Licinius

Licinius is a Latin nomen associated with members of the ancient Roman gens Licinia. The name is most widely known from two late antique emperors who ruled the eastern part of the empire in the early 4th century and who were key figures in the rivalry with Constantine the Great. The Licinii were part of the broader succession struggles that followed the Tetrarchy era.

Licinius I (often called Licinius the Elder) was born in the 3rd century and rose to power in the East, being proclaimed Augustus of the East in 308 by Galerius. He controlled the eastern provinces, including Thrace and Asia Minor. In 313, Licinius and Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious toleration to Christians. The alliance between the two soon deteriorated into open conflict. After a series of campaigns, Licinius was defeated by Constantine and captured at Chrysopolis in 324; he was executed soon afterward.

Licinius II, known as Licinius the Younger, was the son of Licinius I. He was elevated to the rank of Caesar in the eastern court and later styled Augustus during the 320s, effectively serving as a junior emperor under his father. Following Constantine’s decisive victories and the collapse of the Licinian alliance, Licinius II was killed as part of the suppression of Licinian resistance in the ensuing years.

Beyond the imperial line, the Licinii were a long-standing Roman gens that produced various politicians and military leaders in the Republic and Empire. In historical usage, the name Licinius is primarily linked to the two 4th-century emperors and the broader gens rather than to a single, undisputed figure.