^81
[Footnote77:SeethetriumphofAurelian，describedbyVopiscus。
Herelatestheparticularswithhisusualminuteness；and，onthisoccasion，theyhappentobeinteresting。Hist。August。p。
220。]
[Footnote78:Amongbarbarousnations，womenhaveoftencombatedbythesideoftheirhusbands。ButitisalmostimpossiblethatasocietyofAmazonsshouldeverhaveexistedeitherintheoldornewworld。
Note:Klaproth'stheoryontheoriginofsuchtraditionsisatleastrecommendedbyitsingenuity。Themalesofatribehavinggoneoutonamaraudingexpedition，andhavingbeencutofftoaman，thefemalesmayhaveendeavored，foratime，tomaintaintheirindependenceintheircampvillage，tilltheirchildrengrewup。Travels，ch。xxx。Eng。Trans—M。]
[Footnote79:Theuseofbraccoe，breeches，ortrousers，wasstillconsideredinItalyasaGallicandbarbarianfashion。TheRomans，however，hadmadegreatadvancestowardsit。Toencirclethelegsandthighswithfascioe，orbands，wasunderstood，inthetimeofPompeyandHorace，tobeaproofofillhealthoreffeminacy。IntheageofTrajan，thecustomwasconfinedtotherichandluxurious。Itgraduallywasadoptedbythemeanestofthepeople。SeeaverycuriousnoteofCasaubon，adSueton。inAugust。c。82。]
[Footnote80:Mostprobablytheformer；thelatterseenonthemedalsofAurelian，onlydenoteaccordingtothelearnedCardinalNorrisanorientalvictory。]
[Footnote81:TheexpressionofCalphurnius，Eclog。i。50
Nullosdecetcaptivatriumphos，asappliedtoRome，containsaverymanifestallusionandcensure。]
Buthowever，inthetreatmentofhisunfortunaterivals，Aurelianmightindulgehispride，hebehavedtowardsthemwithagenerousclemency，whichwasseldomexercisedbytheancientconquerors。Princeswho，withoutsuccess，haddefendedtheirthroneorfreedom，werefrequentlystrangledinprison，assoonasthetriumphalpompascendedtheCapitol。Theseusurpers，whomtheirdefeathadconvictedofthecrimeoftreason，werepermittedtospendtheirlivesinaffluenceandhonorablerepose。
TheemperorpresentedZenobiawithanelegantvillaatTibur，orTivoli，abouttwentymilesfromthecapital；theSyrianqueeninsensiblysunkintoaRomanmatron，herdaughtersmarriedintonoblefamilies，andherracewasnotyetextinctinthefifthcentury。^82Tetricusandhissonwerereinstatedintheirrankandfortunes。TheyerectedontheCaelianhillamagnificentpalace，andassoonasitwasfinished，invitedAureliantosupper。Onhisentrance，hewasagreeablysurprisedwithapicturewhichrepresentedtheirsingularhistory。TheyweredelineatedofferingtotheemperoraciviccrownandthesceptreofGaul，andagainreceivingathishandstheornamentsofthesenatorialdignity。ThefatherwasafterwardsinvestedwiththegovernmentofLucania，^83andAurelian，whosoonadmittedtheabdicatedmonarchtohisfriendshipandconversation，familiarlyaskedhim，WhetheritwerenotmoredesirabletoadministeraprovinceofItaly，thantoreignbeyondtheAlps。Thesonlongcontinuedarespectablememberofthesenate；norwasthereanyoneoftheRomannobilitymoreesteemedbyAurelian，aswellasbyhissuccessors。^84
[Footnote82:VopiscusinHist。August。p。199。Hieronym。inChron。ProsperinChron。BaroniussupposesthatZenobius，bishopofFlorenceinthetimeofSt。Ambrose，wasofherfamily。]
[Footnote83:Vopisc。inHist。August。p。222。Eutropius，ix。
13。VictorJunior。ButPollio，inHist。August。p。196，says，thatTetricuswasmadecorrectorofallItaly。]
[Footnote84:Hist。August。p。197。]
SolongandsovariouswasthepompofAurelian'striumph，thatalthoughitopenedwiththedawnofday，theslowmajestyoftheprocessionascendednottheCapitolbeforetheninthhour；
anditwasalreadydarkwhentheemperorreturnedtothepalace。
Thefestivalwasprotractedbytheatricalrepresentations，thegamesofthecircus，thehuntingofwildbeasts，combatsofgladiators，andnavalengagements。Liberaldonativesweredistributedtothearmyandpeople，andseveralinstitutions，agreeableorbeneficialtothecity，contributedtoperpetuatethegloryofAurelian。AconsiderableportionofhisorientalspoilswasconsecratedtothegodsofRome；theCapitol，andeveryothertemple，glitteredwiththeofferingsofhisostentatiouspiety；andthetempleoftheSunalonereceivedabovefifteenthousandpoundsofgold。^85Thislastwasamagnificentstructure，erectedbytheemperoronthesideoftheQuirinalhill，anddedicated，soonafterthetriumph，tothatdeitywhomAurelianadoredastheparentofhislifeandfortunes。HismotherhadbeenaninferiorpriestessinachapeloftheSun；apeculiardevotiontothegodofLightwasasentimentwhichthefortunatepeasantimbibedinhisinfancy；andeverystepofhiselevation，everyvictoryofhisreign，fortifiedsuperstitionbygratitude。^86
[Footnote85:VopiscusinHist。August。222。Zosimus，l。i。p。
56。HeplacedinittheimagesofBelusandoftheSun，whichhehadbroughtfromPalmyra。Itwasdedicatedinthefourthyearofhisreign，EusebinChron。，butwasmostassuredlybegunimmediatelyonhisaccession。]
[Footnote86:See，intheAugustanHistory，p。210，theomensofhisfortune。HisdevotiontotheSunappearsinhisletters，onhismedals，andismentionedintheCaesarsofJulian。
CommentairedeSpanheim，p。109。]
ThearmsofAurelianhadvanquishedtheforeignanddomesticfoesoftherepublic。Weareassured，that，byhissalutaryrigor，crimesandfactions，mischievousartsandperniciousconnivance，theluxuriousgrowthofafeebleandoppressivegovernment，wereeradicatedthroughouttheRomanworld。^87Butifweattentivelyreflecthowmuchswifteristheprogressofcorruptionthanitscure，andifwerememberthattheyearsabandonedtopublicdisordersexceededthemonthsallottedtothemartialreignofAurelian，wemustconfessthatafewshortintervalsofpeacewereinsufficientforthearduousworkofreformation。Evenhisattempttorestoretheintegrityofthecoinwasopposedbyaformidableinsurrection。Theemperor'svexationbreaksoutinoneofhisprivateletters。"Surely，"
sayshe，"thegodshavedecreedthatmylifeshouldbeaperpetualwarfare。Aseditionwithinthewallshasjustnowgivenbirthtoaveryseriouscivilwar。Theworkmenofthemint，attheinstigationofFelicissimus，aslavetowhomIhadintrustedanemploymentinthefinances，haveriseninrebellion。
Theyareatlengthsuppressed；butseventhousandofmysoldiershavebeenslaininthecontest，ofthosetroopswhoseordinarystationisinDacia，andthecampsalongtheDanube。"^88Otherwriters，whoconfirmthesamefact，addlikewise，thatithappenedsoonafterAurelian'striumph；thatthedecisiveengagementwasfoughtontheCaelianhill；thattheworkmenoftheminthadadulteratedthecoin；andthattheemperorrestoredthepubliccredit，bydeliveringoutgoodmoneyinexchangeforthebad，whichthepeoplewascommandedtobringintothetreasury。^89
[Footnote87:VopiscusinHist。August。p。221。]
[Footnote88:Hist。August。p。222。AureliancallsthesesoldiersHiberiRiporiencesCastriani，andDacisci。]
[Footnote89:Zosimus，l。i。p。56。Eutropius，ix。14。AurelVictor。]
Wemightcontentourselveswithrelatingthisextraordinarytransaction，butwecannotdissemblehowmuchinitspresentformitappearstousinconsistentandincredible。ThedebasementofthecoinisindeedwellsuitedtotheadministrationofGallienus；norisitunlikelythattheinstrumentsofthecorruptionmightdreadtheinflexiblejusticeofAurelian。Buttheguilt，aswellastheprofit，musthavebeenconfinedtoaveryfew；norisiteasytoconceivebywhatartstheycouldarmapeoplewhomtheyhadinjured，againstamonarchwhomtheyhadbetrayed。Wemightnaturallyexpectthatsuchmiscreantsshouldhavesharedthepublicdetestationwiththeinformersandtheotherministersofoppression；andthatthereformationofthecoinshouldhavebeenanactionequallypopularwiththedestructionofthoseobsoleteaccounts，whichbytheemperor'sorderwereburntintheforumofTrajan。^90Inanagewhentheprinciplesofcommerceweresoimperfectlyunderstood，themostdesirableendmightperhapsbeeffectedbyharshandinjudiciousmeans；butatemporarygrievanceofsuchanaturecanscarcelyexciteandsupportaseriouscivilwar。Therepetitionofintolerabletaxes，imposedeitheronthelandoronthenecessariesoflife，mayatlastprovokethosewhowillnot，orwhocannot，relinquishtheircountry。Butthecaseisfarotherwiseineveryoperationwhich，bywhatsoeverexpedients，restoresthejustvalueofmoney。Thetransientevilissoonobliteratedbythepermanentbenefit，thelossisdividedamongmultitudes；andifafewwealthyindividualsexperienceasensiblediminutionoftreasure，withtheirriches，theyatthesametimelosethedegreeofweightandimportancewhichtheyderivedfromthepossessionofthem。HoweverAurelianmightchoosetodisguisetherealcauseoftheinsurrection，hisreformationofthecoincouldfurnishonlyafaintpretencetoapartyalreadypowerfulanddiscontented。Rome，thoughdeprivedoffreedom，wasdistractedbyfaction。Thepeople，towardswhomtheemperor，himselfaplebeian，alwaysexpressedapeculiarfondness，livedinperpetualdissensionwiththesenate，theequestrianorder，andthePraetorianguards。^91Nothinglessthanthefirmthoughsecretconspiracyofthoseorders，oftheauthorityofthefirst，thewealthofthesecond，andthearmsofthethird，couldhavedisplayedastrengthcapableofcontendinginbattlewiththeveteranlegionsoftheDanube，which，undertheconductofamartialsovereign，hadachievedtheconquestoftheWestandoftheEast。
[Footnote90:Hist。August。p。222。AurelVictor。]
[Footnote91:ItalreadyragedbeforeAurelian'sreturnfromEgypt。SeeVipiscus，whoquotesanoriginalletter。Hist。
August。p。244。]
Whateverwasthecauseortheobjectofthisrebellion，imputedwithsolittleprobabilitytotheworkmenofthemint，Aurelianusedhisvictorywithunrelentingrigor。^92Hewasnaturallyofaseveredisposition。Apeasantandasoldier，hisnervesyieldednoteasilytotheimpressionsofsympathy，andhecouldsustainwithoutemotionthesightoftorturesanddeath。
Trainedfromhisearliestyouthintheexerciseofarms，hesettoosmallavalueonthelifeofacitizen，chastisedbymilitaryexecutiontheslightestoffences，andtransferredthesterndisciplineofthecampintotheciviladministrationofthelaws。
Hisloveofjusticeoftenbecameablindandfuriouspassionandwheneverhedeemedhisownorthepublicsafetyendangered，hedisregardedtherulesofevidence，andtheproportionofpunishments。TheunprovokedrebellionwithwhichtheRomansrewardedhisservices，exasperatedhishaughtyspirit。Thenoblestfamiliesofthecapitalwereinvolvedintheguiltorsuspicionofthisdarkconspiracy。Anastyspiritofrevengeurgedthebloodyprosecution，anditprovedfataltooneofthenephewsoftheemperor。Thetheexecutionersifwemayusetheexpressionofacontemporarypoetwerefatigued，theprisonswerecrowded，andtheunhappysenatelamentedthedeathorabsenceofitsmostillustriousmembers。^93NorwastheprideofAurelianlessoffensivetothatassemblythanhiscruelty。
Ignorantorimpatientoftherestraintsofcivilinstitutions，hedisdainedtoholdhispowerbyanyothertitlethanthatofthesword，andgovernedbyrightofconquestanempirewhichhehadsavedandsubdued。^94
[Footnote92:VopiscusinHist。Augustp。222。ThetwoVictors。
Eutropiusix。14。Zosimusl。i。p。43mentionsonlythreesenators，andplacedtheirdeathbeforetheeasternwar。]
[Footnote93:NullacatenatiferalispompasenatusCarnificumlassabitopus；neccarcereplenoInfelixrarosnumerabitcuriaPatres。
Calphurn。Eclog。i。60。]
[Footnote94:AccordingtotheyoungerVictor，hesometimesworethediadem，DeusandDominusappearonhismedals。]
ItwasobservedbyoneofthemostsagaciousoftheRomanprinces，thatthetalentsofhispredecessorAurelianwerebettersuitedtothecommandofanarmy，thantothegovernmentofanempire。^95Consciousofthecharacterinwhichnatureandexperiencehadenabledhimtoexcel，heagaintookthefieldafewmonthsafterhistriumph。Itwasexpedienttoexercisetherestlesstemperofthelegionsinsomeforeignwar，andthePersianmonarch，exultingintheshameofValerian，stillbravedwithimpunitytheoffendedmajestyofRome。Attheheadofanarmy，lessformidablebyitsnumbersthanbyitsdisciplineandvalor，theemperoradvancedasfarastheStraitswhichdivideEuropefromAsia。Hethereexperiencedthatthemostabsolutepowerisaweakdefenceagainsttheeffectsofdespair。Hehadthreatenedoneofhissecretarieswhowasaccusedofextortion；
anditwasknownthatheseldomthreatenedinvain。Thelasthopewhichremainedforthecriminal，wastoinvolvesomeoftheprincipalofficersofthearmyinhisdanger，oratleastinhisfears。Artfullycounterfeitinghismaster'shand，heshowedthem，inalongandbloodylist，theirownnamesdevotedtodeath。Withoutsuspectingorexaminingthefraud，theyresolvedtosecuretheirlivesbythemurderoftheemperor。Onhismarch，betweenByzanthiumandHeraclea，Aurelianwassuddenlyattackedbytheconspirators，whosestationsgavethemarighttosurroundhisperson，andafterashortresistance，fellbythehandofMucapor，ageneralwhomhehadalwayslovedandtrusted。
Hediedregrettedbythearmy，detestedbythesenate，butuniversallyacknowledgedasawarlikeandfortunateprince，theuseful，thoughseverereformerofadegeneratestate。^96
[Footnote95:ItwastheobservationofDioclatian。SeeVopiscusinHist。August。p。224。]
[Footnote96:VopiscusinHist。August。p。221。Zosimus，l。i。
p。57。Eutropix。15。ThetwoVictors。]
ChapterXII:ReignsOfTacitus，Probus，CarusAndHisSons。
PartI。
ConductOfTheArmyAndSenateAfterTheDeathOfAurelian。—
ReignsOfTacitus，Probus，Carus，AndHisSons。
SuchwastheunhappyconditionoftheRomanemperors，that，whatevermightbetheirconduct，theirfatewascommonlythesame。Alifeofpleasureorvirtue，ofseverityormildness，ofindolenceorglory，alikeledtoanuntimelygrave；andalmosteveryreignisclosedbythesamedisgustingrepetitionoftreasonandmurder。ThedeathofAurelian，however，isremarkablebyitsextraordinaryconsequences。Thelegionsadmired，lamented，andrevengedtheirvictoriouschief。Theartificeofhisperfidioussecretarywasdiscoveredandpunished。
Thedeludedconspiratorsattendedthefuneraloftheirinjuredsovereign，withsincereorwell—feignedcontrition，andsubmittedtotheunanimousresolutionofthemilitaryorder，whichwassignifiedbythefollowingepistle:"ThebraveandfortunatearmiestothesenateandpeopleofRome。—Thecrimeofoneman，andtheerrorofmany，havedeprivedusofthelateemperorAurelian。Mayitpleaseyou，venerablelordsandfathers!toplacehiminthenumberofthegods，andtoappointasuccessorwhomyourjudgmentshalldeclareworthyoftheImperialpurple!
Noneofthosewhoseguiltormisfortunehavecontributedtoourloss，shalleverreignoverus。"^1TheRomansenatorsheard，withoutsurprise，thatanotheremperorhadbeenassassinatedinhiscamp；theysecretlyrejoicedinthefallofAurelian；and，besidestherecentnotorietyofthefacts，constantlydrawshismaterialsfromtheJournalsoftheSenate，andthebutthemodestanddutifuladdressofthelegions，whenitwascommunicatedinfullassemblybytheconsul，diffusedthemostpleasingastonishment。Suchhonorsasfearandperhapsesteemcouldextort，theyliberallypouredforthonthememoryoftheirdeceasedsovereign。Suchacknowledgmentsasgratitudecouldinspire，theyreturnedtothefaithfularmiesoftherepublic，whoentertainedsojustasenseofthelegalauthorityofthesenateinthechoiceofanemperor。Yet，notwithstandingthisflatteringappeal，themostprudentoftheassemblydeclinedexposingtheirsafetyanddignitytothecapriceofanarmedmultitude。Thestrengthofthelegionswas，indeed，apledgeoftheirsincerity，sincethosewhomaycommandareseldomreducedtothenecessityofdissembling；butcoulditnaturallybeexpected，thatahastyrepentancewouldcorrecttheinveteratehabitsoffourscoreyears?Shouldthesoldiersrelapseintotheiraccustomedseditions，theirinsolencemightdisgracethemajestyofthesenate，andprovefataltotheobjectofitschoice。
Motiveslikethesedictatedadecree，bywhichtheelectionofanewemperorwasreferredtothesuffrageofthemilitaryorder。
[Footnote1:VopiscusinHist。August。p。222。AureliusVictormentionsaformaldeputationfromthetroopstothesenate。]
Thecontentionthatensuedisoneofthebestattested，butmostimprobableeventsinthehistoryofmankind。^2Thetroops，asifsatiatedwiththeexerciseofpower，againconjuredthesenatetoinvestoneofitsownbodywiththeImperialpurple。
Thesenatestillpersistedinitsrefusal；thearmyinitsrequest。Thereciprocalofferwaspressedandrejectedatleastthreetimes，and，whilsttheobstinatemodestyofeitherpartywasresolvedtoreceiveamasterfromthehandsoftheother，eightmonthsinsensiblyelapsed；anamazingperiodoftranquilanarchy，duringwhichtheRomanworldremainedwithoutasovereign，withoutausurper，andwithoutasedition。ThegeneralsandmagistratesappointedbyAureliancontinuedtoexecutetheirordinaryfunctions；anditisobserved，thataproconsulofAsiawastheonlyconsiderablepersonremovedfromhisofficeinthewholecourseoftheinterregnum。
[Footnote2:Vopiscus，ourprincipalauthority，wroteatRome，sixteenyearsonlyafterthedeathofAurelian；and，besidestherecentnotorietyofthefacts，constantlydrawshismaterialsfromtheJournalsoftheSenate，andtheoriginalpapersoftheUlpianlibrary。ZosimusandZonarasappearasignorantofthistransactionastheywereingeneraloftheRomanconstitution。]
[Footnote*:Theinterregnumcouldnotbemorethansevenmonths；
AurelianwasassassinatedinthemiddleofMarch，theyearofRome1028。Tacituswaselectedthe25thSeptemberinthesameyear。—G。]