 Brescia 's army was easily dispersed , and Constantine quickly advanced to Verona , where a large <unk> force was camped . Ruricius Pompeianus , general of the Veronese forces and Maxentius ' praetorian prefect , was in a strong defensive position , since the town was surrounded on three sides by the Adige . Constantine sent a small force north of the town in an attempt to cross the river unnoticed . Ruricius sent a large detachment to counter Constantine 's expeditionary force , but was defeated . Constantine 's forces successfully surrounded the town and laid siege . Ruricius gave Constantine the slip and returned with a larger force to oppose Constantine . Constantine refused to let up on the siege , and sent only a small force to oppose him . In the desperately fought encounter that followed , Ruricius was killed and his army destroyed . Verona surrendered soon afterwards , followed by Aquileia , Mutina ( Modena ) , and Ravenna . The road to Rome was now wide open to Constantine . 
