^39
[Footnote36:AureliusVictor，c。40。ButthatlakewassituatedontheupperPannonia，nearthebordersofNoricum；andtheprovinceofValeriaanamewhichthewifeofGaleriusgavetothedrainedcountryundoubtedlylaybetweentheDraveandtheDanube，SextusRufus，c。9。IshouldthereforesuspectthatVictorhasconfoundedtheLakePelsowiththeVoloceanmarshes，or，astheyarenowcalled，theLakeSabaton。ItisplacedintheheartofValeria，anditspresentextentisnotlessthantwelveHungarianmilesaboutseventyEnglishinlength，andtwoinbreadth。SeeSeveriniPannonia，l。i。c。9。]
[Footnote37:LactantiusdeM。P。c。33andEusebiusl。viii。
c。16describethesymptomsandprogressofhisdisorderwithsingularaccuracyandapparentpleasure。]
[Footnote38:IfanylikethelateDr。Jortin，RemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory，vol。ii。p。307—356stilldelightinrecordingthewonderfuldeathsofthepersecutors，IwouldrecommendtotheirperusalanadmirablepassageofGrotiusHist。
l。vii。p。332concerningthelastillnessofPhilipII。ofSpain。]
[Footnote39:SeeEusebius，l。ix。6，10。LactantiusdeM。P。c。
36。Zosimusislessexact，andevidentlyconfoundsMaximianwithMaximin。]
Amongsomanycrimesandmisfortunes，occasionedbythepassionsoftheRomanprinces，thereissomepleasureindiscoveringasingleactionwhichmaybeascribedtotheirvirtue。Inthesixthyearofhisreign，ConstantinevisitedthecityofAutun，andgenerouslyremittedthearrearsoftribute，reducingatthesametimetheproportionoftheirassessmentfromtwenty—fivetoeighteenthousandheads，subjecttotherealandpersonalcapitation。^40Yeteventhisindulgenceaffordsthemostunquestionableproofofthepublicmisery。Thistaxwassoextremelyoppressive，eitherinitselforinthemodeofcollectingit，thatwhilsttherevenuewasincreasedbyextortion，itwasdiminishedbydespair:aconsiderablepartoftheterritoryofAutunwasleftuncultivated；andgreatnumbersoftheprovincialsratherchosetoliveasexilesandoutlaws，thantosupporttheweightofcivilsociety。Itisbuttooprobable，thatthebountifulemperorrelieved，byapartialactofliberality，oneamongthemanyevilswhichhehadcausedbyhisgeneralmaximsofadministration。Buteventhosemaximswerelesstheeffectofchoicethanofnecessity。AndifweexceptthedeathofMaximian，thereignofConstantineinGaulseemstohavebeenthemostinnocentandevenvirtuousperiodofhislife。
Theprovinceswereprotectedbyhispresencefromtheinroadsofthebarbarians，whoeitherdreadedorexperiencedhisactivevalor。AfterasignalvictoryovertheFranksandAlemanni，severaloftheirprinceswereexposedbyhisordertothewildbeastsintheamphitheatreofTreves，andthepeopleseemtohaveenjoyedthespectacle，withoutdiscovering，insuchatreatmentofroyalcaptives，anythingthatwasrepugnanttothelawsofnationsorofhumanity。^41
[Footnote40:SeetheviiithPanegyr。，inwhichEumeniusdisplays，inthepresenceofConstantine，themiseryandthegratitudeofthecityofAutun。]
[Footnote41:Eutropius，x。3。Panegyr。Veter。vii。10，11，12。
AgreatnumberoftheFrenchyouthwerelikewiseexposedtothesamecruelandignominiousdeath。]
[Footnote*:Yetthepanegyricassumessomethingofanapologetictone。TeveroConstantine，quantumlibetoderinthoses，dumperhorrescant。Haecestenimveravirtus，utnonamentetquiescant。Theoratorappealstotheancientidealoftherepublic。—M。]
ThevirtuesofConstantinewererenderedmoreillustriousbythevicesofMaxentius。WhilsttheGallicprovincesenjoyedasmuchhappinessastheconditionofthetimeswascapableofreceiving，ItalyandAfricagroanedunderthedominionofatyrant，ascontemptibleashewasodious。Thezealofflatteryandfactionhasindeedtoofrequentlysacrificedthereputationofthevanquishedtothegloryoftheirsuccessfulrivals；buteventhosewriterswhohaverevealed，withthemostfreedomandpleasure，thefaultsofConstantine，unanimouslyconfessthatMaxentiuswascruel，rapacious，andprofligate。^42HehadthegoodfortunetosuppressaslightrebellioninAfrica。Thegovernorandafewadherentshadbeenguilty；theprovincesufferedfortheircrime。TheflourishingcitiesofCirthaandCarthage，andthewholeextentofthatfertilecountry，werewastedbyfireandsword。Theabuseofvictorywasfollowedbytheabuseoflawandjustice。AformidablearmyofsycophantsanddelatorsinvadedAfrica；therichandthenoblewereeasilyconvictedofaconnectionwiththerebels；andthoseamongthemwhoexperiencedtheemperor\'sclemency，wereonlypunishedbytheconfiscationoftheirestates。^43Sosignalavictorywascelebratedbyamagnificenttriumph，andMaxentiusexposedtotheeyesofthepeoplethespoilsandcaptivesofaRomanprovince。
ThestateofthecapitalwasnolessdeservingofcompassionthanthatofAfrica。ThewealthofRomesuppliedaninexhaustiblefundforhisvainandprodigalexpenses，andtheministersofhisrevenuewereskilledintheartsofrapine。Itwasunderhisreignthatthemethodofexactingafreegiftfromthesenatorswasfirstinvented；andasthesumwasinsensiblyincreased，thepretencesoflevyingit，avictory，abirth，amarriage，oranimperialconsulship，wereproportionablymultiplied。^44
Maxentiushadimbibedthesameimplacableaversiontothesenate，whichhadcharacterizedmostoftheformertyrantsofRome；norwasitpossibleforhisungratefultempertoforgivethegenerousfidelitywhichhadraisedhimtothethrone，andsupportedhimagainstallhisenemies。Thelivesofthesenatorswereexposedtohisjealoussuspicions，thedishonoroftheirwivesanddaughtersheightenedthegratificationofhissensualpassions。
^45Itmaybepresumed，thatanImperialloverwasseldomreducedtosighinvain；butwheneverpersuasionprovedineffectual，hehadrecoursetoviolence；andthereremainsonememorableexampleofanoblematron，whopreservedherchastitybyavoluntarydeath。Thesoldiersweretheonlyorderofmenwhomheappearedtorespect，orstudiedtoplease。HefilledRomeandItalywitharmedtroops，connivedattheirtumults，sufferedthemwithimpunitytoplunder，andeventomassacre，thedefencelesspeople；^46andindulgingtheminthesamelicentiousnesswhichtheiremperorenjoyed，Maxentiusoftenbestowedonhismilitaryfavoritesthesplendidvilla，orthebeautifulwife，ofasenator。Aprinceofsuchacharacter，alikeincapableofgoverning，eitherinpeaceorinwar，mightpurchasethesupport，buthecouldneverobtaintheesteem，ofthearmy。Yethispridewasequaltohisothervices。Whilsthepassedhisindolentlifeeitherwithinthewallsofhispalace，orintheneighboringgardensofSallust，hewasrepeatedlyheardtodeclare，thathealonewasemperor，andthattheotherprinceswerenomorethanhislieutenants，onwhomhehaddevolvedthedefenceofthefrontierprovinces，thathemightenjoywithoutinterruptiontheelegantluxuryofthecapital。Rome，whichhadsolongregrettedtheabsence，lamented，duringthesixyearsofhisreign，thepresenceofhersovereign。^47
[Footnote42:JulianexcludesMaxentiusfromthebanquetoftheCaesarswithabhorrenceandcontempt；andZosimusl。ii。p。85
accuseshimofeverykindofcrueltyandprofligacy。]
[Footnote43:Zosimus，l。ii。p。83—85。AureliusVictor。]
[Footnote44:ThepassageofAureliusVictorshouldbereadinthefollowingmanner:Primusinstitutopessimo，munerumspecie，PatresOratoresquepecuniamconferreprodigentisibicogeret。]
[Footnote45:Panegyr。Vet。ix。3。Euseb。HistEccles。viii。14，etinVit。Constanti。33，34。Rufinus，c。17。ThevirtuousmatronwhostabbedherselftoescapetheviolenceofMaxentius，wasaChristian，wifetothepraefectofthecity，andhernamewasSophronia。Itstillremainsaquestionamongthecasuists，whether，onsuchoccasions，suicideisjustifiable。]
[Footnote46:Praetorianiscaedemvulgiquondamannueret，isthevagueexpressionofAureliusVictor。Seemoreparticular，thoughsomewhatdifferent，accountsofatumultandmassacrewhichhappenedatRome，inEusebius，l。viii。c。14，andinZosimus，l。ii。p。84。]
[Footnote47:See，inthePanegyrics，ix。14，alivelydescriptionoftheindolenceandvainprideofMaxentius。InanotherplacetheoratorobservesthatthericheswhichRomehadaccumulatedinaperiodof1060years，werelavishedbythetyrantonhismercenarybands；redemptisadcivilelatrociniummanibusingesserat。]
ThoughConstantinemightviewtheconductofMaxentiuswithabhorrence，andthesituationoftheRomanswithcompassion，wehavenoreasontopresumethathewouldhavetakenuparmstopunishtheoneortorelievetheother。ButthetyrantofItalyrashlyventuredtoprovokeaformidableenemy，whoseambitionhadbeenhithertorestrainedbyconsiderationsofprudence，ratherthanbyprinciplesofjustice。^48AfterthedeathofMaximian，histitles，accordingtotheestablishedcustom，hadbeenerased，andhisstatuesthrowndownwithignominy。Hisson，whohadpersecutedanddesertedhimwhenalive，effectedtodisplaythemostpiousregardforhismemory，andgaveordersthatasimilartreatmentshouldbeimmediatelyinflictedonallthestatuesthathadbeenerectedinItalyandAfricatothehonorofConstantine。
Thatwiseprince，whosincerelywishedtodeclineawar，withthedifficultyandimportanceofwhichhewassufficientlyacquainted，atfirstdissembledtheinsult，andsoughtforredressbythemilderexpedientofnegotiation，tillhewasconvincedthatthehostileandambitiousdesignsoftheItalianemperormadeitnecessaryforhimtoarminhisowndefence。
Maxentius，whoopenlyavowedhispretensionstothewholemonarchyoftheWest，hadalreadypreparedaveryconsiderableforcetoinvadetheGallicprovincesonthesideofRhaetia；andthoughhecouldnotexpectanyassistancefromLicinius，hewasflatteredwiththehopethatthelegionsofIllyricum，alluredbyhispresentsandpromises，woulddesertthestandardofthatprince，andunanimouslydeclarethemselveshissoldiersandsubjects。^49Constantinenolongerhesitated。Hehaddeliberatedwithcaution，heactedwithvigor。Hegaveaprivateaudiencetotheambassadors，who，inthenameofthesenateandpeople，conjuredhimtodeliverRomefromadetestedtyrant；andwithoutregardingthetimidremonstrancesofhiscouncil，heresolvedtopreventtheenemy，andtocarrythewarintotheheartofItaly。^50
[Footnote48:AfterthevictoryofConstantine，itwasuniversallyallowed，thatthemotiveofdeliveringtherepublicfromadetestedtyrant，would，atanytime，havejustifiedhisexpeditionintoItaly。EusebinVi\'。Constantin。l。i。c。26。
Panegyr。Vet。ix。2。]
[Footnote49:Zosimus，l。ii。p。84，85。NazariusinPanegyr。x。
7—13。]
[Footnote50:SeePanegyr。Vet。ix。2。OmnibusferetuisComitibusetDucibusnonsolumtacitemussantibus，sedetiamapertetimentibus；contraconsiliahominum，contraHaruspicummonita，ipsepertemetliberandaearbistempusvenissesentires。
TheembassyoftheRomansismentionedonlybyZonaras，l。
xiii。，andbyCedrenus，inCompend。Hist。p。370；butthosemodernGreekshadtheopportunityofconsultingmanywriterswhichhavesincebeenlost，amongwhichwemayreckonthelifeofConstantinebyPraxagoras。Photiusp。63hasmadeashortextractfromthathistoricalwork。]
Theenterprisewasasfullofdangerasofglory；andtheunsuccessfuleventoftwoformerinvasionswassufficienttoinspirethemostseriousapprehensions。Theveterantroops，whoreveredthenameofMaximian，hadembracedinboththosewarsthepartyofhisson，andwerenowrestrainedbyasenseofhonor，aswellasofinterest，fromentertaininganideaofaseconddesertion。Maxentius，whoconsideredthePraetorianguardsasthefirmestdefenceofhisthrone，hadincreasedthemtotheirancientestablishment；andtheycomposed，includingtherestoftheItalianswhowereenlistedintohisservice，aformidablebodyoffourscorethousandmen。FortythousandMoorsandCarthaginianshadbeenraisedsincethereductionofAfrica。
EvenSicilyfurnisheditsproportionoftroops；andthearmiesofMaxentiusamountedtoonehundredandseventythousandfootandeighteenthousandhorse。ThewealthofItalysuppliedtheexpensesofthewar；andtheadjacentprovinceswereexhausted，toformimmensemagazinesofcornandeveryotherkindofprovisions。
ThewholeforceofConstantineconsistedofninetythousandfootandeightthousandhorse；^51andasthedefenceoftheRhinerequiredanextraordinaryattentionduringtheabsenceoftheemperor，itwasnotinhispowertoemployabovehalfhistroopsintheItalianexpedition，unlesshesacrificedthepublicsafetytohisprivatequarrel。^52Attheheadofaboutfortythousandsoldiershemarchedtoencounteranenemywhosenumberswereatleastfourtimessuperiortohisown。ButthearmiesofRome，placedatasecuredistancefromdanger，wereenervatedbyindulgenceandluxury。HabituatedtothebathsandtheatresofRome，theytookthefieldwithreluctance，andwerechieflycomposedofveteranswhohadalmostforgotten，orofnewlevieswhohadneveracquired，theuseofarmsandthepracticeofwar。
ThehardylegionsofGaulhadlongdefendedthefrontiersoftheempireagainstthebarbariansoftheNorth；andintheperformanceofthatlaboriousservice，theirvalorwasexercisedandtheirdisciplineconfirmed。Thereappearedthesamedifferencebetweentheleadersasbetweenthearmies。CapriceorflatteryhadtemptedMaxentiuswiththehopesofconquest；buttheseaspiringhopessoongavewaytothehabitsofpleasureandtheconsciousnessofhisinexperience。TheintrepidmindofConstantinehadbeentrainedfromhisearliestyouthtowar，toaction，andtomilitarycommand。
[Footnote51:Zosimusl。ii。p。86hasgivenusthiscuriousaccountoftheforcesonbothsides。Hemakesnomentionofanynavalarmaments，thoughweareassuredPanegyr。Vet。ix。25
thatthewarwascarriedonbyseaaswellasbyland；andthatthefleetofConstantinetookpossessionofSardinia，Corsica，andtheportsofItaly。]
[Footnote52:Panegyr。Vet。ix。3。ItisnotsurprisingthattheoratorshoulddiminishthenumberswithwhichhissovereignachievedtheconquestofItaly；butitappearssomewhatsingularthatheshouldesteemthetyrant\'sarmyatnomorethan100，000
men。]
ChapterXIV:SixEmperorsAtTheSameTime，ReunionOfTheEmpire。
PartIII。
WhenHannibalmarchedfromGaulintoItaly，hewasobliged，firsttodiscover，andthentoopen，awayovermountains，andthroughsavagenations，thathadneveryieldedapassagetoaregulararmy。^53TheAlpswerethenguardedbynature，theyarenowfortifiedbyart。Citadels，constructedwithnolessskillthanlaborandexpense，commandeveryavenueintotheplain，andonthatsiderenderItalyalmostinaccessibletotheenemiesofthekingofSardinia。^54Butinthecourseoftheintermediateperiod，thegenerals，whohaveattemptedthepassage，haveseldomexperiencedanydifficultyorresistance。IntheageofConstantine，thepeasantsofthemountainswerecivilizedandobedientsubjects；thecountrywasplentifullystockedwithprovisions，andthestupendoushighways，whichtheRomanshadcarriedovertheAlps，openedseveralcommunicationsbetweenGaulandItaly。^55ConstantinepreferredtheroadoftheCottianAlps，or，asitisnowcalled，ofMountCenis，andledhistroopswithsuchactivediligence，thathedescendedintotheplainofPiedmontbeforethecourtofMaxentiushadreceivedanycertainintelligenceofhisdeparturefromthebanksoftheRhine。ThecityofSusa，however，whichissituatedatthefootofMountCenis，wassurroundedwithwalls，andprovidedwithagarrisonsufficientlynumeroustochecktheprogressofaninvader；buttheimpatienceofConstantine\'stroopsdisdainedthetediousformsofasiege。ThesamedaythattheyappearedbeforeSusa，theyappliedfiretothegates，andladderstothewalls；andmountingtotheassaultamidstashowerofstonesandarrows，theyenteredtheplaceswordinhand，andcutinpiecesthegreatestpartofthegarrison。TheflameswereextinguishedbythecareofConstantine，andtheremainsofSusapreservedfromtotaldestruction。Aboutfortymilesfromthence，amoreseverecontestawaitedhim。AnumerousarmyofItalianswasassembledunderthelieutenantsofMaxentius，intheplainsofTurin。Itsprincipalstrengthconsistedinaspeciesofheavycavalry，whichtheRomans，sincethedeclineoftheirdiscipline，hadborrowedfromthenationsoftheEast。Thehorses，aswellasthemen，wereclothedincompletearmor，thejointsofwhichwereartfullyadaptedtothemotionsoftheirbodies。Theaspectofthiscavalrywasformidable，theirweightalmostirresistible；andas，onthisoccasion，theirgeneralshaddrawnthemupinacompactcolumnorwedge，withasharppoint，andwithspreadingflanks，theyflatteredthemselvesthattheycouldeasilybreakandtrampledownthearmyofConstantine。Theymight，perhaps，havesucceededintheirdesign，hadnottheirexperiencedadversaryembracedthesamemethodofdefence，whichinsimilarcircumstanceshadbeenpractisedbyAurelian。TheskilfulevolutionsofConstantinedividedandbaffledthismassycolumnofcavalry。ThetroopsofMaxentiusfledinconfusiontowardsTurin；andasthegatesofthecitywereshutagainstthem，veryfewescapedtheswordofthevictoriouspursuers。Bythisimportantservice，Turindeservedtoexperiencetheclemencyandevenfavoroftheconqueror。HemadehisentryintotheImperialpalaceofMilan，andalmostallthecitiesofItalybetweentheAlpsandthePonotonlyacknowledgedthepower，butembracedwithzealtheparty，ofConstantine。^56
[Footnote53:ThethreeprincipalpassagesoftheAlpsbetweenGaulandItaly，arethoseofMountSt。Bernard，MountCenis，andMountGenevre。Tradition，andaresemblanceofnames，AlpesPenninoe，hadassignedthefirstoftheseforthemarchofHannibal，seeSimlerdeAlpibus。TheChevalierdeFolardPolyp。tom。iv。andM。d\'AnvillehaveledhimoverMountGenevre。Butnotwithstandingtheauthorityofanexperiencedofficerandalearnedgeographer，thepretensionsofMountCenisaresupportedinaspecious，nottosayaconvincing，manner，byM。Grosley。Observationssurl\'Italie，tom。i。p。40，&c。
[Footnote*:ThedissertationofMessrs。CramerandWickhamhasclearlyshownthattheLittleSt。BernardmustclaimthehonorofHannibal\'spassage。Mr。LongLondon，1831hasaddedsomesensiblecorrectionsreHannibal\'smarchtotheAlps。—M]
[Footnote54:LaBrunettenearSuse，Demont，Exiles，Fenestrelles，Coni，&c。]
[Footnote55:SeeAmmian。Marcellin。xv。10。HisdescriptionoftheroadsovertheAlpsisclear，lively，andaccurate。]
[Footnote56:ZosimusaswellasEusebiushastenfromthepassageoftheAlpstothedecisiveactionnearRome。WemustapplytothetwoPanegyricsfortheintermediateactionsofConstantine。]