GALERIVS
Reigned: 305-311 A.D.
GAIVS GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANUS was born about 250 in Moesia Superior. He became Caesar in the east in 293 when Diocletian established the tetrarchy. His major military feat was the defeat of the Sassanians in 298. He was an aggressive persecutor of the Christians, starting as early as 298. In 303 he was the instigator of the "Great" persecution, which only increased in fury when he succeeded Diocletian as Augustus in May, 305. He struggled to preserve the tetrarchic system against chaos. He became ill in the summer of 310, and ended the persecution on April 30, before his death on May 5, 311.(From MONETA, from www.numus.com) |