Galerius Aetius Malleolus, surnamed Laureatus (October, 173 BCE - 29 July, 101 BCE) was a pre-eminent Roman general, Senator and later sole Consul of Rome. Born into a minor Equite family in Antium, Galerius served in the army as a cavalryman from the age of 15, rising through the ranks under his commander Lucius Flavius Calidus. After leading a decisive charge at the battle of Boacias against the Volcae, Galerius was made a tribunus militum for the legion. Upon the death of Calidus in 151 BCE, Galerius took command of the Ligurian legion at the age of just 22. Under orders from the senate, he lead a campaign into southern Gaul, besieging and seizing the Greek colony of Massalia in 149 BCE. During this campaign, his reputation for military ingenuity would grow and he would be given the agnomen Sagaxus or "shrewd".
Following this campaign, his popularity in Rome would be greatly bolstered and Galerius was assigned the position of Quaestor in 148 BCE, one of the youngest in history to ever hold the title. He accompanied Gnaeus Julius Gurges, who had been elected the magistrate of the newly conquered province. However, it was at this time that hostilities with the Macedonian kingdom would reignite and Gnaeus was forced to return to Rome, thus he granted prorogation to Galerius. Whilst in Narbonensis, Galerius built a strong powerbase of support due to his effectiveness as a governor, focusing primarily on infrastructure and promulgating trade with the native Gauls and Greeks. In 147 BCE, he requested that his cousin, Appius Delmeticus, serve in his stead so that he could return to military duties should war erupt. This request was granted as the Senate declared war upon Macedon in 146 BCE.
Galerius served against the Antigonids, his legion earning widespread adulation from his contemporaries due to their flexibility and bravery. He participated in the sieges of Dion, Pydna and Thessalonica as well as the battles of Phila and Aloros. However, it was his decisive victory at the battle of Koroneia that would garner him nationwide praise, not only defeating a much larger Macedonian army, but capturing King Argeos II. Galerius was rewarded with a triumph and the position of Praetor peregrinus in Macedonia. Whilst in Macedonia, Galerius took advantage of the nebulous authority of the previous Antigonid dynasty, expanding his influence into neighbouring Thrace and Asia Minor. Following a succession crisis in Bithynia, Galerius publicly supported the pro-Roman aligned Ariarathes, going so far as to deny his rival, Eurymedon's ships from crossing the Bosporus. When Eurymedon forced the crossing, Galerius reported it as a declaration of war and petitioned the senate for imperium in order to deal with the issue. Fearful of his rising popularity amongst the plebeians, the patricians at first denied his request, but after repeated vetoes from the tribune of the plebs, the senate relented and granted Galerius imperium. Wielding this authority, Galerius ordered the construction of a new Roman fleet, and crossed into Anatolia, occupying Nicomedia. After defeating Eurymedon at the battle of Tarsos, he installed Ariarathes as king, albeit as a puppet of Rome. However, in demanding recognition from the neighbouring states, all of those who refused being declared enemies of Rome, he justified an elongation of his imperium. His subsequent victories in Anatolia annexed large swathes of territory into Roman control, going as far west as Pontus and Cappadocia, and as far south as Lycia and Pamphylia.
Back in Rome, his victories were becoming concerns for the optimates, who viewed his rise as a major threat. However, Galerius was also a highly talented orator and statesman, and had thus garnered a very large following in the capital. Despite his position as an equite, thus placing him as an outsider amongst the senate, he was seen as a "true Roman" by many traditionalists due to his courage and military ability, and the populares had grown to love his progressive policies and public displays of generosity. Following another triumph, granted for his conquests in Asia Minor, many began referring to Galerius by a new agnomen Laureatus meaning "conqueror" or "vanquisher". In 139 BCE, he was recalled to Rome in order to take part in the vote for consul, from which he emerged victorious alongside his rival, Kaeso Catullus Mus. Both consuls were in constant disagreement, most crucially over governance of Sicily, for which each promoted their own candidate. The rivalry between the two gradually grew into violence between the optimates, who supported Kaeso, and the populares, who supported Galerius. After a supposed assassination attempt on both parties within a week of each other, the senate was practically torn in half. After managing to sway the traditionalist factions to his side, Kaeso declared Galerius as culpable in the attempt on his life, and thus an enemy of the state. Galerius fled the capital to Macedonia and gathered his strength.
The ensuing civil war resulted in a populares victory, with many of the optimates removed from senatorial power, and Kaeso committing suicide following his defeat at Atella. Left as the single most powerful man in the Roman world, Galerius was named Consul sine pari or "Consul without peer" effectively making him a dictator without a required emergency. However, the Republic he inherited was in a troubling state. Declaring a state of military emergency, he sent his son, Ventus to regain control over Iberia, and appointed his various allies into magistrate positions in Sicily, Illyria and Greece. Galerius himself returned to Asia Minor to re-establish Roman authority and became embroiled in a border conflict with Ptolemaic Egypt. Supported by the Seleucids he invaded Egypt, defeating the Ptolemies at the battle of Kaparasima. In 129 BCE he seized control of Alexandria and installed his cousin as magistrate. Forced to return to Greece following an uprising by the general Decius Oranius Casca, Galerius created a series of reforms further strengthening the powers of the consul and tribal assembles in opposition to the senate, alienating a number of his close allies. These allies, styling themselves as Exercitus plebis or "army of the plebs" rose up in rebellion in northern Italy, however, despite their claims they were not supported by most of the plebeian faction who remained loyal to Galerius due to his progressive reforms. Despite crushing this rebellion at Aquileia, Galerius chose to step down from his role as consul, although both candidates to succeed him were allies of his. Galerius himself was elected Censor, a position he retained for six years. Despite having stepped down from power, Galerius still held huge sway amongst the senate and assemblies and was effectively acting as a consul behind the scenes. In 120 BCE, Galerius finally retired and withdrew from public life.
He spent many of his final years in his villa at Tarentum, although would sometimes travel to Byzantium and Rome itself, often requested to give speeches or for extra-magisterial advice. During this time he would compile many of his writings and speeches into collections, most notably Bella in Oriente, Bella nomine Ordinis and Voces Curiae Hostiliae. Galerius died on 29 July, 101 BCE.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Galerius was born into the Aetius equite gens in Antium, a colonia south-west of Rome, in 173 BCE. Galerius claims that his father had fought for a previous consul, although no records exist to prove this. Galerius was tutored in military matters, presumably by his father and by the age of fifteen was serving as a cavalryman under Lucius Flavius Calidus. Proving a highly able soldier, he was elected as one of the decuriones ("leaders of ten men") in his turma. Calidus primarily served as the praetor of Liguria, and was as a result in a constant battle against raiding Gallic tribes, most notably the Volcae. Galerius's reputation amongst the legion grew until he was voted as the Dux Trecentorum, an unofficial position that translates as "leader of three hundred", placing him as leader of the legion's cavalry.
In 154 BCE, the Volcae under their leader, Advorix, crossed over the western lowlands of the Alps into Liguria. They began raiding steadily eastwards, threatening Genua. Under instruction of the senate, Calidus mobilised his legion and moved to halt the Volcae, meeting them at the Magra River. During the ensuing battle, Galerius lead his cavalry across the Magra and charged Advorix's left flank, routing the Gallic army. Although Calidus would gain credit for the victory, his efforts were noted and Galerius was voted by the plebeians as one of the six Tribunus laticlavius of Legio III Liguria.