theirappetitewasstimulatedbythepepperandcinnamonofIndia；^25theannualsubsidyortributewasraisedfromfourscoretoonehundredandtwentythousandpiecesofgold；andaftereachhostileinterruption，thepaymentofthearrears，withexorbitantinterest，wasalwaysmadethefirstconditionofthenewtreaty。InthelanguageofaBarbarian，withoutguile，theprinceoftheAvarsaffectedtocomplainoftheinsincerityoftheGreeks；^26yethewasnotinferiortothemostcivilizednationsintherefinementofdissimulationandperfidy。AsthesuccessoroftheLombards，thechaganassertedhisclaimtotheimportantcityofSirmium，theancientbulwarkoftheIllyrianprovinces。^27TheplainsoftheLowerHungarywerecoveredwiththeAvarhorseandafleetoflargeboatswasbuiltintheHercynianwood，todescendtheDanube，andtotransportintotheSavethematerialsofabridge。ButasthestronggarrisonofSingidunum，whichcommandedtheconfluxofthetworivers，mighthavestoppedtheirpassageandbaffledhisdesigns，hedispelledtheirapprehensionsbyasolemnoaththathisviewswerenothostiletotheempire。Hesworebyhissword，thesymbolofthegodofwar，thathedidnot，astheenemyofRome，constructabridgeupontheSave。"IfIviolatemyoath，"pursuedtheintrepidBaian，"mayImyself，andthelastofmynation，perishbythesword!Maytheheavens，andfire，thedeityoftheheavens，falluponourheads!Maytheforestsandmountainsburyusintheirruins!andtheSavereturning，againstthelawsofnature，tohissource，overwhelmusinhisangrywaters!"Afterthisbarbarousimprecation，hecalmlyinquired，whatoathwasmostsacredandvenerableamongtheChristians，whatguiltorperjuryitwasmostdangeroustoincur。ThebishopofSingidunumpresentedthegospel，whichthechaganreceivedwithdevoutreverence。"Iswear，"saidhe，"bytheGodwhohasspokeninthisholybook，thatIhaveneitherfalsehoodonmytongue，nortreacheryinmyheart。"Assoonasherosefromhisknees，heacceleratedthelaborofthebridge，anddespatchedanenvoytoproclaimwhathenolongerwishedtoconceal。"Informtheemperor，"saidtheperfidiousBaian，"thatSirmiumisinvestedoneveryside。Advisehisprudencetowithdrawthecitizensandtheireffects，andtoresignacitywhichitisnowimpossibletorelieveordefend。"Withoutthehopeofrelief，thedefenceofSirmiumwasprolongedabovethreeyears:thewallswerestilluntouched；butfaminewasenclosedwithinthewalls，tillamercifulcapitulationallowedtheescapeofthenakedandhungryinhabitants。Singidunum，atthedistanceoffiftymiles，experiencedamorecruelfate:thebuildingswererazed，andthevanquishedpeoplewascondemnedtoservitudeandexile。YettheruinsofSirmiumarenolongervisible；theadvantageoussituationofSingidunumsoonattractedanewcolonyofSclavonians，andtheconfluxoftheSaveandDanubeisstillguardedbythefortificationsofBelgrade，ortheWhiteCity，sooftenandsoobstinatelydisputedbytheChristianandTurkisharms。^28FromBelgradetothewallsofConstantinoplealinemaybemeasuredofsixhundredmiles:thatlinewasmarkedwithflamesandwithblood；thehorsesoftheAvarswerealternatelybathedintheEuxineandtheAdriatic；andtheRomanpontiff，alarmedbytheapproachofamoresavageenemy，^29wasreducedtocherishtheLombards，astheprotectorsofItaly。Thedespairofacaptive，whomhiscountryrefusedtoransom，disclosedtotheAvarstheinventionandpracticeofmilitaryengines。^30Butinthefirstattemptstheywererudelyframed，andawkwardlymanaged；andtheresistanceofDiocletianopolisandBeraea，ofPhilippopolisandAdrianople，soonexhaustedtheskillandpatienceofthebesiegers。ThewarfareofBaianwasthatofaTartar；yethismindwassusceptibleofahumaneandgeneroussentiment:hesparedAnchialus，whosesalutarywatershadrestoredthehealthofthebestbelovedofhiswives；andtheRomansconfessed，thattheirstarvingarmywasfedanddismissedbytheliberalityofafoe。HisempireextendedoverHungary，Poland，andPrussia，fromthemouthoftheDanubetothatoftheOder；^31andhisnewsubjectsweredividedandtransplantedbythejealouspolicyoftheconqueror。^32TheeasternregionsofGermany，whichhadbeenleftvacantbytheemigrationoftheVandals，werereplenishedwithSclavoniancolonists；thesametribesarediscoveredintheneighborhoodoftheAdriaticandoftheBaltic，andwiththenameofBaianhimself，theIllyriancitiesofNeyssandLissaareagainfoundintheheartofSilesia。Inthedispositionbothofhistroopsandprovincesthechaganexposedthevassals，whoseliveshedisregarded，^33tothefirstassault；andtheswordsoftheenemywerebluntedbeforetheyencounteredthenativevaloroftheAvars。
[Footnote23:AgeneralideaoftheprideandpowerofthechaganmaybetakenfromMenanderExcerpt。Legat。p。118，&c。andTheophylact，l。i。c。3，l。vii。c。15，whoseeightbooksaremuchmorehonorabletotheAvarthantotheRomanprince。ThepredecessorsofBaianhadtastedtheliberalityofRome，andhesurvivedthereignofMaurice，Buat，Hist。desPeuplesBarbares，tom。xi。p。545。ThechaganwhoinvadedItaly，A。D。611，Muratori，Annali，tom。v。p。305，wastheninveniliaetateflorentem，PaulWarnefrid，deGest。Langobard。lvc38，theson，perhaps，orthegrandson，ofBaian。]
[Footnote24:Theophylact，l。i。c。5，6。]
[Footnote25:Eveninthefield，thechagandelightedintheuseofthesearomatics。Hesolicited，asagift，andreceived。
Theophylact，l。vii。c。13。TheEuropeansoftheruderagesconsumedmorespicesintheirmeatanddrinkthaniscompatiblewiththedelicacyofamodernpalate。ViePriveedesFrancois，tom。ii。p。162，163。]
[Footnote26:Theophylact，l。vi。c。6，l。vii。c。15。TheGreekhistorianconfessesthetruthandjusticeofhisreproach]
[Footnote27:MenanderinExcerpt。Legat。p。126—132，174，175describestheperjuryofBaianandthesurrenderofSirmium。
Wehavelosthisaccountofthesiege，whichiscommendedbyTheophylact，l。i。c。3。
Note:ComparethroughoutSchlozerNordischeGeschichte，p。
362—373—M。]
[Footnote28:SeeD'Anville，intheMemoiresdel'Acad。desInscriptions，tom。xxviii。p。412—443。TheSclavonicnameofBelgradeismentionedinthexthcenturybyConstantinePorphyrogenitus:theLatinappellationofAlbaCroecaisusedbytheFranksinthebeginningoftheixth，p。414。]
[Footnote29:Baron。Annal。Eccles。A。B。600，No。1。PaulWarnefridl。iv。c。38relatestheirirruptionintoFriuli，andc。39thecaptivityofhisancestors，aboutA。D。632。TheSclavitraversedtheAdriaticcummultitudinenavium，andmadeadescentintheterritoryofSipontum，c。47。]
[Footnote30:Eventhehelepolis，ormovableturret。
Theophylact，l。ii。16，17。]
[Footnote31:Thearmsandalliancesofthechaganreachedtotheneighborhoodofawesternsea，fifteenmonths'journeyfromConstantinople。TheemperorMauriceconversedwithsomeitinerantharpersfromthatremotecountry，andonlyseemstohavemistakenatradeforanationTheophylact，l。vi。c。2。]
[Footnote32:ThisisoneofthemostprobableandluminousconjecturesofthelearnedcountdeBuat，Hist。desPeuplesBarbares，tom。xi。p。546—568。TheTzechiandSerbiarefoundtogethernearMountCaucasus，inIllyricum，andonthelowerElbe。EventhewildesttraditionsoftheBohemians，&c。，affordsomecolortohishypothesis。]
[Footnote33:SeeFredegarius，intheHistoriansofFrance，tom。
ii。p。432。Baiandidnotconcealhisproudinsensibility。]
ThePersianalliancerestoredthetroopsoftheEasttothedefenceofEurope:andMaurice，whohadsupportedtenyearstheinsolenceofthechagan，declaredhisresolutiontomarchinpersonagainsttheBarbarians。Inthespaceoftwocenturies，noneofthesuccessorsofTheodosiushadappearedinthefield:
theirlivesweresupinelyspentinthepalaceofConstantinople；
andtheGreekscouldnolongerunderstand，thatthenameofemperor，initsprimitivesense，denotedthechiefofthearmiesoftherepublic。ThemartialardorofMauricewasopposedbythegraveflatteryofthesenate，thetimidsuperstitionofthepatriarch，andthetearsoftheempressConstantina；andtheyallconjuredhimtodevolveonsomemeanergeneralthefatiguesandperilsofaScythiancampaign。Deaftotheiradviceandentreaty，theemperorboldlyadvanced^34sevenmilesfromthecapital；thesacredensignofthecrosswasdisplayedinthefront；andMauricereviewed，withconsciouspride，thearmsandnumbersoftheveteranswhohadfoughtandconqueredbeyondtheTigris。Anchialuswasthelasttermofhisprogressbyseaandland；hesolicited，withoutsuccess，amiraculousanswertohisnocturnalprayers；hismindwasconfoundedbythedeathofafavoritehorse，theencounterofawildboar，astormofwindandrain，andthebirthofamonstrouschild；andheforgotthatthebestofomensistounsheatheourswordinthedefenceofourcountry。^35UnderthepretenceofreceivingtheambassadorsofPersia，theemperorreturnedtoConstantinople，exchangedthethoughtsofwarforthoseofdevotion，anddisappointedthepublichopebyhisabsenceandthechoiceofhislieutenants。
TheblindpartialityoffraternallovemightexcusethepromotionofhisbrotherPeter，whofledwithequaldisgracefromtheBarbarians，fromhisownsoldiersandfromtheinhabitantsofaRomancity。Thatcity，ifwemaycredittheresemblanceofnameandcharacter，wasthefamousAzimuntium，^36whichhadalonerepelledthetempestofAttila。Theexampleofherwarlikeyouthwaspropagatedtosucceedinggenerations；andtheyobtained，fromthefirstorthesecondJustin，anhonorableprivilege，thattheirvalorshouldbealwaysreservedforthedefenceoftheirnativecountry。ThebrotherofMauriceattemptedtoviolatethisprivilege，andtomingleapatriotbandwiththemercenariesofhiscamp；theyretiredtothechurch，hewasnotawedbythesanctityoftheplace；thepeopleroseintheircause，thegateswereshut，therampartsweremanned；andthecowardiceofPeterwasfoundequaltohisarroganceandinjustice。ThemilitaryfameofCommentiolus^37istheobjectofsatireorcomedyratherthanofserioushistory，sincehewasevendeficientinthevileandvulgarqualificationofpersonalcourage。Hissolemncouncils，strangeevolutions，andsecretorders，alwayssuppliedanapologyforflightordelay。Ifhemarchedagainsttheenemy，thepleasantvalleysofMountHaemusopposedaninsuperablebarrier；butinhisretreat，heexplored，withfearlesscuriosity，themostdifficultandobsoletepaths，whichhadalmostescapedthememoryoftheoldestnative。Theonlybloodwhichhelostwasdrawn，inarealoraffectedmalady，bythelancetofasurgeon；andhishealth，whichfeltwithexquisitesensibilitytheapproachoftheBarbarians，wasuniformlyrestoredbythereposeandsafetyofthewinterseason。AprincewhocouldpromoteandsupportthisunworthyfavoritemustderivenogloryfromtheaccidentalmeritofhiscolleaguePriscus。^38
Infivesuccessivebattles，whichseemtohavebeenconductedwithskillandresolution，seventeenthousandtwohundredBarbariansweremadeprisoners:nearsixtythousand，withfoursonsofthechagan，wereslain:theRomangeneralsurprisedapeacefuldistrictoftheGepidae，whosleptundertheprotectionoftheAvars；andhislasttrophieswereerectedonthebanksoftheDanubeandtheTeyss。SincethedeathofTrajanthearmsoftheempirehadnotpenetratedsodeeplyintotheoldDacia:yetthesuccessofPriscuswastransientandbarren；andhewassoonrecalledbytheapprehensionthatBaian，withdauntlessspiritandrecruitedforces，waspreparingtoavengehisdefeatunderthewallsofConstantinople。^39
[Footnote34:SeethemarchandreturnofMaurice，inTheophylact，l。v。c。16l。vi。c。1，2，3。Ifhewereawriteroftasteorgenius，wemightsuspecthimofanelegantirony:butTheophylactissurelyharmless。]
[Footnote35:Iliad，xii。243。Thisnobleverse，whichunitesthespiritofaherowiththereasonofasage，mayprovethatHomerwasineverylightsuperiortohisageandcountry。]
[Footnote36:Theophylact，l。vii。c。3。Ontheevidenceofthisfact，whichhadnotoccurredtomymemory，thecandidreaderwillcorrectandexcuseanoteinChapterXXXIV。，note86ofthisHistory，whichhastensthedecayofAsimus，orAzimuntium；
anothercenturyofpatriotismandvalorischeaplypurchasedbysuchaconfession。]
[Footnote37:SeetheshamefulconductofCommentiolus，inTheophylact，l。ii。c。10—15，l。vii。c。13，14，l。viii。c。2，4。]
[Footnote38:SeetheexploitsofPriscus，l。viii。c。23。]
[Footnote39:ThegeneraldetailofthewaragainsttheAvarsmaybetracedinthefirst，second，sixth，seventh，andeighthbooksofthehistoryoftheemperorMaurice，byTheophylactSimocatta。
AshewroteinthereignofHeraclius，hehadnotemptationtoflatter；buthiswantofjudgmentrendershimdiffuseintrifles，andconciseinthemostinterestingfacts。]
ThetheoryofwarwasnotmorefamiliartothecampsofCaesarandTrajan，thantothoseofJustinianandMaurice。^40
TheironofTuscanyorPontusstillreceivedthekeenesttemperfromtheskilloftheByzantineworkmen。Themagazineswereplentifullystoredwitheveryspeciesofoffensiveanddefensivearms。Intheconstructionanduseofships，engines，andfortifications，theBarbariansadmiredthesuperioringenuityofapeoplewhomtheyhadsooftenvanquishedinthefield。Thescienceoftactics，theorder，evolutions，andstratagemsofantiquity，wastranscribedandstudiedinthebooksoftheGreeksandRomans。Butthesolitudeordegeneracyoftheprovincescouldnolongersupplyaraceofmentohandlethoseweapons，toguardthosewalls，tonavigatethoseships，andtoreducethetheoryofwarintoboldandsuccessfulpractice。ThegeniusofBelisariusandNarseshadbeenformedwithoutamaster，andexpiredwithoutadiscipleNeitherhonor，norpatriotism，norgeneroussuperstition，couldanimatethelifelessbodiesofslavesandstrangers，whohadsucceededtothehonorsofthelegions:itwasinthecampalonethattheemperorshouldhaveexercisedadespoticcommand；itwasonlyinthecampsthathisauthoritywasdisobeyedandinsulted:heappeasedandinflamedwithgoldthelicentiousnessofthetroops；buttheirviceswereinherent，theirvictorieswereaccidental，andtheircostlymaintenanceexhaustedthesubstanceofastatewhichtheywereunabletodefend。Afteralongandperniciousindulgence，thecureofthisinveterateevilwasundertakenbyMaurice；buttherashattempt，whichdrewdestructiononhisownhead，tendedonlytoaggravatethedisease。Areformershouldbeexemptfromthesuspicionofinterest，andhemustpossesstheconfidenceandesteemofthosewhomheproposestoreclaim。ThetroopsofMauricemightlistentothevoiceofavictoriousleader；theydisdainedtheadmonitionsofstatesmenandsophists；and，whentheyreceivedanedictwhichdeductedfromtheirpaythepriceoftheirarmsandclothing，theyexecratedtheavariceofaprinceinsensibleofthedangersandfatiguesfromwhichhehadescaped。
ThecampsbothofAsiaandEuropewereagitatedwithfrequentandfuriousseditions；^41theenragedsoldiersofEdessapursuedwithreproaches，withthreats，withwounds，theirtremblinggenerals；theyoverturnedthestatuesoftheemperor，caststonesagainstthemiraculousimageofChrist，andeitherrejectedtheyokeofallcivilandmilitarylaws，orinstitutedadangerousmodelofvoluntarysubordination。Themonarch，alwaysdistantandoftendeceived，wasincapableofyieldingorpersisting，accordingtotheexigenceofthemoment。Butthefearofageneralrevoltinducedhimtooreadilytoacceptanyactofvalor，oranyexpressionofloyalty，asanatonementforthepopularoffence；thenewreformwasabolishedashastilyasithadbeenannounced，andthetroops，insteadofpunishmentandrestraint，wereagreeablysurprisedbyagraciousproclamationofimmunitiesandrewards。Butthesoldiersacceptedwithoutgratitudethetardyandreluctantgiftsoftheemperor:theirinsolencewaselatedbythediscoveryofhisweaknessandtheirownstrength；andtheirmutualhatredwasinflamedbeyondthedesireofforgivenessorthehopeofreconciliation。Thehistoriansofthetimesadoptthevulgarsuspicion，thatMauriceconspiredtodestroythetroopswhomhehadlaboredtoreform；
themisconductandfavorofCommentiolusareimputedtothismalevolentdesign；andeveryagemustcondemntheinhumanityofavarice^42ofaprince，who，bythetriflingransomofsixthousandpiecesofgold，mighthavepreventedthemassacreoftwelvethousandprisonersinthehandsofthechagan。Inthejustfervorofindignation，anorderwassignifiedtothearmyoftheDanube，thattheyshouldsparethemagazinesoftheprovince，andestablishtheirwinterquartersinthehostilecountryoftheAvars。Themeasureoftheirgrievanceswasfull:theypronouncedMauriceunworthytoreign，expelledorslaughteredhisfaithfuladherents，and，underthecommandofPhocas，asimplecenturion，returnedbyhastymarchestotheneighborhoodofConstantinople。
Afteralongseriesoflegalsuccession，themilitarydisordersofthethirdcenturywereagainrevived；yetsuchwasthenoveltyoftheenterprise，thattheinsurgentswereawedbytheirownrashness。Theyhesitatedtoinvesttheirfavoritewiththevacantpurple；and，whiletheyrejectedalltreatywithMauricehimself，theyheldafriendlycorrespondencewithhissonTheodosius，andwithGermanus，thefather—in—lawoftheroyalyouth。SoobscurehadbeentheformerconditionofPhocas，thattheemperorwasignorantofthenameandcharacterofhisrival；
butassoonashelearned，thatthecenturion，thoughboldinsedition，wastimidinthefaceofdanger，"Alas!"criedthedespondingprince，"ifheisacoward，hewillsurelybeamurderer。"
[Footnote40:Mauricehimselfcomposedxiibooksonthemilitaryart，whicharestillextant，andhavebeenpublishedUpsal，1664byJohnSchaeffer，attheendoftheTacticsofArrian，Fabricius，BibliotGraeca，l。iv。c。8，tom。iii。p。278，whopromisestospeakmorefullyofhisworkinitsproperplace。]
[Footnote41:SeethemutiniesunderthereignofMaurice，inTheophylactliiic。1—4，。vi。c。7，8，10，l。vii。c。1l。
viii。c。6，&c。]
[Footnote42:TheophylactandTheophanesseemignorantoftheconspiracyandavariceofMaurice。Thesecharges，sounfavorabletothememoryofthatemperor，arefirstmentionedbytheauthorofthePaschalChronicle，p。379，280；fromwhenceZonarastom。ii。l。xiv。p。77，78hastranscribedthem。Cedrenusp。
399hasfollowedanothercomputationoftheransom。]