Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximianus

Galley
Roman Emperor
Porphyry statue of Galerius
Reign
Caesar 1March 293 - 1 May 305 August: 1 May 305 - 5 May 311
Period	Second and Third Ttrachie
Predecessor (s)	Diocletian ( 284 - 305 ) Maximian Hercules ( 286 - 305 )
Co-emperor (s)	Constantius ( 305 - 306 ) Severus ( 306 - 307 ) Licinius ( 308 - 324 ) Constantine I ( 310 - 337 ) Maximinus II Daia ( 310 - 313 )
Usurper (s)	Constantine I ( 306 - 310 ) Maxentius ( 306 - 312 ) Maximian Hercules ( 306 - 309 ) D. Alexander ( 308 - 310 )
Successor (s)	Constantine I Licinius Maximinus II Daia
Biography
Birth	v. 250 - Felix Romuliana
Deaths	5 May 311 - by Dardania
Burial	Felix Romuliana
Spouse (s)	Galeria Valeria
Descent	Valeria Maximillia Candidianus
List of Roman Emperors

Galerius Maximian, Galerius said in Latin ), born about 250 in Romuliana Felix died in April and 311 in Dardania is an emperor Rome 's Eastern Empire who ruled during the Tetrarchy.

Coming from a family Illyrian very modest, very early in galley between the army and quickly rose through the ranks. Spotted by the Emperor Diocletian , he married his daughter Valeria and becomes his Caesar , emperor or his deputy in charge of Illyria in 293. Galerius became one of four men who collectively run the Empire. In this capacity, he led several campaigns on the Danube against the Sarmatians , the carp and Bastarnae of 294 to 296 and then won a great victory over the Persians in the East in 298. Very critical of the Christian religion , he agreed, even encourages, the creation of great persecution decreed in 303 by his superior, the emperor Diocletian, where he has more influence. Weakened by illness, Diocletian takes 304 's decision to withdraw from power. The abdication of the two main joint tetrarchs sign promoting the two vice-emperors. Galley becomes the Augustus at the head of the eastern part of the Empire , on ¹ May 305.

Four tetrarchs, it becomes in effect the chief executive of Empire. Indeed, the two new Caesars supposed to support him and his colleague Constantius , are two of his relatives. Its vice-emperor, Maximinus II Daia , is his own nephew's deputy while Constantius, Severus , fought alongside him. Soon, however, the political situation deteriorates. On the death of his co-emperor Constantius in 306 , his son, Constantine , proclaimed himself emperor in Britain , it immediately imitated at Rome by Maxentius , son of Maximian Hercules former colleague of Diocletian. Galerius sent Severus soon march against Maxentius and Maximian came to support him. However, the death of Severus and the failed campaign of Galerius in Italy designed to defeat the thieves forced him to revise the system tetrarchy. In 308 , when the Imperial Conference of Carnuntum , it raises directly Licinius to Augustat replacing Severus and Constantine officially recognized that called Caesar. As they protest against the promotion of Licinius, the two Caesars, Constantine and Maximin Daia, finally appointed, in turn, Augustus in 310.

Galley gets sick in the meantime. Victim of a long and painful illness, his last political act was the Proclamation on 30 April 311 an edict of toleration ending the persecution of Diocletian. Tetrarchy the last defender, he died in May 311 , devotes in the end.

Galerius was born under the name of Caius Galerius Maximinus around 250 , not far from Sardis , in one of the provinces of Dacia. His father is a native of Thrace , for his mother, Romula, it is because of barbarian blood, born beyond the Danube , she took refuge in Roman Dacia when invasions carp . The couple has a very modest standard of living, the father is a shepherd and a time Galerius follows in his footsteps before entering the Roman legions. He served under the Emperor Aurelian and participates in campaigns Probus and Carus in the reign of which it is moving in the military hierarchy.

Caesar Diocletian

First Tetrarchy

Diocletian is the founder of the system Tetrarchy. He is the Augustus Galerius from 293 to 305 , when he abdicated voluntarily.

Become an experienced officer, he was noticed by the Emperor Diocletian which he became praetorian prefect . The latter offered him the hand of his daughter, Valeria. Galley must divorce his wife but enters the house of the emperor and received the name of Valerius. On ¹March 293 at Sirmium , Diocletian to the rank of Caesar , or vice-emperor. Galley becomes the designated heir of Diocletian, in the form of Tetrarchy.

Diocletian has been gradually put in place a structure that the defense wanted the Empire is assured by four emperors legitimate in order to face all the enemies of the Empire without giving too much power to mere general which might turn against the central government. Thus, it is support by Maximian Hercules he named Augustus or co-emperor and to whom he entrusts the West. Each of them, to avoid hypothetical succession problems, has in turn added a Caesar Constantius to Maximian, and Galerius to Diocletian . Maximian and Constantius therefore have the task of defending the West and especially the Rhine , Diocletian and Galerius dealing with the Orient, or, among other things, monitoring the Danube frontier and Persian.

Specifically, Galerius seems busy priority Grce and the Illyria while Diocletian forbade the Asia and Egypt. However it is not a partition of the empire between tetrarchs but a government college. Thus, Diocletian and Galerius fight together against the Sarmatians in 294. They inflict on the occasion, a severe defeat, so that with the exception of some Sarmatian warriors that are incorporated into the Roman army by the Treaty , the majority of barbarians is pushed out of the Empire. Galley fight, then, alone, Carp and Bastarnae he returns beyond the limes in 295 and 296 . Subsequently, in 296 , while the theft, in Egypt , of Domitianus then to Achilleus Diocletian forced to abandon the Persian border , Galley replaces the head of the eastern provinces.

Victory over the Persians

In Persia, the situation has evolved. In 294 , a new prince, Narseh , was indeed the throne of the kings of kings. Proclaiming himself in the tradition of Ardashir I and Shapur I , winners respectively of the Emperors Alexander Severus and Valerian , he declared war on Diocletian in the fall 296 by invading the kingdom of Armenia to Tiridates under Roman protection. Galerius and Diocletian and gather their troops, while Diocletian post on the border Syrian , Galerius was sent Osroene , beyond the Euphrates , to its junction with the troops remaining Tiridates . With these reinforcements, galley part in the Persian army before he faces in Callinicum , not far south of Carrhae where Crassus had suffered a severe defeat by the Parthians. Again the Roman army is defeated and Galerius was forced to retreat to avoid another disaster. At Antioch , Diocletian gave him a frosty reception. According to Eutropius and Ammianus Marcellinus , he even publicly humiliated by forcing him to walk in front of his chariot for a distance of a mile .

Galley, winner of Narseh on the triumphal arch of Thessaloniki.

In 298 , Galerius resumed the offensive and again marched against the Persians at the head of an army of nearly 25,000 men reinforced mercenary Goths and Sarmatians and invaded Armenia. Enjoying a mountainous terrain more favorable to the Roman infantry to the cavalry, Persian, Galerius reverses the situation. He attacked the Persian army by surprise at about the current Erzurum inflicting a heavy defeat. The King of Kings, wounded managed to escape, but he leaves behind his wife, his harem and a large booty which the Romans captured . Galley then takes Nisibis then crossed the Tigris and walk on Ctesiphon , the Persian capital, which he captured in spring 298. Leveraging its success, the Caesar enters the region of Adiabene but Diocletian ordered to stop the offensive . The latter, which hopes to build a lasting peace with the Sassanian , asks his secretary to send Galerius Sicorius Probus bring peace proposals to Narseh . Diocletian and Galerius are found early in the year 299 in Nisibis and the Emperor publicly congratulated his deputy for his victories by a grand ceremony . The treaty received ambassadors and Persian Arphaban Barsaborsus confirms the victory of the Romans: the border between the two empires is worn on the Tigris, Tiridates is replaced on the throne of Armenia while the kingdom of Iberia must therefore give allegiance to Empire. Finally, Diocletian gained control over the five satrapies located between Armenia and the territory of the Empire .

If the peace of Nisibis was the hand of Diocletian, the first major military victory against the Roman Sassanid is recognized Galerius. To commemorate this event, a triumphal arch was erected in his honor in 299 at Thessaloniki , a city in which he lived his time fighting on the Danube . It also seems to have relocated to this city from 299 where he organized new campaigns against the Sarmatians and Carpi including 302 and 303 , as evidenced by the titles of victories that are attributed these years . On 20 November 303 , the four tetrarchs meet in Rome to celebrate vicennalia, the twenty-year reign of the two Augusti and decennalia the ten years of the two Caesars. On the occasion of these festivities illustrating collegiality and unity of the empire, Galerius celebrated his triumph for his victory over the Persians . Back from Rome, the latter may be involved in an inspection on the Danube, at the beginning of the year 304 , Diocletian alongside .

Gallery at the head of the Empire

Second Tetrarchy

Fell ill during the last campaign, from the summer 304 of Diocletian health deteriorates gradually . The emperor is so weak that it is wrongly declared dead on 13 December 304 in Nicomedia. Arrived at Nicomedia at the end of March 305 , Galerius meets a Diocletian exhausted and visibly marked by the disease . According to Lactantius , whose testimony must be taken with utmost skepticism, Galerius Diocletian would have required him to leave power with Maximian to leave their place in their respective Caesar. That Diocletian was unimpressed by his subordinate, or that these exchanges have been invented from scratch, still is it that the emperor decided to go to the Armed ¹ May 305. He delivers his speech not far from Nicomedia, in the same plain where he was proclaimed emperor in 284 at the foot of a statue of Jupiter , patron god of his house . Attesting to his age and his illness, he claims to be better able to bear any longer the burden of power is appropriate to forward it to younger men and thus stronger . Also, he announced to his veterans he abdicates, jointly with Maximian Hercules to give way to Galerius and Constantius. Both become Augusti and two other senior officers were elevated to Caesar.

Statue of Constantine at York , in the city where he was proclaimed emperor by soldiers francs army of Britain in July 306.

However, contrary to what was expected , it is not Maxentius and Constantine , the son of Maximian and Constantius Hercules , who are honored Csarat but the other two officers responding to the names of Maximin and severe. Both are close to Galerius. Maximin Daia, Caesar's support of Egypt and Syria, is a young orator who is none other than his own nephew, also a native of the same city as him. Severus, who is an officer Pannonian experienced is itself a former comrade in arms of Galerius . If his allegiance is theoretically Constantius, he is committed to doing everything Galley . In fact, if the order of precedence because of the Emperor Constantius the second main Tetrarchy is indeed Galley which is the main figure, the more easily that Constantine, the son of Constance lies in his court.

In the example of Constantine, Maxentius usurped the imperial purple at Rome in October 306.

This balance is upset, however, soon. Indeed, in July 306 , when he was in Britain to combat the incursions of the Picts and Scots , the Emperor Constantius died from an illness. However, in the meantime, he had reminded his son, Constantine, with him and seems to be on his deathbed, transmitted power at the expense of his Caesar, Severus . Still, until the death of his father and protector, Constantine was acclaimed emperor by the troops, mostly Frankish met in Eboracum . Galley, this time uncontested master Empire, became the same time guaranteeing the sustainability of the system. Anxious to legitimize his usurpation , Constantine immediately sends a letter reaffirming its loyalty to tetrarchs and certifying that they had resolved to usurp the purple on the pressure of the soldiers of his father. Galerius, who knows how the armies of Gaul and Britain are loyal to the son of Constantius, prefers to avoid civil war. Swallowing his anger, he gives Constantine the rank of Caesar, that the principal consents, while Severus is high in Augustat .

However, this recognition is not without its problems: If Constantine succeeded, Maxence, also son of tetrarch, feels deeply aggrieved. However, at this precise moment, in the continuation of the tax policy of Diocletian, Galerius considering submitting Rome and Italy to the same taxes as the rest of the Empire, putting an end to such ancient privilege enjoyed by the region. Taking advantage of the unpopularity of the new Augustus of the West, to prepare the implementation of these future taxes, Emperor Maxentius is recognized by the Praetorian Guard , the 28 October 306 . Relatives of Severus are pursued and implemented, like the prefect of the city , Abellius, while the Senate of Rome of Maxentius is the protector and restorer of ancient liberties . Wishing again be reconciled, Galerius, Maxentius wrote him with the same arguments that Constantine, to ask the purple. Eager to show the utmost humility, he had also refused the Senate titles of Caesar or Augustus merely that of Princeps, to avoid giving the impression of forcing the hand of the emperor main .

Start of civil war

Severus , Caesar to Constantius of 305 to 306 and Augustus in the West from 306 to 307.

This time, however, refuses Galerius fait accompli. The elevation of Maxentius is tantamount to sacrificing the balance provided by the Tetrarchy, since there would then not four but five emperors. Galerius Severus therefore ordered to march on Italy. No longer able to back off, to usurp Maxentius resolves the Augustat and is preparing for war. He recalls, during his father Maximian Hercules, who was forced to resign under the pressure of Diocletian and Galerius. Hailed Augustus for the second time, he agrees to return to power alongside his son. This choice turns out very quickly paid off: the troops recently placed under the command of Severus are in fact those same token, who during the previous decades, have served under Maximian. Very quickly, Severus is facing a series of defections in its ranks, a phenomenon exacerbated by the bribes of Maxentius . Thus, the own praetorian prefect of Severus betrays him to join the camp of his opponent. These desertions become such that the emperor was forced to flee to take refuge in the walled city of Ravenna. Having received the promise that he would Maximian alive, Severus finally get to Maxentius. Right out of the fortress, he was arrested and taken to prison in Rome, where he is driven to suicide, early in the year 307 .

Maximian Hercules , coempereur of Diocletian from 286 to 305 and usurper of 306 to 310.

Having snatched another victory to the Sarmatians was 307 , Galerius became head of the armies of Illyria with the intention of breaking himself of double theft. Maxentius and Maximian, who want to avoid an alliance between Constantine and Galerius, then decided to ensure the neutrality of Caesar. Before the end of the summer 307 , while Maxentius Galerius wait at the foot of the Alps , Constantine and Maximian meet. There, the young Caesar Maximian offer the hand of his daughter, Fausta , and to the rank of Augustus , thus making it home and join his camp theft. Galley between Italy in September 307. Maxence who wishes to avoid a pitched battle retreated to Rome, but closed the doors of all the cities of northern Italy. Galley therefore arrives safely in the Lazio but without being able to supply his army on the way . While important, his troops are anyway not numerous enough to besiege the city of Rome well protected behind the walls of Aurelian. Soon, Galerius is found in the same situation as Severus before him: a consequence of their pessimism or jar of wine generously distributed by the masters of Rome, some of its soldiers decide to desert. If unlike Severus, Galerius manages to stop the problem quickly, the situation remains precarious. Aware of his weakness, he envisages negotiations and sends his lieutenants in this direction, Licinius and Probus, with Maxentius. It requires submission through it but promises in return for the official recognition as legitimate emperor . Fearing a trap, or sure of his victory, Maxence rejects these proposals. But victory is not to go: Galerius avoid encirclement. He left his camp soon to Interamna in Lazio and folds in the East. By destroying the lands in its path, which slows his pursuers, he managed to safely leave Italy.

The situation has actually not changed: Galerius n ' has not been defeated and retains all of its troops while Maxentius and Maximian are always considered as usurpers. A new event is however somewhat change the situation because of disagreements arise between Maximian and his son. If Maxence recalled his father is, in fact, solely to profit from his name and his talents as a whole. However, Maximian who led the West as Emperor principal for over twenty years resents being relegated to second place . To his surprise, however, the soldiers take advantage of her son. Saved, he must still flee and take refuge with part of Constantine. At the same time, a new usurpation in 308 , that of Domitius Alexander in Africa , a territory under the control of Maxentius, has further reduced the power of the prince of Rome.

The conference Carnuntum

Licinius , appointed Augustus of the West to Carnuntum.

Anxious to restore stability to the system tetrarchy, Galerius, after another campaign against the Carp on the Danube in the summer of 308 , from seeking advice from his former mentor, Diocletian. He manages to convince him to leave his estate in a few days Spalatum time a meeting in Carnuntum. If Diocletian is determined not to return to power, he agreed to contribute its experience, its prestige and its influence on Maximian to try to save the system . On his advice, Galerius organizing, in the presence of Diocletian and Maximian Hercules, a conference to put a definitive end to unrest followed the death of Constantius.

Following the conference, 11 November 308 , several important decisions are taken. First, should Maximian, Diocletian's image to withdraw again from the political scene. Then, Maxence and Alexander are reconvicted as usurpers while Constantine lost his title of Augustus to that of finding a simple Caesar. Finally, a new Augustus was appointed to replace Severus, this is Licinius , a lieutenant of Galerius, who is assigned the time to resume Illyria Italy and Africa occupied by usurpers . If Licinius did not follow the prescribed curriculum - it's never gone through the stage Csarat - Galley restores still structurally comparable to those of the first two tetrarchies two Emperors in the East and West, and Galerius Licinius, and two Caesars, Maximin Daia and Constantine.

Maximinus II Daia , Caesar Galerius since 305 , is opposed to the decisions of Carnuntum and gets the title of Augustus in 310.

However, this solution does not meet two of the key stakeholders. Constantine, Caesar in the West was indeed the hope that it would recognize the new Galerius as Augustus Maximian gave him. At the same time, Maximin Daia, Caesar in the East, refuses to accept that just Licinius Augustus appointed him to be hierarchically higher. Rejecting appeasement advocated by Galerius, he eventually require Augustat for himself and Constantine to deal with this injustice . Because, in fact, Galerius again need the support of three other tetrarchs at a time when a new theft is threatening the balance of Tetrarchy found.

In fact, Constantine is officially recognized as Augustus, Maximian Hercules loses all usefulness in the eyes of her step-son. Realizing he can no longer count on him to return to power, he tried his all . Taking advantage of the fact that Constantine went on the Rhine fight Bructeri , he went to Arles and the false announcement of the death of the emperor. For the third time in his life, the former brother in arms of Diocletian is the imperial purple. Again it is a failure: the soldiers quickly, warned of lies, refuse to follow him and walk toward the south of Constantine Maximian Hercules forced to flee Arles Massilia where he locked up . His adventure ends there: as soon as Constantine and his army at the foot of the walls, the inhabitants opened his doors in the city. Maximian Hercules is caught and he is torn purple. Driven to suicide, he hanged himself a few days later in July 310 .

Constantin increasingly figure strongman regime. His elevation to the Augustat and that of Maximin Daia actually spends a tetrarchy since there still four emperors but legitimate hierarchical relationships between different tetrarchs are less clear. If the galley is always theoretically emperor main In fact, each emperor leads his territory more or less independently .

Galley and Christianity

The great persecution of Diocletian

The emperors of the first Tetrarchy : Diocletian , Maximian , Constantius and Galerius.

Since its founding, the Tetrarchy, symbolizing the unity and stability restored, is closely associated with pagan religion. The deified emperors: Diocletian to take protective Jupiter , Conservator of the Roman state, while Maximian is akin to Hercules , the son of Jupiter . This important position occupied by the traditional Roman religion is rapidly laying the question of the attitude to adopt vis--vis a Christianity booming. After years of dithering, Diocletian finally decides to fight the religion of Christ and publish several imperial edicts signing the last great persecution of the Roman Empire . From 24 February 303 at the beginning of the year 304 , four edicts increasingly severe are written the names of Diocletian Maximian, Constantius and Galerius. Consistent with these decisions, churches are destroyed, sacred books confiscated, the clergy stopped short, all those who refuse to sacrifice to the gods of the Empire are being tortured, sentenced to death or deported to the mines .

The question of responsibility for this persecution has been historically discussed. In fact, ancient sources, beginning with the contemporary Christian Lactantius and Eusebius of Caesarea , Galerius designate as the main instigator of this policy . According to them, the brutal Caesar, under the influence of his mother Romula, a fiercely anti-Christian pagan priestess would have forced Diocletian or manipulated to get him this great persecution . This allows to explain the fact that these edicts have been taken only from the eighteenth year of the reign of Diocletian . However, if Galley probably approved the anti-Christian measures, it continues to apply after the start of Diocletian, its role is probably vastly exaggerated. Indeed, the burning of the imperial palace of Nicomedia or number of incidents in the army, where Christian soldiers refused to sacrifice, were also able to induce the emperor to establish persecution . The influence of Galerius could fully play for the last four editions, one that obliges under pain of death all Christians to sacrifice to the gods of the empire, which is published at the beginning of the year 304 , then Diocletian was struck by the disease. However, this latest edict, although more radical, does not come under the continuity of earlier texts and is first and foremost the result of the will of Diocletian .

The extent of persecution is also relative. It is indeed very unevenly applied throughout the empire. And Constantius in the West simply destroy some monuments while Maximian Hercules, which was fully implemented at the beginning of Diocletian's orders, get tired quickly of this persecution . Finally, Maxentius and Constantine both show very reserved on the desirability of such a policy, they apply to virtually no . Here we see a strong difference between the East, where Galerius and Maximin Daia are very zealous in the application of imperial edicts, and the West, where the persecution is of lesser magnitude. This distinction, beyond the attitude of different tetrarchs can find an explanation in the proportion of Christians far more important in the East and West, reinforces the idea among contemporary galley that is largely responsible for this rampage.

The edict of Sardis and the death of Galerius

In fact, freedom of religion is already permitted in the western part of the Empire. Galley extends to the whole Empire, but Maximinus II Daia , head of the Diocese of East refuses to comply. Licinius applies the edict of Sardis, the death of Galerius, in the diocese of Moesia and Thrace.

Although considered the main architect of the repression of Christianity is that Galerius, the first repeal the measures of persecution have been laid against the followers of the religion of Christ. The stated objective of the edicts of persecution 303 and 304 was, in effect, to reduce by force the Christian beliefs of their ancestors . But contrary to what had been hoped Diocletian and Galerius, the violent anti-Christian measures proved totally unproductive. If the religion of Christ is well and truly deserted by some, they do not return for all the traditional Roman cults, worse, they seem not to affect worship any deity . Noting the failure of persecution, which have failed to eradicate Christianity, Galerius chose to put a definitive end.

Thus, the 30 April 311 , he published at Nicomedia , an edict of tolerance, recognizing the existence of the Christian religion. This edict says of Sardis , puts an end to all anti-Christian measures still in force in the territory of the Empire. Posted by Galley without consultation with his peers, it is enacted not only in its own name but in that of his three colleagues tetrarchs - namely Constantine, Licinius and Maximinus Daia. Going further than the "small peace of the Church, given by Galen at the end of the persecution of Valerian in 260 and which were tolerated during the practice of Christianity and building places of worship , Galley goes this time to give legitimacy to a form of Christianity, since humbly ask his followers to pray for him and for the salvation of the Empire ^, . Immediately after the publication of this text, all imprisoned Christians were released . If the persecution had already been abandoned in practice in the West, they stop in the East, in the territory under the control of Galerius. Maximin Daia, who is very reluctant vis--vis the new policy, otherwise . Taking advantage of the withdrawal of his former master Galerius, he keeps in force the edicts of Diocletian.

Ruins of the Palace of Galerius at Felix Romuliana , where he is buried at his death in May 311.

During the winter of 310 , while it prepares for the celebration of its vicennalia, Galerius was indeed struck by the disease . The polemicist Christian Lactantius describes, in his De Mortibus persecutorum, the appearance of an abscess, touching the genitals of the emperor. Complications - the development of gangrene - have, according to him, plunged into terrible suffering Galley . Based on its text, modern studies tend to prove that there is probably some form of penile cancer . According to some historians , as he descended into the throes of the disease, Galerius had come to believe that he was suffering the vengeance of God of the Christians, which also explained his reversal on religious policy.

Desiring to die in his place of birth, Felix Romuliana where he built a fortified residence on the model of Diocletian's Palace of Spalatum , galley, facing a new disease flare, can not living destination. After a long illness, cancer has finally tipped the master of the Empire. Galerius died in the province of Dardania in early May 311 , just days after the promulgation of the edict of tolerance . His body was buried in his palace of Felix Romuliana in the presence of Emperor Licinius .

The end of the Tetrarchy

Constantine , winner of Maxentius ( 312 ) of Maximin ( 313 ) and Licinius ( 324 ).

Galerius's death leaves Tetrarchy in deep crisis. Power is shared between three legitimate emperors, all three Augusti, Licinius, Maximinus Daia and Constantine, and a usurper, Maxentius. However, no attempts to restore the system as Galerius did in Carnuntum. Thus, it does not rise to a new emperor in place of the deceased Augustus, Licinius and Maximinus eager to place its former provinces under their control and moving the boundary between their territories on the banks of the Bosphorus . At the same time, Maxentius, claiming to want to avenge the death of his father Maximian , declared war on Constantine. However, none of them shall not commence immediately any major action. Therefore form alliances: the winter 311 , Constantine Licinius allied with whom he offers the hand of his sister Constantia. Reacting to what he considers an alliance against him, Maxentius Maximinus officially recognized and signed with him a military alliance of mutual defense . The death of Diocletian, probably affected by this turn of events as well as the condemnation of his former companion Constantine Maximian to damnatio memoriae, occurs in the meantime .

The confrontation between Maxentius and Constantine was finally held in 312 and the balance, after the battle of Milvian Bridge by the death of Maxentius. Contrary to what expected Galerius, Constantine and therefore is not Licinius who conquered the former territories of the usurper . Again, the new ruler of Rome is trying to reconcile the alliance of Licinius. The two men met in February, 313 in Milan. There they agreed to govern together their two territories . On this occasion, they proclaim anew, as Galerius did in his edict of 311 , freedom of worship for all citizens of the Empire. Wanting to go further than Galerius, Licinius Constantine convinces also consider forms of compensate for Christians who have been dispossessed of their property . This policy statement should be put into perspective the fact that Maximin Daia in the East is where the Christian population are most important, still refuses to enforce the edict of Sardis .

Fearing that once the merger between two other tetrarchs not be done at his expense, Maximin crossed the Bosporus and invaded the territory of Licinius. Defeated by the latter to Hadrianople on 30 April 313 , he then retreated to Nicomedia Tarsus where, caught by his opponent, he committed suicide . Licinius condemns the memory of the deceased and take this opportunity to get rid of all his potential opponents. Thus, Severianus, the son of Severus, was executed for having served while Candidianus Maximin, the bastard son of Galerius, was assassinated . The wife of Maximinus, also daughter of Galerius, was drowned, Valeria, wife of Galerius, and her mother Priscilla, wife of Diocletian, were beheaded for their part . Licinius then moved East, where it imposes everywhere the application of the edict of Sardis and the power sharing some time with Constantine in the West. The civil war resumed in 324 and is between the two former allies. The triumph of Constantine, winner of Licinius, means the end of the system of Diocletian and Galerius.

Names and titles

Names successive

• 250 , born CAIV GALERIVS MAXIMINVS
• 293 , Cesar: CAIV GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS NOBILISSIMVS CAESAR
• 305 , Augustus IMPERATOR CAESAR CAIV GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS SPHI FELIX INVICTVS Avgvstvs
• 311 at his death: CAIV IMPERATOR CAESAR GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS SPHI FELIX INVICTVS Avgvstvs, PONTIFEX MAXIMVS, TRIBVNICIAE potestatis XIX IMPERATOR VII, VIII CONSVL

Titles and Holders

• 293 : Germanicus Caesar and Maximus
• 294 : Consul with Constantius, Maximus Sarmaticus perhaps aegyptiacus Maximus and Maximus Thebaicus
• 295 : Maximus persicus
• 296 : Britannicus Maximus and Maximus Carpicus
• 297 : Consul II Maximian Hercules
• 298 : armeniacus Maximus, Medicus Maximus Adiabenicus Maximus and Maximus II persicus
• 300 : Consul III with Constantius, Maximus II Sarmaticus
• 301 : Germanicus Maximus II and Carpicus Maximus II
• 302 : Consul IV with Constantius, Germanicus Maximus III, III and Carpicus Sarmaticus Maximus Maximus III
• 303 : Germanicus Maximus IV and IV Carpicus Maximus
• 304 : Germanicus Maximus V and V Carpicus Maximus
• 305 : Augustus, Consul V Constantius, Britannicus Maximus II
• 306 : Consul VI with Constantius, Maximus IV Sarmaticus
• 307 : Germanicus Maximus VI
• 308 : Consul VII with Diocletian, Germanicus Maximus VII and Carpicus Maximus VI
• 310 : Maximus Sarmaticus persicus Maximus III and V
• 311 : Consul VIII with Maximin Daia

References

Notes

References

Bibliography

Historiography

• Eusebius of Caesarea , Ecclesiastical History (Book IX)
• Lactantius , De Mortibus persecutorum (Chapter XXIII and XXVII)
• Aurelius Victor , De Caesaribus (Chapter XL)
• Eutropius , Abridgment of Roman History (Book X, Chapter 1 to 4)
• Zosimus , New History (Book II)
• Epitome Caesaribus (Chapter XXXIX and XL)
• Zonaras , Roman History (Chapter 15)
• Edward Gibbon , History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (chapter XIII and XIV)

Contemporary Works

• William Seston , Diocletian and tetrarchy, 1946, Editions De Boccard
• Paul Little , General History of the Roman Empire, 1974, Editions du Seuil ( a href = "Sp% C3% A9cial: Ouvrages_de_r% C3% A9f% C3% A9rence/2020026775" class = "mw-internal-magiclink isbn"> ISBN 2020026775)
• Arnold Hugh Martin Jones , Constantine And The Conversion of Europe, 1978, University of Toronto Press ( ISBN 978-0802063694 )
• Timothy David Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 1981, Harvard University Press ( ISBN 978-0674165311 )
• Timothy D. Barnes, The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine, 1993, Books on Demand ( ISBN 978-0783722214 )
• Fergus Millar, The Roman Near East 31 BC-AD 337, 1993, Harvard University Press ( ISBN 978-0674778863 )
• William Lewis Leadbetter Galerius & the Tetrarchy, 1993, Macquarie University
• Dragoslav Srejovic , The Age of Tetrarch, 1995, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( ISBN 978-8670251984 )
• Zosso Francis, Christian Zingg, The Roman emperors: 27 av. AD - 476 AD. J.-C, 1995, Wandering Publishing ( ISBN 2877722260 )
• Stephen Williams, Diocletian and the Roman Recovery, 1997, Routledge ( ISBN 978-0415918275 )
• Simon Corcoran, The Empire of the Tetrarch: Imperial pronouncements and Government, AD 284-324, 2000, Oxford University Press ( ISBN 978-0198153047 )
• Andre Chastagnol , Lower Empire, 2000, Armand Colin ( ISBN 978-2200018511 )
• Charles ODahl Matson, Constantine and the Christian Empire, 2004, Routledge ( ISBN 978-0415174855 )
• Hans A. Pohlsander, The Emperor Constantine, 2004, Routledge ( ISBN 978-0415319386 )
• Roger Rees, Diocletian & the Tetrarchy, 2004, Edinburgh University Press ( ISBN 978-0748616619 )
• Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, Averil Cameron, The Cambridge Ancient History: The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337, 2005, Cambridge University Press
• David S. Potter, The Roman Empire at Bay: AD 180-395, 2005, Hardcover ( ISBN 0-415-10057-7 )
• Marcel Le Glay , Rome: Rise and Fall of the Empire, 2005, Editions Perrin ( ISBN 978-2262018986 )
• Lewis William Leadbetter, Galerius and the Will of Diocletian, 2010, Routledge ( ISBN 978-0415404884 )

Scientific articles

• Georgia, whose "Portrait Gallery" in Dandrau, 1975, vol.99-1, p. 521-533 Read online
• Aline Rousselle, "The chronology of Maximian Hercules and the myth of Tetrarchy" Dialogues in Ancient History, 1976, vol.2, p. 445-466, read online
• DiMaio, Jr., Michael, " Galerius (305-311 AD) , see De Imperatoribus Romanis, 2008

See also

Related articles

• Christianity in the Roman world
• Late Antiquity
• List of dioceses of the Roman Empire
• Arch of Galerius

External Links

• (En) Roman Emperors
• (In) Encyclopdia Britannica
• (In) Catholic Encyclopedia
• (Fr) De Imperatoribus Romanis
• (In) The Roman Empire
• (In) The Throne Of The Caesars
• (In) Edicts of Sardis and Milan

Roman Emperor ( list )

Preceded by:	According to:	Followed by:
First Tetrarchy ( 285 / 293 - 305 ) August : Diocletian and Maximian Hercules Caesars : Constantius and Galerius	Second and Third Tetrarchy ( 305 - 306 / 311 ) August : Galerius and Constantius then Severus Caesars : Maximinus II Daia and Severus and Constantine I and Licinius , Maximinus II Daia , Constantine I and Maxentius	Licinius ( 308 - 324 ) Maximinus II Daia ( 310 - 313 ) Constantine I ( 310 - 337 ) Maxence (Usurper, 306 - 312 )

List of Roman Emperors of the West and East
Principate -27 To 235	Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claude Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius (with Lucius Verus ) Dresser Pertinax Didius Julianus Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus (with Diadumnien ) Elagabalus Severus Alexander
Crisis Third Century 235-284	Maximin the Thracian I. Gordian and Gordian II Maxime Pupien and Balbin Gordian III Philip the Arab Decius (with Herennius Etruscus ) Hostilianus Trebonianus Galle (with Volusien ) Emilien Valerian Gallien (with Salonin ) Claudius the Goth Quintillus Aurlien Tacitus Florien Probus Carus Carin Numerian
Dominate 284-395	Diocletian Maximian Constantius Gallery Severus Maxence Maximin Daia Licinius (with Valerius Valens and Martinien ) Constantine I Constantine II Constant I. Constantius II (with Vetranio ) Julian the Apostate Jovian Valentinian I Valens Gratien Valentinian II Theodosius I
Western Roman Empire 395-480	Honorius Constantius III Jean Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Eparchus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustus
Eastern Roman Empire 395-1204	Arcadius Theodosius II Marcian Leo I. Leo II Zeno Basiliscus Anastasius I. Justin I. Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice I. Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Hraclonas Constant II Constantine IV Justinian II Leonce II Tiberius III Philippicos Anastasius II Theodosius III Leo III Constantine V Artabasde Leo IV Constantine VI Irene the Athenian Nicephorus I Staurakios Michael I Rhangab Leo V the Armenian Michael II Theophilus Michael III Basil I. Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus Roman I. Lecapenus Romanus II Nicephorus II Phocas John I Tzimiskes Basil II and Constantine VIII Zoe of Byzantium with Romain Argyre III and Michael IV and V Michel and Constantine IX Theodora Porphyrogenitus Michael VI Isaac I. Constantine X Romanus IV Diogenes Michael VII Doukas Nicephorus III Botaniates Alexios I Komnenos John II Comnenus Manuel I Komnenos Alexius II Comnenus Andronicus I Comnenus Isaac II Angelus Alexis III Ange Alexis Angel IV Nicolas Kanabos Alexius V Doukas Mourzuphles
Eastern Roman Empire divided 1204 to 1261	Empire of Nicaea Constantine Lascaris I. Theodore Lascaris John III Doukas Vatatzes Theodore II Lascaris John IV Lascaris Latin Empire of Constantinople Baudouin I. Henry I Peter II of Courtenay Robert Courtenay Jean de Brienne Baldwin II of Courtenay
Eastern Roman Empire restored 1261 to 1453	Michael VIII Palaeologus Andronicus II Palaeologus Michael IX Palaeologus Andronicus III Palaeologus John V Palaeologus John VI Cantacuzino Mathieu Cantacuzino Andronicus IV Palaeologus John VII Palaeologus Manuel II Palaeologus Andronicus V Palaeologus John VIII Palaeologus Constantine XI Palaeologus
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Version of March 31, 2010 This article has been accepted as "good article", that is to say that it meets quality standards for style, clarity, relevance, citation of sources and illustration.

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