The  disorganization  of  the  empire,  which  commenced  as
early  as  Galba,  arrested  in  its  natural  progress  by  such  wise  and
firm  princes  as  Vespasian,  Trajan,  Hadrian,  and  the  two  great
Antonines,  made  rapid  strides  under  Commodus,  who  was  too
weak  and  too  conscious  of  his  demerits  to  venture  on  repress-
ing disorders,  or  punishing  those  engaged  in  them.  The  nu-
merous desertions,  which  enabled  Matemus  to  form  a  band
that  ravaged  Spain  and  Gaul,  and  gave  him  hopes  of  seizing
the  empire,  the  deputation  of  1500  legionaries  from  Britain,
which  demanded  and  obtained  the  downfall  of  Perennis,  and
the  open  conflict  between  the  praetorians  and  the  city  cohorts
which  preceded  the  death  of  Oeander,  are  indications  of  mili-
tary insubordination  and  of  the  dissolution  of  the  bonds  of
discipline,  such  as  no  former  reign  discloses  to  us.  It  is  evi-
dent that  the  army,  in  which  lay  the  last  hope  of  Roman  unity
and  greatness,  was  itself  becoming  disorganized.  No  common
spirit  animated  its  different  parts.  The  city  guards,  the  prae-
torians, and  the  legionaries,  had  different  interests.  The  le-
gionaries themselves  had  their  own  quarrels  and  jealousies.
