XI. object of the utmost importance to both armies. c H A P. The Rhætian usurper, after receiving a total defeat, and a dangerous wound, retired into Milan. The siege of that great city was immediately formed; the walls were battered with every engine in use among the ancients; and Aureolus, doubtful of his internal strength, and hopeless of foreign succours, already anticipated the fatal consequences of unsuccessful rebellion. His last resource was an attempt to seduce the loyalty of the besiegers. He scattered libels through their camp, inviting the troops to desert an unworthy master, who sacrificed the public happiness to his luxury, and the lives of his most valuable subjects to the slightest suspicions. The arts of Aureolus diffused fears and discontent among the principal officers of his rival. A conspiracy was formed by Heraclianus, the Prætorian præfect, by Marcian, a general of rank and reputation, and by Cecrops, who commanded a numerous body of Dalmatian guards. The death of Gallienus was resolved; and, notwithstanding their desire of first terminating the siege of Milan, the extreme danger which accompanied every moment's delay, obliged them to hasten the execution of their daring purpose. At a late hour of the night, but while the emperor still protracted the pleasures of the table, an alarm was suddenly given, that Aureolus, at the head of all his forces, had made a desperate sally from the town; Gallienus, who was never deficient in personal bravery, started from his silken couch, and, without -allowing B 2 XI. Death of CHA P. allowing himself time either to put on his armour or to assemble his guards, he mounted on horseback, and rode full speed toward the supposed place of the attack. Encompassed by his declared or concealed enemies, he soon, amidst the nocturnal tumult, received a mortal dart from an uncertain hand. Before he expired, a patriotic March 20. sentiment, rising in the mind of Gallienus, inGallienus. duced him to name a deserving successor; and it was his last request, that the Imperial ornaments should be delivered to Claudius, who then commanded a detached army in the neighbourhood of Pavia. The report at least was diligently propagated, and the order cheerfully obeyed by the conspirators, who had already agreed to place Claudius on the throne. On the first news of the emperor's death, the troops expressed some suspicion and resentment, till the one was removed, and the other assuaged, by a donative of twenty pieces of gold to each soldier. They then ratified the election, and acknowledged the merit of their new sovereign *. Character and eleva The obscurity which covered the origin of tion of the Claudius, though it was afterwards embellished emperor by some flattering fictions †, sufficiently betrays Claudius. the *On the death of Gallienus, see Trebellius Pollio, in Hist. August. p. 181. Zosimus, 1. i. p. 37. Zonaras, 1. xii. p. 634. Eutrop. ix. 11. Aurelius Victor in Epitom. Victor in Cæsar. I have compared and blended them all, but have chiefly followed Aurelius Victor, who seems to have had the best memoirs. Some supposed him, oddly enough, to be a bastard of the younger Gordian. Others took advantage of the province of Dardania, to deduce his origin from Dardanus, and the ancient kings of Troy. XI. the meanness of his birth. We can only discover c H a p. that he was a native of one of the provinces bordering on the Danube; that his youth was spent in arms; and that his modest valour attracted the favour and confidence of Decius. The senate and people already considered him as an excellent officer, equal to the most important trusts; and censured the inattention of Valerian, who suffered him to remain in the subordinate station of a tribune. But it was not long before that emperor distinguished the merit of Claudius, by declaring him general and chief of the Illyrian frontier, with the command of all the troops in Thrace, Mæsia, Dacia, Pannonia, and Dalmatia, the appointments of the præfect of Egypt, the establishment of the pro-consul of Africa, and the sure prospect of the consulship. By his victories over the Goths, he deserved from the senate the honour of a statue, and excited the jealous apprehensions of Gallienus. It was impossible that a soldier could esteem so dissolute a sovereign, nor is it easy to conceal a just contempt. Some unguarded expressions which dropped from Claudius were officially transmitted to the royal ear. The emperor's answer to an officer of confidence, describes, in very lively colours, his own character, and that of the times. "There is not any thing capable of giving me more serious concern, "than the intelligence contained in your last dispatch*: That some malicious suggestions have 66 66 *Notoria, a periodical and official dispatch which the emperors received from the frumentarii, or agents dispersed through the provinces. Of these we may speak hereafter. CHAP. XI. 66 66 66 66 indisposed towards us the mind of our friend " and parent Claudius. As you regard your allegiance, use every means to appease his re"sentment, but conduct your negociation with secrecy; let it not reach the knowledge of the "Dacian troops; they are already provoked, "and it might inflame their fury. I myself have "sent him some presents; be it your care that he accept them with pleasure. Above all, let him not suspect that I am made acquainted "with his imprudence. The fear of my anger might urge him to desperate counsels *." The presents which accompanied this humble epistle, in which the monarch solicited a reconciliation with his discontented subject, consisted of a considerable sum of money, a splendid wardrobe, and a valuable service of silver and gold plate. By such arts, Gallienus softened the indignation, and dispelled the fears, of his Illyrian general; and, during the remainder of that reign, the formidable sword of Claudius was always drawn in the cause of a master whom he despised. At last, indeed, he received from the conspirators the bloody purple of Gallienus; but he had been absent from their camp and counsels; and however he might applaud the deed, we may candidly presume, that he was innocent of the knowledge of it. When Claudius ascended the throne, he was about fifty-four years of age. The *Hist. August. p. 208. Gallienus describes the plate, vestments, &c. like a man who loved and understood those splendid trifles. Julian (Orat. i. p. 6.) affirms, that Claudius acquired the empire in a just, and even holy manner. But we may distrust the partiality of a kinsman. The siege of Milan was still continued, and CHA P. Aureolus soon discovered, that the success of his XI. artifices had only raised up a more determined Death of adversary. He attempted to negociate with Clau- Aureolus. dius a treaty of alliance and partition. "Tell 66 66 him," replied the intrepid emperor, "that "such proposals should have been made to Gallienus; be, perhaps, might have listened to "them with patience, and accepted a colleague "as despicable as himself *." This stern refusal, and a last unsuccessful effort, obliged Aureolus to yield the city and himself to the discretion of the conqueror. The judgment of the army pronounced him worthy of death, and Claudius, after a feeble resistance, consented to the execution of the sentence. Nor was the zeal of the senate less ardent in the cause of their new sovereign. They ratified, perhaps with sincere transport of zeal, the election of Claudius; and as his predecessor had shewn himself the personal enemy of their order, they exercised under the name of justice a severe revenge against his friends and family. The senate was permitted to discharge the ungrateful office of punishment, and the emperor reserved for himself the pleasure and merit of obtaining by his intercession a general act of indemnity †. *Hist. August. p. 203. There are some trifling differences concerning the circumstances of the last defeat and death of Aureolus. † Aureolus Victor in Gallien. The people loudly prayed for the damnation of Gallienus. The senate decreed that his relations and servants should be thrown down headlong from the Gemonian stairs. An obnoxious officer of the revenue had his eyes torn out whilst under examination. Zech. r. ayt Auchty. |