[Footnote133:Constantinoplewasdeprivedhalfadayofthepublicallowanceofbread，toexpiatethemurderofaGothicsoldier:wastheguiltofthepeople。Libanius，Orat。xii。p。
394，edit。Morel。]
[Footnote134:Zosimus，l。iv。p。267—271。Hetellsalongandridiculousstoryoftheadventurousprince，whorovedthecountrywithonlyfivehorsemen，ofaspywhomtheydetected，whipped，andkilledinanoldwoman\'scottage，&c。]
[Footnote*:Eunapius。—M。]
[Footnote135:CompareEunapiusinExcerpt。Legat。p。21，22
withZosimus，l。iv。p。279。Thedifferenceofcircumstancesandnamesmustundoubtedlybeappliedtothesamestory。
Fravitta，orTravitta，wasafterwardsconsul，A。D。401。andstillcontinuedhisfaithfulservicestotheeldestsonofTheodosius。Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。467。]
[Footnote136:LesGothsravagerenttoutdepuisleDanubejusqu\'auBosphore；exterminerentValensetsonarmee；etnerepasserentleDanube，quepourabandonnerl\'affreusesolitudequ\'ilsavoientfaite，OeuvresdeMontesquieu，tom。iii。p。479。
ConsiderationssurlesCausesdelaGrandeuretdelaDecadencedesRomains，c。xvii。ThepresidentMontesquieuseemsignorantthattheGoths，afterthedefeatofValens，neverabandonedtheRomanterritory。Itisnowthirtyyears，saysClaudian，deBelloGetico，166，&c。，A。D。404，
ExquojampatriosgenshaecoblitaTriones，AtqueIstrumtransvectasemel，vestigiafixitThreiciofunestasolo—
theerrorisinexcusable；sinceitdisguisestheprincipalandimmediatecauseofthefalloftheWesternempireofRome。]
EndHistoryOfTheDeclineAndFallOfTheRomanEmpireEdwardGibbon，Esq。
WithnotesbytheRev。H。H。MilmanVol。3
ChapterXXVII:CivilWars，ReignOfTheodosius。
PartI。
DeathOfGratian。—RuinOfArianism。—St。Ambrose。—FirstCivilWar，AgainstMaximus。—Character，Administration，AndPenanceOfTheodosius。—DeathOfValentinianII。—SecondCivilWar，AgainstEugenius。—DeathOfTheodosius。
ThefameofGratian，beforehehadaccomplishedthetwentiethyearofhisage，wasequaltothatofthemostcelebratedprinces。Hisgentleandamiabledispositionendearedhimtohisprivatefriends，thegracefulaffabilityofhismannersengagedtheaffectionofthepeople:themenofletters，whoenjoyedtheliberality，acknowledgedthetasteandeloquence，oftheirsovereign；hisvaloranddexterityinarmswereequallyapplaudedbythesoldiers；andtheclergyconsideredthehumblepietyofGratianasthefirstandmostusefulofhisvirtues。
ThevictoryofColmarhaddeliveredtheWestfromaformidableinvasion；andthegratefulprovincesoftheEastascribedthemeritsofTheodosiustotheauthorofhisgreatness，andofthepublicsafety。Gratiansurvivedthosememorableeventsonlyfourorfiveyears；buthesurvivedhisreputation；and，beforehefellavictimtorebellion，hehadlost，inagreatmeasure，therespectandconfidenceoftheRomanworld。
Theremarkablealterationofhischaracterorconductmaynotbeimputedtotheartsofflattery，whichhadbesiegedthesonofValentinianfromhisinfancy；nortotheheadstrongpassionswhichthethatgentleyouthappearstohaveescaped。A
moreattentiveviewofthelifeofGratianmayperhapssuggestthetruecauseofthedisappointmentofthepublichopes。Hisapparentvirtues，insteadofbeingthehardyproductionsofexperienceandadversity，weretheprematureandartificialfruitsofaroyaleducation。Theanxioustendernessofhisfatherwascontinuallyemployedtobestowonhimthoseadvantages，whichhemightperhapsesteemthemorehighly，ashehimselfhadbeendeprivedofthem；andthemostskilfulmastersofeveryscience，andofeveryart，hadlaboredtoformthemindandbodyoftheyoungprince。^1Theknowledgewhichtheypainfullycommunicatedwasdisplayedwithostentation，andcelebratedwithlavishpraise。Hissoftandtractabledispositionreceivedthefairimpressionoftheirjudiciousprecepts，andtheabsenceofpassionmighteasilybemistakenforthestrengthofreason。Hispreceptorsgraduallyrosetotherankandconsequenceofministersofstate:^2and，astheywiselydissembledtheirsecretauthority，heseemedtoactwithfirmness，withpropriety，andwithjudgment，onthemostimportantoccasionsofhislifeandreign。Buttheinfluenceofthiselaborateinstructiondidnotpenetratebeyondthesurface；
andtheskilfulpreceptors，whosoaccuratelyguidedthestepsoftheirroyalpupil，couldnotinfuseintohisfeebleandindolentcharacterthevigorousandindependentprincipleofactionwhichrendersthelaboriouspursuitofgloryessentiallynecessarytothehappiness，andalmosttotheexistence，ofthehero。Assoonastimeandaccidenthadremovedthosefaithfulcounsellorsfromthethrone，theemperoroftheWestinsensiblydescendedtothelevelofhisnaturalgenius；abandonedthereinsofgovernmenttotheambitioushandswhichwerestretchedforwardstograspthem；
andamusedhisleisurewiththemostfrivolousgratifications。A
publicsaleoffavorandinjusticewasinstituted，bothinthecourtandintheprovinces，bytheworthlessdelegatesofhispower，whosemerititwasmadesacrilegetoquestion。^3Theconscienceofthecredulousprincewasdirectedbysaintsandbishops；^4whoprocuredanImperialedicttopunish，asacapitaloffence，theviolation，theneglect，oreventheignorance，ofthedivinelaw。^5AmongthevariousartswhichhadexercisedtheyouthofGratian，hehadappliedhimself，withsingularinclinationandsuccess，tomanagethehorse，todrawthebow，andtodartthejavelin；andthesequalifications，whichmightbeusefultoasoldier，wereprostitutedtothevilerpurposesofhunting。LargeparkswereenclosedfortheImperialpleasures，andplentifullystockedwitheveryspeciesofwildbeasts；andGratianneglectedtheduties，andeventhedignity，ofhisrank，toconsumewholedaysinthevaindisplayofhisdexterityandboldnessinthechase。TheprideandwishoftheRomanemperortoexcelinanart，inwhichhemightbesurpassedbythemeanestofhisslaves，remindedthenumerousspectatorsoftheexamplesofNeroandCommodus，butthechasteandtemperateGratianwasastrangertotheirmonstrousvices；andhishandswerestainedonlywiththebloodofanimals。^6ThebehaviorofGratian，whichdegradedhischaracterintheeyesofmankind，couldnothavedisturbedthesecurityofhisreign，ifthearmyhadnotbeenprovokedtoresenttheirpeculiarinjuries。Aslongastheyoungemperorwasguidedbytheinstructionsofhismasters，heprofessedhimselfthefriendandpupilofthesoldiers；manyofhishourswerespentinthefamiliarconversationofthecamp；andthehealth，thecomforts，therewards，thehonors，ofhisfaithfultroops，appearedtobetheobjectsofhisattentiveconcern。But，afterGratianmorefreelyindulgedhisprevailingtasteforhuntingandshooting，henaturallyconnectedhimselfwiththemostdexterousministersofhisfavoriteamusement。AbodyoftheAlaniwasreceivedintothemilitaryanddomesticserviceofthepalace；andtheadmirableskill，whichtheywereaccustomedtodisplayintheunboundedplainsofScythia，wasexercised，onamorenarrowtheatre，intheparksandenclosuresofGaul。Gratianadmiredthetalentsandcustomsofthesefavoriteguards，towhomaloneheintrustedthedefenceofhisperson；and，asifhemeanttoinsultthepublicopinion，hefrequentlyshowedhimselftothesoldiersandpeople，withthedressandarms，thelongbow，thesoundingquiver，andthefurgarmentsofaScythianwarrior。TheunworthyspectacleofaRomanprince，whohadrenouncedthedressandmannersofhiscountry，filledthemindsofthelegionswithgriefandindignation。^7EventheGermans，sostrongandformidableinthearmiesoftheempire，affectedtodisdainthestrangeandhorridappearanceofthesavagesoftheNorth，who，inthespaceofafewyears，hadwanderedfromthebanksoftheVolgatothoseoftheSeine。AloudandlicentiousmurmurwasechoedthroughthecampsandgarrisonsoftheWest；andasthemildindolenceofGratianneglectedtoextinguishthefirstsymptomsofdiscontent，thewantofloveandrespectwasnotsuppliedbytheinfluenceoffear。Butthesubversionofanestablishedgovernmentisalwaysaworkofsomereal，andofmuchapparent，difficulty；andthethroneofGratianwasprotectedbythesanctionsofcustom，law，religion，andthenicebalanceofthecivilandmilitarypowers，whichhadbeenestablishedbythepolicyofConstantine。ItisnotveryimportanttoinquirefromwhatcausetherevoltofBritainwasproduced。Accidentiscommonlytheparentofdisorder；theseedsofrebellionhappenedtofallonasoilwhichwassupposedtobemorefruitfulthananyotherintyrantsandusurpers；^8thelegionsofthatsequesteredislandhadbeenlongfamousforaspiritofpresumptionandarrogance；^9andthenameofMaximuswasproclaimed，bythetumultuary，butunanimousvoice，bothofthesoldiersandoftheprovincials。Theemperor，ortherebel，—forthistitlewasnotyetascertainedbyfortune，—wasanativeofSpain，thecountryman，thefellow—soldier，andtherivalofTheodosiuswhoseelevationhehadnotseenwithoutsomeemotionsofenvyandresentment:theeventsofhislifehadlongsincefixedhiminBritain；andIshouldnotbeunwillingtofindsomeevidenceforthemarriage，whichheissaidtohavecontractedwiththedaughterofawealthylordofCaernarvonshire。^10Butthisprovincialrankmightjustlybeconsideredasastateofexileandobscurity；andifMaximushadobtainedanycivilormilitaryoffice，hewasnotinvestedwiththeauthorityeitherofgovernororgeneral。^11Hisabilities，andevenhisintegrity，areacknowledgedbythepartialwritersoftheage；andthemeritmustindeedhavebeenconspicuousthatcouldextortsuchaconfessioninfavorofthevanquishedenemyofTheodosius。ThediscontentofMaximusmightinclinehimtocensuretheconductofhissovereign，andtoencourage，perhaps，withoutanyviewsofambition，themurmursofthetroops。Butinthemidstofthetumult，heartfully，ormodestly，refusedtoascendthethrone；
andsomecreditappearstohavebeengiventohisownpositivedeclaration，thathewascompelledtoacceptthedangerouspresentoftheImperialpurple。^12
[Footnote1:Valentinianwaslessattentivetothereligionofhisson；sinceheintrustedtheeducationofGratiantoAusonius，aprofessedPagan。Mem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xv。
p。125—138。ThepoeticalfameofAusoniuscondemnsthetasteofhisage。]
[Footnote2:AusoniuswassuccessivelypromotedtothePraetorianpraefectureofItaly，A。D。377，andofGaul，A。D。378；andwasatlengthinvestedwiththeconsulship，A。D。379。Heexpressedhisgratitudeinaservileandinsipidpieceofflattery，ActioGratiarum，p。699—736，whichhassurvivedmoreworthyproductions。]
[Footnote3:Disputaredeprincipalijudiciononoportet。
Sacrilegiieniminstarestdubitare，anisdignussit，quemelegeritimperator。CodexJustinian，l。ix。tit。xxix。leg。3。
Thisconvenientlawwasrevivedandpromulgated，afterthedeathofGratian，bythefeeblecourtofMilan。]
[Footnote4:Ambrosecomposed，forhisinstruction，atheologicaltreatiseonthefaithoftheTrinity:andTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。158，169，ascribestothearchbishopthemeritofGratian\'sintolerantlaws。]
[Footnote5:Quidivinaelegissanctitatemnesciendoomittunt，autnegligendeviolant，etoffendunt，sacrilegiumcommittunt。
CodexJustinian。l。ix。tit。xxix。leg。1。Theodosiusindeedmayclaimhisshareinthemeritofthiscomprehensivelaw。]
[Footnote6:Ammianusxxxi。10andtheyoungerVictoracknowledgethevirtuesofGratian；andaccuse，orratherlament，hisdegeneratetaste。TheodiousparallelofCommodusissavedby\"licetincruentus；\"andperhapsPhilostorgiusl。x。c。10，andGodefroy，p。41hadguardedwithsomesimilarreserve，thecomparisonofNero。]
[Footnote7:Zosimusl。iv。p。247andtheyoungerVictorascribetherevolutiontothefavoroftheAlani，andthediscontentoftheRomantroopsDumexercitumnegligeret，etpaucosexAlanis，quosingentiauroadsatranstulerat，anteferretveteriacRomanomiliti。]
[Footnote8:Britanniafertilisprovinciatyrannorum，isamemorableexpression，usedbyJerominthePelagiancontroversy，andvariouslytorturedinthedisputesofournationalantiquaries。TherevolutionsofthelastageappearedtojustifytheimageofthesublimeBossuet，\"setteile，plusorageusequelesmersquil\'environment。\"]
[Footnote9:ZosimussaysoftheBritishsoldiers。]
[Footnote10:Helena，thedaughterofEudda。HerchapelmaystillbeseenatCaer—segont，nowCaer—narvon。Carte\'sHist。ofEngland，vol。i。p。168，fromRowland\'sMonaAntiqua。TheprudentreadermaynotperhapsbesatisfiedwithsuchWelshevidence。]
[Footnote11:Camdenvol。i。introduct。p。ci。appointshimgovernoratBritain；andthefatherofourantiquitiesisfollowed，asusual，byhisblindprogeny。PacatusandZosimushadtakensomepainstopreventthiserror，orfable；andIshallprotectmyselfbytheirdecisivetestimonies。Regalihabituexulemsuum，illiexulesorbisinduerunt，inPanegyr。Vet。xii。
23，andtheGreekhistorianstilllessequivocally，Maximus
l。iv。p。248。]
[Footnote12:SulpiciusSeverus，Dialog。ii。7。Orosius，l。vii。
c。34。p。556。TheybothacknowledgeSulpiciushadbeenhissubjecthisinnocenceandmerit。Itissingularenough，thatMaximusshouldbelessfavorablytreatedbyZosimus，thepartialadversaryofhisrival。]
Buttherewasdangerlikewiseinrefusingtheempire；andfromthemomentthatMaximushadviolatedhisallegiancetohislawfulsovereign，hecouldnothopetoreign，oreventolive，ifheconfinedhismoderateambitionwithinthenarrowlimitsofBritain。HeboldlyandwiselyresolvedtopreventthedesignsofGratian；theyouthoftheislandcrowdedtohisstandard，andheinvadedGaulwithafleetandarmy，whichwerelongafterwardsremembered，astheemigrationofaconsiderablepartoftheBritishnation。^13Theemperor，inhispeacefulresidenceofParis，wasalarmedbytheirhostileapproach；andthedartswhichheidlywastedonlionsandbears，mighthavebeenemployedmorehonorablyagainsttherebels。Buthisfeebleeffortsannouncedhisdegeneratespiritanddesperatesituation；anddeprivedhimoftheresources，whichhestillmighthavefound，inthesupportofhissubjectsandallies。ThearmiesofGaul，insteadofopposingthemarchofMaximus，receivedhimwithjoyfulandloyalacclamations；andtheshameofthedesertionwastransferredfromthepeopletotheprince。Thetroops，whosestationmoreimmediatelyattachedthemtotheserviceofthepalace，abandonedthestandardofGratianthefirsttimethatitwasdisplayedintheneighborhoodofParis。TheemperoroftheWestfledtowardsLyons，withatrainofonlythreehundredhorse；and，inthecitiesalongtheroad，wherehehopedtofindrefuge，oratleastapassage，hewastaught，bycruelexperience，thateverygateisshutagainsttheunfortunate。Yethemightstillhavereached，insafety，thedominionsofhisbrother；andsoonhavereturnedwiththeforcesofItalyandtheEast；ifhehadnotsufferedhimselftobefatallydeceivedbytheperfidiousgovernoroftheLyonneseprovince。Gratianwasamusedbyprotestationsofdoubtfulfidelity，andthehopesofasupport，whichcouldnotbeeffectual；tillthearrivalofAndragathius，thegeneralofthecavalryofMaximus，putanendtohissuspense。Thatresoluteofficerexecuted，withoutremorse，theordersortheintentionoftheusurper。Gratian，asherosefromsupper，wasdeliveredintothehandsoftheassassin:andhisbodywasdeniedtothepiousandpressingentreatiesofhisbrotherValentinian。^14ThedeathoftheemperorwasfollowedbythatofhispowerfulgeneralMellobaudes，thekingoftheFranks；whomaintained，tothelastmomentofhislife，theambiguousreputation，whichisthejustrecompenseofobscureandsubtlepolicy。^15Theseexecutionsmightbenecessarytothepublicsafety:butthesuccessfulusurper，whosepowerwasacknowledgedbyalltheprovincesoftheWest，hadthemerit，andthesatisfaction，ofboasting，that，exceptthosewhohadperishedbythechanceofwar，histriumphwasnotstainedbythebloodoftheRomans。^16
[Footnote13:ArchbishopUsherAntiquat。Britan。Eccles。p。107，108hasdiligentlycollectedthelegendsoftheisland，andthecontinent。Thewholeemigrationconsistedof30，000soldiers，and100，000plebeians，whosettledinBretagne。Theirdestinedbrides，St。Ursulawith11，000noble，and60，000plebeian，virgins，mistooktheirway；landedatCologne，andwereallmostcruellymurderedbytheHuns。Buttheplebeiansistershavebeendefraudedoftheirequalhonors；andwhatisstillharder，JohnTrithemiuspresumestomentionthechildrenoftheseBritishvirgins。]
[Footnote14:Zosimusl。iv。p。248，249hastransportedthedeathofGratianfromLugdunuminGaulLyonstoSingidunuminMoesia。SomehintsmaybeextractedfromtheChronicles；someliesmaybedetectedinSozomenl。vii。c。13andSocrates，l。
v。c。11。Ambroseisourmostauthenticevidence，tom。i。
Enarrat。inPsalmlxi。p。961，tomii。epist。xxiv。p。888&c。，anddeObituValentinianConsolat。Ner。28，p。1182。]
[Footnote15:Pacatusxii。28celebrateshisfidelity；whilehistreacheryismarkedinProsper\'sChronicle，asthecauseoftheruinofGratian。Ambrose，whohasoccasiontoexculpatehimself，onlycondemnsthedeathofVallio，afaithfulservantofGratian，tom。ii。epist。xxiv。p。891，edit。Benedict。
Note:LeBeauconteststhereadinginthechronicleofProsperuponwhichthischargerests。LeBeau，iv。232。—M。
Note:AccordingtoPacatus，theCountVallio，whocommandedthearmy，wascarriedtoChalonstobeburntalive；butMaximus，dreadingtheimputationofcruelty，causedhimtobesecretlystrangledbyhisBretons。Macedoniusalso，masteroftheoffices，sufferedthedeathwhichhemerited。LeBeau，iv。244。
—M。]
[Footnote16:Heprotested，nullumexadversariisnisiinacissieoccubu。Sulp。JeverusinVit。B。Martin，c。23。TheoratorTheodosiusbestowsreluctant，andthereforeweighty，praiseonhisclemency。Sicuiille，proceterissceleribussuis，minuscrudelisfuissevidetur，Panegyr。Vet。xii。28。]
Theeventsofthisrevolutionhadpassedinsuchrapidsuccession，thatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleforTheodosiustomarchtothereliefofhisbenefactor，beforehereceivedtheintelligenceofhisdefeatanddeath。Duringtheseasonofsinceregrief，orostentatiousmourning，theEasternemperorwasinterruptedbythearrivaloftheprincipalchamberlainofMaximus；andthechoiceofavenerableoldman，foranofficewhichwasusuallyexercisedbyeunuchs，announcedtothecourtofConstantinoplethegravityandtemperanceoftheBritishusurper。