History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2

Edward Gibbon · Written 1782; revised 1845 (for the later edition context of the modern title page)

passage 548 of 558 · Chapter XVI: Conduct Towards The Christians, From Nero To > Chapter XXVI: Progress of The Huns.—Part V. (3/5)

in brief

Gibbon turns to Theodosius’ background: his Spanish family, military career under his father, retirement after his father’s execution, and eventual elevation from private life to the Eastern throne by Gratian.

was a celebrated preacher; and his history is adorned, or tainted, with pulpit eloquence; but he takes his learning from Baronius, and his principles from St. Ambrose and St Augustin.]

105 (return) [ The birth, character, and elevation of Theodosius are marked in Pacatus, (in Panegyr. Vet. xii. 10, 11, 12,) Themistius, (Orat. xiv. p. 182,) (Zosimus, l. iv. p. 231,) Augustin. (de Civitat. Dei. v. 25,) Orosius, (l. vii. c. 34,) Sozomen, (l. vii. c. 2,) Socrates, (l. v. c. 2,) Theodoret, (l. v. c. 5,) Philostorgius, (l. ix. c. 17, with Godefroy, p. 393,) the Epitome of Victor, and the Chronicles of Prosper, Idatius, and Marcellinus, in the Thesaurus Temporum of Scaliger. * Note: Add a hostile fragment of Eunapius. Mai, p. 273, in Niebuhr, p 178—M.]

106 (return) [ Tillemont, Hist. des Empereurs, tom. v. p. 716, &c.]

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topics: counsel and advisers to rulers · forms of government · military discipline and training

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2 · Edward Gibbon · 1782–1845