Belisarius E-Book

Lord Mahon

• Herausgeber: Jovian Press
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1779

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Serving the Byzantine Emperor Justinian during the 6th century A. D., Belisarius defeated a superior Persian force that threatened to extinguish Constantinople; his small army next drove the Vandals out of the ancient Roman provinces of North Africa and forced the Visigoths to retreat from Italy, returning Rome to the Emperor for the final time.

Leseprobe

BELISARIUS

Lord Mahon

JOVIAN PRESS

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Copyright © 2016 by Lord Mahon

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ISBN: 9781537805689

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. BIRTH OF BELISARIUS. JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA

CHAPTER II. THE PERSIAN WARS

CHAPTER III. THE VANDAL WARS

CHAPTER IV. THEODORIC, KING OF THE OSTROGOTHS

CHAPTER V. THE GOTHIC WARS

CHAPTER VI. BELISSARIUS AND ANTONINA

CHAPTER VII. TOTILA

CHAPTER VIII. BULGARIAN WARS AND DEATH OF BELISARIUS

CHAPTER I. BIRTH OF BELISARIUS. JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA

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ATTHEBEGINNINGOFTHEsixthcenturyoftheChristianera,theempireofConstantinoplewas besetwithenemiesandsinkingtodecay.Thetideofbarbarianinvasionhadlatelyoverwhelmed one halfoftheancientprovincesofRome,andtheseconquests,bothbytheireffectandtheirexample, threatened speedydownfalltotherest.Theemperorsbecameeitherhatedfromtheirreforms,or despisedfromtheirincapacity, andineithercasetheirfatewasthesame.Frequentinsurrections wastedtheresourcesofthestate,anddeprived thegovernmentofallenergyandenterprise;whilethe armies,turbulentandfeeble,hadthrownofftherestraintsofmilitarydiscipline.Itisthepurposeof mynarrative, toshowhowthegeniusofonemanavertedthesedangers,andcorrected thesedefects; howthetotteringempirewasupheld;howthesuccessorsofAugustuswereenabled,foratime,to resumetheirformerascendancy, andtowrestfromthehandsofthebarbarianstheirmostimportant possessions.

Belisarius,asProcopiusbrieflytellsus,wasbornatGermania,ontheconfinesofThraceand Illyria.Thenameofhisbirth-placehasawakenedthepatrioticardoroftwolearnedGermans,who laborwithmorezealthansuccess toextort Pannoniafromthewordsofthehistorian,andtoclaim the heroastheircountryman.Germaniaiselsewherementionedasacityofsomeimportance,andas beingin theneighborhoodof Sardica,but its precisepositionisunknown.Itdoes not seemimprobable thatitsname,mayhavebeenderivedfromtheancientsettlement ofsomeGermanfamilies, andthat theforefathersof Belisariusmayhavebeenconnectedinkindredwiththesestrangers.

TheexactageofBelisariusisnotrecorded;butinhisfirstmilitaryenterprise, whichtookplace abouttwoyearsbeforetheaccessionofJustinian,wefindhimtermedbyProcopius, alatelybearded stripling.ThesameexpressionisappliedbythesamehistoriantoPhotiusathisdepartureforthe Gothicwar.NowthemotherofPhotiuswasthenthirty-six yearsofage,andhersoncould,therefore, hardlyhaveexceededtwenty.IfwesupposethistohavebeentheageofBelisariusathisearliest exploit,andfixhisbirthtwentyyearsbefore,[A.D. 505.]weshall,Ithink, approach asnearlytothe truthasourimperfectinformationwillallow.

SomemodernhistoriansdenyBelisariustheadvantageofliberalstudies,andplacehisbirth amongstthepeasantsofhisprovince.YetfromtwopassagesinProcopius,whichhavenothitherto beenobserved,itmaybeconcludedthathewasofnobleblood,andinheritedapatrimonialfortune. He is mentioned as possessing an estate near Constantinople, in the year before the African expedition,when,havingbutverylatelybeenappointedtoanyhighorlucrativestation,he could hardlyhavederivedfromitthemeansofpurchase. Norcouldhehaveacquired thisproperty by marriage, sincehiswife’sfirsthusbandhaddiedpoor.Besides, theGreekwordusedbyProcopiusis almostalwaysappliedexclusivelytothatpropertywhichdescends byhereditaryright.Astothefamily ofBelisarius, wemayremarktheletteraddressedbyPharas,theHerulianprince,tokingGelimerat Papua.“whyshouldyou”,writestheformer,“consider itdisgraceful tobeasubjectofJustinianwith Belisarius andmyself?Thoughwealso,likeyou,areofnoblebirth,wegloryinobeyingso magnanimous a sovereign”. Were not these words entirely conclusive, it might be added that Procopius, inhislater libel,saysnothingoftheparents ofBelisarius,though hegladlycommemorates thoseofhiswife,ascommoncharioteers,thoseoftheemperoraspeasants,andthoseoftheempress ascomedians.Hisanimositywouldcertainlynothaveforgottenorsuppressedacircumstancewhich his prejudiceswouldconsiderignominioustothe hero.

ThatBelisariusheldtheChristianfaithisapparent fromhisspiritualadoptionofTheodosius, andfromthereligiouszeal oftheemperor,whostrictlyexcludedallpagansandhereticsfromoffice.

ThefirststepofBelisariusinhismilitarycareerwasanappointment inthepersonalguardsof Justinian, whileyetheirapparenttothethrone.Since,atthisperiod,theseplaceswereusually bestowedastherewardsoflong service,orofsomeeminentachievement,wemayregardthe choiceof Belisariusasaproofofhisearlypromise.AtConstantinople noopportunities couldariseformilitary fame,andhistoryissilenton hisactions,untilwefindhim promotedto thecommandof asquadronin thePersianwar.ButbeforewefollowBelisariustothebanksoftheEuphrates,itwillbeproperto examinethecompositionoftheByzantine armies,andthefrontiers, administration,andresourcesof, theByzantineempireatthistime.Such information,thoughmostessential,isnoteasily obtained; itis passedoverbythecontemporarywritersasgenerallyknown,andcanonlybegatheredfromtheir shortandscatteredallusions.

AftertheconquestofItalybythebarbarians andthedisuseofitslanguage, itmighthavebeen expectedthatthesubjectsofConstantinoplewouldnolongercallthemselvesRomans.Butthistitle wastooglorioustobesoreadilyrelinquished.IneverysucceedingagetherabbleofGreekarmiesstill boastedoftheirkindredwith theancientlegions;andthenameofRomaniawasappliedtothevarying limitsoftheByzantineterritory,untilithassettledonThrace,towhich theywerelatterly confined.At theaccessionofJustinian, however,theboundariesofhisempirewerenearly thesameasthoseofthe Ottomanatpresent(AD1838).Itsnorthern frontierinEuropewasmarkedbytheDanube; andsome castlesbeyondthatriverweremaintained rathertosecurethepassagethanwithanyviewofulterior possessions.FromtheSave thelineof frontierturnedinwardsto thesouth,meetingtheAdriaticbelow Epidaurus, andboundingtheGothicprovinceofDalmatia.ThewholeterritorybetweenThermopylae andtheDanube wastermed, initseasternportion,Thrace,initswestern,Illyria,or,moreproperly, Illyricum;andthetwoMoesias,whichareseldommentionedinthisage,appeartohavebecome mere subordinate divisionsoftheseprovinces.Thus,therefore,bothThraceandIllyriamustalwaysbe understoodat thisperiodas extendingto the Danube.Thenortherndistrictshadsufferedmost severelyfrombarbarianinroadsduringtheprecedingcentury,andtheirdesolation waswitnessed by Priscus,whenproceedingonhisembassytoAttila.“Wefound”,hesays,“thecityofNaissusnearly subvertedbytheenemy,andforsakenbyallitsinhabitants,exceptafew sickwretches, whohadcrept beneath theruinsofthechurches forshelter. Aswetravelledonwards, wesawthebanksoftheriver thicklystrewedwiththebonesoftheslain”.Somereliefandreposewas,however,affordedtothese unhappyprovinceswhentheemperorsyieldedtheirclaimsonNoricumandPannoniatoTheodoric theGreat.TheOstrogothsthenceforward servedasashieldandbulwarktotheThracianandIllyrian lines.ButthevictoriesoftheRomansinItalyunderBelisariusprovedfataltotheirsecurityonthis frontier.TheGothswithdrewtheir troopsfordomesticdefence,newhoardsofbarbariansrushedinto occupytheirplace,andtheRomans founditnecessary tofortifythepassageoftheDanubewith numerousentrenchments, andtoguarditwithunremitting care.Thekeyoftheirpositionwas Singidunum,or Belgrade,advantageouslysituatedattheconfluenceoftheDanubeandtheSave;ithad beenlaidinashesbytheHuns,butwasrebuiltandstrengthenedbyJustinian.Fromthencetothe Euxine,thesouthernbankwasbristledwithupwardsofsixtyfortresses, eachwasprovided withan adequategarrison, andanofficerappointedtothegeneralinspection andcontrolofall.Such precautions,addedtothewantofboats,keptthebarbarians incheck duringsummer, buttheseverity ofthewintersoftenenabledthemtoeffecttheirpassageontheice.Havingoncecrossedthegreat river, theywithout furtherhindrancesweptovertheopencountry,outstrippedthemarch, orrepulsed theattacksoftheforcessentagainstthem,andreturnedhomewards, ladenwiththeirspoil.Itistrue thatabovefivehundredfortsarepompouslysetforthashavingbeenconstructed orrepairedby Justinian;buttheirverynumberisthemostconvincingproofoftheirweakness,andinmostcases theyprobably consistedofonlyasingletower.Bytheirmeans theapproach oftheenemymightbe discernedfromafar,andthepeasants, crowdingwithinthem,mightsecurelyawaitthepassageof barbarians,impatientofdelay andignorantofsieges. Theinefficiencyofthesefortsinwithholdingthe progressofinvadersisalsomanifestedbytheneedofotherspecial bulwarksfor theGrecianprovinces andByzantinecapital.The defileof Thermopylaewas carefullyfortified;and,incaseitsentrenchments shouldbebroken through, another lineacross theisthmus ofCorinthdefended thePeloponnesus.But theprotectionofConstantinoplewasfatmorecostly andlaborious,becausefarlessassistedbynature. Besidesitsimmediateramparts,theemperorAnastasiusbuilt,andJustinianStrengthened, the celebratedmakronteichos,orLongWall,extendingfromthePropontistotheEuxine.Itsdistance fromthecapitalwasfortymiles,itslengththreescore; itwasflankedwithnumeroustowers,and guardedbyaconstantgarrison. Suchplansfornationalfortifications havebeenoftentried,yetinno countryfromScotland toChina,havetheyeverprovedeffectual; theyarefoundeithertoolimitedfor restraint,or tooextensivefordefence.

FromtheBosphorus, theRomanempirestretchedforseveralhundredmilesalongthecoastof Asia,tillthetownofRhizaeum,belowTrebizond. Herethelineoffrontierturnedroundthewild mountainsoftheZani,andproceededsouthwards,comprehendingthecitiesofTheodosiopolisand Dara,andfollowing thecourseoftheNymphaeustillitsjunctionwiththeTigris,andoftheAborrhas, tillitmettheEuphratesatCircesium.Beyondthelatterriver,thePersianandByzantineterritories wereseparatedbyawideandinhospitable desert,inhabited onlybysomerovingtribesofArabs,who declaredthemselves thealliesofeitherparty,whenevertheyfoundafavorableopportunity for plunderingtheother.TheRomanprovincesofSyria,Palestine,andEgypt,oftenfelt,andalwaysfeared theirrapine;andeventhefearofitprovedfataltoindustryandcultivation, Theruggedandalmost inaccessiblechainof mountainsin thesouthof AsiaMinorboreat thistimethenameof Isauria,which hadformerlybeenappliedtoonlyoneofitsdistricts.Itsinhabitantsdisplayedthecommoncharacter ofmountaineers:impatienceofcontrolandrecklessnessofdanger;andbecamebyturnsthemost destructive enemiesandmostvaliantsoldiersoftheempire.Theirflyingpartieslaidwastetheopen countryfromEphesus toAntioch, andmadeeventheinmateofcitiestremblewithinhiswalls.Often defeated,butneversubdued,theyenrichedthemselveseitherbythesepredatoryvisits,orbyayearly tributeoffivethousandpoundsweightofoldasthepriceoftheirtranquillity;andthissystemhad continuedforagreatnumberofyears[A.D.474—491] whentheircountrymanZenoascendedthe imperialthrone.Thegreatfavorandindulgenceshowntheminthisreignnaturallyproducedtheir disaffectioninthenext,andtheyroseagainstAnastasiusinageneralrebellion,whichcouldnotbe disregardedorforgiven,like their formerhasty inroads.helong andbloodywarwhichensuedbrought abouttheirthoroughsubjection;andunderJustiniantheyformedthefloweroftheRomanarmies.But AsiaMinorhadsufferedfromtheirhavocasseverelyastheeastfromtheSaracens,orThraceand Illyriafrom thebarbariansoftheDanube; andwhentotheseweaddthefrequentexpeditions ofthe Vandals intheAegeanSea,itwillbeperceived thatscarcelyanyRomandistricthadoflatebeenfree fromdesolation,andthattherealstrengthoftheempireattheaccessionofJustinianbynomeans correspondedtothenumberandextentof itsprovinces.

Itisremarkable,thatastheterritoryoftheRomansinthisagenearlyapproachedtothatofthe Turksatpresent,sothetroopsappointedforitsdefence,undereach,werepreciselythesame.The numberofonehundredandfiftythousandmenwasfixedbothbyJustinianandbySolyman;butin thelattercase,thisforcewasrealandeffective, andintheformer,littlemore thananemptysound, whichservedtopleasethevanity,orallaytheapprehensions ofthepeople.Notonehalfthenumber werecertainlyeverenlisted;theywerebarelysufficientto garrisonthefrontiers;and an armyof fifteen ortwentythousandmenforactiveoperations,couldnotbemusteredwithoutgreatdifficultyand delay.Intheannalsofthisage,weareoftenastonished atthesmallnessofthemeanswithwhichthe mostmightywarsareundertakenandwaged,whilst,intheforegoing century,theByzantine empire couldsendforthanexpedition ofonehundredthousandmen.Thechiefrootofthisevilwasthe negligenceandweaknessofJustinian,whooftenallowedtheofficerstosupplytherationsofthearmy, andthepaymasterstolevythetaxesforitsmaintenance.Thus,itmanifestlybecametheinterestof boththeseclasses,tokeepthenumber ofthesoldierfarbelow theirreturns tothegovernment,andto permitfrequentfurloughsfromthemost importantposts,andon themosttriflingoccasions.Justinian endeavoredtorestraintheseabusesbyanedict,buttheywereinherenttotheverynatureofhis militarysystem.

The RomantroopsatthisperiodnolongerboretheslightestresemblancetothoseofScipioorof Caesar.Theverynameoflegionswasdisused.Fromthefoolishvanityofcommanding agreater numberofthesesquadrons,successive emperorshaddiminishedtheminsize,untilfromsixorseven thousandmentheydwindledtoasmanyhundreds.Thus,inthefourth century,wefindthedefence of asingle,citycommittedto sevenlegions.In thefifth,thatnameisappliedto abodyof twelvehundred, andtoanother ofonlyeighthundredmen,andinthetimeofBelisariusithadaltogetherdisappeared. Itwasnotuncommon atthisperiodtodividethetroopsaccording totheirbirth-place ornation;and thus,forexample, theIsaurians,insteadofbeingdraughted intotheothersquadronsoftheempire, marchedbeneathaseparatestandard. Thispolicy,thefirstgermofthefeudalsysteminthemiddle ages,destroyedallunityoffeelingamongthetroopsasbrotherRomans,andallunityofdiscipline as fellowsoldiers, andrenderedthemmorelikeanassemblage ofalliesthanthearmyofasinglepower. Thefloweroftheforcesconsistedofthedoryphoriorguards,whowereattached,notmerelytothe personoftheemperor,buttothatofeverygeneralorofficerofdistinction, andwho,ineithercase, werehighlyhonoredandcarefullyselected.Thispostwasconferred onthosemostdistinguished for strengthandstature,even fromamongstthe captivesmadeinwar,andwasoftenassignedtoveterans astherewardofsomeeminent exploit.Alargerpaywasbestowedonthemthanontheothersoldiers; theirarmsweremorecomplete;andtheirchargers(theywerealwayshorsemen)wereequallyfitted forclosecombatorlongjourneys.Thebestofficers ofthiscenturyweretrainedamongstthesetroops. Besidestheirgeneraloathoffidelitytothestate,theyboundthemselves byaparticularobligation to theirchiefor patron,and weretermedhis household,aphraseanalogousto thatofmaisonmilitairein modernFrance.Thoseoftheemperorborethenameoftheschools,andamounted onlytothree thousandfivehundredsoldiers,tillJustinianaddedtwothousandtotheirnumber.Yettheywere neversoweakasinhisreign.Underformergovernments,wheneachguardsmanwaschosenformerit, theyformedabandofironveterans, alastresource againstbarbarian invaders,andtheirdisciplined valormighthavetriumphedovertenfoldantagonists.ItwastheemperorZenowhofirst brokethrough theancientorder,bygrantingthispromotiontomanyofhisIsauriancountrymen,moreremarkable forattachment tohispersonthanfortheirservicetothestate.ButinthelatteryearsofJustinianthe tideofcorruption overflowedallbounds.Commissionsintheschoolswereexposedtopublicsale,the highest bidderwasesteemedthebravestsoldier,andtheseposts wereeagerlypurchasedbyunwarlike citizens,desirousofexemptionfromcivildutieswithoutincurringmilitarydangers.Thusthehardy veterans, the Armenian and Isaurian mountaineers, were replaced by lazy townsmen unable to wield theirownweapons;andthusitwillbeseeninthesequel,thatwhenthebarbarianshadforcedthe LongWallandwereadvancingtothecapital,thesetroopscouldmakenoeffortsforitsrescue,and scarcelysurpassedincourageorexertiontheterrifiedcrowdofwomenandofchildren.

Inthedaysoftheancient republic thechiefstrength ofthelegionconsisted ofitsfootsoldiers, andincomparison withthemthecavalrywasneglected anddespised.Infact,itistothedeficiencyof theRomansinthisbranchofmilitaryservice thatPolybiusascribes theirfrequentreversesinthe second Punic war.The barbarians of the north on the contrary, considered horsemen the most honorable;andthe imperialmercenariessoon spreadamongsttheRomansaprejudicesoagreeableto thedeclineofmilitaryvigor.Accordingly, inthereignofJustinian,allthebesttroopsweremounted, andtheinfantryhaddwindledtoasmallandsubordinate band.Itistrue,thatononeoccasion(the Africanexpedition)wefindthemexceedthecavalryinnumbers, butthismayprobablybeascribedto thecostanddifficultyoftransporting horsesonsolongavoyage. Inmostcasesthefootsoldierswere notmerelyinferiorinnumberattheoutsetofeachcampaign,but,asProcopiustellsus,theyoften diminishedduringits progress,becausethecaptureofhorsesfromtheenemyenabledthemto jointhe morepopularandeasyservice.Theirofficersseldomcondescendedtosharetheirfatigues,butlooked upontheirrankasaprivilegeto ride,and it willreadilybe imaginedhow hurtfulan effectthisexample producedamongthesubalterns.Like mostmen,whenunjustlycontemned,theysoonsunkto thelevel oftheirreputation;anditwasonlybythecareofBelisarius,thattheyinsome degreeretrievedit.The sameprincipleofindolenceandrelaxation,whichtransformedtheByzantinetroopstohorsemen,also inducedthemtolayasidetheweighty weaponsoftheir forefathers.Theirchief relianceinthisagewas placeduponthebow;andasarcherstheywerelessexpertthanthePersians,butmoresothanthe Goths. Forclosecombateverysoldierwasprovidedwithasword, andthiswastheonlyweapon which theguards retainedwhenstationed inapeacefulcity.Inthefieldtheguardsappeartohavebeen distinguishedbythespecialuseofthelance.Eachhorsemanboreashield,andhispersonwasstill furtherprotectedby greaves,acuirass,andahelmet.

ThedecliningstrengthandspiritoftheRomansoldiershadintroducedtheuseofbarbarian mercenariesataveryearlyperiod;anditwasobserved, eveninthereignofTiberius, thatthevigorof thearmieswasdrawnfromforeignersalone. Butthisdangerousresourcewasatfirstconfinedto narrowbounds,mostoftheseleviesbeingcompelledtoadoptthedisciplineandfollowtheranksofthe legions; and the subsequent error, of permitting them to form in separate squadrons, and to outnumberthenativetroops,wasglaringandfatal.UnderJustinianitwasthoughtprudenttodistrust, butnecessarytoemploy,them.Theseauxiliarieswereobtainedeitherbyapublictreatywiththe nationtowhichtheybelonged,orbytheallurementsheldouttoprivateambition. Intheformercase theyservedonlyforaparticularperiod,inthelattertheywereconsideredaspermanent troopsofthe empire,andineithertheyborethenameoffederates. Amongsttheforemostofthese,werethe Massagetesor Huns,dwellingto thenorthwardof theCaucasus:theywereremarkablefortheirskillin horsemanshipandarchery.TheHeruliwerelikewisemounted,and,beingalmostunencumberedwith defensivearmor,wereextremely usefulaslightcavalry;buttheyarerepresentedbyProcopius asthe mostdrunkenanddeceitfulofallthebarbarian tribes.ApartofthecountrybeyondtheDanubewas theirnativeseat,theyhadoftendesolatedtheRomanprovinces withtheirincursions, andhad rendered tributary to them even the aspiring nation of the Lombards; but, at the accession of Justinian,theirpreeminence hadgreatlydeclined.Anyofthesebarbarians, whenjoiningaByzantine army,marchedundertheirownnationalbanner,werecommanded bytheirownofficers,and commonlyadheredtothemilitaryregulationsoftheircountrymen.Itwasonlywithgreatdifficulty, andthroughsomesevereexamples, thatBelisariussucceededinrenderingtheminsomedegree amenabletothelawsofRomandiscipline.The inefficiencyofsuch mingledanddiscordantforces,and the difficultyofunitingthemtoone commonend,have been feltin everyage; andnothingtendsmore stronglytoenhancethe conquestsofBelisarius,thantoview astructuresoexpensiveraised from such slendermaterials.

InthereignofConstantinetheGreat,theRomantroopshadbeenrankedintwoclasses:the limitanei,whoguardedthefrontiers;andthe comitatenses,whoattendedthesovereignandundertook anymilitaryenterprise.Butthisdistinctionappearssoontohavebecomenominalandempty;and thoughsomefainttraceofitmaystillbe found in theedictsof Justinian,noneappearintherecordsof hiswars.Thesystemofpayat thislatterperiodwasfoundedon judiciouspolicy,and mightperhapsbe advantageouslyappliedinmoderntimes.Asmallstipendwasallowedtothenewlyleviedsoldier,but itgradually increasedaccordingtohistermofservice;andtheveteranwasenabled,notmerely tolive inopulence, buttobequeathsomemoney tohisheirs.Agifttoeachsoldier,offivepiecesofgold,was alsousuallymadeonceinasmanyyears;butJustinianaltogethersuppressedthisindulgence,atthe veryperiod whenthevictories oftheRomanarmyseemedmosttodeservehisliberality.Thetroops might have borne the loss of their donative;but the avariceand negligenceof the emperor,in withholdingtheirregularpay,loosenedtheonlytiebywhichmilitaryobediencecanbesecured,or even claimed. Such arrears, which we find constantly recurring in the annals of this reign, counteracted theeffortsofBelisariusfortherestorationormaintenance ofdiscipline,whilethe disaffectionofthesoldierswasdisplayed,sometimesinloudcomplaints, andsometimesinsecret conspiraciesLargebodiesofdesertersenlistedinthePersianandGothicranks,from nootherground; andtheremainderwerereducedtoastateofpovertywhichcompelledthemtoplundertheprovincials, andwhichtherebyimpairedboththeirgoodorderand theirpopularity.

SuchwasthestateoftheByzantineempireattheaccessionofJustintheFirst.(AD518).By birthanIllyrian peasant,byprofessionasoldier,Justinhaddistinguishedhimself intheIsaurianwar, andhadgraduallyattainedthepostofcommandertotheimperialguards. Alreadyinthedotage ofhis faculties,hehadlongsurvivedthemilitarydaringtowhichheowedhisreputationandhisrise.His educationhad,ofcourse,beenneglected,andhisignorancewassuch, thathissignaturecouldonlybe obtainedbymeansofawoodencase,whichdirectedhispenthroughthefourfirstlettersofhisname. Unpractisedinbusiness,yetjealousofauthority,hewasequallyunabletoreignortoresign.Fromthe veryfirst,thechiefadministrationofaffairsdevolvedonJustinian,hisnephewandintendedheir, whomhewasreluctantlycompelledtoraiseupfromofficetooffice,andatlengthtoacknowledgeas hispartner onthethrone.Hisdeath, afteralanguidreignofnine years,andalifeofnearlyfourscore, leftJustiniansolesovereign,in nameaswellasinfact.

Incomparingthenewemperorwithhisillustriouscontemporariesat RavennaandatCtesiphon, itmayheremarked thattheirveryunequalmerithasbeenalmostequallyrewarded byfame.The memoryofJustinianisadoredbythecivillawyers,Theodoricjetlivesintherusticsongsandlegends of hiscountrymen,and theEasternhistorianscelebrateNushirvanasthegreatestand mostgloriousof theirsovereigns. Bytheirabsolutepower,allthreepossessed themeans,bythelengthoftheirreigns theleisure,foreffectinganyplansofconquestorreform.Yetitwillbefound,thatwhilethekingsof PersiaandofItalywereindebtedtotheirownachievementsforrenown,theRomanemperoronly shinesasageneral orlegislatorthrough theborrowedlightofBelisariusandTribonian.Hismindwas essentiallyfeeble,andboretheappearance officklenessandinconsistency, becauseitcouldformno opinions ofitsown, andwascompelledtoleanonothersfordirection andsupport.Tohimthelast adviseralwaysseemedthewisest,and theabsentalwaysinthewrong.From henceproceededhisfears andsuspicionswithregardtoBelisarius, oftencheckedbytheaspectofthehero,butconstantly reviving inhisabsence, andwhichnolengthofservice,notrialoffidelity, weresufficient todestroy. ThereligionofJustinianwassincereandfervent,but,ascommonlyhappenstoaweakunderstanding, waslessfruitfulofvirtues thanofritesandforms. While hecarried hisfastsandvigilstotheutmost extentofmonkishself-denial,hedirectedtheassassination ofVitalian,towhomhehadlatelysworn upontheEucharistthefriendshipofabrother.Hispersecutionsofallheretics,allJews,andevenof thesmallremnantofPagans,andthedesolationofPalestine,bygoadingtheSamaritans intorevolt, maybepartlyexcusedbytheintolerantspiritoftheage,butcertainlyoutstrippeditinfierceness,and appearridiculous aswellashateful,sincethisscourgeofhereticsbecame,inhisdotage,aheretic himself.

Thedefectofhisjudgment inbusinessmaybecompared tothefalsecoloringofanunskillful painter,bywhichallthepartsofalandscapeseemequallyremoved.Inaimingatdifferentobjects, hedidnotconsidertheirrelativeimportance,butpursuedtheslightestwiththesamezealandenergy asthemostmomentous.Thebuildingofachurch atConst