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PETRONIUS MAXIMUS 16th March-31st May 455 AD ANCIENT ROMAN SILVER Ar SILIQUA 2,14 gr.

VERY NICE LIGHT PATINA. The Roman Empire Petronius Maximus, 16th March – 31st May 455 16th March – 31st May 455. The 76-day reign of Petronius Maximus was anything but a success. Much to his credit, though, Petronius Maximus was one of the wealthiest senators in Rome, who after having twice served as consul, prefect of Italy, and prefect of Rome, rose to the grand position of chamberlain to the emperor Valentinian III. More powerful still was the Master of Soldiers Aetius, who controlled the army. Tensions increased, and in a surprisingly courageous move the emperor himself murdered Aetius. This solved one of the Valentinians problems, but had he lived long enough, he no doubt would have realized his mistake, for Aetius was the best commander in the Western empire. But Valentinians end came soon, as his chamberlain Petronius Maximus encouraged two of Aetius former bodyguards to seek revenge by murdering the emperor. Now that the palace was cleared of both general and emperor, Petronius Maximus seized the throne himself, and with it demanded the hand of Valentinians beautiful 33-year-old widow, Licinia Eudoxia. Desperate for help, she sent a plea to the Vandal king Gaiseric, who quickly landed an army outside of Rome. Petronius Maximus tried to flee on horseback, but instead was pelted with stones by an angry mob that dragged him off his horse, beat him to death and tossed his mutilated body into the Tiber. The Vandals breached the walls of Rome on June 1, 455 and sacked the Eternal City for fifteen days before they departed with untold treasures and three Imperial hostages, Licinia Eudoxia and her two daughters, for whom they eventually receive a kings ransom. Petronius Maximus Petronius Maximus AR Siliqua,Rome. 455 AD. D N PETRONIVS MAXIMVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / SALVS REI PVBLICAE, Emperor enthroned facing, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and long cruciform scepter with his left,mintmark COMOB. UNCLEANED. CONDITION AS ON A PICTURES! VERY NICE LIGHT TONED PATINA. METAL DETECTOR FINDS. CONDITION AS ON A PICTURES!