421

For he was insolent and avaricious, and hence also most unjust and a perpetrator of murders and an outright tyrant, proceeding to the robbery and slaying of men for no reasonable cause. And he ran to such an extent into blood-guiltiness as not even to spare his own wife; for he killed her too. And as if to cover up his own low birth, he dishonored the nobles, but associated with those of obscure origins. Therefore, for these reasons he was hated by all. And campaigning 3.125 against the Germans, he plundered their country, with none of the barbarians showing themselves. Then they appeared around the marshes and the continuous forests; and there, when the Romans charged in, many multitudes were slain. And so Maximinus returned victorious, bringing with him a multitude of captives. And appropriating all the property of his subjects and making money from every source, he did not even abstain from the sacred things. Therefore, since everyone blamed the soldiers who had made him emperor, the soldiers serving in Libya, learning these things, looked to revolt, also provoked by another cause. For the procurators of the affairs of Libya were taking away the properties of the wealthy men in it for no reasonable cause and were also destroying their owners. From this, becoming indignant, the men there revolted, and seizing a certain elderly man from the senate named Gordian even against his will, they place a diadem on him and clothe him in purple and proclaim him both Imperator and Augustus. And he arrives in Carthage; and everyone gladly received him because of their hatred for Maximinus. He therefore sends a letter to the senate, and sent messengers to announce his proclamation to those in Rome. But with those who were sent being delayed on their voyage, those in Rome, unable to bear the tyranny of Maximinus, had been moved to revolt and were tearing down his images and were reviling the tyrant. Then, after deliberation, realizing that if Maximinus were saved, there would be no hope of safety for them, they put forward two generals, Maximus and Albinus, both numbered with the senate. Some, however, have recorded that they were proclaimed 3.126 Caesars by the senate, it not yet having learned of the proclamation of Gordian. But Maximinus, learning these things, set out for Italy, having threatened the senate with many things. And knowing that Maximus was advancing against him (for Albinus had remained in Rome to guard it), he turned aside to Aquileia, having Moors with him, hastening to seize it first. Aquileia is said to be what is now Venice. But he was repulsed, as those in it opposed him more bravely. And being repulsed from Aquileia and attacking the forces of Maximus, he was defeated. And he withdrew to his own tent; but as his soldiers and his own bodyguards were mutinying, he came forth from his tent with his own son, as if to speak with them. But they, immediately attacking, killed them both. And Maximinus was sixty-five years old, of which he had reigned for six. And the heads of these slain men, having been cut off, were displayed to those in Aquileia and were sent to Rome. And those in Rome impaled the head of Maximinus in the forum, so that it might be conspicuous to all. From there Maximus returned to Rome, and Albinus met him, and the people and the senate received him with acclamations and applause; and they both ruled together, and they ruled well. But the soldiers were vexed that not they, but the senate and the people had put forward the emperors. Then the emperors themselves also had 3.127 disagreements with each other, and this became a cause of destruction for them. For the soldiers, knowing that they were at odds, came upon them, and having bound them both, led them through the whole city, being subjected to drunken violence and mockery, and indeed also being tortured. Then, learning that the Germans were planning to rescue and save them, so that this would not happen, they killed them. of whom Maximus was seventy-four years old, and Albinus sixty; and