two Cæsars were universally acknowledged as their successors. They agreed to divide the empire, Constantius being appointed to govern the western parts; namely, Italy, Sicily, the greatest part of Africa, together with Spain, Gaul, Britain, and Germany: Galerius had the eastern parts; to wit, Illyricum, Pannonia, Thrace, Macedonia, all the provinces of Greece, and the Lesser Asia, with Egypt, Syria, Judea, and all the countries eastward. The greatness of the division, however, soon induced the emperors to take in two partners more, Severus and Maximin, who were made Cæsars, and assisted in the conducting of affairs: so that the empire now was under the guidance of four persons, all invested with supreme authority. We are informed but of few particulars of the reign of Constantius, except a detail of his character, which appears in every light most amiable. In the second year of his reign he went over into Britain; and, leaving his son Constantine as a kind of hostage in the court of his partner in the empire, took up his residence at York. Here, when ill past recovery, he sent for him, and, raising himself up in his bed, gave him his dying instructions. In the mean time Galerius, Constantius's partner, being informed of Constantine's advancement, testified the most ungovernable rage; declaring Severus emperor in opposition. About this time also another pretender to the empire started up. This was Maxentius, who was very much favored by the soldiers, whom he permitted to pillage at discretion. To oppose Maxentius Severus led a numerous army towards Rome; but his soldiers, considering against whom they were to fight, immediately abandoned him. To revenge his death Galerius marched into Italy, resolving to destroy the whole senate. His soldiers however, upon approaching the capital, began to waver; when he had recourse to entreaties, imploring them not to abandon him; and, retiring, made Licinius, the son of a poor laborer in Dacia, Cæsar, in the room of Severus. Soon after he was seized with a disorder which baffled all the skill of his physicians, and carried him off after he had languished in torments for nearly a year. His cruelty to the Christians was one of the many crimes alleged against him; but he abated much of his severities against them in his illness.

MAXENTIUS.-Constantine, being thus delivered from his greatest opponent, now possessed more power than any of his rivals. The empire was at that time divided between him and three others: Maxentius, who governed in Rome, a person of a cruel disposition, and a stedfast supporter of paganism; Licinius, who was adopted by Galerius, and commanded in the east; and Maximin, who had formerly been declared Cæsar with Severus, and who also governed some of the eastern provinces. For some time all things seemed to wear a peaceful appearance: till either ambition or the tyrannical conduct of Maxentius induced Constantine to engage in an expedition to expel that commander from Rome, and to make the proper preparations for marching into Italy. Upon this occasion he formed a resolution which produced a mighty change in the politics as well as the morals of mankind, and gave

a new turn to the councils of the wise and the pursuits of the ambitious. See in his life, article CONSTANTINE, the account of his conversion to Christianity. After this he consulted with several of the principal teachers of Christianity, and made a public avowal of that persuasion, thus attaching to his interest his soldiers, who were mostly Christians. He lost no time in entering Italy with 90,000 foot and 8000 horse; and soon advanced to the very gates of Rome. Maxentius, who had long given himself up to ease and debaucheries, now began to make preparations when it was too late. He first put in practice all the superstitious rites which paganism taught to be necessary; and then consulted the Sibylline books, whence he was informed that on that day the great enemy of Rome should perish. This prediction, which was equivocal, he applied to Constantine; wherefore, leaving all things in the best posture, he advanced from the city with an army of 100,000 foot and 18,000 horse. The engagement was for some time fierce and bloody: till, his cavalry being routed, victory declared upon the side of his opponent, and he himself was drowned in his flight by the breaking down of a bridge, as he attempted to cross the river Tiber. Constantine, in consequence of this victory, entering the city, disclaimed all the praises which the senate and people were ready to offer, ascribing his success to a superior power. He even caused the cross, which he was said to have seen in the heavens, to be placed at the right of all his statues, with this inscription: "That, under the influence of that victorious ensign, Constantine had delivered the city from the yoke of tyrannical power.' He afterwards ordained that no criminal should for the future suffer death by the cross; and edicts were soon after issued, declaring that the Christians should be eased from their grievances, and received into places of trust and authority. Thus the new religion soon prevailed over the whole empire.

CONSTANTINE AND LICINIUS.-While this great change was proceeding, Maximin, who governed in the east, marched against Licinius with a very numerous army; but a general engagement ensued, in which Maximin suffered a total defeat. Maximin, however, having escaped the carnage, once more put himself at the head of another army, resolving to try the fortune of the field; but death anticipated his designs. Constantine and Licinius being now undisputed possessors and partners in the empire, all things promised a peaceable continuance of their friendship and power. Pagan writers ascribe the rupture that unexpectedly took place between these two potentates to Constantine; while the Christians, on the other hand, impute it to Licinius. Both sides exerted all their power, as usual, to prevail, and, at the head of very formidable armies, came to an engagement near Cybalis, in Pannonia. Previous to the battle Constantine, in the midst of the Christian bishops, begged the assistance of Heaven; while Licinius, with equal zeal, called upon the pagan priests to intercede with the gods. Constantine, after an obstinate resistance from the enemy, became victorious; took their camp; and, after some time, compelled Licinius to sue for a short truce. It was indeed short: but we have

pursued the rest of the history of the first of the Christian emperors in the article referred to. He conceived and executed the bold measure of transferring the seat of the empire from Rome to Constantinople. The empire had long before been in the most declining state; but this gave precipitation to its downfall: it never after resumed its former splendor. The inhabitants of Rome, though with reluctance, submitted to the change; nor was there for several years any disturbance in the state, until the Goths renewed their inroads on the Danube. Constantine, however, soon repressed their incursions, and so straightened them that nearly 100,000 of their number perished. The government of the empire was afterwards divided as follows:-Constantine, the emperor's eldest son, commanded in Gaul and the western provinces; Constantius governed Africa and Illyricum; and Constans ruled in Italy. Dalmatius, the emperor's brother, was sent to defend those parts that bordered upon the Goths; and Annibalianus, his nephew, had the charge of Cappadocia and Armenia Minor. The latter part of the reign of Constantine was peaceful and splendid; ambassadors from the remotest Indies came to acknowledge his authority; the Persians, who were ready for fresh inroads, upon finding him prepared to oppose, sent humbly to desire his friendship and forgiveness. He died at above sixty years old, and had reigned above thirty years.

CONSTANTINE'S SONS.-After the death of Constantine, the army and senate proclaimed his three sons emperors, without taking any notice of Dalmatius, and Annibalianus, who were soon after murdered, with Julius Constantinus the late emperor's brother, and all their friends and adherents. Thus the family of Constantine was reduced to the three sons and three nephews; Gallus and Julian, the sons of Julius Constantius, and Nepotianus, the son of Eutropia, Constantine's sister. Of these Gallus owed his life to a malady, from which no one thought he could recover; and Julian to his infancy, being then only seven years of age. The three brothers divided among themselves the dominions of the deceased princes; but did not long agree. In 340 Constantine, having in vain solicited Constans to yield part of Italy to him, raised a considerable army; and under pretence of marching to the assistance of his brother Constantius, who was then at war with the Persians, made himself master of several places in Italy. Hereupon Constans detached part of his army against him; and Constantine, being drawn into an ambuscade near Aquileia, was cut off with his whole forces. His body was thrown into the Ansa; but, being afterwards discovered, was sent to Constantinople, and interred near that of his father. By the defeat and death of his brother, Constans remained sole master of all the western empire, in the quiet possession of which he continued till the year 350. This year Magnentius, the son of a native of Germany, finding Constans despised by the army on account of his indolence and inactivity, resolved to murder him, and set up for himself. Having gained over the chief officers of the army, he seized on the Imperial palace at Autun, and dis

tributed among the populace what sums he found; which induced not only the city, but the neighbouring country, to espouse his cause. Constans being informed of what had passed, and finding himself unable to resist the usurper, fled towards Spain. He was overtaken, however, by Gaiso, whom Magnentius had sent after him with a body of troops, and despatched at Helena, near the foot of the Pyrenees.

CONSTANTIUS.-Constantius had been engaged in a war with the Persians, in which little advantage had been gained on either side; but, the Persians now giving no more disturbance, he marched against the usurpers; for besides Magnentius there were at this time two other pretenders to the western empire. Veteranio, general of the foot in Pannonia, had on the first news of the death of Constans, caused himself to be proclaimed emperor by the legions under his command. He was a native of Upper Masia, and advanced in years when he usurped the sovereignty; but so illiterate that he then first learned to read. The third was Flavius Popilius Nepotianus, who claimed right as nephew of Constantine the Great. Having assembled a company of gladiators and men of desperate fortunes he assumed the purple on the 3d of June 350, and in that attire presented himself before the gates of Rome. The prefect Anicetus, who commanded there for Magnentius, sallied out against him with a body of Romans; who were soon driven back into the city. Soon after Nepotianus made himself master of the city itself, which he filled with blood and slaughter. Magnentius, being informed of what had happened, sent against this new competitor his chief favorite Marcellinus. Nepotianus received him with great resolution; a battle ensued between the soldiers of Magnentius and the Romans who had espoused the cause of Nepotianus; but the latter being betrayed by a senator, named Heraclitus, his men were put to flight, and he himself killed, after having enjoyed the sovereignty only twenty-eight days. Marcellinus ordered his head to be carried on the point of a lance through the principal streets of the city; put to death all those who had declared for him; and, under pretence of preventing disturbances, commanded a general massacre of all the relations of Constantine. Soon after, Magnentius himself came to Rome to make the necessary preparations for resisting Constantius, who was exerting himself to the utmost to revenge the death of his brother. In the city he behaved most tyrannically: put to death many persons of distinction; seized their estates; and obliged the rest to contribute half of what they were worth towards the expense of the war. Having thus raised great sums, he assembled an army of Romans, Germans, Gauls, Franks, Britons, Spaniards, &c.; but, dreading the uncertain issues of war, he despatched ambassadors to Constantius with proposals of accommodation. Constantius set out from Antioch about the beginning of autumn; and, passing through Constantinople, arrived at Heraclea, where he was met by the deputies of Magnentius, and others from Veteranio, who had agreed to support each other in case the emperor would hearken to no

terms. The deputies of Magnentius proposed a match between him and Constantina, the sister of Constantius, and widow of Annibalianus; offering, at the same time, to Constantius the sister of Magnentius. The emperor would hearken to no terms with Magnentius; but, that he might not have to oppose two enemies at once, concluded a separate treaty with Veteranio, by which he agreed to take him for his partner in the empire. But, when Veteranio ascended the tribunal along with Constantius, the soldiers pulled him down, saying they would acknow ledge no emperor but Constantius. On this Veteranio threw himself at the emperor's feet, and implored his mercy. Constantius received him with great kindness, and sent him into Bithynia, where he allowed him a maintainence suitable to his quality. Now master of all Illyricum, and of the army commanded by Veteranio, Constantius resolved to march against Magnentius. In the mean time, however, on advice that the Persians were preparing to invade the eastern provinces, he married his sister Constantina to his cousin german Gallus; created him Cæsar on the 15th of March; and allotted him for his share not only all the east, but likewise Thrace and Constantinople.

About the same time Magnentius gave the title of Cæsar to his brother Decentius, whom he despatched into Gaul to defend that country against the barbarians who had invaded it; for Constantius had not only stirred up the Franks and Saxons to break into that province by promising to relinquish to them all the places they should conquer, but had sent him large supplies of men and arms for that purpose. On this encouragement the barbarians invaded Gaul with a great army, overthrew Decentius in a pitched battle, committed every where dreadful ravages, and reduced the country to a most deplorable situation. Mean time Magnentius, having assembled a numerous army, left Italy, and, crossing the Alps, advanced into the plains of Pannonia, where Constantius, whose main strength consisted of cavalry, was waiting for him. Magnentius, hearing that his competitor was encamped at a small distance, invited him by a messenger to the extensive plains of Sciscia on the Sauve, there to decide which of them had the best title to the empire. This challenge was by Constantius received with great joy; but, as his troops marched towards Sciscia in disorder, they fell into an ambuscade, and were put to flight. With this success Magnentius was so elated that he rejected all terms of peace; after some time, a general engagement ensued at Mursa, in which Magnentius was entirely defeated, with the loss of 24,000 men. Constantius, though victor, is said to have lost 30,000. All authors agree that the battle proved fatal to the western empire, and greatly contributed to its speedy decline. After his defeat at Mursa, Magnentius retired into Italy, where he recruited his scattered forces as well as he could. But in the beginning of the following year, 352, Constantius, having assembled his troops, surprised and took a strong castle on the Julian Alps, belonging to Magnentius, without the loss of a man. After this the emperor ad

vanced in order to force the rest; upon which Magnentius was struck with such terror that he immediately abandoned Aquileia, and ordered the troops that guarded the other passes of the Alps to follow him. Thus Constantius, entering Italy without opposition, made himself master of Aquileia. Thence he advanced to Pavia, where Magnentius gained a considerable advantage over him. Notwithstanding this loss, Constantius reduced the whole country bordering on the Po, and Magnentius's men deserted to him in whole troops, delivering up to him the places they had garrisoned; by which the tyrant was so disheartened that he left Italy, and retired with all his forces into Gaul. Soon after this, Africa, Sicily, and Spain, declared for Constantinus; upon which Magnentius sent a senator, and after him some bishops, to treat of a peace; but the emperor treated the senator as a spy, and sent back the bishops without an answer. Finding his affairs now desperate, and that there was no hopes of pardon, Magnentius recruited his army in the best manner he could, and despatched an assassin into the east to murder Gallus Cæsar. The assassin gained over some of Gallus's guards; but the plot being discovered they were all seized and executed as traitors. In 353 the war against Magnentius was carried on with more vigor than ever, and at last happily ended by a battle fought in that part of Gaul afterwards called Dauphiny. Magnentius, being defeated, took shelter in Lyons: but the few soldiers who attended him, despairing of any further success, resolved to purchase the emperor's favor by delivering up to him his rival. Accordingly they surrounded the house where he lodged; upon which the tyrant, in despair, slew with his own hand his mother, his brother Desiderius, whom he had created Cæsar, and such of his friends and relations as were with him; and then, fixing his sword in a wall, threw himself upon it. After the death of Magnentius, his brother Decentius, finding himself surrounded on all sides by the emperor's forces, chose also to strangle himself. Thus Constantius was left sole master of the Roman empire. His panegyrists say that after his victory he behaved with the greatest humanity, forgiving and receiving into favor his greatest enemies; other historians tell us that he now became haughty, imperious, and cruel, of which many instances are given. In this year, 353, the empire was subject to very grievous calamities. Gaul was ravaged by the barbarians beyond the Rhine, and the disbanded troops of Magnentius: at Rome the populace rose on account of a scarcity of provisions. In Asia the Isaurian robbers over-ran Lycaonia and Pamphylia and laid siege to Seleucia. At the same time the Saracens committed dreadful ravages in Mesopotamia; the Persians also invaded the provinces of Anthemusia on the Euphrates. But the Eastern provinces were not so much harassed by barbarians as by Gallus Cæsar himself, who ought to have protected them. That prince was naturally of a cruel, haughty, and tyrannical disposition; but, elated with his successes against the Persians, he at last behaved like a madman. His cruelty is said to have been heightened by the instigations of his wife Constantina, who is

by Ammianus styled the Megæra, or 'fury of her sex; and he adds that her ambition was equal to her cruelty. Thus all the provinces and cities in the east were filled with blood and misery. No man, however innocent, was sure to live or enjoy his estate a whole day; for, Gallus's temper being equally suspicious and cruel, those who had any private enemies took care to accuse them of crimes against the state. At last the emperor being informed from all quarters of his conduct, and also that he aspired to the sovereignty, resolved upon his ruin. He wrote letters to Gallus and Constantina, inviting them both into Italy, and they durst not venture to disobey the emperor's express command. Constantina, who was well acquainted with her brother's temper, set out first, leaving Gallus at Antioch but she had scarcely entered the province of Bithynia, when she was seized with a fever which put an end to her life. Gallus, now despairing of being able to appease his sovereign, thought of openly revolting; but most of his friends deserted him, so that he was at last obliged to submit unreservedly to Constantius. He advanced, therefore, according to his orders; but at Pitavium was arrested, and stripped of all the ensigns of dignity. Thence he was carried to Flanona, in Dalmatia. He confessed most of the crimes laid to his charge; but urged as an excuse the evil councils of his late wife. The emperor, provoked at this plea, and instigated by the enemies of Gallus, signed a warrant for his execution. All this time the emperor had been engaged in a war with the Germans; and, though he gained no advantage, the barbarians thought proper to make peace with him. This, however, was but short lived. No sooner was the Roman army withdrawn, than they began to make new inroads. Against them Constantius despatched Arbetio with the flower of the army; but he fell into an ambuscade, and was put to flight with great loss. This, however, was soon retrieved by the valor of Arintheus, who became famous in the reign of Valens, and of two other officers, who falling upon the enemy, without waiting the orders of their general, put them to flight, and obliged them to leave the Roman territory. The tranquillity of the empire, which ensued on this repulse of the Germans, was soon interrupted by a pretended conspiracy, but by which in the end a true one was produced. Sylvanus, a leading man among the Franks, commanded in Gaul, and had there performed great exploits against the barbarians. He had been raised to his post by Arbetio, only with a design to remove him from the emperor's presence, in order to accomplish his ruin, which he did in the following manner: one Dynames, leaving Gaul, begged of Sylvanus letters of recommendation to his friends at court; which being granted, the traitor erased all but the subscription. He then inserted directions to the friends of Sylvanus for the carrying on a conspiracy; and delivering these forged letters to the prefect Lampridius, they were by him shown to the emperor. Thus Sylvanus was in a manner forced into revolt, and caused himself to be proclaimed emperor. In the mean time, Dynames having forged another letter, the fraud was discovered, and an enquiry

set on foot, which brought to light the whole matter. Sylvanus was declared innocent, and letters sent to him by the emperor confirming him in his post: they were scarcely despatched, when the news arrived of Sylvanus having revolted. Thunder-struck at this news, Constantius despatched against him Ursicinus, an officer of great valor, who, pretending to be Sylvanus's friend, cut him off by treachery. The barbarians, who had been hitherto kept quiet by the brave Sylvanus, no sooner heard of his death than they broke, with greater fury than ever, into Gaul; and took and pillaged about forty cities, and among the rest Cologne, which they levelled with the ground; while the Quadi and Sarmatians, entering Pannonia, destroyed every thing with fire and sword. The Persians overran, without opposition, Armenia and Mesopotamia : Prosper and Mausonianus, who had succeeded in the government of the east, being more intent upon pillaging than defending the provinces committed to them. Constantius, not thinking it advisable to leave Italy, raised his cousin Julian to the dignity of Cæsar.

He

Julian seems to have been a man of extraordinary talents; for though hitherto entirely buried in obscurity, and conversant only with books, no sooner was he placed at the head of an army than he behaved with the greatest bravery and skill. He was appointed governor of Gaul; but before he set out Constantius gave him in marriage his sister Helena. He, however, limited his authority; gave him written instructions how to behave; ordered the generals who served under him to watch his actions, and strictly enjoined Julian himself not to give any largesses to the soldiery. Julian set out from Milan on the 1st of December 355, the emperor himself accompanying him as far as Pavia; whence he pursued his journey to the Alps, attended only by 360 soldiers. On his arrival at Turin he was first acquainted with the loss of Cologne. arrived at Vienne before the end of the year 355. In 356 the barbarians besieged Autun. Julian marched to his relief, but found the siege raised: on which he pursued the barbarians to Auxerre and Troies, and put them to flight with a handful of men. From Troies he hastened to Rheims, where the main body of the army, commanded by Marcellus, awaited his arrival. Thence he took his route towards Decempagi (now Dieuze), on the Seille in Lorrain, to oppose the Germans who were ravaging that province. But the enemy attacking his rear had nearly cut off two legions. A few days after he defeated the Germans, though with great loss to his own army: the victory, however, opened him a way to Cologne. Here he caused the ancient fortifications to be repaired, and the houses rebuilt; after which he took up his winter quarters at Sens. Constantius entered Germany on the side of Rhætia, laid waste the country far and wide; and obliged the barbarians to sue for peace. He enacted two laws: 1. declaring idolatry capital; and, 2. granting the effects of condemned persons to their children and relations within the third degree. In the beginning of 357 the barbarians besieged Julian a whole month in Sens: Marcellus, the commander-in-chief, never once offering to assist

him. Julian, however, so valiantly defended himself with the few forces he had that the barbarians at last retired. After this Constantius declared Julian commander-in-chief of all the forces in Gaul; appointing under him one Severus, an officer of great experience, and of a quite different disposition from Marcellus. On his arrival Julian raised new troops, and supplied them with arms which he found in an old arsenal. The emperor, resolving to put a stop to the terrible devastations committed chiefly by the Alemans, wrote to Julian to march directly against them. At the same time he sent Barbatio, the successor of Sylvanus, with 25,000 or 30,000 men, out of Italy, in order to enclose the enemy between two armies. The Leti, however, a German nation, passing between the armies, advanced as far as Lyons, hoping to surprise that wealthy city; but, meeting with a warmer reception than they expected, contented themselves with ravaging the country all round it. On the first notice of this expedition Julian detached strong parties to guard the passages through which he knew the barbarians must return. Thus they were all cut off except those who marched near the camp of Barbatio; who was so far from cutting off their retreat that he complained by a letter to Constantius of some officers for attempting it. These officers, among whom was Valentinian, afterwards emperor of the west, were, by the orders of Constantius, cashiered for their disobedience. The other barbarians either fortified themselves in the countries which they had seized, or took shelter in the islands formed by the Rhine. Julian resolved first to attack the latter; and with this view demanded some boats of Barbatio; but he, instead of complying with his request, immediately burnt his boats, as he did on another occasion the provisions which had been sent to both armies, after he had plentifully supplied his own. Julian, not in the least disheartened with this unaccountable conduct, persuaded some of the most resolute of his men to wade over to one of the islands. Here they killed all the Germans who had taken shelter in it. They then seized their boats, and pursued the slaughter in several other islands, till the enemy abandoned them all, and retired, with their wives and booty, to their respective countries. On their departure Barbatio attempted to form a bridge of boats on the Rhine; but the enemy, apprised of his intention, threw a great number of huge trees into the river; which, being carried by the stream against the boats, sunk several of them. The Roman general then retired; but the bar barians, falling unexpectedly upon him, cut off great numbers of his men, and returned loaded with booty. Elated with this success they assembled in great numbers under the command of Chnodomarius, a prince of great renown among them, and six other kings. They encamped in the neighbourhood of Strasburg. Here they were encountered by Julian, who put them to flight with the loss of 6000 or 8000 of their men slain in the field, and a greater number drowned in the river; while Julian himself lost only 243 men and four tribunes. In this action Chnodoinarius was taken and sent to Rome, where he soon after died. After the battle Julian advanced

with all his army to Mayence, where he built a bridge over the Rhine, and, having with difficulty prevailed upon his army to follow him, entered Germany. Here he ravaged the country, till, being prevented by snow from advancing, he began to repair the fort of Trajan, about three or four leagues from Frankfort. The barbarians, now alarmed, sent deputies to treat of a peace; but this Julian refused to grant upon any terms. He consented, however, to a truce of seven months, upon their promising to store with provisions the fort he was building. In 358 he took the field against the Franks, who were divided into several tribes, the most powerful of which were the Salii and Chamavi. The first of these he soon subdued; after which he allotted them lands in Gaul, incorporating great numbers into his cavalry. He next marched against the Chamavi, whom he defeated and obliged to retire beyond the Rhine. Afterwards he rebuilt three forts on the Meuse, which had been destroyed by the barbarians; but, wanting provisions, he ordered 600 or 800 vessels to be built in Britain to bring corn from thence into Gaul. Julian continued in the country of the Chamavi till the expiration of his truce with the Alemans, and then, laying a bridge of boats over the Rhine, entered their country with fire and sword. At last two of their kings came in person to sue for peace; which Julian granted on their promising to set at liberty the captives they had taken; to supply a certain quantity of corn when required; and to furnish wood, iron, and carriages, for repairing the cities they had ruined. The prisoners released amounted to upwards of 20,000. Soon after the vernal equinox Constantius marched against the Quadi and Sarmatians, whose country lay beyond the Danube. Having crossed that river he laid waste the territories of the Sarmatians; who thereupon came in great numbers, together with the Quadi, pretending to sue for peace. Their true design was to surprise the Romans; but the latter, suspecting it, fell upon them sword in hand. This obliged the rest to sue for peace in earnest, which was granted on the delivery of hostages. The emperor then marched against the Limigantes, i. e. the slaves who, in 334, had driven the Sarmatians out of their country. They used the same artifice as the Sarmatians and Quadi had done, coming in great numbers to the emperor under pretence of submission, but prepared to fall upon him unexpectedly. Observing their manner, and distrusting them, he caused his troops to surround them insensibly while he was speaking. The Limigantes then displeased with the conditions he offered them, laid their hands on their swords: on which they were attacked by the soldiers; and, finding it impossible to escape, made with great fury towards the tribunal, where they were cut in peices. After this the emperor ravaged their territories, and obliged them to quit the country, which was then restored to the Sarmatians. This year a haughty embassy arrived from Sapor king of Persia, with a letter, in which that monarch styled himself king of kings, brother of the sun and moon,' &c., acquainting the emperor that, though he might insist on having all the countries beyond the Strymon in Macedon