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During this period many tyrants rebelled against Honorius in the
Western government. Some fell upon one another, while others were
apprehended in a marvelous way, and so evidenced that the Divine love
toward Honorius was not common. The soldiers in Britain were the
first to rise up in sedition, and they proclaimed Mark as tyrant.
Afterwards, however, they slew Mark, and proclaimed Gratian.
Within four months subsequently they killed Gratian, and elected
Constantine in his place, imagining that, on account of his name, he
would be able to reduce the empire firmly under his authority; and for
no other reason than this, several other persons of the same name were
elected to the tyranny. Constantine passed over from Britain to
Bononia, a maritime city of Gaul; and after inducing all the troops
in Gaul and Aquitania to espouse his cause, he reduced to obedience l
the inhabitants of the regions extending to the mountains which divide
Italy from Gaul, and which the Romans have named the Cottian
Alps. He then sent his oldest son, Constans, whom he had already
nominated Caesar, and whom he afterwards proclaimed emperor, into
Spain. Constans, after making himself master of this province, and
appointing his own governors over it, commanded that Didymus and
Verinian, relatives of Honorius, should be loaded with chains, and
brought before him. Didymus and Verinian had at first differed among
themselves, but a reconciliation was effected between them, when they
found themselves menaced by the same danger. They combined their
forces, which consisted. chiefly of armed peasants and slaves. They
attacked Lusitania in common, and slew many of the soldiers sent by
the tyrant for their capture.
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