Roman usurper
Roman usurpers were individuals or groups of individuals who obtained or tried to obtain power by force and without legitimate legal authority. Usurpation was endemic during the Roman imperial era, especially from the crisis of the third century ...
, who, in 219 AD, revolted against Emperor
Elagabalus
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, 204 – 11/12 March 222), better known by his nickname "Elagabalus" (, ), was Roman emperor from 218 to 222, while he was still a teenager. His short reign was conspicuous for s ...
. His rebellion was swiftly crushed, and he himself was executed.
History
Gellius Maximus was the son of Lucius Gellius Maximus, who had served as a doctor to Emperor
Caracalla
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, 4 April 188 – 8 April 217), better known by his nickname "Caracalla" () was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. He was a member of the Severan dynasty, the elder son of Emperor S ...
's doctor. For his services, Lucius Gellius Maximus received the rank of provincial ''procurator'', making him the chief financial officer of his province. He himself did not achieve senatorial rank, but only the equestrian rank of ''procurator''.
In the year of Gellius Maximus' revolt, 219 AD, several other usurpers arose as well, using a variety of justifications for their legitimacy. Among them were Seius Carus, by virtue of aristocratic heritage; Alexianus, and
Castinus
Flavius Castinus held the position of ''patricius'' in the court of Roman Emperor Honorius at the time of the Emperor's death, and most likely for some time before. He also served as consul for the year 424.
Career
In 422 he fought an unsucce ...
, by virtue of their relationship (or claimed relationship) to an imperial family; and Verus, by virtue of his military strength. Gellius Maximus likewise used his military strength as a justification for imperial legitimacy.
Before his revolt, Gellius Maximus was a senatorial tribune (second-in-command of the legion) of Legio ''IV Scythica'' legion. During his command of ''IV Scythica'', his troops captured
Diadumenian
Diadumenian (; la, Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus; 14September 208 – June 218) was the son of the Roman Emperor Macrinus, and served as his co-ruler for a brief time in 218. His mother was Nonia Celsa, whose name may be fictitious. ...
, the son of the previous emperor,
Macrinus
Marcus Opellius Macrinus (; – June 218) was Roman emperor from April 217 to June 218, reigning jointly with his young son Diadumenianus. As a member of the equestrian class, he became the first emperor who did not hail from the senatorial ...
. After this success, an unnamed
centurion
A centurion (; la, centurio , . la, centuriones, label=none; grc-gre, κεντυρίων, kentyríōn, or ) was a position in the Roman army during classical antiquity, nominally the commander of a century (), a military unit of around 80 ...
in ''IV Scythica'' won the gratitude of Elagabalus for his command, whereas Gellius Maximus was ignored, and remained in his command at Zeugma. His being ignored by Elagabalus may have inspired his revolt.
He revolted in
Coele-Syria
Coele-Syria (, also spelt Coele Syria, Coelesyria, Celesyria) alternatively Coelo-Syria or Coelosyria (; grc-gre, Κοίλη Συρία, ''Koílē Syría'', 'Hollow Syria'; lat, Cœlē Syria or ), was a region of Syria (region), Syria in cl ...
, in 219 AD. His revolt was crushed rapidly due to the decisive action of the legate of the Legio ''XVI Flavia Firma'', who had been stationed at the nearby city of
Samosata
Samsat ( ku, Samîsad), formerly Samosata ( grc, Σαμόσατα) is a small town in the Adıyaman Province of Turkey, situated on the upper Euphrates river. It is the seat of Samsat District.
Maximus
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...