Whateverauthoritycouldenactwasaccomplished，atleastintheory，bythecampsandmarches，theexercisesandevolutions，theedictsandbooks，oftheByzantinemonarch。^80Whateverartcouldproducefromtheforge，theloom，orthelaboratory，wasabundantlysuppliedbytherichesoftheprince，andtheindustryofhisnumerousworkmen。Butneitherauthoritynorartcouldframethemostimportantmachine，thesoldierhimself；andiftheceremoniesofConstantinealwayssupposethesafeandtriumphalreturnoftheemperor，^81histacticsseldomsoarabovethemeansofescapingadefeat，andprocrastinatingthewar。^82Notwithstandingsometransientsuccess，theGreeksweresunkintheirownesteemandthatoftheirneighbors。Acoldhandandaloquacioustonguewasthevulgardescriptionofthenation:theauthorofthetacticswasbesiegedinhiscapital；andthelastoftheBarbarians，whotrembledatthenameoftheSaracens，orFranks，couldproudlyexhibitthemedalsofgoldandsilverwhichtheyhadextortedfromthefeeblesovereignofConstantinople。Whatspirittheirgovernmentandcharacterdenied，mighthavebeeninspiredinsomedegreebytheinfluenceofreligion；butthereligionoftheGreekscouldonlyteachthemtosufferandtoyield。TheemperorNicephorus，whorestoredforamomentthedisciplineandgloryoftheRomanname，wasdesirousofbestowingthehonorsofmartyrdomontheChristianswholosttheirlivesinaholywaragainsttheinfidels。Butthispoliticallawwasdefeatedbytheoppositionofthepatriarch，thebishops，andtheprincipalsenators；andtheystrenuouslyurgedthecanonsofSt。Basil，thatallwhowerepollutedbythebloodytradeofasoldiershouldbeseparated，duringthreeyears，fromthecommunionofthefaithful。^83
[Footnote77:Seethefifth，sixth，andseventhchapters，and，intheTacticsofLeo，withthecorrespondingpassagesinthoseofConstantine。]
[Footnote78:Leo，Tactic。p。581Constantin。p1216。YetsuchwerenotthemaximsoftheGreeksandRomans，whodespisedthelooseanddistantpracticeofarchery。]
[Footnote79:ComparethepassagesoftheTactics，p。669and721，andthexiithwiththexviiithchapter。]
[Footnote80:IntheprefacetohisTactics，Leoveryfreelydeploresthelossofdisciplineandthecalamitiesofthetimes，andrepeats，withoutscruple，Proem。p。537，thereproaches，nordoesitappearthatthesamecensureswerelessdeservedinthenextgenerationbythedisciplesofConstantine。]
[Footnote81:SeeintheCeremoniall。ii。c。19，p。353theformoftheemperor\'stramplingonthenecksofthecaptiveSaracens，whilethesingerschanted，\"Thouhastmademyenemiesmyfootstool!\"andthepeopleshoutedfortytimesthekyrieeleison。]
[Footnote82:LeoobservesTactic。p。668thatafairopenbattleagainstanynationwhatsoever:thewordsarestrong，andtheremarkistrue:yetifsuchhadbeentheopinionoftheoldRomans，LeohadneverreignedontheshoresoftheThracianBosphorus。]
[Footnote83:Zonarastom。ii。l。xvi。p。202，203andCedrenus，Compendp。668，whorelatethedesignofNicephorus，mostunfortunatelyapplytheepithettotheoppositionofthepatriarch。]
ThesescruplesoftheGreekshavebeencomparedwiththetearsoftheprimitiveMoslemswhentheywereheldbackfrombattle；andthiscontrastofbasesuperstitionandhigh—spiritedenthusiasm，unfoldstoaphilosophiceyethehistoryoftherivalnations。Thesubjectsofthelastcaliphs^84hadundoubtedlydegeneratedfromthezealandfaithofthecompanionsoftheprophet。YettheirmartialcreedstillrepresentedtheDeityastheauthorofwar:^85thevitalthoughlatentsparkoffanaticismstillglowedintheheartoftheirreligion，andamongtheSaracens，whodweltontheChristianborders，itwasfrequentlyrekindledtoalivelyandactiveflame。Theirregularforcewasformedofthevaliantslaveswhohadbeeneducatedtoguardthepersonandaccompanythestandardoftheirlord:buttheMussulmanpeopleofSyriaandCilicia，ofAfricaandSpain，wasawakenedbythetrumpetwhichproclaimedaholywaragainsttheinfidels。TherichwereambitiousofdeathorvictoryinthecauseofGod；thepoorwerealluredbythehopesofplunder；andtheold，theinfirm，andthewomen，assumedtheirshareofmeritoriousservicebysendingtheirsubstitutes，witharmsandhorses，intothefield。TheseoffensiveanddefensivearmsweresimilarinstrengthandtempertothoseoftheRomans，whomtheyfarexcelledinthemanagementofthehorseandthebow:themassysilveroftheirbelts，theirbridles，andtheirswords，displayedthemagnificenceofaprosperousnation；andexceptsomeblackarchersoftheSouth，theArabsdisdainedthenakedbraveryoftheirancestors。Insteadofwagons，theywereattendedbyalongtrainofcamels，mules，andasses:themultitudeoftheseanimals，whomtheybedeckedwithflagsandstreamers，appearedtoswellthepompandmagnitudeoftheirhost；andthehorsesoftheenemywereoftendisorderedbytheuncouthfigureandodioussmellofthecamelsoftheEast。
Invinciblebytheirpatienceofthirstandheat，theirspiritswerefrozenbyawinter\'scold，andtheconsciousnessoftheirpropensitytosleepexactedthemostrigorousprecautionsagainstthesurprisesofthenight。Theirorderofbattlewasalongsquareoftwodeepandsolidlines；thefirstofarchers，thesecondofcavalry。Intheirengagementsbyseaandland，theysustainedwithpatientfirmnessthefuryoftheattack，andseldomadvancedtothechargetilltheycoulddiscernandoppressthelassitudeoftheirfoes。Butiftheywererepulsedandbroken，theyknewnothowtorallyorrenewthecombat；andtheirdismaywasheightenedbythesuperstitiousprejudice，thatGodhaddeclaredhimselfonthesideoftheirenemies。Thedeclineandfallofthecaliphscountenancedthisfearfulopinion；norweretherewanting，amongtheMahometansandChristians，someobscureprophecies^86whichprognosticatedtheiralternatedefeats。TheunityoftheArabianempirewasdissolved，buttheindependentfragmentswereequaltopopulousandpowerfulkingdoms；andintheirnavalandmilitaryarmaments，anemirofAleppoorTunismightcommandnodespicablefundofskill，andindustry，andtreasure。IntheirtransactionsofpeaceandwarwiththeSaracens，theprincesofConstantinopletoooftenfeltthattheseBarbarianshadnothingbarbarousintheirdiscipline；
andthatiftheyweredestituteoforiginalgenius，theyhadbeenendowedwithaquickspiritofcuriosityandimitation。Themodelwasindeedmoreperfectthanthecopy；theirships，andengines，andfortifications，wereofalessskilfulconstruction；
andtheyconfess，withoutshame，thatthesameGodwhohasgivenatonguetotheArabians，hadmorenicelyfashionedthehandsoftheChinese，andtheheadsoftheGreeks。^87
[Footnote84:ThexviithchapterofthetacticsofthedifferentnationsisthemosthistoricalandusefulofthewholecollectionofLeo。ThemannersandarmsoftheSaracensTactic。p。809—
817，andafragmentfromtheMediceanMs。intheprefaceofthevithvolumeofMeursiustheRomanemperorwastoofrequentlycalledupontostudy。]
[Footnote85:Leon。Tactic。p。809。]
[Footnote86:Liutprandp。484，485relatesandinterpretstheoraclesoftheGreeksandSaracens，inwhich，afterthefashionofprophecy，thepastisclearandhistorical，thefutureisdark，enigmatical，anderroneous。Fromthisboundaryoflightandshadeanimpartialcriticmaycommonlydeterminethedateofthecomposition。]
[Footnote87:ThesenseofthisdistinctionisexpressedbyAbulpharagiusDynast。p。2，62，101；butIcannotrecollectthepassageinwhichitisconveyedbythislivelyapothegm。]
ChapterLIII:FateOfTheEasternEmpire。
PartIV。
AnameofsomeGermantribesbetweentheRhineandtheWeserhadspreaditsvictoriousinfluenceoverthegreatestpartofGaul，Germany，andItaly；andthecommonappellationofFranks^88wasappliedbytheGreeksandArabianstotheChristiansoftheLatinchurch，thenationsoftheWest，whostretchedbeyondtheirknowledgetotheshoresoftheAtlanticOcean。ThevastbodyhadbeeninspiredandunitedbythesoulofCharlemagne；butthedivisionanddegeneracyofhisracesoonannihilatedtheImperialpower，whichwouldhaverivalledtheCaesarsofByzantium，andrevengedtheindignitiesoftheChristianname。
Theenemiesnolongerfeared，norcouldthesubjectsanylongertrust，theapplicationofapublicrevenue，thelaborsoftradeandmanufacturesinthemilitaryservice，themutualaidofprovincesandarmies，andthenavalsquadronswhichwereregularlystationedfromthemouthoftheElbetothatoftheTyber。Inthebeginningofthetenthcentury，thefamilyofCharlemagnehadalmostdisappeared；hismonarchywasbrokenintomanyhostileandindependentstates；theregaltitlewasassumedbythemostambitiouschiefs；theirrevoltwasimitatedinalongsubordinationofanarchyanddiscord，andthenoblesofeveryprovincedisobeyedtheirsovereign，oppressedtheirvassals，andexercisedperpetualhostilitiesagainsttheirequalsandneighbors。Theirprivatewars，whichoverturnedthefabricofgovernment，fomentedthemartialspiritofthenation。InthesystemofmodernEurope，thepoweroftheswordispossessed，atleastinfact，byfiveorsixmightypotentates；theiroperationsareconductedonadistantfrontier，byanorderofmenwhodevotetheirlivestothestudyandpracticeofthemilitaryart:
therestofthecountryandcommunityenjoysinthemidstofwarthetranquillityofpeace，andisonlymadesensibleofthechangebytheaggravationordecreaseofthepublictaxes。Inthedisordersofthetenthandeleventhcenturies，everypeasantwasasoldier，andeveryvillageafortification；eachwoodorvalleywasasceneofmurderandrapine；andthelordsofeachcastlewerecompelledtoassumethecharacterofprincesandwarriors。Totheirowncourageandpolicytheyboldlytrustedforthesafetyoftheirfamily，theprotectionoftheirlands，andtherevengeoftheirinjuries；and，liketheconquerorsofalargersize，theyweretooapttotransgresstheprivilegeofdefensivewar。Thepowersofthemindandbodywerehardenedbythepresenceofdangerandnecessityofresolution:thesamespiritrefusedtodesertafriendandtoforgiveanenemy；and，insteadofsleepingundertheguardiancareofamagistrate，theyproudlydisdainedtheauthorityofthelaws。Inthedaysoffeudalanarchy，theinstrumentsofagricultureandartwereconvertedintotheweaponsofbloodshed:thepeacefuloccupationsofcivilandecclesiasticalsocietywereabolishedorcorrupted；
andthebishopwhoexchangedhismitreforahelmet，wasmoreforciblyurgedbythemannersofthetimesthanbytheobligationofhistenure。^89
[Footnote88:ExFrancis，quonominetamLatinosquamTeutonescomprehendit，ludumhabuit，LiutprandinLegatadImp。
Nicephorum，p。483，484。ThisextensionofthenamemaybeconfirmedfromConstantinedeAdministrandoImperio，l。2，c。
27，28andEutychius，Annal。tom。i。p。55，56，whobothlivedbeforetheCrusades。ThetestimoniesofAbulpharagiusDynast。
p。69andAbulfedaPraefat。adGeograph。aremorerecent]
[Footnote89:Onthissubjectofecclesiasticalandbeneficiarydiscipline，FatherThomassin，tom。iii。l。i。c。40，45，46，47
maybeusefullyconsulted。AgenerallawofCharlemagneexemptedthebishopsfrompersonalservice；buttheoppositepractice，whichprevailedfromtheixthtothexvthcentury，iscountenancedbytheexampleorsilenceofsaintsanddoctors……
Youjustifyyourcowardicebytheholycanons，saysRatheriusofVerona；thecanonslikewiseforbidyoutowhore，andyet—]
Theloveoffreedomandofarmswasfelt，withconsciouspride，bytheFranksthemselves，andisobservedbytheGreekswithsomedegreeofamazementandterror。\"TheFranks，\"saystheemperorConstantine，\"areboldandvalianttothevergeoftemerity；andtheirdauntlessspiritissupportedbythecontemptofdangeranddeath。Inthefieldandincloseonset，theypresstothefront，andrushheadlongagainsttheenemy，withoutdeigningtocomputeeitherhisnumbersortheirown。Theirranksareformedbythefirmconnectionsofconsanguinityandfriendship；andtheirmartialdeedsarepromptedbythedesireofsavingorrevengingtheirdearestcompanions。Intheireyes，aretreatisashamefulflight；andflightisindelibleinfamy。\"
^90Anationendowedwithsuchhighandintrepidspirit，musthavebeensecureofvictoryiftheseadvantageshadnotbeencounter—balancedbymanyweightydefects。ThedecayoftheirnavalpowerlefttheGreeksandSaracensinpossessionofthesea，foreverypurposeofannoyanceandsupply。Intheagewhichprecededtheinstitutionofknighthood，theFrankswererudeandunskilfulintheserviceofcavalry；^91andinallperilousemergencies，theirwarriorsweresoconsciousoftheirignorance，thattheychosetodismountfromtheirhorsesandfightonfoot。
Unpractisedintheuseofpikes，orofmissileweapons，theywereencumberedbythelengthoftheirswords，theweightoftheirarmor，themagnitudeoftheirshields，and，ifImayrepeatthesatireofthemeagreGreeks，bytheirunwieldyintemperance。
Theirindependentspiritdisdainedtheyokeofsubordination，andabandonedthestandardoftheirchief，ifheattemptedtokeepthefieldbeyondthetermoftheirstipulationorservice。Onallsidestheywereopentothesnaresofanenemylessbravebutmoreartfulthanthemselves。Theymightbebribed，fortheBarbarianswerevenal；orsurprisedinthenight，fortheyneglectedtheprecautionsofacloseencampmentorvigilantsentinels。Thefatiguesofasummer\'scampaignexhaustedtheirstrengthandpatience，andtheysunkindespairiftheirvoraciousappetitewasdisappointedofaplentifulsupplyofwineandoffood。ThisgeneralcharacteroftheFrankswasmarkedwithsomenationalandlocalshades，whichIshouldascribetoaccidentratherthantoclimate，butwhichwerevisiblebothtonativesandtoforeigners。AnambassadorofthegreatOthodeclared，inthepalaceofConstantinople，thattheSaxonscoulddisputewithswordsbetterthanwithpens，andthattheypreferredinevitabledeathtothedishonorofturningtheirbackstoanenemy。^92ItwasthegloryofthenoblesofFrance，that，intheirhumbledwellings，warandrapineweretheonlypleasure，thesoleoccupation，oftheirlives。Theyaffectedtoderidethepalaces，thebanquets，thepolishedmanneroftheItalians，whointheestimateoftheGreeksthemselveshaddegeneratedfromthelibertyandvaloroftheancientLombards。^93
[Footnote90:InthexviiithchapterofhisTactics，theemperorLeohasfairlystatedthemilitaryvicesandvirtuesoftheFrankswhomMeursiusridiculouslytranslatesbyGalliandtheLombardsorLangobards。SeelikewisethexxvithDissertationofMuratorideAntiquitatibusItaliaeMediiAevi。]
[Footnote91:DominituimilitessaystheproudNicephorus
equitandiignaripedestrispugnaesuntinscii:scutorummagnitudo，loricarumgravitudo，ensiumlongitudogalearumquepondusneutrapartepugnarecossinit；acsubridens，impedit，inquit，eteosgastrimargia，hocestventrisingluvies，&c。
LiutprandinLegat。p。480481]
[Footnote92:InSaxoniacertescio……decentiusensibuspugnarequamcalanis，etpriusmortemobirequamhostibustergadare，Liutprand，p482。]
[Footnote93:LeonisTactica，c。18，p。805。TheemperorLeodiedA。D。911:anhistoricalpoem，whichendsin916，andappearstohavebeencomposedin910，byanativeofVenetia，discriminatesintheseversesthemannersofItalyandFrance:
—QuidinertiabelloPectoraUbertusaitdurispraetenditisarmis，OItali?Potiusvobissacrapoculacordi；
SaepiusetstomachumnitidislaxaresaginisElatasquedomosrutilofulciremetallo。
NoneademGallossimilisvelcuraremordet:
Vicinasquibuseststudiumdevincereterras，DepressumquelaremspoliishincindecoactisSustentare—
Anonym。CarmenPanegyricumdeLaudibusBerengariiAugusti，l。n。
inMuratoriScript。RerumItalic。tom。ii。parsi。p。393。]
Bythewell—knownedictofCaracalla，hissubjects，fromBritaintoEgypt，wereentitledtothenameandprivilegesofRomans，andtheirnationalsovereignmightfixhisoccasionalorpermanentresidenceinanyprovinceoftheircommoncountry。InthedivisionoftheEastandWest，anidealunitywasscrupulouslyobserved，andintheirtitles，laws，andstatutes，thesuccessorsofArcadiusandHonoriusannouncedthemselvesastheinseparablecolleaguesofthesameoffice，asthejointsovereignsoftheRomanworldandcity，whichwereboundedbythesamelimits。AfterthefalloftheWesternmonarchy，themajestyofthepurpleresidedsolelyintheprincesofConstantinople；
andofthese，Justinianwasthefirstwho，afteradivorceofsixtyyears，regainedthedominionofancientRome，andasserted，bytherightofconquest，theaugusttitleofEmperoroftheRomans。^94Amotiveofvanityordiscontentsolicitedoneofhissuccessors，ConstanstheSecond，toabandontheThracianBosphorus，andtorestorethepristinehonorsoftheTyber:anextravagantproject，exclaimsthemaliciousByzantine，asifhehaddespoiledabeautifulandbloomingvirgin，toenrich，orrathertoexpose，thedeformityofawrinkledanddecrepitmatron。^95ButtheswordoftheLombardsopposedhissettlementinItaly:heenteredRomenotasaconqueror，butasafugitive，and，afteravisitoftwelvedays，hepillaged，andforeverdeserted，theancientcapitaloftheworld。^96ThefinalrevoltandseparationofItalywasaccomplishedabouttwocenturiesaftertheconquestsofJustinian，andfromhisreignwemaydatethegradualoblivionoftheLatintongue。ThatlegislatorhadcomposedhisInstitutes，hisCode，andhisPandects，inalanguagewhichhecelebratesastheproperandpublicstyleoftheRomangovernment，theconsecratedidiomofthepalaceandsenateofConstantinople，ofthecampusandtribunalsoftheEast。^97ButthisforeigndialectwasunknowntothepeopleandsoldiersoftheAsiaticprovinces，itwasimperfectlyunderstoodbythegreaterpartoftheinterpretersofthelawsandtheministersofthestate。Afterashortconflict，natureandhabitprevailedovertheobsoleteinstitutionsofhumanpower:forthegeneralbenefitofhissubjects，Justinianpromulgatedhisnovelsinthetwolanguages:theseveralpartsofhisvoluminousjurisprudenceweresuccessivelytranslated；^98theoriginalwasforgotten，theversionwasstudied，andtheGreek，whoseintrinsicmeritdeservedindeedthepreference，obtainedalegal，aswellaspopularestablishmentintheByzantinemonarchy。ThebirthandresidenceofsucceedingprincesestrangedthemfromtheRomanidiom:TiberiusbytheArabs，^99andMauricebytheItalians，^100aredistinguishedasthefirstoftheGreekCaesars，asthefoundersofanewdynastyandempire:thesilentrevolutionwasaccomplishedbeforethedeathofHeraclius；andtheruinsoftheLatinspeechweredarklypreservedinthetermsofjurisprudenceandtheacclamationsofthepalace。AftertherestorationoftheWesternempirebyCharlemagneandtheOthos，thenamesofFranksandLatinsacquiredanequalsignificationandextent；andthesehaughtyBarbariansasserted，withsomejustice，theirsuperiorclaimtothelanguageanddominionofRome。TheyinsultedthealienoftheEastwhohadrenouncedthedressandidiomofRomans；andtheirreasonablepracticewilljustifythefrequentappellationofGreeks。^101Butthiscontemptuousappellationwasindignantlyrejectedbytheprinceandpeopletowhomitwasapplied。Whatsoeverchangeshadbeenintroducedbythelapseofages，theyallegedalinealandunbrokensuccessionfromAugustusandConstantine；and，inthelowestperiodofdegeneracyanddecay，thenameofRomansadheredtothelastfragmentsoftheempireofConstantinople。^102