Gibbon Chapter XVIII

This is a very good narrative chapter. Most of the first half is about the reign of Constantine and the rather bloodthirsty way he dealt with his own family; the second half then tracks the rise to absolute power of his son Constantius, overcoming his own relatives and the usurpers Magnentius and Vetranio. There are parentheses about the Sarmatians, the Goths, the Persian empire and the siege of Nisibis. Lots of excellent details.