Theperpetualrevolutionsofthethronehadsoperfectlyerasedeverynotionofhereditarytitle，thatthefamilyofanunfortunateemperorwasincapableofexcitingthejealousyofhissuccessors。ThechildrenofTacitusandFlorianuswerepermittedtodescendintoaprivatestation，andtominglewiththegeneralmassofthepeople。Theirpovertyindeedbecameanadditionalsafeguardtotheirinnocence。WhenTacituswaselectedbythesenate，heresignedhisamplepatrimonytothepublicservice；
^21anactofgenerosityspeciousinappearance，butwhichevidentlydisclosedhisintentionoftransmittingtheempiretohisdescendants。Theonlyconsolationoftheirfallenstatewastheremembranceoftransientgreatness，andadistanthope，thechildofaflatteringprophecy，thatattheendofathousandyears，amonarchoftheraceofTacitusshouldarise，theprotectorofthesenate，therestorerofRome，andtheconquerorofthewholeearth。^22
[Footnote21:Hist。August。p。229]
[Footnote22:HewastosendjudgestotheParthians，Persians，andSarmatians，apresidenttoTaprobani，andaproconsultotheRomanisland，supposedbyCasaubonandSalmasiustomeanBritain。SuchahistoryasminesaysVopiscuswithpropermodestywillnotsubsistathousandyears，toexposeorjustifytheprediction。]
ThepeasantsofIllyricum，whohadalreadygivenClaudiusandAureliantothesinkingempire，hadanequalrighttogloryintheelevationofProbus。^23Abovetwentyyearsbefore，theemperorValerian，withhisusualpenetration，haddiscoveredtherisingmeritoftheyoungsoldier，onwhomheconferredtherankoftribune，longbeforetheageprescribedbythemilitaryregulations。Thetribunesoonjustifiedhischoice，byavictoryoveragreatbodyofSarmatians，inwhichhesavedthelifeofanearrelationofValerian；anddeservedtoreceivefromtheemperor\'shandthecollars，bracelets，spears，andbanners，themuralandtheciviccrown，andallthehonorablerewardsreservedbyancientRomeforsuccessfulvalor。Thethird，andafterwardsthetenth，legionwereintrustedtothecommandofProbus，who，ineverystepofhispromotion，showedhimselfsuperiortothestationwhichhefilled。AfricaandPontus，theRhine，theDanube，theEuphrates，andtheNile，byturnsaffordedhimthemostsplendidoccasionsofdisplayinghispersonalprowessandhisconductinwar。Aurelianwasindebtedforthehonestcouragewithwhichheoftencheckedthecrueltyofhismaster。Tacitus，whodesiredbytheabilitiesofhisgeneralstosupplyhisowndeficiencyofmilitarytalents，namedhimcommander—in—chiefofalltheeasternprovinces，withfivetimestheusualsalary，thepromiseoftheconsulship，andthehopeofatriumph。WhenProbusascendedtheImperialthrone，hewasaboutforty—fouryearsofage；^24inthefullpossessionofhisfame，oftheloveofthearmy，andofamaturevigorofmindandbody。
[Footnote23:FortheprivatelifeofProbus，seeVopiscusinHist。Augustp。234—237]
[Footnote24:AccordingtotheAlexandrianchronicle，hewasfiftyatthetimeofhisdeath。]
Hisacknowledgemerit，andthesuccessofhisarmsagainstFlorianus，lefthimwithoutanenemyoracompetitor。Yet，ifwemaycredithisownprofessions，veryfarfrombeingdesirousoftheempire，hehadaccepteditwiththemostsincerereluctance。
\"Butitisnolongerinmypower，\"saysProbus，inaprivateletter，\"tolaydownatitlesofullofenvyandofdanger。I
mustcontinuetopersonatethecharacterwhichthesoldiershaveimposeduponme。\"^25Hisdutifuladdresstothesenatedisplayedthesentiments，oratleastthelanguage，ofaRomanpatriot:
\"Whenyouelectedoneofyourorder，conscriptfathers!tosucceedtheemperorAurelian，youactedinamannersuitabletoyourjusticeandwisdom。Foryouarethelegalsovereignsoftheworld，andthepowerwhichyouderivefromyourancestorswilldescendtoyourposterity。Happywouldithavebeen，ifFlorianus，insteadofusurpingthepurpleofhisbrother，likeaprivateinheritance，hadexpectedwhatyourmajestymightdetermine，eitherinhisfavor，orinthatofotherperson。Theprudentsoldiershavepunishedhisrashness。TometheyhaveofferedthetitleofAugustus。ButIsubmittoyourclemencymypretensionsandmymerits。\"^26Whenthisrespectfulepistlewasreadbytheconsul，thesenatorswereunabletodisguisetheirsatisfaction，thatProbusshouldcondescendthusnumblytosolicitasceptrewhichhealreadypossessed。Theycelebratedwiththewarmestgratitudehisvirtues，hisexploits，andaboveallhismoderation。Adecreeimmediatelypassed，withoutadissentingvoice，toratifytheelectionoftheeasternarmies，andtoconferontheirchiefalltheseveralbranchesoftheImperialdignity:thenamesofCaesarandAugustus，thetitleofFatherofhiscountry，therightofmakinginthesamedaythreemotionsinthesenate，^27theofficeofPontifex，Maximus，thetribunitianpower，andtheproconsularcommand；amodeofinvestiture，which，thoughitseemedtomultiplytheauthorityoftheemperor，expressedtheconstitutionoftheancientrepublic。
ThereignofProbuscorrespondedwiththisfairbeginning。Thesenatewaspermittedtodirecttheciviladministrationoftheempire。TheirfaithfulgeneralassertedthehonoroftheRomanarms，andoftenlaidattheirfeetcrownsofgoldandbarbarictrophies，thefruitsofhisnumerousvictories。^28Yet，whilsthegratifiedtheirvanity，hemustsecretlyhavedespisedtheirindolenceandweakness。ThoughitwaseverymomentintheirpowertorepealthedisgracefuledictofGallienus，theproudsuccessorsoftheScipiospatientlyacquiescedintheirexclusionfromallmilitaryemployments。Theysoonexperienced，thatthosewhorefusetheswordmustrenouncethesceptre。
[Footnote25:ThisletterwasaddressedtothePraetorianpraefect，whomonconditionofhisgoodbehaviorhepromisedtocontinueinhisgreatoffice。SeeHist。August。p。237。]
[Footnote26:VopiscusinHist。August。p。237。Thedateoftheletterisassuredlyfaulty。InsteadofNen。Februar。wemayreadNonAugust。]
[Footnote27:Hist。August。p。238。ItisoddthatthesenateshouldtreatProbuslessfavorablythanMarcusAntoninus。Thatprincehadreceived，evenbeforethedeathofPius，Jusquintoerelationis。SeeCapitolin。inHist。August。p。24。]
[Footnote28:SeethedutifulletterofProbustothesenate，afterhisGermanvictories。Hist。August。p。239。]
ChapterXII:ReignsOfTacitus，Probus，CarusAndHisSons。
PartII。
ThestrengthofAurelianhadcrushedoneverysidetheenemiesofRome。Afterhisdeaththeyseemedtorevivewithanincreaseoffuryandofnumbers。TheywereagainvanquishedbytheactivevigorofProbus，who，inashortreignofaboutsixyears，^29equalledthefameofancientheroes，andrestoredpeaceandordertoeveryprovinceoftheRomanworld。ThedangerousfrontierofRhaetiahesofirmlysecured，thatheleftitwithoutthesuspicionofanenemy。HebrokethewanderingpoweroftheSarmatiantribes，andbytheterrorofhisarmscompelledthosebarbarianstorelinquishtheirspoil。TheGothicnationcourtedtheallianceofsowarlikeanemperor。^30HeattackedtheIsauriansintheirmountains，besiegedandtookseveraloftheirstrongestcastles，^31andflatteredhimselfthathehadforeversuppressedadomesticfoe，whoseindependencesodeeplywoundedthemajestyoftheempire。ThetroublesexcitedbytheusurperFirmusintheUpperEgypthadneverbeenperfectlyappeased，andthecitiesofPtolemaisandCoptos，fortifiedbytheallianceoftheBlemmyes，stillmaintainedanobscurerebellion。Thechastisementofthosecities，andoftheirauxiliariesthesavagesoftheSouth，issaidtohavealarmedthecourtofPersia，^32andtheGreatKingsuedinvainforthefriendshipofProbus。Mostoftheexploitswhichdistinguishedhisreignwereachievedbythepersonalvalorandconductoftheemperor，insomuchthatthewriterofhislifeexpressessomeamazementhow，insoshortatime，asinglemancouldbepresentinsomanydistantwars。Theremainingactionsheintrustedtothecareofhislieutenants，thejudiciouschoiceofwhomformsnoinconsiderablepartofhisglory。Carus，Diocletian，Maximian，Constantius，Galerius，Asclepiodatus，Annibalianus，andacrowdofotherchiefs，whoafterwardsascendedorsupportedthethrone，weretrainedtoarmsinthesevereschoolofAurelianandProbus。^33
[Footnote29:ThedateanddurationofthereignofProbusareverycorrectlyascertainedbyCardinalNorisinhislearnedwork，DeEpochisSyro—Macedonum，p。96—105。ApassageofEusebiusconnectsthesecondyearofProbuswiththeaerasofseveraloftheSyriancities。]
[Footnote30:VopiscusinHist。August。p。239。]
[Footnote31:Zosimusl。i。p。62—65tellsusaverylongandtriflingstoryofLycius，theIsaurianrobber。]
[Footnote32:Zosim。l。i。p。65。VopiscusinHist。August。p。
239，240。ButitseemsincrediblethatthedefeatofthesavagesofAethiopiacouldaffectthePersianmonarch。]
[Footnote33:Besidesthesewell—knownchiefs，severalothersarenamedbyVopiscus，Hist。August。p。241，whoseactionshavenotreachedknowledge。]
ButthemostimportantservicewhichProbusrenderedtotherepublicwasthedeliveranceofGaul，andtherecoveryofseventyflourishingcitiesoppressedbythebarbariansofGermany，who，sincethedeathofAurelian，hadravagedthatgreatprovincewithimpunity。^34Amongthevariousmultitudeofthosefierceinvaderswemaydistinguish，withsomedegreeofclearness，threegreatarmies，orrathernations，successivelyvanquishedbythevalorofProbus。HedrovebacktheFranksintotheirmorasses；adescriptivecircumstancefromwhencewemayinfer，thattheconfederacyknownbythemanlyappellationofFree，alreadyoccupiedtheflatmaritimecountry，intersectedandalmostoverflownbythestagnatingwatersoftheRhine，andthatseveraltribesoftheFrisiansandBatavianshadaccededtotheiralliance。HevanquishedtheBurgundians，aconsiderablepeopleoftheVandalicrace。TheyhadwanderedinquestofbootyfromthebanksoftheOdertothoseoftheSeine。Theyesteemedthemselvessufficientlyfortunatetopurchase，bytherestitutionofalltheirbooty，thepermissionofanundisturbedretreat。
Theyattemptedtoeludethatarticleofthetreaty。Theirpunishmentwasimmediateandterrible。^35ButofalltheinvadersofGaul，themostformidableweretheLygians，adistantpeople，whoreignedoverawidedomainonthefrontiersofPolandandSilesia。^36IntheLygiannation，theAriiheldthefirstrankbytheirnumbersandfierceness。\"TheArii\"itisthusthattheyaredescribedbytheenergyofTacitus\"studytoimprovebyartandcircumstancestheinnateterrorsoftheirbarbarism。Theirshieldsareblack，theirbodiesarepaintedblack。Theychooseforthecombatthedarkesthourofthenight。
Theirhostadvances，coveredasitwerewithafuneralshade；^37
nordotheyoftenfindanenemycapableofsustainingsostrangeandinfernalanaspect。Ofalloursenses，theeyesarethefirstvanquishedinbattle。\"^38YetthearmsanddisciplineoftheRomanseasilydiscomfitedthesehorridphantoms。TheLygiiweredefeatedinageneralengagement，andSemno，themostrenownedoftheirchiefs，fellaliveintothehandsofProbus。
Thatprudentemperor，unwillingtoreduceabravepeopletodespair，grantedthemanhonorablecapitulation，andpermittedthemtoreturninsafetytotheirnativecountry。Butthelosseswhichtheysufferedinthemarch，thebattle，andtheretreat，brokethepowerofthenation:noristheLygiannameeverrepeatedinthehistoryeitherofGermanyoroftheempire。ThedeliveranceofGaulisreportedtohavecostthelivesoffourhundredthousandoftheinvaders；aworkoflabortotheRomans，andofexpensetotheemperor，whogaveapieceofgoldfortheheadofeverybarbarian。^39Butasthefameofwarriorsisbuiltonthedestructionofhumankind，wemaynaturallysuspect，thatthesanguinaryaccountwasmultipliedbytheavariceofthesoldiers，andacceptedwithoutanyverysevereexaminationbytheliberalvanityofProbus。
[Footnote34:SeetheCaesarsofJulian，andHist。August。p。
238，240，241。]
[Footnote*:ItwasonlyundertheemperorsDiocletianandMaximian，thattheBurgundians，inconcertwiththeAlemanni，invadedtheinteriorofGaul；underthereignofProbus，theydidnomorethanpasstheriverwhichseparatedthemfromtheRomanEmpire:theywererepelled。GattererpresumesthatthisriverwastheDanube；apassageinZosimusappearstomerathertoindicatetheRhine。Zos。l。i。p。37，editH。Etienne，1581。—
G。
OntheoriginoftheBurgundiansmaybeconsultedMalteBrun，Geogrvi。p。396，edit。1831，whoobservesthatalltheremainsoftheBurgundianlanguageindicatethattheyspokeaGothicdialect。—M。]
[Footnote35:Zosimus，l。i。p。62。Hist。August。p。240。Butthelattersupposesthepunishmentinflictedwiththeconsentoftheirkings:ifso，itwaspartial，liketheoffence。]
[Footnote36:SeeCluver。GermaniaAntiqua，l。iii。PtolemyplacesintheircountrythecityofCalisia，probablyCalishinSilesia。
Note:Ludenvolii。501supposesthatthesehavebeenerroneouslyidentifiedwiththeLygiiofTacitus。Perhapsonefertilesourceofmistakeshasbeen，thattheRomanshaveturnedappellationsintonationalnames。MalteBrunobservesoftheLygii，\"thattheirnameappearsSclavonian，andsignifies\'inhabitantsofplains；\'theyareprobablytheLiechesofthemiddleages，andtheancestorsofthePoles。WefindamongtheAriitheworshipofthetwotwingodsknownintheSclavianmythology。\"MalteBrun，vol。i。p。278，edit。1831。—M。
ButcompareSchafarik，SlawischeAlterthumer，1，p。406。
TheywereofGermanorKeltishdescent，occupyingtheWendishorSlaviandistrict，Luhy。—M。1845。]
[Footnote37:Feralisumbra，istheexpressionofTacitus:itissurelyaveryboldone。]
[Footnote38:Tacit。Germania，c。43。]
[Footnote39:VopiscusinHist。August。p。238]
SincetheexpeditionofMaximin，theRomangeneralshadconfinedtheirambitiontoadefensivewaragainstthenationsofGermany，whoperpetuallypressedonthefrontiersoftheempire。
ThemoredaringProbuspursuedhisGallicvictories，passedtheRhine，anddisplayedhisinvincibleeaglesonthebanksoftheElbeandtheNecker。Hewasfullyconvincedthatnothingcouldreconcilethemindsofthebarbarianstopeace，unlesstheyexperienced，intheirowncountry，thecalamitiesofwar。
Germany，exhaustedbytheillsuccessofthelastemigration，wasastonishedbyhispresence。Nineofthemostconsiderableprincesrepairedtohiscamp，andfellprostrateathisfeet。SuchatreatywashumblyreceivedbytheGermans，asitpleasedtheconquerortodictate。Heexactedastrictrestitutionoftheeffectsandcaptiveswhichtheyhadcarriedawayfromtheprovinces；andobligedtheirownmagistratestopunishthemoreobstinaterobberswhopresumedtodetainanypartofthespoil。
Aconsiderabletributeofcorn，cattle，andhorses，theonlywealthofbarbarians，wasreservedfortheuseofthegarrisonswhichProbusestablishedonthelimitsoftheirterritory。HeevenentertainedsomethoughtsofcompellingtheGermanstorelinquishtheexerciseofarms，andtotrusttheirdifferencestothejustice，theirsafetytothepower，ofRome。Toaccomplishthesesalutaryends，theconstantresidenceofanImperialgovernor，supportedbyanumerousarmy，wasindispensablyrequisite。Probusthereforejudgeditmoreexpedienttodefertheexecutionofsogreatadesign；whichwasindeedratherofspeciousthansolidutility。^40HadGermanybeenreducedintothestateofaprovince，theRomans，withimmenselaborandexpense，wouldhaveacquiredonlyamoreextensiveboundarytodefendagainstthefiercerandmoreactivebarbariansofScythia。
[Footnote40:Hist。August。238，239。Vopiscusquotesaletterfromtheemperortothesenate，inwhichhementionshisdesignofreducingGermanyintoaprovince。]
InsteadofreducingthewarlikenativesofGermanytotheconditionofsubjects，Probuscontentedhimselfwiththehumbleexpedientofraisingabulwarkagainsttheirinroads。ThecountrywhichnowformsthecircleofSwabiahadbeenleftdesertintheageofAugustusbytheemigrationofitsancientinhabitants。^41ThefertilityofthesoilsoonattractedanewcolonyfromtheadjacentprovincesofGaul。Crowdsofadventurers，ofarovingtemperandofdesperatefortunes，occupiedthedoubtfulpossession，andacknowledged，bythepaymentoftithesthemajestyoftheempire。^42Toprotectthesenewsubjects，alineoffrontiergarrisonswasgraduallyextendedfromtheRhinetotheDanube。AboutthereignofHadrian，whenthatmodeofdefencebegantobepractised，thesegarrisonswereconnectedandcoveredbyastrongintrenchmentoftreesandpalisades。Intheplaceofsorudeabulwark，theemperorProbusconstructedastonewallofaconsiderableheight，andstrengtheneditbytowersatconvenientdistances。FromtheneighborhoodofNewstadtandRatisbonontheDanube，itstretchedacrosshills，valleys，rivers，andmorasses，asfarasWimpfenontheNecker，andatlengthterminatedonthebanksoftheRhine，afterawindingcourseofneartwohundredmiles。^43Thisimportantbarrier，unitingthetwomightystreamsthatprotectedtheprovincesofEurope，seemedtofillupthevacantspacethroughwhichthebarbarians，andparticularlytheAlemanni，couldpenetratewiththegreatestfacilityintotheheartoftheempire。Buttheexperienceoftheworld，fromChinatoBritain，hasexposedthevainattemptoffortifyinganyextensivetractofcountry。^44Anactiveenemy，whocanselectandvaryhispointsofattack，must，intheend，discoversomefeeblespot，onsomeunguardedmoment。Thestrength，aswellastheattention，ofthedefendersisdivided；andsucharetheblindeffectsofterroronthefirmesttroops，thatalinebrokeninasingleplaceisalmostinstantlydeserted。ThefateofthewallwhichProbuserectedmayconfirmthegeneralobservation。Withinafewyearsafterhisdeath，itwasoverthrownbytheAlemanni。Itsscatteredruins，universallyascribedtothepoweroftheDaemon，nowserveonlytoexcitethewonderoftheSwabianpeasant。
[Footnote41:Strabo，l。vii。AccordingtoValleiusPaterculus，ii。108，MaroboduusledhisMarcomanniintoBohemia；CluveriusGerman。Antiq。iii。8provesthatitwasfromSwabia。]
[Footnote42:Thesesettlers，fromthepaymentoftithes，weredenominatedDecunates。Tacit。Germania，c。29]
[Footnote43:Seenotesdel\'AbbedelaBleteriealaGermaniedeTacite，p。183。HisaccountofthewallischieflyborrowedashesayshimselffromtheAlsatiaIllustrataofSchoepflin。]
[Footnote44:SeeRecherchessurlesChinoisetlesEgyptiens，tom。ii。p。81—102。Theanonymousauthoriswellacquaintedwiththeglobeingeneral，andwithGermanyinparticular:withregardtothelatter，hequotesaworkofM。Hanselman；butheseemstoconfoundthewallofProbus，designedagainsttheAlemanni，withthefortificationoftheMattiaci，constructedintheneighborhoodofFrankfortagainsttheCatti。