Edward Gibbon

The History of the Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire

1776 – 1789

Vol. I Ch. I–XV Vol. II Ch. XVI–XXVI Vol. III Ch. XXVII–XXXVIII Vol. IV Ch. XXXIX–XLVIII Vol. V Ch. XLIX–LVIII Vol. VI Ch. LIX–LXXI

Six volumes tracing the Roman Empire from its zenith under the Antonines to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Volume I

  1. Chapter IChapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines
  2. Chapter IIChapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines
  3. Chapter IIIChapter III: The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines
  4. Chapter IVChapter IV: The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus
  5. Chapter VChapter V: Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus
  6. Chapter VIChapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus
  7. Chapter VIIChapter VII: Tyranny Of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death Of Maximin
  8. Chapter VIIIChapter VIII: State Of Persia And Restoration Of The Monarchy
  9. Chapter IXChapter IX: State Of Germany Until The Barbarians
  10. Chapter XChapter X: Emperors Decius, Gallus, Æmilianus, Valerian And Gallienus
  11. Chapter XIChapter XI: Reign Of Claudius, Defeat Of The Goths
  12. Chapter XIIChapter XII: Reigns Of Tacitus, Probus, Carus And His Sons
  13. Chapter XIIIChapter XIII: Reign Of Diocletian And His Three Associates
  14. Chapter XIVChapter XIV: Six Emperors At The Same Time, Reunion Of The Empire
  15. Chapter XVChapter XV: Progress Of The Christian Religion

Volume II

  1. Chapter XVIChapter XVI: Conduct Towards The Christians, From Nero To Constantine
  2. Chapter XVIIChapter XVII: Foundation Of Constantinople
  3. Chapter XVIIIChapter XVIII: Character Of Constantine And His Sons
  4. Chapter XIXChapter XIX: Constantius Sole Emperor
  5. Chapter XXChapter XX: Conversion Of Constantine
  6. Chapter XXIChapter XXI: Persecution Of Heresy, State Of The Church
  7. Chapter XXIIChapter XXII: Julian Declared Emperor
  8. Chapter XXIIIChapter XXIII: Reign Of Julian
  9. Chapter XXIVChapter XXIV: The Retreat And Death Of Julian
  10. Chapter XXVChapter XXV: Reigns Of Jovian And Valentinian, Division Of The Empire
  11. Chapter XXVIChapter XXVI: Progress of The Huns

Volume III

  1. Chapter XXVIIChapter XXVII: Civil Wars, Reign Of Theodosius
  2. Chapter XXVIIIChapter XXVIII: Destruction Of Paganism
  3. Chapter XXIXChapter XXIX: Division Of Roman Empire Between Sons Of Theodosius
  4. Chapter XXXChapter XXX: Revolt Of The Goths
  5. Chapter XXXIChapter XXXI: Invasion Of Italy, Occupation Of Territories By Barbarians
  6. Chapter XXXIIChapter XXXII: Emperors Arcadius, Eutropius, Theodosius II
  7. Chapter XXXIIIChapter XXXIII: Conquest Of Africa By The Vandals
  8. Chapter XXXIVChapter XXXIV: Attila
  9. Chapter XXXVChapter XXXV: Invasion By Attila
  10. Chapter XXXVIChapter XXXVI: Total Extinction Of The Western Empire
  11. Chapter XXXVIIChapter XXXVII: Conversion Of The Barbarians To Christianity
  12. Chapter XXXVIIIChapter XXXVIII: Reign Of Clovis

Volume IV

  1. Chapter XXXIXChapter XXXIX: Gothic Kingdom Of Italy
  2. Chapter XLChapter XL: Reign Of Justinian
  3. Chapter XLIChapter XLI: Conquests Of Justinian, Character Of Balisarius
  4. Chapter XLIIChapter XLII: State Of The Barbaric World
  5. Chapter XLIIIChapter XLIII: Last Victory And Death Of Belisarius, Death Of Justinian
  6. Chapter XLIVChapter XLIV: Idea Of The Roman Jurisprudence
  7. Chapter XLVChapter XLV: State Of Italy Under The Lombards
  8. Chapter XLVIChapter XLVI: Troubles In Persia
  9. Chapter XLVIIChapter XLVII: Ecclesiastical Discord
  10. Chapter XLVIIIChapter XLVIII: Succession And Characters Of The Greek Emperors

Volume V

  1. Chapter XLIXChapter XLIX: Conquest Of Italy By The Franks
  2. Chapter LChapter L: Description Of Arabia And Its Inhabitants
  3. Chapter LIChapter LI: Conquests By The Arabs
  4. Chapter LIIChapter LII: More Conquests By The Arabs
  5. Chapter LIIIChapter LIII: Fate Of The Eastern Empire
  6. Chapter LIVChapter LIV: Origin And Doctrine Of The Paulicians
  7. Chapter LVChapter LV: The Bulgarians, The Hungarians And The Russians
  8. Chapter LVIChapter LVI: The Saracens, The Franks And The Normans
  9. Chapter LVIIChapter LVII: The Turks
  10. Chapter LVIIIChapter LVIII: The First Crusade

Volume VI

  1. Chapter LIXChapter LIX: The Crusades
  2. Chapter LXChapter LX: The Fourth Crusade
  3. Chapter LXIChapter LXI: Partition Of The Empire By The French And Venetians
  4. Chapter LXIIChapter LXII: Greek Emperors Of Nice And Constantinople
  5. Chapter LXIIIChapter LXIII: Civil Wars And The Ruin Of The Greek Empire
  6. Chapter LXIVChapter LXIV: Moguls, Ottoman Turks
  7. Chapter LXVChapter LXV: Elevation Of Timour Or Tamerlane, And His Death
  8. Chapter LXVIChapter LXVI: Union Of The Greek And Latin Churches
  9. Chapter LXVIIChapter LXVII: Schism Of The Greeks And Latins
  10. Chapter LXVIIIChapter LXVIII: Reign Of Mahomet The Second, Extinction Of Eastern Empire
  11. Chapter LXIXChapter LXIX: State Of Rome From The Twelfth Century
  12. Chapter LXXChapter LXX: Final Settlement Of The Ecclesiastical State
  13. Chapter LXXIChapter LXXI: Prospect Of The Ruins Of Rome In The Fifteenth Century