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

MAXENTIUS. MAXENTIUENT1S. 979
ambition was next turned towards the more im- dissolute habits, was altogether passed over in the
portant acquisitions of Rhodes and Cos; and it division of the empire which followed the abdicawas apparently as a preliminary step to that object tion of his father and Diocletian in A. D. 305. A
that he overthrew the democracy in the former strong feeling of disaffection towards the existing
island, and established there an oligarchical govern- government prevailed at this time in Rome, arising
ment in the hands of his own friends. (Dem. de from the pressure of increased taxation upon the
Rhod. Lib. pp. 191, 198.) Shortly after (B. C. 358) nobles and wealthier classes, from the discontent of
he joined with the Rhodians, Byzantians, and the praetorians who had been recently deprived of
Chians in the war waged by them against the all their exclusive privileges, and from the indignaAthenians, known by the name of the Social War, tion which pervaded the whole community, in conof which indeed he was, according to Demosthenes, sequence of the degradation of the ancient metrothe prime mover and instigator, though we do not polis by the selection of Nicomedeia and Milan as
hear of his taking any farther part in it than the residences of the Augusti. It proved no diffisending a body of troops to assist in the defence of cult task for the neglected prince to turn this angry
Chios. ('Dem. 1..; Diod. xvi. 7.) He died, ac- spirit to his own advantage, and to place himself
cording to Diodorus (xvi. 36) in B. C. 353, after a at the head of the party who styled themselves
reign of twenty-four years, leaving no children, patriots, A regular conspiracy was soon organised
and was succeeded by his wife and sister Arte- and eagerly supported by men of all ranks, the
misia. The extravagant grief of.the latter for his standard of open revolt was raised, the feeble redeath, and the honours she paid to his memory- sistance' of the few magistrates who remained true
especially by the erection of the costly monument, to their allegiance was easily overcome, Maxentius
which was called from him the Mausoleum, and was proclaimed emperor on the 28th of October,
was accounted one of the seven wonders of the A. D. 306, amidst the most enthusiastic demonstraworld-are well known. [ARTEMISIA.] On oc- tions of zeal by the senate, the populace, and the
casion of the consecration of that monument, a prize soldiery; all Italy followed the example of the
was proposed by Artemisia for the best panegyric capital; and Africa, acquiescing in the choice,
of her husband, and the praises of Mausolus were struck medals in honour of the new ruler. Severus
celebrated by rival orators, among whom Theo- [SEVERUS FLAV1US VALERIUS], to whom the
pompus was the successful candidate. (Gell. x. guardianship of these provinces had been com18.) Nevertheless, the'character transmitted to mitted, straightway marched upon Rome to supus of the Carian prince is by no means one of un- press what he vainly 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 Lusures 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
nassps, 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 obconstructed 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. Lairt. viii. 87) energies of his opponent. The invader found himis 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
I. c.; Theopomp. ap. Harpocrat. et Suid. s. vv. Mad- shut its gates, and thus, although he penetrated
crwAos,'ApTrulea; Polyaen. vii. 23. ~ 1; 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 enemies 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 imminent dangers, proceeded to disentangle himself
from the controlwhich his father sought to exercise; 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
MCOIN OF MA UOLUS. 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 MAXENTIIUS, the country was ravaged with fire and sword; Carson of Maximinanus 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 conin consequence, it would seem, of his indolent and flagration and massacre, after which the conqueror
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