Theodosius gave a rare example of submission to the church.  The inhabitants of Thessalonica had risen in riot, had killed their governor, and overthrown the statues of the emperor.  Theodosius in irritation ordered the people to be massacred; 7,000 persons suffered death.  When the emperor presented himself some time after to enter the cathedral of Milan, Ambrose, the bishop, charged him with his crime before all the people, and declared that he could not give entrance to the church to a man defiled with so many murders.  Theodosius confessed his sin, accepted the public penance which the bishop imposed upon him, and for eight months remained at the door of the church.

FOOTNOTES: 

[168] Of the forty-five emperors from the first to the third century, twenty-nine died by assassination.

[169] Other considerations also led to the change of capital—­ED.

[170] There were often two emperors, one in the East, the other in the West, but there was but one empire.  The two emperors, though they may have resided, one in Constantinople and the other in Italy, were considered as being but one person.  In addressing one of them the word “you” (in the plural) was used, as if both were addressed at the same time.  This was the first use of the pronoun of the second person in the plural for such a purpose; for throughout antiquity even kings and emperors were addressed in the singular.

[171] The number under Diocletian was 101; under Constantine (Bury’s Gibbon, ii., 170), 116.—­ED.

[172] Without counting the ancient titles of consul and praeter, which were still preserved, and the new title of patrician which was given by special favor.

[173] Of inferior rank.

[174] We know the whole system by an official almanac of about the year 419, entitled Notitia Dignitatum, a list of all the civil and military dignities and powers in the East and West.  Each dignitary has a special section preceded by an emblem which represents his honors.

[175] It met in 325.—­ED.

[176] It is to be noted that the author is speaking of ecumenical or world councils.  The three referred to are Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), and Chalcedon (451).—­ED.

[177] Today, even, the word “canonical” signifies “in accordance with rule.”

[178] Probably 375; Gratian died in 383.—­ED.

[179] Several saints, like St. Marcellus, found martyrdom at the hands of peasants exasperated at the destruction of their idols.

APPENDIX

REFERENCES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READING

PREHISTORIC TIMES

Lubbock:  Prehistoric Times. 1878. 
Lubbock:  Origin of Civilisation. 1881. 
Hoernes:  Primitive Man.  Temple Primers. 1901. 
Lyell:  Antiquity of Man.  London:  1863. 
Keary:  Dawn of History. 
Tylor:  Anthropology. 1881. 
McLennan:  Studies in Ancient History. 1886. 
Ripley:  Races of Europe. 1899. 
Sergi:  The Mediterranean Race. 1901. 
Maine:  Ancient Law. 1883. 
Mason:  Woman’s Share in Primitive Culture. 1894.