[Footnote4:SeeGrotiusdeJureBellietPacis，l。ii。c。7。Hehaslaboriouslyoutvainly，attemptedtoformareasonablesystemofjurisprudencefromthevariousanddiscordantmodesofroyalsuccession，whichhavebeenintroducedbyfraudorforce，bytimeoraccident。]
[Footnote5:TheoriginalwritersarenotagreedseeMuratori，Annalid\'Italiatom。iv。p。139whetherValentinianreceivedtheImperialdiadematRomeorRavenna。Inthisuncertainty，Iamwillingtobelieve，thatsomerespectwasshowntothesenate。]
[Footnote6:ThecountdeBuatHist。desPeupesdel\'Europe，tom。vii。p。292—300hasestablishedthereality，explainedthemotives，andtracedtheconsequences，ofthisremarkablecession。]
[Footnote7:SeethefirstNovelofTheodosius，bywhichheratifiesandcommunicatesA。D。438theTheodosianCode。Aboutfortyyearsbeforethattime，theunityoflegislationhadbeenprovedbyanexception。TheJews，whowerenumerousinthecitiesofApuliaandCalabria，producedalawoftheEasttojustifytheirexemptionfrommunicipaloffices，Cod。Theod。l。
xvi。tit。viii。leg。13；andtheWesternemperorwasobligedtoinvalidate，byaspecialedict，thelaw，quamconstatmeispartibusessedamnosam。Cod。Theod。l。xi。tit。i。leg。158。]
Valentinian，whenhereceivedthetitleofAugustus，wasnomorethansixyearsofage；andhislongminoritywasintrustedtotheguardiancareofamother，whomightassertafemaleclaimtothesuccessionoftheWesternempire。Placidiaenvied，butshecouldnotequal，thereputationandvirtuesofthewifeandsisterofTheodosius，theelegantgeniusofEudocia，thewiseandsuccessfulpolicyofPulcheria。ThemotherofValentinianwasjealousofthepowerwhichshewasincapableofexercising；^8
shereignedtwenty—fiveyears，inthenameofherson；andthecharacterofthatunworthyemperorgraduallycountenancedthesuspicionthatPlacidiahadenervatedhisyouthbyadissoluteeducation，andstudiouslydivertedhisattentionfromeverymanlyandhonorablepursuit。Amidstthedecayofmilitaryspirit，herarmieswerecommandedbytwogenerals，Aetius^9andBoniface，^10whomaybedeservedlynamedasthelastoftheRomans。Theirunionmighthavesupportedasinkingempire；theirdiscordwasthefatalandimmediatecauseofthelossofAfrica。TheinvasionanddefeatofAttilahaveimmortalizedthefameofAetius；andthoughtimehasthrownashadeovertheexploitsofhisrival，thedefenceofMarseilles，andthedeliveranceofAfrica，attestthemilitarytalentsofCountBoniface。Inthefieldofbattle，inpartialencounters，insinglecombats，hewasstilltheterroroftheBarbarians:theclergy，andparticularlyhisfriendAugustin，wereedifiedbytheChristianpietywhichhadoncetemptedhimtoretirefromtheworld；thepeopleapplaudedhisspotlessintegrity；thearmydreadedhisequalandinexorablejustice，whichmaybedisplayedinaverysingularexample。A
peasant，whocomplainedofthecriminalintimacybetweenhiswifeandaGothicsoldier，wasdirectedtoattendhistribunalthefollowingday:intheeveningthecount，whohaddiligentlyinformedhimselfofthetimeandplaceoftheassignation，mountedhishorse，rodetenmilesintothecountry，surprisedtheguiltycouple，punishedthesoldierwithinstantdeath，andsilencedthecomplaintsofthehusbandbypresentinghim，thenextmorning，withtheheadoftheadulterer。TheabilitiesofAetiusandBonifacemighthavebeenusefullyemployedagainstthepublicenemies，inseparateandimportantcommands；buttheexperienceoftheirpastconductshouldhavedecidedtherealfavorandconfidenceoftheempressPlacidia。Inthemelancholyseasonofherexileanddistress，Bonifacealonehadmaintainedhercausewithunshakenfidelity:andthetroopsandtreasuresofAfricahadessentiallycontributedtoextinguishtherebellion。
ThesamerebellionhadbeensupportedbythezealandactivityofAetius，whobroughtanarmyofsixtythousandHunsfromtheDanubetotheconfinesofItaly，fortheserviceoftheusurper。
TheuntimelydeathofJohncompelledhimtoacceptanadvantageoustreaty；buthestillcontinued，thesubjectandthesoldierofValentinian，toentertainasecret，perhapsatreasonable，correspondencewithhisBarbarianallies，whoseretreathadbeenpurchasedbyliberalgifts，andmoreliberalpromises。ButAetiuspossessedanadvantageofsingularmomentinafemalereign；hewaspresent:hebesieged，withartfulandassiduousflattery，thepalaceofRavenna；disguisedhisdarkdesignswith8:452018/8/31themaskofloyaltyandfriendship；andatlengthdeceivedbothhismistressandhisabsentrival，byasubtleconspiracy，whichaweakwomanandabravemancouldnoteasilysuspect。Hehadsecretlypersuaded^11PlacidiatorecallBonifacefromthegovernmentofAfrica；hesecretlyadvisedBonifacetodisobeytheImperialsummons:totheone，herepresentedtheorderasasentenceofdeath；totheother，hestatedtherefusalasasignalofrevolt；andwhenthecredulousandunsuspectfulcounthadarmedtheprovinceinhisdefence，Aetiusapplaudedhissagacityinforeseeingtherebellion，whichhisownperfidyhadexcited。AtemperateinquiryintotherealmotivesofBonifacewouldhaverestoredafaithfulservanttohisdutyandtotherepublic；buttheartsofAetiusstillcontinuedtobetrayandtoinflame，andthecountwasurged，bypersecution，toembracethemostdesperatecounsels。Thesuccesswithwhichheeludedorrepelledthefirstattacks，couldnotinspireavainconfidence，thatattheheadofsomeloose，disorderlyAfricans，heshouldbeabletowithstandtheregularforcesoftheWest，commandedbyarival，whosemilitarycharacteritwasimpossibleforhimtodespise。Aftersomehesitation，thelaststrugglesofprudenceandloyalty，Bonifacedespatchedatrustyfriendtothecourt，orrathertothecamp，ofGonderic，kingoftheVandals，withtheproposalofastrictalliance，andtheofferofanadvantageousandperpetualsettlement。
[Footnote8:CassiodorusVariar。l。xi。Epist。i。p。238hascomparedtheregenciesofPlacidiaandAmalasuntha。HearraignstheweaknessofthemotherofValentinian，andpraisesthevirtuesofhisroyalmistress。Onthisoccasion，flatteryseemstohavespokenthelanguageoftruth。]
[Footnote9:Philostorgius，l。xii。c。12，andGodefroy\'sDissertat。p。493，&c。；andRenatusFrigeridus，apudGregor。
Turon。l。ii。c。8，intom。ii。p。163。ThefatherofAetiuswasGaudentius，anillustriouscitizenoftheprovinceofScythia，andmaster—generalofthecavalry；hismotherwasarichandnobleItalian。Fromhisearliestyouth，Aetius，asasoldierandahostage，hadconversedwiththeBarbarians。]
[Footnote10:ForthecharacterofBoniface，seeOlympiodorus，apudPhot。p。196；andSt。AugustinapudTillemont，MemoiresEccles。tom。xiii。p。712—715，886。ThebishopofHippoatlengthdeploredthefallofhisfriend，who，afterasolemnvowofchastity，hadmarriedasecondwifeoftheAriansect，andwhowassuspectedofkeepingseveralconcubinesinhishouse。]
[Footnote11:ProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。3，4，p。182—
186relatesthefraudofAetius，therevoltofBoniface，andthelossofAfrica。Thisanecdote，whichissupportedbysomecollateraltestimony，seeRuinart，Hist。Persecut。Vandal。p。
420，421，seemsagreeabletothepracticeofancientandmoderncourts，andwouldbenaturallyrevealedbytherepentanceofBoniface。]
AftertheretreatoftheGoths，theauthorityofHonoriushadobtainedaprecariousestablishmentinSpain；exceptonlyintheprovinceofGallicia，wheretheSueviandtheVandalshadfortifiedtheircamps，inmutualdiscordandhostileindependence。TheVandalsprevailed；andtheiradversarieswerebesiegedintheNervasianhills，betweenLeonandOviedo，tilltheapproachofCountAsteriuscompelled，orratherprovoked，thevictoriousBarbarianstoremovethesceneofthewartotheplainsofBoetica。TherapidprogressoftheVandalssoonacquiredamoreeffectualopposition；andthemaster—generalCastinusmarchedagainstthemwithanumerousarmyofRomansandGoths。Vanquishedinbattlebyaninferiorarmy，CastinusfledwithdishonortoTarragona；andthismemorabledefeat，whichhasbeenrepresentedasthepunishment，wasmostprobablytheeffect，ofhisrashpresumption。^12SevilleandCarthagenabecamethereward，orrathertheprey，oftheferociousconquerors；andthevesselswhichtheyfoundintheharborofCarthagenamighteasilytransportthemtotheIslesofMajorcaandMinorca，wheretheSpanishfugitives，asinasecurerecess，hadvainlyconcealedtheirfamiliesandtheirfortunes。Theexperienceofnavigation，andperhapstheprospectofAfrica，encouragedtheVandalstoaccepttheinvitationwhichtheyreceivedfromCountBoniface；
andthedeathofGondericservedonlytoforwardandanimatetheboldenterprise。Intheroomofaprincenotconspicuousforanysuperiorpowersofthemindorbody，theyacquiredhisbastardbrother，theterribleGenseric；^13aname，which，inthedestructionoftheRomanempire，hasdeservedanequalrankwiththenamesofAlaricandAttila。ThekingoftheVandalsisdescribedtohavebeenofamiddlestature，withalamenessinoneleg，whichhehadcontractedbyanaccidentalfallfromhishorse。Hisslowandcautiousspeechseldomdeclaredthedeeppurposesofhissoul；hedisdainedtoimitatetheluxuryofthevanquished；butheindulgedthesternerpassionsofangerandrevenge。TheambitionofGensericwaswithoutboundsandwithoutscruples；andthewarriorcoulddexterouslyemploythedarkenginesofpolicytosolicittheallieswhomightbeusefultohissuccess，ortoscatteramonghisenemiestheseedsofhatredandcontention。AlmostinthemomentofhisdeparturehewasinformedthatHermanric，kingoftheSuevi，hadpresumedtoravagetheSpanishterritories，whichhewasresolvedtoabandon。
Impatientoftheinsult，GensericpursuedthehastyretreatoftheSueviasfarasMerida；precipitatedthekingandhisarmyintotheRiverAnas，andcalmlyreturnedtothesea—shoretoembarkhisvictorioustroops。ThevesselswhichtransportedtheVandalsoverthemodernStraitsofGibraltar，achannelonlytwelvemilesinbreadth，werefurnishedbytheSpaniards，whoanxiouslywishedtheirdeparture；andbytheAfricangeneral，whohadimploredtheirformidableassistance。^14
[Footnote12:SeetheChroniclesofProsperandIdatius。SalviandeGubernat。Dei，l。vii。p。246，Paris，1608ascribesthevictoryoftheVandalstotheirsuperiorpiety。Theyfasted，theyprayed，theycarriedaBibleinthefrontoftheHost，withthedesign，perhaps，ofreproachingtheperfidyandsacrilegeoftheirenemies。]
[Footnote13:Gizericushisnameisvariouslyexpressedstaturamediocrisetequicasuclaudicans，animoprofundus，sermonerarus，luxuriaecontemptor，iraturbidus，habendicupidus，adsolicitandasgentesprovidentissimus，seminacontentionumjacere，odiamiscereparatus。Jornandes，deRebusGeticis，c。33，p。657。
Thisportrait，whichisdrawnwithsomeskill，andastronglikeness，musthavebeencopiedfromtheGothichistoryofCassiodorus。]
[Footnote14:SeetheChronicleofIdatius。Thatbishop，aSpaniardandacontemporary，placesthepassageoftheVandalsinthemonthofMay，oftheyearofAbraham，whichcommencesinOctober，2444。Thisdate，whichcoincideswithA。D。429，isconfirmedbyIsidore，anotherSpanishbishop，andisjustlypreferredtotheopinionofthosewriterswhohavemarkedforthateventoneofthetwoprecedingyears。SeePagiCritica，tom。ii。p。205，&c。]
Ourfancy，solongaccustomedtoexaggerateandmultiplythemartialswarmsofBarbariansthatseemedtoissuefromtheNorth，willperhapsbesurprisedbytheaccountofthearmywhichGensericmusteredonthecoastofMauritania。TheVandals，whointwentyyearshadpenetratedfromtheElbetoMountAtlas，wereunitedunderthecommandoftheirwarlikeking；andhereignedwithequalauthorityovertheAlani，whohadpassed，withinthetermofhumanlife，fromthecoldofScythiatotheexcessiveheatofanAfricanclimate。ThehopesoftheboldenterprisehadexcitedmanybraveadventurersoftheGothicnation；andmanydesperateprovincialsweretemptedtorepairtheirfortunesbythesamemeanswhichhadoccasionedtheirruin。Yetthisvariousmultitudeamountedonlytofiftythousandeffectivemen；andthoughGensericartfullymagnifiedhisapparentstrength，byappointingeightychinarchs，orcommandersofthousands，thefallaciousincreaseofoldmen，ofchildren，andofslaves，wouldscarcelyhaveswelledhisarmytothenumberoffour—scorethousandpersons。^15Buthisowndexterity，andthediscontentsofAfrica，soonfortifiedtheVandalpowers，bytheaccessionofnumerousandactiveallies。ThepartsofMauritaniawhichborderontheGreatDesertandtheAtlanticOcean，werefilledwithafierceanduntractableraceofmen，whosesavagetemperhadbeenexasperated，ratherthanreclaimed，bytheirdreadoftheRomanarms。ThewanderingMoors，^16astheygraduallyventuredtoapproachtheseashore，andthecampoftheVandals，musthaveviewedwithterrorandastonishmentthedress，thearmor，themartialprideanddisciplineoftheunknownstrangerswhohadlandedontheircoast；andthefaircomplexionsoftheblue—eyedwarriorsofGermanyformedaverysingularcontrastwiththeswarthyorolivehuewhichisderivedfromtheneighborhoodofthetorridzone。Afterthefirstdifficultieshadinsomemeasurebeenremoved，whicharosefromthemutualignoranceoftheirrespectivelanguage，theMoors，regardlessofanyfutureconsequence，embracedtheallianceoftheenemiesofRome；andacrowdofnakedsavagesrushedfromthewoodsandvalleysofMountAtlas，tosatiatetheirrevengeonthepolishedtyrants，whohadinjuriouslyexpelledthemfromthenativesovereigntyoftheland。
[Footnote15:CompareProcopiusdeBell。Vandal。l。i。c。5，p。
190andVictorVitensis，dePersecutioneVandal。l。i。c。1，p。
3，edit。Ruinart。WeareassuredbyIdatius，thatGensericevacuatedSpain，cumVandalisomnibuseorumquefamiliis；andPossidiusinVit。Augustin。c。28，apudRuinart，p。427
describeshisarmyasmanusingensimmaniumgentiumVandalorumetAlanorum，commixtamsecumbabensGothorumgentem，aliarumquediversarumpersonas。]
[Footnote16:ForthemannersoftheMoors，seeProcopius，deBell。Vandal。l。ii。c。6，p。249；fortheirfigureandcomplexion，M。deBuffon，HistoireNaturelle，tom。iii。p。430。
Procopiussaysingeneral，thattheMoorshadjoinedtheVandalsbeforethedeathofValentinian，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。5，p。
190；anditisprobablethattheindependenttribesdidnotembraceanyuniformsystemofpolicy。]
ThepersecutionoftheDonatists^17wasaneventnotlessfavorabletothedesignsofGenseric。SeventeenyearsbeforehelandedinAfrica，apublicconferencewasheldatCarthage，bytheorderofthemagistrate。TheCatholicsweresatisfied，that，aftertheinvinciblereasonswhichtheyhadalleged，theobstinacyoftheschismaticsmustbeinexcusableandvoluntary；
andtheemperorHonoriuswaspersuadedtoinflictthemostrigorouspenaltiesonafactionwhichhadsolongabusedhispatienceandclemency。Threehundredbishops，^18withmanythousandsoftheinferiorclergy，weretornfromtheirchurches，strippedoftheirecclesiasticalpossessions，banishedtotheislands，andproscribedbythelaws，iftheypresumedtoconcealthemselvesintheprovincesofAfrica。Theirnumerouscongregations，bothincitiesandinthecountry，weredeprivedoftherightsofcitizens，andoftheexerciseofreligiousworship。Aregularscaleoffines，fromtentotwohundredpoundsofsilver，wascuriouslyascertained，accordingtothedistinctionofrankandfortune，topunishthecrimeofassistingataschismaticconventicle；andifthefinehadbeenleviedfivetimes，withoutsubduingtheobstinacyoftheoffender，hisfuturepunishmentwasreferredtothediscretionoftheImperialcourt。
^19Bytheseseverities，whichobtainedthewarmestapprobationofSt。Augustin，^20greatnumbersofDonatistswerereconciledtotheCatholicChurch；butthefanatics，whostillperseveredintheiropposition，wereprovokedtomadnessanddespair；thedistractedcountrywasfilledwithtumultandbloodshed；thearmedtroopsofCircumcellionsalternatelypointedtheirrageagainstthemselves，oragainsttheiradversaries；andthecalendarofmartyrsreceivedonbothsidesaconsiderableaugmentation。^21Underthesecircumstances，Genseric，aChristian，butanenemyoftheorthodoxcommunion，showedhimselftotheDonatistsasapowerfuldeliverer，fromwhomtheymightreasonablyexpecttherepealoftheodiousandoppressiveedictsoftheRomanemperors。^22TheconquestofAfricawasfacilitatedbytheactivezeal，orthesecretfavor，ofadomesticfaction；
thewantonoutragesagainstthechurchesandtheclergyofwhichtheVandalsareaccused，maybefairlyimputedtothefanaticismoftheirallies；andtheintolerantspiritwhichdisgracedthetriumphofChristianity，contributedtothelossofthemostimportantprovinceoftheWest。^23
[Footnote17:SeeTillemont，MemoiresEccles。tom。xiii。p。516—
558；andthewholeseriesofthepersecution，intheoriginalmonuments，publishedbyDupinattheendofOptatus，p。323—
515。]
[Footnote18:TheDonatistBishops，attheconferenceofCarthage，amountedto279；andtheyassertedthattheirwholenumberwasnotlessthan400。TheCatholicshad286present，120
absent，besidessixtyfourvacantbishoprics。]
[Footnote19:ThefifthtitleofthesixteenthbookoftheTheodosianCodeexhibitsaseriesoftheImperiallawsagainsttheDonatists，fromtheyear400totheyear428。Ofthesethe54thlaw，promulgatedbyHonorius，A。D。414，isthemostsevereandeffectual。]
[Footnote20:St。Augustinalteredhisopinionwithregardtosthepropertreatmentofheretics。HispatheticdeclarationofpityandindulgencefortheManichaeans，hasbeeninsertedbyMr。
Lockevol。iii。p。469amongthechoicespecimensofhiscommon—placebook。Anotherphilosopher，thecelebratedBayle，tom。ii。p。445—496，hasrefuted，withsuperfluousdiligenceandingenuity，theargumentsbywhichthebishopofHippojustified，inhisoldage，thepersecutionoftheDonatists。]
[Footnote21:SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiii。p。586—
592，806。TheDonatistsboastedofthousandsofthesevoluntarymartyrs。Augustinasserts，andprobablywithtruth，thatthesenumbersweremuchexaggerated；buthesternlymaintains，thatitwasbetterthatsomeshouldburnthemselvesinthisworld，thanthatallshouldburninhellflames。]
[Footnote22:AccordingtoSt。AugustinandTheodoret，theDonatistswereinclinedtotheprinciples，oratleasttotheparty，oftheArians，whichGensericsupported。Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。vi。p。68。]
[Footnote23:SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。428，No。7，A。D。
439，No。35。Thecardinal，thoughmoreinclinedtoseekthecauseofgreateventsinheaventhanontheearth，hasobservedtheapparentconnectionoftheVandalsandtheDonatists。UnderthereignoftheBarbarians，theschismaticsofAfricaenjoyedanobscurepeaceofonehundredyears；attheendofwhichwemayagaintracethembythefightoftheImperialpersecutions。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vi。p。192。&c。]
Thecourtandthepeoplewereastonishedbythestrangeintelligence，thatavirtuoushero，aftersomanyfavors，andsomanyservices，hadrenouncedhisallegiance，andinvitedtheBarbarianstodestroytheprovinceintrustedtohiscommand。ThefriendsofBoniface，whostillbelievedthathiscriminalbehaviormightbeexcusedbysomehonorablemotive，solicited，duringtheabsenceofAetius，afreeconferencewiththeCountofAfrica；andDarius，anofficerofhighdistinction，wasnamedfortheimportantembassy。^24IntheirfirstinterviewatCarthage，theimaginaryprovocationsweremutuallyexplained；theoppositelettersofAetiuswereproducedandcompared；andthefraudwaseasilydetected。PlacidiaandBonifacelamentedtheirfatalerror；andthecounthadsufficientmagnanimitytoconfideintheforgivenessofhissovereign，ortoexposehisheadtoherfutureresentment。Hisrepentancewasferventandsincere；buthesoondiscoveredthatitwasnolongerinhispowertorestoretheedificewhichhehadshakentoitsfoundations。CarthageandtheRomangarrisonsreturnedwiththeirgeneraltotheallegianceofValentinian；buttherestofAfricawasstilldistractedwithwarandfaction；andtheinexorablekingoftheVandals，disdainingalltermsofaccommodation，sternlyrefusedtorelinquishthepossessionofhisprey。ThebandofveteranswhomarchedunderthestandardofBoniface，andhishastyleviesofprovincialtroops，weredefeatedwithconsiderableloss；thevictoriousBarbariansinsultedtheopencountry；andCarthage，Cirta，andHippoRegius，weretheonlycitiesthatappearedtoriseabovethegeneralinundation。
[Footnote24:InaconfidentiallettertoCountBoniface，St。