Battle of Brescia (312)

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Battle of Brescia (312) — simple version

What happened
- Time and place: Summer 312, in Brescia, northern Italy.
- Who fought: Constantine the Great (Constantinian side) against Maxentius (Maxentian side).
- Result: Constantine won a quick victory.

Key details
- Background: By this time, the Roman Empire was divided under a system called the Tetrarchy. Maxentius had declared himself emperor in Italy, opposing Constantine, who controlled the western part of the empire. This set the stage for a clash between their forces.
- The battle: Maxentius sent heavy cavalry to block Constantine near Brescia, but Constantine ordered a charge with his own cavalry. The Constantinian riders defeated the opposing horsemen, who fled back to Verona.
- Aftermath: The win opened the road for Constantine to move toward Verona and then on to fight Maxentius at Milan and later at the Milvian Bridge. Brescia’s victory was one step in Constantine’s campaign that would eventually end the tetrarchy.

Why it mattered
- The battle helped Constantine press his invasion of Italy and set up the next major engagements.
- It contributed to Constantine’s overall victory in Italy, which led to his rise as the sole ruler of the western part of the empire and the eventual defeat of Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, a turning point in Roman history.

Quick facts
- Date: Summer 312
- Location: Brescia, Italy
- Belligerents: Constantinian forces vs. Maxentian forces
- Commanders: Constantine the Great and Ruricius Pompeianus (Constantinian side); opposing commander(s) not specified here
- Outcome: Constantinian victory
- Context: Part of the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy; followed the Battle of Augusta Taurinorum (Turin) and preceded the Battle of Verona (312) and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge

Simple takeaway
Constantine’s victory near Brescia helped him push deeper into Italy and set up the chain of battles that ended the old tetrarch system and shaped the future of the Roman Empire.