^181
[Footnote180:HistAugustp177。]
[Footnote181:Hist。August。p。177。Zosimus，l。i。p。24。
Zonaras，l。xii。p。623。Euseb。Chronicon。VictorinEpitom。
VictorinCaesar。Eutropius，ix。5。Orosius，vii。21。]
Wehavetheknowledgeofaverycuriouscircumstance，ofsomeuseperhapsinthemelancholycalculationofhumancalamities。AnexactregisterwaskeptatAlexandriaofallthecitizensentitledtoreceivethedistributionofcorn。Itwasfound，thattheancientnumberofthosecomprisedbetweentheagesoffortyandseventy，hadbeenequaltothewholesumofclaimants，fromfourteentofourscoreyearsofage，whoremainedaliveafterthereignofGallienus。^182Applyingthisauthenticfacttothemostcorrecttablesofmortality，itevidentlyproves，thatabovehalfthepeopleofAlexandriahadperished；
andcouldweventuretoextendtheanalogytotheotherprovinces，wemightsuspect，thatwar，pestilence，andfamine，hadconsumed，inafewyears，themoietyofthehumanspecies。
^183
[Footnote182:Euseb。Hist。Eccles。vii。21。ThefactistakenfromtheLettersofDionysius，who，inthetimeofthosetroubles，wasbishopofAlexandria。]
[Footnote183:Inagreatnumberofparishes，11，000personswerefoundbetweenfourteenandeighty；5365betweenfortyandseventy。SeeBuffon，HistoireNaturelle，tom。ii。p。590。]
ChapterXI:ReignOfClaudius，DefeatOfTheGoths。
PartI。
ReignOfClaudius。—DefeatOfTheGoths。—Victories，Triumph，AndDeathOfAurelian。
UnderthedeplorablereignsofValerianandGallienus，theempirewasoppressedandalmostdestroyedbythesoldiers，thetyrants，andthebarbarians。Itwassavedbyaseriesofgreatprinces，whoderivedtheirobscureoriginfromthemartialprovincesofIllyricum。Withinaperiodofaboutthirtyyears，Claudius，Aurelian，Probus，Diocletianandhiscolleagues，triumphedovertheforeignanddomesticenemiesofthestate，reestablished，withthemilitarydiscipline，thestrengthofthefrontiers，anddeservedtheglorioustitleofRestorersoftheRomanworld。
Theremovalofaneffeminatetyrantmadewayforasuccessionofheroes。TheindignationofthepeopleimputedalltheircalamitiestoGallienus，andthefargreaterpartwereindeed，theconsequenceofhisdissolutemannersandcarelessadministration。Hewasevendestituteofasenseofhonor，whichsofrequentlysuppliestheabsenceofpublicvirtue；andaslongashewaspermittedtoenjoythepossessionofItaly，avictoryofthebarbarians，thelossofaprovince，ortherebellionofageneral，seldomdisturbedthetranquilcourseofhispleasures。
Atlength，aconsiderablearmy，stationedontheUpperDanube，investedwiththeImperialpurpletheirleaderAureolus；who，disdainingaconfinedandbarrenreignoverthemountainsofRhaetia，passedtheAlps，occupiedMilan，threatenedRome，andchallengedGallienustodisputeinthefieldthesovereigntyofItaly。Theemperor，provokedbytheinsult，andalarmedbytheinstantdanger，suddenlyexertedthatlatentvigorwhichsometimesbrokethroughtheindolenceofhistemper。Forcinghimselffromtheluxuryofthepalace，heappearedinarmsattheheadofhislegions，andadvancedbeyondthePotoencounterhiscompetitor。ThecorruptednameofPontirolo^1stillpreservesthememoryofabridgeovertheAdda，which，duringtheaction，musthaveprovedanobjectoftheutmostimportancetobotharmies。TheRhaetianusurper，afterreceivingatotaldefeatandadangerouswound，retiredintoMilan。Thesiegeofthatgreatcitywasimmediatelyformed；thewallswerebatteredwitheveryengineinuseamongtheancients；andAureolus，doubtfulofhisinternalstrength，andhopelessofforeignsuccorsalreadyanticipatedthefatalconsequencesofunsuccessfulrebellion。
[Footnote1:PonsAureoli，thirteenmilesfromBergamo，andthirty—twofromMilan。SeeCluver。Italia，Antiq。tom。i。p。
245。Nearthisplace，intheyear1703，theobstinatebattleofCassanowasfoughtbetweentheFrenchandAustrians。TheexcellentrelationoftheChevalierdeFolard，whowaspresent，givesaverydistinctideaoftheground。SeePolybedeFolard，tom。iii。p。233—248。]
Hislastresourcewasanattempttoseducetheloyaltyofthebesiegers。Hescatteredlibelsthroughthecamp，invitingthetroopstodesertanunworthymaster，whosacrificedthepublichappinesstohisluxury，andthelivesofhismostvaluablesubjectstotheslightestsuspicions。TheartsofAureolusdiffusedfearsanddiscontentamongtheprincipalofficersofhisrival。AconspiracywasformedbyHeraclianusthePraetorianpraefect，byMarcian，ageneralofrankandreputation，andbyCecrops，whocommandedanumerousbodyofDalmatianguards。ThedeathofGallienuswasresolved；andnotwithstandingtheirdesireoffirstterminatingthesiegeofMilan，theextremedangerwhichaccompaniedeverymoment\'sdelayobligedthemtohastentheexecutionoftheirdaringpurpose。Atalatehourofthenight，butwhiletheemperorstillprotractedthepleasuresofthetable，analarmwassuddenlygiven，thatAureolus，attheheadofallhisforces，hadmadeadesperatesallyfromthetown；
Gallienus，whowasneverdeficientinpersonalbravery，startedfromhissilkencouch，andwithoutallowinghimselftimeeithertoputonhisarmor，ortoassemblehisguards，hemountedonhorseback，androdefullspeedtowardsthesupposedplaceoftheattack。Encompassedbyhisdeclaredorconcealedenemies，hesoon，amidstthenocturnaltumult，receivedamortaldartfromanuncertainhand。Beforeheexpired，apatrioticsentimentusinginthemindofGallienus，inducedhimtonameadeservingsuccessor；anditwashislastrequest，thattheImperialornamentsshouldbedeliveredtoClaudius，whothencommandedadetachedarmyintheneighborhoodofPavia。Thereportatleastwasdiligentlypropagated，andtheordercheerfullyobeyedbytheconspirators，whohadalreadyagreedtoplaceClaudiusonthethrone。Onthefirstnewsoftheemperor\'sdeath，thetroopsexpressedsomesuspicionandresentment，tilltheonewasremoved，andtheotherassuaged，byadonativeoftwentypiecesofgoldtoeachsoldier。Theythenratifiedtheelection，andacknowledgedthemeritoftheirnewsovereign。^2
[Footnote2:OnthedeathofGallienus，seeTrebelliusPollioinHist。August。p。181。Zosimus，l。i。p。37。Zonaras，l。xii。p。
634。Eutrop。ix。ll。AureliusVictorinEpitom。VictorinCaesar。Ihavecomparedandblendedthemall，buthavechieflyfollowedAureliusVictor，whoseemstohavehadthebestmemoirs。]
TheobscuritywhichcoveredtheoriginofClaudius，thoughitwasafterwardsembellishedbysomeflatteringfictions，^3
sufficientlybetraysthemeannessofhisbirth。WecanonlydiscoverthathewasanativeofoneoftheprovincesborderingontheDanube；thathisyouthwasspentinarms，andthathismodestvalorattractedthefavorandconfidenceofDecius。Thesenateandpeoplealreadyconsideredhimasanexcellentofficer，equaltothemostimportanttrusts；andcensuredtheinattentionofValerian，whosufferedhimtoremaininthesubordinatestationofatribune。ButitwasnotlongbeforethatemperordistinguishedthemeritofClaudius，bydeclaringhimgeneralandchiefoftheIllyrianfrontier，withthecommandofallthetroopsinThrace，Maesia，Dacia，Pannonia，andDalmatia，theappointmentsofthepraefectofEgypt，theestablishmentoftheproconsulofAfrica，andthesureprospectoftheconsulship。ByhisvictoriesovertheGoths，hedeservedfromthesenatethehonorofastatue，andexcitedthejealousapprehensionsofGallienus。Itwasimpossiblethatasoldiercouldesteemsodissoluteasovereign，norisiteasytoconcealajustcontempt。
SomeunguardedexpressionswhichdroppedfromClaudiuswereofficiouslytransmittedtotheroyalear。Theemperor\'sanswertoanofficerofconfidencedescribesinverylivelycolorshisowncharacter，andthatofthetimes。\"Thereisnotanythingcapableofgivingmemoreseriousconcern，thantheintelligencecontainedinyourlastdespatch；^4thatsomemalicioussuggestionshaveindisposedtowardsusthemindofourfriendandparentClaudius。Asyouregardyourallegiance，useeverymeanstoappeasehisresentment，butconductyournegotiationwithsecrecy；letitnotreachtheknowledgeoftheDaciantroops；
theyarealreadyprovoked，anditmightinflametheirfury。I
myselfhavesenthimsomepresents:beityourcarethatheacceptthemwithpleasure。Aboveall，lethimnotsuspectthatI
ammadeacquaintedwithhisimprudence。Thefearofmyangermighturgehimtodesperatecounsels。\"^5Thepresentswhichaccompaniedthishumbleepistle，inwhichthemonarchsolicitedareconciliationwithhisdiscontentedsubject，consistedofaconsiderablesumofmoney，asplendidwardrobe，andavaluableserviceofsilverandgoldplate。BysuchartsGallienussoftenedtheindignationanddispelledthefearsofhisIllyriangeneral；andduringtheremainderofthatreign，theformidableswordofClaudiuswasalwaysdrawninthecauseofamasterwhomhedespised。Atlast，indeed，hereceivedfromtheconspiratorsthebloodypurpleofGallienus:buthehadbeenabsentfromtheircampandcounsels；andhoweverhemightapplaudthedeed，wemaycandidlypresumethathewasinnocentoftheknowledgeofit。^6
WhenClaudiusascendedthethrone，hewasaboutfifty—fouryearsofage。
[Footnote3:Somesupposedhim，oddlyenough，tobeabastardoftheyoungerGordian。OtherstookadvantageoftheprovinceofDardania，todeducehisoriginfromDardanus，andtheancientkingsofTroy。]
[Footnote4:Notoria，aperiodicalandofficialdespatchwhichtheemperorreceivedfromthefrumentarii，oragentsdispersedthroughtheprovinces。Ofthesewemayspeakhereafter。]
[Footnote5:Hist。August。p。208。Gallienusdescribestheplate，vestments，etc。，likeamanwholovedandunderstoodthosesplendidtrifles。]
[Footnote6:JulianOrat。i。p。6affirmsthatClaudiusacquiredtheempireinajustandevenholymanner。Butwemaydistrustthepartialityofakinsman。]
ThesiegeofMilanwasstillcontinued，andAureolussoondiscoveredthatthesuccessofhisartificeshadonlyraisedupamoredeterminedadversary。HeattemptedtonegotiatewithClaudiusatreatyofallianceandpartition。\"Tellhim，\"repliedtheintrepidemperor，\"thatsuchproposalsshouldhavebeenmadetoGallienus；he，perhaps，mighthavelistenedtothemwithpatience，andacceptedacolleagueasdespicableashimself。\"^7
Thissternrefusal，andalastunsuccessfuleffort，obligedAureolustoyieldthecityandhimselftothediscretionoftheconqueror。Thejudgmentofthearmypronouncedhimworthyofdeath；andClaudius，afterafeebleresistance，consentedtotheexecutionofthesentence。Norwasthezealofthesenatelessardentinthecauseoftheirnewsovereign。Theyratified，perhapswithasinceretransportofzeal，theelectionofClaudius；and，ashispredecessorhadshownhimselfthepersonalenemyoftheirorder，theyexercised，underthenameofjustice，asevererevengeagainsthisfriendsandfamily。Thesenatewaspermittedtodischargetheungratefulofficeofpunishment，andtheemperorreservedforhimselfthepleasureandmeritofobtainingbyhisintercessionageneralactofindemnity。^8
[Footnote7:Hist。August。p。203。TherearesometriflingdifferencesconcerningthecircumstancesofthelastdefeatanddeathofAureolus]
[Footnote8:AureliusVictorinGallien。ThepeopleloudlyprayedforthedamnationofGallienus。ThesenatedecreedthathisrelationsandservantsshouldbethrowndownheadlongfromtheGemonianstairs。Anobnoxiousofficeroftherevenuehadhiseyestornoutwhilstunderexamination。
Note:Theexpressioniscurious，\"terrammatremdeosqueinferosimpiasutiGallienodarent。\"—M。]
SuchostentatiousclemencydiscoverslessoftherealcharacterofClaudius，thanatriflingcircumstanceinwhichheseemstohaveconsultedonlythedictatesofhisheart。Thefrequentrebellionsoftheprovinceshadinvolvedalmosteverypersonintheguiltoftreason，almosteveryestateinthecaseofconfiscation；andGallienusoftendisplayedhisliberalitybydistributingamonghisofficersthepropertyofhissubjects。OntheaccessionofClaudius，anoldwomanthrewherselfathisfeet，andcomplainedthatageneralofthelateemperorhadobtainedanarbitrarygrantofherpatrimony。ThisgeneralwasClaudiushimself，whohadnotentirelyescapedthecontagionofthetimes。Theemperorblushedatthereproach，butdeservedtheconfidencewhichshehadreposedinhisequity。Theconfessionofhisfaultwasaccompaniedwithimmediateandamplerestitution。^9
[Footnote9:Zonaras，l。xii。p。137。]
InthearduoustaskwhichClaudiushadundertaken，ofrestoringtheempiretoitsancientsplendor，itwasfirstnecessarytoreviveamonghistroopsasenseoforderandobedience。Withtheauthorityofaveterancommander，herepresentedtothemthattherelaxationofdisciplinehadintroducedalongtrainofdisorders，theeffectsofwhichwereatlengthexperiencedbythesoldiersthemselves；thatapeopleruinedbyoppression，andindolentfromdespair，couldnolongersupplyanumerousarmywiththemeansofluxury，orevenofsubsistence；thatthedangerofeachindividualhadincreasedwiththedespotismofthemilitaryorder，sinceprinceswhotrembleonthethronewillguardtheirsafetybytheinstantsacrificeofeveryobnoxioussubject。Theemperorexpiatedonthemischiefsofalawlesscaprice，whichthesoldierscouldonlygratifyattheexpenseoftheirownblood；astheirseditiouselectionshadsofrequentlybeenfollowedbycivilwars，whichconsumedtheflowerofthelegionseitherinthefieldofbattle，orinthecruelabuseofvictory。Hepaintedinthemostlivelycolorstheexhaustedstateofthetreasury，thedesolationoftheprovinces，thedisgraceoftheRomanname，andtheinsolenttriumphofrapaciousbarbarians。Itwasagainstthosebarbarians，hedeclared，thatheintendedtopointthefirsteffortoftheirarms。TetricusmightreignforawhileovertheWest，andevenZenobiamightpreservethedominionoftheEast。^10Theseusurperswerehispersonaladversaries；norcouldhethinkofindulginganyprivateresentmenttillhehadsavedanempire，whoseimpendingruinwould，unlessitwastimelyprevented，crushboththearmyandthepeople。
[Footnote10:ZonarasonthisoccasionmentionsPosthumusbuttheregistersofthesenateHist。August。p。203provethatTetricuswasalreadyemperorofthewesternprovinces。]
ThevariousnationsofGermanyandSarmatia，whofoughtundertheGothicstandard，hadalreadycollectedanarmamentmoreformidablethananywhichhadyetissuedfromtheEuxine。OnthebanksoftheNiester，oneofthegreatriversthatdischargethemselvesintothatsea，theyconstructedafleetoftwothousand，orevenofsixthousandvessels；^11numberswhich，howeverincredibletheymayseem，wouldhavebeeninsufficienttotransporttheirpretendedarmyofthreehundredandtwentythousandbarbarians。WhatevermightbetherealstrengthoftheGoths，thevigorandsuccessoftheexpeditionwerenotadequatetothegreatnessofthepreparations。IntheirpassagethroughtheBosphorus，theunskilfulpilotswereoverpoweredbytheviolenceofthecurrent；andwhilethemultitudeoftheirshipswerecrowdedinanarrowchannel，manyweredashedagainsteachother，oragainsttheshore。ThebarbariansmadeseveraldescentsonthecoastsbothofEuropeandAsia；buttheopencountrywasalreadyplundered，andtheywererepulsedwithshameandlossfromthefortifiedcitieswhichtheyassaulted。A
spiritofdiscouragementanddivisionaroseinthefleet，andsomeoftheirchiefssailedawaytowardstheislandsofCreteandCyprus；butthemainbody，pursuingamoresteadycourse，anchoredatlengthnearthefootofMountAthos，andassaultedthecityofThessalonica，thewealthycapitalofalltheMacedonianprovinces。Theirattacks，inwhichtheydisplayedafiercebutartlessbravery，weresooninterruptedbytherapidapproachofClaudius，hasteningtoasceneofactionthatdeservedthepresenceofawarlikeprinceattheheadoftheremainingpowersoftheempire。Impatientforbattle，theGothsimmediatelybrokeuptheircamp，relinquishedthesiegeofThessalonica，lefttheirnavyatthefootofMountAthos，traversedthehillsofMacedonia，andpressedforwardstoengagethelastdefenceofItaly。
[Footnote11:TheAugustanHistorymentionsthesmaller，Zonarasthelargernumber；thelivelyfancyofMontesquieuinducedhimtopreferthelatter。]
WestillpossesanoriginalletteraddressedbyClaudiustothesenateandpeopleonthismemorableoccasion。\"Conscriptfathers，\"saystheemperor，\"knowthatthreehundredandtwentythousandGothshaveinvadedtheRomanterritory。IfIvanquishthem，yourgratitudewillrewardmyservices。ShouldIfall，rememberthatIamthesuccessorofGallienus。Thewholerepublicisfatiguedandexhausted。WeshallfightafterValerian，afterIngenuus，Regillianus，Lollianus，Posthumus，Celsus，andathousandothers，whomajustcontemptforGallienusprovokedintorebellion。Weareinwantofdarts，ofspears，andofshields。Thestrengthoftheempire，Gaul，andSpain，areusurpedbyTetricus，andweblushtoacknowledgethatthearchersoftheEastserveunderthebannersofZenobia。Whateverweshallperformwillbesufficientlygreat。\"^12Themelancholyfirmnessofthisepistleannouncesaherocarelessofhisfate，consciousofhisdanger，butstillderivingawell—groundedhopefromtheresourcesofhisownmind。
[Footnote12:Trebell。PollioinHist。August。p。204。]
Theeventsurpassedhisownexpectationsandthoseoftheworld。Bythemostsignalvictorieshedeliveredtheempirefromthishostofbarbarians，andwasdistinguishedbyposterityunderthegloriousappellationoftheGothicClaudius。Theimperfecthistoriansofanirregularwar^13donotenableastodescribetheorderandcircumstancesofhisexploits；but，ifwecouldbeindulgedintheallusion，wemightdistributeintothreeactsthismemorabletragedy。I。ThedecisivebattlewasfoughtnearNaissus，acityofDardania。Thelegionsatfirstgaveway，oppressedbynumbers，anddismayedbymisfortunes。Theirruinwasinevitable，hadnottheabilitiesoftheiremperorpreparedaseasonablerelief。Alargedetachment，risingoutofthesecretanddifficultpassesofthemountains，which，byhisorder，theyhadoccupied，suddenlyassailedtherearofthevictoriousGoths。