steps of heroes, the relics, not of superstition, but of empire, are devoutly visited by a new race of pilgrims from the remote, and once savage, countries of the North.
Of these pilgrims, and of every reader, the attention will be excited by an History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; the greatest, perhaps, and most awful scene, in the history of mankind. The various causes and progressive effects are connected with many of the events most interesting in human annals: the artful policy of the Caesars, who long maintained the name and image of a free republic; the disorders of military despotism; the rise, establishment, and sects of Christianity; the foundation of Constantinople; the division of the monarchy; the invasion and settlements of the Barbarians of Germany and Scythia; the institutions of the civil law; the character and religion of Mahomet; the temporal sovereignty of the popes; the restoration and decay of the Western empire of Charlemagne; the crusades of the Latins in the East; the conquests of the Saracens and Turks; the ruin of the Greek empire; the state and revolutions of Rome in the middle age. The historian may applaud the importance and variety of his subject; but, while he is conscious of his own imperfections, he must often accuse the deficiency of his materials. It was among the ruins of the Capitol that I first conceived the idea of a work which has amused and exercised near twenty years of my life, and which, however inadequate to my own wishes, I finally deliver to the curiosity and candour of the public.
still sighs for a more complete plan and description of the old city, which must be attained by the three following methods: 1. The measurement of the space and intervals of the ruins. 2. The study of inscriptions, and the places where they were found. 3. The investigation of all the acts, charters, diaries of the middle ages, which name any spot or building of Rome. The laborious work, such as Montfaucon desired, must be promoted by princely or public munificence: but the great modern plan of Nolli (A. D. 1748) would furnish a solid and accurate basis for the ancient topography of Rome.
N. B. The Roman Numerals refer to the Volume, and the Figures to the Page.
Aban, the Saracen, heroism of his widow, Abulfeda, his account of the splendour of the
vi. 273.
Abbassides, elevation of the house of, to the
office of caliph of the Saracens, vii. 218,
221.
Abdallah, the Saracen, his excursion to
plunder the fair of Abyla, vi. 277.
Abdalmalek, caliph of the Saracens, refuses
tribute to the emperor of Constantinople,
and establishes a national mint, vii. 207.
Abdalrahman, the Saracen, establishes his
throne at Cordova in Spain, vii. 222.
Splendour of bis court, 224. His estimate
of his happiness, ibid.
Abdelaziz, the Saracen, his treaty with
Theodemir the Gothic prince of Spain,
vi. 320. His death, 322.
Abderame, his expedition to France, and
victories there, vii. 12. His death, 14.
Abdol Motalleb, the grandfather of the pro-
phet Mahomet, his history, vi. 197.
Abgarus, inquiry into the authenticity of his
correspondence with Jesus Christ, vi. 125.
Abgarus, the last King of Edessa, sent in
chains to Rome, i. 189.
Ablavius, the confidential præfect under
Constantine the Great, a conspiracy form-
ed against him on that emperor's death,
ii. 244. Is put to death, 246.
Abu Ayub, his history, and the veneration
paid to his memory by the Mahometans,
vii. 2. viii. 212.
Abubeker, the friend of Mahomet, is one of
his first converts, vi. 213. Flies from
Mecca with him, 216. Succeeds Mahomet
as caliph of the Saracens, 239. His cha-
racter, 254.
Abu Caab commands the Andalusian Moors
who subdued the island of Crete, vii. 31.
Abu Sophian, prince of Mecca, conspires the
death of Mahomet, vi. 215, 216. Battles
of Beder and Ohud, 221-223. Besieges
Medina without success, 223. Surrenders
Mecca to Mahomet, and receives him as a
prophet, 226.
Abu Taher, the Carmathian, pillages Mecca,
vii. 44.
Abu Taleb opposes Mahomet, vi. 198. 214,
caliph Moclader, vii. 20.
Abulpharagius, primate of the Eastern Ja-
cobites, some account of, vi. 51. His en-
comium on wisdom and learning, vii. 23,
Abundantius, general of the East, and patron
of the eunuch Eutropius, is disgraced and
exiled by him, iv. 107.
Abyla, the fair of, plundered by the Sara-
cens, vi. 277.
Abyssinia, the inhabitants of, described, v.
187. Their alliance with the emperor
Justinian, 188. Ecclesiastical history of,
vi. 58.
Acacius, bishop of Amida, an uncommon
instance of episcopal benevolence, iv. 131.
Achaia, its extent, i. 21.
Acre, the memorable siege of, by the cru-
saders, vii. 279. Final loss of, 292.
Actions, institutes of Justinian respecting,
V. 283.
Actium, a review of Roman affairs after the
battle of, i. 57.
Adauctus, the only martyr of distinction
during the persecution under Diocletian,
ii. 165.
Adolphus, the brother of Alaric, brings him
a reinforcement of troops, iv. 64. Is made
count of the domestics to the new emperor
Attalus, 69. Succeeds his brother as king
of the Goths and concludes a peace with
Honorius, 82. 91. 94.
Adoption, the two kinds of, under the Greek
Empire, vii. 230. note.
Adoration of the Roman emperor, custom
of, and derivation of the term, vii. 66.
Adorno, the Genoese governor of Phocæa,
conveys Amurath II. from Asia to Eu-
rope, viii. 110.
Adrian I., pope, his alliance with Charle-
magne against the Lombards, vi. 142. His
reception of Charlemagne at Rome, 145.
Asserts the fictitious donation of Constan-
tine the Great, 147.
Adulis, sea-port, its ruins now called Azoole,
V. 54. note M.
Adultery, distinctions of, and how punished
by Augustus, v. 292. By the Christian
emperors, 293.
Elia Capitolina, founded on Mount Sion,
by Hadrian, ii. 52.
Elius Pœtus, his Tripartite, the oldest work
of Roman jurisprudence, v. 249.
Emilianus, governor of Pannonia and Mæ-
sia, routs the barbarous invaders of the
empire, and is declared emperor by his
troops, i. 230.
Eneas of Gaza, his attestation of the mira-
raculous gift of speech to the Catholic
confessors of Tipasa, whose tongues had
been cut out, iv. 285.
Æneas Sylvius, his account of the imprac-
ticability of an European crusade against
the Turks, viii. 216. His epigram on the
destruction of ancient buildings in Rome,
300. note.
Era of the world, remarkable epochas in,
pointed out, v. 86. note. Gelalæan, of the
Turks, when settled, vii. 195.
there, under Stoza, 191. Devastation of
the war, 194. Invasion of, by the Sara-
cens, vi. 303. Conquest of, by Akbab,
307. Decline and extinction of Christia-
nity there, 327. Revolt and independence
of the Saracens there, vii. 42.
Aglabites, the Saracen dynasty of, vii. 43.
Aglae, a Roman lady, patronises St. Boni-
face, ii. 167.
Agricola, review of his conduct in Britain,
i. 3. His fortified line across Scotland, 4.-
note M.
Agriculture, great improvement of, in the
western countries of the Roman empire,
i. 50. State of, in the eastern empire,
under Justinian, v. 49.
Ahriman, the evil principle, among the Per-
sians, i. 181. note G., ib. note G.
Ajax, the sepulchre of, how distinguished, ii.
Aerial tribute, in the Eastern empire, what, Aiznadin, battle of, between the Saracens
Æthiopia, Christianity established in, vi. 58.
The Portuguese navigators repel the in-
cursions of Turks and Arabs in, 60. Mr.
Bruce's travels, and Pearce's narrative
respecting, 62. note M.
Aetius, surnamed the Atheist, his character
and adventures, iii. 21, 29, 41. note.
the Roman general under Valenti-
nian III. his character, iv. 138. His trea-
cherous scheme to ruin count Boniface,
139. Is forced to retire into Pannonia,
146. His invitation of the Huns into the
empire, 153. Seizes the administration of
the Western empire, 179. His character,
as given by Renatus, a contemporary his-
torian, 180. Employs the Huns and Alani
in the defence of Gaul, 181. Concludes a
peace with Theodoric, 184. Raises the
siege of Orleans, 192. Battle of Chalons,
ib. His prudence on the invasion of Italy
by Attila, 201. Is murdered by Valenti-
nian, 205.
Africa, its situation and revolutions, i. 24.
Great revenue raised from, by the Ro-
mans, 146. Progress of Christianity there,
ii. 101. Is distracted with religious discord
in the time of Constantine the Great, iii. 3.
Character and revolt of the Circumcellions,
53. Oppressions of, under the government
of count Romanus, 216. General state of
Africa, 220. The slave-trade, 221. note M.
Revolt of count Boniface there, iv. 139.
Arrival of Genseric king of the Vandals,
140. Persecution of the Donatists, 141.
Devastation of, by the Vandals, 145. Car-
thage surprised by Genseric, 147. Perse-
cution of the Catholics, 277. Expedition
of Belisarius to, v. 93. Is recovered by the
Romans, 103. The government of, settled
by Justinian, 104. Revolt of the troops
and the Greeks, vi. 270.
Akbah, the Saracen, his exploits in Africa,
Alani, occasion of these people invading
Asia, i. 291. Supposed by Klaproth to
be ancestors of the true Albanians, ii. 286.
note M. Conquest of, by the Huns, iii.
253. Join the Goths who had emigrated
into Thrace, 269. See Goths, and Van-
dals.
Alaric, the Goth, learns the art of war under
Theodosius the Great, v. 332. Becomes
the leader of the Gothic revolt, and ravages
Greece, iv. 2, 3. Escapes from Stilicho,
6. Is appointed master-general of the
Eastern Illyricum, 7. His invasion of
Italy, 8. Is defeated by Stilicho at Pollen-
tia, 13. Is driven out of Italy, 15. Is,
by treaty with Honorius, declared master-
general of the Roman armies throughout
the præfecture of Illyricum, 32. His pleas
and motives for marching to Rome, 42.
Encamps under the walls of that city, 43,
44. Accepts a ransom, and raises the
siege, 63. His negotiations with the em-
peror Honorius, 65. His second siege of
Rome, 68. Places Attalus on the Imperial
throne, 69. Degrades him, 70. Seizes the
city of Rome, 71. His sack of Rome com-
pared with that by the emperor Charles V.,
78. Retires from Rome, and ravages
Italy, 79. His death and burial, 81.
Alaric II., king of the Goths, his overthrow
by Clovis king of the Franks, iv. 304.
Albanians, the, ii. 286. note, and note M.
Alberic, the son of Marozia, his revolt, and
government of Rome, vi. 169.
Albigeois of France, persecution of, vii. 99.
Alboin, king of the Lombards, his history,
V. 301. His alliance with the Avars against
the Gepidæ, 303. Reduces the Gepidæ, ib.
He undertakes the conquest of Italy, 304.
Overruns what is now called Lombardy,
306. Assumes the regal title there, 307.
Takes Pavia, and makes it his capital city,
ib. Is murdered at the instigation of his
queen Rosamond, 308.
155. Solicits the aid of the emperor
Henry III., 158. Solicits the aid of the
Christian princes against the Turks, 206.
His suspicious policy on the arrival of the
crusaders, 228. Exacts homage from
them, 229. Profits by the success of the
crusaders, 257.
Alchemy, the books of, in Egypt, destroyed Alexius II. Comnenus, emperor of Constan-
Aleppo, siege and capture of, by the Sara-
cens, vi. 285. Is recovered by the Greeks,
vii. 48. Is taken and sacked by Tamer-
lane, viii. 93.
Alexander III., pope, establishes the papal
election in the college of cardinals, viii.
Alexander, archbishop of Alexandria, ex-
communicates Arius for his heresy, iii. 15.
Alexander Severus, is declared Cæsar by the
Emperor Elagabalus, i. 135. Is raised to
the throne, 136. Examination into his
pretended victory over Artaxerxes, 190.
Showed a regard for the Christian religion,
ii. 147.
Alexandria, a general massacre there, by
order of the emperor Caracalla, i. 124.
The city described, 254. Is ruined by ri-
diculous intestine commotions, 255. By
famine and pestilence, 256. Is besieged
and taken by Diocletian, 326. The Chris
tian theology reduced to a systematical
form in the school of, ii. 101. Number of
martyrs who suffered there in the perse-
cution by Decius, 136, vide note G.
the theological system of Plato
taught in the school of, and received by
the Jews there, iii. 6, 7. notes G. and M.
Questions concerning the nature of the
Trinity, agitated in the philosophical and
Christian schools of, 12. 16. History of
the archbishop St. Athanasius, 30. 46. Out-
rages attending his expulsion and the es-
tablishment of his successor, George of Cap-
padocia, 42, 43. The city distracted by
pious factions, ib. Disgraceful life and
tragical death of George of Cappadocia,
123, 124. Restoration of Athanasius, 126.
Athanasius banished by Julian, 127. Suf-
fers greatly by an earthquake, 236.
- history of the temple of Serapis
there, iii. 347. This temple, and the
famous library, destroyed by bishop Theo-
philus, 348, 349.
is taken by Amrou the Saracen,
vi. 295. The famous library destroyed,
Alexius Angelus, his usurpation of the Greek
empire, and character, vii. 301, 302.
Flies before the crusaders, 317.
Alexius I. Comnenus, emperor of Constan-
tinople, vi. 106. New titles of dignity in-
vented by him, vii. 63. Battle of Durazzo,
Alexius Strategopulus, the Greek general,
retakes Constantinople from the Latins,
vii. 353.
Alexius, the son of Isaac Angelus, his escape
from his uncle, who had deposed his
father, vii. 302. His treaty with the cru-
saders for his restoration, 310. Restora-
tion of his father, 318. His death, 322.
Alfred sends an ambassy to the shrine of St.
Thomas in India, vi. 47.
Algebra, by whom invented, vii. 23.
Ali joins Mahomet in his prophetical mission,
vi. 213. His heroism, 224. His character,
238. Is chosen caliph of the Saracens,
240. Devotion paid at his tomb, 244. His
posterity, 248.
Aligern defends Cumæ, for his brother Teias,
king of the Goths, v. 214, 215. Is re-
duced, 216.
Allectus murders Carausius, and usurps his
station, i. 322. Is slain in Britain, 323.
Allemanni, the origin and warlike spirit of,
i. 235. Are driven out of Italy by the se-
nate and people, 236. Invade the empire
in the reign of Aurelian, 267. Are totally
routed, 269. Gaul delivered from their
depredations by Constantius Chlorus,
324. Invade and establish themselves
in Gaul, ii. 289. Are defeated at Stras-
burgh by Julian, 294. Are reduced by
Julian in his expeditions beyond the
Rhine, 297. Invade Gaul under the em-
peror Valentinian, iii. 203. Are reduced
by Jovinus, 204. And chastised by Va-
lentinian, ib. Are subdued by Clovis king
of the Franks, iv. 296.
Alp Arslan, sultan of the Turks, his reign, vii.
185. His death, 190.
Alypius, governor of Britain, is commis-
sioned by the emperor Julian to rebuild
the temple of Jerusalem, iii. 112.
Amala, king of the Goths, his high credit
among them, i. 223.
Amalasontha, queen of Italy, her history
and character, v. 114. Her death, ib.
Amalphi, description of the city, and its com-
merce, vii. 131. 147.
Amazons, improbability of any society of,
i.280. note. Klaproth's theory respecting,
281. note M.
Ambition, reflections on the violence, and
various operations of that passion, vi. 121.
Ambrose, St., composed a treatise on the
Trinity, for the use of the emperor Gra-
tian, iii. 293. note. His birth, and promo-
tion to the archbishopric of Milan, 310.
Opposes the Arian worship of the empress
Justina, 311. Refuses obedience to the
Imperial power, 314. Controls the em-
peror Theodosius, 326. Imposes penance
on Theodosius for his cruel treatment of
Thessalonica, 327. Employed his influence
Over Gratian and Theodosius, to inspire
them with maxims of persecution, 338.
Opposes Symmachus, the advocate for the
old Pagan religion, 341. Comforts the ci-
tizens of Florence with a dream, when
besieged by Radagaisus, 23.
Amida, siege of, by Sapor king of Persia, ii.
285. note M. Receives the fugitive in-
habitants of Nisibis, iii. 173. Is besieged
and taken by Cabades king of Persia, v.
Amir, prince of Ionia, his character, and
passage into Europe, viii. 71.
Ammianus Marcellinus the historian, his re-
ligious character of the emperor Constan-
tius, iii. 28. His remark on the enmity of
Christians toward each other, 55. His
account of the fiery obstructions to restor-
ing the temple of Jerusalem, 113, 114.
His account of the hostile contest of Da-
masus and Ursinus for the bishopric of
Rome, 201. Testimony in favour of his
historical merit, 282. His character of the
nobles of Rome, iv. 49.
Ammonius. the mathematician, his measure-
ment of the circuit of Rome, iv. 59.
Ammonius, the monk of Alexandria, his
martyrdom, vi. 12.
Anastasius I. marries the empress Ariadne'
v. 4. His war with Theodoric, the Ostro-
goth king of Italy, 14. His economy ce-
lebrated, 56. Epigram thereon, ib. note
M. His long wall from the Propontis to
the Euxine, 72. Is humbled by the Ca-
tholic clergy, vi. 30.
Anastasius II. emperor of Constantinople,
vi. 75. His preparations of defence against
the Saracens, vii. 5.
Anastasius, St., his brief history and mar-
tyrdom, v. 358. note.
Anatho, city of, on the banks of the Eu-
phrates, described, iii. 144.
Andalusia, derivation of the name of that
province, vi. 313. note.
Andronicus, president of Libya, excommu-
nicated by Synesius bishop of Ptolemais,
iii. 355, 336.
Andronicus Comnenus, his character, and
first adventures, vi. 112. Seize the empire
of Constantinople, 118. note M. His un-
happy fate, 120.
Andronicus the Elder, emperor of Constan-
tinople, his superstition, viii. 27. His war
with his grandson, and abdication, 29, 30,
31. note M.
Andronicus the Younger, emperor of Con-
stantinople, his licentious character, viii.
30. His civil war against his grandfather,
31.
His reign, ib. Is vanquished and
wounded by sultan Orchan, 69. His pri-
vate application to pope Benedict XII. of
Rome, 118.
Angora, battle of, between Tamerlane and
Bajazet, viii. 97.
Anianus, bishop of Orleans, his pious anxiety
for the relief of that city, when besieged
by Attila the Hun, iv. 190.
Amorium, siege and destruction of, by the Anician family at Rome, brief history of,
caliph Motassem, vii. 37.
Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium, gains the
favour of the emperor Theodosius by an
orthodox bon mot, iii. 299.
Amphitheatre at Rome, a description of, i.
309. viii. 404, 405. note M.
Amrou, his birth and character, vi. 291.
His invasion and conquest of Egypt, 292.
His administration there, 300. His de-
scription of the country, 301.
Anna Comnena, character of her history of
her father, Alexius I. emperor of Constan-
tinople, vi. 106. Her conspiracy against
her brother John, 108.
Anthemius, emperor of the West, his des-
cent, and investiture by Leo the Great, iv.
233. His election confirmed at Rome, 235.
Is killed in the sack of Rome by Ricimer,
245, 246.
Amurath I., sultan of the Turks, his reign, Anthemius, præfect of the East, character of
viii. 74. His death, 75. note M.
Amurath II. sultan, his reign and character,
viii. 161. His double abdication, 162, 163.
Error of Gibbon, ib. note M.
Anachorets, in monkish history, described,
iv. 268.
his administration, in the minority of the
emperor Theodosius the Younger, iv.
Anthemius the architect, instances of his
great knowledge in mechanics, v. 64.
Forms the design of the church of St. So-
phia at Constantinople, 65.
Anacletus, pope, his Jewish extraction, viii. Anthony, St., father of the Egyptian monks,
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