[Footnote118:SeethetreatiseofConringius，deFinibusImperiiGermanici，Francofurt。1680，in4to。:herejectstheextravagantandimproperscaleoftheRomanandCarlovingianempires，anddiscusseswithmoderationtherightsofGermany，hervassals，andherneighbors。]
[Footnote119:ThepowerofcustomforcesmetonumberConradI。
andHenryI。，theFowler，inthelistofemperors，atitlewhichwasneverassumedbythosekingsofGermany。TheItalians，Muratoriforinstance，aremorescrupulousandcorrect，andonlyreckontheprinceswhohavebeencrownedatRome。]
TheImperialdignityofCharlemagnewasannouncedtotheEastbythealterationofhisstyle；andinsteadofsalutinghisfathers，theGreekemperors，hepresumedtoadoptthemoreequalandfamiliarappellationofbrother。^120PerhapsinhisconnectionwithIreneheaspiredtothenameofhusband:hisembassytoConstantinoplespokethelanguageofpeaceandfriendship，andmightconcealatreatyofmarriagewiththatambitiousprincess，whohadrenouncedthemostsacreddutiesofamother。Thenature，theduration，theprobableconsequencesofsuchaunionbetweentwodistantanddissonantempires，itisimpossibletoconjecture；buttheunanimoussilenceoftheLatinsmayteachustosuspect，thatthereportwasinventedbytheenemiesofIrene，tochargeherwiththeguiltofbetrayingthechurchandstatetothestrangersoftheWest。^121TheFrenchambassadorswerethespectators，andhadnearlybeenthevictims，oftheconspiracyofNicephorus，andthenationalhatred。
ConstantinoplewasexasperatedbythetreasonandsacrilegeofancientRome:aproverb，"ThattheFranksweregoodfriendsandbadneighbors，"wasineveryone'smouth；butitwasdangeroustoprovokeaneighborwhomightbetemptedtoreiterate，inthechurchofSt。Sophia，theceremonyofhisImperialcoronation。
Afteratediousjourneyofcircuitanddelay，theambassadorsofNicephorusfoundhiminhiscamp，onthebanksoftheRiverSala；
andCharlemagneaffectedtoconfoundtheirvanitybydisplaying，inaFranconianvillage，thepomp，oratleastthepride，oftheByzantinepalace。^122TheGreeksweresuccessivelyledthroughfourhallsofaudience:inthefirsttheywerereadytofallprostratebeforeasplendidpersonageinachairofstate，tillheinformedthemthathewasonlyaservant，theconstable，ormasterofthehorse，oftheemperor。Thesamemistake，andthesameanswer，wererepeatedintheapartmentsofthecountpalatine，thesteward，andthechamberlain；andtheirimpatiencewasgraduallyheightened，tillthedoorsofthepresence—chamberwerethrownopen，andtheybeheldthegenuinemonarch，onhisthrone，enrichedwiththeforeignluxurywhichhedespised，andencircledwiththeloveandreverenceofhisvictoriouschiefs。
Atreatyofpeaceandalliancewasconcludedbetweenthetwoempires，andthelimitsoftheEastandWestweredefinedbytherightofpresentpossession。ButtheGreeks^123soonforgotthishumiliatingequality，orremembereditonlytohatetheBarbariansbywhomitwasextorted。Duringtheshortunionofvirtueandpower，theyrespectfullysalutedtheaugustCharlemagne，withtheacclamationsofbasileus，andemperoroftheRomans。Assoonasthesequalitieswereseparatedinthepersonofhispiousson，theByzantineletterswereinscribed，"Totheking，or，ashestyleshimself，theemperoroftheFranksandLombards。"Whenbothpowerandvirtuewereextinct，theydespoiledLewistheSecondofhishereditarytitle，andwiththebarbarousappellationofrexorrega，degradedhimamongthecrowdofLatinprinces。Hisreply^124isexpressiveofhisweakness:heproves，withsomelearning，that，bothinsacredandprofanehistory，thenameofkingissynonymouswiththeGreekwordbasileus:if，atConstantinople，itwereassumedinamoreexclusiveandimperialsense，heclaimsfromhisancestors，andfromthepopes，ajustparticipationofthehonorsoftheRomanpurple。ThesamecontroversywasrevivedinthereignoftheOthos；andtheirambassadordescribes，inlivelycolors，theinsolenceoftheByzantinecourt。^125TheGreeksaffectedtodespisethepovertyandignoranceoftheFranksandSaxons；andintheirlastdeclinerefusedtoprostitutetothekingsofGermanythetitleofRomanemperors。
[Footnote120:InvidiamtamensusceptinominisC。P。
imperatoribussuperhocindignantibusmagnatulitpatientia，vicitqueeorumcontumaciam……mittendoadeoscrebraslegationes，etinepistolisfratreseosappellando。Eginhard，c。
28，p。128。Perhapsitwasontheiraccountthat，likeAugustus，heaffectedsomereluctancetoreceivetheempire。]
[Footnote121:TheophanesspeaksofthecoronationandunctionofCharlesChronograph。p。399，andofhistreatyofmarriagewithIrene，p。402，whichisunknowntotheLatins。GaillardrelateshistransactionswiththeGreekempire，tom。ii。p。446
—468。]
[Footnote122:Gaillardveryproperlyobserves，thatthispageantwasafarcesuitabletochildrenonly；butthatitwasindeedrepresentedinthepresence，andforthebenefit，ofchildrenofalargergrowth。]
[Footnote123:Compare，intheoriginaltextscollectedbyPagi，tom。iii。A。D。812，No。7，A。D。824，No。10，&c。，thecontrastofCharlemagneandhisson；totheformertheambassadorsofMichaelwhowereindeeddisavowedmoresuo，idestlinguaGraecalaudesdixerunt，imperatoremeumetappellantes；tothelatter，VocatoimperatoriFrancorum，&c。]
[Footnote124:Seetheepistle，inParalipomena，oftheanonymouswriterofSalerno，Script。Ital。tom。ii。parsii。p。243—254，c。93—107，whomBaroniusA。D。871，No。51—71mistookforErchempert，whenhetranscribeditinhisAnnals。]
[Footnote125:Ipseenimvos，nonimperatorem，idestsualingua，sedobindignationem，idestregemnostravocabat，Liutprand，inLegat。inScript。Ital。tom。ii。parsi。p。479。ThepopehadexhortedNicephorus，emperoroftheGreeks，tomakepeacewithOtho，theaugustemperoroftheRomans—quaeinscriptiosecundumGraecospeccatoriaettemeraria……imperatoreminquiunt，universalem，Romanorum，Augustum，magnum，solum，Nicephorum，p。
486。]
Theseemperors，intheelectionofthepopes，continuedtoexercisethepowerswhichhadbeenassumedbytheGothicandGrecianprinces；andtheimportanceofthisprerogativeincreasedwiththetemporalestateandspiritualjurisdictionoftheRomanchurch。IntheChristianaristocracy，theprincipalmembersoftheclergystillformedasenatetoassisttheadministration，andtosupplythevacancy，ofthebishop。Romewasdividedintotwenty—eightparishes，andeachparishwasgovernedbyacardinalpriest，orpresbyter，atitlewhich，howevercommonormodestinitsorigin，hasaspiredtoemulatethepurpleofkings。Theirnumberwasenlargedbytheassociationofthesevendeaconsofthemostconsiderablehospitals，thesevenpalatinejudgesoftheLateran，andsomedignitariesofthechurch。Thisecclesiasticalsenatewasdirectedbythesevencardinal—bishopsoftheRomanprovince，whowerelessoccupiedinthesuburbdiocesesofOstia，Porto，Velitrae，Tusculum，Praeneste，Tibur，andtheSabines，thanbytheirweeklyserviceintheLateran，andtheirsuperiorshareinthehonorsandauthorityoftheapostolicsee。Onthedeathofthepope，thesebishopsrecommendedasuccessortothesuffrageofthecollegeofcardinals，^126andtheirchoicewasratifiedorrejectedbytheapplauseorclamoroftheRomanpeople。Buttheelectionwasimperfect；norcouldthepontiffbelegallyconsecratedtilltheemperor，theadvocateofthechurch，hadgraciouslysignifiedhisapprobationandconsent。Theroyalcommissionerexamined，onthespot，theformandfreedomoftheproceedings；norwasittillafterapreviousscrutinyintothequalificationsofthecandidates，thatheacceptedanoathoffidelity，andconfirmedthedonationswhichhadsuccessivelyenrichedthepatrimonyofSt。Peter。Inthefrequentschisms，therivalclaimsweresubmittedtothesentenceoftheemperor；
andinasynodofbishopshepresumedtojudge，tocondemn，andtopunish，thecrimesofaguiltypontiff。OthotheFirstimposedatreatyonthesenateandpeople，whoengagedtopreferthecandidatemostacceptabletohismajesty:^127hissuccessorsanticipatedorpreventedtheirchoice:theybestowedtheRomanbenefice，likethebishopricsofCologneorBamberg，ontheirchancellorsorpreceptors；andwhatevermightbethemeritofaFrankorSaxon，hisnamesufficientlyatteststheinterpositionofforeignpower。Theseactsofprerogativeweremostspeciouslyexcusedbythevicesofapopularelection。Thecompetitorwhohadbeenexcludedbythecardinalsappealedtothepassionsoravariceofthemultitude；theVaticanandtheLateranwerestainedwithblood；andthemostpowerfulsenators，themarquisesofTuscanyandthecountsofTusculum，heldtheapostolicseeinalonganddisgracefulservitude。TheRomanpontiffs，oftheninthandtenthcenturies，wereinsulted，imprisoned，andmurdered，bytheirtyrants；andsuchwastheirindigence，afterthelossandusurpationoftheecclesiasticalpatrimonies，thattheycouldneithersupportthestateofaprince，norexercisethecharityofapriest。^128Theinfluenceoftwosisterprostitutes，MaroziaandTheodora，wasfoundedontheirwealthandbeauty，theirpoliticalandamorousintrigues:themoststrenuousoftheirloverswererewardedwiththeRomanmitre，andtheirreign^129mayhavesuggestedtothedarkerages^130thefable^131ofafemalepope。^132Thebastardson，thegrandson，andthegreat—grandsonofMarozia，araregenealogy，wereseatedinthechairofSt。Peter，anditwasattheageofnineteenyearsthatthesecondofthesebecametheheadoftheLatinchurch。Hisyouthandmanhoodwereofasuitablecomplexion；
andthenationsofpilgrimscouldbeartestimonytothechargesthatwereurgedagainsthiminaRomansynod，andinthepresenceofOthotheGreat。AsJohnXII。hadrenouncedthedressanddecenciesofhisprofession，thesoldiermaynotperhapsbedishonoredbythewinewhichhedrank，thebloodthathespilt，theflamesthathekindled，orthelicentiouspursuitsofgamingandhunting。Hisopensimonymightbetheconsequenceofdistress；andhisblasphemousinvocationofJupiterandVenus，ifitbetrue，couldnotpossiblybeserious。Butweread，withsomesurprise，thattheworthygrandsonofMarozialivedinpublicadulterywiththematronsofRome；thattheLateranpalacewasturnedintoaschoolforprostitution，andthathisrapesofvirginsandwidowshaddeterredthefemalepilgrimsfromvisitingthetombofSt。Peter，lest，inthedevoutact，theyshouldbeviolatedbyhissuccessor。^133TheProtestantshavedweltwithmaliciouspleasureonthesecharactersofAntichrist；buttoaphilosophiceye，thevicesoftheclergyarefarlessdangerousthantheirvirtues。Afteralongseriesofscandal，theapostolicseewasreformedandexaltedbytheausterityandzealofGregoryVII。Thatambitiousmonkdevotedhislifetotheexecutionoftwoprojects。I。Tofixinthecollegeofcardinalsthefreedomandindependenceofelection，andforevertoabolishtherightorusurpationoftheemperorsandtheRomanpeople。II。TobestowandresumetheWesternempireasafieforbenefice^134ofthechurch，andtoextendhistemporaldominionoverthekingsandkingdomsoftheearth。Afteracontestoffiftyyears，thefirstofthesedesignswasaccomplishedbythefirmsupportoftheecclesiasticalorder，whoselibertywasconnectedwiththatoftheirchief。Butthesecondattempt，thoughitwascrownedwithsomepartialandapparentsuccess，hasbeenvigorouslyresistedbythesecularpower，andfinallyextinguishedbytheimprovementofhumanreason。
[Footnote126:TheoriginandprogressofthetitleofcardinalmaybefoundinThemassin，Disciplinedel'Eglise，tom。i。p。
1261—1298，Muratori，Antiquitat。ItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。vi。
Dissert。lxi。p。159—182，andMosheim，Institut。Hist。
Eccles。p。345—347，whoaccuratelyremarkstheformandchangesoftheelection。Thecardinal—bishopssohighlyexaltedbyPeterDamianus，aresunktoalevelwiththerestofthesacredcollege。]
[Footnote127:Firmiterjurantes，nunquamsepapamelecturosautaudinaturos，praeterconsensumetelectionemOthonisetfiliisui。Liutprand，l。vi。c。6，p。472。ThisimportantconcessionmayeithersupplyorconfirmthedecreeoftheclergyandpeopleofRome，sofiercelyrejectedbyBaronius，Pagi，andMuratori，A。D。964，andsowelldefendedandexplainedbySt。Marc，Abrege，tom。ii。p。808—816，tom。iv。p。1167—1185。Consultthehistoricalcritic，andtheAnnalsofMuratori，forfortheelectionandconfirmationofeachpope。]
[Footnote128:TheoppressionandvicesoftheRomanchurch，inthexthcentury，arestronglypaintedinthehistoryandlegationofLiutprand，seep。440，450，471—476，479，&c。；anditiswhimsicalenoughtoobserveMuratoritemperingtheinvectivesofBaroniusagainstthepopes。Butthesepopeshadbeenchosen，notbythecardinals，butbylay—patrons。]
[Footnote129:ThetimeofPopeJoanpapissaJoannaisplacedsomewhatearlierthanTheodoraorMarozia；andthetwoyearsofherimaginaryreignareforciblyinsertedbetweenLeoIV。andBenedictIII。ButthecontemporaryAnastasiusindissolublylinksthedeathofLeoandtheelevationofBenedict，illico，mox，p。
247；andtheaccuratechronologyofPagi，Muratori，andLeibnitz，fixesbotheventstotheyear857。]
[Footnote130:TheadvocatesforPopeJoanproduceonehundredandfiftywitnesses，orratherechoes，ofthexivth，xvth，andxvithcenturies。Theybeartestimonyagainstthemselvesandthelegend，bymultiplyingtheproofthatsocuriousastorymusthavebeenrepeatedbywritersofeverydescriptiontowhomitwasknown。Onthoseoftheixthandxthcenturies，therecenteventwouldhaveflashedwithadoubleforce。WouldPhotiushavesparedsuchareproach?CouldLiutprandhavemissedsuchscandal?ItisscarcelyworthwhiletodiscussthevariousreadingsofMartinusPolonus，SigeberofGamblours，orevenMarianusScotus；butamostpalpableforgeryisthepassageofPopeJoan，whichhasbeenfoistedintosomeMss。andeditionsoftheRomanAnastasius。]
[Footnote131:Asfalse，itdeservesthatname；butIwouldnotpronounceitincredible。SupposeafamousFrenchchevalierofourowntimestohavebeenborninItaly，andeducatedinthechurch，insteadofthearmy:hermeritorfortunemighthaveraisedhertoSt。Peter'schair；heramourswouldhavebeennatural:herdeliveryinthestreetsunlucky，butnotimprobable。]
[Footnote132:Tillthereformationthetalewasrepeatedandbelievedwithoutoffence:andJoan'sfemalestatuelongoccupiedherplaceamongthepopesinthecathedralofSienna，Pagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。624—626。ShehasbeenannihilatedbytwolearnedProtestants，BlondelandBayle，DictionnaireCritique，Papesse，Polonus，Blondel；buttheirbrethrenwerescandalizedbythisequitableandgenerouscriticism。SpanheimandLenfantattempttosavethispoorengineofcontroversy，andevenMosheimcondescendstocherishsomedoubtandsuspicion，p。289。]
[Footnote*:JohnXI。wasthesonofherhusbandAlberic，notofherlover，PopeSergiusIII。，asMuratorihasdistinctlyproved，Ann。adann。911，tom。p。268。HergrandsonOctavian，otherwisecalledJohnXII。，waspope；butagreat—grandsoncannotbediscoveredinanyofthesucceedingpopes；nordoesourhistorianhimself，inhissubsequentnarration，p。202，seemtoknowofone。Hobhouse，IllustrationsofChildeHarold，p。309。—M。]
[Footnote133:Lateranensepalatium……prostibulummeretricum……Testisomniumgentium，praeterquamRomanorum，absentiamulierum，quaesanctorumapostolorumliminaorandigratiatimentvisere，cumnonnullasantediespaucos，huncaudierintconjugatas，viduas，virginesvioppressisse，Liutprand，Hist。l。
vi。c。6，p。471。SeethewholeaffairofJohuXII。，p。471—
476。]
[Footnote134:AnewexampleofthemischiefofequivocationisthebeneficiumDucange，tom。i。p。617，&c。，whichthepopeconferredontheemperorFredericI。，sincetheLatinwordmaysignifyeitheralegalfief，orasimplefavor，anobligation，wewantthewordbienfait。SeeSchmidt，Hist。desAllemands，tom。iii。p。393—408。Pfeffel，AbregeChronologique，tom。i。
p。229，296，317，324，420，430，500，505，509，&c。]
IntherevivaloftheempireofempireofRome，neitherthebishopnorthepeoplecouldbestowonCharlemagneorOthotheprovinceswhichwerelost，astheyhadbeenwon，bythechanceofarms。ButtheRomanswerefreetochooseamasterforthemselves；andthepowerswhichhadbeendelegatedtothepatrician，wereirrevocablygrantedtotheFrenchandSaxonemperorsoftheWest。Thebrokenrecordsofthetimes^135
preservesomeremembranceoftheirpalace，theirmint，theirtribunal，theiredicts，andtheswordofjustice，which，aslateasthethirteenthcentury，wasderivedfromCaesartothepraefectofthecity。^136Betweentheartsofthepopesandtheviolenceofthepeople，thissupremacywascrushedandannihilated。ContentwiththetitlesofemperorandAugustus，thesuccessorsofCharlemagneneglectedtoassertthislocaljurisdiction。Inthehourofprosperity，theirambitionwasdivertedbymorealluringobjects；andinthedecayanddivisionoftheempire，theywereoppressedbythedefenceoftheirhereditaryprovinces。AmidsttheruinsofItaly，thefamousMaroziainvitedoneoftheusurperstoassumethecharacterofherthirdhusband；andHugh，kingofBurgundywasintroducedbyherfactionintothemoleofHadrianorCastleofSt。Angelo，whichcommandstheprincipalbridgeandentranceofRome。Hersonbythefirstmarriage，Alberic，wascompelledtoattendatthenuptialbanquet；buthisreluctantandungracefulservicewaschastisedwithablowbyhisnewfather。Theblowwasproductiveofarevolution。"Romans，"exclaimedtheyouth，"onceyouwerethemastersoftheworld，andtheseBurgundiansthemostabjectofyourslaves。Theynowreign，thesevoraciousandbrutalsavages，andmyinjuryisthecommencementofyourservitude。"
^137Thealarumbellrangtoarmsineveryquarterofthecity:
theBurgundiansretreatedwithhasteandshame；Maroziawasimprisonedbyhervictoriousson，andhisbrother，PopeJohnXI。，wasreducedtotheexerciseofhisspiritualfunctions。Withthetitleofprince，AlbericpossessedabovetwentyyearsthegovernmentofRome；andheissaidtohavegratifiedthepopularprejudice，byrestoringtheoffice，oratleastthetitle，ofconsulsandtribunes。HissonandheirOctavianassumed，withthepontificate，thenameofJohnXII。:likehispredecessor，hewasprovokedbytheLombardprincestoseekadelivererforthechurchandrepublic；andtheservicesofOthowererewardedwiththeImperialdignity。ButtheSaxonwasimperious，theRomanswereimpatient，thefestivalofthecoronationwasdisturbedbythesecretconflictofprerogativeandfreedom，andOthocommandedhissword—bearernottostirfromhisperson，lestheshouldbeassaultedandmurderedatthefootofthealtar。^138
BeforeherepassedtheAlps，theemperorchastisedtherevoltofthepeopleandtheingratitudeofJohnXII。Thepopewasdegradedinasynod；thepraefectwasmountedonanass，whippedthroughthecity，andcastintoadungeon；thirteenofthemostguiltywerehanged，othersweremutilatedorbanished；andthissevereprocesswasjustifiedbytheancientlawsofTheodosiusandJustinian。ThevoiceoffamehasaccusedthesecondOthoofaperfidiousandbloodyact，themassacreofthesenators，whomhehadinvitedtohistableunderthefairsemblanceofhospitalityandfriendship。^139IntheminorityofhissonOthotheThird，RomemadeaboldattempttoshakeofftheSaxonyoke，andtheconsulCrescentiuswastheBrutusoftherepublic。Fromtheconditionofasubjectandanexile，hetwicerosetothecommandofthecity，oppressed，expelled，andcreatedthepopes，andformedaconspiracyforrestoringtheauthorityoftheGreekemperors。InthefortressofSt。Angelo，hemaintainedanobstinatesiege，tilltheunfortunateconsulwasbetrayedbyapromiseofsafety:hisbodywassuspendedonagibbet，andhisheadwasexposedonthebattlementsofthecastle。Byareverseoffortune，Otho，afterseparatinghistroops，wasbesiegedthreedays，withoutfood，inhispalace；andadisgracefulescapesavedhimfromthejusticeorfuryoftheRomans。ThesenatorPtolemywastheleaderofthepeople，andthewidowofCrescentiusenjoyedthepleasureorthefameofrevengingherhusband，byapoisonwhichsheadministeredtoherImperiallover。ItwasthedesignofOthotheThirdtoabandontherudercountriesoftheNorth，toerecthisthroneinItaly，andtorevivetheinstitutionsoftheRomanmonarchy。ButhissuccessorsonlyonceintheirlivesappearedonthebanksoftheTyber，toreceivetheircrownintheVatican。^140Theirabsencewascontemptible，theirpresenceodiousandformidable。TheydescendedfromtheAlps，attheheadoftheirbarbarians，whowerestrangersandenemiestothecountry；andtheirtransientvisitwasasceneoftumultandbloodshed。^141AfaintremembranceoftheirancestorsstilltormentedtheRomans；andtheybeheldwithpiousindignationthesuccessionofSaxons，Franks，Swabians，andBohemians，whousurpedthepurpleandprerogativesoftheCaesars。