[Footnote23:Thecircumstancesofthiswar，andthedeathofSeverus，areverydoubtfullyandvariouslytoldinourancientfragments，seeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。parti。
　　p。555。Ihaveendeavoredtoextractfromthemaconsistentandprobablenarration。
　　Note:Mansojustlyobservesthattwototallydifferentnarrativesmightbeformed，almostuponequalauthority。
　　Beylage，iv。—M。]
　　ChapterXIV:SixEmperorsAtTheSameTime，ReunionOfTheEmpire。
　　PartII。
　　ThoughthecharactersofConstantineandMaxentiushadverylittleaffinitywitheachother，theirsituationandinterestwerethesame；andprudenceseemedtorequirethattheyshouldunitetheirforcesagainstthecommonenemy。Notwithstandingthesuperiorityofhisageanddignity，theindefatigableMaximianpassedtheAlps，and，courtingapersonalinterviewwiththesovereignofGaul，carriedwithhimhisdaughterFaustaasthepledgeofthenewalliance。ThemarriagewascelebratedatArleswitheverycircumstanceofmagnificence；andtheancientcolleagueofDiocletian，whoagainassertedhisclaimtotheWesternempire，conferredonhisson—in—lawandallythetitleofAugustus。ByconsentingtoreceivethathonorfromMaximian，ConstantineseemedtoembracethecauseofRomeandofthesenate；buthisprofessionswereambiguous，andhisassistanceslowandineffectual。HeconsideredwithattentiontheapproachingcontestbetweenthemastersofItalyandtheemperoroftheEast，andwaspreparedtoconsulthisownsafetyorambitionintheeventofthewar。^24
　　[Footnote24:ThesixthPanegyricwaspronouncedtocelebratetheelevationofConstantine；buttheprudentoratoravoidsthementioneitherofGaleriusorofMaxentius。Heintroducesonlyoneslightallusiontotheactualtroubles，andtothemajestyofRome。
　　Note:CompareManso，Beylage，iv。p。302。Gibbon'saccountisatleastasprobableasthatofhiscritic。—M。]
　　TheimportanceoftheoccasioncalledforthepresenceandabilitiesofGalerius。Attheheadofapowerfularmy，collectedfromIllyricumandtheEast，heenteredItaly，resolvedtorevengethedeathofSeverus，andtochastisetherebellionsRomans；or，asheexpressedhisintentions，inthefuriouslanguageofabarbarian，toextirpatethesenate，andtodestroythepeoplebythesword。ButtheskillofMaximianhadconcertedaprudentsystemofdefence。Theinvaderfoundeveryplacehostile，fortified，andinaccessible；andthoughheforcedhiswayasfarasNarni，withinsixtymilesofRome，hisdominioninItalywasconfinedtothenarrowlimitsofhiscamp。Sensibleoftheincreasingdifficultiesofhisenterprise，thehaughtyGaleriusmadethefirstadvancestowardsareconciliation，anddespatchedtwoofhismostconsiderableofficerstotempttheRomanprincesbytheofferofaconference，andthedeclarationofhispaternalregardforMaxentius，whomightobtainmuchmorefromhisliberalitythanhecouldhopefromthedoubtfulchanceofwar。^25TheoffersofGaleriuswererejectedwithfirmness，hisperfidiousfriendshiprefusedwithcontempt，anditwasnotlongbeforehediscovered，that，unlessheprovidedforhissafetybyatimelyretreat，hehadsomereasontoapprehendthefateofSeverus。ThewealthwhichtheRomansdefendedagainsthisrapacioustyranny，theyfreelycontributedforhisdestruction。ThenameofMaximian，thepopularartsofhisson，thesecretdistributionoflargesums，andthepromiseofstillmoreliberalrewards，checkedtheardorandcorruptedthefidelityoftheIllyrianlegions；andwhenGaleriusatlengthgavethesignaloftheretreat，itwaswithsomedifficultythathecouldprevailonhisveteransnottodesertabannerwhichhadsooftenconductedthemtovictoryandhonor。Acontemporarywriterassignstwoothercausesforthefailureoftheexpedition；buttheyarebothofsuchanature，thatacautioushistorianwillscarcelyventuretoadoptthem。WearetoldthatGalerius，whohadformedaveryimperfectnotionofthegreatnessofRomebythecitiesoftheEastwithwhichhewasacquainted，foundhisforcesinadequatetothesiegeofthatimmensecapital。
　　Buttheextentofacityservesonlytorenderitmoreaccessibletotheenemy:Romehadlongsincebeenaccustomedtosubmitontheapproachofaconqueror；norcouldthetemporaryenthusiasmofthepeoplehavelongcontendedagainstthedisciplineandvalorofthelegions。Wearelikewiseinformedthatthelegionsthemselveswerestruckwithhorrorandremorse，andthatthosepioussonsoftherepublicrefusedtoviolatethesanctityoftheirvenerableparent。^26Butwhenwerecollectwithhowmuchease，inthemoreancientcivilwars，thezealofpartyandthehabitsofmilitaryobediencehadconvertedthenativecitizensofRomeintohermostimplacableenemies，weshallbeinclinedtodistrustthisextremedelicacyofstrangersandbarbarians，whohadneverbeheldItalytilltheyentereditinahostilemanner。
　　Hadtheynotbeenrestrainedbymotivesofamoreinterestednature，theywouldprobablyhaveansweredGaleriusinthewordsofCaesar'sveterans:"IfourgeneralwishestoleadustothebanksoftheTyber，wearepreparedtotraceouthiscamp。
　　Whatsoeverwallshehasdeterminedtolevelwiththeground，ourhandsarereadytoworktheengines:norshallwehesitate，shouldthenameofthedevotedcitybeRomeitself。"Theseareindeedtheexpressionsofapoet；butofapoetwhohasbeendistinguished，andevencensured，forhisstrictadherencetothetruthofhistory。^27
　　[Footnote25:Withregardtothisnegotiation，seethefragmentsofananonymoushistorian，publishedbyValesiusattheendofhiseditionofAmmianusMarcellinus，p。711。Thesefragmentshavefurnishedwithseveralcurious，and，asitshouldseem，authenticanecdotes。]
　　[Footnote26:LactantiusdeM。P。c。28。TheformerofthesereasonsisprobablytakenfromVirgil'sShepherd:"Illam***
　　egohuicnotrasimilem，Meliboee，putavi，"&c。Lactantiusdelightsinthesepoeticalillusions。]
　　[Footnote27:CastrasuperTuscisiponereTybridisundas；
　　jubeusHesperiosaudaxveniammetatorinagros。
　　Tuquoscunquevolesinplanumeffunderemuros，Hisariesactusdispergetsaxalacertis；
　　IllalicetpenitustolliquamjusserisurbemRomasit。Lucan。Pharsal。i。381。]
　　ThelegionsofGaleriusexhibitedaverymelancholyproofoftheirdisposition，bytheravageswhichtheycommittedintheirretreat。Theymurdered，theyravished，theyplundered，theydroveawaytheflocksandherdsoftheItalians；theyburntthevillagesthroughwhichtheypassed，andtheyendeavoredtodestroythecountrywhichithadnotbeenintheirpowertosubdue。Duringthewholemarch，Maxentiushungontheirrear，butheveryprudentlydeclinedageneralengagementwiththosebraveanddesperateveterans。HisfatherhadundertakenasecondjourneyintoGaul，withthehopeofpersuadingConstantine，whohadassembledanarmyonthefrontier，tojoininthepursuit，andtocompletethevictory。ButtheactionsofConstantinewereguidedbyreason，andnotbyresentment。Hepersistedinthewiseresolutionofmaintainingabalanceofpowerinthedividedempire，andhenolongerhatedGalerius，whenthataspiringprincehadceasedtobeanobjectofterror。^28
　　[Footnote28:LactantiusdeM。P。c。27。Zosim。l。ii。p。82。
　　Thelatter，thatConstantine，inhisinterviewwithMaximian，hadpromisedtodeclarewaragainstGalerius。]
　　ThemindofGaleriuswasthemostsusceptibleofthesternerpassions，butitwasnot，however，incapableofasincereandlastingfriendship。Licinius，whosemannersaswellascharacter，werenotunlikehisown，seemstohaveengagedbothhisaffectionandesteem。Theirintimacyhadcommencedinthehappierperiodperhapsoftheiryouthandobscurity。Ithadbeencementedbythefreedomanddangersofamilitarylife；theyhadadvancedalmostbyequalstepsthroughthesuccessivehonorsoftheservice；andassoonasGaleriuswasinvestedwiththeImperialdignity，heseemstohaveconceivedthedesignofraisinghiscompaniontothesamerankwithhimself。Duringtheshortperiodofhisprosperity，heconsideredtherankofCaesarasunworthyoftheageandmeritofLicinius，andratherchosetoreserveforhimtheplaceofConstantius，andtheempireoftheWest。WhiletheemperorwasemployedintheItalianwar，heintrustedhisfriendwiththedefenceoftheDanube；andimmediatelyafterhisreturnfromthatunfortunateexpedition，heinvestedLiciniuswiththevacantpurpleofSeverus，resigningtohisimmediatecommandtheprovincesofIllyricum。^29ThenewsofhispromotionwasnosoonercarriedintotheEast，thanMaximin，whogoverned，orratheroppressed，thecountriesofEgyptandSyria，betrayedhisenvyanddiscontent，disdainedtheinferiornameofCaesar，and，notwithstandingtheprayersaswellasargumentsofGalerius，exacted，almostbyviolence，theequaltitleofAugustus。^30Forthefirst，andindeedforthelasttime，theRomanworldwasadministeredbysixemperors。IntheWest，ConstantineandMaxentiusaffectedtoreverencetheirfatherMaximian。IntheEast，LiciniusandMaximinhonoredwithmorerealconsiderationtheirbenefactorGalerius。Theoppositionofinterest，andthememoryofarecentwar，dividedtheempireintotwogreathostilepowers；buttheirmutualfearsproducedanapparenttranquillity，andevenafeignedreconciliation，tillthedeathoftheelderprinces，ofMaximian，andmoreparticularlyofGalerius，gaveanewdirectiontotheviewsandpassionsoftheirsurvivingassociates。
　　[Footnote29:M。deTillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。parti。p。559hasprovedthatLicinius，withoutpassingthroughtheintermediaterankofCaesar，wasdeclaredAugustus，the11thofNovember，A。D。307，afterthereturnofGaleriusfromItaly。]
　　[Footnote30:LactantiusdeM。P。c。32。WhenGaleriusdeclaredLiciniusAugustuswithhimself，hetriedtosatisfyhisyoungerassociates，byinventingforConstantineandMaximinnotMaxentius；seeBaluze，p。81thenewtitleofsonsoftheAugusti。ButwhenMaximinacquaintedhimthathehadbeensalutedAugustusbythearmy，GaleriuswasobligedtoacknowledgehimaswellasConstantine，asequalassociatesintheImperialdignity。]
　　WhenMaximianhadreluctantlyabdicatedtheempire，thevenaloratorsofthetimesapplaudedhisphilosophicmoderation。
　　Whenhisambitionexcited，oratleastencouraged，acivilwar，theyreturnedthankstohisgenerouspatriotism，andgentlycensuredthatloveofeaseandretirementwhichhadwithdrawnhimfromthepublicservice。^31ButitwasimpossiblethatmindslikethoseofMaximianandhissoncouldlongpossessinharmonyanundividedpower。MaxentiusconsideredhimselfasthelegalsovereignofItaly，electedbytheRomansenateandpeople；norwouldheendurethecontrolofhisfather，whoarrogantlydeclaredthatbyhisnameandabilitiestherashyouthhadbeenestablishedonthethrone。ThecausewassolemnlypleadedbeforethePraetorianguards；andthosetroops，whodreadedtheseverityoftheoldemperor，espousedthepartyofMaxentius。^32ThelifeandfreedomofMaximianwere，however，respected，andheretiredfromItalyintoIllyricum，affectingtolamenthispastconduct，andsecretlycontrivingnewmischiefs。ButGalerius，whowaswellacquaintedwithhischaracter，soonobligedhimtoleavehisdominions，andthelastrefugeofthedisappointedMaximianwasthecourtofhisson—in—lawConstantine。^33Hewasreceivedwithrespectbythatartfulprince，andwiththeappearanceoffilialtendernessbytheempressFausta。Thathemightremoveeverysuspicion，heresignedtheImperialpurpleasecondtime，^34
　　professinghimselfatlengthconvincedofthevanityofgreatnessandambition。Hadheperseveredinthisresolution，hemighthaveendedhislifewithlessdignity，indeed，thaninhisfirstretirement，yet，however，withcomfortandreputation。Butthenearprospectofathronebroughtbacktohisremembrancethestatefromwhencehewasfallen，andheresolved，byadesperateefforteithertoreignortoperish。AnincursionoftheFrankshadsummonedConstantine，withapartofhisarmy，tothebanksoftheRhine；theremainderofthetroopswerestationedinthesouthernprovincesofGaul，whichlayexposedtotheenterprisesoftheItalianemperor，andaconsiderabletreasurewasdepositedinthecityofArles。Maximianeithercraftilyinvented，oreasilycredited，avainreportofthedeathofConstantine。
　　Withouthesitationheascendedthethrone，seizedthetreasure，andscatteringitwithhisaccustomedprofusionamongthesoldiers，endeavoredtoawakeintheirmindsthememoryofhisancientdignityandexploits。Beforehecouldestablishhisauthority，orfinishthenegotiationwhichheappearstohaveenteredintowithhissonMaxentius，thecelerityofConstantinedefeatedallhishopes。Onthefirstnewsofhisperfidyandingratitude，thatprincereturnedbyrapidmarchesfromtheRhinetotheSaone，embarkedonthelastmentionedriveratChalons，andatLyonstrustinghimselftotherapidityoftheRhone，arrivedatthegatesofArles，withamilitaryforcewhichitwasimpossibleforMaximiantoresist，andwhichscarcelypermittedhimtotakerefugeintheneighboringcityofMarseilles。Thenarrowneckoflandwhichjoinedthatplacetothecontinentwasfortifiedagainstthebesiegers，whilsttheseawasopen，eitherfortheescapeofMaximian，orforthesuccorofMaxentius，ifthelattershouldchoosetodisguisehisinvasionofGaulunderthehonorablepretenceofdefendingadistressed，or，ashemightallege，aninjuredfather。Apprehensiveofthefatalconsequencesofdelay，Constantinegaveordersforanimmediateassault；butthescaling—ladderswerefoundtooshortfortheheightofthewalls，andMarseillesmighthavesustainedaslongasiegeasitformerlydidagainstthearmsofCaesar，ifthegarrison，consciouseitheroftheirfaultoroftheirdanger，hadnotpurchasedtheirpardonbydeliveringupthecityandthepersonofMaximian。Asecretbutirrevocablesentenceofdeathwaspronouncedagainsttheusurper；heobtainedonlythesamefavorwhichhehadindulgedtoSeverus，anditwaspublishedtotheworld，that，oppressedbytheremorseofhisrepeatedcrimes，hestrangledhimselfwithhisownhands。Afterhehadlosttheassistance，anddisdainedthemoderatecounselsofDiocletian，thesecondperiodofhisactivelifewasaseriesofpubliccalamitiesandpersonalmortifications，whichwereterminated，inaboutthreeyears，byanignominiousdeath。Hedeservedhisfate；butweshouldfindmorereasontoapplaudthehumanityofConstantine，ifhehadsparedanoldman，thebenefactorofhisfather，andthefatherofhiswife。Duringthewholeofthismelancholytransaction，itappearsthatFaustasacrificedthesentimentsofnaturetoherconjugalduties。^35
　　[Footnote31:SeePanegyr。Vet。vi。9。Audidolorisnostriliberamvocem，&c。Thewholepassageisimaginedwithartfulflattery，andexpressedwithaneasyflowofeloquence。]
　　[Footnote32:LactantiusdeM。P。c。28。Zosim。l。ii。p。82。A
　　reportwasspread，thatMaxentiuswasthesonofsomeobscureSyrian，andhadbeensubstitutedbythewifeofMaximianasherownchild。SeeAureliusVictor，Anonym。Valesian，andPanegyr。
　　Vet。ix。3，4。]
　　[Footnote33:Aburbepulsum，abItaliafugatum，abIllyricorepudiatum，provinciis，tuiscopiis，tuopalatiorecepisti。
　　Eumen。inPanegyrVet。vii。14。]
　　[Footnote34:LactantiusdeM。P。c。29。Yet，aftertheresignationofthepurple，ConstantinestillcontinuedtoMaximianthepompandhonorsoftheImperialdignity；andonallpublicoccasionsgavetherighthandplacetohisfather—in—law。
　　Panegyr。Vet。viii。15。]
　　[Footnote35:Zosim。l。ii。p。82。EumeniusinPanegyr。Vet。
　　vii。16—21。Thelatterofthesehasundoubtedlyrepresentedthewholeaffairinthemostfavorablelightforhissovereign。Yetevenfromthispartialnarrativewemayconclude，thattherepeatedclemencyofConstantine，andthereiteratedtreasonsofMaximian，astheyaredescribedbyLactantius，deM。P。c。29，30，andcopiedbythemoderns，aredestituteofanyhistoricalfoundation。
　　Note:Yetsomepaganauthorsrelateandconfirmthem。
　　AureliusVictorspeakingofMaximin，says，cumquespecieofficii，doliscompositis，Constantinumgenerumtentaretacerbe，juretameninterierat。Aur。Vict。deCaesarl。p。623。Eutropiusalsosays，indeadGalliasprofectusestMaximianuscompositotamquamafilioessetexpulsus，utConstantinogenerojungeretur:molienstamenConstantinum，repertaoccasione，interficere，deditjustissimoexitu。Eutrop。x。p。661。Anon。
　　Gent。—G。
　　ThesewritershardlyconfirmmorethanGibbonadmits；hedeniestherepeatedclemencyofConstantine，andthereiteratedtreasonsofMaximianCompareManso，p。302。—M。]
　　ThelastyearsofGaleriuswerelessshamefulandunfortunate；andthoughhehadfilledwithmoreglorythesubordinatestationofCaesarthanthesuperiorrankofAugustus，hepreserved，tillthemomentofhisdeath，thefirstplaceamongtheprincesoftheRomanworld。HesurvivedhisretreatfromItalyaboutfouryears；andwiselyrelinquishinghisviewsofuniversalempire，hedevotedtheremainderofhislifetotheenjoymentofpleasure，andtotheexecutionofsomeworksofpublicutility，amongwhichwemaydistinguishthedischargingintotheDanubethesuperfluouswatersoftheLakePelso，andthecuttingdowntheimmenseforeststhatencompassedit；anoperationworthyofamonarch，sinceitgaveanextensivecountrytotheagricultureofhisPannoniansubjects。^36Hisdeathwasoccasionedbyaverypainfulandlingeringdisorder。Hisbody，swelledbyanintemperatecourseoflifetoanunwieldycorpulence，wascoveredwithulcers，anddevouredbyinnumerableswarmsofthoseinsectswhichhavegiventheirnametoamostloathsomedisease；^37butasGaleriushadoffendedaveryzealousandpowerfulpartyamonghissubjects，hissufferings，insteadofexcitingtheircompassion，havebeencelebratedasthevisibleeffectsofdivinejustice。^38HehadnosoonerexpiredinhispalaceofNicomedia，thanthetwoemperorswhowereindebtedfortheirpurpletohisfavors，begantocollecttheirforces，withtheintentioneitherofdisputing，orofdividing，thedominionswhichhehadleftwithoutamaster。Theywerepersuaded，however，todesistfromtheformerdesign，andtoagreeinthelatter。TheprovincesofAsiafelltotheshareofMaximin，andthoseofEuropeaugmentedtheportionofLicinius。
　　TheHellespontandtheThracianBosphorusformedtheirmutualboundary，andthebanksofthosenarrowseas，whichflowedinthemidstoftheRomanworld，werecoveredwithsoldiers，witharms，andwithfortifications。ThedeathsofMaximianandofGaleriusreducedthenumberofemperorstofour。ThesenseoftheirtrueinterestsoonconnectedLiciniusandConstantine；asecretalliancewasconcludedbetweenMaximinandMaxentius，andtheirunhappysubjectsexpectedwithterrorthebloodyconsequencesoftheirinevitabledissensions，whichwerenolongerrestrainedbythefearortherespectwhichtheyhadentertainedforGalerius。