Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 47
Licinius
WAS born in Dacia, known to Galerius by long acquaintance, and so esteemed of him for his service in the War against Narseus, that he was created Emperor by him, saith Eutropius lib. 10.
He had little good in him, but that he disliked Eunuchs, calling them, the Mothes and Rats of the Court. Victor's Epitome.
He was extremely covetous, much addicted to lust, very austere, and excessively impatient, Id. ibid.
He was a great enemy to learning (especially pleading at the Bar) calling it, through his ignorance, A poyson and publick plague. Id. ib.
In reference to which the Emperor Iulian (who was a great lover of learning) feigneth that he attempting to enter the banquet of the Gods, was streightwayes ignominiously expelled by Minos.
When Licinius came into the Court of his Palace (where there was a great Bath, and some Vines growing about it, with the Image of Bacchus set up amongst them) he bade Auxentius draw his Sword and cut off a bunch of grapes; it being done, he further commanded him to offer it at the feet of Bacchus, which was an acknowledging him to be a God: Auxentius answered, I am a Christian, I will not do it. What? not upon my command, said Licinius? then you must quit your place. With all my heart, Sir, said the Christian Soldier, and in token of it, put off his belt (which was as much as the giving up of his commission) and went away with joy in that suffering for Christ. Suidas in foreign.
Quadraginta milites Christ. cum inter aulicos proceres magni essent nominis, veritatis confessionem favori & gratiae Imperatoris praeposuerunt. Saevientis igitur Tyranni furor nudatos omnes, & sub brumam Sebastiae congelato frigore impositos necari jussit. Osiander, as I find him quoted by Chr. Matthias in his Theatrum Historicum, &c. part 2. p. 294.
He was well affected to Husbandry, and to Country People, being educated among such; was a great observer of Martial discipline, according to the institution of former Ages. Victor's Epitome, ubi supra.
Erat ingenii duri, bonarumque literarum, & Christiani nominis persecutor; quamvis interim putaretur Reipub. maximè necessarius, & in re militari peritissimus. Olaus Magnus, fol. 676.
Duplex fuit civile bellum inter Constantinum ac Licinium. Primum quo Licinius victus fuit ad Cibalim Pannoniae, anno Christi 314. eujus belli causas unus quod sciam retulit auctor excerptorum de gestis Constantini, quem ad caleem Amm. Marcellini jampridem edidi. Posterius vero bellum fuit illud, quo juxta Hadrianopolim fusus as fagatus fuit Licinius, tandemque ad deditionem compulsus anno Christi 324. Ac prioris quidem belli mentionem nullam facit Eusebius; Ideo fortasse quod Licinius nondum adversus Christanos persecutionem excitasset. Diu siquidem post prius illud bellum Licinius Christianos persequi instituit, anno scilicet 14. Imperii Constantini, ut sequitur in Chronico Eusebii editionis Scaligeri ac Miraei, id est anno Christi 320. Idem annus habetur in Chronico Cedreni. At Baronius Licinium anno 319. Persecutionem in Christianos commovisse scribit. Verum in Baronii annalibus historia utriusque Liciniani belli admodum confusa est; quae partim ex Fasti… Idatii, partim ex gestis Constantini a me olim editis restituenda est. Certe Sozomenus in libro. 1. cap. 7. diserte testatur, Licinium post Cibaleuse demum bellum Christianos persequi instituisse. Valesius in Eusebium, p. 207, 208.
Edicto proposito Episcopos inter se de more convenire, ac de rebus ad Ecclesiam pertinentibus consultare prohibuit; alterutrum necessario consecuturum arbitratus, ut aut dicto non audientes capitals supplicio vindicaret, aut obedientes a Christi veneratione averteret. Sigonius de Occid. Imperio, lib. 3.
He maligning Constantines fame,Potestas orbis Romani duobus quaesita; qui quamvis per Flavit sororem nuptam Licinio connexi inter se erant, ob diversos mores tamen anxie triennium congruere quivere. Aurelius Victor. at last persecuted the Christians in the East, where he reigned with Martinianus, whom he before made Cesar at Byzantium, and his own son Licinius at Arles.
Constantine warred against Licinius his collegue, not because he was an Infidel, but for persecuting the Christians, contrary to their Capitulations, one Article of the League betwixt them, being this, to permit the Christians to live in peace. Squire on the Thessalonians, p. 426.
The reason why he grew so desperately mad against the Christians (whom he had formerly defended) was because in their meetings they pray'd for Constantine, but not for him, as he believed; his guilt causing suspition. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical history, l. 10. c. 8.
In persecutione Christianorum superavit omnes ferè in crudelitate, ut copiosè describit Euseb. cap. ult. lib. 9. Ecclesiasticae historiae. Primum enim Palatio pellit. Secundo in carceres conjecit. Tertio prohibet eis alimenta. Glareanus in Eutropium, p. 253.
He was overthrown by Constantine the Great in several battels, losing many thousands of men, and was himself taken prisoner; yet by mediation of his Wife Constantia, Sister to Constantine, had his life spared, and was confined within Nicomedia: But for his Treasons after, he was put to death.
Constantinus M. non tantum Christiana fide in Galliis imbutus; atque inde moto Gallicano exercitu, teste ejus aevi oratore, & Zosimo lib. 2. Maxentium superavit A. D. 312 verum & deinceps quoque robur ejus exercitus potissimum in millite Gallicano, etiam adversus Licinium, extitit. Haud aliter atque Iulius C. olim Romanae monarchiae fundamenta Galliarum praesidio jecerat. Gothofredus in Libanii orationem pro Templis, p. 42.
In the Latine Chronicle of Eusebius there is this set down, that Constantine against right, and contrary to his oath, put Licinius to death at Thessalonica. This is out of doubt an addition thrust in by some, who finding that calumny against Constantine, set down in Zosimus (as it is most maliciously,) thought good to insert it also into the latine Chronicle of Eusebius; whereas neither is it in the Greek, nor is it true that Constantine brake his oath or promise therein with Licinius: for his promise of life was conditional, as Socrates expresly sheweth, and Licinius quickly violated the condition by attempting a new rebellion. And Eusebius in his other books is so far from imputing any blame or blemish to Constantine touching that action, that he expresly saith, Licinius suffered just and deserved punishment, which had it been effected by the perjury of Constantine had certainly been unjust. Crakanthorp's Defence of Constantine, p. 29, 30.
Licinius's ill success was foretold by Apollo his Oracle to this effect.
Te juvenes grandave pater, vexare feroces
Certum est, te infirmum manet aerumnosa senectus.
Laet in his History from Christ's time.
Neque illud hic omittere possum, quo loco Cibalis à Geographis ponitur, ibi jam in itinerario Peutingeriano poni & bis quidem, Ad labores, proximeque ad eum locum, pontem hiulcae, nam ita rescribendum patet ex Zosimo, lib. 2. & ex Victore: ut proinde locus ille, Ad labores idem mihi videatur cum Cibali: ita enim dictus tum videtur ob asperimum proelium ibi inter Constantinum M. & Licinium recenter habitum. Gothofredus in Philostorgium, p. 352.
Secunda pugna Constantini adversus Licinium, in Thracia facta, eodem anno contigit quo Cibalensis, ut ex narratione Zosimi, & auctoris ignoti colligitur. Quod quidem etiam hoc argumento demonstrari potest. Post hoc proelium pace inter Constantinum & Licinium facta, Consules sequenti anno facti sunt Constantinus & Licinius, & in Occidente quidem annus ille inscriptus est Constantino IV. & Licinio IV. Coss. in Orientis autem partibus Licinii nomen praepositum est hoc modo. Licinio Augusto IV. & Constantino Aug. IV. Coss. ut legitur in Excerptis de Gestis Constantini. Valesius in Eusebium, p. 210.
He lived 60 years, and reigned 15. Victor's Epit. Licinius à Constantino morte mulctatur: vel ut alii tradunt, Hemelarius.quum filiam suam Herinam eo quod Christiana esset, ab equis discerpi mandasset, ipse adstans & inspecturus, equi morsu interfectus ect. Elenchus MS Numismatum in Bibliotheca Bodleiana.
In Mus…s tibi trux odium est, sed bellica virtus
Famam, qua possis nomen habere, dedit.
Boissardus.