^6
[Footnote6:Claudius，raisedbythesoldierstotheempire，wasthefirstwhogaveadonative。Hegavequinadena，120l。
Sueton。inClaud。c。10:whenMarcus，withhiscolleagueLuciusVersus，tookquietpossessionofthethrone，hegavevicena，160l。toeachoftheguards。Hist。August。p。25，Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1231。Wemayformsomeideaoftheamountofthesesums，byHadrian'scomplaintthatthepromotionofaCaesarhadcosthimtermillies，twomillionsandahalfsterling。]
Theadvocateoftheguardsendeavoredtojustifybyargumentsthepowerwhichtheyassertedbyarms；andtomaintainthat，accordingtothepurestprinciplesoftheconstitution，theirconsentwasessentiallynecessaryintheappointmentofanemperor。Theelectionofconsuls，ofgenerals，andofmagistrates，howeverithadbeenrecentlyusurpedbythesenate，wastheancientandundoubtedrightoftheRomanpeople。^7ButwherewastheRomanpeopletobefound?NotsurelyamongstthemixedmultitudeofslavesandstrangersthatfilledthestreetsofRome；aservilepopulace，asdevoidofspiritasdestituteofproperty。Thedefendersofthestate，selectedfromthefloweroftheItalianyouth，^8andtrainedintheexerciseofarmsandvirtue，werethegenuinerepresentativesofthepeople，andthebestentitledtoelectthemilitarychiefoftherepublic。Theseassertions，howeverdefectiveinreason，becameunanswerablewhenthefiercePraetoriansincreasedtheirweight，bythrowing，likethebarbarianconquerorofRome，theirswordsintothescale。^9
[Footnote7:CicerodeLegibus，iii。3。ThefirstbookofLivy，andthesecondofDionysiusofHalicarnassus，showtheauthorityofthepeople，evenintheelectionofthekings。]
[Footnote8:TheywereoriginallyrecruitedinLatium，Etruria，andtheoldcolonies，Tacit。Annal。iv。5。TheemperorOthocomplimentstheirvanitywiththeflatteringtitlesofItaliae，Alumni，Romanawerejuventus。Tacit。Hist。i。84。]
[Footnote9:InthesiegeofRomebytheGauls。SeeLivy，v。48。
Plutarch。inCamill。p。143。]
ThePraetorianshadviolatedthesanctityofthethronebytheatrociousmurderofPertinax；theydishonoredthemajestyofitbytheirsubsequentconduct。Thecampwaswithoutaleader，foreventhepraefectLaetus，whohadexcitedthetempest，prudentlydeclinedthepublicindignation。Amidstthewilddisorder，Sulpicianus，theemperor'sfather—in—law，andgovernorofthecity，whohadbeensenttothecamponthefirstalarmofmutiny，wasendeavoringtocalmthefuryofthemultitude，whenhewassilencedbytheclamorousreturnofthemurderers，bearingonalancetheheadofPertinax。Thoughhistoryhasaccustomedustoobserveeveryprincipleandeverypassionyieldingtotheimperiousdictatesofambition，itisscarcelycrediblethat，inthesemomentsofhorror，Sulpicianusshouldhaveaspiredtoascendathronepollutedwiththerecentbloodofsoneararelationandsoexcellentaprince。Hehadalreadybeguntousetheonlyeffectualargument，andtotreatfortheImperialdignity；butthemoreprudentofthePraetorians，apprehensivethat，inthisprivatecontract，theyshouldnotobtainajustpriceforsovaluableacommodity，ranoutupontheramparts；
and，withaloudvoice，proclaimedthattheRomanworldwastobedisposedoftothebestbidderbypublicauction。^10
[Footnote10:Dion，L。lxxiii。p。1234。Herodian，l。ii。p。63。
Hist。Augustp。60。Thoughthethreehistoriansagreethatitwasinfactanauction，Herodianaloneaffirmsthatitwasproclaimedassuchbythesoldiers。]
Thisinfamousoffer，themostinsolentexcessofmilitarylicense，diffusedauniversalgrief，shame，andindignationthroughoutthecity。ItreachedatlengththeearsofDidiusJulianus，awealthysenator，who，regardlessofthepubliccalamities，wasindulginghimselfintheluxuryofthetable。^11
Hiswifeandhisdaughter，hisfreedmenandhisparasites，easilyconvincedhimthathedeservedthethrone，andearnestlyconjuredhimtoembracesofortunateanopportunity。ThevainoldmanhastenedtothePraetoriancamp，whereSulpicianuswasstillintreatywiththeguards，andbegantobidagainsthimfromthefootoftherampart。Theunworthynegotiationwastransactedbyfaithfulemissaries，whopassedalternatelyfromonecandidatetotheother，andacquaintedeachofthemwiththeoffersofhisrival。Sulpicianushadalreadypromisedadonativeoffivethousanddrachmsaboveonehundredandsixtypoundstoeachsoldier；whenJulian，eagerfortheprize，roseatoncetothesumofsixthousandtwohundredandfiftydrachms，orupwardsoftwohundredpoundssterling。Thegatesofthecampwereinstantlythrownopentothepurchaser；hewasdeclaredemperor，andreceivedanoathofallegiancefromthesoldiers，whoretainedhumanityenoughtostipulatethatheshouldpardonandforgetthecompetitionofSulpicianus。
[Footnote11:SpartianussoftensthemostodiouspartsofthecharacterandelevationofJulian。]
[Footnote*:OneoftheprincipalcausesofthepreferenceofJulianusbythesoldiers，wasthedextertydexteritywithwhichheremindedthemthatSulpicianuswouldnotfailtorevengeonthemthedeathofhisson—in—law。SeeDion，p。1234，1234。c。
11。Herod。ii。6。—W。]
ItwasnowincumbentonthePraetorianstofulfiltheconditionsofthesale。Theyplacedtheirnewsovereign，whomtheyservedanddespised，inthecentreoftheirranks，surroundedhimoneverysidewiththeirshields，andconductedhimincloseorderofbattlethroughthedesertedstreetsofthecity。Thesenatewascommandedtoassemble；andthosewhohadbeenthedistinguishedfriendsofPertinax，orthepersonalenemiesofJulian，founditnecessarytoaffectamorethancommonshareofsatisfactionatthishappyrevolution。^12AfterJulianhadfilledthesenatehousewitharmedsoldiers，heexpatiatedonthefreedomofhiselection，hisowneminentvirtues，andhisfullassuranceoftheaffectionsofthesenate。
Theobsequiousassemblycongratulatedtheirownandthepublicfelicity；engagedtheirallegiance，andconferredonhimalltheseveralbranchesoftheImperialpower。^13FromthesenateJulianwasconducted，bythesamemilitaryprocession，totakepossessionofthepalace。Thefirstobjectsthatstruckhiseyes，weretheabandonedtrunkofPertinax，andthefrugalentertainmentpreparedforhissupper。Theoneheviewedwithindifference，theotherwithcontempt。Amagnificentfeastwaspreparedbyhisorder，andheamusedhimself，tillaverylatehour，withdice，andtheperformancesofPylades，acelebrateddancer。Yetitwasobserved，thatafterthecrowdofflatterersdispersed，andlefthimtodarkness，solitude，andterriblereflection，hepassedasleeplessnight；revolvingmostprobablyinhismindhisownrashfolly，thefateofhisvirtuouspredecessor，andthedoubtfulanddangeroustenureofanempirewhichhadnotbeenacquiredbymerit，butpurchasedbymoney。^14
[Footnote12:DionCassius，atthattimepraetor，hadbeenapersonalenemytoJulian，i。lxxiii。p。1235。]
[Footnote13:Hist。August。p。61。Welearnfromthenceonecuriouscircumstance，thatthenewemperor，whateverhadbeenhisbirth，wasimmediatelyaggregatedtothenumberofpatricianfamilies。
Note:AnewfragmentofDionshowssomeshrewdnessinthecharacterofJulian。Whenthesenatevotedhimagoldenstatue，hepreferredoneofbrass，asmorelasting。He"hadalwaysobserved，"hesaid，"thatthestatuesofformeremperorsweresoondestroyed。Thoseofbrassaloneremained。"Theindignanthistorianaddsthathewaswrong。Thevirtueofsovereignsalonepreservestheirimages:thebrazenstatueofJulianwasbrokentopiecesathisdeath。Mai。Fragm。Vatican。p。226。—M。]
[Footnote14:Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1235。Hist。August。p。61。I
haveendeavoredtoblendintooneconsistentstorytheseemingcontradictionsofthetwowriters。
Note:ThecontradictionasM。Guizotobserved，isirreconcilable。Hequotesbothpassages:inoneJulianusisrepresentedasamiser，intheotherasavoluptuary。IntheoneherefusestoeattillthebodyofPertinaxhasbeenburied；intheotherheglutshimselfwitheveryluxuryalmostinthesightofhisheadlessremains。—M。]
Hehadreasontotremble。Onthethroneoftheworldhefoundhimselfwithoutafriend，andevenwithoutanadherent。
Theguardsthemselveswereashamedoftheprincewhomtheiravaricehadpersuadedthemtoaccept；norwasthereacitizenwhodidnotconsiderhiselevationwithhorror，asthelastinsultontheRomanname。Thenobility，whoseconspicuousstation，andamplepossessions，exactedthestrictestcaution，dissembledtheirsentiments，andmettheaffectedcivilityoftheemperorwithsmilesofcomplacencyandprofessionsofduty。Butthepeople，secureintheirnumbersandobscurity，gaveafreeventtotheirpassions。ThestreetsandpublicplacesofRomeresoundedwithclamorsandimprecations。TheenragedmultitudeaffrontedthepersonofJulian，rejectedhisliberality，and，consciousoftheimpotenceoftheirownresentment，theycalledaloudonthelegionsofthefrontierstoasserttheviolatedmajestyoftheRomanempire。
Thepublicdiscontentwassoondiffusedfromthecentretothefrontiersoftheempire。ThearmiesofBritain，ofSyria，andofIllyricum，lamentedthedeathofPertinax，inwhosecompany，orunderwhosecommand，theyhadsooftenfoughtandconquered。Theyreceivedwithsurprise，withindignation，andperhapswithenvy，theextraordinaryintelligence，thatthePraetorianshaddisposedoftheempirebypublicauction；andtheysternlyrefusedtoratifytheignominiousbargain。TheirimmediateandunanimousrevoltwasfataltoJulian，butitwasfatalatthesametimetothepublicpeace，asthegeneralsoftherespectivearmies，ClodiusAlbinus，PescenniusNiger，andSeptimiusSeverus，werestillmoreanxioustosucceedthantorevengethemurderedPertinax。Theirforceswereexactlybalanced。Eachofthemwasattheheadofthreelegions，^15
withanumeroustrainofauxiliaries；andhoweverdifferentintheircharacters，theywereallsoldiersofexperienceandcapacity。
[Footnote15:Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1235。]
ClodiusAlbinus，governorofBritain，surpassedbothhiscompetitorsinthenobilityofhisextraction，whichhederivedfromsomeofthemostillustriousnamesoftheoldrepublic。^16
Butthebranchfromwhichheclaimedhisdescentwassunkintomeancircumstances，andtransplantedintoaremoteprovince。Itisdifficulttoformajustideaofhistruecharacter。Underthephilosophiccloakofausterity，hestandsaccusedofconcealingmostoftheviceswhichdegradehumannature。^17ButhisaccusersarethosevenalwriterswhoadoredthefortuneofSeverus，andtrampledontheashesofanunsuccessfulrival。
Virtue，ortheappearancesofvirtue，recommendedAlbinustotheconfidenceandgoodopinionofMarcus；andhispreservingwiththesonthesameinterestwhichhehadacquiredwiththefather，isaproofatleastthathewaspossessedofaveryflexibledisposition。Thefavorofatyrantdoesnotalwayssupposeawantofmeritintheobjectofit；hemay，withoutintendingit，rewardamanofworthandability，orhemayfindsuchamanusefultohisownservice。ItdoesnotappearthatAlbinusservedthesonofMarcus，eitherastheministerofhiscruelties，orevenastheassociateofhispleasures。Hewasemployedinadistanthonorablecommand，whenhereceivedaconfidentialletterfromtheemperor，acquaintinghimofthetreasonabledesignsofsomediscontentedgenerals，andauthorizinghimtodeclarehimselftheguardianandsuccessorofthethrone，byassumingthetitleandensignsofCaesar。^18ThegovernorofBritainwiselydeclinedthedangeroushonor，whichwouldhavemarkedhimforthejealousy，orinvolvedhimintheapproachingruin，ofCommodus。Hecourtedpowerbynobler，or，atleast，bymorespeciousarts。Onaprematurereportofthedeathoftheemperor，heassembledhistroops；and，inaneloquentdiscourse，deploredtheinevitablemischiefsofdespotism，describedthehappinessandglorywhichtheirancestorshadenjoyedundertheconsulargovernment，anddeclaredhisfirmresolutiontoreinstatethesenateandpeopleintheirlegalauthority。ThispopularharanguewasansweredbytheloudacclamationsoftheBritishlegions，andreceivedatRomewithasecretmurmurofapplause。Safeinthepossessionofhislittleworld，andinthecommandofanarmylessdistinguishedindeedfordisciplinethanfornumbersandvalor，^19AlbinusbravedthemenacesofCommodus，maintainedtowardsPertinaxastatelyambiguousreserve，andinstantlydeclaredagainsttheusurpationofJulian。Theconvulsionsofthecapitaladdednewweighttohissentiments，orrathertohisprofessionsofpatriotism。A
regardtodecencyinducedhimtodeclinetheloftytitlesofAugustusandEmperor；andheimitatedperhapstheexampleofGalba，who，onasimilaroccasion，hadstyledhimselftheLieutenantofthesenateandpeople。^20
[Footnote16:ThePosthumianandtheCe'onian；theformerofwhomwasraisedtotheconsulshipinthefifthyearafteritsinstitution。]
[Footnote17:Spartianus，inhisundigestedcollections，mixesupallthevirtuesandallthevicesthatenterintothehumancomposition，andbestowsthemonthesameobject。Such，indeedaremanyofthecharactersintheAugustanHistory。]
[Footnote18:Hist。August。p。80，84。]
[Footnote19:Pertinax，whogovernedBritainafewyearsbefore，hadbeenleftfordead，inamutinyofthesoldiers。Hist。
August。p54。Yettheylovedandregrettedhim；admirantibuseamvirtutemcuiirascebantur。]
[Footnote20:Sueton。inGalb。c。10。]
PersonalmeritalonehadraisedPescenniusNiger，fromanobscurebirthandstation，tothegovernmentofSyria；alucrativeandimportantcommand，whichintimesofcivilconfusiongavehimanearprospectofthethrone。Yethispartsseemtohavebeenbettersuitedtothesecondthantothefirstrank；hewasanunequalrival，thoughhemighthaveapprovedhimselfanexcellentlieutenant，toSeverus，whoafterwardsdisplayedthegreatnessofhismindbyadoptingseveralusefulinstitutionsfromavanquishedenemy。^21InhisgovernmentNigeracquiredtheesteemofthesoldiersandtheloveoftheprovincials。Hisrigiddisciplineforitfiedthevalorandconfirmedtheobedienceoftheformer，whilstthevoluptuousSyrianswerelessdelightedwiththemildfirmnessofhisadministration，thanwiththeaffabilityofhismanners，andtheapparentpleasurewithwhichheattendedtheirfrequentandpompousfestivals。^22AssoonastheintelligenceoftheatrociousmurderofPertinaxhadreachedAntioch，thewishesofAsiainvitedNigertoassumetheImperialpurpleandrevengehisdeath。Thelegionsoftheeasternfrontierembracedhiscause；
theopulentbutunarmedprovinces，fromthefrontiersofAethiopia^23totheHadriatic，cheerfullysubmittedtohispower；andthekingsbeyondtheTigrisandtheEuphratescongratulatedhiselection，andofferedhimtheirhomageandservices。ThemindofNigerwasnotcapableofreceivingthissuddentideoffortune:heflatteredhimselfthathisaccessionwouldbeundisturbedbycompetitionandunstainedbycivilblood；
andwhilstheenjoyedthevainpompoftriumph，heneglectedtosecurethemeansofvictory。InsteadofenteringintoaneffectualnegotiationwiththepowerfularmiesoftheWest，whoseresolutionmightdecide，oratleastmustbalance，themightycontest；insteadofadvancingwithoutdelaytowardsRomeandItaly，wherehispresencewasimpatientlyexpected，^24NigertrifledawayintheluxuryofAntiochthoseirretrievablemomentswhichwerediligentlyimprovedbythedecisiveactivityofSeverus。^25[Footnote21:Hist。August。p。76。]
[Footnote22:Herod。l。ii。p。68。TheChronicleofJohnMalala，ofAntioch，showsthezealousattachmentofhiscountrymentothesefestivals，whichatoncegratifiedtheirsuperstition，andtheirloveofpleasure。]
[Footnote23:AkingofThebes，inEgypt，ismentioned，intheAugustanHistory，asanally，and，indeed，asapersonalfriendofNiger。IfSpartianusisnot，asIstronglysuspect，mistaken，hehasbroughttolightadynastyoftributaryprincestotallyunknowntohistory。]
[Footnote24:Dion，l。lxxiii。p。1238。Herod。l。ii。p。67。A
verseineveryone'smouthatthattime，seemstoexpressthegeneralopinionofthethreerivals；OptimusestNiger，[Fuscus，whichpreservesthequantity。—M。]bonusAfter，pessimusAlbus。
Hist。August。p。75。]
[Footnote25:Herodian，l。ii。p。71。]
ThecountryofPannoniaandDalmatia，whichoccupiedthespacebetweentheDanubeandtheHadriatic，wasoneofthelastandmostdifficultconquestsoftheRomans。Inthedefenceofnationalfreedom，twohundredthousandofthesebarbarianshadonceappearedinthefield，alarmedthedecliningageofAugustus，andexercisedthevigilantprudenceofTiberiusattheheadofthecollectedforceoftheempire。^26ThePannoniansyieldedatlengthtothearmsandinstitutionsofRome。Theirrecentsubjection，however，theneighborhood，andeventhemixture，oftheunconqueredtribes，andperhapstheclimate，adapted，asithasbeenobserved，totheproductionofgreatbodiesandslowminds，^27allcontributedtopreservesomeremainsoftheiroriginalferocity，andunderthetameanduniformcountenanceofRomanprovincials，thehardyfeaturesofthenativeswerestilltobediscerned。TheirwarlikeyouthaffordedaninexhaustiblesupplyofrecruitstothelegionsstationedonthebanksoftheDanube，andwhich，fromaperpetualwarfareagainsttheGermansandSarmazans，weredeservedlyesteemedthebesttroopsintheservice。
[Footnote26:SeeanaccountofthatmemorablewarinVelleiusPaterculus，is110，&c。，whoservedinthearmyofTiberius。]