- Maximinus (Praetorian Prefect)
Maximinus was a Roman
barrister andPraetorian Prefect of the later fourth century AD.Origins
Maximinus was born in Sopianae,
Pannonia . His family was of Carpic origin. Maximinus' father was an accountant in the provincial government office ofPannonia Valeria .Maximinus studied law, and practiced as an attorney. Later he was appointed to the governor of
Corsica ,Sardinia and Tuscia. He became "prefectus annonae" inRome , and used this important position to launch a witch-hunt against the Roman senatorial aristocracy. At first he also kept his governoral office because his successor was slow to arrive.Trials
He made his name prosecuting members of the Roman aristocracy on charges of
witchcraft , encouraged by emperorValentinian I . Valentinian's prejudice against the Roman nobility brought the two men close together. The "praefectus urbi" of Rome, Olybrius was ill and weak, so Maximinus took the chance to seize the judicial authority.Historian
Ammianus Marcellinus gives a detailed description about these unjust trials in the 28th book of his work. He calls Maximinus a "wild beast" and "diabolic inquisitor". After he gained the consent of the emperor Maximinus became excessively confident, and "walked on the streets of the city almost dancing like a brahmin."The famous victims of Maximinus' witch hunt were Marinus (attorney), Cethegeus senator, the young Lollianus (son of the former praefectus Lampadius), two noblewomen, Claritas and Flaviana, Paphius and Cornelius senators, Campensis haruspex and others. All of them were tortured to extort their "confessions". Maximinus prosecuted Hymetius, the former proconsul of
Africa province , but the man appealed to the emperor. Valentinianus handed over the case to the Senate which only sent Hymetius into exile to the great rage of the emperor.According to Marcellinus a string was attached to the side window of the praetorial office of Maximinus, where the anonymous informers could have hooked their denunciations in a letter. Maximinus also employed many spies.
In 369 AD, Maximinus' brother in law, Valentinus committed an unrecorded but very serious crime. Maximinus was able to have Valentinus' sentence commuted from execution to
exile and he was sent to Britain where he began planning a revolt that had to be put down byCount Theodosius .Prefect of Gaul
Within a year, Maximinus had been promoted to
vicarius of Rome and then served as prefect of the Diocese ofGaul from 13/07/371 - 16/04/376 providing a direct link between the emperor and the civil administration inRoman Britain and Gaul. When Valentinian was replaced byGratian Maximus was removed from his post as part of a purge of the old regime.ources
* Ammianus Marcellinus: "Res Gestae Libri XXXI", Liber XXVIII
* Collegiate Prefectures A. H. M. Jones The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 54, Parts 1 and 2 (1964)
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