Maximinus Daia

Maximinus Daia (305-313 CE) was a Roman Emperor in the East during the Tetrarchy (293-c.324 CE).

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximinus Daia
MAXIMINUS DAIA’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- As Caesar in the East: 1 May 305 CE to 308 CE.
- As Augustus in the East: 310 CE to May 313 CE.
MAXIMINUS DAIA’S DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born: 20 November c.270 CE. Died: August 313 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Felix Romuliana, Moesia. Died in Tarsus, Asia Minor.
MAXIMINUS DAIA’S PREDECESSOR:
- Galerius
MAXIMINUS DAIA’S SUCCESSOR:
- Licinius, his co-Emperor.
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- He was the nephew of the Emperor Galerius.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- He died whilst fleeing when his army was defeated by Licinius, either by illness or suicide.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.
MAXIMINUS DAIA WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He was one of six co-Emperors under Diocletian‘s Tetrarchy.

Although inexperienced and very young, his uncle Galerius adopted Maximinus Daia, and promoted him to Caesar of the Eastern Empire in 305 CE. He was assigned Egypt and Syria.
In 308 CE, Licinius was made Augustus of the East. Shortly after, Maximinus Daia also proclaimed himself Augustus.

In 311 CE, Galerius died and Maximinus Daia divided the East between himself and Licinius.
Licinius continued as Augustus in the West, based in Milan, but still controlled the Eastern Provinces up to the Hellespont (Dardanelles).
Maximinus Daia controlled all the Provinces east of the Hellespont and the Bosphorus, which became the Frontier between them.
Maximinus entered into a secret alliance with Maxentius who controlled Rome, southern Italy and North Africa.

However, in Spring of 312 CE, whilst Licinius was on the Danube, Constantine I invaded Italy via the Mont Cenis Pass, capturing Turin and Milan. On 28 October 312 CE Constantine I defeated Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, removing Maximinus Daia‘s ally.

In March 313 CE, Licinius cemented his alliance with Constantine I, who controlled Britannia, Gaul, Iberia and the Rhine. Licinius married Flavia Julia Constantia in Milan, Constantine I‘s half sister.
At the same time, Licinius and Constantine I jointly issued the Edict of Milan, giving legal recognition to Christianity within the Roman Empire.
The Edict officially ended the Diocletianic Persecution, but did not yet make Christianity the State Religion.

As Maximinus Daia was still persecuting Christians in the East, this was a challenge he could not ignore.
In 313 CE, Maximinus Daia was now ready to launch an attack on Licinius. Maximinus Daia raised an army of 70,000 men and departing from Syria, marched through Asia Minor to Bithynia.
By April, he had crossed the Bosphorus and captured Byzantium and Heraclea. Licinius moved a much smaller army of around 30,000 men to Adrianople.

On the 30 April 313 CE, the two armies met at the Battle of Tzirallum. Before the battle, Licinius received a vision in which an angel recited a prayer to him, which he passed on to all the soldiers. The words of the prayer were written so that it could be freely recited whatever the man’s religious faith. Licinius‘ army then crushed the bigger army of Maximinus Daia, who was forced to flee disguised as a slave.

Maximinus Daia regrouped his forces and tried to trap Licinius at the Cilician Gates. Licinius’ army broke through the Pass, and in August 313 CE defeated Maximinus Daia at Tarsus, where he died either by illness or suicide.