9
Before arriving there, he was joined by the empressphorus, the sons of Bardas Phocas ; the Chris
:
and a host of partisans.
Before arriving there, he was joined by the empressphorus, the sons of Bardas Phocas ; the Chris
:
and a host of partisans.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
P.
]
very badly, and the Panegyrics are what their
name indicates. Among the ecclesiastical writers,
Eusebius, Lactantius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theo-
phanes, &c. , are the principal; but it has already
been observed that their statements must be pe
rused with great precaution. The Life of Constan-
tine by Praxagoras, which was known to the
Byzantines, is lost. Besides these sources, there
is scarcely a writer of the time of Constantine and
COIN OF CONSTANTINUS II.
the following centuries, who does not give some CONSTANTI'NUS III. , FLAVIUS HE-
account of Constantine; and even in the works of RA'CLIUS, called NOVUS CONSTANTI'NUS,
the later Byzantines, such as Constantine Porphy- emperor of the East, A. D. 641, the son of the emperor
rogenitus and Cedrenus, we find valuable additions Heraclius by his first wife, Eudoxia, was born in
to the history of that great emperor. The most com- May, 612, and succeeded his father on the 11th of
plete list of sources, with critical observations, is con- March (February), 641, together with his younger
tained in Tillemont, Histoire des Empereurs. See half-brother Heracleonas, the succession being thus
also Manso, Leben Constantins des Grossen. ) [W. P. ] established by the testament of their father. Con-
stantine died as early as the 22nd of June (25th
of May) A. D. 641, after a reign of 103 days, either
from ill-health, or probably from poison adminis-
tered to him by his step-mother Martina. His
successor was his brother Heracleonas. (HERA-
CLEONAS; CONSTANS II. ] Constantine distin-
guished himself personally in a war against the
SARTS
Persians. Advised by his rapacious treasurer,
Philagrius, he sacrilegiously ordered the grave of
COIN OP CONSTANTINUS L
his father to be robbed of a golden crown of seventy
CONSTANTI'NUS II. FLAVIUS CLAU'- pounds' weight, which stuck so fast to the head of
DIUS, surnamed the Younger, Roman emperor, the dead emperor, that the corpse was mutilated
A. D. 3374-340, the second son of Constantine in removing the crown from it. (Theophan. Pp.
the Great, and the first whom he had by his second 251, 275, &c. , ed. Paris; Cedren. p. 430, &c. , ed.
wife, Fausta, was born at Arelatum, now Arles, in Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. pp. 71, 87, &c. , ed. Paris;
Gaul, on the 7th of August, A. D. 312. As early Glycas, p. 276, ed. Paris. )
[W. P. ]
as A. D. 316, he was created Caesar, together with CONSTANTINUS IV. , FLA'VIUS, sur-
his elder brother, Crispus, and the younger Lici- named POGONA'TUS or BARBA'TUS, em-
nius, and he held the consulship several times. In peror of the East, A. D. 668—685, the eldest son
commemoration of the fifth anniversary of his of Constans II. , succeeded his father in 668.
Caesarship, in 321, the orator Nazarius delivered Constans having lost his life by assassination at
a panegyric (Panegyr. Veter. ix. ), which, however, Syracuse, his murderers, who seemed to have had
is of little importance. In 335 he was entrusted great power, and who were assisted by the Greek
with the administration of Gaul, Britain, and army stationed in Sicily, chose as emperor one
Spain. After the death of his father, 337, he receiv- Mizizus, Mecentius, or Mezzetius, an Armenian.
ed in the division of the empire between the three Constantine fitted out an expedition against the
sons of the Great Constantine and his nephews, usurper, quelled the rebellion in 669, and put
Dalmatius and Hannibalianus, the same provinces Mizizus to death. After a short stay at Syracuse,
which he had governed under his father, and a Constantine sailed back to Constantinople, carry-
part of Africa. Being the eldest surviving son of ing with him the body of his father ; but no sooner
CONUT
Va seront
عمرو
## p. 838 (#858) ############################################
838
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
.
was he gone, than an Arabic fleet, perhaps invited nothing of the last five years of the reign of Con-
thither by the rebels, appeared off Syracuse. stantine: he died in the month of September, 685,
The place was taken by surprise and partly de- and was succeeded by his son, Justinian II.
stroyed, and the riches and statues, the plunder of Besides the wars which signalized the reign
Rome, collected there by Constans, were carried of Constantine IV. , there is an event not less
by the Arabs to Alexandria. The Greek troops remarkable, which most probably took place during
in Asia revolted soon after the return of the em- the same period. We allude to the new division
peror. They would be governed by a “Trinity,' of the empire, which had hitherto been adminis
and not by a sole sovereign, and demanded that tered according to the ancient system, so that, for
Constantine should divide his authority with his instance, all the Asiatic dominions were ruled by
two brothers, Heraclius and Tiberiu who had the a civil governor or proconsul, and the whole army
title but not the power of Augusti. This rebellion stationed in that part of the empire had likewise
was likewise soon quelled, and Constantine par- but one chief commander, the praefect of Asia.
doned both his brothers. At the same time, an The constant incursions of the Arabs required the
Arabic army commanded by Ukbah and Dinár presence of different moveable corps stationed in
in vaded the remaining part of the Greek dominions the frontier provinces, the commanders of which
in Africa (Mauretania), penetrated as far as the were irdependent of one another : these bodies
shores of the Atlantic, and ravaged the country so were called themata (Oépara), from thema (@fua),
fearfully, that both the Greek and Berber inhabi- a position. This name was afterwards given to
tants rose in despair, and, under the command of a the districts in which such corps were stationed,
native chief named Kussileh, surprised the Mos and its use became so general, that at last the
lems, and killed nearly all of them. This however whole empire was divided into twenty-nine the
was no advantage to the emperor, since Kussileh mata, seventeen of which were in the eastern and
succeeded in seizing the supreme power in that southem or Asiatic part of the empire, and twelve
country.
in the northern and western parts, from the Cim-
In 071 the Arabs equipped a powerful fleet merian Bosporus to Sicily. This important change
with the intention of laying siege to Constantino- in the administration of the empire took place in
ple. They conquered Smyrna and nearly all the the latter years of the reign of Heraclius, or in the
islands of the Grecian archipelago, and began the reign of Constantine IV. , that is, from about 635
blockade of Constantinople in the spring of 672; to 685. But although we do not precisely know
but, after a protracted siege of five months, were com- the year, there are many reasons for believing that
pelled to sail back, after sustaining immense losses Constantine IV. was the originator of that plan.
from the Greek fire, which had just been invented (CONSTANTINUS VII. ] (Cedren. p. 436, &c. , ed.
by Callinicus, a native of Heliopolis in Syria, and Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 89, &c. , ed. Paris ; Gly-
was first employed in that siege. Yezid, the son cas, p. 278, &c. , ed. Paris ; Theophan. p. 289, &c. ,
of the khalif Mu'awiyalı, who commanded the ed. Paris; Paulus Diacon. De Gestis Longobard.
Arabic forces, returned in the following spring, v. 30. )
[W. P. ]
and, during a period of seven years, regularly ap-
CONSTANTI'NUS V. , surnamed COPRO'.
peared before Constantinople in the spring, and NYMUS (& Kompavupos), because he polluted the
sailed to his winter-quarters in the autumn, but baptismal font at the time of his baptism, emperor
was not able to take the city. During the last of the East, A. D. 741–775, was ihe only son of
siege, in 679, the Arabic fleet lost so many ships the emperor Leo III. Isaurus. He was born in 719,
by the Greek fire, that Yezid was compelled to and succeeded his father in 741. The unfortunate
make a hasty retreat, and not having a sufficient commencement of his reign is related in the life of
number of ships for his numerous forces, despatched the emperor ARTAVASDES, p. 370, b. The down-
a body of 30,000 men by land for Syria, while he fall of this usurper in 743 and the complete success
embarked the rest on board his fleet. But his of Constantine caused much grief to pope Zacharias,
fleet was destroyed by a storm, and the land army who had recognized Artavasdes because he pro-
was overtaken and cut to pieces by a Greek army tected the worship of images, while Constantine
commanded by Florus, Petronas, and Cyprianus. was an iconoclast, at whose instigation a council
This unfortunate campaign, and the war at the held at Constantinople in 754 condemned the wor-
same time with the Maronites or Druses of Mount ship of images throughout the whole Eastern em-
Lebanon, pressed so heavily upon the khalif pire. Constantine was most cruel in his proceed-
Mu'awiyah, that, wishing for peace, he signed the ings against the orthodox : he anathematized
conditions offered him by Constantine, and he thus Joannes Damascenus and put to death Constan-
became liable, for the period of thirty years, to an tine, the patriarch of Constantinople, St. Stepha-
annual tribute of 3000 pounds of gold accompanied nus, and many other fathers who had declared for
by rich presents of slaves and horses. By this the images. In 751 Eutychius, exarch of Ravenna,
glorious peace the authority of the Greek emperor was driven out by Astolf (Astaulphus), king of the
rose to such a height, that all the minor powers of Longobards, who united that province with his
Asia sought his protection. But his name was dominions after the dignity of exarch had been in
less dreaded in Europe, for he was compelled by existence during a period of 185 years. A war
the Bulgarians to cede to them that country south haring broken out between Astolf and Pipin the
of the Danube which is still called Bulgaria. Short, king of the Franks, the latter conquered
In 680 Constantine assembled the sixth general the exarchate and gave it to pope Stephen (755),
council at Constantinople, by which the Monoth the first pope who ever had temporal dominions,
elists were condemned and peace was restored the duchy of Rome being still a dependency of the
to the church. In 681 the emperor's brothers, Eastern empire. Constantine sent ambassadors to
Heraclius and Tiberius, were both deprived of their Pipin, Astolf, and the pope, to claim the restitution
dignity of Augustus, which title Constantine con- of the exarchate ; but the negotiations proved abor-
ferred upon his son Justinian. We know almost tive, since the emperor could not give them suffi-
## p. 839 (#859) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
839
CONSTANTINUS.
cient weight by the display of a formidable army | suffered a severe defeat from the eunuch Joannes
in Italy ; for his troops were engaged in disastrous in Armenia, evacuated that country, and fied in
wars with the Arabs, who mvaged Pamphylia, confusion to Syria ; but in the following year, a
Cilicia, and Isauria; with the Slavoninns, who powerful Arabian army, divided into three strong
conquered Grecce; and with the Bulgarians, who bodies, and commanded by Harún-ar-Rashid, the
penetrated several times as far as the environs of son of the khalif Mahadí, penetrated as fiir as the
Constantinople. The Bulgarian king, Paganns, Bosporus, and compelled Irene to pay an annual
however, suffered a severe defeat from Constantine tribute of 60,000 pieces of gold. The peace, how-
in 765, in which he was treacherously killed, and ever, was broken some years afterwards, and the
Constantine entered his capital in triumph ; but in new war lasted till the end of the reign of Con-
the following year he sustained a severe defeat stantine, who in 790 lost half of his feet in the
from the Bulgarians, and was compelled to fly gulf of Attalia, but obtained several victories over
ingloriously, after losing his feet and army: the Arabs by land. He was likewise victorious
Constantine still flattered himself with regaining in a war with the Slavonians, who had conquered
Ravenna, either by force or arms; but after Charle- all Greece, but were driven back by Stauracius
;
magne becaine king of the Franks he relinquished in 784.
this hope, and united his dominions on the conti- At an early age, Constantine was betrothed to
nent of southern Italy with the island of Sicily, Rotrudis, daughter of Charlemagne; but quarrels
putting all those provinces under the authority of having broken out with that emperor on the sub-
the Patricius or governor-general of Sicily. The ject of the Greek dominions in Italy, the match
continental part of the new province or Thema of was broken off, and Constantine married Maria,
Sicily was sometimes called Sicilia secunda, whence an Armenian lady, whom he repudiated three
arose the name of both the Sicilies, which is still years afterwards, and married one Theodata. In
the regular designation of the kingdom of Naples. 787, the sect of the Iconoclasts was condemned in
In 774, the empire was once more invaded by the the seventh general council held at Nicaea, and
Bulgarians under their king Telericus; but Con- the worship of images was restored throughout
stantine checked his progress, and in the following the empire. When Constantine came of age, be
year fitted out a powerful expedition to chastise was of course intrusted with the administration of
the barbarian. Having resolved to take the com- the empire; but Irene's influence was so great,
mand of it in person, he set out for the Haemus ; that she remained the real sovereign. Tired
but some ulcers on his legs, the consequence of his of his vassalage, Constantine intrigued against her,
debaucheries, having suddenly burst, he stopped at and had already resolved to arrest her, when the
Arcadiopolis, and finally went on board his fleet plot was discovered; his partisans were severely
off Selembria, where he died from an inflammatory punished, and he himself received the chastisement
fever on the 14th of September, 775.
of a boy from the hands of his mother. Infuriated
Constantine V. was a cruel, profligate, and most by this outrage, the young emperor requested the
fanatical man; but he was, nevertheless, well assistance of his Armenian life-guard, and, hav-
adapted for the business of government. He was ing found them all devoted to him, seized upon
addicted to unnatural vices; his passion for horses his mother, and confined her in one of her palaces,
procured him the nickname of Caballinus. He was where she was kindly treated, but was allowed to
thrice married : viz. to Irene, daughter of the have no other company but that of her attendants.
khagan or khan of the Khazars ; a lady called A reconciliation took place some time afterwards,
Maria ; and Eudoxia Melissena. His successor but Irene finally contrived the ruin of her son.
was his eldest son, Leo IV. , whom he had by After succeeding in being recognized as the
Irene. During the reign of Constantine V. the lawful master of the empire, Constantine put him-
beautiful aqueduct of Constantinople, built by the self at the head of his army, and set out to meet
emperor Valens, which had been ruined by the the Bulgarians, who were plundering all Thrace.
barbarians in the time of the emperor Heraclius, He obtained some advantages over them, but lost
was restored by order of Constantine. (Theophan. a pitched battle, saw his army cut to pieces, and
p. 346, &c. , ed. Paris; Cedren. p. 549, &c. , ed. with difficulty escaped to Constantinople. There
Paris ; Nicephor. Gregoras, p. 38, &c. , ed. Paris ; he received intelligence that a conspiracy against
Glycas, p. 283, ed. Paris; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 105, his life, formed by his four uncles and supported
ed. Paris. )
(W. P. ] by the Armenian guard, was on the eve of
CONSTANTI'NUS VI. , FLA’VIUS, emperor breaking out. His measures were at once quick
of the East, A. D. 780-797, the son of Leo IV. and energetic : he seized the conspirators, dis-
Chazarus Isaurus and Irene, was born in 771, and armed the Armenians, whose commander, Alexis,
succeeded his father in 780, under the guardian- bad his eyes put out, and punished his uncles with
ship of his mother, a highly-gifted but ambitious equal severity: one of them was blinded, and the
and cruel woman, a native of Athens. The reign three others had their tongues cut off, and they
of Constantine VI. presents a hideous picture of were all forced to become ecclesiastics, in order to
wars, civil and religious troubles, and pitiless crimes. incapacitate them for reigning. They were after-
Elpidus, governor of the thema of Sicily, revolted wards banished, and died in obscurity.
in 781; and it seems that his intention was either The reconciliation which had taken place be-
to place himself or one of the four paternal uncles tween Constantine and his mother was a hollow
of the young emperor on the throne; but the one ; Irene could not forget that she had once
eunuch Theodore, an able general, defeated him in ruled, and during an expedition of her son against
several engagements in 782, and Elpidus filed with the Arabs she forned another conspiracy. On Con-
his treasures to the Arabs in Africa, by whom he stantine's return in 797, he was suddenly assailed
was treated till his death with the honours due to by assassins while he was sitting in the Hippo-
an emperor. The power of the Arabs grew every drome to look at the races. He escaped unhurt, tied
year more dangerous to the empire. In 781 they from the city, and directed his course to Phrygia.
## p. 840 (#860) ############################################
840
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
9
Before arriving there, he was joined by the empressphorus, the sons of Bardas Phocas ; the Chris
:
and a host of partisans. Relying on the promises tian princes of Iberin recognised the supremacy of
of Irene, he returned to Constantinople, but was the emperor ; alliances of the Greeks with the
surprised in his palace by a band of assassins hired Petchenegues or Patzinacitae in southern Russia
by Irene and her favourite, the general Stauracius. checked both the Russians and the Bulgarians in
His eyes were put out by their order with so their hostile designs against the empire; and Con-
much violence that he died on the same day. By stantine had the satisfaction of receiving in his
a singular coincidence of circumstances, he was palace ambassadors of the khalifs of Baghdúd and
murdered in the “ Porphyra," the name of the Africa, and of the Roman emperor Otho the Great.
apartment where the empresses were accustomed Luitprand, the emperor's ambassador, has left us a
to be confined, and where he was born. His
most interesting account of his mission to Constan-
only son, Leo, having died in his lifetime, he was tinople. (Annales Luitprandi. ) One of the most
succeeded by his mother Irene. Constantine VI. praiseworthy acts of Constantine was the restoration
was the last of the Isaurian dynasty. Zonaras to their lawſul proprietors of estates confiscated
and Cedrenus say, that he survived his excaeca- during rebellions, and held by robbers and swind-
tion for a considerable time; but their opinion lers without any titles, or under fraudulent ones.
seems to be untenable, although Le Beau believes Constantine's end was hastened by poison, ad-
it to be correct. (Theophan. p. 382, &c. , ed. Paris ; ministered to him by an ungrateful son, Romanus
Cedren. p. 469, &c. , ed. Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. (his successor), in consequence of which he died
93, &c. , ed. Paris ; Joel, p. 178, ed. Paris ; Gly- on the 15th of November, A. D. 959. His wife
cas, p. 285, ed. Paris.
[W. P. ] was Helena, by whom hie had the above-mentioned
CONSTANTI'NUS VII. FLAVIUS POR- son Romanus, a daughter Theodora, married to
PHY ROGE'NITUS (ó lopovpogévvntos ), em- Joannes Zimiscus, and other children.
peror of the East, A. D. 911-959, the only son Constantine Porphyrogenitus hoids a high rank
of the emperor Leo VI. Philosophus, of the in literature. His productions are no master-
Macedonian dynasty, and his fourth wife, Zoe, works in point of style and thought, but they treat
was born in a. D. 905; the name Topoupové ventos, of important and interesting subjects, and without
that is, “ born in the purple,” was given to him him our knowledge of his time would be reduced
because he was born in an apartment of the im- to a few vague notions; for he not only composed
perial palace called Trópoupa, in which the empresses works himself
, but caused others to be composed
awaited their confinement. The name Porphyro or compiled by the most able men among his
genitus is also given to Constantine VI. , but it is subjects. His own works are-
generally employed to distinguish the subject of Ι. Ιστορική διήγησις του βίου και πράξεων του
this article. Constantine succeeded his father in Βασιλείου του αοιδίμου βασιλέως (Viα Basili),
911, and reigned under the guardianship of his the life of Basilius I. Macedo, the grandfather of
paternal uncle, Alexander, who was already Augus- Constantine Porphyrogenitus, a work of great im-
tus, governed the empire as an absolute monarch, portance for the reign and character of that great
and died in the following year, 912. After his emperor, although it contains many things which
death the government was usurped by Romanus cannot be relied upon, as Constantine was rather
Lecapenus, who excluded Constantine from the credulous, and embellished the truth from motives
administration, leaving him nothing but an hono- of filial piety or vanity. Editions: 1. By Leo
rary retreat in the imperial palace, and who ruled Allatius in his Lúupektol, with a Latin translation,
as emperor till 944, when he was deposed and Cologne, 1653, 8vo. ; the text divided into 70
exiled by his sons Stephanus and Constantine, sections or chapters. 2. By Combefisius, in his
both Augusti, and who expected to be recognised “ Scriptores post Theophanem,” Paris, 1685, fol. ;
as emperors. (ROMANUS LECAPENUS. ] They divided into 101 sections or chapters; with a new
were deceived ; the people declared for the son of translation and notes of the editor.
Leo; Constantine left his solitude, and, supported II. Nepi Twv euatwv, “ De Thematibus. ” (The
by an enthusiastic population, seized upon the origin and signification of the word Séua as a new
usurpers, banished them, and ascended the throne. name for “ province," is given in the life of Con-
In the long period of his retirement Constantine STANTINUS IV. ) This work is divided into two
had become a model of learning and theoretical books; the first treats on the Eastern (Eastern and
wisdom ; but the energy of his character was sup- Southern) or Asiatic themas, and the second on
pressed ; instead of men he knew books, and when the Western (Western and Northern) or European
he took the reins of government into his hands, he themas. Editions: 1. The first book, with a
held them without strength, prudence, and resolu- Latin translation and notes, by B. Vulcanius,
tion. He would have been an excellent artist or Leyden, 1588, 8vo. 2. The second book, with a
professor, but was an incompetent emperor. Yet Latin translation and notes by T. Morellus, Paris,
the good qualities of his heart, his humanity, his 1609, 8vo. Both these editions, and consequently
love of justice, his sense of order, his passion for the complete work, were reprinted and edited with
the fine arts and literature, won him the affections some other works of Constantine, by Meursius,
of his subjects. His good nature often caused him | Leyden, 1617, 8vo. 3. The same in the sixth
to trust without discernment, and to confer the volume of “ J. Meursii Opera,” edited by Lami.
high ofices of the state upon fools or rogues ; but 4. The complete work, by Bandurius, in the first
he was not always deceived in his choice, and volume of his “
Imperiuni Orientale," with notes
many of his ministers and generals were able men, and a corrected version by the editor. 5. The
and equally devoted to their business and their same in the third volume of the Bonn edition or
The empire was thus governed much the works of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, a se
better than could have been expected. In a long vised reprint of the edition of Bandurius, but
and bloody war against the Arabs in Syria, the without the map of De l'Isle, edited by Immanuel
(ireek arms were victorious under Leo and Nice Bekker, Bonn, 1840.
master.
## p. 841 (#861) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
841
CONSTANTINUS.
III. “ De Administrando Imperio,” without a 1840, in the Bonn collection of the Byzantines, a
corresponding Greek title. This celebrated work revised reprint of the edition of Bandurius without
was written by the imperial author for the special the map of Guillaume de L'Isle. The commen-
purpose of inforning his son Romanus of the tary of Bayer cited above belongs likewise to this
political state of the empire, its various resources, work.
and the political principles which ought to be fol- 1V. Βιβλίον Τακτικόν, τάξιν περιέχον των κατά
lowed in its administration, as well as in its rela- Jádattav kal rñv uayouévwv, commonly called
tions to foreign nations. It contains abundance of “ Tactica," an essay on the art of warfare by sea
historical, geographical, ethnographical, and politi- and by land, a very interesting treatise. Edi-
cal facts of great importance, and without it our tions : 1 and 2. By Meursius, in “ Constantini
knowledge of the times of the author and the Opera," and in the sixth volume of “ Meursii
nations which were either his subjects or bis Opera," edited by Lami, both cited above. No. 1
neighbours would be little more than vagueness, gives only the text, but No. 2 has also a Latin
error, or complete darkness. The work is divided translation by Lami. Maffei, who translated a
into 53 chapters, preceded by a dedication to Cod. Veronensis of this work, attributes it to Con-
prince Romanus. In the first 13 chapters the stantinc, the son of the emperor Romanus Leca-
author gives an account of the state of several na- penus.
tions which lived towards the north of the Danube, V. Βιβλίον Στρατηγικών περί έθων διαφόρων
such as the Petchenegues or Patzinacitae, the è0vwv, &c. , commonly called “ Strategica,” an in-
Chazars, the Bulgarians, the Turks (by which he teresting treatise on the mode of warfare adopted
means the Majars or present Hungarians), and by different nations. Edition, by Meursius, in the
especially the Russians, who were then the most sixth volume of his works edited by Lami, with a
dangerous enemies of Constantinople. In the Latin translation of the editor.
14th and following chapters he speaks of Moham- VI. "Έκθεσις της Βασιλείου Τάξεως, « De Cere-
med, and gives a view of the rising power of the moniis Aulae Byzantinae. ” This work is divided
Arabs, which leads him to Spain and the conquest into three sections, viz. the first book, an appendix
of the West Gothic kingdom by the Arabs. (cc. to the first book, and the second book. It gives a
23 and 24. ) The relations of the Greeks to Italy detailed account of the ceremonies observed at the
and to the Frankish kingdoms are related in cc. imperial court of Constantinople. The appendix
26 to 28. In the eight following chapters (29 to to the first book treats of the ceremonies observed
36), which are all very long, be dwells on the in the imperial camp, and when the emperor sets
history and geography of those parts of the empire out from his palace for the purpose of leading his
which a few centuries before his time were, and army into the field, or returns from it to his
are still, occupied by Slavonian nations, viz. Dal- capital : it is dedicated to Romanus, the son of
matia, Servia, Croatia, &c. In c. 37 and following Constantine. The first book is divided into 97
he returns to the Patzinacitae, Chazars, and other chapters, the appendix into 16 sections, or heads,
nations in ancient Scythia-a most valuable and in which are not numbered, and the second book
teresting section, on which Bayer wrote the best into 56 chapters, the last chapter incomplete ; and
commentary which we have on the work : it refers it seems that there were originally some chapters
likewise to the corresponding part of the Themata more, which have not been discovered yet. "The
and is contained in the ninth volume of the “ Com- work is on the whole tedious and wearisome, as we
mentarii Academiae Petropolitanae. ” After illus- may presume from the nature of the subject and
trating that subject, Constantine proceeds to Iberia, the character of the emperor, who dwells with
Armenia, and some of the adjacent countries in delight on trifling forms and usages which
Asia. Chapter 52 contains some remarks on the scarcely anybody but a master of ceremonies would
thema of the Peloponnesus, a country of which find it worth while to write upon. The style,
the author speaks also occasionally in other chap however, is pure and elegant for the time; but the
ters; and in the 53rd and last chapter, which is work abounds with Arabic and other terms strange
of considerable length, he gives interesting infor- to the Greek language, which are, however, ex-
mation respecting the city of Cherson, the Cherso- plained by the commentators. It is impossible to
nitae, and other adjacent nations. The style of read it through ; but if used as a book of reference
the work is generally clear and simple, but the it answers well, and it contains, besides, a nuniber
logical order of the subjects is in some instances of important facts, and little stories or anecdotes
broken. Editions : 1 and 2. By Meursius, 1610, referring to the life of former emperors. Editions :
8vo. and 1617, 8vo. , in his “ Opera Const. Porph. ,' | 1. By Leich and Reiske, the first volume contain-
with a Latin translation. 3. By the same, in the ing the first book and the appendix, Leipzig, 1751,
sixth volume of " Meursii Opera," edited by Lami, fol. ; the second volume containing the second
in which, however, only the translation of Meursius book, ibid. 1754, fol. , with a Latin translation,
is contained, the editor having likewise given the an excellent Commentary to the first book by
more perfect text and translation of Bandurius. Reiske, and Notes and a “Commentatio de Vita
4. By Bandurius, in his “ Imperium Orientale," et Rebus Gestis Constantini” by Leich. 2. BF
the best edition, partly on account of a map of the Niebuhr, vol. i. , Bonn, 1829, 8vo. ; vol. ii. , ibid.
Eastern empire by Guillaume de L'Isle, which be- 1830. This is a carefully revised reprint of the
longs both to this work and to that on the Themas. editio princeps; it contains the remaining part of
Bandurius added a new translation and an exten- Reiske's commentary (to the appendix and the
sive commentary. Having perused better MSS. second book), first edited by Niebuhr. The prin-
than Meursius, Bandurius was enabled to add the cipal laws issued by Constantine (Novellae Con-
text with a translation of the 23rd and 24th chap- stitutiones) have been published by Leunclavius,
ters (“ De Iberia" and " De Hispania"), of which in his “Jus Graeco-Romanum," and by Labbe,
Meursius had only fragments, so that he could not Paris, 1606, 8vo. Constantine wrote besides several
translate them. 5. By Immanuel Bekker, Bonn, smaller treatises on religious and other matters.
## p. 842 (#862) ############################################
842
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
Besides his own writings, we owe to Constan- | donian dynasty. His successor was Romanus
tine's love of literature the preservation of soine Argyrus, the husband of his daughter Zoe, whom
works from destruction or oblivion, and the compila- he had by his wife Helena Augusta. [Basilius II. )
tion of others at his order. Such are: 1. “Collectanea CONSTANTINUS X. MONOMA'CHUS
et Excerpta llistorico-Politica et Moralia," an ex- (ó Movouá xos), ciperor of the East, A. D. 1042–
tensive compilation, of which but the 27th book, 1054. His surname was given him on account of
Thepl perbelwv, “ De Legationibus," and the 50th, his personal courage in war. In 1042 the go-
Tepl’Apetris kai Karias, “ De Virtutc et Vitio,” | vernment of the empire was in the hands or two
have been preserved. A further account of this imperial sisters, Zoe, the widow of the emperor Ro-
work is given in the life of PRISCUS. 11. 'ITIQ- mamus Argyrus, and afterwards of Michael IV. the
Tpirá, “ De Medicina Veterinaria,” compiled from Paphlagonian, and Theodora, a spinster, who were
the works of a number of writers, a lisi of whom placed on the throne by the inhabitants of Con-
is given by Fabricius ; it is divided into two stantinople, after they had deposed the emperor
books. Editions : 1. A Latin translation by J. Michael V. Calaphates, the adopted son of Zoe.
Ruellius, Paris, 1530, fol. 2. The Greek text, by The two sisters being afraid of their position, Zoe
Simon Grynaeus, Basel, 1537, 4to. 3. By Valesius, proposed to Constantine Monomachus that he
together with the “ Collectanea,” &c. , Paris, 1634, should marry her; and as she was rather advanced
4to. An Italian translation of it was published in age, being then upwards of sixty, she allowed
at Venice, 1543, 8vo. , and a French one at Paris, the gallant warrior to bring his beautiful mistress,
1563, 4to. III. Tewnoviká, “ De Re Rustica,” | Sclerena, with him to the imperial palace, where
which is generally attributed to Bassus Cassianus. the two ladies lived together on the best terms.
[Bassus CASSIANUS. ] Both the Hippiatrica and Constantine was saluted as emperor, and conferred
the Geoponica were held in high esteem in the the dignity of Augusta upon Sclerena. Soon after
middle ages as well as in after times, and they the accession of Constantine, Georgius Maniaces, a
were both used for practical purposes, as we may brother of Sclerena, who was renowned for his
see from the numerous editions and translations, victories over the Arabs, and who then held the
especially of the Geoponica. The first eight books command in Italy, raised a rebellion. At the head
of this work, which treat on the cure of beasts, of a chosen body of troops he crossed the Adriatic,
and form a kind of domestic veterinary hand landed in Epeirus, joined an auxiliary army of
book, were separately published in a Latin trans- Bulgarians, and marched upon Constantinople. Au
lation by Andreas a Lacuna, Cologne, 1543, 8vo. assassin delivered the emperor from his fears :
An Italian translation of the complete work ap- Maniaces was murdered by an unknown hand in
peared at Venice, 1542; French ones at Poitiers, the midst of his camp.
1545, Lyon, 1557; and a German, by Michael A still greater danger arose in 1043 from an
Herr, in 1551, 3rd edition, edited by Ludwig invasion of the Russians, who appeared with a
Rabus, Strassburg, 1566, 8vo.
very badly, and the Panegyrics are what their
name indicates. Among the ecclesiastical writers,
Eusebius, Lactantius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theo-
phanes, &c. , are the principal; but it has already
been observed that their statements must be pe
rused with great precaution. The Life of Constan-
tine by Praxagoras, which was known to the
Byzantines, is lost. Besides these sources, there
is scarcely a writer of the time of Constantine and
COIN OF CONSTANTINUS II.
the following centuries, who does not give some CONSTANTI'NUS III. , FLAVIUS HE-
account of Constantine; and even in the works of RA'CLIUS, called NOVUS CONSTANTI'NUS,
the later Byzantines, such as Constantine Porphy- emperor of the East, A. D. 641, the son of the emperor
rogenitus and Cedrenus, we find valuable additions Heraclius by his first wife, Eudoxia, was born in
to the history of that great emperor. The most com- May, 612, and succeeded his father on the 11th of
plete list of sources, with critical observations, is con- March (February), 641, together with his younger
tained in Tillemont, Histoire des Empereurs. See half-brother Heracleonas, the succession being thus
also Manso, Leben Constantins des Grossen. ) [W. P. ] established by the testament of their father. Con-
stantine died as early as the 22nd of June (25th
of May) A. D. 641, after a reign of 103 days, either
from ill-health, or probably from poison adminis-
tered to him by his step-mother Martina. His
successor was his brother Heracleonas. (HERA-
CLEONAS; CONSTANS II. ] Constantine distin-
guished himself personally in a war against the
SARTS
Persians. Advised by his rapacious treasurer,
Philagrius, he sacrilegiously ordered the grave of
COIN OP CONSTANTINUS L
his father to be robbed of a golden crown of seventy
CONSTANTI'NUS II. FLAVIUS CLAU'- pounds' weight, which stuck so fast to the head of
DIUS, surnamed the Younger, Roman emperor, the dead emperor, that the corpse was mutilated
A. D. 3374-340, the second son of Constantine in removing the crown from it. (Theophan. Pp.
the Great, and the first whom he had by his second 251, 275, &c. , ed. Paris; Cedren. p. 430, &c. , ed.
wife, Fausta, was born at Arelatum, now Arles, in Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. pp. 71, 87, &c. , ed. Paris;
Gaul, on the 7th of August, A. D. 312. As early Glycas, p. 276, ed. Paris. )
[W. P. ]
as A. D. 316, he was created Caesar, together with CONSTANTINUS IV. , FLA'VIUS, sur-
his elder brother, Crispus, and the younger Lici- named POGONA'TUS or BARBA'TUS, em-
nius, and he held the consulship several times. In peror of the East, A. D. 668—685, the eldest son
commemoration of the fifth anniversary of his of Constans II. , succeeded his father in 668.
Caesarship, in 321, the orator Nazarius delivered Constans having lost his life by assassination at
a panegyric (Panegyr. Veter. ix. ), which, however, Syracuse, his murderers, who seemed to have had
is of little importance. In 335 he was entrusted great power, and who were assisted by the Greek
with the administration of Gaul, Britain, and army stationed in Sicily, chose as emperor one
Spain. After the death of his father, 337, he receiv- Mizizus, Mecentius, or Mezzetius, an Armenian.
ed in the division of the empire between the three Constantine fitted out an expedition against the
sons of the Great Constantine and his nephews, usurper, quelled the rebellion in 669, and put
Dalmatius and Hannibalianus, the same provinces Mizizus to death. After a short stay at Syracuse,
which he had governed under his father, and a Constantine sailed back to Constantinople, carry-
part of Africa. Being the eldest surviving son of ing with him the body of his father ; but no sooner
CONUT
Va seront
عمرو
## p. 838 (#858) ############################################
838
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
.
was he gone, than an Arabic fleet, perhaps invited nothing of the last five years of the reign of Con-
thither by the rebels, appeared off Syracuse. stantine: he died in the month of September, 685,
The place was taken by surprise and partly de- and was succeeded by his son, Justinian II.
stroyed, and the riches and statues, the plunder of Besides the wars which signalized the reign
Rome, collected there by Constans, were carried of Constantine IV. , there is an event not less
by the Arabs to Alexandria. The Greek troops remarkable, which most probably took place during
in Asia revolted soon after the return of the em- the same period. We allude to the new division
peror. They would be governed by a “Trinity,' of the empire, which had hitherto been adminis
and not by a sole sovereign, and demanded that tered according to the ancient system, so that, for
Constantine should divide his authority with his instance, all the Asiatic dominions were ruled by
two brothers, Heraclius and Tiberiu who had the a civil governor or proconsul, and the whole army
title but not the power of Augusti. This rebellion stationed in that part of the empire had likewise
was likewise soon quelled, and Constantine par- but one chief commander, the praefect of Asia.
doned both his brothers. At the same time, an The constant incursions of the Arabs required the
Arabic army commanded by Ukbah and Dinár presence of different moveable corps stationed in
in vaded the remaining part of the Greek dominions the frontier provinces, the commanders of which
in Africa (Mauretania), penetrated as far as the were irdependent of one another : these bodies
shores of the Atlantic, and ravaged the country so were called themata (Oépara), from thema (@fua),
fearfully, that both the Greek and Berber inhabi- a position. This name was afterwards given to
tants rose in despair, and, under the command of a the districts in which such corps were stationed,
native chief named Kussileh, surprised the Mos and its use became so general, that at last the
lems, and killed nearly all of them. This however whole empire was divided into twenty-nine the
was no advantage to the emperor, since Kussileh mata, seventeen of which were in the eastern and
succeeded in seizing the supreme power in that southem or Asiatic part of the empire, and twelve
country.
in the northern and western parts, from the Cim-
In 071 the Arabs equipped a powerful fleet merian Bosporus to Sicily. This important change
with the intention of laying siege to Constantino- in the administration of the empire took place in
ple. They conquered Smyrna and nearly all the the latter years of the reign of Heraclius, or in the
islands of the Grecian archipelago, and began the reign of Constantine IV. , that is, from about 635
blockade of Constantinople in the spring of 672; to 685. But although we do not precisely know
but, after a protracted siege of five months, were com- the year, there are many reasons for believing that
pelled to sail back, after sustaining immense losses Constantine IV. was the originator of that plan.
from the Greek fire, which had just been invented (CONSTANTINUS VII. ] (Cedren. p. 436, &c. , ed.
by Callinicus, a native of Heliopolis in Syria, and Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 89, &c. , ed. Paris ; Gly-
was first employed in that siege. Yezid, the son cas, p. 278, &c. , ed. Paris ; Theophan. p. 289, &c. ,
of the khalif Mu'awiyalı, who commanded the ed. Paris; Paulus Diacon. De Gestis Longobard.
Arabic forces, returned in the following spring, v. 30. )
[W. P. ]
and, during a period of seven years, regularly ap-
CONSTANTI'NUS V. , surnamed COPRO'.
peared before Constantinople in the spring, and NYMUS (& Kompavupos), because he polluted the
sailed to his winter-quarters in the autumn, but baptismal font at the time of his baptism, emperor
was not able to take the city. During the last of the East, A. D. 741–775, was ihe only son of
siege, in 679, the Arabic fleet lost so many ships the emperor Leo III. Isaurus. He was born in 719,
by the Greek fire, that Yezid was compelled to and succeeded his father in 741. The unfortunate
make a hasty retreat, and not having a sufficient commencement of his reign is related in the life of
number of ships for his numerous forces, despatched the emperor ARTAVASDES, p. 370, b. The down-
a body of 30,000 men by land for Syria, while he fall of this usurper in 743 and the complete success
embarked the rest on board his fleet. But his of Constantine caused much grief to pope Zacharias,
fleet was destroyed by a storm, and the land army who had recognized Artavasdes because he pro-
was overtaken and cut to pieces by a Greek army tected the worship of images, while Constantine
commanded by Florus, Petronas, and Cyprianus. was an iconoclast, at whose instigation a council
This unfortunate campaign, and the war at the held at Constantinople in 754 condemned the wor-
same time with the Maronites or Druses of Mount ship of images throughout the whole Eastern em-
Lebanon, pressed so heavily upon the khalif pire. Constantine was most cruel in his proceed-
Mu'awiyah, that, wishing for peace, he signed the ings against the orthodox : he anathematized
conditions offered him by Constantine, and he thus Joannes Damascenus and put to death Constan-
became liable, for the period of thirty years, to an tine, the patriarch of Constantinople, St. Stepha-
annual tribute of 3000 pounds of gold accompanied nus, and many other fathers who had declared for
by rich presents of slaves and horses. By this the images. In 751 Eutychius, exarch of Ravenna,
glorious peace the authority of the Greek emperor was driven out by Astolf (Astaulphus), king of the
rose to such a height, that all the minor powers of Longobards, who united that province with his
Asia sought his protection. But his name was dominions after the dignity of exarch had been in
less dreaded in Europe, for he was compelled by existence during a period of 185 years. A war
the Bulgarians to cede to them that country south haring broken out between Astolf and Pipin the
of the Danube which is still called Bulgaria. Short, king of the Franks, the latter conquered
In 680 Constantine assembled the sixth general the exarchate and gave it to pope Stephen (755),
council at Constantinople, by which the Monoth the first pope who ever had temporal dominions,
elists were condemned and peace was restored the duchy of Rome being still a dependency of the
to the church. In 681 the emperor's brothers, Eastern empire. Constantine sent ambassadors to
Heraclius and Tiberius, were both deprived of their Pipin, Astolf, and the pope, to claim the restitution
dignity of Augustus, which title Constantine con- of the exarchate ; but the negotiations proved abor-
ferred upon his son Justinian. We know almost tive, since the emperor could not give them suffi-
## p. 839 (#859) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
839
CONSTANTINUS.
cient weight by the display of a formidable army | suffered a severe defeat from the eunuch Joannes
in Italy ; for his troops were engaged in disastrous in Armenia, evacuated that country, and fied in
wars with the Arabs, who mvaged Pamphylia, confusion to Syria ; but in the following year, a
Cilicia, and Isauria; with the Slavoninns, who powerful Arabian army, divided into three strong
conquered Grecce; and with the Bulgarians, who bodies, and commanded by Harún-ar-Rashid, the
penetrated several times as far as the environs of son of the khalif Mahadí, penetrated as fiir as the
Constantinople. The Bulgarian king, Paganns, Bosporus, and compelled Irene to pay an annual
however, suffered a severe defeat from Constantine tribute of 60,000 pieces of gold. The peace, how-
in 765, in which he was treacherously killed, and ever, was broken some years afterwards, and the
Constantine entered his capital in triumph ; but in new war lasted till the end of the reign of Con-
the following year he sustained a severe defeat stantine, who in 790 lost half of his feet in the
from the Bulgarians, and was compelled to fly gulf of Attalia, but obtained several victories over
ingloriously, after losing his feet and army: the Arabs by land. He was likewise victorious
Constantine still flattered himself with regaining in a war with the Slavonians, who had conquered
Ravenna, either by force or arms; but after Charle- all Greece, but were driven back by Stauracius
;
magne becaine king of the Franks he relinquished in 784.
this hope, and united his dominions on the conti- At an early age, Constantine was betrothed to
nent of southern Italy with the island of Sicily, Rotrudis, daughter of Charlemagne; but quarrels
putting all those provinces under the authority of having broken out with that emperor on the sub-
the Patricius or governor-general of Sicily. The ject of the Greek dominions in Italy, the match
continental part of the new province or Thema of was broken off, and Constantine married Maria,
Sicily was sometimes called Sicilia secunda, whence an Armenian lady, whom he repudiated three
arose the name of both the Sicilies, which is still years afterwards, and married one Theodata. In
the regular designation of the kingdom of Naples. 787, the sect of the Iconoclasts was condemned in
In 774, the empire was once more invaded by the the seventh general council held at Nicaea, and
Bulgarians under their king Telericus; but Con- the worship of images was restored throughout
stantine checked his progress, and in the following the empire. When Constantine came of age, be
year fitted out a powerful expedition to chastise was of course intrusted with the administration of
the barbarian. Having resolved to take the com- the empire; but Irene's influence was so great,
mand of it in person, he set out for the Haemus ; that she remained the real sovereign. Tired
but some ulcers on his legs, the consequence of his of his vassalage, Constantine intrigued against her,
debaucheries, having suddenly burst, he stopped at and had already resolved to arrest her, when the
Arcadiopolis, and finally went on board his fleet plot was discovered; his partisans were severely
off Selembria, where he died from an inflammatory punished, and he himself received the chastisement
fever on the 14th of September, 775.
of a boy from the hands of his mother. Infuriated
Constantine V. was a cruel, profligate, and most by this outrage, the young emperor requested the
fanatical man; but he was, nevertheless, well assistance of his Armenian life-guard, and, hav-
adapted for the business of government. He was ing found them all devoted to him, seized upon
addicted to unnatural vices; his passion for horses his mother, and confined her in one of her palaces,
procured him the nickname of Caballinus. He was where she was kindly treated, but was allowed to
thrice married : viz. to Irene, daughter of the have no other company but that of her attendants.
khagan or khan of the Khazars ; a lady called A reconciliation took place some time afterwards,
Maria ; and Eudoxia Melissena. His successor but Irene finally contrived the ruin of her son.
was his eldest son, Leo IV. , whom he had by After succeeding in being recognized as the
Irene. During the reign of Constantine V. the lawful master of the empire, Constantine put him-
beautiful aqueduct of Constantinople, built by the self at the head of his army, and set out to meet
emperor Valens, which had been ruined by the the Bulgarians, who were plundering all Thrace.
barbarians in the time of the emperor Heraclius, He obtained some advantages over them, but lost
was restored by order of Constantine. (Theophan. a pitched battle, saw his army cut to pieces, and
p. 346, &c. , ed. Paris; Cedren. p. 549, &c. , ed. with difficulty escaped to Constantinople. There
Paris ; Nicephor. Gregoras, p. 38, &c. , ed. Paris ; he received intelligence that a conspiracy against
Glycas, p. 283, ed. Paris; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 105, his life, formed by his four uncles and supported
ed. Paris. )
(W. P. ] by the Armenian guard, was on the eve of
CONSTANTI'NUS VI. , FLA’VIUS, emperor breaking out. His measures were at once quick
of the East, A. D. 780-797, the son of Leo IV. and energetic : he seized the conspirators, dis-
Chazarus Isaurus and Irene, was born in 771, and armed the Armenians, whose commander, Alexis,
succeeded his father in 780, under the guardian- bad his eyes put out, and punished his uncles with
ship of his mother, a highly-gifted but ambitious equal severity: one of them was blinded, and the
and cruel woman, a native of Athens. The reign three others had their tongues cut off, and they
of Constantine VI. presents a hideous picture of were all forced to become ecclesiastics, in order to
wars, civil and religious troubles, and pitiless crimes. incapacitate them for reigning. They were after-
Elpidus, governor of the thema of Sicily, revolted wards banished, and died in obscurity.
in 781; and it seems that his intention was either The reconciliation which had taken place be-
to place himself or one of the four paternal uncles tween Constantine and his mother was a hollow
of the young emperor on the throne; but the one ; Irene could not forget that she had once
eunuch Theodore, an able general, defeated him in ruled, and during an expedition of her son against
several engagements in 782, and Elpidus filed with the Arabs she forned another conspiracy. On Con-
his treasures to the Arabs in Africa, by whom he stantine's return in 797, he was suddenly assailed
was treated till his death with the honours due to by assassins while he was sitting in the Hippo-
an emperor. The power of the Arabs grew every drome to look at the races. He escaped unhurt, tied
year more dangerous to the empire. In 781 they from the city, and directed his course to Phrygia.
## p. 840 (#860) ############################################
840
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
9
Before arriving there, he was joined by the empressphorus, the sons of Bardas Phocas ; the Chris
:
and a host of partisans. Relying on the promises tian princes of Iberin recognised the supremacy of
of Irene, he returned to Constantinople, but was the emperor ; alliances of the Greeks with the
surprised in his palace by a band of assassins hired Petchenegues or Patzinacitae in southern Russia
by Irene and her favourite, the general Stauracius. checked both the Russians and the Bulgarians in
His eyes were put out by their order with so their hostile designs against the empire; and Con-
much violence that he died on the same day. By stantine had the satisfaction of receiving in his
a singular coincidence of circumstances, he was palace ambassadors of the khalifs of Baghdúd and
murdered in the “ Porphyra," the name of the Africa, and of the Roman emperor Otho the Great.
apartment where the empresses were accustomed Luitprand, the emperor's ambassador, has left us a
to be confined, and where he was born. His
most interesting account of his mission to Constan-
only son, Leo, having died in his lifetime, he was tinople. (Annales Luitprandi. ) One of the most
succeeded by his mother Irene. Constantine VI. praiseworthy acts of Constantine was the restoration
was the last of the Isaurian dynasty. Zonaras to their lawſul proprietors of estates confiscated
and Cedrenus say, that he survived his excaeca- during rebellions, and held by robbers and swind-
tion for a considerable time; but their opinion lers without any titles, or under fraudulent ones.
seems to be untenable, although Le Beau believes Constantine's end was hastened by poison, ad-
it to be correct. (Theophan. p. 382, &c. , ed. Paris ; ministered to him by an ungrateful son, Romanus
Cedren. p. 469, &c. , ed. Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. (his successor), in consequence of which he died
93, &c. , ed. Paris ; Joel, p. 178, ed. Paris ; Gly- on the 15th of November, A. D. 959. His wife
cas, p. 285, ed. Paris.
[W. P. ] was Helena, by whom hie had the above-mentioned
CONSTANTI'NUS VII. FLAVIUS POR- son Romanus, a daughter Theodora, married to
PHY ROGE'NITUS (ó lopovpogévvntos ), em- Joannes Zimiscus, and other children.
peror of the East, A. D. 911-959, the only son Constantine Porphyrogenitus hoids a high rank
of the emperor Leo VI. Philosophus, of the in literature. His productions are no master-
Macedonian dynasty, and his fourth wife, Zoe, works in point of style and thought, but they treat
was born in a. D. 905; the name Topoupové ventos, of important and interesting subjects, and without
that is, “ born in the purple,” was given to him him our knowledge of his time would be reduced
because he was born in an apartment of the im- to a few vague notions; for he not only composed
perial palace called Trópoupa, in which the empresses works himself
, but caused others to be composed
awaited their confinement. The name Porphyro or compiled by the most able men among his
genitus is also given to Constantine VI. , but it is subjects. His own works are-
generally employed to distinguish the subject of Ι. Ιστορική διήγησις του βίου και πράξεων του
this article. Constantine succeeded his father in Βασιλείου του αοιδίμου βασιλέως (Viα Basili),
911, and reigned under the guardianship of his the life of Basilius I. Macedo, the grandfather of
paternal uncle, Alexander, who was already Augus- Constantine Porphyrogenitus, a work of great im-
tus, governed the empire as an absolute monarch, portance for the reign and character of that great
and died in the following year, 912. After his emperor, although it contains many things which
death the government was usurped by Romanus cannot be relied upon, as Constantine was rather
Lecapenus, who excluded Constantine from the credulous, and embellished the truth from motives
administration, leaving him nothing but an hono- of filial piety or vanity. Editions: 1. By Leo
rary retreat in the imperial palace, and who ruled Allatius in his Lúupektol, with a Latin translation,
as emperor till 944, when he was deposed and Cologne, 1653, 8vo. ; the text divided into 70
exiled by his sons Stephanus and Constantine, sections or chapters. 2. By Combefisius, in his
both Augusti, and who expected to be recognised “ Scriptores post Theophanem,” Paris, 1685, fol. ;
as emperors. (ROMANUS LECAPENUS. ] They divided into 101 sections or chapters; with a new
were deceived ; the people declared for the son of translation and notes of the editor.
Leo; Constantine left his solitude, and, supported II. Nepi Twv euatwv, “ De Thematibus. ” (The
by an enthusiastic population, seized upon the origin and signification of the word Séua as a new
usurpers, banished them, and ascended the throne. name for “ province," is given in the life of Con-
In the long period of his retirement Constantine STANTINUS IV. ) This work is divided into two
had become a model of learning and theoretical books; the first treats on the Eastern (Eastern and
wisdom ; but the energy of his character was sup- Southern) or Asiatic themas, and the second on
pressed ; instead of men he knew books, and when the Western (Western and Northern) or European
he took the reins of government into his hands, he themas. Editions: 1. The first book, with a
held them without strength, prudence, and resolu- Latin translation and notes, by B. Vulcanius,
tion. He would have been an excellent artist or Leyden, 1588, 8vo. 2. The second book, with a
professor, but was an incompetent emperor. Yet Latin translation and notes by T. Morellus, Paris,
the good qualities of his heart, his humanity, his 1609, 8vo. Both these editions, and consequently
love of justice, his sense of order, his passion for the complete work, were reprinted and edited with
the fine arts and literature, won him the affections some other works of Constantine, by Meursius,
of his subjects. His good nature often caused him | Leyden, 1617, 8vo. 3. The same in the sixth
to trust without discernment, and to confer the volume of “ J. Meursii Opera,” edited by Lami.
high ofices of the state upon fools or rogues ; but 4. The complete work, by Bandurius, in the first
he was not always deceived in his choice, and volume of his “
Imperiuni Orientale," with notes
many of his ministers and generals were able men, and a corrected version by the editor. 5. The
and equally devoted to their business and their same in the third volume of the Bonn edition or
The empire was thus governed much the works of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, a se
better than could have been expected. In a long vised reprint of the edition of Bandurius, but
and bloody war against the Arabs in Syria, the without the map of De l'Isle, edited by Immanuel
(ireek arms were victorious under Leo and Nice Bekker, Bonn, 1840.
master.
## p. 841 (#861) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
841
CONSTANTINUS.
III. “ De Administrando Imperio,” without a 1840, in the Bonn collection of the Byzantines, a
corresponding Greek title. This celebrated work revised reprint of the edition of Bandurius without
was written by the imperial author for the special the map of Guillaume de L'Isle. The commen-
purpose of inforning his son Romanus of the tary of Bayer cited above belongs likewise to this
political state of the empire, its various resources, work.
and the political principles which ought to be fol- 1V. Βιβλίον Τακτικόν, τάξιν περιέχον των κατά
lowed in its administration, as well as in its rela- Jádattav kal rñv uayouévwv, commonly called
tions to foreign nations. It contains abundance of “ Tactica," an essay on the art of warfare by sea
historical, geographical, ethnographical, and politi- and by land, a very interesting treatise. Edi-
cal facts of great importance, and without it our tions : 1 and 2. By Meursius, in “ Constantini
knowledge of the times of the author and the Opera," and in the sixth volume of “ Meursii
nations which were either his subjects or bis Opera," edited by Lami, both cited above. No. 1
neighbours would be little more than vagueness, gives only the text, but No. 2 has also a Latin
error, or complete darkness. The work is divided translation by Lami. Maffei, who translated a
into 53 chapters, preceded by a dedication to Cod. Veronensis of this work, attributes it to Con-
prince Romanus. In the first 13 chapters the stantinc, the son of the emperor Romanus Leca-
author gives an account of the state of several na- penus.
tions which lived towards the north of the Danube, V. Βιβλίον Στρατηγικών περί έθων διαφόρων
such as the Petchenegues or Patzinacitae, the è0vwv, &c. , commonly called “ Strategica,” an in-
Chazars, the Bulgarians, the Turks (by which he teresting treatise on the mode of warfare adopted
means the Majars or present Hungarians), and by different nations. Edition, by Meursius, in the
especially the Russians, who were then the most sixth volume of his works edited by Lami, with a
dangerous enemies of Constantinople. In the Latin translation of the editor.
14th and following chapters he speaks of Moham- VI. "Έκθεσις της Βασιλείου Τάξεως, « De Cere-
med, and gives a view of the rising power of the moniis Aulae Byzantinae. ” This work is divided
Arabs, which leads him to Spain and the conquest into three sections, viz. the first book, an appendix
of the West Gothic kingdom by the Arabs. (cc. to the first book, and the second book. It gives a
23 and 24. ) The relations of the Greeks to Italy detailed account of the ceremonies observed at the
and to the Frankish kingdoms are related in cc. imperial court of Constantinople. The appendix
26 to 28. In the eight following chapters (29 to to the first book treats of the ceremonies observed
36), which are all very long, be dwells on the in the imperial camp, and when the emperor sets
history and geography of those parts of the empire out from his palace for the purpose of leading his
which a few centuries before his time were, and army into the field, or returns from it to his
are still, occupied by Slavonian nations, viz. Dal- capital : it is dedicated to Romanus, the son of
matia, Servia, Croatia, &c. In c. 37 and following Constantine. The first book is divided into 97
he returns to the Patzinacitae, Chazars, and other chapters, the appendix into 16 sections, or heads,
nations in ancient Scythia-a most valuable and in which are not numbered, and the second book
teresting section, on which Bayer wrote the best into 56 chapters, the last chapter incomplete ; and
commentary which we have on the work : it refers it seems that there were originally some chapters
likewise to the corresponding part of the Themata more, which have not been discovered yet. "The
and is contained in the ninth volume of the “ Com- work is on the whole tedious and wearisome, as we
mentarii Academiae Petropolitanae. ” After illus- may presume from the nature of the subject and
trating that subject, Constantine proceeds to Iberia, the character of the emperor, who dwells with
Armenia, and some of the adjacent countries in delight on trifling forms and usages which
Asia. Chapter 52 contains some remarks on the scarcely anybody but a master of ceremonies would
thema of the Peloponnesus, a country of which find it worth while to write upon. The style,
the author speaks also occasionally in other chap however, is pure and elegant for the time; but the
ters; and in the 53rd and last chapter, which is work abounds with Arabic and other terms strange
of considerable length, he gives interesting infor- to the Greek language, which are, however, ex-
mation respecting the city of Cherson, the Cherso- plained by the commentators. It is impossible to
nitae, and other adjacent nations. The style of read it through ; but if used as a book of reference
the work is generally clear and simple, but the it answers well, and it contains, besides, a nuniber
logical order of the subjects is in some instances of important facts, and little stories or anecdotes
broken. Editions : 1 and 2. By Meursius, 1610, referring to the life of former emperors. Editions :
8vo. and 1617, 8vo. , in his “ Opera Const. Porph. ,' | 1. By Leich and Reiske, the first volume contain-
with a Latin translation. 3. By the same, in the ing the first book and the appendix, Leipzig, 1751,
sixth volume of " Meursii Opera," edited by Lami, fol. ; the second volume containing the second
in which, however, only the translation of Meursius book, ibid. 1754, fol. , with a Latin translation,
is contained, the editor having likewise given the an excellent Commentary to the first book by
more perfect text and translation of Bandurius. Reiske, and Notes and a “Commentatio de Vita
4. By Bandurius, in his “ Imperium Orientale," et Rebus Gestis Constantini” by Leich. 2. BF
the best edition, partly on account of a map of the Niebuhr, vol. i. , Bonn, 1829, 8vo. ; vol. ii. , ibid.
Eastern empire by Guillaume de L'Isle, which be- 1830. This is a carefully revised reprint of the
longs both to this work and to that on the Themas. editio princeps; it contains the remaining part of
Bandurius added a new translation and an exten- Reiske's commentary (to the appendix and the
sive commentary. Having perused better MSS. second book), first edited by Niebuhr. The prin-
than Meursius, Bandurius was enabled to add the cipal laws issued by Constantine (Novellae Con-
text with a translation of the 23rd and 24th chap- stitutiones) have been published by Leunclavius,
ters (“ De Iberia" and " De Hispania"), of which in his “Jus Graeco-Romanum," and by Labbe,
Meursius had only fragments, so that he could not Paris, 1606, 8vo. Constantine wrote besides several
translate them. 5. By Immanuel Bekker, Bonn, smaller treatises on religious and other matters.
## p. 842 (#862) ############################################
842
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
Besides his own writings, we owe to Constan- | donian dynasty. His successor was Romanus
tine's love of literature the preservation of soine Argyrus, the husband of his daughter Zoe, whom
works from destruction or oblivion, and the compila- he had by his wife Helena Augusta. [Basilius II. )
tion of others at his order. Such are: 1. “Collectanea CONSTANTINUS X. MONOMA'CHUS
et Excerpta llistorico-Politica et Moralia," an ex- (ó Movouá xos), ciperor of the East, A. D. 1042–
tensive compilation, of which but the 27th book, 1054. His surname was given him on account of
Thepl perbelwv, “ De Legationibus," and the 50th, his personal courage in war. In 1042 the go-
Tepl’Apetris kai Karias, “ De Virtutc et Vitio,” | vernment of the empire was in the hands or two
have been preserved. A further account of this imperial sisters, Zoe, the widow of the emperor Ro-
work is given in the life of PRISCUS. 11. 'ITIQ- mamus Argyrus, and afterwards of Michael IV. the
Tpirá, “ De Medicina Veterinaria,” compiled from Paphlagonian, and Theodora, a spinster, who were
the works of a number of writers, a lisi of whom placed on the throne by the inhabitants of Con-
is given by Fabricius ; it is divided into two stantinople, after they had deposed the emperor
books. Editions : 1. A Latin translation by J. Michael V. Calaphates, the adopted son of Zoe.
Ruellius, Paris, 1530, fol. 2. The Greek text, by The two sisters being afraid of their position, Zoe
Simon Grynaeus, Basel, 1537, 4to. 3. By Valesius, proposed to Constantine Monomachus that he
together with the “ Collectanea,” &c. , Paris, 1634, should marry her; and as she was rather advanced
4to. An Italian translation of it was published in age, being then upwards of sixty, she allowed
at Venice, 1543, 8vo. , and a French one at Paris, the gallant warrior to bring his beautiful mistress,
1563, 4to. III. Tewnoviká, “ De Re Rustica,” | Sclerena, with him to the imperial palace, where
which is generally attributed to Bassus Cassianus. the two ladies lived together on the best terms.
[Bassus CASSIANUS. ] Both the Hippiatrica and Constantine was saluted as emperor, and conferred
the Geoponica were held in high esteem in the the dignity of Augusta upon Sclerena. Soon after
middle ages as well as in after times, and they the accession of Constantine, Georgius Maniaces, a
were both used for practical purposes, as we may brother of Sclerena, who was renowned for his
see from the numerous editions and translations, victories over the Arabs, and who then held the
especially of the Geoponica. The first eight books command in Italy, raised a rebellion. At the head
of this work, which treat on the cure of beasts, of a chosen body of troops he crossed the Adriatic,
and form a kind of domestic veterinary hand landed in Epeirus, joined an auxiliary army of
book, were separately published in a Latin trans- Bulgarians, and marched upon Constantinople. Au
lation by Andreas a Lacuna, Cologne, 1543, 8vo. assassin delivered the emperor from his fears :
An Italian translation of the complete work ap- Maniaces was murdered by an unknown hand in
peared at Venice, 1542; French ones at Poitiers, the midst of his camp.
1545, Lyon, 1557; and a German, by Michael A still greater danger arose in 1043 from an
Herr, in 1551, 3rd edition, edited by Ludwig invasion of the Russians, who appeared with a
Rabus, Strassburg, 1566, 8vo.
