SeveraloftheRomanprinceshadbeenblessedwithanheir；butthispeculiarsurnamewasfirstappliedtoConstantinetheSeventh。Hislifeandtitularreignwereofequalduration；butoffifty—fouryears，sixhadelapsedbeforehisfather\'sdeath；
andthesonofLeowaseverthevoluntaryorreluctantsubjectofthosewhooppressedhisweaknessorabusedhisconfidence。HisuncleAlexander，whohadlongbeeninvestedwiththetitleofAugustus，wasthefirstcolleagueandgovernoroftheyoungprince:butinarapidcareerofviceandfolly，thebrotherofLeoalreadyemulatedthereputationofMichael；andwhenhewasextinguishedbyatimelydeath，heentertainedaprojectofcastratinghisnephew，andleavingtheempiretoaworthlessfavorite。ThesucceedingyearsoftheminorityofConstantinewereoccupiedbyhismotherZoe，andasuccessionorcouncilofsevenregents，whopursuedtheirinterest，gratifiedtheirpassions，abandonedtherepublic，supplantedeachother，andfinallyvanishedinthepresenceofasoldier。Fromanobscureorigin，RomanusLecapenushadraisedhimselftothecommandofthenavalarmies；andintheanarchyofthetimes，haddeserved，oratleasthadobtained，thenationalesteem。Withavictoriousandaffectionatefleet，hesailedfromthemouthoftheDanubeintotheharborofConstantinople，andwashailedasthedelivererofthepeople，andtheguardianoftheprince。Hissupremeofficewasatfirstdefinedbythenewappellationoffatheroftheemperor；butRomanussoondisdainedthesubordinatepowersofaminister，andassumedwiththetitlesofCaesarandAugustus，thefullindependenceofroyalty，whichheheldnearfive—and—twentyyears。Histhreesons，Christopher，Stephen，andConstantineweresuccessivelyadornedwiththesamehonors，andthelawfulemperorwasdegradedfromthefirsttothefifthrankinthiscollegeofprinces。Yet，inthepreservationofhislifeandcrown，hemightstillapplaudhisownfortuneandtheclemencyoftheusurper。TheexamplesofancientandmodernhistorywouldhaveexcusedtheambitionofRomanus:thepowersandthelawsoftheempirewereinhishand；thespuriousbirthofConstantinewouldhavejustifiedhisexclusion；andthegraveorthemonasterywasopentoreceivethesonoftheconcubine。
ButLecapenusdoesnotappeartohavepossessedeitherthevirtuesorthevicesofatyrant。Thespiritandactivityofhisprivatelifedissolvedawayinthesunshineofthethrone；andinhislicentiouspleasures，heforgotthesafetybothoftherepublicandofhisfamily。Ofamildandreligiouscharacter，herespectedthesanctityofoaths，theinnocenceoftheyouth，thememoryofhisparents，andtheattachmentofthepeople。ThestudioustemperandretirementofConstantinedisarmedthejealousyofpower:hisbooksandmusic，hispenandhispencil，wereaconstantsourceofamusement；andifhecouldimproveascantyallowancebythesaleofhispictures，iftheirpricewasnotenhancedbythenameoftheartist，hewasendowedwithapersonaltalent，whichfewprincescouldemployinthehourofadversity。
ThefallofRomanuswasoccasionedbyhisownvicesandthoseofhischildren。AfterthedeceaseofChristopher，hiseldestson，thetwosurvivingbrothersquarrelledwitheachother，andconspiredagainsttheirfather。Atthehourofnoon，whenallstrangerswereregularlyexcludedfromthepalace，theyenteredhisapartmentwithanarmedforce，andconveyedhim，inthehabitofamonk，toasmallislandinthePropontis，whichwaspeopledbyareligiouscommunity。Therumorofthisdomesticrevolutionexcitedatumultinthecity；butPorphyrogenitusalone，thetrueandlawfulemperor，wastheobjectofthepubliccare；andthesonsofLecapenusweretaught，bytardyexperience，thattheyhadachievedaguiltyandperilousenterpriseforthebenefitoftheirrival。TheirsisterHelena，thewifeofConstantine，revealed，orsupposed，theirtreacherousdesignofassassinatingherhusbandattheroyalbanquet。Hisloyaladherentswerealarmed，andthetwousurperswereprevented，seized，degradedfromthepurple，andembarkedforthesameislandandmonasterywheretheirfatherhadbeensolatelyconfined。OldRomanusmetthemonthebeachwithasarcasticsmile，and，afterajustreproachoftheirfollyandingratitude，presentedhisImperialcolleagueswithanequalshareofhiswaterandvegetablediet。Inthefortiethyearofhisreign，ConstantinetheSeventhobtainedthepossessionoftheEasternworld，whichheruledorseemedtorule，nearfifteenyears。Buthewasdevoidofthatenergyofcharacterwhichcouldemergeintoalifeofactionandglory；andthestudies，whichhadamusedanddignifiedhisleisure，wereincompatiblewiththeseriousdutiesofasovereign。TheemperorneglectedthepracticetoinstructhissonRomanusinthetheoryofgovernment；whileheindulgedthehabitsofintemperanceandsloth，hedroppedthereinsoftheadministrationintothehandsofHelenahiswife；and，intheshiftingsceneofherfavorandcaprice，eachministerwasregrettedinthepromotionofamoreworthlesssuccessor。YetthebirthandmisfortunesofConstantinehadendearedhimtotheGreeks；theyexcusedhisfailings；theyrespectedhislearning，hisinnocence，andcharity，hisloveofjustice；andtheceremonyofhisfuneralwasmournedwiththeunfeignedtearsofhissubjects。Thebody，accordingtoancientcustom，layinstateinthevestibuleofthepalace；andthecivilandmilitaryofficers，thepatricians，thesenate，andtheclergyapproachedindueordertoadoreandkisstheinanimatecorpseoftheirsovereign。
BeforetheprocessionmovedtowardstheImperialsepulchre，aheraldproclaimedthisawfuladmonition:\"Arise，Okingoftheworld，andobeythesummonsoftheKingofkings!\"
ThedeathofConstantinewasimputedtopoison；andhissonRomanus，whoderivedthatnamefromhismaternalgrandfather，ascendedthethroneofConstantinople。Aprincewho，attheageoftwenty，couldbesuspectedofanticipatinghisinheritance，musthavebeenalreadylostinthepublicesteem；yetRomanuswasratherweakthanwicked；andthelargestshareoftheguiltwastransferredtohiswife，Theophano，awomanofbaseoriginmasculinespirit，andflagitiousmanners。Thesenseofpersonalgloryandpublichappiness，thetruepleasuresofroyalty，wereunknowntothesonofConstantine；and，whilethetwobrothers，NicephorusandLeo，triumphedovertheSaracens，thehourswhichtheemperorowedtohispeoplewereconsumedinstrenuousidleness。Inthemorninghevisitedthecircus；atnoonhefeastedthesenators；thegreaterpartoftheafternoonhespentinthesphoeristerium，ortennis—court，theonlytheatreofhisvictories；fromthencehepassedovertotheAsiaticsideoftheBosphorus，huntedandkilledfourwildboarsofthelargestsize，andreturnedtothepalace，proudlycontentwiththelaborsoftheday。Instrengthandbeautyhewasconspicuousabovehisequals:tallandstraightasayoungcypress，hiscomplexionwasfairandflorid，hiseyessparkling，hisshouldersbroad，hisnoselongandaquiline。YeteventheseperfectionswereinsufficienttofixtheloveofTheophano；and，afterareignoffouryears，shemingledforherhusbandthesamedeadlydraughtwhichshehadcomposedforhisfather。
[Footnote*:Threeyearsandfivemonths。LeoDiaconusinNiebuhr。Byzp。50—M。]
Byhismarriagewiththisimpiouswoman，Romanustheyoungerlefttwosons，BasiltheSecondandConstantinetheNinth，andtwodaughters，TheophanoandAnne。TheeldestsisterwasgiventoOthotheSecond，emperoroftheWest；theyoungerbecamethewifeofWolodomir，greatdukeandapostleofrussia，andbythemarriageofhergranddaughterwithHenrytheFirst，kingofFrance，thebloodoftheMacedonians，andperhapsoftheArsacides，stillflowsintheveinsoftheBourbonline。Afterthedeathofherhusband，theempressaspiredtoreigninthenameofhersons，theelderofwhomwasfive，andtheyoungeronlytwo，yearsofage；butshesoonfelttheinstabilityofathronewhichwassupportedbyafemalewhocouldnotbeesteemed，andtwoinfantswhocouldnotbefeared。Theophanolookedaroundforaprotector，andthrewherselfintothearmsofthebravestsoldier；herheartwascapacious；butthedeformityofthenewfavoriterendereditmorethanprobablethatinterestwasthemotiveandexcuseofherlove。NicephorusPhocusunited，inthepopularopinion，thedoublemeritofaheroandasaint。Intheformercharacter，hisqualificationsweregenuineandsplendid:
thedescendantofaraceillustriousbytheirmilitaryexploits，hehaddisplayedineverystationandineveryprovincethecourageofasoldierandtheconductofachief；andNicephoruswascrownedwithrecentlaurels，fromtheimportantconquestoftheIsleofCrete。Hisreligionwasofamoreambiguouscast；
andhishair—cloth，hisfasts，hispiousidiom，andhiswishtoretirefromthebusinessoftheworld，wereaconvenientmaskforhisdarkanddangerousambition。Yetheimposedonaholypatriarch，bywhoseinfluence，andbyadecreeofthesenate，hewasintrusted，duringtheminorityoftheyoungprinces，withtheabsoluteandindependentcommandoftheOrientalarmies。Assoonashehadsecuredtheleadersandthetroops，heboldlymarchedtoConstantinople，trampledonhisenemies，avowedhiscorrespondencewiththeempress，andwithoutdegradinghersons，assumed，withthetitleofAugustus，thepreeminenceofrankandtheplenitudeofpower。ButhismarriagewithTheophanowasrefusedbythesamepatriarchwhohadplacedthecrownonhishead:byhissecondnuptialsheincurredayearofcanonicalpenance；abarofspiritualaffinitywasopposedtotheircelebration；andsomeevasionandperjurywererequiredtosilencethescruplesoftheclergyandpeople。Thepopularityoftheemperorwaslostinthepurple:inareignofsixyearsheprovokedthehatredofstrangersandsubjects:andthehypocrisyandavariceofthefirstNicephoruswererevivedinhissuccessor。HypocrisyIshallneverjustifyorpalliate；butI
willdaretoobserve，thattheodiousviceofavariceisofallothersmosthastilyarraigned，andmostunmercifullycondemned。
Inaprivatecitizen，ourjudgmentseldomexpectsanaccuratescrutinyintohisfortuneandexpense；andinastewardofthepublictreasure，frugalityisalwaysavirtue，andtheincreaseoftaxestoooftenanindispensableduty。Intheuseofhispatrimony，thegeneroustemperofNicephorushadbeenproved；andtherevenuewasstrictlyappliedtotheserviceofthestate:
eachspringtheemperormarchedinpersonagainsttheSaracens；
andeveryRomanmightcomputetheemploymentofhistaxesintriumphs，conquests，andthesecurityoftheEasternbarrier。*
[Footnote*:ThecanonicalobjectiontothemarriagewashisrelationofGodfathersons。LeoDiac。p。50。—M。]
[Footnote**:HeretookAntioch，andbroughthomeasatrophytheswordof\"themostunholyandimpiousMahomet。\"LeoDiac。p。76。
—M。]
ChapterXLVIII:SuccessionAndCharactersOfTheGreekEmperors。
PartIV。
Amongthewarriorswhopromotedhiselevation，andservedunderhisstandard，anobleandvaliantArmenianhaddeservedandobtainedthemosteminentrewards。ThestatureofJohnZimisceswasbelowtheordinarystandard:butthisdiminutivebodywasendowedwithstrength，beauty，andthesoulofahero。Bythejealousyoftheemperor\'sbrother，hewasdegradedfromtheofficeofgeneraloftheEast，tothatofdirectoroftheposts，andhismurmurswerechastisedwithdisgraceandexile。ButZimisceswasrankedamongthenumerousloversoftheempress:onherintercession，hewaspermittedtoresideatChalcedon，intheneighborhoodofthecapital:herbountywasrepaidinhisclandestineandamorousvisitstothepalace；andTheophanoconsented，withalacrity，tothedeathofanuglyandpenurioushusband。Someboldandtrustyconspiratorswereconcealedinhermostprivatechambers:inthedarknessofawinternight，Zimisces，withhisprincipalcompanions，embarkedinasmallboat，traversedtheBosphorus，landedatthepalacestairs，andsilentlyascendedaladderofropes，whichwascastdownbythefemaleattendants。Neitherhisownsuspicions，northewarningsofhisfriends，northetardyaidofhisbrotherLeo，northefortresswhichhehaderectedinthepalace，couldprotectNicephorusfromadomesticfoe，atwhosevoiceeverydoorwasopentotheassassins。Ashesleptonabear—skinontheground，hewasrousedbytheirnoisyintrusion，andthirtydaggersglitteredbeforehiseyes。ItisdoubtfulwhetherZimiscesimbruedhishandsinthebloodofhissovereign；butheenjoyedtheinhumanspectacleofrevenge。Themurderwasprotractedbyinsultandcruelty:andassoonastheheadofNicephoruswasshownfromthewindow，thetumultwashushed，andtheArmenianwasemperoroftheEast。Onthedayofhiscoronation，hewasstoppedonthethresholdofSt。Sophia，bytheintrepidpatriarch；whochargedhisconsciencewiththedeedoftreasonandblood；andrequired，asasignofrepentance，thatheshouldseparatehimselffromhismorecriminalassociate。Thissallyofapostoliczealwasnotoffensivetotheprince，sincehecouldneitherlovenortrustawomanwhohadrepeatedlyviolatedthemostsacredobligations；andTheophano，insteadofsharinghisimperialfortune，wasdismissedwithignominyfromhisbedandpalace。Intheirlastinterview，shedisplayedafranticandimpotentrage；accusedtheingratitudeofherlover；assaulted，withwordsandblows，hersonBasil，ashestoodsilentandsubmissiveinthepresenceofasuperiorcolleague；andavowedherownprostitutioninproclaimingtheillegitimacyofhisbirth。Thepublicindignationwasappeasedbyherexile，andthepunishmentofthemeaneraccomplices:thedeathofanunpopularprincewasforgiven；andtheguiltofZimisceswasforgotteninthesplendorofhisvirtues。PerhapshisprofusionwaslessusefultothestatethantheavariceofNicephorus；buthisgentleandgenerousbehaviordelightedallwhoapproachedhisperson；anditwasonlyinthepathsofvictorythathetrodinthefootstepsofhispredecessor。Thegreatestpartofhisreignwasemployedinthecampandthefield:hispersonalvalorandactivityweresignalizedontheDanubeandtheTigris，theancientboundariesoftheRomanworld；andbyhisdoubletriumphovertheRussiansandtheSaracens，hedeservedthetitlesofsavioroftheempire，andconqueroroftheEast。InhislastreturnfromSyria，heobservedthatthemostfruitfullandsofhisnewprovinceswerepossessedbytheeunuchs。\"Andisitforthem，\"heexclaimed，withhonestindignation，\"thatwehavefoughtandconquered?Isitforthemthatweshedourblood，andexhaustthetreasuresofourpeople?\"Thecomplaintwasreechoedtothepalace，andthedeathofZimiscesisstronglymarkedwiththesuspicionofpoison。
[Footnote*:AccordingtoLeoDiaconus，Zimisces，afterorderingthewoundedemperortobedraggedtohisfeet，andheapinghimwithinsult，towhichthemiserablemanonlyrepliedbyinvokingthenameofthe\"motherofGod，\"withhisownhandpluckedhisbeard，whilehisaccomplicesbeatouthisteethwiththehiltsoftheirswords，andthentramplinghimtotheground，drovehisswordintohisskull。LeoDiac，inNiebuhrByz。Hist。lvii。c。
8。p。88。—M。]
Underthisusurpation，orregency，oftwelveyears，thetwolawfulemperors，BasilandConstantine，hadsilentlygrowntotheageofmanhood。Theirtenderyearshadbeenincapableofdominion:therespectfulmodestyoftheirattendanceandsalutationwasduetotheageandmeritoftheirguardians；thechildlessambitionofthoseguardianshadnotemptationtoviolatetheirrightofsuccession:theirpatrimonywasablyandfaithfullyadministered；andtheprematuredeathofZimisceswasaloss，ratherthanabenefit，tothesonsofRomanus。Theirwantofexperiencedetainedthemtwelveyearslongertheobscureandvoluntarypupilsofaminister，whoextendedhisreignbypersuadingthemtoindulgethepleasuresofyouth，andtodisdainthelaborsofgovernment。Inthissilkenweb，theweaknessofConstantinewasforeverentangled；buthiselderbrotherfelttheimpulseofgeniusandthedesireofaction；hefrowned，andtheministerwasnomore。BasilwastheacknowledgedsovereignofConstantinopleandtheprovincesofEurope；butAsiawasoppressedbytwoveterangenerals，PhocasandSclerus，who，alternatelyfriendsandenemies，subjectsandrebels，maintainedtheirindependence，andlaboredtoemulatetheexampleofsuccessfulusurpation。AgainstthesedomesticenemiesthesonofRomanusfirstdrewhissword，andtheytrembledinthepresenceofalawfulandhigh—spiritedprince。Thefirst，inthefrontofbattle，wasthrownfromhishorse，bythestrokeofpoison，oranarrow；thesecond，whohadbeentwiceloadedwithchains，andtwiceinvestedwiththepurple，wasdesirousofendinginpeacethesmallremainderofhisdays。Astheagedsuppliantapproachedthethrone，withdimeyesandfalteringsteps，leaningonhistwoattendants，theemperorexclaimed，intheinsolenceofyouthandpower，\"Andisthisthemanwhohassolongbeentheobjectofourterror?\"Afterhehadconfirmedhisownauthority，andthepeaceoftheempire，thetrophiesofNicephorusandZimisceswouldnotsuffertheirroyalpupiltosleepinthepalace。HislongandfrequentexpeditionsagainsttheSaracenswererathergloriousthanusefultotheempire；butthefinaldestructionofthekingdomofBulgariaappears，sincethetimeofBelisarius，themostimportanttriumphoftheRomanarms。Yet，insteadofapplaudingtheirvictoriousprince，hissubjectsdetestedtherapaciousandrigidavariceofBasil；andintheimperfectnarrativeofhisexploits，wecanonlydiscernthecourage，patience，andferociousnessofasoldier。Aviciouseducation，whichcouldnotsubduehisspirit，hadcloudedhismind；hewasignorantofeveryscience；andtheremembranceofhislearnedandfeeblegrandsiremightencouragehisrealoraffectedcontemptoflawsandlawyers，ofartistsandarts。Ofsuchacharacter，insuchanage，superstitiontookafirmandlastingpossession；afterthefirstlicenseofhisyouth，BasiltheSeconddevotedhislife，inthepalaceandthecamp，tothepenanceofahermit，worethemonastichabitunderhisrobesandarmor，observedavowofcontinence，andimposedonhisappetitesaperpetualabstinencefromwineandflesh。Inthesixty—eighthyearofhisage，hismartialspiriturgedhimtoembarkinpersonforaholywaragainsttheSaracensofSicily；hewaspreventedbydeath，andBasil，surnamedtheSlayeroftheBulgarians，wasdismissedfromtheworldwiththeblessingsoftheclergyandthecurseofthepeople。Afterhisdecease，hisbrotherConstantineenjoyed，aboutthreeyears，thepower，orratherthepleasures，ofroyalty；andhisonlycarewasthesettlementofthesuccession。Hehadenjoyedsixty—sixyearsthetitleofAugustus；andthereignofthetwobrothersisthelongest，andmostobscure，oftheByzantinehistory。
[Footnote*:Oncebythecaliph，oncebyhisrivalPhocas。
CompareDeBeaul。p。176。—M。]
Alinealsuccessionoffiveemperors，inaperiodofonehundredandsixtyyears，hadattachedtheloyaltyoftheGreekstotheMacedoniandynasty，whichhadbeenthricerespectedbytheusurpersoftheirpower。AfterthedeathofConstantinetheNinth，thelastmaleoftheroyalrace，anewandbrokenscenepresentsitself，andtheaccumulatedyearsoftwelveemperorsdonotequalthespaceofhissinglereign。Hiselderbrotherhadpreferredhisprivatechastitytothepublicinterest，andConstantinehimselfhadonlythreedaughters；Eudocia，whotooktheveil，andZoeandTheodora，whowerepreservedtillamatureageinastateofignoranceandvirginity。Whentheirmarriagewasdiscussedinthecounciloftheirdyingfather，thecoldorpiousTheodorarefusedtogiveanheirtotheempire，buthersisterZoepresentedherselfawillingvictimatthealtar。
RomanusArgyrus，apatricianofagracefulpersonandfairreputation，waschosenforherhusband，and，onhisdecliningthathonor，wasinformed，thatblindnessordeathwasthesecondalternative。Themotiveofhisreluctancewasconjugalaffectionbuthisfaithfulwifesacrificedherownhappinesstohissafetyandgreatness；andherentranceintoamonasteryremovedtheonlybartotheImperialnuptials。AfterthedeceaseofConstantine，thesceptredevolvedtoRomanustheThird；buthislaborsathomeandabroadwereequallyfeebleandfruitless；andthematureage，theforty—eightyearsofZoe，werelessfavorabletothehopesofpregnancythantotheindulgenceofpleasure。HerfavoritechamberlainwasahandsomePaphlagonianofthenameofMichael，whosefirsttradehadbeenthatofamoney—changer；andRomanus，eitherfromgratitudeorequity，connivedattheircriminalintercourse，oracceptedaslightassuranceoftheirinnocence。
ButZoesoonjustifiedtheRomanmaxim，thateveryadulteressiscapableofpoisoningherhusband；andthedeathofRomanuswasinstantlyfollowedbythescandalousmarriageandelevationofMichaeltheFourth。TheexpectationsofZoewere，however，disappointed:insteadofavigorousandgratefullover，shehadplacedinherbedamiserablewretch，whosehealthandreasonwereimpairedbyepilepticfits，andwhoseconsciencewastormentedbydespairandremorse。Themostskilfulphysiciansofthemindandbodyweresummonedtohisaid；andhishopeswereamusedbyfrequentpilgrimagestothebaths，andtothetombsofthemostpopularsaints；themonksapplaudedhispenance，and，exceptrestitution，buttowhomshouldhehaverestored?