But she was unable to keep
dated by Arabs and Petchenegues, so that, although the throne alone, and married Romanus Diogenes
he augmented the extent of his dominions by the for the sake of protection and support, and this
addition of Iberia and Armenia, he contributed distinguished general, who was created emperor,
much to the rapid decline of Greek power under his must be considered as the real successor of Con-
successor.
dated by Arabs and Petchenegues, so that, although the throne alone, and married Romanus Diogenes
he augmented the extent of his dominions by the for the sake of protection and support, and this
addition of Iberia and Armenia, he contributed distinguished general, who was created emperor,
much to the rapid decline of Greek power under his must be considered as the real successor of Con-
successor.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
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.
powerful fleet in the Bosporus, while a land force
The Annals of Theophanes were continued by penetrated as far as Varna : but the fleet was dio
Constantine’s order [THEOPHANES), and he also persed or taken in a bloody engagement, and the
induced Josephus Genesius to write his Annals, Russian army was routed by Catacalo.
which contain the period from Leo Armenus to In 1047, while absent on an expedition against
Basilius Macedo. (Genesius. ) An account of the Arabs, Constantine received news of another
Constantine's laws is given in the life of the empe- rebellion having broken out, headed by Tornicius,
ror LEO Philosophus. (Cedren. pp. 607, &c. , 631, a relative of the emperor, who assumed the imperial
&c. , ed. Paris ; Leo Diaconus, pp. 487, &c. , 507, title, and laid siege to Constantinople. The em-
&c. , ed. Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. pp. 182, &c. , 192, &c. , peror hastened to the defence of his capital, broke
ed. Paris; Joel, pp. 180, 181, ed. Paris ; Glycas, the forces of the rebel in a decisive battle, and
pp. 302, 303, ed. Paris; Hanckius, De Script. Tornicius, having fallen into the hands of his pur-
Byzant. pp. 461-478; Hamberger, Zuverlässige suers, was blinded and confined to a monastery.
Nachrichten, &c. , vol. iii. p. 686, &c. ; Fabric. Bibl. Constantine was not less fortunate in a war with
Graec. vol. viii. p. 1. &c. ; Leich, Commentatio de Vita Cacicus, the vassal king of Armenia and Iberia,
et Rebus Gestis Const. Porphyr. , Leipzig, 1746, 4to. , who tried to make himself independent; but, un-
and also in his and Reiske's edition of Constan- able to take the field against the imperial armies,
tine's works, as well as in the Bonn edition of he was at last compelled to throw himself at the
" De Cerem. Aulae Byzant. ") [W. P. ] feet of the emperor and implore his clemency. His
CONSTANTI'NUS VIII. , emperor of the crown was taken from him, but he was allowed to
East, reigned, together with his brother Stephanus, enjoy both life and liberty, and spent the rest of
after the deposition of their father, Romanus Leca- his days in Cappadocia, where his generous victor
penus, but was soon compelled to cede the throne had given him extensive estates. Iberia and Ar
to the lawful sovereign, Constantine Porphyroge menia were reunited under the immediate autho.
nitus. (a. D. 945. ) (CONSTANTINUS VII. ) rity of the Greeks.
CONSTANTINUS IX. , emperor of the East, While the frontiers of the empire were thus ex-
A. D. 976--1028, the son of the emperor Roma- tended in the East, Thrace and Macedonia suffered
nus II. , was born in A. D. 961, and began to reign, dreadfully from an invasion of the Petchenegues,
together with his elder brother, Basil II. , in 976; who were so superior to the Greeks in martial
but, addicted to idleness and luxury, he took no qualities, that they would have conquered all those
part in the administration of the empire. After provinces which they had hitherto only plundered,
the death of Basil in 1025, he became sole empe- but for the timely interference of the emperor's
ror; but, fortunately for his subjects, who suffered body-guards, composed of Waregians or Normans,
much from the Arabians during his miserable ad- who drove the enemy back beyond the Danube,
ministration, he died three years afterwards, in and compelled them to beg for peace. (A. D. 1053. )
1028. Constantine IX. was the last of the Mace | At the same time the Normans made great progress
## p. 843 (#863) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
843
CONSTANTINUS.
in Italy, where they finally succeeded in conquer- | the capital of them, was taken shortly before the
ing all the dominions of the Greek emperors.
In death of the emperor, which happened in a. D.
the following year, 1054, the great schism began, | 1067. Constantine had many good qualities,
which resulted in the complete separation of the though they were overshadowed by petty and
Greek and Roman churches, and put an end to strange passions. Love of justice induced him to
the authority of the popes in the East. Constan- recall immediately on his accession all those who
tine did not live to see the completion of the schism, were exiled for political crimes, and to undertake a
for he died in the course of the same year, 1054. great number of lawsuits, which, accustomed as he
Constantine was a man of generous character, who, was to follow his sophistical genius, he believed to
when cmperor, would not revenge many insults he be just, while they proved to be mere chicaneries.
had received while he was but an ofhcer in the When it became known that his love of war had
army. He managed, however, the financial de turned into love of legal intrigues, many officers of
partment in an unprincipled manner, spending his army abandoned the profession of arms, and
large sums upon the embellishment of Constantino- became advocates for the purpose of rising to
ple and other luxuries, and shewing himself a honours and making their fortunes. Constantine
miser where he ought to have spared no money. conferred the title of Augustus upon his three sons,
Thus, for economy's sake, he paid off his Iberian Michael, Andronicus, and Constantine, who were
troops, 50,000 in number, who were the bulwark all under age, and whom he destined to succeed
of Greece, and who were no sooner disbanded than him and to reign conjointly under the regency of
the frontier provinces of the empire were inun- his widow Eudoxia.
But she was unable to keep
dated by Arabs and Petchenegues, so that, although the throne alone, and married Romanus Diogenes
he augmented the extent of his dominions by the for the sake of protection and support, and this
addition of Iberia and Armenia, he contributed distinguished general, who was created emperor,
much to the rapid decline of Greek power under his must be considered as the real successor of Con-
successor. The successor of Constantine X. was stantine XI. (Scylitzes, 813, &c. , ed. Paris ;
the empress Theodora mentioned above. (Cedren. Psellus in Zonar. vol. i. p. 272, &c. , ed. Paris;
p. 754, &c. , ed. Paris; Psellus in Zonar. vol. ii. Glycas, p. 324, &c. , ed. Paris; Nicephorus Bryenn.
p. 247, &c. ed. Paris; Glycas, p. 319, &c. , ed. p. 19, &c. , ed. Paris. )
[W. P. ]
Paris ; Joel, p. 183, &c. , ed. Paris. ) (W. P. ] CONSTANTI'NÚS XII. DUCAS, emperor
CONSTANTINUS XI. DUĆAS (• Aoûxas), of the East, the youngest son of the preceding,
emperor of the East, A. D. 1059—1067, was succeeded his father Constantine XI. in 1067, to
chosen by the emperor Isaac I. Comnenus, who gether with his brothers Michael and Andronicus,
abdicated in 1059, as his successor, in preference under the regency of their mother Eudoxia, who
to his own children, because he thought him to be married Romanus III. Diogenes and made him
the most worthy of his subjects. It proved, how- omperor. After the capture of Romanus by the
ever, that, although Constantine was undoubtedly Turks in 1071, Constantine and his brothers were
one of the best subjects of Isaac, he still was not proclaimed emperors, but Michael, the eldest, was
fit to rule in those troublous times. Previously to the real ruler. Constantine was confined in a
his election, Constantine had been very active in monastery by the emperor Nicepborus III. Bota-
putting Michael VI. Stratioticus on the throne niates about 1078. His final fate is not well
(A. D. 1056), but he deserted him in the following known. He died either in the same year in con-
year and espoused the party of Isaac Comnenus, sequence of cruel tortures to which he had been
who succeeded in seizing the government. Thence exposed, or as late as 1082, in a battle between
their friendship arose. When he ascended the the emperor Alexis I. and Robert Guiscard. Anna
throne, the people expected that he would take Comnena calls bim Constantius (p. 117, ed. Paris).
vigorous measures against those swarms of barba- (Michael VII. ; Romanus III. ] (W. P. ]
rians who were attacking the empire from all sides, CONSTANTI'NUS XIII. PALAEO'LOGŪS,
and they were the more justified in their expecta- surnamed DRAGASES (à Tarasóoyos ó Apaya-
tions as Constantine was an able general. But he ons), the last emperor of the East, A. D. 1448–1453,
loved talking quite as much as action, and instead was the fourth son of the emperor Manuel II. Pa-
of preparing for war, he addressed the people in a laeologus. He was born in A. d. 1394, and obtained
long elaborate speech on the duties of an emperor the throne after the death of his elder brother, the
under the circumstances of the times. So fond emperor John VII. , in 1448. He first married
was he of speeches, that he said he preferred the Theodora, daughter of Leonardo, count of Tocco,
crown of eloquence to the crown of Rome, nor can a lord in the Peloponnesus, and, after her death,
we feel sure whether he really meant so or not, for Catharina, daughter of Notaras Palaeologus Cate-
both those crowns were rather dusty then. Having lusius, prince of Lesbos, by neither of whom he
reduced his army from motives of economy, he saw left issue.
his empire suddenly invaded (in 1064) by a host, Previously to his accession, Constantine was
or probably the whole nation, of the Uzes, for they despot or lord of a small remnant of the Byzantine
are said to have been 600,000 men strong. While empire in the Chersonnesus Taurica, and during
they ravaged Thrace and Macedonia, the Hunga- the reign of his brother John he was invested with
rians crossed the Danube and seized Belgrade, the the principality of, or more correctly a principality
key of the empire. Fortunately for the Greeks, in, the Peloponnesus, which he bravely defended
the plague broke out in the camps of those barba- against the Turks. After the death of John, the
rians, and so much diminished their numbers that throne was claimed by his surviving brothers,
they hastened back to their steppes beyond the Demetrius, the eldest, Constantine, and Thomas.
Danube. During the same time the Turks-Seljuks A strong party having declared for Constantine,
made similar attacks upon the Greek domains in this prince, who was still in the Peloponnesus,
Asia, and the Normans obtained possession of the accepted the crown after long hesitation, as he saw
rest of the emperor's dominions in Italy. Bari, / that he had but few chances of defending it against
## p. 844 (#864) ############################################
341
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
the overwhelming power of the Turks, who had beauty, we refer to Gibbon, Le Beau, “ Histoiro
gradually reduced the Byzantine empire to the du Bas Empire,” continued by Ameilhon, and
city of Constantinople and a few maritime places Hammer, “ Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches. "
and islands in Greece. In his embarrassment he The contest lasted from the 6th of April till the
sent Phranza, the historian, to the court of sultan 29th of May, 1453: prophecies had foretold its
Mürad II. , declaring that he would not exercise issue. On that day the list emperor of the Enst
that power which the Greeks had conferred upon fell on the wall of his trembling capital : Oéhw
him, unless the sultan would give him his permis- Saveîv uâxlov ñv, he cried out in despair when
sion. Mürad having received the ambassador the Turks stormed the wall and he was forsaken
favourably, and given his consent, Constantine by his guards. Surrounded by a crowd of Janis-
embarked on board a squadron, and soon after-saries, and foresceing his fate, he cried out again,
wards arrived at Constantinople. He made peace Is there no Christian who will cut off my head? "
with his brothers by giving them his former do- He had scarcely uttered these words when he was
main in the Peloponnesus. The beginning of his struck by two Turks at once, and expired un-
reign was quiet; but sultan Murad died in 1450, known to them on a heap of slain. His body was
and his son and successor, the ambitious and lofty afterwards discovered, and when Mohammed was
Mohammed, was far from shewing the same senti in undisputed possession of the city, he ordered his
ments towards Constantine as his father. Mo- head to be cut off, and had it nailed on the porphyry
hammed was then engaged in a war against the column on the place called Augusteum. It was
Turkish emir of Caramania, who made such a des afterwards sent as a trophy to the principal towns
perate resistance, that the councillors of Constan- | in Turkish Asia. One of the first acts of the vic-
tine thought this to be a favourable opportunity tor was the consecration of the church of St. Sophia
for making their master somewhat more indepen- as a mosque, and Mohammed was the first Moslem
dent of the sultan. They threatened to assist who prayed there standing on the altar. It is
prince Urkhan (the eldest brother of Mohammed? ), said that he entered that church on horse back, but
who lived at Constantinople and claimed the Turk- this is an idle story invented by monks. He
ish throne, to raise an army and to enter into a alighted from his horse at the principal gate, en-
contest with Mohammed. Ambassadors having tered the church with visible respect and admira-
been sent to the sultan to inform him of the dispo- tion, and was so far from committing any profana-
sitions of the Greek court, the vizír Khalil retion, that he killed with his own hand a Turk
proached them with their imprudent and presump whom he discovered breaking up the beautiful
tuous conduct in very severe terms, and concluded marbles of the pavement.
with the words, “ If you will proclaim Urkban as The conquest of Constantinople was an event of
sultan, you may do so; you may call the Hunga- the greatest importance to the Sultans. During
rians for assistance, you may try to reconquer all upwards of one thousand years that city bad been
those countries which we have taken from you ; | looked upon by the nations of the East as the
but know ye that you will succeed in nothing, and sacred seat of both the supreme temporal and
that instead of winning an inch of ground, you spiritual power, and being masters of Constanti-
will lose the petty remains of your empire which nople, the Sultans at once were considered as the
we have left you. My master shall be informed of heirs of the Roman emperors. Until then the
the subject of your message, and his will shall be obedience paid to them was but submission to the
done. " (Ducas, p. 132. ) Soon afterwards, Mo sword of a conqueror: it was now both fear and
hammed made preparations for a siege of Constan- habit, and the transient impression of victory ac-
tinople, having declared that he would not make quired the strength of hereditary duty. With the
peace till he could reside in the capital of the fall of Constantinople, darkness spread over the
Greek empire.
East; but the Muses flying from the Bosporus
Constantinople was blockaded by land and by found a more genial home on the banks of the Arno
sea till the sultan's artillery was ready, which was and the Tiber. Almost four centuries have elapsed
cast at Adrianople by Urban, a Dacian* or Hun- since the first Mohammedan prayer was offered in
garian founder, and was of greater dimensions than St. Sophia ; yet all the power and glory of the
had ever been made before. While it was casting Sultans have been unable to root out of the minds
Mobammed took Mesembria, Anchialos, Byzon, of the Greeks the remembrance of their past gran-
and other towns which still belonged to the em- deur, and at the present moment the duration of
pire. On the 6th of April, 1453, Mohammed ap- the Turkish power in Constantinople is less pro
peared under the walls of Constantinople at the bable than the revival of a new Greek empire.
head of an army of 258,000 men, carrying with (Phranzes, lib. iii. , &c. ; Ducas, c. 34, &c. ; Chalco-
him, among other pieces of large size, a gun which condyles, lib. vii. , &c. ; Leonardus Chiensis, Hist.
threw a stone ball of 1200 pounds. The city was constant. u Turc. expugnatae, 1st ed. , Nürnberg,
defended by the Greeks and numerous Venetian, 1544, 4to. , a small but curious work, written a few
Genoese, and other Frankish auxiliaries or volun- months after the fall of Constantinople. ) (W. P. ]
teers; and the Christian navy was superior to the CONSTANTI'NUS ACROPOLI'TA. (ACRO-
Turkish, not in number, but in the construction of POLITA, GEORGIUS. ]
the ships and the skill of the Frankish marines. CONSTANTINUS, of ANTIOCH, also called
Our linuts do not allow us to give a history of Constantius, was a presbyter at the metropoli-
this siege.
Among the numerous works, in which tan church of Antioch, lived about A. D. 400,
the account is given with more or less truth or and was destined to succeed bishop Flavianus.
Porphyrius, however, who wished to obtain that
A Dacian (Aal) according to Chalcondylas, see, intrigued at the court of Constantinople,
and a Hungarian according to Ducas. Gibbon and succeeded in obtaining an order from the
(xii. p. 197, ed. 1815) says, “a Dane or Hunga- emperor Arcadius for the banishment of Con-
rian," —either a mistake or a typographical error. stantine. With the aid of some friends, Constan-
## p. 845 (#865) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
845
CONSTANTINUS.
66
tine escaped to Cyprus, where he seems to have CONSTANTI'NUS MELITENIO'TA, archi-
remained during the rest of his life. He survived | diaconus, lived about 1276, patronized the union
St. Chrysostom, who died in A. D. 407. Constan- of the Greek and Latin Churches, died in exile in
tine edited the Commentary of St. Chrysostom on Bithynia, and wrote two treatises “ De Ecclesiastica
the Epistle to the Hebrews, consisting of thirty- | Unione Latinorum et Graecorum,” and “ De Pro-
four homilies, arranged by the editor. Among the cessione Spiritus Sancti,” both, in the Greek text
Epistles of St. Chrysostom, two, viz. Ep. 221 and with a Latin translation, contained in Leo Allatius,
225, are addressed to Constantine, who is perhaps " Graecia Orthodoxa" (Cave, Hist. Lit. i. p. 738;
the author of two other Epistles commonly attri- Fabric. Bill. Gracc. xi. p. 272, 397. ) (W. P. )
buted to St. Chrysostom, viz. Ep. 237 and 238. CONSTANTI'NUS, surnamed NICAEUS from
(Cave, Hist. Lit. ii. p. 135, ad an. 404. ) [W. P. ) the place of his abode, by which surname alone he
CONSTANTI'NUS CEʻPHALAS (Kwotav- is usually designated in the Basilica, was a Graeco-
Tivos ó Kepalas), was the compiler of the most Roman jurist. (Busil. iii. p. 372. ) He was poste
important of the Greek Anthologies, the one which rior to Garidas, who flourished in the latter half of
is known by the name of the Palatine Anthology. the eleventh century of the Christian aera, for in
His personal history is entirely unknown, but in Basilica, ii. pp. 653, 654, he cites the Etoixelov of
all probability his Anthology was composed at the Garidas. He was a commentator upon the Novells
beginning of the tenth century of our era.
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.
powerful fleet in the Bosporus, while a land force
The Annals of Theophanes were continued by penetrated as far as Varna : but the fleet was dio
Constantine’s order [THEOPHANES), and he also persed or taken in a bloody engagement, and the
induced Josephus Genesius to write his Annals, Russian army was routed by Catacalo.
which contain the period from Leo Armenus to In 1047, while absent on an expedition against
Basilius Macedo. (Genesius. ) An account of the Arabs, Constantine received news of another
Constantine's laws is given in the life of the empe- rebellion having broken out, headed by Tornicius,
ror LEO Philosophus. (Cedren. pp. 607, &c. , 631, a relative of the emperor, who assumed the imperial
&c. , ed. Paris ; Leo Diaconus, pp. 487, &c. , 507, title, and laid siege to Constantinople. The em-
&c. , ed. Paris ; Zonar. vol. ii. pp. 182, &c. , 192, &c. , peror hastened to the defence of his capital, broke
ed. Paris; Joel, pp. 180, 181, ed. Paris ; Glycas, the forces of the rebel in a decisive battle, and
pp. 302, 303, ed. Paris; Hanckius, De Script. Tornicius, having fallen into the hands of his pur-
Byzant. pp. 461-478; Hamberger, Zuverlässige suers, was blinded and confined to a monastery.
Nachrichten, &c. , vol. iii. p. 686, &c. ; Fabric. Bibl. Constantine was not less fortunate in a war with
Graec. vol. viii. p. 1. &c. ; Leich, Commentatio de Vita Cacicus, the vassal king of Armenia and Iberia,
et Rebus Gestis Const. Porphyr. , Leipzig, 1746, 4to. , who tried to make himself independent; but, un-
and also in his and Reiske's edition of Constan- able to take the field against the imperial armies,
tine's works, as well as in the Bonn edition of he was at last compelled to throw himself at the
" De Cerem. Aulae Byzant. ") [W. P. ] feet of the emperor and implore his clemency. His
CONSTANTI'NUS VIII. , emperor of the crown was taken from him, but he was allowed to
East, reigned, together with his brother Stephanus, enjoy both life and liberty, and spent the rest of
after the deposition of their father, Romanus Leca- his days in Cappadocia, where his generous victor
penus, but was soon compelled to cede the throne had given him extensive estates. Iberia and Ar
to the lawful sovereign, Constantine Porphyroge menia were reunited under the immediate autho.
nitus. (a. D. 945. ) (CONSTANTINUS VII. ) rity of the Greeks.
CONSTANTINUS IX. , emperor of the East, While the frontiers of the empire were thus ex-
A. D. 976--1028, the son of the emperor Roma- tended in the East, Thrace and Macedonia suffered
nus II. , was born in A. D. 961, and began to reign, dreadfully from an invasion of the Petchenegues,
together with his elder brother, Basil II. , in 976; who were so superior to the Greeks in martial
but, addicted to idleness and luxury, he took no qualities, that they would have conquered all those
part in the administration of the empire. After provinces which they had hitherto only plundered,
the death of Basil in 1025, he became sole empe- but for the timely interference of the emperor's
ror; but, fortunately for his subjects, who suffered body-guards, composed of Waregians or Normans,
much from the Arabians during his miserable ad- who drove the enemy back beyond the Danube,
ministration, he died three years afterwards, in and compelled them to beg for peace. (A. D. 1053. )
1028. Constantine IX. was the last of the Mace | At the same time the Normans made great progress
## p. 843 (#863) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
843
CONSTANTINUS.
in Italy, where they finally succeeded in conquer- | the capital of them, was taken shortly before the
ing all the dominions of the Greek emperors.
In death of the emperor, which happened in a. D.
the following year, 1054, the great schism began, | 1067. Constantine had many good qualities,
which resulted in the complete separation of the though they were overshadowed by petty and
Greek and Roman churches, and put an end to strange passions. Love of justice induced him to
the authority of the popes in the East. Constan- recall immediately on his accession all those who
tine did not live to see the completion of the schism, were exiled for political crimes, and to undertake a
for he died in the course of the same year, 1054. great number of lawsuits, which, accustomed as he
Constantine was a man of generous character, who, was to follow his sophistical genius, he believed to
when cmperor, would not revenge many insults he be just, while they proved to be mere chicaneries.
had received while he was but an ofhcer in the When it became known that his love of war had
army. He managed, however, the financial de turned into love of legal intrigues, many officers of
partment in an unprincipled manner, spending his army abandoned the profession of arms, and
large sums upon the embellishment of Constantino- became advocates for the purpose of rising to
ple and other luxuries, and shewing himself a honours and making their fortunes. Constantine
miser where he ought to have spared no money. conferred the title of Augustus upon his three sons,
Thus, for economy's sake, he paid off his Iberian Michael, Andronicus, and Constantine, who were
troops, 50,000 in number, who were the bulwark all under age, and whom he destined to succeed
of Greece, and who were no sooner disbanded than him and to reign conjointly under the regency of
the frontier provinces of the empire were inun- his widow Eudoxia.
But she was unable to keep
dated by Arabs and Petchenegues, so that, although the throne alone, and married Romanus Diogenes
he augmented the extent of his dominions by the for the sake of protection and support, and this
addition of Iberia and Armenia, he contributed distinguished general, who was created emperor,
much to the rapid decline of Greek power under his must be considered as the real successor of Con-
successor. The successor of Constantine X. was stantine XI. (Scylitzes, 813, &c. , ed. Paris ;
the empress Theodora mentioned above. (Cedren. Psellus in Zonar. vol. i. p. 272, &c. , ed. Paris;
p. 754, &c. , ed. Paris; Psellus in Zonar. vol. ii. Glycas, p. 324, &c. , ed. Paris; Nicephorus Bryenn.
p. 247, &c. ed. Paris; Glycas, p. 319, &c. , ed. p. 19, &c. , ed. Paris. )
[W. P. ]
Paris ; Joel, p. 183, &c. , ed. Paris. ) (W. P. ] CONSTANTI'NÚS XII. DUCAS, emperor
CONSTANTINUS XI. DUĆAS (• Aoûxas), of the East, the youngest son of the preceding,
emperor of the East, A. D. 1059—1067, was succeeded his father Constantine XI. in 1067, to
chosen by the emperor Isaac I. Comnenus, who gether with his brothers Michael and Andronicus,
abdicated in 1059, as his successor, in preference under the regency of their mother Eudoxia, who
to his own children, because he thought him to be married Romanus III. Diogenes and made him
the most worthy of his subjects. It proved, how- omperor. After the capture of Romanus by the
ever, that, although Constantine was undoubtedly Turks in 1071, Constantine and his brothers were
one of the best subjects of Isaac, he still was not proclaimed emperors, but Michael, the eldest, was
fit to rule in those troublous times. Previously to the real ruler. Constantine was confined in a
his election, Constantine had been very active in monastery by the emperor Nicepborus III. Bota-
putting Michael VI. Stratioticus on the throne niates about 1078. His final fate is not well
(A. D. 1056), but he deserted him in the following known. He died either in the same year in con-
year and espoused the party of Isaac Comnenus, sequence of cruel tortures to which he had been
who succeeded in seizing the government. Thence exposed, or as late as 1082, in a battle between
their friendship arose. When he ascended the the emperor Alexis I. and Robert Guiscard. Anna
throne, the people expected that he would take Comnena calls bim Constantius (p. 117, ed. Paris).
vigorous measures against those swarms of barba- (Michael VII. ; Romanus III. ] (W. P. ]
rians who were attacking the empire from all sides, CONSTANTI'NUS XIII. PALAEO'LOGŪS,
and they were the more justified in their expecta- surnamed DRAGASES (à Tarasóoyos ó Apaya-
tions as Constantine was an able general. But he ons), the last emperor of the East, A. D. 1448–1453,
loved talking quite as much as action, and instead was the fourth son of the emperor Manuel II. Pa-
of preparing for war, he addressed the people in a laeologus. He was born in A. d. 1394, and obtained
long elaborate speech on the duties of an emperor the throne after the death of his elder brother, the
under the circumstances of the times. So fond emperor John VII. , in 1448. He first married
was he of speeches, that he said he preferred the Theodora, daughter of Leonardo, count of Tocco,
crown of eloquence to the crown of Rome, nor can a lord in the Peloponnesus, and, after her death,
we feel sure whether he really meant so or not, for Catharina, daughter of Notaras Palaeologus Cate-
both those crowns were rather dusty then. Having lusius, prince of Lesbos, by neither of whom he
reduced his army from motives of economy, he saw left issue.
his empire suddenly invaded (in 1064) by a host, Previously to his accession, Constantine was
or probably the whole nation, of the Uzes, for they despot or lord of a small remnant of the Byzantine
are said to have been 600,000 men strong. While empire in the Chersonnesus Taurica, and during
they ravaged Thrace and Macedonia, the Hunga- the reign of his brother John he was invested with
rians crossed the Danube and seized Belgrade, the the principality of, or more correctly a principality
key of the empire. Fortunately for the Greeks, in, the Peloponnesus, which he bravely defended
the plague broke out in the camps of those barba- against the Turks. After the death of John, the
rians, and so much diminished their numbers that throne was claimed by his surviving brothers,
they hastened back to their steppes beyond the Demetrius, the eldest, Constantine, and Thomas.
Danube. During the same time the Turks-Seljuks A strong party having declared for Constantine,
made similar attacks upon the Greek domains in this prince, who was still in the Peloponnesus,
Asia, and the Normans obtained possession of the accepted the crown after long hesitation, as he saw
rest of the emperor's dominions in Italy. Bari, / that he had but few chances of defending it against
## p. 844 (#864) ############################################
341
CONSTANTINUS.
CONSTANTINUS.
the overwhelming power of the Turks, who had beauty, we refer to Gibbon, Le Beau, “ Histoiro
gradually reduced the Byzantine empire to the du Bas Empire,” continued by Ameilhon, and
city of Constantinople and a few maritime places Hammer, “ Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches. "
and islands in Greece. In his embarrassment he The contest lasted from the 6th of April till the
sent Phranza, the historian, to the court of sultan 29th of May, 1453: prophecies had foretold its
Mürad II. , declaring that he would not exercise issue. On that day the list emperor of the Enst
that power which the Greeks had conferred upon fell on the wall of his trembling capital : Oéhw
him, unless the sultan would give him his permis- Saveîv uâxlov ñv, he cried out in despair when
sion. Mürad having received the ambassador the Turks stormed the wall and he was forsaken
favourably, and given his consent, Constantine by his guards. Surrounded by a crowd of Janis-
embarked on board a squadron, and soon after-saries, and foresceing his fate, he cried out again,
wards arrived at Constantinople. He made peace Is there no Christian who will cut off my head? "
with his brothers by giving them his former do- He had scarcely uttered these words when he was
main in the Peloponnesus. The beginning of his struck by two Turks at once, and expired un-
reign was quiet; but sultan Murad died in 1450, known to them on a heap of slain. His body was
and his son and successor, the ambitious and lofty afterwards discovered, and when Mohammed was
Mohammed, was far from shewing the same senti in undisputed possession of the city, he ordered his
ments towards Constantine as his father. Mo- head to be cut off, and had it nailed on the porphyry
hammed was then engaged in a war against the column on the place called Augusteum. It was
Turkish emir of Caramania, who made such a des afterwards sent as a trophy to the principal towns
perate resistance, that the councillors of Constan- | in Turkish Asia. One of the first acts of the vic-
tine thought this to be a favourable opportunity tor was the consecration of the church of St. Sophia
for making their master somewhat more indepen- as a mosque, and Mohammed was the first Moslem
dent of the sultan. They threatened to assist who prayed there standing on the altar. It is
prince Urkhan (the eldest brother of Mohammed? ), said that he entered that church on horse back, but
who lived at Constantinople and claimed the Turk- this is an idle story invented by monks. He
ish throne, to raise an army and to enter into a alighted from his horse at the principal gate, en-
contest with Mohammed. Ambassadors having tered the church with visible respect and admira-
been sent to the sultan to inform him of the dispo- tion, and was so far from committing any profana-
sitions of the Greek court, the vizír Khalil retion, that he killed with his own hand a Turk
proached them with their imprudent and presump whom he discovered breaking up the beautiful
tuous conduct in very severe terms, and concluded marbles of the pavement.
with the words, “ If you will proclaim Urkban as The conquest of Constantinople was an event of
sultan, you may do so; you may call the Hunga- the greatest importance to the Sultans. During
rians for assistance, you may try to reconquer all upwards of one thousand years that city bad been
those countries which we have taken from you ; | looked upon by the nations of the East as the
but know ye that you will succeed in nothing, and sacred seat of both the supreme temporal and
that instead of winning an inch of ground, you spiritual power, and being masters of Constanti-
will lose the petty remains of your empire which nople, the Sultans at once were considered as the
we have left you. My master shall be informed of heirs of the Roman emperors. Until then the
the subject of your message, and his will shall be obedience paid to them was but submission to the
done. " (Ducas, p. 132. ) Soon afterwards, Mo sword of a conqueror: it was now both fear and
hammed made preparations for a siege of Constan- habit, and the transient impression of victory ac-
tinople, having declared that he would not make quired the strength of hereditary duty. With the
peace till he could reside in the capital of the fall of Constantinople, darkness spread over the
Greek empire.
East; but the Muses flying from the Bosporus
Constantinople was blockaded by land and by found a more genial home on the banks of the Arno
sea till the sultan's artillery was ready, which was and the Tiber. Almost four centuries have elapsed
cast at Adrianople by Urban, a Dacian* or Hun- since the first Mohammedan prayer was offered in
garian founder, and was of greater dimensions than St. Sophia ; yet all the power and glory of the
had ever been made before. While it was casting Sultans have been unable to root out of the minds
Mobammed took Mesembria, Anchialos, Byzon, of the Greeks the remembrance of their past gran-
and other towns which still belonged to the em- deur, and at the present moment the duration of
pire. On the 6th of April, 1453, Mohammed ap- the Turkish power in Constantinople is less pro
peared under the walls of Constantinople at the bable than the revival of a new Greek empire.
head of an army of 258,000 men, carrying with (Phranzes, lib. iii. , &c. ; Ducas, c. 34, &c. ; Chalco-
him, among other pieces of large size, a gun which condyles, lib. vii. , &c. ; Leonardus Chiensis, Hist.
threw a stone ball of 1200 pounds. The city was constant. u Turc. expugnatae, 1st ed. , Nürnberg,
defended by the Greeks and numerous Venetian, 1544, 4to. , a small but curious work, written a few
Genoese, and other Frankish auxiliaries or volun- months after the fall of Constantinople. ) (W. P. ]
teers; and the Christian navy was superior to the CONSTANTI'NUS ACROPOLI'TA. (ACRO-
Turkish, not in number, but in the construction of POLITA, GEORGIUS. ]
the ships and the skill of the Frankish marines. CONSTANTINUS, of ANTIOCH, also called
Our linuts do not allow us to give a history of Constantius, was a presbyter at the metropoli-
this siege.
Among the numerous works, in which tan church of Antioch, lived about A. D. 400,
the account is given with more or less truth or and was destined to succeed bishop Flavianus.
Porphyrius, however, who wished to obtain that
A Dacian (Aal) according to Chalcondylas, see, intrigued at the court of Constantinople,
and a Hungarian according to Ducas. Gibbon and succeeded in obtaining an order from the
(xii. p. 197, ed. 1815) says, “a Dane or Hunga- emperor Arcadius for the banishment of Con-
rian," —either a mistake or a typographical error. stantine. With the aid of some friends, Constan-
## p. 845 (#865) ############################################
CONSTANTINUS.
845
CONSTANTINUS.
66
tine escaped to Cyprus, where he seems to have CONSTANTI'NUS MELITENIO'TA, archi-
remained during the rest of his life. He survived | diaconus, lived about 1276, patronized the union
St. Chrysostom, who died in A. D. 407. Constan- of the Greek and Latin Churches, died in exile in
tine edited the Commentary of St. Chrysostom on Bithynia, and wrote two treatises “ De Ecclesiastica
the Epistle to the Hebrews, consisting of thirty- | Unione Latinorum et Graecorum,” and “ De Pro-
four homilies, arranged by the editor. Among the cessione Spiritus Sancti,” both, in the Greek text
Epistles of St. Chrysostom, two, viz. Ep. 221 and with a Latin translation, contained in Leo Allatius,
225, are addressed to Constantine, who is perhaps " Graecia Orthodoxa" (Cave, Hist. Lit. i. p. 738;
the author of two other Epistles commonly attri- Fabric. Bill. Gracc. xi. p. 272, 397. ) (W. P. )
buted to St. Chrysostom, viz. Ep. 237 and 238. CONSTANTI'NUS, surnamed NICAEUS from
(Cave, Hist. Lit. ii. p. 135, ad an. 404. ) [W. P. ) the place of his abode, by which surname alone he
CONSTANTI'NUS CEʻPHALAS (Kwotav- is usually designated in the Basilica, was a Graeco-
Tivos ó Kepalas), was the compiler of the most Roman jurist. (Busil. iii. p. 372. ) He was poste
important of the Greek Anthologies, the one which rior to Garidas, who flourished in the latter half of
is known by the name of the Palatine Anthology. the eleventh century of the Christian aera, for in
His personal history is entirely unknown, but in Basilica, ii. pp. 653, 654, he cites the Etoixelov of
all probability his Anthology was composed at the Garidas. He was a commentator upon the Novells
beginning of the tenth century of our era.