Forafewminutestheysatinsilentsuspense，doubtfuloftheirunexpecteddeliverance，andsuspiciousofthecruelartificesofCommodus:butwhenatlengththeywereassuredthatthetyrantwasnomore，theyresignedthemselvestoallthetransportsofjoyandindignation。Pertinax，whomodestlyrepresentedthemeannessofhisextraction，andpointedoutseveralnoblesenatorsmoredeservingthanhimselfoftheempire，wasconstrainedbytheirdutifulviolencetoascendthethrone，andreceivedallthetitlesofImperialpower，confirmedbythemostsincerevowsoffidelity。ThememoryofCommoduswasbrandedwitheternalinfamy。Thenamesoftyrant，ofgladiator，ofpublicenemyresoundedineverycornerofthehouse。Theydecreedintumultuousvotes，thathishonorsshouldbereversed，histitleserasedfromthepublicmonuments，hisstatuesthrowndown，hisbodydraggedwithahookintothestrippingroomofthegladiators，tosatiatethepublicfury；andtheyexpressedsomeindignationagainstthoseofficiousservantswhohadalreadypresumedtoscreenhisremainsfromthejusticeofthesenate。ButPertinaxcouldnotrefusethoselastritestothememoryofMarcus，andthetearsofhisfirstprotectorClaudiusPompeianus，wholamentedthecruelfateofhisbrother—in—law，andlamentedstillmorethathehaddeservedit。
^47
[Footnote*:Thesenatealwaysassembledatthebeginningoftheyear，onthenightofthe1stJanuary，seeSavarononSid。
Apoll。viii。6，andthishappenedthepresentyear，asusual，withoutanyparticularorder。—GfromW。]
[Footnote*:WhatGibbonimproperlycalls，bothhereandinthenote，tumultuousdecrees，werenomorethantheapplausesandacclamationswhichrecursoofteninthehistoryoftheemperors。
Thecustompassedfromthetheatretotheforum，fromtheforumtothesenate。ApplausesontheadoptionoftheImperialdecreeswerefirstintroducedunderTrajan。Plin。jun。Panegyr。75。
Onesenatorreadtheformofthedecree，andalltherestansweredbyacclamations，accompaniedwithakindofchantorrhythm。TheseweresomeoftheacclamationsaddressedtoPertinax，andagainstthememoryofCommodus。Hostipatriaehonoresdetrahantur。Parricidaehonoresdetrahantur。Utsalvisimus，Jupiter，optime，maxime，servanobisPertinacem。Thiscustomprevailednotonlyinthecouncilsofstate，butinallthemeetingsofthesenate。Howeverinconsistentitmayappearwiththesolemnityofareligiousassembly，theearlyChristiansadoptedandintroduceditintotheirsynods，notwithstandingtheoppositionofsomeoftheFathers，particularlyofSt。
Chrysostom。SeetheColl。ofFranc。Bern。FerrariusdeveterumacclamationeinGraeviiThesaur。Antiq。Rom。i。6。—W。
Thisnoteisratherhypercritical，asregardsGibbon，butappearstobeworthyofpreservation。—M。]
[Footnote47:Capitolinusgivesustheparticularsofthesetumultuaryvotes，whichweremovedbyonesenator，andrepeated，orratherchantedbythewholebody。Hist。August。p。52。]
Theseeffusionsofimpotentrageagainstadeademperor，whomthesenatehadflatteredwhenalivewiththemostabjectservility，betrayedajustbutungenerousspiritofrevenge。
Thelegalityofthesedecreeswas，however，supportedbytheprinciplesoftheImperialconstitution。Tocensure，todepose，ortopunishwithdeath，thefirstmagistrateoftherepublic，whohadabusedhisdelegatedtrust，wastheancientandundoubtedprerogativeoftheRomansenate；^48butthefeebleassemblywasobligedtocontentitselfwithinflictingonafallentyrantthatpublicjustice，fromwhich，duringhislifeandreign，hehadbeenshieldedbythestrongarmofmilitarydespotism。
[Footnote48:ThesenatecondemnedNerotobeputtodeathmoremajorum。Sueton。c。49。]
[Footnote*:Noparticularlawassignedthisrighttothesenate:
itwasdeducedfromtheancientprinciplesoftherepublic。
Gibbonappearstoinfer，fromthepassageofSuetonius，thatthesenate，accordingtoitsancientright，punishedNerowithdeath。
Thewords，however，moremajerumrefernottothedecreeofthesenate，buttothekindofdeath，whichwastakenfromanoldlawofRomulus。SeeVictor。Epit。Ed。Artzenp。484，n。7。—W。]
Pertinaxfoundanoblerwayofcondemninghispredecessor'smemory；bythecontrastofhisownvirtueswiththevicesofCommodus。Onthedayofhisaccession，heresignedovertohiswifeandsonhiswholeprivatefortune；thattheymighthavenopretencetosolicitfavorsattheexpenseofthestate。HerefusedtoflatterthevanityoftheformerwiththetitleofAugusta；ortocorrupttheinexperiencedyouthofthelatterbytherankofCaesar。Accuratelydistinguishingbetweenthedutiesofaparentandthoseofasovereign，heeducatedhissonwithaseveresimplicity，which，whileitgavehimnoassuredprospectofthethrone，mightintimehaverenderedhimworthyofit。Inpublic，thebehaviorofPertinaxwasgraveandaffable。Helivedwiththevirtuouspartofthesenate，and，inaprivatestation，hehadbeenacquaintedwiththetruecharacterofeachindividual，withouteitherprideorjealousy；consideredthemasfriendsandcompanions，withwhomhehadsharedthedangerofthetyranny，andwithwhomhewishedtoenjoythesecurityofthepresenttime。Heveryfrequentlyinvitedthemtofamiliarentertainments，thefrugalityofwhichwasridiculedbythosewhorememberedandregrettedtheluxuriousprodigalityofCommodus。
^49
[Footnote49:Dionl。lxxiii。p。1223speaksoftheseentertainments，asasenatorwhohadsuppedwiththeemperor；
Capitolinus，Hist。August。p。58，likeaslave，whohadreceivedhisintelligencefromonethescullions。]
Toheal，asfarasIwaspossible，thewoundsinflictedbythehandoftyranny，wasthepleasing，butmelancholy，taskofPertinax。Theinnocentvictims，whoyetsurvived，wererecalledfromexile，releasedfromprison，andrestoredtothefullpossessionoftheirhonorsandfortunes。TheunburiedbodiesofmurderedsenatorsforthecrueltyofCommodusendeavoredtoextenditselfbeyonddeathweredepositedinthesepulchresoftheirancestors；theirmemorywasjustifiedandeveryconsolationwasbestowedontheirruinedandafflictedfamilies。Amongtheseconsolations，oneofthemostgratefulwasthepunishmentoftheDelators；thecommonenemiesoftheirmaster，ofvirtue，andoftheircountry。Yetevenintheinquisitionoftheselegalassassins，Pertinaxproceededwithasteadytemper，whichgaveeverythingtojustice，andnothingtopopularprejudiceandresentment。
Thefinancesofthestatedemandedthemostvigilantcareoftheemperor。Thougheverymeasureofinjusticeandextortionhadbeenadopted，whichcouldcollectthepropertyofthesubjectintothecoffersoftheprince，therapaciousnessofCommodushadbeensoveryinadequatetohisextravagance，that，uponhisdeath，nomorethaneightthousandpoundswerefoundintheexhaustedtreasury，^50todefraythecurrentexpensesofgovernment，andtodischargethepressingdemandofaliberaldonative，whichthenewemperorhadbeenobligedtopromisetothePraetorianguards。Yetunderthesedistressedcircumstances，PertinaxhadthegenerousfirmnesstoremitalltheoppressivetaxesinventedbyCommodus，andtocancelalltheunjustclaimsofthetreasury；declaring，inadecreeofthesenate，"thathewasbettersatisfiedtoadministerapoorrepublicwithinnocence，thantoacquirerichesbythewaysoftyrannyanddishonor。"Economyandindustryheconsideredasthepureandgenuinesourcesofwealth；andfromthemhesoonderivedacopioussupplyforthepublicnecessities。Theexpenseofthehouseholdwasimmediatelyreducedtoonehalf。AlltheinstrumentsofluxuryPertinaxexposedtopublicauction，^51
goldandsilverplate，chariotsofasingularconstruction，asuperfluouswardrobeofsilkandembroidery，andagreatnumberofbeautifulslavesofbothsexes；exceptingonly，withattentivehumanity，thosewhowereborninastateoffreedom，andhadbeenravishedfromthearmsoftheirweepingparents。Atthesametimethatheobligedtheworthlessfavoritesofthetyranttoresignapartoftheirill—gottenwealth，hesatisfiedthejustcreditorsofthestate，andunexpectedlydischargedthelongarrearsofhonestservices。Heremovedtheoppressiverestrictionswhichhadbeenlaiduponcommerce，andgrantedalltheuncultivatedlandsinItalyandtheprovincestothosewhowouldimprovethem；withanexemptionfromtributeduringthetermoftenyears。^52
[Footnote50:Decies。TheblamelesseconomyofPiuslefthissuccessorsatreasureofviciesseptiesmillies，abovetwoandtwentymillionssterling。Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1231。]
[Footnote51:Besidesthedesignofconvertingtheseuselessornamentsintomoney，Dionl。lxxiii。p。1229assignstwosecretmotivesofPertinax。HewishedtoexposethevicesofCommodus，andtodiscoverbythepurchasersthosewhomostresembledhim。]
[Footnote52:ThoughCapitolinushaspickedupmanyidletalesoftheprivatelifeofPertinax，hejoinswithDionandHerodianinadmiringhispublicconduct。]
SuchauniformconducthadalreadysecuredtoPertinaxthenoblestrewardofasovereign，theloveandesteemofhispeople。
ThosewhorememberedthevirtuesofMarcuswerehappytocontemplateintheirnewemperorthefeaturesofthatbrightoriginal；andflatteredthemselves，thattheyshouldlongenjoythebenigninfluenceofhisadministration。Ahastyzealtoreformthecorruptedstate，accompaniedwithlessprudencethanmighthavebeenexpectedfromtheyearsandexperienceofPertinax，provedfataltohimselfandtohiscountry。Hishonestindiscretionunitedagainsthimtheservilecrowd，whofoundtheirprivatebenefitinthepublicdisorders，andwhopreferredthefavorofatyranttotheinexorableequalityofthelaws。^53
[Footnote53:Leges，remsurdam，inexorabilemesse。T。Liv。ii。
3。]
Amidstthegeneraljoy，thesullenandangrycountenanceofthePraetorianguardsbetrayedtheirinwarddissatisfaction。
TheyhadreluctantlysubmittedtoPertinax；theydreadedthestrictnessoftheancientdiscipline，whichhewaspreparingtorestore；andtheyregrettedthelicenseoftheformerreign。
TheirdiscontentsweresecretlyfomentedbyLaetus，theirpraefect，whofound，whenitwastoolate，thathisnewemperorwouldrewardaservant，butwouldnotberuledbyafavorite。Onthethirddayofhisreign，thesoldiersseizedonanoblesenator，withadesigntocarryhimtothecamp，andtoinvesthimwiththeImperialpurple。Insteadofbeingdazzledbythedangeroushonor，theaffrightedvictimescapedfromtheirviolence，andtookrefugeatthefeetofPertinax。Ashorttimeafterwards，SosiusFalco，oneoftheconsulsoftheyear，arashyouth，^54butofanancientandopulentfamily，listenedtothevoiceofambition；andaconspiracywasformedduringashortabsenceofPertinax，whichwascrushedbyhissuddenreturntoRome，andhisresolutebehavior。Falcowasonthepointofbeingjustlycondemnedtodeathasapublicenemyhadhenotbeensavedbytheearnestandsincereentreatiesoftheinjuredemperor，whoconjuredthesenate，thatthepurityofhisreignmightnotbestainedbythebloodevenofaguiltysenator。
[Footnote54:IfwecreditCapitolinus，whichisratherdifficult，FalcobehavedwiththemostpetulantindecencytoPertinax，onthedayofhisaccession。Thewiseemperoronlyadmonishedhimofhisyouthandinexperience。Hist。August。p。
55。]
ThesedisappointmentsservedonlytoirritatetherageofthePraetorianguards。Onthetwenty—eighthofMarch，eighty—sixdaysonlyafterthedeathofCommodus，ageneralseditionbrokeoutinthecamp，whichtheofficerswantedeitherpowerorinclinationtosuppress。Twoorthreehundredofthemostdesperatesoldiersmarchedatnoonday，witharmsintheirhandsandfuryintheirlooks，towardstheImperialpalace。Thegateswerethrownopenbytheircompanionsuponguard，andbythedomesticsoftheoldcourt，whohadalreadyformedasecretconspiracyagainstthelifeofthetoovirtuousemperor。Onthenewsoftheirapproach，Pertinax，disdainingeitherflightorconcealment，advancedtomeethisassassins；andrecalledtotheirmindshisowninnocence，andthesanctityoftheirrecentoath。Forafewmomentstheystoodinsilentsuspense，ashamedoftheiratrociousdesign，andawedbythevenerableaspectandmajesticfirmnessoftheirsovereign，tillatlength，thedespairofpardonrevivingtheirfury，abarbarianofthecountryofTongress^55levelledthefirstblowagainstPertinax，whowasinstantlydespatchedwithamultitudeofwounds。Hishead，separatedfromhisbody，andplacedonalance，wascarriedintriumphtothePraetoriancamp，inthesightofamournfulandindignantpeople，wholamentedtheunworthyfateofthatexcellentprince，andthetransientblessingsofareign，thememoryofwhichcouldserveonlytoaggravatetheirapproachingmisfortunes。^56
[Footnote55:ThemodernbishopricofLiege。ThissoldierprobablybelongedtotheBatavianhorse—guards，whoweremostlyraisedintheduchyofGueldresandtheneighborhood，andweredistinguishedbytheirvalor，andbytheboldnesswithwhichtheyswamtheirhorsesacrossthebroadestandmostrapidrivers。
Tacit。Hist。iv。12Dion，l。lvp。797LipsiusdemagnitudineRomana，l。i。c。4。]
[Footnote56:Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1232。Herodian，l。ii。p。60。
Hist。August。p。58。VictorinEpitom。etinCaesarib。
Eutropius，viii。16。]
ChapterV:SaleOfTheEmpireToDidiusJulianus。
PartI。
PublicSaleOfTheEmpireToDidiusJulianusByThePraetorianGuards—ClodiusAlbinusInBritain，PescenniusNigerInSyria，AndSeptimiusSeverusInPannonia，DeclareAgainstTheMurderersOfPertinax—CivilWarsAndVictoryOfSeverusOverHisThreeRivals—RelaxationOfDiscipline—NewMaximsOfGovernment。
Thepoweroftheswordismoresensiblyfeltinanextensivemonarchy，thaninasmallcommunity。Ithasbeencalculatedbytheablestpoliticians，thatnostate，withoutbeingsoonexhausted，canmaintainabovethehundredthpartofitsmembersinarmsandidleness。Butalthoughthisrelativeproportionmaybeuniform，theinfluenceofthearmyovertherestofthesocietywillvaryaccordingtothedegreeofitspositivestrength。Theadvantagesofmilitaryscienceanddisciplinecannotbeexerted，unlessapropernumberofsoldiersareunitedintoonebody，andactuatedbyonesoul。Withahandfulofmen，suchaunionwouldbeineffectual；withanunwieldyhost，itwouldbeimpracticable；andthepowersofthemachinewouldbealikedestroyedbytheextrememinutenessortheexcessiveweightofitssprings。Toillustratethisobservation，weneedonlyreflect，thatthereisnosuperiorityofnaturalstrength，artificialweapons，oracquiredskill，whichcouldenableonemantokeepinconstantsubjectiononehundredofhisfellow—creatures:thetyrantofasingletown，orasmalldistrict，wouldsoondiscoverthatahundredarmedfollowerswereaweakdefenceagainsttenthousandpeasantsorcitizens；butahundredthousandwell—disciplinedsoldierswillcommand，withdespoticsway，tenmillionsofsubjects；andabodyoftenorfifteenthousandguardswillstriketerrorintothemostnumerouspopulacethatevercrowdedthestreetsofanimmensecapital。
ThePraetorianbands，whoselicentiousfurywasthefirstsymptomandcauseofthedeclineoftheRomanempire，scarcelyamountedtothelast—mentionednumber^1TheyderivedtheirinstitutionfromAugustus。Thatcraftytyrant，sensiblethatlawsmightcolor，butthatarmsalonecouldmaintain，hisusurpeddominion，hadgraduallyformedthispowerfulbodyofguards，inconstantreadinesstoprotecthisperson，toawethesenate，andeithertopreventortocrushthefirstmotionsofrebellion。Hedistinguishedthesefavoredtroopsbyadoublepayandsuperiorprivileges；but，astheirformidableaspectwouldatoncehavealarmedandirritatedtheRomanpeople，threecohortsonlywerestationedinthecapital，whilsttheremainderwasdispersedintheadjacenttownsofItaly。^2Butafterfiftyyearsofpeaceandservitude，Tiberiusventuredonadecisivemeasure，whichforeverrivettedthefettersofhiscountry。UnderthefairpretencesofrelievingItalyfromtheheavyburdenofmilitaryquarters，andofintroducingastricterdisciplineamongtheguards，heassembledthematRome，inapermanentcamp，^3whichwasfortifiedwithskilfulcare，^4andplacedonacommandingsituation。^5
[Footnote1:Theywereoriginallynineortenthousandmen，forTacitusandsonarenotagreeduponthesubject，dividedintoasmanycohorts。Vitelliusincreasedthemtosixteenthousand，andasfaraswecanlearnfrominscriptions，theyneverafterwardssunkmuchbelowthatnumber。SeeLipsiusdemagnitudineRomana，i。4。]
[Footnote2:Sueton。inAugust。c。49。]
[Footnote3:Tacit。Annal。iv。2。Sueton。inTiber。c。37。DionCassius，l。lvii。p。867。]
[Footnote4:InthecivilwarbetweenVitelliusandVespasian，thePraetoriancampwasattackedanddefendedwithallthemachinesusedinthesiegeofthebestfortifiedcities。Tacit。
Hist。iii。84。]
[Footnote5:Closetothewallsofthecity，onthebroadsummitoftheQuirinalandViminalhills。SeeNardiniRomaAntica，p。
174。DonatusdeRomaAntiqua，p。46。
Note:Notonboththesehills:neitherDonatusnorNardinijustifythisposition。Whitaker'sReview。p。13。AtthenorthernextremityofthishilltheViminalaresomeconsiderableremainsofawalledenclosurewhichbearsalltheappearanceofaRomancamp，andthereforeisgenerallythoughttocorrespondwiththeCastraPraetoria。Cramer'sItaly390。—M。]
Suchformidableservantsarealwaysnecessary，butoftenfataltothethroneofdespotism。BythusintroducingthePraetorianguardsasitwereintothepalaceandthesenate，theemperorstaughtthemtoperceivetheirownstrength，andtheweaknessofthecivilgovernment；toviewthevicesoftheirmasterswithfamiliarcontempt，andtolayasidethatreverentialawe，whichdistanceonly，andmystery，canpreservetowardsanimaginarypower。Intheluxuriousidlenessofanopulentcity，theirpridewasnourishedbythesenseoftheirirresistibleweight；norwasitpossibletoconcealfromthem，thatthepersonofthesovereign，theauthorityofthesenate，thepublictreasure，andtheseatofempire，wereallintheirhands。TodivertthePraetorianbandsfromthesedangerousreflections，thefirmestandbestestablishedprinceswereobligedtomixblandishmentswithcommands，rewardswithpunishments，toflattertheirpride，indulgetheirpleasures，conniveattheirirregularities，andtopurchasetheirprecariousfaithbyaliberaldonative；which，sincetheelevationofClaudius，wasenactedasalegalclaim，ontheaccessionofeverynewemperor。