THE CONQUEST OF PERSIA, SYRIA, EGYPT, AFRICA, AND SPAIN, BY THE ARABS OR SARACENS-EMPIRE OF THE 634 The City is taken by Storm and Capitulation. Pursuit of the Damascenes The Cities of Memphis, Babylon, and Cairo Voluntary Submission of the Copts or Jacobites 709 SPAIN. First Temptations and Designs of the Arabs 555 710 The First Descent of the Arabs 711 Their Second Descent and Victory THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE CHAPTER XLV REIGN OF THE YOUNGER JUSTIN-EMBASSY OF THE AVARS -THEIR SETTLEMENT ON THE DANUBE-CONQUEST OF ITALY BY THE LOMBARDS-ADOPTION AND REIGN OF TIBERIUS-OF MAURICE-STATE OF ITALY UNDER THE LOMBARDS AND THE EXARCHS OF RAVENNADISTRESS OF ROME-CHARACTER AND PONTIFICATE OF GREGORY THE FIRST DURING the last years of Justinian, his infirm mind was devoted to heavenly contemplation, and he neglected the business of the lower world. His subjects were impatient of the long continuance of his life and reign; yet all who were capable of reflection apprehended the moment of his death, which might involve the capital in tumult and the empire in civil war. Seven nephews of the childless monarch, the sons or grandsons of his brother and sister, had been educated in the splendour of a princely fortune; they had been shown in high commands to the provinces and armies; their characters were known, their followers were zealous; and, as the jealousy of age post VOL. V. A poned the declaration of a successor, they might expect with equal hopes the inheritance of their uncle. He expired in his palace after a reign of thirty-eight years; and the decisive opportunity was embraced by the friends of Justin, the son of Vigilantia.1 At the hour of midnight his domestics were awakened by an importunate crowd, who thundered at his door, and obtained admittance by revealing themselves to be the principal members of the senate. These welcome deputies announced the recent and momentous secret of the emperor's decease; reported, or perhaps invented, his dying choice of the best beloved and most deserving of his nephews; and conjured Justin to prevent the disorders of the multitude, if they should perceive, with the return of light, that they were left without a master. After composing his countenance to surprise, sorrow, and decent modesty, Justin, hy the advice of his wife Sophia, submitted to the authority of the senate. He was conducted with speed and silence to the palace; the guards saluted their new sovereign; and the martial and religious rites of his coronation were diligently accomplished. By the hands of the proper officers he was invested with the Imperial garments, the red buskins, white tunic, and purple robe. A fortunate soldier, whom he instantly promoted to the rank of tribune, encircled his neck with a military collar; four robust youths exalted him on a shield; he stood firm and erect to receive the adoration of his subjects; and their choice was sanctified by the benediction of the patriarch, who imposed the diadem on the head of an orthodox prince. The hippodrome was already filled with innumerable multitudes; and no sooner did the emperor appear on his throne than the voices of the blue and the green factions were confounded in the same loyal acclamations. In the speeches which Justin addressed to the 1 In the story of Justin's elevation I have translated into simple and concise prose the eight hundred verses of the two first books of Corippus, de Laudibus Justini, Appendix Hist. Byzant. pp. 401-416, Rome, 1777. |