Licinus I
308 to 324 AD
Husband of Constantia, father of Licinius II, uncle of Delmatius, Hanniballanus,
Constantius Gallus, Julian II, and Nepotian
Born as Flavius Galerius Valerius
Licinianus Licinius in 250, was Roman emperor from 308 to 324. Licinius
accompanied his close friend Emperor Galerius on the Persian expedition in 297.
After the death of Flavius Valerius Severus, Galerius elevated Licinius to the
rank of Augustus on November 11, 308. On the death of Galerius, in May 311,
Licinius shared the entire empire with Maximinus Daia, the Hellespont and the
Bosporus being the dividing line. In March 313 he married Constantia,
half-sister of Constantine, the occasion for the jointly-issued "Edict of Milan"
that restored confiscated properties to Christian congregations. In the
following month, Licinius had a decisive defeat against Maximinus, which
established himself master of the East, while his brother-in-law, Constantine,
was supreme in the West. In 314 his jealousy led him to a treasonable
partnership with Bassianus against emperor Constantine. When his actions became
known, a civil war ensued, in which he was twice severely defeated. In 323
Constantine, with the help of his eldest son Flavius Julius Crispus, defeated
the superior fleet of Licinius. This compelled his withdrawal to Bithynia, where
a last stand was made at the battle of Chrysopolis. He was interned at
Thessalonica under a kind of house arrest, but when he attempted to raise troops
among the barbarians Constantine had him assassinated.
Click on coin images to enlarge
Licinius I
Mint: Siscia
315 to 316 AD
AE Follis
Obvs: IMP LIC LICINIVS PF AVG
Revs: IOVI CONSERVATORI. Jupiter standing holding Victory, an eagle
at his feet. Γ to right ·SIS·
20mm, 3.4g
$35.00
Order # LR 036
Ref: 2003 RIC VII.424.17