CHAPTER XXIII.

THE RELIGION OF JULIAN.-UNIVERSAL TOLERATION.-HE ATTEMPTS TO RE-

STORE AND REFORM THE PAGAN WORSHIP-TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE OF

JERUSALEM. - HIS ARTFUL PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS.

ZEAL AND INJUSTICE.

-

MUTUAL

362. Removal of the dead Bodies,

and Conflagration of the

Temple

Julian shuts the Cathedral of

169

170

Paganism

147

Reformation of Paganism

149

The Philosophers

171

361. He is massacred by the

RESIDENCE OF JULIAN AT ANTIOCH. HIS SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST

THE PERSIANS.

PASSAGE OF THE TIGRIS. THE RETREAT AND DEATH OF

ELECTION OF JOVIAN. -HE SAVES THE ROMAN ARMY BY A DIS-

GRACEFUL TREATY.

THE GOVERNMENT AND DEATH OF JOVIAN. ELECTION OF VALENTINIAN, WHO

ASSOCIATES HIS BROTHER VALENS, AND MAKES THE FINAL DIVISION OF THE

EASTERN AND WESTERN EMPIRES.-REVOLT OF PROCOPIUS.-CIVIL AND ECCLE-

SIASTICAL ADMINISTRATION.

AFRICA. THE

EAST.- THE DANUBE.-DEATH OF VALENTINIAN.- HIS TWO SONS, GRATIAN

AND VALENTINIAN II., SUCCEED TO THE WESTERN EMPIRE.

Jovian proclaims universal

Toleration.

GERMANY.

-

BRITAIN.

-

230

of Damasus, Bishop of Rome 255

364-375. Foreign Wars

365. I. GERMANY. The Alemanni

256

365, Revolt of Procopius

366. His Defeat and Death.

373. Severe Inquisition into the

Crime of Magic at Rome

and Antioch

238

. 273

373. Theodosius recovers Africa. 274

376. He is executed at Carthage. 275

State of Africa

276

375. The Expedition of Valentinian 289

His Death

The Emperors Gratian and

Valentinian II.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TO EUROPE. -FLIGHT OF THE GOTHS. THEY PASS THE DANUBE.-GOTHIC

-GRATIAN INVESTS THEODOSIUS

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF VALENS.

HIS CHARACTER AND SUCCESS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

RUIN OF ARIANISM.

CHARACTER, ADMINISTRATION, AND PENANCE

SECOND CIVIL WAR, AGAINST

WAR, AGAINST MAXIMUS.

OF THEODOSIUS. DEATH OF VALENTINIAN II.

DEATH OF THEODOSIUS.

MAP OF WESTERN ASIA, SHOWING THE MARCHES OF JULIAN

THE

HISTORY

OF

THE DECLINE AND FALL

OF THE

ROMAN EMPIRE.

CHAPTER XX.

THE MOTIVES, PROGRESS, AND EFFECTS OF THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. LEGAL ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTITUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN OR CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE public establishment of Christianity may be considered as one of those important and domestic revolutions which excite the most lively curiosity, and afford the most valuable instruction. The victories and the civil policy of Constantine no longer influence the state of Europe; but a considerable portion of the globe still retains the impression which it received from the conversion of that monarch; and the ecclesiastical institutions of his reign are still connected, by an indissoluble chain, with the opinions, the passions, and the interests of the present generation.

Date of the

Constantine.

In the consideration of a subject which may be examined with impartiality, but cannot be viewed with indifference, a difficulty immediately arises of a very unexpected nature-that conversion of of ascertaining the real and precise date of the conversion of Constantine. The eloquent Lactantius, in the midst of A.D. 306. his court, seems impatient' to proclaim to the world the glorious

1 The date of the Divine Institutions of Lactantius has been accurately discussed, difficulties have been started, solutions proposed, and an expedient imagined of two original editions-the former published during the persecution of Diocletian, the latter under that of Licinius. See Dufresnoy, Præfat. p. v. Tillemont, Mém. Ecclésiast. tom. vi. p. 465-470. Lardner's Credibility, part ii. vol. vii. p. 78-86. For my own part, I am almost convinced that Lactantius dedicated his Institutions to the sovereign of Gaul, at a time when Galerius, Maximin, and even Licinius, persecuted the Christians; that is, between the years 306 and 311.

VOL. 111.

B