Mai，describesValentinianasbornamongthesnowsofIllyria，andhabituatedtomilitarylaboramidtheheatanddustofLibya:
genitusinfrigoribus，educatusissolibusSym。Orat。Frag。edit。
Niebuhr，p。5。—M。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoAmmianus，hewroteelegantly，andwasskilledinpaintingandmodelling。Scribensdecore，venustequepingensetfingens。xxx。7。—M。]
[Footnote22:AtAntioch，wherehewasobligedtoattendtheemperortothetable，hestruckapriest，whohadpresumedtopurifyhimwithlustralwater，Sozomen，l。vi。c。6。Theodoret，l。iii。c。15。SuchpublicdefiancemightbecomeValentinian；
butitcouldleavenoroomfortheunworthydelationofthephilosopherMaximus，whichsupposessomemoreprivateoffence，Zosimus，l。iv。p。200，201。]
[Footnote23:Socrates，l。iv。ApreviousexiletoMelitene，orThebaisthefirstmightbepossible，isinterposedbySozomenl。vi。c。6andPhilostorgius，l。vii。c。7，withGodefroy\'sDissertations，p。293。]
TheinvitationoftheministersandgeneralsatNicewasoflittlemoment，unlessitwereconfirmedbythevoiceofthearmy。
TheagedSallust，whohadlongobservedtheirregularfluctuationsofpopularassemblies，proposed，underpainofdeath，thatnoneofthosepersons，whoserankintheservicemightexciteapartyintheirfavor，shouldappearinpubliconthedayoftheinauguration。Yetsuchwastheprevalenceofancientsuperstition，thatawholedaywasvoluntarilyaddedtothisdangerousinterval，becauseithappenedtobetheintercalationoftheBissextile。^24Atlength，whenthehourwassupposedtobepropitious，Valentinianshowedhimselffromaloftytribunal；thejudiciouschoicewasapplauded；andthenewprincewassolemnlyinvestedwiththediademandthepurple，amidsttheacclamationofthetroops，whoweredisposedinmartialorderroundthetribunal。Butwhenhestretchedforthhishandtoaddressthearmedmultitude，abusywhisperwasaccidentallystartedintheranks，andinsensiblyswelledintoaloudandimperiousclamor，thatheshouldname，withoutdelay，acolleagueintheempire。TheintrepidcalmnessofValentinianobtainedsilence，andcommandedrespect；andhethusaddressedtheassembly:\"Afewminutessinceitwasinyourpower，fellow—soldiers，tohaveleftmeintheobscurityofaprivatestation。Judging，fromthetestimonyofmypastlife，thatI
deservedtoreign，youhaveplacedmeonthethrone。Itisnowmydutytoconsultthesafetyandinterestoftherepublic。Theweightoftheuniverseisundoubtedlytoogreatforthehandsofafeeblemortal。Iamconsciousofthelimitsofmyabilities，andtheuncertaintyofmylife；andfarfromdeclining，Iamanxioustosolicit，theassistanceofaworthycolleague。But，wherediscordmaybefatal，thechoiceofafaithfulfriendrequiresmatureandseriousdeliberation。Thatdeliberationshallbemycare。Letyourconductbedutifulandconsistent。
Retiretoyourquarters；refreshyourmindsandbodies；andexpecttheaccustomeddonativeontheaccessionofanewemperor。\"^25Theastonishedtroops，withamixtureofpride，ofsatisfaction，andofterror，confessedthevoiceoftheirmaster。
Theirangryclamorssubsidedintosilentreverence；andValentinian，encompassedwiththeeaglesofthelegions，andthevariousbannersofthecavalryandinfantry，wasconducted，inwarlikepomp，tothepalaceofNice。Ashewassensible，however，oftheimportanceofpreventingsomerashdeclarationofthesoldiers，heconsultedtheassemblyofthechiefs；andtheirrealsentimentswereconciselyexpressedbythegenerousfreedomofDagalaiphus。\"Mostexcellentprince，\"saidthatofficer，\"ifyouconsideronlyyourfamily，youhaveabrother；ifyoulovetherepublic，lookroundforthemostdeservingoftheRomans。\"
^26Theemperor，whosuppressedhisdispleasure，withoutalteringhisintention，slowlyproceededfromNicetoNicomediaandConstantinople。Inoneofthesuburbsofthatcapital，^27
thirtydaysafterhisownelevation，hebestowedthetitleofAugustusonhisbrotherValens；andastheboldestpatriotswereconvinced，thattheiropposition，withoutbeingserviceabletotheircountry，wouldbefataltothemselves，thedeclarationofhisabsolutewillwasreceivedwithsilentsubmission。Valenswasnowinthethirty—sixthyearofhisage；buthisabilitieshadneverbeenexercisedinanyemployment，militaryorcivil；
andhischaracterhadnotinspiredtheworldwithanysanguineexpectations。Hepossessed，however，onequality，whichrecommendedhimtoValentinian，andpreservedthedomesticpeaceoftheempire；devoutandgratefulattachmenttohisbenefactor，whosesuperiorityofgenius，aswellasofauthority，Valenshumblyandcheerfullyacknowledgedineveryactionofhislife。
^28
[Footnote24:Ammianus，inalong，becauseunseasonable，digression，xxvi。l，andValesius，adlocum，rashlysupposesthatheunderstandsanastronomicalquestion，ofwhichhisreadersareignorant。ItistreatedwithmorejudgmentandproprietybyCensorinusdeDieNatali，c。20andMacrobius，Saturnal。i。c。12—16。TheappellationofBissextile，whichmarkstheinauspiciousyear，Augustin。adJanuarium，Epist。
119，isderivedfromtherepetitionofthesixthdayofthecalendsofMarch。]
[Footnote25:Valentinian\'sfirstspeechisinAmmianus，xxvi。
2；conciseandsententiousinPhilostorgius，l。viii。c。8。]
[Footnote26:Situosamas，Imperatoroptime，habesfratrem；siRempublicamquaerequemvestias。Ammian。xxvi。4。Inthedivisionoftheempire，Valentinianretainedthatsincerecounsellorforhimself，c。6。]
[Footnote27:Insuburbano，Ammian。xxvi。4。ThefamousHebdomon，orfieldofMars，wasdistantfromConstantinopleeithersevenstadia，orsevenmiles。SeeValesius，andhisbrother，adloc。，andDucange，Const。l。ii。p。140，141，172，173。]
[Footnote*:SymmachuspraisestheliberalityofValentinianinraisinghisbrotheratoncetotherankofAugustus，nottraininghimthroughtheslowandprobationarydegreeofCaesar。Exiguianimivicesmunerumpartiuntur，liberalitasdesideriisnihilreliquit。Symm。Orat。p。7。edit。Niebuhr，1816，reprintedfromMai。—M。]
[Footnote28:Participemquidemlegitimumpotestatis；sedinmodumapparitorismorigerum，utprogrediensaperiettextus。
Ammian。xxvi。4。]
ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian，DivisionOfTheEmpire。
PartII。
BeforeValentiniandividedtheprovinces，hereformedtheadministrationoftheempire。Allranksofsubjects，whohadbeeninjuredoroppressedunderthereignofJulian，wereinvitedtosupporttheirpublicaccusations。ThesilenceofmankindattestedthespotlessintegrityofthepraefectSallust；^29andhisownpressingsolicitations，thathemightbepermittedtoretirefromthebusinessofthestate，wererejectedbyValentinianwiththemosthonorableexpressionsoffriendshipandesteem。Butamongthefavoritesofthelateemperor，thereweremanywhohadabusedhiscredulityorsuperstition；andwhocouldnolongerhopetobeprotectedeitherbyfavororjustice。^30
Thegreaterpartoftheministersofthepalace，andthegovernorsoftheprovinces，wereremovedfromtheirrespectivestations；yettheeminentmeritofsomeofficerswasdistinguishedfromtheobnoxiouscrowd；and，notwithstandingtheoppositeclamorsofzealandresentment，thewholeproceedingsofthisdelicateinquiryappeartohavebeenconductedwithareasonableshareofwisdomandmoderation。^31Thefestivityofanewreignreceivedashortandsuspiciousinterruptionfromthesuddenillnessofthetwoprinces；butassoonastheirhealthwasrestored，theyleftConstantinopleinthebeginningofthespring。Inthecastle，orpalace，ofMediana，onlythreemilesfromNaissus，theyexecutedthesolemnandfinaldivisionoftheRomanempire。^32ValentinianbestowedonhisbrothertherichpraefectureoftheEast，fromtheLowerDanubetotheconfinesofPersia；whilsthereservedforhisimmediategovernmentthewarlikepraefecturesofIllyricum，Italy，andGaul，fromtheextremityofGreecetotheCaledonianrampart，andfromtherampartofCaledoniatothefootofMountAtlas。Theprovincialadministrationremainedonitsformerbasis；butadoublesupplyofgeneralsandmagistrateswasrequiredfortwocouncils，andtwocourts:thedivisionwasmadewithajustregardtotheirpeculiarmeritandsituation，andsevenmaster—generalsweresooncreated，eitherofthecavalryorinfantry。Whenthisimportantbusinesshadbeenamicablytransacted，ValentinianandValensembracedforthelasttime。TheemperoroftheWestestablishedhistemporaryresidenceatMilan；andtheemperoroftheEastreturnedtoConstantinople，toassumethedominionoffiftyprovinces，ofwhoselanguagehewastotallyignorant。^33
[Footnote29:NotwithstandingtheevidenceofZonaras，Suidas，andthePaschalChronicle，M。deTillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。671wishestodisbelievethosestories，siavantageusesaunpayen。]
[Footnote30:EunapiuscelebratesandexaggeratesthesufferingsofMaximus。p。82，83；yetheallowsthatthesophistormagician，theguiltyfavoriteofJulian，andthepersonalenemyofValentinian，wasdismissedonthepaymentofasmallfine。]
[Footnote31:ThelooseassertionsofageneraldisgraceZosimus，l。iv。p。201，aredetectedandrefutedbyTillemont，tom。v。p。21。]
[Footnote32:Ammianus，xxvi。5。]
[Footnote*:IpaesupraimpacatiRhensemibarbarasripasraptimvexillaconstituens**Princepscreatusaddifficilemmilitiamrevertisti。Symm。Orat。81。—M。]
[Footnote33:Ammianussays，ingeneralterms，subagrestisingenii，necbellicisnecliberalibusstudiiseruditus。Ammian。
xxxi。14。TheoratorThemistius，withthegenuineimpertinenceofaGreek，wishesforthefirsttimetospeaktheLatinlanguage，thedialectofhissovereign。Orat。vi。p。71。]
ThetranquilityoftheEastwassoondisturbedbyrebellion；
andthethroneofValenswasthreatenedbythedaringattemptsofarivalwhoseaffinitytotheemperorJulian^34washissolemerit，andhadbeenhisonlycrime。Procopiushadbeenhastilypromotedfromtheobscurestationofatribune，andanotary，tothejointcommandofthearmyofMesopotamia；thepublicopinionalreadynamedhimasthesuccessorofaprincewhowasdestituteofnaturalheirs；andavainrumorwaspropagatedbyhisfriends，orhisenemies，thatJulian，beforethealtaroftheMoonatCarrhae，hadprivatelyinvestedProcopiuswiththeImperialpurple。^35Heendeavored，byhisdutifulandsubmissivebehavior，todisarmthejealousyofJovian；resigned，withoutacontest，hismilitarycommand；andretired，withhiswifeandfamily，tocultivatetheamplepatrimonywhichhepossessedintheprovinceofCappadocia。Theseusefulandinnocentoccupationswereinterruptedbytheappearanceofanofficerwithabandofsoldiers，who，inthenameofhisnewsovereigns，ValentinianandValens，wasdespatchedtoconducttheunfortunateProcopiuseithertoaperpetualprisonoranignominiousdeath。
Hispresenceofmindprocuredhimalongerrespite，andamoresplendidfate。Withoutpresumingtodisputetheroyalmandate，herequestedtheindulgenceofafewmomentstoembracehisweepingfamily；andwhilethevigilanceofhisguardswasrelaxedbyaplentifulentertainment，hedexterouslyescapedtothesea—coastoftheEuxine，fromwhencehepassedovertothecountryofBosphorus。Inthatsequesteredregionheremainedmanymonths，exposedtothehardshipsofexile，ofsolitude，andofwant；hismelancholytemperbroodingoverhismisfortunes，andhismindagitatedbythejustapprehension，that，ifanyaccidentshoulddiscoverhisname，thefaithlessBarbarianswouldviolate，withoutmuchscruple，thelawsofhospitality。Inamomentofimpatienceanddespair，Procopiusembarkedinamerchantvessel，whichmadesailforConstantinople；andboldlyaspiredtotherankofasovereign，becausehewasnotallowedtoenjoythesecurityofasubject。AtfirsthelurkedinthevillagesofBithynia，continuallychanginghishabitationandhisdisguise。
^36Bydegreesheventuredintothecapital，trustedhislifeandfortunetothefidelityoftwofriends，asenatorandaeunuch，andconceivedsomehopesofsuccess，fromtheintelligencewhichheobtainedoftheactualstateofpublicaffairs。Thebodyofthepeoplewasinfectedwithaspiritofdiscontent:theyregrettedthejusticeandtheabilitiesofSallust，whohadbeenimprudentlydismissedfromthepraefectureoftheEast。TheydespisedthecharacterofValens，whichwasrudewithoutvigor，andfeeblewithoutmildness。Theydreadedtheinfluenceofhisfather—in—law，thepatricianPetronius，acruelandrapaciousminister，whorigorouslyexactedallthearrearsoftributethatmightremainunpaidsincethereignoftheemperorAurelian。Thecircumstanceswerepropitioustothedesignsofausurper。ThehostilemeasuresofthePersiansrequiredthepresenceofValensinSyria:fromtheDanubetotheEuphratesthetroopswereinmotion；andthecapitalwasoccasionallyfilledwiththesoldierswhopassedorrepassedtheThracianBosphorus。TwocohortsofGaulwerepersuadedtolistentothesecretproposalsoftheconspirators；whichwererecommendedbythepromiseofaliberaldonative；and，astheystillreveredthememoryofJulian，theyeasilyconsentedtosupportthehereditaryclaimofhisproscribedkinsman。AtthedawnofdaytheyweredrawnupnearthebathsofAnastasia；andProcopius，clothedinapurplegarment，moresuitabletoaplayerthantoamonarch，appeared，asifherosefromthedead，inthemidstofConstantinople。Thesoldiers，whowerepreparedforhisreception，salutedtheirtremblingprincewithshoutsofjoyandvowsoffidelity。Theirnumbersweresoonincreasedbyabandofsturdypeasants，collectedfromtheadjacentcountry；andProcopius，shieldedbythearmsofhisadherents，wassuccessivelyconductedtothetribunal，thesenate，andthepalace。Duringthefirstmomentsofhistumultuousreign，hewasastonishedandterrifiedbythegloomysilenceofthepeople；whowereeitherignorantofthecause，orapprehensiveoftheevent。Buthismilitarystrengthwassuperiortoanyactualresistance:themalecontentsflockedtothestandardofrebellion；thepoorwereexcitedbythehopes，andtherichwereintimidatedbythefear，ofageneralpillage；
andtheobstinatecredulityofthemultitudewasoncemoredeceivedbythepromisedadvantagesofarevolution。Themagistrateswereseized；theprisonsandarsenalsbrokeopen；thegates，andtheentranceoftheharbor，werediligentlyoccupied；
and，inafewhours，Procopiusbecametheabsolute，thoughprecarious，masteroftheImperialcity。Theusurperimprovedthisunexpectedsuccesswithsomedegreeofcourageanddexterity。Heartfullypropagatedtherumorsandopinionsthemostfavorabletohisinterest；whilehedeludedthepopulacebygivingaudiencetothefrequent，butimaginary，ambassadorsofdistantnations。ThelargebodiesoftroopsstationedinthecitiesofThraceandthefortressesoftheLowerDanube，weregraduallyinvolvedintheguiltofrebellion:andtheGothicprincesconsentedtosupplythesovereignofConstantinoplewiththeformidablestrengthofseveralthousandauxiliaries。HisgeneralspassedtheBosphorus，andsubdued，withoutaneffort，theunarmed，butwealthyprovincesofBithyniaandAsia。Afteranhonorabledefence，thecityandislandofCyzicusyieldedtohispower；therenownedlegionsoftheJoviansandHerculeansembracedthecauseoftheusurper，whomtheywereorderedtocrush；and，astheveteranswerecontinuallyaugmentedwithnewlevies，hesoonappearedattheheadofanarmy，whosevalor，aswellasnumbers，werenotunequaltothegreatnessofthecontest。ThesonofHormisdas，^37ayouthofspiritandability，condescendedtodrawhisswordagainstthelawfulemperoroftheEast；andthePersianprincewasimmediatelyinvestedwiththeancientandextraordinarypowersofaRomanProconsul。TheallianceofFaustina，thewidowoftheemperorConstantius，whointrustedherselfandherdaughtertothehandsoftheusurper，addeddignityandreputationtohiscause。TheprincessConstantia，whowasthenaboutfiveyearsofage，accompanied，inalitter，themarchofthearmy。Shewasshowntothemultitudeinthearmsofheradoptedfather；and，asoftenasshepassedthroughtheranks，thetendernessofthesoldierswasinflamedintomartialfury:^38theyrecollectedthegloriesofthehouseofConstantine，andtheydeclared，withloyalacclamation，thattheywouldshedthelastdropoftheirbloodinthedefenceoftheroyalinfant。^39
[Footnote34:Theuncertaindegreeofalliance，orconsanguinity，isexpressedbythewords，cognatus，consobrinus，seeValesiusadAmmian。xxiii。3。ThemotherofProcopiusmightbeasisterofBasilinaandCountJulian，themotheranduncleoftheApostate。Ducange，Fam。Byzantin。p。49。]
[Footnote35:Ammian。xxiii。3，xxvi。6。Hementionsthereportwithmuchhesitation:susurravitobscuriorfama；nemoenimdictiauctorexstititverus。Itserves，however，toremark，thatProcopiuswasaPagan。Yethisreligiondoesnotappeartohavepromoted，orobstructed，hispretensions。]
[Footnote36:Oneofhisretreatswasacountry—houseofEunomius，theheretic。Themasterwasabsent，innocent，ignorant；yethenarrowlyescapedasentenceofdeath，andwasbanishedintotheremotepartsofMauritania，Philostorg。l。ix。
c。5，8，andGodefroy\'sDissert。p。369—378。]
[Footnote*:Itmaybesuspected，fromafragmentofEunapius，thattheheathenandphilosophicpartyespousedthecauseofProcopius。Heraclius，theCynic，amanwhohadbeenhonoredbyaphilosophiccontroversywithJulian，strikingthegroundwithhisstaff，incitedhimtocouragewiththelineofHomerEunapius。
Mai，p。207orinNiebuhr\'sedition，p。73。—M。]
[Footnote37:HormisdaematurojuveniHormisdaeregalisilliusfilio，potestatemProconsulisdetulit；etcivilia，moreveterum，etbella，recturo。Ammian。xxvi。8。ThePersianprinceescapedwithhonorandsafety，andwasafterwardsA。D。380restoredtothesameextraordinaryofficeofproconsulofBithynia，Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。204IamignorantwhethertheraceofSassanwaspropagated。IfindA。D。514apopeHormisdas；buthewasanativeofFrusino，inItaly，PagiBrev。Pontific。tom。i。p。247]
[Footnote38:TheinfantrebelwasafterwardsthewifeoftheemperorGratianbutshediedyoung，andchildless。SeeDucange，Fam。Byzantin。p。48，59。]
[Footnote39:Sequiminiculminissummiprosapiam，wasthelanguageofProcopius，whoaffectedtodespisetheobscurebirth，andfortuitouselectionoftheupstartPannonian。Ammian。xxvi。
7。]