390 AD A field outside Mediolanium


Honorius opened Constantine’s letter.

Dearest friend,
You have repaid my faith in you with interest. I heard of your bold move to march on Mediolanium, despite two large Western Roman armies to your rear. That is the kind of audacity that will take us to Rome!
Good news from Africa. Avitus, the old fox, has taken Lepcis Magna. The Western Romans there are broken, although a large Berber army has been spotted in our new territory.
By the way, I’ve heard your hair has turned white. Such is the price of duty.
Good hunting,
Yours ever,
Constantine

Honorius smiled. He had been saddened to part from Constantine but his young ally had needed to direct the First and Second Danube Border Legions in punitive expeditions north of the Danube. Under Constantine’s directions, the legions had trapped the Ostrogoths in Colonia Dacia, but wisely turned away from war with the Lombards when they had spied their full strength.

Now Honorius had to face the first of the two Western Roman armies he had bypassed to get to Mediolanium.



It was a calculated risk, breaking free from his supply lines. But the quality of his army convinced him that it was right. Let the traitors come. He was ready for them.





Honorius sees off one pursuing WRE army



And a year later, takes the battle to the second