Magnus Maximus

  • Magnus Maximus (383-388 CE) was a Roman Emperor of the West.
  • In Welsh Legend he is known as Macsen Wledig, and his wife as St. Elen.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Flavius Magnus Maximus Augustus.
  • MAGNUS MAXIMUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 383 CE to 28 August 388 CE Emperor of the West.
    • 384 CE co-Emperor of Britannia, Gaul, Spain and Africa from his capital at Trier.
  • MAGNUS MAXIMUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in 335 CE. Died in 388 CE.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Galicia, Spain. Died in Aquileia, Italy.
  • MAGNUS MAXIMUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • MAGNUS MAXIMUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • He took his army in Britannia to Gaul and usurped the throne from Gratian.
  • WIVES AND CHILDREN:
    • St. Elen
      • Flavius Victor (died c.388 CE)
      • Sevira, Anwn Dynod, Owain, Cystennin, Peblig
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Executed in Aquileia, after losing the Battle of Poetovo (28 Aug 388 CE) against Theodosius I.
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • Unknown.
  • MAGNUS MAXIMUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • In Welsh History, he is known as Macsen Wledig.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Army General:

  • Magnus Maximus was a Roman General, appointed Commander in Britannia in 380 CE.
  • In 381 CE, he successfully opposed an invasion by the Picti and the Scotii.

Emperor of the West:

  • When Gratian became overtly pro-German, wearing Scythian clothing in public and surrounding himself with an Alan Bodyguard, Magnus Maximus was proclaimed Emperor by his Legions in Britannia.
  • In 383 CE, Magnus Maximus took his Legions to Gaul and defeated Gratian, who escaped but was later assassinated.
  • In 384 CE he was proclaimed Emperor in the West, ruling from his capital at Trier.

Priscillian:

  • In c.385 CE, he summoned a follower of Gnosticism, Priscillian, the Bishop of Avila in Spain to Trier. Here he was found guilty of Sorcery and executed. It was the first execution of a Christian by another Christian.

War with Theodosius I:

  • In 387 CE, he evicted Valentinian II from his capital at Milan, who escaped to Theodosius I in the West.
  • Theodosius I moved one army along the Danube and into Gaul, and his other army into Croatia, where the two armies met.
  • At the Battle of Poetovio, near the River Save in Croatia, Magnus Maximus was defeated, withdrew to Aquileia but after a siege, his soldiers handed him over to Theodosius I, who had him executed.

In Welsh Legend:

  • Geoffrey of Monmouth:
    • He relates that Maximianus, as he calls Magnus Maximus, became King of Britannia for five years before invading Gaul.
    • Here he defeated the King of Armorica, replacing him with his own candidate, Conan, considered to be the Founder of Brittany. Maximianus then returned to Rome where he continued his Rule.
  • Welsh Triads:
    • In the Triads, Magnus Maximus is known as Macsen Wledig, who marries St. Elen, the daughter of a Welsh Chieftain based at Caernarfon.
    • When Macsen is overthrown by a Rebellion in Rome, Elen and her supporters give Macsen an army which he uses to retake Rome. To show his gratitude, Macsen awards his allies Brittany in Gaul.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • MEDIEVAL SOURCES:
    • Geoffrey of Monmouth: Historium Regnae Britanniae (c.1136 CE)
    • Matter of Britain:
    • Nennius: Historia Brittonum
    • Gildas: De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae
    • The Welsh Triads (c.1100 CE)

 

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