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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 15 home. In the West, the Roman empire was afflicted by the loss of Italy, the desolation of Africa, and the conquests of the Persians. Injustice prevailed both in the capital and the provinces : the rich trembled for their property^ the poor for their safety, the ordinary magistrates were ignorant or venal, the occasional remedies appear to have been arbitrary and violent, and the complaints of the people could no longer be silenced by the splendid names of a legislator and a conqueror. The opinion which imputes to the prince all the calamities of his times may be countenanced bj' the historian as a serious truth or a salutary prejudice. Yet a candid suspicion will arise that the sentiments of Justin were pure and benevolent, and that he might have filled his station without reproach, if the faculties of his mind had not been impaired by disease, which deprived the emperor of the use of his feet and confined him to the palace, a stranger to the complaints of the people and the vices of the government. The tardy knowledge of his own impotence determined him to lay down the weight of the diadem ; and in the choice of a worthy substitute he shewed some symptoms of a discerning and even magnanimous spirit. The only son of Justin and Sophia died in his infancy ; their daughter Arabia was the wife of Baduarius,^'-' superintendent of the palace, and afterwards commander of the Italian armies, who vainly aspired to confirm the rights of marriage by those of adoption. While the empire appeared an object of desire, Justin was accustomed to behold with jealousy and hatred his brothers and cousins, the rivals of his hopes ; nor could he depend on the gratitude of those who would accept the purple as a restitution rather than a gift. Of these competitors, one had been removed by exile, and afterwards by death ; and the emperor himself had inflicted such cruel insults on another, that Eccles. 1. V. c. I-I2 ; Theophanes, in Chronograph, p. 204-210 ; Zonaras, torn. ii. 1. xiv. p. 70-72 ; Cedrenus, in Compend. p. 388-392. [A highly important source, now accessible, is the Ecclesiastical History of John of Ephesus, a contemporary. See Appendix i.] 29 Dispositorque novus sacrse Baduarius aulae. Successor soceri mox factus Cura palati. Corippus [in L. J., 2, 284-5]. Baduarius is enumerated among the descendants and allies of the house of Jus- tinian. [Cp. John Biclar., ad ann. 576, ed. Mommsen (Chron. Min., vol. 2), p. 214.] A family of noble Venetians (Casa Badoero) built churches and gave dukes to the republic as early as the ninth century ; and, if their descent be admitted, no kings in Plurope can produce a pedigree so ancient and illustrious. Ducange, Fam, Byzantin. p. 99. Amelot de la Houssaye, Gouvernement de V6nise, torn. ii. P- 5SS-