You are on the training database

The Scheme's logo

Enhanced by

The Nomisma logo

Server check!

You are on the training database

Magnentius

Reece Period attributed: Period 18

Member of the House of Constantine dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 350 until 353.

Flavius Magnus Magnentius was of barbarian origin and joined Roman army. He was a general under Constans but in 350 rebelled and had himself proclaimed emperor. After Constans died, he was recognized by many of the Western provinces and wanted to take over the whole empire. He led his army against Constantius II but was defeated at Mursa in 351. After further losses, his soldiers deserted him, and Magnentius committed suicide in 353.

Other resources about Magnentius

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Magnentius.

Information from Wikipedia

  • Preferred label: Magnentius
  • Full names:
    • Magnentius
  • Title:
  • Predecessor: Constans
  • Successor: Constantius II
  • Definition: Magnus Magnentius (c. 303 – 11 August 353) was a Roman general and usurper against Constantius II from 350 to 353. Of Germanic descent, Magnentius served with distinction in Gaul under the Western emperor Constans. On 18 January 350 Magnentius was acclaimed Augustus. Quickly killing the unpopular Constans, Magnentius gained control over most of the Western Empire. The Eastern emperor Constantius II, the brother of Constans, refused to acknowledge Magnentius' legitimacy and led a successful campaign against Magnentius in the Roman civil war of 350–353. Ultimately, Magnentius' forces were scattered after the Battle of Mons Seleucus, and he committed suicide on 11 August 353. Much of Magnentius' short reign was concerned with asserting his legitimacy. Unlike Constans, Magnentius was unrelated to Constantine the Great, and so had no dynastic claim to the emperorship. Magnentius instead sought popular support by modeling himself as a liberator who had freed the Western Empire from the tyranny of Constans. He attempted various public and religious reform, but almost all his acts were quickly repealed by Constantius after his death. In light of the political instability of his reign, most modern and ancient historians consider him a usurper rather than an emperor. Perhaps the most important consequence of Magnentius' revolt was the severe depletion of the Empire's military forces in civil war: The Battle of Mursa left so many Roman soldiers dead that, according to Zosimus, Constantius feared that Rome would no longer be able to effectively hold off barbarian invasions. Following his death, Constantius II became the sole emperor of the Roman Empire.
  • Parents:
    • Father:
    • Mother:
  • Birth place: Samarobriva, Gaul
  • Death place:
  • Spouse:
  • Other title(s):
    • List of Roman consuls
    • List of Roman emperors
  • Came After:
    • Decentius
    • Paulus
  • Came before:
    • Nigrinianus
    • Sergius
  • Subjects on wikipedia:

Other formats: this page is available as xml json rdf representations.