Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/202

180 THE DECLINE AND FALL incredible patience the inclemency of every climate and the toil and abstinence of a military life." •^'^ Oppression of The Normans of Apulia were seated on the versre of the two Apulia. A.D. . , ^.^ 11^11 ^ 1046, &e. empires ; and, according to the policy oi the hour, they accepted the investiture of their lands from the sovereigns of Germany or Constantinople.'^' But the firmest title of these adventurers was the right of conquest : they neither loved nor trusted ; they were neither trusted nor beloved ; the contempt of the princes was mixed with fear, and the fear of the natives was mingled with hatred and resentment. Every object of desire, an horse, a woman, a garden, tempted and gratified the rapaciousness of the strangers ; ^^ and the avarice of their chiefs was only coloured by the more specious names of ambition and glory. The twelve counts were sometimes joined in a league of injustice : in their domestic quarrels, they disputed the spoils of the people ; the virtues of William were buried in his grave ; and Drogo, his brother and successor, was better qualified to lead the valour, than to restrain the violence, of his peers. Under the reign of Constantine Monomachus, the policy, rather than benevolence, of the Byzantine court attempted to relieve Italy from this ad- herent mischief, more grievous than a flight of barbarians ; ^^ and Argyrus, the son of Melo, was invested for this purpose with the most lofty titles ^'^ and the most ample commission. The ^ We may compare this portrait with that of William of Malmsbury (de Gestis Anglorum, 1. iii. p. loi, 102), who appreciates, like a philosophic historian, the vices and virtues of the Saxons and Normans. England was assuredly a gainer by the conquest. ■^ [The visit of the Emperor Henry III. to southern Italy in A.D. 1047 was of special importance. He restored to Pandulf the principality of Capua, which Conrad II. had transferred to Waimar of Salerno. Wainiar had to resign his title of Prince of Apulia and Calabria, and his suzerainty over the Normans ; while the Norman princes, Rainulf of Aversa and Drogo (William's successor). Count of Apulia, were elevated to be immediate vassals of the Empire.] 2^ The biographer of St. Leo IX. pours his holy venom on the Normans. Videns indisciplinatam et alienam gentem Normannoruni, crudeli et inaudita rabie, et plusquam Pagana impietate, adversus ecclesias Dei insurgere, passim Christianos trucidare, ike. (Wibert, c. 6). The honest Apulian (1. ii. p. 259) says calmly of their accuser, Veris commiscens fallacia. ^" The policy of the Greeks, revolt of Maniaces, &c. must be collected from Cedrenus (tom. ii. p. 757, 758), William Appulus (1. i. p. 257, 258, 1. ii. p. 259), and the two Chronicles of Bari, by Lupus Protospata (Muratori, Script. Ital. tom. v. p. 42, 43,44), and an anonymous writer (Antiquitat. Italia; niedii^Evi, tom. i. p. 31-35). [This anonymous chronicle, called the .Annales Barenses, compiled before A.D. 1071, is printed in Pertz, Mon. V. p. 51-56, with the corresponding text of " Lupus" opposite.] This last is a fragment of some value. 40 Argyrus received, says the anonymous Chronicle of Bari, Imperial letters, Foederatus et Patriciatus, et Calapani et Vestatus. In his Annals, Muratori (tom.