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Roman Emperor Licinius I

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Roman Emperor Licinius I

AD 308 - 324

Licinius I was the CO-Emperor with Constantine the great. It was hoped that his marriage to Constantine's daughter, Constantia, would cement their partnership. Unfortunately, as time passed, jealousy and competition evolved that culminated in a military campaign against Licinius. He was defeated but his wife< I.E. Constantine's sister, begged for his life. This was granted, but several years later Licinius became engaged in intrigue again and was later executed. A more detailed biographical sketch:

Valerius Licinius, of Illyriant peasant origin, was born about AD 250. He was elevated to the rank of Augustus by Galerius, his former friend and companion in arms, on November 11, AD 307, receiving as his immediate the provinces of Illyricum. On the death of Galerius, May AD 311, he shared the entire empire with Maximinus, the Hellespont and the Thracian Bosporus being the dividing line. In April AD 313 he inflicted a decisive defeat on Maximinus at Heraclea Pontica, and established himself master of the east while his brother-in-law, Constantine, was supreme in the west. In AD 314 his jealousy led him to encourage a treasonable enterprise against Constantine. When his perfidy became known a civil war ensued, in which he was twice severely defeated. The outward reconciliation left Licinius in possession of Thrace, Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt, but added numerous provinces to the western empire. In AD 323 Constantine again declared war against him and succeeded in shutting him up within the walls of Byzantium. The defeat of Licinius' fleet compelled his withdrawal to Bithynia, where a last stand was made; the battle of Chrysopolis, near Chalcedon, resulted in his submission. He was executed in the following year.