FromMilantoRome，theAemilianandFlaminianhighwaysofferedaneasymarchofaboutfourhundredmiles；butthoughConstantinewasimpatienttoencounterthetyrant，heprudentlydirectedhisoperationsagainstanotherarmyofItalians，who，bytheirstrengthandposition，mighteitheropposehisprogress，or，incaseofamisfortune，mightintercepthisretreat。
RuriciusPompeianus，ageneraldistinguishedbyhisvalorandability，hadunderhiscommandthecityofVerona，andallthetroopsthatwerestationedintheprovinceofVenetia。AssoonashewasinformedthatConstantinewasadvancingtowardshim，hedetachedalargebodyofcavalrywhichwasdefeatedinanengagementnearBrescia，andpursuedbytheGalliclegionsasfarasthegatesofVerona。Thenecessity，theimportance，andthedifficultiesofthesiegeofVerona，immediatelypresentedthemselvestothesagaciousmindofConstantine。^57Thecitywasaccessibleonlybyanarrowpeninsulatowardsthewest，astheotherthreesidesweresurroundedbytheAdige，arapidriver，whichcoveredtheprovinceofVenetia，fromwhencethebesiegedderivedaninexhaustiblesupplyofmenandprovisions。Itwasnotwithoutgreatdifficulty，andafterseveralfruitlessattempts，thatConstantinefoundmeanstopasstheriveratsomedistanceabovethecity，andinaplacewherethetorrentwaslessviolent。HethenencompassedVeronawithstronglines，pushedhisattackswithprudentvigor，andrepelledadesperatesallyofPompeianus。Thatintrepidgeneral，whenhehadusedeverymeansofdefencethatthestrengthoftheplaceorthatofthegarrisoncouldafford，secretlyescapedfromVerona，anxiousnotforhisown，butforthepublicsafety。WithindefatigablediligencehesooncollectedanarmysufficienteithertomeetConstantineinthefield，ortoattackhimifheobstinatelyremainedwithinhislines。Theemperor，attentivetothemotions，andinformedoftheapproachofsoformidableanenemy，leftapartofhislegionstocontinuetheoperationsofthesiege，whilst，attheheadofthosetroopsonwhosevalorandfidelityhemoreparticularlydepended，headvancedinpersontoengagethegeneralofMaxentius。ThearmyofGaulwasdrawnupintwolines，accordingtotheusualpracticeofwar；buttheirexperiencedleader，perceivingthatthenumbersoftheItaliansfarexceededhisown，suddenlychangedhisdisposition，and，reducingthesecond，extendedthefrontofhisfirstlinetoajustproportionwiththatoftheenemy。Suchevolutions，whichonlyveterantroopscanexecutewithoutconfusioninamomentofdanger，commonlyprovedecisive；butasthisengagementbegantowardsthecloseoftheday，andwascontestedwithgreatobstinacyduringthewholenight，therewaslessroomfortheconductofthegeneralsthanforthecourageofthesoldiers。
ThereturnoflightdisplayedthevictoryofConstantine，andafieldofcarnagecoveredwithmanythousandsofthevanquishedItalians。Theirgeneral，Pompeianus，wasfoundamongtheslain；
Veronaimmediatelysurrenderedatdiscretion，andthegarrisonwasmadeprisonersofwar。^58Whentheofficersofthevictoriousarmycongratulatedtheirmasteronthisimportantsuccess，theyventuredtoaddsomerespectfulcomplaints，ofsuchanature，however，asthemostjealousmonarchswilllistentowithoutdispleasure。TheyrepresentedtoConstantine，that，notcontentedwithallthedutiesofacommander，hehadexposedhisownpersonwithanexcessofvalorwhichalmostdegeneratedintorashness；andtheyconjuredhimforthefuturetopaymoreregardtothepreservationofalifeinwhichthesafetyofRomeandoftheempirewasinvolved。^59
[Footnote57:TheMarquisMaffeihasexaminedthesiegeandbattleofVeronawiththatdegreeofattentionandaccuracywhichwasduetoamemorableactionthathappenedinhisnativecountry。Thefortificationsofthatcity，constructedbyGallienus，werelessextensivethanthemodernwalls，andtheamphitheatrewasnotincludedwithintheircircumference。SeeVeronaIllustrata，parti。p。142150。]
[Footnote58:Theywantedchainsforsogreatamultitudeofcaptives；andthewholecouncilwasataloss；butthesagaciousconquerorimaginedthehappyexpedientofconvertingintofetterstheswordsofthevanquished。Panegyr。Vet。ix。11。]
[Footnote59:Panegyr。Vet。ix。11。]
WhileConstantinesignalizedhisconductandvalorinthefield，thesovereignofItalyappearedinsensibleofthecalamitiesanddangerofacivilwarwhichreignedintheheartofhisdominions。PleasurewasstilltheonlybusinessofMaxentius。Concealing，oratleastattemptingtoconceal，fromthepublicknowledgethemisfortunesofhisarms，^60heindulgedhimselfinavainconfidencewhichdeferredtheremediesoftheapproachingevil，withoutdeferringtheevilitself。^61TherapidprogressofConstantine^62wasscarcelysufficienttoawakenhimfromhisfatalsecurity；heflatteredhimself，thathiswell—knownliberality，andthemajestyoftheRomanname，whichhadalreadydeliveredhimfromtwoinvasions，woulddissipatewiththesamefacilitytherebelliousarmyofGaul。
Theofficersofexperienceandability，whohadservedunderthebannersofMaximian，wereatlengthcompelledtoinformhiseffeminatesonoftheimminentdangertowhichhewasreduced；
and，withafreedomthatatoncesurprisedandconvincedhim，tourgethenecessityofpreventinghisruin，byavigorousexertionofhisremainingpower。TheresourcesofMaxentius，bothofmenandmoney，werestillconsiderable。ThePraetorianguardsfelthowstronglytheirowninterestandsafetywereconnectedwithhiscause；andathirdarmywassooncollected，morenumerousthanthosewhichhadbeenlostinthebattlesofTurinandVerona。Itwasfarfromtheintentionoftheemperortoleadhistroopsinperson。Astrangertotheexercisesofwar，hetrembledattheapprehensionofsodangerousacontest；andasfeariscommonlysuperstitious，helistenedwithmelancholyattentiontotherumorsofomensandpresageswhichseemedtomenacehislifeandempire。Shameatlengthsuppliedtheplaceofcourage，andforcedhimtotakethefield。HewasunabletosustainthecontemptoftheRomanpeople。Thecircusresoundedwiththeirindignantclamors，andtheytumultuouslybesiegedthegatesofthepalace，reproachingthepusillanimityoftheirindolentsovereign，andcelebratingtheheroicspiritofConstantine。^63BeforeMaxentiusleftRome，heconsultedtheSibyllinebooks。Theguardiansoftheseancientoracleswereaswellversedintheartsofthisworldastheywereignorantofthesecretsoffate；andtheyreturnedhimaveryprudentanswer，whichmightadaptitselftotheevent，andsecuretheirreputation，whatevershouldbethechanceofarms。^64
[Footnote60:Literascalamitatumsuarumindicessupprimebat。
PanegyrVet。ix。15。]
[Footnote61:Remediamalorumpotiusquammaladifferebat，isthefinecensurewhichTacituspassesonthesupineindolenceofVitellius。]
[Footnote62:TheMarquisMaffeihasmadeitextremelyprobablethatConstantinewasstillatVerona，the1stofSeptember，A。D。
312，andthatthememorableaeraoftheindicationswasdatedfromhisconquestoftheCisalpineGaul。]
[Footnote63:SeePanegyr。Vet。xi。16。LactantiusdeM。P。c。
44。]
[Footnote64:IllodiehostemRomanorumesseperiturum。ThevanquishedbecameofcoursetheenemyofRome。]
ThecelerityofConstantine\'smarchhasbeencomparedtotherapidconquestofItalybythefirstoftheCaesars；noristheflatteringparallelrepugnanttothetruthofhistory，sincenomorethanfifty—eightdayselapsedbetweenthesurrenderofVeronaandthefinaldecisionofthewar。Constantinehadalwaysapprehendedthatthetyrantwouldconsultthedictatesoffear，andperhapsofprudence；andthat，insteadofriskinghislasthopesinageneralengagement，hewouldshuthimselfupwithinthewallsofRome。Hisamplemagazinessecuredhimagainstthedangeroffamine；andasthesituationofConstantineadmittednotofdelay，hemighthavebeenreducedtothesadnecessityofdestroyingwithfireandswordtheImperialcity，thenoblestrewardofhisvictory，andthedeliveranceofwhichhadbeenthemotive，orratherindeedthepretence，ofthecivilwar。^65Itwaswithequalsurpriseandpleasure，thatonhisarrivalataplacecalledSaxaRubra，aboutninemilesfromRome，^66hediscoveredthearmyofMaxentiuspreparedtogivehimbattle。^67
Theirlongfrontfilledaveryspaciousplain，andtheirdeeparrayreachedtothebanksoftheTyber，whichcoveredtheirrear，andforbadetheirretreat。Weareinformed，andwemaybelieve，thatConstantinedisposedhistroopswithconsummateskill，andthathechoseforhimselfthepostofhonoranddanger。Distinguishedbythesplendorofhisarms，hechargedinpersonthecavalryofhisrival；andhisirresistibleattackdeterminedthefortuneoftheday。ThecavalryofMaxentiuswasprincipallycomposedeitherofunwieldycuirassiers，oroflightMoorsandNumidians。TheyyieldedtothevigoroftheGallichorse，whichpossessedmoreactivitythantheone，morefirmnessthantheother。Thedefeatofthetwowingslefttheinfantrywithoutanyprotectiononitsflanks，andtheundisciplinedItaliansfledwithoutreluctancefromthestandardofatyrantwhomtheyhadalwayshated，andwhomtheynolongerfeared。ThePraetorians，consciousthattheiroffenceswerebeyondthereachofmercy，wereanimatedbyrevengeanddespair。Notwithstandingtheirrepeatedefforts，thosebraveveteranswereunabletorecoverthevictory:theyobtained，however，anhonorabledeath；
anditwasobservedthattheirbodiescoveredthesamegroundwhichhadbeenoccupiedbytheirranks。^68Theconfusionthenbecamegeneral，andthedismayedtroopsofMaxentius，pursuedbyanimplacableenemy，rushedbythousandsintothedeepandrapidstreamoftheTyber。TheemperorhimselfattemptedtoescapebackintothecityovertheMilvianbridge；butthecrowdswhichpressedtogetherthroughthatnarrowpassageforcedhimintotheriver，wherehewasimmediatelydrownedbytheweightofhisarmor。^69Hisbody，whichhadsunkverydeepintothemud，wasfoundwithsomedifficultythenextday。Thesightofhishead，whenitwasexposedtotheeyesofthepeople，convincedthemoftheirdeliverance，andadmonishedthemtoreceivewithacclamationsofloyaltyandgratitudethefortunateConstantine，whothusachievedbyhisvalorandabilitythemostsplendidenterpriseofhislife。^70
[Footnote65:SeePanegyr。Vet。ix。16，x。27。Theformeroftheseoratorsmagnifiesthehoardsofcorn，whichMaxentiushadcollectedfromAfricaandtheIslands。Andyet，ifthereisanytruthinthescarcitymentionedbyEusebius，inVit。Constantin。
l。i。c。36，theImperialgranariesmusthavebeenopenonlytothesoldiers。]
[Footnote66:Maxentius……tandemurbeinSaxaRubra，milliafermenovemaegerrimeprogressus。AureliusVictor。SeeCellariusGeograph。Antiq。tom。i。p。463。SaxaRubrawasintheneighborhoodoftheCremera，atriflingrivulet，illustratedbythevalorandgloriousdeathofthethreehundredFabii。]
[Footnote67:ThepostwhichMaxentiushadtaken，withtheTyberinhisrearisveryclearlydescribedbythetwoPanegyrists，ix。
16，x。28。]
[Footnote68:Exceptislatrociniiilliusprimisauctoribus，quidesperataveniaocumquempugnaesumpseranttexerecorporibus。
Panegyr。Vet17。]
[Footnote69:Averyidlerumorsoonprevailed，thatMaxentius，whohadnottakenanyprecautionforhisownretreat，hadcontrivedaveryartfulsnaretodestroythearmyofthepursuers；butthatthewoodenbridge，whichwastohavebeenloosenedontheapproachofConstantine，unluckilybrokedownundertheweightoftheflyingItalians。M。deTillemontHist。
desEmpereurs，tom。iv。parti。p。576veryseriouslyexamineswhether，incontradictiontocommonsense，thetestimonyofEusebiusandZosimusoughttoprevailoverthesilenceofLactantius，Nazarius，andtheanonymous，butcontemporaryorator，whocomposedtheninthPanegyric。
Note:MansoBeylage，vi。examinesthequestion，andadducestwomanifestallusionstothebridge，fromtheLifeofConstantinebyPraxagoras，andfromLibanius。Isitnotveryprobablethatsuchabridgewasthrownovertherivertofacilitatetheadvance，andtosecuretheretreat，ofthearmyofMaxentius?Incaseofdefeat，ordersweregivenfordestroyingit，inordertocheckthepursuit:itbrokedownaccidentally，orintheconfusionwasdestroyed，ashasnotunfrequentlybeenthecase，beforethepropertime。—M。]
[Footnote70:Zosimus，l。ii。p。86—88，andthetwoPanegyrics，theformerofwhichwaspronouncedafewmonthsafterwards，affordtheclearestnotionofthisgreatbattle。Lactantius，Eusebius，andeventheEpitomes，supplyseveralusefulhints。]
Intheuseofvictory，Constantineneitherdeservedthepraiseofclemency，norincurredthecensureofimmoderaterigor。
^71Heinflictedthesametreatmenttowhichadefeatwouldhaveexposedhisownpersonandfamily，puttodeaththetwosonsofthetyrant，andcarefullyextirpatedhiswholerace。ThemostdistinguishedadherentsofMaxentiusmusthaveexpectedtosharehisfate，astheyhadsharedhisprosperityandhiscrimes；butwhentheRomanpeopleloudlydemandedagreaternumberofvictims，theconquerorresistedwithfirmnessandhumanity，thoseservileclamors，whichweredictatedbyflatteryaswellasbyresentment。Informerswerepunishedanddiscouraged；theinnocent，whohadsufferedunderthelatetyranny，wererecalledfromexile，andrestoredtotheirestates。Ageneralactofoblivionquietedthemindsandsettledthepropertyofthepeople，bothinItalyandinAfrica。^72ThefirsttimethatConstantinehonoredthesenatewithhispresence，herecapitulatedhisownservicesandexploitsinamodestoration，assuredthatillustriousorderofhissincereregard，andpromisedtoreestablishitsancientdignityandprivileges。Thegratefulsenaterepaidtheseunmeaningprofessionsbytheemptytitlesofhonor，whichitwasyetintheirpowertobestow；andwithoutpresumingtoratifytheauthorityofConstantine，theypassedadecreetoassignhimthefirstrankamongthethreeAugustiwhogovernedtheRomanworld。^73Gamesandfestivalswereinstitutedtopreservethefameofhisvictory，andseveraledifices，raisedattheexpenseofMaxentius，werededicatedtothehonorofhissuccessfulrival。ThetriumphalarchofConstantinestillremainsamelancholyproofofthedeclineofthearts，andasingulartestimonyofthemeanestvanity。Asitwasnotpossibletofindinthecapitaloftheempireasculptorwhowascapableofadorningthatpublicmonument，thearchofTrajan，withoutanyrespecteitherforhismemoryorfortherulesofpropriety，wasstrippedofitsmostelegantfigures。
Thedifferenceoftimesandpersons，ofactionsandcharacters，wastotallydisregarded。TheParthiancaptivesappearprostrateatthefeetofaprincewhonevercarriedhisarmsbeyondtheEuphrates；andcuriousantiquarianscanstilldiscovertheheadofTrajanonthetrophiesofConstantine。Thenewornamentswhichitwasnecessarytointroducebetweenthevacanciesofancientsculptureareexecutedintherudestandmostunskillfulmanner。^74
[Footnote71:Zosimus，theenemyofConstantine，allowsl。ii。
p。88thatonlyafewofthefriendsofMaxentiuswereputtodeath；butwemayremarktheexpressivepassageofNazarius，Panegyr。Vet。x。6。Omnibusquilabefactaristatumejuspoterantcumstirpedeletis。TheotheroratorPanegyr。Vet。ix。
20，21contentshimselfwithobserving，thatConstantine，whenheenteredRome，didnotimitatethecruelmassacresofCinna，ofMarius，orofSylla。
Note:ThismayrefertothesonorsonsofMaxentius。—M。]
[Footnote72:SeethetwoPanegyrics，andthelawsofthisandtheensuingyear，intheTheodosianCode。]
[Footnote73:Panegyr。Vet。ix。20。LactantiusdeM。P。c。44。
Maximin，whowasconfessedlytheeldestCaesar，claimed，withsomeshowofreason，thefirstrankamongtheAugusti。]
[Footnote74:Adhuccunctaoperaquaemagnificeconstruxerat，urbisfanumatquebasilicam，Flaviimeritispatressacravere。
AureliusVictor。WithregardtothetheftofTrajan\'strophies，consultFlaminiusVacca，apudMontfaucon，DiariumItalicum，p。
250，andl\'AntiquiteExpliqueeofthelatter，tom。iv。p。171。]
ThefinalabolitionofthePraetorianguardswasameasureofprudenceaswellasofrevenge。Thosehaughtytroops，whosenumbersandprivilegeshadbeenrestored，andevenaugmented，byMaxentius，wereforeversuppressedbyConstantine。Theirfortifiedcampwasdestroyed，andthefewPraetorianswhohadescapedthefuryoftheswordweredispersedamongthelegions，andbanishedtothefrontiersoftheempire，wheretheymightbeserviceablewithoutagainbecomingdangerous。^75BysuppressingthetroopswhichwereusuallystationedinRome，Constantinegavethefatalblowtothedignityofthesenateandpeople，andthedisarmedcapitalwasexposedwithoutprotectiontotheinsultsorneglectofitsdistantmaster。Wemayobserve，thatinthislastefforttopreservetheirexpiringfreedom，theRomans，fromtheapprehensionofatribute，hadraisedMaxentiustothethrone。
Heexactedthattributefromthesenateunderthenameofafreegift。TheyimploredtheassistanceofConstantine。Hevanquishedthetyrant，andconvertedthefreegiftintoaperpetualtax。Thesenators，accordingtothedeclarationwhichwasrequiredoftheirproperty，weredividedintoseveralclasses。Themostopulentpaidannuallyeightpoundsofgold，thenextclasspaidfour，thelasttwo，andthosewhosepovertymighthaveclaimedanexemption，wereassessed，however，atsevenpiecesofgold。Besidestheregularmembersofthesenate，theirsons，theirdescendants，andeventheirrelations，enjoyedthevainprivileges，andsupportedtheheavyburdens，ofthesenatorialorder；norwillitanylongerexciteoursurprise，thatConstantineshouldbeattentivetoincreasethenumberofpersonswhowereincludedundersousefuladescription。^76