[Footnote26:ThecountryoftheTurks，nowoftheCalmucks，iswelldescribedintheGenealogicalHistory，p。521—562。ThecuriousnotesoftheFrenchtranslatorareenlargedanddigestedinthesecondvolumeoftheEnglishversion。]
[Footnote27:Visdelou，p。141，151。Thefact，thoughitstrictlybelongstoasubordinateandsuccessivetribe，maybeintroducedhere。]
[Footnote28:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。12，l。ii。c。3。
Peyssonel，ObservationssurlesPeuplesBarbares，p。99，100，definesthedistancebetweenCaffaandtheoldBosphorusatxvi。
longTartarleagues。]
[Footnote29:See，inaMemoireofM。deBoze，Mem。del'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。vi。p。549—565，theancientkingsandmedalsoftheCimmerianBosphorus；andthegratitudeofAthens，intheOrationofDemosthenesagainstLeptines，inReiske，Orator。Graec。tom。i。p。466，187。]
[Footnote30:FortheoriginandrevolutionsofthefirstTurkishempire，theChinesedetailsareborrowedfromDeGuignesHist。
desHuns，tom。P。ii。p。367—462andVisdelou，SupplementalaBibliothequeOrient。d'Herbelot，p。82—114。TheGreekorRomanhintsaregatheredinMenanderp。108—164andTheophylactSimocatta，l。vii。c。7，8。]
ChapterXLII:StateOfTheBarbaricWorld。
PartII。
Intherapidcareerofconquest，theTurksattackedandsubduedthenationoftheOgorsorVarchonitesonthebanksoftheRiverTil，whichderivedtheepithetofBlackfromitsdarkwaterorgloomyforests。^31ThekhanoftheOgorswasslainwiththreehundredthousandofhissubjects，andtheirbodieswerescatteredoverthespaceoffourdays'journey:theirsurvivingcountrymenacknowledgedthestrengthandmercyoftheTurks；andasmallportion，abouttwentythousandwarriors，preferredexiletoservitude。Theyfollowedthewell—knownroadoftheVolga，cherishedtheerrorofthenationswhoconfoundedthemwiththeAvars，andspreadtheterrorofthatfalsethoughfamousappellation，whichhadnot，however，saveditslawfulproprietorsfromtheyokeoftheTurks。^32Afteralongandvictoriousmarch，thenewAvarsarrivedatthefootofMountCaucasus，inthecountryoftheAlani^33andCircassians，wheretheyfirstheardofthesplendorandweaknessoftheRomanempire。Theyhumblyrequestedtheirconfederate，theprinceoftheAlani，toleadthemtothissourceofriches；andtheirambassador，withthepermissionofthegovernorofLazica，wastransportedbytheEuxineSeatoConstantinople。Thewholecitywaspouredforthtobeholdwithcuriosityandterrortheaspectofastrangepeople:
theirlonghair，whichhungintressesdowntheirbacks，wasgracefullyboundwithribbons，buttherestoftheirhabitappearedtoimitatethefashionoftheHuns。WhentheywereadmittedtotheaudienceofJustinian，Candish，thefirstoftheambassadors，addressedtheRomanemperorintheseterms:"Youseebeforeyou，Omightyprince，therepresentativesofthestrongestandmostpopulousofnations，theinvincible，theirresistibleAvars。Wearewillingtodevoteourselvestoyourservice:weareabletovanquishanddestroyalltheenemieswhonowdisturbyourrepose。Butweexpect，asthepriceofouralliance，astherewardofourvalor，preciousgifts，annualsubsidies，andfruitfulpossessions。"Atthetimeofthisembassy，Justinianhadreignedabovethirty，hehadlivedaboveseventy—fiveyears:hismind，aswellashisbody，wasfeebleandlanguid；andtheconquerorofAfricaandItaly，carelessofthepermanentinterestofhispeople，aspiredonlytoendhisdaysinthebosomevenofingloriouspeace。Inastudiedoration，heimpartedtothesenatehisresolutiontodissembletheinsult，andtopurchasethefriendshipoftheAvars；andthewholesenate，likethemandarinsofChina，applaudedtheincomparablewisdomandforesightoftheirsovereign。TheinstrumentsofluxurywereimmediatelypreparedtocaptivatetheBarbarians；silkengarments，softandsplendidbeds，andchainsandcollarsincrustedwithgold。Theambassadors，contentwithsuchliberalreception，departedfromConstantinople，andValentin，oneoftheemperor'sguards，wassentwithasimilarcharactertotheircampatthefootofMountCaucasus。Astheirdestructionortheirsuccessmustbealikeadvantageoustotheempire，hepersuadedthemtoinvadetheenemiesofRome；andtheywereeasilytempted，bygiftsandpromises，togratifytheirrulinginclinations。Thesefugitives，whofledbeforetheTurkisharms，passedtheTanaisandBorysthenes，andboldlyadvancedintotheheartofPolandandGermany，violatingthelawofnations，andabusingtherightsofvictory。Beforetenyearshadelapsed，theircampswereseatedontheDanubeandtheElbe，manyBulgarianandSclavoniannameswereobliteratedfromtheearth，andtheremainderoftheirtribesarefound，astributariesandvassals，underthestandardoftheAvars。Thechagan，thepeculiartitleoftheirking，stillaffectedtocultivatethefriendshipoftheemperor；andJustinianentertainedsomethoughtsoffixingtheminPannonia，tobalancetheprevailingpoweroftheLombards。ButthevirtueortreacheryofanAvarbetrayedthesecretenmityandambitiousdesignsoftheircountrymen；andtheyloudlycomplainedofthetimid，thoughjealouspolicy，ofdetainingtheirambassadors，anddenyingthearmswhichtheyhadbeenallowedtopurchaseinthecapitaloftheempire。^34
[Footnote*:TheOgorsorVarchonites，fromVar。ariver，obviouslyconnectedwiththenameAvar，mustnotbeconfoundedwiththeUigours，theeasternTurks，v。Hammer，OsmanischeGeschichte，vol。i。p。3，whospeakalanguagetheparentofthemoremodernTurkishdialects。CompareKlaproth，page121。TheyaretheancestorsoftheUsbeckTurks。TheseOgorswereofthesameFinnishracewiththeHuns；andthe20，000familieswhichfledtowardsthewest，aftertheTurkishinvasion，wereofthesameracewiththosewhichremainedtotheeastoftheVolga，thetrueAvarsofTheophyfact。—M。]
[Footnote31:TheRiverTil，orTula，accordingtothegeographyofDeGuignes，tom。i。partii。p。lviii。and352，isasmall，thoughgrateful，streamofthedesert，thatfallsintotheOrhon，Selinga，&c。SeeBell，JourneyfromPetersburgtoPekin，vol。
ii。p。124；yethisowndescriptionoftheKeat，downwhichhesailedintotheOby，representsthenameandattributesoftheblackriver，p。139。
Note:M。Klaproth，TableauxHistoriquesdel'Asie，p。274
supposesthisrivertobeaneasternaffluentoftheVolga，theKama，which，fromthecolorofitswaters，mightbecalledblack。
M。AbelRemusatRechercheasurlesLanguesTartares，vol。i。p。
320andM。St。Martinvol。ix。p。373considerittheVolga，whichiscalledAtelorEtelbyalltheTurkishtribes。ItiscalledAttilasbyMenander，andEttiliabythemonkRuysbreek1253。SeeKlaproth，Tabl。Hist。p。247。ThisgeographyismuchmoreclearandsimplethanthatadoptedbyGibbonfromDeGuignes，orsuggestedfromBell。—M。]
[Footnote32:Theophylact，l。vii。c。7，8。AndyethistrueAvarsareinvisibleeventotheeyesofM。deGuignes；andwhatcanbemoreillustriousthanthefalse?TherightofthefugitiveOgorstothatnationalappellationisconfessedbytheTurksthemselves，Menander，p。108。]
[Footnote33:TheAlaniarestillfoundintheGenealogicalHistoryoftheTartars，p。617，andinD'Anville'smaps。TheyopposedthemarchofthegeneralsofZingisroundtheCaspianSea，andwereoverthrowninagreatbattle，Hist。deGengiscan，l。iv。c。9，p。447。]
[Footnote34:TheembassiesandfirstconquestsoftheAvarsmaybereadinMenander，Excerpt。Legat。p。99，100，101，154，155，
Theophanes，p。196，theHistoriaMiscella，l。xvi。p。109，
andGregoryofTours，Liv。c。23，29，intheHistoriansofFrance，tom。ii。p。214，217。]
PerhapstheapparentchangeinthedispositionsoftheemperorsmaybeascribedtotheembassywhichwasreceivedfromtheconquerorsoftheAvars。^35Theimmensedistancewhicheludedtheirarmscouldnotextinguishtheirresentment:theTurkishambassadorspursuedthefootstepsofthevanquishedtotheJaik，theVolga，MountCaucasus，theEuxineandConstantinople，andatlengthappearedbeforethesuccessorofConstantine，torequestthathewouldnotespousethecauseofrebelsandfugitives。Evencommercehadsomeshareinthisremarkablenegotiation:andtheSogdoites，whowerenowthetributariesoftheTurks，embracedthefairoccasionofopening，bythenorthoftheCaspian，anewroadfortheimportationofChinesesilkintotheRomanempire。ThePersian，whopreferredthenavigationofCeylon，hadstoppedthecaravansofBocharaandSamarcand:theirsilkwascontemptuouslyburnt:someTurkishambassadorsdiedinPersia，withasuspicionofpoison；andthegreatkhanpermittedhisfaithfulvassalManiach，theprinceoftheSogdoites，topropose，attheByzantinecourt，atreatyofallianceagainsttheircommonenemies。Theirsplendidapparelandrichpresents，thefruitofOrientalluxury，distinguishedManiachandhiscolleaguesfromtherudesavagesoftheNorth:
theirletters，intheScythiancharacterandlanguage，announcedapeoplewhohadattainedtherudimentsofscience:^36theyenumeratedtheconquests，theyofferedthefriendshipandmilitaryaidoftheTurks；andtheirsinceritywasattestedbydirefulimprecationsiftheywereguiltyoffalsehoodagainsttheirownhead，andtheheadofDisabultheirmaster。TheGreekprinceentertainedwithhospitableregardtheambassadorsofaremoteandpowerfulmonarch:thesightofsilk—wormsandloomsdisappointedthehopesoftheSogdoites；theemperorrenounced，orseemedtorenounce，thefugitiveAvars，butheacceptedtheallianceoftheTurks；andtheratificationofthetreatywascarriedbyaRomanministertothefootofMountAltai。UnderthesuccessorsofJustinian，thefriendshipofthetwonationswascultivatedbyfrequentandcordialintercourse；themostfavoredvassalswerepermittedtoimitatetheexampleofthegreatkhan，andonehundredandsixTurks，who，onvariousoccasions，hadvisitedConstantinople，departedatthesametimefortheirnativecountry。ThedurationandlengthofthejourneyfromtheByzantinecourttoMountAltaiarenotspecified:itmighthavebeendifficulttomarkaroadthroughthenamelessdeserts，themountains，rivers，andmorassesofTartary；butacuriousaccounthasbeenpreservedofthereceptionoftheRomanambassadorsattheroyalcamp。Aftertheyhadbeenpurifiedwithfireandincense，accordingtoaritestillpractisedunderthesonsofZingis，theywereintroducedtothepresenceofDisabul。InavalleyoftheGoldenMountain，theyfoundthegreatkhaninhistent，seatedinachairwithwheels，towhichahorsemightbeoccasionallyharnessed。Assoonastheyhaddeliveredtheirpresents，whichwerereceivedbytheproperofficers，theyexposed，inafloridoration，thewishesoftheRomanemperor，thatvictorymightattendthearmsoftheTurks，thattheirreignmightbelongandprosperous，andthatastrictalliance，withoutenvyordeceit，mightforeverbemaintainedbetweenthetwomostpowerfulnationsoftheearth。TheanswerofDisabulcorrespondedwiththesefriendlyprofessions，andtheambassadorswereseatedbyhisside，atabanquetwhichlastedthegreatestpartoftheday:thetentwassurroundedwithsilkhangings，andaTartarliquorwasservedonthetable，whichpossessedatleasttheintoxicatingqualitiesofwine。Theentertainmentofthesucceedingdaywasmoresumptuous；thesilkhangingsofthesecondtentwereembroideredinvariousfigures；
andtheroyalseat，thecups，andthevases，wereofgold。A
thirdpavilionwassupportedbycolumnsofgiltwood；abedofpureandmassygoldwasraisedonfourpeacocksofthesamemetal:andbeforetheentranceofthetent，dishes，basins，andstatuesofsolidsilver，andadmirableart，wereostentatiouslypiledinwagons，themonumentsofvalorratherthanofindustry。
WhenDisabulledhisarmiesagainstthefrontiersofPersia，hisRomanalliesfollowedmanydaysthemarchoftheTurkishcamp，norweretheydismissedtilltheyhadenjoyedtheirprecedencyovertheenvoyofthegreatking，whoseloudandintemperateclamorsinterruptedthesilenceoftheroyalbanquet。ThepowerandambitionofChosroescementedtheunionoftheTurksandRomans，whotouchedhisdominionsoneitherside:butthosedistantnations，regardlessofeachother，consultedthedictatesofinterest，withoutrecollectingtheobligationsofoathsandtreaties。WhilethesuccessorofDisabulcelebratedhisfather'sobsequies，hewassalutedbytheambassadorsoftheemperorTiberius，whoproposedaninvasionofPersia，andsustained，withfirmness，theangryandperhapsthejustreproachesofthathaughtyBarbarian。"Youseemytenfingers，"saidthegreatkhan，andheappliedthemtohismouth。"YouRomansspeakwithasmanytongues，buttheyaretonguesofdeceitandperjury。Tomeyouholdonelanguage，tomysubjectsanother；andthenationsaresuccessivelydeludedbyyourperfidiouseloquence。Youprecipitateyouralliesintowaranddanger，youenjoytheirlabors，andyouneglectyourbenefactors。Hastenyourreturn，informyourmasterthataTurkisincapableofutteringorforgivingfalsehood，andthatheshallspeedilymeetthepunishmentwhichhedeserves。Whilehesolicitsmyfriendshipwithflatteringandhollowwords，heissunktoaconfederateofmyfugitiveVarchonites。IfIcondescendtomarchagainstthosecontemptibleslaves，theywilltrembleatthesoundofourwhips；
theywillbetrampled，likeanestofants，underthefeetofmyinnumerablecavalry。Iamnotignorantoftheroadwhichtheyhavefollowedtoinvadeyourempire；norcanIbedeceivedbythevainpretence，thatMountCaucasusistheimpregnablebarrieroftheRomans。IknowthecourseoftheNiester，theDanube，andtheHebrus；themostwarlikenationshaveyieldedtothearmsoftheTurks；andfromtherisingtothesettingsun，theearthismyinheritance。"Notwithstandingthismenace，asenseofmutualadvantagesoonrenewedtheallianceoftheTurksandRomans:buttheprideofthegreatkhansurvivedhisresentment；andwhenheannouncedanimportantconquesttohisfriendtheemperorMaurice，hestyledhimselfthemasterofthesevenraces，andthelordofthesevenclimatesoftheworld。^37
[Footnote35:Theophanes，Chron。p。204，andtheHist。
Miscella，l。xvi。p。110，asunderstoodbyDeGuignes，tom。i。
partii。p。354，appeartospeakofaTurkishembassytoJustinianhimself；butthatofManiach，inthefourthyearofhissuccessorJustin，ispositivelythefirstthatreachedConstantinople，Menanderp。108。]
[Footnote36:TheRussianshavefoundcharacters，rudehieroglyphics，ontheIrtishandYenisei，onmedals，tombs，idols，rocks，obelisks，&c。，Strahlenberg，Hist。ofSiberia，p。
324，346，406，429。Dr。HydedeReligioneVeterumPersarum，p。
521，&c。hasgiventwoalphabetsofThibetandoftheEygours。
Ihavelongharboredasuspicion，thatalltheScythian，andsome，perhapsmuch，oftheIndianscience，wasderivedfromtheGreeksofBactriana。
Note:Moderndiscoveriesgivenoconfirmationtothissuspicion。ThecharacterofIndianscience，aswellasoftheirliteratureandmythology，indicatesanoriginalsource。GrecianartmayhaveoccasionallyfounditswayintoIndia。OneortwoofthesculpturesinCol。Tod'saccountoftheJaintemples，ifcorrect，showafineroutline，andpurersenseofbeauty，thanappearsnativetoIndia，wherethemonstrousalwayspredominatedoversimplenature。—M。]
[Footnote*:Thisriteissocurious，thatIhavesubjoinedthedescriptionofit:—
Whenthesetheexorcisers，theShamansapproachedZemarchus，theytookallourbaggageandplaceditinthecentre。
Then，kindlingafirewithbranchesoffrankincense，lowlymurmuringcertainbarbarouswordsintheScythianlanguage，beatingonakindofbellagongandadrum，theypassedoverthebaggagetheleavesofthefrankincense，cracklingwiththefire，andatthesametimethemselvesbecomingfrantic，andviolentlyleapingabout，seemedtoexorcisetheevilspirits。
Havingthusastheythought，avertedallevil，theyledZemarchushimselfthroughthefire。Menander，inNiebuhr'sBryant。Hist。
p。381。CompareCarpini'sTravels。TheprincesoftheraceofZingisKhancondescendedtoreceivetheambassadorsofthekingofFrance，attheendofthe13thcenturywithouttheirsubmittingtothishumiliatingrite。SeeCorrespondencepublishedbyAbelRemusat，Nouv。Mem。del'AcaddesInscrip。vol。vii。OntheembassyofZemarchus，compareKlaproth，Tableauxdel'Asiep。
116。—M。]
[Footnote37:AllthedetailsoftheseTurkishandRomanembassies，socuriousinthehistoryofhumanmanners，aredrawnfromtheextractsofMenander，p。106—110，151—154，161—
164，inwhichweoftenregretthewantoforderandconnection。]
DisputeshaveoftenarisenbetweenthesovereignsofAsiaforthetitleofkingoftheworld；whilethecontesthasprovedthatitcouldnotbelongtoeitherofthecompetitors。ThekingdomoftheTurkswasboundedbytheOxusorGihon；andTouranwasseparatedbythatgreatriverfromtherivalmonarchyofIran，orPersia，whichinasmallercompasscontainedperhapsalargermeasureofpowerandpopulation。ThePersians，whoalternatelyinvadedandrepulsedtheTurksandtheRomans，werestillruledbythehouseofSassan，whichascendedthethronethreehundredyearsbeforetheaccessionofJustinian。Hiscontemporary，Cabades，orKobad，hadbeensuccessfulinwaragainsttheemperorAnastasius；butthereignofthatprincewasdistractedbycivilandreligioustroubles。Aprisonerinthehandsofhissubjects，anexileamongtheenemiesofPersia，herecoveredhislibertybyprostitutingthehonorofhiswife，andregainedhiskingdomwiththedangerousandmercenaryaidoftheBarbarians，whohadslainhisfather。HisnoblesweresuspiciousthatKobadneverforgavetheauthorsofhisexpulsion，oreventhoseofhisrestoration。ThepeoplewasdeludedandinflamedbythefanaticismofMazdak，^38whoassertedthecommunityofwomen，^39andtheequalityofmankind，whilstheappropriatedtherichestlandsandmostbeautifulfemalestotheuseofhissectaries。Theviewofthesedisorders，whichhadbeenfomentedbyhislawsandexample，^40imbitteredthedecliningageofthePersianmonarch；andhisfearswereincreasedbytheconsciousnessofhisdesigntoreversethenaturalandcustomaryorderofsuccession，infavorofhisthirdandmostfavoredson，sofamousunderthenamesofChosroesandNushirvan。Torendertheyouthmoreillustriousintheeyesofthenations，KobadwasdesirousthatheshouldbeadoptedbytheemperorJustin:thehopeofpeaceinclinedtheByzantinecourttoacceptthissingularproposal；andChosroesmighthaveacquiredaspeciousclaimtotheinheritanceofhisRomanparent。ButthefuturemischiefwasdivertedbytheadviceofthequaestorProclus:adifficultywasstarted，whethertheadoptionshouldbeperformedasacivilormilitaryrite；^41thetreatywasabruptlydissolved；andthesenseofthisindignitysunkdeepintothemindofChosroes，whohadalreadyadvancedtotheTigrisonhisroadtoConstantinople。Hisfatherdidnotlongsurvivethedisappointmentofhiswishes:thetestamentoftheirdeceasedsovereignwasreadintheassemblyofthenobles；andapowerfulfaction，preparedfortheevent，andregardlessofthepriorityofage，exaltedChosroestothethroneofPersia。Hefilledthatthroneduringaprosperousperiodofforty—eightyears；^42andtheJusticeofNushirvaniscelebratedasthethemeofimmortalpraisebythenationsoftheEast。
[Footnote38:SeeD'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。568，929；
Hyde，deReligioneVet。Persarum，c。21，p。290，291；Pocock，SpecimenHist。Arab。p。70，71；Eutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。
176；Texeira，inStevens，Hist。ofPersia，l。i。c。34。
Note:MazdakwasanArchimagus，born，accordingtoMirkhond，translatedbyDeSacy，p。353，andMalcolm，vol。i。p。104，atIstakharorPersepolis，accordingtoanineditedandanonymoushistory，theModjmal—alte—warikhintheRoyalLibraryatParis，quotedbySt。Martin，vol。vii。p。322atWischapourinChorasan:hisfather'snamewasBamdadam。HeannounceshimselfasareformerofZoroastrianism，andcarriedthedoctrineofthetwoprinciplestoamuchgraterheight。Hepreachedtheabsoluteindifferenceofhumanaction，perfectequalityofrank，communityofpropertyandofwomen，marriagesbetweenthenearestkindred；