446 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, when the Romans acquired the possession of them, • they stipulated, at the expense of the usurpers, an ample compensation, which invested their ally with the extensive and fertile country of Atropatene. Its prin- cipal city, in the same situation perhaps as the modern Tauris, was frequently honoured with the residence of Tiridates ; and as it sometimes bore the name of Ec- batana, he imitated, in the buildings and fortifications, Iberia. the splendid capital of the Medes °. IV. The country of Iberia was barren, its inhabitants rude and savage. But they were accustomed to the use of arms, and they separated from the empire barbarians much fiercer and more formidable than themselves. The narrow defiles of mount Caucasus were in their hands ; and it was in their choice either to admit or to exclude the wan- dering tribes of Sarmatia, whenever a rapacious spirit urged them to penetrate into the richer climates of the south °. The nomination of the kings of Iberia, which was resigned by the Persian monarch to the emperors, contributed to the strength and security of the Ro- man power in Asia p. The east enjoyed a profound tranquillity during forty years ; and the treaty between the rival monarchies was strictly observed till the death of Tiridates ; when a new generation, animated with different views and different passions, succeeded to the government of the world ; and the grandson of Narses undertook a long and memorable war against the princes of the house of Constantine. Triumph of The arduous work of rescuing the distressed empire and^Max- ^^^^ tyrants and barbarians, had now been completely imian. achieved by a succession of Illyrian peasants. As soon Nov. 20. ' ^^ Diocletian entered into the twentieth year of his reign, he celebrated that memorable era, as well as the success of his arms, by the pomp of a Roman ^ n Compare Herodotus, 1. i. c. 97. with Moses Choronens. Hist. Armen. ^ 1. ii. c. 84. and the map of Armenia given by his editors. " Hiberi, locorum potentes, Caspia via Sarmatam in Armenios raptim effundunt : Tacit. Annal. vi. 34. See Strabon. Geograph. 1. xi. p. 764. P Peter Patricius (in Excerpt. Leg. p. 30.) is the only writer who men- tions the Iberian article of the treaty.
