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Rh time they never ceased making war on the Empire; they came to the gates of Constantinople in 673, and again in 716, but they did not succeed in taking the city till 1453. A State that could keep such fierce enemies, first the Saracens and then the Turks, at bay for eight centuries could not have been altogether corrupt. And there was repeatedly a revival at the Roman Court. After a time of utter corruption and decay, some strong man would get hold of the power and would sternly reform everything. Then the legions would again go forth and drive the barbarians back from the provinces they had taken.

In the long list of Emperors, from Constantine I to Constantine XII, there is a fair proportion of great names: some of them were very great indeed. Justinian I (527–565) was one of the greatest men that ever ruled anywhere. While he was drawing up the Code of Roman Law, that has been the standard for almost all the States of Europe ever since, while he was building the most wonderful church that the world has ever seen, his legions were defeating the Persians and driving the barbarian out of Italy, Spain, and Africa, till once more Cæsar ruled from the Pillars of Hercules to the Euphrates, and from the Danube to the African desert, Heraclius (610–641) finally broke the power of the old enemy of Rome, the "Great King" of Persia; Leo III, the Isaurian (717–740), met the first rush of the Saracens, and first stopped their victorious career by driving them back from the walls of his own city; Basil II, the Slayer of the Bulgars (963–1025), shattered the power of other barbarians, who threatened to overrun the Empire, and once more carried the Eagles back to the Danube. Most of these Emperors interfered in theological discussions, and persecuted the Church with their edicts; but they were very valiant men and mighty lords, who again joined to the Roman name the terror of the Roman arms. Indeed no State could hold out for ever against the endless hordes of enemies that one after another came pouring up against the frontiers of the Empire. That it withstood them for so many centuries; that it was the leader of Europe in civilization, while it was its bulwark against the common enemy for so long, gives New Rome a right to be remembered as one of the very greatest States in history.