Encyclopædia americana. A popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, a new ed.; including a copious collection of original articles in American biography; on the basis of the 7th ed. of the German Conversations-lexicon. Ed. by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth ...

36(0 BYZANTINE EMPIRE.
driven to the Roman frontiers by the in- the Avari the emperor purchased peace,
*fursions of the Huns. Pulcheria died from the Persians it was extorted by his
before hm, in 453. Leo I (457), a prince general Mauritius or Maurice (582). This
praised by contemporary authors, was conlmmander Tiberius declared CUesar in
chosen successor of Marcian. His expe- the same year. Mauritius, under other
diions against the Vandals (467) were un- circumstances, would have made an exsuccessfuf. His grandson Leo would have cellent monarch, but, for the times, he
succeeded him, but died a minor short- wanted prudence and resolution. 3He
ly after him, having named his father, was indebted for the tranquillity of the
Zeno, his colleague (474). The govern- eastern frontiers to the gratitude of king
n en.t of this weak emperor, who was Chosroes II, whom, in 591, he restored
hated by his subjects, was disturbed by to the throne, from which he had been
rebellions and internal disorders of the deposed by his subjects. Nevertheless,
empire. The Goths depopulated the the war against the Avari was unsuccessprovinces till their king Theodoric turned ful, through the errors of Commentiolus.
his arms against Italy (489). Ariadne, The army was discontented, and was irwidow of Zeno, raised the minister Anas- ritated, now by untimely severity and
tasius, whom she married, to the throne parsimony, and now by timid indulgence.
491). The nation, once excited to dis- They finally proclaimed Phocas, one of
contents and tumults, could not be entire- their officers, emperor. Mauritius was
ly appeased by the alleviation of their taken in his flight, and put to death (602).
burdens and by wise decrees. The forces The vices of Phocas, and his incapacity for
of the empire, being thus weakened, could government, produced the greatest disorriot offer an effectual resistance to the der in the empire. Ileraclius, son of the
Persians and the barbarians along the governor of Africa, took up arins, conquerDanube. To prevent their incursions in- ed Constantinople, and caused Phocas to
to the peninsula of Constantinople, Anas- be executed (610). He distinguished himtasius built the long wall, as it is called. self only in the short period of the Persian
After the death of Anastasius, the soldiers war. During the first 12 years of his
proclaimed Justin emperor (518). Not- reign, the Avari, and other nations of the
withstanding his low birth, he maintained Danube, plundered the European proNpossession of the throne. Religious per- inces, and the Persians conquered the
secutions, which he undertook at the in- coastsof Syria and Egypt. Having finalstigation of the clergy, and various crimes, ly succeeded in pacifying the Avari, he
into which he was seduced by his nephew marched against the Persians (622), and
Justinian, disgrace his reign. After his defeated them; but, during this tilie, the
early death, in 521, he was succeeded by Avari, who had renewed the war, made
the same Justinian (q. v.), to wllomn an unsuccessful attack on Constantinople,
though he deserves not the name of the in 626. Taking advantage of an insurGreat, many virtues of a ruler cannot be rection of the subjects of Chosroes, he
denied. He was renowned as a legisla- penetrated into the centre of Persia. By
tor, and his reign was distinguished by the peace concluded -with Siroes (628), he
the victories of his general Belisarius; but recovered the lost provinces and the holy
how unable he was to revive the strength cross. But the Arabians, who, meanof his empire, was proved by its rapid de- while, had beconme powerful under Mocayafter his death. Justin I, his succes- hammed and the caliphs, conquered
sor (565), was an avaricious, cruel, weak Phoenicia, the countries on the Euphraprince, governed by his wife. The Loll- tes, Judea, Syria and all Egypt (631-641).
bards tore from him part of Italy (568). Among his descendants there was not
His war with Persia, for the possession one able prince. He was succeeded by
of' Armenia (570), was unsuccessful; the his son Constantine III, probably in Con11Avari plundered the provinces on the junction with his step-brother HIeracleoDainube, and the violence of his grief at nas (641). The former soon died, and
these misfortunes deprived him of reason. the latter lost his crown in a rebellion,
Tiberius, his minister, a man of merit, and was mutilated. After him, Constans,
was declared Caesar, and the general Jus- son of Constantine, obtained the throne
tnmian conducted the war against Persia (642). His sanguinary spirit of persecuwith success. The Greeks now allied tion, and the murder of his brother Theothemselves, for the first time, with the dosius (650), made him odiousto the nation.
Turks. Against his successor, Tiberius The Arabians, pursuing their conquests,
II (578), the empress Sophia and the gen- took from him part of Africa, Cyprus and
sra] Justinian conspired in vain. From Rhodes, and defeated him even at sea