hismodestyandpatiencewerenevertemptedtocomputetheyearsofhisfather；norwasthatfathercompelledtorepentofhisliberalityeitherbythevirtuesorvicesofhisson。ThesonofMichaelwasnamedAndronicusfromhisgrandfather，towhoseearlyfavorhewasintroducedbythatnominalresemblance。TheblossomsofwitandbeautyincreasedthefondnessoftheelderAndronicus；and，withthecommonvanityofage，heexpectedtorealizeinthesecond，thehopewhichhadbeendisappointedinthefirst，generation。Theboywaseducatedinthepalaceasanheirandafavorite；andintheoathsandacclamationsofthepeople，theaugusttriadwasformedbythenamesofthefather，theson，andthegrandson。ButtheyoungerAndronicuswasspeedilycorruptedbyhisinfantgreatness，whilehebeheldwithpuerileimpatiencethedoubleobstaclethathung，andmightlonghang，overhisrisingambition。Itwasnottoacquirefame，ortodiffusehappiness，thathesoeagerlyaspired:wealthandimpunitywereinhiseyesthemostpreciousattributesofamonarch；andhisfirstindiscreetdemandwasthesovereigntyofsomerichandfertileisland，wherehemightleadalifeofindependenceandpleasure。Theemperorwasoffendedbytheloudandfrequentintemperancewhichdisturbedhiscapital；thesumswhichhisparsimonydeniedweresuppliedbytheGenoeseusurersofPera；andtheoppressivedebt，whichconsolidatedtheinterestofafaction，couldbedischargedonlybyarevolution。A
beautifulfemale，amatroninrank，aprostituteinmanners，hadinstructedtheyoungerAndronicusintherudimentsoflove；buthehadreasontosuspectthenocturnalvisitsofarival；andastrangerpassingthroughthestreetwaspiercedbythearrowsofhisguards，whowereplacedinambushatherdoor。Thatstrangerwashisbrother，PrinceManuel，wholanguishedanddiedofhiswound；andtheemperorMichael，theircommonfather，whosehealthwasinadecliningstate，expiredontheeighthday，lamentingthelossofbothhischildren。^7Howeverguiltlessinhisintention，theyoungerAndronicusmightimputeabrother\'sandafather\'sdeathtotheconsequenceofhisownvices；anddeepwasthesighofthinkingandfeelingmen，whentheyperceived，insteadofsorrowandrepentance，hisill—dissembledjoyontheremovaloftwoodiouscompetitors。Bythesemelancholyevents，andtheincreaseofhisdisorders，themindoftheelderemperorwasgraduallyalienated；and，aftermanyfruitlessreproofs，hetransferredonanothergrandson^8hishopesandaffection。Thechangewasannouncedbythenewoathofallegiancetothereigningsovereign，andthepersonwhomheshouldappointforhissuccessor；andtheacknowledgedheir，afterarepetitionofinsultsandcomplaints，wasexposedtotheindignityofapublictrial。Beforethesentence，whichwouldprobablyhavecondemnedhimtoadungeonoracell，theemperorwasinformedthatthepalacecourtswerefilledwiththearmedfollowersofhisgrandson；thejudgmentwassoftenedtoatreatyofreconciliation；andthetriumphantescapeoftheprinceencouragedtheardoroftheyoungerfaction。
[Footnote6:HewascrownedMay21st，1295，anddiedOctober12th，1320，Ducange，Fam。Byz。p。239。HisbrotherTheodore，byasecondmarriage，inheritedthemarquisateofMontferrat，apostatizedtothereligionandmannersoftheLatins，Nic。
Greg。l。ix。c。1，andfoundedadynastyofItalianprinces，whichwasextinguishedA。D。1533，Ducange，Fam。Byz。p。249—
253。]
[Footnote7:WeareindebtedtoNicephorusGregorasl。viii。c。
1fortheknowledgeofthistragicadventure；whileCantacuzenemorediscreetlyconcealsthevicesofAndronicustheYounger，ofwhichhewasthewitnessandperhapstheassociate，l。i。c。1，&c。]
[Footnote8:HisdestinedheirwasMichaelCatharus，thebastardofConstantinehissecondson。InthisprojectofexcludinghisgrandsonAndronicus，NicephorusGregorasl。viii。c。3agreeswithCantacuzene，l。i。c。1，2。]
Yetthecapital，theclergy，andthesenate，adheredtotheperson，oratleasttothegovernment，oftheoldemperor；anditwasonlyintheprovinces，byflight，andrevolt，andforeignsuccor，thatthemalecontentscouldhopetovindicatetheircauseandsubverthisthrone。ThesouloftheenterprisewasthegreatdomesticJohnCantacuzene；thesallyfromConstantinopleisthefirstdateofhisactionsandmemorials；andifhisownpenbemostdescriptiveofhispatriotism，anunfriendlyhistorianhasnotrefusedtocelebratethezealandabilitywhichhedisplayedintheserviceoftheyoungemperor。Thatprinceescapedfromthecapitalunderthepretenceofhunting；erectedhisstandardatAdrianople；and，inafewdays，assembledfiftythousandhorseandfoot，whomneitherhonornordutycouldhavearmedagainsttheBarbarians。Suchaforcemighthavesavedorcommandedtheempire；buttheircounselswerediscordant，theirmotionswereslowanddoubtful，andtheirprogresswascheckedbyintrigueandnegotiation。ThequarrelofthetwoAndroniciwasprotracted，andsuspended，andrenewed，duringaruinousperiodofsevenyears。Inthefirsttreaty，therelicsoftheGreekempireweredivided:Constantinople，Thessalonica，andtheislands，werelefttotheelder，whiletheyoungeracquiredthesovereigntyofthegreatestpartofThrace，fromPhilippitotheByzantinelimit。
Bythesecondtreaty，hestipulatedthepaymentofhistroops，hisimmediatecoronation，andanadequateshareofthepowerandrevenueofthestate。ThethirdcivilwarwasterminatedbythesurpriseofConstantinople，thefinalretreatoftheoldemperor，andthesolereignofhisvictoriousgrandson。Thereasonsofthisdelaymaybefoundinthecharactersofthemenandofthetimes。Whentheheirofthemonarchyfirstpleadedhiswrongsandhisapprehensions，hewasheardwithpityandapplause:andhisadherentsrepeatedonallsidestheinconsistentpromise，thathewouldincreasethepayofthesoldiersandalleviatetheburdensofthepeople。Thegrievancesoffortyyearsweremingledinhisrevolt；andtherisinggenerationwasfatiguedbytheendlessprospectofareign，whosefavoritesandmaximswereofothertimes。TheyouthofAndronicushadbeenwithoutspirit，hisagewaswithoutreverence:histaxesproducedanunusualrevenueoffivehundredthousandpounds；yettherichestofthesovereignsofChristendomwasincapableofmaintainingthreethousandhorseandtwentygalleys，toresistthedestructiveprogressoftheTurks。^9\"Howdifferent，\"saidtheyoungerAndronicus，\"ismysituationfromthatofthesonofPhilip!
Alexandermightcomplain，thathisfatherwouldleavehimnothingtoconquer:alas!mygrandsirewillleavemenothingtolose。\"
ButtheGreeksweresoonadmonished，thatthepublicdisorderscouldnotbehealedbyacivilwar；andthattheiryoungfavoritewasnotdestinedtobethesaviorofafallingempire。Onthefirstrepulse，hispartywasbrokenbyhisownlevity，theirintestinediscord，andtheintriguesoftheancientcourt，whichtemptedeachmalecontenttodesertorbetraythecauseoftherebellion。Andronicustheyoungerwastouchedwithremorse，orfatiguedwithbusiness，ordeceivedbynegotiation:pleasureratherthanpowerwashisaim；andthelicenseofmaintainingathousandhounds，athousandhawks，andathousandhuntsmen，wassufficienttosullyhisfameanddisarmhisambition。
[Footnote*:TheconductofCantacuzene，byhisownshowing，wasinexplicable。Hewasunwillingtodethronetheoldemperor，anddissuadedtheimmediatemarchonConstantinople。TheyoungAndronicus，hesays，enteredintohisviews，andwrotetowarntheemperorofhisdangerwhenthemarchwasdetermined。
Cantacuzenus，inNov。Byz。Hist。Collect。vol。i。p。104，&c。—
M。]
[Footnote9:SeeNicephorusGregoras，l。viii。c。6。TheyoungerAndronicuscomplained，thatinfouryearsandfourmonthsasumof350，000byzantsofgoldwasduetohimfortheexpensesofhishousehold，Cantacuzenl。i。c。48。Yethewouldhaveremittedthedebt，ifhemighthavebeenallowedtosqueezethefarmersoftherevenue]
Letusnowsurveythecatastropheofthisbusyplot，andthefinalsituationoftheprincipalactors。^10TheageofAndronicuswasconsumedincivildiscord；and，amidsttheeventsofwarandtreaty，hispowerandreputationcontinuallydecayed，tillthefatalnightinwhichthegatesofthecityandpalacewereopenedwithoutresistancetohisgrandson。Hisprincipalcommanderscornedtherepeatedwarningsofdanger；andretiringtorestinthevainsecurityofignorance，abandonedthefeeblemonarch，withsomepriestsandpages，totheterrorsofasleeplessnight。Theseterrorswerequicklyrealizedbythehostileshouts，whichproclaimedthetitlesandvictoryofAndronicustheyounger；andtheagedemperor，fallingprostratebeforeanimageoftheVirgin，despatchedasuppliantmessagetoresignthesceptre，andtoobtainhislifeatthehandsoftheconqueror。Theanswerofhisgrandsonwasdecentandpious；attheprayerofhisfriends，theyoungerAndronicusassumedthesoleadministration；buttheelderstillenjoyedthenameandpreeminenceofthefirstemperor，theuseofthegreatpalace，andapensionoftwenty—fourthousandpiecesofgold，onehalfofwhichwasassignedontheroyaltreasury，andtheotheronthefisheryofConstantinople。Buthisimpotencewassoonexposedtocontemptandoblivion；thevastsilenceofthepalacewasdisturbedonlybythecattleandpoultryoftheneighborhood，
whichrovedwithimpunitythroughthesolitarycourts；andareducedallowanceoftenthousandpiecesofgold^11wasallthathecouldask，andmorethanhecouldhope。Hiscalamitieswereimbitteredbythegradualextinctionofsight；hisconfinementwasrenderedeachdaymorerigorous；andduringtheabsenceandsicknessofhisgrandson，hisinhumankeepers，bythethreatsofinstantdeath，compelledhimtoexchangethepurpleforthemonastichabitandprofession。ThemonkAntonyhadrenouncedthepompoftheworld；yethehadoccasionforacoarsefurinthewinterseason，andaswinewasforbiddenbyhisconfessor，andwaterbyhisphysician，thesherbetofEgyptwashiscommondrink。Itwasnotwithoutdifficultythatthelateemperorcouldprocurethreeorfourpiecestosatisfythesesimplewants；andifhebestowedthegoldtorelievethemorepainfuldistressofafriend，thesacrificeisofsomeweightinthescaleofhumanityandreligion。Fouryearsafterhisabdication，AndronicusorAntonyexpiredinacell，intheseventy—fourthyearofhisage:
andthelaststrainofadulationcouldonlypromiseamoresplendidcrownofgloryinheaventhanhehadenjoyeduponearth。
^12
[Footnote10:IfollowthechronologyofNicephorusGregoras，whoisremarkablyexact。ItisprovedthatCantacuzenehasmistakenthedatesofhisownactions，orratherthathistexthasbeencorruptedbyignoranttranscribers。]
[Footnote*:Andthewasherwomen，accordingtoNic。Gregoras，p。
431—M。]
[Footnote11:Ihaveendeavoredtoreconcilethe24，000piecesofCantacuzenel。ii。c。1withthe10，000ofNicephorusGregoras，l。ix。c。2；theoneofwhomwishedtosoften，theothertomagnify，thehardshipsoftheoldemperor]
[Footnote12:SeeNicephorusGregoras，l。ix。6，7，8，10，14，l。x。c。1。Thehistorianhadtastedoftheprosperity，andsharedtheretreat，ofhisbenefactor；andthatfriendshipwhich\"waitsortothescaffoldorthecell，\"shouldnotlightlybeaccusedas\"ahireling，aprostitutetopraise。\"
Note:Butitmaybeaccusedofunparalleledabsurdity。Hecomparestheextinctionofthefeebleoldmantothatofthesun:
hiscoffinistobefloatedlikeNoah\'sarkbyadelugeoftears。
—M。]
[Footnote*:ProdigiesaccordingtoNic。Gregoras，p。460
announcedthedepartureoftheoldandimbecileImperialMonkfromhisearthlyprison。—M。]
Norwasthereignoftheyounger，moregloriousorfortunatethanthatoftheelder，Andronicus。^13Hegatheredthefruitsofambition；butthetastewastransientandbitter:inthesupremestationhelosttheremainsofhisearlypopularity；andthedefectsofhischaracterbecamestillmoreconspicuoustotheworld。ThepublicreproachurgedhimtomarchinpersonagainsttheTurks；nordidhiscouragefailinthehouroftrial；butadefeatandawoundweretheonlytrophiesofhisexpeditioninAsia，whichconfirmedtheestablishmentoftheOttomanmonarchy。
Theabusesofthecivilgovernmentattainedtheirfullmaturityandperfection:hisneglectofforms，andtheconfusionofnationaldresses，aredeploredbytheGreeksasthefatalsymptomsofthedecayoftheempire。Andronicuswasoldbeforehistime；theintemperanceofyouthhadacceleratedtheinfirmitiesofage；andafterbeingrescuedfromadangerousmaladybynature，orphysic，ortheVirgin，hewassnatchedawaybeforehehadaccomplishedhisforty—fifthyear。Hewastwicemarried；and，astheprogressoftheLatinsinarmsandartshadsoftenedtheprejudicesoftheByzantinecourt，histwowiveswerechosenintheprincelyhousesofGermanyandItaly。Thefirst，Agnesathome，IreneinGreece，wasdaughterofthedukeofBrunswick。Herfather^14wasapettylord^15inthepoorandsavageregionsofthenorthofGermany:^16yethederivedsomerevenuefromhissilvermines；^17andhisfamilyiscelebratedbytheGreeksasthemostancientandnobleoftheTeutonicname。^18Afterthedeathofthischildishprincess，AndronicussoughtinmarriageJane，thesisterofthecountofSavoy；^19andhissuitwaspreferredtothatoftheFrenchking。
^20ThecountrespectedinhissisterthesuperiormajestyofaRomanempress:herretinuewascomposedofknightsandladies；
shewasregeneratedandcrownedinSt。Sophia，underthemoreorthodoxappellationofAnne；and，atthenuptialfeast，theGreeksandItaliansviedwitheachotherinthemartialexercisesoftiltsandtournaments。
[Footnote13:ThesolereignofAndronicustheyoungerisdescribedbyCantacuzenel。ii。c。1—40，p。191—339andNicephorusGregoras，l。ixc。7—l。xi。c。11，p。262—361。]
[Footnote14:Agnes，orIrene，wasthedaughterofDukeHenrytheWonderful，thechiefofthehouseofBrunswick，andthefourthindescentfromthefamousHenrytheLion，dukeofSaxonyandBavaria，andconqueroroftheSclaviontheBalticcoast。HerbrotherHenrywassurnamedtheGreek，fromhistwojourneysintotheEast:butthesejourneysweresubsequenttohissister\'smarriage；andIamignoranthowAgneswasdiscoveredintheheartofGermany，andrecommendedtotheByzantinecourt。Rimius，MemoirsoftheHouseofBrunswick，p。126—137。]
[Footnote15:HenrytheWonderfulwasthefounderofthebranchofGrubenhagen，extinctintheyear1596，Rimius，p。287。HeresidedinthecastleofWolfenbuttel，andpossessednomorethanasixthpartoftheallodialestatesofBrunswickandLuneburgh，whichtheGuelphfamilyhadsavedfromtheconfiscationoftheirgreatfiefs。ThefrequentpartitionsamongbrothershadalmostruinedtheprincelyhousesofGermany，tillthatjust，butpernicious，lawwasslowlysupersededbytherightofprimogeniture。TheprincipalityofGrubenhagen，oneofthelastremainsoftheHercynianforest，isawoody，mountainous，andbarrentract，Busching\'sGeography，vol。vi。p。270—286，Englishtranslation。]
[Footnote16:TheroyalauthoroftheMemoirsofBrandenburghwillteachus，howjustly，inamuchlaterperiod，thenorthofGermanydeservedtheepithetsofpoorandbarbarous。EssaisurlesMoeurs，&c。Intheyear1306，inthewoodsofLuneburgh，somewildpeopleoftheVenedracewereallowedtoburyalivetheirinfirmanduselessparents。Rimius，p。136。]
[Footnote17:TheassertionofTacitus，thatGermanywasdestituteofthepreciousmetals，mustbetaken，eveninhisowntime，withsomelimitation，Germania，c。5。Annal。xi。20。
AccordingtoSpener，Hist。GermaniaePragmatica，tom。i。p。
351，ArgentifodinaeinHercyniismontibus，imperanteOthonemagnoA。D。968primumapertae，largametiamopesaugendidederuntcopiam:butRimiusp。258，259deferstilltheyear1016thediscoveryofthesilverminesofGrubenhagen，ortheUpperHartz，whichwereproductiveinthebeginningofthexivthcentury，andwhichstillyieldaconsiderablerevenuetothehouseofBrunswick。]
[Footnote18:Cantacuzenehasgivenamosthonorabletestimony。
Thepraiseisjustinitself，andpleasingtoanEnglishear。]
[Footnote19:Anne，orJane，wasoneofthefourdaughtersofAmedeetheGreat，byasecondmarriage，andhalf—sisterofhissuccessorEdwardcountofSavoy。Anderson\'sTables，p。650。
SeeCantacuzene，l。i。c。40—42。]
[Footnote20:Thatking，ifthefactbetrue，musthavebeenCharlestheFairwhoinfiveyears1321—1326wasmarriedtothreewives，Anderson，p。628。AnneofSavoyarrivedatConstantinopleinFebruary，1326。]
TheempressAnneofSavoysurvivedherhusband:theirson，JohnPalaeologus，wasleftanorphanandanemperorintheninthyearofhisage；andhisweaknesswasprotectedbythefirstandmostdeservingoftheGreeks。ThelongandcordialfriendshipofhisfatherforJohnCantacuzeneisalikehonorabletotheprinceandthesubject。Ithadbeenformedamidstthepleasuresoftheiryouth:theirfamilieswerealmostequallynoble；^21andtherecentlustreofthepurplewasamplycompensatedbytheenergyofaprivateeducation。WehaveseenthattheyoungemperorwassavedbyCantacuzenefromthepowerofhisgrandfather；and，aftersixyearsofcivilwar，thesamefavoritebroughthimbackintriumphtothepalaceofConstantinople。
UnderthereignofAndronicustheyounger，thegreatdomesticruledtheemperorandtheempire；anditwasbyhisvalorandconductthattheIsleofLesbosandtheprincipalityofAetoliawererestoredtotheirancientallegiance。Hisenemiesconfess，that，amongthepublicrobbers，Cantacuzenealonewasmoderateandabstemious；andthefreeandvoluntaryaccountwhichheproducesofhisownwealth^22maysustainthepresumptionthathewasdevolvedbyinheritance，andnotaccumulatedbyrapine。
Hedoesnotindeedspecifythevalueofhismoney，plate，andjewels；yet，afteravoluntarygiftoftwohundredvasesofsilver，aftermuchhadbeensecretedbyhisfriendsandplunderedbyhisfoes，hisforfeittreasuresweresufficientfortheequipmentofafleetofseventygalleys。Hedoesnotmeasurethesizeandnumberofhisestates；buthisgranarieswereheapedwithanincrediblestoreofwheatandbarley；andthelaborofathousandyokeofoxenmightcultivate，accordingtothepracticeofantiquity，aboutsixty—twothousandfivehundredacresofarableland。^23Hispastureswerestockedwithtwothousandfivehundredbroodmares，twohundredcamels，threehundredmules，fivehundredasses，fivethousandhornedcattle，fiftythousandhogs，andseventythousandsheep:^24apreciousrecordofruralopulence，inthelastperiodoftheempire，andinaland，mostprobablyinThrace，sorepeatedlywastedbyforeignanddomestichostility。ThefavorofCantacuzenewasabovehisfortune。Inthemomentsoffamiliarity，inthehourofsickness，theemperorwasdesiroustolevelthedistancebetweenthemandpressedhisfriendtoacceptthediademandpurple。Thevirtueofthegreatdomestic，whichisattestedbyhisownpen，resistedthedangerousproposal；butthelasttestamentofAndronicustheyoungernamedhimtheguardianofhisson，andtheregentoftheempire。
[Footnote21:ThenobleraceoftheCantacuzeniillustriousfromthexithcenturyintheByzantineannalswasdrawnfromthePaladinsofFrance，theheroesofthoseromanceswhich，inthexiiithcentury，weretranslatedandreadbytheGreeks，Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。258。]
[Footnote22:SeeCantacuzene，l。iii。c。24，30，36。]