CarausiusstillpreservedthepossessionofBoulogneandtheadjacentcountry。Hisfleetsrodetriumphantinthechannel，commandedthemouthsoftheSeineandoftheRhine，ravagedthecoastsoftheocean，anddiffusedbeyondthecolumnsofHerculestheterrorofhisname。Underhiscommand，Britain，destinedinafutureagetoobtaintheempireofthesea，alreadyassumeditsnaturalandrespectablestationofamaritimepower。^28
[Footnote27:Panegyr。Vetv11，vii。9。TheoratorEumeniuswishedtoexaltthegloryoftheheroConstantiuswiththeimportanceoftheconquest。Notwithstandingourlaudablepartialityforournativecountry，itisdifficulttoconceive，that，inthebeginningofthefourthcenturyEnglanddeservedallthesecommendations。Acenturyandahalfbefore，ithardlypaiditsownestablishment。]
[Footnote28:AsagreatnumberofmedalsofCarausiusarestillpreserved，heisbecomeaveryfavoriteobjectofantiquariancuriosity，andeverycircumstanceofhislifeandactionshasbeeninvestigatedwithsagaciousaccuracy。Dr。Stukely，inparticular，hasdevotedalargevolumetotheBritishemperor。I
haveusedhismaterials，andrejectedmostofhisfancifulconjectures。]
ByseizingthefleetofBoulogne，Carausiushaddeprivedhismasterofthemeansofpursuitandrevenge。Andwhen，afteravastexpenseoftimeandlabor，anewarmamentwaslaunchedintothewater，^29theImperialtroops，unaccustomedtothatelement，wereeasilybaffledanddefeatedbytheveteransailorsoftheusurper。Thisdisappointedeffortwassoonproductiveofatreatyofpeace。Diocletianandhiscolleague，whojustlydreadedtheenterprisingspiritofCarausius，resignedtohimthesovereigntyofBritain，andreluctantlyadmittedtheirperfidiousservanttoaparticipationoftheImperialhonors。^30ButtheadoptionofthetwoCaesarsrestorednewvigortotheRomansarms；andwhiletheRhinewasguardedbythepresenceofMaximian，hisbraveassociateConstantiusassumedtheconductoftheBritishwar。HisfirstenterprisewasagainsttheimportantplaceofBoulogne。Astupendousmole，raisedacrosstheentranceoftheharbor，interceptedallhopesofrelief。Thetownsurrenderedafteranobstinatedefence；andaconsiderablepartofthenavalstrengthofCarausiusfellintothehandsofthebesiegers。DuringthethreeyearswhichConstantiusemployedinpreparingafleetadequatetotheconquestofBritain，hesecuredthecoastofGaul，invadedthecountryoftheFranks，anddeprivedtheusurperoftheassistanceofthosepowerfulallies。
[Footnote29:WhenMamertinuspronouncedhisfirstpanegyric，thenavalpreparationsofMaximianwerecompleted；andtheoratorpresagedanassuredvictory。Hissilenceinthesecondpanegyricmightaloneinformusthattheexpeditionhadnotsucceeded。]
[Footnote30:AureliusVictor，Eutropius，andthemedals，PaxAugg。informusofthistemporaryreconciliation；thoughIwillnotpresumeasDr。Stukelyhasdone，MedallicHistoryofCarausius，p。86，&ctoinserttheidenticalarticlesofthetreaty。]
Beforethepreparationswerefinished，Constantiusreceivedtheintelligenceofthetyrant\'sdeath，anditwasconsideredasasurepresageoftheapproachingvictory。TheservantsofCarausiusimitatedtheexampleoftreasonwhichhehadgiven。Hewasmurderedbyhisfirstminister，Allectus，andtheassassinsucceededtohispowerandtohisdanger。Buthepossessednotequalabilitieseithertoexercisetheoneortorepeltheother。
Hebeheld，withanxiousterror，theoppositeshoresofthecontinentalreadyfilledwitharms，withtroops，andwithvessels；forConstantiushadveryprudentlydividedhisforces，thathemightlikewisedividetheattentionandresistanceoftheenemy。Theattackwasatlengthmadebytheprincipalsquadron，which，underthecommandofthepraefectAsclepiodatus，anofficerofdistinguishedmerit，hadbeenassembledinthenorthoftheSeine。Soimperfectinthosetimeswastheartofnavigation，thatoratorshavecelebratedthedaringcourageoftheRomans，whoventuredtosetsailwithaside—wind，andonastormyday。Theweatherprovedfavorabletotheirenterprise。
Underthecoverofathickfog，theyescapedthefleetofAllectus，whichhadbeenstationedofftheIsleofWighttoreceivethem，landedinsafetyonsomepartofthewesterncoast，andconvincedtheBritons，thatasuperiorityofnavalstrengthwillnotalwaysprotecttheircountryfromaforeigninvasion。
Asclepiodatushadnosoonerdisembarkedtheimperialtroops，thenhesetfiretohisships；and，astheexpeditionprovedfortunate，hisheroicconductwasuniversallyadmired。TheusurperhadpostedhimselfnearLondon，toexpecttheformidableattackofConstantius，whocommandedinpersonthefleetofBoulogne；butthedescentofanewenemyrequiredhisimmediatepresenceintheWest。Heperformedthislongmarchinsoprecipitateamanner，thatheencounteredthewholeforceofthepraefectwithasmallbodyofharassedanddisheartenedtroops。
TheengagementwassoonterminatedbythetotaldefeatanddeathofAllectus；asinglebattle，asithasoftenhappened，decidedthefateofthisgreatisland；andwhenConstantiuslandedontheshoresofKent，hefoundthemcoveredwithobedientsubjects。
Theiracclamationswereloudandunanimous；andthevirtuesoftheconquerormayinduceustobelieve，thattheysincerelyrejoicedinarevolution，which，afteraseparationoftenyears，restoredBritaintothebodyoftheRomanempire。^31
[Footnote31:WithregardtotherecoveryofBritain，weobtainafewhintsfromAureliusVictorandEutropius。]
ChapterXIII:ReignOfDiocletianAndThisThreeAssociates。
PartII。
Britainhadnonebutdomesticenemiestodread；andaslongasthegovernorspreservedtheirfidelity，andthetroopstheirdiscipline，theincursionsofthenakedsavagesofScotlandorIrelandcouldnevermateriallyaffectthesafetyoftheprovince。
Thepeaceofthecontinent，andthedefenceoftheprincipalriverswhichboundedtheempire，wereobjectsoffargreaterdifficultyandimportance。ThepolicyofDiocletian，whichinspiredthecouncilsofhisassociates，providedforthepublictranquility，byencouragingaspiritofdissensionamongthebarbarians，andbystrengtheningthefortificationsoftheRomanlimit。IntheEasthefixedalineofcampsfromEgypttothePersiandominions，andforeverycamp，heinstitutedanadequatenumberofstationarytroops，commandedbytheirrespectiveofficers，andsuppliedwitheverykindofarms，fromthenewarsenalswhichhehadformedatAntioch，Emesa，andDamascus。^32
Norwastheprecautionoftheemperorlesswatchfulagainstthewell—knownvalorofthebarbariansofEurope。FromthemouthoftheRhinetothatoftheDanube，theancientcamps，towns，andcitidels，werediligentlyreestablished，and，inthemostexposedplaces，newoneswereskilfullyconstructed:thestrictestvigilancewasintroducedamongthegarrisonsofthefrontier，andeveryexpedientwaspractisedthatcouldrenderthelongchainoffortificationsfirmandimpenetrable。^33Abarriersorespectablewasseldomviolated，andthebarbariansoftenturnedagainsteachothertheirdisappointedrage。TheGoths，theVandals，theGepidae，theBurgundians，theAlemanni，wastedeachother\'sstrengthbydestructivehostilities:andwhosoevervanquished，theyvanquishedtheenemiesofRome。ThesubjectsofDiocletianenjoyedthebloodyspectacle，andcongratulatedeachother，thatthemischiefsofcivilwarwerenowexperiencedonlybythebarbarians。^34
[Footnote32:JohnMalala，inChron，Antiochen。tom。i。p。408，409。]
[Footnote33:Zosim。l。i。p。3。ThatpartialhistorianseemstocelebratethevigilanceofDiocletianwithadesignofexposingthenegligenceofConstantine；wemay，however，listentoanorator:\"Namquidegoalarumetcohortiumcastrapercenseam，totoRhenietIstrietEuphrauslimiterestituta。\"Panegyr。Vet。iv。
18。]
[Footnote34:Ruuntomnesinsanguinemsuumpopuli，quibusroncontigilesseRomanis，obstinataequeferitatispoenasnuncspontepersolvunt。Panegyr。Vet。iii。16。Mamertinusillustratesthefactbytheexampleofalmostallthenationsintheworld。]
NotwithstandingthepolicyofDiocletian，itwasimpossibletomaintainanequalandundisturbedtranquillityduringareignoftwentyyears，andalongafrontierofmanyhundredmiles。
Sometimesthebarbarianssuspendedtheirdomesticanimosities，andtherelaxedvigilanceofthegarrisonssometimesgaveapassagetotheirstrengthordexterity。Whenevertheprovinceswereinvaded，Diocletianconductedhimselfwiththatcalmdignitywhichhealwaysaffectedorpossessed；reservedhispresenceforsuchoccasionsaswereworthyofhisinterposition，neverexposedhispersonorreputationtoanyunnecessarydanger，insuredhissuccessbyeverymeansthatprudencecouldsuggest，anddisplayed，withostentation，theconsequencesofhisvictory。Inwarsofamoredifficultnature，andmoredoubtfulevent，heemployedtheroughvalorofMaximian；andthatfaithfulsoldierwascontenttoascribehisownvictoriestothewisecounselsandauspiciousinfluenceofhisbenefactor。ButaftertheadoptionofthetwoCaesars，theemperorsthemselves，retiringtoalesslaborioussceneofaction，devolvedontheiradoptedsonsthedefenceoftheDanubeandoftheRhine。ThevigilantGaleriuswasneverreducedtothenecessityofvanquishinganarmyofbarbariansontheRomanterritory。^35ThebraveandactiveContsantiusdeliveredGaulfromaveryfuriousinroadoftheAlemanni；andhisvictoriesofLangresandVindonissaappeartohavebeenactionsofconsiderabledangerandmerit。Ashetraversedtheopencountrywithafeebleguard，hewasencompassedonasuddenbythesuperiormultitudeoftheenemy。
HeretreatedwithdifficultytowardsLangres；but，inthegeneralconsternation，thecitizensrefusedtoopentheirgates，andthewoundedprincewasdrawnupthewallbythemeansofarope。
But，onthenewsofhisdistress，theRomantroopshastenedfromallsidestohisrelief，andbeforetheeveninghehadsatisfiedhishonorandrevengebytheslaughterofsixthousandAlemanni。
^36Fromthemonumentsofthosetimes，theobscuretracesofseveralothervictoriesoverthebarbariansofSarmatiaandGermanymightpossiblybecollected；butthetedioussearchwouldnotberewardedeitherwithamusementorwithinstruction。
[Footnote35:Hecomplained，thoughnotwiththestrictesttruth，\"Jamfluxisseannosquindeciminquibus，inIllyrico，adripamDanubiirelegatuscumgentibusbarbarisluctaret。\"Lactant。deM。
P。c。18。]
[Footnote36:IntheGreektextofEusebius，wereadsixthousand，anumberwhichIhavepreferredtothesixtythousandofJerome，OrosiusEutropius，andhisGreektranslatorPaeanius。]
TheconductwhichtheemperorProbushadadoptedinthedisposalofthevanquished，wasimitatedbyDiocletianandhisassociates。Thecaptivebarbarians，exchangingdeathforslavery，weredistributedamongtheprovincials，andassignedtothosedistrictsinGaul，theterritoriesofAmiens，Beauvais，Cambray，Treves，Langres，andTroyes，areparticularlyspecified^37whichhadbeendepopulatedbythecalamitiesofwar。Theywereusefullyemployedasshepherdsandhusbandmen，butweredeniedtheexerciseofarms，exceptwhenitwasfoundexpedienttoenrolltheminthemilitaryservice。Nordidtheemperorsrefusethepropertyoflands，withalessserviletenure，tosuchofthebarbariansassolicitedtheprotectionofRome。TheygrantedasettlementtoseveralcoloniesoftheCarpi，theBastarnae，andtheSarmatians；and，byadangerousindulgence，permittedtheminsomemeasuretoretaintheirnationalmannersandindependence。^38Amongtheprovincials，itwasasubjectofflatteringexultation，thatthebarbarian，solatelyanobjectofterror，nowcultivatedtheirlands，drovetheircattletotheneighboringfair，andcontributedbyhislabortothepublicplenty。Theycongratulatedtheirmastersonthepowerfulaccessionofsubjectsandsoldiers；buttheyforgottoobserve，thatmultitudesofsecretenemies，insolentfromfavor，ordesperatefromoppression，wereintroducedintotheheartoftheempire。^39
[Footnote37:Panegyr。Vet。vii。21。]
[Footnote38:TherewasasettlementoftheSarmatiansintheneighborhoodofTreves，whichseemstohavebeendesertedbythoselazybarbarians。AusoniusspeaksoftheminhisMosella:—
\"Undeiteringrediensnemorosaperaviasolum，Etnullahumanispectansvestigiacultus；……
ArvaqueSauromatumnupermetatacolonis。]
[Footnote39:TherewasatownoftheCarpiintheLowerMaesia。
SeetherhetoricalexultationofEumenius。]
WhiletheCaesarsexercisedtheirvaloronthebanksoftheRhineandDanube，thepresenceoftheemperorswasrequiredonthesouthernconfinesoftheRomanworld。FromtheNiletoMountAtlasAfricawasinarms。AconfederacyoffiveMoorishnationsissuedfromtheirdesertstoinvadethepeacefulprovinces。^40
JulianhadassumedthepurpleatCarthage。^41AchilleusatAlexandria，andeventheBlemmyes，renewed，orrathercontinued，theirincursionsintotheUpperEgypt。ScarcelyanycircumstanceshavebeenpreservedoftheexploitsofMaximianinthewesternpartsofAfrica；butitappears，bytheevent，thattheprogressofhisarmswasrapidanddecisive，thathevanquishedthefiercestbarbariansofMauritania，andthatheremovedthemfromthemountains，whoseinaccessiblestrengthhadinspiredtheirinhabitantswithalawlessconfidence，andhabituatedthemtoalifeofrapineandviolence。^42Diocletian，onhisside，openedthecampaigninEgyptbythesiegeofAlexandria，cutofftheaqueductswhichconveyedthewatersoftheNileintoeveryquarterofthatimmensecity，^43andrenderinghiscampimpregnabletothesalliesofthebesiegedmultitude，hepushedhisreiteratedattackswithcautionandvigor。Afterasiegeofeightmonths，Alexandria，wastedbytheswordandbyfire，imploredtheclemencyoftheconqueror，butitexperiencedthefullextentofhisseverity。Manythousandsofthecitizensperishedinapromiscuousslaughter，andtherewerefewobnoxiouspersonsinEgyptwhoescapedasentenceeitherofdeathoratleastofexile。^44ThefateofBusirisandofCoptoswasstillmoremelancholythanthatofAlexandria:thoseproudcities，theformerdistinguishedbyitsantiquity，thelatterenrichedbythepassageoftheIndiantrade，wereutterlydestroyedbythearmsandbythesevereorderofDiocletian。^45
ThecharacteroftheEgyptiannation，insensibletokindness，butextremelysusceptibleoffear，couldalonejustifythisexcessiverigor。TheseditionsofAlexandriahadoftenaffectedthetranquillityandsubsistenceofRomeitself。SincetheusurpationofFirmus，theprovinceofUpperEgypt，incessantlyrelapsingintorebellion，hadembracedtheallianceofthesavagesofAethiopia。ThenumberoftheBlemmyes，scatteredbetweentheIslandofMeroeandtheRedSea，wasveryinconsiderable，theirdispositionwasunwarlike，theirweaponsrudeandinoffensive。^46Yetinthepublicdisorders，thesebarbarians，whomantiquity，shockedwiththedeformityoftheirfigure，hadalmostexcludedfromthehumanspecies，presumedtorankthemselvesamongtheenemiesofRome。^47SuchhadbeentheunworthyalliesoftheEgyptians；andwhiletheattentionofthestatewasengagedinmoreseriouswars，theirvexationsinroadsmightagainharassthereposeoftheprovince。WithaviewofopposingtotheBlemmyesasuitableadversary，DiocletianpersuadedtheNobatae，orpeopleofNubia，toremovefromtheirancienthabitationsinthedesertsofLibya，andresignedtothemanextensivebutunprofitableterritoryaboveSyeneandthecataractsoftheNile，withthestipulation，thattheyshouldeverrespectandguardthefrontieroftheempire。Thetreatylongsubsisted；andtilltheestablishmentofChristianityintroducedstricternotionsofreligiousworship，itwasannuallyratifiedbyasolemnsacrificeintheIsleofElephantine，inwhichtheRomans，aswellasthebarbarians，adoredthesamevisibleorinvisiblepowersoftheuniverse。^48
[Footnote40:ScaligerAnimadvers。adEuseb。p。243decides，inhisusualmanner，thattheQuinquegentiani，orfiveAfricannations，werethefivegreatcities，thePentapolisoftheinoffensiveprovinceofCyrene。]
[Foot]note41:Afterhisdefeat，Julianstabbedhimselfwithadagger，andimmediatelyleapedintotheflames。VictorinEpitome。]
[Footnote42:TuferocissimosMauritaniaepopulosinaccessismontiumjugisetnaturalimunitionefidentes，expugnasti，recepisti，transtulisti。PanegyrVet。vi。8。]
[Footnote43:SeethedescriptionofAlexandria，inHirtiusdeBel。Alexandrinc。5。]
[Footnote44:Eutrop。ix。24。Orosius，vii。25。JohnMalalainChron。Antioch。p。409，410。YetEumeniusassuresus，thatEgyptwaspacifiedbytheclemencyofDiocletian。]
[Footnote45:EusebiusinChron。placestheirdestructionseveralyearssoonerandatatimewhenEgyptitselfwasinastateofrebellionagainsttheRomans。]
[Footnote46:Strabo，l。xvii。p。172。PomponiusMela，l。i。c。
4。Hiswordsarecurious:\"Intra，sicrederelibetvix，hominesmagisquesemiferiAegipanes，etBlemmyes，etSatyri。\"]
[Footnote47:AususseseinsererefortunaeetprovocarearmaRomana。]
[Footnote48:SeeProcopiusdeBell。Persic。l。i。c。19。
Note:Compare，ontheepochofthefinalextirpationoftheritesofPaganismfromtheIsleofPhilae，Elephantine，whichsubsistedtilltheedictofTheodosius，inthesixthcentury，adissertationofM。Letronne，oncertainGreekinscriptions。ThedissertationcontainssomeveryinterestingobservationsontheconductandpolicyofDiocletianinEgypt。Materpourl\'Hist。duChristianismeenEgypte，NubieetAbyssinie，Paris1817—M。]