Civil wars of the Tetrarchy
The civil wars of the Tetrarchy were a series of conflicts between the
Background
The Tetrarchy was the administrative division of the Roman Empire instituted by Roman emperor Diocletian in 293 AD, marking the end of the Crisis of the Third Century and the recovery of the Roman Empire. The first phase, sometimes referred to as the Diarchy ("the rule of two"), involved the designation of the general Maximian as co-emperor – firstly as Caesar (junior emperor) in 285, followed by his promotion to Augustus in 286. Diocletian took care of matters in the Eastern regions of the Empire while Maximian similarly took charge of the Western regions. In 293, feeling more focus was needed on both civic and military problems, Diocletian, with Maximian's consent, expanded the imperial college by appointing two Caesars (one responsible to each Augustus) – Galerius and Constantius Chlorus.
The senior emperors jointly abdicated and retired in 305 AD, allowing Constantius and Galerius to be elevated in rank to Augusti. They in turn appointed two new Caesars,
Opening gambits
The death of Constantius at
This act motivated
The joint rule of Maxentius and Maximian in Rome was tested further when Galerius himself marched to Italy in the summer of 307 with an even larger army. While negotiating with the invader, Maxentius would repeat what he did to Severus: by the promise of large sums of money, and the authority of Maximian, many soldiers of Galerius defected to him. Galerius was forced to withdraw, plundering Italy on his way. Some time during the invasion, Severus was put to death by Maxentius, probably at Tres Tabernae near Rome (the exact circumstances of his death are not certain). After the failed campaign of Galerius, Maxentius' reign over Italy and Africa was firmly established. Beginning in 307 already, he tried to arrange friendly contacts with Constantine, and in the summer of that year, Maximian travelled to Gaul, where Constantine married his daughter Fausta and was in turn appointed Augustus by the senior emperor. However, Constantine tried to avoid breaking with Galerius, and did not openly support Maxentius during the invasion.
In 308, probably April, Maximian tried to depose his son in an assembly of soldiers in Rome; surprisingly to him, the present troops remained faithful to his son, and he had to flee to Constantine.
In the conference of Carnuntum in the autumn of 308, Maxentius was once again denied recognition as legitimate emperor, and Licinius was appointed Augustus with the task of regaining the usurper's domain.
In 310, Maximian rebelled against Constantine while the emperor was on campaign against the Franks. Maximian had been sent south to Arles with part of Constantine's army to defend against attacks by Maxentius in southern Gaul. In Arles, Maximian announced that Constantine was dead and took up the imperial purple. Despite offering bribes to any who would support him as emperor, most of Constantine's army remained loyal, and Maximian was compelled to leave. Constantine soon heard of the rebellion, abandoned his campaign against the Franks, and moved quickly to southern Gaul, where he confronted the fleeing Maximian at Massilia. The town was better able to withstand a longer siege than Arles, but it made little difference as loyal citizens opened the rear gates to Constantine. Maximian was captured, reproved for his crimes, and stripped of his title for the third and last time. Constantine granted Maximian some clemency but strongly encouraged his suicide. In July 310, Maximian hanged himself.[12][13][14][15][16][17]
War of Constantine and Maxentius
By the middle of 310, Galerius had become too ill to involve himself in imperial politics.
Maxentius' rule was nevertheless insecure. His early support dissolved in the wake of heightened tax rates and depressed trade; riots broke out in Rome and Carthage;[36][37][20][38] and Domitius Alexander was able to briefly usurp his authority in Africa.[36] By 312, he was a man barely tolerated, not one actively supported,[39] even among Christian Italians.[40][38] In the summer of 311, Maxentius mobilized against Constantine while Licinius was occupied with affairs in the East. He declared war on Constantine, vowing to avenge his father's death.[41][37] To prevent Maxentius from forming an alliance against him with Licinius,[29] Constantine forged his own alliance with Licinius over the winter of 311–12, and offered him his sister Constantia in marriage. Maximinus considered Constantine's arrangement with Licinius an affront to his authority. In response, he sent ambassadors to Rome, offering political recognition to Maxentius in exchange for a military support. Maxentius accepted.[29][42][31][32] According to Eusebius, inter-regional travel became impossible, and there was military buildup everywhere. There was "not a place where people were not expecting the onset of hostilities every day".[43]
Constantine's advisers and generals cautioned against preemptive attack on Maxentius;
At the approach to the west of the important city of Augusta Taurinorum (Turin, Italy), Constantine encountered a large force of heavily armed Maxentian cavalry.[29][50][44][51] In the ensuing battle Constantine's army encircled Maxentius' cavalry, flanked them with his own cavalry, and dismounted them with blows from his soldiers' iron-tipped clubs. Constantine's armies emerged victorious.[52][53][44][54] Turin refused to give refuge to Maxentius' retreating forces, opening its gates to Constantine instead.[29][55][56] Other cities of the north Italian plain sent Constantine embassies of congratulation for his victory. He moved on to Milan, where he was met with open gates and jubilant rejoicing. Constantine rested his army in Milan until mid-summer 312, when he moved on to Brixia (Brescia).[57][58]
Brescia's army was easily dispersed,[59][55][44][58] and Constantine quickly advanced to Verona, where a large Maxentian force was camped.[55][44][58] Ruricius Pompeianus, general of the Veronese forces and Maxentius' praetorian prefect,[55][58] was in a strong defensive position, since the town was surrounded on three sides by the Adige. Constantine sent a small force north of the town in an attempt to cross the river unnoticed. Ruricius sent a large detachment to counter Constantine's expeditionary force, but was defeated. Constantine's forces successfully surrounded the town and laid siege.[59][55][58] Ruricius gave Constantine the slip and returned with a larger force to oppose Constantine. Constantine refused to let up on the siege, and sent only a small force to oppose him. In the desperately fought encounter that followed, Ruricius was killed and his army destroyed.[59][55][60] Verona surrendered soon afterwards, followed by Aquileia,[59][55][31][44][61] Mutina (Modena),[55][44] and Ravenna.[44] The road to Rome was now wide open to Constantine.[59][46][55]
Maxentius prepared for the same type of war he had waged against Severus and Galerius: he sat in Rome and prepared for a siege.[59][55][62] He still controlled Rome's praetorian guards, was well-stocked with African grain, and was surrounded on all sides by the seemingly impregnable Aurelian Walls. He ordered all bridges across the Tiber cut, reportedly on the counsel of the gods,[55] and left the rest of central Italy undefended; Constantine secured that region's support without challenge.[61] Constantine progressed slowly[59] along the Via Flaminia,[63][64] allowing the weakness of Maxentius to draw his regime further into turmoil.[59] Maxentius' support continued to weaken: at chariot races on 27 October, the crowd openly taunted Maxentius, shouting that Constantine was invincible.[59][46][65][66] Maxentius, no longer certain that he would emerge from a siege victorious, built a temporary boat bridge across the Tiber in preparation for a field battle against Constantine.[67][68][69] On 28 October 312, the sixth anniversary of his reign, he approached the keepers of the Sibylline Books for guidance. The keepers prophesied that, on that very day, "the enemy of the Romans" would die. Maxentius advanced north to meet Constantine in battle.[70][71][46][72][69]
Maxentius organized his forces—still twice the size of Constantine's—in long lines facing the battle plain, with their backs to the river.
Constantine deployed his own forces along the whole length of Maxentius' line. He ordered his cavalry to charge, and they broke Maxentius' cavalry. He then sent his infantry against Maxentius' infantry, pushing many into the Tiber where they were slaughtered and drowned.[69] The battle was brief:[71][91] Maxentius' troops were broken before the first charge.[68] Maxentius' horse guards and praetorians initially held their position, but broke under the force of a Constantinian cavalry charge; they also broke ranks and fled to the river. Maxentius rode with them, and attempted to cross the bridge of boats, but he was pushed by the mass of his fleeing soldiers into the Tiber, and drowned.[71][91][92][68][69]
Constantine entered Rome on 29 October.[93][94][69] He staged a grand adventus in the city, and was met with popular jubilation.[95][96][97][98] Maxentius' body was fished out of the Tiber and decapitated. His head was paraded through the streets for all to see.[93][99][72][92][68][69][100] After the ceremonies, Maxentius' disembodied head was sent to Carthage; at this Carthage would offer no further resistance.[101]
War of Licinius and Maximinus Daza
Meanwhile, to the east, on Galerius’ death in 311 the eastern provinces were divided between Maximinus Daza and Licinius. Daza was unhappy that Licinius had been made senior emperor by Galerius, and took the first available opportunity to declare himself as emperor. Licinius held the eastern European provinces, while Daza took possession of the Asiatic provinces.
In 312, while Constantine was fighting Maxentius, Daza was busy campaigning against the Armenians. He had returned to Syria by February 313 when he discovered the alliance that had been forged by Constantine and Licinius in Mediolanum. Deciding to take the initiative, Daza left Syria with 70,000 men and reached
Wars of Constantine and Licinius
After Maxentius’ defeat, Constantine gradually consolidated his military superiority over his rivals in the crumbling Tetrarchy. In 313, he met Licinius in
In 320, Licinius reneged on the religious freedom promised by the Edict of Milan in 313 and began to oppress Christians anew.
Notes
- ^ The term is a misnomer as the act of Milan was not an edict, while the subsequent edicts by Licinius – of which the edicts to the provinces of Bythinia and Palestine are recorded by Lactantius and Eusebius, respectively – were not issued in Milan.
References
- ^ Eutropius, Breviarum 10.1–2
- ^ a b Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 25.
- ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 28.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 28–29.
- ^ Lenski 2006b, p. 62.
- ^ a b c d Odahl 2004, pp. 79–80.
- ^ Rees 2002, p. 160.
- ^ a b c Barnes 1981, p. 29.
- ^ a b Elliott 1996, p. 41.
- ^ a b Jones 1978, p. 59.
- ^ a b MacMullen 1969, p. 39.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 34–35.
- ^ a b Elliott 1996, p. 43.
- ^ Lenski 2006b, pp. 65–66.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 93.
- ^ Pohlsander 2004a, p. 17.
- ^ Potter 2004, p. 352.
- ^ Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 31–35
- ^ Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.16
- ^ a b c Lenski 2006b, p. 68.
- ^ a b Odahl 2004, pp. 95–96.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 316.
- ^ Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 34
- ^ Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.17
- ^ Barnes 1981, p. 304.
- ^ Jones 1978, p. 66.
- ^ Barnes 1981, p. 39.
- ^ Elliott 1996, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnes 1981, p. 41.
- ^ Elliott 1996, p. 45.
- ^ a b c Lenski 2006b, p. 69.
- ^ a b c d e Odahl 2004, p. 96.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 39–40.
- ^ Elliott 1996, p. 44.
- ^ Barnes 1981, p. 38.
- ^ a b Barnes 1981, p. 37.
- ^ a b Curran 2000, p. 66.
- ^ a b MacMullen 1969, p. 62.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 37–39.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 38–39.
- ^ Barnes 1981, p. 40.
- ^ Elliott 1996, pp. 44–45.
- ^ Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.15.1–2, quoted and translated in MacMullen 1969, p. 65
- ^ a b c d e f g h i MacMullen 1969, p. 71.
- ^ Panegyrici Latini 12(9)2.5.
- ^ a b c d e Curran 2000, p. 67.
- ^ MacMullen 1969, pp. 70–71.
- ^ a b c Odahl 2004, p. 101.
- ^ Panegyrici Latini 12(9)5.1–3
- ^ Jones 1978, p. 70.
- ^ Odahl 2004, pp. 101–2.
- ^ Panegyrici Latini 12(9)5–6; 4(10)21–24
- ^ Jones 1978, pp. 70–71.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 102, 317–18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jones 1978, p. 71.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 102.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 41–42.
- ^ a b c d e Odahl 2004, p. 103.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnes 1981, p. 42.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 103-4.
- ^ a b Odahl 2004, p. 104.
- ^ a b Odahl 2004, p. 105.
- ^ MacMullen 1969, p. 72.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 107.
- ^ Jones 1978, pp. 71–72.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 107-8.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 42–43.
- ^ a b c d MacMullen 1969, p. 78.
- ^ a b c d e f g Odahl 2004, p. 108.
- ^ Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 44.8
- ^ a b c d e f Barnes 1981, p. 43.
- ^ a b c Jones 1978, p. 72.
- ^ Digeser 2000, p. 122.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 106.
- ^ Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum 44.4–6, translated Creed 1984, quoted in Lenski 2006b, p. 71
- ^ Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1.28, tr.
- ^ a b Drake 2006, p. 113.
- ^ a b c Barnes 1981, p. 306.
- ^ Eusebius, Vita Constantini 1.27–29.
- ^ Odahl 2004, pp. 105–6.
- ^ Odahl 2004, pp. 319–20.
- ^ Cameron & Hall 1999, p. 208.
- ^ MacMullen 1969, p. 73.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 319.
- ^ Cameron & Hall 1999, pp. 206–7.
- ^ Drake 2006, p. 114.
- ^ Nicholson 2000, p. 311.
- ^ Lenski 2006b, 71, citing Roman Imperial Coinage VII Ticinum 36.
- ^ Holloway 2004, p. 3, citing Kraft 1954–55
- ^ Lenski 2006b, p. 71.
- ^ a b Curran 2000, p. 68.
- ^ a b Lenski 2006b, p. 70.
- ^ a b Barnes 1981, p. 44.
- ^ MacMullen 1969, p. 81.
- ^ Cameron & Hall 1999, p. 93.
- ^ Curran 2000, pp. 71–74.
- ^ Odahl 2004, p. 110.
- ^ Schmidt-Hofner 2012, pp. 33–60.
- ^ Curran 2000, p. 72.
- ^ Wienand 2015, pp. 176–182.
- ^ Barnes 1981, pp. 44–45.
- ^ Kohn, George Childs. Dictionary of Wars (Revised ed.). p. 398.
- ^ Pohlsander 2004a, p. 24.
- ^ Drake 2006, pp. 121–123.
- ^ Pohlsander 2004a, pp. 38–39.
- ^ Gibbon, Edward. "XIV". Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Vol. I.
- ^ Pohlsander 2004a, pp. 41–42.
- ^ Pohlsander 2004a, p. 42–43.
- ^ Scarre 1995, p. 215.
- ^ MacMullen 1969.
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