THE STO RY O F T HE NATIO NS

L LU T T E E R VO L . I z M o I S A . P , R D ,

T H E E AR L I E R VO L UM E S A R E

f I N E F R E E B P o AS A . SO T H STO R Y O G E C . y r . I . HARR R F R E B TH U ILM A N T HE STO Y O O M . y A R R G EW B P f A K O S E R F T HE S . o S . M T HE ST O Y O J y r . J . H R B Z N R O F DE . A R A coz I T HE ST O Y C HA L A . y . — R F E R N . B S B ING O U L THE ST O Y O G MA Y y . AR G D F N W B P f H B YE S E N o . H . . O T HE ST O R Y O O R A Y . y r N E n E B . E . a d S SA H T HE ST O R Y O F SP A I . y U N AL N B P R of. A . VAM B Y T HE STO R Y O F H U GA R Y . y r E ST R O F E B P of L E TH E O Y C A RT H A G . y r . A FR D J . C H UR C H R F T R NS B I N T HE STO Y O HE S A A CE . y A RTH U R G LM A

T E STO R O F T HE OO RS IN S P N B ST NL E AN E - P OO L E H Y M A I . y A Y L N S B S EWETT T E T R O F T HE N O R . H H S O Y MA y ARA 0 . J T R F P E A B S W B A M IN . . EN T HE S O Y O RSI y G . . J R F N YP T R AW B Y EO . INSO N T HE STO Y O A C I ENT E G . G L ’ T ST R O F A E N DER S E P RE B P o f P H A HE O Y L X A M I . y r . I. . MA FFY F R B Z A . R AGO Z I THE STO R Y O A SS Y I A . y . N N B H H ST R O F R LA D . on E M I L WL E T E O Y I E y . Y LA SS HE O F T HE O T S B E N B L E T STO R Y G H . y H RY RAD Y

B S N - T HE ST O R Y O F T U R K E Y . y TA L E Y L AN E P O O L E T HE STO R O F ED B B O N AN D P E RS B Z A R GO ZIN Y M I A . A YL , IA . y . . A T HE ST O R O F E D E A F R N E B GUS TAVE SS ON Y M I V L A C . y MA T HE STO R O F B SU N A L Y M EX I C O . y SA H E T HE STO R O F O N D M E E H L B A S . T O E Y H LL A . y J O RO D R G RS T HE STO R O F P HCE NI IA B G E O GE R AW L INS ON Y C . y R T HE STO R O F T HE A N S T O WN S B E L E N I M M E Y H A . y H Z R N T HE ST O R O F E R B R T N . B P o f L E C C Y A LY I AI y r . A FR D J . H U R H

T HE ST O R O F T HE B R B R Y O RS RS B STA N L E AN E - P O LE Y A A C AI . y Y L O T HE ST O R O F R SS B W R M O R FI L L Y U IA . y . . T HE ST O R O F T HE E WS N DE R B W D I R E . O SO N Y J U O M y . . M RR T HE ST O R O F S CO T N D B O H N A K IN TO S H Y LA . y J M C T HE STO R O F S W T E R N D B R STE A n d r M s . A H . . a UG Y I Z LA y D . THE ST O R O F P O RT G L B H E T H . O S S E P E NS Y U A y . M R

F or prospectus of th e s e ri es se e e n d o f t h is v olu m e

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THE STO RY O F THE

BYZANTINE EMPIRE

w AN c. . . M A F A c O . S . M , . , . .

' E LLO W OF A L L S O U LS CO L L E G E O X O A UT H O R m W A R w- usx T u E F . F RD ; " “ ” KI N -M KE T H A O F W A R IN T H E c s G R E RT m o o n A m ETC . A . .

N E W V O Q Y

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THE STO RY O F THE

BYZANTINE EMPIRE

W AN M A F A C . . C . O . . S . M , . , .

NEW YO R K T A ’ G . U N S N P . P M SO S O N N T F I S E R U N WIN L D O : . H 1 89 2 C O P R T 1 8 2 Y IGH , 9 ’ B Y P P UT N S O NS G . . AM S

' ’ E n tered a t S ta tzon ers H a ll

B Y T F S ER NW N . I H U I

t h e knickerb och er pr ess mew pork PREFAC E.

“ FIFTY years ago the word By zan tin e was used

s n on m o as a y y for all that was c rrupt and decadent , and the tale of the E ast - Roman E mpire was dis mi ss ed by modern hi s to rian s as depressing and

o o o m not nou s . The great Gibb n had branded the succe ss ors o f Ju s tin ian and Heracliu s as a s eries of

s n o viciou weaklings , and for several generations one

o dared to c ntradict him . Two bo ok s have served to undeceive the Engl i s h

of reader , the monu mental work Finlay , pub lished i n

1 8 6 s of 5 , and the more modern volu me M r . Bury,

i n 1 8 8 . S which appeared 9 ince they have written ,

s o the Byzantine no l nger need an apologist , an d the great work of the Ea st - R o man Empire i n hold ing

S o back the aracen , and i n keeping al ive thr ughout

s the Dark Age the lamp of learning, is beginn ing to be realized . The writer of thi s bo ok h as endeavoured to tel l ' the s tory O f Byzantiu m i n the s pirit O f Finlay and

. s s o Bury , not i n that of Gibbon He wi he t acknow ledg e his d ebt s both to the veteran O f the war of vi P REFACE .

I Greek ndependence , and to the young Dubl in pro f ss r h is e o . Without their aid task would have been

— ffi w a s very heavy with it the di cul ty removed . The author d oes not claim to have grappled with

s O f E s al l the chronicler the a tern realm , but thinks

o that some acquaintance with Am mianus, Proc pius , ’ “ Strate ikon Maurice s g , Leo the Deacon , Leo the

o s o s Com n e n a Wise , C n tantine Porphyr genitu , Anna

N s and iceta , may j ustify his having undertaken the

h as task he essayed .

F D OX O R ,

F eérua 8 2 i , I 9 . N E N C O T TS .

BYZANTIUM

Fo n a on of B zan — Ea s o o f c u d ti y tium , 3 rly hi t ry the ity , 5 B zan — n B zan s o d A . D . 1 6 y ti e luxury , 7 y tium de tr ye 9 , 9

Ta n b Max iminus . ke y , I I

HE D T F ONSTANT N P E A D 2 8 T FOUN A I ON O C I O L ( . . 3 3 3 0) 1 3 —3 0

’ Con s an n a — Con s an n s C o c I — Th e t ti e the Gre t , I 5 t ti e h i e , 7 To o a of Con s an n o I — Th e S n a Ho s 2 1 p gr phy t ti ple , g e te u e , ’ T o o — t o 2 — on n h e 2 S . S a C s an s Hipp dr me , 5 phi , 7 t ti e Dedi

ca on F s a 2 . ti e tiv l , 9

T H E FI G H T W I T H T H E GO T Hs 3 1 44

Th e o s an d n s — Va n s an d o s G th the Hu , 3 5 le the G th 3 7 O ak of War — B a of A an o 1 utbre , 39 ttle dri ple , 4 .

IV.

THE DEP ART UR E OF THE GER MANS 45 — 5 3

— — S c o A1aric o a na s a n 1 — E O tili h , 47 the G th , 49 G i s l i , 5 xile f

sos o . Chry t m , 5 3 X CON TE N TS .

PAGE THE R EORGAN IZATI ON O F THE EASTERN EM P I RE

— - A D . 0 8 1 8 6 ( . 4 5 ) 5 4 4

— — Yo of T o os s II . E of E oc a R n of uth he d iu , 5 5 xile ud i , 5 7 eig M a c an s — Z no o an z s A 6 1 — R on of r i u , 5 9 e re rg i e the rmy , ebelli T o o c a n d h is a for I a 6 . he d ri Dep rture t ly , 3

JUSTI NI AN 65 - 8 0

’ ’ T o o a 6 — s n an s sona c a ac 6 — s n an s he d r , 7 Ju ti i per l h r ter , 9 j u ti i — ’ A 1 s n an s o n o c — Th e B s and rmy , 7 Ju ti i f reig p li y , 73 lue ’ n s — Th Nik — e a R o T o o a s s c . Gree , 75 i t , 77 he d r pee h , 79

’ JUSTI NI AN S FOREI GN CoNQUESTs

W ak n ss Of o s in I a 8 — Con es of A ca 8 e e the G th t ly , 3 qu t fri , 5 ’ Th eodah at s a 8 — Th e ot s s Ro 8 ugury , 7 G h be iege me , 9 B sa s a s R a n n a 1 — Baduila con s I a eli riu t ke ve , 9 re quer t ly , ’ — a o f K n B adu ila — s n an s S an s Con 93 De th i g , 95 Ju ti i p i h s s que t , 9 7 . I II V .

’ — T HE E N D O F J UST IN I A N s R E I GN 98 1 1 3

Fa of An oc — Th e a P a I O I — s n an as ll ti h , 99 Gre t l gue , Ju ti i

T o o an 1 0 — B isa s a s n s 1 0 — B d n he l gi , 3 el riu defe t the Hu , 5 uil i g ’ f t o a 0 — P a 1 0 — s n an s o S . S 1 oco s on t o S . S phi , 7 r piu phi , 9 Ju ti i

Fo s I I I — His s a on 1 1 rt , Legi l ti , 3 .

T H E CO MI N G O F T H E SL Avs 1 1 4- 1 2 7

— Th e o a s 1 1 — o a Con s s in I a 1 1 R s L mb rd , 5 L mb rd que t t ly , 7 i e

of Pa a c I I — P sia n \ a s 1 2 1 — Th e S a s 1 2 the p y , g er V r , l v , 3 — T e In as on of Mo s a 1 2 Fa of Ma c 1 2 . h ir v i e i , 5 ll uri e , 7 CON TEN TS . x i

PAGE THE DARK EST HOUR 1 2 8 - 1 40

M s o n s of P ocas 1 2 — Acc ss on of ac s 1 1 i f rtu e h , 9 e i Her liu , 3

’ ’ Th e of Ch osroes — V c o s of H ac s 1 Letter , I 33 i t rie er liu , 35 — F s S ofCons an n o 1 T ofHeracIius 1 . ir t ieg e t ti ple , 3 7 riumph , 39

SOC A AND R ELIGIOUs L FE A D 2 0—62 0 1 1 — 1 I L I ( . . 3 ) 4 5 7

ca of La n on 1 — C s an and S a De y the ti t g ue , 43 hri ti ity the t te , 1 — C s an an d S a I — E s of Monas c s 45 hri ti ity l very , 47 vil ti i m , I — S s ons 1 — W ak n ss s of B zan n Soc 49 uper titi , I 5 e e e y ti e iety, 1 — Es a of B zan n o 1 — 5 3 tim te y ti e S ciety , 5 5 5 7 .

THE COM I NG OF THE SARACENs 1 5 8— 1 7 2

R s of M a o 1 — A a In as on of S a I 6 I — erusa i e h met , 5 9 r b v i yri , J a n 1 6 — Th e Sons of ac s 1 6 — Th e T s lem t ke , 3 Her liu , 5 heme — — c a 1 6 Wa s of Con s an s II . 1 6 R n of Con re ted , 7 r t , 9 eig

stantin e IV. 1 x , 7 .

XIII .

— THE FI RST ANARC HY 1 73 1 8 3

— n d Fa of L eon tius 1 s n an I I . 1 6 Us a on a Ju ti i , 7 urp ti ll , 7 7

— - R o on of s n an I I . 1 An a c 1 1 1 A . D est rati Ju ti i , 79 r hy , 7 7 — A ss on of L eo Isa an 1 8 . 1 8 1 cce i the uri , 3

— T HE SA R ACE Ns T U R N ED B A C K 1 8 4 1 8 8

— 8 on s n n o b el ea ured . 1 8 Th e S a s 1 . C t a ti ple g 5 ieg e r i ed , 7 CON TEN TS .

XV. PAGE

— - A D. 2 0 8 0 2 1 8 2 0 THE ICONOCLASTS ( . 7 ) 9 1

’ S s o s Van s 1 1 — o s C sa a a ns I a s uper titi u itie , 9 Le ru de g i t m g e , — — 1 Con s an n V. sso s Mon as s 1 I n 93 t ti e di lve the terie , 97 re e — n s son 1 Co on a on of Ch arles a 20 1 . bli d her , 99 r ti the Gre t ,

— — EN F I N LAST A. D 8 0 2 8 8 6 2 0 2 2 1 THE D O THE CO OC S ( . ) 4

— — . M c a R n of Nice h orus I . 20 R n of Leo V 2 0 eig p , 3 eig , 5 i h el Am orian 2 0 — P s c on T o s 2 0 — Th e the , 7 er e uti by he philu , 9

- c o c of T o s 2 1 I M c a n a 2 1 . h i e he philu , i h el the Dru k rd , 3

XVII.

THE L TERAR EMP ER RS AND T E R T E A. D I Y O H I IM ( . 8 8 6— 963 ) 2 1 5 —2 2 5

’ R o L o VI an d on s n n VII 2 — o s Tactica n s f e . C a 1 eig t ti e 7 Le ,

2 1 — Art an d s 2 2 1 — Th e Co c of Cons an 9 Letter , mmer e t ti

n o le 2 2 p , 5 .

VI II X .

MILITARY GLORY 2 2 6—2 3 9

ca of Sa ac n ow 2 2 — Con s s of Nice h orus De y the r e p er , 7 que t p P ocas 2 2 — Ca of An oc 2 1 — M of Nice h orus h , 9 pture ti h , 3 urder p — — I. 2 o n Zimisces a s R ss ans 2 T , 33 J h defe t the u i , 35 riumph — of Zimisces 2 a of Zimisces 2 . , 37 De th , 39

XIX.

THE END O F THE MACEDON I AN DYNASTY 2 40—2 48

Th e B a an Wa s 2 1 — a of K n Sa 2 — h ulg ri r , 4 De th i g muel , 43 T e

ss Z oe a n d M a a s 2 - Empre her rri g e , 45 7 . CON TEN TS . xiii

PAGE — - 8 1 2 2 ER A. D 1 0 1 0 MANZIK T ( . 5 7 ) 49 5 7

Th e co n of el ouks 2 I — M s o n s of Ro an s mi g the S j , 5 i f rtu e m u — D o n s 2 a ac of A s Co n n s 2 . i g e e , 5 5 Ch r ter lexiu m e u , 5 7

XXI .

THE C OMNENI AND THE CR USADES 2 5 8—2 73 — N o an War 2 — B a 1 of azzo 2 6 1 Th e C sa s rm , 5 9 tt e Dur , ru de ,

— — N o an War 2 6 Con s s of A s I . 2 6 S con 3 que t lexiu , 5 e d rm , — 2 6 — R n of o n Co n n s 2 6 Wa s of M an L 7 eig J h m e u , 9 r uel , — F a of An on c s I . 2 . 2 7 1 ll dr i u , 7 3

XXII .

THE LATIN CONQUEST OF CONSTANTI NOP LE 2 74- 2 93

M s o n s of An 2 — C s and B a a lost i f rtu e the g eli , 75 ypru ulg ri , 2 — Th e Fo C sa 2 — Th e a s of sa 77 urth ru de , 79 Le der the Cru de, — 2 8 1 R s n a a ns F an ks 2 8 — Th e tw o S s of C on i i g g i t the r , 5 iege stan tin o le 2 8 — Th e F an k s n Con s an n o 2 8 p , 7 r e ter t ti ple , 9 — P n of C 2 1 Th e En d of A s cas 2 . lu der the ity, 9 lexiu Du , 93

XXIII .

THE LATI N EMP I RE AN D THE EMP I RE OF NI CAEA A D 1 2 0 — 1 2 6 1 2 — 6 ( . . 4 ) 94 3 0

— Bal w n I . s a n i n Ba 2 Th e S a a n S a s d i l i ttle , 95 m ller L ti t te ,

2 — S cc ss s of T o o L ascaris 2 — o n Vatatzes 97 u e e he d re , 99 J h

con s T ac 0 1 — Us a on of M c a l P a o o s quer hr e , 3 urp ti i h e le l gu , — 0 Th e F an s n o Con s an n o 0 . 3 3 r k drive fr m t ti ple , 3 5

XXIV.

D E D — — 2 0 D . 1 2 6 1 0 ECLIN AN DECAY (A. 1 3 2 8) 3 7 3

W akn ss of s o E — Co c a ca e e the re t red mpire , 309 mmer i l De y , 1 1 — R s of O o an T s 1 — T k s Wa s Of 3 i e the tt m urk , 3 3 ur i h r An on c s II 1 — Ro F o I — As a M n o os dr i u . , 3 s g er de l r , 3 7 i i r l t , 3 1 9 CON TE N TS .

XXV. P AGE

— THE TUR KS IN EU ROP E 3 2 1 3 3 1

— an T 2 — R o of Can tacuzen us 2 Con Orkh the urk , 3 3 ev lt , 3 5 — s s O f S an s 2 Th e T ks c oss n o E o que t the ervi , 3 7 ur r i t ur pe , — 2 S O f P a a 1 . 3 9 iege hil delphi , 3 3

XXVI .

— — THE ND F A L N T E A. D 1 0 1 2 0 E O O G AL ( . 3 7 45 3 ) 3 3 3 5

R n of o n P a o o s — T s C Wa s eig J h le l gu , 333 urki h ivil r , 335 — M . a on an n o a O f M an II a II a c s C s . ur d tt k t ti ple , 33 7 De th uel , — — o n VI . at F o n c 1 M a o II . a ac s Con 339 J h l re e , 34 h met tt k stan tin o le — A a of s —~ as o s Of p , 343 p thy the Greek , 3 45 L t H ur X I — a of Con s an in o n n F . Con s a . t ti e , 3 47 ll t t ple , 349

I N D E X

I S T OF I US TRA TI xvi L LL ONS .

PAGE CAVALR Y SCOUTS (FROM A BYZA NTI N E FROM

“ ’ ” ART B ANT N . PAR C R ES B ET . P R S L YZ I HA L AY A I ,

ANT N 1 88 QU I , 3

D SOP A ETAIL S O F ST . HI

I SOP A CO LUM NS N ST . HI

GALLER I ES O F ST . SOP HI A

CR SS F T N S 1 1 . FR O THE AT CAN FR O O J US I U ( M V I ) . OM

“ ’ ” RT B NT N . P AR AR ES BA ET. P R S L A YZA I CH L Y A I ,

NT N 1 88 QUA I , 3 W “ ’ ” GEN ER E O F ST . SOP A FRO ART B ANT N AL VI HI ( M L YZ I .

PAR C . B ET . P AR S ANT N 1 88 AY I , QU I , 3) I LLUMI N ATED I N IT IAL S (FR O M B YZANTI N E FRO M

’ ” ART B ANT N . PAR . BA ET. PAR S ANT N L YZ I c Y I . QU I , 1 883 C HURC H O F THE TWE LVE AP OSTLES AT T H ESSALON I CA

“ ’ ”

FRO ART B NT N P AR C R ES B ET. ( M L YZA I . HA L AY

P AR S N T N I 88 I , QUA I , 3)

B S OPS ON S NGS A M EN AN D WO EN DO R I H , M K , KI , L Y , M , A ING THE MADONNA (FRO M A BYZANT I NE FR OM

“ ’ ” ART BY ANT N P AR C AR ES BA ET . PAR S L Z I . H L Y I ,

ANT N 1 88 QU I , 3 REP RESENTA TI ON O F THE MADON NA ENTH RONED (FRO M

“ ’ A B T N E R F R T N N O . O R T B N YZ A I I V Y) M L A YZ A I .

P A R C R E S B E T P R S N T N 1 8 8 H A L A Y . A I , QU A I , 3

DETA A ILS O F ST . SO P HI

' ‘ BYZAN I INE M ETAL WO R K (OU R LORD AND THE TWELVE

“ ’ APOST ES . FRO ART B N N P L ) M L YZA TI . AR CHARLES

B ET . PAR S ANT N AY I , QU I , 1 883

A WARR R - A N I O S I T (ST . L EONTIUS) (FROM A BYZANTI NE

’ ” FRESCO . FRO RT B ANT PAR ) M L A YZ I N . C HAR LES

B ET . P R S N T N 1 88 AY A I , QUA I , 3 T A LI S OF I LL US TR TI ONS . xvi i

PAGE RETURN O F A VI CTO RI OUS E MP EROR (FR O M AN EM

’ ED R B E FR O ART B ANT N . P AR B RO ID ER O ) . M L YZ I

AR ES BA ET P AR S ANT N 1 88 CH L Y I , QU I , 3

E N FR A B ANT M FR ARAB ESQU E D SI G OM YZ I N E S. ( O M

“ ’ ” RT B ANT N . PAR C AR ES B A ET . P AR S L A YZ I H L Y I ,

ANT N 1 88 QU I , 3

R USSI AN A RC HI TECTURE FRO M B YZANTI NE M ODEL

’ ” R AT AD R . FR RT B ANT N (CHU CH VL IMI ) O M L A YZ I .

P AR C AR ES B A ET . P AR S ANT N 1 8 8 H L Y I , QU I , 3

OUR LO R D B LESS I NG RO MANU S D I OGEN ES AND EU DOCI A

“ ’ R AT P AR FR RT B N (FRO M AN IVO Y I S) . O M L A YZA ” AR AR E B T P AR 8 TIN P C S A E . S ANT N 1 8 . H L Y I , QU I , 3

NICEP HORUS B OTANIATES SITTI NG IN STATE (FROM A

“ ’ NTE PORAR FR O ART B ANT N CO M Y M L YZ I .

P AR C AR ES BA ET . P AR S NT N 1 88 H L Y I , QUA I , 3

BYZANTI NE IVOR Y - CAR VI NG O F T H E TWELFT H CENTU RY

“ ‘ FR T E FRO ART ( O M THE BR I I SH MUS UM) . M L

B ANT N PAR C AR ES BA ET . P AR S ANT N YZ I . H L Y I , QU I , 1 883

“ ’ HUNTERS (FROM A BYZANTI N E FRO M L ART

B ANT N . P AR C AR ES BA ET . PAR S ANT N YZ I H L Y I , QU I , 1 883

W N A T P E FR TH D VI E O F CO ST N I NO L . ( O M E SI E OF THE H ARB OU R)

“ ’ ” B ANT NE RE AR FRO ART B ANT PAR YZ I LIQU Y ( M L YZ I N .

C AR ES B A ET. P R S ANT N 1 88 H L Y A I , QU I , 3)

“ F N A FR A B ANT NE FR ’ART BYZAN I I L O M YZ I MS . ( OM L ” TIN . PAR C AR ES BA ET . P AR S AN T N 1 88 H L Y I , QU I , 3

FO NTA N IN T E P U I H COURT OF ST . SO HIA O I ATI xvi i i LI S T F LL US TR ONS .

PAGE BYzANTINE C AP E AT AN I THE O LD CAP T O F H L , I AL ” ’ E AR M ENIA (FR OM L ART BYZA NT I N . P AR C HA R L S

BA ET . P R S NT N 1 88 Y A I , QUA I , 3) AND RO N I CU S P ALEO LOGUS AD O R I NG OUR LO RD (FRO M

“ ’ ” AR T B ANT N . PAR C AR ES BA ET . P R S L YZ I H L Y A I ,

ANT N 1 88 QU I , 3) J O H N CAN TACUZ ENUS SI TT I NG IN STATE (FRO M A CON ” “ ’ P AR TEM P O RA RY FR O M L ART BYZA NT I N .

C AR E S B A ET. PAR S ANT N 1 8 8 H L Y I , QU I , 3 MAN U E L P ALEOLOGUS AND H IS FAMILY (FRO M A CON ” “ ’ P AR TEM PO RARY FRO M L ART B YZA NT I N .

C AR ES BA ET . P R S ANT N 1 88 H L Y A I , QU I , 3

FR ARA B ESQUE D ESI GN FRO M A B YZANT I N E M S . ( O M

“ ’ ” ART B N PAR R ES B ET. P AR S L YZA TI N . CHA L AY I ,

ANT N 1 88 QU I , 3)

D ETA S F P IL O ST . SO HI A ” ’ N PAR ANGE L O F T H E N I GH T (FRO M L ART B YZANT I . 88 C AR ES BA ET . P AR S U NT N 1 H L Y I , Q A I , 3) THE STORY OF THE YZ N EMPIRE B ANTI E .

" M BYZANT IU .

TWO thousand five h un d red an d fi fty —eight years ago a little fleet of galley s t o iled pa i nfully again st the

o s o f s o cu rrent up the l ng trait the Helle p nt , rowed

ss o o s to n acro the broad Pr p nti , and came a chor i n the smooth waters o f the fi rst inlet which cuts i nto the

o s European shore f the Bo phorus . There a long

s - s - o cre cent haped creek , which after ages were to kn w as s s for s the Golden Horn , trike inland even miles , forming a quiet backwater from the rapid stream

o s O n s which ru ns ut ide . the headland , enclo ed

s o sea fe w between thi in let and the pen , a hundred

o s s s s s c loni ts di embarked , and ha tily ecured themselve

s of so from the wild tribe the inland , by ru n ning me rough sort o f a s tockade acros s the gro u nd from beach

to s s o f . beach . Thu w a fou nded the city Byzantium

s s o o The ettler were Greeks f the D rian race,

a e s o f - a o f o n e n tiv the thriving s eap o rt st te Megara, of 2 B YZAN TI UM. the most enterprising o f all the cities of Hellas in the time o f colonial and com mercial expansion which was then at its height . Wherever a Greek prow had cut

o o s its way int u nkn wn waters , there Megarian eamen

f its n e f were soon found ollowing in wake . O band o these ventures ome traders pu s hed far to the Wes t to

o S S o f plant col n ies i n icily, but the larger hare the

w as o s s attention of Megara turned t wards the u nri ing, towards the mi st - enshrouded entrance o f the Black

la ea o s s . S and the fabul u land that y beyond There , as s to o f legend told , was be fou nd the real m the

E o of Golden Fleece , the ldorad the ancient world , where kings of u ntold wealth reigned over the t ribes

: s o f of Colchis there dwelt , by the bank the river

Th erm odon o s w h o , the Amaz n , the warl ike women

- o s had once vexed far off Greece by their inr ad there,

to o on e s too, was be f und , if could but truggle far

o of enough u p its northern sh re, the land the Hyper b orean s ss o w h o N , the ble ed f lk dwel l behind the orth

ow Wind and kn nothing of storm and winter . To seek these fabled w o nders the Greeks s ailed ever North and East till they had come to the extreme

s of o limits of the sea . The riche the G lden Fleece

n or they did not fi nd , the cou ntry of the Hyper b orean s n or o s , the tribes of the Amaz n but they did

s s o di cover many land well w rth the knowing, and grew rich o n the pro fits which they drew fro m the

s s s o f o metals of Colchi and the fore t Paphlag nia , from the rich corn land s by the bank s o f the Dnieper and

s e s o f os o s Bug, and the fi heri the B ph ru and the

aeo ic s o s o f M t Lake . Pre ently the wh l e coa tland the sea s o n s o , which the Greek , their fir t c m ing, called FO UN ATI ON OF B YZ A T D N I UM . 3

— A x ein os the Inhospitable became fringed with

s w as trading ettlements, and its name changed ” to Eux einos the Hospitable —in recogn ition of

. It S s tw o its friendly ports was in a imilar piri t that ,

s s w h o thousand year later, the eamen led the next

s o f o o os E o great i mpul e expl rati n that r e i n ur pe , “ ” tu rned the n ame o f the Cape of Storm s into that

of of the Cape Good Hope .

s The Megarian , al most more than any other Greeks , E devoted their attention to the u xi ne , and the fo undati on of Byzantiu m w as bu t one of their many

s . o achievement Already, seventeen years bef re

of Byzantiu m came into being, another ban d Megarian colonists had es tablished themselves at

on s of Chalcedon , the opposite Asiatic hore the

s s s Bosphoru . The ettlers who were de tined to fou nd the greater C ity appl ied to the oracle of Delphi to

o give them advice as to the site of their new h me, an d “ o o Apoll , we are t ld , bade them build their town

s c over again t the ity of the bl i nd . They therefore

o o pitched upon the headlan d by the G lden H rn , reasoning that the Chalcedonian s were truly blind to have neglected the more el igible site o n the Thracian

o o in sh re, in order to f u nd a colony on the far less v itin S g Bithyn ian ide of the strait . Fro m the first its s ituation marked out Byzantium

s om as de tined for a great futu re . Al ike fr the mil i tary and fro m the com mercial p o in t of view no city o ou c uld have been better placed . Looking t from the

s o f E o eastern mo t headland Thrace, with al l ur pe

s o w a s behind it and all A ia bef re , it equally well suite d to be the fro ntier fo rtres s to defend the bo rd e r B YZ A N T 4 I UM . o f o n e as s o f o o s for a n n the , or the b i perati n invasio

o e A s o es s s w e ose e a s fr m the o th r . f rtr e nt in th rly day it w a s alm os t impre gn abl e —tw o S ides protected by

s o n ot o the water , the third by a tr ng wal l c m manded

In its r s o by any neighbouring h e igh ts . al l ea ly hi t ry Byzantiu m never fe l l by s to rm : famine o r treach e ry accou nted fo r the fe w o ccas io n s o n whi ch it fell int o

s o f e In its o s the hand an nemy. c m mercial a pect the

w as o It place even m re favou rably s ituated . com pletely c o mmanded the wh ole Bl a ck Sea trade every

E R O N O F B NT A LY C I YZA I UM .

T E CO IN O F B NT S O W N S LA YZA IUM H I G C RESCE NT AN D TA R. vessel th a t went fo rth fro m Greece o r Io n ia to traffi c

S or o s s with cythia C lchi , the land by the Danube

o o r th e s s o f M aeo tic L to a ss m uth hore the ake , had p

C os its a s s o a os e r o f l e under w ll , th t the pr p ity a hun dred Hell e n ic to w n s o n th e Euxin e w as al w ays a t the

o f s f mercy the master o Byzantiu m . The Greek l oved

S o t s e s e s o s as a - h r tag and frequ nt t ppage , and hal f way h o u s e al o n e Byzantiu m wo uld have been pros perou s : but it had al so a fl ouri s hing l oc a l trad e of its ow n

th e r s o f th e o a c with t ibe neighb u ring Thr ian inland ,

6 B YZ AN TI UM .

B. the obstin ate garrison [ C . The fleet wintered s founda there , and it was at Byzantiu m that the fi r t

of tions of the naval empire Athens were laid , when all the Greek s tates of Asia placed their s hips at the dispos al of the Athenian admiral s Cim o n and

is i e s A r te d . During the fifth century Byzantiu m twice declared

s s war on Athen , now the mistress of the sea , and on each occasi o n fell into the hands of the enemy— once

B C . by voluntary surrender in 439 . , once by treachery

08 B . C . s from within , i n 4 But the Athenian , except in

s s s one or two di graceful ca e , did not deal hardly with their conquered enem ies , and the Byzanti nes escaped anything harder than the payment of a heavy war

In indemn ity. a few years their commercial gains

o s repaired all the l sses of war, and the state was it elf again . We know comparatively little about the internal

s s f hi tory of the e early centuries of the li e of Byzantiu m . Some odd fragments of information s urvive here and

: w s there we kno , for example , that they u ed iron C instead of opper for small money , a peculiarity s s s hared by no other ancient tate ave Sparta . Their

o alphabet rejoiced in an abn rmally shaped B , which

s TT puzzled all other Greek , for it resembled a with an

lim I of extra b . The chief gods the city were those that we might have expected— Poseidon the ruler of

w s ss the sea , ho e ble ing gave Byzantiu m its chief

o wealth and Demeter, the goddess who presided ver the Thracian and Scythian corn lands which formed its S r s second ou ce of pro perity.

See co n on a i p g e 4, B YZ A N TI NE U UR Y L X . 7

s w o us The Byzan tine ere, if ancient chr n iclers tell ' s s the truth , a luxu riou s a well as a bu y race : they s o s s pent too much time in their nu mer u inn , where the excellent wines of M aron ea and other neighb ou r

s o f s ing place f ered great temptation . They were

s too s : n e s glutton as well as tippler on o occa ion , we

s e C in are as ur d , the whole ivic militia struck work the

o f o s to height a siege, til l their c m mander con ented all ow res tau rants to be erected at c o nven ient d i s tances

s O n e o s us round the rampart . comic writer inf rm that the Byzantines were eating you ng tu n n y - fi sh

— s o their favourite dish constantly , that their whole

o s - o s w as b die had become well n igh gelati n u , and it th ought they might melt if expos ed to too great heat ! Probably thes e tales are the scandal s o f neighbours w h o s for envied Byzantine pro perity , it is at any rate certain that the city showed all through its hi story great energy and love of i ndependence, and never s hrank fro m war as we s hould have expected a n ation of epicu res to do . It was n ot till the ri s e of Phil ip o f Macedon an d h is greater son Alexander that Byzantiu m fel l for the

fifth time i nto the hands of an en emy . The elder ’ king w as repulsed from the city s wal l s after a l o ng s ie e culmin atin g , g in an attempt at an escalade by n ight , which w as fru strated owing to the s udden appearance of a l ight i n heaven , which revealed the advancing e nemy and was taken by the Byzantines as a toke n

s B C In o o of pecial divine aid [ . c m memorati n of it they ass u med as o n e of their civic badges the

s s n blazing crescent and tar, which has de ce ded to ou r ow n days and is s till u sed as an emblem by the present 8 B YZ AN TI UMZ

— s t owners o f the ci ty the O tto man Sultan . But af er repul s ing Phil ip the Byzantin e s had to s ub mit some

s e h o year lat r to Alexander . T ey f rmed under him

o f e o s o part the n rmou Maced nian empire , and passed on h is decease through the hand s of h is s ucce ssors

s Poliorce tes s s . Demetriu , and Ly imachu After the

o f a o w death the latter in b ttl e , h ever , they recovered a o s o precari u freed m , and were agai n an independent

o for s o w o f c mmunity a hu ndred year , till the p er Ro me invaded the regi ons o f Thrace and the Helles pont Byzantiu m w a s o n e o f the citie s which too k the wi se cours e o f m aking an early all iance with the

s oo s ms con se Roman , and obtained g d and ea y ter in

uence s o q . Du ring the war of R me with Macedon and Anti ochu s the Great it proved s u ch a faithful ' ' a s si stant that the Sen ate gave it the s tatu s o f a czvzl as

' ‘ ” l zbem et oedem za c f , a free and onfederate city , and

w as n ot o o it taken u nder d irect R man g vern ment , but all owed c o mplete l iberty in everything s ave the con tro l o f its foreign relation s and the payment o f a

It w as o tribute to Rome . not till the R man Republ ic

o s E o s s a had l ng pas ed away, that the mper r Ve pa i n s s s tripped it of the e p rivilege , and threw it into the

o o f to s fo r a s pr vince Thrace , exi t the future an

o o A . D rdinary provincial t wn [ . Th ough deprived of a l iberty which had for long

s os o t year been al m t n minal , Byzan iu m could not be

os o for o It deprived of its u nrivalled p iti n c mmerce .

to s F OA: R OI/Irm a continued flouri h under the , the long - continued peace which al l the inner countri es of th e empire enj oyed during the fi rst tw o centuries of 1 6 . B YZ AN TI UM DE S TR O YE D A . D . 9 9

' ‘ ze zIi ze is the i mperial g , and mentioned again and again as one o f the m ost important citie s of th e m iddle

o s regi n of the Roman world .

an fo r But evil time for Byzantiu m , as al l the other

of C parts the ivilized world , began when the golden

of o s o age the Ant nines cea ed , and the ep ch of the m ili

o s In 1 2 A . D . o o s tary emper r followed . 9 , C mm du , the

un w arth so n of oo s s y the great and g d Marcu Au rel iu ,

s was murdered , and ere long three military u urpers

r for h is oo - s we e wrangling bl d tai ned d iadem . Most unhappily for its elf Byzantiu m lay o n the l ine of

s o s n o s d ivi i n between the ea ter pr vince , where Pes

cen n ius N o I iger had been pr claimed , and the llyrian

s S s ss province , where everu had a u med the imperial

s f . w as e o S tyle The city s ized by the army yria , and

h s s S s strengthened in a te . Pre ently everu appeared

o s s s o f fr m the we t , after he had made hi m elf ma ter

o I o o s o f h is R me and taly , and fell up n the f rce rival

Pesce n n i s o o e s o f I u . Vict ry foll w d the arm the lly

o s s w a s s S a rian legi n , the ea t ubdued , and the yri n

o to h is emper r put death . But when al l other

adherents had yielded , the garrison of Byzantiu m

s to s Fo r o tw o s refu ed ubmit . m re than year they

“ maintained the impregnable city again s t the l ieu

s s a s n A D 6 S w ot . . 1 a tenant of everu , and it til l 9 th t

o o they were f rced to yi eld . The emper r appeared i n

person to pu n is h the long - protracted res i stance of the

o so C s t wn not only the garri n , but the ivil magi trates of s o h is ss Byzantiu m were lain bef re eyes . The ma ive wall s so firmly bu ilt with great square st o nes clamped

o o s together with b lts of ir n , that the whole eemed but ” s e o one block , were laboriou ly ast down . The pr perty 1 0 B YZ AN TI UM

of C the itizens was confiscated , and the town itself deprived of all mu nicipal privilege s and handed over to be go verned l ike a dependent vil lage by its neigh

s bours o f Perinthu . s o n S Caracalla , the of everus , gave back to the

s h Byzantine the rig t to govern themselves , but the

o t wn had received a hard blow, and would have

o s o its os required a l ng pell of peace to rec ver pr perity .

w as s s Peace h owever it not de tined to ee. All through the m iddle years of the third centu ry it w as vexed by

s o s s w h o ss the incu r i n of the Goth , harried mercile ly the co u ntries o n the Black S e a wh ose co mmerce sus

‘ r s A D 2 n e i s t ade . . 6 w as tai d t . Under Gallienu in 3 it

s o h again eized by an usu rping emper r, and s ared the

s fate of h is adheren ts . The oldiers of Gallienu s s to acked Byzantiu m from cellar garret , and made s uch a s laughter of its inhabitants that it is s aid that the o ld Megarian race w h o had so long posses sed it B ut were absolutely exterminated . the irres i stible attraction of the s ite w as too great to allow its ruin s

s to remain deso late . Within ten year after its sack

o f s n by the army Gallien u , we fi nd Byza tium ag ain

s o s s a populou t wn , and its i nhabitant are pecially prai s ed by the hi sto rian Treb e llius Po llio for the c o urage with which they repel led a Gothic raid i n the

s II reign o f Claudiu .

s I The trong llyrian emperors , who staved off from the Roman E mpire the ruin which appeared abo ut to

o f overwhel m it i n the third quarter the third century, gave Byzantiu m time and peace to recover its ancient

It s o prosperity . profited e pecially fr m the constant neighbourhood of the imperial court, after Diocletian TAKEN B Y M AXI MI N US . 1 1

N o s fixed his residen ce at icomed ia, nly ixty m il es

o f o away, on the Bithynian side the Pr pontis . But the mil itary importance of Byzantiu m w as always n its o s i terfering with c m mercial greatn e s . After the abdication of Diocletian the empire was for twenty years vexed by constant partition s of territory between th e o colleagues wh m he left behind him . Byzantiu m

o s i ci i after a while found itself the border f rtre s of L n u s,

i n the emperor who ru led the Balkan Pen insula , whil e

M ax imin us o s Daza was governing the Asiatic pr vince .

w as in I M ax imin us While Lici nius absent taly, ’ treacherou s ly attacked h is rival s d o minion s without

w ar an d o s declaration of , to k Byzantiu m by surpri e . But

I n o s the llyria emper r returned in ha te, defeated his

o n ot w grasping neighb ur far from the alls of the city, and recovered his great frontier fortress after it had

n fe w o s A . D bee only a m nths out of his hand [ . The town mu s t have su ffe red s everely by changing

o s n ot o masters twice in the same year it d e , h wever ,

s as w as so seem to have been acked or bu rnt , often

os s the case with a captured city i n th e d i mal days . But Liciniu s when he had recovered the place set to

w as n o work to render it i mpregnable . Though it t

o h is his capital he made it the chief f rtress of real m ,

s M ax im in us which , ince the defeat of , embraced the

o w hole eastern half of the Roman w rld . It was accordingly at Byzantiu m that Licinius

h is s D 2 A . . made last desperate tand , when in 3 3 he found himsel f engaged i n an unsuccess fu l war with

- ih - E his brother law Constantine , the mperor of the

s s West . For many months the war tood til l beneath the walls of the city ; but Con s tantine pers evered in I Z B YZAN TI UM .

s s a o s o oo e the iege , rai ing gre t m u nd which verl k d the

s s e a e s o s wal l , and we ping way the d fender by a c n tant s o f ss s o s o f tream mi ile , launched fr m dozen military engines whi ch he had erected o n thes e artificial

s s s s height . At la t the city urrendered , and the cau e

o f s os . o s s o f h is Lici niu was l t C n tantine, the la t

s s o o o f rival subdued , became the l e emper r the

o s o o o n s R man world , and t o d a vict r the rampart

w s h is which were ever after ard to bear name.

1 T CONS TAN TI N OP E 4 THE FO UN DA I ON OF L .

h is c A which we recognize in great prede essor ugustus , or of s in Frederic the Great Pru sia . Though the s train o f old Roman blood in his vein s

s o s w as must have been but mall , C n tan tine in many

o un ways a typical R man ; the hard , cold , steady,

ONST NT N E T HE RE T C A I G A .

wearyin g energy , which in earl ier centuries had won

w a s o the empire of the world , nce more incarnate in him . But if Roman in character , he was anything

h is s s but Roman in ympathie . Born by the Danube , S TA H CON N TINE T E G REA T. 1 5 r eared in the cou rts and camps of Asia and Gaul , he was absolutely free from any of that s uperstiti o u s reverence for the ancient gl ories o f the city on the

so Tiber which had inspired many of his predecessors . Italy was to hi m but a seco ndary province amongs t

s s s his wide real m . When he di tributed his domin ion among his heirs , it was Gau l that he gave as the noble s t share to his eldest and bes t - loved son : Italy ’ was to hi m a you nger child s portion . There had been empero rs befo re hi m who had neglected Rome

M a x imin us I the ba rbarian . had dwelt by the Rhine and the Danube ; the po l itic Diocletian had chosen

h is o s n o o n e Nicomedia as fav urite re idence . But h ad yet d reamed of raising up a rival to the m i s tres s o f of o o o the world , and tu rning R me i nt a pr vincial If town . preceding emperors had dwelt far afield , it was to meet the exigencie s of wa r o n the frontiers

of s I or the govern ment d istant province . t w as reserved for C o n stantin e to erect o ver again st Rome

o s for o a rival metrop l i the civilized w rld , an imperial city which w as to be neither a mere camp n o r a mere o s c urt , but the admin i trative and com mercial centre o f the Roman w o rld . For more than a hu ndred years Rome had been a

o s o mos t inc nven ient re idence for the emper rs . The main problem wh ich had been before them was the repell ing of inces sant barbarian in road s on the Balkan Pen in sula ; the troubles on the Rhine and th e Eu

h rates o o . p , though real en ugh , had been but m in r evils

o o of Rome , placed hal f way d wn the long proj ecti n

I o s s taly, hand icapped by its bad harb u r an d eparated

s o f from the rest of the empire by the pas s e the Alps, 1 6 TH E F O UND ATI ON O F C ON S TAN TI N OP LE . was too far away fro m the p o int s where the emperor w as m ost wanted— the bank s o f the Danube a n d the walls of Sirmiu m and Singidunu m . For the ever recu rring wars with Pers ia it w as even m ore in con ve n ien t ; but thes e were less press ing dangers ; no Pers ian army had yet penetrated beyo nd An ti o ch o nly 2 00 m iles fro m the fro ntier— while in the Balkan

‘ P e n in s ula the Goth s had broken so far into the heart of the empire a s to sack Athen s and Thes sal o n ica .

o s o h is C n tantine, with al l the R man world at feet ,

its s e s on h is w as and all re ponsibiliti weighin g mind , fa r too able a man to overl oo k the great need o f the day— a m o re c o nven iently placed ad m in i strative and

r fo r h is m ilita y centre em pire . H e requ ired a place that s h o u ld be ea s ily acces s ible by land and s ea which R o me had n ever been in s pite o f its w onderful

o s — o oo s r ad that should verl k the Danube land , with out b e ing to o far away fro m the Ea st that S h o uld be so s tro ngly S ituated that it m ight prove an impreg nable arsenal and citadel against barbarian attack s fro m the n orth that Sh ould at the same time be far en ough away fro m the tu rm o il of the actual frontier to affo rd a s afe and S plendid res idence fo r the imperial

r s s s c o u t . The name of everal town are given by hi s t o rian s as havi ng sugges ted themselves to Con — s w as h is w n - Naiss us s ta n tin e . Fi r t o birth place

N s o n o o f ( i ch) the M rava , in the heart the Balkan Pen insula ; but Naiss us had little to rec o mmend it :

' it was too clos e to the frontier and too far fro m the s e a ardica— o o a — w a s . S the m dern S fi in Bulgaria

s o l iable to the ame obj ecti ns , and had not the sole

o f Na iss us advantage , that of being con nected in ’ T CON S AN TI N E S CHOI CE . 1 7

’ s s N s entiment with the emper o r early day . ic o media on its long gulf at the eas t end o f the Pro p o nti s w as

s o w a a n d h ad a more el igible ituati n in every y , al ready s erved as an imperial res idence But all that could be urged in favo ur of Nico m e d ia appl ied

o to o with double f rce Byzantium , and , i n add iti n , Con s tantine had n o wi s h to ch oos e a city i n whi ch h is o w n memory would be eclip sed by that of h is

sso o os w as s s predece r D i cletian , and wh e name a o

ciated s s ass o f h is s s w by the Chri tian , the cl ubj ect hom

s o f s o s he had mo t favoured l ate , with the per ecuti n of

l For I s o Ga erius . Di cletian and liu m , the la t place

o h is o on which C nstantine had cast m ind , n thing

its s could be alleged except ancient legendary glorie , and the fact that the mythol ogists o f Rome had always fabled that their city d rew its o ri g i n fro m the

s fEn e as o os to s e a exiled Troj an of . Th ugh cl e the

oo o w as s too it had no g d harb ur, and it j u t far from the mouth of the Helle s pont to command e ffectually

o f E the exit the uxine .

on l Byzantiu m , the other han d , was thoroughly we l known to Con stantine For m o nth s h is camp had been pitched beneath its wal l s ; he mu s t hav e

o of its o s e kn wn accu rately every inch envir n , and non o f its ss h is m ilitary advantage s can have m i ed eye .

N o o h is othi ng, then , c uld have been m re natural than s electi o n o f the old Megarian city for h is new capital .

‘ Yet the Roman w o rld w a s s tartled at the fi r s t news of h is ch o ice ; Byzantiu m had been so l o ng kn o wn

o o f for E a merely as a great p rt call the u xine tr de , an d

fi rst- C o s w as as a lass provincial f rtres , that it hard to

of o f conceive it as a destined seat empire . 8 A TI I THE F O UND ON OF CON S TAN TI N OP L E.

When once Con s tantine had determined to make

h is to Byzantiu m capital , i n preference any other

s h is s s place in the Balkan land , mea ure were taken

h is s o ss s with u ual energy and th roughne . The l imit o f the new city were a t once marked out by solem n

o s o old s In pr ces i ns in the Roman tyle . later ages a pictures que legend w as to ld to accou nt for the mag n ifi ce n t s o n o cale which it was planned . The emper r,

ou t o n o o o h is we read , marched f ot , f l l wed by all

o h is s c u rt , and traced with pear the line where the

o o s to A s new f rtificati n were be drawn . he paced on further and further westward al o ng the shore of

o w as s the G lden Horn , t ill he more than two mile

o h is s - o B zan away fr m tarting p int , the gate of old y

h is s o s s tiu m , attendant grew more and m re u rpri ed at

s ss of h is s s the va tne cheme . At la t they ventured to obs erve that he had already exceeded the m os t ample

c on l im its that an imperial city ould requ ire . But C “ sta n tin e : I s o turned to rebuke them hal l g on , he “ s s aid , u ntil He , the i nvi ible guide who marches

o s to s h is m ste bef re me , think fit top Guided by y rious s of ss pre entiment greatne , the emperor advanced till he w a s three miles fro m the eas tern angle 01

o h is s s Byzantium , and nly turned tep when he had included in h is b o undary l in e all the seven hills w hich are embraced in the p e n insula between the Proponti s and the G olden H orn . The ris ing grou nd j u st outside the wal l s of the old

’ s s e city , where Con tantine t nt had been pitched during

of B C 2 w as s ou t as the siege . . 3 3 , elected the market

f o o place o the new f undati n . There he erected the ' ' “ M zlzon s o , or golden mile t ne , from which all the TH E TOP O RAP Y O F C ON S TAN TI N P E 1 G H O L . 9 d is tance s of the ea stern world were i n futu re to be “ s o measu red . Thi central p int of the world was

S s o not a mere ingle t ne, but a small build ing like a

its oo s s s temple, r f upported by even pillar ; within w as s o f o placed the tatue the emperor , t gether with

o f s E ss that his venerated mother , the Chri tian mpre

Helena .

The s outh - eastern part o f the old town of By z an tiu m w as cho sen by C o nstantine for the S ite o f h is

C imperial palace. The spot was leared of all private

s s O f 1 0 s dwelling for a pace 5 acre , to give space not on ly for a magn ificent re s iden ce for h is whole

o for s s - o c urt, but pacious garden and pleasu re gr u nds .

A wall , com mencing at the Lighthouse , where the

os s o s o o s B phoru j in the Pr p nti , turned inland and s o s o for o wept al ng parallel to the h re ab ut a m ile , in order to shut o ff the imperial preci nct from the city.

North - west of the pal ace lay the central open s pace

s o w as its in which the l ife of Con tantin ple to fi nd centre . “ ” w as A u ustaeum s o This the g , a plend id blong foru m ,

o o about a th usand feet long by three hu ndred br ad . It w as paved with marble and s urro unded on all s ides

To its s a s s s . by tately public building ea t , we have

s already aid , lay the imperial palace , but between the palace and the o pen s pace were three detached edi

fi ces f s a . O con nected by a colon n de the e , the most

s w as o f ea terly the Great Baths , kn wn , rom their “ ” s of Z e ux i us builder, as the Bath pp . They were bu ilt on the same magnificent s cale which the earlier

s Old emperors had u ed i n Rome , though they could not s o s , perhaps , vie in ize with the enorm u Baths T HE HEART

CO NSTANTINO PLE

B ox x . Kath /s ma (R oy a l ) Ch alceprateion ( B ra ssma rlzet)

3 . Milion P ‘ 4. a tri a rch 3 Pa lace

t Hou 5 . Sen a e s e Z eux i us 6. 8 ath s of pp

et . 7 . 8 ta tues c k 8 . 0beli3 Tri od 9 . 0elph i c p

1 0. 8 raz en Column

Hospice 0

2 2 TH E F O N A TI ON OF CON TA TI N OP E U D S N L . w as yet c o mpletely overs hadowed by the imperial

os s w as palace which r e behind it . And o it with the patriarch hi m self : he lived too near h is royal

to to o master be able gain any independent auth rity . Physically and morally alike he was too much over

oo h is o o l ked by august neighb u r , and never f und the leas t o pp o rtu nity of s etting up an independent s piritual

o o a s o m or auth rity ver ag in t the civil g vern ent , of

' ' ' ’ found ing an zmperzm/z i n zmperzo like the Bi sh op of

Rome .

o s o f A u ustaeum All al ng the western ide the g , facing the three buildings whi ch we have already

s ro de cribed , lay an edifice which played a very p

s o m inent part i n the public l ife of Con tantin ple .

w as o o S s This the great H ipp dr me , a plendid circu

6 0 s 1 60 o re 4 cubit long and br ad , in which were newed the games that O ld R o me had kn own so well . The whole sys tem o f the chariot race s between the “ ” team s that repre sented the faction s of the Circu s w as reproduced a t Byzantiu m with an energy that even s urpass ed the devoti o n of the Roman s to h o rse

s o o f racing . From the fi r t fou ndati n the city the “ ” “ ” rivalry of the Blues and the Green s w as o n e

os s of of the m t triking feature s of the l ife the place .

It w a s o s s o carried far bey nd the circu , and pread int “ ” s o al l branche of life . We ften hear of the Green

o s s facti n identifying it elf with Ariani m , or of the ” s o o Not Blue upp rting a pretender to the thr ne .

S s s so s of merely men of porting intere t , but per n all

s o s o s s o o rank and pr fes i n , cho e their c l u r and backed

o s s w as os their facti n . The y tem a p itive danger to

o s to r o s c the public peace, and c n tantly led i t , ul mi

THE F O UNDA TI O N O F CO N S TAN TI N O P L E .

2 s o o f A D . nating in the great ed iti n . 5 3 , which we

S re s a e o es c r In hall p ently h v t d i b e at length . the “ ” H ipp od ro me the Green s a lways entered by the

- s r e s a t on s S north ea te n gat , and the ea t ide ; the “ ” Blues appro ached by the north - western gate and ’ s c o S e o s tret hed al ng the western ide . The emp r r b o x s o w o o f , called the Kathi ma , ccupied the h le the s o o s s of h rt n rthern ide, and contained many hundred

s for seat the imperial retinue . The great central thro ne of the Kathi s ma w as the place in which the monarch s h owed him sel f mos t frequently to h is sub

ects o s s . j , an d ar und it many strange cene were enacted It w as on thi s throne that the rebel Hypatius w as ’ o h is s cr wned emperor by the mob , with own wife

for o a so necklace an impr mptu di dem . Here al , two

E o s II s at s centuries later, the mper r J u tin ian . in tate

h is o s o f o s o h is s after rec nque t C n tantin ple , with rival ,

L e on tius A sim a rus o h is o and p , b und beneath f ot s oo s o to t l , while the populace chanted , in allu i n the “ s o f s name the vanqui hed princes , the verse, Thou ” s on halt trample the Lion and the A sp. D o wn the centre o f the H ippodro me ran the ” s or s s s pina , d ivi ion wall , which every circu howed it w as o rnamented with three most curi ou s monu

s os s os o s os ment , wh e trange j uxtap iti n eemed al m t to typify the hetero geneo u s material s fro m which the

w as l s new city bui t u p . The fi rs t and olde t was an o s o o E o beli k br ught fr m gy pt , and c vered with the u s ual hieroglyphic in s cripti o n s ; the seco nd w as the

o a o o n e o f s u o f most n t ble , th ugh the lea t beautif l , the antiquities of C o n s tantin o ple : it w as the three headed brazen s erpe nt w h i ch Pau sa n ias and the TH P P R OM 2 E HI OD E . 5 victoriou s Greeks had dedicated at Delphi in 479

B C o s i . after they had destr yed the Per an army at

Platze a o w as s o d . The golden trip d , which upp rte

s s o : by the head of the serpent , had l ng been wanting the s acrilegi ou s Ph ocian s had sto len it s ix centuries before ; but the dedicatory inscripti on s engraved on the coil s of the pedestal su rvived then and s urvive

o n ow to delight the arch aeo l ogis t . The third m n u ” ment o n the s pin a w as a s quare bronze co lu m n of

o s s more modern work , c ntra ting trangely with the venerable antiqu ity of its neighbours . By s ome freak of chance all three m o nu ments have remained till ou r own day : the vas t wall s of the H ippodrome

its o s s have crumbled away, but central decorati n till s tand erect in the m id s t o f an o pen s pace which the

Atm eida n o s s Turks cal l the , or place of h r e , i n dim

i s u se memory o f t ancient . Al o ng the outer eastern wal l of the H ipp o drome

s Au ustae u m s oo on the we tern edge of the g , t d a

s s os im range of smal l chapel and statue , the m t

’ ' portant landmark am o ng them being the M zlzozz or s of central mile tone the empire , which we have

. s s already described The tatues , few at fir t , were

s s o increa ed by later emperor , till they extended al ng ’ o of o s s the wh le lengt h the f ru m . Con tantine ow n co ntributi o n to the collecti o n w as a tall po rphyry column s urmou nted by a bro nze im a ge which had once been the tutelary Ap o ll o of the city o f H iera

o w as o o o f p l is , but turned int a representati n the empero r by the easy method o f kn ocking o ff its

s s a e s It w as head and ub tituting the imperi l f atu re . exactly the revers e o f a change whi ch ca n be seen at E B UILD I NG A P ALAC .

(From a By zan tine MS . ) S OP IA . S T. H 2 7

o o f Rome, where the p pes have removed the head

E o s St. the mper r Aurel iu , and turned hi m into Peter ,

o o s on the c lu mn in the C r o . No rth of the H ippodro me stood the great church

o s h is s s which C n tantine erected for Chri tian subj ect , ' to s o Ha zo S o /d and dedicated the Divine Wi d m ( g p o) . It w as n ot the fam ou s d o m e d edifice which now

s bear that name, but an earl ier and hu mbler building,

s - S s probably of the Ba ilica hape then u ual . Burnt

o o s d wn once in the fifth and nce in the ixth centuries ,

n o o it h as left trace of its riginal character. From

s o f t. So the we t door S phia a wooden gallery , s o n s o s s u upported arche , cr s ed the q are, and fi nally

o f s ended at the Royal Gate the palace . By thi the emp e ro r would betake him s elf to divine service with out having to cro s s the s treet of the Ch alcoprateia

ss o o St. S (bra market) , which lay pp site to ophia . The general effe ct of the gallery mu s t h ave been s omewhat l ike that of the cu ri o u s pass age perched al o ft on arche s which con nects the Pitti and Uffi zzi

a o pal ces at Fl rence . The edifices which we have des cribed formed the w o f o s o . heart C n tantin ple Bet een the Palace, the

s o f H ippodrome , an d the Cathedral mo t the important

to events i n the hi st o ry of the city t ook place . But

s s an d north and we t the city extended for mile , every

s o n o h e where there were building of note , th ugh ot r

s u us e m clu ter could vie with that ro u n d the A g ta u .

o f o os s o The Chu rch the H ly Ap tle , which C nstan

s - c of h is w as tine de tined as the bu rying pla e family, the second am ong the eccles ias ti cal edific e s o f the f s town . O the outlying civil building , the publ ic E F O N ATI ON OF CONS TAN TI N P E 2 8 TH U D O L .

o g ranaries al ng the quays , the Golden Gate, by which

o s s the great r ad from the we t entered the wall , and

of w h o a s the palace the praetorian praefect , acted

o f s o governor the city , mu t all have b een wel l w rthy

s o f s o s of notice A tatue Con tantine on h r eback ,

s - w a s on e which tood by the last named ed ifice, of the chief shows of Constantinople down to the end o f the

FI FTEENTH - CENT U RY D RAWI NG O F T H E EQU ESTR IAN ST NT NE STA T UE O F CO N A I .

s s s M iddle Age , and some curiou legend gathered i around t.

It w s 2 2 — is D . 8 a in A. 3 or 3 9 the exact date not eas ily to be fi x ed— that C o n s tantine had definitely

os for h is o ut ch en Byzantiu m capital , and drawn the

for its o a s 0 plan devel pment . As early May I I , 3 3 , the bu ildings were so far advanced that he w as able to hold th e fes tival whi ch celebrated its consecration .

A I ON O F CONS TAN TI N O P E 3 0 THE FO UND T L . being for the future assigned for the s ub s i stence of the older city . O n the co mpletion of the dedication fe stival in 3 30

Ne D . w A . an imperial ed ict gave the city the title of

w as Rome, and the record pl aced on a marble tablet

s s o s near the eque trian tatue of the emperor, ppo ite “ ” rate io n New o w as s the St g . But R me a phra e d estined to subs i s t i n p oetry and rheto ric alone : the world from the firs t very rightly gave the city the ’ s s s fou nder name only, and per i ted in calling it Con l stan tin op e . T HE F E T S IGHT WITH TH G O H .

C O NSTANTINE l ived seven years after he had com

le ted o o f n ew an d in p the dedicati n his city , died

os 2 2 n d A. D . peace and pr perity on the of May, 3 37 , received on h is death - bed into that Christian Church on wh ose verge he had l ing e red du ring the last half of h is h is his life . By will he left real m to be d ivided among h is sons and nephews but a rapid s uccession of murders and civil wars thin ned out the imperial

o s h u e, and ended i n the concentration of the whole empire from the Forth to the Tigris u nder the sceptre f o s II s o . Con tantius . , the econd son of the great emper r The Roman world w as not yet quite ripe fora perma nent divi s io n it w as s till poss ibl e to manage it from a s s ingle centre , for by some trang e chance the barbarian invasi ons which had tro ubled the third century had

s s cea ed for a time , and the Roman were u ntroubled , save by some m inor bickerings on the Rhine and the

E s o f so II . uphrates . Constantius , an ad mini trator me

s s ability, but gloomy, suspiciou , and un ympathetic , was abl e to devote h is leisure to eccle s iastical contro v s s ersie , and to di honour himself by starting the first 3 2 TH E FI GH T WI TH THE GO THS . pers ecution of Christian by Chri stian that the w o rld

s s s th e s o o f th e w as had een . The cri i i n hi t ry empire n ot s h is da n or s de tined to fall in y , in the hort reign o f h is o s s sso c u in and ucce r, J ulian , the amiable and

o o cultured , but entirely wr ngheaded , pagan zeal t , who s t ro ve to put back the clock o f time and res tore

o s o f o s the w r hip the ancient g d of Greece . Both

o s s s n to C n tantiu and Julian , if a ked whe ce danger the

o s empire might be expected , would have p inted ea t

so ward , to the M e potamian frontier, where their great

S s s o n o enemy , apor King of Per ia , tr ve , with very

s ss o o f o great ucce , to break thr ugh the line R man fo rtre sses that protected Syria and A s ia M inor. But it w a s n ot i n the eas t that the impending s torm

I w as o m is w a s really brewing. t from the n rth that

w as o o chief t c me . For a hundred and fifty years the Roman s had

s o f s been well acquainted with the tribe the Goth , the m os t eas terly o f the Teuton ic nati o n s w h o lay along

o o the i mperial b rder . All thr ugh the third century they had been m oles ting the provinces o f the Balkan

s i i c s s as Penin ula by the r n e sant raid , we have already

s had o cca s ion to relate . O nly after a hard trug gle

o oss a had they been r l led back acr the D nube, and compelled to l imit their s ettlements to its n orthern

o s . bank , i n what had nce been the land of the Dacian The las t s truggle w ith them had been in the time of D 2 8 o s w h o s o A . . C n tantine , , in a war that la ted fr m 3 co m A . D 2 o to . 3 3 , had beaten them in the pen field ,

elled h is o a s os s p their king to give s ns h tage , and h is S dictated ow n term s o f peace . ince then the appetite of the G oths for war an d adventu re se emed

TH E FI T I T TH E T 3 4 GH W H G O HS . permanently checked : for forty years they had kept comparatively qu iet and s eld o m indulged in raid s across

s the Danube . They were rapidly ettl ing down into s teady farmers in the fertile land s o n the Thei ss and the Pruth ; they traded freely with the Roman towns of Moes ia ; many of their y oung warriors enl i s ted

o o oo s s am ng the R man auxiliary tr p , and one con ider able body o f Gothic emigrants had been permitted to s ettle as subj ects of the empire o n the northern slope

s of the Balkan s . By thi time many of the Goths were becoming Chri s tians priest s of their own bl ood

s s already min i tered to them , and the Bible , tran lated

w as s into their own language, already in their hand .

O n e s s s o of the earl ie t Gothic convert , the good Bi h p Ulfi las— the fi rs t bi s hop of German bl ood that w as ever consecrated — had rendered into their idi o m the

New s ld Testament and mo t of the O . A great

of h is s o portion work till survives, inc mparably the most preciouS relic of the ol d Teuton ic tongues that we n ow pos sess .

s o The Goth were rapidly losing their ancient fer city.

w h o Compared to the barbarians dwelt beyond them ,

s they might al mo t be cal led a civilized race. The Roman s were begin ning to look upon them as a guard set on the fro ntier to ward off the wilder peoples

n s o w as that lay to their orth and ea t . The nati n n ow o s : s s s divided int two tribe the Vi igoth , who e

th e Th ervin s t ribal name was g , lay more to the south ,

o s o i n what are now the c untrie of M ldavia, Wallachia,

o O s o and S uthern H ungary ; the trog ths, or tribe of

Gruth un s o the g , lay more to the n rth an d east , in

ss s s . Be arabia , Tran ylvan ia , and the Dnie ter valley E TH H UNS . 3 5

But a total ly unexpected series of events were now

o S s s t how how pre cient Con tantine had been , i n rear

ing his great fortres s - capital to s erve as the central

s s place of arm of the Balkan Pen in ula .

o A . D . 2 s o Ab ut the year 37 the Hun , an en rmous

o o o D on o Tartar h rde fr m bey nd the and V lga , bu rst

n E to into the lands orth of the uxine , and began

s w ork their way westward . The fir t tribe that lay i n

A s their way , the nomadic race of the lan , they al most

o s exte rminated . Then they fell up n the Goth . The O s tr ogoths made a desperate attem pt to defend the l ine o f the Dn ies ter again s t the o nco ming s avage s “ m en with faces that can hardly be called faces rather s hapeless bl ack collops of fle sh with l ittle p o ints

s of s in tead eyes l ittle in tatu re , but lithe and active,

o s o o b o w skil fu l in riding, br ad h uldered , g od at the ,

- an d stiff necked proud , hid ing u nder a barely human ” o o s th e m f rm the fer city of the wild bea t . But ene y whom the G othic histo rian des cribes in thes e un in viting term s w as too s trong for the Teutons of the O s o s East . The trog ths were cru hed and compelled

ss s of s to become va al the H un , save a rem nant who

so to VVa llach ia n S fought their way uthward the hore,

n h e s o f ear t mar hes the Delta of the Danube . Then

s on s s o the H u n fel l the Vi igoth . The wave f i nv a sion press ed o n the Bug and the Pruth proved n o barrier

s o o s s to the warms of n mad b wmen , and the Vi igoth ,

Friti ern s under their Duke g , fell back in di may with

w s s their ive and children , their waggon and flocks

s s s and herd , till they fou nd them el ve with their back s

to to the Danube . Surrender the enemy w as more dreadful to the Vi s igoths than to their eas tern T E I T I T H 3 6 H F GH W H T E G O THS .

o o f brethren they were m re civilized , most them were

s s S to s Chri tian , and the prospect of lavery avages

s to seem have appeared i ntolerable to them .

ss s Pre ed again t the Danube and the Roman border , the Vi s igoths s ent in despair to ask permi ss ion to

E o cross fro m the mper r . A contemporary writer “ describes how they s to od . All the multitude that had es cap e d fro m the mu rdero u s s avagery o f the — s n o ss s s H un le than fighting men , be ide wo men and old men and children — were there on the

s s o river bank , tretching out their hand with l ud

o s s s lamentati n , and earne tly uppl icating leave to

ss s cro , bewailing their calamity, and promi ing that they would ever faithfully adhere to the i mperial ” e o oo w as allianc if nly the b n granted them . 6 E D . At thi s m o ment (A . 37 ) the Rom an mpire was

Th e o s . o f o s w as again divided h u e C n tantine gone ,

E s w as s and the a t ruled by Valens , a tupid , cowardly,

a c s and av ri iou prince , who had obtained the diadem an d hal f the Ro man world only becau s e he w as the

of V of brother alentin ian , the greatest general the

s for h is o day . Valentin ian had taken the We t porti n , and dwelt in h is camp o n the Rhine and Upper

s s s Danube , while Valen , lothful and tim id , hut him s elf up with a court of s laves and fi atterers i n the

o i mperial palace at C nstantinople . The prO posal o f the Go th s filled Valens with

s It w as f to sa w as di may . d i ficult y which more dangerou s— to refuse a pas sage to des perate men with arm s in their hand s and a s avage foe at

o f their backs , or to ad mit them withi n the line river and fortress that protected the border , with an implied

3 8 TH E FI GHT WI TH THE G O THS .

s Lu icinus of his noble , was din ing with Count p at the o s s s v t wn of Marcianopoli , when ome tar ing Goths

o of tried to pillage the market by f rce . A party

s off Roman soldier strove to drive them , and were at

s n once mi handled or slain . O hearin g the tu mult

its s L u icinus s and learn ing cau e , p reckles ly bade his retinue s eize and slay Fritig ern and the other guests

h is at banquet . The Goths drew their swords and cut their way out of the palace . Then riding to the

of h is o s Friti ern nearest camp f llower , g told his tale, and bade them take up arm s against Rome . There followed a year of des perate fighting al l al ong the Danube , and the northern slope of the

s s - s Balkan . The Goth hal f tarved for many months , and s marting under the exto rti o n and chicanery to which

s they had been subj ected , oon showed that the old barbarian spirit was but thinly covered by the veneer of C hri s tianity and civilization which they had ac

s - qu ired in the la t half century . The struggle resolved its elf into a repetition o f the great raids of the third cen tury : town s were s acked and the open country

o ld s harried i n the style, nor was the war rendered les fierce by the fact that many runaway Slaves and other outcas ts among the provincial p opulation j o ined the

s s invader . But the Roman armie still retained their old reputation the ravages o f the Goth s were

s o checked at the Balkan , and though j ined by the

s remnant of the Ostrogoths from the Danube mouth ,

as s as wel l by other tribe flying from the H uns , the Vi sigoths were at first held at bay by the imperial

s s S armie . A de perate pitched battle at Ad alices, near the modern Kuste n dj e thinned the ranks of both

s . sides , but led to no deci ive resu lt O UTB REAK O F WAR . 3 9

N E ext year, however, the u nwarlike mperor ,

o s of h is s d riven in to the field by the clam u r subj ect ,

so took the fiel d i n per n , with great reinforcemen ts

o s o s brought fr m A ia Min r . At the ame time his

o w h o nephew Gratian , a gallant y ung prince had suc ceeded to E s set o the mpire of the We t , f rth through Pan n o nia to bring aid to the land s of the Lower

Danube . The perso nal interventi o n of Valens in the struggle

B . In 8 C . w as o s s . foll wed by a fearful di a ter 3 7 , the main body o f the G oth s succeeded in forcing the line o f the Balkan s ; they were n ot far from Adrianople

E o s to when the mper r tarted attack them , with a s o f E to plendid army men . very one expected

of o o of hear a vict ry , for the reputati n invincibility s to s s ix s till clung the legion , and after hundred year ’ ’ ofw a r s o f o robur ea zl u m the d i ciplined infantry R me , p ,

os s S s s wh e day had la ted ince the Pun ic war , were til l

o s e o reck ned up ri r, when fairly handled , to any amount

a s of wild barbari n . But a new chapter of the hi s to ry o f the art o f war w as ju st co m mencing ; during their soj ourn in the plain s of So uth Ru ss ia and R ou man ia the G oths had

s of o s taken , fi r t all German races , to fighting on h r e

D i n back . welli ng the Ukrain e they had felt the

o f s influen ce that land , ever the nu r e of caval ry from the day of the Scythian to that o f the Tartar and “ oss o o s o C ack . They had c o me t c n ider it m re ” to on s o honourable fight hor e than on fo t , and every

w as o - e chief f ll owed by h is war ban d of m ou nt d men .

s o Driven again t their will in to c nflict with the empire ,

" they fou nd them s elves face to face i nto the army that 40 TH E FI GH T WI TH TH E G O THS .

so f had long held the world i n ear , and had turned back their own ances tors in rout three generations befo re . Valens found the main body of the Goths encamped ” o n o . in a great laager, the plain north of Adrian ple After s ome abortive negotiation s he developed an

s o attack on their front , when uddenly a great b dy of It w as hors emen charged i n o n the Roman flan k.

s o f o the main trength the G thic cavalry , which had been fo raging at a dis tance ; receiving news of the f S fight it had ridden s traight or the battle field . ome Ro man squadron s whi ch covered the left flank o f the ’ Emperor s army were ridden d own and trampled

e o s o u nd r foot . Then the G th swept d wn on the

o o in fantry of the left wing, r lled it u p, and dr ve it in

o o s w as upo n the centre . S tremend u their i mpact that legion s and co h o rts were pushed together in

E s hopeles s confu s ion . very attempt to tand firm

s s failed , and in a few m inute left , centre , and re erve,

on e s s s . I were u ndi tingui hable ma s mperial guards,

s s s light troop , lancer , au xil iarie , and infantry of the line were wedged t ogether in a pres s that grew clo s er

o n saw every moment . The R ma cavalry that the

fo w as os o o ff o o . day l t , and r de with ut an ther ef rt Then the a band o ned infantry realized the h orror of

s o : their po iti n equally unable to deploy or to fly,

to s to M e n they had tand be cut down . could not

s s s w s o o rai e their arm to trike a blo , cl sely were they

s s packed ; pears napped right and left , their bearers being unable to lift them to a vertical pos iti o n many so s I ldier were stifled in the press . nto this qu ivering

s o mas the Goths r de, plying lance and sword ag ainst TH E B A TTLE OF ADRI AN OP LE . 41

e s s It w as n ot o o s the h lple enemy . till f rty th u and men had fal l e n that the thinn ing of the rank s enabled the s urvivo rs to break out and follow their cavalry in a

o n headlong flight . They left behi nd them , dead the

E s s I field , the mperor, the Grand Ma ter of the nfantry

v o o f - fi v e and Ca alry , the C unt the Palace, and thirty

s of f o com mander dif erent c rps . The battle of Adrianople w as the most fearful

f ae defeat su f ered by a Roman army since Cann , a s laughter to which it is aptly c o mpared by the co n

o o s temp rary hist rian Am mianu Marcell inus . The

E w as os w as army of the ast al m t ann ihilated , and

n l s ever reorgan ized again on the o d Roman l ine . Thi s awful catastrophe brought d own on Constanti n ople the fi rst attack which it experienced s ince it

h a Aftera vain d changed its name from Byzantiu m .

s o o s s s as ault on Adrian ple , the vict riou Goth pres ed

s rapidly on toward the imperial city . Harrying the

o o s a s s s wh le c untry ide they pas ed by, they pre ented “ ” s o themselve bef re the Golden Gate , its south

s w as s to we tern exit . Bu t the attack de tined come “ to nothing : their cou rage failed them when they l ooked on the vas t circu it of walls an d the en o rm o u s extent of s treets ; all that mass o f riches within

s to s appeared inacce sible them . They ca t away the s s o iege machine which they had prepared , and r lled ” backward on to Thrace 1 Beyo nd s kirmi sh ing under the wall s with a body of Saracen cavalry which had

s s been brought up to trengthen the garri on , they

os So made no h tile attempt on the city . forty years

’ o s s s w as for after his death , C n tantine pre cience the

a s M a c n Ammi n u r elli us. TH E I T I T TH T 42 F GH W H E G O HS .

w as first time j ustified . He right in believing that an impregnable city on the Bos phorus would prove the salvation of the Balkan Pen insula even if al l its O pen c ountry were overrun by the invader. The unlu cky Valen s w as s ucceeded on the throne

s s s s s et by Theodo iu , a wi e and virtuou prince , who

s o him elf to repair, by caution and c urage co mbined , the d is aster that had shaken the Ro man power in the

s Danube lands . With the remnant of the army of the East he made head against the barbarian s with o ut s venturing to attack their main body, he de troyed

s many marauders and scattered band , and made the

o f rofi tless If continuance the war p t o them . they dis persed to plunder they were cut o ff i f they held

s s s s Friti rn together i n ma se they tarved . Pre ently g e

s sso d ied , and Theodosiu made peace with his succe r

Ath a n arich o , a king who had lately come ver the Danube at the head of a new s warm o f G oth s from

o s i s the Carpathian cou ntry. The do ius frankly prom ed and faithfully observed the terms that Fritig ern had

o f s s o asked Valen ten year bef re . He granted the G oth s lan d for their s ettlement i n the Thracian

o s h is pr vince which they had wa ted , and enlisted i n

s s - s armie all the chief and their war band . Within ten years after the fight of Adrianople he had fo rty th o u s and Teut o n ic horsemen in h is s ervice ; they

s o f h is s formed the be t and most form idable part ho t , and were granted a higher pay than the native

s s Ro man s old iery. The immediate m ilitary re u lt of the policy of Theod os iu s were not u n s ati s factory it w as h is G othic a uxiliaries who won for him his two

o s s great victories over the legi n of the We t , when in

T T 44 TH E FI GH IVI TH TH E G O HS .

8 8 o e A D . . 3 he c nquer d the rebel Magnus Maxi mus ,

s D . E . an d in A . 394 the rebel ugen iu But fro m the p o l itical s ide the experi ment of Th e od osiu s w as fraught with the greate s t dan ger that

E o the R o man mpire had yet kn wn . When barbari an

s s fo au xil iarie had been enli ted be re , they had been placed under Roman leaders and mixed with equ al T nu mbers of Ro man troop s . o leave them u nder

o w n s o their chief , and deliberately fav ur them at the

s s w as os expen e of the native oldiery , a m t unhappy

It o f experiment . practically put the command the empire in their hand s for there w as n o hold o ver them s s o to o s s ave their per nal loyalty The do iu , and the spel l which the grandeur of the Ro man name and

n s s o s R o ma culture till exerci ed ver their mind . That s w as s s o as is s o s pell till tr ng , h wn in the tory which the G othic hi sto rian J orn a n des tell s about the vi s it o Ath an arich to o o f the old King C nstantin ple . “ ‘ ’ o Now s When he entered the r yal city, , aid he,

‘ do I at la st beh old what I had o ften heard and ’ ss h i dee med incredible . He pa ed s eyes hither and

s o f thither admiring fir t the site the city, then the

s o f o - S s fleet c rn hips , then the lofty wall , then the

o s o s a s s cr wd of pe ple of all nation , mingled the water

s s s oo from d iver prings mix in a ingle p l , then the

s o f s so s rank d i ciplined ldiery . And at la t he cried a o o ss E is as od l ud , D ubtle the mperor a g on earth, and he w h o rai s es a hand against hi m is guilty of his ’ ss o as ow n bl o od . But this i mpre i n w not to con

r o I n in e fo . A D t u . . E l ng 395 , the good mperor “ ” os o o f s Theod ius , the l ver of peace and the Goth , as w as w he called , died , and left the throne to his t o

s a a o o weakly son Arc dius nd H n rius.

6 T E P T E 4 H DE AR UR OF THE G E RMANS .

— were of no account i n tax - paying were s uffered to

O n s j oi n the army . the other hand , every pre sure was used to make the son s of so ld iers c o ntinue in the

s o s s o service . Thus had ari en a purely pr fe i nal army, which had no sympathy or c on nection with the

o o u narmed provincial s wh m it pr tected . The army had been a s ourc e of unending trouble in the third century ; fo r a hu nd red years it had made

ae i w as and un made C s ars at ts pleas ure . That while it w as still mainly comp osed of men born within the

offi ce red o s . empire , and by R man Bu t Theod os iu s had n ow s wamped the native element i n the army by h is wholes ale enl is tment of

v w ar b a n ds . o Gothic And he had , more ver, handed

o f os s o S o many the chief mil itary p t to Teut ns . me of them indeed had married R o man wives and taken

to o of kindly R man modes l ife , while nearly all had

s professed Chri stianity . But at the be t they were

s o m ilitary adventurer of al ien blo d , while at the

s s s s wor t they were liabl e to relap e into barbari m , ca t

o to s all their loyalty and civilizati n the wind , and take to harrying the empire again in the old fearless

s o o fa hi n of the third century . C learly nothing c uld be m o re dangerou s than to hand over the protecti o n o f the ti mid and u narmed civil populati o n to s uch

s s for guardian . The contempt they mu t have felt the

s o te m ta u nwarl ike provincials was great , and the p tion to plun der the wealthy cities of the empire so constant and pressing , that it is no wonder if the

e - s as s Teutons yielded . Ca sar making eemed ea y to the leaders as the s ack of provinci a l churches and treasu ries d id to the rank and file . TI I S L CHO . 47

When the personal ascendency o f Theodosius was

o remove d , the empire fell at once into the tr ubles

. o s which were inevitable Both at the c urt of Arcad iu , who reigned at Constantinople, and at that of

o s h is s Hon rius , who had received the We t as hare, a war of factions c o m menced between the German and

o s s the R man party . Theodosiu had di tributed so many

os s to o s t high mil itary p t G th and other Teutons , hat

s w as os o thi in fluence al m t u nb unded . Stil icho

’ M og zsl er m ilitzzm (co m mander - in - chief) of the arm ies o f Italy w as predom inant at the c ou ncil board of H onoriu s ; th ough he w as a pure barbaria n by

s h is ow n blood , Theodo ius had married him to n iece

S s s erena , and left him practically upreme in the We t ,

o In for the young emperor was aged nly eleven . the

E s s o h is a t Arcadiu , the elder br ther, had attained

e ow n eight enth year, and m ight have ruled his real m

ss ss w as s had he po e ed the en ergy . But he a witles “ s w so young man , hort , thin , and sallo , i nactive that

s o o s o as w as he eld m sp ke, and alway lo ked i f he

s His s w as about to fall a leep . pri me mi n i ter a

Ru fi n us o Western Roman named , but bef re the fi rst

o f h is w as o year reign ver , a Gothic captain named

’ s s Rufi n us E s Gaina lew at a review, before the mperor very eye s . The weak Arcad ius was then compelled

EutrO ius h is s to to make the eun uch p mini ter, and ' ' ' o s M a zs ter m zlztum E app int Gaina g for the ast . Gainas and Stilicho contented themselves with wire - pulling at Court ; but an other Teuto nic leader

o thought that the time had c me for bo lder wo rk . Alaric w as a chief spru ng from the family o f the

s o s n to Balt , whom the G th reckoned ext the god 48 THE DE PAR TURE OF THE G ERMANS .

s o o s descended Amal am ng their princely h u es . H e w as o s s y u ng , daring , and u ntameable ; everal year

s o to spent at Con tantin ple had failed civilize him , but had s ucceeded i n fi lling him with co ntempt for

o Soo o f R man effeminacy . n after the death Theo dosius s s s o h is , he rai ed the Vi igoth in rev lt , making it pretext that the advi s ers o f Arcadiu s were refu s ing ’ h e m t o r s s t oeoe i . f , auxiliarie , certain arrear of pay The Teuto n ic soj ourners in M o es ia and Thrace j oined him

s to o s o al mo t a man , and the C n tantin politan govern ment fou nd its elf with o nly a s had ow of an army to

o opp se the rebels . Alaric wandered far and wide ,

o to s o s fr m the Danube the gate of C n tantinople , and

o s o to so s from C n tantin ple Greece , ran ming or acking every town in h is way till the G oths were go rged with

N o o n e s o s S o w h o w as plunder. with t od him ave tilich ,

’ s o h su mmoned fro m the We t t aid is mas ter s brother. By s kilful manoeuvres Stili ch o bl ockaded Alaric in a mountain pos ition in Arcadia but when he had him “ h is w a s o o n ot at mercy, it f und that dog d es eat ” o s o dog. The Teut n ic prime min i ter let the Teut n ic

s s o s o o rebel e cape him , and the Vi ig th r lled n rth again

o I c . co n int llyri u m Sated with plunder, Alaric then

to s o n co sented grant Arcadiu peace , ndition that he

' ' ' [ Vl o zs ter Izzzlztum S o s was made a g l ike til ich and Gaina , and granted as much land for his tribes men as he D os to ask A . 6 ch e . [ . 39 ]

For s n ow o the next five year Alaric , pr claimed

o f o s h is o o s s o King the G th by vict ri u ld iery , reigned with u ndi s puted s way over the eastern parts o f the

s o s o of Balkan Penin ula , paying nly a had w homage

a o s o l to the roy al ph nto m at C n tantin p e . There ALARI C THE G OTH 49 appeared every reason to believe that a German kingd o m w as about to be permanently establ i shed in

t o f the lands south and wes the Danube . The fate S which actually befell Gaul , pain , and Britain , a few

s s years later eemed destined for Moe ia and Macedon ia . Ho w different the history of Euro pe would h ave been if the Germans had s ettled down in Servia and

o Bulgaria we need hardly p int out .

o f In But another series events was impend ing.

D s u h is A. . 0 1 on 4 , Alaric , in tead of res ming attacks

s s o n Con tan tinople , udden ly declared war the

E o o s e Western mper r H on riu . H marched rou nd the

o f N I head the Adriatic and invaded orthern taly .

- S w h o s to The hal f Roman ized til icho , wi hed keep

to s to the rule of the West him elf, fought hard turn ’ o s o f I s s the G th ou t taly, and beat back Alaric fir t

s . o w h o w as inva ion But then the young emper r, as

o ss h is s weak and more w rthle than brother Arcadiu ,

on S lew the great m in ister a charge of trea son . When

S w as h is o w n tilicho gone , Alaric had everything way ; he m o ved with the whole Vi s igothic race into

I o h is so taly , where he ranged ab ut at will , ran m ing

o o s and plundering every t wn fr m Rome downward . The Vi s igoths are heard of n o m ore in the Bal kan Pen insula they n ow pas s into the hi s tory of Italy and then into that of Spain . ’ s I While Alaric eyes were turned on taly, but befo re he had actu ally c o me int o conflict with Sti lich o o o s a , the C urt of C n t ntinople had been the

‘ s s o M a zlvzer eat of grave trouble . Gainas the G thic g ' ' m zl ztzm z o f E s h is the a t , and creature , the eu nuch

E utrO ius n n o p , had falle out, and the man of war had 0 THE EPARTURE OF THE E RM AN 5 D G S . diffi cu lty in di sposing of the wretched harem - bred

n . I s s Gra d Chamberlain n tigated by Gaina , the Ger m an mercenari e s in the army o f As ia started an

Trib i ild s insurrection under a certain g . Gaina was

o s oo t ld to march again t them , and col lected tr ps

for a s ostensibly th t purpo e . But when he was at the

a n ot head of a considerable rmy, he d id attack the

s o s o rebels , but sent a mes age to C n tantin ple bidding Arcadius give up to hi m the obnoxi ou s Grand

E r i s . ut O u h is Chamberlain p , hearing of danger , threw himself o n the protecti on o f the Church : he fled into

St. S to the Cathedral of ophia and clung the altar .

so s John Chry stom , the i ntrepid Patriarch of Con tan tin O le o s o s to p , f rbade the ldier enter the church , and

for s e s O n e protected the fugitive om day . of the

o m os t striking incidents i n the hi story of St. S phia followed while the cowering Chamberlain lay before

to o the altar , John preached a crowded c ngregation “ of s a sermon on the text , Vanity vanitie , all is ” s o h is vanity, empha izing e very peri d of harangue by pointing to the fal len EutrO pius — prime mini s ter of

s - the empire ye terday, and a hu nted crim inal to day . ’ The patriarch exto rted a pro mi se that the eunuch s

i s s s EutrO u . l ife should be pared , an d p gave him el f up

s s to s Arcadiu ban i hed him Cypru , but the inexorable

’ Gainas w as n ot co ntented with his rival s rem oval he had EutrOpius brought back to Con s tantinople and beheaded .

' ’ ' The M ag zster m zlzfu m now brought h is army o ver

o s o to o to C n tantin ple, and quartered it there verawe

It o the emperor . appeared quite l ikely that ere l ng the German s would s ack the city ; bu t the fate that GAI A 1 NAS S L I N . 5 befell Rome ten years l ater was not destined for Co n s n o tan ti ople . A mere chance brawl put the d mina s tion of Gainas to a s udden end . H e him el f and

o s many of his troops were ut ide the city, when a s udden quarrel at one of the gates between a band of Goth s and some ri o tou s citizen s bro ught about a

s general outbreak again s t the German . The Con stan tinopolita n mob s h owed its elf m o re courageou s and not les s u nruly than the Ro man mob of elder

o e ex te m days . The whole populati n turn d out with

or z s p i ed arms an d attacked the German oldiery . The gates were cl osed to prevent Gainas and h is

s s s troops from out ide return ing, and a de perate treet

Iso fight ranged over the entire city. lated bodies of the

s o ff on e s German were cut one by , and at la t thei r barracks were s urrou nded and se t o n fi re . The rioters

s s s had the upper hand even thousand oldier fell , and

o s the remnant th ought them s elve s lucky t e cape .

s o on Gaina at once declared pen war the empire,

of c n or but he had not the genius Alari , the nu merical strength that had foll owed the you nger chief. H e was beaten in the field and fo rced to fly across the

w as Danube , where he caught and beheaded by

l i o U des o f s . , King the Hu n Cu r usly enough the officer w h o defeated Gainas w as hi m s elf not only a Goth but a heathen he w as named Frav itta an d had

s s - o f s s s been the worn gue t friend Theodo iu , who e son he faithfully defended even against the assault of

A . D . his own countrymen . [ The departure of Alaric and the death of Gainas freed the Eastern Romans from the d ouble danger

h s e that a i mpended over them . They were neith r 5 2 THE DEP AR TURE OF THE G ERMANS . to see an independent German kingdom on the

a n d o n or o f Danube M rava , to remain under the rule a

' ’ ' s - M a zs ter m zl ztu m emi civilized German g , making and

s s s esa s h is o u nmaking min i ter , and perhap Ca r , at g od

s w s w as o plea ure . The eak Arcadiu enabled t s pend the remaining s even years of h is life in comparative

His w as o o e peace and qu iet . cou rt nly tr ubl d by

o ee h is s E ss [ E an pen war betw n pouse, the mpre lia

E o oh sos o of ud xia, and J n Chry t m , the Patriarch

o s o e o w as m a n of s C n tantin pl . J hn a aintly life and

os o o s o s in ap t lic ferv ur, but ra h and inc n iderate alike

c a n H is c a o s pee h d acti on . h rity and el quence made

o of o o f him the id l the p pulace the imperial city, but h is au s tere m a nners a n d autocratic meth od s o f dealing with h is s ubo rdin a t e s h ad made him many fo es am o ng ’ th e c e a s s s l rgy . The patri rch enemie were ecretly s o th e e e s s w h o h ad o upp rt ed by mpr , taken ffence at the outs p oken way i n whi ch J ohn habitually den ou nced

so e c o f o r h e the luxury and in l n e her c u t . S favoured

e s of eo s a a c o f the intrigu Th philu , P tri r h Alexand ria ,

s h is o a e a s again t br ther prel t , b cked the A iatic clergy ’ o a s o o s o ss o o f i n their c mpl int ab ut J hn ppre i n them , an d a t la s t i ndu ced th e E mperor to all o w th e s aintly patri a rch to be d e pos ed by a has tily - s u m m o ned “ o S o o f th e ak s c uncil , the yn d O held out ide the

o ac o s a t o ce to city . The p pul e r e n defend their

s o o s o e ou t e o os s w a s a s pa t r ; ri t br k , Th d iu ch ed back to E th e E o e r gypt , and mper r, t rrified by an ea thquake

c s to s o f n whi h eemed manife t the wrath heave ,

s o o to h is c re t red J hn pla e .

N o e e e s ext year , h wev r , the war b twe n the empre s

c o t o oo and the patriar h broke u again . J hn t k the

THE REOR ANIZATIO N OF THE EA I'ERN EMP G S IRE.

A D 08 ( . . 4

E s A D . 8 T H . 0 feeble and inert Arcadiu died in 4 , at the early age of thirty - one his imperi ou s con s ort had

to o f preceded hi m the grave , and the empire the f E s w as s s II . o s a t left to Theodo iu , a child seven year , their o nly son . There was hardly an instance in Roman history o f a m in or succeeding qu ietly to h is ’ o i o s or s father s thr ne . An amb ti u relative a d i loyal

h s s general had abitually uppl anted the helples heir . But the min i sters o f Arcadiu s were excepti o nally

of virtuous or exceptionally destitute ambition . The

o w as o a n d s l ittle emper r duly cr wned , the ad mini tra tion of the E as t u ndertaken in h is name by the able

A nth e m iu s w h o o f , held the office Praetorian Praefect . H i s tory relates nothing but good o f thi s min is ter ; he made a wi se commercial treaty with the king of Pers ia ; he repelled with ease a Hunn i s h invasion of M oes ia

o o he bu ilt a fl tilla on the Danu be, where R man war

s S of ships had not been een ince the death Valens , forty years before ; he reorganized th e corn s upply YO UTH OF THE OD OSI US I I . 5 5 of Con stantinople ; and did much to get back into order an d cultivati o n the desolated n o rth - wes tern lands of the Balkan Pen insu la , from which Alaric and h is Visigo thi c hordes had now taken their final

as s departure . The empire w till more indebted to him for bringing up the young Theod os ius as an

o s o - h ne t and g d fearing m an . The palace under ’ A n th e m iu s rule w as the school of the virtues : the

s h is sis i live of the emperor and three ters , Pulch er a,

Arcad ia , and Marina , were the model and the marvel

s of their subj ects . Theodo ius inherited the piety

h is and honesty of grand father an d namesake , but w as o o f s o a y uth lender capacity , th ugh he took

w a s h is some interest in literature , and renowned for beautiful pen manship . H is eldest sister, Pulcheria, w as s o s the ruling pirit of the family , and p sse sed

o sh e u nl im ited i nfluence over him , th ugh was but two

h i h m i s A D s A nt e u . . years sen ior . When died in

1 sh e o 4 4, to k the title of Augusta , and assu med the

E s regency of the a t . Pulcheria was an extraordinary w o man on gathering up the rein s of power she took

d as n un a vow of chastity , and l ive a crowned for

- thirty six years her fear had been that , if she m arried , her hu sband m ight cherish am biti ous schemes again st ’ her brother s crown she therefo re kept S ingle hersel f an d persuaded her s i sters to make a s imilar vow.

s s o Au tere, indefatigable , and u nselfi h , she pr ved equal

s o f E s s to ruling the real m the. a t with succes , though n o o o w man had ever made the attempt bef re . When Theod os ius came of age he refu sed to re

h is move sister from power, and treated her as his

A. D. colleague and equal . By her advice he married in 5 6 RE O R GANI Z ATI ON OF THE EAS TERN E M P I RE .

o f the year that he came age, the beautiful and

'‘ i s o f i accompl ished Athena , daughter the ph losopher

’ o n tius o s o o s Le . The emper r ch sen sp u e had been

o br ught up as a pagan , but was converted before her

an d b v E o . marriage, baptized the name of ud c ia S h e di splayed her literary tastes in writing religi ou s

o s to p etry, wh ich had ome merit , according the critics

s — of the s ucceeding age . The au tere Pulcheria always i mmers ed in state busines s or occupied in religiou s O bs ervances— fou nd hers elf ere long ill at eas e in the company of the l ively , beautiful , and volatile l iterary

S h s s s s - i - If lady whom e had cho en a i ter n law .

Theodos ius had been less easy - go ing and good hearted he must have sent a w ay either h is s i s ter

h is o to a ffec or wi fe, but he l ng contrived dwel l tion atel o s un y with both , th ugh their bickering were

s of ending . After many year married l ife, howe ver,

ss a final quarrel came , and the empre retired to spend

l s s o f s s the a t year her l ife in eclu ion at Jeru s alem . The cau s e o f her exile is not really known we have

s only a wild tory concerning it , which finds an exact “ ” o n e parallel in of the tales of the Arabian Nights .

“ Th e o so n s the a w as on e da a asan emper r , ru t le , y met by pe t ' h o s n d w a Ph r ian a le of no o s siz so a w pre e te him ith yg pp e rm u e , th t the w hole Court m arvelled a t it . An d he gave the m an a hu ndred and

o c s in w a and s n a to E . fifty g ld pie e re rd , e t the pple the mpress Eud ocia ’ B ut sh e s n as a s n to P a n s M as of O ffi ces e t it pre e t uli u , the ter the ,

ca s w as a n of o . But Pa n s n ot k n ow n be u e he frie d the emper r uli u , i g s o of a oo an d a the hi t ry the pple , t k it g ve it to the emperor as he

en Pa ac . An d T o os s a n c c n z d re tered the l e he d iu h vi g re eived it , re og i e an d con c a an d ca h is w an d s on sa n it e led it , lled ife que ti ed her , yi g , ‘ ’ W is a a I s n ou ? Sh e answ I a a n here the pple th t e t y ered , h ve e te ’ . T n a sw a h is sa a on w Sh e it he he b de her e r by lv ti the truth , hether n h ad ea ten it or se t it to some on e. And Eud ocia swore tha t sh e h ad E F CI EXI L O E UD O A . 5 7

nt i no man h ad s a n . T n o s ow se t to , but her elf e te it he the emper r h ed a a n d w as c n w a s s c n a sh e w as her the pple , ex eedi gly r th , u pe ti g th t n a o of P a n s an d h ad s n to as a o - for e m ured uli u , e t it him l ve gift ; he an o m an An d on s acco n Pa n s to w as a very h ds me . thi u t he put uli u

a E oc a to o to o P ac s to a . de th , but he permitted ud i g the H ly l e pr y An d sh e w n ow n o Con s an no to sa and w e t d fr m t ti ple Jeru lem , d elt there ” all a s her d y .

E That Paul inus was executed , and that udocia s s s s pent her la t year of retirement i n Pale tine , we

w s of s is kno for certain . All the re t the tory in

e us o reality hidd n from . The chief impr bability of

' the tale is that Eud o cia had reached the age o f fo rty whe n the breach between her and her hu sband t oo k

as o f of place , and that Paulinus w als an o fi cial matu re

s year . ’ Theo d os ius l o ng reign passed by i n c o mparative

Its s o s qu iet . only eri u troubles were a s hort war s s o o n e with the Per ian , and a l nger with Attila , the

of s os n ow s e great king the Hu n , wh e empire tretch d

s o of Se a over all the land n rth the Black and Danube ,

I n s where the Goths had once dwelt . thi s truggle

o s os o the R man armie were al m t invariably u nf rt unate. The H u n s ravaged the c o untry a s far as Adrianople an d o o s to o o ff Philipp p li , and had be b ught by the

lb s annual payment of 7 00 . of gold It is true that they fell on Theod os iu s while his main fo rce w as on s o engaged the Per ian frontier , but the c nstant ill - success of the imperial general s s eem s to S h ow that the armies of the E ast had never been properly re

s s s of os s I organized ince the military y tem Theod iu . had been broken up by the revo lt o f Gainas forty

His s years before . grand on had neither a tru s tworthy body o f German auxiliari es n or a s ufficiently large A NG EL O F VICTORY .

' ’ - t clz. ( From a F zftiz cm tury D zpy ) REI N OF M ARCIAN G US . 5 9 n ative levy of bo rn s ubj ects of the empire to protect

s his border . The reconstruction of the Roma n m ilitary forces w as s s s I I re erved for the succe sors of Theodo ius . H e himself w as killed by a fall fro m his h o rse i n A D 0 . . w as 45 , leaving an only daughter, who married

s III E s to her cou in Valentinian mperor of the We t .

o s The dosiu , with great wisdom , had designated as

s s n ot s on - in - his ucce sor , his young law , a cruel

rofl i ate s s and p g pri nce, but his i ter Pulcheria , who at the s ame time ended her vow o f celibacy and

s married Marcianus , a veteran oldier and a prominent

o f w as member the Senate . The marriage but formal , for both were n ow well advanced in years : as a political expedient it was all that could be desired . The empire had peace and prosperity u nder their

s o rule, and freed it el f from the ign m in ious tribute to

o 2 the H u ns . Bef re Attila died in 45 , he had met and been checked by the s uccours which Marcianus

s o s o f sent to the di tressed R man the West.

s When Marcianus and Pulcheria pas ed away , the empire cam e into the hands of a s erie s of three m en of ability. They were all bred as high civil officials , not as generals ; all as cended the throne at a ripe age ; not one of them won his crown by arms , all were

s peaceably designated either by their predecessor , or

S I. by the enate and army . These princes were Leo — (45 7 Zeno (474— 49 Anastasius (49 1 5 1 Their chief merit was that they guided the Roman Empire in the East s afely through the stormy times which

n saw its extinctio in the West . While, beyond the

n Adriatic , provi ce after province was being lopped P RE 60 REORG ANI Z ATI ON OF THE EAS TERN E M I .

n e w off and formed into a Germanic kingdom , the emperors who reigned at Constantin ople kept a tight

on s grip on the Balkan Peninsula and A ia, and suc ceeded i n maintain ing their real m absol utely intact . B oth East and West were equal ly exposed to the r f ba barian i n the fifth century , and the d if erence of

o f s n ot their fate came from the character their ruler ,

o o In fr m the divers ity of their political c nditions .

o f s the West , after the extinction the hou e of Theodos ius (45 5 the emperors were ephemeral

s s o f puppet , made and u nmade by the general their

h o s s w . armie , were invariably German The two

' ' ’ ' M a zstrz m zZzmm Ricime r Gun dovald — g , and one Suab ian — s , the other Burgundian by birth depo ed or s lew no less than five of their n o minal mas ters in s s In E s o eventeen year . the a t , on the ther hand , it was the emperors who des troyed one after another

s s the ambitiou general , who , by arms or intrigue, threatened their throne. While thi s c o mpari s on bears witness to the pers onal ability of the three emperors who ruled at Con s tanti n O le A D is to . . A D . 1 8 p between 45 7 and . 5 , it only fair remember they were greatly helped by the fact that the German element in their armies had never reached the pitch of po w er to which it had attained in th e Wes t ; the s uppress i on of Gainas forty years befo re

s had aved them from that danger. But u nruly and aspiring ge nerals were not wanting in the East ; the

s of o greate t danger Leo I . was the c nspiracy of the

' ' ' M a zster III zl ztzI m great g Aspar , whom he detected and s o f w as lew when he was on the eve rebell ing . Zeno

s out h is s once cha ed of capital by rebel , and twice

I T E EA TER M P R 62 RE ORGANI ZAT ON OF H S N E I E .

The last d anger which the Eastern E mpire was to experience fro m the hand s of the Germans fell into

o O s s s the reign of Zen . The trogoth had ubmitted

s o to the Huns n inety year bef re, when their brethren

s s o the Vi igoth fled into R man territory, in the E reign of Valen s . But when the H un n ish mpire

D O s broke up at the death of Attila [A. . the tro

s s go th s freed them elves, and replaced their late master as the main danger on the Danube . The bulk

s - of them treamed south westward , an d settled i n

o o - o f E i Pan n nia , the b rder province the Western mp re , on the frontier o f the East - Roman d istricts of Dacia

s . s o o tw o and Moe ia They on fell out with Zen , and

s Th eodemir O strogothic chief , Theodoric , the son of ,

o so n Triarius s and The doric , the of , were the courges

s s o f the B alkan Penin ula for more than twenty year . While the bulk of their tribe s men s ettled down on the

S - two banks of the ave and M id Danube , the Theo dorics harried the whole of Macedonia and Moesia by

- to never end ing raids . Zeno tried turn them against

o s to each ther , offering fir t the one, then to the other,

' ’ ’ l u m s M o zs l er m zlz . the title of g , and a large pen ion But now— as in the time of Alaric and Stilicho — it “ w as seen that dog will not eat dog the tw o

’ h odorics I e , after quarrelling for a while , banded them selves t ogether against Zeno . The story of their

reconciliation is curious .

o son o f Th eodemir The doric , the , the ally of Rome

or s i the moment , had urrounded his rival on a rocky hill in a defile of the Balkans . While they lay

o of T ria rius opposite each other , Theod ric , the son

a s o O ne- E [he is usual ly known Theod ric the yed], R EB E I ON OF T EO RI C LL H D O . 63

’ d h is n rode own to e emy s lines and called to him , “ n ot Madman , betrayer of your race , do you see that the R o man plan is always to destroy G oths by Goths ?

o f us n ot Whichever fails , they, we, will be the

s . s tronger They never give you real help , bu t end

s o s you out again t me t peri h here in the Desert . “ s O n e - E is Then all the Goth cried out , The yed ”

s . So right . These men are Goths l ike ourselve the

s two Theodoric made peace , an d Zeno had to cope

A D T w o with them both at once [ . . years later

Th eodoric the O n e - Eyed w as slai n by accident — his

o s s horse flung him , as he m u nted , again t a pear fi xed by the d oor of h is tent— but his n ame sake contin ued

s 8 A t 8 . D a horn in the ide of the empire till 4 . In that year Zeno betho ught him o f a de vice forrid

of O s ding himself the trogoth , who , though he made n o s s o permanent ettlement in Moe ia or Maced n ia , was gradually dep opulati ng the real m by his incur

o f o s w h o sions . The l ine ephemeral emper r reigned in Italy over the s hrun ken Western real m had ended

6 O s in 47 , whe n the German general doacer depo ed

s A u ustulus o to Rom ulu g , and did not tr uble himself

- a nominate another puppet C sar to succeed hi m . By h is o rder a deputation from the Roman Senate

s s o o vi ited Zeno at Con tantin ple , to i nf rm him that they did not require an empero r o f their own to

o I o o g vern taly , but w u ld ackn wledge him as ruler al ike of East and Wes t ; at the s ame time they b e so o o as s ught Zen to n minate , his repre entative i n the

I s O o . talian land , their defender, the great d acer Zeno replied by advi s ing the R o mans to pers uade O doacer

o a s s N s to rec gn ize his lord Juliu epo , one of the 6 R EOR ANI Z ATI ON OF THE EAS TERN E MP I RE 4 G .

Ricimer dethroned nominees of , who had su rvived his

O s loss of the imperial diadem . doacer refu ed , and

s I f proclaimed hi m elf king in taly, while still af ecting ’ — again s t Zeno s own will — to recognize the Con s an in O olitan h is s t t p emperor as uzerain .

A D to f In 488 . . it occurred to Zeno of er Theodoric I the govern ment of taly, if he would conquer it from

s o i O . O n doacer The trog th , who had harried the

of land the Balkan Pen insula bare , and had met

s n several reverse of late from the Roma arms, took

ff . w as n an d the o er H e made patrician and co sul , s tarted o ff with all the O s trogothic nation at his back I to win the real m of taly. After hard fighting with Odoacer and the mixed multitude of mercenaries I that followed him , the Goths con quered taly, and — Theo d oric German king and Roman patrician

s began to reign at Raven na. H e alway professed to be the vassal and deputy o f the emperor at Con stantino le s I p , and theoretically his conque t of taly meant the reunion of the East and the West . But the We stern real m had Shrunk down to Italy and I llyricu m , and the power of Zeno therein was pu rely nominal . With the departure of the Ostrogoths we have s een our last of the Germans in the Balkan Pen in s ula after 48 8 the Slavs take their place as the molesters

o of the Roman frontier n the Danube . T N AN J US I I .

E A . D 1 8 THE mperor Anastasius d ied in . 5 at th e

- ss to ripe age of eighty eight , and his sceptre pa ed

h is - o Justinus , the comm ander of body guard , wh m Senate and army al ike hailed as mos t wo rthy to succeed the good old man . The late emperor had n w ephe s , but he had never designated them as his

s o h is heir , and they retired i nt private l ife at death .

s s h is J u tinus was well advanced i n year , as al l three

ss predece ors had been when they mou nted the throne .

o s But u nl ike Leo , Zen , and Anastasiu , he had won h is n ot way to the front i n the army , in the civil

o s o service . H e had risen fr m the rank , was a r ugh u n cultured soldier, an d is said to have been hardly able

is ow n H is to S ign h name. reign of n ine years would have been of l ittle note in hi s tory— for he made n o wars and Spent n o treasure— if he had not bee n the mean s of placing on the throne of the East the greatest ruler since the d eath of Constantine .

s Justinus had no children him elf, but had adopted

h is n as his heir ephew J ustinian , son of his deceased ab atius brother S . This young man , born after his ’ 66 3 US TI NI AN . father and u ncle had won their way to high places in the army , was no u ncultured peasant as they had been ,

o f o but had been reared , as the heir a wealthy h use ,

o i n all the learning of the day . He sh wed from the

s n s fi r t a kee intelligence , and appl ied him elf with L aw of . zeal to almost every departmen t civil l ife ,

s o o s fi nance, adm in i trative economy , the l gy , mu ic ,

o o cl . architecture, f rtificati n , al l were ear to him The only thing i n which he seems to have taken little per

s s sonal intere t w as military matter . H is uncle trusted

h is everything to him , and fi nally made hi m colleague

o on the thr ne .

w as to J ustinian heir designate the empire , and had

ss - fi ve h is o o pa ed the age of thirty , giving c ntemp raries

m s o s s ss - the i pre si n that he was a taid , bu ine like , and

so No on e re em inently practical per nage . ever ” w as s os membered him young, it aid , and m t certainly n o one ever expected him to scandal ize the empire

s s A D 2 6 by a en ati o nal marriage. But in . . 5 the world

to o s c o learnt , the h rror of the re pe table and the j y of

s - o s h is all candal m nger , that he had declared intention o f to o s taking wife the dan cer The dora , the tar of the

o s Byzantin e c mic tage . ’ So many st ories have gathered arou nd Theodora s name that it is hard to say h o w far her early l ife had “ s o been di s creditable . A libellou w rk called the Secret ” s o f s H i tory , written by an enemy her el f and her h usb a nd I s o f , give us many scandalous details her career but the very virulence o f the boo k makes its

s . It s tale incredible is ind i putable , however , that

ss Theodora was an actress, and that Roman actre es

C a n not P oco s w os na a s . ert i ly by r piu , h e me it be r 6 THE OD ORA . 7

enjoyed an u nenviable reputat ion for l igh t moral s . There w as actu ally a law which forbade a member of

to s to the Senate marry an actre s , and Justini an had

o h is ow n repeal it i n o rd er t legal i ze marriage . There had been s co res of bad and reckless men o n the

o n thr ne before, but one of them had ever dared to comm it a n action which startled the world half so His o w n much as this freak of the staid J ustin ian . m o ther used every effort to tu rn him fro m his pur

os h is E to dis p e , and u ncle the mperor threatened

: w as inherit him but he quietly persistent , and ere the aged J u s tinus d ied he had been induced to ac

of knowledge the marriage his nephew , and to confer “ ” o on Theodora the title f Patrician .

as o Theodora , even her enemies all w , was the most

of s s beautiful woman her age . Procopiu , the be t “ s ss historian of the day, say that it was impo ible for

to s o r mere man de cribe her comeliness in words, ” s a imitate it in art . All that her detractors could y w as o that she was bel w the m idd le height , and that

w a s t her complexion rather pale, though not u nheal hy . It is unfortunate that we have no repre sentati o n of s os San her urviving, save the famous m aic in Vitale

o f s o f at Ravenna, and mosaic is al l form art that

s s lea t u ited to reproduce beauty .

o Whatever her early life may have been , Theod ra was in s pirit and intelligence well s u ited to be the mate of the E mpero r of the East . After her mar riag e n o word of s candal was breathed against her h life. S e ros e to the height of her s ituati on : once

’ s s o Sh e her cou rage aved her husband thr ne , and always w a s s s s the able t and the most tru ted of his councillor .

’ S TI I A 7 o 3 U N N .

is feared him , Theodora represented as entirely given

o o f up to pride and ambition , never f rgiving an f ence , but hunting to death or exile all w h o had cros s ed her

h e is — in the smallest thing. S reproached but w h o that has ri s en from a low estate is not —of an inordinate o s s o f l ve for the pomp and vanitie imperial state . H igh o fficial s complained that sh e had as great a

o o s s v ice in settl ing p litical matter as her hu band .

on Yet , the whole, her influence would appear not to have been an evil one— hi storian s acknowledge that sh e o s ow n was liberal in almsgiving , religi u after her

Sh e fashion , and that often interfered to aid the

s It is o oppre sed . particularly rec rded that , remem

o f o Sh e beri ng the dangers her own y uth , was zealous in establi s hing in stituti ons for the reclaiming of women who had falle n i nto sin . 2 A D . n The aged Justinus d ied in 5 7 . , and J ustinia

s o o f became the ole ccupant the throne , which he was

s to - s It d e tined occupy for thirty eight year . was less

h is s than hal f the centu ry , yet per onality seems to per

o o vade the whole peri d , and hist ry hardly remembers the in s ignificant predece sso rs and s uccessors whose reign s eke out the remainder of the years between 5 00 and 600. The empire when Justinian took it over from the hands of h is u ncle was in a m ore prosperou s conditi o n than it had known s ince the death of Constantine . S ince the O strogoths had m oved out of the Balkan

s s o A. D. 8 Penin ula in 4 7 , it had not u ffered fr m any very

Sla long or destructive invas i o n from without . The

o s for s a n d v nic tribe , now heard of the fi r t time , the

s ss B ulgarians had made raid acro the Danube, but ’ S TI I AN ARM 1 y U N S Y. 7 they had not yet s hown an y signs of s ettl ing down as the G oth s had d o ne— withi n the limits o f the

o s o s empire . Their incursi n , though vexati u , were not

E o o dangerous . Still the u r pean pr vinces o f the

o s o s empire were in w r e cond iti n than the A iatic , and were far fro m having recovered the effects of the

Friti ern ravages of g and Alaric , Attila , and Theo

o s s doric . But the m re fortunate A iatic land had

n r s I E hardly seen a foreign enemy for ce tu ie . xcept in the immediate neighbo urhood of the Pers ian fron

w as s W s tier there no danger, and Per ian ar had been

s o infrequent of late . Southern A ia M inor had nce or twice s uffered fro m internal ri s ings— rebellion s of the warlike Is aurian s — but civil war left no s uch perma n n ent mark on the land as did barbarian invas i o n s . O

o the whole, the resources of the pr vinces beyond the B osphorus were intact . Justinu s in h is qu iet reign had s pen t l ittle or none of the great b o ard of treas ure which Anastasiu s had

to lb s . bequeathed him . There were more than of gold in store when Justinian came to

as c s on the throne . The army, we have had oc a i to

in w as oo o relate the last chapter, in g d rder, and com p osed in a larger proporti o n of born subj ect s of the empire than it had been at any time since the battle o f

o o Adrian ple . There w u ld appear to have been from o f to men under arms , but the extent the frontiers of the empire were so great that J us tinian never sen t out a single army of more than

f n s in A . D . w ic There h ad been on ly an isol ated raids o Hu 395 , h h Pa s n No o n as on ac as fa r as pen etra ted as far as le ti e . ther i v i re hed

An tioch . ’ I 7 2 3 OS T NIAN .

o s o strong, and f rce of nly a third of that nu mber are o ften fo und entru s ted with s uch mighty enterpris es as the in vas i o n o f Africa or the defence

o o f o of the Armenian b rder . The flower the R man

w as n o its its s army longer infantry, but mailed hor e

b o w as men armed with lance and , the

o Parthian cavalry had nce been of old . The infantry co mpris ed more archers and javel i n - men than heavy troops : the Is aurian s and other pro vincial s of the m o untainou s parts of A s ia M in o r were reckoned

o o s o the best of them . Am ng b th hor e an d f ot large b o d ies of fo reign auxil iaries were s til l fou nd : the

s s Hu ns and Arab upplied light cavalry, the German He rules and Gepid ae fro m beyo nd the Danube heavier troops . The weakes t po int in the empire wh en J u stini a n

o o w as its s s to k it ver fi nancial y tem . The cardinal “ o o a s maxim of p litical ec nomy, th t taxes hould be rais ed in the manner leas t oppressive to those who

a w as p y them as yet u n dreamt of. The exaction s o s o f of arbitrary cu t ms due , and the frequent grant

o o s w as s o m n pol ie noxi o u to trade . The depl rable sys tem o f tax - farm ing through middlemen w as em pl oyed in many branche s of the revenue . Landed

o o s s ss pr priet r , mall and great , were still mercile ly

d o of overtaxe , in c nsideration their exemption from

s mil itary service. The budget was alway handi capped by the necessity for providing free corn for

o o f o s of the p pulace Constantin ple . Yet in pite all thes e drawbacks J u s tinian enj oyed an en o rmous and

His s o steady revenue . fi nance m in i ter, J hn of Cap

adocia w as i o s o p , such an ngen i u ext rtioner that the ’ US TI NIAN S F OREI N P O y G LI C Y. 7 3

treasury was never empty in the hardest stress of war and famine : but it was kept full at the expen s e o f ’ f o s s the uture . The grinding taxati n of Ju tinian reign bore fruit i n the permanent i mpoveri s hment o f the province s : his success ors were never able to

s s i s rai e uch a revenue again . Here aga n J u tinian

o to s XIV may well be c mpared Loui .

’ Ju stinian s policy d ivides int o the departments of

o f s Of h is o s as s internal and f reign af air . d ing legi

s o o s lator , admin i trat r, theol gian , and builder, we hall

s o o f h is speak in their proper place . But the hi t ry

fo reign policy fo rm s the main interes t of his reign . He had determined to take u p a tas k which n o ne of his predecessors s ince the divisi o n of the E mpire u nder Arcadius and Hon o rius had dared to contem

It h is to e h is s plate . was dream r u n ite u nder ceptre th e German kingd o m s in the Western Mediterranean which had been formed o ut of the broken fragments of the real m o f H o n o riu s ; and to end the s olem n pretence by which he w as nom inally ackn owledged as

E s o f o mperor We t the Adriatic , while really all p wer was in the hand s of the German rulers who p os ed a s

s o I his vicegerent . H e aimed at rec nquering taly,

an d — if n ot of Africa, Spain the further provinces the old empire . We shall see that he went far towards i accomplish ng his intention . But du ring the fi rst five years of his reign his atten

s of tion was di stracted by o ther matters . The fi r t ’ w as o s i s o them an b t nate war of fou r year durati n ,

s s of with Kobad , King of Persia . The cau e quarrel were ultim ately th e rival preten s i o ns of the Ro man an d Persian E mpires to the s uzerainty of the small 74 y US TI NIAN .

s on o o s Sea state their n rthern fr ntier near the Black ,

s o f L c I o rox i the kingdom azi a and beria , and m re p mately the s trengthen ing of th e fo rtresse s on the

o s His o M es op otamian b rder by Ju tinian . f rtification o f os to e s a o o of N s s Dara , cl e the P r i n fr ntier t wn i ibi , w as earn s ore/[ T C os o the h en by K bad , who declared ’ 2 8 s s ss o war in 5 , a year after Ju tinian acce i n .

s w as oo so The Per ian war bl dy, but ab lutely inde cis ive s . All the attack of the ene my were repelled , and o n e great pitched battle w o n over him at Dara in

s c e S 5 30. But neither party u ce ded in taking a ingle

o ss o f o c o o on f rtre imp rtan e fr m the ther ; and when ,

o h is son Ch osroes the death of K bad , made peace

s o to res tora with the empire , the term am unted the

o tion of the old frontier . The nly importance of the

w as s s h is war that it enabled J u tin ian to te t army, and s h owed hi m that he p oss essed an o fficer of fi rst

s o rate merit in Belisariu , the vict r of the battle of

Dara . Thi s fam ou s genera l w as a native o f the Thracian

o os inland ; he entered the army very y ung, and r e

of - rapidly , till at the age twenty three he was already

' ’ ' o o o f - fi ve M o zs ter m zlztmn G vern r Dara , and at twenty g f s I His o Ea t. o w as the influence at C urt very great , a s o con fi he had married Anton ina, the fav urite and

f ss o o His si o o E . o dante the mpre The d ra p ti n , indeed , w as n o t o h is unl ike that which Marlb rough , owing to ’ s s o o o f wife a cendency, enj yed at the C urt Queen

too s s w as Anne . Like Marlborough, , Beli ariu ruled

1 Bo n in an a a s c w n T ac a n d a nd I c r Germ i , di tri t bet ee h r e llyri um , — s h is s c a P oco s . We do n ot n ow w s c a say e ret ry , r piu k here the di tri t — an s n s a w as s a . Germ ettleme t , pre um bly itu ted TH E B L UE S A ND G RE E NS . 7 5

s and bullied by his clever and u nscrupulou wife .

ss S o s et Un l ike the great Duche arah , Ant n ina never

’ hers elf to th w art her mi stress ; but after Theod o ra s

sh e s o death and her hu band l st favou r, and in declin ing years knew much the same mi s fortune as

o o d id the Marlb r ughs .

s a w A D The year which the Persian War end [ . . saw s s o al o the ri e and fall of an ther danger, which while it lasted w as much more threaten ing to the

’ E s o mperor l ife and power. We have already n ticed “ ” s c s of the Blues and Green , the great fa tion the

i s I o Byzantine C rcu . All thr ugh the fifth century they

o o had been growing str n ger, and interfered m re and

s o o s s more in politics and even in religiou c ntr ver ie . “ To be a Green in 5 30 meant to be a parti s an of

o f E s s s a n d the house the late mperor Ana ta iu , a “ ” Monophysite 2 The B lues p osed a s parti s ans of

s o f s s as s o o the hou e J u tinu , and trictly rth dox i n

s s s o matters eccle ia tical . From mere Circu facti ns they had almos t grown into politi cal parties ; but they s till retained at the b otto m many traces o f their

s o s low porting origin . The r ughe r element pre d o minated in them ; they were prone to ri ot and

as s 2 to S mischief, and , the event of 5 3 were how , they were a s eri ous danger to the State . In J a nuary of that year there w as serious rioting in

s s o o the treets . J u tin ian , th ugh rd inarily he favou red

o o the Blue facti n , impartially rdered the leaders

o of the rioters on both sides to be put t death .

See C a 1 . 1 . 2 2 . h p . p 2 To h old the view w hi ch den ied the existen ce both of a truly hum an a nd a truly Divi n e n a ture in O ur Lord Jesus Chris t . 7 6 y US TI NIAN .

s o Seven were elected for execution , and f ur of them were duly beheaded in the pres ence of a great and

f o s of o m ob o o St. . angry , in fr nt the m na tery Con n

s to The last three r ioter were be hung, but the hang

s of s man so bungled his ta k that two the crim inal ,

to o . one a Blue the other a Green , fell the gr u nd alive The guard s s eized them and they were again s us pended but once more— owing no d oubt to the terror of the executi o ners at the menaces of the mob

s o oos the rope lipped . Then the multitude br ke l e ,

s s - the guard were wept away, and the half hung criminal s were thrust into sanctuary at the adj acent m onas tery. This exciting i ncident proved the commencement

s s of S ix day of des pe rate ri oting. The Blue and

i as c o N iko Greens u n ited , and tak ng their wat hw rd , , ” s o conquer, wept thr ugh the city, crying for the de

s o of o o f c po iti n J hn Cappadocia , the unpopular fi nan e

s E ude m ius o f w h o mini ter, and of , Praefect the city,

’ s o was i mmediately re p nsible for the executions . The ordinary p ol ice of the capital were quite u nable to

s w as o to ro ma ter them , and Justinian weak en ugh p s s o s m ob w as n ow m i e to d ismis the fficial . But the

s s s : qu ite out of hand , and refu ed to di per e the tro uble w as fomented by the parti s an s o f the house o f

o w h o S for s the late emper r , began to hout the depo i

s s H atius tion of J u tinian , and wi hed to make y p , o f s e s h is n ephew Ana tasius , C ar in stead . The city w as s o f o s o to o al mo t empty tr op , wing the garris n

s s E o having been ent to the Per ian War . The mper r could only cou nt o n men of the Imperial

Guard , a few German auxil iaries, and a regiment

X T H BO B O RA I M PERAT RI .

’ ’ I rzn re . T/ze co i n /I t i s i n th e [Fro/n tlze P a i n ti ng by Va l . p py g ' ’ A rtzst s b a n ds ] ’ T E O ORA S S P E E C H D H . 79

in n of councils the Palace . Joh Cappadocia and man y other min isters strove to persua d e the E mperor

sea o o s to fly by , and gather additi nal tr op at Hera

w as n s clea . There othing left in his power ave the palace, and they insisted that i f he rem ained there l o nger he would be s u rrounded by the rebels and cut

I n E off from escape. t was the that the mpress Theo

of n to dora rose to the level the occasio , refused fly, and u rged her husband t o m ake one fi n al assault on

s the enemy . Her words are pre erved by Procopius . This is n o occas ion to keep to the old rule that a

s w h o woman mu t not speak in the council . Those are most concerned have most right to dictate the

s Now cour e of action . every man must die once , and for a king death is better than dethronement an d

I o exile . May never see the day when my purple r be

I n o is stripped from me , and when am more called

s ! If O E o Lady and M i tress you wish , mper r , to save

o is s : o s an d your life, n thing ea ier there are y ur hips I n the sea . But agree with the old sayi g that ’ - s Empire is the best winding heet . ’ S s pu rred on by his wife s bold word , Justinian

s ordered a last assault on the rebel , and Belisarius led

o n ow out h is full f rce . The factions were in the H ip

odrome - p , saluting their newly crowned leader with

' ’ “ s H a tze A u uste tn U znm s shout of yp g , , preparatory s to a fi nal attack on the palace . Beli arius attacked at once all three gates of the H ippodro me : that

s s directed again t the door of the Kathi ma failed , but

s s the oldiery forced both the ide entrances , and after a hard struggle the rebel s were entirely routed . Crowded n i to the e normous build ing with only five exits , T 8 o y US I NI AN . they fell in thousands by the swords of the victorious s s It Imperial i t . is said that men were slain in “ ” s of S o N the six day this great editi n of ika . It is cu riou s to learn that not even this awful s s o laughter ucceeded i n crushi ng the facti ns . We hear of the Blues and Green s still rioting on vari ous

s occasion during the next fifty years . But they never came again so near to changing the course of hi story

s s A D. 2 . as i n the famou ri ing of . 5 3

’ 8 2 US TI NI AN S F ORE I N CON E y G Q U S TS .

s to opinion to take a hu band rule i n her behalf, had

Th eodah at u nwisely wedded , her nearest kinsman .

w as s s s o s H e cruel , cheming, and u pici u , and mur

h is dered wife , within a year of her having brought

o o f I as dow r I o him the kingd m taly a y . C wardly

o s as as Th eod ah at os and avarici u well ungrateful , p sessed exactly th ose vices which were m os t s u ited to make him the s c orn o f h is warlike s ubj ect s he could c ount neither o n their l oyalty nor their respect in the event of a war . Both the Vandals in Africa and the Goths i n Italy were at thi s t ime s o weak as to i nvite an attack by

. c con an enterprising neighbour They had , in fa t , quered larger real ms than their l i mited nu mbers were

o o really able to c ntr l . The original tribal h o rdes which had subdued Africa and Italy were composed

or S s s s of fi fty ixty thou an d warrior , with their wive

c N ow s on o and hildren . uch a body concentrated n e spot was powerful enough to bear d own everything

o o s s bef re it . But when the conqu er r pread them

s selve abroad , they were but a spri nkling among the

s o o In millions of provincial wh m they had to g vern . all Italy there were probably but three cities— Ra

— in O s o s ven na , Verona , and Pavia which the tr goth

o f o o formed a large proportion the p pulati n . A great

s o s army makes but a mall nation , and the G th and Van dals were too few to o ccupy s uch wide tra cts as Italy

s s o and Africa . They formed merely a mall ari t cracy , governing by dint o f the ascendency which their

Th e murder of Am al asu n tha t ook place after the Roman in vasion of Afri ca but Th eodah at w as already on the thr on e w hen the Vand al w ar w as proceedi ng . EAKNE S S OF THE O T S I I TA Y W G H N L . 83 fathers had won over the minds of the u nwarlike

s s population which they had ubdued . The o nly chance for the su rvival o f the O strogo thic and Van dal monarchies lay i n the poss ibility o f their amal

am a tin g g with the Roman provi ncial population , as

s the Frank , u nder more favourable circumstances ,

n s o f s did with the conquered i habitant Gaul . Thi

s o I was een by Theodoric , the great con quer r of taly

h is s o and he d id be t to rec ncile Goth and Roman ,

s held the balance with strict j u tice between the two , and employed Romans as wel l as G oths in the govern

s ment of the country . But one generation doe l ittle to a ss uage old hatreds such as that between the co n

rors I q ue and the conquered in taly . Theodoric w as

ruffi an succeeded by a child , and then by a , and his

E w as to s work ended with him . ven he u nable trike at the mos t fatal d ifference of al l between h is cou ntry

I . s s men and the talians The Goth were Arian , having been converted to Chri stian ity i n the fourth century

s s by mis ionarie who held the Arian heresy . Their

s o O subj ect , on the ther hand , were rthodox Cathol ics ,

o al most without excepti n . When religious hatred was added to race hatred , there was hardly any hope

w o n of welding together the t ational ities . A n other source o f weakness in the ki n gdoms o f

I s s th e Africa and taly mu t be noted . The Vandal of third g eneration and the Goths of the second , after

in their settlement the south , seem to have degenerated o It i n c urage and stamina . may be that the climate was un favou rable to races reared in the Danube lands ; it may be that the temptations of u nl imited lu xury offered by Roman civilization s ufficed to demoral ize ’ 8 ‘ S TI NIAN OREI E 4 3 U S F G N CON Q U S TS .

“ them . A Gothic sage observed at the time that the

h is Goth , when rich , tends to become Roman in ” o is o o h . habits ; the R man , when po r , G thic i n

w as There truth in this saying, and the resul t of the change w as ominous for the permanence of the king dom o f I If s s s sub taly . the ma ter oftened and the

ects n ot for j hardened , they would preserve ever their

os o s respective p iti n . The cas e o f the kingdom of Africa was infinitely

o s o I w r e than that of the kingd m of taly . The Van

s s s dals were les nu merou than the Goth , in proportion to their subj ects they were not merely heretics, but

o s fanatical and persecuting heretics , which the G th

e . wer not Moreover, they had n ever had at their head a great organizer an d administrator like Theo

s o f s doric , but only a uccession turbulent prince of

n s . the Viking type , fit for war an d othing el e J u stin ian declared war on King Gelimer the mo

s ment that he had made peace with Persia , u ing as h is easns bet/i re - ss , not a definite a ertion of the claim of the empire over Africa— for s uch language would have provoked the rulers o f Italy and Spain to j oin

s Gelim er the Vandal , but the fact that had wrong ’ o Hilderic E In fully dep sed , the mperor s ally . J uly ,

s s w h o n ow h is 5 3 3 , Beli ariu , was at the height of “ ” favo ur for h is success ful suppress ion of the Nika

s s o s o s rioter , ailed fr m the Bo ph ru with an army of

o s w as o fo t and hor e . He acc mpan ied ,

s h is s luckily for hi tory , by secretary, Procopiu , a very capable writer, who has left a full accou nt of his

’ s s s s T ri oli at m a ter campaigns . Bel i ariu landed at p , the

o n extreme eastern l imit of the Vandal power. The t w

86 ’ y US TI NI AN S FOREI GN CON Q UES TS . food of the Moors Beli s arius received Gelimer with

ss oo o o l o kindne , and t k him to C nstantin p e, al ng with

s s o f in the trea u re the palace of Carthage , which cluded many of the Spoil s of Ro me captured by the

s - Six s o s c Vandal eighty year bef re , when th ey a ked

c It is s o s e . the imp rial ity , in 45 3 aid that am ng the e s poil s were so me of the golden vess el s o f the Temple

s at Jerusalem , which Titu had brought in triumph to

R S O TS CAVAL Y C U .

B za n ti n M (From a y e S . )

o R me , and which Gaiseric had carried from Rome to

Carthage . The triu mphal entry of Bel i sariu s into Constanti n o le s h is s s o p with his cap tive and poil , enc uraged Ju stin ian to o rder in stant preparation s for an attack on s o on h is s the ec nd German kingdom , we tern

on frontier . He declared war the wretched King

Th eodah at s A . D . in the um mer of 43 5 , using as his o f s pretext the mu rder Queen Amala untha, whom ,

s s s as we have already aid , her u ngrateful pou e had ’ H T A THE ODA A S UG UR Y. 8 7

first i mprisoned and then strangled within a year of their marriage .

o f w as The king the Goths, whether he conscience s n o w s o d s tricke or merely c ardly , h we the greate t

o terr r at the declaration of war . H e even wrote to

s i o f s Con tant n ple of ering to re ign his crown , if the Emperor would guarantee h is life and his private

o s s o s property . Meanwhile he c n ulted o th ayers and

h is s s s magicians abou t pro pect , for he was as uper stitious as w as o s s he incompetent . Pr copiu tell us a strange tale of the doings o f a J ewi s h magician of

Th o ah o e d at . note, to whom applied H e t ok thirty

s — s s u pig to represent u nclean Gentiles , we mu t p — s . pose and pen ned them i n three tyes , ten in each “ ” “ ” on e s n I The part he called Goths , the eco d talians , ” I s s s s and the third mperial i t . He left the bea t

o oo or for s with ut f d water ten day , and bade the king

s o f vi it them at the end that time, and take augury

Th eodah at o from their cond ition . When l oked in he “ ” tw o s of fou nd al l but of the Goth pig dead , and half ” ” I n I s s o the talia s , but the mperiali t , th ugh gau nt

os s and wasted , were all , or al m t all , alive . Thi por tent the J e w expounded as meaning that at the en d of the approaching war the Gothic race wo uld be ex It terminated and their alian subj ects terribly thin ned ,

I s while the mperial troop would conquer, though with toil and diffi culty . While Th eodah at was busying himsel f with por

s o n I tent , actual war had broken out the llyrian frontier between the Goth s and the governor of Dal

w as n o use f matia . There i n making further of ers to

s s n . I Ju ti ian , and the king of taly had to face the itua

n as tio best he could . ’ 8 8 US TI NIAN F OREI y S G N CON Q UE S TS .

In of S the su mmer 5 3 5 , Belisarius landed in icily, with an even small e r army than had been given hi m

— o o to conquer Africa only R man tro ps , all

Is s of f au rian , and barbarian auxiliaries d if erent ’ s n s s o rts . Bel i arius first campaig was a fortu nate as Gelim r had been that which he had waged against e . All the Sicilian t owns threw O pen their gates except

s Palermo , where there was a con iderable Gothic gar

s o In ri on , and Palerm fell after a short siege . six month s the whole island was in the hands of

s Bel i s ariu . Th eodah at seemed i ncapable of defending himself ;

o o ss he fell int a conditi n of abj ect helple ness , which

o s w so pr voked his warlike subj ect , that when the ne s came that Belisariu s had crossed o ver into Italy and

os S In taken Rhegiu m , they r e and lew him . his stead

o s as Witi es the army of the G th elected their king g , a

- o w for so m iddle aged warri r , well kno n per nal courage n im and integrity, but quite incompete t to face the

s o pending t rm .

s After the fall of Rhegiu m , Bel isariu marched

N s rapidly on aples, meeting no oppo ition ; for the G oth s were very thinly s cattered through Southern

I n ot taly, and had even enough men to garrison the

L ucan ian and Calabrian fo rtresses . Naples w as

s s I s s taken by urpri e, the mperiali t finding their way

s within the walls by crawling up a di used aqueduct .

s After this im portant conque t , Bel isarius made for

h is Rome , though forces were reduced to a mere handful by the necessity of leaving garri sons in h is

Witi es f late conquests . King g made no ef ort to obstruct

w s h is approach . He had received ne s that the Frank

’ TINIAN FORE I C N T 90 y US S GN O Q UE S S . s o its torming party actually f rced way within the walls , and had to be beaten o ut by sheer hard fighting and

so of on o - at the mau leu m H adrian , the n rth west , ’ o s o o a an ther pirited c mbat t ok pl ce . H adrian s tomb

s a great quadrangular tructure of white marble , 300 feet s quare and 8 5 feet high— w as surmounted by o n e o f the m os t magnificent collecti o n s of statuary

o in ancient Rome , including f u r great equestrian s s o s its s o s tatue of emper r at corner . The G th , with

s s oo o f o s their ladder , warmed at the f t the t mb i n uch

s s nu mber , that the arrows and darts of the defender

s as s were in u fficient to beat them back . Then , a la t

s I s s o th e S s re ou rce , the mperiali t t re down core of

s s s statue which adorned the mau oleu m , and cru hed the mass of ass ailant s beneath a rain of marble frag

s s s ment . Two famou antique , that form the pride of “ ” s— o modern gallerie the Dancing Faun at Fl rence, ” — and the Barberin i Fau n at Mun ich were fou nd , a

s s o f thou and year later , buried in the d itch the tomb o f s o s s s H adrian , and mu t have been am ng the m i ile

s o s s employed again t the G th . The rough u age which they then received proved the mean s of preserving

o them for the admirati n of the modern world . A year and n ine days after he had fo rmed the siege

o f o u Witi es to o . R me , the nlucky g had aband n it

His e s army , reduc d by word and fam ine , had given

o of s s s u p all h pe ucce s , and new had j ust arrived that the Imperi a l i sts had launched a new army against

o s s Raven na, the G thic capital . Beli ariu , indeed , had

s o o f o r m en j u t received a reinf rcement ,

s s o o an and had wi ely ent a c nsiderable f rce , u nder

on a . officer named John , to fall the Adri tic coast TAKE A 1 B ELI SARI US S RAVE NN . 9

The s cene of the war was now tran s ported further

s to the n o rth ; but its character still remained the ame .

s o o s os . The R o man gained territ ry , the G th l t it

o O s o Firmly fi xed at Anc na and Rimin i and im , Beli

h is s ari n s gradually forced way nearer to Ravenna ,

o t . Witi A. D . 0 e s and , in 5 4 laid sieg e it g , blockaded

s h is u s by Belisariu i n capital , made no s ch kilful

h is defence as did rival at Rome three years before .

to h is o s s a To add tr uble , the Frank c me down into I Northern taly , and threatened to conquer the valley

s o Witi es o f . the Po , the la t G thic stronghold g then made proposal s for submi ss i o n but Bel isariu s refu s ed to grant any terms other than unconditi o nal sur

h is s w as render, though master J u tinian ready to acknowledge Witig es as vass al - king in Tran s - Padane

to o its s I . taly Famine drove Raven na pen gate , and

c s the Goths , enraged at their imbe ile king, and tru ck with admiration for the c ou rage and generos ity o f Bel i s arius f to o o E m eror of , of ered make their c nquer r p

s o s the We t . The l yal general refu ed but bade the

s s s to h is Goth di per e each home, and dwell peaceably

s 0 for the futu re as subj ect of the empire . [May , 5 4

A D . s s . ] H e hi m elf, taking the great Gothic trea u re

o o f h ard from the pal ace Theodoric , and the captive

Witi es o s h is g , sailed for C n tantinople, and laid ’ h is s trophies at master feet . Italy n ow seemed even as Africa ; only Pavia and Veron a were still held by Gothic garris o n s,and when

sa s s h is he iled home , Beli ariu deemed work so nearly

t h is s o done , tha lieutenants would uffice t crush out

s re the last ember of the strife . H e himself was

E s n s quired i n the ast , for a new Per ia war with Cho ’ US TI NI AN S FOREI GN CON 9 2 y Q UE S TS .

oe o r s , son of K bad , was on the eve of breaking out .

s n ot s o But thing were destined to end . At the last m o ment the G o th s found a king and a hero to rescue

I s to them , and the conquest of taly was de tined be deferred for twelve years more Two ephemeral

s for a few s a ruler reigned month at Pavi , and came to s so w as B aduila I bloody end but their succes r , the noblest character of the s ixth century the first ” a s h as knight of the M iddle Ages , he been called . When the general s of Justinian marched again s t

to s him , fini h the war by the capture of Verona an d

w on o s Pavia , he over them the first victory that the G th

o s I s had btained since their enem ie landed i n taly . Thi w a s followed by two more s ucces s es ; the s cattered armies of Witig es rallied round the ban ner o f the

o s new king, and at nce the citie of Central and

S I to outhern taly began fall back into Gothic hands, with the s ame rapidity with which they had yielded

s s w as e to Bel i ariu . The fact , that the war had b en

s I s a cruel train on the talian , and that the imperial “ o s s o g vernor , and till more their fiscal agents, or l go ” s s I thete , had become u nbearably oppres ive . taly had lived through the fit o f enthusias m with which it

s of s w as n o w had received the armie J u tinian , and regretting the days o f Th eodoric as a long - los t go lden

’ s o f its s B aduila s age . Mo t citie were soon in hands ; th e Im erialists s p retained only the district rou nd Rome,

s o O f N s N O . aple , trant , and Ravenna aple they were ila B C . B adu soon deprived . [ . 5 43 ] invested it , and

’ Th e k n s a na w as Baduila as s ow n on h is co ns and i g re l me , h i , cor so s o a ns I a s w s a wa s ca re ded by me hi t ri , but mperi li t riter l y ll him

~ o a w i c s s to a n a n ck na e. T til , h h eem h ve bee i m

’ 94 y US TI NIAN S FOREI G N CON Q UES TS .

s s o s . Beli ariu , for no one else coul d h ld back the Goth

But Bel i sariu s w as ill - supplied with men ; he had

o o fallen int disfavour at C u rt , and the imperial

s s s s o min i ter tinted hi m of troop and m ney . Unable to o relieve Rome , he had to wait at P rtus , by the

o f for mouth the Tiber, watching a chance to enter the city . That chance he never got . The fam ine s o s o s tricken R man , angry with the cruel and avarici u

s s w h o o so to o Be sa , c m manded the garri n , began l ng for the victory of their enemy ; and one n ight so me

s A s in arian traitor opened the Gate , and let in Bad

h is s u ila and Goth . The King thought that his

o s o s h is s tr uble were ver he a sembled chief , and bade

o s h ow Witi es them b erve , i n the time of g ,

s o Greek had conquered , and r bbed of kingdom and

- s liberty, wel l armed Goth . But now that

s they were few , poor, and wretched , the Goth had co o f nquered more than the enemy . And why ? Because of old they l oo ked to anything rather than j ustice : they had sinned against each other and

o s os the R man . Therefore they must cho e hence

o s f rth, and be ju t men and have God with them , or

God s unj ust and have again t them . B adu ila had determined to do that which no general s ince Hannibal had co ntemplated he would destroy

o s o f R me, and with it all the tradition the world empire of the ancient city— to hi m they s eemed but s o nares , tending to corrupt the mind of the G ths . The people he sent away u nharmed— they were but a few th ousand left after the horro rs of the famine du r

s . o s ing the iege But he broke d wn the wall , and dis

s s mantled the palaces and ar enal . For a few weeks EAT OF KI N B AD UI L A D H G . 95

o w as s n R me a de erted city, give up to the wolf and D o w l A. the [ .

s B aduila For eleven u nqu iet year , , the brave and

I h is s just , ruled taly, holding own against Bel i arius , till the great general was called h o me by s ome wretched court i ntrigue . But presently J u stin ian gathered

o s an ther army , more nu merou than any that Bel i s n to I ari s had led , and sent it taly, under the com

s s It w as s mand of the eu nuch Nar e . a trange choice that made the Chamberlain into a general ; but it

N o succeeded . ars es marched r und the head of the

I . Adriatic , and i nvaded taly from the north Bad

T a in a u ila went forth to meet him at g , in the Apen n O s o o s o ines . For a l o ng day the tr g thic kn ight r de again an d again i nto the Imperialist ranks ; but all

s their furi ou s charge failed . At evening they reeled

v o o back broken , and their king recei ed a m rtal w und

A. D in the flight [ . of Baduila w as With the death , it all u p with the ’ G oths ; their hero s knightly cou rage and kingly righteo u s ness had not s u fficed to s ave them from the s o s ame do m which had overtaken the Vandal . The

o s br ken army made one la t stand in Campan ia, under a chief named Teia ; but he w as s lain in battle at

N uceria s s . , and then the Goth urrendered They told Narses that the hand of God w as against them

I o they would quit taly, and g back to dwell in the

s : So th e o north , in the land of their father p or

of O o s off remnant the conquering strog th marched ,

o s cr ssed the Po and the Alp , and passed away i nto

s s o f oblivi o n in the n o rthern darknes . The cheme

s I I J u tinian was complete . taly was his but an taly ’ 6 US TI NI AN S REI 9 y F O G N CON Q UE S TS . so s s of th e wa ted and depopulated , that the trace “ os s ancient Roman rule had al m t van i hed . The ” s s o C o w a s land , ay a contemp rary hr nicler , reduced to pri meval s ol itude — war and famine had swept it bare . It is strange to find that the E mpero r w as not tired

S H . D ET AIL O F ST . SO P IA out by waging thi s desperate war with the Goth s ; the m o ment it ended he began to e ss ay an oth e r

s w as S western conque t . There civil war in pain ,

L r s o of and , taking ad vantage of it, ibe iu , g vernor

A s a n d oo Africa , landed in ndalu ia , rapid ly t k the

o s o f s o o f s — o o v great t wn the uth the penin ula C rd a,

III V .

’ THE END O F STI NIAN REI N J U S G .

THE slackness with which the general s of J ustinian prosecuted the Gothic war in the peri o d between the

D . s s A . 0 triumph of Beli ariu at Ravenna i n 5 4 , and

A D is n s o f I . . the final conque t taly i n 5 5 3 , mai ly to

s o of be explained by the fact that , j u t at the m ment the fall of Raven na, the empire became involved in

E s a new struggle with its great a tern neighbou r. Ch osroes of Pers ia w as seri ou sly alarmed at the

I o s n African and talian c n quests of Ju ti ian , and

as s remembered that he too , as well the Vandal and

s ss ss o o f o s Goth , was i n po e i n pr vince that had o o n e re f rmerly been Roman , and m ight day be

to s claimed by the Emperor . H e determ ined trike

o h is I before J ustinian had got free fr m talian war, and while the fl ower o f the Roman army w as s till in

s s h is for s o the We t . U ing as pretext war me petty

s s res quarrels between two tribes of Arab , ubj ect

ectivel s p y to Per ia and the empire , he declared war as f A D . s s o 0. in the pring . 5 4 J u tinian , the king

o w as : had h ped , caught u nprepared the army of the Euphrates was so w eak that it never dared face the FALL OF AN TI OCH . 99

n Persia s in the field , and the open ing of the war was fraught with such a di s as ter to the empire as had

n ot been known since the battle of Adrianople , more

o than a hu ndred and sixty years befo re . Av iding

o s s Ch osroes w h o h is the f rtre ses of Me opotamia , , led

N H s s s S . i army in per on , bur t into orthern yria

to main obj ect was strike a blow at Antioch , the

s E metropol i of the ast , a rich city that had not seen

s an enemy for nearly three centu rie , and was reckoned safe from all attacks owi ng to its di s tance

s o ! A from the fro ntier . ntioch had a tr ng garrison of “ ” “ ” men and the Blues and Green s of its circus factions had take n arms to supp ort the regular

s . troop But the com mander was incompetent , and the fo rtifications had been s omewhat neglected o f

e s Ch os roes lat . After a sharp truggle , took the town b s n o f y a sault the garriso cut its way out , and many

s w as the inhabitant escaped with it , but the city s acked from cellar to garret and thousands of

s captives were dragged away by the Per ian s . Ch os roes planted them by the Euphrates as Nebuchadnezzar had d o ne of ol d with the J ews and bu ilt for them a city which he called Ch osro a n tioch eia n , blending his own ame with that of their

o ancient ab de . Thi s horrible d isaster to the s econd city of the

’ Roman East rou s ed all J u stin ian s energy ; neglect

I h is s s o s ing the talian war, he sent all d i po abl e tro p

E s o s s to the uphrate fr ntier, and named Beli ariu

s h osroes as th e . t s C him elf chief commander After hi , won no such s uccess es as had di s tingui s hed h i s firs t c on ampaign . Havi n g com menced an attack the ’

1 00 THE END O F y US TI NI AN S . R EI G N .

o o ss s s n Roman b rder f rtre e in Colchi , far to the orth , he w a s drawn h o m e by the news that Beli sariu s had

ss w a s N s s n i nvaded A yria and besieging i ibi . O the

o o f appr ach the king the imperial general retired ,

' b II t h is man oeuvre had c os t the Pers ian the fruits of

’

s u s o B . C . 1 a whole mmer preparati n , and the year 5 4

Wt o s In i ended i h ut seriou fighting . the next spr ng very s imilar o peration s fol lowed Belisarius defended

E s s s the l ine of the uphrate with ucce s , and the invaders retired after having reduced one single Mesop o tamian fortress The war l ingered for two

a s o Ch os roes s - s ye r m re , till , d i gusted at the ill uccess o f h is r s h is s s all effo t since fi r t succes at Antioch , and m o re es pecially hu miliated by a bl oody repul s e

s E ss from the wall of de a, consented to treat for — A D . h is s peace [ . H e gave up conquest which were of s mall i mportance— but regarded the honours of as n h is s s the war bei g own , becau e J u tinian con sented to pay hi m lbs . of gold

n a of n e s o the r tificati o n the treaty . O curiou clause w as i nserted in the docu ment— th ough h os tilities

s s cea ed everywhere el e, the rights of the two monarch s to the s u zerainty of the k ingd o m of

o n o Lazica , the C lchian frontier, hard by the Black

For s ' n ea . S , were left undefi ned no le s than seve years a s ort of b y - war w as maintained i n thi s small

s o n di trict , while peace prevailed al l other points of

- o . w as n o s It t A . D . 6 the Per o R man frontier till 5 5 , after both parties had wasted much treasure and

o s Ch osroes many men on the unprofitable c nte t , that res igned the attempt to hold the small and rugged

o s mountain kingd m of the Lazi , and re igned it to

’ I A 1 0 2 THE END OF y US T NI N S REI G N .

i to part cular region , nor confi ne itsel f any period of S N So the year . u mmer or winter, orth or uth , Greek o r s — of o s Arabian , wa hed or unwashed such distincti n

o the plague to k no accou nt . A man might cl i mb to

- w as the hill top , and it there he might retire to the ” o f so depths a cavern , and it was there al . The only marked characteristic of its ravages that the “ w as chron icler could find that , whether by chance o r s s providential de ign , it strictly pared the most ” i ked I w c .

J u stinian himsel f fell ill of the plague : he re

s covered , but was never his old elf again . Though he pers evered infl e x ib ly to his l as t day in h is scheme for s o f s s the reconque t the empire , yet he eem to

o s have decl ined in energy, and m re e pecially to have

o o l st that p wer of organization , which had been his

s s n s mo t marked characteri tic . The chro icler com plain that he had grown less h o peful and le s s “ so masterful . After achieving much in the days

h is o of vigour, when he entered int the last stage

h is s o f h is l o of life he eemed to weary ab u rs , and preferred to create di s cord among h is foes or to

s s h is mollify them with gift , i n tead of trusting to

s So arm and facing the dangers of war. he allowed h is o to in s s tro ps decline number , becau e he did not

to s h is s expect require their ervices . And minister , w h o col lected h is taxes and maintained h is armies ” s f 2 were affected with the ame ind if erence . ’ O n e feature of the Emperor s later years was that he t ook more and more interest in theological

’

B s a Ro an E . 02 . ury L ter m mpire , i 4 2 A g ath ias . A T E O O IAN 1 0 y US TI NI N AS H L G . 3

s S s s . d i putes , even to the neglect of tate bu ine s The Chu rch questi o n of the day w as the dispute o n

o o s s M n physiti m , the here y which denied the existence

o ur b th of a hu man and a divine nature i n O Lord .

w as n ot o s Justinian a mon physite hi msel f, but w i hed to u n ify the sect with the m ain body of the Church

n n by edicts of comprehe sio , which forbade the

s ss o s d i cu i n of the ubj ect , and spent much troub l e in coercing prelates o rthodox and heretical i nto a reco ncil iatio n which had n o chance of perm ane nt

s s s ucce s . H is chief difficulty was with the bishop

of o s R me . He forced Pope Vigiliu to come to

s n for Con tantinople , and kept him u nder con strai t

o s w as u many m nths , till he igned all that req ired of

A D w as hi m [ . . The only result to win Vigilius

o the reputation of a heretic , and to cause a gr wing s E s e trangement between ast and We t . ’ The gloo m o f J ustin ian s later y ears was even more marked after the death of h is wife ; Theodora d ied

A . D . 8 s an d i n 5 4 , six year after the great plague , it may be that her loss w as no less a cause of the d iminished energy of h is later years than was h is enfeebled health . Her bold and adventurou s spirit mu s t have buoyed hi m u p i n many of the more

f s o f of h is di ficult enterprize the first hal f reig n .

s s to n o After her death , J ustin ian eem have trusted

: h is s sso s son one destined ucce r, J u tinus , of his s s w as a nd i ter , kept i n the backgrou nd , no great

s s s h is o minister eem to have pos s es ed c nfidence .

E s os o s of ven Beli arius , the first and m t l yal oldier

o s to the empire, d e not appear have been trusted in th e second Gothic w ar th e Empero r stinted h im of ’ 1 04 THE END OF § US TI NIAN S R EI G N

h im A troop s an d hampered with col leagues . t last

w as A. D . s o he recalled [ 5 49] and ent int private life , fro m which he w a s only re called o n the occu rrence

l‘ l l f C S S A . D 8 . o a sudden military m . 5 5 Th i s cri s is w as a striking example of the mis ’ o f s s l s management Ju tinian ater year . A nomad o So R s s s Cotri ur h rde from the uth us ian teppe , the g

had s - W H uns , cro sed the frozen Danube at m id inter,

n s s s whe ho tilitie were lea t expected , an d thrown th em selves on the Thracian provinces . The empire

s th e had men u nder arm at moment , but t s s o d I hey were al l di per ed abr a , many in taly , others

i AfriCa oth ers S o s o s s in , in pain , ther i n C lchi , ome in

‘ h e on th e M eso ota mian t . Thebaid , and a few p frontier There was such a dearth of men to defend the h o me prov m ces that the barbarians rode u nhi ndered o ver the whole cou ntry s ide from the Danube to the

o o s u . O n e o Pr p nti pl ndering and burning b dy , only

- s o to s o f tr ng , came up within a few mile the

s s on city gates , and in pired uch fear that the C s ta n tin opolitan s bega n to s end their m o ney and

‘ - o er to church plate v Asia. Justinian then s umm o ned

sa s o Beli riu fr m his retirement , and placed hi m in command of what troops there were available — a

00 o I single regiment of 3 veterans fr m taly , and “ S s o o f o s the cholarian guard , a b dy local tro p

s s strong , rai ed in the city and entru ted with th e its s s con charge of gate , which in pired little fi den ce as its members were all owed to practice their trades and avocation s and only called out in rotati o n

for O . s s o ccasional service With thi u ndi ciplined f rce , w n s a hich had ever seen war, at his back , Beli rius

’ 1 06 THE E ND OF y US TI NIAN S R EI G N .

s said much . But there remai n two more aspect of h is life which deserve notice — h is work as a bu ilder

s and h is c odificati o n of the law . Fro m the days of D iocletian the s tyle o f architecture which we call

for of Byzantine, want a better name, had been s o old ss s lowly devel ping from the cla ic form , and many o f the emperors of the fo urth and fifth cen ~

n o s turies had been given to building. But previou m o narch had co mbined in s uch a degree as did Ju stinian the will and the power to lau nch out into

h is s os architectural experiments. He had at d i p al

o s o f s s h is s the h arded treasure Anasta iu , and taste were a s magnificent as thos e of the great builders o f N the early empire, Augustus and ero and Hadrian . All over the empire the monu ments of h is wea lth and

s s s s of s taste were een in dozen of churche , hall j u tice,

o s s o s s s m na terie , f rt , hospital , and colonnade . The historian Pro copiu s w as able to co mp os e a con s iderable ’ on s i volu me entirely the subj ect of Justinian build ngs,

s so ct and number of them survive , me perfe and more

ss E in ru ins , to witne to the accu racy of the work . ven in the m o re s ecluded or o utlying portions of the

is is tw o s s empire, any fi ne building that fou nd , in ca e

No out o n e s . t of three, of the work of J ustinian merely

s o s or s great centre like C n tantinople Jeru alem , but out- o f- - s Is the way tract in Cappadocia and auria , are

of h is s E - full bu ilding . ven in the newly conquered

h is s San Ravenna great churche of Vitale , containing the celebrated m os aic portraits of hi m self and his f t o S . wife, and Apollinare in the subu rb of Class si , o utshine the older works o f the fi fth - century emperors

o and of the Goth The doric . B I L I F S T. OP IA 1 0 U D NG O S H . 7

’ s Ju tin ian s chu rches, indeed , are the best known of

In - a h is bu ildings . O riental church rchitectu re his reign forms a landmark : up to his time Christian architects had still been using two patterns copied

l s straight from O d Roman model . The first was the

o n rou nd d med church , whose origi can be traced back to s uch Roman o riginal s as the celebrated Temple of Ve s ta— of such the Church o f the H oly Sepulchre at

s Rome may serve a a type . The second was the

s s n rectangular church with ap e , which was othing more than an adaptatio n for eccles iastical pu rposes

O ld o - C of the R man law ourts , and which had bor ’ o B as il ca . t s r wed from them its name of i S . Pau l

O o s utside the Walls , at R me is a fair peci men . Jus tinian brought into use for the first time on a large s cale the c o mbinati o n of a cruciform ground - plan and

o s a very large dome . The fam u Church of St. Sophia

as o may serve the type f this style . The great cathedral of C o nstantin ople had already been burnt

as s o : down twice , we have had occa i n to relate the firs t time on the eve of the ban ishment of John “ N ” Chrysostom , the second in the great ika riot of

2 n 5 3 . Within forty days of its destruction J ustinia had com menced preparations for rebu ildi n g it as a

s monu ment of his triu mph in the civil trife . H e

A n th emius chose as his architect of Tralles, the of s few greatest Byzantine bu ilder , an d one of the

os s s w as wh e n ame have u rvived . The third chu rch

f of its dif erent in plan from either predecessors, show ing the new combination which we have already

. It 2 1 f 2 2 specified is a Greek cross, 4 eet long and 4

its broad , having in m idst a vast dome, pierced by no

T SO P . GALLERI ES O F S . HIA ’ I y us TI N AN S FOR TS . 1 1 1

n o o pou red into it . The gilded ceili g adds gl ry t its

o o interi r, though the l ight reflected upon the g ld from

m ss s ca n o the arble su rpa e it in beauty . Who tel l f the splen dour of the colu mn s and marbles with which the church is adorned ? O n e wo uld thin k that o ne had come upon a mead ow full of flowers in bloom

s n one wonder at the purple tints of some , the gree of

s other , the glowing red and glittering white , and

too those , , which nature , like a painter, has marked

s o s o s o . with the tr nge t c ntra ts of c lour Moreover, it is imp oss ible accurately to de s cribe the treas ures of gold and s ilver plate and gems which the E mperor h as presented to the church : the Sanctuary al o ne ” f s s contains orty thousand pou nd weight of ilver .

Justinian was al most a s great a bu ilder of forts as

s h is s of churche , but m il itary work have for the most

It s o part d is appeared . may give ome idea f h is energy i n fortifying the fro ntiers when we s tate that the Illyrian provinces alon e were protected by 2 94

o s s s o forts, of which Proc p iu give a li t , disposed in f u r succes sive lines from the Danube back to the Thessa

n S s lia hills . ome were single tower , bu t many were

ss s o w s a nd elaborate fortre e with ut ork , all had to be

so protected by garri ns . Thus much of J u s tin ian as bu ilder : space fails to n s O f e u merate a tithe of his work . his great legal

' m ust s eak s n achievement we p at even horter le gth .

law h is The Roman , as he received it from prede cessors w as an enormou s mass o f precedents and

s s in deci ion , which the original basis was overlaid with the various and sometimes contradictory re ’ 2 R I 1 1 THE E ND OF y US TI NIAN S E G N .

scripts of five centu ries of emperors . Several of h is s I i s o s o I. predece s r , and m st especial ly Theodosiu , had endeavoured to codify the chaotic mass and reduce it

o n o to rder . But one of them had produced a code which su fficed to bring the law of the day into ful l ' I accord with the spirit o f th e times . t was no mean

o to s o w rk bring the ancient legi lation of R me, from the days of the Twelve Tables down to the days of

s o J ustinian , into trict and l gical connection with the new Chris tian ideas which had worked their way into

s s o s predominance ince the day of C n tantine . Much

old o ss o so of the law was h pele ly b lete , owing to the change i n m o ral ideas which Chri stianity had intro d uced is s o s h ow o , but it still a t n i hing to see much f the old form s of the times of the early empire m survived into th e sixth century . J ustinian e ployed

o ss o a c mmi i n , headed by the clever but unpopular

Trib on ian n ew lawyer , to draw up his code . The

o o I w rk was d ne for ever and a day, and his n sti ” “ ” tutes and Pandects were the las t revi s ion of the

Old o n s s - o R ma law , and the tarting p int of all

s a s E sy tem tic legal tudy in urope , when , six hu ndred

s o c s year later , the need for something m re than u tom ar o - to as a: y f lk right began make itself felt , medi val civilizati o n evolved itself out of the chaos of the

a s If o E d rk age . the R man mpire had flourished i n the century after J u stinian as i n that which preceded

o s s o f s u him , ther revi er the law m ight have prod ced compilati o ns that would have m a de the In s titutes

f as s out o . eem date But , a matter of fact , decay

s o S and chao f llowed after J ustin ian , an d ucceeding emperors had neither the need nor the inclination

THE M IN O F THE AV CO G SL S.

THE thirty years which followed the death of

s o s o f Ju tinian are c vered by three reigns , tho e

s s II 6 s o s s 8 J u tinu . [5 5 Tiberiu C n tantinu [5 7 and M aurice [5 8 2 These three emperors were men of much the s a me character as the prede cessors o f J u stinian each of them w as an experienced o s ffi cial of mature age , who was elected by the reign

o h is s sso s s ing emper r as most worthy ucce r . J u tinu w as s the favou rite nephew of Justinian , and had erved

for s Curo alates s o f him many year as p , or Ma ter the “ s s s w as o o f Palace . Tiberiu Con tantinu C unt the

Ex cub iti s s , a high Court officer in the uite of J u tinus “ Mau rice again s erved Tiberiu s as C ount of the ”

o of s . F ederati , or chief the Barbarian auxiliarie They

o f s o to do s were all men capacity , and tr ve their be t for the empire : hi storian s concur in praising the

s s of j u tice of Ju tinus , the liberality and hu man ity

Tiberius , the piety of Maurice . Yet u nder them the empire was s teadily going d own hill the exhau sting effects of the reign of Justinian were making them

an d o th e selves fe lt more m re, and at end of the reig n M AR 1 1 TH E L O B D S . 5 of Maurice a ti me of chaos and di s aster w as i mpend in to h is ss . g , which came a head under succe or The internal cau s es of the di sas ter of thi s time were the weaken ing of the empire by the great plague of 5 44 and still more by the grinding exactions of ’ Its Justinian s fi nancial system . exte rnal phenomena

s o were invasions by new horde fr m the north, com b in ed with long and exhausting wars with Pers ia . The virtue s of the empero rs seem to have helped ’ them little : Justin s j ustice made hi m feared rather ’ s than loved Tiberius l iberal ity rendered hi m popular, but drained the treasury Maurice , on the other hand , who w as econ o mical and endeavoured to fill the

h is s c o ffers which predece sors had emptied , was there

as fore un iversally condemned avaricious . T he troubles on the frontier which vexed the last thirty years of the s ixth century were due to three s s — o I eparate set of enemies the L mbards in taly, the

s s in S lav and Avar the Balkan Peninsula , and the

Pers ian s in the East . The empire held undisputed poss ess ion of Italy for no m o re than fi fteen years after the expul s ion of the

D. . O stro goth s in A. 5 5 3 Then a new enemy came i n

o o fr m the north , f llowing the same path that had already s erved for the Vi s igoth s o f Alaric and the

s o f - O s trogoth Theodoric . The new comers were the

o f o race the L mbards , who had hitherto dwelt in

o n h ad fre H u ngary, the M idd le Danube , and more quently been found as friend s than as foes of the

s Ro man . But their warl ike and ambitious King

o s h is Alb in , having ubdued all nearer neighbours,

n s o f I bega to covet the fertile plain taly , where 1 1 6 THE COMI N OF THE A G SL VS .

~ h e s aw the ” emperors keeping a very inadequat e

s n ow th e O s o o s garri on , that tr g th were fi nally

D 68 o n A . h i I . s d riven away . 5 Alb in and hordes

ss cro ed the Alps , bringing with them wife and child ,

o s s o n and fl ck and herd , while their old land

the Danube was abandoned to the Avars . The L o mbard s too k posses s ion of the flat country in

o of I a s o f P0 the n rth taly, far as the line the , with

o very little difficulty. The region , we are t ld , was al most u ninhabited owing to the combined effects of the great

s n plague and the O trogothic war. I thi s once fertile

o s s L om and popul u , but now de erted , lowland , the

s o s bard settled d wn i n great nu mber . There they have left their name as the permanent denominati o n of the

o f . O o n e o s plain Lombardy nly city , the strong f rtre s o f ou t Pavia, held against them for long when it fell

1 of s in 5 7 , after a gallant defence three year , Alboin

s o f o on e mad e it his capital , i n tead cho sing of the

s s larger and more famou town of M ilan and Verona,

o o f o the lder centres l ife in the land he had c nquered .

‘ After s ubdu ing Lombardy th e king pu shed forward

o E n . int truria, and overran the valley of the Ar o

of w as But i n the midst his wars he cut off, if the

us of legend tells the truth , by the vengeance his

h e w as o wife Queen Ros amu nd . S the daughter f Cun im un d o f Ge idze , King the p , whom Alboin had ’ s s lain i n battle . The fallen monarch s kull was, by ’ o s o s o o the vict r rder , m unted in g ld and fashioned into

s o f a cup . Long year after, am id the revelry a drink

o s ing bout , Alb in had the gha tly cup fi lled with wine, and bade h is wife bear it around to his chosen to warriors . The queen obeyed , but vowed revenge

1 1 8 THE COMI N G OF THE SL A V8 .

o in two , the king ruling the main b dy of them in Tuscany valley of the Po ; while dukes

C ROSS J U ST I N U S II . ” “ ’ u an tin rt B zan ti n For C . B a et. P ari s , (From L A y , y , Q o f Spoleto and Benevento maintained an i sol a ted ex i stence in the south . RI E OF THE P AP A Y 1 1 S C . 9

Thi s partition o f Italy between the Lombards and

is o the empire w rth remembering, from the fact

ow n w as W that never again , til l ou r day, the hole

o s s No . t 1 8 0 peninsula gathered int a ingle tate till 7 , when the kingdom of United Italy was completed by

s of n the conque t Rome , did a time come whe all the land s between the Alp s and the Straits o f Messina

n were governed by one ruler. J usti ian had no suc E cess or til l Victor mmanuel . After the Lo mbard conquest the im perial domin ion a I a o in taly were dministered by a g vernor , called the

E n o an d xarch , who d welt at Raven na, the norther m st

o s s I stro ngest of the i mperial f rtre se . All the talian

o n h is o pr vinces were ominal ly beneath c ntrol , but , as

w as o a matter of fact , he nly treated with i mpl icit obedience by thos e of h is subord inates who dwelt in

o o h is own neighbo u rho d . He f und it harder to

h is o s N enforce rder at aples and Reggio , or i n the

s o f w as di s tant i s land Sicily and Sard in ia . But it the bishop s o f R o me w h o profited mos t by his absence “ ” f so im although a duke , a m ilitary o ficer of me

o o portance , dwelt at R me , he was fr m the first over

s E shadowed by his piritual neighbou r . ven duri ng the days of the O strogoths the R o man bishops had acqu ired

s a s f f con iderable i mportance , being the chie o fi cial representatives of the Ital ian s in deal ings with their

o s s s o o Teut nic ma ter . But they p ke with much m re

’ o h do n ot freed m and weight w en they had to , with a I w King of taly d ell ing qu ite near them , but with a mere governor fettered by orders fro m d istant C o n s tanti n O o 0— 60 w as s o f ple. Greg ry the Great [ 5 9 4] the fi r t the pop e s w h o began to ass u me an independent attitude 1 2 0 THE COMI N G OF TH E SL A VS . and to treat the Exarch at Ravenna with scant

w h o ceremony . H e was an able and en ergetic man , could n ot bear to see Rome su ffering fo r want of a

s o U o s ruler on the pot , and readily t ok p n him elf civil

n s s of s of h is o fu ction , in pite the prote ts n minal

o E . In 2 supe ri r the xarch 5 9 , for example, he made a private truce fo r Ro me with the Lo mbard Duke o f

o o o w as S p let , th ugh the latter at war with the empire. The E mperor Maurice st o rmed at hi m as fool i s h and

o os d is bed ient , but d id n ot venture to dep e him , being too much troubled with Pers ian and Avari e wars to

O n s o send troops against Rome. another occa i n

o o N Gregory nom inated a g vern r for aples, instead of

o o E In leaving the app intment t the xarch . 5 99 he acted as mediator between the Lombard king and the govern ment at Ravenna , as if he had been a neutral

s o s ow n o and independent overeign . Alth ugh he h ed

s s h is o o E wi h to ever con necti n with the R man mpire, Gregory behaved as if he con s idered the emperor h is

h is u o suzerain rather than immediate r ler. He w uld

On s s o s w never give in di puted points , i sued rder hich

o c ntradicted imperial rescripts , and maintained a bitter quarrel with s uccess ive patriarchs o f C o n s tanti n o le w h o oss s o of p , p es ed the fav u r Mau rice . When “ the patriarch J ohn the Faster took the title of new ” m e n ica l s o o bi h p , Greg ry wrote to Mau rice to tell hi m that the pres u mpti o n of John w a s a sure S ign that the days of Antichrist were at hand , and to u rge him to

ss s o o of repre such preten i ns by the f rce the civil arm . This is one o f the fi rst sign s of the approach of that mediaaval view of the papacy which imagin e d that ’ it w as the po nti ff s duty to cen s ure and advi s e kings

1 E M N 2 2 TH CO I G OF TH E S L A VS . fo r the fearful l oss es caused by dozen s of Persian invas ion s .

w as s s The Persian war exhau ting, but succes ful on

o o o the northern fr ntier, h wever, the R man army had

o s o oss s o f o been faring far w r e , and seri us l e territ ry

to were beginning take place . The enemies in this

s w h o on quarter were two new tribe , appeared the D anube after the Lo mbard s had departed fro m it to

o s o I n ow c mmence their inva i n of taly . There were n o Teuto n s left o n the northern frontier of the empire :

o s on e w as of the inc ming tribe , Tartar and the other

S o . s o s lav nic The Avar were a n madic race from A ia,

s o f S s wild hor emen the teppe , much like their pre r decesso s the Hu n s . They had fled wes t to es cape

s w h o s the Turk , were at thi time building u p an

s s to empire in Central A ia, and betook them elves the

So ss o o uth Ru ian plains , not far fr m the m uth of the

s o s w as Danube . To cros the river and ravage M e ia too os to o tempting a pr pect be neglected , and ere l ng the Avarie cavalry were seen o nly too frequently al o ng

a the Balkan s and on the coas t of the Black S e . Their

s o o 62 fi r t raid i nto Roman territ ry fell int the year 5 ,

s s o j u t before the death of J u tinian , and fr m that ti me forward they were always causing tro uble . They were ready enough to make peace when money w as paid

o them , but as they invariably br ke the agreement

o w a s s w as when the m ney pent , it never long before they reappeared so uth of the Danube . But the Sl avs were a far m ore seri ou s danger to

o the empire than the Avars . The latter came nly to

fo — tw o s plu nder , the rmer like the Germans centurie before — came press ing into the pro vi nces to w in them THE SL AVS . 1 2 3

o n of selves a n ew home . The R mans k ew at fi rst o s o f S nly two tribe them , the lovenes and Antae , but behind thes e there were others who were gradually to push their way to the south and make their pre sence — S s . S known Croats, ervian , and many more The lavs

s E were the ea tern most of the Aryan peoples of urope , and by far the mos t backward . They had always lain

s behind the German , and it was only when the German barrier was removed by the migratio n of the Goths and Lombards that they came into touch

a with the empire . They were rude r ces , far behind the Teutons in civilizatio n ; they had hardly learnt

et s s as y the simplest art , knew nothing of defen ive

o — arm ur , and could only use for boats tree tru nks h o llowed out by fi re — like the Australian s avages of to - day . They had not learnt to live u nder kings or

s s chief , but dwelt in village com mu nitie , governed by

s o s o the patriarch f the everal families . Their ab des

n were mud huts , and they cultivated no grai but

ou m illet . When they went to war they could send t n thousands of spearme and bowmen , but their wild i bands were not very form idable n the ope n field . They could res i s t neither cavalry nor di sciplined

o in infantry, and were only f rmidable woods and de

s o s file , where they f rmed ambuscade and endeavoured to s s take their enemy by u rpri e , and overwhel m hi m

s n s s by a udde ru h . We are as ured that one of their favourite devices w as to conceal them selves in pond s

s for or river by lying down in the water hou rs together,

o s s s breathing thr ugh reed , who e point were the only

s s o s s thing vi ible ab ve the urface . Thu a thousand

o o t men might be c ncealed , and n thing appear excep 1 24 THE COM I NG OF THE SL A VS.

s s s o a bed of rushe . Thi strange tratagem w uld seem

on o n e o r o incredible , if we had not record two ccasions

s on which it was actually practi ed . The Slavs had begun to make them s elves felt early

of in the sixth century , but it was not till the death

s ss J ustinian that we hear of them a a pre ing danger.

s s But when the Lombards had pas ed away we tward , they came down to the Danube and began to cro ss it i n great nu mbers , in the endeavou r to make permanent settlements on the Roman bank . The raids of the

s r Slavs and the Avar we e curiously complicated , for the king, or Chagan , of the Tartar tribe had made

v S . assals of many of his lavonic neighbours They , on

to the other hand , someti mes acted in obedience him , but more frequently tried to es cape from h is power by pushing forward into Roman territory. Hence it comes that we often fi nd Slav and Avar leagued together, but at other times find them acting

in s separately , or even oppo ition to each other . A more chaotic series of campaigns it is hard to con

ceive . Dow n to this time the inland of the Balkan pen in sula had been inhabited by Thracian and Illyrian

s provincials , of whom the maj ority poke the Latin o o s t ngue , th ugh a few still pre erved their ancient

I lar e ' barbaric idiom . They formed the only g b ody of

s s I w h o s s o subject of the empire out ide taly , till p ke the old ruling language , and as they were about a

o to s its quarter of its populati n , they did much pre erve

n Roma character, and to prevent it from becoming

From them the Alban ian s descen d the Alban ian t ong ue is the on ly reli c o f ancie n t Illyria .

1 2 6 THE COMIN G OF TH E SLA VS .

s as and pread themselves far and wide , far as God

s permit them , and ravage and burn and take captive, ” and still they encamp and d w el l there . The o pen country was swept bare by the Slavs the

s s S w as towns re i ted better , for neither lav nor Avar s s o o o o killed in ieg e perati ns . Relying up n the f rtified

s h is Priscus town as base the great general , whom

u o w as to Ma rice placed in c mmand , able keep his

o to a grou nd al ng the Danube, an d perform m ny

o s gallant expl it . He even crossed the river and attacked the Slavs and Avars i n their ow n h o mes beyond it ; but it was to n o effect that he bu rnt their

s o s o n o village and slew ff their warrior . H e c uld t protect the unarmed population in the open c ountry

of within the Roman boundary , and the girdle fortress es al o ng the Danube s oon covered n othing

S s . but a wasted region , sparsely inhabited by lav The limit of Ro man populati o n had fallen back to

o f o o f the line the Balkans , and even to the s uth it , and the Slavs were ever s lipping across the Danube

s so in larger and larger nu mber , despite the garri ns along the river which were still kept up from Singi

rostolum ilistria du nu m [Belgrade] to Do [S ]. The mi s fo rtunes of the Avari e and Slavo n ic war we re E the cau s e of the fall of the mperor Maurice . He had won s o me unpopularity by h is manifes t i nability to

o stem the tide of the barbarian invasion , and m re by

o f o f w as an act callousness , which he guilty in 5 99 . The Chagan of the Avars had captured f s prisoners, and of ered to relea e them for a large

o — s s rans m . Maurice who e trea u ry was empty

ss refused to comply, and the Chagan ma acred the F A E 1 2 L L OF MA URI C . 7

e wr tched captives . But the i m mediate cause of the ’ emperor s fall was h is way of deal ing with the army.

so H e was u npopular with the ldiery , though an old

s ss s soldier him elf, and did not posse their re pect or

an o f confidence . Yet he was ficer of some merit and had written a long military treati s e called the

Strate ico n f g , which was the o ficial handbook of the

imperial armies for three hu nd red years .

h is 602 Maurice sealed fate when , in , he issu ed orders for the discontented army of the Danube to

s winter north of the river , i n the waste mar hes of the

S . lavs The troops refused to obey the order , and chased away their general s. Then electing as their

s n n s captain an ob cu re centurio , amed Phoca , they marched on Con s tantin o ple . “ Ci an d Maurice armed the ty factions , the Blues ”

s f. Greens , and trove to defend himsel But when he

o n e s saw that no would fight for him , he fled acros the

s s s Bo phoru with his wife and child ren , to eek refuge

s i n the Asiatic provi nces, where he was les unpopular

h w as s o s t an in Europe . Soon he pur ued by rder of

s s a s Phoca , whom the army had now aluted emperor,

o s and caught at Chalced n . The cruel u urper had hi m

h is s executed along with all five son , the youngest a u child of only th ree y ears of age . Ma rice died with an d h is a courage piety that moved even enemies , “ h is s exclaim ing with la t breath , Thou art j ust, O an d u Lord , j ust are thy j dg ments T HE ARKE T H R D S OU .

FOR the firs t ti me S ince Constantinople had become the seat of empire the throne had been won by armed rebellion and the murder of the legitimate ruler . The break in the peaceful and orderly succession which had hitherto prevailed was not on ly a n evil

s s n ew precedent, but an im mediate di a ter . The emperor proved a far worse governor than the un

' o s s f rtunate M aurice , who, i n pite of his fault and his

s - o i ll luck , had alway been hard w rking, moderate,

s o o s w as piou , and ec n mical . Phoca a mere brutal s — o s o s s oldier cruel , ign rant , uspici u , and reckles , and in h is incapable hand s the empire began to fall to

o pieces with alarming rapidity. H e pened his reign ’ with a series of cruel execution s of his predecessor s

s o s friend , and from that m ment his deed of bloodshed never ceas ed : probably the worst of them w as the execution of Constantina , widow of Maurice and

I I. S o daughter of Tiberius , whom he lew t gether with

s s her three you ng daughter , lest their name might be

s s used as the excu e for a conspiracy again t him . But even greater horror seem s to have been caused when

1 3 0 THE DARKE S T HO UR . of Europe had been tran s ferred across the Bosph orus

s s s s to make head again t the Per ian . Yet Phocas till held on to C o n stantin ople : the creatu re of a mil itary

s o revolt him elf, it was by a m il itary revolt al ne that

s s o h e w a de tined t be overthrown . Africa w a s the only portion of the Roman E mpire which in the reign of Phocas w as s uffering neither

s o s It w as from c ivil trife nor f reign in va ion . wel l

u w h o governed by the aged exarch H eracli s, was so well l iked i n the provin ce that the emperor had n ot

s s dared to depose him . Urged by de perate entreatie from all parties in C o n stantin o ple to s trike a blow against the tyrant, and del iver the empire from the

o f o s s . yoke a m nster, Heraclius at la t con ented H e

ot qu ietly g ready a fleet , which he placed u nder the

o s o f s on o s a as s f. rder his , who b re the ame n me him el

s s o s o Thi he de patched against C n tantin ple, while at the s ame ti me h is nephew Nicetas led a large body of

s s E hor e along the African hore to invade gypt . When Heracl iu s the yo unger arrived with his fleet

o Con at the Dardanelles , al l the pr minent citizens of

n tin o le sta p fled secretly to take refuge with him . As he n eared the capital the troops of Phocas burs t into ’ mutiny the tyrant s fleet w as s cattered after a S light

engag ement , and the city threw open its gates . Phoca s w as seized i n the pal ace by an o ffi cial who m

o he had cruelly wr nged , and brought aboard the

o f o Is s galley the conquer r. it thus , aid Heraclius, ” “ that you have governed the empire ? Will you ” o e ? s g vern it any bett r neered the desperate usurper.

s h is H eraclius purned him away with foot, and the

to sailors hewed him pieces on the deck . ACC E A 1 1 ESSI ON OF H R CLI US . 3

Next day the patriarch and the senate hai led

o w as w H eraclius as emper r, and he duly cro ned in

D 6 1 . t S O A. . 0 S ophia on ctober 5 ,

. H eracl ius too k over the empire in su ch a state of disorder and c o n fusion that he mu s t soo n have felt that there w as some truth in the dying sneer of

s It Phoca . seemed al most impossible to get things

for . S into better order, resources were wanting ave Africa and Egypt an d the di s trict im mediately arou nd

s the capital , all the province were overru n by the

S . the Persian , the Avar, and the lav The treasu ry was empty , and the army had al most disappeared

s owing to repeated and bloody defeats in A ia M inor . H eracl iu s seems at firs t to have al mos t despaired of ss e o ut of s the po ibility of volving order thi chaos , “ though he was in the prime of life and strength— a

s o man of m iddle stature , trongly built, and br ad

s o f che ted , with grey eyes an d yellow hair , and a very fair complexion ; he wore a bushy beard when he ” S came to the throne , but afterwards cut it hort . For the fi rst t w el ve years of h is reign he remained

o at Constantin ple , endeavouring to reorganize the empire , and to defend at any rate the frontiers of

s Thrace and A ia M inor. The more distant provinces

s o S he hardly seem to have h ped to ave , an d the chron icle of his early years is filled with the catal ogu e No of the losses of the empire . Mesopotam ia and rth

s o s 6 1 Syria had already been lo t by Ph ca , but i n 3 , w hile the imperial arm ies were endeavou rin g to defend

s Sh ah rb arz Cappadocia, the Per ian general turned southwards an d attacked Central Syria . The great town of Damas cus fell i n to h is hands ; but worse 1 2 THE ARKE T O 3 D S H UR.

In 6 1 was to come. 4 the Persian army appeared

o s s bef re the holy city of J eru alem , took it after a hort

o o resista nce, and ccupied it with a garris n . But the populace ros e and slaughtered the Pers ian troops

h ah rb arz h is when S had departed with main army . This brought hi m back in wrath : he s tormed the

s s city and put Christian to the word , only

s s sparing the Jewi h inhabitants . Zacharia , Patriarch o f s Jeru alem , was carried into captivity, and with hi m went what al l Christians then regarded as the mos t precious thing in the world — the wood of the “ ” o f o True Cross . Helena , the mother C nstantine ,

to - had dug the relic up, according the well known

o n s legend , Mount Moriah , and built for it a plend id

Now h ah rb arz shrine . S desecrated the church and took off the True Cross to Persia . This loss brought the inhabitants of the Eas t almost to des pair they thought that the luck of the

w th e o empire had departed ith H ly Wood , which had

its served as Pallad iu m , and even imagined that the Last Day was at hand and that Ch os roes o f Persia n o f was Anti christ . The mad la guage pride and insult which the Pers ian i n the day o f his triu mph

His u sed to Heraclius might also explain their belief. blasphemous phrases s eem l ike an echo of the letter of Sen nacherib in the Second Book of Kings . The epistle ran “ Ch osroes , greatest of gods, and master of the

s whole earth , to Heraclius , his vile and in ensate

I s ? Y ou s a slave . Have n ot de troyed the Greeks y

s : you tru t in you r God why, then , has he not del ivered out of my hand Caesarea , Jerusalem , and

1 3 4 THE DARKES T HO UR .

— they were useful thousands of the able - bodied loiterers w h o were the s trength of the circus faction s

s If and the pe t of the city . the dole had been con tin ued Heracl iu s could not have found a penny for

E o f the war . gypt , the granary the empire, had been

o 6 1 6 o f o l st in , and the supply g vern ment corn

ff so o entirely cut o , that the d le would have had to

com o be provided by the treasu ry buying , a ruin usly expensive task . By the aid o f the Chu rch loan Heraclius equ ipped

s s a new army and trengthened his fleet . H e al o pro v ided fo r the garrisoning of Constantinople by an ade os s 6 1 quate force, a m t nece sary precaution , for in 7 the

s s o Per ian had agai n f rced their way to the Bosphorus ,

s s and thi time captured Chalcedon . Heracliu would probably have taken the field next year but for

s s trouble with the Avar . That wild race had long ' been wo rking their wicked vvill o n the al most un

e n ow d fended Thracian provinces, but they promised ’ s s peace . Heracl ius went out , at the Chagan pre sing invitation , to meet hi m near Heraclea . But the con

w as s s ference a nare, for the treacherous avage had planted ambu shes o n the way to s ecure the perso n

E e s of the mp ror , and Heraclius only e caped by the s peed o f h is h orse. H e cast off his imperial mantle

s to ride the fa ter , and galloped into the capital j ust in time to close its gates as the vanguard o f the ’ s Chagan army came i n sight . The Avars kept the

E o for s w as n ot mper r engaged ome time , and it til l 62 2 that he w as able to take the field again s t the

s s Per ian . Thi s expedition of Heracl ius w as in spirit the first 1 VI C TORI ES OF HERACL I US . 3 5

It a of the Crusades . was the first war that the Rom n E mpire had ever undertaken in a spirit of rel igi ous

s w as to enthu iasm , for it no mere pol itical end that the Emperor and his people looked forward . The

s o army marched out to save Chri tend m , to conquer the “ ” Holy Places , and to recover the True Cross . The men were wrought u p to a high pitch of enthu s iasm

E o by warl ike sermon s , and the mper r carried with

s h is a h ol — of s him , to timu late zeal , y picture one tho e eikons i n which the Greek Church h as al w ays delighted which was believed to be the work of n o mortal

s hand .

s A D Heraclius made no less than six campaign ( . . 6 2 2 — 2 7) i n h is gallant and s ucce ss ful attempt to

- save the half ru ined empire . H e won great and well

s de erved fame , and his n ame would be reckoned ’ among the fo remost of the world s warri o r - kings if it had not been for the misfortunes which afterw ards

h is old fell on hi m in age . H is fi rst campaign cleared A s ia M inor of the

s s n o t s Persian ho t , by a direct attack , but by kilful

I s o f at strategy . n tead attacking the army Chalcedon ,

i n of he took ship an d landed in Cilicia, the rear the S enemy, threaten ing in this position both yria and

Cappadocia . As he expected , the Persians broke up

o s o s o from their camp ppo ite C n tantin ple , and came

n o back to fall upo him . But after much man euvring

Sh ah rb arz he completely beat the general , and cleared n Asia M inor of the e emy. In his n ext campaign s Heraclius end eavoured to liberate the rest of the Roma n Empire by a si milar

' ' a : b e Ch os roes pl n resolved to assail at home , and 1 3 6 THE DARKES T HO UR . force him to recal l the armies he kept in Syria and

E h is s In gypt to defend own Per ian provinces . 6 2 3 — 4 the E mperor advanced across the Armenian

o s o h is m untain and threw hi mself int Med ia , where army revenged the w oes of Antioch and Jerusalem by bu rning the fi re - temples of Gan z aca— the M edian

— Th eb arm es o f s capital and , the birthplace the Per ian

o s Ch osroes prophet Zor a ter. , as might have been

h is s expected , recalled troops from the we t , and o tw o s s s f ught de perate battle to cover Cte iphon . H is

s o general were defeated in b th , but the Roman army

s f s . a t s u f ered everely Winter was hand , and Heracl iu

o n I n fell back Armenia . his next campaign he

o o s its o ss s o f rec vered R man Me opotamia , with f rtre e

M art ro olis Amida, Dara , and y p , and again defeated

h ah rb arz the general S .

62 6 w as s But the deci ive year of the war . The o bs tinate Ch osroes determined on one final effo rt to

s s o o cru h Heracliu , by c ncerting a j oint plan of pera ti o n s with the Chagan of the Avars . While the mai n

s o Per ian army watched the emper r in Armenia , a great body u nder Sh ah rb a rz slipped s outh of him

s os into A ia M inor and marched on the B phorus . At

o o f s the same m ment the Chagan the Avar , with the wh ole fo rce of h is tribe and of his Slavonic

s s dependants , burst over the Balkan and be et Con s tan tin ople on the European S ide . The two barbarian

os s h ts could see each other acro s the water , and even

to s s contrived exchange me sage , but the Roman fleet s ailing incessantly up and down the strait kept them

o from j oining f rces .

In th e Jun e . July, and August of 626 the capital

1 8 THE ARKE T 3 D S HO UR .

o evacuate Chalced n and return home in haste. But

Heraclius intercepted the despatch of recall , and

Sh ah rb arz came n o t. Near Nineveh H eracliu s fell i n with the Persi a n

on s home army and inflicted it a deci ive defeat . H e

h is himself, charging at the head of cavalry , rode d own the general o f the enemy and slew hi m with his

h s roes o . C o lan ce c uld put n o new army in the field , and by Chri s tmas Heraclius had seized h is palace of

D asta e rd o h is oo g , and d ivided am ng tr ps such a plu nder as had never been seen s ince Alexander th e

s Great captured S u a . ’ The Neme s i s of Ch osroés insane van ity had now

s h is arrived . Ten year after he had written vau nting letter to Heracl iu s he fou nd him s elf in far worse

h is s pl ight than adver ary had ever been . After

Dasta e rd s g had fallen he retired to Cte iphon , the

h is o capital of empire , but even fr m thence he had to

o o f flee on the appr ach the enemy . Then the end came : h is own son Siroes and h is chief nobles seized

s a him and threw him in chain , and a few d ys after he

— of s o to died rage and de pair acc rding one story,

is of s tarvation if the darker tale true . The new king sent the hu mbles t messages to the “ ” o s o as h is vict riou R man , hailing him father , and ap o l ogizing for all the woes that the ambition of

Ch o s roes had brought up o n the w orld . Heracl ius

h is ss o ss received amba ad rs with kind ne , and granted

o o peace, on the conditi n that every inch of R man terri

o s o t ry h uld be evacuated , al l Roman captives freed ,

s s a war indem nity paid , and the poils of Jeru alem , “ ” s f s . including the True Cro s , aithfully re tored RA I 1 TRI UM P H OF HE CL US . 3 9

s 6 2 8 Siroc consented with alacrity , and in March , , a gloriou s peace ended the twenty - six years of the

Pers ian war. Heracliu s returned to Constantinople in th e su m mer

h is s h is s of the same year with poils , victoriou army ,

His h is o o . and great trophy , the H ly Wo d entry was celebrated in the style of an old Roman triu mph , and the Senate con ferred on hi m the title o f the “ ” f s New . o Scipio The whole the citizen , bearing

s a n d myrtle bough , came out to meet the army , the “ ceremony concluded with the exhibiti o n of the True ” o f C ross before the high altar St. Sophia . Heraclius

s afterward s took it back i n great pomp to Jeru alem .

This was , perhaps, the greatest triu mph that any

w on s ss emperor ever . Heracl ius had urpa ed the

s S s ea tern achieve ments of Traj an and everu , and led h is troops further east than any Roman general had ever penetrated . H is task , too , had been the hardest ever i mposed on an emperor none of h is predecessors had ever started to war with his very capital belea g uered and with three - fourths of h is provinces in the

s n o hand of the enemy . Sin ce Ju lius Caesar one had fought so in cessantly — for S ix years the emperor had n ot been out of the saddle— n or met with su ch

s unifo rm uccess .

n Heraclius retu rned to Co stantinople to spend , as

s of h is n ow he hoped , the re t years in peace . H e had

fi ft - u reached the age of y fou r , and was m ch worn by n his incessa t campaigning . But the qu iet for which he yearned was to be den ied him , and the end of his reign w as to be almost as disastrou s as the commence m ent . 1 THE RKE T R 40 DA S HO U .

S s w a s The great aracen inva ion at hand , and it ’ w as at the very m oment o f Heracliu s triu mph that Mahomet sent o ut his fam ou s circular letter to

s the king of the earth , inviting them to embrace

If E o a Islam . the mperor c uld but h ve known that h is s o o desolated real m , p iled for ten l ng years by the

s of Per ian and the Avar, and drained men and money , w as to be invaded by a new enemy far more terrible than the old , he would have prayed that the day

s of his triu mph mig ht al o be the day of his death .

1 42 S OCI AL AND REL I G I O US LI FE . the more a s t o ni s hing when we real ize that only in three cas es in the wh o le peri od w as father

son S o s s succeeded by . aving C n tantine him elf,

o os s I. n ot s The d iu , and Arcadius , a ingle emperor left male i ss ue ; yet the hereditary in s tinct had

o so s o w s so - in gr wn tr ng i n the empire that nephe , ns

s - in - o s law, and brother law of s vereign were gladly

s o s received as their legiti mate heir . C n idering this

is o a to te nden cy , it extra rdin ry note that the whole three hu ndred years did not produce a s ingle un miti

s gated tyrant . Con tantius II. was gloomy and so s s w a s s metime cruel , Valen stupid and avari ciou ,

s s Arcadiu utterly weak and inept, Ju tinian hard and thankless ; but the general average of the emperors

o f were men respectable abil ity , and in moral character they w ill c o mpare favo urably with any li s t o f s overeign s of similar length that any cou ntry can produce . The chief m odificati o n s which mu s t be marked in the character o f the empire between 3 2 0 an d 62 0 depend on t wo process es o f gradual change which

o on s were g ing throughout the three centurie . The

firs t w as the gradual de - R o man izati o n (if we may co in the u n couth w ord) al ike of the go vern ing classes

s s s of o a o In o and the ma e p pul ti n . the f urth century the R o man impress w as s till s tro ng in the East the Latin language w as habitually s po ken by every educated man , and nearly all the machinery of the

o admini s trati o n w as w rked in Latin phras eology .

s s All law term are habitually Latin , all title of

o f s s o f s s . s ficer , all name taxe and in titutions Writer b orn an d bre d in Greece or A s ia s t il l wrote in Latin 1 DE CA Y OF THE LATI N TON G UE . 43 as o ften as in the Greek which must have been more

s s familiar to them . Am mianus Marcellinu may erve

s : a a fair example born i n Greece , he wrote in the tongue of the ruling race rather than i n h is own

in s o f idiom . Moreover there was still the lands ea t the Adriatic a very large body of Latin - s peak ing populat ion — comprising al l the inhabitants of the in land of the Balkan pen insula , for, except Greece proper, Macedonia, and a scattered l ine of cities along the Thracian coast , the whole land had learnt to s peak the tongue of its conquerors . By the seventh century thi s R o man element was rapidly van i s hing . It is true that the Emperor was s till “ ” s s s hailed as the P iu , Felix , Perpetuu , Augu tus

8 o A. D 00 it was not till about . that he dr pped the ' “ ’ old s tyle and cal led himself Eu Xpi ov rg i m a rbq ’ Ba a i x etzs Tri m Nor were the O ld R o man official titles yet di s used men were s till tribunes and

s o n patricians , cou nts and praetor , but little m re tha

s the names u rvived . Already i n the sixth century a knowledge of Lati n w as growing u n usual even

L us among educated men . The author Johannes y d tells us that he owed h is rise i n the civil s ervice

o s mainly to this rare accomplishment . Proc piu , the best writer of the day and a man o f real merit an d

s n w as so o s di cern me t , ab lutely ign rant of the rudi ment

s of Latin , and blu nder when he tries to translate the

s w a s s o simple t phrase . Justinian the la t emper r who

o as h is h is s s sp ke Latin mother tongue, all uccessor were better skill ed in Greek . The gradual di s u s e of Latin has its origin in the practical— though n ot formal — solution o f the con 1 44 S OCIAL AND RELI G I O US L IFE . tin uit o E y between R me and the ast , which began with the divi s i o n o f the empire between the sons o f C o n stantine and became m o re complete after

o s o f I 6 In O d acer made him elf King taly in 47 . the c ours e of a century and a h a lf the Latin element in

E s o ff o - s s the a t , cut fr m the Latin peaking We t , was

o to b u nd yield befo re the pred o minant Greek . But the process wo uld have been s l o wer if the Ea stern provinces which s po ke Latin had not been th os e

os s s which suffered m t from the barbarian . The Vi i goth s and O strogoths harass ed and decimated the

I s Moesian s S Thracians , llyrian , and , but the lavs a

os In A . D 00 century later al m t exterminated them . . 4 probably a quarter of the provincials eas t o f the i s o 6 2 . A . D 0 Adr atic p ke Latin i n . not a tenth The Ro manized l a nd s of the Balkan penin s ula had now beco me Slavo nic principalitie s : o nly the Dal matian s eap o rts and a fe w scattere d s urvivo rs in the Balkans s s ol s s till u ed the d tongue . The only di trict where a co n s iderable Latin - speaking populati o n obeyed the

E o I E mper r were Africa and the talian xarchate , now reun ited to C o n stantinople by the conques ts o f

s s to too e o Ju tin ian . But they eem have been r m te fro m the centre o f life a n d govern ment to have exercised any influence or delayed the de - Romanizing of E s o the ast . The la t notable auth r, who being a subj ect o f the empire wrote in Latin as h is native

o o s Cori us w h o a ss t ngue , was the p et Flaviu pp dd re ed

s s II as n a long panegyric to Ju tinu . might have bee

e w as . expect d , he an African While the empire w a s l os ing its R oman character is tics o , it was at the same time gr wing more and more

1 CHRI S TI ANI TY AND S LAVER Y. 47

r o s h the anc en t w rld , resting on the as u mption t at the father had the right to decide whether or not he w o uld

h s rear the child he ad begotten . Con tantine made

s s n the State a u me the charge of feedi g and rearing,

of s s the children the de titute , lest their parents hould be tempted to cast them forth to perish i n the old

I ss s . fa hion , and Valentinian in 374 a imilated in fanti cide to other forms of murder , and made it a capital offen ce . Slavery was also profoundly affected by the

h . s teaching of the Chu rc The ancient world , ave a few s S a s philosopher , had regarded the l ve with uch contempt that he was hardly reckoned a m oral bei n g

s s or conceived to have right or virtues . Chri tianity

s n o taught that he was a man with an i m mortal ou l ,

s h is s s les than own master, and bade lave and freemen meet on terms of perfect equality arou nd o It the baptismal font and bef re the sacred table . w as from the first taught that the m an who man u mitted h is o o f slaves earned the appr val heaven , and

o s fi tl al l cca ions of rej oicing , public and private , were y commemorated by the l iberation of des erving indi

s viduals . Though lavery was not extingu i s hed for centuries its evils were im mensely m odified J ustinian s legi s lation shows that by h is time public O pin i on had condemned the characteri s tic evil s o f ancient slavery : h e permitted th e intermarriage of s s an d s n s s lave free per o , tipulating only for the c o n s ent of the owner of the servile partner in the w el ck . H e declared the children o f s uch m ixed

marriages free , and he made the prostitution of a s ff slave by a ma ter a criminal o ence. Hered itary 1 48 S OCI AL AND RELI G I O US LI FE.

os o n slavery became al m t u nkn wn , and the institutio w as only kept up by the introduction o f barbarian

s s s os s o captive , heathen and enemie , wh e po iti n did

so to o not appeal keenly the m ind of their capt rs . The improvement o f the conditi o n of all the u nhappy classes o f which we have been speaking

o s s — w men , in fant , slave , gladiators can be d irectly

to s s traced back a ingle fundamental Chri tian truth . It w as the bel ief in the impo rtance of the individual hu man soul in the eyes of God that led the converted

to h is s o s Roman realize re p n ibility, and change his attitude toward s the helpless beings wh o m he had It before despi s ed and neglected . is only fair to add that the realization of this central truth did n ot always operate for good in the Roman world of the

s o f s fifth and s ixth centurie . Some the development o f the new idea were harm fu l and even dangerous to the State . They took the form of laying such exclusive stress on the relation s between the indi

s vidual oul and heaven , that the duties of man to

s the State were hal f forgotten . Chief among the e

s w as s s s development the a cetic mona tici m which , s E s tarting from gypt , pread rapidly all over the

s s s . empire , more e pecially over its ea tern province

s When men retire from their duties as citizen , intent o n o on s o w n so s n thing but aving their ul , take up a

s o o s of po iti n ut ide the State , and cease to be the s s u se so s s so l ighte t to ciety , the re u lt may be harmles

as s s s long their number are mall . But at thi time the monas tic i mpu lse w as wo rking on such a large s cale

its o w as s o s It that devel pment po itively danger u . was by thou s and s and ten thou s and s that the m en

1 C 5 0 S O IAL AND RELI G I O US LI FE . the afflictions of the empire w as maddening to the heathen minority which still survived am o ng the

s s educated classes . They roundly accu ed Chri tianity of being the ru i n of the State by its anti - s ocial teaching which led men to neglect every duty of the f citizen . The Christian author O rosiu s felt himsel compelled to write a lengthy histo ry to confute this h is S view, aiming work at the pagan ymmachus whose book had been devoted to tracing al l the calamities of the world to the conversion of

Constantine . It was fortunate for the empire that its governing classes continued to preserve the old traditions of

o s - o R man tate craft , and f ught on doggedly against

o f — s all the ills their ti me barbarian inva ion , famine ,

o f to and pestilence , instead bowing the yoke and recognizing in every calam ity the righteous j udgment of heaven and the indication of the approaching end of the world . Paganism had practically disappeared by the end of the fifth centu ry a s an active force ; none s ave a

s s O n few philo opher made an pe profession of it, and

o i n 5 29 Justinian put a f rmal end to their teaching, by

s s s of clo ing the chool of Athens , the last refuge the professors of the expiring religion . But if open

w as heathen ism dead , a large measure of indifferent ism prevailed among the educated class es : many men w h o in the fi fth centu ry would have been pagans were

s f Chri tians in name in the sixth , but l ittle af ected by

s w as Christianity i n their lives . Thi type extremely

com mon among the l iterary and official classes . There — are plenty of sixth - century authors Procopius may 1 1 S UP E RS TI TI ONS . 5 s erve as an example— whose work s Sho w n o trace of s w as l Chri tian thought , though the writer u ndoubted y

s o f a profes ing member the Chu rch . Similar ex amples could be quoted by the dozen from among

s o s s s n the adm in i trat r , lawyer , and tatesme of the day ,

n ow s . A s but all were nominally Chri tian time went on ,

w o ld s n - such men gre rarer , and the ter , non rel igious Roman character pas sed away i n to the emotional

s ae and super titious medi val type of m ind . The

- as survival of pre Christian feel ing, which appeared n f s i dif erentism among the educated cla ses, took a very f It dif erent shape among the lower strata of society. revealed itself in a crowd o f gross s uperstiti o ns

- connected with magic , witchcraft, fortu ne telling ,

s n s charms, and trivial or ob cene ce remo ies practi ed

S o in secret . The tate highly disapproved f such

as s practices , treated them impiou or heretical , and i mposed pu ni shment on thos e who employed them but nevertheless thes e contemptible s urvivals of heathenism pers isted dow n to the lates t days of the empire . It has been u s ual to include all the Eastern Romans

n I o n of al l the centuries betwee Constantine . and C V in s stantine XI . as one weeping condemnation ,

an d ff . o o f cowardly, corrupt , e ete The rdinary view ’ n s L eck s Byzanti e l ife may be u mmed up i n Mr . y “ irritating s tatemen t I that the un iversal verd ict of history is that it co nstitutes the m os t base an d despie

o ss able form that civil izati n ever a u med , and that there has been n o other enduring civilizati o n so ab so lutely destitute of al l the fo rms and elements of

3 “ s o of o a a s . 1 Hi t ry Eur pe n Mor l , u p 3 . From B za n ti n e ILLUMI NATED I NIT IALS . ( y ’ “ ’ ” ris uan tzn r C B a et. P a , an ti n P a . (From L A rt By z . y , Q

1 5 4 S O CIAL AND RELI G I O US L IFE .

whol e , wonder at the good points in Byzantine civi

i s It lization rather than at t faults . may fairly be said that Christian ity raised the Roman East to a better moral pos ition than it had known for a thou

o s and years . With all their faults the m nks and hermits of the fifth century are a good substitute for

s n It the pries ts of Cybele and M ithra of the seco d . was something that the Govern ment and the publ ic opinion of the day had co ncurred to sweep away the

o s S orgies f Daphne and Canopu . Church and tate united in the reign of Justinian to punish with spiritual and bodily death the u nnatu ral crimes which had been the open practice o f emperors themselves in the first

s centurie of the empire . The vices o f which the East Romans have most

s com monly been accu ed are cowardice , frivolity, and

O n s n treachery. each of these point they have bee

n grossly wronged . Cowardice was certainly ot the chief characteristic of the centuries that produced

s I emperor like Theodosius . and Heraclius , prelates

s s s l ike Athana iu and Chryso tom , public servants like

s Priscus I Bel isariu and . t is no t for cowardice that we note the Byzantine populace which routed Gainas

s N zlé a and his mercenaries, and rai ed the sedition , but If for turbulence . military virtue was wanting to the

E s - h ow O o a t Roman armies , came the str goth and

Vandal to be conquered , the Persian and the H un to

w as be driven off, how , above all , the desperate struggle against the fanatical Saracen protracted for four ? hundred years , till at last the Caliphate broke up Frivolity and luxury are an accusation easy to bring

s . E s to again t any age very moral i t , from Jerem iah ES TI MA TE OF B YZAN TI NE S OCI E TY 1 . 5 5

s Juvenal , and from J uvenal to M r. Ru kin , has bel ieved his ow n generation to be the m os t o bn oxi o u s and ’ c s o ontemptible in the world hist ry . We have numerou s tirades again st the manners of C o n stantin ople pre s in erved Byzantine literatu re , and may j udge from

s I them omething of the faults of the time . t would s eem that there w as much of the s ort of luxu ry to — which ascetic preachers take excepti o n much s plen

of os s s o f dou r raiment , much tentatiou d i play plate

f of s s o s and urniture , hor e and cha ri t . Luxury and

o o o evil living ften g t gether, but when we examine all

n to the e orm ities laid the charge of the Byzantines , there is less alleged than we m ight expect . When Chrysostom raged again s t the contemporaries of

h is as Arcadius, anathemas fell on such crimes the use

o of cosmetics and dyes by fashi nable dames , on the

s s o f s s im gambling propen itie their hu band , on the

o s on n m ral tendencie of the theatre , the drunke orgies — at popular festivals accusation s to which any age o r ow n — s u included might plead guilty . The race of

s o in o the Circus played a di proporti nate part s cial l ife , and attracted the enthu s iastic attenti o n of thousands of votaries ; but it is surely hard that our own age , with all its sporting and athletic interests , should cast

to a ston e at the s ixth century . We have not look far around us to d iscover classes for whom horse - racing

o s till presents a n inexplicable attracti n . When we remember that the Con stan tin opolitan s were excitable

n o s O rientals , and had other form of port to distract t o s th e heir attention fr m the C ircu , we can easily realize g enesis of the famous riots of the Blues and Greens . From th e darker forms of vice great cities have 6 1 5 S OCI AL AN D REL I GI O US L I FE .

is s to never been free , and there no rea on think that C o nstantin ople in the s ixth centu ry differed from

is to o Lo nd o n in the n ineteenth . It fair p int out that Chri s tian public O pini o n an d the Government strove

s s their be t to put down exual i m morality . Theo d os ius and J u stinian are recorded to have entered upon the herculean tas k of endeavouring to s uppres s all di so rderly h o u ses : the latter made exile the pen alty

s s s for pander and procures e , and inflicted death on

os of s s o f o th e gu ilty the wor t extreme i mm rality.

s too o s o S o We mu t remember, , that if C n tantin ple h wed

so s s s much vice, it al di played hining example of the

s E ss Flaccilla w as o soci al virtue . The mpre w nt to

os a s s s frequent the h pit l , and tend the bed of the ick . O f the m o nastic severity which the E mpres s Pulcheria

c s o displayed in the pala e we have p ken already .

is After cowardi ce and l ight morals , it treachery that is p opularly cited as the m os t pro minent vice of

o s the Eas tern Empire . There have been ther tates

o s o to s and ep ch m re given plot and revolts , but it is stil l true that there w as too much intrigue at Con

s is s stan tin Ople . The rea on not far to eek : the “ ’ ” ca rriere out/erte a ux talen ts practically existed

s there , and the army and the civil ervice were ful l of

oo o s o f p r , able , an d ambiti u men all races and classes

o o o or mixed t gether . The c nverted G th the renegade

- c o I Persian , the half ivil ized mou ntaineer fr m sauria , the C o pt and Syrian and Armen ian were al l wel o or o h d c med i n the army civil service , if nly they a

o o ability . B th the bu reaucracy and the army theref re

s had element which lacked patriotism , conscience , and

s t e stability , and were prone to eek advancement ei h r

THE COMING OF THE SARACENS .

AFTER the peace of 62 8 the Ro man and the Persian

o Empires , drained of men and m ney , and ravaged

to o s from end end by each ther marauding armies , s ank down in exhausti o n to heal them of their deadly N o wound s . ever bef re had either power dealt its neighbou r s uch fearful blows as in this last struggle in previ ou s wars the contest had been waged arou nd

o s s s n b o rder f rtre e , and the prize had bee the conquest

h os r of some s mall s lice of marchland . But C oés and Heracliu s had s truck deadly blows at the heart of

’ s s each other empire, and harried the in mo t provinces ’ o u p to the gates of each ther s capitals . The Persian had turned the wild hordes of the Avars loose on

o Thrace, and the R man had guided the yet wilder

Ch aza rs up to the walls of Ctesiphon . H ence it came to pass that at the end o f the war the tw o powers w were each eaker than they had ever been before.

o They were bleeding at every p re , utterly wearied and

s s exhau ted , and de irous of nothing but a long i nterval

o o s n of peace t rec ver their lost tre gth . Precisely at this moment a new and terrible enemy T 1 RI SE OF M AHOM E . 5 9

- fell upon the two war worn combatants, and del ivered an attack so vehement that it was destined to destroy the ancient kingdomof Pers ia and to s hear away half R E the provinces of the oman mpire . The politics of Arabia had up to this time been of E l ittle moment either to Roman or Persian . ach of

h ad them allies among the Arab tribes , and had sometimes sent an exped ition or an embassy s outh

S . ward , into the land beyond the yrian desert But n either of them dreamed that the scattered and dis united tribes of Arabia would ever combine or become n a serious da ger. But while Heracl iu s an d Ch osroes were harrying ’ each other s real m s events of w o rld - wide importance

For had been taking place in the Arabian peninsula . the first and las t time i n hist o ry there had arisen among the Arabs one of those world - compell ing m inds that are destined to tu rn as ide the current of n ew n events into chan els , and change the face of whole continents . t Mahomet , that strangest of moral en igmas, prophe and seer , fanatic and impostor, was developing his B career al l through the years of the Persian war . y an extraord inary m ixtu re of genu ine enthusiasm and

- im vulgar cu nn ing, of self deception and del iberate

o n p sture , of be evolence and cruelty , of austerity and

h is creed licence , he had worked himsel f and to the

u s s of front . The t rbulent polythei t Arabia had by

n o o f hi m bee converted into a c mpact band fanatics , burning to carry al l over the wo rld by the force of “ - their swords their new war cry, that God was God, ” an d Mahomet H is prophet . A 1 60 THE COMIN G OF THE SAR CENS .

In 6 2 8 s o f , the la t year the great war , the Arab

h is s s Ch os roes sent u m mons to Heracl iu and , bidding

s them embrace Islam . The Per ian repl ied with the threat that he would put the Prophet in chains when he had leisure . The Roman made no direct reply ,

o n but sent Mahomet s me small presents , eglecting the

of h is s of theological bent mes age, and only thinking

s s enli sting a po sible political ally . Both an wers were regarded as equally u nsatisfactory by the Prophet , and

s he doo med the two empire to a si milar destruction . Next year [62 9] the fi rst collision between the East

s of Roman and the Arabs took place, a band Moslems

s Sea. having pu hed a raid u p to Muta, near the Dead

w as n ot But it till three years later, when Mahomet

s w as him el f already dead , that the storm fel l on the In of Roman Empire . obed ience to the inj u nctions

s his decea ed master, the Caliph Abu Bekr prepared tw o on e e armies , and launched the against Palestin

s and the other again t Persia . Ti ll the last seven or eight years Engl ish writers have been inclined to u nderrate the force and fu ry of an army of Mahometan fanatics in the first flush of Now their enthusiasm . that we have witnessed in our own day the scenes of Ta maai a n d Abu Klea we

n o o do so l nger. The rush that can break into a

Briti s h square bristling with Martin i - Henry rifles is

s s not a thing to be de pi ed . For the future we shall

not treat lightly the armies of the early Caliphs , nor scoff with Gibbon at the feebleness of the troops who o If o were r uted by them . the s ldiers of Queen

Victoria , armed with modern rifles and artillery, fou nd

the fanatical Arab a form idable foe, let us not blam e

RA E 1 62 TH E COM IN G OF TH E S A C NS .

s or n s help the imperial armie , eve on occa ion aided the al ien enemy . The detail s of the Arab conquest on Syria have

s e E s - o sto s not been pre erv d by the a t R man hi rian , w h o s eem to have hated the idea of recording the

s s s o f s . s o n o di a ter Chri tendom The Moslem , the ther

o hand , had not yet c m menced to write, and ere

s o s o o s o hi t rian ar se am ng them , the tale of the inva i n had been intertwined with a wh o le cycle o f ro mantic “ ” s for N s legend , fitter the Arabian ight than the

o sober pages of a chr nicle . But the main line s of the war can be reconstructed

o O with accuracy. The Saracen h rde under Abu beida emerged fro m th e des ert in the spring o f 634 and

os S s captured B tra , the frontier city of yria to the ea t ,

o f e o o by the aid tr achery fr m within . The R mans

o ff collected an army to drive them , but in J uly it w as Ai n a in ab ath a I defeated at j d [G ] i n turaea . Thoroughly rou sed by thi s d i s as ter Heracliu s set all

o o f E s s t o the legi ns the a t marching , and ixty h usand men crossed the Jordan and advanced to recover

os s o s of B tra . The Arab met them at the f rd the

Hierom a x E s o f o , an a tern tributary the J rdan , and a

o s o fierce battl e raged all day. The R man dr ve the

to s enemy back the very gate of their camp , but a

c o last harge , headed by the fierce warri r Khaled , broke

o os ss their fi rm array when a vict ry seemed al m t a ured .

o s s h is All the mailed h r emen of Heracliu , Armenian

Is s h is so and aurian archer , l id phalanx of infantry ,

s e s s s o f were in uffici nt to re i t the wild ru h the Arabs. “ o f s Urged on by the cry their general , Paradi e is

o e - fi re bef re you , the d evil and h ll behind , the fanatical T K 6 yER USALEM A EN . 1 3

Orientals threw them s elves o n regiment after regi ment and drove it off the field .

s o f o w as os in All Syria ea t J rdan l t this fatal battle .

s its s o o s s s Damascu , great tr ngh ld , re i ted de perately

6 s its o but fell early in 3 5 . Mo t of populati n were

s s s mas acred . Thi d isaster drew Heracliu into the

w as n ow o w as field , though he ver sixty , and beginning

o E s to fail in health . He could do n thing ; me a and

i s o h is s H el opolis were acked bef re eye , and after an

o s s o ingl riou campaign he hurried to Jeru alem , to k the “ ss s True C ro from its anctuary, where he had

o to replaced it in triu mph five years bef re, and retired

Constantin ople . Hardly had he reached it when the n ews arrived that his d iscontented and dem oral ized

oo s o tr p had pr cl aimed a rebel emperor, though the

o — h is w as enemy was bef re them . The rebel name

B aan es— w as o o put d wn , but meanwhile Anti ch ,

s No S o f Chalci , and all rthern yria fell into the hands the Arabs . s o I o w a . n 6 W rse yet to f llow the next year, 37 ,

s s s o Jerusalem fell , after a de perate re i tance , pr tracted o r o o f m re than twelve m nths . The inhabitants

to o refused to surrender except the Caliph in pers n ,

O o s o to and the aged mar came ver the de ert , pr ud take poss es s ion o f the city which Mahomet had recko ned

o n s the h o l ies t s ite earth ave Mecca alone . The Patriarch Soph ron ius was co mmanded to guide the

o o o saw c nquer r ar und the city , and when he the rude Arab s tanding by the altar o f the Church of the H o ly

S N ow is a epulchre , cried aloud , the Abom in tion of

s w as s o of De olation , which p ken by Dan iel the ” o pr phet , truly in the Holy Place The Caliph did 1 6 THE MI F T E ARACE 4 CO N G O H S NS .

s s not confi cate any of the great Chri tian sanctu aries , ’ o So o o s but he to k the site of l m n Temple, and erected

o as on it a magn ificen t Mosque , kn wn ever since the

s o f Mo qu e O mar. The tale of the last years of H eracl iu s is most

o E o melanch ly . The mperor lay at C nstantinopl e

o of s s s sl wly dying drop y, and his elde t son Con tantine

h is n had to take the field i n stead . But the you g

s 6 8 n prince received a cru hing defeat in 3 , whe he N S attempted to recover orth yria, and next year the

s s s ss Arab , u nder Amrou , pres ed ea tward acro the

f s o E Is o S . thmus uez , and threw themselve up n gypt Tw o years more of fighting su ffi ced to conquer the E r granary of the Roman mpire ; and in Februa y, 6 1 4 , when Heraclius died , the single port of Alex andria was the so le rem ai ning possess ion of the

o E R mans in gypt . ’ The ten years war which had torn Syria and Egypt from the hand s o f the u n fortunate H eracliu s h ad

o h is E been even more fatal t astern neighbour . The Arab s had attacked the Persian kingdom at the same m oment that they fel l on Syria : two great battl es at ‘ Kades ia [636] and Yalulah [637] sufl i ced to place all

s os Western Per ia in the hands of the M lems . King

Isdi erd S h is s g , the last of the assan ian line, raised la t 6 1 s aw s army i n 4 , and it cut to pieces at the deci ive

Neh auen d ’ field of . He fled away to dwel l as an

s h is o as exile among the Tu rk , and al l kingd m far as the bo rders of Ind ia became the prey of the con

erors qu . i s fe Heracl u had married twice ; by his fi rst wi ,

o s d Eud cia, he left a single son , Con tantine , who shoul

6 TH E COM F THE ACE N 1 6 ING O SAR S .

6 2 h is w as of 4 the senate decreed deposition , and he s eized by the adherents of C o n stan s and sent into

o exile , along with his m ther Martina . The victorious facti o n very cruelly ordered the tongue o f the mother and the n os e of the so n to be S l it— the first in s tance o f that hateful O riental practice being applied ' to s o o s n ot member of the r yal h u e, but the last .

w as so 2 o s s II. o o 6 to 668 C n tan le emper r fr m 4 ,

h is s on s s s IV . and and ucce sor , Con tantine , reigned

o 668 68 . s fr m to 5 They were both trong, hard

o s s s o f headed warri r prince , fit de cendant the gallant

s Heracl iu s . Thei r main credit l ie in the fact that

o s s S they f ught uncea ingly again t the arace n , and preserved as a permanent p os sess i o n of the empire nearly every province that they had still remained

o f s R o man at the death Heracliu . During the min ority indeed of C o n stan s II Alexandria I and

A radus tw o s o s s o s , the la t p rt pre erved by the R man

os in Egypt and Syria were l t . But the Saracens advanced n o further by land ; the sand s o f the African des ert and the passes of Tauru s were destined

c fo r s h to o . s ow h ld them ba k many year The time ,

s ever , were still dangerou till the m urder of the

O 6 6 o a of Caliph thman in 5 , after which the utbre k the firs t civil war am o ng the Mos lem s — the contes t o f Al i and M oaw ia h for the Caliphate — gave the

M oaw iah w h o a s . s empire re pite , held the land on ’ the Ro man fro ntier— h is rival s p o wer lying further to

s — s s the ea t ecu red a free hand again t Ali , by making

To the credit of Amrou and h is Saracen s it mu st be recorded that the great Alex an dri an Library w as n ot burn t by them in sh eet fanatica l

n n ss n . a s on fo w an t o e as the lege d s tell It h d peri hed l g be re . THE THEME S CREATED . 1 67

s s s peace with Con tan . He even con ented to pay hi m a small an n ual s ubsidy s o long as the truce

w as s hould las t . This agreement invaluable to the

- s o f s empire . After twenty even years ince sant war the mangled real m at las t o bta ined an interval of

I s too . t S repose was omething, , that the aracens

s s aw o of were induced to pau e, and that the extensi n their conques ts was not des tined to spread at once over the whole world . When they real ized that thei r v s n ot to for s s ictorie were go on ever, they lo t the fi r t keen ness of the fanatical cou rage which had made

so them terrible . S Freed from the aracen war , which had threatened n ot to s merely curtail , but to extingui h the empire , Con stan s w as at l iberty to turn his attention to other

It s s matters . eem probable that it was at this momen t that the reo rgan ization of the provinces o f

s in the empire took place , which we fi nd in exi tence

s n the s eco nd hal f of the eve th century. The old

n s o s Roman ame and b u ndarie , which had endu red ’ n n s n ow si ce Diocl etia time , disappear, and the empire is found divided into n ew provi nces with

s strange denomination . They were military in their origin , and each consisted of the district covered by a large u n it of soldiery— what we should cal l an army “ o s o s c rp . The me meant b th the corp an d the

s - di trict which it defended , and the corps commander w as so s ix al the provincial governor. There were

s s A rmen ia c corp i n A ia , called the , Anatol ic , Thrace

s B uce lla ria n Cib rrh aeot O . ian , , y , and bsequian themes

O f s s the e the fi r t two explain themselves , they were ” the army of Armen i a and the army of the East TH E M I N T A A E 1 68 CO G O F H E S R C NS .

O s o o the b equ ian theme , quartered al ng the Pr pontis , w as so called becau se it w as a kind of personal guard

E h om is ri for the mperor and the e d t cts . The Thrace ” s s o f s ian were the Army Thrace , who in the tress o f the war had been drafted across to A s ia to rein B ll ri fo rce the Ea stern tro ops . The uce a i seem to have been corp s c ompos ed of natives an d barbarian auxi lia ries mixed ; they are heard of long before Co n

o n o stans , and he pr bably did more than unite them

s ib r and localize them in a ingle district . The C y rh aeot theme alone gets its name from a town , the

of Cib ra s port y i n Pamphyl ia , which mu t have been the o riginal headquarters o f the South - Western Army

Its s h is Corps. commander had a fleet alway in

s charge , and his troop were often employed as

in es I m ar .

The western half o f the empire seems to have “ had s ix Themes al so ; they bear however old

s — ss and fam iliar name Thrace , Hellas , The alonica, S Ravenna , icily , and Africa, and their names explain

s In their boundarie . both halves of the empire there

s s s s were, beside the great theme , maller di trict u nder

o w h o the c mmand of m ilitary governors , had charge

s s a s s s s or of outlying post , uch the pa se of Tauru , the

o f s o i s lands Cypru and Sardin ia . S me of these after

o s wards gre w int independent theme . Thus ca me to an end the old imperial system of

o dividing military auth rity and civil j urisdiction , which Augu stu s had i nvented and Diocletian per

1 ’ B s c n c a on T s in vol. 1 1 . of h is a M r. ury ex elle t h pter heme , L ter ” is os con n c n as to s zz n o n c s Rom an Empire , m t vi i g the e very pu li g pr vi e and their orig i n .

1 7 0 THE COM I N G OF THE SARACENS .

s Moa w ia h s o f O m me ades S . aracen , the fir t the y , had n o w made him s e lf s o le Caliph the civil wars of the Arabs were n ow o ver and o nce m o re they fell on the

o s s s s empire . C n tantine reign opened d isa trou ly, with s imultaneou s attack s by the armies and fleets o f

M a h n s o o w ia o S . Africa, icily , an d A ia M in r But thi s w as o nly the prelude ; in 67 3 the Caliph made

o of ready an exped iti n , the like which had never yet

e s been undertak n by the Saracen . A great fleet an d land army started from Syria to u ndertake the s iege

o o s of C nstantin ple itself, an enterpri e which the

os n ot It w a s M lems had yet attempted . headed by

Yezld the general Abderrahman , and accompan ied by , ’ s son im the Cal iph and heir . The fleet beat the

n ss perial avy off the sea , forced the pa age of the

s s s Dardanel l e , and took Cyzicu . U ing that city as i s s o os s t . ba e, it pr ceeded to blockade the B phoru

o f o s I The great glory C n tantine V. is that he with s oo w t d , defeated , and drove a ay the m ighty arma

w iah Fo r ment o f M oa . fou r years the inves tment of

o s o s o resis C n tantin ple l i ngered on , and the tubb rn tance o f the ga rrison seemed unable to do m o re than

o stave o ff the evi l day. But the happy inventi n of

fi re - tubes for squir ting inflam mable l iqu ids (probably “ the fam ou s Gre ek - fi re of which we firs t hear at

’ s E o s s o thi t ime) , gave the mper r fleet the uperi rity i n a deci s ive naval battle . At the same time a great victory w as won on l a n d and thirty thou sand Arabs s h ad s lain . A bderrahm an fallen du ring the iege , and h is s u cce sso rs had to lead back the mere wrecks

th e s o f a fleet and army to d i heartened Caliph .

It is s t s s o f s th e a thou and pi ie that the detail thi , “ REIGN F CON S TAN TI NE I 1 1 O V. 7

i s d a s Con stan tin o le are n ot econ gre t iege of p , better

is n o o o s known . But there good c ntemp rary hi torian

o us o If t give the desired informati n . he had but “ ” h is o I V. met with sacred bard , C nstantine might have gone down to p o sterity i n compan y with H era cliu s L eo Is of and the aurian , as the third great her o

E s - E the a t Roman mpire .

The year after the raising of the great sieg e , Moa w iah s s h is s s and ued for peace , re tored all conque t ,

f w ar to of ered a h u ge indem n ity , promising pay

000 o . 3 lbs . of g ld per an nu m for thirty years The report o f the triu mph of C o n s tantine went al l over

s o s the world , and ambas ad r came even from the di s tant Frank s and Khazars to congratulate h i m on the vict ory w hich had saved Eastern Chri s tendom from the Arab. While Con s tantine was defend i n g his capital from

E s o f o the astern enemy, the wild tribe his n rthern b o rder took th e o pportu n ity o f swooping down on

E s s the u ropean provinces, who e troop had been drawn off to s S s o re ist the Arabs . The lav came d wn from

for to s the inland , and laid siege two years Thes a

w a s o s lon ica , which n ly rel ieved from their attack

M oaw iah when Con s tantine had fin i s hed h is war with . But a far more dangero u s attack was made by an othe r enemy in the eas tern part of the B a lka n

B ul arian s a n s Peni nsula . The g , omad tribe of Fin ni h

o w h o o o f bl od , dwelt in the regi n the P ruth and th e s S s D n iester, came over Danube , ubdued the lav o f o s M e ia , an d settled between the Dan ube and the

E . astern Balkans , whe re they have left their name till

s s r S s thi day. They u n ited the catte ed lavonic tribe 1 7 2 THE COM I N G OF THE SARAC EN S .

o s s of the regi n into a ingle trong state , and the new Bulgarian ki ngdom w as l o ng de stined to be a tro uble

o 6 o s some neighb ur to the empire . The date 79 c unt as the fi rs t year of the reign of Is perich fi rs t king o f

h is s IV. w as t o Bulgaria . Con tantine o exhausted by long war with M oaw ia h to make any seri ous attempt to drive the Bulgarians b ack over the Danube , and acquiesced in the n ew settlement .

’ The last six years of Con stantine s reign were s pent i n peace. The only notable event that took place in them w as the meeting at C o n s tantinople o f the Sixth — O 680 1 . s S o ecu men ical Council in At thi yn d , the

o s on e doctrin e of the M nothelite , who attributed but

to O ur w as o o will Lord , s lemnly c ndem ned by the

s o E s o s u nited Chu rche f the a t and West . The h lder

s of Monothelite doctrine , dead an d alive , were s s o o o o s olemnly anathemati ed , am ng them P pe H n riu

s of Rome, who in a previous generation had con ented to the heresy .

n IV . 68 Co stantine died in 5 , before he had reached h is - s h is thirty ixth year, leaving throne to his eldest u n son J stin ia , a lad of sixteen .

1 7 4 TH E FI RS T ANAR CH Y.

Ab dalm aliktendered it in n ew gold coin s of his own

a . n re mint ge , bearing verses of the Koran Justi ian fused to receive them , and declared war. His s econd venture in the field was disastrous : his u nwilling recru its from Bulgaria de s erted to the S Seb asto olis enemy, when he met the aracens at p in

a w as Cilici , and the Roman army routed with great

s s s s laughter. The two ub equent campaign were

ss o equally unsucce ful , and the tr ops of the Caliph harried Cappadocia far and wide .

’ J u stinian s wars depleted his treasury ; yet he per sisted in plunging into expen s ive schemes of bu ilding

s w as at the ame time, and driven to collect money

o by the most reckless extortion . He empl yed two u s s s s s o n crupulou m ini ter , Theodotu , the acc u ntant general — an ex - abbot w h o had des erted h is m o nastery S s and the eunuch tephanu , the keeper of the privy

s to s purse . The e men were Ju tinian what Ralph E Flambard was to William Rufus , or mpson and Dudley to H enry VII : they rai s ed him fu nd s by

o o o f flagrant ext rti n and illegal stretching the law . Both were violent and cruel : Theodotu s is s aid to have hung recalcitrant tax - payers up by ropes above

o s s sm ky fire till they were nearly stifled . Stephanu thrashed and stoned every o n e who fell into his hands he is reported to have actual ly admini s tered a whipping to the empres s - dowager during the absence

son of her , and Justinian did not pu n ish him when he returned . ’ While the emperor s financial expedients were

o ss s h e making him hated by the m neyed cla e , was e no ss r ndering hi mself le unpopular in the army . 1 US URP A TI ON OF L E ON TI US . 7 5

- s n After his il l succe s i the Saracen war , he began to

o r s n f s execute impri o his o ficer , and to decimate his beaten troops : to be empl oyed by hi m in high com mand was al most as dangerou s as it was to be appointed a general - in - chief during the dictatorship o f s Robe pierre. ’ In 695 the cup of Ju stinian s iniqu ities was full .

f L eon tius An o ficer named being appointed , to his “ ” s great dismay, general of the theme of H ella , was

A s about to set out to ass u me his comman d . he parted from h is friend s he exclaimed that his days were nu mbered , and that he should be expecting the

f o order or his execution to arrive at any m ment .

Then a certain monk named Paul stood forth , and bade him save him self by a bold stroke if he woul d aim a blow at Ju stinian he would find the people and the army ready to fol low hi m .

’ L eo n tius o s n to k the monk cou sel , and rushing to the state prison , at the head of a few friends , broke it O pen an d liberated some hund red s of pol itical

s s pri oners . A mob joined him , he eized the

St. S o n Cathedral of ophia, and then marched the

N s . o palace one would fight for Ju tin ian , who was caught and brought before the rebel leader in com

h is o s L eon tius pany with tw odious min ister . bade

s s to so . his no e be slit , and bani hed him Cher n Theo dotus S o w h o and tephanus he handed ver to the mob,

an d l dragged them rou nd the city bu rnt them a ive . Twenty years o f anarchy followed the u s urpati o n of

e n L o tius . The new emperor w a s not a m an of

o capacity , and had been driven int rebel lion by his f m ears rather than his a bition . H e held the throne 1 6 I T 7 THE F RS ANARCH Y.

o s barely three years , amid constant rev lt at home and

s defeats abroad . The A iatic frontier was ravaged by

s o f A b da lm alik s the arm ie , and at the ame time a

s s b e fe l s o f great di a ter the we tern half the empire.

S E o its A aracen army from gypt f rced way into Africa, where the Romans had still maintained themselves by

CHU RCH O F T H E T WELV E A P OST LES AT T H ESSALO NICA .

Front r rl s a P a ris ua n ti n P a Cfi a e B et. ( y , Q , hard fighting while the emperors of the h ou s e o f

its o s s s H eraclius reigned . They reduced al l f rtre e

o o 6 one after the ther, and fi nally to k Carthage i n 97 — a hundred and s ixty - fi ve years after it had been

s o s re tored t the empire by Beli arius .

E T N AR CH Y 1 7 8 TH FI RS A . a degree of capacity which aston ished h is con

s s temporarie . H e fled from Cher on and took refuge

s with the Khan of the Khazar , the Tartar tribe who

s dwelt east of the Sea of Azof. With thi prince the exile so ingratiated him s elf that he received in

h is s w as s marriage ister , who baptized and chri tened

I s s I I. s Theodora . But Tiberiu sent great u m of money to the Khazar to i nduce him to s urrender

s s Ju tinian , and the treacherou barbarian determined to accept the bribe, and sent secret orders to two of

o - i - his fficers to seize h is brother n law . The emperor

o learnt of the plot thr ugh his wife, and saved himself by the bold expedient o f go ing at once to one o f the tw o s s s Khazar chief and a king for a ecret interview . When they were al one he fel l on him and strangled

o n s s him , and then calling the econd Khazar erved ’ s him in the ame fashion , before the Khan s orders had been divulged to any one .

s Thi gave hi m time to escape , and he fled in a fi shing boat out into the Euxine with a few friends

s and servant who had followed him into exile . While

sea o o they were out at a storm ar se , and the b at

O n e h is o s began to fill . of c mpanion cried to

s h is J u tinian to make peace with God . and pardon ’ h is s E s s enemie ere he d ied . But the mperor tern

w as God o sou l not bent by the tempest . May dr wn ” e s if I s S me her , he an wered , pare a ingle one of my ” enemies if ever I get to land ! The b oat weathered

s the storm , and Ju tinian su rvived to carry out his

s o cruel oath . H e came a h re in the land of the

s w on o Bulgarians , and oon fav ur with their king h th e Ter el , who wanted a good excuse for invading RE S TORATI ON OF y US TI N IAN I I 1 79

and f of empire, ound it in the pretenc e supporting the exiled mon arch . With a Bulgarian army at h is

o s back Justin ian appeared before C n tantinople, and

‘ obtained an entrance at n ight near the gate o f

l h n a w as B ac er . There no fighting , for the adherent s of Tiberius were as u nready to s trike a blow for their master as the followers of L eontius had been [70 5

D . A. ] So h is Justin ian recovered throne without fighting, for the people had by this ti me hal f fo rgotten h is

o f tyranny, and regretted the rule the house of

s o to Heraclius . But they were o n fi nd out that they

i s h o had erred in submitt ng to the exile, and uld have

s s resi ted him at all hazards . Ju tin ian came back in

n o h is a rele tless mood , bent on n thing but revenging

n h is of mutilated ose and ten years exile . H is fi rst act was to s end for the tw o u su rpers w h o had sat on h is throne : L eo n tius was brought o ut from his

s as to monastery, and Tiberiu caught he tried flee

s into Asia . Ju tin ian had them led rou nd the city i n

an d o chains , then b u nd them side by side before his

s throne in the Cathi ma , the imperial box at the

H ippodrome . There he sat in state , using their pros

o o h is s trate b dies as a footst ol , while adherent chanted “ - fi rst s the verse from the n inety Psal m , Thou halt tread on the l ion and asp the young li o n and dragon ” s shalt thou trample u n der thy feet . The allu ion was

s s A s to the name of the u u rpers , the Lion and p being L eon tius and Apsim arus ! After this strange exhibiti on the two ex - emperors

n were beheaded . Their executio began a reign of t fo r h ad w as set error, Justinian his oath to keep , and 1 8 0 TH E FI RS T ANARCH Y. on wreaking vengeance o n every one who had been

h is os concerned in dep ition . He hanged all the chief

s s L eon tius officer and courtier of , and put out the

s o f w h o o e eye the patriarch had cr wn d him . Then he set to work to hunt out meaner victim s : many prominent citizens of C o nstantin ople were sown up in s s o os o s s ack and dr wned in the B ph ru . Soldier were

out o s picked by the d zen and beheaded . A pecial

o w a s s s ea to s so expediti n ent by ack Cher n , the city ’ E o s s of the mper r exile , becau e he had a grudge against its citizen s. The chief men were caught and s s ent to the capital , where J u tin ian had them bou nd

S s o s to pit and r a ted . Thes e atrocities were mere samples o f the general

s In fe w s h e conduct of Ju tinian . a year had made him self so much detested that it might be s aid that he had been comparatively popular in the days of h is

fi rst reign . 1 1 The end came into 7 , when a general n amed

P h ili icus oo s i o s pp t k arm , and se zed C n tantinople

s as s o while Ju tin ian w ab ent at Sin pe . The army of the tyrant laid d own their arm s when Ph ilippicus

o w as o appr ached , and he led f rth and beheaded without further delay— an end too go od for s uch a

s o so so S w m o n ter. The c nqueror al ught out and le h is son s o s l ittle Tiberiu , wh m the ister of the Khan

s o to h is o f the Khazar had b rne hi m during exile .

e o s o f s t s at S o end d the h u e Heracliu , af er it had for five generati on s and o n e hu ndred and one years on

o the thro ne o f Con s tantin ple .

s ix s o o w l The year which f ll wed ere purely anarchica . ’ J us tin ian s wild and wicked freak s had completed the

AR 1 8 2 TH E FIR S T AN CH Y.

Cal iph Welid w as so impressed with the o pportun ity o o to ffered to him , that he c m menced equ ip a great armament in the p o rts o f Syria with the expres s pur

of s to o s No pos e laying iege C n tantinople . one

s hindered him , for the army rai ed to serve again st hi m turned aside to engage in the civil war between

s Ana stasius and Theodo ius . The land marks of the ’ Saracen s conquest s by land are found in the fal l s of the great cities o f Tyana A masia and

Anti och - in - Pi s idia They had penetrated into

1 6 s ss o f Phrygia by 7 , and were be ieging the fortre

A m oriu m s with every expectation of succe s, when at la st there appeared the man who was destined to save the Ea st - Roman Empire from a premature dis memberment .

s w as Is Thi Leo the aurian , one of the few mil itary officers who had made a great reputation amid the

s s s s fearful di a ters of the la t ten year . He was now general of the An atolic theme, the province which

th e old included Cappadocia and Lycaon ia . After S s f inducing the aracen , more by craft than orce, to

s s A m orium s rai e the iege of , Leo di owned his allegiance to the incapable Theodosiu s and marched

s s toward the B o phoru .

o The u nf rtunate emperor, who had not coveted the

o o n or s to thr ne he ccupied , much de ired retain it , allowed h is army to risk o n e engagement with the

w as s o troop s of Leo . When it beaten he u m m ned

S o s o f the Patriarch , the enate, and the chief fficer the

o out S c urt , pointed to them that a great aracen

w as i nvasion impending , that civil war had begun , and that he him s elf did n ot wi s h to remain resp onsible T I A 1 8 ACCE S SI ON OF L E O HE S URI AN . 3

for the conduct of affairs . With his consent the

s so o ff a sembly re lved to er the crown to Leo , who formally accepted it early in the spring of 7 1 7 .

s to E Theodo ius retired u nharmed phesus , where he

s l ived for man y years . When he d ied the ingle word “ ” TFI EIA w as s ac , Health , i n cribed on his tomb

h is s cording to la t directions . I X V.

T HE SARACENS TUR NE BA D CK.

B Y dethroning Theodos iu s III. on the very eve of

S s o L eo Is o the great aracen inva i n , the aurian t ok

o s s o f s o s up n him elf the grave t re p nsibil itie . With a

o demoralized army , which of late had been m re

s to s accu tomed revolt than to fight , a depleted trea ury ,

so s a n and a di rgan ized civil ervice , he had to face attack even m o re dangerou s than that which Con sta n tin e IV o ff s . had beaten thirty year before.

o s o o f C n tantine too , the f urth a race of hered itary

o an d rulers , had a secure thr ne a loyal army, whil e Leo w as a mere adventu rer w h o had seized the crown o nly a few m o nth s befor e he was put to the

s tes t of the word . S s t The reigni ng Cal iph was now ulei man , the even h

s o f the hou s e o f the O mm ey ades . He had trained all the resou rces of h is wide empire to provide a fleet and army adequate to the great enterpri s e which he

a had t ken in hand . The chief com mand of the

w as h is os expedition given to brother M lemah , who led an army o f eighty thou sand men from Tars us

s s on acro the centre of Asia Minor , and marched

1 8 6 TH E SARACENS T URNE D B ACK .

tw o s for no less a peri od than year , and famine appeared in the camp of the bes iegers l o ng ere it w as Nor M os felt in the hou se s o f the bes ieged . had lemah and Suleiman reckoned with th e Climate . Sea Hard winters o ccas i o nally occur by the Black , as

e a the tro o p s l e a rnt to th e ir c o s t i n the Crim n War. But the S aracen s were s erved even worse by the

o f 1 — 1 8 o s winter 7 7 , when the fr st never cea ed for . w s L eo s t elve week . might have boa ted , l ike Czar

N o s ich la , that December , January , and February were h is bes t general s— for thes e months wrou ght fearful havoc in the Sarace n host The l ightly clad

O s n ot s riental could tand the weather, and died off

s o f s l ike flie dy entery and col d . The vizier Suleiman w as os w h o s among th e peri hed . Meanwhile the

z s s By antine uffered little, being covered by roofs all i the w nter. When next s pring came round Moslemah would have had to rai s e the siege if he had not been heavily

e sea reinforc d both by and land . A fleet of reserve E arrived from gypt , and a large army came up from Tars us and occu pied the Asiatic shores of the Bos ph o rus . n ot f But Leo d id despair, and took the of ensive in

His fi re - s the s u mmer. hips stole out and bu rnt the

o a s Egyptian s quadr n it lay at anchor . A body of

s on s s s troop landing the Bithyn ian coa t , urpri ed and cut to pieces the Saracen army which watched the

o f . S o other side the strait on , too , famine began to ass ail the enemy their s tores o f provisi ons were now

out e so giving , and th y had harried the neighbourhood fiercely that no more food could be got from near at 1 8 THE S IE GE RAI SE D . 7

too o hand , while if they sent foraging parties far fr m

h e s s their l ines they were cut off by t pea antry . At la t M oslemah su ffered a d isaster which c o mpelled him to

n is s n o o abando h ta k . The Bulgaria s came d wn ver

n s o the Balka , and routed the c vering army which ob served Adrian ople and protected the siege on the

s No s s S we tern side . les than twenty thou and ara

s of s s cen fell , by the testimony the Arab hi torian

s s s so o themselve , and the u rvivor were c wed that

Moslemah gave the order to retire . The fleet ferried

a s s the land rmy back into A ia , and both force started

s s s o homeward . Mo lemah got back to Tar u with nly

h is out o f o thirty thousand men at back , m re than a hundred thou s and who had started with him or

s come to hi m as rein forcement . The fleet fared eve n

s wor e it was caught by a tempest in the Aegean , and so fearfully shattered that it is said that o nly five ves sel s out of the whole Armada got back to Syria unharmed . Thu s ended the last great endeavou r of the Saracen to destroy Constantinople . The task was never

s es ayed again , though for three hundred and fifty years more wars were constantly breaking out

E In between the mperor and the Cal iph . the futu re

s to they were alway be border struggles , n ot des a m s t perate tte pt to strike at the hear of the empire , an d E I Leo conquer urope for slam . To , far more

to h is o than c ntemporary the Frank Charles Martel , is the del ivery of Chri s tendom from the M oslem

n s da ger to be attributed . Charle turned back a plundering horde sent o ut from an outlying province

f t e L o - o h Cal iphate . e repu lsed the g rand army of 1 88 TH E S ARACE NS T URN E D B ACK.

S s s the aracen , rai ed from the whol e of their eastern

s o real m , and c mmanded by the brother of their

as m o narch . Such a defeat w well calculated to impress on their fatali s tic mi nd s the idea that Con s tan tin o ple was not de stined by pro vidence to fal l

s into their hand s . They were by thi ti me far removed from the frantic fanatici s m which had in spired their

s s s n ow grandfather , and the cru hing d i aster they had su s tained deterred them fr o m any repetition of the

o w s o s o attempt . Life and p er had grown pl ea ant t “ them that martyrd o m w as n o l onger an end in itsel f they preferred , if checked , to l ive and fight an other day .

L eo was , however , by n o means entirely freed from

h s o f s the Saracen s by i victory 7 1 8 . At everal epoch s i n the latter part of h is reign he w as troubled by

h i o o s No o s o s o f s . f t i nva i n b rder pr vince ne hem ,

o s h wever, were really dangerou , and after a victory won over the main army o f the raiders i n 7 39 at

croin on s w as A i n Phrygia, A ia M inor finally freed

s from their pre ence .

1 90 TH E I CON O CL AS TS . not members of that old bureaucracy wh ose Roman

s s o o No traditi o n had o l ng kept the empire t gether. t leas t among the s ign s of a decaying civil ization were the gross s upers titi o n s which had grown u p of late in the religious world . Christianity had begu n to be permeated by th os e strange m edia val fancies which wo uld have been as inexplicable to the old - Roman min d of fo ur centuries before as they are to the m ind

o o f of the n ineteenth century. A rich cr p puerile

s O s of legends , rite , and bservance had grown u p late

s o f o around the central truth rel igion , u nn ticed and

s o o s u nguarded again t by the l gian , who devoted all their energies to the barren M o n othelite and Mono

s I - o s ph y s ite controvers ie . mage w r hip and relic w o rs hip in particular had devel oped with strange

s s o f s rapid ity , an d as u med the hape mere Feti hism . Every ancie nt picture or statue was n ow ann ounced a s b o th m iraculou s ly produced and endued with

s - miraculou s powers . The e wonder workin g pictures and s tatues were now ad o red as things in them selves divine : the poss ess ion of on e of them made the o o s f rtu ne of a church or m na tery , and the tangible o bj ect of w o rs hip s eems to have been regarded with quite as much res pect a s the s aint wh os e memory it

- o s recalled . The freaks to which image w r hip led

s o s were i n some case purely gr te que ; it was, for

n ot to s as example , unusual elect a picture the god

s father of a child in baptism , and to crape off a l ittle of its paint and produce it at the ceremony to

s E s s represent the aint . ven patriarch and bi hops ventured to a ss ert that the hand of a celebrated

s repres entation of the Virgin di tilled fragrant balsam . S UP ERS TI TI O U A S V NI TIE S . 1 9 1

The success of the Emperor Heracliu s in h is Persian campaign was a s cribed by the vulgar not so much to h is military talent as to the fact that he carried with

s of hi m a mal l picture the Virgin , which had fallen from heaven

’ B S O PS O N S NG S M E N A N D W O EN DO R N TH E I H , M K , KI , LAY , M , A I G

r m za n ti n e AIS . MA DO N NA . (F o a By ) “ ’ ” From L A rt B za n ti n . P a r C/za rles B a et. P a ri s ua n ti n 1 88 ( y y , Q ,

s s All the e vain belief , inculcated by the clergy and

s to eagerly believed by the mob , were repul ive the

ss s s educated laymen of the higher cla e . Their d i l ike for v a in s uperstiti o n s w as e mphas ized by the influence 1 T E I N O C 92 H CO LAS TS . o f M ah om eta n is m o n s their mind . For a hundred years the inhabitan ts of the A s iatic province s o f the empire had been i n touch with a rel igi o n of which the n oble s t featu re was its emphatic d e nu nciation of

s o E s idolatry u nder every hape and f rm . An a t

o h is os for R man , wh en taunted by M lem neighbour cl inging to a faith which had grown c orrupt and

o o s o n ot ss id latr u , c uld but con fe that there was too

for o much ground the accusation , when he looked r u nd

o f h is on the daily practice countrymen . Hence there had grown up among the stron ger minds o f the day a vigoro u s react i o n again s t the pre

o s It w as o s vailing superstiti n . m re vi ible among the

s laity than amon g the clerg y , and far more wide pread

o In Is s i n Asia than in Eur pe . Leo the aurian thi

s its s tendency tood incarnate in mo t militant form , and he left the legacy of his enthu s ias m to his de

s of s i s cen dan ts . Seven year after the relief Con tant n 0ple he com menced h is cru s ade against superstiti o n . The chief practices which he attacked were the w o rs hip of i mages and the ascripti o n of divi ne hon ours to

s— s s aint more e pecially in the form o f Mariolatry .

His son o s o o s h is C n tantine , m re b ld and d ra tic than

to s ss o s s so b e father, endeavoured uppre m na tici m al , cau s e he found the m onks the most ardent defenders ’ o f image s ; but L eo s own meas ures went no further than a determined attempt to put down image wors hip .

A . D Th e struggle whi ch he inaugurated began in .

2 o f 7 5 , when he ordered the removal all the images

o o ut o in the capital . Ri ting broke at nce, and the o fficial s w h o were taking down the great figure o f

1 94 THE IC ON O CL AS TS .

w on s o th e ca had him uch p pularity in mp , that he w a s e s s th e o f th e o c able to d pi e wrath p pula e , and

h s s to s e s carry out i scheme their end . Be id in ti tuting eccles ia sti cal refo rm s h e w as a bu sy w orker in all

s o f a s the vari ou s d e partment the dmini trati o n . He

s a n e w o of s s s s publ i hed c de law , the fir t ince Ju tinian , w s of L as ritten i n Greek in tead atin , the latter language w as n o w quite extinct i n the Balkan

s s o f Pen in ula . He reorganized th e finance the

w h a d e o o ss co s o empire , hich fal l n int h pele n fu i n in

c e 6 1 a the anar hy b tween 9 5 and 7 7 . The rmy had

o f h is c e w as s a much ar , but it more e peci lly i n the civil adm in i s trati on of th e empire that he s e e m s to ’ r o o have left h is ma k . Fr m Le s day the gradual process o f d e cay which had been o b servable since the

s s s to o to for time of Ju tin ian eem c me an end , and three hundred years the reo rgan ized E as t - R o man s tate devel oped a power and e nergy which a ppear most s u rpri s ing after the di sa sters o f the unhappy

o s eventh centu ry . Havi ng nce lived dow n the

S ss its aracen danger, the empire rea erted ancient

E s o of s mastery in the a t , u ntil the c ming the Turk in

s o the eleventh century . We h uld be gl ad to h ave ’ s o f o s o s os the detail Le ref rm , but m t unhappily the m o nki sh chro nicle rs w h o de scribed h is reign have s o h is oo s o to o lurred ver all g d deed , in rder enlarge t m o re effect o n the iniqu ities o f h is cru s ade again s t

- s s o fh is o image wor hip . The effect w rk are to be traced mainly by n oting th e improved and well - o rdered s h is tate of the empire after death , and comparing

h a d e h is ss o it with the anarchy that prec ded acce i n .

L eo 0 a o e to h is on died i n 7 4 , le ving the thr n s , E P ESE E R R NTA T I O N O F T H E MADO N N A ENT H RO N D .

za n tin e Iv or (F rom a By y . )

“ ’ ” i n F ront L A rt B zan ti n . P a r C/za r/es B a et. P ari s u a n t ( y y , Q , 1 96 TH E I CON OCLAS TS .

s V . Con tantine , whom he had brought up to follow

h is oo s s w as o in own f t tep . The new emperor a g od s o s ldier and a capable man of bu iness , but his main i nterest in life centred in the struggle against image

L eo s s of worship . Where had chasti ed the adherent s upers tition with whip s Con stantine cha s tised them

s s s with corpion . H e was a true per ecutor, and

n ot o s s as h is executed only ri ter and traitor , father

o o h is had done, but all pr minent pponents of pol icy

a who provoked h is wrath . Hence he incurred n amou nt o f hatred even greater than that which en ~

III h is ss . h as compa ed Leo , and very name been handed d own to h i s to ry with the in s ulting byword

on o Coprony in us tacked t it .

o u s o o Th gh tr ng and clever, C nstantine was far

h is an d h is below father in ability , reign was marked

s s its by one or two d i aster , though gen eral tenor was

T w o success ful enough . defeats i n Bulgaria were

o o o comparatively u n imp rtant , but a n teworthy th ugh not a dangero u s l oss w as suffered when Raven na and all the other Ea st - Roman pos se s s ion s in Central Italy D s s A. 0 . were captured by the Lombard in . 7 5 At thi S s time Pope tephen , when attacked by the ame enemy , s fo r Pi in s o n ent aid to p the Frank , i n tead of calling

E for for the mperor, an d the futu re the papacy was all practical purpos es de pendent o n the Frank s and not o n o o f the empire . The l ss of the distant exarchate

s s o Ravenna eemed a mal l thing, h wever, when placed ’ by the s ide o f C onstantine s s uccesses against the

S s S s s o f o aracen , lav , and Bulgarian , all wh m he beat back with great s laughter o n the nu merous occa sion s when they invaded th e empire .

1 98 TH E I CON O CL AS TS . her name was ass ociated with that of her s on in all act s o f state . The Is aurian dynasty w as destined to end in a

a E ss I fearful a nd unnatur l tragedy . The mpre rene

i rres on e o o . was clev r , d mi neering , and p pular The p s ible p ower o f her o ffice o f regent filled her w ith

h o overwe en ing ambiti o n . S e c ou rted the fav our f the p opu lace and clergy by st oppin g the p e rsecuti on of a - o s s o s the i m ge w r hipper , an d filled al l ffice , civil

s o f o w n Fo r and mil itary , with creatu re her . ten

s sh e s e so l of year ruled u ndi turb d , and grew fu l pride and s el f- con fi de n ce that sh e l ooked fo rward with ’ di s may to the prospect of her so n s attaining h is

E e maj o rity and claiming h is inheritance . ven wh n he had reached the ag e o f manh ood s h e kept him s c o s s a n d till ex luded fr m tate affair , compelled hi m

h e f to a s is o o . marry, ag in t will , a fav urit her own

o s w as o o s n or u n fi lia l C n tantine neither prec ci u , but i n h is twenty - s ec o nd year he rebelled again s t h is

’ o e s o oo h is of m th r d ictati n , and t k place at the hel m

I s o os the s tate . rene had actually triven t opp e him

o o h er by armed f rce , but he pard ned , and after s c h e r for s s o to e lud ing a hort time , re t red her her

Th e a a e w s fo rmer dignity . u n n tu r l m o th r a far from

’ c s so s o s a qu ie cing in her n elevati n , and till dreamed

se h e oo o f reasserting her lf. S t k advantage of the evil repute which C on stantine won by a di s astrous

a w war with Bulgaria, and an u nh ppy quarrel ith the

s o of h is ro Chu rch , on the que ti n d ivorce f m the wife

w h o h ad e o . o s b en f rced upon him M re e pecially,

o w on h ever, she rel ied her popularity with the

e w o n s o multitude , which had be n by t pping the I RE E B I H E R N L NDS S ON . 1 99 persecution of the image - wo rshippers during her

for s s o o f regency, Con tantine had re u med the p l icy his ance s tors an d developed s trong Iconoclastic

s o n tendencie when he came to his w . In 797 Irene i m agined that things were ripe for

son o s attacking her , and c n pirators , acting by her o s s o rder , eized the young emper r , bl inded h im , and im mured him in a m o nastery befo re any of his

s to o to s adherent were able c me his aid . Thu ended

Is s o s of . s the rule the au rian dyna ty C n tantine him el f,

s s a s o however, urvived many year a blind m nk , and l ived to s ee the ends o f no le ss than fi ve of his s ss s ucce or .

The wicked Iren e sat on her ill - gained throne for s o o s s o ome five tr ubl u year , m uch vexed by rebelli n

I is s o abroad and palace intrigues at home . t a t ni s h

s o o s ing that her reign lasted l ng, but it would eem that her religi ou s orthod o xy atoned in the eyes of many of her subj ect s for the mon strou s cri me o f her

s o n ot o 802 u urpati n . The end did c me till , when

Nice h orus s p , her grand trea urer , having gained over so me of the eu nuchs and other c o urtiers about h er

s s per on , quietly eized her and i m mured her in a

o s of NO o w as m na tery i n the island Chalke . bl w s In of w s truck by any one the cause the icked empre s ,

Ni h rus s th e o and cep o qu ietly a cended thr ne . Th ough containing little that is memorable in

I s s itself, the reign of rene mu t be noted as the evering p o int of that connecti o n between R o me and C o n s tan tin o le s s p , which had endu red ince the fir t days of II In 8 0 L eo I. empire . the year 0 Pope crowned

Ka r of th e n s o m E o a n l , King Fra k , as R an mper r , d 2 00 TH E I CON O C A L S TS . tran s ferred to him the n o minal allegiance which he

o to s had hithert paid Con tantinople. Since the I o f o talian rebelli n in the time o C n s tantine Copron y a e e s o mus, that allegiance had been m r had w , and the

s papacy had been in real ity u nder Franki h influence .

w as n ot 8 00 th e But it till that final breach too k place .

DETAILS O F ST . SOPHIA .

The Iconoclastic controversy had prepared the way

on for it , while the fact that a woman sat the imperial ’ r o s throne s erved as a good excu s e fo the P pe action . Leo declared that a female reign w as an an o maly and

o o oo o s an ab minati n , and t k upon himself the nu of

so as I w as ending it , far taly concerned , by creating

s w as a new emperor of the We t . There , of course,

XV I .

T H E END O F TH E IC N A T O OCL S S .

D 8 2 A . 0 ( .

T H E Iconocla stic c ontroversy was far fro m being extingui s hed with the fa l l of the h ou se o f L eo the

s It w as s to co I aurian . de tined ntinue in a m ilder fo rm for m ore than half a century after the dethro ne

f s s w ment o C o n tantine VI. The line on hich it w as fought out w ere s till the s ame — the o ffici a l hierarchy

s o s o Ico oc s and the A iatic pr vince fav u red n la m , the “ ” E o n o Ico n o l I clergy and the ur pea pr vinces were du es . H en ce it is interesting to n ote that through the greater

of o s o f E s part the n inth century , while emper r a tern

sat o n i s o f L eo Is a birth the throne , the v ew the auri n

s o e a of were till in v gue, and that the ev ntu l triumph the image - w o rs hippers only came abo ut wh e n a royal h ou se s prung fro m o n e of th e European th e mes— the family of Ba s il the Maced onian — ga ined poss ess ion o f the crown . s Nice h orus w h o o I The trea urer, p , verthrew rene,

Sl a ves to im ages a term of con tempt n ot u n fairly applied to

- the im age w o rshippers . I CE P H RE I G N OF N OR US I . 2 03

so s o s of w as and ea ily obtained p sses ion the empire ,

His s o of O riental extraction . ance t r had been a

s o h is Chri tian Arab prince , expelled fr m cou ntry at

o f s of o the time the ri e M ah met , and his family had

s n ot always dwelt i n A ia M i nor. Hence we are s s to Nice h orus w as I o s u rpri ed find that p an c nocla t , and refu sed to fo ll ow in the s tep s of Irene i n the

of s o - direction re t ring image w ors hip . H e did not ” s Icon odules a s Is s per ecute the , the aurian had done,

n o but he gave them personal encou ragement . This

so is S o h is being , it natural thatwe h uld fi nd character des cribed i n the bl acke s t term s by the monki s h

s o f w as chronicler the succeeding century . H e , we

o o O s s r are t ld , a hyp crite, an ppre ser , and a mi e ; but we cann ot find any very d i stinct traces of the operati o n o f such vices i n h is c o nduct during the n i ne years of

H e w a s n ot o h is . reign , however , a very f rtunate ruler th ough he put down with ease s everal in surrec

s of o s tion disc ntented general , he was unlucky with

s o - a l - h is fo reign war . The Caliph H ar un Raschid did

s ov s much harm to the A iatic pr i nce , ravaging the

o o as as o Nice h orus wh le c u ntry far Ancyra, nor c uld p get rid o f him without s igning a rather ignominious

- peace , and paying a large war indemn ity . A yet

s o Nice h rus greater disa ter c ncluded another war. p o

8 1 1 s rum n invaded Bulgaria in , to puni h King C for ravaging Thrace . The Byzantine army won a battle and s acked the palace and capital o f the Bulgarian king but a few days later Niceph orus all owed himself

o h is In to be surprised by a n ight attack n camp .

o o h is son the pan ic and c nfusion the emper r fell , and

n d Stau ra c us w as s o a i . heir , , de perately w unded The T 2 04 TH E E ND O F THE I CONOCLAS S .

o n ot s its r uted army did tay flight till Adrianopl e, and left the body o f the Empero r i n the hand s of the

s w h o o ff h is s Bulgarian , cut head , and made the kull

- s o into a drinking cup , ju t as the L mbards had dealt with the skull of King Cun im un d three hundred years f r I b e o e.

S tauracius Nice h orus , the only son of p , was pro

s h is claimed emperor , but it oon became evident that

w as o Rh an ab e h is wou nd m rtal , and M ichael g , brother in - w h o s o f N law , had married the elde t daughter ice

h orus oo h is h o p , t k place on the t rone bef re the breath ’ w as out of the dying em peror s body .

I ood v n M ichael . was a weak , g atured man , who owed h is elevation to the mere chance of h is marriage.

w as s o f s He a devoted ervant and admirer monk ,

o of h is - in - and began to u nd the work father law , and

o I o as s o o s o o rem ve all con cl t fr m ffice . Thi pr v ked

o f o con the wrath that p werful party , and led to s iracies s m p again t M ichael , but he ight have held his own ifit had n ot been for the di sgracefully inco mpetent

o u way i n which he c nducted the B lgarian war . H e all owed an enemy who m the Eas t - Rom a n s had hith e rto

s s n ot to o o de pi ed , only ravage the pen c untry in

to s o ss s M ese m b ria Thrace , but torm the f rtre e of and

A n ch ialus an d s s s to s , to pu h their i nva ion up the gate

f s s o Con tantinople . The di content of the army found vent in a mutiny , and Leo the Armenian , an officer w as of merit and capacity , proclaimed emperor in the

I . s s camp . M ichael made no re i tance , and retired into

s o 8 1 1 a mona tery after nly two years of reign . [ Leo the Armen ian proved him s el f worthy of the

See p . 1 1 6.

2 06 TH E END O F T H E I C ON O C L AS TS . remembered to h is credit that n o s ingle perso n

’ s u ffered death for h is c o n s cience sa ke i n the w hole

o o O o s o f period . The m st vi len t of the pp nent the

E o o o s s mper r were merely interned in rem te m na terie ,

h is when they ventured to s e t their will again s t .

o of h is L eo o L ng ere the end reign , had been c mpelled

is h l s ur s s fim a es to leave h a fm ea e and prohibit all u e o g .

e o s Co ron m us c to Lik C n tantine p y , he called a cou n il

o s h is c o o f E s end r e a ti n , and a maj ority the a tern bi s hop s resolved that Ic o n olatry w as a d a ngerou s

e s a Nice h orus her y , and an thematized the patriarch p

a ll o e s of and ther d fender the images .

’ Leo s reign w as pros perou s i n all s ave the matter of h is o s o s w as n ot s to religi u tr uble . But he de tined

h is Am o rian die in peace in bed . M ichael the , the

s w as con s i be t general in the empire , detected in a p

h is s e L e o s s a s . o r cy again t ma t r ca t him int pri on ,

a h is s e h is o s but del yed pu ni hment , and l ft acc mplice w h o at large . M ichael had many friends in the palace determined to s trike a bl ow ere the E mperor s hould

s to have di s c overed their guilt . They re olved slay

h is as s o n Leo i n private chapel , he attended matin

s s fo r w as s o to Chri tma Day , he accu t med come unarmed and unguarded to the early commun i o n .

o co s o s s Acc rd ingly , the n pirat r attended the ervice , and attacked the Empero r i n the mid st of the

E u L eo s c a charistic hymn . nat hed the heavy met l cross o ff the altar and struck d own s o m e o f his

s s e s too for as ailant , but numb r were many him , and he w as cut d ow n and s lain at the very foot o f the

s s D a holy table . [Chri tma y , M ich a el the Am oria n w a s dragged out of h is 0 M I CHAE L THE AM ORI AN . 2 7

s a s dungeon , aluted emperor, and crowned , even

o h is s n o be fo re the fetters were ff feet . It w a t till the cerem o ny had been performed that time w as fou nd to

s o s s s end for a mith t trike away the ring .

c w as s M i hael by birth a mere pea ant, but had raised him s el f to high ran k in the army by h is “ is so s s courage and ability . He metime tyled the ” Am orian o h is - A m orium , fr m birth place, in Phrygia , “ but more o ften menti oned by h is n ickname o f the ” s Stammerer . H e had been the friend and advi er of ’ Leo the Armen ian at the time of the latter s elevati o n to h is o s s o the throne , and c n piracy mu t be reck ned a

o o f o gr ss piece i ngratitude, even though we ackn w ledge that he was n ot pers onally responsible for his ’ master s mu rder .

o o w as m an Th ugh r ugh and uncu ltu red , M ichael a

s o f very c o n s iderable ability. H e trengthened h is title to the crown by a marriage w ith the last s ci o n of

Is o s ss E h os the aurian h u e , the prince up r yne , daughter

o s V o s o f the blind C n tantine I. The rel igi u difficultie s of the day he endeav oured to tre at in an ab so lutely

so as to o f I o as s i mpartial way , f end neither con cl t nor

l - Icon odu es . H e recalled from exile the image w o r s hipping m onk s wh o m L eo the Armenian had s ent to

s s s o for di tant mona terie , and pr claimed that the future eve ry subj ect of the empire s h ould enj oy co mplete

o f o on s s o s liberty c nscience the di puted que ti n . Thi w as s s - o s s far from ati fying the i mage w r hipper , who wi s hed M ichael to restore their id o l s to their ancien t

s : Am orian o s to s place but the w uld not con ent thi , and obtained but a very qualified mea sure of approval

on s from the m a tic party. 2 08 TH E E ND OF THE I CONO CLAS TS .

It was not to be expected that the reign of a military usu rper, with no title to the throne whatever,

o wou ld be u ntr ubled by revolts . M ichael had his s o f s S hare such affliction , and though he finally lew

s E s tw o s Thoma and uphemiu , the pretender who laid

to s o claim his crown , yet by their mean he l st two not

o o inc nsiderable pr vinces of his empire . While the

o of o w as s rebelli n Th mas in progres , an army of Saracen s from Alexandria threw them selves on the s of an d - i land Crete , conquered it from end to end . ’ When M ichael s hand s were free he s ent two great , s n armament to expel the i truders, but both failed , and C rete was des tined to remain for a whole century in

Its M os lem hands . hundred harbours became the

s o f s w h o haunt in nu merable Cor airs , grew to be the bane of commerce in the Levant , and were a serious danger to the empire whenever its fleet fell into bad

to s s hand s and failed keep the pol ice of the ea . A s imilar rising in Sicily under a rebel named E uphem iu s l ed to the invasion of that island by an

o f s o 8 2 an d army Moor fr m Africa, who landed in 7 , maintained a foothold in s pite of all efforts to expel

s s n ot them . At fir t thei r gain were rapid , but in the ’ time of M ichael s s uccess ors they gradually won for them s elves the whole of the island . After n ine years of reign the Am orian died a

s o w on natural death , till wearing the cr wn he had . It was j u st fi fty years s ince any ruler of the empire had met such a peaceful end . He was succeeded by

son o s I o s his The philu , a vehement c nocla t , whose pers ecuting tendencies had been with difficulty re ’ h is s - strained in father life time . H is accession was

1 2 0 TH E E ND OF TH E I CON O CL AS TS .

o Co ron m us C nstantine p y , but for the fact that he did not ever inflict the pu nishment of death ; bran ding

o o and mutilati n h wever he d id not disdain . The Icon odules saw the vengeance of heaven for the m i s deed s o f Theophilu s i n the disasters which he

s o su ffered in war from the Saracen . He fell ut with

M otassem s o the Caliph , and i n the fir t campaign to k

o o f Z a etra Co m and burnt the t wn p , for which the

re r I mander of the Faithful had great g a d. This rou sed M otass e m to furi ou s wrath he swore that he w ou ld destroy in revenge the town which Theophilu s held m os t dear he co llected the larges t Saracen army that had been s een since Mos lemah bel eaguered Con stan

tin o le 1 s p in 7 7 , and marched out of Tarsu with

of o s s men , each wh m (if legend peak true) had the

o A m orium h is s For s w rd painted on hield . it w a

A m oriu m - E , the birth place of the mperor, and the h o me o f h is a nces to rs that M otassem had s wo rn ’ to s s o f s ack . While one d ivi ion the Caliph army

defeated Theophilus , who had taken the field i n

s o M otass e m c per on , an ther headed by himsel f mar hed

on Am o riu m straight , and took it after a brave defence

- o s of its of fi fty fi ve days . Thirty th u and inhabitants

s o w as were mas acred , and the t wn burnt , but the

s s h is Cal iph then tu rned home ati fied with revenge , and the empire s u ffered n othing more from thi s m os t

s o S dangero u s inva i n . The aracen war dragged on i n

s s eu an indeci ive way , bu t no further disa ter was c ountered . There are other things to be recorded of Theophilus bes ide h is persecuti o n o f image - wo rs hippers and his

t is sa to a n e h is - ac or a of h is o I id h ve bee eith r birth pl e th t m ther . 2 1 TH E CHOI CE O F THE OP HI L US . 1

war with the Cal iph . H e was long remembered for his taste for gorgeou s di splay of all the Eas t - Roman emperors he s eems to have delight e d the most in gold

o s o and silver w rk , gem and embroidery . H is g lden

- o f E o plane tree was the talk the ast , and the g lden

o s o o li n at the foot of his thr ne , which r se and roared

of o by the means ingen i us machinery within , were

s remembered for generation . Nor should the curiou s tale of his second marriage

o be left u nt ld . When left a widower he bade the

Empress - dowager Euphrosyne a ssemble at her levée all the most beautiful of the daughters o f the Eas t

os Roman aristocracy, and came among them to cho e

o h is a wife, carrying l ike Paris a g lden apple in hand .

His w as s Eikas ra glance fi r t fixed on the fair , bu t appro aching her he fou nd n o better topic to com mence a convers ation than the awkward s tatement that “ mo st of the evil had come i nto the world by means

s of w o men . The l ady retorted that urely most of

o s o s the g od had al o come into the w rld by their mean ,

o os s a reply which apparently disc mp ed Theophilu , for he walked o n and witho ut a further word gave the

o to o . o g lden apple The dora, a rival beauty The ch ice w as s o w as o ha ty and u nhappy, for Theod ra a dev ted

I o s con dule, and u ed all her in fluence against her

’ hu sband s rel igious o pinions .

s 8 2 a oun Theophilu died in 4 , while still y g man ,

to h is son of leaving the throne only M ichael , a child

s o s three year , and the regency to the y ung empre s .

’ The moment that her hu sband s grave was closed

o to h is o Theodora set to w rk u ndo p licy . A mid the applause of the monks and the p opu lace of Con stan H C A T 2 1 2 TH E END OF T E I ONO CL S S .

le sh e o n tinop pr claimed the end of the persecutio , s ent for the banished image - worshippers from their places of exile , and deposed John the Grammarian ,

o the Icon clastic patriarch who had served Theoph ilus . Within thirty days of the com mencement of the new reign the images had appeared once more on the

s o f wall s of al l the churche Constantinople . The

I o s s s to s c nocla t eem have been taken by urprise, an d made n o res i stance to the revolution : h owever the empress did n ot take any measures to pers ecute them it w as only p ower and n ot secu rity for l ife and limb

os Th e s s that they l t . ole permanent re ult of the long s truggle which they had kept up was a curiou s compromise i n the Eastern Chu rch o n the subj ect of

o f repre sentation the human figure . Statues were

s never again erected i n p lace of worship , but only

s It paintings an d mosaic . was apparently bel ieved that the actual image s avoured too much o f the

o n o f os heathen id l , but that of ence could p sibly be

s given by the picture, which served as a piou remem

of so brance the holy per nage it represented , but could

N ss be n othing more . everthele the veneration of the Byzantine s for their holy Eikon s became almos t as

o as - s gr tesque idol wor hip , an d led to many quaint and

s s curiou s forms of uper tition .

o oss Theod ra , engr ed i n things religious , handed o ver the educati o n of her young son to her b rother

co - w as Bardas , who became her regent and afterwards

s o o made Cae ar. H e br ught up the y u ng M ichael

s s s in the most reckle and unconscientiou manner, teaching him his own vices of drunkenness and w as h debauchery . M ichael an apt pupil , and ere e

1 TH E E N D F THE I CO N O A 2 4 O CL S TS .

o e s s o f h is and had then bec m the a sas i n ben efacto r . But s trangely en ough Basil w as de stined to found the longes t dynasty that ever sat upo n the C o n s tantin o .

o ou t a pol itan thr ne . H e turned far better ruler than m ight have been expected from h is di sgraceful ante .

f a re cedents , being one of those ortunate men who able to util ize the work of others when their own

o ll sh o powers and kn wledge fa rt . Bas il is m ai n ly remembe red for h is codification of

s c s s E elo a the law of the empire, whi h uper eded the g ’ Is a s o s o o of Leo the au rian , even Le c mpilati n had s uperseded the m o re s o lid and tho rough work o f

s B a s iZiEa of s o s Ju tinian . The Ba il with the additi n

s n V I o th e of made by h is o Leo . f rmed code the

E o w to its s s Byzantine mpire d n la t day , no further m rearrangement being ever ade.

s o f E o n Ba il , being ur pean birth and ot an A s iatic

ro s w as o like the preceding empe r , natu rally an orth dox

- s o h is image wo rshipper . H e h wed bigo t ry by a fierce

s o . s s per ecuti n of the Pau l ician , an A iatic sect of

s s ofMan ich e a n is m w h om s heretic accu ed , the Iconocla t

’ o s o o s o res emper r had been w nt to t lerate . Basil pp o o o f o si n d r ve many them ver the Saracen frontier, where they too k re fuge w ith the M osl e m s and m ain tain ed them s elves by plundering the b orders of the empire . Am o ng the other tran s acti on s of h is nineteen years of reign [8 67 the o nly one des erving notice is

s o f S . S s the final los icily The aracen of Africa , who had held a footing in the island ever s ince the time of

II n o w b Michael . , fi nished their work y storming

s 8 8 Syracu e in 7 . XV II .

R THE L ITERARY EM PER O RS A N D THEI T IM E.

A D . 8 6 ( . 8

THE eighty years which foll owed the death o f Bas il the Macedon ian were the m os t u neventful and

s monotonous i n the whole hi tory of the empire . They are entirely taken up by the two long reigns

s o s Por h ro e n itu s I of Leo the Wi e and C n tantine p y g ,

h e o the son an d grand so n of t f u nder of the dynas ty .

Basil had been a mere adventurer , an ignorant and

s s ss s u neducated but capable up tart . H is ucce or

s o s s — O f strange i sue fr m uch a tock were a pair m ild ,

- o f s . easy going, and in f en ive men of literature They

o t s th e s wr te no annals wi h their word , though ti me

for s were not unpropitious military enterpri e , but

s devoted themselve to the pen , and have left behind them some of the m os t u seful and interesting works in Byzantine literature . If the times had been harder it is d oubtful whether

This n ame w a s given him because he w as born in the P urple

C a oo in a ac se t as for E ss. E o s h mber , the r m the p l e ide the mpre mper r ’

o n in a s n h ad n sca c o f a Con s a n n VI . a n d b r their f ther reig bee r e l te , t ti e M icha el the Drun k ard w ere the on ly tw o in the 1 1 0 years before

Con stan ti n e VII . 2 1 6 TH E L I TE RAR Y E M P ER ORS AND THEI R TI ME .

o s I I. o s Leo VI . and C n tantine V w uld have been trong

o 8 enough to protect their throne . But the peri d 80 960 w as less troubled by fo reign w ars than any other corresponding peri od in the hi s tory of the East

s a w as Roman t te . The empire of the Caliphs break ing up in the East— the empire of Charles the Great had already bro ken up in the We s t— the Bulgarian s and other neighbours of the real m on the n o rth were

to s being converted Chri tianity, and settling down into

o o E s — o qu iet . The nly tr ubles to which the a t R man real m was exp osed were piratical raid s of the Ru s sian s o n S o f s the north and the aracens Africa on the outh .

s s An The e were vexatious , bu t not dangerou . active and warl ike emperor would probably have found the

o s for o o s ti me propiti u c nquest from his neighb ur , but

s s Leo and Con tantine were qu iet , u nenterpri ing men , w h o o dwelt c ntentedly in the palace, and seldom or never took the field . ’ Le o s reign of twenty - six years was o nly divers ified

o l by an u nf rtun ate invasion of Bu garia, which failed

o s s for thr ugh the mi management of the general , and a

s on o great raid of Saracen pirate Thessal n ica in 904 . The captu re of the second city of the empire by a fleet of African adventurers was an incident d i sgraceful to

L eo s o the ad ministration of , and cau ed much utcry

s s is as and en ation . But it fair to say that it w taken

os s s o S of alm t by urpri e, and stormed fr m the ide the sea n o e s where attack had been xpected . The armie and fleet of the empire would have availed to rescue

i s the town if only ts fall had been delayed a few week . When they had taken it the Saracen s fled with their

l i s s e n o t . booty, and mad attempt to ho d wall

2 1 8 TH E I TE R AR Y E M P ER L ORS AND THE I R TI ME .

oo o f o f o and a b k prophecies , a collection p litical

s c e o o enigma , whi h w re l ng the puzzle and admirati n

I rs - of the E a s t. The fi t n a med wo rk is m ost valu a ble

s s and intere ting , bringing down the hi tory of military

’ o o s s s rganizati n , tactic , and trategy to Leo own time , and giving us a perfect picture o f the Byzantine army

its s as as s of and tactic , well incidental ketches al l the enem ies w ith w hich it had to contend The back “ ” b o ne o f the fo rce w as s till the themes or turm ae

ro of heavy cavalry , of which every p vince had one . The nu mber of the province s had been much increased

S o s o o s ince the days of the emper r f the h u e of Heraclius, and thi s impl ied a corres p o nding increa s e in the troops . They w ere rai sed from s ubjects of the empire and offi cered o as by the Byzantine n bility, for Leo o s r w as n o o b e ved , There difficulty in btain ing

s o s os o officer of go d birth and private mean , wh e rigin

s m ade them re pected by the soldiery , while their m o ney enabled them to w in the good graces of their

s o f co o men by many gift small creature mf rts , over

o s th e and ab ve their pay . The names of ome of great n oble h ou s es are fou nd for generation after

o th e m s s os generati n i n i perial muster roll , uch as th e o f o s o s B r en n ius Kerkuas Ducas , Ph ca , C m nenu , y , , ’ o s o s o f o s D i gene , and many m re . The page Le work b reathe an entire confidence i n the power of the army to a n S deal with y foe ; against aracen , Tu rk , Hu n

a r a n d S s s o is g ian , lav , in tant and deci ive acti n advised ;

w s u . It hen caught , they hould be fo ght and beaten

1 o of s ook in th e B o an a a There is a splen did c py thi b dlei Libr ry , m de as a a s 1 60 w all o c s are a to T s an d l te 5 , here the pr phe ie pplied the urk

V n an s e eti . ’ EO TA C 2 1 L S TI CA . 9

is n o f s only whe d ealing with the men the We t, the

n s s Fra ks and Lombard , that Leo recom mend caution and deprec ates any rash engagement i n a general m “ action , preferring to wear the ene y down by cutting

off s s s his upplie and harass ing h is marche . We gather a very favou rable impress i o n of the Byzantine

’ s oo o army from Leo b k ; it was rgan ized , armed , and supplied in a man ner that h as no parallel till modern

s s s s s its s o . E o time ach regiment p e ed pecial u nif rm ,

w as n and equipped with regularity . There was one of that variety in arms and o rganization s which was

s s the bane of med iae val armie . The regi ment had o m a each attached to them an elab rate ilitary train ,

s of n s an d o s o s mall body e gineer , a pr vi i n of urgeon s

o s and ambulances . To enc u rage the aving of wou nded

L eo s us n men , tel l that the bearer compa y was given a go ld piece for every di s abled s oldier whom it brought o ff It the field after a l ost battle . would be hard to find any S imilar care s hown for the wounded till the

of n days ou r ow century .

as s s its The Byzantine fleet , Leo de cribe it , had for chief object the maintenance o f the p o lice of the s eas

“ a So I Its i n the Aegean , Lev nt , and uth talian waters . enemies were the Sa ra cen s o f the Syrian and African

o s s s so o s s c a t , and more e pecially the trouble me C r air

w h o o of Crete , were ften beaten but never subdued

Nice h orus o s in 6 1 till p Ph ca extermi nated them 9 .

s n s The empire m aintained three fleet , small o e in the Black Sea and in W es tern waters but the largest i n ” n s w a s o os of s o o s the Aegea . Thi c mp ed ixty dr m nd , or war - vess els of the larg es t rating their gre at depOt

s o s o was in the ar enal at C n tantin ple , but they could 0 TH T I 2 2 E LI ERAR Y E M P ERORS AND THE R TI M E .

so S ss al be refitted at amos , The alonica , and several o o . O t s s other p rts wing their superior ize , and till m o re to their empl oyment of the celebrated Greek

s of fi re , the imperial fleet generally had the better the S o h is aracen , but th ugh they checked larger squadrons , they could never s uppress the petty piracy by isolated s ea - s ae robber , which rendered all medi val com merce

o s so danger u . The w o rks of Constantine Porphyrogenitu s are

s of h is His even more intere ting than those father . “ ” treati s e called O n the Themes is i nvaluable to

as s s the historian , it give a complete li t of the

s s s Theme , their boundarie , inhabitants , characteristic ,

s s s of an d re ou rces, with ome other i ncidental notice “ S is n . O value till more important the book , the

s o E Ad mini trati n of the mpire , which contains

o s for o directi n the foreign p licy of the realm , and s ketches the c o nditi o n and res ources o f the various nation s with wh o m the C o nstantinopolitan govern ment

s s o had dealing . Constantine al o wrote a bi graphy of h is s grandfather, Ba il the M acedonian , couched i n term s of res pect which that hardy u s urper w as far

os o s from deserving . But his longest and m t ambiti u

o w as on o w rk Court Cerem nies, a manual of etiquette

s and precedence , de cribing the official hierarchy of

its s the empire , duties and privilege , and containing elaborate directi o n s for the conduct of state cere m onial s and the interior economy of the royal house

n s o s hold . O thi comparatively trifling t pic Con tantine spent far m ore pain s than on the works of larger

o os His oo interest which he c mp ed . b ks show him to

n o o have been a man of great riginative faculty , but

2 2 2 TH E LI TERAR Y E M P ER ORS AND THEIR TI M E

Chivalry as we feel more inclined to cal l them , which were written toward the end of the times of the

o s o f Di en es Maced nian dyna ty . The epic g Akritas,

e a work of the end of the tenth c ntury , celebrating the praises o f a hero w h o l ived in the reigns of Niceph orus Ph ocas and John Zim isces [963 may It s o f s erve as a type of the class . tell the adventures

o o f s Di e n es s i n l ve and war Ba il g Akrita , warden of “ ” Clissurarch as the Cil ician Marches , or of Taurus , h is o official title w uld have run . H e was a m ighty

o o f s S s hunter , b th bear and of aracen , put down the

A elates or os - s to o p ( m s trooper , u se a m dern analogy) w h o s o infe ted the border , and led many a f ray into

s Syria . H e is even credited with the laying of an

s occasional dragon by his admiring bard . But perhap the most i nteresting epi s ode is the story of h is elope

E o s of ment with the fair ud cia Duca , daughter the general of the Cappadocian theme , whom he carried off of i n despite her father and seven brethren .

s o o Pur ued by the irate family , he r de them d wn one

s by one at vantage points in the passe , but spared their l ives, and was recon ciled to them at the inter

ss h is Di e n es is s ce ion of brid e. g Akritas the be t as well as the earliest of the class which it repre sents . Art followed much the s ame course as literatu re in — I the period 600 900. t was in a state of decay for the

s s fir t centu ry and a half, and the u rviving works of that time are often grotesquely rude . For s heer bad drawing and bad executi on n othing can be wors e than

o s I o s a c in of Constan I . or C n tantine V . a Frankish

r s o n ot o Vi ig th piece could be m uch more u nsig htly. - A WA RRI O R SAI NT (ST . L EO N TI US) .

r r (F om a By za n ti n e F esco. )

’ ” ' Fr m A rt B zan ti n . a r /za i l s a et. a ri s a n 8 o L P C e B P u tin . 1 8 ( y y , Q 3 2 24 THE L I TERAR Y E MPERORS AND THEIR TIME .

The few manuscripts which survive from that peri od display a corresponding, though not an equally great, decline in art . Mosaic work perhaps showed less

s decline than other branche of the decoration , but even here s eventh an d eig hth century work is very rare . In the ninth century everything i mproves wonder

I s h ow fully . t is mo t astonishing to see the old classical tradition of painting revive in the bes t manuscript illu minatio n of the period many of them might have been executed in the fifth or even the d fourth century, so closely do they repro uce the old

s It o con Roman tyle . seems that the Icon clastic troversy stimu lated painti n g ; persecuted by the s s re emperor , the art of acred portraiture became

c spe ted above all others by the multitude. Several “ ” of the m ost prominen t Ico nodule martyrs were painters , of whom it is recorded that their works were

: s no less beautiful than edifying those of Lazaru , E whom the mperor Theophilus tortured , are especially cited as triu mphs of art as well as sanctity .

s Though a persecutor of painter , Theophilus deserves a wo rd of mention as the firs t great builder

m o s since J usti nian , and as a patron of the in r art of

is jewellery , silver work , and mosaic . There good evidence that these were all i n a very flou rishing 8 2 — 2 condition in his time . [ 9 4 ] There is one more point i n the hi story of the empire

s in the n inth centu ry to which attention mu t be called . This is the u n ique com mercial importance of Con stan tin ople du ring this and the two s ucceeding o f centuries . All other commerce than that the

XV III.

M ILITARY GLORY.

WHILE Constantin e Porphyrogenitu s had been

o s s o f h is o dragging out the monot nou year l ng reign , events which c o mpletely changed the aspect o f affairs i n the M os lem East had been fo ll owing each other i n qu ick succes s ion o n the A s i atic frontier of his

E s s o s real m . ver in ce it fir t came int exi tence the Byzantine E mpire had been faced in Asia by a s ingle p owerful enemy ; fi rs t by the Sass anian

o o f s kingd m Per ia , then by the Caliphate u nder the

o s s tw dyna tie of the O m m eyades and the Ab b asides .

Now o s , h wever , the Caliphate had at la t broken

c d - es - S f u p , and the des endants of Ab allah af ah and

Haro u n - al - Ras chid h ad beco me the vassal s o f a

o s s an d s o rebelli u ubj ect , pre erved a mere n minal sovereignty w hich did not extend beyond the walls of their palace i n Bagdad .

s s 1 A D . of The cri i had come in 9 5 . , when the armies

B uh a w id I - ud - w h o s the pri nce mad din , had eized on

so o f s o the vereignty Per ia, broke int Bagdad and made the C aliph a priso ner in h is ow n royal res i

s w dence . For the future the Caliph ere no more DE CAY OF TH E S ARACEN P O WER . 2 2 7

u s B uh aw id s s than p ppet , and the ruler u ed their

con name s a s a mere fo rm and pretence . But the que rors did not gain p os se ss ion of the wh ole of the Cal iphate ; only Pers ia and the Lower Euphrate s

o O s s Valley beyed them . ther dyna tie rose and fought for the m o re we stern provinces of the old

os E s of s M lem real m . The mir Aleppo and M o ul , who ruled res pectively i n No rth Syria and i n M es o

o o s o f p tam ia , became the i mmed iate neighb ur the

E s - E a s a t Roman mpire , while the l n d beyond them ,

E So S gypt and uth yria, formed the domin ions of the

s h ou se o f the Iksh ide . Thu s the Byzantine s fo un d on their ea stern frontier

o on e o co m no l nger great central ized p wer , but the

arativ el E s o f o os l p y weak mi rate Alepp an d M u , with

uh a id Iksh idite s the B w and kingdom in their rear . The four Mos le m s tates were all n ew and precariou s

o s o f o creati n the sw rd , and were generally at war

o o with each ther . An unparalleled pportun ity had arrived for the empire to take its revenge o n its ancient enemies and to move back the M ahometan bo undaries fro m the line al o ng the Tauru s where they had s o l o ng been fixed . Fortu nately it w as n ot only the hou r that had

s . arrived , but al o the man The empire had at its di spos al at thi s moment the best soldier that it had

oss ss s d o f L e o p e ed ince the eath the Isaurian . Niceph orus Phocas w a s the head o f one o f thos e great landholding families o f A s ia M in o r w h o fo rmed the flower o f the Byzantine ari st ocracy ; he owned bro ad

s o o o o . land in Cappad cia , al ng the Mah metan fr ntier H is father and grandfath er befo re him had been dis 2 2 8 M I L I TAR Y GL OR Y tin uish ed f s g o ficer , for the whole race l ived by the h or s s s w as s o Nice u . w rd , but p far u rpa sed them H e

o s a o : n ot nly a practical oldier, but a military uth r

h is oo H e i. H a a O O e n oh é ov b k , p p p / m p , dealing with the o s s rganization of armies , till urvives to testify to his capacity .

It w as Nice h orus o II. on p then that R manus , the

II h is o s o n V . and hei r of Constantine , fi xed ch ice, when he resolved to commence an attack on the Ma

s for ss w as h ometan power . The point selected a ault

o f s o f o the island Crete, the dangerou hau nt C rsairs

oss o o f which lay acr the m uth the Aegean , and shel tered the pestilent galleys that preyed o n the trade of

s s the empire with the West . Several exped ition again t

s - it had failed during the la t half ce ntury , but this one

s s s w as fitted out on the large t cale . The vessel are s s aid to have been nu mbered by the thou and , and the land force was chos en fro m the flower of the Asiatic “ ” s s s s theme . Complete ucces followed the arm of

r s s Niceph o u . H e drove the Saracen into their Ch an dax chief town (Candia) , stormed that city , and — too k an enormous booty the hoarded wealth o f a

. s s century of piracy The whole i land then ubmitted , and Niceph orus s ailed back to Con stantinople to

s to h is pre ent sovereign , in bonds , Kurup the captive

o f Em ir C rete , and all the best of the booty of the island [96 1

Nice h orus for h is p was duly honoured feat of arms, and given command of an army destined to open a campaign i n the next year against the great fro ntier

s s tronghold of the Saracens in Asia M inor. De scending by the passes o f the Central Taurus into

2 0 M I TAR Y 3 LI GL OR Y.

s encroach on their rights , or to upplant them by any of s s w h o his nu merou nephew , had looked forward to his access i o n as likely to lead to their own promoti o n

o to i mperial p wer.

Nice h orus w as p an indefatigable soldier, and spent

o o f is m re his reign in the field than i n the palace . H

to o as o s end in life was c mplete , emper r , the conque t of N S o Cilicia and orth yria, which he had c mmenced a s general . The years 964 and 965 were s pent in achieving the former obj e ct : three l o ng S ieges made

s of o s him ma ter the great Cilician fr ntier fortresse ,

M o sues tia s s Adana , p , and Tar u . Their rich bronze

s s as s to o o set gate were ent trophie C nstantin ple, and up again in the archways of the imperial palace . A few m o nth s later the tale of victo ries w as co mpleted by the news that Cypru s also had fallen back into

s ss s - s Byzantine hand , after having pa ed eventy even

s o of S s year in the p wer the aracen . For tw o years after thi s Ph ocas was employed at

h is w as ss o home , where administration le p pular than

Th m ol s o in the camp . e ste d oldier was n t a friend

s o s s s of either prie ts or c urtier . He had everal quarrel

P ol euctus with the patriarch y , which made hi m de

' in h is dis tested by the clergy , an d public l ife he played a di sl ike for p o mp and cerem o ny which led the Byzantin e populace to s tyle him a niggard and an

o . s s s o s s s extorti ner H e uppre sed h w and port , and

s o turned all the public revenue int the war budget ,

s h which lay neare t is heart . When he left the city i n

68 s S c s w as 9 for a new campaign again t the ara en , he a much less popular ruler than when he had entered

s of it in triumph in 966 after the con que t Cilicia . 1 CAP TURE O F AN TI OCH . 2 3

n Nice h orus w as o I the camp , however, p as well l ved

s His s o and as s u cce ss ful a ever. la t Syrian expediti n w as no le s s gl ori ou s than h is earlier campaign in the

a s No s ame quarter s ix ye r before . All the rth Syrian

h is s— E s o s cities fell into hand me a, H ierap l i , Laodicea,

s o f E and with them Aleppo , the re idence the m ir

O ff Damascu s bought the invader by a great tribute .

O n ly Antioch , the ancient capital of the land , held o ut s , and Antioch al o was taken in the winter by

s of f e calade , through the daring an o fi cer named

its s r z s s . Em B u t e . The tory of fall is cu riou The peror had left a bl o ckading army before it under a

o s n ot s ss general named Peter, with rder to ri k an a ault .

B urtzes s o s o o s , the ec nd in command , di beyed rder and s to rmed a corner tower on a sn owy night at the

f s of 0 o 0 . head a mall band 3 men Peter, i n fear of ’ E o s o s s s the mper r rder , refu ed to end hi m aid , and for more than tw o days B urtze s maintained himsel f

o w on . s unaided i n the t wer he had At la t , however,

S s o the main body entered , and the aracen fled fr m

Nice h orus s s the town . p d i m is ed both h is general s fro m the service — B urtzes for having acted again s t o for o too s rders, Peter having beyed them lavishly , and

o to allowing an i mp rtant advantage be i mperilled . Niceph orus returned to C o n s tantinople in the o o s s f ll wing year, to meet his death at the hand of tho e w h o s h is s s His hould have been n eare t and deare t .

Th eo h a n o h ad wife , p learnt to hate her gri m and

m s w h o s ste hu band , , though he posse sed all the

s s o s h e . S virtue , di played n ne of the grace had cast ’ s o E o s her eye in l ve on the mper r favourite nephew,

Z im isces o o J ohn , a y ung cavalry fficer , who had 2 3 2 MI LI TAR Y GL OR Y.

greatly di stingu i shed hi mself in the Syrian war .

s s w as n ot Z im isce l i tened to her tempting, but he

s : swayed by lu t , but by ambition he had hoped that h is o to u ncle w uld make him heir to the thron e , the detriment of the young emperor Basil . The loyal

R ET U RN O F A VICTO RIO U S EM PERO R .

(F rom a n E mbroidered Robe. )

“ ’ ' ” F rom L A i t B za n ti n . P a r C/za r/es B a et. P a ris u a n ti n ( y y , Q ,

s of h is old oldier had no idea wronging wards , and h is nephew re sol ved to gain by mu rder what he could n ot gain by favo ur. S o John and Th eoph an o co n spired again s t their

s s be t friend , an d ba ely murdered hi m in the palace

2 3 4 M I LI TAR Y GL OR Y.

s for e to mention the Rus ian tribes, who many centuri s

w s s had been d elling i n ob cu rity and barbari m , by the

s o f D o f water the nieper and the Duna , in a land

s a n d s o o o s of fo re t mar h , far rem te fr m the b undarie

N o r s o f the empire . hould we hear them now , but for the fact that thei r s cattered tribes had be e n oflate

s o e o o u n ified into a ingle h rd by a p wer from with ut , and u rged forward into a ca ree rof c o nque s t by a race ofambi

I o ss s tiou s pri nce s. nt the land of the Ru ian there had come so me hundred years before the reign of John

Z im isces 862 o S n [ a Viking band fr m wede ,

s of s headed by Rurik , the ance tor all the prince and

s s f Tzars o f Ru s sia . The de cendant o th ese adventurers fro m the north had gradually c o nquered and s ubdued

S s of o s - al l the lavon ic tribe the great f re t l and , and

o s o o Its formed them i nt a in gle p werful kingd m .

on o capital lay at Kief the Dnieper, and it had pr ved a

o to s s o formidable neighb u r all the barbarou tribe ar u nd . The Viking bloo d o f the new Russ ian princes drove

s s h ad s them eaward , an d ere many generation pa sed they had fo rced their way d o wn the Dnieper into the

E to o o of uxine , and begun vex the n rthern b rders the Byzantine E mpire with raid s and ravages like thos e

s s E which the Dane inflicted on We tern urope . Twice al ready , withi n the tenth centu ry, had large fleets of — light Ru ss ia row - boats they were c opies on a smaller s cale o f the Viking S hips o f the North— s tolen down

o o S o s fr m the D nieper m uth to the h re of Thrace, and l anded their plu ndering crews within a few miles of

os for on s the B phorus , a hurried raid the rich uburban

s . O n s s 0 province the fir t occa ion in 9 7 , the Russians

e e on had r turned home lad n with plunder, but the OH A H 7 N Z I M I S CE S D EFE TS T E R US S I AN S . 2 3 5

1 second , which fell in 94 , the Byzantine fleet had

s ea e of caught them at , and reveng d the harrying

s s o s o f o s w Thrace by inking c re their light b at , hich c ould n ot res i s t fo r a moment the i mpact of the heavy

- its war galley urged by hu ndred oars . But the attack which John Z im isces had to meet in 970 w as far m o re formidable than either of thos e

w iatoslaf of . S which had preceded it , king the

s o w s Russian , had come d n the D nieper with no les

o s o n to than m en , and had thr wn him elf the

o o f w as o kingd m Bulgaria, which at the m ment

o o distracted by civil war. H e c nquered the wh le

s h is s os s cou ntry, and oon marauder were cr ing the

s s o s s of Bal kan and h wing them elve in the plain Thrace . They even s acked th e c o n s iderable t own of Ph ilippo

o e s pol is bef re the imp rial troo ps ca me to it aid . This

s Zim isces w h o h ad s in s o rou ed , been ab ent A ia M in r, and in the early s pring of 97 1 an i m perial army of men se t out to cross the Balkan s and drive

s s o D s u the Rus ian int the anube . The tr ggle wh ich en s ued w as on e o f the m ost des pe rate which Eas t

o o s ss s o Roman hi s t ry rec rd . The Ru ian all f ught on

s s s foot , in great quare colu mn , armed with pear an d

o a s s e s axe : they w re m il hirt and peaked h l met , j ust

s E o to l ike the Norman s o f We tern ur pe , whom their

c s o of o s prin es were akin . The h ck their c lu m n was

a n d co s s os terrible , their n tancy i n tanding firm al m t

s s w o s o f No incredible . Again t the e arri r the rth Z im isces led the mailed h ors emen of the A s iatic

s o s s w h o theme , and the b wmen and l inger were the ’ a of o flower o f the Byzantine inf ntry . The tale J hn s two great battles with th e Rus s ian s at P resth lava an d R BES E D ES N FRO A B NT N E M S A A QU IG M YZA I .

“ ’ Front L A rt B za n /i n . P a r Clea ries B a et. P aris u a n ti n ( y y , Q ,

U SS N F RO B NT N E V O D E R IA M YZA I L . C/I ZI ( b a t Vla i m r ( d i . )

“ ’ ' ’ " I r r Fro : L A z t B za n ti n . l a Cb a /es B a ’et. P a ri s ua i l /i n 1 J J , Q , 883 D EA TH OF Z IM I S CE S . 2 39

s s o name and titles from Con tantin ple . The Tzars

s s s s are but Caesar mi spelt , and the l i t of their name

— N s o A e s M ichael , Alexander, ichola , J hn , Peter , l xi

— su ffi cien tl ss o s y witne es to their Byzantine g dparent . Ru ss ian mercenaries were ere long enli sted i n the

o s imperial army , and f rmed the n ucl eu of the “ ” s Varangian guard , i n which at a later day, Dane ,

E s No s o o ngli h , and r emen of al l sorts were inc rp rated . John Z imisces su rvived h is great vict ory at Silistria

w on o for five y ears , and , ere he died , m re territory i n

N r n s o ther Syria from the Saracen . The border which his uncle Niceph orus had pu shed forward to Anti och and Alepp o w as advanc e d by hi m as far as

E s s Amida and de sa i n Me opotamia . But i n the

s h is s s Z im is ces w as o ff mid t of conque t cu t by death ,

s while s till in the fl ower o f h is age . Report whi pered

o s o n e h is s s that he had been p i oned by of mini ter ,

whom he had threatened to d isplace . But the tale

is is o can not be verified , and all that certain that J hn died after a short illness,leaving the thro ne to his I n ow I. young ward Basil , who had attained the age of twenty years [976 X IX .

TH END F E O THE MACEDO N IAN DYNASTY.

II ASI . w h o sat h is o w n B L , now in right on the throne which h is warlike guardians Niceph orus and

so o w as n o un J ohn had l ng protected , by means

o to s h is s s o f w rthy ucceed them . Unlike ance tor the

s s o s o Macedonian hou e, he howed fr m the fi r t a l ve for

o s of o war and adventure. Pr bably the deed J hn and Niceph orus excited hi m to emulati o n : at any rate h is o 6 1 02 is on e o s l ng reign from 97 till 5 , c ntinuou

o s os of s o rec rd of war , and al m t entirely war br ught to s s s o as s a ucce ful terminati n . B il eemed to have

o s on o f h is tw o m delled him elf the elder guardians ,

s Nice h o r s o His s s o n the tern p u Ph cas . earlie t year

o s s o f the thr ne , indeed , were pent i n the pur uit

s plea u re , but ere he reached the age of thirty a s udden transformati o n w as vi s ible i n him . He gave him self up entirely to war and rel igi o n : he t oo k a

of s s o o f vow cha tity, and alway w re the garb a monk

i o under h s arm o ur and h is imperial r bes . H is piety w as o o a exaggerated int big try and f naticism , but it w as o o h im u nd ubtedly real , th ugh it did not keep from the com mission ofm any deeds o f S hocking c ruelty

242 THE END OF THE MACEDONIAN D YNAS TY.

Slavon ic districts further Wes t and South . The h is w as o O ch rida centre of real m the f rtress of , which he had chosen as his capital— a strong town s ituated

s on a lake among the Macedonian hill . There h is Samuel mustered armies , and from thence he " started forth to attach eith er Thess al onica or Adrian

o ople, as the opp rtunity m ight come to him . The duel between Bas il and Samuel lasted no less

- than thirty fou r years , till the Bulgarian king died

1 1 s a beaten man in 0 4 . Thi long and unremitting

n s o f for struggle taxed all the e ergie the empire , Samuel was not a foe to be despi s ed he was n o mere

h is barbarian , but had learnt the art of war from

s s Byzantine neighbour , and had pecially studied

o It w as s s fortificati n . the de perate defence of his ’ nu merous hill - castles that made Bas il s task such a

s of s o long one . The detail the truggle are to long to follow out su ffice it to s ay that after some defeats

n h is s i earlier years , Basil accompl ished the conque t 1 002 of Bulgaria proper , as far as the Danube in , the

s s year in which Widdin , the last of Samuel stronghold

n No For i the rth surrendered to him . twelve years more the enemy held out in the Central Balkans , in h is s O ch rida Macedon ian stronghold , about and

’ s s s o Uskup . But at la t , Ba il constant vict ries in the

ss s o f field , and his relentle laughter captives after the

o day was won , broke the f rce of the Bulgarian king.

In 1 1 E o 0 4 the mper r gained a crowning victory, after which he took prisoners he put O nt the eyes of al l save one man in each hundred , and sent the poor wretche s with their guides to seek King Samuel m in his capital . The old Bulgarian was so overco e DEA T OF KI N S AM E 2 H G U L . 43 at s w as s the horrible ight that he eized with a fit , and

S s o died on the pot, of rage and grief. H is uccess rs Gabriel an d Ladislas could make no head again s t the

n s 1 0 1 8 s ster and relentle s emperor, and in the la t fortress of the kingdom of O ch rida surre ndered at

h is s discretion . Contrary to habit , Ba il treated the

s s n o s vanqui hed foe with mildnes , indulged in mas a

s old cres, and contented him el f with repairing the

n s s s s s Roma road and fortre e of the Central Balkan , without attempting to exterminate th e Slavon ic tribes

His o s s that had so often defied hi m . c nque t rounded

o n its o off the empire n rthern frontier, and m ade it touch the M agyar kingdom of H u ngary, for Servia n o less than Bulgaria and Macedon i a fo rmed part o f h i n ow s conquest s . The Byzantine border ran from

to n o w as Belgrade the Da ube m uth , a l i ne which it

for destined to preserve nearly two hu ndred years , till the great rebell ion of Bulgaria against Isaac Angelus in 1 the year 086. Having j u stly earned his gri m title of the Slayer ” of the Bulgarians by his long series of victori es i n

E s h is old to urope , Ba il turned in age continue the

o o i c s o n E o w rk of J hn Z im s e the astern fr ntier. There the Moslem states were still weak and divided though n e w E a power, the Fatimite dynasty i n gypt , had

o come to the front , and acquired an ascendency ver ’ its 2 1 —2 o s . s s 1 0 neighb u r Ba il last campaigns , in , were

s o f an d directed again t the princes Armenia, the Iberians an d Ab asg ian s who dwelt beyond them to

His s W s s the north . arm ere entirely ucces ful , and he added many Armenian d i s tricts to h is Eas tern province s ; but it may be ques tioned whether these A 2 44 TH E END OF TH E M CE D ONI AN D YNAS TY.

e to s conquests were b neficial the empire . A trong Armen ian kingdom w as a u seful neighbou r to the Byzantine real m ; being a Christian state it w as

s to u ually friendly th e empire , and acted as a

o o s barrier again s t M s lem attacks fr m Pers ia . Ba il

ow broke up the Armen ian p er , but did not annex the

or s s whole country , e tabli h i n it any adequate provi s i o n against the ulti mate danger of attack s from

s the Ea t by the M ahometan powers .

s 1 02 of s - Ba il died in 5 at the age ixty eight , j ust as he w as preparing to s end fo rth an exped iti o n to

o s of s rescue Sicily fr m the hand the Saracen . He had w on m o re provinces for the empire than any general

s s h is since the days of the great Beli ariu , and at death the Byzantine borders had reached the furthes t

s sso s exten ion which they ever knew . H is succe r

o des were to be u nworthy of his thr ne, and were tined to los e provinces with as con stant regularity as s s o he hi m el f had h wn in gaining them . There was to be n o on e after hi m who co uld b oas t that he had fought thirty campaigns in the o pen field with harness o n h is s back , and had never turned a ide from any

s enterpri e that he had ever taken in hand .

’ Bas il s brothe r C o n s tantine had been h is col league in name all through the hal f century of h is

No o reign . one c uld have been m ore u nlike the ascetic “ ” and indefatigable Slayer of the Bulgarians . Con stan tin e e w orldin s was a m re g , a man of plea ure , a

o s o v tary of the table and the wine cup , who e nly redeeming tastes were a devotion to mu s ic and litera

h is o o f tu re . H e had dwelt in c rner the palace s o f s fl a tte rers urrounded by a l i ttle court eunuch and ,

YNA 246 THE E ND OF THE MACEDONI AN D S TY.

h is . S happy Venturi ng a campaign in yria , he led

saw s s o n army to defeat, and everal town the border fall into the hand s of the E mir of Aleppo . After a

s o reign of six year R manus died of a lingering d isease ,

s and Z oe w as left a widow . Almo t before the breath ’ out o f s s was her husband body , the volatile empre s —s h e w as now over fi fty — had chosen and wedded

o w as another partner . The new emper r Michael the

o o Paphlag nian , a y ung courtier who had been Gentle man of the Bedchamber to Ro manu s he w as twenty eight years of age and n oted as the most hand some

o s His o s w on man in C n tantinople . good lo k had

’ to h is s s Zoe s fancy , and own su rpri e he found him elf seated on the thro ne by his elderly admirer ’ The o bj ect o f Zoe s anile affecti o n w as a capable

s h is man , and ju tified rather hu miliating elevation

s by good ervice to the empire . He beat back the Saracen s from Syria and put d ow n a Bulgarian

s s rebellion with ucce s . But in his last years he saw

of s II S . ervia, one the conque ts of Basil , burst out into

o n ot . rev lt, and could quell it H e also failed in a

o S o oo s o pr ject to reconquer icily fr m the M r , th ugh he s s s M an iakes ent again t the i land George , the best

of w h o o s f general the day , won many t wn and de eated

s the Mo lems in two pitched battles . The attempt to s s o s ubdue the whole i land failed , and the c nquest of

kes s o n ia . I Ma V. were lo t one after the ther Michael , f though still a you ng man , was fearfully a flicted with

fi ts s h is so epileptic , which apped health , and en feebled him that he d ied a h opeless invalid ere he reached the

- s ix s age of thirty . The irrepre sibl e Zoe , now again a

o few sh e o widow, t ok a days to decide whether w uld ’ Z OE S THI RD M ARRIAGE . 2 47

h son . S e adopt a , or marry a third husband first tried the former alternative, and crowned as her

’ co lleague her late spouse s nephew an d namesake

Michael V . But the young man proved u ngrateful , and strove to deprive the aged empre s s of the control

s of affair . When he annou n ced his intention of

mob removing her from the capital , the city , who

o loved the M aced n ian house, and laughed at rather than reprobated the foibles of Zoe , took arms to

s In n defend their mistre s . a fierce fight betwee the

s V. rioter and the guards of M ichael , lives

s s e were lost : but the in urgent had the upp r hand , h e routed t soldiery, and caught and blinded M ichael .

of n ow Zoe , on ce more at the head the state, made

- h e her third marriage , at the age of sixty two . S

s as Mon om ach us cho e her partner Constantine , an old debauchee who had been her lover thirty years ago. Th eir j oint reign was u nhappy both at home and

o in abr ad . Frequent rebellions broke out both Asia

M inor an d i n the Balkan Pen insula . The Patzin aks

o s sent f ray across the Danube, while a new enemy, N S I “ the ormans of outh taly , conquered the theme ” L an ob ardia s s of g , the la t Byzantine posses ion to the

s s We t of the Adriatic, and establi hed in its stead the duchy of Apulia A s till more dangerous foe

s to E began al o be heard of along the astern frontier. The Selj oukTu rks were now commencing a career of s i s s conque t n Per ia and the land on the O xus . In 1 048 the advance guard of their h ordes began to

n ravage the Armenia frontier of the empire. But

s thi danger was not yet a pressing on e .

IX . th e When Zoe and Constantine were dead , 248 THE END OF THE MACED ONI AN D YNAS TY. sole remaining scion of the Macedon ian house was

s u . aluted as r ler of the empire This was Theodora , n s n the younger sister of Zoe, an old woma of eve ty, w h o had spent the best part of her days in a nun nery. Sh e was as s ou r and ascetic as her s i s ter had been vain and amorou s ; but she does not s eem to have

s o f been the wor t the rulers of Byzantium , and her two years of power were n ot troubled by rebellion s or

s s vexed by foreign war. Her au tere virtue won her

o s o f s me re pect fr m the people , and the act that she w as s of s n the la t her hou e, and that with its extinctio the trouble s of a disputed succes s ion were doomed to come upon the empire , seems to have sobered her

o f subjects , and led them to let the last days the

s Basilian dynasty pas away in peace .

o oth of 1 0 Th e d ora died on the 3 August , 5 7 , having on her death - bed declared that she adopted M ichael

Stratioticus as s o o her uccess r. Then c m menced the “ o in s reign of tr ubl e , the third anarchy the hi tory of E the Byzantine mpire .

2 AN Z I KE RT 5 0 M .

n of thro e. Before a year had passed a band great Asiatic nobles entered int o a conspiracy to overturn

I o s M ichael , and replace hi m by saac C mnenu , the

o n e o s chief of of the ancient Cappad cian house , and E the most popular general of the ast.

I s an d h is o saac Comnenu friends t ok arms , and d i s poss es sed the aged M ichael o f his throne with little

to s d ifficulty. But a cu rse seemed re t upon the usurpation Is aac w as stricken down by d i sease when

on he had been little more than a year the throne,

s o and retired to a mona tery t d ie. H is crown was

to s n o transferred Con tantine Ducas , a ther Cappa docian w as s os to o noble , who upp ed be second nly to

o Isaac in competence and p pularity . Constantine

e fo r s s s o r igned even troubled year , and di app inted all h is s s s o supporter , for he proved but a orry ad mini trat r.

w as set o n o H is mind n thing but finance, and in the d endeavou r to buil up again the imperial treasu re , which had been s orely wasted since the death of Bas il

I. s . I , he neglected all the other department of state To s ave m o ney he d i sbanded n o inco n s iderable

o th e s porti n of army , and cut down the pay of the re t.

s w as s w as Thi heer mad ness , when there impending over the empire the mos t terrible m ilitary dan ger that

for o had been seen f u r centuries . The safety of the real m w as entirely in the hands of its well - paid a nd

- s well di ciplined national army, and anything that impaired the efficiency of the army was fraught with

s the deadlie t peril . Sel ouk s The j Turk were now drawing near . Pres

on O s o s sing from the xus land , their h rde had overru n

aw i e Persia and extinguished the dynasty of the B uh d s. TH E C H E E ’ 1 OM I N G OF T S L 3 O UKS . 2 5

In 1 0 0 5 , they had penetrated to Bagdad , and their “ great chief, Togrul Beg, had declared himself defender ” of the faith and protector of the Caliph . Armenia

os had next been overrun , and th e portions of it which

s o had not been annexed to the empire , and till beyed

o 1 06 . independent princes, had been c nquered by 4 In that year fell An i , the ancient Armenian capital , and the b ulkw a rk which protected the Byzan ti n e

s s Empire from Ea tern invasion . The reign of C o nstantine Ducas was troubled by

Sel ouk s A rm en iac countless j inva ions of the , Anatolic ,

s and Cappadocian theme . Sometimes the i nvaders were driven back , sometimes they eluded the i mperial

s troop an d e s caped with their booty . But whether

s s s successful or u n ucces ful , they d i played a reckless

ss S cruelty , far surpa ing anything that the aracens had

s ever shown . Wherever they pa sed they not merely

s plu ndered to right and left , but lew off the whole

n o s X populatio . Meanwhile , C n tantine . , with his

o reduced army , pr ved incompetent to hold them back all the m ore so that h is operation s were distracted by

n s an invasio of the Uze , a Tartar tribe from the

w h o E s . uxine hore , had burst i nto Bulgaria

s 1 06 o son Duca died in 7 , leaving the thr ne to his ,

o n . M ichael , a boy of f urtee years The usual result ’ o s f llowed . To secure her son life and throne , the

E - E o mpress dowager udocia t ok a new husband , and

n made hi m guardian of the young M ichael . The ew

E - w as o s s an mperor regent R manu Diogene , Asiatic n Sel ouk oble , whose brilliant cou rage displayed in the j wars had dazzled the world , and caused it to forget that cauti o n and ability are far more regal virtues than 2 2 M ANZ I KER T 5 .

headlong valou r . Romanus took i n hand with the

s greatest vigour the ta k of repelling the Turks, which

o s his predecess r had so grievou ly neglected . H e led into the field every man that could be collected from

E s the uropean or Asiatic theme , and for three succes s ive years was incessantly marching and counter S marching in Armenia , Cappadocia , and yria , in the endeavour to hunt down the marauding bands of the

l ouks Se j . The operation s of Romanu s were n ot entirely un l s . s S Se ouk successful Alp Ar lan , the ultan of the j , contented hi msel f at firs t with di spersing his hordes

o f in scattered bands , and attacking many points the

E un frontier at once . Hence the mperor was not frequently able to catch and s lay off one of the m inor division s of the Tu rkish army. But some of them always contrived to elude him ; his heavy cavalry c o uld not come up with the l ight Selj oukhorse bow

an d men , who generally escaped rode back home by

o a l ng detour, burning and murdering as they went .

w as Cappadocia already desolated from end to end ,

s s Amorium and the Turki h raid had reached as far as , i n Phrygia .

1 1 In s In 07 came the final disaster. pur uing the

S el ouk s j plunderer , Romanus was drawn far eastward , M an zikert on to . , the Armenian frontier There he

o f und himself confronted , not by a flying foe , but by

o f S el ouk s the whole force the j u ltanate , with Alp h is Arslan himself at its head . Though army was

s s hara ed by long marches , and though two large

s E o . d ivi ions were absent , the mper r was eager to fight f The Turks had never before of ered him a fair field ,

MANZ IKER T 2 5 4 . and he rel ied impl icitly on the power o f h is cu irassiers

o v to ride d wn any nu mber, howe er great , of the light

Turkish horse .

Man zikert The decisive battle of , which it is not too much to call the turn ing - p o int of the whole cou rs e of

s Byzantine history , was fought in the early ummer of

s 1 07 1 . For a long day the Byzantine hor emen continued to roll back and break through the line s of

s s Turkish hor e bowmen . But fresh horde kept coming

w as s on , and in the evening the fight till undecided .

A s w as the night approaching, Romanus prepared to draw his troops back to the cam p , but an unhappy

s mi conception of orders broke up the l ine, and the

s in w S elj ouk edged bet een the two halves of the army .

E s ither from treachery or cowardice Andronicu Ducas,

o f s the ficer who com manded the re erve , led his men

’ E s s off without fighting . The mperor divi ion was beset on all sides by the enemy , and broke up in the

s s du k . Romanu himself was wounded , thrown from his horse, and made prisoner . The greater part of his men were cut to pieces . Alp Ars lan sh o wed himself more forbearing to his

It is prison er than m ight have been expected . true that R o manus w as led after his capture to the tent of S o o the ultan , and laid pr strate bef re him , that , after the Turkish custom , the conqueror might place his

s foot on the neck of his vanqui hed foe . But after this hu miliating cerem ony the Emperor was treated

s s with kindnes , and allowed after ome months to ransom him self and retu rn h ome . H e would have

o fared better , h wever, if he had remained the prisoner of the Turk . During his captivity the cond uct of F R OM AN US I E E 2 M I S FOR TUNE S O D OG N S . 5 5

s o f s affairs had fallen into the hand J ohn Duca , uncle

s of the you n g emperor M ichael . The un crupulous regent was determined that Rom anu s should not

N ICEP HO RU S B O TA N IAT ES S I TTI NG IN STAT E .

(F rom a con tempora ry M S . ) “ ’ ” From L A rt zan ti n . P a r Cb arles B a et. P ari s u an tin ( By y , Q ,

supers ede him and mount the throne again . When the released captive reappeared , John had him seized 6 MANZ I KER T 2 5 .

and blinded . The cruel work was so roughly done

o s s that the u nfortun ate R manu d ied a few day later . After thi s fearful disaster A s ia Min o r w as l os t ;

of o there was no chief to take the place R manus, and the Selj ouk hordes s pread westward almost un op os s p ed . The next ten year were a time of chaos and

e l ouks di s aster. While the S j were carving their way

s o f deeper and deeper into the vital the empire, the wreck s of the Byzantine army were empl oyed not in

s s s o re i ting them , but in carrying on a de perate series f

s of s civil war . After the death Romanu , every general in the empire s eemed to think th at the time had c o me for him to a s su me the purple buskin s and proclai m

s o s himsel f emperor. H i t ry record the names of no less than s ix pretenders to the throne during the next

s s s o s n ine year , be ide several rebels who to k up arm without ass u ming the imperial title. The young

o s o emper r , Michael Duca , pr ved , when he came of

to o age, be a vicious n nentity he is remembered i n Byzantine history o nly by h is n ickname of Para “ ” in a kes - fi lch e r p , the peck , given him because in a year of famine he s old the meas ure of wheat to h is

o f His subj ects a fourth short its proper contents .

Nice h orus Botan iates name and that of p , the rebel who o s S verthrew him , cover in the li t of emperors a pace o f ten years that would better be repres ented by a blank for the auth o rity of the nominal ruler scarcely

s extended beyond the wall of the capital , and the themes that were not overru n by the Turks were in the hand s of governors who each did what was right

ow n o in his eyes . At last a man of ability w rked

e s him s l f up to the surface. Thi was Alexius

XX I .

THE COMNENI AND TH E CR A E US D S.

E IUS OM NENUS s 1 AL X C found him elf, in 08 1 , placed i n a pos ition al most as d iffi cult and perilous

L eo Is 1 6 a s that which the aurian faced in 7 . Like

s s o r Leo , he was a u urper without p re tige hereditary

s o claim , seated on an unsteady throne , and f rced to face im minent dan ger from the M os lem enemy with I s . t out , and from rival adventurer within may be

Is o s added that the aurian , griev u ly threatened as he w as E s n o im by the enemy from the a t , had peril

s pending fro m the Wes t . Alexiu had to face at o n e and the same time the ass ault of the S elj ouks o n

s o f o A ia Minor, and the attack a new a nd f rmidable

a foe in h is western provinces . We have lready menti oned the man ner in which the Byzantine N ow d o min i o n in Italy had c o me to an end . the s ame No rman adventurers who had s tripped the empire of Calabria and Apu l ia were preparing to

s s s o f O o s o ut E cro the strait trant , and eek the mperor

o f h is in the central provinces real m . The forces of the Ital ian and Sicil ian No rmans were un ited under N ORM AN WAR . 2 5 9

f o s un their great chie R bert Gu i card , the hardy and

s s scrupulou s Duke o f Apulia . J u t ten year before he

o ss o n h is had captu red Bari , the last Byzantine f rtre ow n side o f the straits n ow he was resolved to take advantage o f the anarchy which had prevailed i n the

s M an zikert to empire ever ince the day of , and bu ild u p n ew No rman prin cipal ities to the east of the

s o s Adriatic . There seemed to be nothing pre umptu u in the scheme to those who remembered how a few hundred No rman adventu rers had c o nquered al l

S I S o o outhern taly and icily, and swelled int a viet

on s o Nor ri army fifty thou sand str ng . could the

s h ow invader fail to remember , but fifteen years

e o N ss o b fore, an ther orman duke had cro ed an ther s trait in the far West , and won by his strong right

E s hand the great k ingdom of ngland . Alexiu Com n en us sat like H arold Godivin son on a lately - acquired

to and u nsteady throne , and Duke Robert thought deal with hi m much as Duke William had dealt with

En s the gl i hman .

In 1 08 1 No J une , , the rmans landed , thirty thousand s s o trong, and laid iege to Durazz , the maritime o ss E E f rtre that guarded the pirot coast . The mperor

o s at nce flew to its succour. Alway active hopeful

b e s and versatile , tru ted that he m ight be able to beat O ff the new invaders , whose m il itary worth he was far

i s from appreciating at t true value . He patched up

s acifi cation S S a ha ty p with uleiman , ultan of the

Sel ouks s to j , by u rrendering him all the territory of

in oss s o which the Turk was actual p e si n , a tract which now extended as far as the wate rs of the i N Propontis , and actually n cluded the city of icaea , 2 60 THE COM NENI AND THE CR SA E U D S .

to s close the B ithynian shore , and only eventy miles

s o from Con tantin ple . The army with which Alexiu s had to face the Normans was the mere wreck and shadow of that

‘ s I s s which Romanu V. had led again t the Turk ten

o years before . The m ilitary o rgan izati n of the empire

o to s had g ne piece , and we no longer hear of the old Themes of heavy cavalry which had formed its backbone . The new army contained qu ite a smal l

s Its proportion of national troop . core was the imperial

Varan ian s— s guard of g the Rus ian , Dan ish , and

E s s ngl i h mercenarie , whose courage had won the

o f s s co nfidence o many emperor . With them m arched

s Servia n an d So - S o many Tu rki h , Frankish , , uth lav nic au xiliaries ; th e native el ement compri s ed the regu

s lar of the three provi n ces of Thrace, Macedon ia, and ’ s Thes aly , all that now remained in Alexius hands of

s - o the ancient Ea t R man real m . Alexius brought R obert Gu iscard to battle in front

u o s f s of D razz , and uf ered a cru hing defeat at his ’ s E s s hand . The mperor bad tactic were the main cause of h is failure : his army came upon the ground in

ss w as succe ive detachm ents , and the van cut to pieces

o before the main b dy had reached the field . The bru nt of the battl e was borne by the Varan g ian s carried away by their fiery courage , they charged the ’ Norman s before the rest of Alexius s troops had

o of formed their l ine f battle. Rushing on the wing ’ Robert s army , com manded by the Cou nt of Bari , they drove it horse and foot into the sea . Their s ss so s and ucce , however, d i rdered their rank , the N o rman duke was able to turn his whole force

2 62 TH E COM NE NI AND THE CR SA E U D S .

’ a n d w ars P atz in aks S with the , the lavs , and the

l ouks e s Se . s j filled the n xt ten year Alexiu , however, “ ’ w as never di s couraged : eking out the l i o n s s kin ’ ” s with the fox hide , he fought and intrigued , l ied and

o of h is neg tiated , and at the end th e time had held ow n os w as and l t no more territory, while his throne

o o s gr wing m re ecure . But in th e fi fteenth year of his reign a new cloud

s s c w as s to began to ari e in the we t , whi h de tined

s s o for exerci e u n su pected influence, b th good and evil ,

s s of on the empire . The Cru ade were on the eve their

E e l ouks com mencement . ver since the S j had taken

1 0 o s M an z ikert J erusalem i n 7 5 , f ur year after , the wes tern pilgrim s to the H oly Lan d had been s u ffer

o s s s of s ing griev u thing at the hand the barbarian .

But all the wrath that their ill - treatment provoked

o l ss to S w uld have been fruit e , if the way yria had not been opened of late to the nation s of Western

o Tw o s s o f s Christend m . erie event had made free com mu n ication between East and West pos s ible in the

r s end of the eleventh centu y , in a mea ure which had n ever before been seen .

s s w as o f The fi r t of the e the conversion Hungary,

t S 1 000 o S . begun by tephen i n , an d c mpleted about

1 F or B z an 05 0 . the future there lay between the y tine Empire and Germany n ot a barbarou s pagan

s - s o state , but a emi civilized Chri tian kingd m , which had taken its place among the o ther nation s o f the

o o o Roman Cathol ic faith . C m mu nicati n d wn the

o Danube, between Vienna and the Byzantine outp sts

for s oss in Bulgaria, became the fir t time p ible , and ere

s long the route grew popular . The econd pheno 6 THE CR US ADES . 2 3 menon which made the Crusades possible w as the destruction of the Saracen n aval power in the Central

w as out Mediterranean . This carried first by the

s o Pisan and Genoese, whose fleets conquered C rsica

o s and Sardinia from the M slem , and then by the

N o f S ormans , whose occupation icily made the voyage from Marseilles an d Gen oa to the East safe — an d . s n sure Four new maritime power the Ge oese,

s n s N in o s ea Pi a , and ormans the pen , and the Venetia n s in the Adriatic— had developed themselves

o n ow i nt importance , an d their fleets swept the waters where no Chri s tian war - galleys save those of

n o Byzantiu m had ever bee seen bef re . It w as the fact that free access to the East was now

sea a s to be gained , both by land and , it had never

s f . O been before , that made the Crusade feasible the preaching of Peter the H erm it and the efforts of

n o t . S sa Pope Urban we need speak u ffice it to y , that in 1 095 news came to the E mperor Alexiu s that

o s s the nati n of the West were mu tering by myriads ,

o h is o s and directing their march t wards fr ntier , with the expressed intention of driving the Moslem s from

E o n Palestine . The mper r had little co fidence in the purity of the zeal of the Crusaders ; his wily mi n d

n ot could comprehend their enthusiasm , and he dreaded that s ome unfore seen circu mstance might

n s s f tur their arm again t himsel . When the hordes

s of armed Franki h pilgri ms began to arrive, his fears were ju s tified : the new - comers pillaged his cou n try

n right and left upo their way, and were drawn into many bloody fights with the peas antry and the im n perial garriso s, which m ight have ended in open E EN E A 2 64 TH COM N I AND TH CR US DE S .

se t s to war . But Alexius him el f work to smooth

s o h is matter d wn al l tact and patience were needed , and there w as ample s cope for h is talent for intrigue and in s inc e re dipl o macy . He had res olved to induce

s s to do o s the cru ading chief him h mage, and to wear to re st ore to hi m al l the old d o mini on s of the empire

o s which they might rec nquer from the Turk . After lo n g and tedi ou s negotiation s he had h is way : the

s of s o o f o leader the Cru ade , from G dfrey Bouill n and

of o s o s o Hugh Vermand i d wn to the mallest bar ns,

o were induced t swear him allegiance . Some he

fl o o attered , thers he bribed , thers he strove to frighten

o c s s into c mplian e . The page of the hi tory written

h is Co m n en a by daughter, Anna , who regarded his powers of caj olery with greater respect than any other

h is f o f s part of character, are ull tale of the ingen ious s hifts by which he brought the s tupid and arrogant

r s to so . on F ank rea n At length they went their way, ’ s s o o s o with Alexiu g ld i n their p cket , and enc uraged

h is o s w o h is s by pr mi e that he uld aid them with troop ,

o s t o s s c ntinue to upply hem with pr vi ion , and never

th e o w a s aband o n them till H ly City reconquered . In the s pring o f 1 097 the Cru saders began to cross

s s tw o s the Bo phoru , and i n marches found them elves

s o s within Turki h territory. They at nce laid iege to

N o ss o f th e Se l ouk S . icaea , the frontier f rtre j ultan E nco mpassed by so great a hos t the Tu rki sh garri s on s oo os s n ot s n l t heart and urrendered , to the Frank ,

to s os oo s s but Alexiu , wh e tr p they ecretly adm itted

s n to s within the w a ll s . Thi early led trife between

E e o s s w h o the mp r r and the Cru ader , had been reck o ning on the plunder o f the town ; but Alexius

’ E FT ENT RY . - N O F T HE TW C U BYZA NT I NE l voRY CA RVI G L H

itis/z M u seu m . (From Me B r )

” P a ri s uan ti n , “ ’ C/i a rles B a et. , ti n . P a r y (From L A rt By za n Q SECON RM A A 6 D N O N W R . 2 7

That he did n ot recover Sy ria w as n o real l os s to Alexius ; he wo uld not have been s trong en ou gh to

o hold it, had it been handed ver to him . The actual profit which he made by the Cru s ade w as en ough to co ntent him the Frank s had rolled back t he Tu rki s h frontier i n Asia n ot less than two hu ndred m iles :

s S e l ouk N w as in tead of the j lying at icaea , he n ow s B cha ed back behind the ithyn ian hills , and the empire had recovered all Lydia a n d C a ria with

e l ou ks much of the Phrygian in land . The S j were

for - hard hit , and well nigh a century were reduced to

s fight on the defen ive .

O to f wing , then , the earfu l blow in flicted by the Crusade s on the M oslem powers of A s ia Minor and

S s o f s o yria, the later year Alexiu were free fr m the danger which had overs had owed the begin nin g of his

w as 1 1 00 1 1 1 8 reign . H e able, between and , to s trengthen h is pos ition at home and abro ad ; the co nstant rebelli o n s which had vexed h is early years

s N s B oh e m un d cea ed , and when the orman , u nder of

1 1 0 s Tarentu m , tried to repeat , in 7 , the feat which

o s s 1 08 2 R bert Gu i card had accompli hed in , they were

s o beaten off with ea e , and forced to c nclude a

disadvantageous peace . The reign of Alexiu s m ight have been cou nted a peri o d of s uccess and pros perity if it had n ot been for

o o s two c nsiderati n . The fi rst was the rapid decl in e

o o as o w c w as of C nstantin ple a c m mercial centre , hi h

brought about by th e Cru s ades . When the Genoese an d Venetian s succeeded in establ i s hing them selves

s o s S to s o s in the eap rt of yria, they began vi it C n tan

in o le ss It t p far le than befo re . paid them much 68 T E COM 2 H NENI AND THE CR US ADES . better to conduct their bu s ines s at Acre o r Tyre than

s . on the Bo phorus The king of Jerusalem , the

s s weake t of feudal sovereign , could be more easily bullied and defrauded than the powerful ruler of

In h is ow n s Constantinople . seaport he possessed hardly a shadow of authority : the Italian s traded there on such conditions as they chos e . Hence the s E S commerce of the West with Per ia, gypt , yria, and I s a ndia , ceased to pas through the Bosphorus . Geno n I and Ven ice became the marts at which Fra ce, taly ,

E . It is and Germany , sought their astern goods probable that the trade of Constan tinopl e fell off by a third or even a hal f in the fifty years that followed ff the first Crusade . The e ect of this decline on the

f s for cof ers of the tate was deplorable, it was ulti mately on its com mercial wealth that the Byzantine state based its prosperity. Al l through the reigns of Alexiu s and his two successors the complaints about the rapid fall in the imperial revenue g rew more an d more noticeable . This dangero u s decay in the finances of th e empire w as ren dered still more fatal by the political devices

w s of Alexius , who began to besto exces ive commercial

s I n privilege to the tal ian republics , in retur for their

. s 1 08 1 n aid i n war This sy tem commenced in , whe

E in s Nor the mperor, then the ful l stress of his fir t

a man war , granted the Venetians the free ccess to most of the ports of h is empire without the payment

s s of any cu toms due . To give to foreigners a boon den ied to his own s ubj ects was the height of eco n o mic lunacy the native merchants complained that the Venetians were enabled to u nders ell them in every

2 7 0 THE COM NEN I AND TH E CR USADES .

had reduced all C ilicia , Pisid ia, and Pontus , his

o s of d minion became a narrow fringe coast , surround S w h o ing on three sides the real m of the ultan , still

on ian retained all the Cappadocian and Ly ca plateau . ’ It should then have been J oh n s task to finish the

o s rec nque t of Asia M inor, but he preferred to plunge S of into yria , where he forced the Frank prince Anti och and the Turki s h E mir of Aleppo to pay him

o tribute , but left no permanent m nu ment of his con

a n quests . H e was preparing formidable expeditio

HU NTERS

(F rom a By zan ti n e M S . ) “ ’ ” From L Art za ti n ti n B n n . P a r C/zarl s a t P ari s ua ( y e B y e , Q ,

s o f again t the Franks the kingdom of Jerusalem , when he perished by accident while on a hunting e x edi ion I p t .

s on John the Good was succeeded by his Manuel , whose strength an d weakn ess combined to give a

o deathbl w to the empire . Manuel was a mere kn ight ’ fi h tin s errant , who loved fighting for g g sake, and allowed h is pa ss ion for excitement and adventure to

H e pierced him self by mi sadven ture w ith on e of hi s o wn poison ed

row s an d of w o n . ar , died the u d 1 WARS OF M AN UE L I . 2 7

His be his only guide . whole reign was one long

o series of wars , entered into and aband ned with equal

for s s ss levity . Yet the mo t part they were ucce ful

s w as o of war , for Manuel a g od cavalry fi cer if he was

h is but a reckless statesman , and fiery courage and

o f h is o s u ntiring energy made hi m the idol tro p . At the head o f the veteran squadro ns of mercenary horse

h is s w men that formed the backbone of army , he ept

o off the field every enemy that ever dared t face hi m .

s H e overran Servia, invaded H ungary , to who e king

s o f o ff ss he dictated term peace , and beat with succe

N n a n in vasion of Greece by the orma s of Sicily . H is

s s w as mos t de perate truggle , however, a naval war

h is w as with Ven ice , in which fleet successful enough , and drove the D oge and h is galleys out of the

Con IEg ean . But the damage done to the trade of stan tino le w h o p by the Venetian privateers , swarmed in the Levant after their main fleet had been chased

w as so E away , appall ing that the mperor concluded

1 1 s o to peace in 74, re t ring the en emy all the di s astrou s commercial privileges which h is grand

s s father Alex iu had granted them eighty year before. ’ The main fault of Manuel s wars w as that they were conducted in the most reckless di s regard of all

s fi nancial con iderations . With a real m which was s o oo s d w in d l wly growing p rer, and with a con tantly

s in o n l ing revenue , he per isted piling war war, and on devo ting every bezant that c ou ld be screwed out

h is s s to o f o of ubject the support the army al ne . The

C s so ivil ervice fell into grave d i rder , the ad m in istra

of w as o s s tion j ustice impaired , r ad and bridge went to decay, docks and harbou rs were neglected , while 2 7 2 THE COM NENI AND THE CR US ADES . the money which should have s upported them was

s E S wasted on u nprofitable expedition to gypt , yria,

o or Italy. S long as the ranks of his mercenaries E were full and their pay forthcoming, the mperor

is cared not how h real m might fare . f ’ O al l Manuel s wars only one went ill , but that

o s was the m st importan t of them all , the one neces ary s truggle to which he should have devoted all his

s w as el o ks energies . Thi the contest with the S j u which ended in 1 1 76 by a disastrous defeat at My rio ke h alon ine x p in Phrygia , brought abou t by the en s ss able carelessne of M anuel himself, who al lowed h is army to be caught in a defi le from which there w as

o l no exit, and r uted piecemeal by an enemy who cou d

n o s s have made tan d on the open plain . M anuel

Sel ouks then made peace, and left the j alone for the rest of his reign . In 1 1 8 0 w Manuel died , and ith him died the good

s fortu ne of the Hou e of Comnenus . H is son and

w as heir, Alexius , a boy of thirteen , an d the inevitable

s contest for the regency, which alway accompan ied

s s a minority , en ued . After two troubled year Andro

en s s of E n i Comnenu , a first cousin the mperor

w as o a o Manuel , pr claimed Caes r , and t ok over the

s guardianship of the young Alexius . Andronicu was

s s ruffi an s an un crupulou , whose past l ife hould have been s u fficient warning against putting any tru s t in

s o assassi his profe sions . He had nce attempted to

s nate Manuel , and twice de erted to the Turks . But

w as he a consu m mate hypocrite , and won his way to the th ron e ' b y professions o f piety and austere N of virtue . o sooner was he seated by the side

II XX .

THE AT IN CO N UEST O F CO NSTANTIN L Q OP LE .

TH E s tate which had been drained of its resources

s s by the energetic but wa tefu l Manuel , and di organized

s o s ss by the ra h and wicked A ndr n icu , now pa ed into the hand s o f the tw o most feeble an d despicable creature s w h o ever s at up o n the imperial thro ne I the brothers saac an d Alexius Angelus, whose reigns

s 1 1 — 1 2 c over the year 8 5 04. Among al l the peri od s which we have hitherto

c o f E s - E i des ribed in the tale the a t Roman mp re ,

' that co vered by the reign of the two wretched Angeli

o o s s may be pr n unced the mo t hameful . The pecu liar disgrace of the period lies in the fact that the conditi o n

o ss of the empire was not h pele at the time . With ordinary courage and prudence it might have been

o s held t gether , for the attack directed against it were not m o re fo rmidable than others which had been o ff If beaten with ease . the bl ow had fallen when a

i L eo II I . s hero l ke , or even a tatesman l ike Alexius

I w as on is o . the throne, there no reas n to d oubt that it would have been parried . But it fe ll in the times

Of trifl ers wh o o two incompetent , c nducted the s tate MI SF OR TUNE S OF THE AN G E LI . 2 75

“ us to on the principle of, Let eat and drink , for ” w Is s morro we d ie . aac and Alexius felt i n them elves

o f no power redeeming the empire from the evil day , an d s o n e re ignedly fell back personal nj oyment . ’ Isaac s tas te lay in the directi o n of go rgeou s raiment “ ” o f and the collecting m iraculous eikons . Alexius

s s o preferred the plea ure of the table . C nsidered as

s to oo sovereign there was little ch se between them . Each was co mpetent to ruin an empire already verging on its decline. The disaster which the A n gel i brought on thei r real m w as rendered poss ible o nly by its complete

so A s military and financial di rgan ization . a m il itary power the empire had n ever recovered the effects of

Sel ouk s s w o o f the j inva ion , hich had r bbed it its great

- for recruiting grou nd its n ative troops in Asia M inor . After that l oss the use of mercenarie s had bec o me

o m re and more prevalent . The brilliant campaigns of Manuel C o mnenu s had been made at the head of a soldiery of whom two - thirds were not born - subj ects o f

is the empire . He , it true, had kept them withi n the

s s o bou nd of trict d iscipline , and contrived at all c sts

o to pr vide their pay . But the weak and thriftless A n gel i were able neither to fi nd money nor to

s for maintain di cipl ine . A state which relies its

on o s is defence f reign mercenarie ruined , if it allows

In them to grow disorderly and inefficient . times of

s stress they mutiny in tead of fighting . The civil adm in i stration w as in al m ost as deplorable ” os E s a condition , while th e two arthly Angel (as a contemporary chron icler called them) were charged

s n s o with its care. I aac A gelus put the fin i hing t uch 6 THE ATI N CON UE S T OF ON TAN T OP 2 7 L Q C S I N L E .

s s f to ad m ini trative abuse , which had al ready been ri e

o o s o f en ugh u nder the C mneni , by expo ing fices and “ os to I o f o p ts auction . nstead paying his fficial s he s ent

o o s o r s s o f them f rth with ut pur e crip, l ike the apostle

' o ld o o , to make what profit they c uld by ext rtion from ” s 1 the provi ncial . H is bro ther Alexiu s pro mised o n his accession to make al l app ointment s on the ground f o as Is . merit , bu t proved in reality bad as aac H e w as s o o f o s w h o urr unded by a ring rapaci u favourites ,

a o s s managed all p tr nage , and di pen ed it in return for

s . os s so e bribe When high p t were not ld , they w re

o s given as d uceur to men of local influence , whose

o w as rebelli n d readed . The history of the twenty years covered by the reigns of the two Angeli is cut into two equal halves

s o f Is h is o 1 1 at the depo iti n o aac by br ther in 9 5 . It is only nece ssary to p o int out how the res ponsibility for the d i s asters of the period Is ’ to be d ivided betwee n them . ’ Is aac s share c o n s i s ts i n the loss of Bulgaria and

n ow Cyprus . The former cou ntry had been i n the

s tw o s hands of the Byzantine for nearly hundred year ,

s II s since its conquest by Ba il . But the Bulgarian had not merged in the general body o f the subj ects of

o the empire . They preserved their nati nal language

s s n in de en and cu tom , and ever forgot their ancient p

I n 1 1 8 o s o dence . 7 , three br ther named Peter , J hn , If and Azan s tirred up rebellion among them . fi rmly treated it might have been crushed with eas e by the I s o regular troo p s of the empire. But saac fir t app inted to incompetent generals , who let the rebellion grow a

N c as Isaac An s ook . ch . 8 6. i et , gelu , b iii ,

TI N E S T OF CONS TAN TI NOP E 2 7 8 THE LA CON Q U L .

Empire of Cyprus w as wholly monstrous and

o s ss I o abn rmal . The u cce ful rebell ion of saac C mnenus pointed to the pos sibility o f a general breaking u p of

o s the Byzantine domini n into fragment , a danger that

o n ow s h a d never appeared bef re . Till the province

s o n o s had alway beyed the capital , and in tance had been known of a rebel maintaining hi m sel f by any

o f other way than the capture Constantinople . Isaac

s Com nenu m ight, however , have fou nded a dynasty in

s n ot w Cypru , if he had quarrel led ith Richard Coeur

- f o E . de Lion , the crusading King ngland When he

so s E s s maltreated me hipwrecked ngli h crew , Richard pun i s hed him by landing h is army in Cypru s and

o s I w as o seizing the wh le i land . saac thr wn into a

E h is dungeon , and the nglish king gave dominions to

o f s Guy Lusignan, who called in Frank adven turer to s ettle up the land , and made it into a feudal kingdom

s o f the usual We tern type .

Is II w as h is While aac . in the midst of Bulgarian

s h is s war, and m i conducting it with u ual fatuity , he w as s uddenly dethroned by a palace intrigue . H is

s own brother, Alexiu Angelus , had hatched a plot

s o so s I again t him , which w rked uccessfully that saac w as caught , bl inded , and i mmured in a monastery l o ng befo re h is adherent s knew that he was in danger.

s III s of Alexiu . never howed any other proof energ y

’ s ave thi s s kilful con]? ci eta t aimed against h is brother . H e continued the Bulgarian war with the same ill

’ s uccess that had attended Is aac s deal ings with it . He plu nged int o a di s astro u s s truggle with the Selj ouk

S o f I ultan conium , and he quarrelled with the E VI. mperor Henry , who would certainly have THE F O UR T CR AD H US E . 2 79 invaded h is dominion s if death had not intervened to

as s prevent it . But long as Alexiu w as permitted to enjoy the pleasures of the table i n h is vill a s on the

s o s - s s Bo ph ru , the ill uccess abroad of his arm and his diplomacy vexed him but little . 1 2 0 But in 3 , a new and u nexpected danger arose to

o h is s His o scare hi m fr m fea ting . blind br ther Is aac

o s w h o f had a y ung son named Alexiu , escaped rom

to I oo Constantinople taly , and t k refuge with Phil ip

uab ia E o of s S . of , the new mper r the We t Philip had

o f Is s married a daughter aac Angelu , and determ ined

h is o - in - to do something to hel p y ung brother law .

s The O pportu nity was n ot hard to seek . Ju t at this

o o I m ment a large b dy of French , Flem ish , and talian

s s w h o s o of Cru ader , had taken arm at the c mmand the Pope, were lying idle at Ven ice . They had marched d own to the great Ital ian s e aport with the

o of o a s - intenti n directing a bl w ag in t Malek Adel ,

of E s o Sultan gypt . The Venetian had c ntracted to

ss s supply them with ve el for the Crusade, but for reaso n s of their ow n had determined that the attack sh ould not fall o n the s hore for which it had been

s o n oo s de tined . They were very g d term with the

E s w h o e gyptian overeign , had granted th m valuable

o s a c m mercial privilege at Alex ndria , which threw the wh ole trade with the d i stant real m s o f India into

e Venetian hand s . Accord ingly th y had determined to avert the blow fro m Egypt and turn it again st some

o s of other enemy of Chri stend m . The leader the Fo urth Crusade proved u nable to pay the full su m w hich they had c o ntracted to give the Venetian s as

- s w as s for ship hire , and thi made an excu e keeping 2 8 0 THE L ATI N CON Q UES T OF CONS TAN TI NOP L E . them camped on the u nhealthy i s land s in the Lagoons

s till their patience and their s to res were al ike exhau ted .

o Henry Dandolo , the aged but wily d ge , then proposed to the Crusaders that they s ho uld pay their way by

of doing something in aid Venice . The Dal matian t own of Zara had lately revolted and d o ne h o mage to the King of H ungary if the Crusaders wo uld recover

o out s it , the Venetian state w uld wipe their debt and

s to tran port them whither they wished go . The Crusaders had taken arm s for a h oly war

s s to against the Mo lem . They were now invited turn as ide against a Chri s tian town and interes t themselves

V s s o s in enetian pol itic . Con cienti u men would have

o s refused to j i n in uch an unholy bargain , and would have i n s i s ted in carrying out their o riginal purp os e

E o s agai nst gypt . But c n cientious men had been growing m o re and more rare among the Cru s aders for

s s the la t hu ndred year . There were as many greedy military adventurers am ong them as single - hearted

s o s s pilgrim . The more scrupul u chief were over

s s per uaded by their de igning compan ions , and the

w as expedition against Zara undertaken .

Zara fell , but another and a more important

s o enterpri e was then placed bef re the Crusaders . While they wintered on the Dalmatian coas t the

s s young Alexiu Angelu appeared in their camp ,

s ss s o f h is - in - e corted by the amba ador brother law,

ia the Emperor Philip o f S uab . The exiled prince be sought them to turn a s ide once more befo re they

to E to s h is sailed the ast , and re cue blind father from the dungeon int o which he had been cast by h is cruel

III If o brother Alexius . they w ul d drive out th e

2 8 2 THE A TIN CON UE T OF CON TAN TI L Q S S N OP LE . s sso o f o of ucce r Godfrey of B u illon , and the heroes

s s . o the Fir t Cru ade The L mbard , a deep and hardy s to o chemer, whom f rce and fraud seemed equally

o s go d , was simply eeking for wealth and fame in the

f E s for realm s o the a t . He cared l ittle the Holy

S for h is epulchre , and much own private advancement Behind thes e three leaders we descry the m otley crowd of the feudal world ; rel ic - hunting abb ots in

s o f n ss s coat mail , wrangli g barons and pen nile knight ,

- s the half piratical eamen of Venice , and the brutal f s oldiery o the West . Boniface of M o ntferrat and Doge Dandolo gradually talked over the more scrupulou s Baldwin and h is

s s w as s friend , and the cru ading fleet launched again t

s o s Con tanti n ple , after a treaty had been igned which

h is I o Isa I . b und Alexius Angelus and blind father, ac , to s s of silv pay the Crusader mark er, send

o s to Pa ine a n d o ten th u and men l est , ackn wledge the

o o h e n s uprem acy f the P pe over t Eastern Church . I

s o s the e c nditions lay the germ of much future trouble. The C ru s ad ing armament reached the Dardanel les

o to s o s with ut havi ng trike a bl w . The lothful and

s s luxurious emperor let thing l ide , and had not even a

o s s fleet ready t end again t them in the Aegean . He s s o o hut him el f up in C nstantin ple , an d trusted to the s o f its s trength wall to deliver him , as Heraclius and

h is s so L eo III. and many more of predece rs had been

If s o delivered . the iege had been conducted fr m the

S o h is o s land ide nly , h pe might have been j ustified , fo rthe Danes and Engli s h o f the Varangian Guard beat

s ks - back the as ault of the Fran on the land wall . But

e s I II o s w a s a Al xiu . , unlike earlier emper r , att cked by

2 84 THE LATI N CON Q UE S T OF CONS TAN TI N OP LE . a fleet to whi ch he c ould oppos e no adequate naval

s o s on res i tance . Th ugh the Cru aders were driven off s o s s o s ea - h re , the Venetian t rmed the wall , by the

s s expedient of building light tower on the deck , and throwing flying bridges from the t owers on to the top

s o of the Byzantine rampart . The blind D ge pushed h is s an d h is galley clo e u nder the wall , u rged on men again and again till they had won a lodgment in s o me

s a - s to w ers on the port side of the e wall . The Venetian

con fl a ration then fi red the city, and a fearful g

o o f ll wed .

H earing that the enemy was within the ramparts ,

o I I o h is o s the c wardly Alexius I . m u nted h r e and fled

h is s away into the inland of Thrace, leaving troop , w h o or were not yet half beaten , without a leader a

for so o to . ss cause fight The garri n b wed to nece ity , and the chief officers o f the army drew the aged Is aac

II h is C s s . out of loi ter pri on and proclaimed h is

s o o o s re t rati n t the throne . They ent to the Crusading

to o s s camp announce that h stilitie had cea ed , and to beg Prince Alexius to enter the city and j oi n his father in the palace . The end o f the expedition o f the Crusaders had

ss n ow been attained , but it may safely be a erted that the chief fe el ing in their ranks w as a b itterdisappoint ment at being cheated out of the s ack o f Con s tanti n o le os o p , a pr pect ver which they h ad been gloating

s s ever ince they left Zara . They pent the next three m o nths in endeav ouring to wring out of their trium

é és I phant prot g , saac and Alexius , every bezant

s . o that could be craped together The old emper r,

- w as to al ready blind and g out ridden , driven i mbe

6 THE A TI N CO N UES T OF CON S TAN TI N P E 2 8 L Q O L . drawn from the bu s hy ove rhanging eyebrows which fo rmed the mos t promin ent feature of h is cou n te nance .

s s s Alexiu Duca had everything again t him . He w as s s w as a mere u urper , who e authority hardly

o s o f s o rec gnized beyond the wall Con tantin ple . The Angel i had so drained ' the trea su ry that n othing

s o s remained in it . Twenty year f indi cipline and di sast e r had s poilt the army ; the fleet w as n on

' s for s of s s exi tent , the ad miral Alex iu Angelu had laid u ss s o so s o s p the ve el in rdinary , and ld the t re to fill

s N s M urtz u h lus their own pocket . evertheles p made a fa r better fight than h is despicable predecesso r and

c n fi scatin namesake. H e collected a little money by o g the properties of the unpopular c ourtiers and min isters

s of the Angeli , and u ed it to the best advantage . The

s s to army received ome of the arrear due them , and Alexiu s spent every S pare m o ment in s eeing to their

o to o s drill and endeav u ring impr ve their d i cipline .

s se a - o s s He trengthened the wall , wh e weakne s had

o so o s a o been pr ved fatally four m nth g , by erecting

o s o s for wo den tower al ng it , and bu ild ing platform all the m ilitary engines that could be found in the

o too of s . ar enal He rdered , , the enrol ment a

o o nati o nal militia , and c mpelled the n bles and burghers of Con s tantin opl e to take arm s and man

s To th e o f s s the wall . d iscred it the Byzantine thi o rder w as received with many murmurs : the citi zens complained that they paid taxes to s upport the

u y o reg lar arm , and that they therefore ught to be oo w as ot ou t o f exc use d perso n a l s ervice . Little g d g these n e w and raw levie s they s welle d the nu mbers A TI P 2 8 SE COND ASSAUL T ON CON S T N NO LE . 7

s of the garri on , but hardly added anything appreciable to its strength . Alexiu s Ducas himsel f with his cavalry s coured the country round the Crusading camp every day, to cut

s s n ot off the foraging partie of the Frank , and when

o s in the field , rode r und the city uperintending the

o s - os s w rk , inspecting the guard p t , and haranguing

s If the oldiery . courage and energy com mand

ss . succe , he ought to have held his own But he could not cou nteract the work o f twenty years o f decay

s and d isorganization , and felt that his throne re ted

o on the most fragile of foundati ns . The Crusaders took tw o m o nths to prepare for

o their second assault on Constantin ple , which they felt w o uld be a far more formidable a ffair than the attack in the preced ing autu mn . They directed their

fo s s - chief ef rt again t the sea wall , which they had o o f und vulnerable in the previ us siege , and left the o - S s f rmidable land wal l alone . The hip were to ld o ff

o a int groups , each destined to attack particular

o o as secti n of the wall , and c vered with many military

as s engines they could carry . Flying bridge were

to again prepared , and landing parties were directed leap a shore on the narrow beach between the wal l and the water, and get to work with rams and scaling

s h . 8 t o ladder The attack was made on April , at m re

o tw o s - than a hu ndred p i nts along m ile of sea wall .

o ff oss s but it was beaten with l . Alexiu D ucas had

h is s s o of made arrangement well , that the fi re his e n gi n es swept off all who attempted to gain a footing

on s . s s the rampart The hip were much damaged , an d o at no n the whole fleet gave back, and retired 8 2 8 TH E LA TI N CON Q UE S T OF CON S TAN TI NOP L E . as best it cou ld to the oppos ite side of the Golden

Horn . Many of the Crusaders were n ow for retu rning ; they th ought their defeat w as a j udgment for turn ing

s s s to s their arm again t a Christian city , and wi hed ail

o a n d s for the Holy Land . But Dand lo the Venetian

s s o ss s in i ted up n repeating the a ault . Three day were s th e 1 2 th s o pent i n repairing fleet , and on April a ec nd

a w as s S s s att ck delivered . Thi time the hip were la hed

s to s together i n pair secure tability , and the attack w as concentrated o n a c o mparatively small front o f

s s wall . At la t , after much figh ting, the military engine of the fleet and the bo lts o f its cross b owmen cleared

o o f its s a single t wer defender . A bridge was s s o n oo s ucces fully lowered to it, and a f ting ecured

of s s O by a party C ru ader , who then threw pen a

os s o p tern gate and let the main body in . After a h rt

s o s of s s fight within the wall , the tro p Alexiu Duca

s s s retired back in to the tre et . The Cru s ader fired the city to cover their advance , and by night were in

oss s o - s o f s p es i n of the north we t angle Con tantinople,

B lach e rn the quarter of the palace of .

w as o While the fire keeping the c mbatants apart , the Emperor tried to rally his troops a n d to prepare

or s - fi h t w a s o f a treet g next day . But the army c wed many regiments melted away ; an d the Varangian

s s s s s Guard , the be t corp i n t he garri on , cho e thi m o ment to demand that their arrears of pay s h o uld be liquidated ; they w ould n ot return to the fight with out their money ! The twenty years of dis organizati o n u nder the Angeli w as n ow bea ring its

w as . fru it , and deeply the empire to rue the next day

E S T O F CO N S TAN TI N P 2 90 THE L ATI N CON Q U O L E .

In o o h ad cold bl od , twelve h urs after all fighting

s ended , the C rusader proceeded with great del ibera

n or tion to s ack the place . The leaders could ot wou ld not hold back their men , and every atrocity that attends the s to rm o f a great city w as soo n i n full

n o swing . Though resistance was made , the sold iery,

s s and especially the Venetian , took life reckle sly, and

s three or four thou and u narmed citizens were slain . But there was no general massacre ; it was lust and greed rather than bl oodthirs tiness that the army

s n o s displayed . All the We tern writers, les than ’ s o f the Greeks , te tify to the horrors the three days E carn ival of rape and plunder that now set in . very knight or soldier seized on the hou s e that he liked

its best , and dealt as he chose with inmates . Churches and nunneries fared n o better than private dwellings ; the orgies that were en acted in the holiest places caused even the P ope to exclai m that no good could

o out ever c me of the conquest . The dru nken soldiery

o enthroned a harl t in the patri archal chair in St.

s s s Sophia , and made her rehear e ribald ong and

s indecent dance before the high altar. There were

s s plenty of clergy with the Cru ad ing army, but in tead of endeavouring to check the sacrilegious doings of

o to lun their c untrymen , they devoted themselves p dering the treas urie s o f the churches o f all the holy “ s s o bo nes and rel ic that were t red in them . The ” saw Franks , remarked a Greek writer who the sack “ s w s S s of Con tantinople , behaved far or e than aracen ; the in fi dels when a t own h as s urrendered at any rate ” o respect churches and w men . After private plunder had reigned u nchecked for 2 1 P L UNDE R OF THE CI TY. 9

s three day , the leaders of the C rusaders col lected

s fo fo r s uch valuables a could be u n d public division .

o s o con cealed th e Th ugh so much had been t len an d , y were able to produce no less tha n in hard

w s go ld and silver for distribution . The su m a after ward s s upplemented by the use of a resource which make s the modern hi s torian add a s pecial curse of h is

o s n 1 20 own t the accou nt of the Crusader . Dow to 4 Con s tantinople still contained the m o nu men ts of

n In an cient Greek art in enormous u mbers . spite

00 s of the wear and tear of 9 year , her squares and palaces were still crowded wi th the art - treasures

s h is so s that Con tantine and n had stored u p .

N w as ss of h as icetas , who an eyewitne all , left us f the list of the chief statues that su f ered . The

s s of S Heracle of Ly ippus , the great H era amos , the

s s s set bras figure which Augu tus up after Actiu m , the ancient Roman bro nze o f the Wo lf with R o mulus and

s s w Remu , Pari ith the Golden Apple, Helen of Troy ,

o o - and d zens more all went int the melting pot , to be

o o s recast into wretched copper m ney. The m nu ment of Chri s tian art fared n o better ; the tombs of the emperors were carefully stripped of everything in

s o f metal , the altars and creens the churches scraped

E w as so to the s t o ne . verything left bare and de late . “ Such w as the greates t co nquest that was ever s o r een , great er than any made by Alexander C harle ” or o or as magne , by any that have l ived bef re after,

s s w a We tern chron icler wrote, whil e the Greek gre “ o in o as s a w of hyperb lical lamentati n , they the eye

o s s the world , the ornament of nati n , the faire t sight on s s earth , the mother of chu rche , the pring whence 2 92 TH E LATI N CON Q UE S T O F CON S TAN TI N OP L E .

o w s s O o o fl ed the wat er of faith , the m i tress of rth d x

th e s o f s s th e doctrine , eat the cience , draining cup

for of mixed her by the hand the Al mighty , and con s u med by fi res as devouring as those which ruined ” th e s o f five Citie the P lain . At last the Cru s aders sat down to divide up their

o s s s Em c nque t . They elected Baldwi n of Flander

eror E s to p of the a t, and handed over him the ruined

s o city of Con tantinople , half of it dev ured by the flames of the co n fl ag rations that attended the two s of to ieges , and all it plundered from cellar attic .

o - fi fth s n o F ur of the population had fled , and one had remained s ave beggars w h o had n othing to s ave

w as by flight . With the capital Baldwin given Thrace

s o — and the A iatic pr vinces Bithynia , Mysia, and

o f s His Lydia , all which had till to be conquered . “ o o w as c lleague , B n iface of Montferrat , made King ” s n of The salon ica , and did homage to Baldwi for a

fl ef s s n con i ting of Macedonia, Thessaly , and i land “ s Epiru s . The Venetian claimed a quarter and

- a - out half quarter of the empire , and took their s th e I I s hare by receiving C rete, onian sland , the

o s o a n d p rt along the west c ast of Greece Albania ,

s nearly the whole of the i lands of the Aegean , and

s the land about the entrance of the Dardanelle . They s eized on every good harbour an d s trong sea

o s o f rtres , but left the inland alone ; c m merce rather

s than an nexation was their end . The re t of the empire w a s parcelled out amon g the min or leaders

s fi efs of the Cru ade ; they had first to conquer thei r , and were then to do homage for them to the

E o mper r Baldwin . Most of them never l ived to

XX III.

THE ATIN EMPIRE AND THE EM PIRE OF NICAEA L .

( 1 204— 1 2 6 1 )

SELDOM has any state d ragged out fi fty - seven years in such con s tant m isery and danger as the Latin Empire experienced in the course of its

s s ingloriou exi tence . The whole period was one

- n o protracted death agony , and at date withi n it

s s of d id there appear any rea onable pro pect recovery .

o s Thirty th u and men can take a city , but they can s a l 800 s not ubdue rea m mile long and 400 broad . Far more than any govern ment which h as s ince held sway on the s ame s pot did the Latin Empir e of “ ” I Roman ia deserve the name of the S ick Man . t is not too much to s ay that but for the u nequalled strength of the wall s o f Constantinopl e the new p ower must have ceased to exist within ten years of its s s e tabli hment . But once fortified within the ramparts of Byzantiu m the Franks enj oyed the inestimable advantage which their Greek predecessors had possess ed : they were mas ters of a fortress which — as military s cience then B A- I A LD W N S L IN I N B ATTL E . 2 95 s o — w as w as to d practically i mpregnable , if only it

o s defended with rdinary kill , and adequately guarded

s ea A on the front facing the . s l o ng a s the Venetians

s E s kept up their naval upremacy in a tern waters , the

w as s s city afe on that ide, an d even the very l imited force which the Latin emperor could put int o the

s o to s field u fficed , when j ined the armed burgher of

I s s the talian quarter , to defend the tremendou land wall . Fro m the firs t year of its exi stence the Latin E mpire w as marked out by un fail ing sign s as a

o n ot s o p wer de tined to c ntinue . The intention of its founders had been to replace the centralized despoti s m

o s which they had verthrown by a great feudal tate ,

s o o its sso corre p nding in territ rial extent to predece r. But within a few m onth s it became evident that the c onquest of the broad provinces which the Cru s aders

s s o had distributed among them elve by anticipati n ,

o was not to be carried ut. The new emperor himself

as s o s o s se t out w the fir t t di c ver thi . H e with his chivalry to d rive from Northern Thrace the Bulgarian

s w h o o s horde , had flocked d wn into the plain to profit by the plunder of the d i s membered real m . But

oan n icios near Adrianople he met J , the Bulgarian

i s s h s . king, with a va t army at back The Frank

s charged gallantly enough , but they were imply

s overwhelmed by number . The larger part of the

w as to s h s army cut piece , and Baldwin im elf was

o taken pris ner. The Bulgarian kept hi m in chains for so o s e to me m nth , an d th n put him death , after he had worn the imperial crown o nly on e year e s o f n H n ry of Flander , the brother Baldwi , becam e E M P I RE AND E M P 2 96 TH E L A TI N I RE OF NI CA EA.

w as o s sso . his succe r He an h ne t and able man , but he could do n othing t oward s conquering the provinces

s s s of A ia , pu hing the Bulgarian back over the

s o r o o o . Balkan , c nciliating the subject Greek p pul ati n All h is reign he had to fight o n the defen s ive aga in s t

o o so h is neighb urs to the n rth and uth . By the time that he died the empire w a s practically c on fined to

o s o f o o o t s a narr w lip land al ng the Pr p n i , reaching

s o Nor w as fro m Gallip ol i to C o n tantin ple . the chief of the m in o r Latin s tates any better o ff ; B o n iface o f

o 1 2 0 s M ntferrat had fallen in 7 , lain in battle by the s ame Bulgarian h o rdes which had cut o ff the army

h is of h is s uzerain Baldwin . With death it became evident that the kingdom of Thes s al o n ica w as n o more abl e to co nquer all the old Byzantine provinces in its neighbourh ood than w as the empire o f Con ’ o s s on w s stan tin ople . B niface and heir a a mere infant ; du ring h is m inority the land s o f h is kingd o m

o o n e o were l pped away , after an ther, by the Greek

s o E s o o s de p t of piru , the able The d re Angelu . At last the capital itself w as retaken by the Greek s in

1 2 2 2 o o f s to , an d the kingd m Thes alonica came an end . The Latin s tates in the southern part s of the

o f Balkan Peninsula fared somewhat better . Will iam Champlitte had c o ntrived to hew out for him sel f a

s s o o s s principality in the we tern part of the Pel p nne u , and had organ ized there a s mall s tate with twelve

s s s baro n ies and 1 36 knight fee . The re i stance o f the

s s s w as o n e native i n thi di trict particularly weak , and battl e suffi ced to give William al l the c o as t - plain o f

s e El lis and Mes enia . Y t h e did n ot su cceed in

E ATI N MP IRE AND E M P I RE OF NI CAEA 2 98 TH L E .

O f the n ine or ten leaders w h o put themselves at the head of provincial ri s ings three were destined to

s for s s f s carve out kingdom them elve . O the e the

s w as o L ascaris s mo t important The dore , the la t officer w h o had attempted to strike a bl ow against l Jr the Frank s when Constantinople fel . H e might clai m s ome s hadow of hereditary right to the imperial crown as he had married the daughter of the imbecile

h - s III. is w as Alexiu , but true title his wel l approved

c s old cou rage and energy . The wre k of the Byzantine

O army rall ied around him , the cities of Bithynia pened

s s s to their gates, and when the Latin cro sed into A ia

o s s d ivide up the land i nto bar nie and k nights fee , they fou n d The od o re waiting to receive them with

His of s of Prusa o . the sw rd defence the trong town ,

s ss s which ucce ful ly repelled Henry of Flander , put a limit to the extensi o n of the Frank Empire ; beyond

a few castles on the Bithyn ian coast . they made no

s s s s conque t . Having thu checked the invader , N Theodore had himself solemn ly crowned at icaea , and as su med imperial state

o ff s Having beaten the Latin , Theodore had to co pe with another w h o as pired l ike him self to pos e as the rightful heir to the imperial throne . Alexius

s so o f o Com nenu , a grand n the wicked emper r

I s to E s Andron icus . , had betaken him elf the a tern

s frontier of the empire when Constantinople fell , and obtained possess i o n o f Trebizo nd and the l ong slip of

s - o - s o f S ea coa t land at the s uth ea t corner the Black ,

s s fro m the mouth of th e Pha s i to S inope . He a pired

of s s to conquer the whole Byzantine A ia , and ent his

See pag e 2 89. S UCCE SSE S OF T E O ORE L AS CARI H D S . 2 99 b o rother David C mnenus to attack Bithyn ia. But Theodore defended h is newly w on real m with su ccess

s n o w as Comnenu gained territory from hi m , and constrained to content him s elf with the narrow bound s o f h is h is s Pontic real m , where de cendants reigned in obscurity for three hundred years as emperors of

F I N IAL FROM A BYZA NT I N E M s .

’ ’ ’ ” ‘ r rt n . ar C . B a et. P a ri s uan tzn (F om L A By zan tz P y , Q ,

o f Trebizond . A greater danger beset the empire Nicaea when the warl ike s ultan of the Selj ouks came

i s down from h is plateau to ravage t borders . But the valour of The odore L a scaris triu mphed over this

o In - on - enemy als . the battle of Antioch M aeander he slew Sultan Kaikh osru with his o w n hand in single TI E MP I RE AN D E MP I RE O F A 3 00 TH E L A N NI C EA .

s combat , and the Turk were beaten back with s uch s laughter that they left the empire alone for a genera tion . Meanwhile a third G reek s tate had spru ng into

s . s existence in the far We t M ichael Angelu , a cousin I II I I . o s I . t o f Alexiu and saac , put in a clai m their

o w a s s h is ille itm ate heritage , th ugh he di qual ified by g

w as o as s of birth . He rec gnized ruler by the citie

o s Epirus , and pr claimed himself de pot of that land .

o s o f Raising an army am ng the warl ike tribe Albania ,

h is o s ss he maintained p sition with ucce , and dis co mfi ted the Franks o f Athen s and Thessalon ica

oo s s . e a when they t k arm again t him He di d e rly ,

to h is but left a compact heritage brother Theodore , w h o s o ucceeded him on the thr ne, and within a few years c o nquered the whole of the Frank kingdom of

ss The alonica . It w as s oon evident that there would be a trial of s trength between the two Greek emperors who claimed to s ucceed to the rights of the di sp os sess ed

Th e E Angel i . Latin mpire w as obvi o u s ly destined to o one of o w as fall bef re them . The only d ubt , whether the Epirot or the Nicene w as to be its

o . s o w as n ot s 1 2 1 c nqueror Thi questi n ettled till 4 ,

tw o o s o when the p wers met i n deci ive c nflict . By this time Theod ore L ascaris had been s ucceeded

I s son - in - D ucas o in A ia by his law J ohn , and The dore

ss o h is so n o of The al n ica by j hn Angelu s . At Con stantin ople the s uccess i o n o f Lat in empero rs had

o o f e s been much m re rapid . Henry Flan d r had died

1 2 1 6 w as o o in ; he foll wed by Peter of C urtenay , who

Sometimes k n ow n as Toh n Vatatzes .

0 US URP ATI ON OF MI CHAE L P ALE OL OG US . 3 3 and s ucceeded i n retain ing a small fraction on ly of h is ancestral d o minion s

o s 1 2 a J hn Duca died in 5 4, le ving the throne of

I h o N I. w icaea to his son Theodore , bid fair to continue the prospero u s career of h is father and

o grandfather . H e d r ve the Bulgarians out of

Macedonia , and pen ned the Albanians into their

s b hills . But he became u j ect to epileptic fits , and died

s after a reign of only fou r year , before he had reached the age of thirty - eight

s w as s Thi a dreadful m i fortune for the empire , for

s son o f o o w as a ch ild John Duca , the and heir The d re ,

o s o s of eight years, and min rities were always d i astr u

s n s o o f s to the state . We have ee in the hi t ry previou centuries how frequently the infancy of a prince led

s for o f to to a violent conte t the place regent , or even

s o of . s IV a u u rpati n the throne The ca e of John . w as n o exception to the rule ; the m in i s ters o f h is father fought and intrigued to gain possession of the f s hel m of af air , till at last an able and u nprincipled

n s s general , amed M ichael Paleologus , thru ting him el f E to the front , was named tutor to the mperor, and ” g iven the title of Despot . as M ichael was ambitious as he was unscrupulous . The place of regent w as far from satisfying his ambition , and he determined to seize the throne , though he had steeped himself to the l ips i n oaths of loyalty to h is you ng master . H e played much the

III to same game that Richard . was destined repeat

s in E ngland two centurie later . H e cleared away from th e capital the relative s and adherents of the l ittle prince , placed creatu res of hi s own i n their E P E 3 04 TH E LATI N M I R AND EM PI RE O F NI CAEA.

s place , and concil iated the clergy by large gifts and

s s hypocritical piety. Pre ently the parti an s o f M ichael

to s s o f began declaim again t the danger a m inority ,

ss for and the nece ity a strong hand at the hel m . After much pers uas ion and m ock reluctance the

w a s o s regent induced to all w him elf to be crowned . From that m o ment the b oy J ohn Ducas w as thru s t as ide and ign o red ere he had reached the age o f ten h is wicked guardian put out h is eyes and plunged

o o s him int a dunge n , where he spent thirty year in

s darknes and misery . The u surpati o n of M ichael te mpted al l the enemies

E to s o f the Greek mpire take arm . The Epirot de sp ot all ied him self with the Frankish l ords of a Greece, and their u nited armies , aided by uxiliaries

o I c fr m taly , invaded Ma edonia ; moreover the Latin empero r of Constantin ople s tirred up the Venetians ’ is o s s to rav age h neighb ur border . But in 1 2 60 the

o s w on o s h e tr op of M ichael , ver the allied arm ie of t

s E irots s o Fran k and p , the la t great vict ry that a

w as s to a Byzantine army ever de tined chieve . The ' field o f Pelag on ia decided the lot of the house of

’ o s for c s s so Paleol gu , M i hael enemie were cru shed that they could never afterw a rd s make head against him .

o s Freed fr m al l danger from the We t , M ichael was

to s o s t e now able turn again t C n antinople , and complet

s o f w as the recon tructi n o the empire . The city ripe for its fal l , and Baldwin of Courtenay had long been

w h is o a aiting do m . The l ong reign of the last Latin s overeign of i C o n s tantinople is s u fficiently chara ct e r zed b y the

0 E AND EM P I RE OF NI CAEA 3 6 THE L A TI N EM P I R . and the Empire of Romania came to an inglorious

- and a well de s erved end . Its m o narch res u med h is habitual mendicant tours

s E s to i n We tern urope , and never cea ed besiege the ears of popes and kings with demands for aid to

h is s ss recover lost real m . At la t Baldwin pa ed away his sole memorial is the fact that he made a di stre ss ed

o of o and itinerant emper r i n search a champi n , one of s o s s h is No the t ck figure in the Romance of day.

E o w as o o f h is one in Western u r pe ign rant tale, and he s urvives as the prototype o f the dis possessed

s s of sovereign of fifty legend chivalry. I XX V .

LI NE AND DEC DECAY.

( 1 2 6 1 — 1 3 2 8)

HERE o T was now nce more a Byzantine empire , and to an u nobs ervant reader the hi s tory o f the reigns of the P a leolog i loo ks like the natu ral con tin uation and sequel o f the hist ory of the reigns of

s h is o If I aac Angelus and br ther. the an nals of

I son on M ichael VII . and his were written to the end

s of that of Alexiu Angelus, the intervening gap of

o the Latin C nquest might al most pass unperceived , and the reader might i magine that he w a s i nvesti

a s s s gating single continuou cou r e of event . The

o s o Frank dom inion at C n tantinople, and the her ic

E Nicaea ss episode of the mpire of , would pa equally

o u nn ticed . We need not insist on the pern iciousness of such

s a View . Great as may eem the similarity of the

E 1 2 0 of 1 2 0 Byzantine mpire of 4, and that 7 , it had

f o really su f ered an entire transf rmation in that period . To commence by the most obvi ou s and external sign

n s of cha ge, it will be observed that the lands ubject E C I N E AN D E A Y 3 08 D L D C . to Michael Pale ol ogu s were far more limited in

os w c o s extent than th e hi h had beyed Alexius Angelu . The loss in A s i a w as less than might have been expected : Theo d o re L a scaris a n d J ohn Ducas had

a n d o tw o s s o f n o a kept back the Turk , nly di trict gre t extent had fallen into M oslem hand s— the Pi s id ian

o s s o n so c a t with the eaport of Adalia the uth , and the Paphlagonian c o ast with the s eaport o f Sinope o n the n o rth . Besides thes e the distant P o ntic pro vince had now become the empire of Trebizond . In Europe the loss was far more s eri ou s : fo ur great

s o f t block erritory had been lost for ever. The first w a s s s s o o f s a lip along the outhern l pe the Balkan , in No rthern Thrace and Maced o nia which h ad fallen

o s co m int the hand of the Bulgarians , and become

letel s s s p y Slavonized . The econd w a the di trict which is represe nted b y the modern lan d of o b e Alban ia . When the Angeli of Thessal nica fel l

o o o f re J hn Ducas , a y unger member of the house

o o s o f retired to the original m u ntain h u e the dynasty, a n d pres erved the independence o f the Despotate ” of Epirus Here the Angel i su rvived for s ome

s s generations , maintain ing them elve against the E mperors o f Con stantinople by a s trict all iance with of S the Latin princes outhern Greece .

Next in the li s t o f Old - Byzantine territories which

s M ichael never recovered , we mu t place Greece

o s pr per, now d ivided between the Prince of Achaia , o f s B rien n es the hou e of Villehardou in , and the , who

s o o f s had ucceeded t the Duchy Athen . But the P aleolog i s till retained a con s iderable s lice of the o s e o ere Pelop nnesu , and were destin d to encr ach

3 1 0 DE CL INE AND DECA Y trative machinery o f govern ment had been thrown

s o f hopeles ly out gear . It was the com mercial decline of the em pire that

o s made a refo rm f the admini stration so h opeles . The P aleolog i were never able to reassert the old d o m in i o n over the sea s which had made their prede cessors s o f s o the arbiter of the trade Chri tend m . The wealth of the elder Byzantine Empire had ari sen fro m the fact that Con s tantin ople w as the central em

orium o f p of the trade the civilized world . Al l the c a ravan routes from Syria and Pers ia co nverged

too o sea co m m odi thither . Thither, , had c me by the

s E E s e ro tie of E gypt and the uxine . Al l the a t rn p ducts which Europe might requi re had to be s ought

s o s s o f o s o for in the t rehou e C n tantin ple , and centuries the n ation s of the Wes t had been c o ntented to go

for s s a thither them . But the Cru ade had s h ken this

o o I s s e mon p ly , when they taught the tal ian to e k the o o s o f S E hithert u nkn wn part yria and gypt , and buy their Eastern merchand ize fro m the producer

n ot o th e and fr m middleman . Acre and Alexandria had already profited very largely at the expen se of C o nstantin ople ere the Byzantine Empire w as upset

2 o s w as a . in 1 04 . But the Latin c nque t the f tal blow It threw the c o ntrol of the trade of the Bos ph oru s

o s o f s s int the hand the Venetian , and the Venetian had n o desire to make C o n s tantinople their on e central mart : they were j u s t as ready to trade through

E s To the Syrian and gyptian port . them the city w as no m o re than an imp ortant half- w ay house for

Sea o for o the Black trade , and an emp riu m the l cal

o s o e a o f o produce of the c u ntrie r und the S Marm ra . 1 1 COMM ER CI AL DE CAY. 3

From 1 204 onward Italy rather than Con s tan tin o ple became the centre and starting - place fo r all European

I s trade , and the great talian republic employed all their vigi lance to prevent the Greek fleet fro m re

o s c vering its old trength . Henceforth the Byzantine

- w a s s - war navy i n ign ificant , and without a war n avy the Paleolog i c o uld not drive away the intruders an d res tore the free n avigation of the Levant to their own mercantile marine . The emperors w h o succeeded each o ther on the

s o s o o re tored throne of C n tantin ple were , with ut ex ce tion os p , men more fitted to l e than to hold together an exhausted and impoverished empire . Their lot w as o f cast , it is true , in hard times but hardly one them s howed a spark of abil ity o r courage in endea v ourin to s o f g face the evil day . The three m onarch the h ou s e of L asca ris wh o ruled at Nicaea had been

s s o s s keen oldier and c mpetent admin i trator , but with the return of the emperors to Constantinople the s prin gs of energy began to dry u p , an d the gloom and decay o f the ru ined capital s eemed to affect the

its s spirit and brain of ruler .

o o s o h is M ichael Pale l gu , th ugh it was fortune to recover the city which h is abler predecessors had

w as failed to take, a mere wily intriguer, not a states

s man or general . Having u urped the throne by the

s o h is s o base t treachery t wards in fan t vereign , he

s always feared for himself a im ilar fate . Su s picion

h is s and cruelty were main characteri tics , and in his care for h is ow n pers on he quite forgot the interests S E of the tate . ven contemporary chroniclers saw that he was deliberately se tting hi m s elf to weaken l N E H P E AT A N I T H E O L D P T O F R EN . B YZA N I C A L , CA I AL A M IA

' ’ ' x 8 . A I ! B za n l i zz. P a r C/za r/es B a et. P ari s ua zzl zn 1 ( From L y y , Q , 3 )

1 EC INE AND ECA 3 4 D L D Y.

M ichael l ived for twenty - one years after the re cover o s a y of C n t ntinople , but he did not win a single

s h is In i mportant advantage in al l the re t of reign .

E o ur pe he barely held his own against the Bulgarians,

s the Franks , and the fleet of Genoa and Venice . The troubles which befel l hi m at the hands of the two naval powers were largely of his own creation , for he shifted his alliance from one to the other with such levity and suddenness that both regarded him as

o u nfriendly. Though all thr ugh his reign he was at

e o s w as war either with G n a or Venice , yet uch the distrust felt for hi m th at , when at war with one of the

o s s rivals , he c uld not alway ecu re the help of the other . Venice had been the mainstay of the Frank emperors

o of Constantin ple, and Michael might , therefore , have been expected to remain stau nch to the Genoese .

n O the other hand , the Genoese had designs on the ’ e a E s Black S trade , which touched the mperor pocket

o very cl sely, while the Venetians were more con n ected with the distant commerce of Syria and

E . gypt , which did not concern him Balancing one

s o s con iderati n with the other, M ichael played fal e to

s aw h is both the powers , and often coast ravaged and his small fleet compelled to take refuge in the G olden ’

s s s . O n H orn , while the enemy ve sels swept the sea

w as of land he less un lucky , and the Duke Athens E and the despot of pirus were both kept in check , th ough neither of the m were s ubdued . ’ But it was i n A s ia that M ichael s rule was most

In unfortunate . the second hal f of his reign the

el ouks s S j , though split into everal principalities owing o f S I to the break up the ultanate of con ium , u nited T URKI S WAR OF AN R I I 1 H S D ONI C US . 3 5

s s to a sail the border of the empire. They conquered the Carian and Lyd ian inland , though Tralles and s o everal ther town s made a vigorous resistance, and ’ reduced M ichael s domin ion in South - western Asia

to o s M inor a mere strip along the c a t . A similar

E s fate befell a tern B ithyn ia, where the Tu rks forced

an arius their way as far as the river S g . But the ruin of Byzantine Asia was reserved to fall ’ o s s son sso n int the time of M ichael an d succe r, A dro n icus I I h is . This prince had al l the faults of father,

erfi d s levity, p y , and cruelty , with other added from which Michael had been free— cowardice and super stition n s . The mai intere t which Andronicus took in l ife was concerned with things eccle s iastical — it — w ould be wro ng to say thi n gs religi ou s and he spent h is l ife in making and unmaking patriarchs of

n o No Constanti ple. prelate coul d bear with hi m

o f h is n n o long, and i n the course reig he deposed

s les than n ine of them . While Andron icus w as quarrel ling with his patri

s Sel ouk arch the empire was going to ru in . The j chiefs from the plateau of Asi a M in o r were pressing

s down more and more toward the coast , and making

s their way to the very gates of Ephe us and Smyrna .

o s s At last the emper r , growing eriou ly alarmed when the Tu rks appeared on the s hores o f the Prop o nti s

s s o f N Prus a it elf, an d threatened the wall icaea and , res olved to make an u nwonted e ffort to beat them back . “ In 1 302 the long war of the Sicilian Vespers between the houses of Anjou and Arago n came to an e nd o s of s o f n s , and the h rde mercenarie all ation

1 8 E C INE AND ECAY 3 D L D . that he was plotting to seize on the provinces he had

E as regained , and to reign at phesus an independent

o as prince . At last R ger went so far to lay formal its siege to Philadelphia , because inhabitants preferred

s n ot to obey orders from Con tantinople, and would

s admit him within their gate . Andron icus then l ured w hi m to an i ntervie at Adrianople, and in his very ’ ' presence the great oon a ottzere was assassinated by fi George the Alan , an of cer whose son had been slain ’ E in a brawl by Roger s soldiers . The mperor had m r probably arranged the urde , and certainly refused to arres t its perpetrator “ H e was promptly pun ished . The Grand Com ” w as pany not disorganized by the loss of its leader,

n ss and thought of othing but revenge . A embling

s in s them elves haste, and abandoning A ia Minor to

s o the Turk , they marched on Constantin ple , harrying

far s the land and wide with fiendi h cruelty . The E s son mperor ent his M ichael against them , but the young pri n ce was d i sgracefully beaten i n two fights

A ros at Gallipoli and p , and the mercenaries spread themselves all over Thrace and plundered it u p to

It o the gates of the capital . al most lo ked as if a s econd Latin Conquest of Constantinople w as about “ to take place, for the leaders of the Grand Company E got succour from urope, raised a corps of Turkish

tw o s auxiliaries, and occupied Thrace for year . But they could not storm the walls of Constantinople

s s of or Adrianople, and at la t , after two year plu nder ing, they had stripped the cou ntry so bare that they were driven away by famine . Drifting southward

s s and we tward they ravaged Macedon and Thes aly, I ASIA M NOR L OS T. 3 1 9

and at las t reached Greece . Here they fell i nto a D quarrel with Walter de Brien ne, uke of Athens ,

h is a s lew him in battle and took capital . Then t las t did the wandering horde s ettle down ; they

its fi efs seized the duchy, divided among themselves , and established a new dynasty on the Athen ian

w as of throne . The empire at last qu it them , for “ when once they ceased to wander the Grand Com

o pany ceased t be dangerous . This disastrou s war with the mercenaries not only

s ru ined Thrace and Macedonia , but was the cau e of th e final loss of the Byzantine provinces of Asia

s M inor . While Andron icu was feebly attempting to “ ” C Sel ouk s ope with the Grand Company, the j chief an d had conquered Lyd ia Phrygia once more , and then advanced yet further north to s iege Mysia an d ’ 1 2 E Bithyn ia . By 3 5 they had reduced the mperor s

O f s n o dominions on the east the strait to a arr w strip , reaching from the Dardanel les to the northern exit of

s s s the Bo phoru , and bou nded by the Bithynian hill to

e l the south . Five S j ouk leaders had carved out for

o themselves principalities in the c nquered districts,

n Saroukh an Me teshe i n the south , Aidin and in

K s Lydia , ara i in Mysia , and in the Bithynian border O ff land thman , destined to a fame very di erent from

- that of his long forgotten compeers . While O thman and the rest were turn ing the once thickly - peopled cou ntries o f We stern Asia Minor into

s a desert spar ely inhabited by wandering nomads ,

n s s A dron icu II. w a busied i n a war even m ore un

n m cal led for tha that with the ercenaries . H e wished to exclude from the s uccession to the thron e 0 E C I NE AN D E CAY 3 2 D L D . h is s w h o o s grand on and heir , b re the ame name as

s o s oo e s s him el f. But the y u nger Andronicu t k m a ure

h is s se e s to e . def nd right , and rai d arm d band Grand fa ther and grand so n were ere l ong engaged in a long

- o c w as but feebly c ndu ted war, which only terminated

1 2 8 old o s in 3 , when the man ackn wledged Andronicu th e o as h is o y unger his heir, and made him c lleague

h is o t o o n o . s n o the thr ne But grand n , c ntented with

s s o f s ss thi mea u re ucce , made hi m retire from the

o c of s ss o o e c ndu t affair , and a u med contr l ver ev ry

o f o o c s functi o n g vern ment . The name of Andr ni u

I I w a s s ss of o s III . till a ociated with that Andr nicu . o n s o the coinage and in the public prayer , but he to k

r O f In 1 2 n o fu ther part in the rule the empire . 3 3

o O ld n o s he died , at a go d age , lamented by ingle i ndividual i n the real m whi ch he had ruled for fi fty

s h is w as o tw o - year . At death the empire nly thirds h is o f the s ize that it had been at acces s ion .

3 2 2 THE TURKS I N E UROP E .

el oukS vassal of the S j ultan of Rou m , who had been granted a tract in the Phrygian highlands under the

s c o ndition of military s ervice again t the Greeks . H is

fi ef lay in the north - west an gle of the great central o plateau of Asia Minor. Behind it lay the r lling coun try of hill s and upland s already occupied by th e

el ouks . S j Before it were the Bithyn ian mountains , s o s s with their pas es protected by f rt , and garri oned

so by local militia , till the day when they were per versely stripped of their defenders by the action of

h is r . O E to rul M ichael Paleologus thman , and father g

o s before hi m , wned nothing in the hill , nor could they have pu s hed on if Michael had not made the way

s 1 2 0 ea y for them . But after 7 the n ative militia was

o o o O g ne, and the f ll wers of thman , instead of having

c its to face an armed population , fighting to prote t

O own fields , found to ppose them only inadequate

s s garri ons of regular troop at long intervals . ’ O s tw o s s thman l ife covered eries of great event ,

s s o s the disa trou reign of Andronicu s II. at C n tanti n o le s p , and i n Asia Minor the no less di astrous

- u h is S break p of the power of own suzerain , the ultan

. In 1 2 Gaiaseddin s of Rou m 94, , the last undi puted

S el ouk sovereign of the j l ine, fell in battle against

s 1 0 III. s rebel ; and in 3 7 , Alaedd in , the la t prince who

s S . claimed to be upreme ultan , died in exile This made O thman an independent prince ; but he d id not take the title of Su ltan , contenting himsel f with the hu mbler name of Emir . ’ Othman s fi eld of o perati on from 1 2 8 1 to 1 3 2 6 a was the Byzantine borderland of Bithyn ia and Mysi . He w as by no means the stronges t of the Selj ouk 2 ORKHAN THE TURK . 3 3

chiefs w h o made a lodgement withi n the borders of

a s the empire, and it took h i m twenty ye r before he

o o n e His o s c nquered large town . wild h r emen harried

the open sea - coas t plain of Bithyn ia agai n and

s w again , till at la t the retched inhabitants e migrated ,

or acknowledged hi m as their so vereign . But the

s o s un assail towns, within their tr ng Roman wall , were able by the l ight caval ry which fo rmed h is o n ly armed

s of P rusa ss strength . The iege [Brou a], the capital

and key of the region , lasted ten years . The Turks built a chain of forts arou nd it and gradu ally made

o s o f the introduction of pr vi ions more and m re d i fi cult , till at last a l arge force w as required to march o ut

every time that a c o nv oy w as expected . At length the inhabitants co uld find n o advantage in spend ing their whole l ives in a beleaguered town u ndergoing s l o w

o Prusa s 1 2 6 O starvati n . urrendered i n 3 , and thman

i - heard of the news on h s death bed . The Turkish

f n ow o o Sea of o rontier nce again t uched the M arm ra , which it had n ot reached since the Crusaders thrust it 1 back inland i n 097 . ’ O s son n s The reign of thman O rkha , the econd

E O s s o w i m ir of the ttoman , al mo t c incided th that of ll Andronicu s III. A that the one lost the other ’ n rkh a n s - of gai ed . O l ife work was the completion

s of h is the conque t Bithyn ia , which father had begun . N 1 2 N 1 H e took icomedia in 3 7 an d icaea in 3 3 3 , with all s o so o s the u rrou nding territ ry , that Andr nicu retained nothing but Chalcedon and the d is trict im med iately facing Constantin o ple beyond the Bos

h or s E p u . O nly once did he have to meet the mperor in pitched battle thi s was at the fight of Pelekan on 2 TH E TURKS I N E UR P 3 4 O E .

2 s w as 1 . in 3 9 Andronicu wounded early i n the day ,

” and his army , deprived of its leader went to pieces

s s h is and w a everely beaten . After reco very from h is w ou nd s the E mpero r never faced the Ottomans“ again . O After conquering Bithynia , rkhan subdued his

s s o Sel oukE s neare t neighbour am ng the other j mir ,

to s w as and then turned organizing his tate. This the date o f the in stituti o n o f h is fam ou s corps of the

s s s s s J an i arie , the fir t teady infantry that any Ea stern

h a d oss s power ever p e sed . H e imp osed on h is

s s s Christian ubj ect in My ia and Bithynia a tribute , n ot o f o f s money, but male children . The boy were

o s taken over while very y ung, placed in barrack , educated in the s tri ctest and m ost fanatical M os lem

to o ss o s code , and trained the pr fe i n of arm . H aving

o s o to s O a light h r e en ugh and pare , rkh n taught the

ss s to o b ow s J ani arie fight on fo t with and abre .

o o s They were well drilled , and m ved in c mpact ma ses, whi ch fo r many age s n o foe proved c o mpeten t to

o o s s u nder and di s pers e. S th rough w a the phys ical and m o ral di s cipl ine to which the Jan i s saries w ere

w as os o for on e of subjected , that it al m t u nkn wn them to turn back from his career and re lap s e into Chri s

n it e tia y . To keep them firm in their allegiance th re acted n ot o nly the military and c o nventual di scipline

o s s t which they were ubj ect , but the dazzling pro pect

s O s s of future greatne s . The ttoman overeign made it

to s s o o s their rule elect their general and g vern r , their courtiers and personal attendants fro m the ran ks of

- It w as c the tribute childre n . alculated that more

- s o f - of than two third the Grand Viziers Tu rkey, in

2 6 THE T URKS I N E 3 UROP E .

to o . E led him to act a day late The mpress Dowager, o f S o s s An ne av y , ucceeded i n rai ing a party against

off him , and when he threw the mask and declared

O N CA N TAC UZE S J H N US I TT I NG I N STATE .

F rom a Con tem orar MS ( p y . )

' ’ ” ’ From L A rt B zan tzn . F or C. B a et. P a ris ( y y , Quan tzn , him s elf emperor he found hi m s elf u nable to seize the

its s capital , though he mustered an army under wall . CO H E A N Q UES TS OF T E S R VI NS . 3 2 7

n w as Can tacu Findi g that he playing a losing game, z en us took the usual step o f calling in the nati o nal

It w as for enemy to aid him . the last time that this

s o was done in Byzantine hi t ry , but never before had

s s the result been o fatal . The usu rper u m moned to h is S o f S aid first tephen Dushan , the king the ervian s, and a little later the Turki s h princes from acros s the — O O an d Aegean rkhan the son of thman , his rival , A E mou r, mir of Aidin . The s e all ies kept the cause of John Can tacuzenus

o w a s o from destructi n , but it by destr ying the empire S that John had coveted . King tephen entered Mace donia and Thrace, and occupied the whole cou ntry

ss o o side , except The al nica and a few ther towns .

s s o ss H e then pu hed further outh , c nquered The aly ,

s o E s do an d made the de p t of piru him homage . The Byzantine go vern ment retained little m ore than the

s s s capital , and the di trict round Adrianople and The

os s o w as os sal o n ica . M t of thi c u ntry l t for ever to

o s S n the imperial cr wn , and it eemed as if a ervia d o mination in the Balkan Pen in sula w as abo ut to

for S s S m begin , tephen moved outh from ervia , ade

scu in o h is U p M aced nia capital , and proclaimed ” o S s hi mself Emper r of the ervian and Romans . It would perhap s have been well for Chri s tendom if Stephen had actually conquered Constantin ople and In s t made an end of the empire . that ca e here would

s have been a single great power i n the Balkan Peni n ula ,

o o ss ready to meet the nc m ing a ault of the Turks . But Dushan w a s n ot s trong enough to take the great

o o f E o 1 city , and to the m isf rtu ne u r pe he died in 3 5 5 leavi n g a real m extending from the Danube to the T 3 2 8 H E T URKS I N E UR O P E .

o f T h is rosh as pass hermopylae . But young son U w s oo ss ss Se E o n a a inated , and the rvian mpire br ke up a s as o o o r rapidly it had gr wn t gether. A d zen p inces

’ w ere s oon scrambling fo r the remnants of Stephen s h a erit ge . The o ther allies whom J ohn Ca n tacuzen us called in

e s O wer the Turk Amour and rkhan , and on them he r d e pended far more than o n the Se vian . He took o o a o of s o s ver int Thr ce a large b dy Turki h h r e, and allowed them to harry the cou ntry - s ide a n d carry a h is s e c s o s s to so way ubj t by th u and , be ld in the s - ts h lave marke of Smyrna and Brou ssa . But t e

’ depth o f J ohn s degrad a tion w as reached when he

h is e eo o O a to r gave daught r Th d ra to rkh n , be im mu ed ’ re a w as a in the Turk s ha m . Thr ce rapidly ss uming the as pe ct o f a de s ert under the in cu rs i o n s o f the

O o a e a s Ca n tacuze n u s a tt m n merc n rie of , when fter s ix years o f war the party of th e Empres s An ne c o n sented to recogn ize the u s urp e r a s the colleague

n o f o o a d guardian the rightful heir . A h ll w peace w as a tw o o s o t s o p tched up , and the J hn c uld ake t ck of their dilapidated re a l m The net re s ult of their civil w a r had been that Ma ced o n i a and The ss aly

a s a w as were i n Servian h nd , and that Thr ce utterly

s w a s o e a ruined by the Turk . There n thing l ft th t could b e called a n empire ; all that re m a in e d w as

s o r a o e o o f ss Con tantin ple and Ad i n pl , the t wn The a

ro ce e o o s s l o nica and the Byzantine p vin in the P l p nne u , Ca n tacuz e n us certainl y d e s e rves a n ot able plac e by

s o f Is e s e s as o f the ide aac and Al xiu Ang lu , the third

s E e the great d es troyers of the Ea tern mpir .

is w as n ot o s But h evil work yet don e. F r even

3 3 0 THE TURKS I N E UROPE .

s o e sea to ea. A decisive battle in fr nt of Adrianopl

1 6 1 w as s e in 3 the fi ni hing stroke, and the empir became a mere head without a body ; its last home province had been lopped away , and beyond the walls

o o as of Con stantinople n land ackn wledged John V . s overeign s ave the district of Thessalonica and the

o o s Pel p n nesu . I n Why Murad . did not finish the task he had begu ,

o s s is s . and take C n tantinople it elf, it hard to di cern

s s s o It wal l were til l f rmidable, and the Genoese and

s o s o s e o s ea Venetian c uld till pr tect it on the id f the . But a s iege pressed firmly to an end mu s t at las t have triu mphed over the mere inert resistance of s to ne and

s o so . mortar, u n upp rted by an adequate garri n within

o to s H wever, Murad preferred press on again t worthier

s s s h is adver aries than the weak Paleologu , and pent

s s s s S l ife i n ince sant and succe ful war with the ervians,

S el ouk E So the Bulgarians , and the j mirs of uthern

s o In A ia M in r. a reign of thirty years he extended h is o s o b rder to the Balkans on the n rth , and annexed large tract s of Se lj ouk territory from his brother

s Emirs i n A ia M inor .

o o s w as J hn Paleol gu his hu mble vassal and slave .

a s After vain attempt to get help from the Pope , thi empero r without an empire resolved to make what

s o term he could , and rejoiced when he f u nd that

e Murad was pr pared to grant hi m peace . The Turk w as s o h is s a hard ma ter, and rej iced in giving vas al

s s s u npalatable ta k . Be t remembered among the tribu latio n s o f o s o f J hn is the iege Philadelphia . That place had pres erved a pre cariou s independence after all the other cities O I Byzantine Asia fel l into th e I A E P IA 1 SIE GE OF P H L D L H . 3 3 h n s E s a ds of the Turki h mir . Being far away i n the

o o s Lydian hills , it lost t uch with C n tantinople , and

s to s had become a free town . M urad , wi hing ubdue

h is it , compelled John V . and son Manuel to march in

' s s s o s person again t the last Chri tian tr nghold i n A ia .

E s an d The mperor ubmitted to the degradation , Philadelphia s u rrendered when it saw the imperial ban ner hoisted among the horse - tails o f the Turki s h

h u mili pashas above the camp of the bes iegers . The ation of the empire cou ld g o n o fu rther than when the heir of J u s tinian and B as il B ulg a rokton os t ook the

s o f a n s s E field at the behe t up tart Turki h m ir, in order to extingu i s h the last relics of freedom amon g

o his own c mpatriots . x x v r

THE E ND O F A O N TA L G LE.

( 1 37 0— 1 45 3)

T HE tale o f th e l ast seventy - fi ve years of the By z an

E is o f o s o n o tine mpire a mere piece l cal hi t ry , and l onger form s an important thread i n the web o f the

s o hi s to ry of Chri tend m . Mu rad the Turk might have

o s o 1 0 o taken C n tantin ple in 37 , with ut altering in any very great mea sure the cours e o f events i n Ea s te rn

Fo r Euro pe du ring the next centu ry . after 1 3 70 the “ empire ceas ed to exerci s e its old fu ncti o n of bul wark o f Chri s tend o m again s t the O tto mite That

n ow e to S s r s w h o duty f ll the ervian and Hunga ian , co ntinued to di scharge it for the next hund red a n d

P aleolo i s t e s . s s e c fi f y y ar The g , by their ba e ub ervi n e

o ac o f o to the Turk , pr tr ted the life the empire l ng after

s o fo r its s e s a e all j u tificati n exi t nce had di pp ared .

If o s a 1 0 s e o f C n tantinople had f llen in 37 , in t ad

1 a re o tw o s w c E o 45 3 , there nly way i n hi h ur pean

s o so w o hi tory w uld have been me hat m dified . The co m merci a l resource s of Gen oa and Ven ice would

s o o e have been traitened bef re the app inted tim , and

TA E 3 3 4 THE END OF A L ONG L .

Pal olo i II. w as o e Manuel ab ve the average of the g ,

o s O f o f use and showed s me sign capacity , but what was it to a prince who se sole domin i on s were Con stan tin o le ss o s s ? p , The al n ica , and the Peloponne u H e had neither mili tary strength nor money to j ustify

o s rebelli n again t the Turk , and could only wait on

c the o urse of events . ’ w as There , however, one moment i n Manuel s life at which the liberation of the empire from the O tto man s uzerainty appeared possible and even

. In 1 02 probable 4 , there burst into Asia Minor a

o of s great h rde Tartar , u nder the celebrated con

ueror S q Timour [Tamerlane]. ultan Bayezid , the

s sso o f I . f s ucce r Murad , went orth to with tand the

s invader. But at Angora in Galatia , he uffered a

s O o E s cru hing defeat , and the tt man mpire eemed likely to peri s h by the s word . Bayezid was cap tured s s s s , his tru ty Jan i sarie were cut to piece , his

s s light h orsemen scattered to the wind . The Tartar

s n swarmed all over A ia Mi or, occupied Broussa, the

O o s ttoman capital , and restored to their thr ne all the Sel ouk E s os I j mir wh e domin ion s Murad . had

. o s annexed Bayezid died i n captivity, and his s n began to fight o ver the remain s o f h is empire Prince S s B N uleiman eized Adrianople, Prince esa icaea , and each declared himsel f Sultan . This w as a rare O pportu n ity for Manuel P a leologus

o ut o the thieves had fallen , and the rightful wner

o h is might perchance c me again to own , if he played

o o o f s o his cards well . The c ntr l the Straits w a f

o o f s s great imp rtance to each the Turki h pretender , so so w as a id much , that Manuel able to sell his to T URKI SH CI VI L WARS . 3 3 5

In Eesa Su l eiman for a heavy price . order to keep

o oss n E o a fr m cr i g the water, the holder of the ur pe n

N E P EO O S A N D H IS F M MA U L AL L GU A ILY .

From a Con tem ora M S ( p ry . )

“ ’ ’ ” ’ Fr m L r o A t B zan tzn . F or C B a et. P a ris u a n tzn ( y . y , Q , h alf o f the O ttoman real m ceded to the Emperor 6 TH E E O A 3 3 N D F L ON G TALE .

o o l of th e S Thessal n ica , the l we r va ley trymon , the

o s ss th e s o s c a t of The aly, and all eap rt of the Black

Sea o f os o s from the mouth the B ph ru up to Varna . For a m o ment Manuel o n ce m ore ruled w hat m ight

o e so i n c urtesy be cal led an empir , and long as the O tto man s were o ccupied i n civil war he con trived to

h is s s s o f retain gain . The tri fe of the son Bayezid lasted ten years : Sulei man w as s lain by h is brother

s B s h is o o tw o Mu a , e a by br ther M ham med , and the s s O upplanter continued the war . By all riental

‘ o s o to anal gie their empire ught to have fal len pieces, for it is very much ea s ier to build up a new s t a te i n the East than to keep t ogether an old o n e which is

s o o breaking a under. But M ham med, the y ungest o f so s o f w as o f s : the n Bayezid , a man geniu he

th e s h is o s triumphed over la t of br ther , and un ited all the remnants of the O ttoman real m that remain ed . Much had been l os t to th e ' S e lj ouk E mirs in Asia

o to S s o o M in r , and the ervian and Manuel Pale l gus in ’ E o s w as s s ur pe , but the re t back in Moham med hand

h is D . 1 2 1 . a s by A . 4 M nuel had very luckily ca t in lot with Moham med durin g the later years of the Turki s h

h is let o th e o civil war , and ally him enj y d minions he had recovered by h is o riginal treaty with Suleiman in

1 403 .

1 02 1 2 1 E o Between 4 and 4 , u r pe had an unparalleled

s n for O pportu nity to rid herself o f the O tto man . U f un atel w as . S s o t y it not taken igi mund , king E H ungary, and at the same time mperor, was the sovereign on whom the duty of leading the attack

s ought to have fallen . But Sigi mu nd was now engaged in h is great s truggle with the Hu ssites in

B N A RA B ES QU E D ES I G N FRO M A YZA T I N E M S .

’ ’ ” Fr m r t P a ris u a rt/i n o L m z n r a r/ s a e . A t B z tz . P a C/z e B y y , Q , AN E ‘ DE ATH OF M U L I I . 3 3 9

“ o O f s s o o f th e succeed . The rep rt a m iraculou vi i n

w h o o s s as Virgin , v uch afed to reveal her elf the

o f s to s s defender the city, encouraged the Greek re i t e with a better s pirit than m ight have been xpected .

s s o g At la t the pretender M u tapha , wh m Manuel had s uppl ied with m o ney to cau s e a revolt again s t h is

to s s o s o brother, began tir u p uch tr uble in A ia M in r, that the Sultan determined to rais e the s iege an d

’ n march against him . He gra ted M anuel peace, on the conditio n that he ceded all his d o mini o ns s ave the cities of C o n s tantin ople and Thess alonica and

s the Pel o po nnes ian province . Thu the em p ire o nce m o re s ank back into a s tate o f vass alage to the O ttoman s

II s of Manuel . died three year after, at the age

- s s s o n seventy s even . He w a the la t overeign of C stan tin ople w h o w on even a tran s i e nt s mile from o o f s s o f rtune. The tale the la t thirty year f the

s o f oo empire i one unredeemed gl m . To Manuel s ucceeded h is son J ohn VI wh os e

o w a s s in o wh le reign pa sed peace , with ut an attempt to shake o ff the Turki s h yoke ; s uch an attempt

s ss indeed would have been hopele s , u nle backed by

o o A s I I. o aid fr m with ut . Manuel once bserved , “ the empire now requ ires a baili ff not a s tates man to ” s s n ot for ru le it . Treaties , war , and alliance were him all that he c o uld do w a s to try to save a l ittle

to h is s i money, and keep wall in good repa r, and even these hu mble task s were n ot always feasible. All the des cripti o n s of C o n s tantinople in the

s fi fteenth centu ry, wheth er written by Greek native

s n s s to s o or by We ter traveller , bear witnes a tate f 3 40 TH E E ND OF A L ON G TAL E . e xh a u s ti o n and debility w hi ch mak e u s wo nder that

h e e r n o t o a s s o e o o ut t mpi e d id c ll p e on r. The c u ntry s h e w a s w as id e t ll a desert . Within them more than

a l th e o w a s o o o h f gr und u n ccupied , and c vered nly by

s w c s fi e to c ce ruin hi h te ti d an ient magnifi nce . The ' a ce A u us tae um w h ich sh e lte re d s o great pal by the g ,

a a o s o f e o s o s o d ila i m ny gener ti n emp r r , had gr wn p

te th e Pa le o lo i w e o of da d that g d elt in a mer c rner it .

a f w o o o es o f St. S o o P rt the p rtic phia had fallen d n , a n d th e Greek s could n ot affo rd to repair even the

s s c a o f a o o o f greate t an tu ry their f ith . The p pulati n the city had s hrunk to ab o ut a hu ndred thou s and s o s os of e o c ul , m t th m dwelling in great p verty . Su h c o mme rce a n d w ealth as s till su rvived in C on st a nti n ople had p a ss e d al mos t entirely into the hand s o f th e I s o f o se o talian Gen a and Venice , wh o f rtified fa cto ri e s a t G al a ta a n d Pera n ow c o ntained the bu lk

w s h e o f th e are that pa ss ed through t city . The m ilit a ry strength o f the empire w as co mp os ed o f

o o o s e oo s of o ab ut f ur th u and m rcenary tr p , wh m many were Fra nk s a n d hardly any were bo rn s ubj ects o f

s o o c the empire . The plendid c urt , which had n e been

w o o f E s s s to s the nder a t and We t , had hrunk uch m ode s t di men s i on s that a Burgu ndian travell e r n oted with s urp ri se that n o m o re than e ight attend a nt s ac co mp a ni e d the empress when sh e w ent in state to

h ia I s o . w o r hip i n S t. S p f o w o VI. s e o J hn , in pit the cauti n ith which he a o e o w as s to s ee os v id d all acti n , de tined the empire l e its m os t im po rtant poss e ss i o n beyond the wall s o f

Bertra n do n la B i o uiere o in F n a vol. . . See de q qu ted i l y , iii p 493 , a very i n teres ti ng passage .

2 THE END O F A ON TA E 3 4 L G L . th e apostasy of the E mperor— the outbreak of a ve nomou s eccles iasti cal struggle at Con stantinople between the confo rmists who had taken ~ th e o ath at

‘ o so Fl rence , and the bulk of the clergy , who d i wned

o o th e treaty f u n ion . John was practically b ycotted by the maj o rity of his subjects the O rthod o x priests

s fo r o s cea ed to pray hi m , and the p pu lace refu ed to t e S . nter Sophia again , when it had been profaned by

o o f ss th e celebrati n the Roman Ma . The opinion of th e maj ority of the Greek s w as s u mmed u p in the e xclamati o n o f the Grand - Duke John Notaras “ Better the turban of the Turk in Constantinople ’ s than the Po pe Tiara .

The last years of the reign of John VI . coincided with the great campaigns o f Hun iades and Ladislas

s of P oland against the Turk . For a moment it

a s seemed if the gallant king of Poland and H ungary ,

h is backed by great Warden of the Marches , might

s s resto re the Balkan land to Chri tendom . They

I o s I . s th ru t Murad back ver the Balkan , and appeared i n triu mph at Sophia. Bu t the fatal battle of Varna [ 1 444] ended the career o f King Ladislas i n an o untimely death , and after that fight the O tt mans were obvi ously fated to acco mpl i s h their destiny

o s witho ut a check . John Pale logu watched the

o struggle without movement if not with ut concern . He w as too cauti ous to stir a finger to aid the

s f Hu ngarian , for he knew that if he once of ended the

Sultan h is days would be nu mbered .

ss 1 8 S o I . J hn V pa ed away i n 44 , and ultan Murad n 1 1 s i 45 . The one was ucceeded by h is brother

o in e h e s C nstant , t la t Christian sovereign of Byzantium , MA OM E T I I . A TTACK C H S ON S TAN TI N OP LE . 3 43

h is s o n o o the other by youn g M ham med the C nqueror .

o s w as o a s h is o C n tantine a R m ni t like elder br ther, and w as therefo re treated with great su s pici o n and

' o ss h is of s s w s h c olne by handful ubj ect . H e a t e bes t man o s of s that the h u e Paleologu had ever reared , b o s o s a n d o rave , pi u , gener u , f rgiving . Like King “ H os ea of Is rael he did n ot evil a s the kings that

o w a s s to were bef re him , yet de tined bear the penalty for all the s in s and foll ies o f h is l ong line of prede

cessors .

o II s o o M ham med . , the mo t c m manding pers nal ity

o w o f O o S s am ng the hole race tt man ultan , set his

o s on s o s heart fr m the fi r t eizing C n tantinople, the

o f h is h is natural centre empire , and making it capi tal . So me excu s e had to be fou nd fo rfalling on h is vass al the one that he ch ose w a s a rathe r u nwi s e reque s t

o s e o which C n tantine had made . Ther dwelt at C nstan tin O ple a Tu rki sh p rince of the royal ho u s e named

O for o o o s rkhan , wh m M ham med paid a c n iderable

s on o o w as out o f sub idy , c nditi n that he kept the way

o u n h a in s iration i ofm isch ie fa n d plotting . S me ppy p m

elled o s to askfor s s s p C n tantine an increa e in the ub idy ,

to O c s to S and hint that rkhan had laim the ultanate . Thi s was excuse en ough fo r Mohammed : without taking the trouble to declare w arhe s ent out tro ops and

to ' o s o n o o engineers , and began erect f rt Greek s il , nly o s o s o o f ur mile away fr m Con tantin ple, at the narr west

o t of os o s s o as to o o p in the B ph ru , bl ck the appr ach

E o to the city fro m the Black Se a . The mper r d id n ot to o s s dare rem n trate , but when the Turk began to o - e c o pull d wn a much venerat d chu r h , i n rder to

s o s th e n w fo a fe w s o utilize its t ne in e rt , Greek t ok D 3 44 TH E E N OF A L ONG TAL E .

o s arm s and dr ve the ma ons away . They were at once cut down by the Turki s h guard s : Constantine

ss o demanded redre , and then M ham med , having fa irly pi cked h is wol f- and - lamb quarrel with h is un

s o n fortunate va sal , com menced pen hostilities [Autum

1 45 2 -l Turki sh light troop s at o nce appeared to bl ockade the city while the Sultan began to c o lle ct a great train

o o to of of cann n at Adrian ple , and build a large fleet war gall eys in the ports of A s ia the siege w as to begin

s s i n the en uing pring .

w as n o w its o Co n The empire in death ag ny , and s in o s tant e rec gnized the fact . He pent the winter i n making frantic appeal s to the P o pe an d the Italian

o s to sa f o N o s naval p wer ve hi m rom destructi n . ich la

w as o to E V . will ing en ugh hel p now that the mperor was a c o nvert to Cath ol ici s m so mething must be d o ne to o o s w as aid him . But all that the P pe c u ld end a

s um o cardinal , a moderate of m ney , an d a few hundred so s O f s I ldier fortu ne ha tily hired in taly. Venice and

o o so Genoa cou ld have d ne much m re , but they had “ ” o ften heard the cry o f Wolf raised that they did not real ize the danger to their Ea stern trade at its

o o s true extent . Fr m Gen a, Giovann i Giu tin iani brought n o more than tw o galleys and three hu ndred

ss o s o men . Venice did even le , only c m mis i ning the bailiff of its factory at Galata to arm s uch able - bodied Venetian s as were with him for th e protecti o n of the

s o city. Altogether the Frank , c unting both trained

s w h o co - o mercenarie and armed burghers , perated in

o f o s o n ot o the defence C n tantin ple, were m re than

s s three thou and trong . Yet either Gen oa or Venice

3 46 THE E ND OF A L ONG TAL E .

Theol ogical bitterness led the bl ind multitude to cry with N ota ras that it preferred the Turk to the Roman .

In 1 o S A pril , 45 3 , the y ung ultan , with seventy

o s oo s h is o th u and picked tr p at back , laid f rmal siege

o o n O f t the city the land side, while a fleet several

s s s s hu ndred war galley be et the Bo phoru . The end could not be for a momen t d o ubtful n ine thousand men co uld n ot hope to defend the vas t circu it o f t he land and sea - wall against a veteran army urged on

o h is by a y ung and fiery general . Moham med set

to s s s can non play on the wall , and it was oon een that the tough old Ro m a n m o rtar an d s to ne tha t had blu nted the siege engines of so many foes could n ot ’ s s o of o S s re i t the f rce gunp wder . The ultan artillery w as w as o rude , but it heavy and nu mer us ere long

s to o o the wall began c me d wn in flakes , and breaches

o s com menced to sh w themsel ves i n everal places.

s X I h is s Con tantine EI. and econd i n com mand , the

s s m e n Genoese Giu tiniani , did all that brave and kilful

o s s might , in pr tracting the iege . They led sortie ,

o n organized attacks by water the Turkish fleet , and endeavoured to d rive O ff the s iege artillery of the enemy by a counter fire of cann o n . But it was found

o ld s o to u th at the wall were too narr w bear the g ns, d an where any were hoisted u p and brought to bear, their recoil s hook the fabric i n s uch a dangerous way that the fire was s oo n obliged to cease .

w on At sea the Christians one great success , when four galleys from the Aegean fo rced their way in

s through the whole Turki h fleet , and reached the

o G lden Horn in safety , after sinking many of their ass ailants . But the Tu rks had as great a nu merical TA TI LAS T HO URS OF CONS N N E XIAI . 3 47

s e o o n as o n a in e up ri rity the water l nd , and the vit

o able c o uld o nly be delayed . M ham med even s uc

ceeded e c o o f o o f in g tting on tr l the h arb u r the city,

o its o s o ab ve m uth , by d ragging l ight galley on r l lers over the neck of land between the B osph o ru s and the

Golden Horn , and l au nching them i n the inland

s o s as water j ust ab ve Galata . Thu the in ner, well as

o - o f w a s s s the uter, sea face the city be et by enemie .

2 1 . S a The end cam e on May 9 , 45 3 The ult n had

o s o f pened everal practicable breaches , which the chi e f lay in the north —wes t angle o f the city by the

f o s o St. gate R manu , where two whole towers and the cu rtain bet w ee n them had been battered down

o s w as o s and ch ked the ditch . The torm bviou ly at

oo E o w as o to hand , and the d med mper r bliged face

h is s o s o fate . Greek hi t rian dwelt with l ving sorro w

on o e the las t h o urs o f the u nf rtunat prin ce . He left

oo of the breach at midnight , part k the sacrament

t o s o to S . S acc rding the Latin rite i n phia, and natched

fe w s o s h is h - a hou r of tr ubled leep i n al f ruined palace .

N o os to to ext m rning, with the dawn , he r e ride back the

His s s s post of danger. min i ter and attendant cro w ded rou nd h is h o rse as he started on what a ll knew to be

o o s s o n his las t j u rney . Lo king teadfa tly them he praye d one and all to pardon hi m for any o ffence that he might wittingly or u nwittingly have co mm itted

‘ s o s o s again t any man . The cr wd an wered with s b

so s w oe i and wails , and with the u nd of r nging in his

o s s o ff to h is ears C n tantine rode lowly meet death . The a ssault com menced at dawn ; three main attacks and s everal seco ndary o nes were directed

s against weak s pots i n the wall . But the chief tress TA 3 48 TH E E ND OF A L ON G LE .

t. was on the great breach by the gate of S Romanus . There the Empero r h im self and Giu sti nian i at h is s ide sto od i n the mid st of the yawn ing gap with their bes t

o s o f s men arou nd them , and ppo ed a barrier teel to

o o ss s . o s s s s the nc ming a ailant Twelve th u and J ani arie , s o s ss s o f abre in hand , f rmed ucce ive colu mn attack ; a s soo n as on e w as beaten o ff another del ivered its

s o o of a ssault . They fel l by hu ndred bef re the sw rds

fo r s the mailed men in the breach , their felt cap and u narmoured b odie s were eas y marks for the p onderous

s of weapo n s o f the fi fteenth century . But the rank the defenders grew thin and weary Giu s tinian i w as

o o o w u nded in the face by an arr w , and taken on b ard

s s s o h is gal ley to die . C o n t antine at la t to d almost

o o o o f ss al ne in the breach , and a f rl rn hope J ani aries

on e ss of U lub ad o s headed by Ha an , wh m Tu rki h

o s to o o s chr nicler delight h n u r, at la t forced their way

E o h is o o s over the wall . The mper r and c mpan i n

o o o s were tr dden u nder foot , and the vict ri u army

s o sol s s o f o s ru hed int the de ate treet C n tantinople ,

fo r o s to s seeking in vain f e fight . The Greek , half expecting that God would interfere to s ave the queen o f s o o Chri tian cities by a miracle , had cr wded int the

s ss o churche , and were pa ing the fatal h u r i n frantic prayer ! The sh o uts of the vict ori o us enemy s oon s o h ow th e da o w or h wed them y had g ne , and the s s ou t o s to a s hipper were dragged in cr wd , be claimed

a n o o s s laves d divided among the c nquer r .

o Moham med II . r de through the breach after h is

s o s o men , and de cended int the city, canning fr m within the streets that so many E astern co nqu e ro rs

h is r had i n vain des ired to see . He bade men s ea ch

0 THE E ND OF A ON 3 5 L G TALE . the d o me where thi rty generati o ns of patriarchs had

o s s celebrated the H ly My terie , and all Europe and A s ia knew the end w as co me of the l o ngest tale of E n mpire that Christe dom has yet seen .

N E TH E N A G L O F IGHT . ’ ” r From L A rt B zan fi n . P ar C/Ia r/es B a et s ue n ( y y . P ari , Q tin , E O F E E TABL M P RO RS .

A ca s — 08 Staura ius c O O O O O O O O 8 1 1 r diu 395 4 O O O O O O O O O O — 0 M — T o os s II 08 c a I . Rh an ab e he d iu 4 45 i h el , g 8 1 1 8 1 3 — — M a c an s o Leo V. A n an 1 r i u 45 45 7 , the rme i 8 3 8 20 — — Leo I . M c a IL Am oria 45 7 474 i h el , the n 8 20 8 2 9 Zen o 474— 49 1 Theophilus 8 2 9— 842 An a I 1 1 8 M c a III — st asiu s . 49 5 i h el 842 86 7

1 8 2 Bas I . M a Ju stin us I 5 5 7 il , the cedon i an — — 6 Leo VI . W I . 2 s 6 1 2 Justin i an u s 5 7 5 5 , the i e 88 9

- s n s II . 6 8 Con s an n VII . Por h Ju ti u 5 5 5 7 t ti e , p y Tiberiu s II Con stan tin us 5 78 5 8 2 rog en itus M auricius 5 82 —602 [Co ' regen t Emper or s P hocas 602 — 6 1 0 Alex an der — R Heracliu s 6 1 0 641 om an us I . Lecape — Con s an n s n us O O O O ac s O O O O O O O O 1 Her liu t ti u O O O O O O 9 9 945 ]

— - d H ra leon as 6 1 2 Ro an s II . an e c O O O O O 8 6 4 m u O O O O O O O O O O 95 9 3 — — Con s an s II 6 2 668 Bas II . B ul arokton os 6 2 t 4 il , g 9 3 1 0 5 — 66 - Con stan tin e IV. 8 68 5 [Co regen t Emperors — N Ju stin i an II 68 5 695 iceph orus I I . 6 — 6 P c s — L e n tiu o a 0 0 0 0 0 o s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 95 97 h 0 0 0 9 3 9 9 — — T i s III . A simarus 6 0 o n I . Zimisces iber u , p 97 7 5 J h , 969 976] — — s n ian II . s o 0 1 1 Con s an n VIII . Ju ti (re t red ) 7 5 7 t ti e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 02 5 2 8 — — Ph ili icus 1 1 1 Ro an s III . Ar rus pp 7 7 3 m u , g y 1 02 8 34 — An as as s I I . Arte mi us 1 1 M c a IV. th e P a h la t iu , 7 3 7 5 i h el , p o os s I II — T . 1 1 om an he d iu 7 5 7 7 g i O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O L o I I — I . Isa e an . 1 0 , the uri 7 7 74 M c a V. i h el o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Con s an n V r . C O on t ti e , p y Con stan tin e IX M on o m us . m ach us — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 042 5 5 L o IV e . T - o o a O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 1 0 he d r O O O 5 5 5 7 C on st an ti n e VI - M c a VI . Stratioticus 1 0 6 I ren e i h el , 5 5 7 — I saa c I . C o n n s 1 , m e u 05 7 5 9 2 TAB E O F E M R 3 5 L P E OR S .

Con s an n X . cas t ti e , Du M c a VII. D cas o i h el , u o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o [CO - regen t Emper or N E N ICA A EM PE RO RS . Ro an s I V. Dio m u ,

T o o I Las a ri - gen es he d re c s 1 204 2 2 — o n I II . 1 2 2 2 Nice ph orus III ., Bot a n i J h , 5 4 — - T o o I L cas 1 2 ates 1 078 8 1 he d re , Du 5 4 5 9 — — o n IV. cas 1 2 60 A s I . 1 08 1 1 1 1 , 5 lexiu , 8 J h Du 9

- o n II . o n n s 1 1 1 J , C 8 4 h m e u 3 ’ E P RE RES l O RED . — M I M an I . Co n n s 1 1 80 uel , m e u 43 — M c a VIII . Pa o o s 1 2 6 8 2 — i h el , le l gu 0 A s I I . 1 1 0 lexiu , 8 83

A n on c s II . Fa o o — dr i u le l An on c s I . Co n n s 1 1 8 8 dr i u , m e u 3 5 — us o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 1 2 2 2 — g o 8 1 3 8 Isaac II . An s 1 1 8 , gelu 5 95

An on c s III . P a leolo — dr i u A s I II . 1 1 1 2 lexiu , 95 03

us o o o o o o o o o o o o o o — g o o o o o o o o o o Isaac II . (rest ored ) 1 2 03 4

o n V. P a o o s J h , le l gu o o o o o o A i s V . cas 1 2 lex u , Du 04 [CO - regen t

J oh n VI . Ca n tacu LATI N EM P E RO RS .

z enus O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

B . o o o o o o o o o o o I I . o I o n o o ald w i n o o o o M a uel o o o o o o o o o o o o

VI I o o o n o o o o o o Hen ry J oh o o o o o o o o o o o

Peter Con st an tin e XI .

3 5 4 I NDEX.

An o a a of Baduila o c n c o s of g r , b ttle , 334 , G thi ki g , vi t rie , An i a n T s 2 1 2 a s Ro s a n in , t ke by the urk , 5 9 ; t ke me , 94 ; l i An th emius n s of a , prime mi i ter b ttle , 95

- T o s l I . Ba w n h is ch a os I . o he d iu , 5 4 5 ld i , emper r ,

An th emius a c c of St. So a racter 2 8 1 c ow n 2 2 s a n , r hite t phi , , r ed , 9 l i 1 0 B a an s 2 7 by the ulg ri , 9 5

- An n of Sa o ss n Ba w n II. n of 0 1 h is e v y , empre rege t , ld i , reig , 3 26 a s 0 o 3 tr vel , 3 5 expelled fr m An oc a n P s an s Con s an no 06 ti h , t ke by the er i , t ti ple , 3 a n a s con 1 2 B a as Ca sa 2 1 2 99 ; t ke e d time , 9 ; rd e r , murdered by

s o Sa ac n s 1 6 M c a III . 2 1 t rmed by the r e , 3 i h el , 3 a n Nice h orus P ocas Ba a n No an s 2 ret ke by p h , ri , t ke by the rm , 5 9

2 1 os to T s 2 6 B as I . a Ca sa 2 1 as 3 ; l t the urk , 5 ; il , m de e r , 3 : s C sa s 2 6 sassin ates M c a II 2 1 be ieged by the ru der , 5 i h el I . , 3 ; ta to Co n n 2 0 aw s of 2 1 tribu ry the m e i , 7 l , 4

- - An oc on Ma an a of Bas l I. asc n s on 2 2 ti h e der , b ttle , il , e d the thr e , 9 2 ass s ow 2 0 I‘l l S 99 ume the full p er , 4 ; An on n a w i o f B isa s B a an c o s 2 1 — cam t i , fe el riu , 74 ulg ri vi t rie , 4 3 ; A simarus T s o ai ns in As a 2 s 2 p , iberiu , emper r , p g i , 43 die , 44 1 c 1 Ba z T s a n 77 ; exe uted , 79 ye id , urki h Sult , 3 34 A a s see Sa ac ns B sa s P s an c o s of r b , r e eli riu . er i vi t rie , 73 ; ' A ca s n o f — h is s N zéa riots con r diu , reig , 47 5 4 ; quell the , 79 a n s w o s 8 s A ca 8 a s Pa o de li g ith the G th , 4 quer fri , 4 t ke lerm , a s w C so s o 2 88 a s Ro 8 a s qu rrel ith hry t m , 5 ; t ke me , 9 ; t ke A n a con B Ra n na 1 ca 2 ac s rme i , quered by the y ve , 9 re lled , 9 ; t zan tin es 2 o n a a ns P s a 1 00 a s , 43 ; verru by the g i t er i , defe t the T s 2 1 n s 1 0 s ac 1 0 urk , 5 Hu , 4 di gr ed , 5 A fo Leo an d Z n o Beneven tum o a c of rmy , re rmed by e , , L mb rd du hy , 6 1 sc i on of in n 1 1 w a s ofw on s an s IL de r pti , te th 7 ; r ith C t , c n 2 1 8 1 6 e tury , 9 Artem i us An as as s n of 6 1 B ac Sea a w 2 t iu , reig , l k , Greek tr de ith , ” Art ca an d a of 2 2 2 — B s an d n s C c s , de y reviv l , 4 l ue Gree , ir u

As a c Leo I . 60 ac on s 2 2 a o of p r , exe uted by , f ti , , 7 5 ; gre t ri t , A th alaric o c n 8 1 a a n s s n a n 6— a , G thi ki g , g i t Ju ti i , 7 7 ; rmed A th an a rich o ic n 2 M a c 1 2 , G th ki g , 4 by uri e , 7 s s Con s an n o B oh em un d No an w a s o f vi it t ti ple , 44 the rm , r

A n s a B za n n s at w ar w A s I . 2 6 the , e rly y ti e ith lexiu , 7 w 6 sc oo s of c os Bon ac of M on a 2 8 1 —2 ith , ; h l , l ed by if e tferr t , s n an 1 0 F an c of a n ofT ssa on ca 2 2 Ju ti i , 5 r k du hy , m de ki g he l i , 9 2 con e an s a n in a 2 6 97 qu red by the Gr d l i b ttle , 9 ” Co an 1 Bos o s 1 — 2 mp y , 3 9 ph ru , the , A a n o f n s w a s of Bos a s o b Sa ac n s ttil , ki g the Hu , r tr , t rmed y the r e , w 1 62 ith the empire , 5 7 Au ustaeum sc on of B an as A s o n o f 2 g , de ripti the , r , lexiu , rebelli , 77 I B nn o s of a t A n s 9 rie e , h u e , the , “ A a s n as on s of 1 2 2 w ar 08 an v r , i v i , the 3 expelled by the Gr d ” of w ac s 1 s Co an 1 , ith Her liu , 34 ; be iege mp y , 3 9 Cons an n o 1 B o ssa see P rusa t ti ple , 37 r u , Bucella rian T 1 6 —8 heme , 7 B B uh a u d s P s a n d n as 2 2 6- i e , er i y ty , 7 Baanes in S a 1 6 B a ans n a a nd s in , rebel yri , 3 ulg ri , i v de ettle I N DE X . 3 5 5

Mo s a 1 1 a us C c a con Nice h orus e i , 7 ; defe ted by J ili i , quered by p id n an P o T n an II . 1 a s cas 2 0 os to s ti i , 73 ; Ju ti i , h , 3 l t the urk , 1 a th e Sa ac ns 1 8 2 6 con Com 79 defe t r e , 7 3 ; re quered by the

at w ar w Con s an n V . n n t 2 0 ith t ti e , e , 7

1 6 a Con s an n VI . Co n of o o 2 9 ; defe t t ti e , lum , the Hipp dr me , 5 ;

1 8 s a Nice h orus I . 2 0 of Con s an n 2 9 l y p , 3 t ti e , 5 s Con s an t n o 2 0 Co c c n t a za on of at be iege t i ple , 4 ; mmer e , e r li ti , Leo V 2 0 a on a n o . C s n o 2 2 2 2 r uted by , 5 defe t t ti ple , 4, 5 ; de

Leo VI . 2 1 6 con c n of n Co n n , ; quered by li e , u der the m e i , R ss a n s 2 con 2 6 efl ects of Fo C sa the u i , 3 5 ; quered 7 urth ru de — B as II . 2 1 o on 1 0 by il , 4 3 rev lt , 3 — ’ a a ns Isaac l I . 2 6 s a Co m n en a An n a w s fa s g i t , 7 7 ; l y , , rite her ther

Ba w n I . 2 con s s o f 2 6 ld i , 95 que t , life , 4 08 s T s 0 Co n n s ‘ see u n der A s 3 ; ubdued by the urk , 33 m e u , lexiu , Burtzes s o s An oc 2 1 o n An on c s M an t rm ti h , 3 J h , dr i u , uel , B zan o n 1 a a Isaac y tium , f u ded , e rly D vid , s o o f 2 - 8 n Con a o f M on a a s hi t ry , ; u der the r d tferr t defe t Ro an s — 1 2 c os n as Con B an a s 2 m , 9 ; h e r , 77 ’

stan tin e s ca a 1 see a ter Cons an s II . n of 1 66 w a s pit l , 7 f t , reig , ; r ’ w ards u n aer Con s an no o f w Sa ac n s 1 6 t ti ple ith the r e , 7 ; 1 6 , 9 C murdered Con s an n I . si s B zan t ti e , be ege y Can a ak n Nice h orus Ph o 1 2 as o f w o di t e by p tium , m ter the rld , cas 2 2 8 1 s s a ca a 1 6 o n s , 4 eek pit l , f u d Can tacuzen us o n s a on Con s an n o 1 8 , J h , u urp ti t ti ple , f - o 2 8 on s an n III . a , 3 5 C t ti e , defe ted by the Ca aca a an s s to B Sa ac n s 1 6 s o n of r ll , gr t privilege y r e , 4 h rt reig , zan tium 1 0 1 6 , 5

Ca a a n B sa s 8 Cons an n I V. Po on atus w a s rth ge , t ke by eli riu , 5 t ti e ( g ) , r a n Sa ac n s 1 6 o f w Sa ac n s 1 0 t ke by the r e , 7 ith the r e , 7 ; Cass o o s h is w o in a a s M oaw iah 1 1 o s i d ru , rk liter ry defe t , 7 h ld ! n 1 Co nc of Cons an no w i g , 49 the u il t ti ple , C a c on o n ak n 1 2 h l ed , f u ded , 3 ; t e by 7

P s an s 1 Con s an n V. Co ron m us the er i , 34 t ti e ( p y ) , C a W a of o n s w a s of 1 6 s c s h mplitte , illi m , f u d r , 9 ; per e ute the n c a of Ac a a 2 6 I a - w o s s 1 pri ip lity h i , 9 m ge r hipper , 97

C a s a c ow n e Con s an n VI . n of 1 8 h rle the Gre t r d em t ti e , reig , 9 ot 1 n h is o 1 8 per , 99 bli ded by m ther , 9

C son s n an II . at 1 Con s a n n VII . Por h ro en i her , Ju ti i , 7 7 t ti e ( p y g sac 1 80 tus n of 2 1 6 2 1 a ked , ) , reig , , 7 liter ry Ch o r f P a w a s w o s of 2 2 0 2 2 1 s oés I . n o s , ki g er i , r rk , , — — of w s n an 2 0 1 00 Con s an n VII I . n o f 2 , ith Ju ti i , 7 4, 9 t ti e , reig , 45

Ch osroes IL w a s w P ocas Con s an n IX . M on om ach us , r ith h t ti e ( ) , a nd H ac s 1 2 —1 a n of 2 er liu , 9 3 5 ; de th reig , 47

of 1 8 C on s an n . cas n of , 3 t ti e X (Du ) , reig , Ch osroan tioch eia o n a on o f , f u d ti , 2 n i XI Pa o o s ac 7 Const a t n e . ( le l gu ) , C s an n fl nc of on c ss on o f a ac hri ti ity , i ue e , the e i , 343 tt ked by the a n d soc 1 — 1 T s as o s of empire iety , 45 49 urk , 344 l t h ur , 3 47 ; C sos o see u n der o n C a of 8 hry t m , J h hry de th , 34 sostom Con st an ti nople fou nded by Con f 0 3 5 I N DE X .

stan tin e 1 8 o o a o f , t p gr phy , D 1 —2 s o s 9 9 be ieged by the G th , a asc s a n P s ans 1 s n in 1 b e D m u , t ke by the er i , 4 treet fighti g , 5 ; 1 1 ; a n Sa ac ns s A a s a n d P s an s 3 t ke by the r e , ieged by v r er i , 1 6 1 6 1 si for s 3 3 , 37 be eged the fir t an o o H n o of V n c Sa a c n s 1 0 b e D d l , e ry , d ge e i e , time by the r e , 7 2 80 2 8 1 a t s o of Con sieged for the secon d time by , the t rm stan tin o le 2 8 2 88 th e Sa ac n s 1 8 1 8 6 s p , 4, r e , 5 , ; be ieged a a a n in P s an w a s B a an s 2 0 co c a D r t ke the er i r , by ulg ri , 5 mmer i l 1 6 o an c of 2 2 o s in 3 imp rt e , 4 ; ri t Dasta erd a n ac s 2 C sa s a t 2 6 g t ke by Her liu , 47 ; the ru der , 4 1 38 t a ken by the Fran k s a n d Ve n e ' a Co n n s a an s 2 8 s o an d sac D vid m e u defe ted by ti , 4 t rmed ked T o o I 2 a second 2 8 2 88 as he d re 99 time , 7 , dev c o 2 tatio n of a n s 2 1 Delphi trip d , the , 4 ; muti , by the L ti , 9 ;

a M a o II . s b o n cas 0 1 l ted by h met , 349 be ieged y J h Du , 3 ~ ic o ac . o s o n co s 0 Delph r le , the rder f u re vered by the Greek , 3 5 a on of B zan a n o n Pa o o s 2 d ti y tium , 3 t ke by J h le l gu , 3 9 Di e n es A a s c of 2 2 2 g krit , epi , s M a I I . be ieged by ur d , 33 7 ; ioc an a s N co d a h is as s of 6 a n D leti m ke i me i l t iege , 34 t ke by the ca a 1 T s 8 pit l , 5 urk , 34 o n s Ro a n s n of 2 1 Cori us o of 1 Di ge e , m u , reig , 5 pp , p em , 44 a at a t M an zike rt 2 Co n c of Con s an n o n defe ted , 5 4 u il t ti ple , u der s a n 2 6 l i , 5 Co ns an n IV. 1 2 n d t ti e , 7 u er

c as see u n der Con s an n X . s Du , t ti e , Con a n n V. 1 n t ti e , 97 ; u der M c a e VII . o n III . T o i h l , J h , he L o V. 2 e , 06 o II d re . Co n c ofFloren ce ot I . at 1 u il ,J , 34 a zzo a o f 2 60 Co n a o s of at Con s an Dur , b ttle , urte y , h u e t ti s an S n n of S v a n o le 00 0 1 Du h , tephe , ki g er i , p , 3 , 3 con s s of 2 C con Sa ac ns que t , 3 7 rete , quered by the r e , 2 08 ; co Nice h orus re vered by p E P ocas 2 2 8 a n h , t ke by the ’ V n n o of a s 2 2 Ec o a L eo III. s c e eti , 9 l g , the , de C oss o ca aw s 1 r , the H ly , ptured by the l , 94 P s an s 1 2 co B sa S a n — er i , 3 ; re vered by e , ult , 334 5 ac i s 1 o to E con P s an s Her l u , 39 rem ved g ypt , quered by the er i , Con s an n o 1 6 1 con Sa a t ti ple , 3 34 ; quered by the r Crum n n of B a a a s c n s 1 6 s a a o , ki g ulg ri , defe t e , 4 ; ep r ted fr m the N h ice h orus I . 2 0 s s C a a 2 2 p , 3 ; be iege lip te , 7 Con s a n n o 2 0 Eikasia s o of 2 1 1 t ti ple , 5 , t ry , C sad s a n s w E sa a n Sa ac ns ru er , their de li g ith me , t ke by the r e , Ni h o ru Ph A s I . 2 6 2 6 n 1 6 a n ce s o lexiu , 3 , 4 ; e ter 3 t ke by p S a 2 6 of Fo C ru cas 2 1 yri , 5 the urth , 3 sa 2 con Con s a n E s s o a of 2 8 0 1 de , 79 ; quer t ti piru , the de p t te , 9 , 3 , n o le 2 88 p , C s on ac s at 1 8 Erto rul T 2 2 te iph , Her liu , 3 g , the urk , 3 C s on s a n s to 1 E oc a A n a s w o f T o ypru , m k b i hed , 97 ; ud i ( the i ) , ife he

co N ice h orus Ph o dosius II . s ac 6 re vered by p , her di gr e , 5 cas 2 0 s z Isaac Com E oc a w of Ro a n s Dio , 3 ; ei ed by ud i , ife m u n en us 2 a n Ric a n s 2 1 , 7 7 ; t ke by h rd ge e , 5 I o f En an 2 E o a fElia w ofA rca dius 2 , g l d , 78 ud xi , , ife , 5

8 3 5 INDEX.

Histiaeus o s B zan sa E oc a at ak n h ld y tium . 5 Jeru lem , ud i , 5 7 t e ono s s a s S c o P s an s 1 2 ac s at H riu l y tili h , 49 by er i , 3 ; Her liu , n a con to C s an 1 a n Sa ac n s 1 6 Hu g ry , verted hri ti ity 39 ; t ke by the r e , 3 ;

2 62 n a M a n I . 2 1 a n C sa s 2 6 i v ded by uel , 7 t ke by the ru der , 5

a ac s O o an T s 2 o n I. Zimisces s h is tt k the tt m urk , 34 J h ( ) , murder H un iades o n 2 n c 2 2 s cc ss w a s o f , J h , 34 u le , 3 ; u e ful r , n s n A a a a 2 — d s 2 Hu , u der ttil , 5 7 r v ge 34 7 ; ie , 39

S a 1 a n Con s an o n 1 1 . Co n n s n and yri , 7 thre te t ti J h ( m e u ) , reig n o le 1 0 f a B con s s o f 2 68 — p , 4 ; de e ted by eli que t , 9

sa ns 1 0 o n I II . cas Vatatzes 00 ri , 5 J h (Du ) , 3 ; on s T ac an d Ma c h c onia , I quer r e ed 3 0 1

Icon S ana of see u n der o n IV. cas on ium , ult te , J h (Du ) , dethr ed by S uks M c a Pa o o u s 0 e i h el le l g , 3 4

Icon oc as o n 1 88 - o n V Pa o o s no o f l m , the m veme t , 9 ; J h ( le l gu ) , mi rity , vigorou s u n der the Isaurian 3 2 5 — 8 ; expels J oh n Can tacu o s 1 2— in n n zen us 2 f a emper r , 9 7 : the i th , 3 9 ; de e ted by the c n 2 0 — 1 0 n T s 0 a a s of e tury , 3 ; e ded by urk , 33 ; l ter ye r , 333

M a III 2 1 2 o n VI . o o s o c . Pa n f i h el , J h ( le l gu ) , reig , Icon odules 2 02 ac s Ca o c s 1 , 339 ; embr e th li i m , 34 I a s s st ons conn c o n An s E o of T s m ge , uper iti e ted J h ( gelu ) , mper r he w 1 0 o Leo sa on ca 00 ith, 9 ; rem ved by l i , 3 III 1 2 use of c as s in o n K n of B a a 2 6 con . , 9 ; , e e the J h , i g ulg ri , 7 ;

Eas 2 1 2 s B a w n I . 2 t , quer ld i , 95

In n oc n III . s n s out Fo o n Ca a oc a n nan c e t , e d urth J h the pp d i , fi e C sa 2 8 1 w a of w n s 6 ru de , r th ith the mi i ter , 7 C sa s 2 0 o n C sos o a a c 2 ru der , 9 J h hry t m , p tri r h , 5 ; I n ss n c of re e , the empre , rege y , exiled , 5 3 1 os 1 8 n s o n cas n 2 97 dep ed , 9 bli d her J h Du , rege t , 5 5 son an d s z s on 1 o n Fas a a c 1 2 0 ei e the thr e , 99 J h the ter , p tri r h ,

Isaac I . Co n n s h is s o o n a a an a a c ( m e u ) , h rt J h the Gr mm ri , p tri r h , n 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 reig , 5 9 ,

Isa ac II . An s s 2 o n Hun iades n a 2 ( gelu ) , rebel , 73 ; J h , ge er l , 34 h is n 2 6 os h is o n L dus a o 1 reig , 7 ; dep ed by J h y , uth r, 43 o 2 8 s o 2 8 d s an n of 2 br ther , 7 re t red , 4 ; ie , Juli , reig , 3 8 s n I 2 . n of 6 5 Ju ti , reig , 5 — Isaac Co n n s of C s 2 8 s n II . n and w a s of 1 1 m e u , ypru , 77 Ju ti , reig r , 7 i Isa an s n s Leo s in an I . c a ac of 6 uri , the , e li ted by Ju t , h r ter , 5 an d Z n o 6 1 n as of a s T o o a 66 s Per e , ; dy ty the , m rrie he d r , ; fir t 1 2 — s an w a r of 1 — I a an an d 9 9 i , 7 4 ; t li Is c n of B ara 1 2 A can w a s of 8 — ca s peri h , ki g ulg i , 7 fri r , 3 93 re ll I a con B sa s B sa s 1 h is n s t ly , quered by eli riu , eli riu , 9 buildi g , 88— 1 a con 1 06— h is a w o 1 1 2 9 p rtly quered by the 9 leg l rk , f o a s 1 1 6 Con s an s II . in s n an II . is o n s o 1 2 L mb rd , ; t , Ju ti i , m f rtu e , 7 ; 1 6 c n a a s of os 1 6 an s 1 co n s h is 9 ; e tr l p rt , l t , 9 b i hed , 75 ; re quer so n a s of con on 1 s a n 1 80 uther p rt , quered by thr e , 79 ; l i , No an s 2 8 the rm , 5 K

J Kadesia a of 1 6 , b ttle , 4

aco s in E an d S a 1 6 1 Kaikh osru , S a n , s ain in a J bite , g ypt yri , ult l b ttle , an ssa s 2 2 J i rie , the , 3 4 99 i NDEX. 3 5 9

a as E s of 1 o s IX . of F an c s on K r i , mir , 3 9 L ui r e , give m ey

Ka a c ow n o to Ba w n I I . 0 rl the Gre t , r ed emper r, ld i , 3 5 Lu icinus o n o of Mo s a 2 0 1 p , g ver r e i , 37 Ka s a 2 L dus o n a o 1 thi m , the , 4 y , J h , uth r , 43 K a c o s of 1 62 h led , vi t rie , M K a za s a to ac s 1 h r , llied Her liu , 37 M ac on a o n S a s s s n an II . 1 8 , helter Ju ti i , 7 ed i verru by l v , K R ss an ca a 2 1 2 in an s of Bon ac of ief, u i pit l , 34 5 ; h d if e Ko a w a s of w s in an 1 M on a 2 2 con b d , r , ith Ju t i , 7 tferr t , 9 ; quered by S n s an 2 tephe Du h , 3 7 L M a an a of 2 e der , b ttle the , 99 a s as n of B a a 2 M a o o s of L di l , ki g ulg ri , 43 h met , the pr phet , ri e , a s as n of Po an and I L di l , ki g l d S9

n a 2 M a o I . S an n s Hu g ry , 34 h met , ult , reu ite the a ssa a of 2 6 1 O o an E 6 L ri , b ttle , tt m mpire , 3 3

M a o II. con Con s an Lascaris see u n der T o o I . s , he d re h met quer t ti a n a n a s in Ba an n o le — 0 L ti l gu ge , u ed the lk p , 343 5 P n n s a 1 2 ca of M an iakes w a s of 2 6 e i ul , 4 ; de y the , , r , 4

I M an I . Co n n s n an d 44 uel ( m e u ) , reig Law Ro an co s n an w a s of 2 1 — 2 , m , dified by Ju ti i , r , 7

1 1 2 c an s of L eo III . 1 M an I I . Pa o o s n h g e , 94 ; uel ( le l gu ) , reig — of B as I . 2 1 an d m s o n s of 6 il , 4 i f rtu e , 3 3 9 aza s a n 2 2 M an zikert a of 2 L ru the p i ter , 4 , b ttle , 5 4 c M r i w s of disc ss M a c an s n of Le ky , . , v e , u ed , r i u , reig , 5 9 l M a n a n c an d w of a S3 rti , ie e ife Her Laz ca w a s of s n an and clius 1 6 i 1 66 i , r Ju ti i , 5 ex led , Ch osroes a o 1 00 M art ro olis 1 2 1 b ut , y p , M a Leo I . n of 60 c n of 1 20 P s an , reig , uri e , reig , ; er i

Leo III . Isa an s z s w a s 1 2 1 a a n d a of , the uri , ei e the r , f ll de th , c ow n 1 8 2 n s Con s an 1 2 r , ; defe d t ti 7 n o le 1 8 i o s o s of M ax imin us aza ak s B zan p , 4 rel gi u ref rm , D t e y tium , 1 2 o ca o s of 1 1 1 9 p liti l ref rm , 94 M - L eo IV. s o n of 1 A S an of E , h rt reig , 97 elek del , ult g ypt , V A n an z 2 Leo . (the rme i ) sei es 79 on 2 0 f a s M esemb ria ak n B a an s the thr e , 4 de e t the , t e by ulg ri , B a an s 2 0 2 06 20 a of 2 0 ulg ri , 5 ; murdered , 4 ; b ttle , 5 V W s n of M so o a a n b Leo I . 2 1 6 co H e (the i e) , reig , e p t mi , quered . y a w o s of 2 1 8 raclius 1 6 n a o n liter ry rk , , 3 i v ded by J h L eo acon 2 Zimisces 2 the De , 37 , 39

Leon tius s a on an d a of M c a I . Rli an ab e s o , u urp ti f ll , i h el ( g ) , h rt 1 — s a n I n o f 20 75 7 ; l i , 79 reig , 4 M a II m orian s con s So S a n c . A c Liberiu quer uth p i , i h el (the ) , on s irac of 2 6 6 cc s as ca as : p y , ; e le i ti l c n s w a s of Wi M ax 1 min us o c of 2 0 w a s of 2 08 Li i iu , r th p li y , 7 r , z M a a a 1 1 on Con c III . n a D , dethr ed by i h el (the Dru k rd) ,

stan tin e I . 1 2 n o o f 2 1 2 c ss an , mi rity , ; ex e es d a 2 2 1 - 2 of 2 1 Liter ture , murder , 3 o a s a P a M a V n n on a c I . P a o L mb rd , the , le ve i , i h el (the phlag n ian) , 1 1 con No I a 1 1 n a n d w a s of 2 6 5 quer rth t ly , 7 ; reig r , 4

a e Con s an s [ I . 1 6 M c a V . a ow o defe t d by t , 9 i h el , ephemer l p er f, s E a c a 1 6 2 ubdue the x r h te, 9 47 3 60 I NDE X .

M c a VI . Stratioticus s o Na s s n c con s i h el ( ) , h rt r e , the eu u h , quer n of 2 8— I a o o s reig , 4 9 t ly fr m the G th , 95 a n a M c a VII . D cas n o N a s s G n i h el ( u ) , mi rity r e , e er l , bur t live by of 2 1 sas o s n of 2 6 P ocas 1 2 , 5 di tr u reig , 5 h , 9 n 2 1 —2 0 M c a III . Pa o o s s Na B za n , i h el V ( le l gu ) , u ur vy , the y ti e 9 — d s ation of 0 o ow s th e N ca a a n C sa , p , 3 3 4 ; verthr i e , t ke by the ru er s 2 a n E 0 s a n s 2 6 O o m an , L ti mpire , 3 5 ; di b d the 4 , by the tt 3 3

As a c a 1 w a s of Nice h orus I . o n s I n i ti militi , 3 3 ; r , p dethr e re e , as o s w a s of 2 0 1 99 ; di s tr u r , 3

M c a IX . son an d co a ice h oru I I . P ocas a s i h el , lle gue N p s , h , t ke

of An on c s I I . a Can a 2 2 8 o 2 2 dr i u , defe ted by di , ; emper r , 9 ; ” an Co an 1 8 w ars of 2 1 the Gr d mp y , 3 , 3 murdered by M c a An s s o of E s Zimisces 2 2 i h el gelu , de p t piru , , 3 id to 00 N c o as V. o s n s a 3 i h l , p pe , e d M oa w iah Ca a ac s Con on s a n n X L , liph , tt k C t ti e , 344 s tan tin o le 1 0 h is a s N co a a n O o p , 7 ; rmie de i medi , t ke by the tt a 1 1 an s 2 fe ted , 7 m , 3 3 M o s a n a o s N n a of 1 8 e i , i v ded by the G th , 37 ; i eveh , b ttle , 3 s z B a an s 1 1 Norm a n s con ue rB zan n I a ei ed by the ulg ri , 7 , q y ti e t ly , M on s c a a c r s cs of a 2 n a 2 k , h r te i ti the e rly , 47 ; i v de the empire , 5 9 1 a o a w o s 1 n n as on o f 2 6 49 ; f v ur im ge r hip , 9 3 ; seco d i v i repelled , 7 , s c Con s an n Co n a s on of 2 per e uted by t ti e third i v i , 73 ron m us 1 No a a s o n 2 p y , 97 t r , J h , 34 M on o s s Nuceria o s a n a t phy ite , 7 5 , G th be te , 95 M oo s Ge lim er fl s to 8 r , ie the , 5 M on a see u n der Bon a c an d tferr t , if e Con rad M o a s f c of C s a n on O b e dah Sa ac n n a 1 62 r l , e fe t hri ti ity , y , r e ge er l , 1 — n a c a ac of O s a n th e 1 68 45 7 , ge er l h r ter b equi theme , , B za n n 1 — 6 O oac con T o o c y ti e , 5 5 d er , quered by he d ri , M os a s s Con s an 6 6 lem h be iege t ti 3 . 4

n o le 1 8 - O a Ca s s sa p , 5 7 m r , the liph , vi it Jeru lem , M otassem Ca sac s 1 6 , the liph , k 3 Am o riu m 2 1 0 O m e ades n as of 1 0 , y , dy ty the , 7 M d con s T ac 2 E of O o an s a I . an ur , quer hr e , 3 9 ; Orkh , mir the tt m , — V n s of 2 a n of o n . 0 co n an d s cc s s su zer i J h , 33 ; reig u e e , 3 3 4 ; s s 2 P n to S an a quer the Serb , 33 rete der the ult te , 343 M a IL s s Co ns an os s s o of 1 0 ur d , be iege t ti O r iu , hi t ry , 5 n o le a s ac w s o o s n T o o c in p , 33 7 ; m ke pe e ith O tr g th , u der he d ri 6 M an I I . 8 w a s of 2 M o s a 62 con a uel , 33 ; r , 34 e i , quer It ly , 4 ; o f 8 2 M urtzu h lus see A s V. w a n ss O f in o , p , lexiu e k e the k gd m ; D ca s s n ia n 88 w a s ( u ) a tt acked by Ju ti , r

M rioke h alon a of 2 2 of w B isa s a n d N a s s , y p , b ttle , 7 ith el riu r e — c s 89 94 ru hed , 95 an E of T s con O thm , mir the urk , Naissus ac of Con s an n s s of 2 1 - 2 , birthpl e t ti e que t , 3 3

I . 1 6 a n B a ans , ; t ke by the ulg ri , 2 77 P Na s a n B sa s 88 ple , t ke by eli riu , , a a t Cons an n nc o f P o w i Pa ac , , t ti i terfere e the pe th , l e imperi l le 1 1 20 n 0p , 9

3 62 I NDE X.

Sa o k n of P s a 2 S a n So of con us p r , i g er i , 3 p i , uth , quered by J ’ a ac n s con M a tin ian s n a s 6- S r e , the , verted by g e er l , 9 7 o 1 n a S i a Stauracius o s o n b met , 5 9 i v de yr , , emper r , h rt reig - E 1 66 of 2 0 1 60 2 ; con quer gypt , ; , 4 on P s a 1 6 c w a s S a s at Con s an n o 2 1 2 c quer er i , 4 ; ivil r t tue t ti ple , , 5 of 1 66 for a s o s c on of C sa s the , ; l ter hi t ry , de tru ti by the ru der , see u n der n ames of the Caliph s 2 9 1

Sa s a n A s I . 2 6 S an Sa ac n z s s rdi , t ke by lexiu , 5 uleim , r e vi ier , be iege Sc o a an a s 1 0 Con s an n o 1 8 s 1 86 h l ri Gu rd , the, 4 t ti ple , 5 die , ; — Sel oukT s con P s a and T s S an n of 6 j urk , quer er i urki h ult , reig , 334 A n a 2 0— 1 in vade th e S n Leca enus s a on of rme i , 5 em tephe p , u urp ti , 2 2 con As a M n o 2 1 pire , 5 ; quer i i r , 7 2 a C sa s S n s an n of S a 5 4 ; defe ted by the ru der , tephe Du h , ki g ervi , 2 6 w a s of w Com con s s of 2 5 ; r ith the que t , 3 7 — n n 2 6 - 2 w T o Ste ii en o ca s in F anks e i , 5 7 7 ith he p , p pe , ll the r , I 2 I 6 o . 8 d re , 9 9 S s a a c 1 S c o w a s ofw A a c - 8 ergiu , p tri r h , 33 tili h , r ith l ri , 47 na o s at Con s an no ono s Se te H u e t ti ple, murdered by H riu , 49 wiatoslaf n o f R ss a con 2 1 S , ki g u i , an s c oss an 1 2 s B a a 2 a Servi , r the D ube , 3 quer ulg ri , 3 5 defe ted Zimisc s 2 con Bas II . 2 e quered by il , 43 ; by , 37 V 2 6 n n s 1 a a n s M c a I . S a a rebel g i t i h el , 4 ; yri , i v ded by the Hu , 7

n M an I . 2 1 n a Ko a con co quered by uel , 7 ; i v ded by b d , 73 ; n M ac on a 2 sub Sh ah rb arz 1 2 - 0 overru ed i , 3 7 ; quered by , 9 3 T s 0 n a a n d con dued by the urk , 3 3 i v ded quered by the S s o a s B zan Sa ac n s 1 62 - con s s of everu , emper r , t ke y r e , 3 que t Nice h orus P ocas i n 2 2 tium , 9 p h , 9 h ah rb arz P s an ak s s C sa s 2 6 S , the er i , t e ubdued by the ru der , 5 a 1 2 a d So h ron ius a a c of erusa Jerus lem , 3 defe te by p , p tri r h J ac s 1 1 6 Her liu , 35 lem , 3 S c con B sa s T i ily , quered by eli riu , ac ns 2 08 Ta ma a of 8 8 ; i n vaded by Sar e , ; g i , b ttle , 95 a ac n s Ta s s a n Nice h orus Ph o fi n ally con quered by S r e , r u , t ke by p Maniakes 2 6 cas 2 0 2 1 4 i n v aded by , 4 , 3 n a iroes os s h is a C os T a , o c k n s a n i , S , dep e f ther h ei G thi i g , l i b ttle ' o s 1 8 r e , 3 95 f 1 kleros Ba as a a n s Bas T ac s a o o , 4 S , rd , rebel g i t il elem hu , m rtyrd m 5 a a a s us I I 2 1 T , n of B , J . , 4 erhel ki g ulg ri id a n fl nc of C s an n an IL 1 8 Sl very , i ue e hri ti ity ti i , 7 — T s n s on of ro on , 1 47 8 heme , i tituti the p f 1 6 — 8 a s n a Ba kan P n n vi n cial s s o , 7 Sl v , i v de the l e i y tem o c k n s s a 1 2 s c to A a s Th eodah at, , ul , 3 ubj e t the v r , G thi i g murder — s of 1 2 h is w 8 2 w ar of w Jus 1 2 4 3 7 ; rav age the , 5 , ife , ith

Con n an 8 s a n , 88 1 2 9 ; m ade tributary by ti i , 7 l i s n an ca T ssa T o o a , w of , s an s II . 1 6 s t , 9 ; be iege he he d r ife Ju ti i reer — a o s on ca 1 1 o f 66 8 in N ilz , 79 l i , 7 , the ri t 2 a of 1 0 o a St. s n of , 3 S phi , , fir t buildi g , 7 de th in Th eodora w ife ofT o s 2 1 I ; in 1 0 A . D . n , , burn t 4 , 5 3 ; bur t he philu ' f 2 1 2 M é a o s n n c o , the ri t , 77 ; rebuildi g rege y — a ofCons an n of s n an 1 0 s T o o a , by Ju ti i , 7 9 ; de e he d r d ug hter t ti e f 2 8 a T s VIII . n o , 4 cr ted by the urk , 349 , reig INDE X . 3 63

T o o a a of C an a Trib on ian n s of s n an I . he d r , d ughter t , mi i ter Ju ti i , cuzen us a to O an 1 1 2 , m rried rkh , 2 8 Tricam eron a o f 8 3 , b ttle , 5 ’ T o o I . L ascaris at th e T s see u n aer Sel ouks an d he d re ( ) , urk , j , s o f Con s an in o 2 8 n a s o f O o an S an iege t t ple , 9 ; me tt m ult s a o a t N ca a 2 8 T scan con Lom m de emper r i e , 9 ; u y , quered by the w a s of 2 a s 1 1 6 r , 99 b rd ,

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Th e s e con d v olume compri se s — R H EB REw STO FRO T H E EX E T o N EH E . PA T I . HI RY M IL MIAH I I — H EBREw E S T O N . L GI LA I .

- EB REW T S II I . E H AL . V — I . EBREW P RO P E H H CY. V — E B REW PO ET R . H Y .

I - W SDO V . EBR E W H I M .

Th e third v o lume w ill compris e the selection s fro m the N ew T es t a men t a rr an ged a s fo ll ow s : I — T . H E O SP E P RESE NT N T H E O RD N T o ST . M R E N G L ACC I G A K , I G VA GEL ICAL ST O RY I N IT S SIMPLEST F O RM ; SU P PLEMENT E D B W ND T SE E T O NS FRO ST . M TT E A S . U E L C I M A H L K .

II - T H E A T S O F T H E A P ST ES W T SO E I ND T . O O N O F T H C L , I H M ICA I P RO B B E P E O F T H E E P ST E S I N T H E N R T E A L LAC I L A R A IV . III — T H E E P ST ES O F T ES AND T H E F RST E P ST E O F S T . P ETER . I L JAM I I L S IV — THE P ST E F T P E S O . . I L S . AUL V — T H E E P ST E T o T H E EB EW S . I L H R . I — T H E R E E T O N O F T O N A P O RT O N V S . . V LA I J H ( I ) . — VII T H E F RST E P ST E O F ST . O N. . I I L J H I I — T O N VI . THE O SPE O F . G L S . J H

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Sel ma! Ti mes.

UT NA ’ S SONS G. P . P M NEW YOR K LO NDO N 9 7 AND 2 9 WEST 2 3 D STREET