Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 45
Fl. Valerius Severus and C. Galerius Maximinus. Associates of Galerius Maximianus Armentarius.
Priori Italia, posteriori quae Iovius obtinuerat, destinantur. Victor Schotti.MOre for cruelty against the Christians, than for nobility of descent or degree of honour, this name agreed to Severus, his pedigree being unknown. R. B. in his lives of all the Roman Emperors, p. 145. Penes autorem fides esto.
When Constantius deceased, his son Constantine was created Emperor in Britain, where he became Governor in his Fathers room by the earnest desire of all. In the mean while the Pretorian Soldiers raising a mutiny at Rome, nominated Maxentius son of Maximianus Herculius (who dwelt in the high-way not far from the City) Emperor. At which tidings Maximianus Herculius hoping again to recover the Empire, which he resigned against his will, hasted to Rome from Lucania; writing also to Diocletian to resume his former power, which motion was slighted. Severus Cesar was sent to Rome by Galerius, with an Army to repress the commotion of the Guard and Maxentius. But as he besieged the City, his own Soldiers treacherously forsook him, by means whereof Maxentius was fortified in the Empire. Severus defending himself in Ravenna, is drawn from thence by Maximianus Herculius, who (circumventing him with oaths) perswaded him to go to Rome, whither going, he was taken and strangled at the Tres tabernae, by some whom Maxentius had there appointed to lie in ambush. Zosimus, l. 2.
Maxentius Severum Ravenna evocatum perimit, tam cito nullum quam Caesarem. Bussieres in Flosculis Historiarum.
Severus his Corps was put into the Sepulchre of Gallienus, distant from Rome 9 miles by the via Appia. Victor in his Epitome.
Galerius incensed with the outrage of Maxentius, intended to fall upon the West, in revenge of Severus's death, but was frustrated therein; for distrusting the safety of his Territories, he created Licinius Cesar: after whose nomination he survived not long.
Per tres tabernas, intelligimus eas quae tribus millibus passuum ab Interamna fuerunt, eo loco, qui vulgo dicitur Ponteconfino. Haec enim inter Romam & Ravennam sitae sunt, ita dictae à tribus cauponis, vel diversoriis publicis. C. A. Rupertus in minorem Besoldi synopsin, p. 405. concurring with Cluverus in his Italia antiqua, l. 3. c. 8.
Maximinus was the Son of the sister of *Est hic solemnis ac pervulgatus error Graecorum, ut Maximianum cum Maximino permisceant. Valesius in Eusebium, p. 208.Galerius, surnamed Armentarius. Victor in his Epitome, with whom Zosimus (rightly interpreted by Stephen) concurreth.
He was Cesar 4 years, and Emperor 3 in the East. Victor, ubi supra.
By his birth and education he was a Pastoral man, but a great lover of wise and learned men; of a |Yet Glareanus on Eutropius, p. 248. more probably calleth him immanissimam belluam.quiet disposition, but much inclined to wine, in the excess whereof he commanded many things, of which he afterwards repented: giving a †This is erroneously ascribed to Galerius, in Sirmondus his Excerpta.charge to his followers, that they should not execute his desires, except he was sober, or gave them a command in the morning. Id. Ib.
He persecuted the Christians, being instigated thereto by Theotecnus, a Conjurer of Antioch.
Maximinus, pernicies propemodum ultima nominis Christiani; & dirum exitium, si vires animum adequassent, saith Bussieres in Flosculis Historiarum.
Maximus Bishop of Hierusalem and Paphnutius Confessors were condemned by him to the Mines, Metuentes solitudinem urbium tyranni, contenti fuerunt oculum effodere, & crus alterum suffringere confessoribus, & metalla iis imponere eruenda. Cluveri Epit. hist. univ. in Constantio & Maxim.having their right eies pulled out, and one of their ham-strings cut.
Constantine the Great kissed the hole in Paphnutius's face, out of which the Tyrant Maximinus had bored his eie for the profession of the Faith; the good Emperor making much of the socket even when the candle was put out. Dr. Fuller's Holy-State, l. 3. ch. 15.
Adversus Christianos Maxentius & Galerius Maximinus caetera discordes, instaurant persecutionem, quam Eusebius vocat secundam, sui videlicet aevi. Praesides provinciarum, quasi propositis praemiis nequitiae, certabant inter se, ut novorum acerbitate suppliciorum se invicem superarent. Sed major erat Dei virtus in sanctis, quam ut deleri ulla Satanae arte aut virulentia possent. Cluveri Epit. hist. univ. in Constantio & Maxim.Jac. Cappellus in Cent. Hist. Eccl. p. 69.
The heathen Presidents of Provinces forged certain acts of Pilate and our Saviour, full of blasphemy against Christ, which by consent of Maximinus, they send abroad throughout his Dominions; commanding by their Letters, that the same (both in City and Country) should be expounded to the youth by School-masters, and committed to memory instead of their Themes. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, l. 9. c. 5.
Maximini exemplo nihilo melior factus Maximinus, persecutionem instaurat, Antiochiae Lucianum occidit, Alexandriae Petrum Episcopum.
Maximini furorem castigat Deus, tum quod ab Armeniis quos lacessebat, turpiter profligatus est; tum immissa peste & fame, in qua Christianorum humanitatem tam admirabilem reddidit Deus, quam nuper constantiam in martyriis. Cappellus in Eccles. Hist. cent. p. 70.
In Armenia contra Parthos bellum gerens, urget in vicinis locis persecutionem, necessitate tamen coactus destitit, cum à Parthis magna clade afficeretur, & Oriens universus fame, & peste saevissimè affligeretur: fames adeo invaluit ut mensura tritici bis mille & quingentis drachmis venderetur, nostri aeris ultra 350. floren. Calvisii Chronologia in quarto, p. 559.
After the death of Galerius and *Miror, unde in Eusebii Chronicon irrepserit adeo gravis error, ut mors Maximini ante caedem Maxentii referatur.Maxentius, Licinius and Maximinus beheld each other with a jealous eie, and made shew of contest; but Maximine at Tarsus desided the difference by an irrevocable resignation.
Maximinus edicto publico Christianos insectatus A. D. 311. coactus est ante vertentem annum palinodiam canere, Quod quidem Hieronymi culpa commissum videtur, quippe qui Eusebiano Chronico multa de suo addidit. Valesius in Euseb. p. 189.eamque duplicem, primum A. D. 312. tum hoc anno. Sed tam inutilis ipsi fuit adulatio, quam comminatio. Periit Tarsi molli flamma medullas exedente & corpus ejus ita mutilante, ut fieret horrendum aspectu. Eusebius l. 9. c. 9, 10. Ita tum exitum habuit tertia persecutio. Ab initio primae ad exitum ultimae sunt anni circiter decem. Jac. Cappellus in Eccl. Chr. Cent. tertia, ad A. D. 313.
Peccat Eusebius in Chronicis aliquot annoram prochronismo, in referenda Maximini morte, mirasque dat turbas in recensendis illius rebus gestis in Historia Ecclesiastica: quem secutus Baronius praeter haec peccat, quod Maximinum mortuum scribat anno Constantini Magni nono; quum tamen mense Iunio, anno Constantini, ut numerant, octavo, paulo antequam Tribunitiam potestatem octavum iniret Constantinus, mortuus sit Maximinus. Petitus in Diatriba de jure, principum edictis, &c.
His death was after the same manner as his Uncles.
Ambos praeter similitudinem nominis, idem fere mortis genus propemodum confundit. Petavius de Doctrina temporum, l. 11. c. 34.
Legamus Ecclesiasticas Historias, quid Decius, quid Valerianus, quid Diocletianus, quid Maximiani duo, quid saevissimus omnium Maximinus, & nuper Iulianus passi sunt. Et tunc rebus probabimus, etiam juxta literam prophetiae veritatem esse completam. Quod computruerint carnes eorum, & oculi contabuerunt, & lingua in pedorem & saniem dissoluta sit. Hieronymus in 14. c. Zachariae.
Prope Maximini hujus cadaver positum Iuliani cadaver, convenienter scilicet, Philostorgii judicio, etsi casu; velut qui inter se tot in rebus alioquin pariabant. Et vero ideo quoque factum videmus, ut nonnulla quae Maximini temporibus & persecutioni conveniunt, ab aliis Iuliano tribuantur. Gothofredus in Philostorgium, p. 316.