OUTLINES OF HISTORY.

PART II.

THE MIDDLE AGES.

CHAP. I.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BARBARIANS IN THE WESTERN

EMPIRE.

Introduction.

HITHERTO the stream of history has run in one nearly continuous channel, varying its appellation as the chief power fell into the hands of a different people. Assyrians, Medes, and Persians, have succeeded each other in the possession of Asiatic empire. Greece has risen on their ruins; and all have been finally absorbed in the wide dominion of Rome. The minor streams of smaller states have only contributed to swell the current of empire. The face of history now alters; the last great empire is dissolved; no state will appear of such magnitude as to absorb all others; numerous states will run a parallel course, mutually affecting each other. plan must suit itself to the altered condition of the world henceforth we shall divide the course of events into periods, under each of which we shall view the then state of human affairs.

Our

The middle ages occupy ten centuries of the history of man. Of these, the six first are justly denominated the dark ages. A long night succeeded to the brilliant day of Rome, whose sun had set in blood and gloom.

In the

four last centuries of this period, it will brighten more and more into the perfect day of modern cultivation and refinement. Religion will purify, law will resume its empire, manners will soften, literature and science will revive.

The Gotho-Germans.

The tribes that overturned the western empire were all of this great race, which overspread nearly all the northern part of Europe. Their original seat was probably east of the Caspian. The affinity between their languages and those of India and Persia is striking; but the date of their migration is anterior to occidental history. They were distinguished by their huge stature, blue eyes, and fair complexions. Their religious system was a deification of the powers of nature; it still subsists in the Icelandic Eddas.

We shall now give a concise view of the states founded by them on the ruins of the empire of Rome.

East-Goths in Italy.

On the death of Attila, the East-Goths threw off their subjection to the Huns. Under their princes of the house of the Amali they dwelt from the Danube to the Save. They received gifts from the Eastern emperors; they gave hostages in return. Among these was Theoderic (Dietrich), a natural son of their king Theodemir, a youth of talent and hope. Theodemir extended his conquests to the Alps. His son returned at the age of eighteen, accomplished in the knowledge of the Romans, and, unknown to his father, defeated a Sarmatian prince. The Goths now extended into Illyria and Macedonia, and Theoderic succeeded his father. The emperor Zeno, a weak prince, feared the ruler of the Goths: he invested him with the consular robe, and allowed him to triumph. But the Goths still felt themselves straitened; and Zeno adopted the resolution of formally be

stowing on Theoderic Italy, now bowed beneath the sceptre of the king of the Heruli.

The Gothic nation, accompanied by their families, flocks, and herds, joyfully set forth under their prince, of twenty-four years of age, to take possession of the blooming region assigned them. Twice on the borders of Italy were the subjects of Odoacer defeated. The Gothic warriors marched through the future Venetian territory. Odoacer fled to Rome, but found its gates closed against him. He shut himself up in Ravenna, defended by its morasses, works, and 20,000 men. In the third year of the siege, Odoacer was murdered, and the city surrendered. Theoderic forthwith assumed the A. D.

Roman purple.

493.

At Rome, where he was received with every demonstration of honour, he sought to restore every thing to its state under the emperors. He governed with justice: though an Arian, he persecuted not the orthodox, but testified all becoming respect for their bishops. Though so illiterate as not to write, he encouraged learning: his chancellor was the learned Cassiodorus; the philosophic Boethius was one of his ministers. Allied to most of the barbaric princes, he was a father and mediator among them. His wife was daughter to Childebert, king of the Franks; his sister was married to Hunneric, king of the Vandals; his niece, to the king of the Thuringians; his daughters to the monarchs of the Burgundians and West-Goths. Theoderic left no son. When he felt the approach of death, he summoned his nobles and officers, commended to them his daughter Amalaswinde, and her son Athalaric, a child of ten years; advised regard to order, and to the senate and people of Rome, and the maintenance of peace with the 526.

Eastern empire.

The ambition of the mother of Athalaric induced her to associate with her in the regency her cousin Theudat. Her son died of disease, and her ungrateful 534. colleague deprived her of life.

Meantime the Vandal kingdom in Africa had fallen

A. D.

beneath the arms of Belisarius, the able general of the emperor Justinian, and Gelimir, its last sovereign, had been led in triumph in Constantinople. Orders were

now issued to Belisarius to avenge the daughter of Theo536. deric. Theudat was dethroned by the Gothic nation, and Vitig seated on the throne of the Amali. Belisarius denied the right of the Goths to elect a king over a country originally Roman. From Sicily, which had already submitted, he passed over to Italy, took Naples, then Rome, which he fortified; advanced into Tuscany, and defeated the Goths at Perusia. Milan and the neighbouring towns rebelled against the Arian Goths; 539. and Vitig called from Burgundy, now under the Franks, 10,000 volunteers against them. The defence of Milan was long and obstinate; the inhabitants endured the extremities of famine; but at length the Frankish arms were successful, and neither age nor sex was spared in the carnage. Vitig lay fourteen months before Rome, which was relieved by Belisarius; Ravenna was taken, 539. and Vitig led a captive to Constantinople.

The Franks fought in Italy with the success which has always attended their arms in that country — victory, then defeat. The Goths were still animated by their usual heroism: two kings were elected and de540. throned. In the person of Totila, the third monarch,

the fame of Theoderic revived. Victory attended his arms; he took the towns, and levelled their walls. Belisarius was absent quelling an insurrection in Africa : he returned to see Rome taken before his eyes. Her fortifications were destroyed; her inhabitants of all ranks driven from their homes, that she might never again be able to resist the Gothic arms. Master of Italy, Totila now emulated the mildness of Theoderic; he recalled her population to Rome, and lived as a father among his people.

Court intrigue had recalled Belisarius; the conduct of the Italian war was committed to the valiant eunuch Narses. With the title of proconsul, and with Langobardic auxiliaries, he entered Italy. The Goths were