I。
ThedeedandtheguiltofConstantineCopronymuswereacknowledged。TheIsaurianheretic，whosulliedthebaptismalfont，anddeclaredwaragainsttheholyimages，hadindeedembracedaBarbarianwife。Bythisimpiousallianceheaccomplishedthemeasureofhiscrimes，andwasdevotedtothejustcensureofthechurchandofposterity。II。Romanuscouldnotbeallegedasalegitimateemperor；hewasaplebeianusurper，ignorantofthelaws，andregardlessofthehonor，ofthemonarchy。HissonChristopher，thefatherofthebride，wasthethirdinrankinthecollegeofprinces，atoncethesubjectandtheaccompliceofarebelliousparent。TheBulgariansweresincereanddevoutChristians；andthesafetyoftheempire，withtheredemptionofmanythousandcaptives，dependedonthispreposterousalliance。YetnoconsiderationcoulddispensefromthelawofConstantine:theclergy，thesenate，andthepeople，disapprovedtheconductofRomanus；andhewasreproached，bothinhislifeanddeath，astheauthorofthepublicdisgrace。
III。ForthemarriageofhisownsonwiththedaughterofHugo，kingofItaly，amorehonorabledefenceiscontrivedbythewisePorphyrogenitus。Constantine，thegreatandholy，esteemedthefidelityandvaloroftheFranks；^61andhispropheticspiritbeheldthevisionoftheirfuturegreatness。Theyalonewereexceptedfromthegeneralprohibition:Hugo，kingofFrance，wasthelinealdescendantofCharlemagne；^62andhisdaughterBerthainheritedtheprerogativesofherfamilyandnation。ThevoiceoftruthandmaliceinsensiblybetrayedthefraudorerroroftheImperialcourt。ThepatrimonialestateofHugowasreducedfromthemonarchyofFrancetothesimplecountyofArles；thoughitwasnotdenied，that，intheconfusionofthetimes，hehadusurpedthesovereigntyofProvence，andinvadedthekingdomofItaly。Hisfatherwasaprivatenoble；andifBerthaderivedherfemaledescentfromtheCarlovingianline，everystepwaspollutedwithillegitimacyorvice。ThegrandmotherofHugowasthefamousValdrada，theconcubine，ratherthanthewife，ofthesecondLothair；whoseadultery，divorce，andsecondnuptials，hadprovokedagainsthimthethundersoftheVatican。Hismother，asshewasstyled，thegreatBertha，wassuccessivelythewifeofthecountofArlesandofthemarquisofTuscany:FranceandItalywerescandalizedbyhergallantries；and，tilltheageofthreescore，herlovers，ofeverydegree，werethezealousservantsofherambition。TheexampleofmaternalincontinencewascopiedbythekingofItaly；andthethreefavoriteconcubinesofHugoweredecoratedwiththeclassicnamesofVenus，Juno，andSemele。^63ThedaughterofVenuswasgrantedtothesolicitationsoftheByzantinecourt:hernameofBerthawaschangedtothatofEudoxia；andshewaswedded，orratherbetrothed，toyoungRomanus，thefutureheiroftheempireoftheEast。Theconsummationofthisforeignalliancewassuspendedbythetenderageofthetwoparties；and，attheendoffiveyears，theunionwasdissolvedbythedeathofthevirginspouse。ThesecondwifeoftheemperorRomanuswasamaidenofplebeian，butofRoman，birth；andtheirtwodaughters，TheophanoandAnne，weregiveninmarriagetotheprincesoftheearth。Theeldestwasbestowed，asthepledgeofpeace，ontheeldestsonofthegreatOtho，whohadsolicitedthisalliancewitharmsandembassies。ItmightlegallybequestionedhowfaraSaxonwasentitledtotheprivilegeoftheFrenchnation；buteveryscruplewassilencedbythefameandpietyofaherowhohadrestoredtheempireoftheWest。Afterthedeathofherfather—in—lawandhusband，TheophanogovernedRome，Italy，andGermany，duringtheminorityofherson，thethirdOtho；andtheLatinshavepraisedthevirtuesofanempress，whosacrificedtoasuperiordutytheremembranceofhercountry。^64InthenuptialsofhersisterAnne，everyprejudicewaslost，andeveryconsiderationofdignitywassuperseded，bythestrongerargumentofnecessityandfear。APaganoftheNorth，Wolodomir，greatprinceofRussia，aspiredtoadaughteroftheRomanpurple；andhisclaimwasenforcedbythethreatsofwar，thepromiseofconversion，andtheofferofapowerfulsuccoragainstadomesticrebel。Avictimofherreligionandcountry，theGrecianprincesswastornfromthepalaceofherfathers，andcondemnedtoasavagereign，andahopelessexileonthebanksoftheBorysthenes，orintheneighborhoodofthePolarcircle。^65YetthemarriageofAnnewasfortunateandfruitful:thedaughterofhergrandsonJoroslauswasrecommendedbyherImperialdescent；andthekingofFrance，HenryI。，soughtawifeonthelastbordersofEuropeandChristendom。^66
[Footnote58:Thexiiithchapter，deAdministrationeImperii，maybeexplainedandrectifiedbytheFamiliaeByzantinaeofDucange。]
[Footnote59:SequiturquenefasAegyptiaconjux，Virgil，Aeneid，viii。688。YetthisEgyptianwifewasthedaughterofalonglineofkings。QuidtemutavitsaysAntonyinaprivatelettertoAugustusanquodreginamineo?Uxormeaest，Sueton。inAugust。c。69。YetImuchquestionforIcannotstaytoinquirewhetherthetriumvireverdaredtocelebratehismarriageeitherwithRomanorEgyptianrites。]
[Footnote60:Bereniceminvitusinvitamdimisit，SuetoniusinTito，c。7。HaveIobservedelsewhere，thatthisJewishbeautywasatthistimeabovefiftyyearsofage?ThejudiciousRacinehasmostdiscreetlysuppressedbothherageandhercountry。]
[Footnote61:ConstantinewasmadetopraisethetheFranks，withwhomheclaimedaprivateandpublicalliance。TheFrenchwritersIsaacCasauboninDedicat。Polybiiarehighlydelightedwiththesecompliments。]
[Footnote62:ConstantinePorphyrogenitusdeAdministrat。Imp。
c。36exhibitsapedigreeandlifeoftheillustriousKingHugo。
AmorecorrectideamaybeformedfromtheCriticismofPagi，theAnnalsofMuratori，andtheAbridgmentofSt。Marc，A。D。925—
946。]
[Footnote63:Afterthementionofthethreegoddesses，Luitprandverynaturallyadds，etquoniamnonrexsolusiisabutebatur，earumnatiexincertispatribusorigineraducunt，Hist。l。iv。
c。6:forthemarriageoftheyoungerBertha，seeHist。l。v。
c。5；fortheincontinenceoftheelder，dulcisexercipioHymenaei，l。ii。c。15；forthevirtuesandvicesofHugo，l。
iii。c。5。Yetitmustnotbeforgot，thatthebishopofCremonawasaloverofscandal。]
[Footnote64:LicetillaImperatrixGraecasibietaliisfuissetsatisutilis，etoptima，&c。，isthepreambleofaninimicalwriter，apudPagi，tom。iv。A。D。989，No。3。HermarriageandprincipalactionsmaybefoundinMuratori，Pagi，andSt。Marc，undertheproperyears。]
[Footnote65:Cedrenus，tom。ii。p。699。Zonaras，tom。i。p。
221。Elmacin，Hist。Saracenica，l。iii。c。6。NestorapudLevesque，tom。ii。p。112Pagi，Critica，A。D。987，No。6:asingularconcourse!WolodomirandAnnearerankedamongthesaintsoftheRussianchurch。Yetweknowhisvices，andareignorantofhervirtues。]
[Footnote66:HenricusprimusduxituxoremScythicam，Russam，filiamregisJeroslai。AnembassyofbishopswassentintoRussia，andthefathergratanterfiliamcummultisdonismisit。
Thiseventhappenedintheyear1051。SeethepassagesoftheoriginalchroniclesinBouquet'sHistoriansofFrance，tom。xi。
p。29，159，161，319，384，481。Voltairemightwonderatthisalliance；butheshouldnothaveownedhisignoranceofthecountry，religion，&c。，ofJeroslaus—anamesoconspicuousintheRussianannals。]
IntheByzantinepalace，theemperorwasthefirstslaveoftheceremonieswhichheimposed，oftherigidformswhichregulatedeachwordandgesture，besiegedhiminthepalace，andviolatedtheleisureofhisruralsolitude。Butthelivesandfortunesofmillionshungonhisarbitrarywill；andthefirmestminds，superiortotheallurementsofpompandluxury，maybeseducedbythemoreactivepleasureofcommandingtheirequals。
Thelegislativeandexecutivepowerswerecentredinthepersonofthemonarch，andthelastremainsoftheauthorityofthesenatewerefinallyeradicatedbyLeothephilosopher。^67A
lethargyofservitudehadbenumbedthemindsoftheGreeks:inthewildesttumultsofrebelliontheyneveraspiredtotheideaofafreeconstitution；andtheprivatecharacteroftheprincewastheonlysourceandmeasureoftheirpublichappiness。
Superstitionrivettedtheirchains；inthechurchofSt。Sophiahewassolemnlycrownedbythepatriarch；atthefootofthealtar，theypledgedtheirpassiveandunconditionalobediencetohisgovernmentandfamily。Onhissideheengagedtoabstainasmuchaspossiblefromthecapitalpunishmentsofdeathandmutilation；hisorthodoxcreedwassubscribedwithhisownhand，andhepromisedtoobeythedecreesofthesevensynods，andthecanonsoftheholychurch。^68Buttheassuranceofmercywaslooseandindefinite:heswore，nottohispeople，buttoaninvisiblejudge；andexceptintheinexpiableguiltofheresy，theministersofheavenwerealwayspreparedtopreachtheindefeasibleright，andtoabsolvethevenialtransgressions，oftheirsovereign。TheGreekecclesiasticswerethemselvesthesubjectsofthecivilmagistrate:atthenodofatyrant，thebishopswerecreated，ortransferred，ordeposed，orpunishedwithanignominiousdeath:whatevermightbetheirwealthorinfluence，theycouldneversucceedliketheLatinclergyintheestablishmentofanindependentrepublic；andthepatriarchofConstantinoplecondemned，whathesecretlyenvied，thetemporalgreatnessofhisRomanbrother。Yettheexerciseofboundlessdespotismishappilycheckedbythelawsofnatureandnecessity。
Inproportiontohiswisdomandvirtue，themasterofanempireisconfinedtothepathofhissacredandlaboriousduty。Inproportiontohisviceandfolly，hedropsthesceptretooweightyforhishands；andthemotionsoftheroyalimageareruledbytheimperceptiblethreadofsomeministerorfavorite，whoundertakesforhisprivateinteresttoexercisethetaskofthepublicoppression。Insomefatalmoment，themostabsolutemonarchmaydreadthereasonorthecapriceofanationofslaves；andexperiencehasproved，thatwhateverisgainedintheextent，islostinthesafetyandsolidity，ofregalpower。
[Footnote67:AconstitutionofLeothePhilosopherlxxviii。nesenatusconsultaampliusfiant，speaksthelanguageofnakeddespotism。]
[Footnote68:CodinusdeOfficiis，c。xvii。p。120，121givesanideaofthisoathsostrongtothechurch，soweaktothepeople。]
Whatevertitlesadespotmayassume，whateverclaimshemayassert，itisontheswordthathemustultimatelydependtoguardhimagainsthisforeignanddomesticenemies。FromtheageofCharlemagnetothatoftheCrusades，theworldforIoverlooktheremotemonarchyofChinawasoccupiedanddisputedbythethreegreatempiresornationsoftheGreeks，theSaracens，andtheFranks。Theirmilitarystrengthmaybeascertainedbyacomparisonoftheircourage，theirartsandriches，andtheirobediencetoasupremehead，whomightcallintoactionalltheenergiesofthestate。TheGreeks，farinferiortotheirrivalsinthefirst，weresuperiortotheFranks，andatleastequaltotheSaracens，inthesecondandthirdofthesewarlikequalifications。
ThewealthoftheGreeksenabledthemtopurchasetheserviceofthepoorernations，andtomaintainanavalpowerfortheprotectionoftheircoastsandtheannoyanceoftheirenemies。^69AcommerceofmutualbenefitexchangedthegoldofConstantinopleforthebloodofSclavoniansandTurks，theBulgariansandRussians:theirvalorcontributedtothevictoriesofNicephorusandZimisces；andifahostilepeoplepressedtoocloselyonthefrontier，theywererecalledtothedefenceoftheircountry，andthedesireofpeace，bythewell—managedattackofamoredistanttribe。^70ThecommandoftheMediterranean，fromthemouthoftheTanaistothecolumnsofHercules，wasalwaysclaimed，andoftenpossessed，bythesuccessorsofConstantine。Theircapitalwasfilledwithnavalstoresanddexterousartificers:thesituationofGreeceandAsia，thelongcoasts，deepgulfs，andnumerousislands，accustomedtheirsubjectstotheexerciseofnavigation；andthetradeofVeniceandAmalfisuppliedanurseryofseamentotheImperialfleet。^71SincethetimeofthePeloponnesianandPunicwars，thesphereofactionhadnotbeenenlarged；andthescienceofnavalarchitectureappearstohavedeclined。Theartofconstructingthosestupendousmachineswhichdisplayedthree，orsix，orten，rangesofoars，risingabove，orfallingbehind，eachother，wasunknowntotheship—buildersofConstantinople，aswellastothemechaniciansofmoderndays。^72TheDromones，^73orlightgalleysoftheByzantineempire，werecontentwithtwotierofoars；eachtierwascomposedoffive—and—twentybenches；andtworowerswereseatedoneachbench，whopliedtheiroarsoneithersideofthevessel。Tothesewemustaddthecaptainorcenturion，who，intimeofaction，stooderectwithhisarmor—beareronthepoop，twosteersmenatthehelm，andtwoofficersattheprow，theonetomanagetheanchor，theothertopointandplayagainsttheenemythetubeofliquidfire。Thewholecrew，asintheinfancyoftheart，performedthedoubleserviceofmarinersandsoldiers；theywereprovidedwithdefensiveandoffensivearms，withbowsandarrows，whichtheyusedfromtheupperdeck，withlongpikes，whichtheypushedthroughtheportholesofthelowertier。Sometimes，indeed，theshipsofwarwereofalargerandmoresolidconstruction；andthelaborsofcombatandnavigationweremoreregularlydividedbetweenseventysoldiersandtwohundredandthirtymariners。
Butforthemostparttheywereofthelightandmanageablesize；
andastheCapeofMaleainPeloponnesuswasstillclothedwithitsancientterrors，anImperialfleetwastransportedfivemilesoverlandacrosstheIsthmusofCorinth。^74TheprinciplesofmaritimetacticshadnotundergoneanychangesincethetimeofThucydides:asquadronofgalleysstilladvancedinacrescent，chargedtothefront，andstrovetoimpeltheirsharpbeaksagainstthefeeblesidesoftheirantagonists。Amachineforcastingstonesanddartswasbuiltofstrongtimbers，inthemidstofthedeck；andtheoperationofboardingwaseffectedbyacranethathoistedbasketsofarmedmen。Thelanguageofsignals，soclearandcopiousinthenavalgrammarofthemoderns，wasimperfectlyexpressedbythevariouspositionsandcolorsofacommandingflag。Inthedarknessofthenight，thesameorderstochase，toattack，tohalt，toretreat，tobreak，toform，wereconveyedbythelightsoftheleadinggalley。Byland，thefire—signalswererepeatedfromonemountaintoanother；achainofeightstationscommandedaspaceoffivehundredmiles；andConstantinopleinafewhourswasapprisedofthehostilemotionsoftheSaracensofTarsus。^75SomeestimatemaybeformedofthepoweroftheGreekemperors，bythecuriousandminutedetailofthearmamentwhichwaspreparedforthereductionofCrete。Afleetofonehundredandtwelvegalleys，andseventy—fivevesselsofthePamphylianstyle，wasequippedinthecapital，theislandsoftheAegeanSea，andtheseaportsofAsia，Macedonia，andGreece。Itcarriedthirty—fourthousandmariners，seventhousandthreehundredandfortysoldiers，sevenhundredRussians，andfivethousandandeighty—sevenMardaites，whosefathershadbeentransplantedfromthemountainsofLibanus。Theirpay，mostprobablyofamonth，wascomputedatthirty—fourcentenariesofgold，aboutonehundredandthirty—sixthousandpoundssterling。Ourfancyisbewilderedbytheendlessrecapitulationofarmsandengines，ofclothesandlinen，ofbreadforthemenandforageforthehorses，andofstoresandutensilsofeverydescription，inadequatetotheconquestofapettyisland，butamplysufficientfortheestablishmentofaflourishingcolony。^76
[Footnote69:IfwelistentothethreatsofNicephorustotheambassadorofOtho，Necestinmaridominotuoclassiumnumerus。
Navigantiumfortitudomihisoliinest，quieumclassibusaggrediar，bellomaritimasejuscivitatesdemoliar；etquaefluminibussuntvicinaredigaminfavillam。LiutprandinLegat。
adNicephorumPhocam，inMuratoriScriptoresRerumItalicarum，tom。ii。parsi。p。481。Heobservesinanotherplace，quicaeterispraestantVeneticisuntetAmalphitani。]
[Footnote70:NecipsacapieteumtheemperorOthoinquaortusestpauperetpelliceaSaxonia:pecuniaquapollemusomnesnationessupereuminvitabimus:etquasiKeramicumconfringemus，LiutprandinLegat。p。487。Thetwobooks，deAdministrandoImperio，perpetuallyinculcatethesamepolicy。]
[Footnote71:ThexixthchapteroftheTacticsofLeo，Meurs。
Opera，tom。vi。p。825—848，whichisgivenmorecorrectfromamanuscriptofGudius，bythelaboriousFabricius，Bibliot。
Graec。tom。vi。p。372—379，relatestotheNaumachia，ornavalwar。]
[Footnote72:Evenoffifteenandsixteenrowsofoars，inthenavyofDemetriusPoliorcetes。Thesewereforrealuse:thefortyrowsofPtolemyPhiladelphuswereappliedtoafloatingpalace，whosetonnage，accordingtoDr。Arbuthnot，TablesofAncientCoins，&c。，p。231—236，iscomparedas41/2to1withanEnglish100gunship。]
[Footnote73:TheDromonesofLeo，&c。，aresoclearlydescribedwithtwotierofoars，thatImustcensuretheversionofMeursiusandFabricius，whopervertthesensebyablindattachmenttotheclassicappellationofTriremes。TheByzantinehistoriansaresometimesguiltyofthesameinaccuracy。]
[Footnote74:Constantin。Porphyrogen。inVit。Basil。c。lxi。p。
185。Hecalmlypraisesthestratagem；butthesailingroundPeloponnesusisdescribedbyhisterrifiedfancyasacircumnavigationofathousandmiles。]
[Footnote75:ThecontinuatorofTheophanesl。iv。p。122，123
namesthesuccessivestations，thecastleofLulumnearTarsus，MountArgaeusIsamus，Aegilus，thehillofMamas，Cyrisus，Mocilus，thehillofAuxentius，thesun—dialofthePharusofthegreatpalace。Heaffirmsthatthenewsweretransmittedinanindivisiblemomentoftime。Miserableamplification，which，bysayingtoomuch，saysnothing。Howmuchmoreforcibleandinstructivewouldhavebeenthedefinitionofthree，orsix，ortwelvehours!]
[Footnote76:SeetheCeremonialeofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，l。ii。c。44，p。176—192。Acriticalreaderwilldiscernsomeinconsistenciesindifferentpartsofthisaccount；buttheyarenotmoreobscureormorestubbornthantheestablishmentandeffectives，thepresentandfitforduty，therankandfileandtheprivate，ofamodernreturn，whichretaininproperhandstheknowledgeoftheseprofitablemysteries。]
TheinventionoftheGreekfiredidnot，likethatofgunpowder，produceatotalrevolutionintheartofwar。TotheseliquidcombustiblesthecityandempireofConstantineowedtheirdeliverance；andtheywereemployedinsiegesandsea—fightswithterribleeffect。Buttheywereeitherlessimproved，orlesssusceptibleofimprovement:theenginesofantiquity，thecatapultae，balistae，andbattering—rams，werestillofmostfrequentandpowerfuluseintheattackanddefenceoffortifications；norwasthedecisionofbattlesreducedtothequickandheavyfireofalineofinfantry，whomitwerefruitlesstoprotectwitharmoragainstasimilarfireoftheirenemies。Steelandironwerestillthecommoninstrumentsofdestructionandsafety；andthehelmets，cuirasses，andshields，ofthetenthcenturydidnot，eitherinformorsubstance，essentiallydifferfromthosewhichhadcoveredthecompanionsofAlexanderorAchilles。^77ButinsteadofaccustomingthemodernGreeks，likethelegionariesofold，totheconstantandeasyuseofthissalutaryweight，theirarmorwaslaidasideinlightchariots，whichfollowedthemarch，till，ontheapproachofanenemy，theyresumedwithhasteandreluctancetheunusualencumbrance。Theiroffensiveweaponsconsistedofswords，battle—axes，andspears；buttheMacedonianpikewasshortenedafourthofitslength，andreducedtothemoreconvenientmeasureoftwelvecubitsorfeet。ThesharpnessoftheScythianandArabianarrowshadbeenseverelyfelt；andtheemperorslamentthedecayofarcheryasacauseofthepublicmisfortunes，andrecommend，asanadviceandacommand，thatthemilitaryyouth，tilltheageofforty，shouldassiduouslypractisetheexerciseofthebow。^78Thebands，orregiments，wereusuallythreehundredstrong；and，asamediumbetweentheextremesoffourandsixteen，thefootsoldiersofLeoandConstantinewereformedeightdeep；butthecavalrychargedinfourranks，fromthereasonableconsideration，thattheweightofthefrontcouldnotbeincreasedbyanypressureofthehindmosthorses。Iftheranksoftheinfantryorcavalryweresometimesdoubled，thiscautiousarraybetrayedasecretdistrustofthecourageofthetroops，whosenumbersmightswelltheappearanceoftheline，butofwhomonlyachosenbandwoulddaretoencounterthespearsandswordsoftheBarbarians。Theorderofbattlemusthavevariedaccordingtotheground，theobject，andtheadversary；buttheirordinarydisposition，intwolinesandareserve，presentedasuccessionofhopesandresourcesmostagreeabletothetemperaswellasthejudgmentoftheGreeks。^79Incaseofarepulse，thefirstlinefellbackintotheintervalsofthesecond；andthereserve，breakingintotwodivisions，wheeledroundtheflankstoimprovethevictoryorcovertheretreat。