318 THE DECLINE AND FALL C H A P. He contributed, at least, to improve this advantasre, XV IIT ' L o' — '— by his negociations with the free and warlike people of Chersonesus ", whose capital, situate on the western coast of the Tauric or Crimean peninsula, still retained some vestiges of a Grecian colony, and was governed by a perpetual magistrate, assisted by a council of sen- ators, emphatically styled the ' fathers of the city.' The Chersonites were animated against the Goths, by the memory of the wars which, in the preceding cen- tury, they had maintained with unequal forces against the invaders of their country. They were connected with the Romans by the mutual benefits of commerce ; as they were supplied from the provinces of Asia with corn and manufactures, which they purchased with their only productions, salt, wax, and hides. Obedient to the requisition of Constantine, they prepared, under the conduct of their magistrate Diogenes, a consider- able army, of which the principal strength consisted in cross-bows and military chariots. The speedy march and intrepid attack of the Chersonites, by diverting the attention of the Goths, assisted the operations of the imperial generals. The Goths, vanquished on every side, were driven into the mountains, where, in the course of a severe campaign, above an hundred thou- sand were computed to have perished by cold and hun- ger. Peace was at length granted to their humble supplications ; the eldest son of Araric was accepted as the most valuable hostage ; and Constantine endea- voured to convince their chiefs, by a Hberal distribution of honours and rewards, how far the friendship of the Romans was preferable to their enmity. In the ex- pressions of his gratitude towards the faithful Cher- " I may stand in need of some apology for having used, without scruple, the authority of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in all that relates to the wars and negociations of the Chersonites. I am aware that he was a Greek of the tenth century, and that his accounts of ancient history are frequently confused and fabulous. But on this occasion his narrative is, for the most part, consistent and probable ; nor is there much difficulty in conceiving that an emperor might have access to some secret archives, which had escaped the diligence of meaner historians. For the situation and history of Chersone, see Peyssonel, des Peuples barbares qui ont habile les bords du Danube, c. xvi. p. 84 — 90.
