Maxentius

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Maxentius (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius) , d. 312, Roman emperor (306-12), son of Maximian . After Diocletian and Maximian had retired, the successor to Maximian, Constantius, died. The Romans, discontented with the shift of power away from Rome, supported Maxentius, who claimed the throne. His father came out of retirement to help him when Severus (d. 307) and Galerius came to force him to submission. Severus was compelled to surrender, and Galerius had to withdraw from Italy, while a fourth seeker for power, Constantine ( Constantine I ) was persuaded to recognize Maxentius. Maxentius and his father fell out, however, and Constantine turned against Maxentius, whom he defeated (312) in the battle of Milvian Bridge.

Maxentius, Marcus Aurelius Valerius (b. c. AD 283), son of Maximian, married Galerius' daughter but was, like Constantius I's son Constantine I, passed over when Diocletian and Maximian abdicated and Galerius and Constantius I succeeded as Augusti (305). On Constantius' death Flavius Valerius Severus became Augustus, but Constantine's proclamation and the attempt by Severus to register the plebs at Rome provoked the praetorian guard to proclaim Maxentius as princeps or emperor (306). In 307 he took the title Augustus and reconferred this on his father, calling him from retirement to assist him. Severus failed to suppress Maxentius, who had him executed; Galerius invaded Italy but failed against Maxentius, who now controlled all Italy and Africa, but not Spain. Maximian secured an alliance with Constantine in Gaul by giving him the title Augustus and his daughter Fausta in marriage. In 308 Maximian quarrelled with his son, failed to depose him, and fled to Constantine; at Carnuntum Galerius declared Maxentius a public enemy. A revolt in Africa by the vicarius (provincial governor) Domitius Alexander (c.308–9) was defeated by Maxentius' praetorian prefect; famine at Rome was averted. Maximian's renewed attempt to become Augustus (310) caused Constantine to sever his alliance with the family and (312) invade Italy. He killed Maxentius' prefect near Verona, marched on Rome and defeated Maxentius' forces (said to have been four times as numerous) at Saxa Rubra; Maxentius was drowned near the Mulvian bridge. He may have been no soldier, and his need for cash caused resentment among senators, but Constantinian propaganda gives a wholly misleading impression of him. Twice in the interests of public order he intervened in squabbles in the Roman Church, but he tolerated Christianity and restored property to the Church.

Raymond Peter Davis