tium, death of Niger and Albinus, 102, 103; cruel consequences
of the civil wars, 103; animosity of Severus against the senate,
103. The wisdom and justice of his government, 104. Relaxation
of military discipline, 104, 105; the office of Prætorian præfect,
105; the senate oppressed by military despotism, 106; the impe-
rial prerogative, 106.
CHAP. VI.-The Death of Severus.-Tyranny of Caracalla.-
Usurpation of Macrinus.-Follies of Elagabalus.-Virtues of Alex-
ander Severus.-Licentiousness of the Army.-General State of the
Roman Finances.
Greatness and discontent of Severus; the empress Julia; their
208 sons, Caracalla and Geta, 107, 108. A. D. 208, the Caledonian
war; Fingal and his heroes; contrast of the Caledonians and the
211 Romans, 108, 109. Ambition of Caracalla, 110. A. D. 211, death
of Severus; accession of his sons; their jealousy and hatred, 110,
212 III. A. D. 212, murder of Geta; remorse and cruelty of Caracalla,
213 111, 112; death of Papinian, 113. A. D. 213, tyranny extended
217 over the empire, 113; relaxation of discipline, 114. A. D. 217, mur-
der of Caracalla, 114. Election of Macrinus; discontent of the
senate and army, 116, 117. Macrinus attempts a reformation of
the army, 117; death of the empress Julia, 118; pretensions of
218 Elagabalus, 118. A. D. 218, defeat and death of Macrinus, 118, 119.
219 Picture of Elagabalus; his superstition; his profligate and effemin-
221 ate luxury; discontents of the army, 120-122. A. D. 221,
222 Alexander Severus declared Cæsar, 122; sedition of the guards
and murder of Elagabalus, 123. Accession of Alexander
Severus; power of his mother Mamæa, 123. His wise adminis-
tration; virtuous temper; journal of his ordinary life, 124, 125.
222-235 Happiness of the Roman world, 125; Alexander attempts to
reform the army, 126. Seditions; murder of Ulpian; danger of
Dion Cassius, 127. Tumults of the legions; firmness of the em-
peror; defects of his reign, 128, 129. Digression on the finances
of the empire; the tribute on Roman citizens; abolition of the
tribute, 129, 130. Tributes of the provinces of Asia, Egypt, Gaul,
Africa, Spain, and the Isle of Gyarus, 130, 131. Amount of the
revenue, 131. Taxes on Roman citizens instituted by Augustus:
I. The customs; II. The excise; III. Tax on legacies and in-
heritances, 132, 133. Regulations of the emperors; edict of Cara-
calla, 133, 134. The freedom of the city given to all the pro-
vincials, for the purpose of taxation, 135.
CHAP. VII.-The Elevation and Tyranny of Maximin.-Rebellion in Africa and Italy, under the Authority of the Senate.-Deaths of Maximin and his Son, of Maximus and Balbinus, and of the three Gordians.-Usurpation and secular Games of Philip.
A.D. two Gordians, 144. Election of Maximus and Balbinus by the
238 senate, 145. Tumult at Rome; the younger Gordian is declared
Cæsar, 146; A. D. 238, Maximin marches into Italy; siege of
Aquileia, 147, 148. Conduct of Maximus; murder of Maximin and
his son; his portrait, 148, 149; sedition at Rome; discontent of the
Prætorian guards; massacre of Maximus and Balbinus, 150, 151.
The third Gordian remains sole emperor; innocence and virtues of
240 Gordian, 152. A. D. 240, administration of Misitheus; A. D. 242,
243 the Persian war, 152. The arts of Philip; A. D. 243, the murder of
Gordian; form of a military republic; reign of Philip, 153, 154.
248 Secular games; decline of the Roman empire, 155.
CHAP. VIII.—Of the State of Persia after the Restoration of the
Monarchy by Artaxerxes.
The barbarians of the east and of the north; revolutions of
Asia; the Persian monarchy restored by Artaxerxes, 156, 157.
Reformation of the Magian religion; Persian theology, two prin-
ciples, 158, 159. Ceremonies and moral precepts; encouragement
of agriculture; power of the Magi; spirit of persecution, 159–
161. Establishment of the royal authority in the provinces; ex-
tent and population of Persia, 162. Wars between the Parthian
165 and Roman empires, 163; cities of Seleucia and Ctesiphon, 163;
216 conquest of Osrhoene by the Romans, 164; A. D. 230, Artaxerxes
claims the provinces of Asia, and declares war against the Romans,
240 165; A. D. 240, Artaxerxes; power of the Persians, 167, 168.
CHAP. IX.-The State of Germany till the Invasion of the Barba-
rians, in the Time of the Emperor Decius.
Extent of Germany; climate; origin of the Germans, 169–171.
The Germans ignorant of letters; of arts and agriculture; of the
use of metals, 172, 173. Their indolence; their taste for strong
liquors, 174, 175. Population; freedom; assemblies of the people;
authority of the princes and magistrates, 175-177; voluntary
engagements, 177. Religion; its effects in peace; in war, 180, 181.
The Bards, 181. Causes which checked the progress of the Ger-
mans, 182. Dissensions, 183; fomented by Rome, 184; union against
Marcus Antoninus; the German tribes; numbers, 184, 185.
CHAP. X.-The Emperors Decius, Gallus, Æmilianus, Valerian, and
Gallienus.—The general Irruption of the Barbarians.
A.D. 248-268 The emperor Philip, 186. A. D. 249, services, revolt, victory, and reign of the emperor Decius, 186. The Goths from Scandinavia; their religion, 187, 188. Institutions and death of Odin, 189; emigration from Scandinavia into Prussia, and the Ukraine, 189. The nation increases in its march; description of the Ukraine; the Goths invade the Roman provinces; various events of the Gothic war, 190-192. Decius revives the office
252 of censor; defeat and death of Decius and his son, 193, 194;
253 election of Gallus, 195; retreat of the Goths on payment of an
annual tribute, 195; A. D. 253, popular discontent, 196. Victory
and revolt of Æmilianus; Gallus abandoned and slain, 196, 197.
Valerian is acknowledged emperor; character of Valerian, 197.
A.D. 253–268 Misfortunes of the reigns of Valerian and Gallienus;
inroads of the Barbarians; confederacy of the Franks, who
invade Gaul, ravage Spain, and pass over into Africa, 198—200.
Origin of the Suevi; the Alemanni; invade Gaul and Italy, 200,
201. Are repulsed from Rome by the senate and people; Galli-
enus contracts an alliance with the Alemanni, 201. Inroads of
the Goths; conquest of the Bosphorus by the Goths; first naval
expedition of the Goths; they besiege and take Trebizond; their
second expedition; plunder the cities of Bithynia; retreat of the
Goths, 202-205. Third expedition of the Goths, who pass the
Bosphorus and the Hellespont; ravage Greece, and threaten
Italy; ruin of the temple of Ephesus; conduct of Goths at Athens,
205-208. Conquest of Armenia by the Persians; Valerian
260 marches into the East, 208; is taken prisoner by Sapor, king of
Persia, who overruns Syria, Cilicia, and Cappadocia, 208, 209.
Boldness and success of Odenathus against Sapor, 210. Treat-
ment of Valerian; administration of Gallienus, 211. The thirty
tyrants; their birth; the rebellion; their deaths, 212-214. Fatal
consequences of these usurpations, 214. Disorders of Sicily;
tumults of Alexandria; rebellion of the Isaurians, 215, 216. Fa-
mine and pestilence; diminution of the human species, 217.
CHAP. XI.-Reign of Claudius.-Defeat of the Goths.-Victories,
Triumph, and Death of Aurelian.
Aureolus invades Italy, is defeated and besieged at Milan,
218. Death of Gallienus, 219; of Aureolus, 220. Character of
the emperor Claudius; he undertakes the reformation of the army,
269 220, 221. The Goths invade the empire; distress and firmness of
270 Claudius; his victory over the Goths, 221, 222; death of Claudius,
who recommends Aurelian for his successor; origin and services
of Aurelian; his successful reign; severe discipline, 223-225.
He concludes a treaty with the Goths; he resigns to them the
province of Dacia, 225, 226. War with the Alemanni, who in-
vade Italy, and are vanquished by Aurelian, 227, 228. A. D. 271,
271 Superstitious ceremonies; fortifications of Rome; Aurelian sup-
presses the two usurpers, 229, 230. Succession of usurpers
272 in Gaul; the reign and defeat of Tetricus, 230, 231; character of
Zenobia; her beauty, learning, and valour; revenges her hus-
band's death, and reigns over the East and Egypt, 231-233.
Expedition of Aurelian, who defeats the Palmyrenians in the
273 battles of Antioch and Emesa, 233, 234. Palmyra is besieged by
Aurelian; Aurelian becomes master of Zenobia, and of the city;
behaviour of Zenobia; rebellion and ruin of Palmyra, 235, 236.
Aurelian suppresses the rebellion of Firmus in Egypt, 237.
274 Triumph of Aurelian; his treatment of Tetricus and Zenobia; his
magnificence and devotion; he suppresses a sedition at Rome;
275 observations upon it; cruelty of Aurelian; A. D. 275, he marches
into the East, and is assassinated, 237-241.
CHAP. XII.-Conduct of the Army and Senate after the Death of Aurelian.-Reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Carus, and his Sons.
Contest between the army and the senate for the choice of an
A.D. emperor, 242. An interregnum of eight months, 243. Tacitus is 275 elected emperor; authority of the senate; their joy and confidence, 276 243–246. ̄ A. D. 276, the Alani invade Asia, and are repulsed by
Tacitus, 247. Death of the emperor Tacitus, 247, 248. Character and elevation of the emperor Probus, 248, 249. Victories of 277 Probus over the Barbarians, 250, 251; builds a wall from the Rhine to the Danube, 252. Introduction and settlement of the Bar279 barians, 253. Daring enterprise of the Franks, 254. A. D. 279, re280 volt of Saturninus in the East; A. D. 280, of Bonosus and Proculus 281 in Gaul, 254, 255. A. D. 281, triumph of the emperor Probus; 282 his discipline; A. D. 282, his death, 255, 256. Election of Carus; 283 defeats the Sarmatians, and marches into the East; A. D. 283, victories and extraordinary death, 257—259; his sons, Carinus and 284 Numerian, 259. A. D. 284, vices of Carinus; he celebrates the Roman games; the amphitheatre, 260-262. Death of Nume285 rian, 263, 264. Election of Diocletian; death of Carinus, 265.
CHAP. XIII.—The_Reign_of Diocletian and his three Associates, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius.-General_Re-establishment of Order and Tranquillity.—The Persian War, Victory and Triumph. The new form of Administration.-Abdication and Retirement of Diocletian and Maximian.
A.D. 285 Character of Diocletian, 266, 267. A. D. 286, of Max292 imian, 267. A. D. 292, of the two Cæsars, Galerius and Con
stantius; harmony of the four princes, 268, 269. Series of events; 287 state of the peasants of Gaul; their rebellion and chastisement,
270. Revolt of Carausius in Britain; importance of Britain; 289 power of Carausius; A. D. 289, acknowledged by the other em294 perors; A. D. 294, his death, 271, 272. A. D. 296, recovery
of Britain by Constantius, 273. Defence of the frontiers; fortifications; dissensions of the barbarians, 273, 274. Conduct of the emperors; valour of the Cæsars, 275. Wars of Africa and 296 Egypt; A. D. 296, conduct of Diocletian in Egypt, 276; he suppresses books of alchemy; progress of that art, 277. The Persian 282 war, 277. A. D. 282, Tiridates the Armenian; A. D. 286, state
of the country; story of Mamgo, 278, 279. The Persians recover 296 Armenia; war between the Persians and the Romans, 280. 297 Defeat of Galerius; A. D. 297, second campaign of Galerius,
281. His victory, 282. Negociation for peace; moderation of Diocletian, 282, 283. Articles of the treaty; the Aboras fixed as 303 the limits between the empires, 284, 285; triumph of Diocletian and Maximian; long absence of the emperors from Rome; their residence at Milan; at Nicomedia, 285, 287. Debasement of Rome and of the senate, 287. New bodies of guards, Jovians and Herculians, 287. Civil magistrates laid aside; imperial dignity and titles, 288. Diocletian assumes the diadem, and introduces the Persian ceremonial, 289. Two Augusti, and two Cæsars; increase of taxes, 290, 291. Abdication of Diocle304 tian and Maximian, 291, 292; long illness of Diocletian; his
prudence; compliance of Maximian, 292, 293. Retirement of 313 Diocletian at Salona; his philosophy; A. D. 313, his death, 294.
Description of Salona; of Diocletian's palace, 295. Decline of the arts; of letters; the new Platonists, 296, 297.
CHAP. XIV. Troubles after the Abdication of Diocletian.-Death of Constantius. Elevation of Constantine and Maxentius.—Six Emperors at the same Time.-Death of Maximian and Galerius.— Victories of Constantine over Maxentius and Licinius.—Re-union of the Empire under the Authority of Constantine.
A.D. 305-323 Period of civil wars and confusion, 297. Character and situation of Constantius; of Galerius; the two Cæsars, Severus and Maximin, 298, 299. Ambition of Galerius disappointed, 299. 306 Education, and escape of Constantine, 300. A. D. 306, death of Constantius, and elevation of Constantine, 301; the brothers and sisters of Constantine, 302. Discontent of the Romans, 303. Maxentius declared emperor at Rome; Maximian re-assumes the 307 purple; A.D. 307, defeat and death of Severus, 304. Maximian
gives his daughter Fausta to Constantine, 305. Galerius invades Italy; his retreat, 306, 307; elevation of Licinius, 307. Elevation 308 of Maximian; A. D. 308, six Emperors, 308. Misfortunes of Maxim310 ian; his death, 308, 309. A. D. 311, death of Galerius; A. D. 306—
312, administration of Constantine in Gaul; tyranny of Maxentius 312 in Italy and Africa, 311. A. D. 312, civil war between Constantine and Maxentius; battle of Turin; siege and battle of Verona; fears of Maxentius, 312-316; victory of Constantine near Rome; 313 his conduct at Rome, 317-319. A. D. 313, his alliance with Licinius; war between Maximin and Licinius; the defeat of Maximin; his death, 320, 321. Unfortunate fate of the empress Valeria and her mother, 322. First civil war between Constantine and 314 Licinius; A. D. 314, battle of Cibalis; battle of Mardia, 323-325. 315-323 General peace and laws of Constantine, 326. A. D. 322, the 322 Gothic war, 327. A. D. 323, second civil war; battle of Hadrianople; siege of Byzantium, and naval victory of Crispus; battle of Chrysopolis; submission and death of Licinius, 328—331; 324 reunion of the empire, 332.
CHAP. XV.-The Progress of the Christian Religion.-Sentiments, Manners, Numbers, and Conditions of the primitive Christians.
Importance of the inquiry, 332. The growth of Christianity, 333: I. Zeal of the Jews; its gradual increase, 333, 334. Their religion; more liberal zeal of Christianity; obstinacy of the believing Jews, 335, 336. The Nazarene Church of Jerusalem; the Ebionites; the Gnostics; their sects, progress, and influence, 337 -340. Abhorrence of the Christians for idolatry, ceremonies, arts, festivals, 342, 343. Zeal for Christianity, 344. II. The doctrine of the immortality of the soul among the philosophers; the pagans of Greece and Rome, the barbarians and the Jews, the Christians, 345-347. Doctrine of the Millennium, 347. Conflagration of Rome, 348. The pagans often converted by their fears, 349, 350. III. Miraculous powers claimed by the primitive church, 350, 351. Use of the primitive miracles, 352, 353. IV. Virtues of the first Christians; care of their reputation; principles of human nature, 353-355. The primitive Christians condemn pleasure and luxury; their aversion to the business of war and
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