Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/20

CONTENTS. Contempt of decencv which dis- tinguished the Roman ty- rants . . . 175 Discontents of the army . ib. A.D. 221. Alexander Severus de- clared Caesar . .176 A. D. 222. Sedition of the guards, and murder of Elagabalus . 177 Accession of Alexander Severus ib. Power of his mother Mamaea . 178 His wise and moderate admini- stration . . .179 Education and virtuous temper of Alexander . . 180 Journal of his ordinary life . ib. A. D. 222-235. General happi- ness of the Roman world . 181 Alexander refuses the name of Antoninus . . 182 He attempts to reform the army ib. Seditions of the pretorian guards 183 Murder of Ulpian . . 184 Danger of Dion Cassius . ib. Tumults of the legions . . 185 Firmness of the emperor . ib. Defects of his reign and charac- ter . . . 186 Digression on the finances of the empire . . • 188 Establishment of the tribute on Roman citizens . ib. Abolition of the tribute . . 189 Tributes of the provinces . ib. Of Asia and Egypt . 190 Of Gaul, Africa, and Spain ib. Of the isle of Gyarus . 191 Amount of the revenue . ib. Taxes on Roman citizens insti- tuted by Augustus . . 192 I. The customs . ib. II. The excise . . 193 III. Tax on legacies and inhe- ritances . . 194 Suited to the laws and manners ib. Regulations of the emperors . 195 Edict of Caracalla . . 196 The freedom of the city given to all the provincials, for the purpose of taxation . 197 Temporary reduction of the tri- bute . . . ib. Consequences of the universal free- dom of Rome . 198 CHAPTER VII. THE ELEVATION AND TYRANNY OF MAXIMIN.— REBELLION IN AFRICA AND ITALY, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SEN ATE.— CIVIL WARS AND SEDITIONS.— VIO- LENT DEATHS OF MAXIMIN AND HIS SON, OF MAXIMIJS AND BALBINUS, AND OF THE THREE GORDIANS.— USURPATION AND SECULAR GAMES OF PHILIP. The apparent ridicule and solid advantages of hereditary suc- cession . . 199 Want of it in the Roman empire productive of the greatest ca- lamities . . 200 Birth and fortunes of Maximin . 201 His military service and honours 202 A. D. 235. Conspiracy of Maximin ib. Murder of Alexander Severus . 203 Tyranny of Maximin . 204 Oppression of the provinces . 206 A. D. 237. Revolt in Africa . 207 Character and elevation of the two Gordians . • . 208 They solicit the confirmation of their authority . . 210 The senate ratifies the election of the Gordians . " . ib. Declares Maximin a public enemy 212 Assumes the command of Rome and Italy . . ib. Prepares for a civil war . ib. A. D. 237. Defeat and death of the two Gordians . 213 Election of Maximus and Balbi- nus by the senate . 214 Their characters . 215 Tumult at Rome . . ib. The younger Gordian is declared Caesar . . 216 Maximin prepares to attack the senate and their emperors . ib. A. D. 238. Marches into Italy . 218 Siege of Aquileia . ib. Conduct of Maximus . .219 A. D. 2.38. Murder of Maximin and his son . . 220 His portrait . .221 Joy of the Roman world . ib. Sedition at Rome . . 222 Discontent of the pretorian guards 223 A. D. 238. Massacre of Maximus and Balbinus . . 224 The third Gordian remains sole emperor . . . 225 Innocence and virtues of Gor- dian- . . ib. A.D. 240. Administration of Mi- sitheus . . . 226 A. D. 242. The Persian war . ib. A.D. 243. The arts of Philip . 227 A. D. 244. Murder of Gordian . ib. Form of a military republic . 228 Reign of Philip . . 229 A. D. 248. Secular games . ib. Decline of the Roman empire . 230