Aboutthirty—twoyearsbeforethatevent，theemperorSeverus，returningfromaneasternexpedition，haltedinThrace，tocelebrate，withmilitarygames，thebirthdayofhisyoungerson，Geta。Thecountryflockedincrowdstobeholdtheirsovereign，andayoungbarbarianofgiganticstatureearnestlysolicited，inhisrudedialect，thathemightbeallowedtocontendfortheprizeofwrestling。AstheprideofdisciplinewouldhavebeendisgracedintheoverthrowofaRomansoldierbyaThracianpeasant，hewasmatchedwiththestoutestfollowersofthecamp，sixteenofwhomhesuccessivelylaidontheground。
　　Hisvictorywasrewardedbysometriflinggifts，andapermissiontoenlistinthetroops。Thenextday，thehappybarbarianwasdistinguishedaboveacrowdofrecruits，dancingandexultingafterthefashionofhiscountry。Assoonasheperceivedthathehadattractedtheemperor'snotice，heinstantlyranuptohishorse，andfollowedhimonfoot，withouttheleastappearanceoffatigue，inalongandrapidcareer。"Thracian，"saidSeveruswithastonishment，"artthoudisposedtowrestleafterthyrace?"
　　"Mostwillingly，sir，"repliedtheunweariedyouth；and，almostinabreath，overthrewsevenofthestrongestsoldiersinthearmy。Agoldcollarwastheprizeofhismatchlessvigorandactivity，andhewasimmediatelyappointedtoserveinthehorseguardswhoalwaysattendedonthepersonofthesovereign。
　　^2
　　[Footnote2:Hist。Augustp。138。]
　　Maximin，forthatwashisname，thoughbornontheterritoriesoftheempire，descendedfromamixedraceofbarbarians。HisfatherwasaGoth，andhismotherofthenationoftheAlani。Hedisplayedoneveryoccasionavalorequaltohisstrength；andhisnativefiercenesswassoontemperedordisguisedbytheknowledgeoftheworld。UnderthereignofSeverusandhisson，heobtainedtherankofcenturion，withthefavorandesteemofboththoseprinces，theformerofwhomwasanexcellentjudgeofmerit。GratitudeforbadeMaximintoserveundertheassassinofCaracalla。HonortaughthimtodeclinetheeffeminateinsultsofElagabalus。OntheaccessionofAlexanderhereturnedtocourt，andwasplacedbythatprinceinastationusefultotheservice，andhonorabletohimself。Thefourthlegion，towhichhewasappointedtribune，soonbecame，underhiscare，thebestdisciplinedofthewholearmy。Withthegeneralapplauseofthesoldiers，whobestowedontheirfavoriteherothenamesofAjaxandHercules，hewassuccessivelypromotedtothefirstmilitarycommand；^3andhadnothestillretainedtoomuchofhissavageorigin，theemperormightperhapshavegivenhisownsisterinmarriagetothesonofMaximin。^4
　　[Footnote3:Hist。August。p。140。Herodian，l。vi。p。223。
　　AureliusVictor。Bycomparingtheseauthors，itshouldseemthatMaximinhadtheparticularcommandoftheTribellianhorse，withthegeneralcommissionofdiscipliningtherecruitsofthewholearmy。Hisbiographeroughttohavemarked，withmorecare，hisexploits，andthesuccessivestepsofhismilitarypromotions。]
　　[Footnote4:SeetheoriginalletterofAlexanderSeverus，Hist。
　　August。p。149。]
　　Insteadofsecuringhisfidelity，thesefavorsservedonlytoinflametheambitionoftheThracianpeasant，whodeemedhisfortuneinadequatetohismerit，aslongashewasconstrainedtoacknowledgeasuperior。Thoughastrangertoreawisdom，hewasnotdevoidofaselfishcunning，whichshowedhimthattheemperorhadlosttheaffectionofthearmy，andtaughthimtoimprovetheirdiscontenttohisownadvantage。Itiseasyforfactionandcalumnytoshedtheirpoisonontheadministrationofthebestofprinces，andtoaccuseeventheirvirtuesbyartfullyconfoundingthemwiththosevicestowhichtheybearthenearestaffinity。ThetroopslistenedwithpleasuretotheemissariesofMaximin。Theyblushedattheirownignominiouspatience，which，duringthirteenyears，hadsupportedthevexatiousdisciplineimposedbyaneffeminateSyrian，thetimidslaveofhismotherandofthesenate。Itwastime，theycried，tocastawaythatuselessphantomofthecivilpower，andtoelectfortheirprinceandgeneralarealsoldier，educatedincamps，exercisedinwar，whowouldasserttheglory，anddistributeamonghiscompanionsthetreasures，oftheempire。AgreatarmywasatthattimeassembledonthebanksoftheRhine，underthecommandoftheemperorhimself，who，almostimmediatelyafterhisreturnfromthePersianwar，hadbeenobligedtomarchagainstthebarbariansofGermany。TheimportantcareoftrainingandreviewingthenewlevieswasintrustedtoMaximin。Oneday，asheenteredthefieldofexercise，thetroopseitherfromasuddenimpulse，oraformedconspiracy，salutedhimemperor，silencedbytheirloudacclamationshisobstinaterefusal，andhastenedtoconsummatetheirrebellionbythemurderofAlexanderSeverus。
　　Thecircumstancesofhisdeatharevariouslyrelated。Thewriters，whosupposethathediedinignoranceoftheingratitudeandambitionofMaximin，affirm，that，aftertakingafrugalrepastinthesightofthearmy，heretiredtosleep，andthat，abouttheseventhhouroftheday，apartofhisownguardsbrokeintotheimperialtent，and，withmanywounds，assassinatedtheirvirtuousandunsuspectingprince。^5Ifwecreditanother，andindeedamoreprobableaccount，Maximinwasinvestedwiththepurplebyanumerousdetachment，atthedistanceofseveralmilesfromthehead—quarters；andhetrustedforsuccessrathertothesecretwishesthantothepublicdeclarationsofthegreatarmy。
　　Alexanderhadsufficienttimetoawakenafaintsenseofloyaltyamongthetroops；buttheirreluctantprofessionsoffidelityquicklyvanishedontheappearanceofMaximin，whodeclaredhimselfthefriendandadvocateofthemilitaryorder，andwasunanimouslyacknowledgedemperoroftheRomansbytheapplaudinglegions。ThesonofMamaea，betrayedanddeserted，withdrewintohistent，desirousatleasttoconcealhisapproachingfatefromtheinsultsofthemultitude。Hewassoonfollowedbyatribuneandsomecenturions，theministersofdeath；butinsteadofreceivingwithmanlyresolutiontheinevitablestroke，hisunavailingcriesandentreatiesdisgracedthelastmomentsofhislife，andconvertedintocontemptsomeportionofthejustpitywhichhisinnocenceandmisfortunesmustinspire。Hismother，Mamaea，whoseprideandavariceheloudlyaccusedasthecauseofhisruin，perishedwithherson。Themostfaithfulofhisfriendsweresacrificedtothefirstfuryofthesoldiers。Otherswerereservedforthemoredeliberatecrueltyoftheusurper；andthosewhoexperiencedthemildesttreatment，werestrippedoftheiremployments，andignominiouslydrivenfromthecourtandarmy。^6
　　[Footnote5:Hist。August。p。135。Ihavesoftenedsomeofthemostimprobablecircumstancesofthiswretchedbiographer。Fromhisill—wordednarration，itshouldseemthattheprince'sbuffoonhavingaccidentallyenteredthetent，andawakenedtheslumberingmonarch，thefearofpunishmenturgedhimtopersuadethedisaffectedsoldierstocommitthemurder。]
　　[Footnote6:Herodian，l。vi。223—227。]
　　Theformertyrants，CaligulaandNero，Commodus，andCaracalla，werealldissoluteandunexperiencedyouths，^7
　　educatedinthepurple，andcorruptedbytheprideofempire，theluxuryofRome，andtheperfidiousvoiceofflattery。ThecrueltyofMaximinwasderivedfromadifferentsource，thefearofcontempt。Thoughhedependedontheattachmentofthesoldiers，wholovedhimforvirtuesliketheirown，hewasconsciousthathismeanandbarbarianorigin，hissavageappearance，andhistotalignoranceoftheartsandinstitutionsofcivillife，^8formedaveryunfavorablecontrastwiththeamiablemannersoftheunhappyAlexander。Heremembered，that，inhishumblerfortune，hehadoftenwaitedbeforethedoorofthehaughtynoblesofRome，andhadbeendeniedadmittancebytheinsolenceoftheirslaves。Herecollectedtoothefriendshipofafewwhohadrelievedhispoverty，andassistedhisrisinghopes。Butthosewhohadspurned，andthosewhohadprotected，theThracian，wereguiltyofthesamecrime，theknowledgeofhisoriginalobscurity。Forthiscrimemanywereputtodeath；andbytheexecutionofseveralofhisbenefactors，Maximinpublished，incharactersofblood，theindeliblehistoryofhisbasenessandingratitude。^9
　　[Footnote7:Caligula，theeldestofthefour，wasonlytwenty—fiveyearsofagewhenheascendedthethrone；Caracallawastwenty—three，Commodusnineteen，andNeronomorethanseventeen。]
　　[Footnote8:ItappearsthathewastotallyignorantoftheGreeklanguage；which，fromitsuniversaluseinconversationandletters，wasanessentialpartofeveryliberaleducation。]
　　[Footnote9:Hist。August。p。141。Herodian，l。vii。p。237。
　　ThelatterofthesehistorianshasbeenmostunjustlycensuredforsparingthevicesofMaximin。]
　　Thedarkandsanguinarysoulofthetyrantwasopentoeverysuspicionagainstthoseamonghissubjectswhowerethemostdistinguishedbytheirbirthormerit。Wheneverhewasalarmedwiththesoundoftreason，hiscrueltywasunboundedandunrelenting。Aconspiracyagainsthislifewaseitherdiscoveredorimagined，andMagnus，aconsularsenator，wasnamedastheprincipalauthorofit。Withoutawitness，withoutatrial，andwithoutanopportunityofdefence，Magnus，withfourthousandofhissupposedaccomplices，wasputtodeath。Italyandthewholeempirewereinfestedwithinnumerablespiesandinformers。Ontheslightestaccusation，thefirstoftheRomannobles，whohadgovernedprovinces，commandedarmies，andbeenadornedwiththeconsularandtriumphalornaments，werechainedonthepubliccarriages，andhurriedawaytotheemperor'spresence。
　　Confiscation，exile，orsimpledeath，wereesteemeduncommoninstancesofhislenity。Someoftheunfortunatesufferersheorderedtobesewedupinthehidesofslaughteredanimals，otherstobeexposedtowildbeasts，othersagaintobebeatentodeathwithclubs。Duringthethreeyearsofhisreign，hedisdainedtovisiteitherRomeorItaly。Hiscamp，occasionallyremovedfromthebanksoftheRhinetothoseoftheDanube，wastheseatofhissterndespotism，whichtrampledoneveryprincipleoflawandjustice，andwassupportedbytheavowedpowerofthesword。^10Nomanofnoblebirth，elegantaccomplishments，orknowledgeofcivilbusiness，wassufferednearhisperson；andthecourtofaRomanemperorrevivedtheideaofthoseancientchiefsofslavesandgladiators，whosesavagepowerhadleftadeepimpressionofterroranddetestation。^11
　　[Footnote10:ThewifeofMaximin，byinsinuatingwisecounselswithfemalegentleness，sometimesbroughtbackthetyranttothewayoftruthandhumanity。SeeAmmianusMarcellinus，l。xiv。c。
　　l，wherehealludestothefactwhichhehadmorefullyrelatedunderthereignoftheGordians。Wemaycollectfromthemedals，thatPaullinawasthenameofthisbenevolentempress；andfromthetitleofDiva，thatshediedbeforeMaximin。Valesiusadloc。cit。Ammian。SpanheimdeU。etP。N。tom。ii。p。300。
　　Note:IfwemaybelieveSyrcellusandZonaras，inwasMaximinhimselfwhoorderedherdeath—G]
　　[Footnote11:HewascomparedtoSpartacusandAthenio。Hist。
　　Augustp。141。]
　　AslongasthecrueltyofMaximinwasconfinedtotheillustrioussenators，oreventotheboldadventurers，whointhecourtorarmyexposethemselvestothecapriceoffortune，thebodyofthepeopleviewedtheirsufferingswithindifference，orperhapswithpleasure。Butthetyrant'savarice，stimulatedbytheinsatiatedesiresofthesoldiers，atlengthattackedthepublicproperty。Everycityoftheempirewaspossessedofanindependentrevenue，destinedtopurchasecornforthemultitude，andtosupplytheexpensesofthegamesandentertainments。Byasingleactofauthority，thewholemassofwealthwasatonceconfiscatedfortheuseoftheImperialtreasury。Thetempleswerestrippedoftheirmostvaluableofferingsofgoldandsilver，andthestatuesofgods，heroes，andemperors，weremelteddownandcoinedintomoney。Theseimpiousorderscouldnotbeexecutedwithouttumultsandmassacres，asinmanyplacesthepeoplechoserathertodieinthedefenceoftheiraltars，thantobeholdinthemidstofpeacetheircitiesexposedtotherapineandcrueltyofwar。Thesoldiersthemselves，amongwhomthissacrilegiousplunderwasdistributed，receiveditwithablush；andhardenedastheywereinactsofviolence，theydreadedthejustreproachesoftheirfriendsandrelations。
　　ThroughouttheRomanworldageneralcryofindignationwasheard，imploringvengeanceonthecommonenemyofhumankind；andatlength，byanactofprivateoppression，apeacefulandunarmedprovincewasdrivenintorebellionagainsthim。^12
　　[Footnote12:Herodian，l。vii。p。238。Zosim。l。i。p。15。]
　　TheprocuratorofAfricawasaservantworthyofsuchamaster，whoconsideredthefinesandconfiscationsoftherichasoneofthemostfruitfulbranchesoftheImperialrevenue。Aniniquitoussentencehadbeenpronouncedagainstsomeopulentyouthsofthatcountry，theexecutionofwhichwouldhavestrippedthemoffarthegreaterpartoftheirpatrimony。Inthisextremity，aresolutionthatmusteithercompleteorpreventtheirruin，wasdictatedbydespair。Arespiteofthreedays，obtainedwithdifficultyfromtherapacioustreasurer，wasemployedincollectingfromtheirestatesagreatnumberofslavesandpeasantsblindlydevotedtothecommandsoftheirlords，andarmedwiththerusticweaponsofclubsandaxes。Theleadersoftheconspiracy，astheywereadmittedtotheaudienceoftheprocurator，stabbedhimwiththedaggersconcealedundertheirgarments，and，bytheassistanceoftheirtumultuarytrain，seizedonthelittletownofThysdrus，^13anderectedthestandardofrebellionagainstthesovereignoftheRomanempire。
　　TheyrestedtheirhopesonthehatredofmankindagainstMaximin，andtheyjudiciouslyresolvedtoopposetothatdetestedtyrantanemperorwhosemildvirtueshadalreadyacquiredtheloveandesteemoftheRomans，andwhoseauthorityovertheprovincewouldgiveweightandstabilitytotheenterprise。Gordianus，theirproconsul，andtheobjectoftheirchoice，refused，withunfeignedreluctance，thedangeroushonor，andbeggedwithtears，thattheywouldsufferhimtoterminateinpeacealongandinnocentlife，withoutstaininghisfeebleagewithcivilblood。
　　TheirmenacescompelledhimtoaccepttheImperialpurple，hisonlyrefuge，indeed，againstthejealouscrueltyofMaximin；
　　since，accordingtothereasoningoftyrants，thosewhohavebeenesteemedworthyofthethronedeservedeath，andthosewhodeliberatehavealreadyrebelled。^14
　　[Footnote13:InthefertileterritoryofByzacium，onehundredandfiftymilestothesouthofCarthage。Thiscitywasdecorated，probablybytheGordians，withthetitleofcolony，andwithafineamphitheatre，whichisstillinaveryperfectstate。SeeIntinerar。Wesseling，p。59；andShaw'sTravels，p。
　　117。]
　　[Footnote14:Herodian，l。vii。p。239。Hist。August。p。153。]
　　ThefamilyofGordianuswasoneofthemostillustriousoftheRomansenate。Onthefather'ssidehewasdescendedfromtheGracchi；onhismother's，fromtheemperorTrajan。Agreatestateenabledhimtosupportthedignityofhisbirth，andintheenjoymentofit，hedisplayedaneleganttasteandbeneficentdisposition。ThepalaceinRome，formerlyinhabitedbythegreatPompey，hadbeen，duringseveralgenerations，inthepossessionofGordian'sfamily。^15Itwasdistinguishedbyancienttrophiesofnavalvictories，anddecoratedwiththeworksofmodernpainting。HisvillaontheroadtoPraenestewascelebratedforbathsofsingularbeautyandextent，forthreestatelyroomsofahundredfeetinlength，andforamagnificentportico，supportedbytwohundredcolumnsofthefourmostcuriousandcostlysortsofmarble。^16Thepublicshowsexhibitedathisexpense，andinwhichthepeoplewereentertainedwithmanyhundredsofwildbeastsandgladiators，^17seemtosurpassthefortuneofasubject；andwhilsttheliberalityofothermagistrateswasconfinedtoafewsolemnfestivalsatRome，themagnificenceofGordianwasrepeated，whenhewasaedile，everymonthintheyear，andextended，duringhisconsulship，totheprincipalcitiesofItaly。Hewastwiceelevatedtothelast—mentioneddignity，byCaracallaandbyAlexander；forhepossessedtheuncommontalentofacquiringtheesteemofvirtuousprinces，withoutalarmingthejealousyoftyrants。HislonglifewasinnocentlyspentinthestudyoflettersandthepeacefulhonorsofRome；and，tillhewasnamedproconsulofAfricabythevoiceofthesenateandtheapprobationofAlexander，^18heappearsprudentlytohavedeclinedthecommandofarmiesandthegovernmentofprovinces。Aslongasthatemperorlived，Africawashappyundertheadministrationofhisworthyrepresentative:
　　afterthebarbarousMaximinhadusurpedthethrone，Gordianusalleviatedthemiserieswhichhewasunabletoprevent。Whenhereluctantlyacceptedthepurple，hewasabovefourscoreyearsold；alastandvaluableremainsofthehappyageoftheAntonines，whosevirtuesherevivedinhisownconduct，andcelebratedinanelegantpoemofthirtybooks。Withthevenerableproconsul，hisson，whohadaccompaniedhimintoAfricaashislieutenant，waslikewisedeclaredemperor。Hismannerswerelesspure，buthischaracterwasequallyamiablewiththatofhisfather。Twenty—twoacknowledgedconcubines，andalibraryofsixty—twothousandvolumes，attestedthevarietyofhisinclinations；andfromtheproductionswhichheleftbehindhim，itappearsthattheformeraswellasthelatterweredesignedforuseratherthanforostentation。^19TheRomanpeopleacknowledgedinthefeaturesoftheyoungerGordiantheresemblanceofScipioAfricanus，^!recollectedwithpleasurethathismotherwasthegranddaughterofAntoninusPius，andrestedthepublichopeonthoselatentvirtueswhichhadhitherto，astheyfondlyimagined，lainconcealedintheluxuriousindolenceofprivatelife。
　　[Footnote15:Hist。Aug。p。152。ThecelebratedhouseofPompeyincariniswasusurpedbyMarcAntony，andconsequentlybecame，aftertheTriumvir'sdeath，apartoftheImperialdomain。TheemperorTrajanallowed，andevenencouraged，therichsenatorstopurchasethosemagnificentanduselessplaces，Plin。Panegyric。
　　c。50；anditmayseemprobable，that，onthisoccasion，Pompey'shousecameintothepossessionofGordian'sgreat—