MAXIMIANUS. See Diocletian.

MAXIMINUS, max"i-mailnvs, THRAX, CAIUS JULIUS VERUS: Roman emperor, 235-238; b. of Gothic and Alan parentage in Thrace, probably in 173; d. at Aquileia (the modern Aquileja,-21 m. w.n.w. of Triest) June 17, 238. The first barbarian to occupy the throne of the Cwsars, he was in early life a cowherd and later a cavalryman. Eight feet in height, and powerful and brave in proportion, he gained the favor of Alexander Severus, who made him a senator and the head of a legion, as well as a trainer of the recruits among his compatriots. In the campaign against the Germans, the soldiers proclaimed Maximinus emperor. In terror of the troops, the senate confirmed their choice, but th8 new emperor never came to Rome, preferring to remain with his soldiers and conquer the Germans, after which he went to Pannonia. But the brutality of his rule, accentuated by his auspicious nature and his knowledge of his lack of culture, resulted in a cruelty and oppression which led to his assassination.

Shortly after his accession to the throne, Maxi-

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minus issued an edict against all the Christian clergy, but it was practically disregarded, Sulpicius Severna mentioning only the occasional application of torture during this reign. In Rome the bishop Pontianus and the priest Hippolytus were banished, while Origen, who was a special object of the emperor's hatred on account of his relations with the household of Alexander Severna, found refuge in the home of Juliana, a Christian woman. In Pontus and Cappadocia the persecution was more severe, but there it was inspired rather by popular anger at the Christians because of an earthquake, than by the imperial decree. Although the persecution of Maximinus was in itself unimportant, it was the first systematic, general attack upon the new faith. He was the first to recognize the importance of the Christian hierarchy and to seek to annihilate it, thus furnishing a precedent for Valerian and Diocletian. His precise motive is difficult to determine; he gave no worship to the GrecoRoman deities, and possibly the persecution was due simply to the desire of Maximinus to strengthen his position so far as possible, and to prevent any Christian rebellion against himself.

(G. Uhlhorn†.)

Bibliography: The subject is covered from the secular side in the works on the history of Rome of the period, and on the Christian side in those on the history of the Church of that time. See also literature under Persecutions of Christians In the Roman Empire. Reference may be made here to Grirres, in ZWT, iv., 1876; J. C. L. Gieseler Church History, ed H B Smith, i. 177, New York, 1868; B. Aub6, Lee Chrbhaas loss 1'empirs romain, pp. 418-460, Paris, 1881; K. J. Neumann, Der römische Sfaat und die allpameine Kirche, i. 210 sqq., Leipsic, 1890; Schaff, Christian Church, ii. 59.