Maximian | |||||
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Bust of Emperor Maximian
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52nd Emperor of the Roman Empire | |||||
Reign | July 21 or July 25 285 – 286 (as Caesar under Diocletian) April 2, 286 – May 1, 305 (as Augustus of the West, with Diocletian as Augustus of the East) Late 306 – November 11, 308 (declared himself Augustus) 310 (declared himself Augustus) |
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Predecessor | Carinus | ||||
Successor | Constantius Chlorus and Galerius | ||||
Born |
ca. 250 Sirmium |
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Died |
ca. July 310 (aged 60) Massilia (Marseille, France) |
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Spouse | Eutropia | ||||
Issue |
Flavia Maximiana Theodora Maxentius Fausta |
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Full name | |
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Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius Augustus |
Maximian (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius Augustus; c. 250 – c. July 310) was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent most of his time on campaign. In the late summer of 285, he suppressed rebels in Gaul known as the Bagaudae. From 285 to 288, he fought against Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier. Together with Diocletian, he launched a scorched earth campaign deep into Alamannic territory in 288, temporarily relieving the Rhine provinces from the threat of Germanic invasion.
The man he appointed to police the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286, causing the secession of Britain and northwestern Gaul. Maximian failed to oust Carausius, and his invasion fleet was destroyed by storms in 289 or 290. Maximian's subordinate, Constantius, campaigned against Carausius' successor, Allectus, while Maximian held the Rhine frontier. The rebel leader was ousted in 296, and Maximian moved south to combat piracy near Hispania and Berber incursions in Mauretania. When these campaigns concluded in 298, he departed for Italy, where he lived in comfort until 305. At Diocletian's behest, Maximian abdicated on May 1, 305, gave the Augustan office to Constantius, and retired to southern Italy.