ChapterXXXI:InvasionOfItaly，OccupationOfTerritoriesByBarbarians。
PartIII。
Atthedistanceoffourteencenturies，wemaybesatisfiedwithrelatingthemilitaryexploitsoftheconquerorsofRome，withoutpresumingtoinvestigatethemotivesoftheirpoliticalconduct。Inthemidstofhisapparentprosperity，Alaricwasconscious，perhaps，ofsomesecretweakness，someinternaldefect；orperhapsthemoderationwhichhedisplayed，wasintendedonlytodeceiveanddisarmtheeasycredulityoftheministersofHonorius。ThekingoftheGothsrepeatedlydeclared，thatitwashisdesiretobeconsideredasthefriendofpeace，andoftheRomans。Threesenators，athisearnestrequest，weresentambassadorstothecourtofRavenna，tosolicittheexchangeofhostages，andtheconclusionofthetreaty；andtheproposals，whichhemoreclearlyexpressedduringthecourseofthenegotiations，couldonlyinspireadoubtofhissincerity，astheymightseeminadequatetothestateofhisfortune。TheBarbarianstillaspiredtotherankofmaster—generalofthearmiesoftheWest；hestipulatedanannualsubsidyofcornandmoney；andhechosetheprovincesofDalmatia，Noricum，andVenetia，fortheseatofhisnewkingdom，whichwouldhavecommandedtheimportantcommunicationbetweenItalyandtheDanube。Ifthesemodesttermsshouldberejected，Alaricshowedadispositiontorelinquishhispecuniarydemands，andeventocontenthimselfwiththepossessionofNoricum；anexhaustedandimpoverishedcountry，perpetuallyexposedtotheinroadsoftheBarbariansofGermany。^82Butthehopesofpeaceweredisappointedbytheweakobstinacy，orinterestedviews，oftheministerOlympius。Withoutlisteningtothesalutaryremonstrancesofthesenate，hedismissedtheirambassadorsundertheconductofamilitaryescort，toonumerousforaretinueofhonor，andtoofeebleforanyarmyofdefence。SixthousandDalmatians，thefloweroftheImperiallegions，wereorderedtomarchfromRavennatoRome，throughanopencountrywhichwasoccupiedbytheformidablemyriadsoftheBarbarians。Thesebravelegionaries，encompassedandbetrayed，fellasacrificetoministerialfolly；theirgeneral，Valens，withahundredsoldiers，escapedfromthefieldofbattle；andoneoftheambassadors，whocouldnolongerclaimtheprotectionofthelawofnations，wasobligedtopurchasehisfreedomwitharansomofthirtythousandpiecesofgold。YetAlaric，insteadofresentingthisactofimpotenthostility，immediatelyrenewedhisproposalsofpeace；andthesecondembassyoftheRomansenate，whichderivedweightanddignityfromthepresenceofInnocent，bishopofthecity，wasguardedfromthedangersoftheroadbyadetachmentofGothicsoldiers。^83
[Footnote82:Zosimus，l。v。p。367368，369。]
[Footnote83:Zosimus，l。v。p。360，361，362。Thebishop，byremainingatRavenna，escapedtheimpendingcalamitiesofthecity。Orosius，l。vii。c。39，p。573。]
Olympius^84mighthavecontinuedtoinsultthejustresentmentofapeoplewholoudlyaccusedhimastheauthorofthepubliccalamities；buthispowerwasunderminedbythesecretintriguesofthepalace。ThefavoriteeunuchstransferredthegovernmentofHonorius，andtheempire，toJovius，thePraetorianpraefect；anunworthyservant，whodidnotatone，bythemeritofpersonalattachment，fortheerrorsandmisfortunesofhisadministration。Theexile，orescape，oftheguiltyOlympius，reservedhimformorevicissitudesoffortune:heexperiencedtheadventuresofanobscureandwanderinglife；heagainrosetopower；hefellasecondtimeintodisgrace；hisearswerecutoff；heexpiredunderthelash；andhisignominiousdeathaffordedagratefulspectacletothefriendsofStilicho。AftertheremovalofOlympius，whosecharacterwasdeeplytaintedwithreligiousfanaticism，thePagansandhereticsweredeliveredfromtheimpoliticproscription，whichexcludedthemfromthedignitiesofthestate。ThebraveGennerid，^85asoldierofBarbarianorigin，whostilladheredtotheworshipofhisancestors，hadbeenobligedtolayasidethemilitarybelt:andthoughhewasrepeatedlyassuredbytheemperorhimself，thatlawswerenotmadeforpersonsofhisrankormerit，herefusedtoacceptanypartialdispensation，andperseveredinhonorabledisgrace，tillhehadextortedageneralactofjusticefromthedistressoftheRomangovernment。TheconductofGenneridintheimportantstationtowhichhewaspromotedorrestored，ofmaster—generalofDalmatia，Pannonia，Noricum，andRhaetia，seemedtorevivethedisciplineandspiritoftherepublic。Fromalifeofidlenessandwant，histroopsweresoonhabituatedtosevereexerciseandplentifulsubsistence；andhisprivategenerosityoftensuppliedtherewards，whichweredeniedbytheavarice，orpoverty，ofthecourtofRavenna。ThevalorofGennerid，formidabletotheadjacentBarbarians，wasthefirmestbulwarkoftheIllyrianfrontier；andhisvigilantcareassistedtheempirewithareenforcementoftenthousandHuns，whoarrivedontheconfinesofItaly，attendedbysuchaconvoyofprovisions，andsuchanumeroustrainofsheepandoxen，asmighthavebeensufficient，notonlyforthemarchofanarmy，butforthesettlementofacolony。ButthecourtandcouncilsofHonoriusstillremainedasceneofweaknessanddistraction，ofcorruptionandanarchy。InstigatedbythepraefectJovius，theguardsroseinfuriousmutiny，anddemandedtheheadsoftwogenerals，andofthetwoprincipaleunuchs。Thegenerals，underaperfidiouspromiseofsafety，weresentonshipboard，andprivatelyexecuted；whilethefavoroftheeunuchsprocuredthemamildandsecureexileatMilanandConstantinople。Eusebiustheeunuch，andtheBarbarianAllobich，succeededtothecommandofthebed—chamberandoftheguards；andthemutualjealousyofthesesubordinateministerswasthecauseoftheirmutualdestruction。Bytheinsolentorderofthecountofthedomestics，thegreatchamberlainwasshamefullybeatentodeathwithsticks，beforetheeyesoftheastonishedemperor；andthesubsequentassassinationofAllobich，inthemidstofapublicprocession，istheonlycircumstanceofhislife，inwhichHonoriusdiscoveredthefaintestsymptomofcourageorresentment。Yetbeforetheyfell，EusebiusandAllobichhadcontributedtheirparttotheruinoftheempire，byopposingtheconclusionofatreatywhichJovius，fromaselfish，andperhapsacriminal，motive，hadnegotiatedwithAlaric，inapersonalinterviewunderthewallsofRimini。DuringtheabsenceofJovius，theemperorwaspersuadedtoassumealoftytoneofinflexibledignity，suchasneitherhissituation，norhischaracter，couldenablehimtosupport；andaletter，signedwiththenameofHonorius，wasimmediatelydespatchedtothePraetorianpraefect，grantinghimafreepermissiontodisposeofthepublicmoney，butsternlyrefusingtoprostitutethemilitaryhonorsofRometotheprouddemandsofaBarbarian。ThisletterwasimprudentlycommunicatedtoAlarichimself；andtheGoth，whointhewholetransactionhadbehavedwithtemperanddecency，expressed，inthemostoutrageouslanguage，hislivelysenseoftheinsultsowantonlyofferedtohispersonandtohisnation。
TheconferenceofRiminiwashastilyinterrupted；andthepraefectJovius，onhisreturntoRavenna，wascompelledtoadopt，andeventoencourage，thefashionableopinionsofthecourt。Byhisadviceandexample，theprincipalofficersofthestateandarmywereobligedtoswear，that，withoutlistening，inanycircumstances，toanyconditionsofpeace，theywouldstillpersevereinperpetualandimplacablewaragainsttheenemyoftherepublic。Thisrashengagementopposedaninsuperablebartoallfuturenegotiation。TheministersofHonoriuswereheardtodeclare，that，iftheyhadonlyinvokedthenameoftheDeity，theywouldconsultthepublicsafety，andtrusttheirsoulstothemercyofHeaven:buttheyhadswornbythesacredheadoftheemperorhimself；theyhadswornbythesacredheadoftheemperorhimself；theyhadtouched，insolemnceremony，thataugustseatofmajestyandwisdom；andtheviolationoftheiroathwouldexposethemtothetemporalpenaltiesofsacrilegeandrebellion。
^86[Footnote84:FortheadventuresofOlympius，andhissuccessorsintheministry，seeZosimus，l。v。p。363，365，366，andOlympiodor。ap。Phot。p。180，181。]
[Footnote85:Zosimusl。v。p。364relatesthiscircumstancewithvisiblecomplacency，andcelebratesthecharacterofGenneridasthelastgloryofexpiringPaganism。VerydifferentwerethesentimentsofthecouncilofCarthage，whodeputedfourbishopstothecourtofRavennatocomplainofthelaw，whichhadbeenjustenacted，thatallconversionstoChristianityshouldbefreeandvoluntary。SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。409，No。
12，A。D。410，No。47，48。]
[Footnote86:Zosimus，l。v。p。367，368，369。Thiscustomofswearingbythehead，orlife，orsafety，orgenius，ofthesovereign，wasofthehighestantiquity，bothinEgyptGenesis，xlii。15andScythia。Itwassoontransferred，byflattery，totheCaesars；andTertulliancomplains，thatitwastheonlyoathwhichtheRomansofhistimeaffectedtoreverence。SeeanelegantDissertationoftheAbbeMossieuontheOathsoftheAncients，intheMemdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。i。p。
208，209。]
Whiletheemperorandhiscourtenjoyed，withsullenpride，thesecurityofthemarchesandfortificationsofRavenna，theyabandonedRome，almostwithoutdefence，totheresentmentofAlaric。Yetsuchwasthemoderationwhichhestillpreserved，oraffected，that，ashemovedwithhisarmyalongtheFlaminianway，hesuccessivelydespatchedthebishopsofthetownsofItalytoreiteratehisoffersofpeace，andtocongradulatetheemperor，thathewouldsavethecityanditsinhabitantsfromhostilefire，andtheswordoftheBarbarians。^87Theseimpendingcalamitieswere，however，averted，notindeedbythewisdomofHonorius，butbytheprudenceorhumanityoftheGothicking；whoemployedamilder，thoughnotlesseffectual，methodofconquest。Insteadofassaultingthecapital，hesuccessfullydirectedhiseffortsagainstthePortofOstia，oneoftheboldestandmoststupendousworksofRomanmagnificence。^88Theaccidentstowhichtheprecarioussubsistenceofthecitywascontinuallyexposedinawinternavigation，andanopenroad，hadsuggestedtothegeniusofthefirstCaesartheusefuldesign，whichwasexecutedunderthereignofClaudius。Theartificialmoles，whichformedthenarrowentrance，advancedfarintothesea，andfirmlyrepelledthefuryofthewaves，whilethelargestvesselssecurelyrodeatanchorwithinthreedeepandcapaciousbasins，whichreceivedthenorthernbranchoftheTyber，abouttwomilesfromtheancientcolonyofOstia。^89TheRomanPortinsensiblyswelledtothesizeofanepiscopalcity，^90wherethecornofAfricawasdepositedinspaciousgranariesfortheuseofthecapital。AssoonasAlaricwasinpossessionofthatimportantplace，hesummonedthecitytosurrenderatdiscretion；
andhisdemandswereenforcedbythepositivedeclaration，thatarefusal，orevenadelay，shouldbeinstantlyfollowedbythedestructionofthemagazines，onwhichthelifeoftheRomanpeopledepended。Theclamorsofthatpeople，andtheterroroffamine，subduedtheprideofthesenate；theylistened，withoutreluctance，totheproposalofplacinganewemperoronthethroneoftheunworthyHonorius；andthesuffrageoftheGothicconquerorbestowedthepurpleonAttalus，praefectofthecity。
Thegratefulmonarchimmediatelyacknowledgedhisprotectorasmaster—generalofthearmiesoftheWest；Adolphus，withtherankofcountofthedomestics，obtainedthecustodyofthepersonofAttalus；andthetwohostilenationsseemedtobeunitedintheclosestbandsoffriendshipandalliance。^91
[Footnote87:Zosimus，l。v。p。368，369。IhavesoftenedtheexpressionsofAlaric，whoexpatiates，intoofloridamanner，onthehistoryofRome]
[Footnote88:SeeSueton。inClaud。c。20。DionCassius，l。lx。
p。949，editReimar，andthelivelydescriptionofJuvenal，Satir。xii。75，&c。Inthesixteenthcentury，whentheremainsofthisAugustanportwerestillvisible，theantiquarianssketchedtheplan，seeD\'Anville，Mem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxx。p。198，anddeclared，withenthusiasm，thatallthemonarchsofEuropewouldbeunabletoexecutesogreatawork，Bergier，Hist。desgrandsCheminsdesRomains，tom。ii。p。
356。]
[Footnote89:TheOstiaTyberina，seeCluver。ItaliaAntiq。l。
iii。p。870—879，inthepluralnumber，thetwomouthsoftheTyber，wereseparatedbytheHolyIsland，anequilateraltriangle，whosesideswereeachofthemcomputedatabouttwomiles。ThecolonyofOstiawasfoundedimmediatelybeyondtheleft，orsouthern，andthePortimmediatelybeyondtheright，ornorthern，branchofhteriver；andthedistancebetweentheirremainsmeasuressomethingmorethantwomilesonCingolani\'smap。InthetimeofStrabo，thesandandmuddepositedbytheTyberhadchokedtheharborofOstia；theprogressofthesamecausehasaddedmuchtothesizeoftheHolyIslands，andgraduallyleftbothOstiaandthePortataconsiderabledistancefromtheshore。ThedrychannelsfiumimortiandthelargeestuariesstagnodiPonente，diLevantemarkthechangesoftheriver，andtheeffortsofthesea。Consult，forthepresentstateofthisdrearyanddesolatetract，theexcellentmapoftheecclesiasticalstatebythemathematiciansofBenedictXIV。；anactualsurveyoftheAgroRomano，insixsheets，byCingolani，whichcontains113，819rubbia，about570，000acres；andthelargetopographicalmapofAmeti，ineightsheets。]
[Footnote90:Asearlyasthethird，Lardner\'sCredibilityoftheGospel，partii。vol。iii。p。89—92，oratleastthefourth，century，Carol。aSanctaPaulo，Notit。Eccles。p。47，
thePortofRomewasanepiscopalcity，whichwasdemolished，asitshouldseemintheninthcentury，byPopeGregoryIV。，duringtheincursionsoftheArabs。Itisnowreducedtoaninn，achurch，andthehouse，orpalace，ofthebishop；whoranksasoneofsixcardinal—bishopsoftheRomanchurch。SeeEschinard，DeserizionediRomanetdell\'AgroRomano，p。328。
Note:CompareSirW。Gell。RomeanditsVicinityvol。iip。
134。—M。]
[Footnote91:FortheelevationofAttalus，consultZosimus，l。
vi。p。377—380，Sozomen，l。ix。c。8，9，Olympiodor。ap。Phot。
p。180，181，Philostorg。l。xii。c。3，andGodefroy\'sDissertat。
p。470。]
Thegatesofthecitywerethrownopen，andthenewemperoroftheRomans，encompassedoneverysidebytheGothicarms，wasconducted，intumultuousprocession，tothepalaceofAugustusandTrajan。Afterhehaddistributedthecivilandmilitarydignitiesamonghisfavoritesandfollowers，Attalusconvenedanassemblyofthesenate；beforewhom，inaformatandfloridspeech，heassertedhisresolutionofrestoringthemajestyoftherepublic，andofunitingtotheempiretheprovincesofEgyptandtheEast，whichhadonceacknowledgedthesovereigntyofRome。Suchextravagantpromisesinspiredeveryreasonablecitizenwithajustcontemptforthecharacterofanunwarlikeusurper，whoseelevationwasthedeepestandmostignominiouswoundwhichtherepublichadyetsustainedfromtheinsolenceoftheBarbarians。Butthepopulace，withtheirusuallevity，applaudedthechangeofmasters。ThepublicdiscontentwasfavorabletotherivalofHonorius；andthesectaries，oppressedbyhispersecutingedicts，expectedsomedegreeofcountenance，oratleastoftoleration，fromaprince，who，inhisnativecountryofIonia，hadbeeneducatedinthePagansuperstition，andwhohadsincereceivedthesacramentofbaptismfromthehandsofanArianbishop。^92ThefirstdaysofthereignofAttaluswerefairandprosperous。AnofficerofconfidencewassentwithaninconsiderablebodyoftroopstosecuretheobedienceofAfrica；
thegreatestpartofItalysubmittedtotheterroroftheGothicpowers；andthoughthecityofBolognamadeavigorousandeffectualresistance，thepeopleofMilan，dissatisfiedperhapswiththeabsenceofHonorius，accepted，withloudacclamations，thechoiceoftheRomansenate。Attheheadofaformidablearmy，AlaricconductedhisroyalcaptivealmosttothegatesofRavenna；andasolemnembassyoftheprincipalministers，ofJovius，thePraetorianpraefect，ofValens，masterofthecavalryandinfantry，ofthequaestorPotamius，andofJulian，thefirstofthenotaries，wasintroduced，withmartialpomp，intotheGothiccamp。Inthenameoftheirsovereign，theyconsentedtoacknowledgethelawfulelectionofhiscompetitor，andtodividetheprovincesofItalyandtheWestbetweenthetwoemperors。
Theirproposalswererejectedwithdisdain；andtherefusalwasaggravatedbytheinsultingclemencyofAttalus，whocondescendedtopromise，that，ifHonoriuswouldinstantlyresignthepurple，heshouldbepermittedtopasstheremainderofhislifeinthepeacefulexileofsomeremoteisland。^93SodesperateindeeddidthesituationofthesonofTheodosiusappear，tothosewhowerethebestacquaintedwithhisstrengthandresources，thatJoviusandValens，hisministerandhisgeneral，betrayedtheirtrust，infamouslydesertedthesinkingcauseoftheirbenefactor，anddevotedtheirtreacherousallegiancetotheserviceofhismorefortunaterival。Astonishedbysuchexamplesofdomestictreason，Honoriustrembledattheapproachofeveryservant，atthearrivalofeverymessenger。Hedreadedthesecretenemies，whomightlurkinhiscapital，hispalace，hisbed—chamber；andsomeshipslayreadyintheharborofRavenna，totransporttheabdicatedmonarchtothedominionsofhisinfantnephew，theemperoroftheEast。
[Footnote92:WemayadmittheevidenceofSozomenfortheArianbaptism，andthatofPhilostorgiusforthePaganeducation，ofAttalus。ThevisiblejoyofZosimus，andthediscontentwhichheimputestotheAnicianfamily，areveryunfavorabletotheChristianityofthenewemperor。]
[Footnote93:Hecarriedhisinsolencesofar，astodeclarethatheshouldmutilateHonoriusbeforehesenthimintoexile。ButthisassertionofZosimusisdestroyedbythemoreimpartialtestimonyofOlympiodorus；whoattributestheungenerousproposalwhichwasabsolutelyrejectedbyAttalustothebaseness，andperhapsthetreachery，ofJovius。]
ButthereisaProvidencesuchatleastwastheopinionofthehistorianProcopius^94thatwatchesoverinnocenceandfolly；andthepretensionsofHonoriustoitspeculiarcarecannotreasonablybedisputed。Atthemomentwhenhisdespair，incapableofanywiseormanlyresolution，meditatedashamefulflight，aseasonablereenforcementoffourthousandveteransunexpectedlylandedintheportofRavenna。Tothesevaliantstrangers，whosefidelityhadnotbeencorruptedbythefactionsofthecourt，hecommittedthewallsandgatesofthecity；andtheslumbersoftheemperorwerenolongerdisturbedbytheapprehensionofimminentandinternaldanger。ThefavorableintelligencewhichwasreceivedfromAfricasuddenlychangedtheopinionsofmen，andthestateofpublicaffairs。Thetroopsandofficers，whomAttalushadsentintothatprovince，weredefeatedandslain；andtheactivezealofHeraclianmaintainedhisownallegiance，andthatofhispeople。ThefaithfulcountofAfricatransmittedalargesumofmoney，whichfixedtheattachmentoftheImperialguards；andhisvigilance，inpreventingtheexportationofcornandoil，introducedfamine，tumult，anddiscontent，intothewallsofRome。ThefailureoftheAfricanexpeditionwasthesourceofmutualcomplaintandrecriminationinthepartyofAttalus；andthemindofhisprotectorwasinsensiblyalienatedfromtheinterestofaprince，whowantedspirittocommand，ordocilitytoobey。Themostimprudentmeasureswereadopted，withouttheknowledge，oragainsttheadvice，ofAlaric；andtheobstinaterefusalofthesenate，toallow，intheembarkation，themixtureevenoffivehundredGoths，betrayedasuspiciousanddistrustfultemper，which，intheirsituation，wasneithergenerousnorprudent。TheresentmentoftheGothickingwasexasperatedbythemaliciousartsofJovius，whohadbeenraisedtotherankofpatrician，andwhoafterwardsexcusedhisdoubleperfidy，bydeclaring，withoutablush，thathehadonlyseemedtoabandontheserviceofHonorius，moreeffectuallytoruinthecauseoftheusurper。InalargeplainnearRimini，andinthepresenceofaninnumerablemultitudeofRomansandBarbarians，thewretchedAttaluswaspubliclydespoiledofthediademandpurple；andthoseensignsofroyaltyweresentbyAlaric，asthepledgeofpeaceandfriendship，tothesonofTheodosius。^95Theofficerswhoreturnedtotheirduty，werereinstatedintheiremployments，andeventhemeritofatardyrepentancewasgraciouslyallowed；butthedegradedemperoroftheRomans，desirousoflife，andinsensibleofdisgrace，imploredthepermissionoffollowingtheGothiccamp，inthetrainofahaughtyandcapriciousBarbarian。
^96