Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/854

Rh BU CONSTANTINUS. The following were the most important ot the laws and regulations of Constantine. He devel- oped and brought to perfection the hierarchical Byetem of state dignities established by Diocletian on the model of the Eastern courts, and of which the details are contained in the Notitia Dignita- tum. The principal officers were divided into three classes : the Illustres, the Spectabiles. and the Clarissimi ; for officers of a lower rank other titles were invented, the pompons sounds of which con- trasted strangely with the pettiness of the func- tions of the bearers. The consulship was a mere title, and so was the dignity of patricius ; both of these titles were in later years often conferred upon barbarians. The number of public officers was immense, and they all derived tfieir authority from the supreme chief of the empire, who could thus depend upon a host of men raised by their education above the lower classes, and who, hav- ing generally nothing but their appointments, were obliged to do all in their power to prevent revolu- tions, by which they would have been deprived of their livelihood. A similar artificial system, strengthening the goven)ment, is established, in our days, in Prussia, Austria, France, and most of the states of Europe. The dignity and dangerous military power of the praefecti praetorio were abo- lished. Under Diocletian and Maximiati there were four praefecti, but they were only lieutenants of the two Augusti and their two Caesars. Con- stantine continued the number, and limited their power by making them civil officers : under him there was the Praefectus Orienti over the Asiatic provinces and Thrace ; the Praefectus Itali.ie. over Italy, Rhaetia, Noricum, and Afiica between Egypt and Tingitania; the Praefectus lUyrico, who had lUyricum, Pannonia, Mjicedonia, and Greece ; and the Praefectus Galliae, over Gaul, Britain, Spain, and Tingitania or the westernmost part of Africa. Rome and Constantinople had each their separate praefect Under the praefecti there were thirteen high functionaries, who were civil governors of the thirteen dioceses into which the empire was divided, and who had either the title of comes or count, or of vicarius or vice-prae- fect Between these officers and the praefecti there were three proconsuls, of Asia, Achaia, and AfriL'fi, who however were but governors of pro- vinces, the whole number of which was one hun- dred and sixteen, and which were governed, be- sides the proconsuls, by thirty-seven consulares, five correctores, and seventy-one presidentes. The military administration was entirely sepa- rate I from the civil, and as the Praefecti Praetorio wer ; changed into civil officers, as has been men- tioned above, the supreme military command was conferred at first upon two, then four, and finally eight Magistri Militum, under whom were the j military Comites and Duces. The number of legions was diminished, but the armt was never- theless much increased, especially by barbarian auxiliaries, a dangerous practice, which hastened the overthrow of the Western and shook the Eastern empire to its foundations. The increase of the army rendered various oppressive taxes necessary, which were unequally assessed, and caused many revolts. There were seven high functionaries, who may be compared with some of the great officers of state in our country, viz. the Pr&opositus Sacri Cubiculi, or Lord Chamberlain ; the Alagister Officiorum, who acted in many con- CONSTANTINUS. ceni? ns a secretary for home affairs ; the Quaestor, or Lord Chancellor and Seal-Keeper ; the Come» Sacrarum Largitionum, or Chancellor of the Ex- chequer for the public revenue ; the Comes Rerum Privatarum Divinae Doraus for the private pro- perty of the emperor ; and, finally, two Comites Doniesticorum, or simply Domestici, the com- manders of the imperial life-guard. For ftirther details we refer to the authorities enumerated at the end of this article, .ind to Gutherius, " De Officiis Domus Augtistae."" Constantine deserves the name of Great : he rose to the highest pinnacle of power, and owed his for- tune to nobody but himself. His birth was a source of dangers to him ; his exalted qualities caused jealousy among his enemies, and during the greater part of his reign his life was one continued struggle. He overcame all obstacles through his own exer- tions ; his skill vanquished his enemies ; his energy kept the hydra of anarchy headless ; his pnidence conducted him in sjifety through con- spiracies, rebellions, battles, and murder, to the throne of Rome ; his wisdom created a new organi- zation fur an empire, which consisted of huge frag- ments, and which no human hand seemed powerful enough to raise to a solid edifice. Christianity- was made by him the religion of the state, but Paganism was not persecuted though discouraged. The Christianity of the emperor himself has been a subject of warm controversy both in ancient and modem times, but the graphic account which Niebuhr gives of Constantine's belief seems to be perfectly just. Speaking of the murder of Licinius and his own sonCrispus, Niebuhr remarks (Hist. <^ Home., vol. v. p. 359), " Many judge of him by too severe a standard, because they look upon him as a Christian ; but I cannot regard him in that light. The religion which he had in his head must have been a strange compound indeed. The man who had on his coins the inscription Sol invidus^ who worshipped pagan divinities, consult- ed the haruspices, indulged in a number of pagan superstitions, and, on the other hand, built churches, shut up pagan temples, and interfered with the council of Nicaea, must have been a re- pulsive phaenomenon, and was certainly not a Christian. He did not allow himself to be bap- tized till the last moments of his life, and those who praise him for this do not know what they are doing. He was a superstitious man, and mixed up his Christian religion with all kinds of absurd superstitions and opinions. When, there- fore, certain Oriental writers call him tVoTroo-ToAos they do not know what they are saying, and to speak of him as a saint is a profanation of the word.** The blame which falls upon Constantine for the death of Maximian, Licinius, and Crispus, will fail upon many kings, and we hjive only fabulous ac- counts of the mental sufferings which his bloody deeds miglit have caused him. Constantine was not so great during the latter part of his reign. In proportion as he advanced in years he lost that serene generosity which had distinguished him while he was younger ; his temper grew acrimonious, and he gave way to passionate bursts of resent- ment which he would have suppressed while he was in the bloom of manhood. He felt that the gran- deur of Rome could be maintained only in the East, and he founded Constantinople; but the spirit of the East overwhelmed him, and he sacri- ficed the heroic majesty of a Roman emperor to