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  PartIV。

  TheplainofMardiainThracewasthetheatreofasecondbattlenolessobstinateandbloodythantheformer。Thetroopsonbothsidesdisplayedthesamevaloranddiscipline;andthevictorywasoncemoredecidedbythesuperiorabilitiesofConstantine,whodirectedabodyoffivethousandmentogainanadvantageousheight,fromwhence,duringtheheatoftheaction,theyattackedtherearoftheenemy,andmadeaveryconsiderableslaughter。ThetroopsofLicinius,however,presentingadoublefront,stillmaintainedtheirground,tilltheapproachofnightputanendtothecombat,andsecuredtheirretreattowardsthemountainsofMacedonia。^90Thelossoftwobattles,andofhisbravestveterans,reducedthefiercespiritofLiciniustosueforpeace。HisambassadorMistrianuswasadmittedtotheaudienceofConstantine:heexpatiatedonthecommontopicsofmoderationandhumanity,whicharesofamiliartotheeloquenceofthevanquished;representedinthemostinsinuatinglanguage,thattheeventofthewarwasstilldoubtful,whilstitsinevitablecalamitieswerealikepernicioustoboththecontendingparties;anddeclaredthathewasauthorizedtoproposealastingandhonorablepeaceinthenameofthetwoemperorshismasters。ConstantinereceivedthementionofValenswithindignationandcontempt。\"Itwasnotforsuchapurpose,\"

  hesternlyreplied,\"thatwehaveadvancedfromtheshoresofthewesternoceaninanuninterruptedcourseofcombatsandvictories,that,afterrejectinganungratefulkinsman,weshouldacceptforourcolleagueacontemptibleslave。TheabdicationofValensisthefirstarticleofthetreaty。\"^91Itwasnecessarytoacceptthishumiliatingcondition;andtheunhappyValens,afterareignofafewdays,wasdeprivedofthepurpleandofhislife。Assoonasthisobstaclewasremoved,thetranquillityoftheRomanworldwaseasilyrestored。ThesuccessivedefeatsofLiciniushadruinedhisforces,buttheyhaddisplayedhiscourageandabilities。Hissituationwasalmostdesperate,buttheeffortsofdespairaresometimesformidable,andthegoodsenseofConstantinepreferredagreatandcertainadvantagetoathirdtrialofthechanceofarms。Heconsentedtoleavehisrival,or,asheagainstyledLicinius,hisfriendandbrother,inthepossessionofThrace,AsiaMinor,Syria,andEgypt;buttheprovincesofPannonia,Dalmatia,Dacia,Macedonia,andGreece,wereyieldedtotheWesternempire,andthedominionsofConstantinenowextendedfromtheconfinesofCaledoniatotheextremityofPeloponnesus。Itwasstipulatedbythesametreaty,thatthreeroyalyouths,thesonsofemperors,shouldbecalledtothehopesofthesuccession。CrispusandtheyoungConstantineweresoonafterwardsdeclaredCaesarsintheWest,whiletheyoungerLiciniuswasinvestedwiththesamedignityintheEast。Inthisdoubleproportionofhonors,theconquerorassertedthesuperiorityofhisarmsandpower。^92

  [Footnote90:Zosimus,l。ii。p。92,93。Anonym。Valesian。p。

  713。TheEpitomesfurnishsomecircumstances;buttheyfrequentlyconfoundthetwowarsbetweenLiciniusandConstantine。]

  [Footnote91:PetrusPatriciusinExcerpt。Legat。p。27。Ifitshouldbethoughtthatsignifiesmoreproperlyason—in—law,wemightconjecturethatConstantine,assumingthenameaswellasthedutiesofafather,hadadoptedhisyoungerbrothersandsisters,thechildrenofTheodora。Butinthebestauthorssometimessignifiesahusband,sometimesafather—in—law,andsometimesakinsmaningeneral。SeeSpanheim,Observat。adJulian。Orat。i。p。72。]

  [Footnote92:Zosimus,l。ii。p。93。Anonym。Valesian。p。713。

  Eutropius,x。v。AureliusVictor,Euseb。inChron。Sozomen,l。

  i。c。2。FourofthesewritersaffirmthatthepromotionoftheCaesarswasanarticleofthetreaty。Itis,however,certain,thattheyoungerConstantineandLiciniuswerenotyetborn;anditishighlyprobablethatthepromotionwasmadethe1stofMarch,A。D。317。ThetreatyhadprobablystipulatedthatthetwoCaesarsmightbecreatedbythewestern,andoneonlybytheeasternemperor;buteachofthemreservedtohimselfthechoiceofthepersons。]

  ThereconciliationofConstantineandLicinius,thoughitwasimbitteredbyresentmentandjealousy,bytheremembranceofrecentinjuries,andbytheapprehensionoffuturedangers,maintained,however,aboveeightyears,thetranquilityoftheRomanworld。AsaveryregularseriesoftheImperiallawscommencesaboutthisperiod,itwouldnotbedifficulttotranscribethecivilregulationswhichemployedtheleisureofConstantine。Butthemostimportantofhisinstitutionsareintimatelyconnectedwiththenewsystemofpolicyandreligion,whichwasnotperfectlyestablishedtillthelastandpeacefulyearsofhisreign。Therearemanyofhislaws,which,asfarastheyconcerntherightsandpropertyofindividuals,andthepracticeofthebar,aremoreproperlyreferredtotheprivatethantothepublicjurisprudenceoftheempire;andhepublishedmanyedictsofsolocalandtemporaryanature,thattheywouldilldeservethenoticeofageneralhistory。Twolaws,however,maybeselectedfromthecrowd;theoneforitsimportance,theotherforitssingularity;theformerforitsremarkablebenevolence,thelatterforitsexcessiveseverity。1。Thehorridpractice,sofamiliartotheancients,ofexposingormurderingtheirnew—borninfants,wasbecomeeverydaymorefrequentintheprovinces,andespeciallyinItaly。Itwastheeffectofdistress;andthedistresswasprincipallyoccasionedbytheintolerantburdenoftaxes,andbythevexatiousaswellascruelprosecutionsoftheofficersoftherevenueagainsttheirinsolventdebtors。Thelessopulentorlessindustriouspartofmankind,insteadofrejoicinginanincreaseoffamily,deemeditanactofpaternaltendernesstoreleasetheirchildrenfromtheimpendingmiseriesofalifewhichtheythemselveswereunabletosupport。ThehumanityofConstantine;moved,perhaps,bysomerecentandextraordinaryinstancesofdespair,engagedhimtoaddressanedicttoallthecitiesofItaly,andafterwardsofAfrica,directingimmediateandsufficientrelieftobegiventothoseparentswhoshouldproducebeforethemagistratesthechildrenwhomtheirownpovertywouldnotallowthemtoeducate。Butthepromisewastooliberal,andtheprovisiontoovague,toeffectanygeneralorpermanentbenefit。

  ^93Thelaw,thoughitmaymeritsomepraise,servedrathertodisplaythantoalleviatethepublicdistress。Itstillremainsanauthenticmonumenttocontradictandconfoundthosevenalorators,whoweretoowellsatisfiedwiththeirownsituationtodiscovereitherviceormiseryunderthegovernmentofageneroussovereign。^942。ThelawsofConstantineagainstrapesweredictatedwithverylittleindulgenceforthemostamiableweaknessesofhumannature;sincethedescriptionofthatcrimewasappliednotonlytothebrutalviolencewhichcompelled,buteventothegentleseductionwhichmightpersuade,anunmarriedwoman,undertheageoftwenty—five,toleavethehouseofherparents。\"Thesuccessfulravisherwaspunishedwithdeath;andasifsimpledeathwasinadequatetotheenormityofhisguilt,hewaseitherburntalive,ortorninpiecesbywildbeastsintheamphitheatre。Thevirgin\'sdeclaration,thatshehadbeencarriedawaywithherownconsent,insteadofsavingherlover,exposedhertosharehisfate。Thedutyofapublicprosecutionwasintrustedtotheparentsoftheguiltyorunfortunatemaid;

  andifthesentimentsofnatureprevailedonthemtodissembletheinjury,andtorepairbyasubsequentmarriagethehonoroftheirfamily,theywerethemselvespunishedbyexileandconfiscation。Theslaves,whethermaleorfemale,whowereconvictedofhavingbeenaccessorytorapeorseduction,wereburntalive,orputtodeathbytheingenioustortureofpouringdowntheirthroatsaquantityofmeltedlead。Asthecrimewasofapublickind,theaccusationwaspermittedeventostrangers。

  Thecommencementoftheactionwasnotlimitedtoanytermofyears,andtheconsequencesofthesentencewereextendedtotheinnocentoffspringofsuchanirregularunion。\"^95Butwhenevertheoffenceinspireslesshorrorthanthepunishment,therigorofpenallawisobligedtogivewaytothecommonfeelingsofmankind。Themostodiouspartsofthisedictweresoftenedorrepealedinthesubsequentreigns;^96andevenConstantinehimselfveryfrequentlyalleviated,bypartialactsofmercy,thesterntemperofhisgeneralinstitutions。Such,indeed,wasthesingularhumorofthatemperor,whoshowedhimselfasindulgent,andevenremiss,intheexecutionofhislaws,ashewassevere,andevencruel,intheenactingofthem。Itisscarcelypossibletoobserveamoredecisivesymptomofweakness,eitherinthecharacteroftheprince,orintheconstitutionofthegovernment。^97

  [Footnote*:Thisexplanationappearstomelittleprobable。

  Godefroyhasmadeamuchmorehappyconjecture,supportedbyallthehistoricalcircumstanceswhichrelatetothisedict。Itwaspublishedthe12thofMay,A。D。315。atNaissusinPannonia,thebirthplaceofConstantine。The8thofOctober,inthatyear,ConstantinegainedthevictoryofCibalisoverLicinius。Hewasyetuncertainastothefateofthewar:theChristians,nodoubt,whomhefavored,hadprophesiedhisvictory。Lactantius,thenpreceptorofCrispus,hadjustwrittenhisworkuponChristianity,hisDivineInstitutes;hehaddedicatedittoConstantine。Inthisbookhehadinveighedwithgreatforceagainstinfanticide,andtheexposureofinfants,l。vi。c。20。

  IsitnotprobablethatConstantinehadreadthiswork,thathehadconversedonthesubjectwithLactantius,thathewasmoved,amongotherthings,bythepassagetowhichIhavereferred,andinthefirsttransportofhisenthusiasm,hepublishedtheedictinquestion?Thewholeoftheedictbearsthecharacterofprecipitation,ofexcitement,entrainement,ratherthanofdeliberatereflection—theextentofthepromises,theindefinitenessofthemeans,oftheconditions,andofthetimeduringwhichtheparentsmighthavearighttothesuccorofthestate。IstherenotreasontobelievethatthehumanityofConstantinewasexcitedbytheinfluenceofLactantius,bythatoftheprinciplesofChristianity,andoftheChristiansthemselves,alreadyinhighesteemwiththeemperor,ratherthanbysome\"extraordinaryinstancesofdespair\"?***SeeHegewisch,EssaiHist。surlesFinancesRomainesTheedictforAfricawasnotpublishedtill322:ofthatwemaysayintruththatitsoriginwasinthemiseryofthetimes。

  AfricahadsufferedmuchfromthecrueltyofMaxentius。

  Constantinesaysexpressly,thathehadlearnedthatparents,underthepressureofdistress,weretheresellingtheirchildren。Thisdecreeismoredistinct,morematurelydeliberatedthantheformer;thesuccorwhichwastobegiventotheparents,andthesourcefromwhichitwastobederived,aredetermined。CodeTheod。l。xi。tit。27,c2。Ifthedirectutilityoftheselawsmaynothavebeenveryextensive,theyhadatleastthegreatandhappyeffectofestablishingadecisiveoppositionbetweentheprinciplesofthegovernmentandthosewhich,atthistime,hadprevailedamongthesubjectsoftheempire。—G。]

  [Footnote93:CodexTheodosian。l。xi。tit。27,tom。iv。p。188,withGodefroy\'sobservations。Seelikewisel。v。tit。7,8。]

  [Footnote94:Omniaforisplacita,domiprospera,annonaeubertate,fructuumcopia,&c。Panegyr。Vet。x。38。ThisorationofNazariuswaspronouncedonthedayoftheQuinquennaliaoftheCaesars,the1stofMarch,A。D。321。]

  [Footnote95:SeetheedictofConstantine,addressedtotheRomanpeople,intheTheodosianCode,l。ix。tit。24,tom。iii。

  p。189。]

  [Footnote96:Hissonveryfairlyassignsthetruereasonoftherepeal:\"Nasubspecieatrociorisjudiciialiquainulciscendocriminedilationaeceretur。\"Cod。Theod。tom。iii。p。193]

  [Footnote97:EusebiusinVitaConstant。l。iii。c。1choosestoaffirm,thatinthereignofthishero,theswordofjusticehungidleinthehandsofthemagistrates。Eusebiushimself,l。

  iv。c。29,54,andtheTheodosianCode,willinformusthatthisexcessivelenitywasnotowingtothewanteitherofatrociouscriminalsorofpenallaws。]

  Theciviladministrationwassometimesinterruptedbythemilitarydefenceoftheempire。Crispus,ayouthofthemostamiablecharacter,whohadreceivedwiththetitleofCaesarthecommandoftheRhine,distinguishedhisconduct,aswellasvalor,inseveralvictoriesovertheFranksandAlemanni,andtaughtthebarbariansofthatfrontiertodreadtheeldestsonofConstantine,andthegrandsonofConstantius。^98TheemperorhimselfhadassumedthemoredifficultandimportantprovinceoftheDanube。TheGoths,whointhetimeofClaudiusandAurelianhadfelttheweightoftheRomanarms,respectedthepoweroftheempire,eveninthemidstofitsintestinedivisions。Butthestrengthofthatwarlikenationwasnowrestoredbyapeaceofnearfiftyyears;anewgenerationhadarisen,whonolongerrememberedthemisfortunesofancientdays;theSarmatiansoftheLakeMaeotisfollowedtheGothicstandardeitherassubjectsorasallies,andtheirunitedforcewaspoureduponthecountriesofIllyricum。Campona,Margus,andBenonia,^!appeartohavebeenthescenesofseveralmemorablesiegesandbattles;^99andthoughConstantineencounteredaveryobstinateresistance,heprevailedatlengthinthecontest,andtheGothswerecompelledtopurchasedanignominiousretreat,byrestoringthebootyandprisonerswhichtheyhadtaken。Norwasthisadvantagesufficienttosatisfytheindignationoftheemperor。HeresolvedtochastiseaswellastorepulsetheinsolentbarbarianswhohaddaredtoinvadetheterritoriesofRome。AttheheadofhislegionshepassedtheDanubeafterrepairingthebridgewhichhadbeenconstructedbyTrajan,penetratedintothestrongestrecessesofDacia,^100andwhenhehadinflictedasevererevenge,condescendedtogivepeacetothesuppliantGoths,onconditionthat,asoftenastheywererequired,theyshouldsupplyhisarmieswithabodyoffortythousandsoldiers。

  ^101ExploitslikethesewerenodoubthonorabletoConstantine,andbeneficialtothestate;butitmaysurelybequestioned,whethertheycanjustifytheexaggeratedassertionofEusebius,thatAllScythia,asfarastheextremityoftheNorth,dividedasitwasintosomanynamesandnationsofthemostvariousandsavagemanners,hadbeenaddedbyhisvictoriousarmstotheRomanempire。^102

  [Footnote98:NazariusinPanegyr。Vet。x。ThevictoryofCrispusovertheAlemanniisexpressedonsomemedals。

  Note:Othermedalsareextant,thelegendsofwhichcommemoratethesuccessofConstantineovertheSarmatiansandotherbarbarousnations,SarmatiaDevicta。VictoriaGothica。

  DebellatoriGentiumBarbarorum。ExuperatorOmniumGentium。St。

  Martin,noteonLeBeau,i。148。—M。]

  [Footnote!:Campona,OldBudainHungary;Margus,Benonia,Widdin,inMaesia—GandM。]

  [Footnote99:SeeZosimus,l。ii。p。93,94;thoughthenarrativeofthathistorianisneitherclearnorconsistent。ThePanegyricofOptatianusc。23mentionstheallianceoftheSarmatianswiththeCarpiandGetae,andpointsouttheseveralfieldsofbattle。ItissupposedthattheSarmatiangames,celebratedinthemonthofNovember,derivedtheiroriginfromthesuccessofthiswar。]

  [Footnote100:IntheCaesarsofJulian,p。329。CommentairedeSpanheim,p。252。Constantineboasts,thathehadrecoveredtheprovinceDaciawhichTrajanhadsubdued。ButitisinsinuatedbySilenus,thattheconquestsofConstantinewerelikethegardensofAdonis,whichfadeandwitheralmostthemomenttheyappear。]

  [Footnote101:JornandesdeRebusGeticis,c。21。Iknownotwhetherwemayentirelydependonhisauthority。Suchanalliancehasaveryrecentair,andscarcelyissuitedtothemaximsofthebeginningofthefourthcentury。]

  [Footnote102:EusebiusinVit。Constantin。l。i。c。8。Thispassage,however,istakenfromageneraldeclamationonthegreatnessofConstantine,andnotfromanyparticularaccountoftheGothicwar。]

  Inthisexaltedstateofglory,itwasimpossiblethatConstantineshouldanylongerendureapartnerintheempire。

  Confidinginthesuperiorityofhisgeniusandmilitarypower,hedetermined,withoutanypreviousinjury,toexertthemforthedestructionofLicinius,whoseadvancedageandunpopularvicesseemedtoofferaveryeasyconquest。^103Buttheoldemperor,awakenedbytheapproachingdanger,deceivedtheexpectationsofhisfriends,aswellasofhisenemies。CallingforththatspiritandthoseabilitiesbywhichhehaddeservedthefriendshipofGaleriusandtheImperialpurple,hepreparedhimselfforthecontest,collectedtheforcesoftheEast,andsoonfilledtheplainsofHadrianoplewithhistroops,andtheStraitsoftheHellespontwithhisfleet。Thearmyconsistedofonehundredandfiftythousandfoot,andfifteenthousandhorse;

  andasthecavalrywasdrawn,forthemostpart,fromPhrygiaandCappadocia,wemayconceiveamorefavorableopinionofthebeautyofthehorses,thanofthecourageanddexterityoftheirriders。Thefleetwascomposedofthreehundredandfiftygalleysofthreeranksofoars。AhundredandthirtyofthesewerefurnishedbyEgyptandtheadjacentcoastofAfrica。A

  hundredandtensailedfromtheportsofPhoeniciaandtheIsleofCyprus;andthemaritimecountriesofBithynia,Ionia,andCaria,werelikewiseobligedtoprovideahundredandtengalleys。ThetroopsofConstantinewereorderedtoarendezvousatThessalonica;theyamountedtoaboveahundredandtwentythousandhorseandfoot。^104Theiremperorwassatisfiedwiththeirmartialappearance,andhisarmycontainedmoresoldiers,thoughfewermen,thanthatofhiseasterncompetitor。ThelegionsofConstantinewereleviedinthewarlikeprovincesofEurope;actionhadconfirmedtheirdiscipline,victoryhadelevatedtheirhopes,andtherewereamongthemagreatnumberofveterans,who,afterseventeengloriouscampaignsunderthesameleader,preparedthemselvestodeserveanhonorabledismissionbyalasteffortoftheirvalor。^105ButthenavalpreparationsofConstantinewereineveryrespectmuchinferiortothoseofLicinius。ThemaritimecitiesofGreecesenttheirrespectivequotasofmenandshipstothecelebratedharborofPiraeus,andtheirunitedforcesconsistedofnomorethantwohundredsmallvessels—averyfeeblearmament,ifitiscomparedwiththoseformidablefleetswhichwereequippedandmaintainedbytherepublicofAthensduringthePeloponnesianwar。^106SinceItalywasnolongertheseatofgovernment,thenavalestablishmentsofMisenumandRavennahadbeengraduallyneglected;andastheshippingandmarinersoftheempireweresupportedbycommerceratherthanbywar,itwasnaturalthattheyshouldthemostaboundintheindustriousprovincesofEgyptandAsia。Itisonlysurprisingthattheeasternemperor,whopossessedsogreatasuperiorityatsea,shouldhaveneglectedtheopportunityofcarryinganoffensivewarintothecentreofhisrival\'sdominions。

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