resources of intrigue; but while Constantius won over the Frank Silvanus from the Western camp, the envoys of Magnentius, who sounded Athanasius, gained nothing from the wary Greek.  The decisive battle was fought near Mursa, on the Save (September 28, 351).  Both armies well sustained the honour of the Roman name, and it was only after a frightful slaughter that the usurper was thrown back on Aquileia.  Next summer he was forced to evacuate Italy, and in 353 his destruction was completed by a defeat in the Cottian Alps.  Magnentius fell upon his sword, and Constantius remained the master of the world.

[Sidenote:  Renewal of the contest.]

The Eusebians were not slow to take advantage of the confusion.  The fires of controversy in the East were smouldering through the years of rest, so that it was no hard task to make them blaze afresh.  As the recall of the exiles was only due to Western pressure, the death of Constans cleared the way for further operations.  Marcellus and Photinus were again deposed by a council held at Sirmium in 351.  Ancyra was restored to Basil, Sirmium given to Germinius of Cyzicus.  Other Eastern bishops were also expelled, but there was no thought of disturbing Athanasius for the present.  Constantius more than once repeated to him his promise of protection.

[Sidenote:  The Western bishops.]

Magnentius had not meddled with the controversy.  He was more likely to see in it the chance of an ally at Alexandria than a matter of practical interest in the West.  As soon, however, as Constantius was master of Gaul, he set himself to force on the Westerns an indirect condemnation of the Nicene faith in the person of Athanasius.  Any direct approval of Arianism was out of the question, for Western feeling was firmly set against it by the council of Nicaea.  Liberius of Rome followed the steps of his predecessor Julius.  Hosius of Cordova was still the patriarch of Christendom, while Paulinus of Trier, Dionysius of Milan, and Hilary of Poitiers proved their faith in exile.  Mere creatures of the palace were no match for men like these.  Doctrine was therefore kept in the background.  Constantius began by demanding from the Western bishops a summary and lawless condemnation of Athanasius.  No evidence was offered; and when an accuser was asked for, the Emperor himself came forward, and this at a time when Athanasius was ruling Alexandria in peace on the faith of his solemn and repeated promises of protection.

[Sidenote:  Council of Arles (Oct. 353).]

A synod was held at Arles as soon as Constantius was settled there for the winter.  The bishops were not unwilling to take the Emperor’s word for the crimes of Athanasius, if only the court party cleared itself from the suspicion of heresy by anathematizing Arianism.  Much management and no little violence was needed to get rid of this condition; but in the end the council yielded.  Even the Roman legate, Vincent of Capua, gave way with the rest, and Paulinus of Trier alone stood firm, and was sent away to die in exile.