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Magnentius in the meanwhile having made himself master of the imperial
city Rome, put to death many members of the senatorial council, as
well as many of the populace. But as soon as the commanders under
Constantius had collected an army of Romans, and commenced their
march against him, he left Rome, and retired into the Gauls. There
several battles were fought, sometimes to the advantage of one party,
and sometimes to that of the other: but at last Magnentius having been
defeated near Mursa--a fortress of Gaul- was there closely
besieged. In this place the following remarkable incident is said to
have occurred. Magnentius desiring to reassure the courage of his
soldiers who were disheartened by their late overthrow, ascended a
lofty tribunal for this purpose. They, wishing to give utterance to
the usual acclamation with which they greet emperors, contrary to their
intention simultaneously all shouted the name not of Magnentius, but
of Constantius Augustus. Regarding this as an omen unfavorable to
himself, Magnentius immediately withdrew from the fortress, and
retreated to the remotest parts of Gaul. Thither the generals of
Constantius hastened in pursuit. An engagement having again taken
place near Mount Seleucus, Magnentius was totally routed, and fled
alone to Lyons, a city of Gaul, which is distant three days'
journey from the fortress at Mursa. Magnentius, having reached this
city, first slew his own mother; then having killed his brother also,
whom he had created Caesar, he at last committed suicide by falling on
his own sword. This happened in the sixth consulate of Constantius,
and the second of Constantius Gallus, on the fifteenth day of
August. Not long after, the other brother of Magnentius, named
Decentius, put an end to his own life by hanging himself. Such was
the end of the enterprises of Magnentius. The affairs of the empire
were not altogether quieted; for soon after this another usurper arose
whose name was Silvanus: but the generals of Constantius speedily put
him also out of the way, whilst raising disturbances in Gaul.
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