Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 1 (1897).djvu/473

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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
399

he traveled post through Bithynia, Thrace, Dacia, Pannonia, Italy, and Gaul, and, amidst the joyful acclamations of the people, reached the port of Boulogne in the very moment when his father was preparing to embark for Britain.[1]

Death of Constantius and elevation of Constantine, A.D. 306, July 25The British expedition, and an easy victory over the barbariansof Caledonia, were the last exploits of the reign of Constantius. He ended his life in the Imperial palace of York, fifteen months stance, after he had assumed the title of Augustus, and almost fourteen years and a half after he had been promoted to the rank of Cæsar.[2] His death was immediately succeeded by the elevation of Constantine. The ideas of inheritance and succession are so very familiar that the generality of mankind consider them as founded, not only in reason, but in nature itself. Our imagination readily transfers the same principles from private property to public dominion: and, whenever a virtuous father leaves behind him a son whose merit seems to justify the esteem, or even the hopes, of the people, the joint influence of prejudice and of affection operates with irresistible weight. The flower of the western armies had followed Constantius into Britain, and the national troops were reinforced by a numerous body of Alemanni, who obeyed the orders of Crocus, one of their hereditary chieftains.[3] The opinion of their own importance, and the assurance that Britain, Gaul, and Spain[4] would acquiesce in their nomination, were diligently inculcated to the legions by the adherents of Constantine. The soldiers were asked, Whether they could hesitate a moment between the honour of placing at their head the worthy son of their beloved emperor and the ignominy of tamely expecting the arrival of some obscure stranger, on whom it might please the sovereign of Asia to bestow the armies and provinces of the West. It was insinuated to them that gratitude and liberality held a distinguished place among the virtues of Constantine: nor did

  1. Anonym, p. 710 [2, 4]. Panegyr. Veter. vii. 4. But Zosimus, l. ii. p. 79 [9], Eusebius de Vit. Constan. l. i. c. 21, and Lactantius de M. P. c. 24 suppose, with less accuracy, that he found his father on his death-bed [cp. Aurel. Victor, Cæs. 40].
  2. [A metrical epitaph (which Rossi supposed to be on Constans), found in two Mss., has been vindicated for Constantius by Mommsen in Hermes, vol. xxviii.]
  3. Cunctis qui aderant annitentibus, sed praecipue Croco (alii Eroco) Alamannorum Rege, auxilii gratiâ Constantium comitato, imperium capit. Victor Junior, [epit.] c. 41. This is perhaps the first instance of a barbarian king who assisted the Roman arms with an independent body of his own subjects. The practice grew familiar, and at last became fatal.
  4. [Spain was hardly in the dominion of Constantius, or of Constantine before his victory over Maxentius. It went at this time with Africa and Italy.]