Maximi'nus
the excellent ambassador of Theodosius the Younger to Attila in A. D. 448.
He was already conspicuous in the Persian war in 422, when he was lieutenant of Ardaburius. Theodosius sent him in 448 to Attila; Orestes and Edicon, the Hunnic ambassadors at Constantinople, returned with him to Pannonia. This Edicon had been bribed by the minister, Chrysaphius, to murder Attila, but on his arrival in Pannonia informed his master of the plot, of which Maximin was totally ignorant. Attila was well aware of this, and consequently turned his resentment only against the emperor and the minister at Constantinople, disdaining even to punish Vigilius, who was the entire promoter of the scheme, and who was entrapped in his turn by Attila.
This embassy of Maximin is described by his secretary, Priscus, to whom we refer for the interesting details of an event to which we are indebted for nearly all our knowledge of Attila's person and private life. Maximin became afterwards one of the four principal ministers of the emperor Marcian; and in later years held the supreme command in Egypt, whence he made a successful campaign against the Aethiopians.
He is invariably represented as a virtuous, firm, and highly talented man. (Priscus, p. 3.9, 40, 48-70; Socrat.
Hist. Eccles., 7.20; PRISCUS.)
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W.P]
