Magnentius - Roman Emperor: 350-353 A.D. -
Bronze AE2 23mm (3.7 grams) Treveri Mint: 350-353 A.D.
Reference: RIC 312 (Trier), LRBC 60
DNMAGNENTIVSPFAVG - Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
VICTORIAEDDNNAVGETCAES Exe: TRS - Two Victories
standing, facing each other, holding wreath reading VOT/V/MVLT/X.
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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 behaviour 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] |