Extract

Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximinus, originally named Daia, born in Illyricum c.ce 270, son of a sister of *Galerius, was rapidly promoted in the army, and made Caesar when Galerius became Augustus (305). Charged with governing Syria and Egypt, he was resentful that Galerius made Valerius Licinianus *Licinius Augustus (308). Spurning the title filius Augustorum (‘son of the Augusti’), he had his troops proclaim him Augustus; Galerius recognized this (309/10). On Galerius's death (311), as senior Augustus he seized Asia Minor while Licinius occupied Galerius' European territories; war with Licinius was averted, but to balance the latter's alliance with Constantine (see Constantine I) he drew closer to *Maxentius. Learning of the latter's defeat, and that the senate had made Constantine senior Augustus, he crossed the Hellespont. Defeated by Licinius near Adrianople (30 April 313), he fled and committed suicide at Tarsus. Like Galerius, he was an ardent *pagan.