CARUS, NUMERIAN, AND CARINUS.-Carus, who was prætorian prefect to the deceased emperor, was chosen by the army to succeed him; and he, to strengthen his authority, united with him his two sons Carinus and Numerian in command; the former of whom was as remarkable for his vices, as the latter was for his virtues. Carus had scarcely time to punish the murderers of the late monarch, when he was alarmed by a fresh irruption of the Sarmatians, over whom he gained a signal victory. The Persian monarch also made some attempts upon the empire; but Carus assured his ambassadors that, if their master persisted in his obstinacy, all his fields should shortly be as bare as his own bald head: a dreadful battle ensuing, he once more gained a complete victory. But he was shortly after struck dead by lightning in his tent, with many others around him. Numerianus was inconsolable for his death; and brought a dis

order upon his eyes, we are told, with weeping. The peculiarity of his situation, after some time, excited the ambition of Aper, his father-inlaw, who supposed that he could now, without danger, aim at the empire himself. He therefore hired a villain to murder the emperor in his litter; and, to conceal the fact, gave out that he was alive, but unable to endure the light. In this manner was the dead body carried about for some days, Aper continuing to attend it with the utmost respect, and to take orders as usual. However, the offensiveness of its smell, at length discovered the treachery, and excited a universal uproar. In the midst of this tumult, Dioclesian, one of the most noted commanders of his time, was chosen emperor, and with his own hand slew Aper, having thus, as it is said, fulfilled a prophecy, that he should be emperor after he had slain a boar, alluding to the name of his rival. Carinus did not long survive his father and brother; for giving himself up to his vices, and opposing the new-made emperor, the competitors led their forces into Mosia; where, Dioclesian being victorious, Carinus was slain by a tribune of his own army, whose wife he had formerly abused.

DIOCLESIAN AND MAXIMIAN.-Dioclesian received his name from Dioclea, the town in which he was born; and was about forty years old when he was elected emperor. He pardoned all who had joined Carinus. Conscious also that the weight of the empire was too heavy for one alone to sustain, he took in Maximian, his general, as a partner in the throne. There never was a period in which the empire had more numerous or formidable enemies to oppose. In VOL. XIX.-PART 1.

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Gaul the peasants and laborers made a dangerous insurrection, under Amandus and Helianus, but were subdued by Maximian. Achilleus, who commanded in Egypt, proclaimed himself emperor; and it was not without many bloody engagements that he was overcome. In Africa, the Roman legions, joined with many of the natives, seized upon the public revenues, and plundered those who continued in their duty. These were also subdued by Maximian. About the same time a principal commander in Britain, named Carausius, then proclaimed himself emperor, and possessed himself of the island. To oppose this general, Maximian made choice of Constantius Chlorus, whom he created Cæsar, and married to Theodora his daughter-inlaw. About this time also Narses, king of Persia, began a dangerous war, and invaded Mesopotamia. The Persians, however, were overcome in a decisive engagement, and their camp plundered and taken. There only remained, of all the enemies of the empire, those who lay to the northward, the Goths, Sarmatians, Alani, Quadi, &c., who poured down in incredible numbers. ring this period, as if the external miseries of the empire had not been sufficient, the tenth and last great persecution raged against the Christians. It exceeded all the former in severity; and, such was the zeal with which it was pursued, that, in an ancient inscription, we are informed that they had effaced the name and superstition of the Christians. Their attempts, however, were but the malicious efforts of an expiring party; for Christianity soon after was established by law. In the midst of the troubles raised by this persecution, and of the contests that struck at the internal parts of the state, Dioclesian and Maximian surprised the world by resigning their dignities on the same day, and both retiring into private stations. Historians are much divided concerning the motives that thus induced them to give up those honors which they had purchased with so much danger. When some attempted to persuade Dioclesian to resume the empire, he replied, That, if they knew his present happiness, they would rather endeavour to imitate than disturb it.' Maximian, his partner in the empire and in resignation, was by no means so contented. He conducted various intrigues for a return to power, and endeavouring to force his own daughter, and destroy her husband, he was detected, and condemned to die by whatever death he should think proper; Lactantius tells us that he chose hanging.

CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS, AND GALERIUS.Upon the resignation of the two emperors the

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