The history of the world the second part in six books, being a continuation of famous history of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight : beginning where he left viz at the end of the Macedonian kingdom, and deduced to these later-times : that is from the year of the world 3806, or 160 years before Christ till the end of the year 1640 after Christ / by Alexander Ross ; wherein the most remarkable passages of those times both ecclesiasticall and civill, in the greatest states, empires, and kingdomes, are represented ; together with a chronologie of those times and an alphabeticall-table by the author.

CHAP. X.

The affaires of the Empire under Leo, Irene, and Constantine. 2. Of for∣raigne [ 40] affaires under Charles the Great. 3. Of the Church affaires in those times.

LEo the fourth succeeded to his Father Copronymus. Hee was also called Porphyrogenitus, because in his childhood hee was made Co-emperour with his Father, and was clothed with a purple robe. He banished his brother Nicephorus with divers more, upon suspition, that he aimed at the Em∣pire. By his preswasion Telerichus King of Bulgaria being banished by his own subjects, was baptized, and marryed with Irenes cousin german, then hee was made a Patrician. Leo was perswaded to make his young sonne Constantine [ 50] Co-emperour with him. Hee had warres with the Saracens in Syria, where hee killed 5 of their Amiras, and 6000 Arabians. Hee removed the Jaco∣bite Syrians into Thracia. By this war he exasperated the Mahumetans, so that they overrun Asia, but all provision being conveyed into strong towns, they were faine to return home without effecting any great matter. Mahdy con∣trary to his oath persecuted the Christian within his Dominion, so that di∣vers suffered Martyrdome. Leo persecuted and punished the Image-wor∣shippers

as his Father did. The fift yeare of his reigne, hee woulds needs set upon his head the Sacred Crowne beset with rich jewells which Mau∣ricius had dedicated in the Church of S. Sophia upon the wearing of this Crowne, his head swelled with carbuncles, then he fell into a violent feaver, and so dyed.

Charles the son of Pipin succeeded prosperously in his wars against the Saxons, Westphalians, Huns, Angarians, Hessians. Rodgundus the Longobard with divers o∣thers. In all his conquests he settles Christianity. He gave many honors, and crea∣ted many Nobles, of such as had done him good service. He had also good successe in Spaine against the Infidels, but in his return he lost the greatest part of [ 10] his Army among the Pyrenaean hils, the Vascones being better acquainted with those places deceived them, and cut them off. Herein were slaine Eginhardus, Anshelmus, Roland, and many more of his chief commanders. The Saxons un∣der Witskundus their Generall oftentimes rebelled, and were still subdued, they were supplyed still with Auxiliaries of Danes, and Vandals, but at last Witikundus was baptized in the year of Christ 785. Charles erected the Bishopricks of Paderborn, Minden, and Osnaburg in Germany. About this time Ximenius the first King of Navar dyed, to whom succeeded Garzicas Eunicus, who relieved Pampilona, and took many castles and garrisons from the Moores. One Lescus was the first that taught the Polonians about this time to shooe horses. [ 20]

Irene Leo's widow, with her young sonne Constantine rule the Empire. She was a great defender of Images. Having understood that her husbands brother had plotted treason against her, shee caused them to be shaven, and then made Priests of them, and banished all those that favoured them. To make her sonnes Em∣pire the more firme, shee contracts him to Charles the Greats daughter, for that purpose sends Eliseus the Eunuch to instruct her in the Greek tongue and customs. Shee overthrew in divers battels Elpidius Praetor of Sicilia, and forced him to flye over to the Saracens in Africa, because he would have set up Nicephorus Constantines Uncle. Shee let the Saracens enjoy Afric quietly, being afraid of their power, and made the Empire tributary to Aaron the Saracen Prince. Paul [ 30] the Patriarch repenting that he had withstood Image-Worship, enters into a Monastery; Tarasius his successour adviseth Irene to call a generall Synod, which was done by Pope Adrians assistance, whose Legats were there. The place was first at Byzantium, then Nicea of Bithynia. In this 7 generall Councell was undone whatsoever had been done by Leo Isaurus, and his sonne and grandchild concerning abolishing of Images. The 6 yeare of her reign a great commoti∣on was raised, which disturbed the proceedings of the Synod, so that the Bi∣shops being 350 in all were forced to rise: the Empresse making shew of an ex∣pedition against the Saracens, demands all the armes of those who were of the contrary side and enemies to Images, which when shee had gotten shee banish∣eth [ 40] them all from the city, and arms her own party, and calls the Councell again, the 8 year of her reign at Nicaea, Image Worship is their concluded, and by her au∣thority confirmed.

After this shee dissolves the contract made between her sonne and Rhotilde, and made him against his will to marry with one Mary an Armenian. She sends also Adalgisus the sonne of Desiderius, with some Commanders to make new stirres in Lombardy against Charles; because hee had seised upon the Duke∣dome of Beneventum. But Adalgisus is overthrown by the French and Lom∣bards in a battell, wherein he was taken and put to death. Constantine per∣ceiving that his mother did what she listed, and was altogether ruled by Stau∣ratius [ 50] a Patrician; and that hee being the lawfull heire, and now of yeares sufficient to rule the State, was slighted, and kept like a child under the fe∣rula; resolves to take the government upon himselfe. But shee on the other side will not part with any share of her power; keepes her sonne at home under correction being 20 yeares of age; banisheth all who adhere to him, and makes the souldiers sweare fidelity to her alone, and not to acknowledge any power in him whilest she was alive. But the Armenian Armies were constant

in their loyalty to Constantine, and would not acknowledge the mothers so∣veraignty, whose example moved other souldiers, against their oath, to fall off from the Empresse. Therefore Constantine by their helpe takes the reines in his owne hand, commands Stauratius to forbeare meddling with State affaires, and confines his mother to her palace at Eleutherium, which shee had lately built, in which shee was entertained with all princely respect, and the next year he intending an expedition into Bulgaria, and another into Arabia, restores her a∣gain to her former power; which when shee had obtained, shee fell to vex and [ 10] punish all his friends and acquaintance; hee makes an expedition into Bulga∣ria, but with ill successe, for his army was defeated, and his chiefest Nobility ei∣ther killed or taken prisoners. Upon suspition of treason, hee caused his three Uncles Nicephorus, Christophorus, and Nicetus to be apprehended, and their eys to be put out, which cruelty made him to be hated, chiefly of the Armenians, and to make himselfe the more odious hee puts away his wife Mary, pretending shee would have poysoned him, whereas it was known she was a vertuous and religious Lady: then he being puft up for some good successe he had lately against the Saracens, takes one Theodate a Virgin out of the Nunnery, and makes her his Empresse, which iucensed the Monks against him, who accused him of bigamy, for which he banished them.

Constantine makes a second expedition into Bulgaria, to take off (if he could) [ 20] the tribute, which they so insolently demanded, but understanding that his wife was brought to bed of a sonne, hee repaires to the City, and commends the charge of the Army to his mother: shee takes this absence of her sonne, as a fit opportunity to reinvest her selfe in the soveraignty; to this end both shee and Stauratius with bribes and flatteries worke upon the Army, whose good will shee obtained. Upon this the Emperour is called home from the Saracen war, the intent was to apprehend and secure him, which was done accordingly; he thought to have escaped, but could not, wherefore hee is brought back to the City, and his eyes are put out, 5 yeares after hee had so served his Uncles, and on that very day. Not long after he dyed, his death was accompanied with 17 dayes darknesse, the eye of the world disdaining to looke on those who had thrust [ 30] out the eyes of their Soveraign. Hee reigned 8 yeares alone. His mother after this reigned 3 yeares, in which time shee put to death her husbands Uncles, that they might not aspire to the Empire. Embassadours are sent by her to Charles for confirming a solid peace, for parting the Empire between them, and for the making up of a match between Charles and her; hee likewise sends Embassadours to Constantinople to the same effect; but whilest they were there a great change fell out; for Irene being sick, it was given out by some of the Grandees, that she had nominated Nicephorus the Patrician to succeed her in the Empire; upon this, he is saluted Emperour by the Armies, to whom hee gives the oath of allegiance, [ 40] then besiegeth Irene in the Palace, makes her deliver up all her treasures; then banisheth her to the Isle Lesbos, where shee was secured with a strong guard, there shee pined away with griefe, and dyed, having reigned 23 yeares. Nicephorus dispatcheth the Embassadours with letters to Charles, desiring a ratification of the peace, propounded by Irene. Charles having again subdued the Saxons, hee translates a great number of them into Flanders and Bra∣bant. Hee beat the Sclavi and Vinidi, as they were plundering of Magde∣burg. Hee takes Thassilo sonne in law to Desiderius, who by his wifes per∣swasion had renewed the rebellion. Him hee condemnes of treason, and then sends him to a Monastery. Charles also suppressed the Hungarians, who were [ 50] Thassiloes associates, and had invaded Germany. So having after 8 years warre subdued the Huns, and quieted Pannonia, Charles assembleth a Synod at Franc∣furd of 300 Bishops, wherein Nestorianism is condemned, which Elipandus and Felix two Bishops had renewed, and it was defined, that Christ according to his flesh was the true sonne of God, and not adopted, and that in his huma∣nity he should be worshipped, no lesse then in his Divinity. Image worship is condemned, and the second Synod of Nice rejected. Alphonsus also King of

Asturia and Gallicia in Spaine wearyed with payment of Virgins which was ex∣acted by the Saracens, in way of attribute, resolves to fight them, and did ac∣cordingly, in which battell hee defeated them, took Lysbone, killed many 1000 of them, and freed a great part of Spain from the Saracens yoak. The Ensigns of this victory he sends to Charles. After Stephen the fourth, or third as some say, who sate 4 years succeeded Adrian the first, who sate 23 yeares. He ordained that every day 100 poore people should be fed in the Lateran Court. In Leo's time a coffin or chest of stone, was digged out of the ground. Christ shall be born of a Virgin. In him I beleeve, was ingraven on it, the dead body that was found in it, is thought by some to bee Plato's, this was found a little before [ 10] the warres of Charles with the Avares and Boii, whose last King Tassilo hee tooke with his sonne, and put them in a Monastery. About this time England was invaded by the Danes. In the yeare 791. the University of Paris is erected by Charles, whose first professours were foure Monkes, all Beda's scholars, to wit, Rabanus, Albinus, Claudius and Scotus; not Scotus subtilis the Franciscan, who lived long after: he erected also the Universities of Papia, of Ticinum, of Osnaburg, and renews that of Bononia fonnded by Theodosius. To Hadrian succeeded Leo the third, who sate 4 yeares: he lost both eyes and tongue by the malice of the Romans. He escaped out of prison, and was restored by Charles. In his time the Empire was translated from Greece to France. But which was a greater wonder; Leo was resto∣red [ 20] again to his eyes and tongue.

Notes

• A. C. 775.
• 4750. A. C. 780.
• 4768. A. C. 798.