Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Late Empire| ▸ |Magnus Maximus||View Options: ![]() ![]() In July 383, the Roman troops in Britain, proclaimed general Magnus Maximus emperor. He immediately invaded Gaul, and drove Gratian before him until the latter was overrun and assassinated. After negotiations, Theodosius I recognized Magnus Maximus and his son, Flavius Victor, as emperors in Britannia and Gaul. Gratian's brother Valentinian II retained Italy, Pannonia, Hispania, and Africa. In 386 A.D., driven by reckless greed, Magnus Maximus invaded Italy, driving out Valentinian II, who fled to Theodosius I in Thessalonica. Theodosius marched west commanding an army of Goths, Huns and Alans and defeated Magnus Maximus at the Battle of the Save. On 28 August 388, Magnus Maximus surrendered at Aquileia and was executed. That fall, Theodosius' general Arbogast went to Trier and strangled young Flavius Victor. Valentinian II was restored as the Western Roman Emperor. |