[Footnote43:ThishypothesisofaVandalkingreigningoverSarmatiansubjects，seemsnecessarytoreconciletheGothJornandeswiththeGreekandLatinhistoriansofConstantine。ItmaybeobservedthatIsidore，wholivedinSpainunderthedominionoftheGoths，givesthemforenemies，nottheVandals，buttheSarmatians。SeehisChronicleinGrotius，p。709。
Note:Ihavealreadynoticedtheconfusionwhichmustnecessarilyariseinhistory，whennamespurelygeographical，asthisofSarmatia，aretakenforhistoricalnamesbelongingtoasinglenation。Weperceiveithere；ithasforcedGibbontosuppose，withoutanyreasonbutthenecessityofextricatinghimselffromhisperplexity，thattheSarmatianshadtakenakingfromamongtheVandals；asuppositionentirelycontrarytotheusagesofBarbariansDacia，atthisperiod，wasoccupied，notbySarmatians，whohaveneverformedadistinctrace，butbyVandals，whomtheancientshaveoftenconfoundedunderthegeneraltermSarmatians。SeeGatterer\'sWelt—Geschiehtep。464—
G。]
Thismotiveofenmitymusthaveinflamedthesubjectsofcontention，whichperpetuallyariseontheconfinesofwarlikeandindependentnations。TheVandalprinceswerestimulatedbyfearandrevenge；theGothickingsaspiredtoextendtheirdominionfromtheEuxinetothefrontiersofGermany；andthewatersoftheMaros，asmallriverwhichfallsintotheTeyss，werestainedwiththebloodofthecontendingBarbarians。Aftersomeexperienceofthesuperiorstrengthandnumbersoftheiradversaries，theSarmatiansimploredtheprotectionoftheRomanmonarch，whobeheldwithpleasurethediscordofthenations，butwhowasjustlyalarmedbytheprogressoftheGothicarms。AssoonasConstantinehaddeclaredhimselfinfavoroftheweakerparty，thehaughtyAraric，kingoftheGoths，insteadofexpectingtheattackofthelegions，boldlypassedtheDanube，andspreadterroranddevastationthroughtheprovinceofMaesia。
Toopposetheinroadofthisdestroyinghost，theagedemperortookthefieldinperson；butonthisoccasioneitherhisconductorhisfortunebetrayedtheglorywhichhehadacquiredinsomanyforeignanddomesticwars。HehadthemortificationofseeinghistroopsflybeforeaninconsiderabledetachmentoftheBarbarians，whopursuedthemtotheedgeoftheirfortifiedcamp，andobligedhimtoconsulthissafetybyaprecipitateandignominiousretreat。TheeventofasecondandmoresuccessfulactionretrievedthehonoroftheRomanname；andthepowersofartanddisciplineprevailed，afteranobstinatecontest，overtheeffortsofirregularvalor。ThebrokenarmyoftheGothsabandonedthefieldofbattle，thewastedprovince，andthepassageoftheDanube:andalthoughtheeldestofthesonsofConstantinewaspermittedtosupplytheplaceofhisfather，themeritofthevictory，whichdiffuseduniversaljoy，wasascribedtotheauspiciouscounselsoftheemperorhimself。
[Footnote*:Gibbonstates，thatConstantinewasdefeatedbytheGothsinafirstbattle。Noancientauthormentionssuchanevent。Itis，nodoubt，amistakeinGibbon。StMartin，notetoLeBeau。i。324。—M。]
Hecontributedatleasttoimprovethisadvantage，byhisnegotiationswiththefreeandwarlikepeopleofChersonesus，^44
whosecapital，situateonthewesterncoastoftheTauricorCrimaeanpeninsula，stillretainedsomevestigesofaGreciancolony，andwasgovernedbyaperpetualmagistrate，assistedbyacouncilofsenators，emphaticallystyledtheFathersoftheCity。
TheChersoniteswereanimatedagainsttheGoths，bythememoryofthewars，which，intheprecedingcentury，theyhadmaintainedwithunequalforcesagainsttheinvadersoftheircountry。TheywereconnectedwiththeRomansbythemutualbenefitsofcommerce；astheyweresuppliedfromtheprovincesofAsiawithcornandmanufactures，whichtheypurchasedwiththeironlyproductions，salt，wax，andhides。ObedienttotherequisitionofConstantine，theyprepared，undertheconductoftheirmagistrateDiogenes，aconsiderablearmy，ofwhichtheprincipalstrengthconsistedincross—bowsandmilitarychariots。ThespeedymarchandintrepidattackoftheChersonites，bydivertingtheattentionoftheGoths，assistedtheoperationsoftheImperialgenerals。TheGoths，vanquishedoneveryside，weredrivenintothemountains，where，inthecourseofaseverecampaign，aboveahundredthousandwerecomputedtohaveperishedbycoldandhungerPeacewasatlengthgrantedtotheirhumblesupplications；theeldestsonofAraricwasacceptedasthemostvaluablehostage；andConstantineendeavoredtoconvincetheirchiefs，byaliberaldistributionofhonorsandrewards，howfarthefriendshipoftheRomanswaspreferabletotheirenmity。IntheexpressionsofhisgratitudetowardsthefaithfulChersonites，theemperorwasstillmoremagnificent。Theprideofthenationwasgratifiedbythesplendidandalmostroyaldecorationsbestowedontheirmagistrateandhissuccessors。A
perpetualexemptionfromalldutieswasstipulatedfortheirvesselswhichtradedtotheportsoftheBlackSea。Aregularsubsidywaspromised，ofiron，corn，oil，andofeverysupplywhichcouldbeusefuleitherinpeaceorwar。ButitwasthoughtthattheSarmatiansweresufficientlyrewardedbytheirdeliverancefromimpendingruin；andtheemperor，perhapswithtoostrictaneconomy，deductedsomepartoftheexpensesofthewarfromthecustomarygratificationswhichwereallowedtothatturbulentnation。
[Footnote44:Imaystandinneedofsomeapologyforhavingused，withoutscruple，theauthorityofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，inallthatrelatestothewarsandnegotiationsoftheChersonites。IamawarethathewasaGreekofthetenthcentury，andthathisaccountsofancienthistoryarefrequentlyconfusedandfabulous。Butonthisoccasionhisnarrativeis，forthemostpart，consistentandprobablenoristheremuchdifficultyinconceivingthatanemperormighthaveaccesstosomesecretarchives，whichhadescapedthediligenceofmeanerhistorians。ForthesituationandhistoryofChersone，seePeyssonel，desPeuplesbarbaresquionthabitelesBordsduDanube，c。xvi。84—90。]
[Footnote!:GibbonhasconfoundedtheinhabitantsofthecityofCherson，theancientChersonesus，withthepeopleoftheChersonesusTaurica。IfhehadreadwithmoreattentionthechapterofConstantiusPorphyrogenitus，fromwhichthisnarrativeisderived，hewouldhaveseenthattheauthorclearlydistinguishestherepublicofChersonfromtherestoftheTauricPeninsula，thenpossessedbythekingsoftheCimmerianBosphorus，andthatthecityofChersonalonefurnishedsuccorstotheRomans。TheEnglishhistorianisalsomistakeninsayingthattheStephanephorosoftheChersoniteswasaperpetualmagistrate；sinceitiseasytodiscoverfromthegreatnumberofStephanephoroimentionedbyConstantinePorphyrogenitus，thattheywereannualmagistrates，likealmostallthosewhichgovernedtheGrecianrepublics。St。Martin，notetoLeBeaui。
326。—M。]
Exasperatedbythisapparentneglect，theSarmatianssoonforgot，withthelevityofbarbarians，theserviceswhichtheyhadsolatelyreceived，andthedangerswhichstillthreatenedtheirsafety。TheirinroadsontheterritoryoftheempireprovokedtheindignationofConstantinetoleavethemtotheirfate；andhenolongeropposedtheambitionofGeberic，arenownedwarrior，whohadrecentlyascendedtheGothicthrone。
Wisumar，theVandalking，whilstalone，andunassisted，hedefendedhisdominionswithundauntedcourage，wasvanquishedandslaininadecisivebattle，whichsweptawaythefloweroftheSarmatianyouth。Theremainderofthenationembracedthedesperateexpedientofarmingtheirslaves，ahardyraceofhuntersandherdsmen，bywhosetumultuaryaidtheyrevengedtheirdefeat，andexpelledtheinvaderfromtheirconfines。Buttheysoondiscoveredthattheyhadexchangedaforeignforadomesticenemy，moredangerousandmoreimplacable。Enragedbytheirformerservitude，elatedbytheirpresentglory，theslaves，underthenameofLimigantes，claimedandusurpedthepossessionofthecountrywhichtheyhadsaved。Theirmasters，unabletowithstandtheungovernedfuryofthepopulace，preferredthehardshipsofexiletothetyrannyoftheirservants。SomeofthefugitiveSarmatianssolicitedalessignominiousdependence，underthehostilestandardoftheGoths。AmorenumerousbandretiredbeyondtheCarpathianMountains，amongtheQuadi，theirGermanallies，andwereeasilyadmittedtoshareasuperfluouswasteofuncultivatedland。ButthefargreaterpartofthedistressednationturnedtheireyestowardsthefruitfulprovincesofRome。Imploringtheprotectionandforgivenessoftheemperor，theysolemnlypromised，assubjectsinpeace，andassoldiersinwar，themostinviolablefidelitytotheempirewhichshouldgraciouslyreceivethemintoitsbosom。AccordingtothemaximsadoptedbyProbusandhissuccessors，theoffersofthisbarbariancolonywereeagerlyaccepted；andacompetentportionoflandsintheprovincesofPannonia，Thrace，Macedonia，andItaly，wereimmediatelyassignedforthehabitationandsubsistenceofthreehundredthousandSarmatians。^45
[Footnote*:GibbonsupposesthatthiswartookplacebecauseConstantinehaddeductedapartofthecustomarygratifications，grantedbyhispredecessorstotheSarmatians。Nothingofthiskindappearsintheauthors。Wesee，onthecontrary，thatafterhisvictory，andtopunishtheSarmatiaisfortheravagestheyhadcommitted，hewithheldthesumswhichithadbeenthecustomtobestow。St。Martin，notetoLeBeau，i。327。—M。]
[Footnote45:TheGothicandSarmatianwarsarerelatedinsobrokenandimperfectamanner，thatIhavebeenobligedtocomparethefollowingwriters，whomutuallysupply，correct，andillustrateeachother。Thosewhowilltakethesametrouble，mayacquirearightofcriticizingmynarrative。Ammianus，l。xvii。
c。12。Anonym。Valesian。p。715。Eutropius，x。7。SextusRufusdeProvinciis，c。26。JulianOrat。i。p。9，andSpanheim，Comment。p。94。Hieronym。inChron。Euseb。inVit。Constantin。
l。iv。c。6。Socrates，l。i。c。18。Sozomen，l。i。c。8。
Zosimus，l。ii。p。108。JornandesdeReb。Geticis，c。22。
IsidorusinChron。p。709；inHist。GothorumGrotii。Constantin。
PorphyrogenitusdeAdministrat。Imperii，c。53，p。208，edit。
Meursii。]
[Footnote*:Compare，onthisveryobscurebutremarkablewar，Manso，LebenCoaxantius，p。195—M。]
BychastisingtheprideoftheGoths，andbyacceptingthehomageofasuppliantnation，ConstantineassertedthemajestyoftheRomanempire；andtheambassadorsofAethiopia，Persia，andthemostremotecountriesofIndia，congratulatedthepeaceandprosperityofhisgovernment。^46Ifhereckoned，amongthefavorsoffortune，thedeathofhiseldestson，ofhisnephew，andperhapsofhiswife，heenjoyedanuninterruptedflowofprivateaswellaspublicfelicity，tillthethirtiethyearofhisreign；aperiodwhichnoneofhispredecessors，sinceAugustus，hadbeenpermittedtocelebrate。Constantinesurvivedthatsolemnfestivalabouttenmonths；andatthematureageofsixty—four，afterashortillness，heendedhismemorablelifeatthepalaceofAquyrion，inthesuburbsofNicomedia，whitherhehadretiredforthebenefitoftheair，andwiththehopeofrecruitinghisexhaustedstrengthbytheuseofthewarmbaths。
Theexcessivedemonstrationsofgrief，oratleastofmourning，surpassedwhateverhadbeenpractisedonanyformeroccasion。
NotwithstandingtheclaimsofthesenateandpeopleofancientRome，thecorpseofthedeceasedemperor，accordingtohislastrequest，wastransportedtothecity，whichwasdestinedtopreservethenameandmemoryofitsfounder。ThebodyofConstantineadornedwiththevainsymbolsofgreatness，thepurpleanddiadem，wasdepositedonagoldenbedinoneoftheapartmentsofthepalace，whichforthatpurposehadbeensplendidlyfurnishedandilluminated。Theformsofthecourtwerestrictlymaintained。Everyday，attheappointedhours，theprincipalofficersofthestate，thearmy，andthehousehold，approachingthepersonoftheirsovereignwithbendedkneesandacomposedcountenance，offeredtheirrespectfulhomageasseriouslyasifhehadbeenstillalive。Frommotivesofpolicy，thistheatricalrepresentationwasforsometimecontinued；norcouldflatteryneglecttheopportunityofremarkingthatConstantinealone，bythepeculiarindulgenceofHeaven，hadreignedafterhisdeath。^47
[Footnote46:EusebiusinVit。Const。l。iv。c。50remarksthreecircumstancesrelativetotheseIndians。1。Theycamefromtheshoresoftheeasternocean；adescriptionwhichmightbeappliedtothecoastofChinaorCoromandel。2。Theypresentedshininggems，andunknownanimals。3。TheyprotestedtheirkingshaderectedstatuestorepresentthesuprememajestyofConstantine。]
[Footnote47:Funusrelatuminurbemsuinominis，quodsaneP。R。
aegerrimetulit。AureliusVictor。ConstantinepreparedforhimselfastatelytombinthechurchoftheHolyApostles。
Euseb。l。iv。c。60。Thebest，andindeedalmosttheonlyaccountofthesickness，death，andfuneralofConstantine，iscontainedinthefourthbookofhisLifebyEusebius。]
Butthisreigncouldsubsistonlyinemptypageantry；anditwassoondiscoveredthatthewillofthemostabsolutemonarchisseldomobeyed，whenhissubjectshavenolongeranythingtohopefromhisfavor，ortodreadfromhisresentment。Thesameministersandgenerals，whobowedwithsuchreferentialawebeforetheinanimatecorpseoftheirdeceasedsovereign，wereengagedinsecretconsultationstoexcludehistwonephews，DalmatiusandHannibalianus，fromthesharewhichhehadassignedtheminthesuccessionoftheempire。WearetooimperfectlyacquaintedwiththecourtofConstantinetoformanyjudgmentoftherealmotiveswhichinfluencedtheleadersoftheconspiracy；
unlessweshouldsupposethattheywereactuatedbyaspiritofjealousyandrevengeagainstthepraefectAblavius，aproudfavorite，whohadlongdirectedthecounselsandabusedtheconfidenceofthelateemperor。Thearguments，bywhichtheysolicitedtheconcurrenceofthesoldiersandpeople，areofamoreobviousnature；andtheymightwithdecency，aswellastruth，insistonthesuperiorrankofthechildrenofConstantine，thedangerofmultiplyingthenumberofsovereigns，andtheimpendingmischiefswhichthreatenedtherepublic，fromthediscordofsomanyrivalprinces，whowerenotconnectedbythetendersympathyoffraternalaffection。Theintriguewasconductedwithzealandsecrecy，tillaloudandunanimousdeclarationwasprocuredfromthetroops，thattheywouldsuffernoneexceptthesonsoftheirlamentedmonarchtoreignovertheRomanempire。^48TheyoungerDalmatius，whowasunitedwithhiscollateralrelationsbythetiesoffriendshipandinterest，isallowedtohaveinheritedaconsiderableshareoftheabilitiesofthegreatConstantine；but，onthisoccasion，hedoesnotappeartohaveconcertedanymeasureforsupporting，byarms，thejustclaimswhichhimselfandhisroyalbrotherderivedfromtheliberalityoftheiruncle。Astonishedandoverwhelmedbythetideofpopularfury，theyseemtohaveremained，withoutthepowerofflightorofresistance，inthehandsoftheirimplacableenemies。TheirfatewassuspendedtillthearrivalofConstantius，thesecond，andperhapsthemostfavored，ofthesonsofConstantine。
[Footnote48:Eusebiusl。iv。c。6terminateshisnarrativebythisloyaldeclarationofthetroops，andavoidsalltheinvidiouscircumstancesofthesubsequentmassacre。]
[Footnote49:ThecharacterofDalmatiusisadvantageously，thoughconciselydrawnbyEutropius。x。9。DalmatiusCeasarprosperrimaindole，nequepatrouabsimilis，haudmultopostoppressusestfactionemilitari。AsbothJeromandtheAlexandrianChroniclementionthethirdyearoftheCeasar，whichdidnotcommencetillthe18thor24thofSeptember，A。D。337，itiscertainthatthesemilitaryfactionscontinuedabovefourmonths。]
ChapterXVIII:CharacterOfConstantineAndHisSons。
PartIII。
ThevoiceofthedyingemperorhadrecommendedthecareofhisfuneraltothepietyofConstantius；andthatprince，bythevicinityofhiseasternstation，couldeasilypreventthediligenceofhisbrothers，whoresidedintheirdistantgovernmentofItalyandGaul。AssoonashehadtakenpossessionofthepalaceofConstantinople，hisfirstcarewastoremovetheapprehensionsofhiskinsmen，byasolemnoathwhichhepledgedfortheirsecurity。Hisnextemploymentwastofindsomespeciouspretencewhichmightreleasehisconsciencefromtheobligationofanimprudentpromise。Theartsoffraudweremadesubservienttothedesignsofcruelty；andamanifestforgerywasattestedbyapersonofthemostsacredcharacter。FromthehandsoftheBishopofNicomedia，Constantiusreceivedafatalscroll，affirmedtobethegenuinetestamentofhisfather；inwhichtheemperorexpressedhissuspicionsthathehadbeenpoisonedbyhisbrothers；andconjuredhissonstorevengehisdeath，andtoconsulttheirownsafety，bythepunishmentoftheguilty。^50Whateverreasonsmighthavebeenallegedbytheseunfortunateprincestodefendtheirlifeandhonoragainstsoincredibleanaccusation，theyweresilencedbythefuriousclamorsofthesoldiers，whodeclaredthemselves，atonce，theirenemies，theirjudges，andtheirexecutioners。Thespirit，andeventheformsoflegalproceedingswererepeatedlyviolatedinapromiscuousmassacre；whichinvolvedthetwounclesofConstantius，sevenofhiscousins，ofwhomDalmatiusandHannibalianuswerethemostillustrious，thePatricianOptatus，whohadmarriedasisterofthelateemperor，andthePraefectAblavius，whosepowerandricheshadinspiredhimwithsomehopesofobtainingthepurple。Ifitwerenecessarytoaggravatethehorrorsofthisbloodyscene，wemightadd，thatConstantiushimselfhadespousedthedaughterofhisuncleJulius，andthathehadbestowedhissisterinmarriageonhiscousinHannibalianus。Thesealliances，whichthepolicyofConstantine，regardlessofthepublicprejudice，^51hadformedbetweentheseveralbranchesoftheImperialhouse，servedonlytoconvincemankind，thattheseprinceswereascoldtotheendearmentsofconjugalaffection，astheywereinsensibletothetiesofconsanguinity，andthemovingentreatiesofyouthandinnocence。
Ofsonumerousafamily，GallusandJulianalone，thetwoyoungestchildrenofJuliusConstantius，weresavedfromthehandsoftheassassins，tilltheirrage，satiatedwithslaughter，hadinsomemeasuresubsided。TheemperorConstantius，who，intheabsenceofhisbrothers，wasthemostobnoxioustoguiltandreproach，discovered，onsomefutureoccasions，afaintandtransientremorseforthosecrueltieswhichtheperfidiouscounselsofhisministers，andtheirresistibleviolenceofthetroops，hadextortedfromhisunexperiencedyouth。^52
[Footnote50:IhaverelatedthissingularanecdoteontheauthorityofPhilostorgius，l。ii。c。16。ButifsuchapretextwaseverusedbyConstantiusandhisadherents，itwaslaidasidewithcontempt，assoonasitservedtheirimmediatepurpose。
Athanasiustom。i。p。856mentiontheoathwhichConstantiushadtakenforthesecurityofhiskinsmen。]
[Footnote*:TheauthorityofPhilostorgiusissosuspicious，asnottobesufficienttoestablishthisfact，whichGibbonhasinsertedinhishistoryascertain，whileinthenoteheappearstodoubtit。—G。]
[Footnote51:Conjugiasobrinarumdiuignorata，temporeadditopercrebuisse。Tacit。Annal。xii。6，andLipsiusadloc。Therepealoftheancientlaw，andthepracticeoffivehundredyears，wereinsufficienttoeradicatetheprejudicesoftheRomans，whostillconsideredthemarriagesofcousins—germanasaspeciesofimperfectincest。AugustindeCivitateDei，xv。6；