Gyraldus
contended that one or two Avaritia ; but of these nothing is known, unless
out of the six might be genuine ; Julius Caesar the first be another name for what we now possess.
out of the six might be genuine ; Julius Caesar the first be another name for what we now possess.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
This is followed by the
Follons) (JOANNES, No. 111. ), lived in the early letter of Hormisdas to Possessor, already noticed ;
part of the sixth century. In the beginning of the and then 5. Maxentius' reply, Joannis Marentii
honorary appe
Kelf assumed di
a copious then
for broad adol
subsequent hi
blended with
stantine, tbat:
detailed in fon
STANTINUS I.
cien, therefore
facts, that afte
suaded, if not
the first of M
inviation of E
(305), and qu
again invested
station ; that
arerted the da
compassed the
Tepulsed Gale
Constantine,
Angustus and
that on his
Maxentius, *
control and di
Dugo
MESE
had formed a F
betaken hims
been there de
able intrigues
and, to disari
threw off the
of the tempo
treacherously
deposited at
a body of 80
the third time
seilles and con
of all bis dige
and liberty
afterwards, he
his daughter
ordered to ch
strangled bim
310,
ST
COIN OF MAXENTIUS.
## p. 981 (#997) ############################################
MAXIMIANUS.
981
MAXIMIANUS.
PORN
ad Epistolam Hormisdae Responsio. The remain- The whole history of this stormy period bears
ing works are: 6. Ejusdem contra Acephalos Li- testimony to the military talents of Maximianus,
bellus. 7. Ejusdem Diologorum contra Nestori- and proves with equal certainty that he was totally
anos, Libri II. To these several pieces are prefixed, destitute of all dignity of mind, thoroughly unprin-
by the editor of the Bibliotheca, short introductions, cipled, not merely rough and stern, but base and
pointing out their supposed heretical tendency. cruel. All authorities agree that he was altogether
Baronius also bitterly inveighs against the heresies devoid of cultivation or refinement, and it is said
of Maxentius, who is, however, ably vindicated by that his features and general aspect were an index
Cardinal Noris and by John Forbes of Aberdeen. of the coarseness and harshness of the mind within.
(Baron. Annales ad ann. 519, 520; Norisius, So long as he was guided by the superior genius
Histor. Pelagian. ii. 18—20; Forbesius, Instruction, and commanding intellect of Diocletian, he per-
Historico-Theologic. iii. 21 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. ad formed well the work for which he was chosen, but
ann. 520, vol. 1. p. 505, ed. Oxf. 1740—1742; the latter years of his life, when left to the direction
Fabric. Bill. Graec, vol. x. p. 540. ) [J. C. M. ) of his own judgment, exhibit a melancholy spec-
MAXIMIA'NUS I. , Roman emperor, A. D. tacle of weak ambition, turbulence, perfidy, and
286–3054310. M. AURELIUS VALERIUS Max. crime.
IMIANUS, born of humble parents in Pannonia, Maximianus married Eutropia, a widow of Syrian
had acquired such high fame by his services in the extraction, by whom he had two children, the
army, that when Diocletian carried into effect emperor Maxentius, and Fausta, wife of 'Con-
(A. D. 285) his celebrated scheme for dividing with stantine the Great. Eutropia, by ber former hus-
out dismembering the empire [DIOCLETIANUS, p. band, who is unknown, bad a daughter, Flavia
1012], he was induced to select this rough soldier Maximiana Theodora, who was united to Con-
for his colleague, as one whose habits and abilities stantius Chlorus when he was elevated to the rank
were likely to prove particularly valuable in the of Caesar. (EUTROPIA ; Fausta; THEODORA. ]
actual disturbed state of public affairs, and accord-|(Zosim. ii. 7, 8, 10, 11 ; Zonar. xii. 31, 32, 33;
ingly created him first Caesar (285), and then Auctor. de Mort. Persec 8, 29, 30 ; Panegyr. Vet.
Augustus (286), conferring at the same time the ii. passim, iii. 3, 10, 14, vi. 9, vii. 14, &c. ; Victor,
honorary appellation of Herculius, while he him- de Cacs. Epit
. 39, 40 ; Eutrop. ix. 14, 16, x. 1.
self assumed that of Jovius, epithets which afforded 2; Oros. vii. 25, 28 ; Gruter. Corp. Inscrip.
a copious theme to the panegyrists of that epoch cclxxxi, 4 ; Tillemont, Hist. des Emp. not. v. xix.
for broad adulation and far-fetched conceits. The in Dioclet. ; Eckhel, vol. viii. p. 15. ) [W. R. )
subsequent history of Maximian is so intimately
blended with that of his patron and of Con-
stantine, that almost every particular has been fully
detailed in former articles (DIOCLETIANUS ; Con-
STANTINUS I. ; MAXENTIUS. ] It will be suffi-
cient, therefore, to direct attention to the leading
facts, that after having been most reluctantly per-
suaded, if not compelled to abdicate, at Milan, on
SNITT
the first of May, A. D. 305, he eagerly obeyed the
invitation of his son Maxentius the following year
(306), and quitting his retirement in Lucania, was
again invested with all the insignia of the imperial MAXIMIA'NUS II. , Roman emperor, A. D.
station; that having by his bravery and skill, 305—311. GALERIUS VALERIUS MAXIMI-
averted the dangers which threatened Italy, having ANUS, born near Sardica in Dacia, was the son of
compassed the death of Severus (307), and having a shepherd, and in early life followed the humble
repulsed Galerius, he formed a close union with calling of his parent. Hence he is frequently de-
Constantine, on whom he bestowed the title of signated in history by the epithet Armentarius,
Augustus and the hand of his daughter Fausta ; although this must be regarded rather as a familiar
that on his return to Rome he was expelled by than as a formal appellation, since it nowhere
Maxentius, who, having become impatient of his appears upon any public monument. Having served
control and dictation, pretended or believed that he in the wars of Aurelian and Probus, he passed
had formed a plot for his dethronement; that having through all the inferior grades of military rank in
betaken himself to the court of Galerius, and having succession, with such distinguished reputation, that
been there detected in the prosecution of treason- when Diocletian remodelled the constitution of the
able intrigues, he sought refuge with his son-in-law, empire [DIOCLETIANUS, p. 1012), he was chosen
and, to disarm all suspicion, once more formally along with Constantius Chlorus, in A. D. 292, to
threw off the purple ; that having taken advantage discharge the dignified but arduous duties of a
of the temporary absence of his protector and Caesar, was adopted by the elder emperor, whose
treacherously gained possession of the treasures daughter Valeria he received in marriage, was per-
deposited at Arles, by profuse bribery he persuaded mitted to participate in the title of Jovius, and was
a body of soldiers to proclaim him Augustus for entrusted with the command of Illyria and Thrace.
the third time ; that having been shut up in Mar. In A. D. 297 he undertook an expedition against
seilles and compelled to surrender, he was stripped the Persian monarch Narses, and after his failure
of all his dignities, but permitted to retain his life was treated with the most insulting harshness by
and liberty (308) ; but that, finally, two years his father-in-law. But having fully redeemed his
afterwards, having vainly endeavoured to induce credit by the glorious issue of the second campaign
his daughter Fausta to destroy her husband, he was (DIOCLETIANUS, p. 1012), he from this time for-
ordered to choose the manner of his death, and ward assumed a more hanghty bearing, which gra-
strangled himself in the month of February, A. D. dually took the form of arrogant dictation, as the
310.
bodily health and mental energies of his superior
TACTO
COIN OF MAXIMIANUS I.
3 R 3
## p. 982 (#998) ############################################
982
MAXIMIANUS.
MAXIMIANUS.
which are very
impresajons, of
appeared in
ovlpiet which
and that this co
Atque aliquis
Cantan, can
actual furnis
name, be it i
and to ebese v
that isand ha
had been gui
time, howeve
scholar cond
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productions
ect of the s
Saiger wen
was spurious
imagined th:
supposing th
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band. By
found unter
ledged to be
epoch. To
discover et
rished. T
From his o
that be wa
gradually sunk under the pressure of complicated married to Maxentius ; by his second, Galeria
anxieties. Upon the abdication of Diocletian and Valeria, the daughter of Diocletian, he had 00
Maxjinian (*. d. 305), an event which is said to children. (VALERIA. ) (Zosim. ii. 8, 10, 1];
have been hastened, if not caused, by his intrigues Zonar. xii. 32, 33, 34 ; Euseb. H. E. viii. 5, 17,
and threats, Galerius having succeeded in nominating Vit. Constant. 18 ; Auctor. de Mort. Persec. 18,
two creatures of his own, Daza and Severus (Max. &c. , 33, &c. ; Amm. Marc. xiv. ll. § 10; Victor,
IMINUS II. ; SEVERUS), to the posts of Caesars, de Caes. 39, 40, Epit. 39, 40 ; Eutrop. ix. 15, x.
now vacant in consequence of the elevation of 1-3; Oros. vii. 26, 28 ; Jornandes, de Rebus
himself and Constantius to the higher rank of Get. 21 ; Fragments published by Valesius at the
Augusti, began to look forward with confidence to end of his ed. of Amm. Marc. $ 3. ) (W. R. ]
the period when the death of his colleague should MAXIMIANUS, the poet, whose full name
leave him sole master of the world. But these was CORNELIUS MAXIMIANUS GALLUS ETRUS-
hopes were destined to be signally frustrated. The CUS. In the year 1501, Pomponius Gauricus, a
news of the decease of Chlorus was accompanied Neapolitan youth of nineteen, published at Venice
by the intelligence that the troops had enthu- six amatory elegies, little remarkable for purity of
siastically proffered their allegiance to his son. thought or of expression, under the title “ Cornelii
Galerius, filled with disappointment and rage, found Galli Fragmenta," with a preface, in which he en-
himself in no condition to resist, and although he deavoured to prove from internal evidence that
refused to concede a higher title than that of Cacsar they must be regarded as belonging to the ill-fated
to Constantine, was obliged virtually to resign all Cornelius Gallus, the friend of Virgil and Ovid.
claim to the sovereignty of Gaul and Britain. [GALLUS, CORNELIUS. ) They profess to be written
This mortification was followed by the more for by an old man, and the leading theme is the in-
midable series of disasters occasioned by the usur-firmities and miseries of age. These, as contrasted
pation of Maxentius which led to the destruction with the vigour and joys of youth, form the ex-
of Severus, to the disgrace of Galerius himself, after clusive subject of the first piece ; the second, third,
a most calamitous campaign, and thus to the loss of and fourth contain an account of three mistresses
Italy and Africa (MAXENTIUS), A. D. 307. From who had in succession ruled his heart, Aquilina,
this time forward, however, his life passed more i Candida, and Lycoris; the two former had been the
tranquilly, for having supplied the place of Severus objects of a transient flame ; the last, long his
by his old friend and comrade Licinius [LICINIUS], faithful companion, had at length forsaken him in
he seems to have abandoned those schemes of declining years ; in the fifth he gives the history of
extravagant ambition once so eagerly cherished, a senile passion for a Grecian damsel ; and the
and to have devoted his attention to great works sixth, which extends to a dozen lines only, is filled
of public utility, the draining of lakes and the with complaints and lamentations called forth by
clearing of forests, until cut off in A. D. 311, by the near approach of death. The points upon
the same terrible disease which is said to have which Gauricus chiefly insisted for the proof of his
terminated the existence of Sulla and of Herod proposition were:-1. That we know from Virgil
Agrippa.
and other sources that Lycoris was the name under
Of a haughty and ungovernable temper, cruel to which Gallus celebrated the charms and the cruelty
his enemies, ungrateful to his benefactors, a stranger of his loved Cytheris. 2. That the author of these
to all the arts which soften the heart or refine the poems describes himself as an Etruscan. 3. That the
intellect, the character of this prince presents expressions at the beginning of the fifth elegy
nothing to admire, except the valour of a fearless evidently allude to his office as prefect of Egypt
soldier and the skill of an accomplished general. These reasonings were at first freely admitted ;
The blackest shade upon his memory is thrown the elegies were frequently reprinted with the
by his pitiless persecution of the Christians, whom name of Gallus, and subjoined without suspicion to
he ever regarded with rancorous hostility, insti- many of the earlier editions of Catullus, Tibullus,
gated, we are told, by the furious bigotry of and Propertius, as the works of their contemporary.
his mother, an ardent cultivator of some of the l'pon a more critical examination, however, it was
darker rites of the ancient faith. The fatal ordi- soon perceived that the impure Latinity and faulty
nance of Diocletian, which for so many years de- versification accorded ill with the Augustan era ;
luged the world with innocent blood, is said to that a fictitious name, such as Lycoris, might be
have been extorted by the pertinacious violence of regarded as common property ; that the fact, which
Galerius, whose tardy repentance expressed in the is unquestionable, of the author declaring himself
famous edict of toleration published immediately an Etruscan, in itself proves that he could not be
before his death, made but poor amends for the Cornelius Gallus who was a native of Forum Julii
amount of misery which he had deliberately caused. (Frejus) in Southern Gaul; that the repinings at
Galerius, by his first wife, whose name is un- old age were altogether out of place in one who
known, and whom he was required to repudiate perished while yet in the strength of manhood ;
when created Caesar, had one daughter, who was and finally, that the terms in which an allusion is
made to his political appointment-
Missus ad Eoas legati munere partes
Tranquillum cunctis nectere pacis opus,
Dum studeo gemini componere foedera regni,
Inveni cordis bella nefanda mei,
are such as could never have been employed to
desiguate the duties of the imperial prefect in the
ANTH
most important and jealously guarded of all the
Roman provinces. But when, in addition to these
considerations, it was discovered that the MSS. ,
that he s
to poetry
spread rep
and that,
spatched
involving
Beyond it
Fontanin
their own
ants to
preserved
bare und
object of
is so sha
and is in
stantial
argumen
couplet
Hier
Sol
1119390
NVS
where i
must be
Three
of this
we are
L. Ma
which,
of place
have be
for its
darissit
edition,
Paris in
commer
Audum
CAESAR
. .
COIN OP MAXINIANUS IL
Marin
## p. 983 (#999) ############################################
MAXIMIANUS.
983
MAXIMINUS.
which are very numerous, and the early printed of Gauricus been extensively circulated as the re-
impressions, of which two at least, if not three, mains of Cornelius Gallus, were eventually allowed
had appeared in the fifteenth century, exhibited a to retain his designation along with that of the
couplet which was altogether omitted by Gauricus, lawful owner, and Etruscus is merely an epithet
and that this couplet (iv. 25),
attached by some editor.
Atque aliquis, cui caeca foret bene nota voluptas, arbitrary, and originated, it would appear, with
The present division into six pieces is purely
Cantat, cantantem Maximianus amat,
Gauricus. In many codices the whole are written
actually furnished the name of the real author, a as one continuous poem, with the following or
name, be it remarked, prefixed to many MSS. , some similar inscription, Facctum et perjucundum
and to these very early editions, it became evident Poema de Amoribus Muximiuni, Poctae doctissimi,
that fraud had been at work, and that Gauricus Oratoris suavissimi.
had been guilty of deliberate imposture. Some Labbe in his Billiotheca nova Manuscriptorum
time, however, elapsed before the most acute mentione other pocms of Maxinianus, which he
scholars could divest themselves of the impression distinguishes, Super Scnectute; Regulum Metricam;
that Gallus was in some way concerned with these Carmen de Virtutc ct Inrilia, de Ira, Puticntia, et
productions.
Gyraldus contended that one or two Avaritia ; but of these nothing is known, unless
out of the six might be genuine ; Julius Caesar the first be another name for what we now possess.
Scaliger went farther, and believed that only one There is no reason to believe that the epigrams in the
was spurious, that on Aquilina ; while Barthius anthology found among the exercises of the twelvo
imagined that all anomalies might be explained by scholastic poets, one of whom is called Maximianus,
supposing that the sketches of Gallus had been have any connection with the individual whom we
overlaid and interpolated by a later and unskilful are now discussing. The elegies will be found
hand. By degrees these and similar positions were under their best form in the Poëtae Latini Minores
found untenable, and the whole fabric was acknow- of Wernsdorf, vol. vi. pars i. p. 269, who gives a
ledged to be the workmanship of a semi-barbarous detailed catalogue of the different editions. For
epoch. This being granted, the next task was to further information consult Goldastus, Epist. dedic.
discover who Maximianus was, and when he flou- ad Ovidii Opuscula Erotica, Francf. 1610 ; Ber-
rished. This investigation cannot be pushed far. nardus Moneta, in Menagiunis, ed. terh. , Paris, 1715,
From his own words we conclude, as noticed above, vol. i p. 336 ; Souchaye, Mémoires de l'Académie
that he was by birth an Etruscan: it would appear des Inscriptions, vol. xvi
. ; Fontanini, Historia
that he spent his youth at Rome, devoting himself Litter. Aquileiae, 4to. Rom. 1742, lib. i. c. 3;
to poetry and rhetoric, that he acquired wide Withofius, Maximianus primaevae integr. restit. ,
spread reputation as a speaker-
8vo. 1741.
[W. R. ]
MAXIMILLA, EGNATIA. [EGNATIA. ]
Orator toto clarus in orbe fui,
MAXIMI'NUS I. , Roman emperor, A. D. 235–
and that, when far advanced in life, he was de 238. C. JULIUS VERUS MAXIMINUS was born in a
spatched to the East on an important mission, village on the confines of Thrace, of barbarian pa-
involving the peaceful relations of two kingdoms. rentage, his father Micca being a Goth, his mother
Beyond this we can scarcely advance. Goldastus, Ababa a German, from a tribe of the Alani.
Fontanini, and Wernsdorf have, indeed, proved to Brought up as a shepherd, he attracted the atten-
their own satisfaction that he is the very Maximi- tion of Septimius Severus, by his gigantic stature
anus to whom king Theodoric addressed a letter and marvellous feats of strength, was permitted to
preserved by Cassiodorus (Variar, i. 21), and they enlist in the cavalry, was appointed one of the
i
have undertaken to determine the period and the guards in immediate attendance on the person of
object of the embassy. Their reasoning, however, the emperor, and soon gained the good-will of his
is so shadowy that it completely eludes the grasp, officers and the respect of his fellow-soldiers. Under
and is in fact an elaborate attempt to create a sub-Caracalla he attained to the rank of centurion, and
stantial reality out of nothing. The most stringent was familiarly designated, from his prowess, Milo,
argument which they can find is based upon the Antaeus, or Hercules. Being regarded with sus-
couplet (iii. 47),
picious hatred by Macrinus, the assassin of his
patron, he retired for a while to his native province,
Hic mihi, magnarum scrutator maxime rerum,
Solus, Boëti, fers miseratus opem,
where he acquired some property, and maintained
a cordial intercourse with his barbarian countrymen,
where it is assumed that the person addressed to whom he was an object of no small pride and
must be Boëthius the philosopber.
admiration. Returning to Rome upon the accession
Three out of the four names placed at the head of Elagabalus, although disgusted by his profligate
of this article are probably fictitious. The MSS. , folly, he accepted the appointment of tribune,
we are assured, exhibit simply Maximianus, or studiously absenting himself, however, from court
L. Marimianus. The Editio Princeps, in fol. , during the whole reign. By Alexander he was re-
which, although without date, and without name ceived with great distinction, was entrusted with
of place or printer, is known by bibliographers to the important task of organising the great host,
have been printed at Utrecht about 1473, bears collected chiefly from the East, for the invasion of
for its title Maximiani Philosophi atque Oratoris Germany, was eventually, if we can trust the de-
clarissimi Ethica suavis et perjoconda, and a second sultory and indistinct narrative of the Augustan
edition, also very old, but without date, printed at historian, nominated general-in-chief of all the
Paris in 4to. by S. Jehannot and Petrus le Drou, armies, and hopes were held out that his son would
commences Perjucundus, juvenum quoque mirum in receive in marriage the sister of the emperor. But
modum demulcens animos, Libellus, quem nugarum even these honours did not satisfy his ambition.
Maximiani immitis Alerander intitulat, &c. The Taking advantage of the bad feeling which existed
verses having for a long time after the publication among the troops, he artfully contrived to stimulate
3 R 4
## p. 984 (#1000) ###########################################
984
MAXIMINUS.
MAXIMINUS.
Deials, aromat
pan certain th
happened not la
10, 235 ; that
minen, aiter bis
Germans, too:
elevation of ube
te commenceme
death aboat se
mis set out
Apri, sat down
the conth, and
the midde of
The Dames
tites Decicus
appear in insch
the simple as
added in those
following year
dian. lib. vii.
SEVERUS ;
XUS ; CRISPI
9
API
their discontent, until a regular conspiracy was | insurrection in Africa headed by the Gordians, of
inatured, which ended in the assassination of the favour displayed by the provinces and the
Severus in Gaul (SEVERUS), and in his own inves- senate towards their cause, of the resolutions by
titure (A. D. 235) with the purple by the mutinous which he himself bad been declared a public enemy,
soldiers, whose choice was not resisted by an intimi- of the subsequent elevation of Maximus with Balo
dated senate.
binus, and of their recognition in Italy by all orders
Maximinus immediately bestowed the title of of the state. He is said upon this occasion to have
Caesar on his son Maximus, and without seeking to rent bis garments, to bave thrown himself upon
display his new dignity in the metropolis, deter- the ground and dashed his head against the wall in
mined to prosecute with all vigour the war against impotent fury, to have howled like a wild beast, to
the Germans, and accordingly crossed the Rhine have struck all whom he encountered, and to have
towards the end of the year A. D. 235. The cam- attempted to tear out the eyes of his own son.
paign, which lasted for upwards of eighteen months, Abandoning at once his projected expedition, orders
was triumphantly successful. The enemy, after were instantly given to march against Rome.
having in vain attempted to withstand the progress Passing over the Julian Alp, the army descended
of the invaders, were compelled to take refuge in upon Aquileia. That important city, the chief
their woods and marshes, many thousand villages bulwark of the peninsula on the north-eastern
were destroyed, the flocks and herds were slaugh- frontier, stimulated by the patriotic zeal of Cris-
tered or driven off, a vast amount of plunder, in- pinus and Menophilus, the two consulars entrusted
cluding multitudcs of prisoners, was secured, and with the defence of the district, shut its gates
the emperor retired to Pannonia in the autumn of against the tyrant, who was forced to form a re-
237, with the resolution of re-crossing the Danube gular siege. The walls were bravely defended,
in the following spring, in order that he might sub- and the assailants suffered severely, not only from
jugate the Sarinatians and carry his arms even to the valour of the townsmen, but likewise from
the shores of the ocean. Meanwhile, his adminis- the want of supplies, the whole of the surrounding
tration had been characterised by a degree of district having been laid waste in anticipation of
oppression and sanguinary excess hitherto unex- their approach. The bad passions and ungover-
ampled. His maxim, we are assured, was “ nisi able temper of Maximinus were lashed into frenzy
crudelitate imperium non teneri,” and unquestion by these delays, the chief officers were put to death,
ably his practice seems to have been guided by and the most intemperate harshness employed to
some such brutal principle. This violence was
wards the men. At length a body of praetorians,
first called forth by the discovery of an extensive dreading some new outbreak of cruelty, repaired to
plot, contrived originally, we are told, by a certain the tent of the emperor and his son, who were re-
Magnus, a consular, in which many officers and posing during the mid-day heat, and having forced
men of rank were involved. The vengeance of the an entrance, cut off their heads, which were first
tyrant was not glutted until four thousand victims displayed on poles to the gaze of the citizens on
had been sacrificed, the greater number of whom the battlements of Aquileia, and then despatched
were destroyed upon the most vague suspicion. to Rome. The grisly trophies were exposed for
From this time forward informers were encouraged a time to public view, that all might revel in the
to ply their trade. An accusation was instantly spectacle, and then burned in the Campus Mar-
followed by a sentence of death or confiscation ; tius, amidst the insulting shouts of the crowd.
the most opulent were persecuted with untiring These feelings were shared by all the civilised pro-
rancour, and numbers of illustrious families reduced vinces in the empire, although the rude dwellers
to indigence. When the sums lavished on the on the northern frontiers lamented the loss of a
troops could no longer be supplied by the plunder sovereign chosen from among themselves.
of private individuals, the next step was to lay We have already seen that Maximinus owed his
violent hands on public property of every descrip first advancement to his physical powers, which
tion. The sums reserved in the treasury for the seem to have been almost incredible.
His height
purchase of corn, the fund set apart for theatrical exceeded eight feet, but his person was not un-
exhibitions, the wealth accumulated in the temples, graceful, for the size and muscular development of
and the very statues of the gods, were all ruthlessly his limbs were in proportion to his stature, the cir-
seized,--proceedings which called forth expressions cumference of his thumb being equal to that of a
of such deep indignation, that the soldiers were woman's wrist, so that the bracelet of his wife
ashamed to enrich themselves from these sources. served him for a ring. His fair skin gave token of
Against no class did the jealous rage of Maximinus his Scandinavian extraction, while the remarkable
burn so fiercely as against the senate. Remem- magnitude of his eyes communicated a bold and
bering with bitterness the insults he had endured imposing expression to his features. In addition
in former days from the very slaves of the haughty to his unequalled prowess as a wrestler, he was able
nobles, he eagerly seized every pretext for pillaging, single-banded to drag a loaded waggon, could with
exiling, and murdering the members of a body so his fist knock out the grinders, and with a kick
detested. The same ferocity broke forth even break the leg of a horse ; while his appetite was
against the soldiers, who were subjected for trivial such, that in a day he could eat forty pounds of
offences to the most horrid tortures, so that history meat, and drink an amphora of wine. At least
and mythology were ransacked to discover some such are the statements of ancient writers, though
monstrous prototype for the man whom they had they should doubtless be received with some
once loved to term Hercules, or Ajax, or Achilles, deductions,
but who was now more frequently designated as The chronology of this reign, which is extremely
Cyclops, or Busiris, or Sciron, or Phalaris, or obscure, in consequence of the ignorance and care-
Typhon, or Gyges. But this fury was kindled lessness of our ancient authorities, has been eluci-
into absolute madness, when, in the beginning of dated with great skill by Eckhel, whose arguments,
A. D. 238, Maximinus received intelligence of the founded chiefly upon the evidence afforded by
MAXIMO
314. GALI
misall be
of Galerias
the occupat
Haring for
a soldier, b
conspicuous
the service,
a Nicome
1013), ali
indeed ank
of the East
to the rank
sorernment
for these es
of trour,
being passt
lowed the
97, when
CINIUS; G
satisfied by
Tented the
kede the ap
permission
with much
luctant acc
death of th
Fention wit
the proving
former dom
formning the
reignties; b
of the abses
to Milan i
marriage til
invaded The
however, be
## p. 985 (#1001) ###########################################
MAXIMINUS.
985
MAXIMINUS.
medals, appear quite irresistible. From these it fought near Heracleia, he fled first to Nicomedein
appears certain that the death of Alexander Severus and thence to Tarsus, where he soon after died
happened not later than the beginning of July, according to some accounts of despair, according to
A. D. 235; that Maximinus betook himself to Sir- others by poison. His wife and children were
mium, after his successful campaign against the murdered, and every imaginable insult heaped upon
Gernians, towards the close of a. D. 237 ; that the his memory by the conqueror.
elevation of the Gordians in Africa took place about The great military talents of Herculius, Galerius,
the commencement of March, A. D. 238, and their and Licinius, served in some degree, if not to pal-
death about six weeks afterwards ; that Maxi- liate, at least to divert attention from, their vices
minus set out upon his march for Rome early in and their crimes. But not one quality, either
April, sat down before Aquileia towards the end of noble or dazzling, relieves the coarse brutality of
the month, and was slain, in all probability about Maximin, who surpassed all his contemporaries in
the middle of May.
the profligacy of his private life, in the general
The names C. Julius Verus, together with the cruelty of his administration, and in the furious
titles Dacicus Maximus and Sarmaticus Maximus, hatred with which he persecuted the Christians.
appear in inscriptions only ; medals at first exhibit His elevation, which was the result of family in-
the simple Maximinus, to which Germanicus is Auence alone, must have been as unexpected by
added in those struck during a. D. 236, and the himself as by others ; but he did not prove by any
following years. (Capitolin. Maximin. duo ; Hero- means such a passive and subservient tool as was
dian. lib. vii. viii. , Zonar. xii. 16. ) (ALEXANDER anticipated. His extravagant vanity, for we can
SEVERUS ; GORDIANUS ; BALBINUS ; QUARTI- scarcely dignify the feeling by the name of am-
NUS ; CRISPINUS; MENOPHILUS. ] (W. R. ) bition, was for a while gratified, becanse Galerius
felt unwilling to engage in a civil war with the
creature of his own hands; but the arrogance en-
016
gendered by this success in all probability prompted
him to the unprovoked aggression which proved his
ruin. (Zosim. ii. 8 ; Victor, Epit. 40 ; Oros. vii.
25; Auctor. de Mort. Persec. 5, 32, 36, 38, 45,
&c. ; Euseb. H. E. viii. 14, ix. 2, &c. ; Eckhel,
vol. viii. p. 51. )
[W. R. }
MI
I T
. 600°C.
DnCo
OWO
COIN OP MAXIMINUS L
AV
I
POLVO
MAXIMI'NUS II. , Roman emperor 305—
314. GALERIUS VALERIUS MAXIMINUS, who
originally bore the name of Daza, was the nephew
of Galerius by a sister, and in early life followed
the occupation of a shepherd in his native Illyria.
Having forsaken this humble calling for the life of
a soldier, by force of interest rather than of any
conspicuous merit, he rose to the highest rank in
the service, and upon the abdication of Diocletian
COIN OP MAXIMINUS IL
at Nicomedeia in A. D. 305 (DIOCLETIANUS, p.
1013), although altogether undistinguished, and MAXIMI'NUS, the excellent ambassador of
indeed unknown, was adopted by the new emperor Theodosius the Younger to Attila in A. D. 448.
of the East, received the title of Jovius, was elevated He was already conspicuous in the Persian war in
to the rank of Caesar, and was nominated to the 422, when he was lieutenant of Ardaburins. Theo-
government of Syria and Egypt. Little grateful dosius sent him in 448 to Attila ; Orestes and
for these extraordinary and most undeserved marks Edicon, the Hunnic ambassadors at Constantinople,
of favour, he displayed violent indignation upon returned with him to Pannonia. This Edicon had
being passed over in the arrangements which fol- been bribed by the minister, Chrysaphius, to
lowed the death of Constantius Chlorus in a. D. murder Attila, but on his arrival in Pannonia in-
307, when Licinius was created Augustus. [LI- formed his master of the plot, of which Maximin
CINIUS; GALERIUS MASINIANUS. ) Far from being was totally ignorant. Attila was well aware of
satisfied by the concession of Galerius, who in- this, and consequently turned his resentment only
vented the new title of Fülü Augustorum to super- against the emperor and the minister at Constanti-
sede the appellation of Caesars, he assumed without nople, disdaining even to punish Vigilius, who was
permission the highest imperial designation, and the entire promoter of the scheme, and who was
with much difficulty succeeded in wringing a re- entrapped in his turn by Attila. This embassy of
luctant acquiescence from his uncle. Upon the Maximin is described by his secretary, Priscus, to
death of the latter, in 311, he entered into a con- whom we refer for the interesting details of an
vention with Licinius, in terms of which he received event to which we are indebted for nearly all our
the provinces of Asia Minor in addition to his knowledge of Attila's person and private life.
former dominion, the Hellespont and the Bosporus Maximin became afterwards one of the four prin-
forming the common boundary of the two sove-cipal ministers of the emperor Marcian; and in
reignties; but having treacherously taken advantage later years held the supreme command in Egypt,
of the absence of his neighbour, who had repaired whence he made a successful campaign against the
to Milan in 313 for the purpose of receiving in Aethiopians. He is invariably represented as a
marriage the sister of Constantine, he suddenly virtuous, firm, and highly talented man, (Priscus,
invaded Thrace, and surprised Byzantium. Having, p. 39, 40, 48—70 ; Socrat. Hist. Eccles. , vii. 20;
however, been signally defeated in a great battle Priscus. )
[W. P. ]
## p. 986 (#1002) ###########################################
986
MAXIMUS.
MAXIMUS.
ninus l. upon
and Princeps JE
the emperor in
rians, be was
Surstrow, and
Luble bowerer
tribanician pua
was ever forma
with the tite
u VETORIA
Maumus. AC
Recais. Be
by obe troops
at the age of
thantes, twer
We are enable
bis name was
Cao to. r. 25
Tois youth
preas ag beant
di bis dress,
demeanour.
much care,
Leta literat
have had a g
ander bad at
his sister, I
and at a la
Facts a
Capitolinus
291, 297;
MA'XIMUS AEGIENSIS (d Alylets), of is not clear. Taking advantage of the sickness of
Aegae in Cilicia, a writer contemporary with Apol- Gregory, and supported by some Egyptian eccle-
lonius of Tyana (APOLLONIUS TYANAEUS), of siastics, sent by Peter, patriarch of Alexandria,
some of whose transactions he wrote an account, under whose directions they professed to act, Max-
which was part of the materials employed by Phi- imus was ordained, during the night, patriarch of
lostratus [PHILOSTRATUS] in his biography of Constantinople, in the place of Gregory, whose
that philosopher. (Philostr.
Follons) (JOANNES, No. 111. ), lived in the early letter of Hormisdas to Possessor, already noticed ;
part of the sixth century. In the beginning of the and then 5. Maxentius' reply, Joannis Marentii
honorary appe
Kelf assumed di
a copious then
for broad adol
subsequent hi
blended with
stantine, tbat:
detailed in fon
STANTINUS I.
cien, therefore
facts, that afte
suaded, if not
the first of M
inviation of E
(305), and qu
again invested
station ; that
arerted the da
compassed the
Tepulsed Gale
Constantine,
Angustus and
that on his
Maxentius, *
control and di
Dugo
MESE
had formed a F
betaken hims
been there de
able intrigues
and, to disari
threw off the
of the tempo
treacherously
deposited at
a body of 80
the third time
seilles and con
of all bis dige
and liberty
afterwards, he
his daughter
ordered to ch
strangled bim
310,
ST
COIN OF MAXENTIUS.
## p. 981 (#997) ############################################
MAXIMIANUS.
981
MAXIMIANUS.
PORN
ad Epistolam Hormisdae Responsio. The remain- The whole history of this stormy period bears
ing works are: 6. Ejusdem contra Acephalos Li- testimony to the military talents of Maximianus,
bellus. 7. Ejusdem Diologorum contra Nestori- and proves with equal certainty that he was totally
anos, Libri II. To these several pieces are prefixed, destitute of all dignity of mind, thoroughly unprin-
by the editor of the Bibliotheca, short introductions, cipled, not merely rough and stern, but base and
pointing out their supposed heretical tendency. cruel. All authorities agree that he was altogether
Baronius also bitterly inveighs against the heresies devoid of cultivation or refinement, and it is said
of Maxentius, who is, however, ably vindicated by that his features and general aspect were an index
Cardinal Noris and by John Forbes of Aberdeen. of the coarseness and harshness of the mind within.
(Baron. Annales ad ann. 519, 520; Norisius, So long as he was guided by the superior genius
Histor. Pelagian. ii. 18—20; Forbesius, Instruction, and commanding intellect of Diocletian, he per-
Historico-Theologic. iii. 21 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. ad formed well the work for which he was chosen, but
ann. 520, vol. 1. p. 505, ed. Oxf. 1740—1742; the latter years of his life, when left to the direction
Fabric. Bill. Graec, vol. x. p. 540. ) [J. C. M. ) of his own judgment, exhibit a melancholy spec-
MAXIMIA'NUS I. , Roman emperor, A. D. tacle of weak ambition, turbulence, perfidy, and
286–3054310. M. AURELIUS VALERIUS Max. crime.
IMIANUS, born of humble parents in Pannonia, Maximianus married Eutropia, a widow of Syrian
had acquired such high fame by his services in the extraction, by whom he had two children, the
army, that when Diocletian carried into effect emperor Maxentius, and Fausta, wife of 'Con-
(A. D. 285) his celebrated scheme for dividing with stantine the Great. Eutropia, by ber former hus-
out dismembering the empire [DIOCLETIANUS, p. band, who is unknown, bad a daughter, Flavia
1012], he was induced to select this rough soldier Maximiana Theodora, who was united to Con-
for his colleague, as one whose habits and abilities stantius Chlorus when he was elevated to the rank
were likely to prove particularly valuable in the of Caesar. (EUTROPIA ; Fausta; THEODORA. ]
actual disturbed state of public affairs, and accord-|(Zosim. ii. 7, 8, 10, 11 ; Zonar. xii. 31, 32, 33;
ingly created him first Caesar (285), and then Auctor. de Mort. Persec 8, 29, 30 ; Panegyr. Vet.
Augustus (286), conferring at the same time the ii. passim, iii. 3, 10, 14, vi. 9, vii. 14, &c. ; Victor,
honorary appellation of Herculius, while he him- de Cacs. Epit
. 39, 40 ; Eutrop. ix. 14, 16, x. 1.
self assumed that of Jovius, epithets which afforded 2; Oros. vii. 25, 28 ; Gruter. Corp. Inscrip.
a copious theme to the panegyrists of that epoch cclxxxi, 4 ; Tillemont, Hist. des Emp. not. v. xix.
for broad adulation and far-fetched conceits. The in Dioclet. ; Eckhel, vol. viii. p. 15. ) [W. R. )
subsequent history of Maximian is so intimately
blended with that of his patron and of Con-
stantine, that almost every particular has been fully
detailed in former articles (DIOCLETIANUS ; Con-
STANTINUS I. ; MAXENTIUS. ] It will be suffi-
cient, therefore, to direct attention to the leading
facts, that after having been most reluctantly per-
suaded, if not compelled to abdicate, at Milan, on
SNITT
the first of May, A. D. 305, he eagerly obeyed the
invitation of his son Maxentius the following year
(306), and quitting his retirement in Lucania, was
again invested with all the insignia of the imperial MAXIMIA'NUS II. , Roman emperor, A. D.
station; that having by his bravery and skill, 305—311. GALERIUS VALERIUS MAXIMI-
averted the dangers which threatened Italy, having ANUS, born near Sardica in Dacia, was the son of
compassed the death of Severus (307), and having a shepherd, and in early life followed the humble
repulsed Galerius, he formed a close union with calling of his parent. Hence he is frequently de-
Constantine, on whom he bestowed the title of signated in history by the epithet Armentarius,
Augustus and the hand of his daughter Fausta ; although this must be regarded rather as a familiar
that on his return to Rome he was expelled by than as a formal appellation, since it nowhere
Maxentius, who, having become impatient of his appears upon any public monument. Having served
control and dictation, pretended or believed that he in the wars of Aurelian and Probus, he passed
had formed a plot for his dethronement; that having through all the inferior grades of military rank in
betaken himself to the court of Galerius, and having succession, with such distinguished reputation, that
been there detected in the prosecution of treason- when Diocletian remodelled the constitution of the
able intrigues, he sought refuge with his son-in-law, empire [DIOCLETIANUS, p. 1012), he was chosen
and, to disarm all suspicion, once more formally along with Constantius Chlorus, in A. D. 292, to
threw off the purple ; that having taken advantage discharge the dignified but arduous duties of a
of the temporary absence of his protector and Caesar, was adopted by the elder emperor, whose
treacherously gained possession of the treasures daughter Valeria he received in marriage, was per-
deposited at Arles, by profuse bribery he persuaded mitted to participate in the title of Jovius, and was
a body of soldiers to proclaim him Augustus for entrusted with the command of Illyria and Thrace.
the third time ; that having been shut up in Mar. In A. D. 297 he undertook an expedition against
seilles and compelled to surrender, he was stripped the Persian monarch Narses, and after his failure
of all his dignities, but permitted to retain his life was treated with the most insulting harshness by
and liberty (308) ; but that, finally, two years his father-in-law. But having fully redeemed his
afterwards, having vainly endeavoured to induce credit by the glorious issue of the second campaign
his daughter Fausta to destroy her husband, he was (DIOCLETIANUS, p. 1012), he from this time for-
ordered to choose the manner of his death, and ward assumed a more hanghty bearing, which gra-
strangled himself in the month of February, A. D. dually took the form of arrogant dictation, as the
310.
bodily health and mental energies of his superior
TACTO
COIN OF MAXIMIANUS I.
3 R 3
## p. 982 (#998) ############################################
982
MAXIMIANUS.
MAXIMIANUS.
which are very
impresajons, of
appeared in
ovlpiet which
and that this co
Atque aliquis
Cantan, can
actual furnis
name, be it i
and to ebese v
that isand ha
had been gui
time, howeve
scholar cond
that Galus *
productions
ect of the s
Saiger wen
was spurious
imagined th:
supposing th
Oreriaid arà
band. By
found unter
ledged to be
epoch. To
discover et
rished. T
From his o
that be wa
gradually sunk under the pressure of complicated married to Maxentius ; by his second, Galeria
anxieties. Upon the abdication of Diocletian and Valeria, the daughter of Diocletian, he had 00
Maxjinian (*. d. 305), an event which is said to children. (VALERIA. ) (Zosim. ii. 8, 10, 1];
have been hastened, if not caused, by his intrigues Zonar. xii. 32, 33, 34 ; Euseb. H. E. viii. 5, 17,
and threats, Galerius having succeeded in nominating Vit. Constant. 18 ; Auctor. de Mort. Persec. 18,
two creatures of his own, Daza and Severus (Max. &c. , 33, &c. ; Amm. Marc. xiv. ll. § 10; Victor,
IMINUS II. ; SEVERUS), to the posts of Caesars, de Caes. 39, 40, Epit. 39, 40 ; Eutrop. ix. 15, x.
now vacant in consequence of the elevation of 1-3; Oros. vii. 26, 28 ; Jornandes, de Rebus
himself and Constantius to the higher rank of Get. 21 ; Fragments published by Valesius at the
Augusti, began to look forward with confidence to end of his ed. of Amm. Marc. $ 3. ) (W. R. ]
the period when the death of his colleague should MAXIMIANUS, the poet, whose full name
leave him sole master of the world. But these was CORNELIUS MAXIMIANUS GALLUS ETRUS-
hopes were destined to be signally frustrated. The CUS. In the year 1501, Pomponius Gauricus, a
news of the decease of Chlorus was accompanied Neapolitan youth of nineteen, published at Venice
by the intelligence that the troops had enthu- six amatory elegies, little remarkable for purity of
siastically proffered their allegiance to his son. thought or of expression, under the title “ Cornelii
Galerius, filled with disappointment and rage, found Galli Fragmenta," with a preface, in which he en-
himself in no condition to resist, and although he deavoured to prove from internal evidence that
refused to concede a higher title than that of Cacsar they must be regarded as belonging to the ill-fated
to Constantine, was obliged virtually to resign all Cornelius Gallus, the friend of Virgil and Ovid.
claim to the sovereignty of Gaul and Britain. [GALLUS, CORNELIUS. ) They profess to be written
This mortification was followed by the more for by an old man, and the leading theme is the in-
midable series of disasters occasioned by the usur-firmities and miseries of age. These, as contrasted
pation of Maxentius which led to the destruction with the vigour and joys of youth, form the ex-
of Severus, to the disgrace of Galerius himself, after clusive subject of the first piece ; the second, third,
a most calamitous campaign, and thus to the loss of and fourth contain an account of three mistresses
Italy and Africa (MAXENTIUS), A. D. 307. From who had in succession ruled his heart, Aquilina,
this time forward, however, his life passed more i Candida, and Lycoris; the two former had been the
tranquilly, for having supplied the place of Severus objects of a transient flame ; the last, long his
by his old friend and comrade Licinius [LICINIUS], faithful companion, had at length forsaken him in
he seems to have abandoned those schemes of declining years ; in the fifth he gives the history of
extravagant ambition once so eagerly cherished, a senile passion for a Grecian damsel ; and the
and to have devoted his attention to great works sixth, which extends to a dozen lines only, is filled
of public utility, the draining of lakes and the with complaints and lamentations called forth by
clearing of forests, until cut off in A. D. 311, by the near approach of death. The points upon
the same terrible disease which is said to have which Gauricus chiefly insisted for the proof of his
terminated the existence of Sulla and of Herod proposition were:-1. That we know from Virgil
Agrippa.
and other sources that Lycoris was the name under
Of a haughty and ungovernable temper, cruel to which Gallus celebrated the charms and the cruelty
his enemies, ungrateful to his benefactors, a stranger of his loved Cytheris. 2. That the author of these
to all the arts which soften the heart or refine the poems describes himself as an Etruscan. 3. That the
intellect, the character of this prince presents expressions at the beginning of the fifth elegy
nothing to admire, except the valour of a fearless evidently allude to his office as prefect of Egypt
soldier and the skill of an accomplished general. These reasonings were at first freely admitted ;
The blackest shade upon his memory is thrown the elegies were frequently reprinted with the
by his pitiless persecution of the Christians, whom name of Gallus, and subjoined without suspicion to
he ever regarded with rancorous hostility, insti- many of the earlier editions of Catullus, Tibullus,
gated, we are told, by the furious bigotry of and Propertius, as the works of their contemporary.
his mother, an ardent cultivator of some of the l'pon a more critical examination, however, it was
darker rites of the ancient faith. The fatal ordi- soon perceived that the impure Latinity and faulty
nance of Diocletian, which for so many years de- versification accorded ill with the Augustan era ;
luged the world with innocent blood, is said to that a fictitious name, such as Lycoris, might be
have been extorted by the pertinacious violence of regarded as common property ; that the fact, which
Galerius, whose tardy repentance expressed in the is unquestionable, of the author declaring himself
famous edict of toleration published immediately an Etruscan, in itself proves that he could not be
before his death, made but poor amends for the Cornelius Gallus who was a native of Forum Julii
amount of misery which he had deliberately caused. (Frejus) in Southern Gaul; that the repinings at
Galerius, by his first wife, whose name is un- old age were altogether out of place in one who
known, and whom he was required to repudiate perished while yet in the strength of manhood ;
when created Caesar, had one daughter, who was and finally, that the terms in which an allusion is
made to his political appointment-
Missus ad Eoas legati munere partes
Tranquillum cunctis nectere pacis opus,
Dum studeo gemini componere foedera regni,
Inveni cordis bella nefanda mei,
are such as could never have been employed to
desiguate the duties of the imperial prefect in the
ANTH
most important and jealously guarded of all the
Roman provinces. But when, in addition to these
considerations, it was discovered that the MSS. ,
that he s
to poetry
spread rep
and that,
spatched
involving
Beyond it
Fontanin
their own
ants to
preserved
bare und
object of
is so sha
and is in
stantial
argumen
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Hier
Sol
1119390
NVS
where i
must be
Three
of this
we are
L. Ma
which,
of place
have be
for its
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edition,
Paris in
commer
Audum
CAESAR
. .
COIN OP MAXINIANUS IL
Marin
## p. 983 (#999) ############################################
MAXIMIANUS.
983
MAXIMINUS.
which are very numerous, and the early printed of Gauricus been extensively circulated as the re-
impressions, of which two at least, if not three, mains of Cornelius Gallus, were eventually allowed
had appeared in the fifteenth century, exhibited a to retain his designation along with that of the
couplet which was altogether omitted by Gauricus, lawful owner, and Etruscus is merely an epithet
and that this couplet (iv. 25),
attached by some editor.
Atque aliquis, cui caeca foret bene nota voluptas, arbitrary, and originated, it would appear, with
The present division into six pieces is purely
Cantat, cantantem Maximianus amat,
Gauricus. In many codices the whole are written
actually furnished the name of the real author, a as one continuous poem, with the following or
name, be it remarked, prefixed to many MSS. , some similar inscription, Facctum et perjucundum
and to these very early editions, it became evident Poema de Amoribus Muximiuni, Poctae doctissimi,
that fraud had been at work, and that Gauricus Oratoris suavissimi.
had been guilty of deliberate imposture. Some Labbe in his Billiotheca nova Manuscriptorum
time, however, elapsed before the most acute mentione other pocms of Maxinianus, which he
scholars could divest themselves of the impression distinguishes, Super Scnectute; Regulum Metricam;
that Gallus was in some way concerned with these Carmen de Virtutc ct Inrilia, de Ira, Puticntia, et
productions.
Gyraldus contended that one or two Avaritia ; but of these nothing is known, unless
out of the six might be genuine ; Julius Caesar the first be another name for what we now possess.
Scaliger went farther, and believed that only one There is no reason to believe that the epigrams in the
was spurious, that on Aquilina ; while Barthius anthology found among the exercises of the twelvo
imagined that all anomalies might be explained by scholastic poets, one of whom is called Maximianus,
supposing that the sketches of Gallus had been have any connection with the individual whom we
overlaid and interpolated by a later and unskilful are now discussing. The elegies will be found
hand. By degrees these and similar positions were under their best form in the Poëtae Latini Minores
found untenable, and the whole fabric was acknow- of Wernsdorf, vol. vi. pars i. p. 269, who gives a
ledged to be the workmanship of a semi-barbarous detailed catalogue of the different editions. For
epoch. This being granted, the next task was to further information consult Goldastus, Epist. dedic.
discover who Maximianus was, and when he flou- ad Ovidii Opuscula Erotica, Francf. 1610 ; Ber-
rished. This investigation cannot be pushed far. nardus Moneta, in Menagiunis, ed. terh. , Paris, 1715,
From his own words we conclude, as noticed above, vol. i p. 336 ; Souchaye, Mémoires de l'Académie
that he was by birth an Etruscan: it would appear des Inscriptions, vol. xvi
. ; Fontanini, Historia
that he spent his youth at Rome, devoting himself Litter. Aquileiae, 4to. Rom. 1742, lib. i. c. 3;
to poetry and rhetoric, that he acquired wide Withofius, Maximianus primaevae integr. restit. ,
spread reputation as a speaker-
8vo. 1741.
[W. R. ]
MAXIMILLA, EGNATIA. [EGNATIA. ]
Orator toto clarus in orbe fui,
MAXIMI'NUS I. , Roman emperor, A. D. 235–
and that, when far advanced in life, he was de 238. C. JULIUS VERUS MAXIMINUS was born in a
spatched to the East on an important mission, village on the confines of Thrace, of barbarian pa-
involving the peaceful relations of two kingdoms. rentage, his father Micca being a Goth, his mother
Beyond this we can scarcely advance. Goldastus, Ababa a German, from a tribe of the Alani.
Fontanini, and Wernsdorf have, indeed, proved to Brought up as a shepherd, he attracted the atten-
their own satisfaction that he is the very Maximi- tion of Septimius Severus, by his gigantic stature
anus to whom king Theodoric addressed a letter and marvellous feats of strength, was permitted to
preserved by Cassiodorus (Variar, i. 21), and they enlist in the cavalry, was appointed one of the
i
have undertaken to determine the period and the guards in immediate attendance on the person of
object of the embassy. Their reasoning, however, the emperor, and soon gained the good-will of his
is so shadowy that it completely eludes the grasp, officers and the respect of his fellow-soldiers. Under
and is in fact an elaborate attempt to create a sub-Caracalla he attained to the rank of centurion, and
stantial reality out of nothing. The most stringent was familiarly designated, from his prowess, Milo,
argument which they can find is based upon the Antaeus, or Hercules. Being regarded with sus-
couplet (iii. 47),
picious hatred by Macrinus, the assassin of his
patron, he retired for a while to his native province,
Hic mihi, magnarum scrutator maxime rerum,
Solus, Boëti, fers miseratus opem,
where he acquired some property, and maintained
a cordial intercourse with his barbarian countrymen,
where it is assumed that the person addressed to whom he was an object of no small pride and
must be Boëthius the philosopber.
admiration. Returning to Rome upon the accession
Three out of the four names placed at the head of Elagabalus, although disgusted by his profligate
of this article are probably fictitious. The MSS. , folly, he accepted the appointment of tribune,
we are assured, exhibit simply Maximianus, or studiously absenting himself, however, from court
L. Marimianus. The Editio Princeps, in fol. , during the whole reign. By Alexander he was re-
which, although without date, and without name ceived with great distinction, was entrusted with
of place or printer, is known by bibliographers to the important task of organising the great host,
have been printed at Utrecht about 1473, bears collected chiefly from the East, for the invasion of
for its title Maximiani Philosophi atque Oratoris Germany, was eventually, if we can trust the de-
clarissimi Ethica suavis et perjoconda, and a second sultory and indistinct narrative of the Augustan
edition, also very old, but without date, printed at historian, nominated general-in-chief of all the
Paris in 4to. by S. Jehannot and Petrus le Drou, armies, and hopes were held out that his son would
commences Perjucundus, juvenum quoque mirum in receive in marriage the sister of the emperor. But
modum demulcens animos, Libellus, quem nugarum even these honours did not satisfy his ambition.
Maximiani immitis Alerander intitulat, &c. The Taking advantage of the bad feeling which existed
verses having for a long time after the publication among the troops, he artfully contrived to stimulate
3 R 4
## p. 984 (#1000) ###########################################
984
MAXIMINUS.
MAXIMINUS.
Deials, aromat
pan certain th
happened not la
10, 235 ; that
minen, aiter bis
Germans, too:
elevation of ube
te commenceme
death aboat se
mis set out
Apri, sat down
the conth, and
the midde of
The Dames
tites Decicus
appear in insch
the simple as
added in those
following year
dian. lib. vii.
SEVERUS ;
XUS ; CRISPI
9
API
their discontent, until a regular conspiracy was | insurrection in Africa headed by the Gordians, of
inatured, which ended in the assassination of the favour displayed by the provinces and the
Severus in Gaul (SEVERUS), and in his own inves- senate towards their cause, of the resolutions by
titure (A. D. 235) with the purple by the mutinous which he himself bad been declared a public enemy,
soldiers, whose choice was not resisted by an intimi- of the subsequent elevation of Maximus with Balo
dated senate.
binus, and of their recognition in Italy by all orders
Maximinus immediately bestowed the title of of the state. He is said upon this occasion to have
Caesar on his son Maximus, and without seeking to rent bis garments, to bave thrown himself upon
display his new dignity in the metropolis, deter- the ground and dashed his head against the wall in
mined to prosecute with all vigour the war against impotent fury, to have howled like a wild beast, to
the Germans, and accordingly crossed the Rhine have struck all whom he encountered, and to have
towards the end of the year A. D. 235. The cam- attempted to tear out the eyes of his own son.
paign, which lasted for upwards of eighteen months, Abandoning at once his projected expedition, orders
was triumphantly successful. The enemy, after were instantly given to march against Rome.
having in vain attempted to withstand the progress Passing over the Julian Alp, the army descended
of the invaders, were compelled to take refuge in upon Aquileia. That important city, the chief
their woods and marshes, many thousand villages bulwark of the peninsula on the north-eastern
were destroyed, the flocks and herds were slaugh- frontier, stimulated by the patriotic zeal of Cris-
tered or driven off, a vast amount of plunder, in- pinus and Menophilus, the two consulars entrusted
cluding multitudcs of prisoners, was secured, and with the defence of the district, shut its gates
the emperor retired to Pannonia in the autumn of against the tyrant, who was forced to form a re-
237, with the resolution of re-crossing the Danube gular siege. The walls were bravely defended,
in the following spring, in order that he might sub- and the assailants suffered severely, not only from
jugate the Sarinatians and carry his arms even to the valour of the townsmen, but likewise from
the shores of the ocean. Meanwhile, his adminis- the want of supplies, the whole of the surrounding
tration had been characterised by a degree of district having been laid waste in anticipation of
oppression and sanguinary excess hitherto unex- their approach. The bad passions and ungover-
ampled. His maxim, we are assured, was “ nisi able temper of Maximinus were lashed into frenzy
crudelitate imperium non teneri,” and unquestion by these delays, the chief officers were put to death,
ably his practice seems to have been guided by and the most intemperate harshness employed to
some such brutal principle. This violence was
wards the men. At length a body of praetorians,
first called forth by the discovery of an extensive dreading some new outbreak of cruelty, repaired to
plot, contrived originally, we are told, by a certain the tent of the emperor and his son, who were re-
Magnus, a consular, in which many officers and posing during the mid-day heat, and having forced
men of rank were involved. The vengeance of the an entrance, cut off their heads, which were first
tyrant was not glutted until four thousand victims displayed on poles to the gaze of the citizens on
had been sacrificed, the greater number of whom the battlements of Aquileia, and then despatched
were destroyed upon the most vague suspicion. to Rome. The grisly trophies were exposed for
From this time forward informers were encouraged a time to public view, that all might revel in the
to ply their trade. An accusation was instantly spectacle, and then burned in the Campus Mar-
followed by a sentence of death or confiscation ; tius, amidst the insulting shouts of the crowd.
the most opulent were persecuted with untiring These feelings were shared by all the civilised pro-
rancour, and numbers of illustrious families reduced vinces in the empire, although the rude dwellers
to indigence. When the sums lavished on the on the northern frontiers lamented the loss of a
troops could no longer be supplied by the plunder sovereign chosen from among themselves.
of private individuals, the next step was to lay We have already seen that Maximinus owed his
violent hands on public property of every descrip first advancement to his physical powers, which
tion. The sums reserved in the treasury for the seem to have been almost incredible.
His height
purchase of corn, the fund set apart for theatrical exceeded eight feet, but his person was not un-
exhibitions, the wealth accumulated in the temples, graceful, for the size and muscular development of
and the very statues of the gods, were all ruthlessly his limbs were in proportion to his stature, the cir-
seized,--proceedings which called forth expressions cumference of his thumb being equal to that of a
of such deep indignation, that the soldiers were woman's wrist, so that the bracelet of his wife
ashamed to enrich themselves from these sources. served him for a ring. His fair skin gave token of
Against no class did the jealous rage of Maximinus his Scandinavian extraction, while the remarkable
burn so fiercely as against the senate. Remem- magnitude of his eyes communicated a bold and
bering with bitterness the insults he had endured imposing expression to his features. In addition
in former days from the very slaves of the haughty to his unequalled prowess as a wrestler, he was able
nobles, he eagerly seized every pretext for pillaging, single-banded to drag a loaded waggon, could with
exiling, and murdering the members of a body so his fist knock out the grinders, and with a kick
detested. The same ferocity broke forth even break the leg of a horse ; while his appetite was
against the soldiers, who were subjected for trivial such, that in a day he could eat forty pounds of
offences to the most horrid tortures, so that history meat, and drink an amphora of wine. At least
and mythology were ransacked to discover some such are the statements of ancient writers, though
monstrous prototype for the man whom they had they should doubtless be received with some
once loved to term Hercules, or Ajax, or Achilles, deductions,
but who was now more frequently designated as The chronology of this reign, which is extremely
Cyclops, or Busiris, or Sciron, or Phalaris, or obscure, in consequence of the ignorance and care-
Typhon, or Gyges. But this fury was kindled lessness of our ancient authorities, has been eluci-
into absolute madness, when, in the beginning of dated with great skill by Eckhel, whose arguments,
A. D. 238, Maximinus received intelligence of the founded chiefly upon the evidence afforded by
MAXIMO
314. GALI
misall be
of Galerias
the occupat
Haring for
a soldier, b
conspicuous
the service,
a Nicome
1013), ali
indeed ank
of the East
to the rank
sorernment
for these es
of trour,
being passt
lowed the
97, when
CINIUS; G
satisfied by
Tented the
kede the ap
permission
with much
luctant acc
death of th
Fention wit
the proving
former dom
formning the
reignties; b
of the abses
to Milan i
marriage til
invaded The
however, be
## p. 985 (#1001) ###########################################
MAXIMINUS.
985
MAXIMINUS.
medals, appear quite irresistible. From these it fought near Heracleia, he fled first to Nicomedein
appears certain that the death of Alexander Severus and thence to Tarsus, where he soon after died
happened not later than the beginning of July, according to some accounts of despair, according to
A. D. 235; that Maximinus betook himself to Sir- others by poison. His wife and children were
mium, after his successful campaign against the murdered, and every imaginable insult heaped upon
Gernians, towards the close of a. D. 237 ; that the his memory by the conqueror.
elevation of the Gordians in Africa took place about The great military talents of Herculius, Galerius,
the commencement of March, A. D. 238, and their and Licinius, served in some degree, if not to pal-
death about six weeks afterwards ; that Maxi- liate, at least to divert attention from, their vices
minus set out upon his march for Rome early in and their crimes. But not one quality, either
April, sat down before Aquileia towards the end of noble or dazzling, relieves the coarse brutality of
the month, and was slain, in all probability about Maximin, who surpassed all his contemporaries in
the middle of May.
the profligacy of his private life, in the general
The names C. Julius Verus, together with the cruelty of his administration, and in the furious
titles Dacicus Maximus and Sarmaticus Maximus, hatred with which he persecuted the Christians.
appear in inscriptions only ; medals at first exhibit His elevation, which was the result of family in-
the simple Maximinus, to which Germanicus is Auence alone, must have been as unexpected by
added in those struck during a. D. 236, and the himself as by others ; but he did not prove by any
following years. (Capitolin. Maximin. duo ; Hero- means such a passive and subservient tool as was
dian. lib. vii. viii. , Zonar. xii. 16. ) (ALEXANDER anticipated. His extravagant vanity, for we can
SEVERUS ; GORDIANUS ; BALBINUS ; QUARTI- scarcely dignify the feeling by the name of am-
NUS ; CRISPINUS; MENOPHILUS. ] (W. R. ) bition, was for a while gratified, becanse Galerius
felt unwilling to engage in a civil war with the
creature of his own hands; but the arrogance en-
016
gendered by this success in all probability prompted
him to the unprovoked aggression which proved his
ruin. (Zosim. ii. 8 ; Victor, Epit. 40 ; Oros. vii.
25; Auctor. de Mort. Persec. 5, 32, 36, 38, 45,
&c. ; Euseb. H. E. viii. 14, ix. 2, &c. ; Eckhel,
vol. viii. p. 51. )
[W. R. }
MI
I T
. 600°C.
DnCo
OWO
COIN OP MAXIMINUS L
AV
I
POLVO
MAXIMI'NUS II. , Roman emperor 305—
314. GALERIUS VALERIUS MAXIMINUS, who
originally bore the name of Daza, was the nephew
of Galerius by a sister, and in early life followed
the occupation of a shepherd in his native Illyria.
Having forsaken this humble calling for the life of
a soldier, by force of interest rather than of any
conspicuous merit, he rose to the highest rank in
the service, and upon the abdication of Diocletian
COIN OP MAXIMINUS IL
at Nicomedeia in A. D. 305 (DIOCLETIANUS, p.
1013), although altogether undistinguished, and MAXIMI'NUS, the excellent ambassador of
indeed unknown, was adopted by the new emperor Theodosius the Younger to Attila in A. D. 448.
of the East, received the title of Jovius, was elevated He was already conspicuous in the Persian war in
to the rank of Caesar, and was nominated to the 422, when he was lieutenant of Ardaburins. Theo-
government of Syria and Egypt. Little grateful dosius sent him in 448 to Attila ; Orestes and
for these extraordinary and most undeserved marks Edicon, the Hunnic ambassadors at Constantinople,
of favour, he displayed violent indignation upon returned with him to Pannonia. This Edicon had
being passed over in the arrangements which fol- been bribed by the minister, Chrysaphius, to
lowed the death of Constantius Chlorus in a. D. murder Attila, but on his arrival in Pannonia in-
307, when Licinius was created Augustus. [LI- formed his master of the plot, of which Maximin
CINIUS; GALERIUS MASINIANUS. ) Far from being was totally ignorant. Attila was well aware of
satisfied by the concession of Galerius, who in- this, and consequently turned his resentment only
vented the new title of Fülü Augustorum to super- against the emperor and the minister at Constanti-
sede the appellation of Caesars, he assumed without nople, disdaining even to punish Vigilius, who was
permission the highest imperial designation, and the entire promoter of the scheme, and who was
with much difficulty succeeded in wringing a re- entrapped in his turn by Attila. This embassy of
luctant acquiescence from his uncle. Upon the Maximin is described by his secretary, Priscus, to
death of the latter, in 311, he entered into a con- whom we refer for the interesting details of an
vention with Licinius, in terms of which he received event to which we are indebted for nearly all our
the provinces of Asia Minor in addition to his knowledge of Attila's person and private life.
former dominion, the Hellespont and the Bosporus Maximin became afterwards one of the four prin-
forming the common boundary of the two sove-cipal ministers of the emperor Marcian; and in
reignties; but having treacherously taken advantage later years held the supreme command in Egypt,
of the absence of his neighbour, who had repaired whence he made a successful campaign against the
to Milan in 313 for the purpose of receiving in Aethiopians. He is invariably represented as a
marriage the sister of Constantine, he suddenly virtuous, firm, and highly talented man, (Priscus,
invaded Thrace, and surprised Byzantium. Having, p. 39, 40, 48—70 ; Socrat. Hist. Eccles. , vii. 20;
however, been signally defeated in a great battle Priscus. )
[W. P. ]
## p. 986 (#1002) ###########################################
986
MAXIMUS.
MAXIMUS.
ninus l. upon
and Princeps JE
the emperor in
rians, be was
Surstrow, and
Luble bowerer
tribanician pua
was ever forma
with the tite
u VETORIA
Maumus. AC
Recais. Be
by obe troops
at the age of
thantes, twer
We are enable
bis name was
Cao to. r. 25
Tois youth
preas ag beant
di bis dress,
demeanour.
much care,
Leta literat
have had a g
ander bad at
his sister, I
and at a la
Facts a
Capitolinus
291, 297;
MA'XIMUS AEGIENSIS (d Alylets), of is not clear. Taking advantage of the sickness of
Aegae in Cilicia, a writer contemporary with Apol- Gregory, and supported by some Egyptian eccle-
lonius of Tyana (APOLLONIUS TYANAEUS), of siastics, sent by Peter, patriarch of Alexandria,
some of whose transactions he wrote an account, under whose directions they professed to act, Max-
which was part of the materials employed by Phi- imus was ordained, during the night, patriarch of
lostratus [PHILOSTRATUS] in his biography of Constantinople, in the place of Gregory, whose
that philosopher. (Philostr.
