Editing Maxentius (section)

=== Early reign ===
[[File:Follis con Massenzio e i Dioscuri, zecca di Ostia, 309-311, RIC VI 35.jpg|left|thumb|300x300px|Maxentius as [[Augustus (honorific)|Augustus]] on a ''[[follis]]''. Legend: IMPerator Caesar MAXENTIVS Pius Felix AVGustus / AETERNITAS AUGusti Nostri, the Dioscuri standing facing each other, their horses between.- M OST Q ([[Mint (facility)|Mint]] Ostia, officina P).]]
The joint rule of Maxentius and Maximian in Rome was tested further when Galerius marched to Italy in the summer of 307 with an even larger army. While negotiating with the invader, Maxentius could repeat what he did to Severus, by the promise of large sums of money and the authority of Maximian, many soldiers of Galerius defected to him. Galerius was forced to withdraw, plundering Italy on his way. Some time during the invasion, Severus was put to death by Maxentius, probably at [[Tre Taverne|Tres Tabernae]] near Rome (the exact circumstances of his death are not certain). After the failed campaign of Galerius, Maxentius' reign over Italy and Africa was firmly established. Beginning in 307, he tried to arrange friendly contacts with Constantine and in the summer of that year, Maximian travelled to [[Roman Gaul|Gaul]], where Constantine married his daughter [[Fausta]] and was in turn appointed ''Augustus'' by the senior emperor. Constantine tried to avoid breaking with Galerius and did not openly support Maxentius during the invasion.

In 308, probably April, Maximian tried to depose his son in an assembly of soldiers in Rome; surprisingly to him, the present troops remained faithful to his son and he had to flee to Constantine. On 20 April, Maxentius proclaimed himself as the new [[Roman consul|consul]] of the year, alongside his son [[Valerius Romulus|Romulus]]. In the [[conference of Carnuntum]], in the autumn of that same year, Maxentius was once again denied recognition as legitimate emperor, and [[Licinius]] was appointed ''Augustus'' with the task of regaining the lost domains. Late in 308, [[Domitius Alexander]] was acclaimed emperor in [[Carthage]], and the African provinces seceded from Maxentian rule. This produced a dangerous situation for Maxentius, as Africa was critical to [[Grain supply to the city of Rome|Rome's food supply]].

[[Image:CircusCaracalla.png|thumb|right|250px|Circus of Maxentius in ancient times]]
Maxentius' eldest son [[Valerius Romulus]] died in 309, at the age of about fourteen, was [[Apotheosis|deified]] and buried in a mausoleum in the [[Villa of Maxentius]] at the [[Via Appia]]. Nearby, Maxentius also constructed the [[Circus of Maxentius]]. After the death of Maximian in 309 or 310, relations with Constantine rapidly deteriorated and Maxentius allied with [[Maximinus Daza|Maximinus]] to counter an alliance between Constantine and Licinius. He allegedly tried to secure the province of [[Raetia]] north of the Alps, thereby dividing the realms of Constantine and Licinius (reported by Zosimus); the plan was not carried out, as Constantine acted first.

In 310, Maxentius lost [[Istria]] to Licinius, who could not continue the campaign. By the middle of 310 Galerius had become too ill to involve himself in imperial politics and he died soon after 30 April 311.<ref>Lactantius, 31–35; Eusebius, ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Historia Ecclesiastica]]'' 8.16. Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 43; Jones, 66; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68; Odahl, 95–96, 316.</ref><ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 39; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 43–44; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68; Odahl, 95–96.</ref> Galerius' death destabilized what remained of the Tetrarchic system.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 41; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 45; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 69; Odahl, 96.</ref> On hearing the news, Maximinus mobilized against Licinius and seized Asia Minor before meeting Licinius on the Bosphorus to arrange terms for peace.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 39–40; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 44; Odahl, 96.</ref> In the meantime, Maxentius fortified northern Italy against potential invasions and sent a small army to Africa under the command of his [[praetorian prefect]] [[Gaius Caeionius Rufius Volusianus|Rufius Volusianus]] which defeated and executed the usurper [[Domitius Alexander]] in 310 or 311. Maxentius used the opportunity to seize the wealth of his supporters, and to bring large amounts of grain to Rome. He also strengthened his support among the Christians of Italy by allowing them to elect a new [[Bishop of Rome]], [[Pope Eusebius|Eusebius]].<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 38; Odahl, 96.</ref>
[[File:Statua di Massenzio come Pontefice Massimo, dalla sede del Collegio degli Augustali, Museo di Ostia.png|left|thumb|Possible portrait in the [[Museo Archeologico Ostiense|Museo Ostiense]], a recarved [[Nerva–Antonine dynasty|Antonine]] statue.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prusac |first=Marina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E34tDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 |title=From Face to Face: Recarving of Roman Portraits and the Late-Antique Portrait Arts |date=2010-12-20 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-19232-4 |page=147 |language=en}}</ref>]]
Maxentius was far from secure, his early support dissolving into open protest; by 312, he was a man barely tolerated.<ref>Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 68.</ref><ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 37.</ref> Without the revenues of the empire, Maxentius was forced to resume taxation in Italy to support his army and his building projects in Rome.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 36–37; Odahl, 99.</ref> The election of a bishop did not aid much, either, as [[Persecution of Diocletian|Diocletian's persecution]] had split the Italian church into competing factions over the issue of [[apostasy]] (see [[Donatism]]). The Christians of Italy could easily see that Constantine was more sympathetic to their plight than Maxentius.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 38–39.</ref> In the summer of 311, Maxentius mobilized against Constantine while Licinius was occupied with affairs in the East. He declared war on Constantine, vowing to avenge his father's "murder".<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 40.</ref> Constantine, to prevent Maxentius from forming a hostile alliance with Licinius,<ref name="ReferenceA">Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 41.</ref> forged his own alliance with the man over the winter of 311–12 by offering to him his sister [[Flavia Julia Constantia|Constantia]] in marriage. Maximinus Daza considered Constantine's arrangement with Licinius an affront to his authority. In response, he sent ambassadors to Rome, offering political recognition to Maxentius in exchange for military support.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 41; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 44–45; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 69; Odahl, 96.</ref> Two alliances, Maximinus and Maxentius, Constantine and Licinius, lined up against one another. The emperors prepared for war.<ref>Odahl, 96.</ref>