Emperor Galerius

Last Updated on December 25, 2021 by Vladimir Vulic

Life: AD c. 250 – 311

• Name: Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus
• Born AD ca. 250 at Florentiniana, Upper Moesia.
• Became emperor in 1 May AD 305.
• Wife: (1) Galeria Valeria (one daughter; Valeria Maximilla), (2) an unknown concubine (one sons; Candidianus).
• Died at Nicomedia, May AD 311.

Galerius was born in about AD 250 in a little Danubian village near Florentiana in Upper Moesia. His father was a simple peasant and his mother, called Romula, came from beyond the Danube. At first it appears he worked as a herdsman, before joining the army.

Once in the army though, Galerius enjoyed a successful career, rising to be a senior officer during the reign of Diocletian.

In AD 293 at the establishment of the tetrarchy Galerius, together with Constantius Chlorus, was chosen from the senior military leaders to be Caesar (junoir emperor). Of the two Galerius was to rank as the junior Caesar. It was at this point he assumed the name Gaius Valerius Maximianus. Being the eastern Caesar he fell under the authority of Diocletian and was entrusted with rule of the powerful Balkan provinces in the Dioceses of Pannonia, Moesia and Thraciae and the Diocese of Asiana in Asia Minor (Turkey).

Naturally this meant his most important task was to guard the Danube frontier against the Goths. And so for the years AD 294 and 295 he busied himself by repelling any incursions by Goths, who were increasing their pressure on the frontiers again.

Then in AD 296 and 297 he was to be doing the same again the Sarmatians and Marcomanni.

In a more eccentric move of Galerius’, the northern half of the province of Lower Pannonia was divided off and formed into a altogether new province called Valeria, the name of his wife.

In AD 296 Diocletian then called his Caesar to the east to help deal with the Persians.

Diocletian being occupied with the rebellion of Lucius Domitius Domitianus and his successor Aurelius Achilleus in Egypt, the Persian king Narses had seized the opportunity to invade Syria.

Galerius crossed the river Euphrates, but appears to have clearly underestimated his Persian foe. And so he suffered a severe defeat and needed to withdraw, in doing so, losing the province of Mesopotamia to the enemy.

It is traditionally said that Diocletian punished Galerius for his failure in an act of dire public humiliation, by forcing him to walk a mile in front of his chariot, while dressed in his imperial robes. Though it is very doubtful that this ever really took place.

In AD 297 Galerius though made a second attempt at defeating the Persians. This time well prepared with a strong army, he marched into Armenia and crushed the Persian force, capturing an enormous amount of booty and even the harem of King Narses.

Moving into Mesopotamia, Galerius’ advance had the Persian defence collapsing before him and he conquered the Persian capital Ctesiphon. Badly mauled, the Persians sued for peace. In AD 298 the province of Mesopotamia, together with even some territory from across the river Tigris, was restored to Rome.

The treaty with the Persians most likely had more to do with Diocletian than Galerius. For Galerius, hungry for glory and eager to erase the memory of his earlier defeat, was known to have wanted to press on.

This decisive defeat of the Persians though raised Galerius’ standing immensely. It is believed that his influence with Diocletian grew. To the extent that there is even some suggestion that the harsh persecution of the Christians by Diocletian might actually have been due to Galerius’ influence.

Much points toward Galerius in this respect. His mother Romula was said to have been a fanatical paganist. Having grown up under the influence of such religious zealotry, it is well possible that Galerius’s feelings should have been very hostile toward other religions.

The fourth and harshest edict of Diocletian against the Christians (AD 304) is widely believed to have been entirely the work of Galerius.

In AD 305 Diocletian and Maximian abdicated. The Caesars Galerius and and Constantius thereby became Augusti and Severus II and Maximinus II Daia acceded to the vacant positions of Caesar. Galerius was theoretically the junior of the two Augusti, but he didn’t show the respect Maximian had awarded Diocletian’s seniority. In fact he controlled the greater territory of the empire, and he could count on the loyal support of both of the two Caesars.

Furthermore Constantius’ son Constantine was guest at Galerius’ court, and so acted as a virtual hostage to ensure Galerius’ supremacy.

Sure enough of his position Galerius eventually agreed to return Constantine back to Constantius, when his colleague embarked to Britain to repel incursions by the Picts.

Though during this stay in Britain Constantius died, leaving Galerius as the undisputed senior Augustus. He raised Severus II to the rank of co-Augusus to fill Constantius’ position in the west and elevated Constantine to Caesar.

However, Maxentius, the son of Maximian was nor prepared to accept his expectations of a imperial position to be ignored any longer. And so he revolted in Rome, declared himself Augustus and recalled his father Maximian to rule with him as joint emperor.

First Severus II, then Galerius himself tried to oust the usurpers from Italy, but without success. Plagued by desertions among their troops and faced with the authority of an emperor previously Galerius’ senior, Severus II lost his life and Galerius suffered a severe blow to his authority.

His reputation damaged, Galerius still was able to exert influence over the Conference of Carnuntum. And so it was Galerius’ choice, Licinius, who was appointed Augustus in place of Severus II (AD 308).

In AD 311, preparing for his twentieth anniversary celebration as Caesar and Augustus, Galerius was believed by some to be planning to abdicate, with the intention of raising his illegitimate son Candidianus to the rank of Caesar.

However, Galerius was suddenly overcome by a serious disease.

First his genitals suffered a severe inflammation, followed by the growth of a deep ulcer which was soon befallen by worms and began to swell and rot on his body. Some of Galerius’ doctors were simply unable to endure the stench. These were executed immediately. The other doctors fared no better, for they too were killed for not having been able to cure their emperor’s disease.

From his sick-bed at Nicomedia on 30 April AD 311 Galerius issued an edict, which was confirmed by his fellow emperors, cancelling the persecution of the Christians.

Much has been made of this change of mind by Galerius. Religious leaders have scribed his horrendous illness to the wrath of god. Others believe that the illness combined with Galerius’ guilty conscience might have led him to doubt if he wasn’t suffering some form of divine retribution.

Again other theories point toward Licinius or Constantine for having been the true initiators of the edict, Galerius only having confirmed it.

It is very likely that Galerius did in the end conclude that his policy of persecution had failed. Rather than suppress the Christian faith, their fate had won them sympathies throughout the empire.

After only a few days follogin the signing of the decree to stop Christian persecution, Galerius succumbed to his gruesome illness (May AD 311).