[Footnote160:AccordingtoJuliusAfricanus，&c。，theworldwascreatedthefirstofSeptember，5508years，threemonths，andtwenty—fivedaysbeforethebirthofChrist。SeePezron，AntiquitedesTemsdefendue，p。20—28。AndthisaerahasbeenusedbytheGreeks，theOrientalChristians，andevenbytheRussians，tillthereignofPeterITheperiod，howeverarbitrary，isclearandconvenient。Ofthe7296yearswhicharesupposedtoelapsesincethecreation，weshallfind3000ofignoranceanddarkness；2000eitherfabulousordoubtful；1000ofancienthistory，commencingwiththePersianempire，andtheRepublicsofRomeandAthens；1000fromthefalloftheRomanempireintheWesttothediscoveryofAmerica；andtheremaining296willalmostcompletethreecenturiesofthemodernstateofEuropeandmankind。Iregretthischronology，sofarpreferabletoourdoubleandperplexedmethodofcountingbackwardsandforwardstheyearsbeforeandaftertheChristianera。]
[Footnote161:TheaeraoftheworldhasprevailedintheEastsincethevithgeneralcouncil，A。D。681。IntheWest，theChristianaerawasfirstinventedinthevithcentury:itwaspropagatedintheviiithbytheauthorityandwritingsofvenerableBede；butitwasnottillthexththattheusebecamelegalandpopular。Seel\'ArtdeVerinerlesDates，Dissert。
Preliminaire，p。iii。xii。DictionnaireDiplomatique，tom。i。p。
329—337；theworksofalaborioussocietyofBenedictinemonks。]
ChapterXLI:ConquestsOfJustinian，CharactOfBalisarius。
PartI。
ConquestsOfJustinianInTheWest。—CharacterAndFirstCampaignsOfBelisarius—HeInvadesAndSubduesTheVandalKingdomOfAfrica—HisTriumph。—TheGothicWar。—HeRecoversSicily，Naples，AndRome。—SiegeOfRomeByTheGoths。—TheirRetreatAndLosses。—SurrenderOfRavenna。—GloryOfBelisarius。—HisDomesticShameAndMisfortunes。
WhenJustinianascendedthethrone，aboutfiftyyearsafterthefalloftheWesternempire，thekingdomsoftheGothsandVandalshadobtainedasolid，and，asitmightseem，alegalestablishmentbothinEuropeandAfrica。Thetitles，whichRomanvictoryhadinscribed，wereerasedwithequaljusticebytheswordoftheBarbarians；andtheirsuccessfulrapinederivedamorevenerablesanctionfromtime，fromtreaties，andfromtheoathsoffidelity，alreadyrepeatedbyasecondorthirdgenerationofobedientsubjects。ExperienceandChristianityhadrefutedthesuperstitioushope，thatRomewasfoundedbythegodstoreignforeveroverthenationsoftheearth。Buttheproudclaimofperpetualandindefeasibledominion，whichhersoldierscouldnolongermaintain，wasfirmlyassertedbyherstatesmenandlawyers，whoseopinionshavebeensometimesrevivedandpropagatedinthemodernschoolsofjurisprudence。AfterRomeherselfhadbeenstrippedoftheImperialpurple，theprincesofConstantinopleassumedthesoleandsacredsceptreofthemonarchy；demanded，astheirrightfulinheritance，theprovinceswhichhadbeensubduedbytheconsuls，orpossessedbytheCaesars；andfeeblyaspiredtodelivertheirfaithfulsubjectsoftheWestfromtheusurpationofhereticsandBarbarians。TheexecutionofthissplendiddesignwasinsomedegreereservedforJustinian。Duringthefivefirstyearsofhisreign，hereluctantlywagedacostlyandunprofitablewaragainstthePersians；tillhispridesubmittedtohisambition，andhepurchasedatthepriceoffourhundredandfortythousandpoundssterling，thebenefitofaprecarioustruce，which，inthelanguageofbothnations，wasdignifiedwiththeappellationoftheendlesspeace。ThesafetyoftheEastenabledtheemperortoemployhisforcesagainsttheVandals；andtheinternalstateofAfricaaffordedanhonorablemotive，andpromisedapowerfulsupport，totheRomanarms。^1
[Footnote1:ThecompleteseriesoftheVandalwarisrelatedbyProcopiusinaregularandelegantnarrative，l。i。c。9—25，l。ii。c。1—13，andhappywouldbemylot，couldIalwaystreadinthefootstepsofsuchaguide。FromtheentireanddiligentperusaloftheGreektext，IhavearighttopronouncethattheLatinandFrenchversionsofGrotiusandCousinmaynotbeimplicitlytrusted；yetthepresidentCousinhasbeenoftenpraised，andHugoGrotiuswasthefirstscholarofalearnedage。]
Accordingtothetestamentofthefounder，theAfricankingdomhadlineallydescendedtoHilderic，theeldestoftheVandalprinces。Amilddispositioninclinedthesonofatyrant，thegrandsonofaconqueror，topreferthecounselsofclemencyandpeace；andhisaccessionwasmarkedbythesalutaryedict，whichrestoredtwohundredbishopstotheirchurches，andallowedthefreeprofessionoftheAthanasiancreed。^2ButtheCatholicsaccepted，withcoldandtransientgratitude，afavorsoinadequatetotheirpretensions，andthevirtuesofHildericoffendedtheprejudicesofhiscountrymen。TheArianclergypresumedtoinsinuatethathehadrenouncedthefaith，andthesoldiersmoreloudlycomplainedthathehaddegeneratedfromthecourage，ofhisancestors。HisambassadorsweresuspectedofasecretanddisgracefulnegotiationintheByzantinecourt；andhisgeneral，theAchilles，^3ashewasnamed，oftheVandals，lostabattleagainstthenakedanddisorderlyMoors。ThepublicdiscontentwasexasperatedbyGelimer，whoseage，descent，andmilitaryfame，gavehimanapparenttitletothesuccession:heassumed，withtheconsentofthenation，thereinsofgovernment；
andhisunfortunatesovereignsunkwithoutastrugglefromthethronetoadungeon，wherehewasstrictlyguardedwithafaithfulcounsellor，andhisunpopularnephewtheAchillesoftheVandals。ButtheindulgencewhichHilderichadshowntohisCatholicsubjectshadpowerfullyrecommendedhimtothefavorofJustinian，who，forthebenefitofhisownsect，couldacknowledgetheuseandjusticeofreligioustoleration:theiralliance，whilethenephewofJustinremainedinaprivatestation，wascementedbythemutualexchangeofgiftsandletters；andtheemperorJustinianassertedthecauseofroyaltyandfriendship。Intwosuccessiveembassies，headmonishedtheusurpertorepentofhistreason，ortoabstain，atleast，fromanyfurtherviolencewhichmightprovokethedispleasureofGodandoftheRomans；toreverencethelawsofkindredandsuccession，andtosufferaninfirmoldmanpeaceablytoendhisdays，eitheronthethroneofCarthageorinthepalaceofConstantinople。Thepassions，oreventheprudence，ofGelimercompelledhimtorejecttheserequests，whichwereurgedinthehaughtytoneofmenaceandcommand；andhejustifiedhisambitioninalanguagerarelyspokenintheByzantinecourt，byallegingtherightofafreepeopletoremoveorpunishtheirchiefmagistrate，whohadfailedintheexecutionofthekinglyoffice。
Afterthisfruitlessexpostulation，thecaptivemonarchwasmorerigorouslytreated，hisnephewwasdeprivedofhiseyes，andthecruelVandal，confidentinhisstrengthanddistance，deridedthevainthreatsandslowpreparationsoftheemperoroftheEast。
Justinianresolvedtodeliverorrevengehisfriend，Gelimertomaintainhisusurpation；andthewarwaspreceded，accordingtothepracticeofcivilizednations，bythemostsolemnprotestations，thateachpartywassincerelydesirousofpeace。
[Footnote2:SeeRuinart，Hist。Persecut。Vandal。c。xii。p。589。
HisbestevidenceisdrawnfromthelifeofSt。Fulgentius，composedbyoneofhisdisciples，transcribedinagreatmeasureintheannalsofBaronius，andprintedinseveralgreatcollections，Catalog。Bibliot。Bunavianae，tom。i。vol。ii。p。
1258。]
[Footnote3:Forwhatqualityofthemindorbody?Forspeed，orbeauty，orvalor?—InwhatlanguagedidtheVandalsreadHomer?
—DidhespeakGerman?—TheLatinshadfourversions，Fabric。
tom。i。l。ii。c。8，p。297:yet，inspiteofthepraisesofSeneca，Consol。c。26，theyappeartohavebeenmoresuccessfulinimitatingthanintranslatingtheGreekpoets。ButthenameofAchillesmightbefamousandpopularevenamongtheilliterateBarbarians。]
ThereportofanAfricanwarwasgratefulonlytothevainandidlepopulaceofConstantinople，whosepovertyexemptedthemfromtribute，andwhosecowardicewasseldomexposedtomilitaryservice。Butthewisercitizens，whojudgedofthefuturebythepast，revolvedintheirmemorytheimmenseloss，bothofmenandmoney，whichtheempirehadsustainedintheexpeditionofBasiliscus。Thetroops，which，afterfivelaboriouscampaigns，hadbeenrecalledfromthePersianfrontier，dreadedthesea，theclimate，andthearmsofanunknownenemy。Theministersofthefinancescomputed，asfarastheymightcompute，thedemandsofanAfricanwar；thetaxeswhichmustbefoundandleviedtosupplythoseinsatiatedemands；andthedanger，lesttheirownlives，oratleasttheirlucrativeemployments，shouldbemaderesponsibleforthedeficiencyofthesupply。Inspiredbysuchselfishmotives，forwemaynotsuspecthimofanyzealforthepublicgood，JohnofCappadociaventuredtoopposeinfullcounciltheinclinationsofhismaster。Heconfessed，thatavictoryofsuchimportancecouldnotbetoodearlypurchased；butherepresentedinagravediscoursethecertaindifficultiesandtheuncertainevent。\"Youundertake，\"saidthepraefect，\"tobesiegeCarthage:byland，thedistanceisnotlessthanonehundredandfortydays\'journey；onthesea，awholeyear^4mustelapsebeforeyoucanreceiveanyintelligencefromyourfleet。
IfAfricashouldbereduced，itcannotbepreservedwithouttheadditionalconquestofSicilyandItaly。Successwillimposetheobligationsofnewlabors；asinglemisfortunewillattracttheBarbariansintotheheartofyourexhaustedempire。\"Justinianfelttheweightofthissalutaryadvice；hewasconfoundedbytheunwontedfreedomofanobsequiousservant；andthedesignofthewarwouldperhapshavebeenrelinquished，ifhiscouragehadnotbeenrevivedbyavoicewhichsilencedthedoubtsofprofanereason。\"Ihaveseenavision，\"criedanartfulorfanaticbishopoftheEast。\"ItisthewillofHeaven，Oemperor!thatyoushouldnotabandonyourholyenterpriseforthedeliveranceoftheAfricanchurch。TheGodofbattleswillmarchbeforeyourstandard，anddisperseyourenemies，whoaretheenemiesofhisSon。\"Theemperor，mightbetempted，andhiscounsellorswereconstrained，togivecredittothisseasonablerevelation:buttheyderivedmorerationalhopefromtherevolt，whichtheadherentsofHildericorAthanasiushadalreadyexcitedonthebordersoftheVandalmonarchy。Pudentius，anAfricansubject，hadprivatelysignifiedhisloyalintentions，andasmallmilitaryaidrestoredtheprovinceofTripolitotheobedienceoftheRomans。ThegovernmentofSardiniahadbeenintrustedtoGodas，avaliantBarbarianhesuspendedthepaymentoftribute，disclaimedhisallegiancetotheusurper，andgaveaudiencetotheemissariesofJustinian，whofoundhimmasterofthatfruitfulisland，attheheadofhisguards，andproudlyinvestedwiththeensignsofroyalty。TheforcesoftheVandalswerediminishedbydiscordandsuspicion；theRomanarmieswereanimatedbythespiritofBelisarius；oneofthoseheroicnameswhicharefamiliartoeveryageandtoeverynation。
[Footnote4:Ayear—absurdexaggeration!TheconquestofAfricamaybedatedA。D533，September14。ItiscelebratedbyJustinianintheprefacetohisInstitutes，whichwerepublishedNovember21ofthesameyear。Includingthevoyageandreturn，suchacomputationmightbetrulyappliedtoourIndianempire。]
TheAfricanusofnewRomewasborn，andperhapseducated，amongtheThracianpeasants，^5withoutanyofthoseadvantageswhichhadformedthevirtuesoftheelderandyoungerScipio；anobleorigin，liberalstudies，andtheemulationofafreestate。
Thesilenceofaloquacioussecretarymaybeadmitted，toprovethattheyouthofBelisariuscouldnotaffordanysubjectofpraise:heserved，mostassuredlywithvalorandreputation，amongtheprivateguardsofJustinian；andwhenhispatronbecameemperor，thedomesticwaspromotedtomilitarycommand。AfteraboldinroadintoPersarmenia，inwhichhisglorywassharedbyacolleague，andhisprogresswascheckedbyanenemy，BelisariusrepairedtotheimportantstationofDara，wherehefirstacceptedtheserviceofProcopius，thefaithfulcompanion，anddiligenthistorian，ofhisexploits。^6TheMirranesofPersiaadvanced，withfortythousandofherbesttroops，torazethefortificationsofDara；andsignifiedthedayandthehouronwhichthecitizensshouldprepareabathforhisrefreshment，afterthetoilsofvictory。Heencounteredanadversaryequaltohimself，bythenewtitleofGeneraloftheEast；hissuperiorinthescienceofwar，butmuchinferiorinthenumberandqualityofhistroops，whichamountedonlytotwenty—fivethousandRomansandstrangers，relaxedintheirdiscipline，andhumbledbyrecentdisasters。AsthelevelplainofDararefusedallsheltertostratagemandambush，Belisariusprotectedhisfrontwithadeeptrench，whichwasprolongedatfirstinperpendicular，andafterwardsinparallel，lines，tocoverthewingsofcavalryadvantageouslypostedtocommandtheflanksandrearoftheenemy。WhentheRomancentrewasshaken，theirwell—timedandrapidchargedecidedtheconflict:thestandardofPersiafell；
theimmortalsfled；theinfantrythrewawaytheirbucklers，andeightthousandofthevanquishedwereleftonthefieldofbattle。Inthenextcampaign，Syriawasinvadedonthesideofthedesert；andBelisarius，withtwentythousandmen，hastenedfromDaratothereliefoftheprovince。Duringthewholesummer，thedesignsoftheenemywerebaffledbyhisskilfuldispositions:hepressedtheirretreat，occupiedeachnighttheircampoftheprecedingday，andwouldhavesecuredabloodlessvictory，ifhecouldhaveresistedtheimpatienceofhisowntroops。Theirvaliantpromisewasfaintlysupportedinthehourofbattle；therightwingwasexposedbythetreacherousorcowardlydesertionoftheChristianArabs；theHuns，aveteranbandofeighthundredwarriors，wereoppressedbysuperiornumbers；theflightoftheIsaurianswasintercepted；buttheRomaninfantrystoodfirmontheleft；forBelisariushimself，dismountingfromhishorse，showedthemthatintrepiddespairwastheironlysafety。TheyturnedtheirbackstotheEuphrates，andtheirfacestotheenemy:innumerablearrowsglancedwithouteffectfromthecompactandshelvingorderoftheirbucklers；animpenetrablelineofpikeswasopposedtotherepeatedassaultsofthePersiancavalry；andafteraresistanceofmanyhours，theremainingtroopswereskilfullyembarkedundertheshadowofthenight。ThePersiancommanderretiredwithdisorderanddisgrace，toanswerastrictaccountofthelivesofsomanysoldiers，whichhehadconsumedinabarrenvictory。ButthefameofBelisariuswasnotsulliedbyadefeat，inwhichhealonehadsavedhisarmyfromtheconsequencesoftheirownrashness:theapproachofpeacerelievedhimfromtheguardoftheeasternfrontier，andhisconductintheseditionofConstantinopleamplydischargedhisobligationstotheemperor。WhentheAfricanwarbecamethetopicofpopulardiscourseandsecretdeliberation，eachoftheRomangeneralswasapprehensive，ratherthanambitious，ofthedangeroushonor；butassoonasJustinianhaddeclaredhispreferenceofsuperiormerit，theirenvywasrekindledbytheunanimousapplausewhichwasgiventothechoiceofBelisarius。ThetemperoftheByzantinecourtmayencourageasuspicion，thattheherowasdarklyassistedbytheintriguesofhiswife，thefairandsubtleAntonina，whoalternatelyenjoyedtheconfidence，andincurredthehatred，oftheempressTheodora。
ThebirthofAntoninawasignoble；shedescendedfromafamilyofcharioteers；andherchastityhasbeenstainedwiththefoulestreproach。Yetshereignedwithlongandabsolutepoweroverthemindofherillustrioushusband；andifAntoninadisdainedthemeritofconjugalfidelity，sheexpressedamanlyfriendshiptoBelisarius，whomsheaccompaniedwithundauntedresolutioninallthehardshipsanddangersofamilitarylife。^7
[Footnote5:Procop。Vandal。l。i。c。11。Aleman，Not。adAnecdot。p。5，anItalian，couldeasilyrejecttheGermanvanityofGiphaniusandVelserus，whowishedtoclaimthehero；buthisGermania，ametropolisofThrace，Icannotfindinanycivilorecclesiasticallistsoftheprovincesandcities。
Note*:M。vonHammerinareviewofLordMahon\'sLifeofBelisariusintheViennaJahrbuchershowsthatthenameofBelisariusisaSclavonicword，Beli—tzar，theWhitePrince，andthattheplaceofhisbirthwasavillageofIllvria，whichstillbearsthenameofGermany。—M。]
[Footnote6:ThetwofirstPersiancampaignsofBelisariusarefairlyandcopiouslyrelatedbyhissecretary，Persic。l。i。c。
12—18。]
[Footnote*:ThebattlewasfoughtonEasterSunday，April19，notattheendofthesummer。ThedateissuppliedfromJohnMalalabyLordMabonp。47。—M。]
[Footnote7:SeethebirthandcharacterofAntonina，intheAnecdotes，c。l。andthenotesofAlemannus，p。3。]
ThepreparationsfortheAfricanwarwerenotunworthyofthelastcontestbetweenRomeandCarthage。TheprideandflowerofthearmyconsistedoftheguardsofBelisarius，who，accordingtotheperniciousindulgenceofthetimes，devotedthemselves，byaparticularoathoffidelity，totheserviceoftheirpatrons。
Theirstrengthandstature，forwhichtheyhadbeencuriouslyselected，thegoodnessoftheirhorsesandarmor，andtheassiduouspracticeofalltheexercisesofwar，enabledthemtoactwhatevertheircouragemightprompt；andtheircouragewasexaltedbythesocialhonoroftheirrank，andthepersonalambitionoffavorandfortune。FourhundredofthebravestoftheHerulimarchedunderthebannerofthefaithfulandactivePharas；theiruntractablevalorwasmorehighlyprizedthanthetamesubmissionoftheGreeksandSyrians；andofsuchimportancewasitdeemedtoprocureareenforcementofsixhundredMassagetae，orHuns，thattheywerealluredbyfraudanddeceittoengageinanavalexpedition。FivethousandhorseandtenthousandfootwereembarkedatConstantinople，fortheconquestofAfrica；buttheinfantry，forthemostpartleviedinThraceandIsauria，yieldedtothemoreprevailinguseandreputationofthecavalry；andtheScythianbowwastheweapononwhichthearmiesofRomewerenowreducedtoplacetheirprincipaldependence。Fromalaudabledesiretoassertthedignityofhistheme，Procopiusdefendsthesoldiersofhisowntimeagainstthemorosecritics，whoconfinedthatrespectablenametotheheavy—armedwarriorsofantiquity，andmaliciouslyobserved，thatthewordarcherisintroducedbyHomer^8asatermofcontempt。
\"SuchcontemptmightperhapsbeduetothenakedyouthswhoappearedonfootinthefieldsofTroy，andlurkingbehindatombstone，ortheshieldofafriend，drewthebow—stringtotheirbreast，^9anddismissedafeebleandlifelessarrow。Butourarcherspursuesthehistorianaremountedonhorses，whichtheymanagewithadmirableskill；theirheadandshouldersareprotectedbyacasqueorbuckler；theyweargreavesofironontheirlegs，andtheirbodiesareguardedbyacoatofmail。Ontheirrightsidehangsaquiver，aswordontheirleft，andtheirhandisaccustomedtowieldalanceorjavelininclosercombat。
Theirbowsarestrongandweighty；theyshootineverypossibledirection，advancing，retreating，tothefront，totherear，ortoeitherflank；andastheyaretaughttodrawthebow—stringnottothebreast，buttotherightear，firmindeedmustbethearmorthatcanresisttherapidviolenceoftheirshaft。\"Fivehundredtransports，navigatedbytwentythousandmarinersofEgypt，Cilicia，andIonia，werecollectedintheharborofConstantinople。Thesmallestofthesevesselsmaybecomputedatthirty，thelargestatfivehundred，tons；andthefairaveragewillsupplyanallowance，liberal，butnotprofuse，ofaboutonehundredthousandtons，^10forthereceptionofthirty—fivethousandsoldiersandsailors，offivethousandhorses，ofarms，engines，andmilitarystores，andofasufficientstockofwaterandprovisionsforavoyage，perhaps，ofthreemonths。Theproudgalleys，whichinformeragesswepttheMediterraneanwithsomanyhundredoars，hadlongsincedisappeared；andthefleetofJustinianwasescortedonlybyninety—twolightbrigantines，coveredfromthemissileweaponsoftheenemy，androwedbytwothousandofthebraveandrobustyouthofConstantinople。
Twenty—twogeneralsarenamed，mostofwhomwereafterwardsdistinguishedinthewarsofAfricaandItaly:butthesupremecommand，bothbylandandsea，wasdelegatedtoBelisariusalone，withaboundlesspowerofactingaccordingtohisdiscretion，asiftheemperorhimselfwerepresent。Theseparationofthenavalandmilitaryprofessionsisatoncetheeffectandthecauseofthemodernimprovementsinthescienceofnavigationandmaritimewar。
[Footnote8:SeetheprefaceofProcopius。TheenemiesofarcherymightquotethereproachesofDiomedeIliad。Delta。385，&c。andthepermitterevulneraventisofLucan，viii。384:yettheRomanscouldnotdespisethearrowsoftheParthians；andinthesiegeofTroy，Pandarus，Paris，andTeucer，piercedthosehaughtywarriorswhoinsultedthemaswomenorchildren。]