The Battle Of Mursa, 351: Causes, Course, and Consequences

Abstract:I argue that Magnentius was brought to power by, and ruled with, a team of high-status imperial politicians, best referred to collectively as "Magnentians." The Magnentians' main aim was to share power with Constantius through a formally established imperial college, and, even when his refusal compelled them to march towards him, they still hoped to extract a settlement without having to resort to a pitched battle. However, wrong-footed and heavily outnumbered, they found themselves fighting at Mursa. The discipline of their troops allowed them to resist fiercely, and Constantius won mainly because of his joint deployment of cataphracts and armored horse-archers. There were heavy casualties on both sides, but this did not cripple Roman military strength. The main consequence of Mursa was the re-establishment of the Constantinian dynasty's exclusive control of imperial power.