Emperor Licinius is destroyed

‘”There might be no peace, Dominus, till Emperor Licinius is destroyed and also you rule the world,” Adrian mentioned. “He has been seized by an assault of ambition the identical illness that killed all of the others.”

“I’ve tried to enhance the lot of the folks as a substitute of constructing a fantastic military to impose my will on all, so it is going to be an extended battle in opposition to nice odds,” Constantine mentioned soberly. “See that the labarum goes earlier than you on the march, Dacius.”

The previous soldier nodded. “I can even sacrifice to Jupiter and Apollo. We want the favor of all of the gods we are able to persuade to assist

Two weeks later, Bassianus stood in chains earlier than Constantine at Milan. Rome had been thrown right into a turmoil by the sudden arrest and, looking for to save lots of themselves, informers by the rating had come to Adrian, implicating others within the plot to kill Constantine and seize management of the Prefecture of Italy and Rome within the identify of Licinius, who would then have grow to be sole Emperor, with Bassianus as his deputy. From his throne, Constantine regarded down on the offender, a lot as he may look at a worm earlier than crushing it underneath his heel. The viewers chamber was crammed with nobles of the court docket at Milan, together with Constantine’s private chamberlain, for he wished the destiny of Bassianus to grow to be a lesson to all.

“Learn the letters,” he instructed the clerk, with out even talking on to the offender.

The clerk opened the scrolls, nonetheless marked by the wax seal of Licinius, and commenced to learn. They weren’t lengthy, however they established past doubt the guilt of the prisoner and his brother Senecio in an elaborate plan to grab the federal government and purchase off the military as had been completed many instances earlier than with gold furnished by Licinius.

“I took you into my family and made you Caesar, subsequent in rank under myself, Bassianus,” Constantine mentioned, when the studying was completed. “Why did you betray me?”

“The Empire needs to be ruled by these whose blood entitles them to rule the Senate and the noblemen.” A half sneer was on Bassianus’ skinny lips and his voice was proud, even haughty. “You will have already polluted the Senate with folks from all walks of life, widespread males with no for the excessive workplace. I want to hold Rome as capital of the Empire and maintain the facility the place it belongs, within the palms of males whose noble beginning qualify them greatest to control.”