# Maximinus Daza

> Roman emperor from 310 to 313

**Wikidata**: [Q189095](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189095)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximinus_Daza)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maximinus-daza

## Summary
Maximinus Daza was a Roman emperor who ruled from 310 to 313, primarily known for his role in the political instability of the late Roman Empire. As a key figure in the Tetrarchy, he governed the eastern provinces and enforced pagan policies before his defeat by Licinius. His reign marked the final years of the Tetrarchic system and the transition toward Christian tolerance.

## Biography
- **Born**: [Date and place unknown]  
- **Nationality**: Roman  
- **Known for**: Roman emperor during the Tetrarchy; persecution of Christians  
- **Employer(s)**: Roman Empire  
- **Field(s)**: Politics, governance  

## Contributions
Maximinus Daza’s rule focused on maintaining pagan traditions and suppressing Christianity, particularly through edicts banning Christian practices. His military campaigns and administrative policies aimed to stabilize the eastern provinces, though his reign ended abruptly with defeat in 313. No specific constructions, publications, or inventions are documented in the source material.

## FAQs
**Q: When did Maximinus Daza rule the Roman Empire?**  
A: He served as emperor from 310 to 313, initially as Caesar and later as Augustus.  

**Q: What were Maximinus Daza’s notable titles or aliases?**  
A: He was known by multiple names, including Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus, Maximinus II, and Daza, reflecting his adoption into the imperial family and territorial governance.  

**Q: How did Maximinus Daza’s reign end?**  
A: He was defeated by Licinius at the Battle of Tzirallum in 313, leading to his death and the collapse of his authority in the eastern provinces.  

**Q: What was Maximinus Daza’s religious policy?**  
A: He actively persecuted Christians and promoted pagan worship, reversing brief periods of tolerance under earlier rulers.  

## Why They Matter
Maximinus Daza’s reign exemplified the political fragmentation and religious tensions of the late Roman Empire. His enforcement of pagan supremacy and conflict with Licinius contributed to the eventual collapse of the Tetrarchy, paving the way for Constantine’s rise and the legalization of Christianity. Without his resistance to religious change, the trajectory of imperial policy toward Christianity might have shifted earlier.

## Notable For
- Last emperor to actively persecute Christians before the Edict of Milan (313).  
- Key figure in the Tetrarchy’s eastern administration.  
- Defeated by Licinius in a pivotal battle that unified imperial authority.  
- Held the title *Augustus* from 310 until his death.  

## Body

### Early Life and Rise to Power
Maximinus Daza’s origins are obscure, but he rose to prominence through adoption by Galerius, a senior emperor in the Tetrarchy. Born into a humble family, possibly of Armenian or Syrian descent, he was appointed Caesar (junior emperor) in 305, governing the eastern provinces. His agrarian background (linked to farming) contrasted with traditional Roman elite pedigrees, reflecting the Tetrarchy’s meritocratic ideals.

### Reign and Policies
As Augustus from 310, Maximinus Daza ruled territories including Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor. He prioritized economic stability and military defense, often residing in Antioch. His governance emphasized pagan rituals and oracle consultations, such as seeking guidance from the Oracle of Daphne. In 311, he issued edicts expelling Christians from public life and confiscating their property, intensifying persecution after Galerius’s death.

### Conflict and Downfall
Tensions with Licinius, a rival emperor in the Balkans, escalated into open warfare. Maximinus Daza’s invasion of Anatolia in 313 ended in defeat at the Battle of Tzirallum, near Heraclea Pontica. He fled to Carrhae, where he died, possibly by suicide or assassination, in August 313. His death marked the end of the Tetrarchy and the beginning of Licinius’s dominance in the East.

### Legacy
Maximinus Daza’s resistance to Christian integration underscored the religious divisions of the era. His defeat allowed Licinius and Constantine to consolidate power, leading to the Edict of Milan later in 313, which legalized Christianity. Historians view his reign as a transitional phase, highlighting the challenges of governing a multicultural empire and the shifting dynamics between paganism and Christianity.

## References

1. De mortibus persecutorum
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. CERL Thesaurus
5. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
6. Enciclopedia Treccani