Who was the most interesting?

[Lionheart]

Whos is the most interesting emperor that fought in the civil war after the break of the system of the Tetarchy?

[Magister Militum Flavius Aetius]

Hmmm.... I'd personally have to side with constantius... Turn this into a poll with all the different options

[Lionheart]

It's done now you only have to vote for you favorite contester!

[Kritic]

I voted for Maxentius. I feel The battle of the Milvian bridge is one of the great what if's of history.It could have very well gone either way,a Maxentius victory would certainly have altered the destiny of Rome,Whether for good or ill who knows.

[Lionheart]

To help in you decision i will make a short description.

Maximian Herculius - member of the tetarchy chosen by Diocletian in 285 was a caesar. Begun is reign as august in the west in 286 until is abdication in 1 May 305. Fought agains several germanic tribes in the years of 286,287 and 288. His campaign agains usurper Carausius in britain failled in 289. He defeated the suportes of Carausius in Gaul in 293. In 296 he finally invaded Britain where he defeated and killed Allectus, the sucessor of Carausius. 297-299 he campaigned in north africa agains the berber tribes. He them retired in 305. After the death of Constantius he declared himself emperor in 306 until 308 (forced to relinquish the title). He declared himself augustus in 310 and in the end killed himself in Massilia.

Constantius Chlorus - chosen as caesar by Maximian in 293 and was important in putting a end to the rebelion in Britain. He fight the Alemanni in 296. After the retirement of Maximian he become emperor but died in 306 in Eburacum.

Constantinus I - son of Constantius and chosen as emperor by the british troops in 306 after the death of is father. In 306-07 he drove back a invasion of the Franks. He continued fighting the german tribes until 310 when Maximian rebelled against him. He defeated him and after that he entered in war against Maxentius until 312 when he defeated him the Milvian Bridge. After that he fought Licinius and the end he was able to unify the roman empire in 324.

Licinius - between 308 - 311 he was August in the West with Galerius in the East. Between 311-313 he was joint Augustus with Maximinus Daia and 313-324 he was August in the east and in 314 and 324 he fought Constantine.

Flavius Severus - chosen was caesar for the west in 305 he suceeded Chlorus in 306 as August for the west and was a rival of Constantine, Maxentius and Maximian. After Maxentius proclaim himself Augustus Galerius ordered Severus to put down the rebellion. He departed Mediolanum commanding a army that previously had been under command of Maximian. When he approached rome Maxentius proclaimed is father as co-emperor and the troops deserted to their side. Severus fled to Ravenna and was captured. When Galerius invaded Italy he was put to death or commited suicide in march or april of 307.

Maximinus Daia -he as caesar for the east between 305-08, 310-312 he as august of the east in competion with Licinius.
After the elevation of Licinius he and Constantine were declared filii augustorum, but he probably begun using the title of augustus after a campaign agains the sassanids in 310. Died in 313 Tarsus after being defeated in batle by Licinius. Probably he as assassinated.

Galerius - he as a caesar from 293 until 305 and ruled as augustus from 305 until 311. He fought the persian invasion of 295 or 296 and in 298 he counterattacked and after that he take Ctesiphon until the peace negotiations in 299. He fought agains is others rivals until is death in 311.

Maxentius- son of Maximian he proclaimed himself emperor in 306 and keep the title until is defeat in the milvian bridge in 312.
He fought Severus, Galerius and Constantine and ruled jointly with is father between 306-08.

[Lionheart]

Above is only a short description. You should judge all the contenders by yours capacity of historical analysis. And the bibliography and other information are through the web. So make your own judgement and opinion.

[Lionheart]

I voted for Maxentius. I feel The battle of the Milvian bridge is one of the great what if's of history.It could have very well gone either way,a Maxentius victory would certainly have altered the destiny of Rome,Whether for good or ill who knows.

I agree. This is just speculation. But if Maxentius won the batle probably roman catholicism will take a more long path until become the dominant religion in the west. However looking for the career of Maxentius and taking in account that is father Maximian was already dead. Even if Maxentius won i have the feeling that we would not be able to unify all the west. Probably the eastern emperor would become the supreme ruler of a unified empire. Or in the case that Constantinus survived the batle he probably keept ruling over Gaul and Britain and even Hispania becouse Maxentius only have supporters in Italy.

[Magister Militum Flavius Aetius]

Yeah, it would have been like the roman west in 410

[Lionheart]

Most probably.

[Draco Borealis]

Constantine who was a new August; First he united Roman Empire, beat all internal and external threats then he intruduced new laws aimed to sanate the loose public morality after III century chaos; and finaly he failed to choose capable sucesor.

[Lionheart]

Yes i can agree with you. The sucessors of Constantine were not the best. Perhaps he aimed to make another member of is family a sucessor and not one of is sons. Perhaps this could explain the purge that happened after is death. Since probably some of the purged guys were much better them the sons of Constantine.

[Valentinian Victor]

Yes i can agree with you. The sucessors of Constantine were not the best. Perhaps he aimed to make another member of is family a sucessor and not one of is sons. Perhaps this could explain the purge that happened after is death. Since probably some of the purged guys were much better them the sons of Constantine.

Constantius II managed to hold the Empire together for 23 years, despite repeated attacks by various barbarian tribes in the West, and almost constant attacks by the Sasanids in the East.

The purge was nothing new, many who came to the purple did away with rivals who they perceived as a potential threat to their rule. This often included close family members as they were the one's most likely to be put forward as an usurper. There is no evidence that any of those killed in the purges were any better or worse than those who survived.

[Lionheart]

I give you the hand Constantius II was not a bad ruler. However the same i cant say about is brothers Constantinus II and Constans.
Even if the brother of Julian was not a great men Julian become a great men and emperor.
Also one of the guys that died in the purge was if i'm not wrong Dalmatius. He appears to have full trust of Constantinus.
I know that purges are useful instruments to put down potential rivals. However regarding the remaining members of the Constantinian dinasty i dare to say that only Constantius II and Julian are useful. Some died in the purge without showing is true capacities. The survinving are a waste of breath.
Well that my conviction (exceptions to Constantius II and Julian).

[Lionheart]

According to the poll Constantinus won the contest. Well i was expecting something like that.

So perhaps the tred could be closed now. I think that is porpose was been achieved.