[Footnote182:EusebiusdeMartyr。Palestin。c。13。HecloseshisnarrationbyassuringusthatthesewerethemartyrdomsinflictedinPalestine，duringthewholecourseofthepersecution。The9thchapterofhisviiithbook，whichrelatestotheprovinceofThebaisinEgypt，mayseemtocontradictourmoderatecomputation；butitwillonlyleadustoadmiretheartfulmanagementofthehistorian。ChoosingforthesceneofthemostexquisitecrueltythemostremoteandsequesteredcountryoftheRomanempire，herelatesthatinThebaisfromtentoonehundredpersonshadfrequentlysufferedmartyrdominthesameday。ButwhenheproceedstomentionhisownjourneyintoEgypt，hislanguageinsensiblybecomesmorecautiousandmoderate。Insteadofalarge，butdefinitenumber，hespeaksofmanyChristians，andmostartfullyselectstwoambiguouswords，whichmaysignifyeitherwhathehadseen，orwhathehadheard；
eithertheexpectation，ortheexecutionofthepunishment。
Havingthusprovidedasecureevasion，hecommitstheequivocalpassagetohisreadersandtranslators；justlyconceivingthattheirpietywouldinducethemtopreferthemostfavorablesense。
TherewasperhapssomemaliceintheremarkofTheodorusMetochita，thatallwho，likeEusebius，hadbeenconversantwiththeEgyptians，delightedinanobscureandintricatestyle。SeeValesiusadloc。
[Footnote!:Thiscalculationismadefromthemartyrs，ofwhomEusebiusspeaksbyname；butherecognizesamuchgreaternumber。
Thustheninthandtenthchaptersofhisworkareentitled，\"OfAntoninus，Zebinus，Germanus，andothermartyrs；ofPeterthemonk。ofAsclepiustheMaroionite，andothermartyrs。\"[Arethesevaguecontentsofchaptersverygoodauthority?—M。]
SpeakingofthosewhosufferedunderDiocletian，hesays，\"Iwillonlyrelatethedeathofoneofthese，fromwhich，thereadermaydivinewhatbefelltherest。\"Hist。Eccl。viii。6。[Thisrelatesonlytothemartyrsintheroyalhousehold。—M。]Dodwellhadmade，beforeGibbon，thiscalculationandtheseobjections；butRuinartAct。Mart。Prefp。27，etseq。hasansweredhiminaperemptorymanner:NobisconstatEusebiuminhistoriainfinitospassimmartyresadmisisse。quamvisreverapaucorumnominarecensuerit。NecaliumEusebiiinterpretemquamipsummetEusebiumproferimus，quil。iii。c。33aitsubTrajanoplurimosaexfidelibusmartyriicertamensubiissel。v。init。
subAntoninoetVeroinnumerabilespropemartyresperuniversumorbemenituisseaffirmat。L。vi。c。1。Severumpersecutionemconcitasserefert，inquaperomnesubiquelocorumEcclesias，abathletispropietatecertantibus，illustriaconfectafueruntmartyria。SicdeDecii，sicdeValeriani，persecutionibusloquitur，quaeanDodwellifaveantconjectionibusjudicetaequuslector。EveninthepersecutionswhichGibbonhasrepresentedasmuchmoremildthanthatofDiocletian，thenumberofmartyrsappearsmuchgreaterthanthattowhichhelimitsthemartyrsofthelatter:andthisnumberisattestedbyincontestablemonuments。Iwillquotebutoneexample。WefindamongthelettersofSt。CyprianonefromLucianustoCelerinus，writtenfromthedepthofaprison，inwhichLucianusnamesseventeenofhisbrethrendead，someinthequarries，someinthemidstoftorturessomeofstarvationinprison。Jussisumusheproceeds
secundumpraeceptumimperatoris，fameetsitinecari，etreclusisumusinduabuscellis，tautnosafficerentfameetsitietignisvapore。—G。]
[Footnote183:WhenPalestinewasdividedintothree，thepraefectureoftheEastcontainedforty—eightprovinces。Astheancientdistinctionsofnationswerelongsinceabolished，theRomansdistributedtheprovincesaccordingtoageneralproportionoftheirextentandopulence。]
[Footnote184:Utgloriaripossintnullamseinnocentiumporemisse，nametipseaudivialoquosgloriantes，quiaadministratiosua，inhacparismeritincruenta。Lactant。
Institur。Divinv。11。]
Weshallconcludethischapterbyamelancholytruth，whichobtrudesitselfonthereluctantmind；thatevenadmitting，withouthesitationorinquiry，allthathistoryhasrecorded，ordevotionhasfeigned，onthesubjectofmartyrdoms，itmuststillbeacknowledged，thattheChristians，inthecourseoftheirintestinedissensions，haveinflictedfargreaterseveritiesoneachother，thantheyhadexperiencedfromthezealofinfidels。
DuringtheagesofignorancewhichfollowedthesubversionoftheRomanempireintheWest，thebishopsoftheImperialcityextendedtheirdominionoverthelaityaswellasclergyoftheLatinchurch。Thefabricofsuperstitionwhichtheyhaderected，andwhichmightlonghavedefiedthefeebleeffortsofreason，wasatlengthassaultedbyacrowdofdaringfanatics，whofromthetwelfthtothesixteenthcenturyassumedthepopularcharacterofreformers。ThechurchofRomedefendedbyviolencetheempirewhichshehadacquiredbyfraud；asystemofpeaceandbenevolencewassoondisgracedbyproscriptions，war，massacres，andtheinstitutionoftheholyoffice。Andasthereformerswereanimatedbytheloveofcivilaswellasofreligiousfreedom，theCatholicprincesconnectedtheirowninterestwiththatoftheclergy，andenforcedbyfireandtheswordtheterrorsofspiritualcensures。IntheNetherlandsalone，morethanonehundredthousandofthesubjectsofCharlesV。aresaidtohavesufferedbythehandoftheexecutioner；andthisextraordinarynumberisattestedbyGrotius，^185amanofgeniusandlearning，whopreservedhismoderationamidstthefuryofcontendingsects，andwhocomposedtheannalsofhisownageandcountry，atatimewhentheinventionofprintinghadfacilitatedthemeansofintelligence，andincreasedthedangerofdetection。
IfweareobligedtosubmitourbelieftotheauthorityofGrotius，itmustbeallowed，thatthenumberofProtestants，whowereexecutedinasingleprovinceandasinglereign，farexceededthatoftheprimitivemartyrsinthespaceofthreecenturies，andoftheRomanempire。Butiftheimprobabilityofthefactitselfshouldprevailovertheweightofevidence；ifGrotiusshouldbeconvictedofexaggeratingthemeritandsufferingsoftheReformers；^186weshallbenaturallyledtoinquirewhatconfidencecanbeplacedinthedoubtfulandimperfectmonumentsofancientcredulity；whatdegreeofcreditcanbeassignedtoacourtlybishop，andapassionatedeclaimer，who，undertheprotectionofConstantine，enjoyedtheexclusiveprivilegeofrecordingthepersecutionsinflictedontheChristiansbythevanquishedrivalsordisregardedpredecessorsoftheirgracioussovereign。
[Footnote185:Grot。Annal。deRebusBelgicis，l。i。p。12，edit。
fol。]
[Footnote186:FraPaolaIstoriadelConcilioTridentino，l。
iii。reducesthenumberoftheBelgicmartyrsto50，000。InlearningandmoderationFraPaolawasnotinferiortoGrotius。
Thepriorityoftimegivessomeadvantagetotheevidenceoftheformer，whichheloses，ontheotherhand，bythedistanceofVenicefromtheNetherlands。]
[Footnote*:EusebiusandtheauthoroftheTreatisedeMortibusPersecutorum。Itisdeeplytoberegrettedthatthehistoryofthisperiodrestsomuchonthelooseand，itmustbeadmitted，bynomeansscrupulousauthorityofEusebius。Ecclesiasticalhistoryisasolemnandmelancholylessonthatthebest，eventhemostsacred，causewilleventuallytheleastdeparturefromtruth!—M。]
ChapterXVII:FoundationOfConstantinople。
PartI。
FoundationOfConstantinople。—PoliticalSystemConstantine，AndHisSuccessors。—MilitaryDiscipline。—ThePalace。—TheFinances。
TheunfortunateLiciniuswasthelastrivalwhoopposedthegreatness，andthelastcaptivewhoadornedthetriumph，ofConstantine。Afteratranquilandprosperousreign，theconquererbequeathedtohisfamilytheinheritanceoftheRomanempire；anewcapital，anewpolicy，andanewreligion；andtheinnovationswhichheestablishedhavebeenembracedandconsecratedbysucceedinggenerations。TheageofthegreatConstantineandhissonsisfilledwithimportantevents；butthehistorianmustbeoppressedbytheirnumberandvariety，unlesshediligentlyseparatesfromeachotherthesceneswhichareconnectedonlybytheorderoftime。Hewilldescribethepoliticalinstitutionsthatgavestrengthandstabilitytotheempire，beforeheproceedstorelatethewarsandrevolutionswhichhasteneditsdecline。Hewilladoptthedivisionunknowntotheancientsofcivilandecclesiasticalaffairs:thevictoryoftheChristians，andtheirintestinediscord，willsupplycopiousanddistinctmaterialsbothforedificationandforscandal。
AfterthedefeatandabdicationofLicinius，hisvictoriousrivalproceededtolaythefoundationsofacitydestinedtoreigninfuturetimes，themistressoftheEast，andtosurvivetheempireandreligionofConstantine。Themotives，whetherofprideorofpolicy，whichfirstinducedDiocletiantowithdrawhimselffromtheancientseatofgovernment，hadacquiredadditionalweightbytheexampleofhissuccessors，andthehabitsoffortyyears。Romewasinsensiblyconfoundedwiththedependentkingdomswhichhadonceacknowledgedhersupremacy；andthecountryoftheCaesarswasviewedwithcoldindifferencebyamartialprince，bornintheneighborhoodoftheDanube，educatedinthecourtsandarmiesofAsia，andinvestedwiththepurplebythelegionsofBritain。TheItalians，whohadreceivedConstantineastheirdeliverer，submissivelyobeyedtheedictswhichhesometimescondescendedtoaddresstothesenateandpeopleofRome；buttheywereseldomhonoredwiththepresenceoftheirnewsovereign。Duringthevigorofhisage，Constantine，accordingtothevariousexigenciesofpeaceandwar，movedwithslowdignity，orwithactivediligence，alongthefrontiersofhisextensivedominions；andwasalwayspreparedtotakethefieldeitheragainstaforeignoradomesticenemy。Butashegraduallyreachedthesummitofprosperityandthedeclineoflife，hebegantomeditatethedesignoffixinginamorepermanentstationthestrengthaswellasmajestyofthethrone。
Inthechoiceofanadvantageoussituation，hepreferredtheconfinesofEuropeandAsia；tocurbwithapowerfularmthebarbarianswhodweltbetweentheDanubeandtheTanais；towatchwithaneyeofjealousytheconductofthePersianmonarch，whoindignantlysupportedtheyokeofanignominioustreaty。Withtheseviews，DiocletianhadselectedandembellishedtheresidenceofNicomedia:butthememoryofDiocletianwasjustlyabhorredbytheprotectorofthechurch:andConstantinewasnotinsensibletotheambitionoffoundingacitywhichmightperpetuatethegloryofhisownname。DuringthelateoperationsofthewaragainstLicinius，hehadsufficientopportunitytocontemplate，bothasasoldierandasastatesman，theincomparablepositionofByzantium；andtoobservehowstronglyitwasguardedbynatureagainstahostileattack，whilstitwasaccessibleoneverysidetothebenefitsofcommercialintercourse。ManyagesbeforeConstantine，oneofthemostjudicioushistoriansofantiquity^1haddescribedtheadvantagesofasituation，fromwhenceafeeblecolonyofGreeksderivedthecommandofthesea，andthehonorsofaflourishingandindependentrepublic。^2
[Footnote1:Polybius，l。iv。p。423，edit。Casaubon。HeobservesthatthepeaceoftheByzantineswasfrequentlydisturbed，andtheextentoftheirterritorycontracted，bytheinroadsofthewildThracians。]
[Footnote2:ThenavigatorByzas，whowasstyledthesonofNeptune，foundedthecity656yearsbeforetheChristianaera。
HisfollowersweredrawnfromArgosandMegara。ByzantiumwasafterwardsrebuildandfortifiedbytheSpartangeneralPausanias。SeeScaligerAnimadvers。adEuseb。p。81。Ducange，Constantinopolis，l。iparti。cap15，16。WithregardtothewarsoftheByzantinesagainstPhilip，theGauls，andthekingsofBithynia，weshouldtrustnonebuttheancientwriterswholivedbeforethegreatnessoftheImperialcityhadexcitedaspiritofflatteryandfiction。]
IfwesurveyByzantiumintheextentwhichitacquiredwiththeaugustnameofConstantinople，thefigureoftheImperialcitymayberepresentedunderthatofanunequaltriangle。Theobtusepoint，whichadvancestowardstheeastandtheshoresofAsia，meetsandrepelsthewavesoftheThracianBosphorus。Thenorthernsideofthecityisboundedbytheharbor；andthesoutherniswashedbythePropontis，orSeaofMarmara。Thebasisofthetriangleisopposedtothewest，andterminatesthecontinentofEurope。Buttheadmirableformanddivisionofthecircumjacentlandandwatercannot，withoutamoreampleexplanation，beclearlyorsufficientlyunderstood。
ThewindingchannelthroughwhichthewatersoftheEuxineflowwitharapidandincessantcoursetowardstheMediterranean，receivedtheappellationofBosphorus，anamenotlesscelebratedinthehistory，thaninthefables，ofantiquity。^3Acrowdoftemplesandofvotivealtars，profuselyscatteredalongitssteepandwoodybanks，attestedtheunskilfulness，theterrors，andthedevotionoftheGreciannavigators，who，aftertheexampleoftheArgonauts，exploredthedangersoftheinhospitableEuxine。OnthesebankstraditionlongpreservedthememoryofthepalaceofPhineus，infestedbytheobsceneharpies；^4andofthesylvanreignofAmycus，whodefiedthesonofLedatothecombatofthecestus。^5ThestraitsoftheBosphorusareterminatedbytheCyaneanrocks，which，accordingtothedescriptionofthepoets，hadoncefloatedonthefaceofthewaters；andweredestinedbythegodstoprotecttheentranceoftheEuxineagainsttheeyeofprofanecuriosity。^6FromtheCyaneanrockstothepointandharborofByzantium，thewindinglengthoftheBosphorusextendsaboutsixteenmiles，^7anditsmostordinarybreadthmaybecomputedataboutonemileandahalf。ThenewcastlesofEuropeandAsiaareconstructed，oneithercontinent，uponthefoundationsoftwocelebratedtemples，ofSerapisandofJupiterUrius。Theoldcastles，aworkoftheGreekemperors，commandthenarrowestpartofthechannelinaplacewheretheoppositebanksadvancewithinfivehundredpacesofeachother。ThesefortressesweredestroyedandstrengthenedbyMahomettheSecond，whenhemeditatedthesiegeofConstantinople:^8buttheTurkishconquerorwasmostprobablyignorant，thatneartwothousandyearsbeforehisreign，continentsbyabridgeofboats。^9AtasmalldistancefromtheoldcastleswediscoverthelittletownofChrysopolis，orScutari，whichmayalmostbeconsideredastheAsiaticsuburbofConstantinople。TheBosphorus，asitbeginstoopenintothePropontis，passesbetweenByzantiumandChalcedon。
ThelatterofthosecitieswasbuiltbytheGreeks，afewyearsbeforetheformer；andtheblindnessofitsfounders，whooverlookedthesuperioradvantagesoftheoppositecoast，hasbeenstigmatizedbyaproverbialexpressionofcontempt。^10
[Footnote3:TheBosphorushasbeenveryminutelydescribedbyDionysiusofByzantium，wholivedinthetimeofDomitian，Hudson，GeographMinor，tom。iii。，andbyGillesorGyllius，aFrenchtravelleroftheXVIthcentury。TournefortLettreXV。
seemstohaveusedhisowneyes，andthelearningofGyllius。
[AddVonHammer，ConstantinopolisundderBosphoros，8vo。—M。]
[Footnote4:ThereareveryfewconjecturessohappyasthatofLeClere，BibliotehqueUniverselle，tom。i。p。148，whosupposesthattheharpieswereonlylocusts。TheSyriacorPhoeniciannameofthoseinsects，theirnoisyflight，thestenchanddevastationwhichtheyoccasion，andthenorthwindwhichdrivesthemintothesea，allcontributetoformthestrikingresemblance。]
[Footnote5:TheresidenceofAmycuswasinAsia，betweentheoldandthenewcastles，ataplacecalledLaurusInsana。ThatofPhineuswasinEurope，nearthevillageofMauromoleandtheBlackSea。SeeGylliusdeBosph。l。ii。c。23。Tournefort，LettreXV。]
[Footnote6:Thedeceptionwasoccasionedbyseveralpointedrocks，alternatelysoveredandabandonedbythewaves。Atpresenttherearetwosmallislands，onetowardseithershore；
thatofEuropeisdistinguishedbythecolumnofPompey。]
[Footnote7:Theancientscomputedonehundredandtwentystadia，orfifteenRomanmiles。Theymeasuredonlyfromthenewcastles，buttheycarriedthestraitsasfarasthetownofChalcedon。]
[Footnote8:Ducas。Hist。c。34。LeunclaviusHist。TurcicaMussulmanica，l。xv。p。577。UndertheGreekempirethesecastleswereusedasstateprisons，underthetremendousnameofLethe，ortowersofoblivion。]
[Footnote9:DariusengravedinGreekandAssyrianletters，ontwomarblecolumns，thenamesofhissubjectnations，andtheamazingnumbersofhislandandseaforces。TheByzantinesafterwardstransportedthesecolumnsintothecity，andusedthemforthealtarsoftheirtutelardeities。Herodotus，l。iv。c。
87。]
[Footnote10:NamquearctissimointerEuropamAsiamquedivortioByzantiuminextremaEuropaposuereGreci，quibus，PythiumApollinemconsulentibusubiconderenturbem，redditumoraculumest，quaererentsedemoecerumterrisadversam。EaambageChalcedoniimonstrabanturquodprioresillucadvecti，praevisalocorumutilitatepejoralegissentTacit。Annal。xii。63。]
TheharborofConstantinople，whichmaybeconsideredasanarmoftheBosphorus，obtained，inaveryremoteperiod，thedenominationoftheGoldenHorn。Thecurvewhichitdescribesmightbecomparedtothehornofastag，orasitshouldseem，withmorepropriety，tothatofanox。^11TheepithetofgoldenwasexpressiveofthericheswhicheverywindwaftedfromthemostdistantcountriesintothesecureandcapaciousportofConstantinople。TheRiverLycus，formedbytheconfluxoftwolittlestreams，poursintotheharboraperpetualsupplyoffreshwater，whichservestocleansethebottom，andtoinvitetheperiodicalshoalsoffishtoseektheirretreatinthatconvenientrecess。Asthevicissitudesoftidesarescarcelyfeltinthoseseas，theconstantdepthoftheharborallowsgoodstobelandedonthequayswithouttheassistanceofboats；andithasbeenobserved，thatinmanyplacesthelargestvesselsmayresttheirprowsagainstthehouses，whiletheirsternsarefloatinginthewater。^12FromthemouthoftheLycustothatoftheharbor，thisarmoftheBosphorusismorethansevenmilesinlength。Theentranceisaboutfivehundredyardsbroad，andastrongchaincouldbeoccasionallydrawnacrossit，toguardtheportandcityfromtheattackofahostilenavy。^13
[Footnote11:Strabo，l。vii。p。492，[edit。Casaub。]Mostoftheantlersarenowbrokenoff；or，tospeaklessfiguratively，mostoftherecessesoftheharborarefilledup。SeeGill。deBosphoroThracio，l。i。c。5。]
[Footnote12:ProcopiusdeAedificiis，l。i。c。5。Hisdescriptionisconfirmedbymoderntravellers。SeeThevenot，parti。l。i。c。15。Tournefort，LettreXII。Niebuhr，Voyaged\'Arabie，p。22。]