Editing Magnus Maximus (section)

==Welsh legend==
Legendary versions of Maximus's career in which he marries the Welsh princess [[Elen Luyddog|Elen]] may have circulated in popular tradition in Welsh-speaking areas from an early date. Although the story of Helen and Maximus's meeting is almost certainly fictional, there is some evidence for the basic claims. He is certainly given a prominent place in the earliest version of the [[Welsh Triads]] which are believed to date from {{circa|lk=no|1100}} and which reflect older traditions in some cases. Welsh poetry also frequently refers to Macsen as a figure of comparison with later Welsh leaders. These legends come down to us in two separate versions.<ref name="Rachel Bromwich 2006"/>

=== Geoffrey of Monmouth ===
[[File:Llanbeblig Hours (f. 3r.) A king, possibly Magnus Maximus, holding a sceptre.jpg|thumb|Illustration from a 14th-century Welsh manuscript thought to intend to depict Magnus Maximus. Llanbeblig Hours (f. 3r.)]]
{{wikisource|History of the Kings of Britain/Book 5}}
According to [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s fictional ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'' ({{circa|lk=no|1136}}), the basis for many English and Welsh legends, Maximianus, as he calls him, was a Roman senator, a nephew of [[Coel Hen]] through Coel's brother Ioelinus, and king of the [[Celtic Britons|Britons]] following the death of Octavius ([[Eudaf Hen]]). Geoffrey writes this came about because Octavius wanted to wed his daughter to just such a powerful half-Roman-half-Briton and to give the kingship of Britain, as a dowry, to that husband, so he sent a message to Rome offering his daughter to Maximian.<ref name="Monmouth">G Monmouth (1966). ''The History of the Kings of Britain''. Penguin 1966, pp. 136–147</ref>

[[Caradocus]], the [[List of legendary rulers of Cornwall|Duke of Cornwall]], had suggested and supported the marriage between Octavius's daughter and Maximian. Maximian accepted the offer and left Rome for Britain. Geoffrey claims further that Maximian gathered an army as he sacked [[Franks|Frankish]] towns along the way. He invaded Clausentum (modern [[Southampton]]) unintentionally and nearly fought the army of the Britons under [[Conan Meriadoc]] before agreeing to a truce. Following further negotiations, Maximian was given the kingship of Britain and Octavius retired. Five years into his kingship, Magnus Maximus assembled a vast fleet and invaded [[Gaul]], leaving Britain in the control of Caradocus.<ref name="Monmouth"/> 

Upon reaching the kingdom of [[Armorica]] (historically, the region between the Loire and Seine rivers, later comprising Brittany, Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Touraine), he defeated the king and killed thousands of inhabitants. Before departing to Rome, he summoned [[Conan Meriadoc|Conanus]], the rebellious nephew of Octavius, and asked him to rule as king of the land, which was renamed [[Brittany]]. Conan's men married native women after cutting out their tongues to preserve the purity of their language. [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] presents this legend to explain the Welsh name for Brittany, Llydaw, as originating from ''lled-taw'' or "half-silent". Given that Conan was well established in genealogies as the founder of Brittany, this account is certainly connected to an older tradition than Geoffrey.

Following the death of Caradocus, rule of Britain as regent passed to [[Dionotus]], who &ndash; facing a foreign invasion &ndash; appealed to Maximus, who finally sent a man named [[Gracianus Municeps]] with two legions to stop the attack. He killed many thousands before the invaders fled to [[Ireland]]. Maximus died in [[Rome]] soon after and Dionotus became the official king of the Britons. Unfortunately, before he could begin his reign, Gracianus took hold of the crown and made himself king over Dionotus.

While a broadly positive account of Maximian, the ''History'' concludes with the success of the barbarian invaders, and laments, "Alas for the absence of so many warlike soldiers through the madness of Maximianus!".<ref name="Monmouth"/>

===The Dream of Macsen Wledig===
{{wikisource|The Mabinogion/The Dream of Maxen Wledig|The Dream of Maxen Wledig}}
{{main|The Dream of Macsen Wledig}}

Although the ''[[Mabinogion]]'' tale ''The Dream of Macsen Wledig'' is written in later manuscripts than Geoffrey's version, the two accounts are so different that scholars agree the Dream cannot be based purely on Geoffrey's version. The Dream's account also seems to accord better with details in the Triads, so it perhaps reflects an earlier tradition.

Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreams one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land. Awakening, he sends his men all over the earth in search of her. With much difficulty they find her in a rich castle in Wales, daughter of a chieftain based at [[Segontium Roman Fort|Segontium]] ([[Caernarfon]]), and lead the Emperor to her. Everything he finds is exactly as in his dream. The maiden, whose name is [[Helen of the Hosts|Helen]] or Elen, accepts and loves him. Because Elen is found a virgin, Macsen gives her father sovereignty over the island of Britain and orders three castles built for his bride.<ref>S Davies trans, ''Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) p. 108</ref>

In Macsen's absence, a new emperor seizes power and warns him not to return. With the help of men from Britain led by Elen's brother [[Conan Meriadoc|Conanus]] (''[[Welsh language|Welsh]]'': Cynan Meriadoc, ''[[Breton language|Breton]]'': Conan Meriadeg), Macsen marches across Gaul and Italy and recaptures Rome. In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewards them with a portion of Gaul that becomes known as Brittany.

===Coel Hen===
According to another legend, Maximus appointed [[Coel Hen]], perhaps the legendary "[[Old King Cole]]", as governor of northern Britain, ruling from [[Eburacum]] (York). Following Maximus's departure for the continent, Coel became high king of northern Britain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kessler |first1=Peter |title=Magnus Maximus |url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesBritain/BritishMagnusMaximus.htm |website=The History Files |access-date=Jan 13, 2020}}</ref>

===Other links with Caernarfon===
Magnus Maximus and Elen are traditionally given as the parents of Saint Peblig (or Publicus, named in the Calendar of the [[Church in Wales]]), to whom a church dedicated stands in Caernarfon. The church is built on an important early Christian site, itself built on a Roman [[Mithraeum]] or temple of [[Mithras]], close to the Segontium Roman Fort. A Roman altar was found in one of the walls during 19th century restoration work. The present church dates mainly from the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-3881-church-of-st-peblig-caernarfon#.VkZqFNLhCUk |title=Church of St Peblig, Caernarfon |website=www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=13 November 2015 }}</ref>

The medieval English king [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] was influenced by the legendary dream of Macsen Wledig/Magnus Maximus. In the dream Maximus had seen a fort, "the fairest that man ever saw", within a city at the mouth of a river in a mountainous country and opposite an island. Edward interpreted this to mean Segontium was the city of Maximus's dream and drew on the imperial link when building [[Caernarfon Castle]] in 1283.<ref>{{cite book|last=Allen Brown|first=Reginald|title=The Architecture of Castles: A Visual Guide|year=1984|publisher=B.T. Batsford|page=88|isbn=0-7134-4089-9}}</ref> It was apparently believed that Maximus died in Wales. According to the ''[[Flores Historiarum]]'', during the construction of the Castle and the nearby planned town, the body believed to be of Magnus Maximus was discovered entombed; King Edward ordered its reburial in a local church.<ref>{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Arnold|title=The Welsh Castles of Edward I|year=1986|publisher=Hambledon Press, London|page=78|isbn=0-907628-71-0}}</ref>