按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to give up the possession of it to others； as a charge full of danger
and expense； and sometimes； without his permission； the Romans； seeing
themselves so abandoned； created an emperor for their defense； or
suffered some one to usurp the dominion。 This occurred at the period
of which we now speak； when Maximus； a Roman； after the death of
Valentinian； seized the government； and compelled Eudocia； widow of
the late emperor； to take him for her husband； but she； being of
imperial blood； scorned the connection of a private citizen； and being
anxious to avenge herself for the insult； secretly persuaded Genseric；
king of the Vandals and master of Africa to come to Italy；
representing to him the advantage he would derive from the
undertaking； and the facility with which it might be accomplished。
Tempted by the hope of booty； he came immediately； and finding Rome
abandoned； plundered the city during fourteen days。 He also ravaged
many other places in Italy； and then； loaded with wealth； withdrew to
Africa。 The Romans； having returned to their city； and Maximus being
dead； elected Avitus； a Roman； as his successor。 After this； several
important events occurred both in Italy and in the countries beyond；
and after the deaths of many emperors the empire of Constantinople
devolved upon Zeno； and that of Rome upon Orestes and Augustulus his
son； who obtained the sovereignty by fraud。 While they were designing
to hold by force what they had obtained by treachery； the Eruli and
the Turingi； who； after the death of Attila； as before remarked； had
established themselves upon the farther bank of the Danube； united in
a league and invaded Italy under Odoacer their general。 Into the
districts which they left unoccupied； the Longobardi or Lombards； also
a northern people； entered； led by Godogo their king。 Odoacer
conquered and slew Orestes near Pavia； but Augustulus escaped。 After
this victory； that Rome might； with her change of power； also change
her title； Odoacer； instead of using the imperial name； caused himself
to be declared king of Rome。 He was the first of those leaders who at
this period overran the world and thought of settling in Italy； for
the others； either from fear that they should not be able to hold the
country； knowing that it might easily be relieved by the eastern
emperors； or from some unknown cause； after plundering her； sought
other countries wherein to establish themselves。
CHAPTER II
State of the Roman empire under ZenoTheodoric king of the
OstrogothsCharacter of TheodoricChanges in the Roman empire
New languagesNew namesTheodoric diesBelisarius in Italy
Totila takes RomeNarses destroys the GothsNew form of
Government in ItalyNarses invites the Lombards into ItalyThe
Lombards change the form of government。
At this time the ancient Roman empire was governed by the following
princes： Zeno； reigning in Constantinople； commanded the whole of the
eastern empire； the Ostrogoths ruled Mesia and Pannonia； the
Visigoths； Suavi； and Alans； held Gascony and Spain； the Vandals；
Africa； the Franks and Burgundians； France； and the Eruli and Turingi；
Italy。 The kingdom of the Ostrogoths had descended to Theodoric；
nephew of Velamir； who； being on terms of friendship with Zeno the
eastern emperor； wrote to him that his Ostrogoths thought it an
injustice that they； being superior in valor to the people thereabout；
should be inferior to them in dominion； and that it was impossible for
him to restrain them within the limits of Pannonia。 So； seeing himself
under the necessity of allowing them to take arms and go in search of
new abodes； he wished first to acquaint Zeno with it； in order that he
might provide for them； by granting some country in which they might
establish themselves； by his good favor with greater propriety and
convenience。 Zeno； partly from fear and partly from a desire to drive
Odoacer out of Italy； gave Theodoric permission to lead his people
against him； and take possession of the country。 Leaving his friends
the Zepidi in Pannonia； Theodoric marched into Italy； slew Odoacer and
his son； and； moved by the same reasons which had induced Valentinian
to do so； established his court at Ravenna； and like Odoacer took the
title of king of Italy。
Theodoric possessed great talents both for war and peace； in the
former he was always conqueror； and in the latter he conferred very
great benefits upon the cities and people under him。 He distributed
the Ostrogoths over the country； each district under its leader； that
he might more conveniently command them in war； and govern them in
peace。 He enlarged Ravenna； restored Rome； and； with the exception of
military discipline； conferred upon the Romans every honor。 He kept
within their proper bounds； wholly by the influence of his character；
all the barbarian kings who occupied the empire； he built towns and
fortresses between the point of the Adriatic and the Alps； in order；
with the greater facility； to impede the passage of any new hordes of
barbarians who might design to assail Italy； and if； toward the latter
end of his life； so many virtues had not been sullied by acts of
cruelty； caused by various jealousies of his people； such as the death
of Symmachus and Boethius； men of great holiness； every point of his
character would have deserved the highest praise。 By his virtue and
goodness； not only Rome and Italy； but every part of the western
empire； freed from the continual troubles which they had suffered from
the frequent influx of barbarians； acquired new vigor； and began to
live in an orderly and civilized manner。 For surely if any times were
truly miserable for Italy and the provinces overrun by the barbarians；
they were those which occurred from Arcadius and Honorius to
Theodoric。 If we only consider the evils which arise to a republic or
a kingdom by a change of prince or of government； not by foreign
interference； but by civil discord （in which we may see how even
slight variations suffice to ruin the most powerful kingdoms or
states）； we may then easily imagine how much Italy and the other Roman
provinces suffered； when they not only changed their forms of
government and their princes； but also their laws； customs； modes of
living； religion； language； and name。 Any one of such changes； by
itself； without being united with others； might； with thinking of it；
to say nothing of the seeing and suffering； infuse terror into the
strongest minds。
From these causes proceeded the ruin as well as the origin and
extension of many cities。 Among those which were ruined were Aquileia；
Luni； Chiusi； Popolonia； Fiesole； and many others。 The new cities were
Venice； Sienna； Ferrara； Aquila； with many towns and castles which for
brevity we omit。 Those which became extended were Florence； Genoa；
Pisa； Milan； Naples； and Bologna； to all of which may be added； the
ruin and restoration of Rome； and of many other cities not previously
mentioned。
From this devastation and new population arose new languages； as we
see in the different dialects of France； Spain and Italy； which；
partaking of the native idiom of the new people and of the old Roman；
formed a new manner of discourse。 Besides； not only were the names of
provinces changed； but also of lakes； rivers； seas； and men； for
France； Spain； and Italy are full of fresh names； wholly different
from the ancient； as； omitting many others； we see that the Po； the
Garda； the Archipelago； are names quite different from those which the
ancients used； while instead of C鎠ar and Pompey we have Peter；
Matthew； John； etc。
Among so many variations； that of religion was not of little
importance； for； while combating the customs of the ancient faith with
the miracles of the new； very serious troubles and discords were
created among men。 And if the Christians had been united in one faith；
fewer disorders would have followed； but the contentions among
themselves； of the churches of Rome； Greece； and Ravenna； joined to
those of the heretic sects with the Catholics； served in many ways to
render the world miserable。 Africa is a proof of this； having suffered
more horrors from the Arian sect； whose doctrines were believed by the
Vandals； than from any avarice or natural cruelty of the people
themselves。 Living amid so many persecutions； the countenances of men
bore witness of the terrible impressions upon their minds； for besides
the evils they suffered from the disordered state of the world； they
scarcely could have recourse to the help of God； in whom the unhappy
hope for relief； for the greater part of them； being uncertain what
divinity they ought to address； died miserably； without help and
without hope。
Having been the first who put a stop to so many evils； Theodoric
deserves the highest praise： for during the thirty…eight years he
reigned in Italy； he brought the country to such a state of greatness
that her previous