[The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon]@TWC D-Link bookThe History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire CHAPTER XXX: Revolt Of The Goths 12/15
The spirit of revolt, which had formerly disturbed the age of Gallienus, was revived by the capricious violence of the soldiers; and the unfortunate, perhaps the ambitious, candidates, who were the objects of their choice, were the instruments, and at length the victims, of their passion.
Marcus was the first whom they placed on the throne, as the lawful emperor of Britain and of the West.
They violated, by the hasty murder of Marcus, the oath of fidelity which they had imposed on themselves; and _their_ disapprobation of his manners may seem to inscribe an honorable epitaph on his tomb.
Gratian was the next whom they adorned with the diadem and the purple; and, at the end of four months, Gratian experienced the fate of his predecessor.
The memory of the great Constantine, whom the British legions had given to the church and to the empire, suggested the singular motive of their third choice.
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