Maxence (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius) is an Roman Emperor who seized the power in Rome in 306. He dies the October 28th 312, at the time of the Bataille of the bridge Milvius, close to Rome.

He was the son of the Tétrarque Maximien Hercules and, for this reason, had had a privileged statute as long as his/her father was emperor. But once this one had taken its retirement and that it had been replaced by its César Constance Chlorinates, Maxence was not more nothing. In 306, after the death of Constancy Chlorinates, when its soldiers proclaimed César his son Constantin I {{er}}, Maxence seized in its turn the power with the title of Auguste and the support of the Senate. It had to face the revolt of Domitius Alexander in Africa and with the forwarding carried out by Sévère, legitimate emperor, who tried to drive out Maxence of Rome. He concludes an agreement with Constantin and his own father (who had taken again his functions) and could get rid of his two adversaries. In 312, Constantin walked against him and beat his armies in the north of Italy. With the Battle of the bridge Milvius, close to Rome, Maxence perishes drowned in the collapse of the bridge on the the Tiber, collapse which it would have done itself to prepare to take with the trap the troops of its adversary.

Like all the overcome usurpers, Maxence is difficult to encircle with exactitude, because it was blackened thereafter. One thus lends massacres in Rome and maltreatment to him on the members of the Roman aristocracy. It could be besides that this aristocracy supported Constantin against him. The Christian tradition made of it the champion of paganism vis-a-vis a Constantin who raised the Chrisme on his standards. But it is noted that Maxence put an end in its field to the persecution ordered by Tétrarques against the Christians and that its victory over Domitius Alexander made it possible the African Churches to be reconstituted (what involved the schism donatist). One can see today in Rome the imposing ruins of gigantic the basilica which it made build, but which was undoubtedly completed only under Constantin.

Maxence had a son named Valérius Romulus.

Successive names

• 283, is born Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius
• 306, proclaims Empereur: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus

See too

Internal bonds

• late Antiquity