Domitius Alexander

Lucius Domitius Alexander, a notable figure in Roman history, rose to prominence as a military leader during the tumultuous period of the Tetrarchy. Born around the year three hundred, he initially served as the vicarius of Africa, a position that would set the stage for his eventual claim to imperial power.

In the year three hundred and eight, amidst the political strife between Maxentius and his father Maximian, Alexander's loyalty was tested. When Maxentius sought to assert his authority by sending his portrait to Africa, Alexander's troops, loyal to Galerius, resisted. In a bold move, Alexander refused to comply with Maxentius's orders to send his son to Rome, leading his army to proclaim him Emperor.

Alexander's reign, albeit brief, saw him control significant territories, including provinces in North Africa, which encompass modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, and western Libya, as well as Sardinia. His usurpation coincided with the rise of Constantine I, disrupting the delicate balance of power within the Tetrarchy.

However, Alexander's rule was met with swift retaliation. Maxentius dispatched forces to quell the rebellion, resulting in Alexander's capture and execution by strangulation. His reign, which ended in either late three hundred and nine or early three hundred and ten, marked a significant moment in the shifting dynamics of Roman imperial power.