17. What caused the introduction of the Goths into the Roman empire? 18. How did the imprudence of Valens cause his destruction? 19. What atrocious edict was issued by the senate of Constantinople? 20. How was Gratian prevented from avenging his uncle's death? 21. To whom did Gratian entrust the eastern provinces?

22. How did Theodosius administer the government of the East? 23. By whom was Gratian deposed and slain?

24. On what conditions did Theodosius make peace with Maximus ? 25. Were these conditions observed?

26. How did the war between Theodosius and Maximus terminate? 27. Did Valentinian long survive his restoration?

28. How did Theodosius act on the news of Valentinian's murder? 29. What caused the death of Theodosius?

CHAPTER XXVI.

SECT. I.

FROM THE DEATH OF THEODOSIUS TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE.

1. THE memory of their father's virtues protected the feeble youth of Arca'dius and Hono'rius, the sons of Theodo'sius; by the unanimous consent of mankind, they were saluted emperors of the East and West, and between them was made the final and permanent division of the Roman empire. Though both parts were never re-united under a single ruler, they continued for several centuries to be considered as one empire, and this opinion produced im

portant consequences even in a late period of the middle ages. The dominions of Arca'dius extended from the lower Danube to the confines of Ethiopia and Persia; including Thrace', Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. Honorius, a youth in his eleventh year, received the nominal sovereignty of Italy, Africa, Gaul, Spain, and Britain, with the provinces of No'ricum, Panno'nia, and Dalmatia. The great and martial prefecture of Illyricum was divided equally between the two princes; the boundary line of whose dominions consequently nearly coincided with that which separates the Austrian states from the Turkish provinces. 2. The Western empire, to the history of which we must now confine ourselves, though equal to the Eastern in extent, wealth, and population, was incomparably weaker, and already appeared rapidly tending to decay. The Caledonians in Britain, and the German tribes on the northern frontiers, harassed the imperial troops by frequent incursions; on the east the Goths were hourly becoming more formidable, and the African provinces were threatened by the Moors. 3. The internal state of the empire furnished little ground for hope that these various enemies could be subdued; the principle of union no longer existed; the proud title of Roman citizen was an empty name; Rome itself had ceased to be the metropolis, and was now only protected by the memory of her former greatness.

4. Stil'icho, a general of superior abilities, and a statesman of profound wisdom, acted as the guardian of Hono'rius. He was descended from the perfidious race of the Vandals, and unfortunately possessed, in an eminent degree, the cunning, treachery, and cruelty that characterized his nation. The administration of the Eastern empire was entrusted by Arca'dius, to Rufi'nus, who possessed all the bad qualities of Stil'icho, without his redeeming virtues. The ministers of the two empires hated each other most

1 See Introduction, Chapter x.

cordially, and each secretly sought to remove his powerful rival; but the superior craft of Stil'icho, and his great influence over the soldiers, made him conquer. 5. He was ordered to lead into the East a fair proportion of the army which Theodo'sius had assembled, and in obedience to the requisition, he marched towards Constantinople, at the head of the Gothic legions. The approach of his great rival with a powerful army alarmed the timid Rufi'nus; he obtained a peremptory edict from Arca'dius, commanding Stil'icho to return to Italy, and the promptitude with which the order was obeyed, lulled the Eastern minister into fatal negligence. The troops arrived near Constantinople, under the guidance of Gai'nas, a Gothic leader, and the emperor, accompanied by his minister, came out to welcome and review the soldiers. As Rufi'nus rode along the ranks, endeavouring to conciliate favour by studied courtesy, the wings gradually advanced, and enclosed the devoted victim within the fatal circle of their arms. Before he was aware of his danger, Gai'nas gave the signal of death, a soldier rushing forward plunged his sword into his breast, and the bleeding corpse fell at the very feet of the alarmed emperor. 6. His mangled body was treated with shocking indignity, and his wife and daughter would have shared his fate, had they not placed themselves under the protection of religion, and sought refuge in the sanctuary. 7. Stil'icho derived no advantage from this crime which he had planned, but not executed; Arca'dius chose for his new minister, Eutropius, one of his servants, and Gai'nas declared himself the deter, mined enemy of his former general. 8. The national hatred between the Greeks and the Romans was excited by the rival ministers, and thus at a moment when union alone would delay ruin, the subjects of Arca'dius and Hono'rius were induced to regard each other not only as foreigners, but as enemies. 9. The revolt of Gil'do, in Africa, under the pretence of transferring his allegiance from the Western to the Eastern empire, was sanctioned by

the court of Constantinople. Such an event was peculiarly alarming, as Italy at the time imported most of the corn necessary to the subsistence of the people from the African provinces. The vigour of Stil'icho warded off the danger; he sent a small but veteran army into Africa, before which Gil'do's hosts of unarmed and undisciplined barbarians fled almost without a blow. The usurper was taken and executed; his partisans were persecuted with merciless impolicy.

10. The Goths, who had remained quiet during the reign of the great Theodo'sius, disdained submission to his unwarlike successors; under the pretence that the subsidy prudently paid them by the late emperor was withheld, they raised the standard of revolt, and chose for their leader Alaric, the most formidable enemy that the Romans had hitherto encountered. Instead of confining his depredations to the northern provinces, already wasted by frequent incursions, Alaric resolved to invade Greece, where the din of arms had not been heard for centuries. 11. The barbarian encountered little or no resistance; the memorable pass of Thermop'yla1 was abandoned by its garrison; Athens purchased inglorious safety by the sacrifice of the greater part of its wealth; the Corinthian isthmus was undefended, and the Goths ravaged without opposition the entire Peloponne'sus. Unable to protect themselves, the Greeks sought the aid of Stil'icho, and that great leader soon sailed to their assistance; he inflicted a severe defeat on the Goths, but neglected to improve his advantages, and before he could retrieve his error, news arrived that the faithless court of Constantinople had concluded a treaty of peace with Alaric. Stil'icho, of course, returned to Italy; while the Eastern emperor, with incomprehensible folly, nominated the Gothic leader master-general of eastern Illyricum.

1 See Pinnock's Grecian History.

12. Italy soon excited the ambition and cupidity of Alaric; he determined to invade that country, and after surmounting all impediments, appeared with his forces before the imperial city of Milan. The feeble Hono'rius would have fled with his effeminate court into some remote corner of Gaul, had not the indignant remonstrances of Stil'icho induced him to remain, until he could assemble forces sufficient to protect the empire. For this purpose the brave general hurried into Gaul, assembled the garrisons from the frontier towns, recalled a legion from Britain, and strengthened his forces by taking several German tribes into pay. 13. But before Stil'icho could return, the empire had been brought to the very brink of ruin; Hono'rius, affrighted by the approach of the Goths, fled from Milan to As'ta, and was there closely besieged. When the town was on the point of capitulating, the emperor was saved by the opportune arrival of Stil'icho, before whom Alaric retired. was closely pursued, and the armies of the Romans and Barbarians came to an engagement nearly on the same ground where Marius had so many years before defeated the Cimbri. 14. The Goths were completely beaten, and a second victory obtained over them near Vero'na seemed to ensure the deliverance of Italy; but Al'aric was still formidable, and the favourable terms granted him by Stil'icho proved, that in the opinion of that general, the Gothic king, though defeated, was unconquered'.

He

15. The late invasion so alarmed the timid Hono'rius, that he resolved to fix his residence in some remote and strong fortress, and for this purpose he selected Raven'na2, an ancient city, but which had not previously obtained notoriety. 16. Before Italy had recovered from the terrors

'See Chapter xxvii.

2 Raven'na is a town in Italy, on the Adria'tic Sea; and though but a poor place, it was formerly remarkable for its strength and beauty; but particularly for its noble harbour, which was capable of containing 250 ships. The sea appears to have gradually retreated, as Raven'na is now four miles from it, and surrounded with swamps and marshes.