Severus, at the head of an army…

Emperor Hui is poisoned in 307, and his brother, Emperor Huai, ascends the throne.

Sima Ying and Sima Yong are eventually captured and killed; Sima Yong dies on February 7, 307, which marks the official end of the struggle.

The resultant winner is the last surviving major prince, Sima Yue.

The struggle, which has depopulated northern China and greatly weakened the strength of the Jin Dynasty, has also triggered a large-scale uprising of the Wu Hu, a collective term for various non-Chinese steppe tribes, which had begun in 304.

Maxentius, fearing the arrival of Severus, offers to his father the co-rule of the Empire, allowing him to get back his title of augustus; Maximian accepts, and when Severus arrives under the walls of Rome and besieges the city, his men desert him and pass under Maximian.

Galerius invades Italy but is forced to retreat.

The new tetrarchy (two Augusti with a Caesar under each) begins to break down.

Maximian, reclaims the throne to support his son Maxentius' claim to be Caesar, but father and son soon quarrel.

Severus, forced to take refuge in Ravenna in an impregnable position, surrenders to Maximian on condition that his life be spared.

Offered safety by Maximian, Severus surrenders, being imprisoned in Tres Tabernae, near Rome, but when Galerius himself invades Italy in 307 to suppress both Maxentius and his father, Maxentius has Severus killed.

Constantine's Marriage to Fausta and the Repudiation of Minervina

As Constantine rose to power, he strategically aligned himself with the Tetrarchic ruling elite, particularly by marrying Fausta, the daughter of former Emperor Maximian, in 307 CE. To solidify this union, he repudiated his first wife, Minervina, the mother of his eldest son, Crispus.

1. The Political Significance of Constantine’s Marriage to Fausta

• Fausta was the daughter of Maximian, the former Western Augustus, and sister of Maxentius, who had seized power in Rome in 306 CE.
• By marrying Fausta, Constantine:
  • Forged an alliance with Maximian, strengthening his political legitimacy.
  • Secured ties with the Tetrarchic system, giving him greater standing among the ruling elite.
  • Positioned himself as a rightful contender for supreme power in the Western Roman Empire.

2. The Repudiation of Minervina

• Constantine had previously been married to Minervina, but little is known about her.
• She bore him a son, Crispus, who would later become one of Constantine’s most successful military commanders.
• It is unclear whether Minervina was a concubine or a legitimate wife, but her status was likely politically inconvenient after Constantine sought to marry into the imperial family.
• Following his marriage to Fausta, Constantine formally repudiated Minervina, though Crispus remained recognized as his legitimate son.

3. The Legacy of These Marriages

• Crispus rose to prominence as a skilled military leader, playing a key role in Constantine’s campaigns.
• Fausta, now empress, became a powerful figure at court, but her later involvement in court intrigues would lead to her execution in 326 CE.
• Constantine’s political marriages shaped his dynastic ambitions, reinforcing his status as a ruler who balanced military strength with strategic alliances.

This marriage alliance with Fausta strengthened Constantine’s path to ultimate power, helping him navigate the complex rivalries of the Tetrarchy, leading to his eventual domination of the Roman world.

Maximian seeks refuge in Gaul with Constantine, whom he has designated an Augustus.

Wang Jun's troops advance on the Jin capital Luoyang in 308, but are repelled.

This year, after capturing additional territory, Liu Yuan moves his capital to Puzi (in modern Linfen, Shanxi) and declares himself emperor, signifying an even more complete break from Jin.

Maxentius, the son of Maximian, at first controls Italy, Spain, and Africa, but the vicar of Africa, Lucius Domitius Alexander, revolts in 308 and proclaims himself Augustus.