Notwithstanding the authority of Eusebius, and the silence of Lactantius, Ambrose, Sulpicius, Orosius, &c., it has been long believed, that the Thebaean legion, consisting of 6000 Christians, suffered martyrdom by the order of Maximian, in the valley of the Pennine Alps.

The story was first published about the middle of the 5th century, by Eucherius, bishop of Lyons, who received it from certain persons, who received it from Isaac, bishop of Geneva, who is said to have received it from Theodore, bishop of Octodurum.

The abbey of St.Maurice still subsists, a rich monument of the credulity of Sigismund, king of Burgundy.

See an excellent Dissertation in xxxvith volume of the Bibliotheque Raisonnee, p.

427-454.] [Footnote 144a: M.Guizot criticizes Gibbon's account of this incident.
He supposes that Maximilian was not "produced by his father as a recruit," but was obliged to appear by the law, which compelled the sons of soldiers to serve at 21 years old.