Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 46
Maxentius
WAS the Son-in-law of Galerius Maximianus, as appeareth from an ancient Medal mentioned by Baronius A. D. 306. n. 23. and at least the reputed Son of Maximianus Herculius.
He was never beloved of any, neither of his own Father, nor his Father-in-law Galerius. Victor's Epitome corrected by Valesius in his notes on Sirmondi Excerpta.
He made himself Emperor by consent of the Soldiers, to recompence whom he gave leave to sin cum privilegio; no words being more frequent than these in his speeches to them: Fruimini, dissipate, prodigite. Incerti Paneg. Constantino Aug.
Though for a while he put on a sheeps skin,Initio dominatus cohibita Christianorum persecutione moderationem affectaverat … sed firmior sibi visus, Galerio par crudelitate, moribus etiam deterior fuit. Cluverus in Epit. Hist. yet quickly he imitated his Father in persecuting the Christians, exceeding him in rigor.
As he was cruel, so he was incontinent; and sometime his lust of incontinency prevailed against that of his cruelty: as instance is given in a Christian woman, whom he attempting to defile, sent for her by his servants (her husband not daring to refuse for his life) of whom she desired time to make her self ready; which having obtained she goeth into her chamber and killeth her self: the Officers (when they could stay no longer) broke open the room, and finding her dead, reportit to Maxentius. By which act saith Eusebius, l. 8. c. 16. she proclaimed to the world, the invincibleness of Christian chastity.
Lipsius in his Monita & Exempla Politica, and Christianus Matthias call her Sophronia. Quarles in his Divine Fanci…s, l. 3. Epig. 84. composeth this Epigram on her.
The chast Sophronia knows not how to scape
Th' inevitable danger of a Rape;
Cruel Sophronia draws her hasty knife,
And would relieve her chastity with life;
Doubtful Sophronia knows not what to do,
She cannot keep the one, and t' other too;
Sophronia's in a strait, one eye is fixt
O'th' seventh Commandment, t' other on the sixt.
To what extreams is poor Sophronia driven!
Is not Sophronia left at Six and Seven?
Mille & sexaginta annis contractas ex toto orbe divitias monstrum illud redemptis ad civile latrecinium manibus ingesserat. Incerti Paneg. Constantino Aug.
By Necromancy, Adulteries and Murders Maxentius grew so intolerable, that the Senate sent to Constantine, craving his aid against him.
Constantine drawing Licinius to his side (by marrying his sister Constantia to him) hasted to Rome with 90000 foot and 8000 horse, levyed out of Britain, France and Germany.
Maxentius framed a deceitful Bridge over Tiber neer Pous Milvius, to intrap Constantine: but being overcome in battel, he fled (through forgetfulness or hast) over the same Bridge, which falling under him, he and many more were drowned.
Through the weight of his armour he sunk so deep in the mud, that his body could hardly be found, saith Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
Missum tyranni ad permulcendam Africam caput; ut quam maxime vivus afflixerat, laceratus expleret. Nazarius.
The Army of Maxentius was composed by the report of Zosimus, of an hundred threescore and ten thousand footmen, with eighteen thousand horse. All the forces Constantine could get, amounted but to ninety thousand foot, and eight thousand horse by the same Author his computation, although others sufficiently declare the troops were far less. Causin's Holy-Court.
There was in the beginning a great slaughter of those who made resistance; but in the end seeing their Emperor drowned, they yielded all to the mercy of Constantine; who stayed the victorious sword in the hands of Soldiers, to consecrate it to clemency. Causin in his Holy-Court, part 2.
The Senate, to witness the joy they conceived for this victory, prepared him a triumphal Arch, all of marble, one of the stateliest Monuments that ever had been raised to the honour of a Conqueror, wherein this inscription was engraven. Imp. Caes. Fl. Constantino Maximo, P. F. Aug. S. P. Q. R.
Quod instinctu divinitatis, mentis magnitudine, cum exercitu suo, tam de Tyranno, quam de ejus omni factione, uno tempore, justis Rempublicam ultus est armis, arcum Triumphis insignem dicavit. Id. ibid.
In the passage through, on the one side is ingraven Liberatori Vrbis, on the other Fundatori Quietis. Raymond's Mercurio Italico, p. 77.
Constantino cognomen Maximi inditum a Senatu (etsi usus & vulgus scriptorum magnum eum cognominant) postquam Maxentium juxta pontem Milvium, prope Roman & exercitum ejus 178 millium, superasset. Elenchus MS Numismatum in Bibliotheca Bodleiana.
Constantine in his War against Maxentius taking Verona, and wanting bands for so many Captives as he had, caused the prisoners swords to be turned into manacles; ut servarent deditos gladii sui, quos non defenderant repugnantes. Incertus Paneg. Constantino Aug.
Some make the victory over Maxentius to be the occasion of Constantine the Great's conversion to Christianity.
About noon, the day somewhat declining, Constantine saw in the sky a lightsom pillar, in form of a Cross, wherein these words were ingraven; In this overcome. Socrat. Eccl. Hist. l. 1. c. 2.
Hanc vero visionem non Gentiles modo scriptores (quod Baronius recte observavit) nuspiam memorant, imo ne Publius Optatianus Porphyrius quoque, qui in Daedaleo alioquin opere suo seu Panegyrico ad Constantinum, multa habet de Christi monogrammate, quod & Coeleste signum vocat, verum neque Eusebius ipsemet historiae Ecclesiasticae libris: qui illud tantum refert, lib. 9. cap. 8. Constantinum subsidii sibi divinitus allati conscium, statim passionis salutiferae trophaeum, seu crucis signum, Romae dexterae statuae suae imponi voluisse, eum inscriptione praeferente, sese urbem Tyranni jugo liberasse, &c. At de crucis visione Constantino oblata nihil Eusebius libris illis. Gothofredus in Philostorgium, p. 17.
Quam fabulam suspicatos nonnullos jam olim Gelasius Cyzicenus. lib. 1. histor. Concil. Nic. cap. 4. tradit. Id. ib. p. 18.
Quicquid mali sexennio toto [Maxentii] dominatio feralis inflixerat, [Constantini] bimestris ferè cura sanavit. Nazarius in Paneg.
Divina mens, & ipsius Vrbis aeterna majestas nefario homini eripuere consilium, ut ex inveterato illo torpore ac foedissimis latebris subito prorumperet, & consumpto per desidias sexennio ipsum diem natalis sui ultima sua caede signaret, ne forte septenarium numerum illum sacrum & religiosum, vel inchoando violaret. Incerti Paneg. Constant. Aug.
Constantious primo imperium assumens, caeteros Aug. (Galerium & Licinium) irritare noluit, ut ita Maxentium se opponentem facilius supprimeret: Deorum que Gentilium nominibus N N. suos signavit; usque dum in Imperio stabilitus, universum Idolorum cultum & Templa, tuto & pacate demoliri posset. Elenchus MS. Numismatum in Bibliotheca Bodleiana.
Vt vexata tibi tandem sit libera Roma,
Sub positis te pons Milvius abdet aquis.
Boissardus.