Maxentius

Maxentius

History, Facts and Information about Maxentius
The content of this article provides interesting history, facts and information about the usurper Emperor Maxentius and the all-powerful Caesars who ruled the empire of Ancient Rome. The word "Caesar" was originally the name of the famous aristocratic patrician family of ancient Rome and became synonymous with the Roman Emperors. Refer to the comprehensive List of Roman Emperors for the names of the most famous Romans, their dynasties and the historic eras of all the Roman Emperors and usurpers. Read about the life of Maxentius who can be described or remembered as:

 "The Usurper Emperor who provoked another Civil War..."  

Short Biography about the life of Maxentius
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Maxentius, Usurper Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Maxentius
• Latin Roman Name: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius
• Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 28 October 306 - 28 October 312 in competition with Severus, then Galerius then Constantine - jointly with his father, Maximian, 306-8
• Dynasty / Historical Period: In 285 the Roman Empire was split in half by Diocletian - The Western Roman Empire and the other half became known as the Eastern Roman Empire or the Byzantine Empire.
• Date of Birth: c. 278
• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Maxentius was Constantius Chlorus
• Family connections / Genealogy
  • Name of Father: Maximian
  • Name of Mother: Eutropia
  • Married: Valeria Maximilla
  • Children: Valerius Romulus
• Place and Date of Death: Died 28 October 312 in Rome
• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Maxentius was Constantine

• For the names of the next Roman emperors in the East and the West of the Empire refer to the Timeline of Roman Emperors  

Maxentius the Usurper - Roman Coins, or coinage
Maxentius was a usurper. Usurper is a term used to describe an illegal claimant to the throne without securing "the consent of the governed." Usurpers were a common feature of the late Roman Empire, especially from the crisis of the third century onwards. Every new emperor, either legal or illegal, marked the beginning of his rule by minting new coins, both for the prestige of declaring oneself as Augustus and to pay the loyal soldiers their share. Roman coins, or coinage, is often the only evidence of a determined usurpation such as that of Maxentius.

Interesting facts about the life of Maxentius
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor Maxentius from the following facts and information about his life. Maxentius was Augustus in the west of the Empire. He was the son of former emperor Maximian (aka Maximianus or Herculius), and the son-in-law of Galerius who was also an emperor. In A.D. 305 the Emperor Diocletian decided to abdicate his power and 'persuaded' the Emperor Maximianus to do the same. Maximianus retired from public life in Lucania or Campania. Upon the abdication of Maximianus and Diocletian, the two Caesars, Constantius and Galerius, assumed the title of Augustus and succeeded as co-emperors. Maximianus retired from public life but this only lasted for one year. Maxentius, the son of Maximianus, provoked a new Civil War in the empire. On 28 October 306 Maxentius was proclaimed emperor at Rome and Maximianus was forced to back his son and they ruled jointly until 308. Maximianus attempted to depose Maxentius in 308 but failed and his son, the usurper Maxentius, continued to act as ruler until October 312. In the summer of 310 Maximianus proclaimed himself emperor but was eventually taken prisoner. He was granted pardon for his crimes but then he attempted to have Constantine murdered in his bed. Maximianus died shortly after the failed assassination attempt either by his own hand or on the orders of Constantine. In the summer of 311, Maxentius mobilized against Constantine while Licinius was occupied with affairs in the East. Maxentius declared war on Constantine, vowing to avenge his father's "murder". The armies of Constantine and Maxentius met north of Rome. There was fierce fighting and Maxentius and his the troops retreated to the River Tiber. Somehow Maxentius fell into the Tiber and drowned so ending the life of this usurper on 28 October 312.

Maxentius
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Maxentius