YetiftheyexpectedtoderiveanyassistancefromthetribesofGermany，whoinhabitedthebanksoftheRhine，theirhopesweredisappointed。TheAlemannipreservedastateofinactiveneutrality；andtheFranksdistinguishedtheirzealandcourageinthedefenceoftheoftheempire。IntherapidprogressdowntheRhine，whichwasthefirstactoftheadministrationofStilicho，hehadappliedhimself，withpeculiarattention，tosecuretheallianceofthewarlikeFranks，andtoremovetheirreconcilableenemiesofpeaceandoftherepublic。
Marcomir，oneoftheirkings，waspubliclyconvicted，beforethetribunaloftheRomanmagistrate，ofviolatingthefaithoftreaties。Hewassentencedtoamild，butdistantexile，intheprovinceofTuscany；andthisdegradationoftheregaldignitywassofarfromexcitingtheresentmentofhissubjects，thattheypunishedwithdeaththeturbulentSunno，whoattemptedtorevengehisbrother；andmaintainedadutifulallegiancetotheprinces，whowereestablishedonthethronebythechoiceofStilicho。^87WhenthelimitsofGaulandGermanywereshakenbythenorthernemigration，theFranksbravelyencounteredthesingleforceoftheVandals；who，regardlessofthelessonsofadversity，hadagainseparatedtheirtroopsfromthestandardoftheirBarbarianallies。Theypaidthepenaltyoftheirrashness；
andtwentythousandVandals，withtheirkingGodigisclus，wereslaininthefieldofbattle。Thewholepeoplemusthavebeenextirpated，ifthesquadronsoftheAlani，advancingtotheirrelief，hadnottrampleddowntheinfantryoftheFranks；who，afteranhonorableresistance，werecompelledtorelinquishtheunequalcontest。Thevictoriousconfederatespursuedtheirmarch，andonthelastdayoftheyear，inaseasonwhenthewatersoftheRhineweremostprobablyfrozen，theyentered，withoutopposition，thedefencelessprovincesofGaul。ThismemorablepassageoftheSuevi，theVandals，theAlani，andtheBurgundians，whoneverafterwardsretreated，maybeconsideredasthefalloftheRomanempireinthecountriesbeyondtheAlps；
andthebarriers，whichhadsolongseparatedthesavageandthecivilizednationsoftheearth，werefromthatfatalmomentlevelledwiththeground。^88
[Footnote87:—ProvinciamissosExpelletcitiusfasces，quamFranciaregesQuosdederis。
Claudiani。Cons。Stil。l。i。235，&c。isclearandsatisfactory。ThesekingsofFranceareunknowntoGregoryofTours；buttheauthoroftheGestaFrancorummentionsbothSunnoandMarcomir，andnamesthelatterasthefatherofPharamond，intom。ii。p。543。Heseemstowritefromgoodmaterials，whichhedidnotunderstand。]
[Footnote88:SeeZosimus，l。vi。p。373，Orosius，l。vii。c。
40，p。576，andtheChronicles。GregoryofToursl。ii。c。9，p。165，inthesecondvolumeoftheHistoriansofFrancehaspreservedavaluablefragmentofRenatusProfuturusFrigeridus，whosethreenamesdenoteaChristian，aRomansubject，andaSemi—Barbarian。]
WhilethepeaceofGermanywassecuredbytheattachmentoftheFranks，andtheneutralityoftheAlemanni，thesubjectsofRome，unconsciousoftheirapproachingcalamities，enjoyedthestateofquietandprosperity，whichhadseldomblessedthefrontiersofGaul。TheirflocksandherdswerepermittedtograzeinthepasturesoftheBarbarians；theirhuntsmenpenetrated，withoutfearordanger，intothedarkestrecessesoftheHercynianwood。^89ThebanksoftheRhinewerecrowned，likethoseoftheTyber，witheleganthouses，andwell—cultivatedfarms；andifapoetdescendedtheriver，hemightexpresshisdoubt，onwhichsidewassituatedtheterritoryoftheRomans。
^90Thissceneofpeaceandplentywassuddenlychangedintoadesert；andtheprospectofthesmokingruinscouldalonedistinguishthesolitudeofnaturefromthedesolationofman。
TheflourishingcityofMentzwassurprisedanddestroyed；andmanythousandChristianswereinhumanlymassacredinthechurch。
Wormsperishedafteralongandobstinatesiege；Strasburgh，Spires，Rheims，Tournay，Arras，Amiens，experiencedthecrueloppressionoftheGermanyoke；andtheconsumingflamesofwarspreadfromthebanksoftheRhineoverthegreatestpartoftheseventeenprovincesofGaul。Thatrichandextensivecountry，asfarastheocean，theAlps，andthePyrenees，wasdeliveredtotheBarbarians，whodrovebeforethem，inapromiscuouscrowd，thebishop，thesenator，andthevirgin，ladenwiththespoilsoftheirhousesandaltars。^91Theecclesiastics，towhomweareindebtedforthisvaguedescriptionofthepubliccalamities，embracedtheopportunityofexhortingtheChristianstorepentofthesinswhichhadprovokedtheDivineJustice，andtorenouncetheperishablegoodsofawretchedanddeceitfulworld。ButasthePelagiancontroversy，^92whichattemptstosoundtheabyssofgraceandpredestination，soonbecametheseriousemploymentoftheLatinclergy，theProvidencewhichhaddecreed，orforeseen，orpermitted，suchatrainofmoralandnaturalevils，wasrashlyweighedintheimperfectandfallaciousbalanceofreason。Thecrimes，andthemisfortunes，ofthesufferingpeople，werepresumptuouslycomparedwiththoseoftheirancestors；andtheyarraignedtheDivineJustice，whichdidnotexemptfromthecommondestructionthefeeble，theguiltless，theinfantportionofthehumanspecies。Theseidledisputantsoverlookedtheinvariablelawsofnature，whichhaveconnectedpeacewithinnocence，plentywithindustry，andsafetywithvalor。ThetimidandselfishpolicyofthecourtofRavennamightrecallthePalatinelegionsfortheprotectionofItaly；
theremainsofthestationarytroopsmightbeunequaltothearduoustask；andtheBarbarianauxiliariesmightprefertheunboundedlicenseofspoiltothebenefitsofamoderateandregularstipend。ButtheprovincesofGaulwerefilledwithanumerousraceofhardyandrobustyouth，who，inthedefenceoftheirhouses，theirfamilies，andtheiraltars，iftheyhaddaredtodie，wouldhavedeservedtovanquish。Theknowledgeoftheirnativecountrywouldhaveenabledthemtoopposecontinualandinsuperableobstaclestotheprogressofaninvader；andthedeficiencyoftheBarbarians，inarms，aswellasindiscipline，removedtheonlypretencewhichexcusesthesubmissionofapopulouscountrytotheinferiornumbersofaveteranarmy。WhenFrancewasinvadedbyCharlesV。，heinquiredofaprisoner，howmanydaysParismightbedistantfromthefrontier；"Perhapstwelve，buttheywillbedaysofbattle:"^93suchwasthegallantanswerwhichcheckedthearroganceofthatambitiousprince。ThesubjectsofHonorius，andthoseofFrancisI。，wereanimatedbyaverydifferentspirit；andinlessthantwoyears，thedividedtroopsofthesavagesoftheBaltic，whosenumbers，weretheyfairlystated，wouldappearcontemptible，advanced，withoutacombat，tothefootofthePyreneanMountains。
[Footnote89:Claudiani。Cons。Stil。l。i。221，&c。，l。ii。
186describesthepeaceandprosperityoftheGallicfrontier。
TheAbbeDubosHist。Critique，&c。，tom。i。p。174wouldreadAlbaanamelessrivuletoftheArdennesinsteadofAlbis；andexpatiatesonthedangeroftheGalliccattlegrazingbeyondtheElbe。Foolishenough!Inpoeticalgeography，theElbe，andtheHercynian，signifyanyriver，oranywood，inGermany。Claudianisnotpreparedforthestrictexaminationofourantiquaries。]
[Footnote90:—GerminasqueviatorCumvideatripas，quaesitRomanarequirat。]
[Footnote91:Jerom，tom。i。p。93。Seeinthe1stvol。oftheHistoriansofFrance，p。777，782，theproperextractsfromtheCarmendeProvidentilDivina，andSalvian。Theanonymouspoetwashimselfacaptive，withhisbishopandfellow—citizens。]
[Footnote92:ThePelagiandoctrine，whichwasfirstagitatedA。D。405，wascondemned，inthespaceoftenyears，atRomeandCarthage。StAugustinfoughtandconquered；buttheGreekchurchwasfavorabletohisadversaries；andwhatissingularenough
thepeopledidnottakeanypartinadisputewhichtheycouldnotunderstand。]
[Footnote93:SeetheMemoiresdeGuillaumeduBellay，l。vi。InFrench，theoriginalreproofislessobvious，andmorepointed，fromthedoublesenseofthewordjournee，whichalikesignifies，aday'stravel，orabattle。]
IntheearlypartofthereignofHonorius，thevigilanceofStilichohadsuccessfullyguardedtheremoteislandofBritainfromherincessantenemiesoftheocean，themountains，andtheIrishcoast。^94ButthoserestlessBarbarianscouldnotneglectthefairopportunityoftheGothicwar，whenthewallsandstationsoftheprovincewerestrippedoftheRomantroops。IfanyofthelegionarieswerepermittedtoreturnfromtheItalianexpedition，theirfaithfulreportofthecourtandcharacterofHonoriusmusthavetendedtodissolvethebondsofallegiance，andtoexasperatetheseditioustemperoftheBritisharmy。Thespiritofrevolt，whichhadformerlydisturbedtheageofGallienus，wasrevivedbythecapriciousviolenceofthesoldiers；andtheunfortunate，perhapstheambitious，candidates，whoweretheobjectsoftheirchoice，weretheinstruments，andatlengththevictims，oftheirpassion。^95Marcuswasthefirstwhomtheyplacedonthethrone，asthelawfulemperorofBritainandoftheWest。Theyviolated，bythehastymurderofMarcus，theoathoffidelitywhichtheyhadimposedonthemselves；andtheirdisapprobationofhismannersmayseemtoinscribeanhonorableepitaphonhistomb。Gratianwasthenextwhomtheyadornedwiththediademandthepurple；and，attheendoffourmonths，Gratianexperiencedthefateofhispredecessor。ThememoryofthegreatConstantine，whomtheBritishlegionshadgiventothechurchandtotheempire，suggestedthesingularmotiveoftheirthirdchoice。TheydiscoveredintheranksaprivatesoldierofthenameofConstantine，andtheirimpetuouslevityhadalreadyseatedhimonthethrone，beforetheyperceivedhisincapacitytosustaintheweightofthatgloriousappellation。^96YettheauthorityofConstantinewaslessprecarious，andhisgovernmentwasmoresuccessful，thanthetransientreignsofMarcusandofGratian。Thedangerofleavinghisinactivetroopsinthosecamps，whichhadbeentwicepollutedwithbloodandsedition，urgedhimtoattemptthereductionoftheWesternprovinces。HelandedatBoulognewithaninconsiderableforce；andafterhehadreposedhimselfsomedays，hesummonedthecitiesofGaul，whichhadescapedtheyokeoftheBarbarians，toacknowledgetheirlawfulsovereign。Theyobeyedthesummonswithoutreluctance。TheneglectofthecourtofRavennahadabsolvedadesertedpeoplefromthedutyofallegiance；theiractualdistressencouragedthemtoacceptanycircumstancesofchange，withoutapprehension，and，perhaps，withsomedegreeofhope；andtheymightflatterthemselves，thatthetroops，theauthority，andeventhenameofaRomanemperor，whofixedhisresidenceinGaul，wouldprotecttheunhappycountryfromtherageoftheBarbarians。ThefirstsuccessesofConstantineagainstthedetachedpartiesoftheGermans，weremagnifiedbythevoiceofadulationintosplendidanddecisivevictories；whichthereunionandinsolenceoftheenemysoonreducedtotheirjustvalue。Hisnegotiationsprocuredashortandprecarioustruce；andifsometribesoftheBarbarianswereengaged，bytheliberalityofhisgiftsandpromises，toundertakethedefenceoftheRhine，theseexpensiveanduncertaintreaties，insteadofrestoringthepristinevigoroftheGallicfrontier，servedonlytodisgracethemajestyoftheprince，andtoexhaustwhatyetremainedofthetreasuresoftherepublic。
Elated，however，withthisimaginarytriumph，thevaindelivererofGauladvancedintotheprovincesoftheSouth，toencounteramorepressingandpersonaldanger。SarustheGothwasorderedtolaytheheadoftherebelatthefeetoftheemperorHonorius；
andtheforcesofBritainandItalywereunworthilyconsumedinthisdomesticquarrel。Afterthelossofhistwobravestgenerals，JustinianandNevigastes，theformerofwhomwasslaininthefieldofbattle，thelatterinapeacefulbuttreacherousinterview，ConstantinefortifiedhimselfwithinthewallsofVienna。Theplacewasineffectuallyattackedsevendays；andtheImperialarmysupported，inaprecipitateretreat，theignominyofpurchasingasecurepassagefromthefreebootersandoutlawsoftheAlps。^97Thosemountainsnowseparatedthedominionsoftworivalmonarchs；andthefortificationsofthedoublefrontierwereguardedbythetroopsoftheempire，whosearmswouldhavebeenmoreusefullyemployedtomaintaintheRomanlimitsagainsttheBarbariansofGermanyandScythia。
[Footnote94:Claudian，i。Cons。Stil。l。ii。250。ItissupposedthattheScotsofIrelandinvaded，bysea，thewholewesterncoastofBritain:andsomeslightcreditmaybegiveneventoNenniusandtheIrishtraditions，Carte'sHist。ofEngland，vol。i。p。169。Whitaker'sGenuineHistoryoftheBritons，p。199。Thesixty—sixlivesofSt。Patrick，whichwereextantintheninthcentury，musthavecontainedasmanythousandlies；yetwemaybelieve，that，inoneoftheseIrishinroadsthefutureapostlewasledawaycaptive，Usher，Antiquit。EcclesBritann。p。431，andTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xvi。p。45782，&c。]
[Footnote95:TheBritishusurpersaretakenfromZosimus，l。
vi。p。371—375，Orosius，l。vii。c。40，p。576，577，
Olympiodorus，apudPhotium，p。180，181，theecclesiasticalhistorians，andtheChronicles。TheLatinsareignorantofMarcus。]
[Footnote96:CuminConstantinoinconstantiam……execrarentur，SidoniusApollinaris，l。v。epist。9，p。139，edit。secund。
Sirmond。YetSidoniusmightbetempted，bysofairapun，tostigmatizeaprincewhohaddisgracedhisgrandfather。]
[Footnote97:BagaudoeisthenamewhichZosimusappliestothem；
perhapstheydeservedalessodiouscharacter，seeDubos，Hist。
Critique，tom。i。p。203，andthisHistory，vol。i。p。407。Weshallhearofthemagain。]
ChapterXXX:RevoltOfTheGoths。
PartV。
OnthesideofthePyrenees，theambitionofConstantinemightbejustifiedbytheproximityofdanger；buthisthronewassoonestablishedbytheconquest，orrathersubmission，ofSpain；
whichyieldedtotheinfluenceofregularandhabitualsubordination，andreceivedthelawsandmagistratesoftheGallicpraefecture。TheonlyoppositionwhichwasmadetotheauthorityofConstantineproceedednotsomuchfromthepowersofgovernment，orthespiritofthepeople，asfromtheprivatezealandinterestofthefamilyofTheodosius。Fourbrothers^98hadobtained，bythefavoroftheirkinsman，thedeceasedemperor，anhonorablerankandamplepossessionsintheirnativecountry；andthegratefulyouthsresolvedtoriskthoseadvantagesintheserviceofhisson。AfteranunsuccessfulefforttomaintaintheirgroundattheheadofthestationarytroopsofLusitania，theyretiredtotheirestates；wheretheyarmedandlevied，attheirownexpense，aconsiderablebodyofslavesanddependants，andboldlymarchedtooccupythestrongpostsofthePyreneanMountains。ThisdomesticinsurrectionalarmedandperplexedthesovereignofGaulandBritain；andhewascompelledtonegotiatewithsometroopsofBarbarianauxiliaries，fortheserviceoftheSpanishwar。TheyweredistinguishedbythetitleofHonorians；
^99anamewhichmighthaveremindedthemoftheirfidelitytotheirlawfulsovereign；andifitshouldcandidlybeallowedthattheScotswereinfluencedbyanypartialaffectionforaBritishprince，theMoorsandtheMarcomannicouldbetemptedonlybytheprofuseliberalityoftheusurper，whodistributedamongtheBarbariansthemilitary，andeventhecivil，honorsofSpain。
TheninebandsofHonorians，whichmaybeeasilytracedontheestablishmentoftheWesternempire，couldnotexceedthenumberoffivethousandmen:yetthisinconsiderableforcewassufficienttoterminateawar，whichhadthreatenedthepowerandsafetyofConstantine。TherusticarmyoftheTheodosianfamilywassurroundedanddestroyedinthePyrenees:twoofthebrothershadthegoodfortunetoescapebyseatoItaly，ortheEast；theothertwo，afteranintervalofsuspense，wereexecutedatArles；
andifHonoriuscouldremaininsensibleofthepublicdisgrace，hemightperhapsbeaffectedbythepersonalmisfortunesofhisgenerouskinsmen。SuchwerethefeeblearmswhichdecidedthepossessionoftheWesternprovincesofEurope，fromthewallofAntoninustothecolumnsofHercules。Theeventsofpeaceandwarhaveundoubtedlybeendiminishedbythenarrowandimperfectviewofthehistoriansofthetimes，whowereequallyignorantofthecauses，andoftheeffects，ofthemostimportantrevolutions。Butthetotaldecayofthenationalstrengthhadannihilatedeventhelastresourceofadespoticgovernment；andtherevenueofexhaustedprovincescouldnolongerpurchasethemilitaryserviceofadiscontentedandpusillanimouspeople。
[Footnote98:Verinianus，Didymus，Theodosius，andLagodius，whoinmoderncourtswouldbestyledprincesoftheblood，werenotdistinguishedbyanyrankorprivilegesabovetherestoftheirfellow—subjects。]
[Footnote99:TheseHonoriani，orHonoriaci，consistedoftwobandsofScots，orAttacotti，twoofMoors，twoofMarcomanni，theVictores，theAscain，andtheGallicani，NotitiaImperii，sect。xxxiii。edit。Lab。Theywerepartofthesixty—fiveAuxiliaPalatina，andareproperlystyledbyZosimus，l。vi。
374。]
Thepoet，whoseflatteryhasascribedtotheRomaneaglethevictoriesofPollentiaandVerona，pursuesthehastyretreatofAlaric，fromtheconfinesofItaly，withahorridtrainofimaginaryspectres，suchasmighthoveroveranarmyofBarbarians，whichwasalmostexterminatedbywar，famine，anddisease。^100Inthecourseofthisunfortunateexpedition，thekingoftheGothsmustindeedhavesustainedaconsiderableloss；
andhisharassedforcesrequiredanintervalofrepose，torecruittheirnumbersandrevivetheirconfidence。AdversityhadexercisedanddisplayedthegeniusofAlaric；andthefameofhisvalorinvitedtotheGothicstandardthebravestoftheBarbarianwarriors；who，fromtheEuxinetotheRhine，wereagitatedbythedesireofrapineandconquest。Hehaddeservedtheesteem，andhesoonacceptedthefriendship，ofStilichohimself。RenouncingtheserviceoftheemperoroftheEast，Alaricconcluded，withthecourtofRavenna，atreatyofpeaceandalliance，bywhichhewasdeclaredmaster—generaloftheRomanarmiesthroughoutthepraefectureofIllyricum；asitwasclaimed，accordingtothetrueandancientlimits，bytheministerofHonorius。^101Theexecutionoftheambitiousdesign，whichwaseitherstipulated，orimplied，inthearticlesofthetreaty，appearstohavebeensuspendedbytheformidableirruptionofRadagaisus；andtheneutralityoftheGothickingmayperhapsbecomparedtotheindifferenceofCaesar，who，intheconspiracyofCatiline，refusedeithertoassist，ortooppose，theenemyoftherepublic。AfterthedefeatoftheVandals，StilichoresumedhispretensionstotheprovincesoftheEast；appointedcivilmagistratesfortheadministrationofjustice，andofthefinances；anddeclaredhisimpatiencetoleadtothegatesofConstantinopletheunitedarmiesoftheRomansandoftheGoths。