Magnus Maximus

Early Life
Magnus Maximus was born on the estates of his uncle Theodosius in Hispania.

Military Career
Magnus fought as a junior officer of the Batavi or Heruli in The Great Conspiracy in 368 AD, alongside his uncle Count Theodosius. He also fought with his uncle in Rhaetia from 370-372, in Africa in 373 AD and on the Danube in 376 AD. He was stationed in Britain in 380 AD. At some point after that he was stationed in Wales, where he had met and married his second wife Elen Lluydog in 356 AD. In 381 AD, he defeated an incursion of Picts and Scots.

Elen was the daughter of a Romano-British man named Octavius the Old (Eudaf Hen in his native language), the praeses of Britannia Prima.

Britannia
Magnus served his uncle in Britain during the Great Conspiracy, as principālis of the Batavi or Heruli.

Rhaetia
Theodosius was sent to Rhaetia to fight the incursions of the Alamannic chieftain Macrianus. Magnus accompanied him on that 370-372 AD expedition.

Africa
Emperor Valentinian sent Comes Theodosius to Africa in 373 AD, and Magnus followed. Theodosius was charged with the task of defeating the Moorish rebel Firmus and investigate the criminal activities of Romanus, the comes Africae who Firmus was rebelling against. As deputatus, Magnus was assigned to work with Gildo, a brother of Firmus loyal to the Romans. Their job was to arrest Vincentius, the vicarius Africae and suspected accomplice of Romanus.

He left in 375 AD.

The Danube
As dux Moesiae secundae, Magnus served magister militum per Thracias Lupicinus in settling Goths on Roman Territory. This was in 376 AD.

He fought at the Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.

Britannia
Magnus was promoted to the station of comes Britanniae. With his new rank, he was responsible for the army in Britain. In 381 he defeated an incursion of the Picts and Scots. He also settled the warlord Cunedda Wledig in Venedotia, and a sept of Irish Déisi led by Aed Brosc in Demetia. The Déisi already had a small presence in Demetia.

Emperor in the West
Dissent was growing against the Emperor Gratian. In 383 AD, it snapped, and Magnus Maximus was proclaimed Emperor by his troops. Thereon he became Flavius Magnus Maximus Augustus. Magnus left Britain with all the Roman troops, local Romano-British levies, governors, and even young men.

With the troops and governors gone, Britain needed to be reorganised. Magnus planned on making it the heart of his operations as King of all Britain. He transferred authority to local rulers. One of these was probably Coel Hen. He then set off with his troops, accompanied by his son Victor and his wife's cousin Conan Meriadoc.

They went through Europe, and his Magister Militum Andragathius betrayed and killed the Emperor Gratian, making Maximus sole Emperor in the west.

He then settled Conan as a leader of Brittany, probably as a reward for his service, and also settled his troops there, from Mons Iovis to Cruc Occident.

Maximus also established a military base in his native Gallaecia, despite the Germanic invasions there.

He was also baptised a Christian.

He proclaimed Victor an Augustus in 384 AD.

In 386 AD, the Emperor in the East Theodosius acknowledged Magnus and Victor as Augusti.

Personality
Magnus firmly believed people should wield power only if they deserve it. He was ostensibly tolerant, as amongst his friends he counted Gildo, an African Berber, and Andragathius, a Goth. One of his allies was Fraomar, an Alemmanic.

Wives
Ceindrych: His first wife, who died in childbirth.

Helena: Magnus married Helena shortly after Ceindrych's death.

Children
Victor: As his eldest son, Magnus proclaimed him co-emperor.

Friends
Gildo: After meeting him in Africa, Gildo became a close friend of Magnus, who he allowed to become the ruler of Africa.