Notwithstanding his repeated abdications, Maximian Hercules was again
anxious for power, and, for the third time, to remount the throne of
the Cæsars. In order to engage the Gauls to declare in his favour, he
caused a report of the death of Constantine to be circulated. This
report had not time to be accredited, for Constantine, at the head
of a numerous army, presented himself before Marseilles, into which
place Maximian had retired. He at once led on an assault, and would
have taken the city if his ladders had not proved too short. Several
soldiers, however, succeeded in gaining the top of the walls, but the
emperor, to spare the blood of the troops and of the inhabitants,
sounded a retreat. Maximian appeared upon the walls; Constantine drew
near to them, and represented to the ex-emperor the injustice and
futility of his proceedings. Whilst the old man was pouring forth
invectives, some of the inhabitants, unknown to him, opened one of the
gates, and admitted the soldiers of Constantine. They seized Maximian,
led him before the emperor, and terminated this short and foolish war.