Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/16

 via CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. FOUNDATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE.— POLITICAL SYSTEM OF CONSTANTINE AND HIS SUCCESSORS.— MILITARY DISCIPLINE.— THE PALACE.— THE FINANCES. A.D.324. Design of a new ca- pital. . .228 Si tuation of Byzantium. 229 Description of Constantinople. 230 The liosphorus. . ib. The port. . .232 The Propontis. 233 The Hellespont. . ib. Advantages of Constantinople. 235 Foundation of the city. 2.37 Extent. . . 238 Progress of the work. 240 Edifices. . 241 Population,. 244 Privileges. . 246 A. D. 330 or 334. Dedication. 247 A. D.300L-500. Form of govern- ment. . . 249 Hierarchy of the state. ib. Three ranks of honour. . 251 Four divisions of office. 252 I. The consuls. . ib. The patricians. 255 The pretorian prefects. 257 The prefects of Rome and Constantinople. 260 The proconsuls, vice-pre- fects, etc. .. 262 11. The governors of the pro- ' vinces. The profession of the law III. The military officers Distinction of the troops Reduction of the legions Difficulty of levies Increase of barbarian aux- iliaries IV. Seven ministers of the pa- lace 1. The chamberlain 2. The master of the offices. 3. The quaestor 4. The public treasurer 5. The private treasurer 6. 7. The counts of the domes- tics Agents, or official spies Use of torture Finances The general tribute, or indiction Assessed in the form of a capita- tion Capitation on trade and indus- try Free gifts Conclusion 263 265 267 270 272 273 275 276 277 ib. 278 280 281 282 283 284 286 287 290 295 296 297 CHAPTER XVIII. CIIAKACTER OF CONSTANTINE. — GOTHIC WAR. — DEATH OF CONSTANTINE. — DIVISION OF THE EMPIRE AMONG HIS THHEE SONS. — PERSIAN WAR.— TRAGIC DEATHS OF CONSTANTINE THE YOUNGER AND CONSTANS. — USURPATION OF MAGNEXTIUS. — CIVIL WAR.— VICTORY OF CONSTANTIIS. Character of Constantine. 299 His virtues. . 300 His vices. . . 301 His family. .303 Virtues oi'Crispus. . 304 A. D. 324. Jealousy of Constan- tine. . . 305 A. D. 3-25. Edict of Constantine 306 A. D. 326. Disgrace and death of Crispus. . ib. The empress Fausta. . 308 The sons and nephews of Con- stantine. . . 31 1 Their education. . 312 Planners of the Sarmatians. 314 Their settlement near the Danube 315 A.D. 331. The Cothic war. 317 A.D.334. Expulsion of the Sar- matians. . 319 A. D. 335. Death and funeral of Constantine. . 320 Factions of the court. 321 IMassacre of the princes. 323 A. D. 337. Division of the empire 325 A. D. 310. Sapor king of Persia ib. State of Mesopotamia and Anne- nia ... 326 A.D.342. Death of Tiridates 328 A. D. 337-360. The Persian war 329 A. D. 348. Battle of Singara. ib. Siege of Xisibis. 331 A. D. 340. Civil war, and death of Constantine. 3.33 A. D. 350. Murder of Constans 334 Magnentius and Vetranio assume the purple .'. 336 Constantius refuses to treat. 337 Deposes Vetranio. 339 A. D. 351. jMakes war against iMagnentius. . 341 Battle of Mursa. . 343 A.U. 352. Conquest of Italy. 346 A. D. 353. Last defeat and death of Magnentius. 347