The choice of Bassianus is probably to be understood in light of the fact that Bassianus' brother, Senecio, was a high official in service of
Licinius, Constantine's colleague in the East, and thus this marriage strengthened the bond between the two
augusti. The next year, in 316, Constantine sent his half-brother
Julius Constantius, to Licinius at
Sirmium, with the proposal of elevating Bassianus to the rank of
caesar and with power over
Italy. Licinius refused to acknowledge the appointment; furthermore, he told Senecio to contact his brother and have him kill Constantine, take arms and conquer Italy for Licinius. The conspiracy was discovered and Bassianus arrested and put to death. Constantine asked Licinius to hand him Senecio, but Licinius refused and overthrew his colleague's statues at
Emona, on the border between the two spheres of influence; these events led to the outbreak of hostilities between Constantine and Licinius, an episode of civil war known as the
bellum Cibalense. Recent
prosopographical studies suggest that Bassianus and Senecio were members of the families of
Anicii and of
Nummii Albini Seneciones. == References ==