Thefertilityofthesoil，ratherthanthelaborofthenatives，suppliedtherusticplentyoftheSclavonians。Theirsheepandhornedcattlewerelargeandnumerous，andthefieldswhichtheysowedwithmilletorpanic^14afforded，inplaceofbread，acoarseandlessnutritivefood。Theincessantrapineoftheirneighborscompelledthemtoburythistreasureintheearth；butontheappearanceofastranger，itwasfreelyimpartedbyapeople，whoseunfavorablecharacterisqualifiedbytheepithetsofchaste，patient，andhospitable。Astheirsupremegod，theyadoredaninvisiblemasterofthethunder。Theriversandthenymphsobtainedtheirsubordinatehonors，andthepopularworshipwasexpressedinvowsandsacrifice。TheSclavoniansdisdainedtoobeyadespot，aprince，orevenamagistrate；buttheirexperiencewastoonarrow，theirpassionstooheadstrong，tocomposeasystemofequallaworgeneraldefence。Somevoluntaryrespectwasyieldedtoageandvalor；buteachtribeorvillageexistedasaseparaterepublic，andallmustbepersuadedwherenonecouldbecompelled。Theyfoughtonfoot，almostnaked，andexceptanunwieldyshield，withoutanydefensivearmor；theirweaponsofoffencewereabow，aquiverofsmallpoisonedarrows，andalongrope，whichtheydexterouslythrewfromadistance，andentangledtheirenemyinarunningnoose。Inthefield，theSclavonianinfantrywasdangerousbytheirspeed，agility，andhardiness:theyswam，theydived，theyremainedunderwater，drawingtheirbreaththroughahollowcane；andariverorlakewasoftenthesceneoftheirunsuspectedambuscade。Buttheseweretheachievementsofspiesorstragglers；themilitaryartwasunknowntotheSclavonians；theirnamewasobscure，andtheirconquestswereinglorious。^15
　　[Footnote11:IadopttheappellationofBulgariansfromEnnodius，inPanegyr。Theodorici，Opp。Sirmond，tom。i。p。
　　1598，1599，Jornandes，deRebusGeticis，c。5，p。194，etdeRegn。Successione，p。242，Theophanes，p。185，andtheChroniclesofCassiodorusandMarcellinus。ThenameofHunsistoovague；thetribesoftheCutturguriansandUtturguriansaretoominuteandtooharsh。
　　Note:TheBulgariansarefirstmentionedamongthewritersoftheWestinthePanegyriconTheodoricbyEnnodius，BishopofPavia。ThoughtheyperhapstookpartintheconquestsoftheHuns，theydidnotadvancetotheDanubetillafterthedismembermentofthatmonarchyonthedeathofAttila。ButtheBulgariansarementionedmuchearlierbytheArmenianwriters。
　　Above600yearsbeforeChrist，atribeofBulgarians，drivenfromtheirnativepossessionsbeyondtheCaspian，occupiedapartofArmenia，northoftheAraxes。TheywereoftheFinnishrace；
　　partofthenation，inthefifthcentury，movedwestward，andreachedthemodernBulgaria；partremainedalongtheVolga，whichiscalledEtel，Etil，orAthil，inalltheTartarlanguages，butfromtheBulgarians，theVolga。ThepoweroftheeasternBulgarianswasbrokenbyBatou，sonofTchingizKhan；thatofthewesternwillappearinthecourseofthehistory。FromSt。
　　Martin，vol。viip。141。Malte—Brun，onthecontrary，conceivesthattheBulgarianstooktheirnamefromtheriver。AccordingtotheByzantinehistorianstheywereabranchoftheOugres，Thunmann，Hist。ofthePeopletotheEastofEurope，buttheyhavemoreresemblancetotheTurks。Theirfirstcountry，GreatBulgaria，waswashedbytheVolga。SomeremainsoftheircapitalarestillshownnearKasan。TheyafterwardsdweltinKuban，andfinallyontheDanube，wheretheysubduedabouttheyear500
　　theSlavo—ServiansestablishedontheLowerDanube。ConqueredintheirturnbytheAvars，theyfreedthemselvesfromthatyokein635；theirempirethencomprisedtheCutturgurians，theremainsoftheHunsestablishedonthePalusMaeotis。TheDanubianBulgaria，adismembermentofthisvaststate，waslongformidabletotheByzantineempire。Malte—Brun，Prec。deGeogUniv。vol。i。
　　p。419。—M。
　　AccordingtoShafarik，theDanubianBulgariawaspeopledbyaSlavoBulgarianrace。TheSlavishpopulationwasconqueredbytheBulgarianofUralianandFinnishdescent，andincorporatedwiththem。ThismingledracearetheBulgariansborderingontheByzantineempire。Shafarik，ii152，etseq。—M。1845]
　　[Footnote12:Procopius，Goth。l。iv。c。19。HisverbalmessageheownshimselfanilliterateBarbarianisdeliveredasanepistle。Thestyleissavage，figurative，andoriginal。]
　　[Footnote13:Thissumistheresultofaparticularlist，inacuriousMs。fragmentoftheyear550，foundinthelibraryofMilan。TheobscuregeographyofthetimesprovokesandexercisesthepatienceofthecountdeBuat，tom。xi。p。69—189。TheFrenchministeroftenloseshimselfinawildernesswhichrequiresaSaxonandPolishguide。]
　　[Footnote14:Panicum，milium。SeeColumella，l。ii。c。9，p。
　　430，edit。Gesner。Plin。Hist。Natur。xviii。24，25。TheSamaritansmadeapapofmillet，mingledwithmare'smilkorblood。Inthewealthofmodernhusbandry，ourmilletfeedspoultry，andnotheroes。SeethedictionariesofBomareandMiller。]
　　[Footnote15:Forthenameandnation，thesituationandmanners，oftheSclavonians，seetheoriginalevidenceofthevithcentury，inProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。26，l。iii。c。14，andtheemperorMauritiusorMauriceStratagemat。l。ii。c。5，apudMasconAnnotat。xxxi。ThestratagemsofMauricehavebeenprintedonly，asIunderstand，attheendofScheffer'seditionofArrian'sTactics，atUpsal，1664，Fabric。Bibliot。Graec。l。
　　iv。c。8，tom。iii。p。278，ascarce，andhitherto，tome，aninaccessiblebook。]
　　IhavemarkedthefaintandgeneraloutlineoftheSclavoniansandBulgarians，withoutattemptingtodefinetheirintermediateboundaries，whichwerenotaccuratelyknownorrespectedbytheBarbariansthemselves。Theirimportancewasmeasuredbytheirvicinitytotheempire；andthelevelcountryofMoldaviaandWallachiawasoccupiedbytheAntes，^16aSclavoniantribe，whichswelledthetitlesofJustinianwithanepithetofconquest。^17AgainsttheAntesheerectedthefortificationsoftheLowerDanube；andlaboredtosecuretheallianceofapeopleseatedinthedirectchannelofnortherninundation，anintervaloftwohundredmilesbetweenthemountainsofTransylvaniaandtheEuxineSea。ButtheAnteswantedpowerandinclinationtostemthefuryofthetorrent；andthelight—armedSclavonians，fromahundredtribes，pursuedwithalmostequalspeedthefootstepsoftheBulgarianhorse。ThepaymentofonepieceofgoldforeachsoldierprocuredasafeandeasyretreatthroughthecountryoftheGepidae，whocommandedthepassageoftheUpperDanube。^18ThehopesorfearsoftheBarbarians；theirintenseunionordiscord；theaccidentofafrozenorshallowstream；theprospectofharvestorvintage；theprosperityordistressoftheRomans；werethecauseswhichproducedtheuniformrepetitionofannualvisits，^19tediousinthenarrative，anddestructiveintheevent。Thesameyear，andpossiblythesamemonth，inwhichRavennasurrendered，wasmarkedbyaninvasionoftheHunsorBulgarians，sodreadful，thatitalmosteffacedthememoryoftheirpastinroads。TheyspreadfromthesuburbsofConstantinopletotheIonianGulf，destroyedthirty—twocitiesorcastles，erasedPotidaea，whichAthenshadbuilt，andPhiliphadbesieged，andrepassedtheDanube，draggingattheirhorses'heelsonehundredandtwentythousandofthesubjectsofJustinian。InasubsequentinroadtheypiercedthewalloftheThracianChersonesus，extirpatedthehabitationsandtheinhabitants，boldlytraversedtheHellespont，andreturnedtotheircompanions，ladenwiththespoilsofAsia。Anotherparty，whichseemedamultitudeintheeyesoftheRomans，penetrated，withoutopposition，fromtheStraitsofThermopylaetotheIsthmusofCorinth；andthelastruinofGreecehasappearedanobjecttoominutefortheattentionofhistory。Theworkswhichtheemperorraisedfortheprotection，butattheexpenseofhissubjects，servedonlytodisclosetheweaknessofsomeneglectedpart；andthewalls，whichbyflatteryhadbeendeemedimpregnable，wereeitherdesertedbythegarrison，orscaledbytheBarbarians。ThreethousandSclavonians，whoinsolentlydividedthemselvesintotwobands，discoveredtheweaknessandmiseryofatriumphantreign。TheypassedtheDanubeandtheHebrus，vanquishedtheRomangeneralswhodaredtoopposetheirprogress，andplundered，withimpunity，thecitiesofIllyricumandThrace，eachofwhichhadarmsandnumberstooverwhelmtheircontemptibleassailants。WhateverpraisetheboldnessoftheSclavoniansmaydeserve，itissulliedbythewantonanddeliberatecrueltywhichtheyareaccusedofexercisingontheirprisoners。Withoutdistinctionofrank，orage，orsex，thecaptiveswereimpaledorflayedalive，orsuspendedbetweenfourposts，andbeatenwithclubstilltheyexpired，orenclosedinsomespaciousbuilding，andlefttoperishintheflameswiththespoilandcattlewhichmightimpedethemarchofthesesavagevictors。^20Perhapsamoreimpartialnarrativewouldreducethenumber，andqualifythenature，ofthesehorridacts；andtheymightsometimesbeexcusedbythecruellawsofretaliation。InthesiegeofTopirus，^21whoseobstinatedefencehadenragedtheSclavonians，theymassacredfifteenthousandmales；buttheysparedthewomenandchildren；themostvaluablecaptiveswerealwaysreservedforlabororransom；theservitudewasnotrigorous，andthetermsoftheirdeliverancewerespeedyandmoderate。Butthesubject，orthehistorianofJustinian，exhaledhisjustindignationinthelanguageofcomplaintandreproach；andProcopiushasconfidentlyaffirmed，thatinareignofthirty—twoyears，eachannualinroadoftheBarbariansconsumedtwohundredthousandoftheinhabitantsoftheRomanempire。TheentirepopulationofTurkishEurope，whichnearlycorrespondswiththeprovincesofJustinian，wouldperhapsbeincapableofsupplyingsixmillionsofpersons，theresultofthisincredibleestimate。^22
　　[Footnote16:Antescorumfortissimi……TaysisquirapidusetvorticosusinHistrifluentafurensdevolvitur，Jornandes，c。5，p。194，edit。Murator。Procopius，Goth。l。iii。c。14，etdeEdific。liv。c。7。YetthesameProcopiusmentionstheGothsandHunsasneighborstotheDanube，deEdific。l。v。c。1。]
　　[Footnote17:ThenationaltitleofAnticus，inthelawsandinscriptionsofJustinian，wasadoptedbyhissuccessors，andisjustifiedbythepiousLudewiginVit。Justinian。p。515。Ithadstrangelypuzzledtheciviliansofthemiddleage。]
　　[Footnote18:Procopius，Goth。l。iv。c。25。]
　　[Footnote19:AninroadoftheHunsisconnected，byProcopius，withacometperhapsthatof531，Persic。l。ii。c。4。Agathiasl。v。p。154，155borrowsfromhispredecessorssomeearlyfacts。]
　　[Footnote20:ThecrueltiesoftheSclavoniansarerelatedormagnifiedbyProcopius，Goth。l。iii。c。29，38。Fortheirmildandliberalbehaviortotheirprisoners，wemayappealtotheauthority，somewhatmorerecentoftheemperorMaurice，Stratagem。l。ii。c。5。]
　　[Footnote21:TopiruswassituatenearPhilippiinThrace，orMacedonia，oppositetotheIsleofThasos，twelvedays'journeyfromConstantinopleCellarius，tom。i。p。676，846。]
　　[Footnote22:AccordingtothemalevolenttestimonyoftheAnecdotes，c。18，theseinroadshadreducedtheprovincessouthoftheDanubetothestateofaScythianwilderness。]
　　Inthemidstoftheseobscurecalamities，Europefelttheshockofrevolution，whichfirstrevealedtotheworldthenameandnationoftheTurks。LikeRomulus，thefounder^!ofthatmartialpeoplewassuckledbyashe—wolf，whoafterwardsmadehimthefatherofanumerousprogeny；andtherepresentationofthatanimalinthebannersoftheTurkspreservedthememory，orrathersuggestedtheidea，ofafable，whichwasinvented，withoutanymutualintercourse，bytheshepherdsofLatiumandthoseofScythia。AttheequaldistanceoftwothousandmilesfromtheCaspian，theIcy，theChinese，andtheBengalSeas，aridgeofmountainsisconspicuous，thecentre，andperhapsthesummit，ofAsia；which，inthelanguageofdifferentnations，hasbeenstyledImaus，andCaf，^23andAltai，andtheGoldenMountains，^!!andtheGirdleoftheEarth。Thesidesofthehillswereproductiveofminerals；andtheironforges，^24forthepurposeofwar，wereexercisedbytheTurks，themostdespisedportionoftheslavesofthegreatkhanoftheGeougen。
　　Buttheirservitudecouldonlylasttillaleader，boldandeloquent，shouldarisetopersuadehiscountrymenthatthesamearmswhichtheyforgedfortheirmasters，mightbecome，intheirownhands，theinstrumentsoffreedomandvictory。Theysalliedfromthemountains；^25asceptrewastherewardofhisadvice；
　　andtheannualceremony，inwhichapieceofironwasheatedinthefire，andasmith'shammerwassuccessivelyhandledbytheprinceandhisnobles，recordedforagesthehumbleprofessionandrationalprideoftheTurkishnation。Bertezena，^!!!theirfirstleader，signalizedtheirvalorandhisowninsuccessfulcombatsagainsttheneighboringtribes；butwhenhepresumedtoaskinmarriagethedaughterofthegreatkhan，theinsolentdemandofaslaveandamechanicwascontemptuouslyrejected。
　　ThedisgracewasexpiatedbyamorenoblealliancewithaprincessofChina；andthedecisivebattlewhichalmostextirpatedthenationoftheGeougen，establishedinTartarythenewandmorepowerfulempireoftheTurks。Theyreignedoverthenorth；buttheyconfessedthevanityofconquest，bytheirfaithfulattachmenttothemountainoftheirfathers。TheroyalencampmentseldomlostsightofMountAltai，fromwhencetheRiverIrtishdescendstowatertherichpasturesoftheCalmucks，^26whichnourishthelargestsheepandoxenintheworld。Thesoilisfruitful，andtheclimatemildandtemperate:thehappyregionwasignorantofearthquakeandpestilence；theemperor'sthronewasturnedtowardstheEast，andagoldenwolfonthetopofaspearseemedtoguardtheentranceofhistent。OneofthesuccessorsofBertezenawastemptedbytheluxuryandsuperstitionofChina；buthisdesignofbuildingcitiesandtempleswasdefeatedbythesimplewisdomofaBarbariancounsellor。"TheTurks，"hesaid，"arenotequalinnumbertoonehundredthpartoftheinhabitantsofChina。Ifwebalancetheirpower，andeludetheirarmies，itisbecausewewanderwithoutanyfixedhabitationsintheexerciseofwarandhunting。
　　Arewestrong?weadvanceandconquer:arewefeeble?weretireandareconcealed。ShouldtheTurksconfinethemselveswithinthewallsofcities，thelossofabattlewouldbethedestructionoftheirempire。Thebonzespreachonlypatience，humility，andtherenunciationoftheworld。Such，Oking!isnotthereligionofheroes。"Theyentertained，withlessreluctance，thedoctrinesofZoroaster；butthegreatestpartofthenationacquiesced，withoutinquiry，intheopinions，orratherinthepractice，oftheirancestors。Thehonorsofsacrificewerereservedforthesupremedeity；theyacknowledged，inrudehymns，theirobligationstotheair，thefire，thewater，andtheearth；andtheirpriestsderivedsomeprofitfromtheartofdivination。Theirunwrittenlawswererigorousandimpartial:
　　theftwaspunishedwithatenfoldrestitution；adultery，treason，andmurder，withdeath；andnochastisementcouldbeinflictedtooseverefortherareandinexpiableguiltofcowardice。AsthesubjectnationsmarchedunderthestandardoftheTurks，theircavalry，bothmenandhorses，wereproudlycomputedbymillions；
　　oneoftheireffectivearmiesconsistedoffourhundredthousandsoldiers，andinlessthanfiftyyearstheywereconnectedinpeaceandwarwiththeRomans，thePersians，andtheChinese。Intheirnorthernlimits，somevestigemaybediscoveredoftheformandsituationofKamptchatka，ofapeopleofhuntersandfishermen，whosesledgesweredrawnbydogs，andwhosehabitationswereburiedintheearth。TheTurkswereignorantofastronomy；buttheobservationtakenbysomelearnedChinese，withagnomonofeightfeet，fixestheroyalcampinthelatitudeofforty—ninedegrees，andmarkstheirextremeprogresswithinthree，oratleasttendegrees，ofthepolarcircle。^27AmongtheirsouthernconqueststhemostsplendidwasthatoftheNephthalites，orwhiteHuns，apoliteandwarlikepeople，whopossessedthecommercialcitiesofBocharaandSamarcand，whohadvanquishedthePersianmonarch，andcarriedtheirvictoriousarmsalongthebanks，andperhapstothemouth，oftheIndus。OnthesideoftheWest，theTurkishcavalryadvancedtotheLakeMaeotis。Theypassedthatlakeontheice。ThekhanwhodweltatthefootofMountAltaiissuedhiscommandsforthesiegeofBosphorus，^28acitythevoluntarysubjectofRome，andwhoseprinceshadformerlybeenthefriendsofAthens。^29Totheeast，theTurksinvadedChina，asoftenasthevigorofthegovernmentwasrelaxed:andIamtaughttoreadinthehistoryofthetimes，thattheymoweddowntheirpatientenemieslikehemporgrass；
　　andthatthemandarinsapplaudedthewisdomofanemperorwhorepulsedtheseBarbarianswithgoldenlances。ThisextentofsavageempirecompelledtheTurkishmonarchtoestablishthreesubordinateprincesofhisownblood，whosoonforgottheirgratitudeandallegiance。Theconquerorswereenervatedbyluxury，whichisalwaysfatalexcepttoanindustriouspeople；
　　thepolicyofChinasolicitedthevanquishednationstoresumetheirindependenceandthepoweroftheTurkswaslimitedtoaperiodoftwohundredyears。TherevivaloftheirnameanddominioninthesoutherncountriesofAsiaaretheeventsofalaterage；andthedynasties，whichsucceededtotheirnativerealms，maysleepinoblivion；sincetheirhistorybearsnorelationtothedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire。^30
　　[Footnote*:ItmustberememberedthatthenameofTurksisextendedtoawholefamilyoftheAsiaticraces，andnotconfinedtotheAssena，orTurksoftheAltai。—M。]
　　[Footnote!:Assenathewolfwasthenameofthischief。
　　Klaproth，Tabl。Hist。del'Asiep。114。—M。]
　　[Footnote23:FromCaftoCaf；whichamorerationalgeographywouldinterpret，fromImaus，perhaps，toMountAtlas。AccordingtothereligiousphilosophyoftheMahometans，thebasisofMountCafisanemerald，whosereflectionproducestheazureofthesky。Themountainisendowedwithasensitiveactioninitsrootsornerves；andtheirvibration，atthecommandofGod，isthecauseofearthquakes。D'Herbelot，p。230，231。]
　　[Footnote!!:Altai，i。e。AltunTagh，theGoldenMountain。VonHammerOsmanGeschichte，vol。i。p。2。—M。]
　　[Footnote24:TheSiberianironisthebestandmostplentifulintheworld；andinthesouthernparts，abovesixtyminesarenowworkedbytheindustryoftheRussians，Strahlenberg，Hist。ofSiberia，p。342，387。VoyageenSiberie，parl'AbbeChapped'Auteroche，p。603—608，editin12mo。Amsterdam。1770。TheTurksofferedironforsale；yettheRomanambassadors，withstrangeobstinacy，persistedinbelievingthatitwasallatrick，andthattheircountryproducednone，MenanderinExcerpt。Leg。p。152。]
　　[Footnote25:OfIrgana—kon，AbulghaziKhan，Hist。GenealogiquedesTatars，Pii。c。5，p。71—77，c。15，p。155。ThetraditionoftheMoguls，ofthe450yearswhichtheypassedinthemountains，agreeswiththeChineseperiodsofthehistoryoftheHunsandTurks，DeGuignes，tom。i。partii。p。376，andthetwentygenerations，fromtheirrestorationtoZingis。]
　　[Footnote*:TheMongolTemuginisalso，thougherroneously，explainedbyRubruquis，asmith。Schmidt，p876。—M。]
　　[Footnote!!!:Thereappearsthesameconfusionhere。BertezenaBerte—SchenoisclaimedasthefounderoftheMongolrace。Thenamemeansthegrayblaulichewolf。Infact，thesametraditionoftheoriginfromawolfseemscommontotheMongolsandtheTurks。TheMongolBerte—Scheno，oftheverycuriousMongolHistory，publishedandtranslatedbyM。SchmidtofPetersburg，isbroughtfromThibet。M。SchmidtconsidersthistraditionoftheThibetanedescentoftheroyalraceoftheMongolstobemuchearlierthantheirconversiontoLamaism，yetitseemsverysuspicious。SeeKlaproth，Tabl。del'Asie，p。159。
　　TheTurkishBertezenaiscalledThou—menbyKlaproth，p。115。In552，Thou—mentookthetitleofKha—Khan，andwascalledIlKhan。
　　—M。]
　　[Footnote*:GreatBuchariaiscalledTurkistan:seeHammer，2。
　　ItincludesallthelaststeppesatthefootoftheAltai。ThenameisthesamewiththatoftheTuranofPersianpoeticlegend。
　　—M。]