AfterthedefeatofMaxentius，thevictoriousemperorpassednomorethantwoorthreemonthsinRome，whichhevisitedtwiceduringtheremainderofhislife，tocelebratethesolemnfestivalsofthetenthandofthetwentiethyearsofhisreign。
Constantinewasalmostperpetuallyinmotion，toexercisethelegions，ortoinspectthestateoftheprovinces。Treves，Milan，Aquileia，Sirmium，Naissus，andThessalonica，weretheoccasionalplacesofhisresidence，tillhefoundedanewRomeontheconfinesofEuropeandAsia。^77
[Footnote75:PraetoriaelegionesacsubsidiafactionibusaptioraquamurbiRomae，sublatapenitus；simularmaatqueususindumentimilitarisAureliusVictor。Zosimusl。ii。p。89mentionsthisfactasanhistorian，anditisverypompouslycelebratedintheninthPanegyric。]
[Footnote76:ExomnibusprovinciisoptimatesvirosCuriaetuaepigneraverisutSenatusdignitas……extotiusOrbisfloreconsisteret。NazariusinPanegyr。Vetx。35。Thewordpigneraverismightalmostseemmaliciouslychosen。Concerningthesenatorialtax，seeZosimus，l。ii。p。115，thesecondtitleofthesixthbookoftheTheodosianCode，withGodefroy\'sCommentary，andMemoiresdel\'AcademicdesInscriptions，tom。
xxviii。p。726。]
[Footnote77:FromtheTheodosianCode，wemaynowbegintotracethemotionsoftheemperors；butthedatesbothoftimeandplacehavefrequentlybeenalteredbythecarelessnessoftranscribers。]
BeforeConstantinemarchedintoItaly，hehadsecuredthefriendship，oratleasttheneutrality，ofLicinius，theIllyrianemperor。HehadpromisedhissisterConstantiainmarriagetothatprince；butthecelebrationofthenuptialswasdeferredtillaftertheconclusionofthewar，andtheinterviewofthetwoemperorsatMilan，whichwasappointedforthatpurpose，appearedtocementtheunionoftheirfamiliesandinterests。^78
Inthemidstofthepublicfestivitytheyweresuddenlyobligedtotakeleaveofeachother。AninroadoftheFrankssummonedConstantinetotheRhime，andthehostileapproachofthesovereignofAsiademandedtheimmediatepresenceofLicinius。
MaximinhadbeenthesecretallyofMaxentius，andwithoutbeingdiscouragedbyhisfate，heresolvedtotrythefortuneofacivilwar。HemovedoutofSyria，towardsthefrontiersofBithynia，inthedepthofwinter。Theseasonwassevereandtempestuous；greatnumbersofmenaswellashorsesperishedinthesnow；andastheroadswerebrokenupbyincessantrains，hewasobligedtoleavebehindhimaconsiderablepartoftheheavybaggage，whichwasunabletofollowtherapidityofhisforcedmarches。Bythisextraordinaryeffortofdiligence，hearrivedwithaharassedbutformidablearmy，onthebanksoftheThracianBosphorusbeforethelieutenantsofLiciniuswereapprisedofhishostileintentions。ByzantiumsurrenderedtothepowerofMaximin，afterasiegeofelevendays。HewasdetainedsomedaysunderthewallsofHeraclea；andhehadnosoonertakenpossessionofthatcity，thanhewasalarmedbytheintelligence，thatLiciniushadpitchedhiscampatthedistanceofonlyeighteenmiles。Afterafruitlessnegotiation，inwhichthetwoprincesattemptedtoseducethefidelityofeachother\'sadherents，theyhadrecoursetoarms。TheemperoroftheEastcommandedadisciplinedandveteranarmyofaboveseventythousandmen；andLicinius，whohadcollectedaboutthirtythousandIllyrians，wasatfirstoppressedbythesuperiorityofnumbers。Hismilitaryskill，andthefirmnessofhistroops，restoredtheday，andobtainedadecisivevictory。TheincrediblespeedwhichMaximinexertedinhisflightismuchmorecelebratedthanhisprowessinthebattle。Twenty—fourhoursafterwardshewasseen，pale，trembling，andwithouthisImperialornaments，atNicomedia，onehundredandsixtymilesfromtheplaceofhisdefeat。ThewealthofAsiawasyetunexhausted；andthoughtheflowerofhisveteranshadfalleninthelateaction，hehadstillpower，ifhecouldobtaintime，todrawverynumerousleviesfromSyriaandEgypt。Buthesurvivedhismisfortuneonlythreeorfourmonths。Hisdeath，whichhappenedatTarsus，wasvariouslyascribedtodespair，topoison，andtothedivinejustice。AsMaximinwasalikedestituteofabilitiesandofvirtue，hewaslamentedneitherbythepeoplenorbythesoldiers。TheprovincesoftheEast，deliveredfromtheterrorsofcivilwar，cheerfullyacknowledgedtheauthorityofLicinius。
^79
[Footnote78:Zosimusl。ii。p。89observes，thatbeforethewarthesisterofConstantinehadbeenbetrothedtoLicinius。
AccordingtotheyoungerVictor，Diocletianwasinvitedtothenuptials；buthavingventuredtopleadhisageandinfirmities，hereceivedasecondletter，filledwithreproachesforhissupposedpartialitytothecauseofMaxentiusandMaximin。]
[Footnote79:ZosimusmentionsthedefeatanddeathofMaximinasordinaryevents；butLactantiusexpatiatesonthem，deM。P。c。
45—50，ascribingthemtothemiraculousinterpositionofHeaven。
Liciniusatthattimewasoneoftheprotectorsofthechurch。]
Thevanquishedemperorleftbehindhimtwochildren，aboyofabouteight，andagirlofaboutseven，yearsold。Theirinoffensiveagemighthaveexcitedcompassion；butthecompassionofLiciniuswasaveryfeebleresource，nordiditrestrainhimfromextinguishingthenameandmemoryofhisadversary。ThedeathofSeverianuswilladmitoflessexcuse，asitwasdictatedneitherbyrevengenorbypolicy。Theconquerorhadneverreceivedanyinjuryfromthefatherofthatunhappyyouth，andtheshortandobscurereignofSeverus，inadistantpartoftheempire，wasalreadyforgotten。ButtheexecutionofCandidianuswasanactoftheblackestcrueltyandingratitude。HewasthenaturalsonofGalerius，thefriendandbenefactorofLicinius。
Theprudentfatherhadjudgedhimtooyoungtosustaintheweightofadiadem；buthehopedthat，undertheprotectionofprinceswhowereindebtedtohisfavorfortheImperialpurple，Candidianusmightpassasecureandhonorablelife。Hewasnowadvancingtowardsthetwentiethyearofhisage，andtheroyaltyofhisbirth，thoughunsupportedeitherbymeritorambition，wassufficienttoexasperatethejealousmindofLicinius。^80Totheseinnocentandillustriousvictimsofhistyranny，wemustaddthewifeanddaughteroftheemperorDiocletian。WhenthatprinceconferredonGaleriusthetitleofCaesar，hehadgivenhiminmarriagehisdaughterValeria，whosemelancholyadventuresmightfurnishaverysingularsubjectfortragedy。Shehadfulfilledandevensurpassedthedutiesofawife。Asshehadnotanychildrenherself，shecondescendedtoadopttheillegitimatesonofherhusband，andinvariablydisplayedtowardstheunhappyCandidianusthetendernessandanxietyofarealmother。AfterthedeathofGalerius，heramplepossessionsprovokedtheavarice，andherpersonalattractionsexcitedthedesires，ofhissuccessor，Maximin。^81Hehadawifestillalive；butdivorcewaspermittedbytheRomanlaw，andthefiercepassionsofthetyrantdemandedanimmediategratification。TheanswerofValeriawassuchasbecamethedaughterandwidowofemperors；butitwastemperedbytheprudencewhichherdefencelessconditioncompelledhertoobserve。SherepresentedtothepersonswhomMaximinhademployedonthisoccasion，\"thatevenifhonorcouldpermitawomanofhercharacteranddignitytoentertainathoughtofsecondnuptials，decencyatleastmustforbidhertolistentohisaddressesatatimewhentheashesofherhusband，andhisbenefactorwerestillwarm，andwhilethesorrowsofhermindwerestillexpressedbyhermourninggarments。Sheventuredtodeclare，thatshecouldplaceverylittleconfidenceintheprofessionsofamanwhosecruelinconstancywascapableofrepudiatingafaithfulandaffectionatewife。\"^82Onthisrepulse，theloveofMaximinwasconvertedintofury；andaswitnessesandjudgeswerealwaysathisdisposal，itwaseasyforhimtocoverhisfurywithanappearanceoflegalproceedings，andtoassaultthereputationaswellasthehappinessofValeria。Herestateswereconfiscated，hereunuchsanddomesticsdevotedtothemostinhumantortures；
andseveralinnocentandrespectablematrons，whowerehonoredwithherfriendship，suffereddeath，onafalseaccusationofadultery。Theempressherself，togetherwithhermotherPrisca，wascondemnedtoexile；andastheywereignominiouslyhurriedfromplacetoplacebeforetheywereconfinedtoasequesteredvillageinthedesertsofSyria，theyexposedtheirshameanddistresstotheprovincesoftheEast，which，duringthirtyyears，hadrespectedtheiraugustdignity。Diocletianmadeseveralineffectualeffortstoalleviatethemisfortunesofhisdaughter；and，asthelastreturnthatheexpectedfortheImperialpurple，whichhehadconferreduponMaximin，heentreatedthatValeriamightbepermittedtosharehisretirementofSalona，andtoclosetheeyesofherafflictedfather。^83Heentreated；butashecouldnolongerthreaten，hisprayerswerereceivedwithcoldnessanddisdain；andtheprideofMaximinwasgratified，intreatingDiocletianasasuppliant，andhisdaughterasacriminal。ThedeathofMaximinseemedtoassuretheempressesofafavorablealterationintheirfortune。Thepublicdisordersrelaxedthevigilanceoftheirguard，andtheyeasilyfoundmeanstoescapefromtheplaceoftheirexile，andtorepair，thoughwithsomeprecaution，andindisguise，tothecourtofLicinius。Hisbehavior，inthefirstdaysofhisreign，andthehonorablereceptionwhichhegavetoyoungCandidianus，inspiredValeriawithasecretsatisfaction，bothonherownaccountandonthatofheradoptedson。Butthesegratefulprospectsweresoonsucceededbyhorrorandastonishment；andthebloodyexecutionswhichstainedthepalaceofNicomediasufficientlyconvincedherthatthethroneofMaximinwasfilledbyatyrantmoreinhumanthanhimself。Valeriaconsultedhersafetybyahastyflight，and，stillaccompaniedbyhermotherPrisca，theywanderedabovefifteenmonths^84throughtheprovinces，concealedinthedisguiseofplebeianhabits。TheywereatlengthdiscoveredatThessalonica；andasthesentenceoftheirdeathwasalreadypronounced，theywereimmediatelybeheaded，andtheirbodiesthrownintothesea。Thepeoplegazedonthemelancholyspectacle；buttheirgriefandindignationweresuppressedbytheterrorsofamilitaryguard。SuchwastheunworthyfateofthewifeanddaughterofDiocletian。Welamenttheirmisfortunes，wecannotdiscovertheircrimes；andwhateverideawemayjustlyentertainofthecrueltyofLicinius，itremainsamatterofsurprisethathewasnotcontentedwithsomemoresecretanddecentmethodofrevenge。^85
[Footnote80:LactantiusdeM。P。c。50。AureliusVictortouchesonthedifferentconductofLicinius，andofConstantine，intheuseofvictory。]
[Footnote81:ThesensualappetitesofMaximinweregratifiedattheexpenseofhissubjects。Hiseunuchs，whoforcedawaywivesandvirgins，examinedtheirnakedcharmswithanxiouscuriosity，lestanypartoftheirbodyshouldbefoundunworthyoftheroyalembraces。Coynessanddisdainwereconsideredastreason，andtheobstinatefaironewascondemnedtobedrowned。Acustomwasgraduallyintroduced，thatnopersonshouldmarryawifewithoutthepermissionoftheemperor，\"utipseinomnibusnuptiispraegustatoresset。\"LactantiusdeM。P。c。38。]
[Footnote82:LactantiusdeM。P。c。39。]
[Footnote83:Diocletianatlastsentcognatumsuum，quendammilitaremaepotentemvirum，tointercedeinfavorofhisdaughter，LactantiusdeM。P。c。41。Wearenotsufficientlyacquaintedwiththehistoryofthesetimestopointoutthepersonwhowasemployed。]
[Footnote84:Valeriaquoquepervariasprovinciasquindecimmensibusplebeiocultupervagata。LactantiusdeM。P。c。51。
Thereissomedoubtwhetherweshouldcomputethefifteenmonthsfromthemomentofherexile，orfromthatofherescape。Theexpressionofparvagataseemstodenotethelatter；butinthatcasewemustsupposethatthetreatiseofLactantiuswaswrittenafterthefirstcivilwarbetweenLiciniusandConstantine。SeeCuper，p。254。]
[Footnote85:Itaillispudicitiaetconditioexitiofuit。
LactantiusdeM。P。c。51。HerelatesthemisfortunesoftheinnocentwifeanddaughterofDiscletianwithaverynaturalmixtureofpityandexultation。]
TheRomanworldwasnowdividedbetweenConstantineandLicinius，theformerofwhomwasmasteroftheWest，andthelatteroftheEast。Itmightperhapshavebeenexpectedthattheconquerors，fatiguedwithcivilwar，andconnectedbyaprivateaswellaspublicalliance，wouldhaverenounced，oratleastwouldhavesuspended，anyfurtherdesignsofambition。AndyetayearhadscarcelyelapsedafterthedeathofMaximin，beforethevictoriousemperorsturnedtheirarmsagainsteachother。Thegenius，thesuccess，andtheaspiringtemperofConstantine，mayseemtomarkhimoutastheaggressor；buttheperfidiouscharacterofLiciniusjustifiesthemostunfavorablesuspicions，andbythefaintlightwhichhistoryreflectsonthistransaction，^86wemaydiscoveraconspiracyfomentedbyhisartsagainsttheauthorityofhiscolleague。ConstantinehadlatelygivenhissisterAnastasiainmarriagetoBassianus，amanofaconsiderablefamilyandfortune，andhadelevatedhisnewkinsmantotherankofCaesar。AccordingtothesystemofgovernmentinstitutedbyDiocletian，Italy，andperhapsAfrica，weredesignedforhisdepartmentintheempire。Buttheperformanceofthepromisedfavorwaseitherattendedwithsomuchdelay，oraccompaniedwithsomanyunequalconditions，thatthefidelityofBassianuswasalienatedratherthansecuredbythehonorabledistinctionwhichhehadobtained。HisnominationhadbeenratifiedbytheconsentofLicinius；andthatartfulprince，bythemeansofhisemissaries，sooncontrivedtoenterintoasecretanddangerouscorrespondencewiththenewCaesar，toirritatehisdiscontents，andtourgehimtotherashenterpriseofextortingbyviolencewhathemightinvainsolicitfromthejusticeofConstantine。Butthevigilantemperordiscoveredtheconspiracybeforeitwasripeforexecution；andaftersolemnlyrenouncingtheallianceofBassianus，despoiledhimofthepurple，andinflictedthedeservedpunishmentonhistreasonandingratitude。ThehaughtyrefusalofLicinius，whenhewasrequiredtodeliverupthecriminalswhohadtakenrefugeinhisdominions，confirmedthesuspicionsalreadyentertainedofhisperfidy；andtheindignitiesofferedatAemona，onthefrontiersofItaly，tothestatuesofConstantine，becamethesignalofdiscordbetweenthetwoprinces。^87
[Footnote86:Thecuriousreader，whoconsultstheValesianfragment，p。713，willprobablyaccusemeofgivingaboldandlicentiousparaphrase；butifheconsidersitwithattention，hewillacknowledgethatmyinterpretationisprobableandconsistent。]
[Footnote87:ThesituationofAemona，or，asitisnowcalled，Laybach，inCarniola，D\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。i。p。
187，maysuggestaconjecture。Asitlaytothenorth—eastoftheJulianAlps，thatimportantterritorybecameanaturalobjectofdisputebetweenthesovereignsofItalyandofIllyricum。]
ThefirstbattlewasfoughtnearCibalis，acityofPannonia，situatedontheRiverSave，aboutfiftymilesaboveSirmium。^88Fromtheinconsiderableforceswhichinthisimportantcontesttwosuchpowerfulmonarchsbroughtintothefield，itmaybeinferredthattheonewassuddenlyprovoked，andthattheotherwasunexpectedlysurprised。TheemperoroftheWesthadonlytwentythousand，andthesovereignoftheEastnomorethanfiveandthirtythousand，men。Theinferiorityofnumberwas，however，compensatedbytheadvantageoftheground。
Constantinehadtakenpostinadefileabouthalfamileinbreadth，betweenasteephillandadeepmorass，andinthatsituationhesteadilyexpectedandrepulsedthefirstattackoftheenemy。Hepursuedhissuccess，andadvancedintotheplain。
ButtheveteranlegionsofIllyricumralliedunderthestandardofaleaderwhohadbeentrainedtoarmsintheschoolofProbusandDiocletian。Themissileweaponsonbothsidesweresoonexhausted；thetwoarmies，withequalvalor，rushedtoacloserengagementofswordsandspears，andthedoubtfulcontesthadalreadylastedfromthedawnofthedaytoalatehouroftheevening，whentherightwing，whichConstantineledinperson，madeavigorousanddecisivecharge。ThejudiciousretreatofLiciniussavedtheremainderofhistroopsfromatotaldefeat；
butwhenhecomputedhisloss，whichamountedtomorethantwentythousandmen，hethoughtitunsafetopassthenightinthepresenceofanactiveandvictoriousenemy。Abandoninghiscampandmagazines，hemarchedawaywithsecrecyanddiligenceattheheadofthegreatestpartofhiscavalry，andwassoonremovedbeyondthedangerofapursuit。Hisdiligencepreservedhiswife，hisson，andhistreasures，whichhehaddepositedatSirmium。Liciniuspassedthroughthatcity，andbreakingdownthebridgeontheSave，hastenedtocollectanewarmyinDaciaandThrace。InhisflighthebestowedtheprecarioustitleofCaesaronValens，hisgeneraloftheIllyrianfrontier。^89
[Footnote88:CibalisorCibalaewhosenameisstillpreservedintheobscureruinsofSwileiwassituatedaboutfiftymilesfromSirmium，thecapitalofIllyricum，andaboutonehundredfromTaurunum，orBelgrade，andtheconfluxoftheDanubeandtheSave。TheRomangarrisonsandcitiesonthoseriversarefinelyillustratedbyM。d\'Anvilleinamemoirinsertedinl\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxviii。]
[Footnote89:Zosimusl。ii。p。90，91givesaveryparticularaccountofthisbattle；butthedescriptionsofZosimusarerhetoricalratherthanmilitary]
ChapterXIV:SixEmperorsAtTheSameTime，ReunionOfTheEmpire。