No More Learning

x. guardianship of these provinces had been com-
18. ) Nevertheless, the character transmitted to mitted, straightway marched upon Rome to sup-
us of the Carian prince is by no means one of un- press what he rainly deemed a trifling insurrection ;
mixed praise. He is said to have been very greedy but a large body of his troops having deserted to
of money, which he sought to accumulate by every their old commander, Maximianus, who, upon the
means in his power, and thus amassed vast trea invitation of his son, had quitted his retreat in Lu-
sures at the expense of his subjects. The sums cania, and had again assumed the purple, the Caesar
thus accumulated were in great part expended was compelled to retreat in all haste to Ravenna,
upon the decoration of his new capital, Halicar- hotly pursued by the veteran. In an evil hour he
passus, to which he had transferred the seat of was persuaded by treacherous representations to
government from Mylasa, the residence of the quit this almost impregnable stronghold, and to trust
former princes of Caria, and where he not only to the clemency of his foe, who, having once ob-
constructed a splendid palace for himself, but tained possession of his person, granted him nothing
adorned the city with a new agora, temples, and save the liberty of choosing the manner of his
many other public works. So much taste and death (A. D. 307). Galerius, enraged by these
judgment, as well as magnificence, were displayed disasters, hastened, at the head of a numerous host,
by him in these improvements, that they are cited drawn from Illyria and the East, to chastise the
by Vitruvius as a model in their kind. (Vitruv. usurper ; but the military talents of Maximianus
ii. 8. $$ 11, 13. ) The reception afforded by him devised a system of defence which paralysed the
to the astronomer Eudoxus (Diog. Laërt. viii. 87) energies of his opponent. The invader found him-
is also a sign that he was not without tastes of an self in a desert, the whole population had quitted
elevated character. (Strab. xiv. p. 656 ; Lucian. the open country, every town capable of resistance
l. c. ; Theopomp. ap. Harpocrat. et Suid. s. vv. Maú- shut its gates, and thus, although he penetrated
owós, 'Apteucola ; Polyaen. vii. 23. 51; Plin. H. N. almost unmolested to within less than a hundred
xxxvi. 6. ) Concerning the chronology of his reign miles of the city, the embarrassments by which he
see Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p. 286. [E. H. B. ] was surrounded, from want of supplies, from ene-
mies in his rear, and from the doubtful fidelity of
his soldiers, proved so numerous, that he considered
it prudent to make overtures of peace; and when
they were contemptuously rejected, commenced a
hasty retreat. Maxentius, relieved from these im-
minent dangers, proceeded to disentangle himself
from the control which his father sought to exer-
cise ; and having succeeded in driving him from
the court [MAXIMIANUS), turned his arms against
Africa, where a certain Alexander had established
an independent sway. The contest was quickly
COIN OP MAUSOLUS.
terminated by the destruction of the pretender, and
MAXE'NTIUS, Roman emperor A. D. 306— the victory was savagely abused. The whole
312. M. AURELIUS VALERIUS MAXENTIUS, the country was ravaged with fire and sword ; Car
son of Maximianus Herculius and Eutropia, re- thage, at that epoch one of the most splendid cities
ceived in marriage the daughter of Galerius ; but in the world, was made the scene of a general con-
in consequence, it would seem, of his indolent and flagration and massacre, after which the conqueror
8

>
WOZZAWA
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## p. 980 (#996) ############################################

980
MAXENTIUS.
MAXENTIUS.
od Epistolan 1
ing works are
bol7. Eji
BROS, Lüri II.
by the editor o
pointing out 1
Baronins also
of Marentins,
Cardinal Noni
(Baron. Amai
Hutor. Pelagt
Historico-Thou
ann. 520, rol
Fabric. BILG
MAXIMIA
286—30331
DHANUS, beri
had acquired st
arus, that
(1 D. 285) his
out dismember
1012), be was
for his colleart
were likels
actual disturbe
ingly creaied
Augustus (28)
W
returned to Rome, there to celebrate a flagitious | reign of the Byzantine emperor, Justin I. , who suc-
triumph, and to indulge the worst passions of a ceeded Anastasius A. D. 518, certain "Scythiant
depraved nature, at the expense of the citizens. monks," as their contemporaries term them, who
Elated by these successes, Maxentius now openly appear to have come from the bishopric of Tomi
aspired to dominion over all the Western provinces; and the adjacent bishoprics near the south bank of
and having first insulted and then declared open the Danube, made a great stir at Constantinople,
war against Constantine, assuming, as a pretext, by contending for the propriety of the expression
the conduct of the latter towards Maximianus, he" Unus e Trinitate in carne crucifixus est. ”. This
prepared to pass into Gaul with an army numbering mode of expression was suspected of covering the
not less than two hundred thousand men. But his Monophysite or Eutychian heresy [EUTYCHES) ;
schemes were frustrated by the prudent boldness and the formula“ Una Persona e Trinitate” was
of his adversary, who, encouraged by an embassy regarded as more orthodox. Here was sufficient
despatched from Rome imploring relief from the cause in that age of logomachy for bitter contro-
oppression of the despot, determined at once to versy. Maxentius appeared in Constantinople on
cross the Alps The events of this campaign are the side of the “Scythians ;” but whether he
detailed elsewhere [CONSTANTINUS, p. 834]. The was one of them is questionable: he was, or
forces of the tyrant, shattered by the defeats of claimed to be, of the monastic profession, and styled
Turin and Verona, retired upon Rome ; the deci- himself abbot ; but from what place he came is very
sive battle was fought at Saxa Rubra, not far from doubtful. The Magdeburgh Centuriators and Pos-
the storied stream of the Cremera ; the imperial sevino absurdly identify him with Maxentius, an
army, cut off from retreat, were driven by thou- abbot of Poitou, in France ; and Usher, followed
sands into the Tiber ; the Milvian bridge broke by Cave, misunderstanding an expression in one of
beneath the fugitives at the very moment when Max. Maxentius' works, makes him a monk and pres-
entius was forcing his way through the throng which byter of Antioch. Some have confounded him
choked up the passage, and borne down by the with the Joannes of Antioch mentioned by Genna-
weight of his armour, he perished miserably in the dius (de Viris Illustr. c. 93). From whatever quarter
stream on the 28th of October, 312, exactly six he came, he entered warmly into the contest, which
years from the day on wbich he was saluted em- was further inflamed by the addition of the con-
peror.
troversy about divine grace, revived in the East by
All historians agree in representing this prince the diffusion of the Semi-Pelagian writings of
as a monster of rapacity, cruelty, and lust. The Faustus of Riez (Faustus REIENSIS). Maxentius
only favoured class was the military, upon whom became the leader of the Scythians, and presented
he depended for safety ; and in order to secure their on their part and his own a confession of faith to
devotion and to gratify his own evil passions, every the legates of pope Hormisdas, who were at Con-
other portion of his subjects were made the victims of stantinople on other matters. This confession was
the most revolting licentiousness, and ruined by the designed to vindicate them from the suspicion or
most grinding exactions. Various statements have charge of Eutychianism, and to obtain the sanction
been put forth with regard to his conduct towards of the legates to the favourite expression “ Unus e
the Christians, since by some he is commended for Trinitate,” &c. Failing in this, four of the monks,
the solitary virtue of tolerance, while by others he of whom it is questioned whether Maxentius was
is numbered among the most cruel persecutors. one, were despatched to Rome, to try what could
The truth seems to be, that neither of these repre- be done with the pope himself. But though they
sentations is accurate. The Christians buffered in strained every nerve, they could effect nothing ;
common with all who had the misfortune to own and after a stay of a year or more they retumed
his sway; but while there is no reason to believe to Constantinople ; shortly after which Hormisdas,
that they received any encouragement or patronage, in a letter to Possessor, an African bishop then in
80, on the other hand, there is no evidence to prove exile at Constantinople, branded them as deceivers
that they were at any time the objects of special and men of the worst character. To this letter
hostility. (Zosim. ii. 9–18; Zonar. xii. 33, xiii. Maxentius published a reply; and in order to have
1; Panegyr. Vet. ix. 2, 3, 11--25, x. 6, 7, &c. , more liberty to assail it, chose to regard it as not
27, &c. , xi
. 16; Auctor. de Mort. Persecut. cc. 26, genuine. Nothing further of Maxentius's history
28, 44; Euseb. H. E. viii. 14, Vit. Const. i. 26, is known.
33, &c. ; Fragments published by Valesius at the His works are extant only in a Latin version,
end of his edition of Ammianus Marcellinus ; Vic- and have been published in various collections of
tor, de Caes. 40, Epit. 40; Eutrop. x. 2. ) [W. R. ] the fathers. They first appeared in the Orthodoro-
grapha, fol. Basel, 1555. In the Marina Biblioth
Patrum, fol. Lyon, 1677, vol. ix. p. 533, &c. , they
appear in the following order :-i. Joannis Mat
entü Confessio suae Fidei, 8. de Christo Professio,
with a prefatory letter to the legates of the Holy
See. This appears to be the confession already
noticed. 2. Ejusdem contra Nestorianos Capitula:
these appear to have been published by the delegates
of the Scythian monks at Rome, and consist of
twelve brief anathemas against various dogmas.
3. Ejusdem alia Fidei Professio : shorter than
MAXENTIUS, JOANNES, whom Cave, ap- No. 1. It is not known on what occasion it was
parently without just ground, identifies with composed. 4. Ejusdem Adunationis Verbi Dei ad
Joannes SCYTHOPOLITANUS ('Iwávens ó Ekvôo- propriam Carnem Ratio. 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.


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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.
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## 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
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.