The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-08-14
sConstautius.l The Danabian provinces and
Illrr,.,a IN I

Illyria wereIentrusted totGalerius. Max
imian took charge of Italyioahd Africa,
while Diocletian assumed, the sovereignty
Of Greece, Egypt and Asia. N otwish-
standing the, pre-eminence of Diocletian,,
each ,onesof these monarchs was nominally
undisputed sovereign 10 his own realms !;
while uunitedly they administered the gen
eral interests of the whole empire. Se9e-
raj years were occupied in maturing this
plan. ' .aa,.5 ~ r..9ui,oo r,iag
But everywhere, the outside world of
barbarians and all the subjugated uations
seemed to rise simultaneously against the
Roman empire. The bold Britons sprang
to arms apd through many fierce battle
maintained, forla time, their independence
Barbaric hords, in numbers which could
not be counted, emerging from the gloomy
forests Of the north, seemed to blackeu the
1shores Of the Rhine and the Danube in
their incessant incursious Of devastation
land" plunder. Africa was linr arms from
the Nile to Mount Atlas, the Moorish ma
tions issuing with irrepressible ferocity
from their pathless deserts. q, The Persians
also rose in their strength which had here
tofore humbled the pride of Rome, and
the proud legions Of the empire were not
unfrequently ,trampled beneath the hoofs
Of Persian horsemen. lonorI ber saoI
Maximian selected the beautiful cityeof
Milan for his capital. Its situation, at
the base Of the Alps, enabled him more
conveniently to watch the motions of the
barbarians on the Danube aud the Rhineg
Through the fostering care of Maxiniian,
Milan speedily rose to the splendor of an
Imperial city, Diocletian4 selected as his
residence Nicomedia, 10 the province of
Bythynia. This city, was beautifully sit.
uated op the .Asiatic coast of the sea of
Marmora.' Imperial wealth and power
soon rendered 1t q formidable rival even
to the grandeur Of Rome, in the Oriental
magni6cencel Of Its establishments, - XIX,
BothDiocletian aud Maximian spent most
of their time. in camp, engaged in inces-
SAINT war; Rome, thus abandoned, was al
most forgotten and its gorgeous palaces
were rapidly falling into decay. Indeed,
it is affirmed that the Emperor Diocletian
never even entered Rome until the twen-
| tieth year of bis reign. He then for a
short season revived its ancient splendor,
as'his chariot rolled along the streets, in
the enjoy ytnent ofa Triumph over the Per-
SLAMS. On this festive occasiap he endea-
vored to revive the dazzling displays to
which Rome had been accustomed in the
ages which had passed. 10 -. 'u-. -,. -, 49,.
i Surrounding himself with all the state
I lytmagnifcence Of the Persian court, rob
'Ied in embroidered garments Of silk and
lgold, witha a. diadem Of pearls, and shoes
lstudded with precious gems, he was the
} object of the admiration Of the degenerate
I Romans. 1"Their ancestors would have re-
garded sdoii d display as contemplate, in
Its effeminate luxuriousness. Eunuchs
i guarded his palace All who were admit
to his presence were CON PEELED, to pros
trate themselves before him in alteration,
Iaddressin him With the titles Of the .Di,
vinity This was not mere vanity on, the
} part of Diocletian He deliberately adop
: ted these measures to protect himself, from
4 that assassination which seemed to be the
; doom of every Roman emperor, BY hay.
d 'Iipgstwo supreme 1mouarchs, and two sub
: ordinates, with power ID their hands to en-.
liable them INSTANTLY tos grasp any sceptre
(which should fail, assassins would see but
little to be gained by pldnging The dagger
fiinto any ohetlheartsS. 8ja.N 10 ahoi73S 1lS W
IT,. For tweptyzone years Diocletiau, with
! the potent instrumentalities he welded,
, governed the Roman empire. at the age
! Of tiftylnine he adopted the extraordinary
j resolve to abdicate the throne, d He was
II probably induced to this measure byra long
s4 and painful sickness, which 30 depressed
His spirits and enfeebled his energies thai
1.-the Cares, of empire BECAME an unsupported
: BILE burden. On this bed, of, langpori b.
: formed the resolve to seek retirement aud
: repose. las the abdicatipn of d monarch
] in the plenitape of his power ia opeof th,
: Emost extraord rdinary, events, ne resolved
! fthat the ceremony should be attended with
9'syhS Hics SSSl You'd naks j. essr memoirs
bIeI t.s,. IN 1ss,,. ,aslisaaiaxa 3d hsissla
! AboSut tllr1s5s ll1 81 niles from the eity efoNi
l icomedia there was a spacious plain, whict
d 1.-THE emperor selected as the theatre for th'
8 labdication. Here throne was erected Q
magnificent proportions and gorgeous em
SlbAllishmept9 !. The emperor, ! condncte'
e fltpbhr sick chamber, pale and totteripe
!. aseended thegthF6ne. 9a A vast copcours
0 slakere gat6eredo accompanied by d
|. ftbo fianis askiah itaiiitarv .pbrllp and pa