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Virtually every Roman Emperor contended with at least one significant rival who had an ostensible claim to their throne. These so-called usurpers played a significant role in the Empire’s history. At minimum, dealing with usurpers gained an Emperor’s attention, usually at the expense of other, pressing domestic or foreign matters. Some usurpers even managed to start their own (temporary) realm, for example Postumus and his Romano-Gallic Empire. It was not unusual for several usurpers to arise around the same time. Oftentimes, there was a very fine line between usurper and Emperor.
Many of these elements apply to the usurper Flavius Magnus Magnentius Augustus (303 – 353 AD). Magnentius was born in Gaul of Frankish descent, soon after the demise of Postumus’ breakaway Romano-Gallic Empire. He forged a career in the Roman military, serving under Augustus Constantine I. After the latter’s death in 337 AD, Magnentius remained in military service in the western portions of the Empire, which fell under the reign of Constantine’s youngest son, Constans. Meanwhile, Constantius II was Augustus over the eastern provinces of the Empire. By this time, Magnentius had been elevated to commander of the Herculians and Jovians, two elite legions originally commissioned by Diocletian as imperial guards.
Constans became increasingly unpopular, particularly with his military. Over time, he gained a reputation for avarice and cruelty. Histories – mostly recorded after the fact - charge Constans with everything from corruption to sexual exploitation of male barbarian slaves including pederasty. In 350 AD, the troops at Augustodunum decided that they preferred Magnentius for their Emperor. With this news, Constans’ support completely collapsed, and he fled, only to be cornered and slain by Magnentius’ supporters.
Although his background and social standing appeared to officially disqualified him, Magnentius soon had the endorsement of Britannia, Gaul, and Hispania. During his reign, Magnentius had several rival usurpers to deal with. In Rome, Nepotianus, son of Constantine’s half sister, claimed the throne for several weeks before being killed by one Magnentius’ generals. A more significant rival was Vetranio, commander of the Pannonian army, whom Magnentius unsuccessfully tried to recruit to his cause. Eventually, Vetranio turned down the offer, and conceded his armies to Constantius II. Magnentius looked for other strategies to gain support. He named his relative Decentius as Caeasar, leaving him to defend Gaul, under pressure from Germanic tribes roused by Constantius II. Magnentius even tried to marry Constantius’ sister, Constantina.
Of course, Magnentius also struck coins to drum up support. He produced coins for Constantius II, as well as for himself, such as this silvered Aquileia centenionalis struck in 350-351 AD. The obverse depiction of Magnentius is unusually Frankish, at least compared to most of his coinage, where he appears more Roman. On the verso, the nimbate Emperor, on horseback, thrusts a spear at his pitiable enemy, whose horse, spear, and shield, are broken. The motif is Magnentius’ own adaptation of the fallen horseman, popular on Constantius II’s coinage. Magnentius’ halo indicates his power and glory, and also invokes his Christianity (although he was quite tolerant of other religions). The legend GLORIA ROMANORVM promotes the glory of Rome, clearly an attempt to gain support of the people and the military at the heart of his realm.
None of this influenced Constantius II, who refused all Magenentius’ attempts at reconciliation. In 351 AD, the forces of the eastern and western Roman Empires met in battle at Mursa, Pannonia, which turned out to be one of bloodiest in all Roman history. Both sides took heavy casualties, in the many tens of thousands, and Magnentius was forced to retreat back to Rome. Constantius II kept on the offensive. Although Magnentius had some success in defending Italy, for example at the Battle of Pavia, he eventually lost local support, forcing a further retreat to Gaul, which, along with perhaps Britannia, was the remaining extent of his influence. Acknowledging the inevitable, Magnentius fell on his own sword in 353 AD.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Magnentius, 350-353 AD, AE2 (Billon centenionalis) (25 mm, 4.55 g, 6 h), Struck in Aquileia, 3rd officina, 350-351 AD, NGC Grade: AU, Surface: 5/5, Strike: 5/5, Obverse: Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, DN MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, A to field in left, Reverse: Emperor, nimbate, on horseback right, thrusting spear at enemy standing before him; below horse, broken spear and shield, GLORIA ROMANORVM, * in field to right, above, AQT dot in exergue, References: RIC VIII 158; Bastien 316; LRBC 899.