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

-MAXIMIANUS. MAXIMIANUS. 981
ad Epistdlam llormisdae Responsio. The remhain- 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 NAestori- 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
-Ifistor. Pelagian. ii. 18-20; Forbesius, Instruction. and commanding intellect of Diocletian, he. perIHistorico-Theoloyie. iii. 21; Cave, Hist. Litt. ad formed well the work for which he was chosen, but
ann. 520, vol. i. p. 505, ed. Oxf. 1740 —1742; the latter years of his life, when left to the direction
Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. x. p. 540.) [J. C. M.] of his own judgment, exhibit a melancholy specMAXIMIA'NUS I., Roman emperor, A. D. tacle of weak ambition, turbulence, perfidy, and
286-305-310.. 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, thearmy, 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 her former husoutt dismembering the empire [DIOCLETIANUS, p. band, who is unknown, had a daughter, Flavia
1012], he was induced to select this rough soldier Maximiana Theodora, who was united to Confor 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. [EUTROPIAr; FAUSTAU; 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 Caes. 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.j
subsequent history of Maximian is so intimately
blended with that of his patron and of Con- o
stantine, that almost every particular has been fu lly l
detailed in former articles. [DIOcCLETIANUS;.CON- f /.STANTINUS I.; MAXENTIUS.] It will be suffi- A:cient, therefore, to direct attention to the leading g
facts, that after having been most reluctantly persuaded, if not compelled to abdicate, at Milan, on
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 COIN OF MAXIMIANUS L
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 MAXIMIaverted 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.Ar-mentarius,
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 Constaintiris 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 perdeposited 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 destioy her husband, he was [DIocLETIANUS, p. 1012], he from this time forordered to choose the mariner of his death, and ward assumed a more haughty bearing, which grastrangled 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
3t 3