He thought he could resuscitate it, durably, through the victory of a new people and a new faith, by the hand of Franks and Christians.

With this view he labored to conquer, convert, and govern.

He tried to be, at one and the same time, Caesar, Augustus, and Constantine.

And for a moment he appeared to have succeeded; but the appearance passed away with himself.

The unity of the empire and the absolute power of the emperor were buried in his grave.