Solidus of Petronius Maximus marked: d·n· petronius maximus p·f· aug·
Roman emperor in the West
(unrecognized in the East)
Reign
17 March – 31 May 455
Predecessor
Valentinian III
Successor
Avitus
Eastern emperor
Marcian
Born
c. 397
Died
31 May 455 (aged c. 58) Rome
Spouse
Eparchia
Lucina
Licinia Eudoxia
Issue
Palladius
Father
Possibly Anicius Probinus
Petronius Maximus (c. 397 – 31 May 455) was Roman emperor of the West for two and a half months in 455. A wealthy senator and a prominent aristocrat, he was instrumental in the murders of the Western Roman magister militum, Aëtius, and the Western Roman emperor, Valentinian III.
After the assassination of the Western Roman magister militum, Aëtius, and the subsequent death of the Western Roman emperor, Valentinian III, Maximus secured the support of the Senate and utilized bribery to gain the favor of palace officials, enabling him to ascend to power. He strengthened his position by forcing Licinia Eudoxia, Valentinian's widow, to marry him and forcing her daughter Eudocia to marry his son, cancelling her betrothal to the son of the Vandal king Genseric. This infuriated both Eudocia and Genseric, who sent a fleet to Rome. Maximus failed to obtain troops from the Visigoths and he fled as the Vandals arrived, became detached from his retinue and bodyguard in the confusion, and was killed by fellow Romans. The Vandals thoroughly sacked Rome in their retaliatory invasion.
The reign of Petronius Maximus marked a significant period of instability and decline for the Western Roman Empire. His brief and controversial rule reflected the political fragmentation and lack of centralized authority that plagued the empire during its final years. The invasion and sacking of Rome by the Vandals underlined the growing vulnerability of the Western Roman Empire, which would ultimately culminate in its collapse in 476.
PetroniusMaximus (c. 397 – 31 May 455) was Roman emperor of the West for two and a half months in 455. A wealthy senator and a prominent aristocrat,...
Magnus Maximus, Roman emperor from 383 to 388 Maximus of Moesia (fl. 89–117), twice consul Maximus of Hispania (409–411), Roman usurper PetroniusMaximus (396–455)...
consul in AD 371. Anicius Petronius Probus, consul in AD 406. Saint Petronius, fifth century bishop of Bologna. PetroniusMaximus, emperor for seventy-five...
husbands included the Western Roman Emperors Valentinian III and PetroniusMaximus. Eudoxia was born in 422, the daughter of Theodosius II, Eastern Roman...
married to Ennodius, proconsul Africae (395). Ennodius's grandson was PetroniusMaximus, another ill-fated emperor, who ruled in Rome for only 77 days before...
Petronius and his supporters attempted to flee the city at the sight of the approaching Vandals, only to be stoned to death by a Roman mob. Petronius...
recalled to service by emperor PetroniusMaximus and was elevated to the rank of magister militum, probably praesentalis; Maximus sent Avitus in an embassy...
secure enough to begin plotting to have Aetius killed, egged on by PetroniusMaximus, a high ranking senator who bore Aetius a personal grudge, and his...
Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus (c. 164 – 238) was Roman emperor with Balbinus for 99 days in 238, during the Year of the Six Emperors. The sources for...
denying PetroniusMaximus, now Western Emperor, when he sent an embassy requesting it, and similarly refusing to recognize Avitus, who succeeded Maximus. Marcian's...
emperor Valentinian III was murdered on orders of PetroniusMaximus, who usurped the throne. PetroniusMaximus also married Valentinian's widow, Licinia Eudoxia...
the older sister of Theodosius II, after the death of the latter, PetroniusMaximus was married to Licinia Eudoxia, the daughter of Theodosius II, and...
Gaius Petronius Arbiter (/pɪˈtroʊniəs/; Classical Latin: [ˈɡaː.i.ʊs pɛˈt̪roː.ni.ʊˈs ar.bɪ.t̪ɛr]; c. AD 27 – 66; sometimes Titus Petronius Niger) was a...
Olybrius. They argue that Olybrius was likely a son of PetroniusMaximus himself, reasoning that Petronius, once on the throne, would be unlikely to promote...
those who do not denounce the religion, and retain Manichaean books. PetroniusMaximus, prominent aristocrat, is given the title of Patrician. He becomes...
Anicius Probus (suggested by Settipani) or, according to some clues, PetroniusMaximus. Olybrius married Placidia, younger daughter of western augustus Valentinian...
primicerius sacri cubiculi, Heraclius, is also murdered. March 17 – PetroniusMaximus, former domesticus ("elite bodyguard") of Aetius, becomes (with support...
under way when news of Caligula's death reached Petronius. Caligula's plan was abandoned, Petronius survived and the statue was never installed. Philo...
455: Valentinian III assassinated and overthrown by PetroniusMaximus. 455: PetroniusMaximus stoned to death by mob and replaced by Avitus. 456 Gothic...
Bassus Antiochus Preceded by Aetius Valerius Roman consul XIV 433 with PetroniusMaximus Succeeded by Aspar Areobindus Preceded by Aspar Areobindus Roman consul...
believed, wanted to place his son on the throne. The Roman senator PetroniusMaximus and the chamberlain Heraclius were therefore able to enlist Valentinian...
participated in the assassination of Emperor Valentinian III, ordered by PetroniusMaximus. He probably served Aetius as a bucellarius. In September 454, Valentinian...
in the palace and succeeded by Severus. Julianus was born to Quintus Petronius Didius Severus and Aemilia Clara. His father came from a prominent family...
almost certainly became prefect of the Praetorian Guard by 94, with Titus Petronius Secundus as his colleague. Domitian opened the year following the revolt...
Puppet emperors Portrait Name Reign Succession Life details PetroniusMaximus 17 March – 31 May 455 (2 months and 14 days) General and civil official...
over the young emperor Valentinian III, and becomes his "protector". PetroniusMaximus is appointed consul of the Western Roman Empire. Pope Sixtus III helps...
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