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Maximian
Maximian: emperor of the Roman world (r. 285-305 and 306-308).
Names:
- 21 July 250 (?): full name unknown
- Oktober 285: Proclaimed caesar by Diocletian
- 1 April 286: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Augustus Herculius
- 1 May 305: resigned
- December 306: Second reign: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Augustus
- November 308: forced to resign
- July 310: taken captive; suicide
Relatives:
- married to: Eutropia
- children: Maxentius, Fausta (married to Constantine I the Great)
Early career
- 250: Born in Dalmatia, near Sirmium
- Military service during the reigns of Aurelian, Probus, and Carus
- Diocletianus appoints Maximianus as his caesar
Main deeds, first reign
- 286 Successful campaign against the Bagaudes; Maximianus made co-ruler; he accepts the title Herculius
- 286 War against the Germanic tribes; insurrection of Carausius in Britain
- 287 Consul (with Diocletian III); continued war against the Germanic tribes; accepts the title Germanicus Maximus and Germanicus Maximus II
- 288 Consul II (with Pomponius Januarius); end of the Germanic war; Germanicus Maximus III; meeting with Diocletian
- 289 Naval catastrophe; Moorish war; Diocletian successfully fights against the Sarmatians; Maximianus accepts the title Sarmaticus Maximus
- 290 Consul III (with Diocletian IV)
- 290/291 Meeting with Diocletian in Milan
- 292 War against the Alamans
- 293 Consul IV (with Diocletian V); First Tetrarchy: Galerius and Constantius I Chlorus proclaimed caesares; all four men accept the title Germanicus Maximus, Maximianus for the fourth time; in Britain, Carausius is killed by Allectus
- 294 Diocletian defeats the Sarmatians; Maximianus accepts the title Sarmaticus Maximus II
- 295 Galerius fight against the Persians (?); Maximianus accepts the title Persicus Maximus
- 296 Diocletian fights against the Carpi; Maximianus accepts the title Carpicus Maximus and adds Britannicus Maximus after Constantius has reconquered Britain
- 296/297 Insurrection of Julianus in Africa; campaign against the Moors
- 297 Consul V (with Galerius II)
- 298 Stay in Carthage and expedition to Tripolitana; Galerius defeats Narseh; end of the Persian war; Maximianus accepts the titles Armeniacus Maximus, Medicus Maximus, Adiabenicus Maximus, and Persicus Maximus II
- 299 Consul VI (with Diocletian VII); return to Rome; begins building the Baths of Diocletian
- 300 Accepts, after Galerius' successes along the Danube, the title Sarmaticus Maximus III
- 301 Accepts, after Constantius' successes along the Rhine, the title Germanicus Maximus V; monetary reform; edict on Maximum Prizes
- 303 Consul VII (with Diocletian VIII); joint triumph with Maximianus; edict against the Christians
- 304 Consul VIII (with Diocletian IX)
- 305 Diocletian and Maximianus resign; Second Tetrarchy: they are succeeded by Galerius and Constantius I Chlorus, who appoint as caesares Maximinus Daia and Severus II
- Maximianus retires from politics
Main deeds, second reign
- 306 Third Tetrarchy: After the death of Constantius I Chlorus, Severus II becomes emperor and recognizes Chlorus' son Constantine as his caesar. Maxentius, the son of Maximianus, occupies Rome, demanding the caesarship; Maximianus supports him
- 307 In Ravenna, Maximianus forces Severus II into surrender and orders him to abdicate;note recognizes Constantine as emperor, marries him to his daughter Fausta; consul IX (with Constantine)
- 308 Maximianus unsuccessfully tries to dethrone his son in Rome; flees to Constantine; Conference at Carnuntum; Maximianus persuaded to resign again
- 310 Maximianus provokes a new rebellion, is captured, and reportedly commits suicide
- Damnatio memoriae
Buildings: Baths of Diocletian, Piazza Armerina (?)
Succeeded by: Constantius I Chlorus