of Carlowitz; addressed in their own languages the representatives of Austria, Poland, Russia, and Venice; healed minor breaches; divided his antagonists on weightier points; and obtained a treaty of peace so satisfactory to the courts of Austria and of Turkey, that Leopold I. ennobled him as count of the empire, the sultan created him secretary of state, and he himself assumed the title of Illustrissimo. But the treaty of Carlowitz had given umbrage to a party in Turkey, and one more political reverse overtook Mavrocordato before his final establishment in royal favour. He died wealthy and powerful, at a good old age, in the arms of his sons John and Nicholas. Mavrocordato was a zealous son of the Greek church, upholding its interests against the Roman communion, and writing in its defence. He was also warmly attached to his native tongue, and desirous to preserve it from Oriental contamination. He established a college at Constantinople to promote the cultivation of Greek literature; and all his works, with the exception of a medical treatise written before he left Italy, are composed in Greek. Amongst them may be noted a sacred history, a modern Greek grammar, and a recently-discovered journal, extending over many years of his eventful life.—C. G. R.
MAWMOISINE or MALVOISINE, William de, a Scotch ecclesiastical dignitary who flourished during the thirteenth century. He passed his youth in France, and if not a native of that country, was at least of French extraction. At what period he settled in Scotland is unknown. He was made one of the clerici regis and archdeacon of St. Andrews, and in 1199 he was appointed chancellor of Scotland and bishop of Glasgow. Three years later he was translated to St. Andrews, and in 1211 resigned the office of chancellor. In the same year, along with the bishop of Glasgow, he held a council of the clergy and people at Perth, in order to promote an expedition to the Holy Land. In 1215 he attended a general council held at Rome, in which measures were taken for the suppression of the Waldenses and the Albigenses. On his return from the continent in 1218 he introduced the dominican monks into Scotland, and founded the monastery of Scotland-well, near Lochleven. This prelate died in 1238. He was the author of the lives of St. Ninian and St. Kentigern. According to Fordoun he delighted in the pleasures of the table, rather than in the austerities of the cloister.—J. T.
MAXENTIUS, Marcos Aurelius Valerius, Roman emperor, was the son of Maximian the colleague of Diocletian in the empire, and married a daughter of Galerius. As, however, Maxentius was both vicious and incapable, Galerius passed him over in choosing a partner in the empire, and appointed Severus to be ruler of Italy and Africa, first as Cæsar, afterwards (on the death of Constantius) as Augustus. But the Romans soon became disgusted with the government of Severus, and Maxentius was proclaimed emperor at Rome, October 28, 306. His father Maximian, who had abdicated in the previous year, resumed the purple, and joined his son as co-emperor. Severus was repulsed in an attempt to retake Rome, and finally was obliged to shut himself up in Ravenna. He was persuaded with fair promises by Maximian to surrender, and being taken to Rome, was put to death in February, 307. Africa also submitted to the authority of Maximian and Maxentius. The same year Galerius invaded Italy and advanced as far as Narni, but was repulsed by the great military skill of Maximian, and had even some difficulty in securing his retreat. The ungrateful Maxentius soon after expelled his father from Italy, where he now reigned as sole emperor. Africa having revolted, he soon reduced it to submission and exercised grievous cruelties on the unhappy people. The tyranny of Maxentius having rendered him universally odious, he was only able to maintain his power by means of his army, on which he lavished the plunder of Italy and Africa. His oppressed subjects implored the assistance of Constantine, with whom Maxentius had long been on bad terms. In 312 Constantine invaded Italy by the pass of Mont Cenis, and won a great battle at Turin. A second victory at Verona was followed by the capture of that important city, and without losing time, Constantine marched upon Rome. Maxentius gave him battle in person at Saxa Rubra about nine miles from the city. Constantine was completely victorious, and Maxentius was drowned in the Tiber, while attempting to flee. His family were put to death by the conqueror. Maxentius perished October 28, 312, exactly six years after his accession.—G.
MAXIMIANUS, Galerius Valerius, born near Sardica in Dacia, was the son of a shepherd, and was surnamed Armentarius, because in early life he was also a shepherd himself. Having served with distinction as a soldier, in 292 he was chosen to be Cæsar, adopted by Diocletian, and married to his daughter. His first expedition against Narses the Persian in 297 signally failed, but his second was attended with great success. In 305, when Diocletian and Maximian resigned, Constantius and Galerius were elected to succeed them. Constantius was by this time advanced in years, and Galerius was therefore encouraged to hope that the time would soon come when he should reign supreme. To his disappointment however, when Constantius died, the army elected his son to succeed him, and the rebellion of Maxentius which followed issued in the loss of Italy and Africa. Though possessed of great military talent he was ignorant and cruel, and a bitter persecutor of the christian church. He died of a loathsome disease in 311.—D. W. R.
MAXIMIANUS, M. Aurelius Valerius, was of mean extraction, and was born at Sirmium in Pannonia. He was possessed of distinguished military talents, and Diocletian who had been his companion in arms when he portioned the empire chose him on this account to be his colleague. In 285 he received the title of Cæsar, and in the following year that of Augustus. In 305 Diocletian and Maximilian resigned the cares of empire, but in 306 Maximilian forsook his retirement and entered again on a public career. He was instrumental in procuring the death of Severus, and in effecting the repulse of Galerius. After this he was constantly engaged in ambitious designs; but these were brought to a sudden close in 310, when he was put to death for having endeavoured to induce his daughter Fausta to conspire the death of Constantine her husband.—D. W. R.
MAXIMILIAN I., Emperor of Germany, son of the Emperor Frederick III., and of Eleonora of Portugal, was born in 1459. His marriage with Mary, the daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold of Burgundy, who fell in 1477, first placed him in the position of an independent prince. He received the Netherlands as her portion, and might probably have obtained Burgundy also if he had not unwisely concluded a truce with Louis XII. of France, 17th September, 1477, without any stipulations in favour of the Burgundians. Two years afterwards he renewed his claims, when he had no longer the power to enforce them. He gained the battle of Guinegate, however, though it led to no beneficial result. The death of his wife, Mary of Burgundy, produced an important change in his position. She left two daughters, the eldest of whom, Margaret, was soon after betrothed to the dauphin of France by the states of Flanders, much against Maximilian's wishes. He soon quarreled with the Flemings, and having had recourse to arms, captured the city of Ghent, and was acknowledged as the guardian of his children and the governor of Flanders on condition of his confirming the privileges of the Flemings. In 1486 he was elected king of the Romans, and having received on that occasion a visit from his father Frederick, he entertained him with such lavish profusion as to excite great dissatisfaction among the people. He was compelled to abdicate his authority as the guardian of his son and governor of Flanders. Maximilian was repeatedly involved in contests with France during the reign of Louis XI., and though for some time he was on better terms with Charles VIII., the successor of Louis, new grounds of quarrel soon arose. An alliance was negotiated between Maximilian and the Duchess Anne, the heiress of Brittany; but in consequence of French intrigue the match was frustrated, and he therefore entered into a treaty with Spain and England for the invasion of France. But this formidable confederacy was dissolved by the payment of a large sum of money to the English king, Henry VII., and the cession of several provinces to the other allies. Franche Comte and part of Artois, which had been acquired by Louis XI. were restored to Maximilian. On the death of his father in 1493 Maximilian became emperor, and commenced his reign by repelling the Turks, who had ravaged the country as far as Laybach. In the following year he married Blanche-Maria, sister of the duke of Milan and niece of Ludovic Sforza, who brought him a large dowry. In consequence of this alliance he was drawn in to interfere with the affairs of Italy, and he formed a league with the pope, the king of Arragon, the duke of Milan, and the republics of Florence and Venice against Charles VIII. of France, who was then engaged with his famous expedition to Naples in 1494. They assembled an army of forty thousand men, and attacked the French in the valley of Fornova in the duchy of Parma; but notwithstanding their great superiority in num-
