A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

99g6 MAXIMUS. MAXIMUS.
with the bishop, and gives his reasons for so'doing boasted of being a relation of his contemporary, the
in the Proleyomena to'the volume, c. 6; see also emperor Theodosius the Great, though the fact is
Cave, Hist. Litt. ad ann. 196, vol. i. p. 95; Tille- that he had merely lived some years in the household
mont, ile'moires, vol. ii. p. 760, &c., note xiii. sur of that emperor in a subordinate capacity. He was
Origene. of obscure parentage; an uncle of his, however, is
Beside the two bishops of Jerusalem of this name mentioned in history, and also a brother, Marcellialready noticed, there was a third in the reign of Con- nus, whose name will appear again in the course of
stantine the Great and his sons. He suffered in one this sketch. Maximus accompanied Theodosius
of the later persecutions of the heathen emperors, on several of his expeditions, was promoted, and,
apparently under Maximian Galerius. (Philostorg. perhaps as early as A. D. 368, proceeded with his
H. E. iii. 12.) He suffered the loss of his right master to Britain, where he remained many years
eye, and some infliction, possibly ham-stringing, in in the quality of a general, as it seems, but dehis right leg. (Theodoret. H. E. ii. 26.) His cidedly not as governor of that province, as some
sufferings in the cause of Christianity and the modern writers of eminence pretend. It is said
general excellence of his character so endeared him that he married Helena, the daughter of Eudda, a
to the people of Jerusalem, among whom he offi- rich noble of Caersegont (Caernarvon in Wales),
ciated as priest, that~ when he was appointed by but the authority is more than doubtful. (Comp.
Macarius, bishop of that city, to the vacant bishop- Gibbon, c. xxvii. p. 7, note k. ed. 1815, 8vo.) The
ric of Diospolis, the multitude would not allow predilection of the emperor Gratian for foreign barhim to depart; and Macarius was obliged to forego barians excited discontent among the legions in
the appointment, and nominate another in his place. Britain, which were the most turbulent in the
According to some accounts, Macarius repented whole Roman army. Maximus is said to have
almost immediately of the nomination of Maximus secretly fomented their disaffection, and thus a terto Diospolis, and readily consented to his remaining rible revolt broke out which led to the accession of
at Jerusalem, taking him for his assistant in the Maximus and the ruin of Gratian. Zosimus,
duties of the episcopal office, and his intended sue- though by no means a detractor of Maximus,
cessor, fearing lest Eusebius of Caesaraea and Pa- charges him with having acted thus; but Orosius
trophilus of Scythopolis should procure the election and Sulpicius Severus both state that the troops
of a favourer of Arianism. (Sozomen, H. E. ii. had forced Maximus, who was known as a man of
20.) On the decease of Macarius some time principle and merit, to accept the imperial dignity,
between A. D. 331 and 335, Maximus succeeded which was offered him by the rebels; and Orosius
-him, and was present'at the council of Tyre, says that he solemnly protested his innocence.
A. D. 335, when Athanasius was'condemned. So- However this may be, Maximus was proclaimed
zomen records (H. E. ii. 25) that at this council emperor in A. D. 383 (not in 381 as Prosper states
Paphnutius, a bishop of the Thebais or Upper in his Chronicon). A short time before his accesEgypt, and himself a confessor, took Maximus by sion he had adopted the Christian religion.
the hand, and told him to leave the place: " For," Maximus immediately gave orders to all the
said he, "it does not become us, who have lost troops stationed in Britain to assemble as soon as
our eyes and. been hamstrung for the sake of reli- possible, and he lost no time in attacking Gratian
gion,'to'join the council of the wicked." This in Gaul. It is related in the life of Gratian that
appeal was in vain, and Maximus was induced by he was defeated by the usurper near Paris, deserted
some unfairness to subscribe the decree condemning by his general Merobaudes, a Frankish chief, and
Athanasius. However, he soon repented. of this finally slain near Lyon, on his' flight to Italy, by
step, and at a synod of sixteen bishops of Palestine Andragathius, who pursued him by order of Maxijoyfully admitted Athanasius to communion when mus. The sudden overthrow of the power of Grareturning from the council of Sardica, through Asia, tian was followed by the as sudden and complete
to Alexandria. Sozomen relates (H. E. iv. 20) establishment of the power of Maximus: Gaul,
that Maximus was deposed by the influence of Spain, and Britain did homage to the fortunate,Acacius of Caesaraea and Patrophilus, A. D. 349 usurper, who associated his son Victor with him,.or 350, and Cyril [CYRILLUS, ST., of Jerusalem] proclaiming him Caesar, and perhaps Augustus;
appointed in his place; but if there is any truth in and the new emperor took up his residence at
this statement, of which Jerome, in his Chronicle, Treves, where there are still some monuments exdoes not speak, the death of Maximus must have tant of his reign. No persecutions were instituted
very shortly succeeded his deposition. (Socrat. against the adherents of Gratian, except MeroH. E. ii. 8; Sozom. 11. cc., and iii. 6; Theodoret, baudes and Balio or Vallio, who- lost their heads.1. c.; Philostorg. 1. c.; Le Quien, Oriens C/lris- on accouit of their ambiguous conduct, and it
tianus, vol. iii. col. 156, &c.) [J. C. M.] seems that, with these exceptions, Maximus was
MA'XIMUS, JU'LIUS, one of the generals not wrong when, in later times, he boasted that
sent by Civilis against Vocula. (Tac. Hist. iv. his elevation had caused no loss of Romnan life ex33.) [CIVILIs; VOCULA.] cept on the field of battle. Yet even Merobaudes
MAXIMUS, JU'LIUS VERUS. [MAXIMUs and Vallio were not Romans but barbarians. When'CAESAR.] the news of the downfall of Gratian and the sucMA'XIMUS, JU'NIUS, a contemporary of cess of Maximus reached Theodosius,'he resolved
Statius, from whom we learn that he made an epi- to wrest the crown from the usurper, but. ambastome of the histories of Sallust and Livy. (Stat. sadors arrived from Maximus with peaceful offers,
Silv. iv. 7, ult.) backed by stern declarations of sacrificing every
MA'XIMUS, LABE/RIUS. (LABERIUS.]' thingfor the maintenance of his power; and as TheoMA!XIMUS, MAGNUS CLEMENS, Roman dosius was then unable to wage war with a rebel
emperor, A. D. 383-388, in Gaul, Britain, and who was popular among the experienced and bold
Spain, was a native of Spain (Zosim. iv. p. 247), veterans of-the West, he accepted the propositions
but not of England, as modern authors assert. He made to him. Maximus was, in consequence, re