[Footnote8:Thistradition，unknowntothecontemporariesofConstantinewasinventedinthedarknessofmonestaries，wasembellishedbyJeffreyofMonmouth，andthewritersofthexiithcentury，hasbeendefendedbyourantiquariansofthelastage，andisseriouslyrelatedintheponderousHistoryofEngland，compiledbyMr。Carte，vol。i。p。147。Hetransports，however，thekingdomofCoil，theimaginaryfatherofHelena，fromEssextothewallofAntoninus。]
[Footnote9:Eutropiusx。2expresses，inafewwords，therealtruth，andtheoccasionoftheerror\"exobscuriorimatrimonioejusfilius。\"Zosimusl。ii。p。78eagerlyseizedthemostunfavorablereport，andisfollowedbyOrosius，vii。25，whoseauthorityisoddlyenoughoverlookedbytheindefatigable，butpartialTillemont。ByinsistingonthedivorceofHelena，Diocletianacknowledgedhermarriage。]
[Footnote10:TherearethreeopinionswithregardtotheplaceofConstantine\'sbirth。1。OurEnglishantiquarianswereusedtodwellwithraptureonthewordsofhispanegyrist，\"Britanniasillicoriendonobilesfecisti。\"Butthiscelebratedpassagemaybereferredwithasmuchproprietytotheaccession，astothenativityofConstantine。2。SomeofthemodernGreekshaveascribedthehonorofhisbirthtoDrepanum，atownontheGulfofNicomedia，Cellarius，tom。ii。p。174，whichConstantinedignifiedwiththenameofHelenopolis，andJustinianadornedwithmanysplendidbuildings，Procop。deEdificiis，v。2。Itisindeedprobableenough，thatHelena\'sfatherkeptaninnatDrepanum，andthatConstantiusmightlodgetherewhenhereturnedfromaPersianembassy，inthereignofAurelian。Butinthewanderinglifeofasoldier，theplaceofhismarriage，andtheplaceswherehischildrenareborn，haveverylittleconnectionwitheachother。3。TheclaimofNaissusissupportedbytheanonymouswriter，publishedattheendofAmmianus，p。710，andwhoingeneralcopiedverygoodmaterials；anditisconfirmedbyJuliusFirmicus，deAstrologia，l。i。c。4，whoflourishedunderthereignofConstantinehimself。Someobjectionshavebeenraisedagainsttheintegrityofthetext，andtheapplicationofthepassageofFirmicusbuttheformerisestablishedbythebestMss。，andthelatterisveryablydefendedbyLipsiusdeMagnitudineRomana，l。iv。c。11，etSupplement。]
[Footnote11:Literisminusinstructus。Anonym。adAmmian。p。
710。]
[Footnote12:Galerius，orperhapshisowncourage，exposedhimtosinglecombatwithaSarmatian，Anonym。p。710，andwithamonstrouslion。SeePraxagorasapudPhotium，p。63。Praxagoras，anAthenianphilosopher，hadwrittenalifeofConstantineintwobooks，whicharenowlost。Hewasacontemporary。]
[Footnote13:Zosimus，l。ii。p。78，79。LactantiusdeM。P。c。
24。Theformertellsaveryfoolishstory，thatConstantinecausedallthepost—horseswhichhehadusedtobehamstrung。
Suchabloodyexecution，withoutpreventingapursuit，wouldhavescatteredsuspicions，andmighthavestoppedhisjourney。
Note:Zosimusisnottheonlywriterwhotellsthisstory。
TheyoungerVictorconfirmsit。Adfrustrandosinsequentes，publicajumenta，quaquaiterageret，interficiens。AureliusVictordeCaesarsaysthesamething，G。asalsotheAnonymusValesii。—M。
Manso，LebenConstantins，p。18，observesthatthestoryhasbeenexaggerated；hetookthisprecautionduringthefirststageofhisjourney。—M。]
[Footnote14:Anonym。p。710。Panegyr。Veter。vii。4。ButZosimus，l。ii。p。79，EusebiusdeVit。Constant。l。i。c。21，andLactantiusdeM。P。c。24。suppose，withlessaccuracy，thathefoundhisfatheronhisdeath—bed。]
TheBritishexpedition，andaneasyvictoryoverthebarbariansofCaledonia，werethelastexploitsofthereignofConstantius。HeendedhislifeintheImperialpalaceofYork，fifteenmonthsafterhehadreceivedthetitleofAugustus，andalmostfourteenyearsandahalfafterhehadbeenpromotedtotherankofCaesar。HisdeathwasimmediatelysucceededbytheelevationofConstantine。Theideasofinheritanceandsuccessionaresoveryfamiliar，thatthegeneralityofmankindconsiderthemasfounded，notonlyinreason，butinnatureitself。Ourimaginationreadilytransfersthesameprinciplesfromprivatepropertytopublicdominion:andwheneveravirtuousfatherleavesbehindhimasonwhosemeritseemstojustifytheesteem，oreventhehopes，ofthepeople，thejointinfluenceofprejudiceandofaffectionoperateswithirresistibleweight。
TheflowerofthewesternarmieshadfollowedConstantiusintoBritain，andthenationaltroopswerereenforcedbyanumerousbodyofAlemanni，whoobeyedtheordersofCrocus，oneoftheirhereditarychieftains。^15Theopinionoftheirownimportance，andtheassurancethatBritain，Gaul，andSpainwouldacquiesceintheirnomination，werediligentlyinculcatedtothelegionsbytheadherentsofConstantine。Thesoldierswereasked，whethertheycouldhesitateamomentbetweenthehonorofplacingattheirheadtheworthysonoftheirbelovedemperor，andtheignominyoftamelyexpectingthearrivalofsomeobscurestranger，onwhomitmightpleasethesovereignofAsiatobestowthearmiesandprovincesoftheWest。Itwasinsinuatedtothem，thatgratitudeandliberalityheldadistinguishedplaceamongthevirtuesofConstantine；nordidthatartfulprinceshowhimselftothetroops，tilltheywerepreparedtosalutehimwiththenamesofAugustusandEmperor。Thethronewastheobjectofhisdesires；andhadhebeenlessactuatedbyambition，itwashisonlymeansofsafety。HewaswellacquaintedwiththecharacterandsentimentsofGalerius，andsufficientlyapprised，thatifhewishedtolivehemustdeterminetoreign。Thedecentandevenobstinateresistancewhichhechosetoaffect，^16wascontrivedtojustifyhisusurpation；nordidheyieldtotheacclamationsofthearmy，tillhehadprovidedthepropermaterialsforaletter，whichheimmediatelydespatchedtotheemperoroftheEast。Constantineinformedhimofthemelancholyeventofhisfather\'sdeath，modestlyassertedhisnaturalclaimtothesuccession，andrespectfullylamented，thattheaffectionateviolenceofhistroopshadnotpermittedhimtosolicittheImperialpurpleintheregularandconstitutionalmanner。ThefirstemotionsofGaleriuswerethoseofsurprise，disappointment，andrage；andashecouldseldomrestrainhispassions，heloudlythreatened，thathewouldcommittotheflamesboththeletterandthemessenger。Buthisresentmentinsensiblysubsided；andwhenherecollectedthedoubtfulchanceofwar，whenhehadweighedthecharacterandstrengthofhisadversary，heconsentedtoembracethehonorableaccommodationwhichtheprudenceofConstantinehadleftopentohim。WithouteithercondemningorratifyingthechoiceoftheBritisharmy，GaleriusacceptedthesonofhisdeceasedcolleagueasthesovereignoftheprovincesbeyondtheAlps；buthegavehimonlythetitleofCaesar，andthefourthrankamongtheRomanprinces，whilstheconferredthevacantplaceofAugustusonhisfavoriteSeverus。Theapparentharmonyoftheempirewasstillpreserved，andConstantine，whoalreadypossessedthesubstance，expected，withoutimpatience，anopportunityofobtainingthehonors，ofsupremepower。^17
[Footnote15:Cunctisquiaderant，annitentibus，sedpraecipueCrocoaliiEroco[Erich?]AlamannorumRege，auxiliigratiaConstantiumcomitato，imperiumcapit。VictorJunior，c。41。
Thisisperhapsthefirstinstanceofabarbarianking，whoassistedtheRomanarmswithanindependentbodyofhisownsubjects。Thepracticegrewfamiliarandatlastbecamefatal。]
[Footnote16:HispanegyristEumeniusvii。8venturestoaffirminthepresenceofConstantine，thatheputspurstohishorse，andtried，butinvain，toescapefromthehandsofhissoldiers。]
[Footnote17:LactantiusdeM。P。c。25。Eumeniusvii。8。
givesarhetoricalturntothewholetransaction。]
ThechildrenofConstantiusbyhissecondmarriageweresixinnumber，threeofeithersex，andwhoseImperialdescentmighthavesolicitedapreferenceoverthemeanerextractionofthesonofHelena。ButConstantinewasinthethirty—secondyearofhisage，inthefullvigorbothofmindandbody，atthetimewhentheeldestofhisbrotherscouldnotpossiblybemorethanthirteenyearsold。Hisclaimofsuperiormerithadbeenallowedandratifiedbythedyingemperor。^18InhislastmomentsConstantiusbequeathedtohiseldestsonthecareofthesafetyaswellasgreatnessofthefamily；conjuringhimtoassumeboththeauthorityandthesentimentsofafatherwithregardtothechildrenofTheodora。Theirliberaleducation，advantageousmarriages，thesecuredignityoftheirlives，andthefirsthonorsofthestatewithwhichtheywereinvested，attestthefraternalaffectionofConstantine；andasthoseprincespossessedamildandgratefuldisposition，theysubmittedwithoutreluctancetothesuperiorityofhisgeniusandfortune。^19
[Footnote18:ThechoiceofConstantine，byhisdyingfather，whichiswarrantedbyreason，andinsinuatedbyEumenius，seemstobeconfirmedbythemostunexceptionableauthority，theconcurringevidenceofLactantiusdeM。P。c。24andofLibanius，Oratioi。，ofEusebiusinVit。Constantin。l。i。c。
18，21andofJulian，Oratioi]
[Footnote19:OfthethreesistersofConstantine，ConstantiamarriedtheemperorLicinius，AnastasiatheCaesarBassianus，andEutropiatheconsulNepotianus。Thethreebrotherswere，Dalmatius，JuliusConstantius，andAnnibalianus，ofwhomweshallhaveoccasiontospeakhereafter。]
II。TheambitiousspiritofGaleriuswasscarcelyreconciledtothedisappointmentofhisviewsupontheGallicprovinces，beforetheunexpectedlossofItalywoundedhisprideaswellaspowerinastillmoresensiblepart。ThelongabsenceoftheemperorshadfilledRomewithdiscontentandindignation；
andthepeoplegraduallydiscovered，thatthepreferencegiventoNicomediaandMilanwasnottobeascribedtotheparticularinclinationofDiocletian，buttothepermanentformofgovernmentwhichhehadinstituted。Itwasinvainthat，afewmonthsafterhisabdication，hissuccessorsdedicated，underhisname，thosemagnificentbaths，whoseruinsstillsupplythegroundaswellasthematerialsforsomanychurchesandconvents。^20ThetranquilityofthoseelegantrecessesofeaseandluxurywasdisturbedbytheimpatientmurmursoftheRomans，andareportwasinsensiblycirculated，thatthesumsexpendedinerectingthosebuildingswouldsoonberequiredattheirhands。
AboutthattimetheavariceofGalerius，orperhapstheexigenciesofthestate，hadinducedhimtomakeaverystrictandrigorousinquisitionintothepropertyofhissubjects，forthepurposeofageneraltaxation，bothontheirlandsandontheirpersons。Averyminutesurveyappearstohavebeentakenoftheirrealestates；andwherevertherewastheslightestsuspicionofconcealment，torturewasveryfreelyemployedtoobtainasinceredeclarationoftheirpersonalwealth。^21TheprivilegeswhichhadexaltedItalyabovetherankoftheprovinceswerenolongerregarded:andtheofficersoftherevenuealreadybegantonumbertheRomanpeople，andtosettletheproportionofthenewtaxes。Evenwhenthespiritoffreedomhadbeenutterlyextinguished，thetamestsubjectshavesometimesventuredtoresistanunprecedentedinvasionoftheirproperty；
butonthisoccasiontheinjurywasaggravatedbytheinsult，andthesenseofprivateinterestwasquickenedbythatofnationalhonor。TheconquestofMacedonia，aswehavealreadyobserved，haddeliveredtheRomanpeoplefromtheweightofpersonaltaxes。
Thoughtheyhadexperiencedeveryformofdespotism，theyhadnowenjoyedthatexemptionnearfivehundredyears；norcouldtheypatientlybrooktheinsolenceofanIllyrianpeasant，who，fromhisdistantresidenceinAsia，presumedtonumberRomeamongthetributarycitiesofhisempire。Therisingfuryofthepeoplewasencouragedbytheauthority，oratleasttheconnivance，ofthesenate；andthefeebleremainsofthePraetorianguards，whohadreasontoapprehendtheirowndissolution，embracedsohonorableapretence，anddeclaredtheirreadinesstodrawtheirswordsintheserviceoftheiroppressedcountry。Itwasthewish，anditsoonbecamethehope，ofeverycitizen，thatafterexpellingfromItalytheirforeigntyrants，theyshouldelectaprincewho，bytheplaceofhisresidence，andbyhismaximsofgovernment，mightoncemoredeservethetitleofRomanemperor。
Thename，aswellasthesituation，ofMaxentiusdeterminedinhisfavorthepopularenthusiasm。
[Footnote20:SeeGruter。Inscrip。p。178。Thesixprincesareallmentioned，DiocletianandMaximianastheseniorAugusti，andfathersoftheemperors。Theyjointlydedicate，fortheuseoftheirownRomans，thismagnificentedifice。ThearchitectshavedelineatedtheruinsoftheseThermoe，andtheantiquarians，particularlyDonatusandNardini，haveascertainedthegroundwhichtheycovered。OneofthegreatroomsisnowtheCarthusianchurch；andevenoneoftheporter\'slodgesissufficienttoformanotherchurch，whichbelongstotheFeuillans。]
[Footnote21:SeeLactantiusdeM。P。c。26，31。]
[Footnote*:Saviguy，inhismemoironRomantaxation，Mem。
Berl。Academ。1822，1823，p。5，datesfromthisperiodtheabolitionoftheJusItalicum。HequotesaremarkablepassageofAureliusVictor。HincdeniquepartiItaliaeinvectumtributorumingensmalum。Aur。Vict。c。39。Itwasanecessaryconsequenceofthedivisionoftheempire:itbecameimpossibletomaintainasecondcourtandexecutive，andleavesolargeandfruitfulapartoftheterritoryexemptfromcontribution。—M。]
MaxentiuswasthesonoftheemperorMaximian，andhehadmarriedthedaughterofGalerius。Hisbirthandallianceseemedtoofferhimthefairestpromiseofsucceedingtotheempire；buthisvicesandincapacityprocuredhimthesameexclusionfromthedignityofCaesar，whichConstantinehaddeservedbyadangeroussuperiorityofmerit。ThepolicyofGaleriuspreferredsuchassociatesaswouldneverdisgracethechoice，nordisputethecommands，oftheirbenefactor。AnobscurestrangerwasthereforeraisedtothethroneofItaly，andthesonofthelateemperoroftheWestwaslefttoenjoytheluxuryofaprivatefortuneinavillaafewmilesdistantfromthecapital。Thegloomypassionsofhissoul，shame，vexation，andrage，wereinflamedbyenvyonthenewsofConstantine\'ssuccess；butthehopesofMaxentiusrevivedwiththepublicdiscontent，andhewaseasilypersuadedtounitehispersonalinjuryandpretensionswiththecauseoftheRomanpeople。TwoPraetoriantribunesandacommissaryofprovisionsundertookthemanagementoftheconspiracy；andaseveryorderofmenwasactuatedbythesamespirit，theimmediateeventwasneitherdoubtfulnordifficult。Thepraefectofthecity，andafewmagistrates，whomaintainedtheirfidelitytoSeverus，weremassacredbytheguards；andMaxentius，investedwiththeImperialornaments，wasacknowledgedbytheapplaudingsenateandpeopleastheprotectoroftheRomanfreedomanddignity。ItisuncertainwhetherMaximianwaspreviouslyacquaintedwiththeconspiracy；butassoonasthestandardofrebellionwaserectedatRome，theoldemperorbrokefromtheretirementwheretheauthorityofDiocletianhadcondemnedhimtopassalifeofmelancholyandsolitude，andconcealedhisreturningambitionunderthedisguiseofpaternaltenderness。Attherequestofhissonandofthesenate，hecondescendedtoreassumethepurple。Hisancientdignity，hisexperience，andhisfameinarms，addedstrengthaswellasreputationtothepartyofMaxentius。^22
[Footnote22:ThesixthPanegyricrepresentstheconductofMaximianinthemostfavorablelight，andtheambiguousexpressionofAureliusVictor，\"retractantediu，\"maysignifyeitherthathecontrived，orthatheopposed，theconspiracy。
SeeZosimus，l。ii。p。79，andLactantiusdeM。P。c。26。]
Accordingtotheadvice，orrathertheorders，ofhiscolleague，theemperorSeverusimmediatelyhastenedtoRome，inthefullconfidence，that，byhisunexpectedcelerity，heshouldeasilysuppressthetumultofanunwarlikepopulace，commandedbyalicentiousyouth。Buthefoundonhisarrivalthegatesofthecityshutagainsthim，thewallsfilledwithmenandarms，anexperiencedgeneralattheheadoftherebels，andhisowntroopswithoutspiritoraffection。AlargebodyofMoorsdesertedtotheenemy，alluredbythepromiseofalargedonative；and，ifitbetruethattheyhadbeenleviedbyMaximianinhisAfricanwar，preferringthenaturalfeelingsofgratitudetotheartificialtiesofallegiance。Anulinus，thePraetorianpraefect，declaredhimselfinfavorofMaxentius，anddrewafterhimthemostconsiderablepartofthetroops，accustomedtoobeyhiscommands。
Rome，accordingtotheexpressionofanorator，recalledherarmies；andtheunfortunateSeverus，destituteofforceandofcounsel，retired，orratherfled，withprecipitation，toRavenna。
Herehemightforsometimehavebeensafe。ThefortificationsofRavennawereabletoresisttheattempts，andthemorassesthatsurroundedthetown，weresufficienttopreventtheapproach，oftheItalianarmy。Thesea，whichSeveruscommandedwithapowerfulfleet，securedhimaninexhaustiblesupplyofprovisions，andgaveafreeentrancetothelegions，which，onthereturnofspring，wouldadvancetohisassistancefromIllyricumandtheEast。Maximian，whoconductedthesiegeinperson，wassoonconvincedthathemightwastehistimeandhisarmyinthefruitlessenterprise，andthathehadnothingtohopeeitherfromforceorfamine。WithanartmoresuitabletothecharacterofDiocletianthantohisown，hedirectedhisattack，notsomuchagainstthewallsofRavenna，asagainstthemindofSeverus。Thetreacherywhichhehadexperienceddisposedthatunhappyprincetodistrustthemostsincereofhisfriendsandadherents。TheemissariesofMaximianeasilypersuadedhiscredulity，thataconspiracywasformedtobetraythetown，andprevaileduponhisfearsnottoexposehimselftothediscretionofanirritatedconqueror，buttoacceptthefaithofanhonorablecapitulation。Hewasatfirstreceivedwithhumanityandtreatedwithrespect。MaximianconductedthecaptiveemperortoRome，andgavehimthemostsolemnassurancesthathehadsecuredhislifebytheresignationofthepurple。ButSeverus，couldobtainonlyaneasydeathandanImperialfuneral。Whenthesentencewassignifiedtohim，themannerofexecutingitwaslefttohisownchoice；hepreferredthefavoritemodeoftheancients，thatofopeninghisveins；andassoonasheexpired，hisbodywascarriedtothesepulchrewhichhadbeenconstructedforthefamilyofGallienus。^23