Notwithstanding these successes, however, the em pire was overrun by hordes from Upper Germany, and the north of Europe, who crossed the Rhine and the Danube in such swarms that they carried consternation even into the heart of Rome. Alexander increased his army and marched against them in person. He obtained various successes over the enemy; but the strict discipline which the state of his troops had ren dered necessary, displeased his army, and excited a mutiny among the legions encamped about Moguntia, who had been accustomed to every kind of license during the corruptions of the preceding reign. They openly declared that they were under the dominion of a woman without liberality, and a boy without spirit; and they announced their design of electing an emper or who needed no assistance on his throne. These dissensions were fomented by an old general Maximi nus, who held frequent communications with the troops. Resolved to destroy Alexander, they sent an executioner into his tent, who cut off his head, and put to death his mother and all his friends. As soon as the army heard of his fate, they punished with imme diate death all who had been concerned in the murder, with the exception only of Maximinus.
Caius Julius Verus Maximinus, the principal abettor of the sedition against Alexander, was now proclaimed emperor. His father was a Thracian shepherd, and he himself exercised the same humble profession. Hav ing frequently led his countrymen against the barba rians and robbers who infested the plains on which his flocks grazed, he had acquired a knowledge of irregu lar warfare, and was inflamed with a passion for mili tary glory. He therefore entered the Roman army, where he soon became as remarkable. for his courage and discipline, as he was for his strength and gigantic stature. He was nearly eight feet and a half high, and his form was equally strong and symmetrical.— He was capable of drawing a load which two oxen could not move. He could break the thigh-bone of a horse by a kick, and struck out its teeth with a blow. He generally ate forty pounds of flesh every day, and drank six gallons of wine without being exposed to the charge of intemperance. Maximinus first dis played his strength at the public games which the em peror Septimius Severus was celebrating on the birth day of his son Geta. The giant had requested per mission to contend for the prizes, but Sevcrus allowed him to combat only with slaves. In running he out stripped sixteen one after the other. He kept up with the emperor on horseback, and after being thus fatigued, he overcame seven of the most active sol diers. These feats of strength induced the emperor to take him into his body guards. In Caracalla's
reign he was made a centurion; and in consequence of his good conduct and strict discipline, he was raised to the rank of a tribune. 'When Macrinus succeeded to the empire, Maximinus refused to serve him, and retired to Thrace, where he purchased some land and carried on some commercial pursuits. He returned to Rome on the accession of Heliogabalus, but the effe minacy of the emperor soon made him quit the court. The emperor Alexander afterwards received him in the kindest manner, and gave him the command of the fourth legion, consisting of new raised troops, which he commanded with great honour against the Germans, having acquired the character of being the bravest and the most virtuous soldier in the Roman army. The am bition of power, or rather the possession of it, seems to have altered his nature. The base ingratitude to Alexander with which he marked the commencement of his new life, was followed by a system of tyranny and brutality which had scarcely been equalled even in the reigns of his most detested predecessors.
The senate having refused to ratify his election, he determined to reign without their concurrence. He put to death all the senators who were obnoxious to him, and resolved to force an unwilling obedience from every rank in the state. He slew the rich for the pur pose of obtaining their estates. He persecuted the Christians; and, ashamed of the obscurity of his ex traction, he put to death all those who were acquainted with him in early life. No fewer than 400 persons are said to have been sacrificed to the bare suspicion of their having conspired against his life. They were exposed not merely to death but to torments; and the imperial monster is said to have entertained himself by killing some with blows; by exposing others to wild beasts; by nailing them on crosses, and by enclosing them in the bellies of animals newly slain.
In his military capacity he now showed the same spirit, and his bravery and his skill remained the same. He defeated the Germans in several engagements, and cutting down the standing corn, and laying waste the country with fire and sword for 450 miles round, he wished to impress upon the Germans the punishment of rebellion. The soldiers were deeply attached to him, not only from the increase of pay which he allowed them in these expeditions, but from the zeal with which he partook of all the duties of a common soldier, being constantly found in the points of danger, and fighting as an individual soldier while he com manded as a general.