Decentius vs Shoshenq III

After Magnentius usurped the Western Roman throne, he appointed his brother Decentius as Caesar. Decentius was given command of Gaul and tasked with defending the Rhine frontier against Germanic tribes.

Decentius's forces failed to prevent Alemanni incursions into Gaul, leading to significant devastation. This military failure weakened Magnentius's position and undermined confidence in the usurper regime.

After Magnentius was defeated by Constantius II at the Battle of Mons Seleucus, Decentius hanged himself. His suicide ended the usurper dynasty and restored the Western Roman Empire to Constantius II's control.

Shoshenq III became pharaoh of Egypt's 22nd Dynasty, succeeding his father Osorkon II. His reign marked a period of fragmentation as local rulers gained autonomy, weakening central authority.

Shoshenq III commissioned a monumental portal at the Temple of Bastet in Bubastis, his dynastic capital. This construction project demonstrated his continued patronage of traditional Egyptian religion despite political decline.

During Shoshenq III's reign, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes, particularly Harsiese, asserted independence, effectively splitting Upper Egypt from the 22nd Dynasty's control. This deepened the fragmentation of Egypt.

Shoshenq III died after a reign of 39 years, one of the longest of the 22nd Dynasty. His lengthy rule did not reverse the trend of decentralization, and his successors inherited a weakened kingdom.