Editing Magnus Maximus (section)

===Rebellion and bid for the throne===
The Western emperor [[Gratian]] had received a number of [[Alans]] into his bodyguard, and was accused of showing favouritism towards these [[Indo-Iranian languages|Iranian]] speaking foreigners at the expense of Roman citizens.<ref name="The Cambridge Medieval History 1924 p. 238"/> In 383, the discontented Roman army proclaimed Maximus emperor in Gratian's place. [[Orosius]], who wrote that Maximus was "an energetic and able man and one worthy of the throne had he not risen to it by usurpation, contrary to his oath of allegiance," claimed that he was proclaimed emperor against his will,<ref>Orosius, ''Historium adversum paganos'' 7.34.9</ref> but [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] portrays him as inciting the troops to rebel against Gratian, as he was upset about Theodosius becoming emperor while he himself was not promoted.<ref>Zosimus, ''Historia Nova'' 4.35.2-3</ref> Stephen Williams and Gerard Friell preferred the latter version, based on the rapid success of the revolt.{{Sfn|Williams|Friell|1994|p=37}}

Maximus went to [[Gaul]] to pursue his imperial ambitions, taking a large portion of the British garrison with him.<ref name="The Cambridge Medieval History 1924 p. 238"/> After five days of skirmishing near [[Lutetia|Paris]] he defeated Gratian,<ref name="The Cambridge Medieval History 1924 p. 238"/> who fled the battlefield and was killed at [[Lugdunum|Lyon]] on 25 August 383. Continuing his campaign into Italy, Maximus was stopped from overthrowing [[Valentinian II]], who was only twelve, when [[Bauto]] came with a powerful force to forestall him. Negotiations followed in 384, including the intervention of [[Ambrose]], Bishop of Milan, leading to an accord with Valentinian II and Theodosius I in which Maximus was recognized as ''[[Augustus (rank)|Augustus]]'' in the West.<ref>D Divine, ''The North-West Frontier of Rome'' (London 1969) p. 229</ref>