Maxentius/Severus’ Civil War (306-307) [4/12]
In October 306 the imperial guard proclaimed Maximian’s son 28Aurelius Valerius Maxentius as princeps (he chose to avoid taking a more provocative title). He was accepted by southern Italy and Africa, but northern Italy stood by Severus. For help against the other tetrarchs Maxentius enlisted the support of his father Maximian who promptly resumed his former title of augustus.
In early 307 Severus, promoted to augustus by Galerius, marched against Maxentius with forces from Pannonia and northern Italy but on reaching Rome his troops deserted to Maxentius. Severus fled to Ravenna but was captured and taken back to Rome as a hostage. Maxentius was now proclaimed augustus. Galerius, if he was to retain his authority, had no option but to march on Rome. Besieged by Galerius later in 307, Maxentius refused to negotiate and killed his captive. Galerius’ troops, however, like those of Severus before them, began to desert and he was forced to retreat.
In April 308 Maximian attempted to depose his son, but when the praetorians showed allegiance to Maxentius, his father associated himself with Constantine, to whom he granted the rank of augustus and the hand of his daughter Flavia (3) Maxima Fausta (37; fl.307-326) as his second wife.
In November 308 a conference was held at Carnuntum in Pannonia (near Petronell on the Danube) There, Galerius, Maximian and Diocletian (temporarily suspending his retirement) ruled that Valerius (22) Licinianus Licinius (fl.298-325), a former commander of Galerius’ forces, would replace Severus as augustus in the West; declared Maxentius a usurper, as was 15Domitius Alexander who had seized Africa and was to hold it until he was overcome by an expedition sent by Maxentius in 311; and returned Constantine to being caesar of Gaul, Britain and Spain.
Constantine campaigned successfully against the Franks in 306-7 and against the Bructeri in 307-8. In 310 Constantine’s father-in-law Maximian, whom Constantine had trusted with part of the army to secure the south of Gaul against a possible invasion by Maxentius, seized the treasury at Arelate (=Arles) and paid a donative to part of his army on condition that they proclaimed him augustus. Most of the troops remained faithful to Constantine, and compelled Maximian to leave. When Constantine heard of the rebellion he marched his army up the Rhine, boarded waiting boats at Cabillonum (=Chalon-sur-Saone), rowed down the Saone/Rhone and disembarked at Lugdunum (=Lyon). Maximian fled to Massilia where he was captured and later committed suicide.
Constantine and Maximinus, unhappy with their demotions, refused to be placated as ‘Sons of the augusti‘. In 310, however, Maximinus II Daia allowed his army to hail him as augustus and Galerius, similarly as earlier with Severus, had little choice but recognised both of them in that rank. Thus, there were now four augusti: west to east Constantine, Licinius, Galerius and Maximinus II Daia; but Maxentius, though unrecognised, still held Italy and Africa.
Early in 311 in a deathbed repentance Galerius revoked all persecution edicts against the Christians (but it did not save him). As no successor was proclaimed, Licinius and Maximinus partitioned the territories that he had occupied. The situation now was that Constantine ruled in Britain, Gaul and Spain; Maxentius in Africa and Italy; Licinius in the Balkan provinces; Maximinus Daia in Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt. Constantine made a pact with Licinius, who was betrothed to Constantine’s half-sister Flavia (4) Julia Constantia (c.294-c.330). With his left flank covered, Constantine could now challenge Maxentius in Italy.
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