2i2 THE DECLINE AND FALL C HAP. easily broken ^^ ; the flames of persecution soon reached the more stubborn jews and christians^; nor did they spare the heretics of their own nation and rehgion. The majesty of Ormusd, who was jealous of a rival, was seconded by the despotism of Artaxerxes, who could not suffer a rebel ; and the schismatics within his vast empire were soon reduced to the inconsiderable num- ber of eighty thousand s. This spirit of persecution reflects dishonour on the religion of Zoroaster ; but as it was not productive of any civil commotion, it served to strengthen the new monarchy, by uniting all the various inhabitants of Persia in the bands of religious zeal. Establish- H. Artaxerxes, by his valour and conduct, had ment of the ^^ested the sceptre of the east from the ancient royal royal autho- ^ -^ rityinthe family of Parthia. There still remained the more diffi- provmces. ^^j^ ^^^^ ^£> establishing, throughout the vast extent of Persia, a uniform and vigorous administration. The weak indulgence of the Arsacides, had resigned to their sons and brothers the principal provinces, and the greatest offices of the kingdom, in the natiu'e of he- reditary possessions. The vitaxce, or eighteen most powerful satraps, were permitted to assume the regal title ; and the vain pride of the monarch was delighted with a nominal dominion over so many vassal kings. Even tribes of barbarians in their mountains, and the Greek cities of Upper Asia*" within their walls, scarcely acknowledged, or seldom obeyed, any supe- rior ; and the Parthian empire exhibited, under other names, a lively image of the feudal system * which has e Rabbi Abraham in the Tarikh Schickard, p. 108, 109. f Basnage, Histoire des Juifs, 1. viii. c. 3 ; Sozomen, 1. ii. c. i. Manes, who suffered an ignominious death, may be deemed a magian, as well as a christian heretic. s Hyde de Religione Persar. c. 21. ^ These colonies were extremely numerous. Seleucus Nicator founded thirty-nine cities, all named from himself, or some of his relations. See Ap- pian in Syriac. p. 124. The era of Seleucus (still in use among the east- ern christians) appears as late as the year 508, of Christ 196, on the medals of the Greek cities within the Parthian empire. See Moyle's works, vol. i. p. 273, etc. and M. Freret, M6m. de I'Acad^mie, tom. xix.
- The modern Persians distinguish that period as the dynasty of the kings
of the nations. See Plin. Hist. Nat. vi. 25.
