XVI.

but there is one circumftance of a more fingular CHAP. and permanent nature, which ought not entirely to be overlooked. As often as the birth-day of the city returned, the ftatue of Conftantine, framed, by his order, of gilt wood, and bearing in its right-hand a small image of the genius of the place, was erected on a triumphal car. The guards, carrying white tapers, and clothed in their richest apparel, accompanied the folemn proceffion as it moved through the Hippodrome. When it was oppofite to the throne of the reigning emperor, he role from his feat, and with grateful reverence adored the memory of his predeceffor ". At the festival of his dedication, an edict, engraved on a column of marble, bestowed the title of SECOND or NEW ROME on the city of Conftantine". But the name of Conftantinople" has prevailed over that honourable epithet; and, after the revolution of fourteen centuries, ftill perpetuates the fame of its author "°.

ment.

The foundation of a new capital is naturally Form of connected with the establishment of a new form govern. of civil and military adminiftration. The diftinct view of the complicated fyftem of policy, introduced by Diocletian, improved by Conftantine and completed by his immediate fucceffors, may not only amuse the fancy by the fingular picture of a great empire, but will tend to illuftrate the fecret and internal causes of its rapid decay. In the pursuit of any remarkable inftitution, we may be frequently led into the more early or the mote recent times of the Roman hiftory; but the proper

72

CHAP. limits of this enquiry will be included within a XVII. period of about one hundred and thirty years, from the acceffion of Conftantine to the publication of the Theodofian code "; from which, as well as from the Notitia of the eaft and weft we derive the most copious and authentic information of the ftate of the empire. This variety of objects will fufpend, for fome time, the courfe of the narrative; but the interruption will be cenfured only by thofe readers who are infenfible to 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.

Hierarchy

The manly pride of the Romans, content with of the state. fubftantial power, had left to the vanity of the eaft the forms and ceremonies of oftentatious greatnefs". But when they loft even the femblance of thofe virtues which were derived from their ancient freedom, the fimplicity of Roman manners was infenfibly corrupted by the ftately affectation of the courts of Afia. The diftinctions of perfonal merit and influence, fo confpicuous in a republic, fo feeble and obfcure under a monarchy, were abolished by the defpotism of the emperors; who fubftituted in their room a severe subordination of rank and office, from the titled slaves who were feated on the fteps of the throne, to the meaneft inftruments of arbitrary power. This multitude of abject dependents was interested in the fupport of the actual government, from the dread of a revolution, which might at once confound

their hopes, and intercept the reward of their fervices. In this divine hierarchy (for fuch it is frequently styled), every rank was marked with the most scrupulous exactnefs, and its dignity was difplayed in a variety of trifling and folemn ceremonies, which it was a study to learn, and a facrilege to neglect "., The purity of the Latin language was debafed, by adopting, in the intercourfe of pride and flattery, a profufion of epithets, which Tully would fcarcely have understood and which Auguftus would have rejected with indignation. The principal officers of the empire were faluted, even by the fovereign himself, with the deceitful titles of your Sincerity, your Gravity, your Excellency, your Eminence, your fublime and wonderful Magnitude, your illuftrious and magnificent Highness". The codicils or patents of their office were curiously emblazoned with fuch emblems as were beft adapted to explain its nature and high dignity; the image or portrait of the reigning emperors; a 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; or the appellations and standards of the troops whom they commanded. Some of thefe official enfigns were really exhibited in their hall of audience; others preceded their pompous march whenever they appeared in public; and every circumftance of their demeanour, their drefs, their ornaments, and their train, was calculated to inspire a deep reverence for the reprefentatives of fupreme maje

cHAP, XVII.

XVII.

CHAP. fty. By a philofophic obferver, the system of the Roman government might have been mistaken for a fplendid theatre, filled with players of every character and degree, who repeated the language, and imitated the paffions of their original model ".

Three ranks of honour.

All the magiftrates of fufficient importance to find a place in the general ftate of the empire, were accurately divided into three claffes. 1. The Illuftrious. 2. The Spectabiles, or Refpectable: And 3. The Clariffimi; whom we may translate by the word Honourable. In the times of Roman fimplicity, the laft-mentioned epithet was used only as a vague expreffion of deference, till it became at length the peculiar and appropriated title of all who were members of the fenate " and confequently of all who, from that venerable body, were selected to govern the provinces. The vanity of those who, from their rank and office, might claim a fuperior distinction above the rest of the fenatorial order, was long afterwards indulged with the new appellation of Respectable: but the title of Illuftrious was always referved to fome eminent perfonages who were obeyed or reverenced by the two fubordinate claffes. It was communicated only, I. To the confuls and patricians; II. To the prætorian præfects, with the præfects of Rome and Conftantinople; III. To the mafters general of the cavalry and the infantry; and IV. To the seven minifters of the palace, who exercised their facred functions about the perfon of the emperor. Among thofe illuftrious magiftrates

78

who were esteemed co-ordinate with each other, the feniority of appointment gave place to the union of dignities". By the expedient of honorary codicils, the emperors, who were fond of multiplying their favours, might sometimes gratify the vanity, though not the ambition, of impatient courtiers 8°.

80

CHAP.

XVII.

fuls.

I. As long as the Roman confuls were the first The conmagistrates of a free state, they derived their right to power from the choice of the people. As long as the emperors condefcended to difguife the fervitude which they imposed, the confuls were still elected by the real or apparent fuffrage of the fenate. From the reign of Diocletian, even these veftiges of liberty were abolished, and the fuccefsful candidates who were invested with the annual honours of the confulship, affected to deplore the humiliating condition of their predeceffors. The Scipios and Catos had been reduced to folicit the votes of plebeians, to pass through the tedious and expensive forms of a popular election, and to expofe their dignity to the shame of a public refusal; while their own happier fate had reserved them for an age and government in which the rewards of virtue were affigned by the unerring wisdom of a gracious fovereign ". In the epiftles which the emperor addreffed to the two confuls elect, it was declared, that they were created by his fole authority ". Their names and portraits, engraved on gilt tablets of ivory, were dispersed over the empire as prefents to the provinces, the cities, the magiftrates, the fenate, and the peo