_Rhaetia_ belonged to the _Western_ Emperors, so long as that Empire stood; and then it descended, with _Italy_ and the _Roman_ Senate, to _Odoacer_ King of the _Heruli_ in _Italy_, and after him to _Theoderic_ King of the _Ostrogoths_ and his successors, by the grant of the _Greek_ Emperors. Upon the death of _Valentinian_ the second, the _Alemans_ and _Suevians_ invaded _Rhaetia_ A.C. 455. But I do not find they erected any settled kingdom there: for in the year 457, while they were yet depopulating _Rhaetia_, they were attacked and beaten by _Burto_ Master of the horse to the Emperor _Majoranus_; and I hear nothing more of their invading _Rhaetia_. _Clodovaeus_ King of _France_, in or about the year 496, conquered a kingdom of the _Alemans_, and slew their last King _Ermeric_. But this kingdom was seated in _Germany_, and only bordered upon _Rhaetia_: for its people fled from _Clodovaeus_ into the neighbouring kingdom of the _Ostrogoths_ under _Theoderic_, who received them as friends, and wrote a friendly letter to _Clodovaeus_ in their behalf: and by this means they became inhabitants of _Rhaetia_, as subjects under the dominion of the _Ostrogoths_. When the _Greek_ Emperor conquered the _Ostrogoths_, he succeeded them in the kingdom of _Ravenna_, not only by right of conquest but also by right of inheritance, the _Roman_ Senate still going along with this kingdom. Therefore we may reckon that this kingdom continued in the Exarchate of _Ravenna_ and Senate of _Rome_: for the remainder of the _Western Empire_ went along with the Senate of _Rome_, by reason of the right which this Senate still retained, and at length exerted, of chusing a new _Western_ Emperor. I have now enumerated the ten kingdoms, into which the _Western Empire_ became divided at its first breaking, that is, at the time of _Rome_'s being besieged and taken by the _Goths_. Some of these kingdoms at length fell, and new ones arose: but whatever was their number afterwards, they are still called the _Ten Kings_ from their first number. Notes to Chap. VI. [1] Apud Bucherum, l. 14. c. 9. n. 8. [2] Rolevinc's Antiqua Saxon. l. 1. c. 6. * * * * * CHAP. VII. _Of the eleventh horn of _Daniel_'s fourth Beast._