Maximinus Thrax

Reece Period attributed: Period 11

Member of the Third Century Emperors dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 235 until 238.

Gaius Julius Valerius Maximinus was born in Thrace and began life as a lowly soldier. He rose through the ranks until, by the military campaigns of Severus Alexander, he had control of a legion and governorship of Mesopotamia. He was involved in Alexander’s German campaign and acclaimed emperor by his troops near Mainz.

The Senate did not like Maximinus because he spent no time in Rome and extorted huge sums of money to finance his very successful military campaigns. They also viewed him with prejudice because of his very humble origins. Gordian I and II tried to take over the government from Africa, but that rebellion was put down; in Rome, Balbienus and Pupienus were elected joint emperors by the Senate and Maximinus marched towards Rome. He was stopped in Aquileia when the town refused to offer him shelter. He started a siege but was killed by assassins who took his head to Rome.

Maximinus, also called Maximinus Thrax in refernce to his Thracian origins, was a huge man with a prominent chin. Reports characterize him as abnormally tall and very muscular.

Latest examples recorded with images

We have recorded 87 examples.

Other resources about Maximinus Thrax

• Dbpedia: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Maximinus_Thrax
• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximinus_Thrax
• VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/72703271

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Maximinus Thrax.

Information from Wikipedia

• Preferred label: Maximinus Thrax
• Full names:
  • Maximinus Thrax
  • Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus Augustus
• Title: Consul of the Roman Empire
• Predecessor: Severus Alexander
• Successor: Pupienus, Balbinus
• Definition: Maximinus Thrax (Latin: Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus Augustus; c. 173 – May 238), also known as Maximinus I, was Roman Emperor from 235 to 238. Maximinus is described by several ancient sources, though none are contemporary except Herodian's Roman History. He was a so-called barracks emperor of the 3rd century; his rule is often considered to mark the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century. He died at Aquileia whilst attempting to put down a Senatorial revolt.
• Parents:
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• Birth place:
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• Other title(s):
  • List of Roman Emperors
  • Consul of the Roman Empire
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• Subjects on wikipedia:
  • 3rd-century Roman emperors
  • Ancient Thrace
  • Murdered Roman emperors
  • Crisis of the Third Century
  • Roman-era Thracians
  • 173 births
  • People with acromegaly
  • 238 deaths
  • Imperial Roman consuls
  • 2nd-century Romans
  • Iulii