Biography.guide
Home › People › Maximus
Portrait of Maximus

Maximus

Urban prefect under Julian

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Maximus

Maximus (floruit 361–363) was a Roman politician.

Biography Maximus was a member of the Roman senatorial class. It is speculated that he was the son of Valerius Maximus and second wife possibly a Vulcacia, supposedly the daughter of a Neratius Junius Flavianus. It has been postulated that they had two children, a son, Maximus, and a daughter, Valeria, who may have become a Christian through her possible marriage to a Rufius Maecius Placidus.

Probably, it was Maximus to be sent by the usurper Magnentius to Emperor Constantius II and Vetranio in 350.

In the late 361, Maximus and Lucius Aurelius Avianius Symmachus, both sent by the Roman Senate to Emperor Constantius II, meet Julian at Naissus. Julian received them with all honors, then he appointed Maximus as praefectus urbi of Rome in place of Tertullus (praefectus urbi); his choice was motivated by the desire to please Vulcacius Rufinus, uncle of Maximus. Maximus was still in charge on January 28 362, as attested an inscription.

During his tenure, the alimentaria was amply provided, which placated the inhabitants of Rome.

Ammianus Marcelinus named him as Maximus, and finally we find him as Artorius Clytholias Maximus.

Clytholias Maximus was nephew of Vulcatius Rufinus He may also be related, or identical with, a Basilius who served as governor of Achaea around the same period; both were probably descended from Valerius Maximus Basilius, praefectus urbi from 319 to 323.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Frequently asked questions

Who was Maximus?

urban prefect under Julian

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Maximus

· Wikidata: Q48980356

· DBpedia: Maximus (urban prefect under Julian)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Maximus. https://biography.guide/maximus/

MLA: "Maximus." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/maximus/.

Chicago: "Maximus." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/maximus/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:05 UTC