XIV. besides their pay, they received a liberal CHAP. sufficient to maintain one hundred and ants, and one hundred and fifty-eight ey were strictly prohibited from intery matter which related to the administice or the revenue; but the command exercised over the troops of their des independent of the authority of the About the same time that Constantine sanction to the ecclesiastical order, he the Roman empire the nice balance of the military powers. The emulation, es the discord, which reigned between s of opposite interests and incompativas productive of beneficial and of per uences. It was seldom to be expected al and the civil governor of a province conspire for the disturbance, or should service of their country. While the o offer the assistance which the other olicit, the troops very frequently reat orders or without supplies; the as betrayed, and the defenceless subxposed to the fury of the Barbarians. ministration, which had been formed relaxed the vigour of the state, the tranquillity of the monarch. of Constantine has been deservedly Distinction nother innovation which corrupted troops. ne, and prepared the ruin of the emteen years which preceded his final inius had been a period of licence r. The rivals who contended for the Roman world, had withdrawn of their forces from the guard of ier; and the principal cities which dary of their respective dominions of the XIV. CHAP. were filled with soldiers, who considered their coun trymen as their most implacable enemies. After the use of these internal garrisons had ceased with the civil war, the conqueror wanted either wisdom or firmness to revive the severe discipline of Diocletian, and to suppress a fatal indulgence, which habit had endeared and almost confirmed to the military order. From the reign of Constantine a popular and even legal distinction was admitted between the Palatines and the Borderers; the troops of the court, as they were improperly styled, and the troops of the frontier. The former, elevated by the superiority of their pay and privileges, were permitted, except in the extraordinary emergencies of war, to occupy their tranquil stations in the heart of the provinces. The most flourishing cities were oppressed by the intolerable weight of quarters. The soldiers insensibly forgot the virtues of their profession, and contracted only the vices of civil life. They were either degraded by the industry of mechanic trades, or enervated by the luxury of baths and theatres. They soon became careless of their martial exercises, curious in their diet and apparel; and while they inspired terror to the subjects of the empire, they trembled at the hostile approach of the Barbarians. The chain of fortifications which Diocletian and his colleagues had extended along the banks of the great rivers was no longer maintained with the same care, or defended with the same vigilance. The numbers which still remained under the name of the troops of the frontier, might be sufficient for the ordinary defence. But their spirit was degraded by the humiliating reflection, that they who were exposed to the hardships and dangers of a perpetual warfare, were rewarded only with about two-thirds of the pay and emoluments which were lavished on the troops of the court. Even the bands or legions --- CHAP. XIV. ised the nearest to the level of those un- and when seven legions, with some nded the city of Amida against the tal garrison, with the inhabitants of he peasants of the deserted country, t. i. leg. 1. tit. xii. leg. 1. See Howell's Hist. of the hat learned historian, who is not sufficiently known, acter and policy of Constantine. of the XIV. CHAP. were filled with soldiers, who considered their coun trymen as their most implacable enemies. After the use of these internal garrisons had ceased with the civil war, the conqueror wanted either wisdom or firmness to revive the severe discipline of Diocletian, and to suppress a fatal indulgence, which habit had endeared and almost confirmed to the military order. From the reign of Constantine a popular and even legal distinction was admitted between the Palatines and the Borderers; the troops of the court, as they were improperly styled, and the troops of the frontier. The former, elevated by the superiority of their pay and privileges, were permitted, except in the extraordinary emergencies of war, to occupy their tranquil stations in the heart of the provinces. The most flourishing cities were oppressed by the intolerable weight of quarters. The soldiers insensibly forgot the virtues of their profession, and contracted only the vices of civil life. They were either degraded by the industry of mechanic trades, or enervated by the luxury of baths and theatres. They soon became careless of their martial exercises, curious in their diet and apparel; and while they inspired terror to the subjects of the empire, they trembled at the hostile approach of the Barbarians. The chain of fortifications which Diocletian and his colleagues had extended along the banks of the great rivers was no longer maintained with the same care, or defended with the same vigilance. The numbers which still remained under the name of the troops of the frontier, might be sufficient for the ordinary defence. But their spirit was degraded by the humiliating reflection, that they who were exposed to the hardships and dangers of a perpetual warfare, were rewarded only with about two-thirds of the pay and emoluments which were lavished on the troops of the court. Even the bands or legions ! of the legions. CHAP. XIV. ised the nearest to the level of those unurites, were in some measure disgraced of honour which they were allowed to was in vain that. Constantine repeated adful menaces of fire and sword against s who should dare to desert their colours, t the inroads of the Barbarians, or to the spoil*. The mischiefs which flow ›us counsels are seldom removed by the partial severities: and though succeedaboured to restore the strength and e frontier garrisons, the empire, till the f its dissolution, continued to languish tal wound which had been so rashly or cted by the hand of Constantine. imid policy, of dividing whatever is Reduction cing whatever is eminent, of dreading ower, and of expecting that the most e the most obedient, seems to pervade s of several princes, and particularly tantine. The martial pride of the victorious camps had so often been the ion, was nourished by the memory of bits, and the consciousness of their As long as they maintained their ment of six thousand men, they sube reign of Diocletian, each of them and important object in the military oman empire. A few years aftergantic bodies were shrunk to a very and when seven legions, with some aded the city of Amida against the al garrison, with the inhabitants of he peasants of the deserted country, E. i. leg. 1. tit. xii. leg. 1. See Howell's Hist. of the at learned historian, who is not sufficiently known, cter and policy of Constantine. |