MAXI31IN, CAIIIS Jumus VERIIS Maximus:us, a Roman emperor; b. in the latter part of the 2nd century. He was originally a Thracian shepherd. Attracting the atten tion of the emperor Septimius Severus by his immense size and wonderful feats of strength and agility, he was admitted to the army; was rapidly advanced for his bravery, put in command of a new legion raised in Pannonia, and obtained great" influence over the soldiers. At the head of this legion he followed Alexander in his campaign ag,ainst /he Germans. When the army was encamped on the banks of the Rhine, he conspired against Alexander, and caused him to be put to death in his tent, with his mother 3Iam mwa, A.D. 235, Being proclaimed emperor, he named his son Maximus Cwsar, and made him colleague in the empire. He continued the war against the Germans, and devastated a large part of the country beyond the Rhine. ' But his cruelty and rapacity aroused the indignation of the people. For alleged conspiracy against him he put to death Magnus.,
a senator, with 4,000 other persons, and for the imperial treasury. confiscated the munici pal property. IIe also opposed Christianity, and persecuted the bishops who had been favored by Alexander. The provinces of Africa revolted and proclaimed Gordlanus, who was soon after acknowledged by the senate and people. Rome, fearing the ven geance of Maximin, the senate proclaimed emperors Clodius I'apienus Maximus and. Decimus Cmlius Balbinus, and with them was associated by order of the people a nephew of the younger Gordianus. Maximin having crossed the Isonzo, laid siege to Aquileia in Italy, but met with strong resistance from the garrison and people. The soldiers mutinied and killed both him and his son in 238. Maximin was a tierce soldier, and his eon a handsome but arrogant youth.