itextendedonlytoItaly，withtheexceptionofRomeanditsdistrict，whichwasgovernedbythePraefectusurbi。Astothecontrolofthefinances，andthelevyingoftaxes，itwasnotintrustedtothemtillafterthegreatchangethatConstantineI。
madeintheorganizationoftheempireatleast，Iknownopassagewhichassignsittothembeforethattime；andDrakenborch，whohastreatedthisquestioninhisDissertationdeofficialpraefectorumpraetorio，vi。，doesnotquoteone。—W。]
[Footnote68:Oneofhismostdaringandwantonactsofpower，wasthecastrationofahundredfreeRomans，someofthemmarriedmen，andevenfathersoffamilies；merelythathisdaughter，onhermarriagewiththeyoungemperor，mightbeattendedbyatrainofeunuchsworthyofaneasternqueen。Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1271。]
[Footnote*:Plautianuswascompatriot，relative，andtheoldfriend，ofSeverus；hehadsocompletelyshutupallaccesstotheemperor，thatthelatterwasignoranthowfarheabusedhispowers:atlength，beinginformedofit，hebegantolimithisauthority。ThemarriageofPlautillawithCaracallawasunfortunate；andtheprincewhohadbeenforcedtoconsenttoit，menacedthefatherandthedaughterwithdeathwhenheshouldcometothethrone。Itwasfeared，afterthat，thatPlautianuswouldavailhimselfofthepowerwhichhestillpossessed，againsttheImperialfamily；andSeveruscausedhimtobeassassinatedinhispresence，uponthepretextofaconspiracy，whichDionconsidersfictitious。—W。Thisnoteisnot，perhaps，verynecessaryanddoesnotcontainthewholefacts。DionconsiderstheconspiracytheinventionofCaracalla，bywhosecommand，almostbywhosehand，PlautianuswasslaininthepresenceofSeverus。—M。]
[Footnote69:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1274。Herodian，l。iii。p。122，129。ThegrammarianofAlexanderseems，asisnotunusual，muchbetteracquaintedwiththismysterioustransaction，andmoreassuredoftheguiltofPlautianusthantheRomansenatorventurestobe。]
TillthereignofSeverus，thevirtueandeventhegoodsenseoftheemperorshadbeendistinguishedbytheirzealoraffectedreverenceforthesenate，andbyatenderregardtotheniceframeofcivilpolicyinstitutedbyAugustus。ButtheyouthofSeverushadbeentrainedintheimplicitobedienceofcamps，andhisriperyearsspentinthedespotismofmilitarycommand。
Hishaughtyandinflexiblespiritcou'notdiscover，orwouldnotacknowledge，theadvantageofpreservinganintermediatepower，howeverimaginary，betweentheemperorandthearmy。Hedisdainedtoprofesshimselftheservantofanassemblythatdetestedhispersonandtrembledathisfrown；heissuedhiscommands，wherehisrequestswouldhaveprovedaseffectual；
assumedtheconductandstyleofasovereignandaconqueror，andexercised，withoutdisguise，thewholelegislative，aswellastheexecutivepower。
Thevictoryoverthesenatewaseasyandinglorious。Everyeyeandeverypassionweredirectedtothesuprememagistrate，whopossessedthearmsandtreasureofthestate；whilstthesenate，neitherelectedbythepeople，norguardedbymilitaryforce，noranimatedbypublicspirit，resteditsdecliningauthorityonthefrailandcrumblingbasisofancientopinion。
Thefinetheoryofarepublicinsensiblyvanished，andmadewayforthemorenaturalandsubstantialfeelingsofmonarchy。AsthefreedomandhonorsofRomeweresuccessivelycommunicatedtotheprovinces，inwhichtheoldgovernmenthadbeeneitherunknown，orwasrememberedwithabhorrence，thetraditionofrepublicanmaximswasgraduallyobliterated。TheGreekhistoriansoftheageoftheAntonines^70observe，withamaliciouspleasure，thatalthoughthesovereignofRome，incompliancewithanobsoleteprejudice，abstainedfromthenameofking，hepossessedthefullmeasureofregalpower。InthereignofSeverus，thesenatewasfilledwithpolishedandeloquentslavesfromtheeasternprovinces，whojustifiedpersonalflatterybyspeculativeprinciplesofservitude。Thesenewadvocatesofprerogativewereheardwithpleasurebythecourt，andwithpatiencebythepeople，whentheyinculcatedthedutyofpassiveobedience，anddescantedontheinevitablemischiefsoffreedom。Thelawyersandhistoriansconcurredinteaching，thattheImperialauthoritywasheld，notbythedelegatedcommission，butbytheirrevocableresignationofthesenate；thattheemperorwasfreedfromtherestraintofcivillaws，couldcommandbyhisarbitrarywillthelivesandfortunesofhissubjects，andmightdisposeoftheempireasofhisprivatepatrimony。^71Themosteminentofthecivillawyers，andparticularlyPapinian，Paulus，andUlpian，flourishedunderthehouseofSeverus；andtheRomanjurisprudence，havingcloselyuniteditselfwiththesystemofmonarchy，wassupposedtohaveattaineditsfullmajorityandperfection。
[Footnote70:AppianinProoem。]
[Footnote71:DionCassiusseemstohavewrittenwithnootherviewthantoformtheseopinionsintoanhistoricalsystem。ThePandea'swillhowhowassiduouslythelawyers，ontheirside，laboreeinthecauseofprerogative。]
ThecontemporariesofSeverusintheenjoymentofthepeaceandgloryofhisreign，forgavethecrueltiesbywhichithadbeenintroduced。Posterity，whoexperiencedthefataleffectsofhismaximsandexample，justlyconsideredhimastheprincipalauthorofthedeclineoftheRomanempire。
ChapterVI:DeathOfSeverus，TyrannyOfCaracalla，UsurpationOfMarcinus。
PartI。
TheDeathOfSeverus。—TyrannyOfCaracalla。—UsurpationOfMacrinus。—FolliesOfElagabalus。—VirtuesOfAlexanderSeverus。—LicentiousnessOfTheArmy。—GeneralStateOfTheRomanFinances。
Theascenttogreatness，howeversteepanddangerous，mayentertainanactivespiritwiththeconsciousnessandexerciseofitsownpowers:butthepossessionofathronecouldneveryetaffordalastingsatisfactiontoanambitiousmind。ThismelancholytruthwasfeltandacknowledgedbySeverus。Fortuneandmerithad，fromanhumblestation，elevatedhimtothefirstplaceamongmankind。"Hehadbeenallthings，"ashesaidhimself，"andallwasoflittlevalue"^1Distractedwiththecare，notofacquiring，butofpreservinganempire，oppressedwithageandinfirmities，carelessoffame，^2andsatiatedwithpower，allhisprospectsoflifewereclosed。Thedesireofperpetuatingthegreatnessofhisfamilywastheonlyremainingwishofhisambitionandpaternaltenderness。
[Footnote1:Hist。August。p。71。"Omniafui，etnihilexpedit。"]
[Footnote2:DionCassius，l。lxxvi。p。1284。]
LikemostoftheAfricans，Severuswaspassionatelyaddictedtothevainstudiesofmagicanddivination，deeplyversedintheinterpretationofdreamsandomens，andperfectlyacquaintedwiththescienceofjudicialastrology；which，inalmosteveryageexceptthepresent，hasmaintaineditsdominionoverthemindofman。Hehadlosthisfirstwife，whilehewasgovernoroftheLionneseGaul。^3Inthechoiceofasecond，hesoughtonlytoconnecthimselfwithsomefavoriteoffortune；andassoonashehaddiscoveredthattheyoungladyofEmesainSyriahadaroyalnativity，hesolicitedandobtainedherhand。^4JuliaDomnaforthatwashernamedeservedallthatthestarscouldpromiseher。
Shepossessed，eveninadvancedage，theattractionsofbeauty，^5andunitedtoalivelyimaginationafirmnessofmind，andstrengthofjudgment，seldombestowedonhersex。Heramiablequalitiesnevermadeanydeepimpressiononthedarkandjealoustemperofherhusband；butinherson'sreign，sheadministeredtheprincipalaffairsoftheempire，withaprudencethatsupportedhisauthority，andwithamoderationthatsometimescorrectedhiswildextravagancies。^6Juliaappliedherselftolettersandphilosophy，withsomesuccess，andwiththemostsplendidreputation。Shewasthepatronessofeveryart，andthefriendofeverymanofgenius。^7Thegratefulflatteryofthelearnedhascelebratedhervirtues；but，ifwemaycreditthescandalofancienthistory，chastitywasveryfarfrombeingthemostconspicuousvirtueoftheempressJulia。^8
[Footnote3:Abouttheyear186。M。deTillemontismiserablyembarrassedwithapassageofDion，inwhichtheempressFaustina，whodiedintheyear175，isintroducedashavingcontributedtothemarriageofSeverusandJulia，l。lxxiv。p。
1243。ThelearnedcompilerforgotthatDionisrelatingnotarealfact，butadreamofSeverus；anddreamsarecircumscribedtonolimitsoftimeorspace。DidM。deTillemontimaginethatmarriageswereconsummatedinthetempleofVenusatRome?Hist。
desEmpereurs，tom。iii。p。389。Note6。]
[Footnote4:Hist。August。p。65。]
[Footnote5:Hist。August。p。5。]
[Footnote6:DionCassius，l。lxxvii。p。1304，1314。]
[Footnote7:SeeadissertationofMenage，attheendofhiseditionofDiogenesLaertius，deFoeminisPhilosophis。]
[Footnote8:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1285。AureliusVictor。]
Twosons，Caracalla^9andGeta，werethefruitofthismarriage，andthedestinedheirsoftheempire。Thefondhopesofthefather，andoftheRomanworld，weresoondisappointedbythesevainyouths，whodisplayedtheindolentsecurityofhereditaryprinces；andapresumptionthatfortunewouldsupplytheplaceofmeritandapplication。Withoutanyemulationofvirtueortalents，theydiscovered，almostfromtheirinfancy，afixedandimplacableantipathyforeachother。
[Footnote9:Bassianuswashisfirstname，asithadbeenthatofhismaternalgrandfather。Duringhisreign，heassumedtheappellationofAntoninus，whichisemployedbylawyersandancienthistorians。Afterhisdeath，thepublicindignationloadedhimwiththenicknamesofTarantusandCaracalla。ThefirstwasborrowedfromacelebratedGladiator，thesecondfromalongGallicgownwhichhedistributedtothepeopleofRome。]
Theiraversion，confirmedbyyears，andfomentedbytheartsoftheirinterestedfavorites，brokeoutinchildish，andgraduallyinmoreseriouscompetitions；and，atlength，dividedthetheatre，thecircus，andthecourt，intotwofactions，actuatedbythehopesandfearsoftheirrespectiveleaders。Theprudentemperorendeavored，byeveryexpedientofadviceandauthority，toallaythisgrowinganimosity。Theunhappydiscordofhissonscloudedallhisprospects，andthreatenedtooverturnathroneraisedwithsomuchlabor，cementedwithsomuchblood，andguardedwitheverydefenceofarmsandtreasure。Withanimpartialhandhemaintainedbetweenthemanexactbalanceoffavor，conferredonboththerankofAugustus，withthereverednameofAntoninus；andforthefirsttimetheRomanworldbeheldthreeemperors。^10Yeteventhisequalconductservedonlytoinflamethecontest，whilstthefierceCaracallaassertedtherightofprimogeniture，andthemilderGetacourtedtheaffectionsofthepeopleandthesoldiers。Intheanguishofadisappointedfather，Severusforetoldthattheweakerofhissonswouldfallasacrificetothestronger；who，inhisturn，wouldberuinedbyhisownvices。^11
[Footnote10:TheelevationofCaracallaisfixedbytheaccurateM。deTillemonttotheyear198；theassociationofGetatotheyear208。]
[Footnote11:Herodian，l。iii。p。130。ThelivesofCaracallaandGeta，intheAugustanHistory。]
InthesecircumstancestheintelligenceofawarinBritain，andofaninvasionoftheprovincebythebarbariansoftheNorth，wasreceivedwithpleasurebySeverus。Thoughthevigilanceofhislieutenantsmighthavebeensufficienttorepelthedistantenemy，heresolvedtoembracethehonorablepretextofwithdrawinghissonsfromtheluxuryofRome，whichenervatedtheirmindsandirritatedtheirpassions；andofinuringtheiryouthtothetoilsofwarandgovernment。Notwithstandinghisadvancedage，forhewasabovethreescore，andhisgout，whichobligedhimtobecarriedinalitter，hetransportedhimselfinpersonintothatremoteisland，attendedbyhistwosons，hiswholecourt，andaformidablearmy。HeimmediatelypassedthewallsofHadrianandAntoninus，andenteredtheenemy'scountry，withadesignofcompletingthelongattemptedconquestofBritain。Hepenetratedtothenorthernextremityoftheisland，withoutmeetinganenemy。ButtheconcealedambuscadesoftheCaledonians，whohungunseenontherearandflanksofhisarmy，thecoldnessoftheclimateandtheseverityofawintermarchacrossthehillsandmorassesofScotland，arereportedtohavecosttheRomansabovefiftythousandmen。TheCaledoniansatlengthyieldedtothepowerfulandobstinateattack，suedforpeace，andsurrenderedapartoftheirarms，andalargetractofterritory。Buttheirapparentsubmissionlastednolongerthanthepresentterror。AssoonastheRomanlegionshadretired，theyresumedtheirhostileindependence。TheirrestlessspiritprovokedSeverustosendanewarmyintoCaledonia，withthemostbloodyorders，nottosubdue，buttoextirpatethenatives。Theyweresavedbythedeathoftheirhaughtyenemy。^12
[Footnote12:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1280，&c。Herodian，l。iii。p。
132，&c。]
ThisCaledonianwar，neithermarkedbydecisiveevents，norattendedwithanyimportantconsequences，wouldilldeserveourattention；butitissupposed，notwithoutaconsiderabledegreeofprobability，thattheinvasionofSeverusisconnectedwiththemostshiningperiodoftheBritishhistoryorfable。Fingal，whosefame，withthatofhisheroesandbards，hasbeenrevivedinourlanguagebyarecentpublication，issaidtohavecommandedtheCaledoniansinthatmemorablejuncture，tohaveeludedthepowerofSeverus，andtohaveobtainedasignalvictoryonthebanksoftheCarun，inwhichthesonoftheKingoftheWorld，Caracul，fledfromhisarmsalongthefieldsofhispride。^13SomethingofadoubtfulmiststillhangsovertheseHighlandtraditions；norcanitbeentirelydispelledbythemostingeniousresearchesofmoderncriticism；^14butifwecould，withsafety，indulgethepleasingsupposition，thatFingallived，andthatOssiansung，thestrikingcontrastofthesituationandmannersofthecontendingnationsmightamuseaphilosophicmind。
Theparallelwouldbelittletotheadvantageofthemorecivilizedpeople，ifwecomparedtheunrelentingrevengeofSeveruswiththegenerousclemencyofFingal；thetimidandbrutalcrueltyofCaracallawiththebravery，thetenderness，theelegantgeniusofOssian；themercenarychiefs，who，frommotivesoffearorinterest，servedundertheimperialstandard，withthefree—bornwarriorswhostartedtoarmsatthevoiceofthekingofMorven；if，inaword，wecontemplatedtheuntutoredCaledonians，glowingwiththewarmvirtuesofnature，andthedegenerateRomans，pollutedwiththemeanvicesofwealthandslavery。
[Footnote13:Ossian'sPoems，vol。i。p。175。]
[Footnote14:ThattheCaraculofOssianistheCaracallaoftheRomanHistory，is，perhaps，theonlypointofBritishantiquityinwhichMr。MacphersonandMr。Whitakerareofthesameopinion；
andyettheopinionisnotwithoutdifficulty。IntheCaledonianwar，thesonofSeveruswasknownonlybytheappellationofAntoninus，anditmayseemstrangethattheHighlandbardshoulddescribehimbyanickname，inventedfouryearsafterwards，scarcelyusedbytheRomanstillafterthedeathofthatemperor，andseldomemployedbythemostancienthistorians。SeeDion，l。
lxxvii。p。1317。Hist。August。p。89Aurel。Victor。Euseb。inChron。adann。214。
Note:ThehistoricalauthorityofMacpherson'sOssianhasnotincreasedsinceGibbonwrote。Wemay，indeed，consideritexploded。Mr。Whitaker，inalettertoGibbonMisc。Works，vol。
ii。p。100，attempts，notverysuccessfully，toweakenthisobjectionofthehistorian。—M。]
ThedeclininghealthandlastillnessofSeverusinflamedthewildambitionandblackpassionsofCaracalla'ssoul。
Impatientofanydelayordivisionofempire，heattempted，morethanonce，toshortenthesmallremainderofhisfather'sdays，andendeavored，butwithoutsuccess，toexciteamutinyamongthetroops。^15TheoldemperorhadoftencensuredthemisguidedlenityofMarcus，who，byasingleactofjustice，mighthavesavedtheRomansfromthetyrannyofhisworthlessson。Placedinthesamesituation，heexperiencedhoweasilytherigorofajudgedissolvesawayinthetendernessofaparent。Hedeliberated，hethreatened，buthecouldnotpunish；andthislastandonlyinstanceofmercywasmorefataltotheempirethanalongseriesofcruelty。^16Thedisorderofhismindirritatedthepainsofhisbody；hewishedimpatientlyfordeath，andhastenedtheinstantofitbyhisimpatience。HeexpiredatYorkinthesixty—fifthyearofhislife，andintheeighteenthofagloriousandsuccessfulreign。Inhislastmomentsherecommendedconcordtohissons，andhissonstothearmy。Thesalutaryadviceneverreachedtheheart，oreventheunderstanding，oftheimpetuousyouths；butthemoreobedienttroops，mindfuloftheiroathofallegiance，andoftheauthorityoftheirdeceasedmaster，resistedthesolicitationsofCaracalla，andproclaimedbothbrothersemperorsofRome。ThenewprincessoonlefttheCaledoniansinpeace，returnedtothecapital，celebratedtheirfather'sfuneralwithdivinehonors，andwerecheerfullyacknowledgedaslawfulsovereigns，bythesenate，thepeople，andtheprovinces。Somepreeminenceofrankseemstohavebeenallowedtotheelderbrother；buttheybothadministeredtheempirewithequalandindependentpower。^17
[Footnote15:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1282。Hist。August。p。71。
Aurel。Victor。]
[Footnote16:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1283。Hist。August。p。89]
[Footnote17:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1284。Herodian，l。iii。p。
135。]
Suchadividedformofgovernmentwouldhaveprovedasourceofdiscordbetweenthemostaffectionatebrothers。Itwasimpossiblethatitcouldlongsubsistbetweentwoimplacableenemies，whoneitherdesirednorcouldtrustareconciliation。
Itwasvisiblethatoneonlycouldreign，andthattheothermustfall；andeachofthem，judgingofhisrival'sdesignsbyhisown，guardedhislifewiththemostjealousvigilancefromtherepeatedattacksofpoisonorthesword。TheirrapidjourneythroughGaulandItaly，duringwhichtheyneverateatthesametable，orsleptinthesamehouse，displayedtotheprovincestheodiousspectacleoffraternaldiscord。OntheirarrivalatRome，theyimmediatelydividedthevastextentoftheimperialpalace。