^5
[Footnote4:Inthisencomium，AureliusVictorseemstoconveyajust，thoughindirect，censureofthecrueltyofConstantius。ItappearsfromtheFasti，thatAristobulusremainedpraefectofthecity，andthatheendedwithDiocletiantheconsulshipwhichhehadcommencedwithCarinus。]
[Footnote5:AureliusVictorstylesDiocletian，\"ParentumpotiusquamDominum。\"SeeHist。August。p。30。]
Thefirstconsiderableactionofhisreignseemedtoevincehissincerityaswellashismoderation。AftertheexampleofMarcus，hegavehimselfacolleagueinthepersonofMaximian，onwhomhebestowedatfirstthetitleofCaesar，andafterwardsthatofAugustus。^6Butthemotivesofhisconduct，aswellastheobjectofhischoice，wereofaverydifferentnaturefromthoseofhisadmiredpredecessor。Byinvestingaluxuriousyouthwiththehonorsofthepurple，Marcushaddischargedadebtofprivategratitude，attheexpense，indeed，ofthehappinessofthestate。Byassociatingafriendandafellow—soldiertothelaborsofgovernment，Diocletian，inatimeofpublicdanger，providedforthedefencebothoftheEastandoftheWest。
Maximianwasbornapeasant，and，likeAurelian，intheterritoryofSirmium。Ignorantofletters，^7carelessoflaws，therusticityofhisappearanceandmannersstillbetrayedinthemostelevatedfortunethemeannessofhisextraction。Warwastheonlyartwhichheprofessed。Inalongcourseofservice，hehaddistinguishedhimselfoneveryfrontieroftheempire；andthoughhismilitarytalentswereformedtoobeyratherthantocommand，though，perhaps，heneverattainedtheskillofaconsummategeneral，hewascapable，byhisvalor，constancy，andexperience，ofexecutingthemostarduousundertakings。NorwerethevicesofMaximianlessusefultohisbenefactor。Insensibletopity，andfearlessofconsequences，hewasthereadyinstrumentofeveryactofcrueltywhichthepolicyofthatartfulprincemightatoncesuggestanddisclaim。Assoonasabloodysacrificehadbeenofferedtoprudenceortorevenge，Diocletian，byhisseasonableintercession，savedtheremainingfewwhomhehadneverdesignedtopunish，gentlycensuredtheseverityofhissterncolleague，andenjoyedthecomparisonofagoldenandanironage，whichwasuniversallyappliedtotheiroppositemaximsofgovernment。Notwithstandingthedifferenceoftheircharacters，thetwoemperorsmaintained，onthethrone，thatfriendshipwhichtheyhadcontractedinaprivatestation。
Thehaughty，turbulentspiritofMaximian，sofatal，afterwards，tohimselfandtothepublicpeace，wasaccustomedtorespectthegeniusofDiocletian，andconfessedtheascendantofreasonoverbrutalviolence。^8Fromamotiveeitherofprideorsuperstition，thetwoemperorsassumedthetitles，theoneofJovius，theotherofHerculius。Whilstthemotionoftheworldsuchwasthelanguageoftheirvenaloratorswasmaintainedbytheall—seeingwisdomofJupiter，theinvinciblearmofHerculespurgedtheearthfrommonstersandtyrants。^9
[Footnote6:ThequestionofthetimewhenMaximianreceivedthehonorsofCaesarandAugustushasdividedmoderncritics，andgivenoccasiontoagreatdealoflearnedwrangling。IhavefollowedM。deTillemont，HistoiredesEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。
500—505，whohasweighedtheseveralreasonsanddifficultieswithhisscrupulousaccuracy。
Note:Eckbelconcursinthisview，viiip。15。—M。]
[Footnote7:Inanorationdeliveredbeforehim，Panegyr。Vet。
ii。8，Mamertinusexpressesadoubt，whetherhishero，inimitatingtheconductofHannibalandScipio，hadeverheardoftheirnames。Fromthencewemayfairlyinfer，thatMaximianwasmoredesirousofbeingconsideredasasoldierthanasamanofletters；anditisinthismannerthatwecanoftentranslatethelanguageofflatteryintothatoftruth。]
[Footnote8:LactantiusdeM。P。c。8。AureliusVictor。AsamongthePanegyrics，wefindorationspronouncedinpraiseofMaximian，andotherswhichflatterhisadversariesathisexpense，wederivesomeknowledgefromthecontrast。]
[Footnote9:SeethesecondandthirdPanegyrics，particularlyiii。3，10，14butitwouldbetedioustocopythediffuseandaffectedexpressionsoftheirfalseeloquence。Withregardtothetitles，consultAurel。VictorLactantiusdeM。P。c。52。
SpanheimdeUsuNumismatum，&c。xii8。]
ButeventheomnipotenceofJoviusandHerculiuswasinsufficienttosustaintheweightofthepublicadministration。
TheprudenceofDiocletiandiscoveredthattheempire，assailedoneverysidebythebarbarians，requiredoneverysidethepresenceofagreatarmy，andofanemperor。Withthisview，heresolvedoncemoretodividehisunwieldypower，andwiththeinferiortitleofCaesars，toconferontwogeneralsofapprovedmeritanunequalshareofthesovereignauthority。^10
Galerius，surnamedArmentarius，fromhisoriginalprofessionofaherdsman，andConstantius，whofromhispalecomplexionhadacquiredthedenominationofChlorus，^11werethetwopersonsinvestedwiththesecondhonorsoftheImperialpurple。Indescribingthecountry，extraction，andmannersofHerculius，wehavealreadydelineatedthoseofGalerius，whowasoften，andnotimproperly，styledtheyoungerMaximian，though，inmanyinstancesbothofvirtueandability，heappearstohavepossessedamanifestsuperiorityovertheelder。ThebirthofConstantiuswaslessobscurethanthatofhiscolleagues。
Eutropius，hisfather，wasoneofthemostconsiderablenoblesofDardania，andhismotherwasthenieceoftheemperorClaudius。
^12AlthoughtheyouthofConstantiushadbeenspentinarms，hewasendowedwithamildandamiabledisposition，andthepopularvoicehadlongsinceacknowledgedhimworthyoftherankwhichheatlastattained。Tostrengthenthebondsofpolitical，bythoseofdomestic，union，eachoftheemperorsassumedthecharacterofafathertooneoftheCaesars，DiocletiantoGalerius，andMaximiantoConstantius；andeach，obligingthemtorepudiatetheirformerwives，bestowedhisdaughterinmarriageorhisadoptedson。^13ThesefourprincesdistributedamongthemselvesthewideextentoftheRomanempire。ThedefenceofGaul，Spain，^14andBritain，wasintrustedtoConstantius:GaleriuswasstationedonthebanksoftheDanube，asthesafeguardoftheIllyrianprovinces。ItalyandAfricawereconsideredasthedepartmentofMaximian；andforhispeculiarportion，DiocletianreservedThrace，Egypt，andtherichcountriesofAsia。Everyonewassovereignwithhisownjurisdiction；buttheirunitedauthorityextendedoverthewholemonarchy，andeachofthemwaspreparedtoassisthiscolleagueswithhiscounselsorpresence。
TheCaesars，intheirexaltedrank，reveredthemajestyoftheemperors，andthethreeyoungerprincesinvariablyacknowledged，bytheirgratitudeandobedience，thecommonparentoftheirfortunes。Thesuspiciousjealousyofpowerfoundnotanyplaceamongthem；andthesingularhappinessoftheirunionhasbeencomparedtoachorusofmusic，whoseharmonywasregulatedandmaintainedbytheskilfulhandofthefirstartist。^15
[Footnote*:OntherelativepoweroftheAugustiandtheCaesars，consultadissertationattheendofManso\'sLebenConstantiusdesGrossen—M。]
[Footnote10:AureliusVictor。VictorinEpitome。Eutrop。ix。
22。LactantdeM。P。c。8。Hieronym。inChron。]
[Footnote11:ItisonlyamongthemodernGreeksthatTillemontcandiscoverhisappellationofChlorus。AnyremarkabledegreeofpalenessseemsinconsistentwiththerubormentionedinPanegyric，v。19。]
[Footnote12:Julian，thegrandsonofConstantius，boaststhathisfamilywasderivedfromthewarlikeMaesians。Misopogon，p。
348。TheDardaniansdweltontheedgeofMaesia。]
[Footnote13:GaleriusmarriedValeria，thedaughterofDiocletian；ifwespeakwithstrictness，Theodora，thewifeofConstantius，wasdaughteronlytothewifeofMaximian。
Spanheim，Dissertat，xi。2。]
[Footnote14:Thisdivisionagreeswiththatofthefourpraefectures；yetthereissomereasontodoubtwhetherSpainwasnotaprovinceofMaximian。SeeTillemont，tom。iv。p。517。
Note:AccordingtoAureliusVictorandotherauthorities，ThracebelongedtothedivisionofGalerius。SeeTillemont，iv。
36。ButthelawsofDiocletianareingeneraldatedinIllyriaorThrace。—M。]
[Footnote15:JulianinCaesarib。p。315。Spanheim\'snotestotheFrenchtranslation，p。122。]
ThisimportantmeasurewasnotcarriedintoexecutiontillaboutsixyearsaftertheassociationofMaximian，andthatintervaloftimehadnotbeendestituteofmemorableincidents。
Butwehavepreferred，forthesakeofperspicuity，firsttodescribethemoreperfectformofDiocletian\'sgovernment，andafterwardstorelatetheactionsofhisreign，followingratherthenaturalorderoftheevents，thanthedatesofaverydoubtfulchronology。
ThefirstexploitofMaximian，thoughitismentionedinafewwordsbyourimperfectwriters，deserves，fromitssingularity，toberecordedinahistoryofhumanmanners。HesuppressedthepeasantsofGaul，who，undertheappellationofBagaudae，^16hadriseninageneralinsurrection；verysimilartothosewhichinthefourteenthcenturysuccessivelyafflictedbothFranceandEngland。^17Itshouldseemthatverymanyofthoseinstitutions，referredbyaneasysolutiontothefeudalsystem，arederivedfromtheCelticbarbarians。WhenCaesarsubduedtheGauls，thatgreatnationwasalreadydividedintothreeordersofmen；theclergy，thenobility，andthecommonpeople。Thefirstgovernedbysuperstition，thesecondbyarms，butthethirdandlastwasnotofanyweightoraccountintheirpubliccouncils。Itwasverynaturalfortheplebeians，oppressedbydebt，orapprehensiveofinjuries，toimploretheprotectionofsomepowerfulchief，whoacquiredovertheirpersonsandpropertythesameabsoluterightas，amongtheGreeksandRomans，amasterexercisedoverhisslaves。^18Thegreatestpartofthenationwasgraduallyreducedintoastateofservitude；compelledtoperpetuallaborontheestatesoftheGallicnobles，andconfinedtothesoil，eitherbytherealweightoffetters，orbythenolesscruelandforciblerestraintsofthelaws。DuringthelongseriesoftroubleswhichagitatedGaul，fromthereignofGallienustothatofDiocletian，theconditionoftheseservilepeasantswaspeculiarlymiserable；andtheyexperiencedatoncethecomplicatedtyrannyoftheirmasters，ofthebarbarians，ofthesoldiers，andoftheofficersoftherevenue。
^19
[Footnote16:ThegeneralnameofBagaudoeinthesignificationofrebelscontinuedtillthefifthcenturyinGaul。SomecriticsderiveitfromaCelticwordBagad，atumultuousassembly。ScaligeradEuseb。DuCangeGlossar。CompareS。
Turner，Anglo—Sax。History，i。214。—M。]
[Footnote17:ChroniquedeFroissart，vol。i。c。182，ii。73，79。
Thenaiveteofhisstoryislostinourbestmodernwriters。]
[Footnote18:CaesardeBell。Gallic。vi。13。Orgetorix，theHelvetian，couldarmforhisdefenceabodyoftenthousandslaves。]
[Footnote19:TheiroppressionandmiseryareacknowledgedbyEumeniusPanegyr。vi。8，Galliasefferatasinjuriis。]
Theirpatiencewasatlastprovokedintodespair。Oneverysidetheyroseinmultitudes，armedwithrusticweapons，andwithirresistiblefury。Theploughmanbecameafootsoldier，theshepherdmountedonhorseback，thedesertedvillagesandopentownswereabandonedtotheflames，andtheravagesofthepeasantsequalledthoseofthefiercestbarbarians。^20Theyassertedthenaturalrightsofmen，buttheyassertedthoserightswiththemostsavagecruelty。TheGallicnobles，justlydreadingtheirrevenge，eithertookrefugeinthefortifiedcities，orfledfromthewildsceneofanarchy。Thepeasantsreignedwithoutcontrol；andtwooftheirmostdaringleadershadthefollyandrashnesstoassumetheImperialornaments。^21
Theirpowersoonexpiredattheapproachofthelegions。Thestrengthofunionanddisciplineobtainedaneasyvictoryoveralicentiousanddividedmultitude。^22Asevereretaliationwasinflictedonthepeasantswhowerefoundinarms；theaffrightedremnantreturnedtotheirrespectivehabitations，andtheirunsuccessfuleffortforfreedomservedonlytoconfirmtheirslavery。Sostronganduniformisthecurrentofpopularpassions，thatwemightalmostventure，fromveryscantymaterials，torelatetheparticularsofthiswar；butwearenotdisposedtobelievethattheprincipalleaders，AelianusandAmandus，wereChristians，^23ortoinsinuate，thattherebellion，asithappenedinthetimeofLuther，wasoccasionedbytheabuseofthosebenevolentprinciplesofChristianity，whichinculcatethenaturalfreedomofmankind。
[Footnote20:Panegyr。Vet。ii。4。AureliusVictor。]
[Footnote21:AelianusandAmandus。WehavemedalscoinedbythemGoltziusinThes。R。A。p。117，121。]
[Footnote22:Levibusproeliisdomuit。Eutrop。ix。20。]
[Footnote23:Thefactrestsindeedonveryslightauthority，alifeofSt。Babolinus，whichisprobablyoftheseventhcentury。
SeeDuchesneScriptoresRer。Francicar。tom。i。p。662。]
MaximianhadnosoonerrecoveredGaulfromthehandsofthepeasants，thanhelostBritainbytheusurpationofCarausius。
EversincetherashbutsuccessfulenterpriseoftheFranksunderthereignofProbus，theirdaringcountrymenhadconstructedsquadronsoflightbrigantines，inwhichtheyincessantlyravagedtheprovincesadjacenttotheocean。^24Torepeltheirdesultoryincursions，itwasfoundnecessarytocreateanavalpower；andthejudiciousmeasurewasprosecutedwithprudenceandvigor。
Gessoriacum，orBoulogne，inthestraitsoftheBritishChannel，waschosenbytheemperorforthestationoftheRomanfleet；andthecommandofitwasintrustedtoCarausius，aMenapianofthemeanestorigin，^25butwhohadlongsignalizedhisskillasapilot，andhisvalorasasoldier。Theintegrityofthenewadmiralcorrespondednotwithhisabilities。WhentheGermanpiratessailedfromtheirownharbors，heconnivedattheirpassage，buthediligentlyinterceptedtheirreturn，andappropriatedtohisownuseanampleshareofthespoilwhichtheyhadacquired。ThewealthofCarausiuswas，onthisoccasion，veryjustlyconsideredasanevidenceofhisguilt；andMaximianhadalreadygivenordersforhisdeath。ButthecraftyMenapianforesawandpreventedtheseverityoftheemperor。Byhisliberalityhehadattachedtohisfortunesthefleetwhichhecommanded，andsecuredthebarbariansinhisinterest。FromtheportofBoulognehesailedovertoBritain，persuadedthelegion，andtheauxiliarieswhichguardedthatisland，toembracehisparty，andboldlyassuming，withtheImperialpurple，thetitleofAugustusdefiedthejusticeandthearmsofhisinjuredsovereign。^26
[Footnote24:AureliusVictorcallsthemGermans。Eutropiusix。
21givesthemthenameofSaxons。ButEutropiuslivedintheensuingcentury，andseemstousethelanguageofhisowntimes。]
[Footnote25:ThethreeexpressionsofEutropius，AureliusVictor，andEumenius，\"vilissimenatus，\"\"Bataviaealumnus，\"and\"Menapiaecivis，\"giveusaverydoubtfulaccountofthebirthofCarausius。Dr。Stukely，however，Hist。ofCarausius，p。62，
choosestomakehimanativeofSt。David\'sandaprinceofthebloodroyalofBritain。TheformerideahehadfoundinRichardofCirencester，p。44。
Note:TheMenapiansweresettledbetweentheScheldtandtheMeuse，isthenorthernpartofBrabant。D\'Anville，Geogr。Anc。
i。93。—G。]
[Footnote26:Panegyr。v。12。Britainatthistimewassecure，andslightlyguarded。]
WhenBritainwasthusdismemberedfromtheempire，itsimportancewassensiblyfelt，anditslosssincerelylamented。
TheRomanscelebrated，andperhapsmagnified，theextentofthatnobleisland，providedoneverysidewithconvenientharbors；thetemperatureoftheclimate，andthefertilityofthesoil，alikeadaptedfortheproductionofcornorofvines；thevaluablemineralswithwhichitabounded；itsrichpasturescoveredwithinnumerableflocks，anditswoodsfreefromwildbeastsorvenomousserpents。Aboveall，theyregrettedthelargeamountoftherevenueofBritain，whilsttheyconfessed，thatsuchaprovincewelldeservedtobecometheseatofanindependentmonarchy。^27DuringthespaceofsevenyearsitwaspossessedbyCarausius；andfortunecontinuedpropitioustoarebellionsupportedwithcourageandability。TheBritishemperordefendedthefrontiersofhisdominionsagainsttheCaledoniansoftheNorth，invited，fromthecontinent，agreatnumberofskilfulartists，anddisplayed，onavarietyofcoinsthatarestillextant，histasteandopulence。BornontheconfinesoftheFranks，hecourtedthefriendshipofthatformidablepeople，bytheflatteringimitationoftheirdressandmanners。Thebravestoftheiryouthheenlistedamonghislandorseaforces；and，inreturnfortheirusefulalliance，hecommunicatedtothebarbariansthedangerousknowledgeofmilitaryandnavalarts。