Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome.

Episode 142, you've earned it.

Last time, we left off with Constantius II, finally headed west after extracting himself

from the war with Persia in the winter of 350 AD.

It had been almost a year since the Gallic General Magnentius had overthrown and killed

Constantius as younger brother Constance, and it was finally, finally, time for the emperor

to do something about it.

While on his way to do out some imperial retribution though, Constantius had to stop along the way

to take care of some business.

You'll recall from last week that in March of 350, at the prompting of Constantinia, the

General Petronio had declared himself a gustous at his headquarters along the Danube frontier.

He had made this move specifically to aid Constantius and to counter the rise of Magnentius,

but when push came to shove, who knew what his ultimate ambitions were, or what Constantius'

reaction was going to be to the Tronio's self-elevation?

So far, the emperor had let it slide because he had been tied up with the war against the

Sassanids, but now, who knows?

As Constantius approached the Danube city of Sardika though, it became obvious that neither

man was planning to double cross the other.

The aging Petronio welcomed 33-year-old Constantius as the true Augustus, and Constantius accepted

the welcome without malice.

They then traveled together across the province to Nises, where, on December 25, the two

leaders mounted a stage before an assembly of troops.

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