The history of the vvorld: or, An account of time. Compiled by the learned Dionisius Petavius. And continued by others, to the year of our Lord, 1659. Together with a geographicall description of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

CHAP. IX. Of Justine the younger, Tiberius, and Maurice; and a worthy History: What things happened in the Eastern Empire, under them.

Anno 565 of Christ, unto 600.

JUstinus was born of (c) Vigilantia the sister of Justinian, and Dul∣cissimus his father, he was crowned by Curopalatas in that year wherein Justinian departed, in the year 565. together with So∣phia his wife, the (d) Nephew of Theodora, the Wife of Justinian, He was of an apt and ready mind toward the duties of piety; but a stranger from warlike affairs: a lover of Laws and Justice: the which being decaied through the weaknesse or willfullnesse of Princes, through a famous example of strictnesse he restored; of whom: Cedrenus makes mention, and it is altogether a worthy deed the which here also may be read.

When as the Citizens ran on every side to Justine, as often as he went forth openly out of his Pallace, to complain of the wrongs of the mightier sort, and he had oftentimes in vain reported of that thing to the Senate, A certain one of that order rising up, received him; If he should be made Governour of the City, and a leave of the Emperour might be granted him of comming to him, as often as he would, and through the same it should be lawfull to use his power, he would bring it to passe within a Moneths time, that there should be no injuries and complaints left in the Citie, but if there should be any of any one, the w^ch being brought to him he should not revenge, he would perform it with the punishment of his head. The condition being received, a little after, a woman of the common people, brought the name of a certain chief man, who had spoiled her of all her goods by deceit, and reproach. He, by the command of the Governour or Lievtenant, was summoned to appear the second time, when as he neither had stood before him, and the same day he had gone to a Banquet being invited by the Emperour, the Lievtenant breaking in a moment into the Palace, warns the Emperour sitting at the Table of the agree∣ment, who when he had said he forbade nothing, whereby he might the lesse do by the Law whatsoever he would; he forth∣with commandeth the man to be led away, and being brought be∣fore the seat of judgment, and convicted to be punished with stripes: then his head being shaven, carried upon an Asse, to be brought through the City, and all his fortunes or estate, to be ad∣judged to the woman. When he had begun in this, and likewise in other things, he struck so great a terrour on all, that afterward

they abstained from wrongs. Then he going to the Emperour, said, I have done what I had promised: do thou, if it listeth thee, make triall. Justine straightway proceeding, when all things were largely quiet, neither did any one any more exclaim, he conferred a Senatours dignity on the commended man, and Liev∣tenantship of the City, for his whole life.

The same Emperour brake a peace agreed on with the Avari∣ans, their yearly tribute being denyed, not seasonably enough, in the year 566. Likewise a Persian peace, with a far greater dam∣mage to the Common-Wealth. (a) For a war being underta∣ken for an honest cause, in the year 572. he unwisely and sloath∣fully managed.

(b) In the year 574. the 8th of Constantines account, now be∣gun from Septemb. and on its seventh day, he declared Tiberias Lievtenant of the Watchers and Warders, to be Caesar, by whom afterwards the Commonwealth was governed. For Justine ha∣ving recieved a slaughter in the East, being horribly affrighted, fell into a phrensy: (c) wherewith Cosroes being moved, granted a three years truce unto Sophias desiring it; So that in the mean time they strove onely in Armenia. There therefore, the war being renewed about the year 576, Cosroes was overcome (d) by Justinus his Captain, and was deprived of the Camp, and so great a fear took hold of him by that slaughter, that he establish∣ed it by a continued law, that the King himself should not hence∣forward lead an Army against the Romans. (a) Some will have that victory to have happened, Justinus being dead; but Simo∣crata, Evagrius, and John Biclariensis, write, it was gotten, he being alive, yet Tiberius, who then governed all things, being the Author.

Justine, the disease growing heavy on him (b) on the 12th of Con∣stantine's account, the 26 day of September, that is, the year 578, made Tiberius, of Caesar, Augustus or Emperour; and the October following, the 4th day, he departed from the living, when he had reigned 13 years, and lesse than one moneth.

(c) Tiberius therefore, by birth a Thracian, began to reign in the year 578; whom all Historians do diligently set out for his gen∣tlenesse, justice, bounty, piety, and other virtues becoming an Emperour. In the beginning of his rule he reduced Sophias, hid∣denly preparing ambushes for him, unto a private condition, (d) he slew the Persians, Mauricius being Captain, proudly refusing a Roman peace; and those things, which, Justinian being Empe∣rour, were possessed by them, he in the fourth year of his Em∣pire received. Diaconus writeth, the treasures of Narsetes were found by him. He reigned after the death of Justine 3 years, and about 10 moneths. For in the year 582, (e) the 15th of Con∣stantine's account, the 14 day of August, he dyed of a disease: when as the day before, he had given his daughter Constantine un∣to Mauricius, and had ordained him his succeeder, both of them being crowned.

Mauricius, (f) born at Cappadocia in the Town of Arabissum, is made Emperour of the Romans in the year of Christ 582, prai∣sed for his virtue and knowledge of warlike affairs. But the foul spot of covetousnesse deformed either comelinesse; the which al∣so at last turned unto his destruction. He successfully ordered a war undertaken with the Persians, Justine being Emperour, by his Captain Philip and others.

(g) The chief Victory was gotten by a Roman Captain, in the eighth year of Mauricius, the 7th Constant. account, and so in the year of Christ 589. For the which, Hormisdas being angry, he sent to Baramus their Captain a womans gown for a mock, who had fell off from that Army. In the mean time, Hormisdas being taken by Vindoes, and a little after was made blind by his son Cosroes; and at length, because he made no end of cursing, he was killed with the beating of a club or cudgel. Cosroes for the parri∣cide being hated of his subjects, and Baramus rising up against him, fleeth unto Mauricius; by whom he was adopted for his son; and Baramus, by the endeavour of Narses, being overcome, he was restored into the Kingdom. Thus in the same year 589, an end was made to the Persian War: the which (a) Simocrata writeth not exactly enough, to have continued 20 years. For it was begun in the year 572, and held on 22 years.

The Avarican war succeeded the Persian war, Chagan King of the Avarians, watching an advantage; when as also the Sclavo∣nians and Bulgarians provoked the Romans.

Comentiolus who was Captain in the Avarican War, by the command of Maurice, set (b) some thousands of seditious Soul∣diers lightly armed, against the Barbarians: the which being part∣ly slain, partly taken, Chagan, a very little money being demanded for the redemption of the Captives, because the Emperour would not redeem them, he killed them all in the year 600, the (c) third Const. Account. Mauricius felt God to be angry with him for so great cruelty. Therefore, as he was religious and godly, letters being sent, throughout Monasteries, and all holy places, he commanded that God should be intreated, that he might pay the punishments of his committed offence, rather living than dead; the which, upon his desire, God granted to him.

For in the year 602, (d) 6 Const. Acc. in the moneth of No∣vember, Phocas a certain Centurion, of a ready tongue, and for that, acceptable to the common Souldiers, the Army being stirred up against Mauricius, he was saluted Emperour; and the 27 day of the same moneth, the third holiday, Mauricius, his sons being killed in his sight, he is beheaded at Chalcedon. But Constantine his wife three years after, (e) the 8. of Const. Acc. is slain, and to∣gether her three daughters with her.

(f) Not any other Emperour had tryal of a more sharp fortune, or bare it more steadfastly. One speech of his in so great a tor∣ment of his sons, is taken; Thou art righteous, O Lord, and thy judg∣ment right. Moreover, the Nurse hiding one of his sons as yet an

Infant, and offering her own to death for him, Maurice of his own accord discovered the deceit; neither suffered he the strange child to be killed. He Reigned 20 years, three moneths, and some dayes.

Notes

• (c)

  Evag. 5. Theoph. Zon. Ced. Paul. Di∣ac. b. 16. Justine the younger.
• (d)

  Vict. Tun.
• Cedr. p. 3319.
• A famous deed of Justine.
• (a)

  Evag. 5. c. 7. Theoph. Paul. Dia. 16.
• (b)

  Chron. Alex. Theoph. Simoc. 3. c. 11.
• (c)

  Evag. c. 12.
• (d)

  Simoc. 3. c. 13. &. 14. Evag. 5. c. 14. Theoph. Paul. Dia. 17.
• (a)

  Theoph. Paul. Dia.
• (b)

  Chron. Alex. Theoph. Paul. Dia.
• (c)

  Evag. 5. Theoph. Paul. Dia. Zon. Ced.
• (d)

  Theoph. Joan. Biclar.
• (e)

  Chron. Alex. vita. S. Eutychi.
• (f)

  Evag. 5. ch. 13. Simo∣crata.
• (g)

  Simoc. 3. ch. 6. Theoph. Paul. Diac. book 17.
• Cosroes kills his father.
• (a)

  Simoc. 3. ch. 9.
• The Avarican War.
• (b)

  Theoph. Paul. Diac. 17. ch. 19. Chr. Alex. Zon.
• (c)

  Theoph. Simoc. 8. ch. 11.
• (d)

  Chron. Alex.
• The miserable death of Maurice.
• (e)

  Chron. Alex.
• (f)

  Simoe. l. 8. c. 11. Theoph. Paul. Diac. 17. ch. 52. Zon. Ced.