Galerius (English spelling) Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus

Roman Emperor (reigned 293-305 as co-emperor, 305-311 as regular emperor). Born to farmers in Illyricum. In 293, he was promoted to co-emperor of the East by Emperor Diocletian, divorced his wife, and married the emperor's daughter. He made a great contribution to the defense of the Danube border, and although he was defeated in the war against Persia in 297, he received reinforcements from the Danube the following year and defeated King Narses, forcing a peace treaty to be concluded in Rome's favor. In 305, he was promoted to regular emperor of the East and tried to secure leadership under the tetrarchy, but was unable to prevent the subsequent chaos that followed in the tetrarchy, such as the appearance of a false emperor and the co-emperors of both the East and West claiming to be regular emperors. He was a devout pagan and is said to have been the true ringleader of the great persecution of Christians that began in 303. He carried out severe persecution in the territory under his jurisdiction, but on April 30, 311, while on his sickbed due to a serious illness, he issued a decree of tolerance and died a few days later.

[Atsuko Goto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ローマ皇帝（在位293～305副帝、305～311正帝）。イリリクムの農民の出。293年ディオクレティアヌス帝により東の副帝に抜擢(ばってき)され、妻を離縁して同帝の娘と結婚。ドナウ国境防衛に功績をあげ、対ペルシア戦では297年に敗北を喫したが、翌年ドナウ方面からの援軍を得てナルセス王を破り、ローマ側に有利な講和を結ばせた。305年東の正帝に昇格し、四分治制下での主導権確保に努めたが、僭称(せんしょう)帝の出現や東西両副帝の正帝位自称など、その後の四分治制の混乱を防ぐことはできなかった。熱心な異教徒で、303年に始まるキリスト教大迫害の真の首謀者ともいわれ、自分の管轄領域で過酷な迫害を実施したが、311年4月30日難病に侵された病床から寛容勅令を出し、その数日後に没した。

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