Maximian AD 286-305 1st reign Bronze Follis London

Maximian AD 286-305 1st reign Bronze Follis

Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Genius wearing modius standing left and holding patera and cornucopiae. No mintmark

London

RCV13237; 27mm, 9.39g

This coin comes with a previous collector’s label.

 

Maximian was of humble birth but went on to achieve a distinguished military career. He established a close friendship with Diocletian which resulted him being appointed Caesar shortly after Diocletian became emperor. In AD 286 he was elevated to co- emperor and given the task of subduing rebellions in Gaul and later in expelling a German invasion. Basing himself in Milan Maximian was responsible for much of the western empire including Britain. In AD 286 there was an uprising led by Carausius who had been commander of the Roman fleet which was based in the Channel.
Fearing arrest Carausius moved to Britain where he declared himself to be an independent ruler. Due to his skill Carausius to maintain himself until his death in AD 293 even inflicting a defeat on Maximian AD 289. The independent British Empire was only brought an end in AD296 when the western Caesar Constantius invaded Britain and defeated Allectus who had succeeded Carausius.
Maximian achieved more success campaigning on the Rhine and later Spain and North Africa. Returning to Rome Maximian celebrated a triumph. When Diocletian abdicated in AD 305 Maximian also abdicated and retired. When the death of Constantius created a crisis in the Tetrachy Maximian was invited to become Augustus for the second time after his son Maxentius had rebelled against Severus. Severus was defeated and executed however when Maximian rebelled after his son had been declared a public enemy he was forced to abdicate for a second time.
Maximian allied himself to the future emperor Constantine when Constantine married his daughter Fausta. In AD 310 when Constantine, now emperor, went to campaign on the Rhine, Maximian rebelled again in a final bid for imperial power. The uprising was short lived as when Constanine returned he laid siege to Massilia where Maximian had taken refuge. There Maximian committed suicide.
Maximian is unique among the Roman emperors in having three separate reigns.