Valeria Maximilla
Encyclopedia
Valeria Maximilla was the Empress of Rome and wife of Emperor Maxentius
.
She was the daughter of Emperor Galerius
and his first wife, whose name is unknown. She married Maxentius around 293 and bore him two sons. The eldest, Valerius Romulus
, was born c. 294, the other son's name is not recorded, possibly ... Aurelius Valerius, executed in 312. As an emperor's daughter, she was entitled nobilissima femina.
Her husband was acclaimed emperor in October 306 against the wishes of Valeria Maximilla's father, who tried to overthrow the usurper in 307 but without success. Maxentius remained the ruler of Rome
, Italy and Africa until 312. Valeria's son, Romulus died in 309. In 312 Constantine I
invaded Italy
. Valeria and her husband were together before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, when she disappears from the historical record. Her fate is unknown.
According to the life story of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Valeria converted to Christianity
after meeting St. Catherine. Both she and the Saint were tortured and executed by the pagan emperor Maxentius
, as per the traditional hagiography
of St. Catherine, which explains why the empress disappeared from the historical record. As per Jacobus de Voragine
's account of St. Catherine
's life, Valeria was buried without the knowledge of Maxentius
: "And then the sergeants brought her out of the city and erased off her paps with tongs of iron, and after smote off her head, whose body Porphyry took away and buried it. The next day following was demanded where the holy body of the queen was, and the emperor bade that many should be put to torment for to know where the body was.".
Maxentius
Maxentius was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.-Birth and early life:Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278...
.
She was the daughter of Emperor Galerius
Galerius
Galerius , was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sassanid Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across the Danube against the Carpi, defeating them in 297 and 300...
and his first wife, whose name is unknown. She married Maxentius around 293 and bore him two sons. The eldest, Valerius Romulus
Valerius Romulus
Valerius Romulus, also Marcus Aurelius Romulus was the son of the Caesar and later usurper Maxentius and of Valeria Maximilla, daughter of Emperor Galerius....
, was born c. 294, the other son's name is not recorded, possibly ... Aurelius Valerius, executed in 312. As an emperor's daughter, she was entitled nobilissima femina.
Her husband was acclaimed emperor in October 306 against the wishes of Valeria Maximilla's father, who tried to overthrow the usurper in 307 but without success. Maxentius remained the ruler of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy and Africa until 312. Valeria's son, Romulus died in 309. In 312 Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
invaded Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Valeria and her husband were together before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, when she disappears from the historical record. Her fate is unknown.
According to the life story of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Valeria converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
after meeting St. Catherine. Both she and the Saint were tortured and executed by the pagan emperor Maxentius
Maxentius
Maxentius was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.-Birth and early life:Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278...
, as per the traditional hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
of St. Catherine, which explains why the empress disappeared from the historical record. As per Jacobus de Voragine
Jacobus de Voragine
Blessed Jacobus de Varagine or Voragine was an Italian chronicler and archbishop of Genoa. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of Legenda Aurea, the Golden Legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was one of the most popular...
's account of St. Catherine
St. Catherine
-People:*Saint Catherine of Alexandria , also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine*Saint Caterina Volpicelli *Saint Catherine of Bologna *Saint Catherine of Genoa...
's life, Valeria was buried without the knowledge of Maxentius
Maxentius
Maxentius was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.-Birth and early life:Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278...
: "And then the sergeants brought her out of the city and erased off her paps with tongs of iron, and after smote off her head, whose body Porphyry took away and buried it. The next day following was demanded where the holy body of the queen was, and the emperor bade that many should be put to torment for to know where the body was.".