I。
ThedeedandtheguiltofConstantineCopronymuswereacknowledged。TheIsaurianheretic，whosulliedthebaptismalfont，anddeclaredwaragainsttheholyimages，hadindeedembracedaBarbarianwife。Bythisimpiousallianceheaccomplishedthemeasureofhiscrimes，andwasdevotedtothejustcensureofthechurchandofposterity。II。Romanuscouldnotbeallegedasalegitimateemperor；hewasaplebeianusurper，ignorantofthelaws，andregardlessofthehonor，ofthemonarchy。HissonChristopher，thefatherofthebride，wasthethirdinrankinthecollegeofprinces，atoncethesubjectandtheaccompliceofarebelliousparent。TheBulgariansweresincereanddevoutChristians；andthesafetyoftheempire，withtheredemptionofmanythousandcaptives，dependedonthispreposterousalliance。YetnoconsiderationcoulddispensefromthelawofConstantine:theclergy，thesenate，andthepeople，disapprovedtheconductofRomanus；andhewasreproached，bothinhislifeanddeath，astheauthorofthepublicdisgrace。
III。ForthemarriageofhisownsonwiththedaughterofHugo，kingofItaly，amorehonorabledefenceiscontrivedbythewisePorphyrogenitus。Constantine，thegreatandholy，esteemedthefidelityandvaloroftheFranks；^61andhispropheticspiritbeheldthevisionoftheirfuturegreatness。Theyalonewereexceptedfromthegeneralprohibition:Hugo，kingofFrance，wasthelinealdescendantofCharlemagne；^62andhisdaughterBerthainheritedtheprerogativesofherfamilyandnation。ThevoiceoftruthandmaliceinsensiblybetrayedthefraudorerroroftheImperialcourt。ThepatrimonialestateofHugowasreducedfromthemonarchyofFrancetothesimplecountyofArles；thoughitwasnotdenied，that，intheconfusionofthetimes，hehadusurpedthesovereigntyofProvence，andinvadedthekingdomofItaly。Hisfatherwasaprivatenoble；andifBerthaderivedherfemaledescentfromtheCarlovingianline，everystepwaspollutedwithillegitimacyorvice。ThegrandmotherofHugowasthefamousValdrada，theconcubine，ratherthanthewife，ofthesecondLothair；whoseadultery，divorce，andsecondnuptials，hadprovokedagainsthimthethundersoftheVatican。Hismother，asshewasstyled，thegreatBertha，wassuccessivelythewifeofthecountofArlesandofthemarquisofTuscany:FranceandItalywerescandalizedbyhergallantries；and，tilltheageofthreescore，herlovers，ofeverydegree，werethezealousservantsofherambition。TheexampleofmaternalincontinencewascopiedbythekingofItaly；andthethreefavoriteconcubinesofHugoweredecoratedwiththeclassicnamesofVenus，Juno，andSemele。^63ThedaughterofVenuswasgrantedtothesolicitationsoftheByzantinecourt:hernameofBerthawaschangedtothatofEudoxia；andshewaswedded，orratherbetrothed，toyoungRomanus，thefutureheiroftheempireoftheEast。Theconsummationofthisforeignalliancewassuspendedbythetenderageofthetwoparties；and，attheendoffiveyears，theunionwasdissolvedbythedeathofthevirginspouse。ThesecondwifeoftheemperorRomanuswasamaidenofplebeian，butofRoman，birth；andtheirtwodaughters，TheophanoandAnne，weregiveninmarriagetotheprincesoftheearth。Theeldestwasbestowed，asthepledgeofpeace，ontheeldestsonofthegreatOtho，whohadsolicitedthisalliancewitharmsandembassies。ItmightlegallybequestionedhowfaraSaxonwasentitledtotheprivilegeoftheFrenchnation；buteveryscruplewassilencedbythefameandpietyofaherowhohadrestoredtheempireoftheWest。Afterthedeathofherfather—in—lawandhusband，TheophanogovernedRome，Italy，andGermany，duringtheminorityofherson，thethirdOtho；andtheLatinshavepraisedthevirtuesofanempress，whosacrificedtoasuperiordutytheremembranceofhercountry。^64InthenuptialsofhersisterAnne，everyprejudicewaslost，andeveryconsiderationofdignitywassuperseded，bythestrongerargumentofnecessityandfear。APaganoftheNorth，Wolodomir，greatprinceofRussia，aspiredtoadaughteroftheRomanpurple；andhisclaimwasenforcedbythethreatsofwar，thepromiseofconversion，andtheofferofapowerfulsuccoragainstadomesticrebel。Avictimofherreligionandcountry，theGrecianprincesswastornfromthepalaceofherfathers，andcondemnedtoasavagereign，andahopelessexileonthebanksoftheBorysthenes，orintheneighborhoodofthePolarcircle。^65YetthemarriageofAnnewasfortunateandfruitful:thedaughterofhergrandsonJoroslauswasrecommendedbyherImperialdescent；andthekingofFrance，HenryI。，soughtawifeonthelastbordersofEuropeandChristendom。^66
[Footnote58:Thexiiithchapter，deAdministrationeImperii，maybeexplainedandrectifiedbytheFamiliaeByzantinaeofDucange。]
[Footnote59:SequiturquenefasAegyptiaconjux，Virgil，Aeneid，viii。688。YetthisEgyptianwifewasthedaughterofalonglineofkings。QuidtemutavitsaysAntonyinaprivatelettertoAugustusanquodreginamineo?Uxormeaest，Sueton。inAugust。c。69。YetImuchquestionforIcannotstaytoinquirewhetherthetriumvireverdaredtocelebratehismarriageeitherwithRomanorEgyptianrites。]