[Footnote30:VopiscusinHist。August。p。210。]
[Footnote31:Dexippusgivesthemasubtleandprolixoration,worthyofaGreciansophist。]
Immediatelyafterthisconference,itshouldseemthatsomeunexpectedemergencyrequiredtheemperor'spresenceinPannonia。
HedevolvedonhislieutenantsthecareoffinishingthedestructionoftheAlemanni,eitherbythesword,orbythesureroperationoffamine。Butanactivedespairhasoftentriumphedovertheindolentassuranceofsuccess。Thebarbarians,findingitimpossibletotraversetheDanubeandtheRomancamp,brokethroughthepostsintheirrear,whichweremorefeeblyorlesscarefullyguarded;andwithincrediblediligence,butbyadifferentroad,returnedtowardsthemountainsofItaly。^32
Aurelian,whoconsideredthewarastotallyextinguished,receivedthemortifyingintelligenceoftheescapeoftheAlemanni,andoftheravagewhichtheyalreadycommittedintheterritoryofMilan。Thelegionswerecommandedtofollow,withasmuchexpeditionasthoseheavybodieswerecapableofexerting,therapidflightofanenemywhoseinfantryandcavalrymovedwithalmostequalswiftness。Afewdaysafterwards,theemperorhimselfmarchedtothereliefofItaly,attheheadofachosenbodyofauxiliaries,amongwhomwerethehostagesandcavalryoftheVandals,andofallthePraetorianguardswhohadservedinthewarsontheDanube。^33
[Footnote32:Hist。August。p。215。]
[Footnote33:Dexippus,p。12。]
AsthelighttroopsoftheAlemannihadspreadthemselvesfromtheAlpstotheApennine,theincessantvigilanceofAurelianandhisofficerswasexercisedinthediscovery,theattack,andthepursuitofthenumerousdetachments。
Notwithstandingthisdesultorywar,threeconsiderablebattlesarementioned,inwhichtheprincipalforceofbotharmieswasobstinatelyengaged。^34Thesuccesswasvarious。Inthefirst,foughtnearPlacentia,theRomansreceivedsosevereablow,that,accordingtotheexpressionofawriterextremelypartialtoAurelian,theimmediatedissolutionoftheempirewasapprehended。^35Thecraftybarbarians,whohadlinedthewoods,suddenlyattackedthelegionsintheduskoftheevening,and,itismostprobable,afterthefatigueanddisorderofalongmarch。
Thefuryoftheirchargewasirresistible;but,atlength,afteradreadfulslaughter,thepatientfirmnessoftheemperorralliedhistroops,andrestored,insomedegree,thehonorofhisarms。
ThesecondbattlewasfoughtnearFanoinUmbria;onthespotwhich,fivehundredyearsbefore,hadbeenfataltothebrotherofHannibal。^36ThusfarthesuccessfulGermanshadadvancedalongtheAemilianandFlaminianway,withadesignofsackingthedefencelessmistressoftheworld。ButAurelian,who,watchfulforthesafetyofRome,stillhungontheirrear,foundinthisplacethedecisivemomentofgivingthematotalandirretrievabledefeat。^37TheflyingremnantoftheirhostwasexterminatedinathirdandlastbattlenearPavia;andItalywasdeliveredfromtheinroadsoftheAlemanni。
[Footnote34:VictorJuniorinAurelian。]
[Footnote35:VopiscusinHist。August。p。216。]
[Footnote36:Thelittleriver,orrathertorrent,of,Metaurus,nearFano,hasbeenimmortalized,byfindingsuchanhistorianasLivy,andsuchapoetasHorace。]
[Footnote37:ItisrecordedbyaninscriptionfoundatPesaro。
SeeGrutercclxxvi。3。]
Fearhasbeentheoriginalparentofsuperstition,andeverynewcalamityurgestremblingmortalstodeprecatethewrathoftheirinvisibleenemies。ThoughthebesthopeoftherepublicwasinthevalorandconductofAurelian,yetsuchwasthepublicconsternation,whenthebarbarianswerehourlyexpectedatthegatesofRome,that,byadecreeofthesenatetheSibyllinebookswereconsulted。Eventheemperorhimselffromamotiveeitherofreligionorofpolicy,recommendedthissalutarymeasure,chidedthetardinessofthesenate,^38andofferedtosupplywhateverexpense,whateveranimals,whatevercaptivesofanynation,thegodsshouldrequire。Notwithstandingthisliberaloffer,itdoesnotappear,thatanyhumanvictimsexpiatedwiththeirbloodthesinsoftheRomanpeople。TheSibyllinebooksenjoinedceremoniesofamoreharmlessnature,processionsofpriestsinwhiterobes,attendedbyachorusofyouthsandvirgins;lustrationsofthecityandadjacentcountry;andsacrifices,whosepowerfulinfluencedisabledthebarbariansfrompassingthemysticgroundonwhichtheyhadbeencelebrated。
Howeverpuerileinthemselves,thesesuperstitiousartsweresubservienttothesuccessofthewar;andif,inthedecisivebattleofFano,theAlemannifanciedtheysawanarmyofspectrescombatingonthesideofAurelian,hereceivedarealandeffectualaidfromthisimaginaryreenforcement。^39
[Footnote38:Oneshouldimagine,hesaid,thatyouwereassembledinaChristianchurch,notinthetempleofallthegods。]
[Footnote39:Vopiscus,inHist。August。p。215,216,givesalongaccountoftheseceremoniesfromtheRegistersofthesenate。]
Butwhateverconfidencemightbeplacedinidealramparts,theexperienceofthepast,andthedreadofthefuture,inducedtheRomanstoconstructfortificationsofagrosserandmoresubstantialkind。ThesevenhillsofRomehadbeensurrounded,bythesuccessorsofRomulus,withanancientwallofmorethanthirteenmiles。^40Thevastenclosuremayseemdisproportionedtothestrengthandnumbersoftheinfantstate。Butitwasnecessarytosecureanampleextentofpastureandarableland,againstthefrequentandsuddenincursionsofthetribesofLatium,theperpetualenemiesoftherepublic。WiththeprogressofRomangreatness,thecityanditsinhabitantsgraduallyincreased,filledupthevacantspace,piercedthroughtheuselesswalls,coveredthefieldofMars,and,oneveryside,followedthepublichighwaysinlongandbeautifulsuburbs。^41
Theextentofthenewwalls,erectedbyAurelian,andfinishedinthereignofProbus,wasmagnifiedbypopularestimationtonearfifty,^42butisreducedbyaccuratemeasurementtoabouttwenty—onemiles。^43Itwasagreatbutamelancholylabor,sincethedefenceofthecapitalbetrayedthedeclineofthemonarchy。TheRomansofamoreprosperousage,whotrustedtothearmsofthelegionsthesafetyofthefrontiercamps,^44wereveryfarfromentertainingasuspicion,thatitwouldeverbecomenecessarytofortifytheseatofempireagainsttheinroadsofthebarbarians。^45
[Footnote40:Plin。Hist。Natur。iii。5。Toconfirmouridea,wemayobserve,thatforalongtimeMountCaeliuswasagroveofoaks,andMountViminalwasoverrunwithosiers;that,inthefourthcentury,theAventinewasavacantandsolitaryretirement;that,tillthetimeofAugustus,theEsquilinewasanunwholesomeburying—ground;andthatthenumerousinequalities,remarkedbytheancientsintheQuirinal,sufficientlyprovethatitwasnotcoveredwithbuildings。Ofthesevenhills,theCapitolineandPalatineonly,withtheadjacentvalleys,weretheprimitivehabitationsoftheRomanpeople。Butthissubjectwouldrequireadissertation。]
[Footnote41:Exspatiantiatectamultasaddidereurbes,istheexpressionofPliny。]
[Footnote42:Hist。August。p。222。BothLipsiusandIsaacVossiushaveeagerlyembracedthismeasure。]
[Footnote43:SeeNardini,RomanAntica,l。i。c。8。
Note:ButcompareGibbon,ch。xli。note77。—M。]
[Footnote44:Tacit。Hist。iv。23。]
[Footnote45:ForAurelian'swalls,seeVopiscusinHist。August。
p。216,222。Zosimus,l。i。p。43。Eutropius,ix。15。Aurel。
VictorinAurelianVictorJuniorinAurelian。Euseb。Hieronym。
etIdatiusinChronic]
ThevictoryofClaudiusovertheGoths,andthesuccessofAurelianagainsttheAlemanni,hadalreadyrestoredtothearmsofRometheirancientsuperiorityoverthebarbarousnationsoftheNorth。Tochastisedomestictyrants,andtoreunitethedismemberedpartsoftheempire,wasataskreservedforthesecondofthosewarlikeemperors。Thoughhewasacknowledgedbythesenateandpeople,thefrontiersofItaly,Africa,Illyricum,andThrace,confinedthelimitsofhisreign。Gaul,Spain,andBritain,Egypt,Syria,andAsiaMinor,werestillpossessedbytworebels,whoalone,outofsonumerousalist,hadhithertoescapedthedangersoftheirsituation;andtocompletetheignominyofRome,theserivalthroneshadbeenusurpedbywomen。
ArapidsuccessionofmonarchshadarisenandfallenintheprovincesofGaul。TherigidvirtuesofPosthumusservedonlytohastenhisdestruction。Aftersuppressingacompetitor,whohadassumedthepurpleatMentz,herefusedtogratifyhistroopswiththeplunderoftherebelliouscity;andintheseventhyearofhisreign,becamethevictimoftheirdisappointedavarice。
^46ThedeathofVictorinus,hisfriendandassociate,wasoccasionedbyalessworthycause。Theshiningaccomplishments^47ofthatprincewerestainedbyalicentiouspassion,whichheindulgedinactsofviolence,withtoolittleregardtothelawsofsociety,oreventothoseoflove。^48HewasslainatCologne,byaconspiracyofjealoushusbands,whoserevengewouldhaveappearedmorejustifiable,hadtheysparedtheinnocenceofhisson。Afterthemurderofsomanyvaliantprinces,itissomewhatremarkable,thatafemaleforalongtimecontrolledthefiercelegionsofGaul,andstillmoresingular,thatshewasthemotheroftheunfortunateVictorinus。TheartsandtreasuresofVictoriaenabledhersuccessivelytoplaceMariusandTetricusonthethrone,andtoreignwithamanlyvigorunderthenameofthosedependentemperors。Moneyofcopper,ofsilver,andofgold,wascoinedinhername;sheassumedthetitlesofAugustaandMotheroftheCamps:herpowerendedonlywithherlife;butherlifewasperhapsshortenedbytheingratitudeofTetricus。
^49
[Footnote46:HiscompetitorwasLollianus,orAelianus,if,indeed,thesenamesmeanthesameperson。SeeTillemont,tom。
iii。p。1177。
Note:ThemedalswhichbearthenameofLollianusareconsideredforgeriesexceptoneinthemuseumofthePrinceofWaldecktherearemanyextentbearingthenameofLaelianus,whichappearstohavebeenthatofthecompetitorofPosthumus。
Eckhel。Doct。Num。t。vi。149—G。]
[Footnote47:ThecharacterofthisprincebyJuliusAterianusap。Hist。August。p。187isworthtranscribing,asitseemsfairandimpartialVictorinoquiPostJuniumPosthumiumGalliasrexitneminemexistemopraeferendum;noninvirtuteTrajanum;nonAntoninuminclementia;noningravitateNervam;noningubernandoaerarioVespasianum;noninCensuratotiusvitaeacseveritatemilitariPertinacemvelSeverum。Sedomniahaeclibidoetcupiditasvoluptatismulierriaesicperdidit,utnemoaudeatvirtutesejusinliterasmitterequemconstatomniumjudiciomeruissepuniri。]
[Footnote48:HeravishedthewifeofAttitianus,anactuary,orarmyagent,Hist。August。p。186。Aurel。VictorinAurelian。]
[Footnote49:Pollioassignsheranarticleamongthethirtytyrants。Hist。August。p。200。]
When,attheinstigationofhisambitiouspatroness,Tetricusassumedtheensignsofroyalty,hewasgovernorofthepeacefulprovinceofAquitaine,anemploymentsuitedtohischaracterandeducation。HereignedfourorfiveyearsoverGaul,Spain,andBritain,theslaveandsovereignofalicentiousarmy,whomhedreaded,andbywhomhewasdespised。ThevalorandfortuneofAurelianatlengthopenedtheprospectofadeliverance。Heventuredtodisclosehismelancholysituation,andconjuredtheemperortohastentothereliefofhisunhappyrival。Hadthissecretcorrespondencereachedtheearsofthesoldiers,itwouldmostprobablyhavecostTetricushislife;norcouldheresignthesceptreoftheWestwithoutcommittinganactoftreasonagainsthimself。Heaffectedtheappearancesofacivilwar,ledhisforcesintothefield,againstAurelian,postedtheminthemostdisadvantageousmanner,betrayedhisowncounselstohisenemy,andwithafewchosenfriendsdesertedinthebeginningoftheaction。Therebellegions,thoughdisorderedanddismayedbytheunexpectedtreacheryoftheirchief,defendedthemselveswithdesperatevalor,tilltheywerecutinpiecesalmosttoaman,inthisbloodyandmemorablebattle,whichwasfoughtnearChalonsinChampagne。^50Theretreatoftheirregularauxiliaries,FranksandBatavians,^51
whomtheconquerorsooncompelledorpersuadedtorepasstheRhine,restoredthegeneraltranquillity,andthepowerofAurelianwasacknowledgedfromthewallofAntoninustothecolumnsofHercules。
[Footnote50:PollioinHist。August。p。196。VopiscusinHist。
August。p。220。ThetwoVictors,inthelivesofGallienusandAurelian。Eutrop。ix。13。Euseb。inChron。Ofallthesewriters,onlythetwolastbutwithstrongprobabilityplacethefallofTetricusbeforethatofZenobia。M。deBozeintheAcademyofInscriptions,tom。xxx。doesnotwish,andTillemonttom。iii。p。1189doesnotdaretofollowthem。Ihavebeenfairerthantheone,andbolderthantheother。]
[Footnote51:VictorJuniorinAurelian。EumeniusmentionsBatavicoe;somecritics,withoutanyreason,wouldfainalterthewordtoBagandicoe。]
AsearlyasthereignofClaudius,thecityofAutun,aloneandunassisted,hadventuredtodeclareagainstthelegionsofGaul。Afterasiegeofsevenmonths,theystormedandplunderedthatunfortunatecity,alreadywastedbyfamine。^52Lyons,onthecontrary,hadresistedwithobstinatedisaffectionthearmsofAurelian。WereadofthepunishmentofLyons,^53butthereisnotanymentionoftherewardsofAutun。Such,indeed,isthepolicyofcivilwar;severelytorememberinjuries,andtoforgetthemostimportantservices。Revengeisprofitable,gratitudeisexpensive。
[Footnote52:Eumen。inVet。Panegyr。iv。8。]
[Footnote53:VopiscusinHist。August。p。246。AutunwasnotrestoredtillthereignofDiocletian。SeeEumeniusderestaurandisscholis。]
AurelianhadnosoonersecuredthepersonandprovincesofTetricus,thanheturnedhisarmsagainstZenobia,thecelebratedqueenofPalmyraandtheEast。ModernEuropehasproducedseveralillustriouswomenwhohavesustainedwithglorytheweightofempire;norisourownagedestituteofsuchdistinguishedcharacters。ButifweexceptthedoubtfulachievementsofSemiramis,ZenobiaisperhapstheonlyfemalewhosesuperiorgeniusbrokethroughtheservileindolenceimposedonhersexbytheclimateandmannersofAsia。^54SheclaimedherdescentfromtheMacedoniankingsofEgypt,equalledinbeautyherancestorCleopatra,andfarsurpassedthatprincessinchastity^55andvalor。Zenobiawasesteemedthemostlovelyaswellasthemostheroicofhersex。Shewasofadarkcomplexion,forinspeakingofaladythesetriflesbecomeimportant。Herteethwereofapearlywhiteness,andherlargeblackeyessparkledwithuncommonfire,temperedbythemostattractivesweetness。Hervoicewasstrongandharmonious。Hermanlyunderstandingwasstrengthenedandadornedbystudy。ShewasnotignorantoftheLatintongue,butpossessedinequalperfectiontheGreek,theSyriac,andtheEgyptianlanguages。
Shehaddrawnupforherownuseanepitomeoforientalhistory,andfamiliarlycomparedthebeautiesofHomerandPlatounderthetuitionofthesublimeLonginus。
[Footnote54:AlmosteverythingthatissaidofthemannersofOdenathusandZenobiaistakenfromtheirlivesintheAugustanHistory,byTrebeljusPollio;seep。192,198。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtosomeChristianwriters,ZenobiawasaJewess。JostGeschichtederIsrael。iv。16。Hist。ofJews,iii。
175。—M。]
[Footnote55:Sheneveradmittedherhusband'sembracesbutforthesakeofposterity。Ifherhopeswerebaffled,intheensuingmonthshereiteratedtheexperiment。]
ThisaccomplishedwomangaveherhandtoOdenathus,^!who,fromaprivatestation,raisedhimselftothedominionoftheEast。Shesoonbecamethefriendandcompanionofahero。Intheintervalsofwar,Odenathuspassionatelydelightedintheexerciseofhunting;hepursuedwithardorthewildbeastsofthedesert,lions,panthers,andbears;andtheardorofZenobiainthatdangerousamusementwasnotinferiortohisown。Shehadinuredherconstitutiontofatigue,disdainedtheuseofacoveredcarriage,generallyappearedonhorsebackinamilitaryhabit,andsometimesmarchedseveralmilesonfootattheheadofthetroops。ThesuccessofOdenathuswasinagreatmeasureascribedtoherincomparableprudenceandfortitude。TheirsplendidvictoriesovertheGreatKing,whomtheytwicepursuedasfarasthegatesofCtesiphon,laidthefoundationsoftheirunitedfameandpower。Thearmieswhichtheycommanded,andtheprovinceswhichtheyhadsaved,acknowledgednotanyothersovereignsthantheirinvinciblechiefs。ThesenateandpeopleofRomereveredastrangerwhohadavengedtheircaptiveemperor,andeventheinsensiblesonofValerianacceptedOdenathusforhislegitimatecolleague。
[Footnote!:AccordingtoZosimus,OdenathuswasofanoblefamilyinPalmyraandaccordingtoProcopius,hewasprinceoftheSaracens,whoinhabittheranksoftheEuphrates。Echhel。
Doct。Num。vii。489。—G。]
ChapterXI:ReignOfClaudius,DefeatOfTheGoths。
PartIII。
AfterasuccessfulexpeditionagainsttheGothicplunderersofAsia,thePalmyrenianprincereturnedtothecityofEmesainSyria。Invincibleinwar,hewastherecutoffbydomestictreason,andhisfavoriteamusementofhuntingwasthecause,oratleasttheoccasion,ofhisdeath。^56HisnephewMaeoniuspresumedtodarthisjavelinbeforethatofhisuncle;andthoughadmonishedofhiserror,repeatedthesameinsolence。Asamonarch,andasasportsman,Odenathuswasprovoked,tookawayhishorse,amarkofignominyamongthebarbarians,andchastisedtherashyouthbyashortconfinement。Theoffencewassoonforgot,butthepunishmentwasremembered;andMaeonius,withafewdaringassociates,assassinatedhisuncleinthemidstofagreatentertainment。Herod,thesonofOdenathus,thoughnotofZenobia,ayoungmanofasoftandeffeminatetemper,^57waskilledwithhisfather。ButMaeoniusobtainedonlythepleasureofrevengebythisbloodydeed。HehadscarcelytimetoassumethetitleofAugustus,beforehewassacrificedbyZenobiatothememoryofherhusband。^58
[Footnote56:Hist。August。p。192,193。Zosimus,l。i。p。36。