[Footnote*:SchlosserGeschichtederbildersturmendenKaiser，p。90supposedthattheyoungprincesweremutilatedafterthefirstinsurrection；thatafterthistheactswerestillinscribedwiththeirnames，theprincesbeingcloselysecludedinthepalace。TheimprobabilityofthiscircumstancemaybeweighedagainstGibbon\'swantofauthorityforhisstatement。—M。]
Afterthedeceaseofhisfather，theinheritanceoftheRomanworlddevolvedtoJustinianII。；andthenameofatriumphantlawgiverwasdishonoredbythevicesofaboy，whoimitatedhisnamesakeonlyintheexpensiveluxuryofbuilding。
Hispassionswerestrong；hisunderstandingwasfeeble；andhewasintoxicatedwithafoolishpride，thathisbirthhadgivenhimthecommandofmillions，ofwhomthesmallestcommunitywouldnothavechosenhimfortheirlocalmagistrate。Hisfavoriteministersweretwobeingstheleastsusceptibleofhumansympathy，aeunuchandamonk:totheoneheabandonedthepalace，totheotherthefinances；theformercorrectedtheemperor\'smotherwithascourge，thelattersuspendedtheinsolventtributaries，withtheirheadsdownwards，overaslowandsmokyfire。SincethedaysofCommodusandCaracalla，thecrueltyoftheRomanprinceshadmostcommonlybeentheeffectoftheirfear；butJustinian，whopossessedsomevigorofcharacter，enjoyedthesufferings，andbravedtherevenge，ofhissubjects，abouttenyears，tillthemeasurewasfull，ofhiscrimesandoftheirpatience。Inadarkdungeon，Leontius，ageneralofreputation，hadgroanedabovethreeyears，withsomeofthenoblestandmostdeservingofthepatricians:hewassuddenlydrawnforthtoassumethegovernmentofGreece；andthispromotionofaninjuredmanwasamarkofthecontemptratherthanoftheconfidenceofhisprince。Ashewasfollowedtotheportbythekindofficesofhisfriends，Leontiusobserved，withasigh，thathewasavictimadornedforsacrifice，andthatinevitabledeathwouldpursuehisfootsteps。Theyventuredtoreply，thatgloryandempiremightbetherecompenseofagenerousresolution；thateveryorderofmenabhorredthereignofamonster；andthatthehandsoftwohundredthousandpatriotsexpectedonlythevoiceofaleader。Thenightwaschosenfortheirdeliverance；andinthefirsteffortoftheconspirators，thepraefectwasslain，andtheprisonswereforcedopen:theemissariesofLeontiusproclaimedineverystreet，\"Christians，toSt。Sophia!\"andtheseasonabletextofthepatriarch，\"ThisisthedayoftheLord!\"wasthepreludeofaninflammatorysermon。Fromthechurchthepeopleadjournedtothehippodrome:
Justinian，inwhosecausenotaswordhadbeendrawn，wasdraggedbeforethesetumultuaryjudges，andtheirclamorsdemandedtheinstantdeathofthetyrant。ButLeontius，whowasalreadyclothedwiththepurple，castaneyeofpityontheprostratesonofhisownbenefactorandofsomanyemperors。ThelifeofJustinianwasspared；theamputationofhisnose，perhapsofhistongue，wasimperfectlyperformed:thehappyflexibilityoftheGreeklanguagecouldimposethenameofRhinotmetus；andthemutilatedtyrantwasbanishedtoChersonaeinCrim—Tartary，alonelysettlement，wherecorn，wine，andoil，wereimportedasforeignluxuries。
OntheedgeoftheScythianwilderness，Justinianstillcherishedtheprideofhisbirth，andthehopeofhisrestoration。Afterthreeyears\'exile，hereceivedthepleasingintelligencethathisinjurywasavengedbyasecondrevolution，andthatLeontiusinhisturnhadbeendethronedandmutilatedbytherebelApsimar，whoassumedthemorerespectablenameofTiberius。Buttheclaimoflinealsuccessionwasstillformidabletoaplebeianusurper；andhisjealousywasstimulatedbythecomplaintsandchargesoftheChersonites，whobeheldthevicesofthetyrantinthespiritoftheexile。Withabandoffollowers，attachedtohispersonbycommonhopeorcommondespair，JustinianfledfromtheinhospitableshoretothehordeoftheChozars，whopitchedtheirtentsbetweentheTanaisandBorysthenes。Thekhanentertainedwithpityandrespecttheroyalsuppliant:Phanagoria，onceanopulentcity，ontheAsiaticsideofthelakeMoeotis，wasassignedforhisresidence；andeveryRomanprejudicewasstifledinhismarriagewiththesisteroftheBarbarian，whoseems，however，fromthenameofTheodora，tohavereceivedthesacramentofbaptism。ButthefaithlessChozarwassoontemptedbythegoldofConstantinople:andhadnotthedesignbeenrevealedbytheconjugalloveofTheodora，herhusbandmusthavebeenassassinatedorbetrayedintothepowerofhisenemies。Afterstrangling，withhisownhands，thetwoemissariesofthekhan，Justiniansentbackhiswifetoherbrother，andembarkedontheEuxineinsearchofnewandmorefaithfulallies。Hisvesselwasassaultedbyaviolenttempest；
andoneofhispiouscompanionsadvisedhimtodeservethemercyofGodbyavowofgeneralforgiveness，ifheshouldberestoredtothethrone。\"Offorgiveness?\"repliedtheintrepidtyrant:
\"mayIperishthisinstant—maytheAlmightywhelmmeinthewaves—ifIconsenttospareasingleheadofmyenemies!\"Hesurvivedthisimpiousmenace，sailedintothemouthoftheDanube，trustedhispersonintheroyalvillageoftheBulgarians，andpurchasedtheaidofTerbelis，apaganconqueror，bythepromiseofhisdaughterandafairpartitionofthetreasuresoftheempire。TheBulgariankingdomextendedtotheconfinesofThrace；andthetwoprincesbesiegedConstantinopleattheheadoffifteenthousandhorse。ApsimarwasdismayedbythesuddenandhostileapparitionofhisrivalwhoseheadhadbeenpromisedbytheChozar，andofwhoseevasionhewasyetignorant。Afteranabsenceoftenyears，thecrimesofJustinianwerefaintlyremembered，andthebirthandmisfortunesoftheirhereditarysovereignexcitedthepityofthemultitude，everdiscontentedwiththerulingpowers；andbytheactivediligenceofhisadherents，hewasintroducedintothecityandpalaceofConstantine。
ChapterXLVIII:SuccessionAndCharactersOfTheGreekEmperors。
PartII。
Inrewardinghisallies，andrecallinghiswife，Justiniandisplayedsomesenseofhonorandgratitude；andTerbelisretired，aftersweepingawayaheapofgoldcoin，whichhemeasuredwithhisScythianwhip。ButneverwasvowmorereligiouslyperformedthanthesacredoathofrevengewhichhehadswornamidstthestormsoftheEuxine。ThetwousurpersforImustreservethenameoftyrantfortheconquerorweredraggedintothehippodrome，theonefromhisprison，theotherfromhispalace。Beforetheirexecution，LeontiusandApsimarwerecastprostrateinchainsbeneaththethroneoftheemperor；andJustinian，plantingafootoneachoftheirnecks，contemplatedaboveanhourthechariot—race，whiletheinconstantpeopleshouted，inthewordsofthePsalmist，\"Thoushalttrampleontheaspandbasilisk，andonthelionanddragonshaltthousetthyfoot!\"TheuniversaldefectionwhichhehadonceexperiencedmightprovokehimtorepeatthewishofCaligula，thattheRomanpeoplehadbutonehead。YetIshallpresumetoobserve，thatsuchawishisunworthyofaningenioustyrant，sincehisrevengeandcrueltywouldhavebeenextinguishedbyasingleblow，insteadoftheslowvarietyoftortureswhichJustinianinflictedonthevictimsofhisanger。Hispleasureswereinexhaustible:
neitherprivatevirtuenorpublicservicecouldexpiatetheguiltofactive，orevenpassive，obediencetoanestablishedgovernment；and，duringthesixyearsofhisnewreign，heconsideredtheaxe，thecord，andtherack，astheonlyinstrumentsofroyalty。ButhismostimplacablehatredwaspointedagainsttheChersonites，whohadinsultedhisexileandviolatedthelawsofhospitality。Theirremotesituationaffordedsomemeansofdefence，oratleastofescape；andagrievoustaxwasimposedonConstantinople，tosupplythepreparationsofafleetandarmy。\"Allareguilty，andallmustperish，\"wasthemandateofJustinian；andthebloodyexecutionwasintrustedtohisfavoriteStephen，whowasrecommendedbytheepithetofthesavage。YeteventhesavageStephenimperfectlyaccomplishedtheintentionsofhissovereign。Theslownessofhisattackallowedthegreaterpartoftheinhabitantstowithdrawintothecountry；andtheministerofvengeancecontentedhimselfwithreducingtheyouthofbothsexestoastateofservitude，withroastingalivesevenoftheprincipalcitizens，withdrowningtwentyinthesea，andwithreservingforty—twoinchainstoreceivetheirdoomfromthemouthoftheemperor。Intheirreturn，thefleetwasdrivenontherockyshoresofAnatolia；andJustinianapplaudedtheobedienceoftheEuxine，whichhadinvolvedsomanythousandsofhissubjectsandenemiesinacommonshipwreck:butthetyrantwasstillinsatiateofblood；andasecondexpeditionwascommandedtoextirpatetheremainsoftheproscribedcolony。Intheshortinterval，theChersoniteshadreturnedtotheircity，andwerepreparedtodieinarms；thekhanoftheChozarshadrenouncedthecauseofhisodiousbrother；theexilesofeveryprovincewereassembledinTauris；andBardanes，underthenameofPhilippicus，wasinvestedwiththepurple。TheImperialtroops，unwillingandunabletoperpetratetherevengeofJustinian，escapedhisdispleasurebyabjuringhisallegiance:thefleet，undertheirnewsovereign，steeredbackamoreauspiciouscoursetotheharborsofSinopeandConstantinople；andeverytonguewasprompttopronounce，everyhandtoexecute，thedeathofthetyrant。Destituteoffriends，hewasdesertedbyhisBarbarianguards；andthestrokeoftheassassinwaspraisedasanactofpatriotismandRomanvirtue。HissonTiberiushadtakenrefugeinachurch；hisagedgrandmotherguardedthedoor；andtheinnocentyouth，suspendingroundhisneckthemostformidablerelics，embracedwithonehandthealtar，withtheotherthewoodofthetruecross。Butthepopularfurythatdarestotrampleonsuperstition，isdeaftothecriesofhumanity；andtheraceofHeracliuswasextinguishedafterareignofonehundredyears[Footnote*:Offearratherthanofmoregenerousmotives。
CompareLeBeauvol。xii。p。64。—M。]
BetweenthefalloftheHeraclianandtheriseoftheIsauriandynasty，ashortintervalofsixyearsisdividedintothreereigns。Bardanes，orPhilippicus，washailedatConstantinopleasaherowhohaddeliveredhiscountryfromatyrant；andhemighttastesomemomentsofhappinessinthefirsttransportsofsincereanduniversaljoy。Justinianhadleftbehindhimanampletreasure，thefruitofcrueltyandrapine:
butthisusefulfundwassoonandidlydissipatedbyhissuccessor。Onthefestivalofhisbirthday，Philippicusentertainedthemultitudewiththegamesofthehippodrome；fromthenceheparadedthroughthestreetswithathousandbannersandathousandtrumpets；refreshedhimselfinthebathsofZeuxippus，andreturningtothepalace，entertainedhisnobleswithasumptuousbanquet。Atthemeridianhourhewithdrewtohischamber，intoxicatedwithflatteryandwine，andforgetfulthathisexamplehadmadeeverysubjectambitious，andthateveryambitioussubjectwashissecretenemy。Someboldconspiratorsintroducedthemselvesinthedisorderofthefeast；andtheslumberingmonarchwassurprised，bound，blinded，anddeposed，beforehewassensibleofhisdanger。Yetthetraitorsweredeprivedoftheirreward；andthefreevoiceofthesenateandpeoplepromotedArtemiusfromtheofficeofsecretarytothatofemperor:heassumedthetitleofAnastasiustheSecond，anddisplayedinashortandtroubledreignthevirtuesbothofpeaceandwar。ButaftertheextinctionoftheImperialline，theruleofobediencewasviolated，andeverychangediffusedtheseedsofnewrevolutions。Inamutinyofthefleet，anobscureandreluctantofficeroftherevenuewasforciblyinvestedwiththepurple:aftersomemonthsofanavalwar，Anastasiusresignedthesceptre；andtheconqueror，TheodosiustheThird，submittedinhisturntothesuperiorascendantofLeo，thegeneralandemperoroftheOrientaltroops。Histwopredecessorswerepermittedtoembracetheecclesiasticalprofession:therestlessimpatienceofAnastasiustemptedhimtoriskandtolosehislifeinatreasonableenterprise；butthelastdaysofTheodosiuswerehonorableandsecure。Thesinglesublimeword，\"Health，\"whichheinscribedonhistomb，expressestheconfidenceofphilosophyorreligion；andthefameofhismiracleswaslongpreservedamongthepeopleofEphesus。Thisconvenientshelterofthechurchmightsometimesimposealessonofclemency；butitmaybequestionedwhetheritisforthepublicinteresttodiminishtheperilsofunsuccessfulambition。
Ihavedweltonthefallofatyrant；Ishallbrieflyrepresentthefounderofanewdynasty，whoisknowntoposteritybytheinvectivesofhisenemies，andwhosepublicandprivatelifeisinvolvedintheecclesiasticalstoryoftheIconoclasts。
Yetinspiteoftheclamorsofsuperstition，afavorableprejudiceforthecharacterofLeotheIsaurianmaybereasonablydrawnfromtheobscurityofhisbirth，andthedurationofhisreign。—I。Inanageofmanlyspirit，theprospectofanImperialrewardwouldhavekindledeveryenergyofthemind，andproducedacrowdofcompetitorsasdeservingastheyweredesiroustoreign。EveninthecorruptionanddebilityofthemodernGreeks，theelevationofaplebeianfromthelasttothefirstrankofsociety，supposessomequalificationsabovethelevelofthemultitude。Hewouldprobablybeignorantanddisdainfulofspeculativescience；and，inthepursuitoffortune，hemightabsolvehimselffromtheobligationsofbenevolenceandjustice；buttohischaracterwemayascribetheusefulvirtuesofprudenceandfortitude，theknowledgeofmankind，andtheimportantartofgainingtheirconfidenceanddirectingtheirpassions。ItisagreedthatLeowasanativeofIsauria，andthatCononwashisprimitivename。Thewriters，whoseawkwardsatireispraise，describehimasanitinerantpedler，whodroveanasswithsomepaltrymerchandisetothecountryfairs；andfoolishlyrelatethathemetontheroadsomeJewishfortune—tellers，whopromisedhimtheRomanempire，onconditionthatheshouldabolishtheworshipofidols。AmoreprobableaccountrelatesthemigrationofhisfatherfromAsiaMinortoThrace，whereheexercisedthelucrativetradeofagrazier；andhemusthaveacquiredconsiderablewealth，sincethefirstintroductionofhissonwasprocuredbyasupplyoffivehundredsheeptotheImperialcamp。HisfirstservicewasintheguardsofJustinian，wherehesoonattractedthenotice，andbydegreesthejealousy，ofthetyrant。HisvaloranddexteritywereconspicuousintheColchianwar:fromAnastasiushereceivedthecommandoftheAnatolianlegions，andbythesuffrageofthesoldiershewasraisedtotheempirewiththegeneralapplauseoftheRomanworld。—II。Inthisdangerouselevation，LeotheThirdsupportedhimselfagainsttheenvyofhisequals，thediscontentofapowerfulfaction，andtheassaultsofhisforeignanddomesticenemies。TheCatholics，whoaccusehisreligiousinnovations，areobligedtoconfessthattheywereundertakenwithtemperandconductedwithfirmness。Theirsilencerespectsthewisdomofhisadministrationandthepurityofhismanners。
Afterareignoftwenty—fouryears，hepeaceablyexpiredinthepalaceofConstantinople；andthepurplewhichhehadacquiredwastransmittedbytherightofinheritancetothethirdgeneration。
[Footnote*:Duringthelatterpartofhisreign，thehostilitiesoftheSaracens，whoinvestedaPergamenian，namedTiberius，withthepurple，andproclaimedhimasthesonofJustinian，andanearthquake，whichdestroyedthewallsofConstantinople，compelledLeogreatlytoincreasetheburdensoftaxationuponhissubjects。Atwelfthwasexactedinadditiontoeveryaurenaasawalltax。Theophanesp。275Schlosser，BildereturmeudKaiser，p。197。—M。]
Inalongreignofthirty—fouryears，thesonandsuccessorofLeo，ConstantinetheFifth，surnamedCopronymus，attackedwithlesstemperatezealtheimagesoridolsofthechurch。Theirvotarieshaveexhaustedthebitternessofreligiousgall，intheirportraitofthisspottedpanther，thisantichrist，thisflyingdragonoftheserpent\'sseed，whosurpassedthevicesofElagabalusandNero。Hisreignwasalongbutcheryofwhateverwasmostnoble，orholy，orinnocent，inhisempire。Inperson，theemperorassistedattheexecutionofhisvictims，surveyedtheiragonies，listenedtotheirgroans，andindulged，withoutsatiating，hisappetiteforblood:aplateofnoseswasacceptedasagratefuloffering，andhisdomesticswereoftenscourgedormutilatedbytheroyalhand。Hissurnamewasderivedfromhispollutionofhisbaptismalfont。Theinfantmightbeexcused；
butthemanlypleasuresofCopronymusdegradedhimbelowthelevelofabrute；hislustconfoundedtheeternaldistinctionsofsexandspecies，andheseemedtoextractsomeunnaturaldelightfromtheobjectsmostoffensivetohumansense。InhisreligiontheIconoclastwasaHeretic，aJew，aMahometan，aPagan，andanAtheist；andhisbeliefofaninvisiblepowercouldbediscoveredonlyinhismagicrites，humanvictims，andnocturnalsacrificestoVenusandthedaemonsofantiquity。Hislifewasstainedwiththemostoppositevices，andtheulcerswhichcoveredhisbody，anticipatedbeforehisdeaththesentimentofhell—tortures。Oftheseaccusations，whichIhavesopatientlycopied，apartisrefutedbyitsownabsurdity；andintheprivateanecdotesofthelifeoftheprinces，thelieismoreeasyasthedetectionismoredifficult。Withoutadoptingtheperniciousmaxim，thatwheremuchisalleged，somethingmustbetrue，Icanhoweverdiscern，thatConstantinetheFifthwasdissoluteandcruel。Calumnyismorepronetoexaggeratethantoinvent；andherlicentioustongueischeckedinsomemeasurebytheexperienceoftheageandcountrytowhichsheappeals。Ofthebishopsandmonks，thegeneralsandmagistrates，whoaresaidtohavesufferedunderhisreign，thenumbersarerecorded，thenameswereconspicuous，theexecutionwaspublic，themutilationvisibleandpermanent。
TheCatholicshatedthepersonandgovernmentofCopronymus；buteventheirhatredisaproofoftheiroppression。Theydissembledtheprovocationswhichmightexcuseorjustifyhisrigor，buteventheseprovocationsmustgraduallyinflamehisresentmentandhardenhistemperintheuseortheabuseofdespotism。YetthecharacterofthefifthConstantinewasnotdevoidofmerit，nordidhisgovernmentalwaysdeservethecursesorthecontemptoftheGreeks。Fromtheconfessionofhisenemies，Iaminformedoftherestorationofanancientaqueduct，oftheredemptionoftwothousandfivehundredcaptives，oftheuncommonplentyofthetimes，andofthenewcolonieswithwhichherepeopledConstantinopleandtheThraciancities。Theyreluctantlypraisehisactivityandcourage；hewasonhorsebackinthefieldattheheadofhislegions；and，althoughthefortuneofhisarmswasvarious，hetriumphedbyseaandland，ontheEuphratesandtheDanube，incivilandBarbarianwar。
Hereticalpraisemustbecastintothescaletocounterbalancetheweightoforthodoxinvective。TheIconoclastsreveredthevirtuesoftheprince:fortyyearsafterhisdeaththeystillprayedbeforethetombofthesaint。Amiraculousvisionwaspropagatedbyfanaticismorfraud:andtheChristianheroappearedonamilk—whitesteed，brandishinghislanceagainstthePagansofBulgaria:\"Anabsurdfable，\"saystheCatholichistorian，\"sinceCopronymusischainedwiththedaemonsintheabyssofhell。\"
[Footnote*:HeisaccusedofburningthelibraryofConstantinople，foundedbyJulian，withitspresidentandtwelveprofessors。ThiseasternSorbonnehaddiscomfitedtheImperialtheologiansonthegreatquestionofimageworship。Schlosserobservesthatthisaccidentalfiretookplacesixyearsaftertheemperorhadlaidthequestionofimage—worshipbeforetheprofessors。BildersturmandKaiser，p。294。CompareLeHeau。
vol。xl。p。156。—M。]
LeotheFourth，thesonofthefifthandthefatherofthesixthConstantine，wasofafeebleconstitutionbothofmind
andbody，andtheprincipalcareofhisreignwasthesettlementofthesuccession。TheassociationoftheyoungConstantinewasurgedbytheofficiouszealofhissubjects；andtheemperor，consciousofhisdecay，complied，afteraprudenthesitation，withtheirunanimouswishes。Theroyalinfant，attheageoffiveyears，wascrownedwithhismotherIrene；andthenationalconsentwasratifiedbyeverycircumstanceofpompandsolemnity，thatcoulddazzletheeyesorbindtheconscienceoftheGreeks。
Anoathoffidelitywasadministeredinthepalace，thechurch，andthehippodrome，totheseveralordersofthestate，whoadjuredtheholynamesoftheSon，andmotherofGod。\"Bewitness，OChrist!thatwewillwatchoverthesafetyofConstantinethesonofLeo，exposeourlivesinhisservice，andbeartrueallegiancetohispersonandposterity。\"Theypledgedtheirfaithonthewoodofthetruecross，andtheactoftheirengagementwasdepositedonthealtarofSt。Sophia。Thefirsttoswear，andthefirsttoviolatetheiroath，werethefivesonsofCopronymusbyasecondmarriage；andthestoryoftheseprincesissingularandtragic。Therightofprimogenitureexcludedthemfromthethrone；theinjusticeoftheirelderbrotherdefraudedthemofalegacyofabouttwomillionssterling；somevaintitleswerenotdeemedasufficientcompensationforwealthandpower；andtheyrepeatedlyconspiredagainsttheirnephew，beforeandafterthedeathofhisfather。