In 306, the Augustus of the West Constantius Chlorus (r. 293–306) died at Eboracum (present-day York, England),[1] and his soldiers —cantoned in this region of Britain— then proclaimed his son Constantine as his successor.

[2] Maxentius (r. 306–312), son of Maximian (r. 285–305, 310), the Augustus predecessor of Constantius Chlorus, envious of Constantine's position, declared himself emperor of Italy with the title of Princeps in October 306, then summoned his father, now retired, to rule together.

[2] In the summer of 307, the Augustus Galerius decided to invade Italy in order to avenge the death of Flavius Severus, however, his army was not large enough to besiege all the fortifications of Rome, which is why he had to withdraw.

[2][3] In 308, during the celebration of the Conference of Carnunus, convened by Galerius, the officer Licinius (r. 308–324) was appointed Augustus of the West and, therefore, was to overthrow the usurper, but he preferred not to participate in the affair.

[6][7][8][9][10] The following year, Maxentius, seeking revenge for the death of his father, declared war on Constantine, who responded by invading northern Italy at the head of forty thousand soldiers.

The battle would have lasted only a short time, with the Constantinian cavalry easily defeating their opponents, who, once disbanded, were forced to retreat back to Verona.