Atthesamefatalperiod，thePersiankingdomwasagainusurpedbythedynastyoftheBowides，bytheswordofthreebrothers，who，undervariousnames，werestyledthesupportandcolumnsofthestate，andwho，fromtheCaspianSeatotheocean，wouldsuffernotyrantsbutthemselves。Undertheirreign，thelanguageandgeniusofPersiarevived，andtheArabs，threehundredandfouryearsafterthedeathofMahomet，weredeprivedofthesceptreoftheEast。
[Footnote104:TheAglabitesandEdrisitesaretheprofessedsubjectofM。deCardonne，Hist。del'Afriqueetdel'EspagnesouslaDominationdesArabes，tom。ii。p。1—63。]
[Footnote105:Toescapethereproachoferror，ImustcriticizetheinaccuraciesofM。deGuignestom。i。p。359concerningtheEdrisites。1。ThedynastyandcityofFezcouldnotbefoundedintheyearoftheHegira173，sincethefounderwasaposthumouschildofadescendantofAli，whofledfromMeccaintheyear168。2。Thisfounder，Edris，thesonofEdris，insteadoflivingtotheimprobableageof120years，A。H。313，diedA。H。214，intheprimeofmanhood。3。ThedynastyendedA。H。307，twenty—threeyearssoonerthanitisfixedbythehistorianoftheHuns。SeetheaccurateAnnalsofAbulfedap。158，159，185，238。]
[Footnote106:ThedynastiesoftheTaheritesandSoffarides，withtheriseofthatoftheSamanines，aredescribedintheoriginalhistoryandLatinversionofMirchond:yetthemostinterestingfactshadalreadybeendrainedbythediligenceofM。
D'Herbelot。]
[Footnote107:M。deGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。124—
154hasexhaustedtheToulunidesandIkshiditesofEgypt，andthrownsomelightontheCarmathiansandHamadanites。]
Rahadi，thetwentiethoftheAbbassides，andthethirty—ninthofthesuccessorsofMahomet，wasthelastwhodeservedthetitleofcommanderofthefaithful；^108thelastsaysAbulfedawhospoketothepeople，orconversedwiththelearned；thelastwho，intheexpenseofhishousehold，representedthewealthandmagnificenceoftheancientcaliphs。
Afterhim，thelordsoftheEasternworldwerereducedtothemostabjectmisery，andexposedtotheblowsandinsultsofaservilecondition。TherevoltoftheprovincescircumscribedtheirdominionswithinthewallsofBagdad:butthatcapitalstillcontainedaninnumerablemultitude，vainoftheirpastfortune，discontentedwiththeirpresentstate，andoppressedbythedemandsofatreasurywhichhadformerlybeenreplenishedbythespoilandtributeofnations。Theiridlenesswasexercisedbyfactionandcontroversy。Underthemaskofpiety，therigidfollowersofHanbal^109invadedthepleasuresofdomesticlife，burstintothehousesofplebeiansandprinces，thewine，broketheinstruments，beatthemusicians，anddishonored，withinfamoussuspicions，theassociatesofeveryhandsomeyouth。Ineachprofession，whichallowedroomfortwopersons，theonewasavotary，theotheranantagonist，ofAli；andtheAbbassideswereawakenedbytheclamorousgriefofthesectaries，whodeniedtheirtitle，andcursedtheirprogenitors。Aturbulentpeoplecouldonlyberepressedbyamilitaryforce；butwhocouldsatisfytheavariceorassertthedisciplineofthemercenariesthemselves?TheAfricanandtheTurkishguardsdrewtheirswordsagainsteachother，andthechiefcommanders，theemirsalOmra，^110imprisonedordeposedtheirsovereigns，andviolatedthesanctuaryofthemoschandharem。Ifthecaliphsescapedtothecamporcourtofanyneighboringprince，theirdeliverancewasachangeofservitude，tilltheywerepromptedbydespairtoinvitetheBowides，thesultansofPersia，whosilencedthefactionsofBagdadbytheirirresistiblearms。ThecivilandmilitarypowerswereassumedbyMoezaldowlat，thesecondofthethreebrothers，andastipendofsixtythousandpoundssterlingwasassignedbyhisgenerosityfortheprivateexpenseofthecommanderofthefaithful。Butonthefortiethday，attheaudienceoftheambassadorsofChorasan，andinthepresenceofatremblingmultitude，thecaliphwasdraggedfromhisthronetoadungeon，bythecommandofthestranger，andtherudehandsofhisDilamites。Hispalacewaspillaged，hiseyeswereputout，andthemeanambitionoftheAbbassidesaspiredtothevacantstationofdangeranddisgrace。Intheschoolofadversity，theluxuriouscaliphsresumedthegraveandabstemiousvirtuesoftheprimitivetimes。Despoiledoftheirarmorandsilkenrobes，theyfasted，theyprayed，theystudiedtheKoranandthetraditionoftheSonnites:theyperformed，withzealandknowledge，thefunctionsoftheirecclesiasticalcharacter。Therespectofnationsstillwaitedonthesuccessorsoftheapostle，theoraclesofthelawandconscienceofthefaithful；andtheweaknessordivisionoftheirtyrantssometimesrestoredtheAbbassidestothesovereigntyofBagdad。ButtheirmisfortuneshadbeenimbitteredbythetriumphoftheFatimites，therealorspuriousprogenyofAli。ArisingfromtheextremityofAfrica，thesesuccessfulrivalsextinguished，inEgyptandSyria，boththespiritualandtemporalauthorityoftheAbbassides；andthemonarchoftheNileinsultedthehumblepontiffonthebanksoftheTigris。
[Footnote108:Hicestultimuschalifahquimultumatquesaepiusproconcioneperoraret……Fuitetiamultimusquiotiumcumeruditisetfacetishominibusfallerehilariterqueageresoleret。
Ultimustandemchalifarumcuisumtus，stipendia，reditus，etthesauri，culinae，caeteraqueomnisaulicapompapriorumchalifarumadinstarcomparatafuerint。Videbimusenimpaullopostquamindignisetservilibiusludibriisexagitati，quamadhumilemfortunamaltimumquecontemptumabjectifuerinthiquondampotentissimitotiusterrarumOrientaliumorbisdomini。Abulfed。
Annal。Moslem。p。261。IhavegiventhispassageasthemannerandtoneofAbulfeda，butthecastofLatineloquencebelongsmoreproperlytoReiske。TheArabianhistorianp。255，257，261
—269，283，&c。hassuppliedmewiththemostinterestingfactsofthisparagraph。]
[Footnote109:Theirmaster，onasimilaroccasion，showedhimselfofamoreindulgentandtoleratingspirit。AhmedEbnHanbal，theheadofoneofthefourorthodoxsects，wasbornatBagdadA。H。164，anddiedthereA。H。241。HefoughtandsufferedinthedisputeconcerningthecreationoftheKoran。]
[Footnote110:TheofficeofvizierwassupersededbytheemiralOmra，ImperatorImperatorum，atitlefirstinstitutedbyRadhi，andwhichmergedatlengthintheBowidesandSeljukides:
vectigalibus，ettributis，etcuriisperomnesregionespraefecit，jussitqueinomnibussuggestisnominisejusinconcionibusmentionemfieri，Abulpharagius，Dynart。p199。ItislikewisementionedbyElmacin，p。254，255。]
Inthedecliningageofthecaliphs，inthecenturywhichelapsedafterthewarofTheophilusandMotassem，thehostiletransactionsofthetwonationswereconfinedtosomeinroadsbyseaandland，thefruitsoftheirclosevicinityandindeliblehatred。ButwhentheEasternworldwasconvulsedandbroken，theGreekswererousedfromtheirlethargybythehopesofconquestandrevenge。TheByzantineempire，sincetheaccessionoftheBasilianrace，hadreposedinpeaceanddignity；andtheymightencounterwiththeirentirestrengththefrontofsomepettyemir，whoserearwasassaultedandthreatenedbyhisnationalfoesoftheMahometanfaith。Theloftytitlesofthemorningstar，andthedeathoftheSaracens，^111wereappliedinthepublicacclamationstoNicephorusPhocas，aprinceasrenownedinthecamp，ashewasunpopularinthecity。Inthesubordinatestationofgreatdomestic，orgeneraloftheEast，hereducedtheIslandofCrete，andextirpatedthenestofpirateswhohadsolongdefied，withimpunity，themajestyoftheempire。^112Hismilitarygeniuswasdisplayedintheconductandsuccessoftheenterprise，whichhadsooftenfailedwithlossanddishonor。
TheSaracenswereconfoundedbythelandingofhistroopsonsafeandlevelbridges，whichhecastfromthevesselstotheshore。
SevenmonthswereconsumedinthesiegeofCandia；thedespairofthenativeCretanswasstimulatedbythefrequentaidoftheirbrethrenofAfricaandSpain；andafterthemassywallanddoubleditchhadbeenstormedbytheGreeksahopelessconflictwasstillmaintainedinthestreetsandhousesofthecity。Thewholeislandwassubduedinthecapital，andasubmissivepeopleaccepted，withoutresistance，thebaptismoftheconqueror。^113
Constantinopleapplaudedthelong—forgottenpompofatriumph；
buttheImperialdiademwasthesolerewardthatcouldrepaytheservices，orsatisfytheambition，ofNicephorus。
[Footnote111:Liutprand，whosecholerictemperwasimbitteredbyhisuneasysituation，suggeststhenamesofreproachandcontemptmoreapplicabletoNicephorusthanthevaintitlesoftheGreeks，Eccevenitstellamatutina，surgitEous，reverberatobtutusolisradios，pallidaSaracenorummors，Nicephorus。]
[Footnote112:NotwithstandingtheinsinuationofZonaras，&c。，tom。ii。l。xvi。p。197，itisanundoubtedfact，thatCretewascompletelyandfinallysubduedbyNicephorusPhocas，Pagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。873—875。Meursius，Creta，l。iii。c。7，tom。iii。p。464，465。]
[Footnote*:TheAcroasesofTheodorus，deexpugnationeCretae，miserableiambics，relatethewholecampaign。Whoeverwouldfairlyestimatethemeritofthepoeticdeacon，mayreadthedescriptionoftheslingingajackassintothefamishingcity。
Thepoetisinatransportatthewitofthegeneral，andrevelsintheluxuryofantithesis。TheodoriAcroases，lib。iii。172，inNiebuhr'sByzant。Hist。—M。]
[Footnote113:AGreekLifeofSt。NicontheArmenianwasfoundintheSforzalibrary，andtranslatedintoLatinbytheJesuitSirmond，fortheuseofCardinalBaronius。ThiscontemporarylegendcastsarayoflightonCreteandPeloponnesusinthe10thcentury。Hefoundthenewly—recoveredisland，foedisdetestandaeAgarenorumsuperstitionisvestigiisadhucplenamacrefertam……
butthevictoriousmissionary，perhapswithsomecarnalaid，adbaptismumomnesveraequefideidisciplinampepulit。Ecclesiispertotaminsulamaedificatis，&c。，Annal。Eccles。A。D。961。]
AfterthedeathoftheyoungerRomanus，thefourthinlinealdescentoftheBasilianrace，hiswidowTheophaniasuccessivelymarriedNicephorusPhocasandhisassassinJohnZimisces，thetwoheroesoftheage。Theyreignedastheguardiansandcolleaguesofherinfantsons；andthetwelveyearsoftheirmilitarycommandformthemostsplendidperiodoftheByzantineannals。
Thesubjectsandconfederates，whomtheyledtowar，appeared，atleastintheeyesofanenemy，twohundredthousandstrong；andoftheseaboutthirtythousandwerearmedwithcuirasses:^114atrainoffourthousandmulesattendedtheirmarch；andtheireveningcampwasregularlyfortifiedwithanenclosureofironspikes。Aseriesofbloodyandundecisivecombatsisnothingmorethanananticipationofwhatwouldhavebeeneffectedinafewyearsbythecourseofnature；butIshallbrieflyprosecutetheconquestsofthetwoemperorsfromthehillsofCappadociatothedesertofBagdad。ThesiegesofMopsuestiaandTarsus，inCilicia，firstexercisedtheskillandperseveranceoftheirtroops，onwhom，atthismoment，IshallnothesitatetobestowthenameofRomans。InthedoublecityofMopsuestia，whichisdividedbytheRiverSarus，twohundredthousandMoslemswerepredestinedtodeathorslavery，^115asurprisingdegreeofpopulation，whichmustatleastincludetheinhabitantsofthedependentdistricts。Theyweresurroundedandtakenbyassault；
butTarsuswasreducedbytheslowprogressoffamine；andnosoonerhadtheSaracensyieldedonhonorabletermsthantheyweremortifiedbythedistantandunprofitableviewofthenavalsuccorsofEgypt。Theyweredismissedwithasafe—conducttotheconfinesofSyria:apartoftheoldChristianshadquietlylivedundertheirdominion；andthevacanthabitationswerereplenishedbyanewcolony。Butthemoschwasconvertedintoastable；thepulpitwasdeliveredtotheflames；manyrichcrossesofgoldandgems，thespoilsofAsiaticchurches，weremadeagratefulofferingtothepietyoravariceoftheemperor；andhetransportedthegatesofMopsuestiaandTarsus，whichwerefixedinthewallsofConstantinople，aneternalmonumentofhisvictory。AftertheyhadforcedandsecuredthenarrowpassesofMountAmanus，thetwoRomanprincesrepeatedlycarriedtheirarmsintotheheartofSyria。Yet，insteadofassaultingthewallsofAntioch，thehumanityorsuperstitionofNicephorusappearedtorespecttheancientmetropolisoftheEast:hecontentedhimselfwithdrawingroundthecityalineofcircumvallation；leftastationaryarmy；andinstructedhislieutenanttoexpect，withoutimpatience，thereturnofspring。Butinthedepthofwinter，inadarkandrainynight，anadventuroussubaltern，withthreehundredsoldiers，approachedtherampart，appliedhisscaling—ladders，occupiedtwoadjacenttowers，stoodfirmagainstthepressureofmultitudes，andbravelymaintainedhisposttillhewasrelievedbythetardy，thougheffectual，supportofhisreluctantchief。Thefirsttumultofslaughterandrapinesubsided；thereignofCaesarandofChristwasrestored；andtheeffortsofahundredthousandSaracens，ofthearmiesofSyriaandthefleetsofAfrica，wereconsumedwithouteffectbeforethewallsofAntioch。TheroyalcityofAleppowassubjecttoSeifeddowlat，ofthedynastyofHamadan，whocloudedhispastglorybytheprecipitateretreatwhichabandonedhiskingdomandcapitaltotheRomaninvaders。Inhisstatelypalace，thatstoodwithoutthewallsofAleppo，theyjoyfullyseizedawell—furnishedmagazineofarms，astableoffourteenhundredmules，andthreehundredbagsofsilverandgold。Butthewallsofthecitywithstoodthestrokesoftheirbattering—rams:andthebesiegerspitchedtheirtentsontheneighboringmountainofJaushan。Theirretreatexasperatedthequarrelofthetownsmenandmercenaries；theguardofthegatesandrampartswasdeserted；andwhiletheyfuriouslychargedeachotherinthemarket—place，theyweresurprisedanddestroyedbytheswordofacommonenemy。Themalesexwasexterminatedbythesword；tenthousandyouthswereledintocaptivity；theweightofthepreciousspoilexceededthestrengthandnumberofthebeastsofburden；thesuperfluousremainderwasburnt；and，afteralicentiouspossessionoftendays，theRomansmarchedawayfromthenakedandbleedingcity。IntheirSyrianinroadstheycommandedthehusbandmentocultivatetheirlands，thattheythemselves，intheensuingseason，mightreapthebenefit；morethanahundredcitieswerereducedtoobedience；andeighteenpulpitsoftheprincipalmoschswerecommittedtotheflamestoexpiatethesacrilegeofthedisciplesofMahomet。TheclassicnamesofHierapolis，Apamea，andEmesa，reviveforamomentinthelistofconquest:theemperorZimiscesencampedintheparadiseofDamascus，andacceptedtheransomofasubmissivepeople；andthetorrentwasonlystoppedbytheimpregnablefortressofTripoli，onthesea—coastofPhoenicia。SincethedaysofHeraclius，theEuphrates，belowthepassageofMountTaurus，hadbeenimpervious，andalmostinvisible，totheGreeks。
TheriveryieldedafreepassagetothevictoriousZimisces；andthehistorianmayimitatethespeedwithwhichheoverrantheoncefamouscitiesofSamosata，Edessa，Martyropolis，Amida，^116
andNisibis，theancientlimitoftheempireintheneighborhoodoftheTigris。HisardorwasquickenedbythedesireofgraspingthevirgintreasuresofEcbatana，^117awell—knownname，underwhichtheByzantinewriterhasconcealedthecapitaloftheAbbassides。Theconsternationofthefugitiveshadalreadydiffusedtheterrorofhisname；butthefanciedrichesofBagdadhadalreadybeendissipatedbytheavariceandprodigalityofdomestictyrants。Theprayersofthepeople，andthesterndemandsofthelieutenantoftheBowides，requiredthecaliphtoprovideforthedefenceofthecity。ThehelplessMothireplied，thathisarms，hisrevenues，andhisprovinces，hadbeentornfromhishands，andthathewasreadytoabdicateadignitywhichhewasunabletosupport。Theemirwasinexorable；thefurnitureofthepalacewassold；andthepaltrypriceoffortythousandpiecesofgoldwasinstantlyconsumedinprivateluxury。ButtheapprehensionsofBagdadwererelievedbytheretreatoftheGreeks:thirstandhungerguardedthedesertofMesopotamia；andtheemperor，satiatedwithglory，andladenwithOrientalspoils，returnedtoConstantinople，anddisplayed，inhistriumph，thesilk，thearomatics，andthreehundredmyriadsofgoldandsilver。YetthepowersoftheEasthadbeenbent，notbroken，bythistransienthurricane。AfterthedepartureoftheGreeks，thefugitiveprincesreturnedtotheircapitals；thesubjectsdisclaimedtheirinvoluntaryoathsofallegiance；theMoslemsagainpurifiedtheirtemples，andoverturnedtheidolsofthesaintsandmartyrs；theNestoriansandJacobitespreferredaSaracentoanorthodoxmaster；andthenumbersandspiritoftheMelchiteswereinadequatetothesupportofthechurchandstate。
Oftheseextensiveconquests，Antioch，withthecitiesofCiliciaandtheIsleofCyprus，wasalonerestored，apermanentandusefulaccessiontotheRomanempire。^118
[Footnote114:Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。278，279。LiutprandwasdisposedtodepreciatetheGreekpower，yetheownsthatNicephorusledagainstAssyriaanarmyofeightythousandmen。]
[Footnote115:DucentaferemilliahominumnumerabaturbsAbulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。231ofMopsuestia，orMasifa，Mampsysta，Mansista，Mamista，asitiscorruptly，orperhapsmorecorrectly，styledinthemiddleages，Wesseling，Itinerar。p。
580。YetIcannotcreditthisextremepopulousnessafewyearsafterthetestimonyoftheemperorLeo，Tactica，c。xviii。inMeursiiOper。tom。vi。p。817。]
[Footnote116:ThetextofLeothedeacon，inthecorruptnamesofEmetaandMyctarsim，revealsthecitiesofAmidaandMartyropolis，Miafarekin。SeeAbulfeda，Geograph。p。245，vers。
Reiske。Oftheformer，Leoobserves，urbusmunitaetillustris；
ofthelatter，claraatqueconspicuaopibusqueetpecore，reliquisejusprovinciisurbibusatqueoppidislongepraestans。]
[Footnote117:UtetEcbatanapergeretAgarenorumqueregiameverteret……aiuntenimurbiumquaeusquamsuntactotoorbeexistuntfelicissimamesseauroqueditissimam，LeoDiacon。apudPagium，tom。iv。p。34。ThissplendiddescriptionsuitsonlywithBagdad，andcannotpossiblyapplyeithertoHamadan，thetrueEcbatana，D'Anville，Geog。Ancienne，tom。ii。p。237，orTauris，whichhasbeencommonlymistakenforthatcity。ThenameofEcbatana，inthesameindefinitesense，istransferredbyamoreclassicauthorityCiceroproLegoManilia，c。4totheroyalseatofMithridates，kingofPontus。]
[Footnote118:SeetheAnnalsofElmacin，Abulpharagius，andAbulfeda，fromA。H。351toA。H。361；andthereignsofNicephorusPhocasandJohnZimisces，intheChroniclesofZonarastom。ii。l。xvi。p。199—l。xvii。215andCedrenus，Compend。
p。649—684。TheirmanifolddefectsarepartlysuppliedbytheMs。historyofLeothedeacon，whichPagiobtainedfromtheBenedictines，andhasinsertedalmostentire，inaLatinversion，Critica，tom。iii。p。873，tom。iv。37。
Note:ThewholeoriginalworkofLeotheDeaconhasbeenpublishedbyHase，andisinsertedintheneweditionoftheByzantinehistorians。MLassenhasaddedtotheArabianauthoritiesofthisperiodsomeextractsfromKemaleddin'saccountofthetreatyforthesurrenderofAleppo。—M。]
ChapterLIII:FateOfTheEasternEmpire。
PartI。
FateOfTheEasternEmpireInTheTenthCentury。—ExtentAndDivision。—WealthAndRevenue。—PalaceOfConstantinople。—
TitlesAndOffices。—PrideAndPowerOfTheEmperors。—TacticsOfTheGreeks，Arabs，AndFranks。—LossOfTheLatinTongue。—
StudiesAndSolitudeOfTheGreeks。