Reading the reports of his spies in the rest of the Empire, Constantine sometimes felt like an observer perched high above some giant circus, watching a grim drama of struggle for power being waged in the arena below. In the months that followed, Dacius’ and Fausta’s shrewd assay of the future course of events proved accurate.
First, Galerius tried to assuage somewhat the indignation of the citizens of Rome at being taxed like the lowliest provinces of the Empire by dedicating the magnificent thermae, or baths, which Diocletian had begun toward the end of his reign. But the costly structure only served to remind them that they were paying for the baths, bringing to a head the boil of their resentment.
Nor was Maxentius loath to capitalize upon the public unrest. Promising to restore Rome to its traditional place as the Empire’s capital, he let himself be named Augustus of Italy and Rome by the angry Senate. The few officials loyal to Severus were quickly massacred and, when Maxentius invited his father to join him, Max imian avidly seized the opportunity to regain at least part of his former glory.
Praetorian Prefect chief
In a ceremony of solemn mockery, the people, the Senate, and Maxentius persuaded the former Augustus to accept the purple cloak once again and reign as CoEmperor with his son. And when the Praetorian Prefect chief administrative officer of Rome itself judiciously threw in his lot with Maximian and Maxentius rather
than lose his head, and the troops garrisoned in Rome and southern Italy did the same, the feat was accomplished without bloodshed.
Faced with the loss of both his title and his territory, Severus moved at last, but by now supporters of Maximian and Maxentius were largely in control of Milan and other northern cities. When Severus marched into Italy, he found every city fortified against him and managed to advance no nearer than a point about sixty miles from Rome.
By then, however, agents of the usurpers had succeeded in buying off units of his army with promises of gold and, with the triple threat of Maxentius’ troops before him, a hostile populace in fortified cities behind him, and serious defections within the ranks of his own army, Severus prudently withdrew to Ravenna, where he had ample support by sea and provisions for a long siege. Spies sent by the wily Maximian convinced him, however, that the populace of the town was about to yield him and his army up to the besiegers and that he would be much better off to sue for an honorable peace. Yielding, he discovered too late that Maximian’s generosity extended only to letting him choose the means of his own death, so he opened his veins.
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