Galerius Emperor of Rome
Galerius, also known by his full name, Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus, was a Roman emperor from the 4th Century AD, who had at the peak of his reign, sole control over the entire Roman Empire. He enjoyed a particularly lengthy reign beginning in his ascent to the throne in the year 305 AD, lasting almost six years until the year 311 AD.
Galerius was born sometime in the year 250 AD. Reports vary as to the actual date of his birth and to this day no conclusive date has been pinpointed by historians. It has been confirmed however that his birth place was in Serdica in what is now modern day Sofia in Bulgaria. At that time this province was the capital of Dacia Aureliana.
As a young boy, Galerius followed closely in his father's footsteps taking on the older man's occupation as a herdsman. As a result of this occupation, he would receive the name Armentarius, which in Latin was the word for herd.
In terms of his military career, a field in which he would later show extraordinary cunningness and ingenuity, Galerius would serve with distinction in the position of soldier under the command of both Emperor Aurelian and Emperor Probus. The establishment of the Tetrarchy in the year 293 AD would bring to him a designation as Caesar, a distinction that he shared with Constantius Chlorus.
He would also take the hand in marriage of Valeria, who was the daughter of Diocletian (she would later take on the name Galeria Valeria). His responsibilities, or perhaps some would say his blessings, would not end there, shortly afterwards he would receive sole responsibility over the care of the Illyrian provinces.
The year 296 AD would bring to Galerius' immediate attention, the start of the Persian War, which in itself presented a host of other problems that needed to be addressed immediately. The start of the war would necessitate his march from the Danube where he and his troops would converge upon the Euphrates.
Unfortunately, this, his first real armed conflict was destined for eventual disaster. He and his men would suffer a severe defeat near Callinicum, a military upset that would result in the eventual loss of the Mesopotamian territories. His fortunes would soon take a turn for the better however and this was made apparent only a short time later. The year 297 AD would find him enjoying a resounding victory against Narses during a march through the treacherous mountains of Armenia.
This victory would result in the capture of a significant amount of bounty from the defeated forces of Narses, a bounty which included Narses' very own harem. Galerius was not one to rest on past victories and he quickly followed up this success with a march against the city of Ctesiphon. Narses clearly knew at this point that any further displays of resistance would prove to be futile and in the year 298 AD, he sued for peace against the combined might of Galerius' armed forces.
Galerius would rule over the Roman Empire until his death due to the effects of a painful disease on May 5th, 311 AD.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008
