282
MUEDEB OE MAXIMINUS.
insurrection was brought to Borne. There was now no choice
left, but to proceed in the path that had been struck into.
The loss of Africa, however, was not of great importance.
Two of the twenty commissioners, Maximus Pupienus and
Caelius Balbinus, were now proclaimed emperors by the senate.
Two sovereigns were elected in this instance, either because a
want of two was felt, or because it was hoped that the absolute
power conferred upon them would be moderated by being
divided. But my conviction is, that there were two parties
among the senators, one of which wanted to raise Maximus,
the other Balbinus, to the imperial dignity, and that a com-
promise was made between them by electing both emperors.
Balbinus, if at this time an inference may be draw from a name,
was a man of noble birth, and probably belonged to the Caelii,
his full name being Decimus Caelius Balbinus. The name of
Maximus on coins is M. Clodius Pupienus Maximus ; but the
author of his life in the “ PIistoria Augusta” is so ignorant
that he does not know whether Maximus Pupienus was the
name of one or of two persons.16
Balbinus remained at Bome, and Maximus, who marched
out against Maximinus, fixed his head quarters at Eavenna.
There he organised his army, but was wise enough not to go
out to meet Maximinus. His plan was excellent: all the
bridges on the rivers were broken down, and Aquileia was
provided with a strong and numerous garrison. The popula-
tion of that town made a desperate defence against the army
of Maximinus, who besieged it ; for they well knew what would
be their fate if the place into which all the people from the
neighbouring country had withdrawn, should be taken. Max-
iminus was determined to make Aquileia his head-quarters;
but the siege was protracted. His soldiers suffered much from
fever in those marshy districts, and had besides to struggle
with a want of the necessaries of life. An insurrection
accordingly broke out among them, in which Maximinus and
his innocent son, who had till then been generally beloved,
were murdered.17 It is surprising to find that Maximinus had
been married to a very amiable and gentle wonun ; his son,
16 J. Capitolin. Maxim, et Balbin. 18; compare Gordian, 10.; Maximin.
Jun. 7.
,7 Herodian, viii. 6 ; J. Capitolin. Maximin. 23.
MAXIMUS AND BALBINUS.
283
Maximinus the younger, would probably have been one of the
best emperors, if he had succeeded his father.
As regards the time at which Maximinus fell, the chronology
set up by Tillemont and Gibbon is not possible. According
to the common account, it appears as if Maximinus had carried
on the war on the Danube for a whole year, while all Italy
was in a state of insurrection. The course of events probably
was that, after the senate had issued the circular against Max-
iminus, he was gradually deserted by one province after
another ; so that he was supported only by his army ; and this
circumstance accounts for his failures. A proof of his being
deserted by the provinces is contained in a letter written
previous to his death and addressed to Maximus and Balbinus
by the consul Claudius Julianus, who states that all the legions
had recognised them.18
It was owing to the unaccountable popularity of the
Gordians that, when Maximus and Balbinus were proclaimed
emperors, a grandson of old Gordian, probably through his
daughter—was raised to the rank of Caesar. His grandfather
Gordian, had borne the name of M. Antonius, although he had
no connexion with the family of the triumvir M. Antony ; he
belonged however to one of the most illustrious among the
ancient Roman families. After the fall of Maximinus, Max-
imus returned from Aquileia to Rome in triumph. The
government of Maximus and Balbinus was praiseworthy, but
it was very short. The soldiers were annoyed at the success
and victory of the senate, and hated the two emperors, in the
election of whom they had had no share. The consequence
was that the two venerable old emperors were murdered by
the soldiers in their palace, and young Gordian was raised to
the throne.
LECTURE CXXVI.
After the murder of the two noble princes, Maximus and
Balbinus, the empire came into the hands of Gordian III., who
was very young. His history is as obscure as that of the whole
18 J. Capitolin. Maxim, et Balbin. 17.