undertheshieldoffreedom，onthewingsofemulationandvanity，eachAthenianaspiredtothelevelofthenationaldignity；fromthiscommandingeminence，somechosenspiritssoaredbeyondthereachofavulgareye；andthechancesofsuperiormeritinagreatandpopulouskingdom，astheyareprovedbyexperience，wouldexcusethecomputationofimaginarymillions。TheterritoriesofAthens，Sparta，andtheirallies，donotexceedamoderateprovinceofFranceorEngland；butafterthetrophiesofSalamisandPlatea，theyexpandinourfancytothegiganticsizeofAsia，whichhadbeentrampledunderthefeetofthevictoriousGreeks。ButthesubjectsoftheByzantineempire，whoassumeanddishonorthenamesbothofGreeksandRomans，presentadeaduniformityofabjectvices，whichareneithersoftenedbytheweaknessofhumanity，noranimatedbythevigorofmemorablecrimes。ThefreemenofantiquitymightrepeatwithgenerousenthusiasmthesentenceofHomer，\"thatonthefirstdayofhisservitude，thecaptiveisdeprivedofonehalfofhismanlyvirtue。\"Butthepoethadonlyseentheeffectsofcivilordomesticslavery，norcouldheforetellthatthesecondmoietyofmanhoodmustbeannihilatedbythespiritualdespotismwhichshacklesnotonlytheactions，buteventhethoughts，oftheprostratevotary。Bythisdoubleyoke，theGreekswereoppressedunderthesuccessorsofHeraclius；thetyrant，alawofeternaljustice，wasdegradedbythevicesofhissubjects；andonthethrone，inthecamp，intheschools，wesearch，perhapswithfruitlessdiligence，thenamesandcharactersthatmaydeservetoberescuedfromoblivion。Norarethedefectsofthesubjectcompensatedbytheskillandvarietyofthepainters。Ofaspaceofeighthundredyears，thefourfirstcenturiesareoverspreadwithacloudinterruptedbysomefaintandbrokenraysofhistoriclight:inthelivesoftheemperors，fromMauricetoAlexius，BasiltheMacedonianhasalonebeenthethemeofaseparatework；andtheabsence，orloss，orimperfectionofcontemporaryevidence，mustbepoorlysuppliedbythedoubtfulauthorityofmorerecentcompilers。Thefourlastcenturiesareexemptfromthereproachofpenury；andwiththeComnenianfamily，thehistoricmuseofConstantinopleagainrevives，butherapparelisgaudy，hermotionsarewithouteleganceorgrace。
Asuccessionofpriests，orcourtiers，treadsineachother\'sfootstepsinthesamepathofservitudeandsuperstition:theirviewsarenarrow，theirjudgmentisfeebleorcorrupt；andweclosethevolumeofcopiousbarrenness，stillignorantofthecausesofevents，thecharactersoftheactors，andthemannersofthetimeswhichtheycelebrateordeplore。Theobservationwhichhasbeenappliedtoaman，maybeextendedtoawholepeople，thattheenergyoftheswordiscommunicatedtothepen；
anditwillbefoundbyexperience，thatthetoneofhistorywillriseorfallwiththespiritoftheage。
Fromtheseconsiderations，IshouldhaveabandonedwithoutregrettheGreekslavesandtheirservilehistorians，hadInotreflectedthatthefateoftheByzantinemonarchyispassivelyconnectedwiththemostsplendidandimportantrevolutionswhichhavechangedthestateoftheworld。Thespaceofthelostprovinceswasimmediatelyreplenishedwithnewcoloniesandrisingkingdoms:theactivevirtuesofpeaceandwardesertedfromthevanquishedtothevictoriousnations；anditisintheiroriginandconquests，intheirreligionandgovernment，thatwemustexplorethecausesandeffectsofthedeclineandfalloftheEasternempire。Norwillthisscopeofnarrative，therichesandvarietyofthesematerials，beincompatiblewiththeunityofdesignandcomposition。As，inhisdailyprayers，theMussulmanofFezorDelhistillturnshisfacetowardsthetempleofMecca，thehistorian\'seyeshallbealwaysfixedonthecityofConstantinople。TheexcursivelinemayembracethewildsofArabiaandTartary，butthecirclewillbeultimatelyreducedtothedecreasinglimitoftheRomanmonarchy。
OnthisprincipleIshallnowestablishtheplanofthelasttwovolumesofthepresentwork。Thefirstchapterwillcontain，inaregularseries，theemperorswhoreignedatConstantinopleduringaperiodofsixhundredyears，fromthedaysofHeracliustotheLatinconquest；arapidabstract，whichmaybesupportedbyageneralappealtotheorderandtextoftheoriginalhistorians。Inthisintroduction，Ishallconfinemyselftotherevolutionsofthethrone，thesuccessionoffamilies，thepersonalcharactersoftheGreekprinces，themodeoftheirlifeanddeath，themaximsandinfluenceoftheirdomesticgovernment，andthetendencyoftheirreigntoaccelerateorsuspendthedownfalloftheEasternempire。Suchachronologicalreviewwillservetoillustratethevariousargumentofthesubsequentchapters；andeachcircumstanceoftheeventfulstoryoftheBarbarianswilladaptitselfinaproperplacetotheByzantineannals。Theinternalstateoftheempire，andthedangerousheresyofthePaulicians，whichshooktheEastandenlightenedtheWest，willbethesubjectoftwoseparatechapters；buttheseinquiriesmustbepostponedtillourfurtherprogressshallhaveopenedtheviewoftheworldintheninthandtenthcenturiesoftheChristianarea。AfterthisfoundationofByzantinehistory，thefollowingnationswillpassbeforeoureyes，andeachwilloccupythespacetowhichitmaybeentitledbygreatnessormerit，orthedegreeofconnectionwiththeRomanworldandthepresentage。I。TheFranks；ageneralappellationwhichincludesalltheBarbariansofFrance，Italy，andGermany，whowereunitedbytheswordandsceptreofCharlemagne。ThepersecutionofimagesandtheirvotariesseparatedRomeandItalyfromtheByzantinethrone，andpreparedtherestorationoftheRomanempireintheWest。II。TheArabsorSaracens。Threeamplechapterswillbedevotedtothiscuriousandinterestingobject。Inthefirst，afterapictureofthecountryanditsinhabitants，IshallinvestigatethecharacterofMahomet；thecharacter，religion，andsuccessoftheprophet。Inthesecond，IshallleadtheArabstotheconquestofSyria，Egypt，andAfrica，theprovincesoftheRomanempire；norcanIchecktheirvictoriouscareertilltheyhaveoverthrownthemonarchiesofPersiaandSpain。Inthethird，IshallinquirehowConstantinopleandEuropeweresavedbytheluxuryandarts，thedivisionanddecay，oftheempireofthecaliphs。Asinglechapterwillinclude，III。TheBulgarians，IV。Hungarians，and，V。Russians，whoassaultedbyseaorbylandtheprovincesandthecapital；butthelastofthese，soimportantintheirpresentgreatness，willexcitesomecuriosityintheiroriginandinfancy。VI。TheNormans；orrathertheprivateadventurersofthatwarlikepeople，whofoundedapowerfulkingdominApuliaandSicily，shookthethroneofConstantinople，displayedthetrophiesofchivalry，andalmostrealizedthewondersofromance。
VII。TheLatins；thesubjectsofthepope，thenationsoftheWest，whoenlistedunderthebannerofthecrossfortherecoveryorreliefoftheholysepulchre。TheGreekemperorswereterrifiedandpreservedbythemyriadsofpilgrimswhomarchedtoJerusalemwithGodfreyofBouillonandthepeersofChristendom。
Thesecondandthirdcrusadestrodinthefootstepsofthefirst:
AsiaandEuropeweremingledinasacredwaroftwohundredyears；andtheChristianpowerswerebravelyresisted，andfinallyexpelledbySaladinandtheMamelukesofEgypt。Inthesememorablecrusades，afleetandarmyofFrenchandVenetiansweredivertedfromSyriatotheThracianBosphorus:theyassaultedthecapital，theysubvertedtheGreekmonarchy:andadynastyofLatinprinceswasseatednearthreescoreyearsonthethroneofConstantine。VII。TheGreeksthemselves，duringthisperiodofcaptivityandexile，mustbeconsideredasaforeignnation；theenemies，andagainthesovereignsofConstantinople。Misfortunehadrekindledasparkofnationalvirtue；andtheImperialseriesmaybecontinuedwithsomedignityfromtheirrestorationtotheTurkishconquest。IX。TheMogulsandTartars。BythearmsofZingisandhisdescendants，theglobewasshakenfromChinatoPolandandGreece:thesultanswereoverthrown:thecaliphsfell，andtheCaesarstrembledontheirthrone。ThevictoriesofTimoursuspendedabovefiftyyearsthefinalruinoftheByzantineempire。X。IhavealreadynoticedthefirstappearanceoftheTurks；andthenamesofthefathers，ofSeljukandOthman，discriminatethetwosuccessivedynastiesofthenation，whichemergedintheeleventhcenturyfromtheScythianwilderness。
TheformerestablishedasplendidandpotentkingdomfromthebanksoftheOxustoAntiochandNice；andthefirstcrusadewasprovokedbytheviolationofJerusalemandthedangerofConstantinople。Fromanhumbleorigin，theOttomansarose，thescourgeandterrorofChristendom。ConstantinoplewasbesiegedandtakenbyMahometII。，andhistriumphannihilatestheremnant，theimage，thetitle，oftheRomanempireintheEast。
TheschismoftheGreekswillbeconnectedwiththeirlastcalamities，andtherestorationoflearningintheWesternworld。
Ishallreturnfromthecaptivityofthenew，totheruinsofancientRome；andthevenerablename，theinterestingtheme，willshedarayofgloryontheconclusionofmylabors。
TheemperorHeracliushadpunishedatyrantandascendedhisthrone；andthememoryofhisreignisperpetuatedbythetransientconquest，andirreparableloss，oftheEasternprovinces。AfterthedeathofEudocia，hisfirstwife，hedisobeyedthepatriarch，andviolatedthelaws，byhissecondmarriagewithhisnieceMartina；andthesuperstitionoftheGreeksbeheldthejudgmentofHeaveninthediseasesofthefatherandthedeformityofhisoffspring。Buttheopinionofanillegitimatebirthissufficienttodistractthechoice，andloosentheobedience，ofthepeople:theambitionofMartinawasquickenedbymaternallove，andperhapsbytheenvyofastep—
mother；andtheagedhusbandwastoofeebletowithstandtheartsofconjugalallurements。Constantine，hiseldestson，enjoyedinamatureagethetitleofAugustus；buttheweaknessofhisconstitutionrequiredacolleagueandaguardian，andheyieldedwithsecretreluctancetothepartitionoftheempire。ThesenatewassummonedtothepalacetoratifyorattesttheassociationofHeracleonas，thesonofMartina:theimpositionofthediademwasconsecratedbytheprayerandblessingofthepatriarch；thesenatorsandpatriciansadoredthemajestyofthegreatemperorandthepartnersofhisreign；andassoonasthedoorswerethrownopen，theywerehailedbythetumultuarybutimportantvoiceofthesoldiers。Afteranintervaloffivemonths，thepompousceremonieswhichformedtheessenceoftheByzantinestatewerecelebratedinthecathedralandthehippodrome；theconcordoftheroyalbrotherswasaffectedlydisplayedbytheyoungerleaningonthearmoftheelder；andthenameofMartinawasmingledinthereluctantorvenalacclamationsofthepeople。Heracliussurvivedthisassociationabouttwoyears:hislasttestimonydeclaredhistwosonstheequalheirsoftheEasternempire，andcommandedthemtohonorhiswidowMartinaastheirmotherandtheirsovereign。
WhenMartinafirstappearedonthethronewiththenameandattributesofroyalty，shewascheckedbyafirm，thoughrespectful，opposition；andthedyingembersoffreedomwerekindledbythebreathofsuperstitiousprejudice。\"Wereverence，\"
exclaimedthevoiceofacitizen，\"wereverencethemotherofourprinces；buttothoseprincesaloneourobedienceisdue；andConstantine，theelderemperor，isofanagetosustain，inhisownhands，theweightofthesceptre。Yoursexisexcludedbynaturefromthetoilsofgovernment。Howcouldyoucombat，howcouldyouanswer，theBarbarians，who，withhostileorfriendlyintentions，mayapproachtheroyalcity?MayHeavenavertfromtheRomanrepublicthisnationaldisgrace，whichwouldprovokethepatienceoftheslavesofPersia!\"Martinadescendedfromthethronewithindignation，andsoughtarefugeinthefemaleapartmentofthepalace。ThereignofConstantinetheThirdlastedonlyonehundredandthreedays:heexpiredinthethirtiethyearofhisage，and，althoughhislifehadbeenalongmalady，abeliefwasentertainedthatpoisonhadbeenthemeans，andhiscruelstep—mothertheauthor，ofhisuntimelyfate。
Martinareapedindeedtheharvestofhisdeath，andassumedthegovernmentinthenameofthesurvivingemperor；buttheincestuouswidowofHeracliuswasuniversallyabhorred；thejealousyofthepeoplewasawakened，andthetwoorphanswhomConstantinehadleftbecametheobjectsofthepubliccare。ItwasinvainthatthesonofMartina，whowasnomorethanfifteenyearsofage，wastaughttodeclarehimselftheguardianofhisnephews，oneofwhomhehadpresentedatthebaptismalfont:itwasinvainthathesworeonthewoodofthetruecross，todefendthemagainstalltheirenemies。Onhisdeath—bed，thelateemperorhaddespatchedatrustyservanttoarmthetroopsandprovincesoftheEastinthedefenceofhishelplesschildren:theeloquenceandliberalityofValentinhadbeensuccessful，andfromhiscampofChalcedon，heboldlydemandedthepunishmentoftheassassins，andtherestorationofthelawfulheir。Thelicenseofthesoldiers，whodevouredthegrapesanddrankthewineoftheirAsiaticvineyards，provokedthecitizensofConstantinopleagainstthedomesticauthorsoftheircalamities，andthedomeofSt。Sophiareechoed，notwithprayersandhymns，butwiththeclamorsandimprecationsofanenragedmultitude。Attheirimperiouscommand，Heracleonasappearedinthepulpitwiththeeldestoftheroyalorphans；
ConstansalonewassalutedasemperoroftheRomans，andacrownofgold，whichhadbeentakenfromthetombofHeraclius，wasplacedonhishead，withthesolemnbenedictionofthepatriarch。
Butinthetumultofjoyandindignation，thechurchwaspillaged，thesanctuarywaspollutedbyapromiscuouscrowdofJewsandBarbarians；andtheMonothelitePyrrhus，acreatureoftheempress，afterdroppingaprotestationonthealtar，escapedbyaprudentflightfromthezealoftheCatholics。Amoreseriousandbloodytaskwasreservedforthesenate，whoderivedatemporarystrengthfromtheconsentofthesoldiersandpeople。
ThespiritofRomanfreedomrevivedtheancientandawfulexamplesofthejudgmentoftyrants，andtheImperialculpritsweredeposedandcondemnedastheauthorsofthedeathofConstantine。Buttheseverityoftheconscriptfatherswasstainedbytheindiscriminatepunishmentoftheinnocentandtheguilty:MartinaandHeracleonasweresentencedtotheamputation，theformerofhertongue，thelatterofhisnose；andafterthiscruelexecution，theyconsumedtheremainderoftheirdaysinexileandoblivion。TheGreekswhowerecapableofreflectionmightfindsomeconsolationfortheirservitude，byobservingtheabuseofpowerwhenitwaslodgedforamomentinthehandsofanaristocracy。
WeshallimagineourselvestransportedfivehundredyearsbackwardstotheageoftheAntonines，ifwelistentotheorationwhichConstansII。pronouncedinthetwelfthyearofhisagebeforetheByzantinesenate。Afterreturninghisthanksforthejustpunishmentoftheassassins，whohadinterceptedthefairesthopesofhisfather\'sreign，\"BythedivineProvidence，\"
saidtheyoungemperor，\"andbyyourrighteousdecree，Martinaandherincestuousprogenyhavebeencastheadlongfromthethrone。YourmajestyandwisdomhavepreventedtheRomanstatefromdegeneratingintolawlesstyranny。Ithereforeexhortandbeseechyoutostandforthasthecounsellorsandjudgesofthecommonsafety。\"Thesenatorsweregratifiedbytherespectfuladdressandliberaldonativeoftheirsovereign；buttheseservileGreekswereunworthyandregardlessoffreedom；andinhismind，thelessonofanhourwasquicklyerasedbytheprejudicesoftheageandthehabitsofdespotism。Heretainedonlyajealousfearlestthesenateorpeopleshouldonedayinvadetherightofprimogeniture，andseathisbrotherTheodosiusonanequalthrone。Bytheimpositionofholyorders，thegrandsonofHeracliuswasdisqualifiedforthepurple；butthisceremony，whichseemedtoprofanethesacramentsofthechurch，wasinsufficienttoappeasethesuspicionsofthetyrant，andthedeathofthedeaconTheodosiuscouldaloneexpiatethecrimeofhisroyalbirth。Hismurderwasavengedbytheimprecationsofthepeople，andtheassassin，inthefullnessofpower，wasdrivenfromhiscapitalintovoluntaryandperpetualexile。ConstansembarkedforGreeceand，asifhemeanttoretorttheabhorrencewhichhedeservedheissaid，fromtheImperialgalley，tohavespitagainstthewallsofhisnativecity。AfterpassingthewinteratAthens，hesailedtoTarentuminItaly，visitedRome，andconcludedalongpilgrimageofdisgraceandsacrilegiousrapine，byfixinghisresidenceatSyracuse。ButifConstanscouldflyfromhispeople，hecouldnotflyfromhimself。Theremorseofhisconsciencecreatedaphantomwhopursuedhimbylandandsea，bydayandbynight；andthevisionaryTheodosius，presentingtohislipsacupofblood，said，orseemedtosay，\"Drink，brother，drink；\"asureemblemoftheaggravationofhisguilt，sincehehadreceivedfromthehandsofthedeaconthemysticcupofthebloodofChrist。
Odioustohimselfandtomankind，Constansperishedbydomestic，perhapsbyepiscopal，treason，inthecapitalofSicily。A
servantwhowaitedinthebath，afterpouringwarmwateronhishead，struckhimviolentlywiththevase。Hefell，stunnedbytheblow，andsuffocatedbythewater；andhisattendants，whowonderedatthetediousdelay，beheldwithindifferencethecorpseoftheirlifelessemperor。ThetroopsofSicilyinvestedwiththepurpleanobscureyouth，whoseinimitablebeautyeluded，anditmighteasilyelude，thedecliningartofthepaintersandsculptorsoftheage。
[Footnote*:HissoldiersaccordingtoAbulfaradji。Chron。Syr。
p。112calledhimanotherCain。St。Martin，t。xi。p。379。—
M。]
[Footnote*:HewasreceivedinRome，andpillagedthechurches。
HecarriedoffthebrassroofofthePantheontoSyracuse，or，asSchlosserconceives，toConstantinopleSchlosserGeschichtederbilder—sturmendenKaiserp。80—M。]
ConstanshadleftintheByzantinepalacethreesons，theeldestofwhomhadbeenclothedinhisinfancywiththepurple。
WhenthefathersummonedthemtoattendhispersoninSicily，theseprecioushostagesweredetainedbytheGreeks，andafirmrefusalinformedhimthattheywerethechildrenofthestate。
ThenewsofhismurderwasconveyedwithalmostsupernaturalspeedfromSyracusetoConstantinople；andConstantine，theeldestofhissons，inheritedhisthronewithoutbeingtheheirofthepublichatred。Hissubjectscontributed，withzealandalacrity，tochastisetheguiltandpresumptionofaprovincewhichhadusurpedtherightsofthesenateandpeople；theyoungemperorsailedfromtheHellespontwithapowerfulfleet；andthelegionsofRomeandCarthagewereassembledunderhisstandardintheharborofSyracuse。ThedefeatoftheSiciliantyrantwaseasy，hispunishmentjust，andhisbeauteousheadwasexposedinthehippodrome:butIcannotapplaudtheclemencyofaprince，who，amongacrowdofvictims，condemnedthesonofapatrician，fordeploringwithsomebitternesstheexecutionofavirtuousfather。Theyouthwascastrated:hesurvivedtheoperation，andthememoryofthisindecentcrueltyispreservedbytheelevationofGermanustotherankofapatriarchandsaint。Afterpouringthisbloodylibationonhisfather\'stomb，Constantinereturnedtohiscapital；andthegrowthofhisyoungbeardduringtheSicilianvoyagewasannounced，bythefamiliarsurnameofPogonatus，totheGrecianworld。Buthisreign，likethatofhispredecessor，wasstainedwithfraternaldiscord。Onhistwobrothers，HeracliusandTiberius，hehadbestowedthetitleofAugustus；anemptytitle，fortheycontinuedtolanguish，withouttrustorpower，inthesolitudeofthepalace。Attheirsecretinstigation，thetroopsoftheAnatolianthemeorprovinceapproachedthecityontheAsiaticside，demandedfortheroyalbrothersthepartitionorexerciseofsovereignty，andsupportedtheirseditiousclaimbyatheologicalargument。TheywereChristians，theycried，andorthodoxCatholics；thesincerevotariesoftheholyandundividedTrinity。Sincetherearethreeequalpersonsinheaven，itisreasonablethereshouldbethreeequalpersonsuponearth。Theemperorinvitedtheselearneddivinestoafriendlyconference，inwhichtheymightproposetheirargumentstothesenate:theyobeyedthesummons，buttheprospectoftheirbodieshangingonthegibbetinthesuburbofGalatareconciledtheircompanionstotheunityofthereignofConstantine。Hepardonedhisbrothers，andtheirnameswerestillpronouncedinthepublicacclamations:butontherepetitionorsuspicionofasimilaroffence，theobnoxiousprincesweredeprivedoftheirtitlesandnoses，inthepresenceoftheCatholicbishopswhowereassembledatConstantinopleinthesixthgeneralsynod。Inthecloseofhislife，Pogonatuswasanxiousonlytoestablishtherightofprimogeniture:theheirofhistwosons，JustinianandHeraclius，wasofferedontheshrineofSt。Peter，asasymboloftheirspiritualadoptionbythepope；buttheelderwasaloneexaltedtotherankofAugustus，andtheassuranceoftheempire。