MAXIMUS, MAGNUS CLEMENS°

MAXIMUS, MAGNUS CLEMENS ° (Maximus the Usurper ; d. 388 c.e.), Roman emperor 383–388. A native of Spain, Maximus was proclaimed emperor by the army in Britain in 383. To secure his position Maximus invaded Gaul and occupied it, defeating the western emperor Gratian. In a treaty negotiated with the eastern emperor Theodosius, Maximus received recognition of his conquests in return for an assurance that he would honor the sovereignty of Valentinian ii (Gratian's brother) in Italy, Western Illyricum, and Africa. He violated his promise and he invaded Italy in 388. Theodosius together with the Franks, Goths, Alanis, and Huns took up arms against him, and within two months Maximus was deserted by his troops and forced to take refuge in Aquileia. He subsequently capitulated and was executed in August 388.

The relationship between Maximus and the Jews is difficult to establish because of the paucity of sources available. The only substantial document of relevance is a letter sent by St. Ambrose to the emperor Theodosius In December of 388. In it, St. Ambrose admonishes Theodosius for his punishment of those involved in the burning of a synagogue in the East. He argues that the imperial punishment imposed upon those involved in the crime should be rescinded, and that the local bishop who instigated the affair should not be held financially responsible for the renovation of the synagogue. St. Ambrose reminds Theodosius of the many offenses committed against Christians by the "scheming Jews," and goes on to suggest that penalties for civic offenses should be viewed differently when there are religious considerations. He further asks the question: "Shall a place be provided out of the spoils of the Church for the disbelief of the Jews?"

To illustrate his point Ambrose utilized the recent example of Maximus. According to Ambrose, Maximus condemned the burning of a synagogue in Rome on the basis that it was a breach of public order. Ambrose records the hostile reaction of the Roman people to this course of action, their charges that Maximus had converted to Judaism, and their grim prophecies of Maximus' downfall. Ambrose clearly hoped that Theodosius would profit from the mistake of his former adversary, and adopt a more lenient attitude toward those involved in Jewish persecutions.

bibliography:

[St.] Ambrosius, in: pl 16 (1845), Epistola 40:23, p. 1109f.; Paulus Orosius, Historiae adversum paganos, 7:34, 9 and passim; Sulpicius Severus, Dialogus tertius, 11:2; Zosimus, Historiae novae, liber 4; Pauly-Wissowa, 28 (1930), 2546–55 (no. 33).

[John M. O'Brien]