Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Maximus Petronius, emperor of the West

Maximus (3), Petronius, emperor of the West, A.D. 455; a descendant of the Maximus who usurped the empire in the time of Gratian (Procopius, Bell. Vand. i. 4). He was of one of the noblest and wealthiest families of Rome, was three times prefect of Rome and twice consul. To avenge the insult his wife had received from Valentinian III. (see Procopius, u.s.), he caused him to be assassinated on

Mar. 16 or 17, 455. Maximus then seized the vacant throne, and compelled Eudoxia, the widow of Valentinian, to marry him a few days after her husband's death, his own wife having died shortly before. He also gave her daughter Eudocia to his son Palladius, whom he created Caesar (Idatius, Chronicon in Patr. Lat. li. 884). The outraged Eudoxia summoned Genseric king of the Vandals to avenge and deliver her. Genseric sailed with a mighty armament for Rome. Maximus endeavoured to fly, but the people and soldiery, headed by Valentinian's officers, rose against him, stoned him, tore him limb from limb and flung his mangled body into the river, probably on June 12, 455 (Chronicon Cuspinianum); thus he reigned rather under 3 months. The chronology is discussed at length by Tillemont in a note (Emp. vi. 628).

[F.D.]