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 larger part of the Balkan peninsula, and left the empire a mere fragment of European territory. He claimed, in addition, a vast indemnity, which was raised with extreme difficulty. The empire was supposed to be immensely rich, but wild extravagance in the court and capital and an ill-administered financial system had made it poor. We are told that the wealthy nobles and citizens had to sell their wives' jewels by auction, and part with the sumptuous furniture of their mansions, which usually included a semicircular table of solid silver and a dinner service of gold. It seems as if henceforth the empire was to exist simply on sufferance. The young Theodosius was styled indeed a Roman emperor, but of the Roman there was really nothing about him. So far as he had feelings and tastes of his own, he was a Greek of a rather inferior type. Some mental culture he no doubt acquired under his sister's influence, but for the actual government and administration he probably did little or nothing. In fact, he was simply the nominal head of the empire. But it seems clear that he had some able and enlightened men around him. His reign, unprosperous as it was for the empire generally, saw several reforms and improvements. There was a real desire to get rid of burdens and abuses, and to better the condition of the governed. The Theodosian code must have been compiled and drawn up by skilful and learned commissioners. It dealt thoroughly with every branch of the law, and laid down principles with some degree of clearness and precision. We may infer that there were many able and learned lawyers at