Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/18

 CONTENTS. Posts. '. 60 Navigation 61 Improvement of agriculture in I the" western countries of the em- pire . ib. Introduction of fruits, etc. 62 The vine, ib. The olive ib. Flax . 63 Artificial grass General plenty Arts of luxury Foreign trade Gold and silver General felicity Decline of courage of genius Degeneracy . ib. ib. . 64 65 . 66 67 . ib. CHAPTP:R III. OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE AGE OF THE ANTONINES. Idea of monarchy . . 70 Situation of Augustus . . ib. He reforms the senate . 71 Resigns his usurped povs^er . . 72 Is prevailed upon to resume it under the title of emperor or general ib. Power of the Roman generals Lieutenants of the emperor Division of the provinces between the emperor and the senate . The former preserves his mili- tary command and guards in Rome itself Consular and tribunitian powers Imperial prerogatives The magistrates The senate . . General idea of the imperial sys- tem. . . . Court of the emperors Deification Titles of Augustus and Caesar. Character and policy of Augustus Image of liberty for the people Attempt of the senate after the death of Caligula 73 74 75 76 ib. 77 78 79 ib. 81 82 83 84 85 Image of government for the armies Their obedience Designation of a successor Of Tiberius Of;TitUS The race of the Caesars and the Flavian family. A. D.96. Adoption and character of Trajan A. D. 117. Of Adrian. Adoption of the elder and younger Verus Adoption of the two Antonines. Character and reign of Pius of Marcus. Happiness of the Romans Its precarious nature Memory of Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, and Domitian Peculiar misery of the Romans under their tyrants Insensibility of the orientals. Knowledge and free spirit of the Romans Extent of their empire left them no place of refuge 85 86 87 ib. ib. ib. CHAPTER IV. THE CRUELTY, FOLLIES, AND MURDER OF COMMODUS— ELECTION OF PERTINAX.— HIS ATTEMPTS TO REFORM THE STATE.— HIS ASSASSINATION BY THE PSETORIAN GUARDS. Indulgence of Marcus. . 99 To his wife Faustina. ib. To his son Commodus. . 100 A. D. 180. Accession of the em- peror Commodus Character of Commodus He returns to Rome A.D. 183. Is wounded by an as- sassin Hatred and cruelty of Commodus towards the senate The Quintilian brothers. A. D. 186. The minister Peren- nis Revolt of Maternus The minister Cleander. His avarice and cruelty A.D. 189. Sedition and death of Cleander Dissolute pleasures of Commodus 109 His ignorance and low sports. 110 Hunting of wild beasts. ib. 101 ib. 102 103 ib. 104 105 106 ib. 107 108 Commodus displays his skill in the amphitheatre Acts as a gladiator His infamy and extravagance. Conspiracy of his domestics A. D. 192. Death of Commodus Choice of Pertinax for emperor He is acknowledged by the pre- torian guards A. D. 193. And by the senate. ITie memory of Commodus de- clared infamous Legal jurisdiction of the senate over the emperors Virtues of Pertinax He endeavours to reform the state His regulations His popularity Discontent of the pretorians A conspiracy prevented A. D. 193. Murder of Pertinax by the pretorians 111 112 113 114 ib. 115 116 ib. 117 ib. 118 ib. 119 120 ib. 121 ib.