Magnentius

Flavius Magnus Magnentius
usurper of the Roman Empire
Although Magnentius restored certain rights to the Pagans, the reverse of this coin bears a prominent Christian chi-rho.
Reign	January 18, 350 – August 11, 353
Born	303
Birthplace	Samarobriva, Gaul
Died	August 11, 353(353-08-11) (aged 50)
Place of death	Mons Seleucus
Predecessor	Constans
Successor	Constantius II
Wife	Justina

Flavius Magnus Magnentius (303 – August 11, 353) was a usurper of the Roman Empire (January 18, 350 – August 11, 353).

Early life and career

Born in Samarobriva (Amiens), Gaul, Magnentius was the commander of the Herculians and Iovians, the Imperial guard units.^[1] When the army grew dissatisfied with the behavior of Roman Emperor Constans, it elevated Magnentius at Autun on January 18, 350. Constans was abandoned by all except a handful of retainers, and he was slain shortly afterwards by a troop of light cavalry near the Pyrenees.

Usurper

Magnentius quickly attracted the loyalty of the provinces in Britannia, Gaul, and Hispania, in part because he proved to be far more tolerant towards both Christians and Pagans. His control on Italia and Africa was applied through the election of his men to the most important offices. However, the short-lived revolt of Nepotianus, a member of the Constantinian dynasty, showed Magnentius that his status of Emperor was to be consolidated against the members of that dynasty.

The self-proclaimed emperor tried to strengthen his grasp on the territories previously controlled by Constans, moving towards the Danube. Vetranio, commander of the Pannonian army, had been elected Augustus by his troops in Mursa on 1 March. This revolt had a loyalist mark, since Vetranio was supported by Constantina, and Constantius II himself recognized Vetranio, sending him the imperial diadem.

Demise

The remaining emperor of the family of Constantine I, Constantius II broke off his war in Syria with Persia, and marched west. Despite Magnentius' efforts to gain Vetranio to his cause, the old general reached Constantius with his army, and resigned the crown.

After electing Magnus Decentius (probably his brother) to Caesar and gathering as many troops as possible, the armies of Magnentius and Constantius met in the Battle of Mursa Major in 351; Magnentius led his troops into battle, while Constantius spent the day of battle praying in a nearby church. Despite Magnentius' heroism, his troops were defeated and forced to retreat back to Gaul.

As a result of Magnentius' defeat, Italy ejected his garrisons and rejoined the loyalist cause. Magnentius made a final stand in 353 in the Battle of Mons Seleucus, after which he committed suicide by falling on his sword.

Following the suppression of Magnentius' rebellion, Constantius commanded an investigation be made to find his followers. The most notorious agent in this search was the primicerius notariorum Paulus Catena.

Some sources state that Magnentius' father was a Briton and his mother a Frank.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Zosimus, ii.58
2. ^ Drinkwater pp.131–59. Original sources: Epit. de Caes. 42.7; Zos. HN 2.46.3, 54.1; Zonar. 13.6.1.

References

• Cameron, Averil, and Peter Garnsey ed., The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol XIII, Cambridge University Press, 1988.
• Drinkwater, J.F. (2000). "The revolt and ethnic origin of the usurper Magnentius (350–53), and the rebellion of Vetranio (350)". Chiron (30). 

External links

Media related to Magnentius at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by Sergius, Nigrinianus	Consul of the Roman Empire 351 with Gaiso	Succeeded by Flavius Magnus Decentius Caesar, Paulus , Flavius Iulius Constantius Augustus V, Flavius Claudius Constantius Caesar
Preceded by Flavius Magnus Decentius Caesar, Paulus , Flavius Iulius Constantius Augustus V, Flavius Claudius Constantius Caesar	Consul of the Roman Empire 353 with Flavius Magnus Decentius Caesar II, Flavius Iulius Constantius Augustus VI, Flavius Claudius Constantius Caesar II	Succeeded by Flavius Iulius Constantius Augustus VII, Flavius Claudius Constantius Caesar III

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	303
Place of birth	Samarobriva, Gaul
Date of death	August 11, 0353
Place of death	Mons Seleucus