Claud。inii。Cons。Stilichon。456。
　　MontfauconhasrepresentedsomeofthesetabletsordypticksseeSupplemental'Antiquiteexpliquee，tom。iii。p。220。]
　　[Footnote84:ConsulelaetaturpostplurimaseculovisoPallanteusapex:agnoscuntrostracurulesAuditasquondamproavis:desuetaquecingitRegiusauratisForafascibusUlpialictor。
　　Claud。invi。Cons。Honorii，643。
　　FromthereignofCarustothesixthconsulshipofHonorius，therewasanintervalofonehundredandtwentyyears，duringwhichtheemperorswerealwaysabsentfromRomeonthefirstdayofJanuary。SeetheChronologiedeTillemonte，tom。iii。iv。andv。]
　　OnthemorningofthefirstofJanuary，theconsulsassumedtheensignsoftheirdignity。Theirdresswasarobeofpurple，embroideredinsilkandgold，andsometimesornamentedwithcostlygems。^85Onthissolemnoccasiontheywereattendedbythemosteminentofficersofthestateandarmy，inthehabitofsenators；andtheuselessfasces，armedwiththeonceformidableaxes，werebornebeforethembythelictors。^86Theprocessionmovedfromthepalace^87totheForumorprincipalsquareofthecity；wheretheconsulsascendedtheirtribunal，andseatedthemselvesinthecurulechairs，whichwereframedafterthefashionofancienttimes。Theyimmediatelyexercisedanactofjurisdiction，bythemanumissionofaslave，whowasbroughtbeforethemforthatpurpose；andtheceremonywasintendedtorepresentthecelebratedactionoftheelderBrutus，theauthoroflibertyandoftheconsulship，whenheadmittedamonghisfellow—citizensthefaithfulVindex，whohadrevealedtheconspiracyoftheTarquins。^88ThepublicfestivalwascontinuedduringseveraldaysinalltheprincipalcitiesinRome，fromcustom；inConstantinople，fromimitationinCarthage，Antioch，andAlexandria，fromtheloveofpleasure，andthesuperfluityofwealth。^89Inthetwocapitalsoftheempiretheannualgamesofthetheatre，thecircus，andtheamphitheatre，^90costfourthousandpoundsofgold，aboutonehundredandsixtythousandpoundssterling:andifsoheavyanexpensesurpassedthefacultiesortheinclinationsofthemagistratesthemselves，thesumwassuppliedfromtheImperialtreasury。^91Assoonastheconsulshaddischargedthesecustomaryduties，theywereatlibertytoretireintotheshadeofprivatelife，andtoenjoy，duringtheremainderoftheyear，theundisturbedcontemplationoftheirowngreatness。Theynolongerpresidedinthenationalcouncils；theynolongerexecutedtheresolutionsofpeaceorwar。Theirabilitiesunlesstheywereemployedinmoreeffectiveofficeswereoflittlemoment；andtheirnamesservedonlyasthelegaldateoftheyearinwhichtheyhadfilledthechairofMariusandofCicero。Yetitwasstillfeltandacknowledged，inthelastperiodofRomanservitude，thatthisemptynamemightbecompared，andevenpreferred，tothepossessionofsubstantialpower。Thetitleofconsulwasstillthemostsplendidobjectofambition，thenoblestrewardofvirtueandloyalty。Theemperorsthemselves，whodisdainedthefaintshadowoftherepublic，wereconsciousthattheyacquiredanadditionalsplendorandmajestyasoftenastheyassumedtheannualhonorsoftheconsulardignity。^92
　　[Footnote85:SeeClaudianinCons。Prob。etOlybrii，178，&c。；
　　andiniv。Cons。Honorii，585，&c。；thoughinthelatteritisnoteasytoseparatetheornamentsoftheemperorfromthoseoftheconsul。AusoniusreceivedfromtheliberalityofGratianavestispalmata，orrobeofstate，inwhichthefigureoftheemperorConstantiuswasembroidered。
　　Cernisetarmorumprocereslegumquepotentes:
　　Patriciossumunthabitus；etmoreGabinoDiscolorinceditlegio，positisqueparumperBellorumsignis，sequiturvexillaQuirini。
　　Lictoriceduntaquilae，ridetquetogatusMiles，etinmediiseffulgetcuriacastris。
　　Claud。iniv。Cons。Honorii，5。
　　—strictaqueproculradiaresecures。
　　InCons。Prob。229]
　　[Footnote87:SeeValesiusadAmmian。Marcellin。l。xxii。c。7。]
　　[Footnote88:Auspicemoxlaetosonuitclamoretribunal；
　　Tefastosineuntequater；solemnialuditOminalibertas；deductumVindicemoremLexservat，famulusquejugolaxatusheriliDucitur，etgratoremeatsecuriorictu。
　　Claud。inivCons。Honorii，611]
　　[Footnote89:Celebrantquidemsolemnesistosdiesomnesubiqueurbesquaesublegibusagunt；etRomademore，etConstantinopolisdeimitatione，etAntiochiaproluxu，etdiscinctaCarthago，etdomusfluminisAlexandria，sedTreviriPrincipisbeneficio。AusoniusinGrat。Actione。]
　　[Footnote90:ClaudianinCons。Mall。Theodori，279—331
　　describes，inalivelyandfancifulmanner，thevariousgamesofthecircus，thetheatre，andtheamphitheatre，exhibitedbythenewconsul。Thesanguinarycombatsofgladiatorshadalreadybeenprohibited。]
　　[Footnote91:ProcopiusinHist。Arcana，c。26。]
　　[Footnote92:InConsulatuhonossinelaboresuscipitur。
　　Mamertin。inPanegyr。Vet。xi。[x。]2。Thisexaltedideaoftheconsulshipisborrowedfromanorationiii。p。107
　　pronouncedbyJulianintheservilecourtofConstantius。SeetheAbbedelaBleterie，Memoiresdel'Academie，tom。xxiv。p。
　　289，whodelightstopursuethevestigesoftheoldconstitution，andwhosometimesfindstheminhiscopiousfancy]
　　Theproudestandmostperfectseparationwhichcanbefoundinanyageorcountry，betweenthenoblesandthepeople，isperhapsthatofthePatriciansandthePlebeians，asitwasestablishedinthefirstageoftheRomanrepublic。Wealthandhonors，theofficesofthestate，andtheceremoniesofreligion，werealmostexclusivelypossessedbytheformerwho，preservingthepurityoftheirbloodwiththemostinsultingjealousy，^93
　　heldtheirclientsinaconditionofspeciousvassalage。Butthesedistinctions，soincompatiblewiththespiritofafreepeople，wereremoved，afteralongstruggle，bytheperseveringeffortsoftheTribunes。ThemostactiveandsuccessfulofthePlebeiansaccumulatedwealth，aspiredtohonors，deservedtriumphs，contractedalliances，and，aftersomegenerations，assumedtheprideofancientnobility。^94ThePatricianfamilies，ontheotherhand，whoseoriginalnumberwasneverrecruitedtilltheendofthecommonwealth，eitherfailedintheordinarycourseofnature，orwereextinguishedinsomanyforeignanddomesticwars，or，throughawantofmeritorfortune，insensiblymingledwiththemassofthepeople。^95Veryfewremainedwhocouldderivetheirpureandgenuineoriginfromtheinfancyofthecity，orevenfromthatoftherepublic，whenCaesarandAugustus，ClaudiusandVespasian，createdfromthebodyofthesenateacompetentnumberofnewPatricianfamilies，inthehopeofperpetuatinganorder，whichwasstillconsideredashonorableandsacred。^96Buttheseartificialsuppliesinwhichthereigninghousewasalwaysincludedwererapidlysweptawaybytherageoftyrants，byfrequentrevolutions，bythechangeofmanners，andbytheintermixtureofnations。^97LittlemorewasleftwhenConstantineascendedthethrone，thanavagueandimperfecttradition，thatthePatricianshadoncebeenthefirstoftheRomans。Toformabodyofnobles，whoseinfluencemayrestrain，whileitsecurestheauthorityofthemonarch，wouldhavebeenveryinconsistentwiththecharacterandpolicyofConstantine；buthadheseriouslyentertainedsuchadesign，itmighthaveexceededthemeasureofhispowertoratify，byanarbitraryedict，aninstitutionwhichmustexpectthesanctionoftimeandofopinion。Herevived，indeed，thetitleofPatricians，buthereviveditasapersonal，notasanhereditarydistinction。Theyyieldedonlytothetransientsuperiorityoftheannualconsuls；buttheyenjoyedthepre—eminenceoverallthegreatofficersofstate，withthemostfamiliaraccesstothepersonoftheprince。Thishonorablerankwasbestowedonthemforlife；andastheywereusuallyfavorites，andministerswhohadgrownoldintheImperialcourt，thetrueetymologyofthewordwaspervertedbyignoranceandflattery；andthePatriciansofConstantinewerereverencedastheadoptedFathersoftheemperorandtherepublic。^98
　　[Footnote93:IntermarriagesbetweenthePatriciansandPlebeianswereprohibitedbythelawsoftheXIITables；andtheuniformoperationsofhumannaturemayattestthatthecustomsurvivedthelaw。SeeinLivyiv。1—6theprideoffamilyurgedbytheconsul，andtherightsofmankindassertedbythetribuneCanuleius。]
　　[Footnote94:SeetheanimatedpicturedrawnbySallust，intheJugurthinewar，oftheprideofthenobles，andevenofthevirtuousMetellus，whowasunabletobrooktheideathatthehonoroftheconsulshipshouldbebestowedontheobscuremeritofhislieutenantMarius。c。64。Twohundredyearsbefore，theraceoftheMetellithemselveswereconfoundedamongthePlebeiansofRome；andfromtheetymologyoftheirnameofCoecilius，thereisreasontobelievethatthosehaughtynoblesderivedtheiroriginfromasutler。]
　　[Footnote95:IntheyearofRome800，veryfewremained，notonlyoftheoldPatricianfamilies，butevenofthosewhichhadbeencreatedbyCaesarandAugustus。Tacit。Annal。xi。25。ThefamilyofScaurusabranchofthePatricianAemiliiwasdegradedsolowthathisfather，whoexercisedthetradeofacharcoalmerchant，lefthimonlyteuslaves，andsomewhatlessthanthreehundredpoundssterling。ValeriusMaximus，l。iv。c。
　　4，n。11。Aurel。VictorinScauro。Thefamilywassavedfromoblivionbythemeritoftheson。]
　　[Footnote96:Tacit。Annal。xi。25。DionCassius，l。iii。p。
　　698。ThevirtuesofAgricola，whowascreatedaPatricianbytheemperorVespasian，reflectedhonoronthatancientorder；buthisancestorshadnotanyclaimbeyondanEquestriannobility。]
　　[Footnote97:Thisfailurewouldhavebeenalmostimpossibleifitweretrue，asCasauboncompelsAureliusVictortoaffirmadSueton，inCaesarv。24。SeeHist。Augustp。203andCasaubonComment。，p。220thatVespasiancreatedatonceathousandPatricianfamilies。ButthisextravagantnumberistoomuchevenforthewholeSenatorialorder。unlessweshouldincludealltheRomanknightswhoweredistinguishedbythepermissionofwearingthelaticlave。]
　　[Footnote98:Zosimus，l。ii。p。118；andGodefroyadCod。
　　Theodos。l。vi。tit。vi。]
　　II。ThefortunesofthePraetorianpraefectswereessentiallydifferentfromthoseoftheconsulsandPatricians。
　　Thelattersawtheirancientgreatnessevaporateinavaintitle。
　　Theformer，risingbydegreesfromthemosthumblecondition，wereinvestedwiththecivilandmilitaryadministrationoftheRomanworld。FromthereignofSeverustothatofDiocletian，theguardsandthepalace，thelawsandthefinances，thearmiesandtheprovinces，wereintrustedtotheirsuperintendingcare；
　　and，liketheViziersoftheEast，theyheldwithonehandtheseal，andwiththeotherthestandard，oftheempire。Theambitionofthepraefects，alwaysformidable，andsometimesfataltothemasterswhomtheyserved，wassupportedbythestrengthofthePraetorianbands；butafterthosehaughtytroopshadbeenweakenedbyDiocletian，andfinallysuppressedbyConstantine，thepraefects，whosurvivedtheirfall，werereducedwithoutdifficultytothestationofusefulandobedientministers。Whentheywerenolongerresponsibleforthesafetyoftheemperor'sperson，theyresignedthejurisdictionwhichtheyhadhithertoclaimedandexercisedoverallthedepartmentsofthepalace。
　　TheyweredeprivedbyConstantineofallmilitarycommand，assoonastheyhadceasedtoleadintothefield，undertheirimmediateorders，thefloweroftheRomantroops；andatlength，byasingularrevolution，thecaptainsoftheguardsweretransformedintothecivilmagistratesoftheprovinces。
　　AccordingtotheplanofgovernmentinstitutedbyDiocletian，thefourprinceshadeachtheirPraetorianpraefect；andafterthemonarchywasoncemoreunitedinthepersonofConstantine，hestillcontinuedtocreatethesamenumberofFourPraefects，andintrustedtotheircarethesameprovinceswhichtheyalreadyadministered。1。ThepraefectoftheEaststretchedhisamplejurisdictionintothethreepartsoftheglobewhichweresubjecttotheRomans，fromthecataractsoftheNiletothebanksofthePhasis，andfromthemountainsofThracetothefrontiersofPersia。2。TheimportantprovincesofPannonia，Dacia，Macedonia，andGreece，onceacknowledgedtheauthorityofthepraefectofIllyricum。3。ThepowerofthepraefectofItalywasnotconfinedtothecountryfromwhencehederivedhistitle；itextendedovertheadditionalterritoryofRhaetiaasfarasthebanksoftheDanube，overthedependentislandsoftheMediterranean，andoverthatpartofthecontinentofAfricawhichliesbetweentheconfinesofCyreneandthoseofTingitania。4。ThepraefectoftheGaulscomprehendedunderthatpluraldenominationthekindredprovincesofBritainandSpain，andhisauthoritywasobeyedfromthewallofAntoninustothefootofMountAtlas。^99
　　[Footnote99:Zosimus，l。ii。p。109，110。IfwehadnotfortunatelypossessedthissatisfactoryaccountofthedivisionofthepowerandprovincesofthePraetorianpraefects，weshouldfrequentlyhavebeenperplexedamidstthecopiousdetailsoftheCode，andthecircumstantialminutenessoftheNotitia。]
　　AfterthePraetorianpraefectshadbeendismissedfromallmilitarycommand，thecivilfunctionswhichtheywereordainedtoexerciseoversomanysubjectnations，wereadequatetotheambitionandabilitiesofthemostconsummateministers。Totheirwisdomwascommittedthesupremeadministrationofjusticeandofthefinances，thetwoobjectswhich，inastateofpeace，comprehendalmostalltherespectivedutiesofthesovereignandofthepeople；oftheformer，toprotectthecitizenswhoareobedienttothelaws；ofthelatter，tocontributetheshareoftheirpropertywhichisrequiredfortheexpensesofthestate。
　　Thecoin，thehighways，theposts，thegranaries，themanufactures，whatevercouldinterestthepublicprosperity，wasmoderatedbytheauthorityofthePraetorianpraefects。AstheimmediaterepresentativesoftheImperialmajesty，theywereempoweredtoexplain，toenforce，andonsomeoccasionstomodify，thegeneraledictsbytheirdiscretionaryproclamations。
　　Theywatchedovertheconductoftheprovincialgovernors，removedthenegligent，andinflictedpunishmentsontheguilty。
　　Fromalltheinferiorjurisdictions，anappealineverymatterofimportance，eithercivilorcriminal，mightbebroughtbeforethetribunalofthepraefect；buthissentencewasfinalandabsolute；andtheemperorsthemselvesrefusedtoadmitanycomplaintsagainstthejudgmentortheintegrityofamagistratewhomtheyhonoredwithsuchunboundedconfidence。^100Hisappointmentsweresuitabletohisdignity；^101andifavaricewashisrulingpassion，heenjoyedfrequentopportunitiesofcollectingarichharvestoffees，ofpresents，andofperquisites。Thoughtheemperorsnolongerdreadedtheambitionoftheirpraefects，theywereattentivetocounterbalancethepowerofthisgreatofficebytheuncertaintyandshortnessofitsduration。^102
　　[Footnote100:SeealawofConstantinehimself。Apraefectisautempraetorioprovocare，nonsinimus。Cod。Justinian。l。vii。
　　tit。lxii。leg。19。Charisius，alawyerofthetimeofConstantine，Heinec。Hist。Romani，p。349，whoadmitsthislawasafundamentalprincipleofjurisprudence，comparesthePraetorianpraefectstothemastersofthehorseoftheancientdictators。Pandect。l。i。tit。xi。]
　　[Footnote101:WhenJustinian，intheexhaustedconditionoftheempire，institutedaPraetorianpraefectforAfrica，heallowedhimasalaryofonehundredpoundsofgold。Cod。Justinian。l。
　　i。tit。xxvii。leg。i。]
　　[Footnote102:Forthis，andtheotherdignitiesoftheempire，itmaybesufficienttorefertotheamplecommentariesofPancirolusandGodefroy，whohavediligentlycollectedandaccuratelydigestedintheirproperorderallthelegalandhistoricalmaterials。Fromthoseauthors，Dr。HowellHistoryoftheWorld，vol。ii。p。24—77hasdeducedaverydistinctabridgmentofthestateoftheRomanempire]
　　Fromtheirsuperiorimportanceanddignity，RomeandConstantinoplewerealoneexceptedfromthejurisdictionofthePraetorianpraefects。Theimmensesizeofthecity，andtheexperienceofthetardy，ineffectualoperationofthelaws，hadfurnishedthepolicyofAugustuswithaspeciouspretenceforintroducinganewmagistrate，whoalonecouldrestrainaservileandturbulentpopulacebythestrongarmofarbitrarypower。^103
　　ValeriusMessallawasappointedthefirstpraefectofRome，thathisreputationmightcountenancesoinvidiousameasure；but，attheendofafewdays，thataccomplishedcitizen^104resignedhisoffice，declaring，withaspiritworthyofthefriendofBrutus，thathefoundhimselfincapableofexercisingapowerincompatiblewithpublicfreedom。^105Asthesenseoflibertybecamelessexquisite，theadvantagesoforderweremoreclearlyunderstood；andthepraefect，whoseemedtohavebeendesignedasaterroronlytoslavesandvagrants，waspermittedtoextendhiscivilandcriminaljurisdictionovertheequestrianandnoblefamiliesofRome。Thepraetors，annuallycreatedasthejudgesoflawandequity，couldnotlongdisputethepossessionoftheForumwithavigorousandpermanentmagistrate，whowasusuallyadmittedintotheconfidenceoftheprince。Theircourtsweredeserted，theirnumber，whichhadoncefluctuatedbetweentwelveandeighteen，^106wasgraduallyreducedtotwoorthree，andtheirimportantfunctionswereconfinedtotheexpensiveobligation^107ofexhibitinggamesfortheamusementofthepeople。AftertheofficeoftheRomanconsulshadbeenchangedintoavainpageant，whichwasrarelydisplayedinthecapital，thepraefectsassumedtheirvacantplaceinthesenate，andweresoonacknowledgedastheordinarypresidentsofthatvenerableassembly。Theyreceivedappealsfromthedistanceofonehundredmiles；anditwasallowedasaprincipleofjurisprudence，thatallmunicipalauthoritywasderivedfromthemalone。^108Inthedischargeofhislaboriousemployment，thegovernorofRomewasassistedbyfifteenofficers，someofwhomhadbeenoriginallyhisequals，orevenhissuperiors。Theprincipaldepartmentswererelativetothecommandofanumerouswatch，establishedasasafeguardagainstfires，robberies，andnocturnaldisorders；