Maxentius
Maxentius | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constantine I | |||||||||
Co-rulers | |||||||||
Born | c. 283[1] | ||||||||
Died | 28 October 312 (aged c. 29) Rome | ||||||||
Spouse | Valeria Maximilla | ||||||||
Issue | Valerius Romulus and 1 other son | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Father | Maximian | ||||||||
Mother | Eutropia |
Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c. 283 – 28 October 312) was a Roman emperor from 306 until his death in 312. Despite ruling in Italy and North Africa, and having the recognition of the Senate in Rome, he was not recognized as a legitimate emperor by his fellow emperors.
He was the son of former Emperor
Maxentius was the last emperor to permanently reside in
Early life, family, and accession
Early life and family
Maxentius was the son of Emperor Maximian and his Syrian wife Eutropia. As his father became emperor in 285, he was regarded as the crown prince who would eventually follow his father on the throne. He seems not to have served, however, in any important military or administrative position during the reign of Diocletian and his father. The exact date of his marriage to Valeria Maximilla, daughter of Galerius, is unknown. He had two sons, Valerius Romulus (ca. 295 – 309) and an unknown one.
In 305, Diocletian and Maximian abdicated, and the former
When Constantius died in 306, his son Constantine was crowned emperor on July 25 and subsequently accepted by Galerius into the Tetrarchy as Caesar. This set the precedent for Maxentius' accession later in the same year.
Accession
When rumours reached the capital that the emperors tried to subject the Roman population to the capitation tax, like every other city of the empire, and wanted to dissolve the remnants of the Praetorian Guard which were still stationed at Rome, riots broke out. A group of officers of the city's garrisons (Zosimus calls them Marcellianus, Marcellus and Lucianus) turned to Maxentius to accept the imperial purple, probably judging that the official recognition which was granted to Constantine would not be withheld from Maxentius, son of an emperor as well. Maxentius accepted the honour, promised donations to the city's troops, and was publicly acclaimed emperor on 28 October 306. The usurpation obviously went largely without bloodshed (Zosimus names only one victim); the prefect of Rome went over to Maxentius and retained his office. Apparently the conspirators turned to Maximian as well, who had retired to a palace in Lucania, but he declined to resume power for the time being.
Maxentius managed to be recognized as emperor in central and southern Italy, the islands of
Maxentius refrained from using the titles Augustus or Caesar at first and styled himself princeps invictus ("undefeated prince"), in the hope of obtaining recognition of his reign by the senior emperor Galerius. However, the latter refused to do so. Apart from his alleged antipathy towards Maxentius, Galerius probably wanted to deter others from following the examples of Constantine and Maxentius and declaring themselves emperors. Constantine firmly controlled his father's army and territories, and Galerius could pretend that his accession was part of the regular succession in the tetrarchy, but neither was the case with Maxentius: he would be the fifth emperor, and he had only few troops at his command. Galerius reckoned that it would be not too difficult to quell the usurpation, and early in 307, the Augustus Severus marched on Rome with a large army.
The majority of this army consisted of soldiers who had fought under Maxentius' father Maximian for years, and as Severus reached Rome, the majority of his army went over to Maxentius and received a large amount of money. When Maximian himself finally left his retreat and returned to Rome to assume the imperial office once again and support his son, Severus with the rest of his army retreated to Ravenna. Shortly after, he surrendered to Maximian, who promised that his life would be spared.
After the defeat of Severus, Maxentius took possession of northern Italy up to the Alps and the Istrian peninsula to the east, and assumed the title of Augustus, which (in his eyes) had become vacant with the surrender of Severus.
Emperor
Early reign
The joint rule of Maxentius and Maximian in Rome was tested further when Galerius marched to Italy in the summer of 307 with an even larger army. While negotiating with the invader, Maxentius could 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, 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. 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
Maxentius' eldest son
In 310, Maxentius lost
Maxentius was far from secure, his early support dissolving into open protest; by 312, he was a man barely tolerated.
War against Constantine
Verona
Maxentius expected an attack along his eastern flank from Licinius and stationed an army in Verona.[15] Constantine had smaller forces than his opponent: with his forces withdrawn from Africa, with the praetorian and Imperial Horse Guard, and with the troops he had taken from Severus, Maxentius had an army equal to approximately 100,000 soldiers to use against his opponents in the north.[citation needed] Many of these he used to garrison fortified towns across the region, keeping most stationed with him in Verona. Against this, Constantine could only bring a force of between twenty-five and forty thousand men.[citation needed] The bulk of his troops simply could not be withdrawn from the Rhine frontiers without negative consequences.[16] It was against the recommendations of his advisers and generals, against popular expectation, that Constantine anticipated Maxentius, and struck first.[12]
Turin
As early as weather permitted,
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,[19] labeled clibanarii or cataphracti in the ancient sources. In the ensuing battle Constantine spread his forces into a line, allowing Maxentius' cavalry to ride into the middle of his forces. As his forces broadly encircled the enemy cavalry, Constantine's own cavalry charged at the sides of the Maxentian cataphracts, beating them with iron-tipped clubs. Many Maxentian cavalrymen were dismounted, while most others were variously incapacitated by the blows. Constantine then commanded his foot soldiers to advance against the surviving Maxentian infantry, cutting them down as they fled.[20] Victory, the panegyrist who speaks of the events declares, came easily.[21] Turin refused to give refuge to the retreating forces of Maxentius. It opened its gates to Constantine instead. Other cities of the north Italian plain, recognizing Constantine's quick and clement victories, sent him embassies of congratulation for his victory. He moved on to Milan, where he was met with open gates and jubilant rejoicing. He resided there until the middle of the summer of 312 before moving on.[22]
Milvian bridge
It was expected that Maxentius would try the same strategy as against Severus and Galerius earlier; that is, remaining in the well-defended city of Rome, and sit out a siege which would cost his enemy much more. For somewhat uncertain reasons, he abandoned this plan, however, and offered battle to Constantine near the
The armies of Maxentius and Constantine met north of the city, some distance outside the walls, beyond the
Overview and legacy
After Constantine's victory, Maxentius was systematically vilified and presented as a cruel, bloodthirsty and incompetent tyrant. While he was not counted under the persecutors of the Christians by early sources like Lactantius, under the influence of the official propaganda later Christian tradition framed Maxentius as hostile to Christianity as well. This image has left its traces in all of our sources and has dominated the view of Maxentius well into the 20th century.[citation needed]
Studies conducted between 2021 and 2022 have made it possible to identify the manuscript tradition of Maxentius' epistles, which have undergone numerous interpolations and attempts of forgery to adapt the texts to a pro-Constantinian hagiographic narrative (Passio of Saint Catherine). A comparison with Roman law, legal papyri and the primary sources such as Diocletian's Senateconsult and edict of persecution has allowed an integrated critical reconstruction of the original texts, which perfectly mirrors what Eusebius of Caesarea, Optatus of Milevi and Saint Augustine report about Maxentius' pro-Christian policy. According to these new documents found in the Biblioteca Marciana of Venice, we learn that Maxentius ended the Great Persecution in his territories at least five years in advance of the so-called Edict of Milan:
1- made Christianity a licit religion welcoming the "New Gods" in the Pax Deorum (Epistle 1)
2- abolished the edict of persecution of Diocletian by law (Epistle 1)
3- threatens serious punishments for anyone persisting in the persecution of Christians (Epistle 1)
4- He raged against the Donatist sect in Africa, reaffirming its strategic alliance with the Church of Rome (Epistle 2)
The Diocletianic Persecutions extended from 303 to 311 in all territories of the Empire, except at this point those under the jurisdiction of Maxentius – the Roman empire's last, largest, and bloodiest official persecution of Christianity. Constantine came to power in 311 after defeating Maxentius at the Milvian bridge, where Maxentius drowned.[23]
Maxentius was a prolific builder, whose achievements were overshadowed by Constantine's issue of a
Discovery of Imperial insignia
In December 2006, Italian archaeologists announced that an excavation under a shrine near the Palatine Hill had unearthed several items in wooden boxes, which they identified as the imperial regalia, possibly belonging to Maxentius.[25] The items in these boxes, which were wrapped in linen and what appears to be silk, include three complete lances, four javelins, what appears to be a base for standards, and three glass and chalcedony spheres. The most important find was a sceptre of a flower holding a blue-green globe, which is believed to have belonged to the Emperor himself because of its intricate workmanship, and has been dated to his rule.[26]
These are the only known imperial insignia so far recovered, which hitherto had only been known from representations on coins and in relief sculptures. Clementina Panella, the archaeologist who made the discovery, states that "These artifacts clearly belonged to the emperor, especially the sceptre, which is very elaborate. It's not an item you would let someone else have." Panella notes that the insignia were likely hidden by Maxentius' supporters in an attempt to preserve the emperor's memory after he was defeated at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge by Constantine.[27] The items have been restored and are on temporary display at the Museo Nazionale Romano at the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.
Family tree
(See also: Chronological scheme of the Tetrarchy, 286–324)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
Bibliography:
|
In culture
- The Battle of the Milvian Bridge, 1520s fresco by Giulio Romano in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican.
- Maxentius is the main antagonist of the 1961 film Constantine and the Cross. The character is played by Massimo Serato.
- Maxentius is portrayed in the 5th episode of Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire.
- In the 2014 film Katherine of Alexandria, Maxentius was portrayed by Julien Vialon.
References
Essays from The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine are marked with a "(CC)".
- ^ Barnes, New Empire, p. 34
- ^ Lactantius, 31–35; Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 8.16. Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 43; Jones, 66; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68; Odahl, 95–96, 316.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 39; Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 43–44; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68; Odahl, 95–96.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41; Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 45; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 69; Odahl, 96.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 39–40; Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 44; Odahl, 96.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 38; Odahl, 96.
- ^ Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 37.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 36–37; Odahl, 99.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 38–39.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 40.
- ^ a b c d Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41; Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 44–45; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 69; Odahl, 96.
- ^ Odahl, 96.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41; Odahl, 99–100.
- ^ Odahl, 99–100.
- ^ a b Odahl, 101.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41; Odahl, 101.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41; Odahl, 101–02.
- ^ Panegyrici Latini 12(9).5–6; 4(10).21–24; Odahl, 102, 317–18.
- ^ Panegyrici Latini 12(9).8.1; 4(10).25.1; Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41, 305.
- ^ Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 41–42; Odahl, 103.
- hdl:10662/16269.
- ^ "I segni del potere : realtà e immaginario della sovranità nella Roma imperiale". worldcat.org. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Scepter from Roman Emperor Exhibited". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
- ^ The Times, online edition
Sources
- Alföldi, Andrew. The Conversion of Constantine and Pagan Rome. Translated by Harold Mattingly. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1948.
- ISBN 978-0-674-16531-1
- Barnes, Timothy D. The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1982. ISBN 0-7837-2221-4
- Drijvers, Jan Willem. "Eusebius' Vita Constantini and the Construction of the Image of Maxentius." In From Rome to Constantinople: Studies in Honour of Averil Cameron, edited by Hagit Amirav and Bas ter Haar Romeny, 11–28. Leuven and Dudley, MA: Peeters, 2006. ISBN 978-90-429-1971-6
- Elliott, T. G. The Christianity of Constantine the Great. Scranton, PA: University of Scranton Press, 1996. ISBN 0-940866-59-5
- Lenski, Noel, ed. The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Hardcover ISBN 0-521-52157-2
- Leppin, Hartmut and Hauke Ziemssen. Maxentius. Der letzte Kaiser in Rom (Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie). Mainz: Zabern, 2007.
- Odahl, Charles Matson. Constantine and the Christian Empire. New York: Routledge, 2004. Hardcover ISBN 0-415-38655-1
- Panella, C. et al. 2011. I segni del potere: realtà e immaginario della sovranità nella Roma imperiale. Bari: Edipuglia. ISBN 978-8872286166.
- Potter, David S. The Roman Empire at Bay: AD 180–395. New York: Routledge, 2005. Hardcover ISBN 0-415-10058-5
- Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN 0-415-23944-3
External links
- Cowan, Ross (2016). Milvian Bridge AD 312: Constantine's Battle for Empire and Faith. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
- De imperatoribus Romanis on Maxentius
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. .
- Coins of Maxentius A brief history of Maxentius illustrated with some coins
- Busts of Maxentius on Last Statues of Antiquity, by the University of Oxford