The Fall of the Usurper Magnentius

Meanwhile Magnentius had made himself master of the imperial city of Rome and had put to death many members of the senate, as well as many of the common people. But as soon as Constantius’s commanders had gathered an army of Romans and begun their march against him, he left Rome and withdrew into Gaul. Several battles were fought there, sometimes to the advantage of one side and sometimes of the other. But at last Magnentius was defeated near Mursa, a fortress of Gaul, and was closely besieged there. At this place a remarkable thing is said to have happened. Magnentius wanted to restore the courage of his soldiers, who were disheartened by their recent defeat, and for this purpose he went up onto a high platform. The soldiers, meaning to give the usual acclamation with which they greet emperors, all shouted together, against their own intention, the name not of Magnentius but of Constantius Augustus. Taking this as an omen against himself, Magnentius at once left the fortress and retreated to the farthest parts of Gaul. [a]

The generals of Constantius hurried after him in pursuit. Battle was joined again near Mount Seleucus, and Magnentius was completely routed and fled alone to Lyons, a city of Gaul three days’ journey from the fortress at Mursa. When he reached this city, Magnentius first killed his own mother. Then he killed his brother as well, whom he had made Caesar, and at last he took his own life by falling on his sword. This happened in the sixth consulship of Constantius and the second of Constantius Gallus, on the fifteenth day of August. Not long afterward Magnentius’s other brother, named Decentius, ended his own life by hanging himself. Such was the end of Magnentius’s ventures. Even so, the affairs of the empire were not entirely at peace. Soon after this another usurper arose, named Silvanus; but the generals of Constantius quickly did away with him too, while he was stirring up trouble in Gaul.