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Milvian Bridge (312 AD)

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Title
Milvian Bridge (312 AD)
Description
While emperor Diocletian’s “Tetrarchy” system of shared power maintained calm for 20 years, eventually rivalries took over again. In 306 Maxentius proclaimed himself emperor, setting off another confused civil war. He gained great power when F.V Septimus marched an army …
Publisher
Date
312
Scenario#
423
Scenario Description
While emperor Diocletian’s “Tetrarchy” system of shared power maintained calm for 20 years, eventually rivalries took over again. In 306 Maxentius proclaimed himself emperor, setting off another confused civil war. He gained great power when F.V Septimus marched an army against him which defected before battle. In 312, Constantine decided to resolve the dispute with Maxentius (his brother-in-law!) for control of the Western Roman Empire. With an army drawn from his western provinces of Britain, Gaul, and the Rhine, Constantine invaded Italy. He defeated Maxentius at Taurinorum, and expected Maxentius to hold out in Rome (as he had successfully done several times before) but instead he made a stand less than ten miles from Rome, in front of the Milvian Bridge crossing the Tiber River. Maxentius’ deployment was faulty, as his huge army was much too close to the Tiber River to allow room to maneuver. Although out-numbered, Constantine’s army attacked first and succeeded in pushing Maxentius’ forces back toward the river, with Constantine personally leading his Gallic cavalry forward. Seeing that the battle was going badly, Maxentius ordered his army to retreat and seek safety behind Rome’s strong walls, but the planned withdrawal degenerated into a rout as the retreating troops bunched up at the Milvian Bridge. Even Maxentius could not cross at the bridge and drowned. Constantine marched into Rome after the victory and was declared the sole Western Roman Augustus. Constantine later claimed a dream told him he would succeed “under this sign” (which various sources call the cross or the Chi-Rho sign) and this victory aided the rise of Christianity as Rome’s state religion.
Location
Rome, Italy
Battle Narrative
The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle; his body was later taken from the river and decapitated, and his head was paraded through the streets of Rome on the day following the battle before being taken to Africa.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Constantine
Maxentius
Additional Information
Civil Wars Of The Tetrarchy

Geolocation