A History of the Roman Emperors; From the Accession of Augustus to the Fall of the Last Constantine in Seven Books - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825. Excerpt: ... IT may now be useful to take a general survey of the different races of those barbarians, who subverted the Roman empire and founded the states of modern Europe. They may be conveniently classed under three divisions; the European, the Middle, and the Asiatic. The barbarians of Europe may be included in the space occupying the left of a line drawn from the Crimea to the mouths of the Dwina, which falls into the White Sea: and under this general denomination are comprised I. The Franks; a confederation of several German colonies situated between the Rhine and the Weser: they established themselves on the left bank of the Rhine. II. The Goths; subdivided into Ostro-Goths and VisiGoths, who came from the south of Sweden, and spread themselves over Dacia, Illyria, Italy, Gaul, and Spain. III. The Lombards, Burgundians, Suevi, Ileruli, and Vandals: who came from the borders of the Baltic and occupied Italy, Germany, Gaul, Spain, and Africa.' IV. The Anglo-Saxons, who transmigrated from the borders of the Elbe to Britain. M V. The Alemanrri; Quadi, and Marcomanni, who possessed the borders of the Rhine and Lech, Moravia, and Franconia; and, after repeated inroads on Gaul and Italy, remained on their native soil. The French distinguish by the former general denomination (Allemands or Almans) all the people beyond the Rhine, whom the English, retaining the Latin universal term, designate Germans. These tribes were well formed, fair-complexioned, and long-haired; wore close vestments, lived in huts, and subsisted by the chase; had free institutions; held women in high esteem, and married but one wife. Their forces consisted chiefly of foot. Some of them, as the Goths, excelled in the close order of battle; others, as the Heruli, in light or desultory warfare. Thei...