The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - August 23, 2026


PREVIEW： Epochs #277 ｜ Constantine - Part 2


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Length

21 minutes

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160.01

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3,508

Sentence count

55

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3

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29

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Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
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00:00:00.000 Hello and welcome back to Epochs. If you remember, we were right in the middle of a series talking
00:00:24.980 all about Constantine the Great, Constantine the First, and we talked all about the generation
00:00:30.500 before him in the age of Diocletian and Maximian and Galerius and the various emperors, his father
00:00:38.980 Constantius and the Tetrarchy, the ruler of four emperors. Finally, last time, if you remember,
00:00:44.380 we were getting into Constantine himself, finally, that his father Constantius, the emperor in the
00:00:49.980 west he'd only been the senior emperor the augusti in the west for a brief period less than two years
00:00:55.820 he was up in britain roman britannia was up in york when he died of natural causes and that
00:01:04.700 constantine wasn't supposed to be the next emperor the emperor who really should have picked it was
00:01:10.520 galerius out in the east in the eastern roman world half the world away in there in the roman
00:01:17.140 the world but Constantine's men and the people of Britain if you believe the accounts had
00:01:23.960 proclaimed him emperor and so Galerius was obliged to accept that at least for now and if you remember
00:01:32.460 where we left off the story last time sort of in almost in the middle of events so let's pick up
00:01:38.780 directly from there just a little bit to say exactly where we were there was the one of the
00:01:45.300 more junior emperors in the West, called Maxentius, who was the son of the old Maximian.
00:01:52.800 Hopefully you'll remember all these names. Hopefully you're not just coming to this episode
00:01:57.300 without watching the previous ones. So you remember Diocletian's original co-emperor was
00:02:02.660 Maximian, a badass general's general type dude. He'd been forced to retire when Diocletian decided
00:02:08.740 he wanted to retire. Anyway, his son Maxentius had been a ruler in the West, and Constantine's
00:02:15.940 people, his soldiers, had proclaimed him as Augusti, senior emperor in the West. Can't have
00:02:22.060 two of those. So Galerius, even though he didn't want Constantine at all, said, okay, look, you can
00:02:27.400 be emperor. You'll have to be the junior Caesar, don't be the senior Augusti. Okay, and so Maxentius
00:02:34.200 Is supposed to be ruling in Italy
00:02:37.400 But he himself was a bit of a usurper
00:02:40.100 Who's supposed to be the most senior emperor now
00:02:43.000 Who's ruling in the east
00:02:44.960 So even though there's four emperors
00:02:47.120 There's still a hierarchy, right?
00:02:49.860 You've got two senior ones, the Augusti
00:02:51.840 Two junior ones, the Caesars
00:02:53.940 But of the two Augusti
00:02:55.640 There is a more senior one of the two still
00:02:58.260 Right?
00:02:59.120 In the age of Diocletian, it was Diocletian
00:03:00.980 Maximian was supposed to be a co-ruler with him
00:03:03.300 On paper, nominally, absolutely the same level of power
00:03:07.900 But in reality, Diocletian was the senior one
00:03:11.000 Well, now, Galerius is the most senior one
00:03:14.400 Galerius is the most powerful man in the Roman world
00:03:18.280 And his pick to be the senior Augusti in the West
00:03:23.680 If it's not going to be Constantine
00:03:25.480 He'll allow Constantine to be emperor, but only as the junior Caesar
00:03:28.740 So who is the senior Augusti in the West 0.83
00:03:31.660 Ruling from Italy usually
00:03:33.680 Perhaps from Rome or Ravenna itself
00:03:35.400 Well, Galerius wants this Severus
00:03:38.460 Remember we talked about Severus
00:03:39.820 But Maxentius, Maximian's son
00:03:42.880 Sort of claimed it for himself
00:03:44.580 And the people of Rome
00:03:47.300 The actual city of Rome itself
00:03:48.720 And the senatorial class for what it's worth
00:03:51.720 And the Praetorian Guard in Rome for what it's worth
00:03:54.000 At this point in time
00:03:55.800 Not anywhere near what it used to be
00:03:57.920 but still for what it's worth back to Maxentius as did his own father Maximian coming out of
00:04:02.540 retirement kind of a bit not completely officially but still nonetheless he's on the scene so looks
00:04:08.540 like there's going to be a showdown between Maxentius the usurper and Galerius's actual pick
00:04:13.880 to be the Augusti in the west Severus okay we should I should be reading from Edward Gibbons
00:04:20.040 the decline and fall of the Roman Empire and we'll let him pick up the story because he's a great
00:04:25.200 he's a great storyteller a great great writer the prose is amazing okay he says this quote
00:04:32.420 according to the advice or rather the orders of his colleague the emperor severus immediately
00:04:38.620 hastened to rome in the full confidence that by his unexpected celerity like speed rapidity
00:04:45.460 he should easily suppress the tumult of an unwarlike populace commanded by a licentious youth
00:04:52.460 That last century youth is this Maxentius we were talking about
00:04:55.300 The son of Maximian
00:04:57.760 And that the people of Rome nowadays
00:05:00.000 In the late 3rd century we're talking about 0.71
00:05:02.120 By now an unwarlike people
00:05:04.400 Used to luxury and pomp
00:05:06.360 But he found on his arrival
00:05:08.340 The gates of the city shut against him
00:05:10.920 The walls filled with men and arms
00:05:13.440 An experienced general at the head of the rebels
00:05:16.200 And his own troops without spirit or affection
00:05:19.260 A large body of moors
00:05:21.460 deserted to the enemy, allured by the promise of a large donative money. And if it be true that
00:05:28.240 they had been levied by Maximian in his African war, preferred the natural feeling of gratitude
00:05:34.200 to the artificial tires of allegiance. A big body of Moors, North Africans, were ultimately loyal to 0.92
00:05:42.200 Maximian and therefore Maxentius's usurpation rather than Severus. So that's bad. Not going 1.00
00:05:48.860 Well for Galerius' pick
00:05:50.280 And goes on
00:05:51.260 Anulianus, the Praetorian prefect
00:05:54.180 Declared himself in favour
00:05:56.780 Of Maxentius and drew
00:05:58.660 After him the most considerable part
00:06:00.640 Of the troops accustomed to obey
00:06:02.580 His commands. Rome, according
00:06:04.620 To the expression of an orator
00:06:06.280 Recalled her armies and the
00:06:08.540 Unfortunate Severus, destitute
00:06:10.840 Of force and of counsel
00:06:12.660 Retired, or rather fled
00:06:14.560 With precipitation to Ravenna
00:06:16.840 In northern Italy
00:06:18.860 Here he might have for some time been safe. The fortifications of Ravenna were able to resist the attempts, and the morasses swamps that surround the town were sufficient to prevent the approach of the Italian army, which Severus commanded with a powerful fleet, secured him an inexhaustible supply of provisions, and gave a free entrance to the legions which, on the return of spring, would advance to his assistance from Illyricum and the east.
00:06:48.860 Because Galerius wants this guy, Severus.
00:06:50.720 He doesn't want Maxentius and, by extension, Maximian.
00:06:56.700 So he's going to be prepared to send provisions and supplies and even armies from the east.
00:07:01.540 Gibbon goes on saying,
00:07:02.640 Maximian, who conducted the siege in person, the siege of Ravenna, where Severus was holding up,
00:07:08.120 was soon convinced that he might waste his time and his army in the fruitless enterprise
00:07:12.940 and that he had nothing to hope either from force or famine.
00:07:17.020 Yeah, Ravenna is known, the fortress city of Ravenna is known famously as almost impossible to take by siege
00:07:23.960 Can't really besiege it because of the geography
00:07:27.440 Perhaps we'll go into the detail of that at a later time
00:07:30.940 For centuries that was the case
00:07:32.800 With an art more suitable to the character of Diocletian than to his own
00:07:38.360 He directed his attack not so much against the walls of Ravenna as against the mind of Severus
00:07:44.260 The treachery which he had experienced disposed that unhappy prince to distrust the most sincere
00:07:50.840 of his friends and adherents. The emissaries of Maximian easily persuaded his credulity
00:07:56.620 that a conspiracy was formed to betray the town and prevailed upon his fears not to expose himself
00:08:04.300 to the discretion of an irritated conqueror, but to accept the faith of an honourable capitulation.
00:08:11.020 He was at first received with humility and treated with respect
00:08:14.980 Maximian conducted the captive emperor to Rome
00:08:17.980 And gave him the most solemn assurances 0.63
00:08:20.000 That he had secured his life by the resignation of the purple
00:08:23.960 That Severus could obtain only an easy death
00:08:26.960 And an imperial funeral
00:08:28.700 When the sentence was signified to him
00:08:31.240 The manner of executing it was left to his own choice
00:08:34.300 He preferred the favourite mode of the ancients
00:08:37.320 That of opening his veins
00:08:39.320 and as soon as he expired his body was carried to the sepulchre which had been constructed for
00:08:45.680 the family of Gallienus and his father Maximian the real power couldn't really have Severus still
00:08:52.060 running around being alive whilst he was it would always be a standard for their enemies to rally
00:08:58.800 around and Galerius would always claim that he's the legit emperor so while he lived their power
00:09:04.100 couldn't be secure, so he had to go. Though the characters of Constantine and Maxentius had very
00:09:10.540 little affinity with each other, their situation and interest were the same, i.e. trying to secure
00:09:17.060 power for themselves, not necessarily the most perfect and legit legal basis, and Galerius not
00:09:23.880 being happy with them. Neither of them are Galerius's pick. And prudence seemed to require
00:09:29.540 That they should unite their forces against the common enemy 1.00
00:09:32.940 That's both barbarians and Galerius 0.99
00:09:35.640 Notwithstanding the superiority of his age and dignity 0.97
00:09:39.140 The indefatigable Maximian passed the Alps 0.67
00:09:42.780 And courting a personal interview with the sovereign of Gaul
00:09:46.340 Carried with him his daughter Fausta
00:09:49.240 As the pledge of the new alliance
00:09:51.560 The alliance between Maximian and his son
00:09:54.460 Nominally the actual emperor Maxentius
00:09:56.960 And Constantine
00:09:58.540 and marry his daughter to Constantine. Gibbon tells us that the marriage was celebrated at Arles
00:10:05.340 with every circumstance of magnificence and the ancient colleague of Diocletian, this Maximian,
00:10:11.620 father of Maxentius, who again asserted his claim to the Western Empire, conferred on his son-in-law
00:10:17.800 Constantine and ally the title of Augustus. That's weird, isn't his own son supposed to be the
00:10:24.400 Augustus isn't Constantine just supposed to be the Caesar but now Maximian himself is saying
00:10:30.660 Constantine is the Augustus in the West it's getting more and more complicated isn't it more
00:10:35.800 and more people claiming the most senior roles for themselves given continues by saying by
00:10:41.520 consenting to receive that honor of of the Augusti from Maximian Constantine seemed to embrace the
00:10:49.520 calls of Rome and of the Senate i.e. against Galerius and the Eastern Roman world at this
00:10:54.060 point but his professions were ambiguous and his assistance slow and ineffectual with helping
00:11:01.520 Maximian and Maxentius in any and all troubles they might have in Italy he said he would help
00:11:08.360 them out but but his assistance was slow and ineffectual he considered with attention the
00:11:13.580 approaching contest between the masters of Italy and the emperor of the east and was prepared to
00:11:19.440 consult his own safety or ambition in the event of the war. He's got to put himself first and his
00:11:25.060 armies first, really. Galerius is not going to want Maximian through Maxentius to be ruler in
00:11:33.100 the West, or Constantine. He can't really have either of those guys basically ruling half of
00:11:39.500 the empire he considers his, because they're not going to play ball. They've set up flags in their
00:11:45.000 own right they're going to do what they want when they want not take any orders from him so
00:11:49.060 Golaris isn't going to want that so there may well be a war well there will be a war a civil war
00:11:54.880 again back to the dark days of the crisis of the third century you know all of Diocletian's work
00:12:01.280 of creating this tetrarchy falling apart these four men that will all work in unison will all
00:12:07.460 be singing from the same hymn sheet at the same time will be as of one mind on policy at all times
00:12:12.660 No, that's falling apart very quickly
00:12:16.280 Gibbon goes on telling us this
00:12:19.320 Quote
00:12:19.660 The importance of the occasion called for the presence and abilities of Galerius
00:12:24.300 At the head of a powerful army collected from Illyricum and the east
00:12:28.680 He entered Italy, resolved to revenge the death of Severus 0.80
00:12:32.680 And to chastise the rebellious Romans
00:12:35.060 Or, as he expressed his intentions 0.90
00:12:37.840 In the furious language of a barbarian 0.99
00:12:40.440 To extirpate the senate 1.00
00:12:42.140 And to destroy the people by the sword
00:12:44.640 The people of Rome itself 0.92
00:12:45.760 But the skill of Maximian 0.63
00:12:48.180 Had concerted a prudent system of defence 0.93
00:12:50.980 The invader Galerius
00:12:52.700 The Roman emperor in the east
00:12:54.420 Is nominally supposed to be
00:12:55.860 The ruler of the whole Roman world really
00:12:58.120 Is invading Italy and trying to attack Rome itself 1.00
00:13:01.120 But we told that Maximian
00:13:03.100 Is an old soldier 0.97
00:13:04.220 We told the invader Galerius
00:13:06.820 Found every place hostile
00:13:08.700 fortified and inaccessible and though he forced his way as far as Narni within 60 miles of Rome
00:13:16.460 his dominion in Italy was confined to the narrow limits of his camp. Sensible of the increasing
00:13:23.260 difficulties of his enterprise the haughty Galerius made the first advances towards a reconciliation
00:13:29.040 and dispatched two of his most considerable officers to tempt the Roman princes by the
00:13:35.740 offer of a conference and the declaration of his paternal regard for Maxentius who might obtain
00:13:42.740 much more from his liberality than he would hope from the doubtful chance of war the offers of
00:13:48.800 Galerius were rejected with firmness his perfidious friendship refused with contempt and it was not
00:13:55.940 long before he discovered that unless he provided for his safety by a timely retreat he had some
00:14:02.460 reason to apprehend the fate of Severus. The wealth which the Romans defended against his
00:14:08.440 rapacious tyranny, they freely contributed for his destruction. So let's just take note of what 0.96
00:14:14.960 happened there. Galerius, the emperor of the east, decided he couldn't have Maximian and Maxentius
00:14:20.160 running around in Italy, in central Europe, being their own masters. So he tried to, in fact, or did
00:14:26.360 invade Italy, got within 60 miles of Rome, realized it wasn't going well for him, he wouldn't win this
00:14:31.540 war so sued for peace sued for at least sitting down and having a conference and talking turkey
00:14:38.260 trying to get some sort of uh agreement in place and was firmly told no no no no you just tried
00:14:45.000 to invade us and now you see now you can't claim you won't win so why should we sit down with you
00:14:49.200 and make a peace deal with you no in fact you best turn tail and run away now otherwise we will beat 0.99
00:14:54.420 you and kill you so terrible reversal for Galerius only like two years before three years before he 0.99
00:15:01.220 thought he had everything sewn up he thought he would be the sole ruler really nominally or de 1.00
00:15:06.920 facto he would be the sole ruler of the entire Roman world now well he's basically lost half the
00:15:12.340 Roman world it doesn't obey any of his commands or anything at all he will have to turn tail and
00:15:18.640 flee Italy for his life basically Gibbon goes on telling us this the name of Maximian the popular
00:15:25.600 arts of his son the secret distribution of large sums and the promise of still more liberal rewards
00:15:31.880 checked the ardor and corrupted the fidelity of the illyrian legions the ones that are supposed
00:15:37.260 to be loyal to galerius and when galerius at length gave the signal of the retreat it was
00:15:42.620 with some difficulty that he could prevail on his veterans not to desert a banner which had so often
00:15:48.820 conducted them to victory and honor so galerius just about got out of out of that situation
00:15:54.160 He came very, very, very close to his own men
00:15:56.960 Just completely turning against him
00:15:58.800 Whilst still in Italy
00:16:00.340 And, well, it would have been all over for him at that point 0.93
00:16:02.440 It probably almost certainly would have just been murdered by them
00:16:04.420 Very, very narrowly escaped Galerius there
00:16:07.340 At that point in time
00:16:08.300 Gibbon continues saying this
00:16:10.280 A contemporary writer assigns
00:16:13.340 Two other causes for the failure of the expedition
00:16:16.280 But they are both of such a nature
00:16:18.820 That a cautious historian will scarcely venture to adopt them
00:16:22.440 We are told that Galerius, who had formed a very imperfect notion of the greatness of Rome
00:16:27.960 by the cities of the east with which he was acquainted, found his forces inadequate to the
00:16:33.280 siege of that immense capital, but the extent of a city serves only to render it more accessible to
00:16:39.360 the enemy. Rome had long since been accustomed to submit on the approach of a conqueror, nor could
00:16:45.240 the temporary enthusiasm of the people have long contended against the discipline and valour of
00:16:50.240 the legions we are likewise informed that the legions themselves were struck with horror and
00:16:55.260 remorse and that those pious sons of the republic refused to violate the sanctity of their venerable
00:17:01.900 parent but when we recollect with how much ease in the more ancient civil wars the zeal of party
00:17:09.180 and the habits of military obedience had converted the native citizens of rome into her most 0.81
00:17:14.740 implacable enemies we shall be inclined to distrust this extreme delicacy of strangers and barbarians
00:17:21.360 who had never beheld Italy till they entered it in a hostile manner i.e. what Edward Gibbon is
00:17:27.100 saying there in a late 18th century roundabout way he's saying that some historians have said
00:17:32.880 that when Galerius and his eastern legions entered Italy and came within 60 miles of Rome suddenly
00:17:38.400 they got cold feet and they're like oh we can't we can't try and attack and sack Rome or do
00:17:44.700 anything bad to Rome because it's the mother city it's like you know it's the font of our
00:17:48.540 whole civilization and it would just be wrong and impious and and we can't do that that they
00:17:54.100 suddenly decided that when they got within 60 miles of Rome and Gibbon saying yeah I don't
00:17:59.040 believe that historians of ancient historians medieval historians have said that's a thing a
00:18:03.640 possibility that might have happened but he Gibbon just doesn't believe it Romans much less eastern
00:18:10.700 Romans that had never even been to Italy or seen Rome. Romans, four centuries and centuries,
00:18:14.940 had no real qualms on marching on their own city, partially burning it down, killing loads of their 0.98
00:18:20.420 own citizens. Romans hadn't had a problem with that for really four centuries, since the age of,
00:18:25.360 well, since the age of Sulla and Marius, really. So don't tell me Galerius's legions suddenly got
00:18:31.840 cold feet. Okay, anyway, an interesting note. Gibbon continues telling us this. Had they,
00:18:38.360 Galerius's eastern legions not been restrained by motives of a more interested nature they would
00:18:44.140 probably have answered Galerius in the words of Caesar's veterans and then Gibbon quotes Caesar's
00:18:50.480 veterans who were supposed to have said this if our general wishes that to lead us to the banks
00:18:54.820 of the Tiber which is the river that runs through the middle of Rome the Tiber we are prepared to
00:18:59.400 trace out his camp whatsoever walls he has determined to level to the ground our hands are
00:19:05.640 ready to work the engines nor shall we hesitate should the name of the devoted city be Rome
00:19:11.640 itself end quote Gibbon goes on saying these are indeed the expressions of a poet but of a poet
00:19:18.220 who has been distinguished and even censured for his strict adherence to the truth of history
00:19:24.380 and that's the ancient poet Lucan by the way Gibbon continues saying the legions of Galerius
00:19:30.120 exhibited a very melancholy proof of their disposition by the ravages which they committed
00:19:35.620 in their retreat. They murdered, they ravished, they plundered, they drove away the flocks and
00:19:41.200 herds of the Italians, they burnt the villages through which they passed, and they endeavoured 0.99
00:19:46.380 to destroy the country which it had not been in their power to subdue. During the whole march 1.00
00:19:52.700 Maxentius hung on their rear, but he very prudently declined a general engagement with those brave and
00:19:59.180 desperate veterans yeah the veterans of illyricum particularly were considered very very very good
00:20:04.880 and veteran and you know knew their business and everything so not to be trifled with unnecessarily
00:20:10.040 given says his father maxentius his father maximian his father had undertaken a second
00:20:16.000 journey into gaul with the hope of persuading constantine who had assembled an army on the
00:20:21.080 frontier to join the pursuit and to complete the victory but the actions of constantine
00:20:25.960 Were guided by reason
00:20:27.380 And not by resentment
00:20:28.680 He persisted, Constantine
00:20:30.540 Persisted in the wise resolution
00:20:32.640 Of maintaining a balance of power
00:20:34.400 In the divided empire
00:20:35.720 And he no longer hated Galerius
00:20:37.760 When that aspiring prince
00:20:39.400 Had ceased to be an object of terror
00:20:41.260 So Maximian saying to Constantine
00:20:44.120 Come and join us 0.96
00:20:45.040 We can finish off Galerius
00:20:46.340 Between us we could march all the way
00:20:48.560 To Antioch or wherever
00:20:50.100 Between us we can
00:20:51.320 We can conquer the eastern Roman world 1.00
00:20:53.240 He just tried to conquer us 1.00
00:20:54.720 Failed
00:20:55.460 quite badly failed if we join up now we could probably take him out let's do it and Constantine
00:21:01.280 says no thanks not right now it's a pass I'm afraid it's not that I don't necessarily want
00:21:06.620 to but it's just it's not the right moment for me Constantine it's a that's a bit of a gamble
00:21:13.080 at this moment in time so thanks for the offer but it's got to be a no we hope you enjoyed that
00:21:19.440 video and if you did please head over to lotusseaters.com for the full unabridged video
00:21:25.460 Thank you.