The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon in the year 1776-1789

London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand.

• Preface
• VOLUME THE FIRST
  • CHAP. I - The Extent and Military Force of the Roman Empire in the Age of the Antonines.
  • CHAP. II - Of the Union and internal Prosperity of the Roman Empire, in the Age of the Antonines.
  • CHAP. III - Of the Constitution of the Roman Empire, in the Age of the Antonines.
  • CHAP. IV - The cruelty, follies, and murder of Commodus.—Election of Pertinax—his attempts to reform the Senate—his assassination by the Prætorian Guards.
  • CHAP. V - Public sale of the empire to Didius Julianus by the Prætorian Guards.—Clodius Albinus in Britain, Pescennius Niger in Syria, and Septimus Severus in Pannonia, declare against the murderers of Pertinax.—Civil wars and victory of Severus over his three rivals.—Relaxations of discipline.—New maxims of government.
  • CHAP. VI - The death of Severus.—Tyranny of Caracalla.—Usurpation of Macrinus.—Follies of Elagabalus.—Virtues of Alexander Severus.—Licentiousness of the army.—General state of the Roman Finances.
  • CHAP. VII - The elevation and tyranny of Maximin.—Rebellion in Africa and Italy, under the authority of the Senate.—Civil Wars and Seditions.—Violent Deaths of Maximin and his Son, of Maximus and Balbinus, and of the three Gordians.—Usurpation and secular games of Philip.
  • CHAP. VIII - Of the state of Persia after the restoration of the monarchy by Artaxerxes.
  • CHAP. IX - The State of Germany till the invasion of the Barbarians, in the Time of the Emperor Decius.
  • CHAP. X - The Emperors Decius, Gallus, Æmilianus, Valerian, and Gallienus.—The general Irruption of the Barbarians.—The thirty Tyrants.
  • CHAP. XI - Reign of Claudius.—Defeat of the Goths.—Victories, triumph, and death, of Aurelian.
  • CHAP. XII - Conduct of the Army and Senate after the death of Aurelian.—Reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Carus and his sons.
  • CHAP. XIII - The reign of Diocletian and his three associates, Maximian, Gallerius, and Constantius.—General re-establishment of order and tranquility.—The Persian war, victory, and triumph.—The new form of administration.—Abdication and retirement of Diocletian and Maximian.
  • CHAP. XIV - Troubles after the abdication of Diocletian.—Death of Constantius.—Elevation of Constantine and Maxentius.—Six Emperors at the same time.—Death of Maximian and Gallerius.—Victories of Constantine over Maxentius and Licinius—Re-union of the Empire under the authority of Constantine.
  • CHAP. XV - The Progress of the Christian Religion, and the Sentiments, Manners, Numbers, and Condition, of the Primitive Christians.
  • CHAP. XVI - The conduct of the Roman Government towards the Christians, from the reign of Nero to that of Constantine.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.