In order to enable them to look after such extensive territories, they assumed two partners, Severus and Maximian, so that the Roman empire was now gov erned by four individuals possessed of supreme power. The conduct of Constantius did not disappoint the ex pectations of his friends. He treated the Christians with peculiar humanity; and when he had been per suaded to displace those officers of his household who would not renounce the Christian faith, he sent away in disgrace those who were disposed to renounce it, and declared that they could never be faithful to their prince who were not steady to their God.
When Constantius went over into Britain, he took up his residence at York; but being there taken ill, he sent for his son Constantine with the view of appoint ing him his successor. Constantine arrived when all hopes of his father's recovery were at an end, but the dying emperor was still able to give many useful in structions to his son, and to recommend the Christians to his special protection. After bequeathing to him the empire, he expired in the arms of his son.
When Galerius was informed of the death of his colleague, and of the advancement of Constantine, he could scarcely restrain himself from some act of vio lence; but he was at last induced to send the ensigns of royalty to Constantine, though he at the same time declared Severus to be the successor of Constantine. In this emergency Maxentius, a favourite of the king, but a person of low origin, usurped the imperial power. Severus conducted a numerous army against the usurper, but they abandoned him as soon as they reached the gates of Rome, and mortified at their de fection, he put an end to his existence by bleeding him self to death. Intent upon revenge, Galerius marched into Italy, and appointed Licinius in the room of Seve rus; but he was soon seized with an extraordinary dis ease, which cut him off after suffering great agonies, and which the Christians ascribed to the cruelties which he had exercised against them.
The empire was now in the possession of four claim ants; of Maxentius, who commanded in Rome, of Li cinius who governed in theEast, of Maximus, who had been declared Cvsar along with Severus, and who also ruled some of the eastern provinces, and of Constan tine, who succeeded to his father.
When Constantine was conducting his army to Rome, to oppose the tyranny of Maxentius, he saw the celebrated vision of the cross which converted hint to Christianity, and of which we have given an account in our life of CONSTANTINE. After defeating and killing Maxentius, Maximus, and Licinius, Constantine re stored tranquillity to the empire, established Chris tianity as the national religion, and transferred the seat of government from Rome to Constantinople.* After the death of Constantine, the Roman empire was divided, at his desire, among his three sons, Con stantine, Constans, and Constantius. To the eldest, Constantine, he gave Gaul, Spain, and Britain; to the second, Constantius, Asia, Syria, and Egypt; and to the youngest, Constans, Illyricum, Italy, and Africa. To his nephew, Da!matins, Constantine had bequeath ed Thrace, Macedon and Achaia; and to his other ne phew, king Annibalianus, Armenia Minor, Pontus, Cappadocia, and the city of Ca:sarea. The senate and army, however, proclaimed the three sons of Constan tine emperors, without paying any attention to his two nephews, who, along with Julius Constantino, Con stantine's brother, and all their friends and adherents, were soon after murdered. Gallus and Julian, two of the sons of Julius Constantius, were alone saved; the former from his being afflicted with a severe malady, and the other on account of his infancy.
Not contented with his own dominions, Constantine invaded the dominions of Constans, and made himself master of several towns in Italy. Constans marched his army into the field, and Constantine having fallen into an ambuscade near Aquileia, was cut off with his whole army. His body was thrown into the river Ansa, but was afterwards interred near his father's grave in Con stantinople.
For a period of ten years Constans retained the un disturbed possession of the western empire; but his indolence having brought him into contempt with his army, Magnentius, a German, revolted against him. and having seized upon the imperial palace at Actium, be acquired some temporary popularity by distributing among the populace the plunder of the palace. Con stans fled into Spain, but being pursued by Gaiso with a body of troops, he was slain near Helena, a small village at the foot of the Pyrenees.