Magnentius

Magnentius

▪ Roman emperor
in full  Flavius Magnus Magnentius  
died Aug. 11, 353, Gaul

      usurping Roman emperor from Jan. 18, 350, to Aug. 11, 353. His career forms one episode in the struggles for imperial power that occurred after the death of Constantine the Great (ruled 306–337).

      Magnentius was a pagan of German descent who had achieved distinction as a soldier before having himself proclaimed emperor on Jan. 18, 350, at Augustodunum (modern Autun, France). Immediately he engineered the murder of Constans (Constans I) (sole ruler in the West from 340 to 350) and assumed control of the western half of the empire. In June 350 he crushed Nepotianus, who had declared himself emperor at Rome. To win the support of the Roman Senate, still largely pagan, in 331 he revoked Constantine's prohibition of nocturnal sacrifices. His coinage, however, shows that he was still officially Christian. His chief opponent was Constantius II, ruler of the Eastern Empire. Failing to win recognition from Constantius, Magnentius allied himself with the commander of the Danubian troops, Vetranio, who had proclaimed himself emperor on March 1, 350. This arrangement ended quickly with the abrupt overthrow of Vetranio by Constantius. In 351 Magnentius repulsed Constantius at Atrans, and advanced into the province of Pannonia Inferior. Constantius rallied and, on Sept. 28, 351, severely defeated Magnentius at the Battle of Mursa (modern Osijek, Croatia). He then invaded Italy, whereupon Magnentius fell back to Gaul and, to avoid capture, committed suicide.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Magnentius — Centeni …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Magnentĭus — Magnentĭus, Flavius Magnus, ein Franke aus Gallien, gewann bei Kaiser Constans durch Tapferkeit großes Ansehen u. wurde zum Befehlshaber der kaiserlichen Leibgarden, der Jovianer u. Herculianer, ernannt; 350 n. Chr. ermordete er den Constans u.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Magnentĭus — Magnentĭus, Flavius Magnus M., röm. Kaiser 350–353, von Geburt ein Franke aus Gallien, stieß 350 in Augustodunum (Autun) als germanischer Truppenführer mit Hilfe des Marcellinus den verhaßt gewordenen Constans vom Thron und wurde in Gallien,… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • MAGNENTIUS — natione Barbarus, Roman. Imperat. an. Urb. Cond. 1103. Coronam Augustoduni, in Galliâ, arripuit, A. C. 350. Constantemqueve Imperat. in Ruscinonensi Comitatu interfici iussit. Dein Africâ, Italiâ et Galliâ potitus, usque in Noricum et Pannoniam… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Magnentius — Flavius Magnus Magnentius usurper of the Roman Empire Although Magnentius restored certain rights to the Pagans, the reverse of this coin bears a prominent Christian chi rho …   Wikipedia

  • Magnentius —    Usurper (350 353) who killed Constans I (q.v.) in battle in 350, and took over the western empire after defeating rival Nepotianus. Constantius II (q.v.) defeated him at Mursa in 351, after which Magnentius lost Italy (q.v.) in 352.… …   Historical dictionary of Byzantium

  • Magnentius, B. — B. Magnentius (4. Jan.), Erzbischof von Mainz. S. B. Rhabanus …   Vollständiges Heiligen-Lexikon

  • Magnentius — Magnẹntius,   Flavius Mạgnus, römischer Gegenkaiser (seit 350), * wohl Ambianum (heute Amiens), ✝ Lugdunum (heute Lyon) 10. 8. 353; war britisch fränkischer Herkunft; erhob sich als hoher Offizier (Comes) 350 in Gallien (Augustodunum/Autun)… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Magnus Magnentius — Magnentius Flavius Magnus Magnentius (* um 303 wohl in Ambianum, heute Amiens; † 10. August 353 in Lugdunum, heute Lyon) war römischer Gegenkaiser von 350 bis 353. Er war wohl britisch fränkischer Herkunft und diente als Offizier in der römischen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Flavius Magnentius — Magnence Magnence Usurpateur romain …   Wikipédia en Français

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