Then he sent Licinius and Probus to the city as envoys, asking that the son-in-law, that is Maxentius, should attain his desires from the father-in-law, that is Galerius, at the price of requests rather than of arms. Galerius’ proposal was scorned, and having learned that through Maxentius’ promises many of his own men had been led to desert his cause, he was disturbed and turned back; and in order to furnish his men with whatever booty he could, he gave orders that the Flaminian Road should be plundered.Text and meaning are uncertain. Apparently he went along the Flaminian Road; cf. Lact., 27, 5, dedit militibus potestatem ut diriperent omnia vel corrumperent, ut si quis insequi vellet, utensilia non haberet.

MaximianusIlle seems to refer to Maximianus, who wished to resume his imperial power; if so, something is missing from the text. took refuge with Constantine. Then Galerius made Licinius a CaesarOther writers imply that he was made an Augustus at once. in Illyricum, and after that, leaving him in Pannonia, returned himself to Serdica, where he was attacked by a violent disease and wasted away so completely, that he died with the inner parts of his body exposed and in a state of corruptionCf. Oros. vii. 28, 12, put rescente introrsum pectore et visceribus dissolutis —a punishment for a most unjust persecution,Of the Christians; cf. Lact., 33; Eusebius, viii. 16, 3 ff. which recoiled as a well-merited penalty upon the author of the iniquitous order. He ruled for nineteen years.

Severus Caesar was low both in character and in origin, given to drink, and hence a friend to Galerius. Accordingly Galerius made Caesars of him and Maximinus, without Constantine having knowledge of any such step. To this Severus were assigned some cities of Pannonia, Italy, and Africa. Through this chance Maxentius became emperor; for Severus was deserted by his men and fled to Ravenna.

Summoned to support his son Maxentius, Herculius came to Ravenna, deceived Severus by a false oath, gave him into custody, and took him to Rome in the condition of a captive; there he had him kept under guard in a villa belonging to the state, situated thirty miles from Rome on the Appian Road.According to Zos. ii. 10, and Pseud.-Aur. Vict., 40, 3, it was at Tres Tabernae. When Galerius later went to Italy, Severus was executed; then his body was taken to a place eight miles from the city, and laid in the tomb of Gallienus.

Now Galerius was such a tipplerPseud.-Vict. 40, 19, makes this statement regarding Maxentius. that when he was drunk he gave orders such as ought not to be obeyed; and so, at the advice of his prefect, he directed that no one should execute any commands which he issued after luncheon.

Meanwhile Constantine, after defeating the tyrant’sMaxentius, called tyrant because his sovereignty was not officially recognised. generals at Verona, went on to Rome. When he had reached the city, Maxentius came out and chose a plainSaxa Rubra, near the Mulvian Bridge. above the Tiber as the place to do battle. There the usurper was defeated, and when all his men were put to flight, he was prevented from escaping by the crowd of fugitives, thrown from his horse into the river, and drowned. On the following day his body was recovered from the Tiber, and the head was cut off and taken to Rome. When his mother was questioned about his parentage, she admitted that he was the son of a Syrian. He ruled for six years.The number is lacking in the text, but is known from the Panegyrics of Constantine and other sources. It was from 306–312.

Now Licinius was a native of New Dacia, and was of somewhat common origin. He was made emperorI.e., Augustus; see Introd. to Vol. I, p. xxv. He seems never to have been a Caesar. by Galerius, in order that he might take the field against Maxentius. But when Maxentius was overthrown and Constantine had recovered Italy, he made Licinius his colleague on condition that he should marry Constantine’s sister Constantia at Mediolanum. After the celebration of the wedding Constantine went to Gaul, and Licinius returned to Illyricum.

Some time after that Constantine sent ConstantiusHis son, the future emperor, Constantius II. to Licinius, to persuade him to confer the rank of Caesar on Bassianus, who was married to a second sister of Constantine (named Anastasia), to the end that, after the manner of Maximianus, Bassianus might hold Italy and thus stand as a buffer between Constantine and Licinius.

But Licinius thwarted such an arrangement, and influenced by Bassianus’ brother Senicio, who was loyal to Licinius, Bassianus took up arms against Constantine. But he was arrested in the act of accomplishing his purpose, and by order of Constantine was condemned and executed. When the punishment of Senicio was demanded as the instigator of the plot and Licinius refused, the harmony between the two emperors came to an end; an additional reason for the break was, that Licinius had overthrown the busts and statues of Constantine at Emona.Modern Laibach in Carinthia. Then the two emperors declared open war.