^17AssoonastheseasonoftheyearpermittedJuliantotakethefield，heappearedattheheadofhislegions；threwabridgeovertheRhineintheneighborhoodofCleves；andpreparedtochastisetheperfidyoftheAttuarii，atribeofFranks，whopresumedthattheymightravage，withimpunity，thefrontiersofadividedempire。Thedifficulty，aswellasglory，ofthisenterprise，consistedinalaboriousmarch；andJulianhadconquered，assoonashecouldpenetrateintoacountry，whichformerprinceshadconsideredasinaccessible。AfterhehadgivenpeacetotheBarbarians，theemperorcarefullyvisitedthefortificationsalongtheQhinefromClevestoBasil；surveyed，withpeculiarattention，theterritorieswhichhehadrecoveredfromthehandsoftheAlemanni，passedthroughBesancon，^18
whichhadseverelysufferedfromtheirfury，andfixedhisheadquartersatViennafortheensuingwinter。ThebarrierofGaulwasimprovedandstrengthenedwithadditionalfortifications；andJulianentertainedsomehopesthattheGermans，whomhehadsooftenvanquished，might，inhisabsence，berestrainedbytheterrorofhisname。Vadomair^19wastheonlyprinceoftheAlemanniwhomheesteemedorfearedandwhilethesubtleBarbarianaffectedtoobservethefaithoftreaties，theprogressofhisarmsthreatenedthestatewithanunseasonableanddangerouswar。ThepolicyofJuliancondescendedtosurprisetheprinceoftheAlemannibyhisownarts:andVadomair，who，inthecharacterofafriend，hadincautiouslyacceptedaninvitationfromtheRomangovernors，wasseizedinthemidstoftheentertainment，andsentawayprisonerintotheheartofSpain。BeforetheBarbarianswererecoveredfromtheiramazement，theemperorappearedinarmsonthebanksoftheRhine，and，oncemorecrossingtheriver，renewedthedeepimpressionsofterrorandrespectwhichhadbeenalreadymadebyfourprecedingexpeditions。^20
[Footnote17:Liban。Orat。Parent。c。50，p。275，276。Astrangedisorder，sinceitcontinuedabovesevenyears。InthefactionsoftheGreekrepublics，theexilesamountedto20，000persons；
andIsocratesassuresPhilip，thatitwouldbeeasiertoraiseanarmyfromthevagabondsthanfromthecities。SeeHume\'sEssays，tom。i。p。426，427。]
[Footnote18:JulianEpist。xxxviii。p。414givesashortdescriptionofVesontio，orBesancon；arockypeninsulaalmostencircledbytheRiverDoux；onceamagnificentcity，filledwithtemples，&c。，nowreducedtoasmalltown，emerging，however，fromitsruins。]
[Footnote19:VadomairenteredintotheRomanservice，andwaspromotedfromabarbariankingdomtothemilitaryrankofdukeofPhoenicia。Hestillretainedthesameartfulcharacter，Ammian。
xxi。4；butunderthereignofValens，hesignalizedhisvalorintheArmenianwar，xxix。1。]
[Footnote20:Ammian。xx。10，xxi。3，4。Zosimus，l。iii。p。
155。]
ChapterXXII:JulianDeclaredEmperor。
PartII。
TheambassadorsofJulianhadbeeninstructedtoexecute，withtheutmostdiligence，theirimportantcommission。But，intheirpassagethroughItalyandIllyricum，theyweredetainedbythetediousandaffecteddelaysoftheprovincialgovernors；theywereconductedbyslowjourneysfromConstantinopletoCaesareainCappadocia；andwhenatlengththeywereadmittedtothepresenceofConstantius，theyfoundthathehadalreadyconceived，fromthedespatchesofhisownofficers，themostunfavorableopinionoftheconductofJulian，andoftheGallicarmy。Theletterswereheardwithimpatience；thetremblingmessengersweredismissedwithindignationandcontempt；andthelooks，gestures，thefuriouslanguageofthemonarch，expressedthedisorderofhissoul。Thedomesticconnection，whichmighthavereconciledthebrotherandthehusbandofHelena，wasrecentlydissolvedbythedeathofthatprincess，whosepregnancyhadbeenseveraltimesfruitless，andwasatlastfataltoherself。^21TheempressEusebiahadpreserved，tothelastmomentofherlife，thewarm，andevenjealous，affectionwhichshehadconceivedforJulian；andhermildinfluencemighthavemoderatedtheresentmentofaprince，who，sinceherdeath，wasabandonedtohisownpassions，andtotheartsofhiseunuchs。
Buttheterrorofaforeigninvasionobligedhimtosuspendthepunishmentofaprivateenemy:hecontinuedhismarchtowardstheconfinesofPersia，andthoughtitsufficienttosignifytheconditionswhichmightentitleJulianandhisguiltyfollowerstotheclemencyoftheiroffendedsovereign。Herequired，thatthepresumptuousCaesarshouldexpresslyrenouncetheappellationandrankofAugustus，whichhehadacceptedfromtherebels；thatheshoulddescendtohisformerstationofalimitedanddependentminister；thatheshouldvestthepowersofthestateandarmyinthehandsofthoseofficerswhowereappointedbytheImperialcourt；andthatheshouldtrusthissafetytotheassurancesofpardon，whichwereannouncedbyEpictetus，aGallicbishop，andoneoftheArianfavoritesofConstantius。SeveralmonthswereineffectuallyconsumedinatreatywhichwasnegotiatedatthedistanceofthreethousandmilesbetweenParisandAntioch；and，assoonasJulianperceivedthathismodestandrespectfulbehaviorservedonlytoirritatetheprideofanimplacableadversary，heboldlyresolvedtocommithislifeandfortunetothechanceofacivilwar。HegaveapublicandmilitaryaudiencetothequaestorLeonas:thehaughtyepistleofConstantiuswasreadtotheattentivemultitude；andJulianprotested，withthemostflatteringdeference，thathewasreadytoresignthetitleofAugustus，ifhecouldobtaintheconsentofthosewhomheacknowledgedastheauthorsofhiselevation。
Thefaintproposalwasimpetuouslysilenced；andtheacclamationsof\"JulianAugustus，continuetoreign，bytheauthorityofthearmy，ofthepeople，oftherepublicwhichyouhavesaved，\"
thunderedatoncefromeverypartofthefield，andterrifiedthepaleambassadorofConstantius。Apartoftheletterwasafterwardsread，inwhichtheemperorarraignedtheingratitudeofJulian，whomhehadinvestedwiththehonorsofthepurple；
whomhehadeducatedwithsomuchcareandtenderness；whomhehadpreservedinhisinfancy，whenhewasleftahelplessorphan。
\"Anorphan!\"interruptedJulian，whojustifiedhiscausebyindulginghispassions:\"doestheassassinofmyfamilyreproachmethatIwasleftanorphan?HeurgesmetorevengethoseinjurieswhichIhavelongstudiedtoforget。\"Theassemblywasdismissed；andLeonas，who，withsomedifficulty，hadbeenprotectedfromthepopularfury，wassentbacktohismasterwithanepistle，inwhichJulianexpressed，inastrainofthemostvehementeloquence，thesentimentsofcontempt，ofhatred，andofresentment，whichhadbeensuppressedandimbitteredbythedissimulationoftwentyyears。Afterthismessage，whichmightbeconsideredasasignalofirreconcilablewar，Julian，who，someweeksbefore，hadcelebratedtheChristianfestivaloftheEpiphany，^22madeapublicdeclarationthathecommittedthecareofhissafetytotheImmortalGods；andthuspubliclyrenouncedthereligionaswellasthefriendshipofConstantius。
^23
[Footnote21:HerremainsweresenttoRome，andinterrednearthoseofhersisterConstantina，inthesuburboftheViaNomentana。Ammian。xxi。1。Libaniushascomposedaveryweakapology，tojustifyhisherofromaveryabsurdchargeofpoisoninghiswife，andrewardingherphysicianwithhismother\'sjewels。Seetheseventhofseventeenneworations，publishedatVenice，1754，fromaMS。inSt。Mark\'sLibrary，p。117—127。
Elpidius，thePraetorianpraefectoftheEast，towhoseevidencetheaccuserofJulianappeals，isarraignedbyLibanius，aseffeminateandungrateful；yetthereligionofElpidiusispraisedbyJerom，tom。i。p。243，andhisAmmianusxxi。6。]
[Footnote22:FeriarumdiequemcelebrantesmenseJanuario，ChristianiEpiphaniadictitant，progressusineorumecclesiam，solemniternumineoratodiscessit。Ammian。xxi。2。Zonarasobserves，thatitwasonChristmasday，andhisassertionisnotinconsistent；sincethechurchesofEgypt，Asia，andperhapsGaul，celebratedonthesamedaythesixthofJanuarythenativityandthebaptismoftheirSavior。TheRomans，asignorantastheirbrethrenoftherealdateofhisbirth，fixedthesolemnfestivaltothe25thofDecember，theBrumalia，orwintersolstice，whenthePagansannuallycelebratedthebirthofthesun。SeeBingham\'sAntiquitiesoftheChristianChurch，l。
xx。c。4，andBeausobre，Hist。CritiqueduManicheismotom。ii。
p。690—700。]
[Footnote23:ThepublicandsecretnegotiationsbetweenConstantiusandJulianmustbeextracted，withsomecaution，fromJulianhimself。Orat。adS。P。Q。Athen。p。286。Libanius，Orat。Parent。c。51，p。276，Ammianus，xx。9，Zosimus，l。
iii。p。154，andevenZonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。20，21，22，who，onthisoccasion，appearstohavepossessedandusedsomevaluablematerials。]
ThesituationofJulianrequiredavigorousandimmediateresolution。Hehaddiscovered，frominterceptedletters，thathisadversary，sacrificingtheinterestofthestatetothatofthemonarch，hadagainexcitedtheBarbarianstoinvadetheprovincesoftheWest。Thepositionoftwomagazines，oneofthemcollectedonthebanksoftheLakeofConstance，theotherformedatthefootoftheCottianAlps，seemedtoindicatethemarchoftwoarmies；andthesizeofthosemagazines，eachofwhichconsistedofsixhundredthousandquartersofwheat，orratherflour，^24wasathreateningevidenceofthestrengthandnumbersoftheenemywhopreparedtosurroundhim。ButtheImperiallegionswerestillintheirdistantquartersofAsia；theDanubewasfeeblyguarded；andifJuliancouldoccupy，byasuddenincursion，theimportantprovincesofIllyricum，hemightexpectthatapeopleofsoldierswouldresorttohisstandard，andthattherichminesofgoldandsilverwouldcontributetotheexpensesofthecivilwar。Heproposedthisboldenterprisetotheassemblyofthesoldiers；inspiredthemwithajustconfidenceintheirgeneral，andinthemselves；andexhortedthemtomaintaintheirreputationofbeingterribletotheenemy，moderatetotheirfellow—citizens，andobedienttotheirofficers。Hisspiriteddiscoursewasreceivedwiththeloudestacclamations，andthesametroopswhichhadtakenuparmsagainstConstantius，whenhesummonedthemtoleaveGaul，nowdeclaredwithalacrity，thattheywouldfollowJuliantothefarthestextremitiesofEuropeorAsia。Theoathoffidelitywasadministered；andthesoldiers，clashingtheirshields，andpointingtheirdrawnswordstotheirthroats，devotedthemselves，withhorridimprecations，totheserviceofaleaderwhomtheycelebratedasthedelivererofGaulandtheconqueroroftheGermans。^25Thissolemnengagement，whichseemedtobedictatedbyaffectionratherthanbyduty，wassinglyopposedbyNebridius，whohadbeenadmittedtotheofficeofPraetorianpraefect。Thatfaithfulminister，aloneandunassisted，assertedtherightsofConstantius，inthemidstofanarmedandangrymultitude，towhosefuryhehadalmostfallenanhonorable，butuselesssacrifice。Afterlosingoneofhishandsbythestrokeofasword，heembracedthekneesoftheprincewhomhehadoffended。JuliancoveredthepraefectwithhisImperialmantle，and，protectinghimfromthezealofhisfollowers，dismissedhimtohisownhouse，withlessrespectthanwasperhapsduetothevirtueofanenemy。^26ThehighofficeofNebridiuswasbestowedonSallust；andtheprovincesofGaul，whichwerenowdeliveredfromtheintolerableoppressionoftaxes，enjoyedthemildandequitableadministrationofthefriendofJulian，whowaspermittedtopractisethosevirtueswhichhehadinstilledintothemindofhispupil。^27
[Footnote24:Threehundredmyriads，orthreemillionsofmedimni，acornmeasurefamiliartotheAthenians，andwhichcontainedsixRomanmodii。Julianexplains，likeasoldierandastatesman，thedangerofhissituation，andthenecessityandadvantagesofanoffensivewar，adS。P。Q。Athen。p。286，287。]
[Footnote25:Seehisoration，andthebehaviorofthetroops，inAmmian。xxi。5。]
[Footnote26:Hesternlyrefusedhishandtothesuppliantpraefect，whomhesentintoTuscany。Ammian。xxi。5。Libanius，withsavagefury，insultsNebridius，applaudsthesoldiers，andalmostcensuresthehumanityofJulian。Orat。Parent。c。53，p。
278。]
[Footnote27:Ammian。xxi。8。Inthispromotion，Julianobeyedthelawwhichhepubliclyimposedonhimself。Nequecivilisquisquamjudexnecmilitarisrector，alioquodampraetermeritasuffragante，adpotioremveniatgradum。Ammian。xx。5。AbsencedidnotweakenhisregardforSallust，withwhosenameA。D。
363hehonoredtheconsulship。]
ThehopesofJuliandependedmuchlessonthenumberofhistroops，thanonthecelerityofhismotions。Intheexecutionofadaringenterprise，heavailedhimselfofeveryprecaution，asfarasprudencecouldsuggest；andwhereprudencecouldnolongeraccompanyhissteps，hetrustedtheeventtovalorandtofortune。IntheneighborhoodofBasilheassembledanddividedhisarmy。^28Onebody，whichconsistedoftenthousandmen，wasdirectedunderthecommandofNevitta，generalofthecavalry，toadvancethroughthemidlandpartsofRhaetiaandNoricum。A
similardivisionoftroops，undertheordersofJoviusandJovinus，preparedtofollowtheobliquecourseofthehighways，throughtheAlps，andthenorthernconfinesofItaly。Theinstructionstothegeneralswereconceivedwithenergyandprecision:tohastentheirmarchincloseandcompactcolumns，which，accordingtothedispositionoftheground，mightreadilybechangedintoanyorderofbattle；tosecurethemselvesagainstthesurprisesofthenightbystrongpostsandvigilantguards；
topreventresistancebytheirunexpectedarrival；toeludeexaminationbytheirsuddendeparture；tospreadtheopinionoftheirstrength，andtheterrorofhisname；andtojointheirsovereignunderthewallsofSirmium。ForhimselfJulianhadreservedamoredifficultandextraordinarypart。Heselectedthreethousandbraveandactivevolunteers，resolved，liketheirleader，tocastbehindthemeveryhopeofaretreat；attheheadofthisfaithfulband，hefearlesslyplungedintotherecessesoftheMarcian，orBlackForest，whichconcealsthesourcesoftheDanube；^29and，formanydays，thefateofJulianwasunknowntotheworld。Thesecrecyofhismarch，hisdiligence，andvigor，surmountedeveryobstacle；heforcedhiswayovermountainsandmorasses，occupiedthebridgesorswamtherivers，pursuedhisdirectcourse，^30withoutreflectingwhetherhetraversedtheterritoryoftheRomansoroftheBarbarians，andatlengthemerged，betweenRatisbonandVienna，attheplacewherehedesignedtoembarkhistroopsontheDanube。Byawell—concertedstratagem，heseizedafleetoflightbrigantines，^31asitlayatanchor；securedaapplyofcoarseprovisionssufficienttosatisfytheindelicate，andvoracious，appetiteofaGallicarmy；
andboldlycommittedhimselftothestreamoftheDanube。Thelaborsofthemariners，whopliedtheiroarswithincessantdiligence，andthesteadycontinuanceofafavorablewind，carriedhisfleetabovesevenhundredmilesinelevendays；^32
andhehadalreadydisembarkedhistroopsatBononia，onlynineteenmilesfromSirmium，beforehisenemiescouldreceiveanycertainintelligencethathehadleftthebanksoftheRhine。Inthecourseofthislongandrapidnavigation，themindofJulianwasfixedontheobjectofhisenterprise；andthoughheacceptedthedeputationsofsomecities，whichhastenedtoclaimthemeritofanearlysubmission，hepassedbeforethehostilestations，whichwereplacedalongtheriver，withoutindulgingthetemptationofsignalizingauselessandill—timedvalor。ThebanksoftheDanubewerecrowdedoneithersidewithspectators，whogazedonthemilitarypomp，anticipatedtheimportanceoftheevent，anddiffusedthroughtheadjacentcountrythefameofayounghero，whoadvancedwithmorethanmortalspeedattheheadoftheinnumerableforcesoftheWest。Lucilian，who，withtherankofgeneralofthecavalry，commandedthemilitarypowersofIllyricum，wasalarmedandperplexedbythedoubtfulreports，whichhecouldneitherrejectnorbelieve。Hehadtakensomeslowandirresolutemeasuresforthepurposeofcollectinghistroops，whenhewassurprisedbyDagalaiphus，anactiveofficer，whomJulian，assoonashelandedatBononia，hadpushedforwardswithsomelightinfantry。Thecaptivegeneral，uncertainofhislifeordeath，washastilythrownuponahorse，andconductedtothepresenceofJulian；whokindlyraisedhimfromtheground，anddispelledtheterrorandamazementwhichseemedtostupefyhisfaculties。ButLucilianhadnosoonerrecoveredhisspirits，thanhebetrayedhiswantofdiscretion，bypresumingtoadmonishhisconquerorthathehadrashlyventured，withahandfulofmen，toexposehispersoninthemidstofhisenemies。\"ReserveforyourmasterConstantiusthesetimidremonstrances，\"repliedJulian，withasmileofcontempt:\"whenIgaveyoumypurpletokiss，Ireceivedyounotasacounsellor，butasasuppliant。\"
Consciousthatsuccessalonecouldjustifyhisattempt，andthatboldnessonlycouldcommandsuccess，heinstantlyadvanced，attheheadofthreethousandsoldiers，toattackthestrongestandmostpopulouscityoftheIllyrianprovinces。AsheenteredthelongsuburbofSirmium，hewasreceivedbythejoyfulacclamationsofthearmyandpeople；who，crownedwithflowers，andholdinglightedtapersintheirhands，conductedtheiracknowledgedsovereigntohisImperialresidence。Twodaysweredevotedtothepublicjoy，whichwascelebratedbythegamesofthecircus；but，earlyonthemorningofthethirdday，JulianmarchedtooccupythenarrowpassofSucci，inthedefilesofMountHaemus；which，almostinthemidwaybetweenSirmiumandConstantinople，separatestheprovincesofThraceandDacia，byanabruptdescenttowardstheformer，andagentledeclivityonthesideofthelatter。^33ThedefenceofthisimportantpostwasintrustedtothebraveNevitta；who，aswellasthegeneralsoftheItaliandivision，successfullyexecutedtheplanofthemarchandjunctionwhichtheirmasterhadsoablyconceived。^34
[Footnote28:Ammianusxxi。8ascribesthesamepractice，andthesamemotive，toAlexandertheGreatandotherskilfulgenerals。]
[Footnote29:ThiswoodwasapartofthegreatHercynianforest，which，isthetimeofCaesar，stretchedawayfromthecountryoftheRauraciBasilintotheboundlessregionsofthenorth。SeeCluver，GermaniaAntiqua。l。iii。c。47。]
[Footnote30:CompareLibanius，Orat。Parent。c。53，p。278，279，withGregoryNazianzen，Orat。iii。p。68。Eventhesaintadmiresthespeedandsecrecyofthismarch。AmoderndivinemightapplytotheprogressofJulianthelineswhichwereoriginallydesignedforanotherapostate:—
—Soeagerlythefiend，O\'erbog，orsteep，throughstrait，rough，dense，orrare，Withhead，hands，wings，orfeet，pursueshisway，Andswims，orsinks，orwades，orcreeps，orflies。]
[Footnote31:InthatintervaltheNotitiaplacestwoorthreefleets，theLauriacensis，atLauriacum，orLorch，theArlapensis，theMaginensis；andmentionsfivelegions，orcohorts，ofLibernarii，whoshouldbeasortofmarines。Sect。
lviii。edit。Labb。]
[Footnote32:Zosimusalonel。iii。p。156hasspecifiedthisinterestingcircumstance。Mamertinus，inPanegyr。Vet。xi。6，7，8，whoaccompaniedJulian，ascountofthesacredlargesses，describesthisvoyageinafloridandpicturesquemanner，challengesTriptolemusandtheArgonautsofGreece，&c。]
[Footnote*:Banostar。Mannert。—M。]
[Footnote33:ThedescriptionofAmmianus，whichmightbesupportedbycollateralevidence，ascertainstheprecisesituationoftheAngustineSuccorum，orpassesofSucci。M。