Magnus Maximus was Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 383 to 388.
22 Facts About Magnus Maximus
2.
Magnus Maximus was made emperor in Britannia and Gaul the next year while Gratian's brother Valentinian II retained Italy, Pannonia, Hispania, and Africa.
3.
Magnus Maximus was born in Gallaecia, on the estates of Count Theodosius of the Theodosian dynasty, to whom he claimed to be related.
4.
Magnus Maximus was a distinguished general; he was probably a junior officer in Britain in 368, during the quelling of the Great Conspiracy.
5.
Magnus Maximus served under Count Theodosius in Africa in 373.
6.
Magnus Maximus went to Gaul to pursue his imperial ambitions, taking a large portion of the British garrison with him.
7.
Magnus Maximus issued coinage and a number of edicts reorganising Gaul's system of provinces.
8.
Magnus Maximus became a popular emperor; Quintus Aurelius Symmachus delivered a panegyric on Maximus's virtues.
9.
Magnus Maximus used foederati forces such as the Alamanni to great effect.
10.
The Gallic Chronicle of 452 describes the Priscillianists as "Manichaeans", a different Gnostic heresy already condemned in Roman law under Diocletian, and states that Magnus Maximus had them "caught and exterminated with the greatest zeal".
11.
In 387, Magnus Maximus managed to force emperor Valentinian II out of Milan.
12.
Magnus Maximus was defeated in the Battle of Poetovio, and retreated to Aquileia.
13.
Magnus Maximus surrendered in Aquileia, and although he pleaded for mercy was executed.
14.
Magnus Maximus is known to have had a wife, who is recorded as having sought spiritual counsel from St Martin of Tours during his time at Trier.
15.
Magnus Maximus is given as the ancestor of a Welsh king on the Pillar of Eliseg, erected nearly 500 years after he left Britain, and he figures in lists of the Fifteen Tribes of Wales.
16.
The ninth century Historia Brittonum gives another account of Magnus Maximus and assigns him an important role:.
17.
Magnus Maximus is certainly given a prominent place in the earliest version of the Welsh Triads which are believed to date from and which reflect older traditions in some cases.
18.
Magnus Maximus invaded Clausentum unintentionally and nearly fought the army of the Britons under Conan Meriadoc before agreeing to a truce.
19.
Five years into his kingship, Magnus Maximus assembled a vast fleet and invaded Gaul, leaving Britain in the control of Caradocus.
20.
Magnus Maximus killed many thousands before the invaders fled to Ireland.
21.
Magnus Maximus died in Rome soon after and Dionotus became the official king of the Britons.
22.
Magnus Maximus is mentioned in a number of ancient and medieval sources:.