Petronius Maximus (455 AD–455 AD) — Roman Emperor

Petronius Maximus was one of the wealthiest men in the Western empire and a leading senator involved in the conspiracy that murdered Valentinian III. He immediately seized the throne and forced Eudoxia, Valentinian's widow, to marry him. Eudoxia appealed to the Vandal king Gaiseric in Africa, who sailed to Rome with a large fleet. Petronius Maximus panicked, tried to flee, and was torn apart by a mob in the streets of Rome. He had reigned exactly 77 days.

Petronius Maximus's invitation to the Vandals, inadvertent as it was, led to the fourteen-day sack that gave English the word 'vandalism'. His coinage is a genuine rarity.

Key Events

455 AD Involved in Valentinian III's murder; seized the throne

455 AD Forced Eudoxia to marry him; she appealed to Gaiseric in Carthage

455 AD Vandals sailed for Rome; Petronius Maximus tried to flee; killed by a mob

455 AD Vandals sacked Rome for 14 days, the 'Vandal sack' that gave English its word 'vandalism'

Coinage

The coinage of Petronius Maximus is among the rarest in the western series. His 77-day reign left almost no time for significant mint production. A small number of solidi and siliquae are known. His portrait types follow the late Valentinianic style.

Denominations

Solidus Siliqua

Notable Types

PAX AVGVSTI types
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM types

Common Reverses

PAX AVGVSTI VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM

Active Mints

Rome Ravenna

Petronius Maximus

Key Events

Coinage

Related Resources

Further Reading