ThewidowofValentinian，Eudoxia，whomhehadledcaptivefromRometoCarthage，wasthesoleheiressoftheTheodosianhouse；
herelderdaughter，Eudocia，becamethereluctantwifeofHunneric，hiseldestson；andthesternfather，assertingalegalclaim，whichcouldnoteasilyberefutedorsatisfied，demandedajustproportionoftheImperialpatrimony。Anadequate，oratleastavaluable，compensation，wasofferedbytheEasternemperor，topurchaseanecessarypeace。Eudoxiaandheryoungerdaughter，Placidia，werehonorablyrestored，andthefuryoftheVandalswasconfinedtothelimitsoftheWesternempire。TheItalians，destituteofanavalforce，whichalonewascapableofprotectingtheircoasts，imploredtheaidofthemorefortunatenationsoftheEast；whohadformerlyacknowledged，inpeaceandwar，thesupremacyofRome。Buttheperpetualdivisionsofthetwoempireshadalienatedtheirinterestandtheirinclinations；
thefaithofarecenttreatywasalleged；andtheWesternRomans，insteadofarmsandships，couldonlyobtaintheassistanceofacoldandineffectualmediation。ThehaughtyRicimer，whohadlongstruggledwiththedifficultiesofhissituation，wasatlengthreducedtoaddressthethroneofConstantinople，inthehumblelanguageofasubject；andItalysubmitted，asthepriceandsecuritytoacceptamasterfromthechoiceoftheemperoroftheEast。^63Itisnotthepurposeofthepresentchapter，orevenofthepresentvolume，tocontinuethedistinctseriesoftheByzantinehistory；butaconciseviewofthereignandcharacteroftheemperorLeo，mayexplainthelasteffortsthatwereattemptedtosavethefallingempireoftheWest。^64
[Footnote63:ThepoethimselfiscompelledtoacknowledgethedistressofRicimer:—
PraetereainvictusRicimer，quempublicafataRespiciunt，propriosolasvixMarterepellitPiratamperruravagum。
ItalyaddresseshercomplainttotheTyber，andRome，atthesolicitationoftherivergod，transportsherselftoConstantinople，renouncesherancientclaims，andimploresthefriendshipofAurora，thegoddessoftheEast。Thisfabulousmachinery，whichthegeniusofClaudianhadusedandabused，istheconstantandmiserableresourceofthemuseofSidonius。]
[Footnote64:TheoriginalauthorsofthereignsofMarcian，Leo，andZeno，arereducedtosomeimperfectfragments，whosedeficienciesmustbesuppliedfromthemorerecentcompilationsofTheophanes，Zonaras，andCedrenus。]
SincethedeathoftheyoungerTheodosius，thedomesticreposeofConstantinoplehadneverbeeninterruptedbywarorfaction。Pulcheriahadbestowedherhand，andthesceptreoftheEast，onthemodestvirtueofMarcian:hegratefullyreverencedheraugustrankandvirginchastity；and，afterherdeath，hegavehispeopletheexampleofthereligiousworshipthatwasduetothememoryoftheImperialsaint。^65Attentivetotheprosperityofhisowndominions，Marcianseemedtobehold，withindifference，themisfortunesofRome；andtheobstinaterefusalofabraveandactiveprince，todrawhisswordagainsttheVandals，wasascribedtoasecretpromise，whichhadformerlybeenexactedfromhimwhenhewasacaptiveinthepowerofGenseric。^66ThedeathofMarcian，afterareignofsevenyears，wouldhaveexposedtheEasttothedangerofapopularelection；
ifthesuperiorweightofasinglefamilyhadnotbeenabletoinclinethebalanceinfavorofthecandidatewhoseinteresttheysupported。ThepatricianAsparmighthaveplacedthediademonhisownhead，ifhewouldhavesubscribedtheNicenecreed。^67
Duringthreegenerations，thearmiesoftheEastweresuccessivelycommandedbyhisfather，byhimself，andbyhissonArdaburius；hisBarbarianguardsformedamilitaryforcethatoverawedthepalaceandthecapital；andtheliberaldistributionofhisimmensetreasuresrenderedAsparaspopularashewaspowerful。HerecommendedtheobscurenameofLeoofThrace，amilitarytribune，andtheprincipalstewardofhishousehold。
Hisnominationwasunanimouslyratifiedbythesenate；andtheservantofAsparreceivedtheImperialcrownfromthehandsofthepatriarchorbishop，whowaspermittedtoexpress，bythisunusualceremony，thesuffrageoftheDeity。^68Thisemperor，thefirstofthenameofLeo，hasbeendistinguishedbythetitleoftheGreat；fromasuccessionofprinces，whograduallyfixedintheopinionoftheGreeksaveryhumblestandardofheroic，oratleastofroyal，perfection。YetthetemperatefirmnesswithwhichLeoresistedtheoppressionofhisbenefactor，showedthathewasconsciousofhisdutyandofhisprerogative。AsparwasastonishedtofindthathisinfluencecouldnolongerappointapraefectofConstantinople:hepresumedtoreproachhissovereignwithabreachofpromise，andinsolentlyshakinghispurple，\"Itisnotproper，saidhe，thatthemanwhoisinvestedwiththisgarment，shouldbeguiltyoflying。\"\"Norisitproper，repliedLeo，thataprinceshouldbecompelledtoresignhisownjudgment，andthepublicinterest，tothewillofasubject。\"69
Afterthisextraordinaryscene，itwasimpossiblethatthereconciliationoftheemperorandthepatriciancouldbesincere；
or，atleast，thatitcouldbesolidandpermanent。AnarmyofIsaurians^70wassecretlylevied，andintroducedintoConstantinople；andwhileLeounderminedtheauthority，andpreparedthedisgrace，ofthefamilyofAspar，hismildandcautiousbehaviorrestrainedthemfromanyrashanddesperateattempts，whichmighthavebeenfataltothemselves，ortheirenemies。Themeasuresofpeaceandwarwereaffectedbythisinternalrevolution。AslongasAspardegradedthemajestyofthethrone，thesecretcorrespondenceofreligionandinterestengagedhimtofavorthecauseofGenseric。WhenLeohaddeliveredhimselffromthatignominiousservitude，helistenedtothecomplaintsoftheItalians；resolvedtoextirpatethetyrannyoftheVandals；anddeclaredhisalliancewithhiscolleague，Anthemius，whomhesolemnlyinvestedwiththediademandpurpleoftheWest。
[Footnote65:St。PulcheriadiedA。D。453，fouryearsbeforehernominalhusband；andherfestivaliscelebratedonthe10thofSeptemberbythemodernGreeks:shebequeathedanimmensepatrimonytopious，or，atleast，toecclesiastical，uses。SeeTillemont，MemoiresEccles。tom。xvp。181—184。]
[Footnote66:SeeProcopius，deBell。Vandal。l。i。c。4，p。
185。]
[Footnote67:FromthisdisabilityofAspartoascendthethrone，itmaybeinferredthatthestainofHeresywasperpetualandindelible，whilethatofBarbarismdisappearedinthesecondgeneration。]
[Footnote68:Theophanes，p。95。Thisappearstobethefirstoriginofaceremony，whichalltheChristianprincesoftheworldhavesinceadoptedandfromwhichtheclergyhavededucedthemostformidableconsequences。]
[Footnote69:Cedrenus，p。345，346，whowasconversantwiththewritersofbetterdays，haspreservedtheremarkablewordsofAspar。]
[Footnote70:ThepoweroftheIsauriansagitatedtheEasternempireinthetwosucceedingreignsofZenoandAnastasius；butitendedinthedestructionofthoseBarbarians，whomaintainedtheirfierceindependencesabouttwohundredandthirtyyears。]
ThevirtuesofAnthemiushaveperhapsbeenmagnified，sincetheImperialdescent，whichhecouldonlydeducefromtheusurperProcopius，hasbeenswelledintoalineofemperors。^71Butthemeritofhisimmediateparents，theirhonors，andtheirriches，renderedAnthemiusoneofthemostillustrioussubjectsoftheEast。Hisfather，Procopius，obtained，afterhisPersianembassy，therankofgeneralandpatrician；andthenameofAnthemiuswasderivedfromhismaternalgrandfather，thecelebratedpraefect，whoprotected，withsomuchabilityandsuccess，theinfantreignofTheodosius。Thegrandsonofthepraefectwasraisedabovetheconditionofaprivatesubject，byhismarriagewithEuphemia，thedaughteroftheemperorMarcian。
Thissplendidalliance，whichmightsupersedethenecessityofmerit，hastenedthepromotionofAnthemiustothesuccessivedignitiesofcount，ofmaster—general，ofconsul，andofpatrician；andhismeritorfortuneclaimedthehonorsofavictory，whichwasobtainedonthebanksoftheDanube，overtheHuns。Withoutindulginganextravagantambition，theson—in—lawofMarcianmighthopetobehissuccessor；butAnthemiussupportedthedisappointmentwithcourageandpatience；andhissubsequentelevationwasuniversallyapprovedbythepublic，whoesteemedhimworthytoreign，tillheascendedthethrone。^72
TheemperoroftheWestmarchedfromConstantinople，attendedbyseveralcountsofhighdistinction，andabodyofguardsalmostequaltothestrengthandnumbersofaregulararmy:heenteredRomeintriumph，andthechoiceofLeowasconfirmedbythesenate，thepeople，andtheBarbarianconfederatesofItaly。^73
ThesolemninaugurationofAnthemiuswasfollowedbythenuptialsofhisdaughterandthepatricianRicimer；afortunateevent，whichwasconsideredasthefirmestsecurityoftheunionandhappinessofthestate。Thewealthoftwoempireswasostentatiouslydisplayed；andmanysenatorscompletedtheirruin，byanexpensiveefforttodisguisetheirpoverty。Allseriousbusinesswassuspendedduringthisfestival；thecourtsofjusticewereshut；thestreetsofRome，thetheatres，theplacesofpublicandprivateresort，resoundedwithhymenealsongsanddances:andtheroyalbride，clothedinsilkenrobes，withacrownonherhead，wasconductedtothepalaceofRicimer，whohadchangedhismilitarydressforthehabitofaconsulandasenator。Onthismemorableoccasion，Sidonius，whoseearlyambitionhadbeensofatallyblasted，appearedastheoratorofAuvergne，amongtheprovincialdeputieswhoaddressedthethronewithcongratulationsorcomplaints。^74ThecalendsofJanuarywerenowapproaching，andthevenalpoet，whohadlovedAvitus，andesteemedMajorian，waspersuadedbyhisfriendstocelebrate，inheroicverse，themerit，thefelicity，thesecondconsulship，andthefuturetriumphs，oftheemperorAnthemius。Sidoniuspronounced，withassuranceandsuccess，apanegyricwhichisstillextant；andwhatevermightbetheimperfections，eitherofthesubjectorofthecomposition，thewelcomeflattererwasimmediatelyrewardedwiththepraefectureofRome；adignitywhichplacedhimamongtheillustriouspersonagesoftheempire，tillhewiselypreferredthemorerespectablecharacterofabishopandasaint。^75
[Footnote71:—TalitucivisaburbeProcopiogenitoremicas；cuipriscapropagoAugustisvenitaproavis。
ThepoetSidon。Panegyr。Anthem。67—306thenproceedstorelatetheprivatelifeandfortunesofthefutureemperor，withwhichhemusthavebeenimperfectlyacquainted。]
[Footnote72:Sidoniusdiscovers，withtolerableingenuity，thatthisdisappointmentaddednewlustretothevirtuesofAnthemius，210，&c。，whodeclinedonesceptre，andreluctantlyacceptedanother，22，&c。]
[Footnote73:Thepoetagaincelebratestheunanimityofallordersofthestate，15—22；andtheChronicleofIdatiusmentionstheforceswhichattendedhismarch。]
[Footnote74:InterveniautemnuptiisPatriciiRicimeris，cuifiliaperennisAugustiinspempublicaesecuritatiscopulabator。
ThejourneyofSidoniusfromLyons，andthefestivalofRome，aredescribedwithsomespirit。L。i。epist。5，p。9—13，epist。9，p。21。]
[Footnote75:Sidoniusl。i。epist。9，p。23，24veryfairlystateshismotive，hislabor，andhisreward。\"HicipsePanegyricus，sinonjudicium，certaeventum，bonioperis，accepit。\"HewasmadebishopofClermont，A。D。471。Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xvi。p。750。]
TheGreeksambitiouslycommendthepietyandcatholicfaithoftheemperorwhomtheygavetotheWest；nordotheyforgettoobserve，thatwhenheleftConstantinople，heconvertedhispalaceintothepiousfoundationofapublicbath，achurch，andahospitalforoldmen。^76YetsomesuspiciousappearancesarefoundtosullythetheologicalfameofAnthemius。FromtheconversationofPhilotheus，aMacedoniansectary，hehadimbibedthespiritofreligioustoleration；andtheHereticsofRomewouldhaveassembledwithimpunity，iftheboldandvehementcensurewhichPopeHilarypronouncedinthechurchofSt。Peter，hadnotobligedhimtoabjuretheunpopularindulgence。^77EventhePagans，afeebleandobscureremnant，conceivedsomevainhopes，fromtheindifference，orpartiality，ofAnthemius；andhissingularfriendshipforthephilosopherSeverus，whomhepromotedtotheconsulship，wasascribedtoasecretproject，ofrevivingtheancientworshipofthegods。^78Theseidolswerecrumbledintodust:andthemythologywhichhadoncebeenthecreedofnations，wassouniversallydisbelieved，thatitmightbeemployedwithoutscandal，oratleastwithoutsuspicion，byChristianpoets。^79Yetthevestigesofsuperstitionwerenotabsolutelyobliterated，andthefestivaloftheLupercalia，whoseoriginhadprecededthefoundationofRome，wasstillcelebratedunderthereignofAnthemius。Thesavageandsimpleriteswereexpressiveofanearlystateofsocietybeforetheinventionofartsandagriculture。Therusticdeitieswhopresidedoverthetoilsandpleasuresofthepastorallife，Pan，Faunus，andtheirtrainofsatyrs，weresuchasthefancyofshepherdsmightcreate，sportive，petulant，andlascivious；whosepowerwaslimited，andwhosemalicewasinoffensive。Agoatwastheofferingthebestadaptedtotheircharacterandattributes；thefleshofthevictimwasroastedonwillowspits；andtheriotousyouths，whocrowdedtothefeast，rannakedaboutthefields，withleatherthongsintheirhands，communicating，asitwassupposed，theblessingoffecunditytothewomenwhomtheytouched。^80ThealtarofPanwaserected，perhapsbyEvandertheArcadian，inadarkrecessinthesideofthePalantinehill，wateredbyaperpetualfountain，andshadedbyahanginggrove。
Atradition，that，inthesameplace，RomulusandRemusweresuckledbythewolf，rendereditstillmoresacredandvenerableintheeyesoftheRomans；andthissylvanspotwasgraduallysurroundedbythestatelyedificesoftheForum。^81AftertheconversionoftheImperialcity，theChristiansstillcontinued，inthemonthofFebruary，theannualcelebrationoftheLupercalia；towhichtheyascribedasecretandmysteriousinfluenceonthegenialpowersoftheanimalandvegetableworld。
ThebishopsofRomeweresolicitoustoabolishaprofanecustom，sorepugnanttothespiritofChristianity；buttheirzealwasnotsupportedbytheauthorityofthecivilmagistrate:theinveterateabusesubsistedtilltheendofthefifthcentury，andPopeGelasius，whopurifiedthecapitalfromthelaststainofidolatry，appeasedbyaformalapology，themurmursofthesenateandpeople。^82
[Footnote76:ThepalaceofAnthemiusstoodonthebanksofthePropontis。Intheninthcentury，Alexius，theson—in—lawoftheemperorTheophilus，obtainedpermissiontopurchasetheground；
andendedhisdaysinamonasterywhichhefoundedonthatdelightfulspot。DucangeConstantinopolisChristiana，p。117，152。]
[Footnote77:PapaHilarius……apudbeatumPetrumApostolum，palamneidfieret，claravoceconstrinxit，intantumutnoneafaciendacuminterpositionejuramentiidempromitteretImperator。
GelasiusEpistoladAndronicum，apudBaron。A。D。467，No。3。Thecardinalobserves，withsomecomplacency，thatitwasmucheasiertoplantheresiesatConstantinople，thanatRome。]
[Footnote78:Damascius，inthelifeofthephilosopherIsidore，apudPhotium，p。1049。Damascius，wholivedunderJustinian，composedanotherwork，consistingof570praeternaturalstoriesofsouls，daemons，apparitions，thedotageofPlatonicPaganism。]
[Footnote79:InthepoeticalworksofSidonius，whichheafterwardscondemned，l。ix。epist。16，p。285，thefabulousdeitiesaretheprincipalactors。IfJeromwasscourgedbytheangelsforonlyreadingVirgil，thebishopofClermont，forsuchavileimitation，deservedanadditionalwhippingfromtheMuses。]
[Footnote80:OvidFast。l。ii。267—452hasgivenanamusingdescriptionofthefolliesofantiquity，whichstillinspiredsomuchrespect，thatagravemagistrate，runningnakedthroughthestreets，wasnotanobjectofastonishmentorlaughter。]
[Footnote81:SeeDionys。Halicarn。l。i。p。25，65，edit。
Hudson。TheRomanantiquariesDonatusl。ii。c。18，p。173，174andNardinip。386，387havelaboredtoascertainthetruesituationoftheLupercal。]
[Footnote82:Baroniuspublished，fromtheMSS。oftheVatican，thisepistleofPopeGelasius，A。D。496，No。28—45，whichisentitledAdversusAndromachumSenatorem，caeterosqueRomanos，quiLupercaliasecundummorempristinumcolendaconstituebant。
GelasiusalwayssupposesthathisadversariesarenominalChristians，and，thathemaynotyieldtotheminabsurdprejudice，heimputestothisharmlessfestivalallthecalamitiesoftheage。]
ChapterXXXVI:TotalExtinctionOfTheWesternEmpire。
PartIV。
Inallhispublicdeclarations，theemperorLeoassumestheauthority，andprofessestheaffection，ofafather，forhissonAnthemius，withwhomhehaddividedtheadministrationoftheuniverse。^83Thesituation，andperhapsthecharacter，ofLeo，dissuadedhimfromexposinghispersontothetoilsanddangersofanAfricanwar。ButthepowersoftheEasternempirewerestrenuouslyexertedtodeliverItalyandtheMediterraneanfromtheVandals；andGenseric，whohadsolongoppressedboththelandandsea，wasthreatenedfromeverysidewithaformidableinvasion。ThecampaignwasopenedbyaboldandsuccessfulenterpriseofthepraefectHeraclius。^84ThetroopsofEgypt，Thebais，andLibya，wereembarked，underhiscommand；andtheArabs，withatrainofhorsesandcamels，openedtheroadsofthedesert。HeracliuslandedonthecoastofTripoli，surprisedandsubduedthecitiesofthatprovince，andprepared，byalaboriousmarch，whichCatohadformerlyexecuted，^85tojointheImperialarmyunderthewallsofCarthage。TheintelligenceofthislossextortedfromGensericsomeinsidiousandineffectualpropositionsofpeace；buthewasstillmoreseriouslyalarmedbythereconciliationofMarcellinuswiththetwoempires。TheindependentpatricianhadbeenpersuadedtoacknowledgethelegitimatetitleofAnthemius，whomheaccompaniedinhisjourneytoRome；theDalmatianfleetwasreceivedintotheharborsofItaly；theactivevalorofMarcellinusexpelledtheVandalsfromtheIslandofSardinia；andthelanguideffortsoftheWestaddedsomeweighttotheimmensepreparationsoftheEasternRomans。
Theexpenseofthenavalarmament，whichLeosentagainsttheVandals，hasbeendistinctlyascertained；andthecuriousandinstructiveaccountdisplaysthewealthofthedecliningempire。
TheRoyaldemesnes，orprivatepatrimonyoftheprince，suppliedseventeenthousandpoundsofgold；forty—seventhousandpoundsofgold，andsevenhundredthousandofsilver，wereleviedandpaidintothetreasurybythePraetorianpraefects。Butthecitieswerereducedtoextremepoverty；andthediligentcalculationoffinesandforfeitures，asavaluableobjectoftherevenue，doesnotsuggesttheideaofajustormercifuladministration。Thewholeexpense，bywhatsoevermeansitwasdefrayed，oftheAfricancampaign，amountedtothesumofonehundredandthirtythousandpoundsofgold，aboutfivemillionstwohundredthousandpoundssterling，atatimewhenthevalueofmoneyappears，fromthecomparativepriceofcorn，tohavebeensomewhathigherthaninthepresentage。^86ThefleetthatsailedfromConstantinopletoCarthage，consistedofelevenhundredandthirteenships，andthenumberofsoldiersandmarinersexceededonehundredthousandmen。Basiliscus，thebrotheroftheempressVorina，wasintrustedwiththisimportantcommand。Hissister，thewifeofLeo，hadexaggeratedthemeritofhisformerexploitsagainsttheScythians。Butthediscoveryofhisguilt，orincapacity，wasreservedfortheAfricanwar；andhisfriendscouldonlysavehismilitaryreputationbyasserting，thathehadconspiredwithAspartospareGenseric，andtobetraythelasthopeoftheWesternempire。