Everything about Magnus Maximus totally explained
Magnus Maximus (ca.
335–
August 28,
388), also Maximianus, was an
Hispanic usurper of the
Western Roman Empire from
383 until his death, in 388, by order of Emperor
Theodosius I.
Life
Maximus was a distinguished general who served under
Theodosius the Elder. He certainly served with him in Africa in
373 and on the Danube in
376. It is likely he also may have been a junior officer in Britain during the quelling of the
Great Conspiracy in
368. Assigned to
Britain in
380, he defeated an incursion of the
Picts and
Scots in
381. Maximus was proclaimed emperor by his troops in 383. He went to
Gaul to pursue his imperial ambitions taking a large number of British troops with him.
Following his conquest of Gaul, Maximus went out to meet his main opponent,
Gratian, whom he defeated near
Paris. Gratian, after fleeing, was killed at
Lyon on
August 25, 383. Continuing his campaign into Italy Maximus was stopped from overthrowing
Valentinian II, who was aged only twelve, when
Theodosius I, the
Eastern Roman Emperor, sent
Flavius Bauto with a powerful force to stop him. Negotiations followed in 384 including the intervention of
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, leading to an accord with Valentinian II and Theodosius I in which Maximus was recognized as an Augustus in the west.
Maximus made his capital at Augusta Treverorum (Treves,
Trier) in Gaul and ruled Britain, Gaul, Spain, and Africa. He issued coinage and a number of edicts reorganizing Gaul's system of provinces. Some scholars believe Maximus may have founded the office of the
Comes Britanniarum as well. He became a popular emperor,
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus delivered a panegyric on Maximus' virtues. He used barbarian forces such as the
Alamanni to great effect. He was also a stern persecutor of
heretics. It was on his orders that
Priscillian and 6 companions became the first people in the history of
Christianity to be executed for
heresy, in this case of
Priscillianism, by other Christians (though the civil charges were for the practice of
magic), and their property was confiscated. These executions went ahead despite the wishes of prominent men such as
St. Martin of Tours. Maximus' edict of 387 or 388 which censured Christians at Rome for burning down a Jewish synagogue, was condemned by Bishop
Ambrose who said people exclaimed: ‘the emperor has become a Jew’
In
387 Maximus managed to force
Valentinian II out of
Rome after which he fled to
Theodosius I.
Theodosius I and
Valentinian II then invaded from the east and campaigned against Magnus Maximus in July-August
388 their troops being led by
Richomeres and other generals. Maximus was defeated in the
Battle of the Save, and retreated to
Aquileia. Meanwhile the
Franks under
Marcomer had taken the opportunity and invaded at the same time further weakening Maximus' position.
Andragathius,
magister equitum of Maximus and killer of Gratian, was defeated near
Siscia, his brother Marcellinus again at
Poetovio. Maximus surrendered in Aquileia and although pleaded for mercy was executed. The Senate passed a decree of
Damnatio memoriae against him. However, his wife and two daughters were spared. Maximus' son,
Flavius Victor, was defeated and executed by Valentinian's
magister peditum Arbogast in the fall of the same year. What happened to his family isn't related, although it's clear that they survived and that his descendants continued to occupy influential posts. We encounter a possible daughter of Magnus Maximus,
Sevira, on the
Pillar of Eliseg, an early medieval inscribed stone in Wales which claims her marriage to
Vortigern, king of the Britons. Another daughter was possibly married to Ennodius, proconsul Africae (
395). Their grandson was
Petronius Maximus, who was another ill-fated emperor, ruling in Rome for but 77 days before he was stoned to death while fleeing from the Vandals on May 24,
455. Other descendants included
Anicius Olybrius, emperor in
472, but also several consuls and bishops such as
St. Magnus Felix Ennodius (Bishop of
Pavia c. 514-21).
Role in British and Breton History
In
Gildas's
De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae written in the sixth century Maximus is attributed an important role as the man responsible for withdrawing Roman troops from Britain on a major scale and thus leaving it open to barbarian attack. The archaeological evidence backs up Gildas's account in that the late fourth century seems to have been the period when Roman troops were withdrawn from areas like
Hadrian's Wall and
Segontium with no coins found later than 383. The earliest Welsh genealogies give Maximus a role as a founding father of the dynasties of many of Welsh kingdoms such as the
Kingdom of Powys,
Kingdom of Gwent and the
Kingdom of Dyfed the sort of claims reflected in the
Pillar of Eliseg and in lists of the
Fifteen Tribes of Wales. It has been argued that this role may be a result of genuine land grants and delegation of authority by Roman authorities to local leaders such as
Vortigern and
Padarn Beisrudd on troop withdrawal. It also has been suggested he settled the
Déisi and
Attacotti in Britain. Although it's impossible to back these ideas with any certainty, and they could be later invention what is obvious that a connection to Mascen was seen as highly desirable early in Welsh history.
The ninth century
Historia Brittonum gives another account of Maxiumus and assigns him an important role:
The seventh emperor was Maximianus. He withdrew from Britain with all its military force, slew Gratianus the king of the Romans, and obtained the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to send back his warlike companions to their wives, families, and possessions in Britain, he conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of Mons lovis, to the city called Cant Guic, and to the western Tumulus, that's Cruc Occident. These are the Armoric Britons, and they remain there to the present day. In consequence of their absence, Britain being overcome by foreign nations, the lawful heirs were cast out, till God interposed with his assistance.
Modern historians believe that this idea of mass British troop settlement in
Brittany by Maximus may very well reflect some reality as it accords with other historical evidence and later Breton traditions.
Welsh Legend
Legendary versions of Maximus' career in which he marries a Welsh princess
Helen may have been in popular circulation in Welsh speaking areas from an early point. Although the story of Helen and Maximus's meeting is almost certainly fictional, there's some evidence for the basic claims. He is certainly given a prominent place in the earliest version of the
Welsh Triads which are believed to date from c. 1100 and which reflect far older traditions. Maxen is also frequently referred to Welsh poetry as a point of comparison to later Welsh leaders. These legends come down to us in two separate versions.
Geoffrey of Monmouth
According to
Geoffrey of Monmouth's semi-fictional
Historia regum Britanniae, basis for many English and Welsh legends, Maximian as he calls him, was a Roman senator and nephew of
King Coel through his brother Ioelinus and was king of the
Brythons following the death of
Octavius. Geoffrey tells this came about because Octavius, the king of the Britons, wanted to wed his daughter to such a powerful half-Roman, half-Briton and give the kingship of Britain as a dowry to that husband so he sent a message to Rome offering his daughter to Maximian.
Caradocus, the
Duke of Cornwall, had suggested and supported the marriage between Octavius's daughter and Maximian. Maximian accepted the offer and left Rome for Britain. Geoffrey claims further that Maximian gathered an army as he sacked
Frankish towns along the way. He invaded Clausentum (modern
Southampton) unintentionally and nearly fought the army of the Britons under
Conanus before a truce was made. Following further negotiations, Maximian was given the kingship of Britain and Octavius retired. Five years into his kingship, Magnus Maximus assembled a vast fleet and invaded
Gaul, leaving Britain in the control of Caradocus. Upon reaching the kingdom of
Armorica, he defeated the king and killed thousands of inhabitants. Before departing to Rome, he summoned
Conanus, the rebellious nephew of Octavius, and asked him to rule as king of the land, which was renamed
Brittany, or 'Little Britain'. Conan's men married native women after cutting out their tongues to preserve the purity of their language. Geoffrey of Monmouth presents this legend to explain the Welsh name for Brittany, Llydaw, as originating from lled-taw or half-silent. Given that Conan was well established in genealogies as the founder of Brittany this certainly is connected to an older tradition than Geoffrey.
Following the death of Caradocus rule of Britain as regent passed to
Dionotus, who facing a foreign invasion appealed to Maximus who finally sent a man named
Gracianus Municeps with two legions to stop the attack. He killed many thousands before the invaders fled to
Ireland. Maximus died in
Rome soon after and Dionotus became the official king of the Britons. Unfortunately, before he could begin his reign, Gracianus took hold of the crown and made himself king over Dionotus.
The Dream of Macsen Wledig
Although the
Mabinogion tale
The Dream of Macsen Wledig is written in later manuscripts than Geoffrey's version the two accounts are so different that scholars agree the Dream can't be based purely on Geoffrey's version. The Dream's account also seems to accord better with details in the Triads so it perhaps reflects an earlier tradition.
Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreams one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land. Awakening, he sends his men all over the earth in search of her. With much difficulty they find her in a rich castle in Britain daughter of a chieftain based at
Segontium (
Caernarfon), and lead the Emperor to her. Everything he finds is exactly as in his dream. The maiden, whose name is
Helen or Elen, accepts and loves him. Because Elen is found a virgin, Macsen gives her father sovereignty over the island of Britain and orders three castles built for his bride. In Macsen's absence, a new emperor seizes power and warns him not to return. With the help of men from Britain led by Elen's brother
Conanus (
Welsh: Kynan Meriadec,
French: Conan Meriadoc), Macsen marches across Gaul and Italy and recaptures Rome. In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewards them with a portion of Gaul that becomes known as Brittany.
Later Literature
The prominent place of Macsen in history, Welsh legend and in the
Matter of Britain means he's often a character or referred to in historical and Arthurian fiction. Such stories include Lawhead's
Pendragon Cycle, Mary Stewart's
The Hollow Hills, and Kipling's
Puck of Pook's Hill.
Further Information
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