Chapter 27: The Italian Campaign

The heavily fortified town of Segusio became
Constantine's first arena of conflict. Lookouts notified the enemy
troops of Constantine's approach and closed the gates of the city
in an effort to defend the town that contained a military garrison.
The army that had been making plans for an offensive campaign
was placed in a defensive stance. Maxentius and his army were a
day's distance from them and it was they who would have to
hold off Constantine's army. Confident and a bit overzealous,
they set to it immediately.

Constantine called forth his legion commanders. As they
stood huddled attentively around him, he glanced at the flaming
arrows being shot down at his troops from the walls. It was a
familiar place—the ambiance of battle with its scent of victory
and odor of death, that tingle that one feels in the pit of the
stomach as he is to participate in something significant,
something historical. Constantine found himself in his element as
his commanders gazed at him eagerly. He smiled as he observed
the desire in their eyes.

He pointed to the commander of his elite infantry division.

"Take a cohort of your fastest men and set the gates
ablaze."

"Yes, My Lord." The commander set out immediately for
the task.

"The remaining assault will be simple. We create a ruse.
Bring the cavalry and a legion spaced to show double numbers
before the burning gates. The bowmen will shoot their flaming
arrows over the city wall, as if to provide cover for a frontal
attack. As they move their artillery forward to defend against our
entrance, the Alemanni troops will position their ladders on the
backside of the walls and scale them to victory."

The orders were carried out swiftly and precisely. The
enemy fell into Constantine's trap and was easily infiltrated from
the rear. The gates fell also and the troops gained control of the
entire town. The provisions from the garrison were confiscated
and the extra supplies were bumed.

"Do not loot and plunder," Constantine ordered amidst the
panic and hysteria.

His army secured the remaining sections of the town and
made camp there that night. They ate well and rested for the
forthcoming battles. Segusio was practice for the days to come.

Maxentius assembled a vast force from throughout his
empire. An estimated 125,000 men prepared to attack
Constantine's army of less than 40,000. Furthermore, the army
under Maxentius had acquired the latest in mail clad armor and
battle technology from the east. They were confident of being
victorious, although they were unaware that Constantine had
secured Segusio and destroyed the garrison there.

Constantine was wise in his decision to limit his number
of troops. His force numbered close to 100,000 men, although
only 40,000 accompanied him to Italy. The rest of the force was
left to guard the frontiers and secure the established domain.

Nevertheless, the men who accompanied Constantine were his
prized warriors. They were his expanded elite forces, comprised
mostly of mercenaries from around the empire. He was aware
that the enemy force outnumbered his troops 3 to 1. Regardless
of the sheer numbers, Constantine had calculated that at no time
in the conflict would Maxentius be able to set his entire force
against that of Constantine's. Strategy, and primarily speed,
would win the war against Maxentius.

His next point of conflict came on his advance towards
Turin. A large contingent of skilled fighters could be seen in the
distance as sunlight sparkled from their mail armor. The
approaching enemy mounted on horses intimidating his Gallic
troops. The enemy came forward with aggression in a wedge
formation to split Constantine's forces in two and break off to
surround the troops for surrender. It was a wise and
revolutionary choice of tactics on the part of the enemy
commanders. Nonetheless, Constantine was confident of his
force's ability to adapt and persevere through their discipline and
his keen judgement.

"Submit to their attack until their cavalry lose momentum.
Then attack them from their vulnerable sides with clubs and
battle-axes."

A few men perished as the plan was carried out, but the
army followed Constantine's strategy and dispersed the wedge.
The enemy troops were disoriented and had to fight hand-to-
hand with Constantine's superior warriors. Those who could,
escaped and fled to Turin. To their bewilderment, the gates were
shut and the town refused to allow Maxentius' men to enter.
Constantine's cavalry regiment was on their heels and quickly
engaged them outside the gates. The enemy was easily
slaughtered with very minimal casualties endured by
Constantine's troops.

Constantine's entire force organized at Turin, where the
gates were opened for them and the town's occupants greeted
them. News of Constantine's swift and decisive victories
traveled across northern Italy. The populace changed their tune
and chose to support Constantine in his effort to avenge his good
name. Advisors from various cities in northern Italy came to
Turin to congratulate Constantine on his victory and to invite
him to stay in the northern political capital of Milan.

At Milan, Constantine and his troops were surprised at
their warm-hearted welcome. Parades were thrown in their honor
and festivals of rejoicing created a festive atmosphere for the
hardened troops of the northern regions of the empire.
Constantine was notified of the animosity that the northern
Italians felt toward Maxentius, whose primary focus was on
Rome and the betterment of that ancient city. The northern
province had gone ignored too long and would be restored to the
empire, hence making Milan the political focal point of Italy
once again.

Constantine stayed in the palace at Milan, after deciding to
rest his troops. There was no immediate threat of attack since
Maxentius was in Rome. It wasn't until Constantine had been
welcomed into Milan that Maxentius received word of an
invasion and defense of northern positions in Italy. Maxentius
was frantic upon receiving the news. He ripped the papyrus in his
hands, which contained detailed planning for his offensive Alps
campaign. While his anger simmered, he worked day and night
with his advisors to draw up a defensive strategy that would
insure his victory.

The army at Verona, under the command of Maxentius'
praetorian prefect, was Constantine's next target. If Verona could
be taken, then the path to Rome would be cleared. They set out
and met resistance on the way. Pompeianus, the praetorian
prefect, had chosen his position wisely; as it was afforded the
natural protection of the roaring white water River Adige, while
assuring south-eastern access to the city for reinforcements. Days
became weeks as battles were fought at Brixia, where

Constantine and his troops were checked. As Constantme's
troops fought to advance further, Pompeianus left and returned
again with a large dispatch of reinforcements. Without any
progress, Constantine called a meeting with his commanders to
change the strategy of their attack.

"Two fronts are required," he said to his commanders.

"If," inquired Crocus, "there are to be two fronts, would
we not have to go across the river?"

"Yes. The cavalry, along with a cohort of the most able
men from each regiment, will have to ford the river. If we create
safety harnesses for the men on foot, it will be possible."

The advisors chose to accept Constantine's strategy. It was
possibly the only way they would be able to capture the city
before further reinforcements arrived and the entire campaign
was destroyed. The enemy was shocked to see half of
Constantine's troops entering the rear of the city, exhausted and
dripping, yet full of vigor. The fighting that ensued was fierce
and lasted non-stop for most of the day. A javelin that was
thrown and struck Pompeianus in the heart, this was the
significant act that turned the battle in Constantine's favor. By
nightfall, the enemy had surrendered and Constantine remained
invincible.

His next objective was Rome. He marched his troops at a
leisurely pace toward the infamous city that housed Maxentius.
He did so in hopes that the people who had suffered various
torments, as well as the Senate, a number of whose wives had
been unwillingly seduced by Maxentius, would rise to destroy
the tyrant from within. Along the way, Constantine recruited
Christian Bishops and lay people, who at one time or another,
had fallen prey to Maxentius' oppression.

He prayed to Sol Invictus for victory over Maxentius and
for help against his sorcerers powers. The next day as
Constantine's force approached the Tiber, a flash of glimmering
light in a cloudless sky appeared from the heavens. It was the
bright sign of the cross that he had once seen in Britain. His
soldiers witnessed the amazing spectacle as they passed under it

to their destination. Constantine was flustered by the image,
assuming it to be a sign from his own pagan God. The light
vanished from the sky, yet remained branded in every soldier's
mind.

At last they reached the outskirts of that once marvelous
city known as Rome. Maxentius' experience with Galerius and
Severus had taught him that Rome was a city which was not
easily besieged. Hence, the bridges and roadways that provided
access to the city were destroyed on the order of Maxentius as he
stalled to gather his troops. He made sacrifices several times a
day in order to sway the gods in his favor. As time passed and
the subjects of Rome were trapped in the confines of the city
walls, rumors of Constantine's invincible leadership spread
throughout like wildfire. Riots and opposition to Maxentius arose
as Constantine had planned. Maxentius met opposition with
violence, which led to further resentment and animosity against
him.

As Constantine and his troops slept outside of Rome,
Maxentius contemplated taking an offensive action against his
enemy. To stay in Rome and do nothing surely was a threat to his
life. He emptied the treasury and filled the pockets of his army to
ensure their loyalty at this dire moment. Maxentius chose to
attack on October 28, precisely six years since he had assumed
the title of emperor.