Vetra’nio, emperor, and his usurpation was sanctioned by the princess Constanti’na, who, regardless of her brother’s rights, placed the diadem upon his head with her own hands. 14.  The news of these events hastened the return of Constan’tius to Europe; on his arrival at the capital, he received embassies from the two usurpers, offering terms of accommodation; he rejected the terms of Magnen’tius with disdain, but entered into a negociation with Vetra’nio.  The Illyrian leader, though a good general, was a bad politician; he allowed himself to be duped by long discussions, until the greater part of his army had been gained over by Constan’tius; he then consented to a personal interview, and had the mortification to see his soldiers, with one accord, range themselves under the banners of their lawful sovereign.  Vetra’nio immediately fell at the feet of Constan’tius, and tendered his homage, which was cheerfully accepted; he was not only pardoned, but rewarded; the city of Pru’sa, in Bythnia, was allotted to him as a residence, and a pension assigned for his support. 15.  The war against Magnen’tius was maintained with great obstinacy, but at first with little success; the emperor was confined in his fortified camp, while the troops of the usurper swept the surrounding country, and captured several important posts.  Constan’tius was so humbled, that he even proposed a treaty, but the terms on which Magnen’tius insisted were so insulting, that the emperor determined to encounter the hazard of a battle.  Scarcely had he formed this resolution, when his army was strengthened by the accession of Sylva’nus, a general of some reputation, who, with a large body of cavalry, deserted from the enemy.

16.  The decisive battle between the competitors for the empire, was fought under the walls of Mur’sa, a city on the river Drave.  Magnen’tius attempted to take the place by storm, but was repulsed; and almost at the same moment, the imperial legions were seen advancing to raise the siege.  The army of Magnen’tius consisted of the western legions that had already acquired fame in the wars of Gaul; with battalions of Germans and other barbarous tribes, that had of late years been incorporated with the regular forces.  In addition to the imperial guards, Constan’tius had several troops of those oriental archers, whose skill with the bow was so justly celebrated; but far the most formidable part of his army were his mail-clad cuirassiers, whose scaly armour, and ponderous lances, made their charge almost irresistible.  The cavalry on the emperor’s left wing commenced the engagement, and broke through the Gallic legions in the first charge; the hardy veterans again rallied, were again charged, and again broken; at length, before they could form their lines, the light cavalry of the second rank rode, sword in hand, through the gaps made by the cuirassiers, and completed their destruction.  Meantime, the Germans and barbarians stood exposed, with almost naked bodies, to the destructive shafts of the oriental archers; whole troops, stung with anguish and despair, threw themselves into the rapid stream of the Drave, and perished.  Ere the sun had set, the army of Magnen’tius was irretrievably ruined; fifty-four thousand of the vanquished were slain, and the loss of the conquerors is said to have been even greater.