Magnus Maximus came from the estates of Theodosius the Elder (aka Count Theodosius), and served under him in the Roman army. In 383, Maximus was proclaimed emperor by his troops in opposition to Gratian, whom Maximus defeated and died shortly after. He was initially recognised as Emperor in the West by the Eastern Emperor Theodosius I, but the latter turned on Maximus follwoing a marriage alliance between Thedosius and Gratian's brother, Valentinian II, in 388. Theodosius marched against Maximus, whom he defeated and Maximus surrendered. Maximus and his son, Flavius Victor, were executed and a damnatio memoriae was passed against them.

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