diadem, thus recognizing his status as emperor. The vacillating Illyrian accepted the rapprochement, again uniting himself to the house of Constantine. Constantius met with Vetranio either at Naissus, or Sirmium, or at Serdica, to unite their strength for the war. Sardica Constantius presently threw off the disguise. On 25 December, in a scene contrived by officers in Vetranio's army well-disposed towards Constantius, the two emperors mounted a tribunal to address the assembled legions; Constantius succeeded, by means of a strong speech, in which he invoked the glories of the house of Constantine I, to have the Illyrian legions acclaim him sole emperor. Vetranio threw himself on the ground and begged Constantius' clemency. The emperor gently raised the aged general by the hand, honoring him with the name of father, and gave him instant pardon. Later life and death Later he was dismissed in peace. Though dismissed from his command, he was allowed to live the remainder of his years as a private citizen on a state pension in Prusa ad Olympum, Bithynia. He lived a further six years, dying in simple happiness. He is said to have recommended to Constantius as his friend, during his happy retirement in Brusa, that peace could only be obtained in a private station. References External links Vetranio's profile in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire , "Vetranio (350 A.D.)", in DIR (1996). Vetranio coinage Most complete internet database of known coin types of Vetranio 356 deaths Year of birth unknown 4th-century Roman emperors 4th-century Roman usurpers Monarchs who abdicated