Licinius

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Gaius Valerius Licinianus
LICINIUS’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- 11 Nov 308 to 311 CE as Augustus in the West with Galerius as Augustus in the East.
- 311 to 313 CE as Augustus in the West with Maximinus Daia as Augustus in the East.
- 313 to 324 CE as Augustus in the East with Constantine I as Augustus in the West.
- 315 and 324 CE he claimed both halves of the Roman Empire.
LICINIUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in c.264 CE. Died Spring 325 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Moesia Superior. Died in Thessalonica.
LICINIUS’ PREDECESSOR:
- Severus II
LICINIUS’ SUCCESSOR:
- Constantine I
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- Licinius was an old friend of the Emperor Galerius.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- He was initially spared after his navy and army were defeated by Constantine I at the Battle of Chrysopolis, only to be executed by hanging a year later.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.
LICINIUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- Licinius was one of six co-Emperors under Diocletian‘s Tetrarchy.
- Licinius was co-Emperor with Constantine I until 324 CE, and co-author of the Edict of Milan which gave legal recognition to Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Licinius rose through the ranks of the Roman Army, and was a childhood friend of Galerius.
In 308 CE Galerius, who was Augustus in the East, promoted Licinius to Augustus in the West, with Maximinus Daia as Caesar in the East.

In 311 CE, Galerius died and Licinius continued as Augustus in the West, based in Milan, but still controlling the Danube and the Eastern Provinces up to the Hellespont (Dardanelles).
He shared the Eastern Empire with Maximinus Daia who controlled all the Provinces east of the Hellespont and the Bosphorus, which became the frontier between them.

Maximinus Daia then entered into a secret alliance with Maxentius, who controlled Rome, southern Italy and North Africa.
However, in Spring of 312 CE, whilst Licinius was on the Danube, Constantine I invaded Italy via the Mont Cenis Pass, capturing Turin and Milan. On 28 October 312 CE Constantine I defeated Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, removing Maximinus Daia‘s ally.

In March 313 CE, Licinius formed an alliance with Constantine I, who controlled Britannia, Gaul, Iberia and the Rhine. Licinius married Constantine I‘s half sister, Flavia Julia Constantia in Milan. At the same time, Licinius and Constantine I jointly issued the Edict of Milan, giving legal recognition to Christianity within the Roman Empire. The Edict officially ended the Diocletianic Persecution, but did not yet make Christianity the State Religion. This challenged Maximinus Daia who was still actively persecuting Christians in the East.

Maximinus Daia then decided to launch an attack on Licinius. Maximinus Daia raised an army of 70,000 men and departing from Syria, marched through Asia Minor to Bythinia. By April, he had crossed the Bosphorus and captured Byzantium and Heraclea.
Licinius moved a much smaller army of around 30,000 men to Adrianople.
On the 30 April 313 CE, The two armies met at the Battle of Tzirallum. Before the battle, Licinius received a vision in which an angel recited a prayer to him, which he passed on to all the soldiers. The words of the prayer were written so that it could be freely recited whatever the man’s religious faith.
Licinius’ army then crushed the bigger army of Maximinus Daia, who was forced to flee disguised as a slave.

Maximinus Daia regrouped his forces and tried to entrap Licinius at the Cilician Gates. Licinius’ army broke through the Pass, and in August 313 CE defeated Maximinus Daia at Tarsus, where he died either by illness or by committing suicide.

313 CE, Licinius was then forced to take his armies east to block an invasion by the Sassanid Empire.

Licinius and Constantine I then agreed to divide the Roman Empire between them. Licinius became Augustus in the East, and Constantine I became Augustus in the West.

However, in 314 CE, Constantine I accused Licinius of offering refuge to Senecio, a man accused of trying to overthrow Constantine. Constantine I sent an army east and confronted Licinius at the Battle of Cibalae on 3 October 316 CE. Licinius was forced to retreat to Adrianople

In December 316 CE, proclaimed his Commander Valerius Valens as Co-Emperor.
In early 317 CE, Constantine I defeated Licinius again at Campus Ardiensis, forcing him to recognise him as the senior Emperor and have Valerius Valens killed.

In 318 CE, Licinius was pre-occupied with a campaign against the Sarmatians.
In 321 CE, Constantine I also conducted a campaign against the Sarmatians, continuing on to wage war against the Goths, who had attacked Thracia.
Licinius accused Constantine I of entering his territory and breaking their agreement.

First, in 323 CE, Constantine I defeated Licinius’ navy, consisting of 350 vessels.

Then, on 3 July 324 CE, Constantine I defeated Licinius’ army of 170,000 men at the Battle of Adrianople.
Licinius was forced to withdraw to Bithynia.

Meanwhile, also in July, Constantine I‘s son, Crispus, defeated Licinius’ navy at the Battle of the Hellespont.
Constantine I then crossed over the Hellespont to pursue Licinius’ army.

On the 18 September 324 CE Constantine I defeated Licinius at the Battle of Chrysopolis near Chalcedon. During this battle, whereas Licinius soldiers carried pagan images of the Roman Gods, Constantine I‘ soldiers displayed the Labarum, a banner hanging from a military standard displaying the Chi Rho symbol of Christianity. Licinius ordered his men not to attack it or even to look at it. When Constantine I attacked with a full frontal assault, Licinius’ army fled.

Licinius retired to Nicomedia with 30,000 remaining men, but realised the end had come and surrendered through his wife’s negotiations, Constantine I‘ half sister.
Spring 325 CE, although he was initially pardoned, Constantine I later ordered him to be hanged at the army’s insistence.

CLASSICAL SOURCES:
- Lactantius
- Edward Gibbon History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire