 Justina and her son only escaped by a frantic flight to Aquileia, whence they proceeded by boat to Thessalonica in Greece, entrusting themselves to Theodosius' magnanimity; in the meantime, Italy succumbed to Maximus.Theodosius at once departed from Constantinople to greet the imperial fugitives at Thessalonica.According to Gibbon, Theodosius hesitated some time whether to risk a war against the usurper with his formidable Germanic auxiliaries, but was ultimately swayed by his love for Valentinian's sister, Galla, to take up the fallen family's cause.