[Footnote103:Constantinustamen，viringens，etomniaefficerenitensquaeanimopraeparasset，simulprincipatumtotiusurbisaffectans，Liciniobellumintulit。Eutropius，x。5。Zosimus，l。
ii。p89。Thereasonswhichtheyhaveassignedforthefirstcivilwar，may，withmorepropriety，beappliedtothesecond。]
[Footnote104:Zosimus，l。ii。p。94，95。]
[Footnote105:Constantinewasveryattentivetotheprivilegesandcomfortsofhisfellow—veterans，Conveterani，ashenowbegantostylethem。SeetheTheodosianCode，l。vii。tit。10，tom。ii。p。419，429。]
[Footnote106:WhilsttheAtheniansmaintainedtheempireofthesea，theirfleetconsistedofthree，andafterwardsoffour，hundredgalleysofthreeranksofoars，allcompletelyequippedandreadyforimmediateservice。ThearsenalintheportofPiraeushadcosttherepublicathousandtalents，abouttwohundredandsixteenthousandpounds。SeeThucydidesdeBel。
Pelopon。l。ii。c。13，andMeursiusdeFortunaAttica，c。19。]
Insteadofembracingsuchanactiveresolution，whichmighthavechangedthewholefaceofthewar，theprudentLiciniusexpectedtheapproachofhisrivalinacampnearHadrianople，whichhehadfortifiedwithananxiouscare，thatbetrayedhisapprehensionoftheevent。ConstantinedirectedhismarchfromThessalonicatowardsthatpartofThrace，tillhefoundhimselfstoppedbythebroadandrapidstreamoftheHebrus，anddiscoveredthenumerousarmyofLicinius，whichfilledthesteepascentofthehill，fromtherivertothecityofHadrianople。
Manydayswerespentindoubtfulanddistantskirmishes；butatlengththeobstaclesofthepassageandoftheattackwereremovedbytheintrepidconductofConstantine。InthisplacewemightrelateawonderfulexploitofConstantine，which，thoughitcanscarcelybeparalleledeitherinpoetryorromance，iscelebrated，notbyavenaloratordevotedtohisfortune，butbyanhistorian，thepartialenemyofhisfame。WeareassuredthatthevaliantemperorthrewhimselfintotheRiverHebrus，accompaniedonlybytwelvehorsemen，andthatbytheeffortorterrorofhisinvinciblearm，hebroke，slaughtered，andputtoflightahostofahundredandfiftythousandmen。ThecredulityofZosimusprevailedsostronglyoverhispassion，thatamongtheeventsofthememorablebattleofHadrianople，heseemstohaveselectedandembellished，notthemostimportant，butthemostmarvellous。ThevaloranddangerofConstantineareattestedbyaslightwoundwhichhereceivedinthethigh；butitmaybediscoveredevenfromanimperfectnarration，andperhapsacorruptedtext，thatthevictorywasobtainednolessbytheconductofthegeneralthanbythecourageofthehero；thatabodyoffivethousandarchersmarchedroundtooccupyathickwoodintherearoftheenemy，whoseattentionwasdivertedbytheconstructionofabridge，andthatLicinius，perplexedbysomanyartfulevolutions，wasreluctantlydrawnfromhisadvantageousposttocombatonequalgroundontheplain。Thecontestwasnolongerequal。HisconfusedmultitudeofnewlevieswaseasilyvanquishedbytheexperiencedveteransoftheWest。Thirty—fourthousandmenarereportedtohavebeenslain。
ThefortifiedcampofLiciniuswastakenbyassaulttheeveningofthebattle；thegreaterpartofthefugitives，whohadretiredtothemountains，surrenderedthemselvesthenextdaytothediscretionoftheconqueror；andhisrival，whocouldnolongerkeepthefield，confinedhimselfwithinthewallsofByzantium。
^107
[Footnote107:Zosimus，l。ii。p。95，96。ThisgreatbattleisdescribedintheValesianfragment，p。714，inaclearthoughconcisemanner。\"LiciniusverocircumHadrianopolinmaximoexercitulateraarduimontisimpleverat；illuctotoagmineConstantinusinflexit。Cumbellumterramariquetraheretur，quamvisperarduumsuisnitentibus，attamendisciplinamilitarietfelicitate，ConstantinusLicinuconfusumetsineordineagentemvicitexercitum；leviterfemoresauciatus。\"]
ThesiegeofByzantium，whichwasimmediatelyundertakenbyConstantine，wasattendedwithgreatlaboranduncertainty。Inthelatecivilwars，thefortificationsofthatplace，sojustlyconsideredasthekeyofEuropeandAsia，hadbeenrepairedandstrengthened；andaslongasLiciniusremainedmasterofthesea，thegarrisonwasmuchlessexposedtothedangeroffaminethanthearmyofthebesiegers。ThenavalcommandersofConstantineweresummonedtohiscamp，andreceivedhispositiveorderstoforcethepassageoftheHellespont，asthefleetofLicinius，insteadofseekinganddestroyingtheirfeebleenemy，continuedinactiveinthosenarrowstraits，whereitssuperiorityofnumberswasoflittleuseoradvantage。Crispus，theemperor\'seldestson，wasintrustedwiththeexecutionofthisdaringenterprise，whichheperformedwithsomuchcourageandsuccess，thathedeservedtheesteem，andmostprobablyexcitedthejealousy，ofhisfather。Theengagementlastedtwodays；andintheeveningofthefirst，thecontendingfleets，afteraconsiderableandmutualloss，retiredintotheirrespectiveharborsofEuropeandAsia。Thesecondday，aboutnoon，astrongsouthwind^108sprangup，whichcarriedthevesselsofCrispusagainsttheenemy；andasthecasualadvantagewasimprovedbyhisskilfulintrepidity，hesoonobtainedacompletevictory。A
hundredandthirtyvesselsweredestroyed，fivethousandmenwereslain，andAmandus，theadmiraloftheAsiaticfleet，escapedwiththeutmostdifficultytotheshoresofChalcedon。AssoonastheHellespontwasopen，aplentifulconvoyofprovisionsflowedintothecampofConstantine，whohadalreadyadvancedtheoperationsofthesiege。HeconstructedartificialmoundsofearthofanequalheightwiththerampartsofByzantium。Theloftytowerswhichwereerectedonthatfoundationgalledthebesiegedwithlargestonesanddartsfromthemilitaryengines，andthebatteringramshadshakenthewallsinseveralplaces。
IfLiciniuspersistedmuchlongerinthedefence，heexposedhimselftobeinvolvedintheruinoftheplace。Beforehewassurrounded，heprudentlyremovedhispersonandtreasurestoChalcedoninAsia；andashewasalwaysdesirousofassociatingcompanionstothehopesanddangersofhisfortune，henowbestowedthetitleofCaesaronMartinianus，whoexercisedoneofthemostimportantofficesoftheempire。^109
[Footnote108:Zosimus，l。ii。p。97，98。ThecurrentalwayssetsoutoftheHellespont；andwhenitisassistedbyanorthwind，novesselcan[FootnoteContinuation:attemptthepassage。
Asouthwindrenderstheforceofthecurrentalmostimperceptible。SeeTournefort\'sVoyageauLevant，Let。xi。]
[Footnote109:AureliusVictor。Zosimus，l。ii。p。93。
Accordingtothelatter，MartinianuswasMagisterOfficiorum，heusestheLatinappellationinGreek。Somemedalsseemtointimate，thatduringhisshortreignhereceivedthetitleofAugustus。]
Suchwerestilltheresources，andsuchtheabilities，ofLicinius，that，aftersomanysuccessivedefeats，hecollectedinBithyniaanewarmyoffiftyorsixtythousandmen，whiletheactivityofConstantinewasemployedinthesiegeofByzantium。
Thevigilantemperordidnot，however，neglectthelaststrugglesofhisantagonist。AconsiderablepartofhisvictoriousarmywastransportedovertheBosphorusinsmallvessels，andthedecisiveengagementwasfoughtsoonaftertheirlandingontheheightsofChrysopolis，or，asitisnowcalled，ofScutari。ThetroopsofLicinius，thoughtheywerelatelyraised，illarmed，andworsedisciplined，madeheadagainsttheirconquerorswithfruitlessbutdesperatevalor，tillatotaldefeat，andaslaughteroffiveandtwentythousandmen，irretrievablydeterminedthefateoftheirleader。^110HeretiredtoNicomedia，ratherwiththeviewofgainingsometimefornegotiation，thanwiththehopeofanyeffectualdefence。
Constantia，hiswife，andthesisterofConstantine，intercededwithherbrotherinfavorofherhusband，andobtainedfromhispolicy，ratherthanfromhiscompassion，asolemnpromise，confirmedbyanoath，thatafterthesacrificeofMartinianus，andtheresignationofthepurple，Liciniushimselfshouldbepermittedtopasstheremainderofthislifeinpeaceandaffluence。ThebehaviorofConstantia，andherrelationtothecontendingparties，naturallyrecallstheremembranceofthatvirtuousmatronwhowasthesisterofAugustus，andthewifeofAntony。Butthetemperofmankindwasaltered，anditwasnolongeresteemedinfamousforaRomantosurvivehishonorandindependence。Liciniussolicitedandacceptedthepardonofhisoffences，laidhimselfandhispurpleatthefeetofhislordandmaster，wasraisedfromthegroundwithinsultingpity，wasadmittedthesamedaytotheImperialbanquet，andsoonafterwardswassentawaytoThessalonica，whichhadbeenchosenfortheplaceofhisconfinement。^111Hisconfinementwassoonterminatedbydeath，anditisdoubtfulwhetheratumultofthesoldiers，oradecreeofthesenate，wassuggestedasthemotiveforhisexecution。Accordingtotherulesoftyranny，hewasaccusedofformingaconspiracy，andofholdingatreasonablecorrespondencewiththebarbarians；butashewasneverconvicted，eitherbyhisownconductorbyanylegalevidence，wemayperhapsbeallowed，fromhisweakness，topresumehisinnocence。^112ThememoryofLiciniuswasbrandedwithinfamy，hisstatueswerethrowndown，andbyahastyedict，ofsuchmischievoustendencythatitwasalmostimmediatelycorrected，allhislaws，andallthejudicialproceedingsofhisreign，wereatonceabolished。^113BythisvictoryofConstantine，theRomanworldwasagainunitedundertheauthorityofoneemperor，thirty—sevenyearsafterDiocletianhaddividedhispowerandprovinceswithhisassociateMaximian。
[Footnote110:EusebiusinVitaConstantin。I。ii。c。16，17
ascribesthisdecisivevictorytothepiousprayersoftheemperor。TheValesianfragmentp。714mentionsabodyofGothicauxiliaries，undertheirchiefAliquaca，whoadheredtothepartyofLicinius。]
[Footnote111:Zosimus，l。ii。p。102。VictorJuniorinEpitome。
Anonym。Valesian。p。714。]
[Footnote112:ContrareligionemsacramentiThessalonicaeprivatusoccisusest。Eutropius，x。6；andhisevidenceisconfirmedbyJeromeinChronic。aswellasbyZosimus，l。ii。
p。102。TheValesianwriteristheonlyonewhomentionsthesoldiers，anditisZonarasalonewhocallsintheassistanceofthesenate。Eusebiusprudentlyslidesoverthisdelicatetransaction。ButSozomen，acenturyafterwards，venturestoassertthetreasonablepracticesofLicinius。]
[Footnote113:SeetheTheodosianCode，l。xv。tit。15，tom。v。p404，405。TheseedictsofConstantinebetrayadegreeofpassionandprecipitationveryunbecomingthecharacterofalawgiver。]
ThesuccessivestepsoftheelevationofConstantine，fromhisfirstassumingthepurpleatYork，totheresignationofLicinius，atNicomedia，havebeenrelatedwithsomeminutenessandprecision，notonlyastheeventsareinthemselvesbothinterestingandimportant，butstillmore，astheycontributedtothedeclineoftheempirebytheexpenseofbloodandtreasure，andbytheperpetualincrease，aswellofthetaxes，asofthemilitaryestablishment。ThefoundationofConstantinople，andtheestablishmentoftheChristianreligion，weretheimmediateandmemorableconsequencesofthisrevolution。
ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
PartI。
TheProgressOfTheChristianReligion，AndTheSentiments，Manners，Numbers，AndConditionOfThePrimitiveChristians。
[Footnote*:Inspiteofmyresolution，LardnerledmetolookthroughthefamousfifteenthandsixteenthchaptersofGibbon。I
couldnotlaythemdownwithoutfinishingthem。Thecausesassigned，inthefifteenthchapter，forthediffusionofChristianity，must，nodoubt，havecontributedtoitmaterially；
butIdoubtwhetherhesawthemall。Perhapsthosewhichheenumeratesareamongthemostobvious。TheymightallbesafelyadoptedbyaChristianwriter，withsomechangeinthelanguageandmanner。MackintoshseeLife，i。p。244。—M。]
AcandidbutrationalinquiryintotheprogressandestablishmentofChristianitymaybeconsideredasaveryessentialpartofthehistoryoftheRomanempire。Whilethatgreatbodywasinvadedbyopenviolence，orunderminedbyslowdecay，apureandhumblereligiongentlyinsinuateditselfintothemindsofmen，grewupinsilenceandobscurity，derivednewvigorfromopposition，andfinallyerectedthetriumphantbanneroftheCrossontheruinsoftheCapitol。NorwastheinfluenceofChristianityconfinedtotheperiodortothelimitsoftheRomanempire。Afterarevolutionofthirteenorfourteencenturies，thatreligionisstillprofessedbythenationsofEurope，themostdistinguishedportionofhumankindinartsandlearningaswellasinarms。BytheindustryandzealoftheEuropeans，ithasbeenwidelydiffusedtothemostdistantshoresofAsiaandAfrica；andbythemeansoftheircolonieshasbeenfirmlyestablishedfromCanadatoChili，inaworldunknowntotheancients。
Butthisinquiry，howeverusefulorentertaining，isattendedwithtwopeculiardifficulties。Thescantyandsuspiciousmaterialsofecclesiasticalhistoryseldomenableustodispelthedarkcloudthathangsoverthefirstageofthechurch。Thegreatlawofimpartialitytoooftenobligesustorevealtheimperfectionsoftheuninspiredteachersandbelieversofthegospel；and，toacarelessobserver，theirfaultsmayseemtocastashadeonthefaithwhichtheyprofessed。ButthescandalofthepiousChristian，andthefallacioustriumphoftheInfidel，shouldceaseassoonastheyrecollectnotonlybywhom，butlikewisetowhom，theDivineRevelationwasgiven。ThetheologianmayindulgethepleasingtaskofdescribingReligionasshedescendedfromHeaven，arrayedinhernativepurity。A
moremelancholydutyisimposedonthehistorian。Hemustdiscovertheinevitablemixtureoferrorandcorruption，whichshecontractedinalongresidenceuponearth，amongaweakanddegenerateraceofbeings。
[Footnote*:TheartofGibbon，oratleasttheunfairimpressionproducedbythesetwomemorablechapters，consistsinconfoundingtogether，inoneundistinguishablemass，theoriginandapostolicpropagationoftheChristianreligionwithitslaterprogress。
Themainquestion，thedivineoriginofthereligion，isdexterouslyeludedorspeciouslyconceded；hisplanenableshimtocommencehisaccount，inmostparts，belowtheapostolictimes；anditisonlybythestrengthofthedarkcoloringwithwhichhehasbroughtoutthefailingsandthefolliesofsucceedingages，thatashadowofdoubtandsuspicionisthrownbackontheprimitiveperiodofChristianity。Divestthiswholepassageofthelatentsarcasmbetrayedbythesubsequentoneofthewholedisquisition，anditmightcommenceaChristianhistory，writteninthemostChristianspiritofcandor。—M。]
OurcuriosityisnaturallypromptedtoinquirebywhatmeanstheChristianfaithobtainedsoremarkableavictoryovertheestablishedreligionsoftheearth。Tothisinquiry，anobviousbutsatisfactoryanswermaybereturned；thatitwasowingtotheconvincingevidenceofthedoctrineitself，andtotherulingprovidenceofitsgreatAuthor。Butastruthandreasonseldomfindsofavorableareceptionintheworld，andasthewisdomofProvidencefrequentlycondescendstousethepassionsofthehumanheart，andthegeneralcircumstancesofmankind，asinstrumentstoexecuteitspurpose，wemaystillbepermitted，thoughwithbecomingsubmission，toask，notindeedwhatwerethefirst，butwhatwerethesecondarycausesoftherapidgrowthoftheChristianchurch。Itwill，perhaps，appear，thatitwasmosteffectuallyfavoredandassistedbythefivefollowingcauses:
I。Theinflexible，andifwemayusetheexpression，theintolerantzealoftheChristians，derived，itistrue，fromtheJewishreligion，butpurifiedfromthenarrowandunsocialspirit，which，insteadofinviting，haddeterredtheGentilesfromembracingthelawofMoses。^!
II。Thedoctrineofafuturelife，improvedbyeveryadditionalcircumstancewhichcouldgiveweightandefficacytothatimportanttruth。
III。Themiraculouspowersascribedtotheprimitivechurch。
IV。ThepureandausteremoralsoftheChristians。
V。TheunionanddisciplineoftheChristianrepublic，whichgraduallyformedanindependentandincreasingstateintheheartoftheRomanempire。
[Footnote!:ThoughwearethusfaragreedwithrespecttotheinflexibilityandintoleranceofChristianzeal，yetastotheprinciplefromwhichitwasderived，weare，totocoelo，dividedinopinion。YoudeduceitfromtheJewishreligion；Iwouldreferittoamoreadequateandamoreobvioussource，afullpersuasionofthetruthofChristianity。Watson。LettersGibbon，i。9。—M。]
I。Wehavealreadydescribedthereligiousharmonyoftheancientworld，andthefacilitywithwhichthemostdifferentandevenhostilenationsembraced，oratleastrespected，eachother\'ssuperstitions。Asinglepeoplerefusedtojoininthecommonintercourseofmankind。TheJews，who，undertheAssyrianandPersianmonarchies，hadlanguishedformanyagesthemostdespisedportionoftheirslaves，^1emergedfromobscurityunderthesuccessorsofAlexander；andastheymultipliedtoasurprisingdegreeintheEast，andafterwardsintheWest，theysoonexcitedthecuriosityandwonderofothernations。^2Thesullenobstinacywithwhichtheymaintainedtheirpeculiarritesandunsocialmanners，seemedtomarkthemoutasadistinctspeciesofmen，whoboldlyprofessed，orwhofaintlydisguised，theirimplacablehabitstotherestofhumankind。^3NeithertheviolenceofAntiochus，northeartsofHerod，northeexampleofthecircumjacentnations，couldeverpersuadetheJewstoassociatewiththeinstitutionsofMosestheelegantmythologyoftheGreeks。^4Accordingtothemaximsofuniversaltoleration，theRomansprotectedasuperstitionwhichtheydespised。^5ThepoliteAugustuscondescendedtogiveorders，thatsacrificesshouldbeofferedforhisprosperityinthetempleofJerusalem；