v.
in full Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus
born 0441; AD 250, Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior
died 0441; July 310
Roman emperor with Diocletian (286305).
Assigned the government of the West, he could not suppress revolts in Gaul and Britain; Constantius I Chlorus took charge of these, leaving him Italy, Spain, and Africa. Though known as a persecutor of Christians, he probably acted on Diocletian's orders. He reluctantly abdicated with Diocletian but recanted to support his son Maxentius's claim as caesar. Forced to abdicate again, he lived at the court of his son-in-law, Constantine I . After raising a failed revolt against Constantine, he committed suicide.