ByasentenceoftheGreekchurch，thelicentiousroverhadbeenseparatedfromthefaithful；buteventhisexcommunicationmayprove，thatheneverabjuredtheprofessionofChistianity。
Hisvigilancehadeludedorrepelledtheopenandsecretpersecutionoftheemperor；buthewasatlengthinsnaredbythecaptivityofhisfemalecompanion。ThegovernorofTrebizondsucceededinhisattempttosurprisethepersonofTheodora:thequeenofJerusalemandhertwochildrenweresenttoConstantinople，andtheirlossimbitteredthetedioussolitudeofbanishment。Thefugitiveimploredandobtainedafinalpardon，withleavetothrowhimselfatthefeetofhissovereign，whowassatisfiedwiththesubmissionofthishaughtyspirit。Prostrateontheground，hedeploredwithtearsandgroanstheguiltofhispastrebellion；norwouldhepresumetoarise，unlesssomefaithfulsubjectwoulddraghimtothefootofthethrone，byanironchainwithwhichhehadsecretlyencircledhisneck。Thisextraordinarypenanceexcitedthewonderandpityoftheassembly；hissinswereforgivenbythechurchandstate；butthejustsuspicionofManuelfixedhisresidenceatadistancefromthecourt，atOenoe，atownofPontus，surroundedwithrichvineyards，andsituateonthecoastoftheEuxine。ThedeathofManuel，andthedisordersoftheminority，soonopenedthefairestfieldtohisambition。Theemperorwasaboyoftwelveorfourteenyearsofage，withoutvigor，orwisdom，orexperience:
hismother，theempressMary，abandonedherpersonandgovernmenttoafavoriteoftheComnenianname；andhissister，anotherMary，whosehusband，anItalian，wasdecoratedwiththetitleofCaesar，excitedaconspiracy，andatlengthaninsurrection，againstherodiousstep—mother。Theprovinceswereforgotten，thecapitalwasinflames，andacenturyofpeaceandorderwasoverthrownintheviceandweaknessofafewmonths。AcivilwarwaskindledinConstantinople；thetwofactionsfoughtabloodybattleinthesquareofthepalace，andtherebelssustainedaregularsiegeinthecathedralofSt。Sophia。Thepatriarchlaboredwithhonestzealtohealthewoundsoftherepublic，themostrespectablepatriotscalledaloudforaguardianandavenger，andeverytonguerepeatedthepraiseofthetalentsandeventhevirtuesofAndronicus。Inhisretirement，heaffectedtorevolvethesolemndutiesofhisoath:"IfthesafetyorhonoroftheImperialfamilybethreatened，Iwillrevealandopposethemischieftotheutmostofmypower。"HiscorrespondencewiththepatriarchandpatricianswasseasonedwithaptquotationsfromthePsalmsofDavidandtheepistlesofSt。Paul；andhepatientlywaitedtillhewascalledtoherdeliverancebythevoiceofhiscountry。InhismarchfromOenoetoConstantinople，hisslendertraininsensiblyswelledtoacrowdandanarmy:hisprofessionsofreligionandloyaltyweremistakenforthelanguageofhisheart；andthesimplicityofaforeigndress，whichshowedtoadvantagehismajesticstature，displayedalivelyimageofhispovertyandexile。Alloppositionsunkbeforehim；hereachedthestraitsoftheThracianBosphorus；theByzantinenavysailedfromtheharbortoreceiveandtransportthesavioroftheempire:thetorrentwasloudandirresistible，andtheinsectswhohadbaskedinthesunshineofroyalfavordisappearedattheblastofthestorm。ItwasthefirstcareofAndronicustooccupythepalace，tosalutetheemperor，toconfinehismother，topunishherminister，andtorestorethepublicorderandtranquillity。HethenvisitedthesepulchreofManuel:thespectatorswereorderedtostandaloof，butashebowedintheattitudeofprayer，theyheard，orthoughttheyheard，amurmuroftriumphorrevenge:"Inolongerfearthee，myoldenemy，whohastdrivenmeavagabondtoeveryclimateoftheearth。Thouartsafetydepositedunderaseven—folddome，fromwhencethoucanstneverarisetillthesignalofthelasttrumpet。Itisnowmyturn，andspeedilywillItrampleonthyashesandthyposterity。"Fromhissubsequenttyrannywemayimputesuchfeelingstothemanandthemoment；butitisnotextremelyprobablethathegaveanarticulatesoundtohissecretthoughts。Inthefirstmonthsofhisadministration，hisdesignswereveiledbyafairsemblanceofhypocrisy，whichcoulddeludeonlytheeyesofthemultitude；thecoronationofAlexiuswasperformedwithduesolemnity，andhisperfidiousguardian，holdinginhishandsthebodyandbloodofChrist，mostferventlydeclaredthathelived，andwasreadytodie，fortheserviceofhisbelovedpupil。Buthisnumerousadherentswereinstructedtomaintain，thatthesinkingempiremustperishinthehandsofachild，thattheRomanscouldonlybesavedbyaveteranprince，boldinarms，skilfulinpolicy，andtaughttoreignbythelongexperienceoffortuneandmankind；andthatitwasthedutyofeverycitizentoforcethereluctantmodestyofAndronicustoundertaketheburdenofthepubliccare。Theyoungemperorwashimselfconstrainedtojoinhisvoicetothegeneralacclamation，andtosolicittheassociationofacolleague，whoinstantlydegradedhimfromthesupremerank，secludedhisperson，andverifiedtherashdeclarationofthepatriarch，thatAlexiusmightbeconsideredasdead，sosoonashewascommittedtothecustodyofhisguardian。Buthisdeathwasprecededbytheimprisonmentandexecutionofhismother。Afterblackeningherreputation，andinflamingagainstherthepassionsofthemultitude，thetyrantaccusedandtriedtheempressforatreasonablecorrespondencewiththekingofHungary。Hisownson，ayouthofhonorandhumanity，avowedhisabhorrenceofthisflagitiousact，andthreeofthejudgeshadthemeritofpreferringtheirconsciencetotheirsafety:buttheobsequioustribunal，withoutrequiringanyreproof，orhearinganydefence，condemnedthewidowofManuel；andherunfortunatesonsubscribedthesentenceofherdeath。Mariawasstrangled，hercorpsewasburiedinthesea，andhermemorywaswoundedbytheinsultmostoffensivetofemalevanity，afalseanduglyrepresentationofherbeauteousform。Thefateofhersonwasnotlongdeferred:
hewasstrangledwithabowstring；andthetyrant，insensibletopityorremorse，aftersurveyingthebodyoftheinnocentyouth，struckitrudelywithhisfoot:"Thyfather，"hecried，"wasaknave，thymotherawhore，andthyselfafool!"
TheRomansceptre，therewardofhiscrimes，washeldbyAndronicusaboutthreeyearsandahalfastheguardianorsovereignoftheempire。Hisgovernmentexhibitedasingularcontrastofviceandvirtue。Whenhelistenedtohispassions，hewasthescourge；whenheconsultedhisreason，thefather，ofhispeople。Intheexerciseofprivatejustice，hewasequitableandrigorous:ashamefulandperniciousvenalitywasabolished，andtheofficeswerefilledwiththemostdeservingcandidates，byaprincewhohadsensetochoose，andseveritytopunish。Heprohibitedtheinhumanpracticeofpillagingthegoodsandpersonsofshipwreckedmariners；theprovinces，solongtheobjectsofoppressionorneglect，revivedinprosperityandplenty；andmillionsapplaudedthedistantblessingsofhisreign，whilehewascursedbythewitnessesofhisdailycruelties。Theancientproverb，Thatbloodthirstyisthemanwhoreturnsfrombanishmenttopower，hadbeenapplied，withtoomuchtruth，to'MariusandTiberius；andwasnowverifiedforthethirdtimeinthelifeofAndronicus。Hismemorywasstoredwithablacklistoftheenemiesandrivals，whohadtraducedhismerit，opposedhisgreatness，orinsultedhismisfortunes；andtheonlycomfortofhisexilewasthesacredhopeandpromiseofrevenge。Thenecessaryextinctionoftheyoungemperorandhismotherimposedthefatalobligationofextirpatingthefriends，whohated，andmightpunish，theassassin；andtherepetitionofmurderrenderedhimlesswilling，andlessable，toforgive。A
horridnarrativeofthevictimswhomhesacrificedbypoisonorthesword，bytheseaortheflames，wouldbelessexpressiveofhiscrueltythantheappellationofthehalcyondays，whichwasappliedtoarareandbloodlessweekofrepose:thetyrantstrovetotransfer，onthelawsandthejudges，someportionofhisguilt；butthemaskwasfallen，andhissubjectscouldnolongermistakethetrueauthoroftheircalamities。ThenoblestoftheGreeks，moreespeciallythosewho，bydescentoralliance，mightdisputetheComnenianinheritance，escapedfromthemonster'sden:NiceandPrusa，SicilyorCyprus，weretheirplacesofrefuge；andastheirflightwasalreadycriminal，theyaggravatedtheiroffencebyanopenrevolt，andtheImperialtitle。YetAndronicusresistedthedaggersandswordsofhismostformidableenemies:NiceandPrusawerereducedandchastised:theSicilianswerecontentwiththesackofThessalonica；andthedistanceofCypruswasnotmorepropitioustotherebelthantothetyrant。
Histhronewassubvertedbyarivalwithoutmerit，andapeoplewithoutarms。IsaacAngelus，adescendantinthefemalelinefromthegreatAlexius，wasmarkedasavictimbytheprudenceorsuperstitionoftheemperor。^!Inamomentofdespair，Angelusdefendedhislifeandliberty，slewtheexecutioner，andfledtothechurchofSt。Sophia。Thesanctuarywasinsensiblyfilledwithacuriousandmournfulcrowd，who，inhisfate，prognosticatedtheirown。Buttheirlamentationsweresoonturnedtocurses，andtheircursestothreats:theydaredtoask，"Whydowefear?whydoweobey?Wearemany，andheisone:
ourpatienceistheonlybondofourslavery。"Withthedawnofdaythecityburstintoageneralsedition，theprisonswerethrownopen，thecoldestandmostservilewererousedtothedefenceoftheircountry，andIsaac，thesecondofthename，wasraisedfromthesanctuarytothethrone。Unconsciousofhisdanger，thetyrantwasabsent；withdrawnfromthetoilsofstate，inthedeliciousislandsofthePropontis。HehadcontractedanindecentmarriagewithAlice，orAgnes，daughterofLewistheSeventh，ofFrance，andrelictoftheunfortunateAlexius；andhissociety，moresuitabletohistemperthantohisage，wascomposedofayoungwifeandafavoriteconcubine。Onthefirstalarm，herushedtoConstantinople，impatientforthebloodoftheguilty；buthewasastonishedbythesilenceofthepalace，thetumultofthecity，andthegeneraldesertionofmankind。
Andronicusproclaimedafreepardontohissubjects；theyneitherdesired，norwouldgrant，forgiveness；heofferedtoresignthecrowntohissonManuel；butthevirtuesofthesoncouldnotexpiatehisfather'scrimes。Theseawasstillopenforhisretreat；butthenewsoftherevolutionhadflownalongthecoast；whenfearhadceased，obediencewasnomore:theImperialgalleywaspursuedandtakenbyanarmedbrigantine；andthetyrantwasdraggedtothepresenceofIsaacAngelus，loadedwithfetters，andalongchainroundhisneck。Hiseloquence，andthetearsofhisfemalecompanions，pleadedinvainforhislife；
but，insteadofthedecenciesofalegalexecution，thenewmonarchabandonedthecriminaltothenumeroussufferers，whomhehaddeprivedofafather，ahusband，orafriend。Histeethandhair，aneyeandahand，weretornfromhim，asapoorcompensationfortheirloss:andashortrespitewasallowed，thathemightfeelthebitternessofdeath。Astrideonacamel，withoutanydangerofarescue，hewascarriedthroughthecity，andthebasestofthepopulacerejoicedtotrampleonthefallenmajestyoftheirprince。Afterathousandblowsandoutrages，Andronicuswashungbythefeet，betweentwopillars，thatsupportedthestatuesofawolfandanasow；andeveryhandthatcouldreachthepublicenemy，inflictedonhisbodysomemarkofingeniousorbrutalcruelty，tilltwofriendlyorfuriousItalians，plungingtheirswordsintohisbody，releasedhimfromallhumanpunishment。Inthislongandpainfulagony，"Lord，havemercyuponme!"and"Whywillyoubruiseabrokenreed?"
weretheonlywordsthatescapedfromhismouth。Ourhatredforthetyrantislostinpityfortheman；norcanweblamehispusillanimousresignation，sinceaGreekChristianwasnolongermasterofhislife。
[Footnote*:FallmerayerGeschichtedesKaiserthumsvonTrapezunt，p。29，33hashighlydrawnthecharacterofAndronicus。InhisviewtheexterminationoftheByzantinefactionsanddissolutenobilitywaspartofadeep—laidandsplendidplanfortheregenerationoftheempire。Itwasnecessaryforthewiseandbenevolentschemesofthefatherofhispeopletolopoffthoselimbswhichwereinfectedwithirremediablepestilence—
"andwithnecessity，Thetyrant'splea，excusedhisdevilishdeeds!!"—
StillthefallofAndronicuswasafatalblowtotheByzantineempire。—M。]
[Footnote!:AccordingtoNicetas，p。444，AndronicusdespisedtheimbecileIsaactoomuchtofearhim；hewasarrestedbytheofficiouszealofStephen，theinstrumentoftheEmperor'scruelties。—M。]
IhavebeentemptedtoexpatiateontheextraordinarycharacterandadventuresofAndronicus；butIshallhereterminatetheseriesoftheGreekemperorssincethetimeofHeraclius。ThebranchesthatsprangfromtheComneniantrunkhadinsensiblywithered；andthemalelinewascontinuedonlyintheposterityofAndronicushimself，who，inthepublicconfusion，usurpedthesovereigntyofTrebizond，soobscureinhistory，andsofamousinromance。AprivatecitizenofPhiladelphia，ConstantineAngelus，hademergedtowealthandhonors，byhismarriagewithadaughteroftheemperorAlexius。HissonAndronicusisconspicuousonlybyhiscowardice。HisgrandsonIsaacpunishedandsucceededthetyrant；buthewasdethronedbyhisownvices，andtheambitionofhisbrother；andtheirdiscordintroducedtheLatinstotheconquestofConstantinople，thefirstgreatperiodinthefalloftheEasternempire。
Ifwecomputethenumberanddurationofthereigns，itwillbefound，thataperiodofsixhundredyearsisfilledbysixtyemperors，includingintheAugustanlistsomefemalesovereigns；
anddeductingsomeusurperswhowereneveracknowledgedinthecapital，andsomeprinceswhodidnotlivetopossesstheirinheritance。Theaverageproportionwillallowtenyearsforeachemperor，farbelowthechronologicalruleofSirIsaacNewton，who，fromtheexperienceofmorerecentandregularmonarchies，hasdefinedabouteighteenortwentyyearsasthetermofanordinaryreign。TheByzantineempirewasmosttranquilandprosperouswhenitcouldacquiesceinhereditarysuccession；fivedynasties，theHeraclian，Isaurian，Amorian，Basilian，andComnenianfamilies，enjoyedandtransmittedtheroyalpatrimonyduringtheirrespectiveseriesoffive，four，three，six，andfourgenerations；severalprincesnumbertheyearsoftheirreignwiththoseoftheirinfancy；andConstantinetheSeventhandhistwograndsonsoccupythespaceofanentirecentury。ButintheintervalsoftheByzantinedynasties，thesuccessionisrapidandbroken，andthenameofasuccessfulcandidateisspeedilyerasedbyamorefortunatecompetitor。
Manywerethepathsthatledtothesummitofroyalty:thefabricofrebellionwasoverthrownbythestrokeofconspiracy，orunderminedbythesilentartsofintrigue:thefavoritesofthesoldiersorpeople，ofthesenateorclergy，ofthewomenandeunuchs，werealternatelyclothedwiththepurple:themeansoftheirelevationwerebase，andtheirendwasoftencontemptibleortragic。Abeingofthenatureofman，endowedwiththesamefaculties，butwithalongermeasureofexistence，wouldcastdownasmileofpityandcontemptonthecrimesandfolliesofhumanambition，soeager，inanarrowspan，tograspataprecariousandshortlivedenjoyment。Itisthusthattheexperienceofhistoryexaltsandenlargesthehorizonofourintellectualview。Inacompositionofsomedays，inaperusalofsomehours，sixhundredyearshaverolledaway，andthedurationofalifeorreigniscontractedtoafleetingmoment:
thegraveiseverbesidethethrone:thesuccessofacriminalisalmostinstantlyfollowedbythelossofhisprizeandourimmortalreasonsurvivesanddisdainsthesixtyphantomsofkingswhohavepassedbeforeoureyes，andfaintlydwellonourremembrance。Theobservationthat，ineveryageandclimate，ambitionhasprevailedwiththesamecommandingenergy，mayabatethesurpriseofaphilosopher:butwhilehecondemnsthevanity，hemaysearchthemotive，ofthisuniversaldesiretoobtainandholdthesceptreofdominion。TothegreaterpartoftheByzantineseries，wecannotreasonablyascribetheloveoffameandofmankind。ThevirtuealoneofJohnComnenuswasbeneficentandpure:themostillustriousoftheprinces，whoprocedeorfollowthatrespectablename，havetrodwithsomedexterityandvigorthecrookedandbloodypathsofaselfishpolicy:inscrutinizingtheimperfectcharactersofLeotheIsaurian，BasiltheFirst，andAlexiusComnenus，ofTheophilus，thesecondBasil，andManuelComnenus，ouresteemandcensurearealmostequallybalanced；andtheremainderoftheImperialcrowdcouldonlydesireandexpecttobeforgottenbyposterity。Waspersonalhappinesstheaimandobjectoftheirambition?Ishallnotdescantonthevulgartopicsofthemiseryofkings；butImaysurelyobserve，thattheircondition，ofallothers，isthemostpregnantwithfear，andtheleastsusceptibleofhope。Fortheseoppositepassions，alargerscopewasallowedintherevolutionsofantiquity，thaninthesmoothandsolidtemperofthemodernworld，whichcannoteasilyrepeateitherthetriumphofAlexanderorthefallofDarius。ButthepeculiarinfelicityoftheByzantineprincesexposedthemtodomesticperils，withoutaffordinganylivelypromiseofforeignconquest。Fromthepinnacleofgreatness，Andronicuswasprecipitatedbyadeathmorecruelandshamefulthanthatofthemalefactor；butthemostgloriousofhispredecessorshadmuchmoretodreadfromtheirsubjectsthantohopefromtheirenemies。Thearmywaslicentiouswithoutspirit，thenationturbulentwithoutfreedom:
theBarbariansoftheEastandWestpressedonthemonarchy，andthelossoftheprovinceswasterminatedbythefinalservitudeofthecapital。
TheentireseriesofRomanemperors，fromthefirstoftheCaesarstothelastoftheConstantines，extendsabovefifteenhundredyears:andthetermofdominion，unbrokenbyforeignconquest，surpassesthemeasureoftheancientmonarchies；theAssyriansorMedes，thesuccessorsofCyrus，orthoseofAlexander。
EndHistoryOfTheDeclineAndFallOfTheRomanEmpireEdwardGibbon，Esq。
WithnotesbytheRev。H。H。MilmanVol。5
ChapterXLIX:ConquestOfItalyByTheFranks。
PartI。
Introduction，Worship，AndPersecutionOfImages。—RevoltOfItalyAndRome。—TemporalDominionOfThePopes。—ConquestOfItalyByTheFranks。—EstablishmentOfImages。—CharacterAndCoronationOfCharlemagne。—RestorationAndDecayOfTheRomanEmpireInTheWest。—IndependenceOfItaly。—ConstitutionOfTheGermanicBody。
Intheconnectionofthechurchandstate，Ihaveconsideredtheformerassubservientonly，andrelative，tothelatter；asalutarymaxim，ifinfact，aswellasinnarrative，ithadeverbeenheldsacred。TheOrientalphilosophyoftheGnostics，thedarkabyssofpredestinationandgrace，andthestrangetransformationoftheEucharistfromthesigntothesubstanceofChrist'sbody，^1Ihavepurposelyabandonedtothecuriosityofspeculativedivines。ButIhavereviewed，withdiligenceandpleasure，theobjectsofecclesiasticalhistory，bywhichthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempireweremateriallyaffected，thepropagationofChristianity，theconstitutionoftheCatholicchurch，theruinofPaganism，andthesectsthatarosefromthemysteriouscontroversiesconcerningtheTrinityandincarnation。
Attheheadofthisclass，wemayjustlyranktheworshipofimages，sofiercelydisputedintheeighthandninthcenturies；
sinceaquestionofpopularsuperstitionproducedtherevoltofItaly，thetemporalpowerofthepopes，andtherestorationoftheRomanempireintheWest。
[Footnote1:ThelearnedSeldenhasgiventhehistoryoftransubstantiationinacomprehensiveandpithysentence:"Thisopinionisonlyrhetoricturnedintologic，"hisWorks，vol。
iii。p。2037，inhisTable—Talk。]
TheprimitiveChristianswerepossessedwithanunconquerablerepugnancetotheuseandabuseofimages；andthisaversionmaybeascribedtotheirdescentfromtheJews，andtheirenmitytotheGreeks。TheMosaiclawhadseverelyproscribedallrepresentationsoftheDeity；andthatpreceptwasfirmlyestablishedintheprinciplesandpracticeofthechosenpeople。ThewitoftheChristianapologistswaspointedagainstthefoolishidolaters，whobowedbeforetheworkmanshipoftheirownhands；theimagesofbrassandmarble，which，hadtheybeenendowedwithsenseandmotion，shouldhavestartedratherfromthepedestaltoadorethecreativepowersoftheartist。^2
PerhapssomerecentandimperfectconvertsoftheGnostictribemightcrownthestatuesofChristandSt。PaulwiththeprofanehonorswhichtheypaidtothoseofAristotleandPythagoras；^3