^5andtheagedemperoradoptedthetalentsandambitionofhisnephewJustinian，anaspiringyouth，whomhisunclehaddrawnfromtherusticsolitudeofDacia，andeducatedatConstantinople，astheheirofhisprivatefortune，andatlengthoftheEasternempire。
[Footnote1:ThereissomedifficultyinthedateofhisbirthLudewiginVit。Justiniani，p。125；noneintheplace—thedistrictBederiana—thevillageTauresium，whichheafterwardsdecoratedwithhisnameandsplendor，D'Anville，Hist。del'Acad。&c。，tom。xxxi。p。287—292。]
[Footnote2:ThenamesoftheseDardanianpeasantsareGothic，andalmostEnglish:Justinianisatranslationofuprauda，upright；hisfatherSabatiusinGraeco—barbarouslanguagestipeswasstyledinhisvillageIstock，Stock；hismotherBiglenizawassoftenedintoVigilantia。]
[Footnote3:Ludewigp。127—135attemptstojustifytheAniciannameofJustinianandTheodora，andtoconnectthemwithafamilyfromwhichthehouseofAustriahasbeenderived。]
[Footnote4:SeetheanecdotesofProcopius，c。6，withthenotesofN。Alemannus。Thesatiristwouldnothavesunk，inthevagueanddecentappellationofZonaras。Yetwhyarethosenamesdisgraceful?—andwhatGermanbaronwouldnotbeproudtodescendfromtheEumaeusoftheOdyssey!
Note:Itiswhimsicalenoughthat，inourowndays，weshouldhave，eveninjest，aclaimanttolinealdescentfromthegodlikeswineherdnotinthepersonofaGermanbaron，butinthatofaprofessoroftheIonianUniversity。ConstantineKoliades，orsomemaliciouswitunderthisname，haswrittenatallfoliotoproveUlyssestobeHomer，andhimselfthedescendant，theheir?，oftheEumaeusoftheOdyssey。—M]
[Footnote*:St。Martinquestionsthefactinbothcases。TheignoranceofJustinrestsonthesecrethistoryofProcopius，vol。viii。p。8。St。Martin'snotesonLeBeau。—M]
[Footnote5:HisvirtuesarepraisedbyProcopius，Persic。l。i。
c。11。ThequaestorProcluswasthefriendofJustinian，andtheenemyofeveryotheradoption。]
SincetheeunuchAmantiushadbeendefraudedofhismoney，itbecamenecessarytodeprivehimofhislife。Thetaskwaseasilyaccomplishedbythechargeofarealorfictitiousconspiracy；andthejudgeswereinformed，asanaccumulationofguilt，thathewassecretlyaddictedtotheManichaeanheresy。^6
Amantiuslosthishead；threeofhiscompanions，thefirstdomesticsofthepalace，werepunishedeitherwithdeathorexile；andtheirunfortunatecandidateforthepurplewascastintoadeepdungeon，overwhelmedwithstones，andignominiouslythrown，withoutburial，intothesea。TheruinofVitalianwasaworkofmoredifficultyanddanger。ThatGothicchiefhadrenderedhimselfpopularbythecivilwarwhichheboldlywagedagainstAnastasiusforthedefenceoftheorthodoxfaith，andaftertheconclusionofanadvantageoustreaty，hestillremainedintheneighborhoodofConstantinopleattheheadofaformidableandvictoriousarmyofBarbarians。Bythefrailsecurityofoaths，hewastemptedtorelinquishthisadvantageoussituation，andtotrusthispersonwithinthewallsofacity，whoseinhabitants，particularlythebluefaction，wereartfullyincensedagainsthimbytheremembranceevenofhispioushostilities。Theemperorandhisnephewembracedhimasthefaithfulandworthychampionofthechurchandstate；andgratefullyadornedtheirfavoritewiththetitlesofconsulandgeneral；butintheseventhmonthofhisconsulship，Vitalianwasstabbedwithseventeenwoundsattheroyalbanquet；^7andJustinian，whoinheritedthespoil，wasaccusedastheassassinofaspiritualbrother，towhomhehadrecentlypledgedhisfaithintheparticipationoftheChristianmysteries。^8Afterthefallofhisrival，hewaspromoted，withoutanyclaimofmilitaryservice，totheofficeofmaster—generaloftheEasternarmies，whomitwashisdutytoleadintothefieldagainstthepublicenemy。But，inthepursuitoffame，Justinianmighthavelosthispresentdominionovertheageandweaknessofhisuncle；andinsteadofacquiringbyScythianorPersiantrophiestheapplauseofhiscountrymen，^9theprudentwarriorsolicitedtheirfavorinthechurches，thecircus，andthesenate，ofConstantinople。
TheCatholicswereattachedtothenephewofJustin，who，betweentheNestorianandEutychianheresies，trodthenarrowpathofinflexibleandintolerantorthodoxy。^10Inthefirstdaysofthenewreign，hepromptedandgratifiedthepopularenthusiasmagainstthememoryofthedeceasedemperor。Afteraschismofthirty—fouryears，hereconciledtheproudandangryspiritoftheRomanpontiff，andspreadamongtheLatinsafavorablereportofhispiousrespectfortheapostolicsee。ThethronesoftheEastwerefilledwithCatholicbishops，devotedtohisinterest，theclergyandthemonksweregainedbyhisliberality，andthepeopleweretaughttoprayfortheirfuturesovereign，thehopeandpillarofthetruereligion。ThemagnificenceofJustinianwasdisplayedinthesuperiorpompofhispublicspectacles，anobjectnotlesssacredandimportantintheeyesofthemultitudethanthecreedofNiceorChalcedon:theexpenseofhisconsulshipwasesteemedattwohundredandtwenty—eightthousandpiecesofgold；twentylions，andthirtyleopards，wereproducedatthesametimeintheamphitheatre，andanumeroustrainofhorses，withtheirrichtrappings，wasbestowedasanextraordinarygiftonthevictoriouscharioteersofthecircus。
WhileheindulgedthepeopleofConstantinople，andreceivedtheaddressesofforeignkings，thenephewofJustinassiduouslycultivatedthefriendshipofthesenate。Thatvenerablenameseemedtoqualifyitsmemberstodeclarethesenseofthenation，andtoregulatethesuccessionoftheImperialthrone:thefeebleAnastasiushadpermittedthevigorofgovernmenttodegenerateintotheformorsubstanceofanaristocracy；andthemilitaryofficerswhohadobtainedthesenatorialrankwerefollowedbytheirdomesticguards，abandofveterans，whosearmsoracclamationsmightfixinatumultuousmomentthediademoftheEast。Thetreasuresofthestatewerelavishedtoprocurethevoicesofthesenators，andtheirunanimouswish，thathewouldbepleasedtoadoptJustinianforhiscolleague，wascommunicatedtotheemperor。Butthisrequest，whichtooclearlyadmonishedhimofhisapproachingend，wasunwelcometothejealoustemperofanagedmonarch，desiroustoretainthepowerwhichhewasincapableofexercising；andJustin，holdinghispurplewithbothhishands，advisedthemtoprefer，sinceanelectionwassoprofitable，someoldercandidate。Notwithstandingthisreproach，thesenateproceededtodecorateJustinianwiththeroyalepithetofnobilissimus；andtheirdecreewasratifiedbytheaffectionorthefearsofhisuncle。Aftersometimethelanguorofmindandbody，towhichhewasreducedbyanincurablewoundinhisthigh，indispensablyrequiredtheaidofaguardian。
Hesummonedthepatriarchandsenators；andintheirpresencesolemnlyplacedthediademontheheadofhisnephew，whowasconductedfromthepalacetothecircus，andsalutedbytheloudandjoyfulapplauseofthepeople。ThelifeofJustinwasprolongedaboutfourmonths；butfromtheinstantofthisceremony，hewasconsideredasdeadtotheempire，whichacknowledgedJustinian，intheforty—fifthyearofhisage，forthelawfulsovereignoftheEast。^11
[Footnote6:ManichaeansignifiesEutychian。HearthefuriousacclamationsofConstantinopleandTyre，theformernomorethansixdaysafterthedeceaseofAnastasius。Theyproduced，thelatterapplauded，theeunuch'sdeath，Baronius，A。D。518，P。ii。
No。15。Fleury，HistEccles。tom。vii。p。200，205，fromtheCouncils，tom。v。p。182，207。]
[Footnote7:Hispower，character，andintentions，areperfectlyexplainedbythecourtdeBuat，tom。ix。p。54—81。Hewasgreat—grandsonofAspar，hereditaryprinceintheLesserScythia，andcountoftheGothicfoederatiofThrace。TheBessi，whomhecouldinfluence，aretheminorGothsofJornandes，c。51。]
[Footnote8:Justinianipatriciifactionediciturinterfectusfuisse，VictorTununensis，Chron。inThesaur。Temp。Scaliger，P。ii。p。7。ProcopiusAnecdot。c。7styleshimatyrant，butacknowledgessomethingwhichiswellexplainedbyAlemannus。]
[Footnote9:InhisearliestyouthplaneadolescenshehadpassedsometimeasahostagewithTheodoric。Forthiscuriousfact，AlemannusadProcop。Anecdot。c。9，p。34，ofthefirsteditionquotesaMs。historyofJustinian，byhispreceptorTheophilus。Ludewigp。143wishestomakehimasoldier。]
[Footnote10:TheecclesiasticalhistoryofJustinianwillbeshownhereafter。SeeBaronius，A。D。518—521，andthecopiousarticleJustinianasintheindextotheviithvolumeofhisAnnals。]
[Footnote11:ThereignoftheelderJustinmaybefoundinthethreeChroniclesofMarcellinus，Victor，andJohnMalala，tom。
ii。p。130—150，thelastofwhominspiteofHody，Prolegom。
No。14，39，edit。Oxon。livedsoonafterJustinian，Jortin'sRemarks，&c。，vol。ivp。383:intheEcclesiasticalHistoryofEvagrius，l。iv。c。1，2，3，9，andtheExcerptaofTheodorusLector，No。37，andinCedrenus，p。362—366，andZonaras，l。xiv。p。58—61，whomaypassforanoriginal。
Note:Dindorf，inhisprefacetotheneweditionofMalala，p。vi。，concurswiththisopinionofGibbon，whichwasalsothatofReiske，astotheageofthechronicler。—M。]
Fromhiselevationtohisdeath，JustiniangovernedtheRomanempirethirty—eightyears，sevenmonths，andthirteendays。
Theeventsofhisreign，whichexciteourcuriousattentionbytheirnumber，variety，andimportance，arediligentlyrelatedbythesecretaryofBelisarius，arhetorician，whomeloquencehadpromotedtotherankofsenatorandpraefectofConstantinople。
Accordingtothevicissitudesofcourageorservitude，offavorordisgrace，Procopius^12successivelycomposedthehistory，thepanegyric，andthesatireofhisowntimes。TheeightbooksofthePersian，Vandalic，andGothicwars，^13whicharecontinuedinthefivebooksofAgathias，deserveouresteemasalaboriousandsuccessfulimitationoftheAttic，oratleastoftheAsiatic，writersofancientGreece。Hisfactsarecollectedfromthepersonalexperienceandfreeconversationofasoldier，astatesman，andatraveller；hisstylecontinuallyaspires，andoftenattains，tothemeritofstrengthandelegance；hisreflections，moreespeciallyinthespeeches，whichhetoofrequentlyinserts，containarichfundofpoliticalknowledge；
andthehistorian，excitedbythegenerousambitionofpleasingandinstructingposterity，appearstodisdaintheprejudicesofthepeople，andtheflatteryofcourts。ThewritingsofProcopius^14werereadandapplaudedbyhiscontemporaries:^15
but，althoughherespectfullylaidthematthefootofthethrone，theprideofJustinianmusthavebeenwoundedbythepraiseofahero，whoperpetuallyeclipsesthegloryofhisinactivesovereign。Theconsciousdignityofindependencewassubduedbythehopesandfearsofaslave；andthesecretaryofBelisariuslaboredforpardonandrewardinthesixbooksoftheImperialedifices。Hehaddexterouslychosenasubjectofapparentsplendor，inwhichhecouldloudlycelebratethegenius，themagnificence，andthepietyofaprince，who，bothasaconquerorandlegislator，hadsurpassedthepuerilevirtuesofThemistoclesandCyrus。^16Disappointmentmighturgetheflatterertosecretrevenge；andthefirstglanceoffavormightagaintempthimtosuspendandsuppressalibel，^17inwhichtheRomanCyrusisdegradedintoanodiousandcontemptibletyrant，inwhichboththeemperorandhisconsortTheodoraareseriouslyrepresentedastwodaemons，whohadassumedahumanformforthedestructionofmankind。^18Suchbaseinconsistencymustdoubtlesssullythereputation，anddetractfromthecredit，ofProcopius:yet，afterthevenomofhismalignityhasbeensufferedtoexhale，theresidueoftheanecdotes，eventhemostdisgracefulfacts，someofwhichhadbeentenderlyhintedinhispublichistory，areestablishedbytheirinternalevidence，ortheauthenticmonumentsofthetimes。^19Fromthesevariousmaterials，IshallnowproceedtodescribethereignofJustinian，whichwilldeserveandoccupyanamplespace。ThepresentchapterwillexplaintheelevationandcharacterofTheodora，thefactionsofthecircus，andthepeacefuladministrationofthesovereignoftheEast。Inthethreesucceedingchapters，IshallrelatethewarsofJustinian，whichachievedtheconquestofAfricaandItaly；andIshallfollowthevictoriesofBelisariusandNarses，withoutdisguisingthevanityoftheirtriumphs，orthehostilevirtueofthePersianandGothicheroes。Theseriesofthisandthefollowingvolumewillembracethejurisprudenceandtheologyoftheemperor；thecontroversiesandsectswhichstilldividetheOrientalchurch；
thereformationoftheRomanlawwhichisobeyedorrespectedbythenationsofmodernEurope。
[Footnote12:SeethecharactersofProcopiusandAgathiasinLaMotheleVayer，tom。viii。p。144—174，Vossius，deHistoricisGraecis，l。ii。c。22，andFabricius，Bibliot。
Graec。l。v。c。5，tom。vi。p。248—278。Theirreligion，anhonorableproblem，betraysoccasionalconformity，withasecretattachmenttoPaganismandPhilosophy。]
[Footnote13:Inthesevenfirstbooks，twoPersic，twoVandalic，andthreeGothic，ProcopiushasborrowedfromAppianthedivisionofprovincesandwars:theviiithbook，thoughitbearsthenameofGothic，isamiscellaneousandgeneralsupplementdowntothespringoftheyear553，fromwhenceitiscontinuedbyAgathiastill559，Pagi，Critica，A。D。579，No。5。]
[Footnote14:TheliteraryfateofProcopiushasbeensomewhatunlucky。
1。HisbookdeBelloGothicowerestolenbyLeonardAretin，andpublishedFulginii，1470，Venet。1471，apudJanson。
Mattaire，AnnalTypograph。tom。i。edit。posterior，p。290，304，279，299，inhisownname，seeVossiusdeHist。Lat。l。iii。c。
5，andthefeebledefenceoftheVeniceGiornaledeLetterati，tom。xix。p。207。
2。HisworksweremutilatedbythefirstLatintranslators，ChristopherPersona，Giornale，tom。xix。p。340—348，andRaphaeldeVolaterra，Huet，deClarisInterpretibus，p。166，
whodidnotevenconsulttheMs。oftheVaticanlibrary，ofwhichtheywerepraefects，Aleman。inPraefatAnecdot。
3。TheGreektextwasnotprintedtill1607，byHoescheliusofAugsburg，DictionnairedeBayle，tom。ii。p。782。
4。ThePariseditionwasimperfectlyexecutedbyClaudeMaltret，aJesuitofToulouse，in1663，fardistantfromtheLouvrepressandtheVaticanMs。，fromwhich，however，heobtainedsomesupplements。Hispromisedcommentaries，&c。，haveneverappeared。TheAgathiasofLeyden1594hasbeenwiselyreprintedbythePariseditor，withtheLatinversionofBonaventuraVulcanius，alearnedinterpreter，Huet，p。176。
Note:ProcopiusformsapartofthenewByzantinecollectionunderthesuperintendenceofDindorf。—M。]
[Footnote15:AgathiasinPraefat。p。7，8，l。iv。p。137。
Evagrius，l。iv。c。12。SeelikewisePhotius，cod。lxiii。p。
65。]
[Footnote16:Says，he，Praefat。adl。deEdificiisisnomorethanapun!Inthesefivebooks，ProcopiusaffectsaChristianaswellasacourtlystyle。]
[Footnote17:Procopiusdiscloseshimself，Praefat。adAnecdot。
c。1，2，5，andtheanecdotesarereckonedastheninthbookbySuidas，tom。iii。p。186，edit。Kuster。ThesilenceofEvagriusisapoorobjection。BaroniusA。D。548，No。24regretsthelossofthissecrethistory:itwasthenintheVaticanlibrary，inhisowncustody，andwasfirstpublishedsixteenyearsafterhisdeath，withthelearned，butpartialnotesofNicholasAlemannus，Lugd。1623。]
[Footnote18:Justiniananass—theperfectlikenessofDomitian—Anecdot。c。8。—Theodora'sloversdrivenfromherbedbyrivaldaemons—hermarriageforetoldwithagreatdaemon—amonksawtheprinceofthedaemons，insteadofJustinian，onthethrone—
theservantswhowatchedbeheldafacewithoutfeatures，abodywalkingwithoutahead，&c。，&c。Procopiusdeclareshisownandhisfriends'beliefinthesediabolicalstories，c。12。]
[Footnote19:MontesquieuConsiderationssurlaGrandeuretlaDecadencedesRomains，c。xx。givescredittotheseanecdotes，asconnected，1。withtheweaknessoftheempire，and，2。withtheinstabilityofJustinian'slaws。]
[Footnote*:TheAnecdotaofProcopius，comparedwiththeformerworksofthesameauthor，appeartomethebasestandmostdisgracefulworkinliterature。Thewars，whichhehasdescribedintheformervolumesasgloriousornecessary，arebecomeunprofitableandwantonmassacres；thebuildingswhichhecelebrated，asraisedtotheimmortalhonorofthegreatemperor，andhisadmirablequeen，eitherasmagnificentembellishmentsofthecity，orusefulfortificationsforthedefenceofthefrontier，arebecomeworksofvainprodigalityanduselessostentation。IdoubtwhetherGibbonhasmadesufficientallowanceforthe"malignity"oftheAnecdota；atallevents，theextremeanddisgustingprofligacyofTheodora'searlyliferestsentirelyonthisviratentlibel—M。]
I。Intheexerciseofsupremepower，thefirstactofJustinianwastodivideitwiththewomanwhomheloved，thefamousTheodora，^20whosestrangeelevationcannotbeapplaudedasthetriumphoffemalevirtue。UnderthereignofAnastasius，thecareofthewildbeastsmaintainedbythegreenfactionatConstantinoplewasintrustedtoAcacius，anativeoftheIsleofCyprus，who，fromhisemployment，wassurnamedthemasterofthebears。Thishonorableofficewasgivenafterhisdeathtoanothercandidate，notwithstandingthediligenceofhiswidow，whohadalreadyprovidedahusbandandasuccessor。Acaciushadleftthreedaughters，Comito，^21Theodora，andAnastasia，theeldestofwhomdidnotthenexceedtheageofsevenyears。Onasolemnfestival，thesehelplessorphansweresentbytheirdistressedandindignantmother，inthegarbofsuppliants，intothemidstofthetheatre:thegreenfactionreceivedthemwithcontempt，theblueswithcompassion；andthisdifference，whichsunkdeepintothemindofTheodora，wasfeltlongafterwardsintheadministrationoftheempire。Astheyimprovedinageandbeauty，thethreesistersweresuccessivelydevotedtothepublicandprivatepleasuresoftheByzantinepeople:andTheodora，afterfollowingComitoonthestage，inthedressofaslave，withastoolonherhead，wasatlengthpermittedtoexerciseherindependenttalents。Sheneitherdanced，norsung，norplayedontheflute；herskillwasconfinedtothepantomimearts；sheexcelledinbuffooncharacters，andasoftenasthecomedianswelledhercheeks，andcomplainedwitharidiculoustoneandgestureoftheblowsthatwereinflicted，thewholetheatreofConstantinopleresoundedwithlaughterandapplause。ThebeautyofTheodora^22wasthesubjectofmoreflatteringpraise，andthesourceofmoreexquisitedelight。Herfeaturesweredelicateandregular；hercomplexion，thoughsomewhatpale，wastingedwithanaturalcolor；everysensationwasinstantlyexpressedbythevivacityofhereyes；hereasymotionsdisplayedthegracesofasmallbutelegantfigure；andeitherloveoradulationmightproclaim，thatpaintingandpoetrywereincapableofdelineatingthematchlessexcellenceofherform。Butthisformwasdegradedbythefacilitywithwhichitwasexposedtothepubliceye，andprostitutedtolicentiousdesire。Hervenalcharmswereabandonedtoapromiscuouscrowdofcitizensandstrangersofeveryrank，andofeveryprofession:thefortunateloverwhohadbeenpromisedanightofenjoyment，wasoftendrivenfromherbedbyastrongerormorewealthyfavorite；andwhenshepassedthroughthestreets，herpresencewasavoidedbyallwhowishedtoescapeeitherthescandalorthetemptation。Thesatiricalhistorianhasnotblushed^23todescribethenakedsceneswhichTheodorawasnotashamedtoexhibitinthetheatre。^24Afterexhaustingtheartsofsensualpleasure，^25shemostungratefullymurmuredagainsttheparsimonyofNature；^26buthermurmurs，herpleasures，andherarts，mustbeveiledintheobscurityofalearnedlanguage。Afterreigningforsometime，thedelightandcontemptofthecapital，shecondescendedtoaccompanyEcebolus，anativeofTyre，whohadobtainedthegovernmentoftheAfricanPentapolis。Butthisunionwasfrailandtransient；Ecebolussoonrejectedanexpensiveorfaithlessconcubine；shewasreducedatAlexandriatoextremedistress；andinherlaboriousreturntoConstantinople，everycityoftheEastadmiredandenjoyedthefairCyprian，whosemeritappearedtojustifyherdescentfromthepeculiarislandofVenus。ThevaguecommerceofTheodora，andthemostdetestableprecautions，preservedherfromthedangerwhichshefeared；yetonce，andonceonly，shebecameamother。TheinfantwassavedandeducatedinArabia，byhisfather，whoimpartedtohimonhisdeath—bed，thathewasthesonofanempress。Filledwithambitioushopes，theunsuspectingyouthimmediatelyhastenedtothepalaceofConstantinople，andwasadmittedtothepresenceofhismother。Ashewasnevermoreseen，evenafterthedeceaseofTheodora，shedeservesthefoulimputationofextinguishingwithhislifeasecretsooffensivetoherImperialvirtue。