OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 225 restored the Imperial greatness of their house, which was enjoyed without toil or danger by the two younger brethren, Hadrian and Nicephorus. Alexius, the third and most illustrious of the brothers, was endowed by nature with the choicest gifts both of mind and body : they were cultivated by a liberal education, and exercised in the school of obedience and adver- sity. The youth was dismissed from the perils of the Turkish war by the paternal care of the emperor Romanus ; but the mother of the Comneni, with her aspiring race, was accused of ti'eason, and banished, by the sons of Ducas, to an island in the Propontis. The two brothers soon emerged into favour and action, fought by each other's side against the rebels and barbarians, and adhered to the emperor Michael, till he was deserted by the world and by himself. In his first interview with Botaniates, " Prince," said Alexius, with a noble frankness, " my duty rendered me your enemy ; the decrees of God and of the people have made me your subject. Judge of my future loyalty by my past opposition." The successor of Michael entertained him with esteem and confidence ; his valour was employed against three rebels, who disturbed the peace of the empire, or at least of the emperors. Ursel, Bryennius, and Basilacius were formidable by their numerous forces and military fame ; they were successively vanquished in the field, and led in chains to the foot of the throne ; and, whatever treatment they might receive from a timid and cruel court, they applauded the clemency, as well as the courage, of their conqueror. But the loyalty of the Comneni was soon tainted by fear and suspicion ; nor is it easy to settle between a subject and a despot the debt of gratitude, which the former is tempted to claim by a revolt and the latter to discharge by an executioner. The refusal of Alexius to march against a fourth rebel, the husband of his [Nicephorus sister, destroyed the merit or memory of his past services; the favourites of Botaniates provoked the ambition which they apprehended and accused ; and the retreat of the two brothers might be justified by the defence of their life or liberty. The women of the family were deposited in a sanctuary, respected by tyrants : the men, mounted on horseback, sallied from the city and erected the standard of civil war. The soldiers, who had been gradually assembled in the capital and the neighbour- hood, were devoted to the cause of a victorious and injured leader ; the ties of common interest and domestic alliance secured the attachment of the house of Ducas ; and the gener- ous dispute of the Comneni was terminated by the decisive VOL. V. 15
