viii。p。285。TheauthorityofCensorinusdeDieNatali，c。18
enablesustofixthosegameswithcertaintytotheyear238，butleavesusinignoranceofthemonthorday。2。TheelectionofGordianbythesenateisfixedwithequalcertaintytothe27thofMay；butweareatalosstodiscoverwhetheritwasinthesameortheprecedingyear。TillemontandMuratori，whomaintainthetwooppositeopinions，bringintothefieldadesultorytroopofauthorities，conjecturesandprobabilities。Theoneseemstodrawout，theothertocontracttheseriesofeventsbetweenthoseperiods，morethancanbewellreconciledtoreasonandhistory。Yetitisnecessarytochoosebetweenthem。
Note:Eckhelhasmorerecentlytreatedthesechronologicalquestionswithaperspicuitywhichgivesgreatprobabilitytohisconclusions。Settingasideallthehistorians，whosecontradictionsareirreconcilable，hehasonlyconsultedthemedals，andhasarrangedtheeventsbeforeusinthefollowingorder:—
Maximin，A。U。990，afterhavingconqueredtheGermans，reentersPannonia，establisheshiswinterquartersatSirmium，andprepareshimselftomakewaragainstthepeopleoftheNorth。
Intheyear991，inthecalendsofJanuary，commenceshisfourthtribunate。TheGordiansarechosenemperorsinAfrica，probablyatthebeginningofthemonthofMarch。Thesenateconfirmsthiselectionwithjoy，anddeclaresMaximintheenemyofRome。Fivedaysafterhehadheardofthisrevolt，MaximinsetsoutfromSirmiumonhismarchtoItaly。TheseeventstookplaceaboutthebeginningofApril；alittleafter，theGordiansareslaininAfricabyCapellianus，procuratorofMauritania。Thesenate，initsalarm，namesasemperorsBalbusandMaximusPupianus，andintruststhelatterwiththewaragainstMaximin。MaximinisstoppedonhisroadnearAquileia，bythewantofprovisions，andbythemeltingofthesnows:hebeginsthesiegeofAquileiaattheendofApril。PupianusassembleshisarmyatRavenna。
MaximinandhissonareassassinatedbythesoldiersenragedattheresistanceofAquileia:andthiswasprobablyinthemiddleofMay。PupianusreturnstoRome，andassumesthegovernmentwithBalbinus；theyareassassinatedtowardstheendofJulyGordiantheyoungerascendsthethrone。EckheldeDoct。Volvii295。—G。]
[Footnote33:VelleiusPaterculus，l。ii。c。24。ThepresidentdeMontesquieuinhisdialoguebetweenSyllaandEucrates
expressesthesentimentsofthedictatorinaspirited，andevenasublimemanner。]
WhenthetroopsofMaximin，advancinginexcellentorder，arrivedatthefootoftheJulianAlps，theywereterrifiedbythesilenceanddesolationthatreignedonthefrontiersofItaly。Thevillagesandopentownshadbeenabandonedontheirapproachbytheinhabitants，thecattlewasdrivenaway，theprovisionsremovedordestroyed，thebridgesbrokendown，norwasanythingleftwhichcouldaffordeithershelterorsubsistencetoaninvader。Suchhadbeenthewiseordersofthegeneralsofthesenate:whosedesignwastoprotractthewar，toruinthearmyofMaximinbytheslowoperationoffamine，andtoconsumehisstrengthinthesiegesoftheprincipalcitiesofItaly，whichtheyhadplentifullystoredwithmenandprovisionsfromthedesertedcountry。Aquileiareceivedandwithstoodthefirstshockoftheinvasion。ThestreamsthatissuefromtheheadoftheHadriaticGulf，swelledbythemeltingofthewintersnows，^34opposedanunexpectedobstacletothearmsofMaximin。Atlength，onasingularbridge，constructedwithartanddifficulty，oflargehogsheads，hetransportedhisarmytotheoppositebank，rootedupthebeautifulvineyardsintheneighborhoodofAquileia，demolishedthesuburbs，andemployedthetimberofthebuildingsintheenginesandtowers，withwhichoneverysideheattackedthecity。Thewalls，fallentodecayduringthesecurityofalongpeace，hadbeenhastilyrepairedonthissuddenemergency:butthefirmestdefenceofAquileiaconsistedintheconstancyofthecitizens；allranksofwhom，insteadofbeingdismayed，wereanimatedbytheextremedanger，andtheirknowledgeofthetyrant\'sunrelentingtemper。TheircouragewassupportedanddirectedbyCrispinusandMenophilus，twoofthetwentylieutenantsofthesenate，who，withasmallbodyofregulartroops，hadthrownthemselvesintothebesiegedplace。ThearmyofMaximinwasrepulsedinrepeatedattacks，hismachinesdestroyedbyshowersofartificialfire；andthegenerousenthusiasmoftheAquileianswasexaltedintoaconfidenceofsuccess，bytheopinionthatBelenus，theirtutelardeity，combatedinpersoninthedefenceofhisdistressedworshippers。^35
[Footnote34:MuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。ii。p。294thinksthemeltingofthesnowssuitsbetterwiththemonthsofJuneorJuly，thanwiththoseofFebruary。TheopinionofamanwhopassedhislifebetweentheAlpsandtheApennines，isundoubtedlyofgreatweight；yetIobserve，1。Thatthelongwinter，ofwhichMuratoritakesadvantage，istobefoundonlyintheLatinversion，andnotintheGreektextofHerodian。2。
Thatthevicissitudesofsunsandrains，towhichthesoldiersofMaximinwereexposed，Herodian，l。viii。p。277，denotethespringratherthanthesummer。Wemayobserve，likewise，thattheseseveralstreams，astheymeltedintoone，composedtheTimavus，sopoeticallyineverysenseoftheworddescribedbyVirgil。TheyareabouttwelvemilestotheeastofAquileia。SeeCluver。ItaliaAntiqua，tom。i。p。189，&c。]
[Footnote35:Herodian，l。viii。p。272。TheCelticdeitywassupposedtobeApollo，andreceivedunderthatnamethethanksofthesenate。AtemplewaslikewisebuilttoVenustheBald，inhonorofthewomenofAquileia，whohadgivenuptheirhairtomakeropesforthemilitaryengines。]
TheemperorMaximus，whohadadvancedasfarasRavenna，tosecurethatimportantplace，andtohastenthemilitarypreparations，beheldtheeventofthewarinthemorefaithfulmirrorofreasonandpolicy。Hewastoosensible，thatasingletowncouldnotresisttheperseveringeffortsofagreatarmy；
andhedreaded，lesttheenemy，tiredwiththeobstinateresistanceofAquileia，shouldonasuddenrelinquishthefruitlesssiege，andmarchdirectlytowardsRome。Thefateoftheempireandthecauseoffreedommustthenbecommittedtothechanceofabattle；andwhatarmscouldheopposetotheveteranlegionsoftheRhineandDanube?SometroopsnewlyleviedamongthegenerousbutenervatedyouthofItaly；andabodyofGermanauxiliaries，onwhosefirmness，inthehouroftrial，itwasdangeroustodepend。Inthemidstofthesejustalarms，thestrokeofdomesticconspiracypunishedthecrimesofMaximin，anddeliveredRomeandthesenatefromthecalamitiesthatwouldsurelyhaveattendedthevictoryofanenragedbarbarian。
ThepeopleofAquileiahadscarcelyexperiencedanyofthecommonmiseriesofasiege；theirmagazineswereplentifullysupplied，andseveralfountainswithinthewallsassuredthemofaninexhaustibleresourceoffreshwater。ThesoldiersofMaximinwere，onthecontrary，exposedtotheinclemencyoftheseason，thecontagionofdisease，andthehorrorsoffamine。Theopencountrywasruined，theriversfilledwiththeslain，andpollutedwithblood。Aspiritofdespairanddisaffectionbegantodiffuseitselfamongthetroops；andastheywerecutofffromallintelligence，theyeasilybelievedthatthewholeempirehadembracedthecauseofthesenate，andthattheywereleftasdevotedvictimstoperishundertheimpregnablewallsofAquileia。Thefiercetemperofthetyrantwasexasperatedbydisappointments，whichheimputedtothecowardiceofhisarmy；
andhiswantonandill—timedcruelty，insteadofstrikingterror，inspiredhatred，andajustdesireofrevenge。ApartyofPraetorianguards，whotrembledfortheirwivesandchildreninthecampofAlba，nearRome，executedthesentenceofthesenate。
Maximin，abandonedbyhisguards，wasslaininhistent，withhisson，whomhehadassociatedtothehonorsofthepurple，
Anulinusthepraefect，andtheprincipalministersofhistyranny。^36Thesightoftheirheads，borneonthepointofspears，convincedthecitizensofAquileiathatthesiegewasatanend；thegatesofthecitywerethrownopen，aliberalmarketwasprovidedforthehungrytroopsofMaximin，andthewholearmyjoinedinsolemnprotestationsoffidelitytothesenateandthepeopleofRome，andtotheirlawfulemperorsMaximusandBalbinus。Suchwasthedeservedfateofabrutalsavage，destitute，ashehasgenerallybeenrepresented，ofeverysentimentthatdistinguishesacivilized，orevenahumanbeing。
Thebodywassuitedtothesoul。ThestatureofMaximinexceededthemeasureofeightfeet，andcircumstancesalmostincrediblearerelatedofhismatchlessstrengthandappetite。^37Hadhelivedinalessenlightenedage，traditionandpoetrymightwellhavedescribedhimasoneofthosemonstrousgiants，whosesupernaturalpowerwasconstantlyexertedforthedestructionofmankind。
[Footnote36:Herodian，l。viii。p。279。Hist。August。p。146。
ThedurationofMaximin\'sreignhasnotbeendefinedwithmuchaccuracy，exceptbyEutropius，whoallowshimthreeyearsandafewdays，l。ix。1；wemaydependontheintegrityofthetext，astheLatinoriginalischeckedbytheGreekversionofPaeanius。]
[Footnote37:EightRomanfeetandonethird，whichareequaltoaboveeightEnglishfeet，asthetwomeasuresaretoeachotherintheproportionof967to1000。SeeGraves\'sdiscourseontheRomanfoot。WearetoldthatMaximincoulddrinkinadayanamphoraoraboutsevengallonsofwine，andeatthirtyorfortypoundsofmeat。Hecouldmovealoadedwagon，breakahorse\'slegwithhisfist，crumblestonesinhishand，andtearupsmalltreesbytheroots。SeehislifeintheAugustanHistory。]
ItiseasiertoconceivethantodescribetheuniversaljoyoftheRomanworldonthefallofthetyrant，thenewsofwhichissaidtohavebeencarriedinfourdaysfromAquileiatoRome。
ThereturnofMaximuswasatriumphalprocession；hiscolleagueandyoungGordianwentouttomeethim，andthethreeprincesmadetheirentryintothecapital，attendedbytheambassadorsofalmostallthecitiesofItaly，salutedwiththesplendidofferingsofgratitudeandsuperstition，andreceivedwiththeunfeignedacclamationsofthesenateandpeople，whopersuadedthemselvesthatagoldenagewouldsucceedtoanageofiron。^38
Theconductofthetwoemperorscorrespondedwiththeseexpectations。Theyadministeredjusticeinperson；andtherigoroftheonewastemperedbytheother\'sclemency。TheoppressivetaxeswithwhichMaximinhadloadedtherightsofinheritanceandsuccession，wererepealed，oratleastmoderated。Disciplinewasrevived，andwiththeadviceofthesenatemanywiselawswereenactedbytheirimperialministers，whoendeavoredtorestoreacivilconstitutionontheruinsofmilitarytyranny。\"WhatrewardmayweexpectfordeliveringRomefromamonster?\"wasthequestionaskedbyMaximus，inamomentoffreedomandconfidence。
Balbinusanswereditwithouthesitation—\"Theloveofthesenate，ofthepeople，andofallmankind。\"\"Alas!\"repliedhismorepenetratingcolleague—\"alas!Idreadthehatredofthesoldiers，andthefataleffectsoftheirresentment。\"^39Hisapprehensionswerebuttoowelljustifiedbytheevent。
[Footnote38:SeethecongratulatoryletterofClaudiusJulianus，theconsultothetwoemperors，intheAugustanHistory。]
[Footnote39:Hist。August。p。171。]
WhilstMaximuswaspreparingtodefendItalyagainstthecommonfoe，Balbinus，whoremainedatRome，hadbeenengagedinscenesofbloodandintestinediscord。Distrustandjealousyreignedinthesenate；andeveninthetempleswheretheyassembled，everysenatorcarriedeitheropenorconcealedarms。
Inthemidstoftheirdeliberations，twoveteransoftheguards，actuatedeitherbycuriosityorasinistermotive，audaciouslythrustthemselvesintothehouse，andadvancedbydegreesbeyondthealtarofVictory。Gallicanus，aconsular，andMaecenas，aPraetoriansenator，viewedwithindignationtheirinsolentintrusion:drawingtheirdaggers，theylaidthespiesforsuchtheydeemedthemdeadatthefootofthealtar，andthen，advancingtothedoorofthesenate，imprudentlyexhortedthemultitudetomassacrethePraetorians，asthesecretadherentsofthetyrant。Thosewhoescapedthefirstfuryofthetumulttookrefugeinthecamp，whichtheydefendedwithsuperioradvantageagainstthereiteratedattacksofthepeople，assistedbythenumerousbandsofgladiators，thepropertyofopulentnobles。
Thecivilwarlastedmanydays，withinfinitelossandconfusiononbothsides。Whenthepipeswerebrokenthatsuppliedthecampwithwater，thePraetorianswerereducedtointolerabledistress；
butintheirturntheymadedesperatesalliesintothecity，setfiretoagreatnumberofhouses，andfilledthestreetswiththebloodoftheinhabitants。TheemperorBalbinusattempted，byineffectualedictsandprecarioustruces，toreconcilethefactionsatRome。Buttheiranimosity，thoughsmotheredforawhile，burntwithredoubledviolence。Thesoldiers，detestingthesenateandthepeople，despisedtheweaknessofaprince，whowantedeitherthespiritorthepowertocommandtheobedienceofhissubjects。^40
[Footnote40:Herodian，l。viii。p。258。]
Afterthetyrant\'sdeath，hisformidablearmyhadacknowledged，fromnecessityratherthanfromchoice，theauthorityofMaximus，whotransportedhimselfwithoutdelaytothecampbeforeAquileia。Assoonashehadreceivedtheiroathoffidelity，headdressedthemintermsfullofmildnessandmoderation；lamented，ratherthanarraignedthewilddisordersofthetimes，andassuredthesoldiers，thatofalltheirpastconductthesenatewouldrememberonlytheirgenerousdesertionofthetyrant，andtheirvoluntaryreturntotheirduty。Maximusenforcedhisexhortationsbyaliberaldonative，purifiedthecampbyasolemnsacrificeofexpiation，andthendismissedthelegionstotheirseveralprovinces，impressed，ashehoped，withalivelysenseofgratitudeandobedience。^41ButnothingcouldreconcilethehaughtyspiritofthePraetorians。TheyattendedtheemperorsonthememorabledayoftheirpublicentryintoRome；butamidstthegeneralacclamations，thesullen，dejectedcountenanceoftheguardssufficientlydeclaredthattheyconsideredthemselvesastheobject，ratherthanthepartners，ofthetriumph。Whenthewholebodywasunitedintheircamp，thosewhohadservedunderMaximin，andthosewhohadremainedatRome，insensiblycommunicatedtoeachothertheircomplaintsandapprehensions。Theemperorschosenbythearmyhadperishedwithignominy；thoseelectedbythesenatewereseatedonthethrone。
^42Thelongdiscordbetweenthecivilandmilitarypowerswasdecidedbyawar，inwhichtheformerhadobtainedacompletevictory。Thesoldiersmustnowlearnanewdoctrineofsubmissiontothesenate；andwhateverclemencywasaffectedbythatpoliticassembly，theydreadedaslowrevenge，coloredbythenameofdiscipline，andjustifiedbyfairpretencesofthepublicgood。Buttheirfatewasstillintheirownhands；andiftheyhadcouragetodespisethevainterrorsofanimpotentrepublic，itwaseasytoconvincetheworld，thatthosewhoweremastersofthearms，weremastersoftheauthority，ofthestate。
[Footnote41:Herodian，l。viii。p。213。]
[Footnote42:Theobservationhadbeenmadeimprudentlyenoughintheacclamationsofthesenate，andwithregardtothesoldiersitcarriedtheappearanceofawantoninsult。Hist。August。p。
170。]
Whenthesenateelectedtwoprinces，itisprobablethat，besidesthedeclaredreasonofprovidingforthevariousemergenciesofpeaceandwar，theywereactuatedbythesecretdesireofweakeningbydivisionthedespotismofthesuprememagistrate。Theirpolicywaseffectual，butitprovedfatalbothtotheiremperorsandtothemselves。Thejealousyofpowerwassoonexasperatedbythedifferenceofcharacter。MaximusdespisedBalbinusasaluxuriousnoble，andwasinhisturndisdainedbyhiscolleagueasanobscuresoldier。Theirsilentdiscordwasunderstoodratherthanseen；^43butthemutualconsciousnesspreventedthemfromunitinginanyvigorousmeasuresofdefenceagainsttheircommonenemiesofthePraetoriancamp。ThewholecitywasemployedintheCapitolinegames，andtheemperorswereleftalmostaloneinthepalace。Onasudden，theywerealarmedbytheapproachofatroopofdesperateassassins。Ignorantofeachother\'ssituationordesigns，fortheyalreadyoccupiedverydistantapartments，
afraidtogiveortoreceiveassistance，theywastedtheimportantmomentsinidledebatesandfruitlessrecriminations。
Thearrivaloftheguardsputanendtothevainstrife。Theyseizedontheseemperorsofthesenate，forsuchtheycalledthemwithmaliciouscontempt，strippedthemoftheirgarments，anddraggedthemininsolenttriumphthroughthestreetsofRome，withthedesignofinflictingaslowandcrueldeathontheseunfortunateprinces。ThefearofarescuefromthefaithfulGermansoftheImperialguards，shortenedtheirtortures；andtheirbodies，mangledwithathousandwounds，wereleftexposedtotheinsultsortothepityofthepopulace。^44
[Footnote43:Discordiaetacitae，etquaeintelligerenturpotiusquamviderentur。Hist。August。p。170。Thiswell—chosenexpressionisprobablystolenfromsomebetterwriter。]
[Footnote44:Herodian，l。viii。p。287，288。]
Inthespaceofafewmonths，sixprinceshadbeencutoffbythesword。Gordian，whohadalreadyreceivedthetitleofCaesar，wastheonlypersonthatoccurredtothesoldiersaspropertofillthevacantthrone。^45Theycarriedhimtothecamp，andunanimouslysalutedhimAugustusandEmperor。Hisnamewasdeartothesenateandpeople；histenderagepromisedalongimpunityofmilitarylicense；andthesubmissionofRomeandtheprovincestothechoiceofthePraetorianguards，savedtherepublic，attheexpenseindeedofitsfreedomanddignity，fromthehorrorsofanewcivilwarintheheartofthecapital。^46
[Footnote45:Quianonaliuseratinpraesenti，istheexpressionoftheAugustanHistory。]