In 383 AD, the Roman general Magnus Maximus stripped Britain of its military garrison to launch a coup on the European mainland, an ambitious gamble that eventually triggered the economic ruin of the province.
On Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford, host Tim Harford describes how Magnus Maximus governed Britannia for a decade, having "forced the country to bend to his will" before seeking opportunity back on the mainland against a young, unpopular emperor.
However, historian Paul Cooper points out that this imperial triumph carried a devastating cost. While Magnus Maximus was "exceptionally successful" and very popular, his backing quickly disintegrated. Cooper explains that the new emperor's support collapsed in part due to the domestic anarchy he left behind, having brutally taxed the provinces to finance his bid for power.
The discussion sets up a grim outlook for the usurper's legacy. Tim Harford promises to unpack the final chapter of this collapse, teasing that the show will soon return to Roman Britain to reveal "what happened to Magnus Maximus" once his domestic chaos caught up with his continental ambitions.