for Britain, to repel an invasion of the
Caledonians. He reached York only to die, A.D. 306, and with his last
breath transmitted his empire to his son, and commended him to the
soldiers. Galerius was transported with rage, but was compelled to submit,
and named Constantine Caesar over the western provinces, who was not
elevated to the dignity of Augustus till two years later.

The elevation of Severus to supreme power in Italy by Galerius, filled the
abdicated emperor Maximian with indignation, and humiliated the Roman
people. The praetorians rose against the party of Severus, who retired to
Ravenna, and soon after committed suicide. The Senate assumed their old
prerogative, and conferred the purple on Maxentius, the son of Maximilian.
Galerius again assumed the power of nominating an Augustus, and bestowed
the purple, made vacant by the death of Severus, on an old comrade,
Licinius, originally a Dacian peasant.

(M1130) Thus, there were six emperors at a time; Constantine, in Britain;
Maximian, who resumed the purple; Maxentius, his son; Licinius Galerius,
in the East; and Maximin, his nephew. Maximian crossed the Alps in person,
won over Constantine to his party, and gave him his daughter, Fausta, in
marriage, and conferred upon him the rank of Augustus; so, in the West,
Maxentius and Constantine affected to be subordinate to Maximian; while,
in the East, Licinius and Maximin obeyed the orders of their benefactor,
Galerius. The sovereigns of the East and West were hostile to each other,
but their mutual fears produced an apparent tranquillity, and a feigned
reconciliation.

(M1131) The first actual warfare, however, broke out between Maximian and
his son. Maxentius insisted on the renewed abdication of his father, and
had the support of the praetorian guards. Driven into exile, he returned to
Gaul, and took refuge with his son and daughter, who received him kindly;
but in the absence of Constantine, he seized the treasure to bribe his
troops, and was holding communication with Maxentius when Constantine
returned from the Rhine. The old intriguer had only time to throw himself
into Marseilles, where he strangled himself, when the city was hard
pressed by Constantine, A.D. 310.

(M1132) In a year after, Galerius died, like Herod Agrippa, a prey to
loathsome vermin--morbus pediculosus, and his dominions were divided
between Maximin and Licinius, each of whom formed secret alliances with
Maxentius and Constantine, bet