[Footnote100:SenatusconsultumTiberianum，SirmondNot。p。17；
butthatlawallowedonlytendaysbetweenthesentenceandexecution；theremainingtwentywereaddedinthereignofTheodosius。]
[Footnote101:Catilinaseculinostri。Sidonius，l。ii。epist。
1，p。33；l。v。epist13，p。143；l。vii。epist。vii。p。185。Heexecratesthecrimes，andapplaudsthepunishment，ofSeronatus，perhapswiththeindignationofavirtuouscitizen，perhapswiththeresentmentofapersonalenemy。]
Suchcriminalswerenotbeyondthereachofjustice；butwhatevermightbetheguiltofRicimer，thatpowerfulBarbarianwasabletocontendortonegotiatewiththeprince，whosealliancehehadcondescendedtoaccept。ThepeacefulandprosperousreignwhichAnthemiushadpromisedtotheWest，wassooncloudedbymisfortuneanddiscord。Ricimer，apprehensive，orimpatient，ofasuperior，retiredfromRome，andfixedhisresidenceatMilan；anadvantageoussituationeithertoinviteortorepelthewarliketribesthatwereseatedbetweentheAlpsandtheDanube。^102Italywasgraduallydividedintotwoindependentandhostilekingdoms；andthenoblesofLiguria，whotrembledatthenearapproachofacivilwar，fellprostrateatthefeetofthepatrician，andconjuredhimtosparetheirunhappycountry。
\"Formyownpart，\"repliedRicimer，inatoneofinsolentmoderation，\"IamstillinclinedtoembracethefriendshipoftheGalatian；^103butwhowillundertaketoappeasehisanger，ortomitigatethepride，whichalwaysrisesinproportiontooursubmission?\"Theyinformedhim，thatEpiphanius，bishopofPavia，^104unitedthewisdomoftheserpentwiththeinnocenceofthedove；andappearedconfident，thattheeloquenceofsuchanambassadormustprevailagainstthestrongestopposition，eitherofinterestorpassion。Theirrecommendationwasapproved；andEpiphanius，assumingthebenevolentofficeofmediation，proceededwithoutdelaytoRome，wherehewasreceivedwiththehonorsduetohismeritandreputation。Theorationofabishopinfavorofpeacemaybeeasilysupposed；heargued，that，inallpossiblecircumstances，theforgivenessofinjuriesmustbeanactofmercy，ormagnanimity，orprudence；andheseriouslyadmonishedtheemperortoavoidacontestwithafierceBarbarian，whichmightbefataltohimself，andmustberuinoustohisdominions。Anthemiusacknowledgedthetruthofhismaxims；buthedeeplyfelt，withgriefandindignation，thebehaviorofRicimer，andhispassiongaveeloquenceandenergytohisdiscourse。\"Whatfavors，\"hewarmlyexclaimed，\"havewerefusedtothisungratefulman?Whatprovocationshavewenotendured!Regardlessofthemajestyofthepurple，IgavemydaughtertoaGoth；Isacrificedmyownbloodtothesafetyoftherepublic。TheliberalitywhichoughttohavesecuredtheeternalattachmentofRicimerhasexasperatedhimagainsthisbenefactor。Whatwarshashenotexcitedagainsttheempire!Howoftenhasheinstigatedandassistedthefuryofhostilenations!
ShallInowaccepthisperfidiousfriendship?CanIhopethathewillrespecttheengagementsofatreaty，whohasalreadyviolatedthedutiesofason?\"ButtheangerofAnthemiusevaporatedinthesepassionateexclamations:heinsensiblyyieldedtotheproposalsofEpiphanius；andthebishopreturnedtohisdiocesewiththesatisfactionofrestoringthepeaceofItaly，byareconciliation，^105ofwhichthesincerityandcontinuancemightbereasonablysuspected。Theclemencyoftheemperorwasextortedfromhisweakness；andRicimersuspendedhisambitiousdesignstillhehadsecretlypreparedtheengineswithwhichheresolvedtosubvertthethroneofAnthemius。Themaskofpeaceandmoderationwasthenthrownaside。ThearmyofRicimerwasfortifiedbyanumerousreenforcementofBurgundiansandOrientalSuevi:hedisclaimedallallegiancetotheGreekemperor，marchedfromMilantotheGatesofRome，andfixinghiscamponthebanksoftheAnio，impatientlyexpectedthearrivalofOlybrius，hisImperialcandidate。
[Footnote102:Ricimer，underthereignofAnthemius，defeatedandslewinbattleBeorgor，kingoftheAlani，Jornandes，c。45，p。678。HissisterhadmarriedthekingoftheBurgundians，andhemaintainedanintimateconnectionwiththeSueviccolonyestablishedinPannoniaandNoricum。]
[Footnote103:Galatamconcitatum。SirmondinhisnotestoEnnodiusappliesthisappellationtoAnthemiushimself。TheemperorwasprobablybornintheprovinceofGalatia，whoseinhabitants，theGallo—Grecians，weresupposedtounitethevicesofasavageandacorruptedpeople。]
[Footnote104:EpiphaniuswasthirtyyearsbishopofPavia，A。D。
467—497；seeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xvi。p。788。Hisnameandactionswouldhavebeenunknowntoposterity，ifEnnodius，oneofhissuccessors，hadnotwrittenhislife；Sirmond，Operatom。i。p。1647—1692；inwhichherepresentshimasoneofthegreatestcharactersoftheage]
[Footnote105:Ennodiusp。1659—1664hasrelatedthisembassyofEpiphanius；andhisnarrative，verboseandturgidasitmustappear，illustratessomecuriouspassagesinthefalloftheWesternempire。]
ThesenatorOlybrius，oftheAnicianfamily，mightesteemhimselfthelawfulheiroftheWesternempire。HehadmarriedPlacidia，theyoungerdaughterofValentinian，aftershewasrestoredbyGenseric；whostilldetainedhersisterEudoxia，asthewife，orratherasthecaptive，ofhisson。ThekingoftheVandalssupported，bythreatsandsolicitations，thefairpretensionsofhisRomanally；andassigned，asoneofthemotivesofthewar，therefusalofthesenateandpeopletoacknowledgetheirlawfulprince，andtheunworthypreferencewhichtheyhadgiventoastranger。^106ThefriendshipofthepublicenemymightrenderOlybriusstillmoreunpopulartotheItalians；butwhenRicimermeditatedtheruinoftheemperorAnthemius，hetempted，withtheofferofadiadem，thecandidatewhocouldjustifyhisrebellionbyanillustriousnameandaroyalalliance。ThehusbandofPlacidia，who，likemostofhisancestors，hadbeeninvestedwiththeconsulardignity，mighthavecontinuedtoenjoyasecureandsplendidfortuneinthepeacefulresidenceofConstantinople；nordoesheappeartohavebeentormentedbysuchageniusascannotbeamusedoroccupied，unlessbytheadministrationofanempire。YetOlybriusyieldedtotheimportunitiesofhisfriends，perhapsofhiswife；rashlyplungedintothedangersandcalamitiesofacivilwar；and，withthesecretconnivanceoftheemperorLeo，acceptedtheItalianpurple，whichwasbestowed，andresumed，atthecapriciouswillofaBarbarian。HelandedwithoutobstacleforGensericwasmasteroftheseaeitheratRavenna，ortheportofOstia，andimmediatelyproceededtothecampofRicimer，wherehewasreceivedasthesovereignoftheWesternworld。^107
[Footnote106:Priscus，Excerpt。Legationp。74。ProcopiusdeBell。Vandell。i。c。6，p。191。EudoxiaandherdaughterwererestoredafterthedeathofMajorian。PerhapstheconsulshipofOlybriusA。D。464wasbestowedasanuptialpresent。]
[Footnote107:ThehostileappearanceofOlybriusisfixednotwithstandingtheopinionofPagibythedurationofhisreign。ThesecretconnivanceofLeoisacknowledgedbyTheophanesandthePaschalChronicle。Weareignorantofhismotives；butinthisobscureperiod，ourignoranceextendstothemostpublicandimportantfacts。]
Thepatrician，whohadextendedhispostsfromtheAniototheMelvianbridge，alreadypossessedtwoquartersofRome，theVaticanandtheJaniculum，whichareseparatedbytheTyberfromtherestofthecity；^108anditmaybeconjectured，thatanassemblyofsecedingsenatorsimitated，inthechoiceofOlybrius，theformsofalegalelection。ButthebodyofthesenateandpeoplefirmlyadheredtothecauseofAnthemius；andthemoreeffectualsupportofaGothicarmyenabledhimtoprolonghisreign，andthepublicdistress，byaresistanceofthreemonths，whichproducedtheconcomitantevilsoffamineandpestilence。AtlengthRicimermadeafuriousassaultonthebridgeofHadrian，orSt。Angelo；andthenarrowpasswasdefendedwithequalvalorbytheGoths，tillthedeathofGilimer，theirleader。Thevictorioustroops，breakingdowneverybarrier，rushedwithirresistibleviolenceintotheheartofthecity，andRomeifwemayusethelanguageofacontemporarypopewassubvertedbythecivilfuryofAnthemiusandRicimer。^109TheunfortunateAnthemiuswasdraggedfromhisconcealment，andinhumanlymassacredbythecommandofhisson—in—law；whothusaddedathird，orperhapsafourth，emperortothenumberofhisvictims。Thesoldiers，whounitedtherageoffactiouscitizenswiththesavagemannersofBarbarians，wereindulged，withoutcontrol，inthelicenseofrapineandmurder:
thecrowdofslavesandplebeians，whowereunconcernedintheevent，couldonlygainbytheindiscriminatepillage；andthefaceofthecityexhibitedthestrangecontrastofsterncrueltyanddissoluteintemperance。^110Fortydaysafterthiscalamitousevent，thesubject，notofglory，butofguilt，Italywasdelivered，byapainfuldisease，fromthetyrantRicimer，whobequeathedthecommandofhisarmytohisnephewGundobald，oneoftheprincesoftheBurgundians。Inthesameyearalltheprincipalactorsinthisgreatrevolutionwereremovedfromthestage；andthewholereignofOlybrius，whosedeathdoesnotbetrayanysymptomsofviolence，isincludedwithinthetermofsevenmonths。Heleftonedaughter，theoffspringofhismarriagewithPlacidia；andthefamilyofthegreatTheodosius，transplantedfromSpaintoConstantinople，waspropagatedinthefemalelineasfarastheeighthgeneration。^111
[Footnote108:Ofthefourteenregions，orquarters，intowhichRomewasdividedbyAugustus，onlyone，theJaniculum，layontheTuscansideoftheTyber。But，inthefifthcentury，theVaticansuburbformedaconsiderablecity；andintheecclesiasticaldistribution，whichhadbeenrecentlymadebySimplicius，thereigningpope，twoofthesevenregions，orparishesofRome，dependedonthechurchofSt。Peter。SeeNardiniRomaAntica，p。
67。Itwouldrequireatediousdissertationtomarkthecircumstances，inwhichIaminclinedtodepartfromthetopographyofthatlearnedRoman。]
[Footnote109:NuperAnthemiietRicimeriscivilifuroresubversaest。GelasiusinEpist。adAndromach。apudBaron。A。D。496，No。
42，Sigoniustom。i。l。xiv。deOccidentaliImperio，p。542，543，andMuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。iv。p。308，309，withtheaidofalessimperfectMs。oftheHistoriaMiscella。，haveillustratedthisdarkandbloodytransaction。]
[Footnote110:Suchhadbeenthesaevaacdeformisurbetotafacies，whenRomewasassaultedandstormedbythetroopsofVespasian，seeTacit。Hist。iii。82，83；andeverycauseofmischiefhadsinceacquiredmuchadditionalenergy。Therevolutionofagesmaybringroundthesamecalamities；butagesmayrevolvewithoutproducingaTacitustodescribethem。]
[Footnote111:SeeDucange，FamiliaeByzantin。p。74，75。
Areobindus，whoappearstohavemarriedthenieceoftheemperorJustinian，wastheeighthdescendantoftheelderTheodosius。]
ChapterXXXVI:TotalExtinctionOfTheWesternEmpire。
PartV。
WhilstthevacantthroneofItalywasabandonedtolawlessBarbarians，^112theelectionofanewcolleaguewasseriouslyagitatedinthecouncilofLeo。TheempressVerina，studioustopromotethegreatnessofherownfamily，hadmarriedoneofherniecestoJuliusNepos，whosucceededhisuncleMarcellinusinthesovereigntyofDalmatia，amoresolidpossessionthanthetitlewhichhewaspersuadedtoaccept，ofEmperoroftheWest。
ButthemeasuresoftheByzantinecourtweresolanguidandirresolute，thatmanymonthselapsedafterthedeathofAnthemius，andevenofOlybrius，beforetheirdestinedsuccessorcouldshowhimself，witharespectableforce，tohisItaliansubjects。Duringthatinterval，Glycerius，anobscuresoldier，wasinvestedwiththepurplebyhispatronGundobald；buttheBurgundianprincewasunable，orunwilling，tosupporthisnominationbyacivilwar:thepursuitsofdomesticambitionrecalledhimbeyondtheAlps，^113andhisclientwaspermittedtoexchangetheRomansceptreforthebishopricofSalona。Afterextinguishingsuchacompetitor，theemperorNeposwasacknowledgedbythesenate，bytheItalians，andbytheprovincialsofGaul；hismoralvirtues，andmilitarytalents，wereloudlycelebrated；andthosewhoderivedanyprivatebenefitfromhisgovernment，announced，inpropheticstrains，therestorationofthepublicfelicity。^114Theirhopesifsuchhopeshadbeenentertainedwereconfoundedwithinthetermofasingleyear，andthetreatyofpeace，whichcededAuverguetotheVisigoths，istheonlyeventofhisshortandingloriousreign。
ThemostfaithfulsubjectsofGaulweresacrificed，bytheItalianemperor，tothehopeofdomesticsecurity；^115buthisreposewassooninvadedbyafuriousseditionoftheBarbarianconfederates，who，underthecommandofOrestes，theirgeneral，wereinfullmarchfromRometoRavenna。Nepostrembledattheirapproach；and，insteadofplacingajustconfidenceinthestrengthofRavenna，hehastilyescapedtohisships，andretiredtohisDalmatianprincipality，ontheoppositecoastoftheAdriatic。Bythisshamefulabdication，heprotractedhislifeaboutfiveyears，inaveryambiguousstate，betweenanemperorandanexile，tillhewasassassinatedatSalonabytheungratefulGlycerius，whowastranslated，perhapsastherewardofhiscrime，tothearchbishopricofMilan。^116
[Footnote112:ThelastrevolutionsoftheWesternempirearefaintlymarkedinTheophanes，p。102，Jornandes，c。45，p。
679，theChronicleofMarcellinus，andtheFragmentsofananonymouswriter，publishedbyValesiusattheendofAmmianus，p。716，717。IfPhotiushadnotbeensowretchedlyconcise，weshouldderivemuchinformationfromthecontemporaryhistoriesofMalchusandCandidus。SeehisExtracts，p。172—179。]
[Footnote113:SeeGreg。Turon。l。ii。c。28，intom。ii。p。175。
Dubos，Hist。Critique，tom。i。p。613。Bythemurderordeathofhistwobrothers，GundobaldacquiredthesolepossessionofthekingdomofBurgundy，whoseruinwashastenedbytheirdiscord。]
[Footnote114:JuliusNeposarmisparitersummusAugustusacmoribus。Sidonius，l。v。ep。16，p。146。NeposhadgiventoEcdiciusthetitleofPatrician，whichAnthemiushadpromised，decessorisAnthemiifidemabsolvit。Seel。viii。ep。7，p。224。]
[Footnote115:EpiphaniuswassentambassadorfromNepostotheVisigoths，forthepurposeofascertainingthefinesImperiiItalici，EnnodiusinSirmond，tom。i。p。1665—1669。HispatheticdiscourseconcealedthedisgracefulsecretwhichsoonexcitedthejustandbittercomplaintsofthebishopofClermont。]
[Footnote116:Malchus，apudPhot。p。172。Ennod。Epigram。
lxxxii。inSirmond。Oper。tom。i。p。1879。Somedoubtmay，however，beraisedontheidentityoftheemperorandthearchbishop。]
ThenationswhohadassertedtheirindependenceafterthedeathofAttila，wereestablished，bytherightofpossessionorconquest，intheboundlesscountriestothenorthoftheDanube；
orintheRomanprovincesbetweentheriverandtheAlps。Butthebravestoftheiryouthenlistedinthearmyofconfederates，whoformedthedefenceandtheterrorofItaly；^117andinthispromiscuousmultitude，thenamesoftheHeruli，theScyrri，theAlani，theTurcilingi，andtheRugians，appeartohavepredominated。TheexampleofthesewarriorswasimitatedbyOrestes，^118thesonofTatullus，andthefatherofthelastRomanemperoroftheWest。Orestes，whohasbeenalreadymentionedinthisHistory，hadneverdesertedhiscountry。HisbirthandfortunesrenderedhimoneofthemostillustrioussubjectsofPannonia。WhenthatprovincewascededtotheHuns，heenteredintotheserviceofAttila，hislawfulsovereign，obtainedtheofficeofhissecretary，andwasrepeatedlysentambassadortoConstantinople，torepresenttheperson，andsignifythecommands，oftheimperiousmonarch。Thedeathofthatconquerorrestoredhimtohisfreedom；andOrestesmighthonorablyrefuseeithertofollowthesonsofAttilaintotheScythiandesert，ortoobeytheOstrogoths，whohadusurpedthedominionofPannonia。HepreferredtheserviceoftheItalianprinces，thesuccessorsofValentinian；andashepossessedthequalificationsofcourage，industry，andexperience，headvancedwithrapidstepsinthemilitaryprofession，tillhewaselevated，bythefavorofNeposhimself，tothedignitiesofpatrician，andmaster—generalofthetroops。ThesetroopshadbeenlongaccustomedtoreverencethecharacterandauthorityofOrestes，whoaffectedtheirmanners，conversedwiththemintheirownlanguage，andwasintimatelyconnectedwiththeirnationalchieftains，bylonghabitsoffamiliarityandfriendship。AthissolicitationtheyroseinarmsagainsttheobscureGreek，whopresumedtoclaimtheirobedience；andwhenOrestes，fromsomesecretmotive，declinedthepurple，theyconsented，withthesamefacility，toacknowledgehissonAugustulusastheemperoroftheWest。BytheabdicationofNepos，Oresteshadnowattainedthesummitofhisambitioushopes；buthesoondiscovered，beforetheendofthefirstyear，thatthelessonsofperjuryandingratitude，whicharebelmustinculcate，willberesortedtoagainsthimself；andthattheprecarioussovereignofItalywasonlypermittedtochoose，whetherhewouldbetheslave，orthevictim，ofhisBarbarianmercenaries。ThedangerousallianceofthesestrangershadoppressedandinsultedthelastremainsofRomanfreedomanddignity。Ateachrevolution，theirpayandprivilegeswereaugmented；buttheirinsolenceincreasedinastillmoreextravagantdegree；theyenviedthefortuneoftheirbrethreninGaul，Spain，andAfrica，whosevictoriousarmshadacquiredanindependentandperpetualinheritance；andtheyinsistedontheirperemptorydemand，thatathirdpartofthelandsofItalyshouldbeimmediatelydividedamongthem。Orestes，withaspirit，which，inanothersituation，mightbeentitledtoouresteem，choserathertoencountertherageofanarmedmultitude，thantosubscribetheruinofaninnocentpeople。Herejectedtheaudaciousdemand；andhisrefusalwasfavorabletotheambitionofOdoacer；aboldBarbarian，whoassuredhisfellow—soldiers，that，iftheydaredtoassociateunderhiscommand，theymightsoonextortthejusticewhichhadbeendeniedtotheirdutifulpetitions。FromallthecampsandgarrisonsofItaly，theconfederates，actuatedbythesameresentmentandthesamehopes，impatientlyflockedtothestandardofthispopularleader；andtheunfortunatepatrician，overwhelmedbythetorrent，hastilyretreatedtothestrongcityofPavia，theepiscopalseatoftheholyEpiphanites。Paviawasimmediatelybesieged，thefortificationswerestormed，thetownwaspillaged；
andalthoughthebishopmightlabor，withmuchzealandsomesuccess，tosavethepropertyofthechurch，andthechastityoffemalecaptives，thetumultcouldonlybeappeasedbytheexecutionofOrestes。^119HisbrotherPaulwasslaininanactionnearRavenna；andthehelplessAugustulus，whocouldnolongercommandtherespect，wasreducedtoimploretheclemency，ofOdoacer。
[Footnote117:Ourknowledgeofthesemercenaries，whosubvertedtheWesternempire，isderivedfromProcopius，deBell。Gothico，l。i。c。i。p。308。Thepopularopinion，andtherecenthistorians，representOdoacerinthefalselightofastranger，andaking，whoinvadedItalywithanarmyofforeigners，hisnativesubjects。]
[Footnote118:Orestes，quieotemporequandoAttilaadItaliamvenit，seilliunxit，ejusnotariusfactusfuerat。Anonym。
Vales。p。716。Heismistakeninthedate；butwemaycredithisassertion，thatthesecretaryofAttilawasthefatherofAugustulus]
[Footnote119:SeeEnnodius，inVit。Epiphan。Sirmond，tom。i。
p。1669，1670。HeaddsweighttothenarrativeofProcopius，thoughwemaydoubtwhetherthedevilactuallycontrivedthesiegeofPavia，todistressthebishopandhisflock。]
ThatsuccessfulBarbarianwasthesonofEdecon；who，insomeremarkabletransactions，particularlydescribedinaprecedingchapter，hadbeenthecolleagueofOresteshimself。