^81theycutinpiecesbothfriendsandfoes，pillagedthechurchesandthemoschs，soldabovesixthousandChristiancaptives，andmaintainedtheirstationinthecapitalofEgypt，tilltheywereoppressedbytheforcesandthepresenceofAlmamonhimself。FromthemouthoftheNiletotheHellespont，theislandsandsea—coastsbothoftheGreeksandMoslemswereexposedtotheirdepredations；theysaw，theyenvied，theytastedthefertilityofCrete，andsoonreturnedwithfortygalleystoamoreseriousattack。TheAndalusianswanderedoverthelandfearlessandunmolested；butwhentheydescendedwiththeirplundertothesea—shore，theirvesselswereinflames，andtheirchief，AbuCaab，confessedhimselftheauthorofthemischief。
Theirclamorsaccusedhismadnessortreachery。"Ofwhatdoyoucomplain?"repliedthecraftyemir。"Ihavebroughtyoutoalandflowingwithmilkandhoney。Hereisyourtruecountry；
reposefromyourtoils，andforgetthebarrenplaceofyournativity。""Andourwivesandchildren?""Yourbeauteouscaptiveswillsupplytheplaceofyourwives，andintheirembracesyouwillsoonbecomethefathersofanewprogeny。"Thefirsthabitationwastheircamp，withaditchandrampart，intheBayofSuda；butanapostatemonkledthemtoamoredesirablepositionintheeasternparts；andthenameofCandax，theirfortressandcolony，hasbeenextendedtothewholeisland，underthecorruptandmodernappellationofCandia。ThehundredcitiesoftheageofMinoswerediminishedtothirty；andofthese，onlyone，mostprobablyCydonia，hadcouragetoretainthesubstanceoffreedomandtheprofessionofChristianity。TheSaracensofCretesoonrepairedthelossoftheirnavy；andthetimbersofMountIdawerelaunchedintothemain。Duringahostileperiodofonehundredandthirty—eightyears，theprincesofConstantinopleattackedtheselicentiouscorsairswithfruitlesscursesandineffectualarms。
[Footnote79:TheauthorsfromwhomIhavelearnedthemostoftheancientandmodernstateofCrete，areBelon，Observations，&c。，c。3—20，Paris，1555，Tournefort，VoyageduLevant，tom。
i。lettreii。etiii。，andMeursius，Creta，inhisworks，tom。
iii。p。343—544。AlthoughCreteisstyledbyHomer，byDionysius，Icannotconceivethatmountainousislandtosurpass，oreventoequal，infertilitythegreaterpartofSpain。]
[Footnote80:ThemostauthenticandcircumstantialintelligenceisobtainedfromthefourbooksoftheContinuationofTheophanes，compiledbythepenorthecommandofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，withtheLifeofhisfatherBasil，theMacedonian，ScriptorespostTheophanem，p。1—162，aFrancisc。
Combefis，Paris，1685。ThelossofCreteandSicilyisrelated，l。ii。p。46—52。TothesewemayaddthesecondaryevidenceofJosephGenesius，l。ii。p。21，Venet。1733，GeorgeCedrenus，Compend。p。506—508，andJohnScylitzesCuropalata，apudBaron。Annal。Eccles。A。D。827，No。24，&c。ButthemodernGreeksaresuchnotoriousplagiaries，thatIshouldonlyquoteapluralityofnames。]
[Footnote81:RenaudotHist。Patriarch。Alex。p。251—256，268
—270haddescribedtheravagesoftheAndalusianArabsinEgypt，buthasforgottoconnectthemwiththeconquestofCrete。]
ThelossofSicily^82wasoccasionedbyanactofsuperstitiousrigor。Anamorousyouth，whohadstolenanunfromhercloister，wassentencedbytheemperortotheamputationofhistongue。EuphemiusappealedtothereasonandpolicyoftheSaracensofAfrica；andsoonreturnedwiththeImperialpurple，afleetofonehundredships，andanarmyofsevenhundredhorseandtenthousandfoot。TheylandedatMazaraneartheruinsoftheancientSelinus；butaftersomepartialvictories，Syracuse^83wasdeliveredbytheGreeks，theapostatewasslainbeforeherwalls，andhisAfricanfriendswerereducedtothenecessityoffeedingonthefleshoftheirownhorses。IntheirturntheywererelievedbyapowerfulreenforcementoftheirbrethrenofAndalusia；thelargestandwesternpartoftheislandwasgraduallyreduced，andthecommodiousharborofPalermowaschosenfortheseatofthenavalandmilitarypoweroftheSaracens。SyracusepreservedaboutfiftyyearsthefaithwhichshehadsworntoChristandtoCaesar。Inthelastandfatalsiege，hercitizensdisplayedsomeremnantofthespiritwhichhadformerlyresistedthepowersofAthensandCarthage。Theystoodabovetwentydaysagainstthebattering—ramsandcatapultoe，theminesandtortoisesofthebesiegers；andtheplacemighthavebeenrelieved，ifthemarinersoftheImperialfleethadnotbeendetainedatConstantinopleinbuildingachurchtotheVirginMary。ThedeaconTheodosius，withthebishopandclergy，wasdraggedinchainsfromthealtartoPalermo，castintoasubterraneousdungeon，andexposedtothehourlyperilofdeathorapostasy。Hispathetic，andnotinelegant，complaintmaybereadastheepitaphofhiscountry。^84FromtheRomanconquesttothisfinalcalamity，Syracuse，nowdwindledtotheprimitiveIsleofOrtygea，hadinsensiblydeclined。Yettherelicswerestillprecious；theplateofthecathedralweighedfivethousandpoundsofsilver；theentirespoilwascomputedatonemillionofpiecesofgold，aboutfourhundredthousandpoundssterling，andthecaptivesmustoutnumbertheseventeenthousandChristians，whoweretransportedfromthesackofTauromeniumintoAfricanservitude。InSicily，thereligionandlanguageoftheGreekswereeradicated；andsuchwasthedocilityoftherisinggeneration，thatfifteenthousandboyswerecircumcisedandclothedonthesamedaywiththesonoftheFatimitecaliph。TheArabiansquadronsissuedfromtheharborsofPalermo，Biserta，andTunis；ahundredandfiftytownsofCalabriaandCampaniawereattackedandpillaged；norcouldthesuburbsofRomebedefendedbythenameoftheCaesarsandapostles。HadtheMahometansbeenunited，Italymusthavefallenaneasyandgloriousaccessiontotheempireoftheprophet。ButthecaliphsofBagdadhadlosttheirauthorityintheWest；theAglabitesandFatimitesusurpedtheprovincesofAfrica，theiremirsofSicilyaspiredtoindependence；andthedesignofconquestanddominionwasdegradedtoarepetitionofpredatoryinroads。^85
[Footnote82:Theophanes，l。ii。p。51。ThishistoryofthelossofSicilyisnolongerextant。MuratoriAnnalid'Italia，tom。
vii。p。719，721，&c。hasaddedsomecircumstancesfromtheItalianchronicles。]
[Footnote83:ThesplendidandinterestingtragedyofTancredewouldadaptitselfmuchbettertothisepoch，thantothedateA。D。1005whichVoltairehimselfhaschosen。ButImustgentlyreproachthepoetforinfusingintotheGreeksubjectsthespiritofmodernknightsandancientrepublicans。]
[Footnote84:ThenarrativeorlamentationofTheodosiusistranscribedandillustratedbyPagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。719，&c。ConstantinePorphyrogenitusinVit。Basil，c。69，70，p。
190—192mentionsthelossofSyracuseandthetriumphofthedemons。]
[Footnote85:TheextractsfromtheArabichistoriesofSicilyaregiveninAbulfeda，Annal'Moslem。p。271—273，andinthefirstvolumeofMuratori'sScriptoresRerumItalicarum。M。deGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。i。p。363，364hasaddedsomeimportantfacts。]
InthesufferingsofprostrateItaly，thenameofRomeawakensasolemnandmournfulrecollection。AfleetofSaracensfromtheAfricancoastpresumedtoenterthemouthoftheTyber，andtoapproachacitywhichevenyet，inherfallenstate，wasreveredasthemetropolisoftheChristianworld。Thegatesandrampartswereguardedbyatremblingpeople；butthetombsandtemplesofSt。PeterandSt。PaulwereleftexposedinthesuburbsoftheVaticanandoftheOstianway。TheirinvisiblesanctityhadprotectedthemagainsttheGoths，theVandals，andtheLombards；buttheArabsdisdainedboththegospelandthelegend；andtheirrapaciousspiritwasapprovedandanimatedbythepreceptsoftheKoran。TheChristianidolswerestrippedoftheircostlyofferings；asilveraltarwastornawayfromtheshrineofSt。Peter；andifthebodiesorthebuildingswereleftentire，theirdeliverancemustbeimputedtothehaste，ratherthanthescruples，oftheSaracens。IntheircoursealongtheAppianway，theypillagedFundiandbesiegedGayeta；buttheyhadturnedasidefromthewallsofRome，andbytheirdivisions，theCapitolwassavedfromtheyokeoftheprophetofMecca。ThesamedangerstillimpendedontheheadsoftheRomanpeople；andtheirdomesticforcewasunequaltotheassaultofanAfricanemir。TheyclaimedtheprotectionoftheirLatinsovereign；buttheCarlovingianstandardwasoverthrownbyadetachmentoftheBarbarians:theymeditatedtherestorationoftheGreekemperors；
buttheattemptwastreasonable，andthesuccorremoteandprecarious。^86Theirdistressappearedtoreceivesomeaggravationfromthedeathoftheirspiritualandtemporalchief；
butthepressingemergencysupersededtheformsandintriguesofanelection；andtheunanimouschoiceofPopeLeotheFourth^87
wasthesafetyofthechurchandcity。ThispontiffwasbornaRoman；thecourageofthefirstagesoftherepublicglowedinhisbreast；and，amidsttheruinsofhiscountry，hestooderect，likeoneofthefirmandloftycolumnsthatreartheirheadsabovethefragmentsoftheRomanforum。Thefirstdaysofhisreignwereconsecratedtothepurificationandremovalofrelics，toprayersandprocessions，andtoallthesolemnofficesofreligion，whichservedatleasttohealtheimagination，andrestorethehopes，ofthemultitude。Thepublicdefencehadbeenlongneglected，notfromthepresumptionofpeace，butfromthedistressandpovertyofthetimes。Asfarasthescantinessofhismeansandtheshortnessofhisleisurewouldallow，theancientwallswererepairedbythecommandofLeo；fifteentowers，inthemostaccessiblestations，werebuiltorrenewed；
twoofthesecommandedoneithersideoftheTyber；andanironchainwasdrawnacrossthestreamtoimpedetheascentofahostilenavy。TheRomanswereassuredofashortrespitebythewelcomenews，thatthesiegeofGayetahadbeenraised，andthatapartoftheenemy，withtheirsacrilegiousplunder，hadperishedinthewaves。
[Footnote86:OneofthemosteminentRomansGratianus，magistermilitumetRomanipalatiisuperistawasaccusedofdeclaring，QuiaFrancinihilnobisbonifaciunt，nequeadjutoriumpraebent，sedmagisquaenostrasuntviolentertollunt。QuarenonadvocamusGraecos，etcumeisfoeduspaciscomponentes，Francorumregemetgentemdenostroregnoetdominationeexpellimus?
AnastasiusinLeoneIV。p。199。]
[Footnote87:VoltaireHist。Generale，tom。ii。c。38，p。124
appearstoberemarkablystruckwiththecharacterofPopeLeoIV。Ihaveborrowedhisgeneralexpression，butthesightoftheforumhasfurnishedmewithamoredistinctandlivelyimage。]
Butthestorm，whichhadbeendelayed，soonburstuponthemwithredoubledviolence。TheAglabite，^88whoreignedinAfrica，hadinheritedfromhisfatheratreasureandanarmy:afleetofArabsandMoors，afterashortrefreshmentintheharborsofSardinia，castanchorbeforethemouthoftheTyber，sixteenmilesfromthecity:andtheirdisciplineandnumbersappearedtothreaten，notatransientinroad，butaseriousdesignofconquestanddominion。ButthevigilanceofLeohadformedanalliancewiththevassalsoftheGreekempire，thefreeandmaritimestatesofGayeta，Naples，andAmalfi；andinthehourofdanger，theirgalleysappearedintheportofOstiaunderthecommandofCaesarius，thesonoftheNeapolitanduke，anobleandvaliantyouth，whohadalreadyvanquishedthefleetsoftheSaracens。Withhisprincipalcompanions，CaesariuswasinvitedtotheLateranpalace，andthedexterouspontiffaffectedtoinquiretheirerrand，andtoacceptwithjoyandsurprisetheirprovidentialsuccor。Thecitybands，inarms，attendedtheirfathertoOstia，wherehereviewedandblessedhisgenerousdeliverers。Theykissedhisfeet，receivedthecommunionwithmartialdevotion，andlistenedtotheprayerofLeo，thatthesameGodwhohadsupportedSt。PeterandSt。Paulonthewavesofthesea，wouldstrengthenthehandsofhischampionsagainsttheadversariesofhisholyname。Afterasimilarprayer，andwithequalresolution，theMoslemsadvancedtotheattackoftheChristiangalleys，whichpreservedtheiradvantageousstationalongthecoast。Thevictoryinclinedtothesideoftheallies，whenitwaslessgloriouslydecidedintheirfavorbyasuddentempest，whichconfoundedtheskillandcourageofthestoutestmariners。TheChristianswereshelteredinafriendlyharbor，whiletheAfricanswerescatteredanddashedinpiecesamongtherocksandislandsofahostileshore。Thosewhoescapedfromshipwreckandhungerneitherfound，nordeserved，mercyatthehandsoftheirimplacablepursuers。Theswordandthegibbetreducedthedangerousmultitudeofcaptives；andtheremainderwasmoreusefullyemployed，torestorethesacrededificeswhichtheyhadattemptedtosubvert。Thepontiff，attheheadofthecitizensandallies，paidhisgratefuldevotionattheshrinesoftheapostles；and，amongthespoilsofthisnavalvictory，thirteenArabianbowsofpureandmassysilverweresuspendedroundthealtarofthefishermenofGalilee。ThereignofLeotheFourthwasemployedinthedefenceandornamentoftheRomanstate。Thechurcheswererenewedandembellished:nearfourthousandpoundsofsilverwereconsecratedtorepairthelossesofSt。Peter；andhissanctuarywasdecoratedwithaplateofgoldoftheweightoftwohundredandsixteenpounds，embossedwiththeportraitsofthepopeandemperor，andencircledwithastringofpearls。YetthisvainmagnificencereflectslessgloryonthecharacterofLeothanthepaternalcarewithwhichherebuiltthewallsofHortaandAmeria；andtransportedthewanderinginhabitantsofCentumcellaetohisnewfoundationofLeopolis，twelvemilesfromthesea—shore。^89Byhisliberality，acolonyofCorsicans，withtheirwivesandchildren，wasplantedinthestationofPorto，atthemouthoftheTyber:
thefallingcitywasrestoredfortheiruse，thefieldsandvineyardsweredividedamongthenewsettlers:theirfirsteffortswereassistedbyagiftofhorsesandcattle；andthehardyexiles，whobreathedrevengeagainsttheSaracens，sworetoliveanddieunderthestandardofSt。Peter。ThenationsoftheWestandNorthwhovisitedthethresholdoftheapostleshadgraduallyformedthelargeandpopuloussuburboftheVatican，andtheirvarioushabitationsweredistinguished，inthelanguageofthetimes，astheschoolsoftheGreeksandGoths，oftheLombardsandSaxons。Butthisvenerablespotwasstillopentosacrilegiousinsult:thedesignofenclosingitwithwallsandtowersexhaustedallthatauthoritycouldcommand，orcharitywouldsupply:andthepiouslaboroffouryearswasanimatedineveryseason，andateveryhour，bythepresenceoftheindefatigablepontiff。Theloveoffame，agenerousbutworldlypassion，maybedetectedinthenameoftheLeoninecity，whichhebestowedontheVatican；yettheprideofthededicationwastemperedwithChristianpenanceandhumility。Theboundarywastrodbythebishopandhisclergy，barefoot，insackclothandashes；thesongsoftriumphweremodulatedtopsalmsandlitanies；thewallswerebesprinkledwithholywater；andtheceremonywasconcludedwithaprayer，that，undertheguardiancareoftheapostlesandtheangelichost，boththeoldandthenewRomemighteverbepreservedpure，prosperous，andimpregnable。^90
[Footnote88:DeGuignes，Hist。GeneraledesHuns，tom。i。p。
363，364。Cardonne，Hist。del'Afriqueetdel'Espagne，souslaDominationdesArabs，tom。ii。p。24，25。Iobserve，andcannotreconcile，thedifferenceofthesewritersinthesuccessionoftheAglabites。]
[Footnote89:BerettiChorographiaItaliaeMediiEvi，p。106，108hasillustratedCentumcellae，Leopolis，CivitasLeonina，andtheotherplacesoftheRomanduchy。]
[Footnote90:TheArabsandtheGreeksarealikesilentconcerningtheinvasionofRomebytheAfricans。TheLatinchroniclesdonotaffordmuchinstruction，seetheAnnalsofBaroniusandPagi。OurauthenticandcontemporaryguideforthepopesoftheixthcenturyisAnastasius，librarianoftheRomanchurch。HisLifeofLeoIV，containstwenty—fourpages，p。175
—199，edit。Paris；andifagreatpartconsistofsuperstitioustrifles，wemustblameorcommandhishero，whowasmuchoftenerinachurchthaninacamp。]
TheemperorTheophilus，sonofMichaeltheStammerer，wasoneofthemostactiveandhigh—spiritedprinceswhoreignedatConstantinopleduringthemiddleage。Inoffensiveordefensivewar，hemarchedinpersonfivetimesagainsttheSaracens，formidableinhisattack，esteemedbytheenemyinhislossesanddefeats。InthelastoftheseexpeditionshepenetratedintoSyria，andbesiegedtheobscuretownofSozopetra；thecasualbirthplaceofthecaliphMotassem，whosefatherHarunwasattendedinpeaceorwarbythemostfavoredofhiswivesandconcubines。TherevoltofaPersianimpostoremployedatthatmomentthearmsoftheSaracen，andhecouldonlyintercedeinfavorofaplaceforwhichhefeltandacknowledgedsomedegreeoffilialaffection。Thesesolicitationsdeterminedtheemperortowoundhisprideinsosensibleapart。Sozopetrawaslevelledwiththeground，theSyrianprisonersweremarkedormutilatedwithignominiouscruelty，andathousandfemalecaptiveswereforcedawayfromtheadjacentterritory。AmongtheseamatronofthehouseofAbbasinvoked，inanagonyofdespair，thenameofMotassem；andtheinsultsoftheGreeksengagedthehonorofherkinsmantoavengehisindignity，andtoanswerherappeal。Underthereignofthetwoelderbrothers，theinheritanceoftheyoungesthadbeenconfinedtoAnatolia，Armenia，Georgia，andCircassia；thisfrontierstationhadexercisedhismilitarytalents；andamonghisaccidentalclaimstothenameofOctonary，^91themostmeritoriousaretheeightbattleswhichhegainedorfoughtagainsttheenemiesoftheKoran。Inthispersonalquarrel，thetroopsofIrak，Syria，andEgypt，wererecruitedfromthetribesofArabiaandtheTurkishhordes；hiscavalrymightbenumerous，thoughweshoulddeductsomemyriadsfromthehundredandthirtythousandhorsesoftheroyalstables；andtheexpenseofthearmamentwascomputedatfourmillionssterling，oronehundredthousandpoundsofgold。FromTarsus，theplaceofassembly，theSaracensadvancedinthreedivisionsalongthehighroadofConstantinople:Motassemhimselfcommandedthecentre，andthevanguardwasgiventohissonAbbas，who，inthetrialofthefirstadventures，mightsucceedwiththemoreglory，orfailwiththeleastreproach。Intherevengeofhisinjury，thecaliphpreparedtoretaliateasimilaraffront。ThefatherofTheophiluswasanativeofAmorium^92inPhrygia:theoriginalseatoftheImperialhousehadbeenadornedwithprivilegesandmonuments；and，whatevermightbetheindifferenceofthepeople，Constantinopleitselfwasscarcelyofmorevalueintheeyesofthesovereignandhiscourt。ThenameofAmoriumwasinscribedontheshieldsoftheSaracens；andtheirthreearmieswereagainunitedunderthewallsofthedevotedcity。Ithadbeenproposedbythewisestcounsellors，toevacuateAmorium，toremovetheinhabitants，andtoabandontheemptystructurestothevainresentmentoftheBarbarians。Theemperorembracedthemoregenerousresolutionofdefending，inasiegeandbattle，thecountryofhisancestors。Whenthearmiesdrewnear，thefrontoftheMahometanlineappearedtoaRomaneyemorecloselyplantedwithspearsandjavelins；buttheeventoftheactionwasnotgloriousoneithersidetothenationaltroops。TheArabswerebroken，butitwasbytheswordsofthirtythousandPersians，whohadobtainedserviceandsettlementintheByzantineempire。TheGreekswererepulsedandvanquished，butitwasbythearrowsoftheTurkishcavalry；andhadnottheirbowstringsbeendampedandrelaxedbytheeveningrain，veryfewoftheChristianscouldhaveescapedwiththeemperorfromthefieldofbattle。TheybreathedatDorylaeum，atthedistanceofthreedays；andTheophilus，reviewinghistremblingsquadrons，forgavethecommonflightbothoftheprinceandpeople。Afterthisdiscoveryofhisweakness，hevainlyhopedtodeprecatethefateofAmorium:theinexorablecaliphrejectedwithcontempthisprayersandpromises；anddetainedtheRomanambassadorstobethewitnessesofhisgreatrevenge。Theyhadnearlybeenthewitnessesofhisshame。Thevigorousassaultsoffifty—fivedayswereencounteredbyafaithfulgovernor，aveterangarrison，andadesperatepeople；andtheSaracensmusthaveraisedthesiege，ifadomestictraitorhadnotpointedtotheweakestpartofthewall，aplacewhichwasdecoratedwiththestatuesofalionandabull。ThevowofMotassemwasaccomplishedwithunrelentingrigor:tired，ratherthansatiated，withdestruction，hereturnedtohisnewpalaceofSamara，intheneighborhoodofBagdad，whiletheunfortunate^93TheophilusimploredthetardyanddoubtfulaidofhisWesternrivaltheemperoroftheFranks。