History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 600-1000 · Century 7 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of EMPEROURS.
PHOCAS a mean Captain in Thracia, in a ſedition An Vſurp…r reigneth cr…ftily, wickedly, infortunately.of the people did kill his Soverain Maurice, uſurped the Crown, and held the Empire 7. years. He began to eſtabliſh himſelf by favour. Cyriachus Patriarch of Conſtantinople had crowned him, and then did hate him for his cruelty againſt the houſe and friends of Maurice: the Weſtern part of the Empire was aiming at liberty, and like to forſake him. Wherefore he dealt gently with Pope Gregory I. and after him he ſet up another of his own mind, and then another in the See of Rome. They played to others hands, the Emperour gave unto Boniface the Title of Univerſal Biſhop, and the Pope promiſed fidelity unto Phocas. He was given unto Covetouſneſs in oppreſſing the Provinces with Tributes; to Luſt in defiling other mens wives; as for Intemperancy, carouſing was his glory, Zonar. annal. li. 3. In all the Provinces of the Empire was great diſorder, and little juſtice. The Perſians ſubdued Meſopotamia, Aſſyria, Syria, and took Jeruſalem: for Coſroes pretending to revenge the death of his Father-in-law Maurice, killed the moſt part of that Army which had advanced Phocas or aſſiſted him, and the reſt of them were ſent captive into Perſia. Pe. Mexia. France had lately gone away; and now Germany, a great part of Italy, Pannonia, Miſia and other parts made a full defection. Wherefore the Senate of Conſtantinople ſeeing And dieth miſerably.that either the Empire or Tyrant muſt periſh; eſpecially Priſcus one of the chief Captains under Maurice, and now the ſon-in-law of Phocas, and Heracleon the Governour of Affrick (whoſe wife Phocas had defiled) conſulted together, and ſent Armies from Affrick and Thracia: they took Phocas in Conſtantinople, and gave him juſt reward: they cut off his hands and feet, then his privy members, at laſt his head: ſome write, they burnt his body in a brazen Cow; and others ſay, they caſt it into the Sea, An. 609. Zonar. annal. to 3.
2. HERACLIUS ſon of Heracleon Governour of Affrick was made Hard beginnings bring glory.Emperour with general conſent of People, Armies, and Senators, and was crowned by Sergius the Patriarch. He found the Empire in a troublous time, but his glory was the greater. His Deputy Campſinus uſurps the Kingdome of Italy, and was quickly ſubdued and ſlain by Eleutherius, whom the Emperour ſent againſt him. Bajanus made himſelf King of Bavaria, and moleſted the Empire in the Weſt, that Coſroes had the leſs oppoſition in ſubduing Aegypt and Affrick unto Carthage: in the end Heraclius brought the Bavarians under command; he crowned his ſon Emperour, and went in perſon againſt the Perſians. Pe. Mexia. Firſt he dealt for peace by Ambaſſadors. A good cauſe gives confidence.Coſroes ſaid, he would not lay down Arms, until he had aboliſhed the worſhip of the crucified God, and the Perſian God were worſhipped every where. Then Heraclius was the more confident, that the Wars was not ſo much for the Empire, as for defence of the Church and worſhip of God. After publick invocation of Gods name, he joined with the enemy at Azotus, and put him to flight: then within Perſia he overthrew his two Armies in two other fights: he defaced the Image of the Fire and Sun, which the Perſians worſhipped, Zonar. Annal. In the mean time Coſroes neglecting his eldeſt ſon Siroes, deſigned his ſecond ſon Mardaſes to the Crown. Wherefore Siroes killed his father and his brother, and he agreed with Heraclius: they both reſtored captives: Heraclius received Syria and Jeruſalem, and (as they ſay) the Croſs where on Chriſt was crucified, which Coſroes had taken out of Jeruſalem. So after ſeven years Heraclius returns with glory to Conſtantinople, holding the Croſs in his hand, and gave thanks unto Chriſt. In remembrance of this Victory, he appointed the Feaſt of the Roode day Cario. chron. The Roode-Feaſt day.The Sarazens had ſerved him in theſe Wars, and when they required their wages, the Emperours Treaſurers anſwered them diſdainfully, as follows in c. 3. This proſperity turns the Emperours mind to the worſe: he marrieth Proſperity puffe…h up.his brothers daughter Martina; and became a Monothelite by the ſuggeſtion of the Patriarch of the Jacobites, and Sergius Patriarch of Conſtantinople. Sophronius Biſhop of Jeruſalem admoniſhed him of his errour. But he made an Edict that diſpleaſed both parties, that no man ſhould ſpeak of one will, or of two wills of Chriſt. Zonar. Annal. After this the Sarazens gathered The Empire decayeth.in Arabia, and many Perſians followed Mahumet becauſe of the diſſoluteneſs of his religion, whereof hereafter. Mahumet occupies all Arabia, and paſſeth into Perſia, where becauſe the King was dead, the whole country almoſt became his Subjects, and imbrace his religion: they were little more called Perſians but Sarazens or Mahumetans. Heraclius went againſt them, and loſeth in one Battel 150000. men. Pe. Mexia. Others alſo rebelled againſt him in the Weſt, ſo that ere he died, the Empire was ſore weakned. Rotharius became King of Lombardy: the Slavons poſſeſſe Illyricum; the Huns and Bavarians keep Hungary, Bavier and Auſtria; the Goths were reigning in Spain; and unto the Empire belonged the Provinces of Greece, a part of Italy, and the Iſles of the Mediterrane Sea from Sardinia unto Cyprus, Aſia the leſs, a ſmall part of Affrick, and ſome other ſmall Provinces. Pe. Mexia. After Heraclius had tried both fortunes, he died of hydropſie, an. 639.
3. CONSTANTINE III. reigned not above four months after the Hid murther.death of his father: he was poiſoned by his ſtep-mother Martina with advice of Pirrhus the Patriarch; that her ſon Heracleonas (begotten in inceſt) might be Emperour. He was hated by Martina for his Throne; and by Pirrhus for forſaking the hereſie of his father. Zonar.
4. HERACLEONAS was but eleven years old, and his Mother governed the Empire, but with no contentment of the Subjects. In the ſecond year of his Reign the Senators roſe againſt Martina and her ſon: they cut off Is revenged.his Noſe, and her Tongue (that thereafter ſhe ſhould not move ſedition among the people by her flattering words) and ſent them both into Cappadocia, where they died in Priſon. Pirrhus was drawn back from his flight and impriſoned. So Murther and Inceſt was puniſhed.
5. CONSTANS the ſon of Conſtantine, was crowned by the Senate without the advice of the Souldiers: which was a rare thing in theſe daies. He was a Monothelite, as the Patriarch Paul, and (both his Predeceſſor An Heretick is a Perſecuter.and reſtored Succeſſor) Pirrhus: and therefore he puniſhed ſundry perſons for ſpeaking againſt his Hereſie: among whom Theodore Biſhop of Rome narrowly eſcaped, and his Succeſſor Martine was taken by Theodore Eparch of Ravenna, and carried in bonds to Conſtantinople, and baniſhed to Cherſoneſus, where he died. He alſo ſlue his own brother Theodoſius, and moſt cruelly vexed them all, who would not ſubſcribe his Typus or Heretical confeſſion. Therefore the Lord permits the power of the Sarazens to wax And hath no peace.greater, that in the 13. year of his Reign they ſent a Navy from Phoenicia, and ſpoiled the Coaſt of Aſia without reſiſtance: yet inteſtine Wars falling amongſt them for chooſing their Captain, Conſtans had two years peace. And then he hears of a Rebellion among the Lombards, and thinking to ſubdue them, he comes into Italy with a great Army, making a great ſhew and ſome expectation: but he received loſs and ſhame. Thereafter he went to Rome, and was received by the Citizens and Pope Vitalian. Within few daies he ſpoiled the City, and carried all the Ornaments and Treaſure into Siracuſe: where (becauſe he was hated at Conſtantinople) he kept Court ſix years, and at laſt was ſlain in a Bath of too-hot water, by Andrew one of his own ſervants in the 27. year of his Reign. Platina calleth him Conſtantius.
6. CONSTANTINE by ſurname Pogonatus or beardy was received into the Throne with his Father ere he went into Italy; and now the Souldiers in Sicily did ſalute Miziſus or Mizentius, with the honour of Emperour, but he was ſoon taken, and his head with the Authors of the Treaſon was carried to Conſtantinople. Conſtantine began his Government with the murther One beginneth wickedly, and proveth vertuous.of his brethren, becauſe the Nobility would have had them partners of the Empire: yet afterwards he proved valorous and good. In his time the Sarazens were ſtrong: they entred into Sicily, and carried to Alexandria in Aegypt all the ſpoil that Conſtans had taken out of Rome. They invade Thracia, were repulſed ſeven ſundry Sommers at Conſtantinople; and in the end were ſo foiled, that their Captain Muthavia ſought peace, and accepted hard conditions, to wit, they ſhould pay yearly unto the Emperour, in name of Tribute 3000. pounds of gold, 50. ſervants, and as many good horſes. They of the Weſt hearing of ſo honourable peace, ſent their Orators with gifts to congratulate the Victory. Then the Emperour had peace every where, and ſet his heart to take away the ſchiſm of the Monothelites: for he thought, if Chriſt have but one will, he hath but one nature, or elſe the other nature is not reaſonable. Againſt this Hereſie he calleth the ſixth General Councel, which he held and ruled at Conſtantinople. He keeps peace with the Biſhops of Rome: he was a long time ſick, and died an. 607. …n the time of his ſickneſs the Sarazens poſſeſſed all Affrick unto Carthage; and the Bulgarians came into Myſia.
7. JUSTINIAN II. ſucceeds to his father in the 16. year of his age. In the beginning his Captains forceth the Sarazens to reſtore all that they had taken in his fathers time, and to ſue for peace, which was concluded for ten years. Pe. Mexia. But the Emperour being more hardy then faithfull, made Perjury proſpereth not.new Wars againſt the Sarazens in Syria, and was ſo ſtreighted, that he ſought peace with ſhame Io. Lampad. in Mellif. Then was peace in all the World; A young King and ill Minions.but this young Emperour is miſcarried by two Minions Theodoſius a Monk, and his Chaplain Stephen: he breaks the peace with the Bulgarians to his great reproach and loſs: he aſſembleth a Councel at Conſtantinople, to annul the acts of the former, which were ended in his own time, and confirmed by him: by the perſwaſion of theſe two, he put his chief Captain Leontius in priſon, and held him there two years: who eſcaping with the help of Callinicus the Patriarch, laid hands on Juſtinian, cutteth off his noſe and ears, and ſent him to Cherona in Pontus in the 11. year of his Reign; and they dragged the two ſycophants by the feet through the ſtreets, and then burnt them Zonar. Annal. The Emperour Juſtinian I. had conquered Lybia from the Vandals, and Juſtinian II. loſed it, that till this day the Sarazens and Mahumetans poſſeſs it.
8. LEONTIUS was crowned with the great joy of the common people. Treaſon (even againſt the wicked) is punished.He ſent an Army againſt the Sarazens in Affrick; but in a ſedition amongſt them, the ſouldiers chooſe Tiberius Apſimanus a Citizen of Conſtantinople, and General of the Army to be Emperour. He came quickly back upon Leontius, and took him, and ſerved him as he had done to Juſtinian, in the 3. year of his Reign, and he exerciſed great cruelty againſt the friends of Leontius; yet did he nothing without advice of the Senatours, who delivered unto them their keys at his firſt coming.
9. TIBERIUS coming this way unto the Crown, ſent his Brother Heraclius Treaſon in the ſecond degree is punished.Governour of his Army againſt the Sarazens in Aſia, and recovered Armenia from them. When Juſtinian had been four years in Pontus, he eſcaped, and by the aid of the Bulgarians he returned into Conſtantinople, and by force took Tiberius, and caſt him into the ſame priſon with Leontius, and having cut off his noſe and ears, cauſed them both to be drawn through the City, and beheaded them, and he hanged Heraclius: ſo oft as he would have wiped his noſe, he cauſed ſome of the friends of Leontius to be ſlain: he pulled out the eys of the Patriarch Callinicus, and ſent him bond to Rome to gratifie Pope Conſtantine, and ſet in his place Cyrus an Abbot, who had received and ſuſtained him in Pontus. Beda de ſex aetat.
10. JUSTINIAN II. now lay at home, executing cruelties daily. He did invite (Platina ſaith, rogat. Abb. Urſpet. ſaith, accerſit. and Sigonius ſaith, obſecrat.) Pope Conſtantine to come into the Eaſt, that they may talk together of the affairs of the Republick, as he ſaid; but in very deed, to ingage the Pope unto him by extraordinary honours, whereof he ſaw the Biſhops of Rome were very deſirous. Pe. Mexia. Platina ſaith, he ſent ſhips to convey him ſafely: but Anaſtaſius ſaith, the Pope cauſed ſhips to be built for himſelf. Ph. Mornay in Myſter. The Emperour cauſed all his Subjects, where the Pope was to come, to receive him with ſuch honour as they ow unto himſelf. As the Pope drew near to Conſtantinople, Cyrus the Patriarch with all the Clergy went out eight miles from the City, and ſet the Pope upon a Camel, and with ſolemn oſtentation they conveyed him into the Emperours Palace: thence he went into Nicomedia, where the Emperour embraced The firſt kiſſe of the Popes foot, was by a wicked maen.not the Pope, but caſting himſelf down before him, he craved pardon for his ſins, and kiſſed the Popes foot with an unmeaſurable ſhew of humility (as Mexia ſaith) and ſo was abſolved. After this he became unthankfull to Trebellius King of Bulgaria (who had reſtored him) and entred into his land with hoſtility, and was ſhamefully beaten back. It was told him that Philip Bardanes had dreamed, that an Eagle had overſhadowed him with her wings, and was therefore baniſhed into the Iſle Cephalonia by Tiberius; now Juſtinian conceives the ſame fear, and ſent an Army againſt him, thinking on no ſuch thing: the ſouldiers turn to his ſide, as Platina writes: but Mexia ſaith, upon this occaſion Philippicus levieth an Army, and at Synope within 12. miles of Conſtantinople, Elias Prince of Cherſon, in open Battel, ſlue Juſtinian and his ſon Tiberius; and with conſent of all the ſubjects Philippicus received the Crown an. 712.