MAURICE, (Mauritius Tiberius), was born at Arabissus in Cappadocia, A. D. 539. He was descended from an ancient and honourable Roman family.—After he had filled several offices in the court of Tiberius Constantine, he obtained the command of his armies against the Persians. His gallantry was so conspicuous that the emperor gave him his daughter Constantina in marriage, and invested him with the purple the 13th August 532. The Persians still continued to make inroads on the Roman territories, and Maurice sent Philippicus, his brother-in-law, against them. This general conducted the war with various successes. At first he gained several splendid victories, but he did not continue to have a decided superiority. As there was a great use for soldiers in these unfortunate times, the emperor issued a mandate in 592, forbidding any soldier to become a monk till he had accomplished the term of his military service. Maurice acquired much glory in restoring Chosroes II. king of Persia, to the throne, after he had been deposed by his subjects. The empire was in his reign harassed by the frequent inroads of the Arabian tribes. He purchased peace from them, by granting them a pension nearly equal to 100,000 crowns; but these barbarians took frequent opportunities to renew the war. In different engagements the Romans destroyed 50,000, and took 17,000 prisoners. These were destroyed, on condition that the king of the Abari
should return all the Roman captives in his dominions. Maurice. Regardless of his promise, he demanded a ransom of 10,000 crowns. Maurice, full of indignation, refused the sum: and the barbarian, equally enraged, put the captives to the sword. While the emperor, to revenge this cruelty, was making preparations against the Abari, Phocas, who from the rank of centurion had attained the highest military preferment, assumed the purple, and was declared emperor. He pursued Maurice to Chaledon, took him prisoner, and condemned him to die. The five sons of this unfortunate prince were massacred before his eyes, and Maurice, humbling himself under the hand of God, was heard to exclaim, Thou art just, O Lord, and thy judgements are without partiality. He was beheaded on the 26th November 602, in the 63d year of his age and 20th of his reign. Many writers have estimated the character of this prince by his misfortunes instead of his actions. They believed him guilty without evidence, and condemned him without reason. It cannot be denied, however, that he allowed Italy to be harassed; but he was father to the rest of the empire. He restored the military discipline, humbled the pride of his enemies, supported the Christian religion by his laws, and piety by his example. He loved the sciences, and was the patron of learned men.