LIII. His fanciful magnificence employed the fkill and CHAP. 35 In aureo triclinio quæ præftantior eft pars potentiffimus (the ufurper Romanus ) degens cæteras partes (filiis ) distribuerat (Liutprand. Hift. 1. v. c. 9. p. 469.). For this lax fignification of Triclinium (ædificium tria vel plura xλ scilicet 5ɛɛ complectens), fee Ducange (Gloff. Græc. et Obfervations fur Joinville, p. 240.) and Reiske (ad Conftantinum de Ceremoniis, p. 7.). 36 In equis vecti (says Benjamin of Tudela) regum filiis videntur perfimiles. I prefer the Latin verfion of Conftantine l'Empereur p. 46.), to the French of Baratier (tom. i. p. 49.). 37 See the account of her journey, munificence, and testament, in the Life of Bafil, by his grandson Constantine (c, 74, 75, 76. P. 195-197.). and at LIII. CHAP. Patras to Conftantinople, her age or indolence declined the fatigue of an horfe or carriage: the foft litter or bed of Danielis was tranfported on the fhoulders of ten robuft flaves; and as they were relieved at eafy distances, a band of three hundred was felected for the performance of this fervice. She was entertained in the Byzantine palace with filial reverence, and the honours of a queen; and whatever might be the origin of her wealth, her gifts were not unworthy of the regal dignity. I have already defcribed the fine and curious manufactures of Peloponefus, of linen, filk, and woollen; but the moft acceptable of her prefents confifted in three hundred beautiful youths, of whom one hundred were eunuchs 3; for fhe was not ignorant," fays the hiftorian, "that the air of the palace is more congenial to fuch infects, than a fhepherd's dairy to the flies "of the fummer." During her lifetime, fhe beftowed the greater part of her eftates in Peloponefus, and her teftament instituted Leo the fon of Bafil her univerfal heir. After the payment of the legacies, fourfcore villas or farms were added to the imperial domain; and three thousand flaves of Danielis were enfranchifed by their new lord, and tranfplanted as a colony to the Italian coaft. From this example of a private matron, we may estimate the wealth and magnificence of 38 Carfamatium (naggiuades, Ducange, Gloff.) Græci vocant, amputatis virilibus et virgâ, puerum eunuchum quos Verdunenfes mercatores ob immenfum lucrum facere folent et in Hifpaniam ducere (Liutprand, 1. vi. c. 3. p. 470.)-The last abomination of the abominable slave-trade! Yet I am surprised to find in the xth century, fuch active fpeculations of commerce in Lorraine, the LIII. the emperors. Yet our enjoyments are confined CHAP. by a narrow circle; and, whatsoever may be its value, the luxury of life is poffeffed with more innocence and safety by the mafter of his own, than by the steward of the public, fortune. In an abfolute government, which levels the diftinctions of noble and plebeian birth, the fo vereign is the fole fountain of honour; and the rank, both in the palace and the empire, depends on the titles and offices which are bestowed and refumed by his arbitrary will. Above a thousand years, from Vefpafian to Alexius Comnenus 39 the Cæfar was the second perfon, or at least the fecond degree, after the fupreme title of Auguftus was more freely communicated to the fons and brothers of the reigning monarch. To elude without violating his promise to a powerful affociate, the husband of his sister; and, without giving himself an equal, to reward the piety of his brother Ifaac, the crafty Alexius interpofed a new and fupereminent dignity. The happy flexibility of the Greek tongue allowed him to compound the names of Auguftus and emperor (Sebaftos and Autocrator), and the union produced the fonorous title of Sebaftocrator. He was exalted above the Cæfar on the firft ftep of the throne: the public acclamations repeated his name; and he was only distinguished from the fovereign by fome peculiar 39 See the Alexiad (1. iii. p. 78, 79.) of Anna Comnena, who, except in filial piety, may be compared to Mademoiselle de Montpenfier. In her awful reverence for titles and forms, she styles her father Eminovagns, the inventor of this royal art, the rex τεχνών, and επισημη επίσημων. Honours and titles of the Imperial fa mily. LIII. 40 CHA P. ornaments of the head and feet. The emperor alone could affume the purple or red bufkins, and the close diadem or tiara, which imitated the fashion of the Perfian kings 4°. It was an high pyramidal cap of cloth or filk, almoft concealed by a profufion of pearls and jewels: the crown was formed by an horizontal circle and two arches of gold: at the fummit, the point of their interfection, was placed a globe or cross, and two ftrings or lappets of pearl depended on either cheek. Instead of red, the bufkins of the Sebaftocrator and Cæfar were green; and on their open coronets or crowns, the precious gems were more fparingly distributed. Befide and below the Cæfar, the fancy of Alexius created the Panhyperfebaftos and the Protofebaftos, whofe found and fignification will fatisfy a Grecian ear. They imply a fuperiority and a priority above the fimple name of Auguftus; and this facred and primitive title of the Roman prince was degraded to the kinfmen and fervants of the Byzantine court. The daughter of Alexius applauds, with fond complacency, this artful gradation of hopes and honours; but the science of words is acceffible to the meanest capacity; and this vain dictionary was eafily enriched by the pride of his fucceffors. To their favourite fons or brothers, they imparted the more lofty appellation of Lord or Defpot, 4* Zraμμa, 58$avo;, diada; fee Reifke, ad Ceremoniale, p. 14, 15. Ducange has given a learned differtation on the crowns of Conftantinople, Rome, France, &c. (fur Joinville, xxv. p. 289303.): but of his thirty-four models, none exactly tally with Anne's defcription, LIII. which was illuftrated with new ornaments and CHAP. prerogatives, and placed immediately after the person of the emperor himself. The five titles of, 1. Defpot; 2. Sebaftocrator; 3. Cæfar; 4. Panhyperfebaftor; and, 5. Protofebaftos; were usually confined to the princes of his blood: they were the emanations of his majefty; but as they exercifed no regular functions, their existence was useless, and their authority precarious. But in every monarchy the fubftantial powers of government must be divided and exercifed by the ministers of the palace and treafury, the fleet and army. The titles alone can differ; and in the revolution of ages, the counts and præfects, the prætor and quæftor, infenfibly defcended, while their fervants rofe above their heads to the first honours of the ftate. 1. In a monarchy, which refers every object to the person of the prince, the care and ceremonies of the palace form the most refpectable department. The Curopalata, fo illuftrious in the age of Juftinian, was fupplanted by the Protovestiare, whofe primitive functions were limited to the cuftody of the wardrobe. From thence his jurifdiction was extended over the numerous menials of pomp and luxury; and he prefided with his filver wand at 41 Par exftans curis, folo diademate dispar Ordine pro rerum vocitatus Cura-Palati; * fays the African Corippus (de Laudibus Juftini, l. i 136.); and in the fame century (the vith), Caffiodorius reprefs him, who, virgâ aureâ decoratus, inter numerofa obfequia primus ante pedes regis incederet (Variar. vii, 5.). But this great officer, aven¡yvwsos, exercifing no function, vv de adqua, was caft down by the modern Greeks to the xyth rank (Codin. c. 5. p. 65.). the Offices of the lace, the ftate, and the army. |