Maximus' Greatest Mistake

When the court of Milan got word of Gratian's death, they decided to send Bishop Ambrose north to trir to have a chat with Maximus and feel the general out. They knew that as a devout Nicene, Maximus would be willing to listen to what the bishop had to say. The court of Milan needed Maximus to listen to Ambrose and then keep listening for long enough to allow them to blockade the Alpine passes into Italy. By the time Maximus realized that the whole thing had been a giant stall, it was too late. He had critically misjudged the loyalty of the Milan court to the house of Valentinian and any chance he had at a swift and total