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The emperor’s reliance on the army as his primary base of support led to further militarization of the Roman state. Pupienus’ troops were of doubtful quality; and the potential for division between the three leaders of the newly established regime remained great: even before Pupienus had departed from Rome there was street-fighting between the mob and the praetorian troops, possibly inspired by the Gordianic faction.
. Even though Maximinus is not always at the forefront of the narrative, the underlying barbaric character he represents is felt throughout the story, as Rome spirals into violence and chaos under his rule. If left untreated, it can lead to gigantism.
Vitellius Briefly holding power in 69 AD during the Year of the Four Emperors, Vitellius was known for his indulgence and was ultimately overthrown and killed.
Preoccupied with these military necessities, Maximinus did not find time to go to Rome to strengthen his position. He encountered serious difficulty as soon as he reached Italy: the population of Emona had abandoned their city, burning whatever supplies they could not carry, and his army went hungry (Herodian 8.1.4-5). His rise from humble beginnings to the highest office in the empire, followed by his rapid fall, illustrates the precariousness of imperial authority during a period of increasing instability.
These attributes underscore the moralizing framework Herodian applies, positioning Maximinus as the antithesis of a just ruler, with an emphasis on his brutality and humble origins, consistently associated with his reign.
This interpretation follows Herodian’s account but questions his motives. This backdrop of social unity against Maximinus sets the stage for the rebellions that follow, confirming that he was both despised and fundamentally alien,to Rome.
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Roman Empire Historical Facts, roman empire, Emperor, Severus, senate, Greek, marcus aurelius, Cassius Dio, gold, rome, Caligula, Nero, Herodian, Spartacus, germania, Geta, Maximinus ThraxRoman Emperor Maximinus Thrax
Maximinus Thrax: The Giant Who Became Emperor
Maximinus Thrax, born Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus around 173 CE, holds the distinction of being the first Roman emperor of non-senatorial, even non-aristocratic, origin.
As a result, Maximinus received support for advancement, likely being promoted to centurion and reassigned to one of the regular legions, possibly in the Danubian region where he was born. The Senate in Rome, seizing the opportunity to rid themselves of Maximinus, quickly endorsed the Gordians as legitimate rulers.
Maximinus, who was still campaigning on the northern frontiers, responded by marching his army towards Italy to crush the rebellion.
The soldiers, tied to Rome's metaphorical household (τα οἰκεῖα), engage with other societal groups, reinforcing their unity against Maximinus, who remains an external, barbarian figure.
At the end, the overall effect of this short biography is not just to highlight universal hatred, but to frame Maximinus as a direct threat to Rome.
The soldiers' discontent stems from the reproaches of their relatives and friends, blaming them for Maximinus' actions. He seems to have decided on a Blitzkrieg that would take him quickly to Rome, but he did not take into account the difficulties of deploying an army towards the end of an Alpine winter, and he found it hard to cope with the guerilla tactics employed by the defenders of northern Italy.
Acromegaly fits well with the physical characteristics described in the sources, providing a plausible explanation for both his imposing appearance and the powerful image reflected in Roman coinage and statues.
Herodian’s History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus Aurelius, a comprehensive Greek narrative, remains one of the most detailed sources on Maximinus’ life and reign.
Having compelled the Germans he encountered to negotiate peace, he moved south to spend the winter of 235/6 in Raetia, possibly at Regensburg. Herodian emphasizes that Maximinus' barbaric nature fully manifests when he targets the people and temples of Rome, making it appear as though Rome were under siege by its own ruler.
Severus Alexander, the reigning emperor, embarked on a military campaign to address these threats, but his approach of negotiating with the tribes rather than engaging them in open battle led to widespread dissatisfaction among the Roman legions.
The soldiers, frustrated by what they perceived as the emperor's weakness and unwillingness to confront Rome’s enemies decisively, began to lose confidence in Severus Alexander.