Maximinus Thrax - The Giant Emperor #26 Roman History Documentary Series

[@SNP-1999]

About 20 years ago, Maximinus' battlegrounds on the Harzhorn Mountain in Germania was discovered by chance. Archaeologists have excavated the area, finding thousands of arrow heads etc. which have allowed experts to determine exactly how the battle was fought, with the Roman army being victorious. It is a fascinating story.

[@Gizzatow]

Есть видео об этой битве на русском kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZXTlHWmlLFsr7M

[@scoon2117]

Amazing

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

He's such an impressive figure in his own way. The actual Roman Emperor leaping into battle and sweeping everyone aside, even if the tales of his size were exagerated, what a sight it must have been. He really was the "Final Boss".

[@revanius2213]

Even exaggerated he was likely over six feet and back then that really was huge

[@susanmenegus5543]

A warrior emperor 🗡️🗡️ 🛡️.

[@rdf4315]

Like a soulsborne boss with double the health and three phases with the AOE attack and one hit kill abilities, let me solo him has just now been summoned.

[@thomasbell7033]

I suddenly feel like going out to buy a big dog just so I can name him Maximinus Thrax.

[@ozzie444]

Yea..... me too....

[@alihani1830]

🤣🤣🤣

[@lairddougal3833]

Yeah, but try calling that out at the dog park.

[@thechav69]

Caracalla

[@fredpierce6097]

How about a Rottweiler? Named MT?

[@Sulla-ps3jv]

Finally, we’ve reached The Crisis of The Third Century. It might’ve been chaotic but now videos will come more frequently.

[@codysing1223]

frequently is the word alright 🤣

[@Sulla-ps3jv]

@@codysing1223 Emperors be dying like flies.

[@codysing1223]

@@Sulla-ps3jv or swatting them down like our boy Gallienus 💪

[@realmoftheouroboros8313]

i hope not, i want to hear more details so they better take there time.

[@sugarnads]

Youda loved it. Proscriptions! Yay!

[@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658]

The Thracian Emperor of Rome. The description of his size and strength makes him sound like the biggest Chad to ever live, it has to be taken with a grain of salt though. I wish he was not killed so early in his reign a stern emperor was needed at that time.

[@septimiusseverus343]

_Can confirm I literally looked up to him, my neck would hurt._

[@thomaskendall452]

I showed an MD friend some of his denarii and a sestertius, and he immediately diagnosed Max Thrax as having acromegaly. While nine feet tall is an exaggeration, he was the André the Giant of Roman emperors. André the Giant Roussimoff, a professional wrestler of days gone by, was 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighed over 500 pounds.

[@sskspartan]

@@thomaskendall452 and Andre was also half Thracian/Bulgarian

[@debbylou5729]

Why do modern people say ridiculous things like you just did. People weren’t infants. They knew what BIG meant. How ridiculously superior you sound. You and the others who feel they are ‘intellectuals’. Sodom? A morality myth…except, wait…it was real. Jericho? A myth…until the found it and learned that the walls fell because of ‘unknown vibrations’. Does the earth still have the sun circling it in your world?

[@debbylou5729]

@@taylorfusher2997 why is there air?

[@Asa_Anchovy]

There he is. The gigachad Imperator.

[@TetsuShima]

Damn, giant men over 2 meters tall are the kind of emperors Rome needed against assassins disposed to usurp the throne. Imagine the large number of soldiers who spent a lot of hours in order to be able to kill that monstrous man...

[@williamlacentra2808]

height is just a Theory ----mental and physical dexterity, as well as thoughtfulness and compassion makes up a defined character .!

[@geordiejones5618]

Its amazing how unstable Rome was between 235-260. Even under Valerian and Gallienus the state of affairs was still quite harrowing but they at least got the ball rolling toward Auralien and Dioceltion and held down the empire at its most vulnerable for almost two decades. I truly believe their reigns set up Claudius II and his larger than life successor with the ability to clean most of the remaining mess under a reunited banner.

[@ilari90]

@@taylorfusher2997 They thought every religion to be the same as they had, hence they thought even that the gallic tribes served same gods under different names, hence (partly) the clashes nowadays when talking about which god did which part in a pantheon. They thought it kind of the same religion so other cultures' heroes were quite easy to take into the pantheon and myths. Also there was huge Greek influence among the Roman aristocrats from a youn age when children had Greek teachers, so those teachers also influenced what the elite thought. Why a heroes or person's name changes from Hercules to Herakles... well, it just suited their tongue better like Herodes from Bible is Herod in English world. Or some other traditions and such. EDIT: Maybe I misunderstood your point there, now that I read your comment again, but anyway, I let the original comment be as it is.

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

It's still reigning today disguise as the roman catholic church.

[@cam5816]

@@ibringthelastwords1358No. Liechtenstein is the true inheritor of Rome. 😠

[@florinivan6907]

The 3rd Century can be summed up as a conflict between the traditional romans who viewed everyone outside Italy as beneath them and the newer romans who wanted to be viewed as equals.

[@haraldkrull4049]

Its crazy, history repeats itself.

[@solomonhill8773]

Yes the fall of a declining corrupt empire.

[@Stansman63]

So much material from this era to make an epic movie.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yeah true and, to some extent at least, the lack of good sources allows for a great deal of creative liberty

[@asheland_numismatics]

These videos are EXTREMELY WELL DONE! 👍

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

THRAX Pius coins are quite common and appear good quality silver… 60%. He stopped making double denarii (unknown how they worked in real life) but produced large qualities of nice coins. His son is in coins as Caesar. He stripped the rich of wealth to 1) Pay the Army. 2) Pay the Army.. and most important 3) PAY THE FU#%*^+ Army!!! A Manly MAN but Little political ability.

[@TimothyGower1982]

I know that voice... I didn't know that you did this channel! I don't know how I didn't already know about this channel but I'm glad KZbin recommended me this video out of the blue! New subscriber

[@kingspore5000]

Crisis of the III rd century...so it begins Can't wait for Aurelian and how long his episode will be

[@JoeyGee1000]

He is said to have worn as a ring, one of his wife's bracelets.

[@septimiusseverus343]

_If only Thrax had prevailed at Aquileia. What I would have given to witness the aftermath..._

[@alessandrogini5283]

If only his predecessor lived longer,he could vassalized Persian empire

[@causantinthescot]

I don't know. Maybe the senate would reform or collapse because Thrax had purged a huge number of senators.

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

THRAX WAS 63 at his death… if he got into Rome, he probably kill and loot senators but somebody would have killed him eventually.

[@spiderlime]

sir arthur conan doyle wrote a short story about him, called "giant maximin"in a collection of short stories titled "the last galley

[@alanpennie8013]

Poor Maximinus did his best, but seems to have been out of his depth from the start. Barrack emperors needed good civilian colleagues if they were to govern effectively.

[@darstarhd9408]

Your quality and content are incredible.

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

His denarius coins well struck and purity seams 65%…. Normal 2.8 to 3.1 grams. Did not issue double Denarii… bet the forced taxes and just stripping the rich… and raising the pay of soldiers…. So huge production of high quality coins. His son died with him in 238… he was in his 60’s.

[@etherospike3936]

The Senate proclaimed emperor Gordian the third, also known as Slim Shady !

[@hkschubert9938]

Great historical video thank you !! I've studied the Romans and Latin but never yet learned of this short lived emperor.

[@dariusghodsi2570]

Evidence of his Germania campaign needs more modern attention

[@alessandrogini5283]

Also sassanid campaign of Alexander severus

[@dariusghodsi2570]

@@alessandrogini5283 yes weve discussed this at length on my private history chat and i may do a podcast on it soon via clubhouse app

[@alessandrogini5283]

@@dariusghodsi2570 uh?where?

[@alessandrogini5283]

@@dariusghodsi2570 could you tell me more?do you have your own podcast?

[@alessandrogini5283]

What we know about the army of maximinus thrax?

[@ProbusVerus]

The Senate and the pampered and parasitic italic nobility were more a burden on the Empire than a resource. I see the video, I leave a like even before watching it! Awesome job keep'em up!

[@Sulla-ps3jv]

Based. Too bad Thrax never got the chance to kill all of them.

[@septimiusseverus343]

_Hear, hear!_

[@ChristianAuditore14]

@@taylorfusher2997 what are you on about?

[@causantinthescot]

I see. That's why I prefer that gigantic barbarian who had devoted himself to protecting the borders of the empire.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent video. Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dantefernandodantezambrano7910]

As a matter of fact I think Maximinus possessed such an emperor's appearance Rome needed at that time. Many barbaric tribes were migrating across the roman empire's borders and the legions were less capable of containing them. They suffered many casualties, therefore, legionaries needed such an imposing leader who could encourage them to fight for Rome in order to restore their patriotic dignity.

[@thomaskendall452]

I showed a physician friend a sestertius and several denarii of Max Thrax. He asked about Max's height. I replied that he was extremely tall. The doctor diagnosed Max as either having Marfan Syndrome or, more likely, acromegaly. The late wrestler André the Giant had acromegaly. So, the legends of his great height may be true.

[@811see]

His face too.. frontal bossing, mandibular enlargement

[@suzannehartmann946]

Wikipedia: The Alans (Latin: Alani) were an ancient and medieval Iranian nomadic pastoral people of the the North Caucasus - generally regarded as part of the Sarmatians, The name Alan represents an Iranian dialectal form of Aryan.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

What does that have to do with topic of the video?

[@GarbagePerson578]

Low-key my favorite emperor, just for how cool he is. Lol.. I feel like he would make a good antagonist in a movie.

[@timothybender7383]

You wouldn’t be saying he s cool if he was your ruler. I don’t know why anyone would think this character is cool and actually say that. But you re entitled to your opinion.

[@fuzzyco.3336]

@@timothybender7383 only makes him cooler

[@MaxMortis]

I read somewhere that his territorial conquests in Germany went as far north as Denmark, but were quickly abandoned due to him having to address the troubles back in Rome.

[@alessandrogini5283]

Denmark? really?where?

[@Bolognabeef]

@@alessandrogini5283 North to the Harzhorn, which was a place where he had a battle when he came down from even more north in the plains

[@811see]

He had acromegaly. That is why the historical reports not his huge brow ridge and jaw. This is what Andre the giant had

[@TotilaTheGoth]

Can you put the sources/books you used into the description?

[@stephenlennon76]

Can't wait for the next one

[@christianmitchell9040]

This channel needs more subs!!!

[@gregoryl.levitre9759]

He's depicted riding a horse, but what kind of horse could carry a human that is over 8' tall?!

[@Eazy-ERyder]

Love the Artistry!

[@uberfeel]

His fingers were also huge, in roman records it has said that his rings were as big as a childs wrist.

[@nazeem8680]

How anyone had the guts to assaasinate this brute giant of a man baffles me. He reminds me of the byzantine general Maniakes.

[@mr.beatfan8814]

Are you going to do Silbinnacus, or is there not enough for 1 video?

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Hmm, I don't know. .. I will mainly make videos on emperors who were confirmed by the senate and were the senior emperor, so no video on emperors like Volusianus, Philip II or Hostilian (as there's very little to say). But I think Silbannacus is interesting as he is a 'lost emperor' forgotten by history, so perhaps... No promises but I will look into him and see if there's enough to make a video on.

[@fuzzyco.3336]

@@TheSPQRHistorian oh that would be so cool even a thirty second video would still be interesting

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

The real life mountain from game of thrones. Except he becomes a Roman emperor

[@JamesBu11]

The description of him sounds like some serious belittling propaganda from the Senate. You don't get to rise through the ranks of the army without some serious military skills. Being big isn't enough and he clearly didn't have any political backers, at first anyway.

[@jfrancobelge]

Governing requires both strength and diplomacy. He obviously strongly lacked the second quality.

[@robbabcock_]

Great stuff!

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

"Maximinus Thrax" What a fine name. At last yt gave me an idea of what's my next acct. name 😂

[@valentinbrescan288]

Freja Faraji SPQR in the opening = solid choice

[@ancientruth5298]

Finally the theory about giant is over

[@MCorpReview]

Imagine that if Maximus gladiator had murdered Commodus he would b equally cool 😎

[@georgepapatheofilou6118]

So much for the glory of Rome !

[@lindadeal3344]

So this was a GIANT and you have to think about his diet...I learned that Macrel fish are very high in protein, could that have helped?q

[@thomaslthomas1506]

How many fingers did he have?

[@sirbillius]

The big guy from Thrace!

[@aka99]

Whats about Battle harzhorn?

[@Anakunus]

Ah, yes... Maximinus Thrax - "the first barbarian emperor of Rome".

[@spartanlukas]

Great video. Thank you!

[@WizavPRO]

Georgius Gemistus Pletho said: "Thracians are people who live north of us, from whom we have learned Muses and Mysteries - and nation that has all that can not be regarded as Barbarian nation as many would out of hostility proclaim"

[@rossrreyes]

What an EPIC name 💪🏼

[@g0679]

Ann Thrax may be a relation.

[@RobotsEverywhereVideos]

IT IS GOOD DAY TO BE GIANT MAN

[@rosensaramov7336]

Born in Filipopol /the great City of Plovdiv/.

[@thebuddhaofknowledgemichae2486]

The Senate hates him. Emperor Thrax choke slams them all.lol

[@stonesymmetry]

Dang, this is my great^54 grandfather

[@majuscule8883]

He must be related to Drax, Lord of the universe.

[@peterfireflylund]

Name’s Drax, Hugo Drax.

[@George_Melons]

My idol

[@jabronisauce6833]

We know to little to judge most people in history really wish we'd stop lol

[@riazhassan6570]

Why do people doubt reports of his size? Very large humans are found all round the globe today also

[@sonofamun8122]

Gothic father Allan’s mother. The dude was a serious barbarian

[@michaeldy3157]

His psychopathic behavior was always going to end badly.

[@TheManCaveYTChannel]

Do you plan on doing videos on any emperor post 476 AD?

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yes I hope to do all of them, but we'll see how feasible that will be

[@TheManCaveYTChannel]

@@TheSPQRHistorian I hope you are able to! Learning about the Byzantine period has been like learning about a period of Roman history that was tuck away in the corner and only now is gaining the acknowledgment it deserves from history fans.

[@sweetpeach3649]

@@TheManCaveYTChannel Tbf, I think the byzantine are cool, but I don't find them as interesting as the "roman" empire

[@TheManCaveYTChannel]

@@sweetpeach3649 I find all Roman history interesting. Justinian, Heraclius, Basil II, Alexiois Komenos and the crusaders. I’m less interested in Roman history before 476 because it’s a deadhorse at this point. You don’t find anything interesting about the Roman emperors I mentioned? Seriously?

[@sweetpeach3649]

@@TheManCaveYTChannel They are interesting but Medeival Byzantium is very different than Classical Rome

[@chronicxdzed2693]

Leah Lipps phenotype Michael Doukas 7

[@VanillaGorilla1986-y1q]

Mercury knows what you did

[@flaviushonoriusemperorofro3903]

he was the only roman emperor to push romes' north frontier to the north sea even for a year or so.......

[@aaronTGP_3756]

Maximinus Thrax could be argued as the necessary type of emperor at the time (even though I strongly disagree). A military despot over a civilian regime. But Maximinus Thrax still wasn't good at being an Emperor. A decent general who didn't know the first thing about governing.

[@thelance1066]

How tall was he? To bad there is no tomb to marvel at. I would guess 6ft-6 or over riding a warhorse would seem absolutely gigantic. History paints Napoleon to be short in stature, he was 5ft9. Which was tall in those days. Riding into battle opposing soldiers thought he was a giant. So one has to take history with a grain of salt!

[@michaelsinger4638]

It’s always amusing to here Roman’s call other’s “barbaric.” Rome did MANY barbaric things over them centuries. He sounds like exactly the kind of emperor that was needed at that time.

[@mariano98ify]

Barbarian then wasn't equal to savage but foreigner. It wouldn't be until the Renaissance than the term will adopt its current meaning.

[@wankawanka3053]

​@@mariano98ifynnah the term barbarian was used to describe savage people as well ,it was only used to describe foreigners during the R archaic period of Greece

[@terrydunlop4461]

They always had great leaders rome

[@JamesBu11]

Sounds like some Roman propaganda to disparage him so much. You don't get to rise through the ranks of the Roman army without

[@TimothyGower1982]

Umm did I hear that right? "He would rather negotiate with barbarians than war with them"..... "He was seen by the army as someone who wouldn't negotiate with barbarians" lol

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yes, but thats about two different people...Alexander Severus negotiated with the Germans, Maximinus did not.

[@yavorstoynev734]

Traks are ancient population of Bulgaria and bulgarians are ancsestors of traks mostly!this imperator was born in Plovdiv/Bulgaria and other famous trakian is Spartacus,born in city of Sandanski ,south Bulgaria

[@fitzerelli1]

I read he was 8ft 5in

[@jasonladd6400]

He'd probably beat anybody in a fight

[@pedrofreitas4262]

The only reference of his father being Gothic and his mother Alanian is "Historia Augustae" a book FILLED with disinformation. Which is why that "Fact" must be taken with a grain of salt...

[@pathofthegamer8590]

Yeah, Edward Gibbon sited that work frequently, and discredited it all the while as indulgent.

[@dylanfritzinger8898]

Dude you totally said poopyanus .

[@fortunatusnine2012]

🤔👍

[@Onezy05]

Irl gigachad

[@youvebeengreeked]

*XII...*

[@andrewisjesus]

As the concept of race didn't exist when this historian was writing, almost certainly saying that he was barbarian by ethnicity, which today is an equivalent word for nationality, everywhere it says ethnicity in the 1611 King James Bible says the word Nation. Everyone since then who's done Bible translations also refers to the word ethnic as nations. But interestingly most people if you ask them think of an ethnicity as being someone's a race. Which is why whoever translated this translated the word ethnicity or an equivalent word to race. Just an interesting thing every time you hear somebody talking about race and antiquity, it's anachronism. These people didn't think in these terms

[@seonconnell1761]

Mr .workout

[@tipofthespear7821]

People laugh when the bible speaks a out giants but openly accepts that maximus was 8 feet tall... People, goliath was just another maximus

[@Giantcrabz]

or neither are true

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

The Crisis was already deep, DEEP into the Dark Ages. And of course a guy with a name like "Thrax" would be involved. Try to sound more like a villain, dude.

[@anthonydefex]

I thought barbarians could not be emperors

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

The Senate would agree with you

[@DieLuftwaffel]

Neat info, but your pronunciations of even basic names is pretty terrible. Still glad for the info, but maybe take a little time to research Latin pronunciation, even if you say it the ecclesiastical way and with a British accent it would be better than butchering it completely.

[@forforg83]

O how I desperately wish that people would just learn how to properly pronounce non-English words, in stead of bastardizing them by 'anglicizing' the pronunciations! Latin isn't English for goodness sake!

[@roderickreilly9666]

Over 8 feet tall? Originally from Malaysia? What? Bye, 😆

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Bye bye 🖐

[@roderickreilly9666]

@@TheSPQRHistorian: no, no bye bye. Instead, I'll subscribe, watch and listen, and I'll see your track record.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

​@@roderickreilly9666 You better keep an eye on me

[@roderickreilly9666]

@@TheSPQRHistorian : I love these clips!

[@TofiSerb]

THRAX was Serbian...

[@yavorstoynev734]

you wish,traks are bulgarians,Trakia is region in Bulgaria and this guy is born in Plovdiv/filipopolis

[@viraloracle5151]

half Goth half Alan

[@tonyjay508]

A little advice if your making videos for the American audience it would be a good idea to describe in feet and inches because nobody knows how tall 250 centimeters is...

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

I did

[@tonyjay508]

My mistake, then I've must of not heard I do enjoy watching the content as a avid fan of history and hope you continue bringing us videos for along time too come...

[@sugarnads]

You americans could always join the rest of humanity. And use a logical system of weights and measures.

[@sugarnads]

And how fkn arrogant assuming hes just making vids for americans? Theres a whole damn world thats notamerica

[@tonyjay508]

Who created KZbin and the internet and phone that makes it possible to watch videos ? 🇺🇸 doesn't owe nothing to the world we had to save humanity twice...

[@edwemail8508]

Way cool. Thanks.

[@CBass-mn5dy]

The Senate should have been destroyed and forever banished from existing again....

[@Dubmcbogie]

Yeah the 3rd century is a train wreck.. but I call 1st dibs on my band name.. Maximinius Thrax.