Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/29

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 11 which had exalted Italy above the rank of the pro- CHAP, vinces, were no longer regarded ; and the officers of ^^^'^^j^^ the revenue already began to number the Roman peo- ple, and to settle the proportion of the new taxes. Even when the spirit of freedom had been uttei'ly ex- tinguished, the tamest subjects have sometimes ven- tured to resist an unprecedented invasion of their pro- perty ; but on this occasion the injury was aggravated by the insult, and the sense of private interest was quickened by that of national honour. The conquest of Macedonia, as we have already observed, had de- livered the Roman people from the weight of personal taxes. Though they had experienced every form of despotism, they had now enjoyed that exemption near five hundred years ; nor could they patiently brook the insolence of an Illyrian peasant, who, from his distant residence in Asia, presumed to number Rome among the tributary cities of his empire. The rising fury of the people was encouraged by the authority, or at least the connivance, of the senate ; and the feeble remains of the pretorian guards, who had reason to apprehend their own dissolution, embraced so honourable a pre- tence, and declared their readiness to draw their swords in the service of their oppressed country. It was the wish, and it soon became the hope, of every citizen, that after expelling from Italy their foreign tyrants, they should elect a prince who, by the place of his resi- dence, and by his maxims of government, might once more deserve the title of Roman emperor. The name, as well as the situation, of Maxentius, determined in his favour the popular enthusiasm. Maxentius was the son of the emperor Maximian, Maxentius and he had married the daughter of Galerius. His gmpewat birth and alliance seemed to offer him the fliirest pro- Home. /> 1- . .1 • 1 i. 1 • • 1 • A.D. 306. mise of succeedmg to the empire; but his vices and in- Oct.28. capacity procured him the same exclusion from the dignity of Caesar, which Constantine had deserved by a dangerous superiority of merit. The policy of Ga- lerius preferred such associates, as would neither dis-