Late Roman Empire, Constantinian Dynasty; 55*Constantius-I Chlorus (W), 56*Galerius (E), 57*Severus (W), 58*Maxentius (W): Tetrarchic Wars (306-324), Introduction 

55 *CONSTANTIUS-I CHLORUS (56; r.305-306) (W)

56 *GALERIUS (51; r.305-311) (E)

57 *SEVERUS (r.306-307) (W)

58 *MAXENTIUS (c.34; r.307-312) (W)

59 *CONSTANTINE-I (c.65; r.307-337) (Gaul→W→all)

60 *LICINIUS (r.308-324; died 325) (W→E)

61 *MAXIMINUS II DAIA (r.310-313) (W)

Tetrarchic Wars (306-324) 

Introduction

On 1 May 305 Diocletian at Nicomedia and Maximian at Milan abdicated, and their caesares Galerius (east) and Constantius (West) succeeded them as augusti. Dynastically the two obvious candidates to succeed them as caesares were Maximian’s son ²⁸Aurelius Valerius Maxentius, and Constantius’ son ¹⁷Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (65; fl.293-337), the future Constantine-I the Great. Diocletian, however, did not consider the former suitable and thought it wiser to reject them both. He therefore appointed ¹⁶Flavius Valerius Severus (r.305-307), an old friend of Galerius, as caesar in the West, and Valerius (23) Galerius Maximinus II Daia (42; fl.305-312), Galerius’ nephew, as caesar in the East.

Constantius was the senior augustus, holding Britain, Gaul and Spain, but Galerius, holding Asia Minor west of the Taurus Mountains, seems to have got the best of the bargain since through Severus, holding Italy, Africa and Pannonia, he could control the West. Maximinus II Daia held Syria and Egypt.

Early in 306 Constantine joined his father in Gesoriacum (=Boulogne) and together they carried through a successful campaign against the Picts (Caledonians) in northern Scotland. Soon after this victory Constantinus died at Eboracum (=York) and the army proclaimed Constantine as augustus in his father’s place. Constantine, to strengthen his position, led his army into southern Gaul where he learned that Galerius (having little choice) had compromised by elevating Severus to augustus but recognizing Constantine as caesar.