Magnus Maximus

## Early Life

*Magnus Maximus* was born on the estates of his uncle Theodosius in Hispania.

## Military Career

Magnus fought as a junior officer of the Batavi or Heruli in The Great Conspiracy in 368 AD, alongside his uncle Count Theodosius. He also fought with his uncle in Rhaetia from 370-372, in Africa in 373 AD and on the Danube in 376 AD. He was stationed in Britain in 380 AD. At some point after that he was stationed in Wales, where he had met and married his second wife Elen Lluydog in 356 AD. In 381 AD, he defeated an incursion of Picts and Scots.

Elen was the daughter of a Romano-British man named Octavius the Old (Eudaf Hen in his native language), the *praeses* of *Britannia Prima*.

## Britannia

Magnus served his uncle in Britain during the Great Conspiracy, as *principālis* of the Batavi or Heruli.

## Rhaetia

Theodosius was sent to Rhaetia to fight the incursions of the Alamannic chieftain Macrianus. Magnus accompanied him on that 370-372 AD expedition.

## Africa

Emperor Valentinian sent *Comes* Theodosius to Africa in 373 AD, and Magnus followed. Theodosius was charged with the task of defeating the Moorish rebel Firmus and investigate the criminal activities of Romanus, the *comes Africae* who Firmus was rebelling against. As *deputatus*, Magnus was assigned to work with Gildo, a brother of Firmus loyal to the Romans. Their job was to arrest Vincentius, the *vicarius Africae* and suspected accomplice of Romanus.

He left in 375 AD.

## The Danube

As *dux Moesiae secundae*, Magnus served *magister militum per Thracias* Lupicinus in settling Goths on Roman Territory. This was in 376 AD.

He fought at the Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.

## Britannia

Magnus was promoted to the station of *comes Britanniae*. With his new rank, he was responsible for the army in Britain. In 381 he defeated an incursion of the Picts and Scots. He also settled the warlord Cunedda Wledig in Venedotia, and a sept of Irish Déisi led by Aed Brosc in Demetia. The Déisi already had a small presence in Demetia.

## Emperor in the West

Dissent was growing against the Emperor Gratian. In 383 AD, it snapped, and Magnus Maximus was proclaimed Emperor by his troops. Thereon he became *Flavius* Magnus Maximus *Augustus*. Magnus left Britain with all the Roman troops, local Romano-British levies, governors, and even young men.

With the troops and governors gone, Britain needed to be reorganised. Magnus planned on making it the heart of his operations as King of all Britain. He transferred authority to local rulers. One of these was probably Coel Hen. He then set off with his troops, accompanied by his son Victor and his wife's cousin Conan Meriadoc.

They went through Europe, and his Magister Militum Andragathius betrayed and killed the Emperor Gratian, making Maximus sole Emperor in the west.

He then settled Conan as a leader of Brittany, probably as a reward for his service, and also settled his troops there, from Mons Iovis to Cruc Occident.

Maximus also established a military base in his native Gallaecia, despite the Germanic invasions there.

He was also baptised a Christian.

He proclaimed Victor an Augustus in 384 AD.

In 386 AD, the Emperor in the East Theodosius acknowledged Magnus and Victor as Augusti.

## Personality

Magnus firmly believed people should wield power only if they deserve it. He was ostensibly tolerant, as amongst his friends he counted Gildo, an African Berber, and Andragathius, a Goth. One of his allies was Fraomar, an Alemmanic.

## Relationships

### Wives

**Ceindrych:** His first wife, who died in childbirth.

**Helena:** Magnus married Helena shortly after Ceindrych's death.

### Children

**Victor:** As his eldest son, Magnus proclaimed him co-emperor.

### Friends

**Gildo:** After meeting him in Africa, Gildo became a close friend of Magnus, who he allowed to become the ruler of Africa.

## References

1. ↑ Gildas, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, 6th Century
2. ↑ This is born out by a lack of archaeological Roman presence after 383, a dissapearance of most circulating coinage, and also poems such as *Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig.*
3. ↑ This comes into conflict with the *Dream of Macsen Wledig*, which states that Conanus killed Gratian and was given Brittany as a gift.
4. ↑ Nennius, Historia Brittonum, 9th century. *"The seventh emperor was Maximianus, He withdrew from Britain with all its military force, slew Gratianus the king of the Romans, and obtained the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to send back his warlike companions to their wives, families, and possessions in Britain, he conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of Mons Iovis, to the city called Cant Guic, and to the western Tumulus, that is Cruc Occident. These are the Armoric Britons, and they remain there to the present day. In consequence of their absence, Britain being overcome by foreign nations, the lawful heirs were cast out, till God interposed with his assistance."*
5. ↑ Even skeptical historians believe that this idea of mass British troop settlement in Brittany by Maximus may very well reflect some reality, as it accords with archaeological and other historical evidence and later Breton traditions.
6. ↑ Near contemporaries described his dignity as offended when lesser men were promoted to high positions.