The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [2, 1 ed.]

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THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE

ROMAN EMPIRE VOLUME BY

II

EDWARD G^BBON

JIETR0C0iyyEJ?TE0 fl

C.

Ji.

C 1^

William Benton,

Publisher

ENCYCLOP/EDIA BRITANNICA, INC. CHICAGO

LONDON TORONTO GENEVA •

•

The annotations in this edition are derived from the edition in Everyman’s Library, edited by Oliphant Smeaton, by permission of J, M, Dent & Sons Ltd., London, Co. Inc., New York and E. P. Dutton

&

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO The Great Books is

published with the editorial advice oj the faculties of

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University of Chicago

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Copyright under International Copyright Union

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Inc.

CONTENTS: VOLUME TWO CHAPTERS XLI-LXXI

XLI.

Dbtress of the City

Conquests of Justinian in the West. Character

Exile of

and First Campaigns of Belisarius. He Invades and Subdues the Vandal Kingdom of Africa. His Triumph. The Gothic War. He Recovers Sicily^ Naples^ 533. and Rome. Siege of Rome by the Goths. Their Retreat and Losses. Surrender of Ravenna. Glory of Belisarius. His Domestic Shame and Misfortunes

Deliverance of the City Belbarius recovers many Cities of Italy

538.

i

Gclimcr Debates on the African war Character and Choice of Belisarius

i

2 2

Hb

Services in the Persian war 529-532. 533. Preparations for the African war Depa.luit of the Fleet Belisarius lands

3 3

Consulship

Neutrality of the Vbigoths 550-620. Conquests of the Romans in

8

Her Lover Theodosius Resentment of Belisarius and her

9

Son Photius

Spain Italy

XLI I.

12

12

the

13

Amalasontha, Queen of Italy Her Exile and Death Belisarius invades and subdues Sicily 534-536. Reign and Weakness of 'I'heodatus, the Gothic King of Italy 535.

536-540. Vitiges, King of Italy 536. Belbarius enters Rome 537. Siege of Rome by the Goths Valour of Belisarius His Defence of Rome Repulses a general assault of the

the

Danube. Tribes and Inroads

or Lazic

A.D.

14 16 16

527-565. Weakness of the Empire of Justinian State of the Barbarians

31

32 32

The Gepidze The Lombards The Sclavonians

17

and reduces

Naples

State of the Barbaric World. Establishment of

Lombards on

and Wars with the Romans. The Colchian War. The Ethiopians

1

'

31

of the Sclavonians. Origin^ Empire^ and Embassies of the Turks. The Flight of the Avars. Chosroes I or Nushirvan King of Persia. His Prosperous Reign

522-534. Government and Death of

Sallies

30 30

Dbgrace and Submission of Belbarius

1

14

Goths

27 28 28 29 29

Persecution of her Son

10

534. Belisarius threatens the Ostrogoths in

Hb

Ravenna

12

End of Gelimer and the Vandab Manners and Defeat of the Moors

537. Belbarius invades Italy

26 26 26 27

Captivity of Vitiges 540. Return and Glory of Belbarius Secret Hbtory of his Wife Antonina

7

Vandab

Hb sole

25 25 25 25 25

Italy

5 6

Vandab in a first battle Reduction of Carthage Final Defeat of Gelimer and the

Return and Triumph of Belbarius

24 24

Rome

Subdues the Gothic Kingdom of

539.

on the Coast of

Defeats the

535.

Belisarius besieges

4

Africa

534. Conquest of Africa by Belisarius Distress and Captivity of Gelimer

the Siege of

Retire to Ravenna Jealousy of the Roman Generab Death of Constantine 'Fhe Eunuch Narses Firmness and Authority of Belis^ius 538-539. Invasion of Italy by the Franks Destruction of Milan

i

530-534-

The Goths rabe Lose Rimini

A.D.

Justinian resolves to invade Africa 523-530. State of the Vandab. Hildcric

22 23 23

Pope Sylverius

17 18

33 33 34

'Fheir Inroads

545. Origin in Asia

19 19

and Monarchy of the Turks

The Avars

20 20

35 fly

before the Turks,

and

approach the Empire 558. 'Fheir Embassy to Constantinople 569-582. Embassies of the lurks and

21 Si

Romans

V

36 37 S7

,

Contents

vi

500-530. State of Persia 531-579. Reign of Nushirvan, or

38

ChosToes His Love of Learning 533-539. Peace and War with the

39 40

He

41 41

invades Syria

And

ruins Antioch

42 43

541 . Defence of the East by Belisarius Description of Ck>lchos, Lazica, or Mingrelia Manners of the Natives Revolutions of Colchos Under the Persians, before Christ 500 Under the Romans, before Clirist

44 44 45

45

45 46 46

Visit of Arrian Conversion of the Lazi 542-549. Revolt and Repentance of the Culchians 549-55 1 Siege of Petra 549-556. The Colchian or Lazic War 130.

46 47 47

540-561. Negotiations and Treaties between Justinian and Chosroes 522. Conquests of the Abyssinians 533. Their Alliance with Justinian

Final Conquest of Italy by Narses, Extinction of Franks and Alemanni.

the Ostrogoths, Defeat of the

Last Victory, Disgrace, and Death of Belisarius,

Death and Character of Justinian, Comets, Eaith^ 544quakes, and Plague of .Africa

Moors

531-539. Comets

Earthquakes Plague its Origin and Nature 542-504. Extent and Duration

—

XLIV.

Idea of the Roman Jurisprudence. 7 he Laws of the Kings. The Twelve Tables of the Decemvirs. The Laws of the People. The Deciees of the Sen~ the Magistrates

and Emperors,

and

Institutes of Justinian: I, Rights of Persons. Rights of Things, III, Private Injuries and Actions. IV. Crimes and Punishments

A.D.

The

51 •

52 53

Civil or

Roman Law

Decrees of the .Senate Edicts of the Praetors 'I he Perpetual Edict Constitutions of the Emperors Their Legislative Power Their Resenpts 527- Form.s of the Roman Law 528- Succession of the Civil Lawyers The Fust Period 303-648. .Second Period 648-988. 988-1230. "I bird Period Their Philosophy Authoiity

53

527. Reformation of the by Justinian

54

'I'libonian 546. 529. 'The Code of Justinian 530-533. '1 he Pandei ts or Digest Praise and Censure of the Code

besieged by the Goths .Attempt of Belisarius Rome taken by the Goths

547. Recovered by Belisarius 548. Final Recall of Belisarius 549. Rome again taken by the Goths 549-551. Preparations of Justinian for the

Gothic War 552. Character and Expedition of the Eunuch Narses Defeat and Death of Totila Conquest of Rome by Narses 553. Defeat and Death of Teias, the last King of the Goths Invasion of Italy by the Franks

and Alemanni

55 55 56 56 57 58 59

The I.

73 73 73 74 74 74 75 75 75 76 76 76 7b

78 78 70 79

and

Pandects Loss of the ancient Jurisprudence Legal Inconstancy of Justinian 534. .Second Edition of the Code 534-565. The Novels 533.

59

72 72

Roman Law

Italy

Rome

71

77 77

.Sects

Contrast of Greek Vice and Gothic Virtue 548. Second Command of Bclisai ius in Italy

7

Laws of the Kings of Rome The Twelve Tables of the Decemvirs 'I'heir Character and Influence Laws of the People

541-544. Victories of Totila, King of

546.

I he Edicts of

Authority of the Civilians. Code, Pandects, J^ovels,

48 49 50

XLIII. Rebellions of Africa, ReUoratinn of the Gothic 543Kingdom by Totila, Loss and Recovery of Rome,

The Troubles

.

64 65 65 66 66 67 68 69 70 70

II.

.

558. Rebellion of the 540. Revolt of the Gotlxs

554-568. Settlement of Italy 559. Invasion of the Bulgarians Last Victory of Belisarius 561 His Disgrace and Death 542. 565. Death and Character of Justinian

ate,

60

522

535-545.

and Alemanni

by Narses

Romans 540.

554. Defeat of the Franks

Institutes

79

80 80 81 81

81

OP PLKSONS. Freemen and

60

Slaves Fathers

61

Limitations of the paternal Authority

62

Husbands and Wives

62

Freedom of the matrimonial

63

Contract Liberty and Abuse of Divorce

81

and Children

'The religious Rites of Marriage

82 82 83 83

84 84

C!ontenU Limitations of the Liberty of Divorce Incest^ Concubines, and Bastards

85 85 86 86 87 88

Guardians and Wards II. OF THINGS. Right of Property

Of

Inheritance and Succession

Civil Degrees of Kindrc^d

Introduction and Liberty of Testa-

ments

88 89 89 89 89 90 90

Legacies Codicils III.

and Trusts

OF ACTIONS

Promises Benchts Interest of

Money

Injuries

91 9I

IV. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS Severity of the

Twelve

'1

ables

91

584-590.

Lombards 'J'he

105

Exarchate of Ravenna

1

Kingdom

106

Lombards Language and Manners of the Lombards Dress aAd Marriage Government 643. Laws 'Fhe

Misery of

of the

Rome

Relics of the Apostles Birth and Profession of Gregory the Roman 590-604. Pontificate of Gregory the Great, or First His Spiritual Office

And Temporal Government

Laws

92 93 93 93 94

Revival of capital punishments Measure of Guilt Unnatural Vice Rigour of the Christian £mp>erors Judgments of the People

94 95 95 95 96

Judges

Assessors

Voluntary Exile and Death Abw:cs ul Civil Jurisprudence

His Estates

And Alms The Saviour

1

06

107 108 108 108

109 109

lio

no no 1 1 1 1

of

Rome

1 1

XLVI.

Revolutions of Persia after the Death of Chosroes or Xushtrvan. His Son Hormouz, a Tyrant

Bahram. Flight and Res^ His Gratitude to the Rc^

Is Deposed. Usurpation of toration of Chosroes II.

mans. The Chagan of the Avars. Revolt of the Army His Death. Tyranny of Phocas,

against Maurice.

Elevation of Heraclius.

XLV.

05

The lombs and

Abolition or Oblivion of Penal

Select

vii

King of the

Autharis,

The Persian War. Chosroes

Rei^n of the Younger Justin. Embassy of the Avars. Their Settlement on the Danube. Conquest nf

Subdues Syria^ Egypty and Asia Minor. Siege of Constantinople by the Persians and Avars. Persian

Lombards. Adoption and Reign of 7 1 Maurice. State of Italy under the Lornhards and the Exarchs of Ravenna. Distress of Rome.

Expeditions. Victories and

Italy by the

berius.

Character and Pontificate of Gregory the First

Contest of 572.

Death of Justinian 565-574. Reign of Justin

96

565.

II.

or the

Younger

97 97 97

His Consulship Embassy of the Avars

98

Rosamond Her Flight and Death Clcplio, King of the Lombards Weakness of the Emperor Justin

574. Association of I’iberius 578. Death of Justin II. 578-582. Reign of Tiberius II. His Virtues

582-602.

The Reign of Maurice

Distress of Italy

His last His Death

579. 579-590.

98

99 100

100 1

01

101

02 02 102 103 103 103 104 104 1

1

1 1 1

12

112 113

Tyranny and Vices of his Son

Hormouz

1

590. Exploits of Bahram His Rebellion

deposed and imprisoned Elevation of his Son Chosroes is

Death of Hormouz

Italy

and Death of Narses 568-570. Conquest of a great Part of Italy by the Lombards 573. Alboin is murdered by his Wife

Persia

Yemen by Nushirvan War with the Romans

Hormouz

Alboin, King of Lombards— his Valour, Love, and Revenge The Lombards and Avars destroy the King and Kingdom of the Gepidac 567. Alboin undertakes the Conquest of DisafTection

Rome and

570. Conquest of

A.D.

566.

Triumph of Heraclius

Of

Chosroes flies to the Romans HLs Return and final Victory

Death of Bahram 591-603. Restoration and Policy of Chosi oes 570-600. Pride, Policy, and Power of the Chagan of the Avars 591 -bo2. Wars of Maurice against the Avars State of the Roman Armies I'heir Discontent And Rebellion Election of Phocas 602. Revolt of Constantinople Death of Maurice and his Gbildreo 602-610. Phocas Emperor

His Character

And Tyranny

1

1 1 1 1 1

1

14 1 1

15 16 16

116 1

1

117 1 1 1

1

120 120 120 120 121 12 121

122 122

viii

Contents

6io. His Fall and Death 610-642. Reign of Heraclius 603. Chosroes invades the Roman

ids 123

Empire 61

1

His Conquest of Syria

.

-

His Reign and Magnificence 610-622. Distress of Heraclius

He

Solicits

Peace

621. His Preparations for War 622. First Expedition of Heraclius against the Persians

623. 624, 625. His Second Expedition 626. Deliverance of Constantinople from the Persians and Avars Alliances and Conquests of Heraclius 627. His thu'd Expedition And Victories Flight of Chosroes 628.

He

is

125 125 126 126 127 128 1

1

29 30

131 1 3 his

Son Siroes

Treaty of Peace between the two Empires

XLVII.

514. First religious War 5i9-5h5. Theological Character and Government of Justinian His Persecution of Heretics

131

deposed

And murdered by

24 124 124 1 24 1

Of Palestine Of Egypt Of ^Ksia Minor

614. 616.

123

451-482. Discord of the East 482. The Henoticon of Zeno 508-518. The Trisagion, and religious War, till the Death of Anastasius

132 1 32 1

32

Theological History of the Doctrine of the

The Human and Divine Nature of Christ, Enmity of the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Constantinople, St. Cyril and Nes tonus. Third General Council of Ephesus. Heresy of Eutyches. Fomth General Council of Chalcedon. Civil and Ecclesiastical Discord. Intolerance of Justinian. The Three Chapters. The Monothelite Controversy. State of the Oriental Sects. I. The Nes torians. II. The Jacobites. III. The Maromtes. IV. The Armenians. V. The Abyssinian^ Incarnation,

A.D.

The Incarnation I.

A

His

pure fiiith

man

of CJirist

to the Ebionites

and Elevation

II. A pure God to the Docetes His incorruptible Body III. Double Nature of Ccrinthus IV. Divine Incarnation of ApoUinaris V. Oi thodox Consent and Verbal

Disputes 412-444. Cyril, Pati larch of Alexandria

His Tyranny 413, 414, 415. 428. Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople

His Heresy 431. First Council of Ephesus

429-431.

Condemnation of Nestorius Opposition of the Orientals 431-435. Victory of Cyril 435. Exile of Nestorius 448. Heresy of Eutyches 449. Second Council of Ephesus 451. Council of Chalcedon Faith of Chalcedon

134 134 134 135 135 136 1 3b 137 138 138

Of Pagans Ofjews

Of Samaritans His Orthodoxy

629. 532-698. 553.

The Three Chapters Vth General Council: lid of

Constantinople 564. Heresy of Justinian 'The Monothelite Ck>ntroversy

639. 648.

Ihe Ecthesis of Heraclius The Type of Constans

680, 681. Vlth General Council: Illd of Constantinople Union of the Gicek and Latin

Churches

145 146 147 147 147 148 148 148 148 149 149

150 150 150 150 151

151

1

Perpetual Separation of the Oriental Sects I. THE NESTORIANS Sole Masters of Persia 500. 500-1200. Their Missions in Tartary, India, China, &c. 883. The Christians of St. Thomas in India n. JACOBITES

1

1 1

51

52 52

53

153

UI.

54 155 15b

IV.

I

me

THE MARONIJlr.S THE ARMENINNS V. THE COP rs OR EGYPTIANS 537-568. 1 he Patriarch Theodosius Paul ApoUinaris Eulogius

538.

551. 580.

John

609.

heir Separation and Decay 625-661. Benjamin, the Jacobite Patriarch VI. THC ABYSSINIANS AND NUBIANS 530. Church of Abyssinia 1525-1550. The Portuguese in Abyssinia 1557. Mission of the Jesuits Conversion of the Emperor 1626. 1632. Final Expulsion of the Jesuits 'I

XLVII I.

1

56

57 157 157 158 158 158 1

1

58

59 59 1 59 159 160 160 1 I

161

Plan of the Last Two Quarto Volumes. and Characters of the Greek Emperors of

Succession

39 140 140 1

141 141 1

42

142 143 143

144 145

Constantinople y from the

Time of Heraclius

to the

Latin Conquest A.D.

Defects of the Byzantine ]H istory Its Connection with the Revolutions of the World Plan of the two last Volumes

1

6

162 162

Second Marriage and Death of Heraclius 641. Constantine III.

163 164

Contents Heradeonas Punishment of Martina and Hcradeonas Constans

II.

668. Constantine IV. Pogonatus 685. Justinian II. 695-705. His Exile 705-71 1. His Restoration and Death 71 1. Philippicus 713. Anastasius II. 716. 'Fheodosius III. 718. Leo III. the Isaurian 741. Constantine V.

Copronymus

775. Leo IV. 780. Constantine VI. 792. Irene 802. Nicephorus

81

and Irene

Michael

I.

Rhangabe

Establishment oj Images. Character and Coronation

man Empire

Vm. 963, Nicephorus II. Phocas 969. John Zimisces, Basil II.

Worship The Image of Edessa Copies Opposition to Image- Worship 726-840. Leo the Iconoclast, and his Successors Their Synod at Constantinople 754.

720-775. Their Persecution of the Images

73 174

State of Italy 727. Epistle'S of Gregory II. to the

75 177

728.

and Monks

1041. Michael V. Calaphates

Zoe and Theodora Constantine X. Monomachus 1054. Theodora 1042.

1056. Michael VI. Stratiotieus 1057. Isaac I. Comnenus 1059. Constantine XI. 1067. Eudocia

78

178

Ducas

Ronianus III. Diogenes 1071. Michael VII. Parapinaces, Andronicus I. Constantine XII. 1078. Nicephorus III. Botaniates 1081. Alexius I. Comnenus 1118. John or Calo-Johannes

Emperor Re^lt of

730-752.

Rome

Rome

Kings of France

181

184 184 184 185 186 1

780.

787. 842. 794.

189

Character and first Adventures of Andronicus 1183. Andronicus I. Comnenus 1185. Isaac II. Angclus

189 192 193

Rome

Donations of Pepin and Charlemagne to the Popes Forgery of the Donation of Constantine Restoration of Images in the East by the Empress Irene Vllth General Council, Ild of Nice Final Establishment of Images by the Empress Theodora Reluctance of the Franks and of

Charlemagne 774-800. Final Separation of the Popes from the Eastern Empire 800. Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of Rome and of the West 768-814. Reign and Character of Charle-

magne Extent of his Empire

France Spain

87

1143. Manuel 1180. Alexius II.

Italy

Germany Hungary His Neighbors and Enemies His Successors 814-887. In Italy 911. 987.

98

199

201

202

attacked by the

Lombards 754. Her Deliverance by Pepin 774. Conquest of Lombardy by Charlemagne 751, 753, 768. Pepin and Charlemagne,

181

183 183 183 184

97 198 1

200 Italy

Patricians of

182 182 182 182 182

pif

197

1

Republic of 1

i

Their Greed

172 172 1

195 195

Its

180

.

Body

I'heir

Con-

stantine IX.

West, Independence oj Italy,

Introduction of Images into the Christian Church

169 189 170

178 179 179 179

976. Basil 11 and Constantine IX. 1025. Constantine IX. 1028. Roinanus III. Argyrus 1034. Michael IV. the Paphlagonian

in the

Constitution oj the Germanic

Alexander, Constantine VII.

945. CiOnstantinc VII. 959. Ronianus II. junior

and Rome, Temporal Domin-

oj Charlemagne. Restoration and Decay oj the Ro-

1

Porphyrogcnitu.s 919. Romau*/S T Lecapenus Christopher, Stephen, Constantine

Worship, and Persecution oj Im-

ion of the Popes. Conquest oj Italy by the Franks,

171

842. Michael III. 867. Basil I. the Macedonian 886. Leo VI. the Philosopher 1.

167 167 168 168 168

171

813. Leo V. the Armenian 820. Michael II. the Stammerer 829. 1’heophilus

91

164 164 165 166 166

171

I.

XLIX. Introduction^

ages. Revolt oj Italy

171

Stauracius

1.

164

ix

In Germany In France

202 203

204 204 205 205 206 207 207

207

208 208

209 209 21o 21o 211 211 211 21 21

2r2 2i2 212 2i2

Contents

X 814^-840.

840-8^.

Lewis the Pious Lothaire I.

856-875. Lewis II. 888. Division of the Empire 962. Otho, King of Germany, restores and appropriates the Western Empire lYansactions of the Western and Eastern Empires 800-1060. Authority of the Einps till they expired, or en-

some

closed in

sp.neious building

perish in the flames with the spoil

and left to and cattle

which might impede the march of these savage victors.'**®

Perhaps a more impartial narrative

35

progeny; and the representation of that animal in the banners of the Turks preserved the memory, or rather suggested the idea, of a fable which was invented, without any mutual intercourse, by the shepherds of Latium and those of Scythia. At the equal distance of two thousand

miles from the Caspian, the Icy, the Chinese,

and the Bengal seas, a ridge of mountains is conand perhaps the summit,

spicuous, the centre,

of Asia, which, in the language of different na-

has been styled Imaus, and Caf,^^ and and the Golden Mountains, and the Girdle of the Earth. The sides of the hills were productive of minerals; and the iron-forges,^* for the purpose of war, were exercised by the Turks, tions,

Altai,

the most despised portion of the slaves of the khan of the Geougen. But their servitude

great

could only last till a leader, bold and eloquent, should arise to persuade his countrymen that the same arms which they forged for their masters

might become in their own hands the

in-

struments of freedom and victory. They sallied

a sceptre was the reward and the annual ceremony, in which a piece of iron was heated in the fire, and a smith’s hammer was successively handled, by the prince and his nobles, recorded for ages the humble profession and rational pride of the

from the mountain of his advice;

would reduce the number and qualify the nature of these horrid acts, and they might sometimes be excused by the cruel laws of retaliation. In the siege of Topirus,-* whose obstinate delence had enraged the Sclavonians, they massac red fifteen thousand males, but they spared the women and children; the most valuable captives were alw'ays reserved for labour or ransom; the servitude was not rigorous, and the terms of their deliverance were speedy and moderate. But the subject, or the historian of

and a mechanic was contemptuously rejected. The disgrace w'as expiated by a more noble alliance with a princess of China; and the decisive battle which almost extirpated the nation of the Geougen established in Tartary the new and more powerful empire of the Turks.

Justinian, exhaled his just indignation in the

They reigned twer

language of complaint and reproach; and Procopius has confldently ailinncd that in a reign of thirty-two years each annual inroad of the barbarians consumed two hundred thousand of

the vanity of conquest by their faithful attach-

Roman

empire. The entire population of Turkish Europe, which nearly corresponds with the provinces of Justinian, the inhabitants of the

would perhaps be incapable of supplying ‘iniliions

six

of persons, the result of this incredible

estimate.® I n the midst of these obscure calamities, Europe felt the shock of a revolution, which first revealed to the world the name and nation of the Turks. Like Romulus, the founder of that martial people was suckled by a shc-wolf, who afterwards made him the father of a numerous

Turkish nation. Bertezena, their signalised their valour

and

first

leader,

his own in successful

combats against the neighbouring tribes; but when he presumed to ask in marriage the daughter of the great khan, the insolent

demand

of a

slave

the north ; but they confessed

ment to the mountain of their fathers. The royal encampment seldom lost sight of Mount Altai, from whence the

river Irtish descends to

water

the rich pastures of the Calmucks,=* which nourish the largest sheep and o.\en in the w'orld.

The

soil is fruitful, and the climate mild and temperate: the happy region was ignorant of earthquake and pestilence; the emperor’s throne was turned towards the east, and a golden wolf on the top of a spear seemed to guard the entrance of his tent. One of the successors of Bertezena was templed by the luxury and superstition of China; but his design of building cities and temples was defeated by the simple wisdom of a barbarian counsellor. “The Turks,” he

Decline and Fall of the

36

equal in number to one hun* dredth part of the inhabitants of China. If we balance their power, and elude their armies, it is because we wander without any fixed habitasaid, *‘are not

tions in the exercise of war

strong?

we

and hunting. Are we

we advance and conquer:

retire

are we feeble?

and are concealed. Should the Turks

confine themselves within the walls of cities, the loss of a battle would be the destruction of their

empire.

The bonzes preach only

patience, hu-

and the renunciation of the world. Such king! is not the religion of heroes.” They en-

mility,

O

tertained with less reluctance the doctrines of

Zoroaster; but the greatest part of the nation acquiesced without inquiry in the opinions, or rather in the practice, of their ancestors. The honours of sacrifice were reserved for the supreme deity; they acknowledged in rude hymns their obligations to the air, the fire, the water, and the earth; and their priests derived some profit from the art of divination. Their unwritten laws were rigorous and impartial theft was punished by a tenfold restitution; adultery, treason, and murder with death; and no chastisement could be inflicted too severe for the rare and inexpiable guilt of cowardice. As the subject nations marched under the standard of the Turks, their cavalry, both men and horses, were proudly computed by millions; one of their effective armies consisted of four hundred thousand soldiers, and in less than fifty years they were connected in peace and war with the Romans, the Persians, and the Chinese. In their :

northern limits some vestige

may

be discovered

of the form and situation of Kamtchatka, 'of a people of hunters and fisherpien, whose sledges

were drawn by dogs, and whose habitations were buried in the earth. The Turks were ignorant of astronomy but the observation taken by some learned Chinese, with a gnomon of ;

eight feet, fixes the royal forty-nine degrees,

camp in the latitude of

and marks

their extreme

progress within three, or at least ten degrees of

the polar circle.*^ Among their southern conquests the most splendid was that of the Nephthalites or

people,

White Huns, a

who

polite

and warlike

possessed the commercial cities of

Bochara and Samarcand, who had vanquished the Persian monarch, and carried their victorious arms along the banks and perhaps to the Indus. On the side of the west the Turkish cavalry advanced to the lake Maeotis. They passed that lake on the ice. The khan, who dwelt at the foot of Mount Altai, issued his commands for the siege of Bosphorus,^^ a city the voluntary subject of Rome, and whose

mouth of the

Roman Empire

princes had formerly been the friends of Athens.^ I'o the east the Turks invaded China, as often as the vigour of the government was relaxed: and I am taught to read in the history of the times that they mowed down their patient enemies like hemp or grass, and that the mandarins applauded the wisdom of an emperor who repulsed these barbarians with golden lances. This extent of savage empire compelled

the Turkish monarch to establish three subordinate princes of his own blood, who soon forgot their gratitude and allegiance. The conquerors were enervated by luxury, which b always fatal except to an industrious people; the policy of China solicited the vanquished nations to resume their independence; and the power of the Turks was limited to a period of two hundred years. The revival of their name and dominion

in the southern countries of Asia are the events

of a later age; and the dynasties which succeeded to their native realms may sleep in oblivion, since thnr history bears no relation to the decline and fall of the Roman empire.*® In the rapid career of conquest the Turks attacked and subdued the nation of the Ogors or Varchonites on the banks of the river Til, which derived the epithet of Black from its dark water or gloomy forests.*^ The khan of the Ogors was slain with three hundred thousand of his subjects, and their bodies were scattered over the

space of four days’ journey: their surviving countrymen acknowledged the strength and mercy of the Turks; and a small portion, about twenty thousand warriors, preferred exile to servitude. They followed the well-known road of the Volga, cherished the error of the nations who confounded them with the Avars, and spread the terror of that false, though famous appellation, which had not, however, saved its lawful proprietors from the yoke of the Turks.** After a long and victorious march the new Avars arrived at the foot of Mount Caucasus, in the country of the Alani*® and Circassians, where they first heard of the splendour and weakness of the Roman empire. They humbly requested their confederate, the prince of the Alani, to lead them to this source of riches; and their ambassador, with the permission' of the governor of Lazica, was transported by tbc Euxine Sea to Constantinople. The whole dty was poured forth to behold with curiosity and U'rror the aspect of a strange people; their long hair,

which hung in tresses down their backs, was gracefully bound with ribands, but the rest of their habit

the Huns.

appeared to imitate the fashion of they were admitted to the

When

The

Forty-second Chapter

audience of Justinian, Candish, the first of the ambassadors, addressed the Roman emperor in these terms:

“You

see before you,

O

mighty

prince, the representatives of the strongest

most populous of nations, the irresistible

Avars.

and

invincible, the

We are willing to devote our-

your service: we are able to vanquish and destroy all the enemies who now disturb your repose. But we expect, as the price of our alliance, as the reward of our valour, precious gifts, annual subsidies, and fruitful possessions.” At the time of this embassy Justinian had reigned above tfiirty, he had lived above seventy-five years: his mind, as well as his body, was feeble and languid; and the conqueror of Africa and Italy, careless of the permanent interest of his people, aspired only to end his days in the bosom even of inglorious peace. In a studied oration, he imparted to the senate his resolution to dissemble the insult and to purchase the friendship of the Avars; and the whole senate, like the mandarins of China, applauded the incomselves to

parable wisdom and foresight of their sovereign, instruments of luxury were immediately prepared to captiv.4i«^ the barbarians; silken garments, soft and splendid beds, and chains and collars incrusted with gold. The ambassadors, content with such liberal reception, dcpar ted from Constantinople, and Valentin, one of the emperor’s guards, was sent with a similar character to their camp at the foot of Mount Caucasus. As their destruction or their success must be alike advantageous to the empire, he persuaded them to invade the enemies of Rome; andlhey were easily tempted, by gifts and prom-

The

iscs,

to gratify their ruling inclinations. I'hcse

fugitives,

who

fled

before the Turkish arms,

passed the Tanais and Bory-sthcncs, and i)oldly advanced into the heart of Poland and Germany, violating the law of nations and abusing the rights of victory. Before ten years had elapsed their camps w^ere seated on the Danube and the Elbe, many Bulgarian and Sclavonian names were obliterated from the earth, and the remainder of their tribes are found, as tributaries and vassals, under the standard of the Avars. The chagan, the peculiar title of their king, still affected to cultivate the friendship of the emperor; and Justinian entertained some thoughts of fixing them in Pannonia, to balance the prevailing power of the Lombards. But the virtue or treachery of an Avar betrayed the sccr^'t enmity and ambitious designs of their countrymen; and they loudly complained of the timid, though jealous policy, of detaining their ambassadors and denying the arms which they

37

had been allowed

to purchase in the capital of

the empire.^^

Perhaps the apparent change in the disposimay be ascribed to the embassy which was received from the conquertions of the emperors

ors of the Avars.

The immense distance which

eluded their arms could not extinguish their resentment; the Turkish ambassadors pursued the footsteps of the vanquished to the Jaik, the Volga, Mount Caucasus, the Euxinc, and Constantinople, and at length appeared before the successor of Constantine, to request that he would not espouse the cause of rebels and fugitives, Even commerce had some share in this remarkable negotiation: and the Sogdoites, who were now the tributaries of the Turks, embraced the fair occasion of opening, by the north of the Caspian, a new road for the importation of Chinese silk into the Roman empire. The Persian, who preferred the navigation of Ceylon, had stopped the caravans of Bochara and Samarcand: their silk was contemptuously burnt: some Turkish ambassadors died in Persia, with

a suspicion of poison; and the great khan permitted his faithful vassal Maniach, the prince of the Sogdoites, to propose, at the Byzantine court, a treaty of alliance against their

common

enemies. Their splendid apparel and rich presents, the fruit of Oriental luxur>', distinguished

Maniach and his colleagues from the rude savages of the North: their letters, in the Scythian character and language, announced a people who had attained the rudiments of science:®* they enumerated the conquests, they oflered the friendship and military aid, of the Turks; and their sincerity

was

attested

by

direful impreca-

they were guilty of falsehood) against their own head and the head of Disabui their master. The Greek prince entertained with hospitable regard the ambassadors of a remote and powerful monarch: the sight of silkworms and

tions

(if

looms disappointed the hopes of the Sogdoites; the emperor renounced, or seemed to renounce, the fugitive Avars, but he accepted the alliance of the Turks: and the ratification of the treaty was carried by a Roman minister to the foot of

Mount

Altai.

Under the

successors of Justinian

the friendship of the two nations was cultivated by frequent and cordial intercourse; the most

favoured vassals were permitted to imitate the example of the great khan; and one hundred and six Turks, who on various occasions had visited Constantinople, departed at the same time for their native country. The duration and length of the journey from the Byzantine court to Mount Altai are not specified: it might have

Decline and Fall of the

38

mark a road through the namethe mountains, rivers, and morasses of Tartary