Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 18, RHI-SCR

ROM
Rome.
420
lie was going to fign them by a thunderbolt, which fell
fo near his perfon, that all the people judged him to be
delfroyed.
But, however Heaven might have interpofed on this
occafion, it is certain that his feverities at laft were the
caufe of his deftru&ion. Meneflhus, his principal fe-
cretary, having been threatened by him for fome fault
which he had committed, began to confider how he
might prevent the meditated blow. For this purpofe,
he forged a roll of the names of feveral perfons, whom
he pretended the emperor had marked out for death,
adding his own to ftrengthen him in the confidence of
the party. The fcroll thus contrived was thown with
an air of the utmoft fecrecy to fome of the perfons con¬
cerned ; and they, to profcure their fafety, immediately
agreed with him to deftroy the emperor. This refolu-
tion was foon put in execution ; for, as the emperor paf-
fed with a fmall guard from Uraclea, in Thrace, towards
[ 238 1
ROM
He is mur- Byzantium, the confpirators fet upon him at once, and
dered, flew him with very fmall refiftance. He was fiain in the
60th, or, as fome fay, in the 63d year of his age, after
a very aflive reign of almoft five years.
The number of pretenders to the throne, which had
formerly inft ited the empire, were, by the laft monarch’s
aflivity, fo entirely removed, that there now feemed to
be none that would venture to declare himfelf a candi¬
date. The army referred the choice to the fenate ; and,
on the other fide, the fenate declined it: fo that a fpace
Tacitus of near eight months elapfed in thefe negociation. At
chofenem- length, however, the fenate made choice of Tacitus, a
peron
422
man of great merit, and noway ambitious of the ho¬
nours that were offered him. Upon being folicited to
accept the empire, he at firft refufed, and retired to
his country houfe in Campania, to avoid their importu¬
nities ; but being at length prevailed upon, he accepted
the reins of government, being at that time 75 years
old.
One of the firft a61s of his government was the pu-
niihment of thofe who had confpired againft the late
emperor. Menefthus was impaled alive, his body be¬
ing thrown to be devoured by wild beads; his eftate
alfo was confifcated to the exchequer ; and his ready
money, which was very confiderable, applied towards
paying the army. During this ftiort reign, the fenate
leemed to have a large lhare of authority, and the hi-
ftorians of the times are liberal of their praifes to fuch
emperors as were thus willing to divide their power.—-
Upon endeavouring to obtain the confulflup for his bro¬
ther Probus, he was refufed it by the fenate : at which
he feemed no way moved, but calmly remarked that
the fenate beft knew whom to choofe. This modera¬
tion prevailed in all the reft of his conduct: he was ex¬
tremely temperate ; his table was plain, and furniflied
with nothing expenfive : he even prohibited his emprefs
from wearing jewels, and forbade the ufe of gold and
embroidery. He was fond of learning, and the me¬
mory of fuch men as had deferved well of their coun¬
try. He particularly efteemcd the works of his name-
fake Tacitus the hiftorian; commanding that they ftiould
be placed in every public library throughout the em¬
pire, and that many copies of them Ihould be tranfcribed
at the public charge. A reign begun with fuch mo¬
deration and juftice, only wanted continuance to have
made the empire happy ; but after enjoying the empire
His death, (jx months, he died of a fever in his march to op-
Ronif,,'
42J
Pi'obus r
pofe the Perfians and Scythians, who had invaded the
eaftern parts of the empire.
Upon the death of Tacitus the army feemed divided
in the choice of an emperor; one part of it chofe Flo-
rianus, brother to the deceaftd ; but the majority were
for fome time undetermined. They alleged amongft
each other the neceffity of choofing one eminent for va¬
lour, honour, piety, clemency, and probity ; but the laft
virtue being that chiefly infifted upon, the whole army,
as if by common confent, cried out that Probus fliould
be emperor. He was accordingly confirmed in this dig¬
nity svith the ufual* folemnities : and Florianus finding
himfelf deferted, even by thofe legions who had promif-
ed to Hand up in his fupport, opened his arteries and
bled himfelf to death.
Probus was 44 years old, when he afeended the
throne, being born of noble parentage at Sirmium in fed to the
Pannonia, and bred up a foldier from his youth. HeemP're'
began early to dirtinguifh himfelf for his difeipline and
valour; being frequently the firft man who in befieging
towns fealed the walls, or that burft into the enemy’s
camp. He was no lefs remarkable for Angle combats,
and faving the lives of many eminent citizens. Nor
was his a&ivity and courage, when ele£led to the em¬
pire, lefs apparent, than in his private ftation. He firft
reprtffed the Germans in Gaul, of whom he flew 400,000.
He then marched into Dalmatia, to oppofe and fubdue
the Sarmatians. From thence he led his forces into ^
Thrace, and forced the Goths to fue for peace. He af-His con.
ter that turned his arms towards Afia ; fubdued the
province of Ifauria ; and marching onward, conquered
a people called the Blemijes ; who, leaving their native
forefts of Ethiopia, had poffeffed themfelves of Arabia
and Judea, and had continued in a ftate of rebellion fince
the reign of Gallienus. Narfes alfo, the king of Perfia,
fubmitted at his approach : and upon his return into
Europe, he divided the depopulated parts of Thrace
among its barbarous invaders: acircumftance that after¬
wards produced great calamities to the empire.
His diligence was not lefs confpicuous in fuppreffing
inteftine commotions. Saturninus, being compelled by
the Egyptians to declare himfelf emperor, was defeated
and llain. Proculus alfo (a perfon remarkable only for
his great attachment to women, and who boafted in a
letter, that, having taken ICO Sarmatian virgins prifo-
ners, he deprived ten of that name in one night, and all
the reft within a fortnight) let up againft the emperor;
but was compelled to fly, and at length delivered up by
the Germans. At the fame time Bonofus (who was a
remarkable votary to Bacchus, being able to drink as
much W’ine as ten could do, without being difordered)
rebelled, and being overcome hanged himfelf in defpair.
Probus, when he faw him immediately after his death,
could not avoid pointing to him, and faying, “ There
hanp-s not a man but a calk.” Still, however, not-
with (landing every effort to give quiet to the empire,
the barbarians who furrounded it kept it in continual
alarms. They were frequently repulfed into their na¬
tive wilds, but they as certainly returned with frelh rage
and increafcd ferocity. The Goths and Vandals, find¬
ing the emperor engaged in quelling domeftic diiputes,
renewed their accuftomed inroads, and once more felt
the punifhment of their prefumptions. They were con¬
quered in feveral engagements ; and Probus returned in
triumph to Rome. Hisadlive temper, however, would
riot