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Galerius (260-311) was born in Serdica and was initially a herdsman like his father, before going on to join the Roman army, where he served with distinction under Emperors Aurelian and Probus. When the Tetrarchy was established in 293, he was named as one of the junior co-emperors alongside Constantius, marrying Emperor Diocletian's daughter Valeria.<br/><br/> Galerius fought alongside his father-in-law against the resurgent Sassanid Empire, eventually leading to his sacking of the capital Ctesiphon and his capture of the wife and children of the Sassanid king Narseh, with which he was able to negotiate a long-lasting and favourable peace treaty. When Diocletian and Maximian abdicated in 305, Galerius and Constantius became joint emperors, with Galerius conspiring to secure a stronger power base than his co-ruler. His hopes and plans came to naught when Constantius died a year later and his son, Constantine I, ascended to become emperor of the western half of the empire.<br/><br/> Galerius had been a staunch opponent of Christianity, supposedly prodding Diocletian into enacting the Diocletianic Persecution, the largest and most violent official persecution of Christians in the empire's history, by burning down the Imperial Palace and blaming it on Christian saboteurs. His attitude changed in 311 when he enacted the Edict of Toleration, asking for Christians to pray for him as he suffered through a painful and fatal illness. He died six days later.
Maximian (250-310) was born in the province of Pannonia to a family of shopkeepers, and joined the army as soon as he could, serving alongside future co-emperor Diocletian under emperors Aurelian, Probus and Carus. After Diocletian became emperor in 284, Maximian was soon appointed co-emperor in 286, matching Maximian's military brawn with Diocletian's political brain.<br/><br/> Maximian spent most of his time on campaign, fighting against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier and in Gaul. When the man Maximian had appointed to govern the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286 and seceded Britain and northwestern Gaul from the Roman Empire, Maximian tried but failed to oust Carausius. The rebellion was eventually crushed in 296, and Maximian moved south to fight pirates near Hispania.<br/><br/> He eventually returned to Italy in 298, living in comfort until he abdicated in 305 alongside Diocletian, handing power to the other two co-emperors of the Tetrachy, Constantius and Galerius, and retiring to southern Italy. Maximian returned to power in 306 when he aided his son Maxentius' rebellion. He later tried to depose his son but failed, fleeing to the court of Constantius' successor, Constantine. He was forced to renounce his title by Diocletian and Galerius, and he committed suicide in 310 after a failed attempt to usurp Constantine's title.
Galerius (260-311) was born in Serdica and was initially a herdsman like his father, before going on to join the Roman army, where he served with distinction under Emperors Aurelian and Probus. When the Tetrarchy was established in 293, he was named as one of the junior co-emperors alongside Constantius, marrying Emperor Diocletian's daughter Valeria.<br/><br/> Galerius fought alongside his father-in-law against the resurgent Sassanid Empire, eventually leading to his sacking of the capital Ctesiphon and his capture of the wife and children of the Sassanid king Narseh, with which he was able to negotiate a long-lasting and favourable peace treaty. When Diocletian and Maximian abdicated in 305, Galerius and Constantius became joint emperors, with Galerius conspiring to secure a stronger power base than his co-ruler. His hopes and plans came to naught when Constantius died a year later and his son, Constantine I, ascended to become emperor of the western half of the empire.<br/><br/> Galerius had been a staunch opponent of Christianity, supposedly prodding Diocletian into enacting the Diocletianic Persecution, the largest and most violent official persecution of Christians in the empire's history, by burning down the Imperial Palace and blaming it on Christian saboteurs. His attitude changed in 311 when he enacted the Edict of Toleration, asking for Christians to pray for him as he suffered through a painful and fatal illness. He died six days later.
Maximian (250-310) was born in the province of Pannonia to a family of shopkeepers, and joined the army as soon as he could, serving alongside future co-emperor Diocletian under emperors Aurelian, Probus and Carus. After Diocletian became emperor in 284, Maximian was soon appointed co-emperor in 286, matching Maximian's military brawn with Diocletian's political brain.<br/><br/> Maximian spent most of his time on campaign, fighting against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier and in Gaul. When the man Maximian had appointed to govern the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286 and seceded Britain and northwestern Gaul from the Roman Empire, Maximian tried but failed to oust Carausius. The rebellion was eventually crushed in 296, and Maximian moved south to fight pirates near Hispania.<br/><br/> He eventually returned to Italy in 298, living in comfort until he abdicated in 305 alongside Diocletian, handing power to the other two co-emperors of the Tetrachy, Constantius and Galerius, and retiring to southern Italy. Maximian returned to power in 306 when he aided his son Maxentius' rebellion. He later tried to depose his son but failed, fleeing to the court of Constantius' successor, Constantine. He was forced to renounce his title by Diocletian and Galerius, and he committed suicide in 310 after a failed attempt to usurp Constantine's title.
Maximian (250-310) was born in the province of Pannonia to a family of shopkeepers, and joined the army as soon as he could, serving alongside future co-emperor Diocletian under emperors Aurelian, Probus and Carus. After Diocletian became emperor in 284, Maximian was soon appointed co-emperor in 286, matching Maximian's military brawn with Diocletian's political brain.<br/><br/> Maximian spent most of his time on campaign, fighting against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier and in Gaul. When the man Maximian had appointed to govern the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286 and seceded Britain and northwestern Gaul from the Roman Empire, Maximian tried but failed to oust Carausius. The rebellion was eventually crushed in 296, and Maximian moved south to fight pirates near Hispania.<br/><br/> He eventually returned to Italy in 298, living in comfort until he abdicated in 305 alongside Diocletian, handing power to the other two co-emperors of the Tetrachy, Constantius and Galerius, and retiring to southern Italy. Maximian returned to power in 306 when he aided his son Maxentius' rebellion. He later tried to depose his son but failed, fleeing to the court of Constantius' successor, Constantine. He was forced to renounce his title by Diocletian and Galerius, and he committed suicide in 310 after a failed attempt to usurp Constantine's title.