 Following the defection of Milan to Constantine, the city of Verona became Maxentius' most important military strongpoint in the northern part of Italy.Verona was naturally strong as it sat in a loop of the River Adige, also its fortifications formed a formidable barrier to attack.Maxentius' most able general, the praetorian prefect Ruricius Pompeianus, had gathered a large army from the forces in the region of Venetia and concentrated it at Verona.