It requires but little reflection to see that without this brave resistance to the Moslem invasion, the course of mediaeval history would have been completely changed.

Next in time, but hardly second in value to the services of the Greeks at Marathon and Salamis, must be reckoned the services of the Byzantine emperors in repelling the barbarians.

Such an important consideration as this should hardly have escaped Gibbon.
Gibbon's account of Charlemagne is strangely inadequate.

It is perhaps the only instance in his work where he has failed to appreciate a truly great man, and the failure is the more deplorable as it concerns one of the greatest men who have ever lived.

He did not realise the greatness of the man, of his age, or of his work.