The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · ¶62

The purple of three emperors, who have reigned at Constantinople, will authorize or excuse a digression on the origin and singular fortunes of the house of Courtenay, in the three principal branches: I. Of Edessa; II. Of France; and III. Of England; of which the last only has survived the revolutions of eight hundred years.

Edward Gibbon · Project Gutenberg #736 (Milman edition) — public domain
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