Maxentius

Reece Period attributed: Period 15

Member of the The Tetrarchy dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 306 until 312.

Maxentius was the son of Maximian and was angry that he had not been elevated to Caesar in 305. He took up residence just outside of Rome, and when Galerius decided to extend taxation to all of Italy he saw the opportunity to lead a revolt. He also allied with Constantine and called his father Maximian out of retirement.

Severus tried to march on Rome to retake it, but his troops deserted to Maximian and he was killed. The Galerius himself invaded Rome, but he too was unsuccessful in putting down Maxentius’ rebellion.

Maximian tried to usurp his son’s power in 310, but failed and fled to Constantine’s protection. After a conference of Diocletian, Galerius, and Maximian, the tetrarchy was re-affirmed and Maxentius was left in control of Italy and Africa. However, his popularity began to decline and he faced rebellions. In 312, Constantine finally marched on Rome under Christian banners, and Maxentius’ troops died when the Milvian Bridge collapsed as they were retreating back into Rome. Maxentius himself died while trying to swim to safety.

Other resources about Maxentius

• Dbpedia: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Maxentius
• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxentius
• VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/3920874

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Maxentius.

Information from Wikipedia

• Preferred label: Maxentius
• Full names:
  • Maxentius
• Title:
• Predecessor: Constantius Chlorus
• Successor: Constantine I
• Definition: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c. 283 – 28 October 312) was a Roman emperor, who reigned from 306 until his death in 312. Despite ruling in Italy and North Africa, and having the recognition of the Senate in Rome, he was not recognized as a legitimate emperor by his fellow emperors. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius. The latter part of his reign was preoccupied with civil war, allying with Maximinus against Licinius and Constantine. The latter defeated him at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, where Maxentius, with his army in flight, purportedly perished by drowning in the Tiber river. Maxentius was the last emperor to permanently reside in Rome. He attempted to embellish, restore and improve the ancient capital, carrying out important building works, including the Temple of the Divine Romulus (dedicated to his deceased son), the Basilica of Maxentius, which was completed by Constantine, the villa and the circus of Maxentius.
• Parents:
  • Father: Maximian
  • Mother: Eutropia
• Birth place:
• Death place: Battle of the Milvian Bridge
• Spouse:
  • Valeria Maximilla
• Other title(s):
  • Roman consul
  • List of Roman consuls
• Came After:
• Came before:
• Subjects on wikipedia:
  • Imperial Roman consuls
  • 4th-century murdered monarchs
  • Constantinian dynasty
  • Roman emperors to suffer posthumous denigration or damnatio memoriae
  • Valerii
  • 4th-century Roman emperors
  • 312 deaths
  • 280s births
  • Maxentius
  • Aurelii
  • Tetrarchy
  • Murdered Roman emperors
  • Sons of Roman emperors
  • Year of birth uncertain
  • 4th-century Roman usurpers
  • Deaths by drowning