Maximinus thrax skeleton clip

Maximinus rose from humble beginnings to hold a senior position in the Roman army, despite not being a citizen, which limited his public office opportunities to military roles. According to the Augustan History , after being chosen for the imperial bodyguard during the civil war against Niger, Maximinus underwent rigorous training under Roman discipline, likely starting his career in the local auxiliary forces, as Herodian noted.

Roman military recruits had to pass strict physical requirements, ensuring they were fit for the demanding life in the legions. Vegetius, a military writer, described the ideal recruit as having a muscular build and strong physical attributes. A possible bust of Maximinus Thrax. His training would have involved marching long distances, building fortified camps, swimming across rivers, and mastering a wide array of weapons.

Additionally, recruits had to maintain their equipment in excellent condition, further emphasizing the discipline and order of the Roman military. Upon joining, provincial recruits often adopted Roman names, and Maximinus took the name Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus. His impressive physicality likely led him to the cavalry, which was reserved for taller, stronger soldiers and offered higher pay and prestige.

It's probable he initially served in an auxiliary cavalry unit, which was a smaller, versatile force used for both battle and garrison duties. During this time, Maximinus would have learned not only military tactics but also the inner workings of the Roman army, including its superstitions, tricks, and what motivated the men. This experience was crucial for his later career as a commander, as he built the foundation for his rise in the Roman military hierarchy.

After completing his training, Maximinus was assigned to the imperial palace in Rome , where he served as part of the emperor's personal bodyguard stipatores corporis. It was common for emperors to select physically imposing men for these elite roles. Under Severus, the imperial horse guard equites singulares Augusti , which Maximinus likely joined, doubled in size to 2, men, favoring recruits from the Danubian provinces.

The barracks of these elite horsemen were located on the Caelian Hill in Rome, close to the imperial palace.

Maximinus thrax skeleton clip

These soldiers were taller than most of their contemporaries and were selected not only for their physical ability but also for their appearance. Like many modern ceremonial guards, they performed both elite combat duties and ceremonial roles, often training with a wide array of weapons like javelins and slings. In peacetime, they engaged in public displays of martial skill, always immaculately turned out with gleaming armor and richly embroidered capes.

Maximinus, who was renowned for his size and strength, would have been a prominent figure in these displays. He quickly became well-known and admired by his fellow soldiers, gaining favor with both his comrades and commanding officers. Posting to the imperial horseguard was a prestigious assignment throughout the Roman Empire , and many elite soldiers aspired to it.

Promotion within the guard was notably rapid, with recruits quickly rising through the ranks. After just a few years, a recruit could become a decurion , leading his own squad turma. This rapid advancement path was well documented through various inscriptions and was beneficial to the empire, as it helped solidify loyalty to the emperor and improve the quality of soldiers posted on the frontiers.

These chosen men were also well-housed, enjoying fresh air, sweet water from a nearby aqueduct, and easy access to some of the best amenities in Rome, such as fine bars and brothels. Maximinus, initially regarded as a brute due to his size and strength, eventually distinguished himself by demonstrating intelligence and leadership potential.

He would have had the responsibility of maintaining the discipline, training, and appearance of his turma, ensuring their armor and equipment were always in top condition. As a result, Maximinus received support for advancement, likely being promoted to centurion and reassigned to one of the regular legions, possibly in the Danubian region where he was born.

Upon his promotion to centurion, Maximinus would have been granted Roman citizenship, a significant achievement. By this point, he would have been around 35 years old, well-connected, experienced in warfare, and equipped with valuable leadership skills that would serve him well throughout his career. Maximinus Thrax. From common soldier to emperor of Rome, by Paul N.

Maximinus is generally not remembered kindly in historical accounts, and the critiques of his reign began early. Ancient historian Herodian characterizes him primarily as a soldier, lacking the qualities of a refined ruler. His reign commenced after the assassination of Severus Alexander by rebellious troops, and Maximinus quickly became associated with the military.

He distanced himself from Rome, spending his entire reign on the Rhine and Danube frontiers, expelling non-military personnel from his camp to maintain a purely military environment. Although he achieved some success in campaigns against Germanic tribes, Herodian portrays him as a violent and greedy tyrant, which ultimately led to his downfall.

His harsh taxation policies sparked a revolt, starting with Gordian I and later involving the Roman Senate. This opposition culminated in the appointment of Pupienus and Balbinus as co-emperors, which prompted Maximinus to lead an army into Italy. However, his military campaign stalled at Aquileia, where after he ordered the death of many of his generals, he and his son were assassinated by his own men, theirs heads displayed on pikes and sent to Rome, ending his reign in the same manner in which it had begun.

Maximinus's character in historical accounts is largely defined by his background, described as "semi-barbarian. His supposedly barbaric roots are portrayed as influencing both his reign and approach to power, emphasizing his detachment from traditional Roman political norms. In the context of imperial succession, Herodian presents Maximinus as a figure who sharply contrasts with the virtues of moderation and restraint, qualities embodied by Marcus Aurelius.

While Severus Alexander is credited with elevating the Roman Empire into an aristocracy after the indulgences of Elagabalus , Maximinus is depicted as reverting to a tyrannical form of rule. These attributes underscore the moralizing framework Herodian applies, positioning Maximinus as the antithesis of a just ruler, with an emphasis on his brutality and humble origins, consistently associated with his reign.

According to scholars, Maximinus wasn't necessarily hostile towards the aristocracy but was indifferent to them, contributing to their alienation. It was only during a later anthropological examination, though, that the bones too were found to be unusual. Shortly thereafter, they were sent to Minozzi's group for further analysis. To find out if the skeleton had gigantism, the team examined the bones and found evidence of skull damage consistent with a pituitary tumor, which disrupts the pituitary gland, causing it to overproduce human growth hormone.

Other findings — such as disproportionately long limbs and evidence that the bones were still growing even in early adulthood — support the gigantism diagnosis, according to the study, published October 2 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. His early demise — likely between the age of 16 and 20 — might also point to gigantism, which is associated with cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems, said Minozzi, who emphasized that the cause of death remains unknown.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy. Charlotte Roberts, an archaeologist at Durham University, said she was "certainly convinced with the diagnosis" of gigantism in , but that she'd like to know more.

She said: "You can't just study the disease, you have to look at the wider impact of how people functioned in society, and whether they were treated any differently. He also records a reign of six years, a copyist error. Retrieved 24 April In Bowman, Alan K. The Cambridge Ancient History. XII 2nd ed. Rome and its Empire, AD — Edinburgh University Press.

Retrieved 29 July Book 6, Chapter New Advent. Retrieved 25 April Paulist Press. Alan K. Retrieved 22 April The Romans , University of Chicago Press , , pp. Sources [ edit ]. Herodian c. Shaw, Brent D. November Oxford : Oxford University Press : 3— Southern, Pat Syme, Ronald Emperors and biography: studies in the 'Historia Augusta'. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Potter, David Stone The Roman Empire at Bay: Ad — Abingdon-on-Thames, UK: Routledge. Meckler, Michael L. Further reading [ edit ]. External links [ edit ]. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maximinus Thrax. Severus Alexander. Pupienus and Balbinus. Roman and Byzantine emperors and empresses regnant. Diadumenian Elagabalus Severus Alexander.

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Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, underlining indicates an emperor variously regarded as either legitimate or a usurper. Segerseni Qakare Ini Iyibkhentre. Senebkay Wepwawetemsaf Pantjeny Snaaib. Tefnakht Bakenranef. Piye Shebitku Shabaka Taharqa Tanutamun. Authority control databases. Deutsche Biographie DDB. Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from March CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown Commons category link is on Wikidata Articles incorporating a citation from the Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from The American Cyclopaedia Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from The American Cyclopaedia with a Wikisource reference Year of birth uncertain.

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