Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/482

 460 THE DECLINE AND FALL Family and character of Michael Palseoloms [kovto orauAos] of the Romans. Eight days were sufficient to prepare the exe- cution of the conspiracy. On the ninth, ^^ the obsequies of the deceased monarch were solemnised in the cathedral of Magne- sia,^^ an Asiatic city, where he expired, on the banks of the Hermus and at the foot of Mount Sipylus. The holy rites were interrupted by a sedition of the guards : Muzalon, his brothers, and his adherents were massacred at the foot of the altar ; and the absent patriarch was associated with a new colleague, with Michael Palaeologus, the most illustrious, in birth and merit, of the Greek nobles.^*^ Of those who are proud of their ancestors, the far greater part must be content with local or domestic renown : and few there are who dare trust the memorials of their family to the public annals of their country. As early as the middle of the eleventh century, the noble race of the Palaeologi ^" stands high and conspicuous in the Byzantine history : it was the valiant George Palaeologus who placed the father of the Comneni on the throne ; and his kinsmen or descendants continue, in each generation, to lead the armies and councils of the state. The purple was not dishonoured by their alliance ; and, had the law of succession, and female succession, been strictly observed, the Avife of Theodore Lascaris must have yielded to her elder sister, the motlier of Michael Palaeologus, who afterwards raised his family to the throne. In his person, the splendour of birth was dignified by the merit of the soldier and statesman : in his early youth he was promoted to the office of Constable or commander of the French mercenaries ; the private expense of a day never exceeded three pieces of gold ; but his ambition was rapacious and profuse ; and his gifts were doubled by the graces of his conversation and manners. The love of the soldiers and people excited the jealousy of the court ; and Michael thrice escaped ^■* [So Pachymeres, Gregoras, and Phrantzes ; but Acropolita says the third, p. 165, ed. Bonn.] I'The old geographers, with Cellarius and d'Anville, and our travellers, parti- cularly Pocock and Chandler, will teach us to distinguish the two Magnesias of Asia Minor, of the Maeander and of Sipylus. The latter, our present object, is still flourishing for a Turkish city, and lies eight hours, or leagues, to the north- east of Smyrna (Toarnefort, Voyage du Levant, torn. iii. lettre xxiii. p. 365-370. Chandler's Travels into Asia Minor, p. 267). i*'See Acropolita (c. 75, 76, &c.), who lived too near the times ; Pach)'mer (1. i. c. 13-25) ; Gregoras (1. iii. c. 3-5). 1" The pedigree of Palaeologus is explained by Ducange (Famil. Byzant. p. 230, &c. ) ; the events of his private life are related by Pachymer (1. i. c. 7-12), and Gregoras (1. ii. 8, 1. iii. 2, 4, 1. iv. i), with visible favour to the father of the reign- ing dynasty.