Maximus of Hispania
Maximus was a Roman usurper (409–411) in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, modern Spain and Portugal). He had been elected by general Gerontius, who might have been his father. Relations between the usurper Constantine III and his general Gerontius, who had been sent to Hispania, had been deteriorating throughout 409. When Constantine sent an army under his son and heir Constans, Gerontius mutinied and installed Maximus in the late summer of 410. Kullikowski suggests that Gerontius may have feared being replaced as Constantine's chief military figure in the provinces of Hispania. Drinkwater on the other hand suggests that Gerontius, seeing Constantine negotiating with Emperor Honorius, over 409 had decided to side with the local Theodosian supporters. However, by the summer of 410 Gerontius had received no support from Italy, was threatened by Constans and desperate for imperial authority to confirm his arrangements with his barbarian allies. Faced by these threats, "Gerontius was at length driven into open revolt." Maximus managed some degree of rule over the provinces of Hispania. Kullikowski reports that "the mint at Barcino struck coins in his name and there is evidence for major construction work on that city's walls during reign." In the first 18 months of