanding the applaufe which has been beftowed on the eloquence

and fagacity of Conftantine "

be
ftill

Roman general, whofe

was

religion

might

a fubjedt of doubt,

and whofe mind had not been enlightened

indifferently qualified to dif-

either

by ftudy or by
But the

infpiration,

cufs, in the
faith.

Greek language,

a metaphyfical queftion, or an article of

credit of his favourite Ofius,

who

appears to have pre-

fided in the council of Nice,

might difpofe the emperor in favour

of the orthodox party

and a well-timed infmuation, that the fame

Eufeblus of Nicomedia,
affifted

who now
1.

protected the heretic, had lately

the tyrant ", might exafperate

iii.

him
;

againft their adverfaries.

"
13.

Eufebius, in Vit. Conftantin.

c.

himfelf the public accufer of one of his fubjeiSs

he

ftyles

Eufebius,
znd.

rr,:

Tv^a.nik.y.i

Theodoret has preferved (1. i. c. 20.) an epiftle from Conftantine to the people of iN'icomedia, in which the monarch declares
a.

"

u'^aTr,-vo(; c-v^.y-v^nc ;

complains of his hof-rcivil

tile

behaviour during the

war.

Tha:

262

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The Nlccne
creed was ratified

CHAP.

by Conftantine

and

his firm declaniufl:

XXI. V-1-'

ration, that thofe

who

refifted the divine

judgment of the fynod,

prepare themfelves for an immediate exile, annihilated the

murmurs
inftantly

of a feeble oppofitlon

which from feventeen, was almoft

biftiops.
'"
;

reduced to two, protefting

reluftant

Eufebius of Cxfarea yielded a

and ambiguous confent to the Homooufion

and the wa-

vering conduft of the Nicomedian Eufebius ferved only to delay,

Heperfecutcs the

about three months, his difgrace and exile'".

The impious Arius

;

Arian

was banifhed

into

one of the remote provinces of Illyricum

his

perfon and difciples were branded by law, with the odious

name
and a

of Porphyrians ; his writings were condemned to the flames

capital punifliment

was denounced

againft thofe in

whofe

pofleflion

they fhould be found.

The emperor had now imbibed

the fpirit of

controverfy, and the angry farcaftic ftyle of his edidls

to
infpire
his

was defigned

fubjedts

with the hatred which he had conceived

againft the enemies of Chrift ".

and the orty,

But
inftead

as if the

conduft of the emperor had been guided by pafTion

three years from the council of Nice

A. D.

of principle,

were

32

-337-

fcarcely elapfed, before he difcovered

fome fymptoms of mercy, and

fet,

even of indulgence, towards the profcribed

which was
were

fecretly
;

proteded by his favourite

Eufebius,

fifter.

The

exiles

recalled

and

who

gradually refumed his influence over the

mind of

Conftantine, was reftored to the epifcopal throne, from which he had

been ignominioufly degraded.

10

Arius himfelf was treated by the

"i

See in Socrates
(!.
i.

(!. i. c.

8.), or rather in

Athanafius, torn.
].

i.

p.

727.

Philoftor-

Theodoret

c.

iz.),

an

original letter

of

gjus,
^^^ .^
"

i.

c.

10.

and Godefroy's
.

Commen

Eufebius of Cxfarea,

in whici;

he attempts to
,

','
, , ;

iuitify his fubfcribin^ the

-

^ charafter of Eufebius has always been a pror 1. J .u r J blem but thofe who have read the iecond

_
1

Homooufion. The
,

Socrates,

I. i.
,

e.g.
,

t In t.- circular 1 . his let1

,
,

ters,

which were addrenea

to the feveral ci-

critical cpillle of
iii.

Lc Clerc (Ars

Critica, torn.

",
tics

Conftantine employed againft the herethe arms

p.

30-69.), mull entertain

a very unfa-

of ridicule and comic

rail-

vourable opinion of the orthodoxy and fincerity of the bilhop of Csfarea.

Icry.

whole

OF THE
whole court with the
an innocent
the fynod
repair
his

ROMAN
liis

EMPIRE.
to

263
^
^
^.^

rcTpeft

which would have hcen due

faith

^^

^-

and opprefied man.

;

was approved hv
to

-/

of Jerulalem
injuftice,

and the emperor feemed impatient

iffuing
to

by

an abfolute command,
the

that

he

fhould

be folemnly

admitted

communion

in

the

cathe-

dral of Conftantinople.

On

the fame day, which had been fixed

for

the

triumph of Arius,

he expired

and

the

ftrange

and
that

horrid circumftances

of his death might excite a fafpicion,

the orthodox faints had contributed,

prayers,
to
^\

more

efficacioufly

than by their

deliver

the church from

the mofl: formidable of her

enemies

The

three principal leaders of the Catholics, Athanafius

of Alexandria, Euftathius of Anticch, and Paul of Conftantinople,

were depofed on various accufations, by the fentence of numerous

councils
firft
;

and were afterwards banilhed into

diftant provinces
laft

by the
life,

of the Chriftian emperors, who, in the

moments of his

received the rites of baptifm from the Arian bifhop of Nicomedia.

The

ecclefiaftical

government of Conftantine cannot be

juftified

from

the reproach of levity and weaknefs.

unfkilled

But the credulous monarch,

might be de-

in the ftratagems of theological warfare,

ceived

by the modeft and

fpecious profeffions of the heretics,

;

whofe

fentiments he never perfedlly underftood

Arius, and perfecuted Athanafius, he
ftill

and while he protedled

confidered the council of

Nice
his

as the

bulwark of the Chriftian

faith,

and the peculiar glory of

own
We

reign**.

The
'3

derive the original (lory from Athai.

denly bunl out in a privy) mufl

option between
in the condaft,
poi/oii

make

their

rafius (torn.

p. 670.),

who
;

expre.Tes

fome
the

and

tnirack.

rcluftance to

ftigmatize the

memory of
I

' The change

in the fentiments, or at lead

dead.
tual

He might

exaggerate

ut the perpe-

of Conftantine,
c.

may
1.

be traced
23.
),

commerce of Alexandria and Conftantinople would have rendered it dangerous to invent. Thofe who prefs the literal narralive

in Eufebius (in Vit. Conftant.

iv. c.

iii. c.

41.), Socrates
(l.'ii.

(1. i.

23

39.), Sozo(1. i.
i

men
14

of the death of Arius

(his

bowels fud-

c. 16 34-)) Theodoret and Philoftorgius (1. ii. c. 34),

c.

17).

But

c64

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The
fons

CHAP,
XXI. '___.-^w/
favours"the

of Conftantine muft have been admitted from their

childhood into the rank of catechumens, but they imitated, in the

delay of their baptifm, the example of their father.

Like him, they

into

a'^'d^'^?7
3^'"

prefumed

to

pronounce

their

judgment on mylleries
'*
:

which they

had never been regularly

initiated

and the

fate

of the Trinitarian

controverfy depended, in a great jneafure, on the fentiments of

ftantius
;

Con-

vsdio inherited the

provinces of the Eaft, and acquired the

poffeffion of the

whole empire.

The Arian

prefbyter or bifhop,

who had

fecreted for his ufe the teftament of the deceafed emperor,

to the

improved the fortunate occafion which had introduced him

familiarity of a prince,

whofe public counfels were always fwayed

by

his domeftlc favourites.

The eunuchs and

flaves diffufed the fpi-

ritual poifon

through the palace, and the dangerous infeclion was

to the guards,
partiality

communicated by the female attendants

prefs to her unfufpicious

and by the em-

hufband *\

The

which Conftantius
fortified

always expreffed towards the Eufebian fadllon, was infenfibly

by the dexterous management of

employ the arms of power

their leaders

and

his vidtory over

the tyrant Magnentlus encreafed his inclination, as well as ability, to

in the caufe of Arianifm.

While the two

armies were engaged in the plains of Murfa, and the fate of the

two

rivals

depended on the chance of war, the fon of Conftantine

paffed the anxious

moments
His

in a church of the martyrs, under the

walls of the city.

fpirltual comforter,

Valens, the Arian bilbop

of

t*he

dlocefe,

employed the moft

might

artful precautions to obtain

fuch

early intelligence as

fecure either his favour or his efcape.

A
iii.

fecret chain of fwift and trufty meffengers informed him of the viBut the
firft

of thefe writers was too near the

*'

Socrates,

I.

ii.

c. 2.
i.

Sozomen,

1.

c.

fcene of adtion, and the others were too re-

18.

Athanaf. torn.

p. 813. 834.

He

ob-

mote from

it.

It is fingular

enough, that the

ferves, that the

important talk of continuing the hiftory of the church, (hould ha\e been left for two lay-

tnies of the So>i.

eunuchs are the natural eneCompare Dr. Jartin's Ra-

marks on

Ecclefiaflical Hiftiry, vol. iv. p. 3.

men and
^'

a heretic.
turn

Quia etiam

catechumenus facra1. ii.

men turn

fideimeritovidereturpotui/Te nefcire.
p. 4.10.

with a certain genealogy in Ca :(//.-/? (ch. iv.), which ends with une of the iiilt companioDi of Chrillopher Columbus..

^uJp. Sever. Hill. Sacra,

cifTitudes

OF THE
-clffitudes

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
him
that the Gallic legions

365

of the battle

and while the courtiers flood trembling round

CHAP.
XXI.

their affrighted mafter, Valens affured

gave

way

and infinuated with fome prefence of mind, that the

glorious event had been revealed to

him by an

angel.

The

grateful

emperor afcribed

his

fuccefs

to

the merits and interceffion of the

bilhop of Murfa, whole faith had deferved the public and miraculous

approbation of

Heaven
Cyril,

^\

The

Arians,

who

confidered as their
to that

own
his

the

vidlory
^\

of Conftantius,
bifliop
celellial

preferred

his glory

of

Father

of Jerufalem, immediately compofed

crofs,

-the defcription

of a

encircled with a fplendid

rainthird

bow

which

during

the

feftival

of

Pentecoft,

about the

hour of the day, had appeared over the Mount of Olives, to the
edification

of the devout pilgrims,

fize

and the people of the holy

;

city

The

of the meteor was gradually magnified

to affirm, that
it

and the
to

Arian hiftorian has ventured

the
is

was confpicuous
that the tyrant,

two armies

in the plains of

Parmonia

and

who

purpofely reprefented as an idolater, fied before the aufpicious fign

of orthodox Chriflianity '".

The

fentiments of a judi-cious ftranger,

who

has impartially con- Arian coun

fidered the progrefs of civil or ecclefiaftical difcord, are always entitled

to our notice
:

and a fhort paflage of Ammianus,

who
is

ferved in the

armies, and ftudied the charadler, of Conftantius,

*'

perhaps of more

Sulpicius Severus, in Hift. Sacra,

1. ii.

crated bidiop of Jerufalem, by the immediate

fucccffor of Eufebius of Carfarea.

p. 401;, 406.
**

See Til71 5.
far the

Cyril (apud Baron. A.

exprefsly obferves, that in

ftantine

D. 553. N"26.) the reign of Con-

lemont,
^^

Mem.
is

Ecclef. torn.

viii. p.

It

not eafy to determine

how

had been found in the but that it had appeared, iiowels of the earth in the reign of Conftantius, in the midll of
the
crofs
;

ingenuity of Cyril might be

Philoftorgius,

aflifted

by fome
is

natural appearances of a folar halo,

^'^

1.

iii.

c.

26.

He

fol-

the heavens. This oppofition evidently proves,

that Cyril was ignorant of the ftupendous mi-

rack
is

which the converfion of Conflan tine and this ignorance is the more furprifing, fince it was no more than twelve years after his death that Cyril was confeto

attributed

lowed by the author of theAlexandrian Chro. nicle, by Cedrenus, and by Nicephorus (See Gothofred. DilTert. p. 188.). They could not refufe a miracle, even from the hand of
an enemy,

VoL.

II.

Mm

value

266

THE DECLINE AND FALL

value than

CHAP,
<>/
'

many

pages of theological invelives.

itfelf,"

" The Chriftian "

is

" religion, which, in

fays that

moderate

hiftorian,

plain

" and fimple, he confounded by the dotage of fuperftition. Inftead " of reconciling the parties by the weight of his authority, he " cherllhed and propagated, by verbal difputes, the differences which " his vain curiofity had excited. The highways were covered with. " troops of bifhops, galloping from every fide to the affemblies, " which they call fynods ; and while they laboured to reduce the
" whole fet to their

own

particular opinions, the public eftablifh-

" ment of the pofts was almoft ruined by their hafty and repeated
" journies''."

Our more
this

intimate knowledge of the ecclefiaftical

tranfadions of the reign of Conftantius, would furnifh an ample

commentary on

remarkable paflage

which

juftifies the rational

apprehenfions of Athanafius, that the

reftlefs

adivity of the clergy,

who wandered round

excite the

the empire in fearch of the true faith,

would
\

contempt and laughter of the unbelieving world

civil

As

foon as the emperor was relieved from the terrors of the

devoted the leifure of his winter-quarters
at Aries,
toils

war, he

Milan, Sirmium,
:

and Conftantinople,

to

the amufement or

of controverfy

the

fword of the magiftrate, and even of the

to enforce the reafons

tyrant,
as

was unfheathed,
and

of the theologian
it is

and
".

he oppofed the or-

thodox

faith of Nice,

readily confefled that his incapacity

ignorance were equal to his prefumption

The eunuchs,

the

wo-

men, and the

bifhops,

who

governed the vain and feeble mind of

the emperor, had inlpired

'

him with an

infuperable diflike to the

tranfcribed.

So curious a paflage we"l deferves to be Chriftianam religionem abfo-

ad fuum trahere conantur (Valefius reads

natur)
^
b^
iv. c.

ra*

rei

vehicularis
xxi. i6.
torn.
i.

concidcrcc

nerves.

fundens

lutam et fimplicem, anili fuperftitione conin qua fcrutanda perplexius, qaam ;

excitaret difcidia plu-

Ammianus,

Athanaf.
Socrates,

p.

870.

componenda gravius
rima;
tis

1. ii. c.

qu^e progre/Ta fufius aluit

concerta-

12

30.

35 4-T.
1.

Sozomen,
ii.

I.

Theodoret,

c.
i

iS 32.
1.

tione verborum, ut catervis antiftitum

jumen-

Philoftorg.
c.
i

1. iv. c.

12.

1.

v. c.

4.

vi.

publicis ultro citroque difcurrentibus, per

5.

fynodos (quas appellant)

dum

rituni

omneia

Homooufion

OF
"Homooufion
of
^Etius.
;

THE ROMAN EMTIRE.

by the impiety
^ ^
of that atheill was aggravated by the fufpicious
;

267
-^

but his timid confciencc was alarmed

guilt

^-

The

favour of the unfortunate Gallus

i-iai

and even the deaths of the Impe-

minifters,

who had been

raalTacred at Antioch,

were imputed

to

the fuggeftions of that dangerous fophift.

tius,

The mind of Conftanfaith,

which could neither be moderated by reafon, nor fixed by

blindly impelled to either fide of the dark and

was
his

empty

abyfs,

by

horror of the oppofite extreme;

he alternately embraced and

condemned

the fentiments, he fuccefTively banifhed and recalled the

leaders, of the

Arian and Semi-Arian fadlions

feftivity,

'*.

During the feafon

of public bufinefs or
nights, in

he employed whole days, and even

feleiting the words,

his fluctuating creeds.

and weighing the

fyllables,

which
ftill

compofed

The
;

fubjedt of his meditations

purfued and occupied his flumbers

the incoherent dreams of the

;

emperor were received

placency the lofty
title

as celeflial vifions

and he accepted with comecclefiaflics

of bifliop of bifhops, from thofe

who

forgot the

interefl:

of their order for the gratification of their

paffions.

The

defign of eftablifhing an uniformity of doctrine,

to

which

had engaged him

convene

fo

many
by

fynods in Gaul, Italy, Illyricum,

and Afia, was repeatedly

baffled

his

own

levity,
;

by the

divifions

of the Arians, and by the refiftance of the catholics

as the laft

and he rcfolved,

and

decifive effort, imperioufly to dictate the decrees of a

general coimcil.
ficulty

The

deftruCtive earthquake of Nicomedia, the dif-

of finding a convenient place, and perhaps fome fecret

mo-

tives of policy,

produced an alteration in the fummons.

at Seleucia, in Ifauria
;

The

bifhops

of the Eaft were diredted to meet

while thofe

of the Weft held their deliberations at Rimini, on the coaft of the

Sozomen, 1. iv. c. 23. Athanaf. torn. Tillemont (Mem. Ecclef. torn. vji. p. 947.) has collefted feveral inftances of ihe haughty fanaticifm of Conftantius from
j.

'^

p. 831.

The very titles of thefe treatifes iiifpire zeal and terror; " Moriendum pro Dei Filio." " De Regibus Apoftaticis." " De non con" veniendo cum Hsretico." " De non
" parcendo
sn 2
in

the detached treatifes of Lucifer of Cagliari-

Deum

delinquentibus."

Hadriatic

268

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Hadriatlc
the
;

CHAP.
xxr.

and, inftead of two or three deputies from each province^

to

whole epifcopal body was ordered

confuming four days
in fierce

march.

The

Eaftern

coun-

cil, after

and unavailing debate, feparated

council of the

without any definitive conclufion.

tradled
till

The
till

Weft was prowas

in-

the feventh month. Taurus, the Prastorian pr?efet,

ftrudled not to difmifs the prelates

they fliould
a

all

be united in the

fame opinion
fifteen
A. D. 360.

and

his efforts

were fupported by

power of banifhing
if

of the moft refradory, and a promife of the confulfhip

he
the

atchieved fo difficult an adventure.

His prayers and

threats,

authority of the fovereign, the fophiftry of Valens and Urfacius, the

diflrefs

of cold and hunger, and the tedious melancholy of a hopelefs

exile, at length extorted the

reludant confent of the blfhops of Riminr.

The

deputies of the Eaft and of the

Weft attended the emperor

which
eftabilhed

in the

palace of Conftantinople, and he enjoyed the fatisfadion of impofing

on the world
triumph

a profeffion of

faith

the
^'.

likcriefs,

without exprefling the

cojifubjlanUcilily ^

of the Son of

God

But

the.

of Arianifm had been preceded by the removal of the

orthodox clergy,
corrupt
;

whom

it

was impoffible

either to intimidate or

tcv

and the reign of Conftantius was difgraced by the unjuPu

and
Char.ifler

ineffedlual perfecution of the great Athanafius.

We

have feldom an opportunity of obferving, either in ative

life,

or-

and adventures of

A-

fpeculative

what

effect

may

be produced^ or what obftacles

may

thanalius.

be furmounted, by the force of a fingle rnind,

applied to the purfuit of a fingle objel.

when

it is

inflexibly

The immortal name of

the

Athanafius

'

will never

be feparated from the Catholic dodlrine of

"
*

Snip.

Sever. Hill. Sacra,

hiflorians

I.

ii.

p. 41

authentic materials from the rich fund of his

430.
We

The Greek
affairs

were very ig-

own

epiftles

and apologies
ii.

(torn.

norant of the

of the Weft.

951.).
Socrates

I fhall not imitnte the

(1.

i. p. 670 example of

m.iy regret that Gregory Nazlan-

c.

i.),

who

publifued the

firll

zen compofed a panegyric inftead of a life of Athanafius ; but we fHould enjoy and improve the advantage of drawing our moil
S

edition of his hiftory without giving hirafelf

the trouble to confult the writings of
nafius.

AthaYet even Socrates, the more curious Sozomen,,

;;

OF
the Trinity,
to

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

^
<
being;.

269

whofe defence he confecrated every moment and

Educated
in tlie family of

^^
- y-

^*

every faculty of his

Alexander,

he had vigoroufly oppofed the early progrefs of the Arian hereiy he exercifed the important functions of fecretary under the aged prelate;

and the fathers of the Nicene council beheld with

the
riling

furprife

and

refpedl,

virtues

of

tlie

young deacon.

In a time of

public danger, the dull claims of age and of rank are fometimes fu-

perfeded

;.

and within

five

months

after

his return

from Nice, the

deacon Athanafius was feated on the archiepifcopal throne of Egypt.

He

filled

that eminent flation above forty-fix years,

and

his

long A.D.326
^^^'

adminiftration was fpent in a perpetual combat againft the powers of

Arianifm.

Five times was Athanafius expelled from his throne

as

twenty years he pafied

province of the

an exile or a fugitive ; and almoft every

Roman

empire was fucceffively witnefs to his merit,

and

his fufferings in the cauie of the

Homooufion, which he conand

as the glory,

fidered as the fole pleafure

and

bufinefs, as tlie duty,

of his

life.

Amidft the ftorms of perlecution, the archbiihop of

Alexandria was patient of labour, jealous of fame, carelefs of fafety;

and although

his

mind was

tainted

by the contagion of

faiiaticifm,

Athanafius difplayed a fuperiority of character and

abilities,

which

would have
was much
Csefarea,

qualified

him,

far better

than the degenerate fons of

Conftantine, for the government of a great monarchy.

lefs

His

learning,

profound and extenfive than that of Eufebius of

rude eloquence could not be compared with the

and

his

polilhed oratory of

Gregory or

Bafil

but whenever the primate of

Egypt was

called

upon

to juftify his fentiments or' his conduct, his

unpremeditated
cible,

ftyle,

either of fpeaking or writing,

was

clear, for-

and perfuafive.

He

has always been revered in the orthodox

lemont
editors,
(torn, viii.)

Sozomen, and the learned Theodoret, connel the

life

of Athanafius with the

feries

of

has collefted every fad,

difficulty.

and of the Benediftineand exa--

eoclefialUcal hillory..

The

diligence of Til-

mined every

fchool,.

;;

47

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fchool, as

CHAP.
XXI.

one of the moft accurate mafters of the Chriftian theology

poffefs

and he was fuppofed to

the epifcopal charader
;

two profane

fciences, lefs adapted to

the

knowledge of jurifprudence'', and

that

of divination

Some

fortunate conjedtures of future events,

which

impartial reafoners might alcribe to the experience and

judgment of

Athanafms, were attributed by

his friends to

heavenly infpiration,

and imputed by But

as

his

enemies to infernal magic.

Athanafms was continually engaged with the prejudices

to the

and paffions of every order of men from the monk

the knowledge of
fcience.

emperor,

human
a

nature was his

diftindl
;

firft

and moft important

He

prefers'^ed

and unbroken view of a fcene

failed

which was
decifive

inceflantly fhifting

and never

to

improve thofe

moments which
a

are irrecoverably paft before they are per-

ceived

by

common

eye.

The
far

archbilhop of Alexandria was capa-

ble of diftinguifliing

how

he might boldly command, and where

he muft dextroufly infmuate;

how

long he might contend with

;

power, and when he muft Avithdraw from perfecution

and while
rebellion^

he diredted the thunders of the church againft herefy and he could

afllnne, in

the

bofom of

his

own
The

party, the flexible

election of

and

indulgent temper of a prudent leader.

has not efcaped

Athanafms
'"

the reproach of irregularity

and precipitation

but the propriety of his behaviour conciliated the afFedlions both of

the clergy and of the people.

The Alexandrians were

].

impatient to

*'

Sulpicius

Sevenis

(Hift.

Sacra,

ii.

fpeak Latin) that Athanafms underftood the

p. 396.) calls

him

a lawyer, a jurifconfult.
ei-

language of the crows.

"' The irregular ordination of Athanafms was flightly mentioned in the councils which were held againll him. See Philoftorg. 1. ii. but it can c. 11, and Godefroy, p. 71 fcarcely be fuppofed that the affembly of the biihops of Egypt would folemnly atteft a
:

This
'*

charaifler
life

cannot now be difcovered

or writings of Athanafiiis.

ther in the

dcm,
tura.

Dicebatur enim fatidicarum fortium iiqu3c\'e augurales portenderent alites

fcientiffime callens aliquoties pradixifle fu-

Ammianus,
is

xv. 7.

prophecy, or
(I. iv.

rather a joke,
C. 10.),

related

by Sozomen
(if the

fuMtc {nUehood.

Athanaf. torn.

i.

p. 726.

which evidently proves

crows
rife

OF THE
rife In arrtis for

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
In

271

the defence of an eloquent and liberal paflor.

at leaft confolation,
;

his diftrcfs

he always derived fupport, or

from

^^ u. >
^

^-

the faithful attachment of his parochial clergy

and the hundred

to

bifhops

of Egypt adhered,

with unfliaken

zeal,

the caufe

of

Atlianafius.
affeft,

In the modeft equipage, which pride and policy would

he frequently performed the epifcopal vifitation of his pro-

vinces,

from the mouth of the Nile

and hermits of the

to the

confines of TEthiopia;

familiarly converfing with the meaneft of the populace, and

fainting the faints
defert
'*.

humbly
it

Nor was

only

in ecclefiaftical aflemblies,.

among

m.en whofe education and

man-

ners were fimrlar to his

own,
and

that Athanafius difplayed the afcend-

ancy of

his genius.

He
;

appeared with eafy and refpeftful firmnef;?

in the various turns of his profperous
loft

in the courts

of princes

and adverfe fortune, he never

the efteem of his enemies.

the confidence of his friends, or

In his yoiith, the primate of Egypt

refifted the .great Conftantine,

Perfecutio,,

who had

repeatedly fignified his will, that Arius Ihould be reftored

naiius',
^^'''

A.

to the Catholic

communion

''.

The emperor

refpedled,

and might
confidered

forgive, this inflexible refolution;

and the faction

who

Athanafius as their

moft formidable enemy, were conflrained to

diffemble their hatred, and filently to prepare an indiredl and diftant alTault.

They

fcattcred

rumours and

fufpicions, reprefented

the

archbiihop as a proud and oppreffive tyrant, and boldly accufed liim

of violating the treaty which had been ratified in the Nicene coun'*

Defert, publiflied by Rofweide

See the Hiftory of the Fathers of the and Tille:

ing,
fisj

but requefted in
y-.ttMu,

i:i-i/iKg,
rtja.

xm

aysafi;

niont

Mem.
who

Ecclef. torn, vii., in

the lives

gradually a/Turned a menacing tone; but while

letters

y^aipij h,

His

cf Antony, Pachomius, &c.

felf,

Athanafius himlife

did not difdain to compofe the

he required that the entrance of the church fhould be open to a//, he avoided the odious

how

of his friend Antony, has carefully obferved often the holy monk deplored and prophefied the mifchiefs of the Arian Herefy.

name of

Arius.

Athanafius, like a ikilful

politician, has accurately

tinftions (tcm.
i.

marked

thefe dif-

p. ySS),

which allowed him

Athanaf.
5^

torn,

ii,

p.

492. 498,

Sec.

feme fcope

for evcufe

and delay.

At firll

Conftantiiie threatened in Jj>(ai-

Qrji

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

^ vv^
*

^^^>

'^^'^'^'^

the Icliifmatic followers

of Meletius

'*.

Athanafnis had

-v^

'

openly difapproved that ignominious peace, and the emperor was

difpofed to believe,
that he
t-hofe

had abufed
;

his ecclchaftical

and

civil

power, to perfecute broken a chalice

in

odious fedtaries

that he

had

facrilegioufly

one of their churches of Marasotis; that he had

fix

whipped or imprifoned

of their bifhops

and that Arfenius, a

leaft

feventh bifhop of the fame party, had been murdered, or at

mutilated,

by the

cruel

hand of the primate

his
life,

''.

Thefe charges,

which
fynods

affcdted his

honour and
and Tyre
Eaft

were referred by Conftantine

to his brother

Dalmatius the Cenfor,

who

refrded at Antioch

the

of

Cxfarea
of the

were

fucceffively

convened

and

the bifliops

were

inftrufted to

judge

the caufe of

Athanafius, before thev proceeded to

confecrate the

new church
be

of
^

the Refurredtion

at

Jerufalem.

The

primate

m.ight

con-

fcious of his innocence;

but he was fenfible, that the fame impla-

cable fpirit

which had

didlated the accufation,

would

diredt the pro-

ceeding, and pronounce the fentence.

tribunal of his enemies, defpifed the
farea
;

He

prudently declined the

the fynod of Ca;-

fummons of

and, after a long and artful delay, fubmitted to the perempthe emperor,
if

tory

commands of

who
of

threatened to punifh his cri*\

minal difobedience
A. D. 335.

he refufed to appear in the council of Tyre

the head
fifty

Before Athanafius,

at

Egyptian

prelates^

failed
;

from Alexandria, he had wifely fecured the

in Egypt, like the Dowere produced by an epifcopal quarrel which arofe from the perfecuI have not leifure to purfue the obtion. fcure controverfy, which feenis to have been
^
natifts in Africa,

alliance of the Meletians

The Meletians

nailus himfelf,

fo

copious on the fubjeft of

this

Arfenius and the chalice, leaves accufation without a reply,

^'
1.

grave

Athanaf.
c.

torn.

i.

p.
I.

78S.
ii.

Socrates,

i.

28.
in in

Sozomen,
his

c.

2;.

The
42.),

mifreprefented by the partiality of Athanafius,

emperor,
(Eufeb.

Epiftle

of Convocation
1.

and the ignorance of Epiphanius. See Molheim's General Hiilory of the Church,
i.

Vit.

Conllant.

iv.

c.

feems to prejudge
clergy,

vol.
*'

p.

201.

and

it

fome members of the was more than probable that

to

The

treatment of the
(1. ii.

fix billiops is

fpe-

the iynod

would apply thofe reproaches

cified

by Sozomen

c.

25.)

but Atha-

Athanafius.

and

OF THE
and Arfenius

ROMAN

EMPIRE,
his fecret friend,

273 ^ ^
<

himfelf, his imaginary

vidim, and

^'

-^
'

was

privately concealed in his train.

The fynod of Tyre was conmore

pafTion,
;

du(fled

by Eufebius of

Ca'farea, with

and with

lefs art,

than his learning and experience might promife

tion repeated the

his

numerous

fac-

names of homicide and tyrant

and

their clamours
;

were encouraged by the feeming patience of Athanafms

pected the decifive

who

ex-

moment

to

produce Arfenius alive and unhurt

nature of the other charges did
;

in the midft of the aflembly.

The

not admit of fuch clear and fatisfatory replies

yet the archbifhop

was

able to prove, that, in

the village, where he was accufed of

breaking a confecrated chalice, neither church nor altar nor chalice

could really
exlft.

The Arians, who had

fecretly

determined the guilt

to difguife their

and condemnation of their enemy, attempted, however,

inj.uftice

by the imitation of judicial forms: the fynod appointed an

commifTion of fix'delegates to
colleCl evidence

ej)ifcopal
this

on the

fpot

and

meafure, which was vigoroufly oppofed by the Egyptian bifhops,

After the return of

opened new fcenes of violence and perjury"'.

the deputies from Alexandria, the majority of the council pronounced the final fentence of degradation and exile againfl the primate of

Egypt.

The

decree, exprelTed in the fierceft language of malice

and

revenge, was communicated to the emperor and the catholic church;

and the bifhops immediately refumed a mild and devout

as

afpeCt, fuch

became
But the

"". their holy pilgrimage to the Sepulchre of Chrlft

injuftice

of thefe

ecclefiaftical

judges had not been coun-

Hisfirft
exile

tenanced by the fubmiffion, or even by the prefence, of Athanafius. A.D.

336.

He

refolved to

make

a bold

and dangerous experiment, whether the

;

throne was inaccceffible to the voice of truth

and before the

Icfs

final

"

See, in particular, the Tecond

(torn.
i.

Apology

coniidence, if he appeared
his

innocent, and

of Athanafius

808. )> and his Epiftles to the Monks (p. 808 - 8' 6.). They are juftified by original and authentic
p.

763-

enemies
41

lefs

abfurd.
"\'it.

'"
c.

Eufebius in

Conftantin.

!.

iv.

47.
fentence

documents

but they
II.

would

infpire

more

Vol.

274

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fentence could be pronounced at Tyre, the Intrepid primate threw

CHAP.
XXI.

himfelf into a bark, which was ready to hoift

city.

fail

for the Imperial

The

requeft of a formal audience might have been oppofed

;

or eluded ; but Athanafius concealed his arrival

watched the moment

of Conftantine's return from an adjacent

his

villa,

and boldly encountered

angry fovereign

as

he pafled on horfeback through the principal

ftreet

of Conftantinople.
;

So ftrange an apparition excited

to

his furprife

and indignation
nate fuitor
;

and the guards were ordered

remove the importu-

but his refentment was fubdued by involuntary refpedl

fpirit

and the haughty

''.

of the emperor was awed by the courage and

eloquence of a bifhop,
confcience

who

implored his juftice and awakened his

Conftantine llftened to the complaints of Athanafius

;

with impartial and even gracious attention

the

members of the
;

fynod of Tyre were fummoned to juftify their proceedings

arts

and the
if

of the Eufebian fadtion would have been confounded

guilt

they

had not aggravated the

fition

of the primate by the dexterous fuppo-

of an unpardonable offence; a criminal defign to intercept and

detain the corn-fleet of Alexandria,

which fupplied the

fatisfied

fubfiftence

of
o

the

new

capital '\

The emperor was

that the peace

;

Egypt would be fecured by the abfence of a popular leader

refufed
to
fill

but he

the vacancy of

the archiepifcopal throne

and the
that of a

fentence, which, after long hefitation, he pronounced,

was

jealous oftracifm,

rather than of an

ignominious

exile.

In the

remote province of Gaul,^ but in the hofpitable court of Treves,

Athanaf. torn. i. p. 804. In a church dedicated to St. Athanafius, this fituation
v/ould afford a better fuhjeft for a piiSure,
''

philofopher, enjoyed his friend ihip, ar>d provC'kcd the refentment of Ablaviuj, his Prstorian pra;feft.
for

The

corn
:

fleet

was detained

than moll:

of the
torn.

llories

of miracles and

want of a fouth wind

the people of Con-

martyrdoms. '" Athanaf.

ftantinople were difcontented; and Sopater

i.

p.

739.
p.

Eunapiushas
36,

related (in Vit,

Ccmmelin)
calion.

37. edit. a ftrange example of the cruelty

Sophift.

and credulity of Conftantine on a f milar oc-

The

eloquent

Sopater,

a Syrian

was beheaded on a charge that he had icuiidthe winds by the power of magic. Suidas adds, that Conftantine widied to prove, by this execution, that he had abfolutely renounced the fuperftition of the Gentiles.

Athanafius-

OF THE

ROMAN
affairs
.

EMPIRE.
Tlie death of the
;

275

Athanafius pafled about twenty-eight months.

CHAP,
'

emperor changed the face of public

.

and, amidft the general

indulgence or a young reign, the prnnate was reltorcd to his country

(.

nilwho

^"'i reftoration,

A.D.

by an honourable a deep

edit

of the younger Conftantine,

expreffed

^^^'

fenfe of the innocence

and merit of

his venerable gueft "".

fecond

The

death of that prince expofed Athanafius to a fecond perfecu- His

tion; and the feeble Conftantius, the fovereign of the Eaft, foon

"'|^'

^'^'

became the

fecret accomplice

of the Eufebians.

Ninety

bifliops

of

that fel or fadlion afiembled at Antioch, under the fpecious pretence

of

dedicating the cathedral.

is

They compofed an ambiguous

ftill

creed,

which

faintly tinged

with the colours of Semi-Arianifm, and

regulate the difclpline of the ortho-

twenty-five canons, which

dox Greeks
that

was decided, with fome appearance of equity, a bifhop, deprived by a fynod, Ihould not refiime his epifcopal
It
till

'\

fundtiona,

he had been abfolved by the judgment of an equal

;

fynod

the law was immediately applied to the cafe of Athanafius

the council of Antioch pronounced, or rather confirmed, his degradation

:

a ftranger named Gregory,

was

feated

on

his throne

and Phila-

grius '\ the praefedl of Egypt,

was

inftrudled to fupport the

new primate

with the

civil

and military powers of the province.

Opprefled by the

confpiracy of the Afiatic prelates, Athanafius withdrew from Alexandria, and pafTed three years
'

as

an exile and a fuppliant on the

holy
'^

In
at

his

return

he

faw

Conftantius
in

and

refpeifl.

He

reckons ninety-feven

bii.

twice,

Viminiacum and

at Ca;farea

Ihops.
'"'

Cappadocia. (Athanaf. torn. i. p. 676.) Tillemont fuppofes that Conftantine introduced him to the meeting of the three royal trothers in Fannonia. (Memoires Ecclef, tom. viii. p. 69.) '* See Beveridge Pandedl. tom. i. p. 429 452., and tom. ii. Annotation, p. 182. Tillemont Mem. Ecclef. tom. vi. p. 310 St. Hilary of Poitiers has mentioned 324. this fynod of Antiodi with^too much favour

fius, is
i.

This magiftrate, Co odious to Athanapraifed by Gregory Nazianzen, torn.

Orat. xxi. p. 390, 391.

Sspe premente Deo fert Deus alter opem. For the credit of human nature, I am always pleafed to difcover fome good qualities in
thofe

men whom The

n 2

party has reprefented as

tyrants
'"''

and monfters.
chronological
difficulties

which

perplex the refidence of -Athanafius at

Rome,
are

27^
^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^*

^^

holy

threfliokl

of the Vatican

''.

By

the afTiduous ftudy of the

C-1v<

Latin language, he loon qualified himfelf to negociate with

the

weftern clergy ; his decent flattery fwayed and direded the haughty
Julius
:

the

Roman

Pontiff was perfuaded to confider his appeal as the

;

peculiar intereft of the Apoftolic fee

and

his

innocence was unaniItaly.

moufly declared in a council of

three years, the primate

fifty bifliops

of

At the end of
Milan by the

was fummoned

to the court of

emperor Couftans, who,

ftill

in the indtdgence of unlawful pleafure&,

faith..

profeffed a lively regard for the orthodox

The
'',

caufe of

truth and juflice

was promoted by the

influence of gold

and the

miniflcrs of Conflans advifed their fovereign to require the convocation of an ecclefiaflical affembly,
A. D. 346.

which might

at as the reprefent-

atives

of the Catholic

church.

Ninety-four bifhops of the Weflj

feventy-fix bifhops of the Eafl,. encountered each other at Sardica^

on the verge of the two empires, but

tedor of Athanafms.
altercations;

in the

dominions of the prohoftile fafety,

Their debates foon degenerated into

perfonal

the Afiatics, apprehenfive for their

retired to Philippopolis in

Thrace

and the

rival

fynods reciprocally

hurled
pioully

their fpiritual

thunders againft their enemies,

whom

they

condemned

as the

enemies of the true Ciod.

piebat

Their decrees

aie flrenuoufly agitated. by ValefiUs (Obfervat. ad

C.
I

torn.

Calcem, torn. ii. Hift. Ecdef. 1. i. and Tillemont (Mem. Ecclef. 5.) viii. p. 674, Sec). I have followed

pontificis
preffis

Roinani confugifle, majeftatemque comiter coluiffe, eoque pafto op-

proevaluiile,
ftabiliviiTe.

per pontificem et epifcopos Latinos atque orthodosiam in conciliis-

the fimple hypothefis of Valefius, wK.0 allows only one journey, after the intrufion of Gre-

fine comitatu^
ibi hafit.
"^^

Earn ob caufam Athanafius, non Romam petiit, plurefque annos

c.

gory.
''

I cannot- forbear tranfcribing

a judi-

Philoftorgias,

1.

iji.

12.

If any

cious obfervation of Wetftein (Prolegomen,

corruption was ufed to promote the intereft

N. T.

p. 19.):

Si

tamen Hiftoriam Eccle-

of religion, an advocate of Athanafius might

juftify

iiafticam velimus confulerCj patebit

jam inds

or excufe this queftionable conduft",

;

a foculo quarto,
clefia;

cum,

ortis controverfiis, ec-

Grxcia; doftores in duas partes fcinde-

lentur, ingenio, eloquentia, numero, tantum

3t>n

by the example of Cato and Sidney the former of whom is /aii/ to have given, and the latter to have received, a bribe, in the
caufe of liberty,

spquales,

cam partem

qua; vincere cu-

were.

OF THE
were
publlflied

ROMAN
''.

EMPIRE.
provinces
;

277
and Athaas

and

ratified in their refpelive

CHAP.
'

nafius,

who

in the

Weft was revered

as a fliint,

was expofed

'

criminal to the abhorrence of the Eaft

reveals the
firft

The

council of Sardica

fymptoms of

difcord and fchifm between the

Greek

and Latin churches, which were feparated by the accidental

of
faith,

difference

and the permanent

his fecond

diftindlion of language.

During

exile in the

Weft, Athanafius was frequently

^

^"'^ rettora-

tion,

A. D,

admitted to the Imperial prefence; at Capua, Lodi, Milan, Verona,

349.

Padua, Aquileia, and Treves.

affifted at thefe

The

bifhop

of the diocefe ufually

interviews

the mafter of the offices ftood before the

veil or curtain

of the facred apartment; and the uniform moderatio^^

to-

of the primate might be attefted by thefe refpeftable witneffes,

whofe evidence he folemnly appeals

".

Prudence would undoubt-

edly fuggeft the mild and refpedtful tone that became a fubjeil and a
bilhop.

In thefe

familiar

conferences with the fovereign of the

;

Weft, Athanafius might lament the error of Conftantius

but he

boldly arraigned the guilt of his eunuchs and his Arian prelates

deplored the

diftrefs

and danger of the Catholic church ; and excited

Conftans to emulate the zeal and glory of his father.

declared his refolution of employing the

The emperor

troops

and treafures of

Europe

in the

orthodox caufe

and

fignified,

by

a concife and per-

emptory
to the

epiftle to his

brother Conftantius, that unlefs he confented

fleet
'".

immediate reftoration of Athanafius, he himfelf, with a

feat the archbiftaop

and army, would

on the throne of Alexandria

But
'"^

the

The Canon, which Roman pontiffs, has

;

allows appeals to

tives againft" Conflantius (fee

the Epiftle to

almoft railed the

council of Sardica to the dignity of a general

council

and

its

ads have been ignorantly

viii.

fame time that he allured him of his profound refpei.^, we might diftruft the profeffions of the archbilhop.
the
at

Monks\

the

or artfully confounded with thofe of the Ni-

Tom.

i.

p. 677.

cene fynod.

See Tillemont, torn.

p.

689, and Geddfs's Trafts, vol. ii. p. 419 460. " As Athanafius difperfed fecret invec-

'" Notwithftanding the difcreet filence of Athanafius, and the manifeft forgery of a letter inferted by Socrates, thefe menaces
are proved

ty

the unquellionaUe evidence-of

Lucifer.

278

THE DECLINE AND FALL

]3Qt this religious war, fo horrible to nature,

CHAP.
XXl.

was prevented by the

timely compliance of Conftantius

and the emperor of the Eaft

condefcended to
injured.

folicit

a reconciliation with a fubjet

pride,
till

whom

he had

Athanafms waited with decent

he had received three

fucceffive epiftles full

of the ftrongeft afllirances of the protection, the

;

favour, and the efteem of his fovereign

his epifcopal feat,

who

invited

him

to

refume

and

who added

the

humiliating

precaution of

engaging his principal minifters to

tions.

atteft
flill

the fmcerity of his inten-

They were

manifefted in a

more public manner, by the

Egypt
to recall the adherents

ftrid orders

which were difpatched

into

of Athanafms, to reftore their privileges, to proclaim their innocence, and to eraze from the public regifters the illegal proceedings

which had been obtained during the prevalence of the Eufebian After every fatisfadtion and fecurity had been given, which faction.
juftice or

even delicacy could require, the primate proceeded, by flow

journeys, through the provinces of Thrace, Afia, and Syria; and

his progrefs

was marked by the

abjedl

homage of

the

Oriental

bifhops, tion '".

who

excited his contempt without deceiving his penetrafuftained,

At Antioch he faw the emperor Conftantius;

with modeft firmnefs, the embraces and proteftations of his mafter,

and eluded the propofal of allowing the Arians a fmgle church

Alexandria, by

at

claiming, in the other cities of the empire, a fimilar

toleration for his

juft

own

party

a reply

which might have appeared

and moderate in the mouth of an independent prince. and perfecution had endeared him

The

entrance of the archbifliop into his capital was a triumphal proceffion ; abfence
to the

Akxandriansj

Lucifer of CagHari, and even of Conftantius

himfelf.

693. '" I have always entertained feme doubts

viii.

See Tillemont, torn.

p.

Athanafms liimfelf, are of fo different a caft from each other, that they cannot both be genuine. The one fpeaks the language of
criminals
the other
terras

concerning the retraftation ofUrfacius and Valens (Athanaf. torn. i. p. 776.). Their epiftles to Julius biftiop of Rome, and to

confefs their guilt and infamy ; of enemies, who folicit on equal an honourable reconciliation.

who

his

OF THE
his

ROMAN EMPIRE.
C
v-

279

authority,
;

which he exercifed with rigour, was more firmly

his

HA

P.

eftabhfhed

and

fame was

diiTufed

from ^Ethiopia

to

Bntam, over

'". the whole extent of the Chriflian world

But the fubjed: who has reduced

his

prince to the neceflity of Refentment

;

diflembling, can never expedt a fmcere and lafting forgivenefs

and

tius,

A. D.

the tragic fate of Conftans foon deprived

Athanafms of a powerful
affaflin

^^''

and generous proteftor.

The

civil

war between the

and the

only furviving brother of Conftans, which

afflidled the

empire above
;

three years, fecured an interval of repofe to the Catholic church

and the two contending

friendlhip of a bifhop,
rity,

parties

were

defirous

to

conciliate

the

who, by

the weight of his perfonal autho-

might determine the fluctuating refolutions of an important

province.

He

gave audience to the ambaffadors of the tyrant, with

fecret

whom

he was afterwards accufed of holding a

correfpond-

ence"*; and the emperor Conftantius repeatedly aflured his deareft

father, the
licious

moft reverend Athanafius,

circulated

that,

notwithftanding the

ma-

rumours which were

by

their

common

enemies, he

had inherited the fentiments, as well as the throne, of his deceafed brother "\ Gratitude and humanity would have difpofed the primate of Egypt
abhor the
to

deplore the untimely fate of Conftans

;

and to

guilt of

Magnentius

but as he clearly underftood that the

apprehenfions of Conftantius were his only fafeguard, the fervour

of his prayers for the fuccefs of the righteous caufe might perhaps be

fomewhat

abated.

The

ruin of Athanafius was no longer contrived

by the obfcure malice of a few bigotted or angry biihops, who

'" The circumftances of
his fecond return be collefted from Athanafius himfelf,
i.

may
torn.
ii.

p.

769 and 8z2. 843.

Sozorrrsn,
1.

Socrates,
19.

1.

c.

18.
1.

iii.

c.

Theo1.

doret,
C. 12.

ii.

c.

11, 12.

Philoilorgius,

iii.

folsmn affertions, and fpecioiis arguments. He admits that letters had been forged in his name, but he requefts that his own fecretaries, and thofe of the tyrant, may be examincd, whether thofc letters h.\d been written by the former or received by the
latter,

"* Athanafius (torn. i. p. 677, 678.) defends his innocence by pathetic complaints,

"5 Athanaf.

torn.

i.

p.

825

844.
abufed

28o

THE DECLINE AND FALL

abufed the authority of a credulous monarch.

CHAP,
^^

The monarch

himfelf

XXI.
'

avowed

the refohition,

which he had
and the
firft

fo long fupprefled, of

avenging

his private injuries'";

winter after his vidoiy, which

he paffed

at Aries,

was employed

againft an

enemy more odious

to

him than
Councils of Arles and Milan, A. D.

the vanquifhed tyrant of Gaul.

empieror had capricioufly decreed the death of the moft emi^ ^ virtuous citizen of the republic, the cruel order would have nent and
jf
tj^e
.

.3i3 355-

jjge^ executed

without hefitation, by the minifters of open violence or

of fpecious

injuftice.

The

caution, the delay, the difficulty with

which

he proceeded in the condemnation and punifhment of a popular bifhop,

difcovered to the world that the privileges of the church had already

revived a fenfe of order and freedom in the

Roman

government.

The

fentence which was pronounced in the fynod of Tyre, and fubfcribed

by

a large majority of the eaftern bifhops,

had never been exprefsly

repealed; and as Athanafms had been once degraded from his-epif-

cogal dignity

by

the

judgment of
as irregular,

his brethren,

every fubfequent adt

might he confidered

and even criminal.

But the me-

mory

of the firm and effedlual fupport which the primate of Egj'pt

had derived from the attachment of the weftern church, engaged

Conftantius to fufpend the execution of the fentence,
tained the concurrence of the Latin bifhops.
till

he had ob-

Two

years were con-

fumed

in ecclefiaftical negociations

and the important caufe between

firft

the emperor and one of his fubjefts was folemnly debated,

in the

fynod of Aries, and afterwards in the great council of Milan

confifted of above three

^",

which

hundred bifhops.

Their integrity was gra-

dually undermined by the arguments of the-Arians, the dexterity ct

'"*
c.

Athanaf. torn.

i.

p.

86i. Theodoret,
that he

!. ii.

Greek

v.

-iters,

that

we muft

rejoice in the

was more defirous to Aibdue Athanafius, than he kad been to vanquifh Magnentius or Syll6.

The emperor

declared,

fupply of ibme letters of Eufelnus, exlrafted

by Barorius, from the archives of the church of Vercella:, and of an old

ronius, A.
p.
life

of Dionyfius
See Batorn. vii.

vanus.

of Milan, publifhed by Bollandus.

affairs

'" The

of the council of Milan are

D. 355. andTillemont,

fo imperfeftly

and erroneou/ly related by the

1415.

the

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

the eunuchs, and the prefling folicitations of a prince,
his revenge
at

2S1

who

gratified

^'-

\^ J-

the expence of his dignity; and expofed his

own

pafTions, whilfl.
inoft

he influenced thofe of the clergy.

Corruption, the

infalUblc

fymptom of
gifts,

conftitutional

hberty,

was

fucccfsfully

pradifed: honours,
as the price

and immunities were offered and accepted

"
;

of an epifcopal vote

and the condemnation of the

as the

Alexandrian primate was artfully reprefented,

only meafure

which could

reflore the peace

and union of the Catholic church.

not,

The

friends of Athanafius

were
a

however, wanting
fpirit,

to

their

leader, or to their caufe.

With

manly

which the

fandlity of

their character rendered lefs dangerous, they maintained, in public

debate, and in private conference with the emperor, the eternal ob-

hgation of religion and juflice.

They

declared, that neither the

hope

of his favour, nor the fear of his difpleafure, fl\ould prevail on them
to join in the condemnation of an abfent, an innocent, a refpedtable

brother"'.

They

affirmed, with apparent reafon, that the illegal

fince

and obfolete decrees of the council of Tyre had long

citly abolifhed

been ta-

by the Imperial edids, the honourable

re-eftablifli-

ment of the archbifhop of Alexandria, and the

of his moft clamorous adverfaries.

filence or recantation

They

alleged, that his innocence

had been

attefted

by the unanimous

bifliops of

Egypt, and had been

'",

acknowledged

in the councils of

Rome and
turn

Sardica

by the im-

"' The honours, prefents, feafts, which fcduced fo many bdfhops, are mentioned wi-th indignation by thofe who were too pure or " We combat tno proud to accept them. " (fays Hilary of Poitiers) againll Conflan" tins the antichrill who ftrokcs the belly " inftead of fcourging the back ;" qui non
;

dnmnare nefos ultimum fepe exclamans;

Id

aperte fcilicet recalcitrans Imperatoris arbitiio.

tiis,

enim

ille

Athanafio feniper infef-

&c.

dorfa cxdit, fed ventrem palpat.

contra Conftant. tioned by

Hilarius

1240. "' Something of this oppofition

c. 5. p.

"" More ps-opeily by the orthodox part of the council of Sardica. If the bilhops of both parties had fairly voted, the divifion would have been 94 to 76. M. de Tillemont (fee torn. viii. p. 1147 ii;8.) is

is

mena

juftly

furprifed

that

fo

fmall

majority

Ammianus

(xv.

7.),

who had

very dark and fuperficial knowledge of eccleLiberius . perfeveranter fiaftical hiftory.

. .

fhould have proceeded fo vigoroufly againft their adverfaries, the principal of whom they

immediately depofed.

itinitebatur, nee

vifum homlnem, nee audi-

VoL.

II.

partial

282

THE DECLINE AND FALL

partial

CHAP,
V,.
'

judgment of

tlie

Latin church.

They

deplored the hard

condition of Athanafius, who, after erijoying fo

his reputation,

many

years his

feat,,

and the feeming confidence of

his fovereign,

was

again called upon to confute the moft groundlefs and extravagant

accufations.

Their language was fpecious; their conduct was ho-

nourable

but in this long and obftinate conteft, whfch fixed the eyesecclelialllcal fiidtions-

of the whole empire on a fingle blfliop, the

were prepared
objedt

to fiicrifice truth

and

juftice, to the

more

interefting

of defending, or removing, the intrepid champion of the

faitlu

Nicene

The Arians
their

ftill

thought

it

prudent to difguife in
defigns
:

ambiguous language,

real,

fentiments ar>d

but the

orthodox bilhops, armed with the favour of the people, and the
decrees of a general council, infilled on every occafion, and particularly at Milan, that their adverfaries fhould

purge themfelves from

the fufplcion of herefy, before they prefumed to arraign the condu<3:

of th great Athanafius
Condemnanafius,
'^^^'

"'.

But the voice of reafon

nafius)

(if

reafon was indeed on the fide of Athafaffious or venal majority;

diffolved
till

A. D.

was

filenced

by the clamours of a

and the councils of Aries and Milan were not

biftiop of

the arch-

Alexandria had been folemnly condemned and depofed by

the judgment of the Weftern, as well as of the Eaftern, church.

bilhops

The
of

who had

oppofed, were required to fubfcribe, the fentence;.

and

to unite in

religious

communion with

the fufpedlsd leaders

the adverfe party.

formulary of confent was tranfmitted by the

:

meflengers of

ftate to the abfent bifhops

and

all

thofe

who

refufed

to fubmit their private opinion to the public

and infpired wifdom

of the councils of Aries and Milan, were immediately banifhed by

the emperor,
church.

who

affedted to execute the

decrees of the Catholic

Among
**'

thofe prelates

who
I.

led the honourable

band of

Sulp. Severus

in Hift.

Sacra,

ii.

p. i^jz.

coafeiTors

OF THE
confeffors
iius

kOMAN
may

EMPIRE.
Palili-

285

and

exiles, Libcrius

of Rome, Ofius of Cordova,

^
Vi

^^

^
,

Py

of Treves, Dionyfius of Milan, Eufcbius of Verccllar, Lucifer of

Cagliari,

and Hilary of

Poitiers,

dcferve to be particularly dif-

tinguiflied.

The eminent

ftation

of Liberius,

who

governed the

capital of the empire; the perfonal merit

and long experience of the

venerable Ofuis,
ftantine,

who was

revered as the favourite of the great

faith
;

Con-

and the father of the Nicene

:

placed thofe prelates at

eitlirer

the head of the Latin church

fion or refiftance,

and

their

example,

of fubmif-

would probably be imitated by the

to feduce
o-r

epifcopal crowd..
to intimidate the

But the repeated attempts of the emperor

bifhops of

Rome

and Cordova, were for fome time

ineffectual.

The

Spaniard declared himfelf ready to fuffer under Conftantius, as he

had

fuffered threefcore years before

under

his grandfather

Maximian. Be-

The Roman,
Txa
in

in the prefence of his fovereign, afferted the innocence

of Athanafius, and his

own

freedom.

When

he was banifhed

to

Thrace, he fent back a large fum which had been offered for
;

the accommodation of his journey

"by the

and infulted the court of Milan

eunuchs might bifhops "\ The refoluhis

haughty remark, that the emperor and

want

that gold to

pay

their foldiers

and

their

tion of Liberius and Ofius

xile

was

at

length fubdued by the hardfhips of

pontiff purchafed his return
his guilt

and confinement.

The Roman
;

by fome

criminal compliances

and afterwai-ds expiated

by

a feafonable repentance.

Perfuafion and violence were employed to

extort the reluctant fignatuVe of the decrepid bifhop of Cordova, whofe

ftrength

was broken, and whofe

faculties
;

were perhaps impaired, by

with inhuman
old

the weight of an hundred years

and the infolent triumph of the

treat

Arians provoked fome of the orthodox party to

feverity the charadler, or rather the

memory, of an unfortunate
16.

"* The

exile of Liberius is

mentioned by
1.

c.

Athanaf.
i.

torn.

i.

p>

834 837.

Hi-

Ammianus,

xv. 7.

See Theodoret,

ii.

lar.

Fragment,

Oo

man,

284
^
<

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^
'

xxj

man,

to

whofe former

fervices Chriftianity Itfelf

was

fo deeply in-

debtee!

"^
fall

Exiles^

The
lity,

of Liberius and Ofius reflected

brighter luflre

on

the firmnefs of thofe bifhops

to the caufe

who

flill

adhered, with unfliaken fide-

of Athanafius and religious truth.

The

ingenious

xnalice

of their enemies had deprived them of the benefit of mutualfeparated thofe

illuftrious

comfort and advice,

exiles into diftant

provinces, and carefully felefted the moft inhofpitable fpots of a great

empire

'^\

Yet they

fo on

experienced that the deferts of Libya, and

lefs

the moft barbarous trats of Cappadocia, were

inhofpitable than
fatiate,

the refidence of thofe

cities in

which an Arian bifhop could

without

reftraint,

the exquifite rancour

of theological hatred "\

Their confolation was derived from the confcioufnefs of rectitude

and independence, from the applaufe, the

the
liberal

vifits,

the letters,

and

alms of their adherents

'^*
;

and from the

fatisfadlioa

which they foon enjoyed of obferving the

tlie

inteiline divifions

of

adverfaries of the

Nicene

faith.

Such was the nice and capri-

ciou-s tafte

of the emperor Conftantius, and fo eafily was he offended

by the

flighteft deviation

from

his

imaginary ftandard of Chrlftiaa

truth; that he perfecuted, with equal zeal, thofe

confiibjla'iitiality^

who

defended the

thofe

who

afl'erted

the fimilar fubjlance^ and thofe

who
'^^

denied the
The
life

I'lkencfs^^

of the Son of God.

Three bifhops degrad-

of Ofius

is

collefled by Til-

place of his exile was changed, by the advice-

lemont

(torn. vii. p.

524 56i.)> who in the

nrft

of Acacius, to Amblada, a

dillrift

inhabited.
pelli-

moft extravagant terms

reprobates,

admires, and then

by favages, and
lence.
'''

infelled

by war and
c. 2.

the bifhop of Cordova.

In the

Philoftorg.

v.

midft of their lamentations on his fall, the prudence of Athanalius may be dillinguiflied from the blind and intemperate zeal of Hilary.

See the

cruel

treatment and ftrangs

in his

obftinacy of Eufebius,

publifhed

by

Baronius,
exules

A.

92
confefibrs

102.
'^*

own letters, D. 356. N^

totiirs

of the Weft were fucceflively banillied to the deferts of Arabia or Thebais, the lonely places of Mount Taurus, the wiidell parts of Phrygia, which were in the pofleflion of the impious Montanifts, &c. When the Heretic -'Etius was too favourably
Ciiter'eained

'+ The

Cstcrum

fatis

conftat,

orbis ftudiis

celebrates

pecuniafque

eis

in

fumptum

affatim congeftas legationibus

quo-

que eos plebis Catholics ex omnibus fere provinciis frequentatos. Sulp. Sever. Hiih
Sacra,
p.

414.

Athanaf.

torn.

i.

p. 836..

at

Mopfueftia in

Cilicia,

the

840.


OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
ed and banlflicd for thofe adverfe opinions, might pofTibly meet in
the lame pLace of exile; and, according to the difference of their

285
^
v.

-j^

temper, might either pity or infult the blind enthufiafm of their

antagonifts,

whofe prefent

fufferings

would never be compenfated by

of the Weft were Third

future happinefs.

The
felf"^

difgracc

and exile of the orthodox

biiliops

cx-

defigned as fo

many

preparatory fteps to the ruin of Athanafius him- AthaTanua

Six and twenty months had elapfed, during which- the

Im-

f''j^./^'s-''-

perial court fccretly laboured,

by the moft

infidious arts, to

remove ^^-

35'2>

him. from Alexandria, and to withdraw the allowance which fupplied his popular liberality.
ferted

But when the primate of Egypt, deleft deftitute

and profcribed by the Latin church, was

of any

foreign fupport, Conftantius difpatched

two of

his fecretaries

with a

verbal commiflion to announce and execute the order of his banifli-

ment.

As

the juftice of the fentence

was publicly avowed by the

reftrain Conftantius

whole party, the only motive which could

from

giving his meflengers the fandlion of a written mandate, muft be

imputed

to his

doubt of the event; and to a fenfe of the danger to

city,

which he might expofe the fecond

of the empire,
if the

and the moft

fertile

province

people Ihould perfift in the refolution of de-

fending, by force of arms, the innocence of their fpiritual father.

Such extreme caution afforded Athanafius a fpecious pretence refpedfuUy to'dilpute the truth of an order, which he could not
reconcile, either

with the equity, or with the former declarations, of

his gracious mafter.

The

civil

powers of Egypt found themfelves

inadequate to the tafk of perfuading or compelling the primate to

abdicate his epifcopal throne
;

and they were obliged to conclude

a treaty with the popular leaders of Alexandria,

'^'

by which

it

was

Ample

materials for the hiftoryof this

third perfecution of Athanafius

may be found
(torn.
i.

(p, 80S.), and the original Proteft of the People of Alexandria againft the violences

in his

own works.
to
his
firft

See particularly his very

Conftantius
p.
(p.

able

Apology

673.),
701.),

Apology
Epillle

for his
to

flight

committed by Syrianus (p. 866.). Sozomen (1. iv. c. 9.) has thrown into the narrative two or three luminous and important circumftances..

his prolix

the Solitaries

ftipulated^

28(>

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

^ ^J^
t
,

ftlpulatecl, that all

till

proceedings and

all hoflilities

fliould

be fufpended

the emperor's pleafure had been

more

dlftinftly afcertained.
falfe

By
and

this

feeming moderation, the Catholics were deceived into a

;

fatal fecurity

while the legions of the Upper Egypt, and of Libya,

advanced, by fecret orders and hafty marches, to befiege, or rather

to furprife, a capital, habituated to fedition, and inflamed
zeal
'^'.

by

religious

The

pofition of Alexandria,

between the

fea

and the lake

Mareotis, facilitated the approach and landing of the ti^oops;

-were introduced into the heart of the city, before

who

any effedual meaoccupy the im-

fures could be taken, either to fhut the gates,' or to

portant pofls of defence.

At the hour of midnight, twenty-three

days after the fignature of the treaty, Syrianus duke of Eg)^t, at

the head of five thoufand foldiers, armed and prepared for an affault,

unexpectedly inverted the church of

bifliop,

St.

Theonas, where the arch-

with a part of his clergy and people, performed their noc-

turnal devotions.

The

doors of the facred edifice yielded to the

impetuofity of the attack, which was accompanied with every horrid

.circumftance of tumult and bloodihed
;

but, as the bodies of the flain,

and the fragments of military weapons, remained the next day an

unexceptionable evidence in the pofTefFion of the Catholics, the euterprife

of Syrianus

may

be confidered as a fuccefsful irruption,

rather than as an abfolute conqueft.

The

other churches of the city

leaft

were profaned by

fimilar outrages

and, during at

four months,

Alexandria was expofed to the

lated

infults

of a licentious armv, ftimu-

by the
killed
;

ecclefiaftics

of an hoftile fadion.
deferve the

Many

of the faithful

were

who may

name of
;

mart^TS, if their deaths

^vere neither provoked nor revenged

treated with cruel

bifhops and prefbyters were

ignominy j confecrated virgins were ftripped naked,

and were honourably condufted by the archbifhop as far as the gates of the city. Athanaf. torn.
ii.

^' Athanaflus had lately fent for Antony, and feme of his chofen Monks. They de/cended from their mountain, annocnccd to
iiie

p.

491, 492.

See

likewife

Alexandrians the fauftity of Athanafius,

Ruiinus,

iii.

164. in Vit. Patn p. 524.

fcourged.

OF THE
icourged, and violated
;

ROMAN
hoiifes

EMPIRE.
^
"^

2-87-

tlie

of wealthy citizens were piunzeal, iuft,, avarice,

^^^^
w

P*
'

dered

and,

under the mafk of religious

and
witli

private refentment,
applaufe.

were

gratified

with" impunity,

and even

The Pagans

of Alexandria,
eafily

who

ftill

form@d:a nujuerous

and difcontented party, were

perfuaded to defert a billiop

of fome peculiar fa-

whom
ties

they feared and efteemed.

The hopes

vours, and the apprehendon of being involved in the general penal-

of rebellion,

engaged them to proraife their fupport to the

dcftined fuccefTor of Athanafms, the famous

George of Cappadocia.

The

ufurper,

after receiving

the confecration of an Arian fynod,,

was placed on the

portant defign.
the tyrant

epifcopal throne

by the arms of Sebaftian,

that

who
imand

had been appointed Count of Egypt for the execution of

In the ufe, as well as in the acquifition, of power,

religion, of juftice,

George difregarded the laws of

;

of humanity

and the fame fcenes of violence and fcandal which

in the capital,

had been exhibited

were repeated in more than ninety

fuccefs, Conftantius

epifcopal cities of Egypt.

Encouraged by

ven-

tured to approve the condudt of his minifters.

fionate epiftle, the

By a

public and paf-

emperor congratulates the deliverance of Alex-

andria from a popular t^/rant,

who

deluded

his blind votaries

by

the magic of his eloquence; expatiates on the virtues and piety of the

moll reverend George, the elected bilhop

and
the

afpires, as the patron<

and benefactor of the

himfelf.
liie

city,

to

furpafs

flmie

of Alexander

But he folemnly declares and fword the

flying

his unalterable refolution to

pur-

with, fire

feditious adherents of the vvricked

juftice,

Atha".

nafiuSj

who, by

from

has confeffed his guilt, and

efcaped the ignominious death which he had fo often deferved

Athanafius had indeed efcaped from the moft imminent dangers

His beha-

and the adventures of

" Athanaf.
torn.
i.

that extraordinary

man

deferve and fix our

p. 694.

Th^'emwhile they

exprefs their refentment^ betray their fears

peror, or his Arian fecretaries,

and

efteera

of Athanafius,

attention.

; ;

288

THE DECLINE AND FALL

attention.
-vvas

CHAP,

On

the

memorable night when the church of

St.

Theonas

cv-._^

invefted

by

th*e

troops of Syrianus, the archbilhop, fcated on his

throne, expected, with calm and intrepid dignity, the approach of

death.

While

the public devotion

was interrupted by Ihouts of

rage,

and

cries

of terror, he animated his trembling congregation to ex-

prefs their religious confidence,

by chanting one of the pfalms of

David, which celebrates the triumph of the

God

of

Ifrael

over the
at

haughty and impious tyrant of Eg)^t.

burft

The

doors were

length

open

a cloud of arrows

was difcharged among the people

into the fandluary
refledted

the foldiers, with

drawn fwords, rufhed forwards

gleam
of their

and the dreadful

armour was
altar
'^'.

by the
Hill

holy luminaries which burnt round the

rejedted the pious importunity of the

Athanafius
Prefbyters,
to

Monks and

who

were attached
epifcopal ftation,

to

his

perfon

and nobly refufed

defert his

till

he had difmifled in fafety the

laft

of the con-

gregation.
treat

The

darknefs and tumult of the night favoured the re;

of the archbifhop

and though he was opprefled by the waves

of an agitated multitude, though he was thrown to the ground, and

left

without fenfe or motion, he

ftill

recovered his undaunted cou-

rage; and eluded the eager fearch of the foldiers,

ftrudled

who were
moment
"*.

in-

by

their

Arian guides, that the head of Athanafius would be

the mofi: acceptable prefent to the emperor.

From

that

the

primate of Egypt difappeared from the eyes of his enemies,

and

remained above
His
-bi. i
retreat.
'

fix years

concealed in impenetrable obfcurity

his implacable

The
o^

defpotic

power of
world
;

enemy

filled

the whole extent

^^ Roman

and the exafperated monarch had endeaepiflle to the Chriftian princes

Athanafius

voured, by a very preffing

'^'

of ^thio-

Thefe minute circumftances

are

cu-

and Arnauld,

and have expa-

rious, as they are literally tranfcrlbed

from

tiated with pleafure on

the faith and zeal,

the protell,
three days

afterwards

which was publicly prefented by the Catholics of

See Athanaf. torn,
i-

the merit and exile, of thofe celebrated doc-

Alexandrla.
'5*

p. 867.

The

Janfenifts

have often compare4

Thii concealed parallel is very dexmanaged by the Abbe de la Bleterie, Yiedejovien, torn. i. p. 130.
tors.

troufly

pia,

OF THE
pia,
to exclude

ROMAN
r

EMPIRE.
remote and fcqueftered
.

289
C H A
P,

Athanafms from the

mofl:

regions of the earth.

Counts, prisfefts, tribunes, wliole armies,

to purlue a bifhop

XXI. -,-

were

fucceffively

employed

and

a fugitive

the

vigilance of the civil

edi(51;s
;

and military

povs^ers Avas excited

by

the Imperial

liberal

rewards were promifed to the

;

man who

fhould produce

Athanafius, either alive or dead

and the

mofl: fevere penalties

were

denounced againft thofe who flaould dare to protedl the public enemy ". But the dcferts of Thebais were now peopled by a race of
wild, yet fubmillive fanatics,

who

preferred the

commands of

their

abbot to the laws of their fovereign.

The numerous

difciples

of

Antony and Pachomius

received the fugitive primate as their father,

admired the patience and humility with which he conformed to their

ftrid:efl;

inftitutions, colleled

every word which dropt from his

;

lips

as the

genuine efFufions of infpired wifdom

and perfuaded them-

felves, that their prayers, their falls,

and

their vigils,

were

lefs

me-

ritorious than the zeal

which they exprelTed, and the dangers which

they braved, in the defence of truth and innocence "\

nafteries of

The moon the

Egypt were

feated in lonely
in the iflands

and

defolate places,
;

fummit of mountains, or

of the Nile

and the facred

horn or trumpet of Tabenne was the well-known

bled feveral thoufand robuft and determined
part,

fignal

which affemfor the

Monks, who,
which

mofl
their

had been the peafants of the adjacent country.

retreats

When
it

dark

were invaded by a military

force,

was impof-

fible to

refifl:,

they filently flretched out their necks to the executheir national

tioner

and fupported

charader, that tortures could

a fecret

never

wrefl:

from an Egyptian the confeflion of

which he
Rufin.

fius,

'" Hinc jam toto orbe profngus Athananee uUus ei tutus ad latendum fuper-

caput certe Athanafii detuliffet.

c.

1.

i.

i6.
'^*

Tribuni, Prjefedi, Comites, exercitusquoque, adperveftigandum eum movenerat locus.

xxi.

p. 384.,

Gregor. Nazianzen. torn. i. See Tillemont, 3S5.

torn.
vii.

Orat.

tur ediftis Imperialibus

prsmia delatoribus
fi

Ecclef.

p.

1-6 410.

Mem. 820

proponuntur,

fi

quis euiu vtvum,

id

minus,

8S0.

Vol.

II.
_

P p

was

590

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^ras refblved not to difclofe'".

CHAP,
XXL

The

archbllliop of Alexandria, for

whofe

fafety they eagerly devoted their lives,

;

was

loft

among

a uni-

form and well-difciplined multitude

and on the nearer approach of

danger, he was fwiftly removed, by their officious hands, from one

place of concealment to another,
till

he reached the formidable

fuperftition

deferts,

which the gloomy and credulous temper of

with daemons and favage monfters.

had peopled

The

retirement of Athanafms,

which ended only with the

moft
part, in the as guards, as fecretaries,

life

of Conftantius, was fpent, for the

fociety of the

Monks, who
;

faithfully ferved

him

and

as meflengers

but the importance of

maintaining a more intimate connection with the Catholic party,

tempted him, whenever the diligence of the purfuit was abated, to

emerge from the

defert, to introduce himfelf into Alexandria,

and

to truft his perfon to the difcretion of his friends

and adherents.

His

various adventures might have furnifhed the fubje6t of a very entertaining romance.

He

was once

fecreted in a dry ciftern,

which he

had fcarcely
flave
"'*
;

left

before he was betrayed by the treachery of a female

ftill

and he was once concealed in a

more extraordinary

afylum, the houfe of a virgin, only twenty years of age, and

who

was celebrated was

in the

whole

city for her exquifite beauty.

At the

hour of midnight,
ihe
furpriJed

as {he related the ftory

many

years afterwards,
in a loofe

by the appearance of the archbiihop

fteps,

undrefs,

who, advancing with hafty

conjured her to afford

a celeftial vifion

him
to

the protedion

which he had been diredled by

feek under her hofpitable roof.

The

pious maid accepted and

preferved the facred pledge which was entrufted to her prudence and
courage.

Without imparting the

into

fecret to

any one, he

inftantly

conduced Athanafms

her moft fecret chamber, and watched

1. i. c. 18. Sozomen, 1. iv-. and the following ftory will be rendered inipoffible, if we fuppofe that Athanafius always inhabited the afylum which hi accidentally or occafionally had ufed.

'-' Et nulla tormentorum vis inveniri adqua; obdurato illius traftus laiuc potuit
;

'^^

Rufin.

c. 10.

Thk

troni

invito elicere potuit,

dicat.

ut

nomen

pro-

prium
lefius

Ammian.
'

xxii, 16.

and Va-

ad locum,

over

OF
"over his fafety

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

^
as

291
^'

with the tendernefs of a friend and the alfiduity of a

the danger continued,
flie

iervant.

As long

regularly fupplied

VV

^^^ XXI.
/

him with books and

familiar

provifions,

walhed

his feet,

managed

his corre-

fpondence, and dexteroufly concealed from the eye of fufpicion, this

and

folitary intercourfe

between a

faint

whofe character re-

quired the moft unblemiflied chaftity, and a female whofe charms

might excite the moft dangerous emotions

'^'.

During the

fix years

of perfecution and exile, Athanafius repeated his

faithful

vifits to his fair

and

companion

and the formal declaration, that he faiv the

councils of Rimini and Seleucia '", forces us to believe that he

fecretly prefent at the time

was

and place of

their convocation.

The
pru-

advantage of perfonally negociating with his friends, and of obferving

and improving the

dent ftatefman,
fo

divifions of his enemies,

might

juftify, in a
:

bold and dangerous an entei"prife

and Alexandria

was connedled by
IVIedlterranean.

trade and navigation with every fea-port of the

From

the depth of his inacceffible retreat, the in-

trepidprimate waged an inceffant and ofFenfive war againft the pro-

tedor of the Arians

gently circulated,

and

his feafonable

writings,

which were

dili-

and eagerly perufed,

contributed to unite and

animate the orthodox party.

drefled to the

In his public apologies, which he adaffefled the praife

emperor himfelf, he fometimes

at

of

moderation; whilft

the fame time, in fecret and

vehement

invectives,

he expofed Conftantius as a weak and wicked prince, the executioner of his family, the tyrant of the republic, and the
antichrift

of the church.
chaf-

In the height of his profperity, the vidlorlous monarch,

tifed the raHinefs

who had

of Gallus, and fuppreffed the revolt of Sylvanus,

Laufiac. 136.
in

who
deem

'^'

Palladiiis

(Hift.

c.

moft
it,

rcjei.^ a ftory fo iiP'.vorthy, 35 tliey

Vit. Patrum, p. 776.), the orig'nial author ot

this anecdote,

ol the gravity of ecclefiaftical hiftory.

\sho in her old age

had converfedwith the damfel, ftill remembered nith

"^ Athanaf.

torn.

i.

p.

S69.

agree with

pleafure fo pious and honourable a connoction.

I

Tillemont (torn. viii. p. 1197.), that his expre.Tions imply a perfornl, though perhaps
fecret, vifit to the fynodi.

-cannot indulge the delicacy of Ba-

ronius, Valdlus,

Tillemont,

&c.

who

al-

P p

had

tg2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

had taken the diadem from the head of Vetranio, and vanquilhed In
the field the legions of Magncntius, received from an Invifible hand

CHAP.
XXI.

wound, which he could

firft

neither heal nor revenge

and the fon of

experienced

Conftantine was the

of the Chriftian princes

who

the ftrength of thofe principles,

which,

in the

caufe of rehgion,

could
Arian bishops.

refift

the moft violent exertions of the civil

power

'^'.

The perfecution of Athanafius, and of fo many refpectable bifliops, who fuffered for the truth of their opinions, or at leaft for the integrity of their confcience,

was a

juft

fubjecfl:

of indignation and difblindly devoted to

content to

all Chi-iftia"ns,

except thofe

who were

the Arian fadion..

paftors,

The

people regretted the

lofs

of their faithful
intrufion of a
that the

whofe banifhment was ufually followed by the

ftrangcr'"" into the epifcopal chair;

and loudly complained,

that they

riHit of eleclion

was

violated,

and

were condemned to

obey a mercenary ufurper, whofe perfon was unknown, and whofe

principles
that they
Divifions.

were

fufpeted.

The

Catholics might prove to the world,

were not involved

in the guilt

and herefy of

their ecclefi-

aftical

governor, by publicly teftifying their dilTent, or by totally

feparating themfelves from his

communion.

The

firft

of thefe

me-

thods was invented

it

at

Antioch, and pradifed with fuch fuccefs, that over the Chriftian world.

was foon

difFul'ed

The doxology, or
is

facred

hymn, which

celebrates the glory of the Trinity,

;

fufceptible

of very nice, but material, inflexions

thodox, or an heretical, creed,
'^'

and the fubftance of an or-

may

be exprefled by the difference

of

The
is

Epirtle

of

Athanafius

to

the

reward

martyrdom.
(torn.
i.

See

Tillemont,
811.)

Monks
public
856.)
;

filled

with reproaches,

which the

mud

feel to be true (vol. i. p. 834. and, in compliment to his readers,

torn. vii. p. 90J. "* Athanafius

p.

plains in general of this praftice,

comwhich he
in

he has introduced the comparifons of Pharaoh, Ahab, Eellhazzar, &:c. The boldnefs of Hilary was attended with lefs danger,
if

afterwards

exemplifies

(p.
Fa;lix.

861.)
'1

the

pretended eleftion of

hree

eu-

he publifiied his inveftive in Gaul after the

nuchs reprefented the Roman people, and three prelates, who followed the court, af-

revolt of Julian; but Lucifer fent his libels

to Conftantius,

fumed the funftions of

Suburbicarian proviaces

the bifliops of the

and almoft challenged the

cf

OF THE
more regular pfalmody
'*",

ROMAN
particle.

EMPIRE,
Aiternate refponfes, and a
fervice

293

of a disjundive, or a copulative,

CHAP.

were introduced into the public

by

Flavianus and Diodorus, two devout and adive laymen,

attached to the Nicene faith.

who were

Under

their

condud, a fwarm of

Monks
fingers

iflued

from the adjacent

defert,

bands of well-difciplined

were ftationed

in the cathedral of Antioch, the

Glory

to the

Father,

and

the Son,
full

and
tlie

the

Holy Ghoft
;

'"',

v,'a3

triumphantly

chanted by a

chorus of voices

and the Catholics

prelate,

infulted,

by the

purity of their dodrine,

Arian

who had
zeal

ufurped the
infpired

throne of the venerable Euilathius.

their fongs,

The fame

which

prompted the more fcrupulous members of the orthodox

party to form feparate affemblies, which were governed by the prefbyters,

till

the death of

tfieir

exiled biihop allowed the eledion

and

confecration of a

new

epifcopal paftor '*\

;

The

revolutions of the
city

court multiplied the

number of pretenders

and the fame

was

often difputed, under the reign of Conftantius,

by two, or

three, or

even four bifhops,

who

exercifed their fpiritualjurifdidion over their

loft

refpedive followers, and alternately

pofleffions of the church.

and regained the temporal

into

the

The abufe of Chriftianity introduced Reman government new caufes of tyranny and fedition
;

the

bands of
tions
;

civil

fociety

were torn afunder by the fury of religious faccitizen,

and the obfcure

(Difcipline

who might calmly

' After the

have furveyed the

under the

'*'

Thomaffin
i. 1.

de

I'Eglife,

exile of Eullathius,

torn.

ii.

c.

collefted

many

72, 73. p. 966- 9S4.) has curious fafts concerning the

reign of Conftantine, the rigid party of the

origin and progrefs of church-finging, both

in the Eaft

and Well.
1.

orthodox formed a feparation, which afterwards degenerated into a fchifm, and laded above fourfcore years. See Tillemont, Mem.
Ecclef.
torn. vii.
torn. viii.

'^^ Philoftorgius,

iii.

c.

13.

Godefroy

has examined this fubjeft with fingular ac-

p. 573

632.
the

p. 35

54.

1137

115

8.

There were three curacy (p. 147, &c.). " To the Father iy the heterodox forms
:

many
fians,

churches,

la 1314 1332. Arians and Homooueach other's

ce//t^
vn.

who had renounced

Philoilorgius,

" "
'

Son, and \n the Holy Ghoft:"

" To

the

munion, continued for fome time to join

prayer.
1. iii.

Father

^i/n/

the

Son

/ the

and "

To

the Father in

Holy Ghofi::" the Son and the

c.

14.

Holy Gholl."

elevatloQ

494

THE DECLINE AND FALL

elevation and
that his
fall

CHAP,
_
-_-'
_

of fucceflive emperors, imagined and experienced,

own

life

and fortune were connected with the

interefts

of a

popular

ecclefiaftic.

The example

of the two capital?,

Rome and
and

Conftantinople,

may

ferve to reprefent the ftate of the empire,

the temper of mankind, under the reign of the fons of Conftantine.

F.omc.

L The Roman
his principles,

pontiff, as

long as he maintained his ftation and

was guarded by the warm attachment of a great

rejet

people

and could

with fcorn the prayers, the menaces, and

the oblations of an heretical prince.

When

the eunuchs had fecretly

pronounced the

exile of Liberius, the

well-grounded apprehenfion

of a tumult engaged them to ufe the utmoft precautions in the exe-

The capital was inverted on every fide, and the Prasfed was commanded to feize the perfon of the biihop, either by flratagem or by open force. The order was obeyed and Libecution of the Icntence.
;

rius,

with the greateft

difficulty, at the

hour of midnight,

v/as fwiftly

conveyed beyond the reach of the

fternation

Roman
As foon

people, before their conas

was turned

into rage.

they were informed of

his banifliment into Thrace, a general afiembly

was convened, and

oatli,

the clergy of

Rome bound

themfelves, by a public and folemn

never to defert their bifhop, never to acknowledge the ufurper Fxlix

who, by

the influence of the eunuchs, had been irregularly chofen

Mollis

and confecrated within the and when Conftantius

of a profane palace.

At the end

of two years, their pious obftinacy fubfifted entire and unihaken

vifited

Rome, he was

affailed

by the imporlaft

tunate felicitations of a people,

who had

preferved, as the

rem-

nant of their ancient freedom, the right of treating their fovereign

wuth familiar infolence.

Tlie wives of

many

of the fenators and

moft honourable

citizens,

after preffing their

hufbands to intercede

in favour of Liberius,

were advifed
lefs

to

undertake a commiflion,

which, in their hands, would be

dangerous, and might prove

more

fuccefsful.

The emperor

received with politenefs thefe female

deputies,

OF THE
deputies,

ROMAN
:

EMPIRE.
In the magnlfi-

295
^

whofe wealth and dignity were difplayed

^^

^*
'

cence of their drefs and ornaments

he admired their Inflexible refo-

v_v

lution of followi-ng their beloved paflor to the moft diftant regions of

the earth

and confented that the two bifhops, Liberius and

Fjellx,

fhould govern in peace their refpeftlve congregations.

But the ideas

of toleration were fo repugnant to the pradice, and even to the fentiments, of thofe times, that

publicly read in the Circus of

when the anfwer of Rome, fo reafonable

contempt and

Conftantius

was

a projedl of ac-

commodation was
a horfe-race, was

rejected with

ridicule.

vehemence which animated the

fpedlators in the decifive

The eager moment of

;

now

diredled towards a different object

and the

Circus refounded with the fhout of thoufands,

who

repeatedly exzeal of the

claimed, "

One God, One

Chrift,

One

BIfhop."

The

Roman
alone
;

people in the caufe of Liberius, was not confined to words

and the dangerous and bloody feditlon which they excited

foon after the departure of Conftantius, determined that prince to

accept the fubmiffion of the exiled prelate, and to reftore

him

to the

undivided dominion of the

his rival

capital.

After fome ineffectual refiftance,

was expelled from the

city

by the permlffion of the emperor,

;

and the power of the oppofite faction

the adherents of Fa.4ix were

public places,
in

inhumanly murdered
baths,

in the ftreets,
;

in the

the

and even

In the churches

and the face of Rome, upon the

return of a Chrlftlan billiop, renewed the horrid image of the mafla"

cres of
11.

Marius, and the profcrlptions of Sylla'^\

Conftanti-

Notwithftanding the rapid increafe of Chrlftlans under the

reign of the Flavian family,

cities

Rome, Alexandria, and

the other great

"P'^*

of the empire,

ftill

contained a ftrong and powerful fadion of

'** See,

on

this ecclefiaftical revolution

of
i.

era,

1. ii.

p. 413.

HIeronym. Chron. MarLibell.

p. 3, 4.

Rome, Ammianus,
p. 834. 861.

XV. 7.
1.

Athanaf. torn.
iv.
c.

cellin.

et

Fauftin.

Tille-

Sozomen,
c.

15.

The-

mont,

Mem.

Ecclef. torn. vi. p. 336.

cdoret.

1.

ii.

17.

Sulp. Sever. Hift. Sa-

Infidels,

10)6:

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Infidels,

CHAP.
XXI.
-

who

envied the profpcrity, and

who

ridiculed,

even on their

theatres, the theological dif]iutes

of the church.

Conftantinople alone

enjoyed the advantage of being born and educated in the bofom of

the faith.

The

capital
;

of the Eaft had never been polluted by the

worfliip of Idols

and the whole body of the people had deeply

virtues,

imbibed the opinions, the

and the

pafTions,
reft

which

dlftin-

guifhed the Chriftians of that age from the

of mankind.

After

the death of Alexander, the epifcopal throne was difputed

by Paul

and Macedonius.
eminent
ftation to

By
lefs

their zeal

and

abilities
;

they both deferved the

the moral character of

which they

afpired

and

if

Macedonius was

exceptionable, his competitor had the advantage

of a prior election and a more orthodox do<3;rine. His firm attachment

to theNicene creed,
faints

which has given Paul

a place in the Calendar

among
In
;

and martyrs, expofed him

to the refentment of the Arians.

the fpace of fourteen years he was five times driven from his throne
to

which he was more frequently reftored by the violence of the people,

;

than by the permiflion of the prince

and the power of Macedonius

rival.

could be fecured only by the death of his

The

unfortunate

Paul was dragged in chains from the fandy deferts of Mefopotamia

to the

moft defolate places of

left

Mount

Tauiais

'*',

confined in a dark

and narrow dungeon,

ftrangled,

fix

days without food,

and

at

length

by the order of
'**.

Philip,

one of the principal minifters of

firft

the emperor Conflantius

The
life

blood which ftained the

new

'ts

Cucufus was the laft'ftage of his

was murdered;

and appeals,

not only to

and
cia,

fufl'erings.

The

fituation of that lonely

common

fame, but even to the unfufpicious

town, on the confines of Cappadocia, Cili-

teftimony of Philagrius,
perfecutors.

and the Lefler Armenia, has occafioned

;

Yet

he"

one of the Arian acknowledges, that the

Athanafius
(1. ii. is
;

fome geographical perplexity

but

we

are

heretics attributed to difeafe the death of the

direfted to the true fpot by the ccurfe of the

bifhop of Conftantinople.
vilely copied

fer-

Roman
See

road from

Csefarea

to

Anazarbus.
ii.

by Socrates
iv.

c.

26.)

but

Celiarii

Geograph.
i.

torn.

p.

213.

Sozomen, who
per,

difcovers a
(1.

more
2.) to

liberal

Wefleling ad Itinerar.
'**
gffirjns,

p. 179. 703.
p.

prefumes

c.

teminfinuate a

Athanafius (torn,

703. S13, 814.)

prudent doubt,

in the molt pofitive terms, that

'

Paul

capital

OF THE
capital

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
;

'i.QiJ

was

fpllt in this ecclefiaftlcal

conteft

and many perfons werft

CHAP,

flain

on both

fides, in

the furious and obftinate feditions of the people.

againft Paul,
;

Thecommifiiou of enforcing a fentence of banifhment

had been entrufted
to

Hermogenes, the mafter-general of the cavalry

it

but the execution of

was fatal
;

to himfelf.

The

Catholics rofe in the

defence of their bifliop

firft

the palace of Hermogenes

was confumed

the

military officer of the empire

ftreets

was dragged by the

heels through
lifelefs

the

of Conftantinople, and, after he expired," his

to their

corpfe

was expofcd

wanton

infults '*\

The

fate

of Hermogenes in-

ftrudled Philip, the Prstorian prxfed, to al with

more precaution on

a fimilar occafion.

In the moft gentle and honourable terms, he re-

quired the attendance of Paul in the baths of Zeuxippus, which had a

private communication with the palace and the Tea.
lay ready at the garden-ftairs, immediately hoifted
fail

A
;

vefTel,

which

and, while the

people were

ftill

ignorant of the meditated facrilege, their bifliop was

already embarked on his voyage to Theflalonica.

They

foon beheld,

with furprife and indignation, the gates of the palace thrown open, and
the ufurper Macedonius feated
chariot,

by the

fide

of the praefedt on a lofty

which was furrounded by troops of guards with drawn

fwords.

The

military proceffion advanced towards the cathedral

the Arians and the Catholics eagerly rufhed to occupy that important
pofl
;

and three thoufand one hundred and

the confufion of the tumult.

fifty

perfons

lofi:

their

lives in

Macedonius,
;

who was

fup-

ported
M'-as

by

a regular force, obtained a decifive victory

but his reign

difturbed

by clamour and

fedition

and the caufes which apfufficient

peared the
to nourifli

leaft

conneted with the fubjet of difpute, were

to kindle the flame of civil difcord.

and

As

the chapel in
in a

which the body of the great Conftantine had been depofited was

ruinous condition, the bifhop tranfported thofe venerable remains

'^ Ammianus
poflefs that part
(xLv. lo.) refers to his

own account of this

tragic event.

But we no longer

of his hiftory.

Vol.

II,

Q^q

into

298

THE DECLINE AND FALL

into the church of St. Acacius.
fure

CHAP,
'^

This prudent and even pious mea-

>

'

was repreiented
to the

as a

wicked profanation by the whole party

doftrine.

which adhered

Homooufian

The

factions

imme-

diately flew to arms, the confecrated

ground was ufed

as their field

of battle

and one of the

ccclefiaftical

hiftorians has obferved, as a

real fad:, not as a figure

of rhetoric, that the well before the church

filled

overflowed with a ftream of blood, which

the adjacent courts.

the

porticoes and

The

writer

who

fhould impute thefe tumults,

folely to a religious principle,

would betray a very imperfedt knowit

ledge of

human

nature; yet

mufl be confefTed, that the motive

which mifled the fmcerity of

zeal,

and the pretence which difguifed

the licentloufnefs of pafllon, fupprefled the remorfe which, in another caufe,

would have fucceeded

'*'

to the

rage of the Chrifl:iaus of

Conftantinople
Cruelty of the Arians.

The

cruel

and arbitrary

difpofition of Conftantlus,
,

which did not

always require the provocations of guilt and

reiillance,

rn

was

juftly

exafperated by the tumults of his capital, and the criminal behaviour

of a fadion, which oppofed the authority and religion of their fovereign.

The

ordinary punifhments of death, exile, and confifcation.

partial rigour
;

were inflided with

holy

and the Greeks

ftill

revere the

memory

of two clerks, a reader and a fub-deacon,

who were

accufed of the murder of Hermogenes, and beheaded at the gates of

Conflantinople.
V(/hich

By

an edid of Confl;antius againft the Catholics,

has not been judged worthy of a place in the Theodofian

code, thofe

who

refufed to

communicate with the Arian bifhops,

were deprived of the immunities
;

and
of

particularly with Macedonius,

ecclefiaftics,

and of the

rights of Chriftians

they were compelled

'*' See Socrates, 1. ii. c. 6, 7. 13, 13. 15, 16.26, 27. 38. and Sozomen, 1. iii. 3, 4.7. The afts of St. Paul of 9. 1. iv. c. ii. 21.

are an indifferent copy of thefe hiftorians

but a modern Greek,

life

who

coutd write the

of a faint without adding fables and miis

ConHantinopIe, of which Photius has made an

abllraft

racks,

entitled to

fome commendation.,

(Phot.

Bibliot.

p.

141 9

1430.),
to

OF THE
bited

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
;

-295

TO relinquifh the poflefTion of the churches

and were ftrldly prohi-

CHAP,

from holding

their affemblies within the walls of the city.

The

execution of this unjufl; law, in the provinces of Thrace and Afia

Minor, was committed

litary

to the zeal of

Macedonius; the

civil

and micruelties

powers were direled to obey

his

commands

and the

exercifed

by

this

Semi-Arian tyrant in the fupport of the Homomifwn^

exceeded the commifTion, and difgraced the reign, of Conftantius.

The

facraments of the church were adminiftered to the reluctant victims,

who
nius.

denied the vocation, and abhorred the principles, of Macedo-

The

rites

of baptifm were conferred on

women

and children,
their friends

who,

for that purpofe,

had been torn from the arms of

and parents;

the mouths of the communicants were held open,

engine, while the confecrated bread was forced

by

wooden
;

down
and

their throat

the breafls of tender virgins were either burnt with

red-hot

egg-fliells,
'*'.

or inhumanly compreffed between Iharp

heavy boards
country,

The Novatians of Conftantinople, and

Homooufian

the adjacent

by

their firm attachment to the

ftandard, de-

ferved to be confoimded with the Catholics themfelves. nius was Informed, that a large diftrid of Paphlagonla
entirely inhabited
''"

Macedowas almoft

by thofe
;

fedaries.

He

refolved either to convert or

this occafion, the efficacy

to extirpate

them

and

as

he

diflrufted,

on

of an

ecclefiaftlcal miffion,

he commanded a body of four thoufand

legionaries to

march

agalnft the rebels,

fplrltual

and

to reduce the territory

of Mantlnlum under his

dominion.

The Novatian peafants,

precife fituatlon

''
iv.
c.

Socrates,

1. ii.

c. 27. 38.

21.

The

principal afTillants of

Sozomen, 1. Mace-

'5'

We are ignorant of the

In

of Mantinium.
., .,

fpeaking of thefe fouv

donius, in the work of perfecution, were the

^^^^^ of legionaries, Socrates, Sozomen, and

t"^ author of
.
,

two
r

bidiops of

'
,
1

Nicomedia and Cyzicus, who

for their virtues, T ^r u
^

were elteemed
^1

ior their chantv.

-^

the reader,
H-o?nooufion

tliat

and elpecially -J1 cannot forbear reminding the difference between the
is

..

^i tlie

Afts of St. Paul, ufe the

ati9.i>l, fflaXa7s--, i 5 /
1

Anroni
'r
I. ii.

ri

indehnite terms of

Tayi/.ra!, it-

which Nicephorus very properly

thou/ands.

tranflate*

ani. Homoioiijion,

almoll invi-

Valef. ad Socrat.

c.

38.

fible to the niceft theological eye.

(^q

animated

3C0

THE DECLINE AND FALL

animated by defpair and religious fury, boldly encountered the Invaders of their country
;

CHAP,
i_

'

and though many of the Paphlagonians

were

flain,

the

Roman

legions

were vanquifhed by an
;

irregular

mul-

titude,

armed only with fcythes and axes

and, except a few

who
left

efcaped

by an ignominious
field

flight,

four rhoufand foldiers were

dead on the

of

battle.

The

fucceffor of Conftantius has expreff-

ed, in a concife but lively

ties

manner, fome of the theological calami-

which

afflided the empire,

and more

efpecially the Eaft, in the

reign of a prince

who was
"

the flave of his

own

pafhons, and of thofe

of his

eunuchs.

Many

were imprifoned, and perfecutcd, and

troops of thofe

" driven into

*'

exile.

Whole

who
and

are ftiled here-

tics

vrere mafTacred, particularly at Cyzicus,

at

Samoflua.

In

*'

Paphlagonia,

Bithynia,

Galatia, and
laid wafte,

in

many

other

provinces,

" towns and

The
tlie

villages

were

and utterly deflroyed "^"

vitals

revolt

While the flames of the Arian controverfy confumed the

the empire, the African provinces were infeiled

of

Donatift

by

their peculiar

lions'

A?D.
*^'

enemies the favage

lio7is^

fanatics,

who, under the name of Circumcel'^\

^^^'

formed the ftrength and fcandal of the Donatilt party

The

fevere execution of the laws of Confliantine had excited a ipirit

;

of difcontent and refiftance

ftans, to reftore the

the fl:renuous efforts of his fon

Con-

unity of the church, exafperated the fentiments

firft

of mutual

hati-ed,

which had

occafioned the feparation

and the

methods of force and corruption employed by the two Imperial

commifliioners, Paul

and Macarius, furnifhed the fchifmatics

vdth a

Ipecious contrafl; between the

maxims of

the apoftles and the con-

'5'

Julian. Epiftol. Hi. p. 436. edit. Span-

CircumccHions againft others, and

agair.ft

heim.
''^
iii.

themfelves, have been laborioufly coUefted

See Optatus Milevitaniis (particularly

4.),

with the Donatift hiflory, by

M. Du-

pin, and the original pieces at the end of his

edition.

The numerous

circumftances which

byTillemont, Mem. Ecclef. torn. vi. p. 147 165 ; and he has often, though without defign, expofed the injuries which had provoked thofe fanatics.

Aiiguftin has mentioned, of the fury of the

dud

OF THE
villages

ROMAN
'".

EMPIRE.
peafants

301
inhabited the

dul of their pretended fucceflbrs

The

who

^.^

'^

P*

who had been imperfedily reduced under the authority of the Roman laws; who were imperfeftlj converted to the Chriftlan faith but who v/ere
of Nurnidia and Mauritania, were a ferocious race,
;

aduated by

a blind

and furious enthufiafm

in the caufe of their

Donatiil teachers.
olfliops,

They

indignantly fupported the exile of their

the demolition of their churches, and the interruption of

their fecret aflemblies.

The

violence of the officers of juftice,

who

were ufuajly fuftained by a military guard, was fometimes repelled with equal violence; and the blood of fome popuLlr ecclefiaftics, which

had been fhed in the

quarrel, inflamed their rude followers with an

eager defire of revenging the death of thefe holy martyrs.

By

their

own

cruelty and ralhnefs, the minifters of perfecution fometimes protheir fate;

voked

and the

guilt

of an accidental tumult precipitated

the criminals into defpair and rebellion.

Driven from

their native

villages, the Donatift peafants afTembled in

formidable gangs on the

edge of the Getulian defert

labour for a
the
fed:.
life

and readily exchanged the habits of

of idlenefs and rapine, which was confecrated by

faintly

name of religion, and

condemned by

the dodors of the

title

The

leaders of the Circumcellions affumed the

;

of captains

of the

faints

their principal

weapon,

as

they were indifferently

provided with fwords and fpears, was a huge and Vv'eighty club,

'5^

It is

amufing enough

to

obferve the

the Paffion of Marculus) " de Conftantis re-

lan9;iiage of oppofite parties,

when they fpeak

of ihefame men and things. Gratus, bifhop of Carihao-e, begins ths acclamations of an ort'.pdox fynod, " Gratias Deo omnipotenti

"
"

et Chrifto Jefu
fiiTimo

qui imperavit religio-

Conilnnti Imperatori, ut votum geet mitteret miniilros fancli

'" reret unitatis,

"
"

operls/a/a/oi Z)tv

Paulum

et IV'Iacarium."

Monument.

Vet. ad

Cakem

Optati, p. 313.

" gis tyrannica dome pollutum Maca" rians perfecutionis murmur increpuit, et " dnr.hiH bejiiis ad Africam miflis, eodem " fcilicec Macario et Paulo execrandum " prorfus ac dirum ecclefia^ certamen indic" turn eft; ut populas Chjiftianus ad unio" nem cum traditoribus facicndam, nudatis " militum glaJiis et draconum prefenribus " fignis, et tubarum vocibus cogerctur."
. .
.

Ecce fubito"

(fays the Donatiil author

of

Monument,

p. 304.

which

302

THE DECLINE AND FALL

which they termed an
*'

CHAP,

IfracVitc

and the well-known found of

God," which they ufed as their cry of war, diffufed At firft their confternation over the unarmed provinces of Africa. but they foon depredations were coloured by the plea of necefTity
Praife be to
;

exceeded the mcafure of fubfiftence, indulged without controul their intemperance and avarice, burnt the villages which they had
pillaged,

and reigned the

licentious tyrants of the

open country.
juftice,

The

occupations of hufbandr)^,
;

and the adminiftration of

were interrupted

and

as the Circumcellions

pretended to reftore the

civil

primitive equality of mankind,

foclcty,

and to reform the abufes of

they opened a fecure alylum for the flaves and debtors,

who

flocked in crowds to their holy ftandard.

fifted,

When

they were not re-

they ufually contented themfelves with plunder, but the flightefl

oppofition provoked

them

to adls of violence

and murder ; and fome

Catholic prlefts,

who had

imprudently fignallzed their zeal, were tor-

tured

by the
fpirit

fanatics with the

moft refined and wanton barbarity.

The

of the Circumcellions was not always exerted againft their

;

defencelefs enemies

they engaged, and fometimes defeated, the troops

of the province

and in the bloody adlion of Bagal, they attacked

in the open field, but with unfuccefsful valour, an advanced guard

,of the

Imperial cavalry.

The

Donatifts

who were

taken in arms,

received, and they foon deferved, the fame treatment

which might
captives died,
fire;

have been fhewn

to the wild beafts of the defert.

The

without a murmur, either by the fword, the axe, or the

and

the meafures of retaliation were multiplied in a rapid proportion,

which aggravated

the horrors of rebellion, and excluded the hope of

mutual forgivenefs.

In the beginning of the prefent century, the

in the perfecution,
;

example of the Circumcellions has been renewed

the boldnefs, the crimes, and the enthufiafm of the Camifards

if the fixnatics of

and
their

Languedoe

furpafled thofe of

Numidia, by

military

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
'

303

military atchlevements, the Africans maintained their fierce Independ-

^^
.

P-

ence with more refoKition and perfeverance

''*.

Such

diforders are the natural effeds of relicious tyranny; but the Their rehgi ' ^
0U5 laicidej;

rage of the Donatifts was inflamed

by

a frenzy of a

very extraorin fa

dinary kind

and which,

if

it

really prevailed

among them
poflefl'ed

extravagant a degree, cannot furely be paralleled in any country,

or in any age.

Many

of thefe fanatics were

with the
it

horror of
little

life,

and the

defire of

martyrdom

and they deemed

of
if

moment by what means,

was
fandlified

or by what hands, they perilhed,

their conduct

by the

intention of devoting themfelves

'".

to the glory of the true faith,

and the hope of eternal happinefs

feftivals,

Sometimes they rudely difturbed the

and profaned the

temples of paganifm, with the defign of exciting the moft zealous

of the idokters to revenge the infulted honour of their gods.

They

fometimes forced their

way

into the courts of juftice,

and compelled

the affrighted judge to give orders for their immediate execution.

They
obliged

frequently flopped travellers on the public highways,

and

them
if

to inflidt the ftroke of

martyrdom, by the promlfe of

a reward,

they confented, and by the threat of inftant death, if

they refufed to grant fo very fingular a favour.

When

they were

difappointed of every other refource, they announced the day on

which, in the prefence of their friends and brethren, they fhould

call themfelves

headlong from fomc lofty rock

and many precipireli-

ces

were fhewn, which had acquired flime by the number of

In the adions of thefe defperate enthufiafts,
as the m.artyrs

gious fuicides.

who
dif-

were admired by one party

of God, and abhorred by

the other, as the vidtims of Satan, an impartial philofopher

may

cover the influence and the

'" The
11',
Hlftoire des Camifards, in

laft

abufe of that inflexible

'"

fpirit,

which

vol.

The
in

Donatift fuicides alleged in their

the example of Razi;is, which
the
is

Villefranche,
as accurate

1760,

may

be recomIt requires

juftification

mended
auth or.

and impartial.

jelated

14th chapter of the fecond

fome attention

to difcover the religion

of the

book of the

IVIaccabees.

was

304

THE DECLINE AND FALL

-was originally derived
J

CHAP,
A A.
\^
I

from the charader and

principles of the Jev/illi

^-

J
^

nation.

General cha-

The

fimple narrative of the inteftine divifions, which diftradled

ChrhrL^

the peace, and difhonoured the triumph, of the church, will confirm
the remark

?it-f6i?'

of a pagan hiflorian, and juftify the complaint of a

venerable bifhop.
that the

The

experience of

Ammianus had convinced him,

and Gregory Nazianzen

enmity of the Chriftians towards each other, furpaffed the

fury of favage beafts againft

pathetically laments, that the
difcord, into the
itfelf '".

man

"*

mod
hell
all

kingdom of heaven was converted, by

image of chaos, of a nodurnal tempeft, and of

and
partial writers

The

fierce

of the times, afcribing

their

virtue to

themfelves, and imputing a/I guilt to

battle

adverfaries,

have painted the

of the angels and daemons.

Our calmer

reafon will rejeft fuch pure and perfedt monfters of-vice or fandity,

and

will

impute an equal, or

at leaft

an indifcriminate, meafure of good

aflumed and bellowed the ap-

and

evil to the hoftile felaries,

who

pellations of orthodojc

and

heretics.

They had been

educated in

the fame religion, and the fame

in the prefent, or in a future,
portion.

civil fociety.
life,

Their hopes and fears

were balanced in the fame promight be innocent, the

faith fin-

On

either fide, the error

cere, the pradice meritorious or corrupt.

Their paffions were excited

by

fimilar objedts

and they might alternately abufe the favour of

Themetaphyfical opinions of the Atha;

the court, or of the people.

nafians and the Arians, could not influence their moral charadier

and they were

Toleration of

alike

adluated

by

the intolerant

fpirit,

which has

been extracted from the pure and fimple maxims of the gofpel.
paganifm.

A modern
own
'5''

writer,

who, with

a juft confidence, has prefixed to his

"^^,

hiftory the honourable epitheto of political and philofophical

Nullas
infeft.is

hominibus

be'lias,

iit

funt
'5'

fibi

ferales plerique

Chriltianorum exOrat.

''' Hiltoire Politique et Philofophique des EtablifTemens des Europeens dans les deu.-c

pertus.

Ammian.

xxii. 5.
i.

Indes, torn.
p.

i.

p. 9.

Gregor.

Nazianzen,
vi. p.

33.

SceTillcmont, tom.

501. quarto edit.

accufes

OF THE
rate,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
cnume-

305

atcufes the timid prudence of Montefquieu, for negleding to

CHAP-

among

the caufes of the dechne of the empire, a law of

exercife of the

Coaleft

ftantine,

by which the

pagan worfliip was abfohis

lutely fupprefled,

and a confiderable part of

fubjedts

was

deftitute of priefls, of temples,

and of any public

religion.

The

zeal

of thephilofophic hiftorian for the rights of mankind, has induced

to acquiefce in the

him

ambiguous teftimony of thofe

ecclefiaftics,

who
which

have too lightly afcribed to their favourite hero the merit of a genei'al

perfecution

'".

Inftead of alleging this imaginary law,

in

would have blazed

the front of the Imperial

codes,

we may
to

fafely appeal to the original epiftle,

which Conftantine addrefled

;

the followers of the ancient religion

at a

time

when he no

longer

difguifed his converfion, nor dreaded the rivals of his throne.

invites

He
''.y

and exhorts, in the moft preffing terms, the fubjedls of the

empire to imitate the example of their mafter
;

Roman
light,

but he de-

Conftan.

tine.

clares, that thofe

who

ftill

refufe to

open and

their eyes to the celeftial their fancied gods.

is

may

freely enjoy their temples,

report, that the ceremonies of paganifm were fupprefled,

formally

contradicted

by the emperor
fuperftition "^^

himfelf,

who

wifely afligns, as the

principle of his moderation, the invincible force of habit, of prejudice,

and of

Without violating the

fanftity of his

promife, without alarming the fears of the pagans, the artful monarch

advanced, by flow and cautious

fteps, to

undermine the irregular

of feverity which

and decayed
'" According
flantin.
1.

fabric of polytheifm.
to

The

partial adts

Eufebius (in Vit. Con-

miis Conftantinus juflo ordine et fio viceni

vertit edifto
;

45.) the emperor prohibited, both in cities and in the country, ru jA-jTufa
Ji.

c.

fiquidem

ftatuit

citra

ullam
1.

hominum
c.

c.xdem, paganoriim tcmpla claudi.

in Vit. Conftantin.
ii.

tn; EiJwXoAaTjEiK?

the abominable adls

(I. i. c.

" See Eufebius

56.

or parts of idolatry.

Socrates

17.)

and Sozomen

4, 5.) have reprefented the conduft of ConRantine with a jull regard

(1. ii. c.

of which the emperor pronounced when he was mature in years and piety, he declares
60.
to the aflembly
faints,

In the fermon

which has been negleftto truth and hillory ed by Theodoret (1. v. c. zi.) and Orofius
;

to the idolaters (c. xi.), that they are permit-

ted to offer facrifices, and to exercife every

part of their religious worihip.

(vii.

28.),

Turn dcinde
II.

(fays the latter) pri-

Vol.

he

3o6
C H A
VVT
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

he occafionally exerclfed, though they were fecretly prompted by a
'

>_-^-I__/

Chriftian zeal,

were coloured by the

;

faireft

pretences of juftice, and

the public good

dations,

and while Conftantine defigned to ruin the foun-

he feemed to reform the abufes, of the ancient religion. After the example of the wifeft of his predeceffors, he condemned, under the moft rigorous penalties, the occult and impious arts of
divination
;

which excited the vain hopes, and fometimes the

cri-

minal attempts, of thofe

condition.

who were
filence

difcontented with their prefent

An

ignominious

was Impofed on the

;

oracles,

which had been publicly convidled of fraud and falfehood

minate
priefls

the effe-

of the Nile were abolifhed

and Conftantine diforders for the

charged the duties of a

Roman

cenfor,

when he gave
;

demolition of feveral temples of Phoenicia

in

which every mode

of proftitution was devoutly pratifed in the face of day, and to the

honour of Venus

'*'.

The
at

Imperial city of Conftantinople was, in

fome meafure,
fjpoils,

raifed

the expence, and was adorned with the

;

of the opulent temples of Greece and Afia

;

the facred pro-

perty was confifcated

the ftatues of gods and heroes were tranf-

ported, with rude familiarity,

among

a people
:

who
the

confidered

them

as objetts, not of adoration, but of curiofity

gold and filver

were

reftored to circulation

and the magiftrates, the bifhops, and

the eunuchs, improved the fortunate occafion of gratifying, at once,

their zeal, their avarice,

and

their refentment.

But

thefe depreda;

tions

were confined

to a fmall part

of the

Roman

world

and the

provinces had been long fince accuftomed to endure the fame facrilegious rapine,

from the tyranny of princes and proconfuls,

who

could not be fufpefted of any defign to fubvert the eftabllflied reli-

gion

The
'" See Eufebius, in Vit. Conftantin. I. iii. ;8. and I. iv. c. 23. 25. Thefe afts of authority may be compared with the fuppreffion of the Bacchanals, and the demolition of
c.

the temple of

.'fis,

by the magiftrates of pagan

iii. c.

54

Rome.
"^ Eufebius
(in Vit. Conftant.
1.

54.)
10.
edit.

and Libanius (Orat^pro Temp'is,

p.-

9,

OF THE flOMAN EMPIRE.

The
fons of Conftantine trod in the footftcps of their father, with

307
C
II

A
.^^

P.
/

iftore zealj

iha with

lefs difcretidh.

The
'"
;

pretences of rapine and

v__

oppfeflioa

were infenfibly mukipUed

illegal

every
;

indulgence w^as

fhewn

to the

behaviour of the Chriftians

;

every doubt was

explained to the difadvaritage of paganifm

the temples
the reion of o
ftantlus
is

and the demolition of

aufpicious

was celebrated
Coriftahs
to

as

one of the
'**.

events

of

and Conftantius
a
concife law,

The name of Con"

It
is

prefixed

which might have fuperour plea-

fedcd the neccfhty of any future prohibitions.

*'

fure, that in all

places,

and

in

all

cities,

the temples be

imme-

"
*'

diately fliut,

and carefully guarded,

It
is

that

none

may
that

have the power

all

of offending.
fliould abftain
adl,
let

likewife our pleafure,

facrifices.

our fubjedls

"

from

If

any one fhould be guilty of fuch

;

" an
*'

him

feel

the fword of vengeance

and

after his

exe-

cution, let his property be confifcated

to the

public ufe.

We

" denounce the fame penalties againft the governors of the provinces, " if they negledl to punifli the criminals '"\" But there is the
edit. Gothofred.),

both mention the pious

fa-

univerfis
vetitis
tis

claudi protinus templa, et acceffu

crilege of Conftantine, which they viewed in

omnibus licentiam delinquendi perdiVolumiis etiam cunftos a

facri-

very difFerent lights. The latter exprefslv declares, that " he made ufe of the facred money,
**

abnegari.

ficiis

abftinere.

Quod

fiquis

aliquid forte
:

but
the

made no
facred

alteration in the legal worfliip

" "

the temples indeed were impoverifhed, but

rites

hujufmodi perpetraverit, gladio fternatur tacultates etiam perempti fifco decernimus vindicari
:

were performed

there."

et fimiliter adfligt reftores provincia-

Lardncr's Jewilh and Heathen Teftimonies,

vol. iv. p. 140.
'*'

rum

fi

facinora vindicare neglexerint.

1.

Tieodof.

xvi.

tit,

x, leg. 4.

Cod, Chronology

court eunuchs
pafti.

Ammianus (xxii. 4.) fpeaks of fome who were fpoliis templorum

Libanius fays (Orat. pro Tempi, p.
the emperor often gave

has difcovered fome contradiftion in the date of this extravagant law; the only one, perhaps,

23.), that

away a

a gold cup

temple, like a dog, orahorfe, or a flave, or but the devout philofopher takes
:

care to obferve, that thefefacrilegious favourites

very feldom profpered.

'**

See Gothofred. Cod. Theodof. torn,

vi,

p. 262.
'*5

Liban. Orat. Parental,

c. x. in

Fa-

by which the negligence of magiftrates is punifhedby deathand confifcation. M. delaBaftie (Mem. de I'Academie, torn. xv. p. 98.) conjectures, with afhewofreafon, that this was no more than the minutes of a law, the heads of an intended bill, which were found in Scriniis Memorise, among the papers of Conftantius, and afterwards inferted, as a worthy
model, in the Theodofian Code.

brie. Bibl. Graec. torn. vii. p. 235.

piacuit

omnibus

locis

atque urbibus

ftrongeft

3o8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ftrongeft reafon to ^
believe, '

CHAP,
>.xi.
v-i.

that this formidable

edid was either

without

r^

compofed
being

without

being

publifhed,

or

was publifhed

...

executed.
are
ftill

The

evidence

of fats,

and the monuments

the whole reign of

which

extant of brafs and marble, continue to prove the

public exercife of the pagan worfhip during

the fons of Conflantine.

cities,

In the Eaft, as well as in the Wert, in

as

well as in the country, a great

leafi:

number of temples were

ftill

refpeded, or at

were fpared; and the devout multitude

facrifices,

enjoyed the luxury of

of

feftivals,

and of

proceflions,

by

the permiffion, or by the connivance, of the civil government.

About

four years after the fuppofed date of his bloody edift, Conftantius
vifited

the temples of
a

Rome

and the decency of

as

his behaviour is

recommended by
"
*'

pagan orator

an example worthy of the imi-

tation of fucceeding princes.

" That emperor," fays Symmachus,

remain inviolate
;

fuffered the privileges of the veftal virgins to

he beftowed

the facerdotal dignities

on the nobles of Rome, granted

*'

the cuftomary allowance to defray the expences of the public

rites

*' *' *'

and

facrifices

and, though he had embraced a different re-

ligion,

he never attempted to deprive the empire of the facred

worfhip of antiquity '^^"

The

fenate

ftill

prefumed to confeof their fovereigns;

crate,

by folemn

decrees, the divine

memory
his

and Conftantine himfelf was

aflbciated, after his death, to thofe

life.

gods
the

whom

he had renounced and Infulted during

The

title,

enfigns, the prerogatives of

inftituted

sovereign pontiff, which had been

by Numa, and affumed by Auguftus, were accepted, with;

out hefitatlon, by feven Chriftian emperors

a

who were

invefted with
deferted,

more

abfolute authority over the religion

'".

which they had

than over that which they profefled

The
166

Symmach.

Epiftol. X. 54.

Baftie, fur le Souverain Pontificatdes

Empetorn.

'*'

The

fourth Differtation of

M.

de la

leurs

Remains

(in

the

Mem.

de I'Acad.

OF
The
by
divifions

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

'**
;

309

of Chrlftianity fufpended the ruin of pagamfm

infidels

CHAP.
XXI.

and the holy war againft the

iirinces

was

lefs

vigoroufly profecuted

and bifhops, who were more immediately alarmed by

of domeftic rebellion.
juftified
fets,

the guilt and danger

idolatry "'

The

extirpation

of

might have been

:

by the
which

eftablllhed principles

of

intolerance

but the hoilile

alternately reigned in the

torn. XV. p.

75- i44.)>

is

a very learned and

filled the cities

of the empire
ad
fin.)

the old reli(adverf.

(in

judicious perlormance, which explains the ftate, and proves the toleration, of paganifm

gion,

in

the

time of Prudentius
1.
i.

Symmachum,
fcure villages
;

and Orofius

from Conftantine to Gratian. The aflertion of Zofimvis, that Gratian was the firft who
refufed the pontifical robe,
:

Pra:fat. Hift.), retired

and languiflied in oband the word pagans, with its

to
its

is

confirmed be-

new

fignification, reverted
6.

primitive

yond a doubt and the murmurs of bigotry; on that fubjeft, are almoft filenced. '*' As I Jiave freely anticipated the ufe of
pngans
iLtid.

origin.

Since the worfliip of Jupiter and

paganifm,

I Ihall

now

trace the

his family has expired, the vacant title of pa^ gans has been fucceffively applied to all the idolaters and polytheifts of the old and new

lingular revolutions of thofe celebrated words.

l.nayn, in the Doric

the Italians,

dialefl:,

fo familiar to

world. 7. The Latin Chriftians bcftowed it, without fcruple, on their mortal enemies the

fignifies a fountain ; and the rural neighbourhood which frequented the fame fountain, derived the common appellation of ^agus znd pagans (Feftus fub voce, and Servius ad Virgil. Georgic. ii 382.). 2. By an eafy

Mahometans

and the pureft unitarians were

unjtift

branded with the

reproach of idolatry

and paganifm.
logicon

See Gerard Voffius Etymo-

p. 420. Godefroy's

Lingus Latim, in his works, torn. J; Commentary on the Theo-

extenfion of the woroj *<agan and rural be-

dofian Code, torn. vi.p. 250. and Diicange,

came almoft fynonim. us (Plin. Hift. Natur. xxviii. 5.) and the meaner rullics acquired that name, which has been corrupted into pea/ants in the modern languages of Europei 3. The amazing increafe of the military
;

medis & infims Latinitat.^ Gloffar. "' In the pure language of Ionia and Athens, EiWo and AaT^az were ancient and
familiar wor^
s.

The

former

exprefled

a
xi.

likenefs, an apparition

(Homer. OdyfT.

order introduced the neceffity of a correlative

601.),

reprefentation, an

image, created
latter

term (Hume's Efiays, vol. i. p. 555.) ; and all the people who were not enlilted in the of the prince were branded with the contemptuous epithet of pagans (Tacit. Hift.
fervice
iii.

either by fancy or art.

The

denoted

any

fort

oi feriiice or

flavery.

Egypt, who tranflated the

The Jews of Hebrew fcriptures,

24. 43. 77. Juvenal. Satir. xvi. Tertullian

c.

reftrained the ufe of thefe words (Exod. xx. 4, 5.) to the religious worftiip of an image. The

de Pallio,

4.).

4.

The

Chriilians were

peculiar idiom of the Hellenifts, or Grecian

the foldiers ofChrill; their adverfarie;,

who

Jews, has been adopted by the facred and

ecclefiaftical

refufed his /ac r a menf, or military oath of bap-

writers;

and the reproach of

might deferve the metaphorical name of pagans ; and this popular reproach was introduced as early as the reign of Valentinian ,A. D. 365.) into Imperial laws (Cod. Theodof. 1. xvi. tit. ii. leg. 18.) and theotifm, logical writings.
5. Chriftianity gradually

idolatry (ElJu^(l^aT5l-..) has ftigmatized that vi-

and abjeft mode of fuperflition, which fome fefts of Chriftianity ftiould not haftily impute to the polytheifts of Greece and
fible

Rome.

Imperial

310
C H A
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Imperial court, were mutually apprehenfive of alienating, and per-

haps exafperating, the minds of a powerful, though declining faction.

Every motive of authority and

militated

fafhion, of intereft
;

and reafon,

now

on the

fide

of Chriftianity

but two or three genefelt.

rations elapfed,

before their vidorious influence was univerfally

fo

The religion which had Roman empire was ftill

of the
ftate

long and

fo lately

been

eftablifhed in the
lefs

revered by a numerous people,

attached

indeed to fpeculative opinion, than to ancient cuftom.

The honours
all

and army were indifferently beftowed on

;

the fubjedls

of Conftantine and Confiantius

ledge

and a confiderable portion of kno\vflill

and wealth and valour was

engaged in the fervice of

polytheifm.

The

fiiperftition

of the fenator and of the pe^fant, of

the poet and the philofopher, was derived from very different caufes,

but they met with equal devotion in the temples of the gods. Their
zeal

was

infenfibly
;

provoked by the infulting triumph of a prohopes were revived by the well-grounded

fcribed

fe(St

and

their

confidence, that the prefumptive heir of the empire, a

valiant hero,
rians,

young and
the Barba-

who had

delivered

Gaul from the arms of

his anceftors.

had

fecretly

embraced the religion of

CHAP.

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

311

CHAP.
yiilian
is

XXII.

declared Emperor hy the Legions of Gnul

Succefs,

His March and

The Death of Conjiantius.

Civil Adminifi ration

cf "Julian^

LE

the

Romans

languifhed

under the ignominious

CHAP.
'

tyranny of eunuchs and bifhops, the praifes of Julian were

repeated with tranfport in every part of the empire, except in the
palace of Conftantius.
ftill

^^ conftr"/

The

Barbarians of

Germany had
;

felt,

and

"usagamft

dreaded, the arms of the

his

young Cxfar

his foldiers

were the

companions of

victory
;

the grateful

provincials enjoyed the

bleflings of his reign

btit

the favourites,
his

who had
the court.

oppofed his ele-

vation,

were offended by

virtues

and they juftly confidered

the friend of the people as the

enemy of
tried

As long

as the

fame of Julian was doubtful, the buffoons of the

fkilled

palace,

who were
thofe
arts

in

the

language of
fo

fatire,

the

efficacy of

which they had

often pradtifed with fuccefs.

They

eafily dif:

covered, that his fimplicity was not exempt from affeftation

the

ridiculous epithets of an hairy favage, of an ape inverted with the

purple,
rior
;

were applied
his

to the drefs

and perfon of the philofophic waras the

and

modeft difpatches were ftigmatized

vain and

elaborate fictions of a loquacious Greek, a fpeculative foldier,

had lludied the

art

of war amidft the groves of the academy

'.

who The
voice

'

Omnes

qui plus poterant in palatio, adu-

profpereque completa vertebant in deridicu-

landi profeflbres

jam

dofti,

redle confulta,

lum

talia fine

modo

ftiepentes infulie

in

odium

312

THE DECLINE AND

voice of malicious folly

FALL"
by the
fhouts of vic-

CHAP.
XXII.

was

at length filenced

tory

the conqiiei-or of the Franks and

;

Alemanni could no longer

be painted as an objedl of contempt

and the monarch himfelf was

meanly ambitious of

ftealing

from

his lieutenant the honourable re-

ward of

his

labours.

In the

letters

crowned with

laurel,

which,

according to ancient cuftom, were addreffed to the provinces, the

name of
*'

Julian

was omitted.
;

" Conftantius had made his difpofifignalized

his valour

tions in perfon
;

he had

in

the foremoft

" ranks his military condut had fecured the vi<3:ory ; and the cap" tive king of the Barbarians was prefented to him on the field of " battle," from which he was at that time diftant above forty days
journey
'.

So extravagant a

fable

was

incapable, however, of de-

ceiving the public credulity, or even of fatisfying the pride of the

emperor
the

himfelf.

Secretly confcious that the applaufe and favour of

Romans accompanied the rifmg

fortunes of Julian, his difcontented

mind was prepared

phants,

to receive the fubtle poifon

of thofe artful fycofaireft

who

coloured their mifchievous defigns with the

ap-

pearances of truth and candour ^

Inflead of depreciating the merits

of Julian, they acknowledged, and even exaggerated, his popular fame, fuperior
talents,

and important

fervices.

But they darkly in-

fmuated, that the virtues of the Csefar might inftantly be converted

odium vcnit cum
viftoriis
fiiis
;

capella,

non

Aurelius Viclor,

who

publilhed his Abridgthe ixi/dom of the

homo

lit

hirfutum Juiianum carpentes, apet litterlonem

ment
the

in the laft year

of Conftantius, afcribes
to

pellantefque loquacem talpam, et purpura-

German

viclories

tam fimiam,

Gra:cum

et his

emperor, and the fortune of the Cafar.

Yet

congruentia pluiima atque vernacula principi

refonantes, audire

the hiftorian, foon afterwards, was indebted

to the favour or efteem of Julian for the ho-

Hkc taliaque

gelticnti, vir-

tutes ejus obruere verbis

impudentibus cona-

nour of a brafs ftatue

offices

and the important

xxi. 10.

bantur, ut fegnem inceflentes et timidum et

of confular of the fecond Pannonia, and of the

city.

umbratilem, gellaque fecus verbis comptioribus exornantem.

'^

pr^efeft
^

Ammian.
artificio,

Ammianus,

xvii. ii.

Callido nocendi

accufatoriam
.

Ammian.

xvi. 12.

The orator Themif-

57.) believed whatever was contained in the Imperial letters, which were
tius (iv. p. 56,

addreffed to

the fenate of Conftantinople.

. Has inflammanda odia probris omnibus potentiores. See Mamertin. in Actione Gratiarum in Vet. Panegyr. xi. 5.6.

diritatem

laudum

titulis

peragebant.

voces fuerunt

.id

into

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
'

313

into the moft dangerous crimes; if the inconftant multitude fliould

prefer their incHnatlons to their duty; or if the general of a vidtorious

HA
1

P.
'

army

fliould

be tempted from his allegiance by the hopes of revenge,

greatnefs.

and independent
interpi-eted

The

perfonal fears of Conftantius were

;

Fears and
Cmiilantias.

by

his council as a laudable anxiety for the public fafety

whilft in private, and perhaps in his

own breaft,

he

difguifed,

under

the

lefs

odious appellation of fear, the fentiments of hatred and envy,

fecretly conceived for the inimitable virtues of

which he had
lian.

Ju^

The

apparent tranquillity of Gaul, and the imminent danger of The

offered a fpecious

legion*

the eaftern provinces,

pretence for the defign

minifters.

ordered to
[he'^Eait"'

which was

artfully concerted

by the Imperial

They

re-

folved to difarm

the

Ca;far;

to recall thofe faithful troops

;

who
war

^- 0-360,

guarded

his perfon

and dignity

and to employ

in a diftant

agalnft the Perfian monarch, the hardy veterans

who had vanquifhed,

of Germany.

on the banks of the Rhine, the

fierceft nations

While

Julian ufed the laborious hours of his winter^quarters at Paris in the

adminiftration of power, which, in his hands,
virtue,

was the

exercife of

he was furprifed by the hafty arrival of a tribune and a nowith pofitive orders from the emperor, which they were di-

tary

rected to execute, and he was

commanded

not to oppofe.

Conftan-

tius fignified his pleafure, that

four entire legions, the Celtse, and

Petulants, the Heruli,

and the Batavlans, fhould be feparated from

the ftandard of Julian, under

which they had acquired

their

fame

and

difcipline

that in each of the remaining bands, three

;

hundred

of the braveft youths fhould be feledled

and that

this

numerous

detachment, the ftrength of the Gallic army, fhould inftantly begin

their

march, and exert their utmoft diligence to arrive, before the

*.

opening of the campaign, on the frontiers of Perfia

The

Caefar

forefaw
The minute interval, which may be interpofed between the ijcme adultd and the
Vol.
II.

primo vereof Ammianus (xx. i. 4.), inftead of allowing a fufficient fpace for a march of

S f

three

31-4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Moft
ftipuauxiliaries,

C H A
XXII.

P.

forefaw, and lamented, the confequences of this fatal mandate.

of the
lated,

who

engaged their voluntary

fervice,

had

that they fliould

never be obliged to pafs the Alps.

the perfonal

The

public faith of

Rome, and

honour of

Julian,

had been

pledged for the obfervance of

this condition.

Such an

al of trea-

chery and oppreffion would deftroy the confidence, and excite the
refentment, of the independent warriors of

Germany, who

confi-

dered truth
valuable
title

as the ngj^left

of their virtues, and freedom as the moft

of their pofleffions.

The

legionaries,

who

enjoyed the

and privileges of Romans, were

;

enlifted for the general defence

of the republic

but thofe mercenary troops heard with cold indif-

ference the antiquated

names of the republic and of Rome.

At-

tached, either from birth or long habit, to the climate and manners

of Gaul, they loved and admired Julian

haps hated, the emperor
;

they defpifed, and per-

they dreaded the laborious march, the

Perfian arrows, and the burning deferts of Afia.

their

They
;

claimed, as
their

own, the country which they had faved

fpirit,

and excufed

want of

by pleading the

facred

and more immediate duty of

protecting their families and friends.

The

apprehenfions

of the

Gauls were derived from the knowledge of the impending and inevitable danger.

As foon

as the provinces

were exhaufted of

their

military ftrength, the

Germans would
fears
;

violate a treaty

which had
abilities

been impofed on their

valour of Julian,
public calamities
refiftance,

and notwithftanding the

to

and
the

the

general of a nominal army,

whom

would be Imputed, muft

In the

find himfelf, after a vain

either a prifoner

camp of

the Barbarians, or a

criminal In the palace of Conftantlus.

orders

If Julian complied with the

which he had

received, he fubfcrlbed his ovvn dellrudtion,

or-

three thoufand miles,

would render the

ders of Conftantius as extravagant as

they

were

unjuft,

The

troops of

Gaul could not

have reached Syria till the end of autumn., The memory of ^mmianus muft have been inaccurate, and his language incorreft.

and

OF
and
fufal

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

who
deferved his affedlon.

315
a pofitlve re-

that

of a people

But

^ ^/'^

^'

was an

ait of rebelHon,

and a declaration of war.

The
for

in-

exorable jealoufy
infidious, nature

of the emperor, the peremptory, of his commands,

;

and perhaps
a fair

left

not any

room

apology, or candid interpretation

Csefar fcarcelj allowed

and the dependent

to

ftation of the

him

to

paufe or
;

deliberate.

Solitude

eacreafed the perplexity of Julian

faithful counfels

he could no longer apply to the been removed from his

office

of

Salluft,

who had

by

the judicious malice of the eunuchs: he could not even enforce

his reprefentations

by the concurrence of the

minifters,

have been

afraid, or

afhamed, to approve the ruin of

who would Gaul. The

of the

moment had been

cavalry,

chofen,

when Lupicinus ',

at

the general

was difpatched
;

into

Britain, to repulfe the inroads of the

Scots and Pidls

and Florentius was occupied

Vienna by the

af-

fefTment of the tribute.

The

latter,

a crafty

and corrupt ftatefman,

dangerous occafion,

declining to afllime a refponfible part

on

this

eluded the preffing and repeated invitations of Julian,

who

repre-

fented to him, that in every important meafure, the prefence of the

prsfet was indifpenfable

in

the council

of the prince.

In

the

mean while
felicitations

the Cxfar was opprefled by the rude and importunate

of the Imperial melTengers,

who prefumed

to

lliggeft,

that

if

he expeded the return of

his minifters,

he would charge

himfelf with the guilt of the delay, and referve for them the merit

of the execution.
prefled, in the

Unable to

rehft,

unwilhng

to

comply, Julian ex-

moft ferious terms, his wilh, and even his intention,

of refigning the purple, which he could not preferve with honour,

but which he could not abdicate with fafety.
'

Ammianus,

xx.

i.

The

valour of Luare acl;no\v-

and exciting

a doubt,

whether

lie

was more
the

picinus, and his military

(kill,

cruel or avaricious.

The danger from

ledged by the hiftorian, who, in his affefted Ijnguag", accufes the general of exalting the
ioxp.-s

Scots and Pitls was fo ferious, that Julian

himfelf had fome thoughts of paCing over

into the
iflar.d.

othis pride, bellowing in a tragic tone,

f 2

After

3i6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

After a painful conflid:, Julian was compelled to acknowledge,
that obedience

CHAP.
xxir.
Their
dif-

was the

virtue of the moft eminent fubjedt,

and that

the

fovereign alone was entitled to judge of the public welfare.

ifTued the neceflary orders for carrying into execution the
;

contents.

He

mands of Conftantius
the Alps
;

a part of the troops began their

commarch for

and the detachments from the

feveral garrifons

moved

towards their refpeftive places of aflembly.

difficulty

They advanced with

or loud lament-

through the trembling and affrighted crowds of provincials

filent defpair,

who

attempted to excite their pity by

;

ations

while the wives of the

foldiers,

holding their infants in their

arms, accufed the defertion of their hufbands in the mixed language

of

grief,

of tendernefs, and of indignation.

This fcene of general

;

diftrefs

afflifted the

humanity of the

Caefar

he granted a

fufficient

number of poft-waggons
foldiers
*,

to tranfport the

wives and families of the

endeavoured to

alleviate the hardfhips

which he was conarts, his

ftrained to inflidl,

and encreafed, by the moft laudable

own
an

popularity, and the difcontent of the exiled troops.

The

grief of

armed multitude

is

foon converted into rage

their licentious

mur-

murs, which every hour were communicated from tent to tent with

more boldnels and

aCts of fedition
;

effedl,

prepared their minds for the moft daring

and by the connivance of their tribunes, a feafondifperfed,

able libel

was

fecretly

which painted,

in lively colours,

the dlfgrace of the Cxfar, the oppreffion of the Gallic army, and
the feeble vices of the tyrant of Afia.

The

fervants of Conftantius
fpirit.
;

were

aftoniftied

and alarmed by the progrefs of this dangerous

to haften the departure of the troops

They

prefled the Csefar

but

they imprudently rejeded the honeft and judicious advice of Julian ; who propofed that they fliould not march through Paris, and
fiiggefted the
'

danger and temptation of a

laft

interview.

He

granted them the permifiion of the

Thefe pollwaggons are often mentioned in the Code,

curfus cla'vularis, or claiularis.

and were fuppofed to carry fifteen hundred pounds weight. See Yalef. ad Ammian. xx.
4-

As

OF THE
As foon
as

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
was announced, the
v.

2,-^7

the

approach of the

troops

CHAP.
cia^^n Julian

Csfar went out to meet them, and afcended his tribunal, which

had been eredled in a plain before the gates of the

diftinguifliing

city.

After

the

officers

and

foldiers,

who by
:

their

rank or

'^"'P"''"

merit deferved a peculiar attention, Julian addreiTed himfelf in a

ftudied oration to the furrounding multitude
exploits with grateful
alacrity, the
liberal

he celebrated

their

applaufe

encouraged them to accept, with

honour of ferving under the eyes of a powerful and

;

monarch

and admonifhed them, that the commands of Aucheerful

guftus required an inftant and

obedience.

The

foldiers

who were
tions,

apprehenfive of offending their general by an indecent

falfe

clamour, or of belying their fentiments by

and venal acclama-

maintained an obflinate filence

and, after a Ihort paufe, were

difmiffed to their quarters.

The

principal officers

were entertained

by

the Casfar,

who

profeffed, in the warmefl; language of friendfhip,

his defire

and

his inability to reward, according to their deferts, the

brave companions of his vidtories.

They

retired

from the

feaft, full

of grief and perplexity

and lamented the hardlhip of and

their fate,

which

tore

them from

their beloved general

their native country.

The only
agitated

expedient which could prevent their feparation was boldly

and approved

the

popular
;

refentment

was

infenfibly

moulded
wine

into a regular confpiracy

paffion,

their juft reafons of complaint

were heightened by
;

and

their paffions

were inflamed

by-

as

on the eve of

their departure, the troops

were indulged in

licentious feftivity.

At the hour of midnight, the impetuous multiand bowls, and torches, in

' ;

tude, with fwords, the fuburbs

;

their hands, rulhed into

encompalTed the palace

and, carelefs of future dangers,

'

Mod

probably the palace of the baths

modern quarter of

the univerfity;

and the

(Thermarum), of which a folid and lofty hall Harpe. The flill fubi'lh in the rue Je la
buildings covered a confiderable fpace of the

gardens, under the Merovingian kings,

com-

municated with the abbey of St. Germain Bv the injuries of time and the des Prez.

Normanj,

3i8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^cxs^
1

CHAP,
i ^

pronounced the
!

fatal

and irrevocable words, Julian

Auby
and

<3usTUS

The prmce, whofe anxious

it

fufpence was interrupted

their diforderly acclamations, fecured the doors again ft their intrufion

;

and, as long as

was

in his

power, fecluded

his perfcn

dignity from the accidents of a nodurnal tumult.

At the dav.n of
objed.

day, the foldiers, whofe zeal was irritated by oppohtion, forcibly

entered the palace, feized,

their choice, guarded Julian

vnth. rcfpedtful violence, the

of

with drawn fv/ords through the

ftreets

of Paris, placed him on the tribunal, and with repeated fhouts faluted

him

as their

emperor.

Prudence, as well as loyalty, inculcated

the propriety of refifting their treafonable defigns; and of preparing

for his oppreffed viitue, the excufe of violence.

Addrefhng himfelf

by

turns to the multitude and to individuals, he fometimes implored

their

mercy, and fometimes exprefled

to fully the

his

indignation

conjured

them not

fame of
if

their

immortal victories

and ven-

tured to promife, that

allep-iance,

they would immediately return to their

not

he would undertake to obtain from the emperor,

only a free and gracious pardon, but even the revocation of the
orders

which had

excited their refentment.

their guilt, chofe rather to

But the

foldiers,

who

were confcious of

depend on the gratitude

Their zeal was

of Julian, than on the clemency of the emperor.

infenfibly turned
into

impatience, and their impatience into rage.

till

The

indexible Csefar fuftained

the third hour of the day, their

prayers, their reproaches,

and

their

menaces

nor did he yield,

live,

till

he had been repeatedly

Normans,
whofe dark
tious love.
this

affured, that if
(Thefe
nius,
I.

he wifhed to
lines are
iv.
c. 8.,

he mufl;

ancient palace was reduced,

quoted from the Architrea poetical

in the twelfth century, to a

recefies

maze of ruins;

work of John de

were the fcene of licen-

Hauteville,

or

Hanville, a
1

Monk
i.

of St.

Albans, about the year

190.
vol.

See Wartcn's
diflert. ii.)

Explicat aula finus

,.
_

montemque ampkaitur
I

^^^'^''^y

of Englilh Poetry,

r terfuraruDorem. Multiphci latebrafcelerum . r r J pereuntis fepe pudons

, ,

y..

,.,'

'

Celaturanefas.Venerjiqueaccommoda/Kr/;/. *

-----
,

tr

Jr.-

Yet fuch /be/is might be lefs pernicious to mankind, than the theological difputes of ' , ,.., theSorbonne, vshich have been nnce aettated ' t, ,a , OH the fame g-iOund. Bcnamv, Mem. de ^ ,. ^ n : 1 Academie, torn. xv. p. 678 682.

,^

confent

OF THE
confent to reign.
anxidft the
collar,

ROMAN
a

EMPIRE.
ftiiekl

319
and

He

was exalted on

in the prefence,
;

^ H A

P.

unanimous acclamations, of the troops a rich military which was offered by chance, fupplied the want of a diadem %

the ceremony was concluded

tive
'
;

by

the promife of a moderate donareal or

".

and the new emperor, overwhelmed with

moft
fecret receflcs

affeded

grief, retired into the

of his apartment

The

grief of Julian could proceed only

from

his innocence

but

His pmtefta
tlons of inna*-

his innocence

muft appear extremely doubtful "

to fufpet the

in the eyes of thofc

ccntc.

who
His

have learned
lively

motives and the profeffions of princes.

and adive mind was fufceptible of the various imprefhons

fear,

of hope and

of gratitude and revenge, of duty and of ambition,

of the love of fame and of the fear of reproach.

for us to calculate the refpedive weight

But

it is

impoffible
fenti-

and operation of thefe

ments

or to afcertain the principles of action,

which might efcape

impelled,
the
fteps

the obfervation, while they guided,

or rather

of Julian himfelf.
the malice

The

difcontent of the troops

;

was produced by
effed:

of his

enemies
;

their

tumult was the natural

if Julian

of intereft

and of paffion

and

had

tried

to

conceal

a deep defign under the appearances of chance, he muft have

em-

ployed the moft confummate

artifice

without neceffity, and probably

without
*

fuccefs.

He

folemnly declares, in the prefence of Jupiter,

269 273.), Ammianus and Zofimus (1. iii. p. i;i, irj, 153-). ^vho in the reign of Julian, appears to follow the mor reipeftable au-therity of

Even
;

in this

tumultuous moment, Julian

forms of fuperftirious cere-

Grsc.

torn. vii. p.

attended

to the

(xx. 4.),

mony

and obftinately refufed the inaufpi-

eious ufe of a female necklace, or a horfecollar,

which the impatient foldiers would have empl<^yed in the n;om of a diadem. ' An equal proportion of gold and fjlver,
of the former, one pound of the whole amounting to about five

Eunapius.
rians.

With fuch

guides, v/q might nt-

gleft the abbreviators

and

ecclefiaitical hiilo-

five pieces

"

Eutropius, a refpeflable witnefs, ufes

a-

latter; the

doubtful expreffion,
(x. 15.).

"

confenfu militum"

pounds ten (hillings of our money. '" For the whole narrative of this revolt, we may appeal to authentic and original materials;

Gregory Nazianzcn, whofe igno

ranee might excufe his fanaticifm,. dirtdly

charges the apori.ite witn prefumption, mad-nels,

Julian himfelf {ad S. P.

Q_

Atheni-

andimpioa: lebellion,
Orat.
iii.

tGM;t, a.Tcuia,.

cnfem, p. 282, 283, 284.), Libanius (Orat.

Parental,
c.

acrsCsia.

p. 67,

4448.

in

Fabricius Bibliot.

320
C H A
XXIT.
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of the Sun, of Mars, of Minerva, and of
till

all

the other deities, that,

his elevation,

the clofe of the evening

which preceded

he was
feera

utterly ignorant of the defigns of the foldiers ";

and

it

may

ungenerous to
lofopher.

diftruft the

honour of a hero, and the truth of a phi-

Yet the fuperftitious confidence that Conftantius was the

that

enemy, and

he himfelf was the favourite, of the gods, might

prompt him

to defire, to folicit,

and even

to haften the aufpicious

moment of
religion of

his reign,

which was predeftined

to reftore the ancient

mankind.

When

Julian had received the intelligence of

;

the confpiracy, he refigned himfelf to a fhort flumber

and

after-

wards related to

his friends, that

he had feen the Genius of the empire

waiting with fome impatience at his doer, preffing for admittance,

and reproaching

his

want of

fpirit

and ambition

".

Aftonifhed and
;

perplexed, he addrefled his prayers to the great Jupiter

diately fignified,

who imme-

by

a clear and manifefl:

omen,

that he fliould fub-

mit to the will of heaven and of the army.

difclaims the ordinary

The condudt which

maxims of

reafon, excites our fufpicion and

eludes our enquiry.

Whenever

the fpirit of fanaticifm, at once fo

itfelf

credulous and fo crafty, has infmuated

into a noble

mind,

it

infenfibly corrodes the vital principles of virtue

His embafly
to Conftan-

and veracity.

To

moderate the zeal of his party, to protedt the perfons of his

"*,

dus.

enemies

to defeat

and

to dcfpife the fecret enterprifes

which were

formed againft

his life

and dignity, were the cares which employed

p. 284. (Vie de Ju-

"
The

Julian,

ad

S. P.

Q^

Athen.

ftriking a

deep root into the earth.

Even

in

devout

Abbe
is

de

la Bleterie

his fleep, the

mind of the

Ca;far muft have

lien, p.

159-)

almoft inclined to refpeft

the de'vout proteftadons of a Pagan. " Ammian. xx. 5. with the note of Lin-

fortune.

been agitated by the hopes and fears of his Zofimus (1. iii, p. 155.) relates a fubfequen t dream. .
'*

denbrogius
friend

on

the Genius of the empire.

The

difficult fituation

of the prince of a
defcribed by

Julian himfelf, in a confidential letter to his

rebellious
citus

army
1.

is

finely

Ta-

and phyfician, Oribafms (Epift. xvii. p. 384.), mentions another dream, to which, of a ftatcly before the event, he gave credit
;

(Hift.

go 85.).

Kut Otho had

lefs

much more
than Julian.

guilt,

and much

abilities,

tree

thrown

to the

ground, of a -fmall plant

the

OF THE
the
firft

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

311

days of the reign of the

new Emperor.

Although he was

CHAP.
XXli.

firmly refolved to maintain the ftation which he had afllimed, he

ftill

was
war,

dcfirous of faving his country

from the calamities of

civil

of declining a conteft w'ith the fuperior forces of Cbnftantius, and of

preferving his
titude.

own

charadter from the reproach of perfidy and ingramilitary and Imperial

Adorned with the enfigns of

pomp,

Julian Ihewed liimfelf in the field of

Mars

to the

foldlcrs,

who

glowed with ardent enthuiiafm

leader,

in the

caufe of their pupil, their

and

their friend.

He

recapitulated their vidiories, lamented

their fuil'erings,

applauded their refolution, animated their hopes,

and checked

their impetuolity;
a

nor did he difmifs the aflembly,

if

till

he had obtained

folcmn promife from the troops, that

the

emthe

peror of the Eaft would fubfcribe an equitable treaty, they would

renounce any views of conqueft, and

fatisfy

thenifelves with
this

tranquil polTeflion of the Gallic provinces.

On

foundation he

compofed,

in his

own name, and

in that of the

army, a fpecious and

of

moderate
the

epiftle '\

which was delivered

to Pentadius, his mafter

;

offices,

and

to his

chamberlain Eutherius

two ambalTadors

whom

he appointed
Conflantius.

to receive the anfwer,

Tfiis epiftle
is

and obferve the

difpofitions of

infcribed with the modeft appellation

in a peremptory,
title

of Cxfar; but Julian

folicits

tbough

refpedlful

manner, the confirmation of the

ledges the irregularity of his

of Auguffus.

He acknowjuftifies,

own

election,

while he

in

fome meafure, the refentment and violence of the troops which had
extorted his reluctant confent.

He

allows the fupremacy of his

brother Conftantius

and engages

to fend

him an annual
a feledl

prefent of

Spanifh horfes, to recruit his

rian youths,

army with

number of Barba-

and

to accept

from

his choice a Pra:tor'an prsfcdx of

"'

To

this oftenfiLIe epirtle

he added, fays
et

.nnd

would not have

publiflied.

Perhaps they

Ammianus,

private letters, obj urgatorias

never exiftcd.

mordaces, which the hiftorian had not feen.

Vol.

II.

approved

322

THE DECLINE AND FALL

approved difcretion and
nomination of his other
the revenue,
fidelity.
civil

CHAP.
XXII.

But he referves for hlmfclf the

officers,

and military

with the troops,

and the fovereignty of the provinces beyond the Alps.

;

He

admonifhes the emperor to confult the didlates of juftice

of thofe venal
;

to

diflruft the arts

flatterers,

who

fubfill
fair

only by the dif-

cord of princes
treaty, equally

and to embrace the

offer

of a

and honourable

advantageous to the republic, and to the houfe of

In this negociation Julian claimed no more than he

Conftantine.

already polTefled.
cifed

The

delegated authority which he had long exerSpain,

over the provinces of Gaul,

and

Britain,

was

ftill

obeyed under a name more independent and auguft.

The

foldiers

and the people rejoiced

in a revolution w^hich

was not

ftained
;

even

with the blood of the guilty.

a prifoner.

Florentius

was

a fugitive

Lupicinus

The

perfons

who were
;

difaffefted to the

new govern-

ment were difarmed and fecured and the vacant offices were diftributed, according to the recommendation of merit, by a prince,,

who
His fourth and fifth expeditions teyond the

defpifed the intrigues of the palace,

and the clamours of

the.

foldiers '\

The

negociations of peace were accompanied and fupported

by

the moft vigorous preparations for war.

The army, which

Julian

Rhine, A. D. 360,
361.

held in readinefs for immediate adlion, was recruited and augmented

by the

diforders of the times.

filled

The

cruel perfecution of the

faQion

of Magnentius had
robbers.

Gaul with numerous bands of outlaws and

They

cheerfully accepted the offer of a general pardon

from

a prince

whom

they could

truft,

fubmitted to the reftraints of

their implacable hatred to the

militarj^ difcipline,

and retained only

perfon and government of Conftantius ".

As foon

as the feafon

of the

year
'*

See the

firft

tranfalions of his reign,

'^

Liban. Orat. Parent,

c.

50
it

p.

27c,

In Julian ad S. P.

Q^ Athen.

p.

285, 2S6.

276.

flrange diforder, fince

continued.

Ammianus,
c.

xx. 5. 8.

Liban. Orat, Parent,

above feven years.

In the fadions of the

the exiles

49, 50. p.

273 >75.

Greek

republics,

amounted to 20,000

OF
lus legions

THE ROMAN
field,
lie

EPJPIRE.
appeared
at

,^2',

year permitted Julian to take the

;

the head of

}J

^'

threw a bridge over the Rhine in the neighbourhood of

to chaftife the perfidy of the Attuarii, a tribe

Cleves

and prepared

of Franks,

who prefumed

that

they might ravage, with impunity,

the frontiers of a divided empire.

The

difficulty, as

well as glory, ot

this enterprize, confified in a laborious

march

and Julian had con-

quered, as foon as he could penetrate into a country, which former

princes had confidered as inaccelTible.

After he had given peace to

the Barbarians, the emperor carefully vifited the fortifications along

the Rhine from Cleves to Bafil

the territories

furveyed, with peculiar attention,

which he had recovered from the hands of the Ale",

manni, pafled through Befanyon

their fury,

which had feverely

at

fufiered

from

and fixed

his head-quarters

Vienna

for the enfuing

winter.

The barrier of Gaul was improved and ftrengthened with ad;

ditional fortifications

and Julian entertained fome hopes, that the Germight, in his abfence, be re''

mans,

whom

he had

fo often vanquiflied,

trained, by the terror of his name.

Vadomair

was the only prince

and while the
fubtle

of the Alemanni,

whom he
ftate

efteemed or feared

Barbarian aifedled to obferve the faith of

treaties, the progrefs

of his

arms threatened the

with an unfeafonable and dangerous war.

The

policy of Julian condefcended to furprife the prince of the Alehis

manni by
friend,

own

arts

and Vadomair, who,

in the charadler

of a

had incautioufly accepted an invitation from the

and
Ifocrates

Roman

go-

20,000 perfons
that
it

afl"iires

Philip,

would be

eafier to raife

an army from
cities.

with temples, &c. now reduced to a Anall town, emerging however from its ruins.
'"

the vagabonds than

from the
i.

See
.

Vadomair entered
''''^

into the

Roman

fer-

Hume's
,0

Effays, torn.
,.

p.
...

426, 427.
,

""'

lulian '

(Epift. xxxviii. f 414.) & p. t t J gives a '^ ^

ftort defcription ofVefontio, or

Befan90n
ri-

promoted from a Barbarian kingdom to the military rank of duke of ,_ .,, / _, '^ ^ ^ , PhEeiiicia. He ftill retained the fame artful ^harafter (Ammian. xxi. 4.); but, under
"^^^
. .

a rocky peninfula almoft encircled by the

tjjg

jgign of Valens, he fignalifed his valour

verDoux;

once a magnificent

city,

filled

in the

Armenian war

(xxix. i.).

vernors.

324

THE DECLINE AND FALL

veniors,

CHAP,
XXII.

was

feizecl in

the midft of the entertainment, and fent

away

prifoner, into the heart of Spain.

Before the Barbarians were re-

covered from their amazement, the emperor appeared in arms on the

banks of the Rhine, and, once more croffing the

river,

renewed the

deep impreffions of teiTor and relpect which had been already made

by four preceding expeditions ".

Fruitlefs

The

ambaffadors of JuUan had been inflrudled to execute, with

But, in their paf-

declaration

the utmoft diligence, their important commiflion.

^^^S^

A.D^'-ei.

through Italy and Illyricum, they were detained by the tedious

affected delays of the provincial governors
flov;'
;

and

they were conduced

;

by

journies from Conftantinople to Caefarea in Cappadocia

at length

and when
tius,

they were admitted to the prefence of Conftan-

they found that he had already conceived, from the difpatdics

of his
Julian,

own

officers,

the moft unfavourable opinion of the condutl of

and of the Gallic army.

;

The

letters w-ere

heard with im-

patience

the trembling meflengers were difmifled with indignation

;

and contempt

and the looks, the geftures, the furious language of

the monarch, expreifed the diforder of his foul.

nedlion,

The

domeftic con-,

which might have reconciled the brother and the hufband

feveral times fruitlefs,

of Helena, was recently diffolved by the death of that princefs, whofe

pregnancy had been

herlelf".

and was

at

laft flital

to

her

life

The emprefs Eufebia had preferved to the laft moment of the warm, and even jealous, affeflion which fhe had conj

ceived for Julian

and her mild influence might have moderated the

(See
feventh of feventeen

-'
1. iii.

Ammian,
p.

xx. lo. xxi. 3, 4.

Zofiraus,

tlie

*'

155. Her remains were fent to

filter

publifted at \'enice 1754, from a

new orstionr, MS. in St.

Elpidiiis,

Rome, and in-

Mark's

library,

p.

117

127.)

terreJ near thofe of her

Conftantina, in

the Pra;torian prxfeft of the Eaft, to

whofe
is

the fuburb of the Fia Nomentana.

>;xi.

Ammian.

evidence the accufer of Julian appeals,

grateful; yet the religion of Elpidiiis

ar-

I.

Libanius has compofed a very weak

raigned by Libanius, as effeminate and-unis

charge

apology to juftify his hero from a very abfurd ef poifoning his wife, and rewarding her phyfician with his mother's jewels,
;

praif-

ed by Jerom (torn.

i.

p. 243.),

and

his

hu-

manity by Ammianus

(xxi. 6.).

refentment

OF THE
reieiitment of a prince,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
death,

325
to his

who, fmce her

was abandoned
But the

^
}J

-^

^-

own

paflions,

and

to the arts

of his eunuchs.

terror of a

foi'eign invafion obliged

him

to fufpend the

punifhment of a private

enemy

he continued his march towards the confines of Perfia, and

it

thought

fufhcicnt to fignify the conditions

which might

entitle

Julian and his guilty followers to the clemency of their offended fovereign.

He required,
;

that the

prefumptuous Casfar fhould exprefsly

renounce the appellation and rank of Auguftus, which he had accepted from the rebels
that he iTiould defcend to his former ftation
;

of a limited and dependent minlfter of the

ftate

that

he fhould

veft the

powers

and array

in the
;

hands of thofe
that

officers

who were

appointed

by

the Imperial court

and

he fhould

truft his fafety to the ai-

furances of pardon, which were announced

biiliop,

by Epidletus,

a Gallic

and one of the Arian favourites of Conftantius.

ineffedtually

Several

months were
Antioch

confumed

in a treaty

which was nego-

ciated at the diftance of three thoufand miles

;

between Paris and

and, as foon as Julian perceived that his moderate and re-

fpetful behaviour ferved only to irritate the pride of an implacable

adverfary, he boldly refolved to

commit

his life

and fortune

to the

chance of a

civil

war.
:

He
;

gave a public and military audience to

the qujeftor Leonas

the haughty epiftle of Conftantius

was read

to

the attentive multitude

and Julian protefted, with the moft

title

flatterif

ing deference, that he was ready to refign the

of Auguftus,

he could obtain the confent of thofe

authors of his elevation.

whom

he acknowledged as the
j

Tlie faint propol'al was impetuoufly filenced

and the acclamations of " Julian Auguftus, continue to reign, by the " authority of the army, of the people, of the republic, which you
" have faved," thundered
terrified the pale

at

once from every part of the

field,

and

ambaffador of Conftantius.

part of the letter

was afterwards
of Julian,

read, in

which the emperor arraigned the ingratitude

whom

he had invefled with the honours of the purple

whom.

32<5

THE DECLINE AND FALL

much cave and tendernefs whom he had preferved in his infancy, when he was left a helplefs orphan " an orphan !" interrupted JuUan, who juftified his caufe by inwith fo
;

CHAP. whom he had educated

XXII.

dulging his paffions

" Does the

?

aflaffin

of

my
to

family reproach

me

*'

that
ries,

was

left
I

an orphan

He

urges

me

revenge thofe inju-

*'

which
;

have long ftudied to forget."

The

aflembly was

difmiffed

and Leonas, who, with fome difficulty, had been proteded from the popular fury, was fent back to his mafler, with an
epiftle, in

which Julian exprefTed,

in a ftrain of the

mod vehement

eloquence, the fentiments of contempt, of hatred, and of refent-

ment, which had been fupprefled and embittered by the diffimulation of twenty years.

After this meflage, which might be coniidered

Julian, v/ho,

as a fignal of irreconcilable war,

fome weeks before,

had celebrated the Chriftian

lic

feflival

of the Epiphany ", made a pubthe

declaration that he committed the care of his fafety to

;

IM-

MQRTAL GODS
Julian prepares to at-

and thus publicly renounced the

religion, as well

as the friendfhip, of Conftantius ".

The
lution.

fituation of Julian required a vigorous

and im.mediate refothat his adver-

tack Conflantius.

He

had difcovered, from intercepted

letters,

fary, facrificing the intereft of the ftate to that of the

monarch, had

again excited the Barbarians to invade the provinces of the Weft.

-*

Feriarum die quern celebrantes menfe

birth of the Sun.

ties

Januario, Chrlfliani Epiphaeia diditant, progrcffus in eorum eccleiiam, folemniter numi-

See Bingham's Antiquiof the Chriftian Church, 1. xx. c. 4. and

ii.

Beaufobre Hill. Critique du Manicheifme,

torn.
*'

ne orato

difceffit.

Ammian.
it

xxi. 2.

Zonafince

p.

ras obferves,

that

was on Chriftmas-day,
not inconiiftent;

The

6go 700. public and fecret negociations be-

and

his aflertion is

the churches of Egypt, Afia,

and perhaps celebrated on the fame day (the fixth Gaul, of January), the nativity and the baptifin

tween Conftantius and Julian, muft be extrafted, with fome caution, from Julian him-

Mi

(Orat.

ad

S.

P.

Q^
c.

Athen. p. 286.),
51. p. 276.),

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

Am-

of their Saviour.

The Romans,

as igno-

rant as their brethren of the real date of his birth, fixed the fokmn feftival to the 25th of

p. 20, 21, 22.), who, on this occafion, appears to

mianus (xx. 9.), Zofimus (1. iii. p. and even Zonara? (torn. ii. I. xiii.

154..),

when

December, the BrumaUa, or winter folftice, the Pagans annually celebrated the

have poffeffed and ufed fome valuable materials.

The

OF THE
The
pofition of

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

327

two magazines, one of them colleded on the banks

CHAP,

of the lake of Conftance, the other formed at the foot of the Cottian
Alps, feemed to indicate the march of
thofe magazines, each of

two armies

and the

fize

of

which

confifted of fix
^'*,

hundred thoufand
cf

quarters of wheat, or rather flour

was

a threatening evidence

the ilrength and numbers of the enemy,

who
if

prepared to furround

him.
Afia
;

But the Imperial legions were

the

ftill

in their diilant quarters of

Danube was

feebly guarded

and

Julian could occupy,

by
and

a fudden incurfion,

the important provinces of Illyricum,

foldiers

he

might expedl that a people of

that the rich

would
filver

refort to his flandard,

mines of gold and

war.
;

would contribute

to the

expences of the

civil

He
;

propofed

this

bold enterprife to the

afl'embly of the foldiers

infpircd tiiem with a juft confidence in their

general,

and in themfelves

and exhorted them

to maintain their to their fellow-

reputation, of being terrible to the

citizens,

enemy, moderate
His

and obedient

to their officers.

fpirited difcourfe w\is

received w^th the loudeft acclamations, and the fame troops

which

had taken up arms agalnft Conflantius, when he fummoned them to

leave Gaul,
lian to the
fidelity vv^as

now

declared with alacrity, that they

extremities of
;

would follow Ju-

fartheft

Europe or

Afia.

The

oath of
fhields,

adminiftered

and the

foldiers, clafhing their

and pointing their drawn fwords to

their throats, devoted themfelves,

with horrid imprecations, to the fervice of a leader

lebrated as the deliverer of Gaul,

whom

they ce-

and the conqueror of the Ger-

mans

^\

This folemn engagement, which feemed to be dictated by

rather than

affection,

by duty, was fmgly oppofed by Nebridius,

office

who had been

^^

admitted to the

of Praetorian prsefedt.

That

Three hundred myriads, or three milfix

lions of medimni, a corn-meafure familiar to

and the neceffity and advantages of an offenfive war (ad S. P. Q^ Athen. p. 286,
287.).
^s

the Athenians, and which contained

Ro-

man

modii.

Julian explains, like a foldier

his fuuation,

gee his oration, and the behaviour of

and a ftatelman, the danger of

S

the troops, in

Ammian,

xxi. 5.

faithful

328

THE DECLINE AND FALL

f::!ithful

CHAP
XXU,

minifter, alone

and nmaflift'ed,

afTeited the rightr. of

Conftan-

tius in the

midll of an armed and angry: multitude, to whofe fury he

fallen

had almoft
one of
his

an honounible, but

ufelefs,

facrifice.

After lofmg

hands by the ftroke of a fword, he embraced the knees of

the prince

whom
him

he had offended.

Julian covered the prsfed; with

zeal of his follow-

his ImperiaS mantle,

ers,

and proteding him from the

difmilTed

to his

own

houfe, with

lefs

refpedi than
office

was per-

haps due to the virtue of an enemy".

The high

of Nebridius

was bellowed on

Salluft

and the provinces of Gaul, which were

now

delivered

from the

intolerable oppreffion of taxes, enjoyed the

mild and equitable admlniftration of the friend of Julian,

permitted to pradtife thofe virtues which he had
inftilled into

who was
the

mind

of
i lis

his pupil ^\

march

The hopes
troops, than
(ijij-jj^g

of Julian depended

from the
Rliiiie into

on the

ii-ri;

much

lefs

on the number of

celerity or his motions.

ti execution In the

his
n

of a

)iicum.

enterprife,

he availed himfelf of every precaution, as far as

prudence could fuggeft

and where prudence could no longer accomIn the

"'.

pany

his fteps,

he trufted the event to valour and to fortune.

Bafil

neighbourhood of

he affembled and divided his army

One

body, which confifted of ten thoufand men, was direfted, under

the

command

of Nevitta, general of the cavalry, to advance through

the midland parts of Rhastia and Noricum.

troops,

limilar divilion

of

under the orders of Jovius and Jovinus, prepared to

fol-

low the oblique courfe of the highways, through the Alps and the
-''

He

flernly refufed his

hand

to the flip-

pliant priefeft,

whom

he fent into Tufcany

Libanius, with favage

quam judex nee militaris reflor, alio quodam prxter merita fuffragante, ad potiorum
gradum (Ammian. xx. c;.)- Abfence weaken his regard for Salluft, with whofe name (A. D. 363.) he honoured the
veniat did not
coufullhip.
**

(Ammian.
fury,
diers,

xxi. 5.)-

infults

Nebridius,

applauds the

fol-

and almoft cenfures the humanity of

c.

Julian (Orat. Parent,

^'

53. p. 278.).

Ammian.

xxi.

8.

In

this

promotion,
civilis

Ammianus

(xxi. 8.)

afcribes the
to

fame

Julian obeyed

the

law which he publicly

pradlice,

and the fame motive,

Alexander

jmpofed on himfelf.

Neque

quif-

the Great, and other fkilful generals.

northern

OF THE
northern confines of
Italy.

ROMAN
The
;

EMPIRE.
march in
clofe

329
C n^A
P.

Inftrudions to the generals were

to haften their

conceived with energy and precifion

and compad columns, which, according

to the difpofition of the

;

ground, might readily be changed into any order of battle

to fccure

themfelves againft the furprifes of the night by ftrong pofts and vigilant guards
;

to prevent refiftance

by

their unexpecSled arrival

;

to

elude examination by their fudden departure

to fpread the opinion

of their ftrength, and the terror of his name

reign under the walls of Sirmium.

and

to join their fove-

For himfelf, Julian had referved

part.

a more

difficult

and extraordinary

He

feledted three thoufand

caft

brave and adlive volunteers, refolved, like their leader, to

behind

them every hope of

fearlefsly

a retreat

at the

head of

this faithful

band, he
foreft,

plunged into the

recefles

of the Marcian, or black

*"
;

which conceals the

fources of the

Danube

and, for

many

days,

the fate of Julian was

unknown

to the world.

The

fecrecy of his
;

march, his diligence, and vigour, furmounted every obftacle

forced his

he

way

over mountains and morafles, occupied the bridges or

^,

fwam
and

the rivers, purfued his direct courfe

without refleting wheor of the Barbarians,

ther he traverfed the territory of the

at

Romans

length emerged, between Ratifbon and Vienna, at the place

to

where he defigned

embark

his troops
fleet

on the Danube.

By

a wellit

concerted ftratagem, he feized a

"9

of light brigantines ",

So eagerly the
O'er bog, or
fteep,

as

lay

This wood was a part of the great Herforeft,

fiend,

cynian

which, in the time of Caifar,

through

ftrait,

rough.,

Rretched away from the country of the Rauraci (Bafil) into the boundlefs regions of the

denfe, or rare,

With head,
his

hands-, wings, or feet, purfues

North.
l.iii. c.

See
47.

Cluver.

Germania Antiqua,

way,
flies.

And
Parent,
c.

fwims, or finks, or wades, or creeps,

or

'

Compare Libanius, Orat.

p. 68.

53.
'

p. 278, 279, with

iii.

Gregory Nazianzen, Orat.

In that interval the Nctitia places tw9

fleets,

and

fecrecy

Even the faint admires the /peed of this march. A modern di-

or three

the Lauriacenfis

(at

Lauria-

vine might apply to the progrefs of Julian,

the lines which were originally defigned for

cum, or Lorch), the Arlapenfis, the Maginenfis and mentions five legions, or co;

horts, of Liburnarii,

who

ftiould

be a

fort

of

another apoftate

marines.

Scl. Iviii. edit.

Labb.
at

Vol. IL

330

THE DECLINE AND FALL

at

CHAP,
t
ti

anchor

fecured a fupply of coarfe

provifions fufEc'ient

to fa-'
;

tisfy the indelicate,

but voracious, appetite of a Gallic

army

and
and

boldly committed himfelf to the ftream of the Danube.

The

labours

of his mariners,

who

plied their oars with incelTant diligence,

fleet

the fteady continuance of a favourable wind, carried his

above

feven hundred miles in eleven days

^^

and he had already difem-

barked his troops

at

Bononia, only nineteen miles from Sirmium,

before his enemies could receive any certain intelligence that he

left

had

the banks of the Rhine.

In the courle of this long and rapid-

navigation, the
terprife
;

mind of

Julian Mras fixed on the object of his encities,

and though he accepted the deputations of fome

to claim the merit of

which haftened

an early fubmiffion, he paffed

before the hoflile flations, which were placed along the river, with-

out indulging the temptation of fignalizing an ufelefs and ill-timed

valaur.

The banks

fpedlators^

Danube were crowded on either fide with who gazed on the military pomp, anticipated the imof the

portance of the event, and difTufed through the adjacent country the

fame of a young hero, who advanced with more than mortal fpeed
at the

head of the innumerable forces of the Weft.

Lucilian,

who,

with the rank of general of the cavalry, commanded the military

powers of Illyricum, was alarmed and perplexed by the doubtful reports,

which he could neither

reject

nor believe.

He had taken fome

;.

flow and irrefolute meafures for the purpofe of colleling his troops

when he was
lian, as

furprifed

by Dagalaiphus, an
at

foon as he landed

JuBononia,^ had pufhed forwards with

life

aciive officer,

whom

fome

light infantry.

The

captive general, uncertain of his

or

death, was haftily thrown

fence of Julian
'^
;

upon

a horfe, and

conduced

to the pre-

who

kindly raifed

him from

the ground, and dif

Zofimus alone
this

(1. iii.

p. 156.) has fpe-

cred largefles, defcribes this voyage in a florid

cified

interefting
(in

circumftance.
xi.

Ma8.),

Biertinus

Paneg)'r. Vet.

6, 7,

and piftorefque manner, challenges Triptoi^^mus and. the Argonauts of Greece, &c.

who accompanied

Julian, as count of the fa-

pelled

OF
ties.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

amazement which fecmed
to flupify his facul-

331

peiled the terror and

^}

'^

''

But Lucihan had no fooner recovered

his fpirits,

than he

betrayed his want of difcretion, by preluming to admonifli his conqueror, that he had rafhly ventured, with a handful of men, to cx-

pofe his perfon in the midft of his enemies.

*'

" Referve

for

your

mafter Conflantius thefe timid remonftrances," replied Julian, with

;

a fmiie of contempt
*'

"

when

gave you

my

purple to

kifs,

re-

ceived you not as a counfellor, but as a fuppliant."

Confcious that

fliccefs

alone could juflify his attempt, and that boldnefs only could
fuccefs,

command
Illyriaii

he inftantly advanced,

at the

head of three thou-

fand foldiers, to attack the ftrongeft and moft populous city of the
provinces.

As he entered

the long fuburb of Sirmium, he

was received by the joyful acclamations of the army and people who, crowned with flowers, and holding lighted tapers in their
hands, condudted their acknowledged fovereign to his Imperial refidence.

Two

days were devoted to the public joy, which was cele;

brated

by the games of the Circus

but, early

on the morning of

the third day, Julian marched to occupy the narrow pafs of Succi, in
the defiles of

Mount Hsmus

which, almoft in the mid- way be-

tween Sirmium and .Conftantinople, feparates the provinces of Thrace

and Dacia, by an abrupt defcent towards the former, and a gentle

declivity

on the

fide

of the

latter ".

The
;

defence of this important

as well as the generals

poft

was entrufted

to the brave Nevltta

who,

of the Italian divifion, fuccefsfully executed the plan of the march

and junction which

The

their mafler

had

fo ably

conceived

^*.

^^

defcription

fnight be fupported

of A-mmianus, which by collateral evidence,

Succi.

mention the
vered in the
^*

oiJy error

which

have difcothat ad-

maps or writings of

afcertains the precife fituation of the Angujiix

HuccDi-um, or pafles

mirable geographer.

of

M.

d'Anville,

Whatever circumftances we may borrow

from the

trifling

refemblance of names, has

elfewhere,

Ammianus

(xxi.

8, 9, 10.)

ftill

placed them between Sardica and Naiffus.

fupplies the feries of the narrative.

For

my own

juftification,

am

obliged to

u 2

The

2^i

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^

CHAP.
XXII.

The homatre which o

'

Tulian J

obtained, '

from the

fears or the incll-

nation of the people, extended far beyond the immediate effedl of

his

his caufe.

arms

".

The

prasfeftures of Italy

and Illyricum were admiunited that important office

;

nlftered

by Taurus and

Florentius,

who

with the vain honours of the confulfhip

and

as thofe magiftrates

had

retired

with precipitation to the court of Afia, Julian,

who

could'

not always reftrain the levity of his temper, ftigmatized their flight

by adding,

in

all

the Ats of the Year, the epithet oifugitive to the

confuls.

names of the two

The

provinces which had been deferted

by

their

firfi;

magiftrates acknowledged the authority of an emperor,

who,
pher,
cities

conciliating the qualities of a foldier with thofe of a philofo

was equally admired

of Greece.

in the

camps of the Danube, and

or,

in the

From

his palace,

more properly, from

his

head-quarters of Sirmium and Naiflus, he diftributed to the principal

cities

of the empire, a laboured apology for his

;

own

condud:

pub-

lilhed the fecret difpatches of Conftantius

and

folicited the

judgment
had ex-

of mankind between two competitors, the one of

pelled,

whom

and the other had invited^ the Barbarians

^^

Julian,

whofe

mind was deeply wounded by the reproach of ingratitude, maintain, by argument as well as by arms, the fuperior
his caufe;

afpired to

merits of

and to excel, not only in the

arts

of war, but in thofe of

^'

compofition.
*'

His

epiftle to the fenate

and people of Athens

:

feem&
tuus

Ammian.
c. 54..

xxi. 9, 10.

Libanius, Orat.

correfpondence between them

" Csfar
to

Parent,
^'

p. 279, 280.

Zofimus,

1. iii.

"

difciplinam non habet."

-^^

p. 156, 157.

Zofimus mentions

his

epiftles

the

Julian

(ad S. P.
that

Q^

Athcn. p. 286.)

Athenians, the Corinthians, and the Lacedaemonians.

pofitively
letters

afl'crts,

of Conltantius to the Barbarians

as

he intercepted the and

:

The fubfiance was probably the fame, though the addrefs was properly vaThe
(p.

Libanius

pofitively affirms, that he read

ried.

epiftle

to the Athenians

is

ftill

them on his march to the troops and the cities, Yet Ammianus (xxi. 4.) exprefles himfelf
with cool and candid hefitation, i} famafo//aj admittenda eft (ides. He fpecifies, however, an

extant

268

287.),

and has afforded

It deferves

much
praifes

valuable information.

the

of the

Abbe de

la Bleterie

(Pref.
is

I'Hiftoire de Jovien, p. 24, 25.),

and

a one

intercepted letter from

to Conftantius,

Vadomair which fuppofes an intimate

of the

beft manifeftoes to

be found in any

language,

io

OF THE
to have been dltated

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
;

333

by an
and

elegant enthufiafm

whicli prompted

HA

P.

him

to fubmit his adlions

his motives to the degenerate

as if

Athenians

v..v.'

of his

own

times, with the

fame humble deference,

he had been

pleading, in the days of Ariftides, befoi'e the tribunal of the Areo-

pagus-

His application

to the fenate of

Rome, which was

ftill

per-

mitted to beftow the

titles

of Imperial power, was agreeable to the

forms of the expiring republic.

Tertullus, praefedl of the city
as
;

An

afTembly was

fummoned by
was read
;

the epiftle of Julian

Italy, his claims

and

he appeared to be mafcer of

were admitted with-

out a diffenting voice.

His oblique cenfure of the innovations of

Conftantine, and his paffionate inveftive againft the vices of

ftantius,

Con-

lian
**

and the fenate, as if Juhad been prefent, unanimonfly exclaimed, " Refpedt, we belefs fatisfadiion
;

were heard with

feech you,

the

author of your

own

fortune '^"

An

artful

expreffion, which, according to the chance of war, might be differ-

ently explained; as a

manly reproof of the

ingratitude of the ufurper,

er as a flattering confelhon, that a fmgle at of fuch benefit to the

ftate

ought

to atone for all the failings of Conftantius.

The

intelligence of the

march and rapid progrefs of Julian was

Hcfllle pre-

fpeedlly tranfmitted to his rival,

who, by the

retreat

of Sapor, had

P^''^""^

obtained fome refpite from the Perfian war.

Bifguifnig the anguifh

f his foul under the femblance of contempt, Conftantius profeffed

his intention of returning into
lian; for

Europe, and of giving chace to Juin

he never fpoke of

this military expedition

^".

any other
mentioned
them,

light than that of a

hunting party

In the

camp of

Hierapolis, in'

Syria, he

communicated

this defign to his

army;

flightly

the guilt and rafhnefs of the Cxfar; and ventured to

that if the mutineers of
^'

affiji-e

Gaul prefumed
Am-

to

meet them

in the field,

Ju}ori tuo re-vertntiam rogamiu.

lo.^

mian. xxi.
flattery

ferve the fecret

amufing enough to obconflicils of the fenate between

It is

^' Tanquam venaticiam prjedam caperet hoc enim ad leniendum fuorum metum fiib-

inde prsdicabat.

Ammian.

xxi. 7.

and

fear.

See Tacit. Hift.

i.

85.

they

334

THE DECLINE AND FALL

they would be unable to fuftain the ^
liftihlc

CHAP,
XXII.

fire

of their eyes, and the h-re^

weight of their

fliout

of onfct.

The

fpecch of the emperor

was received with

military applaufe, and Theodotus, the prefident

of the council of Hierapolis, requefted, with tears of adulation, that

h'ls

city

might be adorned with the head of the vanquifhed rebel

''.

A chofen
cure, if
it

detachment was difpached away in poft-waggons, to fe-

were yet

poflible, the pafs

of Succi; the recruits, the

horfes, the arms,

and the magazines which had been prepared againft

civil

Sapor, were appropriated to the fervice of the

war

and the

domeftic victories of Conftantlus infpired his partifans with the moft

fanguine affurances of fuccefs.

pied in his
intercepted

The notary Gaudentius had occu;

name
;

the provinces of Africa

diftrefs

the fubfiftence of

Rome was
Julian

and the

of Julian was increafed, by an unexpected

event, which might have been productive of fatal confequences.

had received the lubmiflion of two legions and a cohort of archers,

were ftationed
lity

who

at

Sirmium

but he fufpeted, with reafon, the fide-

of thofe troops, which had been diftinguifhed by the emperor

it

and
ftate

was thought expedient, under the pretence of the expofed

of the Gallic frontier, to difmifs them from the moft important

fcene of aCtion.

They advanced, with

reluftance,

as

far as the

confines of Italy; but as they dreaded the length of the way, and

the favage fiercenefs of the Germans, they refolved,

tion of one of their tribunes, to halt at Aquileia,

by the

inftiga-

and

to eret the
city.

banners of Conftantius on the walls of that impregnable

\'igilance

The
Jo-

of Julian perceived at once the extent of the mifchief, and

the neceflity of applying an immediate remedy.

By

his order,

vinus led back a part of the

leia

army

into Italy

and the

fiege of

AquiBut

was formed with

diligence,

and profecuted with vigour.

the merciful conqueror,

*" See the fpeech and preparations in Ammianus, xxi. 13. The vile Theodotus afterfvards implored and obtained his pardon from

who

fignified his wilh

of diminiftiing
the

his enemies,

and increafing

number of his

friends (xxii. I4.)>

the

OF THE
the legionaries,

ROMAN
to

EMPIRE.
difclpline,

233
^

who feemed

have rejeded the yoke oT

fkill

^^

^ P'

condudted the defence of the place with

invited the reft of Italy to imitate the loyalty
;

and perfeverance ;
their courage

,-~j

example of

and

and threatened the

retreat of Julian, if

he fhould be forced
"'.

to yield to the fuperior

numbers of the armies of the Eaft

But the humanity of Julian was preferved from the

tive,
felf

cruel alterna- and death of

which he
:

pathetically laments, of deftroying, or of being

him-

deftroyed

and the feafoaable death of Conftantius delivered the November

civil

a. D."4i^r 3,

Roman

empire from the calamities of

war.
;

The approach of
and
his favourites
flight fever,

winter could not detain the monarch

at

Antioch

durft not oppofe his impatient defire of revenge.

which was perhaps occafioned by the

encreafed by the fatigues of
obliged to halt at the
little

agitation of his fpirits,

;

was

the journey

and Conftantius was

miles be-

town of Mopfucrene, twelve

yond Tarfus, where he expired,

fifth

after a fhort illnefs, in the fortyreign"*'.

year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of his

His

genuine character, which was compofed of pride and weaknefs, of

fuperftitlon

and

cruelty, has

been fully difplayed in the preceding,

narrative of civil

and

ecclefiaftical events.

The long

abufe of power"
y

rendered him a confiderable objedl in the eyes of his contemporaries

but as perfonal merit can alone deferve the notice of pofterity, the'
laft

of the fbns of Conftantine

may

be difmiflTed from the world witb

*^

*'

Ammian.

xxi. 7. 11, 12.

He

feems to

His death and

charaifler are faithfully

(xxi. 14, 15, l5.)
;-

defcribe, with fuperfluous labour, the operations of the fiege of Aquileia, which, on this

delineated by

Ammianus

occafion, maintained

its impregnable fame, Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. iii. p. 68.) afcribes this accidental revolt to the vvifdom of Conftantius, whofe affured vidory he announces with fome appearance of truth. Conftantio quern credtbat proculdubio fore vidorem nemo enim omnium tunc ab hac conftanti (bntentia difcrepebat. Aramian. xxi. 7.

and we are authorifed to defpife and deteft the foolifh calumny of Gregory (Orat. iii. p.68.), who accufes Julian of contriving the
death of his
benefaftor.

The

private re-

pentance of the emperor, that he had fpared

and promoted Julian

p- 389.),
'

(p. 6g.

is

not improbable in

and Orat. xxiitfelf, nor

incompatible with the public verbal tefta^

ment, which prudential confiderations might

diflate in the laft

moments of

his life.

die

336

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the remark, that he inherited the defeds, without the abilities, of
his father.
_,

CHAP,
XXII.

,-"

Before Conftantius expired, he

;

is

faid to

have named

Julian for his fucceflbr

nor does

it

feem improbable,

that his anxious

concern for the fate of a young and tender wife,

child,

whom

he

left

with

may have

prevailed, in

his laft

moments, over the

harflier

paffions of hatred

and revenge.

Eufebius, and his guilty aflbciates,

made

a faint attempt to prolong the reign of the eunuchs,

by the

election of another

emperor

but their intrigues were rejected with

civil dif-

difdain

cord

by an army which now abhorred the thought of and two officers of rank were inftantly difpatched,
fword in the empire would be drawn for

to afllirc
his fer-

Julian, that every

vice.

The

military defigns of that prince,

who had formed

three

different attacks againft Thrace,

were prevented by

this fortunate

event.

Without fhedding the blood of his

fellow-citizens,

he efcaped

the dangers of a doubtful conflidt, and acquired the advantages of a

complete victory.

Lnpatient to

vifit

the place of his birth, and the

new

capital

of the empire, he advanced from Naiffus through the

cities

mountains of Ha^mus, and the

Heraclea, at
Julian enters
pl(.^

of Thrace.
all

When

he reached

the

diftance

of fixty miles,
;

Conftantinople

was

poured forth to receive him

and he made

his

triumphal entry,

amidft the dutiful acclamations of the foldiers, the people, and the
fenate.

Decemberii.

An
;

innumerable multitude prefled around him with eager

refpeft

and were perhaps difappointed when they beheld the

fmall ftature,

and fmiple garb, of a hero, whofe unexperienced youth

had vanquilhed the Barbarians of Germany, and

traverfed, in a fuccefsful career, the

who had now

whole continent of Europe, from

the fhores of the Atlantic to thofe of the Bofphorus*^

afterwards,

few days

when

the remains of the deceafed emperor were landed

Parent,
c.

'

In dcfcribing the triumph of Julian,

(xvii. I, 2.)
j

56.

p.

281.) finks to the grave

Ammianus

a/Tumes the lofty tone

fimplicity of an hiftorian.

of an orator or poet

while Libanius (Orat.

in

OF THE
m the
clothed

ROMAN
On
foot,

EMPIRE.
^
"

337

harbour, the fubjets of Julian applauded the real or affeded

their

l\^ X All.
.

^'
'

humanity of
in a

fovereign.
habit,

without his diadem, and

as far as
:

mourning
marks of

he accompanied the funeral

the church of the

Holy

Apoftles,

where the body was depofited

be interpreted as a

and

if thefe

refpedt

may

felfilh tribute

to the birth

and dignity of

his Imperial

kinfman, the tears of Julian

injuries,

profeifed to the world, that he

had forgot the

and remem-

bered only the obhgations, which he had received from Conftantius**.

As foon

as the legions of Aquileia

were allured of the death of

the emperor, they opened the gates of the city, and,

by the

facrifice
.

of their guilty leaders, obtained an eafy pardon from the prudence

or lenity of Julian
;

who,

in the thirty-fecond year

quired the undifputed poffeffion of the

Roman
to

of his age, ac- knowledged by the whole empire. empire '^'.

His
civil

Philofophy

had

inflruded Julian
;

compare the advantages

of his birth, and
the

go-

of adion
the

and

retirement

but the elevation

Ind"prlvate
''^^'

accidents

of

his

life,

never

allowed

him

freedom

of

choice.

Ele might perhaps fmcerely have preferred the groves of

;

the academy, and the fociety of Athens

at
firft

but he was conftrained,

injufticc,

by the

will,

and afterwards by the and fame

of Conftantius,

to expofe his perfon

to the dangers of Imperial greatnefs ;

and

to

make himfelf

accountable to the v/orld, and to poflerity, for

''^

.the happinefs

of millions

Julian recoUeded with terror the ob-

**

The

funeral of Conftantius
(xxi.
iv.
,\i.

is

defcribed

by Ammianus
anzen (Orat.
Panegyr. Vet.

}6.),

p. 119.),

Gregory NaziMamertinus (in

(1.

year muft be either 331 or 332. Tillemont, Hift. des Enipereurs, torn. iv. p. 693. Du-

range, Fam. Byzantin. p. 50.

ferred the earlier date.
*^

have prehas ex-

27.), Libanius (Orat. Pa-

rent. c. Ivi. p. 2S3.),

c. 6.

and Philoftorgius

vi.

Julian himleif (p. 253

167.)

with Godefroy's Differtations,

writers,

p. 265.).

prefled thefe philofophical ideas, with

much

Thefe

and their followers. Pagans, Catholics, Arians, beheld with very diiFerent eyes both the dead and the jiving emperor.
*'

eloquence, and fome aireAation, in a very

elaborate epiftle to Themillius.

de

la Bleterie (torn.

ii.

p.

146

193.),
is

The Abbe who

inclined

The day and

year of the birth of Julian

has given an elegant tranllation,

to believe that
tius,
it

are not

perfeftly afcertained.
iixth

The day

is

was the celebrated Themifftlll

probably the

of November, and

the

whofe orations are

extant.

Vol.

II.

fervatlon

^3^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ferxration

CHAP.
XXII.

of his mafter Plato *\ that the governmeat of our flocka

is

and herds

always committed to beings of a fuperior fpecies

and

that the conduit of nations requires

and deferves the

this principle

celeftial

powers

of the Gods or of the Genii.

cluded, that the

From
that
that

he juftly con-

man who

prefumes to reign, fhould afpire to the

;

perfedtion of the divine nature

he fhould purify his foul from

her mortal and

tites,

terreftrial

part

he fhould extinguish

his

appe-

enlighten his underftandiug, regulate his paffions, and fubdue

the wild beaft, which, according to the lively metaphor of Ariftotle**,.

feldom

fails

to afcend the throne of a defpot.

The

throne of Julian,
bafis,

which the death of Conftantius

fixed

on an independent

was

the feat of reafon, of virtue, and perhaps of vanity.

He

defpifed

the honours, renounced the pleafures, and difcharged with incefiant diligence the duties, of his exalted ftation;

and there were few

among

his fubjedls

who would

have confented to relieve him front

the weight of the diadem, had they been obliged to fubmit their

time and their adlions to the rigorous laws which their philofophic

emperor impofed on

himfelf.

One of
diet

his

moft intimate friends**,

who had

often fliared the frugal

his light
left his

fimplicity of his table, has re-

marked, that

and fparing

(which was ufually of the

free

vegetable kind)

mind and body always

and

a<5live,

for

the various and important bufinefs of an author, a pontiff, a magiftrate, a general,

and a prince.

In one and the fame day, he gave

audience to feveral ambalHidors,,. and wrote, or dilated, a great

*' Julian ad

num
which

Themift. p.

2i;8.

Petavius

affords the flrcnger reading

of

flufia,

9;.) obferves, that this paflage is taken from the fourth book de Legibus ; but
(not.
p.

the experience of defpotifm

*'

may

warrant.

either Julian quoted from

MSS. were
*
i-nfio:.

different

memory, or his from ours. Xenophon

ccp^nvf
irpo^Jjria'i

Jxxxv. p. 310,

Libanius (Orat. Parsntalis, c. Ixxxiv. 311, 3i2,)has given this in-

terelling detail of the private life

of Julian.

opens the Cyropjcdia with a fitnilarrefleaion.

4;

ay^fuTTOv xeXivcjv

Kcc\

himfelf (in Mifopogon, p. 350.) mentions his vegetable diet, and upbraids the grofs and
fenfual appetite of the people of Antioch.

He

ap Julian, p. 261. The MS. of Vollius, unfatisiied with a fingle beaft,

Ariftot.

ber

OF THE
ber of

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
his private friends,

339

letters to his generals, his civil magiflrates,

chap
XKU.

and the

different cities of his dominions.

He

liflened to the

me-

morials which had been received, confidered the fubjed of the petitions,

and

fignified his intentions

more rapidly than they could be

fecretaries.

taken in fhort-hand by the diligence of his

fuch

He

poflefled

flexibility

of thought, and fuch firmnefs of attention, that he

wrrite,

could employ his hand to

didate
;

his ear to liften,

and

his voice to

and purfue

at

once three feveral trains

of ideas, with-

out hefitation, and without error.

While

his minifters repofed, the

prince flew with agihty from one labour to another, and, after a hafty
dinner, retired into his library,
till

the pubUc bufinefs,

which he had

appointed for the evening,

tion of his
ftantial
fl:udies.

fummoned him
;

to interrupt the profecuftill lefs

The

fupper of the emperor was

his fleep

fub-

than the former meal

;

was never clouded by the

fumes of indigeflion

and, except in the fhort interval of a marriage,

which was

the effect of policy rather than love, the chafl:e Julian

never fhared his bed with a female companion'".

He

was foon
flept

awakened by the entrance of

frefla

fecretaries,

who had

the

preceding day; and his fervants were obliged to wait alternately,

while their indefiitigable mafter allowed himfelf fcarcely any other refrefhment than the change of occupations. The predeceffors of
Julian, his uncle,
tafte

his brother,

and

his

coufm, indulged their puerile

for the

games of the

circus,

under the fpecious pretence of

;

complying with the

remained the

inclinations of the people

and they frequently and

as

greateft part of the day, as idle fpedtators,

"

Leftulus

Veftalium

toris purior,

is

of Ammianus

the praife which Mamertinus (Panegyr. Vet.

xi. 13.) addrefles to Julian himfelf.

Libanius

affirms, in

fober peremptory language, that

Julian never

knew

woman

before his mar-

riage, or after the death of his wife (Orat.

Thechaftity of Parent.c. Ixxxviii. p. 313.). Julian is confirmed by the impartial tefUmony

and the partial filence Yet Julian ironically urge' the reproach of the people of Antioch, that he almo/ aliuays (<^; imvav, in MifopogonThis fufpicious exprel^ p. 345.) lay alone. fion is explained by the Abbe de la Bleterie (Hid. de Jovien, torn. ii. p. 105 109.) with candour and ingenuity,
(xxv. 4.),

of the Chrillians.

part

34

THE DECLINE AND FALL

part

CHAP,
'

of the fplendid fpedtacle,

till

the ordinary round of twenty-

'

four races " was completely linifhed.

lian,

On

folemn

feftivals,

Juthefe

who

felt

and profelfed

an

unfafhionable
to appear in

diflike

to

frivolous amufements, condefcended

after

the

circus;

and

bellowing a carelefs glance on

five or fix

of the races, he haftily

withdrew, with the impatience of a philofopher^

every

who
By

confidered-

moment

as loft, that

was not devoted

his

to the advantage of the

'\

public, or the

improvement of

own mind
we

this avarice
;

of time, he feemed to protradt the fhort duration of his reign

if

and

the dates were

lefs

fecurely afcertained,

fhould refufe to be-

lieve, that

only fixteen months elapfed between the death of Conhis fucceflbr for the Perfian war.

December,

A.D.

361.

ftantius

and the departure of

The
;

March, A. D.

^clions of Julian can only be preferved

by the

care of the hiftorian

is ftill

but the portion of his voluminous writings,

which

extant, re-

mains
of the
tions,

as a

monument of the application, as well as of the genius, The Mifopogon, the Caefars, feveral of his oraemperor.
his elaborate

and

work

againft the Chriftian religion,

were

compofed
he pafled
Reformation

in the long nights of the

at Conftantlnople,

two winters, the former of which

latter at

and the

Antioch.
firft

The

reformation of the Imperial court was one of the

adts of the

and

moft neceffary

government of

Julian ".

Soon

after his

"
xxi.

A rwenty-iifth race, or mijfus, was

See Salmafius ad Sueton. in Claud, c. added,

Ca;far had offended the

Roman
tafle,

people by

reading his difpatches during the actual race.

to complete the
riots,

number of one hundred cha-

Auguftus indulged their

or his

own, by

four of which, the four colours, ftarted

his conltant attention to the

each heat.

important buftnefs of the circus, for which he profefled the

Sueton. in Auguft.
c.

Centum quadrijugos agitabo ad flumina

currus.
It appears, that they ran five or feven times

warmeft inclination.
xlv.
''

The

reformation of the palace

(xxii.

is

de-

round the Meta (Sueton. in Domitian. c. 4.) and (from the meafure of the Circus Maximus
at

fcribed

by Ammianus
c. Ixii. p.

4.),

Libanius

(Orat. Parent,
tinus
(in

28^, &c.),
xi.

MamerI.

Rome,
it

the

Hippodrome

at Conftantinople,

Panegyr. Vet.
1.),

11.), Socrates
ii.

&c.)

might be about a four-mile courfe. Mifopogon, p. 340.

Julius

(1. iii. c.

and Zonaras

(torn.

xiii.

-" Julian, in

p. 24.

entraoce

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE
entrance into the palace of Conftantinople, he had occafion for the
lervice of a barber.

341

XXII.

-"^

An
"
It

officer,
is

magnificently drefTed, immediately

prefented himfelf.
aiFedled furprife,

a barber,"

exclaimed the prince, with

" that

want, and not a receiver-general of the

"

finances "."

He

queftioned the maiv concerning the profits of his

falary,

employment; fome valuable

fervants,

and was informed, that befides a large

perquifites,
as

and

he enjoyed a daily allowance for twenty

and

many

horfes.

thoufimd barbers, a

thoufand

cup-bearers, a thoufand cooks, were diflributed in the feveral offices

of luxury; and the number of eunuchs could be compared only with

the infeds of a fummer's day
his fubjedts the
'^

The monarch who

and
virtue,

refigned to
diftinguiflied

fuperiorlty of merit

was

by
and

the opprefTive magnificence of his drefs, his table, his buildings,

his train.

fons,

by Conftantine and his were decorated with many coloured marbles, and ornaments of
flately palaces eredled

The

mafly gold.

The mofh
from the

exquifite dainties
tafle
;

were procured,

to gratify
cli-

their pride, rather than their

birds of the

mofl diflant

mates,

filli

raofl

remote

feas, fruits
'^

out of their natural

feafon, winter rofes,

and fummer fnows

The
;

domeftic crowd of

the palace furpaffed the expence of the legions

yet the fmallefk part

of this coftly multitude was fubfervient to the ufe, or even to th?

iplendor, of the throne.
ple

The monarch was

fale
;

difgraced,

and the peo-

was injured, by the creation and

of an

infinite

number of
of

obfcure, and even titular

^*

employments

and^ the mofl: worthlefs

rattonalem jafTi fed tonforem Zonaras ufes thelefs natural image of a Ji/iaior. Yet an ofiicer of the finances, who was iatiated with wealth, .might defire and obtain the honours of the fenate.
acciri.
''

Ego non

of magnifying the abufes of the roval

hold.
^''

hoiifi:*

The

expreflions of Mamertinus are lively

and

forcible.

Quin etiam prandiorum

m,-.gnitudines

et

c.Tnarum laboratas
populus
cula

Romanus

M^vEifB;
Je

(/.

%iAiKr, ;:aa;
crft>})

bx.

o.unni;,
i-jreync,

cm^oai;
uTTsp TJi;

w>.ia{,

r^a.-xn^a'Troiaiii,

fenfit ; cum quEefitiflimas dapes noh gnflu fed difficultatibus asflimarentur ; mira-

wafa Toi^ moi.fA.iai vj n^:, are the words of Libanius, which I have faithfully quoted, left I fhould be fufpe^.ed
ftfiag

avium,

longinqui maris pifces, alien!

'

original

tempori^ poma, seffivs nives, hvberna: rof^;'

'

mankind

342
C H A
xxir.
P.

THE DECLINE AND TALL

mankind might purchafe
the privilege of being maintained, without

the neceffity of labour, from the public revenue.

The

waftc of an

enormous houfehold, the encreafe of

were foon claimed as a lawful
torted
debt,

fees

and

perquifites,

which

and the bribes which they ex-

from thofe

who

feared their enmity, or foliclted their favour,

fuddenly enriched thefe haughty menials.

They

abufcd their fortune,

;

without confidering their

rapine

paft, or their future, condition

and their

and venality could be equalled

diflipatlons.

only by the extravagance

of their

Their filken robes were embroidered with

;

gold, their tables were ferved with delicacy and profufion

the houfes

which they

built for their

own

ufe,

would have covered the farm

citizens

of an ancient conful; and the moft honourable

were obliged

to difmount from their horfes, and reipetfully to falute an eunuch

whom

they met on the public

highv^'^ay.

The luxury of

the palace

excited the contempt and indignation of Julian,

who

ufually flept

on the ground, who yielded

of nature
defpifing,
;

w^ith relutance to the indifpenfable calls

and
the

who pomp

placed his vanity, not in emulating, but in

of

royalty.

By
and

the

total
its

extirpation
real extent,

of

a mifchief which was magnified even beyond

he

was impatient
the people
;

to relieve the diftrefs,

to appeafe the

murmurs, of

who

fupport with

lefs

uneafinefs the weight of taxes, if

they are convinced that the

to

fruits

of their induflry are appropriated

in the execution of this falutary

the fervice of the

is

ftatc.

But

work, Julian

accufed of proceeding with too

much

hafte

and in-

confiderate feverity.

By

a fingle edil, he reduced the palace of

Conftantlnople to an immenfe defert, and difmiffed with ignominy

the whole train of flaves and dependents ", without providing any

"
vii.

Yet Julian

hiinfelf

was accufed of be-

denial of the faft, which feems indeed to be-

ftowing whole towns on the eunuchs (Orat.

againll Polyclet. p. iiy

long more properly to Conftantius.

charge, however,

This

127.).

Liba-

may

allude to fome un-

Eius contents himfelf with a coldbut pofuive

known

-circumilance.

Juft,

OF
jitft,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

tlie lervices,

343
or
'

or at leaft benevolent, exceptions, for the age,

^ H A All*
'^
,

p,
'

the poverty, of the faithful domeftics of the Imperial family.

Such

Indeed was the temper of Julian,

who

feldoni

recoUeded the funis

damental
diftance

maxim

of Ariilotic, that true virtue

vices.

placed at an equal

between the oppofite

The

fplendid and effeminate

drefs of the Aliatics, the curls

and

paint, the collars

and

bracelets,

which had appeared

confiftently rejedied
ries,

fo ridiculous in the perfon of Conftantine,

were

by his philofophic

fucceflbr.

But with the foppe;

Julian affedled to renounce the decencies, of drefs

and feemed
In a
fatirical

to value himfelf for his negledl of the laws of cleanlinefs.

performance, which was defigned for the public eye, the emperor
defcants with pleafure,
nails,

and even

Vv^ith

pride,
;

on the length of
protefts, that

his

and the inky blacknefs of

his

hands

although

the greateft part of his

body

M'^as

covered with hair, the ufe of the

;

razor was confined to his head alone

and
''

celebrates,

with

vifible

complacency, the fhaggy and populous

beard,

which he fondly

cherilhed, after the example of the philofophers of Greece.

Had

Julian confulted the fimple dldtates of reafon, the

the

firft

magiftrate of

Romans would have

of Darius.

fcarned the affedation of Diogenes, as well

as that

But the work of public reformation would have remained Imper- chamber
feeft,

of

if

Julian had only correded the abufes, without punilhing the

crimes,

of

his

predeceflbr's

reign.

"

We

are

now

delivered,"

fays he, in a familiar letter to

one of

"

now

furprifmgly delivered from the

we are voracious jaws of the Hydra '*.

his intimate friends,
torn.
ii.

"

" In the Mifopogon (p. 338, 339.) he draws a very fingular pifture of himfelf, and the following words are ftrangely charafteriftic; atiTo; ir^oaiBtixa Toi /SaOij tutoh waywra
ravTct. TCI
J,cxf*>)
.
. .

vien,

p. 94.).

Like him,

have
;

contented myfelf with a tranfient allufion

but the
^'
little

animal, which Julian names,

is

beall familiar to

man, and
v'J'^ai,

iignifies love.

iia^tmrm
Br^iiii'.

an'/oy-cii

rm

fSufi^-v 07Tri^

it

Julian, epiil. xxiii. p. 389.

7rc,^tlXpa.^o^

He

ufes the

Ti

The

friends of the
in the

la Bleterie adjured

him,

Abbe de name of the

this paffage,

words
friend

in

writing to

his

French nation, not to tranflate

Hermogenes, who, like himfelf, was converfant with the Greek poets.

fo ofienfive to their delicacy (Hill,

de Jo-

"

do

; ;

44
"
T

THE DECLINE AND TALL

tlo

CHAP.
s
.

not

mean

to apply that epithet to

my

brother Conftantlus.

'^

"
*'

He

13,

no more;

may

the earth he light on his head!

But

his

artful

and cruel favourites fludied to deceive and exafperate a prince,

" \vhore natural mildnefs cannot be praifed without fome efforts of

" adulation. It is not, howevei:, my- intention, that even thofe men " ihould be oppreffed: they are accufed, and they fhall enjoy the

"

benefit of a fair

and Impartial

trial."

To

conduct

this enquiry,

Julian

named

fix

judges of the higheft rank in the

ftate

and army

and

as

he wifhed to efcape the reproach of condemning his perfonal

enemies, he fixed this extraordinaiy tribunal at Chalcedon, on the

Afiatic fide of the

Bofphorus

and transferred

to the commiiTioners
final

an abfolute power to pronounce and execute their

without delay,
<:xercifed

fentence,

and without appeal.

The

office

of prefident was
a fecoftd Salluft

by the venerable

pra^fect of the Eaft,

whofe

virtues conciliated the efteem of

Greek

fophifls,

and of Chrif-

-tian bifliops.

He

was

affifted

by the eloquent Mamertinus *', one of

is

the confuls eleft, v/hofe merit

;evidence of his
.giftrates

loudly celebrated by the doubtful

own

applaufe.

But the

civil

wifdom of two ma-

was overbalanced by the

ferocious violence of four generals,

Nevitta, Agilo, Jovlnus, and Arbetlo.

Arbetio,

whom

the pubUc

would have feen with

leaders of the Jovian

lefs fm"prife at

the bar than on the bench,

;

was

fuppofed to poifefs the fecret of the commiffion

the

armed and angry

and Herculian bands encompaffed the tribunal

alternately fvvayed

and the judges were

by the laws of

juftice,

and

by
*

the clamours of faction ^\

The two

Salhifts,

the prrsfefl of Gaul,

'''

Mamertinus
on a
&c.

praifes the
offices

emperor

(xi. i.)

of the Eaft, muft be carefully diftinguiflied (Hill:, des Empereurs, torn. iv.

and the

prjefcft

for beftowing the

Prcefeft
grity,

of Treafurer and
firmnefs, inte-

man of wifdom,
like

p. 696.).

have ufed the furnamc of 5^convenient epithet.

himfelf.

Yet Aramianus

fai/j, as a

The

fecond

ranks him (xxi.

Julian,
*^

Salluft extorted the efteem of the Chriftians

1.) among the minifters of quorum merita norat et fidem.

themfelves

and Gregory Nazianzen, who

his

The

proceedings of
related by

this

chamber of
(xxii.
c.

condemned

religion, has celebrated his

p. 90.).

juftice are

Ammianus

3.),

virtues (Orat.

iii.

See a curious note

and praifed by Libanius (Orat. Parent,

p. 299, 300).

74.

of the Abbe de
P- 3^3-

la Bleterie,

Vie dc julien,

The

OF THE
The

ROMAN
who had
r
1

EMPIRE.
fo lone; abufed the favour

345
of
"

chamberlain Eufebius,
r

C H A
.

P.
'

Conuantius, expiated, by an ignominious death, the infolence, the

corruption, and cruelty or his lervile reign.
1
1

r-i^i

he executions of Paul
alive)

^ T^

Punifhment
of the inno'

and Apodemius
as an inadequate

(the

former of

whom

was burnt

were accepted
fo

'

pu"[ty"

atonement by the widows and orplians of

many

hundred Romans,
dered.

whom
to

thofe legal tyrants

had betrayed and mur-

But

Juftice herfelf (if

we may
blood

ufe the pathetic expreffion of

Ammianus ^^) appeared

lurer of the empire
;

weep over
his

the fate of Urfulus, the trea-

and

accufed the

ingratitude

of

Julian,

whofe

'

diftrefs

had been feafonably relieved by the intrepid

liberality

of that honeft minifter.

The

rage of the foldiers,

whom

he had provoked by' his indifcretion, was the caufe and the excufe of
his death
;

and the emperor, deeply wounded by

his

own

reproaches

and thofe of the public, offered fome confolation

Urfulus,

to the family

of

by the

reftitution

of his confifcated fortunes.

Before the

end of the year in which they had been adorned with the enfigns of
the prefecture and confulfhip
to implore the
^*,

Taurus and Florentius were reduced

clemency of the Inexorable tribunal of Chalcedon.

banifhed to Vercellse In Italy, and a fentence of
latter.
:

The former was

death was pronounced againft the

wife prince fhould

have rewarded the crime of Taurus

the faithful minifter,

rebel,

when

he was no longer able to oppofe the progrefs of a

refuge
in

had taken

the court of his benefactor

and

his

lawful fovereign.

But the

guilt

of Florentius juftified the feverity of the judges; and his

efcape ferved to difplay the

magnanimity of Julian ; who nobly checked

the interefted diligence of an informer, and refufed to learn

*^

what place

Urfuli vero

necem

ipfa

mihi videtur
his

the public was furprifed and fcandalized to

fiefTe juftitia.

Libanius,

who imputes

hear Taurus
his

fummoned

as a criminal

under

death to the foldiers, attempts to criminate the count of the largeffes.

the confulfhip of Taurus.

The

funnions of the enfuing

colleague Florentius was probably detill

Such refpeft was ftill entertained for the venerable names of the commonwealth, that

**

layed
year.

the

commencement of

Vol.

II.

concealed

346

THE DECLINE AND FALL

concealed the wretched fugitive from his juft refcntment
"'.

CHAP,

Some
**

months

after the tribunal

of Chalcedon had been diflblved, the pras-

torian vicegerent of Africa, the notary Gaudentius, and Artemius

duke of Egypt, were executed

at

Antioch.

Artemius had reigned

;

the cruel and corrupt tyrant of a great province

Gaudentius had

long pradtifed the

arts

of calumny againft the innocent, the virtuous^

himfelf.

and even the perfon of Julian

their trial

Yet the circumftances of

and condemnation were

fo unfkilfully

managed, that thefe

wicked men obtained, in the public opinion, the glory of fuffering

for the obftinate loyalty with

which they had fupported the caufe of

to enjoy

Conftantius.
adl of oblivion

The
;

reft

of his fervants were protedled by a general

left

and they were

with impunity the bribes

which they had accepted,

prefs the friendlefs.
ciples of policy,

either to defend the opprefled, or to

op-

This meafure, which, on the foundeft prindeferve our approbation,

may

was executed

in a

manner which feemed to degrade the majefty of the throne. Jullaa was tormented by the importunities of a multitude, particularly of
Egyptians,

who
;

loudly redemanded the

;

gifts

which they had impru-

dently or illegally beftowed

he forefaw the endlefs profecution of

vexatious

fuits

and he engaged a promlfe, which ought always to

if

have been facred, that

they would repair to Chalcedon, he would

meet them

in perfon, to hear

and determine
llTLJud

their complaints.

But

as foon as they

were landed, he

an abfolute order, which pro-

hibited the v/atermen from transporting

any Egyj^tian
on the

to CoaftantiAfiatlc Ihore,

nople
till

and thus detained

his dlfappolnted clients

their patience

and money being

utterly exhaufted,

they were

*'

Ammian.
fee

XX. 7.

tenipted the

**

For the guilt and punlfhment of A- Julian ^Epift. x. p. 379.), (xxii. 6. and Vilef. ad It
"

honour him

as a martyr.

Greek and Latin churches to But as e<.clefiailihe was not only a tynot altogether eafy
Tilleit is

mius,

i^nd

cal hiftory attefts, that

Amniianus

The
has

rnnt, but an Arian,

merit of Artemius,

who

demolifh;

mples,

to juftify this indifcreet promotion.

and was put

to death

by an

apuiiate,

mont,

Mem.

Ecclef. torn. vii. p. 1319.

obliged

OF THE
fi7

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
to their native

347
coun-

oLliged to return with indignant

try
'.

murmurs

chap.

..-^
fpies,

XXII.

The numerous army of

by

of agents, and informers, enlifted Clemency

'^"*

of

Conftantius to fecure the repofe of one man, and to interrupt that

of millions, was immediately difbandcd by his generous fucceflbr.

Julian
his

was flow

in his fufpicions,

and gentle
refult

in his punifliments

and

contempt of treafon was the

of judgment, of vanity, and

of courage.

Confcious of fuperior merit, he was perfuaded that few

among
his
life,

his fubjefts

would

dare, to

meet him in the

field,

to attempt

or even to feat themfelves on his vacant throne.

fallies

The

phi-

lofopher could excufe the hafty

of difcontent

and the hero

could defpife the ambitious projedls, which furpaffed the fortune or

the
abilities

of the rafh confpirators.

citizen of
;

Ancyra had pre-

pared for his

own

ufe a purple garment

and

this indifcreet aftion,

which, under the reign of Conftantius, would have been confidered

as a capital offence
'',

was reported

to Julian

by the
after

officious

impor-

tunity of a private enemy.

The monarch,
rival,

making fome in-

quiry into the rank and charader of his

difpatched the informer

with a prefent of a pair of purple

cence of his Imperial habit.

flippers, to

complete the magnifi-

more dangerous confpiracy was

to afllxflinate

formed by ten of the domeftic guards, who had refolved

Julian in the
field
;

of exercife near Antioch.

Their intemperance rein chains to the prefence

vealed their guilt

and they were conducted

of

their injured fovereign,

who,

after a lively reprefentation

infliead

of the

wickednefs and folly of their enterprife,

ture,

of a death of tor-

which they deferved and expelled, pronounced a fentence of

and

*' See

cum

Ammian. xxii. 6. and Valef. ad lothe Codex Theodofianus, J. ii.

i.

tit.xxxix. leg. i.;

tarv, torn.
''*

p. 218,

and Godefroy's ad locum.

Commen-

fuppofing, that aftions the moft indifferent in our eyes might excite, in a Roman mind, the idea of guilt and danger. This ftrange apology is fupported by a llrange mifappre-

The
fur

prefident iVIontefquieu (Confiderala

henfion of the Englifli laws,

"

chez une na-

Grandeur, &c. des Romains, tions c. xiv. in his works, tom. iii. p. ^^S, ^^g.) excufes this minute and abfiird tyranny, by

" "

tion

oil il eft

defendude

boLre alafante

d'une certaine perfonne."

exile

348

THE DECLINE AND FALL

exile agalnft the

CHAP.
XXII.
<

two

principal offenders.

The only

Inftance in

which

'

Julian feemed to depart from his accuftomed clemency,

was the exe-

cution of a

rafli

youth,

who

with a feeble hand had afpired to feize

the reins of empire.

But

that

youth was the fon of Marcellus, the

firft

general of cavalry,

who,

in the

campaign of the Gallic war,

republic.

had deferted the ftandard of the Csfar, and the

confound the crime of the fon and of the father
ciled

Without

appearing to indulge his perfonal refentment, Julian might eafily

;

but he was recon-

by the
''.

diftrefs

of Marcellus, and the liberality of the emperor

endeavoured to heal the

of juflice
His love of freedom, and
the republic.

wound which had been

inflicted

by the hand
''".

Julian was not infenfible of the advantages of freedom

his ftudies
life

From
:

he had imbibed the

fpirit

of ancient fages and heroes

;

his

and fortunes had depended on the caprice of a tyrant

his pride

and when

he afcended the throne,

refledion, that the flaves

was fometimes mortified by the

not dare to cenfure his defedts,
^'.

who would

were not worthy

to applaud his virtues

He

fincerely abhorred

the fyftem of Oriental defpotifm, which Diocletian, Conftantine, and

the patient habits of fourfcore years, had eftablifhed in the empire.

A motive

of fuperflition prevented the execution of the defign which of relieving his head from the
title

Julian had frequently meditated,

weight of a coftly diadem

Dominus^ or Lord^
a

'^
:

but he abfolutely refufed the

of

word which was grown

^'

fo familiar to the ears

of
The clemency of Julian, and the confpiracy which was formed againft his life at Antioch, are defcribed by Ammianus (xxii. 9, 10. and Valef. ad loc), and Libanius
(Orat. Parent,
'"
c.

^9

That fentiment

is

expreffed almoft in

the words of Julian himfelf.

10.
^-

Ammian.

xxii.

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

99. p. 323.).
to fome, fays Ariftotle

who mentions
(as
yj'yjTU'v

c. 95. p. 320.), the wiih and defign of Julian,

According

infinuates, in myfterious

language
h Ki^^.v^v),

(fcv

wru

he

quoted by Julian ad Themift. p. 261.), the form of abfolute government, the w^f/is

.... aXX

V.V

a.u.nv'^D

that the

emperor was reftrained by fome particular

revelation.
'^

Both the prince and the philofopher chufe, however, to involve this eternal truth in artful and lapao-iVia,
is

contrary to nature.

Julian in Mifopogon, p. 343.

As he

boured obfcurity.

never abolifhed, by any public law, the proud appellations oi Deffot, or Dominus, they are
ftUl

OF THE
miliating origin.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
Its

349
and hu-

of the Romans, that they no longer remembered

fervile

The

office,

or rather the name, of conful,

.

was

-v

f" X.a11.

^-

-^

cherifhed

by a prince who contemplated with reverence the

;

ruins of

the repubhc

and the fame behaviour which had heen affumed by

the prudence of Auguftus, was adopted

incUnation.
confuls,

by Julian from choice and

On

the calends of January, at break of day, the

new

A. D. 363,

Mamertinus and Nevitta, haftened

to the palace to falute the

emperor.

As foon

as

he was informed of their approach, he leaped

advanced to meet them, and compelled the

from

his throne, eagerly

blufhing magiftrates to receive the demonftrations of his affedted humility.

From

the palace they proceeded to the fenate.

their litters
;

The emperor,

on

foot,

marched before

and the gazing multitude adfecretly

mired the image of ancient times, or

blamed a condud:,
'*.

which, in their eyes, degraded the majefty of the purple

behaviour of Julian was uniformly fupported.

But the

During the games

of the Circus, he had, imprudently or defignedly, performed the

manumiflion of a

flave in the prefence

of the conful.

The moment

he was reminded that he had

magiflrate, he

trefpaffed

on the
pay a

jurifdidtion of another

condemned himfelf

to

fine

of ten pounds of

gold

and embraced

this public occafion

of declaring to the world,-

that he

was

fubjedt, like the reft of his fellow-citizens, to the laws",,

and even to the forms, of the

ftill

republic.

The

fpirit

of his adminicondemned by

extant on his medals (Ducange,

:

Fam.

"'

Perfonal fatire v/as

the.

and the private difBvzantin. p. 38, 39;) plcafure which he afFefted to exprefs, only '^ ,. /L ir gave a dinerent tone to the iervihty of the
1

laws of the twelve tables

.
,

Si
,
'

male condident
,.^."'^

.....

court.
.
.

The Abbe de
..

-a

quem

quis carmm.i,

la Bleterie

(Hift.

de
n

'

99 102.) has cunoully traced the origin and progress of the word Dominus under the Imperial government.
jovien, torn.
11.

p.

ladiciumque. ^
Julian (in Mifopogon, p. 337.) owns himfcif and the Abbe de la Ble;
(Hift.

fubjefl to the law

terie

^+

Ammian.

xxii. 7.

The

conful

Mamerce-

de Jovien, torn.

ii.

p. 92.)

has

linus (in Panegyr. Vet. xi. 2S, 29, ^o.)

eagerly embraced a declaration fo agreeable

to his
fpirit,

lebrates the aufpicious day, like an eloquent

flave, allonilhed

own

and intoxicated by the con-

fyftem, and indeed to of the Imperial conftitution.

tlie

true

defcenfion of his mailer.

ftraticn,,

35<^

THE DECLINE AND EALL

ftratlon,

CHAP.
XXII.

and hb regard

for the place

of his nativity, induced Julian

'

to confer
leges,

on the fenate of Conftantinople, the fame honours, priviwhicii were

legal ficlion
ftill

and authority,

enjoyed by the fenate of

ancient

Rome
Eaft
:

'".

was introduced,

and gradually

eftabliflied,

that

one half of the national council had migrated

into the

and the defpotic

fucceflbrs

of Julian,

accepting

the

title

of Senators,

acknowledged themfelves the members of a

to

refpedable body,

which was permitted

reprefent the

majefty

of the

Roman

name.

From

Conftantinople, the attention of the

monarch was extended

to the municipal fenates of the provinces.

He

abolifhed,

by repeated edids,

the unjuft and pernicious exfo

emptions,
fervice

which had withdrawn

;

many

idle

citizens

from the

of their country
duties,

and by impofing an equal

diftribution
or,

of public

he reftored the ftrength,

the fplendour,
"',

ac-

cording to the glowing expreflion of Libanius

His care of the Grecian
cities.

the foul of the

expiring

cities

of his empire.

The

venerable age of Greece excited

the moft tender compaffion in the

into rapture

mind of
;

Julian

which kindled
;

when he

recolledted the gods

;

the heroes

and the men,

lateft

fuperior to heroes and to gods

pofterity the
virtues.
cities

who had

bequeathed to the

monuments of

their genius,

or the example of their

He

relieved the diftrefs,

''.

and reftored the beauty, of the

of Epirus and Peloponnefus

;

Athens acknowledged him for

her benefactor

Argos, for her deliverer.

The

pride of Corinth,

again rifmg from her ruins with the honours of a

'''

Roman
et
fiti

colony,
anhelan-

Zofimus,
11

1.

iii.

p. 158.
"i-'^X" '''n^su? i!-iv.

'^

Quae pauIo ante arida

TV5C /3ot;^i),- ta-x,"^

See

tia

vifebantur, ea nunc perlui, mundari,

;

mala;tis

Libanius

(Or.it. Parent, c. 71. p.

296),

Am-

dere

Fora, Deambulacra, Gymnafia,

;

mianus
(1. xij.

(xxii. 9.),
tit. i.

leg-

50 55),
p.

and the Theodoiian Code with Godefroy's

et gaudentibus populis frequ^ntari

tos, et celebrari veteres, et

dies fef-

Commentary
the whole
fl

(torn. iv.

390 402.).
llil!

Yet

novos in honorem principis conlecrari (Mamertin. xi. 9.). He

particularly
lis,

fubjed of the Curi/s,

not'.vith-

nding very ample materials,

remains

reftored the city of Nicopoand the Acliac games, which had beea

the moll oblcure in the legal hiftory of the empire.

inilituted

by Auguftus.

exacted

OF
exaded
a tribute

THE ROMAN EMPIRE,

republics, for the purpofe of de-

351

from the adjacent

CHAP,

fraying the games of the Ifthmus, which were celebrated in the

phitheatre with the hunting of bears and panthers.

am- vv-

From

this tri-

bute the
rited

cities

of

Elis,

of Delphi, and of Argos, which had inheoffice

from

their

remote anceftors the facred

of perpetuating the

Olympic, the Pythian, and the Nemean games, claimed a juft exemption.

The immunity of
;

Elis

and Delphi was refpedled by the

Corinthians
preffion
;

but the poverty of Argos tempted the infolence of opfeeble complaints of

its

and the

deputies were filenced

by

the decree of a provincial magiftrate,

who

feems to have confulted

refided.

only the

intereft

of the

capital,

in

which he

Seven years
to a

after this fentence, Julian

" allowed the caufe

to be referred

fuperior tribunal

and

his

eloquence was interpofed, moil probably

city,

with fuccefs, in the defence of a

of

which had been the royal

feat

Agamemnon ^, and had

^\

given to Macedonia a race of kings and

conquerors

The
the

laborious adminiftratlon of military and civil

in proportion to the extent

affl\irs,

which

juu^n^ 3^
'?'''

were multiplied
abilities

of the empire, exercifed

*"^

of Julian; but he frequently affumed the two charafters

of Orator " and of Judge ^\ which are almoft

unknown

to the

modern

'5

Julian. Epift- XXXV. p.

407 411.

This

maybe
a
ftrift

furpicious; yet

it

was allowed,

after

epiftle,

which

illuftrates the

declining age of

is omitted by the Abbe de la Bleand (trungely disfigured by the Latin tranilator, who, on rendering aTi^^^, iriiuturn, and iiiDTKi, populus, direftly contradifts

Greece,
;

enquiry by the judges of the Olympic games (Herodot. 1. v. c. 22.), at a time

terie

when

the

Macedonian kings were

obfcure'

ard unpopular in Greece.

When
it

the Acha;an

league declared againil Philip,

was thought
fliould re-

the fenfe of the original.

""

He

reigned in Mycenae, at the dillance

or fix miics, from

decent that the deputies of Argos tire (T. Liv. xxxii. 22.).

of

fifty ftadia,

Argos

but

"
who

His eloquence

is

celebrated by Liba-

thofe cities which alternately flouriihed, are

nius (Orat. Parent,

confounded by the Greek poets.

1. viii.

Strabo,

75, 76. p. 300, 301.), diflinftly mentions the orators of Homer.

(1. iii.

c.

p. 579.

edit.

Amftel. 1707.

Socrates

c. i.)

has rafhly afierted that

Canon. Chron. p. 421. This pedigree from Temenus and Hercules

Marfliam,

"

Julian was the only prince, fince Julius Csefar,

who harangued
3

the fenate.

All

the

predeceffors

3-

THE DECLINE AND FALL

tlern fovcreigns

CHAP,

of Europe.
firft

The

arts

of perfuafion,

fo diligently

cultivated

by

the

Ccefars,

were negledled by the military ignofucceffors

;

rance and Afiatic pride of

to

tlieir

and

if

they condefcended
treated with filent

harangue the

foldiers,

difdain the fenators,

fenate,

whom they feared, they whom they defpifed. The

affemblies

of the
as

which Conftantius had avoided, were confidered by Julian

with the moft propriety,
republican, and the talents of a rhetorician.

the place where he could exhibit,

the

maxims of a

He

alter-

nately pradliled, as in a fchool of declamation, the feveral

modes

of praiie, of cenfure, of exhortation ; and his friend Libanius has

remarked, that the ftudy of

concife ftyle of Menelaus,

Homer

taught

him

to imitate the fimple,

the copioufnefs of Neftor,

whofe words

defcended like the flakes of a winter's fnow, or the pathetic and forcible eloquence of Ulyfles.

The

fundlions of a judge, which are

fometimes incompatible with thofe of a prince, were exercifed by

Julian, not only as a duty, but as an

amufement

and although he
his Praetorian
feat

might have

trufted the integrity

and difcernment of

prsefeds, he often placed himfelf

by

their fide

on the

of judg-

ment.

The

acute penetration of his

mind was agreeably occupied

in detecting

and defeating the chicanery of the advocates,

fafts,

who

la-

boured to difguife the truth of

laws.

and

to pervert the fenfe

ftation,

of the

He

fometimes forgot the gravity of his

afked indif-

creet or unfeafonable queflions,

his voice,

and betrayed, by the loudnefs of

body, the earneft vehemence with

and the agitation of

his

which he maintained
predeceflbrs of

his opinion againft the judges, the advocates,

xili. ^.),

Nero

(Tacit. Annal.

and

his pidlure, if it flatters the perfon, ex-

and many of

his fucceflbrs, pofleffed the fa;

preffes

at

leaft

the

duties,

of the Judge,
iv.

culty of fpeaking in public

and

it

might be
fre-

Gregory Nazianzen

(Orat.

p.

120.),

proved by various examples, that they quently exercifed it in the fenate.

who

fnppreffes the virtues,

faults,

and exaggerates
;

even the venial

of the apoftate

tri-

" Ammianus
ftated the merits

(xxii.

10.) has impartially

his judicial
c.

umphantly
fit

aiks.

and defefts of

to be feated

Whether fuch a judge v/as between Minos and Rhadafields

.'

proceedings. 1. p.
3
1

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

90,

manthus, in the Elyfian

J, &c.) has feen only the fair fide.

and

OF THE
and
their clients.

ROMAN
knowledge of
even
to

EMPIRE.
his

;i^;^

But

his

own temper prompt- ^ ^

the reproof of
to
his

-'^

''

ed .him to
friends

encourage,
;

and

folicit,

v-

and minifters

and whenever they ventured

oppofe the
obferve the
decrees of

irregular failles

of his paffions,

the fpedtators could

fhame, as well as the gratitude, of their monarch.

Julian were almoft always founded

The

on the

principles of juftice;

and

he had the firmnefs to

refift

the

two

mofl:

dangerous temptations,

which

aflault the tribunal

of a fovereign, under the fpecious forms

of compaflion and equity.

He

decided the merits of the caufe with;

out weighing the circumftances of the parties

and the poor,

whom

he wiflied

to relieve,

were condemned

to fatisfy the jufh

demands of
the judge

a noble and wealthy adverfary.

He carefully diftinguilhed

from the

legillator*^;

and though he meditated a necefTary reformjurlfprudence, he pronounced fentence accordliteral

.

ation of the

Roman

ing to the
magiftrates

llrift

and

interpretation of thofe laws,

which the

were bound

to execute,

and the fubjefts

to obey.
charac-.

The
and
caft

generality of princes, if they were ftripped of their purple, His

naked into the world, would immediately fink to the loweft

fociety,

rank of

without a hope of emerging from their

in

obfctirity.

But the perfonal merit of Julian was,

of
his fortune.

fome meafure, independent

;

Whatever had been

lively wit,

his choice of life

by the

force

of intrepid courage,
have obtained, or

and intenfe application, he would

at leaft
;

he would have deferved, the higheft horaifed himfelf to the

nours of his profeffion

and Julian might have

ftate in

rank of minifter, or general, of the

vate citizen.

which he was born

a prihis

If the jealous caprice' of

;

power had difappointed

expectations
^*

if

he had prudently declined the paths of greatnefs,

p. 329 336.) has chofen one of thefe laws to give an idea of Julian's Latin flyle, which is forcible and elaborate, but lefs pure

Of

the laws which Julian ena>?led in a

fifty-

ii,

rtign of fixteen months,

four have been

admitted into the Codes of Theodofius and (Gothofred. Chron. Legum, p. Juftinian.

than his Greek.

6467.)

The Abbe

de

la Bleterie

(torn.

Vol. IL

the

354

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the

CHAP,
XXII.

emplovment of the fame

immortal fame.

talents

in ftudious

foUtudc,

would

have placed, beyond the reach of kings, his prefent happinefs and
his

When we

infpedt,

with minute, or perhaps

malevolent attention, the portrait of Julian, fomething feems wanting to the grace and perfection of the whole figure.

His genius

was

lefs

powerful and fublime than that of Csefar

nor did he poflefs

virtues

the confummate

prudence of Auguftus.

The

of Trajan
is

appear more Heady and natural, and the philofophy of Marcus

more fimple and

firmnefs,

confiftent.

Yet Julian fuftained adverfity with

After an interval of one
Sevei-us, the

and profperity with moderation.

beheld an emperor
his pleafures
fpirit,
;

hundred and twenty years from the death of Alexander

Romans
duties

and

revive the

of his

who made no diftinftion between his who laboured to relieve the diftrefs, and to fubjedls; and who endeavoured always to
and happinefs with
virtue.

connect authority with merit,

Even

fadion, and religious fadlion, was conftrained to acknowledge the

fuperiority of his genius, in peace as well as in
fefs,

war

and to con-

with a

figh, that the apoftate Julian

was

a lover of his country,

and that he deferved the empire of the world

"
-

'\

Conditor

et

Duftor fortiflimus armis legum celeberrimus ore ma;

Perfidus ille

DeD,

fed

non

et perfidus orbi.

Prudent. Apotheofis, 450, &c.

niique

Confultor patris
bendre
Religionis
;

fed

non confultor ha-

The

confcioufnefs of a generous fentiment feems to have raifed the Chriftian poet above
his ufual mediocrity.

anians tercentum luilliaDivum.

CHAP.

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE,

355

H A

P.

xxiir.

Tl:ie

Eeligiojt
to

of Julian.
refi07'e

Univerfal
7'eform
the

T'oleration.

He

at-

tempts

and

to rebuild the

Temple of ferufalem.

fecutim of the Chriflians,

Mutual Zeal and

Pagan IVorpip

His artful PerInjuflice.

T
may

HE

charadter of Apoflate has injured the reputation of Julian

c
,

H A
XXIII.

P.
^

and the enthufiafm which clouded

.

his virtues, has exaggerated

the real and apparent magnitude of his faults.

reprefent

Our

partial
.

ignorance

Religion of
Julian.

him

as a philofophic

monarch,

who

ftudied to protect,
;

with an equal hand, the religious factions of the empire

to allay the

and

theological fever

which had inflamed the minds of

the people, from the edicts of Diocletian to the exile of Athanafius.

more

accurate view of the charadter and condudl of Julian, will

remove

this favourable prepoffeflion for a prince

who

did not efcape

the general contagion of the times.

tage of comparing the pidlures

We

enjoy the fmgular advanhis

which have been delineated by

fondefl admirers, and his implacable enemies.

are faithfully related
tial fpetfliator

The

actions of Julian

by a judicious and candid

life

hiftorian, the

impar-

of his
is

and death.

The unanimous

evidence of his

contemporaries

confirmed by the public and private declarations of

the emperor himfelf ;

and

his various writings cxprefs the

uniform

tenor of his religious fentiments, which policy would have prompted

him

to diffemble rather than to affedt.

A devout and
2

fmcerc attach-

ment

for the gods of

Athens and Rome, conftitutcd the ruling paflion

of

356

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of Julian
' ;

CHAP,
^,
.-,
<

the powers of an enlightened underftanding were betrayed

fuperftitious prejudice
;

and corrupted by the influence of

and the

phantoms which
real

exifted only in
effect

the

mind of the emperor, had a

and pernicious

on the government of the empire.

The

vehement
turned the
ftate

zeal of the Chriftians,

altars,

who

defpifed the worfhip,

and over-

of thofe fabulous

deities,

engaged

their votary in a

of irreconcilable hoftility with a veiy numerous party of his

fubjeds; and he was fometimes tempted, by the defire of vidory, or

the fliame of a repulfe, to violate the laws of prudence, and even of
juftice.

The triumph

of the party, which he defcrtcd and oppofed,

has fixed a ftain of infamy on the

cefsful apoftate has
tives,

name of Julian

and the unfuc-

been overwhelmed with a torrent of pious invec"

of which the fignal was given by the fonorous trumpet

'.

of

Gregory Nazianzen

The
fliort

interefting nature of the events

which

were crowded into the

juft

reign of this alive emperor, deferve a

and circumftantial

narrative.

His motives,

his counfels,

and

his

adlions, as far as they are conneQied with the hiftory of religion, will

be the
His edutaapoftacy

fubjecfi

of the prefent chapter.

The

caufe of his flrange and fatal apoftacy,

life,

may be

derived from

^^^ early period of his

'

when he was
own
exdifcourfe

left

an orphan in the hands

that he has

Ihall tranfcribe

fome of

his

eludes with a hold afiurance,

erefted a

preffions

from

fliort

religious

monument not

lefs

durable, and

which the Imperial pontiff compofed to cenfure the bold impiety of a Cynic: a?^' tf^w;
UTu
Sri

much more
Hercules.
p. 50.
^

portable, thr.n the columns of

See Greg. Nazianzen, Orat.

p. 134.

iii.

Ti

Tt; BiS;
iixt

7[i(p^ixx.,

xai

(p,>.u,

fA.cn

0-fGu,

iv.

xa> a^oftai,
i!0"S75

nmh
010!

a777\a;
7rj(i5

tx

Tciat;Ta Kc:a-/ic,

See this long invcftive, which has been

into
torn.

T15 *a>
iT^ci;

aya&ac hcrmorx-r, wjo;

injudicioufly d.vided

two orations, in

^iJjic-a'c^s;,

TrccTi^ac,

woo; xrXiJ.ova.c.

Orat.
to the

Gregory's
Paris,

Works,
It

vii.

p. 212.

The

variety

and copioufnefs of

1630.

i. p. ^g J34' was publiftied by Gregory

the
^

Greek tongue feems inadequate

fervour of his devotion.

The

orator, with

fome eloquence, much

cnthufiafm, and more vanity, addredes his

difcourfe to heaven

and his friend Bafil (iv. p. 133.), about fix months after the death of Julian, when his remains had been carried to Tarfus (iv. p. 120.); but while Jovian was ftill on the
throne
rived

angels,

to the living
all,

and earth, to men and and the dead ; and

(=1

above

to

the great Conftantius

nc

have defrom a French verfion and remarks, printed at Lyons J73J.

(iii.

p. 54. iv. p. 117.). I

afliilance

much

Kicrdwic,

an odd Pag.an expreinon).

He con-

of

OF THE
ftantius, the

ROMAN
.

EMPIRE.
Chrifl:

ZS7
and of Con-

of the murderers of his family.

ideas of flavery

The names of
.

CHAP.
XXin.

and of religion, were foon affociated

fufceptible of the niofl: lively

*-v

-*

in a youthful imagination,

which was

impreffions.
bifliop

The
till

care of his infancy

*,

was entrufted

to

Eufebius,

of Nicomedia
;

who was

related to

him on

the lide of his

mother

and

Julian reached the twentieth year of his age, he

received from his Chriilian preceptors, the education not of a hero,

but of a

faint.

The emperor,

lefs

jealous of a heavenly, than of an

earthly crown, contented himfelf wath the imperfedl charader of a

catechumen, while he beftowed the advantages of baptifm

'

on the

nephews of Conftantine
offices

*.

They were even

admitted to the inferior

of the

ecclefiaftical

order; and Juhan publicly read the

Holy
faireft

Scriptures in

the church of Nicomedia.

The
to

fludy of religion,

which they
fruits

affiduoufly cultivated, appeared

'.

produce the

of faith and devotion

They

prayed, they fafted, they dif-

trlbuted alms to the poor, gifts to the clergy,

and oblations
St.

to the
at

tom.bs of the martyrs

C-^farea,

and the fplendid monument of

leaft

Mamas,

was

eredied, or at
'.

was undertaken, by
and
mean

the joint la-

bour of Gallus and Julian

bifliops

They

refpeftfully converfed with the

folicited

who were eminent

for fuperior fandtity,

the

* Nicomedic-e

ab Eufebio educatus Epifco-

Chriflian (he mufl

a fincere one)

till

po,

quem

gcne're longius contingebat.

9.)

(Am-

the twentieth year of his age.

'

mian.

xxii.

Julian never exprcTcs any

See his Chiiftian, and even ecclefiaftical

(iii.

gratitude towards that Arian prelate; but he

celebrates his preceptor,
nius,

education, in Gregory
(1. iii. c.

p. j8.). Socrates

and defcribes his which infpired his pupil with a paffionate admiration for the genius, and perhaps the religion, of Homer. Mifopogon, p- 351, 352.
s

eunuch Mardomode of education,

tl\e

and Sozomen, J. v. c. 2.). He efcaped very narrowly from being a biftiop, and perhaps a faint. ^ The fhare of the work which had been allotted to Gallus, was profecuted with vigour
i.},

Greg. Naz.

iii.

p. 70.

He

laboured to

^^'^

fuccefs

but the earth obftinately

re-

eftace that holy

mark

in the blood, perhaps

J<^ed

of a Taurobolium.

Baron. Annal. Ecclef.

T^
/

A. D. 361. N3,4.
e *
,
T Lr ir Juhan himfelf
,

lures

uAi Jthe Alexandrians

lEpift.

.-

li.

that

p. 11had Tbeen a he
,

N 4r4.) af.-

and fubverted the flruilures which '^'^^'^ impofed by the facrilegious hand of Julian. Greg. iii. p. 59, 60, 61. Such a partial earthquake, attefted by many living !. . u r ^ fpeftators, would form one of the clearell
r1 i

r nn. miracles in ecclefiaftical ftory.

J,

benedidion

358

THE DECLINE AND FALL

benedldtion of the

CHAP,
XXIII.

monks and

hermits,

who had
afcetic

introduced into
life'.

Cappadocia the vokmtaiy hardfliips of the

As the
difco-

two princes advanced towards

vered, in
ters.
tlieir

the years of

manhood, they

religious fentiments, the difference of their charac-

The

dull

and ohftinate undcrftanding of Gallus embraced,

dodtrines of Chriftianity
;

with implicit

zeal, the

which never in-

fluenced his condut, or moderated his palTions.

fition

The mild

difpo-

of the younger brother was

;

lefs

repugnant to the precepts of

gratified

the Gofpel

and

his adtive curiofity

might have been

by a

theological fyftem,

which explains the myfterious

effence

of the

Deity

and opens the boundlefs profpel of But the independent

fpirit

invifible

and future

worldi.
paffive

of Julian refufed to yield the

in the

and unrefifting obedience which was required, were impofed

name

of religion, by the haughty minifters of the church.

lative opinions

Their fpecu-

as pofitive laws,
;

and guarded by the

terrors of eternal punifliments

but while they prefcribed the rigid

ibrmulary of the thoughts, the words, and the actions of the young
prince; whilfl: they filenced his objections, and feverely checked the

freedom of

his enquiries,

they fecretly provoked his impatient genius

todifclaim the authority of his ecclefiaftical guides.

in the Lefler Afia, amidft the fcandals of the

He

was educated
'.

Arian controverfy

The
their

fierce contefts

of the Eaftern bilhops, the inceffant alterations

of their creeds, and the profane motives which appeared to adtuate

condudt, infenfibly flrengthened the prejudice of Julian, that
fo

they neither underftood nor believed the religion for which they
'

The fhilofopher (Fragment,

p. 288.) ri1.

'

See Julian apud Cyril.

p.

I.

vi.

p.

206.

dicules the iron-chains, &c. of thefe folitary fanatics (fee Tillemont, Mem. Ecclef. torn,
ix.
is

viii.

253. 262.

661, 662.), who had forgot that man by nature a gentle and fecial animal,
p.
(pvcr-t

" thofe not mourn " the dead man precifely in the vvay which " you approve." He fhews himfelf a tolefays he,

" You heretics who do

perfecute,"

j..f;.'j.iES

To?.iT.

^ta xxi

iiii^a.

The

rable theologian

Paa-an fuppofes, that becaufe they had renounced the gods, they were poflefled and

Chrillian Trinity

is

but he maintains that the not derived from the doc-

trine of Paul, of Jefus,

orofMofes.
fiercely

tormented by

evil

dsmons.

OF THE
fiercely contended.

ROMAN EMPIRE.
to the

359
C H A
p.
' j

Inftead of liftening to the proofs of Chriftianity

xxm.
"^

with that favourable attention -which adds weight

able evidence, he heard with fufpicion,

mod

refpeit-

and dlfputed with obllinacy

and acutenefs, the dotrines for which he already entertained an invincible averfion.

Whenever
on the

the

young

princes were direted to

com-

pofe declamations

fubjedt of the prevailing

controverfies,
;

Julian always declared himfelf the advocate of Paganifm

under the

fpecious excufe that, in the defence of the weaker caufe, his learn-

ing and ingenuity might

difplayed.

be

more advantageoufly

exercifed

and

was inverted with the honours of the purple. He embraces Julian was permitted to breathe the air of freedom, of literature, and ioL"^oVpa"
as Gallus

As foon

of Paganilm
tafte

".

The crowd of

fophlfts,

who were
;

attradled

by the

ganif^m.

and

liberality

of their royal pupil, had formed a

flril alliance

between the learning and the religion of Greece

and the poems of

Homer,

inftead

of being admired as the original productions of

human
by
the

genius,

were

ferioufly afcribed to the

heavenly infpiration of

Apollo and the mufes.

The

deities

of Olympus, as they are painted

the immortal bard, imprint themfelves on the minds

leaft addicfled to fuperftitious credulity.

which are
knowledge

Our

familiar

of their names and charadlers, their forms and attributes, fcems to

beftow on thofe airy beings a

real

and

fubftantial exiilence

and ths

pleafmg enchantment produces an imperfe<ft and momentary afTent

of the imagination to thofe
fables,

which

are the moft repugnant to

our reafon and experience.

ftance contributed
ficent temples of

In the age of Julian, every circum-

to prolong

and
;

fortify the illufion;

the magniartlfts

Greece and Afia

the works of thofe

v^'ha

had exprefled,
the poet; the
"
p.

in painting or in fculpturc, the divine conceptions of

pomp

of

feftivals

and
p.

facrifices;

the fuccefsful arts of

Maximo,

Libanius, Orat.

Parentalis,

c.

9,

10.
iii.

61.

Eunap. Vit.
Edit.

Sophift.

in

232, &c.

Greg. Nuzianzen,

Orat.

p. 68, 69, 70.

Commelin.

divination

360

THE DECLINE AND FALL

divination; the popular
the
traditions of
oracles

CHAP,

and prodigies;

and

ancient pradice

of two thoufand years.

The weaknefs of
of

polytheifm was, in fome meafure, excufed by the moderation

its

claims; and the devotion of the Pagans

"'.

was not incompatible

and

with the moft licentious fcepticifm

regular fyilem,

Inftead of an indivifible

which occupies the whole extent of the believing

and the fervant of the gods w^as
his religious faith.
at liberty

mind, the mythology of the Greeks was compofed of a thoufand

loofe

and

flexible parts,

to define the degree

and meafure of
for his

The

creed

which Julian adopted

Gofpel,
altars

own

ufe,

was of the

largeft

dimenfions

and, by a ftrange contradidion, he difdained the falutary yoke of the

whilfl;

he made a voluntary offering of his reafon on the

of Jupiter and Apollo.

One of

the orations of Julian

is

coni-e-

fecrated to the

honour of Cybele, the mother of the gods, who

facrifice,

quired from her effeminate priefts the bloody

fo

rafhly

performed by the madnefs of the Phrygian boy.

peror condefcends to
relate,

The

pious

em-

without a blufh, and without a fmile, the

voyage' of the goddefs from the fhores of Pergamus to the

mouth of

the Tyber; and the ftupendous miracle, which convinced the fenate

and people of

Rome that
'\

the

lump of

clay,

which

their ambafladors

had tranfported over the

and divine power
the public

feas,

was endowed with

this

life,

and fentiment,

For the truth of

prodigy, he appeals to

monuments of

the city; and cenfures, with

fome

acri-

mony,

the fickly and affedled tafte of thofe men,

'*.

who

impertinently
t,

derided the facred traditions of their anceftors

But
cleared her fame by difgracing
ladies,

" A modern philofopher has ingenioufly compared the different operation of theifm and polytheifm, v.ith regard to the doubt or conviilion which they produce in the human mind. See Hume's EfTays, vol. ii. p. 444
457. in 8vo edit. 1777. '^ The Idaean mother landed
about the
in

matron,
is

who

the graver

modefty of the Roman attelled by a cloud of witneflcs.

is

evidence
ferve

collected

Their by Drakeuborch (ad

:

Silium Italicum, xvii. 33.)

that Livy (xxix.

but we

may obthe

14.) Aides over

Italy

tranfaftion with difcreet ambiguity,

'* I

end of the fecond Punic war.

either virgin or

The

miracle of Claudia,

emphatical

cannot refrain from tranfcribing the words of Julian .fioi $1 ^o*a

:

OF THE ROPvlAN
But the devout philofopher,
encouraged,
the
privilege

MP

]:..

361
^
'

who

fmcerely embraced, and warmly

for

^
^

*-

the

iuperftition
liberal

of the people, referved

interpretation
;

himfelf

'^^"

of a

and

filently

withdrew

^ij;^

from

the foot of the altars into the fantuary of the temple.

The

extravagance of the Grecian mythology proclaimed with a clear and

audible voice,
that the pious enquirer, inftead of being fcandalized

or

fatisfied v/ith

the

literal fenfe,

ftiould diligently explore the occult

wifdom, which had been

under the mafk of
Platonic fchool
'*,

difguifed,

by

the prudence of antiquity,

folly

and of

fable ".

The

philofophers of the

Plotinus, Porphyry,

and the divine lamblichus, were

this

admired

as the mofl; fkilful matters

of

allegorical fcience,

which

laboured to foften and harmonize the deformed features ofpaganifm.

Julian himfelf,
fuis,

who was

directed in the myfterious purfuit

by JEdt-

the venerable fucceflbr of lamblichus, afpired to the pofleffion

if

of a treafure, which he efteemed,

rations, far

we may
'\

credit his
It

folemn aifevea treafure,

flat-

above the empire of the world

its

was indeed

which derived
ing

value only from opinion

and every artift,who

tered himfelf that he had extracted the precious ore from thefurrounddrofs, claimed

an equal right of ftamping the name and figure the

moft agreeable

to his peculiar fancy.

The
;

fable of

Atys and Cybele

had been already explained by Porphyry

i;
Tcl^Ei7l

but his labours ferved only

couIJ have thought ot inventing
tliefe

Tii-usi

iA,:i>^X!

rx ToiavTa J
[J.cVt

i toutoi^-i
vy^^f;

man
It.

alive

TOK

xofA-q/oif, ui>

TO '^vx^^ioTi ofiiAv
v.

<jh

kv ,(?;.;7ii.

Orat.

p. i6i.

Julian likewife

""

Eunapius has made

fophifts
:

the

declares his firm belief in the ancilia, the holy fliields,

Quirinal

hill

which dropt from heaven on the ; and pities the ftrange blindnefs

fubjed of a partial and fanatical hiftory and the learned Brucker (Hift. Philofoph. torn. ii.
p.

217

303.)

has employed
obfcure
lives,

much labour

to

of the Chriflians,
J

who

preferred the crofj to

illuftrate their

and incompre-

thefe celeflial trophies.

Apud

Cyril.

1.

vi.

p.

henfible doftrines.

94'5
_

"
See the principles of allegory, in Julian

Julian, Orat.

vil.

p.

222.

He

Avears

(Oru.
lefs

vii. p. 216. 222.). His reafoning is abfutd than that of fome modern theolo-

with the moft fervent and enthufiaftic devotion ; and trembles, left he Ihould betray too

much

gians,

an extravagant or contradiaory doarine mujl be divine ; fince no

afTert that

who

of thefe holy myfteries, which the profane might deride with an impious Sardonic laugh.

Vol.

II.

to

362
^
V

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^o
his

-V

vv^,,^'
-/

animate the pious induftry of Julian,

who

invented and publifhed

tale.

own

allegory of that ancient and myftic

This freedom of
ex-

interpretation,

which might
art.

gratify the pride of the Platonifts,

pofed the vanity of their

Without a tedious

detail, the

modern

reader could not form a juil idea of the ftrange allufions, the forced

etymologies, the folemn trifling, and the impenetrable obfcurity of

thefe fages,

who
were

profefled to reveal the fyftem of the univerfe.

As

the traditions of pagan mythology were varioufly related, the facred

interpreters
at liberty to feledtthe mofl;

convenient circumftances

and

as they tranflated
tjnj

an arbitrary cypher, they could extract from

to their favourite fyftem

any fable
religion

fenfe

which was adapted

of

and philofophy.

The

lafcivious

form of a naked Venus

precept, or

was tortured
fical

into the difcovery of

fome moral

fome phy-

truth

and the

caftration

of Atys explained the revolution of

the fun between the tropics, or the feparation of the

vice
Theological
fyftem of Julian.

human

foul from,

and

error ".

The
faith,

theological fyftem of Julian appears to have contained the

fublime and important pnnciples or

...

natural

.... religion.

i5ut as the

which

is

not founded on revelation, muft remain

deftitute

of any firm aflurance, the difciple of Plato imprudently relapfed into

the habits of vulgar fuperftiticn
;

and the popular and philofophic

'^

notion of the Deity feems to have been confounded in the practice,

the writings, and even in the

mind of Julian

The

pious emperor

acknowledged and adored the Eternal Caufe of the univerfe, to

"'

See the

fifth

oration of Julian.

But

all

the allegories which ever iflued from the Platonic fchool, are not worth the ftiort poem

of Catullus on the fame extraordinary fubjeft. The tranfition of Atys, from the wildell enthufiafm to fober pathetic complaint, for his
irretrievable lofs, muft infpire a
pity, an

'' The true religion of Julian may be deduced from the Csfars, p. 30S. with Spanheim's notes and illullrations, from the fragrments in Cyril, l.ii. p. 57, 58. and efpecially from the theological oration in Solem Regem,

p.

130158.

addreffed, in the confidence of

man with

friendihip, to the praefgiS Salluft.

eunuch with defpair.

I

whom

OF THE
all

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
*-

363
aXJI]
l^

whom

he afcrihed

the perfedlions of an infinite nature, Invifibfe

^
.

''

to the eyes,

and

inacceflible to the

underftanding, of feeble mortals.

The Supreme God had

created, or rather, in the Platonic language,

fucceffion of dependent fpirits, of gods, of

had generated, the gradual

daemons, of heroes, and of

its

men

and every being which derived

Firft

exiftence immediately

from the

Caufe, received the inherent

gift

of immortality.

That

fo precious

an advantage might not be

lavifhed
fkill

upon unworthy

objedls, the Creator

had entrufted

to the

and power of the

inferior gods,

the office of forming the

human

body, and of arranging the beautiful hannony of the animal^

the vegetable, and the mineral kingdoms.

To
is

the conduft of thefe

divine miniflers he delegated the temporal government of this lower

-world
;

but their imperfed: adminiftration

not exempt from difcord

or error.

The

earth,

and

its

inhabitants, are divided

among them,

and the charafters of Mars or Minerva, of Mercury or Venus,

may
it is

be diftindtly traced in the laws and manners of their peculiar votaries.

As long
our

as

our immortal fouls are confined in a mortal prifon,

as well as

intereft,

our duty, to

folicit
;

the favour, and to depre-

cate the wrath, of the

powers of heaven
;

whofe pride

is

gratified

by

the devotion of

mankind

and whofe grofler parts

may

be fup'"'.

pofed to derive fome nourifhment from the fumes of

facrifice

The
and

inferior gods

might fometimes condefcend

to

animate the
to

ftatues,

to inhabit the temples,

which were dedicated

their

honour.

They might
the fun,

occafionally vifit the earth, but the heavens

were the

proper throne and fymbol of their glory.

The
by
was a

invariable order of
Julian, as a proof
fufficient

moon, and
eter?ial

ftars,
;

was
and

haftily admitted

of their

duration

their eternity

evidence

"

Julian adopts this grofs conception, by

it

pliilofophers inclined to the whimfical fancy

afcribing

to his favourite

nus (Cajfares, p.
tonifts hefitated

Marcus Antoni333.)- The Stoics and Pla-

between the analogy of bo-

of Ariftophanes and Lucian, that an unbelieving age might ftarve the immortal gods. See Obfervationsde Spanheim, p. 284. 444, &c.

dies,

and the purity of fpiHts ; yet the graveft

that


THE DECLINE AND FALL
that they

364

CHAP,
\

were the workmanfhip, not of an

inferior deity, but of the

vifible,

Omnipotent King.

In the fyftem of the Platonifts, the

was

a type of the invifible, world.

The

celeftial bodies,

as they

were

informed by a divine

fpirit,

might be confidered

as the objels the:

moft worthy of religious worfhip.

The Sun, whofe

of the

genial influence

pervades and fuftains the univerfe, juftly claimed the adoration of

mankind,

as the bright reprefentative

Logos,
is

the lively, the

'".

rational, the beneficent

Fanatlclfm of the philo-

image of the intelledual Father

In every age, the abfence of genuine infpiration

^j.Qj^g iiiuJions

lupplied

by

the
If,

of euthufiafm, and the mimic

arts

of impofture.

in the time

of Julian, thefe arts had been pradifed only by the pafupport of an expiring caufe, fome indulgence
to the intereft

gan

priefts, for the

might perhaps be allowed

charadler.

and habits of the facerdotal

But

it

may

appear a fubjeft of furprife and fcandal, that

to abufe the

the philofophers themfelves fhould have contributed

fuperftitious credulity of

mankind

"^

and

that the

Grecian myfteries

fhould have been fupported by the magic or theurgy of the

Platonifts.

modern

They

arrogantly pretended to controul the order of na-

ture, to explore the fecrets of futurity, to

command

the fervice of

the inferior dicmons, to enjoy the view and converfation of the fuperior gods, and,
to

by difengaging the

foul

from her material bands,

reunite

that

immortal particle with the Infinite and Divine

Spirit.

^'
!,;a>,

H?,io ^^-/t,

TO

(m

ya?if*a xai if^^vx''',

x^'

'^6 Only cjrcnmftance in their favour

is,

that

xai cc-/uios^i,v TB yovrs waTfo;.

Julian,

they are of a

lefs

gloomy complexion.

In-

epift. xli.

In another place (apud Cyril. 1. iip. 69), he calls the Sun, God, and the throne of God. Julian believed the Platonici:n Trinity
*^
;

and only blames the Chriftians

for pre-

ferring a mortal, to an immortal, Lcgot.

and tails, lamblichus evoked the genii of love, Eros and Anteros, from two adjacent fountains. Two beautiful boys iflued from the water, fondly embraced him as their father, and retired at
ftead of devils with horns
his

The

fophifts

of Eunapius perform
;

as

command.

P. 26, 27.

many

miracles as the faints of the defert

and

The

OF
The devout and
fophers
fituation
.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

fearlefs

:i6s

curiofity

of Julian tempted the philo-

^
<

^'

"^

^'

with the

hopes of an eafy conqueft

of their young profelyte,

^
,

might be productive of the

imbibed the
the
firft

moll important confequences

or
;

which,

from the

-^

Initiation^

^^^

fanatl-

Julian

rudi-

cifm of Ju-

ments of the

Platonic
at

dodtrines

from
his

mouth of
and

iEdefius,

who had
fchool.

fixed
as

Pergamus

wandering

perfecuted

But

the declining ftrength of that venerable fage

was

unequal to the ardour, the diligence, the rapid conception of his

pupil,

two of

his

moft learned

difciples,

Chryfanthes and Eufebius,

fupplied, at his

own

defire, the place

of their aged mafter.

Thefe

philofophers feem to have prepared and diftributed

parts
;

their refpedive

and they

artfully contrived,

by dark

hints,

and affeded
till

dif-

putes, to excite the impatient hopes of the afpirant^

they deli-

vered him into the hands of their affociate Maximus, the boldeft and

moft

fkilful

mafter of the Theurgic fcience.

By

his hands,

Julian

was

fecretly initiated at Ephefus, in the twentieth year of his age.

at

His refidence
fophy and

Athens confirmed

this

unnatural alliance of philothe privilege

fuperftition.

He

obtained

of a folemn

initiation into the myfteries

of Eleufis, wlaich, amidft the general

ftill

decay of the Grecian worfhip,

primaeval fandity
;

retained

fome

veftiges of their

and fuch was the

zeal of Julian, that

he afterfole

wards invited the Eleufinian pontiff to the court of Gaul, for the
purpofe of confummating,

by myftic

rites

and

facrifices,

the great
in

work of

his fandification.

As

thefe ceremonies

were performed
;

the depth of caverns, and in the filence of the night

violable fecret of the myfteries

and

as the in-

was preferved by the

difcretion

of

the initiated,

fhall

not prefume to defcribe the horrid founds, and

ITie Abbe-de

'2

phifts,

The dexterous management of thefe fowho played their credulous pupil into
is

city.

la;

Bleterie underftands,

each other's hands,

plus (p. 69

fairly told

by Euna-

and neatly defcribes, the whole comedy (Vie de Julien, p. 6i - 67.).

76.

)j

with unfufpeding fimpli-

fiery

366

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fiery apparitions, wliich

CHAP.
\XiU.

were prefented
afpirant^\
till

to the fenfes, or the imagina-

tion, of the

credulous

the vifions

of comfort and
light
^',

knowledge broke upon him

in a blaze

of

celeftial

In the

caverns of Ephefus and Eleufis, the mind' of Julian was penetrated

with fmcere, deep, and unalterable enthufiafm

though he might

fometimes exhibit the vicifhtudes

of pious fraud and hypocrify,

in the charad:ers

which may be obferved, or

at

lead fufpefted,

of the moft confcientious fanatics.

fecrated his
life

From
gods
;

that

moment he con-

to the fervice of the

and while the occu-

pations of war, of government, and of ftudy, feemed to claim the

whole meafure of
night was
tion.

his time, a ftated

portion of the hours of the

invariably referved for the exercife

of private

devo-

The temperance which adorned

abftinence
Ifis,

the fevere manners of the fol-

dicr

and the philofopher, was connedled with fome ftrid and frivo;

lous rules of religious

and

it

was

in

honour of Pan
particular

or Mercury,

of Hecate or

that

Julian,

on

days,

denied himfelf the ufe of fome particular food, which might have

been offenfive

to

his tutelar deities.

By

thefe

voluntary

fiifls,

he

prepared his fenfes and his underftanding for the frequent and familiar vifits with

which he was honoured by the

celeftial

powers.
learn

Notwithftanding the modeft filence of Julian himfelf,

we may

from

his faithful friend, the

orator Libanius, that he lived in a

;

perpetual intercourfe with the gods and goddefles

that they defcend-

ed upon earth, to enjoy the converfatlon of their favourite hero;

that they gently interrupted his flumbers,
-+

by touching

his

hand or

When

Julian, in a

momentary

panic,

made
-yi.).

the fign of the crofs, the daemons in-

ftantly difappeared

(Greg. Naz. Orat.

that

iii.

p.

dark and diftant view of the terrors initiation h fhewn by Dion Chryfoftom, Thcmiftius, Proclus, and Sto-'

and joys of

Gregory

fuppofes

they

were

frightened, but the priefts declared that they

were indignant. The reader, according to the meafure of his faith, will determine this
profoundqueftion.

bsus. The learned author of the Divine Legation has exhibited their words (vol. i. p. 239. 247, 248. 280. edit. 1765.), which he
dexteroufly or forcibly applies to his
pothefis,

own hyhis

OF THE
his hair:

ROMAN
infallible

EMPIRE.
his
his

:,Cq

that they
*

warned him of every impending danger, and

wifdom, in every acllon of

^vvT^r^'* r^7\. ill*

conduded him, by their

hfe
;

.^i

and

that he

had acquired fuch an intimate knowledge of

heavenly guefts, as readily to diilinguiih the voice of Jupiter from

that of

Minerva, and the form of Apollo from the figure of Her-

cules".

Thefe fleeping or waking

vifions, the ordinary effefts

of
tlie

abftinence and fanaticifm,

level

would almoll degrade the emperor

But the
ufelefs lives

to

of an Egyptian monk.

of Antony or
Julian could
battle
;

Pachomius were confumcd

vanquilhing in the

in thefe vain occupations.

break from the dream of fuperftition to arm himfelf for

after
field

and

the enemies of

Rome, he calmly

retired

into his tent, to diftate the wife and falutary laws of an empire,
to indulge his genius in the elegant purfuits of literature

or

and philo-

fophy.

The important
ties

fecret

of the apoftacy of Julian was entruiled to

His religious
jion.

the fidelity of the mitiated^ with

whom
The

he was united by the facred

pleafing

of friendfliip and rehgion

".

rumour was cau;

tioufly circulated
his future

among

the adherents of the ancient worfliip

and

greatnefs

became the objecl of the hopes, the prayers,

in every province of the

and the predidlions of the pagans,

pire.

emthey

From

the zeal the

and
cure

virtues of their

royal

profelyte,

fondly

expedled
;

of

every

evil,

and the reftoration of

their

every bleffing

and inftead of difapproving of the ardour of

pious wifhes, Julian ingenuoufly confelTed, that he was ambitious

to attain a fituation, in

which he might be

ufeful to his country,

hoftile

and
eye
let-

to his religion.

But

this religion

was viewed with an

fecret apoftacy
ter,

" Julian's modefty confined him to obfcure and occafional hints ; but Libanius expatiates with pleafure on the fafts and vifions of the
religious hero (Legat. ad Julian, p. 157.

of his brother; and in a

as genuine,

which may be received

he
it

exhorts Julian to adhere to the religion of

their ancefiors; an

and

argument,

which,

as

Orat. Parental,
*'

c. Ixxxiii. p.

Libanius, Orat.

309, 310.). Parent, c. x. p. 233

fhould feem, was not yet perfeftly ripe.

Julian.
ii.

See

Op.

p. 454.

and Hid. de Jovien, tom

234.

Gallus had fome reafon to fufpedl the

p. 141.

by

368

THE DECLINE
by
faved

ANT)

FALL
arts

CHAP.
xxni.

the fucceflbr of Conftantine, whofe capricious pafiions alternately

and threatened the

life

of Julian.

The

of magic and

divination were ftridtly prohibited

under a defpotic government,

if

which condefcended

to fear

them

and

the pagans were reludlantly

indulged in the exercife of their fuperftition, the rank of Julian

would have excepted him from the general

toleration.

The

apoflate

foon became the prefumptive heir of the monarchy, and

his death

could alone have appeafed the juft apprehcnfions of the Chriftians ".

But the young prince,

who

afpired to the glory of a hero rather

;

than of a martyr, confulted his fafety by difTembling his religion

and the eafy temper of polytheifm permitted him to join in the

public

worfhip of a
the

fe<St

which he inwardly

dcfpifed.

Libanius

has

confidered

hypocrify of his friend as a fubjedl, not

of

cenfure, but of praife.

tor,
*'

" As the ftatues of the gods," fays that oradefiled

" which have been

;

with

filth,

are again

placed in a
in

magnificent temple

fo the
it

beauty of truth was feated

the
folIt

" mind of Julian,

after

had been purified from the errors and

"
*'

lies

of his education.

His fentiments were changed

to

but as

would have been dangerous

ftlll

have avowed his fentiments, his

" conduct
*'

continued the fame.

Very

different

from the

afs in

Jifop, who difguifed himfelf with a lion's hide, our lion was " obliged to conceal himfelf under the Ikin of an afs ; and, while " he embraced the didates of reafon, to obey the laws of prudence

" and
years,
civil

neceflity

'''."

The

diffimulation

of Julian lafted above ten

from
;

his fecret initiation at Ephefus, to the

beginning of the

war

when he

declared himfelf at once the implacable

enemy
the

of Chrift and of Conftantius.

This
;

ftate

of conftraint might confoon as he had

fatisfied

tribute to ftrengthen his devotion

and

as

"
lant

Gregory
apellate

(iii.

p.

50.). with

inhuman

tranflator (p. 265.) cautioufly obferves, that

zeal, cenfures Conftantius for fparing the in-

fuch expreffions muft not be prifes a la lettre.

*"

(xaxwj cuiina).

His French

Libanius, Oral. Parental,

c. ix.

p. 233.

obligation

^*

OF

THE ROMAN EMMRE.

on folemn
feftivals,

^''^.j

tD'hllgation'of afTifting,

at

the aflemhlies of the

^
<

^^

,^r'''

Chriftians, Julian returned, with the impatience of a lover, to

his free

burn

and voluntary incenfc on the domeftic chapels of Jupiter But

as every ail of diflimulation

and Mercury.
to an

muft be painful

ingenuous

fpirit,

the profefTion

of Chriftianity encreafed the

his

averfion of Julian for a religion,

which oppreffed the freedom of

mind, and compelled him

attributes of

to hold a

conduct repugnant to the nobleft

human

nature, fincerity and courage.

The

inclination of Julian

might prefer the gods of Homer, and of He

writes

the Scipios, to the

new
in

faith,

which

his uncle

had

eftabliihcd in the
lim<flified

auiftianity.

Roman
him

empire

and

which he himfelf had been

But
as a philofopher,
it

by the

facrament of baptifm.
to juftify his

was incumbent on

diflent
its

from

Chriftianity,

which was fupported

by the number of

converts,

by the chain of prophecy, the

of evidence.

fplendor of miracles, and the weight

The

elaborate

work
war,

^,

which he compofed
the

amidfl:

the preparations of the Perfian

contained

fubftance of thofe arguments

which he had
tranfcribed
^';

long revolved in his mind.

Some fragments have been

and preferved, by

his adverfary, the

vehement Cyril of Alexandria

and they exhibit

a very fingular

mixture of wit and learning, of

fophiftry and fanaticifm.

The

elegance of the ftyle, and the rank of

''^

the author,

recommended

his writings to the public attention

and

'"

Fabriclus (Bibliot. Grasc.

I.

v. c. viii.

w'lfhcs ihat

Come

l^eo/og/eti pi>i7o/oJ>ie {a

driage

p,

88 90.) and LarJner (Heathen Teftimovol.

iv.
all

centaur) would undertake the refutation of

Julian.
^^

nies,

p.

4447.) have

accurately

compiled
Julian's
''

that can

now

be difcovered of

work againft tie Chriftians. About feventy years after the death of
which had been
the

3i3-)j

Libanius (Orat. Parental, c Ixxxvii. p. who has been fufpefted of affifting his

friend, prefers this divine vindication (Orat.

ix. in

Julian, he executed a taOc

necem

Julian,

255. edit. Morel.) to

feebly attempted by Philip of Sid", a prolix

the writings of Porphyry.

His judgment may

iii.

and contemptible
vourable judges
(Preface
a
:

writer.

Even

work of

Cyril has not entirely fatisfied the moft fa-

c. 23 ), but Libanius cannot be accufed of flattery to a dead

I.

be arraigned (Socrates,

and the Abbe de

la Bleterie

prince.

I'Hill.

de Jovien, p. 30.

32.)

Vol.

II.

in

37

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^"
^^^^

^^nr^'
'

impious

lift

of the enemies of Chriftianity, the celebrated

'

name of Porphyry v/as effaced by the fuperior merit or reputation of Julian. The minds of the faithful were either feduced, or fcandalized,

or alarmed

and the pagans,

who

fometimes prefumed to

engage in the unequal difpute, derived, from the popular work of their
Imperial miflionary, an inexhauftible fupply of fallacious objections.

But

in the alliduous profecution

of thefe theological ftudies, the

illiberal

emperor of the Romans imbibed the

of a polemic divine.

prejudices and pafTions

He

contradled an irrevocable obligation, to

;

maintain and propagate his religious opinions

and whilft he

fecretly

applauded the ftrength and dexterity with which he wielded the

weapons of controverfy, he was tempted

the force of reafon and eloquence.
Chriftians,

to diftruft the fmceritv, or

to defpife the underftandings, of his antagonifts,

refill
TJniverfal toleration.

who

could obftinately

The
his

who

beheld with horror and indignation the apof-

tacy of Julian, had

arguments.

much more to fear from his power than from The pagans, who were confcious of his fervent
and

zeal, expedled,

perhaps with impatience, that the flames of perfecution

;

fhould be immediately kindled againft the enemies of the gods

that the ingenious malice of Julian

would invent fome

cruel refine-

ments of death and

torture,

which had been unknown to the rude and

But the hopes,
as well as the

inexperienced fury of his predeceffors.

fears,

of the religious fadlions were apparently difappointed, by the

prudent humanity of a prince",

who was

careful of his

own fame,
by

of

the public peace, and of the rights of mankind.

Inftruted

hiftory

and reflexion, Julian was perfuaded, that

if

the difeafes of the

fteel

body
fire

may fometimes
^'

be cured by falutary violence, neither

nor

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

c. Iviii. p. 23.3,

Boftra, Julian himfelf (epift. Hi.) profefles his

284.) has eloquently explained the tolerating principles and conduft of his Imperial friend,
In a very remarkable epiftlc to the people of
'

moderation, and betrays his zeal

; which is acknowledged by Ammianus, and expofed by Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 72.).

can

OF THE
may

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
The
reluctant vldlin
ftill

371

can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind.

be dragged to the foot of the altar

CHAP.
XXIII.

but the heart

abhors and
is

difclaims the facrilegious adt of the hand.

ReUgious obftinacy

hard-

ened and exafperated by opprefTion

tion fubfides, thofe

and, as foon as the perfecu-

who

have yielded, are reftored as penitents, and

thofe
lian

who

have

refilled, are

honoured

as faints

and martyrs.

If Ju-

adopted the unfuccefsful cruelty of Diocletian and his col-

leagues, he

was

fenfible that

he

fliould ftain his

memory

with the

name of

tyrant,

and add new

glories to the Catholic church,

which

had derived ftrength and encreafe from the feverity of the pagan
magiftrates.

Adluated by thefe motives, and apprehenfive of difturb-

ing the repofe of an unfettled reign, Julian furprifed the world by

an

edid:,

which was not unworthy of a ftatefman, or a philofopher.

all

He

extended to

the inhabitants of the

;

Roman

world, the benefits

of a free and equal toleration

flidled

and the only hardfhip which he in-

on the

Chriftians,

was

to deprive

them of the power of

tor-

menting
titles

their fellow-fubjedts,

whom they

ftigmatifed with the odious

of idolaters and heretics.

mifhon, or rather an exprefs

The Pagans received a gracious perorder, to open all their temples and
^'^

they were
vexations,

at

once delivered from the oppreffive laws, and arbitrary

fuftained under the reign of Conftantine,

which they had

and of

his fons.

At

the

fartie

time, the bifhops and clergy,

who had
and re-

been banilhed by the Arian monarch, were recalled from

ftored to their refpetive churches
;

exile,

the Donatifts, the Novatians, the

Macedonians, the Eunomians, and thofe who, with a more profperous

fortune, adhered to the doctrine of the council of Nice.
Julian,

who

underftood and derided their theological difputes, invited to the

^* In

Greece, the temples of Minerva were

his exprefs

nian?.

opened by

command,

before the

correifl the hafty afTertion

This unqueflionable evidence may of Ammianus, who

death of Conftantius (Liban. Orat. Parent, c. 55. p. 280.) ; and Julian declares himfelf

feems to fuppofe Conftantinople to be the

place where he difcovered his attachment to
the gods.

a pagan in

his public manifello to the

Athe-

palace

372

THE DECLINE AND FALL

palace the leaders of the hoftile fedls, that he might enjoy the agreeable fpelacle of their furious encounters.

The clamour of contro-

verfy fometimes provoked the emperor to exclaim, " Elear

me

the

" Franks have heard me, and the Alemanni

that he

;"

but he foon difcovered

was now engaged with more

obftinate and implacable eneto perfuade

mies

and though he exerted the powers of oratoty

them

to live in concord, or at leaft in peace,

he was perfectly

fatisfied,

before he difmifl'ed

them from

his prefence, that

he had nothing to

dread from the union of the Chriftians.

The

impartial

Aniianus

has afcribcd this affedled clemency to the deiire of fomenting the intcilinc divifions

of the church

and the infidious defign of under-

mining the foundations of

with the
zeal,

Chriftianity,

was infeparably connedled

which Julian

profefled, to reftore the ancient religion

of the empire".
Zeal and devotion of Julian in the
paganifm.

As foon

as

he afcended the throne, he alTumed, according to tha

cuftom of his predcceflbrs, the charafter of fupreme pontiff; not

only as the mofl: honourable
facred and important office
;

title

of Imperial greatnefs, but as a

the duties of which he

was refolved

to

execute with pious diligence.

As

the bufmefs of the flate prevented

the emperor from joining eveiy day in the public devotion of his
fubjedls,

he dedicated a domeftic chapel

to his tutelar deity the

altars

Sun

his gardens

were

filled

with ftatues and

of the gods; and each

apartment of the palace dlfplayed the appearance of a magnificent

temple.
fice
;

Every morning he

faluted the parent of light with a facri-

the blood of another vil:im was flied at the

the horizon
;

moment when

the

Sun funk below

5'

and the Moon, the

Stars,

and the Genii

Ammianus,

xxii. 5.

Sozomen,

1.
.

v.
.

c.
.
.

Luciferianos, tom.
cufes

ii.

p. 143.

Optatus actheir fafecy to

5.

Beftia moritur, tranquillitas redit

the Donatifts for

(1. ii. C.

owing

omnes
cipis

epifcopi qui de propriis fedibus fue-

an apoflate
pin),

16. p. 36, 37. edit.

Du*

rant exterminati per indulgentiam novi prin-

ad ecclefias redeunt.

Jerom. adverfus

of

OF

THE P.OMAN EMPIRE,

fealoni\ble

373
honours from
he regu^

of the night received their refpedlve and

the indefiitigable devotion of Juhan.
larly vilited the

^Jl/^

^'

On

folemn

feflivals,

temple of the god or goddefs to \v!aom the day was

pecuHarly confecrated, and endeavoured to excite the religion of the

magiftrates

and people by the example of

ftate

his

own

zeal.

Inftead of

maintaining the lofty

dor of his purple,

of a monarch, diftlnguiflied by the fplenIhields of his

and encompaffed by the golden

guards, Julian folicited, with refpeftful' eagernefs, the meaneft ofRces

which contributed

to the v^orlhip of the gods.

priefts,

Ainidfl. the facred

but licentious crowd of

dancers,

of inferior minifters, and of female

it

who were

dedicated to. the fervice of the temple,

fire,

was the

bufmefs of the emperor to bring the wood, to blow the

the knife,
to flaughter the vilim,

to handle

and thrufting
to

his

bloody hands

into the bowels of the expiring animal,

liver,

draw forth the heart or

of an harufpex, the

and

to read,

with the confummate

{Idll

imaginary figns of future events.

The

wifeft of the pagans cenfur-

ed this extravagant fuperftltion, which afFeded to defpife the reilraints

of prudence and decency.

Under

the reign of a prince, the expence of reli;

who

praftifed the rigid

maxims of oeconomy,

gious worfliip confumed a very large portion of the revenue

Itant fupply of the fcarceft

a con-

and moft beautiful birds was tranfported

from

diftant climates, to bleed

facrificed

on the

altars

of the gods

an hundred
;

oxen were frequently

and
it

by Julian on one and the fame day

jeft,

foon became a popular

that if

he fhould return with

cattle

conquefl;
libly

from the PerJian war, the breed of horned

Yet
this

muft

infal-

be extinguifl-ied.
it is

expence

may

appear inconfiderable,
offered,

when
either

compared with the fplendid prefents which were

order, of the emperor, to
all

by the hand, or by

the celebrated
allotted

places of devotion in the

to repair
fjJent

Roman

world ; and with the fums

and decorate the ancient temples, which had luffered the

or the recent
injuries

decay of time,

of Chriflian rapine.

Encouraged

374

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Encouraged by the example, the exhortations, the
pious fovereign, the
cities

CHAP.
^
.

liberality,

of their

- _?

negleded ceremonies.
nius,

and families refumed thepradtice of their " Every part of the. world," exclaims Liba-

with devout tranfport, " difplayed the triumph of religion

" and the grateful profpedl of flaming altars, bleeding vidims, the " fmoke of incenfe, and a folemn train of priefts and prophets, with" out
*'

fear

and without danger.

The found
highefl:

of prayer and of mufic

;

was heard on the tops of the

facrifice

mountains

and the fame ox

" afforded a " votaries

.

for the gods,

and a fupper for their joyous

Reformation
agani m.

But the geuius and power of Julian were unequal

pj-j^^,

to the enter-

q reftoring a religion, which was deftitute of theological prin-

ciples,

of moral precepts, and of

ecclefiaftical >difcipline

which rapidly

haftened to decay and

folid

diffolution,

and was not

fufceptible of

any

or confiftent reformation.

The

jurifdidlion

of the fupreme

pontiff,

more

efpecially after that office

had been united with the

Imperial dignity,
empire.
priefts

comprehended the whole extent of the Roman

for his vicars, in the feveral provinces, the

Julian

named

and philofophers,

whom
ftill

he efteemed the beft qualified to co;

operate in the execution of his great del ign

if

and

his paftoral letters ",

we may

ufe that

name,

reprefent a very curious fketch of his

wifhes and intentions.

He

diredls, that in

every city the facerdotal

order fhould be compofed, without any diftindion of birth or fortune, of thofe perfons who were the moft confpicuous for their love of
3*
is

The

reftoratioii

defcribed by

Juiiar.

of the Pagan worfhip (Mifopogon, p. 346.),

p. 286, 287. p. 245, 246.

plaufe, paffionate admiration,

miJd reproof,
Ixii,
Ixiii,

and
^'

partial invedive.

Libanius (Orat. Parent, c. 60, and Orat. Confular. ad Julian,

edit.

See Julian.

Epiftol.

xlix.

Morel.), Ammianus (xxii. 12.), and Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. iv. p. izi.), Thefe writers agree in the eflential, and even
minute, fafts : but which they view the extreme devotion of Julian, are exprefTive of gjadations of felf-apthe different lights
in

and a long and curious fragment, without beginning or end (p. 28S 305.). The fupreme pontiff derides the Mofaic hirtory, and

the ChrilHan difcipline,

prefers

the

Greek

poets to the

Hebrew

prophets, and palliates,

with the

flcill

of a Jefuit, the relative worfhip

of images.

the

OFTHEROMANEMPIRE.
the gods, and of men.
*'
*'

t,7S

"

If they are guilty," continues he,

" of any

^'

"jf,

fcandalous offence, they fhould be cenfured or degraded by the

fuperior pontiff;
entitled to the

but, as long as they retain their rank, they arc

"
*'

refped of the magiflrates and people.

Their hu;

mility

may be
in the

fliewn in the plainnefs of their domeflic garb

their

" dignity,
*'

pomp of holy

veftments.

When

they are

fummoned

in their turn to officiate before the altar, they to depart

ought not, during

" the appointed number of days,

*'

from the precincts of the

temple; nor fhould a fmgle day be fuffered to elapfe, without the

facrilice,
ftate,

" prayers and the

which they

are obliged to offer for the

" profperity of the

and of individuals.

The

exercife of their

" facred fundtions requires an immaculate purity, both of mind and " body ; and even when they are difmiffed from the temple to the

" occupations of common life, it is incumbent on them to " decency and virtue the refi: of their fellow-citizens. The

excel in
priefl

of

" the gods fhould never be feen in theatres or taverns. His con" verllition fliould be chafte, his diet temperate, his friends of ho" nourable reputation ; and, if he fometimes vifits the Foirum or the " Palace, he fhould appear only
as the advocate

of thofe

who
or

have
be

" vainly
*'

folicited

either juffice or

mercy.

His

fludies fhould
tales,
;

fuited to the fanlity of his profeffion.

dies, or fatires,

Licentious

come-

"
"

mufl be banifhed from his library

which ought
;

folely to confifl: of hiftorical

is

and philofophical writings

of hiflory

" which

founded in truth, and of philofophy which

is

connedled

" with religion. The impious opinions of the Epicureans and Scep" tics deferve his abhorrence and contempt ^' but he fliould dili;

" gently ftudy the fyftems of Pythagoras, of Plato, and of the Stoics, " which unammoufly teach that there are gods
3^
;

that the

world

is

The
are

exultation of Julian

(p.

301.),

is

unworthy of a philofopher
his

to wifh that

ary

that thefa.
in<Ts,

impious

fcfts,

and even

their writ-

opinions and arguments the moil repugnant

to

extinguiflied,

may

be confiftent
:

own

fhould be concealed

from the

enough with

the facerdctal cliarader

but

it

knowledge of mankind.

" governed

37^
C H A
XXllI.
P.

HE DECLINE AND FALL

"governed by
" man
their providence
;

that their goodnefs

is

the fource of

" every temporal blefTmg

and that they have prepared for the hu-

foul a future flate of rcv.-ard or punifhment."

The

Imperial

pontiff inculcates, in the moft perfuafive language, the duties of benevolence and hofpitality
;

exhorts his inferior clergy to

;

recommend
their indi-

the univerfal pradice of thofe virtues

promifes to

affift

gence from the public treafury

and declares

his refolution of efta-

blifhing hofpitals in every city,

where the poor fhould be received

Julian
;

without any invidious diftindion of country or of religion.

beheld with envy the wife and

humane

regulations of the church

and he very frankly

confeffes his intention to deprive the Chriftians

as advantage,

of the applaufc, as well

which they had acquired by

the exclufive pradlice of charity and beneficence".

The

fxme.fpirit

of imitation might difpofe the emperor

aRical inftitutions, the ufe

to

adopt feveral ecclefi-

and importance of which were approved

.by the fuccefs of his enemies.

But

if thcfe

imaginary plans of re-

formation had been realized, the forced and imperfedt copy would

have been
.nity''^

lefs beneficial to

Paganifm, than honourable to Chrifliapeaceably followed the cuftoms of their

introducfbion

The

Gentiles,

who

anceftors,
.of

were rather furprifed than pleafed with the

;

foreign manners

and, in the

fliort

period of his reign, Julian

-had frequent occafions to complain of the

want of fervour of

his

.own party

*'.

" Vet he infinuates, that the Chvillians, under the pretence of charity, inveigled chil.(iren from their religion and parents, conveyed them on fliipboard, and devoted thofe
viftims to a
life

102, See).

He
;

ridicules

the folly of fu.ch

in-

vain imitation

and amufes himfelf with

quiring, what leflbns, moral or theological,

could be extrafled from the Grecian fables.

*'

of poverty or fervitude in a

He

accufes one of his pontiffs of a fecret

remote country (p. 305.). Had the charge been proved, it was his duty, not to complain, but to puni(h.
*"

confeder.''cy

with the ChriiHan bifhops and

Ixii.).
"rrpq

prelbyters (Epift.
o}.t'yu::ia.v

Of^t
6^.: ;

ireXXri'

f<,2>

tiaav

-n^iv

ra;

and again,

nious,

Gregory Nazianzen is facetious, ingeand argumentative (Orat. iii. p. loi.

tfuii

WTu fx^vjiac.

Sec.

Epiil. Ixiil.

The

OF THE
The

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
to
;

377

cnthufiafm of Julian prompted

him

embrace the friends of C

partially
<

H
.^

P.
>

Jupiter as his perfonal friends and brethren

and though he

overlooked the merit of Chriftian conftancy, he admired and re-

phers;

warded the noble perfeverance of thofe Gentiles who had preferred

the favour of the gods to that of the emperor *\
If they cultivated

the literature, as well as the religion, of the Greeks, they acquired

an additional claim
in the

to the frlendlhip of Julian,

his tutelar deities.

who

ranked theMufes

number of

In the religion which he had

*^
;

adopted, piety and learning were almofl: fynonimous

and a crowd

of poets, of rhetoricians, and of philofophers, haftened to the Imperial court,

to

occupy the vacant places of the

biflnops,

who had

feduced the credulity of Conftantlus.

His

fucceffor efteemed the ties

of

common

initiation as far

more

facred than thofe of confanguinity

fages,

he chofe his favourites among the

who were
;

deeply fkilled in

the occult fciences of magic and divination

and every impoftor,

afllired

who

pretended to reveal the fecrets of futurity, was

of enthe

joying the prefent hour in honour and affluence ".

philofophers,
fliip

Among

Maximus

obtained the moft eminent rank in the frlend-

of his royal

dlfciple,

who communicated,
and
his
ci\'il

with unreferved
religious

confidence,

his adtions,

his fentlments,

defigns,
as Julian

during the anxious fufpenfe of the

war ^\

As foon

had taken

poffeflion

of

the

palace

of Conftantinople,

he dif;

patched an honourable and preffing Invitation to

Maximus

who

then refided
**

at

Sardes in Lydla, with Chryfanthlus, the aflbciate

Orat. Parent. 0^77. p. 302. The fame fontiment is frequently inculcated by Julian,
Libanius, and the
*+
reft

He

praifes

the fidelity of Callixene,

priellefs

of Ceres,

who had been

twice as

conftant as Penelope,

and rewards her with

of their party,

the priefthood of the Phrygian goddefs at

Peflinus (Julian. Epift. xxi.).

He

applauds

The curiofity and credulity of the emperor, who tried every mode of divination,
are fairly expofed

the firmnefs of Sopater of Hierapolis, v/ho

by Ammianus,
xxxviii.

xxii. 12.

had been repeatedly prcfled by Conftantius and Gallus to apojlatize (Epift. xxvii. p.
401.).
*^

"

Julian.

Epift.

Three other
fame
ftyle

eplftles

(xv, xvi. xxxix.) in the

of
to

O h

Kfj.i^m a.h7.pa. ?^oyd: Ts Hat Gswv t!fa.

and confidence, are the philofophcr MaximuS,

friendfliip

addrefl'ed

Vol.

II.

'

of

378

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of his art and
ftudies.

CHAP,
XXIII.

The prudent and

fuperftitious

Chryfanaccord-

thius refufed to undertake a

journey which fhewed

itfelf,

ing to the rules of divination, with the moft threatening and

lignant afpel
caft,
:

ma-

but his companion, whofe fimaticifm was of a bolder

till

perfifted in his interrogations,

he had extorted from the

gods a feeming confent to his

own

wifhes, and thofe of the emperor.

The journey of Maximus through

the cities of Afia, difplayed the

v'ith

triumph of philofophic vanity; and the magiftrates vied

each

other in the honourable reception which they prepared for the friend

of their fovereign.
fenate,

Julian

was pronouncing an oration before the

the arrival of

when he was informed of

Maximus.
hand

The

emperor immediately interrupted

his difcourfe,

advanced to meet him,

the
into the

and, after a tender embrace, conduded

nildft

him by

of the afTcmbly: where he publicly acknowledged the benefits

which he had derived from the inftrudions of the philofopher.

Maximus **, who

court.

foon acquired the confidence, and influenced the

councils, of Julian,

was

infenfibly corrupted
fplendid, his

by the temptations of a
demeanour more
lofty,

His

drefs

became more

and he was expofed, under a fucceeding reign,

to a difgraceful in-

quiry into the means by which the difciple of Plato had accumulated,
in the fhort duration of his favour, a very fcandalous proportion of

wealth.

Of

the other philofophers and fophifts,

who were
or

invited

to the Imperial refidence

cefs

by the choice of

Julian,

by the fucor

of Maximus,
''^

few wei-e

able to preferve their innocence,

their reputation

The

liberal gifts
''"'

of money, lands, and houfes,,

Chryfanthius,

Eunapius

(in

Maximo,

p. 77, 78, 79,

who had

refufed to quit

and in Chryfanthio, p. 147, 148.) has mijiutely related thefe anecdotes, which he conceives to be the moll: important events of the

Lydia, was cre.ited high-prieft of the province.

His cautious and temperate ufe of power fecured him after the revolution ; and

Yet he fairly confefles the frailty of Maximus. His reception at Conllantinople is defcribed by Libanius (Orat. Parent, c. 86.
age.
p. 301.)

he lived in peace ; while Maximus, Prifcus, &c. were perfecuted by the Chrifdan miniIters.

See the adventures of thofe fanatic

and Ammianus

(xxii. 7.).

fophifts, collefted

by Brucker, tom.ii. p. 2S1

293.

were

OF THE
were
tion of the people
abjed:

ROMAN
by

EMPIRE.
;

379
^ ^^/}^
"

infufficient to fatiate their rapacious avarice

and the indignatheir

^'

was

juftly excited

the

remembrance of

poverty and difmterefted profeflions.

:

The

penetration of

JuUan could not always be deceived

fpife the characters

but he was unwilling to detalents deferved his efteem

;

of thofe

men whofe

he defired to efcape the double reproach of imprudence and inconftancy

;

and he was apprehenfive of degrading, in the eyes of the

*'.

profane, the honour of letters and of religion

The favour of
gans,

Julian

was almoft equally divided between the Pa-

Converfions,

who had

firmly adh'ered to the worfhip of their anceftors, and

theChriftians,who prudently embraced the religion of their fovereign.

The

acquifition of

new

profelytes
;

*'

gratified the ruling pafTions

of

his foul, fuperftition

and vanity

and he was heard

if

to declare,

with

the enthufiafm of a millionary, that

he could render each indivi-

dual richer than Midas, and every city greater than Babylon, he

fhould not efteem himfelf the benefaftor of mankind, unlefs,

at

the

fame time, he could reclaim

againft the immortal gods
ture,
'".

his fubjedts

from

their

impious revolt

prince,

and

who
'';

poflefled the treafures

who had ftudied human naof the Roman empire, could

adapt his arguments, his promifes, and his rewards, to every order
of

Chriftians

and the merit of a feafonable converlion was allowed

c.

*'

See Libanius (Orat. Parent,

loi,

102. p. 324, 325, 326.) and Eunapius (Vit. Sopliift. in Proirefio, p. jz6.). Some iludents,

and fuccefs in making profelytes. and the idea are growing obfolete

Theword
in

France;

may
'

they never be introduced into England!

whofe

expcdations
iv. p.

perhaps

Were

See the ilrong expreffions of Libanius,

groundlefs, or extravagant, retired in difguft

which were probably thofe of Julian himfelf

(Orat. Parent,
^'

(Greg. Nr.z. Orat.

that
title

120.).

Itisftrange

c.

59. p. 285.).

we

iliould not be able

to contradict the

When Gregory
is

of one of Tillemont's chapters (Hift.

p. 167.)

defirous to

Nazianzen (Orat. x, magnify the Chrillian

that CxfariusdifTraT^vt

des
""

Empereurs,

torn.
eft

iv.

p. 960.),

" La

f.rmnefs of his brother C^farius, phyfician to

" Cour
et

de Juiien

pleine dc philofophes

the Imperial court, he

owns

de gens perdu?."

puted with a formidable adverfary,

of Lewis XIV.
his

*'

Under

the reign

o3^oK> xa> ftsyaj

lives,

Xoywi/ .Jawrr.Ti.

In his invec-

-fubji-'ds
-title

of every rank afpired to the glorious

he fcarcely allows any Jhar of wit or

of dmvertijjeiir, exprciiive of their zeal

.3

courage to the apellate.

to

o 80

THE DECLINE AND FALL

to fupply the defeds of a candidate, or

CHAP,

even to expiate the

guilt

of

a criminal.

As

the

anny

is

the

moft forcible engine of abfolute

power, Julian applied himfelf, with peculiar diligence, to corrupt the

religion of his troops, without

whofe hearty concurrence every mea;

fure mull be dangerous

and unfuccefsful

and the natural temper

it

of

foldiers

made

this

conqueft as eafy as

was important.

The

legions of

Gaul devoted themfelves

;

to the faith, as well as to the

fortunes, of their victorious leader

and even before the death of

Conftantlus, he had the fatisfaftion of announcing to his friends, that

they

affifted

with fervent devotion, and voracious appetite,

offered in his

at

the

facrilices,

which were repeatedly

fat

camp, of whole he-

catombs of

oxen

^'.

The

armies of the Eaft, which had been

trained under the ftandard of the crofs, and of Conftantius, required

a

more

artful

and expenfive mode of perfuafion.

feftivals,

On
ftate
;

the days of

folemn and public

the emperor received the homage,

and

rewarded the merit, of the troops.

with the military enfigns of

His throne of

was

encircled

Rome

and the republic

;

the holy

name

of Chrlft was erazed from the Laharum

and the fymbols of war, of

majefty, and of pagan fuperftition, were fo dexteroully blended, that

the faithful fubjeCt incurred the guilt of idolatry, w^hen herefpedtfully
fahited the perfon or
fucceffively in review
;

image of

his fovereign.

The

foldiers paffed

and each of them, before he received from

the hand of Julian a liberal donative,, proportioned to his rank and

fervices,

was required

to caft a
altar.
;

few grains of incenfe

into the flame

refift,

which burnt upon the

profpedt of gold, and
st

Some

Chriftian confeffors might

and others might repent

but the far greater number, allured by the

the prefence of the emperor, con-

awed hy
xxii

Julian. Eplft. xxxviii.

Ammianus,

12.

Adeo

ut in

dies pacne fingulos milites

devout prince and

carnis diftentiore fagina viftitantes incultius,

potufque aviditate correpti, humeris impofiti

ad fua diverforia portarentur. The the indignant hiftoriaii defcribe the fame fcene ; and in Illyricum or Antioch, fimilar caufes mull have produced
fimilar eiFeds.

Uanfcuaiium per plateas,

e;<

publicis sedibus

traded

OF THE
the worfliip of the gods

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
<

381
^Jl.^r^'

~*

traded the criminal engagement

and

their future perfeverance in

was enforced hy every confideration of duty

of half the

and of

intereft.

By

the frequent repetition of thefe arts, and at the

fei'vice

expence of funis which would have purchafed the

nations of Scythia, Julian gradually acquired for his troops the ima-

ginary protedlion of the gods, and for himfelf the firm and effedual
fupport of the

Roman

legions ".

It is

indeed more than probable,

that the reftoration

and encouragement of Paganifm revealed a mul-

titude of pretended Chriftians,

who, from motives of temporal ad;

vantage, had acquiefced in the religion of the former i-eign

and

who

afterwards returned, with the fame flexibility of confcience, to

the faith which was profefled

by the

fucceffors of Julian.
to reftore

While the devout monarch

inceflantly laboured

and The

Jew:5i

propagate the religion of his anceftors,

he embraced the extraorIn a public

dinary defign of rebuilding the temple of Jerufalem.

epiftle

"

to the nation or

community of

the Jews, difperfed through

the provinces, he pities their misfortunes,

fors,

condemns

their oppref-

praifes their conftancy, declares himfelf their gracious protec-

tor,

and exprelTes a pious hope,

that after

his return

from the

Perfian war, he

may

be permitted to pay his grateful vows to the

Almighty

in his holy city of Jerufalem.

The

blind fuperftition, and

abjed flavery, of thofe unfortunate

of a philofophic emperor
;

exiles,

muft excite the contempt

but they deferved the friendlliip of Julian,

by

their implacable hatred of the Chriftian

name.

The

barren fyna-

gogue abhorred and envied the fecundity of the

'^ Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 74, 75. 83 and Libanius (Orat. Parent, c. Ixxxi.
p..

rebellious
it

church
7>n7i8;
;

86.)
Ixxxii.

1499) has branded

this

with an

=1

but

307, 308.)

OTE^i

ramm

rr,v

aTrv}r,t,

hx a^su^cn

n^aTo awi^wj-flat
juftifies

jiAjyai'.

-The

fophift

owns and

the expence of thefe military conver-

fions.
'*

Julian's epiftle (xxv.)

is

addrefied to the

removed by the fubfequent editors, Petavius and Spanheim. The epiftle is mentioned by Sozomen (1. v. c. 22.), and the purport of it is confirmed by Gregory (Orat. iv. p. 1 1 1.), and by Julian himfelf> Fragment, p. 295.
ftigma
is

juftly

community

of the

Jews.

Aldus (Venst

the

382

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the

CHAP,
XXIII.

power of the Tews was not equal

,
.

to their malice

but their
;

v^

_,,

graveft rabbis approved the private

their
feditious clamours

murder of an

apoftate

and

had often awakened the indolence of the

the reign of Conftantine, the
it

pagan

magiftrates.
fubjels

Under
the

Jews be-

came the

of their revolted children, nor was

bitternefs

long before

they experienced

of domeflic tyranny.

The

civil

immunities which had been granted, or confirmed, by Severus, were

gradually repealed
cited

by the

Chriftian princes
'*,

and a rafh tumult, exjuftify

by the Jews of
oppreffion,

Paleftine

feemed to

the

lucrative

modes of

which were invented by the bifhops and eu-

nuchs of the court of Conftantlus.

ftill

The Jewiih
cities

patriarch,

who was
filled

permitted to exercife a precarious jurlfdiAion, held his refidence

at Tiberias ";

and the neighbouring

of Paleftine were

with the remains of a people,

land.

who

fondly adhered to the promifed

;

But the

edidt of

Hadrian was renewed and enforced

city,

and

they viewed from afar the walls of the holy

in their eyes
Chriftians
Jeruralem.
^'.

which were profaned

by

the triumph of the crofs,

and the devotion of the

midfl: of a rocky and barren country, the walls of Jeru" inclofed the two mountains of Sion and Acra, within an oval lalem

In the

figure of about three Englilh miles ^.

Towards
s?

the fouth, the upper

town*
'5

thofe

The Mifnah denounced death againfl: who abandoned the foundation. The

The city and fynagogue of

defcribed

Tiberias are
Paleilin.

curioufly
torn.
ii.

by

Reland.

Judgment of zeal is explained by Mar(ham (Canon. Chron. p. 161, 162. edit. fol. London, 1672.) and Bafnage (Hift. des Juifs,
tom.
viii. p.

1036 1042. ss Bafnage has fully illuftrated the ftate of the Jews under Conftantine and his fuccefp.
torn, viii, c. iv. p.

120.).

Conftantine

made
i.

law

fors
=9

in 153.).
i.

to proteft Chriftian converts from Judaifm.

Reland

(Paleftin.

1.

p. 309. 390.

1. iii.

-Cod Tiieod.
5"^

1.

xvi.

tit. viii.

leg.

Code-

p. 838.) defcribes, with learning

froy, torn. vi. p. 215.

and perfpicuity, Jerufalem, and the face of the adjacent country,

^ I
tife

Et interea (during the

civil

war of Mag-

nentius)

Judsorum

feditio,

qui Patricium See

nefarie in regni fpeciem fuftulerunt, opprefla.

of

have confulted a rare and curious treaM. d'Anville (fur I'aucienne Jerufa174.7. p. 75.).

Aurelius Viaor, in Conftantio,

c. xiii.

lem, Paris
^el,

The

circumference

Tillemont, Hift. des Empereur&,

379, in
4.to.

torn. iv. p,

of the ancient
i_

city (Eufeb. Prxparat.

Evan-

ix, c.

36.) was twenty-feven ftadia, or

OF THE
town, and the
fortrefs

ROMAN
fide, the

EMPIRE.
town cohill,

383

of David, were ereded on the lofty afcent of ^

buildings of the lower
;

HA

P.
-/

Mount

Sion

on the north

v- -,-

vered the fpacious fummit of

diftinguifhed
duftry,

Mount Acra
ftately

and a part of the

levelled

by the name of Moriah, and

by human in-

was crowned with the

temple of the Jewifh nation.

After the final deftruiftion of the temple, bv the arms of Titus and

Hadrian, a plovighfhare was drawn over the confecrated ground, as

a fign of pei'petual interdidlion.

Sion was deferted

and the vacant

fpace of the lower city

fices
hill

was

filled

with the public and private edi-

of the ^lian colony, which fpread themfelves over the adjacent of Calvary.

The holy

places

were polluted with monuments of

idolatry;
to

and, either from defign or accident, a chapel was dedicated

fandlified

Venus, on the fpot which had been

".

by

the death and

after thofe

refurretion of Chrifi;

Almoft three hundred years

ftupendous events, the profane chapel of Venus was demolilhed by

the order of Conftantine
;

and the removal of the earth and ftones

revealed the holy fepulchre to the eyes of mankind,

magnificent

church was ereled on that myftic ground, by the

peror
;

firft

Chriftian

em-

and the

efiefts

of his pious munificence were extended to

every fpot, which had been confecrated by the footfteps of patriarchs, of prophets, and of the Son of

God ^\
monuments of
crowd of
pilPilgrimages,

The

paffionate defire of contemplating the original

their redemption, attracted to Jerufalem a fucceffive

grims, from the fhores of the Atlantic ocean, and the moil diftant

z^^Otoi/es.
figns

A plan, taken on the fpot, afno more than 1980 for the modern town. The circuit is defined by natural land-marks, ,. , which cannot be miftaken, or removed.
, , ,

^i

gufebjus, in Vit. Conftantin.

1.

iii.

c-

25-47. 51-53. Theemperor likewife built t) .it .u n/r . r r-iv ,, churches at Bethlem, the Mount of Olives,
, ,

6u c "
J.

bee , two curious

paliages
(Hill,
ii.

p. I02.

tom.

vi.

p. 315.),

details of

Tillemont
i^6c).

Jerom (tornand the ample des Empereurs,

in

/^

and theoakof Manibre.

is

r^,

The

holy fepulchre -^ '

p.

defcribed by Sandys

(Travels,

125

133.), and curioufly delineated by Le Bruyn

tom.

i.

p.

tom.

p. 289. 294. 410 edi.

(Voyage au Levant,

p.

288296.).

tion).

countries

3^4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

countries of the Eaft
ple
lity
''
;

CHAP.
XXIII.

and
;

their piety

was authorifed by the exam-

of the emprefs Helena

of age with the

who

appears to have united the credu-

warm

feelings of a recent converfion.

Sages

and heroes, who have

vifited

the

memorable fcenes of ancient

wifdom
afcribed

or glory,
;

have confefled the infpiration of the genius of

the place "

and the Chriftian, who knelt before the holy fepulchre, and
his

his lively faith,

fervent devotion,
fpirit.

to

the

more

Immediate influence of the Divine

The

zeal,

perhaps the

avarice, of the clergy of Jerufalem, cherifhed

neficial vifits.

and multiplied thefe betradition, the fcene

They

fixed,

by unqueftionable

of

each memorable event.

They

exhibited the inftruments which had

;

been ufed in the paflion of Chrift

the nails and the lance that

;

had pierced
that

his hands, his feet,

and
;

his fide

the
at

crown of thorns which he was

on which he
of thofe

was planted
:

on
above

his
all

head

the

pillar

fcourged
fufFered,

and,

they fhewed the

crofs

and which was dug out of the earth

in the reign

princes,

the
for

who inferted the fymbol of Roman legions''*. Such miracles,

its

Chriftianity in the banners of

as

feemed neceffary to account

extraordinary prefervation,

and feafonable difcovery,

were

gradually propagated without oppofition.

crofs^

The

cuftody of the true

to the people,

which on Eafter Sunday was folemnly expofed

to the bifhop of Jerufalem;

was entrufted
*^

and he alone might gra-

The

Itinerary from Bourdeaux to Jeru-

N 42 50.) and Tillemont (Mem.

torn.
vii.

Ecclef.

falem, was compofed in the year 333, for

the ufe of pilgrims

,'tom.
i.

among whom Jerom

tliis

p.

126.) mentions the Britons and

and champions of the miraculous iifvention of the crofs, under the reign of Conftantine. Their
p.

16.)

are the hiftorians

the Indians.

The

caufes of

fuperlHtious

oldeii witneffes are Paulinus, Sulpicius Severus,

fafhion are difcuffed in the learned and judicious preface of Weffeling (Itinerar. p. 537

Rufinus, Ambrofe, and perhaps Cyril of

Jerufalem.
think,

The

filence

of Eufebius, and the

fatiifies

545-)
*

Bourdeaux pilgrim, which

v. i.)

thofe

who
See

Cicero (de Finibus,

has beauti-

perplexes

thofe

who
vol.

believe.
ii,

fully exprefled the

common

fenfe of

man-

Jortin's fenfible remarks,

p.

238

kind.
'^ Baronius,

248.

(Annal. Ecdef.

A. D. 326.

tify

OF THE
llfy the curious

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
gift

385 C
II

devotion of the pilgrims, hy the

in gold or

of fmall pieces,

p.

which they enchafed

gems, and carried away in triumph

as this gainful
it

to their refpedive countries.

But

branch of commerce
to fup-

muft foon have been annihilated,

pofe, that the marvellous

was found convenient

wood

poiTelfed a fecret

power of vegetaftill

tion

and

that

its

fubftance,

though continually diminiflied,

*'.

remained entire and unimpaired

It

might perhaps have been ex-

pected, that the influence of the place, and the belief of a perpetual
miracle, fhould have produced
as well as

fome

falutary effects

on the morals,
refpe<5lablc

on the

faith,

of the people.

Yet the moft

of

the ecclefiaftical writers have been obliged to confefs, not only that
the ftreets of Jerufalem were
hefs
filled

with the inceflant tumult of bufi;

and pleafure

'\ but that every fpecles of vice

adultery, theft,

idolatry, poifoning,

murder, was familiar to the inhabitants of the

of the church of Jeru-

holy

city

''.

The wealth and pre-eminence

who, fmce

falem excited the ambition of Arian, as well as orthodox, candidates

and the

virtues of Cyril,
title

his death, has

been honoured

with the

of Saint, were difplayed in the exercife, rather than in

''\

the acquifition, of his epifcopal dignity

linus,

This multiplkatlon is aflerted by Pau(epift. xxxvi. See Dupin, Bibliot. Ecclef. torn. iii. p. 149. )> whofeems to have improved a rhetorical flourifh of Cyril into a real faft. The fame fupernatural privilege muft have been communicated to theVirgin's milk (Erafmi Opera, torn. i. p. 778. Lugd.
Batav. 1703. in Colloq. de Peregrinat. Religionisergo), faints heads. Sec. and other relics,

*5

539.
age,
it is

The whole epiftle, which condemns

is

ei-

ther the ufe or the abufe of religious pilgrimpainful to the Catholic divines
;

vvhile

dear and familiar to our Proteftant po-

lemics.

officiated as

renounced his orthodox ordination, a deacon, and was re-ordained by the hands of the Arians. But Cyril afterv/ards

<'"

He

changed with the times, and pruTil-

which are repeated in

fo

many

different;

dently conformed to the Nicene faith.

churches,
**

Jerom (tom.i.

p. 103.),

who

refided in

the neighbouring
fcribes the vices

village of Bethlem,

de-

lemont (Mem. Ecclef. torn, viii.), who treats his memory with tendernefs and refpefl, has thrown his virtues into the text, and his faults
into the notes, in decent obfcurity, at the

of Jerufalem from

his per-

end

fonal experience.

of the volume.

"

Gregor. Nyflen,
II.

apud Weffeling, p.

VoLv

The

386

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The
'

CHAP.
xxiir.

vain and ambitious mind of Julian might afpire to rcftore the

'"'.

ancient glory of the temple of Jerufalem

As

the Chriftians were

Julian at-

tempts
buil

to re-

firmly perfuaded that a fentence of everlafiing deftrudlon had been

tlie

temple.

pronounced againft the whole

rial

fabric of the

Mofaic law, the Impe-

fophift

would have converted the

argument againft the
faith
'.

fuccefs of his undertaking

into a fpecious

of prophecy, and the truth

of revelation

He

was

difpleafcd with the fpiritual worfhip of the

fynagogue

but he approved the inftitutions of Mofes,

who had

not
".

difdained to adopt

many

of the

rites

and ceremonies of Egypt

The

local

and national deity of the Jews was fmcerely adored by a

polytheift,

who defired only

to multiply the

number of

the gods''^;

and

fuch was the appetite of Julian for bloody

facrifice, that his

emulation

might be excited by the piety of Solomon,

feaft

who had

offered, at the

of the dedication, twenty-two thoufand oxen, and one hundred

".

and twenty thoufand fheep

his defigns
;

Thefe confiderations might influence

but the profpecl of an immediate and important ad-

vantage, would not fuffer the impatient

*'

monarch
fairly

to expedl the re-

Imperii

fui

operum geiHens propagare.

I.

memoriam magnitudine Ammian. xxiii.

&c.

who have

derided the fears, the

The temple

mous even among

of jerufalem had been faThey had the Gentiles.

five, at

and the falfehood, of fome fuperlHtious divines. See Divine Legation, vol. iv. p.
folly,

25, &c.
''^

hundred and eight, at twenty-four) ; but the wealth and religion of the Jewifli nation was centered in one
four
fpot.
'

many Gaza

temples in each city (at Sichem

Julian (Fragment, p. 295.) refpeftfully

Rome

The

fecret intentions

of Julian are re-

him (/..-yac 8;oc, and mentions him elfewhere (epift. Ixiii.) with Hill higher reverence. He doubly condemns the Chriftians for believing, and for renouncing, the religion of Their Deity was a true, but not the Jews.
ftyles
:

vealed by the late bifhop of Gloucefter, the

learned and dogmatic Warburton
;

the only,

God.

Apud

Cyril.

1.

ix, p.

305,
5,

who, with

306.
'^
1

the authority of a theologian, prefcribes the

Kings

vili.

63. 2 Chronicles
1.

vii.

motives and condiift of the Supreme Being.

Jofeph. Antiquitat. Judaic.

viii.

c.

4. p.

The

difcourfe entitled Julian

is

(2d edition,

London, 1751),

ftrongly

the peculiarities which are

marked with all imputed to the

As the blood and 431. edit. Havercamp. fmoke of fo many hecatombs might be inconvenient, Lightfoot, the Chrillian rabbi,

Warburtonian fchool.
''

removes them by a miracle.

loca)
is

Le Clerc (ad

(helter

myfelf behind Maimonides,

bold enough to fufpcft the fidelity of

Marfliam, Spencer,

Le

Clerc,

Warbwton,

the numbers,

mpte

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

387

mote and uncertain event of the Perfian war. He refolved to ereV, without delay, on the commanding eminence of Moriah, a {lately temple, which might eclipfe the fplendor of the church of the Refurredlion on the adjacent
priefts,
hill

CHAP.
XXIII

of Cahviry

to eftablilh an order of

whofe

interefted zeal

would
;

dete6l the arts,

to invite a

and

refift

the

ambition, of their Chiiftian rivals

and

numerous colony
pagan govern-

of Jews, whofe ftern fanaticifm would be always prepared to fecond,

and even
ment.
ror,

to anticipate, the hoflile meafures of the

Among

the friends of the emperor (if the

firft

names of empe-

and of friend, are not incompatible) the

himfelf, to the virtuous

place

was
'"*'.

afligned,

by Julian

and learned Alypius

jullice,

The huforti-

manity of Alypius was tempered by fevere

tude
;

and manly

and while he exercifed

his abilities in the civil adminiflra-

tlon of Britain, he imitated, in his poetical compofitions, the har-

mony and
his

foftnefs of the odes of

Sappho.

This minifter, to

whom
and

Julian communicated, without referve, his moft carelefs

levities,

moft ferlous counfels, received an extraordinary commifTion to

Its

reftore. In

priftine

beauty,- the temple of Jerufalem

and the

diligence of Alypius required and obtained the ftrenuous fupport of

the governor of Paleftine.

At
and

the call of their great deliverer, the

Jews, from

all

the provinces of the empire, aflembled on the holy

;

mountain of

their fathers

their Infolent

triumph alarmed and

exafperated the Chrlftlan Inhabitants of Jerufalem.

The
the

defire

of

rebuilding the temple has, in every age, been the ruling paffion of

the children of
their avarice,
filver

Ifrael.

In this propitious

moment
;

men

forgot

and the

women

their delicacy

fpades and pickaxes of

rich,

were provided by the vanity of the

In mantles of filk

and the rubblfh

was tranfported

and purple.

Every purfe was

^* Julian, epift. xxix. xxx.

cpillles.

La

Bleterie has neglefted to tranflate the fecond of thefe

3^2

opened

388

THE DECLINE AND FALL

opened in
liberal
;

CHAP.
XXIII.

contributions, every

hand claimed

a fiiare In the

pious labour

and the commands of a great monarch were executed

a

by the enthufiafm of
The
piize
enteris

whole people".

Yet, on this occafion, the joint efforts of power and enthufiafm

de-

feated.

were unfuccefsful

and the ground of the Jewifli temple, which

is

now

covered by a

Mahometan mofque

"*,

ftill

continued to exhibit

the fame edifying fpeitacle of ruin and defolation.

Perhaps the
Chrlftian

abfence and death of the emperor, and the

new maxims of a
life

reign, might explain the interruption of an arduous

work, which was

of Julian ".

attempted only in the

laft

fix

months of the

But

the Chrlflians entertained a natural and pious expectation, that, in

this

memorable

conteft, the

honour of

religion

would be vindicated

by fome
eruption,

fignal miracle.

An

earthquake, a whirlwind, and a fiery

fcattered the

which overturned and

new

foundations of the

temple, are attefted, with fome variations, by contemporary and refpedlable evidence ".

This public event

is

defcribed

by Ambrofe

",

bifhop of Milan, in an epiftle to the emperor Theodofius, which

mull provoke the fevere animadverfion of the Jews ; by the eloquent

See the zeal and impatience of the Jews Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. iv. p. ill.) and Theodoret (1. iii. c. 20.).
'5
''*

" The fufafequent

zomen, Theodoret,
pare the
objections

wicneffes, Socrates,

in

Philoflorgius, &c.

Soadd

contradiftions, rather than authority.

Com-

Built by

Omar,

the fecond Khalif,

who

This great mofque covers died A. D. 644. the whole confecrated ground of the Jewifli
temple, and conftitutes almoft afquare of 760 toifcs, or one Roman mile in circumference.

of Bafnage (Hift. des168) with WarburJuifs, torn. viii. p. 157 The ton's anfwers (Julian, p. 174 258.). bifliop has ingenioufly explained the miracu-

lous crofTes

which appeared on the garments

See d'Anville Jerufalem, p. 4;.

of the fpefiators by a llmilar inftance, and

the natural effefts of lightning.
'''

"

Ammianiis records the confuls of the

.

year 363, before he proceeds to mention the Templum . . inftauthoughts of Julian.

rare

Ambrof.

torn.

ii.

epift. xl. p. 946.- edit.

Benediflin.
tle

He

compofed

this fanatic epif-

fumptibus cogitahat immodicis.

War-

(A. D. 388.) to juilify a bifhop,

civil

who had

burton has a fecret wifh to anticipate the defign ; but he mud have underftood, from former examples, that the execution of fuch
a work would have demanded

been condemned by the burning a fy nagogue.

magiilrate for

many

years.

Chryfoftom,

OF THE
Ghryfoftom
'"j

ROMAN
appeal to the

EMPIRE.
memory
of the elder part
^',

389
^
'

who might
at

^^

,^ P.

of his congregation

Antioch;

and by Gregory Nazianzen

'

who

publifhed his account of the miracle before the expii-ation of

prx-tematural event.

the fame year.

The

laft

of thefe writers

has

boldly declared,
infidels
;

that this prseternatural event

his afTcrtion, flrange as
it

was not dlfputed by the

and

tionable teflimony of
foldier,

may feem, is confirmed by the unexcepAmmianus Marcellinus ". The philofophic

own

who

loved the virtues, without adopting the prejudices, of his

mafter, has recorded, in his judicious and candid hiftory of his

times, the extraordinary obftacles

of the temple of Jerufiilem.

*'

which interrupted the reftoration " Whilft Alypius, affifted by the go-

vernor of the province,

urged, with vigour and diligence, the

" execution of the work,

*'

horrible balls of fire breaking out near the

foundations, with frequent and reiterated attacks,,

place,

rendered the

"

from time

to time, inacceffible to the fcorched

and blafted
this

" workmen; and the vidlorious element continuing in

manner

"
*'

obftinately

and refolutely bent,

as

it

were, to drive them to a

diftance, the undertaking

was abandoned."

Such authority

fliould

fatisfy

a believing,

and muft aftonifh an incredulous, mind;.

Yet a

philofopher

may

ftill

require the original evidence of impartial and

intelligent fpeftators.

At

this

important

crifis,

any

fingular accident

of nature would affume the appearance, and produce the effeds, of

'

Chryfoftom,
et

torn.

i.

p. 5S0. adverf. Jup.

titer

inftaret Alypior,

juvaretquc provincics.

dios
the

Gentes, tom.

ii

byla, edit.

Montftucon.

574. de S'". BaI have- followed

;

common and

natural fuppofition

biu the

learned Benediifline,

who

dates the compofiis

metuendi globi flammarum prnpe fundamenta crebiis affultibus eiumpentesfecere locum exuftis aliquoties operaniibus inacceflnm hocque mode elemento deltinarefbor,
:

tion of thefe fermons in the year 383,

con-

tius

repellente,

ceflavit

inceptum.

War-

Udent they were never pronounced from the

pulpit,
"'

burton labours (p. 60-90.) to extort a confeffion of the miracle from the mouths of
Julian

Greg-.

Nazianzen, Orat.

iv. p.

no
tfo'i

and Libanius,

and

to

employ the
the
fif-

113.
9fci,-

Tt, Je a wtfi^ov.Toi/ Trac-i GavfAK,

xai

Toi;

evidence of a rabbi,
teenth century.

who

lived in

auTci; aTirouftEjo*

?i^i'ii

tf^ofiai.

Such

witnellcs can only be

*^

Ammian.

xxiii. 1.

Cum itaquerei

for-

received by a very favourable judge.

a real

390

THE DECLINE AND FALL

a real prodigy. This glorious deliverance

CHAP
XXIil.

would be

fpeedily

Improved

and magnified by the pious

aftive

art

of the clergy of Jerufalem, and the

;

credulity of the Chriftian world

and, at the diftance of

difputes,
^'.

twenty years, a

Roman

hiftorian, carelefs of theological

might adorn
Partiality

his

work with
q
^.j^g

the fpecious and fplendid miracle

of

The
^jjj^

reftoration
j.jjjj^

of the Jewifh temple was fecretly connected

Chriftian

juUiin.

jj^g

church.

Julian

ftill

continued

to

maintain

the

freedom of religious worfhip,

this

without diftin-

guifliing,

whether

univerfal

toleration

proceeded

from

his

juftice, or his

clemency. miftaken
pity

He
in

affedted to pity the

unhappy Chrif-

tians,
lives
;

who were
but
his

the moft important objedl of their

was degraded
;

by contempt,

his

contempt

was embittered by hatred

and the fentiments of Julian were ex-

prefled in a ftyle of farcaftic wit,

which

inflidts

a deep and deadly

wound, whenever
was
fenfible

it

iflues

from the mouth of a fovereign.

As he
Relefs

that the Chriftians gloried in the

name of

their

deemer, he countenanced, and perhaps enjoined, the ufe of the

honourable appellation of
the folly of the

Galileans *\ He declared, Galila^ans, whom he defcribes as a fet of

;

that,

by

fanatics,

contemptible to men, and odious to the gods, the empire had been

reduced to the brink of deftruftion

edidl, that

and he infmuates in a public

a frantic patient might fometimes be cured

by

falutary

violence '^

An

ungenerous diftindtion was admitted into the mind

''

Dr. Lardner,

perhaps alone

of

the

ferved fp. 35. \ that the Platonifts believed

in the myfterious virtue
lian's

Chriftian critics, prefumes to doubt the truth

of words

of this fxinous miracle (Jewifli and Heathen TelUmonies, vol. iv. p. 47 71.). Thefilence of Jerom would lead to a fufpicion, that the fame ftory, which was celebrated at a diftance,

diilike

for the

name of

proceed from fuperftition, as

and Jumight well as from

;

Chrift

contempt.

"
the

Fragment. Julian,
ftoeioi

p. 288.
vii.),

He derides
and
fo far

might be defpifed on the fpot. "* Greg. Naz. Orat. iii. p. 81. And this law was confirmed by the invariable praftice of Julian himfelf. Warburton has juftly ob-

ra^x.^a;;,;!.

(epift.

lofes fight

of the principles of toleration, as

to wilh (epift, xlii.) axi,Ta; lac-Oai.

and

OF THE
and counfels of Julian,
ligious fentiments,
friendiliip,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
of their rehis favour

jgi

that, accordins; to the difference

CHAP.
XXIII.

one part of his fubjecSs deferved

and

while the other was entitled only to the

common
"^

benefits

that his juftice could not refufe to

an obedient people

Accord-

ing to a principle, pregnant with mifchief and opprefTion, the

em-

peror transferred, to the pontiffs of his

own

religion, the

manage-

ment of

the liberal allowances from the public revenue,

which had
his fons.

been granted to the church by the piety of Conflantine and

The proud
ground

fyftem of

clerical

honours and immunities, which had

art

been conftrudted with fo

;

much

and labour, was

levelled

to

the

the hopes of teftamentary donations were intercepted by the

;

rigour of the laws

and the
laft

priefts

of the Chriflian fed: were conclafs

founded with the

and mofl ignominious

of the people.

Such of
bition

thefe regulations as appeared necefHiry to

ecclefiaflics,

check the

am-

and avarice of the

were foon afterwards imitated

by the wifdom of an orthodox

which policy has bellowed, or
cerdotal order, miijl

prince.

The

peculiar diftindlions

fuperflition has lavifhed,

on the

fa-

be confined to thofe priefts

will of the legiflator

who profefs the

religion

of the

ftate.

But the
;

was not exempt from

prejudice and paflion

and

it

was the

objed: of the infidious policy

all

of Julian, to deprive the Chriftians of

advantages

the temporal honours and

in

which rendered them

refpedlable

the eyes of the

world
"" Oi/

''.

yap

ftot 9tfti5 sri :o,i^sft> 01

^Ealfl

amiy^un a^Mccloiair, Thefe two lines, which Julian has changed and perverted in the true fpirit of a bigot (Epill. xlix.), are taken from the fpeech of ^clus, when he refufes to grant Ulyffes a
At^fai,
K
fleoiffii/

^gy '" which perfecution peeps through the mafk of Candour. '' Thefe laws which afFefled the clergy^ may be found in the flight hints of Julian

himfelf (Epift.
tions of

lii.),

in the
iii.

vague declamap. 86, 87.),

Gregory (Orat.

and
(1. v,

fupply of winds (OdyfT. X. 73.). Llbanius (Orat. Parent, c. 59. p. 286.) attempts
frelli

in the pofitive aiiertions

c. 5.),

of Sozomen

to jullify this partial behaviour,

by an apo-

A juft

392

THE DECLINE AND EALL

A
jiift

CHAP.
XXIII.
<
,

and fevere cenfure has been

inflicted

on the law which

'

prohibited the Chriftians from teacliing the arts of

rhetoric
partial
"".

grammar and
to juftify this
his hfe-time,

He
th'.-

proliibits

Chriftians from

The motives

alleged

by the emperor

teaching
.fchools.

and oppreffive meafure, might command, during

the filencc of flavcs and the applaufe of flatterers.

Julian abufes the

ambiguous meaning of
to the language

word which might be

indifferently applied
:

and the religion of the

Greeks

he contemptuoufly

obferves, that the

unfit to claim or to

men who

exalt

the merit of implicit faith are

;

enjoy the advantages of fcience

to

and he vainly

contends,

that if they refufe

adore

the gods of

Homer and
In
all

Demofl;henes, they ought to content themfelves with expounding

Luke and Matthew

cities

in the churches of the Galileans

^.

the

of the

Roman
of

world, the education of the youth was entrufl;ed

rhetoric
;

to mailers

grammar and

who were
and

elected

by the

maglftrates, maintained at the public expence,

difl^lngulfhed

by

many

lucrative

and honourable

privileges.

The edid of

Julian,
all

appears to have included the phyficians, and profeflbrs of

liberal arts
;

the

and the emperor,

who

referved to himfelf the appro-

bation of the candidates, was authorifed by the laws to corrupt, or

to puniili, the religious conftancy of the

moft learned of the

"'

Chrifl;-

ians '^

As foon
.
.

as the refignation

of the more obfliinate

teachers

. perenni obruendum fiAmmian. xxii. lo. xxv. 5. ^9 The ediiSt itfelf, which is IHII extant among the epiftles of Julian (xlii.), may be

^'

Inclemens

cis

lentio.

et profeflbribus, leg. 5. (publifhed the 17th of June, received, at Spoleto in Italy, the 29th of July, A. D. 363.) with Godefroy's

Illuftrations,

compared with the

(Orat.
iii.

loofe inveiflives of

Gregory

'

torn. v. p. 31. Orofius celebrates their difinterefted re-

p. 96.).

torn. vii. p.

1291

1294)

Tillemont (Mem. Ecclef.

has collefted the

folution, Sicut a majoribus noftris

compertum
vii.

habemus, omnes ubique propemodum ....

officium
30.

feeming differences of ancients and moderns. They may be eafily reconciled. The Chriftians were direBly forbid to teach, they were
indireHly forbid to learn

quam

fidem deferere maluerunt,

Proxrefius, a Chriftian fophift,

refufed

to accept the partial favour

of the emperor.

fince

they would

not frequent the fchools of the Pagans.

Hieronym. in Chron. p. 185. Edit. Scaliger. Eunapiusin Proxrefio, p. 126.

Codex Theodof.

1. xiii. tit. iii.

de medi-

had

; :

OF THE
had

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
fophlfts, Julian
pul)]ic

393
^
v'^,

eftablifhed the unrivalled

dominion of the Pagan

''

Invited the rifing generation to refort

with freedom to the

fghools, in a jufl confidence, that their tender

minds w^ould receive

of the

the imprefTions of literature and idolatry.

If the greateft part

Chriftian youth fliould be deterred

by

their ovv^n fcruplcs, or

by thofe

of their parents, from accepting

this

dangerous mode of inftrudtion,

of a liberal edu*

they muft,
cation.

at the

fame time,

relinquifli the benefits

Julian had reafon to exped: that, in the fpace of a few

years, the church

would

relapfe into
pofTefTed

its

primeval

fimplicity,

and
.A

that the theologians,

who

an adequate fhare of the learning

and eloquence of the age, would be fucceeded by a generation of

blind and ignorant fanatics, incapable of defending the truth of their

own
It

principles, or

of expoiuig the various

the wifh

follies

of Polytheifm '\
to deprive 0'%"ce and ^
oppreflion of the Chrift-

was undoubtedly

and the defign of Julian

the Chriftians of the advantages of wealth, of knowledge, and of

power
truft

but the injuftice of excluding them from

profit,

all

offices

of
?

and

feems to have been the

refult

of his general policy,

pofitive

rather than the immediate confequence of

any

law

'",

Su-

perior merit might deferve, and obtain, fome extraordinary exceptions

but the greater part of the Chriftian

officers

were gradually removed

*^

from

their

employments

in the ftate, the

army, and the provinces,

The hopes of

future candidates w^ere extinguifhed

by

tlie

declared
it

partiality of a prince,

who

malicioufly reminded them, that

was

unlawful for a Chriftian to ufe the fword, either, of jufticc, or, of war

and who ftudioufly guarded the camp and the

They had recourfe to the expedient of Compofing books for their own fchools. Within a few months ApoIIinaris produced his
Chriftian imitations of
'^

tribunals with the en-

magiftrates (Epift. vii.) TrpriftarOai

fifoo-E^eis

ftsi

rot t;
(1.

xai Tratu

ipuf/i

Jsi".

Sezomen
13.)

v.

c.

8.)

and Socrates

(I.

iii. c.

muft be

Homer
is

(a facred hif-

tory in xxiv. books), Pindar, Euripides, and

reduced to the ftandard of Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 95.), not lefs prone to exaggeration, but

Menander; and Sozomen

S'^

fatisfied,

that

they equalled, or excelled, the originals.

It

more reftrained by the aflual knowledge of his contemporary readers.

was the inllniftion of Julian

II,

to his

Vol.

Hgns

394
^i?vnr^'
^^K^^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

f Idolatry.

The powers of government

profefled

v/ere entrufted
religion

tO'

*>r

'

the Pagans,
anceftors
;

who
and

an ardent

zeal for the

of their
by-

as the choice of the

emperor was often dircded

he rules of divination, the favourites

agreeable
to
'\

whom he

preferred as the moft

the

gods, did

not always obtain the approbation of

mankind
ians had

Under

the adminiftration of their enemies, the Chrift-

much

to fuffer,

and more to apprehend.

;

The temper of
which

Julian was averfe to cruelty

and the care of

his reputation,

was expofed

to the eyes of the univerfe, reftrained the philofophic

monarch from

violating the laws of juftice and toleration,

which he

himfelf had fo recently eftablilhed.

his authority
ercife

But the provincial minifters of

In the ex-

were placed in

a lefs confpicuous ftation.

of arbitrary power, they confulted the wifhes, rather than the

;

commands, of their fovereign

and ventured

to exercife a fecret

and

vexatious tyranny againft the feilaries, on

whom

they were not per-

mitted to confer the honours of martyrdom.

diffembled, as long as polFible, his

The emperor, who

injuftice

knowledge of the

that

was
They
are

exercifed in his

name, exprefled

his real fenfe of the

"'.

conduct of

his officers,

by

gentle reproofs and fubftantial rewards

The moft

effe<ftual

inftrument of oppreffion,
tliat

with which they

to rcftore the
pies.

Were armed, was the law

obliged the Chriftians to

make

full

and ample fatisfadion for the temples which they had deftroyed
under the preceding reign.

The

zeal of the

triumphant church had

;

not always expelled the fancStion of the public authority

bifhops,

and the
at

who were

fecure of impunity,

had often marched,

the

head of their congregations, to attack and demolifh the

the prince of darknefs.

fortrefTes

of

The

confecrated lands, which had encreafed.

the patrimony of the fovereign or of the clergy, were cleai-ly de** I-tC'ij

6=i^

xxi hSac
c.

yc.i fttj Jifcf..

Libanlus,

Sorae drawback

may however

be allowed for

Orat. Parent,
*'

88. p. 314.
iii.

the violence of /^nV zeal, not Icfs partial than

p.

Greg. Naz. Orat.

1, iii. c.

74. 91, 92,

1. iii.

the zeal of Julian.

Socrates,

14.

Theodore!,

c, 6=.

fined.

OF THE
iined, anJ eafily reftored.

ROMAN
But on

EMPIRE.
and on the ruins of ^
then-

395

iliefe lands,

P.

Pagan fuperftkion, the Chriftians had frequenliy creeled

religious edifices
:

own

and

as

it

was neceflary to remove the church beand piety of the em-

fore the temple could be rebuilt, the juftice

peror were applauded by one party, while the other deplored and
execrated his facrileglous violence ^^

After the ground was cleared,

the reftiiution of thofe ftately ftruitures, which

had been

levelled

with the

diift

and of the precious ornaments, which had been con;

verted to Chrifiian ufes

fwelled into a very large account of da-

mages and

debt.

The

authors of the injury had neither the ability

this

nor the inclination to difcharge

impartial

accumulated demand

and the
in ba-

wifdom of

a Icgiflator

would have been difplayed

lancing the adverfe claims and complaints, by an equitable and temperate arbitration.

But the whole empire, and particularly the

Eail,

was thrown

into confufion

by the
zeal

rafli

edidls of Julian

and the

Pagan magiftrates, inflamed by

privilege of the

and revenge, abufed the rigorous

fubftitutes,

Roman law
Mark,

which

in the place of his

inadequate property,
the preceding reign,

the perfon of the

biiliop

infolvent debtor.
"',

Under

of Arethufa

had laboured in the

converfion of his people with arms more eifedlual than thofe of perfuafion
''.

The

magiftrates required the full value of a temple wdiich

his intolerant zeal
:

had been deftoyed by

"''

but as they were

fatisfied

If

we compare

the gentle language of

c.

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

p. 86, 87.),

60. p. 286.) with

thufa were ufurped by the Arab Snmpficeramus, whofe pofterity, the va/fals of Rome,

the pafTionate exclamations of Gregory (Orat.

iii.

were not extinguifhed

fian.

in the reign

of VefpaIti-

we may

find

it

difficult

to

See d'Anville's
torn.
ii.

Maps and Geographic

134.

perfuade ourfelves, that the two orators are

really defcribing the
5'

Ancienne,
neraria, p.

p.

Wefleling.

fame events.

188. and

Norif.

Epoch. Syro-

Reftan or Arethufa, at the equal diftance

offixteen miles between

EmefA C Hems J, and

Epiphania (Hamatb), was founded, or at named, by Seleucus Nicator. Its peculiar a;ra dates from the year of P.ome 685 according to the medals of the city. In the
leafl
;

Macedon. p. 80. 481, 482. *" Sozomen, 1, v. c. 10. It is furprifing, that Gregory and Theodoret fliould fupprefs
a circumftance, which, in
ha\-e
their eyes, muil enhanced the religious merit of the con-

ftflbr.

decline of the Seleucides,

Emefa and Are-

of

<%

39^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of his poverty, they defired only to bend his inflexible
fpirit

CHAP.
XXIII.

to the

promife of the
prelate, tliey

flighteft

compenfation.

They apprehended
his beard
in a net,
;

the aged

inhumanly fcourged him, they tore

and

his

naked body, anointed with honey, was fufpended,

heaven and earth, and expofed to the
of a Syrian fim
'".

between

flings of infedts

and the rays

perfiftcd to

From

this

lofty llation,

Mark

ftill

glory in his crime, and to infult the impotent rage of his perfecutors.

He was

at length refcued

from

their hands,

and difmifled

to enjoy

the honour of his divine triumph.

The Arians

celebrated the virtue

of their pious
alliance
"''
;

confeflbr

the

catholics

ambitioufly

claimed

his

and the Pagans,

who might be fufceptible

the
:

of fhame or
unavailing

remorfe,
cruelty
'\

were deterred from

Julian fpared

repetition

of fuch

his life

but

if

the bifhop of Arethufa

had faved the infancy of Julian

'\ pofterity will

condemn the

in-

gratitude, inftead of praifing the clemency, of the emperor.

Tlie temple and facred 5;rove of Daphne.

At the

diftance of five miles

from Antioch, the Macedonian

kinsrs

of Syria had confecrated to Apollo one of the moft elegant places of

devotion in the Pagan world
*s

'\

magnificent temple rofe in ho-

The
iii.

fufFerings

and conftancy of Mark,

fo

which Gregory has

(Orat.
p.

tragically

painted

"' See the probable advice of Salluft (Greg. Nazianzcn, Orat. iii. 90, 91.). Libanius intercedes for a fimilar offender, left they fhould find many Maris ; yet he allows,
that if Orion had fecreted the confecrated wealth, he deferved to fufFer the punilhment

88

91.),

are confirmed

by the
^ari-

unexceptionable and reluftant evidence of

L/ibaniUS*

Ma^xoj

innvo';

K^ii^ccULVjri^f Ka.%

inytLuv unt^nuq vvv

Try,

*ffo6eoc frt

Tt;

T(jM.at^,

xav

<pa.yn

of Marfyas
P'"=

to

be flayed alive (Epift. 730.

iii.

jTigiuccx^iTdq tv^vf.

Epilt. 730. p. 350, 351.

349 35>-)Gregory (Orat.

ftill

Edit. Wolf. Amftel. 1738.

' nipifiap(;iTof,

p. 90.)

is

fatisfied,

certatim
thus

ani) vindicant.

It is

eum fibi (ChrLftithat La Croze and

that by

faving the .apofhte,

Mark had

de-

ferved
'^

Wolfiiis (ad loc.)

have explained a Greek

more than he had fufFered. The grove and temple of Daphne are

word, whofe true fignification had been miftaken by former interpreters, and even by
le

Clerc (Bibliotheque Ancienne et Moderne,

iii.

torn.
ly

p. 371.).

Yet Tillemont

is

ftrange-

(1. xvi. p. 10S9, 1090.. Amltel. 1707.), Libanius (Na:nia, p.^ 1S8. Antiochic. Orat. xi. p. 380, 381.), 185 and Sozomen (1. v. c. 19.). WefTeling (Iti-

defcribed by Strabo

edit.

puzzled to underftand
p. 1309.) ioiu

(Mem.

Ecclef. torn,

nerar. p. 581.),

and Cafaubon (ad

Hift.

Au-

Gregory and Theodoret tould miftake a Semi-Arian bilhop for a faint.

vii.

guft. p. 64.) illuflrate this curious fubjedl.

nour

OF THE
nour of the god of
light
;

ROMAN EMPIRE
and
his CoIofTal figure
'*

397
filled

ahnoft

the

^"

^Jt.f.

capacious fandluary, which was enriched with gold and gems, and

adorned by the

fkill

of the Grecian

artifts.

The

deity
in

was rehis

prefented in a bending attitude, with a golden cup

hand,

pouring out a libation on the earth

as

if

he fupplicated the ve-

nerable mother to give to his arms the cold and beauteous

for the fpot

Daphne

was ennobled by

ficSlion

and the fancy of the Syrian

poets had tranfported the amorous tale from the baiiks of the Peneus
to thofe of the Orontes.

The

ancient rites of Greece were imitated

by

the royal colony of Antioch.

ftream of prophecy, v^'hich

oracle, flowed

rivalled the truth

and reputation of the Delphic

from

the Cajlalian fountain of

Daphne

''.

In the adjacent fields a ftadlum

was bulk by
Elis
;

a fpecial privilege

'""j

which had been purchafed from

at

the

Olympic games were celebrated

of thirty
"".

the expence of the citv

and a revenue

thoufand pounds fterling

was

annually

applied to the public pleafures

The

perpetual refort of pilgrims

and

fpedtators infenfibly formed, in the

neighbourhood of the temple,

the ftately and populous village of Daphne, which emulated the

fplendor, without acquiring the
title,

of a provincial

city.

The

temple and the village were deeply bofomed in a thick grove of

'*

Simulacrum
xxii.

in

eo Olympiaci Jovis

imitamenti a:quiparans magnitudinem.

Am-

mian.

fixty feet high,

equal to
rious

The Olympic Jupiter was and his bulk vvasconfequently that of a thoufand men. See a cu13.

was purchafed, A. D. 44, in the jcra of Antioch (Norif. Epocli. Syro-Maced. p. 139 174.) for the term of ninety Olympiads. But the Olympicg.nmes of
year 92 of the

'' It

Antioch were not regularly celebrated

reign of
in the

till

the

Memolre of the Abbe Gedoyn (Acade-

Commodus.

See the curious details

(torn.
i.

mic des Infcriptions, torn. ix. p. 198.). '' Hadrian read the hiftory of his future fortunes on a leaf dipped in the Callalian ftream a trick, which, according tothe phyfician Vandale (de Oraculis, p. 281, 282.), might be eafily performed by chymical preThe emperor flopped the fource parations. which was of fuch dangerous knowledge again opened by the devout curiofity of Ju; ;

Chronicle of John Malala

p.

29c. 320. 372

381.), a writer whofe merit

liinit-s

and authority are confined within the of his native city.

'"^

Fifteen talents of gold, bequeathed by

Sofibiu?,

who

died in the reign of Auguflus.

The

theatrical merits of the Syrian cities, in

the age of Conftantine, are

ExpoJitio totius

Mundi,

p. 6.

compared in the [Hudfon, Geo-

lian.

graph. Minor, torn.

iii.).

laurels

398

THE DECLINE AND FALL

I'^u^els
'

^vviu^'
<>

and cyprefles, which reached

as far as a circumference

often

miles,

and formed in the moft

fultry

fummers

a cool

and impenetrable

fnadc.
hill,

thoufand ftreams of the pureft

vrater, iffuing

from every

preferved the verdure of the earth, and the temperature of the

the fenfes w^ere gratified with harmonious founds and aromatic
;

air

odours

and the peaceful grove was confccrated to health and joy,

to luxury

and

love.
;

The

vigorous youth purfued, like Apollo, the

fate

objed: of his defires

and the blufhing maid was warned, by the

of Daphne, to fliun the folly of unfeafonable coynefs.

The

foldicr

and the philofopher wifely avoided the temptation of

paradife
''
;

this fenfual

where

pleafure,

afiuming the character of religion,

firmnefs
for
;

imperceptibly

dlffolved

the

of manly virtue.

But the

groves of

Daphne continued
and ftrangers
added new

many

ages to enjoy the venera-

tion of natives

the privileges of the holy ground

;

were enlarged by the munificence of fucceeding emperors

every
generation
"'.

and

ornaments to the fplendor of the

temple
Negleft and profanation

When Julian,
the
i

on the day of the annual

fePcival,

haftened to adore

of Daphne,

ApoUo of Daphne,

r xx

his

devotion was raifed to the higheit pitch

of eagernefs and impatience.

grateful

His

lively imagination anticipated the

;

pomp

of vidtim.s, of libations, and of incenfe

a long prc-

ceirion of

youths and virgins, clothed in vrhite robes, the fymbol

;

of their innocence
people.

and the tumultuous concourfe of an innumerable

of Antioch was diverted, fince the reign of
Jnftead of hecatombs of
fat

But the

zeal

Chriftianity, into a different channel.

oxen
""'

facrificed

by

the tribes of a wealthy city, to their tutelar deity,

Avidio

Caffio Syriacos legiones dedi

'9

Aliquantum agrorum Daphnenfibus

(Pomfe^),
.

luxuriadifHuentesetDc/^s/Vwrnoribus. Thefe
are the word, of the enr-.percr
,
.

JeJJt ^^^^^

quo lucus

ibi

fpatioilor

mis in an original letter ,^. , ^ rr ,-/grapher in Hift. Auguft. p. 41. CaJliusdiirr -n. J r V or punilhed eiferv loiuier who .was r mined lecn
I
'

Marcus Antonipreferved by his bio7

ddedatus an.cenitale loci -^ , j n . abundantia. liutropius, vi. 14,

f^i de Provlnciis, ' >
c,

et

c . bc.vtus

acmarum d Ku..

i6,

at

Daphne.

the

OF THE
tlic

ROMAN
the
pale

EMPIRE.
fingle goofc,

399
provided
of

emperor complains that he found only a

the

P..

XXIII.
at

expence of a

prieft,

and

folitary inhabitant

this

decayed temple

".

The

altar

was

deferted,

the

oracle

had
the'

been reduced to
introdu(2:ion

filence,

and the holy ground was profaned by

rites.

of Chriftian and funereal

After Babylas

'"

(a

bifliop of Antioch,

who

died in prifon in the perfecution of Decius)

had

refted near a century in his grave, his body,

by the order of the

C^far Gallus, was tranfported into the midft of the grove of Daphne.

magnificent church was erefted over his remains

a portion of

the facred lands was ufurped for the maintenance of the clergy, and
for the burial of the Chriftians of Antioch,

who were

ambitious of

lying at the feet of their bilhop

and the

priefts

of Apollo retired,
as another

with their affrighted and indignant votaries.

As fcon

revolution feemed to reflore the fortune of Paganifm, the church of

St.

Babylas was demolifhed, and

edifice

new

buildings were added to the

mouldering
kings.

which had been

and mofl

raifed

by the piety of Syrian

But the

firft

ferious care of Julian

was

to deliver

his opprefTed deity

from the odious prefence of the dead and living

fo efiedually fuppreffed the voice of fraud

Chriftians, v/ho

had

or
Removal
dies,

enthufiafm "\
n
r

The
1

fcene of infedion
; 1

was
1

purified, according to the

;
,

of the dead bo-

forrns of ancient rituals

I

the bodies were decently removed

I

and
r-

and ccn-

the mmilters 01 the church were permitted to convey the remains of

St.

flaeration of

the temple,

Babylas to their former habitation within the walls of Antioch,

Julian (Mifnpogon, p. 361, 362.) diTpart
ii.

"

p.

287 30:. 459465.) becomes

covers his

own

ch.irafler

with that

ndi-vete,

almofl: a fceptic.

that unconfcious fifnpliciiy, which aK.ays conftitutcs

genuine humour.

"* F.cclefiaftical critics, particularly tho/e who love relics, exult in theconfefiion of Julian

'" Babylas is named by Eufebius in the fuccfffion of the bifliops cf Antioch (Hilt, His triumph over Ecclef. 1. vi. c. 29. 39.).

(Mifopngon,
p. 185.),

p. 361.)
.'i

and Libanius (Ns-

nia,

that

polio was diHuropd by

the vicinity of one dead man.

Yet

Ammi-

two emperors (the

hiftorical)
is

firft

fabulous, the fecond

celebrated

difl'uiely
ii.

by Chry-

anas (xxii. 12 ) clears and purifies the whole ground, according to the rites which the^
Atheiiians formerly praftifed in the
iile

foftcm

(ton-,

p.

536- 579.

edit.

Monttorn.
iii.

of

feucon.),.

Tillemonc (Mem. Ecclef.

Ddos,.

The

400

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Xhe modeft behaviour which might have
hoftile

CHAP.

afliiaged the jealoufy of

an

government, was negledted on

this occafion

by the
relics

zeal of the

Chriflians.

The

lofty car, that tranfported the

of Babylas,

was followed, and accompanied, and

multitude
;

received,

by an innumerable

who

chanted, with thundering acclamations, the Pfalms

of David the moft exprefhve of their contempt for idols and idolaters.

The
infult

return of the faint

was

triumph; and the triumph

was an
to

on the

religion of the emperor,

who

exerted his pride

diflemble his

refentment.

During the night which terminated

temple of Daphne was in flames
;

this indifcreet procefTion, the

the

flatue of Apollo

was confumed

and the walls of the

ruin.

edifice

were left

a naked and awful

monument of

The

Chriflians of Antioch

afrerted,with religious confidence, that the powerful interceflion of

St.

Babylas had pointed the lightnings of heaven againft the devoted

roof: but as Julian

was reduced

to the alternative,

of believing either

a crime or a miracle, he chofe, without hefitation, without evidence,

but with fome colour of probability, to Impute the

to the

fire

of Daphne
it

revenge of the Galilasans

'".

Their offence,

had

been

fufficiently

proved, might have juflified the retaliation, which was

juHan

(huts

immediately

executed

by the order of

Julian,

of fhutting

the

orAntioch?

doors, and confifcating the wealth, of the cathedral of Antioch.

To
or

dlfcover the criminals

who were

guilty of the tumult, of the

eccleiiaflics

fire,

of fecreting the riches of the church, feveral

tured "*; and a prefbyter, of the

were tor-

name of Theodoret, was beheaded

the Eaft.

by the fentence of the Count of

"^ Julian
nus
(xxii.
(in

But

this hafly adt w^as

Mlfopogon,

p. 361.) rather

Julian blames the lenity of the

magiftrates

infinuates, than affirms, their guilt.

Ammia-

13.) treats the imputation as h-vif-

ftmiis

rumor, and relates the ftory with ex-

of Antioch), et majorem ecclefiam Antiochiae claudi. This interdidlion was performed with fome circumftances of indignity and profanation
:

traordinary candour.

"

and the feafonable death of the princiis

Quo

tarn atroci cafu repente

confumput

pal aftor, Julian's uncle,

fuperftitious

related with

much
la

to,

ad id ufque imperatoris

ira provexit,

complacency by the Abbe de

fiuieftiones agitare

juberct folito acriores (yet

Bkterie.

Vie de Julicn, p. 362569.

blamed

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
real or affected

401
con-

blamed by the emperor; who lamented, with

cern, that the imprudent zeal of his minifters

^ M,,^.^'

would

tarnifh his reign

with the difgrace of perfecution "\

The

zeal of the minifters

;

of Julian was inftantly checked by the

frown of their fovereign

but

when

the father of his country declares

himfelf the leader of a fadlion, the licence of popular fury cannot

eafily

be reftrained, nor confiflently punifhed.

Julian, in a public
cities

compofition, applauds the devotion and loyalty of the holy

Syria,

of

whofe pious inhabitants had deftroyed,

;

at the

firfl:

fignal, the

fepulchres of the Galiljcans

and

faintly complains, that they

lefs

had

revenged the injuries of the gods with

moderation than he fhould

have recommended

".

This imperfedl and reludlant confeflion

ecclefiaftical narratives
;

may

appear to confirm the

that in the cities of

Gaza, Afcalon,

Caefarea, Heliopolis,

&c. the Pagans abufed, without

prudence or remorfe, the moment of their profperity.

That the un-

happy
death
;

objels of their cruelty

that as their

were

releafed

from torture only by

ftreets,

mangled bodies were dragged through the

fpits

they were pierced (fuch was the univerfal rage) by the

of cooks,

and the diftafFs of enraged women ; and that the entrails of Chriftian priefts and virgins, after they had been tafted by thofe bloody fawere mixed with barley, and contemptuoufly thrown to the imclean animals of the city "\ Such fcenes of religious madnefs
natics,

exhibit the moft contemptible and odious picfture of

human

nature

but the maffacre of Alexandria

"^ Befides the
are

attradts

ftill

more

attention,

from the

ecclefiaftical hiftorians,

who
al-

more or

lefs

to

be fufpefted,

we may

lege the paffion of St. Theodore, in the Afta

Sincera of Ruinart, p. 591.

The complaint

of Julian gives
^ir.
'""

it

an original and authentic

though not impartial, was a native of Gaza, and had converfed with the confeflbr Zeno, who, as bilhop of Maiuma, lived to the age of an Philollorgius hundred (1. vii. c. 28.)fidered as an original,

witnefs.

He

Julian. Mifopogon, p. 361.

"'
p.

See Gregory Nazianzen

(Orat.

iii.

4. with Godefroy's Differtations, adds fome tragic circum fiances, of Chriftians, who were ///nW/y facrificed at the
(1.

vii.

c.

p. 284.)

87.).

Sozomen
II.

(1.

v. c. 9.)

may be

con-

altars

of the gods, &c.

Vol.

3 F

certainty

402

THE DECLINE AND FALL

certainty of the fal, the rank of the viftims, ' ^

CHAP,

and the fnlendour of

-^
^^

xxiii.
'

the capital of Egypt.

George of

George

"",

from

his

parents
at

or

his

education,

furnamed the
fuller's
fliop.

Cappadocian, was born

Epiphania in CiUcia, in a

From

this obfcure
:

and

fervile origin

he raifed himfelf by the he affiduoufly

flattered,

talents

of

a parafite

and the patrons,

whom

procured

for their worthlefs dependent a lucrative commiflion, or contract, ta

fupply the

army with bacon.

His employment was mean

he renarts

dered

it

infamous.

He
;

accumulated wealth by the bafeft

of

fraud and corruption

but his malverfations were fo notorious, that

George was compelled to efcape from the purfuits of juftice. After this difgrace, in which he appears to have faved his fortune at the
cxpence of his honour, he embraced, with
profeflion of Arianifm.
ing,
real or affefted zeal, the

From

the love, or the oftentation, of learn-

he colledted a valuable library of hiftory, rhetoric, philofophy,

"'
;

and theology

and the choice of the prevailing fadion promoted

to the throne of Athanafius. that of a Barbarian

George of Cappadocia
of the

The
j

entrance

new archbifhop was moment of his reign was

Catholics of Alexandria and
lified,
ppreffes

conqueror

and each

polluted

by

cruelty and avarice.

to a tyrant,

The
qua-

Egypt were abandoned

by nature and education,

to exercife the office of perfecu-

tion

but he opprefled vvith an impartial hand the various inha-

and Egypt,

bitants of his extenfive diocefe.

The primate
tiire

of Egypt aflumed
who might be

the-

"' The
padocia
II.),

life

and death of George of Cap(xxii.

the flaves

fufpefted

of

art:

defcribed by Ammiaiius

fecreting any books.

He praifes

the merit of

G.-'egory

385. 389, 390.),

Ixxvi.).

Nazianzen (Orat. xxi. p. 382. and Epiphanius (Haeref. The inveftives of the two faints

the colleftion, from

and tranfcribed

feveral manufcripts while

whence he had borrowed he

purfued his ftudies in Cappadocia.

He could

might not dcferve much credit, unlefs they were confirmed by the teftimony of the cool and impartial infidel. "' After the maflacre of George, the emperor Julian repeatedly fent orders to preierve the library for his

wifh indeed that the works of the Galilaans

might perifti ; but he requires an exaft account even of thofe theological volumes, left
other treatifcs more valuable fhould be con-

founded in
xxxvi.

their

lofs.

Julian.

Epift.

ix.

own

ufe,

and to

tor-

pomp

OF THE
pomp and
vices of his bafe

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
but he
ftill

40-;

infolence of his lofty flatiou

betrayed the

^
y_

^"^

^
-

and

fervile

extradion.
unjuft,

The merchants
&c.

of Alexandria

-.

_'

were impoveriilied by the

and almoft univerfal, monopoly,

:

which he acquired, of
litual father

nitre, fdt, paper, funerals,

and the
vile

fpi-

of a great people condefcended to pradtife the

and

pernicious arts of an informer.

get,

The Alexandrians
all

could never forthe houfes of the

nor forgive, the tax, which he fuggefted, on

;

city

under an obfolete claim, that the royal founder had conveyed

to his fucceflbrs, the Ptolemies

and the

Caefars, the perpetual

pro-

perty of the

foil.

The

Pagans,

who had
his

been

flattered
;

with the

hopes of freedom and toleration, excited

rich temples of Alexandria

devout avarice

and the

were

either pillaged or infulted

by the

haughty

prelate,

who

exclaimed, in a loud and threatening tone,

"

How

long will thefe fepulchres be permitted to ftand ?"

Under
by

the reign of Conftantius, he was expelled

the juflice, of the people
that the civil
thority,
at
;

by the

fury, or rather

and

it

was not without a

ftate

violent flruggle,

and military powers of the

his revenge.

could reftore his au-

and gratify

The meflenger who proclaimed

his obfequious minifters,

Alexandria the acceflion of Julian, announced the downfal of the

archbifhop.

George, with two of

count

A. D. 361,
30.
is

Diodorus, and Dracontius, mafter of the mint, were ignominioufly

dragged in chains to the public prifon.

days, the prifon

At the end of twenty-four He

a fuperftitious

maf^ ^
'

was forced open by the rage of

mul-

p'e'ople,

titude, impatient of the tedious

forms of judicial proceedings.

;

The
the

December
~^'

enemies of gods and

lifelefs

men

expired under their cruel infults

bodies of the archbifhop and his aflbciates were carried in

ftreets

triumph through the

on the back of a camel

and the inacti-

vity of the Athanafian party '" evangelical patience.

"

was efteemed a fhining example of

thefe guilty wretches

The remains of

were
Gode-

Philoflorgius,

with cautious malice,

xai iu

rfamyr.c-ai

mj

Tfa|sws,

1.

vii.

c. 2.

infinuates their guilt,

A^xmirm

yvoj^r.t

froy, p. 267.

F 2

thrown

404

TI-IE
thrown
tlieir

DECLINE AND FALL

; '

CHAP,
xxrii.
U..-^,

into the fea

and the popular leaders of the tumult declared

.

refolution to difappoint the devotion of the Chriftians, and to

intercept the future honoiu's of thefe martyrs,

who had been putheir religion '".

nifhed, like their predeceflbrs,

by the enemies of
jufl:,

The The
his

fears of the

Pagans were

and

their precautions ineffeftual.

meritorious death of the archbifhop obliterated the

memory of

life.

The

rival

of Athanafius was dear and facred to the Arians,

feilaries introduced his worfliip
'".

and the feeming converfion of thofe

into the

bofom of the Catholic church

The

odious ftranger, dil-

guiflng every circumftance of time and place, affumed the

and
worfliip-

mafk of
George

a martyr, a faint, and a Chriftian hero

'^^
;

and the infamous George

and martyr,

of Cappadocia has been transformed

"''^

into the

renowned

St.

of England, the patron of arms, of chivalry, and of the garter "^

About the fame time

that Julian

was informed of the tumult of

Alexandria, he received intelligence from Edeffa, that the proud and

wealthy faction of the Arians had infulted the weaknefe of the Valentinians
;

and committed fuch diforders,

ftate.

as

ought not to be fuffered

with impunity in a well-regulated

'" Cineres
projecit in mare, id

Without expedling the

of heretics.
oldeft,
;

metuens ut
asdes
illis

rejcils his Afts as the compofition

clamabat, no, colleflis fupremis,

Some, perhaps not the

cloud of
fiftion,

of the fputlie

exftruerent; utreliquis, quideviareareligione

rious Afts, are IHU extant

and, through a

compulfi,pertulerecruciabilespoenas,adufque
gloriofam mortem intemerata
et
fide

we may
St.

yet difUnguifli

progrefli,

combat which
fuftained, in

nunc
1 1 .

Martyr Es

appellantur.

Ammian.

George of Cappadocia the prefence of Queen Alexcjiis

xxii.

Epiphanius proves to the Arians,

Donatifts (Optatus

dra, againft the magician Athanajius

114

that

George was not a martyr.

This transformation

not given as

'" Some
303.
edit.

MUev.

p. 60.

abfolutely certain, but as extremely probable.

Dupin
vi.

Ecclef. torn.
lianifts

p. 713. in 4to)

and Tillemont, and

Mem.
Prifcil-

See the Longueruana, tom.

'^5

iv

p. 194.

curious hiftory of the worfliip of

(Tillemont,

Mem.

Ecclef. tom. viii.

p. 517. in 410) have in like

'^^

manner ufurped
Bafil

the honours of Catholic faints and martyrs.

The faints

of Cappadocia,

and the

Gregories, were ignorant of their holy com-

panion.

Catholic
places
"'

PopeGelafius (A. D. 494.), the firft who acknowledges St. George,

the martyrs,

him among

"

qui

Deo

St. George, from the fixth century (when he was already revered in Paleftine, in Armenia, at Rome, and at Treves in Gaul), might be extrafted from Dr. Heylin (Hiftory of St. George, 2d edition, London 1633, ^'^ 410, pp.429.), and the Bollandifts (Aft. SS. Menf. April, tom. iii. p. 100 163.). His fame and popularity in Europe, and efpecially

magis quaro hominibus noti funt."

He

in England, proceeded frcun the Crufades.

ilov/

OF THE
flow forms of
date to
juftice,
.

ROMAN
exafperated
,

EMPIRE.
prince dlreded his
.

405

the

manijre

^
'

XXIII.
^
'

^,,^,

^-

the magillrates of Edeifa

:

'^',

by whicli he

confiicated

whole property of the church

the fokhers
;

the

money was

diftributed
;

among
of
I

the Lands

were added

to the

domain

and

this al

oppreflion was aggravated by the moft ungenerous irony.

"

fhew
Their

" myfelf,"

fays Julian,

" the true friend of the Galilseans.

" odmirable law has promifed the kingdom of heaven to the poor; " and they will advance with more diligence in the paths of virtue " and falvation, when they are relieved by my affiftance from the
" load of temporal
in a
pofTefTions.

Take

care," purfued the

monarch,
patience

more

ferious tone,

" take care

how you provoke my

;

" and humanity.

If thefe diforders continue, I will revenge

on the

" magiftrates the crimes of the people and you will have reafon to " dread, not only conhfcation and exile, but fire and the fword."

The

tumults of Alexandria were doubtlefs of a more bloody and dan:

gerous nature

but a Chriftian bifhop had fallen

epiftle

by the hands of the

Pagans

and the public

fpirit

of Julian affords a very lively proof

of the partial

of his adminiftration.

His reproaches

to the citi-

zens of Alexandria are mingled with exprelTions of efteem and tendernefs

;

and he laments,

that,

on

this occafion,

they fhould have

departed from the gentle and generous manners which attefted their

Grecian extradlion.

He

gravely cenfures the offence which they

juftice

had committed againft the laws of

capitulates,

and humanity

but he re-

with
fo

vifible

complacency,

the intolerable provocations

which they had

of Cappadocia.

long endured from the impious tyranny of George

Julian admits the principle,
that

a wife

and
:

viyet,

gorous government fhould chaftife the infolence of the people

in confideration of their founder Alexander,
tutelar deity,

and of Serapis their

city,
'^^

he grants a free and gracious pardon to the guilty

feels the

for

which he again
Julian. Epill. xliii.
Julian.
Epift.
x.

affedion of a brother

"' '"

friends to alTuage his anger.

Ammian.

xxil.

He

allowed his

u.

After

4oG

THE DECLINE AND FALL

-^^

CHAP,
xxni.
'

After the tumult of Alexandria had fubfuled, Athanafius, amid ft

the public acclamations, feated himfelf on the throne from
his
tlie
,

'

whence
of

of Athaua-

unworthy competitor had been

archbifliop

precipitated;

and

as the zeal

A. D. 362, ruaryzu

was tempered with

dlfcretion, the exercife

of his au-

^j^Qj-jjy

tended not to inflame, but to reconcile, the minds of the

people.

His paftoral labours were not confined

to the

narrow

limits

of Egypt.

The

Hate of the Chrifliian world was prefent to his adlive

;

and capacious mind

nafius, enabled

and the age, the merit, the reputation of Athato airume, in" a
'".

him

moment

of danger, the

office

of

Ecclefiaftical Didlator

Three years were not yet elapfed fmce the

majority of the bilhops of the Weft had ignorantly, or reludlantly,

fubfcribed, the Confeflion of Rimini.

They

repented, they believed,

but they dreaded the unfeafonable rigour of their orthodox brethren

and

if their pride

was ftronger than

their faith, they

might throw

themfelves into the arms of the Arians, to efcape the indignity of a

public penance, which muft degrade
fcure laymen.

them

to the condition of

ob-

At

the fame time, the domeftic differences concerning

the union and dlftindlion of the divine perfons, were agitated with

fome heat among the Catholic dodtors

and the progrefs of

and

this

me-

taphyfical controverfy feemed to threaten a public

lafting divifion

of the Greek and Latin churches.

to

By

the

wifdom of

a felect fynod,

which the name and prefence of Athanafius gave the authority of

a general council, the biiliops,

who had

unwarily deviated into error,

were admitted

to the

communion of
;

the church, on the eafy con-

dition of lubfcrlbing the Nicene Creed

without any formal acknow-

ledgment of their paft

laftic

fault,

or any minute definition of their fcho-

opinions.

The

advice of the primate of Egypt had already

prepared the clergy of Gaul and Spain, of Italy and Greece, for the
much more

'-9 See Athanaf. ad Rufin. torn. ii. p. 40, 41.; and Greo;. Nazianzen, Orat. iii. p. 395, 396, who juftly ftatcs the temperate zeal of

the primate, as

meritorious than

his prayers, his fads, his perfecutions, &c.

reception

OF THE
fition

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
^
v

407
J!, A Alii*
,

reception of this falutary meafure

and, notwithftanding the Oppo-

'^

P'

of fome ardent

fpirits

"

the fear of the

common enemy
'".

pro-

_;

moted the peace and harmony of the Chrlfliana

The

fkill

and dlUgence of the primate of Egypt had improved the He

is

perfe-

feafon of tranquillity, before

it

was interrupted by the

n-ihoftile ediifls
honoured

cuted and ex-

pelledbyjua. b. 362,

of the emperor'".

Julian,

who

defpifed the Chriftians,

Athanafms with

his fincere

and peculiar hatred.

For

his fake alone,

at
leaf!:

"

^3'

he introduced an arbitrary dlftindion, repugnant,

fpirit,

to

the

of his former declarations.

He

maintained, that the Galilaeans,

whom

he had recalled from exile, were not reftored, by that general

:

indulgence, to the poiTellion of their refpedlive churches

exprefled his aftonifliment, that a criminal,

and he

who had

been repeatedly
to infult

condemned by

the

judgment of the emperors, fhould dare

the majefty of the laws, and infolently ufurp the archiepifcopal throne

of Alexandria, without expeding the orders of his fovereign.

As
of

a punilhment for the imaginary offence, he again banlfhed Athana-

fms from the

juftice

city

and he was pleafed to fuppofe, that

to his pious fubjeifls.

this

a^Tl;

would be highly agreeable

The prefhng

folicitations

of the people foon convinced him, that the majority of

;

the Alexandrians were Chriftians

Chriftians

and that the

greatePc part of the

were firmly attached

to the caufe of their opprefTed pri-

mate.

But the knowledge of

have not

their fentiments, inftead of perfuading

'^'^

leifure to follow the blind

original piflure of the ecclsfiaflical policy

of

obftinacy of Lucifer of Cagliari.

See his
Ecclef.

the times.
'^^

adventures
torn. vii.

in

Tillemont
;

(Mem.

Tillemont,
in

who

Aippofes that

George

p.

goo 926.)

and obferve how

was maiTacred
EcclcPT torn.
,

Auguft, crowds the aftions

the colour of the narrative infenfibly changes,

as the confeflbr
.ti A /r ^' Alfenfus
/

of Athanafius into a narrow fpace

viii.

(Mem.

becomes a fchifmatic.
(1 1

ell
.

huic fententis Occidens,

.

et,

per tarn necellanum concilium, '

.,.

Satans

An_ original p. 360.). fraijment, publilhed by the marnuis MafFei ' . ,> ,^, r ^r from the old Chapter-hbrarv or Verona
,

faucibu^ mundiis ereptus.

artful

The

lively

and

D.alogue of Jerom againft the Luci(torn.

ii.

^ 00 52.) affords many important dates, which are authenticated by the computation of Egyptian
t ((Juervazioni Letterane, tom.
111.

,^-

-'-

p.

ferians

p. 135

155-)

exhibits an

months.

him

4o8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

him
to recall his decree,

CHAP,

provoked him to extend to

all

Egypt the

term of the exile of Athanafius.

Julian
ftill

The
city,

zeal of the multitude rendered

more inexorable

he was alarmed by the danger of leava daring

ing

at the

head of a tumultuous

and popular leader

and the language of

his refentment difcovera the opinion

which he

entertained of the courage and abilities of Athanafius.

tion of the fentence

The execu-

was

ftill

delayed,

by the caution or negligence of

at length

Ecdicius, prsefedl of Egypt,

who was
"

av/akened from his

lethargy by a fevere reprimand.

*'

Though you
leaft

negledt," fays Julian,

it is

to write to

me on any

other fubjedl, at

your duty to in-

" form " gods.

*'

me

of your condudl towards Athanafius, the

enemy of

the

My intentions

have been long fince communicated to you.

fwear by the great Serapis, that unlefs, on the calends of

Decem-

" ber, Athanafius has departed from Alexandria, nay from Egypt,

"

the officers of your

government

fhall

pay a
:

fine of

one hundred

" pounds of gold.

You know my temper

This

am

flow to condemn,

" but

am

ftill

flower to forgive."

epiftle

was enforced by a

ihort poftfcript, written with the emperor's

" tempt that is fliewn for all the gods fills " nation. There is nothing that I ftiould "

own hand. " The conme with grief and indignothing that
I

fee,

fhould

" hear, with more pleafure, than the expulfion of Athanafius from
all

Egypt.

The abominable wretch

Grecian
ladies

Under

my

reign, the

bap-

" tifm of
"

feveral

of the higheft rank has been the ef-

'"." fedt of his perfecutions

;

The

death of Athanafius was not

commanded but the prsefet of Egypt underftood, that it was fafer for him to exceed, than to negleft, the orders of an irritated mafter. The archbilhop prudently retired to the monafteries of the
exprcfsly

Defert

eluded, with his ufual dexterity, the fnares of the

enemy

and

lived to
f*iaf!,,

triumph over the

d; Trji(AMcr

aflies

of a prince, who, in words of

a tyrant

'" To
prefcrved

EMuhJk;,

i-s-'

m.b,

word, the ambiguity of

who wiihed

yvvaiKccc iwt E7ri(Tj;/XM iSawTurai Jiicxsc-Sxi.

have
]aft

to find. Or to Create, guilt.

the

ambiguous

fcnfe of the

formidable

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

venom of

409)

formidable import, had declared his wifh that the whole

CHAP.
XXIII.
'

the GallL-Ean Ichool were contained in the lingle perfon of Athanalius

I
.

'
-

have endeavoured faithfully to

Juirari

repi-efent the artful fyftem

by

Zeal and im['he'chrif-*^

which

propofed to obtain the effcds, without incurring the

guilt, or

reproach, of perfecution.

But

if

the deadly fpirit of fa-

tians.

naticifm perverted the heart and underftanding of a virtuous prince,

it

muft, at the fame time, be confefTed, that the

re^ri fufferings

of the
reli-

Chriftians

were inflamed and magnified by human pafhons and

gious enthufiafm.

The meekncis and

refignation

which had
objedl:

diftin-

guifhed the primitive difcipies of the gofpel, was the

applaufe,
Chriftians,

of the

rather than of the

imitation,

of their fucceflbrs.
civil

The
and

who had now

poflefled

above forty years the

ecclefiaftical

government of the empire, had contradbed the

and the habit of believing, that the

infolent

vices of profperity'",

faints alone

were

entitled to reign over the earth.

As foon

as the

enmity of

Julian deprived the clergy of the privileges which had been conferred

by the favour of Conftantine, they complained of the moft

;

cruel oppreflion

and the

free toleration of idolaters

and
'^^

heretics

was
of

a fubjet of grief and fcandal to the orthodox party

violence,

The

adts

which were no longer countenanced by the

committed by the
zeal of the people.

magiftrates,.

were

ftill

At PefTmus,

the altar

of Cybele was overturned almoft in the prefence of the emperor;

and in the
fole place

city of Csefarea in Cappadocia, the temple of Fortune, the

of worfhip which had been

a popular tumult.

left

to the Pagans,

was de-

fboyed by the rage of

'^'''

On

thefe occafions, a prince^

The
lils

three Epiftles of Julian, which

Ecclef. torn.
'^^

viii.

p. 361

36?, who

has ufed

explain

intentions and conduct; with re-

fome materials prepared by the

gee the fair confeffion
iii.

Bollandifls.

gard to Athanafius, fhould be di/pofed in the following chronological order, xxvi, x, vi.
See likewife Greg. Nazianzen, xxi. p. 393.

of Gretfory

(Orat.
'^*

p.

61,62.).
furious

Hear the

and abfurd complaint

1.

Sozomen,
Theodoret,

1.

v.

c.

15.

Socrates,

1. iii.

c.

14.

of Optatus
c.

(de Schifmat. Donatift.

ii.

1. iii.

c. 9.

and Tillemoiit,

Mem.
3

16, 17.).

Vol.

II,

who-

410

THE DECLINE AND FALL

honour of the eods, was not dlfpofed to Interrupt the o his mind was ftill more deeply exafperated, and courfe of juftice when he found, that the fanatics, who had deferved and fuffered the
felt for

CHAP, who XXIJI

the

punifhment of incendiaries,

were rewarded with the honours of were allured of the

martyrdom

'".

The

Chriftian fubjeds of Julian

;

hoflile defigns

of their fovereign

and, to their jealous apprehenfion,

every circumftance of his government might afford fome grounds

of difcontent and fufpicion.

laws,

In the ordinary adminiftration of the

fo

the Chriftians,

who formed
:

large a part of the people,

their
caiife,

muft frequently be condemned

but

indulgent

brethren,

without examining the merits of the

prefumed

their

inno-

cence, allowed their claims, and imputed the feverity of their judge
to the partial malice of religious perfecution "'.
fhips, intolerable as

Thefe prefent hardflight

they might appear, were reprefented as a

prelude of the impending calamities.

lian as a cruel

The

Chriftians confidered

Ju-

and

crafty tyrant

who

fufpended the execution of his

revenge,

till

he fhould return victorious from the Perfian war.

They
that

expedled, that as foon as he had triumphed over the foreign enemies

of Rome, he would lay afide the irkfome mafic of diflimulation

the amphitheatres

would ftream with the blood of hermits and bifhops;

and

that the Chriftians,

who
'*

ftill

perfevered in the profeflion of the

benefits of nature

faith,

would be deprived of the common

"".

and fo-

ciety

Every calumny

that could

wound

the reputation of the

Apoftate,
'^'

Greg. Nazianzen,

Orat.

iii.

p. 91.

of Gaza; and

his fentence,

though

it

might

iv.

p. 133.

He
h rm

praifes the rioters

ftiyaXo^ui.'p xai
1.

of Ca;fauc Y.v-

be imputed to bigotry, was never reverfed

rea,
o-s.S

nvza^j
ia.

S=ff/<.i-

See Sozomen,
that their

v. 4. 11.

Tille-

mont (Mem.
owns,
Tordre

Ecclef. torn.

vii. p. 649, 650.) behaviour was not, dans

is

commun

but he

perfeftly fatisfied,

as the great St. Bafil

feftival
'^

always celebrated the

of thefe bleffed martyrs.

Julian determined a law-fuit againft
Chriftian city at

ike

new

Maiuma,

the pore

Sozomen, 1. v. c. 3. by his fucceflbrs. Rcland. Paleilin. torn. ii. p. 791. "^ Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 93, 94, 95. Orat. iv. p. 114.) pretends to fpeak from the information of Julian's confidents, whom Orofius (vii. 30.) could not have feen. '* Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 91.) charges the Apoftate with fecret facrifices of boys and girls and poitcively affirms, that the dead
;

bodies

OF THE
adverfanes
fovereign,
flatter.
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

411

Apoftate, was creduloufly embraced by the fears and hatred of his

C H A

p,
'

and

their indilcreet
It

clamours provoked the temper of a vv

intereft to

whom
ftill

was

their

duty to refpedl, and their

They

protefted, that prayers and tears

were

their only
to the

weapons
jvuftice

againft the impious tyrant,

whofe head they devoted

of offended Heaven.

But they infinuated, with

fullen refo-

lution, that their fubmifTion

was no longer the

of

effel

of weaknefs

and
is

that, in the imperfeft ftate

human

virtue, the patience,

which

may be exhaufted by perfecution. It is impoffible to determine how far the zeal of Julian would have prevailed over his good fenfe and humanity but, if we ferioufly refleft on the ftrength and fpirit of the church, we fhall be convinced, that, before
founded on principle,
:

the emperor could have extinguifhed the religion of Chrift, he muft

have involved his country in the horrors of a

'*'

civil

war

'*'.

bodies were thrown into the Orontes.

I. iii.

c. Theodoret, vocal candour of the Abbe de la Bleterie, Yet contemVie de Julien, p. 351, 352. fcrary malice could not impute to Julian the

See 26, 27.; and the equi-

The

refignation of
iv.

Gregory
124.).

is

truly

edifying

(Orat.
officer

p.

123,

Yet,

when an

of Julian attempted to feize

the church of Nazianzus, he

his life, if he

would have loft had not yielded to the zeal of

troops of martyrs,

more

efpecially

in

the

the bi(hop and people

Weft, which Baronius

fo greedily fwallows,

(Orat. xix. p. 308.). See the reflexions of Chryfoftom, as they are

alleged by Tillemont
vii. p.

and Tillemont
clef.

fo faintly rejefts

(Mem. Ec-

(Mem.

Ecclef.

toni'.

torn. vii. p.

1295

I3'S-)'

575.),

3G

CHAP.

412

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.
Eeftdence

XXIV.

of

'Jtilian

at

Aittioch.

dition agaifijl the Perjia7is.

His

fuccefsful

Expe-

Pajfage

of the Tigris.

The

Retreat

fovian.
Treaty.

He

a?td

Death

of

yulian.

of

E,kBio7i

faves the

Roman Army

by a difgracejul

CHAP.
t^__^__l_/

^HE

philofophical

fable

J.

name of the CiESARs",

is

which Julian compofed under the one of the moft agreeable and in-

The

Csfars ofjulian.

produdions of ancient wit \ During; the freedom and ^ r c^ equality of the days of the Saturnalia, Romulus prepared a feaft for
ftrudtive

the deities of Olympus,

ciate,

who had
princes,

adopted him as a worthy affo-

and for the

Roman

who had

reigned over his martial

people, and the vanquifhed nations of the earth.

The immortals
and the
table of

were placed in

juft order

on

their thrones of ftate,

the Csefars was fpread below the

air.

Moon,

in the

upper region of the

The

tyrants,

who would have

306

difgraced the fociety of gods

'

See this fable or

fatire, p.

336.

of

Spanheim

(in his preface)

has moil learn-

the Leipfig edition of Julian's works..

The

French verfion of the learned Ezekiel Spanheim (Paris, 1683.) is coarfe, languid, and
correft;

and

his notes, proofs,

illuftrafions,

etymology, origin, refemblance, and difagreement of the Greek fatyrs, a dramatic piece, which vyas afted after the tragedy and the Latinyi/Zr^y (from
ediy difculTed
the
;

&c. are piled on each other till they form a mafs of 557 clofe-printed quarto pages. The Abbe de la Bleterie (Vie de Jovien, torn. i. p. 241 393-) has more happily exprefTed

Satura^, a mi/cellaneous compofition,

in profe or verfe.

either

But the C^fars of Julian

is

are of fuch an original caft, that the critic

perplexed to which clafs he fliould afcribe

the
nal,

fpirit,

as well as the fenfe,

illullrates

of the origi-

them,

which he

with feme concife

and

curious notes.

and

OF THE
'

ROMAN
-'

EMPIRE.

413

and men, were thrown headlone;, by the inexorable Nemefis, into &'
the Tartarean abyfs.
to their feats
;

CHAP.
XXIV.
'

The

reft

of the Casfars fucceffively advanced

'

and, as they paffed, the vices, the defedls, the blecharacters,

miilies of their refpedive

were maUcioufly noticed by

difguifed the

old Silenus, a laughing moralift,

who

wifdom of

a phi-

lofopher under the mafk of a Bacchanal \

As foon

as the feaft

was

ended, the voice of Mercury proclaimed the will of Jupiter, that a

celcftial

crown fhould be the reward of fuperior

merit.

Julius

Csefar,

Auguftus, Trajan, and Marcus Antoninus, were feledled as

;

the moft illuftrious candidates

the eft'eminate Conftantine

was not

excluded from this honourable competition, and the great Alexander

was

invited to difpute the prize of glory with the

Roman

heroes.

Each of the candidates was allowed

exploits;
but,
in

to difplay the merit of his

own

judgment of the gods, the modeft filence of Marcus pleaded more powerfully than the elaborate orations
the
his

of

haughty

rivals.

When

the judges

of this

awful conteft

proceeded to examine the heart,

adlion
;

and to

fcrutinize the fprings

ftill

of

the fuperiority of the Imperial Stoic appeared

more

decifive

and confpicuous

'.

Alexander and

Csefar,

Auguftus, Trajan,

and Conftantine, acknowledged with a

blufh, that fame, or power,

:

or pleafure, had been the important objedt of their labours

but the

gods themfelves beheld, with reverence and love, a virtuous mortal,

who
who,

had pradlifed on the throne the

in a ftate

leflbns

of philofophy; and

of

human

imperfection, had afpired to imitate the

'

This mixed charafter of Silenus

is

finely

nounce
'^^"'"^

their allegiance,

and

to

defert the

.painted in the fixth eclogue of Virgil.

* J
,

^ '^"' author.

Every impartial reader mull perceive and

... 1r /I the partiality of I Tulian aeainlt his
.,

condemn
gion.

uncle ^ Conftantine,

and the Chnftian reu-

^,

On

J"'^^" ^^= '"^^^"'X '"^^'n^^^ ^ V^^^" ^ Greek to a Roman. But when he leriou/ly ' ., , compared a hero with a philofopher, he was fenfible that mankind had much greater obli-

^'

this occafion, the interpreters are

g^tions to Socrates than to Alexander (Orat.

r.d

compelled, by a more facred

intereft,

tore-

ThemilHum,

p. 264..).

moral

414
'^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.
'

H A

moral attributes of the Deity.

fition

The
is

vakie of this agreeable

compo-

(the Csefars of Julian)

enhanced by the rank of the au-

thor.

prince,

who

delineates with

freedom the
line,

vices

and virtues

of his predeceffors, fubfcribes, in every

bation of his

the cenfure or appro-

own condud.
but his ambitious
folicited,
tlie

He
to

refolves

In the cool moments of reflection, Julian preferred the ufeful and

benevolent virtues of Antoninus
:

march
fpirit

againft the
Perfians,

was inflamed

A. D. 362.

by the glory of Alexander

and he

with equal ardour, the

In the feafon
the moft adive

elteem of the wife, and the applaufe of

multitude.

of

life,

when

the powers of the

mind and body enjoy

inftrudled

vigour, the emperor,

who was
of the

by the experience, and

animated by the
his reign

fuccefs,

German

war, refolved to fignalize

by fome more

fplendid and

memorable atchievement.

The
ifle

ambaffadors of the Eaft, from the continent of India, and the

of Ceylon
tions

had refpcdtfully faluted the

Roman

purple '.

The na-

of the Weft efteemed and dreaded the perfonal virtues of

Julian, both in peace

thic

and war.

He

defpifed the trophies of a

Go-

vidory \ and was

fatisfied that the

rapacious Barbarians of the

violation of the faith

Danube would be

reftrained

from any future

of treaties, by the terror of his name, and the

*

additional fortifica-

Inde nationibus Indicis certatim

cam

vi. 24.).

donis optimates mittentibus ...

ab ui'que Divis el Sereniii'vh. Ammian. xx. 7. This ifland, to which the names of Taprobana,
Serendib, and Ceylon, have been fucceffively
applied, manifefts

2. The geographers (and even Ptolemy) have magnified, above fifteen times, the real Cze of this new world, which they extended as far as the equatorj, j.nd the

how

imperfeftly the feas

neighbourhood of China. ' Thefe embaffies had been fent

ftantius.

to

Con-

and lands,

to the eail

of cape Comorin, were

1.

Ammianus, who unwarily

fliort

deviates

known

to the

Romans.

of Claudius, a freedman,
cuftoms of the

Under the reign who farmed the

accidentally

into

grofs flattery,

mull have forgotten the

duration ef

length of the way, an^d the

the reign- of Julian.
'

Red
1

Sea, was

driven by the winds upon this ftrange and

Gothos

fa;pe fallares et perfidos

holies

nndifcovered coaft

he converfed

fix

months

with the natives

and the king of Ceylon, who heard, for the firil time, of the power and juflice of Rome, was perfuaded to fend an embaffy to the emperor (Plin. Hiil. Nat.
;

fuf5ccre mercatores Galatas per quos ubique fine

:

qua;rere fe

meliores aiebat

illis

enim

conditionis difcrimine venumdantur. Within

lefs

than

fifteen years,

thefe

Gothic

iraves

threatened and fubdued their mailers.

tions,

OF THE
lions,
tiers.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

41J
^il-^^''
^

with which he ftrengthened the Thracian and Illyrian fron-

The

fucceflbr

of Cyrus and Artaxerxes was the only rival

;

'

whom
refifted

he deemed worthy of his arms

and he

refolved,

by the

final

conqueft of Perfia, to chaftife the haughty nation, w^hich had fo long

and infulted the majefty of

Rome

'.

As foon

as the Perfian

monarch was informed

that the throne of Conftantius

was

filled

by

a prince of a very different charaler, he condefcended to

artful, or

make fome

perhaps fincere, overtures, towards a negociation of peace.

aftoniflied

But the pride of Sapor was

by the firmnefs of Julian

who
mia
;

fternly declared, that he

would never confent

to hold a peaceful

conference

among the flames and ruins of the cities of Mefopotaand who added, with a fmile of contempt, that it was needlefs
by ambafladors,
as

to treat

he himfelf had determined to

vifit

fpeedily

the court of Perfia.

The

impatience of the emperor urged the di-

ligence of the military preparations.

The

generals were
;

named

formidable

army was

deftined for this important fervice

and Julian,

marching from Conftantinople through the provinces of Afia Minor, arrived at Antioch about eight months after the death of his predeceffor.

His ardent

defire

to

march

into the heart of Perfia,

fl:ate
;

was

checked by the indifpenlable duty of regulating the

pire
;

of the

em-

by

his zeal to revive the worfliip of the gods

;

and by the ad-

vice of his wifefl: friends

who

reprefented the rveceffity of allowing

Julian pro-

the falutary interval of winter-quarters, to reftore, the exhaufted

ftrength of the legions of Gaul, and the difcipline and fpirit of the
Eafi:ern troops.

Conftantino-

Julian
at

was perfuaded

to fix,

till

the enfuing fpring,

^^'
^-^^^^^

his

refidcnce

Antioch,

among

people malicioufly difpofed

^"8"'^-

'

Alexander reminds

his rival

Ca:far,who

depreciated the fame and merit of an Afiatic

viftory, that Craflus

war of three hundred yeari, had not yet fubdued the fingle province of Mefopotamia ox
Ailyria (Cxfares, p. 32^.)'

Perfian arrows

and Antony had felt the and that the Romans, in a

to

^i6

THE DECLINE AMD FALL

to
.

CHAP,
XXIV.

deride
.

the

hafte,

and

to

cenfure

the

delays,

of their fover,

reign
Licentious jf Julian had Mattered himfelf, that his perfonal connedllon witFr manners of r i t' n 111 in.r t r r !-> the people of tJiG Capital Oi the Eaft would be productive or mutual latjsiaaion to-

""

""^
''

the prince and people, he

charadrer,

made a very

falfe
".

eftimate of his own-

and of the manners of Antioch

and opulence and the

The warmth of

the

climate difpofed the natives to the moft intemperate enjoyment of

tranquillity
;

lively licentioufnefs of the

foftnefs

Greeks
Falliion

was blended with the hereditary

was the only
drefs
tioch.
law,, pleafure the

of the S}Tians.

only purfuit, and the fplendour of

diitinclion of the citizens of
;

and furniture was the only

An-

The

arts

of luxury were honoured

ridicule
;

the ferious and

fijT

manly
female

virtues

were the fubjed of

and the contempt

modefty, and reverent age, announced the univerfal corruption of

the capital of the Eaft,

The
:

love of fpeflacles

was the
artifts

tafte,

or ra-

ther paffion, of the Syrians

the moft fkilful

were procured'

from the adjacent

cities

'^
;

a confiderable fhare of the revenue was

;

devoted to the public amufements

and the magnificence of ths

games
and

of the theatre and circus was confidered as the happinefs,.

as the glory,,

of Antioch.

The

ruftic

manners of a prince who-

difdained fuch glory, and

was

infenfible of fuch happinefs,. foon dif;

gufted the delicacy of his fubjedls

and

.the

effeminate Orientals

could neither imitate, nor admire, the fevere fimplicity which Julian

always maintained, and fometiraes affedted.

'

The days

of feftivity,

The defign
c.

of the Perfian war

is

declared

'*

Laodicea furnifhed charioteers; Tyre

Csfarea, panto;

by Ammianus
Parent,
iii.

(xxii. 7. 12.), Lib?.nius (Orat.

(1.

^^d Berytus, comedians;

^-^^^^
tors;
, .

^^ "
St.

79, 80. p. 305, 306.), Zofimus p. ii;8.), and Socrates (l.iii.c.iq.).

'

Heliopolis, fingers

Gaza, gladia-

The Satire
,
r n

of

,
I

of

of Antioch. de la

Chryfoftom, exhibit the fame picture The miniature which- the Abbe Bleterie has copied from thence (Vie
p. 332-), is elegant

uhan, and the Homilies -^ 1.-1.-. L r

,.

rr

Afcalon,

ri

wreftlers
,

a^

j/-^n.Li and Caftabaia,

rope-dancers.

_ .. ,, See the txpohtio totius Mun'^

tome of Hudfon's Minor

d''.

P- 6- in the third

Geographers,

de Julien,

and

correct.

confecrated,.

OF
confecratetl,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

to the
;

4^7
!!.

by ancient cuftom,

honour of the gods, were the C H A

and

XXIV.

only occafions in which Julian relaxed his phllofophic feverity

thole feftivals

were the only days

in

which the Syrians of Antioch

could reje6l the allurements of pleafure.

The

majority of the people

firft

fupported the glory of the Chriftian name, which had been

in-

vented by their anceftors": they contented themfelves with difobeying

the moral precepts, but they were fcrupuloufly attached to the fpeculative dodlrines, of their religion.

The church

of Antioch was diftrafted

fol-

by herefy and fchifm; but the Arians and the Athanafians, the
lowers of Meletius and thofe of Paulinus
'*,

were aduated by the

Their
011 to

fame pious hatred of

their

common

adverfary.
againft the

The

ftrongeft prejudice

was entertained

charader of

averll-

Julian.

an apellate, the enemy and fucceflbr of a prince

the afFedions of a very numerous fet
las
;

who had engaged

St.

and the removal of

BabyHis had
and

excited an implacable oppolition to the perfon

of Julian.

fubjedts complained, with fuperftitious indignation, that famine

purfued the emperor's fteps from Conftantinople to Antioch

the difcontent of a

hungry people was exafperated by the injudicious

their
diftrefs.
;

attempt to

relieve

The inclemency of

the feafon
in the

had affeded the harvefts of Syria

and the price of bread ",

Scarcity of corn, and

public difcontent.

markets of Antioch, had naturally rifen in proportion to the fcarcity

of
ef five, ten, or fifteen modii of wheat, for one piece of gold, according to the degrees of plenty and fcarcity (in Mifopogon, p.
369.).
lateral

people of Antioch ingenioufly profeffed theirattachment to the Chi (Chriil)

Aio;.

The

and
'^

the

Knpfa (Conflantius).
p. 357.

Julian in

Mi-

From

this faft,
I

and from fome col-

"fopogon,

examples,

conclude, that under the

The

fchifm of Antioch, which laded

330 415.), was inriamed, while Julian refided in that city, by

eighty-five years

(A.

D,.

the moderate price of wheat was about thirty-two fhillings the Engliih quarter, which is equal to the average

fucceflbrs of Conftantine,

91

the indifcreet ordination of Paulinus.

.See

price of the fixty-four

Tillemont, Mem. Ecclef. torn. vii. p. 803. of the quarto edition (Paris, 1701, &c.), which henceforward I (hnll quote.

century.

firft years of the prcfent See Arbuthnot's Tables of Coins, Weights, and Meafures, p. 88, 89. Plin.

Hift.

Natur.

xviii. 13.

Mem,

de I'Academie

"

Julian ftates three different proportrons

ir.

des Infcriptions, torn, xxviii. p.

3

718-721.
Smith's

Vol.

4x8
^xxiv^'
' y
'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^^ corn.

But the

fair arts

and reafonable proportion was foon violated

of monopoly.
is

by the rapacious
property
is

In this unequal ccntefl:,li

which the produce of the land

five
;

claimed by one party^ as his cxclu}

is

ufed by another as a lucrative objed: of trade

a third, for the daily

and
all

required

by

and neceflary fupport of

life ;

the profits of the intermediate agents are accumulated on the

head of the defencelefs confumers.

were exaggerated and encreafed

The hardfl^iips of their by their own impatience and

fituation

anxiety j

and the apprehenfion of a

ances of a famine.

fcarcity gradually

produced the appear-

When

the luxurious citizens of Antioch

filli,

com-

plained of the high price of poultry and

that a frugal city
oil,

Julian publicly declared,

ought

to be fatisfied

with a regular fupply of wine,

it

and bread

but he acknowledged that

was the duty of

a fove-

reign to provide for the fubfiftence of his people.

With

this falu-

tary view, the emperor ventured on a very dangerous and doubtful

ftep,

of fixing, by legal authority, the value of corn.

it

He

enaded, that

in a time of fcarcity,

fhould be fold
;

at a price

which had feldom

been

known

in the mofl plentiful years

his laws,

and

that his

own example
his

might ftrengthen

he fent into the market four hundred and

or meafures,

twenty-rtwo thoufand
order,

fnodii,

which were drawn, by

from the granaries of Hierapolis, of Chalcis, and even of

Egypt.
felt.

The confequences might have been forefeen, and were foon The Imperial wheat was purchafed by the rich merchants; the
from the
city the

proprietors of land, or of corn, withheld

accuftomed

fupply

and the fmall quantities that appeared

an advanced and
illegal price.

in the market,

were

fecretly fold at
jij

Julian

flill

continued

to applaml his

own

policy, treated the complaints of the people as

a vain and ungrateful

murmur, and convinced

Antio,ch, that he

had

*'

inherited the obftinacy, though not the cruelty, of his brother

Smith's Inquiry into the Nature and Criufes of the VVca'ith cf Niuions, vol. i.p. 246. This
lait

Gal-

am proud

to quote, as the
,,

work of a
l"s.

fage

anda

friend.

'

OF THE
ius ".

ROMAN
mind.

EMPIRE.
was perfuaded,

419
^J^"^ v-^'- perhaps
^'

The remonflrances of
his
Inflexible

the municipal fenate ferved only to

exafperate

He

with truth, that the fenators of Antioch

who

poneircd lands, or
to the calami-

were concerned
ties

in trade,
;

had themfelves contributed

of their country

and he imputed the difrefpcQful boldnefs

which they aflumed,

intereft.

to the fenfe, not of public duty, but of private

The whole body,

confifling of

two hundred of the mofl

noble and wealthy citizens, were fent, under a guard, from the palace
to the prifon
;

and though they were permitted, before the

to.

clofe of

evening, to return

their refpedive

houfes ",

the emperor himfclf

could not obtain the forgivenefs which he had fo eafily granted.

The fame
rian

grievances were

ftill

the fubjedt of the fime complaints,

which were
Greeks.

induflrioufly circulated

by the wit and

days

levity of the

Sy-

During the

licentious

of the Saturnalia, the

fongs,

(Ireets

of the city refounded with infolent

the
religion, the pcrfonal
;

which derided
l?eard

the laws,

condud, and even the

of

the

emperor

and

the fpirit

of Antioch

was manifefted by

the connivance of the magiftrates, and the applaufe of the multi-

tude".

The

difciple
;

of Socrates was too deeply affedled by thefe

tlie

popular infuks

but

monarch, endowed with quick

fenfibility,

and

pofl'efTcd

of abfolute power, refufed his paffions the gratification

of revenge.

tyrant might have profcribed, without diflintion,

;

the lives and fortunes of the citizens of Antioch

and the unwarlike

the rapacioufnefs,

Syrians muft have patiently fubmitted to the

luft,

"^

Nunquarn

a propofito declinabat, Galli

tonched
xcviii.
'^

by Libanius (Orat. Parental,

c.

(imilis fratris, licet incruentus.

Ammian.xxii.

p. 322, 323.).

The ignorance of the moft enlightened princes may claim fome excufe ; but we can!4.

Libanius (ad Antiochenos de Imperatoc.

ris ira,

ly,

18, 19. in

Fabricius, Bibliot.
fcilful

not be

fatisfied

with Julian's

own defence

(in

Gn-ec. tom.

vii. p.

221

223.), like a

Mifopogon, p. 3&8, 369), or the elaborate apology of Libanius (Orat. Parental, c. xcvii.
.p.

advocate, feverely cenfures the folly of the people, who fuftered for the crime of a few

321.).

obfcure and drunken wretches.

is

'^

Theirfhortandeafy confinement

gently

and

*;

4^0

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and the cruelty of the ^
_

CHAP,

faithful leiirions

XXIV.
'

might have deprived the

leges
;

capital of the Eaft of

...
which
'".

of Gaul.
its

milder fentence

honours and priviof Julian, would of the

and the

courtiers,
a<l

perhaps the
juftice,

fubjets,

have applauded an

of

aflerted the dignity

fupreme magiftrate of the republic

julisncompofes a fatire
rgainft
-lioch

But

inftead

of abufmg, or

exerting, the authority of the ftate, to revenge his perfonal injuries,

Julian
'

contented himfelf with an inoffenfive

it

mode
to

of retaliation,

An-

which

would be

in the

power of few princes

libels
;

employ.

He

had

been infulted by
the
title

fatires

and

in his turn

he compofed, under

of the Etiemy of tfoe Beard^ an ironical confcfTion of his

a fevere fatire of the licentious and" effeminate

own

faults,

and

manners of

Antioch.

This Imperial reply was publicly expofed before the gates

;

of the palace

and the

Misopogon "

ftill

remains a fingular

mo-

nument of the refentment,

tion of Julian.

the wit, the humanity, and the indifcreaffected to laugh,

his
*^

Though he

he could not forgive".

gratifiedj
fubjecSts

His contempt was expreffed, and

revenge might be

by

the nomination of a

governor

w^orthy only of fuch

city,

and the emperor, for ever renouncing the ungrateful

proclaimed
*'.

his refolution to pafs the enfuing winter at Tarfus in CiUcia

'" Libanius (ad Antiochen. c. vii. p. 213.) reminds Antioch of the recent chaltifeiTient of Csfarea and even Julian (in Mifopogon,
:

barils forth
tive.

into

fcrious

and

direft invec-

*^

Ipfeautem Antiochiam

egreffiirus,

He-

p. 355-) infinuates

how feverelyTartatum had

liopoiiten
rildifiioni

quendam Alexandrum

Syriacse ja-

expiated the infult to the

dors.

Roman

ambaffa-

."

On

the fubjeft of the Mifopogon, fee

(xxji.

pra:fecit, turbulentum et fa:vum ; dicebatque non \\\)iva meruifle, fed Anticr chenfibus avaris et contumeliofis hujufmodi

Ammianus

14.),

Libanius (Orat. Pa-

judicem convenire.

rentalis, c. xcix. p. 323.),

Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. iv. p. I33.\ and the Chronicle ef Antioch, by John Malela, (torn. ii. p. 15,
lation

Ammian. xxiii. 2. Libanius (Epift. 722. p. 346, J4-.), who confefles to Julian himfelf, that he had ihared the general difcontent, pretends that Alexanthe

have eneniialobJigations to the tranfand notes of the Abbe de la Bleterie (Vie de Jovien,tom. ii. p. i 138.).
16. )
I

der was an ufful, though harlh, reformer of

>;

*'

Ammianus

very juftly remarks, Coaftus

manners and religion of Antioch: Julian, in Mifopogon, p. 364. Ammian. xxiii. 2. and Valefius ad loc. Libanius, in a
^^

diffimulare pro tempore ira fufflabatur interna.

profefled oration, invites

his loyal

him

to

return to

The

elaborate irony of Julian at length

and penitent

city

of Antioch.

Yet

^0F
Yet Antioch

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

one
citizen,

421
virtues

poflefled

whofe genius and

might

A. A.

vv/^r^'* L V

,.

atone, in the opinion of Julian, for the vice and folly of his country.

'

The

fophift Libanius
arts

was born

in the capital of the Eaft

publicly
,

profciTed the

of rhetoric

and declamation

at

he Ji|^,S"^ Nice, A.D.314.;

390.

SiC.

Nicomedia, Gonftantinople, Athens, and, during the remainder of

his
life,

at

Antioch.

His fchool

v'as

affiduoufly frequented

by the

Grecian youth ;

his difciples,

who

fometimes exceeded the number of

;

eighty, celebrated their incomparable mafter

rivals,

and the jealoufy of

his

who

perfecuted

him from one

city to another, confirmed' the

favourable opinion which Libanius oftentatioufly difplayed

fuperior merit.

of his
but

The

preceptors of Julian had extorted a

raili

folemn aflurance, that he would never attend the ledures of their

advcrfary
:

the curiofity of the royal youth

was checked and

iii-

fiamed: he fecretly procured the writings of this dangerous fophift,

and gradually
laborious

furpafled, in the perfedl imitation of his ftyle, the

""*.

moft
the

of his domefiic pupils

When

Julian

afcended

throne, he declared his impatience to embrace and reward the Syrian

fophift,

who had

preferved, in a degenerate age, the Grecian purity

of

tafte,

of manners, and of religion.

juftified

The

emperor's prepoflefTion

was encreafed and

by the

difcreet pride

of his favourite.

Inftead of preffing, with the foremoft of the crowd, into the palace of Gonftantinople, Libanius calmly expected his arrival at

Anand

tioch

withdrew from court on the

;

firft

fymptoms of
vifit
;

coldnefs

indifference

required

a.

formal invitation for each

leffon,

and taught

his fovereign

an important
fubjeifl,

that he

might command the obe-

dience of a

but that he muft deferve the attachment of a

friend.

The

fophifts of

every age, defpifing, or afFeding to defpife,

the accidental diftinOiions of birth and fortune '% referve their efteem
** Libaniub, Orat. Parent, c. vii. p. 230,

2?!.

Vit. Sophift. p. 135.). The critics have obferved a fimilar fentiment in one of the epifties
felf,

tf
:^

Eunapius reports, that Libanius refiifed the honorary rank of Prastorian pra;feft, as leh illuftrious than the title of Sophift (in
.,

"

(xviii,

edit.

Wolf.) of Libanius hinj--

t^l^
#

>

fee

422

THE DECLINE AND FALL

for the fuperlor qualities of the

CHAP,
V, -

mind, with which they themfelves

>

are fo plentifully endowed.

Julian might difdain the acclamations

;

of a venal court,
flattered

who

adored the Imperial purple

but he was deeply

by the

praife,

the admonition, the freedom, and the

envy

of an independent philofopher,

who

refufed his favours, loved his

perfon, celebrated his fame, and protected his

memory.

The volu-

minous writings of Libanius

llill

exift

for the mofl: part, they are

the vain and idle compofitions of an orator,

who

cultivated the fcience

of words
lefs

the produdions of a reclufe ftudent, whofe mind, regard-

of his contemporaries, was incelTantly fixed on the Trojan war,

and the Athenian commonwealth.

Yet the fophift of Antioch fome;

times defcended from this imaginary elevation

various and elaborate correfpondence
'*
;

he entertained a

he praifed the virtues of his

own
life
;

times

he boldly arraigned the abufes of public and private

juft

and he eloquently pleaded the caufe of Antioch againft the

It
is

refentment of Julian and Theodofms.

the

common
it

calamity
;

of old age

"',

to lofe

whatever might have rendered

defirable

but
reli-

Libanius experienced the peculiar misfortune of furviving the

gion and the fciences, to which he had confecrated his genius.

friend of Julian
tianity
;

The
vifible

was an indignant

fpet;ator

of the triumph of Chrif-

and

his bigotry,

which darkened the profped: of the

world,

did not infpire Libanius with any lively hopes of celeftial

"'.

glory and happinefs

The
^^

Near two thoufand of his

in

letters, a

mode

of compofitioTi

which Libanius was thought to excel, are ftill extant, and already publilliThe critics may praife their fubtle and ed.
elegant brevity
tion
;

yet Dr. Bentley (Diflertajuftly,

feel

His birth is affigned to the year 314. mentions the feventy-fixth year of his age (A. D. 390.), and feems to allude to fome events of aftill later date. "* Libanius has compofed the vain, prolix,

^'

He

upon Phalaris, p. 487.) might though quaintly, obfsrve, that " you
you
with
con'.'erfe

by

but curious narrative of his own life (tom. ii. 84. edit. Morell.), of which Eunapius p. 1

" " "

the eraptincfs and deadnefs of them, that

with feme dreaming pedant,

tii deik."

1^0 vourable
(p.

135-)

has

left a concife

account.
(Hift. des

Among

tlie

and unfamoderns,
torn. iv. p.

his

elbow on

Tillemont

Empcreurs,

57'

V
The
reproach,
the

OF THE
.

ROMAN
.

EMPIRE.
him
to take the field in

425
C
*

martial impatience of Julian urged

'

11

P.

XXIV.
-.>

the beginning of the fpring

and he difmiffed, with contempt and

fenate of Antioch,

who accompanied ^

the

emperor March of ju^

lian to thf

beyond the

limits of their

own

territory,

^'

to

which he was refolved

''',

Euphrates,

A. D. 363,

never to return.

After a laborious march of two days

he halted March

5.

on the

third, at Ber.-Ea, or

Aleppo, where he had the mortification of

;

finding a fenate almoft entirely Chriftian

who

received

v.'ith

cold

and formal demonftrations of

apoftle of paganifm.

refpeft, the

eloquent fermon of the

citi-

The

fon of one of the mofl: illuftrious

zens of Ber;sa,

who had
and

embraced, either from

intereft or canfcience,

the religion of the emperor,

rent.

was

difinherited

by

his

angry pa-

The

father

tlie

fon were invited to the Imperial table.

fuccefs,

Julian, placing himfelf

to inculcate the leffon

between them, attempted, without

;

and example of toleration

fupported, with af-

fedted calmnefs, the indifcreet zeal of the aged Chrifiian,

to forget the ientiments of nature,
at
*'

who feemed

and the duty of a fubjed ; and, length turning towards the afflidled youth, " Since you have loft

a father," faid he, " for his place

^."

my

fake,

it is

incumbent on

me

to fupply

"

The emperor was

received in a

manner much more

pleafantly feated in

agreeable to his wifhcs at Batnss, a fmall

tovm

a grove of cypreffes, about twenty miles from the city of Hierapolis.

The folemn

rites

of

facrifice

were decently prepared by the inhabitattached to the worfliip of their tutelar

torn,

ants of BatnK,
J71
vii.

who feemed
(Biblipt.

576.),Fabricius
p.

Grxc.

glefled the

378

414.), and Lardner (Heathen

iv.

great communication between Antioch and the Euphrates. See Weficling,

Bergier, Hift. des
p.

Teftimonies, torn.

p. 127

563.),
'

have
this

Itinerar. p. 190.

Grands

illuftrated the charafter

and writings of
on the

Cheii.in.s torn.
^

ii.

100.
to this

famous fophilh *' From Antioch

tory of Chalcis,

Julian alludes

incident (epift,

to Litarbe,

terri-

the road, over hills and through morafles, was extremely bad; and the loofe ftones were cemented only with faud (Julian, epift. xxvii ). It is fmgular

which is more difUnftly related by TheodoreC (1. iii. c. 22.). The intolerant fpirit of the father is applauded by Tillemont (HilL desEmpereurs, tonii-iv. p. 534.), and even by La Bleterie (Vie de Julien, p
xxvii.),

enough, that the Romans Ihould have ne'

413).
deitiesj^

424
^ l\.^^^*-

THE DECLINE AND FALL

deities,

Apollo and Jupiter; but the ferious piety of Julian v/as

;

'

offended by the tumult of their applaufe

and he too

clearly dif-

cerned, that the fmoke which arofe from their altars was the incenfe

of

flattery,

rather than of devotion.

temple, which had fandtified, for fo

polis
''\

The many

ancient and magnificent

ages, the city of Hieraaf-

no longer
liberal
its

fubfifted

and the confecrated wealth, which

Yet Julian enjoyed the

forded a

maintenance to more than three hundred

downfall.

priefls,

might haften

fatisfadlion

of

embracing a philofopher and a friend, whofe religious firmnefs had

withflood the
prefling
as

and repeated
as

folicitations

of Conftantius
his

and

Gallus,

often

thofe princes

lodged

at

houfe,

in

their paffage

through

Hierapolis.

In the hurry of military pre-

paration, and the carelefs confidence

of a familiar correfpondence,

the zeal of Julian appears to have been lively and uniform.

He

had

now
moft
tion,

undertaken an important and

difficult

war

and the anxiety of and

regifler the

the event rendered

him

ftill

more

attentive to obferve

trifling prefages,

from which, according

to the rules of divina-

any knowledge of futurity could be derived '\ He informed Libanius of his progrefs as far as Hierapolis, by an elegant epiflle ",

which

difplays the facility of his genius,

and

his tender friendfhip for

the fophifl of Antioch.

His deH^n of
Perfit'"^

Hierapolis, fituate almofl

on the banks of the Euphrates

^*,

had

been appointed for the general rendezvous of the

Roman

troops,

who

immediately paffed the great river on a bridge of boats, which was

"
p.

inferted

See the curious treatife de Dea Syria, among the works of [ ucian (tom.iii.
^go. edit.
Reitz.'.
I't/.'iJ

fiipprefies the inaufpicious figns,

which

Am-

mianus

(xxiii.

2.) has carefully recorded,

4-1

The fmgular
xiv. 8.)

"

Julian,

epift. xxvii. p.

appellation of A7aj mioiu induce a fufpicion,

(Ammian.

'* I take the

earlieil

399 402. opportunity of acto

that Hierapolis

knowledging
for his recent

my obligations

M.

d'Anville,

had been the royal

3'

feat

of the Aflyrians.

count of

Julian (epift. xxviii.) kept a regular acall the fortunate omens; but he

geography of the Euphrates and Tigris (Paris, 1780, in 4.10.), which particularly illulbates the expedition of Julian.

previoufiy

OF THE
prevloufly conflrudted^'.
lar to thofe

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
had been
fiini-

425

If the inclinations of Julian

CHAP.

of his predecefTor, he might have wafted the adlive and

uv

important feafon of the year in the circus of Samofata, or in the

churches of EdefTa.
ftantius,

But

as

the

warUke emperor,
his

inftead of

Con-

had chofen Alexander for

to

model, he advanced withcity

out
at

delay
the

Carrhae

^,

very

ancient

of Meibpotamia,

diftance of fourfcore

miles from Hierapolis.

;

The temple

of the

Moon

attraiSled

the devotion of Julian

but the halt of

a few days was principally employed in completing the immenfe

preparations of the Periian war.
hitherto remained in his

The
;

fecret

of the expedition had

is

own

breaft

but as Carrhse

the point of

reparation of the
ther
it

two

great roads, he could

no longer conceal, whefide

was

his defign to attack the

dominions of Sapor on the

The emperor detached an army of thirty thoufand men, under the command of his kinfman Procopius, ami of Sebaftian, who had been duke of Egypt. They
of the Tigris, or on that of the Euphrates,

were ordered to

direift

their

march towards

Nifibis,

and

to fecure

the frontier from the defultory incurfions of the enemy, before they

attempted the pafTage of the Tigris.

Their fubfequent operations

;

were

left

to the difcretion

of the generals

but Julian exped:ed, that

fertile

after wafting

with

fire

and fword the

diftrifts

of Media

and Adiabene, they might arrive under the walls of Ctefiphon about
the fame time, that he himfelf, advancing with equal fteps along the banks of the Euphrates, fhould befiege the capital of the Perfian

monarchy.

The

fuccefs

of this well-concerted plan depended, in

afliftance

DifafTeaioB

a great meafure,
''

on the powerful and ready

fio'cnce

of the king of

[ ^'^rmenif

There

are three paflhges within a few

;

cf the Sabxan', and of Abra!iam.

miles of each other

bj the ancients
;

i.

Zeugma,

celebrated

See the Index Geographicus of Schultens (ad

2.

Bir, frequented

by the

moderns

and,

j.

The

bridge of Menbigz, or

Ilierapolis, at the diftance of four parafangs

cnlcem Vit. Saladin.). a work from which I have obtained much Oriental knowledge, concerning the ancient and modern geograp.'iy
of Syria and the adjacent countries.

from the city. '* Haran, or Carrhse, was the ancient

re-

VoL.

II.

Armenia,

426

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Armenia, who, without expofinp; the ' '
of the

CHAP.
XXIV.

^6

fafetv of his .
hoi-fe,

own

dominions,
,

might detach an army of four thoufand

foot, to the
afliftance

and twenty thouiand

feeble

Romans".
manly

But the
ftill

Arfaces

Tiranus ^\ king of Armenia, had degenerated

than his
ridates
;

more

fliamefully

fatlier

Chofroes, from the

virtues of the great

Ti-

and

as the

pufiUanimous monarch was averfe to any enterindolence

prize of danger and glory, he could difguife his timid

by

the

more decent excufes of

religion

and

gratitude.

He

ex-

preffed a pious attachment to the

memory

of Conftantius,

from

whofe hands he had received

ter of the praefedl Ablavius
;

in marriage Olympias, the

alliance of a female,

daugh-

and the

who had

been educated

as the deftined wife of the

^'.

emperor Conftans, exalted

the dignity of a Barbarian king

religion
ftrained,
;

Tiranus profefTed the Chriftian

;

he reigned over a nation of Chriftians

and he was re-

by every
to the

principle of confcience

and

intereft,

from contri-

buting
church.

vidtory,

which would confummate the ruin of the

The

alienated

mind of Tiranus was exafperated by the

indifcretion of Julian,
(live,

who

treated the

king of Armenia as

*bis

and

as the

enemy of

the gods.
*

The haughty and

threatening

ftyle

of the Imperial mandates

awakened the

fecret indignation

of a

prince,

who,

in the humiliating ftate of dependence,

was

ftill

conEaft,

fcious of his royal defcent

from the Arfacides, the lords of the

power.

and the
5'

rivals

of the

Roman

edit.

See Xenophon. Cyropoed. 1. iii. p. iSg. Hutchinfon. Artavafdes might have

ftantius gave his brother's widow roK^ajSafoKs an expreffion more fuitable to a Roman than

fupplied

Marc Antony with i6,ooo

horfe,

a Chriftian.
*

armed and difciplined after the Parthian manner (Plutarch, in M. Antonio, torn. v.
p. 117.).
3^
iii. c.

Ammianus

(xxiii.

2.) ufes

a word

too foft for the occafion, mcnuerat,

tori (Fabricius,

much Muravii.

Bibliothec. Grxc. torn.

Mofes of Chorene

(Hift.

Armeniac.

I.

fixes his acceflion (A. D. 1 1, p. 242.) Conftantius. 354.) to the 17th year of 39 Ammian. XX. II. Athanafius (torn. i.

p, 856.) fays, in general terms,

that

Con-

from Julian to the fatrap Arfaces; fierce, vulgar, and (though it might deceive Sozomen, 1. vi. c. 5.), moft probably fpurious. La Bleterie (Hift. de Jovien,tom. ii.p. 339O tranflates and rejefts it.
p. 86.) has publifhed anepiftle

The

OF THE
The
military

ROMAN

EMPIRE,
were
Ikilfully

427
contrived to

difpofitions of Julian

CHAP.
Vr~^
parations.
-'

deceive the fpies, and to divert the attention, of Sapor.

The

legions

appeared to diredl their march towards Nifibis and the Tigris.

a fudden they wheeled to the right
plain of Carrh.'E
; ;

On

traverfed the level

and naked

and reached, on the third day, the banks of the

Euphrates, where the flrong town of Nicephorium, or Callinicuin,

had been founded by the Macedonian kings.

From

thence the

em-

peror purfued his march, above ninety miles,

flream of the Euphrates,
till,

along the winding

at

length, about one

month

after his

departure from Antioch, he difcovered the towers of Circefium, the

extreme

limit of the

Roman

dominions.

The army

of Julian, the
Perfia,

moll numerous that any of the Ca^fars had ever led againft
confilled of fixty-five thoufand effective

and well-difciplined

foldiers.

The

veteran bands of cavalry and infantry, of

Romans and Barba;

rians,

had been

feledled

from the

different provinces

and a juft pre-

eminence of loyalty and valour was claimed by the hardy Gauls

who

guarded the throne and perfon of their beloved prince.

formidable body of Scythian auxiliaries had been tranfported from

another climate, and almoft from another world, to invade a diftant

country, of whofe
love of rapine and

name and
war

fituation they

were ignorant.

The

allured to the Imperial ftandard feveral tribes

of Saracens, or roving Ai-abs, whofe fervice Julian had commanded,

while he fternly refufed the payment of the accuftomed fubfidies.

The broad

channel of the Euphrates

*'

was crowded by a

fleet

of

eleven hundred fhips, deftined to attend the motions, and to fatisfy

the wants, of the

Roman
fifty

army.

The
;

military flrength of the fleet

was compofed of
*'

armed

gallies

and thefe were accompanied

in

Latiffimum flumcn Euphmten artabat.

xxiii. 3.

29, &c.

the

zd volume of
is

Spelman's

Ammian.
or

Somewhat
the river

higher, at the
is

tranflation).
at Bir

If the breadth of the Euphrates

fords of Thapfacus,

four ftadia,

and

Zeugma

no more than 130

ii.

800 yards, almoil half an Englilh mile, broad (Xenophon Anabafis, 1. i. p. 41. edit,
Hutchinfon, with Fofter's Obfervadons, p.

yards (Voyages de Niebuhr, torn.

the

p. 33;. )

enormous

difference muft chiefly arife

from

the depth of the channel.

by

428

THE DECLINE AND FALL

by an ^qual number of fiat-bottomed
boats,

CHAP.
XXIV.

which might occafionally

be conneded into the form of temporary bridges.

ifhips,

The

reft

of the

partly

conftruded of timber, and partly covered with raw

hides,

were laden with an almoft inexhauftible fupply of arms and

a very large

engines, of utenfils and provifions.

lian

had embarked

humanity of Jumagazine of vinegar and bifcuit for

vigilant
j

The

the ufe of the foldiers, but

he prohibited the indulgence of wine

firing

and rlgoroufly ftopped a long

of fuperfluous camels that at-

tempted to follow the rear of the army.

Julian enters
feirkories,

The

river

Chaboras
as the

falls

into the

Euphrates

at

Circefmm

"^
;

and

as foon

trumpet

gave the fignal of march, the

feparated

Romans

pafled the

little

ftream which

April 7th..

two mighty and

hoftile empires.
;

The cuftom of ancient

animated the impatient
inflexible courage

difcipllne required a military oration

and Julian embraced every

opportunity of dlfplaying his eloquence.

He

and

attentive legions

by the example of the

and

glorious triumphs of their anceftors.

He

excited their refentment

;

by

liA'^ely

pitSure of the

infolence of the Perfians

and he exhorted

them

to imitate his firm refolutlon, either to extii-pate that perfilife

dious nation, or to devote his

in the caufe of the republic.

The

eloquence of Julian was enforced by a donative of one hundred

and

thirty pieces of filver to every foldier

and the bridge of the

Chaboras was inftantly cut away, to convince the troops that they

muft place their hopes of fafety in the fuccefs of their arms.

the prudence of the emperor induced

Yet

him

to fecure a

remote

frontier,

perpetually expofed to the inroads of the hoftile Arabs.

A detachment

of four thoufand

men was

left at

Circefium, which completed, to the

regular garrifpn of that important

number of
fortrefs *\.

ten thoufand, the

From
**

Monumentum

tutiffimum et fabre po-

ambiunt fiumina, velut fpatiam

gentes.
*'

infulare fin-

litum,
afpire

Abora (the Orientals Cliaboras or Chabour) et Euphrates

cujus mffinia
3.

Ammian. xxiii. 5. The enterprize and armament of

Julian
are-

OF
From
the

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

that the

429
^Jt,y
'

moment

Romans
The

entered the enemy's countiy *\

^'
~f

the country of an aftive and artful enemy, the order of marcli was
difpofed in three cohimns
"'.

His march

ftrength of the infantry, and con-

lequently of the whole army, was placed

peculiar

m
.

the centre,

J, under

over the de.

fertofMcfopotamia.

the

command

of their mafter-general Vidor.

On
fleet.

the right,

the brave Nevitta led a column of feveral legions along the banks of the Euphrates, and almoft always in fight of the
flank of the

army was

protedted by the

The left column of cavalry. Hor-

mifdas and Arinthxus were appointed generals of the horfe; and the
fnigular adventures of

Hormifdas

*'

are not undeferving of our notice.

He

was

a Perfian prince, of the royal race of the SalTanides,

who,

in

the troubles of the minority of Sapor, had efcaped from prifon to the
hofpitable court of the great Conftantine.

Hormifdas,

at firft, excited

the companion, and, at length, acquii-ed the efteem, of his

his valour

new mafters^:

and
;

fidelity

raifed

him

to the

military honours of the

Roman
jet

fervice

and, though a Chriftian, he might indulge the fecret

fatisfixftion

of convincing his ungrateful country, that an opprefl'ed fub-

may

pi'ove the

moft dangerous enemy.

Such was the difpofront and flanks of the

fition

of the three principal columns.

The

army were covered by

hundred light-armed
moft
diftant figns,

Lucillianus with a flying detachment of fifteen

foldiers,

whofe

adlive vigilance
earlieft

obferved the

and conveyed the

notice,,

of any hoftile

approach.

Dagalaiphus, and Secundinus duke of Ofrhoene, conrAmmianus

p. 162,
(xxiv. i.)

are defcribed by himfelf (Epift. xxvii.), Ammianus Marcellinus (xxiii. 3, 4, 5.), Liba-

*'
iii.

163.)

and Zofimus 1. have accurately exprefled

nius (Orat. Parent,

c.

10", 109. p. 332, 333.))

'^^ order of march.

**

Zofimus
(I. vi. c.

(1. iii.

p. 160, 161, 162.),

Sozomen

The
p.

adventures of Hormifdas are re-

**

and John Malela (torn, ii.p.17.). Before he enters Perfia, Ammianus coI.),

lated with
I. ii.

100

feme mixture of fable (Zofimus, 102 ; Tillemont, Hift. des Em-

pioufly defcribes (xxiii. 6. p. 396

419.

edit,

pereurs, torn. iv. p. 19S.).

It is

impofTible

Gronov.

in 4to.) the eighteen great fatrapies,

that he fliould be the brother (frater germa-

or provinces (as far as the Seric,

frontiers),
nidej.

or Chinefe

nus) of an

eli/ej?

and pojikiimous child

nor
'

which were fubjedl

to the Saffa-

do

I recolleft that
title,

Aroinianus ever gives him

that

duded:

430

THE DECLINE AND FALL

(luded the troops of the rear-guard; the baggage, fecurely, proceeded in
the
intervals

CHAP,

of the columns

and the ranks, from a

in fuch

motive either of ufe

order,
that

or oftentation,

were formed

open
miles.
;

the whole line of

march extended almoft ten

at

The

ordinary poll of Julian was

the head of the centre

column

but as he preferred the duties of a general to the Hate of a monarch,

he rapidly moved, with a fmall

efcort of light cavalry, to the front,

the rear, the flanks, wherever his prefence could animate or proteft
the

march of the Roman army.

The country

vyhich they traverfed

from the Chaboras,

to the cultivated lands of Affyria,

may
arts

be con-

fidered as a part of the defert of Arabia, a

dry and barren wafte,

of hu-

which could never be improved by the moft powerful

man

induftry.

Julian marched over the fame ground which had

been trod above feven hundred years before by the footfteps of the

younger Cyrus, and which

his expedition, the fage
*'

is

defcribed

by one of
*'.

the companions of

and heroic Xenophon

" The country

of

was

a plain throughout, as even as the fea, and full

;

worm-

" wood and if any other kind of fhrubs or reeds grew there, they " had all an aromatic fmell ; but no trees could be feen. Buftards
*'

and

oftriches, antelopes

and wild
;

afles ",

appeared to be the only

al-

" inhabitants of the

defert

and the fatigues of the march were

" levlated by the amufements of the chace."

defert

The

loofe fand of the

:

was frequently

raifed

by the wind

into clouds of duft

and a

great

number of

the foldiers of Julian, with their tents, were fudthe

denly thrown to
hurricane.

ground by the violence of an unexpedled

'
4c,

See the
4.6.

firll

book of the Anabafis,

p.

either

a foldier or

geographer

will

al-

This pleafing work is original and authentic. Yet Xenophon's memory, per-

low.
*^

Mr. Spelman,
i.

the Englifli tranflator of

p.
1;

haps

many
he

years after

the
;

expedition, has
diilances

the Anabafis (vol.

i.),

confounds the

fometimes betrayed him

and the

antelope with the roe-buck, and the wild-afs

which

marks

are

often

larger

than

with the zebra.

The

OF THE
The fandy
and and
villages

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
to

431
the ante-

plains of

Mefopotamia were abandoned

C H A
\

P.

a1 V
fuccefi.

lopes and wild afles of the defert

but a variety of populous towns

His

were pleafantly

fituated

on the banks of the Euphrates,

formed by that
river.

in the iflands

which

are occafionally
"",

The

city of Annah, or
is

Anatho

the adual refidence of an Arabian Emir,

compofed of two long

ftreets,

which

inclofe within a natural fortifruitful fpots

fication, a fmall ifland in the mldft,

fide,

and two

on either

of the Euphrates.

The

warlike inhabitants of Anatho fhewed

a

a difpofition to ftop the

march of

Roman emperor

till

they were

diverted from fuch

fatal

prefumption by the mild exhortations of

fleet

prince Hormifdas, and the approaching terrors of the

and army.
;

They
Syria,

implored, and experienced, the clemency of Julian

who-

tranfplanted the people to an advantageous fettlement, near Chalcis in

and admitted Pufaeus, the governor,

to

an honourable rank
fortrefs

in his fervice and friendfhip.

lutha could fcorn the

But the impregnable

fiege
;

of Thi-

menace of a

and the emperor was

obliged to content himfelf with an infulting promife, that

when he

had fubdued the

interior provinces

of Perfia, Thilutha would no

longer refufe to grace the triumph of the conqueror.

The

inhabitants

of the open towns, unable to

precipitation
;

refift,

and unwilling
filled

to yield, fled

with

and their houfes,

foldiers

with

fpoil

and provifions,,

were occupied by the

of JuHan,

who

maffacred, without

remorfe, and without punifhment, fome defencelefs

the march, the Surenas, or Perfian general, and
the

women.

During

Malek Rodofaces,
hovered

renowned Emir of the

tribe

of GafTan

',

inceffantly

round
""

See Voyages de Tavernier, parti.

1. iii.

tries

which

theyvifit.

Shaw and Tournefort

latro,

p. 316.

and more efpecially Viaggi

di Pietro

deferve an honourable exception,

*"

della Valle, tom.

He

i. lett. xvii. p. 671, &c. was ignorant of the old name and con-

Famofi nominis

fays

Aminianus

dJtion of
poffefs

Annah.

Our

blind

uayeWen feUom

an high encomium for an Arab. The tribe of GafTan had fettled on the edge of Syria,

any previous knowledge of the coun-

and reigned fome time

in

Damafcus, under a
dynafty

432

THE DECLINE AND FALL

round the army every
:

CHAP,
'

ftraggler

was Intercepted every detachment was

;

'

attacked

and the valiant Hormifdas efcaped with fome

difficulty
:

from

their hands.

But the Barbarians were

lefs

finally repulfed

the country
;

became every day

favourable to the operations of cavalry

and

when

the

Romans

arrived at Macepradta, they perceived the ruins of

the wall, which had been conftrudted

to fecure their dominions

by the ancient kings of Affyria,

Thefe

from the incurfions of the Medes.

preliminaries of the expedition

of Julian appear to have employed

about fifteen days

and we may compute near three hundred miles

".

from the
Defcription

fortrefs

of Circefium to the wall of Macepracta of Aflyria ", which ftretched

The

fertile

province

beyond the

)ria.

Tigris, as far as

the mountains of

Media

",

extended about four

to the
terri-

hundred miles from the ancient wall of Maceprada

tory of Bafra,

where the united ftreams of the

Euphrates
'\

and

Tigris difcharge themfelves into the Perfian

Gulf

The whole
;

country might have claimed the peculiar name of Mefopotamia

the

as

two

rivers,

which

are never

more

diftant than

fifty,

approach,

between Bagdad and Babylon, within twenty-five, miles of each

dynady of thirty-one kings, or emirs, from
that the /ra-^ ^ra^/ of
tranflated.

Abulfeda has not been

Pompey to that of the Khalif Omar. D'Herbelot, Biblioth6que Orientale,

the time of
p. 360.
p.

" Ammianus
Affyria,

remarks, that the primitive

Pocock, Specimen Hilh Arabics,

does not

75-78. The name of Rodofaces

lift.
.

appear in the
,, 5'

fOrat. Parental,
iimus
'I
,,
^

,_

See
--

Ammianus (xxiv. 1,2.), Libanius ^ c. no, iii. p. ^T^.. ), Zo^

,

.,

...

(I. III. p. ir

164. -v

ioS).
> '
I

The

defcription of Aflyria
(1.
i.

is

furnidied by

which comprehended Ninus (Nin'weh) and Arbela, had a/fumed the more re^^'^^ ^"'^ peculiar appellation of Adiabene and he feera's to fix Teredon, Vologefi , and r r> Apollonia, as .u exfre/.te ernes oi the adual the c \npiovmce of /.flyna. <j. T^i A 5+ "phe . two nvers unite at Apamea, or Corna (one hundred miles from the Perfian
:

ah.

Herodotus

c.

192, &c.),

who fometimes

writes for children, and fometimes for phi-

lofophers; by Strabo (I. xvi.p.1070- 1082.), and by Ammianus (1. xxiii. c. 6.). The moil ufeful of the modern travellers are Tavernier
1. ii. p. 226-258.), Otter (torn. ii. 35-69. and 189-224.), and Niebuhr (rom. ii. p. 172-288.). Yet I much regret

Gulf), into the broad ftream of the Pafitigris, The Euphrates formerly reached the fea by a feparate channel, which
or Shat-ul-Arab.

(parti.
p.

wis obftruaed .and diverted by the citizens of Orchoe, about twenty miles to the fouth-ealt of modern Bafra (d'Anville, in the Memoires de I'Ac.ad. des Infcriptions, torn. xxx. p,
1701.91.).

Other.

OF THE
other. in a foft

ROMAN
canals,

EMPIRE.
dug without much labour
rivers,

43^

multitude of

artificial

CHAP.
XXJ V.
'

and yielding

foil,

conneted the

and interfedted the

'

plain, of Ailyria.

and important.

The ufes of thefe artificial canals wei'e various They ferved to difcharge the fuperfluous vv'^aters
inun-

from one
dations.

river into the other, at the feafon of their refpeQive

Subdividing themfelves into fmaller and fmaller branches,

they refrelhed the dry lands, and fupplied the deficiency of rain.

They
the

facilitated the

intercourfe of peace

and commerce

and, as
defpair of
to

dams could be

fpeedily broke

down, they armed the

the Aflyi"ians with the

means of oppofing a fudden deluge

the

progrefs of an invading army.

To

the

foil

and climate of AfTyria,

the vine, the olive,
life

nature had denied fome of her choiceft

gifts,

and the

fig-tree

but the food which fupports the

of man, and
fer-

particularly
tility
;

wheat and barley, were produced with inexhauilible

and the hufbandman,

who committed
was

his feed to the earth,

was frequently rewarded with an

hundred.

encreafe of two, or even of three,

interfperfed with groves of

The

face of the country

innumerable palm-trees

"
;

and the

diligent natives celebrated, either

in verfe or profe, the three

hundred and

fixty

ufes to

which the

trunk, the branches, the leaves, the juice, and the fruit, were fkilfully

applied.
linen,

Several

manufiitures,
a

efpecially

thofe

of leather
af-

and

employed the induftry of

numerous people, and

;

forded valuable materials for foreign trade

to

which appears, however,

Babylon had

have been conducted by the hands of ftrangers.

;

been converted into a royal park

capital,

but near the ruins of the ancient

new

cities

had

fucceffively arifen,

and the populoufnefs of and ftrongly cemented

iv.

the country was difplayed in the multitude of towns and villages,

which were
" The

built of bricks, dried in the fun,

learned Kaempfer, as a botanift, an

(AmcEnitat. Exotici, Fafcicul.

p.

660

antiquary,

and a

traveller,

has exhaufted

764.)

the whole

fubjed of palm-trees.

Vol. IL

with

434'
^ ^^j^.
u<
^'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

with bitumen
Ionian
foil.
;

the natural and peculiar produftion of the

fucceflbrs of

Baby-

^^

While the

Cyrus reigned over Afia, the

during a third part of the

province of Aflyria alone maintained,

year, the luxurious plenty of the table

and houfchold of the Great

for the fubfiflence

King.

Four confiderable
;

villages

were affigned

of his Indian dogs

eight hundred ftallions, and fixteen thoufand

mares, were conftantly kept, at the expence of the country, for the
royal ftables
:

and

as the daily tribute,

which was paid

to the fatrap,

amounted
'*.

to

one Englifh bulhel of

at

filver,

we may compute

the annual

revenue of AfTyria
fterling
Invafion of
AflVris.

more than twelve hundred thoufand pounds

The
of war
adls
;

fields

of Aflyria were devoted by Julian to the calamities

retaliated

and the philofopher

on a

guiltlefs

people the
their

May.

of rapine and cruelty,

which had been committed by

provinces.
;

haughty mafter in the

Roman

The
The

trembling Aflyrians
their

fummoned

the rivers to their afllftance

and completed, with

own

hands, the ruin of their country.

;

roads were rendered

;

impradicable

a flood

of waters was poured into the camp

and,

during feveral days, the troops of Julian were obliged to contend

with the mofl: difcouraging hardfhips.

But every

obfl:aele

was

fur-

mounted by

the perfeverance of the legionaries,

who were

inured

to toil as well as to danger,

and

who

felt

themfelves animated by
gradually repaired
;

the fpirit of their leader.

The damage was

the

waters were refl:ored to their proper channels

'"

whole groves of
(1.
i.

AfTyria yielded to the Perfian fatrap, an

iilver ea.c\i

fages in Herodotus

c.

192.

1.

iii.

c^

Artaia of

day.

Tlie well-known

proportion of weights and meafures (fee Bi(hop Hooper's elaborate Inquiry), the fpecigravity of water and filver, and the value of that metal, will afford, after a fhort procefs, the annual revenue which I have ftated. Yet the Great King received no more than
lie

89 96.) reveals an important difterence between the ^q/s, and the net, revenue the fums paid by the proof Perfia ; vince, and the gold or fdver depofited in the The monarch might annually royal treafure.
fave three millions fix hundred thoufand pounds, of the feven teen or eighteen millions
laifed

joooEuboic, orTyriaii,
from Aflyria.

talents

The comparifon

(252,0001 ) of two paf-

upon the people,

palm~

OF THE
road
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
canals,

435

palm-trees were cut down, and placed along the broken parts of the

CHAP.
v-.^

and the army pafled over the broad and deeper

on

bridges of floating rafts which were fupported

by

the help of bladders.

Two
peror

cities
:

of Aifyria prefumed to

reftft

the arms of a

Roman emAt
Siege of

and they both paid the fevere penalty of

fifty

their raflinefs.

the diftance of
Perifabor,

miles from the royal relidence of Ctefiphon,

:

or Anbar, held the fecond rank in the province

a city,

large, populous,

and well

fortified,

furrounded with a double wall,

almoft encompafled by a branch of the Euphrates, and defended

by
fian

the

valour

of

numerous

garrifon.
;

The
and the

exhortations
ears
that,

of

Hormifdas were repulfed with contempt

prince were

of the Per-

wounded by

a juft reproach,

unmindful

of his royal birth, he conducted an

army of

ftrangers againft his

a'

king and country.

Ikilful,

The

Aflyrians

maintained their loyalty by

;

as well

as vigorous,

defence

till

the lucky ftroke of a

battering-ram, having opened a large breach, by fhattering one of

the angles of the wall, they haftily retired into the fortifications of

the interior citadel.

The

foldiers

of Julian loifhed impetuoufly into

the town, and, after the

Perifabor
citadel

full gratification
;

of every military appetite,

aflaulted the

was reduced

to allies

and the engines which

were planted on the ruins of the fmoking houfes.

The

conteft
mifTile

was continued by an

inceflant

and

mutual

difcharge of

weapons

and the fuperiority which the Romans might derive

their balifta^

from the mechanical powers of

terbalanced
fieged.

and

catapultae
fide

was counof the be-

by the advantage of
as foon as

the ground

on the

But

an Helcpolis had been conftrufted, which

loftieft

could engage on equal terms with the

ramparts
leave

the tre-

mendous

afpedl of a

moving

turret, that

would

no hope ot

refiftance or

of mercy,
;

terrified the

defenders of the citadel into an

humble fubmiffion
after

and the place was furrendered only two days

under the walls of Perifabor.
3

Julian

firft

appeared

Two

thoufand

: ;

436

THE DECLINE AND EALL

thoufand
iive

CHAP.
XXIV.

hundred perfons, of both

fexes, the feeble

:

remnant of

a flourllhing people, were permitted to retire

the plentiful

magadiftri-

zines of corn, of arms, and of fplendid furniture,

were partly

buted

among

the troops, and partly referved for the public fervice

the ufelefs ftores were deftroyed

by
of

fire,

or thrown into the ftream

the total

of the Euphrates

and the

fate

Amida was revenged by

ruin of Perifabor.
of Maogamalclia.

The

city,

or rather fortrefs,

of Maogamalcha, which was de-

fended by fixteen large towers, a deep ditch, and two ftrong and
folid walls

of brick and bitumen, appears

to

have been conftrudted

at the diftance

of eleven miles, as the fafeguard of the capital of Perfia.

apprehenfive of leaving fuch an important fortrels
;

The emperor,
in his rear,

immediately formed the fiege of Maogamalcha

and

the

Roman army was

Vidor,
at the

diftributed, for that purpofe, into three di-

vifions.

head of the cavalry, and of a detachment

to

of heavy-armed foot,

was ordered

clear the country,

as far as

the banks of the Tigris, and the fuburbs of Ctefiphon.

The con-

dud

of the attack was

alTumed by Julian himfelf,

in the

who feemed
efficacity-.

to place his

whole dependence
;

mihtary engines which he

eredsd againft the walls

cious

while he fecretly contrived a more

method of introducing

his troops into the heart of the

Under
opened

the diredion of Nevitta and Dagalaiphus, the trenches were

at a confiderable diftance,

and gradually prolonged

as far as

the edge of the ditch.

The

ditch

was

fpeedily filled with earth

and, by th^ inceflant labour of the troops, a

mine was

carried

under

the foundations of the walls, and fuftained, at fufficient intervals,

by
file^

props of timber.
filently

Three chofen cohorts, advancing in a fmgle

;

explored the dark and dangerous paflage

till

their intrepid

leader whifpered back the intelligence, that he

was ready

to iffue

from

his confinement into the ftreets of the

hoftile city.
;

Julian

checked. their ardour, that he might enfure their fuccefs

and

im-f

mediately

OF
elamour of

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The
Perfians,

437

mediately diverted the attention of the garrifon, by the tumult and

a general aflault.

CHAP.
XXIV.

who, from

their walls,

contemptuoully beheld the progrefs of an impotent attack, celebrated,

with fongs of triumph, the glory of Sapor

the emperor, that he might afcend the

and ventured to

afllire

ftari-y

manfion of Ormufd,

before he could hope to take the impregnable city of Maogamalcha.

The

city

was already taken.

Iliftory has recorded the

name of

private foldier, the firft

who

afcended from the mine into a deferted

his

tower.

The

paflage

was widened by

companions,

who

prefled
al-

forwards with impatient valour.

Fifteen

hundred enemies were

ready in the midft of the

city.

The

aftonirhed garrifon abandoned

;

the walls, and their only hope of fafety

burft

the gates were ini^antly

it

open

and the revenge of the

foldier, unlefs

were fufpended
maflacre.

by

luft

or avarice,

was

fatiated

by an undiftinguiining
on

The

governor,
a

who had

yielded on a promife of mercy, was burnt

a

alive,

few days afterwards,

charge

of having

uttered

fome difrefpedful words

againft the
to the

honour of Prince Hormifdas.

;

The
left,

fortifications

were razed

ground

and not a veftige was

cxifted.

that the city of

Maogamalcha had ever

The neighftately

bourhood of the
laces, laborioufly

capital of Perfia

was adorned with three

pa-

enriched with every produdion that could gratify

the luxury and pride of an Eaftern monarch.

The

pleafant fituation

of the gardens along the banks of the Tigris, was improved, according, to the Perfian
tafte,

by the fymmetry of

flowers, fountains,

and fhady walks

and fpacious parks were inclofed for the reception

of the bears, lions, and wild boars,, which were maintained at a

confiderable expence for the pleafure of the royal chace. walls were broke down, the favage game was abandoned

The parkto the darts

of the fcldiers, and the palaces of Sapor were reduced to afhes, by

the

command

of the

Roman
S

emperor.

Julian,

on

this

occafion,

Ihewed himfelf ignorant, or

carelefs,

of the laws of

civility,

whick
the-

438
C H A P. XX [V.
the prudence

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and refinement of
princes.
poliflied ages

have eftablifhed be-

tween
in

lioftlle

Yet thcfe wanton ravages need not excite

our breads any vehement emotions of pity or refentment.

naked, flatue, linifhed by the hand of a Grecian
all

A
is

firaple,

artift,

of

more genuine value than

Barbaric labour
:

thefe rude

and

coftly

monuments of

and,

if vv^e are

more deeply affeded by the ruin of

a palace, than by the conflagration of a cottage, our humanity muft

have formed a veiy erroneous eftimate of the miferies of

life ".

human
and the

Perfonal behaviour of
Julian.

Julian was an objed: of terror and hatred to the Perfians

. .

pamters of that nation reprelented the invader ot their country under

the

emblem of
fire ".

a furious lion,

who vomited from

and
;

his

mouth a con-

fuming

To

his friends

foldiers,

the philofophic hero

appeared in a more amiable light

and

his virtues

were never more

confpicuoufly difplayed, than in the

his
life.

laft,

and moft adive, period of

and almoft without merit,
According
to the

He

pradtifed,

without

effort,

the habitual qualities of temperance and fobriety.

dictates of that artificial

wifdom, which affumes an abfolute dominion

over the mind and body, he fternly refufed himfelf the indulgence

of the moft natural appetites

".

In the

warm

climate of Affyria,

which

folicited a
^,

luxurious people to the gratification of every fen-

fual defire

a youthful conqueror preferved his chaflity pure and

inviolate

nor was Julian ever tempted, even by a motive of curiolian's

" The

operations of the AfTyrian war are

chaftity

was voluntary,
(ap.

and,

in his

circumllantially related by

Ammianus

(xxiv.

opinion, meritorious.
*'

123,
(Orat.

2,3,4,5.), Libanius (Orat. Parent, c. 112 Zofimus (1. iii. p. 335 347.), and Gregory Nazianzen p. 168 180.),

Salluft
i.

Vet.

Scholiaft.

Juvenal.
virgins of

Satir.
tius

104.)
freely

obferves, that nihil corrup-

moribus.

The matrons and

:

iv.

p. 113. 144.).

The

military cri-

ticifms of the faint are devoutly copied by

Tillemont,
5^

his faithful Have.

Libanius de
p. 162.

ulcifcenda Juliani nece,

c. 13. ''

The famous examples of

Cyrus, Alex-

mingled with the men, in licentious banquets and as they felt the intoxication of wine and love, they gradually, and almoft completely, threw afide the incumbrance of drefj ; ad ultinwm ina corporum velamenta projiciunt. Q^ CurBabylon
tius,

ander, and Scipio, were afts of juftice.

Jn-

v. i,

fity,

OF THE
fity,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
',

439
who,
inftead

to

Aafit his

female captives of exquifite beauty

C H A
AA
i

P.
.

of

refifting his

power, would have difputcd with each other the

honour of

his embraces.

With

the fame firmnefs that he refiftcd

the allurements of love, he fuftained the hardships of war.

the

When

Romans marched through

on
foot, at the

the

flat

and flooded country, their

fovereign,

head of his legions, fhared their fatigues,

In every ufeful labour, the hand of
;

and animated
Julian

their diligence.

was prompt and ftrenuous

dirty, as the coarfe

and the Imperial purple was

foldier.

wet and

garment of the meanefl:

The
of the

two

fieges allowed

him fome remarkable

which,
in

opportunities of fignal-

ifmg his perfonal valour,

military art,

the

improved

ftate

can feldom be exerted by a prudent general.

citadel

The

emperor ftood before the

of Perifabor, infenfible of his extroops to burft open the gates of

miflile

treme danger, and encouraged

iron,
till

hils

he was almoft overwhelmed under a cloud of

wea-

pons, and huge ftones, that were direded againfl his perfon.

As

he examined the exterior

fians,

fortifications

of Maogamalcha, two Per-

devoting themfelves for their country, fuddenly rufhed upon

fcimitars
:

him with drawn

thruft, laid

the emperor dexteroufly received their

;

blows on his uplifted

fhield

and, with a fteady and well-aimed

one of

his adverfaries

dead

at his feet.

The
is

efteem of a
the nobleft

prince

who

pofiefl^es

the virtues which he approves,

fubje<ft
;

recompence of a deferving

and the authority which Julian

derived from his perfonal merit, enabled

the rigour of ancient difcipline.

him

to revive

and enforce

He

punifhed with death, or igno-

miny, the mifbehaviour of three troops of horfe, who, in a fkirmifh

with the Surenas, had
*'

loft their

honour, and one of their ftandards

but
it

capts,

Exvirginibnsautem, qnas fpeciofe funt et in Perfide, ubi fceminarum pulchritudo excellit, nee contreftare aliquam

has been improved, by the perpetual

mixture of Circaffian
c.

Wood (Herodot.
Natiirelle,

I.

iii.
iii.

97.

Buftbn,

Hiil.

torn.

voluit nee videre.

Ammian.
is

xxiv. 4.

The
:

p. 420.),

native race of Perfians

fraall

and ugly

and

440
C H A
XXIV.
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

raTid

he

diftinsiuiftied

with

obfidional'''^

crowns the valour of the fore.

moft

foldiers,

who had

afcended into the city of Maogamalcha.

After

the fiege of Perifabor, the firmnefs of the emperor was exercifed by the infolent avarice of the army,
fervices

who

loudly complained, that their

were rewarded by a

trifling

donative of one hundred pieces

in the grave

of

filver.

His

juft indignation

was expreffed

and manly
?

language of a Roman.
'" thofe riches are in the

" Riches are the object of your defires

hands of the Perfians

as the prize

and the

fpoils

of

this

"
'"
*'

fruitful

country are propofed

of your valour and

republic,

difci-

pline.

Believe me," added Julian, " the

formerly polTefTed fuch

;

Roman immenfe treafures, is now

which

reduced to want

" and wretchednefs fmce our princes have been perfuaded, by weak " and interefled minifters, to purchafe with gold the tranquillity of
*'

the Barbarians.

The revenue

is

exhaufted

the cities are ruined

" the provinces are difpeopled. For myfelf, the only inheritance " that I have received from my royal anceftors, is a foul incapable
*'

of fear
is

and

as long as

am

convinced that every real advantage

"

feated in the mind, I {hall not blufh to

acknowledge an ho-

" nourable poverty, which, in the days of ancient virtue, was con-

" fidered
*'

as the glory of Fabricius.

if

That glory, and

that virtue,

may

be your own,
leader.

you
if

will liften to the voice of will rafhly perfift, if

Heaven, and
are deter-

" of your
" mined

But

you

you

to

renew the fhameful and mifchievous examples of old

proceed

"
"
"

feditions,
lirft

As
I

it

becomes an emperor

who

has
;

filled

the

rank

among men,
life,

am

prepared to die, Handing

and

to de-

fpife a precarious

which,

every hour,

may depend on an

"
*'

accidental fever.

If

have been found unworthy of the command,

(I

there are
**

now among you

fpeak

it

with pride and pleafure),

who had
delivered a

Obfidionalibus coronis donati.

Am-

the reward of a general

jnian. xxiv. 4.

Either Julian or his hiilorian

befieged city
v. 6.).

(Aulus Gellius, Noft- Attic,

were unflciiful antiquaries. The iven mural crowns.

He

fhould have

ohfidional

were

"

there

OF
tt

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

chiefs,

441
are equal to
tern-

there are

many

whofe merit and experience

CHAP.
'^. .-

" the condudl of the moft important war.

Such has been the

" per of my reign, that I can retire, without regret, and without " apprehenfion, to the obfcurity of a private ftation "." The modeft
refohition of

JuUan was anfwered by the unanimous applaufe and

cheerful obedience of the

Romans

who

declared their confidence of

vidlory, while they fought under the banners of their heroic prince.

Their courage was kindled by

(for

and familiar affeverations fuch wifhes were the oaths of Julian), " So may I reduce the
his frequent

"

Perfians under the

yoke

!"

" Thus may

!"

reftore the ftrength

" and fplendour of the republic

pafFion of his foul
:

The

love of

fame was the ardent

but

of Maogamalcha, that
**

was not before he trampled on the ruins he allowed himfelf to fay, " We have now
it

provided fome materials for the fophift of Antioch

*"."

The

fuccefsful valour of Julian

had triumphed over

all

the ob-

Hetranfports

ftacles that

oppofed his march to the gates of Ctefiphon.

But the ^^ ""' f""""*

ftill

redulion, or even the fiege, of the capital of Perfia, was

diftance
:

at a

tes to the

nor can the military conduit of the emperor be clearly

T igris.

apprehended, without a knowledge of the country which was the

theatre of his bold and (kilful operations
'''^.

Twenty

miles to the

fouth of Bagdad, and on the eaftern bank of the Tigris, the curiofity

of travellers has obferved fome ruins of the palaces of Cteficity.

phon, which, in the time of Julian, was a great and populous

The name and

guifhed
;

glory of the adjacent Seleucia were for ever extinthat

and the only remaining quarter of

Greek colony had

246

'' I

nuine.
icribe,

give this fpeech as original and geAmmianus might hear, could tran-

Infcriptions, torn, xxviii. p.

259.)
della

has

afcertained the true pofition and diftance of

and was incapable of inventing, it. have ufed fome flight freedoms, and conelude with the moft forcible fentence.
I

Babylon, Seleucia, Ctefiphon, Bagdad, &c.

The Roman
(torn.
i.

traveller,

Pietro

Valk

ktt. xvii. p.

630
is

*
*5

780.),

feems to

Ammian.
c.

xxiv.

3.

Libanius,

Orat.

be the moft intelligent fpeftator of that fa-

Parent,

122. p. 346.

mous

province.

He

M.

d'Anville
II.

(Mem. de I'Academiedes

fcholar, but intolerably vain

gentleman and a and proliv.

Vol.

refumed,

^^2
G

THE DECLINE AND FALL

p.

HA

refumed, with the Aflyrian language and manners,

appellation of Coche.

the primitivefide

Coche was

fituate

on the weftern

of the

Tigris

but

it

was

naturally confidered as a fuburb of Ctefiphon, with

it

which we may fuppofe

bridge of boats.
epithet

to

have been conneded by a permanent

The

united parts contributed to form the

common
cir-

of Al Modain, the cities, which the Orientals have be;

flowed on the winter refidence of the SaiTanides

and the whole

cumference of the Perfian

capital

was ftrongly

fortified

by the waters Near

of the river, by lofty walls, and by impracticable morafles.

the ruins of Sfileucia, the

camp of Julian was

fixed

and

fecin-ed,

by

a ditch and rampart, againft the faUies of the numerous and enter-

prifmg garrifon of Coche.

In this fruitful and pleafant country, the

Romans were
forts,

plentifully fupplied with water

and forage

and feveral
a.rmy, fub'

which might have embaiTaffed the motions of

after

tlie

mitted,

fome

refiftance,

to the efforts of their valour.

artificial

The
Tigris,-,

fleet pafled

from the Euphrates into an

derivation of that

river,

which pours a copious and navigable ftream into the

If they

at a fmall diftance below the great city.

had followed

this

royal canal, which bore the

diate fituation of

name of Nahar-Malcha ",

fleet

the interme-

Coche would have feparated the

and army of

Julian

and the raih attempt of fleering againft the current of the

and forcing their way through the midft of a
total deftrudtion

Tigris,

hoftile capital,

mufc have been attended with the

navy.

of the

Roman

The prudence of

the emperor forefaw the danger, and pro-ftudied the operations of

vided the remedy.

As he had minutely

Trajan in the fame country, he foon recollected, that his warlike

predeceffor had

dug a new and navigable

canal, which, leaving

Coche
into

on the right-hand, conveyed the waters of the Nahar-Malcha

*"

The Royal Canal (Nahar-Malcha)

fucceffively rellored,

ferve to explain the

might be
vided,

altered,

di-

of antiquity.

In the

feeming con traditions tii.ie of Julian, it muil

beloiu Ctefi-

&c.

(Cellariu?,
:

tom.

ii.

p. 453.)

Geograph. Antiq. and thefe changes may

have fallen into the Euphrates phon.

the

OF
"the river Tis-ris, at

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

fome
dlftance above the
cities.

443
the in-

From

formation of the peafants, Julian afcertained the vefliges of this ancient

C H A XXIV v

P.

^ork, which were ahnofl

obliterated

by defign or

accident.

By
was

the indefatigable labour of the foldiers, a broad and deep channel

fpeedily prepared for the reception of the Euphrates.

ftrong

dike was conflruded to interrupt the ordinary current of the Nahar-

Malcha

a flood of Waters rufhed impetuoufly into their

fleet, fl:eering

new bed

and the Roman

their

triumphant courfe into the Tigris,

derided the vain and ineffedtual barriers which the Perfians of Cte-

fiphon had eredled to oppofe their paflage.

As

it

became neceflary

to tranfport the

Roman army

over the

Paffa^e of

Tifris, another labour prefented itfelf, of lefs toil, but of more dan- ^^^ i 'gris, and viftory The fl:ream was broad and oftheRogcr, thai! the preceding expedition.
.

rapld

the afcent fteep and difficult

and the intrenchments which

mans.

had been formed on the ridge of the oppofite bank, were lined with a numerous army of heavy cuiraffiers, dexterous archers, and huge
elephants
;

who

(according to the extravagant hyperbole of Libanius)

field

could trample, with the fame eafe, a

of corn, or a legion of

In the prefence of fuch an enemy, the conftruftion of a bridge was impralicable ; and the intrepid prince, who inftantly
^^.

Romans

feized the Only poflTible expedient, concealed his defign,

till

the

mo-

ment of execution, from

the knowledge of the Barbarians, of his

his generals themfelves.

own

troops,

and even of

Under

the fpe-

cious pretence of examining the ftate of the magazines, fourfcore

veflels

were gradually unladen

and a feled detachment, apparently

^eftined for fome fecret expedition, was ordered to ftand to their

arms on the

firfl:

fignal.

Julian difguifed the filent anxiety of his

own

mind with

fmiles of confidence

and joy

and amufed the

hoftile

nations with the fpedacle of military games, which he infultingly

*'

Kai

fiiyi^taii

cXsipxar-^t,

oi?

>^ov

i,-/iv

ha

que

le vrai

.1

maxim which

fliould

be in-

rax<"->f oAut,

xat (paXxyya;.

Rien

n'eft

beau

fcribed on the defk of every rhetorician.

celebrated

444

THE DECLINE AND FALL

celebrated under the walls of Coche.
pleafure
;

CHAP,
XXIV.

The day was ^

confccrated to

but, as foon as the

hour of fupper was

;

paft, the

emperor

fummoned
had fixed
filent

the generals to his tent

and acquainted them, that he

that night for the paflage of the Tigris.

;

They
reft

flood in
Sallufl:

and refpedful aftonifhment

but,

when

the venerable

aflumed the privilege of his age and experience, the

of the chiefs
^^.

fupported with freedom the weight of his prudent remonftrances

Julian contented himfelf with obferving, that conqueft and fafety

depended on the attempt

that, inftead

of diminifliing, the

number
j

of their enemies would be increafed, by fucceffive reinforcements

and

that a longer delay

would neither contract the breadth of the

ftream, nor level the height of the bank.

The

fignal

was

inftantly

given, and obeyed

the moft impatient of the legionaries leaped into

five vefTels that lay neareft to the

bank

and, as they plied their oars

after a

with intrepid diligence, they were

darknefs of the night.
lian,

loft,

few moments, in the

;

flame arofe on the oppofite fide

and Ju-

who

too clearly underftood that his foremoft veflels, in attempt-

ing to land, had been fired by the enemy, dexteroufly converted

their

extreme danger into

a prefage

of victory.

"

Our

fellow-fol-

"
*'

diers,"
fee

he eagerly exclaimed, " are already mafters of the bank;

the appointed fignal
:

they make

let

us haften to emulate and

*'

affift

their courage."

The

united and rapid motion of a great fleet

broke the violence of the current, and they reached the eaftern fhore
of the Tigris with fufficient fpeed to extinguifh the flames, and refcue
their
lofty

adventurous
afcent

companions.

The

difficulties

of

a fteep and

were increafed by the weight of armour,

and

the

dai-knefs of the night.

eeflfantly

fhower of

ftones, darts,

and
;

fire,

was inafter

difcharged on the licads of the aflailants

who,

an

arduous ftruggle, climbed the bank, and ftood vidiorious upon the
'

Libanius alludes
I

to the

moft powerful
the leaders,

quod
fieri

acri

metu

territi

duces concordi precattt

cf the generals.
Sallujl.

have ventured to name

all

prohibere tentarent.

Araraianus fays, of

ramparti

OF THE
rampart.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
field,

445
Julian,

As foon
fkilful

as

they pofleffed a more equal

*",

who,

C H

^ P.

with his light-infantry, had led the attack

ranks a

darted through the

and experienced eye

of

his braveft foldiers, according

to the precepts

Homer

'",

were

diflributed in the front

and rear

and

all

the trumpets of the Imperial

after fending

army founded

to battle.

The

Romans,

up a military fhout, advanced in meafured

;

fteps to the

animating notes of martial mufic

;

launched their for-

midable javelins

and

ruflied forwards

with drawn fwords, to deof the advantage of their

lafted

prive the Barbarians,

miffile
till

by

a clofer onfet,

weapons.

The whole engagement

above twelve hours

the gradual retreat of the Perfians

was changed

into a diforderly

flight,

of which the fhameful example was given by the principal

leaders,

and the Surenas himfelf.

;

They were purfued

dangeroufly

to the gates

of Ctefiphon

and the conquerors might have entered the difmayed

city ", if their general Vidlor,

who was
to defift

wounded with
which

an arrow, had not conjured them muft be

fatal, if
it

from

a rafli attempt,

were not

fucceisful.

On

tbeir fide, the

;

Romans

acknowledged the

lofs

of only feventy-five
left

men

while they affirmed,

diat the Barbarians

had

on the

field

of battle two thoufand five

hundred, or even

fix

thoufand, of their braveft foldiers.

The

fpoil

was fuch
Oriental

as

might be expected from the riches and luxury of an

;

camp

large quantities of filver

tables

and gold, fplendid arms

filver.

and trappings, and beds and emperor

civic,
*9

of mafly

The

victorious
gifts,

diftributed, as the

rewards of valour, fome honourable

;

and mural, and naval, crowns which he, and perhaps he alone,
. . .

Hinc Imperator

(fays

Ammianus)
prima

Homer was
Julian,

never abfent from the mind of'

ipfe

cum
f

levis

armaturx

auxiliis per

poftremaque difcurrens, &c.

hi3 friend,
...
,
.

does not allow him to pafs the

,
/

,1

Yet Zofimus, i'^ . r .L

I

"
<iue
, ,

Perfas terrore fubito mifcuerunt, verfif.

river
'o

till

two days

after the battle.

i_

agminibus totius gentis, apertas Ctefi. . .i pnontis portas victor miles intraffet, ni maior '^
'^

pr^darum

r c -noccaiio tuiHet.

quam
c.

cura
28.).

-o viaons

Secundum Homericam difpofinonem.

is

(Sextus Rufus de Provinciis,

avarice might difpofe
vice of Viftor,

Their

fimilar dlfpolition

afcribed to the wife

the Iliad
:

them

to hear the ad-

Neftor, in the fourth

book of

and

efteemed

446

THE DECLINE AND FALL

efteemed more precious than the wealth of Afia. ^

CHAP,
XXIV.

A folemn

facrifice

was

offered to the

god of war, but the appearances of the vidbims

;

threatened the moft inaufpicious events

and JuHan foon difcovered,

reached the term of his

by

lefs

ambiguous
'*.

figns, that

he had

now
tlie

profperity
.Situation

On

the fecond day after the battle,

domeftic guards, the Jo-

andobftinacy

^j^^^ ^^^

HercuUans,

and

the

remaining troops,

which com-

A.D.

363

pofed near two-thirds of the whole army, were fecurely wafted over
the Tigris ".

June

While the

Perfians beheld

from the walls of Cte-

fiphon the defolation of the adjacent country, Julian caft

many

an

anxious look towards the North, in

felf

full

expectation, that as he

him"

had vidlorioufly penetrated

to the capital

of Sapor, the march

and junction of

his lieutenants, Sebaftian

and Procoplus, would be

executed with the fame courage and diligence.

were difappointed

His expectations
king,

by

the treachery of the

Armenian

who

per-

mitted, and moft probably directed, the defertion of his auxlliarv

troops from the

camp of

the

Romans

'*

and by the

diflentions

of

the two generals,

who were

incapable of forming or executing

any

plan for the public fervice.

When

the emperor had relinquifhed the

hope of

this

important reinforcement, he condefcended to hold a

council of war, and approved, after a full debate, the fentiment of

ihofe generals,
'^

who

diffuaded the fiege of Ctefiphon, as a fruitlefs

The

labour of the canal, the pafTage of

confift

of the proteftors,

among whom

the

ithe Tigris,

and the viftory, are defcribed by

(xxiv.
5,

hiftorian

Ammianus, and

the future emperor

Ammianus
Parent,
c.

6.), Libanius
p.

(Orat.

Jovian, aftually ferved

domejiics,

GregNazianzen (Orat. iv. p. 115.), Zofimus (1. iii. p. 181183.), and Sextus P.ufus (de

124128.

347 3S3-).

feme fchoob of the ; and perhaps the Jovians and Heroften did duty as guards.
!.

culians,
'+
c.

who

Mofes of Chorene (Hifh Armen.

iii.

Provinciis,

c.

28.).

15.

p. Z46.) fupplies us with a national

" The
divifions,

fleet

and army were formed

in three
pafl'eJ

of which the firft only had .<luring the night (Ammian. x:dv. 6.).
.Tiiri)

tradition, and a fpurious letter. I have borrowed only the leading circumllance, which
is

The
might

confident v\ith truth, probability, and Lic.

ao^-j^r,^ix,

whom
day
(i.

Zofimus
iii.

tranfports

banius (Orat. Parent,

131. p. 355.).

/pn

the third

p^

i^3-)>

and

OF THE
and pernicious undertaking.

ROMAN
It is

EMPIRE.
and taken by the
v.

447
^ H A
.

not eafy for us to conceive, by

P.

what arts of fortification, a city thrice befiegcd

predecefTors

of Julian, could be rendered impregnable againft an

army of

fixty thoufand

Romans, commanded by
But we may

a brave

and expe-

rienced genera!, and abundantly fupplied with fhlps, provifions, battering engines, and military ftores.
reft alTurcd, frorrt

the love of glory, and contempt of danger, which formed the cha-

Fader of Julian, that he was not difcouraged by any

ginary obftacles
Ctefiphon, he
'\-

trivial

or ima-

At

the very time w^hen he declined the fiege of

rejetiled,

with obftinacy and difdain, the moft

Sapor,

flat-

tering offers of a negociation of peace.

who had

been fo

long accuftomed to the tardy oftentation of Conftantius, was furprifed

by the

intrepid diligence of his fucceflbr.

As

far as the confines

of

India and Scythia, the fatraps of the diftant provinces were ordered
to aflemble their troops, and to march, without delay, to the affiftance

of their monarch.
tions flow
;

But

their preparations

were

dilatory, their

mohe

and before Sapor could lead an army into the

field,

received the melancholy intelligence of the devaftation of Aflyria,

the ruin of his palaces,, and the flaughter of his braveft troops,

who
and

defended the

pafliage

of the Tigris.
;

The
repafts

pride

of royalty was
;

humbled

in the

duft

he took

his

on the ground

the diforder of his hair exprefl'ed the grief and anxiety of his mind.

Perhaps he would not have refufed to purchafe, with one half of

his

kingdom,

the

fafety

of

the
in

rema.inder

and

he

would

have gladly fubfcribed himfelf,

ful

treaty of peace,

the faiththe pre-

and dependent

ally

of the

Roman

conqueror.

Under

tence of private bufinefs, a minifter

of rank and confidence was

^'

Civitas inexpugnabilis, facinus

audaxet

Ctefiphontem

ftativa

aliquandiu habuit
x.

reis

iirportunum. Ammianus, x\iv. 7. His fellow-ibldier, Eutropius, turns afide from the
difficulty,

meanfqiie vidor,
artful or ignorant,

&c.

16.

Zofimus

and Socrates inaccurate,

Aflyriamque populatus, caftraapud

fecretly

448

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

^^ ^ XXIV.
'

fecretly difpatched to

embrace the knees of Hormifdas, and

that

to re-

queft, in the language of a fuppliant,

he might be introduced

into the prefence of the emperor.

liftened to the voice

The

Saflfanian prince,

whether he

of pride or humanity, whether he confulted the

fentiments of his birth, or the duties of his fituation, was equally

inclined to

promote

a falutary meafure,

which would terminate the

calamities of Perfia, and fecure the

triumph of Rome.

He

was

afto-

nifhed by the inflexible firmnefs of a hero,

who remembered, moft unas Julian

fortunately for himfelf, and for his country, that Alexander had uni-

formly rejected the propofitions of Darius. But

that the
his

was

fenfible,

hope of a

fafe

and honourable peace might cool the ardour of

troops-;

he earneftly requefted, that Hormifdas would privately

difmifs the Tninifter of Sapor,

and conceal
'^

this

dangerous tempta-

tion
iHe bums
his

from the knowledge of the camp

The honour,
his time

as well as intereft, of Julian, forbade

;

him
and

to

confume

under the impregnable walls of Ctefiphon

city, to

as often as

he defied the Barbarians, who defended the open

plain, they prudently replied, that if

meet him on the

to exercife his

he dcfired

valour, he might feek the

infult,

army of

the Great King.

Inflead

He

felt

the

and he accepted the advice.

to the

of confining his fervile

march
tate

banks of the Euphrates and Tigris, he refolved to imi-

the adventurous fpirit of Alexander, and boldly to advance into

till

the inland provinces,

he forced his

rival to

contend with him,

perhaps in the plains of Arbela, for the empire of Afia.

The magof a noble

nanimity of Julian was applauded and betrayed, by the

Perfian,

arts

who,

in the caufe of his country,

had generoufly fubmitted

to

ad
'*

a part full

of danger, of falfehood, and of fliame ".

With

train
Libanius, Orat. Parent,
361.
Socrates,
1.

c.

c. 139. p.

iii.

130. p. 354. c. 21. 'J"he

philofopher was likewife a magician,

flattered

who

the hopes

and

paffions

of his ma-

imputes the refufal of fter. Such ad" The arts of this new Zopyrus (Greg, peace to the advice of Mavimus. Nazianzen, Orat. iv. p. 115, 116) may device was unworthy of a philofopher ; but the
ecclefiaftical hlflorian
*

zive

OF THE
train of faithful followers,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
fuftained
;

449
^'vvtw^"

he deferted to the Imperial camp; ex-

pofed, ia a fpecious tale, the injuries

which he had

exag-

gerated the cruelty of Sapor, the difcontent of the people, and the

weakneis of the monarchy, and confidently offered himfelf as the

hoftage and guide of the

Roman

march.
eft'eft,

The moft
by
the

rational

grounds

of fufpicion were urged, without

rience of

wlfdom and expetraitor

Hormifdas

and the credulous Julian, receiving the

to iffue

into his bofom,

was perfuaded

an hafty order, which,

in the

opinion of mankind, appeared to arraign his prudence, and to en-

danger his

fafety.

He

deftroyed, in a fmgle hour, the

whole navy,
an

which had been

tranfj)orted

above

five

hundred miles,
Twelve,

at fo great

expence of tell, of treafure, and of blood.

twenty-two, fmall
the
veiTels

or, at the moft,

were faved,
to

to

accompany, on carnages,
for the

march of the army, and

form occafional bridges

palTage of the rivers.

A fupply
;

of twenty days provifions was re-

ferved for the ufe of the foldiers

and the

reft

of the magazines, with

fleet

of eleven hundred

veflels, vi^hich

rode at anchor in the Tigris,

abfolute

were abandoned
emperor.

to the flames,

by the

command

of the

The

Chriftian bifhops,

Gregory and Auguftin,

infult the

madnefs of the apellate,

fentence of divine juftlce.
in a military queftion,
is

who

executed, with his

lefs

own

hands, the

Their authority, of

weight, perhaps,

confirmed by the cool judgment of an exhimfelf fpetator of the conflagration,

perienced

foldler,

who was

and who could not difapprove the reludant murmurs of the troops "*
rlye

fome

credit

from the teftimony of two

(Orat.

Zofimus
I.

(I. iii.

p. 183.).

abbreviators (Sextus Rufus and Viftor), and the cafual hints of Libanius
c. 134.. p.

xiii. p.

26.),

Zonaras Gregory (Orat. iv.

1.

(torn.

if.

p. 116.),
1.

Parent.

Auguftin
c. 21.).

(de Civitate Dei,

iv. c. 29.

v.

The
by
a

357.) and Ammianus (xxiv. 7.J, courfe of genuine hiftory is interrupted moft unfeafonable chafm in the text of
(xxiv.

Of thefe,

Libanius alone attempts

Ammianus. " See Ammianus

XOrat. Parentalis,
c.

a faint apology for his hero ; who, according to Ammianus, pronounced his own condemnation, by a tardy and ineifeflual attempt
to cxtinguifh the flames,

7.),

Libanius

132, 133. p. 356, 357-),

Vol.

II.

Yet

453.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

folld,

^wiw^' ^^^ there are not wanting fome fpecious, and perhaps y fons, which might juftify the refolution of JuUan. The
^ '

rea

navigation-

of the Euphrates never afcended above Babylon, nor that of the.

Tigris above Opis ".

The
not-

diftance of the laft-mentioned city

;

from

the

Roman camp was

fleet

very confiderable

and Juhan muft foon

have renounced the vain and impraflicable attempt of forcing up-

wards a great
feveral places

againft the ftream of a rapid river",

which

in
*'.

was embarrafled by
fails

natural

or
;
.

artificial
it

cataradls

The power
to

of

and oars was

infufficient

became neceflary
;

tow

the Ihips againft the current of the river

foldiers

the fft-ength of

twenty thoufand
labour
;

was exhaufled
continued
to.

in this tedious

and

fervile^

and

if the

Romans

march along the banks of

the Tigi'is, they could only expedt to return

home without

atchicvleader.'

ing any enterprize worthy of the genius or fortune of their

If,

on the contrarv,

it

v.-as

advifeable

to

advance into the inland

country, the deftrudlion

cf~

the fleet and magazines v/as the only-

meafure which could fave that valuable prize from the hands of the

numerous and

active troops

which might fuddenly be poured from:

the arms of Julian been vi<3;orious,

the gates of Ctefiphon.

Had

we

fhould

now

admire the conduct^ & well as the courage, of a hero,

his foldiers

who, by depriving
an.^ rnsrc.ics

of

tlie

hopes of a
'\

retreat,

left

themr

only the alternative of -death or conqueft

'pj^g
againft Sapoi"-

cumberfome

train of artillery,
'

and waggons, which retards "^^^

'

the operations of a

modern army,, were

not
fians,

in a great

meafure unknowi*

"
bo
]. ii.
'''^

Confiilt
xvi.

Herodotus

(l.i. c.

194.), Stra(p.
i.

(part

ii.

1.

i.

p.-

193.)-

The Per1.

(1.

p. 1074.),

and Tavernier

or Affyrians, laboured to interrupt the

(Strabo,
xv.
p.
p.-

p. 152.).

navigation of the river

it-i

celeritate Tigris .incipit vocari,

1075. D'Anvillc, I'Euphrate et le Tigre,

appellant iVIedi fagictam.

tur. vi. 31.
''

Plin. Hift.

Na-

98,99.).
s^

Recolleft the fuccefsful and applauded

which produces an artificial cafcade or cataraft, is defcribed by Tavernier (parti. 1. ii. p. 226.) and Ihevethefe dykes,

One of

rafhnefs

of Agathocles and Cortez,

who

burnt their fhips on the coaft of Africa and

Mexico.

ia

OT THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

in the camps of the
'fixty

451
^

Romans ".
and that

Yet, in every age, the fubfiflence of

H A

P.

thoufand

men muft have been one

;

of the moil important cares

could only be drawn

of a prudent general

fubfiflence

from
and

his

own

or from the enemy's country.

Had

it

been poffible

for Julian to maintain a bridge of communication on the Tigris,

to preferve the

conquered places of Aflyria, a defolated province

lai'ge

could not afford any

or regular fapplies, in a feafon of the year

when

the lands were covered

air

by

the inundation of the Euphrates

'*,

and the unwholefome

infedls ^^
a'iting.

was darkened with fwarms of innumerable

hoftile
lies

The appearance of the The extenfive region that

country was far more inriver Tigris

between the

and

the mountains of Media, was

the
fertile foil, for

filled

with villages and towns; and

the moll part, was in a very improved flate of

"cultivation.

Julian might expciSl, that a conqueror,

ileel

who

pofTefTed
eafily

the two forcible inllruments of perfuafion,

and gold, would

procure a plentiful fubfiflence from the fears or avarice of the natives.

But, on the approach of the Romans, this rich and fmiling

profpedl was Inflantly blafled.

ants deferted the

Wherever they moved, the inhabitand took

fhelter in the fortified

open

villages,

"towns

the cattle was driven away; the grafs and ripe corn were
fire
;

confumed with

and, as foon as

tire

flames had fubfided which

face

interrupted the march of Juhan,

-of a

he beheld the melancholy

fmoking and naked

defert.

This defperate but effedlual method

Poller, iriferted in

''

thor of the Eflai

p.

See the judicious reflefticns of the aufur la Taftique, torn. ii.

Spelnian's Expedition of
defcribes,

Cyrus,
^*

vol.

ii.

p. 26.

287 5^3. and the learned remarks of M. Guichardt, Nouveaux Memoires Militaires,
i.

Ammianus
felt,

(xxiv. 8.)

as

he

had

the inconveniency of the flood, the

torn.

p.

351

332.
rifes

on the baggage and

armies.
to the fouth,

heat, and the infciSs.

The

lands of AfTyiia,

fubfiflence of the
"*

Roman

The

Tigris

phrates to the north, of the Armenian

'tains.

The

former overflows in

EumounMarch, the
the
are well

oppreiTed by the Turks, and ravaged by the Curdi, or Aralis, yield an increafe of ten,
fifteen,
is

and twenty

call into the

latter in July.

Thefe circumftances

unfeilful

fold, for the feed which ground by the wretched and hulbandman. Voyages de Niebuhr,

explained in the Geographical Dill'ertation of

tom.ii. p. 275. 285.

T,

oif

453
C H A
XXIV.
F.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

cf defence, can only be e^fecuted by the enthufiafm of a people
prefer their independence to their property
arbitrary
;

who

or by the rigour of an
fafety without fub-

government, which confults the public

mitting to their inclinations the liberty of choice.

occafion, the zeal

On

the prefent

and obedience of the Perfians feconded the comand the emperor was foon reduced
to the fcanty

mands of Sapor

ftock of provifions,

which continually wafced

ftill

in his hands.

Before

they were entirely confumed, he might

have reached the wealthy

effort

and unwarlike

cities

of Ecbatana, or Sufa, by the

;

of a rapid
refource

and well-direded march "

but he was deprived of this

lafl

by

his ignorance of the roads,

and by the perfidy of

his guides.

The Romans wandered

Bagdad
:

feveral days in the country to the eaftward

of

the Perfian deferter,

who had
;

artfully led

them

into the

fnare, efcaped

from

their refentment

and

his followers, as foon as

they were put to the torture, confefTed the fecret of the confpiracy.

The
his

vifionary conquefts of Hyrcania and India,

which had

fo long

amufed,

now

tormented,

the the

mind
caufe

of Julian. of
the

Confcious
diftrefs,

that

own imprudence was

public

he

anxioufly balanced the hopes of fafety or fuccefs, without obtaining

a fatisfadlory anfwer either

from gods or men.

At

length, as the

only pradlicable meafure, he embraced the refolution of direding his

fteps

towards the banks of the Tigris, with the defign of faving the
a hafty

army by

march

to the confines

of Corduene

a fertile

and

friendly province, which acknowledged the fovereignty of

Rome. The

defponding troops obeyed the fignal of the retreat,

June 16.

only feventy

days after they had pafled the Chaboras, with the fanguine expedation of fubverting the throne of Perfia
^'.

As
of Charax (Manfion. Partliic. p. Hudfon, Geograph. Minor, torn, ii.) reckons 129 fclisni frxim Seleucia, and Thevenot (part i. 1. i. ii. p. 209 245.), 128 hours of march from Bagdad to Ecbatana,
5, 6. in
'^ Ifidore

or

Hamadan. Thefe meafures cannot exceed an ordinary parafang, or three Roman miles, ^' Tlie march of Julian from Ctefiphon,
circumftantially, but not clearly, defcribed
{xxiv. 7, 8.), libanius (Orat.

is

by Ammianus

Parent.

OF THE
As
lonff as the
.

ROMAN
from a

EMPIRE.
.

453
^,'1. '^ ^

Romans feemed
infulted

to advance Into the country, their

.

XXIV.
>,

march was obferved and

of Perlian cavahy
;

,,.,/, who ihewmg

.,^ themlelvcs, lometimes in

f
.

diftance,

by

feveral bodies
looie,

>

Retreat

mi

and

diftreis of the

fometimes in
guards.

clofer,

order, faintly Ikirmiflied with the

advanced
a

'"''"" '^

Thefe detachments were, however, fupported by

;

much
'flie

greater force

and the heads of the columns were no fooner pointed

towards the Tigris, than a cloud of duft arofe on the plain,

Romans, who now

fpeedy
retreat,

afpired

only to the permiflion of a

fafe

and

endeavoured to perfuade themfelves, that

this

formi-

dable appearance was occafioned

by a troop of wild

afles,

or perhaps

by the approach of fome

their tents, fortified their

friendly Arabs.

They

halted,

pitched

camp, pafTed the whole night in continual

alarms; and difcovered, at the

dawn of

day, that they were fur-

rounded by an army of

Perfians.

This army, which might be

confidered only as the van of the Barbarians,,

was foon followed by

the main body of cuiraffiers, archers, and elephants,

commanded by
accompanied
;

Meranes, a general of rank and reputation.

He was

by two of

the king's fons, and

many

of the principal fatraps

and

fame and expetation exaggerated the ftrength of the remaining

powers, which flowly advanced under the condud of Sapor himfelf.

As

the

Romans continued

their

march, their long array, which was

forced to bend or divide, according to.the varieties of the ground, af-

forded frequent and favourable opportunities to their vigilant enemies.

The
the

Perfians repeatedly charged with fury; they

were repeatedly re-

puli'ed

with firmnefs and the

;

acfition at

Maronga, which almoft deferved

lofs

name of a

battle,

was marked by a conliderable

value in the

of fatraps and

elephants, perhaps of equal

eyes of their monarch.

Thefe fplendid advantages were not obtained without an adequate

Parent,
p. 183).
c.

The

134. p. 357.), and Zofimus (1, iii. twolaft feem ignorant that their
;

furdly confines

him

to

the

banks of the

Tigris,

conqueror was retreating

and Llbanius abr

1'

flaughtet-

454

THE DECLINE AND FALL

flaiighter
'^
.
.

CHAP,
-^

on the

fide of the

XXIV.
'

Romans:

feveral officers of diftindlon

^

were
all

either killed or

wounded; and

the emperor himfelf,

who, on

occafions of danger, infpired and guided the valour of his troops,

to expofe his perfon,

was obliged
and

and exert

his abilities.

The weight

of offenfive and defenfive arms, which

fafety of the
;

ftill

conftituted the ftrength

Romans,
and

difabled

them from making any long or

and
every

effectual purfuit

as the

horfemen of the Eaft were trained to

their arrows, at full fpeed,
in

dart their javelins,

polfible

and fhoot

diredion ^\ the cavalry of Perfia was never more formidable

than in the
certain

moment of a

rapid and diforderly flight.

But the moft

and irreparable

lofs

of the Romans, was that of time.

to the

The
their

hardy veterans, accuftomed

cold climate of

Gaul and Ger-

many,

fainted under the fultry heat of an AfTyrian

fummer

vigour was exhaufled by the inceffant repetition of march and combat

;

and the progrefs of the army was fufpended by the precautions

flow^

of a

and dangerous

retreat, in the prefence

of an adlive enemy.
the value and
Julian,

Every day, every hour,

as the fupply diminifhed,

price of fubfiftence increafed in the

Roman camp

'".

who

always contented himfelf with fuch food as a hungry foldier would

have difdained, diftributed, for the ufe of the troops, the provifions
of the Imperial houfehold, and whatever could be fpared from the
fumpter-horfes
relief ferved

of

the

tribunes

and

generals.

But

this

feeble
;

only to

aggravate the fenfe

to

of the public didrefs

moil:

and

the

Romans began

entertain

the

gloomy appreof the

beniions, that before

'*

they could reach the frontiers

emweight

ttAvellers, defcribes(tom.
edit, in 410.) the

Chardin, the moft judicious of modern iii. p. 57, 58, &c.

education and dexterity of
Bri/Tonius (de

words, a pound of flour for twelve or fourteen

ftiillings
:

barley-bread was fold for

It
is

its

in filver.
terefling

impoffible to perufe the in-

the Perfian horfemen.

Perfico, p. 650. 661,

Regno

&c

has collefted the

teftimonies of antiquity.
^'

narrative of Plutarch (torn. v. p. 102 - 116.), wichout perceiving that Mark Antony and Julian were purfued by the fame

In

iVIark

Antony's

retreat,

an

attic

enemies, and involved in the fame

diftrefs.

.chsnix fold for fifty

drachms,

or,

in other

pire,

OF THE
pire, they fliould
all

ROMAN
either

EMPIRE.
^

455
^yf-.^;-^'

perifli,

by famine, or by the fword

of the Barbarians'".

^-

'

While

his fituation, the filent hours of the night

Tulian ftruo-gled with the almoft infaperable difficulties of '^

^
_ _

J"''an mortally

is

were

flill

devoted to fludy wouuJcd,

and contemplation.
terrupted llumbers,

Whenever he clofed his eyes in fhort and inhis mind was agitated with painful anxiety nor
;

can

it

be thought furprifmg, that the Genius of the empire fhould

veil, his

once more appear before him, covering with a funereal

head,

and
tent.

his

horn of abundance, and flowly

ftarted

retiring

from the Imperialforth, to

The monarch

from

his couch,

and ftepping

refrefh his wearied fpirits with the coolnefs of the midnight air, he

beheld a ficry meteor, which

vanifhed.
Julian

fliot

athwart the fky, and fuddenly

thr.t

was convinced

he had feen the menacing-

countenance of the god of war'"; the council v/hich he fummoned,

of

Tufcan Harufpices'', unanimoufly pronounced that he

fliould

abftain

from adlion

but on this occafion, neceflity and reafon

;

were
at
;

more

prevalent than fuperflLtion

.

and the trumpets founded

hilly

the

break of day.
the hills had the van,
ral
;

Tiie army marched through a

country

and
led

been fecretly occupied by the Perfians.

the
fkill

Julian

with

and

attention of

confummate gene-

he was alarmed by the intelligence that his rear was fud-

denly attacked.
afide his cuirafs
ants,
'"
iii.
;

The

heat of the weather had tempted

him

to lay

but he

fnatched a fhield

from one of

his attends

and haftencd, with a

xxiv. 8. xxv.
i.

fufficlent reinforcement,

to the relief

of

Ammian.

Zofimus,

1.

p. 184,

185, 186.

Libanius, Orat. Pa-

after his fleet had been twice fhipwrecked, excluded Neptune from the honours of publie

rent.. c. 134, 135. p.

fophlll

357,358, 359.

The

profeffions.

See

Hume's

philofcphical

of Aiuioch appears ignorant that the

2.

Reflefiions.
='-

Eflays, vol.ii. p. 418.

ftill

troops were hungry.

They

retained the

Ammian. xxv. a paffion, nunquam

*'

Julian had fworn in

vain, but lucrative, fcience,

monopoly of the. which had been

fe Marti facra faflurum Such whimfical quarrels v.ere not uncommon between the gods and their info-

(xxiv. 6.).

invented in Hetruria, and profelTed to derive their knowledge of figns and omens, from
the ancient books of Tarquitius, a
fage.

Tufcan

lent votaries

and even the prudent Auguftus,

the

456
C

THE DECLINE AND FALL

F.

HA

.the rear-guard.

fimilar

danger recalled the intrepid prince to tho

defence of the front;

the centre of the
left

and, as he galloped between the columns,

was

attacked,

and almoft overpowered, by a

This huge body
light-infantry,

furious charge of the Perfian cavalry and elephants.

was foon

defeated,
their

by the well-timed evolutiou of the

who

aimed

weapons, with dexterity and

effedt, againft the

back*
;

of the horfemen, and the legs of the elephants.

The

Barbarians fled

and Julian,

who was

foremoft in every danger, animated the purfuit

with his voice and geftures.

prefled

His trembling guards,

fcattered

and optheir to

by the

diforderly throng of friends

and enemies, reminded

;

fearlefs foverelgn that

he was without armour

ruin.

and conjured him

decline the

fall

of the impending

As they exclaimed

"^ a cloud
;

of darts and arrows was difcharged from the flying fquadrons

and a

javelin, after razing the ikin of his arm, tranfpierced the ribs,

and

fixed in the inferior part of the liver. -deadly

Julian attempted to

draw the

weapon from
fl:eel,

his fide

but his fingers were cut by the lliarpfenfelefs

nefs of the

and he

fell

from

his horfe.

His guards
raifed

flew to his relief; and the

wounded emperor was gently

from

the ground, and conveyed out of the tumult of the battle into an ad-

jacent tent.
to rank
;

The

report of the melancholy event pafl^ed from rank

but the grief of the

valour, and the defire

flil

Romans infpired them with invincible The bloody and obftinate conof revenge.
till

was maintained by the two armies

total

they were feparated by

the

darknefs of the night.

The
was

Perfians derived

fome honour

from the advantage which they obtained againft the

Anatolius, mafter of the offices,
T/^ery

left vving,

where
Salluft

flain,

and the prxet

narrowly efcaped.

But the event of the day was adverfe

the field
compofiti
xxv. 3.
;

to

the Barbarians.
s'

They abandoned
(fee the

their

two

generals, ivie-

Clamabant hinc inde candidati

culminis

declinaret.

Ammian.

note of Valefius) quos disjecerat terror, ut fagientium raolem tanquam ruinam mal

ranes,

OF
-Tanes,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

'*,

457
^Jviw^' XXIV.
^-

and Nohordates
:

fifty

nobles or fatraps, and a multitude of

fucccfs of the

'their braveft foldiers

and the

Romans,
decifive

if

Julian had
ufcful vic-

'

furvived, might have been

tory.

improved into a

and

The
fainting

firft
fit,

words
into

that Julian uttered, affer his recovery

lofs

from the The death of

'A.D.\c>i.

which he had been thrown by

fpirit.

of blood, were

expreffive of his martial

He

June 26.

called for his horfe

and arms,

and was impatient

to rufh into the battle.

His remaining ftrength

was exhaufted by the

his

painful effort ; and the furgeons,

who examined
death.

wound, difcovered the fymptoms of approaching

the awful

He

employed
fage
;

moments with

the firm temper of a hero and a

in this fatal expe;

the philofophers

who had accompanied him

dition,

compared the

tent of Julian with the prifon of Socrates

and

the fpeftators,

whom

duty, or friendlhip, or curiofity, had affembled

round

with refpeftful grief to the funeral oration " Friends and fellow- foldiers, the feafonof their dying emperor ''\
his couch, liftened

*'

difcharge, with " the cheerfulnefs of a ready debtor, the derhands of nature. I
is

able period of

my

departure

now

arrived,

and

*'

have learned from philofophy,

cellent

how much

the foul

is

more ex-

*'
''

than the body

and

that the feparation of the nobler fubafflidlion.

ftance, fliould

be the fubjed: of joy, rather than of

religion, that
''^

'*'

have learned from

an early death has often been

" the reward of piety

9+

and

accept, as a favour of the gods, the

that
lies

Sapor him felf declared to the Romans, was his practice, to comfort the famiof his deceafed fatraps, by fending them,
it

tranfcribed.
Bleterie
is

The
faithful

verfion of the

Abbe de
I

la

and elegant.

have

fol-

as a prefent, the heads

ficers

of the guards and ofulcif.

lowed him in exprefling the Platonic idea of emanations, which is darkly infinuated
in the original.
'"

who had
Libaniuo,
p. 163.

not fallen by their matter's

side.
xiii.

de nece Julian,

c.

Herodotus

(1. i.

c.

31.) has difplayed

that doctrine in an agreeable tale.

Yet the

'5

The

charafter

and
the

fituation of Julian

Jupiter (in the

6th book of the Iliad),

who

misjht countenance

fufpicion,

that he

tion,

had previoufly compofed the elaborate erawhich Ammianus heard, and has

laments with tears of blood the death of Sarpedon his fon, had a very imperfedl notion of happinefs or glory beyond the grave.
.3

Vol.

II.

" mortal

458
^YYTv^' <.,^-

THE DECLINE AND FALL

" i^ortal ftroke, that fecures

me from

the danger of difgracing a

" charadler, which has hitherto been fupported by virtue and forti-

" tude.
*'

die without remorfe, as I

have hved without

guilt.

am

pleafed to reflect

on the innocence of

my

private life;

and

*'

can affirm with confidence, that the fupreme authority, that ema-

" nation of the Divine Power, has been preferved in my hands pure " and immaculate. Detefting the corrupt and deftrudlive maxims

" of
*'

defpotifm,

have confidercd the happinefs of the people

as the

end of government. Submitting my actions to the laws of pru" dence, of juftice, and of moderation, I have trufted the event to " the care of Providence. Peace was the objedl of my counfels, as

" long

as peace

was

confiftent with the public welfare; but

when

" the Imperious voice of my country fummoned me to arms, I ex" pofed my perfon to the dangers of war, with the clear fore-know" ledge {which I had acquired from the " was deftined to fall by the fword. I " gratitude
*'

art

of divination) that
offer

now

my
me

tribute of

to the Eternal Being,

who

has not fuffered

to perlfli

by the

cruelty of a tyrant,

by

the fecret dagger of confpiracy,

or

" by

the flow tortures of lingering difeafe.

He

has given me, in

" the midft of an honourable career, a fplendid and glorious depar" ture from this world and I hold it equally abfurd, equally bafe,
;

"

to folicit, or to decline, the ftroke of fate.

;

-Thus much
me, and
I feel

have

" attempted to fay " proach of death.

but
I

my

ftrength

fails

the ap-

fhall cautioufly refrain

from any word that

" may tend to influence your fuflVages iu the eledlion of an empe" ror. My choice might be imprudent, or injudicious ; and if it " fhould not be ratified by the confent of the army, it might be fatal

"

to the perfon

whom

fhould recommend.

fliall

only,

as a

" good citizen, exprefs my hopes, that the Romans ,may be blefl'ed " with the government of a virtuous fovereign." After this difcourfe,

which Julian pronounced

5

in a firm

and gentle tone of

voice,

^^

'

OF THE
lie diflnbutcd,

ROMAN
',

EMPIRE.
the remains of his private

459
^ JL^
^*

by

a military teftament

fortune

and making fome enquiry

why

Anatolius was not prcfent,

killed
;

vv-

he underftood, from the anfwer of SaUuft, that Anatolius was

and bewailed, with amiable inconfiftcncy, the

lofs

of his friend.

At
of

the fame time he reproved the immoderate grief of the fpetators;

and conjured them not

a prince,

to

difgrace,

by unmanly
filent

tears, the fate

who

in a

few moments would be united with heaven, and

with the
into
a

ftars '\

The

fpedlators

were

and Julian entered

metaphyseal argument with the phllofophers Prifcus and

the nature of the foul.

Maximus, on

The

efforts

which he made,
His

of mind, as well as body, moft probably haftened his death.

wound began
barrafled

to bleed

with frefh violence

:

his refpiration

was em-

by the fwelling of the veins

he
it,

called for a

draught of cold

water, and, as foon as he had drank

the hour of midnight.

expired without pain, about

that extraordinary

Such was the end of

man,

in the thirty-fecond year of his age, after a reign of

one year and

In his
laft

about eight months, from the

death of Conftantius.

moments he
virtue
life
''.

difplayed, perhaps with

fome

oftentation, the love of

and of fame,

which had been the ruling

pallions

of his

The triumph of
may,
in

Chriftianlty,

and the calamities of the empire,

Eleaionof
Jovian,
^'

fome meafure, be

afcribed to Julian himfelf,

who had

ne-

gleded
" The

to fecure the future execution

of his defigns, by the timely

Divine

June 27!

foldiers

who made

their verbal, or

learned and rational obfervations.

Tiuncupatory, tellaments upon aftual fervice

(in procindu) were

Legation, vol.
*^

ii.

p.

159

zi6.
who
turns

exempted from the

law.
torn.
i.

for-

The whole
is

malities of the

Roman

See Heineccip. 504..)

lian

relation of the death of Jugiven by Aramianus (xxv. ^.), an infpeftator.

ns (Antiquit. Jur.

Roman,

telligent

Libanius,

and Montefquieii (Efprit des Loix, 1. xxvii.). ^'' This union of the human foul with the divine setherial fubftance of the univerfe, is the ancient doclrine of Pythagoras and Plato but it feems to exclude any perfonal or confcious immortality. See Warburton's
;

with horror from the fcene, has fupplied fome circumftances (Orat. Parental, c. 136 140. p. 359362.). The calumnies of Gregory, and the legends of more recent faints, may

now hs Jilently

defpifed.

and

^Qo
G H A
XXIV.
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

and iudiclous nomination of an
royal race of Conflantius Chlorus
aflbciate

and

fucceflbr.

But the
perfon
;

was reduced

to his

own

and

if

he entertained any ferious thoughts of invefting with the

purple the moft worthy

his refolution
tlie

among

the

Romans, he was

diverted

from

by the

difficulty

of the choice, the jealoufy of power,

fear of ingratitude,

and the natural prefumption of health, of

youth,

and of profperity.

His unexpeded death

ftate

left

the empire

without a mafter, and without an heir, in a

of perplexity and

danger, which, in the fpace of fourfcore years, had never been experienced, fmcethe eleftion of Diocletian.

In a government, which

had almoft forgotten the

fuperiority of birth

diftinftion
little

of pure and noble blood, the

;

was of

moment
;

the claims of

official

rank'

were accidental and precarious

and the candidates,

who might
by the
by an

afpire to afcend the vacant throne, could be fupported only

confcioufnefs of perfonal merit, or

by the hopes of popular favour.

all fides

But the

fituation of a famifhed

army, encompafled on

^hoft of Barbarians, ihortened the

moments of
the

grief

and deliberation.
prince,

In this fcene of terror and

according to his
the

diftrefs,

body of the deceafed

;

own

diretions,

was decently embalmed

and, at

dawn

of day, the generals convened a military fenate,

legions,
to
affift.

at

which

the

commanders of the
were invited

and the

officers,

both of cavalry and

infantry,

Three or four hours of the night

fecret cabals
fpirit
;

had not pafled away without fome

eleiSion of an

and when the

emperor was propofed, the

of faction began to

agitate the aflembly.

Vidtor and Ai-inthseus colledted the remains

;

of the court of Conftantius

felves to the Gallic chiefs,
fatal

the friends of Julian attached

;

them-

Dagalalphus and Nevitta

and the mofh'

confequences might be apprehended from the difcord of two

factions, fo oppofite in their charafler

and

intereft, in

their

maxims

of government, and perhaps in their religious principles.

The

fu-

perior vutues of Salluft could alone reconcile their divifions,

and
unite

OF
unite their fuffrac;es

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

;

461

and the venerable

.

prrefedt
.

would immediately

CHAP.
XXIV.
' '

have been declared the fuccefTor of JuHan,

if

he himfelf, with fmcere

and modeft firmnefs, had not alleged

equal to the weight of the diadem.
prifed

his

age and infirmities, fo ungenerals,

The
',

who were

fur-

and perplexed by

his refufal,

fhewed fome

difpofition to adopt

the falutary advice of an inferior officer

that they fhould at as

;

they would have adled in the abfence of the emperor

fhould exert their
diftrefs
;

that they

abilities

to extricate the

army from

the prefent

and,

if

they were fortunate enough to reach the confines of

Mefopotamia, they fhould proceed with united and deliberate counfels in

the elelion of a lawful fovereign.

While they debated,

than frji
^'

few

voices faluted Jovian,

ftics,

who was no more

of the dome-

with the names of Emperor and Auguftus.

acclamation was inftantly repeated by the

The tumultuary guards who furrounded

line.

the tent, and paffed, in a few minutes, to the extremities of the

The new
from the
cited.

prince, aftonifhed with his

own

fortune,

was

haftily in-

vefled with the Imperial ornaments, and received an oath of fidelity

generals,

whofe favour and protedion he

fo

lately foli-

The

ftrongeft

recommendation of Joviau was the merit of

in honourable retire-

his father.

Count Varronian, who enjoyed,

fruit

ment, the

of his long fervices.

In the obfcure freedom cf a

tafte

private ftation, the fon

indulged his

for

wine and

women
'''

yet he fupported, with credit, the charadler of a Chiuflian

'

and a

Honoratlor
hiftorian

Ammianiis
cjous
eleftion, at

himfelf.

miles ; perhaps modell and jiulidcfcribes the fcene of the

allquis

'*(1.
iii.

The
c.

ecclefiaftical

hiftorians, Socrates
(I.

The

22.),
(1.

Sozomen
c.

vi.

c.

3.),

and

Theodoret
leign

iv.

i.),

afcribe to Jovian

which he was undoubtedly preprimui,

or frimicsrr.a,
;

the merit of a confeflbr under the preceding

;

fent (xxv.
''

.-.).

and

pio.ufiy fuppofe,
till

thjit

he refufed

The

enjoyed

the purple,

the whole

army unanimoufly

the dignity of a fenator

and though only a

tit.

tribune, he ranked with the military dukes,

God. Theodofian.l.
time of Jovian.

vi.

xjiiv.

Thefe

Amexxlaimed that they were ChriiUans. mianus, calmly purfuing his narrative, overthrows the legend by a fingle fentence.
Hoftiispro Joviano extifqueinfpeclis.pronun-

privileges rre perhaps more, recent than the

tiatum

eft, Scz. i:x.v. 6.

foldier.

46i
foldier.
lifications

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Without being confpicuous
for

any of the ambitious quaand familiar

which excite the admiration and envy of mankind, the

his clieerful temper,
;

comely perlbn of Jovian,

wit,

had

gained the affedion of his feilow-foldiers

parties acquiefced in a popular eledion,

and the generals of both

which had not been conpride of this unexpedled

that the

dudted by the
elevation

arts

of their enemies.

The

was moderated by the

life

juft apprehenfion,

fame

day might terminate the

and reign

of the

new
;

emperor.

The
firft

prefTing voice of neceffity w^as

obeyed without delay

and the had

orders ifTucd

by Jovian, a few hours

'^

after his predeceflbr

expired, were to profecute a march,

the
Danger and
the retreat,

which could alone

extricate

June 27th
*

Romans from their aftual diftrefs The efteem of an enemy is moft fmcerely exprefled by his fears ; and the degree of fear may be accurately meafured by the joy with which he celebrates his deliverance. The welcome news of the
death of Julian, which a deferter revealed to the
infpired the defponding
tory.

camp of Sapor,

monarch with

a fudden confidence of vic-

He

immediately detached the royal cavalry, perhaps the ten

j

thoufand Immortals '% to fecond and fupport the purfuit

and

dif-

charged the whole weight of his united forces on the rear-guard of

the

Romans.

The

rear-guard was thrown into diforder

their titles

the rehis

nowned

legions,

which derived

from Diocletian, and

warlike colleague, were broke and trampled

down by

the elephants

and three tribunes

loft their lives

in attempting to flop the flight of

'^

Ammianus

(xxv. 10.) has

drawn from
:

elegance of

ftyle,

critical

difquifition,

and

the

life

an impartial portrait of Jovian

to
re-

religious prejudice.
It appears from ^^g'"^ equitatus. that the Immortals, fo famous under Cyrus and his fuccellors, were revived, -r .u ^ j l ir we may uie that improper word, by the Saflanides. BrifTon de Regno Perfico, p.
"''

which the younger Viftor has added fome

markable
,.,..
*

lovien, torn. (Hiftoiie de ' '

....
a

llrokes.

The Abbe
.

de
i

la Blcterie
,

P^/^P'^"^.

1.

p. ^

. ziS.j
^
'

has
fliort

/-

compofed an elaborate
jeign
;

hiftory

of his

work remarkably dilUnguif.ed by

268,

..Sjc.

their

OF THE
their foldiers.
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

463

The battle was at length reftored by the perfeverlng the Perfians were repulfed with a great valour of the Romans (laughter of men and elephants and the army, after marching and
;

CHAP,

fighting a long fummer's "day, arrived, in the evening, at

Samara on
'^

the banks of the Tigris, about one hundred miles above Ctefiphon

On

the enfuing

day,

the

Barbarians,
;

inftead

of

harafhng

the

march, attacked the camp, of Jovian

deep and fequeftered valley.
infulted

which had been

hills,
;

feated in a

From

the

the archers of Pcrfia

and annoyed the wearied legionaries

and a body of cavalry,

which had penetrated with defperate courage through the Praetorian

gate,
tent.

was cut

in pieces, after a doubtful conflict, near the Imperial

In the fucceeding night, the camp of Carche was proteded

lofty

by the

dykes of the river

and the

Roman

army, though in-

cefTantly expofed to the vexatious purfuit of the Saracens, pitched

their tents near the city of

Dura

'\

four days after the death of Julian;.

;

The

Tigris

was

ftlll

on

their left

their

hopes and provifions were

almoft confumed

and the impatient

foldiers,

who had

fondly per-

fuaded themfelves,

that the frontiers of the

empire were not far

diftant, requefted their

new

fovereign, that they might be permitted

to hazard the paffage of the river.

officers,

With

the afliflance of his wifeft

;

Jovian endeavoured to check their rafhnefs

if

by

reprefent-

ing,

that

they poflefled fufficient

fkill

and vigour

to ftem

ths

torrent of a deep and rapid ftream, they

felves

would only

deliver

them-

naked and defencelefa

to ^:he Barbarians,

who had

occupied

the oppofite banks.

'^

Yielding at length to their clamorous impor

of
the inland

The

obfcure

villages

country are irrecoverably

loft,

nor can we
fell:

name the field of but M. d'Anville

cife fituation

battle

where Julian

has demonftrated the pre-

of Sumere, Carche, and J^uraj along the banks of the Tigris (Geographie Ancienne, torn. ii. p. 248. I'Euphrate et !e
^" the ninth century, Su-

mere, or Samara, became, with a flight change of name, the royal refidence of the Khalifs of the houfe of Abbas, '* Dura was a fortified place in the warr. of Antiochus againlt the rebels of Media and
Perlia (Polybius,
edit.
1.

v. c. 48. 52. p.

54S. 552.

Cafaubon, in ?vo.).

Tigre, p. 95. 97')'

tunitieSv


THE DECLINE AND TALL
tunlties, '

464

CHAP,
^

XXIV.
-v^

he confented, with reludance, that ^

five

hundred Gauls and

Germans, accuftomed

froin their infancy to the waters of the

v/liich

Rhine

and Danube, fhould attempt the bold adventure,

either
as

might fervc

an encouragement, or

as

a warning, for the reft of the

army.
.prifed
of

In the filence of the night, they

fwam

the Tigris, furat

an unguarded poft of the enemy, and difplayed

fignal

the

dawn
of

day the

of their refolution and fortune.

The

fuccefs

this trial difpofed the

emperor to

liften to tl^e

promifes of his archi-

teds,

who

propofed to conftruct a floating bridge of the inflated

fkins of fheep, oxen, and goats, covered with a floor of earth

fafcines '^

and

Two

important days %vere fpent in the inefleclual la-

bour

and the Romans,

caft a

who

already endured the miferies of fa-

mine,
rians
;

look of defpair on the Tigris,

and upon the Barbadiftrefs

whole numbers and obftinacy increafed with the

of

the Imperial
;iJegoiiation
.peace.

army

'^

In

tliis

hopelcfs fituation, the fainting fpirits of the

Romans were

revived by the found of peace.

The

tranfient

prefumption of Sapor
that, in the re-

July.

had vaniflied
petition

he obferved, with ferious concern,

loft

of doubtful combats, he had

his

moft

faithful

and intrain

trepid nobles, his braveft troops,

and the

greateft part of his

to

of elephants

and the experienced monarch feared

provoke the

refiftance of defpair, the viciflitudes of fortune,

and the unexhaufted

to relieve

powers of the

Roman

empire

which might foon advance

or to revenge, th fucceflbr of Julian.

''

The

Sui'enas himfelf, ac-

fimilai-

expedient was propofed to

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

c.

146. p. 190,

364.),
191.).

the leaders of the ten thoufand, and wifely

rejefted.

and Zofimus
banius,
the

(1.

iii.

p.

189,

Xenophon, Anabafis,
It appe.irs,

I. iii.

p. 255,

Though we may

from our modern traon bladders perform the trade and navigation of the Tigris. "^^ Tlie firft military afts of the feign of JovJaji^re related by Ammianus (xxv. 6.),
.256,257.
vellers, that rafts floating

of Llocular tellimony of Eutropius

diftruft the fairnefs

(uno a Perns atque altero proelio viclus, x. 17.) mull incline us to fufpeft, that Ammianus has been too jealous of the honour of
the

Roman

arms.

companied

OF THE
compamed by another and
declared, that the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
was not
averfe to
v.>--v

4^5
'"Jl.'^r^'*
'

liitrap,

appeared in the camp of Jovian"';

of his fovereign

clemency

fignify the conditions,

on which he would confent

to fpare

and to

dllmifs the Cxfar, with the relics of his captive army.

The hopes
was

of fafety fubdued the firmnefs of the

Romans

the emperor

compelled, by the advice of his council, and the cries of the foldiers,
to

embrace the

offer of

peace

and the pr^efed

Salluft

was imme-

diately fent, with the general Arintha^us, to underftand the pleafure

of the Great King.

The

crafty Perfian delayed,

under various pre-

tences, the conclufion of the

agreement

ftarted difficulties, required

explanations,

fuggefted

expedients,

receded from his conceffions

encreafed his demands, and wafted four days in the arts of negociation,
till

he had confumed the flock of provifions which yet re-

mained

in the

camp of

the

Romans.

Had

Jovian been capable of

executing a bold and prudent meafure, he would have continued his

march with unremitting

diligence

the progrefs of the treaty

;

would

have fufpended the attacks of the Barbarians

and, before the ex-

piration of the fourth day, he might have fafely reached the fruitful

province of Corduene,

at the diftance

only of one hundred miles"".

toils

The

irrefolute

emperor, inflead of breaking through the

his
flite

of the

enemy, expedted
humiliating

with patient refignation

and accepted the

in
his

conditions of peace,

which

it

was no longer

power

to refufe.

The

five

provinces beyond the Tigris,

which
to the

had been ceded by the grandfather of Sapor, were reftored

Perfian monarchy.
city of Nifibis
;

He

acquired,

by

a fmgle article, the impregnable

which had

fuftained, in three fuccefTive fieges, the

'9

Sextns Rufus (de Provinciis,

c.

29.)

tator.

Yet

it is

difficult

to underfland, hoijt

embraces a poor fubterfuge of national vaniTanta reverentia nominis Romani fuit, xy\
ut a Perfis primus de pace fermo haberetur.

the mountains

ofCorduene could extend over

the plain of AfTyria, as low as the conflux of the Tigris and the great

"

It

is

prefumptuous

to controvert tlie

offixty thoufand

Zab or honxi an army men could march one hun:

-opinion of

Ammianus,
II.

a,

foldier

and a fpec-

dred miles in four days.

x

Vol.

effort

465
C H A
XXIV.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

F.

effort

of his arms.

Singara, and the caftle of the

Moors one of

'

the ftrongeft places of Mefopotamia, were likewife difmembered front

the empire.

It

was confidered

as

an indulgence, that the inhato retire

bitants of thofe fortrefles

were permitted

with their

effects

but the conqueror rigoroufly infilled, that the

ever abandon the king and

Romans

fhould for

kingdom of Armenia.
was
ftipulated

peace, or rahoftile

ther a long truce, of thirty years,

between the

nations

the faith of the treaty

was

ratified

by folemn

oaths,

and

religious

ceremonies

and hoftages of diftinguiihed rank were reci'".

procally delivered to fecure the performance of the conditions

The weak'
grace of Jo-'
vian.

The

fophift

of Antioch,

who faw

with indignation the fceptre

of his hero in the feeble hand of a Chriftiaa fuccelTor, profefles to

admire the moderation of Sapor, in contenting himfelf with

a portion of the

fo fmall

Roman

empire.

If

he had ftretched

as far as the

Euphrates the claims of his ambition, he might have been fecure^

fays Libanius, of not meeting with a refufal.
If he

had

fixed, as

the boundary

of Perfia, the Orontes, the Cydnus, the Sangarius,

or even the Thracian Bofphorus, flatterers would not have been want-

ing in the court of Jovian to convince the timid monarch, that his

remaining provinces would

of power and luxury "\
malicious infinuation,
fo

ftill

afford the

mofl ample gratifications

in
its full

Without adopting

force

this

we mufl

acknowledge, that the conclufion of

ignominious a treaty was

facilitated

by the

private ambition of

Jovian.

The
by
j

obfcure domeftic, exalted to the throng by fortune,

merit,

rather than

was impatient

to efcape

from the hands

of;

the Perfians

that

he might prevent the defigns of Procopius,

recorded with
(xxv. 7.),

who

"' The treaty of Dura

grief or indignation by

is

vian)^

Ammianus
c.

and Eutrcplus (x. 17.). The laftmentioned writer, who was prefent in a mili-.
tary ftation, ftylesthis peace necellariam quifed ignobilem.

Libanius (Orat. Parent,

firaiiS (1. iii.

142. p. 364),

Zo-

p. 190, 191-) J
iv. p.

Gregory Nazi-

dem
36r.

anzen (Orat.

117, 118,

who imputes

''^

Libanius, Orat. Parent,

c. i.tj. p.

364,

the diftrefs to Julian,. the deliverance to JoI

commanded-

OF THE
commanded
fill

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
eftablifli

407
his

the

armj of Mefopotamia, and

doubt"

^.
,

P>

reign over the legions and provinces, -which u'ere

ftill

ignorant

'

of the hafty and tumultuous choice of the camp beyond the Tigris "\
In the neighbourhood of the fame river,
diftance
at

no very confiderablc

from the

fatal ftation

of Dura "\ the ten thoufand Greeks,

without generals, or guides, or provifions, were abandoned, above

twelve hundred miles from their native country, to the refentment

of a victorious monarch.
cefs

The

difference of their conducl

and fucfituation.

depended much more on their charad:er than on their

Inftead of tamely refigning themfelves to the fecret deliberations

private views of a fuigle perfon, the united councils of the

and

Greeks
:

were infpired by the generous enthufiafm of a popular aflembly

where the mind of each

citizen

is filled

with the love of glory, the

Confcious of their

pride of freedom, and the contempt of death.

iiiperiority

over the Barbarians in arms and difcipline, they difdained

;

to yield, they refufed to capitulate

every obftacle was furmounted

fkill
;

by

their patience,

courage, and military

and the lyiemorable

retreat of the ten thoufand

expofed and infulted the weaknefs of the

Perfian

monarchy

'".

As
be

the price of his difgraceful conceflions, the emperor might He

continue*

perhaps have flipulated, that the camp of the hungry

plentifully fupplied "*
;

Romans

fhould
to pafs

Nifibis.

and that they fhould be permitted

the
"2 Condxtionibus
regni

difpendiofis

Roma-

fyria,

400

feet broad, VN'hich falls into

the

K3S reipublicK impofitis .... quibus cupidior

Tigris fourteen hours below IVfoful.

The

error

quam

glorix Jovianus imperio rudis

c.

adquievit. Sextus Rufus de Provinciis,

29.

LaBleteriehas exprefled, inalongdircftoratioii, thefe fpecious confiderations of public and private intereft (Hift. de Jovien, torn. i.
p. 39, S-'c).

of the Greeks beftowed on the great and leffer Zab the names of the IfW/ (^Lycus), and the Goat (Capros). They created thefe animals
to attend the Tyger of the Eaft,

"'

The

the Anahaf.s circumftantial

the

"' The generals were murdered on

banks of the Zabatus (Anabafis,
!. iii.
I. ii.

p. 156.

p. 226.), or great

Zab, a

river

of Af3

Such is and truth. "* According to Rufinus, an immediat*

vague and languid: and animated. the eternal difference between fiftion
Cyroprsdia
is

foppif

468

THE DECLINE AND FALL

tlie

CHAP,

Tigris

on the bridge whicli was

But,
if

conftru<ftcd
folicit

by the hands of the

whofe

Perfians.

Jovian prefumed to

thofe equitable terms,

;

they were fternly refufed by the haughty tyrant of the Eaft

clemency had pardoned the invaders of

his country.
;

The

Saracens

fometimes intercepted the ftragglers of the march

troops of Sapor refpedled the ceflation of arms
to explore the
;

but the generals

and

and Jovian was

fuffered'

moft convenient place for the paflage of the

river.

The
fleet,

fmall vefTels,

which had been faved from the conflagration of the

mofl: eflfential fervice.
;

performed the
peror and

They

firfl:

conveyed the em-

his favourites

and

aftei-vs\irds

tranfported,

fucceffive voyages, a great part of the

army.

But, as

many every man

in
left

was anxious
on the

for his perfonal fafety,

and apprehenfive of being

hofl:ile

fhore, the foldiers,

who were

too impatient to wait the

flow returns of the boats, boldly ventured themfelves on light hurdles,,

or inflated Ikins
;

and, drawing after them their horfes, attempted,

to

with various

fuccefs,

fwim

acrofs the river.

Many
;

of thefe
others,

daring adventurers were fwallowed by

the waves

many
fell

who were

earned along by the violence of the ftream,

:

an eafy
lofa

prey to the avarice, or cruelty, of the wild Arabs

and the

which the army

fuflained in the paifage of the Tigris,

was not in-

ferior to the carnage of a

day of

battle.

As foon

as the

Romans had.
tv.-o

landed on the weftern bank, thy were delivered from the hoilile
purfuit of the Barbarians
;

but, in a laborious

march of

hundred
extre-

miles over the plains of Mefopotamia, they endured the

mities of thirfl
defert,

lafl;

and hunger.

They were

obliged to traverfe a fandy

which, in the extent of feventy miles, did not afford a fingle

;

blade of fweet grafs, nor a fnigle fpring of frefh water

reft

and the

of the inhofpitable wafte was untrod by the footfteps either of

of provillons was. ftipulated by the and Theocloret affirms, that the obJigation was faitlifully discharged by the Perfupply
treaty
;

fians.

Such a

fal

is

probable, but undoubt-

cdly falfe.

See Tilleinont, Hiil. dcs

Em-

pereurs, torn, iv, p. 702.

friends

OF THE
friends or enemies.
1

ROMAN
a fmall
"'
:

EMPIRE.
mcafurc of flour could be

4G9
^
A X1V
->,^

Whenever

l^ -\
.

'*

difcovered in the camp, twenty pounds weight were greedily pur-

chafed with ten pieces of gold

tered and devoured
;

the beafls of burden were flaugh-

and the

defert

was ftrewed with

tattered

the arms

and

baggage of the

Roman

foldlers,

whofe

garments and meagre

countenances difphiyed their paft fufferlngs, and adual miferj.

fmall
caftle

A
the

convoy of provifions advanced

of

to

meet the army

grateful,

as far as

Ur

and the fupply was the more

hnce

it

dethe
and'

clared the fidelity of Sebaflian

and Procopius. At Thilfaphata

",

emperor moft gracioufly received the generals of Mefopotamia

the remains of a once flouriihing^

army

at

length repofed themfelves-

under the walls of

Nifibis.

The

meflengers of Jovian had already-

proclaimed, in the language of flattery, his election, his treaty, and'

his return
;

and the new prince had taken the moft

effeftual

meawho,

fures to fecure the allegiance of the armies

and provinces of Europe

officers,

by placing the

military

command
""'.

in the

hands of thofe

from motives of

intereft,

or inclination,

would firmly fupport the

caufe of their benefad:or

The

friends of Julian

had confidently announced the

fuccefs

of

Unh-erfai
againil

his expedition.

They

entertained a fond perfuafion, that the temples

fpoils

of the gods would be enriched with the

fia

of the Eaft

that Per- Lace!* ^

would be reduced

to the

humble

ftate

of a tributary province,
(fee his

"'

We may
of

rccollcft

fbme
in

lines

of Lucan
fimilar

" M. d'Anville
phrate
ct le

Maps, and I'Eutraces

(Pharfal. iv.
diilrefs

95.),

who

defcribes a

Tigre, p. 92, 93.)

their

Ca;f".ir's

army

Spain

inarch, and afligns the true pofition of Hatra>

Ssjva fames aderat Miles eget toto cenfu non prodigus emit ExiguamCererem. Proh lucri pallida tabes!
:

Non
taires,

dee'il

prolate jejunus venditor aiiro.

Ur, and Thilfaphata, which Amraianus has mentioned. He does not complain of the Samiel, the deadly hot wind, which Thevenot (Voyages, part ii. 1. i. p. 192.) fo much
dreaded.

See Guichardt (Nouveaux Memoires Mili-

of the
is

379382.). His Analyfis two Campaigns in Spain and Africa,

torn.
i.

p.

"* The Ammianus

p. i94-)'

retreat

of Jovian

is

defcribed by

(xxv. 9.), Libanius (Orat.

Paiii.

the noblefl

monument

that has ever been

rent. c. 143. p. 365.),

and Zoiimus

(1.

raifed :o the

fame of C.cfar

governed

470

THE DECLINE AND FALL

governed by the laws and
inag'iftrates

CHAP.
XXIV.

of

Rome

that the Barbarians

their

would adopt the

querors;

drefs,

and manners, and language, of

con-

and that the youth of Ecbatana and Sufa would fludy

the art of rhetoric under Grecian maflers'".

The

progrefs of the
;

arms of Julian interrupted

and, from the
fubjedls

his

communication with the empire

moment

that

he paffed the Tigris, his afFedionate

fate

were ignorant of the

and fortunes of

their prijice.

Their

contemplation of fancied triumphs was diflurbed by the melancholy

rumour of

his death

and they

perfifted to doubt, after they could

no longer deny, the truth of

that fatal event "'.

tale

The

meflengers of

Jovian promulgated the fpecious

the voice of fame,

of a prudent and neceflary peace

difgrace

louder and

more fmcere, revealed the

v/ith aftoniihment

of the emperor, and the conditions of the ignominious treaty.

The
with

minds of the people were

indignation and terror,

^filled

and

grief,

when

they were informed, that the unworthy

fucceflbr of Julian relinquifhed the five provinces,

which had been

acquired by the victory of Galerius

and

that

he Ihamefully fur-

rendered to the Barbarians the important city of Nifibis, the firmeft

bulwark of the provinces of the Eaft "\

queftion,

how

far the public faith fhould

fafety,

The deep and dangerous be obferved, when It bewas

freely agitated in

comes incompatible with the public

pular converfatlon
;

po-

and fome
his

hopes were entertained,

that the

emperor would redeem

" Libanius,
rhetorician.
'^''

pufillanimous behaviour by a fplendid

panegyric of Julian (Libanius de Vita fua,
torn.
'^ii.

Orat. Parent,

c.

145. p. 366.

Such were the natural hopes and wiihes of a

p. 45, 46.).

Ammianas and Eutropius may be

fair

ad-

The

people of Carrhae, a city devoted

to Paganifm, buried the inaufpicioas meffen-

ger under a pile of Hones (Zofimus,

1.

iii.

p.

196.). intelligence, call his eye on his fvvord

Libanius, when he received the fatal

:

but

and credible witneffes cf the public language and opinions. The people of Antioch reviled an ignominious peace, which expofed them to the Perfians, on a naked and defencelefs frontier (Evcerpt. Valeliana, p. 845.

mitted as

he recollefted that Plato had condemned fuicide, and that he muft live to compofe the

ex Joanne Antiocheno.).

OF THE
a<Sl

ROMAN
The

EMPIRE.
Roman
fenate
i_

471

of patriotic perfidy.

Inflexible fpirit of the

CHAP.
XXIV.
-.- _/

had always difclalmed the unequal conditions which were extorted from the diflrefs of lier captive armies and, if it were neceflliry to
;

fatisfy the national

honour, by delivering the guilty general into the

greateft part of the fubjedts of Jovian

hands of the Barbarians, the

would have times "\

n'

cheerfully

acquiefced

in

the

precedent

of ancient

But the emperor, whatever might be the

^

llitutional authoi-ity,

was

11/-1 the ablolute

limits
r

of his

con-

Jovian evacuates Niflbis,

mafter of the laws and arms

and re-

ef the

ftate

and the fame motives which had forced him

to fubfcribe, province to
*

now

preffed

him

to execute, the treaty of peace.

He

was impatient
;

^^ '^"^*

to fecure an empire at the expence of a fpedlable

few provinces

and the refears

Auguft.,

names of

religion

and honour concealed the perfonal

Notwithftanding the dutiful

and the ambition of

Jovian..

felicita-

tions of the inhabitants, decency, as well as prudence, forbade the

emperor to lodge

in the palace

of Nifibis

but, the next

morning
and

after his arrival, Binefes, the

ambaffador of Perfia, entered the place,

difplayed

from the

citadel

the ftandard of the Great King,

proclaimed, in his name, the cruel alternative of exile or fervitude.

The

principal citizens of Nifibis,

who,

till

that fatal

moment, had
not to de-

confided in the protedtion of their fovereign, threw themfelves at

his feet.

They

conjured him not to abandon, or, at

leaft,
.

liver, a faithful

colony to the rage of a Barbarian tyrant, exafperated

by

the three fucceffive defeats,

which he had experienced under the

arms and courage
to repel the

walls of Nifibis.

They

ftill

pofi^elTed

invaders of their country

they requefted only the permiffion of

;

ufing them in their

own

defence

and, as foon as they had aflerted

their iiixlependence, they fheuld implore the, favour of being again

'-'

The Abbe
i.

vien, torn.
cafuift,

de la Bleterie (Hift. de Jo212 227.), though a fcvere his pronounced that Jovian was not
p.

fioi

difmember the empire, nor alienate, withI

out their conlent, the allegiance of his pcopie.

have never found much delight or in-

bound

to execute his

promife

fince

he

cou/ii

ilruftion in fuch political metaphyfics.

axlmitted.

472

THE DECLINE AND FALL

admitted into the rank of his fubjeds.

CHAP,
XXIV.

Their arguments, their eioJovian alleged, with fome

quence, their tears were inefiedlual.

confufion, the fantity of oaths
;

and, as the reludance with which

gold, convinced the citi-

he accepted the prefent of

crown of

zens of their hopelefs condition, the advocate Sylvanus was pro-

voked to exclaim, " O Emperor may you thus be crowned by " all the cities of your dominions !" Jovian, who, in a few weeks
!

had affumed the habits of a prince

and offended with truth
:

"^^

was

difpleafed with freedom,

and

as

he reafonably fuppofed, that the

difcontent of the people might incline

them

to fubmit to the Perfian

government,

lie

publilhed an edid, under pain of death, that they

fhould leave the city within the term of three days.

Ammianus
which
""'.

has
lie

delineated in lively colours the fcene of univerfal defpair

feems to have viewed with an eye of compafTion

The
a

martial
fo

youth deferted, with indignant

glorioufly defended
:

grief,

the walls

which they had

laft tear

the difconfolate

mourner dropt

over

the

tomb of a Ion or hufband, which muft foon be profaned by the

;

rude hand of a Barbarian mafter

threfliold,

and the aged citizen

kiffed the

and clung

to the doors,

of the houfe, where he had pafled

the cheerful and carelefs hours of infancy.

:

The highways were crowded

'ftrove to bear av/ay
;

with a trembling multitude the diftindlions of rank, and fex, and age,

were

loft in

the general calamity.

Every one

fome fragment from the wreck of

not

his fortunes

and

as

they could

eommand

the immediate

fervice

of an adequate number of

horfes or waggons,

they were obliged to leave behind them the

greateft part of their valuable effeds.

The
in

favage infenfibility of

Jovian appears to have aggravated the hardfliips of thefe unhappy

fugitives.

They were

feated,

however,

a new-built

quarter of
or evidence

'* At
brave

Nifibis he performed a
his

viy'.'z/

aft,

death, without any form of

trial

namefake, whi had been rhoiight worthy of the purple, was dragged from flipper, thrown into a well, and Honed to
officer,

of guilt.
i^j.

Ammian.
9.

xxv. 8.
1. iii

"5 See xxv.

and Zcfiraus,

p. 194,

Amida

OF THE
Amicla
;

ROMAN
its

EMPIRE.

473

and

that rifing city,

with the reinforcement of a very con-

CHAP,
XXIV.

fiderable colony, foon recovered

former fplendour, and became

the capital of Mefopotamia

'^\

Sianilar orders

were difpatched by

the emperor for the evacuation of Singara and the caftle of the

Moors;

and for the

reftitution

of the

five

provinces beyond the Tigris. Sapor

enjoyed the glory and the

fruits

of his vidory

and

this

ignomi-

nious peace has juflly been confidered as a memorable xra. in the

decline and
fall

of the

Roman
the

empire.

The

predeceffors of Jovian

had fometimes
provinces
:

relinquiflied the

dominion of

diftant

and unprofitable
the genius of

but,

fince

foundation of the

city,

Rome,
public,

the

god Terminus, who guarded the boundaries of the reretired before the

had never

fword of a vidtorious enemy

"'.

After Jovian had performed thofe engagements, which the

his people

A-^oice

of

Refleftioiw

might have tempted him to

'".

violate,

he haftened away from

the fcene of his difgrace, and proceeded with his whole court to enjoy the luxury of Antioch
zeal,
laft

Without confulting the

di6tates of religious

he was prompted by humanity and gratitude, to beftow the

"'
;

honours on the remains of his deceafed fovereign

and Proco-

who fincerely bewailed the lofs of his kinfman, was removed from the command of the army, under the decent pretence of conpius,

ducing the
through the

funeral.

The

corpfe of Julian

was tranfported from

days
;

Nifibis to Tarfus, in a flow

cities

march of

fifteen

and, as

it

pafl~ed

of the Eaft, was fainted by the hoflile fadlions,

infults.

wdth mournful lamentations and clamorous

"' Chron. Pafchal,
fiaftical

The Pagans
in

al-

Notitix

may
1.

The Ecclep. 300. be confulted.

p. igz, 193.
c.

(torn.

i.

p.

148154.),

rejefting

the

foolifh report

of a Bacchanalian

riot (ap. Sui-

""'

Zofinaus,

iii.

Sextus

dam) celebrated
his 'wi/e,
'^'

Rufus de Provinciis,
Civitat. Dei,
1.

29.

Augullin de

at Antioch, by the emperor, and a troop of concubines.

iv. c.

29.

This general po-

The Abbe

de

la

Bleterie (torn.

i.

p.

fition muft be applied and interpreted with

156.

209.) handfomely expofes

the

brutal

fome caution. "' Ammianus, xxv. 9. Zofimus, 1. iii. He might be edax, et vino Venerip. 196. que indulgens. But I agree with La Bleterie

bigotry of B.ironius,

who would have thrown

quidcm
fe-

Julian to the dogs, ne cefpititia

pultura dignus.

Vol.

II.

ready

474

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ready placed their beloved hero in the rank of thofe gods whofe worIhip he

CHAP,

had reftored

while the inveftives of the Chriftians purfued

the foul of the apoftate to hell, and his

body

to the grave "".

;

One

party lamented the approaching ruin of their altars

lebrated the marvellous deliverance of the church.

the other ce-

The

Chriftians

applauded, in lofty and ambiguous

ftrains,

the ftroke of divine

vengeance, which had been fo long fufpended over the guilty head of Julian.
the
inftant

They acknowledged,

thc^t

the death of the tyrant, at

he expired beyond the Tigris, was revealed to the

'^'
;

faints

of Egypt, Syria, and Cappadocia

to
fall

and, inftead f fufFering

indifcretion

him

by the
to

Perfian

darts,

their

afcribed

the

heroic

deed
of

the

obfcure hand

of fome

mortal or immortal
declarations

champion

the

faith '".

Such

imprudent

were
;

eagerly adopted

by

the malice, or credulity, "of their adverfaries '"

who

darkly

infinuated,

or

confidently

afferted,

that

the

go-

vernors of the church had inftigated and directed the fanaticifm

of a domeftic aflafTm
Julian, the charge
'-

"^*.

Above

fixteen years after the

death of

was folemnly and vehemently urged,

cidifie

in a public

banius, Parent,

Compare the fophill and the faMt (LiMonod. torn. ii. p. 251. and Orat.
c.

Romano.

It

defertcrs, to the Perfian

was carried, by fome camp ; and the Roas

145. p. 367. c. 156. p. 377. with

iv. p.

Gregory Nazianzen, Orat.

The
he
is

125 132.)Chriflian orator faintly mutters fome ex:

mans were reproached emperor by Sapor and

XXV.
nece,
6.

the affaflins

of the
Juliaui

his fubjeifls

(Ammian.

Libanius

de

ulcifcenda
It

hortations to modefty and forgivenefs

but

well fatisfied, that the real fufierings of

Julian will far exceed the fabulous torments

of Ixion or Tantalus. '^' Tillemont (Hill, des Empereurs,

iv. p. 549,-)

torn,

has collefted thefe

viflons..

Some

faint or angel

was obferved
(1. vi.

to

be abfent in
&;c.

was urged, as a decifive proof, that no Perfian had appeared to claim thepromifed reward (Li'~an. Orat. Parent, c. 141. p. 363.). But the flying horfeman, who darted the fatal javelin, might be ignorant of its effeiS or he mighj be flain in the fame aftioii. Ammianus neic. xiii.

p. 162, 163.).

the night on a fecret expedition,

'5^

ther feels nor infpires a fufpicion.

Sozomen
Jefuit

z.)
;

applauds the Greek

but the whole paffage, might have tranflated, is prudently fuppreffed by the prefident Coufin. '" Immediately after the death of Julian, an nncertain rumour was fcattered, telo cedoftrine of ijraiinicide

This dark and ambiguous expreffion may

point to Athanafius, the
firft,

which a

without a rival,

of the Chrillian

clergy (Libanius de ulciC

Jul. nece, c. 5. p. 149.

La

Bleterie, Hift.

de

Jovien, torn.

i.

p. 179.).

oration.

OF THE
oration, addrelTed

ROMAN
to the
fat or

EMPIRE.
H'ls fuf;

475

by Libanius

emperor Theodofius.

picions are unlupported

by

argument

and we can only efteem

CHAP, XXIV, l -,- -f

the generous zeal of the fophifl of Antioch, for the cold and neglected
afhes of his friend
It
'^*.

was an ancient cuftom

in the funerals, as well as in the triumphs, and

fliould

funeral

of the Romans, that the voice of praife

fiitire

be corredled by that of

^" '^"'

and

ridicule

and, that in the midft of the fplendid pageants,

which

difjilayed the glory

of the living or of the dead, their imper-

fedlions Ihould not be concealed

from the eyes of the world

of Julian.

"*.

This

cuftom was

pracfliied in the funeral

The comedians, who

refented his contempt and averfion for the theatre, exhibited, with

the applaufe of a Chriftian audience,

the lively and exaggerated

reprefentation of the faults and follies of the deceafed emperor.

His

various charadler and fingular manners afforded an ample fcope for

plealiintry

and

ridicule '".

In the exercife of his

uncommon

talents,

he often defcended below the majefty of

transformed' into Diogenes
prieft.
;

his rank.

Alexander was
into a
;

the philofopher

was degraded

The
and

purity of his virtue was fullied

by

excefllve vanity
fafety,

his

fuperftition difturbed the peace,

and endangered the

of a mighty

empire

his irregular fallies

were the

lefs

irititled

to indulgence,

as they appeared to be the laborious efforts of art, or even of affectation.

The remains of

Julian were interred at Tarfus in Cilicia

city,

but

his ftately

tomb, which arofe in that

on the banks of the cold and

my body
c.

'25

The

Orator (Fabricius, Bibliot. Grsc.

tenth part of the fum, and throw into the Tyber.

torn. vii. p.

145 179.)
ftill

fcatters fufpicions,

Sueton. in Vefpafian.

demands an inquiry, and

proofs might

infinuates,

that

19. with the notes

vius.

of Cafaubon and Gronoiv.

be obtained.

He

afcribes

the

fu'ccefs

of

th,e

Huns

to the criminal ne-

"' Gregory (Orat.

p. 119, 120.)

com-

gleft of revenging Julian's death.

pares this fuppofed ignominy and ridicule to

"* At the
dian

funeral of Vefpafian, the

come-

the funeral honours of Conftantius, whofe

who

perfonated that frugal emperor,

body was chaunted over mount Taurus by

choir of angels,

anxioufly inquired
fcore thoufand

how much
(centies)

it cofi:

Four-

pounds

Give me the
3 P 2
limpid

476

THE DECLINE AND FALL

limpid Cydnus
'",

CHAP.
XXIV.
V^
.

was

difpleafing

to

the faithful

friends,

->

loved and revered the

memory

of that extraordinary
that the

who man. The

difciple

philofopher expreffed a very reafonable wifli,

Plato might have repofed amidfl:

of

the groves of the

accents,
that

academy'":
the afhes of

while

the

foldier exclaimed in bolder

Julian fhould have been mingled with thofe of Caefar, in the field

of Mars, and

among

the antient

monuments of Roman

virtue

'*.

The

hiftory of princes does not very frequently

renew the example

of a fimilar competition.
"' Quintus Curtius,
Yet
1.

iii.

c. 4.

The

the

tomb of Julian (de

.

ulcif. Jul. nece, c. 7,

luxuriancy of his defcriptions has been often

cenfured.
it

p. 152.).
'*

was almoft the duty of the

hiftorian to defcribe a river,

whofe waters had

jufte confuleret,

nearly proved fatal to Alexander.

"' Libanius, Orat. Parent,

c.

1^6. p. 377.
libe-

Yet he acknowledges with gratitude the

rality

Cujus fuprema et cineres, fi qui tunc non Cydnus videre deberet, quamvis gratiffimus amnis et liquidus fed ad perpetuandam gloriam refte faftorum praeterlambere Tiberis, interfecans urbem aeternam^ divorumque veterum monumenta prsftrin:

of the two royal brothers in decorating

gens.

Ammian.

xxv. 10.

CHAP.

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

477

CHAP.

XXV.

The Government and Death of Jovian. EleSion of Valentinian^ who ajfociates his Brother Vale72Sy and fnakes

the f?ial

Revolt of Procopius.

nifration.
T'he

Germany. Danube. Death

death of Julian had

Divifon of the Eajiej~n and Weflern Empires.

Civil

and

Britain.

Ecclefiaflical

Africa.

of Vale?ninian.
II.,

His
to

Admi-

Ihe Eafl.
tu-o

SonSy

Gratian

and Vakntinian

fucceed

the Weflern'

Empire,

TH
the nrft

left

the public aifairs of the empire

fituation.

c H A P
^^^"St.iteofthe church,

in

a very doubtful

and dangerous

The Roman
;

army was

faved

by an

inglorious, perhaps a neceffary, treaty'

and

moments of peace were

confecrated

by

the pious Jovian A. D.

ftate.

363.

to reftore the domeftic tranquillity of the

church and

The

indifcretion of his predeceflbr, inftead of reconciling,

had

artfully

fomented the religious war

and the balance which he

affeted to

preferve between the hoftile factions, ferved only to perpetuate the

conteft,

by the

viciffitudes

of hope and

fear,

by the

rival claims

of

ancient pofTefTion and adlual favour.

The

Chriflians

had forgotten
fpirit

the

fpirit

of the Gofpel

and the Pagans had imbibed the

and revenge

of

the church.
tinguilhed

In private families, the fentiments of nature were ex-

by the blind fury of

violated or abufed
;

zeal

the majefty of

the laws

was

the cities of the Eaft were ftained

with blood ; and the mofl implacable enemies of the Romans were
'

The medals

of Jovian adorn him with

Flattery
felf

is

a foolifh fuicide

fhe deftroys her-

viftories,
lives.

laurel crowns,

and proftrate capp.

with her

own hands.

Ducange, Famil. Byzantin.

52.

in

4^8

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Jii

CHAP.
XXV.

the

bofom of

their country. J
;

Tovlan was educated in the pror

fefTion

of Chriftianity

and

as

he marched from Nifibis to Antioch, of Conftantine, which was

the banner of the Crofs, the

Labarum
As foon
truth,

again difplayed at the head of the legions, announced to the people

the faith of their

new

emperor.

as

he afcended the throne,

of provinces:
legal efta-

he tranfmitted a
in

circular epiftle

to all the governors

which he confeffed the divine

and fecured the

blifliment, of the Chriftian religion.

The

infidious edidts of Julian

were abolifhed

the

ecclefiaftical

immunities

were

reftored

and

enlarged; and Jovian condefcended to lament, that the diftrefs of

the times obliged
butions
",

him

to diminifh the

meafure of charitable

diftri-

The
ftill

Chriftians

were unanimous in the loud and fmcere

applaufe which they bellowed on the pious fucceflbr of Julian.

But

they were

ignorant,

what
;

creed, or

what fynod, he would chufe

for the ftandard of orthodoxy

and the peace of the church imme-

diately revived thofe eager difputes

which had been fufpended during would depend

the feaion of perfecution.

feds, convinced,

The

epifcopal leaders of the contending

from experience,

how much

their fate

on the
foldier,

earlieft

imprelTions that

were made on the mind of an untutored

haftened to the court of Edeffii, or Antioch.

The highways
out-ftrip

of the Eaft were crowded with Homooufian, and Arian, and SemiArian,

and Eunomian
:

bifliops,

who

flruggled to

each

other in the holy race

their clamours
;

the apartments of the palace relounded with

ears of the prince

and the
Ixy

were

aflaulted,

and per-

haps aftoniihed,

the fingular mixture of metaphyseal argument

and paflionate invedive \

*

The moderation of Jovian, who recomby Sozomen ; who fuppofes, that an amorous glance, the adultery of the heart, was punifhed with death by the evangelic
rated
legiflator.
^

tcj a^x'^m and comprehenfive expreffion (Philoftorgius, 1. viii. c. 5. with Godefroy's Differtations, p. 329. Sozomen, I. vi. c. 3.). The new law which condemnd the rape or marriage of nuns (Cod.

Jovian reftored to the church

;

xca-itM

a forcible

Compare

Socrates,
I.

1.

iii.

c.

25.

and

Philoftorgius,

viii.

c. 6.

with Godefroy's

Theod.

1.

ix.

tit.

xxv. leg. z.),

is

exagge-

Differtations, p. 330.

mended

OF THE
mended concord and

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

'

479
to the ren:

charity,

and referred the difputants

CHAP,
v.

tence of a future council, was interpreted as a

fymptom of indifference
at length difcovcred

,r

but his attachment to the Nicene creed was

declared,

and

by the reverence which he expreffed

for the ccelejllal'^

virtues of the great Athanafms.

at the

The

intrepid veteran of the faith,

firfl intelli-

age of feventy, had iffued from his retreat on the

gence of the tyrant's death.

The

acclamations of the people feated

;

him once more on

the archiepifcopal throne

and he wifely accepted,

venerable figure of

or anticipated, the invitation of Jovian.

The

Athanafius, his calm courage, and infmuating eloquence, fuftained

the reputation which he had already acquired in the courts of four
fucceflive princes
'

As foon

as

he had gained the confidence,, and

fecured the faith, of the Chriftian emperor, he returned in triumph

to his diocefe,

and continued, with mature counfels, and undimi,

niihed vigour, to diret, ten years longer

the ecclefiaftical govern-

ment of Alexandria, Egypt, and the Catholic church.

would be rewarded with
to hope, that

Before his

departure from Antioch, he affured Jovian that his orthodox devotion a long and peaceful reign.

Athanafius

had reafon

he fhould be allowed either the merit of a

fuccefsful predi<^ion, or the excufe of a grateful,

though

ineffectual,

P^^y^^^'
"

The
caleftiat faintly exprefles the
flattery
tt^s?

The word

impious and extravagant

(See the
ii.

of the emtoi>

of the emperor, the primate of Egypt, and the Arian deputies. The Abbe is not fatiffied

peror to the archbifhop, rn?

o^5'^

0o iui

oft,awcf^c,

original

epiftle

in

but
*

his partiality for

with the coarfe pleafantry cf Jovian ; Athanafius afTumes, in

the character of juiHce.
true

Athanafius, torn.

p. 33.).

Gregory Na-

hii eyes,

zianzen (Orat. xxi. p. 392.) celebrates the The friendfhip of Jovian and Athanafius. primate's journey was advifed by the Egyptian
viii.
'

The

sra of

his

death

is

perplexed

with fome

difficulties

(Tillemont,

Mem.
.

Monks

(Tillemont, IVIem. Eccef. torn,

p. 22 1.).

719 723.). But the date (A.D. 373, May 2.), which feems the moll conliftent with hillory and reafon, is
Ecclef
torn. viii. p.
ratified

Athanafius, at the court of Antioch,

is

by

his authentic

life
iii.

(MaiFei Offer-

agreeably reprefented by

La

Bleterie (Hift.

de

J-ovicn,

torn.

i.

p. 121

148.):

vazioni Letterarie, torn.

'

p. 81.).

hetranf-

See

the

obfervations of Valefius and

Ecclefiallical

lates the

lingular

and original conferences

Jortin

(Remarks on

Hiftory,
vol.

480

THE- DECLINE AND FALL

The
flighteft force,

CHAP.
XXV.
Jovian proclaims univerfal tole-

when

it is

appHed

to

affifl

and guide the naand

tural defcent

of

its

obje(5t,

operates with irrefiftible weight;

Jovian had the good fortune to embrace the religious opinions which

ration.

were fupported by the

of the moft powerful

fpirit

of the times, and the zeal and numbers

fed:

'.

Under
and

his reign, Chriflianity obtained

an eafy and
ti-onage

lafting victory

as foon as the fmile of rayal

pa-

was withdrawn, the genius of paganifm, which had been

arts

fondly raifed and cheriflied by the

in the duft.

of Julian, funk irrecoverably

;

philofophers,

many who had

In

cities,

the temples were fhut or deferted

it

the

abufed their tranfient favour, thought

their profefTion
;

pru-

dent to lliave their beards, and difguife

Chriftians rejoiced, that they

and the

were

now in

a condition to forgive, or

to revenge, the injuries

which they had

fuffered

under the preced-

ing reign

'.

The

confternation of the Pagan world

was

difpelled

by

a wife and gracious edid of toleration; in which Jovian explicitly

declared, that although he fhould feverely punifh the facrilegious rites

of magic, his fubjets might exercife, with freedom and

ceremonies of the ancient worlhip.

fafety, the

The memory of

this

law has

been preferved by the orator Themiftius, w^ho was deputed by the

fenate of Conftantinople to exprefs their loyal devotion for the

new

emperor.

Themiftius expatiates on
facility

the clemency of the

Divine

Nature, the

of

human
mind
;

error, the rights

of confcience, and

the independence of the

and, with fome eloquence, inculcates

;

the principles of philofophical toleration

whofe

aid

Superftition

vol.

on the original letter of which is preferved by Theodoret (1. iv. c. 3.). In fome MSS. this indifcreet promife is omitted; perhaps by the Catholics, jealous of the prophetic fame of
iv.

p.

38.)

Athanafius

compofed the whole world, raE| o^iya* it. Td A^sia if>^t.yn-i,. This aflertion was verified
in the fpace
'

of thirty or forty years.

I.

Socrates,

iii.

c.

24.

anzen
the

(Orat.

iv.

p.
c.

131.),

Gregory Na?,!and Libanius

their leader.
'

(Orat. Parentalis,
l.iv. c. 3.)
li'vitig

148. p. 369.), exprefs

Athanafius (apud Theodoret,

fentiments of their refpedive fac-

magnifies the

number of

the orthodox,

who

tions.

herfdlf.

OF THE
Iierfelf,

ROMAN
diflrefs, is

EMPIRE.
had

481

in the

hour of her

not afhamecl to implore.

juftly obferves, that in the recent changes, both rcl'gions

alternately difgraced
lytes,

He CHAP, been ^ -J

by the feeming

acquifition of worthlefs profe-

of thofe votaries of the reigning purple,

who

could pafs,
to the

without a reafon,

and without a blufh, from the church

temple, and from the altars of Jupiter to the liicred table of the
Chrillians
'.

In the fpace of feven months, the

Roman

troops,

who were now

Hls'progrefs

returned to Antioch, had performed a march of fifteen hundred miles;

in

"^""^
Jdl'^

which they had endured

all

the hardfhips of war, of famine, and q^^^ ^^*

fervices, their fatigues,

of climate.

Notwithflanding their

and the

approach of winter, the timid and impatient Jovian allowed only, to

the

men and

horfes, a refpite of fix weeks.

The emperor

could

not fuftain the indifcreet and malicious raillery of the people of

tioch ".

An;

He

was impatient

to pofTefs the palace of Conftantinople

and

to

prevent the ambition of fome competitor, who might occupy

the vacant allegiance of Europe.

intelligence, that his authority

But he foon received the grateful

was acknowledged from the Thracian

Bofphorus to the Atlantic ocean.

By

the

firft letters

which he

dif-

patched from the camp of Mefopotamia, he had delegated the military

command

of Gaul and Illyricum to Malarich, a brave and

;

faithful officer

of the nation of the Franks

and

to his father-in-law,

count LuclUian,

who had

formerly diftinguiflied his courage and Malarich had declined an

;

condudt in the defence of

Nifibis.

office

to which he thought himfelf unequal

'

and Lucillian was maflacred

in his

Themiftius, Orar. v. p.
Paris,

Harduin.
torn.
i.

1684.
that
;

63^71. edit, The Abbe de la

of the ediil, the Icaft honourable, opinion, to the emperor Jovian.

Bleterie judicioully remarks (Hill, de Jovien,

p. 199.),

"
tok

o.

1=

AmoX'.; %

I'^'s":

Ajxei.to irjo; avry.

Sozomen has forgot

and Themiflius, the

a^^' fTrsaxuTrnn avro>

xy.XniMvoii;

u$xi<;

xai %-a^cikair,

xai

the general toleration

(pa^,<r<n!i;

(famofis

libelUs).

Each of them turned away from the objeft which he difliked ; and wilhed to fupprefs the part
eilablifhment of the Catholic religion.

Johan. Antiochen. in Excerpt. Valefian. p. 845. Tlie libels of Antioch may be admitted on very /light evidence.

Vol.

II.

0^

at

482

THE DECLINE AND FALL

at

CHAP.
XXV.

Rheims, in an accidental mutiny of the Batavian cohorts

".

But
for-

the moderation of Jovinus, mailer-general of the cavalry,

who

gave the intention of his difgrace, foon appeafed the tumult, and
confirmed the uncertain minds of the
foldiers.

The
new
to

oath of fidelity
;

was admlniftered, and taken, with

defcended from

loyal acclamations

and the de-

puties of the AVeftern armies " faluted their

fovereign as he
in Cappadocia.
capital

Mount Taurus

to the city of

Tyana,

From Tyana he continued

the province of Galatia
A. D. 364.
January
1.
;

his hafty

march

Ancyra,

of

where Jovian affumed, with

'*.

his infant fon,

",

the

name and

enfigns of the confulfhip

at

Dadaflana

an obfcure

town, almoft

an equal diftance between Ancyra and Nice, was

marked

for the fatal term of his

journey and

his

life.

After indulg-

ing himfelf with a plentiful, perhaps an intemperate fupper,

retired to reft
Death of
Jovian.
;

he

and the next morning the emperor Jovian was found

dead in his bed.

i;

The
it

caufe

of this fudden death was varioufly

February

underftood.

By fome

was

afcribed to the confequences of an indi-

geftlon, occafioned either "by the quantity

lity

of the wine, or the qua-

of the mufliirooms,^ which he had fwallowed in the evening.

his fleep

According to others, he was fuffocated in

charcoal
;

by the vapour of
want of a reguDa-

which extraded from the walls of the apartment the unfrefli plaifter "\

wholefome moifture of the

'-

But

tlae

Compare Ammianus (xxv. 10. )> who omits the name of the Batavians, with Zofimiis
(1.
iii.

''

The

Itinerary of Antoninus fixes

p.

i97-)>

^^l^"

removes the

miles from Nice; 117 from Ancyra (Weffeling, Itinerar. p. ii).2.j.

daftana 125

Roman

fcene of aftioa from Rheims to Sirmium.

'5

The

pilgrim of Bourdeaux, by omitting fome

Quos

capita fcholarum ordo cailrenfis

ftages, reduces the

whole fpace from 242

to

appellat.

Ammian.

xxv. lo. and Valef. ad

181 miles.
'*

Wefleling, p. 574.

locum. '* Cujus vagitus, pertinaciter reluftantis, ne in curuli fella veheretur ex more, id quod mox accidie protendebat. Auguflus, and his
Aicceflbrs, refpeiflfuUy folicited a difpenfation

See
18.),

(x.

Ammianus (xxv. 10.), Eutropius who might likewife be prefent

i.

;.

Jerom
Orofius

(torn.
(vii.

p.

26.

ad

Heliodorum)^
(1.

31.),

Sozomen

vi.

c.

6.),

of age for the fons or nephews,

raifed
to

whom

they

the
the

confulfhip.
firft

chair of

Brutus
infant.^

But the curule had never been

and ZonarasWe cannot (tom. ii. 1. xiii. p. 28, 29.). expedl a perfeft agreement, and we Ihall not difcufs minute differences.
(1. iii.

Zofimus

p. 197, 198.),

dilhonoured by an

lar

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^

4&j

lav enquiry Into the death of a prince,

whofe reign and perfon were

guilt ".

foon forgotten, appears to have been the only circumflance which

^^
-,,-

countenanced the malicious whifpers of poifon and domeftic

The body

of Jovian was fent to Conftantinople, to be interred with

;

his predeceflbrs

and the fad proceffion was met on the road by

;

his

wife Charito, the daughter of count Lucillian

recent death of her
in
fathei*,

who
to

ftill

wept the

and was haftening

hufband.

dry her tears

difappointment

the embraces of an

Imperial

Her

and grief were embittered

nefs.

by the anxiety of maternal tenderdeath of Jovian, his infant fon had

Six weeks before the

been placed in the curule

chair,

adorned with the

title

of Nobilijfimus^

and the vain enfigns of the

the royal youth,

confullbip.

Unconfcious of his fortune,

aflumed the name of

who, from

his grandfather,

Varronian, was reminded only by the jealoufy of the government,

that he

was the fon of an emperor.

alive,

Sixteen years afterwards he

;

was

ftill

but he had already been deprived of an eye

and

his

afflided

mother expefted,

every hour,
to appeafe,

that the

innocent vidlira

would be torn from her arms,

cions of the reigning prince
".

with his blood, the fufpi-

After the death of Jovian, the throne of the

Roman world

re- Vacancy of
Feb. 17 26.

mained ten days " without a mafter.

ftill

The

minifters

and generals
func-

continued to meet in council

;

to exercife their refpedlive

;

tions
'^

to maintain the public order

ufual can-

and peaceably

to conducft the

Ammianus, unmindful of his

fenfe,

death.
''

dour and good

Africanus,
'^

compares the death of

excited the fears

Such vague cbnfolations have never wiped away a fingle tear,

the harmlefs Jovian to that of the fecond

Ten
:

days appear fcarcely fufficient for

who had

and

refentment of the popular faftion.

march and eledion. But it may be obferved i. That the generals might comthe

Chryfoftom,

torn.

Montfaucon.
to comfort a

The
;

344. edit, Chriftian orator attempts

i.

p. 336.

mand

the expeditious ufe of the public polls for themfelves, their attendants, and meffengers.
2.

irious

widow by the examples of illufmisfortunes and obferves, that of

That

the troops, for the eafe of

the cities, marched in

that the head of the

many
at

divifions

and

nine emperors (including the Cfefar Gallus), ^vho had reigned in his time, only two (Con-

column might

arrive at

Nice, when the rear halted

Ancyra.

iUntiue and

Conllantius)

died

a natural

0^2

army

4^4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

army
to the city

CHAP,
V-
'

of Nice, in Bithynia, which was chofen for

In a folemn alfembly of the
civil

tlic

place of the eledlion ".

and mili-

tary powers of the empire,

oiFered to the praefed Salluft.
refufal
;

the diadem was again unanimcrufly

He

enjoyed the glory of a fecond

and when the virtues of the father were alleged in favour of

with the firmnefs of a difmterefted patiiot,

his fon, the prsfedt,

declared to the eledors, that the feeble age of the one, and the

un-

experienced youth

of the other,

were equally incapable of the

Several candidates were propofed
fituation,,
:

laborious duties of government.

and, after weighing the objections of charader or

they

were

fucceffively rcjedled

but, as foon as the

officer

name of Vakntinian was

Salkifl:

pronounced, the merit of that

"'

united the fufirages of the whoje

himfelf.

alfembly, and obtained the fmcere approbation of

Eleaion and
Ciisrcictci*

Valentinian

was the fon of count Gratian,

a native of Cibalis, in

or

Valntinian

Pannonia, who, from an obfcure condition, had raifed himfelf, by

matchlefs ftrength and dexterity, to the military

commands of Africa

and

Britain

from which he
fmooth the

retired,

with an ample fortune and

fufpicious integrity.

The rank and

firft

fervices of Gratian contributed,

however,
afforded

to

fteps of the

promotion of

his fon

and
of

him an

early opportunity of difplaying thofe folid

raifed his charadter

and ufeful
level

qualifications,

which

above the ordinary

tall,

his

fellow-foldiers.
majeftic.

The

perfon of Valentinian was

graceful,

and

His manly countenance, deeply marked with the imand

:

preffion of fenfe

fpirit,

infpired his friends with awe,

and his

enemies with fear

and, to fecond the efforts of his undau-nted cou-

rage, the fon of Gratian

had inherited the advantages, of a ftrong and

1.

"
p,

Ammianus,

xxvi.

i.
1.

Zofimiis,
viil.

iii.

198.

Phi/oftorgius,

c.

8.

and

whofe preClng recommendations from Ancyra had a weighty influence in the clection.
*'

who
and

Godefroy, Diflertat. p. 334. Philoftorgius, appears to have obtained feme curious

authentic intelligence, afcribes the choice

Ammianus
;

(xxx. 7. 9.)^and

theyounger
iJluC-

Viftor, have furnifhed the portrait of Valeatinian

cfValer,tinian to the prsfecl Salluft, the

ma-

fter-general Arintheus, Dagalaiphus, count

tratps the hlflory

which naturally precedes and of his reign..

of the

doineftics,

and the Patrician Datianus,

healthy

OF THE
healthy conftltution.

ROMAN
the
habits

EMPIRE.
faculties,

4^5

By

of chaflity and temperance,

Valentinian

chap.
*

which

reftrain the appetites,

and invigorate the

efteem.

preferved his own, and the public,

military
life
;

The

avocations of a

had diverted

his

youth from the elegant purfuits of

arts

literature

he was ignorant of the Greek language, and the

;

of rhetoric

but as the mind of the orator was never difconcertcd

by timid
him,
tion.

perplexity, he

was

able, as often as the occafion

prompted

to deliver his decided fentiments

with bold and ready elocu-

The
;

laws of martial difcipline were the only laws that he had

fludied

and he was foon diftinguifhed by the laborious diligence,

with which he difcharged and inforced the
In the time of Julian he provoked the danger of

and

inflexible feverity,

duties of the camp.

difgrace,

by
;

the contempt w-hich he publicly exprefled for the reigning

it

religion

'"

and

fhould feem, from his fubfequent condudl, that the

efFedl

indifcreet

and unfeafonable freedom of Valentinian was the

than of Chriftian
zeal.

of mi-

litary fpirit, rather

He was pardoned, however,

his merit

and

ftill

employed by a prince who efteemed

"

and

in the

various events of the Perfian war, he improved the reputation which

he had already acquired on the banks of the Rhine. and

fuccefs with

The

celerity

which he executed an important commiflion, recom;

mended him

to the f.ivour of Jovian

and

to the honourable

com-

mand of the kcondjcjbooly

guards.

or company, of Targetteers, of the domeftic

In the march from Antioch, he had reached his quarters at

v.'ithout guilt,

Ancyra, v/hen he was unexpectedly fummoned,

and

without intrigue, to aflume, in the forty-third year of his age, the

abfolute
*^

government of the

Roman
to

empire.
more private offence (Zoiimus,
201. )
*^
].

Ac Antioch, where he was obliged

iv. p.

2C0,

attend the emperor to the temple, he ilruck

a prieft, who had prefumed to purify him with luPral water (Sozomen, 1. vi, c. 6. Theodoret, 1. iii. c. 15.). Such public defiance might become Vc^lentinian
leave no
;

Socrates,

I.

iv.

prevjpus exile to
firft

but

it

could

unworthy delation of the philofopherMaximus, which fuppofesfomc

for the

room

might be pofSozomen (l.vi. c. 6^J and Philoftorgius (1. vii. c. y. with Godcfroy's Dillertations, p. zgy),
fible),
is

Melitene, or Thebais (the

interpofed by

The

486

THE DECLINE AND FALL

The
aged
invitation of the minifters
,
1 _

CHAP.
XXV.
c_--v
knowiedged

and cenerals
.

at

Nice was of
^
tlie

little

moment,

unlels

it

were confirmed by the voice of

army.

The

Salluft,

who had

long obferved the irregular fludluations of

propofed, tuider pain of death, that none of A. d!?^' popular aflemblies, Pebruar/26. thofe perfons, whofe rank in the fervice might excite a party in their
favour, flaould appear in public,

on the day of the inauguration.

fuperftition, that a

Yet fuch was the prevalence of ancient

whole
it

day was voluntarily added

to this dangerous interval, becaufe

^*.

hapthe

pened

to be the intercalation of the BifTextile to be

:

At

length,

when

hour was fuppofed

propitious,

Valentinian fhewed himfelf

from a

lofty tribunal

the judicious choice

was applauded

and the

new

prince was folemnly invefted with the diadem and the purple,

amidfl the acclamations of the troops,

order round the tribunal.
addrefs the

who were

difpofed in martial

But when he

fti-etched forth his

hand

to

armed multitude, a bufy whifper was

accidentally ftarted
cla-

in the ranks,

and infenfibly fwelled into a loud and imperious

mour,
pire.

that

he ihould name, without delay, a colleague in the emintrepid calmnefs

refpedl
it
:

The commanded
" minutes
" "

of Valentinian obtained filence, and and he thus addrefled the aflembly ; " few

fince

was

in

your power, fellow-foldiers, to have

Judging, from the

left

me in mony

the obfcurity of a private ftation.

tefti-

of

my pad

life,

that I deferved to reign,

you have placed me

undoubtedly too

" on the throne. " of the republic.

It is

now my duty to The weight of the

confult the fafety and interefl:

univerfe

is

" great for the hands of a feeble mortal. I am confcious of the " limits of my abilities, and the uncertainty of my life and far
:

'"

from
^*

declining, I

am

anxious to

folicit,

the afliftance of a

worthy

Ammianus,

in

a long, becaufe unfea1.

Natali,
I. i.

c.

20.),

and Macrobius (Saturnal,

fonable, digreClon (xxvi.

and Valefuis ad

locum), rafhiy fuppofcs that he underftands an aftronomical quelHon, of which his readers
are ignorant.
.jiienx

It is treated with more judgand propriety by Cenforinus (de Die

The appellation of which marks the inaufpicious year (Auguftin. ad Januarium, Epilt. 119.), is derived from the repetition o{ the Jixth day of
cap.

12

16.).

Bijfextile,

the calends of

IVIgj-ch.

" colleague*

'
'

OF THE
**

ROMAN
may
and

EMPIRE.
be
fatal,

487
choice of a

colleague.
faithful

But, where difcord

the

^
y

"

friend requires mature

fliall

fcrious deliberation.

That

P-

-v

" deliberation

be wy care.

Let your condtadl be dutiful and

;

" confident. Retire to your quarters refrefh your mind's and " bodies ; and exped: the acciiftomed donative on the acceflion of a " new emperor
pride,
''^"

The

aftonilhed troops,
terror, confefled

with a

mixture

of
and

of fatisfiidion,

and of

the voice of their

mafter.

Their angry clamours fubfided into

filent

reverence

Valentinian, encompaffed with the eagles of the legions, and the

various banners of the cavalry and infantry,

was conduced, in
fenfible,

warlike pomp, to the palace of Nice.

As he was
chiefs

however,

of the importance of preventing fome rafh declaration of the foldiers,

he confulted the aflembly of the

exprefl'ed

and
"

their real fenti-

ments were concifcly

phus.

by the generous freedom of Dagalaiif

" Moft

excellent prince," faid that officer,

you confider
republic,

" only your

flvmily,

you have

a brother

if

you love the

"'."

" look round for the moft deferving of the Romans

peror,

The emIn And

affod-

who

fupprefled his difpleafure, without altering his intention,

flowly proceeded from Nice to Nicomedia and Conftantinople.

one of the fuburbs of that

tion,

capital

'',

thirty days after his

own

eleva;

ther Valens^^
j^fg^^ ^

he bcftowed 'the

title

of Auguftus on his brother Valens

and

zgl

as the boldeft patriots

were convinced,

that their oppofition, without

fatal to themfelyes, the
filent fubmiffion.
;

being ferviceable to their country, would be

declaration of his abfolute will

was received with

Valens was
^5

now
firfl

in the tliirty-fixth year of his age

but his

abilities

Valentinian's

fpeech

is full

in

Am-

^'

In fuburbano,

Ammian.
field

xxvi. 4.

The
dif-

mianus (xxvi. 2.); concife and fententious

in Philoftorgius
(1.

famous HeiJomon, or

of Mars, was

viii.

c. 8.).

tant from Conftantinople either feven ftadia,

ftias.

Si tuos,
;

fratrem

fi

Ammian.

Rempublicam, '^
.

amas, In^perator optime, habes qua;re quern ve.

'

XXVI. 4.

/ In

^^ ,-gyg ^jj^^^ , ,,
ther,

the divifion ot

^.

.^

ad

loc.

gee Valefius and jt->. and Ducange, Conft.

.-n.i"_ p
1. 11.

his

bro-

the empire, Valentinian retained that fmcere

counfellor forhimfelf (c. 6.).

^^>

'

+ '' '^^j I73'

had

488

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Jiad

CHAP.
<
^
I

never been exercifed in any employment, military or

civil

and

his charaiter
tions.

had not

infpired the

world with any fanguine expedtaone quality, which recommended

He

poflefled,

however,

him

to Valentinian,

and preferved the domeftic peace of the empire

a devout and grateful attachment to his benefadlor, whofe fuperiority,

of genius, as well

as,

of authority, Valens humbly and cheerhis life ".

fully

acknowledged in every adion of

The

final di-

Before Valentinian divided

miniftration of the empire.

the provinces, he reformed the adAll ranks of fubjeds,

eafl;erna^nd^^

who had

been
to
at-

wefternem-

injured or opprefled under

the reign of Julian, were

invited

A. D.

364.

fupport

their

public

accufations.

The

filence

of mankind
;

June.

tefted the fpotlefs integrity

of the praefed Salluft^

and

his

own

prefling folicitations, that he

bufinefs

might be permitted

to retire

from the

of the

ftate,

were rejedled by Valentinian with the moft

frieijdfhip

honourable exprefTions of

and edeem.

But among the

abufed his

favourites of the late emperor, there

were many

who had

credulity or fuperftition

and

who

could no longer hope to be pro-

teded
nifters

either

by favour or

juftice

^.

The

greater part of the

miwere

of the palace,
their

and the governors of the provinces,

;

removed from
fome
officers

refpedive flations

yet the eminent merit of

;

was diftinguilhed from the obnoxious crowd

and,

notwithftanding the oppofite clamours- of zeal and refentment, the

whole proceedings of

this delicate

enquiry appear to have been con^'.

ducted with a reafonable fhare of vvifdom and moderation

The

^'

Participem quidem Icgitimum poteftafed in

ds
4.

modum

apparitoris

utprogrediens aperiet textus.

^'

morigerum, Amsnian. xxvi.

Eunapius celebrates and exaggerates the of Ma.ximus (p. 82,83.): yet he allows, that this fophill or magician, the
fufFcriiigs

guilty favourite of Julian, and the perfonal

ras,

Notwithftanding the evidence of ZonaSuidas, and the Pafchal Chronicle, M.

(Hill, des

enemy of Valentinian, was payment of a fmall fine.

^'

difmilTed on the

de Tillemont

Empereurs,

torn. v.
fi

The

loofe aflbrtions of a general dif1.

p. 671.) wijhes to difbelieve .thtfe ftories

grace (Zofimus,

iv. p.

261.) are detefted

(torn, v. p. 21.).

ivanta^eufes u un payen.

and refuted by Tillemont

feftivity

OF
feftlvity

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

reign received a fhort and fufpicious interruption,
illnefs

489

of

a-

new

CHAP,
',

from the fudden

health
fpring.
Naifllis,

of the two princes

but as foon as their

i-ij-_f

was

reftored, they left Conllantinople in the

caftle

beginning of the

In the

or palace of Mediana, only three miles

final divifion

from

they executed the iblemn and

of the

Roman
;

empire '\ Valentinian beftowed on his brother the rich praefefture of

the Eajl^ from the

Lower Danube

to the confines

of Perfia

whilfl

he referved for
of lUyricmn^

his

immediate government the warlike prasfedtures

Italy,

and Gauly from the extremity of Greece to the

;

Caledonian rampart

and from the rampart of Caledonia,

provincial

to the foot

of

Mount

Atlas.
;

The

adminiftration remained

on

its

former

bafis

but a double fupply of generals and magiftrates was

:

required for two councils, and two courts

the divifion was

fituation,

made

with a jufl regard to their peculiar merit and

and feven

mafter-generals were foon created, either of the cavalry or infantry.

When
the

this

important bufinefs had been amicably tranfaded,

laft

Va-

lentinian

and Valens embraced for the

eftabliflied

time.
at

The emperor of
Milan
;

Weft

his

temporary refidence

and the
do-

emperor of the Eaft returned

to Conllantinople, to aflume the

minion of
rant ".

fifty

provinces, of

whofe language he was

totally

igno-

The
rival,

tranquillity of the Eaft

'
-

was foon difturbed by rebellion: and '

.

the throne of Valens was threatened by the daring attempts of a

Revolt of liocopius, A. D. 365.

whofe

affinity

to

the empei-or Julian

3*

was

his fole

September
28.

merit,

and had been

'^'^

his

only crime.

Procopius had been haftily promoted

^^

Ammianus,

xxvi. 5.
fays, in general terms, fub-

The

uncertain degree of alliance,

is

or

2^

Ammianus

confanguinity,
^,,^,.^,^

exprefled

by

the

words

Kgreftis ingenii,
ftudiis eruditus.

nee bellicis nee liberalibus

cognatus, confobrinus (See Valefius

xxiii. 3.).

The xxxi. 14. Themiftius, with the genuine impcrtiorator r n : ? ^ ^ ,' nence of a Greek, wilhed, for the firft time,
Ammian.
, 1

The mother of Proj ra fr> nCount copiusmightbeafifterofBafilina, and r^ i"

^d

Ammian.
.

"

to fpeak the Latin language, the dialed of

his
vi.

J"I>an, the

r mother and uncle of the

,
,

apollate.

fovercign,
p. 71-

tt.,

^^-^i-^ro,

x^a^wai-

Orat.

Ducange, Fam. Byzantin.

p. 49.

Vol.

II.

fi'O"^

490
C'

THE DECLINE AND FALL

p.

H A
X A. V.

f^oiii

the obfcure ftation of a tribune, and a notary, to the joint

command
heirs;

of the

army of Mefopotamia

the pubUc opinion already

deftitute of natural'

named him
and

as the fucceflbr of a prince

who was

a vain

rumour was propagated by

his friends, or
at Carrhse,
''.

his

enemies, that Julian, before the altar of the

Moon,

had
en-

privately inverted Procopius with the Imperial purple

He

deavoured, by his dutiful and fubmiflive behaviour, to dlfarm the

jealoufy of Jovian
;

refigned,

without a contell, his military

comThefe

mand
ufeful

and

retired,

with his wife and family, to cultivate the ample

poffefled in the province of Cappadocia.

patrimony which he

and innocent occupations were interrupted by the appearance

officer,

of an

with a band of

foldiers,

who,

in the

name of
to

his

new

fovereigns, Valentinian and Valens,

was difpatched

conduct

the unfortunate Procopius, either to a perpetual prifon, or an igno-

minious death.
fplte,

His prefence of mind procured him a longer refate.

and a more fplendid

Without prefuming

to difpute the

royal mandate, he requefted the indulgence of a few moments, to

embrace

his

weeping family

and, while the vigilance of his guard's

was relaxed by a

plentiful entertainment,

he dextei-oufly efcaped ta

the fea-coaft of the Euxine,. from whence he pafled over to the

country of Bofphorus.

In that fequeflered region he remained

exile, offolitude,

many
mind

months, expofed to the hardfliips of

his

and of want

melancholy temper brooding over

his misfortunes,

and

his

ao-itated

by the

juft apprehenfion, that, if

any accident

flioufd difco-

ver his name, the faithlefs Barbarians would violate, without muchfcruple, the laws of hofpitality. defpair, Procopius

In a

moment of
vciTel,

impatience and
fail

embarked in a merchant
;

which made

for Conftantinople
35

and boldly afpired

He men:

to the

rank of a fovereign,
a pagan.

Ammian.

xxiii.

3.

xxvi. 6.

mark, that Procopius was

obftruded, hispretenfions.

Yet

his

tions the furravit

report with

obfcurior

much hefitation funemo enim didi fama

;

religion does not appear to have promoted, or:

auftor exftitit verus.

It

ferves,

however, to

becaufe:

OF THE
firft

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
At
^

491

becaufe he was not allowed to enjoy the fecurity of a fubjcd.

HA

P.

he lurked

in the villages

of Bithynia, continually changing his

habitation,
pital,

and

his difguife
life

^*.

By

degrees he ventured into the ca-

trufted his

and fortune

to the fidelity

of two friends, a
fuccefs,

lenator and an eunuch, and conceived

intelligence

fome hopes of

from the
they

which he obtained of the

and the

actual ftate of public affairs.

fpirit

The body

of the people was infe<Sted with a

abilities

of difcontent

regretted the juftice

of Salluft,

prudently difmifled from the prasfeiture of the

who had been imThey defpifed Eaft.

the charater of Valens, which was rude without vigour, and feeble

without mildnefs.
the

They dreaded
a cruel

the influence of his father-in-law,

Patrician Petronius,
all

and rapacious

minifter,

who

ri-

goroufly exadted

the arrears of tribute, that might remain un-

paid fince the reign of the emperor Aurelian.

ces

The
of

circumftan-

were propitious
of the

to

the

defigns

of an
the

ufurper.

The
were

hoftile

meafures
Syria
tion
;
:

Perfians

required

prefence

Valens
in

in

from the Danube

and the
capital

to the Euphrates the troops

was

occafionally filled with the Ibldiers

mowho

pafled, or repafTed, the

Thracian Bofphorus.

Two

cohorts of Gauls

were perfuaded to

liften to

the fecret propofals of the confpirators

a liberal donative
;

which were recommended by the promife of

as they
ftill

and,

revered the

memory

of Julian, they eafily confented to

fupport the hereditary claim of his profcribed kinfman.

At the
;

dawn of day they were drawn up near the baths of Anaftafia

Procopius, clothed in a purple garment,

and

more

fuitable to

a player

than to a monarch, appeared,

midft of Conftantinople.

as if

he rofe from the dead, in the

The

foldiers,

who were

prepared for his

^*

One of his

retreats

was a country-houfe

into the remote parts of Manritania (Philoftorg.

1.

of Eunomius, the

heretic.

The

mafter was

ix. c.

i;.

8.

and Godefroy's

Diflert.

abfent, innocent, ignorant; yet he narrowly

p. 36^^

378.).
2
reception,

cfcaped a fentence of death, and was bani/hed

492
C H A
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

receprion,
faluted
their trembling prince

with fhouts of joy, and

vows of
band of

fidelity.

Their numbers were foon increafed by a fturdy

collefled

peafants,

from the adjacent country

his adherents,

and Proco-

pius, fhielded

by the arms of

was

fucceffively

duced moments of

to the tribunal, the fenate,

his

and the

palace.

conDuring the firfl

terrified

tumultuous reign, he was aftoniflied and

filence

by the gloomy was

rich

of the people

who were
But
his

either ignorant

of

the caufe, or apprehenfive of the event.

fuperior to

military ftrength

any adtual
;

refiftance

the malecontents flocked to the

ftandard of rebellion

the poor were excited

fear,

by the hopes, and the

;

were intimidated by the

of a general pillage

and the

obftinate credulity of the multitude

was once more deceived by the

promifed advantages of a revolution.

the prifons and arfenals broke open
;

The

magiftrates

were

feized

the gates, and the entrance of

;

the harbour, were diligently occupied

pius became the
perial city.

and, in a few hours, Proco-

abfolute,

though precarious, mafter of the Imfuccefs

The

ufurper improved this unexpefted

dexterity.

with

fome degree of courage and

the

He

artfully

propagated
his
intereft

ramours and opinions the

moft favourable

to

while he deluded the populace by giving audience to the frequent,

but imaginary, ambaffadors of diftant nations.

The

large

bodies

of troops ftationed in the

cities

of Thrace, and the fortrefles of the

:

Lower Danube,

w^ere gi'adually involved in the guilt of rebellion

to fupply the fovereign of

and the Gothic princes confented

Con-

ftantinople with the formidable ftrength of feveral thoufand auxiliaries.

His generals pafled the Bofphorus, and fubdued, without an

the unarmed, but wealthy, provinces of Bithynia and Afia.

effort,

After an honourable defence, the city and ifland of Cyzicus yielded

to his

power

the

renowned

legions of the Jovians and Heixulians

embraced the caufe of the ufurper,

crulh
;

whom

they were ordered to

and, as the veterans w^ere continually augmented with

new

levies.

OF
levies,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

at the

493
as
'

he foon appeared

head of an y-my, whofe valour,

P.

well as numbers, were not unccjual to the greatnefs of the conteft.

/~'

The
to

fon of Hormlfdas ", a youth of

his

fpirit

and

ability,

condefcended
;

draw

fword

againfi:

the lawful emperor of the Eaft

and the

was immediately invefted with the ancient and extraordinary powers of a Roman Proconful. The alliance of Fauflina,
Perfian prince

the

widow of

the emperor Conftantius,

who

entrufted herfelf, and

her daughter, to the hands of the ufurper, added dignity and reputation to his caufe.
five years

Tlie princefs Conftantia,

litter,

who was

then about

of age, accompanied, in a

the march of the army.

-She

was fhewn

to the multitude in the

arms of her adopted father

and, as often as fhe pafTed through the ranks, the tendernefs of the
foldiers

was inflamed into martial fury

^"
:

they recolleQed the glories

of the houfc of Conftantine, and they declared, with loyal acclamation, that they would fhed the
fence of the royal infant ".
laft

drop of their blood in the de-

In the

mean

while, Valentlnian

was alarmed and perplexed, by

His defeat
A.'^D.^sfe

the doubtful intelligence of the revolt of the Eaft.

The

difficulties

of

German war forced him to confine his immediate care to the and, as every channel of communifafety of his own dominions
a
;

^^V^^-

cation
to the

was

ftopt or corrupted,

he Uftened, with doubtful anxiety,

;

rumours which were induflrioufly fpread

left

that the defeat

and

death of Valens had

Procopius fole mafter of the eaftern pro-

^^

Hormifds mature juvenl HormifdK

et civilia,

le-

Frufino, in Italy (Pagi. Brev. Pondfic. torn,

i.

galis illius filio, poteflatem Proconfulis detulit

;

p. 247.).
^^

more veterum,
xxvi. 8.

et bella, rec-

The

infant rebel

was afterwards the

but (lie died ; See Ducange,- Fam.

turo.

Ammian.

The

Perfian prince

wife of the emperor Gratian

efcaped with honour and fafety,

afterwards (A.

D.

380.) reftored to

and was the fame

yomfig and childlefs.

extraordinary

office

of proconful of Bithynia

Byzantin. p. 48. 59. ^' Sequimini culminis

fummi profapiam,

(Tillemont, Hift. des Empereurs, tom. v. p. I am ignorant whether the race of 204.).
Saffan was propagated.
I

find (A.

D. 514.)

a pope Hormifdas

but he was a native of

was the language of Procopius; who affefted to defpife the obfcure birth, and fortuitous eleftion, of the upftart Pannonian. Ammian. xxvi. 7,

vinces.

494
^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'
'

}}^^r XXV.
-v

vinces.
^

Valens was not dead: but, on the news of the rebellion, which ' '
_

he received

at

Cxfarea, he bafely defpaired of his Ufe and fortune

propofed to negoclate with the ufurper, and dlfcovered his fecret

Inclination to abdicate the Imperial purple.

The

timid monarch was

faved from difgrace and ruin by the firmnefs of his mlnifters, and
their abilities foon decided in his favour the event of the civil war.

In a feafon of tranquillity, Salluft had refigned without a

murmur
folicited

but as foon as the public fafety was attacked, he ambitioufly

the pre-eminence of
toil

and danger

and the reftoration of that virfirft

tuous minifter to the prasfedure of the Eaft, was the

indicated the repentance of Valens, and fatisfied the

ftep

which

minds of the

people.
ful

The reign

of Procopius was apparently fupported by power-

armies,

and obedient provinces.

But many of the principal

either

officers,

military as well as civil,

Interefl, to

had been urged,

by motives

of duty or

withdraw themfelves from the guilty fcene;

betraying,

or to watch the

moment of
to

and deferting, the caufe

of the ulurper.

Luplcinus advanced by hafty marches, to bring

the aid of Valens.
all

the legions of Syria

ftrength, beauty,

Arlntheus, who, in
heroes of the
rebels.

and valour, excelled

the

age,

attacked with a'fmall troop a fuperlor

body of the

When
his

he beheld the
banner, he

faces

of the foldiers

who had

ferved

under

commanded them, with

;

a loud voice, to feize and deliver

his genius,

up

their pretended leader

this

and fuch was the afcendant of

that

extraordinary order

was

inftantly obeyed*".

Arbetio, a

refpeclable veteran of the great Conftantine,

who had

been dlllin-

guilhed by the honours of the confulfliip, was perfuaded to leave

*

Et dedignatus homirtem fuperare

celfi
juffit,

certaf.du-

reine defpicabilem, auftorirr.tis et

cla corporis, ipfis hoftibus

fuum

vincire

God had created him as an inimodel of the human fpecies. The painters and fculptors could not exprcfs his
fuppofes that
tnitable
figure
:

tiirmarum antefignanus umbratilis comprenfus fuorum manibus. The

:

reftorem

atque

ita

the hiftorians appeared fabulous

when
and

they related his exploits

"\''aier.

(Ammian.

xxvi.

lirength and beauty of Arintheus, the

Hercules, are celebrated by St. Bafil

new who

ad loc).

his

OF THE
his retirement,

ROMAN
to

EMPIRE.
field.
'

495
C H A
p.

and once more

condua: an army into the

In the heat of adlion, cahnly taking off his hehnet, he fhewed his grey hairs, and venerable countenance ; fainted the foldiers of Procopius by the endearing names of children and companions, and ex-

XXV

,'

horted them, no longer to fupport the defperate caufe of a contemptible tyrant

;

but to follow their old commander,

victory.

who had

fo often led

them

to

honour and

In the two engagements of Thyatira*'

his troops,

and Nacofia, the unfortunate Procopius was deferted by

who were
officers.

feduced by the inftrudlions and example of their perfidious

After wandering fome time

among
and

the

woods and mounbeheaded*

;

tains of

Phrygia,
to

he was betrayed by his defponding followers^

Imperial

conduced

the

camp,
of an

immediately

He

fuffered

the

ordinary fate

unfuccefsful

ufurper

but

the adls of cruelty which were exercifed

by the conqueror, under

the forms^of legal juftice, excited the pity and indignation of

man-

kind

'\

Such indeed
bellion.

are the

common and natural fruits of defpotifm and re-

Severe innuithec"rimeof

But the inquifition into the crime of magic, which, under the

reign of the two brothers, was fo rigoroufly profecuted both at

Rome

jT^S"^ ^'

and Antioch, was interpreted

as the fatal

fymptom,

either of the dif- Amioch,

''^.

pleafure of heaven, or, of the depravity of

hefitate to indulge

mankind

Let us net

&c.

a liberal pride, that, in the prefent age, the en**

lightened part of Europe has aboliflied

a cruel

and odious prejudice,

The fame iielJ of battle is placed by Ammianus in Lycia, and by Zofimus at

*'

Thyatira; which are at the diilance of 150 But Thyatira alluimiles from each other. mr lyco (Piin. Hid. Natiir. v. 31. Cellaand rius, Geograph. An:iq. tom. ii. p. 79.) the tranfcribers might eafily convert an obfcure river into a well-known province. The adventures, ufurpation, and fall
;

and fcldom contradict, each other. Themiftius (Orat. vii. p. 91 92.) adds fome bafe panegyric; and Eunapius (p. ^3, S4.)
illiiftrate,
,

fome malicious
>' c.

fatire.

Libanius de ulcifcend. Julian,

p. 15^,

nece,

ix.

159.

The

fophiit deplores
(after.

the public

frenzy, but he does not

their deaths)

impeach the

juftice

of the em-

'>"

perors.
**+

of Procopius, are related, in a regular

feries,

The French and

Englifti lawyers, of

by Ammianus (xxvi. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.) and Zofimus (1. ivr. p. 203210.). They often

the prefent age, allow the theory, and deny

the /r(?;V^, of witchcraft. (Denifart,

RecueiL de

496

THE DECLINE AND FALL

(iJce,
'

CHAP.
XXV.

which

reisined in every climate of the globe, ' a O

y

and adhered to
and the
fedts,

'

every fyftem of religious opinions

the

*'.

The
*'^,

nations,

of

Roman

world, admitted with equal credulity, and fimilar abhor-

rence, the reality of that infernal art

which was

able to controul

the eternal order of the planets, and the voluntary operations of the

human mind.
incantations,

They dreaded
of potent herbs,
life,

the myfterious

power of
rites;

fpells

and

and execrable

which could

extinguilh or recall

inflame the pafTions of the foul, blaft the

fecrets

works of

creation,

and extort from the reluftant daemons the

of futurity.

They

believed, with the wildeft inconfiftency, that this

air,

preternatural dominion of the

eifed,

of

Cftilh,

and of
gain,

hell,

was exer-

from the

vileft

r^otives of malice or

by fome wrinkled

hags, and itinerant forc.rers,

who
arts

paffed their obfcure lives in pe-

nury and contempt

*\

The

of magic were equally condemned

;

by the

public opinion, and

by the laws of Rome

but as they

tended to gratify the moft imperious paflions of the heart of man,

they were continually profcribed, and continually pradtifcd
''\

An

imaginary caufe
chievous
effedls.

is

capable of producing the moft ferious and mif-

The dark

prediftions of the death of an emperor,

de Decifions de Jurifprudence, au mot Sortiers,

with them
*'

is

idolatry, apoftacy,

cS:c.

which
1.

torn.

iv.

p.
iv.

553.

Blackftone's

Com-

deferves death and damnation,

mentaries, vol.

p. 60.).

As

private rea-

The
is

Canidia, of Horace (Carm.

a vulgar witch.

v.

fon always prevents, or outftrips, public wif-

od. 5. with Dacier's and Sanadon's iiluftrations)

.

dom,
Loix,

the prelldent
1.

Montefquieu (Efprit des

rcje<^s the exifteuce

The

Eriftho of
is

xii. c.

5, 6.)

oi

Lucan

(Pharfal. vi.

430830.)

tedious,

magic. *' See Oeuvres deBayle, tom.iii. p. 567 The fceptic of Rotterdam exhibits, 589. according to his cuftom, a ftrange medley of

difguiling,

fometimes fublime. She chides the delay of the Furies; and threatens, with tremendous obfcurity, to pronounce
but

their real

names

to reveal the true infernal

;

loofe knowledge, and lively wit.

**

countenance of Hecate

to

invoke the fecret

&c.
infidura,

The pagans

diftinguiihed between

good

powers that
*^

lie bcloiu

hell,

and bad magic, the Theurgic and the Goetic

(Hift. de I'Academie, &c. torn. vii. p. 25.).

fperantibus fallay,

Genus hominum potentibus quod in civitate

femper
19.
et

noftc^ et

But they could not have defended

this

obfcure

vetabitur
Hift.
1.

retinebitur.

Tacit.

diilinflion againft the acute logic

of Bayle.
all dse-

i.

22.
c.

See Auguftin. de Civitate Dti,

In the Jewilh and Chriftian fyftem,

viii.

and the Theodofian Code,

].

mons

are infernal Ipirits

and

all

commerce

ix. tit. xvi.

with Godefroy's Commentary.

or

OF THE
hopes of ambition, and
tentional
guilt

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
of
fidelity

497

or the fuccefs of a confpiracy, were calculated only to ftlmulatc the

to diffolve the ties
;

CHAP.
XXV.

and the in-

of magic was aggravated by the actual crimes of

*'.

treafon
fociety,

and

facrilege

Such vain

terrors diflurbed
;

the peace of

and the happinefs of individuals

infenilbly melted a

and the harmlefs flame

derive a powerful

which

waxen image, might

to reprefent
'.

and pernicious energy from the

it

affrighted fancy of the perfon

whom

was malicioully defigned was an eafy

From

the infufion of

thofe herbs,
it

which were fuppofed

ftep to the ufe

to poffefs a fupernatural influence,

;

of more fubftantial poifon

and the

folly of

mankind fometimes became the inftrument, and the mafk,

of the moft atrocious crimes.

As foon

as the

zeal

of informers

was encouraged by the

could not refufe to

minifl:ers

of Valens and Valentinian, thej

liflen to

another charge, too frequently mingled

;

in the fcenes of domeflic guilt

lignant nature, for

a charge of a fofter and

lefs

maThis

which the pious, though excefhve, rigour of

Conftantine had recently decreed the puniihment of death ".

deadly and incoherent mixture of treafon and magic, of poifon and

adultery, afforded infinite gradations of guilt

and innocence, of exhave

cufe and aggravation,

which

in

thefe proceedings appear to

been confounded by the angry or corrupt paffions of the judges.

**

The

perfecution of Antioch was occa-

'"

Limus

ut hie durefcit, et

hsc

ut cera

fioned

by a

criminal

confultation.

The

liqucfcit

twenty-four letters of the alphabet were arranged round a magic tripod ; and a dancing ring, which had been placed in the centre,
pointed to the four
firil

Uno eodemque

igni
Virgil. Bucolic, viii. So.

letters in the

name

f the future emperor, O.

dorus (perhaps with
fucceeded.
iv.

E. O. A.

many others

Theowho owned

Devovit abfentes, fimulacraque cerea figit. Ovid, in Epift. Hypfil. ad Jafon. 91 Such vain incantations could aifeft the
cus.

the fatal fyllables) was executed. Theo-dofius

Lardner (Heathen Teftimonies, 372.) has copioufly and 353 fairly examined this dark tranfaftion of the reign of Valens.
vol.
p.

mind, and increafe the difeafe, of GermaniTacit. Annal. ii. 6g. *' See Heineccius Antiquitat. Juris Roman, torn. ii. p. 353, &c. Cod. Theodofian. 1. ix. tit, 7. with Godefroy's Commentary.

Vol.

II.

They

495

THE DECLINE AND FALL

They
eafily difcovered, that the

CHAP.

degree of their induftry and difcerncourt, according to the

u.V^ ment was

efthnated,

by the Imperial

number
It

of executions that were furnifhed from their refpedive tribunals,

was not without extreme reludance

tence of acquittal
;

that they

pronounced a fen-

but they eagerly admitted fuch evidence as was

ftained with perjury, or procured

by

torture, to prove the

moft im-

probable charges againft the moft refpeiftable characters.

grefs of the

The prodeteled,

enc{uiry continually opened

new

fubjeds of criminal

profecution

the audacious informer, whofe falfehood

was

retired with
real,

impunity

but the wretched vidtim,

who

difcovered his

or pretended, accomplices, was feldom permitted to receive the

price

of his iaf;\my.

From

the extremity of Italy and Afia, the

in chains to

young, and the aged, were dragged

the tribunals of

Rome

and Antioch.

Senators, matrons, and philofophers, expired

in ignominious and cruel tortures.

to guard the prifons, declared,
tion, that their
rcfiftance,

The foldiers, who were appointed with a murmur of pity and indignainfufficient to

numbers were

oppofe the

flight,

or

of the multitude of captives.

;

The

wealthigft families

were

ruined by fines and confifcations

for their fafety
;

the moft innocent citizens trembled

and we may form fome notion of the magnitude af

aflertion of

the

evil,

from the extravagant

an ancient writer,

that,

in the obnoxious provinces, the prifoners, the exiles, and the fugitives,
T!iecrue!t7
or
\^ii]C[.ti-

formed the

greateft part- of the inhabitants

'*.

When Tacitus

defcribes the -deaths of the innocent

facrificed to the cruelty

and

illuftrious

iiianandValens.

Romans, wlio wre

'*

of the

firft

Csefars, the

A. D.
3t7S'

364The
cruel perfecution

of

Rome and

in

Vit. Sopliid.

p.

88,

AnriochJs defcribed, and moft probably exaggeiated, by Aminianus {xxviii. i. xxix. i, 2.) and Zofimus (1. iv. p. 216-218.). The
philofopher Maximus, with fome.juftice, was

Chryfoftom,

who had

89.) ; and young accidentally found one

of the profcribed books,

loft

gave himfelf for

(Tillemont, Hift. des Empereurs, tom.y.

p. 340.).

invoiied ia the charge of magic (Eunaplus

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
our breafts
pity.

499

art of the hiflorian, or the merit of the fufFerers, excite in

CHAP.
<

the mofl Hvely fenfations of terror,

of admiration,

and of

XXV.
-v

The
his

coarfe and undiftinguifhing pencil of

Ammianus

has deUneated

bloody figures with tedious and difgufting accuracy.

is

But

as

our attention

no longer engaged by the contrail of freedom and

and of
a<ftual

fervitude, of recent greatnefs

mifery,

we

fhould turn

with horror from the

at

frequent executions, which difgraced, both

".

Rome and

Antioch, the reign of the two brothers

'*,

Valens

was of a timid

and Valentinian of a

choleric,

difpofition ".

An
he

anxious regard to his perfonal fafety was the ruling principle of

the adminiftration of Valens.

In the condition of a fubjedl,

:

had

killed,

with trembling awe, the hand of the oppreffjr

and

when he
fears,

afcended the throne, he reafonably expeled, that the fame

his

which had fubdued

own mind, would

favourites

fecure the patient

fubmiflion of his people.

The
'*.

of Valens obtained, by

the privilege of rapine and confifcation, the wealth which his oeco-

nomy would

have refufed
all

They

urged,
is

with perfuafive eloequivalent to proof;

/Z/*?/

quence, that, in

cafes of treafon, fufpicion

that the power, fuppofes the intention, ofmifchief;

the inten-

tion

is

not

lefs

criminal than the at

if his life

and that a

fubjed:,

no longer

deferves to live,

may threaten the

fafety, or difturb the repofe,

Confult the fix laft books of Ammianus, and more particularly the portraits of the two
'^

royal brothers (xxx. 8, 9. xxxi. 14.)- Tille-

and judgment, incidentia crimina ad con temptam vel lifam principis amplitudinera trahens, in fanguinem fsviebat.
''

mont has
127

colledled

(torn.

v. p. 12

18.

p.

Cum

effet

ad acerbitatem naturas calore

pcenas per ignes augebat xxx. 8.

133.)
vices.

from

all

antiquity their virtues

propenfior
et gladios.

....

and
'*

Ammian.

See xxvii. 7.

The younger
:

Viflor

afierts, that

he was
almoft

'*

valde timidus

yet

he behaved,

as

rice

have transferred the reproach of avafrom Valens to his fervants. Avarice

I

every

man would

do, with decent refolution

more properly belongs

kings
;

to miniilers than to
is

at the head of an army.

The fame

hiftorian

in

whom

that paffion

commonly

attempts to prove, that his anger was harmicfs.

extinguilhed by abfolute poffcflion.

Ammianus

obferves, with

more candour

3 S 2

of

500

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Qf
j^jg

CHAP.
XXV.

fovereicn.

The

iudg;ment of Valentinian was JO

;

fometlmes de-

ceived,

and

his confidence abufed

but he would have filenced the

informers with a contemptuous fmile, had they prefumed to alarm,

his fortitude

by the found of danger. They

and,

praifcd his inflexible love

of juftice

in the purfiiit of juftice, the

as a weaknefs,

emperor was

eafily

tempted to confider clemency

and paflion

as a virtue.

As long
alive
infulted,

as

he wreftled with his equals, in the bold competition of an

life,

and ambitious

Valentinian was feldom injured, and never

:

with impunity
;

if his

prudence was arraigned, his

fpirit

was applauded

and the proudeft and moft powerful generals were

foidier.

apprehenfive of provoking the refentment of a fearlefs

After

he became mailer of the world, he unfortunately forgot, that where

no

refiftance

can be made, no courage can be exerted

didiates of reafon

and Inftead

of confulting the

and magnanimity, he indulged

the furious emotions of his temper, at a time

graceful to himfelf,
fure.

when

they were dif-

and

fatal to the defencelefs

objeds of his difpleaflight,

In the government of his houfehold, or of his empire,

or even imaginary, offences; a hafty word, a cafual omifTion, an

involuntary delay, were chaftifed by a fentence of immediate death.

moft readily from the mouth of the emperor of the Weft were, " Strike off his head j" " burn him " alive ;" " let him be beaten with clubs till he expires " ;" and
expreflTions

The

which

ifTued the

his

moft favoured minifters foon underftood,

that,

by

a rafh attempt,

to difpute, or fufpend, the execution of his fanguinary

commands,

they might involve themfelves in the guilt and punifhment of difobedience.

The

repeated gratification of this favage juftice hardened

againft pity

the

mind of Valentinian

and remorfe

and the
;

fallies

fometlmes expreffed a fentence of " Abl, a tone of pleafantry " Comes, et muta el caput, qui fibi mutari " provinciam cupit." A boy who had flipdeath

" He

with

pad too haftily a Spartan hound an armourer, who had made a poli(hed cuirafs that wanted fome grains of the legitimate weight, &c.
were the vidims of his fury.

of

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

of paffion were confirmed by the habits of cruelty
".

501

He

could

CHAP.
v
>.xv. --,-'_/

behold with calm fatisfadion the convulfive agonies of torture and

death
:

he referved

his friendfliip for thofe faithful

fervants

whofe

temper was the moft congenial

to his

own.

The

merit of

Maximin,

who had

flaughtered the nobleft families of

Rome, was rewarded

With the royal approbation, and theprsefedure of Gaul.

Two

fierce

and enormous

bears, diftinguifhed

by the

appellations

of Inmcci:c-e

and Mica Aurea, could alone deferve

imin.

to fliare the fiivour of

Maxwith

The

cages of thofe trufty guards were always placed near the

his eyes

bed-chamber of Valentinian, who frequently amufed

the grateful fpedacle of feeing

them

tear

and devour the bleeding

to their rage.

limbs of the m_alefadors,

diet 'and exercifes

who were abandoned

Their
;

were carefully infpeded by the

Roman emperor

and when Linocence had earned her difcharge, by a long courfe of

meritorious fervice, the faithful animal was again reftored to the free-

dom
lens

of her native woods

in the calmer

''.

But

moments of
by
fear,

refledion,

was not

agitated

or that

mind of Vaof Valentinian by rage, the

the

when

Their laws
m"enu^^'^""

tyrant refumed the fentiments, or at leaft the condud, of the father

of his country.

The

difpaflionate

judgment of the Weftern em-

peror could clearly perceive, and accurately purfue, his

public intereft
;

own and

the

and the

fcrv^erelga

of

the Eaft,

who

imitated with

equal docility the various examples which he received from his

elder brother,

was fometimes guided by the wifdom and virtue of

Both princes invariably retained,
in the purple,

the prcefed Salluft.

" The
and three

Innocents of Milan were an agent

apparitors,

whom
a

Valentinian conlegal

demned for fignifying Ammianas (xxvii. 7.)

that
all

fummons.
fuppofes,

believe^ that the great chamberlain Rhodanus was burnt alive for an aft of oppreffion (Chron. Pafchal. p. 302.).

ftrangely
uiijuftly

" Ut
Innoxiam.

bene meritam in fylvas

juffit

abire

who had been

as

executed

Ammian.

xxix.

3.

and Valefuis

were worQiipped

martyrs by the Chriftians.

not allow us to

ad locum.

His impartial

filence does

the

5-02

THE DECLINE AND FALL

{\^Q

CHAP.
A XV

chafte
;

and temperate fimplicity which had adorned

their private

hfe

and, under their reign, the pleafures of the court never coft

the people a blufh or a figh.

They

gradually reformed
;

many

of

theabufes of the times of Conflantius

judicioufly adopted and

;

imftyle

proved the defigns of Julian and

his fucceflbr

and difplayed a

and

fpirit

of legiflation which might infpire pofterity with the

It
is

mod
not

favourable opinion of their charadler and government.

from the mafter of

Innocence^ that
his fubjefts,

we

fhould

exped
*

the tender reto

gard for the welfare of

which prompted Valentinian

infants
;

condemn

the expofition oT
phyficians,

new-born

and

to eftablifh

fourteen fkilful

with ftipends

and

privileges,

in

the
fol-

fourteen quarters of
dier

Rome.

The good
liberal

fenfe

of an
for

illiterate

founded

an

ufeful

and

inftitution

the
It

educa-

tion of youth, and the fupport of declining fcience ".

intention, that the arts of rhetoric
in the

was

his

and grammar fhould be taught,

in the metropolis of every pro-

Greek and Latin languages,

;

vince

and

as the fize

and dignity of the fchool was ufually propor-

tioned to the importance of the city, the academies of

Rome and
The
frag-

Conftantinople claimed a juft and fingular pre-eminence.

ments of the

literary edidts

of Valentinian imperfedly reprefent the

fchool of Conftantinople,

which was gradually improved by fubfeconfifted of thirty-one profeflbrs in

quent regulations.

That fchool

different branches of learning.

five fophifts,

One

philofopher, and

two lawyers

and ten grammarians for the Greek, and three

viii. tit. Hi.

orators,

'"

See the Code of Juilinian,

1.

" Thefe
in tlie

falutary inflitutions are explained

I.

leg. 2.

Unufquifque fobolem fuam nutriat. Quod fi exponendam putaverit animadverFor the fioiii qus conftituta eft fubjacebit.
prefent
I

Theodofian Code,
et

xiii.
I.

tit.

iii.

P rcfejforlbus
Stu.-iiis

Medicis,

and

xiv.

tit. ix.

De De

libcralihiisUrbis

Rii7>:ie.

Bef;des our

fhall

not interfere in the difpute befar,

ufual guide (Godefroy),

we may
torn.

confult Gii.

tween N.oodt and Binkerflioek; how

or

anone
iii.),

(Illoria di

Napoli,

p.

105

liow long, this unnatural practice had been

who

has treated the interelHng fubjecl

condemned or abolilhed by law, philofophy, arid the more civilifed ftate of fociety.

with the zeal and curiofity of a

man of letters,

who

fludies his domeflic hirtory.

and

OF THE
and ten grammarians for
or, as they

ROMAN
tlie

EMPIRE.
;

503:

Latin, tongue

befides fcvcn fcribes,

CHAP.
XXV.
*

were then

ftyled, antiquarians,

whofe laborious pens fupclafTic

sr~-J

plied the public library with fair

writers.
Is

and corred: copies of the

The

rule of

condud, which was prefcribed

it

to the fludents,

the

more

curious, as

affords the
It

firft

outlines of the

form and

difcipline

of a mo'dern univerfity.

was required,

that they fhould

bring proper certificates from the magiftrates of their native province.

Their names,

profeffions,

and places of abode, were regularly entered

ftudious youth were feverely prohibited

in a public regiiler.

The

from wafting

their time in feafts,

or in the theatre

and the term

of their education was limited to the age of twenty. of the city was empowered to
ftripes or expuliion
;

The

prsfeil

chaftife the

idle

and refradory, by
report

and he was directed

to

make an annual
abilities

to the mafter of the offices, that the

Scholars

knowledge and

of the
inftitu-

might be ufefully applied

to the public fervice.

The

tions of Valentinian contributed to fecure the benefits of peace

and

plenty

and the
\

cities

were guarded by the eftablifhment of the

and advocates of the people,

Defcnfors^'^

freely eleled as the tribunes

to fupport their rights, and to expofe their grievances, before the tri-

bunals of the
throne.

civil

magiftrates, or even at the foot of the

Imperial

The

finances

were diligently adminiftered by two princes,

who had

been fo long accuftomed to the rigid oeconomy of a pri;

rate fortune

but in the receipt and application of the revenue, a

difcerning eye might obferve fome difference between the govern-

ment of the

Eaft .and of the Weft..

Valens was perfuaded, that

royal liberality can be fupplied only

by public oppreftion
diftrefs,

and

his

ambition never afpired to fecure, by their adual

ftrength and profperity of his people.

the future

Inftead of increafing the

weight of
*'

taxes,

which, in the fpace of forty years,

i.

had been

Cod. Theodof.

I.

tit.

xi.

with Godcfroy's Puratitloit, which diligently gleans from

jhc reft of the code,

gradually.

504

THE DECLINE AND FALL

gradually

CHAP,
' ,

doubled,

he reduced,

In the

firfl

years

of

ills

rcign,

'

one-fourth of the tribute of the Eaft \

Valentinian appears to

have been

lefs

attentive

and

lefs

anxious to relieve the burthens

fifcal

of his people.
ftration
;

He
he

might reform the abufes of the

exaded, without
;

adminifhare

but

fcruple,

very

large

of the private property

as

he was convinced, that the revenues,

individuals,

which fupported the luxury of

would be much more

advantageoufly employed for the defence and improvement of the

ftate.

The

fubjeds of the Eaft,

who

enjoyed the prefent benefit,

applauded the indulgence of their prince.

merit of Valentinian was generation
Valentinian maintains the
religious to**.

The

folid,but lefs fplendid,

felt

and acknowdedged by the fubfequent

But the moft honourable circumftance of the charadler of Valen.

.

tinian,

IS

the firm and temperate impartiality

which he unitormly
fenfe,

/-

preferved in an age of religious contention.

375.

His ftrong

un-

enlightened, but uncorrupted,

by

ftudy,

declined,

with refpedful

indifference, the fubtle queftions

of theological debate.

The goambition

vernment of the Earth claimed

and while he remembered,

his vigilance,

and

fatisfied his

that

he was the

difciple

of the church,

he never forgot that he was the fovereign of the clergy.

Under

the

reign of an apoftate, he had fignalized his zeal for the honour of

Chriftianity
:

he allowed to his fubjeds the privilege which he had

affumed for himfelf; and they might accept, with gratitude and confidence, the general toleration

which was gi-anted by a

*'.

prince, addidted

to paffion, but incapable of fear or of difguife

The
202.

Pagans, the

Jews,
*' Three lines of Ammianus (xxxi. 14.) countenance a whole oration of Themiftius 101 (viii. p. 120), full of adulation, pe-

'
9.

Zofiraus,

J.

iv. p.

Aramian. xxx.

His reformation of

coftly abufes

might

entitle

him

to the praife of, in

provinciales

dantry, and common-place morality.

The

admodum
farcinas.

parous, tributorum ubique molliens

eloquent
has

M. Thomas

(torn.

i.

p.

366396.)

By fome

his

frugality was ftyled

amufed himfelf with celebrating the virtues and genius of Themiftius, who was BOt unworthy of the age in which he lived.

avarice (Jerom. Chron. p. 186.).

*'
rii

Teftes funt leges a me in cxordio Impemei datx: quibus nnicuique quod animo
imbibilTet

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

Jews, and
all

S^S

the

various

feds which

acknowledged the divine

CHAP,
<

authority of Chrill, were proteded by the laws from arbitrary

power

or popular infult

nor was any mode of worfhip prohibited by Va-

lentlnlan, except thofe fecret

and criminal

practices,

which abufcd

the

name of
art

religion for the dark purpofes

it

of vice and diforder.

The

of magic, as
;

was more

cruelly punlflied,

was more

flriclly

profcribed

but the emperor admitted a formal dlftindlon to proted

the ancient methods of divination, which were approved by the fenate,

and exercifed by the Tufcan harufpices.

He

had condemned,

with the confent of the moft rational Pagans, the licence of nocturnal facrifices
;

but he immediately admitted the petition of Prsc-

textatus, proconful of Achaia,

who

reprefented, that the

if

life

of the

Greeks would become dreary and comfortlefs,

they were deprived

of the invaluable blefling of the Eleufmian mylleries.

alone can boaft (and perhaps
it is

Philofophy

no more than the boall of philoable to eradicate

fophy), that her gentle hand

is

from the human

But
this truce

mind

the latent and deadly principle of fanaticlfm.

of

twelve years, which was enforced by the wife and vigorous govern-

ment of Valentinian, by fufpending

juries, contributed to foften the

the repetition of mutual

in-

manners, and abate the prejudices,

of the religious fadions.

The
the

friend of toleration

was unfortunately placed

at a diftance

from
of

"^'akns prof'-'ffes

Arian-

the fcene of the nerceft controverfies.

As foon

as the Chrifllans

ii'm,

and per-

Weft had

extricated themfelves

from the fnares of the creed of

;

catholics.

Rimini, they happily relapfed into the flumber of orthodoxy

the fmall remains of the Arian party, that
ftill

and

A. D.
378.

367

fubfifted at

Sirmium

or Milan, might be confidered, rather as objeds of contempt than of

imbibiflet colendi libera facultas tributa
(I. vi. c. 7. 2i.). Bnronius would natiirally blame fuch rational toleration (Annal. Ecclef. A. D. 370. N 129132. A. D. 376.

eft.

Cod. Theodof.

1.

ix.

tit.

xvi.

leg. 9.

To

this declaration of Valentinian-,

the various teftimonies of

g.),

we may add Ammianus (xxx.

and Sozomen

N"^ 3, 4.

Zofimus
II,

(1. iv.

p. 204.),

Vol.

sefentmentr

5o6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

refentment.

CHAP,
XXV.

But in the provinces of the ^

.

Eall, '

from the Euxine

tO'

the extremity of Thebais, the ftrength and- numbers of the hoftile

fadlions

were more equally balanced

and

this equality, inllead

of

recommending the counfcls of peace,

horrors of religious war.

ferv^ed

only to perpetuate the

fupported their
fol-

The monks and

;

billiops

arguments by invedives

and

their inve(flives

were fometimes
;

lowed by blows.

Athanafms

ftill

reigned at Alexandria

the thrones

of Conftantinople and Antioch were occupied by Arian prelates,

and every epifcopal vacancy was the occafion of a popular' tumult. The Homooufians were fortified by the reconciliation of fiftynine

Macedonian, or Semi-Arian, biihops

but their fecret

re-

luctance to embrace the divinity of the

Holy Ghoft, clouded the

fplendour of the triumph

in the
firft

and the declaration of Valens, who,

years of his reign, had imitated the impartial conduct

of his brother, was an important victory on the lide of Arianifm.

The two

brothers had palTed their private

;

life

in the condition

of catechumens

but the piety of Valens prompted

him

to folicit

the facrament of baptifm, before he expofed his perfon to the dangers

of a Gothic war.
bifliop

He

naturally addreffed himfelf to

;

Eudoxus",

of the Imperial city

and

if

the ignorant

monarch was in-

ftruded by that Arian paftor in the principles of heterodox theology,

his misfortune, rather than his guilt,

was the

inevitable confequence

of his erroneous choice.

the

Whatever had been the determination of

have offended a numerous party of his

emperor,

he

muft

Chriftian fubjedls; as the leaders both of the

Homooufians and of the

Arians believed, that,

if

they were not fuffered t reign, they were

After he had taken this decifive
before,

moft cruelly injured and oppreiTed.

**

fition.

Eudoxus was of a mild and timid difpoV/hen he baptized Valens (A. D.

old;
years

under Lucian, a learned and pious

Philoftorg.
1. ii.

martyr.
c. 4.

c.

14

16.

1.

iv.

367.), he muft have been extremely

iiace

he had ftudied theology

fifty-fLsie

with Godefroy, p. 82. 206. and Tillentont, Mem. Ecclef. torn. v. p. 474 480, &Ci

OF THE
ftep,
It

ROMAN
him

EMPIRE.
to preferve either the virtue,

507
^
^^,^ ^'

was extremely
reputation,

difficult for

or

tlie

of impartiality.
a

He

never afpired, like Conas

ftantius, to the

fame of

profound theologian; but,

tenets of

he had re-

ceived

Vv'ith

fimplicity

and refpedt the

Eudoxus, Valens

refigncd his confcience to the diredion of his ecclefiaftical guides,

and promoted, by the influence of

his authority, the

re-union -of

the Alhanafuvi heretics to the body of the catholic church.

At

firft,

he

pitied their blindnefs

;

by degrees he was provoked

feilaries to

at their obfti-

nacy

and he infenfibly hated thofe

"'.

whom
;

he was an

objeft of hatred

The

feeble

mind of Valens was- always fwayed

and the
exile

by the perfons with

whom

he familiarly converfed

or imprifonment of a private citizen are the favours the mofi; readily

granted in a delpotic court.

flicted

Such punifhments were frequently in-

on the

leaders of the

Homooufian party

and the misfortune

of fourfcore

ecclefiaftics

of Conftantinople, who, perhaps accidentally,

were burnt on

fliip-board,

was imputed

to the cruel

and premeditated

malice of the emperor, and hisArian minifters.

catholics
(if

In every conteft, the

the

penalty of

we may anticipate that name) were obliged to pay their own faults, and of thofe of their adverfaries.
if

In

every election, the claims of the Arian candidate obtained the preference
;

and

they were oppofed by the majority of the people,

civil magiftrate,

he was ufually fupported by the authority of the

even by the terrors of a military
attempted to difturb the
laft

or

force.

Th^ enemies of Athanafius

;

years of his venerable age

and

his

temporary
a
fifth

retreat

to his

father's fepulchre has

been celebrated as

exile.

But the

zeal of a great people,

;

who

inftantly flew

to arms, intimidated the pr^efefl

and the archbifhop was permitted

to

end

his

life

in peace and in glory, after a reign of forty-feven

'

Gregory Nazianzen (Oiat. XXV. p.432.)

as

an

infallible

fymptom of

error

and he-

Infults the perfecuting fpirit of the Arians,

refy.

years.

5oS
C H A P. XXV.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

years. ^

The
;

death of Athanafius was the

.

fi";nal

of the perfecutlon oF
.

,-/

Egypt

and the Pagan minifter of Valens,

who

forcibly feated the

Athanafius,

worthlefs Lucius on the archiepifcopal throne, purchafed the favour

A. D. 373.

of the reigning party by the blood and fufferings of their Chriftian

brethren.

May

2d.

The

free toleration

of the heathen and Jewifh worfhip

was

bitterly

lamented, as a circumftance which aggravated the

mi-

fery of the catholics,

and the

guilt

of the imj)ious tyrant of the

Eaft '^
Juft idea of his perfecujion.

The triumph of the orthodox party has left a deep llain of perfeand the character of a prince who cution on the memory of Valens
;

derived his virtues, as well as his vices, from a feeble underflanding,.

and a pufiUanimous temper,

logy.

fcarcely deferves the labour of

an apothat the

Yet candour may difcover fome reafons to fufpedl and that the

ccclefiaftlcal minifters

of Valens often exceeded the orders, or event

;

the intentions, of their mafter

real

meafure of fads,
declamation

has

been very

liberally

magnified by the vehement

i
.

and eafy
tinlan

credulity of his antagonifts ".

fuggefl: a

The

filence

of Valen-

may

probable argument, that the partial feveritles^

in the

which were

exerclfed
to

name and

provinces of his colleague,,

amounted only

fome obfcure and inconfiderable deviations from

:

the eftablifhed fyftem of religious toleration

rlan,

and the judicious hlfto-

who

has pralfed the equal temper of the elder brother, has not
contraft the tranquillity of the
'.

thought himfelf obliged to

Weft

with the cruel perfecutlon of the Eaft

2.

Whatever
vii.

credit

may

"

This fketch of the

ecclefiaftical

govern-

that Orofius

(1.
till

c.

32,33.) delays the

(1.

ment of Valens is drawn from Socrates (1. iv.), Sozomen (I. vi.), Thecdoret (1. iv.), and the immehfe compilations of Tillemont
(particularly tom.
''
vi. viii.

perfecction

after the death ofValentinian^

iii.

Socrates, on the other hand, fuppofcs

c. 32.),

andix.).

cal

was appeafed by a philofophioration, which Themiftius pronounced in

that
it

Dr. Jortin (Remarks on Ecclefiallical

the year
ly).

Hillory, vol. iv. p. 78.) has already conceived

and intimated the fame fufpicion. "'^ This reflexion is fo obvious and

374 (Orat. xLi. p. 154. in Latin onSuch contradilions diminifh the evU dence, and reduce the term, of the perfecu-

forcible,

tion of Valens.

be

OF THE
tlie

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
at leaft

5-09

be allowed to vague and diftant reports, the charader, or

behaviour, of Vilens

HA

P.

may

be moft diPchiftly feen in his perfoaal

Caeliirea,

tranfaftions with the

eloquent Bafil, archbilhop of

who

had fucceeded Athanafius in the management of

caufe ".
friends

th-e

Trinitarian

The

circumftantial

narrative has been

;

compofed by the

and admirers of

Bafil

and

as

foon as

we have
fhall

ftripped.

away

a thick coat of rhetoric

and miracle,

we

be aftonilhed the

by the unexpected
lence, of a

mildiiefs of the

Arian tyrant,
if

who admired

firmnefs of his charader, or

was apprehenfive,
'",

he employed vio-

general

revolt in the province of Cappadocia.

The

archbifhop,
nions,

who

aflerted,

with inflexible pride

left

the truth of his opi-

and the dignity of his rank, was

in the free polleflion of hisafTifted

confcience, and his throne.

The emperor devoutly

;

at the-

folemn fervice of the cathedral

and, inftead of a fentence of ba,ufe

nifhment, fubfcribed the donation of a valuable eftate for the

of

an

hofpital,

which
3.
I

Bafil

had

lately

founded in the neighbourhood

of Cxfarea".

am

not able to difcover, that any law (fuch as

againft the Arrans)
;

Thecdofms afterwards enafted

was

publillied

by Valens

againfl the Athanafian fedlai-ies

and the

edid:

which

excited the moft violent clamours,

prehenfible.

may

not appear fo extremely re-

The emperor had

obferved, that feveral of his fubjedts,.

gratifying their lazy difpofition under the pretence of religion, had.

aflbciated themfelves

with the monks of Egypt

dit.

and he direded the

is

"

-Tillemont,

whom

follow and abridge,

This irreverent paflage

perfeftly in

has extradled

(Mem.

Ecclef.

tom.

viii.

p.

the ftyle and charafter of St. Jerorn.

Itdces-

153 167.)

the moft authentic ciicumftances

not appear in Scaliger's edition of his Chronicle

;

from the Panegyrics of the two Gregories ; the brother, and the friend, of Bafd. The letters of Bafil himfelf (Dupin, Bibliotheque Ecclefiartique, tom. ii. p. 155 i8a.)donot prefent the image of a very lively perfecution.
'* Baiilius Caefarienils
ciae clarus
t^je

but Ifaac

^^oflius

found

it

in

fome

old

MSS. which had

not been reformed by

the monks.
'^

This noble and charitable foundation

(almoft a

new
It

city) furpad'ed in merit,

if not

;n greatnefs, the pyramids, or the walls

of

epiicopus

Cappado-

Babylon.

was principally intended

for the

habetur

qui multa contincn-

reception of lepers (Greg. Nazianzen, Orat.

xx. p. 439.
)

et ingenii

bona uno fuperbiae male perJi-

count

510
^
V.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^'

YY V
,^~

^^"'^

^^

^^^^

^^^

^ ^^^S

them from

their folltude:

and

to

compel

'

thofe deferters of fociety to accept the fair akernatlve, of renouncing

their temporal poflefFions,

or of dilcharging the

public

duties

of

men

and

citizens '\

The
this

miniflers of Valens feem to have

ex-

tended the fenfe of

enlifting the

penal ftatute, fmce they claimed a right of

in the Imperial armies.

young and able-bodied monks

detachment of cavalry and infantry, confiiling of three thoufand

into the adjacent defert of Nitria ",

men, marched from Alexandria

which was peopled by
conducted by Arian
flaughter
five
;

thoufand monks.

The

foldiers

were

priefts

and

it

is

reported, that a confiderable

was made

in the monafteries

which difobcyed the commands

of their fovereign
Valentinian
reftrains the

'".

The

ftridl
_

regulations

which have been framed by the wifdom of

wealth and avarice of the clergy,

avarice of the

modern

legiflators to reftrain the

A. D. 370.

may

be originally deduced from the example of the emperor Valen-

tinian.

His

edidl

" addrefled

to

Damafus,

bifliop

of Rome, was
the

publicly read in the churches of the city.

ecclefiaftics

He

admoniflied

and monks not

to frequent the houfes of

widows and
to receive

virgins

and menaced
judge.

their difobedience

with the animadverfion

of the

civil

The

diredlor

was no longer permitted

any

gift,

or legacy, or inhei-itance, from the liberality of his fpiritual

:

daughter
"'*

every teftament contrary to

many
faith.

this edid:

was declared
tlie

null

Cod. Theodof. 1. xii. tit. i. leg. 63. Godefroy (torn. iv. p. 409413.) performs the duty of a commentator and advocate,
fiippofes &

miracles, which prove

truth of their

Right, fays Jortin (Remarks, vol. iv. p. 79.), but what proves the truth of thofe
minicles
'"
? !.

Tillemont (Mem. Ecclef. torn. vili. p. 808.) fecond law to excufe his orthodox friends, who had mifreprefented the edift of Valens, and fuppreffed the liberty of choice,
'5

Cod. Theodof. Godefroy (torn. vi. p.

xvi.

tit.

ii.

leg.

20.

49.), after the

all

example
that the

of Baronius, impartially collefts

ant law; whofe
fpirit

See d'Anville, Defcription de I'Egypte,

Hereafter
I fliall

fathers have faid on the fubjecl of this import-

p. 74.

confider the

monadic

was long afterwards reII.,

inllitutions.
'* c.

vived by the emperor Frederic

1.

Edward I.

Socrates,

iv. c.

24, 25.

Orofius, l.vii.

of England, and other Chriftian princes who

reigned after the twelfth century.

33.

Jerom

in

Chron.

p. 189.

and tom.

ii.

p, 212.

The monks

of Egypt performed

and

OF THE
and void
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^

5it

and the

illegal

donation was confifcated for the ufe of

it

^
A.

.^^

P*

A\

the treafury.

By

a fubfequent regulation,
to

fhould feem, that the

bifliops
;

iame provifions were extended

pcrfons of the ecclefiaftical
ceiving any teftamentary

nuns and

and that

all

order were rendered incapable of re-

gifts,

and

ftridlly

confined to the natural

and
nefs

legal rights

of inheritance.

As

the giuirdian of domeftic happi-

and
evil.

virtue, Valentinian applied this fevere

remedy

to the

grow-

ing

In the capital of the empire, the females of noble

fliare

and
:.

opulent houfes poffeffed a very ample

of independent property

and many of thofe devout females had embraced the dodlrines of

Chriftianity, not only with the cold aflent of the underftanding, but

with the warmth of afledion, and perhaps with the eagernefs of

fafhion.

They

facrificed the pleafures

of drefs and luxury

and re-

nounced, for the praife of

fociety.

chaflity, the foft

endearments of conjugal

Some

ecclefiaftic,

of real or apparent, fanftity, was chofen

to direct their timorous confcience,

and

to

amufe the vacant

ten:-

dernefs of their h^art

haftily beftowed,

and the unbounded confidence, which they

enthufiafts
;

was often abufed "by knaves and

Eafi:,.

who

haftened from the extremities of the

to enjoy,

on a

fplendid-

theatre, the pri\aleges of the monaftic profeffion.

By

their

contempt
;

of the world, they infenfibly acquired

the lively attachment, perhaps, of a
delicate plenty

its

mod

defirable advantages

young and

beautiful

woman,

the

of an opulent lioufehold, and the refpedful homagethe freedmen, and the clients of a fenatorial family*.
fortunes of the

of the

flaves,.

The immenfe
fumed,

Roman

ladies

were gradually con-

in lavifh

alms and expenfive pilgrimages; and the artful monk,,

firft,

who had

afligned himfelf the

or poffibly the fole place^ in the.

ftill

teftament of his fpiritual daughter,

the fmooth face of hypocrify,
charity,

prefumed

to

declare, with,
of:

that he

was only the inftrument

and the

ftev/ard of tfie poor.

The

lucrative, but difgraceful,.

trade^

512

THE DECLINE AND FALL

trade ",

CHAP.
XXV.
^
1

which was exerclfed by the clergy

the
natural
:

to

defraud the e?:pcc-

..

tatlons of

heirs,

had provoked the indignation of a

mofl;

fuperftitious

age

and two of the

refpelable of the Latin

fathers very honeftly confefs, that the ignominious edicSt of

Valcnhad de-

tinian

was

jufl:

and neceflary

and

that the Chriftian priefts

ftill

ferved to lofe a privilege, which was

charioteers, a;id the minifters of idols.

enjoyed by comedians,
Vv-ifdom

But the

and autho-

rity of the legiflator are feldom vidtorious in a contefl:

with the vi-

gilant dexterity of private intereft

and Jerom, or Ambrofe, might

patiently acquiefce in the juftice of an ineftedtual or falutary law.

If the ecclefiaftics

were checked in the purhut of perfonal emoluto increafe

ment, they would exert a more laudable induftry

wealth of the church
cious
Amtltlcm and luxury f Damafus,
bifhop of
;

the

and dignify

their covetoufnefs
''.

with the fpe-

names of piety and patriotifm

bifliop

Damafus,

of Rome,

who was

conftrained to ftigmatize the

avarice of his clergy

by the

publication of the law of Valentinian,

Rome.
A. D.
38+-

had the good

fenfe, or the

good fortune,
;

to engage in his fervice

566- the zeal and

abilities

of the learned Jerom

and the

grateful faint

has celebrated the merit and purity of a very ambiguous character ".

But the fplendid

vices of the

Church of Rome, under the reign of

Valentinian and Damafus, have been curioufly obferved by the hiilo-

"

The

expreffions

which

have ufed are

with the vei.

"
mi
unt
:

Pudet dicere, facerdotes idolorum, miet aurigac, et

folis clericis

temperate and feeble,

if compared

fcorta,

hasreditates

capi-

hement
it;4,

invefti\es of

Jerom

(torn.

p. 13. 45.

ac monachis hac lege prohi-

&c.).

In

i'/V

turn, he was reproached

his bro-

betur.
{&({

Et non prohibctur a perfecutoribus,

principibus Chriftianis.
;

with the guilt which he imputed to

ther

Nee de

lege

monks: and the

Scelerattu,

the Ferji-

queror

fed doleo cur merueritnuj

i.

hanc legem.
infaiuates

pellis,

was publicly accufed

ii.

as the' lover

of

Jerom (tom.
'

p. 13.)

difcreetly

the

widow Paula (tom.

p. 363.).

He

un-

the fecret policy of his patron Damafus.

doubtedly pofiefled the aftedions, both of the

mother and the daughter

ih. or fenfual purpofe.

but he declares,
felf-i

that he never abufcd his influence, to any

Three words o{ ]erom, Janila ?!temorite Damafus (tom. ii. p. 109), wafli away ail his ftains ; and blind the devout eyes of Tille-

mont (Mem. Ecdef. tom. viii.

p.

386 424.).

nan

OF
rlan Ammiaiius,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

delivers his impartial fenfe in thefc exprefTivc

513
C
.

who

H A P. XXV.

words
**

"

The
:

prsefedure of Juventius was accompanied with peace

but the tranquillity of his government was fooa dif-

/-

and plenty

" turbed by a bloody fedition of the diftral:ed people. " of Damafus and Urfmus, to feize the epifcopal feat,

The ardour
furpafl'ed the

" ordinary meafure of human ambition. They contended with the " rage of party; the quarrel was maintained by the wounds and " death of their followers and the prsefedt, unable to refill or to
;

" appeafe the tumult, was conftrained, by fuperior violence,

to re-

"

tire into

the fuburbs.

Damafus prevailed
;

the well-difputed vic-

" tory remained on the fide of his faction one hundred and thirty" feven dead bodies " were found in the BafiUca of Sicininus ",
" where the Chrillians hold
their

religious aflemblics

and

it

was

" long before the angry minds of the people refumed

their

accullcmed
I

"

tranquillity.

When

confider the fplendour of the capital,

am.

" not aftonifhed that fo valuable a prize fhould inflame the defirej " of ambitious men, and produce the fierceft and mofl obftinatc "
**

contefts.

The

fuccefsful candidate

is
';

fecure, that he will be cnthat, as focn as his drefs

i*

riched

by the

offerings of

matrons

" compofed with becoming care and elegance, he may proceed, in "
his chariot, through the ftreets of Rome'*; and, that the fump" tuoufnefs of the Imperial table will not equal the profufo and

" Jerom
trata;

himfelf

is

forced to allow, crudiverfi

"^

The 5/7y^/;V^

of Sicininus, or Liberiu?,

is

delifiims; interfeftiones

fexus

perpe-

(in

Chron.

p. i86.).

But an original

probably the church of S " Maria Maggiore, on the Efquiline hill. Baronius, A. D. 567.

lihcl or petition

oi two prefbyters of the ad-

N
1.

andDonatus,
c. 3.

Roma Antiqua et Nova,

verfe party, has unaccountably efcaped.

affirm,

They

iv.
"^

thatthedoors of theBafilica were burnt,

462. yjjg enemies of Damafus flyled him

p.

and that the roof was untiled; thatDamafus marched at the head of his own clergy, gravediggers, charioteers, and hired gladiators; that none of his party were killed, but that one hundred and fixty dead bodies were found. This petition is publilhed by the P. Sirmond, in the firll volume of his works.

Aurijcalpius
fcratchcr.
^*

Matronarum,

the

ladies

car-

Gregory Nazianzen
defcribes the pride

(Orat. xxxii.

p.

526)

and luxury of the

cities
;

prelates,

who

reigned in the Imperial

their gilt car, fiery fteeds,

numerous

train,

&c.

The crowd ^ave way

as to a

wild head.

Vol.

II.

"

delicate

J 14.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

*'

CHAP. _ ^.
^

delicate entertainments

provided by the

tafte,.

and

at the experrce;.

of the

Roman

pontins.

How

much more

rationally, contmues-

" the honeft Pagan, would thofe

pontiffs confult their true

happi

"
*'

nefs,

if,

inftead of alleging the greatnefs of the city as

an excufeof fome

for their manners, they

would

imitate the

exemplary
fobriety,

life

" provincial bilhops, whofe temperance and "

*'

whofe mean
and modefl.
fchifm
of.
;,

apparel,

and downcaft looks, recommend

their pure
*'.

virtue to the Deity,

and

his true worjQiippdrs

The

Damafus and Urfmus was extinguifhed by the

and the wifdom.of the
lity

exile of the latter

pr^sfedt Prxtextatus

'

reftored the tranquil-

of the

city.

Praetextatus

was
;
.

a philofophic Pagan, a

man of

learning, of tafte, and politenefs

who

difguifed a reproach in the

form of a

jeft,

the bifliopric

when he affured Damafus, that if he could obtain of Rome, he himfelf would immediately embrace the:
This
lively piture

Chriftian religion ".

of the wealth and luxury

it

of the popes in the fourth century,, becomes the more curious, as

reprefents the intermediate degree, between the
apoftolic fifherman,

humble poverty of the

and the royal

ftate

of a temporal prince, whofe

dominions extend from the confines of Naples to the banks of the

Po.
Foreign

When the

fuffrage of the generals

and'of the army committed the-

A. D.
37S-

364 fceptre of the

Roman
3.

empire to the hands of Valentinian, his repu-r

redlor of

" Ammian.

xxvii.

Perpetuo Naimini,

Tufcany and Umbria.

5.

4.

Confular
6.

uerifque ejus cultoribus.

The

incomparable

of Lufiunia.
Prifeft of
Italy.
8.

Proconful of Achaia.
7.

pliancy of a Polytheift
'"'

Rome.

Pr^torian pr^feft of
9.

Ammianus, who makes

(xxvii.

a fair report of

Of

IHyricum.

Conful

eledl

his prsefefture

9.), ftyles

him

pras-

but he died before the beginning of the year

385.
*'

clara; indolis, gravitatifque,

fenator (xxii. 7.

See Tillemont,
Facite

.Hift.

des Empereurs,

and Valef. ad loc).

curious infcription

torn. v. p. 241. 736.

(Gruter MCII. N" 2.) records, in two coJumns, his religious and civil honours. In one line he was Pontiff of the Sun, and of Vefta, Augur, Quindecemvir, Hierophant,
&c. &c. In the other,
i.

me Romans
It
is

urbis

epifcopum;
ii.

et ero protinus Chriftianus (Jerom, torn.

p.

165.).

more than probable, that

purcliafed his con-.

Damafus would not have

veriion at fuch a price,

Quseftor candidatus,
2.

more probably

titular.

Prstor.

3.

Cortatloii

OF THE ROMAN EMPIUE.

tatlon

517
his rigid

In

arms,

his military

-fkill

and experience,
of ancient

and

^J^J"
v-

^'

attachment to the forms, as well as

the principal motives of
the troops
tlieir

fpirit,

difcipline,

were

-/

judicious choice.

The

eagernefs of

who

preffed

him

to

nominate

his colleague,

^was

juftified

by the dangerous

fituation of public affairs;

and Valentinian himfelf

was

confcious, that the abilities of the moft a<flive

frotitlers

mind were unequal

to the defence of the diftant

of an invaded monarchy.

As

foon as the death of Julian had relieved the Barbarians from the terror

of his name, the moft fanguine hopes of rapine and conqueft excited
tlie

nations of the Eaft, of the North, and of the South.

Their inbut, during

a. D.

364

-xoads

were often vexatious, and fometimes formidable

the twelve years of the reign of Valentinian, his firmnefs and vigilance
prote(fled his

own dominions

and

his

powerful genius feemed to

Perhaps the

infpire

and

diredl the feeble counfels of his brother.

forcibly exprefs the urgent

method of annals would more

cares of the

and divided

two emperors

but the attention of the reader, likewife,

narrative.
;

would be
III.

diftradted

by a tedious and defultory

of war
:

A
II.

feparate

view of the
Africa
;

five great theatres

I.

Germany
;

Britain

IV.

The

Eaft

and, V.

The Danube

will imprefs

a more

diftindt

image of the military

ftate

of the empire under the

reigns of Valentinian and Valens.

I.

The

ambaffadors of the Alemanni had been offended by the

"^j

i.

GermaAle"",

harfh and haughty behaviour of Urfacius, mafter of the offices

The

who, by an
either

adt of unfeafonable parfimony,

had diminiflied the value,

""j'^"q

^s well as the quantity, of the prefents, to which they were entitled, A. D.

365.

from cuftom or
expreffed,

treaty,

on the

acceffion of a
to their
irafcible

new emperor.
chiefs

They

and they communicated

countrymen, their

flrong fenfe of the national affront.

The

minds of the

were exafperated by the fufpicion of contempt;

youth crowded to
**

and the martial

their ftandard.

Before Valentinian could pafs the

good note on the mafter of the
2
offices.

Ammlaiuxxvi.

5.

Valefius adds a long and

Alps,

5i6

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Alps,
tlie

CHAP.
v-,^
A. D. 366. January.
,

villages

of Gaul were in flames

before his general

Daga-

laiphus could encounter the Alemanni, they had fecured the captive*
'ind the fpoil in the forefts

of Germany.

In the beginning of the

eufuing year, the military force of the whole nation, in deep and folid

columns, broke through the barrier of the Rhine, during the feverity
of a northern winter.
tally

Two Roman

counts were defeated and

morfell

wounded; and

the flandard of the Heruli and Batavians

into the hands of the conquerors,

'who difplayed, with infultlng

fhouts and menaces, the trophy of their vitSlory.

The

ftandard

was was

recovered
difgrace

but the Batavians had not redeemed the fhame of their

flight

and

in the

eyes

of their fevere judge.

his
foldiers

It

the opinion of Valentinian, that

their

mufl learn to fear

commander, before they could

:

ceafe to fear the

enemy.

The

troops were folemnly aflembled

and the trembling Batavians were

Valentinian then

inclofed within the circle of the Imperial army.

afcended his tribunal

and, as if he difdained to punifh cowardice

with death, he

inflidled a ftain of indelible

ignominy on the
to be the

officers,

whofe mifcondudt and pufiUanimity were found

fion of the defeat.

firft

occa-

The
this

Batavians were degraded from their rank,

fold for flaves to the
fell

ftripped of their arms,

and condemned to be

higheft bidder.

At

tremendous fentence the troops

proftrate

on the ground; deprecated the indignation of

protefted, that, if he

their fovereign;

and

would indulge them

in another trial,

they would

approve themfelves not unvv^orthy of the name of Romans, and of

his foldiers.

Valentinian, with affedled relu(flance, yielded to their

the Batavians refumed their arms
;

entreaties

and with

their arms,

the invincible refolution of wiping

away

their difgrace in the blood

of the Alemanni

'*.

The

principal

command was

declined

by Dacoul'd

"
p.

Ammian.

xxvii.

i.

Zofimus,

1.

iv.
is

a regard for militar)' honour,

not affeft a

which

208.

The

difgrace of the Batavians

Greek

rhetorician of the fuccecd-

fupprefled by the contemporary foidier, from

ing age.

galaiphus

OF THE
galaiplius
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
who had
repreleuted, per-

5^7
^
'

and

that,

experienced general,

^
j

^
{^
'

haps with too

much

prudence, the extreme

difficulties

of the under-

taking, had the mortification, before the end of the campaign, of

feeing his rival Jovinus convert thole dinicakies into a decifive ad-

vantage over the fcattcred forces of

well-difciplined

tlie

Barbarians.

At the head of a
in the

Their defeat*

army of cavalry,

infantry, and light troops, Jovinus

fteps,

advanced, with cautious and rapid

territory of

to

Scarponna

'",

Metz, where he furprifed a large divifion of the Aleto

manni, before they had time

foldiers

run to their arms

and fiulhed

his

with the confidence of an cafy and bloodlefs vidlory.

Anon

other divifion, or rather army, of the enemy,, after the cruel and

wanton

devaftation of the adjacent country, repofed themfelves

the fhady banks of the Mofelle.

Jovinus,

who

had. viewed the

ground with the eye of a general, made

a deep and

his filent

approach through

woody

vale,

till

he could diftindlly perceive the indolent

bathing their huge limbs in

fecurity of the

Germans.

Some were

the river

;.

others were

combing

their long

and flaxen hair

others

again were fwallowing large draughts of rich and delicious wine..

On
the

fudden they heard the found of the

in their camp.

Roman

trumpet

they fnw
;

enemy

Ailonilhment produced diforder

;

difor^-

der was followed by flight and difmay

and the confufed multitude

of the braveft warriors was pierced by the fwords and javelins of the
legionaries

and

auxiliaries.

The

fugitives efcaped to the third,

and

moft confiderable, camp,

in the Catalaunian plains, near

Chalons in

Champagne
ftandard
fate
;

the ftraggling detachments

chiefs,

were

hafl;ily recalled to their

and the Barbarian

alarmed and admonifhed by th^

-

of their companions, prepared to encounter, in a decifive battle,

the viftorious forces of the lieutenant of Valentinian.

The bloody

and obftinate
9

confliiS: lafi:ed a

whole fummer's day, with equal va]y

See d'Anville,
p. 587.

Notice de raiicienne of the Mofelle,

is

undcrftood by M.afcou (Hift. of the ancient

,vii, 2,).

Gaule,

The name

Germans,

which

is

not fpecified by

Ammianus,
I

clear-

lour,

518

THE DECLINE AND FALL

lour,
'

CHAP,

and with
lofs

alternate fuccefs.

The Romans

at

length prevailed,

with the

of about twelve hundred men.

flain,

Six thoufand of the

the brave

Alemanni were

four thoufand were

wounded; and

JoviiKis, after chacing the flying

'July*

remnant of

their hofl as far as the

banks of the Rhine, returned to

Paris, to receive the applaufe

of his
''.

fovereign, and the enfigns of the confulihip for the cnfuing year

The triumph

of the

Romans was

indeed fullied by their treatment of

the captive king,

whom

they hung on a gibbet, without the

know-

ledge of their indignant general.

This difgraceful adt of cruelty,

which might be imputed

prince, of a
idable
fpirit.
'^

to the fury of the troops,

was followed by
a

the deliberate murder of Withicab, the fon

ofVadomair;

German

weak and

fickly conftitutlon, but of a daring

aflaflin

and form-

The
;

domeftic

was

inftigated

and protected by

the

Romans

and the violation of the laws of humanity and juflice

betrayed their fecret apprehenfion of the weaknefs of the declining

empire.

The

ufe of the dagger

is

feldom adopted in public councils,

in the

as long as they retain

Valentlnian
fo^'dfies'^he

any confidence

power of the fword.

their recent cala-

While the Alemanni appeared

"^^^i^s,

to be

humbled by

the pride of Valentinian

was mortified by

the

unexpeded

Rhine,

furprifal

of Moguntiacum, or Mentz, the principal city of the In the unfufpicious

artful

Upper

Germany.

Rando, a bold and

moment of a Chriftian feftival, chieftain, who had long meditated his at;

tempt, fuddenly palled the Rhine

retired

entered the defencelefs town, and

fex.

with a multitude of captives of either

Valentinian renation-

lolved to execute fevcre vengeance

on the whole body of the

Count

Sebaflian, with the bands of Italy

and Illyricum, was ordered

to invade their country, moft probably on the fide of Rhxtia.

The

emperor
'''

in perfon,

accompanied by
bv Arnmianus '
p.
I

his

fon Gratian,
'

pafled the

{xxvn; z.l, and by Zolimus

The ... battles nre^defcribed r

, ,

i c. j,
.

,,

(1. iv.
,

200.)

n i btudio ioncitante noilrorutn, occubuit.

/

who
Unt.

fuppofes Valentinian to have been pre

'r

,r

._

Ani,miaa.xxvii. iq.

Rhine

OF THE
Rhine
at the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
C

519
TT A P. XXV.

head cf a formidable army, which was fupported on

both flanks by Jovinus and Severus, the two mafters-general of the

cavalry and infantry of the Weft. the devaftation of their villages,

The Alemanni, unable fixed their camp on a

the

to prevent
lofty,

and

almoft inacceffible, mountain, in

modern duchy of WirtemRomans.

berg, and refolutely expefted the approach of the

life

The

of Valentinian was expofed to imminent danger, by the intrepid

curiofity with

which he

pcrfifted to

explore fome fecret and un-

guarded path.

troop of Barbarians fuddeply rofe from their

amhis

bufcade: and the emperor,

who

vigoroufly fpurred his horfe down'

to

a fteep and flippery defcent,

was obliged

leave behind

him

armour-bearer, and his helmet, magnificently enriched with gold and

precious ftones.

At the
Every

fignal of the general aflault, the

Roman

troops encompafied and afcended the mountain of Solicinium on three

different fides.
ftep

which they gained, increafed

:

their ardour,-

and abated the

refiftance

of the enemy
hill,

and

after their united forces

had occupied the fum.mit of the

Barbarians

they impetuoufly urged the

down

the northern defcent,

where count Sebaftian was

ported to intercept their retreat.

After this fignal vidory, Valenti-;

nian returned to his winter-quarters at Treves

the public joy

where he indulged
''.

by the

exhibition of fplendid and triumphal games

inftead of afpiring to the conqueft of

But the wife monarch,

Ger-

many, confined

his attention to the important

and laborious defence

of the Gallic frontier, againft an enemy, whofe ftrength was re-

newed by

a ftream of daring volunteers,

diftant tribes

which
"*.

incefiantly flowed-

from the moft

*^

of the North
ita

The banks
Ammian.

of the
fsculis

lated

The expedition of Valentinian is reand celeby Ammianus (xxvii. lo.) brated by Aufonius (Mofell. 421, Sec), who fooliflily fiippofes, that the Romans were ig;

fcpius adolefcit,

ut fui/Te longis
xxviii. 5.

a:ftimetur intafta.

The

Count de Buat
torn. vi. p.

(Hifl. des Peuples de I'Europe,

370.) afcribes the fecundity of

to their eafy adoption

norant of the fources of the Danube. 5* Immanis enim n.itio, jam inde ab inunabulis primis varictatc cafuum Imminuta;

the

Alemanni

of ilran-

gers.

Rhine,-

520
c
<..

THE DECLINE AND FALL

P.
t

HA
1/

Rliine,

from

its

fource to the ftreights of the

ocean, were clofely

planted with flrong caftles and convenient towers;

new works, and

new

arms, were invented by the ingenuity of a prince

fkilled in the

mechanical

arts

and

his

numerous
all

levies

who was of Roman and

Barbarian youth were feverely trained in

the exerclfes of war.

The

progrefs of the work,

which was fometimes oppofed by modeft

hoflile attempts, fecured the tran-

reprefentations,
quillity

and fometimes by

of Gaul during the nine fubfequent years of the adminiftra-

tion of Valentinian ".

The

Bur371.

That prudent emperor, who

diligently pra6tired the wife

maxims

A.D.

of Diocletian, was fludious to foment and excite the inteftine divifions of the tribes

of Germany.

About the middle of

the fourth

century, the countries, perhaps of Luface and Thuringia, on either

fide of the Elbe,

were occupied by the vague dominion of the BuR-

GUNDiANS

a warlike and

numerous people, of the Vandal

race'*,

whofe obfcure name

infenfibly fwelled into a powerful

kingdom, and

has finally fettled on a flourilliing province.

The moft remarkable

circumftance in the ancient manners of the Burgundians, appears to

have been the difference of their

civil

and
to the

ecclefiaftical conftitution.

The
title

appellation of Hcnd'inos

was given

king or general, and the

of

Shi'ijlus to

the high-prieft, of the nation.

The

perfon of the

priefl

was

facred,

and

his dignity perpetual

but the temporal goIf the events of

vernment was held by a very precarious tenure.

war accufed the courage or conduft of the king, he was immediately and the injuflice of his fubjeds made him refponfible for depofed
;

the fertility of the earth, and the regularity of the feafons,

which
'^\

Teemed to

fall

more properly within the

facerdotal

department

The
" Ammian.
xxviii. 2.

Zofimus,

1.

iv. p.

'"

Bellicofos et pubis
;

immenfx

viribus af-

me214. chanical genius of Valentinian, nova arma

Victor mentions the

The younger

fluentes
fis.

et

ideo metuendos finitimis univer-

meditari; fingere terra feu limo fimulacra.

"

Ammian. xxviii. 5. I am always apt to fufpeft

hiflorians

and

travellers

OF THE
The
dlfputecl pofleflion
n

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
the latter were eafily
^^

521
^ H a
p.

of fome fak-plts " engaged the Alemanni

contefls:

XX V

and the Burgundians in frequent

ror; and their fibulous defcent

tempted, by the fecret foUcitations, and

liberal offers,

of the empe-

from the

Roman
to

foldiers,

who had
'.

formerly been

left to

garrifon the fortrefies of Drufus,

it

was admitted

with mutual credulity, as

was conducive

mutual

interefl

An

army of
fubfidies

fourfcore thoufand

Burgundians foon appeared

on the

banks of the

and impatiently required the fupport and which Valentinian had promifed: but they were amufed
;

Rhine

with excufes and

txT.tion,

delays,

till

at

length,
retire.

after a

fruitlefs

expecfortifi-

they were compelled to

The arms

and

cations of the Gallic frontier checked the fury of their juft refent-

ment; and

their mafTacre

of the

captives

ferved to embitter

the

hereditary feud of the Burgundians and the Alemanni,

The

incon-

ftancy of a wife prince may, perhaps, be explained by fome alteration of circumftances

;

and, perhaps,

it

was the
;

original

dehgn of
of

Valentinian to intimidate, rather than to deftroy

as the balance

power would have been equally overturned by the

either of the

extirpation of

German

nations.

Macrianus, who, with a

foldier

Among the princes of Roman name, had affumed

the Alemanni, the arts of a

and a ftatefman,

defei^ved his hatred

and efteem.

The em-

peror himfelf, with a light and unincumbered band, condefcended

to pafs the Rhine,
travellers

marched

fifty

miles into the country, and would

''
effe

of improving extraordinary fafts

laws.

Jam

iiide

temporibus

prifcis

fobolem
:

fe

into

general

Ammianus

afcribcs a

Romanam

Burgundii iciunt

and the

fimilar cuftom to

Egypt; and

the Chinefe

have imputed it to the Tatfin, or Roman empire (de Guignes, Hill, des Huns, torn. ii.
part
'^
i.

p. 79.).

vague tradition gradually aflumed a more regular form (Orof. 1. vii. c. 32.). It is annihilated by the derifive authority of Pliny, wlio composed the hiftory of Drufuf, and
ferved in

Salinarum finiumque caufa Alemannis

Germany

(Plin. Secund. Epiil.

iii.

fape jurgabant.

Ammian.

xxviii. 5.

Pofli-

5.), within fixty years after the death of that

b!y they difputed the pofleflion of the Sala, a river which produced fait, and which had been the objeift of ancient contention. Tacit,

hero.

Gsrmancrum gemra quinque Vindili

pars
iffrg-/wfl';o?;,

quorum
iv.

&c. (Hift. Natur.

28.)

Anna!,

xiii.

57., andfeipfius ad loc.

Vol.

II,

infallibly

522

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Infallibly

CHAP.

have feized the object of

his purfult, if his judicious

.

mea-

fares

had not been defeated by the impatience of the troops.

Macon-

crianus

was afterwards admitted

emperor
;

to the

honour of

a perfonal

ference with the

fixed him,
till
'''.

and the favours which he received,

the hour of his death, a fteady and fmcere friend of

the republic

The

Saxons.

The

land was covered

by the
Britain

fortifications

of Valentinian

but

the fea-coaft of the Saxons.

Gaul and

was expofed
in

to the depredations

of

That celebrated name,

which we have a dear and

;

domeftic intereft, efcaped the notice of Tacitus

and in the maps of

Ptolemy,
fula,

it

fiiintly

marks the narrov/ neck of the Cimbric peniniflands

and three fmall

towards the mouth of the Elbe "'.

This

contradted territory, the prefent

Holftein,

Duchy

of Slefwig, or perhaps of

was incapable of pouring

forth the inexhauftible

fwarms

of Saxons

who

reigned over the ocean,

who

filled
;

the Britifh ifland

"with their language, their laws,

and

their colonies

and

who

fo

long
'*.

defended the liberty of the North againft the arms of Charlemagne

The

folution

of this

difficulty is

eafily

derived from the fimilar

manners, and loofe conftitution, of the

tribes

of

Germany

which

were blended with each other by the

J&iendfhlp.

flighteft accidents

of war or

The

fituation of the native

Saxons difpofed them to

pirates
:

embrace the hazardous profeffions of fifhermen and

fuccefs of their
firft

and the
em.ula-

adventures would naturally excite

tlie

oo -pjjg ^ygj5 jjjj negociaiions, relative to

the Burgundians

and Alemanni, aredjftlnftly

5.

related

by Ammianus Marcellinus (xwiii.

Orofius
(I.

He fills the Interval between the Saxons and the Cimbri with fixobfcure tribes who were united, as early as tiie lixth cenCimhri,
tiiry,

xxix. 4, XXX. 3.).

vii.

c.

32.),

Hnder the national appellation of Z)fj.

1.

and the Chronicles of Jerom and CalI'.odoriiis> fix fome dates, and add fome circumftances. "" Etti tov oLvxaoL rr.; Kii/.0eix.r^ ;^;!^cron-,5-i',
SaloMc.

See Cluver. German. Antiq.

23.
'^

iii. c.

21, 22,

M.

d'Anvillc (Etabliflement des Etats

At

the northern extremity of the

peninfula (the Cimbric promontory of Pliny,

iv.

de I'Europe, &c. p. 1926.) has marked the extenfive limit-, of the Saxony of Charle-

27.)

Ptolemy

fixes

the

remnant of the

magne.

tioa

OF THE
tioa of their braveft,
Iblitude of their
tlie

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
impatient of the
tide

523

countrymen,

who were
filled

gloomy ^

J?^fl

^*

woods and mountains.

fleets

Every
with

might

float

down

Elbe whole

of canoes,

hardy and intrepid

afl"ociates,

who

afpired to behold the

unbounded proipeft of the

ocean, and to tafte the wealth and luxury of

unknown

worlds.

It

fhould feem probable, hov^^ever, that the mofl: numerous auxiliaries

of the Saxons were furniflied by the nations

fhores of the Baltic.
vigation,

who

dwelt along the

the art of naifliiing

They

poffefled

arms and
;

fhip-s,

and the habits of naval war

but the difliculty of

through the northern columns of Hercules'"^ (which, during feveral

months of the

year, are obfl:rud:ed v/ith ice) confined their fkill

and
the

courage within the limits of a fpacious lake.

fuccefsful

The rumour of

armaments which

failed

from the mouth of the Elbe,

narrow ifthmus of Slefwig,
fea.

would foon provoke thern

and
to laimcii their veffels

to crofs the

on the great

The

various troops of

pirates

and adventurers,

who

fought under the fame fl:andard, were

fociety,
at
firfl:

infenfibly united in a

permanent

of rapine, and af-

terwards, of government.

military confederation

was gradually

moulded

into a national body,

;

by the

gentle operation of marriage

tribes,

and confanguinity
ance, accepted the

and the adjacent

who

folicited the alli-

name and

laws, of the Saxons.

If the

fad were
ap-

not efl:ablilhed by the mofl: unqueftionable evidence,

we

fliould

pear to abufe the credulity of our readers, by the defcription of the

veflTels

in

which the Saxon

pirates ventured to fport in the

waves
Bifcay.

of the

German Ocean,

the Britifh Channel, and the

Bay of

The
'"'

keel of their large

flat-bottomed boats was framed of light

The

fleet

of Drufus had failed In their

attempt to pafs, or even to approach, the Sound (ftyled, from an obvious refemblance,
tlie

columns of Hercules)

and the naval

enterprize was aerer refumed (Tacit, de

Mo-

German, c. 34. ) The knowledge which the Romans acquired of the naval powers of the Baltic {c. 44, 45.), was obrained by their land journics in fearch of amber.
ribus

5X2

timber,

524

THE DECLINE AND FALL

timber,

CHAP,
v..

but the fides and upper-works confifted only of wicker,

'*.

-V

>

with a covering of flrong hides

diftant navigations, they

In the courfe of their flow and

muft always have been expofed to the danto the misfortune, of fliipwreck
filled
;

ger,

and very frequently

and the

naval annals of the Saxons were undoubtedly

with the ac-

counts of the

lofles,

which they
fpirit
:

fuftained

on the

coafts of Britain
perils,

and

Gaul.

But the daring

of the pirates braved the

their fkill

both of
habits

the fea, and of the fhore

was confirmed by the

conduding a

of enterprize

the meaneft of their mariners was alike capable, of

fail,

handling an oar, of rearing a

or of

veflel

and

the Saxons rejoiced in the appearance of a tempeft, which concealed

their defign,

and difperfed the

fleets

of the

enemy

'\

After they

had acquired an accurate knowledge of the maritime provinces of

the Weft:, they extended the fcene of their depredations, and the
mofl: fequeftered places

had no reafon

to

prefume on

their fecurity.

The Saxon

boats

drew

fo little water, that

they could eafily proceed

rivers
;

fourfcore or an hundred miles

fo inconfiderable, that they

up the great

their

weight was

were tranfported on waggons from one

pirates

river to another

and the

who had
Under

entered the

mouth of

the Seine, or of the Rhine, might defcend, with the rapid ftream of

A.D.

371.

the Rhone, into the Mediterranean. the maritime provinces of

military count
'+

the reign of Valentinian,.

Gaul were

afflidled

by the Saxons
fea-coafl:,

was

fl:ationed

for the defence

Girichardt,
torn.
ii.

of the

or

Quin
;

ec

Aremoricus piratam Saxona

Nouveaux Memoires
41,
42.).

Militaires,
veflels

traftus,

p.

The

Britifh

Speiabat

cui pelle falum fulcare Britan-

would now
'"'

altonini the genius

of Crefar.

num
Ludur.
;

T he beft original account of the Saxon

et afliito

glaucum mare

findere

pirates
(1. viii.

may

be found in Sidonius Apollinaris

lembo.

epift.

p. 223. edit. Sirmond.),

and

The

Sidon. in Panegyr. Avit. 369. genius of Cs:far imitated, for a partithefe rude,

the beft commentary in

(Hift. Critique de la

the

Abbe du Bos
See

Monarchic Francoife,
16. p.

ciilar fervite,

but light,

vefl'eli,

&c. torn.

i.

1.

i.

c.

148155.

which weTe
Britain

likevvife

ufed by the natives of

Bell. Civil,
i,

likewife p. 77, 78.).

(Comment, de

51.

and

Armorlcan

OF THE
Armoncari
abilities,

ROMAN
officer,

EMPIRE.
his flrength, or his

525
^ ^^,
.

limit

and that

who found

P*
.

unequal to the

tafk,

implored the afliftance of Severus,

mafler-general of the infantry.

The Saxons, fuvrounded and

their fpoil,

out-

numbered, were forced

feled band of their
armies.
tall

to

relinquifh

and to yield a

and robull youth

to ferve in the Imperial

retreat
:

They

flipulated only a fafe

and honourable

and the

condition was readily granted by the

Roman
it

general;

who

meditated

an at of perfidy

'",

imprudent

as

was inhuman, while a Saxon

remained alive,and in arms,to revenge the fate of his countrymen. The

premature eagernefs of the infantiy,
deep valley, betrayed the ambufcade
fallen the
fiers,
;

who were

fecretly pofted in a

and they would perhaps have

viQims of

their

own

treachery, if a large

body of

cuiraf-

alarmed by the noife of the combat, had not haftily advanced:

to extricate their companions,

and

to

overwhelm the undaunted vaand the:

defpe-

lour of the Saxons.

Some

of the prifoners were faved from the

:

edge of the fword, to fhed their blood in the amphitheatre

orator

Symmachus
by

complains, that twenty-nine

of thofe

rate favages,

ftrangling themfelves wilh their

own

hands, had.

difappointed the amufement of the public.

lofophic citizens of

Yet the polite and phi-

Rome were
fpoil
;

imprefled with the deepeft horror,.,

when they were

informed, that the Saxons confecrated to the gods

the tythe of their

human

and, that they afcertained by

""'.

lot

the

objects of the barbarous

II.

iiicrifice

The

fabulous colonies of Eg}^ptians and Trojans, of Scandi-

ii.Britaim-.
YiScs.

navians and Spaniards, which flattered the pride, and amufed the ^^^
credulity,

of our rude anceftors, have, infenfibly vaniflicd iu the

""'

Ammian (xxviii.
32.)

5.) jufttfies this

;

breach
ofius

of faith to pirates and robbers

(1. vii. c.

and Oi

fumes to mention the facred names of Socrates and philofophy. Sidonius, bifliop of Cler^

more

clearly exprefies their real

mont, might condemn

lej's

(I. viii.

epift. 6.), with-

guilt
'*'

virtute atque agilitate terribiles.

inconfillency, the

human

facriiices

of the
>

Symmachus

(1. ii. epift.

46.)

flill

pre-

Saxons.

light

f26

THE DECLINE AND FALL

li-g4it

CHAP.
XXV.

of fcieuce ami philofophy

'^

The

prefent age

is fatisfied

with

the fnnple and rational opinion, that the illands of Great Britain and
ilreland

were gradually peopled from the adjacent continent of Gaul.

From
the

the coaft of Kent, to the extremity of Caithuefs

and

Ulfter,

memory

of a Celtic origin was diftindly preferved, in the per:

petual refemblance of language, of religion, and of manners

and

the peculiar
afcribed
ces
lized

charaders
the

of the

Britifli

tribes,

might be naturally
local

to

influence

of accidental

and

circumftancivi-

The Roman

province was reduced to the

:

ftate ,of

and peaceful fervitude

the rights of favage freedom were

contradhed to the narrow limits of Caledonia.

that northern region
tine,

The

inhabitants of

were divided,
tribes

as early as the reign

of Conftan-

Scots and of the Picts ", who have fince experienced a very different fortune. The power, and
between the two great
of the
almoft the

memory, of
;

the Pidls, have been extinguilhed

by

their

fuccefsful rivals

and the

Scots, after maintaining for ages the digin his time, the

" In the beginning of the

lafl

centun',

emigration from the Belgic

the learned Cambden was obliged to undermine, with refpeftful fcepticifm, the romance of Brutus, the Trojan who is now
;

Gaul was

a recent, or at leaft an hiftorical,

event (v. 10.).

Cambden,
i.

the Britifh Strabo,

has modeftly afcertained our genuine antiquities

buried, in filent

oblivion,

with Scota, the

(Britannia, vol.

Introduftion, p.

ii
Ca-

daughter of Pharaoh, and her numerous progeny. Yet I am informed, that fome champions of the Milefian colony may ftill be

xxxi.).

" In

the dark and doubtful paths of

I

ledonian antiquity,

have chofen for

my

found
land.
fent
109

among

the original natives of Irediflatisfied

guides two learned and ingenious Highlanders,

people

with their pre-

whom

their birth

and education had peculiSee, Critical

condition, grafp at any vifjons of their

future glory.

arly qualified for that office.

pad or

DilTertations on the Origin, Antiquities, &c.

Xacitus,

or rather his futher-in-Iaw

might remark the German or Spanifh complexion of feme Britifh tribes. But it was their fober deliberate opinion. " In univerfum tamen asftimanti Gallos vi" cinum folum occupafle credibile eft. Eo' rum fermo haud facra deprehendas
Agricola,
. . .

fon,
tion

of the Caledonians, by Dr. John MacpherLondon, 1768, in 410. ; and. Introducto

the Hiftory of

Great Britain and

Ireland, by James Macpherfon, Efq;

Lon-

don, 1773, in 4to. third edit. Dr. Macpherfon was a minifter in the Ifle of Sky and it
:

is

" multum
Cjefar

diverfus (in Vit. Agricol.

their

c.

xi.)."

a circumftance honourable for the prefent age, that a work, replete with erudition and
criticifm, fhould

had obferved

common

religion

have been compofed in the

(Comment, dc Belle

Gallico, vi. 13.); and

moft remote of the Hebrides.

nity

OF THE
nity of an independent

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
The hand of
and the
latter

527

kingdom, have multiplied, by an equal and

CHAP.
XXV.

voluntary union, the honours of the Englifh name.

nature had contributed to

mark

the ancient diftindion of the Scots

and

Piils.

thofe

The former were the men of the plain. The eaftern coaft
fertile

of the

hills,

of Caledonia

may

be confi-

dered as a level and

tillage,

country, which, even in a rude flate of

a confiderable quantity of corn
:

was capable of producing

cru'itnich^

and the epithet of

or wheat-eaters, exprefTed the contempt,

or envy^ of the carnivorous highlander.

earth might introduce a

The

cultivation of the

more accurate
life
;

feparation of property, and

the habits of a fedentary

ftill

but the love of arms and raphie was

:

the ruling paffion of the Pifts

for a

and

their warriors,

who

ftripped

themfelves
the

day of

battle,

were diflinguifhed,

in the eyes

of

Romans, by

the ftrange fafhion of painting their naked bodies,

fantaftic figures.

with

gaudy colours and

rifes

The

v/eftern part of
hills,

Ca-

ledonia irregularly

into wild

and barren

which

fcarcely

repay the

toil

of the hufbandman, and are moft profitably ufcd for

cattle.

the pafture of

The

highlanders were
;

condemned

to the oc-

cupations of fliepherds and hunters

to

and, as they feldom were fixed

any permanent

habitation, they acquired the expreffive

is

name of
were
lakes

Scots, which,

in the Celtic tongue,

faid to be equivalent to that

of wanderers^ or vagrants.

The

inhabitants of a barren land

urged to feek a frefh fupply of food in the waters.

The deep

and bays which interfed

fifh
;

their country, are plentifully ftored

to caft their nets in the

with

and they gradually ventured

waves of
along

the ocean.

The vicinity of the Hebrides,

fo profufely fcattered

the weftern coaft of Scotland, tempted their curiofity, and improved

their fkill
;

and they acquired, by flow degrees, the

art,

or rather
fleerftars.

the habit, of managing their boats in a tempeftuous

fea,

and of

ing their nofturnal courfe by the light of the well-knov/n

The two

bold headlands of Caledonia almoft touch the fhores of a

fpacious

52S

THE DECLINE AND PALL

fpacious
jl]ancl,

CHAP,
>,

which obtauied, from

;

its

luxuriant vegetation,

tlie

-,'.../

epithet -of Green

and has preferved, with a

It
is

flight akeration, the

name of

Erin, or lerne, or Ireland.

fertile

probable, that in

fome

remote period of antiquity, the

colony of hungry Scots
;

plains of Ulfler received a

and

that the ftrangers of the North,

who
It

had dared

to encounter

the arms of the legions, fpread their cona folitary ifland.

quefts over the favage

is

and unwarlike natives of

of the

certain, .that, in the declining age

Roman

empire, Caledo;

nia, Ireland,

and the

Ifle

of

Man, were

inhabited by the Scots

and

that the kindred tribes,

terprize,
tual

who were

often aflbciated in military entheir

were deeply affeded by the various accidents of

mu-

fortunes.

They long
:

cherilhed the lively tradition of their

common name and origin and the mifTionaries of the Ifle of Saints, who difl:ufed the light of Chriftianity over North Britain, efliablifhed
the vain opinion, that their Irifh countrymen were the natural, as well as fpiritual, fathers of the Scottifh race.
tradition

The

loofe

and obfcure
fcattered

has been preferved by the venerable Bede,

light over the

who

fome rays of

darknefs of the eighth century.

On

this flight foundation,

an huge fuperfl:rudure of fable was gradually

reared,

by the

bards,

and the monks;

two orders of men, who

equally abufed the privilege of fiction.

The

Scottifh
:

nation, with

miflaken pride, adopted their

Irilh

genealogy

and the annals of a

'".

long

line

of imaginary kings have been adorned by the fancy of

claflic

Boethius, and the

elegance of Buchanan

Six
'"

The

liith defcen.t

of the Scots has been

its

authors do not afford any hints 0/ their emigration from another country.
2.

revived, in

the

laft

moments of

decay,

That

all

and ftrenuoufly fupported, by the Rev. Mr.

"Whitaker (Hift
of Manchefter, vol.
i.

the accounts of fuch emigrations, which have

p.

and Genuine Hillory of the BriYet he tons afferted, &c. p. 154293.). acknowledges, i. That the Scots of Ammianus Marcellinus (.^. D. 340.) were already fettled in Caledonia; and that the Roman
430, 431
;

been aflerted, or received, by Irifh bards Scotch hilloiians, or Englifh antiquaries (Ba-

chanan, Cambden, Ufher, Stillingfleet, &c.), are totally fabulous, 3. Thai three of the
Irifh tribes,

which are mentioned by Ptolemy (A. D. 150.), were of Caledonian extraftion.

4.

That

OF THE
Six years
after the death

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
his

529

of Conftantine, the dcftrudive inroads

CHAP.
XXV

of the Scots and Pids required the prefence of

reigned in the wcftern empire.
nions
:

youngeft fon,
liis

who

Conftans vifited

Britifli

dorni-

fin*^oVLirL

but

we may form fome

eftimate of the importance of his

^'"jj
366.

atchievements, by the language of panegyric, which celebrates only

his

triumph over the elements ;

fafe

or, in other

words, the good fortune

of a

and eafy paflage, from the port of Boulogne to the harbour of Sandwich "\ The calamities which the afflicted provincials continued to experience, from foreign war, and domeftic tyranny, were

aggravated by the feeble and corrupt adminiftration of the eunuchs

of Conftantius

and the tranfient

relief

which they might obtain by the abfence and death

filver,

from the

virtues of Julian,

was foon

loft

of their benefadlor.

The fums
by the

of gold and

which had been

painfully colledled, or liberally tranfmitted, for the

troops, were

payment of the
;

intercepted
at leaft,
;

avarice of the

commanders

dif-

charges,

or,

exemptions, from the military fervice, were

publicly fold

the

diftrefs

of the

foldiers,

who were

injurioufly

deprived of their legal and fcanty fubfiftence, provoked them to fre-

quent defertion

the nerves of difcipline

were relaxed, and the highoppreifion of the good,

to diffufe

ways were
the Ifland a
4.

infefted

with robbers'".

The

and the impunity of the wicked, equally contributed

fpirit

through

of difcontent and revolt

and every ambitious fubhim

to forget the nafo -vehemently

princes, of thehoufe of Fingal, acquired

poffeffed

That a younger branch of Caledonian and

the

tiquarian has tempted

ture of a queftion,

which he

monarchy of

Ireland.

After

debates, and fo abjolutily decides.

thefe conceflions,

the remaining difference between Mr. Whitaker and his adverfaries

"* Hyeme tumentes

calcaftis

ac fasvientes
veftris
;
. .
.

undas
infpe-

Oceani fub remis

minute and obfcure. TVc genuine hijioiy, which he produces, of a Fergus, the coulin of Offian, who was tranfplanted (A. D. 320.) from Ireland to Caledonia, is built on a conjeflural fopplement to the Erfe poetry ; and
is

ratam iniperatoris faciem Britannus expavit. Julius Firmicus Maternus de Errore Profan, Relig. p. 464. edit. Grcnov. ad calcem IVIiSee Tillemont (Hift. des Empenuc. Fael.
reurs, torn. iv. p. 336.).

the feeble evidence of Richard of Cirencefter,

a monk of

tlie

fourteen'h century.

The

"^ Libanius, Orat. Parent, c. xxxix. p, This curious pafTage has efcaped the 264.
diligence of our Britilh antiquaries.

lively fpirit of the learned

and ingenious an-

Vol. IL

'3

jed,

530

THE DECLINE AND FALL

jet^

CHAP.

every derpcrate exile, might

entertain a reafonable

hope of

fubverting the
hoftile tribes

weak and

dlftratSted

government of

Britain.

The

of the North,

who

detefted the pride

and power of the

;

King of
barians

the World, fufpended their domeftic feuds

fea,

and the Bar-

of the land and

the^ Scots,

the Pidts, and the Saxons,

fury,

fpread themfelves, with rapid and

irrefiftible

from the wall of

art

Antoninus to the

lliores

of Kent.

Every produdtion of
or luxury,

and

nature, every objet of convenience

which they were

"*.

incapable of creating by labour, or procuring by trade, was accu-

mulated in the rich and

fopher
v/ill

fruitful

province of Britain

A philohe

may

deplore the eternal difcord of the

is

human

race, but

confefs, that the deHre of fpoil

more

rational provocatioa

than the vanity of conqueft.

From

the age of Conftantine to that

of the Plantagenets,

this
:

rapacious

fpirit

continued to inftigate the poor

and hardy Caledonians

but the fame people, whofe generous

humaTheir

nity feems to infpire the fongs of Oflian,

was difgraced by a favage

ignorance of the virtues of peace, and of the laws of war.

fouthern neighbours have
felt,

and perhaps exaggerated, the cruel

:

depredations of the Scots and Pids '"

ledonia, the Attacotti"*,

and a valiant

tribe

of Calefoldiers,

the enemies,

and afterwards the

of Valentinian,
the tafte of
it

are accufed,
flelh'.

by an eye-witnefs, of delighting in
they hunted the woods for prey,
;

human

When

is

faid,

that they attacked the fhepherd rather than his flock

delicate

and that they curioufly feleded the moll

"* The Caledonians
Jirangcr.

and brawnv

praifed and coveted

Sec.

the gold, the fteeds, the lights,

of the

1 137.) when law, religion, and fociety, muff have foftcned their primitive manners.

See Dr.
ii.

Blair's
;

Oflian, vol.

p.

343

Diflertation on and Mr. Macpher-

"* Attacotti
mian. xxvii.
has reftored
8.

fon's Introduftion, p.

242 286. "* Lord Lyltehon has circumftarjtially

Sir

hominum natio. AmCambden (Introduft. p. clii.) their true name in the text of
bellicofa

re-

lated (Hiftory of

and

Henry II. vol. i. p. 182.), Da\id Dalrymple has flightly meni.

Jerom. The bands of Attacotti, which Jerom had feen in Gaul, were afterwards llationedin Italy
xi.).

and lUyricum (Nositia,

S. viii. xxxix..

tioned (Annals of Scotland, vol.

p. 69.), a

barbarous inroad of the ScotSj at a time (A. D.

parts^

OF THE
parts, botli

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
G
'

531
If
A. A.

of males and females, which they prepared for their

"'.
If,

A
V
>^

P.
'

horrid repafls
literary

in the

neighbourhood of the commercial and

town of Glafgow,

a race of cannibals has really exifled,

we

may

contemplate, in the period of the Scottilh hiftory, the oppcjfite

civilifed life.
;

extremes of favage and

Such

refleftions tend

to en-

large the circle of our ideas

that

and to encourage the pleafmg hope,

New

Zealand

may

produce, in fome future age, the

Hume

of

the Southern Hemifphere.

Every meflenger who efcaped

acrofs the Britifh channel,

conveyed

Reftomti'on

the moft melancholy and alarming tidings to the ears of Valenti-

Theodofi'us^

nian

and the emperor was foon informed,

that the

two

military ^^^- 367

commanders of
Barbarians.

the province had been furprifed and cut off

by the

Severus, count of the domeftics, was haftily difpatched,

and

as fuddenly recalled,

by the court of Treves.

The

reprefenta;

tions of Jovinus ferved only to indicate the greatnefs of the evil

after a

and,

long and ferious confultation, the defence, or rather the re-

covery, of Britain, was entrufted to the abilities of the brave

dofius.
rors,

Theoempe-

The

exploits of that general, the father of a line of

have been celebrated,

with

peculiar

complacency,

by the

writers of the age:

his
iiire

but his real merit deferved their applaufe; and

nomination was received,

prefage

by the army and province,

viiStory.

as

of

approaching

He

feized

the

favour-

able

moment of

navigation, and fecurely landed the

numerous and

veteran bands of the Heruli and Batavians, the Jovians and the
Victors.

In his march from Sandwich to London, Theodofms de-

feated feveral parties of the Barbarians, releafed a multitude of captives,

and, after diflributing to his foldiers a fmall portion of the

ipfe adolefccntiilus in Gallia vi-

"'

Cum

m'marum
foLis

f'api/Ias

folere

abfcindere

et
is

has
the

deri;n Attacottos (or Scotos)

gentem Britan-

ciborum

delieias arbitrari.
ii.

Such
75.),

nicam humanis vefci carnibus ; et cum per iilvas porcorum greges, et armentorum pe-

evidence of Jerom (torn.

p.

whofe

veracity I find no reafon to queftion.

cudumque

reperiant, paflorum nates et fe-

fpoil.

532

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fpoJi, ^

CHAP.
XXV.
'

eftabliflied the
^

fame of
to

difinterefted iuflice,

'

of the

remainder

the rightful

proprietors.

...
by the

reftltution

The

citizens

of

London, who had almoft defpaired of

gates
;

their fafety,

threw open

their

and

as

foon as Theodofius had obtained from the court of

civil

Treves the important aid of a military heutenant, and a

vernor, he executed, with

go-

wifdom and vigour,

the laborious tafk of

the deliverance of Britain.

their ftandard
;

The

vagrant foldiers were recalled to

an edidl of amnefty difpelled the public apprehenfions

and

his cheerful

example

alleviated the rigour of martial difcipline.

The

fcattered

and defultory warfare of the Barbarians,

who

infefted
;

the land and fea, deprived

him of

the glory of a fignal victory

art,

but the prudent

A

fpirit,

and confummate

of the

Roman

general,

were difplayed in the operations of two campaigns, which fucceffifi

and 369.

fively refcued every part of the province

from the hands of a cruel

and the fecurity

and rapacious enemy.

The

fplefidor of the cities,

of the fortifications, were diligently reftored, by the paternal care of

Theodofius

who

with a ftrong hand confined the trembling Cale;

donians to the northern angle of the ifland

the

and perpetuated, by

name and

of the reign
ric

may

add,

new province of Valentia, the glories of Valentinian '". The voice of poetry and panegyperhaps ^vith fome degree of truth, that the unknown
fettlement of the
j.

regions of Thule were ftained with the blood of the Pidts

oars of' Theodofius daflied the

that the
;

waves of the Hyperborean ocean

and that the

the

diftant

Orkneys were the fcene of

his naval vidlory over

Saxon

pirates "".

He

left

the province with a fair, as well as

fplendid^
"' Ammianas has
(xx.
I.

concifely reprefented
8..

Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibiis undss.

xxvi.

4. xxvii.

xxviii.

3.)

the

Claudian, in

iii.

whole

feries

of the Bridfh war.

racibus
.

"' Horrefcit ....

*

Conf. Honor i.ver 53, &c. j . o. Maduerunt aaxone t- r rufo

iv,t

impervta ^

j -.o-ii _r --nu iOrcades: incaluitPictorumlanguineThiile..

/-v
1

Ille

_. .... nee falfo nomine Piaos cj _ . c . r tdomuit. Scotuzuciue vago mucrooe lecatus
_,,

...

Scotorum cumulos

flevit fflacialis

lerne.

la IV. Conf.

Hon.

ver. 31, S:c. '

See


OF THE
iplendid, reputation
:

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
to the

S33
rank
^
v-

and was Immediately promoted

v.dio

ri

A
^

P.

of mailer-general of the cavalry, by a prince,

without envy, the merit of his
f'ervants.

could applaud,

'

In the important ftation

of the upper Danube, the conqueror of Britain checked and defeated

the armies of the Alemanni, before he was chofen to fupprefs the
revolt of Africa.
III.

The
r
1

prince

who

refufes to be the judge, inf}.ru(ls his people

!

to conlider

hnn

as the

accomplice, of his minillers.

^[^ Africa. Tyranny of

The

military

R, n=nus,

command
and
intereft

of Africa had been long exercifed by Count Romanus,

&c.

"^

'

his abilities

were not inadequate

to his ftation

but as fordid
moll:

was the

fole

motive of his condud, he afted, on

occa-

fions, as if

he had been the

enemy of

the province, and the friend

of the Barbarians of the

deiert.

The
'",

three

flourifhing

cities

of

Oea, Leptis, and Sabrata, which, under the name of Tripoli, had
long conftituted a foederal union

were obliged,
;

for the

firft

time,

to fhut their gates agaiuft a hoftile invafion

feveral of their
;

moft

honourable citizens were furprifed and mafTacred

the villages, and

fruit-trees

even the fuburbs, were pillaged

that rich territory
tulia.

and the vines and

of

were extirpated by the malicious favages of Geprovincials implored the protedlion of

The unhappy

Romalefs

nus

but they foon found that their military governor was not

cruel

and rapacious than the Barbarians.

the four thoufand camels,

As they were

incapable of

fm-nifhing

and the exorbitant prefent,

to the affiftance of

which he required, before he would march

poli
;

Tri-

his

demand was

equivalent to a refufal, and he might juftly

and Sabrata are long fince ruined but the city of Oea, the native country of Apuleius,
;

See likewife Pacatus (in Panegyr. Vet. xii. But it is not eafy to appreciate the in5.). trinfic value of Hattery and metaphor. Compare thJ?;vV//i&

ftill

viftories

of B'llanus (Statius,

Silv. v. 2.) with his real charafter (Tacit, in

under the provincial dencminao( Tripoli. See Cellarius (Gcograph. Antiqua, toni. ii. part ii. p. 81.), D'Anflouriflies

tion

Vit. Agricol. c. 16.).

ville

"' Ammianus frequently mentions their concilium annuum, legitimum, &c. Leptis

72.),

(Geographic Ancienne, tom. iii. and Marmol (Afrique, tom.

p. 71,
ii.

p.

562.).

be

534
C H A
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ije

accufcd as the author of the public calamity.

cities,

In the annual af-

fembly of the three

the
feet

they nominated two deputies, to lay at

of Valentinian the cuftomary offering of a gold vidlory

and

to

accompany

this

tribute,

of duty, rather than of gratitude,

with their humble complaint, that they were ruined by the enemy,

and betrayed by

their governor.
it

If the

feverity of Valentinian
fallen

had been rightly dircded,

head of Romanus.

would have

on the guilty
arts

But the Count, long exercifed in the

of

corruption, had difpatched a fwift and trufty meffenger to fecure

the venal friendihlp of Remigius, mafter of the offices.

The wifdom
their honeil

of the Imperial council was deceived by

indignation was cooled

artifice

and

by

delay.

At

length,

when

the

repetition

of complaint had been

tunes, the

juftified

by the

repetition of public misfor-

notary Palladius was fent from the court of Treves, to

ftate

examine the

of Africa, and the condudl of Romanus.

The

rigid impartiality of Palladius

was

eafily

difarmed

he was tempted

to referve for himfelfa part of the public treafure,

which he brought

with him for the payment of the troops; and from the
that he
atteft

moment

was confcious of

his

own

guilt,

he could no longer refufe to

the innocence and merit of the Count.

The

charge of the

Tripolitans

was declared

to be falfe

and frivolous; and Palladius

himfelf was fent back from Treves to Africa, with a fpecial

com-

miffion, to difcover and profecute the authors of this impious con-

fpiracy againft the reprefentatives of the fovereign.

His enquiries
he comof

were managed with

fo

much

dexterity and

fuccefs, that

pelled the citizens of Leptis,

who had

fuftained a

recent fiege

eight days, to contradift the truth of their

fure the behaviour of their

own

decrees,

and

to

cen-

own

deputies.

bloody fentence was

pronounced, without
of Valentinian.
pity the
diftrefs

hefitation,

by

the rafh and headftrong cruelty

The

prefident

of Tripoli,

who had prefumed

at

to
;

of the province, was publicly executed

Utica

four

OF
,

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

_535

four difting-uifhed citizens were put to death, as the accomplices of C H A P. ' * ^ * XXV. the imaginary fraud ; and the tongues of two others were cut out,

by the
nity,

exprefs order of the emperor.

irritated
;

Romanus,
ftill

elated

by impu-

and

by

refiftance,

was

continued in the military

his avarice, to join the

command
His
he

till

the Africans

were provoked, by

rebellious ftandard of Firmus, the

Moor'".
richefl:

father

Nabal was one of the

and

mofi:

powerful of the

Revolt of

Moorifli princes,
as
left,

who acknowledged
by
his

the fupremacy of

Rome.

But

'"^'
' '

either

wives or concubines, a very numerous

;

^'''

pofterity, the

wealthy inheritance was eagerly difputed

and Zamma,

one of

his fons,

was

flain in a

domeftic quarrel by his brother FirmuS;

The

implacable zeal, with which

this

Romanus

profecuted the legal re-

venge of

murder, could be afcribed only to a motive of avarice,

:

or perfonal hatred
fluence

but,
;

on

this occafion, his claims

were juft;

his in-

was weighty

and Firmus

clearly undcrftood, tliat

he muft

either prefent his

neck to the executioner, or appeal from the fen'".

tence of the Imperial confiftory, to his fword, and to the people

He
it

was received

as

the deliverer of his country

and, as foon as

appeared, that

Romanus was

formidable only to a fubmiffive pro-

vince,

the tyrant of Africa became the objel of univerfal con-

tempt.
the

The

ruin of Ca'farea, which was plundered and burnt

Barbarians,
;

by

licentious

convinced the refradory

cities-

of the
leaft

danger of refiftance

the

power of Firmus was

eftablifhed, at

in the provinces of Mauritania and

his only doubt,,

Numidia

and

it

fcemed

to

be

whether he fhouLd affume the diadem of a Moorifh--

'" Aramian.
cufled
hiftory
'^^

xviii.

6.

Tillemont (Hift.
25. 676.) has difdifficulties

revolt of

des Empereurs, torn.

the

v. p.

nian
his

Firmus after the deaths of Valentiand Valens. Tillemont (Hill, desv. p.

chronological

of the
loofe

Enip. tom.
way.
of the

691.) endeavours to pick

fure-footed

of Count Romanus. The chronology of Ammianus

vii.

is

The patient and Alps may be trufted

mule

in the moll flip-

and obfcure: and Orofius (1. j^5.i. edit. Havercamp.) feems

c.

33. p.

pery paths.

to place

the

kin^.

536

THE DECLINE AND FALL

king, or the purple of a

CHAP,
v_-_v
'

Roman

emperor.

But the imprudent and

rafli

unhappy Africans foon

they had not
of their leader.
that the

difcovered, that, in this

infurrcdtion,

fufficiently confulted their

own

ftrength, or the abihties

Before he could procure any certain intelligence,

emperor of the Weft had fixed the choice of a general, or

that a fleet of tranfports

Theodofius
recovers Africa.

was

colledied at the

mouth of

the

Rhone, he
band

was fuddenly informed,

that the great Theodofius, with a fmall

Igilgilis,

of veterans, had landed near

coaft;

or Gigeri, on the African

^^-

373-

and the timid ufurper funk under the afcendant of virtue and

military genius.
defpair of

Though Firmus

pofleifed

arms and

treafures, his

vidory immediately reduced him

to the ufe of thofe arts,

fituation,

which, in the fame country, and in a fimilar

had formerly

been pradifed by the crafty Jugurtha.

He

attempted to deceive,

by an apparent

fubmiiTion, the vigilance of the

;

Roman
tribes

general

to

feduce the fidelity of his troops

and to protradl the duration of the

of Africa to

war, by fucceffively engaging the independent

efpoufe his quarrel, or to proteifl his
flight.

Theodofius imitated

the example, and obtained the fuccefs, of his predeccfl^or Metellus.

"When Firmus,
nefs,

in the character of a fuppliant, accufed his

folicited

own

rafh-

and humbly

the clemency of the emperor, the lieu-

tenant of Valentinian received and difmiffed

brace
'y

him with

a friendly

em-

but he diligently required the ufeful and fubftantial pledges

;

of

a fincere repentance

nor couldJle be perfuaded, by the aflurances

of peace, to fufpend, for an inftant, the operations of an adtive war.

A dark confpiracy was detefted by the penetration of Theodofius

he
fatisfied,

and

without

much

reludtance, the public indignation,

which he

had

fecretly excited.

Several of the guilty accomplices of Firmus were

abandoned, according to ancient cuftom, to the tumult of a military

execution
;

njany more, by the amputation of both their hands, con;

tinued to exhibit an inftrudtivc fpeftacle of horror

rebels

the hatred of the

was accompanied with

2

fear;

and the

fear of the

Roman

fol-

diers

OP
tliers wa.^ niin.glecl

THE ROMAN
tlic

EMPIRE.
Amidft the boundleis
of
:

537
C
II A P. XXV.

with rcfpeclful admiration.

plains of Getulia, and

innumerable

vallics

Mount
if

Atlas,

it

was impoffible

to prevent the efcape of

Firmus

and

the ufurper

could have tired the patience of his antagonift, he would have fecui-ed his p.erfoh in the

depth of fome remote folitude, and expected

the hopes of a future revolution.

He

was fubducd by the perfean inflexible determination,

verance of Theodoilus
that the

who had formed

war

fliould

end only by the death of the tyrant, and that

every nation of Africa, which prefumed to fupport his caufe, iliould

be involved in his ruin.

At the head of a fmall body of troops, v>hich

five

feldom exceeded three thoufand

hundred men, the

Roman

ge-

neral advanced, with a fteady prudence, devoid of rafluiefs, or of

fear, into the heart

of a coimtry, where he was fometimes attacked

by

.trmies

of twenty thoufand Moors.

;

The

boldncfs of his charge

difmayed the irregular Barbarians

feafonabic and orderly retreats
;

they were difccncerted by his

they were continually baffled by the

unknown
nation.

refources of the military art;

and they

felt

and confefTed the

civilifed

juft fuperiority,

which

v'as

alfumed by the leader of a

When Theodofius

entered the extenfive dominions of Igma-

zen, king of the Ifaflenfcs, the haughty favage required, in words

of defiance, his name, and the

*'

ol)je<51:

of his expedition.
I

"

am,

replied the ftern

and difdainful coimt,

world
;

am

the general of Valen-

"

tinian, the lord of the

who

has fent

mc

hither to purfue

" and punifh a defperate robber. Deliver him inftantly into my " hands and be aflurcd, that If thou doft not obey the commands
;

" of my invincible fovereign, thou, and the people over whom thou " reigneft, fhall be utterly extirpated." As foon as Igmazen was
fatlsfied,

that

his

enemy

ha'cl

ftrength and refolution to execute the

fatal

menace, he confcntcd
of a guilty fugitive.

to purchafe a neceflary peace

by the

fa-

crifice

the perfon of Firmus,

The guards that v.'ere placed to fecure deprived him of the hopes of efcape ,a;:id
;

Vol.

II.

the

538

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the Moorlfli tyrant, after wine had extinguifhed the fcnfe of danger, dif-

CHAP.
XXV.

appointed the infulting triumph of the Romans, by ftrangling himfelf

in the night.

His dead body, the only prefent which Igmazen could

offer to the conqueror,

was

carelefsly

thrown upon a camel-: and

Sitifi,

Theodofius, leading back his victorious troops to

was

faluted

by
Heisexecuted at Carthage,

the

warmed

acclamations of joy and loyalty

lofl

"'.
it

Africa had been

by the
'

vices of

Romanus
.

was

reftored

by '

the virtues of Theodofius

and our

curiofity

may

be ufefully direfted

A. D, 376.

to the inquiry of the refpetive treatment,

which the two generals

received from the Imperial court.

The

authority of count

Romanus

had been fufpended by the mafter-general of the cavalry; and he

w^as

committed to

fafe

and honourable cuftody

till

the end of the

;

war.

His crimes were proved by the moft authentic evidence

and

the public expelled, with fome impatience, the decree of fevere juftice.

But the

partial

and powerful favour of Mellobaudes encouraged him

to challenge his legal judges, to obtain repeated delays for the purpofe

of procuring a crowd of friendly

guilty condudl,

witnefl'es,

and, finally, to cover

his-

by the

additional guilt of fraud and forger^'.

About

the fame time, the reftorer of Britain and Africa, on a vague fufpicion, that his

name and

fervices

were fuperior
Carthage.

to the

rank of a

fubjecft,

was ignominioufly beheaded

reigned
;

at

Valentinian no longer

and the death of Theodofius,

juftly be

as well as the

impunity of

Romanus, may
fons "*.
Stateof Afiita

imputed

to the arts of the

minifters

who

abufed the confidence, and deceived the inexperienced youth, of his

If the geographical accuracy of

beftowed on the Britifh exploits

traced, with eager
-5 Ammian.
,

Ammianus had been fortunately of Theodofius, we fhould have

and domefi:ic footfteps of

curiofity, the diftindt

xxix. 5.

The
.

text
IS

of
,

this
,

by the want of chronological and geographical

land-marks.
,,, *

loi>s chapter (fifteen '^

,^,
;

quarto pages)
, .

...

broken
,

and corrupted

and the narrative

Ammianus,
1,

...

xxviii. 4.

r^

Oroiius,

I.

vii.

is

perplexed

c.

33. p. 55

552.

Jerom

in Chron. p. 187.

his

OF THE
his march.
terefting tribes of Africa

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
tlie

535

But the tedious enumeration of

unknown and unin-

CHAP.
XXV.

may be

reduced to the general remark, that

they were

all

of the fwarthy race of the Moors ; that they inhabited

the back fettlements of the Maurltanlan and

the country, as they have fince been termed

Numldian

provinces,
dates

by the Arabs, of

and of

locufts "'

and, that, as the

Roman power

declined in Africa,

the boundary of civilifed manners and cultivated land was Infenfibly

contraled.

Beyond the utmofl

limits

of the Moors, the vaft and

inhofpitable defert of the South extends above a thoufand miles to

the banks of the Niger.

The

ancients,

who had

a very faint and

imperfed knowledge of the great peninfula of Africa, were fometimet

tempted to believe, that the torrid zone muft ever remain
of inhabitants
"'"
:

deftitute

and they fometimes amufed

their fancy

by
;

filling

the vacant fpace with headlefs men,

or rather monfters "'

with

horned and cloven-footed

fatyrs "'

with fabulous centaurs"'; and with

human pygmies, who waged

cranes
'^.

a bold and doubtful warfare againft the

at the ftrange intelligence,

Carthage would have trembled

that
'*'

Leo Africanus
i.

(in

the Viaggi di Ra-

reign of Conflantine.
will
ftill

Yet foine
the

difficulty

mufio, torn.
rious pifture

fol.

78

83.)

has traced a en-

remain

about

converfacioii

of" the people and the country ; which are more minutely defcribed in the Afrique de Marmol. torn. iii. p. i 54. '^' This uninhabitable zone was gradually reduced, by the improvements of ancient geography> from forty-five, to twenty-four,

which

St.

Anthony held with one of

Ercmit. torn.
likewife
i.

thefo

pious favages in the defert of Thebais (jerom

in Vit. Paul. p. 238.).
tl>e/i

"

St.
;

Anthony

met one of

or even fixteen, degrees of latitude. See a learned and judicious note of Dr. Robertfon,
Hilt,
'^'

of America,
Intra,
fi

vol.

i.

p. 426.

whofe e.\iilence was ferioufly aflbrted by the emperor Claudius. The public laughed ; but his pra:feft of Egypt had the addrefs to fend an artful preparation, the embalmed corpfe of an Hip^occntaur which
monfters
\

credere libet, vix

et

magis femiferi
Pliny

jam homines .... Blemmyes, Satyri, hz.

i.

Pomponius Mela,

4.

p. 26. edit. VolT.

in

was preferred almoft a century afterwards in See Pliny (Hiil. Natur. the Imperial palace. of vii. 3.), and the judicious obfervations
Freret

8vo. the irregularities of nature, which

treduloujiy

/Z';Vc/o//5/V//)'

explains (vi. 35.)

(Memoires de I'Acad,

torn.

vii.

p.

he had

321, &c.).
'^ The fable of the pygmies is as Homer (Iliad iii. 6.). The pygmies

"
great
;(iv. p.

admitted (v. 8.). If the fatyr was the Orang-outang, the

(BufFon, Hilt. Nat. torn,

old as

of In-

human ape
43,
'S-'c),

dia and ./Ethiopia were (trifpithami) twentyfeven inches high.

adtually be

ihewn

one of that fpecies might alive at Alexandria in the

Every fpring their cain

valrv (mounted on rams and goats) marched,

3

j'40

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Y.

CH A
XXV.

i}i^i tfic

countries, '

on

cither fide

of the equator, were

.
.

Hlletl

with

<>V-

'

innumerable nations,

who

differed only in their colour

from the or-

dinary appearance of the

human

fpecies

and the fubjefts of the

tlie

Roman

empire might have anxiouHy expected, that

fwarms of

Barbarians, \vhich ifTued from the North, would foon be encountered

from the South,

l^y

new fwarms

of Barbarians, equaFly
terrors

fierce,

and

equally formidable.
difpelled

Thefe gloomy

would indeed have been

by

more intimate acquaintance

\vith the charadler of their

African enemies.

The
reft

inaftion of the negroes does not feem to be

the eftet, either of their virtue, or of their pufillanimity.

indulge, like

They
'".

the

of mankind, their paffions

and

appetites;,

and the adjacent But

tribes are

engaged in frequent

ats

of hoftility

their rude ignorance has never invented

;

any effedual weapons

of defence, or of deftrudion

they appear incapable of forming any

;

extenfive plans of government, or conqueft

riority of their

and the obvious infe-

mental faculties has been difcovered and abufed by the

Sixty thoufqnd blacks are annually

nations of the temperate zone.

embarked from the

country
;

coaft of

Guinea, never to return to their native

:

but they are embarked in chains '"

and

this

conftant

emigration, which, in the fpace of two centuries, might have furnillied

armies to over-run the globe, accufes the guiit of Europe, and

the weaknefs of Africa.

IV.
,p,

The
p
.

IV.

The ignominious

treaty,

which faved the army of Jovian, had

fide

been

faithfully executed

on the

of the

Romans

and

as they

had

war.

folemnly renounced the fovereignty and alliance of Armenia and

A.^D.

365

ji^.g^ia^

thofe tributary

kingdoms were expofed, without protedion,

prcfent

in battle array, to
aliter
Jjlli.

teSroy the cranes eggs,

futuris

due of tlie

negroes.

The

nations cf

(fays Pliny)

gregibus non re-

the fea-coaft have been polifhed by

European

Their houfes were built of mud, feaSee Pliny (vi. 35. thers, and egg-fliells. vii. 2.) and Strabo (1. ii. p. 121.). '^' The third and fourth volumes of the Valuable Hiftoire des Voyages defcribe the

commerce; and

thofe of the inland country

have been improved by Moorifh colonies.

''" PIifloirePhiIofophic]ueet Politique,

&c.

torn. iv. p. 192.

to

OF
to
tlie

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

'".

541

arms of the Perfian monarch

Sapor entered

tlie

ArmenI

"

H A P. XXV.

territories at the

head of a formidable ho/l of

foot
;

cuiraflicrs,

of archers

and of mercenary
to mixas the

but

it

was the

invariable pradice of Sapor

war and

negociation, and to confider falfehood and perjury

moft powerful indrumcnts of regal policy.

He

affeded to
;

praife the prudent

and moderate conduct of the king of Armenia

and the unfufpicious Tiranus was pcrfuaded, by the repeated aflurances

of infidious friendfhip, to deUver his perfon into the hands of a fluthIcfs

and cruel enemy.

In the midft of a fplendid entertainment, he

was bound

in chains of filver, as an
;

honour due

to

the blood of

the Arfacides

and, after a fhort confinement in the

Tower

of Oblieither

vion

at

Ecbatana, he was releafed from the niiferies of

life,

by

his

own

dagger, or by that of an

aflaffin.

The kingdom
;

of Ar-

menia was reduced

ftration

to the ftate of a Periian province

fatrap
to

tlie

admini-

was (hared between a diftinguifhed

;

and

a favourite

eimuch
fpirit

and Sapor marched, without delay,

Sauromaces,

fubdue the martial

of the Iberians.

who
Rome,

reigned in that country by

a fuperior force

the permiflion of the emperors,

was expelled by
the

and, as an infult on the majefty of

King of kings placed

a diadem on the head of his abject vaflal Afpacuras.

ArtogerafTa
refill
''*

The

city

of
to

was the only place of Armenia, v^hich prefumed

the effort of his arms.

The

treafure depofited in that flrong

;

fortrefs

tempted the avarice of Sapor

or

but the danger of Olympiaii,

excited the public

the wife,

widow,

of the Armenian king,

compaffion, and animated the defperate valour of her fubjeds and

foldiers.

The

Perfians

were
is

fui-prifed

and repulfed under the

vralls

'^^

The

evidence of

Ammianus

original

mud
''*

End deciiive (xxvii. 12.). Mofes of Chorene (I. iii. c. 17; p: 249. andc. 34. p. 269.}, and
Procopius (de Bell. Perfico, 1. i, c.5. p. 17. butthoCe edit. I.ouvrc), h^ve been confulted
:

be uf d with dilrldcnce and caution. Perhaps Artgera, or Ardis ; under

whofe walls Caius, thegrandfbn of Auguilus, was wounded. This fortrefs was fituate above Amida, near one cf the foiirces of the Tigris,
See d'Anville, Geographic Ancieiine, torn,
ii.

liiftorians,

who confound

dilUnfl fafts, repeat

the fame events, and introduce ilrangellories,

p. 106.

of

542

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of ArtogerafTa, by a bold and well-concerted
fally

CHAP,

of the befieged.
;

But the

forces of

Sapor were continually renewed and increafed

the hopelefs courage of the garrifon

was exhaufted
and fword,

the ftrength of
after

the walls yielded to the aflault

and the proud conqueror,

fire

wafting the rebeUlous city

tive

with
;

led

away caphad
Yet
Sapor

an unfortunate queen

who,

in a

more

aufpicious hour,
if

been the deftined bride of the fon of Conftantine "^

already triumphed in the eafy conqueft of two dependent kingdoms,

he foon

felt,

that a country

is

unfubdued, as long as the minds of

hoftile

the people are adluated

fatraps,

by an

and contumacious

fpirit.

The

whom

he was obliged to

truft,

embraced the

firft

opportu-

nity of regaining the affe(3:ion

of their countrymen, and oi iignabince the connations confidered

lifmg'their immortal hatred to the Perfian name,

verfion

of the Armenians and Iberians, thofe

the Chriftians as the favourites, and the Magians as the adverfarles,

of the Supreme

Being

the influence of the clergy, over

in the caufe of

fuperftitious people,

was uniformly exerted

Rome
reli-

and

as

long as the fuccefTors of Conftantine difputed with thofe of

Artaxerxes the fovereignty of the intermediate provinces, the

gious connexion always threw a decifive advantage into the fcale of

the empire.

numerous and

adtive party

acknowledged Para, the

;

fon of Tiranus, as the lawful fovereign of Armenia

the throne

and

his title to

was deeply rooted

in the hereditary fucceflion of five

hundred

years.

By
his

the

unanimous confent of the

rival princes

Iberians,
;

the

country was equally divided between the

curas,

and Afpato

who owed

diadem

to the choice of Sapor,

was obliged

declare, that his regard for his children,

who

M'ere detained as hoftages

by the tyrant, was the only confideration, which prevented him from
openly renouncing the alliance of
'" Tillemont (Hill, iles Emperfurs, p. 701.) proves, from chronology,
I
torn.

Perfia.

The emperor
rauft

Valens,
the

who

Olympias
Para,

have been

mother of

V.

that

refpedted

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
who was
apprehenfive

543

refpefled the obligations of the treaty, and

CHAP.
^ A. V ^

of involving the Eaft in a dangerous war, ventured, with flow and

cautious meafures,
to fupport the

Roman

party in the kingdoms

of Iberia and Armenia.

Twelve
banks

legions eftablifhed the authority

of Sauromaces

on

the

of the

Cyrus.

The Euphrates

was protedled by the valour of Arintheus.

powerful army,.

Hnder the command of count Trajan, and of Vadomair, king of

the Alemanni, fixed their

camp on

the confines of Armenia.

firft hoflilities,
:

But

they were

ftridlly

enjoined, not to

commit the

which-

might be underftood as a breach of the treaty

implicit obedience of the

and fuch was the

Roman

general, that they retreated, with

till

exemplary patience, under a fliower of Perfian arrows,

clearly acquired a juft title to an honourable

they had
vid:ory,.

and legitimate
in a vain

Yet thefe appearances of war infenfibly fubfided

negociation.

and tedious

The contending

parties fupported their claims

;

by mu--

tual reproaches of perfidy

and ambition

and

it

fliould feem, that^

the original treaty was expreiTed in very obfcure terms, fince they

were reduced

to the necefljity

of making their inconclufive appeal

to^

the partial teflimony of the generals of the

affifted at

two

nations,

who had

the negociations

"'*.

The invafion

of the Goths and Huns,

which foon afterwards fhook the foundations of the Roman empire,

expofed the provinces of Afia to the arms of Sapor.
clining age,

But the de-

and perhaps the

infirmities,

of the monarch, fuggefled

new maxims
in a

of tranquillity and moderation.

full

His death, which

A. D. 3So;-

happened in the

maturity of a reign of feventy years, changed

;

moment
moft;

the court and councils of Perfia

and

their attention

wa&

probably engaged by domellic troubles, and the diiiant

(xxvii.

>* Ammianus
I

12.

xxix.

I.

xxx.

266.
trutli

c.

the 2.) has defciibed the events, without

fafls; but

3;. p. 271.) affords fome additional it is extremely difficult to feparate

fable.

dates, of the Perfian war. Mofes of (Hift. Armen. 1. iii. c. 28. p. 261.

Chorene
c.

from

31. p.

efforts^

544

"THE
efforts

DECLINE AND FALL

the

CHAP,
XXV.

of a Cannaniau war
Avas
loft

-I

juries

in

The remembrance of ancient The klngd()ms enjoyment of peace.

'".

inot

The

treaty of

Armenia and

Iberia

were permitted, by the mutual, though

.

tacit,

peace,

A.D.

384.

In the confent of both empires, to refume their doubtful neutrality. ' firfl: years of the reign of Theodoiius, a Periian ambany arrived at
,

Conftantinople, to excufe the unjuftifiable meafures of the former

reign
;

and

to offer, as the tribute of friendfhip, or

even of refpeCt,
'''.

a fplendid prefent of
Advtnturfs

gems, of

lilk,

and of Indian elephants

In the general pidure of the

affairs

of the Eaft under the reign of

of Armenia."

Valens, the adventures of Para form one of the moll ftriking and fmgular objefls.

The

noble youth, by the perfuafion of his mother

Olympias, had efcaped through the Perfian hoft that befieged Artogeraffa,

and implored the protedion of the emperor of the

Eaft.

By
and

his timid councils, Para

was

alternately fupported, and recalled,

reftored,

and betrayed.

The hopes

of the

Armenians were
;

fometimes raifed by the prefence of their natural fovereign

and

the minifters of Valens were fatisfied, that they preferved the integrity of the public
fixith,

if their vaffal

was not

fuffered

to affume

the diadem and

raflinefs.

title

of King.

But they foon repented of

their

own

Perfian
ftant

They were confounded by the reproaches and threats of the monarch. They found reafon to diftruft the cruel and incon:

temper of Para himfelf

who

liicrificed,
;

to the llighteft fuf-

picions, the lives of his moft faithful fervants

difgraceful

and held a

fecret

and

correfpondence
his country.

v^'ith

the affaflin

of his father, and the

enemy of

Under

the fpecious pretence of confulting

with the emperor on the fabjcd: of their

'^'

common

intereft,

Para was
to divide

Artaxerxes was the fucccffor and brother

but
the

it is

a prepcflercus

arrangement

(the coujin-girman) of the great Sapor; arid the guardian of his

I.
{i.^\\

Roman and
P.-icatus in
1.

Oriental accoiints in:0 two

Sapor

III.

(Agathias,

diftin.;^ hi.flories.

iv. p.

136. edit. Louvre.)

xi. p.

See theUniver-

'^*

Panegyr.
31.

\'et. :ai. 22.

and

fnl

Hiftory, vol.

06. 161.

The

authors

Orofiu.%
t'!i.,

vii.

c.

Iftamque

turn fceJus

pf "that unequal work have compiled the Saffimian d) nally with erudition ai.d diligence
:

quo univerfus

Oriens ufque ad nunc

A. D. 416.) tranquilliflime fruitur.

perfuadogl

OF THE
was
in arms,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

54J

perfuaded to defcend from the mountains of Armenia, where his party-

C H A
XXV.

P.

and

to truft his

independence and fafety to the difcrefor fuch

tion of a perfidious court.

The king of Armenia,

his nation,

he ap-

peared in his

own

eyes,

and in thofe of

was received with

due honours by the governors of the provinces through which he

pafled
;

but

when he

arrived at Tarfus in Cihcia, his progrefs

;

was

ftopped under various pretences

refpeftful vigilance
;

his

motions were watched with

that

and he gradually difcovered,

he was a pri-

foner in the hands of the Romans.

Para fupprefled his indignation,

diilcmbled his fears, and, after fecretly preparing his efcape,

mounted

on horfeback with three hundred of

officer

his faithful

followers.

The

flationed

at

the

door of his apartment immediately comof

Cilicia,

municated his

flight to the confular

who

overtook him in

the fuburbs, and endeavoured, without fuccefs, to diffuade profecuting his rafh and dangerous defign.
to purfue the royal fugitive
;

him from

legion

was ordered

but

the purfuit of infantry could

;

not be very alarming to a body of light cavalry

firft

and upon the

air,

cloud of arrows that was difcharged into the

precipitation
to

they re-

treated with
cefi'ant

the gates of Tarfus.

tVv'O

After an in-

march of two days and

which they were obliged
lofs.

nights, Para
;

and

his

Arme-

nians reached the banks of the Euphrates

river,

but the paffage of the

to fwiin,

was attended with fome.

alarmed
;

delay and fome

roads,

The country

w\is

and the two

had

which were only feparated by an

of a count and a tribune.

interval of three miles,

been occupied by a thoufand archers on horfeback, under the com-

mand

Para mull have yielded to fuperior

force, if the accidental arrival of a friendly traveller

had not revealed

the danger, and the means of efcape.

dark and almoft imperv^ious

;

path fecurely conveyed the Armenian troop through the thicket Para had
tiently
left

and

behind him the count and the tribune, while they pahis

expeded

approach along the public highways.

They

re-

Vox. IL

turned

<r4<^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

'
ti-'^J^ed

vv'^^

to the Impericil court to excufe their

want of diligence
Armenia,

or fuca

<

-.,.-,^

cefs

and

feriqufly alleged, that the king of

who was

fkilfiil

magician, had transformed himfelf and his followers,

and

pafled before their eyes under a borrowed fhape.

to his native

After his return

kingdom, Para

ftill

continued to profefs himfelf the friend

and

ally

of the Romans; but the

Romans had

injured

him

too deeply

ever to forgive, and the fecret fentence of his death was figned in
the council of Valens.

The

execution of the bloody deed was

;

com-

mitted to the fubtle prudence of Count Trajan

and he had the

merit of infmuating himfelf into the confidence of the credulous

prince, that he might find an opportunity of flabbing
heart.

him

to the

Para was invited to a

all

Roman

banquet, which had been pre-

pared with

the

pomp and

fcnfuality of the Eaft: the hall re-

founded with cheerful mufic, and the company was already heated

with wine

when

the count retired for an inftant,

drew

his fword,

and gave the

inftantly

fignal of the mui^der.

A robuft
;

and defperate Barbarian

and though he bravely
offered to his

rufhed on the king of Armenia

life

defended his
A. D. 374.

with the

firft

weapon

that chance

hand, the table of the Imperial general was ftained with the royal blood
of a gueft, and an
ally.

Such were the weak and wicked maxims

of the

Roman

adminiftrarion, that to attain a doubtful objet of politlie

tical intereft,. lity,

the laws of nations, and

facred rights of hofpita''^

were inhumanly violated in the face of the world

interval

v. The DaConqiiefts of

V. During a peaceful
curcd their
frontiers,

of thirty years, the I^omans

their

fe--

and the Goths extended

dominions.

Heraaaric.

^j^^ yidlories of the great

Hermanric "\ king of the Oilrogoths,

and'

"' See
liiin

in

Ammianus
;

{xx\. i.)

the ad-

afterwards
nia,

made himfelf popular

in

Arme-

ventures of Para.
Tiridates

Mofes of Chorene calls and tells a long, and not

;

improbable, ftory of his fon Gnelus

who

and provoked the jealoufy of the reigning king (1. iii. c. 21, &c. p. 253, &c.)'* The concife account of the reign and
Conquef[

OF THE
and the moft noble of the
and almoft

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
by

547
C H a
XX. Vt
p.

race of the Amali, have been compared,

the enthufiafm of his countrymen, to the exploits of Alexander: with

this lingular,

incredible, difference, that the martial fpirit of

the Gothic hero, inftead of being fupported

was difplayed
life
;

by the vigour of youth,

with glory and fuccefs in the extreme period of

between the age of fourfcore and one hundred aad ten

tribes

human years. The

independent

were perfuaded, or compelled,,

to

acknowledge
;

the king of the Oftrogoths as the foA'-ereign of the Gothic nation the chiefs of the Vifigoths, or Thervingi, renounced the royal

title,

and aflumed the more humble appellation of Judges ; and, among

thofe judges, Athanaric, Fritigern, and Alavivus, were the moft
luftrious,
il-

by

their perfonal merit,' as well as

by

their vicinity to the

Roman
military

provinces.

Thefe domeftic conquefts, which increafed the

his ambitious defigns.
;

power of Hermanric, enlarged

whole names and

He

invaded the adjacent countries of the North

nations,

and twelve confiderable

limits cannot be accurately defined, fuc-

ceffively yielded to the fuperiority of the

Tuli,

Gothic arms

'*'.

Th^He-

\A\o inhabited the marfhy lands near the lake M^EOtis, were
for their ftrength

renowned

and

agility

and the

affiftance 'Of their

light-infantry

was eagerly

folicited,

and highly efteemed,

fpirit

in

all

the

wars of the Barbarians.

But the adlive

of the Heruli Avas fub;

dued by the flow and fteady perfeverance of the Goths

a bloody ation, in which the king was
flain,

and, after

the remains of that

warlike tribe became an ufeful acceflion to the

camp of Hermanric.

conquefts of Hennanric, feems to be one of

nations Tubdued by the arms of Hermanric.

the
{c.

which Jornandes 28.) borrowed from the Gothic hiftories

valuable

fragments

of Ablavius, or
'**

Cafliodorius.
(Hift.
p.

M.

de Euat
torn.
vi.

des Peuples de

He denies the exiftence of the Vajlvohrottcee, on account of the immoderate length of their nr>me. Yet the French envoy to Ratillion, or Drefden, mull: have travcrfed the country
oi x\z Mediomairid.

I'Europe,

31

329.)

invelli-

gates, with

more indullry than

fuccefs, the

He

54S
C H A XXV. V
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

He
then marched aeauift the Venedi ^
their
: '

unikilled in the ufe of arms, *

_
_

>

and formidable only by

numbers, which

filled

the wide extent

of the plains of modern Poland.

The

victorious Goths,

who were

not inferior in numbers, prevailed in the contefl, by the deciiivc

advantages of exercife and difcipline.

After the fubmilTion of the

refiftance, as far as the
is ftill

Venedi, the conqueror advanced, without

confines of the ^ftii
'*''
;

an ancient people, whofe name

pre-

ferved in the province of Efthonia.

Baltic coafl

Thofe

diftant inhabitants of the

were fupported by the labours of agriculture, enriched by

the trade of amber, and confecrated by the peculiar worfhip of the

Mother of the Gods.

of that wealthy country
the arms, of Hermanric.

But the

fcarcity of .iron obliged the iEdian

;

warriors to content themfelves with v/ooden clubs

is

and the reduflion

afcribed to the prudence, rather than to

His dominions, which extended from the

and the recent acgreateft part of

Danube

to the Baltic, included the native feats,

quifitions, of the

Goths

and he reigned over the

Germany and

Scythia with the authority of a conqueror, and femea tyrant.

times with the cruelty of

But he reigned over a part ci

its
liis

the globe incapable of perpetuating and adorning the glory of

heroes.

The name

of Hermanric

is

almoft buried in oblivion

exploits are imperfectly

known

and the Romans themfelves ap-

peared unconfcious of the progrefs of an afpiring power, which

threatened the liberty of the North, and the peace of the empire'*'.

The
the^

caufe of

The Goths had

pgj-j^^i

contraled an hereditary attachment for the

liberality

Im-

Gothic

houfe of Conftantine, of whofe power and

they had
:

A. D. 366.

j-eceived fo

many

fignal proofs.

They refpeded
'*'
^^..^\
.

the public peace

'*'

The

edition

of Grotiiis

(Jornandes,

Ammianus
ttxm%:
^''

(xxxi. 3.) obferves, in genobiliffimi

fortiter fadla,

Bat p. 642.) exhibits the name oi ^ftri. reafon, ai:d t!ie Ambrofian MS. have reftored the^y?;7,
tier,

Ernienrichi
.

whofe manners and

f.tua-

^^'-

P"

multa vanaque &c.

are

expre.Ted by the pencil of Tacitus

vicinis gentibus formidati,

(Germania, c.45.).

and

OF THE
and
if

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
Roman
limit,

549

an hoftilc band fometimes prefumed to pafs the

CHAP.
XXV

their irregular
fpirit

condiid was candidly afcrlbed

to the

ungovernable

of the Barbarian youth.

Their contempt for two new and

a

obfcure princes,

who had

been raifed to the throne by

;

popular

eledion, infpired the Goths with bolder hopes

agitated

and, while they

fome dcfign of marching

'*'^,

their confederate force

under the

national ftandard

they were eafily temj)ted to embrace the party

to foment,

of Procopius

and

by

their dangerous aid, the civil dif-

cord of the Romans.

The
:

public treaty might flipulate no

more

than ten thoufand auxiliaries

but the defign was fo zealoufly adopted

by

the chiefs of the Vifigoths, that the

to the

army which
thoufand

paffed the

nube amounted

number of

thirty

men

'*'.

DaThey

marched with the proud confidence,

that their invincible valour

;

would decide the

fate

of the

Roman

empire

and the provinces of

Thrace groaned under the w^eight of the Barbarians,

who

difplayed

the infolence of mailers, and the licentioufnefs of enemies.

But the
;

intemperance which gratified their appetites, retarded their progrefs

and before the Goths could receive any

defeat

certain intelligence of the

hoftile ftate

and death of Procopius, they perceived, by the

civil

of the couatry, that the

his fuccefsful rival.

and military powers were refumed by

fls;ilfally

chain of ports and fortifications,

dif-

pofed by Valens,

or the generals of Valens,

rcfifted their

march,
fierce:

prevented their

retreat,

and intercepted

their fubfiftence.

The

nefs of the Barbarians

was tamed and fufpended by himger

numerous
and the
'*'

they

indignantly threw dovvn their arms at the feet of the conqueror, wdio
offered

them food and-chains

all

the
;

captives

were

diftri-

buted in
'*+

the cities of the Eaft

provincials,

who were

Valens .... docetur relationibus Duin-

M.

de Beat (Hift. desPeuples de !'Eu-

cum, gentem Gothorum, ea tempeftate

ad
pervadenc.am
'^
, ,

., r -nconlpirantem ; taflam ideoque Ixviiiimam, ^r.,;,.o,^. in

rope, urn. vi. p. 332) has curloufly afcertained the real number of tliefe auxiliaries.

uniim,

pnrari

...... coluinitia
,

The 3000

of Ammianus, and the 10,000 of

i
1

Thraciarum.

Ammian.

xxvi. 6.

Zofimus, were only the Gothic army.

firft

c n

divifions of the

/-

foon

550

THE DECLINE AND FALL

foon familiarized with their favage appearance, ventured, by degrees,
to

'

CHAP,
;

meafure their
fo

own

ftrength with thefe formidable adverfaries,

terror.

whofe

name had
thia (and

long been the objedt of their

The king

of Scy-

Hermanric alone could deferve

fo lofty a title)

was grieved

and exafperated by
complained,
at

this national calamity.

His ambafladors loudly

the court of Valens, of the infratIon of the ancient

and folemn

alliance,

which had

fo

long fubfifted between the

Romans

and the Goths.

allies,

They

alleged, that they

had

fulfilled

the duty of
;

by

alFifting the

kinfman and fucceflbr of the emperor Julian

;

they required the immediate reftitution of the noble captives

and

they urged a veiy fmgular claim, that the Gothic generals, marching
in arms, and in hoftile array, were entitled to the facred charadter

and ^pivileges of ambafiadors.

fufal

The

decent,

but peremptory, re-

of thefe extravagant demands, was fignified to the Barbarians

maftcr-general of the cavalry
the juft complaints
;

by

Vidtor,

who

exprefled,

with

force

and dignity,

'Eall'*^

The

negociation

Emperor of the was interrupted; and the manly exof the

"*'.

hortations of Valentinian encouraged his timid brother to vindicate

the infulted majefty f the empire

Hoftilities,

The

fplendour

and

magnitude of

this
:

Gothic war are celethe

A. D.

'367,

brated by a

contemporary hiftorian

'*'

but

events fcarcely

3 3, 369.

deferve the attention of pofterity, except as the preliminary fteps

of the approaching decline an<l

ing the nations of
''''

fall

of the empire.

Inftead of lead-

Germany and
rubfcquent negocia-

Scythia to the banks of the

ciiffit

DaAm-

The march, and

in

Gothos ratione

jufta permotus.

tion, are defcribed in the

Fragments of Eu-

niianus (xxvii. 4.) then proceeds to defcribe,

napius (Excerpt. Lcgat. p. 18. edit. Louvre), The provinci.ils, who afterwards became familiar with the Earbarians, found that their
ftrength was

not the country of the Goths, but the pe.nce-

more apparent than

;

real.

They

and obedient province of Thrace, which was net afFefted by the war. '*^ Eunapius, in Excerpt. Legat. p. 18,
ful as one

were
'*'

tall

of llature

but their

clun-jfy,

and their

flioulders

were were narrow.

legs
'

fratri,

Valens enim,' ut confulto placuerat cujui regebatur aibitrio, arma con-

fophiH inu:l have confidered and the fame war, the whole feries of Gothic hiftory till the victories and peace of
19.

The Greek

Thcodofius.

uube,

OF THE

ROMAN
who

EMPIRE.
C

551

nube, or even to the gates of Conftantinopic, the aged monarch of

the Goths refigned to the brave Athanaric the danger and glory of a
defenfive war, againft an enemy,

H a

p..

wielded with a feeble hand the

powers of

mighty

ftate.

A bridge of boats

was

eltablifhed
;

upon the
his ig-

Danube

the prefence of Valens animated his troops

art

and

norance of the

of war was compenfated by perfonal bravery, and

a wife deference to the advice of Viftor and Arintheus, his mafters-

general of the cavalry and infantry'.

v/ere conducted

The

operations of the campaign

;

by

their fkill

and experience

but they found

it

im-

poflible to drive the Vifigoths

from

their ftrong pofts in the

mounincef-

tains

and the devaftation of the plains obliged the Romans them-

felves to repafs the

Danube on

the approach of winter.

The

fant rains,

which fwelled the waters of the

river, producedjta tacit

fufpenfion of arms, and confined the emperor Valens, during the whole
courfe of the enfuing fummer, to his
third year of the

camp of Marcianapolis.
to the

The

war was more favourable

Romans, and more

pernicious to the Goths.

The

interruption of trade deprived the

Barbarians of the objeds of luxury, which they already confounded

with the neceflaries of

tral of

life

and the defolation of

a very extenfive

country threatened them with the horrors of famine.

to
rifk.

Athaloft,

naric

was provoked, or compelled,

;

a battle,

which he

in

the plains

and the purfuit was rendered more bloody by the cruel

precaution of the vidtorious generals, .who had promifed a laVge re-

ward

for the

head of every Goth, that was brought into the Imperial

fubmiflion of the Barbarians appeafed the refentment of
;

camp.

The

Valens and his council

flattering

the emperor liftened with fatisfaftion to the

and eloquent remonftrance of the fenate of Conftantinople,

for the
iirfl:

which affumed,
and the fame

time, a fliare in the public deliberations

generals, Vidtor

and Arintheus,

who had

fuccefsfully

directed the conduit of the war, were

empowered

to regulate the

conditions of peace.
2.

The freedom of

trade, v/hich the

Goths had.
hitherto;

552

THE DECLINE AND FALL

hitherto enjoyed,

CHAP,

was reftrided

to

two

cities

on

the

Danube

the

uV-1-;

rafhnefs of their leaders

their
lated

was feverely punillied by the fuppreffion of and the exception, which was llipupenfions and fubfidics in favour of Athanaric alone, was more advantageous than
;

honourable to the Judge of the Vifigoths.

Athanaric, who, on this

occafion, appears to have confulted his private intereft, without ex-

pecting the orders of his fovereign, fupported his

,

own

dignity,

and

"that of his tribe, in the perfonal interview

which was propofed by

it

the minifters of Valcns.

He

perfifled in his declaration, that

t4ie
;

was

impoffible for him, without incurring

fet his foot

guilt of perjury, ever to

on the

territory of the empire

and

it is

more than pro-

bable, that his regard for the fandlity of an oath

was confirmed by

the recent and fatal exam.ples of

Roman

treachery.

The Danube,
nations,

which

feparated the dominions of the

two independent

was

chofen for the fcene of the conference.

The Emperor of

the Eaft,

and the Judge of the Vifigoths, accompanied by an equal number

of armed followers, advanced in their refpedlive barges
of the flream.
to the

middle

After the ratification of the treaty, and the delivery

;

of hoftages, Valens returned in triumph to Conftantinople

and the
till

Goths remained

in a ftate of tranquillity about fix years

they

were violently impelled againft the

merable hoft of Scythians,
regions of the North
'"'.

Roman

empire, by an innuifiue

who

appeared to

from the frozen

War

of the

Sarmatians,

The Emperor Command of the

of the Weft,
Lovv'er

who had

refigned to his brother the

for his

Danube, referved
greateft of the

immediate care the

A. D- 37+-

defence of the Rha;tian and lUyrian provinces, which fpread fo

many
active

hundred miles along the

''

European

rivers.

The

The Gothic war

(x.xvji. 5.),

is

defcribed by
(1. iv.

mianus
214.),
141.).

Zofimus

p.

and Themiftius

(Orat. x. p.

Am211 129

quence compares Valens on the Danube,

Achilles in the Scamander.
gets a

to

Jornatides for-

The

orator Themiftius was fcnt from

inglorious
Hift,

the fenate of Conftantinople to congratulate the victorious emperor

;

war peculiar to the /T/T-Goths, and to the Golhic name (Mafcou's cf the Germans, vii. 3.},

and

his

fervile elo-

policy

OF THE
policy
tifications to the fecurity

ROMAN
:

EMPIRE.
new
for-

S53

of Valentinian was continually employed in adding of the frontier

^^^

but the abufe of this policy

provoked the

juft refentment of the Barbarians.

The Quadi comhad been marked

fo

plained, that the

ground for an intended

;

fortrefs

out on their territories

and

their complaints

were urged with

much
ricum,

reafon and moderation, that Equitius, mafter-general of Illy-

confented to fufpend the profecution of the work,

till

he

fhould be more clearly informed of the will of his fovereign.

fair occafion

This
his

of injuring a

rival,

and of advancing the fortune of

fon,

was eagerly embraced by the inhuman Maximin, the

prsefefl:,

or rather tyrant, of Gaul.

tient of controul
;

The

paffipns of Valentinian

were impa-

and he creduloufly

liftened to the aflurances of his

favourite, that if the

government of Valeria, and the direlion of

the work, were entrufted to the zeal of his fon Marcellinus, the

emperor fhould no longer be importuned with the audacious remonftrances of the Barbarians.

The

fubjetls of

Rome, and

the natives

of Germany, were infulted by the arrogance of a young and worthlefs

minifter,

who

confidered his rapid elevation as the proof and re-

ward of

his fuperior merit.

He

affected,

however, to receive the

modeft application of Gabinius, king of the Quadi, with fome attention and regard
:

but this artful civility concealed a dark and

bloody defign, and the credulous prince was perfuaded to accept the
preffing invitation of Marc-ellinus.
I

am

at a

lofs

how

to

vary the
of the
table

narrative of fimilar crimes

or

how to

relate, that, in the courfe

fame year, but in remote parts of the empire, the inhofpitable

of two Imperial generals was flained with the royal blood of two
guefts

and

allies,

inhumanly murdered by

their order,

and

in their
:

prefence.

The

fate

of Gabinius, and of Para, was the fame

in a

but
dif-

the

cruel death

of their fovereign was refented

fervile

very

ferent manlier
free

by the
fpirit

temper of the Armenians, and

the

and daring
II.

of the Germans.

The Quadi were much declined

VoL.

4 B

554

THE DECLINE AND FALL

from
that formidable

CHAP.- clined
U-V

power, which, in the time of Marcus

-/

Antoninus, had fpread terror to the gates of Rome.

pofTeffed

But they

ftill

arms and courage

their courage

was animated by

dcfpalr,

and they obtained the ufual reinforcement of the cavalry of

Sarmatian
lie
allies.

their

So improvident was the

Firmus

affaflin Mai'cellinus, that

chofe the

moment when

the braveft veterans had been

;

drawn away,

to fupprefs the revolt of

and the whole province was ex-

pofed, with a very feeble defence, to the rage of the exafperated

Barbarians.

They invaded Pannonia

and

in the feafon of harveft

un-

mercifully deftroyed every object of plunder which they could not

eafily tranfport
fortifications.
;

either difregavded, or

demoUHied, the empty

The

princefs Conftantia,

the daughter of the em^-

peror Conftantius, and the grand-daughter of the great Conftantine,

very narrowly efcaped.

That royal

maid,

who had

innocently

fupported the revolt of Procopius, was

heir of the Weftern empire.

now
Her

the deftined wife of the

She traverfed the peaceful province

train.

with a fplendid and unarmed

perfon was faved from

danger, and the republic from difgrace, by the adlive zeal of

falla,

Mef-

governor of the provinces.

flie

As foon

as

he was informed that

the village, where

flopped only to dine, was almoft encompafled

his,

by

the Barbarians,
full

he haftily placed her in

own

chariot,

and

drove
at the

fpeed

till

he reached the gates of Sirmium, which were

diftance of fix

and twenty
if

miles.

Even Sirmium might

diligently

not have been fecure,

the

Quadi and Sarmatians had

confternation

advanced

during

the

general

of the

magiftrates
praefeft,

and people.

Their delay allowed Probus, the Prxtorian

fafEcient time to recover his

own

fpirits,

and to revive the courage

of the

citizens.

He

fkilfully direfied their ftrenuous efforts to re;

pair and ftrengthen the decayed fortifications feafonable and effctual affiftance of a

and procured the

archers, to pro-

company of

ted the

capital

of the lUyrian provinces.

Difappointed in their at-

tempts

OF THE
their

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
frontier, to

sss

tempts againft the walls of Sirmium, the indignant Barbarians turned ^

^^
^

^'

arms againft the mafter-gencral of the

whom

they

unjuflly attributed the

into

murder of

their king.

Equitius could bring

;

the field no

more than two

they
difputed

legions

but

they contained

the veteran ftrength of the Mnefian and Pannonian bands.

obftinacy with

The
while

which

the vain

honours
;

of rank

and precedency,
they adled
furprifed
horfe.

was the caufe of

their deftrudion

and,

with feparate forces and divided councils,

they were

and flaughtered by the aftive vigour of the Sarmatian

The

fuccefs of
;

this

invafion provoked the emulation

of

the
libly

bordering tribes

and the province of Ma^fia would

if

infal-

have been

loft,

young Theodofius,
had not

the duke, or military

commander, of the
public

frontier,

fignalifed, in the defeat

of the

enemy, an

intrepid genius,
"'".

worthy of

his illuftrious father,

and of

his future greatnefs

The mind
affedted

of Valentinian,
calamities of

who

then refided
;

at

Treves, was deeply The

""'

expedi-

by the

lUyricum

but the latenefs of the feafon

till

fufpended the execution of his defigns

the enfuing fpring.

He
Gaul, of

A.D.

375,

marched

in perfon, with a confiderable part of the forces of

:

from the banks of the Mofelle

the Sarmatiaas,

and

to the fuppliant ambaftadors

who met him on

the

way, he returned a doubtful

Sirmium, he gave
;

anfwer, that, as foon as he reached the fcene of adion, he fliould

examine, and pronounce.

When

he arrived

at

audience to the deputies of the Illyrian provinces

gratulated their
'

who

loudly- con-

own

felicity
"".

under the aufpicious government of ProValentinian,

bus, his Praetorian praefeft

who was

flattered

by

thefe

demonftrations
"
(1. iv.

Ammianus
p.

(xxix.

6.)

and Zofimus

afperity, the oppreflive adminiftration of Pe-

219, 2ZO.)

carefully

mark

the

origin and progrefs of the

Quadic and Sar-

tronius Probus, When Jerom tranflated, and continued, the Chronicle of Eufebius

matian war.
'5"

(A. D. 380.
(xxx.
5.),

See Tillemont,
53.

Mem.

Ecclef.

Ammianus

who acknow-

tom.

xii.

p.

ledges the merit, has cenfured, with becoming

truth, or at leaft

he expreffed the the public opinion of his

626.),

4 B 2

country.

^^6

THE DECLINE AND

deputy of Epirus,
ther he
a

FALL
fincerity "^,
?

CHAP,

demonftrations of their loyalty and gratitude, imprudently afked the

Cynic philofopher of intrepid

whetears

was

freely fent
I

by the

wiflies of the province

" With

" and groans am

fent
:

(replied Iphicles)

by

a reluctant people."

The emperor
the pernicious

paufed

but the impunity of his minifters eftablilhed

that they

maxim,

might opprefs

his fubjefts,

without

injuring his fervice.

relieved

A ftridt

inquiry into their

condud would have

the public

difcontent.

The

fevere

condemnation of the

murder of Gabinius, w^s the only meafure which could reftore the confidence of the Germans, and vindicate the honour of the Roman
name. But the haughty monarch was incapable of the magnanimity
to

which dares

acknowledge a
injury,

fault.

He

forgot the provocation,

remembered only the

and advanced into the country of the

of blood and revenge.

Quadi with an

infatiate thirft

The extreme
were
jufti-

devaftation, aiid promifcuous maflacre, of a favage war,

fied,

in the eyes of the emperor,

and perhaps
:

in thofe of the world,

difcipline

by
the

the cruel equity of

retaliation '"

and fuch was the

of

Romans, and the confternation of the enemy, that Valentinian As he had repafled the Danube without the lofs of a fmgle man.
refolved to complete the deftruilion of the

Quadi by a fecond cam-

paign, he fixed his winter-quarters

the Hungarian city of Prefburgh.

at

Bregetio, on the Danube, near

While the operations of war were

and,
p..

fufpended by the feverity of the weather, the Quadi made an humble

attempt to deprecate the wrath of their conqueror
country, in the following words
:

at

the ear-

" Probus

^^^ Julian

(Orat.

vi.

198.) reprefenis
virtue

" " "

P. P. Illyrici iniquiffimis tributorum exaftionibus, ante provincias quas regebat,

his friend Iphicles as a

man of

merit,

who had made himfaif

ridiculous

and and

quani

Barbaris

vaflarentur,

era/it."

Animadverf. The Siint afterwards formed an p. 259.) intimate and tender friendthip with the widow of Proiius; and the name of Count Equitius, with lefs propriety, but without
(Chron.. edit. Scaiiger, p. 187.-

unhappy, by adopting the extravagant drefs and manners of the Cynics,

'^^

Ammian.
him even

x.xx. v.

Jerom, who exsgre-

gerates the misfortune of Valentinian,

fufes
this
laft

confolation of refolo,
i.

venge.

Genitali vallato

et

iniiham

muchinjuIUce, has been fubllituted in the

text,

patriaia derelinquens (torn.

p. 26.).

neii

OF THE
nefl:

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
.

557
^
, '

perfuafion of Equitlus, their ambafladors were introduced into

the Imperial council.

bodies,

They approached
;

the throne with bended

... ,

and dejected countenances

and, without daring to complain

vv^ith

of the murder of their king, they affirmed,

folemn oaths, that

the late invafion was the crime of fome irregular robbers, which the
public council of the nation

condemned and abhorred.

little

The anfwer
clemency or
their

of the emperor
eompaffion.

left

them but

to

hope from

his

He

reviled, in

the moft intemp-erate language,

bafenefs, their ingratitude, their infolence.

His
;

eyes, his voice, his

colour, his geftures, e.Kprefled the violence of his ungoverned fury

and, while his whole frame was agitated with convulfive paflion, a
large blood-veffel fuddenly burft in his
fpeechlcfs into the

body

and Valentinian

fell

arms of

his attendants.

Their pious care imme:

diately concealed his fituation

from the crowd

in

but, in a

few miand death, of

nutes, the

Emperor of the Weft expired

till

an agony of pain, refuccefs, to

taining his fenfes

the

laft

and ftruggling, without

declare his intentions to the generals and minifters,

who

furrounded
;

a. D. 375,
,.i,'^"'^'^

the royal couch.

Valentinian was about

fifty- four

years of age

and he wanted only one hundred days

of his reign
'".

to accomplifh the twelve years

The polygamy
aftical

of Valentinian

is

ferioufly attefted
(I relate

by an

ecclefi-

The empe'^'^
'^/^^'^^^-l

hiftorian "\

"

The emprefs Severa

the fable) ad-

" mifted into her familiar fociety the lovely Juftina, the daughter
ginal wifnefs of this foolifh ftory, fo repug-

'"^"

^^

'5*

See,

on the death of Valentinian,

(xxx.6.). Zofnnus
(1. iv. p.

Ammianus
Viftor (in

2zi.),

nant
^^^^

Epitom.), Sorrates (1. iv. c 31.). and Jerom (in Chron. p. 187, and torn. i. I'here is mjch vap. 26. ad Heliodor.).
riety

and manners of the Romans, the fcrmal and elaborate diflertation of iVI. Bonamy (Mem.de
to the laws
"t

fcarcely defrrve

I'Academie, torn. xxx.

I

p. 394--

405.).

Yet
of

of circumftances
is

among them
that

and
vviites

would

j^reierve the natural circumllance

;

Amnilanu's
Bonfenfe.
'*'

fo

eloquen",

he

the bnth

inflead of following Zofimus,

who

reprcfents Juftina as an old

(I.

woman,

the wi-

Socrates

iv,

0.31.)

is

the only ori-

do.v of Magnentiiis.

a.

558

THE DECLINE AND FALL

her admiration of thofe naked charms, aii Italian governor " which fhe had often feen in the bath, was expreffed with fuch " lavifh and imprudent praife, that the emperor was tempted to
:

CHAP, "of XXV.

*'

introduce a fccond wife into his bed

and

his public edict ex-

" tended to all the fubjeds of the empire, the fame domeftic privi" lege, which he had affumed for himfelf." But we may be aflured,

from the evidence of reafon,

as well as hiflory, that the

two marri-

ages of Valentinian, with Severa, and with Juftina, wtrt fuccejjivcly

contracted
;

and that he ufed the ancient permiffion of divorce, which

it

was

ftill

allowed by the laws, though

was condemned by the church.

to unite every claim

Severa was the mother of -Gi-atian,

who feemed

which could
empire.

entitle

him

to the

undoubted fucceflion of the Weflern

He

was

the eldeft fon of a

monarch, whofe glorious

reign had confirmed the free and honourable choice of his fellowfoldiers.

Before he had attained the ninth year of his age,

the

royal youth received from the hands of his indulgent father the

purple robe and diadem, with the

title

of Auguflus

the election

was folemnly

ratified

by the content and applaufe of the armies of

to the

Gaul

"'*
;

and the name of Gratian was added

and Valens, in
all

names of Va-

lentinian

the legal tranfations of the

Roman go-

vernment.
tine, the fon

By
;

his

marriage with the grand-daughter of Conftanall

of Valentinian acquired

the hereditary rights of the

Flavian family

which, in a

feries

of three Imperial generations,

were fandified by time,

religion,

and the reverence of the people.

At

the death of his father, the royal youth

;

was

in the feventeenth

year of his age

and

his virtues already juftified the favourable opi-

nion of the army and people.

But Gratian
;

refided,

without appre-

henfion, in the palace of Treves

"* Ammianus
form of
veftiture.

whilfl, at the diftance of

many

(xxvii.

6.)

defcribes

the

confuJted,

or even informed, the fenate of

this military e'.eftion,

and augujl inValentinian does not appear to have

Rome.

liundred

OF TH^E
hundred

ROMAN
fo

EMPIRE.
camp of Bregeand
art-

559
^
v-

miles, Valentinian fuddenly expired in the

rr-11

tio.

The

pafTions,

which had .'been

long fuppreffed by the pre;

.r
XX-V
%

^^ ^/ P'

fence of a mafter, immediately revived in the Imperial council

the ambitious defign of reigning in the

fully executed

name of an
bands.

infant,

was

by Mellobaudes and-

Equitius,

who commanded
They
leaders,

the

attachment of the Illyrian and

Italian-

contrived the

moft honourable pretences to remove the popular

troops of Gaul,
fucceffor
:

and the

who might

have

aiTerted the claims

of the lawful

they fuggefted the neceffity of extinguifliing the hopes of

foreign and domeftic enemies,

by
left

a bold and decifive mcafure.

in a palace about

The

emprefs Juftina,

who had been

one hundred miles

from Bregetio, was

refpedtfully invited to appear in the

camp, with

the fon of the deceafed emperor.

On

the fixth day after the death

of Valentinian, the infant prince of the fame name,

who was
titles

only

four years old, was fliewn, in the arms of his mother, to the legions j

and folemnly

invefted,

by

military acclamation, with the

and

enfigns of fupreme power.

The impending

dangers of a

civil

war

were feafonably prevented by the wife and moderate conduit of the

emperor Gratian.
declared,

He
;

cheerfully accepted the choice of the

army

that he fhould always confider the fon of Juftina as a

brother, not as a rival

and advifed the emprefs, with her fon Va-

lentinian, to fix their refidence at Milan, in the fair

and peaceful

province of Italy

while he afTumed the more arduous

command of

the countries beyond the Alps.

till

Gratian diflembled his refentment

;

he could fafely punifh, or difgrace, the authors of the confpiracy

and though he uniformly behaved with tendernefs and regard

to his

infant colleague, he gradually confounded, in the adminiftration of

the Weftern empire, the office of a guardian with the authority of a

fovereign.

The government of
names of Valens and
5

the

Roman

world was exercifed in

;

the united

his

two nephews

but the feeble

Emperor

s6o
^ vvt AAV,
^'
*

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Emperor of the
Weft
'".

Eaft,

who

fucceeded to the rank of his elder brother,

in

never obtained any weight or influence

the councils

of

the

p.

lo. Zofimus, I. iv. Tillemont lias proved (Hift. des Empercurs, toni. v. p. 707

'" Ammianns, xxx.

222,
223.

and Illyricum.
nions, as he ufed

have endeavoured
in

to

ex-

prcfs his authority over his brother's

it,

domillyle.

an ambiguous

yog.), that Graiian r^>;V in Italy, Africa,

CHAP.

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

561

II

P.

XXVI.

Manners of
fro?/t

the PaJIoral
to

Natmis.

China

Europe.

pafs the Danube.

Vale7:s.

Gratian Empire His CharaEicr and

i?ivefls

Progrefs of the Huns-,

Flight

Gothic IVar.

Iheodofus with the Eaflern

Succefs.

Defeat and Death of

Peace a?2d
/Set-

of the Goths.

They

tlement of the Goths.

N
of the
quake.
fliores

the fecond year of the reign of Valentinian and Valcns, on

^ -^vw^" A. A. V i
'

the

morning of the twenty-firft day of July, the

greateft part

'

Roman world was fhaken by a violent and The impreffion was communicated to
of the Mediterranean were
;

deftrudtive earth- quake?,

the

waters

the

jJiy

\\^/

left

dry,

by the fudden

retreat

of

the fea
veflels

great quantities of fifh

were caught with the hand ; large

;

were ftranded on the

mud

and a curious fpedlator

'

amufeJ

his eye, or rather his fancy,

by contemplating

the various appearance

ftnce the formation
tide

of

vallies

and mountains, which had never,

of

the globe, been expofed to the fun.

But the
irrefiftible

foon returned,

with the weight of an immenfe and

fevei"ely felt

deluge,

which was

on the

coafts

of

Sicily,

of Dalmatla, of Greece, and of

Egypt

large boats

were tranfported, and lodged on the roofs of

houfes, or at the dlftance of

'

two
(xxvi.

miles

from the

fliore

the people,

Such
liis

is

the bad tafte of

Ammianus

firms, that he faw the rotten carcafe

10.), -that

it is

not eafy to diftinguifli hisfafts

Kd/ecunu'iim lapidetn, at
in Peloponnefus.

of a fhip, Methoue, or Modon,

from

metaphors.
II.

Yet he

pofitively

af-

Voi.

with

562
^?v^i^" XXVI.
'^'^^^^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

their habitations,

were fwept away by the waters; and the

fatal

city
fifty

of Alexanduia annually commemorated the

thoufand perfons had
loft'

day, on which.

their lives in the inundation.

This

calamity, the report of

which was magnified from one province to

another, aftonifhed and terrified the fubjedts of

Rome

and

their
evil..

affrighted imagination enlarged the real extent of a

momentary

They recolIeted
cities

the preceding earthquakes,

which had fubverted the

of

Paleftlne

and Bithynl'a
ftill

they confidered thefe alarming

dreadful calamities, and their

ftrokes as the prelude only of

fearful vanity

more

was difpofed

to

confound the fymptoms of a declining

It

empire, and a finking world \

was the

fafliion

of the times, to

attribute every remarkable event to the particular will of the

Deity

;.

the alterations of nature were connedted,

the

by an

invifible chain,
;

with

moral and metaphyfical opinions of the human mind

and

the moft fagacious divines could diftinguifh, according to the colour

of their refpedtive prejudices, that the eftablifhment of herefy tended

to produce an earthquake
;

or that a deluge

was the

inevitable con-

fequence
ing
the
to

of the progrefs
difcufs

of

fin

and

error.

Without prefumfpeculations,

the truth

or propriety of thefe lofty

hiftorian

may

content

himfelf with
that

an

obfervation,

which

feems to be
to fear

juftified

by experience,

man

has

much more
effects

from the

paffions

of his fellow-creatures, than from the

'.

convulfions

of the

elements

The

mifchievous
the
eruption,

of aa

earthquake, or deluge, a hurricane, or

of a volcano,

'^

The

earthquakes and
nece,

inundations are
in Fabricius,

varioufly defcribed by Libanius (Orat. de u!-

cifcenda Juliani
Bibl.

c.

x.

Grac.
(1.

torn. vii. p. 158.

with a learned
iv.

note of Olearius), Zofimus

(I.

p. zzi.),
p.
1

prudent citizens placed St. Kilarion, an Egyptian monk, on the heach. He made the fign of the crofs. The mountain wave flopped, bowed, and returned, Peripatetic, corapofed ^ Dicsarchus, tfie
a formal treatife, to prove this obvious truth
;

Sozomen

vi.

c. 2.),

Ccdrenus
p.

31c.

and Epidautom. i. p. 250. in Vit. Hilarion.). rus mull have been overwhelmed, had not the
314.), and

Jerom

(in

Chron.

86.

which

is

not the moft honourable to the huii,

man

fpecies (Cicero, de Officiis,

5.).

bear
k.

OF THE
of war
;

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

355
^Jf,-^
^'

bear a very inconfiderable proportion to the ordinary calamities

as

they are

of the princes

now moderated by the prudence or humanity of Europe, who amufe their own leifure, and exercife
art.

c ^ -

~j

the courage of their fubjeds, in the practice of the mihtary

But the laws and manners of modern nations protecl the

freedom of the vanquiflied
foldier
;

fafety

and

and the peaceful

life,

citizen has
is ex*^

fcldom reafon to complain, that his

pofed to the rage of war.

or even his fortune,

fall

In the difaflrous period of the

of the

Roman
tacked
;

empire, which

may

jufdy be dated from the reign of Valens,

the happinefs and fecurity of each individual were perfonally at-

and the

arts

and labours of ages were rudely defaced by the

Barbarians of Scythia and Germany.

precipitated

The

invafion of the

Huns
At-

The Huns
a. D. 376*

on the provinces of the Weft the Gothic nation, which

lefs

advanced, in
lantic,

than forty years, from the Danube to the

and opened a way, by the

fuccefs of their arms, to the intliemfelves.

roads of fo

many

hoftile tribes,

more favage than

The
of the

original principle of

motion was concealed in the remote countries of

life

the North; and the curious obfervation of the paftoral

Scythians % or Tartars ^ will

ftruQive emigrations.

illuftrate

the latent caufe of thefe de-

The
globe,
fo

different charadlers

that

mark

the civilized nations of the The

;

paftoral

may

be afcribed to the ufe, and the abufe, of reafon

artificially

which

theScythians,

varioufly fliapes, and fo

compofes, the manners and

or Tartars.

opinions of an
*
(1.

European, or a Chinefe.

But the operation of

and
at

The
iv. c.

original

Scythians of

47

57.

99

loi.)

Herodotus were confined

.

tlve tribe, the rivals,

jcfts,

length the fub-

of

tlie

Moguls.

In the viftorious ar-

by the Danube and the Palus Masotis, within a fquare of 4000 ftadia (400 Roman miles). See d'Anville, Mem. de TAcidemie, torn,
XXXV.
p.
i.
1.

mies of Zingis Khan, and his fucceffors, the

573
ii.

571.).
p.

Dicdorus

Siculus

^tom.

155. edit. WeAeling) has

and the name. ; which firft reached the ears of foreigners, was applied to the whole nation (Freret, in the Hill, de TAcademie, torn, xviii. p. 60.).
In fpeaking of
all,

Tartars formed the vanguard

marked
3iation.
5

the gradual progrefs of the

name and

or any, of the northern

Ihepherds of Europe, or Afia, I indifferently

Tatars, or Tartars, were a primiufe the appellations of
5fy.'/'/rtj,

The

or Tarr^jro.

4 C

inftina

564
^J?,"^^'
inftlnd
eafier
is

THE DECLINE AND FALL

more
fure

and fimple than that of reafon

appetites
;

it

is

much

to afcertain the

of a quadruped, than the fpecutribes

lations

of a philofopher

and the favage

of mankind, as

they approach nearer to the condition of animals, preferve a ftronger

refemblance to themfelves and to each other.

The uniform

ftabihty

of their manners,
their faculties.
defires,

is

the natural confequence of the imperfediion of

to a fimilar fituation,
ftill

Reduced

their wants, their

:

their enjoyments,

continue the fame

and the influence

ftate

of food or climate, which, in a more improved

fufpended, or fubdued, by fo

of fociety,

is

many

moral caufes, moil powerfully

contributes to form, and to maintain, the national charader of Barbarians.

In every age, the immenfe plains of Scythia, or Tartar}',

tribes

have been inhabited by vagrant

of hunters and fhepherds,

whofe indolence
fpirit
ao^e,

refufes to

cultivate the earth,

and whofe
life.

reftlefs

difdains

the

confinement

of a

fedentary

In

every

the Scythians, and Tartars, have been

renowned

for their in-

vincible courage,

and rapid conquefts.

The

thrones of Afia have

;

been repeatedly overturned by the fhepherds of the North

and their

arms have fpread

terror

and devaftation over the moft

fertile

and

warlike countries of Europe \

On
is

this

occafion,

as well

as

on

many

others, the fober hiftorian

;

forcibly

awakened from a

pleaf-

ing vifion

and

is

compelled, with fome reludance, to confefs, that

the paftoral manners,

tributes of peace
fierce

which have been adorned with the

fliireft

at-

and innocence, are much

life.

better adapted to the

illuilrate this

and

cruel habits of a military

To
I.

obferva-

tion, I fhall

now

proceed to confider a nation of fhepherds and of

warriors,, in the three important articles of,

Their

diet; II.

Their ha-

Imperium Afix

ter quaefivere

ipfi

per-

Hift.

Generale,

c.

156.), has abridged the

pctuo ab alicno Imperio, aut intafti, aut invifii, manfere. Since the time of Juftin
(ii,

Tartar conquefts.

Oft o'er the trembling nations from

afar,

2.)

they have multiplied this account.

p.

Has Scythia breath'd

war.

the living cloud of

Voltaire, in a few words (torn. x.

64.

bitation

OF THE
bitatlon
juftified
;

ROMAN
exerclfes.

EMPIRE.
narratives of antiquity are

s^S
^ ^^^,^'

and,

III.

Their

The

by the experience of modern times'; and the banks of

of the Volga, or of the Selinga, will indifferthe

the

Boryfthenes,

ently prefent

fame uniform fpedtacle

of fimilar

and native

manners
I.

The

corn,

or even the

i-ice,

which

conftitutes the ordinary

^'^^^

and wholefome food of a

the patient
toil

civilifed people,

can be obtained only by

of the happy favages,

of the hufbandman.
are

Some

who

dwell between the tropics,

plentifully nouriihed

by the

liberality

of nature
is

but in the climates of the North, a nation

flocks

of fhepherds
pradlitioners

reduced to their
art

and herds.

The

fkilful

of the medical

will determine (if they

are

abLhi-

to

determine)

how

far the

temper of the human mind

food
;

may

affeded by the ufe of animal, or of vegetable,

ther the
to

and whedcfervcs

common

aflbciatioh
in

of

carnivorous and cruel,

light

be confidered

any other
prejudice

than that of an innocent,

'.

perhaps a falutary,
that the

of humanity
is

Yet

if

it

be true,

fentiment

of compaffion

imperceptibly weakened by

the fight and practice of domeftic cruelty,

we may

obferve,

that

The

fourth

book of Herodotus
the moderns,

affords

'

The Uzbecks

are the moil altered

;

a curious, though imperfeft, portrait of the

Scythians.

their primitive inanners

f.on

i.

from by the profef;

Among

fcribe the uniform fcene, the

who deKhan of Khohis

of the Mahometan religion

and, 2. by

the pcfleflion of the cities and harvells of the

warefm,

Abulghazi Bahadur, expreffes

great Bucharia.
^

native feelings; and his Genealogical Hiflory of the 7a/r/ has been copioufly illuftrated by the French and Engl illi editors. Carpin, Afcelin,

II eft

certain

que

les

grands mangeurs de

viande font en general cruels et feroces plus que les autres hommes. Cette obfervation e!l de tous
feau,
les lieux,

and Rubruguis

(in

the Hift.

des

Voyages,

tr-m. vii,), rcprcfent the

Moguls of

bare Angloife
torn.
i.

eft

the fourteenth century.

To thefe g ides I have added Gerbillon, and the other jefuits (Defcription de la Chine, par du Halde, torn, iv.), who accurately furveyed the Chiand that honeft and intellinefe Tartary
:

et de tous les tems la barconnue,&c. EmiledeRoufWhatever we may p. 274.

.

think of the general obfervation,

lue. fliall

not cafily allow the truth of his example,

gent traveller Bell, of Antermony (two volumes in 4to. Glafgow, i-/6;^.).

6.

The good-natured complaints of Plutarch, and thepatheticlamentations of Ovid, feduce our reafon, by exciting our fenfibility.
the

566

THE DECLINE AND FALL

^
^^^'^

^xxvi

horrid objects which are difguifed

by the

arts

of European re-

finement, are exhibited in their naked and moft difgufting fimpHcity, in tlie tent

of a Tartarian fhepherd.

The

ox, or the fheep, arc

to

flaughtered

by the fame hand from which they were accuftomed

preparation,

receive their daily food;

and the bleeding limbs are ferved, with

table of their

very

little

on the

unfeeling murderer.

In the military profefTion, and efpecially in the condu^S of a nu-

merous army, the exclufive ufe of animal food appears

to be

pro-

dudive of the moft

folid advantages.

Corn

is

a bulky and perilhable

commodity

and the large magazines, which are indifpenfably necef-

fary for the fubiiftence of our troops, muft be flowly tranfported

by

the labour of men, or horfes.

But the

flocks

and herds, which

accompany the march of the Tartars, afford a fure and encreafmg fupply of flefn and milk in the far greater part of the uncultivated
:

w^afte, the vegetation

of the grafs

is

quick and luxuriant

that the

and there
of the
is

are

few

places fo extremely barren,

find

hardy

cattle

North cannot
tiplied
tient
flelh

fome

tolerable

pafture.

The

fupply

mul-

and prolonged, by the undiftinguifhing

Tartars.

appetite,

and pa-

abftinence, of the

They

indifferently feed

on the

of thofe animals that have been killed for the table, or have
Horfe-fiefh,

died of difeafe.

which

in every age

and country has

been profcribed by the

civilifed

nations of Europe and Afia, they

;

devour

vv^ith

peculiar greedinefs

and

this fingular tafte facilitates

the fuccefs
^ Scythia
is

of their military operations.

The aQive

cavalry of

always followed, in their moft diftant and rapid incur-of fpare

fions,

by an adequate number

horfes, w^ho

may

be occa-

fionally ufed, either to redouble the fpeed, or to fatisfy the hunger,

of the Barbarians.

Many
a

are the refources of courage

is

and poverty.

When

the forage

round

camp of Tartars

almoft eonfumed, they

ilaughter the greateft part of their cattle,

either fmoked, or dried, in the fun.

and preferve the

flefh,

%\

On

the fudden

emergency of
a hafty

OF THE
little balls

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

567
^^L^.
^'

a hafly march, they provide themfelves with a fufEcient quantity of

of chcefe, or

ratb.cr

of hard curd, which they occafion-

v^

ally diffolve in water;

and

this unfubftantial diet will fupport, for

fpirits,

many
But

days, the

life,

and even the

of the patient warrior.

this

extraordinary abftinence^ which the Stoic would approve,

and the hermit might envy,

voracious

commonly fucceeded by the mod indulgence of appetite. The wines of a happier climate
is

are the moll grateful prefent, or the mofl: valuable

commodity, that
their in-

can be offered to the Tartars

and the only example of

duftry feems to coniift in the art of extl^acfting from mare's milk a

fermented liquor, which

tion.

poffeffes a

very firong power of intoxica-

Like the aninaals of prey, the favages, both of the old and
world, experience the alternate viciilitudes of famine and plen-

new
ty
;

and

their

ftomach

is

inured to fuftain, without

much inconve-

nience, the oppofite extremes of hunger and of intemperance.

II.

In the ages of ruftic and martial fnnplicity, a people of foldiers Habits-

and hufbandmen are difperfed over the face of an extenfive and cultivated country
;

and fome time muft

elapfe before

the warlike

youth of Greece or

Italy could be aflembled

under the fame ftan-

dard, either to defend their

ries

own
The
large

confines, or to invade the territo-

of the adjacent

tribes.

progrefs of manufactures and

comwhich-

merce infenfibly
city
:

colledls a

multitude within the walls of a

;

but thefe citizens are no longer foldiers

ftate

and the

arts

adorn and improve the

the military
life.

of

civil

fociety, corrupt the habits

of
to

The

palloral

manners of the Scythians feem

unite the different advantages of fimplicity and refinement.

The

individuals of the fame tribe are conftantly afTembled, but thev are

affemb'pd in a camp; and the native

fpirit

of thcfe dauntlefs fhep-

herds

is

animated by mutual fupport and emulation.

The

houfes of

the Tartars are

afford a cold

no more than fmall

tents,

of an oval form, which

and dirty habitation, for the promifcuous youth of both

fexes..

568
^J?^, XXVI.
^-

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fexes.
lize

Tlie palaces of the rich confift of

wooden

huts, '

of fuch a

that they
a

may

be conveniently fixed on large waggons, and

thirty

drawn by
and herds,

team perhaps of twenty or

grazing
all

oxen.

Tlie flocks

after

day

in the adjacent paftures, retire,

on

the approach of night, within the protelion of the camp.

necefTity of preventing the

The
fuch a

moft mifchievous confufion,

in

perpetual concourfe of

men and
art.

animals, muft gradually introduce,

in the diftribution, the order,

and the guard, of the encampment,

the rudiments of the military

diftridt is

As foon

as the forage

of a certain

confumed, the

tribe, or rather
frefli

army, of fliepherds, makes

in the or-

a regular

march

to

fome

paftures

and thus acquires,

dinary occupations of the paftoral

life,

the practical knowledge of

one of the moft important and

choice of ftations
is

difficult

operations of war.
:

The
in the
their

regulated

by the

difference of the feafons

fummer, the Tartars advance towards the North, and pitch

tents

on the banks of

a river, or, at

leaft,

in the

neighbourhood of

a running ftream.

But

in

the winter they return to the South,

and

ftielter their

camp, behind fome convenient eminence, againft the

winds, which are chilled in their paflage over the bleak and icy regions of Siberia.

Thefe manners are admirably adapted to

difflife,

among the wandering tribes, the fpirit of emigration and conqueft. The connedtion between the people and their territory is of fo frail a texture, that it may be broken by the flighteft accident. The
camp, and not the
foil, is

the native country of the genuine Tartar.

Within the precindls of

that

camp,
;

his family, his

companions, his

property are always included

is ftill

and, in the moft diftant marches, he

furrounded by the objeds which are dear, or valuable, or fa-

miliar in his eyes.

ot injury,

The

thirft

of rapine, the

fear, or the

refentment

the impatience of fervitude,

have,

in

every age, been

fufficient caufes to

urge the tribes of Scythia boldly to advance into

fome unknown

countries,

where they might hope to

find a

more

plentiful

OF THE
of the

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
enemy.
fate

569
revolutions

plentiful fubfiftence, or a lefs formidable

The

CHAP.
XXVL
v

North have frequently determined the

of the South;

.-.-^

and in the conflia of hoflHc nations, the vidor and the vanquifhed
liave alternately drove, and been driven,

from the confiaes of China

to thofe of

Germany

'".

Thefe great emigrations, which have been

fometiraes executed with almoft incredible diligence, were rendered

more

eafy

by the peculiar nature of the

is

climate.

It is

well

known,
of

that the cold of Tartary

much more

fevere than in the midft

:

the temperate zone might reafonably be expe<Sl:ed

rigour
is

this

uncommon
efpecially

attributed to the height of the plains,

which

rife,

towards the Eafl, more than half a mile above the

;and to the quantity of falt-petre,

level
foil

of the fea
is

with which the

deeply

impregnated

".

In the winter- feafon, the broad and rapid rivers,

that difcharge their waters into the Euxine, the Cafpian, or the Icy
'Sea,

are ftrongly frozen

fugitive,

the fields are covered with a bed of fnow;

and the

or victorious, tribes

may

fecurely traverfc, with

their families, their waggons, and their cattk, the fmooth aiid hard
furface of
III.

an immenfe
palloral

plain.

The

life,
is

compared with the labours of agriculture

life

Exercifes.

and manufactures,

undoubtedly a

of idlenefs

and

as

the

moil honourable flicpherds of the Tartar race devolve on their captives the

domeftic management of the

fervile

cattle,

their

own
But

leifure

is

feldom difturbed by any

Inftead

and affiduous
foft

cares.

this leifure,

of being devoted to the

is

enjoyments of love and har-

mony,
'

ufefuily fpent in the violent

and fanguinary exercife of the

miffionaries to be three thoufand geo-

Thefe Tartar emigrations have been difM. deGuignes (HiftoiredesHuns, torn. i. ii.), a (kilful and laborious interpreter oftheChinefe language; who has thus laid open new and important fcenes in the hiftory of mankind.
covered by

by the

metrical paces above the level of the fea, Montefquieu, who has ufed, and abufed, the
relations of travellers, deduces the revolutions

of Afia from

this

important circumftancc,

that heat and cold, weaknefs and ftrength,

" A
-eiglity

plain in the Chinefe Tartary, only

touch each other without any temperate zone

(Efprit des Loix,
1,

leagues from the great wall, was found

xvii. c. 3.).

Vol.

II.

chacc.

570

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chace.

CHAP,

The

plains of Tartary are filled with a flrong

and fen-Iceablc
^

breed of horfes, which are eafily trained for the purpofes of war and
hunting.

The

Scythians of every age have been celebrated as bold

:

and

ficilful

riders

and conftant pradice had feated them

fo firmly

on horfeback,

that

they were fuppofed by ftrangers to perform the

civil
life,

ordinary duties of

to eat, to
fleeds.
;

drink, and even to

fleep,

without difmounting from their

They
is

excel in the dex-

management of the and with a nervous arm

terous
;

lance

the long Tartar

bow

is

drawn
its

the weighty arrow

irrefiftible force.

directed to

ob-

jet with unerring aim,

and

Thefe arrows are often

pointed againft the harmlefs animals of the defert, which increafe

and multiply

in the abfence of their

moft formidable enemy; the

hare, the goat, the roebuck, the fallow-deer, the flag, the elk,

and

the antelope.

The
game

vigour and patience both of the

men and
;

horfes

are continually exercifed

tiful

by the

fatigues of the chace

and the plen-

fupply of

contributes to the fubfiftence, and even luxury,

of a Tartar camp.

But the exploits of the hunters of Scythia are

;

not confined to the dellrudion of timid or innoxious beafts

they

boldly encounter the angry wild-boar, w^hen he turns againft his

purfuers, excite the fluggiih courage of the bear, and provoke the

fury of the tyger, as he flumbers in the thicket.

Where

there

is

danger there

may
and

be glory

and the mode of hunting, which opens

the faireft field to the exertions of valour,

as the image,
as the

fchool, of

may juftly be confidered war. The general huntingcompofe

circle
is

matches,

the

pride and

delight
their

of the Tartar princes,

an inftrudive exercife for

drawn, of many miles
of an extenfive
gularly
dillricfl
;

numerous

cavalry.

in circumference,

to encompafs the

game
re-

and the troops that form the

a

circle

advance

towards

common

centre

where the captive

animals, furrounded on every fide, are abandoned to the darts of the

hunters.

In

this

march, which frequently continues

many

days, the
.cavalry

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

cavalry are obliged to climb the
hills,

571
^
'

to

fwim

the rivers, and to

X A V 1.
^

" ^^'

wind through the

of
their

vallies,

without interrupting the prefcribed order

gradual

progrefs.

They

acquire the habit of direding

;

their eye,

and

their fteps, to a

remote objedl

of preferving their

intervals; of fufpending, or accelerating, their pace, according to the

motions of the troops on their right and

repeating the fignals of their leaders.

left

and of watching and

this

Their leaders fludy, in

;

pradlcal fchool, the moft important leflbn of the military art

the

prompt and accurate judgment of ground, of diftance, and of time.

To employ
the fame
in real

againft a

human enemy
Is

the fame patience and valour,

Ikill
;

and difciphne,

the only alteration

which

is

required

war

and the amufements of the chace ferve

as a prelude to

the conqueft of an empire ".

The
thia,

political fociety

of the ancient Germans has the appearance Government. of independent warriors.

of a voluntary

alliance

The

tribes

of Scy-

diftinguifhed

by the modern

appellation of Hords, aflume the

;

form of a numerous and increafing family

fucceffive generations, has
ftock.

which, in the courfe of

been propagated from the fiime original

The

meaneft, and moft ignoi-ant, of the Tartars, preferve,

with confcious pride, the ineftlmable treafure of their genealogy

and whatever

dlftintions

of rank

may have been

Introduced,

by

the

imequal diftribution of paftoral wealth, they mutually refpedt themfelves,

tribe.

and each other,

as the defcendants of the

ftill

firft

founder of the

The

cuftom, which

prevails, of adopting the braveft,

and

moft

faithful,

of the captives,

may

countenance the very probable

is,

fufpicion, that this extenfive confanguinity

in a great meafure,

"
1. iii.

Petit de la Croix (Vie de Gengifcan,

c. 7.)

290, &c. folio

long,

edit.).

His grandfon, Kien-

reprefents the full glory and ex-

who

unites the Tartar difcipline with

tent of the
billon

Mogul chace. The Jefuits Gcrand Verbiell followed the emperor Kamhi when he hunted in Tartary (Duhalde,

the laws and learning of China, defcribes

(Eloge de Moukden, p. 273 285. )> as a poet, the pleafures which he had often enjoyed, as a fportfman.

Defcription de la Chine, torn. iv. p. 81,

legal

^72

THE DECLINE AND FALL

legal
'

CHAP,

and

fiditlous.

But the

ufeful prejudice,

which has obtained

;

the fandtion of time and opinion, produces the efFeds of truth

the

haughty Barbarians yield a cheerful and voluntary obedience

head of their blood
;

to the

and

their chief, or mtirfa,, as the reprefentative of

their great father, exercifes the authority of a judge, in peace,

leader, in war.
viurfas (if we

and of a

Li the original

ftate

of the pailoral world, each of the

may

continue to ufe a modern appellation) ated as the

independent chief of a large and fcparate family; and the limits of

their peculiar territories

were gradually

fixed,

by

fuperior force, or

mutual confent.

But the

confliant operation

of various and perma-

nent caufes contributed to unite the vagrant Hords into national-

communities, under the

command
is

of a fupreme head.

were defirous of fupport, and the ftrong

nion
;

The weak were ambitious of domi

and, as the vanquiflied

the power,

which

the refulr of union, opprefled and collected

;

the divided forces of the adjacent tribes

were

freely admitted to fhare the advantages of vidtory, the moft.

valiant chiefs haftened to range themfelves,

and

their followers,

un-

der the formidable ftandard of a confederate nation.

fuccefsful

of the Tartar princes alTumed the military

entitled

The moft command, to

which he was
power.
equals
;

by the

fuperiority, either

of merit, or of

He

was

raifed to the throne

title

by

the acclamations of his

and the

of Kha^i exprefles, in the language of the

extent of the regal dignity.

North of Afia, the

reditary fucceflion

full

The
the

right of

he-

was long confined

;

to the blood of the

all

founder

of the
reign

monarchy
from

and
to

at

this

moment
'\

Khans,
the
lineal

who
de-

Crimea

die

wall of China,

are
it is

fendants of the renowned Zingis

But, as

the indifpenfable

"

See the fecond volume of the Genealo

:

of Zingis,

ftill

bore the regal appellation of

gical Hifto-ry of the Tartars

and the
life

lifts

of

Khan

the Khans, at the end of the or Zingis.

of Gengis,

Under

the reign of

Timur, or

and the conqueror of Afia contented himfelf with the title of Emir, or Sultan, Abulghazi, part v. c. 4. D'Herbelot, Bibli;

TamerJane, one of
5.

hit fubjeftsj a defcendant

othcque Orientale, p. 878.

duty

OF THE

ROMAN
often

EMPIRE.
field,

573

duty of a Tartar fovereign to lead his warlike fubje^ts into the

the claims of an infant are
difregarded
is
;

^^

^^'

and

feme royal

kinfman, diftinguifhed by his age and valour,

entrufted with the

fword and
are levied

fceptre of his predeceilbr.

Two
;

diilir.ft

and regular taxes

on the

tribes,

to fuppoit the dignity of their national

monarch, and of
tions
fpoil.

their peculiar chief

and eaeh of thofe contribuproperty, and of thdir

amounts

to

the tythe, both of their

Tartar fovereign enjoys the tenth part of the wealth of

;

his people

and

as his

own

domeftic riches of flocks and herds

is

increafe in a

much

larger proportion, he

able plentifully to

main-

tain the ruftic fplendor of his court, to

reward the moft deferving,

or the moft favoured, of his followers,

and to obtain, from the

gentle influence of corruption, the obedience

which might be fome-

times refufed to the ftern mandates of authority.

his fubjedls, accuftomed, like himfelf, to blood

The manners of
and rapine, might
as

excufe, in their eyes, fuch partial

ads of tyranny,

would excite
never

the horror of a civilifed people

but the

power of

a defpot has

teen acknowledged
didiion of the

in the deferts of Scythia*

Khan is

confined within the

The immediate juriflimits of his own tribe and

;

the exercife of his royal prerogative has been moderated by the ancient inftitution of a national council.

The

Coroultai

'*,

or Diet, of

the Tartars, was regularly held in the fpring and autumn, in the midft

of a plain

where the princes of the reigning family, and the murfas

tribes,

of the refpedive

may

conveniently afl!emble on horfeback^

;

with their martial and numerous trains

and the ambitious monarch,

who reviewed the ftrength, muft confult the inclination, of an armed

people.

The rudiments of

a feudal government

may
;

be difcovered
but the per-

in the conftitution of the Scythian or Tartar nations

'+ See the Diets of the ancient Huns (de Guignes, torn. ii. p. 26.), and a curious defcription of thofe of Zingis (Vie de Gengifcan, 1. i. C.6. 1. iv. c. II,). Such affcmbUes

are frequently mentioned in the Perfian hlftory of

Timur; though they ferved only tocountenance the refolutions of their mailer.,
petual.

574

THE DECLINE AND FALL

petual conflid of thofe hoflile nations has fometlmes terminated
in the eftablifliment of a powerful

CHAP, v.>.,.~ u

and defpotic empire.

The

vi6tor,

enriched by the tribute, and fortified by the arms, of dependent

kings, has fpread his conquefts over Europe or Afia
fliepherds of the
:

the fuccefsful
artsj

North have fubmitted to the confinement of

cities
;

of laws, and of
.ftroying the
".

and the introduction of luxury,

after

de-

freedom of the people, has undermined the foundations

of the throne
Situauon

The memory of

pafl events

cannot long be preferred, in the

illiterate

s" thta^or"
lartary.

frequent and remote emigrations of

Barbarians.

The moderived

^^^^ Tartars are ignorant of the conquefts

of their anceftors'*;
is

and our knowledge of the

from
their intercourfe

hiftory of the Scythians

with the learned and

civilifed nations

of the

South, the Greeks, the Perfians, and the Chinefe.

The Greeks,
colonies

who
the

navigated
fea-coaft,
;

the

Euxine,
the

and planted and

their

along

made
the

gradual

imperfed:

difcovery

of
as

Scythia
far as

from

Danube,

and the confines of Thrace,

the frozen Maeotis, the feat of eternal winter, and

Mount

Caucafus, which, in the language of poetry, was defcribed as the

iitmoft
dulity,

boundary of the

earth.

They
life

celebrated,

with fimple cre-

the virtues of the paftoral

"

They

entertained a

more

rational

apprehenfion of the ftrength and numbers of the warlike

Barbarians ",

who

contemptuoufly baffled the immenfe armament of

ence,

Monterquieu labours to explain a differwhich has not exiflcd, between the liberty of the Arabs, and the /.r/.// (lavery
of the Tartars (Efprit des Loix,
.

'5

'?

In the thirteenth

book of the
^^

Iliad,

Jupiter turns
^^j^^ ^^
bcythia. '
,
.

away

his eyes

from the bloody

^
,,

^^ ^^^

1.

xvu.

^^^^^ ^^^

c.

c.

i.

xvm.
'

...

c.

19, &c.).
in the

Abulghazi Khan,

two

firft

parts

by chaneine the s 6 ' / pro^peft. behold a more peaceful or innocent

not,
fcene.
'^

,, He would

of his Genealogical Hiftory, relates the miferable fables and traditions of the Uzbek Tartars concerning the times which preceded
the reign of Zingis.
I

Thucydides,

I.

ii,

c.

97.

Darius,

OF THE
Darius, the
fori

ROMAN
The

EMPIRE.
monarchs had extended

s7S

of Hyftafpes ".

Perfian

CHAP.
XXVI.
V

their weftern conquefts to the

banks of the Danube, and the limits

'

of European Scythia.

The

eaftern provinces of their empire

;

were

expofed to the Scythians of Afia

the wild inhabitants of the plains

beyond the Oxus and the

Jaxartes,

two mighty
fea.

rivers,

which

direft

their courfe towards the Cafpian

The long and memorable

:

quarrel of Iran and Touran,

is ftill

the theme of hiflory or romance

the famous,

perhaps the fabulous, valour

of the Perfian heroes,

of their counfpirit

Ruftan and Asfendiar, was

fignalifed, in the defence

try againft the Afrafiabs of the

North "; and the invincible

".

of

the fame Barbarians refifted, on the fame groimd, the vitorious

arms of Cyrus and Alexander

Perfians, the real

In the eyes of the Greeks and

geography of Scythia was bounded, on the Eaft,

;

by the mountains of Imaus, or Caf

or perplexed by fidion.

and

their diftant

profped of

the extreme and inaccefTible parts of Afia was clouded

by ignorance, by

But thofe

inaccefTible regions are the ancient

refidence of a powerful and civilifed nation ",

which

afcends,
is

probable tradition, above forty centuries

"

and which

able

to

verify

"

See the fourth book of Herodotus.

When

Darius advanced into the Moldavian defert,

tlie Danube and the Niefter, the king of the Scythians fent him a moufe, a frog, a bird, and five arrows ; a tremendous

betwcen

allegory

andre, which compares the true geography, and the errors produced by the vanity orignoranee of the Greeks. ^^ The original feat of the nation appears to havebeeninthcNorth-wellofChina,intheprovinces ofChenfiandChanfi. Underthetwofirll
dynafties, the principal

"

Thefe wars and heroes may be found,

town was
v.'ere

flill

amove-

under their refpedlive titks, in the BiblioThey have theque Orientale of d'Herbelot. been celebrated in ariepic poem of fixty thoufand rhymed couplets, by Ferdufi, the Homer of Perfia. See the Hillory of Nader Shah, The public muftlament, tha p. 145.165. Mr. Joneshas fufpended thepurfuit of Oriental learning.
*'

able

camp

the villages

thinly fcatteredf

more land was employed in pafture than i-n tillage ; the exercife of hunting was ordained
to clear the country

from wild beafts ; Petcheli (where Pekin Hands) was a defert ; and the fouthern provinces were peopled with Indian. favages. The dynafty of the //<? (before Chrill; 206.) gave the empire its aftual form

The

Cafpian

fea,

with

its

rivers,

and

and extent,

adjacent tribes, are laborioufly illuftrated in

the

" The
been

a;ra

Examen

Critique des Hiftoriens d'Alex

varioufly

of the Chinefe monarchy has fixed, from 2952 to zijz

year*

51^

THE DECLINE AND FALL

verify a ferles of near

CHAP.
XXVI.

two tKoufand years, by the perpetual tefthnonj

'*.

of accurate and contemporary hiftorians

illuftrate the ftate
ftill

The

annals of
tribes,

^'

China,

and revolutions of the paftoral

which may

be diilinguilhed by the vague appellation of Scythians, or TarJ

tars

the valTals, the enemies, iyad fometimes the conquerors, of a

;

great empire

whofe policy has uniformly oppofed the blind and

Barbarians
fca

impetuous

valour of the
the
is

of the North.
the"

From

the

mouth of
of Scythia
parallel,

Danube

to the

of Japan,

whole longitude

about one hundred and ten degrees, which, in that

are equal to

more than
from the

five

thoufand miles*
fo eafily,

The

lati-

tude

of thefc extenfive deferts cannot be

or lb accu-

rately,

meafured

but,

foitieth degree,

which touches the

t9'

wall of China,

we may
till

fecurely advance above a thoufand miles

is

the northwai'd,
Siberia.

our progrefs

flopped by the exceffive cold of

Li that dreary climate, inflead of the animated pidlure of a

of China. His labours and continued, by a feries thority of the prefent emperor. The differ- of one hundred and eighty hiilorians. The ence arifes from the uncertain duration of fubftance of their works is ftill extant ; and the two firft dynafties and the vacant fpace the moft confiderab'e of them are now depothat lies beyond them, as far as the real, or rted in the king of France's library. "' China has been illuftrated fabulousj times of Fohi, or Hoangti. Seby the labours matfien dates his authentic chronology from of the French; of the miffionaries at Pekin, the thirty-fix eclipfes of Conthe year 841 and MefTrs. Freret, and de Guignes, at Pafucius (thirty-one of which have been veriThe fubftance of the three preceding ris. fied) were obferved between the years 722 and notes is extrafted from The Chou-king, with 480 before Chrilh The hijlorical period of the preface and notes of M. de Guignes, Pa-' China does not afcend above the Greek ris, 1770 ; The Tong-kien-Kavg-mou, tranfOlympiads. lated by the P. de Mailla, under the name '* After feveral ages of anarchy and deof Hill. Generale de la Chine, tom. i. p. fpotifm, the dynafty of the Han (before xlix cc. the Memoires fur la Chine, Paris, Chrift 206.) was the sra of the revival of J776, &c. tom. i. p. I 323. tom. ii. p. 5 learning. The fragments of ancient litera- 364.; the Hiftoire des Huns, tom. i. p. 1 ture were reftored ; the charadlers were im131. tom.v. p. 345 362. and the Memoires proved and fixed and the future prefer vation de I'Academie des Infcriptions, tom. x. p, of books wasfecured, by the ufeful inventions 377402. tom. XV. p. 49564. tom. xviii, of ink, paper, and the art of printing. Nine- p. J78 295. tom. xxxvi. p. 164 238. ty-Zevcn years before Chrift, Sematfien publifhed the
firft

years before Chrifl; and the year zS-j has

hiftor)'

been chofen for the lawful epoch, by the au-

were

illuftrated,

Tarta.r

OF THE
^

ROMAN
iiTues

EMPIRE.
earth, or rather
'

577
from

Tartar camp, the fmoke which

from the

CHAP.
XXVI.
'

the fnow, betrays the fubterraneous dwellings of the Tongoufes,

and

-->

the Samoiedes

the

want of horfes and

oxefi

is

imperfedly fupplied

by'the ufe of rein-deer, and of large dogs; and the conquerors of

the earth infenfibly degenerate into a race of deformed and dimi-

who tremble at the found of arms ^^ The Huns, who under the reign of Valens threatened the of Rome, had been formidable, in a much earlier period,
nutive favages,

cmpii-e original
to

feat

the

"^
'

"^

""'*

empire of China

^'.

Their ancient, perhaps their

tradl

original, feat,

was

an extenfive, though dry and barren,

of country, immediately
is at

on the north

fide of the great wall.

Their place

prefent oc-

cupied by the forty-nine Herds or Banners of the Mongous, a paftoral nation,

lies
''^

which

confifts

of about two hundred thoufand familimits

r^ij^^jj.

But the valour of the Huns had extended the narrow

;

of their dominions

and

their ruftic chiefs,

who

affumed the appel-

^^^^

iation of Tajijotiy gradually

became the conquerors, and the fovereigns,

q^eib

of a formidable empire.

Towards the
;

Eaft, their vilorious

tribes,

arms

were flopped only by the ocean

fcattered

and the

which

are thinly

between the

Amoor and
and

the extreme peninfula of Corea,

adhered, with reludtance, to the ftandard of the Huns.

On the

Weft,

near the head of the

a

Irtifh,

in the vallies of Imaus, they

found

more ample

fpace,

and more numerous enemies.

One

of the lieu-

tenants of the nations

;

Tanjou fubdued,
""%

in a fingle expedition, twenty-fix

the Igours

diftinguiihed above the Tartar race

by the ufe

See the Hiftoire Generale des Voyages, torn, xviii. and the Genealogical Hiftory, vol.
**
ii.

See in Duhalde (torn. iv. p. iS 6;.) a circumftantial defcription, with a correft map,

"^

p.

"

620 664. M. de Guignes

(torn.

ii.

p.

124.)
p. Iv

has given the original hiftory of the ancient Hiont^-nou, or Huns. The Chinefe geogra-

of the country of the Mongous. ^* The Igours, or Vigours, were divided into three branches ; hunters, Ihepherds, and

phy of
Ixiii.),

their country (torn.

i.

part

ii.

hufbandmen ; and the laft clafs was defpifed by the two former. See AbBlghazi, part ii.
c. 7.

feems to comprife a part of their con-

quefts.

Vol.

II.

4 E

of

57^
C H A
XXVI,
P.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

of
letters,

were

in the

number of
events, the

his vafllils
flight

and, by the ftrange

connedlion of

human

of one of thofe vagrant

'*.

tribes recalled the victorious Parthians

from the invafion of Syria

On

the fide of the North, the ocean

was

alTigned as the limit of the

to refift their progrefs,

power of the Huns.

or imaginary,

Without enemies

or

witnefTes to contradict their vanity,

they might fecurely atchieve

real,

conqueft of the frozen regions of Siberia.

The Northern
pire.

Sea was fixed as the remote boundary of their

that
fea,

em-

But the name of

life

on whofe

fliores

the

patriot

Sovou embraced the

transferred,

of a fhepherd and an exile ",

probability,
to the

may be
a capa-

with

much more

Baikal,

cious bafon,

above three hundred miles in length, which difdains

the modeft appellation of a lake ", and which actually

cates Avith the feas of the North,

communi-

by the long courfe of the Angara,

the Tongufka, and the Jenifka.

The

fubmiflion of fo

many

dif-

tant nations might flatter the pride of the

Tanjou

but the valour of

the

Huns

could be rewarded only by the enjoyment of the wealth

'

and luxury of the empire of the South.

the Chriftian
sera,

In the third century before

a wall of fifteen

hundred miles in length was

onftruted, to defend the frontiers of China againft the inroads of

the

Huns "

but this ftupendous work, which holds a confpicuoua-

place in the

map

of the world, has never contributed to the fafety

Memoires de I'Academie
torn. XXV. p.

des Infcrip-

tions,

17

33,

The

coraprc-

Jienfivex'iew of

M.

de Guignes has compared

his
ftill

thefe diftant events.

^'

The fame
and
p.

of Sovou, or o-ou,

mece-

rit,

his iingular adventures, are

lebratedin China.

See the Eloge de

ili.

Mouk;

247254..; and Gmelin, in the Hift. GeneVoyages, torn, xviii. p. 283-329. They all remark the vulgar opinion, that the holy fea grows angry and tempeftuous, if any one prefumes to call it a lake. This grammatical nicety often excites a difpute,. between t!ie abfurd fuperftition of the marirale des

den,
360.
^-

20. and notes, p. 241

fur

247.
p.

and

ners,
33

and the abfurd obJlinacy of travellers.

Memoires

la Chine, torn.

317

p.

The

conftruftion of the wall of

ii.

See librand Ives, in Harris's colleftion,

ii.

mentioned by Duhalde (torn. de Guignes fjom. ii. p. 59.).

p. 4c.)

China is. and

JoL.

5-931;

Bell's

Travels,

vpl.

i.

of

OF THK
f an unwarlike
confifted of

ROMAN
The

EMPIRE.
^
>

579
^^ ^ ^*
v

people.

cavalry of the Tanjou freoMcntly

two or
by
;

three hundred thoufand

men,

formidable by
their

'

the matchlefs dexterity with which they

their horfes
;

managed

bows and

their

hardy patience in fupporting the inclemency

their

of the weather

and by the incredible fpeed of

torrents, or precipices,

march, Which
rivers,

was feldom checked by

by the dcepeft

or by the moll lofty mountains.

They

fpread themfeives at once Their wars

chinefe^
^
'

over the face of the country; and their rapid impetuofity furprifed,
aftonifhed,

and difconcerted the grave and elaborate tadics of a Chi-

^o'/^

nefe army.
fonal merit

The emperor Kaoti

had
raifed

", a foldier of fortune,

whofe per-

him

to the throne,

marched

againft the
civil
;

Huns
wars
and,

with thofe veteran troops which had been trained in the of China.

But he

w^as

foon furrounded by the Barbarians

after a fiege of feven days, the monarch, hopelefs of

relief,

was

reduced to purchafe his deliverance by an ignominious capitulation.

The

fucceflbrs of Kaoti,

whofe

lives

were dedicated

to

the arts of

peace, or the luxury of the palace, fubmitted to a

difgrace.

more permanent

They too hallily confelTed the infufficiency of arms and They were too eafily convinced, that while the blazing fortifications.
fignals

announced on every

fide the

approach of the Huns, the Chi-

nefe troops,

who

ilept

with the helmet on their head, and the cuirafs

inceflant labour
filk,

on

their back,
".

were deftroyed by the

regular

of ineffedtual
ftipulated as

marches

A
life

payment of money, and

's

was

'
ti,

See the

of Lieoupang, or Kaola
i.

See a free and ample memorial, pre-

in

the Hift.

de
is

Chine, publirtied at
p.

fented by a

Mandarin
iSo
;

to the

emperor Venti

Palis 1777, &c. torn.

442522. This

(before
ji.

voiuminnus work

the tranflaticn (by the

P. de Mailia) of the Tong-Kicn-KcDig-Mou,

the celebrated abridgement of
tory
t.ie

great Hif-

from a coUeaion of State p. .) papers, marked with the red pencil by Kamhj himfelf (p. 384 612.). Another memorial

Ch ill ^12-42

15"), in Duhalde (torn.

of Snnakouang (A, D, 1084) and his

continuacors.

from the miniller of war (Kang-Mou, torn, ii. p. 55;. fupplies fome curious circumilances of the manners of the Huns.

4 E

the

jSo

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the condition of a temporary and precarious peace
;

CHAP,
\
.
'

and the wretched

gift

expedient of difguifing a real tribute, under the names of a

fubfidy,

or a

was

pralifed

by the emperors of China,

as well as
article

by

thole of

Rome.
which

But there

ftill

remained a more difgraceful

of tribute,

violated the facred feelings of

life,

humanity and
in
their

nature.

The

hardfhips of the favage

children

which deftroy

infancy the

who
The

are boi-n with a lefs healthy and robuft conftitution, in-

troduce a remarkable difproportion between the numbers of the two

fexes.

Tartars are an ugly,

and even deformed race

and,

while they confider their

own women

as the inftruments of domeftic

labour, their defires, or rather their appetites, are direted to the en-

joyment of more elegant beauty.

felet

band of the

faireft

maidens of China was annually devoted

to the rude

embraces of the

Huns^*; and the

alliance of the

haughty Tanjous was fecured by

their marriage with the genuine, or adopted, daughters of the

rial

Impe-

family,

which vainly attempted

fituation ofthefe

to efcape the facrilegious pollu-

tion.

The

unhappy vidlims is

defcribed in the verfes

of a Chinefe princefs,

who

laments that fhe had been condemned by

her parents to a diftant

plains that four milk

exile,

under a Barbarian hufband

flefh

who com-

was her only drink, raw

and who

her only food, a

tent her only palace

exprelTes, in a ftrain of pathetic fim-

plicity, the natural wifli, that fhe

fly

were transformed into a

bird, to

back to her dear country

the object of her tender and perpetual

regret ".
Decline and

The

conqueft of China has been twice atchieved by the pafloral

Huns.

tribes of the

North

the forces of the

Huns were
;

not Inferior to
their ambition

thofe of the Moguls, or of the

Mantcheoux

and

might entertain the mofh fanguine hopes of

fuccefs.

But
i.

their pride

^ A fupply of women is mentioned as a cuilomary article of treaty and tribute (Hift.

de
la

res

Mantcheoux,
^'

torn.

p. i86,

1S7. with

the note of the editor),

Conquete de

la

Chine, par

les

Tarta-

DeGuignes,

Hift.

desHuns, tom.ii.p..62^

was

OF
was humbled, and
licy of

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

their progrefs

581

was checked, by

the arms and

po- ^ H A
<

P.

Vouti

", the fifth

emperor of the powerful dynafty of the

rJ

Han.

In his long reign of fifty-four years, the Barbarians of the

:

Ant. Chriil.
^^^

fouthern provinces fubmitted to the laws and manners of China

the ancient limits of the

and-

monarchy were

enlarged, from the great river

of Kiang, to the port of Canton.

Inflead of confining himfelf to

the timid operations of a defenfive war, his lieutenants penetrated'

many hundred
lefs deferts,

miles into the country of the

it is

Huns.

In thofs bound-difficult to'

where

impofliblc to

form magazines, and

tranfport a fufficient fupply of provifions, the armies of Vouti

were

repeatedly expofed to intolerable hardfliips

forty thoufand foldiers,

and, of one hundred and.

who marched

againft the Barbarians, thirty

thoufand only returned in fafety to the feet of their mafter.

lofles,

Thefe
fiiccefs.

however, were compenfated by fplendid and decifive

The
of

Chinefe generals improved the fuperiority which they derived

their arms, their chariots of war,

from the temper of

and the fervice

their Tartar auxiliaries.

The

cam.p of the Tanjou was furprifed'

:

in the midft of fleep and intemperance

and, though the monarch of

the ranks of the enemy, he
field

the
left

Huns
above

bravely cut his

fifteen thoufiuid

way through

of his fubjedts on the

of

battle.

Yet

this fignal

vidory, which was

preceded
lefs

and followed by manyto the deftrudtion of the-

bloody engagements, contributed much

power of the Huns, than the

to detach the tributary nations

effedtual policy

which was employed

Intimidated
his futAnt. Chrift.
'^'

from

their obedience.

by the arms,
cefTors,

or allured

by the promifes, of Vouti and

the moft confiderable tribes, both of the Eaft and of the

Weft, difclaimed the authority of the Tanjou.

While fome acall

knowledged themfelves the

allies

or vaffals of the empire, they

:

became the implacable enemies of the Huns

^*

and the numbers

of-

See the reign of the emperor Vouti, in

various and inconfiftent ichara<fler feems to be

the

Kang-Mou,

torn.

iii.

p.

198.

His

impartially drawn.

that

^82

THE DF^CLINE AND FALL

P.

c H A

that

haughty people,

as

foon as they were reduced to their native

ftreiigth,

might, perhaps, have been contained within the walls of

cities

one of the great and populous

his fubjedts,

of China

^'.

The

defcrtion of

and the perplexity of

a civil war, at length compelled

the Tanjou himfelf to renounce the dignity of an independent foveAnt. Chrift.

^''

reign,

and the freedom of

at

a warlike

and high-fpirited nation.

He

was received

Sigan, the capital of the monarchy, by the troops,

all

the Mandarins, and the emperor himfelf, with

the honours, that

*.

could adorn and difguife the triumph of Chinefe vanity

nificent palace

A mag-

was prepared

for his reception; his place

;

was affigned

above

all

the princes of the royal family

and the patience of the

Barbarian king was exhaufted

by the ceremonies of a banquet,

duty of a refpeftful
his

-which confifted of eight courfes of meat, and of nine fclemn pieces of

mufic.

But he performed, on
to the

his knees, the

homage
and
and
in

emperor of China; pronounced, in

his fucceflbrs,
feal,

own name,
as

the

name of

a perpetual oath of fidelity

gratefully accepted a
his regal

which was beftowed

the

em-

blem of

dependauce.

After this humiliating fubmiffion,

the Tanjous fometimes departed from their allegiance, and feized the

favourable

moments of war and rapine

till it

but the monarchy of the

civil diflention,

Huns
A.
T>. 48.

gradually declined,

was broken, by

into

t^'^o hollile

and feparate kingdoms.

fear

One

of the princes of the nation

was urged, by
eight hords,
milies.

and ambition,

to retire towards the South

fifty

with

which compofed between forty and

obtained, with the
title

thoufand fa-

He

of Tanjou, a convenient terri;

tory on the verge of the Chinefe provinces

and

his conftant attach-

"
vo

This expreffinn

is

ufed In the memorial

(Duh.ilde, tom.
iv.

the emperor Venti

contain the manufaflures of China, are fUU more populous.

* ^ee theK.ng-Mou, tom. iii. p. 150., and the fnblequent events under the proper ^ , r n,, 1 years. 1 his memorabie feftival is celebrated ^^ ^^e Eloge de Moukden, and explained in
.

Without adopting the exaggerations _ ., ,, of Marco-Polo and Ifaac Voifius, we may '
p. 417.)r ,,
,
,

,y.

>

rationally allow for Pekin,

two millions of

inhabitants.

The

cities

of the South, which

a note

b^,

the P. Gaubil, p. 89, 90.

ment

OF THE
defire of revenge.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
Huns
of

583

metit to the fervice of the empire,

was fecured bv weaknefs, and the

they were

CHAP.
XXVI.

From
by

the time of this fatal fchifm, the

;

_ -. -'__/

the North continued to languifh about fifty years

till

opprefled on every fide

their foreign

and domeftic enemies.

The

proud infcription

*'

of a column, eredted on a lofty mountain, an-

nounced

to pofterity, that a Chinefe

army had marched feven hun-

dred miles into the heart of their country.

Oriental, Tartars, retaliated the
injuries

The

Sienpi *\ a tribe of

which they had formerly

after a reign

fuftained; and the

power of the Tanjous,

of thirteen ^ p.
firil

g?.

hundred years, was

utterly deftroyed before the

end of the

cen-

tury of the Chriftian eera *\

The

fate

of the vanquilhed

Huns was
**.

diverfified

by the various

Their emi-

influence of charader and fituation

Above one hundred thoufand

of the

a"i)"ioo
'^'^

perfons, the pooreft, indeed,

and the moft pufillanimous,

people, were contented to remain in their native country, to re-

nounce

their peculiar

name and

origin,

and to mingle with the

vidlorious nation of the Sienpi.

Fifty-eight hords, about

two hunfervitude,

dred thoufand men,

retired towards the

ambitious of a
;

more honourable

South

implored the protection of the emperors

to inhabit,

of China
frontiers

and were permitted

of the province

and to guard, the extreme

of Chanfi and the territory of Ortous.

tribes

But the moft warlike and powerful

fn their adverfe fortune, the

of the

Huns

maintained,

undaunted

fpirit
;

of their anceftors.

The

weftern world was open to their valour

This infcription was compofed on the by Pankou, Prefident of the Tribunal of Hiftory (Kang;-Mou, torn. iii. p. 392.). Sifpot

and they refolved, under

1

'

Chinefe,
feries

210 years before

Chrift.

But the
till
ii.

of their kings does not commence

the year 230. (Hill, des

21. 123.)
**

Huns,

torn.

p.

milar monuments

have been difcovered in

many
torn.

parts of Tartary (Hifloire des

p. 122.).

Huns,

The
flight

various accidents of the downfal

ii.

and
i.

of the Huns, are related in the

88.

M.

de Guignes (torn.

p.

189.) has

inferted a (hort account of the Sienpi. *^ The xra. of the Huns is placed, by the

Kang Mou, torn. iii. p. &:c. The fmall numbers

be afcribed to their
lofTes

91.

95.

139,

of each hord

may

and

divifions.

the

584

THE DECLINE AND TALL

the condudl of then- hereditary chieftains, to difcover and fubdue
-,...

CHAP,
XXVI.
s

fome remote country, which was

Sienpi, and to the laws of

ftill

inacceflible to the

arms of the

China "".

The

courfe of their emigration

foon carried them beyond the mountains of Imaus, and the Umits of
the Chinefe geography ; but

we

are able to diftinguifh the

two great

divifions of thefe formidable exiles,

which diredled

their

march to-

The

white
^'

wards the Oxus, and towards the Volga.

"ies eftablifhed their

The

firft

of thde colo-

diana.

dominion

in the fruitful

and extenfive plains of

;

Sogdiana, on the Eaftern fide of the Cafpian

the

where they preferred

name of Huns, with

the epithet of Euthalites, or Nepthalites.

Their manners were foftened, and even their features were infenfibly
improved, by the mildnefs of the climate, and their long relidence in
a fiourifliing province
the arts of Greece ".
**,

which might
"white

ftill

retain a faint impreffion

of

The

Huns, a name which they derived

abandoned the
paftoral

from the change of

life

their complexions, foon

of Scythia.

Gorgo, which, under the appellation of Carizme,

has fmce enjoyed a temporary fplendour, was the refidence of the

king,

who

exercifed a legal authority over an obedient people.

;

Their

luxury was maintained by the labeur of the Sogdians

veftige of their ancient bai^barifm,

and the only

all

was the cuftom which obliged

the companions., perhaps to the

number of twenty, who had fhared

*'.

the liberality of a wealthy lord, to be buried alive in the fame grave

*'

M.

de Guignes has
(torn.

flcilfully

traced the

aftual mifery
cal Hiftory
*'

may

be feen in the Genealogi-

fcotfteps of the

Huns through
ii.

the vaft deferts

of the Tartars, p. 425

469.
To
new and

of Tartar/
&c.).
**

p. 11.3.

277, &c. 325,

Juftin (xli. 6.) has left a ihort abridge-

ment of

the

Greek kings of

Baclriana.

Mohammed,

Sultan of Carizme, reign-

their induftry I fhould afcribe the

ed in Sogdiana, when it was invaded (A. D. The Ori1218.) by Zingis and his moguls.
ental hiftorians (fee d'Herbelot, Petit, de la

Croix,

&c.)

celebrate

the populous cities

which tranfported the merchandizes of India into Europe, by the Oxus, the Cafpian, the Cyrus, the Phafis, and the Euxine. The other ways, both of
extraordinary trade,
the land and fea, were pofTeffed by the Seleucides and the Ptolemies. (See I'Efprit des Loix,
*'
1.

which he ruined, and the fruitful country which he defolated. In the next century, the fame provinces of Chorafmia and Mawaralnahr were defcribed by Abulfeda (HudTheir fon, Geograph. Minor, torn. iii.).

xxi.)
1.
i.

Procopius de Bell. Perfico,

c.

3.

p. 9.

The

OF
The
vicinity of the

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

Huns
to the provinces of Perfia, Involved

s^S

them ^ ^v^r^'
v._-v~-^
the

in frequent and bloody contefts with the povirer of that monarchy.

But they refpeded,

didlates of

in peace,
;

the faith of treaties

in war,

humanity

and

their

memorable victory over

well
as

Perofes,

or Firuz,
the

difplayed the

moderation, as
dlvifion

the

valour,

of
the The Huns
of the Volga.

Barbarians.

The fecond

of their

countrymen,

Huns, who gradually advanced towards the North-weft, were exercifed

by the

hardfliips of a colder climate,

and a more laborious

filks

march.

Neceflity compelled
;

them

to

exchange the

of China,
life

for the furs of Siberia

obliterated
;

the imperfedl rudiments of civilifed

fiercenefs of the

were

and the native

their inteixourfe with the favage tribes,

Huns was exafperated by who were compared, with

Their Independent
;

fome propriety,
fpirit

to the wild beafts of the defert.

foon rejected the hereditary fucceffion of the Tanjous

its

and

while each hord was governed by

peculiar Murfa, their tumultu-

ary council diredled the public meafures of the whole nation.

late as the thirteenth century, their tranfient refidence

As

on the Eaftern

banks of the Volga, was

attefted

by the name of Great Hungary *'.

In the winter, they defcended with their flocks and herds towards the

mouth of

that

mighty

river

and

their

fummer

excurfions reached

as high as the latitude of Saratoff, or perhaps the conflux of the

Kama.

Such

at leaft

were the recent

limits of the black

Calmucks
;

^,

who who

remained about a century under the pretention of Ruflia

have fmce returned to their native
empire.
feats

and

on the

frontiers of the

Chinefe

dering Tartars,

The march, and the return, of thofe wanwhofe united camp confifts of fifty thoufand tents
the

In the thirteenth century,

monk

guage and origin

vii.

(Hift.

des Voyages,

torn.

Rubruguis (who traverfed the immenfe plain

of Kipzak, in
r^

p. 260).

journey to the court of the Lr J L UT Great Khan) obferved the remarkable name
his T^L
N
1

' -Bell

(vol.
>

i.

p.

29-3+.), and the

(p.
,

edi

tors

of thc Gcncalogical Hiftory

,

c^q.).
\t

Of Hungary, with the traces of a

common

Ian-

have defcribed the Calmucks 01 the VoJg^ -^^ ^,^^ beginning of the prefent century.

f,

Vol.

II.

4 F

or

586

THE DECLINE AND FALL

or
1

CHAP,
XXVI.
<

Huns

families,
' ,.
.

illuftrate

the

dlftant

emijrrations

of

the

ancient

Their con^

It is

impofTible to

fill

the dark interval of time, which elapfed, after

loft

Ijani!

the

Huns

of the Volga were

in the eyes of the Chinefe

and
is

before they Ihewed themfelves to thofe of the Romans.

There

fome

reafon, however, to apprehend, that the fame force

which had
to

driven
their

them from

their

native

feats,

ftill

continued

impel
the Si-

march towards the

frontiers of

Europe.

The power of

enpi, their implacable enemies,

which extended above three thoufand.

and the

miles from Eaft to

Weft

^',

muft have gradually opprefled them by

:

the weight and terror of a formidable neighbourhood

flight

of the tribes

of Scythia would

inevitably tend to

increafe the

flrength, or to contract the territories, of the

Huns.

The

harfh and

obfcure appellations of thofe tribes would offend the ear, without in-

forming the underftanding, of the reader ; but

very natural fufpicion, tbat the

cannot fupprefs the

Huns

of the North derived a confi

derable reinforcement from the ruin of the dynafty of the South,,

which, in the courfe of the third century, fubmitted to the dominioa

of China
free
;

thai the braveft warriors

;

marched away In fearch of

^/?^that, as they

their

and adventurous countrymen

had been divided

by

profperity, they

were

eafily re-united

by the common hardships of

their flocks

their adverfe fortune ".

The Huns, wuth

and herds, their

wives

*' This great tranfmigratlon of 300,00a Galmucks, orTorgouts, happened in the year

According- to the prefent ftanrlard, 200

(or

//>

The original narrative of Kien-long, 177 1. the reigning emperor of China, which was
intended for the infcription of a column, has been tranflated by the miflionaries of Pekin

more accurately 193) are equal to one degree of latitude; and one Englifh mile confequently exceeds three miles o- China. But
there are ftrong reafons to believe that the ancient
//'

fcarcely equalled one-half

of the mo-

(Memoire

fur

la

Chine,

torn.

i.

p.

dern. See the elaborate refearches of M.d'Anville,

401 418). The emperor affefls the fmooth and fpecious language of the Son of Heaven,

a geographer,

who
p.

is

not a ftranger in

any age, or climate, of the globe (Memoires

de I'Acad.
torn.
ii.

and
'*

the Father of his People.

125

The Kang-Mou

(torn.

iii.

p. 447.)
/;>.

Itineraires, p.

154

167).

502,

Mefures-

afcribes to their conqueils a fpace of 14,000

"

Seethe Hiftoire des Huns,

torn.

ii.

p..

12;

OF THE
"wives

ROMAN
and

EMPIRE.
allies,

sZj
to

and children,

their dependents

were tranfported
to invade

C H A
'_
.

P.'

the Weft of the Volga:

and they boldly advanced

the

,f

country of the Alani, a paftoral people

who

occupied, or wafted, an

extenfive trat of the defcits of Scythia.

The

plains

between the

Volga and the Tanais were covered with the

their

tents of the Alani, but

name and manners were

diffufed over the

wide extent of

their

conquefts; and the painted tribes of the Agathyrfi and Gcloni were

confounded among

their vaflals.

Towards the North, they pene-

trated into the frozen regions of Siberia,

among

the favages

who were
of Perfia

accuftomed, in their rage or hunger, to the

their Southern inroads

tafte

of human fiefh: and

were pufhed

as far as the confines

and

India.

The mixture of

Sarmatic and

German

blood had con-

tributed to improve the features of the Alani, to whiten their fvvarthy

complexions, and to tinge their hair with a yellowifh

caft,

which

is

feldom found
perfons,
lefs

in the Tartar race.

They were

lefs

deformed in their
;

brutifh in their manners, than the

Huns

but they did

not yield to thofe formidable Barbarians in their martial and inde-

pendent

fpirit

in the love of freedom,

;

which

rejected even the ufe

of domeftic flaves

and in the love of arms, which confidered war

and the glory of mankind.
objedl:

and rapine

as the pleafure

naked fcyme-

tar, fixed in the

groxmd, was the only

their

of their religious wor-

{hip

the fcalps of
;

enemies formed the coftly trappings of

their horfes

and they viewed, with pity and contempt, the pu-

iillanimous

warriors,

who

patiently expedled the infirmities of age,

'*.

and the

tortures

of lingering difeafe

On

the

banks of the

Tanais, the military power of the

Huns and
vant et bella.
et fortuitis

the Alani encountered

277) of three or four Hunnic dynafties

dently proves, that their martial
'*
fpirit

125

144.

The

fubfequent hiftory (p. 145

evi-

Judicatur ibi beatus qui In

prcelio profuderit

animam

fenefcentes etiam
digreflbs, ut de-

was

mortibus

mundo

not impaired by a long refidence in China.

generes et ignavcs conviciis atrocibus infectantur.

Utque hominibus
eft

quietis

et

placidis

We

muft think highly of

tlie

con-

otiura

voluptabile, ita illos periculaju-

querors of y/if/6 men.

4F

each

588

THE DECLINE AND FALL

each other with equal valour, but with unequal fuccefs.
prevailed in the bloody conteft
:

CHAP.
XXVI.

The Huns
by the
or-

the king of the Alani was flain

difperfed

and the remains of the vanquifhed nation were

dinary alternative of flight or fu])miflion
".

A colony of exiles found

name and
their inde-

a fecure refuge in the mountains of Caucafus, between the Euxine

and the Cafpian

pendence.

where they

ftill

preferve their

Another colony advanced, with more intrepid courage, toBaltic

;

wards the fhores of the

tribes

afTociated themfelves
fpoil

with the Northern

provinces of

of

Germany

and fhared the

of the

Roman

Gaul and Spain.

embraced the
the Huns,

But the

greateft part of the nation of the Alani

ofl"ers

of an honourable and advantageous union: and

lefs

who

efteemed the valour of their

fortunate enemies,

proceeded, with an increafe of numbers and confidence, to invadethe limits of the Gothic empire.
Their
vic-

The
to the

great Hermanric,

whofe dominions extended from the

full

Baltic

tories over

the Goths,

Euxine, enjoyed, in the

maturity of age and reputation^

A.D.

375.

the fruit of his victories,

approach of an hoft

when he was alarmed by the formidable on whom his barbarous of unknown enemies
^'^,

fubjedls might, without injuftice, beftow the epithet of Barbarians.

The numbers,
cruelty of the

the llrength, the rapid motions, and the implacable-

Huns, were

felt,

and dreaded, and magnified,

fields

by

the aftonifhed Goths;

who

beheld their

and

villages

confumed

with flames, and deluged with indifcriminate flaughter.

real terrors

To

thefe

they added, the furprife and abhorrence which were exfhrill

cited

by the

voice, the

uncouth
Am-

geftures,

and the ftrange de-

" On
mianus

the fubjeft of the Alani, fee

(xxxi.
2.),

mifreprefent their origin and progrefs, their

paflage of the

Jornandes

(de

Rebus

mud or

water of the Msotis, in

(Zofimus,
c.

Gelicis, c. 24..),

M.

de Guignes (Hift. des

p. 617.).

purfuit of an ox or flag, leslndes qu'ils avoi-

Huns,
'*

torn,

ii-

p.

279.), and the Genealoii.

ent

decouvertes.

Sec.
I.

1.

iv.

p.

gical Hiftory of the Tartars (torn.

224.

Sozomen,

vi.

37.
c.

Procopius
24.

As we

are poffefled of the authentic hif-

Hift. Mifcell. c. 5.

Jornandes,

Granc.

tory of the
to

Huns,
or
to

sepeat,

would be impertinent refute, the fiibles, which

it

deur et Decadence, &c. des Romains,

17.)

formitj"

OF THE
formity of the Huns.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
who walk
Ter-

589

Thefe favages of Scythia were compared

CHAP,
.

(and the pidlure had feme refemblance) to the animals

-.-'_/

very aukwardly on two legs

vun'i^

and

to the mif-fliapen figures, the

anticjuity.

which were often placed on the bridges of

reft

They
broad
the
in

were dillinguifhed from the

fhoulders,
flat

of the

human

fpecies

by

their

nofes,

and fmall black eyes, deeply buried

head

and

as

they were almofl deftitute of beards, they n^ver en-

joyed either the manly graces of youth, or the venerable afpedl of

age ".

fabulous origin was affigned, worthy of their form and

that

manners;

the witches

of Scythia,

who,

for

their

foul

and

deadly practices, had been driven from fociety, had copulated in the
defert

with infernal

fpirits

and that the Huns were the offspring of

this execrable

conjundion

^'.

The

tale,

fo fulT

of horror and ab-

furdity,

was greedily embraced by the

but, while
it

credulous hatred of the

it

Goths;

gratified their hatred,

encreafed their fear;

to in-

fince the pofterity of

daemons and witches might be fuppofed

herit

fome fhare of the

prseternatural powers, as well as of the

ma-

Kgnant temper, of their parents.

Againft thefe enemies, Hermanric

flate
;

prepared to exert the united forces of the Gothic

difcovered that his vafTal tribes, provoked

but he foon

by

opprefTion,

were much

more

inclined to fecond, than to repel, the invafion of the

Huns.
the

One

of the chiefs of the Roxolani " had formerly

deferted

ftandard of Hermanric, and the cruel tyrant had

condemned the

"

Prodigiofaa formre, et pandi

;

ut bipedes

exiftimes beflias

vel quales in
effigiati

commargidolantur

Goth, might be originally derived from a more pleafing fable of the Greeks. (Herodot.
'
Pi>,;,

nandis pontibus,
incompti.
(c.

ftipites
i.

1.

iv.

c. 9,

&c.)
the fathers of the

Ammlan.

xxxi.

Jornandes

The Roxolani may be

the Rujfians (d'Anville,
p.
1

24.) draws a ftrong caricature of a Calmuck face. Species pavenda nigredine . .

.

qusedam deformis ofia, non facies ; habenfSee BufFon, true ma^is punfta quam lumina.
Hift. Naturelle, tom.iii. p. 380.
='
(c.

Empire de Rufwhofe refidence (A. D. S62.) about Novogrod Velii<i cannot be very remote from that which the Geographer
fic,

10.),
(i.

of Ravenna
affigns to the

12.

iv.

4. 46. v.

28.

30.)

>

This execrable origin, which Jornandes 24.) defcribes with the rancour of a
5,,

Roxolani {\. D. 886.).

innocent

_59o

THE DECLINE AND TALL

innocent wife of the traitor to be torn afunder by wild horfes.
brothers of that unfortunate
'

C HAP.
<

woman

feized the favourable

The moment

of revenge.
time after
daggers
:

The aged king of the Goths languiilied fome the dangerous wound Vvfhich he received from their
the conducSt of the

but

war was retarded by

were

his infir-

mities; and the public councils ot the nafion

fpirit

diftradted

by a

of jealoufy and difcord.

His death, which has been imputed

to his

own

defpair, left the reins of

government

in

the hands of

Withimer, who, with the doubtful aid of fome Scythian mercenaries,

maintained the unequal contefl

till

againfl: the
flain,

arms of the Huns

in a-decifive battle.

and the Alaai,

he was defeated and

The

Oftrogoths fubmltted to their fate: and the royal race of the Amali

will hereafter be

found among the fubjedls of the haughty

infant king,

Attila.
dili-

But the perfon of Witheric, the

was faved by the

gence of Alatheus and Saphrax; two warriors of approved valour and

iidelity;

who, by cautious marches, conduced the independent reOftrogoths towards the Danaftus,
or

.mains of the nation of the

Niefter

a confiderable river,

which now

feparates the Turkilh

do-

-minions from the empire of Ruflia.

On

the banks of the Nieller,

the prudent Athanaric, more attentive to his

,

own

than to the general

fafety,
.of

had fixed the camp of the Vifigoths ; with the firm refolution

oppofing the vidtorlous Barbarians,

whom

he thought

it

lefs

ad-

vafable to provoke.

The

ordinary fpeed of the

Huns was checked

by

the weight of baggage, and the incumbrance of captives; but

their military fkill deceived,

naric.

and almoft deftroyed, the army of Atha-

While the judge of the Vifigoths defended the banks of the

was encompafled and attacked by a numerous detach-

Niefter, he

ment of

cavalry,

who, by the

light
it

of the moon, had

pafi^ed

the

river in a fordable place; and,

was not without the utmoft

effect his retreat

efforts

of courage and condudl, that he was able to

the hilly country.

towards

The undaunted
3

general had ah^eady formed a

new

, -

'

OF THE
new and
whicn he was preparing

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
and tho
fcron'r* lines, to
>
'

jr9"i'

judicious plan of defenfive war; X j

to conitruft

C H A
XXVI.

P,-

between the mountains, the

fertile

Pruth and the Danube, would have fecured the extenfive and
territory that bears the
tive inroads

modern name of Walachia, from

"".

th^ deftruc-

of the

Huns

But the hopes and meafures of the

judge of the Vifigoths were Coon difappointed, by the trembling impatience of his difmayed countrymen;
fears, that the interpofition

who were

perfuaded by their

of the

Danube was
the

the only barrier that

Gould fave

them from
the

the rapid purfuit, and invincible valour, of

the Barbarians of Scythia.

Under

command

of Fritigern and

Alavivus

',

body of the nation

haftily

advanced to the banks of

the great river, and implored the protection of the

Roman

emperor"

of the Eaft.

Athanaric himfelf,

ftill

anxious to avoid the guilt of

perjury, retired, with a band of faithful followers, into the

moun-

tainous country of Caucaland

which appears

to have been guarded,,

and almoft concealed, by the impenetrable

forefls

of Tranfylvania ^\

After Valens had terminated the Gothic war with fome appearance The Goths

of glory and fuccefs, he made a progrefs through his dominions of

Afia, and at length fixed his refidence in the capital of Syria.
five years
'^

protedion of

The
watch,
;

a^d"376.-

which he fpent

at

Antioch were employed

to

from a fecure

dillance, the hoftile defigns

of the Perfian monarch

**
;

to

check the depredations of the Saracens and Ifaurlans

to enforce

by

"

The

text

of

Ammianus
but

feems to be im-

**

Ammianus

(xxxi.
c.

3.)
)

and

Jornandes

perfeft, or corrupt;

the nature of the

(de Rebus G.elicis,

24.

defcribe the fub-

ground explains, and almoft defines, the Gothic rampart. Memoires de I'Academie,
&c.
'^'

verfion of the Gothic empire by the

^'

Huns,
is

The chronology of Ammianus

obfcure

torn, xxviii.

p.

444462.
407.)
has conceived a

M.

de Buat (Hill, des Peuples de I'Euvi.

rope,

torn.

p.

and imperteft. Tillemont has laboured to clear and fettle the annals of Valens. ^''' Zofimus, 1. iv. p. 223. Sozomen, 1.
vi.

ftrange idea,- that Alavivus was the fame per-

and that Ulphilas, the grandfon of a Cappadocian captive, became a temporal prince of the
fon as UJphilas the Gothic billiop
:

Ifaurians, each winter, inof Afia Minor, as far as the neighbourhood of Conftantinople. Bafil^
c.

38.

The

fefled the roads

Epift. ccl.

apud Tillemont, -Hilh des Empe-

Goths..

rears, torn. v. p. 106.

arguments^-

592

THE DECLINE AND FALL

arguments, more prevalent than thofe of reafon and eloquence, the
belief of the
,

CHAP,
\_
_'

Arian theology

and

to fatisfy his anxious fufpicions

by

the promifcuous execution of the innocent and the guilty.

But im-

the attention of the emperor was moll ferioufly engaged,

by

the

portant intelligence which he received from the

officers

civil

and military

who were

entrufted with the defence of the Danube.

He
tem-

was informed,
pefl
;

that the

North was agitated by a furious

that the

irruption of the

Huns, an unknown and mon;

ftrous race

of favages,

had fubverted the power of the Goths

and that the fuppliant multitudes of that warlike nation, whofe pride

was now humbled

in the duft, covered a fpace of

many

miles along
la-

the banks of the river.

With

outftretched arms,

and pathetic

mentations, they loudly deplored their pad misfortunes and their prefent danger
;

acknowledged, that their only hope of fafety \vas in the

clemency of the

Roman government

and moft folemnly protefted,

that if the gracious liberality of the

emperor would permit them to

cultivate the wafte lands of Thrace, they fhould ever hold themfelves

bound, by the llrongefl obligations of duty and gratitude,

the laws, and to guard the limits, of the republic.

to

obey

Thefe affurances

were confirmed by the ambaffadors of the Goths, expedled, from the mouth of Valens, an anfwer
determine the fate of their unhappy countrymen.
the Eaft was no longer guided by the
A. D. 375.
^'

who
that

impatiently

muft

finally

The emperor of
his

wifdom and authority of

elder brother,

whofe death happened towards the end of the preand

as the diftrefsful fituation of the

''

ceding year
inftant

Goths jequired an

and peremptory

decifion,

he was deprived of the favourite

;

refource of feeble and timid minds

who

confider the ufe of dila-

tory and ambiguous meafures, as the moft admirable efforts of con-,

fummate prudence.
fo-bfift

As long

as

the fame paffions

and

interefts

among mankind,

the queftions of

war and

peace, of juftice

and

policy, -which

were debated

in the councils of antiquity, will

frequently

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
modern
deliberation.

593

frequently prefent themfelves as the fubjct of

CHAP.
XXVI.

But the moft experienced ftatefman of Europe, has never been fumraoned to confider the propriety, or the danger, of admitting, or rejedling, an innumerable multitude of Barbarians,

who are driven by defpair

territories

and hunger
nation.

to folicit a fettlement

on the

of a civilized

When

that important proportion, fo eflentially connccfted

fafety,

with the public

was

referred to the minifters of Valens, they

;

were perplexed and divided

tering fentiment

but they foon acquiefced in the

flat-

which feemed the moft favourable

to the pride, the

flaves,

indolence, and the avarice of their fovereign.

The

who were

decorated v/ith the

titles

of prsefe^ts and generals, diflembled or dif;

regarded the terrors of this national emigration

ferent

fo

extremely dif-

from the

partial

and accidental
limits

colonies,

which had been

from the
invincible

received

on the extreme

of the empire.

But they applauded

moft

the liberality of fortune,

diftant countries

which had condudled,

a

of the globe,

numerous and
of Valens
;

army

of ftrangers,

to

defend the throne

the

who might now

proportion

add

to

the

royal treafures,
to

immenfe fums of gold fupplied

their

by

the

provincials

compenfate

annual

of

recruits.

The

prayers

of the Goths

were
:

granted,

and their

fervice

was accepted by the Imperial court

and orders were imme-

diately difpatched to the civil

d'iocefe, to
fi'ftence

and military governors of the Thracian

make

the neceflary preparations for the paflagc and fubtill

of a great people,

a proper

and

fufficient territory

could

be allotted for their future refidence.

The
harfli

liberality

of the emperor

was accompanied, however, with two

and rigorous conditions,

;

v/hich prudence might juftify on the fide of the Rom^ans

diftrefs

but which

alone could extort from the indignant Goths.

Before they

paffed the

Danube, they were required

their

to deliver their

arms

and

it

was

infifted, that

children Ihould be taken from them, and

;

.difperfed

through the provinces of Afia

II.

where they might be

civi-

VoL.

lized

594

THE DECLINE AND FALL

lized

CHAP,
XXVI.
\^:..,,r-J

by the

arts

of education, and ferve as hoftages to fecure the

fidelity

of their parents.
this fufpenfe

They
nube
pire.

are

During

of a doubtful and diftant negociation, the

rafli

OTe"/the

dI-

impatient Goths
-pp^ithout

made fome

attempts

to

pafs

the Danube,

into the

Roman em-

the

permiffion ^

of the
.

government,
.

whofe

protedlion

they had implored.

Their motions were

ftrldtly

obferved

by

the

vigilance of the troops

which were

ftationed along the river;

and

their foremoft detachments

were defeated with confiderable

flaughter:.

yet fuch were the timid councils of the reign of Valens, that the

brave

officers

who had
lofs

ferved their country in the execution of their

lofs

duty, were puniflied

by the

of their employments, and nar-

rowly efcaped the

the Gothic nation
labour and
parts
is

of their heads..

length received for tranfporting

"' ;

The Imperial mandate was at over the Danube the whole body of

but the execution of this order was a tafk of

difficulty.

The
^'',

ftream of the Danube, which in thofe

above a mile broad

had been fwelled by

inceflant rains

and,

in this tumultuous paffage,

many were fwept away, and drowned,

by

the rapid violence of the current.

A
toil
;

large fleet of veflels,

of

boats,

and of canoes, was provided

many

days and nights they

paffed and repafled with indefatigable

diligence

and the moft ftrenuous

was exerted by the

officers

of Valens, that not a fmgle Barto fubvert

fliore.
It

barian, of thofe

who were
left

refer^'^ed

the foundations of

Rome,

fhould be

on the oppofite

was thought expenumbers

;

dient that an accurate account fhould be taken of their

but

the perfons
*'

who were employed

Danube
is

foon defifted, with amazement and

difagreeably
brevity.
** Chifhull,

The

paflage of the

expofed
(I. iv.

balanced by his

unfeafonable-

by Ammianus
p. 19, 20.),

(xxxi. 3, 4.).

Zofimus
(c.

p. 223, 224.), Eunapius in Excerpt. Legat.

a curious traveller,

has re-

and Jornandes

25,

26.).

marked
he paffed

the breadth of the

Danube, which

Ammianus

declares (c. 5.), that he

only, ipfas rerum dageTtre fummitales.

means But

to the fouth of Buchareft, near the-

portancej

he often takes a falfe meafure of their imand liis fuperfiuous proli.xity is

conflux of the Argifh (p. 77.). He admires the beauty and fpontaneous plenty of Ma;fia,
or Bulgaria.

difmay^

OF THE
difmay,
tafk*';

ROMAN

EMPIRE,
impralicable
I'erioully affirms,

595

from the profecution

of the cndlefs and

CHAP,

and the principal hiftorian of the age moft

that the prodigious armies of Darius

and Xerxes, which had

fo

long

been confidered

as the fables

of vain and credulous antiquity, were

now

juftified,

in

the eyes of mankind,

by the evidence of
has
fixed

fadt

and experience.

A
to

probable
at

teftimony

the
;

number
and
if

of the Gothic warriors

two hundred thoufand rhen

we

can venture

add the juft proportion of women, of chil-

dren, and of flaves, the whole mafs of people which compofed this

formidable emigration, muft have amounted to hear a million of

perfons of both fexes, and of
all

ages.

The

children of the Goths,

thofe at lead of a diftinguifhed rank, were feparated from the multitude.

They were conduded, without

;

delay,

to the diftant feats as the

affigned for their refidence and education

and

numerous

train

of

h(|ftages or captives pafled

through the

cities,

their

gay and fplen-

did apparel, their robuft and martial figure, excited the furprife and

envy of the

Provincials.

But the

ftipulation, the

moft ofTenfive to

the Goths, and the moft important to the

eluded.

Romans, was fhamefully

The
luft

Barbarians,

who

confidered their arms as the enfigns

fafety,

of honour, and the pledges of

were difpofed

to offer a price,

which the
to accept.

or avarice of the Imperial officers was eafily tempted

preferve their arms, the haughty warriors confented,
;

To

with fome reludtance, to proftitute their wives or their daughters

the charms of a beauteous maid, or a comely boy, fecured the con-

nivance of the infpedors

who

fometimes

caft

an eye of covetouf-

'

Quem
Scire

fi

fcire velit,

Libyci velit xquoris

lines

of Virgil (Georgic.

I.

ii.),

originally

idem

defigned by the poet to exprefs the inipoffi-

quam multx Zephyro

truduntur

bility

of numbering the different

See Plin. Hill. Natur.
1.

forts

of

harenas.

vines.

xiv.

Ammianus

has infcrted, in his profe, thefe

C^. 2

nefs

SgS

THE DECLINE AND FALL

jiefg

CHAP,
V
,
'

Qn the fringed carpets and linen garments of

facrificed their
cattle,

their

new

allies

or

who

duty to the mean confideration of

flaves.

filling th^ir

farms with

and their houfes with

The Goths, with

;

arms in their hands, were permitted to enter the boats

their ftrength

and,

when
of the

was colleded on the other

fide

of the river, the im-

menfe camp which was fpread over the

plains

and the

hills

Lower

Ma^fia, alTumcd a threatening and even hoftile afpeft.

The

leaders of the Oftrogoths, Alatheus

and Saphrax, the guardians of

their infant king, appeared foon afterwards

on the Northern banks of

to the

the

Danube

and immediately difpatched their ambafladors

folicit,

court of Antioch, to

with the flune profeffions of allegiance

and

gratitude, the

fame favour which had been granted to the fup-

pliant Vifigoths.

The

abfolute refufal of Valens

fufpended their

progrefs,
fears,

and difcovered the repentance,

the fulpicions,

and the

of the Imperial council.

undifciplined

Their

dif.

An
^^^^

and unfettled

nation

of Barbarians required

i^ifcontent

firmeft temper, fubfiftence

and the moft dexterous management.

near
a

The
and
in-

daily

of

million

of

extraordinary
fkilful

fubjedls

could be

fupplied

only by conftant

and

diligence,

might continually be interrupted by miftake or

felves to be the objedts, either of fear, or,

accident.

The

folence, or the indignation, of the Goths, if they conceived

them-

of contempt, might urge

ftate

them

to the

moll defperate extremities

and the fortune of the

feemed to depend on the prudence,

generals of Valens.

as well as the integrity, of the

crifis,

At

this

important

the military governin

ment of Thrace was

venal minds the

exercifed

by Lupicinus and Maximus,

and whofe
guilt

whofe
everyalle-

flightefl:

hope of private emolument outweighed

;

confideration of public advantage

was only

*'

Eunapius and Zofimus cnrioufly fpecify

and luxury.
muft be prefumed, that they were the

manufaftares of the provinces;

or as the

which the

thefe articles of Gothic wealth

Barbarians had acquired as the fpoils of war;

gifts,

Yet

it

or merchandife, of peace.

viated

OF THE
\'Lited

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
'^ ^^

597
A. P.

by
J

their incapacity of difcerning the pernicious effeds of their

1

ralh

/T

XXV].

and criminal adminiftration.

Inftead of obeying the orders of

and fatisfying, with decent Hberality, the demands of the Goths, they levied an ungenerous and oppreffiv^e tax on the wants of the hungry Barbarians. The vilcft food was fold' at an extheir fovercign,

travagant price
vifions, the

and, in the

room of wholfome and

with the
flefli

fubftantial

pro-

markets were

filled

of dogs, and of unclean

animals,
tion of a

who had

died of difeafe.

To
and
a

obtain the valuable acquifipoffcffion of an

pound of bread, the Goths refigned the

;

ex-

penfive, though ferviceable, flave

fmall quantity of

meat was
ufelefs,.

greedily purchafed

with ten pounds of a precious,

but

metal

"'.

When
traffic

their property

was exhaufted, they continued

;

this

neceflary

by the

fale

of their fons and daughters

and not-

withftanding the love of freedom, which animated every Gothic

breaft,

they fubmitted to the humiliating maxim, that

it

was

better

for their children to be maintained in a fervile condition, than to

perifh in a ftate of wretched

lively refentment
is

and

helplefs

independence.

The moft

who
led

fternly

by the tyranny of pretended benefadlors, exadl the debt of gratitude which they have cancelexcited
injuries
:

by fubfequent

a fpirit of difcontent infenfibly arofe in

the

camp of

the Barbarians,

who

pleaded, without fuccefs, the merit

of their patient and dutiful behaviour; and loudly complained of the

inhofpitable treatment

which they had received from

their

new

allies.

They beheld around them the wealth and plenty of

vince, in the midft of
artificial

a fertile pro-

which they

fuffercd the intolerable hardfhips

relief,

of

famine.
the

But the means of

and even of revenge,

"

Decern libras

wwA

fdver muft be

Jornandes betrays the pafiions and prejudices of a Goth. The fervile Greeks, Eunapius and ZoSmus, difguife the Roman oppreflion, and execrate the perfidy of the
underflood.

and reluftantly, touches on theodious Jerom, who wrote almoll on the fpot, is fair, though concife. Per avaritiam Maximi ducis, ad rebellionem fame coadi.
flightly,

fubjeft.

funt (in Chron.).

Barbarians.

Ammianus,
1

a patriot hiftorian,

were

598

THE DECLINE AND FALL

were
in their

CHAP,
V -,_j

hands

fince the rapacioufnefs

of their tyrants had

left,

to an injured people, the pofleflion

and the ufe of arms.

The

cla-

mours of a multitude, untaught

the
firft

to difguife their fentiments,

announced
aiid guilty

fymptoms of

i-efiftance,

and alarmed the timid

minds of Lupicinus and Maximus.

fubftituted

Thofe crafty

minifters,
to

who

the cunning of temporary expedients

the wife and

falutary

counfels

of

general

policy,
ftation

attempted

to

remove the
of the

Goths from
pire
;

their dangerous
difperfe

on the

frontiers

emthey

and

to

them, in feparate quarters of cantonment,

through the interior provinces.

As they were
fide,

confcious

how

ill

had deferved the

ligently colledied,

refpeft, or confidence, of the Barbarians,

they di-

from every

a military force, that

might urge

the tardy and reluftant march of a people,

the
title,

who had

not yet renounced

or the duties, of

Roman

fubjeds.

But the generals of

Valens, while their attention was folely directed to the difcontented

Vifigoths,

imprudently difarmed the fhlps and the

fortifications,
fatal overfight

which

conftituted the defence of the

Danube.

The

was obferved, and improved, by Alatheus and Saphrax, who anxioufly

watched the favourable moment of efcaping from the purfuit of the

Huns.

By the
and

help of fuch rafts and veifels as could be haftily pro-

cured, the leaders of the Oftrogoths tranfported, without oppofition,

their king
their

army

and boldly fixed an

of the empire
'.

hoftile

and inde-

pendent camp on the

Revolt of the

territories

Under

the

name of
.^
.

judges, Alavivus and

Fritigern

were the
.

Goths
M.-Eria,

in

and
vic-

leaders of the Vifigoths in peace

and war
ratified

, ;

and the authority which

their

firll

tories.

they derived from their birth, was

nation.

by the

free confent of the

In a feafon of tranquillity, their

;

power might have been

countrymen were
abilities

equal, as well as their rank

but, as foon as theit

exafperated

by hunger and

oppreffion,

the

fuperior

of

Fritigern aflTumed the military

''

command, which he was

xxxi. 4, 5.

qualified to

Ammianus, 2

cxercife

OF THE
Vifigoths,
till

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

59^
^ Jf.,'^,
^*

exercile for the public welfare.

He reftrained the Impatient fpirit of the

mankind
:

the injuries and the infults of their tyrants fhouldjuftify

their refiftance in the opinion of

but he was not difpofed

to facrifice

any

folid

advantages for the empty praife of juftlce and

moderation.

Senfible of the benefits

which would

rcfult

from the
fecretly

union of the Gothic powers under the fame ftandard, he

cultivated the friendfhip of the

Oflrogoths

and while he profeffed

generals, he pro-

an implicit obedience

to the orders

of the

Roman

ceeded by flow marches towards Marcianopolis, the capital of the

Lower

M.Tefia,

about feventy miles from the banks of the Danube.

On

that fatal fpot,

the flames of difcord and mutual hatred burfl: forth

into a dreadful conflagration.

Lupicinus had invited the Gothic

;

chiefs to a fplendid entertainment

and

their martial train

remained
city-

under arms

at the entrance

of the palace.

But the gates of the

fl:ernly

were

fl;ridtly

guarded

and the Barbarians were

to

excluded froiu
their

the ufe of a plentiful market,

which they

afl'erted

equal

claim of fubjedts and

allies.
;

Their humble prayers were rejected

with infolence and derifion

and

as

their patience

was now ex-

haufted, the townfmen, the foldiers, and the Goths, were foon in-

volved in a conflict of paflionate altercation and angry reproaches.

blow was imprudently given

firft

a fword

was

haftily

drawn

and

the

blood that was

fpilt

in this accidental quarrel,

became the

fignal of a long

and deftrutive war.

In the midfl of noife and brutal

intemperance, Lupicinus was informed, by a fecret meflenger, that

many
as
ilTued

of his foldiers were

flain,

and defpoiled of

their

arms

and

as

he was already inflamed by wine, and opprefled by

a rafh

fleep,

he

command,
of the

that their death

fliould

be revenged by
Alavivus.
Fritigern

the

maiTacre

guards of Fritigern

and

The
of his
fpirit

clamorous

fhouts
:

and

dying

groans

apprifed

extreme danger

and, as he

pofl'efl'ed

the calm and intrepid

of

a hero, he faw

that

he was

loft if

he allowed a moment of deliberation

Coo

THE DECLINR AND FALL

"^^tion to the

^vvA^'

man who had

fo deeply Injured him.

"

tiifihig dlf-

" pute, faid the Gothic leader, with a firm but gentle tone of voice, " appears to have arifen between the two nations but it may be
;

*'
*'

produdtive of the moft dangerous confequences, unlefs the tumult

is

immediately pacified by the aflurance of our

fafety,

and the

" authority of our prefence."

At

thcfc words, Fritigern

and

his

companions drew
unrefifting crowd,

their fwords,

opened their pafTage through the

which

filled

the palace, the ftreets, and the gates,

of Marcianopolis, and, mounting their horfes, haftily vanifhed from

the eyes of the aftoniihed Romans.

The

generals of the

Goths
:

were

faluted

by the

fierce

and

jo)'ful acclamations

of the camp

war

was

inftantly refolved,

and the refolution was executed without dewere difplayed according

to the

lay: the banners of the nation

cuftom

of their anccftors
ful

and the

air

refounded with the harfh and mourn'".

mufic of the Barbarian trumpet

The weak and

guilty

Lupi-

einus,

who had

dared to provoke,

who had

negledled to deftroy, and

who
on

ftill

prefumed

to defpife, his formidable

enemy, marched againft

the Goths, at the head of fuch a military force as could be colleled

this

fudden emergency.

The

Barbarians, expected his approach

;

about nine miles from Marcianopolis

and on

this occafion the talents

of the general were found to be of more prevailing efficacy than the

weapons and
fo

difcipline

of the troops.

The

valour of the Goths was

ably direfted by the genius of Fritigern, that they broke, by a

clofe

and vigorous
Vexillis

attack, the ranks of the

Roman

legions.

Lupi-

"
trifie

de mors
clajjicis.

fublatis,

audltifque
xxxi. 5.
(in

fonantibus

Ammian.

Thefe are the rauca cornua of Claudian

Rufin.
ii.

57.), the large herns of the Vri, or wild bull; fuch as have been more recently ufed

introduced in an original narraof the battle of Nancy (A. D. 1477.). " Attendant le combat le dit cor fut come " par trois fois, tant que le ventdu foufleur
cafually,
tive

by the Swifs Cantons of Uri and Underwald (Simler de Republica Helvet.

ii.^

" " "

pouvoit durer
fieur

ce qui elbahit fort

;

MonMorat

de Bourgoigne

car deja a

ra-voit ouy."

(See the Pieces Jullificatfves

1.

p. 201. edit. Fufelin.

inJlitary

Tigur.

1734.).

in the 410 edition

toni.
iii,

of Philippe de Comines,

Thedr

horn

is

finely,

though perhaps

p. 493.)

cinus

OF THE
CUIUS
diers,
left his

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE.
and
his braveft fol-

6oi

arms and
field

ftandarcis, his tribunes

CHAP,

on the

of

battle

and

their ufelefs courage ferved only to

protedl the ignominious flight of their leader.

fuccefsful day " put an end to the diflrefs of the Barbarians, and the fecurity " of the Romans from that day, the Goths, renouncing the pre" carious condition of ftrangers and exiles, afliimed the charadter
:

" That

*'

of citizens and'mafters, claimed an abfolute dominion over the

"

pofTeflbrs of land, and held, in their own right, the northern pro-* " vinces of the empire, M-hich are bounded by the Danube." Such

are the

words of the Gothic

liiftorian '%

who

celebrates,

with rude

eloquence, the glory of his countrymen.

But the dominion of the

Barbarians was exercifed only for the purpofes of rapine and deftruction.

As they had been

deprived, by the minifters of the emperor,

of the
life,

common

benefits of nature,

and the

fair intercourfe

of
;

focial
pent-

they retaliated the injuftice on the fubjedts of the empire

and the They

crimes of Lupicinus were expiated by the ruin of the peaceful hufband-

trate into

Th,.race.

men

of Thrace, the conflagration of their

villages',

and the

maffiicre,

or captivity, of their innocent families.

The
and

report of the Gothic vlc;

toiy was foon diffufed over the adjacent country

the minds of the

and while

it filled

Romans with

terror

dil'may, their

own

hafly

imprudence contributed

to increafe the forces

of Fritigern, and the

calamities of the province.

Some time before the great emigration, a numerous body of Goths, under the command of Suerid and Colias,
fervice

had been received into the protedion and

of the empire ".

:

They were encamped under

nifters
at a diftance

the walls of Hadrianople

but the mi-

of Valens were anxious to remove them beyond the Hellefpont,

from the dangerous temptation which might

73
-,1-

fo eafily

be

"
64.8. ^

Jornandes de Rebus Gelicis, c. 26. p. edit. Grot. Thefef/i/eiuiu/i panni h'ney

.

Cum

populis fuis longe ante fufceptu

..
1

comparatively /i r , J r tranlcnbed from the

nre

lucli)
1

are
1

undoubtedly

,,

We

r . '"e Ignorant or the precile date and cir

la-i-ger

:,-._ f hiitones or D -r rnlcus,

cumftances of their tranfmigration.

....

/-

'
.

Ablavius, or Cafliodorius.

Vol.

II.

communicated

6o2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

communicated by the neighbourhood, and the
trymen.
fuccefs,

CHAP.
XXV
[.

of their coun-

The

refpedful fubmifhon with which tlicy yielded to the

order of their march, might be confidered as a proof of their fidelity

;

and; their moderate

requeft of afufficient allcm^ance of provi-

fions,.

and of a delay

of'

only two days,, was exprefled in the moft

Hadrianople, incenfed by
at

dutiful terms.

But the

nrft magiftrate of

fome

difordcrs

which had been committed

his country-houfc, re-

fufed this indulgence; and

arming againfl them the Inhabitants

city^

ancf

manufacturers of a populous
their inflant departure.
till

he urged, with

hoftlle

threats,

The

Barbarians ftood

filent

and amazed,,
.

they were exafpcrated by the infuking clamours, and

:

miffils'
fara;

weapons, of the populace

tigued, they
crufiied' the

but

when

patience or contempt

was

undifciplined multitude, inflided

many

(hameful

wound on

the backs of their flying enemies, and defpoiled?

them of

the fplendld

armour

'\

which they were unworthy

and

to bear^

The refemblance of their

Golias and Suerid

fufferings

their adlions foon united this;,

viftorious detachment to the nation of the Vifigoths

the troops

of.

expedled the approach of the great Fritigern,

fignalifed their ardour iiv

ranged themfelves under his ftandard, and

the fiege of Hadrianople.-

But the

refiftance

of the garrifon Informed

the Barbarians, that, in the attack of regular fortifications, the efforts

of unfkilful courage are feldom

effe6lual.

Their general acknowat

ledged his error, raifed the fiege, declared that, " he was

peace with

"

ftone walls ","

and revenged

his difappolntment
ui'eful

on the adjacent
reinforcement of
'*,

country.

He

accepted, with pleafure, the

hardy workmen,

who

laboured in the gold mines of Thrace

for

the

' An Imperial niSnufafture of iTiields,

was
eftablithed at

&.-C,.

^'

Hadrianople;

and the po-

rans.
'*
Bcflij

Pacem fibi Ammian.

e/Te

cum

parletibus

memo-

xxxi. 7.

pulace were headed by the Falriccnfes, or

Tf/orkmen (Valcf. ad

Ammian.

xxxi. 6.}.

Thefe mines were in the country of the in the ridge, of mountains, the Rho~ dope^

OV THE
tlie

ROMAN
lafli,

EMPIRE.
:

603
and

emolument, and under the

of an unfeclinc; mafter "

CHAP.
xxv[
'_

t^aefe

new

ailbciates

conduded

the

Barbarians, through the fecret

-.

paths, to the moil fequeftered phices, v^^hich had been chofen to fe-

cure the inhabitants, the cattle, and the magazines of corn.

the aififtance of fuch guides, nothing could
inacceflible
:

With
and the

remain impervious, or
;

rciiftance

was

fatal

flight

was impradicable

patient fubmifhon

of helplcfs innocence feldom found mercy from In the courfc of thefe depredations, a great

the Barbarian conqueror.

number of
vity,

the children of the Goths,

reftored
to the

who had

been fold into capti;

were

embraces of their

afflidled parents

but

thefe tender interviews,

their their

which might have revived and

clreriflied in

minds fome fentiments of humanity, tended only

native hercenefs

to flimulate
iiflened,

by the

del'ire

of revenge.

They

with eager attention,

to tlie complaints of tiieir captive children,

who

had

fuffei'ed

tne moll cruel indignities from the luftful or angry paf;

fions of their mafters

and the fame

cruelties, the

fame

indignities,
'\
Operatlonso?
war.
'
"

were feverely

retaliated

on the fons and daughters of the Romans

The Imprudence

of Valens and his minifters Iiad introduced into

;

the heart of the empire a nation of enemies

but the Vifigoths might

even yet have been reconciled, by the manly confeflion of pail errors,

'

and the fmcere performance of former engagements. and temperate meafures feemed
fition

Thefe healing

to

concur with the timorous difpo:

of the fovereign of the Eafl

but,

on
i.

this

occafion alone^.
S57.

popolis

dope, that runs between Philippi and Philiptwo Macedonian cities, which der'lred their name and origin from the father
;

Antiq.

torn.

p.

6j6.

D'Anville,

of AlevamJer. From the mines of Thrace he annually received the value, not the weight, of a thoufand talents (acojooo 1.) a revenue which psid the Phalanx, and corrupted See Diodor. Siculus, the orators of Greece.
;

Geographic Ancienne, torn. i. p. 336. " As thofe unhappy workmen often ran away, Valens had enafted fevere laws to dra" them from their hiding;-places. Cod. Throdoiian.
'^
1.

x. tit. .\ix. leg. ^. 7.

See Ammiaiius, xxxi.

5, 6.

The

hiflo-

rian of the

Gothic war

lofes

time and fpace,

torn.

ii.

I.

xvi. p. 88. edit. Wefleiing.

Go-

defroy's

Commentary on
iii.

the

TheodofKin

by an unfcafonable recapitulation of the ancicnt inroads of the Barbarians.

iCode, torn.

p. 496.

Ccllarius,

Geograph.

Valens

6o4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Valens was brave
.

CHAP.
XX
I.

and

liis

unfeafonable bravery

and

to his fubjeds.

He

declared his intention of marching from

this

...

vv^as fatal

to himfeir

Antioch to Conftantinople, to fubdue

as he

dangerous rebellion

and,

was not ignorant of the

difficulties

of the entcrpiife, he folicited

the affiftance of his nej)hew, the emperor Gratian,

all

who commanded
was abandoned

the forces of the Weft.

The
;

veteran troops were haftily recalled

from the defence of Armenia

to the difcretion of Sapor
v/ar
;

tliat

important

fi-ontier

and the immediate condut of the Gothic

was

entrufted, during the abfence of Valens, to his lieutenants

Trajan and Profuturus, two generals

who

indulged themfelves in a

very

falfe

and

flivourable opinion of their

own

abilities.

On

their

arrival in Thrace,

they were joined by Richomer, count of the do

auxiliaries

meftics

and the

of the Weft, that marched under his

banner, were compofed of the Gallic legions, reduced indeed

by

fpiri't

of defertion to the vain appearances of ftrength and

numrathec

bers.

In a council of war, which was influenced by

it

pride,,

than by reafon,
barians
;

was

refolved to feek,.
In.

and

to encounter, the
fertile

Bar-

who

lay

encamped

the fpacious and

meadows,
".

near the moft fouthern of the fix mouths of the

Danube

Their
;

camp was furrounded by

joyed the

the ufual fortification of

waggons '

and
enIn

the Barbarians, fecure within the vaft circle of the inclofure,

fruits

of their valour, and the fpoils of the province.

the midft of riotous intemperance, the watchful Fritigern obferved the

motions, and penetrated the defigns, of the Romans.

that the

He perceived,,
;

numbers of the enemy were continually increafing

rear,, as

and, as

he underftood their intention of attacking his

's

foon as the fear1.

The

Itinerary of Antoninus

(p. 226,

getius de

Re

Militari,

iii.

c. 10.

Valefius

227. edit. Wefleling) marks the f.tuation of this place about fixty miles north of Tomi,

ad Ammian. xxxi. 7.). The praftice and the? name were preferved by their defcendants, as
late as the fifteenth century.

Ovid's exile : and the name oi Salices (the willows) exprefles the nature of the foil. ' This circle of waggons, the Carrago, was
the ufual fortification of the Barbarians. (Ve-

Tht
a

Charrcy-, familiar/

which furrounded the

OJi,

is

word

to the readers of Froifl'ard, or

Comines.

city

'

OF THE
cily of forage fhould oblige

ROMAN
him
to

EMPIRE.
his

605
he recalled to

remove

camp

their ftandard his predatory detachments, whicli covered the adjacent

'

CHAP.
'^

country.

As foon

as

they defcried the flaming beacons ",

;

they

obeyed, with incredible fpeed, the fignal of their leader

the

camp

was

filled

with the martial crowd of Barbarians

their impatient

clamours demanded the batde, and their tumultuous zeal was ap-

proved and animated by the

already far advanced
;

fpirit

of their

chiefs.

The evening was

the

and the two armies prepared themfelves for

till

the approaching combat,, which was deferred only

day.

dawn of

While the trumpets founded

to arms, the

undaunted courage

of the Goths was confirmed by the mutual obligation of a folemn

oath
;

and

as

they advanced to meet the enemy, the rude fongs,

which

celebrated the glory of their forefathers, were mingled with

their fierce

and diiTonant outcries; and oppofed to the

artificial

har-

mony

of the

Roman
to

fhout.

Some

military

fkill

was difplayed
;

by Fritigern

gain

the advantage of a

commanding eminence

but the bloody conflid:, which began and ended with the light, was
ftiaintained,

on

either fide,

by the perfonal and

obftinate efforts of

ftrength, valour,
their

and

agility.

The
left

legions of

Armenia fupported
irrefiftible

fame

in

arms ; but they were opprefTed by the

:

weight

of the hoftile multitude

into diforder,

the

wing of

the

Romans was thrown

mangled
carcaffes.
;

and the

field

was ftrewed with

their

This

partial defeat

was balanced, however, by

at

partial

fuccefs

and

when

the

two armies,

late

hour of the evening,

retreated

to their refpedtive camps,

neither of

them could claim the ho-

nours, or the effects, of a decifive victory.

feverely
felt

The

real lofs

was more

by the Romans,

in proportion to the fmallnefs of their

fo deeply

numbers; but the Goths were

*'

confounded and dlfmayed by

Statira ut accenfi malleoli.

have ufed

turgid metaphors, thofe falfe ornaments, that

the literal fenfe of real torches or beacons:

perpetually disfigtire the ftyle of

Ammianus.

but I alnjoft fufpeft, that

it is

only one of thofe tills

6o6

THE DECLINE AND EALL

fj^is

CHAP,
t^
'

vigorous, and perhaps unexpedled, refiftancc, that they remained

ieven days within the circle of their fortilications.

rites,

Such funeral

as the circumftances

of time
officers

and place would admit, were

;

pioufly difcharged to
difcriminate vulgar

fome

of diflinguifhed rank

but the inflefh

was

left

imburied on the plain.

Their

was

greedily devoured

by

the birds of prey,

feafts
;

who,
feveral

in that age,

enjoyed

very frequent and delicious

and

years afterwards the

fields,

white and naked bones, which covered the wide extent of the
prefented to the eyes of
battle

Ammianus,

a dreadful

monument of

the

of

Salices ".

Union of the Goths with

the Hiiiis,

'j'-^q

proCTefs of the r o
;

Goths had been checked by the doubtful event y

conteft,

of that bloody day

and the Imperial generals, whofe ai-my would

embraced

have been confumed by the repetition of fuch a

the

more

rational plan, of deftroying the Barbarians,

by the wants and

preffure of their

own

multitudes.

They

prepared to confine the

Vifigoths in the narrow angle of land, between the Danube, the

defert of Scythia,

and the mountains of Hsemus,

till

their ftrength

and

fpirit fliould

be infenfibly wafted by the inevitable operation of

;

famine.

The

ckfign was profecuted with fome conduct and fuccefs

the Barbarians had almoft exhaufted their

harvefts of the country
;

own

magazines, and the

and the diligence of Saturninus, the mafter-

general of the cavalry, was employed to improve the ftrength, and

to contradl the extent,

of the

Roman

fortifications.

His labours

were

interrupteil

by the alarming

intelligence, that

new fwarms of
juft

Barbarians had pafTed -the unguarded Danube, either to fupport the

caufe, or to imitate the example, of Fritigern.
fion,

The

apprehen-

that

he himfelf might be furrounded, and overwhelmed, by

ufqiie
7.
albeiites
oflibus

**

Indicant nunc

fequetit to the Perfian

warsof Conrtantlus and

and retired
to

c^mpi.

Ammian.

xxxi.

The
his

hillorian

Julian.

We

are ignorant of the time

might have viewed

thefe plains, either as a

he. quitted the fervice,

when Rome,

foldier, or as a traveller.

But

modefty has

ifupprened the adventures of his own: life fub(>

ry of his

where he appears to have compofed Own Times.

his Hifto-

the

OF

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

unknown
nations, compelled Saturninus to

607

the arms of hoftile and

CHAP.
XXVJ.

relinqulih the fiege of the Gothic

camp

and the indignant Vifi-

goths, breaking from their confmement, fatiated their hunger and

revenge, by the repeated devaftation of the fruitful country, which

extends above three hundred miles from the banks of the Danube to
the ftrerglits cf the Heliefpont ".

The

fagacious Fritigern had fuc-

cefsfully appealed to the paflions, as well as to

the intereff, of his

Barbarian

allies

and the love of rapine,

aiid the hatred

of Rome,

feconded, or even prevented, the eloquence of his ambafliidors.

He
coun-

cemented a
trymen,

ftridt

and

ufeful alliance

with the great body of

his

who obeyed
:

Alatheus and Saphrax as the guardians of their

th'c

Infintking

the long animofity of rival tribes was fufpcnded by

fenfe of their

common

intereft

the independent part of the nation

;

was

affoclated

under one ilandard

and the

chiefs of the Oftrogoths

appear to have yielded to the fuperlor genius of the general of the

Vifigoths.
military
their

He

obtained the formidable aid of the

difgraced and polluted

Talflila.',

whofc

renown was

by the public infamy of

his

domeftic manners.

Every youth, on
ties

entrance- into the

world, was united by the

love, to

of honourable frkndfhip, and brutal

;

fome warrior of the

tribe

nor could he hope to be releafed

from

this unnatural

connedlon,

till

he had approved bus manhood

bear, or a wild boar of the

by

{laylngj in fingle comhat, a

huge

foreft '^

But the moft powerful

auxiliaries of the

Goths were drawn

froni their

from the camp of thofe enemies who had expelled them

native feats.

The
8.

locfe fubordination,

and extenfive

pofTeflions,

of

'' ^*

Amtnlan. xxxi.

jnteremit urfum
ratur
incefii.

H;inc Taifalorum gentem turpem, et obtcna; vice flagitiis ita accipimus merfam ;
ut apud eos nefandi concubitus fadere copu-

the Greeks-

immanem, colluvionc libeAmmian. xxxi. 9. Among likewife, more efpecially among

the holy bands of friendfhip

the Cretans,

lentur mares puberes,

a:tatls

viriditatem in

were confirmed,
love.

and

fiillied,

by unnatural

eorum pollutis ufibus confumpturi. Porro, a (jui jam adultus aprum exceperit folus, vel

the

6oS

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the

CHAP,
V
,

Huns and
by the

the Alani,

delayed the

conquefls,

and diftraded

'

the councils, of that vidorious people.

allured
liberal

Several of the hords were

;

promifes of Fritigern

and the rapid cavalry

fleady and ftrenuous

of Scythia, added
efforts

Vv-^eight

and energy

to the

of the Gothic infantry.

The

Sarmatians,

who

could never

forgive the fucceiTor of Valentinian, enjoyed and encreaffed the general

confufion

and a feafonable irruption of the Alemanni, into the

provinces of Gaul, engaged the attention, and diverted the forces, of

the emperor of the
Vlftory of

Weft '\

One

of the moft dangerous Inconveniencies of the introdutlion of

the^Aleman-

the Barbarians into the

army and

the palace,

was
;

fenfibly felt in their

AD.

"78.

correfpondence with their hoftile countrymen

to

whom they impruRoman

empire.

May.

dently, or malicioufly, revealed the weaknefs of the

foldier,

of the life-guards of Gratian, was of the nation of the

tribe

Alemanni, and of the

lake of Conftance.

of the Lentienfes,

who

dwelt beyond

tlie

Some

domeftic bufmefs obliged

vifit to his

him

to requeft a

leave of abfence.

In a fhort

family and friends, he w^as

expofed to their curious inquiines; and the vanity of the loquacious

foldier

tempted him to difplay

his intimate acquaintance

with the

fecrets of the ftate,

and the defigns of

his mafter.

The

intelligence,

that Gratian

was preparing

to lead the military force of

Gaul, and of

the Weft, to the afliftance of his uncle Valens, pointed out to the
reftlefs
fpirit

of the Alemanni, the moment, and the mode, of a

fuccefsful invafion.
-

The

enterprife of

fome

light detachments,
ice,

who,

in the

month of February,

paffed the

Rhine upon the

was the

prelude of a more important war.

The

boldeft hopes of rapine,

perhaps of conqueft, outweighed the confiderations of timid pruilence, or

national faith.

Every

forcft,

and every
to

village,

poured
in

'^

p. 26

Animian. xxxi. 8, 9. Jerom (torn i. and marks a ) enumerates the nations,

This

epiftle

Heliodorus was ccmpofed

'Vl'-'m-

the

year 397 (Tillemont,

p. 645.).

Hcclcf. tom.xii.

talamitous period of twenty years.

?

forth

OF THE
forth a

ROMAN
;

EMPIRE,

09

band of hardy adventurers

and the great army of the Ale-

CHAP.

Tnanni, which, on their approach, was eftimated at forty thoiifand

men by

the fears of the people,

was afterwards magnified

to the

number of feventy thoufand, by the vain and credulous flattery of the Imperial court. The legions, which had been ordered to march
Into Pannonia,

were immediately
the military
;

recalled, or detained, for the

de-

fence of Gaul

command was
wifdom of

divided between Nanienus

and Mellobaudes

and the youthful emperor, though he rcfpedled

the former,

the long experience and fober

was much more

;

inclined to admire, and to follow, the martial ardour of his colleague

who was

allowed to unite the incompatible charadlei's of count of the

domeftics, and of king of the Franks.

His

rival Priarius,

king of the

Alemanni, was guided, or rather impelled, by the fame headftrong

valour
;

and

as their troops

were animated by the

fpirit

of their

leaders, they met, they faw, they encountered, each other, near the

town of
pradlifed

Argentaria, or Colmar

^'*,

in the plains of Allace.

miifile
:

The

^lory of the day was juftly afcribed to the

evolutions, of the

weapons, and well-

Roman

foldiers

the Alemanni,

who

long maintained their groimd, were flaughtei"ed with unrelenting

fury
:

five

thoufand only of the Barbarians efcaped to the woods and

;

mountains
faved

and the glorious death of their king on the

the reproaches x>f the people,

field

of

battle,

him from

who are always

difpofed

to accufe the juftice, or policy, of an unfuccefsfal war.

fignal vidlory,

After this
aflerted the

which fecured the peace of Gaul, and

honour of the

Roman
on

arms, the emperor Gratian appeared to proceed

Eaftern expedition
;

^vithout delay

his

but as he approached
to

the confines of the Alemanni,

'*

he fuddenly inclined
four and a half

the

left,

The

field

of battle, Argentaria, or Ar-

Roman

miles, to the foiith of

gento'varia, is accurately fixed

ville

by M. d'An(Notice de I'Anciep.ne Gnule, p. 96

Stra(burgh.

From

its

ruins the adjacent

town of Ce/war has

arifen.

.99.) at twenty-three Gallicleagues,, or thirty-

Vol. IL

furprifed

6io

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ruiprifed

CHAP.
XXVI.

them by

his

unexpeded

paffage of the Rhine, and boldly

ad\anced into the heart of their country.

The
till

Barbarians
;

opflili

pofed to his progrefs the obftacles of nature and of courage

and

continued to retreat, from one

fied,

hill

to another,

they were

fatif-

by repeated

trials,

of the power and perfeverance of their enemies.

as a proof, not indeed of their fmcere
;

Their fubmiilion was accepted,

repentance, but of their

acTCual diftrefs

and

a fclecSl

number of

their

brave and robuft youth was exadted from the

faithlcfs nation, as the

moll

fubftantial pledge

of their future moderation.

The

fubjels

of

the empire,

who had

fo often experienced, that the

Alemanni could
might not

neither be fubdued

by arms, nor retrained by

folid

treaties,
:

promife themfelves any

or lafting tranquillity

but they difof a

covered, in the virtues of their

young

fovcreign, the prcfpedl

long and aufpicioiis reign.

tains,

When

the legions climbed the moun-^

Barbarians, the vafour of
;

and

fcaled the fortifications, of the

Gratian was diftinguifhed in the foremoft ranks

and the

gilt

and

variegated armour of his guards was pierced and ihattered

by the

blows, which they had received in their conftant attachment to the

perfon of their fovereign.

At the age of

nineteen, the fon of

Va-

lentinian feemed to poffefs the talents of peace and

fonal fuccefs againil the

war

and

his per-

Alemanni was
''.

intei"preted as a fure prefage

of his Gothic triumphs

Valens
agalnft the

While Gratian deferved and enjoyed the applaufe of

his fubjefts^,

the emperor Valens, Vvho, at length, had removed his court and

A. d!'378.
tune

army from Antioth, was

'^^-^

received

by the people of Conftantinople

as

?th~

author of the public calamity.

Before he had repofed himfelf ten

days in the capital, he was urged, by the licentious clamours of th

Hippodrome,
*' The Ammianus full

to m.arch againft the Barbarians, Vviiom

he had invited

(xxxi. lo

and imparrial narrative of ) may derive fomeaddi-

Chronicle of Jerom, and the Hiftory of Orofras (I. vii. c. 33. p.

552. edit. Havercamp.).

tional light

from the Epitome of Yiftor, the

into

OF THE
into his dominions
dillance
:

ROMAN
llic

EMPIRE.
arc always

6ii
brave at a

and

citizens, wlio

from any

H A P. XXVI.

real

danger, declared, with confidence, that, if

they were fupplled with arms, they alone would undertake to deliver
the province from the ravages of an infulting foe ".

The

vain re-

proaches of an ignorant multitude haftened the downfal of the Ro-

man who
foon

empire

they provoked

the

dcfperate

ralhnefs

of Valens

did not lind, either in his reputation, or in his mind,

any

motives to fupport with firmnefs the public contempt.

perfuaded,

He

was

by the

fuccefsful atchievements

of his lieutenants,

to defpife the

power of

the Goths,

who, by the

diligence of Fritigern,

were

now

colledled in the
Taifalse

neighbourhood of Hadrianople.

The
;

march of the

had been intercepted by the valiant Frigerid

;

the king of thofe licentious Barbarians was flain in battle

and the

fuppliant captives were fent into diftant exile to cultivate the lands

of Italy,
territories

which were afhgned

of

for their fettlement,

^^

in the vacant

Modena and Parma

The

exploits

of Sebaftian

',

who was
to the

recently engaged in the fervlee of Valens, and promoted

ftill

rank of mafter-general of the infantry, were

more honour-

able to himfelf, and ufeful to the republic.

He

obtained the per;

miflion of felecling three hundred foldiers from each of the legions

and

this

feparate detachment foon acquired the

fpirit

of difcipline, and

the exercife of arms, which were almoft forgotten under the reign of

Moratus pauciffimos dies, feditione populaiium levium pulfiis. Ammian. xxxi. 1 1. Socrates (1. iv. c. 38.) fupplies the dates and

^'

''

Ammian.

xxxi. ii.

Zofimus,

1.

iv. p.

228

230.
few
,

The

latter expatiates

on the de-

fujtory exploits
in a
, .

of Sebaftian, and difpatches,

the important battle 'of

fome circumftances. *' Vivofque omnes

'
.

lines,
.

umqiie, et Parmam, Itahca oppida, riiracul' ,. Ammianus, xxxi. 9. turos exterminavit.

. . ,

...

circa

Mutinam, Regi..

Ha,t
.

",

drianople.

critics,
'

According
,

,.

to
,i-

the ecclefiaftical

who
is

hate

bcbaUian, '
i

the V praife of

-r

Thofe
after

and dirtrias, about ten years the colony of the Taifala;, appear in a
cities
ftate.
le

Zofimus

difgrace

(Tillemont, Hift. des

Emperears,

torn. v. p. 121.).

His prejudice

very defolate
zioni fopra
Differt.
x.\i.

See Muratori, Differtatorn.

i.

Antichiia Italiane,

and ignorance undoubtedly render him a very queftionable judge of merit.

p. 354.

Valens.

6i2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

Valens..

CHAP.

By the

vlgpur and condudl of Sebaflian, a large body of the

their

Goths was furprifedin

camp: and the immenfe fpoil, which was

filled

recovered from their hands,

jacent plain.
his

the city of Hadrianople,

and the ad-

The fplendid

narratives,

which the general tranfmitted of

on the

own

exploits,
;

alarmed the Imperial court by the appearance of fuinfifled

difficulties

perior merit

and though he cautiouily

o
j

the Gothic war, his valour

was

praifed, his advice

was rejeded

and Valens,

who

liftened

with pride and pleafure to the

flattering

fuggeftions of the eunuchs of the palace,

was impatient
and

to feize the

glory of an eafy and afTured conqueil.

His army was ftrengthened

;

by

numerous reinforcement of veterans

his

march from Conmilitary fkill^

ftantinople to Hadrianople

was conducted with

fo

much

that he prevented the activity of the

Barbarians,
to intercept
'

who

defigned ta
troops-

occupy the intermediate

defiles^

and

either the

themfelves, or their convoys of provifions.

The camp of Valens^

fortified, acj

which he pitched under the walls of Hadrianople, was

cording to the practice of the Romans, with a ditch and rampart

and a moll Important council was fummoned, to decide the fate of the
emperor and of the empire.
ftrenuoufly maintained

The

party of reafon and of delay wascorredted,^

by Victor, who had

by the

leflbns;.

of experience,

the

native fiercenefs
flexible

of the

Sarmatian charadler

while Sebaftlan,

with the

and obfequlous eloquence of a and every meafure, that im-

courtier, reprefented every precaution,

plied a doubt

of immediate viilory, as unworthy of the courage

their invincible

and majefty of

monarch.

The

ruin of Valens

was

precipitated

by the

deceitful arts of Frirlgern,

and the prudent

nego-

admonitions of the emperor of the Weft.

The

a'dvantages of

dating in the midft of war, were perfedly underftood by the general

of the Barbarians
;

and a Chrlftian

ecclefiaftlc

was difpatched,

as the

holy minifter of peace, to penetrate, and to perplex, the councils of

the enemy.

The

misfortunes, as well as the provocations, of the

Gothic

OF THE
fador

ROMAN
name of

EMPIRE.
Fritigern, that

613

Gothic nation, were forcibly and truly delcribed by their aml)af^ '
;

CHAP.
v.

who

protefted, in the

he was

ftill

XXVI.

-*

difpofed to lay

down
;

his arms, or to
if

employ them only

in the de-

fence of the empire

he could

fecure, for his

wandering country-

men,

a tranquil

fettlement

on the wafte lands of Thrace, and a

cattle.

fiifficient

allowance of corn and

But he added,

in a whifpcr

of confidential friendihip, that the exafperated Barbarians were averfe

to thefe reafonable

conditions

and, that Fritigern

was doubtful
he

whether he could accomplifli the condufion of the

found himfelf fupportcd by the prefence, and
army.
Weft,

treaty, unlefs

terrors,

of an Imperial

About the fame

to

time.

Count Richomer returned from the

announce the defeat and fubmiffion of the Alemanni, to

at

inform Valens, that his nephew advanced by rapid marches

the

head of the veteran and victorious legions of Gaul

in the

and

to I'equeft,

name of

Gratian, and of the republic, that every dangerous

till

and

decifive

meafure might be fufpended,

the junction of the

two emperors fhould enfure the

feeble fovereign of the Eaft

fuccefs of the

Gothic war.

But the

was adluated only by the

fatal illufions

of pride and jealoufy.

He
;

difdalned the importunate advice; he

rejefted the humiliating aid

at leaft

he fecretly compared the ignominious^

the inglorious, period of his

;

own

reign, with the

field,

fame of a
ima-

beardlefs youth

and Valens rufhed into the

to ered: his

ginary trophy, before the diligence of his colleague couJd ufurp any'
Ihare of the triumphs of the day.

On
among

the ninth of Auguft, a day which has deferved to be

the moft inaufpicious of the

marked

Battle of
"

Roman
to

Calendar

',

the emperor

'^'^"P ^

Valens, leaving, under a ftrong guard, his baggage and military

treafi.xre,

Auguft

gth..

marched from Hadrianople

(xxxi. 12, 13.) almoft alone

attack

the Goths,

who
:

9'

Ammianus

diforder and perplexity of his narrative

but

defcribes the councils and aftions

which were
the

we muil now take

hiftorian
;

leave of this
is

impartial

terminated by the fatal battle of Hadrianople.

and reproach

fdenced by our rclofs.

'e

might cenfure the vices of

his ftyle,

gret for fuch an irreparable

were

6i4

THE DECLINE AND FALL

were encamped about twelve miles from the
city
''\

CHAP,
XXVI. v-.. -v ~"-^

By feme miftake
left

of the orders, or fome ignorance of the ground, the right wiag, or

column of
ftill

cavalry, arrived in fight of the

;

enemy, whilft the

and the

was

at a confiderable diftance

the foldiers were compelled,

their pace
;

in the
line

fultry heat of
battle

fummcr,

to precipitate

of

was formed with tedious confufion, and

irregular delay.

The
dif-

Gothic cavalry had been detached to forage in the adjacent countiy;

and Fritigern

ftill

continued to pradife his cuftomary

arts.

He

patched meffengers of peace, made propofals, required hoftages, and

wafted the hours,

till

the

Romans, expofed

witliout
thirft,

fhelter

to the

burning rays of the fun, were exhaufted by

tolerable fatigue.

hunger, and in-

The emperor
;

v.'as

perfuaded to fend an ambafiador

to the

Gothic camp

the zeal of Richomer,

who

alone had courage

:

to accept the dangerous commiflion,

was applauded

and the count

of the domeftics, adorned with the fplendid enfigns of his dignity,

had proceeded fome way in the fpace between the two

he was fuddenly recalled by the alarm of
prudent attack was made by Bacurius the
battle.

arm.ies,

when,

The hafty and imIberian, who commanded a

body of

archers and targettecrs

lofs

and

as

they advanced with rafhnefs,

In the fame moment, the

they retreated with

and

difgrace.

flying fquadrons of Alatheus and Saphrax,

whofe return was anxioufly

expeded by the general of

from the
hills,

the Goths, defcended like a whirlwind

fwept acrofs the plain, and added

irrefiftible,

new

terrors to the

tumultuous, but

chafge of the Barbarian hoft.

fatal to
:

The

event

of the battle of Hadrianople, fo

Valens and to the empire,

The defeat of

i-^^j jje defcribed in a

few v/ords

the

Roman

cavalry fled

the in-

fantry

was abandoned, furrounded, and cut

in pieces.

The moft flcilful

body

evolutions, the firmeft courage, are fcarcely fufficient to extricate a

'^

The diiTerence

niianiis,

of the eiglu miles of Amand the twelve of Idatiu?, can only

critics

fuppofe a great army to be a mathematical

point, without fpace or dimenfions,

cmbanv.fs thofe

(Valefuis ad loc.)j

who

OF THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
enemy and
their

615

of foot, encompafled, on an open plain, by fuperior numbers of horfc:

but the troops of Valens, opprcffed by the weight of the

CHAP.
XXVI.

own
for

fears.

Were crowded
to

into a

narrow

fpacc,

where

it

was impofTible
.their

them

extend their ranks, or even to ufe, with effed,

fwords and javelins.

In the midft of tumult, ofllaughter, and of

it

difmay, the emperor, deferted by his guards, and wounded, as

was fuppofed, with an arrow, fought protedion among the Lancearii and the Mattiarii, who ftill maintained their ground with fome appearance of oi-dcr and firmnefs.
Victor,
inilefs

His

fliithful

generals, Trajan
all

and
loft,

who

perceived his danger, loudly exclaimed, that

was

the perfon of the emperor could be faved.

their exhortation,

Some

troops, ani-

mated by

advanced

to his relief:

they found only

a bloody ipot, covered with a heap

of broken arms, and mangled

bodies, without being able to difcover their unfortunate prince, cither

among
fome

the living, or the dead.

Their fearch could not indeed be

in the circumftances,

fuccefsful, if there is

any truth

with which

hiilorians

have related the death of the emperor.

of his attendants, Valens was

the care DeatH of tlie emperor Va removed from the field of battle to a lens,

By

neighbouring cottage, where they attempted to drefs his v,-ound, and

to provide for his future fafety.

But

this

humble

retreat

was

inftantly

furrounded by the enemy: they tried to force the door; they were pro-

voked by
tient

a, difcharge

of an^ows from the roof ; of dry

till

at length,

impa-

of delay, they
the
;

fet fire to a pile

fliggots,

and confumed the

cottage, v/ith

ed in the flames

Roman emperor and his train. Valens periflaand a youth who dropt from the. window, alone
Goths of the
loft

efcaped, to atteft the melancholy tale, and to inform the

ineftimable prize

which they had

by

their

own

rafhnefs.

great

number of brave and

the
fatal

diftinguifhed officers perifhed in the battle of

lofs,

Hadrianople, which equalled, in the adual

and

far furpaffed, in

confequcnces, the misfortune which

Rome

had formerly
fuftained

6i6

THE DECLINE AND

fuftahicd in the fields of Cannae
''.

FALL
mafter-eenerals of the

CHAP,
XXVI.
i_^-^^1^

Two
;

cavalry and infantry,

tribunes,

two

great officers of the palace, and thirty-five

flain

were found among the

and the death of Scbaftian

might

fatisfy

the world, that he was the vidim, as well as the au-

thor, of the public calamity.

Above two-thirds of the Roman army

ferved to conceal the flight of the

were deftroyed

and the darknefs of the night was efteemed a very

;

favourable circumftance

as

it

multitude, and to protect the

more orderly

retreat

of

Vidor and

Richomer,

who

alone, amidft the general confternation, maintained

"*.

the advantage of calm courage, and regular diicipline

Funeral oralens and his

While the impreffions of grief and

terror

were

ftill

recent in the

minds of men, the moft celebrated rhetorician of the age compofed

and of an unpopular " There prince, whofe throne was already occupied by a ftranger.
the funeral oration of a vanquifhed army,

" are not wanting," fays tlie candid Libanius, " thofe who arraign " the prudence of the emperor, or who impute the public misfortune
*'
*'

to the

want of courage and

difcipline in the ti"Oops.

For
:

my own

part, I reverence the

memory
:

of their former exploits

reverence

" the glorious death, which they bravely received, ftanding, and
*'
*'

fighting in their ranks

their blood,

reverence the

field

of

battle, ftained

with

and the blood of the Barbarians..

Thofe honourable
;

*'
*'

marks have been already wafhed away by the

rains

but the lofty

monuments of
93

their bones, the

bones of generals, of centurions,

army was fuppofed to confift of 87,200 fective men (xxii. 36.).
*+

Nec

ulla,
ita

annalibus, prater Cannen-

ef-

fem pugnam
gerta.

ad internecionem res legitur

xxxi.
13.

Ammian.

According to

We

have gained fome faint light from

i.

the grave Polybiiis, no more than 370 horfe, and 3000 foot, efcaped froxn the field of Cannae

Jerom

(torn.

p. 26.

and

in Chron". p. 188.).,
(1. vii.

Viftor (in Epitome),

Socrates

Orofius

c.

33.

10,000 were made prifoners and the number of the flain amounted to 5630 horfe,
: ;

p. 554.)> Jornandes (c. 27.),

p. 230.),
(1.

Zofimus
38.),

(l.iv.

(1. iv.

c.

Sozomen

and 70,000 foot {Polyb. 1. iii. p. 371. edit. Cafaubon, in 8vo). Livy (xxii. 49.) is fomewhat lefs bloody: he flaughters only The Roman .2700 horfe, and 40,000 foot.
.5

vi.

c.

40.),

Idatius

(in
if

their

united evidence,
alone,
is

But weighed againft

Chron.).

Ammianus
tial.

light

and unfubftan-

and

; ;

01^
**

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The
'

617
^J^,-^,^' A. A V
I..

and of

valiant warriors, claim a longer period of duration.

" king

hiinfelf

fought and

fell

in the foremoft ranks of the battle.

'

" His attendants prefented him with the fleeteft horfes of the Impe" rial ftable, that would foon have carried him beyond the purfuit " of the enemy. They vainly preflcd him to referve his important
"
life

for the future fervice of the republic.

fo

He

ftill

declared,

tliat

" he was unworthy to fufvive "

ful

many

of the bravefl and mofl faith-

of his fubJE^ls

and the monarch was nobly buried under a

Let none, therefore, prcfume to afcribe

" mountain of the

*'

flain.

the vidlory of the Barbarians to the fear, the weaknefs, or the

" imprudence, of the

*'

Roman

troops.

The

chiefs

and the

foldiers

were animated by the virtue of

led in difcipline,

their anceftors,

whom

they equal-

"
*'

and the

arts

of war.

Their generous emulation

to con" tend at the fame time with heat and thirft, with fire and the fword " and cheerfully to embrace an honourable death, as their refuge
*'

was fupported by the

love of glory,

which prompted them

againft flight and infamy.

The

indignation of the gods has been

*'

the only caufe of the fuccefs of our enemies."

The

truth of hifftridtly

tory

may

difclaim

fome

parts of this panegyric,

which cannot

be reconciled with the character of Valens, or the circumftances of

the battle
:

but the

faireft

commendation

is

due

to the eloquence,
''.

and

ftill

more

to the generofity, of the fophift of

Antioch

The

pride of the Goths

was

elated

by

this

memorable vidlory

The Goths
driamiple.^

but their avarice was difappointed by the mortifying discovery, that

the richeft part of the Imperial fpoil had been within the walls of

Hadrianople.

They

haftened to poflefs the reward of their valour

but they were encountered by the remains of a vanquiflaed army,

with an intrepid refolution, which was the

effed:

of their defpair,

and the only hope of

"
p.

their flifety.

The
c. 3.

walls of the city, and the

Bibliot.

Libanius de ulcifcend. Julian. Nece,

In Fabriciirs,

Grxc.

torn.

x'ii.

146

148.
II.

Vol.

ramparts

6iS

THE DECLINE AND FALL

v-=

CHAP,

"

ramparts of the adjacent camp, were lined with military engines^

that

'

threw Hones of an enormous weight; and aftonilhed the igno-

rant Barbarians

by the

noife,

and

velocity,

ftill

more than by the

pro-

real effefts, of the difcharge.

vincials, the domeftics

The

foldiers, the citizens, the

of the palace, were united in the danger, and

in the defence
fecret arts

the furious a/fault of the Goths

was repulfed
;

their

of treachery and treafon were difcovered

and, after an
;

obftinate conflit of

many

hours, they retired to their tents

it

con-

vinced, by experience, that

ferve the treaty,

would be

far

more
had

advifeable to obtacitly ftipulated

which

their iagacious leader

with the

fortifications

of great and populous

cities.

After the hafty

and impolitic maflacre of three hundred

extremely ufeful to the difcipline of the

deferters,

an

at of juftice

Roman

armies, the
fcene of
:

Goths

indignantly railed the fiege of Hadrianople.

The

war and

tumult was inftantly converted into a

filent folitude

the multitude

fuddenly difappeared; the fecret paths of the woods and mountains

were marked with the

fought a refuge

footfleps of the trembling fugitives,

who
:

m the

diflant cities of

lUyricum and Macedonia

and

the faithful officers of the houfehold,. and the treafury, cautioufly

proceeded in fearch of the emperor, of whofe death they were

ignorant.

ftill

The

tide of the

Gothic inundation rolled from the walls

of Hadrianople to the fuburbs of Conftantinople.

The

Barbarians

were furprifed with the fplendid appearance of the

Eaft, the height

capital

of the

and extent of the

walls, the

myriads of v/ealthy and

affrighted citizens

who crowded

the ramparts, and the various prodefire

ipeft of the fea "and land.

While they gazed with hopelefs

on

the inacceffible beauties of Conftantinople, a filly

was made from

been fortunately
(Tillemont, Hill,
p. 104. p- 593-).

one of the gates by a party of Saracens

'*

'*,

who had

Valens had gained, or rather purchafed,

inroads were
felt

a people, referved, in a future age, to pro-

she friendfhjp of the Saracens, whofe vexa-

pagate another religion

des Empereurs,
torn. v.
vii.

on the borders of Phoenicia, Palefune, and Egypt. The Chriftiaa faith had been lately introduced among
tious

ic6.

141.

Mem.

Ecclef. torn.

engaged

OF
engaged in the

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The
and
cavalry of Scythia
fpirit

619 wa6 forced

:

fervice of Valens.
fwiftiiefs

'^

'^^,

P^

to yield to the admirable

their riders

of the Arabian horfes

;

were

fkillcd in the evolutions

aftoniflied,

of irregular war

and

the-

Northern Barbarians were

and difinaycd, by the inhu-

man
flain

ferocity of the Barbarians of the South.

Gothic

foldier

was

by the dagger of an Arab

lips

and the hairy, naked favage, ap-

plying his

to the

wound,
fpoils

exprcfled a horrid delight, while he

fucked the blood of his vanquiihed enemy".

The army of

the

Goths, laden with the

cent territory,
tains

of the wealthy fuburbs, and the adja-

(lowly moved, from the Bofphorus, to the

which form the weftern boundary of Thrace.

mounThe fm^-

portant pafs of Succi was betrayed by the fear, or the mifconduft,

of Maurus 3 and the Barbarians,

who no

longer had any refiftance to

Eaft,

apprehend from the fcattered and vanquiflied troops of the

fpread themfelves over the face of a
as far as the confines of Italy,
fertile

and cultivated country,

'.

and the Hadriatic Sea and

fo concifely,

The Romans, who

pafiion,

fo coolly,

mention the

adls They ravage

provin"c'es^"

oi jnjl'ice which were exercifed by the legions", referve their com-

and

their eloquence, for their

own
by

fufferings,

when

the pro- ^' ^'

3^'^'

vinces were invaded, and defolated,

Barbarians.
rative exift)
'

the arms of the fuccefsful

The

fimple circumflantial narrative (did fuch a nar-

of the ruin of a fmgle town, of the misfortunes of a

the Arabs before the death of Valens. Eunapius (in Excerpt. Legation, p. 20.) praifer the fertility of Thrace, Macedonia, &c.

Crinkus quidam, nudus omnia prxter

et

pubem, fubraucum
niian. xxxi.
16.

lugubre ftrepens.

Am-

Arabs

cftcii

foi;ght

The and Valef. ad loc. naked a cuflom which

;

may

be afcribed to their fultiy climate, ai>d

oftentatious bravery.

The defcription of this unknown Hivage is the lively portrait of Derar, a name fo dreadful to the Chriftians of
Syria.
vol.
'
i.

See Ockley's Hift. of the Saracens,

p. 72.
8<j..

Obferve with how n-.uch indifference Commentaries of the Gallic War; that he put to death the whole fenate of the Veneti, who had yielded to his mercy (iii. 16.); that he laboured to extir-: pate the whole nation of the Eburones
^19

Ca^far relates, in the

87.

may ftill be traced in the laft pagesof Ammianus (xx.xi. 15, 16.). Zofimus (1. iv. p. 227. 231.), whom we are

The

feries

of events

(v;. 31.); that forty thoufand perfons were maffacred at Bourges by the juft revenge of

'

his foldiers,
(vii.

who

fpared neither age nor fex

27.), &:c.

now reduced to

cherifh, mifplaces the fally

of

fmgle

620

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fingle family
',

CHAP,
'

might exhibit an interefting and inftrudive picture

:

'

of

human manners
The fame

but the tedious re-petition of vague and declafatigue the attention of the moft patient

matory complaints would

reader.

cenfure

may

be applied, though not perhaps in

ecclefiaftical, writers

an equal degree, to the prophane, and the

of this

unhappy period

that their
;

minds were inflamed by popular, and

religious, animofity

and, that the true fize and colour of every ob-

jel

is falfified

by the exaggerations of their corrupt eloquence.

"'

vehement Jerom

might juftly deplore the calamities

allies,

The inflided by

the Goths, and their barbarous

nonia,

on

his native

countiy of Pan-

and the wide extent of the provinces, from the walls of

;

Conftantinople to the foot of the Julian Alps

facres, the conflagrations
;

the rapes, the

maf

and, above

all,

the profanation of the

churches, that were turned into ftables, and the contemptuous treat-

ment of the
"

relics

of holy martyrs.

But the Saint

is

furely tranfaffirms,

ported beyond the limits of nature and hiftory,

when he

that, in thofe defert countries, nothing was left except the fky " and the earth ; that, after the deftrudtion of the cities, and the " extirpation of the human race, the land was overgrown with thick " forefts, and inextricable brambles ; and that the univerfal defola-

"

tion,

announced by the prophet Zephaniah, was accomplifhed, iu

and even of the
fifh."

" the

fcarcity of the beafts, the birds,

Thefe

complaints were pronounced about twenty years after the death of

Valens

and the

Illyrian provinces,
pafl"age

which were conftantly

ftill

expofed'.

to the invafion

and

of the Barbarians,

continued, after a

calamitous period of ten centuries, to fupply

Such are the accounts of the Sack of by the ecclefiaftic and the fifhernKin, which Mr. Harte has tranfcribed (Hift. of Gullavus Adolphus, vol. i. p. 313
320. )> with fome appreheniion of violating
the
rt'/^fB/V)'

new
et

materials for rapine

:

'"

quoque
ortus

fieri,

'volatHium, fifciumque
tellis

teftis

Magdeburgh,

Illyricum

eft,

Thracia,
;

teitis

in

quo
ec
vi I.
i

fam folum (Pannonia)

et

ubi

prster

coclum
p. 250. p. 26.

terram,

et crefcentes

vepres,

ccnienh. {ylvzxvim cun^a pericnint.

ad
I.

Tom.

of

hiftory.

Cap. Sophonia?

and

torn,

Et
terfeftis,

vaftatis

urbibus, hominibufque in-

folitudinem et raritatem btjliarum

and

OF THE
and deftrudion.
country had been

ROMAN
it

EMPIRE.
tral

621
of

Could
left

even be fuppofcd, that a large

^Jl^,^*

without cultivation^ and without inhabitants,

v_y-

the confequences might not have been fo fatal to the inferior pro-

dudions of animated
are nouriilied

nature.

The

ufeful

and

feeble animals,

which
if

by the hand of man, might

his protedlion
:

fufFer

and

perifli,

they

were deprived of

but the beafts of the foreft, his

enemies, or his vidiims, would multiply in the free and undifturbed

poffeffion

of their folitary domain.

lefs

The

various tribes that people

the

air,

or the waters, are ftlU

fpecies
;

connected with the fate of the

fifh

human

and
felt

it

is

highly probable, that the

terror

of the Da-

nube would have

more

and

diftrefs,

from the approach of

a voracious pike, than

from the

hoftile inroad

of a Gothic army.

Whatever may have been

Europe,
there

the juft meafure of the calamities of Ma/Tacre of

was reafon

to fear that the

fame calamities would

youth inAfia:^

foon extend to the peaceful countries of Afia.

The
cities

fons of the

Goths
;

^' ^' ^"^'

had been judiciouily

difhributed

through the

of the Eafl

and

the arts of education were employed, to polifh, and fubdue, the native fiercenefs

of their temper.

In the fpace of about twelve years,

j

their

numbers had continually increafed

and the

children,,

who,

in

the

firft

emigration, were fent over the Hellefpont, had attained,

fpirit

with rapid growth, the ftrength and

It

of perfedl

manhood

'"".

was impoffible
;

to conceal

from

theu-

knowledge the events of the

Gothic war

and, as thofe daring youths had not ftudied the lantheir wifh, their defire, per-

guage of diffimulation, they betrayed

haps their intention, to emulate the glorious example of their fathers.

The danger of
the provincials
;

the times feemed to juftify the jealous fufpicions of

andthefe fufpicions were admitted

as

unqueftionable

evidence, that the Goths of Afia had formed a fecret and dangerous

confpiracy againft the public fafety.

''

The

death of Valens had

left-

Eunapius

(in Excerpt. Legat. p. 20.)

fooli(hly fuppofes a preternatural

growth of
introduce

dragon's teeth, &c.

Cadmus's armed men, who fprung from the Such was the Greek

the

young Goths;

that he

may

eloquence of the times.

the
5

622

THE DECLINE AND FALL

the Eaft without a fovereien
;

CHAP,
>

and

Julius,

who

filled

the imnortant

llation of mafter-general of the troops,

with a high reputation of di-

ligence and ahility, thought

ftantinople
;

it

his

duty to confult the fenate of Con-

which he confidered, during the vacancy of the throne,

as the reprefentative council of the nation.

As foon
as

as

he had ob-

tained the difcretionary

power of adling

he fhould judge

mod

expedient for the good of the republic, he affemblcd the principal

officers

of his

and privately concerted effedual meafures for the execution bloody defign. An order was immediately promulgated, tliat,
;

X5n a ftated day, the

Gothic youth fhould

;

afleinble in the capital cities

of their refpedive provinces

circulated, that they

and, as a report was induftrioufly

to receive a liberal gift of lands

were fummoned

and money, the pleafmg hope allayed the fury of

their refentment,

and perhaps fufpended the motions of the confpiracy. On the appointed day, the unarmed crowd of the Gothic youth was carefully
colledled in the fquare, or

Forum

the ftreets and avenues were oc-

cupied by the

Roman

troops;

and the roofs of the houfes were

covered with archers and

cities

{lingers.

At

the fame hour, in

all

the

of the Eaft, the fignal was given of indifcriminate flaughter

cruel prudence of

and the provinces of Afia wxre delivered, by the

Julius,

from
fire

a domeftic
fv.-ord

enemy, who,

in a

few months, might have

'"K

earned

and

from the Hellefpont to the Euphrates

The

urgent confideration of the public fafety

the violation of e^^ery politive law.
fideration,

may

undoubtedly authorife
that, or

How far,
of which

any

other, con-

may

operate, to diflblve the natural obligations of

is

humaremain

nity and juftice,

ignorant.

dodlrine,

ftill

defire to

'"'

Ammian us

evidently approves this fxe-

iniftakes tlie date,

and labours

to find the

"TBtS.

cution, efticacia velox et falutaiis, which con-

reafcn,

why

Julius did not confult the

;

em-

cludcs his
it

curious

work (xxxi. and copious

i6.).
(I.

Zofimus,
p. 233

who
)

peror Theodofius

who had not

yet afcended

iv.

236.

the throne of the Eall.

The

0F THE

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
\

623

The emperor Gratian was far advanced on his march towards the plains of Hadrianoplc, when he was informed, at fafl: by the confufed voice of fame, and afterwards

CHAP.
XXVI. ^ >_<
GratiVn'Tn'-'^

by the more accurate

reports of
flain in

Vidlor and Richomer, that his impatient colleague liad been

battle,

and that two-thirds of the

Roman army were

'

exterminated

jofius^wfth" the empire of the E.ill,

by
rafli

the fword of the vidorious Goths.

Whatever refentment the

fofter

A. D. 379,
'*""^'^^ '^'

and jealous vanity of

is

his uncle

might deferve, the refentment

emotions of grief
loft in

of a generous mind

eafily

fubducd by the
fenfe of pity

and compafTion

and even

th-;

was foon

the fe-

rious and alarming confideration of the ftate of the republic.

Gratian

was too

late to aflift,
;

he was too weak to revenge, his unfortunate

felt

colleague

and the valiant and modcft youth

himlelf unequal to
-

the fupport of a finking world.

formidable tempeft of the Bar-

barians of Germany feemed ready to burft over the provinces of

Gaul

and the mind of Gratian was opprefled, and diftraded, by the adminiftration of the Weftern Empire.

In this important

crifis,

the

government of the
quired the

Eaft^

and the condud of the Gothic war, rp-

undivided attention of a hero and a ftatefman.

fubjed invefted with fuch

ample command

v.'ould

not long have

preferved his fidelity to a diftant benefador; and the.Imperial council

embraced the wife and manly

refolution, of conferring
It v/as

an obligation,

rather than of yielding to an infult.

the wlfh of Gratian to

at the-

beftow the purple as the reward of virtue; but,

teen,
it is

age of nine-

not eafy for a prince, educated in the fupreme rank, to

iinderfcand the true charaders of his minifters and generals.

He

attempted to weigh, with an impartial hand, their various merits and

defeds

and, whilft he checked the rafh confidence of ambition, he

diftrufted the cautious

wifdom, which defpaired of the republic.

As

each

moment

of delay diminillied fomething of the power and re-

fources of the future fovereign of the Eaft, the fituation of the times

would not allow

a tedious debate.

The

choice of Gratian was foon

declared

624

THE DECLINE AND FALL

declared in favour of an exile,
fore,

CHAP.
XXVI.

whofe

father, only three years behis authority,

had

I'ufFered,

under the fandtion oi

an unjuft and

ignominious death.
hiflory,

The

great Theodofius,
'*,

and dear to the Catholic Church

\\

name celebrated in was fummoncd to the

a

Imperial -court,

hich had gradually retreated from the confines of

fecure flation of Sirmium.

Thrace

to the

more

Five months after

the death of Valens, the emperor Gratian produced before the af-

fembled troops, his colleague, and their mafter

who,

after a modeft,

perhaps a fincere, rcfiftance, was compelled to accept, amidft the

general acclamations, the diadem, the purple, and the equal
title

of

Auguftus

"'\

The

provinces of Thrace, Afia, and Egypt, over which

Valens had reigned, were refigned to the adminiftration of the new

emperor

but, as he

was

fpecially entrufted

with the conduft of the

;

'

Gothic war, the Illyrian prxfedure

great diocefes of Dacia and

was difmembered

and the two

dominions

Macedonia were added

to the

of the Eaftern empire

Birth

"'\

and

The fame
was the

province, and, perhaps, the fame city

"'\

which had

charaiSler

of Thcodofius.

given to the throne the virtues of Trajan, and the talents of Hadrian,
original feat of another family of Spaniards,

who,

in a lefs

fortunate age, pofTefled, near fourfcore years, the declining empire

"^*

life

of Theodofius the Great was

(Paris 1679, in

(1. vLi.

c.
(I.

34.),

Sozomen

(1. vii. c. 2.),

So-

compofed
4to

in the lall century

1680, in i2mo), to inflame the mind ; of the young Dauphin with Catholic zeal. The author, Flechier, afterwards Bilhop of Nifraes, was a celebrated preacher ; and his
hillory
is

Theodoret (1. v. c. 5.), Philoftorgius (1. ix. c. 17. with Godefroy, p. 393.), the Epitome of Vidor, and the Chronicles of Profper, Idatius, and Marcellinus, in the Thefaurus Temporum of Scacrates
V. c. 2.),
liger.
'*

adorned, or tainted, with pulpit;

eloquence
Baronius,

but he takes his learning from

his

Tillemont,

Hift.

des

Empereurs,

and

principles from St.

Am-

torn. V. p.

brofe and St. Auguftin.

''

"'
and elevation of
for his
ftill

716, &;c. Italica, founded by Scipio Africanus

The

birth, charafter,

wounded

veterans oi Italy.

The

ruins

Theodofius, are marked in Pacatus (in Panegyr. Vet. xii. 10, 11, 12.), Themiftius
(Orat. xiv. p. 182.), Zofimus
(I. iv.

appear, about a league above Seville, but

p. 231.),

on the oppofite bank of the river. See the Hifpanialiluttrata of Nonius, a fiiort, though
valuable, treatife.

AugulUn

(de Civitat. Dei, v. 25.), Orofius

C.

xvii. p.

64

67.
of

OF THE
of Rome''.
nours by the adlive
exploits in Britain
fpirit

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

62j
^Jf,'),
^"

They emerged from

the obfcurity of municipal ho-

of the elder Theodofms, a general, whofe

and Africa have formed one of the

mod

fplendid

parts of the annals of Valentinian.

The

fon of that general,

who

likewife bore the

name of Theodofms, was

youth
;

educated, by fkilful pre-

ceptors, in the liberal ftudies of

art of

but he was inftruded in the

difcipline of his father
'*.

war by the tender

care

and fevere

Under

the ftandard of fuch a leader,

young Theodofms fought glory

;

and knowledge, in the moft

diftant fcenes of military adllon

inured

his conftitution to the difference of feafons his valour

and climates

diftinguilhed

by

fea

and land

and obferved the various warfare of the

Scots, the Saxons,

and the Moors.

His own merit, and the

refe-

comTnendation of the conqueror of Africa, foon raifed him to a

parate

command

and, in the ftation of

;

Duke

of Mcefia, he vaii;

quilhed an

army of Sarmatians
;

faved the province

deferved the
".

love of the foldiers

rifing fortimes

and provoked the envy of the court

blafted

His
his

were foon
;

by the

difgrace

and execution of

illuftrious father

and Theodofms obtained,

life,

as a favour,

the per-

miffion of retiring to a private

in his native province of Spain.

He

difplayed a firm and temperate charadler in the eafe with

to
this

which
which
and
af-

he adapted himfelf

new

fituation.

His time was almoft

the
fpirit,

equally divided between the

town and country:

was fhewn
litary

had animated
'' I

his public condvidl,

in the adllve

agree with Tillemont (Hid. des

p. 726.) in

Emtill

pereurs, torn. v.

fufpefting the
a fecrec

royal pedigree, which remained

the

educntion of Alexander, Hannibal, and the fecond Africanus who, like him, had ferved under their fathers (.vii. 8.).
;

promotion of Theodofms. Even after that event, thr filence of Pacatus outweighs the venal evidence of ThemiiHus, Vidtor,

and Claudian, who conneft the family of

.Theodofuis with the blood of Trajan and

" Ammianus (xxix. 6 ) mentions this viiSlory of, Theodofms Junior Dux Msefix, prima etiam tum lanugine juvenls, princeps poUea perfpedliilimus. The fame faft is.attefled by Themiftius and Zofimus but Thc:

Hadrian.
and confequently prefers, the youth of Thcodofius, to the miPacatus compares,
''

odoret

(1.

v.

c. 5.),

who adds fome

it

curious

circumilances, flrangely applie-s

to the

time

of the latenegnum.

Vol. IL

4 L

fedionate

626

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fedionate performance of every focial duty
foldier
;

CHAP,
XXVI

and the diligence of the

his

was

profitably converted to the

'",

improvement of

ample
in the

patrimony
fheep "\

which lay between Valladolid and Segovia,

diftridl,
ftill

midft of a fruitful

famous for

moft exquifite breed of

labours of his farm,

From

the innocent,

but humble,
lefs

Theodofius was tranfported, in

of the Eaftern empire
:

than four months, to the throne

and the whole period of the hiftory of the

at

world will not perhaps afford a fimilar example, of an elevation,

the ilimc time,
fo

pure,

and

fo honourable.

The

princes

who

peaceably inherit the fceptre of their fathers, claim and enjoy a legal
right, the

more

fecure, as

it is

abfolutely dillinl
fubjels,

from the merits of

monarchy, or a

their perfonal characters.

The

who,

in a

popular

ftate,

acquire the poffeffion of fupreme power,

may have

raifed themfelves,

by the

fuperiority either of genius or virtue, above

:

the heads of their equals

but their virtue

is

feldom exempt from

ambition
ftained

and the caufe of the

guilt

fuccefsful candidate is frequently

divil

by the

of confpiracy, or

war.

Even

in thofe

go-

vernments which allow the reigning monarch

or a fucceffbr, his partial choice, which
blindeft pafTions,
is

to declare a colleague,

may

be influenced by the
objedt.

often directed to an

unworthy

But the

moft fufpicious malignity cannot

folitude of

afcribe to Theodofius, in his obfcure

Caucha, the
;

arts,

the defires, or even the hopes, of

an

ambitious ftatefman

and the name of the Exile would long

if his

fince

have been forgotten,

left

genuine and diflinguifhed virtues had not

a deep impreffion in the Imperial court.

During the feafon of

profperlty, he

had been neglected

but,

in the public diftrefs, his

fuperior merit

was

univerfally felt

and acknowledged.

What

con-

fidence muft have been repofed in his integrity, fince Gratian could
'" Pacatus
fers the ruftic
(in

Panegyr. Vet.

xii. 9.)

pre-

torn.

i.

p. 25.)

has fixed
in

the

fituation

of

life

Cincinnatus

of Theodofius the one was the

tq that
effedt

of of

Caucha,
Gallicia,

or Coca,

the old province of

where Zofimus and Idatius have

choice, the other of poverty.

placed the birth, or patrimony, of Theodofius.

'" M. d'Anville (Geographic Ancienne,

I

truft,.

OF THE
truft,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.

627

that a pious foa

would
!

forgive, for the fake of the republic,

CHAP.

the murder of his father

What

expectations muft have been formed

of his

abilities,

to encourage the hope, that a fingle

man

could fave,

and

reftore, the

empire of the Eafl

Theodofius was inverted with

the purple in the thirty-third year of his age.

The

vulgar gazed

with admiration on the manly beauty of

pidlures and medals of the

his face,

and the graceful

majefty of his perfon, which they were pleafed to compare with the

emperor Trajan

whllft intelligent cb-

fervers difcovered, in the qualities of his heart

and underftandlng,

a more important refemblance

princes.
It is

to the beft

and

greateft of the

Rom.aa

not without the moft fmccre regret, that

mufl:

now

take His prudent

^""^ fuccefsful

leave of an accurate

and

fliithfal

Ruide, '

who

has compofed the hif^

conduct

tory of his

own

times, without indulging the prejudices and paflions, of the Gothic

which ufually
cellinus,

affcQ. the

mind of

a contemporary.

Ammianus Mar-

A. D.
^

who

terminates his ufeful

work with

the defeat and death

"

379

of Valens, recommends the more glorious fubjedl of the enfuing

reign to the youthful vigour and eloquence of the rifmg generation '".

The rifmg

generation was not difpofed to accept his ad-

vice, or to imitate his

example

-'*

and, in the ftudy of the reign of

llieodofius,

we

are reduced to illuftrate the partial narrative of

Zo-

fimus, by the obfcure hints of fragments and chronicles,

figurative ftyle of poetry or panegyric,

by the
af-

and by the precarious

"' Let us hear Ammianus hirafelf. H:ec, quondam et Grscus, a principatu Csfaris Nervje exorfus, adufque Valentis interitum, pro virium explicavi menfura
t miles
:

loft: the lad eighteen, which conno more than twenty-five years, ftlll preferve the copious and authentic hiftory of

are

now

tain

his

own

times.
laft fubJe-S;

nonquam,
Corrumpere
id,

ut arbitror, fciens, fdentio aufus

vel

mendacio.

Scribant leliqua

"* Ammianus was the who compofeJ a profme

language.

of

Rome

hiftory in the Latin

potiores ^tate, dodlrinifque florentes.

fi

Quos

The

Eaft, in the next century,

libuerit, aggrefluros,
ililo?.

procudere linguas
xxxi. 16.

ad majores moneo

Ammian.

The

firil

thirteen

books, a fuperficial epififty-feven years,

lome of two hundred and

produced feme rhetorical hiftorians, Zofim us, Olympiodorus, Malchus, Candidus, &c. See WilFius de Hilloricis Grscis, 1. ii. c. 18. de Hiftoricis Latinis, L ii. c, lo, &c.

4L

fiftance

62S

THE DECLINE AND FALL

fiAance of the ecclcTiuftical writers, who,
in the heat of religious
.

CHAP.
XXVI.

'>

fadion, are
tion.

a})t

to defpife the profane virtues

of fincerity and moder?>

Confcious of thefc difadvantages, wlvich will continue to involv?

a conMderable portion of the decline and. fall of the

fhall

proceed with doubtful and timorous

battle

ftcps.

Roman empire, I Yet I may boldly

;

pronounce, that the

of Hadrianople was never revenged by

any

fignal or decifive

vidory of Theodolius over the Barbarians

and

the expreflive filence of his venal orators

may

be confirmed by the

obfervation of the condition and eircumftances of the times.

fabric of a
fuccelTive

The

mighty

ftate,

which has been reared by the labours of

ages,
if

could not be overturned by the misfortune of a

fmgle day,
the
real

the fatal

power of the imagination did not exaggerate

the
calamity.

meafure

of
fell

The

lofs

of

forty

thou-

fand Romans,

who

in the plains of Hadrianople,

might have

been foon recruited in the populous provinces of the Eaft, which

contained fo
is

many

millions of inhabitants.

found to be the cheapeft,

;

The courage of a foldier and moft common, quality of humaia

encounter an undifciplined foe, might

nature

and

fufficient fkill to

have been fpeedily taught by the care of the furviving centurions.

If the Barbarians

were mounted on the horfes, and equipped with

the armour, of their vanquilhed enemies, the numerous ftuds of

Cappadocia and Spain would have fupplied new fquadrons of cavalry

;

the thirty-four arfenals of the empire were, plentifully ftored

;

with magazines of offenfive and defenfive arms

Afia might war.
ftill

and the wealth of

have yielded an ample fund for the expences of the

battle

But the efFeds which were produced by the

of

Ha-

drianople on the minds of the Barbarians, and of the

Romans, exlatter, far

tended the vidlory of the former, and the defeat of the

beyond the
clare,

limits of a fmgle day.

Gothic chief was heard to de-

with infolent moderation,

;

tigued with flaughter

but that

own part, he was fahe was alloniflied how a people, who

that, for his
fled

OF THE
fled before

ROMAN
of
flieep,

EMPIRE.
could
ftill

629
to dllpiUe
terrors,
tribes,

him

like a flock

prcfume

^Jl-A^'
v__v

the pofl'eflion of their treafures and provinces

"'.

The fame

which the name of the Huns had fpread among the Gothic
were
infpired,

by the formidable name of the Goths, among the

of the

fubjedls

and

foldiers

Roman

empire "^

If T'heodofms, hafiily
field to

eolleding his fcattered forces, had led them into the

ter a vidlorious

encoun-

enemy,
;

his

army would have been vanquifhed by

have been cxcufed by
great Theodofius,, an epithet which
occafion,

their

own

fears

and

his rafhnefs could not

the chance of fuccefs.

But

xkio.

he honourably deferved. on
felf as

this

momentous

conduced

him.-

the firm and

faitliful

guardian of the republic.

He

fixed his

head-quarters
cefe "'
J

at Thefllilonica,

the capital of the Macedonian dioirregular motions of the

from whence he could watch the

Barbarians, and diredl the operations of his lieutenants, from the

gates of Conftantinople to the fhores of the Hadriatic.
cations and garrifons of the cities

The

fortifi-

were ftrengthened

and the troops,

were
in-

among whom
fenfibly

a fenfe of order

and

difcipline v/as revived,

emboldened by the confidence of

their

own

fafety.

From
fallies

thefe fecure ftations, they

were encouraged

to

make

frequent
;

on the Barbarians, who

were feldom allowed
either of

infefted the adjacent country

and,, as they

to engage,

without fome decifive fuperiority,

their entei-prifes were, for the

ground or of numbers,
;

moft
ex-

part, fuccefsful

and they were foon convinced, by

their

own

perience, of the poffibility of vanquifliing their

inviiic'ible

enemies.

The detachments
into fmall armies

of thefe feparate garrifons were gradually united

;

the fame cautious meafures were purfued, ac;

cording to an extenfive and well-concerted plan of operations

"'
Chryfollom,
but
torn.
i.

the

p.

344.

edit,

exhortations, addrefled, by the preacher of.

Montfaucon.
this paflage
:

I have verified,
I

and examined,

Antioch,

fhould never, without the

aid of Tillemont (Hill, des

p. 152.),

Emp.

torn.

v.

to a young widow, "* Eunapius, in Excerpt. Legation, p. 21. "' See Godefroy's Chronology of the
torn.
i.

have detefted an

hiftorical

anec-

dote, in a ftrange

medley of moral and

my (lie

Laws. Codex Theodof. men. p. xcix civ.

Pxolego-

events

630

THE DECLINE AND FALL

events of each day added ftrength and
fpirit

^ vvvr ^'

to the

Roman arms

'

and the artful diligence of the emperor,

who

circulated the moft fa-

vourable reports of the fuccefs of the war, contributed to fubdue the

pride of the Barbarians, and to animate the hopes and courage of his
fubjels.
If,

inftead of this faint

and imperfel

outline,

we

could

accurately reprefent the counfels and ations of Theodofius, in four

fuccefTive campaigns, there
fkill
is

reafon to believe, that his confummate

reader.
:

would deferve the applaufe of every military

The

re-

public had formerly been faved by the delays of Fabius

and, while

the fplendid trophies of Scipio, in the

field

of Zama, attract the eyes

hills

of

poflerity, the

camps and marches of the Diitator among the

jufter proportion of the folid
is

of Campania, may claim a

and inde-

pendent fame, which the general

not compelled" to fhare, either

with fortune or with his troops.

Theodofius
;

Such was likewife the merit of

and the

infirmities of his body,

which moft unfeafon-

ably languiflied under a long dnd dangerous difeafe, could not opprefs the vigour of his
lervice
Bivifions, fuhmiffion
r

mind, or divert

his attention

from the pubHc

lis
.

The
^j^g ^^^g

deliverance and peace of the

Roman
:

provinces "' was the

work of prudeucc,
and
to

rather than of valour

;

the prudence of

Theodo-

of the Goths,
382.

feconded by fortune

and the emperor never

failed to feize,

improve, every favourable circumftance.

As long

as the fu-

perior genius of Fritigern preferved the union, and directed the

tions,

mo-

of the Barbarians,

their

power was not inadequate

to the

conqueft of a great empire.

The

death of that hero, the predeceffor

and mafter of the renowned

'"

Alaric, relieved an impatient multitude

Mod

writers

infift

on the

illnefs,

and
:

long repol'e, of Theodofius, at Thedalonica Zolimus, to diminifli his giory; Jornandcs, and the ecclefiaftical to favour the Goths
;

(c. xxvii. p. 649.), and the prefix Cornmentary of M. de Buat (Hift. des Peuplcs, A;c. torn. vi. p. 477 552.). The Chronicies of Idadus and Marcellinus allude, in

writers, to introduce his baptifm.

general terms, to,

p. 181.)

magna certamina, magim

epithets are not

"' Compare Themiftius(Orat.xiv.

with Zofimus
(1.

multaqtie ^rxXis.^
eaTiLy reconciled.

The two

iv.

p..

i3-),

Jornandes

from

OF
from the
rians,

THE

RO?vIAN EMPIRE.
difcretion.

631

intolerable

yoke of difcipUne and

The Biuha- ^
>

II

A
^

P.
'

who had

XX\'I.

been reftrained by his authority, abandoned them;

lelves to the di(3;ates of their paffions

and

their paflions

were feldom

uniform, or confiilent.

An army

of conquerors was broken into

;

many
mies.

diforderly bands of favage robbers

and

their blind

and

irre-

gular fury

was not

lefs

pernicious to themfelves, than to their ene-

Their mifchievous difpofition was ihewn in the deftrudion of

or tafte to
harvefts,,

eveiy objeft, which they wanted ftrength to remove,

enjoy

and they often confumed, with improvident rage, the

or the granaries, which foon afterwards became neceflary for their

own
loofe

fubfiftence.

fpirit

of difcord arofe

among

the independent
a

tribes

and nations, which had been united only by the bauds of

and voluntary

alliance.

The

troops of the

Alani would naturally upbraid the

flight

of the

Huns and Goths who were

;
:

the

not
the

difpofed to ufe with moderation the advantages of their fortune

ancient jealoufy of the Oftrogoths and the Vifigoths could not long

be fufpended

and the haughty

chiefs

ftill

remembered the

infults

and

injuries,

which they had

reciprocally offered, or fuftained, while

the nation was feated in the countries beyond the Danube.

progrefs of domeftic fadtion abated the
national animofity
;

The
of
to

more

diffufive fentiment

and the officers of

Theodofms were inftruded

purchafe, with liberal gifts and promifes, the retreat, or fervice, of

the difcontented party.

The

acqulfition of

Modar^ a prince of the

royal blood of the Amali, gave a bold and faithful champion to the eaufe of

Rome.

The

illuftrious

deferter foon obtained the rank: of

mafter-general, with an important

his

command;,
in

furprifed an
fleep
;;

army of
immenfe
In the
to

countrymen,

who were immerfed

wine and

and, after

a cruel flaughter of the aftonifhed Goths, returned with an

fpoil,

and four thoufand waggons,

to the Imperial

camp

".

" Zofimus (1. iv. p. 232.) ftyles him a Scythian, a name which the more recent

Greeks fecm Goths.

to

have appropriated

the

hands

632

THE DECLINE AND FALL

hands of a
fully
fkllful politician, the

CHAP.
XXVI.

moft different means

may

be fuccefs-

appUed

to the

fame ends

and the peace of the empire, which

had been forwarded by the

Death and
funeral of

divifions,

was accomplifhed by the

re-

union, of the Gothic nation.

fpecftator

Athanaric,

who had
at

been a patient

Athanaric, A. D. 381,
faiuiary 35.

of thefe extraordinary events, was

length driven,

by the

chance of arms, from the dark receffes of the woods of Caucaland.

He

no longer

hefitated to pafs the

Danube

and a very confiderable

felt

part of the fubjeds of Fritigern,

who

already

the inconveniencies

of anarchy, were eafily perfuaded to acknowledge for their king, a

Gothic Judge, whofe birth they refpedted, and whofe abilities they

had frequently experienced.

Athanaric
;

But age had

chilled the daring fpirit

field

of

and, inftead of leading his people to the

of battle

and

victory, he wifely llftened to the fair propofal of an honourable

treaty.

and advantageous

Theodofms,

who was
;

acquainted with the

at

merit and power of his

diftance of feveral miles

new

ally,

condefcended to meet him

the

from Conftantinople

and entertained him and the mag-

in the Imperial city, with the confidence of a friend,

nificence of a
*' *'

monarch.

" The Barbarian prince obferved, with

curious attention, the variety of objedbs which attracted his notice,

and

at laft

broke out into a fincere and paffionate exclamation of

I

" wonder.
"

now

behold,

faid

he,

what
!

never could believe,

as

the glories of this ftupendous capital

and

he

caft

his eyes

" around, he viewed, and he admired, the commanding fituation " of the city, the ftrength and beauty of the walls and public edifices, " the capacious harbour, crowded with inimmerable vefTels, the " perpetual concourfe of diflant nations, and the arms and difcipline " of the troops. Indeed, continued Athanaric, the emperor of " the Romans is a god upon earth and the prefumptuous man, who
;

"

dares to

lift

his

hand

againft him,

is

guilty of his

own

blood "'."

The
'" The
readervv'ill not

be difpleafed to fee

thor

whom
eft

hi tranfcribeJ
.;

Regiam urbem
quod

.the original

words of Jornandes, or the au-

ingreftUs

miranfque. En, inquit, cerno

OF THE
The
reception

ROMAN

EMPIRF..
and honourable
it

633

Gotlilc king did not long enjoy this fplendid

;

^v^rr^' XXVI*
__/

and, as temperance was not the virtue of his nation,

may

juftly be fulpedled, that his mortal difeafe

was contradted amidft

the pleaf iires of tb 2 Imperial banquets.

dei-ived

But the policy of Theodofms

more

folid benefit

from the death, than he could have exally.

pedhed from the moft faithful fervices, of his

Tlie funeral of

Athanaric was performed with folemn

a ftately

rites in

the capital of the Eaft;

;

monument was

eredled to his

memory
empire
'".

and

his

whole

army,

won by

the liberal courtefy,

and decent

grief,

of Theodofius,

enlifled

under the ftandard of the

Roman

The

fubmiflion

of fo great a body of the Vifigoths was productive of the moft falutary confequences
of corruption,
;

and the mixed influence of

force, of reafon,

and

became every day more powerful, and more

extenfive.

Each independent
and unprotected,

chieftain haftened to obtain a feparate treaty,

/ji?n,

from
alone

the apprehenfion that an obftinate delay might expofe

to the revenge, or juftice,

of the conqueror.

The
382,
^'

general, or rather the hnal, capitulation of the Goths,

may

be dated

four years, one month, and twenty-five days, after the defeat and A. D.

death of the emperor Valens

"'-

The

provinces of the
tlie

Danube had been already

whofe
and
'^^

relieved

from the

oppreflive weight of
retreat of Alatheus

Gruthungi, or Oftrogoths, by the voluntary

;

invafion and *

G,.uthun4
''

and Saphrax

reftlcfs fpirit

had prompted

Oftro-

them
quod

to

feek

new

fcenes of rapine
vi-

glory.
c.

Their deftrudtive
xxviii. p.

a. u. 386, O&oher.

fa;pe incrcdulus

audiebam, famam

Jornandes,

650.

Even

delicet tantsE urbis.

Et buc

illuc oculos vol-

vens, nunc fitum urbis

commeatumque

na-

vium, nunc mcEnia clara profpeftans, miratur ; populofque diverfarum gentium, quafi

Zofimus (I. iv, p. 246.) is compelled to approve the generofity of Theodofius, fo honourable to himfelf, and fo beneficial to the
public.
*^'
i^^?^/

uno c diverfis partibus fcaturiente unda, fic quoque militem ordinatum afpiDeus, inquit, eft fine dubio terrenus <ciens. Jmperator, et quifquis adverfus eum raanum
.fonte in

The

fhort,

but authentic, hints in th

p. 52.) are

of Idatius (Chron. Scaliger.

ftained

with

contemporary

paflion.
is

The
a

fourteenth oration of Themiftius

com-

moverit, ipfe

fui

fanguinis reus

exiftit.

Jor-

pliment to Peace, and the conful Saturninus

nandes
tion his

(c. xxviii. p.

650.) proceeds to

men-

(A.D.

383.).

death and funeral.

"V^OL. II.

courfe

634

THE DECLINE AND FALL

courfe was pointed towards the ^
a very obfcure and imperfedt

CHAP,
XXVI.

Weft

; '

but

we muft
.

be
.

fatisfied witir

knowledge of

their various adventures.

tribes

The

Oftrogoths impelled feveral of the

;

German
unknown

on the pro-

vinces of Gaul

concluded, and foon violated, a treaty with the

;

emperor Gratian
North
;

advanced into the

countries of the

and, after an interval of more than four years, returned,

force, to the

with accumulated

banks of the Lower Danube.

Their

troops were recruited with the fierceft warriors of

Germany and
their

Scythia

and the
'"*.

foldiers,

or at

leaft

the hiftorians, of the empire,,

no longer recognlfed the name and countenances of

enemies

former

The

general,

who commanded

the military and naval

powers of the Thracian

frontier, foon perceived that his fuperiority

would be difadvantageous
barians,

to the public fervice

his fleet
till

and that the Bar-

awed by the prefence of

and legions, would pro--

bably defer the paflage of the river

dexterity of the fpies,

the approaching winter.

The
by a

whom

he

fent into the

Gothic camp, allured

perfuaded, that,

the Barbarians into a fatal fnare.

They were
Romans; and
the

bold attempt, they might furprife, in the filence and darknefs of the
night, the fleeping

army of

the

the whole multitude"''.

was

haftily

embarked

in a fleet

of three thoufand canoes

;

The
of

braveft of the Ofl;rogoths led the van

main body
;

confiflied

the remainder of their fubjedts and foldiers

children fecurely followed in the rear.

and the

women and
;

One

of the nights v'Ithcut a

moon had been

felefted for the execution of their defign

and they
firm'

had almofl reached the fouthern bank of the Danube, in the

confidence that they fliould
"^
mus,
11^ '

fmd an
Zofi'

eafy landing, and an unguarded.

eOtos
1.

td SxiSiKoK

5ra:j-i

tt.'yvtjr':^.

into

the

ftape

of a boat,
1.

T^rSsi

/wtoIuXui'

iv.

p. 252.

=f^;S>^::<-=.-rrs;.

-Zofimus,

iv.

p. 253.

am

a-c J juitified,

r J by reafon and example,

1

Danubium quondam tranare Gruthur.gi ^ ,. ter rnihe ruebant In lintres fregere nemus
Aufi
p^^.
, ;

in applying this Indian

name

to the i^o:.ivXcc
trees

g^^j^^ pj^^^

^^^^-^^

of the Barbarians, the fingle

hollowed

Claudian, in

iv.

immanibus a!ni. Conf. Hon. 623.

,

camp.

OF THE
-camj?.

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
^
'

6:^3
^'

But the progrefs of the Barbarians was fuddenly flopped by

;

"\^i
>.-

an unexpeQed obftacle
witli each other,

a triple line of veflels, ftrongly connected

and which formed an impenetrable chain of two

miles and a half along the river.

While they

ftruggled to force their

way
the

in the unequal conflidl, their right flank

was overwhelmed by
were urged down the
tide.

irrefiilible attack

of a

fleet

of

gallies, v.'hich

ftream by the united impulfe of oars and of the

The -weight
was
in-

and velocity of thofe

fliips

of war broke, and funk, and difperfed,

:

the rude and feeble canoes of the Barbarians

'their valour

effedual

and Alatheus, the king, or general, of the Oftrogoths,

perifhed, with his braveft troops, either

by the

fv/ord of the

Romans,

or in the waves of the Danube.

fleet

The
:

Lift

dlviiion of this unfortunate

might regain the oppofite fhore

but the diftrefs and diforder of

either of aftion or

the multitude rendered

counfel
;

them

alike incapable,

and they foon implored the clemency of the vidlorious

enemy.

On

this occafion, as well as

on many

others,

it is

a diffi-

cult tafk to reconcile the pafTions

and prejudices of the writers of the and malignant

hiftorian,

age of Theodofuis.
reprefents every

The
field

partial

who

mif-

adion of

his reign, affirms, that the

till

emperor did
'".

not appear in the

of battle

the

Barbarians had been A'an-

quifhed by the valour and condudt of his lieutenant Promotus

The

flattering poet,

who

celebrated,

in the court

of Honorius, the

glory of the father and of the fon, afcribes the vidory to the perfonal prowefs of Theodoiius
;

and almoft

infinuates, that the

'".

king of
truth

the Oftrogoths was flain by the hand of the emperor

The

'^ Zofimus, 1. iv. p. 252 255. He too frequently betrays his poverty of judgment, by difgracing the moft ferious narratives with
.,, "^^

The

ofima were the fpoils, which a

Roman

general could only win from the king, or

general, of the enemy, horn he had flain
^^.;,,^ j^;^

trifling

and incredible circum

^^^^ j^.,^^^

^^^ ^^ ^^^^

^,^^^ ^j^^^^

n Odothii Regis
/^
1 I

o//W(?

^"ch examples are celebrated in the vifto*

Retulit

Vcr. 632.

nous ages of Rome.

4IM

of

636

THE DECLINE AND FALL

o^^'^ifto^'y

C
^YVT^*
>
.

inight perhaps be found in a jufl

affertions.

medium between

thcfe

'

extreme and contradidlory

Settiementof the Goths in _ Thrace and tained

The

Original treaty

which fixed the fettlement of the Goths,

and
ftipulated their obligations,

afcerilluf-

their privileges,

would

A. D.
^^^*

38?

trate the

hiftory of Theodofuis and his fuccefrors.

The

feries

of

their
this

hiftory has imperfectly preferved the fpirit

and fubftance of

fmgular agreement

"'.

The

ravages of

war and tyranny had

provided

many

large tradts of fertile, but uncultivated land, for the

ufe of thofe Barbarians,

culture.

who might

not diidain the pradlice of agiifeated in

numerous colony of the Vifigoths was

Thrace i

the remains of the Oftii'ogoths were planted in Phrygia and Lydia;^

their

immediate wants were fupplied by a diftribution of corn and-

cattle;

and

their future induftry

was encouraged by an exemptionyears'.

from

tribute,

during
feel

q.

certain

term of

The

Barbarians would

have deferved to
court, if they

the cruel and perfidious policy of the Imperial

to be difperfed

had fuffered themfelves

through the

provinces.

They

required, and they obtained, the fole pofleflion of

ftiil
;

the villages and diftridts affigned for their refidence; they

rilhed
in the

chc-

and propagated

their native

manners and language

alJerted,

bofom of defpotifm, the freedom of

their domeftic

govern-

ment; and acknowledged the fovereignty of the emperor, without

fubmitting to the inferior jurifdidtion of the laws and magiftrates of

Rome.

The

hereditary chiefs of the tribes and families were

ftilt

permitted to
royal dignity

command
was

their followers inj)eace

;

and war; but the

aboliflied

and the generals of the Goths wxre apof the emperor.

pointed and removed

forty thoufand

at the pleafure

An army

of

Goths was maintained for the perpetual

fervice of the
title

empire of the Eaft ; and thofe haughty troops,

"'
See Themiftius,
1.

who

affumed the
miftlfqiie

Orat. xvi.
11.
^

p. 211..

Oftrogothis colitur
and then proceeds
dia,
,

Gruthungis

Claudian (in Eutrop.

the Phrygian colony';

KZ.) mentions

,'

to

name

the nrers of

Ly-

the

Paadus, and Hermiis.

of

OF THE
oi Fcedcrati^ or
ral
allies,

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
their gold collars, libe-

^^j
C

were diftingulfhed by

p.

XXVI.

pay, and licentious privileges.

the ufe of arms, and the

Their native courage was improved

difcipllne
;

by

knowledge of

and, while the

republic

was guarded, or threatened, by the doubtful fword of the

laft

Barbarians, the

fparks of the military flame were finally extin-

guiihed in the minds of the

Romans

'"'.

Theodofms had the

addrefs

to perluade his allies, that the conditions of peace

which had been

extorted from

him by

piTidence and neceffity, were the voluntary

expreffions of his fmcere friendfhip for the Gothic natioa'^.

ferent

dif-

mode of vindication
'^'.

or apology

was oppofed

to the complaints

of the people;
conceffions
lively

who The

loudly cenfm^ed thefe fhameful and dangerous

calamities of the
firft

war were painted

in the

mod

colours;

and the

fymptoms of

the return of order, of

plenty, and fecurity, were diligently exaggerated.

The

advocates of
reafon,..

Theodouus could
that
it

affirm,

with fome appearance of truth and

was impoffible

to extirpate fo
lofs

many

warlike tribes,

who were

rendered defperate by the

of their native country; and that the

exhaufted pi-ovinces would be revived by a frelh fupply of foldiers

and hufbandmen.
afpe<3:
;

The

Barbarians

flill

wore an angry and

hoftilc

but the experience of paft times might encourage the hope,,

that they
their

would acquire the

habits of induftry

and obedience

that,

manners would be polilhed by time, education, and the

infiu-

"' Compare Jornandes

(c. x". 27.))

who

patient of injuries.

According

to Livy,

the-

marks the condition and number of the Gothic Fcpiierati, with Zofimus (1. iv. p. 258.), who mentions their golden collars ; and Pacatus
(in

Romans conquered
defence.

the v/orld in their

own

'" Befides the

partial inveftives

of Zofi-

Fanegyr. Vet.

xii.

37.), v/ho applauds,

their bravery

mus (always difcontcnted with

Synefiiis addreflcs
to the

the Chriftian

with
"^

falfe or foolifh joy,

and

reigns), fee the grave reprefentations

difcipline.

which emperor Arcadius.

Amator

pacis gcnerifqiie

the praife beftowed

(c. xxix.),

Gothorum, by the Gothic hifto-

(de Regno, p. 25, 26. edit. Petav.). The philofophic bifhop of Cyrene was near enough
to judge; and he was fufHciently removed' from the temptation of fear, or fiattcry.

rian

who

reprefents his nation as

innocent, peaceable men, flow to anger, and

ence-

638

THE DECLINE AND FALL

ence of Chriftianity ; and that their poflerity would infenfibly blend

CHAP,
>___,,__/
Their
hoftiie

with the great body of the

Roman

people

'^'.

Notwithftanding thefe fpecious arguments, and thefe fanguine expe^^j^fions,

it

entimcnt..

was apparent
empire.

to every difcerning eye, that the

Goths

would long remain the enemies, and might foon become the conquerors,

of the

Roman

Their rude and infolent behaviour ex-

prefled their contempt of the citizens

infulted with

and provincials,

whom

they

impunity

'".

To

the zeal and valour of the Barbarians,

:

Theodofius was indebted for the fuccefs of his arms

fiftance

but their af-

was precarious

and they were fometimes feduced, by a

treacherous and inconflant dlfpofition, to abandon his ftandard, at

the
civil

moment when
war
againft

their fervice

was the

mofl; efiential.

During the
deferters re-

Maximus,

a great

number of Gothic

tired into the morafles of

Macedonia, wafted the adjacent provinces,

to expofe his perfon,
'^\

and obliged the intrepid monarch

and exert

his

power, to fupprefs the rifmg flame of rebellion

The

public ap-

prehenfions were fortified by the ftrong fufpicion, that thefe tumults

were not the

effedl

of accidental paflion, but the

It

refult

of deep and

premeditated defign.

was generally

believed, that the

Goths had
;

figned the treaty of peace with an hoftile and infidious fpirit

that their chiefs
fecret oath,
faireft

and

had previoufly bound themfelves, by a folemn and

never to keep faith with the Romans; to maintain the

friendfhip,

fhew of loyalty and

and
the

to

watch the favourable

foldier

"'-

Themiftliis (Orat. xvi. p. 211, 212.)

expiate

murder of a Gothic

.cornpofes an elaborate

and rational apology, which is not, however, exempt from the puerilities of Greek rhetoric. Orpheus could iinly charm the wild beafts of Thrace: but Theodofius enchanted the men and women, whofe predeceffors in the fame country had torn Orpheus in pieces, &c.

mh-Ti^ to SxuCixoj was the guilt of the people,

Libanius, Orat.
'^*

'" Conftantinople was deprived, half a day, of the public allowance of bread, to

xii. p. 394. edit. Morel, Zofimus, 1. iv. p. 267 271. He tells a long and ridiculous (lory of the adventurous prince, who roved the country with only f.ve horfemen, of a fpy whom they detedcd, whipped, and killed in an old woman's cottage, &:c.

moment

.' . -

OF THE
moment
ral

ROMAN

EMPIRE.
But, as the minds

S^c^

of rapine, ofconqueft, and of revenge.

^JLyj^'

of the Barbarians were not infenfible to the power of gratitude, feveof the Gothic leaders fincerely devoted themfelves to the fcrvice
at leaft,

of the empire, or,

of the emperor

the whole nation

was

in-

fenfihly divided into

two oppofite

fadlions,

and much fophiflry was

employed
their
firft,

in converfation

and difpute,

to

compare the obligations of

and fecond, engagements.

themfelves as the friends of peace,

rected

The Goths, who confidered of juftice, and of Rome, were diand honourable youth,

by the authority of

Fravitta, a valiant

diftinguilhed above the reft of his countrymen,

his

by the

politenefs of
A'irtues

manners, the
life.

liberality

of his fentiments, and the mild

of

focial

But the more numerous falion adhered

to the fierce

and

faithlefs Priulf,

who

inflamed the paflions, and aflerted the in-

dependence, of his warlike followers.

On
till

one of the folemn

feftivals,

when

the chiefs of both parties were invited to the Imperial table,,

they were infenfibly heated by wine,

ftraints

they forgot the ufual rein the prefence

of difcretion and refped:

fatal

and betrayed,
'

of

Theodofius, the
peror,

fecret

of their domeftic difputes.

this

The cm--

who had

been the reludlant witnefs of

extraordinary

controverfy, diffembled his fears and refentment, and foon difmilTed

the tumultuous affembly.

Fravitta,

alarmed and exafperated by the

infolence of his rival, Vv'hofe departure

from the palace might have

been the

fignal of a civil war, boldly followed

him

and, drawing

his fword, laid Priulf

dead

at

his feet.

Their companions flew to

arms

and the

faithful

champion of

Rome would
'".

have been op-

prefl^ed

by

fuperior numbers, if he had not been proteded

by the

feafonable interpofition of the Imperial guards

'" Compare Eunapius (in Excerpt. Legat. p. 21, 22.) with Zofimus (1. iv. p. 279.). The difTorence of circumftances and names tnuft undoubtedly be applied to the fame
ftory.

Such were the

and
ftill

conful (A.

D. 401

.).

continued his

faithful fervice to the eldeft fon

fius

of Theodo-

(Tillemont,

Hill;,

des Empereurs, torn. v.

p. 467.).

Fravitta, orTravitta, was afierwaida

fcenes

640

THE DECLINE AND FALL,

fcenes of Barbaric rage,

Sec.

CHAP.
XXVI.

which difgraced the palace and

table

of

the

Roman emperor

and, as the impatient Goths could only be

by the firm and temperate characSter of Theodofius, the public fafety feemed to depend on the life and abilities of a fmgle
reftrained

man
"* Les Goths ravagerent
tout depuls le

the
fays

Roman

territory.

It is

now

thirty years,

Danube
Valens

jufqu'au Bofphore
et fon

exterminerent

Claudian
404.),

(de Eello Getico,

166, &c.

armee ; et ne repalTerent le Danube, que pour abandonner raftreufe folitude qu'ils avoient faite (Oeuvres de Montefquieu,
torn.
iii.

k.^.

Ex quo jam

patrios gens hsc oblitaTriones, Atquelftrum tranfvefla femel, veftigia fixit

fur les Caufes de la

Confiderations p. 479 ; Grandeur et de la Deca-

Threicio funefta folo

dence des Remains, c. xvii.). The prefident Montefquicu feems ignorant, that the Goths, after the defeat of Valens, never abandoned

The

error

is

inexcufable;

fince

it

difguifes
fall

the principal and immediate caufe of the

of the Weftern Empire of Rome.

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME,

ERRATA,
VOL.
Paee
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12.
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note

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