die  Mnfl  tinw  hj  Ute  RomanB  ind  tbe  PmiuM,  bc-
CBlBo  now  an  apple  of  contentioo  between  the  tvo
nitiona  (A.D.  44U.)  AttiU  laid  wute  the  domlniom
of  Tbeodosiue,  u>d  obliged  bim  to  paj'  tribute.  A^ei
the  death  of  bet  biother,  Pokberia  waa  acknowledged
enqnese  4M).  She  waa  the  first  female  who  at-
tained ibia  digaitf .  She  gave  her  band  to  the  senator
Mercian,  aiid  raited  him  to  ibe  throne.  His  wisdom
and  v^er  aterted  the  attacks  of  tbe  Huna  from  the
fnuiera,  bat  be  did  not  support  the  Western  Empire
iq  ita  ware  against  the  Huna  and  Vandala  with  aoffi-
eient  enetgy.  He  afibided  abelter  to  a  part  of  the
GcmuuuwMl  Sarmatiana,  who  were  driven  to  the  Ro-
naan  firootiera  hj  the  iDcuraiona  of  the  Hons.  Pidche-
m  died  before  him  in  4AS.  Leo  !.  (A.D.  467),  a
prince  pnised  by  contemporary  sntbm,  was  chosen
soccessor  of-Msrcian.  His  eiped^itione  agsinst  the
Vai^Bhi  (A.D.  M7)  were  anaoccbssful.  His  grand-
eon  Leo  would  have  succeeded  bim,  bat  died  a  mfnw
abortlj  after  him,  having  named  hie  father'  Zeno  his
ctdleague  (A.D.  474).  The  govemraent  of  this  weak
emperor;  who  was  baled  by  his  subjects,  waa  distuTfoed
lebeilions  and  internal  disorders  of  the  empire,
e  Gothe  depopulated  their  provinces  till  their  king,
Theodorie,  turned  bis  arms  igsinst  luly  (A.D.  489).
Ariadne,  widow  of  Zeno,  ntieecl  the  minister  Anasta-
4iaa,  whom  she  married,  to  the  throne  (A.D.  491).
