I。AstheposterityoftheFrankscomposeoneofthegreatestandmostenlightenednationsofEurope，thepowersoflearningandingenuityhavebeenexhaustedinthediscoveryoftheirunletteredancestors。Tothetalesofcredulityhavesucceededthesystemsoffancy。Everypassagehasbeensifted，everyspothasbeensurveyed，thatmightpossiblyrevealsomefainttracesoftheirorigin。IthasbeensupposedthatPannonia，^67thatGaul，thatthenorthernpartsofGermany，^68
gavebirthtothatcelebratedcolonyofwarriors。Atlengththemostrationalcritics，rejectingthefictitiousemigrationsofidealconquerors，haveacquiescedinasentimentwhosesimplicitypersuadesusofitstruth。^69Theysuppose，thatabouttheyeartwohundredandforty，^70anewconfederacywasformedunderthenameofFranks，bytheoldinhabitantsoftheLowerRhineandtheWeser。ThepresentcircleofWestphalia，theLandgraviateofHesse，andtheduchiesofBrunswickandLuneburg，weretheancientoftheChauciwho，intheirinaccessiblemorasses，defiedtheRomanarms；^71oftheCherusci，proudofthefameofArminius；oftheCatti，formidablebytheirfirmandintrepidinfantry；andofseveralothertribesofinferiorpowerandrenown。^72TheloveoflibertywastherulingpassionoftheseGermans；theenjoymentofittheirbesttreasure；thewordthatexpressedthatenjoyment，themostpleasingtotheirear。Theydeserved，theyassumed，theymaintainedthehonorableappellationofFranks，orFreemen；whichconcealed，thoughitdidnotextinguish，thepeculiarnamesoftheseveralstatesoftheconfederacy。^73Tacitconsent，andmutualadvantage，dictatedthefirstlawsoftheunion；itwasgraduallycementedbyhabitandexperience。TheleagueoftheFranksmayadmitofsomecomparisonwiththeHelveticbody；inwhicheverycanton，retainingitsindependentsovereignty，consultswithitsbrethreninthecommoncause，withoutacknowledgingtheauthorityofanysupremehead，orrepresentativeassembly。^74Buttheprincipleofthetwoconfederacieswasextremelydifferent。ApeaceoftwohundredyearshasrewardedthewiseandhonestpolicyoftheSwiss。Aninconstantspirit，thethirstofrapine，andadisregardtothemostsolemntreaties，disgracedthecharacteroftheFranks。
[Footnote67:VarioussystemshavebeenformedtoexplainadifficultpassageinGregoryofTours，l。ii。c。9。]
[Footnote68:TheGeographerofRavenna，i。11，bymentioningMauringania，ontheconfinesofDenmark，astheancientseatoftheFranks，gavebirthtoaningenioussystemofLeibritz。]
[Footnote69:SeeCluver。GermaniaAntiqua，l。iii。c。20。M。
Freret，intheMemoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。
xviii。]
[Footnote70:MostprobablyunderthereignofGordian，fromanaccidentalcircumstancefullycanvassedbyTillemont，tom。iii。
p。710，1181。]
[Footnote*:TheconfederationoftheFranksappearstohavebeenformed，1。OftheChauci。2。OftheSicambri，theinhabitantsoftheduchyofBerg。3。OftheAttuarii，tothenorthoftheSicambri，intheprincipalityofWaldeck，betweentheDimelandtheEder。4。OftheBructeri，onthebanksoftheLippe，andintheHartz。5。OftheChamavii，theGambriviiofTacitua，whowereestablished，atthetimeoftheFrankishconfederation，inthecountryoftheBructeri。6。OftheCatti，inHessia。—G。TheSaliiandCherasciareadded。Greenwood\'sHist。ofGermans，i193。—M。]
[Footnote71:Plin。Hist。Natur。xvi。l。ThePanegyristsfrequentlyalludetothemorassesoftheFranks。]
[Footnote72:Tacit。Germania，c。30，37。]
[Footnote73:Inasubsequentperiod，mostofthoseoldnamesareoccasionallymentioned。SeesomevestigesoftheminCluver。
Germ。Antiq。l。iii。]
[Footnote74:SimlerdeRepublicaHelvet。cumnotisFuselin。]
ChapterX:EmperorsDecius，Gallus，Aemilianus，ValerianAndGallienus。
PartIII。
TheRomanshadlongexperiencedthedaringvalorofthepeopleofLowerGermany。TheunionoftheirstrengththreatenedGaulwithamoreformidableinvasion，andrequiredthepresenceofGallienus，theheirandcolleagueofImperialpower。^75
Whilstthatprince，andhisinfantsonSalonius，displayed，inthecourtofTreves，themajestyoftheempireitsarmieswereablyconductedbytheirgeneral，Posthumus，who，thoughheafterwardsbetrayedthefamilyofValerian，waseverfaithfultothegreatinterestsofthemonarchy。Thetreacherouslanguageofpanegyricsandmedalsdarklyannouncesalongseriesofvictories。TrophiesandtitlesattestifsuchevidencecanattestthefameofPosthumus，whoisrepeatedlystyledtheConqueroroftheGermans，andtheSaviorofGaul。^76
[Footnote75:Zosimus，l。i。p。27。]
[Footnote76:M。deBrequignyintheMemoiresdel\'Academie，tom。xxx。hasgivenusaverycuriouslifeofPosthumus。A
seriesoftheAugustanHistoryfromMedalsandInscriptionshasbeenmorethanonceplanned，andisstillmuchwanted。
Note:M。Eckhel，KeeperoftheCabinetofMedals，andProfessorofAntiquitiesatVienna，latelydeceased，hassuppliedthiswantbyhisexcellentwork，DoctrinaveterumNummorum，conscriptaaJos。Eckhel，8vol。in4toVindobona，1797。—G。
CaptainSmythhaslikewiseprintedprivatelyavaluableDescriptiveCatologueofaseriesofLargeBrassMedalsofthisperiodBedford，1834。—M。1845。]
Butasinglefact，theonlyoneindeedofwhichwehaveanydistinctknowledge，erases，inagreatmeasure，thesemonumentsofvanityandadulation。TheRhine，thoughdignifiedwiththetitleofSafeguardoftheprovinces，wasanimperfectbarrieragainstthedaringspiritofenterprisewithwhichtheFrankswereactuated。TheirrapiddevastationsstretchedfromtherivertothefootofthePyrenees；norweretheystoppedbythosemountains。Spain，whichhadneverdreaded，wasunabletoresist，theinroadsoftheGermans。Duringtwelveyears，thegreatestpartofthereignofGallienus，thatopulentcountrywasthetheatreofunequalanddestructivehostilities。Tarragona，theflourishingcapitalofapeacefulprovince，wassackedandalmostdestroyed；^77andsolateasthedaysofOrosius，whowroteinthefifthcentury，wretchedcottages，scatteredamidsttheruinsofmagnificentcities，stillrecordedtherageofthebarbarians。
^78Whentheexhaustedcountrynolongersuppliedavarietyofplunder，theFranksseizedonsomevesselsintheportsofSpain，^79andtransportedthemselvesintoMauritania。Thedistantprovincewasastonishedwiththefuryofthesebarbarians，whoseemedtofallfromanewworld，astheirname，manners，andcomplexion，wereequallyunknownonthecoastofAfrica。^80
[Footnote77:Aurel。Victor，c。33。InsteadofPoenedirepto，boththesenseandtheexpressionrequiredeleto；thoughindeed，fordifferentreasons，itisalikedifficulttocorrectthetextofthebest，andoftheworst，writers。]
[Footnote78:InthetimeofAusoniustheendofthefourthcenturyIlerdaorLeridawasinaveryruinousstate，Auson。
Epist。xxv。58，whichprobablywastheconsequenceofthisinvasion。]
[Footnote79:ValesiusisthereforemistakeninsupposingthattheFrankshadinvadedSpainbysea。]
[Footnote80:Aurel。Victor。Eutrop。ix。6。]
II。InthatpartofUpperSaxony，beyondtheElbe，whichisatpresentcalledtheMarquisateofLusace，thereexisted，inancienttimes，asacredwood，theawfulseatofthesuperstitionoftheSuevi。Nonewerepermittedtoentertheholyprecincts，withoutconfessing，bytheirservilebondsandsuppliantposture，theimmediatepresenceofthesovereignDeity。^81Patriotismcontributed，aswellasdevotion，toconsecratetheSonnenwald，orwoodoftheSemnones。^82Itwasuniversallybelieved，thatthenationhadreceiveditsfirstexistenceonthatsacredspot。
Atstatedperiods，thenumeroustribeswhogloriedintheSuevicblood，resortedthitherbytheirambassadors；andthememoryoftheircommonextractionwasperpetratedbybarbaricritesandhumansacrifices。Thewide—extendednameofSuevifilledtheinteriorcountriesofGermany，fromthebanksoftheOdertothoseoftheDanube。TheyweredistinguishedfromtheotherGermansbytheirpeculiarmodeofdressingtheirlonghair，whichtheygatheredintoarudeknotonthecrownofthehead；andtheydelightedinanornamentthatshowedtheirranksmoreloftyandterribleintheeyesoftheenemy。^83JealousastheGermanswereofmilitaryrenown，theyallconfessedthesuperiorvaloroftheSuevi；andthetribesoftheUsipetesandTencteri，who，withavastarmy，encounteredthedictatorCaesar，declaredthattheyesteemeditnotadisgracetohavefledbeforeapeopletowhosearmstheimmortalgodsthemselveswereunequal。^84
[Footnote81:Tacit。Germania，38。]
[Footnote82:Cluver。Germ。Antiq。iii。25。]
[Footnote83:SicSueviaceterisGermanis，sicSuerorumingenuiaservisseparantur。Aproudseparation!]
[Footnote84:CaesarinBelloGallico，iv。7。]
InthereignoftheemperorCaracalla，aninnumerableswarmofSueviappearedonthebanksoftheMein，andintheneighborhoodoftheRomanprovinces，inquesteitheroffood，ofplunder，orofglory。^85Thehastyarmyofvolunteersgraduallycoalescedintoagreatandpermanentnation，andasitwascomposedfromsomanydifferenttribes，assumedthenameofAlemanni，orAllmen；todenoteatoncetheirvariouslineageandtheircommonbravery。^86ThelatterwassoonfeltbytheRomansinmanyahostileinroad。TheAlemannifoughtchieflyonhorseback；buttheircavalrywasrenderedstillmoreformidablebyamixtureoflightinfantry，selectedfromthebravestandmostactiveoftheyouth，whomfrequentexercisehadinuredtoaccompanythehorsemeninthelongestmarch，themostrapidcharge，orthemostprecipitateretreat。^87
[Footnote85:VictorinCaracal。DionCassius，lxvii。p。1350。]
[Footnote*:ThenationoftheAlemanniwasnotoriginallyformedbytheSuaviproperlysocalled；thesehavealwayspreservedtheirownname。ShortlyafterwardstheymadeA。D。357anirruptionintoRhaetia，anditwasnotlongafterthattheywerereunitedwiththeAlemanni。Stilltheyhavealwaysbeenadistinctpeople；atthepresentday，thepeoplewhoinhabitthenorth—westoftheBlackForestcallthemselvesSchwaben，Suabians，Sueves，whilethosewhoinhabitneartheRhine，inOrtenau，theBrisgaw，theMargraviateofBaden，donotconsiderthemselvesSuabians，andarebyoriginAlemanni。
TheTeucteriandtheUsipetae，inhabitantsoftheinteriorandofthenorthofWestphalia，formed，saysGatterer，thenucleusoftheAlemannicnation；theyoccupiedthecountrywherethenameoftheAlemannifirstappears，asconqueredin213，byCaracalla。Theywerewelltrainedtofightonhorseback，accordingtoTacitus，Germ。c。32；andAureliusVictorgivesthesamepraisetotheAlemanni:finally，theynevermadepartoftheFrankishleague。TheAlemannibecamesubsequentlyacentreroundwhichgatheredamultitudeofGermantribes，SeeEumen。
Panegyr。c。2。Amm。Marc。xviii。2，xxix。4。—G。
ThequestionwhethertheSueviwasagenericnamecomprehendingtheclanswhichpeopledcentralGermany，isratherhastilydecidedbyM。GuizotMr。Greenwood，whohasstudiedthemodernGermanwritersontheirownorigin，supposestheSuevi，Alemanni，andMarcomanni，onepeople，underdifferentappellations。HistoryofGermany，voli。—M。]
[Footnote86:ThisetymologyfardifferentfromthosewhichamusethefancyofthelearnedispreservedbyAsiniusQuadratus，anoriginalhistorian，quotedbyAgathias，i。c。5。]
[Footnote87:TheSueviengagedCaesarinthismanner，andthemanoeuvredeservedtheapprobationoftheconqueror，inBelloGallico，i。48。]
ThiswarlikepeopleofGermanshadbeenastonishedbytheimmensepreparationsofAlexanderSeverus；theyweredismayedbythearmsofhissuccessor，abarbarianequalinvalorandfiercenesstothemselves。Butstillhoveringonthefrontiersoftheempire，theyincreasedthegeneraldisorderthatensuedafterthedeathofDecius。TheyinflictedseverewoundsontherichprovincesofGaul；theywerethefirstwhoremovedtheveilthatcoveredthefeeblemajestyofItaly。AnumerousbodyoftheAlemannipenetratedacrosstheDanubeandthroughtheRhaetianAlpsintotheplainsofLombardy，advancedasfarasRavenna，anddisplayedthevictoriousbannersofbarbariansalmostinsightofRome。^88
[Footnote88:Hist。August。p。215，216。DexippusintheExcerpts。Legationam，p。8。Hieronym。Chron。Orosius，vii。22。]
Theinsultandthedangerrekindledinthesenatesomesparksoftheirancientvirtue。Boththeemperorswereengagedinfardistantwars，ValerianintheEast，andGallienusontheRhine。AllthehopesandresourcesoftheRomanswereinthemselves。Inthisemergency，thesenatorsresumedhedefenceoftherepublic，drewoutthePraetorianguards，whohadbeenlefttogarrisonthecapital，andfilleduptheirnumbers，byenlistingintothepublicservicethestoutestandmostwillingofthePlebeians。TheAlemanni，astonishedwiththesuddenappearanceofanarmymorenumerousthantheirown，retiredintoGermany，ladenwithspoil；andtheirretreatwasesteemedasavictorybytheunwarlikeRomans。^89
[Footnote89:Zosimus，l。i。p。34。]
WhenGallienusreceivedtheintelligencethathiscapitalwasdeliveredfromthebarbarians，hewasmuchlessdelightedthanalarmedwiththecourageofthesenate，sinceitmightonedaypromptthemtorescuethepublicfromdomestictyrannyaswellasfromforeigninvasion。Histimidingratitudewaspublishedtohissubjects，inanedictwhichprohibitedthesenatorsfromexercisinganymilitaryemployment，andevenfromapproachingthecampsofthelegions。Buthisfearsweregroundless。Therichandluxuriousnobles，sinkingintotheirnaturalcharacter，accepted，asafavor，thisdisgracefulexemptionfrommilitaryservice；andaslongastheywereindulgedintheenjoymentoftheirbaths，theirtheatres，andtheirvillas，theycheerfullyresignedthemoredangerouscaresofempiretotheroughhandsofpeasantsandsoldiers。^90
[Footnote90:Aurel。Victor，inGallienoetProbo。Hiscomplaintsbreatheasuncommonspiritoffreedom。]
AnotherinvasionoftheAlemanni，ofamoreformidableaspect，butmoregloriousevent，ismentionedbyawriterofthelowerempire。Threehundredthousandaresaidtohavebeenvanquished，inabattlenearMilan，byGallienusinperson，attheheadofonlytenthousandRomans。^91Wemay，however，withgreatprobability，ascribethisincrediblevictoryeithertothecredulityofthehistorian，ortosomeexaggeratedexploitsofoneoftheemperor\'slieutenants。Itwasbyarmsofaverydifferentnature，thatGallienusendeavoredtoprotectItalyfromthefuryoftheGermans。HeespousedPipa，thedaughterofakingoftheMarcomanni，aSuevictribe，whichwasoftenconfoundedwiththeAlemanniintheirwarsandconquests。^92Tothefather，asthepriceofhisalliance，hegrantedanamplesettlementinPannonia。Thenativecharmsofunpolishedbeautyseemtohavefixedthedaughterintheaffectionsoftheinconstantemperor，andthebandsofpolicyweremorefirmlyconnectedbythoseoflove。ButthehaughtyprejudiceofRomestillrefusedthenameofmarriagetotheprofanemixtureofacitizenandabarbarian；andhasstigmatizedtheGermanprincesswiththeopprobrioustitleofconcubineofGallienus。^93
[Footnote91:Zonaras，l。xii。p。631。]
[Footnote92:OneoftheVictorscallshimkingoftheMarcomanni；theotheroftheGermans。]
[Footnote93:SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iii。p。
398，&c。]
III。WehavealreadytracedtheemigrationoftheGothsfromScandinavia，oratleastfromPrussia，tothemouthoftheBorysthenes，andhavefollowedtheirvictoriousarmsfromtheBorysthenestotheDanube。UnderthereignsofValerianandGallienus，thefrontierofthelast—mentionedriverwasperpetuallyinfestedbytheinroadsofGermansandSarmatians；
butitwasdefendedbytheRomanswithmorethanusualfirmnessandsuccess。Theprovincesthatweretheseatofwar，recruitedthearmiesofRomewithaninexhaustiblesupplyofhardysoldiers；andmorethanoneoftheseIllyrianpeasantsattainedthestation，anddisplayedtheabilities，ofageneral。Thoughflyingpartiesofthebarbarians，whoincessantlyhoveredonthebanksoftheDanube，penetratedsometimestotheconfinesofItalyandMacedonia，theirprogresswascommonlychecked，ortheirreturnintercepted，bytheImperiallieutenants。^94ButthegreatstreamoftheGothichostilitieswasdivertedintoaverydifferentchannel。TheGoths，intheirnewsettlementoftheUkraine，soonbecamemastersofthenortherncoastoftheEuxine:tothesouthofthatinlandseaweresituatedthesoftandwealthyprovincesofAsiaMinor，whichpossessedallthatcouldattract，andnothingthatcouldresist，abarbarianconqueror。
[Footnote94:SeethelivesofClaudius，Aurelian，andProbus，intheAugustanHistory。]
ThebanksoftheBorysthenesareonlysixtymilesdistantfromthenarrowentrance^95ofthepeninsulaofCrimTartary，knowntotheancientsunderthenameofChersonesusTaurica。^96
Onthatinhospitableshore，Euripides，embellishingwithexquisiteartthetalesofantiquity，hasplacedthesceneofoneofhismostaffectingtragedies。^97ThebloodysacrificesofDiana，thearrivalofOrestesandPylades，andthetriumphofvirtueandreligionoversavagefierceness，servetorepresentanhistoricaltruth，thattheTauri，theoriginalinhabitantsofthepeninsula，were，insomedegree，reclaimedfromtheirbrutalmannersbyagradualintercoursewiththeGreciancolonies，whichsettledalongthemaritimecoast。ThelittlekingdomofBosphorus，whosecapitalwassituatedontheStraits，throughwhichtheMaeotiscommunicatesitselftotheEuxine，wascomposedofdegenerateGreeksandhalf—civilizedbarbarians。Itsubsisted，asanindependentstate，fromthetimeofthePeloponnesianwar，^98wasatlastswallowedupbytheambitionofMithridates，^99and，withtherestofhisdominions，sunkundertheweightoftheRomanarms。FromthereignofAugustus，^100thekingsofBosphoruswerethehumble，butnotuseless，alliesoftheempire。Bypresents，byarms，andbyaslightfortificationdrawnacrosstheIsthmus，theyeffectuallyguardedagainsttherovingplunderersofSarmatia，theaccessofacountry，which，fromitspeculiarsituationandconvenientharbors，commandedtheEuxineSeaandAsiaMinor。^101Aslongasthesceptrewaspossessedbyalinealsuccessionofkings，theyacquittedthemselvesoftheirimportantchargewithvigilanceandsuccess。Domesticfactions，andthefears，orprivateinterest，ofobscureusurpers，whoseizedonthevacantthrone，admittedtheGothsintotheheartofBosphorus。Withtheacquisitionofasuperfluouswasteoffertilesoil，theconquerorsobtainedthecommandofanavalforce，sufficienttotransporttheirarmiestothecoastofAsia。^102ThisshipsusedinthenavigationoftheEuxinewereofaverysingularconstruction。Theywereslightflat—bottomedbarksframedoftimberonly，withouttheleastmixtureofiron，andoccasionallycoveredwithashelvingroof，ontheappearanceofatempest。^103Inthesefloatinghouses，theGothscarelesslytrustedthemselvestothemercyofanunknownsea，undertheconductofsailorspressedintotheservice，andwhoseskillandfidelitywereequallysuspicious。