Maximianus
GALERIUS VALE- RIUS, emperor of Constantinople, was originally a shepherd in Dacia, afterward a soldier, and was raised to the imperial dignity by Diocletian, who also gave him his daughter in marriage. In 305 he compelled Diocletian to abdicate the throne; but his cruelty soon rendered him odious to the Romans, who raised Maxentius to the throne. He died in 311.
MAXIMIANUS (-ā'nus), MARCUS AURELIUS VALERIUS, surnamed HERCULIUS, a Roman emperor; born near Sirmium, in A. D. 250. From being a common soldier, he was associated in the government by ment by Diocletian. When that emperor abdicated the crown, in 304, he compelled Maximianus, much against his will, to do the same; but about a year afterward the latter resumed the dignity, and opposed his son Maxentius. The troops, however, mutinied against Maximianus, who fled into Gaul, where he was put to death by order of Constantine, in 310, aged 60. MAXIMILIAN I., Emperor of Germany, son of Frederick III.; born in Neustadt, March 22, 1459. At the age of 18 he married Mary, heiress of Charles MAXIMILIAN I. the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and was involved in a war with France. In 1486 Maximilian was elected King of the Romans, and in 1493 he succeeded his father in the empire. He was the first who took the title of emperor without be- MAXIMILIAN ing crowned at Rome. By the marriage of his son Philip to Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain was brought into the power of the House of Hapsburg. He invaded Burgundy, but abandoned by the Swiss, who was formed part of his army; he then made war on the Swiss, but was several times defeated, and had to make peace with them. In 1508 he set out for Rome, was refused a passage through the Venetian territories, and, attempting to force his way, was defeated. The same year he joined in the famous league of Cambray against the Venetians; from which he withdrew in 1513, and formed another league against France. In 1518 he assembled the Diet at Augsburg, at which Luther appeared on citation, and appealed to the Pope. He died in Wels, Upper Austria, Jan. 12, 1519.
MAXIMILIAN II., Emperor of Germany; born in Vienna, July 31, 1527, was the son of the Emperor Ferdinand I.
He was elected King of the Romans in 1562, and was soon after advanced to the thrones of Hungary and Bohemia; and on the death of his father, in 1564, was crowned emperor. The 12 years this monarch reigned were chiefly devoted to the internal welfare of the country and happiness of his people. He died Oct. 12, 1576.
MAXIMILIAN (FERDINAND MAX- IMILIAN JOSEPH), Archduke of Austria and Emperor of Mexico; born in Vienna, Austria, July 6, 1832. He was the son of the Archduke Francis Charles, and the younger brother of Francis Joseph I. In 1862 the French were induced to interfere in the affairs of Mexico, and in 1863 called together an Assembly of Notables, which offered the crown of Mexico to Maximilian. After deliberation he solemnly accepted it; and in June, 1864, he entered Mexico. For a time all went well; but he vainly tried to reconcile the Mexican parties. Juarez again raised the standard of independence; and soon after (1866) Louis Napoleon had to contemplate the withdrawal of his troops. The French were most anxious that Maximilian should leave with their troops; but he felt bound as a man of honor to remain and share the fate of his followers. At the head of 8,000 men he made a brave defense of Queretaro against a Liberal army under Escobedo. In May, 1867, he was betrayed and tried by court-martial, and on July 19 he was shot. After the death of Maximilian his writings were published under the title of "From My Life; Sketches of Travel, Aphorisms, Marine Pictures" (7 vols. 1867). See MEXICO.
MAXIMILIAN