whoseoccupationshadbeenconfinedtofemalecaresandthesoftluxuryofAsia，displayedthetalentsofanableandexperiencedgeneral。Thebattlestillragedwithdoubtfulviolence，andMacrinusmighthaveobtainedthevictory，hadhenotbetrayedhisowncausebyashamefulandprecipitateflight。Hiscowardiceservedonlytoprotracthislifeafewdays，andtostampdeservedignominyonhismisfortunes。Itisscarcelynecessarytoadd，thathissonDiadumenianuswasinvolvedinthesamefate。
AssoonasthestubbornPraetorianscouldbeconvincedthattheyfoughtforaprincewhohadbaselydesertedthem，theysurrenderedtotheconqueror:thecontendingpartiesoftheRomanarmy，minglingtearsofjoyandtenderness，unitedunderthebannersoftheimaginedsonofCaracalla，andtheEastacknowledgedwithpleasurethefirstemperorofAsiaticextraction。
[Footnote48:ByamostdangerousproclamationofthepretendedAntoninus，everysoldierwhobroughtinhisofficer\'sheadbecameentitledtohisprivateestate，aswellastohismilitarycommission。]
[Footnote49:Dion，l。lxxviii。p。1345。Herodian，l。v。p。186。
ThebattlewasfoughtnearthevillageofImmae，abouttwo—and—twentymilesfromAntioch。]
[Footnote*:Gannyswasnotaeunuch。Dion，p。1355。—W]
ThelettersofMacrinushadcondescendedtoinformthesenateoftheslightdisturbanceoccasionedbyanimpostorinSyria，andadecreeimmediatelypassed，declaringtherebelandhisfamilypublicenemies；withapromiseofpardon，however，tosuchofhisdeludedadherentsasshouldmerititbyanimmediatereturntotheirduty。DuringthetwentydaysthatelapsedfromthedeclarationofthevictoryofAntoninus，forinsoshortanintervalwasthefateoftheRomanworlddecided，thecapitalandtheprovinces，moreespeciallythoseoftheEast，weredistractedwithhopesandfears，agitatedwithtumult，andstainedwithauselesseffusionofcivilblood，sincewhosoeveroftherivalsprevailedinSyriamustreignovertheempire。Thespeciouslettersinwhichtheyoungconquerorannouncedhisvictorytotheobedientsenatewerefilledwithprofessionsofvirtueandmoderation；theshiningexamplesofMarcusandAugustus，heshouldeverconsiderasthegreatruleofhisadministration；andheaffectedtodwellwithprideonthestrikingresemblanceofhisownageandfortuneswiththoseofAugustus，whointheearliestyouthhadrevenged，byasuccessfulwar，themurderofhisfather。ByadoptingthestyleofMarcusAureliusAntoninus，sonofAntoninusandgrandsonofSeverus，hetacitlyassertedhishereditaryclaimtotheempire；but，byassumingthetribunitianandproconsularpowersbeforetheyhadbeenconferredonhimbyadecreeofthesenate，heoffendedthedelicacyofRomanprejudice。ThisnewandinjudiciousviolationoftheconstitutionwasprobablydictatedeitherbytheignoranceofhisSyriancourtiers，orthefiercedisdainofhismilitaryfollowers。^50
[Footnote50:Dion，l。lxxix。p。1353。]
Astheattentionofthenewemperorwasdivertedbythemosttriflingamusements，hewastedmanymonthsinhisluxuriousprogressfromSyriatoItaly，passedatNicomediahisfirstwinterafterhisvictory，anddeferredtilltheensuingsummerhistriumphalentryintothecapital。Afaithfulpicture，however，whichprecededhisarrival，andwasplacedbyhisimmediateorderoverthealtarofVictoryinthesenatehouse，conveyedtotheRomansthejustbutunworthyresemblanceofhispersonandmanners。Hewasdrawninhissacerdotalrobesofsilkandgold，afterthelooseflowingfashionoftheMedesandPhoenicians；hisheadwascoveredwithaloftytiara，hisnumerouscollarsandbraceletswereadornedwithgemsofaninestimablevalue。Hiseyebrowsweretingedwithblack，andhischeekspaintedwithanartificialredandwhite。^51Thegravesenatorsconfessedwithasigh，that，afterhavinglongexperiencedthesterntyrannyoftheirowncountrymen，RomewasatlengthhumbledbeneaththeeffeminateluxuryofOrientaldespotism。
[Footnote51:Dion，l。lxxix。p。1363。Herodian，l。v。p。189。]
TheSunwasworshippedatEmesa，underthenameofElagabalus，^52andundertheformofablackconicalstone，which，asitwasuniversallybelieved，hadfallenfromheavenonthatsacredplace。Tothisprotectingdeity，Antoninus，notwithoutsomereason，ascribedhiselevationtothethrone。Thedisplayofsuperstitiousgratitudewastheonlyseriousbusinessofhisreign。ThetriumphofthegodofEmesaoverallthereligionsoftheearth，wasthegreatobjectofhiszealandvanity；andtheappellationofElagabalusforhepresumedaspontiffandfavoritetoadoptthatsacrednamewasdearertohimthanallthetitlesofImperialgreatness。InasolemnprocessionthroughthestreetsofRome，thewaywasstrewedwithgolddust；theblackstone，setinpreciousgems，wasplacedonachariotdrawnbysixmilk—whitehorsesrichlycaparisoned。Thepiousemperorheldthereins，and，supportedbyhisministers，movedslowlybackwards，thathemightperpetuallyenjoythefelicityofthedivinepresence。InamagnificenttempleraisedonthePalatineMount，thesacrificesofthegodElagabaluswerecelebratedwitheverycircumstanceofcostandsolemnity。Therichestwines，themostextraordinaryvictims，andtherarestaromatics，wereprofuselyconsumedonhisaltar。Aroundthealtar，achorusofSyriandamselsperformedtheirlasciviousdancestothesoundofbarbarianmusic，whilstthegravestpersonagesofthestateandarmy，clothedinlongPhoeniciantunics，officiatedinthemeanestfunctions，withaffectedzealandsecretindignation。^53
[Footnote52:ThisnameisderivedbythelearnedfromtwoSyrianwords，ElaaGod，andGabal，toform，theformingorplasticgod，aproper，andevenhappyepithetforthesun。Wotton\'sHistoryofRome，p。378
Note:ThenameofElagabalushasbeendisfiguredinvariousways。Herodiancallshim；Lampridius，andthemoremodernwriters，makehimHeliogabalus。DioncallshimElegabalus；butElegabaluswasthetruename，asitappearsonthemedals。
Eckhel。deDoct。num。vet。t。vii。p。250。Astoitsetymology，thatwhichGibbonadducesisgivenbyBochart，Chan。ii。5；butSalmasius，onbettergrounds。not。inLamprid。inElagab。，
derivesthenameofElagabalusfromtheidolofthatgod，representedbyHerodianandthemedalsintheformofamountain，gibelinHebrew，orgreatstonecuttoapoint，withmarkswhichrepresentthesun。Asitwasnotpermitted，atHierapolis，inSyria，tomakestatuesofthesunandmoon，because，itwassaid，theyarethemselvessufficientlyvisible，thesunwasrepresentedatEmesaintheformofagreatstone，which，asitappeared，hadfallenfromheaven。Spanheim，Caesar。notes，p。
46。—G。ThenameofElagabalus，in\"nummisrariuslegetur。\"
Rasche，Lex。Univ。Ref。Numm。Raschequotestwo。—M]
[Footnote53:Herodian，l。v。p。190。]
ChapterVI:DeathOfSeverus，TyrannyOfCaracalla，UsurpationOfMarcinus。
PartIII。
Tothistemple，astothecommoncentreofreligiousworship，theImperialfanaticattemptedtoremovetheAncilia，thePalladium，^54andallthesacredpledgesofthefaithofNuma。AcrowdofinferiordeitiesattendedinvariousstationsthemajestyofthegodofEmesa；buthiscourtwasstillimperfect，tillafemaleofdistinguishedrankwasadmittedtohisbed。Pallashadbeenfirstchosenforhisconsort；butasitwasdreadedlestherwarliketerrorsmightaffrightthesoftdelicacyofaSyriandeity，theMoon，adornedbytheAfricansunderthenameofAstarte，wasdeemedamoresuitablecompanionfortheSun。Herimage，withtherichofferingsofhertempleasamarriageportion，wastransportedwithsolemnpompfromCarthagetoRome，andthedayofthesemysticnuptialswasageneralfestivalinthecapitalandthroughouttheempire。^55
[Footnote54:HebrokeintothesanctuaryofVesta，andcarriedawayastatue，whichhesupposedtobethepalladium；butthevestalsboastedthat，byapiousfraud，theyhadimposedacounterfeitimageontheprofaneintruder。Hist。August。，p。
103。]
[Footnote55:Dion，l。lxxix。p。1360。Herodian，l。v。p。193。
Thesubjectsoftheempirewereobligedtomakeliberalpresentstothenewmarriedcouple；andwhatevertheyhadpromisedduringthelifeofElagabaluswascarefullyexactedundertheadministrationofMamaea。]
Arationalvoluptuaryadhereswithinvariablerespecttothetemperatedictatesofnature，andimprovesthegratificationsofsensebysocialintercourse，endearingconnections，andthesoftcoloringoftasteandtheimagination。ButElagabalus，Ispeakoftheemperorofthatname，corruptedbyhisyouth，hiscountry，andhisfortune，abandonedhimselftothegrossestpleasureswithungovernedfury，andsoonfounddisgustandsatietyinthemidstofhisenjoyments。Theinflammatorypowersofartweresummonedtohisaid:theconfusedmultitudeofwomen，ofwines，andofdishes，andthestudiedvarietyofattitudeandsauces，servedtorevivehislanguidappetites。Newtermsandnewinventionsinthesesciences，theonlyonescultivatedandpatronizedbythemonarch，^56signalizedhisreign，andtransmittedhisinfamytosucceedingtimes。Acapriciousprodigalitysuppliedthewantoftasteandelegance；andwhilstElagabaluslavishedawaythetreasuresofhispeopleinthewildestextravagance，hisownvoiceandthatofhisflatterersapplaudedaspiritofmagnificenceunknowntothetamenessofhispredecessors。Toconfoundtheorderofseasonsandclimates，^57
tosportwiththepassionsandprejudicesofhissubjects，andtosubverteverylawofnatureanddecency，wereinthenumberofhismostdeliciousamusements。Alongtrainofconcubines，andarapidsuccessionofwives，amongwhomwasavestalvirgin，ravishedbyforcefromhersacredasylum，^58wereinsufficienttosatisfytheimpotenceofhispassions。ThemasteroftheRomanworldaffectedtocopythedressandmannersofthefemalesex，preferredthedistafftothesceptre，anddishonoredtheprincipaldignitiesoftheempirebydistributingthemamonghisnumerouslovers；oneofwhomwaspubliclyinvestedwiththetitleandauthorityoftheemperor\'s，or，ashemoreproperlystyledhimself，oftheempress\'shusband。^59
[Footnote56:Theinventionofanewsaucewasliberallyrewarded；butifitwasnotrelished，theinventorwasconfinedtoeatofnothingelsetillhehaddiscoveredanothermoreagreeabletotheImperialpalateHist。August。p。111。]
[Footnote57:Heneverwouldeatsea—fishexceptatagreatdistancefromthesea；hethenwoulddistributevastquantitiesoftherarestsorts，broughtatanimmenseexpense，tothepeasantsoftheinlandcountry。Hist。August。p。109。]
[Footnote58:Dion，l。lxxix。p。1358。Herodian，l。v。p。192。]
[Footnote59:Hieroclesenjoyedthathonor；buthewouldhavebeensupplantedbyoneZoticus，hadhenotcontrived，byapotion，toenervatethepowersofhisrival，who，beingfoundontrialunequaltohisreputation，wasdrivenwithignominyfromthepalace。Dion，l。lxxix。p。1363，1364。Adancerwasmadepraefectofthecity，acharioteerpraefectofthewatch，abarberpraefectoftheprovisions。Thesethreeministers，withmanyinferiorofficers，wereallrecommendedenormitatemembrorum。Hist。August。p。105。]
Itmayseemprobable，thevicesandfolliesofElagabalushavebeenadornedbyfancy，andblackenedbyprejudice。^60Yet，confiningourselvestothepublicscenesdisplayedbeforetheRomanpeople，andattestedbygraveandcontemporaryhistorians，theirinexpressibleinfamysurpassesthatofanyotherageorcountry。Thelicenseofaneasternmonarchissecludedfromtheeyeofcuriositybytheinaccessiblewallsofhisseraglio。Thesentimentsofhonorandgallantryhaveintroducedarefinementofpleasure，aregardfordecency，andarespectforthepublicopinion，intothemoderncourtsofEurope；butthecorruptandopulentnoblesofRomegratifiedeveryvicethatcouldbecollectedfromthemightyconfluxofnationsandmanners。Secureofimpunity，carelessofcensure，theylivedwithoutrestraintinthepatientandhumblesocietyoftheirslavesandparasites。
Theemperor，inhisturn，viewingeveryrankofhissubjectswiththesamecontemptuousindifference，assertedwithoutcontrolhissovereignprivilegeoflustandluxury。
[Footnote60:Eventhecredulouscompilerofhislife，intheAugustanHistoryp。111isinclinedtosuspectthathisvicesmayhavebeenexaggerated。]
[Footnote*:WenckhasjustlyobservedthatGibbonshouldhavereckonedtheinfluenceofChristianityinthisgreatchange。Inthemostsavagetimes，andthemostcorruptcourts，sincetheintroductionofChristianitytherehavebeennoNerosorDomitians，noCommodusorElagabalus。—M。]
Themostworthlessofmankindarenotafraidtocondemninothersthesamedisorderswhichtheyallowinthemselves；andcanreadilydiscoversomenicedifferenceofage，character，orstation，tojustifythepartialdistinction。Thelicentioussoldiers，whohadraisedtothethronethedissolutesonofCaracalla，blushedattheirignominiouschoice，andturnedwithdisgustfromthatmonster，tocontemplatewithpleasuretheopeningvirtuesofhiscousinAlexander，thesonofMamaea。ThecraftyMaesa，sensiblethathergrandsonElagabalusmustinevitablydestroyhimselfbyhisownvices，hadprovidedanotherandsurersupportofherfamily。Embracingafavorablemomentoffondnessanddevotion，shehadpersuadedtheyoungemperortoadoptAlexander，andtoinvesthimwiththetitleofCaesar，thathisowndivineoccupationsmightbenolongerinterruptedbythecareoftheearth。Inthesecondrankthatamiableprincesoonacquiredtheaffectionsofthepublic，andexcitedthetyrant\'sjealousy，whoresolvedtoterminatethedangerouscompetition，eitherbycorruptingthemanners，orbytakingawaythelife，ofhisrival。Hisartsprovedunsuccessful；hisvaindesignswereconstantlydiscoveredbyhisownloquaciousfolly，anddisappointedbythosevirtuousandfaithfulservantswhomtheprudenceofMamaeahadplacedaboutthepersonofherson。Inahastysallyofpassion，Elagabalusresolvedtoexecutebyforcewhathehadbeenunabletocompassbyfraud，andbyadespoticsentencedegradedhiscousinfromtherankandhonorsofCaesar。
Themessagewasreceivedinthesenatewithsilence，andinthecampwithfury。ThePraetorianguardssworetoprotectAlexander，andtorevengethedishonoredmajestyofthethrone。
ThetearsandpromisesofthetremblingElagabalus，whoonlybeggedthemtosparehislife，andtoleavehiminthepossessionofhisbelovedHierocles，divertedtheirjustindignation；andtheycontentedthemselveswithempoweringtheirpraefectstowatchoverthesafetyofAlexander，andtheconductoftheemperor。^61
[Footnote61:Dion，l。lxxix。p。1365。Herodian，l。v。p。195—
201。Hist。August。p。105。Thelastofthethreehistoriansseemstohavefollowedthebestauthorsinhisaccountoftherevolution。]
Itwasimpossiblethatsuchareconciliationshouldlast，orthateventhemeansoulofElagabaluscouldholdanempireonsuchhumiliatingtermsofdependence。Hesoonattempted，byadangerousexperiment，totrythetemperofthesoldiers。ThereportofthedeathofAlexander，andthenaturalsuspicionthathehadbeenmurdered，inflamedtheirpassionsintofury，andthetempestofthecampcouldonlybeappeasedbythepresenceandauthorityofthepopularyouth。Provokedatthisnewinstanceoftheiraffectionforhiscousin，andtheircontemptforhisperson，theemperorventuredtopunishsomeoftheleadersofthemutiny。Hisunseasonableseverityprovedinstantlyfataltohisminions，hismother，andhimself。ElagabaluswasmassacredbytheindignantPraetorians，hismutilatedcorpsedraggedthroughthestreetsofthecity，andthrownintotheTiber。Hismemorywasbrandedwitheternalinfamybythesenate；thejusticeofwhosedecreehasbeenratifiedbyposterity。^62
[SeeIslandInTheTiber:ElagabaluswasthrownintotheTiber[Footnote62:TheaeraofthedeathofElagabalus，andoftheaccessionofAlexander，hasemployedthelearningandingenuityofPagi，Tillemont，Valsecchi，Vignoli，andTorre，bishopofAdria。Thequestionismostassuredlyintricate；butIstilladheretotheauthorityofDion，thetruthofwhosecalculationsisundeniable，andthepurityofwhosetextisjustifiedbytheagreementofXiphilin，Zonaras，andCedrenus。Elagabalusreignedthreeyearsninemonthsandfourdays，fromhisvictoryoverMacrinus，andwaskilledMarch10，222。Butwhatshallwereplytothemedals，undoubtedlygenuine，whichreckonthefifthyearofhistribunitianpower?Weshallreply，withthelearnedValsecchi，thattheusurpationofMacrinuswasannihilated，andthatthesonofCaracalladatedhisreignfromhisfather\'sdeath?Afterresolvingthisgreatdifficulty，thesmallerknotsofthisquestionmaybeeasilyuntied，orcutasunder。Note:
ThisopinionofValsecchihasbeentriumphantlycontestedbyEckhel，whohasshowntheimpossibilityofreconcilingitwiththemedalsofElagabalus，andhasgiventhemostsatisfactoryexplanationofthefivetribunatesofthatemperor。Heascendedthethroneandreceivedthetribunitianpowerthe16thofMay，intheyearofRome971；andonthe1stJanuaryofthenextyear，972，hebegananewtribunate，accordingtothecustomestablishedbyprecedingemperors。Duringtheyears972，973，974，heenjoyedthetribunate，andcommencedhisfifthintheyear975，duringwhichbewaskilledonthe10thMarch。EckheldeDoct。Num。viii。430&c。—G。]IntheroomofElagabalus，hiscousinAlexanderwasraisedtothethronebythePraetorianguards。HisrelationtothefamilyofSeverus，whosenameheassumed，wasthesameasthatofhispredecessor；hisvirtueandhisdangerhadalreadyendearedhimtotheRomans，andtheeagerliberalityofthesenateconferreduponhim，inoneday，thevarioustitlesandpowersoftheImperialdignity。^63ButasAlexanderwasamodestanddutifulyouth，ofonlyseventeenyearsofage，thereinsofgovernmentwereinthehandsoftwowomen，ofhismother，Mamaea，andofMaesa，hisgrandmother。Afterthedeathofthelatter，whosurvivedbutashorttimetheelevationofAlexander，Mamaearemainedthesoleregentofhersonandoftheempire。[Footnote63:Hist。August。p。114。Bythisunusualprecipitation，thesenatemeanttoconfoundthehopesofpretenders，andpreventthefactionsofthearmies。]Ineveryageandcountry，thewiser，oratleastthestronger，ofthetwosexes，hasusurpedthepowersofthestate，andconfinedtheothertothecaresandpleasuresofdomesticlife。Inhereditarymonarchies，however，andespeciallyinthoseofmodernEurope，thegallantspiritofchivalry，andthelawofsuccession，haveaccustomedustoallowasingularexception；andawomanisoftenacknowledgedtheabsolutesovereignofagreatkingdom，inwhichshewouldbedeemedincapableofexercisingthesmallestemployment，civilormilitary。ButastheRomanemperorswerestillconsideredasthegeneralsandmagistratesoftherepublic，theirwivesandmothers，althoughdistinguishedbythenameofAugustawereneverassociatedtotheirpersonalhonors；andafemalereignwouldhaveappearedaninexpiableprodigyintheeyesofthoseprimitiveRomans，whomarriedwithoutlove，orlovedwithoutdelicacyandrespect。^64ThehaughtyAgripinaaspired，indeed，tosharethehonorsoftheempirewhichshehadconferredonherson；buthermadambition，detestedbyeverycitizenwhofeltforthedignityofRome，wasdisappointedbytheartfulfirmnessofSenecaandBurrhus。^65Thegoodsense，ortheindifference，ofsucceedingprinces，restrainedthemfromoffendingtheprejudicesoftheirsubjects；anditwasreservedfortheprofligateElagabalustodischargetheactsofthesenatewiththenameofhismotherSoaemias，whowasplacedbythesideoftheconsuls，andsubscribed，asaregularmember，thedecreesofthelegislativeassembly。Hermoreprudentsister，Mamaea，declinedtheuselessandodiousprerogative，andasolemnlawwasenacted，excludingwomenforeverfromthesenate，anddevotingtotheinfernalgodstheheadofthewretchbywhomthissanctionshouldbeviolated。^66Thesubstance，notthepageantry，ofpower。wastheobjectofMamaea\'smanlyambition。Shemaintainedanabsoluteandlastingempireoverthemindofherson，andinhisaffectionthemothercouldnotbrookarival。Alexander，withherconsent，marriedthedaughterofapatrician；buthisrespectforhisfather—in—law，andlovefortheempress，wereinconsistentwiththetendernessofinterestofMamaea。Thepatricianwasexecutedonthereadyaccusationoftreason，andthewifeofAlexanderdrivenwithignominyfromthepalace，andbanishedintoAfrica。^67[Footnote64:MetellusNumidicus，thecensor，acknowledgedtotheRomanpeople，inapublicoration，thathadkindnatureallowedustoexistwithoutthehelpofwomen，weshouldbedeliveredfromaverytroublesomecompanion；