Domitius Alexander
L. Domitius Alexander , vicar of Africa, owner of the diocese under the Tétrarchie.
It is known to be on the initiative of an attempt at rather short usurpation of 308 -9 with 310. Very senior official in station with Carthage, it wanted to play his chart in an extremely complex imperial crisis. The character does not have strong African roots. However, one will note the presence of the troops Moors in the armies of Maxence, resulting from a local recruitment. Following the abdication of Dioclétien which reveals the faulty operation of the tétrarchie and in particular of the successional system, the attempt at usurpation proceeds in a climate of disordered state of the institutions and weakening of the central capacity. At the time when in Italy bore the ambitions of Maxence and as a Gaulle of Constantin, Domitius has with its range an excellent means of pressure: the control of the supply corn, the Annone. It can thus threaten Rome of famine. The revolt of Domitius is liquidated in spring 310 by the troops of Maxence: to the Carthage occasion and Cirta are delivered to plundering.
The most detailed description of this usurpation is given to us by Zosime in its new Histoire II, 12 and 14. This last reports that Maxence would have sent its portrait in Africa so that one recognizes it there as emperor. By fidelity towards Galère, the troops of Carthage prohibit this exhibition. Maxence orders in Domitius Alexander to send his/her son to Rome like guarantees honesty. Domitius refuses and is made proclaim emperor by his army. Maxence raises troops which it places under the command of Rufius Volusianus, prefect of the court, and dispatches them in Africa. At the sides of Volusianus, certain Zénas is apparently in charge of the diplomatic part. The troops of Domitius Alexander must quickly beat a retreat. Their chief is captured and strangled. The opportunist ones seize occasion to compromise great fortunes of Africa by denouncing them like former friends of Domitius. The characters blamed are carried out and/or dispossessed of all their goods. A triumph on the traitors of Carthage is celebrated in Rome.
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