234-249.] [Footnote 57: See Eginhard, in Vita Caroli Magni, c.i.p.9, &c., c.iii.p.24.Childeric was deposed--jussu, the Carlovingians were established--auctoritate, Pontificis Romani.

Launoy, &c., pretend that these strong words are susceptible of a very soft interpretation.

Be it so; yet Eginhard understood the world, the court, and the Latin language.] II.

In the change of manners and language the patricians of Rome [58] were far removed from the senate of Romulus, on the palace of Constantine, from the free nobles of the republic, or the fictitious parents of the emperor.

After the recovery of Italy and Africa by the arms of Justinian, the importance and danger of those remote provinces required the presence of a supreme magistrate; he was indifferently styled the exarch or the patrician; and these governors of Ravenna, who fill their place in the chronology of princes, extended their jurisdiction over the Roman city.