XIV.

did not exceed the number of twenty thousand persons. From this fact, and from similar examples, there is reason to believe, that the constitution of the legionary troops, to which they partly owed their valour and discipline, was dissolved by Constantine; and that the bands of Roman infantry, which still assumed the same names and the same honours, consisted only of one thousand or fifteen hundred men. The conspiracy of so many separate detachments, each of which was awed by the sense of its own weakness, could easily be checked; and the successors of Constantine might indulge their love of ostentation, by issuing their orders to one hundred and thirty-two legions, inscribed on the muster-roll of their numerous armies. The remainder of their troops was distributed into several hundred cohorts of infantry, and squadrons of cavalry. Their arms, and titles, and ensigns, were calculated to inspire terror, and to display the variety of nations who marched under the Imperial standard. And not a vestige was left of that severe simplicity, which, in the ages of freedom and victory, had distinguished the line of battle of a Roman army from the confused host of an Asiatic monarch. A more particular enumeration, drawn from the Notitia, might exercise the diligence of an antiquary; but the historian will content himself with observing, that the number of permanent stations or garrisons established on the frontiers of the empire amounted to five hundred and eighty-three; and that, under the successors of Constantine, the complete force of the military establishment was computed at six hundred and forty-five thousand soldiers*. An effort so prodigious surpassed the wants of a more ancient, and the faculties of a later, period.

* Agathias, 1. v. p. 157. edit. Louvre.

XIV.

various states of society, armies are re- СНАР.
m very different motives. Barbarians are
he love of war; the citizens of a free re- Difficulty
be prompted by a principle of duty; the of levies.
at least the nobles of a monarchy, are ani-
sentiment of honour; but the timid and
habitants of a declining empire must be
o the service by the hopes of profit, or
by the dread of punishment. The re-
he Roman treasury were exhausted by the
pay, by the repetition of donatives, and
tion of new emoluments and indulgences,
e opinion of the provincial youth, might
the hardships and dangers of a military
though the stature was lowered, although
ast by a tacit connivance, were indis-
received into the ranks, the insurmount-
y of procuring a regular and adequate
lunteers, obliged the emperors to adopt
al and coercive methods. The lands
the veterans, as the free reward of their
henceforward granted under a condition,
is the first rudiments of the feudal te-
heir sons, who succeeded to the inhe-
d devote themselves to the profession of
as they attained the age of manhood;
wardly refusal was punished by the loss
fortune, or even of life. But as the
1 of the sons of the veterans bore a very
on to the demands of the service, levies
requently required from the provinces,
prietor was obliged either to take up
ocure a substitute, or to purchase his
he payment of a heavy fine. The sum
eces of gold, to which it was reduced,
exorbitant price of volunteers, and the
h which the government admitted of

XIV.

CHAP. this alternative. Such was the horror for the profession of a soldier, which had affected the minds of the degenerate Romans, that many of the youth of Italy, and the provinces, chose to cut off the fingers of their right hand to escape from being pressed into the service; and this strange expedient was so commonly practised, as to deserve the severe animadversion of the laws, and a peculiar name in the Latin language.

Increase of Barbarian auxiliaries.

The introduction of Barbarians into the Roman armies became every day more universal, more necessary, and more fatal. The most daring of the Scythians, of the Goths, and of the Germans, who delighted in war, and who found it more profitable to defend than to ravage the provinces, were enrolled, not only in the auxiliaries of their respective nations, but in the legions themselves, and among the most distinguished of the Palatine troops. As they freely mingled with the subjects of the empire, they gradually learned to despise their manners, and to imitate their arts. They abjured the implicit reverence, which the pride of Rome had exacted from their ignorance, while they acquired the knowledge and possession of those advantages by which alone she supported her declining greatness. The Barbarian soldiers, who displayed any military talents, were advanced, without exception, to the most important commands; and the names of the tribunes, of the counts and dukes, and of the generals themselves, betray a foreign origin, which they no longer condescended to disguise. They were often intrusted with the conduct of a war against their countrymen ; and though most of them preferred the ties of allegiance to those of blood, they did not always avoid the guilt, or at least the suspicion, of holding a treasonable correspondence with the enemy, of inviting his invasion, or of sparing his retreat. The camps,

XIV.

ace of the son of Constantine, were go- CHAP.
the powerful faction of the Franks, who
the strictest connexion with each other,
eir country, and who resented every per-
nt as a national indignity. When the
gula was suspected of an intention to
y extraordinary candidate with the con-
the sacrilegious profanation would have
ited less astonishment, if, instead of a
noblest chieftain of Germany or Britain
e object of his choice. The revolution
nturies had produced so remarkable a
e prejudices of the people, that, with the
bation, Constantine showed his successors
of bestowing the honours of the consul-
Barbarians, who, by their merit and ser-
eserved to be ranked among the first of

But as these hardy veterans, who had d in the ignorance or contempt of the capable of exercising any civil offices, f the human mind were contracted by leable separation of talents as well as of The accomplished citizens of the Greek republics, whose characters could adapt the bar, the senate, the camp, or the learned to write, to speak, and to act e spirit, and with equal abilities.

nisters of

es the magistrates and generals, who at Seven mi-
om the court diffused their delegated the palace.
the provinces and armies, the emperor
rank of Illustrious on seven of his more
rvants, to whose fidelity he entrusted
his counsels, or his treasures.

1. The The cham

ments of the palace were governed by a uch, who, in the language of that age, • præpositus or præfect of the sacred His duty was to attend the emperor

berlain.

1

XIV.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP. in his hours of state, or in those of amusement, and to perform about his person all those menial services, which can only derive their splendour from the influence of royalty. Under a prince who deserved to reign, the great chamberlain (for such we may call him) was a useful and humble domestic; but an artful domestic, who improves every occasion of unguarded confidence, will insensibly acquire over a feeble mind that ascendant which harsh wisdom and uncomplying virtue can seldom obtain. The degenerate grandsons of Theodosius, who were invisible to their subjects, and contemptible to their enemies, exalted the præfects of their bed-chamber above the heads of all the ministers of the palace*; and even his deputy, the first of the splendid train of slaves who waited in the presence, was thought worthy to rank before the respectable proconsuls of Greece or Asia. The jurisdiction of the chamberlain was acknowledged by the counts, or superintendents, who regulated the two important provinces, of the magnificence of the wardrobe, and of the luxury of the The master Imperial table. 2. The principal administration of

of the offices.

public affairs was committed to the diligence and abilities of the master of the offices. He was the supreme magistrate of the palace, inspected the discipline of the civil and military schools, and received appeals from all parts of the empire; in the causes which related to that numerous army of privileged persons, who, as the servants of the court, had obtained, for themselves and families, a right to decline the authority of the ordinary judges. The correspondence between the prince and his subjects was managed by the four scrinia, or offices of this minister of state. The first was appropriated to memorials, the second to epistles, the third to petitions, and the

Cod. Theod. 1. vi. tit. 8.