viii。p。285。TheauthorityofCensorinusdeDieNatali，c。18
　　enablesustofixthosegameswithcertaintytotheyear238，butleavesusinignoranceofthemonthorday。2。TheelectionofGordianbythesenateisfixedwithequalcertaintytothe27thofMay；butweareatalosstodiscoverwhetheritwasinthesameortheprecedingyear。TillemontandMuratori，whomaintainthetwooppositeopinions，bringintothefieldadesultorytroopofauthorities，conjecturesandprobabilities。Theoneseemstodrawout，theothertocontracttheseriesofeventsbetweenthoseperiods，morethancanbewellreconciledtoreasonandhistory。Yetitisnecessarytochoosebetweenthem。
　　Note:Eckhelhasmorerecentlytreatedthesechronologicalquestionswithaperspicuitywhichgivesgreatprobabilitytohisconclusions。Settingasideallthehistorians，whosecontradictionsareirreconcilable，hehasonlyconsultedthemedals，andhasarrangedtheeventsbeforeusinthefollowingorder:—
　　Maximin，A。U。990，afterhavingconqueredtheGermans，reentersPannonia，establisheshiswinterquartersatSirmium，andprepareshimselftomakewaragainstthepeopleoftheNorth。
　　Intheyear991，inthecalendsofJanuary，commenceshisfourthtribunate。TheGordiansarechosenemperorsinAfrica，probablyatthebeginningofthemonthofMarch。Thesenateconfirmsthiselectionwithjoy，anddeclaresMaximintheenemyofRome。Fivedaysafterhehadheardofthisrevolt，MaximinsetsoutfromSirmiumonhismarchtoItaly。TheseeventstookplaceaboutthebeginningofApril；alittleafter，theGordiansareslaininAfricabyCapellianus，procuratorofMauritania。Thesenate，initsalarm，namesasemperorsBalbusandMaximusPupianus，andintruststhelatterwiththewaragainstMaximin。MaximinisstoppedonhisroadnearAquileia，bythewantofprovisions，andbythemeltingofthesnows:hebeginsthesiegeofAquileiaattheendofApril。PupianusassembleshisarmyatRavenna。
　　MaximinandhissonareassassinatedbythesoldiersenragedattheresistanceofAquileia:andthiswasprobablyinthemiddleofMay。PupianusreturnstoRome，andassumesthegovernmentwithBalbinus；theyareassassinatedtowardstheendofJulyGordiantheyoungerascendsthethrone。EckheldeDoct。Volvii295。—G。]
　　[Footnote33:VelleiusPaterculus，l。ii。c。24。ThepresidentdeMontesquieuinhisdialoguebetweenSyllaandEucrates
　　expressesthesentimentsofthedictatorinaspirited，andevenasublimemanner。]
　　WhenthetroopsofMaximin，advancinginexcellentorder，arrivedatthefootoftheJulianAlps，theywereterrifiedbythesilenceanddesolationthatreignedonthefrontiersofItaly。Thevillagesandopentownshadbeenabandonedontheirapproachbytheinhabitants，thecattlewasdrivenaway，theprovisionsremovedordestroyed，thebridgesbrokendown，norwasanythingleftwhichcouldaffordeithershelterorsubsistencetoaninvader。Suchhadbeenthewiseordersofthegeneralsofthesenate:whosedesignwastoprotractthewar，toruinthearmyofMaximinbytheslowoperationoffamine，andtoconsumehisstrengthinthesiegesoftheprincipalcitiesofItaly，whichtheyhadplentifullystoredwithmenandprovisionsfromthedesertedcountry。Aquileiareceivedandwithstoodthefirstshockoftheinvasion。ThestreamsthatissuefromtheheadoftheHadriaticGulf，swelledbythemeltingofthewintersnows，^34opposedanunexpectedobstacletothearmsofMaximin。Atlength，onasingularbridge，constructedwithartanddifficulty，oflargehogsheads，hetransportedhisarmytotheoppositebank，rootedupthebeautifulvineyardsintheneighborhoodofAquileia，demolishedthesuburbs，andemployedthetimberofthebuildingsintheenginesandtowers，withwhichoneverysideheattackedthecity。Thewalls，fallentodecayduringthesecurityofalongpeace，hadbeenhastilyrepairedonthissuddenemergency:butthefirmestdefenceofAquileiaconsistedintheconstancyofthecitizens；allranksofwhom，insteadofbeingdismayed，wereanimatedbytheextremedanger，andtheirknowledgeofthetyrant'sunrelentingtemper。TheircouragewassupportedanddirectedbyCrispinusandMenophilus，twoofthetwentylieutenantsofthesenate，who，withasmallbodyofregulartroops，hadthrownthemselvesintothebesiegedplace。ThearmyofMaximinwasrepulsedinrepeatedattacks，hismachinesdestroyedbyshowersofartificialfire；andthegenerousenthusiasmoftheAquileianswasexaltedintoaconfidenceofsuccess，bytheopinionthatBelenus，theirtutelardeity，combatedinpersoninthedefenceofhisdistressedworshippers。^35
　　[Footnote34:MuratoriAnnalid'Italia，tom。ii。p。294thinksthemeltingofthesnowssuitsbetterwiththemonthsofJuneorJuly，thanwiththoseofFebruary。TheopinionofamanwhopassedhislifebetweentheAlpsandtheApennines，isundoubtedlyofgreatweight；yetIobserve，1。Thatthelongwinter，ofwhichMuratoritakesadvantage，istobefoundonlyintheLatinversion，andnotintheGreektextofHerodian。2。
　　Thatthevicissitudesofsunsandrains，towhichthesoldiersofMaximinwereexposed，Herodian，l。viii。p。277，denotethespringratherthanthesummer。Wemayobserve，likewise，thattheseseveralstreams，astheymeltedintoone，composedtheTimavus，sopoeticallyineverysenseoftheworddescribedbyVirgil。TheyareabouttwelvemilestotheeastofAquileia。SeeCluver。ItaliaAntiqua，tom。i。p。189，&c。]
　　[Footnote35:Herodian，l。viii。p。272。TheCelticdeitywassupposedtobeApollo，andreceivedunderthatnamethethanksofthesenate。AtemplewaslikewisebuilttoVenustheBald，inhonorofthewomenofAquileia，whohadgivenuptheirhairtomakeropesforthemilitaryengines。]
　　TheemperorMaximus，whohadadvancedasfarasRavenna，tosecurethatimportantplace，andtohastenthemilitarypreparations，beheldtheeventofthewarinthemorefaithfulmirrorofreasonandpolicy。Hewastoosensible，thatasingletowncouldnotresisttheperseveringeffortsofagreatarmy；
　　andhedreaded，lesttheenemy，tiredwiththeobstinateresistanceofAquileia，shouldonasuddenrelinquishthefruitlesssiege，andmarchdirectlytowardsRome。Thefateoftheempireandthecauseoffreedommustthenbecommittedtothechanceofabattle；andwhatarmscouldheopposetotheveteranlegionsoftheRhineandDanube?SometroopsnewlyleviedamongthegenerousbutenervatedyouthofItaly；andabodyofGermanauxiliaries，onwhosefirmness，inthehouroftrial，itwasdangeroustodepend。Inthemidstofthesejustalarms，thestrokeofdomesticconspiracypunishedthecrimesofMaximin，anddeliveredRomeandthesenatefromthecalamitiesthatwouldsurelyhaveattendedthevictoryofanenragedbarbarian。
　　ThepeopleofAquileiahadscarcelyexperiencedanyofthecommonmiseriesofasiege；theirmagazineswereplentifullysupplied，andseveralfountainswithinthewallsassuredthemofaninexhaustibleresourceoffreshwater。ThesoldiersofMaximinwere，onthecontrary，exposedtotheinclemencyoftheseason，thecontagionofdisease，andthehorrorsoffamine。Theopencountrywasruined，theriversfilledwiththeslain，andpollutedwithblood。Aspiritofdespairanddisaffectionbegantodiffuseitselfamongthetroops；andastheywerecutofffromallintelligence，theyeasilybelievedthatthewholeempirehadembracedthecauseofthesenate，andthattheywereleftasdevotedvictimstoperishundertheimpregnablewallsofAquileia。Thefiercetemperofthetyrantwasexasperatedbydisappointments，whichheimputedtothecowardiceofhisarmy；
　　andhiswantonandill—timedcruelty，insteadofstrikingterror，inspiredhatred，andajustdesireofrevenge。ApartyofPraetorianguards，whotrembledfortheirwivesandchildreninthecampofAlba，nearRome，executedthesentenceofthesenate。
　　Maximin，abandonedbyhisguards，wasslaininhistent，withhisson，whomhehadassociatedtothehonorsofthepurple，
　　Anulinusthepraefect，andtheprincipalministersofhistyranny。^36Thesightoftheirheads，borneonthepointofspears，convincedthecitizensofAquileiathatthesiegewasatanend；thegatesofthecitywerethrownopen，aliberalmarketwasprovidedforthehungrytroopsofMaximin，andthewholearmyjoinedinsolemnprotestationsoffidelitytothesenateandthepeopleofRome，andtotheirlawfulemperorsMaximusandBalbinus。Suchwasthedeservedfateofabrutalsavage，destitute，ashehasgenerallybeenrepresented，ofeverysentimentthatdistinguishesacivilized，orevenahumanbeing。
　　Thebodywassuitedtothesoul。ThestatureofMaximinexceededthemeasureofeightfeet，andcircumstancesalmostincrediblearerelatedofhismatchlessstrengthandappetite。^37Hadhelivedinalessenlightenedage，traditionandpoetrymightwellhavedescribedhimasoneofthosemonstrousgiants，whosesupernaturalpowerwasconstantlyexertedforthedestructionofmankind。
　　[Footnote36:Herodian，l。viii。p。279。Hist。August。p。146。
　　ThedurationofMaximin'sreignhasnotbeendefinedwithmuchaccuracy，exceptbyEutropius，whoallowshimthreeyearsandafewdays，l。ix。1；wemaydependontheintegrityofthetext，astheLatinoriginalischeckedbytheGreekversionofPaeanius。]
　　[Footnote37:EightRomanfeetandonethird，whichareequaltoaboveeightEnglishfeet，asthetwomeasuresaretoeachotherintheproportionof967to1000。SeeGraves'sdiscourseontheRomanfoot。WearetoldthatMaximincoulddrinkinadayanamphoraoraboutsevengallonsofwine，andeatthirtyorfortypoundsofmeat。Hecouldmovealoadedwagon，breakahorse'slegwithhisfist，crumblestonesinhishand，andtearupsmalltreesbytheroots。SeehislifeintheAugustanHistory。]
　　ItiseasiertoconceivethantodescribetheuniversaljoyoftheRomanworldonthefallofthetyrant，thenewsofwhichissaidtohavebeencarriedinfourdaysfromAquileiatoRome。
　　ThereturnofMaximuswasatriumphalprocession；hiscolleagueandyoungGordianwentouttomeethim，andthethreeprincesmadetheirentryintothecapital，attendedbytheambassadorsofalmostallthecitiesofItaly，salutedwiththesplendidofferingsofgratitudeandsuperstition，andreceivedwiththeunfeignedacclamationsofthesenateandpeople，whopersuadedthemselvesthatagoldenagewouldsucceedtoanageofiron。^38
　　Theconductofthetwoemperorscorrespondedwiththeseexpectations。Theyadministeredjusticeinperson；andtherigoroftheonewastemperedbytheother'sclemency。TheoppressivetaxeswithwhichMaximinhadloadedtherightsofinheritanceandsuccession，wererepealed，oratleastmoderated。Disciplinewasrevived，andwiththeadviceofthesenatemanywiselawswereenactedbytheirimperialministers，whoendeavoredtorestoreacivilconstitutionontheruinsofmilitarytyranny。"WhatrewardmayweexpectfordeliveringRomefromamonster?"wasthequestionaskedbyMaximus，inamomentoffreedomandconfidence。
　　Balbinusanswereditwithouthesitation—"Theloveofthesenate，ofthepeople，andofallmankind。""Alas!"repliedhismorepenetratingcolleague—"alas!Idreadthehatredofthesoldiers，andthefataleffectsoftheirresentment。"^39Hisapprehensionswerebuttoowelljustifiedbytheevent。
　　[Footnote38:SeethecongratulatoryletterofClaudiusJulianus，theconsultothetwoemperors，intheAugustanHistory。]
　　[Footnote39:Hist。August。p。171。]
　　WhilstMaximuswaspreparingtodefendItalyagainstthecommonfoe，Balbinus，whoremainedatRome，hadbeenengagedinscenesofbloodandintestinediscord。Distrustandjealousyreignedinthesenate；andeveninthetempleswheretheyassembled，everysenatorcarriedeitheropenorconcealedarms。
　　Inthemidstoftheirdeliberations，twoveteransoftheguards，actuatedeitherbycuriosityorasinistermotive，audaciouslythrustthemselvesintothehouse，andadvancedbydegreesbeyondthealtarofVictory。Gallicanus，aconsular，andMaecenas，aPraetoriansenator，viewedwithindignationtheirinsolentintrusion:drawingtheirdaggers，theylaidthespiesforsuchtheydeemedthemdeadatthefootofthealtar，andthen，advancingtothedoorofthesenate，imprudentlyexhortedthemultitudetomassacrethePraetorians，asthesecretadherentsofthetyrant。Thosewhoescapedthefirstfuryofthetumulttookrefugeinthecamp，whichtheydefendedwithsuperioradvantageagainstthereiteratedattacksofthepeople，assistedbythenumerousbandsofgladiators，thepropertyofopulentnobles。
　　Thecivilwarlastedmanydays，withinfinitelossandconfusiononbothsides。Whenthepipeswerebrokenthatsuppliedthecampwithwater，thePraetorianswerereducedtointolerabledistress；
　　butintheirturntheymadedesperatesalliesintothecity，setfiretoagreatnumberofhouses，andfilledthestreetswiththebloodoftheinhabitants。TheemperorBalbinusattempted，byineffectualedictsandprecarioustruces，toreconcilethefactionsatRome。Buttheiranimosity，thoughsmotheredforawhile，burntwithredoubledviolence。Thesoldiers，detestingthesenateandthepeople，despisedtheweaknessofaprince，whowantedeitherthespiritorthepowertocommandtheobedienceofhissubjects。^40
　　[Footnote40:Herodian，l。viii。p。258。]
　　Afterthetyrant'sdeath，hisformidablearmyhadacknowledged，fromnecessityratherthanfromchoice，theauthorityofMaximus，whotransportedhimselfwithoutdelaytothecampbeforeAquileia。Assoonashehadreceivedtheiroathoffidelity，headdressedthemintermsfullofmildnessandmoderation；lamented，ratherthanarraignedthewilddisordersofthetimes，andassuredthesoldiers，thatofalltheirpastconductthesenatewouldrememberonlytheirgenerousdesertionofthetyrant，andtheirvoluntaryreturntotheirduty。Maximusenforcedhisexhortationsbyaliberaldonative，purifiedthecampbyasolemnsacrificeofexpiation，andthendismissedthelegionstotheirseveralprovinces，impressed，ashehoped，withalivelysenseofgratitudeandobedience。^41ButnothingcouldreconcilethehaughtyspiritofthePraetorians。TheyattendedtheemperorsonthememorabledayoftheirpublicentryintoRome；butamidstthegeneralacclamations，thesullen，dejectedcountenanceoftheguardssufficientlydeclaredthattheyconsideredthemselvesastheobject，ratherthanthepartners，ofthetriumph。Whenthewholebodywasunitedintheircamp，thosewhohadservedunderMaximin，andthosewhohadremainedatRome，insensiblycommunicatedtoeachothertheircomplaintsandapprehensions。Theemperorschosenbythearmyhadperishedwithignominy；thoseelectedbythesenatewereseatedonthethrone。
　　^42Thelongdiscordbetweenthecivilandmilitarypowerswasdecidedbyawar，inwhichtheformerhadobtainedacompletevictory。Thesoldiersmustnowlearnanewdoctrineofsubmissiontothesenate；andwhateverclemencywasaffectedbythatpoliticassembly，theydreadedaslowrevenge，coloredbythenameofdiscipline，andjustifiedbyfairpretencesofthepublicgood。Buttheirfatewasstillintheirownhands；andiftheyhadcouragetodespisethevainterrorsofanimpotentrepublic，itwaseasytoconvincetheworld，thatthosewhoweremastersofthearms，weremastersoftheauthority，ofthestate。
　　[Footnote41:Herodian，l。viii。p。213。]
　　[Footnote42:Theobservationhadbeenmadeimprudentlyenoughintheacclamationsofthesenate，andwithregardtothesoldiersitcarriedtheappearanceofawantoninsult。Hist。August。p。
　　170。]
　　Whenthesenateelectedtwoprinces，itisprobablethat，besidesthedeclaredreasonofprovidingforthevariousemergenciesofpeaceandwar，theywereactuatedbythesecretdesireofweakeningbydivisionthedespotismofthesuprememagistrate。Theirpolicywaseffectual，butitprovedfatalbothtotheiremperorsandtothemselves。Thejealousyofpowerwassoonexasperatedbythedifferenceofcharacter。MaximusdespisedBalbinusasaluxuriousnoble，andwasinhisturndisdainedbyhiscolleagueasanobscuresoldier。Theirsilentdiscordwasunderstoodratherthanseen；^43butthemutualconsciousnesspreventedthemfromunitinginanyvigorousmeasuresofdefenceagainsttheircommonenemiesofthePraetoriancamp。ThewholecitywasemployedintheCapitolinegames，andtheemperorswereleftalmostaloneinthepalace。Onasudden，theywerealarmedbytheapproachofatroopofdesperateassassins。Ignorantofeachother'ssituationordesigns，fortheyalreadyoccupiedverydistantapartments，
　　afraidtogiveortoreceiveassistance，theywastedtheimportantmomentsinidledebatesandfruitlessrecriminations。
　　Thearrivaloftheguardsputanendtothevainstrife。Theyseizedontheseemperorsofthesenate，forsuchtheycalledthemwithmaliciouscontempt，strippedthemoftheirgarments，anddraggedthemininsolenttriumphthroughthestreetsofRome，withthedesignofinflictingaslowandcrueldeathontheseunfortunateprinces。ThefearofarescuefromthefaithfulGermansoftheImperialguards，shortenedtheirtortures；andtheirbodies，mangledwithathousandwounds，wereleftexposedtotheinsultsortothepityofthepopulace。^44
　　[Footnote43:Discordiaetacitae，etquaeintelligerenturpotiusquamviderentur。Hist。August。p。170。Thiswell—chosenexpressionisprobablystolenfromsomebetterwriter。]
　　[Footnote44:Herodian，l。viii。p。287，288。]
　　Inthespaceofafewmonths，sixprinceshadbeencutoffbythesword。Gordian，whohadalreadyreceivedthetitleofCaesar，wastheonlypersonthatoccurredtothesoldiersaspropertofillthevacantthrone。^45Theycarriedhimtothecamp，andunanimouslysalutedhimAugustusandEmperor。Hisnamewasdeartothesenateandpeople；histenderagepromisedalongimpunityofmilitarylicense；andthesubmissionofRomeandtheprovincestothechoiceofthePraetorianguards，savedtherepublic，attheexpenseindeedofitsfreedomanddignity，fromthehorrorsofanewcivilwarintheheartofthecapital。^46
　　[Footnote45:Quianonaliuseratinpraesenti，istheexpressionoftheAugustanHistory。]