Maxentius was the son of former Emperor Maximian and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.
18 Facts About Maxentius
2.
Maxentius was the last emperor to permanently reside in Rome.
3.
Maxentius was the son of the Emperor Maximian and his wife Eutropia.
4.
Maxentius seems not to have served in any important military or administrative position during the reign of Diocletian and his father.
5.
The usurpation obviously went largely without bloodshed ; the prefect of Rome went over to Maxentius and retained his office.
6.
Maxentius managed to be recognized as emperor in central and southern Italy, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia and Sicily, and the African provinces.
7.
Maxentius allegedly tried to secure the province of Raetia north of the Alps, thereby dividing the realms of Constantine and Licinius ; the plan was not carried out, as Constantine acted first.
8.
In 310, Maxentius lost Istria to Licinius, who could not continue the campaign.
9.
Maxentius used the opportunity to seize the wealth of his supporters, and to bring large amounts of grain to Rome.
10.
Maxentius strengthened his support among the Christians of Italy by allowing them to elect a new Bishop of Rome, Eusebius.
11.
Maxentius was far from secure, his early support was dissolving into open protest; by 312, he was a man barely tolerated.
12.
Maxentius declared war on Constantine, vowing to avenge his father's "murder".
13.
Maxentius expected an attack along his eastern flank from Licinius and stationed an army in Verona.
14.
Constantine had smaller forces than his opponent: with his forces withdrawn from Africa, with the praetorian and Imperial Horse Guard, and with the troops he had taken from Severus, Maxentius had an army equal to approximately 100,000 soldiers to use against his opponents in the north.
15.
Maxentius moved on to Milan, where he was met with open gates and jubilant rejoicing.
16.
Maxentius resided there until the middle of the summer of 312 before moving on.
17.
Maxentius's body was found the next day and paraded through the city, and later sent to Africa, as a sign that he had surely perished.
18.
Maxentius was a prolific builder, whose achievements were overshadowed by Constantine's issue of a damnatio memoriae against him.