Editing Battle of the Milvian Bridge (section)

==Events of the battle==
[[File:Arch of Constantine, Constantinian frieze, Battle of the Milvian Bridge.jpg|thumb|A contemporary image of the battle from the Arch of Constantine, Rome. In the frieze, Constantine's cavalry drive Maxentius' troops into the waters of the Tiber.|center|800x800px]]

Constantine reached Rome at the end of October 312 approaching along the [[Via Flaminia]]. He camped at the location of Malborghetto near [[Prima Porta]], where remains of a Constantinian monument, the [[Arch of Malborghetto]], which was built in honour of the occasion, are still extant.

It was expected that Maxentius would remain within Rome and endure a siege; he had successfully employed this strategy twice before, during the invasions of Severus and Galerius. Indeed, Maxentius had organised the stockpiling of large amounts of food in the city in preparation for such an event. Surprisingly, he decided otherwise, choosing to meet Constantine in open battle. Ancient sources commenting on these events attribute this decision either to [[Miracle|divine intervention]] (Lactantius and Eusebius, both of whom were Christians) or superstition (Zosimus, who was a [[pagan]]). They also note that the day of the battle was the same as the day of his accession (28 October), which was generally thought to be a good omen. Additionally, Maxentius is reported to have consulted the oracular [[Sibylline Books]], which stated that "on October 28 an enemy of the Romans would perish". Maxentius interpreted this prophecy as being favourable to himself.<ref>Pohlsander, p. 19</ref> Lactantius also reports that the populace supported Constantine with acclamations during circus games.<ref>Lactantius, 44.5–9.</ref> Maxentius chose to make his stand in front of the [[Milvian Bridge]], a stone bridge that carries the [[Via Flaminia]] road across the Tiber River into Rome (the bridge stands today at the same site, somewhat remodelled, named in Italian ''Ponte Milvio'' or sometimes ''Ponte Molle'', "soft bridge"). Holding it was essential if Maxentius was to keep his rival out of Rome, where the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] would surely favour whoever held the city. As Maxentius had probably partially destroyed the bridge during his preparations for a siege, he had a wooden or [[pontoon bridge]] constructed to get his army across the river. The sources vary as to the nature of the bridge central to the events of the battle. Zosimus mentions it, vaguely, as being constructed in two parts connected by iron fastenings, while others indicate that it was a pontoon bridge; sources are also unclear as to whether the bridge was deliberately constructed as a collapsible trap for Constantine's forces or not.<ref>Nixon and Rodgers, 319–320.</ref>

[[File:Battle of Constantine and Maxentius (detail-of-fresco-in-Vatican-Stanze) c1650 by Lazzaro Baldi after Giulio Romano at the University of Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''Battle of [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] and [[Maxentius]]'' (detail of fresco in the Vatican Museums) c1650 by [[Lazzaro Baldi]] after [[Giulio Romano (painter)|Giulio Romano]] at the University of Edinburgh]]
The next day, the two armies clashed, and Constantine won a decisive victory. The dispositions of Maxentius may have been faulty as his troops seem to have been arrayed with the River Tiber too close to their rear, giving them little space to allow re-grouping in the event of their formations being forced to give ground.<ref>Nixon and Rodgers, 319.</ref> Already known as a skillful general, Constantine first launched his cavalry at the cavalry of Maxentius and broke them. Constantine's infantry<ref>Speidel, p. 47. A relief on the [[Arch of Constantine]] shows soldiers wearing horned helmets, probably depicting the ''[[Cornuti]]'' unit.</ref> then advanced; most of Maxentius's troops fought well but they began to be pushed back toward the Tiber. Maxentius then decided to order a retreat, intending to make another stand at Rome itself. However, there was only one escape route, via the bridge. Constantine's men inflicted heavy losses on the retreating army.<ref>Zosimus, 2.16.2–4.</ref> Finally, the temporary bridge set up alongside the Milvian Bridge, over which many of the Maxentian troops were escaping, collapsed, and those stranded on the north bank of the Tiber were either taken prisoner or killed. Maxentius' [[Praetorian Guard]], who had originally acclaimed him emperor, seem to have made a stubborn stand on the northern bank of the river; "in despair of pardon they covered with their bodies the place which they had chosen for combat."<ref>Nixon and Rodgers, 320.</ref>

Maxentius was among the dead, having drowned in the river while trying to swim across it in an attempt to escape or, alternatively, he is described as having been thrown by his horse into the river.<ref>Lieu and Montserrat, 45.</ref> Lactantius describes the death of Maxentius in the following manner: "The bridge in his rear was broken down. At sight of that the battle grew hotter. The hand of the Lord prevailed, and the forces of Maxentius were routed. He fled towards the broken bridge; but the multitude pressing on him, he was driven headlong into the Tiber."<ref>Lactantius, 44.10–11.</ref>
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