[Footnote29:ItisthereforesingularenoughthatPaull。iii。
c。15shoulddistinguishhimasthefirstGreekemperor—primusexGraecorumgenereinImperioconstitutus。HisimmediatepredecessorshadindeedbeenbornintheLatinprovincesofEurope:andavariousreading，inGraecorumImperio，wouldapplytheexpressiontotheempireratherthantheprince。]
[Footnote30:Consult，forthecharacterandreignofMaurice，thefifthandsixthbooksofEvagrius，particularlyl。vi。c。l；
theeightbooksofhisprolixandfloridhistorybyTheophylactSimocatta；Theophanes，p。213，&c。；Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiv。p。
73；Cedrenus，p。394。]
[Footnote31:EvagriuscomposedhishistoryinthetwelfthyearofMaurice；andhehadbeensowiselyindiscreetthattheemperorknowandrewardedhisfavorableopinion，l。vi。c。24。]
FromItalytheemperorswereincessantlytormentedbytalesofmiseryanddemandsofsuccor，whichextortedthehumiliatingconfessionoftheirownweakness。TheexpiringdignityofRomewasonlymarkedbythefreedomandenergyofhercomplaints:\"Ifyouareincapable，\"shesaid，\"ofdeliveringusfromtheswordoftheLombards，saveusatleastfromthecalamityoffamine。\"
Tiberiusforgavethereproach，andrelievedthedistress:asupplyofcornwastransportedfromEgypttotheTyber；andtheRomanpeople，invokingthename，notofCamillus，butofSt。
PeterrepulsedtheBarbariansfromtheirwalls。Butthereliefwasaccidental，thedangerwasperpetualandpressing；andtheclergyandsenate，collectingtheremainsoftheirancientopulence，asumofthreethousandpoundsofgold，despatchedthepatricianPamphroniustolaytheirgiftsandtheircomplaintsatthefootoftheByzantinethrone。Theattentionofthecourt，andtheforcesoftheEast，weredivertedbythePersianwar:butthejusticeofTiberiusappliedthesubsidytothedefenceofthecity；andhedismissedthepatricianwithhisbestadvice，eithertobribetheLombardchiefs，ortopurchasetheaidofthekingsofFrance。Notwithstandingthisweakinvention，Italywasstillafflicted，Romewasagainbesieged，andthesuburbofClasse，onlythreemilesfromRavenna，waspillagedandoccupiedbythetroopsofasimpledukeofSpoleto。Mauricegaveaudiencetoaseconddeputationofpriestsandsenators:thedutiesandthemenacesofreligionwereforciblyurgedinthelettersoftheRomanpontiff；andhisnuncio，thedeaconGregory，wasalikequalifiedtosolicitthepowerseitherofheavenoroftheearth。
Theemperoradopted，withstrongereffect，themeasuresofhispredecessor:someformidablechiefswerepersuadedtoembracethefriendshipoftheRomans；andoneofthem，amildandfaithfulBarbarian，livedanddiedintheserviceoftheexarchs:thepassesoftheAlpsweredeliveredtotheFranks；andthepopeencouragedthemtoviolate，withoutscruple，theiroathsandengagementstothemisbelievers。Childebert，thegreat—grandsonofClovis，waspersuadedtoinvadeItalybythepaymentoffiftythousandpieces；but，ashehadviewedwithdelightsomeByzantinecoinoftheweightofonepoundofgold，thekingofAustrasiamightstipulate，thatthegiftshouldberenderedmoreworthyofhisacceptance，byapropermixtureoftheserespectablemedals。ThedukesoftheLombardshadprovokedbyfrequentinroadstheirpowerfulneighborsofGaul。Assoonastheywereapprehensiveofajustretaliation，theyrenouncedtheirfeebleanddisorderlyindependence:theadvantagesofrealgovernment，union，secrecy，andvigor，wereunanimouslyconfessed；andAutharis，thesonofClepho，hadalreadyattainedthestrengthandreputationofawarrior。Underthestandardoftheirnewking，theconquerorsofItalywithstoodthreesuccessiveinvasions，oneofwhichwasledbyChildeberthimself，thelastoftheMerovingianracewhodescendedfromtheAlps。
ThefirstexpeditionwasdefeatedbythejealousanimosityoftheFranksandAlemanni。Inthesecondtheywerevanquishedinabloodybattle，withmorelossanddishonorthantheyhadsustainedsincethefoundationoftheirmonarchy。Impatientforrevenge，theyreturnedathirdtimewithaccumulatedforce，andAutharisyieldedtothefuryofthetorrent。ThetroopsandtreasuresoftheLombardsweredistributedinthewalledtownsbetweentheAlpsandtheApennine。Anation，lesssensibleofdangerthanoffatigueanddelay，soonmurmuredagainstthefollyoftheirtwentycommanders；andthehotvaporsofanItaliansuninfectedwithdiseasethosetramontanebodieswhichhadalreadysufferedthevicissitudesofintemperanceandfamine。Thepowersthatwereinadequatetotheconquest，weremorethansufficientforthedesolation，ofthecountry；norcouldthetremblingnativesdistinguishbetweentheirenemiesandtheirdeliverers。
IfthejunctionoftheMerovingianandImperialforceshadbeeneffectedintheneighborhoodofMilan，perhapstheymighthavesubvertedthethroneoftheLombards；buttheFranksexpectedsixdaysthesignalofaflamingvillage，andthearmsoftheGreekswereidlyemployedinthereductionofModenaandParma，whichweretornfromthemaftertheretreatoftheirtransalpineallies。ThevictoriousAutharisassertedhisclaimtothedominionofItaly。AtthefootoftheRhaetianAlps，hesubduedtheresistance，andrifledthehiddentreasures，ofasequesteredislandintheLakeofComum。AttheextremepointoftheCalabria，hetouchedwithhisspearacolumnonthesea—shoreofRhegium，^32proclaimingthatancientlandmarktostandtheimmovableboundaryofhiskingdom。^33
[Footnote32:TheColumnaRhegina，inthenarrowestpartoftheFaroofMessina，onehundredstadiafromRhegiumitself，isfrequentlymentionedinancientgeography。Cluver。Ital。Antiq。
tom。ii。p。1295。LucasHolsten。Annotat。adCluver。p。301。
Wesseling，Itinerar。p。106。]
[Footnote33:TheGreekhistoriansaffordsomefainthintsofthewarsofItalyMenander，inExcerpt。Legat。p。124，126。
Theophylact，l。iii。c。4。TheLatinsaremoresatisfactory；andespeciallyPaulWarnefrid，liii。c。13—34，whohadreadthemoreancienthistoriesofSecundusandGregoryofTours。
Baroniusproducessomelettersofthepopes，&c。；andthetimesaremeasuredbytheaccuratescaleofPagiandMuratori。]
Duringaperiodoftwohundredyears，ItalywasunequallydividedbetweenthekingdomoftheLombardsandtheexarchateofRavenna。Theofficesandprofessions，whichthejealousyofConstantinehadseparated，wereunitedbytheindulgenceofJustinian；andeighteensuccessiveexarchswereinvested，inthedeclineoftheempire，withthefullremainsofcivil，ofmilitary，andevenofecclesiastical，power。Theirimmediatejurisdiction，whichwasafterwardsconsecratedasthepatrimonyofSt。Peter，extendedoverthemodernRomagna，themarshesorvalleysofFerraraandCommachio，^34fivemaritimecitiesfromRiminitoAncona，andasecondinlandPentapolis，betweentheAdriaticcoastandthehillsoftheApennine。Threesubordinateprovinces，ofRome，ofVenice，andofNaples，whichweredividedbyhostilelandsfromthepalaceofRavenna，acknowledged，bothinpeaceandwar，thesupremacyoftheexarch。TheduchyofRomeappearstohaveincludedtheTuscan，Sabine，andLatinconquests，ofthefirstfourhundredyearsofthecity，andthelimitsmaybedistinctlytracedalongthecoast，fromCivitaVecchiatoTerracina，andwiththecourseoftheTyberfromAmeriaandNarnitotheportofOstia。ThenumerousislandsfromGradotoChiozzacomposedtheinfantdominionofVenice:butthemoreaccessibletownsontheContinentwereoverthrownbytheLombards，whobeheldwithimpotentfuryanewcapitalrisingfromthewaves。
ThepowerofthedukesofNapleswascircumscribedbythebayandtheadjacentisles，bythehostileterritoryofCapua，andbytheRomancolonyofAmalphi，^35whoseindustriouscitizens，bytheinventionofthemariner\'scompass，haveunveiledthefaceoftheglobe。ThethreeislandsofSardinia，Corsica，andSicily，stilladheredtotheempire；andtheacquisitionofthefartherCalabriaremovedthelandmarkofAutharisfromtheshoreofRhegiumtotheIsthmusofConsentia。InSardinia，thesavagemountaineerspreservedthelibertyandreligionoftheirancestors；andthehusbandmenofSicilywerechainedtotheirrichandcultivatedsoil。Romewasoppressedbytheironsceptreoftheexarchs，andaGreek，perhapsaeunuch，insultedwithimpunitytheruinsoftheCapitol。ButNaplessoonacquiredtheprivilegeofelectingherowndukes:^36theindependenceofAmalphiwasthefruitofcommerce；andthevoluntaryattachmentofVenicewasfinallyennobledbyanequalalliancewiththeEasternempire。OnthemapofItaly，themeasureoftheexarchateoccupiesaveryinadequatespace，butitincludedanampleproportionofwealth，industry，andpopulation。ThemostfaithfulandvaluablesubjectsescapedfromtheBarbarianyoke；
andthebannersofPaviaandVerona，ofMilanandPadua，weredisplayedintheirrespectivequartersbythenewinhabitantsofRavenna。TheremainderofItalywaspossessedbytheLombards；
andfromPavia，theroyalseat，theirkingdomwasextendedtotheeast，thenorth，andthewest，asfarastheconfinesoftheAvars，theBavarians，andtheFranksofAustrasiaandBurgundy。
Inthelanguageofmoderngeography，itisnowrepresentedbytheTerraFirmaoftheVenetianrepublic，Tyrol，theMilanese，Piedmont，thecoastofGenoa，Mantua，Parma，andModena，thegrandduchyofTuscany，andalargeportionoftheecclesiasticalstatefromPerugiatotheAdriatic。Thedukes，andatlengththeprinces，ofBeneventum，survivedthemonarchy，andpropagatedthenameoftheLombards。FromCapuatoTarentum，theyreignednearfivehundredyearsoverthegreatestpartofthepresentkingdomofNaples。^37
[Footnote34:Thepapaladvocates，ZacagniandFontanini，mightjustlyclaimthevalleyormorassofCommachioasapartoftheexarchate。ButtheambitionofincludingModena，Reggio，Parma，andPlacentia，hasdarkenedageographicalquestionsomewhatdoubtfulandobscureEvenMuratori，astheservantofthehouseofEste，isnotfreefrompartialityandprejudice。]
[Footnote35:SeeBrenckman，Dissert。ImadeRepublicaAmalphitana，p。1—42，adcalcemHist。Pandect。Florent。]
[Footnote36:Gregor。Magn。l。iii。epist。23，25。]
[Footnote37:IhavedescribedthestateofItalyfromtheexcellentDissertationofBeretti。GiannoneIstoriaCivile，tom。i。p。374—387hasfollowedthelearnedCamilloPellegriniinthegeographyofthekingdomofNaples。AfterthelossofthetrueCalabria，thevanityoftheGreekssubstitutedthatnameinsteadofthemoreignobleappellationofBruttium；andthechangeappearstohavetakenplacebeforethetimeofCharlemagne，Eginard，p。75。]
Incomparingtheproportionofthevictoriousandthevanquishedpeople，thechangeoflanguagewillaffordthemostprobablyinference。Accordingtothisstandard，itwillappear，thattheLombardsofItaly，andtheVisigothsofSpain，werelessnumerousthantheFranksorBurgundians；andtheconquerorsofGaulmustyield，intheirturn，tothemultitudeofSaxonsandAngleswhoalmosteradicatedtheidiomsofBritain。ThemodernItalianhasbeeninsensiblyformedbythemixtureofnations:theawkwardnessoftheBarbariansinthenicemanagementofdeclensionsandconjugationsreducedthemtotheuseofarticlesandauxiliaryverbs；andmanynewideashavebeenexpressedbyTeutonicappellations。YettheprincipalstockoftechnicalandfamiliarwordsisfoundtobeofLatinderivation；^38and，ifweweresufficientlyconversantwiththeobsolete，therustic，andthemunicipaldialectsofancientItaly，weshouldtracetheoriginofmanytermswhichmight，perhaps，berejectedbytheclassicpurityofRome。Anumerousarmyconstitutesbutasmallnation，andthepowersoftheLombardsweresoondiminishedbytheretreatoftwentythousandSaxons，whoscornedadependentsituation，andreturned，aftermanyboldandperilousadventures，totheirnativecountry。^39ThecampofAlboinwasofformidableextent，buttheextentofacampwouldbeeasilycircumscribedwithinthelimitsofacity；anditsmartialinhabitantsmustbethinlyscatteredoverthefaceofalargecountry。WhenAlboindescendedfromtheAlps，heinvestedhisnephew，thefirstdukeofFriuli，withthecommandoftheprovinceandthepeople:buttheprudentGisulfwouldhavedeclinedthedangerousoffice，unlesshehadbeenpermittedtochoose，amongthenoblesoftheLombards，asufficientnumberoffamilies^40toformaperpetualcolonyofsoldiersandsubjects。Intheprogressofconquest，thesameoptioncouldnotbegrantedtothedukesofBresciaorBergamo，otPaviaorTurin，ofSpoletoorBeneventum；buteachofthese，andeachoftheircolleagues，settledinhisappointeddistrictwithabandoffollowerswhoresortedtohisstandardinwarandhistribunalinpeace。Theirattachmentwasfreeandhonorable:resigningthegiftsandbenefitswhichtheyhadaccepted，theymightemigratewiththeirfamiliesintothejurisdictionofanotherduke；buttheirabsencefromthekingdomwaspunishedwithdeath，asacrimeofmilitarydesertion。^41
Theposterityofthefirstconquerorsstruckadeeperrootintothesoil，which，byeverymotiveofinterestandhonor，theywereboundtodefend。ALombardwasbornthesoldierofhiskingandhisduke；andthecivilassembliesofthenationdisplayedthebanners，andassumedtheappellation，ofaregulararmy。Ofthisarmy，thepayandtherewardsweredrawnfromtheconqueredprovinces；andthedistribution，whichwasnoteffectedtillafterthedeathofAlboin，isdisgracedbythefoulmarksofinjusticeandrapine。ManyofthemostwealthyItalianswereslainorbanished；theremainderweredividedamongthestrangers，andatributaryobligationwasimposedunderthenameofhospitalityofpayingtotheLombardsathirdpartofthefruitsoftheearth。Withinlessthanseventyyears，thisartificialsystemwasabolishedbyamoresimpleandsolidtenure。^42EithertheRomanlandlordwasexpelledbyhisstrongandinsolentguest，ortheannualpayment，athirdoftheproduce，wasexchangedbyamoreequitabletransactionforanadequateproportionoflandedproperty。Undertheseforeignmasters，thebusinessofagriculture，inthecultivationofcorn，wines，andolives，wasexercisedwithdegenerateskillandindustrybythelaboroftheslavesandnatives。ButtheoccupationsofapastorallifeweremorepleasingtotheidlenessoftheBarbarian。IntherichmeadowsofVenetia，theyrestoredandimprovedthebreedofhorses，forwhichthatprovincehadoncebeenillustrious；^43andtheItaliansbeheldwithastonishmentaforeignraceofoxenorbuffaloes。^44ThedepopulationofLombardy，andtheincreaseofforests，affordedanamplerangeforthepleasuresofthechase。^45Thatmarvellousartwhichteachesthebirdsoftheairtoacknowledgethevoice，andexecutethecommands，oftheirmaster，hadbeenunknowntotheingenuityoftheGreeksandRomans。^46
ScandinaviaandScythiaproducetheboldestandmosttractablefalcons:^47theyweretamedandeducatedbytherovinginhabitants，alwaysonhorsebackandinthefield。ThisfavoriteamusementofourancestorswasintroducedbytheBarbariansintotheRomanprovinces；andthelawsofItalyesteemedtheswordandthehawkasofequaldignityandimportanceinthehandsofanobleLombard。^48
[Footnote38:MaffeiVeronaIllustrata，parti。p。310—321
andMuratoriAntichitaItaliane，tom。ii。Dissertazionexxxii。
xxxiii。p。71—365haveassertedthenativeclaimsoftheItalianidiom；theformerwithenthusiasm，thelatterwithdiscretion；bothwithlearning，ingenuity，andtruth。
Note:ComparetheadmirablesketchofthedegeneracyoftheLatinlanguageandtheformationoftheItalianinHallam，MiddleAges，vol。iii。p。317329。—M。]
[Footnote39:Paul，deGest。Langobard。l。iii。c。5，6，7。]
[Footnote40:Paul，l。ii。c。9。HecallsthesefamiliesorgenerationsbytheTeutonicnameofFaras，whichislikewiseusedintheLombardlaws。Thehumbledeaconwasnotinsensibleofthenobilityofhisownrace。Seel。iv。c。39。]
[Footnote41:CompareNo。3and177oftheLawsofRotharis。]
[Footnote42:Paul，l。ii。c。31，32，l。iii。c。16。TheLawsofRotharis，promulgatedA。D。643，donotcontainthesmallestvestigeofthispaymentofthirds；buttheypreservemanycuriouscircumstancesofthestateofItalyandthemannersoftheLombards。]
[Footnote43:ThestudsofDionysiusofSyracuse，andhisfrequentvictoriesintheOlympicgames，haddiffusedamongtheGreeksthefameoftheVenetianhorses；butthebreedwasextinctinthetimeofStrabo，l。v。p。325。Gisulfobtainedfromhisunclegenerosarumequarumgreges。Paul，l。ii。c。9。TheLombardsafterwardsintroducedcaballisylvatici—wildhorses。
Paul，l。iv。c。11。]
[Footnote44:TuncA。D。596primum，bubaliinItaliamdelatiItaliaepopulismiraculafuere，PaulWarnefrid，l。iv。c。11。
Thebuffaloes，whosenativeclimateappearstobeAfricaandIndia，areunknowntoEurope，exceptinItaly，wheretheyarenumerousanduseful。Theancientswereignorantoftheseanimals，unlessAristotleHist。Anim。l。ii。c。1，p。58，Paris，1783hasdescribedthemasthewildoxenofArachosia。SeeBuffon，Hist。Naturelle，tom。xi。andSupplement，tom。vi。Hist。
GeneraledesVoyages，tom。i。p。7，481，ii。105，iii。291，iv。
234，461，v。193，vi。491，viii。400，x。666。Pennant\'sQuadrupedes，p。24。Dictionnaired\'Hist。Naturelle，parValmontdeBomare，tom。ii。p。74。YetImustnotconcealthesuspicionthatPaul，byavulgarerror，mayhaveappliedthenameofbubalustotheaurochs，orwildbull，ofancientGermany。]
[Footnote45:ConsultthexxistDissertationofMuratori。]
[Footnote46:Theirignoranceisprovedbythesilenceevenofthosewhoprofessedlytreatoftheartsofhuntingandthehistoryofanimals。Aristotle，Hist。Animal。l。ix。c。36，tom。
i。p。586，andtheNotesofhislasteditor，M。Camus，tom。ii。
p。314，Pliny，Hist。Natur。l。x。c。10，AeliandeNatur。
Animal。l。ii。c。42，andperhapsHomer，Odyss。xxii。302—
306，describewithastonishmentatacitleagueandcommonchasebetweenthehawksandtheThracianfowlers。]
[Footnote47:Particularlythegerfaut，orgyrfalcon，ofthesizeofasmalleagle。SeetheanimateddescriptionofM。deBuffon，Hist。Naturelle，tom。xvi。p。239，&c。]
[Footnote48:Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。i。partii。p。129。
ThisisthexvithlawoftheemperorLewisthePious。HisfatherCharlemagnehadfalconersinhishouseholdaswellashuntsmen，Memoiressurl\'ancienneChevalerie，parM。deSt。Palaye，tom。
iii。p。175。IobserveinthelawsofRotharisamoreearlymentionoftheartofhawking，No。322；andinGaul，inthefifthcentury，itiscelebratedbySidoniusApollinarisamongthetalentsofAvitus，202—207。
Note:SeeBeckman，Hist。ofInventions，vol。i。p。319—M。]
ChapterXLV:StateOfItalyUnderTheLombards。