Marcus Valerius Maximianus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Valerius Maximianus was an important Roman
general of the period of the Marcomannic Wars
during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. He was born (year unknown) in the Roman colony of Poetovio (modern Ptuj
, in Slovenia), where his father, also called Marcus Valerius Maximianus, was local censor and priest. He was decorated for services in the Parthia
n war of Lucius Verus
and was appointed by Marcus Aurelius to ensure the armies in Pannonia
were supplied by boats on the Danube
.
He was placed in charge of detachments of the praetorian fleets of Misenum
and Ravenna
and also of African and Moorish cavalry
used for scouting duties in Pannonia. While on active service with the cavalry he killed a Germanic chieftain named as 'Valao, chief of the Naristi' with his own hand and was publicly praised by the Emperor, who granted him the chieftain's "horse, decorations and weapons". Maximianus was appointed prefect of the lance-bearing cavalry and was in charge of the cavalry on the expedition to Syria
to quell the revolt of Avidius Cassius
in 175. He was then appointed procurator
of Moesia Inferior; at the same time he was given a command to drive out brigands from the borders of Macedonia
and Thrace
.
It appears he enjoyed Marcus Aurelius's confidence, for he was then successively procurator of Moesia Superior and Dacia Porolissensis, after which he was adlected
into the Senate
with praetor
ian rank. He commanded as legate
first Legio I Adiutrix
, then Legio II Adiutrix
, Legio V Macedonica
, Legio XIII Gemina
and Legio III Augusta
– an almost unprecedented series of legionary commands. He was in charge of the winter quarters at Laugaricio (modern Trenčín
, in Slovakia), where the final battle of the Second Marcommanic War was fought, and was afterwards decorated for his services in the Sarmatian War by the Emperor Commodus
. After this he governed Numidia
. He was suffect consul in about 186. It is not known when he died.
No surviving ancient writer mentions Marcus Valerius Maximianus, although he was clearly a significant military figure. His career is known to us only from inscriptions, chiefly the one set up by the council of the colony of Diana Veteranorum
(Zana
) in Numidia when he was governor and also by the inscription set up in Laugaricio 179 AD :
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
general of the period of the Marcomannic Wars
Marcomannic Wars
The Marcomannic Wars were a series of wars lasting over a dozen years from about AD 166 until 180. These wars pitted the Roman Empire against the Marcomanni, Quadi and other Germanic peoples, along both sides of the upper and middle Danube...
during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. He was born (year unknown) in the Roman colony of Poetovio (modern Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
, in Slovenia), where his father, also called Marcus Valerius Maximianus, was local censor and priest. He was decorated for services in the Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
n war of Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus , was Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, from 161 until his death.-Early life and career:Lucius Verus was the first born son to Avidia Plautia and Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar, the first adopted son and heir of Roman Emperor Hadrian . He was born and raised in Rome...
and was appointed by Marcus Aurelius to ensure the armies in Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
were supplied by boats on the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
.
He was placed in charge of detachments of the praetorian fleets of Misenum
Classis Misenensis
The classis Misenensis , later awarded the honorifics praetoria and Pia Vindex, was the senior fleet of the imperial Roman Navy.- History :...
and Ravenna
Classis Ravennatis
The classis Ravennas , later awarded the honorifics praetoria and Pia Vindex, was the second most senior fleet of the imperial Roman Navy after the classis Misenensis.- History :...
and also of African and Moorish cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
used for scouting duties in Pannonia. While on active service with the cavalry he killed a Germanic chieftain named as 'Valao, chief of the Naristi' with his own hand and was publicly praised by the Emperor, who granted him the chieftain's "horse, decorations and weapons". Maximianus was appointed prefect of the lance-bearing cavalry and was in charge of the cavalry on the expedition to Syria
Syria (Roman province)
Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The...
to quell the revolt of Avidius Cassius
Avidius Cassius
Gaius Avidius Cassius was a Roman general and usurper who briefly ruled Egypt and Syria in 175.-Origins:He was the son of Gaius Avidius Heliodorus, a noted orator who was Prefect of Egypt from 137 to 142 under Hadrian, and wife Junia Cassia Alexandra...
in 175. He was then appointed procurator
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
of Moesia Inferior; at the same time he was given a command to drive out brigands from the borders of Macedonia
Macedonia (Roman province)
The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved...
and Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
.
It appears he enjoyed Marcus Aurelius's confidence, for he was then successively procurator of Moesia Superior and Dacia Porolissensis, after which he was adlected
Adlection
Adlection was the term for a process that the Romans used to fill civic vacancies. It was most known for filling the Senate to the requisite number, when membership fell below the ordained number of members. This number changed with time, as the Roman Constitution, , was a dynamic phenomenon...
into the Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
with praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
ian rank. He commanded as legate
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
first Legio I Adiutrix
Legio I Adiutrix
Legio prima Adiutrix , was a Roman legion formed in 68, possibly by Galba under orders of Nero. The last record mentioning the Adiutrix is in 344, when it was stationed at Brigetio , in the Roman province of Pannonia...
, then Legio II Adiutrix
Legio II Adiutrix
Legio secunda Adiutrix , was a Roman legion levied by emperor Vespasian in 70, from Roman navy marines of the classis Ravennatis. There are still records of II Adiutrix in the Rhine border in the beginning of the 4th century...
, Legio V Macedonica
Legio V Macedonica
Legio quinta Macedonica was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Octavian in 43 BC, and it was stationed in Moesia at least until 5th century. Its symbol was the bull, but the eagle was used as well...
, Legio XIII Gemina
Legio XIII Gemina
Legio tertia decima Gemina was one of the most prominent Roman legions. It was one of Julius Caesar's key units in Gaul and in the civil war, and was the legion with which he famously crossed the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC. The legion appears to have still been in existence in the fifth century...
and Legio III Augusta
Legio III Augusta
Legio tertia Augusta was raised in the year 43 BCE most likely by the consul Gaius Vibius Pansa and the emperor Augustus who served the Roman Empire in North Africa until at least the late 4th century CE. It is possible that it fought in the battle of Philippi against the murderers of Caesar...
– an almost unprecedented series of legionary commands. He was in charge of the winter quarters at Laugaricio (modern Trenčín
Trencín
Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District...
, in Slovakia), where the final battle of the Second Marcommanic War was fought, and was afterwards decorated for his services in the Sarmatian War by the Emperor Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
. After this he governed Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
. He was suffect consul in about 186. It is not known when he died.
No surviving ancient writer mentions Marcus Valerius Maximianus, although he was clearly a significant military figure. His career is known to us only from inscriptions, chiefly the one set up by the council of the colony of Diana Veteranorum
Diana Veteranorum
Zana or Diana Veteranorum was an ancient Roman city in Algeria. It was located about 40 km northeast of Lambaesis.Zana was founded in the connection with the settling of Roman veterans in northern Africa under the emperor Trajan . An older Numidian settlement was merged with a new veteran...
(Zana
Zana
Zana may refer to:* Leyla Zana, a Turkish Kurdish politician* Zână, a goddess from Romanian mythology* Zana, a town in Numidia, originally the Roman colony Diana Veteranorum...
) in Numidia when he was governor and also by the inscription set up in Laugaricio 179 AD :
-
-
-
- VICTORIAE
- AVGVSTORV(m)
- EXERCITUS QVI LAV
- GARICIONE SEDIT MIL(ites)
- L(egionis) II DCCCLV
- (Marcus Valerius) MAXIMIANUS LEG(atus) LEG
- (ionis) II AD(iutricis) CVR(avit) F(aciendum)
-
-
-
- "To the victory of emperors, dedicated by 855 soldiers of the Second Legion of the army stationed in Laugaricio. Made to order of Marcus Valerius Maximianus, legate of the Second Adiutrix legion."