Louis，whostillpreservedajustascendantoverthemindofhisferociousbrother。ForawhiletheattentionofthatbrotherwasconfinedathomebytheinvasionofConradin，thelastheirtotheimperialhouseofSwabia；butthehaplessboysunkintheunequalconflict；andhisexecutiononapublicscaffoldtaughttherivalsofCharlestotremblefortheirheadsaswellastheirdominions。AsecondrespitewasobtainedbythelastcrusadeofSt。LouistotheAfricancoast；andthedoublemotiveofinterestanddutyurgedthekingofNaplestoassist，withhispowersandhispresence，theholyenterprise。ThedeathofSt。Louisreleasedhimfromtheimportunityofavirtuouscensor:thekingofTunisconfessedhimselfthetributaryandvassalofthecrownofSicily；andtheboldestoftheFrenchknightswerefreetoenlistunderhisbanneragainsttheGreekempire。AtreatyandamarriageunitedhisinterestwiththehouseofCourtenay；hisdaughterBeatricewaspromisedtoPhilip，sonandheiroftheemperorBaldwin；apensionofsixhundredouncesofgoldwasallowedforhismaintenance；andhisgenerousfatherdistributedamonghisaliensthekingdomsandprovincesoftheEast，reservingonlyConstantinople，andoneday\'sjourneyroundthecityfortheimperialdomain。^38Inthisperilousmoment，Palaeologuswasthemosteagertosubscribethecreed，andimploretheprotection，oftheRomanpontiff，whoassumed，withproprietyandweight，thecharacterofanangelofpeace，thecommonfatheroftheChristians。Byhisvoice，theswordofCharleswaschainedinthescabbard；andtheGreekambassadorsbeheldhim，inthepope\'santechamber，bitinghisivorysceptreinatransportoffury，anddeeplyresentingtherefusaltoenfranchiseandconsecratehisarms。HeappearstohaverespectedthedisinterestedmediationofGregorytheTenth；butCharleswasinsensiblydisgustedbytheprideandpartialityofNicholastheThird；andhisattachmenttohiskindred，theUrsinifamily，alienatedthemoststrenuouschampionfromtheserviceofthechurch。ThehostileleagueagainsttheGreeks，ofPhiliptheLatinemperor，thekingoftheTwoSicilies，andtherepublicofVenice，wasripenedintoexecution；andtheelectionofMartintheFourth，aFrenchpope，gaveasanctiontothecause。Oftheallies，Philipsuppliedhisname；Martin，abullofexcommunication；theVenetians，asquadronoffortygalleys；andtheformidablepowersofCharlesconsistedoffortycounts，tenthousandmenatarms，anumerousbodyofinfantry，andafleetofmorethanthreehundredshipsandtransports。AdistantdaywasappointedforassemblingthismightyforceintheharborofBrindisi；andapreviousattemptwasriskedwithadetachmentofthreehundredknights，whoinvadedAlbania，andbesiegedthefortressofBelgrade。TheirdefeatmightamusewithatriumphthevanityofConstantinople；butthemoresagaciousMichael，despairingofhisarms，dependedontheeffectsofaconspiracy；
onthesecretworkingsofarat，whognawedthebowstring^39oftheSiciliantyrant。
[Footnote37:Thebestaccounts，thenearestthetime，themostfullandentertaining，oftheconquestofNaplesbyCharlesofAnjou，maybefoundintheFlorentineChroniclesofRicordanoMalespina，c。175—193，andGiovanniVillani，l。vii。c。1—
10，25—30，whicharepublishedbyMuratoriintheviiithandxiiithvolumesoftheHistoriansofItaly。InhisAnnalstom。
xi。p。56—72hehasabridgedthesegreateventswhicharelikewisedescribedintheIstoriaCivileofGiannone。tom。l。
xix。tom。iii。l。xx]
[Footnote38:Ducange，Hist。deC。P。l。v。c。49—56，l。vi。c。
1—13。SeePachymer，l。iv。c。29，l。v。c。7—10，25l。vi。c。
30，32，33，andNicephorusGregoras，l。iv。5，l。v。1，6。]
[Footnote39:ThereaderofHerodotuswillrecollecthowmiraculouslytheAssyrianhostofSennacheribwasdisarmedanddestroyed，l。ii。c。141。]
AmongtheproscribedadherentsofthehouseofSwabia，JohnofProcidaforfeitedasmallislandofthatnameintheBayofNaples。Hisbirthwasnoble，buthiseducationwaslearned；andinthepovertyofexile，hewasrelievedbythepracticeofphysic，whichhehadstudiedintheschoolofSalerno。Fortunehadlefthimnothingtolose，exceptlife；andtodespiselifeisthefirstqualificationofarebel。Procidawasendowedwiththeartofnegotiation，toenforcehisreasonsanddisguisehismotives；andinhisvarioustransactionswithnationsandmen，hecouldpersuadeeachpartythathelaboredsolelyfortheirinterest。ThenewkingdomsofCharleswereafflictedbyeveryspeciesoffiscalandmilitaryoppression；^40andthelivesandfortunesofhisItaliansubjectsweresacrificedtothegreatnessoftheirmasterandthelicentiousnessofhisfollowers。ThehatredofNapleswasrepressedbyhispresence；buttheloosergovernmentofhisvicegerentsexcitedthecontempt，aswellastheaversion，oftheSicilians:theislandwasrousedtoasenseoffreedombytheeloquenceofProcida；andhedisplayedtoeverybaronhisprivateinterestinthecommoncause。Intheconfidenceofforeignaid，hesuccessivelyvisitedthecourtsoftheGreekemperor，andofPeterkingofArragon，^41whopossessedthemaritimecountriesofValentiaandCatalonia。TotheambitiousPeteracrownwaspresented，whichhemightjustlyclaimbyhismarriagewiththesisterofMainfroy，andbythedyingvoiceofConradin，whofromthescaffoldhadcastaringtohisheirandavenger。Palaeologuswaseasilypersuadedtodiverthisenemyfromaforeignwarbyarebellionathome；andaGreeksubsidyoftwenty—fivethousandouncesofgoldwasmostprofitablyappliedtoarmaCatalanfleet，whichsailedunderaholybannertothespeciousattackoftheSaracensofAfrica。Inthedisguiseofamonkorbeggar，theindefatigablemissionaryofrevoltflewfromConstantinopletoRome，andfromSicilytoSaragossa:thetreatywassealedwiththesignetofPopeNicholashimself，theenemyofCharles；andhisdeedofgifttransferredthefiefsofSt。PeterfromthehouseofAnjoutothatofArragon。Sowidelydiffusedandsofreelycirculated，thesecretwaspreservedabovetwoyearswithimpenetrablediscretion；andeachoftheconspiratorsimbibedthemaximofPeter，whodeclaredthathewouldcutoffhislefthandifitwereconsciousoftheintentionsofhisright。Theminewaspreparedwithdeepanddangerousartifice；butitmaybequestioned，whethertheinstantexplosionofPalermoweretheeffectofaccidentordesign。
[Footnote40:AccordingtoSabasMalaspina，Hist。Sicula，l。
iii。c。16，inMuratori，tom。viii。p。832，azealousGuelph，thesubjectsofCharles，whohadreviledMainfroyasawolf，begantoregrethimasalamb；andhejustifiestheirdiscontentbytheoppressionsoftheFrenchgovernment，l。vi。c。2，7。
SeetheSicilianmanifestoinNicholasSpecialis，l。i。c。11，inMuratori，tom。x。p。930。]
[Footnote41:SeethecharacterandcounselsofPeter，kingofArragon，inMariana，Hist。Hispan。l。xiv。c。6，tom。ii。p。
133。ThereaderforgivestheJesuit\'sdefects，infavor，alwaysofhisstyle，andoftenofhissense。]
[Footnote*:Daughter。SeeHallam\'sMiddleAges，vol。i。p。517。
—M。]
OnthevigilofEaster，aprocessionofthedisarmedcitizensvisitedachurchwithoutthewalls；andanobledamselwasrudelyinsultedbyaFrenchsoldier。^42Theravisherwasinstantlypunishedwithdeath；andifthepeoplewasatfirstscatteredbyamilitaryforce，theirnumbersandfuryprevailed:
theconspiratorsseizedtheopportunity；theflamespreadovertheisland；andeightthousandFrenchwereexterminatedinapromiscuousmassacre，whichhasobtainedthenameoftheSicilianVespers。^43Fromeverycitythebannersoffreedomandthechurchweredisplayed:therevoltwasinspiredbythepresenceorthesoulofProcidaandPeterofArragon，whosailedfromtheAfricancoasttoPalermo，wassalutedasthekingandsavioroftheisle。Bytherebellionofapeopleonwhomhehadsolongtrampledwithimpunity，Charleswasastonishedandconfounded；
andinthefirstagonyofgriefanddevotion，hewasheardtoexclaim，\"OGod!ifthouhastdecreedtohumbleme，grantmeatleastagentleandgradualdescentfromthepinnacleofgreatness!\"Hisfleetandarmy，whichalreadyfilledtheseaportsofItaly，werehastilyrecalledfromtheserviceoftheGrecianwar；andthesituationofMessinaexposedthattowntothefirststormofhisrevenge。Feebleinthemselves，andyethopelessofforeignsuccor，thecitizenswouldhaverepented，andsubmittedontheassuranceoffullpardonandtheirancientprivileges。
Buttheprideofthemonarchwasalreadyrekindled；andthemostfervententreatiesofthelegatecouldextortnomorethanapromise，thathewouldforgivetheremainder，afterachosenlistofeighthundredrebelshadbeenyieldedtohisdiscretion。ThedespairoftheMessineserenewedtheircourage:PeterofArragonapproachedtotheirrelief；^44andhisrivalwasdrivenbackbythefailureofprovisionandtheterrorsoftheequinoxtotheCalabrianshore。Atthesamemoment，theCatalanadmiral，thefamousRogerdeLoria，sweptthechannelwithaninvinciblesquadron:theFrenchfleet，morenumerousintransportsthaningalleys，waseitherburntordestroyed；andthesameblowassuredtheindependenceofSicilyandthesafetyoftheGreekempire。A
fewdaysbeforehisdeath，theemperorMichaelrejoicedinthefallofanenemywhomhehatedandesteemed；andperhapshemightbecontentwiththepopularjudgment，thathadtheynotbeenmatchedwitheachother，ConstantinopleandItalymustspeedilyhaveobeyedthesamemaster。^45Fromthisdisastrousmoment，thelifeofCharleswasaseriesofmisfortunes:hiscapitalwasinsulted，hissonwasmadeprisoner，andhesunkintothegravewithoutrecoveringtheIsleofSicily，which，afterawaroftwentyyears，wasfinallyseveredfromthethroneofNaples，andtransferred，asanindependentkingdom，toayoungerbranchofthehouseofArragon。^46
[Footnote42:Afterenumeratingthesufferingsofhiscountry，NicholasSpecialisadds，inthetruespiritofItalianjealousy，Quaeomniaetgravioraquidem，utarbitror，patientianimoSiculitolerassent，nisiquodprimumcunctisdominantibuscavendumest
alienasfoeminasinvasissent，l。i。c。2，p。924。]
[Footnote43:TheFrenchwerelongtaughttorememberthisbloodylesson:\"IfIamprovoked，saidHenrytheFourth，IwillbreakfastatMilan，anddineatNaples。\"\"YourmajestyrepliedtheSpanishambassadormayperhapsarriveinSicilyforvespers。\"]
[Footnote44:Thisrevolt，withthesubsequentvictory，arerelatedbytwonationalwriters，BartholemyaNeocastroinMuratori，tom。xiii。，andNicholasSpecialisinMuratori，tom。
x。，theoneacontemporary，theotherofthenextcentury。ThepatriotSpecialisdisclaimsthenameofrebellion，andallpreviouscorrespondencewithPeterofArragon，nullocommunicatoconsilio，whohappenedtobewithafleetandarmyontheAfricancoast，l。i。c。4，9。]
[Footnote45:NicephorusGregorasl。v。c。6admiresthewisdomofProvidenceinthisequalbalanceofstatesandprinces。ForthehonorofPalaeologus，IhadratherthisbalancehadbeenobservedbyanItalianwriter。]
[Footnote46:SeetheChronicleofVillani，thexithvolumeoftheAnnalid\'ItaliaofMuratori，andthexxthandxxistbooksoftheIstoriaCivileofGiannone。]
ChapterLXII:GreekEmperorsOfNiceAndConstantinople。
PartIII。
Ishallnot，Itrust，beaccusedofsuperstition；butImustremarkthat，eveninthisworld，thenaturalorderofeventswillsometimesaffordthestrongappearancesofmoralretribution。
ThefirstPalaeologushadsavedhisempirebyinvolvingthekingdomsoftheWestinrebellionandblood；andfromthesescenesofdiscorduproseagenerationofironmen，whoassaultedandendangeredtheempireofhisson。Inmoderntimesourdebtsandtaxesarethesecretpoisonwhichstillcorrodesthebosomofpeace:butintheweakanddisorderlygovernmentofthemiddleages，itwasagitatedbythepresentevilofthedisbandedarmies。Tooidletowork，tooproudtobeg，themercenarieswereaccustomedtoalifeofrapine:theycouldrobwithmoredignityandeffectunderabannerandachief；andthesovereign，towhomtheirservicewasuseless，andtheirpresenceimportunate，endeavoredtodischargethetorrentonsomeneighboringcountries。AfterthepeaceofSicily，manythousandsofGenoese，Catalans，^47&c。，whohadfought，byseaandland，underthestandardofAnjouorArragon，wereblendedintoonenationbytheresemblanceoftheirmannersandinterest。TheyheardthattheGreekprovincesofAsiawereinvadedbytheTurks:theyresolvedtosharetheharvestofpayandplunder:andFrederickingofSicilymostliberallycontributedthemeansoftheirdeparture。
Inawarfareoftwentyyears，aship，oracamp，wasbecometheircountry；armsweretheirsoleprofessionandproperty；valorwastheonlyvirtuewhichtheyknew；theirwomenhadimbibedthefearlesstemperoftheirloversandhusbands:itwasreported，that，withastrokeoftheirbroadsword，theCatalanscouldcleaveahorsemanandahorse；andthereportitselfwasapowerfulweapon。RogerdeFlorwasthemostpopularoftheirchiefs；andhispersonalmeritovershadowedthedignityofhisprouderrivalsofArragon。TheoffspringofamarriagebetweenaGermangentlemanofthecourtofFrederictheSecondandadamselofBrindisi，Rogerwassuccessivelyatemplar，anapostate，apirate，andatlengththerichestandmostpowerfuladmiraloftheMediterranean。HesailedfromMessinatoConstantinople，witheighteengalleys，fourgreatships，andeightthousandadventurers；andhisprevioustreatywasfaithfullyaccomplishedbyAndronicustheelder，whoacceptedwithjoyandterrorthisformidablesuccor。Apalacewasallottedforhisreception，andanieceoftheemperorwasgiveninmarriagetothevaliantstranger，whowasimmediatelycreatedgreatdukeoradmiralofRomania。Afteradecentrepose，hetransportedhistroopsoverthePropontis，andboldlyledthemagainsttheTurks:
intwobloodybattlesthirtythousandoftheMoslemswereslain:
heraisedthesiegeofPhiladelphia，anddeservedthenameofthedelivererofAsia。Butafterashortseasonofprosperity，thecloudofslaveryandruinagainburstonthatunhappyprovince。
TheinhabitantsescapedsaysaGreekhistorianfromthesmokeintotheflames；andthehostilityoftheTurkswaslessperniciousthanthefriendshipoftheCatalans。^!Thelivesandfortuneswhichtheyhadrescuedtheyconsideredastheirown:thewillingorreluctantmaidwassavedfromtheraceofcircumcisionfortheembracesofaChristiansoldier:theexactionoffinesandsupplieswasenforcedbylicentiousrapineandarbitraryexecutions；and，ontheresistanceofMagnesia，thegreatdukebesiegedacityoftheRomanempire。^48Thesedisordersheexcusedbythewrongsandpassionsofavictoriousarmy；norwouldhisownauthorityorpersonhavebeensafe，hadhedaredtopunishhisfaithfulfollowers，whoweredefraudedofthejustandcovenantedpriceoftheirservices。ThethreatsandcomplaintsofAndronicusdisclosedthenakednessoftheempire。Hisgoldenbullhadinvitednomorethanfivehundredhorseandathousandfootsoldiers；yetthecrowdsofvolunteers，whomigratedtotheEast，hadbeenenlistedandfedbyhisspontaneousbounty。Whilehisbravestallieswerecontentwiththreebyzantsorpiecesofgold，fortheirmonthlypay，anounce，oreventwoounces，ofgoldwereassignedtotheCatalans，whoseannualpensionwouldthusamounttonearahundredpoundssterling:oneoftheirchiefshadmodestlyratedatthreehundredthousandcrownsthevalueofhisfuturemerits；andaboveamillionhadbeenissuedfromthetreasuryforthemaintenanceofthesecostlymercenaries。Acrueltaxhadbeenimposedonthecornofthehusbandman:onethirdwasretrenchedfromthesalariesofthepublicofficers；andthestandardofthecoinwassoshamefullydebased，thatofthefour—and—twentypartsonlyfivewereofpuregold。^49Atthesummonsoftheemperor，Rogerevacuatedaprovincewhichnolongersuppliedthematerialsofrapine；butherefusedtodispersehistroops；andwhilehisstylewasrespectful，hisconductwasindependentandhostile。Heprotested，thatiftheemperorshouldmarchagainsthim，hewouldadvancefortypacestokissthegroundbeforehim；butinrisingfromthisprostrateattitudeRogerhadalifeandswordattheserviceofhisfriends。ThegreatdukeofRomaniacondescendedtoacceptthetitleandornamentsofCaesar；butherejectedthenewproposalofthegovernmentofAsiawithasubsidyofcornandmoney，onconditionthatheshouldreducehistroopstotheharmlessnumberofthreethousandmen。Assassinationisthelastresourceofcowards。TheCaesarwastemptedtovisittheroyalresidenceofAdrianople；intheapartment，andbeforetheeyes，oftheempresshewasstabbedbytheAlaniguards；andthoughthedeedwasimputedtotheirprivaterevenge，^!!hiscountrymen，whodweltatConstantinopleinthesecurityofpeace，wereinvolvedinthesameproscriptionbytheprinceorpeople。Thelossoftheirleaderintimidatedthecrowdofadventurers，whohoistedthesailsofflight，andweresoonscatteredroundthecoastsoftheMediterranean。ButaveteranbandoffifteenhundredCatalans，orFrench，stoodfirminthestrongfortressofGallipoliontheHellespont，displayedthebannersofArragon，andofferedtorevengeandjustifytheirchief，byanequalcombatoftenorahundredwarriors。Insteadofacceptingthisbolddefiance，theemperorMichael，thesonandcolleagueofAndronicus，resolvedtooppressthemwiththeweightofmultitudes:everynervewasstrainedtoformanarmyofthirteenthousandhorseandthirtythousandfoot；andthePropontiswascoveredwiththeshipsoftheGreeksandGenoese。Intwobattlesbyseaandland，thesemightyforceswereencounteredandoverthrownbythedespairanddisciplineoftheCatalans:theyoungemperorfledtothepalace；andaninsufficientguardoflight—horsewasleftfortheprotectionoftheopencountry。
Victoryrenewedthehopesandnumbersoftheadventures:everynationwasblendedunderthenameandstandardofthegreatcompany；andthreethousandTurkishproselytesdesertedfromtheImperialservicetojointhismilitaryassociation。InthepossessionofGallipoli，^!!!theCatalansinterceptedthetradeofConstantinopleandtheBlackSea，whiletheyspreadtheirdevastationoneithersideoftheHellespontovertheconfinesofEuropeandAsia。Topreventtheirapproach，thegreatestpartoftheByzantineterritorywaslaidwastebytheGreeksthemselves:
thepeasantsandtheircattleretiredintothecity；andmyriadsofsheepandoxen，forwhichneitherplacenorfoodcouldbeprocured，wereunprofitablyslaughteredonthesameday。FourtimestheemperorAndronicussuedforpeace，andfourtimeshewasinflexiblyrepulsed，tillthewantofprovisions，andthediscordofthechiefs，compelledtheCatalanstoevacuatethebanksoftheHellespontandtheneighborhoodofthecapital。
AftertheirseparationfromtheTurks，theremainsofthegreatcompanypursuedtheirmarchthroughMacedoniaandThessaly，toseekanewestablishmentintheheartofGreece。^50
[Footnote47:Inthismotleymultitude，theCatalansandSpaniards，thebravestofthesoldiery，werestyledbythemselvesandtheGreeksAmogavares。MoncadaderivestheiroriginfromtheGoths，andPachymerl。xi。c。22fromtheArabs；andinspiteofnationalandreligiouspride，Iamafraidthelatterisintheright。]
[Footnote*:OnRogerdeFlorandhiscompanions，seeanhistoricalfragment，detailedandinteresting，entitled\"TheSpaniardsoftheFourteenthCentury，\"andinsertedin\"L\'Espagneen1808，\"aworktranslatedfromtheGerman，vol。ii。p。167。
ThisnarrativeenablesustodetectsomeslighterrorswhichhavecreptintothatofGibbon。—G。]