A General History of Rome: From the Foundation of the City to the Fall of ... - Charles Merivale - Google Libros

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the army becomes really predominant. The provincials gradually admit-

ted to citizenship.-Edicts of Hadrian and Caracalla.-Roman jurispru-

dence tends to place all the population under one law.-Philosophy teaches

that all men are equal.-Eclectic spirit in religion.-Christianity except-

ed from general toleration.-The Pagan persecutions.-Elagabalus, priest

of the Sun at Edessa, put forward as emperor.-Macrinus defeated and

slain.-Elagabalus slain by the prætorians.-Reign of Alexander Severus.

-His amiable and intelligent character.-He is killed in a mutiny, and

succeeded by Maximin the Thracian. (A.D. 217-235.)......... Page 555

The barbarian confederations.-The Franks; the Alemanni.-Irruption into

Italy. The Goths cross the Euxine and ravage Asia Minor and Greece.

-The Persian monarchy of the Sassanidæ.—The Saracens and other East-

ern hordes.-Brigandage and general insecurity.-The two Gordians.—

Maximus and Balbinus.-Maximin murdered by his own soldiers.-The

third Gordian made emperor.-Succeeded by Philip the Arabian, who is

slain by Decius.-His persecution of the Christians.-He is killed in war

with the Goths.-Gallus is appointed emperor, and quickly murdered.—

Rapid succession of emperors.-Valerian and his son Gallienus.—The

tyrants.-Aureolus.—Claudius.—Aurelian.—Tacitus.—Probus. —

Carinus.-Diocletian. (A.D. 235-284.).

The epoch of Diocletian.-The empire reconstituted on the basis of an Ori-

ental monarchy.-The division of the empire with Maximianus, and sub-

division with Galerius and Constantius Chlorus.-The two Augusti and

two Cæsars connected together by family alliances.-The empire victori-

ous in every quarter.-Diocletian resigns his power and retires to a private

station (A.D. 305).—Maximian is induced to follow his example.-Inte-

rior disturbances during this reign.-The insurrection of the Bagaudæ in

Gaul.-Wretched state of the population. --Oppressive taxation.-Perse-

cution of the Christians.-Diocletian joins in it with reluctance.-Con-

stantius stands aloof from it.-Failure of the persecution. (A.D. 284–

305.)....

574

Division of the empire after Diocletian.-Constantine, son of Constantius,

saluted emperor by his soldiers.-His contest with Maxentius.- Battle of

the Milvian bridge.-Edict of Milan, and toleration of the Christians.—

Constantine forms an alliance with Licinius.-Jealousy between them.—

Constantine's position towards the Christian Church.-Councils at Rome

and at Arles.-Persecution of the Donatists.-The Circumcelliones.-

Quarrel between Constantine and Licinius.-Defeat and death of Licinius.

-Constantine sole emperor.-His increasing favor towards the Christians.

-He puts to death his son Crispus.-Council of Nicæa. -Foundation of

Constantinople.-Constantine's baptism, on his death-bed, and deification

by the Pagans. (A.D. 305-337.).......

Constantinople becomes the real capital of the empire.-Contrast between

the moral influence of the old and the new city.-Constantinople the cen-

tre of law and of military government.-Division of the empire between

the three sons of Constantine the Great.-Fall of Constantine and Con-

stans; Constantius becomes sole emperor.-View of Paganism and of

Christianity at Rome.-Visit of Constantius. He requires the Pope Libe-

rius to condemn Athanasius.-On his refusal he thrusts Felix into the

Roman see. Resentment and violence of the Christians, and cession

of Felix.-Council of Ariminum.-Death of Constantius. (A.D. 337-

261.).....
Page 591

CHAPTER LXXIII.

Childhood and youth of Julian.-He succeeds to the purple on the death of

Constantius. His apostasy from the Christian faith, and attempt to re-

vive the Pagan worship.-His campaign against the Persians; his vic-

tory and death, A.D. 363.-The progress of the Church under Constantine

and his successors.-The rival faiths placed on a footing of equality.—

Conversions to Christianity, and special hinderances to the spread of the

true religion.-Julian's attempts to overthrow it by argument and ridicule.

-He closes the schools against its disciples.-Frustration of his attempt

to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.-His efforts to animate Paganism

with a spirit of morality derided by the Pagans themselves.-Christianity

advances, Paganism declines....

Succession of Jovian.-Abandonment of the provinces beyond the Tigris.—

Succession of Valentinian I. in the West and Valens in the East.-Final

division of the empire.-State of religion and progress of Christianity at

Rome.-Contest for the bishopric of Rome.-Triumph of Damasus.-Suc-

cession of Gratian in the West and association with him of Valentinian II.

-Influence of Ambrosius, bishop of Milan.-The statue of Victory removed

from the Senate-house.-Rival orations of Symmachus and Ambrosius.-

Death of Valens and appointment of Theodosius I. in the East.-Revolt of

Maximus and death of Gratian. (A.D. 363-383.).......
610

Theodosius overthrows Maximus and visits Rome.-Authority assumed by

Arbogastes. He murders Valentinian II., and places Eugenius on the

throne of the West.-Last attempt to revive Paganism.-Theodosius over-

comes Eugenius, closes the temples, and suppresses the priesthoods.-His

death, A.D. 395.-The power of the Church as asserted by Ambrose against

Theodosius.-Review of events on the Danube.-Irruption of the Goths.-

Death of Valens, A. D. 378.-Arcadius and Honorius emperors, and their

ministers Rufinus and Stilicho.-The Goths under Alaric ravage Greece.

-Stilicho drives them back.-Alaric establishes himself in Illyria.-He

invades Italy.-Victories of Stilicho at Pollentia and Verona, A.D. 403.—

Honorius triumphs at Rome. -Martyrdom of Telemachus, and suppres-

sion of the gladiatorial shows. - Stilicho overthrows the Gothic chief

Radagæsas, A.D. 406, and is himself assassinated by order of Honorius.

(A.D. 383-403.)....

Alaric advances against Rome.—Attempt to revive the Etruscan rites.-Rome

capitulates and pays a ransom to the Goths.-Honorius persecutes the

heretics. The people of Rome show favor to the Pagans.-Alaric re-

duces Rome a second time, and sets up Attalus as emperor under him.

He enters and plunders Rome, but respects the sanctuaries of the

Christian churches.-Death of Alaric and retreat of the Goths.-Rome

becomes completely Christian. - Remarks on the moral effect of the

fall of Rome.-Augustine's "City of God."-Corruption of the Christian

CHAPTER LXXVII.

The Western provinces become generally independent of the empire.-Roman

culture lingers in Gaul and Spain.-The Visigoths and Burgundians settle

in Gaul.-Revolt and fall of Heraclianus in Africa.-Kingdom of the Visi-

goths in the North of Spain.-Honorius is supported by his general Con-

stantius, whose son, Valentinian III., succeeds to the empire under the

agency of his mother Placidia.—Aetius the patrician, "the last of the Ro-

."-Treason of Count Bonifacius.-Genseric and the Vandals invited

into Africa, which they subdue.—Attila and the Huns invade Gaul, and

are repulsed by Aetius.-Battle of Chalons, A. D. 451.-Massacre at Cologne.

-Attila invades Italy.-Leo the pope saves Rome.-Death of Attila.-Val-

entinian assassinates Aetius.-Maximus emperor.-The empress Eudoxia

invites Genseric to attack Italy.-Sack of Rome by the Vandals, A.D. 455.

-Avitus emperor.-Ricimer the Sueve bestows the purple first on Majori-

anus, afterwards on Severus.-The empire now limited to Italy only. --The

emperor Anthemius supposed to have leaned towards the Pagans.-Ricimer

captures Rome for the third time, A.D. 472.-He makes Glycerius emperor,

and lastly Romulus, surnamed Augustulus.-The barbarian Odoacer ex-

tinguishes the empire of the West, A. D. 476....

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

History of the City of Rome.-1. Period of the kings and the Republic.-The

Palatine Hill and Roma Quadrata.—The Aventine and other hills.-The

Capitoline or Tarpeian.-The Arx and the Temple of Jupiter.-Etruscan

structures and walls of Servius.-The valleys and streets of the city.-The

Triumphal and Sacred Way.-The Forum Romanum.-The Velabrum.—

The dwellings of the people; their temples, theatres, and other public build-

ings. The aqueducts.-The Capitol in the time of the Republic..... 656

History of the City of Rome.-2. Period of the Empire.-Extension of the

Roman Forum by Julius Cæsar.-His further architectural plans not exe-

cuted.-Augustus continues the restoration and embellishment of the city.

-Materials of which the buildings of Rome were made.-The house of

Augustus on the Palatine.-Subsequent enlargement of the palace by Ti-

berius and Caligula.-Caligula's bridge across the Velabrum.-The "Gold-

en house" of Nero.-Burning and rebuilding of the city in the Greek style.

-Vespasian restores the Capitol and erects the Colosseum.-Baths and

Arch of Titus.-Equestrian statue of Domitian.-Buildings of Trajan and

Hadrian.-Columns of Trajan and the Antonines.-Septizonium of Seve-

rus.-Baths of Caracalla.-Walls of Aurelian.-Temple of the Sun.-Con-

structions of Maxentius and Constantine.-Repair of the walls by Hono-

rius. Extent and estimated population of the city.-Decline of Rome after

the building of Constantinople.-Rome pillaged by Alaric; captured by

Genseric and by Ricimer.-Temples converted into Christian churches.-

Rome eventually ruined by the loss of its population............ Page 666

Reflections upon the history of Rome.-Destruction of the ancient civilizations

of Etruria and Carthage, and survival of that of Greece.-Intercommunion

of races secured by the Mediterranean Sea. I. Material results of the

Roman dominion: Progress of the nations in wealth and culture; Africa,

Spain, Gaul, Britain.—Peaceful submission of the Western nations.-Ease

and opulence of the East.-Causes of gradual decline and depopulation:

1. Exhaustion caused by unceasing warfare on the frontiers. 2. Mischiev-

ous fiscal system of the Romans. 3. Fatal effects of slavery.-The Com-

monwealth no less responsible for these evils than the Empire. II. Moral

results: 1. Preservation of Greek literature for after-ages. 2. Protection

from the ruin threatened by the dissolution of the Macedonian empire.—

The "Peace of Rome" and the Laws of Rome. 3. Preparation for the

reception of Christianity.-Progress of moral principles and teaching.—

Establishment of the Christian standard of virtue...

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