PartV。
IfweextendourviewfromthetropictothemouthoftheTanais，wemayobserve，ononehand，theprecautionsofJustiniantocurbthesavagesofAethiopia，^125andontheother，thelongwallswhichheconstructedinCrimaeafortheprotectionofhisfriendlyGoths，acolonyofthreethousandshepherdsandwarriors。^126FromthatpeninsulatoTrebizond，theeasterncurveoftheEuxinewassecuredbyforts，byalliance，orbyreligion；andthepossessionofLazica，theColchosofancient，theMingreliaofmodern，geography，soonbecametheobjectofanimportantwar。Trebizond，inafter—timestheseatofaromanticempire，wasindebtedtotheliberalityofJustinianforachurch，anaqueduct，andacastle，whoseditchesarehewninthesolidrock。Fromthatmaritimecity，frontierlineoffivehundredmilesmaybedrawntothefortressofCircesium，thelastRomanstationontheEuphrates。^127AboveTrebizondimmediately，andfivedays'journeytothesouth，thecountryrisesintodarkforestsandcraggymountains，assavagethoughnotsoloftyastheAlpsandthePyrenees。Inthisrigorousclimate，^128wherethesnowsseldommelt，thefruitsaretardyandtasteless，evenhoneyispoisonous:themostindustrioustillagewouldbeconfinedtosomepleasantvalleys；andthepastoraltribesobtainedascantysustenancefromthefleshandmilkoftheircattle。TheChalybians^129derivedtheirnameandtemperfromtheironqualityofthesoil；and，sincethedaysofCyrus，theymightproduce，underthevariousappellationsofChadaeansandZanians，anuninterruptedprescriptionofwarandrapine。UnderthereignofJustinian，theyacknowledgedthegodandtheemperoroftheRomans，andsevenfortresseswerebuiltinthemostaccessiblepassages，toexcludetheambitionofthePersianmonarch。^130TheprincipalsourceoftheEuphratesdescendsfromtheChalybianmountains，andseemstoflowtowardsthewestandtheEuxine:bendingtothesouth—west，theriverpassesunderthewallsofSatalaandMelitene，whichwererestoredbyJustinianasthebulwarksoftheLesserArmenia，andgraduallyapproachestheMediterraneanSea；tillatlength，repelledbyMountTaurus，^131theEuphratesinclinesitslongandflexiblecoursetothesouth—eastandtheGulfofPersia。AmongtheRomancitiesbeyondtheEuphrates，wedistinguishtworecentfoundations，whichwerenamedfromTheodosius，andtherelicsofthemartyrs；andtwocapitals，AmidaandEdessa，whicharecelebratedinthehistoryofeveryage。TheirstrengthwasproportionedbyJustiniantothedangeroftheirsituation。AditchandpalisademightbesufficienttoresisttheartlessforceofthecavalryofScythia；
butmoreelaborateworkswererequiredtosustainaregularsiegeagainstthearmsandtreasuresofthegreatking。Hisskilfulengineersunderstoodthemethodsofconductingdeepmines，andofraisingplatformstotheleveloftherampart:heshookthestrongestbattlementswithhismilitaryengines，andsometimesadvancedtotheassaultwithalineofmovableturretsonthebacksofelephants。InthegreatcitiesoftheEast，thedisadvantageofspace，perhapsofposition，wascompensatedbythezealofthepeople，whosecondedthegarrisoninthedefenceoftheircountryandreligion；andthefabulouspromiseoftheSonofGod，thatEdessashouldneverbetaken，filledthecitizenswithvaliantconfidence，andchilledthebesiegerswithdoubtanddismay。^132ThesubordinatetownsofArmeniaandMesopotamiawerediligentlystrengthened，andthepostswhichappearedtohaveanycommandofgroundorwaterwereoccupiedbynumerousforts，substantiallybuiltofstone，ormorehastilyerectedwiththeobviousmaterialsofearthandbrick。TheeyeofJustinianinvestigatedeveryspot；andhiscruelprecautionsmightattractthewarintosomelonelyvale，whosepeacefulnatives，connectedbytradeandmarriage，wereignorantofnationaldiscordandthequarrelsofprinces。WestwardoftheEuphrates，asandydesertextendsabovesixhundredmilestotheRedSea。Naturehadinterposedavacantsolitudebetweentheambitionoftworivalempires；theArabians，tillMahometarose，wereformidableonlyasrobbers；andintheproudsecurityofpeacethefortificationsofSyriawereneglectedonthemostvulnerableside。
[Footnote125:SeeProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。19。Thealtarofnationalconcern，ofannualsacrificeandoaths，whichDiocletianhadcreatedintheIslaofElephantine，wasdemolishedbyJustinianwithlesspolicythan]
[Footnote126:ProcopiusdeEdificiis，l。iii。c。7。Hist。l。
viii。c。3，4。TheseunambitiousGothshadrefusedtofollowthestandardofTheodoric。Aslateasthexvthandxvithcentury，thenameandnationmightbediscoveredbetweenCaffaandtheStraitsofAzoph，D'Anville，Memoiresdel'academie，tom。xxx。
p。240。TheywelldeservedthecuriosityofBusbequius，p。321
—326；butseemtohavevanishedinthemorerecentaccountoftheMissionsduLevant，tom。i。，Tott，Peysonnnel，&c。]
[Footnote127:ForthegeographyandarchitectureofthisArmenianborder，seethePersianWarsandEdificesl。ii。c。4—
7，l。iii。c。2—7ofProcopius。]
[Footnote128:ThecountryisdescribedbyTournefort，VoyageauLevant，tom。iii。lettrexvii。xviii。Thatskilfulbotanistsoondiscoveredtheplantthatinfectsthehoney，Plin。xxi。44，45:
heobserves，thatthesoldiersofLucullusmightindeedbeastonishedatthecold，since，evenintheplainofErzerum，snowsometimesfallsinJune，andtheharvestisseldomfinishedbeforeSeptember。ThehillsofArmeniaarebelowthefortiethdegreeoflatitude；butinthemountainouscountrywhichI
inhabit，itiswellknownthatanascentofsomehourscarriesthetravellerfromtheclimateofLanguedoctothatofNorway；
andageneraltheoryhasbeenintroduced，that，undertheline，anelevationof2400toisesisequivalenttothecoldofthepolarcircle，Remond，ObservationssurlesVoyagesdeCoxedanslaSuisse，tom。ii。p。104。]
[Footnote129:TheidentityorproximityoftheChalybians，orChaldaeanamaybeinvestigatedinStrabo，l。xii。p。825，826，
Cellarius，Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。p。202—204，andFreret，Mem。deAcademie，tom。iv。p。594Xenophonsupposes，inhisromance，Cyropaedl。iii。，thesameBarbarians，againstwhomhehadfoughtinhisretreat，Anabasis，l。iv。]
[Footnote130:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。15。DeEdific。l。
iii。c。6。]
[Footnote131:NiTaurusobstetinnostramariaventurus，PomponiusMela，iii。8。Pliny，apoetaswellasanaturalist，v。20，personifiestheriverandmountain，anddescribestheircombat。SeethecourseoftheTigrisandEuphratesintheexcellenttreatiseofD'Anville。]
[Footnote132:ProcopiusPersic。l。ii。c。12tellsthestorywiththetone，halfsceptical，halfsuperstitious，ofHerodotus。
ThepromisewasnotintheprimitivelieofEusebius，butdatesatleastfromtheyear400；andathirdlie，theVeronica，wassoonraisedonthetwoformer，Evagrius，l。iv。c。27。AsEdessahasbeentaken，Tillemontmustdisclaimthepromise，Mem。
Eccles。tom。i。p。362，383，617。]
Butthenationalenmity，atleasttheeffectsofthatenmity，hadbeensuspendedbyatruce，whichcontinuedabovefourscoreyears。AnambassadorfromtheemperorZenoaccompaniedtherashandunfortunatePerozes，inhisexpeditionagainsttheNepthalites，^!orwhiteHuns，whoseconquestshadbeenstretchedfromtheCaspiantotheheartofIndia，whosethronewasenrichedwithemeralds，^133andwhosecavalrywassupportedbyalineoftwothousandelephants。^134ThePersiansweretwicecircumvented，inasituationwhichmadevaloruselessandflightimpossible；andthedoublevictoryoftheHunswasachievedbymilitarystratagem。TheydismissedtheirroyalcaptiveafterhehadsubmittedtoadorethemajestyofaBarbarian；andthehumiliationwaspoorlyevadedbythecasuisticalsubtletyoftheMagi，whoinstructedPerozestodirecthisattentiontotherisingsun。^!!TheindignantsuccessorofCyrusforgothisdangerandhisgratitude；herenewedtheattackwithheadstrongfury，andlostbothhisarmyandhislife。^135ThedeathofPerozesabandonedPersiatoherforeignanddomesticenemies；^!!!andtwelveyearsofconfusionelapsedbeforehissonCabades，orKobad，couldembraceanydesignsofambitionorrevenge。TheunkindparsimonyofAnastasiuswasthemotiveorpretenceofaRomanwar；^136theHunsandArabsmarchedunderthePersianstandard，andthefortificationsofArmeniaandMesopotamiawere，atthattime，inaruinousorimperfectcondition。TheemperorreturnedhisthankstothegovernorandpeopleofMartyropolisforthepromptsurrenderofacitywhichcouldnotbesuccessfullydefended，andtheconflagrationofTheodosiopolismightjustifytheconductoftheirprudentneighbors。Amidasustainedalonganddestructivesiege:attheendofthreemonthsthelossoffiftythousandofthesoldiersofCabadeswasnotbalancedbyanyprospectofsuccess，anditwasinvainthattheMagideducedaflatteringpredictionfromtheindecencyofthewomenontheramparts，whohadrevealedtheirmostsecretcharmstotheeyesoftheassailants。Atlength，inasilentnight，theyascendedthemostaccessibletower，whichwasguardedonlybysomemonks，oppressed，afterthedutiesofafestival，withsleepandwine。
Scaling—ladderswereappliedatthedawnofday；thepresenceofCabades，hissterncommand，andhisdrawnsword，compelledthePersianstovanquish；andbeforeitwassheathed，fourscorethousandoftheinhabitantshadexpiatedthebloodoftheircompanions。AfterthesiegeofAmida，thewarcontinuedthreeyears，andtheunhappyfrontiertastedthefullmeasureofitscalamities。ThegoldofAnastasiuswasofferedtoolate，thenumberofhistroopswasdefeatedbythenumberoftheirgenerals；thecountrywasstrippedofitsinhabitants，andboththelivingandthedeadwereabandonedtothewildbeastsofthedesert。TheresistanceofEdessa，andthedeficiencyofspoil，inclinedthemindofCabadestopeace:hesoldhisconquestsforanexorbitantprice；andthesameline，thoughmarkedwithslaughteranddevastation，stillseparatedthetwoempires。Toaverttherepetitionofthesameevils，Anastasiusresolvedtofoundanewcolony，sostrong，thatitshoulddefythepowerofthePersian，sofaradvancedtowardsAssyria，thatitsstationarytroopsmightdefendtheprovincebythemenaceoroperationofoffensivewar。Forthispurpose，thetownofDara，^137fourteenmilesfromNisibis，andfourdays'journeyfromtheTigris，waspeopledandadorned；thehastyworksofAnastasiuswereimprovedbytheperseveranceofJustinian；and，withoutinsistingonplaceslessimportant，thefortificationsofDaramayrepresentthemilitaryarchitectureoftheage。Thecitywassurroundedwithtwowalls，andtheintervalbetweenthem，offiftypaces，affordedaretreattothecattleofthebesieged。Theinnerwallwasamonumentofstrengthandbeauty:itmeasuredsixtyfeetfromtheground，andtheheightofthetowerswasonehundredfeet；theloopholes，fromwhenceanenemymightbeannoyedwithmissileweapons，weresmall，butnumerous；thesoldierswereplantedalongtherampart，undertheshelterofdoublegalleries，andathirdplatform，spaciousandsecure，wasraisedonthesummitofthetowers。Theexteriorwallappearstohavebeenlesslofty，butmoresolid；andeachtowerwasprotectedbyaquadrangularbulwark。Ahard，rockysoilresistedthetoolsoftheminers，andonthesouth—east，wherethegroundwasmoretractable，theirapproachwasretardedbyanewwork，whichadvancedintheshapeofahalf—moon。Thedoubleandtrebleditcheswerefilledwithastreamofwater；andinthemanagementoftheriver，themostskilfullaborwasemployedtosupplytheinhabitants，todistressthebesiegers，andtopreventthemischiefsofanaturalorartificialinundation。Daracontinuedmorethansixtyyearstofulfilthewishesofitsfounders，andtoprovokethejealousyofthePersians，whoincessantlycomplained，thatthisimpregnablefortresshadbeenconstructedinmanifestviolationofthetreatyofpeacebetweenthetwoempires。
[Footnote*:FirouztheConqueror—unfortunatelysonamed。SeeSt。Martin，vol。vi。p。439。—M。]
[Footnote!:RatherHepthalites。—M。]
[Footnote133:TheywerepurchasedfromthemerchantsofAduliswhotradedtoIndia，Cosmas，Topograph。Christ。l。xi。p。339；
yet，intheestimateofpreciousstones，theScythianemeraldwasthefirst，theBactrianthesecond，theAethiopianonlythethird，Hill'sTheophrastus，p。61，&c。，92。Theproduction，mines，&c。，ofemeralds，areinvolvedindarkness；anditisdoubtfulwhetherwepossessanyofthetwelvesortsknowntotheancients，Goguet，OriginedesLoix，&c。，partii。l。ii。c。2，art。3。InthiswartheHunsgot，oratleastPerozeslost，thefinestpearlintheworld，ofwhichProcopiusrelatesaridiculousfable。]
[Footnote134:TheIndo—ScythaecontinuedtoreignfromthetimeofAugustusDionys。Perieget。1088，withtheCommentaryofEustathius，inHudson，Geograph。Minor。tom。iv。tothatoftheelderJustin，Cosmas，Topograph。Christ。l。xi。p。338，339。Ontheiroriginandconquests，seeD'Anville，surl'Inde，p。18，45，&c。，69，85，89。InthesecondcenturytheyweremastersofLariceorGuzerat。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtothePersianhistorians，hewasmisledbyguideswhousedheoldstratagemofZopyrus。Malcolm，vol。i。
p。101。—M。]
[Footnote!!:IntheMs。ChronicleofTabary，itissaidthattheMoubedanMobed，orGrandPontiff，opposedwithallhisinfluencetheviolationofthetreaty。St。Martin，vol。vii。p。254。—M。]
[Footnote135:SeethefateofPhirouz，orPerozes，anditsconsequences，inProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。3—6，whomaybecomparedwiththefragmentsofOrientalhistory，D'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。351，andTexeira，HistoryofPersia，translatedorabridgedbyStephens，l。i。c。32，p。132—138。
ThechronologyisablyascertainedbyAsseman。Bibliot。Orient。
tom。iii。p。396—427。]
[Footnote!!!:WhenFirozeadvanced，Khoosh—NuazthekingoftheHunspresentedonthepointofalancethetreatytowhichhehadsworn，andexhortedhimyettodesistbeforehedestroyedhisfameforever。Malcolm，vol。i。p。103。—M。]
[Footnote136:ThePersianwar，underthereignsofAnastasiusandJustin，maybecollectedfromProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。7，8，9，Theophanes，inChronograph。p。124—127，Evagrius，l。
iii。c。37，Marcellinus，inChron。p。47，andJosueStylites，apudAsseman。tom。i。p。272—281。]
[Footnote*:Gibbonshouldhavewritten"someprostitutes。"ProcPers。vol。1p。7。—M。]
[Footnote137:ThedescriptionofDaraisamplyandcorrectlygivenbyProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。10，l。ii。c。13。DeEdific。l。ii。c。1，2，3，l。iii。c。5。SeethesituationinD'Anville，l'EuphrateetleTigre，p。53，54，55，thoughheseemstodoubletheintervalbetweenDaraandNisibis。]
[Footnote*:ThesituationofDaradoesnotappeartogiveitstrength，asitmusthavebeencommandedonthreesidesbythemountains，butopeningonthesouthtowardstheplainsofMesopotamia。Thefoundationofthewallsandtowers，builtoflargehewnstone，maybetracedacrossthevalley，andoveranumberoflowrockyhillswhichbranchoutfromthefootofMountMasius。ThecircumferenceIconceivetobenearlytwomilesandahalf；andasmallstream，whichflowsthroughthemiddleoftheplace，hasinducedseveralKoordishandArmenianfamiliestofixtheirresidencewithintheruins。Besidesthewallsandtowers，theremainsofmanyotherbuildingsattesttheformergrandeurofDara；aconsiderablepartofthespacewithinthewallsisarchedandvaultedunderneath，andinoneplaceweperceivedalargecavern，supportedbyfourponderouscolumns，somewhatresemblingthegreatcisternofConstantinople。InthecentreofthevillagearetheruinsofapalaceprobablythatmentionedbyProcopiusorchurch，onehundredpacesinlength，andsixtyinbreadth。Thefoundations，whicharequiteentire，consistofaprodigiousnumberofsubterraneousvaultedchambers，enteredbyanarrowpassagefortypacesinlength。Thegateisstillstanding；aconsiderablepartofthewallhasbiddefiancetotime，&c。MDonaldKinneir'sJourney，p。438。—M]
BetweentheEuxineandtheCaspian，thecountriesofColchos，Iberia，andAlbania，areintersectedineverydirectionbythebranchesofMountCaucasus；andthetwoprincipalgates，orpasses，fromnorthtosouth，havebeenfrequentlyconfoundedinthegeographybothoftheancientsandmoderns。ThenameofCaspianorAlbaniangatesisproperlyappliedtoDerbend，^138
whichoccupiesashortdeclivitybetweenthemountainsandthesea:thecity，ifwegivecredittolocaltradition，hadbeenfoundedbytheGreeks；andthisdangerousentrancewasfortifiedbythekingsofPersiawithamole，doublewalls，anddoorsofiron。TheIberiangates^139areformedbyanarrowpassageofsixmilesinMountCaucasus，whichopensfromthenorthernsideofIberia，orGeorgia，intotheplainthatreachestotheTanaisandtheVolga。Afortress，designedbyAlexanderperhaps，oroneofhissuccessors，tocommandthatimportantpass，haddescendedbyrightofconquestorinheritancetoaprinceoftheHuns，whooffereditforamoderatepricetotheemperor；butwhileAnastasiuspaused，whilehetimorouslycomputedthecostandthedistance，amorevigilantrivalinterposed，andCabadesforciblyoccupiedtheStraitsofCaucasus。TheAlbanianandIberiangatesexcludedthehorsemenofScythiafromtheshortestandmostpracticableroads，andthewholefrontofthemountainswascoveredbytherampartofGogandMagog，thelongwallwhichhasexcitedthecuriosityofanArabiancaliph^140andaRussianconqueror。^141Accordingtoarecentdescription，hugestones，sevenfeetthick，andtwenty—onefeetinlengthorheight，areartificiallyjoinedwithoutironorcement，tocomposeawall，whichrunsabovethreehundredmilesfromtheshoresofDerbend，overthehills，andthroughthevalleysofDaghestanandGeorgia。
Withoutavision，suchaworkmightbeundertakenbythepolicyofCabades；withoutamiracle，itmightbeaccomplishedbyhisson，soformidabletotheRomans，underthenameofChosroes；sodeartotheOrientals，undertheappellationofNushirwan。ThePersianmonarchheldinhishandthekeysbothofpeaceandwar；
buthestipulated，ineverytreaty，thatJustinianshouldcontributetotheexpenseofacommonbarrier，whichequallyprotectedthetwoempiresfromtheinroadsoftheScythians。^142
[Footnote138:ForthecityandpassofDerbend，seeD'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。157，291，807，PetitdelaCroix。Hist。
deGengiscan，l。iv。c。9，HistoireGenealogiquedesTatars，tom。i。p。120，Olearius，VoyageenPerse，p。1039—1041，
andCorneilleleBruyn，Voyages，tom。i。p。146，147:hisviewmaybecomparedwiththeplanofOlearius，whojudgesthewalltobeofshellsandgravelhardenedbytime。]
[Footnote139:Procopius，thoughwithsomeconfusion，alwaysdenominatesthemCaspian，Persic。l。i。c。10。ThepassisnowstyledTatar—topa，theTartar—gates，D'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。119，120。]
[Footnote*:Malte—Brun。tom。viii。p。12，makesthreepasses:
1。Thecentral，whichleadsfromMosdoktoTeflis。
2。TheAlbanian，moreinlandthantheDerbendPass。
3。TheDerbend—theCaspianGates。
ButthenarrativeofCol。Monteith，intheJournaloftheGeographicalSocietyofLondon。vol。iii。p。i。p。39，clearlyshowsthattherearebuttwopassesbetweentheBlackSeaandtheCaspian；thecentral，theCaucasian，or，asCol。Monteithcallsit，theCaspianGates，andthepassofDerbend，thoughitispracticabletoturnthispositionofDerbendbyaroadafewmilesdistantthroughthemountains，p。40。—M。]
[Footnote140:TheimaginaryrampartofGogandMagog，whichwasseriouslyexploredandbelievedbyacaliphoftheninthcentury，appearstobederivedfromthegatesofMountCaucasus，andavaguereportofthewallofChina，Geograph。Nubiensis，p。267—
270。Memoiresdel'Academie，tom。xxxi。p。210—219。]