Emperor in thefe works did not fufficiently confult the fierce difpofitions of the legionaries; and an unguarded expreffion, that on the establifhment of a univerfal peace, he might abolifh the neceffity of a ftanding army, proved fatal to him. In one of the hottest days of fummer, as he feverely urged their toil, the foldiers threw down their tools, grafped their arms, and broke out into a furious mutiny. The Emperor vainly fought refuge in a lofty tower; the doors were forced, and a thousand fwords were plunged into the body of the prince. The rage of the troops was extinguifhed with his life; they lamented their rafhness, and by an honourable monument they erected, perpetuated the fame of his victories. The following epitaph was infcribed on his tomb:-" Here lies "the Emperor Probus, truly deferving the name, a sub"duer of barbarians, and a conqueror of ufurpers."

Upon the death of Probus, Carus, then captain of the guards, was proclaimed Emperor by the army, who, in order to ftrengthen his authority, united his two fons, Carinus and Numerian, with him in command; the former of whom was as much fullied by his vices, as the younger was remarkable for his virtues, modefty, and courage.

The new Emperor had fcarce time to punish the murderers of the late monarch, when he was alarmed by a fresh irruption of the Sarmatians, over whom he gained a fignal victory. The Perfian monarch alfo made fome attempts upon the empire; but Carus affured his ambaffadors, that if their mafter perfifted in his obftinacy, all his fields fhould foọn be as bare as his own bald head; which he shewed them. In confequence of this threat he marched to the walls of Ctefiphon; and a dreadful battle enfuing, he once more gained a compleat victory. What the refult of this fuccefs might have been, is not known, for he was fhortly after ftruck dead, by lightning, in his tent, with many others who were round him.

Numerian, the youngest fon, who accompanied his father in this expedition, was inconfolable for his death, and brought fuch a diforder upon his eyes, with weeping, that he was obliged to be carried along with the army, fhut up in a clofe litter. The peculiarity of his fituation, after fome time, excited the ambition of Aper, his father-in-law, who supposed that he could now, without any great danger, aim at the empire himfelf. He, therefore, hired a mercenary villain to murder the Emperor in his litter; and, the better to conceal the fact, reported that he was still alive, but unable to endure the light. In this manner was the dead body carried about for fome days, Aper continuing to attend it with the utmost appearance of respect, and feeming to take

S 4

orders

orders as ufual. The offenfivenefs, however, of its fmell, at length difcovered the treachery, and excited an univerfal uproar throughout the army. In the midst of this tumult, Diocletian one of the most noted commanders of his time, was chofen Emperor, and with his own hand flew Aper; having thus, as it is faid, fulfilled a prophecy, which de clared, that Diocletian fhould be Emperor after he had flain

a boar.

Carinus, the remaining fon, did not long furvive his fa ther and brother; for giving himself up to his vices, and yet, at the fame time, oppofing the new-made Emperor, the competitors led their forces into Mafia, where Diocletian being victorious, Carinus was flain by a tribune of his own ariny, whofe wife he had formerly infulted.

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CHAP. L.

Partition of the Empire under Diocletian. Refignation of Diocletian and Maximian.-Philofophical Turn of Diocle tian.-Death of Maximian.-Character of Conftantius.

DIOCLETIAN, like Auguftus, may be confidered

as the founder of a new empire. As his reign was more illuftrious than that of any of his predeceffors, fo was his birth more abject and obfcure. His parents had been flaves; nor was he himfeif diftinguished by any other name, than that which he derived from a fmall town in Dalmatia, from whence his mother deduced her origin. A. D. 284. The ftrong claims of merit procured his eleva,

tion.

Confcious that the weight of the empire was too heavy for a fingle perfon to fuftai, Diocletian took in Maximian, his general, as a partner in the fatigues of duty, making him his equal and companion on the throne. Thus mutually aflifting each other, they concurred in promoting the general good and bumbling their enemies. And it must be obferved, that there never was a period, in which there were more nume ous or formidable enemies to oppofe.

Dangerous infurrections, being made in Gaul, Egypt, Africa, and Britain, Diocletian was of opinion, that the 'mpire, affailed on every fide, required on every fide the grefence of an Emperor. He, therefore, refolved again to divide his power, and with the inferior title of Cæfar, to

confer

confer on two generals, of approved merit, an equal share of the fovereign authority. Galerius and Conflantius were the two perfons invefted with the fecond honours of the imperial purple. The manners, country and extraction of Galerius were the fame as thofe of Maximian: the birth of Conftantius excelled that of his colleagues; his father was a confiderable noble of Dardania, and his mother a niece of the Emperor Claudius. A youth fpent in arms, had not changed a difpofition naturally mild and amiable. To ftrengthen the bonds of this union, each of the Einperors affumed the character of a father to one of the Cæfars; Diocletian to Galerius, Maximian to Conftantius; and each, obliging them to repudiate their former wives, bestowed his daughter in marriage on his adopted fon. The defence of Gaul, Spain, and Britain, was entrusted to Conftantius; the banks of the Danube to Galerius; Italy and Africa to Maximian; and Thrace, Egypt, and the rich countries of Afia were referved to Diocletian. Each was fovereign within his own jurifdiction, and their united authority extended over the whole monarchy. This was a ruinous plan of policy; but fuch was the difordered ftate of the empire, that no abilities could apply a proper remedy.

The Perfians, having invaded Mefopotamia, were overcome in a decifive engagement, their camp plundered and taken, and the king's wives and children made prisoners of

war.

The northern Germanic nations ftill remained unfubdued. Thefe were utterly unconquerable, as well upon account. of their favage fiercenefs, as the inhofpitable feverity of the climate and foil from whence they iffued. Conftantly at war with the Romans, they made irruptions, when the armies, fent to reprefs their invafions, were called away; and upon their return, they as fuddenly withdrew into their cold, barren, and inacceffible retreats, which only themfelves could endure. In this manner the Scythians, Goths, Sarinatians, Alani, Carfir, and Quadi, poured down in incredible numbers; while every defeat feemned but to increase their strength and perfeverance, Of thefe, multitudes were taken prifoners, and fent to people the more fouthern parts of the empire: fill greater numbers were deftroyed; and though the reft were driven back to their native forefts, yet they continued ever mindful of their inveterate enmity, and like favage beafts, only remained inactive, till they had licked their wounds for a new encounter.

During this interval, as if the external iniferies of the empire were not fufficient, the tenth and laft perfecution was Tenewed against the Chriftians. This is faid to have ex

ceeded

ceeded all the former in feverity; and fuch was the zeal with which it was purfued, that in an ancient infcription, we are informed, that the government had effaced the name and fuperftition of the Chriftians, and had restored and propagated the worship of the Gods. Their attempts however, were but the malicious efforts of an expiring party; for Christianity foon after was established by law, and triumphed over the malice of all its enemies.

In the midst of the trouble, raised by this perfecntion, and of the contests that ftruck at the external parts of the state, Diocletian and Maximian surprised the world by refigning their dignities on the fame day, and both retiring into private ftations. Hiftorians are much divided concerning the motives that thus induced them to give up those honours which they had purchafed with fo much danger. Some afcribe it to the philofophical turn of Diocletian; and others, to his being difgufted with the obftinacy of his Christian fubjects; but a judicious writer * fays he was compelled to it, as well as his partner, by Galerius, who coming to Nicomedia upon the Emperor's recovery from a great fickness, threatened him with a civil war, in cafe he refufed to refign. Of this, however, we are well affured, that he ftill preferved a dignity of fentiment in his retirement, that might induce us to believe he had no other motive but virtue for his refignation. Having retired to his birth-place, he spent his time in cultivating his garden, affuring his vifitors that then only he began to enjoy the world, when he was thought by the reft of mankind to have forfaken it. Some of his friends attempting to permade him to refume the empire; he replied, that if they knew his prefent happiness, they would rather endeavour to imitate than disturb it. In this contented manner he lived for fome time, and at laft died either by poifon or madness; but this is uncertain. His reign, which continued twenty years, was active and ufeful. His authority, being tinctured with severity, was well. adapted to the depraved ftate of morals at that time.

Maximian, his partner in the empire, and in refignation, was by no means fo well contented with his fituation. He longed once more for power, and disturbed the two fucceeding reigns with vain efforts to refume it; attempting to engage Diocletian in the fame defign. Being obliged to leave Rome, where he had occafioned great confufion, he went over into Gaul, where he was kindly received by Conftantine, then acknowledged Emperor of the weft. But there alfo continuing his intrigues, and endeavouring to force his

Lactantius,

own daughter to deftroy her husband, he was detected, and condemned to die by whatever death he fhould think proper. Lactantius tells us, that he chofe to die by hanging.

As foon as Diocletian and Maximian had refigned the purple, their ftation was filled by A. D. 304. the two Cæfars, Galerius and Conftantius, who immediately affumed the title of Auguftus.

He

The character of Conftantius was truly amiable. was frugal, chafte, and temperate. Being one day reproached by Diocletian's ambaffadors, for his poverty, he only intimated his wants to the people, and, in a few hours, the fums presented him amazed the beh. lders, and exceeded their higheit expectations. "Learn from hence," faid he then to the ambaffadors," that the love of the people is the rich"eft treasure; and that a prince's wealth is never so safe, as "when his people are the guardians of his exchequer."

In the fecond year of his reign, he went over into Britain, and leaving his fon Conftantine as a kind of hoftage, in the court of his partner in the empire, he took up his refidence at York. He there continued in the practice of his ufual virtues, till falling fick, he began to think of a fucceffor. Though his fon was immediately fent for, Conftantius was paft recovery before his arrival. He received him, however, with marks of the utmost affection, and, raifing himfelf in his bed, gave him feveral inftructions, particu larly recommending the Chriftians to his protection. He then bequeathed the empire to his care, and crying out, "That none but the pious Conftantine fhould fucceed him," he expired in his arms.

CHA P. LI.

Conftantine eftablishes Chriftianity. Caufes of its Success. Seat of Empire transferred from Rome to Byzantium.

WH

HEN Conftantine was proclaimed in Britain, his partner, in the einpire was fo much enraged at his advancement, that he was going to condemn the meffenger who brought him the account; but being diffuaded, he feemed to acquiefce in what he could not prevent, and fent him the enfigns of royalty.

After