Fromthesepanegyricsthehistorians^81oftheagemightborrowtheirextraordinary，and，perhaps，fabuloustales；oftheproudchallengeofaPersianhero，whowasentangledbythenet，anddespatchedbythesword，ofAreobindustheGoth；ofthetenthousandImmortals，whowereslainintheattackoftheRomancamp；andofthehundredthousandArabs，orSaracens，whowereimpelledbyapanicterrortothrowthemselvesheadlongintotheEuphrates。Sucheventsmaybedisbelievedordisregarded；butthecharityofabishop，AcaciusofAmida，whosenamemighthavedignifiedthesaintlycalendar，shallnotbelostinoblivion。
Boldlydeclaring，thatvasesofgoldandsilverareuselesstoaGodwhoneithereatsnordrinks，thegenerousprelatesoldtheplateofthechurchofAmida；employedthepriceintheredemptionofseventhousandPersiancaptives；suppliedtheirwantswithaffectionateliberality；anddismissedthemtotheirnativecountry，toinformtheirkingofthetruespiritofthereligionwhichhepersecuted。Thepracticeofbenevolenceinthemidstofwarmustalwaystendtoassuagetheanimosityofcontendingnations；andIwishtopersuademyself，thatAcaciuscontributedtotherestorationofpeace。Intheconferencewhichwasheldonthelimitsofthetwoempires，theRomanambassadorsdegradedthepersonalcharacteroftheirsovereign，byavainattempttomagnifytheextentofhispower；whentheyseriouslyadvisedthePersianstoprevent，byatimelyaccommodation，thewrathofamonarch，whowasyetignorantofthisdistantwar。A
truceofonehundredyearswassolemnlyratified；andalthoughtherevolutionsofArmeniamightthreatenthepublictranquillity，theessentialconditionsofthistreatywererespectednearfourscoreyearsbythesuccessorsofConstantineandArtaxerxes。
[Footnote80:Theodoret，l。v。c。39Tillemont。Mem。Ecclestom。
xii。356—364。Assemanni，Bibliot。Oriental。tom。iii。p。396，tom。iv。p。61。TheodoretblamestherashnessofAbdas，butextolstheconstancyofhismartyrdom。YetIdonotclearlyunderstandthecasuistrywhichprohibitsourrepairingthedamagewhichwehaveunlawfullycommitted。]
[Footnote81:Socratesl。vii。c。18，19，20，21isthebestauthorforthePersianwar。WemaylikewiseconsultthethreeChronicles，thePaschalandthoseofMarcellinusandMalala。]
SincetheRomanandParthianstandardsfirstencounteredonthebanksoftheEuphrates，thekingdomofArmenia^82wasalternatelyoppressedbyitsformidableprotectors；andinthecourseofthisHistory，severalevents，whichinclinedthebalanceofpeaceandwar，havebeenalreadyrelated。A
disgracefultreatyhadresignedArmeniatotheambitionofSapor；
andthescaleofPersiaappearedtopreponderate。ButtheroyalraceofArsacesimpatientlysubmittedtothehouseofSassan；theturbulentnoblesasserted，orbetrayed，theirhereditaryindependence；andthenationwasstillattachedtotheChristianprincesofConstantinople。Inthebeginningofthefifthcentury，Armeniawasdividedbytheprogressofwarandfaction；
^83andtheunnaturaldivisionprecipitatedthedownfallofthatancientmonarchy。Chosroes，thePersianvassal，reignedovertheEasternandmostextensiveportionofthecountry；whiletheWesternprovinceacknowledgedthejurisdictionofArsaces，andthesupremacyoftheemperorArcadius。AfterthedeathofArsaces，theRomanssuppressedtheregalgovernment，andimposedontheiralliestheconditionofsubjects。ThemilitarycommandwasdelegatedtothecountoftheArmenianfrontier；thecityofTheodosiopolis^84wasbuiltandfortifiedinastrongsituation，onafertileandloftyground，nearthesourcesoftheEuphrates；
andthedependentterritorieswereruledbyfivesatraps，whosedignitywasmarkedbyapeculiarhabitofgoldandpurple。Thelessfortunatenobles，wholamentedthelossoftheirking，andenviedthehonorsoftheirequals，wereprovokedtonegotiatetheirpeaceandpardonatthePersiancourt；andreturning，withtheirfollowers，tothepalaceofArtaxata，acknowledgedChosroes^!fortheirlawfulsovereign。Aboutthirtyyearsafterwards，Artasires，thenephewandsuccessorofChosroes，fellunderthedispleasureofthehaughtyandcapriciousnoblesofArmenia；andtheyunanimouslydesiredaPersiangovernorintheroomofanunworthyking。TheanswerofthearchbishopIsaac，whosesanctiontheyearnestlysolicited，isexpressiveofthecharacterofasuperstitiouspeople。HedeploredthemanifestandinexcusablevicesofArtasires；anddeclared，thatheshouldnothesitatetoaccusehimbeforethetribunalofaChristianemperor，whowouldpunish，withoutdestroying，thesinner。"Ourking，"continuedIsaac，"istoomuchaddictedtolicentiouspleasures，buthehasbeenpurifiedintheholywatersofbaptism。Heisaloverofwomen，buthedoesnotadorethefireortheelements。Hemaydeservethereproachoflewdness，butheisanundoubtedCatholic；andhisfaithispure，thoughhismannersareflagitious。Iwillneverconsenttoabandonmysheeptotherageofdevouringwolves；andyouwouldsoonrepentyourrashexchangeoftheinfirmitiesofabeliever，forthespeciousvirtuesofaheathen。"^85ExasperatedbythefirmnessofIsaac，thefactiousnoblesaccusedboththekingandthearchbishopasthesecretadherentsoftheemperor；andabsurdlyrejoicedinthesentenceofcondemnation，which，afterapartialhearing，wassolemnlypronouncedbyBahramhimself。ThedescendantsofArsacesweredegradedfromtheroyaldignity，^86whichtheyhadpossessedabovefivehundredandsixtyyears；^87andthedominionsoftheunfortunateArtasires，underthenewandsignificantappellationofPersarmenia，werereducedintotheformofaprovince。ThisusurpationexcitedthejealousyoftheRomangovernment；buttherisingdisputesweresoonterminatedbyanamicable，thoughunequal，partitionoftheancientkingdomofArmenia:*andaterritorialacquisition，whichAugustusmighthavedespised，reflectedsomelustreonthedecliningempireoftheyoungerTheodosius。
[Footnote82:ThisaccountoftheruinanddivisionofthekingdomofArmeniaistakenfromthethirdbookoftheArmenianhistoryofMosesofChorene。Deficientasheisineveryqualificationofagoodhistorian，hislocalinformation，hispassions，andhisprejudicesarestronglyexpressiveofanativeandcontemporary。ProcopiusdeEdificiis，l。iii。c。1，5
relatesthesamefactsinaverydifferentmanner；butIhaveextractedthecircumstancesthemostprobableinthemselves，andtheleastinconsistentwithMosesofChorene。]
[Footnote83:ThewesternArmeniansusedtheGreeklanguageandcharactersintheirreligiousoffices；buttheuseofthathostiletonguewasprohibitedbythePersiansintheEasternprovinces，whichwereobligedtousetheSyriac，tilltheinventionoftheArmenianlettersbyMesrobes，inthebeginningofthefifthcentury，andthesubsequentversionoftheBibleintotheArmenianlanguage；aneventwhichrelaxedtotheconnectionofthechurchandnationwithConstantinople。]
[Footnote84:MosesChoren。l。iii。c。59，p。309，andp。358。
Procopius，deEdificiis，l。iii。c。5。Theodosiopolisstands，orratherstood，aboutthirty—fivemilestotheeastofArzeroum，themoderncapitalofTurkishArmenia。SeeD'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。99，100。]
[Footnote*:ThedivisionofArmenia，accordingtoM。St。Martin，tookplacemuchearlier，A。C。390。TheEasternorPersiandivisionwasfourtimesaslargeastheWesternorRoman。ThispartitiontookplaceduringthereignsofTheodosiustheFirst，andVaranesBahramtheFourth。St。Martin，Sup。toLeBeau，iv。429。Thispartitionwasbutimperfectlyaccomplished，asbothpartswereafterwardsreunitedunderChosroes，whopaidtributebothtotheRomanemperorandtothePersianking。v。
439。—M。]
[Footnote!:Chosroes，accordingtoProcopiuswhocallshimArsaces，thecommonnameoftheArmeniankingsandtheArmenianwriters，bequeathedtohistwosons，toTigranesthePersian，toArsacestheRoman，divisionofArmenia，A。C。416。WiththeassistanceofthediscontentednoblesthePersiankingplacedhissonSaporonthethroneoftheEasterndivision；theWesternatthesametimewasunitedtotheRomanempire，andcalledtheGreaterArmenia。ItwasthenthatTheodosiopoliswasbuilt。
SaporabandonedthethroneofArmeniatoasserthisrightstothatofPersia；heperishedinthestruggle，andafteraperiodofanarchy，BahramV。，whohadascendedthethroneofPersia，placedthelastnativeprince，Ardaschir，sonofBahramSchahpour，onthethroneofthePersiandivisionofArmenia。St。
Martin，v。506。ThisArdaschirwastheArtasiresofGibbon。ThearchbishopIsaaciscalledbytheArmeniansthePatriarchSchag。
St。Martin，vi。29。—M。]
[Footnote85:MosesChoren，l。iii。c。63，p。316。AccordingtotheinstitutionofSt。Gregory，theApostleofArmenia，thearchbishopwasalwaysoftheroyalfamily；acircumstancewhich，insomedegree，correctedtheinfluenceofthesacerdotalcharacter，andunitedthemitrewiththecrown。]
[Footnote86:AbranchoftheroyalhouseofArsacesstillsubsistedwiththerankandpossessionsasitshouldseemofArmeniansatraps。SeeMosesChoren。l。iii。c。65，p。321。]
[Footnote87:ValarsaceswasappointedkingofArmeniabyhisbrothertheParthianmonarch，immediatelyafterthedefeatofAntiochusSidetes，MosesChoren。l。ii。c。2，p。85，onehundredandthirtyyearsbeforeChrist。Withoutdependingonthevariousandcontradictoryperiodsofthereignsofthelastkings，wemaybeassured，thattheruinoftheArmeniankingdomhappenedafterthecouncilofChalcedon，A。D。431，l。iii。c。
61，p。312；andunderVaramus，orBahram，kingofPersia，l。
iii。c。64，p。317，whoreignedfromA。D。420to440。SeeAssemanni，Bibliot。Oriental。tom。iii。p。396。
Note:Fivehundredandeighty。St。Martin，ibid。HeplacesthiseventA。C429。—M。]
Note:AccordingtoM。St。Martin，vi。32，Vagharschah，orValarsaces，wasappointedkingbyhisbrotherMithridatestheGreat，kingofParthia。—M。]
[Footnote*:ArtasiresorArdaschirwasprobablysenttothecastleofOblivion。St。Martin，vi。31。—M。]
[Footnote**:ThedurationoftheArmeniankingdomaccordingtoM。St。Martin，was580years。—M]
ChapterXXXIII:ConquestOfAfricaByTheVandals。
PartI。
DeathOfHonorius。—ValentinianIII。—EmperorOfTheEast。
—AdministrationOfHisMotherPlacidia—AetiusAndBoniface。—
ConquestOfAfricaByTheVandals。
Duringalonganddisgracefulreignoftwenty—eightyears，Honorius，emperoroftheWest，wasseparatedfromthefriendshipofhisbrother，andafterwardsofhisnephew，whoreignedovertheEast；andConstantinoplebeheld，withapparentindifferenceandsecretjoy，thecalamitiesofRome。ThestrangeadventuresofPlacidia^1graduallyrenewedandcementedtheallianceofthetwoempires。ThedaughterofthegreatTheodosiushadbeenthecaptive，andthequeen，oftheGoths；shelostanaffectionatehusband；shewasdraggedinchainsbyhisinsultingassassin；shetastedthepleasureofrevenge，andwasexchanged，inthetreatyofpeace，forsixhundredthousandmeasuresofwheat。AfterherreturnfromSpaintoItaly，Placidiaexperiencedanewpersecutioninthebosomofherfamily。Shewasaversetoamarriage，whichhadbeenstipulatedwithoutherconsent；andthebraveConstantius，asanoblerewardforthetyrantswhomhehadvanquished，received，fromthehandofHonoriushimself，thestrugglingandthereluctanthandofthewidowofAdolphus。Butherresistanceendedwiththeceremonyofthenuptials:nordidPlacidiarefusetobecomethemotherofHonoriaandValentiniantheThird，ortoassumeandexerciseanabsolutedominionoverthemindofhergratefulhusband。Thegeneroussoldier，whosetimehadhithertobeendividedbetweensocialpleasureandmilitaryservice，wastaughtnewlessonsofavariceandambition:
heextortedthetitleofAugustus:andtheservantofHonoriuswasassociatedtotheempireoftheWest。ThedeathofConstantius，intheseventhmonthofhisreign，insteadofdiminishing，seemedtoinereasethepowerofPlacidia；andtheindecentfamiliarity^2ofherbrother，whichmightbenomorethanthesymptomsofachildishaffection，wereuniversallyattributedtoincestuouslove。Onasudden，bysomebaseintriguesofastewardandanurse，thisexcessivefondnesswasconvertedintoanirreconcilablequarrel:thedebatesoftheemperorandhissisterwerenotlongconfinedwithinthewallsofthepalace；andastheGothicsoldiersadheredtotheirqueen，thecityofRavennawasagitatedwithbloodyanddangeroustumults，whichcouldonlybeappeasedbytheforcedorvoluntaryretreatofPlacidiaandherchildren。TheroyalexileslandedatConstantinople，soonafterthemarriageofTheodosius，duringthefestivalofthePersianvictories。Theyweretreatedwithkindnessandmagnificence；butasthestatuesoftheemperorConstantiushadbeenrejectedbytheEasterncourt，thetitleofAugustacouldnotdecentlybeallowedtohiswidow。WithinafewmonthsafterthearrivalofPlacidia，aswiftmessengerannouncedthedeathofHonorius，theconsequenceofadropsy；buttheimportantsecretwasnotdivulged，tillthenecessaryordershadbeendespatchedforthemarchofalargebodyoftroopstothesea—coastofDalmatia。TheshopsandthegatesofConstantinopleremainedshutduringsevendays；andthelossofaforeignprince，whocouldneitherbeesteemednorregretted，wascelebratedwithloudandaffecteddemonstrationsofthepublicgrief。
[Footnote1:Seevol。iii。p。296。]
[Footnote2:ItistheexpressionofOlympiodorusapudPhetiump。197；whomeans，perhaps，todescribethesamecaresseswhichMahometbestowedonhisdaughterPhatemah。Quando，saystheprophethimself，quandosubitmihidesideriumParadisi，osculoream，etingerolinguammeaminosejus。Butthissensualindulgencewasjustifiedbymiracleandmystery；andtheanecdotehasbeencommunicatedtothepublicbytheReverendFatherMaracciinhisVersionandConfutationoftheKoran，tom。i。p。
32。]
WhiletheministersofConstantinopledeliberated，thevacantthroneofHonoriuswasusurpedbytheambitionofastranger。ThenameoftherebelwasJohn；hefilledtheconfidentialofficeofPrimicerius，orprincipalsecretary，andhistoryhasattributedtohischaractermorevirtues，thancaneasilybereconciledwiththeviolationofthemostsacredduty。
ElatedbythesubmissionofItaly，andthehopeofanalliancewiththeHuns，Johnpresumedtoinsult，byanembassy，themajestyoftheEasternemperor；butwhenheunderstoodthathisagentshadbeenbanished，imprisoned，andatlengthchasedawaywithdeservedignominy，Johnpreparedtoassert，byarms，theinjusticeofhisclaims。Insuchacause，thegrandsonofthegreatTheodosiusshouldhavemarchedinperson:buttheyoungemperorwaseasilydiverted，byhisphysicians，fromsorashandhazardousadesign；andtheconductoftheItalianexpeditionwasprudentlyintrustedtoArdaburius，andhissonAspar，whohadalreadysignalizedtheirvaloragainstthePersians。Itwasresolved，thatArdaburiusshouldembarkwiththeinfantry；whilstAspar，attheheadofthecavalry，conductedPlacidiaandhersonValentinianalongthesea—coastoftheAdriatic。Themarchofthecavalrywasperformedwithsuchactivediligence，thattheysurprised，withoutresistance，theimportantcityofAquileia:
whenthehopesofAsparwereunexpectedlyconfoundedbytheintelligence，thatastormhaddispersedtheImperialfleet；andthathisfather，withonlytwogalleys，wastakenandcarriedaprisonerintotheportofRavenna。Yetthisincident，unfortunateasitmightseem，facilitatedtheconquestofItaly。
Ardaburiusemployed，orabused，thecourteousfreedomwhichhewaspermittedtoenjoy，toreviveamongthetroopsasenseofloyaltyandgratitude；andassoonastheconspiracywasripeforexecution，heinvited，byprivatemessages，andpressedtheapproachof，Aspar。Ashepherd，whomthepopularcredulitytransformedintoanangel，guidedtheeasterncavalrybyasecret，and，itwasthought，animpassableroad，throughthemorassesofthePo:thegatesofRavenna，afterashortstruggle，werethrownopen；andthedefencelesstyrantwasdeliveredtothemercy，orrathertothecruelty，oftheconquerors。Hisrighthandwasfirstcutoff；and，afterhehadbeenexposed，mountedonanass，tothepublicderision，JohnwasbeheadedinthecircusofAquileia。TheemperorTheodosius，whenhereceivedthenewsofthevictory，interruptedthehorse—races；andsinging，ashemarchedthroughthestreets，asuitablepsalm，conductedhispeoplefromtheHippodrometothechurch，wherehespenttheremainderofthedayingratefuldevotion。^3
[Footnote3:FortheserevolutionsoftheWesternempire，consultOlympiodor，apudPhot。p。192，193，196，197，200；Sozomen，l。
ix。c。16；Socrates，l。vii。23，24；Philostorgius，l。xii。c。
10，11，andGodefroy，Dissertatp。486；Procopius，deBell。
Vandal。l。i。c。3，p。182，183，inChronograph，p。72，73，andtheChronicles。]
Inamonarchy，which，accordingtovariousprecedents，mightbeconsideredaselective，orhereditary，orpatrimonial，itwasimpossiblethattheintricateclaimsoffemaleandcollateralsuccessionshouldbeclearlydefined；^4andTheodosius，bytherightofconsanguinityorconquest，mighthavereignedthesolelegitimateemperoroftheRomans。Foramoment，perhaps，hiseyesweredazzledbytheprospectofunboundedsway；buthisindolenttempergraduallyacquiescedinthedictatesofsoundpolicy。HecontentedhimselfwiththepossessionoftheEast；andwiselyrelinquishedthelaborioustaskofwagingadistantanddoubtfulwaragainsttheBarbariansbeyondtheAlps；orofsecuringtheobedienceoftheItaliansandAfricans，whosemindswerealienatedbytheirreconcilabledifferenceoflanguageandinterest。Insteadoflisteningtothevoiceofambition，Theodosiusresolvedtoimitatethemoderationofhisgrandfather，andtoseathiscousinValentinianonthethroneoftheWest。
TheroyalinfantwasdistinguishedatConstantinoplebythetitleofNobilissimus:hewaspromoted，beforehisdeparturefromThessalonica，totherankanddignityofCaesar；andaftertheconquestofItaly，thepatricianHelion，bytheauthorityofTheodosius，andinthepresenceofthesenate，salutedValentiniantheThirdbythenameofAugustus，andsolemnlyinvestedhimwiththediademandtheImperialpurple。^5BytheagreementofthethreefemaleswhogovernedtheRomanworld，thesonofPlacidiawasbetrothedtoEudoxia，thedaughterofTheodosiusandAthenais；andassoonastheloverandhisbridehadattainedtheageofpuberty，thishonorablealliancewasfaithfullyaccomplished。Atthesametime，asacompensation，perhaps，fortheexpensesofthewar，theWesternIllyricumwasdetachedfromtheItaliandominions，andyieldedtothethroneofConstantinople。^6TheemperoroftheEastacquiredtheusefuldominionoftherichandmaritimeprovinceofDalmatia，andthedangeroussovereigntyofPannoniaandNoricum，whichhadbeenfilledandravagedabovetwentyyearsbyapromiscuouscrowdofHuns，Ostrogoths，Vandals，andBavarians。TheodosiusandValentiniancontinuedtorespecttheobligationsoftheirpublicanddomesticalliance；buttheunityoftheRomangovernmentwasfinallydissolved。Byapositivedeclaration，thevalidityofallfuturelawswaslimitedtothedominionsoftheirpeculiarauthor；unlessheshouldthinkpropertocommunicatethem，subscribedwithhisownhand，fortheapprobationofhisindependentcolleague。^7