Galerius as Caesar AD 305-311 Bronze Follis Lyon

Galerius as Caesar AD 305-311 Bronze Follis

Laureate bust right / Genius wearing modius holding patera and standing at altar

Lyon

RCV14353; 27mm, 8.27g

Galerius was of peasant stock who also had a distinguished military career and rose to become praetorian prefect to Diocletian. When the Tetrachy was formed under Diocletian Galerius was appointed Caesar with responsibilities for the Balkans. Shortly afterwards he married Diocletian’s daughter Galeria Valeria.
Sent off to campaign against the Sassanids who had invaded Armenia Galerius was initially worsted before being reinforced and gaining a total victory. Further victories over other adversaries made him more influential within the tetrarchy. Galerius was probably responsible for the empire wide edicts for the persecution of the Christians. AD 303.
Upon the abdication of Diocletian in AD 305 Galerius was appointed Augustus in the east. He then secured the appointment of two close associates, Severus and Maximinus as Caesars giving Galerius dominance of the second Tetrachy. However, by alienating other legitimate members of the Tetrachy, namely Constantine and Maxentius, he brought about the disintegration of the entire system of government.
Whilst Galerius was obliged to recognise Constantine as Caesar under the Augustus Severus a few months later an uprising in Rome proclaimed Maxentius Augustus against Severus. Severus moved against Rome however his troops deserted owing greater loyalty to the former emperor Maximian. Severus was captured and killed. Galerius tried to resolve things by calling a conference however when he appointed Licinius Augustus the two Caesars Constantine and Maximinus were outraged.
Maxentius continued to rule Rome but lost authority when territory in Africa was lost. Galerius fell seriously ill, the victim of an agonising disease, dying in AD 311 only a few days after ordering the ending of the persecution of the Christians.
The reign of Galerius is significant for the beginning of the reduction in size and weight of the follis and billon coinage.