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。